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A Review of DISNEYMANIA When You Wish Upon a Star: *Nsync For more info see the link provided above. It was a super opportunity for the glitterati to party Weekend-party sightings On Saturday, Leigh Steinberg, the uber sports agent who inspired the movie "Jerry Maguire," kicked off a night of profound partying with his annual cocktail gathering on the Jacksonville waterfront. It was a crowded but relaxed affair that began with the standard red-carpet entrance followed by hundreds of people from all walks of life sipping margaritas and ogling a python, brightly colored birds and even an alligator. When they weren't watching the animals or bum-rushing the cracked crab claws, partygoers kept an eye on the Pittsburgh Steelers' famed quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, who left a buzz of electricity in his wake. At one moment, we were chatting up a relaxed and confident-sounding Eagles' ownerJeff Lurie, and next introducing ourselves to a Kangol-cap-wearing Gabrielle Union ("Two Can Play that Game" and "Deliver Us from Eva"), who revealed that she'd attended UCLA with Freddie Mitchell. By the way, girlfriend's a big Eagles fan and not much into the New England Patriots. "I want a little more razzle-dazzle," she explained. "I don't want little robots." The people-watching was fun. Where else can you roll up on Ray Brown, former longtime offensive lineman with the Washington Redskins, and Warren Moon, by merely passing by the cheese table? Steinberg himself was even chatty, talking about how players can become legends just by the result of yesterday's game. "It elevates their profile," he said. "Following the game, there would be requests fromJay Leno, People magazine... it would be hero-building." Other notables included Shawn Stockman of Boyz II Men; Stuart
Scottof ESPN; Maurice Green, the Olympic runner; Joey
Fatone from NSync; model Claudia Jordan; a couple of
members of the Black Eye Peas; and Marcellus Wiley, a Dallas Cowboys
defensive end.
Football saves Western world BUT FIRST, THE HEADLINES - Pettigrew makes MidEast trip, declines Joe Clark's offer to help with travel arrangements - Gomery under fire for "stating the freakin' obvious" - Auditor uncovers massive cost overruns at National Post lost-mitten registry - Israel to end targeted killings, will confine itself to firing into angry mobs - As child, Bettman padlocked local merry-go-round SUPER BOWL I: TARA REID CO-STARS IN BUTTERFLY EFFECT SEQUEL The untold story of recent Super Bowl history is, of course, that Mo Lewis saved civilization as we know it. What really happened Sept. 23, 2001: New England quarterback Drew Bledsoe is tackled so hard by the New York Jets' Lewis that he has severe bleeding inside his chest cavity. Sept. 30, 2001: With Bledsoe injured, benchwarmer Tom Brady gets the start against Indianapolis, wins, and guides the team to Super Bowl victory. September, 2002: Now famous, Brady dates party girl and alleged actress Tara Reid. November, 20002: Brady and Reid break up. Reid shortly thereafter dates JC Chasez of orthographically challenged boy band *NSYNC. Feb. 1, 2004: Justin Timberlake exposes Janet Jackson's passenger-side booby during Super Bowl halftime show. Nov. 2, 2004: Bush defeats Kerry; outrage over booby incident cited as tipping point in national mood. Jan. 31, 2005: World rejoices as Iraqi elections held on schedule. What might easily have happened instead Sept. 23, 2001: Bledsoe scoots out of bounds to avoid Lewis, doesn't get injured, continues to moderately suck as quarterback; Brady is glued to bench. March, 2002: Spare part Brady is traded to Cleveland for sixth-round pick, toils in even greater obscurity. August, 2002: With no Brady on the scene, Reid is freed up to date a member of *NSYNC ahead of schedule and pairs off with Timberlake (who is freshly disengaged from Britney Spears and not yet hooked up with Cameron Diaz) rather than the lower-celebrity-value Chasez. Jan. 22, 2004: In drunken, jealous rage, Reid demands Timberlake not take stage with hottie Jackson at Super Bowl; Jackson instead performs halftime show with Sting, who politely declines to rip off her breastplate. Nov. 2, 2004: With America complacent, Kerry crushes Bush. Jan. 22, 2005: Kerry, waffler extraordinaire, postpones Iraqi elections. Spring 2005: Emboldened by Kerry's retreat, terrorists attract new recruits and launch wave after wave of attacks. June 6, 2006: Civilization as we know it ends. So, when people say football is not important, clearly they are
wrong.
