Thursday, May 16, 2013

New 'Pacific Rim' main trailer gives us an idea of the scope of the monstrous battle

The excitement is palpable. Warner Bros. released what it called the "main trailer" (embedded) for Guillermo del Toro's upcoming "Pacific Rim" on Thursday, and the science fiction film -- at least in its 2:30 form -- does not disappoint.

"Pacific Rim" was written by del Toro and Travis Beacham. In the movie, mankind is under attack by a race of giant monsters dubbed Kaiju. Kaiju is Japanese for "strange beast" and the film is an obvious homage to movies such as "Godzilla." Kaiju is also a term used to describe monsters in Japanese films.

Wikipedia's synopsis for the film is:
When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, start rising from the sea, a war begins that takes millions of lives and consumes humanity's resources for years on end. To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon is devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge. But even the Jaegers prove nearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju.

On the verge of defeat, the forces defending mankind have no choice but to turn to two unlikely heroes - a washed up former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi) - who are teamed to drive a legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger from the past. Together, they stand as mankind’s last hope against the mounting apocalypse.
The events take place in the near future.

Much of the footage has been seen previously, yet the new trailer manages to portray the scope and size of the conflict. It also gives us somewhat of a timeline. We already knew that the first Kaiju attack took place on the Golden Gate Bridge, but now we know the second takes place in Manila. The third, the voiceover says, takes place in Cabo.

Then, we hear, mankind realizes that the attacks would not stop.
In order to fight monsters, we created monsters of our own.
Jaegers, giant robots reminiscent of mechs from Robotech, Gigantor, and more, were made to fight the monsters, with the robots following the moves of dual neural-linked pilots who share memories, thoughts, etc.

In a speech reminiscent of Bill Pullman's "Independence Day" speech before the climatic human - alien battle, we hear Stacker Pentecost (played by "The Wire's" Idris Elba) saying:
Today, at the edge of our hope, at the end of our time, we have chosen to believe in each other. Today, we face the monsters that are at our door. Today, we are canceling the apocalypse!
The film will hit 3D, 2D and IMAX theaters on July 12. The movie stars Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba, Rinko Kikuchi, Charlie Day, Ron Perlman, Robert Kazinsky, Max Martini, Clifton Collins, Jr., Burn Gorman, Larry Joe Campbell, Brad William Henke and Diego Klattenhoff.



Miley Cyrus rocks her engagement ring, Valentino jumpsuit at Maxim Hot 100 party

Where was it, all this time? Who knows, but appearing at Maxim's Hot 100 party in Hollywood on Wednesday, Miley Cyrus flashed more than a smile. Once again, she was wearing her engagement ring.

There have been doubts about the state of her relationship with fiance Liam Hemsworth, but the appearance of the ring he gave her in 2012 seems to belie those concerns.

Cyrus showed up wearing not just the ring, but a Valentino jumpsuit. She telegraphed that move in a tweet earlier on Wednesday, when she said:
Hmmm .... What to wear... What to wear..... Hmmmm. Valentino ❤ you've never done me wrong! ������ h
That being said, while the 20-year-old pop star and actress didn't have a wardrobe malfunction, she did have what was called a slight "makeup malfunction." Reportedly, Cyrus didn't properly blend her face powder, meaning she had a somewhat uneven look around her mouth area.

Cyrus was at the gala celebrating her No. 1 ranking on the magazine's Hot 100 list.

Jimmy Kimmel gifts Jason Collins' brother Jarron with an 'I'm the straight one' T-shirt

Jason Collins, who in late March became the first active player in any of the four major men's sports leagues (NBA, MLB, NFL or NHL) to come out as gay, appeared on Jimmy Kimmel's late night TV show last night. Appearing with him was his twin brother Jarron, but to ensure there was no mistake, Kimmel gave Jarron a gift.

Jason Collins, 34, split this season between the Boston Celtics and the Washington Wizards. The 7'0", 255-pound center played 32 games for the Celtics and six for the Wizards.

While still considered active, Jason Collins is not signed to any time for the 2013-2014 season, and will become a free agent on July 1. Collins intends to pursue another contract in the summer, which may prove to be a test for how NBA teams react to the announcement. On the other hand, Collins' numbers this season -- 1.2 PPG for the Celtics and 0.7 PPG for the Wizards, along with 1.6 and 1.3 RPG respectively -- are not the type of numbers that would attract a large number of suitors.

Meanwhile, his identical twin brother, Jarron, is slightly shorter in stature, at 6'11". Jarron last played for the Portland Trail Blazers in 2011.

Noting that since his brother came out, Jarron has had a number of cases of mistaken identity, Kimmel offered up a solution. At the end of his interview with the brothers, he gave Jarron a T-shirt that said, "I'm the straight one."

Earlier, Jarron said:
I would say that the interaction in public has been supportive. It's, "Hey are you Jason?" "No, I'm Jarron." "I just love what your brother did," sort of thing.


Farrah Abraham's sex video bikini purportedly put up for auction on eBay

Used items sell on eBay all the time, but this one might -- although it has not, so far -- draw more attention than most. As noted on Thursday, an auction has appeared on eBay purporting to sell the actual bikini that "Teen Mom" Farrah Abraham wore on the cover of her sex tape.

The auction says:
Don’t miss this once in a lifetime chance to own a piece of pop-culture history! The winning bidder will receive the actual bikini worn by Teen Mom and new celebrity sex-tape sensation Farrah Abraham in her record-breaking DVD!

Farrah wore this bikini in her private photo shoot for "Poolside Collection" swimwear before it was catapulted into the annals of sex-tape history when it appeared on the cover of “Farrah Superstar: Backdoor Teen Mom”.

And now for one lucky fan only...Farrah's bikini...straight off her body and into your hands!
The auction is being run by vividentertainment. Vivid, of course, is the company that is selling her sex tape, the one that she made with porn star James Deen.

TMZ said that sources tell them the bikini shows "overt signs of wear, including fake tan stains and glitter from Farrah's body lotion." That seems to imply the bikini is truly Abraham's.

There's no confirmation, though, that the auction is truly being run by the company itself. Considering that vividentertainment has zero feedback, there is at least a little doubt about the authenticity of the bikini.

The bidding starts at $500, but at the time of this writing, there have been no offers.

Watch: Wade Robson appears on 'Today,' addresses Jackson sexual abuse allegations

Award-winning choreographer Wade Robson, 30, recently came out and accused the late pop superstar Michael Jackson of sexually abusing him for seven years. On Thursday, he appeared on "Today," and outlined not just the molestation but the reasons behind his silence.

In terms of his extended silence, Robson was quite clear, as he told Matt Lauer that Jackson, who died in 2009, was "a pedophile and a child sexual abuser." He added that Jackson "performed sexual acts on me and forced me to perform sexual acts on him" from the age of seven, until Robson was 14.

This story became public because, although the deadline has passed for creditors to file claims against the Jackson estate, Robson has asked a probate court to allow him to file a late creditor's claim against it.

That filing was noted by TMZ, and since then, accusations have arisen, including from the Jackson family, saying that Robson's claim is all about money. His claim of abuse arose just as a case brought by Jackson's family against AEG Live began in civil court. AEG Live were the promoters of his final concert tour, which was aborted when Jackson died on June 25, 2009 of in acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication, and cardiac arrest.

