Category : People in the News

Who Needs Kids When There Are Manatees to Love?

manatee.jpgAlec "Rude Thoughtless Little Pig" Baldwin loves animals -- manatees to be precise. He loves them so much, he's made two 30-second PSAs for the Save the Manatee Club to help make Floridians more aware of the plight of the aquatic mammals/"Family Guy" writers. It's good to see him using his celebrity for good, especially when NBC needs its "30 Rock" star to appear like he's not a creep. Baldwin isn't new to promoting his love for manatees, so this probably isn't a publicity stunt. Probably. But why does he care so much for giant sea mammals and not, say, his own flesh and blood? My guess is he was just having a bad day last April. Maybe.

We'll Always Have Harry

hpdhcover.jpgAs my friend and I wandered around Books-A-Million on Friday night for the release of ''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows'' -- she dressed like Sybill Professor Trelawney, I dressed like Harry Potter -- we noticed customers wearing badges indicating the different houses of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. We wanted one.

An employee doling the badges out to children, whose age determined which house they were placed in, hesitated before she handed us our much-desired treat - ''How old are you?'' she asked us.

''Uh, 23,'' we said.

''Ah, well, just go ahead and take one, then. You're not in one of the age groups.''

Well, we aren't in one of their predefined age groups, but considering the first book in the phenomenal series, ''Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone,'' was released when we were 13, it's easy to see why we're so attached to the Boy Who Lived: We grew up with him.

The worldwide success of ''Harry Potter'' has been well-documented since author J.K. Rowling published ''Stone,'' with newspapers and newscasts dedicating hours to telling stories about fans of all ages staying up late to read one of the books or see one of the movie adaptations. Saturday's release of ''Hallows'' was no exception, but somehow there was sadness mixed in with the jubilation. This time, fans don't have mysteries to ponder for a couple of years until the next installment is released. This time, the last page of the book is just that -- the last.

Like its predecessor, ''Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,'' ''Hallows'' is dark, the first chapter ending in a death. By chapter three, the death toll is up to three (if you count animals). The tumultuous wizarding world has grown even more dangerous, and Harry's nemesis Lord Voldemort more powerful. Everyone that Harry loves is willing to risk their life for his -- a burden hard for a 17-year-old to bear. His very existence puts others in danger, but because he's the key to Voldemort's destruction, those fighting against the Dark Lord have no choice but to help. The books have grown in size and scope as Harry has matured, and Rowling doesn't pull punches in her gut-wrenching finale.

Continue reading "We'll Always Have Harry" »

Fighting Fire with Fire

isaiah_washington_1.jpgActor Isaiah Washington's firing from ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" has been well documented in the press, a not-so-pretty ending to an ugly story of intolerance that was sensationalized to death. Unfortunately, Washington is the one doing the resurrecting, adding on to his story of why he was fired with an increasing flair for the melodramatic. This week, an interview with the star in Newsweek relayed his bitterness over the ordeal -- which has slices of merit to it -- as well as his belief that racism played a part in his demise.

"Well, it didn’t help me on the set that I was a black man who wasn’t a mush-mouth Negro walking around with his head in his hands all the time. I didn’t speak like I’d just left the plantation and that can be a problem for people sometime," he says. "I had a person in human resources tell me after this thing played out that 'some people' were afraid of me around the studio. I asked her why, because I’m a 6-foot-1, black man with dark skin and who doesn’t go around saying ‘Yessah, massa sir’ and ‘No sir, massa’ to everyone? It’s nuts when your presence alone can just scare people, and that made me a prime candidate to take the heat in a dysfunctional family.’’

Before this quote, the author writes about how Washington has spent money tracing his roots to Sierra Lione and is underwriting the building of a five-room school for village children, and it's Washington's boasts on this front that prove more telling of his character.

"People who know me know what’s really in my heart,’’ said Washington. "That’s what’s hurt me so much with all this. I was doing what I’m doing in Africa for years—before Angelina and Bono. But I’ve worked at homeless shelters for years and given money to make sure people knew they didn’t have to be hungry or the street. I have shared my blessings, but all that changed when this happened and it’s truly heartbreaking for me.’’

The manner in which Washington cites his accomplishments in Africa goes far beyond letting his left hand know what his right is doing. He wants recognition for his charitable acts and is jealous others are receiving more headlines for aid work -- a bitter line of thinking that gets to the heart of the man. It's hard to consider his allegations of racism against ABC and his castmates now that we know how he really sees himself: as a martyr.

