April 30, 2007
Snap!
Grey's Anatomy's Isaiah Washington waves up at World of Wonder from the parking lot. Says Randy Barbato: This is soooo funny to me. Does Isaiah realize he is waving to the people who:
• managed RuPaul
• produced The Eyes of Tammy Faye
• produced TransGeneration
• produced Party Monster
• blah blah blah
(Photo: Thairin Smothers)
Coachella Class
The Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival near Palm Springs rocked hot and hard this year, with acts like Björk, Amy Winehouse, Rage Against the Machine, The Arcade Fire, Happy Mondays, Arctic Monkeys, and Lily Allen performing in the 104° heat. Björk was a must-see, if only for her wacky outfit of skeleton-bone-pattern corset with wild voodoo-jungle skirt (see my video here). Amy Winehouse did a messy, liquor-fueled set, tripping over her mic wire and ending with a fitting rendition of "Rehab" (watch her performance here). Fellow Brit ladette Lily Allen was the epitomy of chav chic, dressed in a prom dress/white sneakers combo. Besides the music, Coachella was a prime celeb-spotting ground, and I really didn't think I would top spying Paris Hilton through a fence, crouching down behind a row of portable toilets, smoking a joint. But top it I did: Right after seeing a mellow set by Air, I wandered off to an Indian food stand to get some dirty festival grub, and was halfway through asking the counter-guy whether the Masala Fries were any good when I realized he was Vincent Gallo. "They're very good!" he assured me, which made me frown and ask, "Are you Vincent Gallo?" "Yes!" he replied, before handing me my food and pointing me in the direction of the plastic forks. The fries were indeed very good, so, um, thanks, Vincent. Late night after-parties were a big part of the weekend, and the coolest one to get into was the nightly Hugo Boss party at the Mod Resort. There I bumped into WOW alumna Alisa Charoen-Phol, and we shared a hot tub with Cisco Adler (ick). It was hard not to think of that picture. And on that note, I'll end by saying I had a ball at Coachella. A big, hairy, swinging ball.
– Text and photos by Steven Corfe
(Photos, from top, l to r: Vincent Gallo serves Masala fries; Lily Allen; Arckid at Hugo Boss; in the dance tent; Alisa and Corfe in Cisco-tainted tub; Amy Winehouse; main stage)
Sham's Sham
I spent the weekend partying with my favorite new celebrity, 21-year-old Paris Hilton lookalike Natalie Reid. Although Natalie looks just like Paris, she comes from a humble background. She grew up in Canada, moved out on her own at 17, and supported herself working minimum-wage jobs. She moved to New York, became a model, and started impersonating Paris when photographers constantly told her she looked like the famous heiress. She appeared on The Simple Life last season, she's been in Playboy, and now she's shooting a new TV show called The Next Best Thing. I met Natalie through my jewelry-designer friend Onch, who hired Natalie as a jewelry model. On Friday, we went to the Roosevelt, Saturday to famous pornstar Britney Andrews' birthday party at the downtown Standard, and last night to Koi (TMZ has video) where we ran into my favorite actress Anna Faris, only this time Onch mistook Anna for Brittany Murphy and called her Brittany several times! My friends were gushing over Anna, so I couldn't get a word in edgewise to correct the mistake, and of course Anna was polite and nice as always but she must be really confused... again!
– Sham Ibrahim
(Photos by Sham Ibrahim, from top: Natalie Reid and Anna Faris; Reid and Onch; Reid and Sham)
Torture Club
Auden Carlsen, a 28-year-old Norwegian gay escort, met Boy George, 45, on the Gaydar dating website and was invited over to the, ahem, Boy's house in Shoreditch, London, to pose for photographs for £400. Carlsen went over at midnight Saturday and one thing led to another, as it commonly will in these situations, and the young man found himself – wearing only briefs and a T-shirt – suddenly overpowered by George and another man, handcuffed and chained to a hook in the wall, and confronted by, one can only suppose, Boy George in a heightened state of sexual arousal holding a box of whips and sex toys. "Now you'll get what you deserve," George is said to have said, possibly adding "and your little dog too." "I was convinced I was going to die," young Auden told authorities after he wrenched the hook out of the wall at 6:30 AM Sunday and escaped in his underwear to a nearby newsstand to call the police. (Source)
Scotland Yard today confirmed they are investigating an allegation of false imprisonment and common assault, believed to have occurred in the early hours of Saturday. A spokesman added: “Hackney CID is investigating and a man in his forties has been arrested in connection with the allegation.
