John Travolta today shared new photos of his 16-year-old son, Jett, who passed away on New Years after hitting his head in the bathtub. Travolta also released a statement thanking fans for their support in this difficult time.
Our hearts go out to the Travoltas, especially Jett’s little sister, 8-year-old Ella.
Tom Brady reportedly proposed to girlfriend and model Giselle Bundchen on a plane on Christmas Eve. TMZ reports that her parents were in attendance and that Brady had white roses and champagne put all over the plane to set the mood and enhance the romance.
Just please tell me he didn’t get down on that knee. Keep it secret, Tom. Keep it safe.
UPDATE: Brady’s father is denying the couple got engaged, saying he’s heard nothing of the sort. Giselle was also spotted out without a ring on her finger. I think this one was just the rumor patrol tossing up a Hail Mary.
Mariah Carey’s movie and singing career may be flopping around like a dying fish but it seems she’s discovered another talent. Because yes, it does take a special skill to rock a pair of boots this fugly and obviously expensive.
The tragic part is, she isn’t the only one.
These ghastly Dior snowboots are showing up everywhere. Vanessa Hudgens was spotted wearing them in black a couple of weeks ago. Don’t young children look up to her?!
In case it isn’t obvious why these boots offend, the prominently displayed label makes them tacky while the tennis racket-sized bottom makes them completely unflattering. Plus, murder is never okay and Christian Dior must have killed poor, innocent Elmo to craft these eyesores.
Please, celebrities, for the love of Alexander McQueen: don’t let this get out of hand. We’re counting on you.
10. The Rachel Zoe Project
Appropriately dubbed “raisin face” by Nicole Richie, Rachel Zoe is a stylist to the stars and Botox’s biggest client. Watching is the equivalent of a fashion football game, causing viewers to scream, “No! Oh my god! Don’t wear that. Oh, what is she thinking?!” at their screens.
Standout performance: Zoe’s assistants Taylor and Brad. Taylor’s snippy, bitchy remarks and tendency to overreact makes us wonder why we still like her so much, while Brad’s disarming charm and cute fumbling tug at our Oscar de la Renta heartstrings.
9. Pushing Daisies
Now unfortunately cancelled, this whimsical treat brought us the pie-maker that could bring people back to life - including his dead love. What could be more uplifting than that? The show’s colorful style is what really made it stand out and television will be worse without it.
Standout performance: Lee Pace as pie-making Ned. One half of a painfully romantic love story, Pace was a delight to watch. Hopefully, in his future endeavors, everything comes up roses.
8. How I Met Your Mother
This comedy hit all the right marks this year - so much so that its fantastic cast recently took to the pages of Entertainment Weekly for a photo shoot of 2008’s best moments including Jonas Brother hysteria, Indiana Jones remakes and the Beijing Olympics. Looks like they’re as funny off-screen as they are on.
Standout performance: Neil Patrick Harris as Barney. Harris’s comeback sprung from spoofing himself as a drugged out womanizer in the Harold and Kumar films, which once he came out of the closet, became even more hilarious. He recently stripped down for an episode of the show too. Looks like he’s willing to do anything for comedy and we, of course, approve.
7. Dexter
This show was initially recommended to us by an addict who said he felt connected to main character Dexter’s inability to stop killing. When a television show has you rooting for a serial murderer, you know it’s gold.
Standout performance: Michael C. Hall as the enigmatic Dexter. This season begged the question: “Is Dexter capable of love?” Hall’s nuanced acting - rightfully - kept us grappling for an answer.
6. True Blood
This was the year of the vampire and the whole genre, truthfully, risks getting very played out very quickly. However, this campy novel-turned-series is so entertaining and sometimes poignant we’re willing to bet it’s better than that other vampire fandom. The fresh Louisiana setting and inclusion of the ever-adorable Anna Paquin (and her awesome rack) don’t hurt either.
Standout performance: Nelsan Ellis as the fierce as fuck Lafayette. The porn and drug dealer by night, fry cook by day steals every scene he’s in. From licking a homophobe’s burger to “give it AIDS” to being the only gay man of color on television (Can you name another?), Lafayette is easy to root for.
5. iCarly
Say what you will but children’s television is now made for equal enjoyability by adults (case and point: R.I.P. Drake & Josh). With reigning Disney empire Hannah Montana approaching “so five minutes ago,” Nickelodeon’s tech-based comedy iCarly is set to take the throne.
