September 30, 2006
Recently Dead
Beth Levine, considered "among the most influential shoe designers of the century" and who made the white stiletto boots for Nancy Sinatra to wear when performing "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'," died Wednesday of lung cancer at home in New York City. She was 91. (NYT) Raymond "Boz" Burrell, British bass player who left the band King Crimson in 1972 to join former Free and Mott the Hoople musicians in forming Bad Company ("Can't Get Enough," "Feel Like Makin' Love"), died of a heart attack at home in Spain last week. He was 60. (LAT)
21st-Century Vox
What the Hell Happened to You?
I was watching that horrible show Celebrity Duets the other night and, as I was trying desperately to continue looking at the screen as the awkward contestants got chastised by the likes of Marie Osmond and Little Richard, they call Chaka Kahn to the stage. My first thought was, “Damn, how did they get Chaka Kahn to perform on this tragic show?” but once she appeared on stage my thought shifted to “Damn how did they get Chaka Kahn ONTO the stage?” She strolled out looking more like Ghengis Kahn, and I was afraid that she may just eat the person she was doing the duet with. I mean, GOOD GOD SHE’S BIG. Granted, she was never a petite flower, but when in God’s name did she decide that she could let herself go like that? Chaka, honey, gravy is not a beverage!
September 29, 2006
Sitings
• Nate spent many many hours on and has taken even more photos of the extendable/retractable claws for his Wolverine costume, which was "visualized, conceived, and conceptualized entirely by Nate" and has been called by his friends "the most accurate costume [...] ever seen." (t/y Ross)
• This is not a game, it's a toy. You draw the surface that the cute little linerider travels down. Fun. Can be bloody once you get the hang of it. (t/y Eduardo)
• Clitoraid. It is what it is. Founded by the Raelian Movement. (t/y Thairin)
The Revolution Will Soon Be Televised
Continuing with our countdown to WOW TV's launch, we bring you Dylan Vox's Morning Shower, in which the Voxster muses on everything from politics to underwear. While naked in his shower. Watch the Sex episode here.
The Moye Files
For those of you mourning the loss of Moye, you'll be pleased to know that she does still make her presence felt on occasion, in someone or another's inbox. Here's a recent email exchange she had with Steven Corfe:
On Sept 29, 2006, at 10:12 AM, Moye Ishimoto wrote:
http://www.mydeathspace.com/deaths.aspx
this site keeps track of all the people who die with myspace profiles. it's so freaky!
On Sept 29, 2006, at 10:20 AM, Steven Corfe wrote:
That's horrible
On Sept 29, 2006, at 10:23 AM, Moye Ishimoto wrote:
i can't stop going through the list of people.
On Sept 29, 2006, at 10:25 AM, Steven Corfe wrote:
I got to the bottom of the first page. Clicking Page 2 is taking it too far.
On Sept 29, 2006, at 10:31 AM, Moye Ishimoto wrote:
i'm on page 16. check out this myspace whore. it's all so sad.
http://www.mydeathspace.com/deaths.aspx?ctl00_MainContent_Weblogs1_page=6&ctl00_
MainContent_Weblogs1_show=3a9a1e70-88fd-43d3-9306-5750d0b27be3
On Sept 29, 2006, at 10:34 AM, Steven Corfe wrote:
You're sick
On Sept 29, 2006, at 10:37 AM, Moye Ishimoto wrote:
it makes me feel better. you better write nice things in my comments section if this happens to me.
On Sept 29, 2006, at 10:44 AM, Steven Corfe wrote:
I'll write:
"You'd never guess from the photos that Moye was a tomboy. She was a big fan of this myspace death page. I'm glad she got to be a part of it."
On Sept 29, 2006, at 11:03 AM, Moye Ishimoto wrote:
I'm leaving your funeral early.
On Sept 29, 2006, at 11:04 AM, Steven Corfe wrote:
You're not invited.
