Friday, Jul 18
It's Birthday, Bitch
Vin Diesel, 41
Richard Branson, 58
Martha Reeves, 67
Paul Verhoeven, 70
Hunter S Thompson, 71 (deceased)
Dick Button, 79
John Glenn, 87
Nelson Mandela, 90
Harriet Nelson, 94 (deceased)
Richard "Red" Skelton, 95 (deceased)
Hume Cronyn, 97 (deceased)
George "Machine Gun" Kelly, 113 (deceased)
– Lindsey Hager
Thursday, Jul 17
Live Feed from the Gallery
Although providing a once-a-month soup kitchen for LA's homeless population is an idea that is on the World of Wonder mull-over list, this is not a picture of that idea made real. What it is is potluck or covered-dish buffet in the Storefront Gallery, a kind of church-social idea from WOW's Liz Carriere made real by all the WOW staffers who spent most of last night cooking and baking or all morning purchasing delicious dishes for a giant, high-calorie, higher-decible group lunch. In the middle of the day. And there was wine, poured generously by Fenton, who periodically circulated among the tables with white and red like a proper wine steward. And all the while the Crazian art look down inscrutably from the walls. We've said it before, and it won't be the last time, but Don't you wish your office was hot like ours? (Photo by Steven Corfe)
When Your Homecoming King Is a Dick
My old high school classmate Andy Dick was arrested Wednesday in Murrieta, California, outside the Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar on suspicion of sexual battery and drug possession. Andy, who police said was heavily intoxicated, allegedly fondled the breasts of a 17-year-old girl before pulling her top down and was later found to be in possession of marijuana and a Xanax.
Andy has always acted crazy even back in high school. He once dressed up as a superhero named “Super Dick” and he was elected our homecoming king as a school joke. I moved to Joliet during my sophomore year, which was Andy’s senior year. I had met him a few times through our mutual friend and fellow actor Anthony Rapp. We were never that close, but he definitely succeeded on several occasions in making an impression on me with his wild ways. I met up with him a few years ago in Los Angeles. I was staying at The Mondrian hotel, and was just about to leave Sky Bar with the group of friends I was traveling with when I noticed Andy was at the bar. I walked over with my friend John and tried to introduce myself. But as soon as Andy turned around to face me, I could see by his wildly dilated pupils that he was stoned off his ass. I was already at the bar by then so I decided to say hello anyway and asked if he remembered going to high school with me. For a moment he just stared at me without saying a word. Then he looked me up and down and gave my friend the once-over as well and then said “Oh good, gay boys. Why don’t you pull your pants down and I’ll ass fuck you right here.” It was one of the few times that I’ve ever been stunned completely silent. And to make matters worse, my friend happened to be a happy heterosexual and was none too thrilled with Andy’s offer. We left the bar as fast as we could and I never saw Andy again. But upon hearing of Andy’s arrest I can see that, sadly, he hasn't changed a bit.
– AguynamedWayne
The Return of "I Am 8-Bit"
We are incredibly excited to announce that "I AM 8-BIT" – Los Angeles' largest group art show – is moving to the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery this year. The annual show is inspired by the many characters and worlds of classic '80s videogames. "Mario, Mega Man, Pac-Man, and Sonic are just as iconic to our generation as the Beatles were in the past," says "I AM 8-BIT" founder and guest co-curator, Jon M Gibson. "They are our childhood heroes, our babysitters, our most awesome fantasies – and it's amazing to see how wildly and diversely artists choose to interpret them."
Opening August 14, and featuring over 100 artists (the show's largest contingent yet), it features a roster of established street and underground talent. "I was a fan of 'I AM 8-BIT' because it was the one art show in LA that strived to incorporate a wide variety of artists, from pop painters to animators to graphic designers," explains guest co-curator Derek Puleston.