Wild Restyle
Artist Rick Silva's 2006 Recap is a video remix of the 1982 classic graffiti movie Wild Style – with every piece of graffiti in the original film digitally crossed out and tagged over with the word "Recap." The full-length Recap is an 82-minute loop, available on DVD. (Watch the trailer)
Madonna Gets a Pob!
Er, no, our mistake; her hair's not cut after all, just pulled back. Pity. Posh would have been so pleased. Madge was snapped leaving Claridge's on Saturday night wearing a stylish, eveningwear version of safari gear, which is kind of daily apparel for her these days. So she's not sporting the Pob, but the hair's definitely a different color. (This Is London)
When a Baldwin Calls
See more at World of Wonder.
Cashing in on the recent controversy surrounding Alec Baldwin's verbal assault on his daughter, a movie about Ireland's relationship with her father was rushed into production, and Ed Magaña, our colleague here at WOW, got his hands on an early version of the trailer.
Booty Call
While we wait for RuPaul's new feature film Starrbooty to hit the LGBT film festival circuit this summer, here's a lil somethin-somethin to tide us over – the "JC PennE Starrbooty" mashup music video!
– A Guy Named Wayne
Beach Boz
All it took for Kate Bobblehead to become Kate Bosworth again was a few extra pounds. (Photos via Egotastic!)
What a Dick
Now that the gunman who opened fire on the Virginia Tech campus was discovered to have been insane, it may soon be a lot tougher for the mentally ill to purchase a firearm so easily. Which will be very bad news for the erratic Andy Dick if he ever finds the need to be armed, God forbid. Although, really, he does all right by himself without a gun. For example, just the other night at the club Snitch in Manhattan he did some Dick-style damage. According to a witness, Dick grabbed a waitress' boobs and dug his nails into her neck, then poked her in the ear "really hard." Then he stuck his hand down the doorman's pants. Earlier in the evening, at the Cutting Room, he lit his receipt on fire. You know, we can almost – almost – understand the receipt ignition, the boobs grab, the neck dig, and the junk fondle, but we're scratching our head over the ear poke.(Page Six)
April 29, 2007
Mug Shot
Jessica Sierra, an American Idol finalist from the 2005 season, was arrested in a South Tampa, Florida, cafe on felony assault charges after she struck a man on the head with a heavy mug at 2 AM this morning during an argument in which he may have spit on her. While booking the 21-year-old, police found cocaine in her purse and added two felony counts to her assault charge, one for possession, another for introducing contraband into a detention facility. She was released around noon on $11,500 bail and is due in court next month. (Source)
You Do?
I missed Russell Simmons' controversial post-Imus appearance appearance on Oprah. I did however catch him promoting his new book, Do You, on Oprah's Secret of my Business Success Special. Oprah and Russell shared creepy knowing glances and giggles as they laid out how before you can access The Secret, you need to Do You. Who knew? When Oprah asked, "How did you come up with the title of the book?" Russell – well, actually, Oprah – told the story of how she read an early manuscript with a different title and called up Russell and told him he had to change it. He did, hence, Do You. Watch out for Oprah's upcoming book, Do Me.
