Maher Poops on the Pope

What’s up with Catholics calling for the resignation, though preferably termination, of popular HBO show host Bill Maher?

Well, the host of HBO’s show “Real Time” made a rather engaging comment on his live April 11 show in which he blatantly called Pope Benedict XVI a former Nazi. Maher criticized the aged religious leader for having once been a member of Hitler Youth. The Pope maintains he was forced to join the group as a young boy and that he eventually fled from its members.

Maher also criticized the Catholic Church for the special treatment it received after many sexual scandals surfaced between Catholic priests and young boys.

Maher said:

"If you have a few hundred followers and you let some of them molest children, they call you a cult leader. If you have a billion, they call you 'pope.' "

While Maher’s comments were received with comedic responses, many Catholic viewers have responded negatively to HBO, claiming Maher’s comments were blasphemous and insulting.

Maher responded to protests with a public apology on his April 18 show, though many believe he has only further perpetuated his joke from a week before. He jokingly told viewers that he now understands he cannot, and will never again, make “the pope is a Nazi” joke.

While he could have simply ended the so-called “apology” there, Maher went on to say:

“[…] it distracts from the main point. And the main point I was making was that if the pope, instead of a religious figure, was the CEO of a chain of nationwide day care centers who had thousands of employees who had been caught molesting children and then covering it up, he would have been in jail.”

President of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, Bill Donohue, replied:

"We accept Maher's apology for accusing the pope of being a Nazi. Too bad he didn't stop there. For him to suggest that Pope Benedict XVI was in charge of policing molesters, and failed in doing so, is patently absurd.”

Personally, I think Catholics should really just get over it already. Maher has a right, just like every American, to express his opinion. He wasn’t advocating anything terrible, simply his views on what has proven to be one of the most controversial topics from the 21^st century: namely, the sexual scandals surrounding the Catholic Church.

I don’t think Maher should be fired for being able to turn a terrible historical truth into a laughable opinion. Nothing he said, except for his opinion on the Pope’s Nazism, could be proven false. In fact, I agree with Maher on the Pope’s outfits. Totally unfashionable.

Nixon pardon #2?

What's up with Cynthia Nixon revealing her year-and-a-half battle with breast cancer? Well, the Sex and the City star was diagnosed with breast cancer in the midst of her starring role in the Broadway play The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie in 2006, but chose to conceal the diagnosis from the media, and the world, for fear of persecution from paparazzi and the public. Now cancer-free, Nixon is coming out about her battle, which wasn't a big surprise to her, as her mother fought, and defeated, the same disease when Nixon was 12 years old.

"I always sort of thought, 'I'm probably going to get breast cancer," she said. "There's a really good chance." --Cynthia Nixon

Nixon discovered the cancer during a routine mammogram where she learned of a "small" cancer spot that needed to be removed. Following the surgery, which was scheduled the very Sunday after the discovery so she wouldn't miss any performances, she underwent six-and-a-half weeks of daily radiation treatment. Now, Nixon is the new spokeswoman for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.

I think it is actually kind of sad that Nixon had to be so careful to keep her sickness a secret. Her fans could have supported her, but instead, Nixon had to hide because the media is so obsessed with knowing everything. This subject coincides with the final project I am doing for my Journalism class, in that the media may go too far in its obsession with the lives of celebrities.

What would have happened if Nixon had died? Her fans would have felt powerless and guilty for not being able to support her. I mean, I am glad she is healthy and cancer-free, but I feel like she should have been able to have the extra strength from her fan base. I mean, without fans, how can you be a celebrity?

Simpson Family Getting Bigger

What's up with Ashlee Simpson getting engaged to boyfriend Pete Wentz? Well, the younger sister of reality reject Jessica Simpson, has publicly announced her engagement to the Fall Out Boy bassist and boyfriend of almost 3 years.

After months of dodging speculations of a pregnancy and an engagement, the little Simpson has only admitted to the latter. Many tabloids, however, are pushing the pregnancy rumor, insisting that it is the true reason for the engagement.

The rumors have circulated for months, though, so if she were truly pregnant than I feel like she would be showing by now. Additionally, it has been said that Wentz asked Joe Simpson, the famed father and manager for Jessica, for Ashlee's hand in marriage. Father Simpson has been quoted to say,

"Pete did ask. I told him that I would be honored to have him as part of my family."