Podcast 7-16-08
Big Brother 10, Wii Fitness, and Facebook are Randy's new obsessions. Fenton boasts Maya Angelou among his Facebook friends. James argues against it. Discussion. Randy and Fenton, who's begun reading Christopher Ciccone's book, imagine a documentary about Madonna's backup dancers. James, in that way he has, calls Ciccone a "tweaked-out meth monkey." "Madonna and her brother are not comfortable in their own skins," says Randy. What Michael said in 1997 about going on a murder spree when he's released from prison has come back to fuck him in the ass at his recent parole hearing. Can anyone joke about committing a gruesome crime and still be considered remorseful? "The parole board is not made up of fierce New York drag queens," notes James. Sarah Jessica Parker has had her mole removed. Like it even matters a this late date. Is Julie Andrews still singing? Celebrity Family Feud. Wipeout. Mamma Mia! Honey bees vs crows. Steven Corfe gets off with a warning. The New Yorker cover cartoon. The recession. James says he's broke now because of Indymac. Kate Moss on Vogue cover. Khloe Kardashian. Weeds. Jesse Helms dressed in drag.
Looks Like Fenton Got Out Just in Time
Reports say that either 17 or 40 foreign men were "detained" yesterday in Dubai for being gay, which is illegal in the Muslim city, despite its Westernized facade. Police said the men, who were either visiting or working in Dubai, were wearing women's clothing and being gay "in malls and other public places." Their arrests are part of Dubai's campaign against transvestites. Fenton, who was just there, is not a transvestite by any means, but he is partial to cashmere. Still, the whole thing could turn out to be a case of false arrest. Perhaps it was just the Spice Girls having a bit of a reunion party in the Arab Emirates. As Posh Spice said of her pop group recently, "We looked like five men dressed as women." (AP; t/y Jim)
Celebrities at Large
So I'm at work last night and I decide to head down for a smoke. I work in a building downtown where there is a new production every week it seems. Last night they were shooting Eli Stone. The elevator stops at the second floor and a bunch of people pile in. I end up squeezed into the corner of the elevator. The girl next to me turns to me and asks, "A penny for your thoughts?" It was the cutest thing. I just said, "Get me out of here, there isn't supposed to be this many people in the elevator." We get out of the elevator and head to the front doors. When we walk out, we're greeted by a million flash bulbs and these people get in the SUV waiting outside. I ask a grip standing next to me who that was. "Katie Holmes, she's on her lunch break." I went back upstairs and told my buddies what happened. One of my friends told me that he saw Tom Cruise in the building. I was like no way, one of the most famous people in the world and a lunatic at that. I can't pass this up. I gotta get a glimpse. So we wait a little while and pay attention to the paparazzi outside to get a feel of when they'll be back outside. At the right moment I get my camera phone ready to capture my one and only glimpse of Maverick. Sure enough I get it. Horrible footage [click image]. They were quick as hell getting in that car. My friends and I have one more smoke outside and show each other what kinds of shots we got then head back upstairs. We go to the elevator, the doors open, and who the fuck is in there? Tomkat itself. Tom looks at us and says "We're back." And winks! We were so shellshocked at the fact that Tom Cruise actually just talked to us that we didn't say a word. We must have looked like the crazy ones in that elevator. I guess he had played a trick on the press and people outside and went around the corner then came back in through the basement. Sure enough, all the press left after getting their shots and Tom and Katie were left in peace to shoot the show.
– Cameron Glenar
Whorriors Rule
DJ One Shot ® writes:
Last night, THE WHORRIORS (the untouchable World Of Wonder-sponsored dodgeball team) ran away with yet another triumphant victory. Representing HARD WOW style, The Whorriors are the only UNDEFEATED team in the West Hollywood Stay Puft Dodgeball League – with a record of 7-0. After fierce domination on the dodgeball court, we continued rocking with flipcup and busting moves to an '80s cover band featuring bass-player Dean Cameron aka Chainsaw from 1987's Summer School. Hell yes Whorriors. Playoffs NEXT WEEK. Stay tuned for video coverage. On our way to the bar, we spotted billboards for our PAM: GIRL ON THE LOOSE show outside Happy Endings at Sunset and LaBrea. If you haven't seen the billboards/posters yet, you will. There's another on Sunset and the biggest one yet is in NYC. Get ready for the sexiest, most awesome television show of 2008, premiering on E! August 3.
– Text and photos by DJ One Shot ®
It's Birthday, Bitch
Tash Hamilton, 26
David Hasselhoff, 56
Camilla Parker Bowles, 61
Diahann Carroll, 73
Donald Sutherland, 74
Phyllis Diller, 91
Art Linkletter, 96
James Cagney, 109 (deceased)
Erle Stanley Gardner, 119 (deceased)
– Lindsey Hager
