I apologize in advance for busting in amidst Kelly's debut weekend -- which she is handling brilliantly -- but I happen to be awake at 3 am to receive this breaking and very sad news:
British reality TV star Jade Goody has finally lost her battle with cervical cancer. She died, at the age of 27, in her home early Sunday morning.
We didn't cover the story very much around here, because something about sensationalizing a cancer death didn't sit right with me. I understand why Jade accep...
As the big cheese around here, it's my job to break it to you that our darling Soleil will no longer be posting on weekends. Weekend posting is a notoriously tough gig (just ask Wendie!), and Soleil did a fantastic job with it. She's a remarkably talented writer, and her application for the position stood out to me right from the start. I know you guys got as many laughs out of her posts as I did, and I'm sad to see her go. She's now on to bigger and better things in her professional life, and here at the Evil Beet we wish her all the best.
In happier news, I'm proud to announce that Ms. Kelly Hays will be coming on board for the weekends, starting immediately. Kelly is yet another exceptionally talented and funny writer, and I'm sure you guys will adore her, except for those of you who will bash her just because you always enjoy bashing the new kid. I'll let Kelly introduce herself more thoroughly when she starts tomorrow morning. Try to be polite, children.
xoxo,
Beet />As the big cheese around here, it's my job to break it to you that our darling Soleil will no longer be posting on weekends. Weekend posting is a notoriously tough gig (just ask Wendie!), and Soleil did a fantastic job with it. She's a remarkably talented writer, and her application for the position stood out to me right from the start. I know you guys got as many laughs out of her posts as I did, and I'm sad to see her go. She's now on to bigger and better things in her professional life, and here...
I cannot believe I'm saying this, but I'm kind of intrigued by the trailer for the new Rumer Willis/Audrina Patridge horror flick, Sorority Row. Not that Audrina's even a half-decent actress, but it appears that she's wearing lingerie, playing dead or covered in a hood for most of the movie, so it's kind of an ideal role for her. I dunno. I'm not usually a horror fan, but this appeals to me. Kind of like Scream did.
Could this be a hit for Audrina and Rumer? />
I cannot believe I'm saying this, but I'm kind of intrigued by the trailer for the new Rumer Willis/Audrina Patridge horror flick, Sorority Row. Not that Audrina's even a half-decent actress, but it appears that she's wearing lingerie, playing dead or covered in a hood for most of the movie, so it's kind of an ideal role for her. I dunno. I'm not usually a horror fan, but this appeals to me. Kind of like Scream did.
Could this be a hit for Audrina and Rumer? ...
As I predicted (it wasn't that hard to predict), President Obama has apologized for his joke about the Special Olympics on Leno last night.
Obama's comments to Jay Leno about his low bowling score – in particular, an off-the-cuff remark that it was "like Special Olympics or something" – had the chief executive calling Special Olympics chairman Tim Shriver from Air Force One on Thursday before the program even aired.
"He expressed his disappointment and apologized," Shriver told Friday's edition of ABC's Good Morning America. "He was very sincere."
In a statement issued Friday, White House spokesman Bill Burton said, "The President made an offhand remark making fun of his own bowling that was in no way intended to disparage the Special Olympics. He thinks that the Special Olympics are a wonderful program that gives an opportunity to shine to people with disabilities from around the world."
Shriver also noted that "words hurt and words do matter, and these words that in some respect can be seen as humiliating ... do cause pain." He further said that he hopes the president's slip of the tongue "a teachable moment for our country."
Wow, he called the dude before the program even aired. And called it a "teachable moment." Very impressive, Mr. President. />
As I predicted (it wasn't that hard to predict), President Obama has apologized for his joke about the Special Olympics on Leno last night.
Obama's comments to Jay Leno about his low bowling score – in particular, an off-the-cuff remark that it was "like Special Olympics or something" – had the chief executive calling Special Olympics chairman Tim Shriver from Air Force One on Thursday before the program even aired.
"He expressed his disappointment and apologized," Shriver told Friday's ed...