I think it is wonderful that Ashlee is settling down, although I fear for her and her hubby's future considering the media is probably responsible for the demise of Jessica and ex-husband Nick Lachey.

Let's just hope Ashlee and Pete don't take the same route as Jess and Nick and start their own reality series. As tempting as it will be, as it always is for celebrity couples who believe everyone wants to know everything about their lives, which is probably true, I hope, for their sake, they say "no" to reality and yes to a future. Congrats!

What's a little sex between friends?

What's up with rumors of a steamy sex scene between longtime actor friends John Leguizamo and Rosie Perez?

Well, the two nominated actors will be appearing in a new movie entitled "The Take" in which Leguizamo plays an armored car driver named Felix whose life is ruined when he is shot in the head during a heist. Felix returns home to his wife, played by Perez, and the couple's son, but suffers from brain damage and becomes obsessed with hunting down the gunman, who is played by actor Tyrese Gibson.

In the movie, Leguizamo and Perez have a sex scene that is said to be pretty intense. While Leguizamo called the scene "the illest," Perez had a differentt perspective. The actress was quoted to say

"I respect him [Leguizamo] so much and he respects me so much. I know his wife, he knew my husband and introduced me to my boyfriend. It was very awkward. Like brother and sister having to do a sex scene."



It makes me wonder, after seeing this quote from Perez, whether or not the sex scene will be believable between the two actors. If Perez felt awkwardness emulating from their scene then how could the awkwardness be hidden on film? While both actors are extremely talented, especially Leguizamo, as he is one of my favorites actors, I have my doubts on the chemistry that will exist between the two on screen. I suppose only time will tell, or just the sex.

Move over for Mandy, Miley

What's up with the best new show to hit YouTube? Well, the Miley and Mandy Show, like of course!!



Okay, so I really couldn't get through this blog without bringing up a post on Miley Rae Cyrus. The 15-year-old girl is always in the news, most recently for changing her legal name of Destiny Hope Cyrus to the current. She also happens to be the center of one of my best friend's greatest obsessions, and my best friend is 22.

But, the real story here isn't necessarily little miss Miley, but her friend Mandy. While Miley is an underage hottie making people laugh, Mandy is of legal age, 21 years to be exact, and posing pictures on the internet that would make people question why she isn't on television yet. Miley herself had some "controversial" pictures that popped up online a few months ago, but these were merely cute pictures of herself in a bathing suit that any 15-year-old girl would take.

I suppose the real issue here is "influence."

Many people probably believe that Miley supports her friend for putting such seductive pictures of herself online. My response? Who cares? How many girls out there put pictures of herself online in some sexy type of pose, wishing she were a model? I think it was smart of Mandy, actually, because she was able to get the attention she needs from the show her and ultra famous best friend Miley, put online.
The pictures that are circulating will only make sure she gets center stage long enough to get a deal of her own, perhaps a stint on Hannah Montana? I say, get over it already. At least she isn't touching herself inappropriately or getting DUIs.

Heath can't get a break

What's up with the latest piece of controversy to break its way into the death and after-life of late actor Heath Ledger? Well, claims are now surfacing of a possible love child that may have been fathered by Ledger when he was only a 17-year-old. The woman, who Ledger reportedly had an affair with and is stepping forward as the mother of this 11-year-old child, says that she discovered the pregnancy after her and Ledger's relationship ended and is only now revealing the truth.

If DNA tests can confirm that the child is Ledger's then the child will be entitled to a part of the late actor's estate, something already under careful scrutiny considering that his will was never updated to include his already publicly known child with actress Michelle Williams.

Now, can anybody call a nice big BULL S$#@ on this one? If the secret of the child's father was so important to be kept, why only bring it out once he has died? The issue of money is important here, and fame as well, but if that's the case the woman could have gotten both by coming out when the actor was alive.

Personally, I think the woman may have stupidly believed that it would be harder to prove that the child is Ledger's. Either that, or she may have been unsure of who the father was, and realized this is the only way to prove it. Maybe she believed that Ledger would have refused a paternity test when he was alive, or maybe he already did?

Either way, the joke's on us because Ledger will be making millions off of the insanely increased interest in the new Batman movie coming out; then again, his kid(s) will.

First comes divorce then comes marriage...and another divorce

What's up with divorce number two for movie star/ comedian Robin Williams? Well, the ultra famous 56-year-old actor's wife of nearly 19 years, Marsha Garces Williams, filed for a petition for dissolution of marriage citing irreconcilable differences. While underlying reasons for their divorce have not yet been manifested into rumors, the real juiciness of this piece of gossip actually comes from how the two got married in the first place. Marsha Garces met Williams when she became the nanny for his son Zachary, from his first marriage to Valerie Velardi.

