June 30, 2008
Madonna's Childhood Home Destroyed by Fire
Michigan arson investigators say a fire Friday night that destroyed Madonna's Rochester Hills childhood home is looking suspicious. Detroit papers report that investigators from the Oakland County Sheriff's Arson Unit and the Rochester Hills Fire Department are investigating. The fire was reported by a passerby who saw flames shooting out of the house and called the fire department. The divorce, the book, now this. (Source; photo: Bill Pugliano/GettyImages)
Just Ask Joey
Dear Joey Hello! I am visitor in your great country. George Bush 4 more year! I want to get and understand the USA and things that happen on 4th of July. My girlfriend Kikuki will be here. I want to show good time. Good American time! Hotdog! Baseball! Fly Fishing! Great American time! I saw John Adams on Home Box Office network and love USA! Could you be my book of Dummies. How to have great American weekend for Dummies. Ha! Oishi Kazihiro
Quote Unquote
"My husband is out of jail in two weeks.... [Boos from crowd] Who booed? I'll find you, take your phone, ring your mum and tell her about your bad manners. I thought I'd die with the man, then I was torn apart from him. I'm serious, I'd never loved a white man before – then he came and hit me over the head with a cricket bat. Not literally, obviously. – Amy Winehouse in her between-songs patter during her performance at the Glastonbury Festival on Saturday. (NME)
Two White Cats Sitting Around Talking
WOW staffer Joey Maiocco and James St James spent a lot of time schmoozing for the amusement of their adoring fans during the "Dial M for Madonna" Ring My Bell noon-till-night live sale-a-thon in the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery last week. Talk is cheap and so was the art. (Photo by Debbi Rotkowitz)
Ring My Bell: Dial M for Madonna Marathon
In the first hour of the "Dial M For Madonna" everything-must-go marathon hosted by James St. James, Michael Alig's sphincter is a recurring theme. Other topics discussed include Steven Corfe's felching fetching Madonna impersonation, a caller's sexual versatility, another caller's Gay Pride outfit, River Phoenix's and Leigh Bowery's deaths, and James' refusal to let the artworks upstage his on-camera banter.
We Seen Cazwell at Burger King
In honor of his birthday and "I Seen Beyoncé at Burger King," his upcoming single and video, Cazwell was treated to an old-fashioned Michael Alig-style outlaw party at the Burger King at Delancey and Suffolk in New York. Of course, you can't go back in time, but 150 Cazwell fans gave it a New York try and for a brief shining moment the fast-food outlet became a full-on Burger Queen.
Quantum Leak
Here's the first trailer for the new James Bond film, Quantum of Solace, coming in November. OK, so it's not really a leak. (Filmdrunk)
Dirty Harry
Look out, dirty shirtless Prince Harry, you're about to be violated by pixelated soldiers on a scavenger hunt for ginger root! (Just Us Boys via dlisted)
It's Birthday, Bitch
Michael Phelps, 23
Fantasia Barrino, 24
Mike Tyson, 42
Vincent D'Onofrio, 49
Leonard Whiting, 58
Susan Hayward, 91 (deceased)
Lena Horne, 91
John Gay, 322 (deceased)
– Lindsey Hager
John and Jen: The Birdie Not the Bird
Auto erotica: John Mayer and Jennifer Aniston getting it on in the back seat. But Mayer looks like he's more concerned about getting it on film. And Aniston's probably all about getting it in her mouth. Oh yeah, she loves his penis. (Photo: XposurePhotos)
Snap!
On-and-offscreen couple Penn Badgley and Blake Lively, who are included in Vanity Fair's "Bright Young Hollywood" spread, are seen here at week's end shooting a scene for Gossip Girl at Fort Tilden in Queens. Or rehearsing. (Photo: BauerGriffin)
The School That Smith and Hubbard Built
Will and Jada Pinkett Smith are founders and funders of the New Village Academy in Calabasas, a pre-K to 6 school with instructional methods developed by Scientology creator L Ron Hubbard and taught by some teachers who are members of the church. One teaching method the school uses, reports the LA Times, is study technology, which was developed by Hubbard and focuses on students gaining hands-on experience, mastering subject matter before moving to the next level. "There is no reputable educator anywhere who endorses [study technology]," said Scientology critic David S Touretzky, a professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University. "What happens is that children are inculcated with Scientology jargon and are led to regard LR Hubbard as an authority figure. They are laying the groundwork for later bringing people into Scientology." (Photo: LA Times)
World of Wunder
Gerda is back with tales of the bastard Mustafio. Hope she stays.