TV celebs Paris, Will Smith inspire 2 collections NEW YORK - (KRT) - Influences and inspirations - a "Fresh Prince" throwback, a certain hotel heiress and a European "magpie" - surfaced in the first days of Olympus Fashion Week, where designers present their latest collections. The shows, mostly held in New York's Bryant Park, run through Friday and focus on fall/winter fashions. (Spring/summer previews are in September.) Here's the scene so far: TURN IT INSIDE OUT The last Joseph Abboud show I attended was in February 2000 (my maiden Fashion Week voyage). Then, the menswear designer served up a lovely presentation with gorgeous models in luxurious tweeds and cashmere. On Friday night, Abboud's clothes were just as luxurious and wearable, but the collection was styled to the "nth" degree. Pants and suits were wrinkled and mussed; jackets worn inside out (reversed but not reversible); and elongated wallet chains hung off the hips of slim, stunning boys who looked bemused or slightly stoned. However, the casual messiness was meticulously planned. Credit and criticism of the too-perfect presentation goes to stylist Bill Mullen, who has worked with Versace and Sean John. A trend that may bust out: Wearing a jacket or coat inside out, like Will Smith did back in the day with his prep school blazer on "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air." Well-tailored clothing is often "finished" on the inside, with a lining in some yummy fabric, such as silk, to hide the seams and workmanship. "Inside out" is a twist. Can every guy pull it off? No, but I bet a few will try. WE'VE GOT PARIS (SORTA) Invitations to the Heatherette show were a coloring/puzzle book that featured hotel heiress Paris Hilton and Socialite Barbies with Care Bear accents. Hilton was busy Friday with "Saturday Night Live" rehearsals, but Heatherette designers Traver Rains and Richie Rich channeled her Not-So-"Simple Life" spirit. Models strutted the runway in skimpy outfits in amped-up hues. One even carried a Chihuahua who bore a passing resemblance to Paris' beloved pup, Tinkerbell. Some of the dresses and gowns passed the "wearable" test. BABY PHAT This is where I planned to tell you about the latest by designer Kimora Lee Simmons, wife of hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons. But, no. I didn't make it in. At the show's alleged start time Saturday night, a couple hundred people waited at the ACE Gallery on Hudson Street; a line snaked down the block. At the front doors, a crush of reporters, photographers and TV crews couldn't make it to the check-in station. Someone in line passed out. An ambulance arrived. The crowd pushed forward, and then security verbally pushed back. I quickly realized that - despite RSVP-ing as instructed - I was not going to get a seat. After 20 minutes of watching the scene from a relatively safe spot, I gave up. I'm glad I did. Evidently, the atmosphere inside wasn't much better. According to Sunday's New York Post, a fight broke out backstage between a CNN crew and a New York Daily News photographer. Post reporter Lisa Marsh said that Simmons herself had to intervene, crying out: "Stop the fighting." Where celebrity and fashion intersect, whether it's the designer or his/her clientele, the hype and crowd can build to a fever pitch. I've seen the same scene at Sean John, Tommy Hilfiger, Zac Posen, Diane von Furstenberg and Betsey Johnson. I cringe when imagining the spectacle coming Friday night for Jennifer Lopez's debut show. It's the most-sought-after invite. BRIEFLY CHRISTOPHER DEANE/REVLON: The scene was more sedate earlier at the Park Avenue penthouse where emerging designers Christopher Crawford and Angela Deane presented their European "magpie" collection Saturday evening. The duo showed lean, lady-like looks in a subtle palette of cornflower blue, teals, peaches, gray and black. Models also wore two new makeup looks by Revlon. Brunettes preened in "Perfectly Plum," which debuts this fall; and blondes in "Wrap Yourself in Rubies" (debuts during winter holidays). Both looks, created by veteran makeup artist Frances Hathaway, featured a strong, straight brow; smoky eye shadow/liner; and "diffused" (softly stained) lips. CELEB SIGHTINGS: Actor John Leguizamo, singer JC
Chasez and record producer Jermaine Dupri (Janet Jackson's
squeeze) at Abboud; actress Tori Spelling, pop singer JoJo and
Lydia Hearst Shaw (Patty's daughter) at Heatherette; actress Eva
Mendes and stylist Philip Bloch at Christopher Deane/Revlon; rappers
Li'l Kim and Q-Tip, stylist Nole Marin and Jay Alexander of "America's
Next Top Model," and "Project Runway" designers
Jay McCarroll and Nora Caliguri at Baby Phat.