Williams divorced Velardi after ten years of marriage, and a two-year affair with a cocktail waitress who later sued him for giving her Herpes without telling her. (I know, crazy, right? How does Williams avoid being in the tabloids?) Williams then went on to marry Garces and have two children, Zelda and Cody.

Now, I don’t know if I am the only one here who didn’t know this, but since when is Robin Williams an adulterer, a drug addict and an alcoholic. Yes, he is both of the latter two, which I shockingly discovered after doing more research on pending divorce number two. Apparently, Williams was a cocaine addict, a problem he was once quoted as jokingly saying, “is God’s way of telling you that you make too much money.”

As for being an alcoholic, it is said that Williams was sober for twenty years until recently falling off the wagon, something that provoked his marriage to Garces who reportedly told the award-winning actor that he had to check into rehab or check out of their marriage. While Williams did, in fact, check into rehab, I suppose there may have been other things not working for them. The longer I think about it, however, the more I can see the possibility of a dangerous lifestyle for the comedian, considering the raunchiness of his stand-ups and outrageous public statements. I suppose the shock comes from the fact that I grew up with Williams’ movies; laughing and loving his characters as if they were my closest friends.

A shame, really.

I feel bad for Williams, but he’s already been through one divorce, so I think he can make it through another one. Although it may hurt him more this time around, if he remembers any of his stand-up routines: “Ah yes, divorce, from the Latin word meaning to rip out a man's genitals through his wallet.”

Unsexy In the City

What's up with the latest Maxim issue declaring Sex and the City star, Sarah Jessica Parker, as the "Unsexiest Woman Alive?" Well, Maxim conducted a poll for the newest edition of their popular men's magazine asking readers to vote on who they believe deserves the title as "Unsexiest." At the top of the list was Sarah Jessica Parker, the short and skinny television star who has always been berated for being less -than-acceptably good-looking, although her Carrie Bradshaw character is anything, but, being known for her extravagant taste, in both fashion and men. Now, I really don't understand why everyone is so turned off by Parker.


I think she has a very different beauty than other actresses. She's natural, sweet, independent and classic. She may not have outstanding features, but it's her personality and her talent that places her above so many other actresses. Almost all of my friends agree with the Maxim declaration, but I really don't. I recall an episode of Family Guy where Peter referred to Parker's face as looking like a "foot." If anyone is unsexy, I would say Paris Hilton. The woman parades around with her inherited wealth partying, drinking and driving, pretty much thriving off of being a bitch and yet people still awe at her. She has no talent and, in all actuality, only has her dad's money and a media-perfect body to keep her in our interests. I will never consider Sarah Jessica Parker as an unsexy woman. As for her response to the whole "unsexy" title well, check out the video:



The rest of the "Unsexy List" doesn't seem to surprise anybody, as well, but is it even right to have this list? What do you guys think??

* Britney Spears
* Amy Winehouse
* Sandra Oh
* Madonna

Britney's Back?

What's up with Britney Spears making a guest appearance on the popular CBS show, "How I met your Mother?" Well, the pop singer is confirmed to appear on the show starting March 24 as a receptionist in a dermatology office. Her character, Abby, is a sweet-natured (I wonder if Britney can pull that off without chewing gum) girl with a larger-than-life crush on a guy named Ted, who just doesn't seem to want anything to do with her.



Personally, I think it is wonderful that Spears is getting her life back on track. Ever since her parents, namely her father, have taken over her assets and gotten rid of that terrible, blood-sucking, and money-sucking, manager of hers, her life has progressed better than we have seen in the past 4 years. Of course, with every Britney Spears performance comes a level of controversy. The upcoming guest appearance of Spears on the show has caused Clueless and Batman and Robin star, Alicia Silverstone, to drop out of her own appearance on the show. !E news quoted an anonymous star as saying,


“She [Silverstone] knows that everyone would be going out of their way to look after Britney, and it would be so chaotic nobody would look after her."

http://www.popcrunch.com/britney-spears-alicia-silverstone-how-i-met-your-mother-drop-out/

While I suppose I can understand why Silverstone would refuse to share air time with Spears as she attempts, once again, to bounce back into good favors, I don't think it is in Silverstone's best interest to be picky on the gigs that she keeps, considering we haven't seen much of her since, what, a guest stint on Beauty Shop? I mean, technically, both Spears and Silverstone are attempting the same thing here, only Silverstone's career hasn't been interrupted yet by crazy marriages and haircuts. But, at least Spears has stayed in the limelight in some aspect. I suppose that is why it wasn't that difficult for the producers of "How I Met Your Mother" to replace Silverstone with Scrubs star Sarah Chalke.