Whether it was fair of ABC to string him along until June instead of firing him last October or January is up for debate, but Washington's insistence to try and drag everyone around him through the mud he created over the ordeal is pathetic.

She's Only Human, People

Britneycrying.jpgAs if Lindsay Lohan's coke-fueled auto accident Saturday or Paris Hilton's countdown to jail time (six days!) weren't enough to make you long for the days when we didn't know whether the "hottest" celebrities were wearing underwear or not, the former Mrs. Federline herself returns to offer a poetic soliloquy on her post-divorce mishaps. Britney Spears updated her Web site today with what US Weekly called an "introspective" letter telling fans about what she's learned in the past year about life, gossip and rehab.

I've chosen my favorite lines for your convenience. (I'm also going to have to pray for my soul over the photo I use in this post -- it's probably the saddest one imaginable. I'm almost ashamed.) Sure, it's not fair to kick stupid people when they're down, and I usually avoid playing the role of a cog in the celebrity gossip mill. But this time, the celebrity is doing the talking, bringing her diary to life via the internets, and it deserves to be shared.

Recently, I was sent to a very humbling place called rehab. I truly hit rock bottom. Till[sic] this day I don't think that it was alcohol or depression. I was like a bad kid running around with ADD.
-----
Being in that vulnerable state and taken to dinners and parties with friends and finding out later you paid for everything was a huge learning lesson for me.
-----
I feel like some of the people in my life made more of some issues than was necessary. I also feel like they knew I was beginning to use my brain for a change and cut some ties, so they wanted to be in more control of my life than me. I think it is actually normal for a young girl to go out after a huge divorce. I think it was a bigger issue because I had not gone out in such a long time.
-----
It is just so weird because everyone has their own perception of me and how they think I really am. It is so weird how stories are told. There is your side, my side, and the truth. Somebody has to figure it out. I guess we will never really understand or figure out life completely. That's God's job. I can't wait to meet him...or her.

It's like "Glengarry Glen Ross" for 11-year-olds

baldwin.jpg Alec Baldwin really hates it when people don't answer their phones, and not in the way most of us do, where we're too irritated to leave a message and just hang up halfway through whatever lame voicemail greeting we're forced to endure. Then later, when said non-answerer calls us back and gives us a half-hearted "Sorry I missed your call," we say, "It's cool," not even chiding them for earlier failing to drop everything and answer the phone.

Not so for Baldwin. He endures the voicemail greetings, if only because it buys him time to think of colorful terms of endearment to deliver such as "rude thoughtless little pig" and "pain in the a**." And hey, I'm not going to act like I'm above this kind of thing -- I plead guilty to many a late-night drunk dial that resulted in certain ex-boyfriends being referred to as farm animals or various body parts (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!)

The good news for me, however, is that the recipients of my tirades were grown men who just acted like they were 11 years old. Baldwin's case is far more grim: His expletive-laced meltdown was directed at his daughter, who is, in fact, 11.

TMZ.com "obtained" a tape of Baldwin's message, and by "obtained," I mean "sat back and had it dumped into their laps, most likely by Kim Basinger and her lawyer." The tape was played in family court earlier this week, where a judge found Baldwin's enraged, emotionally abusive father performance so convincing, she temporarily revoked his visitation rights (such is the curse of being the only decent actor in your family.)

Of course, telling your pre-teen daughter that she doesn't "have the brains or the decency as a human being," is pretty harsh and is also a pretty appalling sentence fragment. The decency as a human being to answer the phone? To watch "30 Rock"? To honestly tell your father that he needs to go on a diet, because the John Travolta bloat-ation plan he's currently on is working a little too well?

I don't know. What I do know is that Baldwin's oft-voiced plans to run for office are probably best shelved at this point. You know, since politicians are often forced to talk about "family values" and such.

Some problems are bigger than gerbils

INDIA AIDS.jpg Richard Gere and Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty could face legal action after Gere dared to kiss the Indian beauty on the cheek at an AIDS awareness campaign launch. Many crowds in India have even burned effigies of Gere, which makes me wonder why they don't have anything better to do than deface images of the guy who starred in "American Gigolo" before buying his own hooker in the *love story* "Pretty Woman."

My guess? The crowds are jealous it wasn't them with whom Gere broke the law. Little known fact: "Autumn in New York" is the official film of India. For real. There are statues devoted to Winona Ryder and everything. OK, that's a lie. But I really wish it were true.