MUSTAFIO CLAIMS HE WALKED OFF THE BELT BUT HIS SHAPE WENT FLYING OFF THE CONKRETE FLOOR. HE BOUNSED OFF THE SEALING AND CAUGHT HIS RADIO IN THE AIR, TURNING THE DIAL LOOKING FOR THE BUBBELGUM STATION. "THEYRE GOING TO BE PLAYING CHEWY CHEWY SOON. HIGH PRYARITY," HE SAID. HE FLOATED DOWNSTARES AND AND SAID "LET'S TRY THAT AGAIN, FURST NAME?? HE SAID HE IS WORKING ON NEW MATERIAL, ALL HIGH PRYARITITY AND HE IS NOT TO BE DISTURBED BUT I THINK HIS PRYARITIES ARE BASTARD AND HE IS IN DIRE NEED OF A NEW REWARD SYSTIM
SAT NEXT TO A SLEEPING WOMAN ON THE BUS RIDE THAT WAS GOING GOING TO THE A MARTY GRAA. I THOUGHT I HAD THE BUS TO MYSELF SO I SAT IN THE FRONT AND MOVED MY STUFF TO THE ARTICULATED HALF. MUSTAFIO SAID IT MUST BE THE KIND WITH A FLEXABEL JOIN BETWEEN THE TWO SECTIONS. HIS CHATTER WOKE THE WOMAN UP AND SHE TOLD THE BASTARD TO STOP FOR HOT DOGS. MY PLATE HAD NO MEAT IN THE BUNS. MUSTAFIO SAID TO THE WOMAN, "NONE IN YOURS EITEHR?" SHE SAID "THE JAPANESE SOLDURS ON LY WANTED MEAT SO THATS ALL THEY ATE
(t/y Jeff)
Sienna and Balthazar: Come and Getty
A month after she dumped fiance Rhys Ifans, Sienna Miller is already busying herself with Brothers & Sisters star and oil heir Balthazar Getty. (A brief history of Miller's boyfriends: Daniel Craig, Jude Law, Rhys Ifans, and Mattew Rhys, though it's thought that Brothers & Sisters costar Rhys was just a ploy to get to Getty.) For the past month Sienna and Getty are said to be "besotted and smitten" and getting closer; she spent all last week with him in a house in Hollywood. Naturally, Getty's wife, Rosetta, is furious and filing for divorce. (Mirror)
Verne Troyer: Sex Tape Stopped Short
A federal has judge granted a temporary restraining order requested by Verne Troyer's attorneys shutting down the distribution of a stolen sex tape the actor made with a former girlfriend. The ruling also prevents any attempt by a porn distributor from taking orders for the full 50-minute video. Turns out the ruling is moot, since the tape was so tiny no one seems to be able to find it. (Source)
Quote Unquote
"[We] make sure we have Mommy and Daddy nights out. Our child comes first, obviously, but there are certain things you can do: Once we know he's in good hands, we go out late at night and have a few drinks. Then we'll come home, dim the lights and do our thing... and I'm not going into any more detail than that." – Christina Aquilera to Glamour, on what happens after she and husband Jordan Bratman put the baby down. (Page Six)
June 28, 2008
What Is a Jeopardy Quiz?
It's NOT one of the remarks Alex Trebek typically makes when a Jeopardy contestant puts the correct question to an answer.
A. You got it.
B. Yes.
C. Correct.
D. Right.
E. That's it.
F. Of course.
G.You're right.
H. Yeah.
Answer after the jump.
More...Behind the Mylar Strips: Homo-A-Go-Go Photo-A-Go-Go
A very specific crowd showed up last night at the XXX cocktail reception for the opening of Thairin Smothers' "Homo-A-Go-Go" solo photo show at the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery, and they found go-go boys not only on the walls but also on the runway. James St James was there covering it in that way he has for the Daily Freak Show, and his report will be up on the WOW Report next week. Meanwhile, take a look at these hot shots by Debbi Rotkowitz, lots more of which are on Flickr.
Amy Winehouse: Punch Drunk at Glastonbury
Amy Winehouse did in fact turn up to perform at Nelson Madela's 90th-birthday celebration in London's Hyde Park yesterday and also at the Glastonbury Festival in Pilton, England, this evening – where this happened. Was she trying to win a belt? (via IsThisHappening)
June 27, 2008
Snap! Ahhhh Edition
Jessica Biel, iced coffee, dog with bandanna, beautiful day, Brentwood, summer, 2008.
