HOME

May 21, 2007

The New Ridiculously Expensive Maroon 5 CD ...

The widly successful pop-soul-rock outfit Maroon 5 release their second album, titled "It Won't Be Soon Before Long," this week with unusually high financial expectations -- the new CD must sell at least 15 million copies in order for their record-label overlords to break even on their investment i the band. The band's first disc, which was released five years ago, eventually sold 10 million copies worldwide. Pressure? What pressure?

Posted by Supercore at 08:05 AM

May 15, 2007

Street Artist Banksy Gets Profiled in the New Yorker ...

If you're anybody of some minor consequence on the verge of being somebody of major consequence, then you know you've become the latter (or have "made it") when you have been profiled in the New Yorker magazine. Britain-based street artist Banksy is the subject of a full profile article in this week's issue of the esteemed New York weekly in a piece titled "Banksy Was Here" by Lauren Collins. Dubbed "the invisible man of graffiti art" -- a description that would apply equally to almost call "graffiti artists" -- Banksy is perhaps the street artist with the biggest name recognition of them all, at least in the United Kingdom. But his art and his name are becoming familiar to the global art world and pop-cultural cognescenti. Banksy is fast becoming the world's first international street-art star.

Posted by Supercore at 11:01 PM

May 14, 2007

Shilpa Shetty Film Premieres in London

From low-brow to high-brow, from Celebrity Big Brother to independent cinema, from launching a curry house chain to launching a perfume, 31-year-old Bollywood movie star Shilpa Shetty has transformed her new global fame swiftly and shrewdly. This weeked witnessed the premiere of new Indian film, "Life in a Metro," in which Shetty plays a neglected homemaker in contemporary India. The movie is a chance for Shetty to showcase her legitimate acting talents to a wider audience. Depending on the film's success and Shetty's performance, Shilpa will either have a long, acclaimed cinematic acting career ahead of her in the West, or she will be best know for running a chain of curry houses.

Photo by Bahl Sonu / SantaBanta.com. Used under Creative Commons license.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 11:37 PM

Putting the "Lo" in Lohan ... More Juicy Celebrity Gossip Linkage ...

Lindsay Lohan in Tongue Fest with Calum Best in Bahamas ...
Critics Dump Hate on New Lindsay Lohan Film "Georgia Rule" ...
Lindsay Lohan to Play Stripper in Next Film Role ...
Paris Hilton Gets No Time From Gov. Arnold Scharzenegger ...
Indian Actress Shilpa Shetty Appeals to India's Supreme Court ...
Jessica Simpson Dishes About Her Sex Life ...

Posted by Thurston Ali at 11:20 PM

May 08, 2007

Video: Paris Hilton Sentenced to 45 Days in Jail ...

The serious and sober Reuters filed this television news report on Paris Hilton receiving a jail sentence of 45 days.

Posted by Supercore at 10:40 PM

May 07, 2007

Paris Hilton Responds to 45-Day Jail Sentence

Ah, poor, poor Paris Hilton. The 26-year-old hotel heiress ad celebutante has commented publicly about the 45-day jail sentence she received for violating the terms of her probation from DUI arrest in 2006. Paris reportedly is calling her punishment "cruel" and "unwarranted," and is quoted as saying "I don't deserve this." Hilton also took action and fired her publicist Elliot Mitz after her sentencing, in effect, blaming him for her predicament. Whatever. We actualy think Paris is being honest on this one -- this is a matter of mistaken information. But it may be a deserved comeuppance in the public eye. And, frankly, seeing Paris in an orange prison jumpsuit is something the public wants as much as the details of her utlra-jet-set party lifestyle.

Posted by icorsa at 11:16 PM

May 03, 2007

Shilpa Shetty Plans a Chain of Curry Houses

"Controversial" Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty is taking advantage of her sudden global fame to start a restaurant chain. Since she garnered worldwide attention as a result of winning "Big Brother" UK (and the racial-abuse scandal that preceded it) and her public kiss of American film star Richard Gere in India, Shetty is under a bigger media glare than ever. She's tasty fodder for the tabloids, taking a lesson from the Paris Hilton playbook on va-jay-jay exposure. And she's the subject of a criminal inquiry in India for her snog with Gere. So what does a transglobal Indian movie star do? Open a chain of curry houses, naturally. The flagship "Shilpa Shetty Dining Hall" restraurant will open in central London, we presume, later this year. Curry, like Shilpa Shetty herself at the moment, is hot!

Photo by Bahl Sonu / SantaBanta.com. Used under Creative Commons license.

Posted by Supercore at 11:19 PM

May 02, 2007

An Interview with Bjork

The Icelandic songstress Bjork gives an interview to the New York Times about her new album. Bjork is a fascinating artist, but her recent output, including the new album "Volta" haven't been received by her fans or public as positively as her body fo work from the 1990's. We've seen a Bjork a few times, once playing a live a set on stage at the Fuji Rock Festival in Tokyo way back in 1998 -- her performance was stellar. (We also ran into her in a cafe in NYC a couple of years ago, but that's another story.) Can a musician who's CDs leave listeners scratching their heads redeem themselves as live performers? Yes, it's possible.

Posted by Supercore at 12:23 AM

April 30, 2007

Juicy Celebrity Gossip Links ...

Courtney Love to Sell Late Nirvana Singer Kurt Cobain's Pajamas ...
Lindsay Lohan Addicted to "Shopping and Sex" ...
Prince Allegedly Humiliates Paris Hilton at Las Vegas Concert ...
Britney Spears Wears See-Through Outfit ...
K-Fed Allegedly Drove Britney Spears to Brink of Suicide ...
Former "Posh Spice" Victoria Beckham and Her Nipples Hit LA with See-Through Top ...
Alec Baldwin Rumored to Write Book Bashing Ex-Wife Kim Basinger ...

Posted by Thurston Ali at 11:21 PM

April 24, 2007

Video: "Rehab" by Amy Winehouse ...

We can't get enough of this song right now. Amy Winehouse definitely has that special sumthin' sumthin'. What a voice!

Posted by Supercore at 01:48 AM

April 23, 2007

Video: A Bjork Performance on Saturday Night Live (SNL) ...

Posted by Supercore at 01:45 AM

April 18, 2007

Celebrity Gossip Linkage to Get Ya' Through the Week, Kidzzz ...

Lindsay Lohan Talks About Rehab ... Says She's Not "An Addict" ...
Paris Hilton Violates Her Probation ...
Britney Spears Fires Her Manager, Faces Possible Lawsuit ...
Britney Spears Blames Paris Hilton for Recent Downward Spiral ...
Sanjaya Malakar Gets Voted Off American Idol ... There is a God After All ...
Baby Phat Queen Kimora Lee Simmons to Get Her Own Reality TV Show ...

Posted by Supercore at 11:45 PM

April 12, 2007

Kurt Vonnegut, RIP

Sad to hear that novelist Kurt Vonnegut has died. Vonnegut's dark, satirical stories are among our favorite works of modern fiction. His stories were comic and at time absurdist and employed uconventional storytelling that was fresh, original and -- most of all -- a riveting pleasure. After we read our first Vonnegut book, a dog-eared paperback edition of "Breakfast of Champions," we devoured several more of his works in quick succession and became hooked on Kurt. Literature aside, Vonnegut was a pleasure to see and hear speak, as well. Learning about the artist behind the art often adds another dimension to our experience with their work. Vonnegut's humanism in the face of a crazy world, will be missed. Kurt Vonnegut, 1922 - 2007. RIP.

Posted by Supercore at 11:46 PM

April 11, 2007

DNA Proves Larry Birkhead is Father of Late Anna Nicole Smith's Baby

Eventually, science was going to resolve the media-genic high-drama of figuring out who the freaking hell was the biological father of the recently deceased Anna Nicole Smith's daughter. The DA tests show photographer Larry Birkhead to be the father. That it even had to come to this makes Anna Nicole Smoth's life seem even lamer and more tragic. But with so much money at stake, it was inevitable that lawsuits would be involved and ultimately the courts would lead to testing. The episode suggests that Anna Nicole was havig a hell of a lot of unprotected sex with a lot of fellas at some point in the last couple of years of her pathetic life. It also suggest that Anna icole herself may never have known or was never quite sure of who the real biological father of her daughter was.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 11:15 PM

April 03, 2007

Sanjaya Malakar and Howard Stern and the Sabotaging of American Idol

The curious success and popularity of American Idol contestant Sanjaya Malakar is the subject of much discussion among fans and non-fans of the Fox talent show. As has been observed, Malakar is far from the top class of singing talent to appear on American Idol. His voice is not stellar, and he botches lyrics to his songs. But the American Idol-viewing and -voting public have rallied behind Malakar and made him their own, pushing him upward and onward week after week to the finalists stage of the competition in spite of his shortcoming as a peformer. Simon Cowell, the notoriously blunt Brit, who is the show's producer and sits on the judges panel, has spoken his mind and acknowledged that he is powerless to stop the Malakar phenomenon. So why has a semi-talent like Malakar as far as he has?

Posted by Supercore at 09:28 PM

April 02, 2007

Celebrity Gossip Linkage to Kick Off the Week ...