Celebrities shine at Fashion Week Everybody was idolizing Kimora Lee. Even an American Idol judge. "I'm supposed to be at the Super Bowl right now," said Paula Abdul, arriving at Ace Gallery for the Baby Phat collection this weekend. Abdul, decked out in leather pants, a white nipped-in jacket and a fedora, was coveting the diamond-studded "Hello Kitty" pendant Simmons wore at the pre-show bash. Simmons was also sporting a 9-karat diamond right-hand ring of her own design in the shape of a Lotus flower. Milling about were Tommy Hilfiger and Pat Field, along with Mariel Hemingway, Mos Def, J.C. Chasez, Shannen Doherty, Diane Neal and Samantha Cole, along with gadflys Lizzie Grubman and Jon Cheban. Teen singing star JoJo, in YSL pants and a Baby Phat tank, was still reeling from the previous night's Heatherette show, where she saw several intentional wardrobe malfunctions. "Breasts were popping out of shirts," said JoJo, who chatted away with her mom on a cell phone during the cocktail party. "Heatherette is not quite JoJo." Sure, you want to move an A train from 207th Street to Ozone Park in this town, it's a big production, but need a diesel-belching MTA bus in Dublin, Ireland? Hey, no problemo. John Leguizamo arrived in Dublin to start shooting "The Honeymooners" early this winter and was surprised to discover a bona fide Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus on the set. "They took the bus over by boat," Leguizamo said in the W lounge before Joseph Abboud's show, adding that producers couldn't just doctor up an Irish bus because those are all double-deckers. Dublin, Leguizamo said, was doublin' for Manhattan, because it's cheaper to shoot in Shamrock-land. REMAINDERS. Mario Cantone, whose five-minute celluloid bijou opened Kenneth Cole on Friday, was tickled to see that his front-row seat neighbored both Mrs. Cole, the former Maria Cuomo, and her brother, Andrew. "Tell your father I love him. I've never met him, but I ... love ... your ... father," Cantone told Maria. Andrew, overhearing, said he'd arrange the meeting with dad Mario -- and he'd get Maria to cook the meal. ... Socialites Jennifer Creel, Christina Greeven Cuomo and Alex Kramer hobnobbing with Patrick McMullan's fotogs before the start of the Tamsen show at Bryant
Park.
Celebs turn up runway lights NEW YORK — Just 30 minutes before the kickoff of Baby Phat's fall 2005 show, rapper Lil' Kim sat in her front-row seat, vamping for the shutterbugs snapping her photo and fellow celebs clustering around to say hello. "Photographers are taking down the house to get a picture," Kim said as she posed at Saturday's star-studded show, one of fall 2005 Fashion Week's kickoff events. Two seats over, fellow rapper Missy Elliott sipped champagne. To Kim's left, Ashley Olsen, clad in all black and keeping a low profile, quietly chatted with her friend, New York restaurateur Scott Sartiano. Farther down were Tori Spelling, JC Chasez (sans Eva Longoria, who was in Los Angeles at the Screen Actors Guild Awards), Shannen Doherty, teenage singer JoJo and Paula Abdul. Fashion Week, the biannual catwalk spectacular, draws a colorful mix of celebs from both coasts. "I'm a regular. I usually get to go to more shows, but we're in the middle of American Idol, so I have to get back" to L.A., Abdul said. She loves the catwalk presentations because "for 16 minutes, it's a full-on event." Designer Tommy Hilfiger hobnobbed with Elliott, telling her that he likes her UPN reality show The Road to Stardom "a lot." Both Elliott and Lil' Kim plan to hit Marc Jacobs' show today and Jennifer Lopez's runway extravaganza Friday, which closes out Fashion Week. "I like to see how people mix and match clothes together so I can get ideas," Elliott said. "And I'm hitting the parties." Kim, 29, said she was there to support her "sister," Baby Phat creative director Kimora Lee Simmons, wife of rap mogul Russell Simmons. Oh, and to drink in the scene. "Listen. You've the black girls. You've got the black guys. You've got a mixture here. Everything is here!" she laughed. The normally flamboyant Lil' Kim — who is scheduled to stand trial this month for perjury in conjunction with a 2001 shootout that left one person injured — was demure in a Baby Phat jacket and jeans, in contrast to the breast-baring ensemble she sported at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards. Kim, who is developing her own "very sexy" clothing line called Hollyhood, knows just how "crucial" celebs are at fashion shows. "Our fans want to know how they can feel glamorous like us," she said. "They want to be able to put on that lip gloss that Lil' Kim wears." Kim's No. 1 rule for surviving the rounds of photo-fueled events?