On "Today," Robson gave a different reason for issuing his claim now. He said that it wasn't until he began to realize how he would feel if a stranger molested his son (born two years ago) that he felt ready to face up to the truth.
This is not a case of repressed memory. I have never forgotten one moment of what Michael did to me, but I was psychologically and emotionally completely unable and unwilling to understand that it was sexual abuse.
According to sources, Robson first saw a therapist following a nervous breakdown. He referenced that breakdown on "Today," saying:
[...] for the first time in my life I began to realize that my completely numb and unexplored feelings in relation to what Michael did to me might be a problem and maybe I need to speak to someone about it.
Howard Weitzman, a lawyer for Jackson's estate, said in a statement:
Mr. Robson's claim is outrageous and pathetic. This is a young man who has testified at least twice under oath over the past 20 years and said in numerous interviews that Michael Jackson never did anything inappropriate to him or with him. Now, nearly four years after Michael has passed, this sad and less-than-credible claim has been made.
Jermaine Jackson, Michael's brother, came out with a simple response to the Robson claim: "He's full of sh*t."

Why, then, did Robson testify during Michael Jackson's trial in 2005 that the superstar did not sexually abuse him? According to Robson, Jackson manipulated him, both during the trial and earlier.

Robson said Michael told him what they were doing was "an expression of love," and that Jackson also added, "if you ever tell anyone what we're doing, both of our lives and our careers will be over."

Watch the "Today" appearance, embedded.

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Wednesday, May 15, 2013

The story behind the resurrection of Agent Coulson (sort of) revealed

Since we know he is the protagonist on ABC's upcoming series, "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," the question must be asked: How did agent Phil Coulson survive his supposed death in "The Avengers?" Actor Clark Gregg spoke about Coulson's resurrection on Tuesday.

Reportedly, the answer will be revealed on the series, but not on the pilot episode, at least not in its entirety. Some of the answer will be revealed, but not all. Gregg said:
I thought they were pranking me a little bit because there was so much blood on the set of The Avengers.

I kept waiting to see, are we going to shoot a version where [Loki] misses? And they didn’t, so I was really surprised to get that call and I wanted to make sure it didn’t do anything to undermine what we achieved there and when [writer-director Joss Whedon] explained the mystery and how they planned to deal with it, with Agent Coulson being around, I was very sold.
When asked specifically about how Coulson comes back, Gregg sidestepped the issue:
He’s back. He’s thinks he knows how he’s back. We’ll have to see.
Aside from the fact that all the marketing material thus far advertises Agent Phil Coulson as the leader of the group, Gregg asked what's to keep Whedon and company from killing him again?
I have a feeling if they killed me off again it would be for good so I’m very careful to read the end of the script every time I get one. It’s like getting struck by lightning. I kind of hope it hits somebody else first before it comes back to me.

Agent Coulson represents the people who don’t have superpowers, the guys who actually can be killed -- or at least seem to be and yet come back sometimes -- Marvel has such a lock on how to do really incredibly visual affects and stunts that we’ve got stuff on our show that I just don’t think we’ve seen on TV before.
In comic books -- and apparently in the Marvel cinematic world -- characters are often killed and resurrected. There are many examples, including those who were killed and thought gone forever. Examples:
  • Jason Todd (the second Robin, now Red Hood). For 1988's "Batman: A Death in the Family" storyline, DC Comics held a telephone poll (you can imagine this would now be done on the Internet) to determine whether or not the character would die at the hands of the Joker. The character was killed off by a vote of 5343 to 5271. However, he was resurrected in 2005's "Under the Hood" story arc.
  • Johnny Storm (the Human Torch). In the conclusion of the 2011 "Three" storyline, in Fantastic Four #587 (March 2011), the Human Torch appeared to die fighting a horde of aliens from the Negative Zone. It is later revealed that the Human Torch was revived by a species of insect-like creatures that were implanted in his body by Annihilus.
  • Jean Grey. Originally killed off during the "Dark Phoenix" saga, Jean Grey is one of those characters that has been killed and resurrected more than once.
  • Superman. Killed during the "Death of Superman" arc, he was resurrected in the "Return of Superman" arc.

Original Blue Ranger tells producers to 'Go go Power Rangers,' straight to hell:

Go, go Power Rangers ... and take your offer with you. According to a report on Wednesday, that's the message that David Yost, who played the original Blue Ranger in the first incarnation of the series ("Mighty Morphin Power Rangers"), gave to producers who asked him to participate in a reunion episode.

Yost played the Blue Power Ranger from 1993 to 1996. Although now openly gay, he didn't come out until long after the series ended. That being said, apparently the producers of the show were aware of his sexuality while he was a cast member: He said that not only did they never accept his homosexuality, they called him "f*ggot" numerous times.

Despite that, Yost was the only Ranger to appear in every single episode of the original series, playing the part of Billy, the Blue Ranger. He is the second longest-serving Ranger overall behind, Tommy Oliver (played by Jason David Frank). While on the series, Billy was portrayed as brainy and somewhat of a geek; he even invented the first team's wrist-worn communication devices.

Now 44-years-old, Yost spoke to the fan site No Pink Spandex in 2010.
I walked off set one day during the middle of lunch; I had just made a decision. The reason I walked off was I was called f-ggot one too many times.

I know that my co-stars were called in a couple of times to different producers' offices and questioned about my sexuality, which is kind of a humiliating experience to find that out.
TMZ reported that one producer said Yost had always been a "pain in the *ss" on the set.

To that, Yost responded, tweeting on Wednesday:
Never spoke w/@TMZ on any matter. They make it sound as if I did. If they knew me they would know forgiveness is key. #stillapainintheass

Videos emerge from D.C. set: 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier'

A number of set videos from the upcoming film "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" have been uploaded to the Internet.  The videos hit the Web on various services (YouTube, etc.) beginning on Wednesday.

The sequel to "Captain America: The First Avenger" picks up where The Avengers left off. In the film Steve Rogers / Captain America (Chris Evans) teams up with Natasha Romanoff, also known as the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson).

The blurb in Wikipedia says:
Following the events of the "The Avengers," Steve Rogers struggles to adjust to the modern world and must partner with Natasha Romanoff to fight a powerful yet covert enemy in Washington, D.C.
Based on its title, and the fact that Sebastian Stan will return as Bucky Barnes, it's believed the film will follow "The Winter Soldier" storyline from the comics, which resurrected Bucky Barnes.

In the first Captain America movie, Bucky seemed to fall from a train, to his death. In the comics, he was blown asunder on a plane launched by Baron Zemo.

The "Winter Soldier" storyline brought Bucky back with a modern-day Russian submarine finding him in freezing waters in suspended animation. He lost an arm; it was replaced with a bionic one. He was later programmed to be a covert Soviet agent.

In the videos, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson and Anthony Mackie (The Falcon) are seen. The Falcon is a B-level Marvel Comics superhero, unrelated to the "Winter Soldier" arc. In the comics, Sam Wilson is The Falcon. In the 1970s comics, he was considered Captain America's partner.

Originally a rooftop-swinging hero akin to Daredevil, The Falcon received Wakandan technology from the Black Panther that now enables him to fly. He also can telepathically talk to birds, although originally his connection was only to his own falcon, Redwing.











Tuesday, May 14, 2013

'Downton Abbey' to debut in U.S. on Jan. 5, 2014, following British airing

The big question of when the hit series "Downton Abbey" will return to U.S. airwaves was answered on Tuesday.