A few clips on Spears' performance on "How I Met Your Mother" have been circulating the Internet, with mainly positive feedback. Personally, I think her comedic performance is well-done, considering. Check it out for yourself and let me know what your opinion is.

All you need is love...and money

What's up with the 2-year divorce settlement battle between Paul McCartney and Heather Mills? Well, for starters, it is finally over. Mills has reportedly received a whooping $48.7 million in the final decision handed down by High Court Justice Hugh Bennett in a London courtroom. As a part of the deal, Mills will receive $28 million for herself and $5 million to purchase a home. She told reporters that "It was an incredible result to secure mine and my daughter's future." What I am wondering is why she needs more than $1 million to "secure" a future? What kind of future does she have in mind for her and their daughter? Mills already receives a hefty paycheck from all the publicity stunts she does, not to mention her past life as a model. The woman is even an activist, notably giving away her entire Dancing With The Stars paycheck to Viva! a well-known animal rights group.

http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/famecrawler/2007/10/23-End%20of%20Month/r86451_254465.jpg

So what does she need almost $50 million for? People out there are living with only $20,000 a year, with at least 3 kids, and they are surviving and even sending thos kids off to college. The ex-Beatle even offered Mills a settlement of $31.6 million, including property, which she turned down flat. My guess is that the lawyers were the real ones at battle here. Mills's lawyer knew she could get more money out of McCartney, who is worth a rough amount of $1.6 billion. The couple were only married for 4 years, and unfortunately for McCartney, without a pre-nup. She was publicly denounced as the number one gold-digger out there. She denied those claims, but it doesn't seem to be saying much for her when she fights for this much money in a divorce settlement. I suppose they can call each other even, considering Mills has already given up part of her left-leg. Now, it's McCartney's turn.

Who wants to be a BFF?

What's up with a new reality show featuring Paris Hilton? Well, MTV is filling in one of its spots for a somewhat serious search for a new best friend for the hotel heiress Paris Hilton. The show, tentatively titled Paris Hilton's My New BFF is already scheduled for ten episodes in which Hilton will shovel through 20 girls, and guys, in what many are hoping to be a vicious and aggressive contest. In a somewhat mockery type of Myspace hottie tycoon Tila Tequila's bi-sexual love search, Hilton is supposedly only searching for a platonic love match. But, the real question seems to be: why is it so hard for Paris Hilton to find her own best friend? Well, when there is money and fame involved, only the latter of which Hilton is somewhat responsible for, I am sure any celebrity could care less on the topic to be issued. http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2007/08/12/hilton12807_narrowweb__300x438,0.jpg

What I don't understand, however, is how they can actually think that 20 young, fame hungry, men and women would simply go on a show to play wingman and sidekick to one of the biggest, forgive me, but I only quote the mass media, bitches, in Hollywood? I bet you anything that whoever "wins" this show will either have his or her own "special" or will get dropped by Hilton the second the cameras turn off. I mean, seriously, who wants to be friends with a tall, skinny, blond worth millions of dollars anyways?