On Sept 29, 2006, at 11:06 AM, Moye Ishimoto wrote:
Fine.
The email exchange ended at this point.
Of Interest: Recently Dead Edition
In 1949, Martha Holmes photographed Jackson Pollock for Life magazine, and 50 years later the photo was turned into a 33-cent postage stamp (with the cigarette mysteriously absent from the artist's lips). Holmes, who shot candids of actors and other celebrities and was one of the first female photographers at Life, died September 19 in New York City. She was 83. (LA Times)
For Whom the Bell Rang
Peter Paige guest-starred on Grey's Anatomy last night (watch episode here) as a guy with a brain tumor that caused him to speak his mind, however rude his thoughts. Peter spoke his mind on Ring My Bell earlier this month, and talked about his horrible teachers, why the plug was pulled on Queer As Folk, what it's like doing sex scenes, and Gabrielle Union. (Watch)
Dish Network
A couple of chicks talking over the phone about a couple of celebrity chicks. With subtitles when necessary. Randy is nuts for this clip. (Watch at YouTube)
Spit Take 2
Avril Lavigne's husband, Deryck Whipley, hurled a gob at photographers as the couple left the gala opening of Area last night (real original name for a nightclub, by the way). His better half did the same on two separate nights recently. Everyone is all "Eww" and "Uggh" and citing laws against saliva assault. But Avril is PUNK ROCK, y'all. Debbie Harry once told us that back in the day Blondie was so spit on while performing that her face was often dripping with it – and it was an honor. (Watch the loogie)
For Whom the Bell Rings
In the midst of the Anna Nicole Smith baby paternity scandal, what better guest to have on Ring My Bell this morning than Bobby Trendy, the flamboyant interior decorator who made more than an impression on Anna Nicole's reality show. Call Bobby on 323 603-6312 between 11AM and 12PM, and watch him live on the webcam at www.ringmybell.tv. I'm sure he'll have some interesting insights.
– Steven Corfe
It's a Nude Morning
Australia's Naked Rugby League calendar for 2007 will be available in October. These guys have such developed boobs that it makes sense the proceeds from sales should go to the National Breast Cancer Foundation of Australia. Although that's caused some controversy in the land Down There. See the whole year of boys at OMGblog.
Today TV
Randy Barbato writes:
I am watching Janet on Today right now. She's performing "Nasty." There seems to be a set malfunction: Foil streamers keep preventing us from seeing her. Wait, now the cameramen are trying to move the streamers out of the way... I can almost see her. Her breasts are covered, but if one more button is opened up they will pop. OMG! I just realized I can't hear her. She is totally inaudible! The song is over. I'm thinking we aren't supposed to hear her.
(See also: PopMuse)
Jack on the Block
This is Jack Palance's house, Holly-Brooke Farm, in Hazelton, Pennsylvania. It's more like a museum; he actually lives on a ranch in Southern California. All this stuff and lots more – 3,000 art and antique pieces – will be auctioned off October 12-14 at the farm. Yes, it's the same Jack Palance who starred in Panic in the Streets, Shane, Contempt, and City Slickers, and did those one-arm pushups at the Academy Awards that year. (via Luxist)
Snap!
It was Gwyneth's 34th birthday yesterday and Beyoncé and Jay-Z spent the day in London with her and Chris Martin. The super-rich couples shopped and laughed, ate Japanese, and partied after Jay-Z's sold-out show at the Royal Albert Hall. (via Beyoncé World)
Dave's Top 10
Last night's Late Show with David Letterman Top-10 list was Chapter Titles in Jim McGreevey's Book:
10. The Day I Got Caught Governing Myself
9. How to Pretend to Like Girls for 47 Years
8. From Schwarzenegger to Pataki: Governors I'd Like to Oil Up
7. Another Confession – I Can't Resist Entenmann's Pound Cake
6. At First I Just Thought I Was Bipartisan
5. The New Jersey Budget Crisis – What Would Judy Garland Do?
4. A Look at the Governor's Balls
3. Politicians Who Left a Bad Taste in My Mouth
2. How to Push Through a Bill – Or a Steve or a Larry
1. Why I Don't Like Bush
(t/y Jennifer)
Attack of the 50 Foot Celebrity
The photo of Tom and Katie (via CityRag) is the latest in a growing number of shots that show one member of a celebrity couple freakishly towering over the other.