There had been some hopes that the show would be broadcast on "Masterpiece," the PBS series that airs "Downton Abbey" in the U.S., during the same dates it was shown in England. In Britain, the series is shown in the fall.

American fans, who have become as Abbey-crazy as U.K. fans, have often felt disappointed when spoilers and other information leaked across the pond. As you might expect, with the advent of the Internet, those spoilers are far from "few and far between."

The announcement came from Rebecca Eaton, executive producer of “Masterpiece.” The series will air on "Masterpiece" from Jan. 5 to Feb. 23.

24 million viewers tuned into the third season of "Downton Abbey." Its Feb. 17 finale was the number one show on television, beating every other broadcast and cable show. Although it was expected, the season finale had a shocking event: the death of Matthew Crawley.

Casting news for the fourht season of "Downton Abbey" includes: the return of Shirley MacLaine as Martha Levinson and several new actors, including Tom Cullen, Nigel Harman, Dame Harriet Walter, Joanna David, Julian Ovenden, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Gary Carr.

They will join Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Jim Carter, Joanne Froggatt, Brendan Coyle, and the rest of the large "Downton Abbey" "family."

Unveiled: The mother of 'How I Met Your Mother'

Think of it as the current version of Wilson, on "Home Improvement." It wasn't until the final episode that folks saw Wilson's full face. On Monday, "How I Met Your Mother" finally revealed the identity of "the Mother."

To this point, and similar to how the lower portion of Wilson's face was (usually) hidden by a fence, the identity of "the Mother" had previously been obscured by a yellow umbrella. On Monday, that all changed. Contrary to past supposition, "the Mother" was not anyone already part of the sitcoms's female cast (Cobie Smulders, Alyson Hannigan).

The show is told in a series of flashbacks, with the main character, Ted (played by Joshn Radnor), using voiceover narration by Bob Saget, recounting to his son and daughter the events that led to his meeting their mother. The future events take place in 2030.

The show is heading for its denouement; the ninth and next season will be its final one. The mysterious woman behind the yellow umbrella was first seen in the show's third season. Since then, viewers have only glimpsed her ankle and received some clues: she is in a band and everyone who dates her falls in love with her.

In the eighth season finale, she is seen buying a ticket to Farhampton, which is the location of Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) and Robin's (Cobie Smulders) wedding.

The actress' name is Cristin Milioti. Many will recall Milioti as “Girl” in the Broadway musical version of "Once," a role which earned her a Tony nomination last year. She has also appeared in movies like 2012′s Mike Birbiglia comedy "Sleepwalk with Me." TV fans may recall her from "The Sopranos," "The Good Wife," "Nurse Jackie," or "30 Rock."

"How I Met Your Mother" will return for a ninth and final season in the fall. Milioti will join the cast, which also includes Josh Radnor, Neil Patrick Harris, Alyson Hannigan, Jason Segel and Cobie Smulders.

'World War Z' PSA warns of 'Crisis Zero'

A faux public service announcement (PSA) for "World War Z" debuted online on Tuesday.

The PSA warns of an epidemic that has been dubbed "Crisis Zero." Although the marketing thus far has avoided using the term zombie, the best-selling book upon which the film is based makes it clear that the crisis is a "zombie war."

"World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War" is a collection of individual accounts about the zombie war in the form of first-person anecdotes. The film, instead, focuses on Brad Pitt's character, Gerry Lane, who is a worker at the United Nations. Lane scours the globe for information that can stop the zombie outbreak that is bringing down the nations of the world.

The film had a circuitous route to the big screen. First, Brad Pitt's Plan B Entertainment had to secure the screen rights to the novel -- it did so via a bidding war with Leonard DiCaprio's production company Appian Way. That was way back in 2007; as can be seen, the film took some time to get to the big screen.

The movie was originally set for a December 2012 release, but the production suffered some setbacks. Notably, in June of last year, the film's release date was pushed back and the crew returned to Budapest for seven weeks of additional shooting.

The film's new release date is Jun 21, 2013. It stars Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Daniella Kertesz, James Badge Dale, Matthew Fox and David Morse.



Sources call rumors 'Silly' as canceled concert fuels Beyonce pregnancy idea

Is Beyonce pregnant with a second child? Admittedly, rumors about a sibling for Blue Ivy Carter have circulated for some time, but a fire was lit under those rumors on Tuesday when Beyonce suddenly cancelled her Belgium concert, citing dehydration and exhaustion.

Why not accept the excuse at face value? As TMZ noted, the dehydration and exhaustion excuse is commonly known in the entertainment industry as "What you tell the media when you don't want to tell the truth."

That excitement followed a report in Monday's Page Six. There, the New York Post claimed that Beyonce, 32, was secretly pregnant with her second child/ The report said that the Jay-Z's wife hid her baby bump by wearing a tight leather corset at last week's Met Gala in New York City.

It's true that the singer's high-waisted outfit did get the Internet buzzing (see above).

Multiple sources close to the singer, however, said the report is inaccurate. One said:
This rumor again? Don't be silly.
A second source added,
I know another kid is in the future, but it wouldn't make sense for her right now while on tour.
It would seem shocking for a pregnant Beyonce to be participating a what is likely a grueling tour, the "Mrs. Carter Show World." She is even doing the tour with daughter Blue Ivy, 16 months old, in tow -- which could lead to dehydration and exhaustion, any parent would probably agree.

It is true, though, that Beyonce did admit a desire to add a sibling for her daughter. Appearing on "Good Morning America" last week, she said:
I would like more children. I think my daughter needs company. I definitely love being a big sister [to Solange, 26].

No such post: Amanda Bynes denies tweet about hooking up with Drake Bell

Amanda Bynes is lusting after the rapper Drake, not Drake Bell, her former co-star on "The Amanda Show." The actress made that quite clear on Sunday, when she tweeted a denial about a prior tweet, which said that she and Drake Bell had hooked up numerous times on the set of that series.

The earlier tweet was posted on May 4. The star’s account supposedly tweeted,
I f*cked @DrakeBell so many times on the Amanda show set oh god.
It's unclear why it took over a week to address it, but on May 12 she tweeted:
"@drsoymilk: @AmandaBynes pic.twitter.com/3kjbIWNu7r” I didn't tweet this, that's what happened when I called @drake ugly, I didn't write that!
Bynes and Bell co-starred on “The Amanda Show” from 1999-2002. The claim, therefore, is that her account was hacked.

Denial on not, Bynes has spent quite a bit of time on Twitter and other social networking sites, of late. She has shared strange videos, topless photos, and even admitted having a nose job.

As far as rapper Drake goes, Bynes has previously admitted she wants him badly. She said she wanted him to "murder her vagina."

It is at times like these that it is difficult to remember that Bynes was once considered a wholesome teen star for Nickelodeon.

Angelina Jolie's double mastectomy: What is the BRCA1 gene that prompted it?

Angelina Jolie announced on Tuesday that she had recently proactively had a double mastectomy. She did so, she said, because she had a faulty gene that increased her chances of both breast and ovarian cancer by huge percentages. The gene is the BRCA1 gene. The risk is different from woman to woman; the average, she said, is an increase of 65 percent.

What is that gene and what are its aspects?

According to the National Cancer Institute, the BRCA1 gene and the related BRCA2 gene are genes that suppress tumors. Normally, those genes help the body stabilize the DNAs of cells, helping to prevent uncontrollable cell growth, which is essentially what cancer is.

