This Explains So Much....

Taylor Momsen has been copping a lot of flack this week from pretty much anyone who can read. The 16 year old Gossip Girl actress and aspiring singer was asked earlier this week by Ok Magazine if she planned on doing anything to assist the relief efforts in Haiti and girlfriend was quoted as saying " "Um, right now I'm trying to just finish my record and getting through the last season of Gossip Girl for right now. So not so much thinking about that." Oh this is the future of the world people! So full of care for the hundred's of thousands of dead and displaced individuals. Yay to teenagers!

Momsen immediately received a lot of backlash for this insensitive, inane and downright stupid comment. She then tried to cover her arse by tweeting the above. Sigh. Any of the good in that sentiment was completely negated by the grammatical errors and calling people "stupid". Sigh again. Oh to be 16 and completely ignorant of what is going on in the world. Not only completely ignorant, but also so self absorbed in your own life to even care!

This is Taylor walking the streets of New York last week. No, not that kind of Walking the Streets... but looking at this photo, I would not be surprised if you had jumped to that conclusion. The photo on the right however, may assist in explaining why Taylor Momsen is coming across as a self centred, narcissistic brat who has no thought for the suffering of others. That is her mother. I am confident in stating that their dinner conversation does not involve world issues. In fact, I am fairly certain that Momma-Momsen has not cooked a meal since her daughter/meal ticket got her gig on Gossip Girl.


I am not the only one seeing shades of Dina Lohan in this woman? Yay to being a child star!!!

XO

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee - Review

I ticked another one of the movies on my must see before the New Year list this afternoon. While hundreds of thousands of Vancouverites lined the streets for the Rogers Santa Claus parade, I resisted the urge to leak the news to all the kids I passed that Santa was a big old fake and made my way to The Private Lives of Pippa Lee. Written and directed by Rebecca Miller (daughter of Arthur Miller and wife of the incomparable Daniel Day Lewis), this is the story of a woman on the edge of a nervous breakdown.

From all outward appearances, Pippa Lee (Robin Wright Penn) leads a charmed existence. She is the devoted wife of an accomplished publisher (Alan Arkin) thirty years her senior, the proud mother of two grown children, and a trusted friend and confidant to all who cross her path. But as Pippa dutifully follows her husband to a new life in a staid Connecticut retirement community, her idyllic world and the persona she has built over the course of her marriage will be put to the ultimate test. In truth, looks are deceiving, and this picture-perfect woman has seen more than her fair share of turmoil in her youth. Embarking on a bittersweet journey of self-discovery, accompanied by a new, strange and soulful acquaintance (Keanu Reeves), Pippa must now confront both her volatile past and the hidden resentment of her seemingly perfect life in order to find her true sense of self.

Alternating between flashbacks that delve into Pippa’s past and her present quiet meltdown, this is a beautifully shot film. I loved the seamless way they flitted between the past and the present and was intrigued by the way the colour palettes in the past and present were also very distinct.

With a supporting cast that includes Maria Bello, Blake Lively, Monica Belluci, Julianne Moore and Winona Ryder, I really really enjoyed this film. It was funny and sad and witty, a beautifully shot movie. Robin Wright Penn has not carried a film in a long time, instead playing supporting roles in a number of movies. In Pippa Lee she shows that she is worthy of lead roles and should be considered a force to be reckoned with amongst other actors of her age group.

Alan Arkin and Keanu Reeves as husband and savior respectively are also solid. I must say that Alan Arkin’s wig during the flashback sequences was ridiculous and so very very bad, and seeing him lying next to the very very nekkid Blake Lively (as the young Pippa Lee) was very very icky considering he is 50 years older than Lively. I was frankly a little bit surprised to find myself somewhat attracted to Keanu Reeves, something that hasn’t really happened before. Apparently, when he shaves and showers he knows how to bring the quiver. Who knew?

Moore and Ryder revelled in their relatively minor roles, in particular I was glad to see Winona back on the scene as a character that delivered some of the best laughs in the film. Maria Bello and Blake Lively were very good, Bello’s performance as Pippa’s drug addicted mother makes me remember why I enjoy seeing her on the screen. Lively – best known from Gossip Girl – showed that she has a career ahead of her once her turn on the CW’s hit show comes to its inevitable end. The range she showed and the depths of emotion that she was able to reach honestly surprised me a little.

Again, this was not a perfect movie. I found Pippa’s children and her relationship with them kind of redundant. They didn’t add anything to the film that we didn’t see in her interactions with the other characters. The grand trauma in Pippa and her husbands life, that apparently seemed to hang over their marriage and define their relationship was simply mentioned in passing two-thirds of the way through the film over as an addendum to everything else that had happened in Pippa’s life.