Standout performance: Jerry Trainor as Carly’s goofy older brother, Spencer. As a 30-something on a network for tweens, Trainor makes what could be a one-note role endearing and hilarious.
4. Gossip Girl
The storylines and character development have gone downhill since it’s first season but this deliciously sinful CW soap remains too good to pass up. Watching an episode is like finishing an entire tub of cookie dough alone with a spoon on a Friday night: terrible for you but so, so satisfying.
Standout performance: Taylor Momsen as wannabe fashion designer Jenny Humphrey. Co-star Ed Westwick’s heart-wrenching turn as Chuck Bass deserves mention but Momsen is the most natural in her role. You hate her because she’s a whiny, ungrateful, impatient teenager, which means she’s doing her job. Honorable mention goes to Kelly Rutherford’s Lily Bass.
3. 30 Rock
Liz Lemon is the everywoman; totally falling apart while holding everyone else together. Who working today can’t relate to that? What we probably can’t relate to is the hilarious folk surrounding Tina Fey’s Lemon; self-absorbed Jenna, psychotic Tracey, horny Frank.
While it needs to cut down on the guest stars, the show consistently delivers at least one line you’ll be quoting the next day.
Standout performance: Alec Baldwin as conservative boss-man Jack Donaghy. His interactions with his mother on the show’s recent Christmas special were to die for (pun intended). Honorable mention goes to Jack McBrayer’s Kenneth and Scott Adsit’s Pete.
2. Lost
As confusing and brilliant as ever, this ABC powerhouse is finally near the end and - hopefully - some answers. The island drama has raised enough questions in its five seasons to put Jeopardy! to shame but it’s also introduced some of the most complex characters and smartest storylines in television history.
Standout performance: This is like picking a favorite child: Michael Emerson as Ben, Jeremy Davies as Faraday, Terry O’Quinn as Locke, Henry Ian Cusick as Desmond, Yunjin Kim as Sun.
1. Saturday Night Live
From its spot on political satire to the consistently gut-busting Digital Shorts, Saturday Night Live has made almost as big a comeback this year as Britney Spears. Fey’s Sarah Palin, Jason Sudekis’s Joe Biden, Darrell Hammond’s John McCain and even Fred Armisen’s Barack Obama (come on, SNL: hire another black man!) kept us laughing through the election. More recently, last week’s Digital Short “Jizz in My Pants” was as catchy as a Timbaland song and as hysterical as…well, the number of us who had to explain the word “jizz” to our parents. Touche, SNL. Touche.
Standout performance: Kristin Wiig. The woman must have a personality disorder with the way she’s able to pull so many characters out of her tiny frame. Her deformed sister singing act, Junice, the overly enthusiastic Target lady and the crazy woman doing an adult braces commercial in her own bathroom are just some of what Wiig has up her sleeve.
The world just got a little less classy and a million biopic writers just picked up their pens.
Bettie Page, the legendary 1950’s pin-up model, died yesterday. She was 85. Page suffered a heart attack nine days ago and went into a coma. She never woke up.
Best known for the tantalizing and provocative poses she struck for magazines like then-fledgling Playboy, Page won acclaim and outrage from the American public. With her signature shoulder-length jet-black hair and bangs, she combined naughty-and-nice into the perfect image. Page often used bondage and S&M themes in her pictorials, jumpstarting the sexual revolution that was to come.
Page was and will remain an emblem of a by-g0ne time and less Photo-shopped, unrealistic image of feminine beauty and sexuality.
For Hollywood, though, this undoubtedly spells the beginning of the Page movie pitches. Gretchen Mol played her in limited release and on TV in 2005’s ”The Notorious Bettie Page.” Who do you think could next immortalize the icon on the silver screen?
Sources have told E! Online that Rachel Weisz (of the mind-bending The Fountain) is being considered for the role of leather-loving Catwoman in the upcoming sequel to The Dark Knight. Warner Brothers isn’t officially saying anything and Christopher Nolan hasn’t made a peep about returning as director, but E reports:
Despite some recent interviews in which he down-played the possibility of returning as director again, Christopher Nolan (who helmed Knight) will for sure be back directing the third flick, we’re assured by a production mole. Christian Bale will obviously rejoin his director pal, and we’re very pleased to report that he’ll be playing a “sexier” Bruce Wayne.