In the case of mutated BRCA genes, the risk of breast or ovarian cancer. In Jolie's case, she was told by doctors that her risk was 87 percent for breast cancer and 50 percent for ovarian cancer.

The acronyms -- BRCA -- stem from the full names of the genes. BRCA1 stands for breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 and BRCA 2 for breast cancer susceptibility gene 2. While mutations in both can lead to cancer, a cancer resulting from a "faulty" BRCA1 can be harder to treat, as, the Breast Care Site says, they do not respond to the hormone therapies used to treat tumors that occur more often in women with BRCA2 mutations.

BCRA mutations can be detected with a blood test. Results can take several weeks, though, as the test must be conducted at specialized laboratories. However, the test can cost anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars, and may or may not be covered by insurance.

Jolie, though, had a family history of cancer -- her mother died at 59 -- and, as you might expect, with a celebrity of such status, money wasn't an issue. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 3 percent to 5 percent of women who develop breast cancer have a BRCA mutation. About 10 percent to 15 percent of women who develop ovarian cancer have a BRCA mutation.

It is possible for a BRCA abnormality to affect men. Naturally, men cannot get ovarian cancer, but with or without a BRCA defect, men have been known to get breast cancers. Although only 1 percent of all breast cancers occur in men, having a BRCA mutation does mean an increased risk.

For men, "faulty" BRCA genes also increase their chances of developing pancreatic, skin, or prostate cancer.



Angelina Jolie: BRCA1 gene prompted proactive double mastectomy

 photo AngelinaJolieBradPitt.jpg
In a Tuesday op-ed piece in the New York Times, actress Angelina Jolie revealed shocking news: She underwent a proactive, preventative double mastectomy after learning she was genetically predisposed -- with an 87 percent chance -- to develop breast cancer.

Jolie's mother fought cancer for nearly a decade before dying at the age of 56. According to Jolie, she has the BRCA1 gene, which sharply increases a woman's risk of developing both breast and ovarian cancer. According to her doctors, Jolie had an 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer, although the risk is different in the case of each woman.

According to Jolie, the risk is different in the case of each woman, with only a fraction of breast cancers resulting from an genetic defect. Her risk was above average: Those with a "faulty" BRCA1 gene average a 65 percent risk of breast cancer, on average.

While she also has a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer, Jolie opted for the double mastectomy first, as -- common sense would say, even without a doctor's advice -- the second surgery will be more complex and involved.

Jolie said that the procedures took, three months, with completion on April 27. The steps involved were:

Feb. 2: a procedure known as a “nipple delay, which rules out disease in the breast ducts behind the nipple and draws extra blood flow to the area. This causes some pain and a lot of bruising, but it increases the chance of saving the nipple."

Two weeks later: the major surgery. The breast tissue was removed and temporary fillers were put in place.

Nine weeks later: reconstruction of the breasts with an implant. "There have been many advances in this procedure in the last few years, and the results can be beautiful."

Why did she write about it?
I am writing about it now because I hope that other women can benefit from my experience. Cancer is still a word that strikes fear into people’s hearts, producing a deep sense of powerlessness. But today it is possible to find out through a blood test whether you are highly susceptible to breast and ovarian cancer, and then take action.
She added that her fiance, Brad Pitt, has been fully supportive during this trying time.
I am fortunate to have a partner, Brad Pitt, who is so loving and supportive. So to anyone who has a wife or girlfriend going through this, know that you are a very important part of the transition. Brad was at the Pink Lotus Breast Center, where I was treated, for every minute of the surgeries. We managed to find moments to laugh together. We knew this was the right thing to do for our family and that it would bring us closer. And it has.
Angelina Jolie is not the first actress to have a double mastectomy, but she may be the first to have done so proactively. In 2008, Christina Applegate ("Married with Children") revealed that she had a double mastectomy after a diagnosis with breast cancer. In her case, she did not have cancer in her left breast, yet she opted to have it removed anyway.

In 2011, Giuliana Rancic also had a double mastectomy after a diagnosis, and an initial lumpectomy.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Robbers tunnel into stadium's safe room, steal $300,000 after Bieber gig

In an elaborate heist that sounds like something out of the movies, robbers tunneled into the safe room at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, and made off with $330,000. The heist wasn't discovered until Monday.

Police believe that the robbery was an inside job. Only one thing is for sure: Justin Bieber had nothing to do with it.

Bieber disavowed having anything to do with the robbery in a direct message to TMZ, telling them "It wasn't me." It's unclear if there is a joke there, either from the pop superstar or the celebrity news site.

According to authorities, the stadium, which was the host of the the final game of the 2010 soccer World Cup, has seen better days, revenue-wise. Officials did not realize the cash was missing until Monday morning. The take was 3 million rand, which works out to be about $327,000.

The robbers made off with receipts from Sunday night’s concert by Bieber, as well as a performance on Saturday evening by Bon Jovi. An officer from the nearby Booysens police station, who declined to be named, said:
The money was taken from the building and they only realized today. We don’t know how many people were involved as we are still gathering evidence.

'Man of Steel' TV spot five begs the question: How does Clark shave?

The fifth TV spot for "Man of Steel" was unveiled on Monday. The new spot shows off a bearded Clark, saving workers on an oil rig.  Considering his invulnerability and his beard, the question must be raised: Just how does Clark shave?

A tip of the hat to John Byrne's version of Superman, when DC rebooted the comic book back in the '80's: He has Superman shave via heat vision, by bouncing his heat vision off of a small piece of the Kryptonian spacecraft that brought him to Earth.

Meanwhile, if you are wondering if the movie means a lot to Warner Bros. or not, you could tell by the sheer volume of publicity for the film. Just last weekend, the studio unveiled three new posters for the latest Superman reboot, along with the fourth TV spot.

"Man of Steel" is the second reboot in Warner Bros. franchise around the DC Comics icon (FYI: Warner owes DC) and stars Henry Cavill as Clark Kent / Superman. The first reboot was "Superman Returns" (2006) and starred Brandon Routh.

Thus far, trailers have shown the film to be more than just a showcase for tights, muscles and special effects. How does the Earth respond to a hero so powerful? Is the world even ready for a Superman? Wikipedia says:
Clark Kent is a journalist who was adopted as a child by Jonathan and Martha Kent after he was transported to Earth from the dying planet of Krypton. Raised with the values of his adoptive parents, he feels alienated because of his unique super powers and struggles to find his own place in life. When the world is attacked, he becomes the hero named Superman to protect Earth and its people.
"Man of Steel" stars Henry Cavill as Clark Kent / Superman, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Kevin Costner as Jonathan Kent, Diane Lane as Martha Kent, Laurence Fishburne as Perry White, Michael Shannon as General Zod, Antje Traue as Faora, Ayelet Zurer as Lara Lor-Van, Christopher Meloni as Colonel Hardy, Russell Crowe as Jor-El, and Richard Schiff as Dr. Emil Hamilton.

It is set for a June 14 premiere.



He's back: Jack Bauer to return, in '24: Live Another Day'

He's back. Or at least, he will. In much the same way that we are never done with "Die Hard's" John McClane, Fox announced on Monday that Jack Bauer (played by Kiefer Sutherland) would return to a new series, "24: Live Another Day," which will debut in the summer of 2014 on the network.