Anna Nicole Smith's Partner Howard Stern Gives Up Effort to Stop DNA Paternity Test ...
Creator of Life-Size , Naked Choclate Jesus Looks for New Home for His Confection ...
Usher to Get Married to Long-Time Girlfriend ...
Black Eye Peas Singer Fergie Reveals Lesbian Past ...
Sanjaya Markala and the American Idol Scandal in the Making ...

Posted by Thurston Ali at 11:16 PM

March 31, 2007

U.K. Doesn't Like Snoop Dogg

Poor Snoop Dogg can't enter the United Kingdom to save his life. The hip-hop icon was again denied a visa to enter and perform in the U.K. and has had to cancel scheduled concert performances in the country with Sean "P. Diddy" Combs. The rap stars are currently on a joint European tour that's already proven costly due to the enormous entourage expenses alone. Snoop Dogg's trouble with immigration authorities in the U.K. date back to a few years ago when members of his group were involved in a brawl at a British airport.

Posted by Supercore at 12:01 PM

March 28, 2007

Giant Madonna in H&M Mural in New York

From the Global Graphica file ... there's a bunch recent photos of a new, massive mural being painted in Soho, New York City, that features Madonna in an ad for the H&M clothing store chain.

Posted by Supercore at 12:40 PM

March 26, 2007

Naomi Campbell's Be-All-End-All Fabulousness

In her week of community service, sweeping floors in her own glamorous style at the Department of Sanitation in New York City, supermodel
Naomi Campbell proves she is the living embodiment of the fashion world that made her rich and famous. Campbell was sentenced to community service by the court as punishment for an assault on her maid -- the supermodel threw her cell phone at the maid in a fit of rage.

Posted by Supercore at 09:49 PM

March 25, 2007

Mouth-Watering Celebrity Gossip News Linkage ...

Autopsy Results for Annna Nicole Smith to be Released ...
Report of Prince Harry Drunkenly Assaulting Photographer Outside London Club ...
Snoop Dogg and P. Diddy's European Tour Losing Money Due to Costs of Rappers' Massive Entourages ...
Mel Gibson Blasts Expletive at University Professor Regarding Film "Apocalypto" ...
Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan Have Another Bitch-Slappy Face-Off ...
Amy Winehouse Champions Fellow Rehabbber Lindsay Lohan ...
Is Paris Hilton's Boyfriend Stavros Niarchos Cheating on the Hotel Heiress?
Britney Spears Out of Rehab ...

Posted by Thurston Ali at 09:01 PM

March 18, 2007

Celebrity Gossip Round-Up ...

Black Eyed Peas Singer Fergie Kicked Off U.K. Plane for Being Too Drunk ...
Anna Nicole Smith's List of Prescribed Drigs Revealed ...
Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie are Freinds Again ... Ahh ...
Britney Spears on Coca-Cola-Guzzling Binge in Rehab ...
Lindsay Lohan Out of Rehab and Back on NYC Party Circuit ...

Posted by Thurston Ali at 05:50 AM

Street Art from Neckface in New York City

From the Global Graphica site ... fresh street art from NYC, including new images of works from Neckface on the Lower East Side of New York City. Rock it.

Posted by Supercore at 01:07 AM

March 15, 2007

"Among The Thugs"

We've just finished reading "Among The Thugs," Bill Buford's remarkable and page-turning book about crowd violence during the dark days of English and European football/soccer hooliganism in the 1980's. The book is a work of non-fiction, but reads like a highly personal piece of well-researched first-person journalism.

Buford befriended some of the most notorious of the hardcore members of the various team "firms," including that of the Manchester United football club. The author witnessed countless acts of crowd violence at soccer matches across the U.K. and Europe while living in London in the late 1970s and through the '80s . Buford was himself beaten severely by Italian police when thousands of English supporters went on a rampage outside a World Cup match in 1990. The book is a meditation on the nature of crowds, psychology and culture. It's absolutely fascinating, yet disturbing.

"Among The Thugs" was written and published in the early '90s at a time when English football hooliganism inside the top-league stadiums was gradually being eradicated following the Hillsborough disaster in which 96 people were killed in the standing-area terrace of a stadium.

Since then, police crackdowns on violent football fans, better surveillance and policing, the introduction all-seating areas and the removal of all-standing terraces in British stadiums, among other things, has all but extinguished crowd violence at matches and made attending games in the U.K. now a far safer experience than it was when Buford wrote "Among The Thugs."

Posted by Thurston Ali at 11:37 PM

March 14, 2007

Appetizing Celebrity Gossip Linkage for the Mid-Week ...

Angelina Jolie Adopts Another Kid, This Time From Orphanage in Vietnam
Paris Hilton Puts her Nipples in Public View Yet Again
Britney Spears in Rehab Romance Fling
Photographer Larry Birkhead Demands DNA Test to Determine Father of Anna Nicole Smith's Daughter ...
Donald Trump and Rosie O'Donnell Ward Words Heats Up Again ...
Jessica Simpson and John Mayer Have Romantic Italian Vacation

Posted by Thurston Ali at 11:32 PM

March 13, 2007

The Designs of Thomas Heatherwick

The work of British designer Thomas Heatherwick relies heavily on engineering and sculptural aesthetics. Heatherwick's creations - a seaside cafe, a canal bridge, and landscape pieces - are mainly works of architecture, but ones sometimes mistaken for art, and there's an argument that some of it is. Sitooterie II (pictured above) is a mysterious and striking object that sits in the English countryside like a giant alien landmark.

Posted by Supercore at 07:44 AM

How to Visit 50 U.S. States in a Week ...

Silicon Valley technology entrepeneur Barry J Stiefel visited all 50 U.S. states during his one-week vacation from work. He drove through the 48 contiguous states and flew to Alaska and Hawaii. His website details the journey and his reasons for taking such a trip. It's a fascinating look at planning, travel, logistics and how to maximize the precious vacation few days you have a year.

Posted by Supercore at 06:32 AM

Quentin Tarantino Reflects on How He Became a Success in Hollywood

That gabby, energetic and most animated of filmmakers Quentin Tarantino has written an article for the Timnes of London newspaper about his experience in the movie business. The piece is part of the Times's "Iconoclast" series, wherein celebrities guest write a column for the paper. Tarantino talks about what it means to him to be a film director working inside and out of the Hollywood studio system and how to deal with careerist studio heads when fighting to make your movie your way. Tarantino also talks about which movies he was most passionate about and what they mean to him. Interestingly enough, QT calls himself an "amateur." This is a must read for aspiring filmmakers or anyboody who loves the director's work.

Posted by Supercore at 12:28 AM

March 12, 2007

Sweet 'n Savory Celebrity Gossip Linkage ...

The "300" Rakes in $70 Million at Opening Weekend Box office -- That's a helluva lot of souvlaki ...
Did Paris Hilton Get a Boob job?
Hilary Duff Dumps More Hate on Paris Hilton ...
Joes Simpson Says Daughters Jessica and Ashlee Will Never "End up in Rehab" ... Oh, Really?
Madonna to Appear on Nip/Tuck
The Rehab Diary of Britney Spears

Posted by Thurston Ali at 07:44 AM

March 07, 2007

And Speaking of Naomi Campbell ....

The ex-supermodel has said that she will never have plastic surgery, unless she was disfigured in a "bad accident." Who gives shit? Well, actually, we do enough for a brief comment anyway...

Naomi Campbell is now 36 years old. That's not even within the "coveted" 18-34 years-old target marketing demographic that advertising wankers are always babbling on about. And Campbell hardly trades in the kind of runway and photo work she used. She is becoming increasingly irrelevant as a media and fashion commodity.

But it doesn't matter -- she looks fucking great! She shouldn't being even thinking about whether or not she needs plastic surgery. Her looks are fine as they are, especially for her age. It's Campbell's personality that needs plastic surgery, not her face and body. She's got to do something about that wicked temper of hers.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 11:03 PM

March 06, 2007

Naomi Campbell Punished for Cell Phone-Throwin' Rage

Notoriously tempermental super model (or should we say "ex-super model"?) Naomi Campbell has been punished for throwing a cell phone at her maid. To pay for her crime, Campbell will be doing a stint of community service, mopping up floors at a New York City Sanitation Department warehouse on the Lower East Side. (Welcome to hood, Naomi!) One piece of advice, Ms. Campbell: Leave your cell phone at home.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 07:05 AM

March 02, 2007

GEICO Caveman Golfing with Phil Sims

It looks like the GEICO caveman may be crossing over from a car-insurance commercial icon to a fully realized character fit for long-form television programming. That's if this clip of the GEICO caveman playing golf with NFL icon Phil Sims is anything to go by. In this nearly four-minute sketch, the caveman goes 18 holes with the former Giants star. If the caveman seemed overly sensitive and ornery in the GEICO ads, he's even more so here. In fact, he comes across in this video as an obnoxious, iritable douche-bag. He's freaking hilarious. The caveman should have his own show on Comedy Central. It could a late-night talk-fest hosted by the caveman that would air right after the Colbert Report. And the whole thing would be sponsored by GEICO, of course. A higher quality QuickTime version of the clip is here.