But these are minor plot points that can be overlooked for a film such as this. I found this funny, warm, uplifting and smart. Held together by impressive performances – in particular that of Robin Wright (I think she has ditched the Penn) – this was one of my fave movies of the year thus far. And considering I see pretty much every movie, that is saying a lot!

Go see The Private Lives of Pippa Lee. You will not regret it!

XO

The First of Chase?

Okay, so this is coming from Star magazine so is probably total bulls*it. And even if the woman in question actually made these comments, note that she is a professional fame-whore so again - probably total bulls*t. But this is just far too amusing to not comment on.....

Shauna Sands.... I don't really know what her claim to fame is. Porn Star? Playboy in the 90's? Married to and divorced from Lorenzo Lamas? Plastic surgery nightmare? She is all of these things (except for the porn star, of that I am not sure) Anyways, she has apparently told Star magazine that in 2003, she not only deflowered a then 18 year old Gossip Girl hottie Chace Crawford, but that they dated on and off for about a year.

I guess this could conceivably be true? An 18 year old guy dating a Playmate who is 14 years older than he is? I can imagine that would be pretty cool right? Even if she is a plastic woman....But really.... a boy as pretty as Chace waiting until he was 18 to pop his cherry? Doubtful. I am sure that he had chicks throwing themselves at his perfectly manicured self from the age of about 14. Sh*t I am sure that his friend's mothers were hitting on him daily.

I am calling bulls*it on Shauna Sands. I am sure that she has someting to pimp. A book? A make-up line for the Home Shopping Network? My guess is she is bitter about her ex-hubby's reallity show and is looking for some press of her own.....

'Nuff said.

XO

Sweeps = California Lesbians & Upper East Side Threeways

Looky here. What is this? Ms Claire Bennett - the girl with miraculous powers of regeneration - appears to be going through her totally cliched "experimental phase" in college. Everyone's fave cheerleader from the former-hit show Heroes - is going to lock lips with a girl in next week's episode. And the powers that be at NBC have been flashing this photo around to whoever will post it on the interwebs. All in the hopes of luring some viewers back. I am sorry - even a fleeting lesbian storyline isn't gonna bring me back.

I am more interested with who Claire (aka Haydn Panetierre) is making out with ......Do you recognise her? That is none other than Madeleine Zima - originally from the The Nanny - but more recently as the underage girl who punched David Duchovny in the face while f*cking him (in Californication.... probably not in real life).

Can you say cheap stunt? You ain't seen nothing yet friends. The CW has just blown that little faux-lesbian stunt out of the water...

On the Upper East Side, Gossip Girl has some shocking! Scandalous! Titillating! news to share. According to EW.com, the November 9th episode will feature a little menage a trois action. No definitive word on who the lucky threesome will be..... but apparently it is 3 "major" characters.

There are a list potential threesomes on the EW.com site.....

Chuck/Blair/Nate

Chuck/Blair/Josh

Chuck/Blair/Dorota

Nate/Bree/Carter

Serena/Carter/Georgina

Serena/Dan/Blair

Vanessa/Dan/Olivia

Georgina/Dan/Olivia

Rufus/Lily/Serena's daddy

Okay..... so Olivia (Hilary Duff) is not gonna happen. And I really can't see bland Dan getting wild in any way shape or form. And Serena & Georgina = mortal enemies (which would make it super hot, but Michelle Trachtenberg is on another show so would she just f*ck and run?)

My money is on Chuck Bass. Probably Chuck-Blair-Josh. Chase Crawford (Nate) is be too scared his raging hard on for ex-roommate Ed Westwick would be seen by everyone to allow the writers to put him in a bed with Chuck and Blair. I actually wish it was a Little J/Chuck/Blair situation.... but considering there was that whole mauling of innocent, vulnerable Jenny Humphrey by the big bad Chuck Bass in the pilot.... I don't think that is gonna happen.

Oh did I mentions sweeps is coming up? Ugh. Cheap tricks and lame stunts do not make a show good.

XO

It's the Emmy's!

I am obsessed with Award shows. I would consider myself an Award Show junkie. Grammy's, Oscars, Golden Globes, SAG's, Independent Spirit Awards, even the MTV awards. I have even been known to look in on some Country Music Award shows (at last count, I think there are around 5 different Country Music Award shows.....). The one Ceremony I do draw the line at is the People's Choice. Those ones are totally lame.