The announcement was made Monday morning by Kevin Reilly, Chairman, Fox Broadcasting Company; Dana Walden and Gary Newman, Chairmen, Twentieth Century Fox Television; and Brian Grazer, Chairman, Imagine Entertainment. Reilly said:
It's great to have Jack back. "24" redefined the drama genre, and as we reimagine the television miniseries, this iconic show will again break new ground for the network. The series remains a global sensation, and everyone at Fox is thrilled to be back at work with Kiefer, Howard and the incredibly creative "24" team.
With only a 12-episode season, "24: Live Another Day" will not be able to use the same format as the original series, in which each episode represented an hour in a 24-hour-period of Jack Bauer's life. Instead, the show will jump around during that day.

The story will pick up several years the events of the final season. "24's" last episode was aired on May 24, 2010, after a run which spanned eight seasons, 73 Emmy Award nominations (and one win, in 2006, for Outstanding Drama Series. Kiefer Sutherland himself received seven Emmy Award nominations and one win for Outstanding Lead Actor - Drama Series.

When asked about the original show's cancellation, Reilly said that it felt like the show had run its course, at least then.
We wanted it to go out strong. We didn’t want to keep it limping for two more seasons.
However, Reilly doesn't see "24: Live Another Day" becoming a regular series, though he admitted it's possible. The series is really part of Fox's new initiative to air event programming during the summer as a way to bridget together the regular seasons.

A miniseries from M. Night Shyamalan named "Wayward Pines” will air after the run of "24: Live Another Day."



Barbara Walters tearfully announces retirement, on 'The View'

It wasn't a surprise when Barbara Walters announced her upcoming retirement on Monday. The network had pre-announced it on Sunday, but it's still moving to see her announce it live, on-air, on "The View" on Monday (embedded below).

Walters, who appeared tearful at times during her announcement, opened by telling the audience:
I promised you that if I had anything to announce about my future plans, I would announce it here first, so here it goes.
Rumors of the 83-year-old's retirement have been circulating for months, but she had consistently discounted them.

While she did say she would leave, fans shouldn't expect it to be soon. Walters added quickly that she wouldn’t leave until the summer of 2014. She added that she would continue as a producer on "The View," a show she co-created with Bill Geddie.

She said,
I am very happy with my decision, and look forward to a wonderful and special year ahead.

I am not walking into the sunset. I do not want to appear on another program or climb another mountain. I want instead to sit on a sunny field and admire the very gifted women -- and OK, some men too -- who will be taking my place.
Barbara Walters began her career at a rival network, NBC, in 1961. She became the first woman to co-host a news show when she became the news anchor on “Today” in 1974.

Walters has spent 37 years at ABC News. Before coming to ABC, she spent 15 years at NBC News.

ABC News President Ben Sherwood said, in a statement:
There is only one Barbara Walters. We look forward to making her final year on television as remarkable, path-breaking and news-making as Barbara herself.

We look forward to a year befitting her brilliant career," he said, "filled with exclusive interviews, great adventures and indelible memories.


Lindsay Lohan desperate to leave Betty Ford after her Adderall is banned

 photo LindsayLohanLarge.jpg
The angst emanating from the Betty Ford Center is immense. As reported earlier, the center had been reevaluating Lindsay Lohan's ADHD diagnosis. Their conclusion, as announced on Saturday: LiLo does not need her Adderall prescription. Her response: aaagh!

Reportedly, the physicians at the Betty Ford Center doctors almost never give anyone over the age of 15 Adderall, as they believe there are a number of alternative medications that do not carry the the addictive qualities of that drug. After the re-diagnosis, Lohan immediately told her friends that she can no longer stay at Betty Ford. She wants to be moved.

It's not as though Lohan can't do research while ensconced at Betty Ford. Apparently, the troubled actress has no trouble getting on the Web or the phone. She has found another facility -- unnamed, as yet -- on the West Coast which she believes is suitable to complete her remaining time (it was originally set to be 90 days) of. She wants to move as soon as possible.

Naturally, it can be assumed that suitable means the other facility will allow Lohan to continue to take her Adderall. According to the source, Lohan says that Betty Ford is "old school," and is not sensitive to the issues of young people.

However, the authorities are not keen on moving Lohan -- again. After all, she was supposed to reside at a New York facility, but bolted after discovering it would not allow her to smoke -- tobacco, that is. However, her first choice in California had already had its licensed revoked. She finally managed to escape an arrest warrant by checking into Betty Ford at the last second.

Prosecutors are saying "Again?" and are apparently "unbending." They will not approve any move, according to a source, who added "She had 45 days to find a suitable place. She didn't listen to her people and just did what she wanted so it's her problem now."

In terms of the odds of a move happening, the source added, "Not gonna happen."

First promo for 'Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' now online

ABC and Marvel Studios have released the first "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." promo to the Internet. The video first hit the Web on Sunday.

The blurb for the video is extensive, and says:
Clark Gregg reprises his role of Agent Phil Coulson from Marvel's feature films as he assembles a small, highly select group of Agents from the worldwide law-enforcement organization known as S.H.I.E.L.D. Together they investigate the new, the strange, and the unknown across the globe, protecting the ordinary from the extraordinary. Coulson's team consists of Agent Grant Ward (Brett Dalton), highly trained in combat and espionage, Agent Melinda May (Ming-Na Wen) expert pilot and martial artist, Agent Leo Fitz (Iain De Caestecker); brilliant engineer and Agent Jemma Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge) genius bio-chemist. Joining them on their journey into mystery is new recruit and computer hacker Skye (Chloe Bennet).

From Executive Producers Joss Whedon ("Marvel's The Avengers," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"); Jed Whedon & Maurissa Tancharoen, "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." pilot co-writers ("Dollhouse," "Dr.Horrible's Sing-Along Blog"); Jeffrey Bell ("Angel," "Alias"); and Jeph Loeb ("Smallville") comes Marvel's first TV series. "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." is produced by ABC Studios and Marvel Television. Subscribe to televisionpromosdb on YouTube for more Marvel's Agents of SHIELD season 1 promos in HD!
It's unclear how Coulson will appear. After all, he was killed in the aforementioned "Avengers" film. However, it appears in the cinematic Marvel Universe, just as with their comics book, dead doesn't necessarily mean dead.

In the promo, Coulson (Gregg) says, "We work the cases that S.H.I.E.L.D. hasn't classified: The strange, the unknown. It's not just spy vs. spy anymore. The whole world is in on the action."

S.H.I.E.L.D., stands for Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division. It was birthed as Supreme Headquarters, International Espionage, Law-Enforcement Division. It was changed in 1991 to Strategic Hazard Intervention Espionage Logistics Directorate. The above is its designation in the Marvel Cinematics universe.

ABC announced it had picked up the series -- based on its pilot -- on May 10.



'Arrested Development' season four trailer reveals the same old lovable (?) Bluths

The season four trailer for "Arrested Development" was released on Sunday. Unlike other seasons, of course, this one has a special tweak to it: It will "air" exclusively on Netflix.

Netflix will release all 15 episodes on May 26. Originally slated for 10 episodes, the season later swelled to 15.  Each of the stories, it is said, will focus on a different character, meaning not every cast member will appear in each episode.

"Arrested Development" was one of those shows that critics loved, but viewers never embraced, at least not in numbers large enough to keep it on the air. Running for three seasons from 2003 to 2006, the series won six Emmy Awards.