Downey and Stiller...a blackened face

What's up with Robert Downey Jr. parading around with a face about 100 times darker than usual?And no we are not talking "fake" tan, unless of course he set the timer to burnt toast. Well, Ben Stiller wrote a movie; his first in seven years, that is, and comedic parody, it would seem, is the focal point. The movie is entitled "Tropic Thunder" and Downey will be playing the part of Kirk Lazarus, a snooty, and rather dense, Academy Award winner who receives the role of a lifetime. Unfortunately, at first, it is discovered that the part was written for an black actor. Instead of turning down the role, because let's face it: it wouldn't be the humor we are used to from Stiller's comedic mind if it didn't go in this direction, Lazarus (have you caught onto the irony in the name?) decides to play "God" and dye his skin for the role. Given the sensitivity of this subject, and the fact that this taboo topic has been tackled before, and for the most part, mutilated in the process, it is hard to decide whether or not Stiller is striking gold, or just striking out. On the one hand, Downey has the huge role of "Ironman" coming out soon, and I mean huge considering that Downey hasn't had a decent movie role in years, at least not since back when he was on drugs and nobody, well okay everybody, knew. Not to say that I'm not used to stellar stuff from Stiller (forgive me for the alliteration, I had too). In fact, I love Stiller movies, not counting the recent one that just had me shaking my head in confusion. (Let's just say the title wasn't the only heartbreak). It just makes me wonder if these comedic heroes of our time, i.e Stiller, Ferrell, Wilson, and others, are running out of their mojo. Case and point Will Ferrell's recent atom bomb "Semi-Pro." I mean, this one's preview couldn't get me excited. No, I didn't see the movie, but did I really need to? I still have hope that these faves of mine who have kept me laughing can continue, but they'll need to hang up the gloves someday right?

Eminem...and A and B and C

What's up with rapper Eminem writing a memoir? Well, apparently Slim Shady has crawled out of his parental hole just long enough to announce that he plans on releasing an autobiography that will detail specific aspects of his personal life unbeknown to the public. What I am wondering, is what else of his life is left for him to talk about? His songs pretty much speak for themselves, detailing his hatred for his (ex)wife, the fact that he loves his perfect angel of a daughter more than life itself, how his mother was the devil, oh and that it is isn't his fault when kids take his songs meaning the wrong way. Don't get me wrong, I love Eminem's music. I think he is a genius, in fact. But, for a man who has made his millions writing songs about the horrifically sad details of his rapperlicious life on the 8-mile side, to come out and say that he will be writing a book on these very same horrific facts bothers me.

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2008/02/28/eminem_lead_narrowweb__300x376,0.jpg

Can't people just go out and buy his albums, at least that way it is narrated and they don't have to read anything. I think this whole writing a memoir fad before the age of forty really needs to stop. Celebrities already live day-by-day with the knowledge that the world is obsessed with knowing all of the facts and specifics of these celebrities lives. I say that unless you have something important to say, then give it a rest already. Sorry Marshal Mathers, it's not that I'm not interested. I just feel like I already know everything about you. If there is more to say, then that either frightens me or annoys me, though I don't know which is worse. Well, who am I kidding. I will probably end up reading it anyways.

Oscar's Grouch

What's up with Gary Busey's crazy antics at the 80th Annual Academy Awards? Apparently, Busey was almost to the point of being escorted off the red carpet for harassing American Idol and E! host Ryan Seacrest as he was attempting to interview actresses Jennifer Garner and Laura Linney. Things escalated when Busey then moved on to Garner herself, kissing her unexpectedly on the neck and making her uncomfortable to the point that Linney pulled out the "girlfriend escape card" and dragged Garner away. While I don't remember seeing this moment during the televised pre-show on the red carpet, it didn't take long for the video to circulate the Internet and raise questions on Busey's mental health, if not social health.


I feel kinda sorry for Busey, as he used to be an A-list celebrity, nominated for an Oscar at the high point in his career. Over the years, however, it seems Busey has earned a reputation as a "nut" of Hollywood ever since he suffered brain damage in a serious motorcycle accident, and most people couldn't name a movie he's been in within this decade. In fact, the only movie I can really remember him from is Rookie of the Year where he played, ironically enough today, a famous baseball player whose best years were behind him. Although most of the attention in the movie was drawn away by boyishly cute Timothy Ian Nicholas, Busey's only important line of "Throw the heat" was good enough to render him a slot in our memories. Busey seemed to really want to be interviewed by Seacrest, well, it was more like he wanted for somebody to WANT to interview him.

But, back to the video. I can only assume that Linney was whispering to Garner something along the lines of "this guy is crazy we need to walk away as soon as possible." Linney probably didn't have time to say that Busey is THE Gary Busey and I felt particularly sorry for Garner who didn't seem to even know who Busey is, referring to him as "this man." She looked genuinely scared especially with the absence of hubby Ben Affleck. Even more interesting was the woman Busey was dragging around as his date for the evening. If Busey was attempting to get attention and getting nowhere, this woman was attempting something doubly impossible. She stuck her face into people's conversations, shaking hands with people who looked at her with blank stares. But, I suppose that made her a perfect date for Busey. I don't quite understand what Busey was doing at the Oscars to begin with. I always wondered how old celebrities got invites to the Academy Awards every year. I suppose once you have been nominated for an Oscar you have a permanent invitation to the shindig. Poor Busey. I suggest next time he watch the show from the comfort of his own, camera free, home. It would save him much embarrassment and won't revamp the phrase of 15-minutes-of-fame into 15-things-not-to-do-on-the-red-carpet. In case these things escape you here they are:

