day 2.90

sorry the blog's been lackin lately

i've been pretty busy, but i promise it will be back in full force this weekend! in the meantime, take some time to get your daily lol.

day 338

dancing with michael jackson

last night, dancing with the stars paid tribute to the late king of pop through a dance medley of some of his greatest hits. it's been four months since mj died and, needless to say, the tribute was a little late. i guess it's good to remind people of michael 1) around the time they'd probably start to forget and 2) around the time of his concert movie, this is it, being released. the dance isn't horrible, but it's not like it 's all that entertaining either. and bringing out latoya jackson was just unnecessary. does she have some sort of contract with abc? she got to guest host the view and now this? too much latoya.

new music: chris brown and john mayer

after the release of rihanna's new single yesterday, chris has taken the opportunity to one-up her. first, he announces he'll be going on a fan appreciation tour starting next month. and now he's released another new song from his upcoming album, "crawl." a few weeks ago "transform ya" leaked online. it's reportedly the first single from chris' upcoming album. "crawl" is better than rihanna's new offering and in line with chris' previous music outings. check it out above.

after a lukewarm reception to lead single "who says," john mayer has released both a new song and video today: "heartbreak warfare." the song is much better than "who says," but in the same droopy duldrums genre. i miss the happy, go free sounds of "bigger than my body" and "your body is a wonderland," not this sad mopey stuff. what did jennifer aniston do to john that he's so emotional? check out the song above and pray that there's at least one upbeat track on john's upcoming release.

day 313

who says, john mayer?

after touring with the same songs from a couple years now, creepy face performer john mayer has finally released some new music. "who says" is the first single off his latest record, out later this year. the song talks about getting high and, to be honest, sounds like it was written when he was high. it's a bit of a departure for mayer, as he continues to grow farther and farther from the pop music world. "who says" has more of a 60/70s singer-songwriter vibe, kind of like a second rate eric clapton. check out the single above to listen for yourself. the song is growing on me, but i can't say it'll be added to my playlist rotation. and i don't know if it will even be added to a radio stations's playlist rotation. i was expecting something a little more deep or revealing after mayer's courtship with jennifer aniston. i know there has to be something to say.

day 232

mj memorial

today was probably the biggest memorial ever held for anyone who has passed. michael jackson's life was honored in los angeles at the staples center (and all around the world on tv) with a bevy of celebrity guests. most of today's celeb news is focused on mj, so there's nothing to talk about other than that. here are some select performances from the memorial.

day 188

i'm boring.

okay, i'm not really boring. but hollywood on the other hand is.  so, i've resorted to more youtube videos.  at least tomorrow we'll have the weekend box office to talk about after the 3-day weekend is over.  first up, a surprise duet from taylor swift and john mayer.  the biggest artist of 2009 invited jennifer aniston's former flame on stage to perform his hit "your body is a wonderland." it still creeps me out that the song is about jennifer love hewitt - that girl has inspired too much music with too little fame (remember all the lfo songs?).  taylor is able to country-fy the california beach sound of the song and doesn't disappoint.  though, it is a bit creeptastic to see 31 year old mayer and 19 year old swift perform together.  here ya go.  oh and don't forget to check out the dueling guitar bit near the end of the 3rd minute. and i have no clue why the fan taping the performance randomly decided to capture the back-up singers.  

        

and now the latest offering from the jobros.  kevin, joe, and nick bring you the video for "paranoid," the first single off their newest disc, lines vines and trying times.  the song is relatively good - a little more mature than their past offerings.  however, this is confusing to me; the virginal threesome recently launched their disney channel original series (called jonas, yet their last name in the series is lucas - huh?), aimed at the tween and under set, but this is obviously aimed at the teen and up group.  mixed messages much?  the best part of the video - which takes an odd reading of the word "paranoid" by putting each of the brothers in random situations - is watching joe awkwardly shimmy around for the first minute or so while nick does most of the singing.  joe is the only bro who doesn't play an instrument - besides the tambourine - so he just has to play around.  i know nick has that whiny troubled artist sound, but utilize joe or don't use him at all.  plus, i don't understand his hair - why is nick the only one who understands what to do with the curls? anyway, check it out below.  the album drops june 16th. 

day 115

aniston without a man-istan

it looks like one of hollywood's cougar couples has called it quits.  john mayer reportedly gave jennifer aniston the boot after she returned to lalaland from a european promotional tour for marley and me.  the couple has apparently been fighting recently and just decided the relationship wasn't the right thing right now.  this is quite the surprise to fans and friends alike - the couple just made their coming out at february's oscar ceremony, which happened to be the anniversary of their meeting.  this is the second break-up for the couple. mayer held an impromptu press conference outside his gym in august of last year explaining he ended the relationship because he didn't want to waste someone's time.  i wonder if it's the same reason this time?  aniston is said to be happy to move on with her life.  it seems like all of aniston's exes move on really quickly - brad moved right onto angelina, vince vaughn recently got engaged...i wouldn't be surprised if john was on to someone new in the next month or so.  hopefully jen  is able to find someone soon - her love life has never been very stable.  