"Bring your makeup and lipstick with you because it's going
to come off," she advised. "Make sure your hair and
your makeup is done proper because you will take lots of pictures
and they will be everywhere and you have to live with that! I've
lived with some bad pictures!"
Folks who hold your money lost theirs Each and every year, Florida Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher's office in Tallahassee compiles a list of unclaimed property. On this list are people who were never alerted about insurance refunds or unclaimed phone deposits -- also some who just can't seem to keep track of their own money. Wanting to help, Taking Names spent hours perusing the Web site to find people who have lost their dough. Among those found: Tom Gallagher. There was also the mayor of Orlando, an action-movie star, a U.S. senator, a couple of boy-banders, the state's attorney general, a city council member, county commissioner, member of Congress -- and, oh yeah, the governor. For the pols in this group, you can't help but wonder: If they can't keep track of their own money, heaven only knows what they do with yours. Here's the rundown: Wesley Snipes, our homegrown action star, has had his share of bum press in recent years. The good news is that we can make him feel better with 43 whole dollars we found in the form of a Geico Insurance refund with his name on it. In an e-mail, Snipes acknowledged the news, but didn't seem too excited. The fact that Gallagher's name is on this list could seem a bit embarrassing. But state officials say that a $120 check is actually associated with one of his old campaigns that's no longer in existence. So there is a technical hurdle to collecting it. "Believe me," said Gallagher deputy Rick Sweet, "we'd be the first ones to give Mr. Gallagher back his money." But there's another check for $103 for an individual named Tom Gallagher as well. State officials were still running that one down. Gov. Jeb Bush also has four old campaign checks, worth about $1,000, and faces the same challenges in claiming the money. Still, a Bush spokesman said the money would ultimately go to the Department of Education. Seeing as how Florida ranks 47th in school spending, that should be a big help. Grownup boy-bander Joey Fatone has a check for $606. But much more significant are the five checks -- totaling more than $2,500 -- that Justin Timberlake has not claimed. Justin's total was big enough that state officials figured the guy with a penchant for snatching off tops would surely want to snatch up this cash as well. Alas, state officials like Sweet sent notice to Timberlake's reps last spring and haven't heard back. Said Sweet: "Maybe it's an insignificant amount to them. Not to me." Democratic Congresswoman Corrine Brown provides a bit of estrogen to our male-dominated list. She has $267 in utility deposits from an old campaign office in Orlando, as well as an insurance refund and old bank account for $50 and $200 respectively. Put it all together and she'd have enough to hire at least one U.N. poll worker to monitor the 2008 elections. Attorney General Charlie Crist, who works in the same building with the unclaimed property division, has two checks with his name on them: a utility overpayment or refund worth $44 and a $69.99 credit with the Tampa Tribune. He might as well leave the newspaper money where it is, seeing as how campaign-ad time for the governor's race is rapidly approaching. Orlando Council member Ernest Page has three checks totaling about $250 -- including $60 from an employer listed as, let's see here: "City of Orlando." You can see how it'd be hard for those two to catch up with each another. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer has three checks with his name on them -- $554 from old campaigns and a $71 insurance refund that he has actually started paperwork to claim. When asked what he would do with any new-found cash, Dyer decided to offer a zinger of his own, saying he would try to make a dent in a certain newspaper columnist's "extensive bar tab from the Democratic convention." Orange County Commissioner Homer Hartage had a $55 insurance check. When told of the news, he said he'd donate it all to charity -- while conceding "If it was fifty-five-hundred dollars, I might think differently." Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary has his and his brother's name (Lake Mary Police Chief Richard) on a $103 check -- from their mom. And finally, U.S. Senator Mel Martinez is one guy who really has no excuse for being on this list. Why? Because his unclaimed $35 insurance refund came to light nearly two years ago -- when this column last published such a list. Wanna try? If you'd like to see if the state is holding any money with your
name on it -- and last year the state gave back about $100 million
worth -- visit fltreasurehunt.org.