– Randy Barbato
Capitol One
Christina Aguilera in Washington DC, doing Sanjaya lite. Beautiful. (Photo via Celebrity Upchuck)
Quote Unquote
"I get embarrassed about the paparazzi if I'm in a chic restaurant, or when I was in the AA meetings... I feel really disrespectful because those people are doing that for themselves and it's no one else's business. But that was the only time it was embarrassing. Other times, I obviously like it... I wouldn't ever want them to not take my picture... I'd be worried. I'd be like 'Do people not care for me?' " – Lindsay Lohan to Nylon magazine. (Source)
Men Are Heels
April is Sexual Assault and Prevention Month, which, frankly, sounds a bit like April can't make up its mind. But in support of women, the 6th annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes Men's March hobbled down the streets of Sherman Oaks yesterday. The men chanting "Stop rape now!" were several inches higher and with more-defined calves than usual as they paraded the one mile from Sepulveda to Vesper and back to raise awareness and money for the Valley Trauma Center, dedicated to the "elimination of sexual and interpersonal violence through healing, empowerment, and increased public awareness of prevention strategies." Over the six years, the Men's March has spread to 35 cities around the country. No word on the amount raised, but if it only matches the price of a single pair of women's designer pumps, it was worth the suffering. (Photos via laist)
April 27, 2007
Esprit de Corpse
Not, as you might think, Paris as a chocolate Easter Pussy, but Paris as a cautionary tale. It's Daniel Edwards' Paris Hilton Autopsy, a lifesize clay sculpture of Hilton and her Chihuahua Tinkerbell, as a three-dimensional PSA that warns teens against drunk-driving at the prom. (Source)
"Campaign to Rescue Women of Youth" featuring "The Paris Hilton Autopsy" offers a cadaveric nude Paris Hilton, laid out with twisted body and opened abdominal cavity on a coroner's table, while her cell phone remains in her grip. The "unglamorous" display which includes support material from anti-drunk driving organizations counters "the disturbingly glamorized trend of Hollywood's 'girls gone wild.' "
Jake Cries Uncle
Jake Gyllenhaal takes his six-month-old niece Ramona Sarsgaard for a scenic walk in Manhattan. (How many double letters does it take to spell Maggie Gyllenhaal Sarsgaard?) According to Celebrity Baby Blog, the stroller cost $600. Meanwhile, in the wake of breathless stories of how Reese Witherspoon used her full-on Southern charm and feminine wiles to woo Jake into her arms, it now seems she can't find time to actually be with him, that the romance is over before it started, and he's the one who's "devastated," if you can believe it. Some can't.
Magically Delirious
It's no surprise that James St James would recommend this video to us with the note, "OMG – best commercial EVER!" Wethinks that after Freak Show drops May 17, there will be a lot more ads like this one.
Transtastic!
On Ugly Betty, Daniel's brother is now his sister, at the LA Times, sports writer Mike Penner announced that he's soon to be Christine, and tonight on 20/20 Barbara Walters is hanging with transgender children. It seems like everything's coming up trans these days.
It all takes me back to last summer when I had my own genital reassignment surgery done. OK, that part's a lie. I did not have GRS, but it kinda felt like I did after spending six weeks in Trinidad, CO, "the sex change capital of the world," shooting WOW's new six-part series SEX CHANGE HOSPITAL. Hot on the coattails of TransGeneration, which helped usher in this age of all things trans, Sex Change Hospital follows 12 transmen and women as they have genital reassignment procedures at the hands of Dr Marci Bowers, who has gone through the transition process herself.
The series premieres in the UK May 23rd on MORE4, and the first episode will have its North American premiere at Frameline in San Francisco on Saturday, June 23, 2007. Stay tuned for more info!
– Chris McKim, director, Sex Change Hospital
WOW TV: World of Wonder: Jack Valenti
See more at World of Wonder.
Jack Valenti, who was president of the MPAA for 38 years, as well as being a "White House aide, war hero, presidential advisor, author, and film industry influential pro-copyright lobbyist" (we're quoting from Malibu Arts Review), died Thursday in Washington DC of complications from the stroke he suffered in March. He was 85. Not long ago, WOW's Fenton Bailey had occasion to sit down with the man who came up with the movie ratings system and only the WOW Report can bring you this exclusive clip (now we're quoting from Access Hollywood).
WOW TV: Wife, Mom, Bounty Hunter Deleted Scene: Dirt Bike
See more at World of Wonder.
Tonight's the second episode of the highly entertaining WOW series Wife, Mom, Bounty Hunter. It airs on WE tv at 9PM/8c. In this deleted scene, Sandra's husband surprises her with a dirt bike ("Is this cool or what?"), which he tries unsuccessfully to start inside the house. Says Sandra, "Did you put gas in it?"
WOW TV: Ring My Bell: Jer Ber Jones
See more at Ring My Bell.