Posted by Supercore at 11:00 PM

February 20, 2007

The Mixtape Dilemma of DJ Drama, the Aphilliates and the Hip Hop Music Business

Another great, illuminating article in last Sunday's New York Times Magazine was about the recent bust of mixtape megastar DJ Drama and his posse of DJs and mixtape entrepeneurs, lncluding Djs Sense and Cannon. Drama who is one of hip-hop's most influential tastemakers is perhaps better known to the wider public for his work with rap star Lil' Wayne. His Atlanta studio was raided in January because of his alleged music piracy, mostly in the form of mixtape CDs containing unlicensed music and samples by other artists. The irony is that the bust was aided in part by the Recording Industry Association of America, which represents many of the same recording labels for whom DJ Drama is unofficially contracted by to manufacture mixtapes to promote its signed roster of hip-hop artists.

Posted by Supercore at 11:20 PM

February 18, 2007

Delectable Celebrity Gossip Linkage for Your Utlra Awesome President's Day Weekend ...

Actor Hugh Grant Splits with Girlfriend Jemima Khan
Anna Nicole Smith is Embalmed
Qantas Hostess Admits to Sex with Actor Ralph Fiennes in Airplane Toilet
Hip-Hop Raptress Foxy Brown Arrested for Assault in Florida
Paris Hilton Bored at Vienna Opera
Nicky Hilton Sued Over Her Hotel Project Fiasco
Recap of the Recent Developments in the Britney Spears Train Wreck

Posted by Thurston Ali at 12:24 PM

February 17, 2007

Video: Britney Spears with Shaved Head

Oh, yeah, people, this is television "news." Oy vay!

Posted by Thurston Ali at 04:05 PM

February 16, 2007

Going to the Archive: Top 6 Fave Hip Hop Artist Names ...

1. Chamillionaire - If Donald Trump where a a chameleon and a rapper, he would be called "Chamillionaire."
2. Lil' Scrappy - Who knew? Scooby Doo's little nephew likes to get jiggy with it.
3. Common - Being extraordinary is so overrated.
4. Ghostface Killah - Ghost face, poker face--it's all the same when you're a "killah."
5. Chingy - Cuz it's right thurrr!
"
6. Ol' Dirty Bastard - What can ya' say? ... The name speaks for itself. RIP, ODB. Peace!

Posted by Supercore at 07:23 AM

February 12, 2007

Ooh, It's Really Bad: Vanilla Ice Does Rap Promotion for Turbo Tax Online

Oh, boy, this really stinks. Though to be fair to D-lister Vanilla Ice, his flow actually isn't half bad. No, seriously, he can rap. But dropping rhymes on video for an online TurboTax promo based on the concept of user-generated content really begs the question -- How low can a washed-up, late-80's one-hit-wonder fake white rapper go? Appearing on the Surreal Life is bad enough. But this? C'mon.

Posted by Supercore at 11:59 PM

Sweet 'n Sour Celebrity Gossip Linkage ...

Anna Nicole Smith Was Planning a Wedding
John Mayer Replies in Japanese When Asked About Jessica Simpson
Ex-Britney Spears Boyfriend Iassac Cohen Kisses and Tells
Paris Hilton's Gal Pal Kim Kardashian to Sue Over Her Sex Tape
Paris Hilton Demands $500K to Appear on British Talk Show
Lindsay Lohan "Loves" Life in Rehab
Mandy Moore Self-Conscious Doing Partial-Nude Scenes
David Beckham's Bodyguards Denied Visas for USA
Kate Moss and Babyshambles Singer Pete Doherty Have Split Up Again, Maybe

Posted by Thurston Ali at 11:38 PM

February 10, 2007

Crazy Delicious Celebrity Gossip for Your Crazy Delicious Weekend ...

Anna Nicole Smith Paternity Suite Gets Even More Complicated - 3 Men Claim to Be Father of Her Daughter
Sacha Baron Cohen Will Make Borat Movie Sequel?
Gus Van Sant Sentenced for DUI
American Idol Contestant Akron Watson Kicked Off Show
Paris Hilton Buys Edible Bikini for Valentine's Day
Kim Kardashian Sex Tape Revealed
Nicole Richie "Afraid of Prison"
Lindsay Lohan Buys Marilyn Monroe's Apartment

Posted by Thurston Ali at 10:31 AM

Anna Nicole Smith's Last Days Spent in Drunken Haze

According to witness reports late Friday night, as autopsy results were being released, Anna Nicole Smith was drinking heavily in the days and even hours before her death, so much so that she needed help to walk and was slurring her speech. She made repeated visits to the bar at the hotel where she died and, according to a bartender there, was "tossing back double shots."

Posted by Thurston Ali at 10:23 AM

February 09, 2007

The Shocking, Mysterious Death of Anna Nicole Smith

This is a shocker. We're no fans of Anna Nicole Smith and deplore much of what she represents, but her sudden death in a Florida hotel room is tragic and sad. The latest reports suggest drug use on Smith's part may have been the cause of death. Like or loathe here, Anna Nicole was an icon.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 08:45 AM

February 05, 2007

Monday Gossip Linkage ... Yum Yum!

Paris Hilton Shuts Down Website Selling Her Personal Info and Junk
Actor Ryan O'Neal Arrested After Allegedly Assaulting Son, Shooting Gun
Newsweek Contemplates the Influence of Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears on Girls
Beyonce Knowles Voted Most-Desirable Fantasy Girlfriend in Ask.com Poll
Chinese Actress Gong Li Rated More Desirable Than Zhang Ziyi in Ask.com Poll
Kevin "K-Fed" Federline Says He's Sorry About Ad to Food Workers

Compiled by Thurston Ali

Posted by Supercore at 08:30 AM

February 02, 2007

Fresh Super Awesomely Delicious Celebrity Gossip Linkage for Your Friday Reading Pleasure ...

"Girls Gone Wild" Impressario Joe Francis Claims Paris Hilton is Better in the Sack Than Linday Lohan, Tara Reid and Kimberly Stewart!
Lindsay Lohan Text Messages Pal from Rehab to Say She WANTS burgers and sex.
Miss USA Confesses to Cocaine Use ... Uh, yeah, no kidding!
Jessica Simpson Botches Lyrics to Boyfriend John Mayer's Song at Concert
Nicole Richie May Go to Jail
Mandy Moore Afraid of Dating
Rosie O' Donnell Rants Get Reviewed

Posted by Thurston Ali at 08:29 AM

January 18, 2007

Lindsay, Lindsay, Lindsay!!!

Wow! Like this is a shocker. Everybody could see this coming from a million light years away. Yup, kidzzz, Actress, singer, celebutante Lindsay Lohan has official checked into rehab for alcoholism in West hollywood. Looks like Paris Hilton has lost one of her best frenemies of all time. Now, if only there was a rehab program available for pop singers who like to party pantyless and flash their va-jay-jay all about town (yes, we mean you, Britney Spears!).

Posted by Thurston Ali at 09:44 AM

January 08, 2007

In Japan: Rewinding the Sounds of Boredoms

On this trip to Japan, we loaded up our Apple iPod with MP3s from some old albums by Boredoms, the quintessential Osaka noise group and probably the one that is the best known outside Japan. "Chocolate Synthesizer," from way back in 1994 is our favorite of that era, with 1992's "Pop Tatari" a close second. We are also revisiting the albums "Super Roots 6" and "Super Ae." But like the group, our tastes and sonic interests have shifted over the years, and it is Boredoms' sparser, less spasmodic output of subseuqent years, such as "Vision Creation New Sun" (2000) and "Seadrum / House of Sun" (2005), that has captivated out attention. Last year, music critic Sasha Frere-Jones wrote an excellent profile of the band in the New Yorker magazine.

Posted by Supercore at 03:06 AM

December 12, 2006

Say Cheese, Nicole Richie!

Nicole, honey, damn you look hot even in a mug shot. Sorry to hear about being busted for driving under the influence by the CHiPs in Glendale, CA. But, hey, that's what happens when you take Vicodin on an empty stomach while (allegedly) high and/or intoxicated and then get behind the wheel. (Oops! Did we just say "empty stomach." We realize you have some weight "issues." Tsk tsk, our bad. You see, Nicole, that you hadn't eaten anything substantial in the previous 24 hours was just an assumption on our part.) But back to the matter at hand. You know what also happens when you drive while (allegedly) high and/or intoxicated? You drive onto the freeway in the wrong direction and get pulled over by an Erik Estrada wannabe. (Just kidding ... nobody wants to be Erik Estrada.) Anyhoo, maybe you need glasses? Still, we love ya' just the same as before, after all, you're the funny, "clever" one on the Simple Life, and you've a much more sophisticated and iconic style than that slut puppet Paris Hilton. So kick it to the curb, Nicole. You'll beat the DUI rap, even if it means 300 hours of community service (translation: 300 hours picking up litter with the hoi poloiin Griffith Park).

Posted by Thurston Ali at 01:59 AM

The GEICO Gecko Has a Blog!

Yes, the GEICO gecko lizard has his very own weblog. The site is tantalizingly titled "Gecko's Fun Stuff - Gecko's Blog." On the site, the iconic reptile (and car-insurance company mascot) writes about all manner of subjects related to saving 15 % on your car insurance, including the low-down on all the music used in the recent GEICO Caveman commercials. So if you've been wondering about things like what the jaunty electronic tune is in the Caveman "Airport" TV ad, here's where you can find out. (By the way, that tune is "Remind Me" by Norwegian group Royksopp.) By now, that an anthropomorphic, computer-animated spokes-lizard with a cockney accent would have a blog should not be surprising -- it really was inevitable, wasn't it? Next thing you know, the toenail on my left pinky toe is going to have its own blog.