September 28, 2006
Hollywood Appendagitis
At first we were concerned about Kate Hudson's sixth toe (or toes, assuming she's symmetrical), until we realized that extra appendages are not that abnormal in Hollywood. It's simply a matter of survival. We put Steven Corfe on the trail of celebs with something extra and he found a couple of paparazzi shots that were surprising upon closer scrutiny. Kate Moss, for example, benefits greatly from her second nose; usually concealed under her fetching model's coif, it serves as convenient backup when the central one is clogged after a particularly high-spirited night. And with all the stuff Ashley Olsen finds the need to carry with her all the time like a privileged bag lady, it was imperative that she grow that other arm. But we wonder, Why would Hudson need extra toes?
UPN: Movin' On Up
Says Randy Barbato:
Instead of changing their signage, the UPN folks are leaving the building this Friday. Here are some snapshots we took at a pitch meeting today. As Fenton says, Never leave a meeting without something. (In this case, we got pictures AND water.)
PS: We asked if the fountain in the lobby might be available on eBay and we were told it was unlikely. Darn.
Celebrities at Large
I was on my way back from Famima!! on Hollywood Boulevard when a commotion of sorts caught my eye on the sidewalk just ahead. A gaggle of 20 tourists were waving camera phones in the air around P Diddy taking a stroll along the Walk of Fame. What the hell, I thought, pulling out my phone to take this video. The tourist in the blue cap in front of me said to Diddy, "I'm from England, can I get a photo with you?" As an Englishman myself, I already know the I'm-from-England trick sometimes works. But it looks like I can add "hip-hop mogul"' under "traffic cops" on the list of who it doesn't fly with; Diddy declined to have his picture taken.
– Steven Corfe
Wham! Boom! Thank You, Man
Our co-producer, Loren, was a very big fan of Charlie¹s Angels when he was growing up (a Boomer himself, he was 12 in 1976 when the series hit America like an exploding pocket rocket). But his parents would not let him watch Charlie's Angels or Soap so he had to sneak the family's 13-inch black-and-white TV to his room every Wednesday night. We knew something was up when his face turned ash white and his voice cracked like Bobby Brady's during the "change." THE Jaclyn Smith was on the phone, concerned that she might have come across as prudish during her interview (we did ask some racy questions). Loren assured her that she did not and she doesn¹t. You can catch the still-sexy and very classy Smith on WOW¹s Generation Boom. Another episode airs tonight on TV Land at 10PM. (Watch)
– Jim Eckels
Saving Private Ryan
In Stop Loss, Kimberly Pierce's currently filming project, Ryan Phillippe plays a soldier who refuses to return to Iraq even though the government says he must. Here's a shot of Phillippe with some of the cast.