All of the cast has returned, including Jason Bateman, who stars as the somewhat sane Michael Bluth and Michael Cera (who plays his son George Michael), who returns to the show as a bonafide movie star ("Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," "Juno").

Netflix says:
"Arrested Development" centers around Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman) and his eccentric family comprised of his son George Michael (Michael Cera), his father George Bluth Sr. (Jeffrey Tambor), his mother Lucille (Jessica Walter), his brothers George Oscar Bluth II (Will Arnett), Buster Bluth (Tony Hale) and sister Lindsay Funke (Portia de Rossi), and Lindsay's husband Tobias (David Cross) and their daughter Maeby (Alia Shawkat).

There are still hopes that an "Arrested Development" movie may be developed.



O.J. Simpson seeks new trial, says was given 'poor legal advice'

O.J. Simpson will be taking his case to the court again. The former actor and football star is currently a sentence of up to 33 years for his 2008 conviction for armed robbery and kidnapping. He intends to try to get that decision thrown out, with a court appearance today, reported on Monday.

Simpson, 65, will argue that his lawyer for that trial, Yale Galanter, not only had a conflict of interest and failed to mount an effective defense in his trial, but that Galanter gave him "bad legal advice" prior to the incident which landed Simpson in prison.

Simpson was convicted of leading a group of associates into a room at the Palace Station hotel and casino in September of 2007. Simpson said he believed that two memorabilia dealers were in possession of stolen property of his. It was said that he and his associates used threats, guns and force to retrieve the items.

Simpson is now represented by Patricia Palm. According to the filing, Galanter told Simpson before that incident -- the pair met, Simpson said, the night before -- that he was within his rights to retrieve what he believed was stolen property, "so long as there would be no trespass and no physical force used against the persons with the property."

Further, his lawyer wrote as they seek a new trial, "Simpson also contends that Galanter did not advise Simpson that carrying out the plan could subject him to criminal charges, regardless of the ownership of the property."

Simpson has continued to assert that he had no idea two of the men accompanying him were carrying guns.

In addition, Simpson claims Galanter provided a poor defense, by preventing him from testifying at this trial. According to Simpson's appeal filing, sans an opportunity to testify, "There was no evidence presented to adequately challenge the state's evidence of criminal intent and knowledge of the guns or the bad character evidence to which the jury was exposed."

In 2010, the Nevada Supreme Court upheld his conviction. Prosecutors have responded to the filing by calling it "without merit." Galanter, in addition, is quoted in court documents as telling the judge in the original trial that he spoke to Simpson only after the incident. Galanter is due to testify at the new hearing.

Simpson's current sentence gives him the opportunity for parole in 2017.

Beyonce's dad hit with huge tax lien for years as her manager

Beyonce fired her father, Mathew Knowles, as her manager in 2011, but the hits for dad still keep on coming. The IRS has filed a tax lien against Mathew Knowles, it was reported on Monday, for over a million dollars.

The good news for Knowles is that to owe such as large sum, he had to have pulled in a large amount of money. The bad news, of course, is that the sum that the IRS wants him to pay is $1.2 million with an "M."

It's an amount that makes what troubled actress Lindsay Lohan owes to the tax man seem like a pittance.

The lien covers the years 2010 ($485,575.95) and 2011 ($728,004.89). In total, the amount is $1,213,580.84.

While it took her some time to come forth with the reason, earlier this year, in an hour-long interview with Oprah Winfrey, which aired on Oprah's OWN network just before Beyonce's "Life is But a Dream" documentary premiered on HBO, Beyonce revealed the reason she fired her father.

It wasn't, as many believed, reports of an affair that derailed her parents' marriage. She said,
It took a while for me and my dad to have an understanding. When I turned 18 and started handling my business more, he went into shock. And we had our issues. I'd say "no" to something, and he'd book it anyway. Then I'd have to do it because I'd look bad [if I didn't].

We would fight sometimes, and it took about two years, to when I was 20, for him to realize, "Oh, she is an adult now, and if she doesn't wanna do something, I can't make her do it."
Either way, Mathew Knowles had a large bankroll during the years 2010 and 2011, one for which he still owes.



Friday, May 10, 2013

Teaser trailer for 'Gravity' shows us Clooney, Bullock in a beautiful, yet terrifying situation

The first trailer for director Alfonso Cuarón’s sci-fi thriller "Gravity" arrived on Friday. While labeled a teaser trailer, the video still gives viewers one-and-a-half minutes of both beauty -- and terror.

The movie stars George Clooney as astronaut Matt Kowalsky and Sandra Bullock as Dr. Ryan Stone. The beauty is obvious, when one looks at the view of the Earth below, and hears Kowalsky say, “It’s beautiful don’t you think?

The terror occurs as Kowalsky and Ryan see their space station torn to bits by some unknown accident. The film shows us none of the horror that must come, as Stone and Kowalsky fight to live. However, Stone’s haunting “Anybody? Please copy” is the last thing viewers hear.

The film's summary is as follows:
Dr. Ryan Stone (Bullock) is a medical engineer on her first Space Shuttle mission and is accompanied by veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky (Clooney), who is in command of the shuttle flight, due to be his last. During a spacewalk, the space shuttle is destroyed, and Stone and Kowalsky are stranded in space with no communications with Earth
Stranded in space as the stars are, the film is somewhat remiscent of "Open Water" (2003). It also reminds us of the 1969 film "Marooned."

"Gravity" is scheduled to hit theaters in October in 2-D, 3D, and 3D IMAX.



Justin Bieber flaunts Amstel in Instagram post

Pop superstar Justin Bieber's behavior hasn't exactly been stellar of late. Thus, we come to Bieber's flaunting of his can of beer on Friday, when he posted an image to Instagram.

At least, though, he's in a country where the drinking age is 18. Notably, therefore, he's not doing anything wrong, except perhaps setting a poor example for the tweens who idolize him.

Bieber is in South Africa, and so is his BFF Lil Za, who is chugging his beer. Bieber, on the other hand, is just holding his, playing to the camera.

The caption for the image is "Beers in the jungle." That makes sense for a few reasons, including the fact that they are in South Africa. The implication, as well, is that they are party animals.

We're not sure that an Amstel is enough to brag about, though.

As we said, he's not doing anything any other 18-to-20 year old would do if they were in a country with a lower drinking age. And it's not like this is the first time this has happened. In July of 2012, Bieber and Selena Gomez reportedly had a dinner date -- with drinks -- in Australia, where the drinking age is also 18.

'American Idol' to fire all four judges, revamp show: Report

If reports are correct, it's a clean sweep. Although Randy Jackson confirmed on Thursday that he will leave "American Idol" after a dozen years, the fate of the other three judges is unknown, at least officially. Unofficially, reports are that "Idol" will dump all four judges at the end of the current season.

That would mean that, in addition to Jackson, Nicki Minaj, Mariah Carey and Keith Urban will be exiting.

Jackson is the lone surviving original judge, from the panel that included Paula Abdul and series creator Simon Cowell. He said:
To put all of the speculation to rest, after 12 years of judging on American Idol I have decided it is time to leave after this season.

I am very proud of how we forever changed television and the music industry. It's been a life-changing opportunity but I am looking forward to focusing on my company, Dream Merchant 21, and other business ventures.
The news came mere hours after it was announced that Carey was dropping Jackson, who was her longtime business manager.  No other judges have yet confirmed they are exiting.