Pop Waffle Vol 19: R Kelly's New Jam
Pop Culture...in crayon! For the week of 6-27-08. Music: "Same Old Drag" by the Apples in Stereo. (popwaffle.com)
See Blake Run
This is the final leg of Tricia Walsh Smith's journey with Blake, but their last topics of friendly conversation include the bad omen that occurred on Tricia's wedding anniversary, a snarky New York magazine article about Tricia, Tricia's new play that's "very Sixth Sense," her affinity with young people, and a sudden camera mishap. Part 3 of 3.
Window Undressing
The go-go boy atmosphere is warming up in the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery. So much so that tech assistant Steve Sims was inspired to do an impromptu strip in the window while wiring up the slideshow projector.
– Steven Corfe
Betty Bowers on Prayer
And now, the latest from Betty Bowers, America's best Christian, who explains the joys of prayer. "You'd all be in my prayers," she says, "if I had that kind of time." And, please, watch in high quality.
Confessions on a Ferry Floor 2: All That and a Bag of Chips
Thairin Smothers, who's now back from Canada and primping and pimping for his "Thairin Smothers: Homo-A-Go-Go" solo photo show gayla reception in the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery tonight at 8PM, had one more Canadian confession to send:
This fairy must confess. When stuck on a Canadian ferry for two and half hours after a long shoot week and now flight home. I eat. Over eat. This was the snack. Ketchup flavored chips.
Don't You Wish Your Office Was Hot Like Ours?
Today, this email from Liz Carriere, WOW's production accountant:
Don't you just love to hear... "Just Because"? WOW wants you to hear this more often. Join us Monday morning, on the 4th Floor, for Iced Coffee and Cookies from STARBUCKS! Be early to enjoy it while it lasts... JUST BECAUSE!
Ed Magaña's Friday Vid Bits: Bonus Edition
This Friday, Ed brings a whole six-pack of videoddities: the Trons, a robot band that plays itself; the UK's Big Brother 9 housemates recreate the OK Go treadmill video; a guy dreams up a new martial art form; a pretty blonde with a big rack takes a spin – literally – on an escalator; a local tri-state area window factory commercial; and Neil Patrick Harris returns to the scene for Old Spice.
CONTEST! Win Tickets to the Heidi Fleiss Doc
We have three pairs of tickets for the 10PM screening tomorrow of Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey's Heidi Fleiss: The Would-Be Madam of Crystal which just premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival. That's tomorrow, June 28, at the Landmark Theaters on Pico @ Westwood Boulevard in Westwood. The first three people to send an email to wowreport@worldofwonder.net with HEIDI FLEISS in the subject line will win the tickets. It's that simple. Go for it.
Homos on the Go-Go
James St James and I swung by Homo Depot to pick up some last minute supplies for tonight's gala reception of the "Thairin Smothers: Homo-A-Go-Go" solo show.
– Steven Corfe
Madonna and Guy: Splitting Headache
When Guy Ritchie was in Milan recently shooting that commercial with George Clooney, Madonna was nearby seeking out costumes for her upcoming Sticky & Sweet tour, and the ever-more-separated couple were sleeping in separate rooms in their hotel, so they practically never saw each other. Now we learn that the possible final straw in their relationship may actually be a string. The red string of Kabbalah. Ritchie has had enough of the religion and has "has turned his back on Kabbalah once and for all," says a source. "He has gone hot and cold on the religion in the past, but now he’s given up on it altogether. It has always been her thing and is more a part of her life than ever. A few weeks ago he told her he doesn’t want anything else to do with it. It didn’t go down well." As you might imagine. (The Sun)
The Dark Knight Begins
The good news is that the first review of The Dark Knight is super positive; the bad news is that it's from Rolling Stone's Peter "I loved it, and you can quote me!" Travers, who writes predictable raves to be excerpted in the Sunday papers. In fact, his first graph alone has enough blurbtastic hyperbole to fill a whole opening weekend of advertising:
Heads up: a thunderbolt is about to rip into the blanket of bland we call summer movies. The Dark Knight, director Christopher Nolan's absolute stunner of a follow-up to 2005's Batman Begins, is a potent provocation decked out as a comic-book movie. Feverish action? Check. Dazzling spectacle? Check. Devilish fun? Check. But Nolan is just warming up.
And so is Travers. Read on.