Last night the 61st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were handed out in Hollyweird. Hosted by the amazing, talented and devilishly handsome Neal Patrick Harris, who ensured that there were no Kanye moments and that they only went about 15 minutes over schedule (which I think could be a record for awards shows.) I love NPH. He needs to be my BFF. Srsly. He did an awesome job. I mean, it's an awards show - it too f*cking long, the viewing public doesn't give a crap about 75% of the awards, and because it is not MTV, everyone is super nice and non-bitchy. Which makes them pretty snoozeworthy. So for NPH to inject some humour, singing, dancing and Dr Horrible into the Ceremony without turning the whole thing into a total cheese-fest is awesome.

The Red Carpet was relatively uneventful. Some standouts - Sandra Oh & the always fantastic Dana Delaney are getting special props from me. Do you remember China Beach? I loved that show, she was outstanding in that show. I wonder if it is out on DVD? If not, it should be. I didn't see any of the other Housewives on the Carpet. I wasn't aware that Teri Hatcher had heard of a Red Carpet that she didn't like prancing down?

Hands down best dressed of the night for me was the phenomenal January Jones from Mad Men. She knows how to dress for the Red Carpet. Holy f*ck balls. She looks flawless. There are no words for how amazing she looked. Everything was perfect.

I am a big Seth Green fan (on the right). He was Oz on Buffy. He is also the co-creator of Robot Chicken. And he is the voice of Chris Griffin on the Emmy nominated Family Guy. But that chick he brought with him to the ceremony? Ummm. yea. She may be super nice, but she needs to STFU on the Carpet, because - no one cares what she has to say. Especially when she bitches on National Television that Seth should have grabbed her more swag from the gifting tents. Srsly? Sit the f*ck down my friend. People are getting laid off, the economy still sucks and you are bitching that you boyfriend didn't get you a free Beatles Rockband. Shut the hell up. Count yourself lucky you even got some airtime. How many other nobody "plus-ones" got on air? Ugh. And I don't care if she was joking. Seth, you can do better.

If you can tear yourself away from Blake Lively's impressive cleavage for just one second, check out her upper thigh. There is a teeny tiny little thread there, keeping her dress from flying open and showing us if she is going commando. I hadn't realised that such threads existed. If she did not have a ratty horses tail sticking out of the back of her head I would say she is definitely one of the best dressed of the night. Blake knows how to dress to best enhance her not inconsiderable assets, - the dress fits perfectly, her makeup is flawless, but that hair. Ugh. And I really don't want to even comment on Leighton Meester's dress. Chuck Bass would not approve

The big upset of the evening was apparently Jon Cryer's Best Supporting Actor win. Many thought it would be host NPH's night or one of the boys from 30 Rock. I do not watch "Two and a Half Men" - but it apparently the most watched comedy on the air at the moment. NPH will get his Emmy love. I am pretty confident in that. His portrayal of womaniser Barney on "How I Met Your Mother" is nothing short of genius. I think this year, with his relationship with Robin (Colbie Smulders) being explored (I hope....), this could give him some great material.

Another upset was Best Supporting Actress winner Kristin Chenowith - not only because she won for a show (Pushing Daisies) that was cancelled almost a year ago. Suck it losers that decided to cancel such a good show! Chenowith's speech was hysterical - rattling off the shows she would like to work on. I am sure she will not have any trouble finding work. I have a theory that the voting members of the Academy may be reluctant to give an award to someone on a variety show like SNL - why I don't know, but that is my theory as to why front runners Kristen Wiig and Amy Poehler did not take home the statuettes.

Best part of the telecast hands down was the hijacking by Dr Horrible. Makes me clap my hands and squee every time I watch it. Which I have a few times already...... When is the sequel coming dammit. Second best was when Brendan Gleason won for some mini-series he was in. Mad-Eye F*cking Mooney won an Emmy yo! I don't want him to die in the next movie..... that will be sad.

The Emmys were a million times better than last years telecast. And yes I realise that is not saying that much. 30 Rock and Mad Men deservedly picked up the biggest awards of the night as Best Comedy and Drama respectively. For a complete list of winners click here.

NPH should be the host of every award show. Even the really crappy ones like Ms Universe and the BET Awards. He is Legend....wait for it....ary.

XO

Chuck Bass Would not Approve!

You know that I have a deep and shameful lust for Ed Westwick....... I know, I know. There is just something about him. Sadly, his status as my not so secret shame-f*ck is perilously close to being ripped away from him after I saw these images of him with his new "body-art".

Sigh.

I like tattoos. I have a number myself. I think they are generally kinda hawt. But these?

Again I say sigh.