It is unclear if the events are related. It is also not clear if Jackson is leaving of his own accord, or was fired.

In addition to the hosts, longtime executive producer Nigel Lythgoe is reported to be getting the boot as well. The series' ratings have plummeted, and the report says that Fox will attempt to revamp it to better compete with newer reality shows, such as NBC’s "The Voice." The show's last episode, last Thursday, only drew 11 million viewers, its worst ratings result ever.

In addition, Fox is reportedly planning to shelve dated tribute theme nights.

It's been reported that the network was trying to get Jennifer Lopez to return, but that is not happening, according to the newest report. Mega-contracts will be out, as well, as there will be "No more big checks for divas," a source told The Wrap. This season, Carey was signed for a reported $18 million for one year, while Minaj snagged $12 million. Earlier, Lopez made $15 million.

While Fox could just cancel "Idol," the series still generates a huge amount of revenue for the network, with Kantar Media saying it brought in $836.4 million in ad revenue in 2013. In addition, the network has no immediate replacement in the works.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Charlie Brown's voice sentenced to one year in jail, rehab

Peter Robbins was sentenced sentenced to a year in jail on Wednesday. You probably don't recall his name, but you almost certainly know the character he -- at one time -- voiced: Charlie Brown.

Robbins, 56, a former child actor who voiced Charlie Brown in the 1960s "Peanuts" animated television specials was also ordered to immediately report to a residential drug treatment center for an eight month stay by Judge Dwayne Moring of San Diego Superior Court. Moring didn't miss an opportunity to make a pun: He told Robbins, "Don't be a blockhead."

Fortunately for Robbins, he's already served 110 days behind bars, so he'll avoid further jail time.

In April, Robbins pleaded guilty to two felony counts of stalking and making criminal threats against his girlfriend, Shawna Kern, and a plastic surgeon who had performed her breast implant surgery.

Robbins, somewhat choked up, said:
I realize this is the first step towards becoming the fun-loving, respectful person I was and hope to be again. I love Shawna and wish her my best.
In 1965, Robbins was nine years old when he was cast as the voice of Charlie Brown in "A Charlie Brown Christmas," which became a holiday classic. It was the first of many animated TV specials based on Charles Schulz's "Peanuts" comic strip, and Robbins went on to voice the character in "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," "You're In Love, Charlie Brown" and "A Boy Named Charlie Brown," which all aired, originally, in the 1960s.

He was replaced in later editions of the animated specials.

'The Biggest Loser' marriage ends, as Sam Poueu and Stephanie Anderson split

A pair of "Biggest Losers" are losing, yet again. This time, though, as reported on Wednesday, they are not losing weight, but each other.

Sam Poueu and Stephanie Anderson met during the "Biggest Loser" season that aired beginning in January of 2010. That was the ninth season of the series.

They eventually married, in May 2012. However, her rep told Us Weekly on Wednesday that the couple was filing for divorce. The rep said that Anderson's statement was:
It is with great sadness that my marriage to Sam Poueu is ending.
Although the couple is losing each other they are about to gain a great gift: Anderson is about seven months pregnant with the couple's first child, a baby boy due in July.

The couple lost a combined total of nearly 250 pounds in season nine. In 2011, Poueu fell four stories off a friend's roof deck and -- during nine months of rehab -- Anderson was his caregiver.

Poueu proposed to Anderson on the "Biggest Loser" ranch, where they met.

Season nine premiered on NBC on Jan. 5, 2010. The $250,000 prize was awarded to Michael Ventrella, the finalist with the highest percentage of weight lost.

A tipsy Tiger Woods embarrasses new GF Lindsey Vonn

Tiger Woods did not score a hole-in-one with his relatively new girlfriend, Lindsay Vonn, it was reported on Tuesday. Although much more attention seemed to be focused earlier on Kim Kardashian's Met Gala gown, which some compared to a gaudy sofa, Tiger Woods' actions at the same function were said to embarrass Vonn.

US Weekly dished on the details: Following the Met Gala, Woods and Vonn, went to the after-party at the Boom Boom Room on top of the Standard Hotel. There, Woods, 37, reportedly had too much to drink.

Vonn, 28, looked at home in the celebrity-studded crowd, which included those such as Leonardo Dicaprio, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Chris Brown, Solange Knowles and Kate Upton, among others. One witness said that "Tiger looked uncomfortable."

Vonn and Woods even reportedly engaged in some PDA. However, at one point during the evening, the once-divorced golfer got up to dance -- and did so awkwardly. He grabbed Vonn's butt affectionately and the world-class skier giggled.

It was when it was time to leave, Tuesday morning at about 2 a.m., that Woods fell while walking up a small flight of stairs. He was described as tipsy -- at least -- and Woods didn't move from his spot until Vonn, reportedly looking embarrassed and clenching her teeth, helped him up. She then assisted him -- swaying slightly -- as they left, according to a witness.

In March, the couple debuted their long-rumored relationship with dual Facebook posts. Woods wrote:
Lindsey and I have been friends for some time, but over the last few months we have become very close and are now dating.
Woods split from then-wife Elin Nordegren back in 2010 after what can only be called an epic scandal over numerous affairs.

June Cleaver remains atop the Harris Poll Top 10 Moms list for 2013

Times, they are not a-changing, when it comes to TV moms. On Wednesday, the Harris Poll announced the results of its latest survey of the best TV moms of all time, and the top three was identical to its results from the last time it did so, in 2008.

The late Barbara Billingsley, who passed away in 2010 -- or at least her character, June Cleaver from "Leave It to Beaver," was atop the list. Indeed, those surveyed must love moms who wear pearls and heels all day long, even when vacuuming. The series lasted for six years, spawned a reunion movie, and later series, "Still the Beaver."

In second place was Clair Huxtable, played by Phylicia Rashād, of "The Cosby Show." Unlike the other two entries in the top three, Huxtable was a working mom. The series ran for eight seasons.

In third place was Carol Brady of "The Brady Bunch." She was played by Florence Henderson. The series ran for five seasons, but spawned several TV movies.

Tying for fourth place were Marion Cunningham (played by Marion Ross) from "Happy Days," and Donna Stone (Donna Reed) from the "The Donna Reed Show."

Rounding out the list were, from six to 10:
  • Harriet Nelson ("The Adventured of Ozzie and Harriet," played by herself)
  • Lucy Ricardo ("I Love Lucy," played by Lucille Ball)
  • Samantha Stevens ("Bewitched," played by Elizabeth Montgomery)
  • Roseanne Conner ("Rosanne," played by Rosanne Barr)
  • Michelle Duggar ("19 Kids and Counting," playing herself)
Dropping off this year's list were Lorelei Gilmore of "Gilmore Girls," and Marge Simpson of "The Simpsons." Simpson, in fact, was inspired by a real-life mom. She was bassed on Margaret Groening, the mother of "Simpsons" creator Matt Groening, who recently passed away.

This Harris Poll was conducted online in the United States between April 10 and 15, 2013, among 2,345 adults.

Snoop Lion admits to actually pimping, says was 'never about the money'

Snoop Lion was Snoop Dogg, and he's admitted: He was a dog. In an interview with Rolling Stone that was published on Wednesday, though, he admitted it was never about the money.

It wasn't the first time that Snoop Lion admitted to being a pimp. In fact, in 2006 he had a prior interview with Rolling Stone, in which he first admitted to it. Strangely, the new interview doesn't mention the prior one, despite being in the same media publication.