Three lawyers, who are apparently not fans of "The Hoax" (blaspheme!), have filed legal complaints stating that the mouth-on-cheek makeout session was an "obscene act" (depends on the cheek, if you ask me.) If Gere and Shetty are found guilty of being pagan lovers, they could face heavy fines or even jail time.

So O.J. can avoid prison after allegedly killing two people, but Gere could go to jail for pecking someone on the cheek like a smitten second-grader? Great. I hope his wife learned a thing or two while starring on "Law & Order" so she can save him from this mess.

Remembering their lives, not their deaths.

The New York Times has put together a tribute to those who lost their lives at Virginia Tech on Monday. The newspaper compiled biographies and photographs of each of the 32 victims, choosing to focus more on their lives -- and the way in which they affected those around them -- than their deaths, something which is done far too rarely in media coverage of tragic events. Check out the tribute here.

Lily Allen embraces Robert Downey Jr.'s success scheme

lilalln.jpg U.K songstress Lily Allen has canceled the American leg of her tour because "I am tired, but more than that I don't think I have been giving my best performances recently," the singer wrote on her MySpace blog. "I have been getting really drunk because I've been so nervous about doing bad shows, and I don't want people spending money on going to see a show that isn't the best it could be."

Wouldn't it be great if everyone had a job where being drunk all the time was a reasonable excuse to not come to work? I mean, the rest of the world has to run a comb through its hair, put on a pair of sunglasses and down a bottle of Sweet Breath while coughing the word "flu" at every stupid person who thinks it's witty/appropriate to question why you aren't your usual chipper self today. BACK OFF PEOPLE! I'M NERVOUS.

Anyway. I guess it's good that Allen doesn't want to disappoint/rip off her audience, but you know what would be even better: Sober up, you drunken wench. Either that, or learn to play quality shows while you're hammered. If the Rolling Stones never performed when they were wasted, then they would have, well, NEVER performed. If Keith Richards can crawl on stage after snorting his father's ashes and falling headfirst from a palm tree, then surely Allen can grasp a mic after a few Amstel Lights.

Allen's Los Angeles and New York dates will still be honored, as will the Coachella and Bonaroo festivals. There are about 10 canceled shows that will be rescheduled.

Muppets take the Airwaves

imus.jpgI'm not going to weigh in on the recent Don Imus controversy, mostly because I think the talk-show host and fellow famewhores Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton aren't worth addressing in any serious way.

samflag.jpgStill, there is something that has become obvious to me over the past few days of Rutgersgate that I simply cannot keep to myself any longer: Don Imus looks exactly like the blue Eagle who sat in the balcony on the Muppets. I don't believe he made an appearance on "Muppet Babies" (which was my favorite entry in the Henson franchise, other than "Labyrinth"), but his terrifying face has remained burned in my memory.

Judge for yourself.

Barbie and Ken voted off "Dancing"; Himalayas in an uproar

shandi.jpg I know "Dancing with the Stars" is a popular show, but I never knew how popular until a Google search revealed that Former Miss USA Shandi Finnessey and her poor-man's-Richard-Grieco-looking partner getting booted off the program is so important even the Himalayan Times (the leading English daily in Nepal) carried the story.

This revelation made me envision a sherpa paperboy who climbs the mountain each day to deliver news about "American Idol" and Drew Barrymore and Nicole Richie, and everyone on the mountain dreams of how one day they could move to the United States, where even someone as untalented as Sanjaya Malakar can be famous.

And it makes me wonder if people think the U.S. is like a big musical, where everyone sings and dances, even if they only have one leg or happen to be the president's evil rapping sidekick. (Isn't it amazing how Rove makes Tom Cruise's dance of shame look good by comparison? Scientologists everywhere bless you, KKKarl.)

Still, I guess the news of a giant blonde beauty queen not winning something in this country is fairly unexpected. Maybe too many dudes assumed her name was Boobs McJiggle, and when they didn't hear that option on the voting menu, just hung up and went back to watching old episodes of "Baywatch" or whatever guys watch when they aren't watching ESPN or the History Channel or that show where the dude teaches you how to survive in the wilderness with nothing but a toothpick and a wish (and a cameraman, apparently).