barrymore won't be eclipsed

the creative minds behind the twilight series have decided not to hire actress-turned producer/director drew barrymore as the director for the franchise's third flick, eclipse.  instead, the pic will be helmed by spanish horror director juan antonio bayona.  bayona has yet to do an english language flick - eclipse will be his second attempt at an english debut.  is this a good idea?  a man who has never worked in english directing one of the biggest movies of 2010?  i guess his aesthetic is horror and twilight's look and feel is pretty dark, so it could be a good match.  the thing i don't understand is why not just ask catherine hardwicke back?  she would have had plenty of time to work everything out for the third film and then new moon's director, chris weitz, could helm the fourth.  i guess they just want it to be a big mess.  maybe this means drew is being considered for the fourth installment.  that would be interesting to see - stephanie mayer, the series' author, said the book will be extremely difficult to adapt to the screen and she doesn't see how it will be feasible.  if tween girls are still out there - which i know they will be - a fourth film is inevitable.  i wouldn't be surprised if twilight got the harry potter treatment, either, with the fourth book being split into at least 2 films.  eclipse is set to his theaters in june of 2010.  

britney finally "seeks amy"

britney spears has finally released her much anticipated music video for her next single "if u seek amy."  the song is sure to be a major radio hit, but the video is a bit of a disappointment.  it seems like it was filmed in one day and there are literally no set changes - the whole thing takes place inside a house.  it's simplicity reminds me of her "piece of me" video.  check out the new video above and tell me your thoughts.  i think it's really funny that brit's team decided to poke fun at the fox news reporter who was so up in arms over the controversial lyrics to bookend the vid.  it just seems like the video was rushed without a real concept - and there is almost no dancing - just simple movements and hand gestures.  

day 81

show me the money

like each year, forbes has done some pretty critical r

esearch as to who in hollywood is raking in the best money for each hollywood studio (a list of the biggest losers is also compiled, but i don't think that's been released yet).  so, who were 2008's biggest forces at the box office? the answers may surprise you.  for "best performance by a male," the award goes to robert downey, jr.  the rehabed star made paramount's year with his turn in the superhero flick, iron man.  the film brought in $580 million for the studio (hence the much hyped sequel slated for next year), with paramount making $52.60 for every dollar rdj was payed.  because downey is on a bit of a comeback tour (after his trips to rehab and being shunned in hollywood), he took just $5 million for the part (that figure is sure to go up for the sequel, especially now that "oscar nominated

" can precede his name due to his role in tropic thunder), whereas some of the bigger action names (like will smith and brad pitt) would have commissioned upwards of $10 mil for the picture.  looks like the studio got a bargain.   and as for female power at the box office? meryl streep's leading role in the summer's record breaking musical mamma mia brought in the biggest bucks.  streep earned close to $50 million for the movie, with nbc/universal raking in $12 for ever $1 paid to the acting legend.  because streep earned more for her role, the studio made less per dollar paid, but still took in $575 million. streep is always in high demand and now downey probably will be, too.  how i can't wait to see who was a big loser - i'm betting on nicole kidman and hugh jackman, both for australia.  

kids get racy

today's kids choice awards aren't what they used to be.  with the onslaught of material that is always "should kids watch/listen to/admire this or shouldn't they?" the nominations for this year's nickelodeon run show push the envelope.  in the category for "best movie" are two superhero flicks much more geared to the 13 and over set, with the dark knight and iron man each getting a chance to take home an orange blimp.  when i was a kid, sure i was allowed to watch stuff like that, but it wasn't exactly the "main stream."  apparently parents aren't such sticklers about the mpaa ratings system as they used to be?  will smith even nabbed a nod for his role in hancock, whose original cut received an "r" rating.  the "favorite song" category is probably the most shocking to parents, with katy perry's lesbian themed tune "i kissed a girl," beyonce's anthem "single ladies," and chris brown's "kiss kiss" all getting recognized.  maybe kids are just hearing this stuff on the radio and not really listening to the lyrics?  with the debate going on over whether or not britney's "if u seek amy" should get radio play, it seems like there shouldn't be any discussion - if kids are already listening to this stuff, what's the difference?  other more adult nominations are: the simpsons for favorite cartoon show, jason lee for "favorite tv actor" in my name is earl, and america's next top model in the reality show category.  i think my favorite nomination, however, is michael phelps for "favorite male athlete," because of his recent herbal endeavors.  maybe he'll show up the show a little stoned? he has to drown his sorrows somehow - kellog's just dropped him and subway is about to end his sponsorship campaign.