• DO NOT harass reporters for attention or interviews
  
• DO NOT forget to brush your hair
  
• DO NOT bring a date more desperate for attention than you
  
• DO NOT act like everybody knows who you are
  
• DO NOT talk to people who don't seem to want to talk to you
  
• DO NOT embarrass yourself in front of millions of people
  
• DO NOT kiss a married celebrity
  
• DO NOT kiss a woman half your age
  
• DO NOT kiss a woman who doesn't know who you are
  
• DO NOT kiss Jennifer Garner
  
• DO NOT call yourself Gary Busey
  
• DO NOT talk like Gary Busey
  
• DO NOT act like you are "stoned"
  
• DO NOT interrupt interviews that aren't your own
  
• DO NOT mess with Ryan Seacrest
  

Celebrity Obsessions Peaking

What's up with the incredible increase in celebrity obsession? Has anyone noticed that we learn more about the lives of a handful of select famous-faces (ranging A-D on the celeb scale because gossip is never prejudice) than we do about our own families? I find it alarming that the media is more concerned with the newest person to grace Paris Hilton's beef list 2008 or where Cameron Diaz ate lunch last Wednesday. I realize this discussion lies on the borders of hypocrisy considering the fact that I am sitting here perpetuating the cycle of surreality obsession. But, my intention is to facet a better understanding as to why I have chosen to keep up with a blog on celebrity gossip rather than any one of a multitude of other topics more worthy of a person's time. Such as the following topics being explored by my classmates:

• Politics
• The Iraq War
• Guitars
• Coffee
• Tattoos and Piercings
• Fashion

In fact, this is a post long overdue, and which probably should have been my first one. Well, I think I have figured it out. My life is boring and real news is either depressing or uninteresting. My stomach tightens and my eyes water when I sit and attempt to watch what is going on in the world. So, of course it is much more fun to watch, read, and laugh at the seemingly perfect lives of celebrities either fall apart or get destroyed. Then again, there is such thing as a nice gossip, but that wouldn't be any fun would it?

Depp, Law, and Farrell...all for one

What's up with three actors substituting for Heath Ledger in his unfinished movie? I'll tell you what's up: my respect for actors and human beings. I think it is so fantastic that Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell (though this choice makes me skeptical on choice of actor) have reportedly stepped up to share the character played by Heath Ledger in the unfinished film "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus."

www.comcast.net

Ledger's unfinished film centers around a fantastical world with three dimensions, making it easy to allow the face of Ledger's character to change. Apparently, the film's budget was supported by the name Ledger carried into the project, so bringing in three well-known actors was a necessity for the production team. While I am sure that these three actors will be getting paid for their performances, I think it takes great humbleness to set aside ego and support a fallen comrade. Most actors find it degrading to step in as a so-called "substitute," but I would not be surprised for anyone to consider it an honor to sub for the great Heath Ledger. Yes, I understand he was not around for that long, nor was he involved in many well-known projects, but in anything I have seen him in, I have never been disappointed, and I have always been pleasantly surprised. I am incredibly happy that Ledger was able to finish the role as Joker, however, for the upcoming Batman sequel. Just the pictures of his character makes me eager to watch the movie and see Ledger's take on one of the greatest villains of all time. The last actor to play the Joker, Jack Nicholson, is one of the toughest acts to follow, but it has been said that while Nicholson focused on the Joker's comedicly evil side, Ledger focused more on the evil itself. I am sure Ledger's performance will have more people wishing he had stayed around longer, if not indefinitely.

Queen of the night

What's up with Aretha's attack on Beyonce? Apparently when Beyonce introduced Tina Turner onto the stage at the 2008 Grammy's, the choice of words, although performed via an abstract mixture of song, narration, and dance, was not to Aretha's liking. Perhaps it was the fact that Beyonce mentioned more than 10 other historical and influential, black, singers before introducing Turner as the "queen." Aretha was included in these other references, of course, but not as "The Queen of Soul," which she was is so famously remembered as far back as 1960.http://www.aretha-franklin.com/

"I am not sure of whose toes I may have stepped on or whose ego I may have bruised between the Grammy writers and Beyonce," Franklin said, "However, I dismissed it as a cheap shot for controversy."