Anyway, I bid Shandi a fond adieu, but as I mentioned last week, I didn't really want them to keep her around. As I also predicted last week, Billy Ray Cyrus made a completely unfunny joke out of his only hit song, braying that the dancing has given him "an achy, breaky butt," and thereby cementing his status as the single most mentally-challenged country musician outside of Toby Keith (if you happen to be a Toby Keith fan and am totally offended by that statement, let's just agree to disagree. Because you will never convince me his lyrics aren't written by a second grader.)

I know it's kind of early to start betting on winners, but I kind of hope Joey FatOne wins, because unless you're gay or Justin Timberlake, former N'Syncers just don't get any love. And I think it's time for the FatOne to shine. I'm pretty sure the Himalayas would agree.

The return of O'Ghoul (bow to your zombie master)

venus2_large copy.jpg If there's one celebrity in the world who excites me more than Mark Wahlberg, it's Peter O'Toole (though in a completely different kind of way). I'm always happy to hear that O'Ghoul is still alive -- he's like the guy you knew in high school who moved on to a fruitful career of concocting meth out of glass particles and chipmunks, and it's always sort of surprising to find out he hasn't spun off this mortal coil yet. And then you wish him well and don't really think about him for another few years.

But then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, O'Ghoul receives an Oscar nomination and then he shows up in the Hollywood Reporter, and you realize that he and his classically-trained zombie actor comrades might well be about to take over the human race, and even though that's a scary thought, it's better than say, I dunno, Carrot Top terrorizing cineplexes. Plus, it's an oddly appropriate precursor to seeing the "Planet Terror" segment of "Grindhouse" on Friday, and it's always good to prepare oneself for an experience like that.

But I am happy that O'Ghoul -- who was awesome when he was a, uh, youngerish chap in "Lawrence of Arabia" and quite ghoulicious in "Venus," I've heard, though my gag reflex hasn't yet become immune to 112-year-old men lusting after 20-year-old women, so I haven't seen it -- continues to receive work, even if said work is based on a PAINTING. Apparently, Hollywood doesn't even need words anymore to make a movie fly. "Hey guys, let's make a movie about that fire hydrant. No, that one. Yeah, the one that Buick is parked by. Tell it we'll give it a three-picture deal and a date with Paris Hilton. No, she's cool with fire hydrants. Remember how she gave that one on Wilshire herpes? And then Lohan went out with it too, and that's why everyone started calling her 'fire crotch.' Dude, that was so not unexpected at all!"

Then again, "Girl With the Pearl Earring" was good, but somehow I find Vermeer slightly more fascinating than Thomas Kinkade; at least they don't make jigsaw puzzles out of his paintings. Why pay $10 to see a movie about Kinkade's "Christmas Cottage" when you could get the 1,000-piece puzzle for like $5 at Target?

I'll tell you why -- because O'Ghoul is in it, and if he lives long enough to collect his paycheck, he'll probably also collect another Oscar nomination (to make up for the one he didn't get for "High Spirits"). So good luck playing Glenn Weissler, O'Ghoul. I probably won't bother seeing the movie, so I guess I'll just see you after the post-Apocalyptic dust settles and you're coming after my human flesh.

Rehab is for lovers, part two

spears.jpg I guess you can expect a follow-up to "Collide" called "Train Wreck" ...

According to Hollywood.com, Britney "Look at my nether regions, y'all" Spears is "smitten" with Howie Day, whom the site refers to as a "musical bad boy" (I usually just refer to him as a boy who makes bad music. But whatever.)

The article goes on to say: "The couple met at Malibu, California's Promises rehab facility during Spears' recent month-long stay. The pop star has told close pals that she's smitten with her new beau, who hit the headlines following recent arrests on charges of disorderly conduct and allegedly verbally abusing a flight crew, while under the influence. One Spears confidante tells Life & Style magazine, "Britney just lights up...when she talks to Howie or tells people about him. She thinks he's very talented and says he's the best kisser."

You'd think after two kids, Britney Spears wouldn't continue to talk about her relationships as though she's in fourth grade. Then again, that would correspond to her reading level, so I guess it makes sense. But my favorite part of the "report": "The pal reveals, "They formed a special bond. They were in group therapy together and Brit found his experiences fascinating."

I guess yelling at a flight attendant can be fascinating, like if he was yelling at her about world politics or Mark Wahlberg. Otherwise, I think it's pretty lame, and it pretty much happens on every flight ever. Except for the ones I'm on. Because I ask myself, "What would Dignam do?" and then I punch the person who's yelling in the neck.