She's Got It Covered
She's free to do what she wants, any ol' time, y'all. Britney Spears has unloaded her longtime mouthpiece Leslie Sloane Zelnik and will now be in charge of her own publicity. "If Britney were my client," said another flack, "I would fire her. Why work with someone who clearly doesn't want to listen?" Britney clearly doesn't have to: Her first move since going it alone was to broker a deal with People magazine involving a nice piece of change (and a year's worth of bubble gum) for the exclusive rights to first pictures of Federline newborn, Sutton. Although OK! allegedly offered $2 million, Spears went with People, who also debuted first shots of the Spears-Federline wedding and baby Sean Preston. "That was smart," said one of those voices always available to say things in reports like this. "OK! is famous for not paying people on time." (Radar)
The Revolution Will Soon Be Televised
Continuing with our countdown to WOW TV's launch, we bring you Toy Stories: Friends from the Adam & Joe channel. Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Ross, Chandler, and Gunther as you've never seen them before. (Watch)
Commercial Interruption
Sure, TiVo and DVR are great and even life-changing, but there is the drawback of speeding through the commercials. Not that we actually miss commercials, but there are some that... well, when we watch TV as it spews out in its non-TiVo "live" version, the way God meant it to be seen, we look forward to the two commercials above. The first, Discover's heartwarming bit of adorability, "Scissors," gives us goosebumps everytime and we would totally go to the movies to see a fleshed-out 90-minute treatment. The other, Nissan's "Auto claustrophobia," just makes us laugh. (Watch)
Bloom in Love
Orlando Bloom tries to avoid the cameras by slipping out of Hyde behind the sister of his new girlfriend, Penelope Cruz. Apparently, Kate Bosworth lost so much weight that she completely disappeared. (via X17)
(Sorry about the earlier gaffe; we wuz distracted.)
Unpredictable
It's recently come to light that Miss Cleo, the disgraced telephone psychic of infomercial fame, is a lesbian. Now Bennett Madison, handsome young-adult author (Lulu Dark Can See Through Walls) and self-described "sassy receptionist" with no discernible psychic powers, tells his story of being employed as one of Miss Cleo's psychics, described on craigslist as "phone actors." (The Bennett Madison Experience)
Pretty
So Pete Doherty, not even a week out of the Priory rehab facility in North London, was seen yesterday around lunchtime buying two syringes at a drugstore in Dublin, Ireland, where his band had been performing. He pocketed the bag of spikes in his suit jacket as he left the shop and headed back to the hotel where girlfriend Kate Moss was waiting. (Hmm, isn't she supposed to be staying with the band on the tour bus? So is it bus or hotel? Is this item about the syringes even true?) But in all fairness, Doherty does use the syringes to make his blood art, so let's not make the easy leap to blackened spoons.
Meanwhile, it's said that teenage girls have been flocking to the Priory, enrolling as outpatients and complaining of anxiety, just for a chance to run into Doherty. “Pete has even visited some of the girls and helped them write poems," says a source at the clinic. "They are hooked on his every word. They think being in rehab is cool." (The Sun)
Let Them Eat Paparazzi
The girls showed up at the ArcLight for a special screening of Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette Tuesday night. And by "special" they mean we weren't invited. From left, Kirsten Dunst, Robin Tunney, Rose McGowan, Mischa Barton, Lindsay Lohan, and Drew Barrymore. (via Teddy & Moo's Place)
It's a Wrap
Popbitch tells us this morning that through all the tears and mourning over the sudden loss of her son, Anna Nicole Smith managed to wrangle $600,000 out of Us magazine for the last batch of photos of her and Daniel. And did you know young Daniel was a movie producer? According to the Edgewood Studios website, Daniel Smith co-produced Illegal Aliens, along with his mother and Edgewood.
"This is something for Daniel′s future, and he is interested in working behind the camera" Ms. Smith stated. His contributions to "Illegal Aliens" far surpassed that of a normal Producer as his unique "Gen Y" sense of humor was constantly in demand on the set. The highly improvisational nature of the of the film's humor was greatly influenced by Daniel not just directly, but also in the support he gave his mother Anna in many of the film′s more daringly wacky moments. If Daniel laughed at it, we knew it was going in the film.
thisisaknife: Blacking Up Was Never Wrong
This week, Donal meets the secretive Verbal Gardeners, experts of linguistic espionage. To conceal their identities, we blur their faces. We also conceal Donal's identity from them. In a different way.
September 27, 2006
Snatch 'n' Sniff
Variety is running a story on its front page about the world's first DVD-sniffing dogs – the latest weapons in the Motion Picture Association of America's fight against piracy. Here at World of Wonder, however, we've long been utilizing Stella, our DVD-sniffing office bitch, to ensure employees don't sneak off with company porn.