Check out JER BER JONES on Ring My Bell (WOWTV edit version recorded live on Tuesday) This RMB includes a self-written musical number "Boobs," introducing the Sir Huffington Dancers!! Get out the mustard and ketchup, Mary!
– Selected by Thairin Smothers
(After the jump, get invited to the multimedia musical FOWL)
More...Smart Alec
You've read how Alec Baldwin tried to get the Funny or Die site to take down its cartoon spoof Alec Baldwin Calls Dora the Explorer. They didn't. Now it's on YouTube as well. Baldwin's rant is the new "firecrotch."
Pot Luck
Jillian Blyth, Sanjaya Malakar's American-born mother, was arrested two years ago when police in Pierce County, Washington, found 310 marijuana plants under growing lights inside her house after neighbors complained of smelling pot smoke and reporting a large vent on Blyth's garage roof. God, we hate neighbors. Story goes that when police arrived, they were met by Sanjaya's sister, Shymali, who directed them to where Mom could be found, which, as luck would have it for the cops, was at another of her pot-growing operations. If Sanjaya hadn't been such a coif queen, none of this would have been newsworthy again. Such are the vagaries of fame. (Nat'l Enquirer; photo via TMZ; t/y Ross)
These Are Their Stories
Law & Order's Ice-T and his unlawful-looking wife Coco show up at a downtown Manhattan Borders for the launch of Russell Simmons' motivational book, Do You! Simmons can write? Coco can read? The whole thing reeks of Fabulosity. (via dlisted)
You've Got to Keri That Load
Toting around more than just shopping bags, onetime Felicity star Keri Russell, who was quite fabulous last night on Scrubs, lumbers along the streets of New York yesterday. We assume the baby's father is carpenter Shane Deary, Russell's husband. (Celebs and Bubs)
Recently Dead
Singer Bobby "Boris" Pickett, whose "Monster Mash" is a perennial favorite and made him the "Guy Lombardo of Halloween," died Wednesday of leukemia at the West Los Angeles Veterans Hospital. He was 69. The one-hit wonder, composed to showcase Pickett's uncanny nightclub-act impersonation of Boris Karloff, was written in about half an hour in 1962 and recorded in two hours with Pickett's backing band, the Crypt-Kickers and an unknown piano player named Leon Russell. After being rejected by four major labels, Gary Paxton, lead singer on the Hollywood Argyles' "Alley Oop," released "Monster Mash" on his own label. The song hit #1 on the Billboard charts that year, and made the charts again in August 1970, and in May 1973. It continues to be a solid graveyard smash. Bob Dylan has played it on his satellite radio show, saying, "Our next artist is considered a one-hit wonder, but his one hit comes back year after year." Pickett's follow-up records, "Monster's Holiday" and "Graduation Day," didn't do as well, hitting 30 and 80, respectively, on the charts. When he performed in oldies shows, Pickett often said, "And now I'm going to do a medley of my hit." He never tired of it. "When I hear it," he said, "I hear a cash register ringing." (LA Daily News)
April 26, 2007
Sitings
• Acrobats. After about three minutes, you'll believe they really are three-armed pets. What to do with them is another thing.
Afternoon Delight
Early evening cravings peaked today as WOW employees settled into their daily High Tea (not to be confused with Afternoon Tea or teabagging).
– Written and posed by Liz Leister; photo: Thairin Smothers
WOW TV: World of Wonder: Podcast 04-25-07
See more at World of Wonder.
The second podcast in one week! Apparently too much for Steven, who's a no-show. Today's theme: The celebrities are melting! Rosie leaving The View. "It's the end for Barbara Walters and The View, don't you think?" says Randy. "The View without Rosie is like pizza without cheese." Who will replace her? Think. James brings up Alec Baldwin wanting to leave 30 Rock, but Fenton wants to talk about celebrity global warming, to wit, "The celebrity hothouse is getting one degree warmer; will the whole celebrity culture have a meltdown?" America gives back on American Idol. The special Earth Day 20/20. How did Cynthia McFadden get to China? She flew on a big fucking jet! Sheryl Crow in Africa. "I don't doubt for a second that Leonardo wants to save the world," says James, "but I want my celebrities to entertain me." A lively discussion ensues re celebrities and their good deeds – selfless? Jordin. Phil. Chris. Unveiling the hanging elephant skin in the bedroom – hot? Desperate Housewives. Eva Longoria. E's Jordan show. America's interest in local British celebrites – tepid? Should there be a View-type show on another network? More replacement ideas for Rosie. Jonathan Adler on Oprah. Tori & Dean. Wife, Mom, Bounty Hunter. Freak Show. James' book tour schedule. Mark Ryden. The 1976 movie Network is "so World of Wonder," says James, who just saw it. "It goes on a bit," says Fenton. And then, suddenly, the podcamera careens around erratically, affording a view of the outer office, wanting to leave the room.