We Just Found Out the Finale to "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"

richards.jpgKeith Richards, a person who should have died four decades ago, recently admitted that he snorted his father's cremated remains along with cocaine. According to AP:

"The strangest thing I've tried to snort? My father. I snorted my father," Richards was quoted as saying by British music magazine NME.

"He was cremated and I couldn't resist grinding him up with a little bit of blow. My dad wouldn't have cared," he said. "... It went down pretty well, and I'm still alive."

Now that the tale of the rock star ingesting his father is everywhere, though, MTV's Kurt Loder has declared that the story is simply not true. Richards' quote was "said in jest," according to his manager, and she "can't believe anyone took [it] seriously." Have you seen your client? We were shocked at the notion that someone would snort their dad's remains, but weren't surprised Richards said he did. His face should be on the Surgeon General's warning labels. Until Richards recants his use of Dad Cocaine, I'm a believer.

Wahlberg Watch 2

WahlbergHeart.jpg I have to preface this entry by admitting that I watched "The Departed" again last night, so perhaps I went searching for Wahlberg news more than it sought me out. But I have a feeling that's how most of my interactions (real and imagined) with Wahlberg will go. But if I ever do actually meet him, maybe I'll tell him how I have a recurring dream about him ... "You know those footies and track suit you wore in 'The Departed?' Well, you weren't wearing them in that dream."

More exciting than that, though, is that Wahlberg and Scorsese are reteaming to create a new series for HBO, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The series will focus on Atlantic City's growth from "sleepy seaside town to entertainment and gambling mecca." The bad news? For now, it appears Dignam will remain behind-the-scenes as an executive producer, along with Scorsese and his fellow "Entourage" exec producer Stephen Levinson.

Ah well. No doubt there's always a chance for a cameo. Maybe he can play the Sexiest. Lounge Singer. Ever. Think about it, Wahlberg.


The Molestobot 3000

Imagine the scariest thing ever. Then imagine being stuck in the desert with a gigantic Michael Jackson robot. That's totally worse, right!

jackson.jpg Yes, it's true. In his continuing quest for the title of world's craziest, uh, thing, the rotting mound of flesh that calls itself Michael Jackson wants to erect a 50-foot robotic replica of himself in Las Vegas, meaning Tokyo will no longer boast the world's most terrifying robotic monster. I think it's time for a death match between Godzilla and Godcomplexzilla. But I highly suggest that Godzilla leave his children at home during the battle. You know, just in case.

If Las Vegas has any love for its tourists, it will abort. ABORT, I say! Can you imagine flying to Vegas, and the first thing you see as you look out the window is a giant robot shooting lasers at you? Forget for a minute that it's a Michael Jackson robot ... even if it was a Mark Wahlbot, I would say, "No good, friends. Let's rethink this." Plus, from where, exactly, will the lasers shoot? That wasn't mentioned, and I think it's something we should contemplate before unsuspecting gamblers get a laser beam to the head courtesy of the Molestobot's less savory parts. I'm just saying.

GEEK-OUT TIME: "Harry Potter" Edition

Cover.jpgScholastic released the cover art for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" today. Arthur Levine, the U.S. "Potter" editor, said this morning on the "Today Show" that he "sobbed and sobbed" while reading it, describing "Hallows" as a "very, very emotional book." In other "Harry" news, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint have all signed on to the final two films in the series.

I'm way too big of a fan to provide any snarky commentary at this point in time.

[But I'm not. Judging by the cover art, maybe the book should be retitled "Harry Potter and the Thriller Video Redux." That guy on the left totally looks like MJ, and they kind of seem like they're doing that weird zombie dance (you know, when MJ turns around and his eyes are glowing and then they all dance in unison?) Maybe a zombie will punch Harry in the face and break his glasses. That's pretty much the worst thing you can do to a guy with glasses, wizard or no. -- ES]

[Addition: After hearing news of the Michael Jackson robot, I'd like to amend the above statement by saying that the folks on the book cover are most likely trying to shoo the Molestobot away after it accidentally hopped an airliner from Vegas to wherever "Harry Potter" takes place -- ES}

FullCover.jpg

Rehab is for lovers

luck.jpg According to Hollywood.com (a bastion of truthiness, no doubt), world-champion tequila shootist Lindsay Lohan has hit the streets (no, not like that) with fellow rehabber Robbie Williams (he of "Take That" fame.)