'Hustle & Flow' Sells for $9.5Mill Director and Memphis' own Craig Brewer's Hustle & Flow film was alarmingly popular at it's recent Sundance Film Festival debut. The movie won the Dramatic Audience Award and sold for the biggest purchase ever at the film festival to Paramount Pictures for a whooping $9.5 million in conjunction with its Viacom sibling MTV Films. Rap artist Ludacris said it best when he broke the big news midway through his performance at a packed club last week: "Let's hear it for 'Hustle & Flow. We made it for $2 million and just sold it for $9 million." "All I had to hear was that John Singleton was doing a movie in the South — that's it, I was down," hip-hop’s Ludacris said also last week in a statement to MTV News. In "Hustle & Flow," Luda plays a dirty South rapper by the name of Skinny Black who inspires a Memphis pimp "Glitter," "Ray" (played by actor Terrence Howard, pictured in article) in his hometown to attempt a career change to hip-hop. The movie is wrote and directed by Craig Brewer, produced by John Singleton (Boyz n the Hood) and Stephanie Allain (Biker Boyz), and co-stars Taryn Manning, Anthony Anderson and DJ Qualls. "It was special for me because I'm from the South," DJ Qualls said. "I watched the movie and thought, 'This is it. This is where I'm from,' " he says in MTV News. Speaking of where he's from, well not exactly (because Qualls is from Cashville), but speaking of Memphis; in local news, "Hustle & Flow," which will release this summer after a multitude of MTV ads and more, is scheduled to feature new music by some of Memphis' hottest acts including Memphis' own Al Kapone, Three Six Mafia's Juicy "J," Nasty Nardo, Yo Gotti and more local Memphis rap/hip-hop and urban artists including Memphis' own Isaac Hayes and 'pimpin music' legend Curtis Mayfield. The movie's music composer is Memphis musician Scott Bomar, 30, a veteran of the local club and recording scene (and cousin to Justin Timberlake, another Memphis native). Among those expected to be featured on the soundtrack, Al Kapone
is one of those that is banking on the film boosting more than
just his music career. The rap veteran is just one of many who
scored a walk-on role in this Memphis-made movie which many are
expecting to "put things on another level."
Justin has poker-themed birthday bash Justin Timberlake enjoyed a poker-themed party to celebrate his 24th birthday earlier this week. The singer was joined by girlfriend Cameron Diaz and celebrity friends Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Adam Levine at the bash, which was held at his Hollywood home. "I left at 3 am and it was still going strong," one party-goer told Insider Online. "Justin didn't leave the table once all night." As to whether Timberlake won big? "He's not that good,"
the source added. "But Tobey is another story. He really
can play."
THE UNDERCOVER FAN: Important lessons we've learned from inside
Jacksonville's scene One party that night that did produce in Jacksonville, and last year in Houston, is called Pure Rush. It is put on by some fancy celebrity wranglers called Toast. This party, held in Jacksonville in three interconnecting hip-hop-flavored nightclubs, is known to draw some heavyweights. I saw a slew of prime athletes, such as former Denver Bronco
Shannon Sharpe and the New York Giants' Michael Strahan, and some
B-list celebrities, such as the members of Boyz II Men, Joey
Fatone of 'N Sync and the band Blues Traveler.