Posted by Supercore at 01:57 AM

December 08, 2006

Deluxe Dose of Celebrity Gossip Linkage ...

Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn Split Up! Vaughniston is Over! Vaughnifer Kaput!
Britney Spears Explains Her Panties-Less Party Streak
Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z Say They're NOT Getting Married This Weekend
Heather Mills "Humiliated" at U.K. Airport
Lindsay Lohan and Her Bizarre Crackberry Email Missive
Paris Hilton Denies Rumors of Sexcapade with Britney Spears
Jessica Simpson Blows Kennnedy Center Song Performance

Posted by Thurston Ali at 01:16 AM

December 05, 2006

More Yummy Celebrity Gossip Linkage ...

Rumor of Lindsay Lohan Attending AA Confirmed
No Jail for Babyshambles Frontman / Kate Moss Boy-Toy Pete Doherty, But Singer Fined for Drugs ... Again!!!
George Clooney's Pet Vietnamese Pot-Bellied Pig Dies ... Sniff, Sniff ...
Paris Hilton Bails on Billboard Music Awards Appearance

Tori Spelling to Write Memoir ... Yaaaaawn!

Posted by Thurston Ali at 02:38 AM

December 01, 2006

What the Heck is Up with CNN's Lou Dobbs

In the New Yorker magazine this week, media critic Ken Auletta breaks down what's going on with opinionated CNN newsman Lou Dobbs and his recent streak of angry political editorials from the anchor desk. According to Auletta's immensely readable profile piece, Dobbs has gone from being a calm and cool-headed business news personality to a cranky populist, which has won him both critics and admirers.

Posted by Supercore at 02:47 AM

Lipsmack Ya'! Spicy Celebrity Gossip to Round Out the Week ... Oh, It's Been Too Long ...

Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson File for Divorce ...
... And Borat is To Blame for Kid Rock and Pamela's Split
... But Actually Kid Rock Was Fed Up with Pamela's Party-Girl Ways
... and Yet Borat's Cultural Icon Status Even Greater After Kid Rock-Pamela Divorce
Britney Spears on Panties-less Party Spree in L.A. and NYC ...
Paris Hilton and Britney Spears are New Best Party Pals ...
Lindsay Lohan Reportedly in Alcoholic Rehab ...
Jessica Simpson's Chewing Gum on Sale on eBay ...

Posted by Thurston Ali at 02:29 AM

November 22, 2006

Video: Michael Richards' Awkward, Incoherent Apology on Letterman

Ok, he said he was sorry. He explained his actions. But what's with the long-winded incoherent , cringe-worthy and weird six-minute rhetorical exposition. Somebody needs therapy, ASAP.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 12:22 AM

If William Shakespeare Were Alive Today He'd Be A Hollywood Screenwriter ...

Imagine if William Shakespeare were alive today. Some observers think that the Bard would be working in Hollywood as a hot screenwriter and/or as a successful Broadway playwright earning a bundle on the royalties from his many plays. He'd also be making a bundle on the real estate market. His career would be on a level of either a Woody Allen or a Stephen King, either a favorite of high-brow and but small audiences in other cases or a mass-culture phenomenon, or maybe a mix of both. Though one "Hollywood insider" suggests that in today's Hollywood, Shakespeare would be "too talented to be successful."

Posted by Supercore at 12:19 AM

November 21, 2006

Video: "Kick, Push" by Lupe Fiasco

Lovin' the Lupe Fiasco CD "Lupe Fiasco's Food and Liquor," especially the tune "Kick, Push" and its music video. Rad skateboard moves, ill rhymes.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 03:02 AM

Video: OMG! Michael Richards of "Seinfeld" Kramer Fame Goes on a Racist Rant During Comedy Gig!

Ouch! Somebody's got some serious issues to work through. This is appalling and really bad. (Warning: Video is NOT SAFE FOR WORK!)

Posted by Thurston Ali at 02:40 AM

OJ Book Launch and Fox News Interview "Killed"

The HarperCollins-published book "If I Did It" by O.J. Simpson and the planned Judith Regan intereview of him on Fox News have been scrapped due to the public and media backlash surrounding the launch and television event. It is generally believed by the American public (and the news media promulgates the view) that Simpson is guilty of the crime of murder, even though a trial jury acquitted him of the charges in the early 1990s. Over a decade after his infamous trial, Simpson's life has been ruined. The former actor and NFL star is an outcast who lives in the constant shadow of his notoriety. Still the public is fascinated, while disgusted and outraged, with Simpson and the case.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 02:13 AM

November 20, 2006

Yummilicious Celebrity Gossip Linkage ...

TomKat Ceremoniously Get Married in Italian Castle ...
The Fashion Breakdown on Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' Wedding ...
Rapper The Game Arrested for Impersonation of Cop ...
Former SNL Cast Member Tina Fey Dishes on Paris Hilton ...
Paris Hilton Allegedly Called Jessica Simpson "Fat"
Lindsay Lohan "Snubs" Actress Keira Knightly at London Bash ...

Posted by Thurston Ali at 01:41 AM

November 19, 2006

"Freaky Delicious" Gnarls Barkley Video for "Gone Daddy Gone"

The latest music video from the Dangermouse and Cee Lo collaboration known as Gnarls Barkley is a clever and amusing CG-heavy clip for the track "Gone Daddy Gone." As Air Massive tipster Jess E. put it, the video is "freaky delicious." And indeed it is.

Posted by Supercore at 04:26 AM

November 16, 2006

The Men Who Are James Bond

With the release of the new James Bond movie, Casino Royale, this week, BBC has an overview of all the actors who have portrayed the world's most glamorous spy on film, from Sean Connery to Pierce Brosnan and the newest British thespian to take the role, Daniel Craig. It's got lots of factoids, bio details and famous lines of dialog (Shaken, not stirred, of course).

Posted by Robsam at 12:31 AM

November 15, 2006

Tasty Celeb Gossip Linkage for the Mid-Week ...

Supermodel Naomi Campbell Tries to Plea-Bargain Her Way Out of Jail Sentence ...
Porn Producer Offered Alleged Sex Tape of Britney Spears and K-Fed ...
Tom Cruise Reportedly Too Fat to Fit INto His Wedding Suite ...
Nicole Richie Denies Talk of gastric-Bypass Surgery ...
Paris Hilton Goes Out on Date in London ...
The What Made Lindsay Lohan Call Paris Hilton the C-Word ...
The OC's Mischa Barton "Tired" of Being Skinny ...

Posted by Thurston Ali at 11:59 PM

November 12, 2006

Delectable Celebrity Gossip Linkage to Kick-Off the Week ...

BRITNEY SPEARS FOUND K-FED WITH OTHER WOMAN WEEKEND BEFORE DIVORCE
Charlie Sheen-ex Denise Richards Throws Laptop at 91-Year Old Lady ...
Oh, It's On Again: Lindsay Lohan Spits C-word About Paris Hilton ...
Madonna Disses Her Fellow Celebs ...
Snoop Dogg in Trouble with the Law Again ...
Nicole vs Nicole: Nicole Appleton Disses Nicole Richie for Being Too Skinny ...

Posted by Thurston Ali at 03:34 PM

Will Ferrell is Just an Average Guy Who Just Happens to Be a Comedy Genius

The New Times Magazine has a long profile of Will Ferrell, detailing his career arc from his relatively normal youth in suburban Orange County, California through improv theater to Saturday Night Live and movie stardom. The verdict is that Ferrell is an average, normal guy without the cliche hang-ups and angst of your stereotypical funnyman.

Posted by Robsam at 02:27 PM

The Definition of "Shizzolator"

Just to make gosh-darn sure we're all on the same page with our use of Snoop Dogg-inspired hip-hop patois
here is the definition of "shizzolator," which may differ with some popular, generally accepted interpretations of the term's meaning.

Posted by Supercore at 02:23 PM

"60 Minutes" Journalist Ed Bradley, R.I.P.

Very sorry to hear that one of the greats of American television journalism has passed away. Ed bradley died at age 65 this past Thursday in New York City. Bradley was one of the core group of reporters, the so-called "I'm's," of the weekly CBS investigative news show "60 Minutes." Ed Bradley, R.I.P.

Posted by Supercore at 02:05 PM

November 09, 2006

Video: Britney Spears Told K-Fed of Divorce By Text Message? Ouch!

That's right, kids. The latest word from the rumor monster is that Britney Spears broke the news of her divorce plans to Kevin "K-Fed" Federline via text message. Now that's class, kids, real class. But the real kicker is that the moment K-Fed received the news from Brtiney on his handheld might likely have been caught on tape (see above video clip) while he was being recorded for a Canadian TV program and reality show. K-Fed was "visibly shaken" when receiving a text message, then tore off his mic and disappeared for a half hour before resuming taping for the show. When he came back, he was reportedly upset. Aaaaawkwaaard!

Posted by Thurston Ali at 01:12 AM

U.K. Street Art Collective "The London Police" Strike Downtown New York City Once Again

Boo-ya and big up! The London Police have put up a massive new work in downtown New York City. This new piece is at 11 Spring Street, that famous cynosure of street art and graf in the Nolita neighborhood of lower Manhattan. There's a bunch of new photos documenting this latest work over on our sister site Global Graphica. Sick. (Photo courtesy Ivan Corsa / Global Graphica)

Posted by Supercore at 12:55 AM

November 08, 2006

It's the End of Britney Spears and K-Fed As We Know It -- Britney Files For Divorce!