The twosome's reps have gone to great pains to say Lohan and Williams are not a couple, which probably means that they are. I don't really care about either of them, except to say they should break off their "relationship" immediately. Because I for one drink much, much less when I'm not in a relationship, for three very important reasons:

1. Less annoyances.
2. I don't have anyone to impress.
3. I'm too cheap to buy liquor for myself.

So if they really are in recovery, it's best to go their separate ways. And really, it might just be best for Williams in the long run. Let's be honest.

John Travolta says gross things to Elizabeth Taylor

Copy of taylor.jpg There was a time, long ago, when Liz Taylor was considered a screen siren, and not a siren in the way she is now, where alarms go off when she enters a room imploring those inside to cover their eyes.

No, back in her "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" days she was quite a catch, and even more of a release, if her numerous marriages are any indication.

Perhaps her once alluring youthfulness -- which had dulled by the time she assumed the role of screechy Martha in Edward Albee's masterful "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" and was long-since forgotten by the time she felt compelled to do a cameo in "The Flinstones" movie (I know, it's sad) -- is the reason John Travolta felt it was OK to deliver this icky anecdote to MSN.com. Or maybe a Scientology alien, disguised as Kirstie Alley, told him it would be a good idea. Who knows? Either way, it kinda grossed me out, which is why I decided I should share it with others, thereby ruining their days, too (you're welcome, readers!):

travolta.jpg "Travolta also revealed that he once had fantasies about Elizabeth Taylor — fantasies he shared with the screen siren when they met in the late 1970s.
“I told her I had a recurring dream, which was true," Travolta relates. “I said: ‘You know that white dress you wore in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof? Well, you weren’t wearing it in that dream.’”
Taylor, he says, shot back, “Well, I’m not wearing anything under this right now.”
Travolta says he now regrets not taking advantage of the moment. “I was 21,” he explains. “Yikes.”

Yikes, indeed. The only thing scarier than "Battlefield Earth" is imagining Elizabeth Taylor flashing John Travolta. And then imagining the crazy grin he would likely sport, accentuated by that weird dot on his chin. And then imagining L. Ron Hubbard rising from his grave to deliver a thumbs up before his alien henchmen take him back to heaven -- or wherever Scientologists spend their afterlives -- on a chariot made of chocolate-covered strawberries and Lemonheads.


I could read it in a day. And will.

DeathlyHallows.jpgScholastic announced today that the U.S. version of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," the seventh and final installment in the series, will be 784 pages. It's being released July 21, and you'd better believe I've already bought my copy. If you'll be at the Books-A-Million in Abilene at midnight, look for me.

You see, I'm a fan. A big enough fan that I asked off of work for July 13 so I could drive to Austin to see "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" with my friend at the Drafthouse. A big enough fan that, when my friend today told me she might not be able to see it opening night because of an out-of-town wedding, I spent several minutes trying to convince her to convince her friend to reschedule the date.

I have issues.

The page-count announcement came as Scholastic said that, to pull off the book's 12 million first printing in a somewhat environmentally-friendly way, "it will make sure 65 percent of the 16,700 tons of paper used to publish the book will be on Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper, which comes from forests that are socially and environmentally managed." The news also came on the heels of rumors that Emma Watson, oh she of the not-so-bushy-haired Hermione who heaves out her lines as if they were her last breath, might not return for the final two film installments. A Warner Bros. spokesman played down the rumors, saying they're "extremely confident" Watson will sign. Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint have already signed, so my money is on it being a money issue. Perhaps she's holding out for a better deal, hoping a little public outcry will increase her chances of a raise? As the least talented of the three main stars, she should take every opportunity to be in a blockbuster that she can get.

As for me, I'll be counting down the days (114 for the movie, 122 for the book) and annoying you with updates because I obviously have nothing better to do, considering my career trajectory isn't looking so hot. But don't worry -- I won't fully unleash my geeky fandom until the release dates are upon us. You're welcome.

Oops ... She Does It All The Time

0301britney.jpg

All right, Insiders -- tell us what you think about poor Britney. She's had her fair share of blunders, but which one really took the cake?

PollPub.com VoteWhat is Britney's biggest mistake?
Cheating on Justin Timberlake
Getting married to her childhood friend in Las Vegas
Marrying K-Fed
Driving with her baby in her lap / Almost dropping her baby
Divorcing K-Fed
Partying with Paris Hilton
Going commando
Shaving her head
Checking in and out of rehab



View Results

Poll powered by PollPub.com Free Polls