Sheepdogs
Thousands of Japanese were swindled in a scam in which they bought imported Australian and British sheep thinking they were poodles. Japanese dog-lovers wanting a chic canine were sold the bogus dogs at $1,600 a pup by a company called Poodles As Pets. Actual dyed-in-the-wool, so to speak, poodles retail for about $3,200 in Japan, so it seemed like a good deal. The scam was uncovered when Japanese movie star Maiko Kawamaki went on a talk show and wondered why her new pet wouldn't bark or eat dog food. (Source, source; t/y Noah)
We ARE Amused
A quartet of Scots Guards, the famous regiment of soldiers whose job it is to protect Queen Elizabeth II and who played a part in the Queen Mother's funeral, got really pissed on Buckfast and cider (?) in their Chelsea barracks, took off all their clothes save for their socks and jackets, and did unseemly (for soldiers) things to each other, capturing the entire night of homofestivity on tape. In the old days, heads would have rolled, but these days we're just rolling with laughter. "They are a disgrace and not fit to wear the uniform," said an insider. Well, in their defense, they did try to remove most of their uniform. (The Sun; t/y Eduardo)
Pantsing with the Stars
While Paris Hilton was fondling her pussy in a pet store, across town another reality "star," Sean Stewart, was making sweet, sweet love to his rod on a West Hollywood sidewalk after, apparently, an obscenely delicious lunch with friends. Coincidentally, Rod is the name of Stewart's father. Sean, 26. who is currently under investigation for allegedly assaulting a couple at a house party over the weekend, recently learned that his reality show, Sons of Hollywood, has been cut short by A&E. So can you fault him for finding pleasure where he can? (via Splash News Online)
Paris' Pussy
Paris Hilton took a kitten for a mutual test drive around an LA pet store yesterday to see if she and the cat worked together. If only she did the same with her boyfriends. Turned out Paris didn't have the kitty wrapped up to take right away, but promised the clerk she'd be back later in the week to buy it. Meanwhile, didn't she have a dog? Don't pretty much all dogs have life spans longer than five minutes? Aren't pet shops the disease-ridden whore houses of puppy mills? Developing. (via BuzzFoto)
Diaper Rush
Although I'm a woman of meager means, I still try to keep up with the latest fashions and must-haves. But the newest "it" accessory – the baby – is posing a bit of a problem. This chichi chair and lavish lounger are out of my spawn-budget, but hopefully loving parents somewhere can gift their tykes with such necessities. In the meantime, I'll put these items on layaway and continue in my quest to marry rich. (BloomBaby)
– Liz Leister
Old Adventures of New Christine
We might not be so quick to throw out the sports section of the LA Times everyday now that it's come to light that one of its writers, 23-year staff writer Mike Penner, is taking a few weeks off and returning to his desk as Christine. In today's paper, Penner writes a light-hearted First Person account of his gender struggle, final decision to make the switch, and surprising colleague reaction to the news. (t/y Beau)
I am a transsexual sportswriter. It has taken more than 40 years, a million tears and hundreds of hours of soul-wrenching therapy for me to work up the courage to type those words. I realize many readers and colleagues and friends will be shocked to read them. (Read more)
Blonde on Bland
Is he trying to look gay, or is he just clueless? If it weren't for their different faces, it would be impossible to tell Becks and Posh apart. (Photo via Just Jared)
Eve's Morning
Eve, the Grammy-winning rapper cum Barbershop actress, was arrested early this morning on charges of suspected DUI, when she crashed and totaled the front end of her gold Maserati on Hollywood Boulevard around 2:45AM. She and her two unidentified passengers apparently were not injured. Cuffed and booked on misdemeanor drunk driving, she posted $30,000 bail at Los Angeles County Jail and will be expected in court in May. Odd epilogue: Actor Sean Penn stopped into the station to see how she was. (Source; photo: TMZ)
Notting Hill of Beans
The supposedly mild-mannered, understated actor Hugh Grant – shown here in snaps via TMZ – apparently had had it up to here when he kicked and hurled a hefty container of baked beans at a photographer attempting to take photos of him yesterday outside his house in west London. Right outside his house. Today, Grant was arrested on assault charges brought by Ian Whittaker, who claims he was left "bruised" and "battered" after being kicked three times and assailed with beans by the 46-year-old actor, who also allegedly wished the snapper's kids would "die of fucking cancer," which Grant denies having said. Grant made bail and has a court date set for May.