– Steven Corfe
Recently Dead
Iva Toguri, one of about 12 young women branded "Tokyo Rose" during World War II because they broadcast radio programs from Japan demoralizing to American soldiers, died yesterday at home in Chicago. She was 90 and cause of death was not reported, but it would seem being 90 would be cause enough. Read more, it's the stuff of movies. (t/y JJ)
Bringing Jesus Back
At Becky Fischer's Kids on Fire Summer Camp in North Dakota, little children learn to worship George W Bush, become Christian soldiers in God's army, and die for Jesus. WOW alumna Heidi Ewing's doc, Jesus Camp, is the subject of this ABC News clip. (Watch)
Off the Top of His Noodle
Another presidential doodle from the new book Presidential Doodles, this one from Ronald Reagan, who apparently daydreamed about international stereotypes, pinheads, himself as a cowboy, winning the Heisman Trophy, and lovin' him some Nancy.
My Morning
11:05AM Read on Oh No They Didn't that CNN put out a false statement on their news ticker that Nicole Richie "checked into rehab for an eating disorder," which Nicole immediately responded to on her MySpace page. Feel sorry for the poor CNN bitch who fed that story into the ticker. Wait, Nicole Richie has a MySpace page?
11:07AM Check out Nicole Richie's MySpace page. Horrible colors. Nice pics. Only 4,996 friends?
11:10AM Wonder what kind of people make it into Nicole Richie's Top 16 friends. Check out MASHA's profile. Privileged bitches, by all accounts.
11:13AM Find this pic of MASHA partying with Nicole and Mischa Barton. Really hope the outfits are tongue-in-cheek. You can never tell with Mischa.
11:15AM Discover that Nicole had her first ever Rosh Hashana dinner over at MASHA's. Wonder if she ate anything. She really thought it was called Rosh Soshana? And what was she doing up at 2:36AM?
11:19AM Ask Nicole Richie to be my MySpace friend. Maybe she'll come on Ring My Bell once she's out of rehab.
– Steven Corfe
Hollywood Shocker: Robinson Recants
In an interview on the new ReelzChannel network, Morgan Creek's CEO James G Robinson, who two months ago very publicly accused Lindsay Lohan of being discourteous, irresponsible, and unprofessional, now says he’d be happy to make another movie with the hard-partying actress and calls her “a professional,” adding that “she’s on her mark and she knows her lines. She doesn’t complain and she’s very cooperative." So does this mean the terrorists have won? (via Celebrity Week)
Mean Girl
She does what she wants to, not what she needs to. She's Dahv, sometime white-girl rapper, sometime white-bread pop singer. Yo, she's only 12. (Check her out)
Snap!
Wonder why we're posting this photo of Mandy Moore strolling along a bucolic LA street? (via Celebrity Nation)
First Class
If we ever get a really cute, squeezably adorable kitten we're definitely naming it Bilson in honor of The OC star Rachel Bilson, whom we find here, charmingly without star attitude, at LAX. We'll be right there to pick her up. (via ICYDK)
Why Do We Sit in the Stands?
Million Dollar Listing's Scotty Brown was kind enough to resend one of his World Series pics. Here he is with popular actor John Cusack. (t/y Afsheen)
You Know You Want To Dept.
Here's how to make this swell messenger bag out of 3.5-inch floppy discs. (Instructables via OMG!)
Burns Unit
Whaddyaknow, Pete's a free man! He was due to stand trial at the end of the month accused of harassment. But all the charges have been dramatically dropped. Not a shred of evidence found. Nice use of police time we reckon. Here he is at a Scissor Sisters gig. Let the good times roll.
– Cat McShane
Snap!