Kazan's career is on a big fat roll SARASOTA -- When she last came to Sarasota in 2000, Lainie Kazan told the Herald- Tribune that she wanted to move beyond the mother roles that had become her forte. That was before a little independent movie called "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" became the surprise hit of 2002. "That was before I became the mother of them all," she said in a telephone interview, laughing about her change of heart. Kazan, who was honored at a Sarasota Jewish film festival in 2000, will be the special guest today at the Sarasota Film Festival's Luncheon Under the Banyans at Selby Gardens. "I'm just lucky to be working as an actress," she said. "There are so many people who want to have a job, so to be considered for certain roles is a pleasure." But she's still picky, and she turns down some roles if "they're very kind of cliché. I didn't know about Greek mothers, so I didn't know what was cliché and what wasn't" in "Greek Wedding." In the film, she played Maria Portokalos, the loving but pushy mother of a young woman who falls in love with a man who is not Greek. She reprised the role in the short-lived television sitcom, "My Big Fat Greek Life," which Kazan said "didn't have any ethnic sensibility." Her image as a larger-than- life mother began in earnest in 1982 with "My Favorite Year," in which she played Belle Carroca, the mother of a budding young comedy writer. "I was only about 36 or something like that, but I played that woman so that it made an impression," she said. "That was sort of a mature version of Fanny Brice that I had done so many years before as a young girl. It was my understanding of that neighborhood Jewish woman. I think I have an open heart and the essence of me is loving and motherly, so that's what it translates into." She starred with Bette Midler in "Beaches" and speaks reverentially of working with Francis Ford Coppola on "One From the Heart." Still, she wants to play roles other than "mom." "I'd like to be a contemporary woman, a lawyer or a professional, a woman who doesn't exist solely as the mother in the family." In the upcoming musical film "Red Hiding Hood," she co-stars with 'NSYNC star Joey Fatone. "I do rap music with Joey Fatone. It was great. I play three roles, the grandmother who comes to read the children a story, the grandmother in their fantasy and then I morph into a wolf." She's hopeful that it will turn out better than her 2003
Going bust: It's time to move on And that's how Mommy and Uncle Justin caused Viacom to be fined $550,000 and brought ruination upon the world. The end
It's time. The nipple shield jokes have lost their luster. Damita Jo has left the building. It's been a rough year as it is. It's time. In order to find true closure, we the media must first reflect upon the scandalous Super Bowl halftime show of 2004, when Justin Timberlake had Janet Jackson (partially) nekkid by the end of their song. Most of us will be relieved to finally let it all go. But some of us -- particularly we media jackal types -- will really miss those rides on the bandwagon of hysteria, the relentless domino game of overkill coverage, and mostly, the creative challenge of coming up with cleverly prurient nicknames for the scandal. To wit: Nipplegate (the one that stuck) Boobiegate (heir to the throne) Bra-ha-ha Paw de Deux Malfunction Junction And our personal favorite, Teat Offensive. (This one from The Daily Show With Jon Stewart is really quite transcendent and works on two levels.)
Consider the phrase "wardrobe malfunction" Justin Timberlake unknowingly flung it smack into our vernacular when he used it in his notorious day-after Apology to America. And thanks to Justin: The phrase turned up in 5,028 stories in major U.S. consumer and business publications, newspapers and major TV and radio broadcast networks last year, according to a media analysis research firm called Carma. In comparison, the Britney-Madonna smoochfest at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards popped up in a paltry 473 stories, USA Today reported.
According to the search engine company Lycos, the halftime stunt was the most-searched event in the history of the Internet. The day after the Super Bowl, Jackson and her breast generated 60 times as many searches as Paris Hilton and 80 times as many searches as Britney Spears. Jackson hung out on the Lycos 50 for 14 consecutive weeks, finally bumped the week of May 18, when online search activity was dominated by the Iraq war and news of Nick Berg, the American hostage beheaded by Iraqi militants. Even TiVo got into the act: The halftime stunt was the most replayed of all TV moments the company has ever measured.
"Like millions of Americans, my family and I gathered around the television for a celebration. Instead, that celebration was tainted by a classless, crass and deplorable stunt. Our nation's children, parents and citizens deserve better." -- FCC chairman Michael Powell "It's a dark day when I'm shocked, and I was shocked." -- Morning-show host Kelly Ripa "What's gonna be next? It's getting crazy, and it's all down to money. Money and fame. Somehow the whole value system has been upended." -- Spike Lee The most fascinating quote might belong to Timberlake himself. He uttered it shortly after the broadcast, before the furor had started roiling. On Access Hollywood, he called the stunt "slick, quick and to the point," and said, laughing: "Hey, man, we love giving you all something to talk about."
Viacom Inc., the parent company of CBS, was hit with $550,000 in fines, one of the largest ever imposed by the Federal Communications Commission. Last year, the Oscars and Grammys were aired on a five-second delay; it'll be the same for both shows this year. And MTV's Video Music Awards, which have always had a five-second audio delay, added a video delay last year. MTV is still deciding whether to use one this year. A few weeks after the Super Bowl, the NFL replaced JC Chasez in the Pro Bowl halftime show. Why? Because Chasez was in 'N Sync with Timberlake. Guilt by association by any other name still stinks. Jackson had to pull out of a Lena Horne biopic because after the bra-ha-ha, Horne no longer wanted Jackson for the part. NBC edited a scene in ER because it showed a glimpse of an 80-year-old woman's breast in a clinical setting. Most recently, Fox revealed that it blurred a baby's bottom on Family Guy, which, you may know, is an animated show. (Fox aired the same episode four years ago, sans blurring.)