That's right, kids. Britney Spears and her husband of roughly two years, Kevin Federline (or "K-Fed") are getting a divorce. You'd have to be deaf, dumb and blind and holed up in a remote Himalayan mountain village not to have known this was coming. My, oh my, how times have changed -- and so very quickly, too -- since the day Spears and Federline announced their love to the world on their Web site. We remember thinking then about Federline what we still think now -- Eeeeewwww!!! His whole background reeked, but nothing more so than the fact that he left his then pregnant girlfriend (preggers with their second child) to be with Spears. He was a back-up dancer who could claim to have appeared in a Target television commercial in addition to have danced in Spears' performance troupe. As for Spears, well, in spite of whatever talents, real or otherwise, that she may possess, there's no denying that she is a pop star. But maybe we should re-phrase that -- she was a pop star. Since K-Fed entered her life, her singing career has mostly been non-existent, while her public image has imploded. She has become a celebrity joke. As a brand, she went the way of tabloid trash. But now she's making a comeback. After the recent birth of her second child with Federline, she's reportedly slimmed down, fit and ready to re-enter the spotlight with a new album. However much we can't stand her music, her persona or pretty much anything she stands for, we have to wish the girl luck. Britney, you go girl!

Posted by Thurston Ali at 03:42 AM

November 07, 2006

Can Lady Sovereign Make It in America?

We're fans of U.K. rapper Lady Sovereign. Buzz about her has been building among the underground music cognoscenti in America for well over a year now. But it is with her second disc and her first full album on Def Jam (approved by Jay Z himself) that she formally and finally makes her big debut in the U.S.A. The question is can she make it as a star in America? Or will she meet with only moderate success and remain an indie hip-hop star, in spite of much critical acclaim. This was the case with several British hip-hop and rap artists to hop the pond, as it were, in the past few years, notably The Streets (aka Mike Skinner), Dizzee Rascal, and M.I.A. We love the music of all of these artists, especially M.I.A., whose music, courtesy of DJ Diplo, is some of the freshest we've heard in years. But none of them have managed to appeal to an audience much wider than the urban hipster base in the U.S. Lady Sovereign might change that. We'd love to see her on BET.

Posted by Supercore at 11:17 PM

Borat is Number One at the Box Office

Given the hype, the many funny, much talked-about television appearances and all the YouTube publicity is it really a surprise that the Borat movie came in with the biggest box office receipts of the past weekend? Well, actually, yes, it is a surprise. It's a surpise that this kind of film did this well of an opening weekend. That is to say, we expected the movie to have some degree of financial and critical success, but just not on this scale. On Sunday, we popped by our local movie theater in downtown New York City and saw that Borat had sold out at least a half-dozen screenings, while outside the cinema the lines trailed down the block. The film was produced for only $11 million, so the execs at Fox must be laughing all the way to the bank on this one because, like the Jackass movies, profit margins on low-production (non-"high-concept") movies productions like these are huge. Borat (Sacha Baron Cohen) most certainly will not "be execute" (sic) back in his country when Borat's theatrical run ends.

Posted by Robsam at 09:52 AM

November 06, 2006

Choice-Cuts Gossip Linkage to Start Off Your Work Week ...

Lindsay Lohan Allegedly Dating Son of Diana Ross ... Baby, baby, baby, baby don't ...
Paris Hilton Would Rather Eat Than Have Sex ...
Nicole Richie Supposedly Stops Rehab for Shopping Spree ...
George Clooney Has the Hots for Cat Deeley, Allegedly ...
Kanye West is a Sore Loser or Prankster at Euro Video Awards Show ...

Posted by Thurston Ali at 12:24 AM

November 04, 2006

Video: Stephen Wiltshire Draws Perfect Landscapes of Cities From Memory

Amazing. Fascinating. Unbelieveable, but true.

Posted by Robsam at 02:59 AM

November 03, 2006

Yum Yum ... Juicy Gossip Linkage for the End O' the Work Week ...

Scarlett Johansson's Cleavage in Full Effect
Topher Grace and Ivanka Trump Allegedly Involved with Each Other
Hong Kong Concert Promoter Calls Mariah Carey a "Diva Bitch"
Sharon Stone's See-Through Cocktail Dress
TomKat Update: Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes to have "Wacky" Traditional Scientology Wedding

Posted by Thurston Ali at 03:39 AM

Video: Kenny Powers' Quest to Jump Car Over the St. Lawrence River

In the early 1970's Kenny Powers, a Canadian daredevil, attempted one of the most idiotic stunts known to humankind. Powers tried to drive a rocket-powered and winged Lincoln Continental off a massive ramp and over the mile-wide St. Lawrence River and the border between Canada and New York state. The stunt cost an estimated $1 million and resulted in ... well, you've just got to watch the video. Note: watching this we were reminded of the incidental music used in an South Park episode about the founding and beliefs of the Mormon religion ... dumb dumb dumb dumb duuuummb dumb!

Posted by Robsam at 02:34 AM

November 02, 2006

Video: Borat Meets David Letterman

The Borat publicity juggernaut goes full throttle with yet another television appearance by Borat (Sacha Baron Cohen), this time on the Late Show with David Letterman. Good stuff.

Posted by Robsam at 02:13 AM

October 31, 2006

Yummy Gossip Linkage for the New Week

Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe to Split!
Usher Ogling Lindsay Lohan's Breasts on SNL
NBC Drama "Studio 60" Might Get the Axe
Paris Hilton and Her Hot LAPD Halloween Costume
Bill Maher at Halloween Bash in Steve Irwin Stingray Get-Up

Posted by Thurston Ali at 02:30 AM

Video: Borat Opening Sketch on "Saturday Night Live"

Live from New York ... Borat does SNL. Freaking hilarious, kidz!

Posted by Thurston Ali at 02:22 AM

October 29, 2006

Timeline of Madonna's Quest to Adopt African Baby

Just in case the controversy and ever-changing soap opera-like drama surrounding Madonna and her adoption of a Malawian baby was way too much to absor but simultaneously way too important to ignore, the BBC has a handy interactive, multimedia timeline delineating each micro-event in the ongoing Madonna African baby-adoption saga.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 04:04 AM

Tasty Weekend Celebrity Gossip Linkage ...

Nicole Richie Enters a "Clinic"
Actress Jessica Alba Getting Hot with Boy Toy in the Sea
Kate Moss Chugs Champagne in Her Underwear
Actress Tara Reid Talks About Her Breasts Issues
Ashlee Simpson Has a Bad Hair Day

Posted by Thurston Ali at 03:08 AM

October 25, 2006

Video: Borat Interviewed by Chuck the Movie Guy

The Borat publicity juggernaut continues with this interview of Borat (as played by Sacha Baron Cohen) by Chuck the movie guy. Borat is a riot, as usual.

Posted by Robsam at 01:39 AM

October 24, 2006

Celebrity Portraits on Toast

We've all heard of people selling toast with images of the Virgin Mayry, et. al., on eBay, but now there's an artist creating toast with celebrity images burned into the bread. And he's making a small fortune selling these creations to collectors. Dude, we are in the wrong business. Time to get a new toaster.

Posted by Supercore at 09:18 PM

Paris Hilton Backlash Vol. 18: Nick Carter Calls Paris Drunken Prude with A Secret Teddy-Bear Stash

Former Backstreet Boy and idle, irrelevent celeb Nick Carter has spoken of that which happens in the grotto, so to speak. Or rather, he's kissing and telling, spilling the beans and dirty dishing on ex-girlfriend Paris Hilton. According to Carter, the Hilton Hotel heiress and celebutante was a herb-burning drunk whose prudish nature in the sack was only overcome with lots of pot and alcohol. Carter has reportedly said that Paris was so addicted to the wacky tobacky that in order to always have it available when traveling overseas, she would stash some in her teddy bear plush toy. And who said she as a total idiot? She may not have class, but she isn't completey stupid.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 09:04 PM

October 23, 2006

The Best Bad Review of Paris Hilton's Music Debut

Leave it to veteran music scribe Aidin Vaziri writing in the San Francisco Chronicle to pen the funniest and best negative review of Paris Hilton's recently released self-titled CD. This is one of the cheekiest and most irreverent pans of an album we've read in a long time. Good one, Aidin.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 07:58 PM

Celebrity Perfumes Are a Dime a Dozen

The past couple of years have witnessed a sharp rise in the number of new perfumes and colognes being brought to market. As Rob Walker explains in his always illuminating "Consumed" column in the New York Times Magazine, many of the news scents are being launched by celebrities or for some celeb's as a line-extension of their existing clothing label. A lot of new parfums fail and for those branded with a famous actor's or pop singer's name the track record is bad or the popularity of the bottled scent is short-lived.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 07:34 PM

October 20, 2006

The Comedy of Demetri Martin Goes on the Road and the Web

Demetri Martin is one of the funniest young stand-up comedians in America today. He is truly an original comic. His style brings to mind the deadpan, clever one-liner observations of Steven Wright. You may have seen Martin's concert special on Comedy Central in the past year or caught him doing a segment on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, where he is an occasional guest reporter and "expert." Though Martin has been playing clubs around the country, he's now on a proper comedy concert tour and has a promotional Web site called Clearification.com that has some of his short sketch comedy videos and audio clips of his routine. Great stuff.