Boy George on Today About His Tomorrows
Boy George did a one-on-one from London with Meredith Vieira this morning on the Today show. He's wearing a hat, don't you know.Michelle Obama Speaks to the Gays
Michelle Obama recently met with members of the DNC's Gay and Lesbian Leadership Council. She gave a rousing speech and told the group that, if elected, her husband would fight for the equal rights of gay Americans, then drew an impassioned comparison between the civil rights movement and the ongoing struggle for gay rights that incited a standing ovation. ''We are all only here because of those who marched and bled and died, from Selma to Stonewall, in the pursuit of a more perfect union,'' she said in reference to the anniversary of the historic 1969 Stonewall riots that is being celebrated during the city's annual gay pride parade this weekend. There are many in the gay community, myself included, who are bewildered by Senator Obama's past and in some cases continuing associations with proponents of the "Ex-Gay" movement. But Michelle's eloquent words should none the less and at the very least give gay folks everywhere, reason to hope. Happy Gay Pride.
– AguynamedWayne
It's Birthday, Bitch
Tobey Maguire, 33
Ross Perot, 78
Bob "Capt Kangaroo" Keeshan, 81(deceased)
Helen Keller, 128 (deceased)
– Lindsey Hager
Confessions on a Ferry Floor
Thairin Smothers, traveling in Canada with Pamela Anderson for the Pam: Girl on the Loose show, writes:
This fairy tortured the ferry concession (and all of Canada the week before) with this meal request. I am addicted to fried chicken and only pickles sandwiches. AND I had them make me gravy fries! As well. Do I sound preggers? And that dessert in the back is an Nanomo bar. Pam's mom made them for us when she came to LA for a visit. Now I'm in the actual town in Canada where the deseart originated AND from which the ferry departs. These r things this fairy thinks of when alone.
Mini-Me Files Maxi-Lawsuit
Actor Verne Troyer is fighting mad that a tiny part of his sex tape was leaked on the website TMZ, and filed suit yesterday, for a whopping $20 meeellion. In the suit, Troyer claims TMZ violated his privacy rights and infringed on his copyright and trademark by running portions of the tape on TMZ TV and TMZ.com, and alleges TMZ violated his right of publicity and misappropriated his name and likeness. All of which means TMZ showed his tiny part before he could. (TMZ)
Triumph of the Will
Although Tom Cruise's bud Will Smith, is still denying he's joined the Church of Scientology, all signs seem to point to the fact that he has. Not only are he and the missus funding a Scientology-themed elementary school in Calabassas, but notorious Cruise biographer Andrew Morton is now saying that while shooting the movie Hancock, Smith was, some might say, recruiting cast and crew and gave out "Scientology-like" pamphlets at the end of filming (whatever that means – is anything else really Scientology-like?) and the Smiths are said to be homeschooling their kids in Scientology 101. All of which is OK with us. Practice whatever religion you like, just don't come knocking on our door on weekends offering to share the "good news." (ONTD)
June 26, 2008
Just Ask Joey
Dear Joey I first just want to let you know that writing this to you has taken a lot, but I am at the point where I have nowhere else to turn without hanging my head in shame. So being such an avid fan of James St James and the WOW Report I figured this is the best thing to do. Anyway, about a week ago I lost my virginity. I'm twenty years old and even though it was my first time having sex it wasn't my first time with a boy. The sex was great and I will never forget how wonderful it felt. A couple days later I showed up at class and several of my girlfriends were upset and concerned for me. Apparently the boy I slept with isn't who I thought he was. After several days of typical college girl banter I finally came to the realization that my girlfriends were right. The twenty-two-year-old college senior who had plans to take over his father's boating company next spring has turned out to be a thirty-six-year-old insurance salesman. I found this out because he is cousins with one of the guys who lives on my floor. How could his happen!? It felt so wonderful and he was so nice. We danced all night long and he even made me a secret drink that he said only special girls get. I thought I was in love...with a 22-year-old assistant boat sales man named Daryl. Patty
This Day in History
1981: Savvy shopper Virginia Campbell of Mountain Home, Idaho, took coupons and rebates to the store and bought $24,460 worth of groceries, but paid only 67¢ after all the discounts. Impressive, yes, but how and where does one store over $24,000 worth of groceries?