I actually don't mind the pin up girl. A little tacky to have boobies (cause if it is a pin up girl, it is boobies or tits, not breasts) on your arm forever, but whatev's. It doesn't really bother me. What I do have a problem with is that right above the boobies it says "This is a pin up girl" What the what? Followed by a side of WTF? Is that an attempt to be witty? Because, I have one word for you Eddie, and that word is FAIL!

I honestly have no words for the other one. A large feather? Um Okay. It is a good thing that he is on a hit TV show, as he will be able to afford the laser treatments to have that bad-boy removed when he wakes up and realises that he has a massive tattoo of a f*cking feather on his arm.

But, while searching for the hideous images above, I came across these adorable pics of a slightly more chiseled Ed in a kilt. I wonder if he is wearing that kilt in the traditional manner..... commando?

Chuck Bass would most definitely approve of that!

XO

Hilary Duff on Gossip Girl

In honour of the WB releasing the first official image of Hilary Duff in her role as movie star turned college girl Olivia Wilde on Gossip Girl, I have culled back through some recent days of shots and picked a few for your viewing pleasure. Well, there are lots of Ed Westwick, so that is probably more for my pleasure right? Or have some of you now come over to the dark shameful side?

Oh Chuck Bass. Le sigh. The suits, the shoes, the vests, even the flower in your lapel. As Chuck Bass you are fabulous. As Chuck Bass, few women could resist you. But honey child, those rolled up jeans have gotta go. Seriously, I recognise that you are from the UK and that kinda sorta makes you European-adjacent. But the only person I have seen who can pull this look off without looking totally ridiculous is Alexander Skarsgard.... sigh. Did you see those much talked about photos from early August where he was at LAX? They are below, cause you can never have to many shots of my Alexander.....And even with Alex, I am not super thrilled. But he is Dirrty Eric on True Blood, so he can pretty much do whatever the hell he likes and I am on board. Swoon.

The rest of the pics are kinda meh. Taylor Momsen seriously still needs to eat about 10 Big Macs, while the stylists on the show still need to double check Blake Lively's size. Don't get me wrong, she looks amazing and I wish all the chicks on the show took their cues from her instead of the Olsen Twins, but Serena is always in clothes that are about 2 sizes to small for her. Damn though, she has amazing breasts. I remember when mine were that perky. Not anymore. Now I don't even like to think where they are if I am braless. I can't quite tuck them into my pants, but they are definitely heading south. I am also thrilled that Penn Badgley has a hat on as it is hiding his crazy mop of hair. Pity about the mutton chop sideburns though right? Maybe it is a bet or something? Something super important to his character? Probably not.

Seems like there is a 1920's zoot suit/flapper party going on. Which is exactly what we did in University. Oh wait no, we spent our evenings trying to avoid being thrown in with the syphilis infested ducks in the lake on campus (sadly, I am not even joking about this - I went to a super classy school). The guys that lived below us also had a passion for stealing traffic lights and leaving them on our stoop... oh and they also had a drunken college girls gone wild themed photo montage going up the staircase to their rooms. Photos they had actually taken - and this is before digital camera's people. Like I said - super classy!

The story on Ms Hilary's character is that she is the star of a vampire movie franchise (of course she is) who is rooms with Jessica Szohr's Vanessa. She meets Dan (Penn) who obviously has no idea who she is as he is far to intellectual and angsty to watch a teen-vampire movie. Hilarity (and dramarama) ensues. Hilary's first episode is October 5th.

Gossip Girl returns September 14th. You know you love it. Admit it.

XO

Chack Bass is going Gay?

Instead of giving an actual storyline to their openly gay character - Eric van der Woodsen - the Powers at the CW have decided instead to make Chuck Bass (my shamef*ck Ed Westwick) gay for Blair.



Apparently in an upcoming episode of the CW's guiltiest of pleasures, Chuck Bass will make out with a boy - he seduces the boy in question (Neal Bledsoe pictured below on the right) in an effort to ensure that Blair is granted the honor of delivering the freshman speech at NYU or something lame like that. To be honest, I really don't care why Charles is kissing a boy (and liking it?), I just hope it is at least halfway hawt.

It probably won't be. It will be chaste and there will be no tongue or passion. A girl can dream right?

Here are a few shots of some of the cast in yet more formal attire..... Question: how does "wrong side of the bridge Vanessa" afford a different ball gown every week? Hmph.

PS: I have to say that I love that they cast Gina Torres (from Angel and Firefly) and Vanessa's mom. Maybe she will make Vanessa a little less vanilla? Here's hoping! Only a few more weeks until GG is back baby!

XO