(A big domo arigato to Sam. C for the tip.)

Posted by Supercore at 01:51 AM

October 19, 2006

Jay Z Gets a Marketing Job for Beer Brand

That's right, homies. Jay Z is taking on another job title, but this time it's for a company of which he owns no part and it's not involved in music, fashion, basketball or vodka. Jay Z, a.k.a. Shaun Carter, is going into advertising and marketing. He's going to become is going to be "co-brand director" for the Budweiser Select beer line at Anheuser-Busch. The company is HQed in St. Louis, which is territory for rapper Nelly and Chingy, so one has to wonder if these guys will feel at all slighted by not being hooked up with one of the great, iconic brands of their hometown, especially 'cause they like it right thurrr.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 02:39 AM

Actor Wesley Snipes is Wanted by the Feds

Yes, children, Wesley Snipes, the actor of "Blade" and "White Man Can't Jump" and "U.S. Marshall's" fame, is wanted by the long arm of the law. There's a Federal warrant out for Snipes arrest on charges of tax fraud and failing to pay his taxes. Ben Franklin once said something about the only things certain in life being death and taxes. Funny that in the "Blade" film series, Snipes played a character who -- presumably -- didn't have to worry about taxes and had appeared to have cheated death. Not so in real life.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 02:18 AM

October 18, 2006

Condi Rice Sports a Mohawk in Tokyo

Yes, seeing is believing. U.S. Secretary of State Coneleeza Rice is in Japan and has been seen and snapped sporting the 'hawk. See, children, when it comes to style being an arch-conservative policy wonk doesn't mean you can't be "street," too. ;-)

Posted by Thurston Ali at 11:25 PM

September 28, 2006

John Hodgeman is the Man - An Interview with the Daily Show Expert and PC Guy

He's best known as the PC guy in the those Apple Computer commercials compring the Mac to a PC. But you've also seen him on the Daily Show , where he's a fake "expert" with a real journalism career. His name is John Hodgeman, and he's funny. Radar magazine has a Q and A with the man who personifies your average Windows machine.

Posted by Robsam at 01:08 AM

Paris Hilton Backlash Vol. 17: Paris Charged with Drunk Driving

It's now official. Heiress Paris Hilton has been charged for driving under the influence of alcohol and is now a defendent it what will be a formal court process starting with her arraignment in Los Angeles. According to reports, Hilton was charged Tuesday with two misdemeanor counts stemming from her DUI arrest earlier this month. The latest news is that her actual arraignment will be in December after a formal postponement was made by the court.

Hilton could be sentenced to up to six months in prison if found guilty, though we think the chances of that happening are the same as the chances of Ashlee Simpson suddenly not sucking. We speculate that Hilton will get a slap on the wrist, do some community service and -- before you can say "It's Hot" -- she'll be tearing up the streets of West Hollywood again, high on Red Bull and vodka and hunting for the nearest In-and-Out Burger.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 12:14 AM

September 14, 2006

Jamiroquai Frontman Jay Kay Arrested After London Club "Fracas"

We've always thought of Jamiroquai's lead singer, Jason "Jay" Kay, as a peaceable, laidback sort, but in the past few years he's been involved in a couple of violent incidents with the paparazzi. The BBC is reporting that Jay was just arrested in London at a club, but the details are still a bit sketchy. We met and interviewed Jay and members of Jamiroquai at a bar back in the late 90's while the band was on tour, and they were friendly, engaging and obliging when it came to our questions, though they also teased us for being a journo. Jay didn't seem like the type to get too upset about anybody, even an intrusive photog, but that was just one instance so who knows. And now Jay is older, more famous, and, perhaps, more sensitive to the obnoxious antics of the press and especially the paparazzi.

Posted by Robsam at 01:23 AM

August 29, 2006

Tom Cruise is Back in the Movie Game, Movie-Going Public's Suffering to Continue

Less than a week after effectively being fired by Paramount Studios' parent company Viacom,Tom Cruise has found investors to back his future film-production ventures. Or as Time puts it, "A Star is Reborn." Ah, shucks -- and we had thought this was the last we'd ever see of that iditotic, toothy grin on the big screen. But no. More of Tom and his pearly-whites smile will be coming to a theater near you for many more years.

The release of Cruise from his 14-year deal with Paramount was a major shock, considering how big a star the actor is. Then again, Cruise's bizarre behavior during the past year was pretty shocking for a star of his caliber as well. However, even after his notorious sofa-jumping incident on Oprah and his subsequent outburst with Matt Lauer on the Today Show, "War of the Worlds" managed big success in 2005. The same can't be said for "Mission Impossible III," which, while not a flop, certainly failed to meet expectations at the sumer box office.

It was the poor performance of "MI:III" that was cited by Viacom boss Sumner Redstone when he lashed out at Cruise and announced that he was terminating Paramount's relationship with the star.

Whether Cruise's film career continues to find success or not, rest assured, he is not disappearing from the mediasphere anytme soon, not with TomKat and all the tabloid-frenzied media junk that comes with it.

Posted by Robsam at 03:04 AM

August 17, 2006

L.A. Times Profile of "Girls Gone Wild" Impressario and Slimeball Joe Francis

There was a fascinating article last week in West, the Los Angeles Times magazine, on Joe Francis, the slimey entrepeneur and impressario behind the "Girls Gone Wild" series of amateur soft-porn DVDs you see advertised on cable channels late at night. According the to article titled "Baby, Give Me a Kiss," Francis assaulted Claire Hoffman, the L.A. Times journalist who wrote the piece. The article generally paints a portrait of Joe Francis that makes him seem like a guy with a majorly high asshole-quotient ("AQ"). But that's not as surprising as his reported behavior and his treatment of women in general and of Hoffman during her interviews with Francis. What is also surprising is that he's been associated with Paris Hilton from time to time ... er, wait ... Paris Hilton? Well, actually, that really isn't suprising, is it?

Posted by Thurston Ali at 03:17 AM

July 31, 2006

Mel Gibson's Mug Shot Released

The Los Angeles Country Sheriff's Department has released the mug shot of Mel Gibson taken after his arrest last weekend following a DUI incident that has now become an international scandal.

Air Massive's crack team of mug-shot photo analysts (MSPAs) has examined the newly released image and has compiled the following notes ...

First, notice the sad eyes Gibson displays in the photo. Is he employing some of that thespiatic Mel magic and "acting" sad in an attempt to present himself as a sympathetic figure? Or is he just really sad? Notice how his eyes are glassy, indication of heavy alcohol consumption.

Second: Is it just us or has Mel recently had hair implants put in? Pay particular attention to the area of Gibson's scalp near the center-forehead hairline. And what's with that gelled look on the forelock sticking out in front?

Third: Mel Gibson's shirt is -- we're guessing -- some sort of Hugo Boss or Armani number that he paid $675.00 for retail, but it still looks bad on him. We're presuming that when you got a $850 million dollar fortune, you don't have to give a shit about what other people think of your appearance. (And, dude, Mel, do something about the chest hair -- wax on, wax off!)

Fourth: Is Mel smirking into the camera? It does look like a smile. Dude, Mel, you are one cheeky bastard. We think that Gibson's PR people had a strategy in place a long time ago and told Mel to remember one very important thing in the event that he should ever get arrested: smile for your mug shot. Because, even though it's a mug shot, it's going to get splattered across the media landscape like a million eggs on the windshield of a Ferrari going 80 down PCH -- and you're gong to want to look like a nice, normal, positive guy with a nice, normal, positive smile that counters the negative sting of a mug shot.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 11:12 PM

Mega-Celebrity Mel Gibson Arrested for DUI, Allegedly Spews Anti-Semitic Crap, Hurls F-Bomb to Cops

Last Friday, Mel Gibson was arrested after what started out as a routine police stop for speeding and for suspected driving under the influence of alcohol, but then Gibson allegedly went on a drunken rant, spewing a series of anti-semitic remarks at the L.A. Country Sheriff officers.

If your are on the editorial teams at the Star, US Weekly, People or on the production teams of Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight or any news outlet in any medium that devotes serious gossip coverage, then today is the kind of day you dream of, a day when a supernova Hollywood name falls from grace in a big, bad, ugly and shit-faced way. Today is that day.

Although the incident happended late last Friday night, today was the first proper day of the media-machine work week. Which means Gison has had time to prepare for the initial fall-out. In the meantime, Gibson and his PR firm-lawyer-agent-starfucking-industrial complex have had the actor/producer/director issue an apology and announce plans to go into rehab.

The media are already speculating about the end of Mel's career, but we're not buying it. As offensive, despicable and scandalous as his alleged actions are, we're predicting that his career will be damaged a little, but in the end he will be forgiven by most and remain the powerful Hollywood player that he is, though the reality is that much of that will hinge on the success or failure of his upcoming film, "Apocalypto."

The real question Mel should be asking right now is "What would Jesus do?"

Posted by Thurston Ali at 05:41 PM

July 17, 2006

Yummy Celebrity Gossip Linkage!!!