For the first time ever, Jay Leno interviewed a sitting U.S. President on The Tonight Show. And it'll probably be the last time, after Obama made his first major PR gaffe as President. Obama said he recently bowled a 129. Leno responded, sarcastically, "Oh, that's very good, Mr. President." Obama quipped back with, "It's like Special Olympics or something," and then laughed.
At this point, Leno basically freezes. You can tell he realizes that this is an enormous mistake on the part of Obama, and isn't sure how to handle it. He decides to play along and disregard the comment. If this had been a less beloved President -- say, oh, George W. Bush -- you better believe Leno would have stopped right there and made a fool of him. But he tried to cover for President Obama as best he could.
Sheesh, even I know better than to make Special Olympics jokes. It's just one of those things that my brain is hard-wired to stop. Like, I'll feel one coming out, and my brain is just reflexively like, "No, Beet. No Special Olympics jokes. Those hurt feelings and get us into trouble." Plus, I find that whenever I want to make a joke about the mentally disabled, I can substitute Lindsay Lohan and the joke still works. It's a neat trick.
Expect an apology from President Obama's camp tomorrow. />
For the first time ever, Jay Leno interviewed a sitting U.S. President on The Tonight Show. And it'll probably be the last time, after Obama made his first major PR gaffe as President. Obama said he recently bowled a 129. Leno responded, sarcastically, "Oh, that's very good, Mr. President." Obama quipped back with, "It's like Special Olympics or something," and then laughed.
At this point, Leno basically freezes. You can tell he realizes that this is an enormous mistake on the part of Oba...
Honestly it is totally my secret love to follow a bunch of celebrities on Twitter. I'm way unhealthy about it. But it's just such a cool way to get to know what these people are like behind the PR-generated image. I respond to Taylor Swift's every tweet. She never writes me back, but one of these days I just know she will, and then we'll be BFF and I'll adopt her as my sister and she'll come over to my house and we'll eat chips and drink Dr. Pepper and wear matching cowboy boots and write songs together. I'M SO EXCITED!
One of my Twitter buddies, DownUnda2008, pointed me to a very cool site that has verified a shitload of celebrity Twitter accounts, and alphabetized them, from 50 Cent to Yoko Ono.
The site is called Valebrity, and you can check out celebrity Twitterers here. One celeb they don't have listed, and who I'm pretty sure is real, is Courtney Love. Because you just can't make up that kind of crazy. You're born with it.
If you join Twitter, or you're currently a member, you should totally add our very own Wendie (account here) and OF COURSE you should follow my Evil Beet Twitter (account here). />Honestly it is totally my secret love to follow a bunch of celebrities on Twitter. I'm way unhealthy about it. But it's just such a cool way to get to know what these people are like behind the PR-generated image. I respond to Taylor Swift's every tweet. She never writes me back, but one of these days I just know she will, and then we'll be BFF and I'll adopt her as my sister and she'll come over to my house and we'll eat chips and drink Dr. Pepper and wear matching cowboy boots and write songs toge...
A couple days ago, I posted a link to a leaked Tori Amos track from her new album, Abnormally Attracted to Sin. A second track leaked yesterday but was quickly pulled from YouTube, and I can't track it down now -- does anyone know where I can find "Fire to Your Plain"?
Anyway, today we have yet another -- it's called "500," and you can listen to it above.
Tori's performing at SXSW TONIGHT, so I'm hopeful that we'll have a ton of video leaks from that to watch tomorrow. Woot woot! />
A couple days ago, I posted a link to a leaked Tori Amos track from her new album, Abnormally Attracted to Sin. A second track leaked yesterday but was quickly pulled from YouTube, and I can't track it down now -- does anyone know where I can find "Fire to Your Plain"?
Anyway, today we have yet another -- it's called "500," and you can listen to it above.
Tori's performing at SXSW TONIGHT, so I'm hopeful that we'll have a ton of video leaks from that to watch tomorrow. Woot woot! ...