In my opinion, the night belonged to Turner, not Franklin, and the fact that Turner was called the "queen" doesn't suggest for a moment that she was upstaging or stealing the name bestowed upon Franklin. I mean, is she mad at Queen Latifah? or Queen Elizabeth II? The irony is that Turner does carry a title as the "Queen of Rock and Roll," which is perfect for a duet with Beyonce, as her music has taken a slight shift in that direction, lately. So what made Franklin get so offended? I think the real problem Franklin has is that she wasn't offered the prestigious position of performing at the Grammys, and following that long-wanted path of "Great Comebacks." Even Beyonce's father, and manager, is perplexed at Franklin's very public statement. Mr. Knowles counter-acted with a public statement of his own: "I am not taking something this ridiculous to Beyonce. Beyonce referred to Tina Turner as a 'queen.' Not queen of gospel, queen of soul, queen of blues, Queen of England. I consider my wife a queen and sometimes call her that. Does Aretha have a problem with that?" I suppose we can give Franklin a small break, considering she has had such an influence on the music world today and she's in her 60s. At least the performance that night was worth this stir of controversy.

Rehab...the greatest thing since sliced bread

What's up with the latest popular trend among the rich and the famous: rehab?

While many celebrities reject the term "rehabilitation" and prefer the more flattering term "relaxation," the bottom line is that a large number of well-known names are filing exhaustion as a reason for a random check-in. Alcoholism, drug abuse, and anxiety are among other reason for celebrities' visits to centers such as Promises Treatment Center and Passages. So who can be held responsible for this surge of celebrity visits?

Well, we could say that Britney Spears is the initiator of the raging trend. The young pop star has pretty much started a tab of rehabilitation center stay receipts in the United States, with stays ranging from a matter of hours to almost a week. The question is whether these centers are doing anything for the 26-year-old. www.newsday.com

Does she keep leaving and checking back in because they can't help her or is it because she really thinks that there isn't anything wrong with her? Isn't it part of the centers' job to determine when a patient is healthy enough to leave the care they applied into? Spears has generated enormous amounts of publicity with her constant ins and outs, but at least she has her very public custody battle to draw attention away. I can't really say that much for Lindsay Lohan.


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It's been a downward spiral for the actress, like many others, with her life of endless drinking, smoking, partying and drugs. It wasn't until recently, however, that Lohan came out to say that rehab has actually helped her out a lot. In fact, her testimony is one of the only positive personal testimonies of a recovering celebrity that I have seen. Call me crazy, though, I think this whole "I was so stupid" scene is simply a way for her to get some of her fans back, especially after being arrested more than twice and having her latest two flicks flop. Whether or not it will work will depend on the next few months, but I don't think anybody has really lost interest in her anyway, at least not as a celebrity, but maybe as an actress and fortunately as a singer.

Amy Winehouse may deserve the best recognition for the rehab trend, now that I think about it. I mean, when it comes to rehab, she wrote the song:





The irony lies in the song itself, considering she was recently placed into rehab after her boyfriend was arrested for domestic violence, among other charges. It doesn't end with just her, though, Grey's Anatomy star Justin Chambers, and film stars Eva Mendes and Kirsten Dunst have all recently checked into rehab for "exhaustion" and other reasons. I think it's kind of crazy that they need to go to a rehab center to relax, while the rest of us make plans to take what we call a "vacation." But, I suppose when you have enough money to pay people to relax you for yourself, then you can go and do whatever you want. The least they could do is call it what it is, though, I mean, they can't all have drug problems...can they?

Opps she does it again...or did she?

Well, if you haven't already started to feel bad for Britney Spears, this may be your chance to feel like a sympathetic celebrity stalker. The 26-year-old pop star has been ordered by a court to receive a series of mental examinations to determine if she is able to fully understand her current legal position, including her on-going custody battle with ex-husband K-Fed. Personally, I think the poor woman should have had somebody give her a psyche evaluation when she married Kevin Federline and then proceeded to have two kids with him. Or, maybe somebody should have called her out when she shaved all her hair off, attacked a car with an umbrella, or when she got the silent cricket treatment at her hideous lip-syncing performance in a way-too-tight ensemble that would normally cause the FCC to switch to censor and fee mode. I used to think that she simply enjoyed the attention she received. I mean, didn't somebody once say that any publicity is good publicity?