america's got no host, but actors got work

nbc summer juggernaut america's got talent is currently host-less.  after losing regis philbin after only one season, talk show host jerry springer took over post his dancing with the stars stint that reinvigorated interest in the whitetrash brawl mediator.  springer isn't leaving the show because of creative differences, but rather because of scheduling conflicts (supposedly).  springer's syndicated "talk show" and a role in a stage production apparently would take too much time away from his duties at the peacock net (or so he says - i didn't even realize his show was still being made...).  the show will be returning to tv this summer for its fourth season, with judges sharon osbourne (who replaced brandy after season 1), david hasselhoff, and piers morgan all returning.  but who will be taking springer's spot? that is yet to be announced.  but it seems the show likes talk show personalities who've gone grey.  in other casting news, the gossip girl spin off about young lily van der woodsen has its first cast mate.  lily's older stister, carol (the black sheep of the family), will be played by confessions of a shopaholic costar krysten ritter, who's known for her stints on shows like gilmore girls, veronica mars, and til death.  krysten will make her first appearance as carol on the "backdoor pilot" episode of the spin off, airing as part of gossip girl, in march.  jennifer anison and jason bateman have also landed roles in the new film the baster, about a single woman who decides to be artificially inseminated to fulfill her dream of being a mother.  problem is jason's character, jennifer's character's best friends) switches the donor sperm with his own and hijinks ensue. and disney darling selena gomez will be making her big screen debut in beezus and ramona, a live action adaptation of the beverly cleary classic.  she'll be taking the role of big sister beezus to child actor joey king's ramona.  

speaking of aniston

jennifer made an appearance on today's ellen degeneres show to promote her new movie he's just not that into you and ellen surprised the newly 40 star with a birthday celebration.  now that ellen is running her show from the warner brother's lot, she has access to a lot of old tv sets, including that of jennifer's star-launching show friends.  check here to see a video of the duo's visit to aniston's old stomping grounds.  ellen even surprised the star with a birthday cake complete with 40 candles.  in the interview, jen said she was open to a friends reunion, but don't expect a movie.  she'd like 

to a tv special along the lines of the holiday episodes the sitcom was known for.  aniston also talked about her relationship with singer john mayer for one of the first times when ellen displayed a pic of john in a green borat thong (see above), to which jen responded "the man's got balls. what can i say? i think he's funny."  mayer makes an appearance on ellen's monday show, divulging that "yeah, there are sleepovers" at aniston's la pad.  i still think they're quite the odd couple.  

day 72

angelina, fired

angelina jolie has lost the one of the roles that helped launch her career, lara croft.  the video game based franchise, which debuted in movie form in 2001, with a sequel in 2003, is getting a reboot after its rights were traded from paramount back to video game company originator, eidos.  eidos has since turned the franchise over to warner brothers, who owns a large stake in eidos and plans to completely relaunch the series with a third film.  the threequel, however, won't be a sequel at all.  the new movie will completely overhaul the story of the tomb raiding, artifact hoarding heroine, with a new backstory that will most likely move away from focusing on croft's  british upbringing.  as well, new villains and love interests for croft on her new adventures.  according to fans, the series is thought of as james bond-like, with lara never aging through time.  fans are also supporting the casting change, campaigning hard for jolie-alike megan fox to helm the new film.  no casting decisions have been made, but that choice would completely make sense.  the thing with lara croft is that, because she was originally a video game character, the actress kind of has to live up to that image, unlike james bond.  it will also be interesting to see if the new franchise will be successful - are people still interested in the character? the first two films made $275 and $157, respectively, and the video games have grossed over $1 billion since their inception in 1996.  

kelly rowland v. the knowles family

things could get real ugly, real fast now that kelly rowland, one third of destiny's child, has released beyonce's father, matthew, as her manger.  matthew has been kelly's manger since the beginning of her career with the girl group and will continue to manage destiny's child should a reunion ever occur, or any kind of material by the group is ever released.  while the two parties released statements that they are parting ways amicably and will always be "family," i still think some drama is going down.  i can understand kelly wanting to get out of the situation; her solo career hasn't really been all that great - just a few weeks of radio play here and there - and matthew is probably focusing on the money machine that is his daughter, beyonce, more.  it would just be interesting to hear what was the tipping point in the split? who talked to rowland? and where's rowland going to be represented from now on? we'll just have to wait and see, i guess.

tidbits

here's a few blurbs for ya...speaking of angelina, it appears that the actress wore her dress at the sag awards backward. intentionally....amy poehler's sitcom finally has a name, public service.  poehler and rashida jones were seen out and about filming the show this past week....kelly clarkson is breaking records.  the american idol star now holds the record she previously broke with her debut single, "a moment like this," for her song "my life would suck without you."  clarkson made the biggest jump by a female artist ever in a week on the billboard charts, jumping from spot #97 to #1.  the record was most recently broken by britney spears's "womanizer."...jennifer aniston and john mayer may or may not have broken up, yet again...