We're thinking it must have been laundry day. You gotta figure even John Mayer runs out of clean clothes sometimes. (via MSM)
Pete 'n' Kate
Kate Moss joined Babyshambles on stage at their gig at a club in Ireland Monday night, lending her lungs to a duet with boyfriend Pete Doherty. According to reports, she chugged beer and chain-smoked during their rendition of "La Belle et la Bete" and throughout the rest of the gig. Photos from the performance show Moss looking zonked, with coke boogers clogging her nostrils. Although Doherty had checked out of London's Priory rehab clinic only hours before and drank water all night, it appears to be business as usual for the pair. While playing in Ireland, rock chick Moss has eschewed hotels and instead opted to bunk on the band's tour bus. No new comment on the couple's marriage plans. (Life Style Extra)
Snap!
Thairin lies the truth? One Punk, Under God producer Thairin Smothers caught red-handed doing research for WOW's Sundance series on hipster preacher Jay Bakker. (Photo: R Barbato)
September 26, 2006
Getting Along Swimmingly
Here's the little Peruvian miss, Milagros Cerron, called the Mermaid Girl, as she was two years ago and how she is today, taking some real steps. Her chief surgeon, who has treated her since she was two days old, said his team has reached 98 percent of its goal and further surgery would be mostly cosmetic. "We just need to finish up some touches on her lines. You know, you have to give some form to a mermaid and make her look as a normal person." That said, she still needs more surgery to correct her splayed feet and to reconstruct sexual, digestive, and some other organs.
(Previously) (Earlier)
The Revolution Will Soon Be Televised
Continuing with our sneak-preview clips for the imminent launch of WOW TV, we bring you a scene from the Kids Row channel, in which we gave cameras to kids living on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles, and asked them to film scenes from their daily lives. In this clip, Franklin and his friends go on a Toxic Hunt in the gutters of the area they call home. Watch the clip here. (Watch the clip)
Another Million Dollar Posting
While en route to Malibu to shoot a segment for tonight's episode of Million Dollar Listing (Bravo, 9PM), my phone buzzed with a text message from our pal Downtown Scotty Brown: "Can't make it today. Flying to Chicago with John Cusack in a private jet to see the White Sox play in the World Series from Michael Jordan's suite." Sounds pretty plausible, right? Of course, when I returned to the WOW office nobody believed the excuse, so Scotty sent a blurry cameraphone shot he stealthily snapped during the game. The original has long since disappeared into our email server, but thanks to the multitalented Steven Corfe we have the dramatic recreation above.
– Afsheen Family
Boom With a View
Sometimes the "match" between interviewer and interviewee just doesn't work. We sent our very British producer Emma to the City by the Bay to interview legendary baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays. Emma had read up on the "Say Hey" Kid but it's hard to cram a lifetime's worth of baseball knowledge into an interview prep packet. Perhaps Emma didn't know exactly what outfield position Willie played or when the Giants made the move from New York to San Francisco, but Willie and Emma just didn't connect. And Willie just wouldn’t play ball that afternoon. After we sent box sets of some of Willie's favorite TV Land shows, Willie was in better spirits! Hey, Willie – how was that first season of HUNTER?
– Loren Roberts
WOW's 4-part documentary Generation Boom premieres tonight on TV Land at 10PM with "How We Play," (Watch the clip) (Previously)
Bowled Over
Saturday night we went to the Hollywood Bowl with Randy and his best friends Clancy and Brian to see the Totally '80s show, featuring the vintage but not yet oldies bands ABC, Psychedelic Furs, and Human League. Randy had acquired fabulous box seats for us, which as well as twilight dinner, included excellent sightlines to the lengendary stage. The night was hosted by the overly gamine Jane Wiedlin, erstwhile of The Go-Go's, who flounced about onstage in various costumes, introducing the acts and warming up and repeatedly reheating the diverse audience of 15,000 during intermissions with campy Vegas posturings, a karaoke contest, and a backup of drag queens. Totally '80s! The beauty of the Bowl, apart from the loveliness of music al fresco, is that even rock 'n' roll goes on punctually and ends at a reasonable hour so folks can get home for the nightly news. Of course, when the acts themselves are Boomers, this is especially true.