But, lately my opinion on the whole Britney thing has somewhat changed. The more and more I hear about her check-ins to rehab and the fact that she locked herself in a room with her son so that he wouldn't be taken away from her makes me feel sad for the singer. Anybody can say that she is crazy, but, lately, I see her as a mother who just doesn't want to lose her children and I don't believe her actions constitute her as crazy. It seems like so many people are quick to attack her with reference to the fact that she has lived a life of luxury and deserves the scrutiny she gets. Well, maybe this is true, but she is still a mother and while she had more luxuries than most teens, she didn't really have an actual childhood; and for that, I pity her. Add company to the madness and you have her oddly involved manager Sam Lutfi, who was recently issued a restraining order under charges that he was drugging Britney, setting her up for paparazzi attacks and taking control of all her finances. Now, her parents are in charge of Britney's assets and are taking Lutfi to court. I think it is about time that her family stood up and took her situation seriously. I feel that it is partly their fault for letting Britney dig herself into a doomed marriage and lousy management. I really hope that her time in the rehab center, the medical evaluations and the now primary attention from her parents will help her gain control of her life, and maybe even her kids. I mean, Kevin Federline: "Father of The Year?" Now who's crazy?

Can old kids learn new tricks?

Yes, it's true; at least, according to the rumors. After 14 years of "Hangin' Tough" without each other, the group that started the boy band phenomena could be reuniting. New Kids On The Block, or NKOTB as they were better known, despite the greater difficulty in remembering the acronym, paved the way for boys bands like NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys, bringing together rap and pop to heart-aching teenage girls across the country. I recall my older sister's love for the 5-boy group: the posters; the tapes; the backwards hats and baggy shirts. I also recall that these "kids" were, in fact, kids at the time of their march into fame.

So, why the comeback now? MTV attempted to reunite the boys back in 1999, which was more appropriate given the boy-band era, but now most of the members are in their late 30s.

The time spent between their split and today leaves very little to be excited about. After a couple of failed solo attempts and rumors of continuing tensions between old members, what are these old kids striving for? If there is a reunion in the works, I suggest the kids get a new name, perhaps "Old Kids New Tricks." I also suggest a reality check and a music lesson as they are introduced to a new age of music, without arm swinging and head tilting. I'm not saying they don't stand a chance, but the track record is against them. Case and point: just about every other boy-band who has attempted a come-back. Watch out married men, your wives may be getting a case of the 80s as the "New Kids" bring themselves back together; then again, I think we should all be careful, and maybe buy some new ear plugs.

Mary-Kate Olsen called before 911??

Shocking as it was to hear about the tragic death of 28-year-old actor Heath Ledger, it could quite possibly be more shocking to hear that the masseuse who discovered his unconscious body made several phone calls to actress Mary-Kate Olsen before calling an ambulance.

It may be understandable that the masseuse was not originally aware that the young actor was either dead or dying when she first discovered him, but she made a total of four phone calls to Olsen. Now I don't know about anybody else, but I have never heard of a close relationship between Olsen and Ledger while he was alive. If anyone were to have received a phone call, I would have expected the ex-fiance and mother-of-his-child Michelle Williams. True, she was overseas, but she probably would have done more from where she was than Olsen did.

Why would the masseuse, who has been identified as a woman named Diana Wolozin, call anybody not directly related to the actor? In fact, if she suspected something to be wrong with a cold-to-the-touch, unconscious man surrounded by bottles of prescription pills, why would she not call 911? A normal human being could be expected to panic under circumstances like these, however, to wait so long to call an ambulance is not normal and should be investigated. I'm wondering what Olsen and Wolozin were discussing that did not involve the words "ambulance", "pills" and "possibly dead."

While officials have reported that the phone calls play no significant role in their investigation of Ledger's death, I can't help but believe that it is the closet clue they have to solving the bizarre events leading up to the death of the up-and-coming heartthrob. The masseuse isn't even legally licensed, if that weren't suspicious enough. A licensed technician must have training in CPR, something the 911 operator had to instruct Wolozin on. If officials aren't looking into the fact that Wolozin waited so long to call 911, maybe they should investigate the reasons as to why Olsen didn't call 911 herself. The actress instead sent her personal guards over to Ledger's apartment. If the Ledger and Olsen were so close, then she should have gone over there herself. Could it have saved Ledger's life? I guess we will never know.