I suppose this was just a matter of time. The kids over at DoSomething.org have released a video re-enactment of the violence that took place between Chris Brown and Rihanna on that fateful Grammy eve, based on the detective's notes. To be fair, it's nowhere near as cheesy as it could have been.
To help raise awareness about teen dating abuse, DoSomething is giving away a free set of three bracelets -- one blue, two black, to demonstrate that one in three teens is the victim of dating violence. You can order yours here.
And while I certainly commend anyone for doing anything to speak out against domestic violence, the most powerful action you can take here is to end a relationship the very first time your significant other shows signs of violence or emotional abuse. Don't put up with that shit, not ever. You're worth more than that. />
I suppose this was just a matter of time. The kids over at DoSomething.org have released a video re-enactment of the violence that took place between Chris Brown and Rihanna on that fateful Grammy eve, based on the detective's notes. To be fair, it's nowhere near as cheesy as it could have been.
To help raise awareness about teen dating abuse, DoSomething is giving away a free set of three bracelets -- one blue, two black, to demonstrate that one in three teens is the victim of dating violence. You ...
Oh, Lord, how I love American Idol season. The drama behind the scenes is always better than the on-camera dramz!
Up now: A group of former employees of Fremantle Media, which produces the show, have filed a class action suit against Fremantle, alleging that the company systematically overworked employees without paying the required overtime, falsified time cards and denied staffers meals and rest periods.
"There's no Hollywood glamour for the below-the-line people who work on 'American Idol' and other reality shows who are grossly underpaid, worked 24/7 and receive no rest or meal breaks and no health coverage -- contrary to California labor laws," said the plaintiffs' attorney Jonathan Biddle.
The complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court strongly resembles a class-action suit against reality companies and broadcasters that recently was settled for $4 million. The earlier suit was launched in conjunction with the Writers Guild of America, which has been going after reality production companies and networks in an attempt to organize the writers who shape the story lines of reality shows.
"For each reality television series subject to this suit, defendants hired plaintiffs based on a flat weekly or daily pay rate," the suit reads. "Plaintiffs were required to falsify their time cards ... worked in excess of 40 hours per week during virtually every week of their employment, but they never received any premium overtime play ... plaintiffs were routinely denied appropriate meal and rest periods as required."
You go get 'em, kids! If anyone has cash in this economy, it's the Idol producers! />Oh, Lord, how I love American Idol season. The drama behind the scenes is always better than the on-camera dramz!
Up now: A group of former employees of Fremantle Media, which produces the show, have filed a class action suit against Fremantle, alleging that the company systematically overworked employees without paying the required overtime, falsified time cards and denied staffers meals and rest periods.
"There's no Hollywood glamour for the below-the-line people who work on 'American Idol' and other ...
You know Dean Shermet, the back-up-dancer-turned-husband of Leann Rimes who responded to video evidence of her sucking on another man's fingers by Twittering that he loves his wife?
It turns out that he just might be gay.
I know, I know. I can barely breathe I'm so surprised.
The kids over at a Detroit morning radio show were chatting about Leann and the break-up, when all of a sudden a bunch of Dean's family and friends from way back when started calling in to talk about his extreme gay...
Well, at least it's a horror flick. Who isn't a little bit scared by Tara Reid?
Tara will star in an upcoming movie called The Fields, and the film's writer/producer says "We're hoping to make Tara relevant again."
Tara will play a mother whose family is terrorized by an unseen presence. Meanwhile, the rest of us will continue to be terrorized by the unseen presence of Tara Reid's career.
Whatever, it's good to see her back on her feet and working. It can't possibly be worse than Linds...
I was never a big fan of Alexis Grace. She just didn't do anything for me. I don't think she's a bad singer or anything, but nothing about her ever really popped for me. But, ya know, my mom adores her. And I've realized that the single best mother-daughter bonding activity we have is watching American Idol. I really think this is part of the reason that the show is so successful -- it's such a great family activity. For some reason, it's like the only show on television that she and I can bo...