Snoop Lion said he was a pimp in 2003 and 2004. His admission separates him from other hip hop artists who have superficially adopted the pimp persona.

Despite the fact that there was money -- considerable -- it wasn't about riches. Instead, he said he became a pimp because, unlike other boys who might dream about being a policeman or doctor, during his boyhood, he dreamed about being a pimp.

He would, in fact, let his women keep the money. Snoop said:
I'd act like I'd take the money from the bitch, but I'd let her have it. It was never about the money; it was about the fascination of being a pimp . . . As a kid I dreamed of being a pimp, I dreamed of having cars and clothes and bitches to match. I said, "F*ck it - I'm finna do it."
He went further, and described how it worked:
I did a Playboy tour, and I had a bus follow me with ten bitches on it. I could fire a bitch, f*ck a bitch, get a new ho: It was my program. City to city, titty to titty, hotel room to hotel room, athlete to athlete, entertainer to entertainer.
In his 2006 interview, he described pimping as a sport:
... pimpin' ain't a job, it's a sport. I had a bitch on every exit from the 10 freeway to the 101 freeway, 'cause bitches would recruit for me. I had barracudas -- seven or eight of 'em. When a bitch recruits for you, she goes out into the club or the environment and brings back other bitches and makes 'em my ho's. That's pimpin'.
Speaking of sports, while Snoop didn't name the names of his clients, he did say that pro athletes, at least -- if not celebrities, would use his services:
If I'm in a city where where the Denver Broncos or the Nuggets play, I get a couple of they players to come hang out, pick and choose, and whichever one you like comes with a number. A lot of athletes bought pussy from me.
For those who didn't notice, Snoop changed his moniker from Snoop Dogg to Snoop Lion in mid-2012.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

'Ender's Game' trailer: Can the film match the award-winning novel?

As promised, Summit Entertainment released the first full trailer for the upcoming film "Ender's Game" on Tuesday. The two-minute long video was unveiled in a Google+ Hangout.

The film is based on Orson Scott Card's Hugo and Nebula Award winning novel by the same name. The novel has a gotcha at the end, and a classic one to boot. We won't give it away, but suffice it to say that even if you know the ending, the novel is still a great work of sci-fi.

Ender’s Game follows a series of young recruits being trained by Colonel Hyrum Graff (Harrison Ford) to become the next Mazer Rackham (Ben Kingsley). Rackham is a half-Maori International Fleet commander who saved Earth from the last attack by the Formic race.

As in the novel, Ender Wiggin (Asa Butterfield) must first earn his place in Command School by participating in Battle School. Graff sees that Ender is the one most likely to become the new Rackham and save the human race. He tells him -- obviously without putting pressure on the young lad -- “If you succeed, you’ll be remembered as a hero.”

In addition to Butterfield, Ford, and Kingsley, the film also stars Hailee Steinfeld, Viola Davis, and Abigail Breslin. The film is directd by Gavin Hood.

This trailer shows a lot of what you’d expect: lots of epic-looking battle scenes. It concludes, though, on what might be the climactic simulation against a practice set of Formics, in Command School. If that's the climax, it's showing us way too much.

The official synopsis of the film, per Summit:
In the near future, a hostile alien race (called the Formics) have attacked Earth. If not for the legendary heroics of International Fleet Commander, Mazer Rackham, all would have been lost. In preparation for the next attack, the highly esteemed Colonel Graff and the International Military are training only the best young children to find the future Mazer. Ender Wiggin, a shy, but strategically brilliant boy is pulled out of his school to join the elite.

Arriving at Battle School, Ender quickly and easily masters increasingly difficult war games, distinguishing himself and winning respect amongst his peers. Ender is soon ordained by Graff as the military's next great hope, resulting in his promotion to Command School. Once there, he's trained by Mazer Rackham, himself, to lead his fellow soldiers into an epic battle that will determine the future of Earth and save the human race.
The film adaptation is planned for release on Nov. 1, 2013. Card is co-producing the film.



Lockdown: No off-site activities for Lindsay Lohan during Betty Ford Center 90-day stay

It's unclear why this is news, since it was already part of the plea bargain that prosecutors and Lindsay Lohan made for her 90-day stay in rehab. The troubled actress, it was reported on Wednesday, can't leave the Betty Ford Center at all during her stay, while other patients can.

Patients at the Betty Ford Center typically earn privileges, such as permission to go shopping or even get coffee. No such luck for Lindsay Lohan, though.

It was initially a requirement of the deal that Lohan stay at a lockdown facility, where no one can leave the premises. It was later found that no such facilities exist. There isn't a rehab center that can enforce such a policy.

A letter addressed to Lohan's attorney, Shawn Holley, and filed with the Los Angeles Superior Court says:
It is understood by the Betty Ford Center that your client is to remain on the premises for the duration of her 90-day stay in treatment.
As noted above, Betty Ford as well as other facilities are not prisons, and cannot hold a patient against his or her own will.

If Lohan were to leave the facility's 20-acre grounds, that would presumably violate the deal, leaving her subject to possibly put behind bars.

She may be locked down, but she can still smoke (a deal-breaker for the earlier facility that prosecutors and her attorneys agreed upon). She can even take Adderall, prescribed for her previous ADHD diagnosis. However, doctors at the center are reportedly reevaluating her need for the drug.

Did Drake lust make Amanda Bynes channel stripper Blac Chyna?

Amanda Bynes has made no secret of her lust for rapper Drake. She did, after all, previously say that she wants rapper Drake to "murder her vagina." On Monday, theories arose, linking that desire to her recent "transformation."

In a recent interview with In Touch, Amanda said that she had designed her new look specifically to emulate Blac Chuyna, a stripper. She said it directly, stating: "I wanted to look like Blac Chyna."

Why would Bynes want to look like Blac Chyna? Her aforementioned lust object, Drake, once mentioned her in a song, "Miss Me." He said:
Call the King of Diamonds and tell Chyna it'd be worth the flight
Blac Chyna apparently works at the King of Diamonds strip club.

Notably, Chyna is also married to Tyga. He is a member of the Young Money Cash Money crew. Drake is a also member of that posse.

So, it appears that -- contrary to some headlines -- Bynes isn't seeking stripperdom.  Instead, this is just another move in her Drake obsession.



'The Office' to exit with mega-sized 75-minute finale

NBC's "The Office" will take longer to say goodbye than anticipated. It was announced on Tuesday that the sitcom, already slated for a one hour finale, would instead get a 75-minute slot.

Greg Daniels, the show’s executive producer and the creator of the U.S. version of the show (it was originally created in England by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant), was known to have been lobbying NBC -- for weeks -- to add more time to the finale. It wasn't because the episode was action-packed, but rather because the finale was tearful farewell packed.

On the set of "The Office" in April, Daniels said he wasn't sure just how he was going to be able to cut the show down to just one hour, as he had painstakenly given each cast member a suitable farewell scene.

Still unconfirmed is whether or not Steve Carell, who famously portrayed Dunder Mifflin's Michael Scott before exiting the series in the episode "Goodbye, Michael," will appear on the finale. When we last saw Michael Scott on the show, he was leaving Pennsylvania to begin his new life with his fiancée, Holly, played by Amy Ryan, in Colorado.

News that a wedding will take place on the last episode has increased speculation that Carell will -- at least -- make a cameo.