Auto Biography
Ah, now we have the provenance, if you will, of this photo of Warhol that was sent to us by artist-poet Louis Cannizzaro earlier this month. (t/y Louis)
Fed-Axe
In a promotional stunt for Axe deodorant yesterday at the corner of Hollywood and Highland, Kevin Federline and a brood of babes, called the Axe Angels, bounced up and down, up and down inside a giant replica can of the teen-targeted body spray, presumably working up a sweat which would be undetected due to the stellar deodorizing yet libido-triggering properties of the product. According to the company, its body spray "stimulates the clothing-removal section of the female brain" (apparently it smells like new shoes), so we can expect a small baby boom about nine months from yesterday.
Quote Unquote
"I was having one of those days when you just want to shed your own skin... It was not a fun time in my life. You didn't see a lot of pictures of me with my hair short, because I went to Brazil to stay with my family for, like, six months. I won't cut it again. I'm always saying I'm only successful because of my boobs and my hair." – supermodel Gisele Bundchen on cutting her hair in 2002 as the biggest mistake of her life, to Allure magazine. (Source)
April 25, 2007
Snap!
Vegan Gwyneth Paltrow and carnivore Courtney Love had a date Monday night at Cut steakhouse in Beverly Hills. Even if Gwynnie just had mineral water while Love ate the proverbial horse, they do have a lot in common. They both have blonde hair, married a frontman for a popular band, and like to be seen at the best restaurants. Cut is one of SoCal's top-10 steakhouses. (Photo via The Sun)
Putting the Bank in Banksy
This painting by British "guerrilla" graffiti artist Banksy (whom we continue to contend is a cooperative) sold at auction in London for $456,000 – 20 times what it's worth its estimate. Space Girl and Bird, originally commissioned by the band Blur for its Think Tank album cover, was sold by Bonham's auction house to a buyer bidding over the phone. We can only hope the buyer was pranking, and has no intention of actually buying the work, haha. The sale broke Banksy's previous record, that same day, of $397,000, which broke the previous Banksy record of $204,000. "To have the previous record set by the artist broken twice in quick succession reveals how much fascination there is in Banksy by collectors," said an art expert in the insurance business. We blame global warming. (BBC via AgendaInc)
Think Pink
Raw Bird, channeling the photography skills of Thairin Smothers, attended the Anna Nicole Smith tribute party at Here in West Hollywood last night. The theme? Pink of course. There were flashy pink dissolves on the strange montage videos of Anna, the Anna Nicole lookalike donned a flashy pink number, Bobby Trendy sported a pink glitter-and-sequined number, and Jeffree Star, well, he is pink manifested.
– Text and photos by Sarah Evershed
The Freewheelin'
Nicolas Cage took advantage yesterday of a small window of opportunity between making a slew of crappy movies to walk along Manhattan's Madison Avenue with his wife Alice Kim. Whenever the old romantic hippie in us sees pictures like this we always think of the classic Bob Dylan album. (Photo via Image Shack)
Snip!
A gremlin sprayed over the IR in HAIR on the awning of this hair salon on LaBrea, leaving the ambiguous A to stand in for the O. As if the name wasn't non-PC enough already. (Photo: Sarah Evershed)