The chance for any untoward acts at this year's Super Bowl halftime show is nil. The NFL and Fox, which is carrying the game this year, have taken great pains to ensure the sanctity of this family-friendly event, whose high-priced ads and entertainers last year featured flatulent horses, genital-chomping dogs, crotch-grabbing Nelly and erectile-challenged Mike Ditka. Even without a delay on the game (the NFL wanted one; Fox refused, and won), things should be comparatively sanitized: The theme? "Building Bridges." The producer? MTV is so fired. The new guy is Don Mischer, who's known for wholesome events such as the opening and closing ceremonies for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. The halftime act? Paul McCartney, who these days is as revered and well-behaved as any former hallucinogenic rocker can be. Pre-game entertainment includes Alicia Keys (she'll sing America the Beautiful,) and -- hey, wait -- Gretchen "Redneck Woman" Wilson, John "Fortunate Son" Fogerty, and the Black Eyed Peas, whose hit Where is the Love? featured vocals by Justin Timberlake. The altered name for Fox Sports Net's pre-game Best Damn Sports Show Period? Would you believe Best Darn Super Bowl Road Show Period?
As much as we're dying for this to be curtains for the Year of the Boob, that might not be the case. Looks as though this is the dawning of the Age of the Boob. Leave it to The Onion to put the fiasco in perspective. A recent headline in the parody newspaper trumpeted: "U.S. Children Still Traumatized One Year After Seeing Partially Exposed Breast On TV." The fake story reads: ". . . [M]ore than 90 percent of the children who saw the exposed breast said they were 'confused and afraid.' "Mommy has dirty chest bumps," a 5-year-old boy said. . . . "She's like the bad lady on TV. I'm afraid Mommy will take off her shirt and scare everyone. I hate Mommy." The Onion story also quoted a "noted child therapist." "One thing is certain," he said. "For us as a nation, the horrific consequences of almost-nakedness have only just begun to make themselves apparent." He may be fake, but he may be right.
Julie Goldstein gets key marketing job at Zomba Julia Lipari, Senior Vice President of Marketing/Special Projects for The Zomba Label Group has appointed Julie Goldstein to Vice President, Marketing for The Zomba Label Group. In her new position, Julie will be assuming product management responsibilities for Three Days Grace, Bowling For Soup, 311, Eamon, JC Chasez, Groove Armada, Reel Big Fish, American Minor, American Juniors, Wakefield and Weird Al Yankovic. Goldstein was recently VP of Marketing for the TV Guide Television Network where she oversaw the company's strategic marketing opportunities including the partnership between the NBC Networks and the Olympics. Prior to this, Julie spent most of her career in the music industry. At RCA Records, as VP of Marketing, she oversaw the releases of artists such as Natalie Imbruglia, Elvis, Eve 6, Robyn, The Verve Pipe & Bruce Hornsby. Whilst at Virgin Records, Julie product managed The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, Lenny Kravitz, Shaggy, Smashing Pumpkins & Cracker amongst others. She started her record career in promotions, having come to the label world from radio, most notably marketing director roles at Live 105 and KMEL in San Francisco. Commenting on the new appointment Julia Lipari said, "I am very excited to have Julie join our team. She brings an enormous amount of experience and passion for marketing music to our label, and I'm sure the artists she touches, as well as the label as a whole, will reap the benefits. Her industry reputation is golden, and I anticipate her track record for success to be proven once again". Julie Goldstein spoke of Zomba’s ongoing growth in the industry,
"I am thrilled to join the team at Zomba Label Group. I have
always admired the skill and vision put into each artist's release
by the Zomba management team. I look forward to being part of
the continued growth of Zomba on a creative and business level.
With the new signings of the A&R department, I feel Zomba
is positioned to begin an exciting new chapter of developing talent
across all musical landscapes."