Mischa Barton has a nipple-slip accident in her limo.
Lucy Liu did some topless modelling back in the day before she was a Charlie's Angel. NSFW
Desperate housewife loses her bath towel and talks nude with Dave Letterman on the Late Show - VIDEO
Without irony, Paris Hilton dumps on skinny girls in indirect reference to Nicole Richie

Posted by Thurston Ali at 11:54 PM

May 03, 2006

Paris Hilton Backlash Vol 13: Paris Wins "Ugly Award"

In addition to the Razzie Award she won for her poor acting in the 2005 movie "House of Wax," Paris Hilton has won another demeaning award. This time its the "Ugly Award" that is given as part of the annual "Good, Bad and Ugly Awards" for women in advertising. Paris was awarded the dishonor for the infamous Carl's Jr. "Spicy Paris" television commercial she did last year. In 2005, she was given the same award for a series of Guess Jeans ads in which she appeared half naked. Two years in a row -- not bad, Paris. We think that maybe it's time for Paris to hijack the whole awards meme itself and start her own annual version of the Oscars for what's "hot" and what's "not hot." The hotel heiress could call it the Paris Awards (you heard it here first) and turn it into a yearly cable-television event and webcast. (And, hey, maybe we could produce it.) Naturally, Hilton would be the chief MC of the ceremony, but there could be guest presenters, too. The awards themselves would be diamond-encrusted statuettes of herself. MTV, are you listening?

Posted by Thurston Ali at 01:34 AM

April 20, 2006

Colin Farrell Sex-Tape Saga Settled (Or is It?)

The homemade sex tape of Irish actor Colin Farrell and ex-girlfriend Nicole Narain will not see the light of day. After some back-and-forth legal manuevering through the courts, Farrell and Narain have come to an agreement and settled on terms that will keep the sex tape from getting into the public as a for-sale porn production a la Paris Hilton's "One Night in Paris" video. Narain was stopped from producing and selling the tape of her and Farrell's carnal exercises, we presume, as a commercial product or making it available to the public. The terms of the agreement were not made public. We imagine that it all just came down to money. That is, we figure that Farrell and his lawyers probably offered to cut Narain a check with many zeros on it in exchange for the tape. Now, we have a sneaking suspicion that somehow, somewhere, someday, via the Internet (of course), this sex tape might find its way mysteriously into unofficial public view, that is, the Internet being the Internet and all that, and human nature being human nature. Oh, but to dream ... Colin you had better burn every single copy of that tape, dude!

Posted by Thurston Ali at 02:04 AM

April 19, 2006

Man Shot by Rapper Proof Dies

Last week we posted about the news that Proof, the lead rapper in the hip-hop unit D12 and a close friend of Eminem, was fatally gunned down at a club in the Eight Mile neighborhood of Detroit. Apparently, according to the Detroit Free Press, before Proof was murdered, he had a dispute with Keith Bender and fired a gun at him. Bender was the brother of the man who then shot Proof. Bender initally survived the attack, but died today.

Posted by Robsam at 01:30 AM

April 04, 2006

Naomi Campbell and Cell Phones: Potentially Lethal Combo

Aaah .. tsk, tsk, tak ... Naomi, Naomi, Naomi! What is it with you and cell phones and temper tantrums and use of said cell phones as alleged projectiles for punishing underlings and lower non-supermodelling commoners? Huh? Seriously. For fuck's sake now -- you're 35 years old and that supermodelling career is, well, er, kind of ... over. Now, okay, okay, okay ... just say these two itty-bitty pretty words with me now: "anger management." Repeat. Again.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 12:47 AM

April 02, 2006

Russell Simmons and Kimora Lee are Splitsville

One has to wonder if it's an April Fools Day hoax, but major news outlets, including the BBC, are reporting the news of the split between hip-hop and fashion moguls Russell Simmons and his wife, Kimora Lee Simmons. This separation at the pinnacle of American music and style royalty may be the first of its kind: Russell a seminal force in the early commercialization and spread of rap music and one of hip-hop's first true massively successful entrepeneurs; She a former model for Karl Lagerfeld and the ruling figurehead of Baby Phat, the spin-off brand from his Phat Farm clothing brand. If this isn't a prank on the part of the hip-hop power couple, then this is a split to which we want front-row, center seats. Will the divorce be messy? Bitter? Acrimonious? Will it be played out in the media in barrage after barrage of he-said she-said insults and gossip? Because the couples' business interests are so intertwined, how will their empire be divied up? Or, will there be a reconciliation? Or ... wait ... might this be the perfect opportunity for a new reality TV series? Stay tuned, kids.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 03:09 AM

March 24, 2006

Babyshambles' Pete Doherty Goes to Court

Pete Doherty, the Babyshambles front man and former Libertines singer/guitarist and ex-boyfriend of model Kate Moss, was in a London courthouse Thursday where he plead guilty on drugs possession charges after arriving an hour late. But while the court appearance was a sober affair (no pun intended), at least inside the courthouse, it turned into a circus outside as Doherty made his exit. He reportedly kicked a BBC reporter, ran down the street trailed by the press and paparazzi, jumped onto the trunk of his Jaguar before leaping into his car and speeding off and nearly smashing into another vehicle in the process. Before he raced off, he spelled out a message to his ex-girlfriend on the car window, writing, "I love Kate 4 eva,"as well as adding "QPR" for his favorite English football (soccer) team, Queens Park Rangers. That Doherty has major, serious drug and addiction problems is no surprise. But how it is that he keeps getting arrested and ending up in jail so many times is boggling. Hopefully, he's getting his act together and overcoming his problems, because there's no doubt that he has talent and -- as anyone who has listened to his music can attest -- the potential to become a major artist.

Posted by Supercore at 12:41 AM

March 21, 2006

Paris Hilton Backlash, Vol. 9: The Break-up

Wow. Even MSNBC has its filthy little paws in the gossip trough. The news outlet has with surprising timeliness lined up with the rumor-mongering blogosphere to report what sounds like a break-up between Paris Hilton and Stavros Niarchos. Stavros is the second in a line of Greek shipping heirs to march hand-in-hand wtih Paris through the jet-set party scene is as many years. The relationship, rumor has it, came to tears at an L.A. party (where else?) when the Hilton hotel heiress became upset with her beau for ignoring her and speaking exclusively in Greek with an old friend from his homeland. Guess for Paris, learning foreign languages is not hot.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 01:16 AM

March 15, 2006

Colin Farrell Sex Tape Gets Day in Court

Readers may recall from last summer, the leaking of news that the infamously randy Irish actor appeared in a 15-minute home-made sex tape with "model" and Playboy Playmate centerfold Nicole Narain (Miss January 2002, thank you very much). Narain plans to sell the videotape, and the company producing, packaging and distributing the sex tape for sale has offered her $3 million. But then there's the nasty little business of a lawsuit filed by Colin to stop the video from ever gettting into the hands of the public. An L.A. court has reportedly upheld Colin's lawsuit, so ultimately the legal system will decide if the sex tape gets released (gets legally released, that is -- remember there's always the good ol' Interweb! We have a sneaking suspicion that it will turn up there somehow, despite what a judge or jury decides). While a sex tape might be bad for most actors' careers, somehow, for Colin Farrell being, well, Colin Farrell, this might actually help his career, which, frankly, has been a bit lackluster lately at the box office despite some serious movie work. Seriously, Colin, what have you done for us lately, eh?

Posted by Thurston Ali at 11:58 PM

March 13, 2006

Paris Hilton Backlash Vol. 8: Paris Allegedly Has Herpes?

More hate-dumping on Paris. This one almost -- almost -- leaves a bad taste in our mouth. Many mainstream media (MSM) and blogosphere outlets that reported (er ... gossiped) on the restraining order placed on the celebutante hotel heiress have been mentioning the herpes angle of the story. Apparently, allegedly, reportedly ... blah, blah, blah ... Hilton may have the dreaded venereal virus. Brian Quintana, who requested the restraining order, had supposedly warned his friend and current Hilton boyfriend, Stavros Niarchos, that Paris has herpes. This is what allegedly got Paris angry and inspired her recent hate-spree of harassment on Quintana. Paris and herpes .... Are we really surprised? No. Do we really care? No. Is this interesting? Fuck yeah! Are you kidding?! You know it is, B!

Posted by Thurston Ali at 09:11 PM

March 10, 2006

Boy George to do Community Service in NYC

DJ and fashion designer Boy George will not go to jail as a result of drug-possession charges thathad been brought against him in a New York court. According to the U.K. newspaper the Guardian, Boy George was fined, ordered to go to rehab and required to do community services as part of a plea bargain that allowed drug charges to be dropped and the former Culture Club frontman to simply admit to "wasting police time."

Posted by Thurston Ali at 03:11 AM

March 09, 2006

Paris Hilton Backlash Vol. 6: Paris Denied Entry to This Year's Vanity Fair Post-Oscars Party

The disses keep getting dumped on Paris Hilton. The New York Post is reporting (as well as the gossip blogosphere) that Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter has snubbed Paris Hilton by publicly stating that she wasn't invited to the magazine's annual hot-ticket Academy Awards after-party at Morton's restaurant in Los Angeles. There's some irony here, as it was only this past October when Hilton appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair. Apparently, Carter feels that the no-talent celebutante's 15 minutes of fame have dragged on long enough. The editor announced on a recent episode of the HBO talk-show "Real Time with Bill Maher" that Paris would not be allowed into the Vanity Fair Oscars party. Indeed, at the party late Sunday night, Carter underscored the persona non grata status of party-girl Paris with a "Paris, who?" response when asked about the hotel heiress not being allowed in. Observers have noted that ex-friends and public enemies of Paris Hilton, the O.C. starlet Mischa Barton and the Simple Life co-star Nicole Richie, were both at the Vanity fair party and were spotted together sharing laughs.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 12:45 AM

March 08, 2006

Paris Hilton Backlash Vol. 5: Courts Slaps Restraining Order on Paris!