– Lindsey Hager
Podcast 6-25-08
James McGowan brings in the custom leather lazy-susan he made for Randy's house, then leaves. James St James deconstructs Kate Moss and company on the cover of the W with Randy and Fenton in it. Talk about the Heidi Fleiss doc at the LA Film Festival. Steven thinks Fenton will be pleased to see the flesh at Thairin's "Homo-A-G0-Go" solo show after all the covering-up in Dubai. James likens Thairin to the old Star Jones. Steven's tranny Madonna video. Dina Lohan's reality show. Denise Richards on the cover of TV Guide. Pick pick pick on every aspect of Dina Lohan. Wild Palms or Wild Things? More Denise Richards. Celebrity Family Feud. Mini-Me sex tape. Being really tiny and moving in and out of Julie Andrews' underwear. Crushed by giants as a sex fetish. Homophobic Oprah's YouTube sensations, minus Chris Crocker. Esmee Denters. Weeds. Katherine Heigle: hate or not? Hater Nation. Karma. Boy George and Marilyn and... Gavin Rossdale? Josh Duhamel was what? Oreo Cakesters. Jacaranda and Randy's barrier of succulents. James' Masonic ring.
Poetry in the Hard Drive
Just now, we searched on the LA Times website for Fleiss can still ruffle feathers, the print-edition headline for the story on WOW's Heidi Fleiss documentary premiering tonight at the LA Film Festival. But the website answered with a question – Did you mean: Fleiss can still ruffled feathers. Um, not at all, but that's pretty.
Homo-A-Go-Go: The Drapes of Things to Come
Like every self-respecting go-go joint, the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery gets its sleaze on with traditional peep-through silver Mylar curtains.
– Steven Corfe
I Want Your Seats: George Michael in Los Angeles
Miss Navajo director Billy Luther went to see George Michael at the Great Western Forum last night and all we got were these lousy pictures. Kidding. They're great. Thanks, Billy.
Sienna Miller Has Dabbled
In the upcoming John Maybury film, The Edge of Love, Sienna Miller shares a bed and bath with Kiera Knightley. "We'd have the odd snog together. It wasn't all the time, but you know, who hasn't dabbled?" shrugged Miller. "And besides, female friendships can often be tactile and intimate." And now, if she hasn't before, Knightley can say she's dabbled too. (via Holy Moly!; t/y LIndsey)
The Daily Freak Show
Today, Damiana Garcia answers the question "How can I, too, be a journalist like you someday?" Send YOUR questions for Damiana to prettythingsss@yahoo.com and she'll answer them in future episodes.
Getting the "Thairin Smothers: Homo-A-Go-Go" Show to Go-Go
James St James writes: After a few days of nail-biting delays, Thairin's pictures have FINALLY arrived from the printer. Now we have just 32 hours to patch up and paint the walls, frame the pictures, hang the pictures, decorate the windows, set up the catwalk, wrangle up some go-go boys and take care of all the niggling details that seem to pop up at the last minute. Should be a piece of cake. SEE YOU TOMORRW NIGHT!
[Ed note: Is James doing his Paris Hilton impression in these photos?]
– Photos by Steven Corfe
He's Always Wanted to Direct
Old friend and WOW's Art & the City gadabout, David Keeps, writes for the Home section of the Los Angeles Times and today's his first day as a producer, director, etc, there. He sent this email:
"Today I posted my first video to the Los Angeles Times website. I produced, shot, edited, mixed, and narrated it myself. The subject is a 94-year-old potter who lives in Ojai, California. It might be the most heart-warming, life-affirming thing you'll see today."
Watch the video. Keeps is hoping it goes viral. So, a little help here.
Lawsuit Takes Down Appalling Predator Show
NBC Universal has settled a $105 million lawsuit brought by Patricia Conradt, who claimed the sex-sting show, Dateline NBC: To Catch a Predator, drove her brother to kill himself. Her lawsuit claimed her brother, a Dallas prosecutor, shot himself after he was accused of engaging in a sexually explicit online chat with an adult from the Perverted Justice group posing as a 13-year-old boy. She said the network "steamrolled" police to arrest Louis William Conradt Jr (right) after telling them he failed to show up at a sting operation 35 miles away. Failed to show up. If we remember the story correctly, Conradt shot himself on camera as police barged in, and in the show's single moment of decency, the footage was not televised. (AP)
U.S. District Judge Denny Chin said the lawsuit contained sufficient facts to make it plausible that the suicide was foreseeable, that police had a duty to protect Conradt from killing himself and that the officers and NBC acted with deliberate indifference. New episodes of To Catch A Predator ended in December, with the future of the series uncertain.