Get ready, get set, party It's Thursday, which means it's time for kickoff. Not for the actual Super Bowl, of course - that's still scheduled for Sunday. But tonight is the night many A-list stars and celebrities arrive for Super Bowl weekend's swankiest VIP soirees. A sampling of the names being dropped around town: Ben Affleck, Janet Jackson, P. Diddy, Jamie Foxx, Magic Johnson, Adam Sandler and Tom Cruise. Many celebrities are paid appearance fees just for showing up - the theory being, regular Joes will pay big bucks to party down with Joey Fatone. Ticket dealers are charging more than $2,000 for tickets to some of the top draws. The hottest hot spot is likely to be the Plush/Leopard Lounge, host of multiple celebrity throwdowns through Sunday. The series was scheduled to kick off Wednesday night with OutKast's Diamond Party, but there's a lot of buzz surrounding tonight's Pure Rush bash, which in the past has drawn such celebs as Jay-Z, P. Diddy, Ray Romano and Penelope Cruz. This year's annual EA Sports Madden Bowl is slated for 8 tonight at the River City Brewing Company. A slate of strong-thumbed NFL stars always show up; this year's list includes Ben Roethlisberger, Dwight Freeney and Tony Gonzalez. P. Diddy has declared Friday his own personal night to party, with a Welcome to Jacksonville party at Plush/Leopard. But Saturday is when the party atmosphere really comes to a head. All day long, stars will get their game on at several celebrity sporting events, ranging from a Cadillac go-cart race (Owen Wilson, Katie Holmes) to a flag football game (Doug Flutie, Roger Staubach, Willis McGahee) to a celebrity basketball tournament (Silk, Bone Crusher, Jerome Bettis, Clinton Portis). Superagent Leigh Steinberg will host his annual athlete-heavy, $1,000-a-head bash at 2 p.m. at the Times-Union Center, not far from the Prime Osborn Convention Center. On Saturday night, the eyes of the paparazzi will focus on the Willie Gary Celebrity Scholarship Party, where Janet "Wardrobe Malfunction" Jackson and her beau, Jermaine Dupri, are expected to make an appearance. If you miss this one, check next week's People or Us Weekly, where a photo with the caption "Janet Jackson" and "Super Bowl" is a virtual lock to appear. Hawaiian Tropic is hosting a party at Club Continental with a guest list including Jeff Gordon, Daunte Culpepper and Ken Griffey. And an event called the Takeover, featuring NFL players such as Shaun Alexander, Byron Leftwich and Keenan McCardell and rap group the Nappy Roots, is scheduled for Saturday night at the Regency Square mall. Playboy magazine is always a major player on the Super Bowl party scene; this year's event is slated for 9:30 p.m. Saturday at the River City Brewing Company. Donnie Wahlberg, Gretchen Wilson, John Daly and, of course, Hugh Hefner are among the VIPs. But the party of the year, as always, may be the one staged Saturday night by Maxim at the Riverside Garden Club. The lads' mag labeled this year's bash Maximony, giving the entire night a wedding party vibe. In addition to Hughes, Owen Wilson, Dylan McDermott, Nicole Richie, Greg Kinnear and Johnny Knoxville are on the extensive list of celebs expected to pop in. Finally, on Sunday, Plush/Leopard will be home to the weekend's final big-time bash, a postgame Players Gala where celebrities can mix, mingle and reflect on Jacksonville's first Super Bowl weekend. Good luck joining them.
Celebrations The unlikely duet took place while they were celebrating Kid Rock’s birthday at CHI in West Hollywood, with celebrity guests such a Justin ‘watch me move now’ Timberlake. They performed a rendition of ‘Pour Some Sugar On Me’ with Kid Rock rapping during the middle section of the song. Joe managed to play the drums for a 45 minute mayhem fest, which included AC/DC's ‘Back in Black’ and Ted Nugent's ‘Cat Scratch Fever’. What a night…
Signing off The March issue of Autograph Collector magazine claims Britney is the best at showing her fans how little they mean to her by refusing to sign autographs for them. The "Who's Cool and Who's Cruel Survey" shows that young Britney isn't alone, however. The mag's 13th Annual Worst Signers Top 10 list also includes Mrs. Federline's ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake and his current squeeze Cameron Diaz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Eminem and the Olsen twins collectively. Surprisingly, topping the best signers list were a number of
Hollywood's A-listers, including Tom Cruise, Mike Myers, Angelina
Jolie and Johnny Depp — perhaps showing why they're such
big stars in the first place.
In praise of Philly food The Philadelphia Eagles may be outclassed at Sunday's Super Bowl
in Jacksonville, Fla., but when it comes to pitting cheesesteaks
and hoagies against baked beans and Boston cream pie, there's
no doubt which end zone I'll be sitting in.
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| * All typos are that of the original author, not that of DirtyPop.net. |