Oh, Paris! Has it really come to this? You know things have taken a turn when "important" media outlets -- Washington Post, no less -- start reporting on court decisions against you. According to a Washinton Post report filed early Wednesday morning, Paris was issued a three-year restraining order that requires her to stay at least 100 yards away from Los Angeles events producer Brian Quintana. In a unique twist, the order allows that distance to be shortened to 25 feets if Hilton and Quintana happen to be attending the same party. Well, that might work in L.A. or in your average sprawling mansion or concert venue, but Paris had better hope they both don't happen to book the same LA-NYC flight? Welcome to economy class, Paris.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 03:32 AM

March 06, 2006

Paris Hilton Backlash, Part 4: Paris Given "Worst Supporting Actress" Award for "House of Wax"

Last week, on the eve of Sunday's Oscars awards, it was nice to see news outlets worldwide reporting that Paris Hilton was given that lowest of Hollywood awards, the Razzie. The award, which is actually called the Raspberry, was doled out at 26th Annual Raspberry Awards ahead of the Academy Awards. Paris won the award for her acting performance in the 2005 horror flick "House of Wax." To clarify, according to the press release, the award is for "Worst Supporting Actress." This year's Raspberry Awards winners also included Jenny McCarthy, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 11:36 PM

March 01, 2006

Paris Hilton Backlash Cont'd: Olsen Twins Avoid Paris and Her Party Posse

The ever-a-fluttering gossip mills turns on and on ... That ever under-estimated celebrity power duo, the Olsen twins, Mary-Kate and Ashley, have made it clear that they're not fans of the Paris Hilton entrourage in recent comments that --- if you read between the lines -- amount to a unusually understated type of hate-dumping on the Hilton hotel heiress and celebutante. British site EntertainmentWise is reporting that the twins try to avoid Paris Hilton at all costs. Which makes sense, especially given that Paris "stole" Mary-Kate's boyfriend, Stavros Niarchos, last year. The Oslens seemed to have risen above the fray with a degree of maturity and dignity (if that's posible in this game) by declining to throw direct insults to Paris, but the tone of their comments about the Paris crowd says it all. According to EntertainmentWise, which quotes the Post-Chronicle, Mary-Kate Olsen said, "I would actually not consider myself as being part of the crowd, although I am surrounded by it at times." She also added, "It's very much like high school. Whether it's the popular crew or not, it's just that there's some gossip here or somebody's telling a lie over there."

Posted by Supercore at 10:08 PM

February 28, 2006

Don Knotts, R.I.P.

"Mr. Furley" was how we remember comedic actor Don Knotts. Knotts played "Furley," a bumbling apartment landlord, on the immensely popular -- and immensely cheesy -- American television sitcom "Three's Company" from 1979 to 1984. As child, we were (we confess) suckers for the silly, formulaic plots and slapstick comedy of the show and often wasted many half-hours in the early 80's watching afternoon re-reruns of the classic low-brow series. Knotts passed away last Friday in Los Angeles. Don Knotts, rest in peace.

Posted by Robsam at 10:53 PM

February 27, 2006

Actor-Skateboarder Harold Hunter, R.I.P.

We at the Massive were sad to hear last week of the death of Harold Hunter, a downtown Manhattan scenester, actor and pro skateboarder with the Zoo York team. He was found dead in his apartment on February 17 from an apparent cocaine overdose. For those who didn't know him either as friend or as a resident of the East Village, Hunter may be better known for his supporting acting role of "Harold" in the controversial and classic 1995 indie film "Kids." The film, which was directed by Larry Clark and starred Chloe Sevingy, was a day-in-the-life story of a group of promiscuous Manhattan teenage friends, one of whom has contracted HIV. We didn't know Harold personally, but we crossed paths with him around downtown numerous times -- at a party here, an art opening there, a bar or restuarant in the nabe. Once we caught him hanging out at one of the sidewalk cafe tables of the Japanese restaurant below our apartment. Funds are being raised to help defray the costs of Harold's funeral and wake via the Harold Hunter Web site. Rest in peace, Harold Hunter.

Posted by Supercore at 05:14 PM

February 22, 2006

Paris Hilton Backlash Update: Mischa Barton vs. Paris Verbal Bitch-Slapping Continues

The war of words between "The O.C." starlet Mischa Barton and hotel heiress Paris Hilton is now in full swing with today's reports of Paris swinging back after Barton struck out at the blonde celebutante by calling her "a silly bitch" while in the U.K. for the BAFTA, or the Brit Awards, show. Paris shot back at Barton, according to the New York Daily News, by remarking, "I don't even know the girl. I could care less. It seems like she's the one trying to stir up a rivalry. I've never said a word about her in my life. But she seems to be spending a lot of time thinking about me." Hmmm ... I don't know, Paris. That rejoinder somehow isn't ringing with what the Colbert Report would call "truthiness." C'mon, admit it, ya' silly beee-otch, you watch "The O.C." religiously and can't stand Mischa. Stay tuned for Act III, kids.

Posted by Supercore at 10:36 PM

February 21, 2006

Paris Hilton Backlash File: The O.C.'s Mischa Barton Dumps Hate on Paris ... Meerrowrr!

As far as we're concerned, the real, official Paris Hilton backlash is gaining momentum by the minute. Oh yeah, baby ... it's ON!!! The media, dissed celebs, ex-boyfriends, ex-reality TV show co-stars, jilted publicists, British footballer's wives -- it seems everybody has finally had enough of Paris and are ready to take her down. Now it's Mischa Barton's turn to make a verbal slap. The svelte and sexy star of the hit American TV series "The O.C." called Paris a "silly bitch" according to the Australian Broadcast Company (ABC) News Arts Web site "The Shallow End."The weblog is also saying that Barton is pals with Paris' ex-bestest-friend-ever Nicole Richie. Hmm ... In our ongoing Paris Hilton backlash coverage, we'll keep tabs on the latest "news" to come across the Internet transom. Stay tuned kids.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 11:50 PM

February 20, 2006

Paris Hilton in Hot Pursuit of British Football Star?

The U.K. gossip mill is all a-flutter with news of Paris Hilton's homewrecking advances on Chelsea Football Club and England team star midfielder Frank Lampard. While British gossip sites and media folks have weighed in heavy in the rumor-mongering, the "reputable" Sky News (Sky Showbiz) reported that the Hilton hotel heiress, Paris, met Lampard at the recent Brit Awards and gave the footballer her cellphone number. She reportedly stalked after him, following the Cheslea lad to two after parties in London. Lampard, who is engaged to Elen Rives, the mother of Lampard's six-month old daughter, Luna, apparently wasn't interested in "spicy" Paris. Hilton's actions are said to have infuriated Lampard's fiancee.

Posted by Supercore at 09:23 PM

December 21, 2005

Kimora Lee Simmons Watch: Is Baby Phat Boss' Fabulosity "Over the Top"?

In our ongoing series of posts devoted to monitoring news on Kimora Lee Simmons, we came across this recent ABC News item about Kimora in which she boldly agrees with accusations that she's "over the top" in her eye-blinding, blinged-out fabulosity. As the slim, tall force behind the Baby Phat brand, the half-Korean, half-black Kimora Lee is a person of fascination and inspiration for many young women. She is a former model and the wife of hip-hop mogul Russel Simmons, AND she is a mother of two children and a successful business person. Kimora Lee has a singular style that's a mix of aspirational glamour and hip-hop-flavored feminity. "Over the top"? Sure, if she says so, but we don't agree. Fabulous? Definitely.

Essential Linkage

Lee's 'Fabulosity' [ABC News]
Kimora Lee Simmons
Baby Phat Website

Posted by Robsam at 01:16 AM

December 11, 2005

Richard Pryor, RIP

Heard the sad news from LA late Friday night: legendary stand-up comic and actor Richard Pryor had passed away. Pryor was one of the biggest, most influential and original comedians to come onto the American stand-up scene in the 1970's. He became one of comedy's first big superstars and began appearing in a string of popular films. His style of humor -- filled with expletives -- was a source of inspiration for comedians as diverse as Chris Rock and Robyn Williams and David Letterman. He was also one of the first black comics to crossover to the mainstream and find a mass audience. The media is reporting that Pryor died of a heart attack. He had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) years earlier. In the early 1980's he was almost killed in his home in a home cocaine-making explosion, which left him with severe burns on 50 percent of his body. (Pryor had become a habitual drug-user at the time.) Richard Pryor, respect. Rest in peace.

Essential Links
Richard Pryor Official Website
Comedian Richard Pryor dead at 65 [BBC News]
Pioneering Comedian Richard Pryor Dies [ABC News / AP]

Posted by Supercore at 04:49 AM

October 18, 2005

Kimora Lee Simmons Update

In our revived ongoing series where we keep tabs on the supernova fabulosity of Kimora Lee Simmons, we came across an item in last week's Chicago Sun-Times about the former runway model in her efforts to promote her new Baby Phat perfume at a store in St. Louis. From the quotes in the article alo