As much as I enjoyed Weisz in The Fountain (and yes, I was minimally inebriated during my viewing), I can’t see her picking up Selina Kyle’s whip convincingly. Then again, I was a Heath Ledger nay-sayer in the beginning so what do I know? As far as a three-peat on blockbuster status for the franchise goes, I’m going to say, as long as he’s back to direct: Nolan knows best.
What do you think of the choice? Also, hit me with your best Catwoman actress suggestions?
Tom Cruise’s Blackberry has been abducted by aliens.
Or at least, that’s one theory.
The Scientology star’s little black device went missing this afternoon after a taping of Entertainment Tonight Canada in Toronto. Cruise is visiting our neighbors to the north to promote his new World War II thriller, ”Valkyrie.” Hollyscoop reports:
After he left the studio, his people called and asked if anyone had found a phone, but no such luck.
“A search was done, but, nada,” National Post columnist Shinan Govani reports.
Why doesn’t he just use the power of Xenu to summon it? Duh.
The three people on Earth who maybe still think the Grammys have a shred of credibility just lost faith in the awards for good.
The 2009 nominations, announced yesterday, are as laughable as the Jonas Brothers’ virginity pledges. Coincidentally, the JoBros have been nominated, alongside faux-lesbo Katy Perry, greaseball Kid Rock and wet blanket Jordin Sparks among the more ridiculous names.
Conversely, why do the Grammy voters insist on nominating the same boring people year after year? Coldplay? Really? You know how I know you’re gay, Grammys? I’m not even going to finish that joke.
Of the better choices are the catchy as hell “Just Dance” by Lady Gaga, Radiohead’s groundbreaking album “In Rainbows,” OneRepublic’s summer anthem “Apologize” and M.I.A.’s masterpiece “Paper Planes.”
One artist glaring absent from the list is Kanye West whose album “808s and Heartbreak” was an ear-pleasing, soulful deviation from his usual style. Can’t wait to hear what the notorious loudmouth has to say about the snub!
For a full list of nominees go here.
It’s been a whirlwind past few days for Brit Brit (and myself, please excuse my absence). Though I don’t have the excuse of a 90-minute MTV documentary, Christmas tree lighting or 27th birthday club bash like Ms. Spears does. Britney: For the Record aired Sunday night to 3.7 million viewers, she’s been performing places like Good Morning America and a recent concert tour has tickets selling like photos of Britney’s cooch used to. On the surface, for B things are looking up. Even ex-husband Kevin Federline is waving the white flag in the new issue of People. He says:
That’s the mother of my children. Just because I’m not in love with her doesn’t mean that I don’t love her. I’m definitely rooting for her. There’s nothing more that I want than for her to be in the best health and doing what she loves to do.
Then again, this could just be another popozao-ploy by the smooth operator himself. He better watch out. Britney’s living life like a karate kid.
The only talk personality without an actual personality has knocked up, what some quick Google-fu shows to be, a writing intern on his “Last Call” staff.
Ex-TRL host Carson Daly, 35, and his “girlfriend” Siri Pinter are expecting their first child together next spring, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
A representative for the tool star said:
“Carson is thrilled to be a father and they are looking forward to an extra-special Thanksgiving this year with family and friends.”
Somewhere Tara Reid is laughing so hard she split her tummy-tuck staples.
Winehouse in better times
She’s gunnin’ hard to be the next Janis or Billie.
Singer Amy Winehouse was rushed to the hospital Sunday after suffering what’s being described as a “seizure,” following a fight with her just-out-of-jail soon-to-be ex-husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, according to The Sun.
The troubled singer went on a drinking and drug binge following a huge fight with her recently-rehabbed hubbie. The Sun reports that Winehouse is still in the hospital, and undergoing tests.
“It didn’t stop until she was on the floor on Sunday. She has ended up in hospital a few times after similar drink and drugs related seizures. If she carries on, one of these incidents will be her last,” the source said.
Winehouse’s spokesman confirmed that his client was indeed in the hospital, but was there for “a bad reaction to the combination of medication she has currently been prescribed.”
Isn’t that an overdose? So sad.
Madonna the Grouch
Clearly, Madonna’s yes peeps are too busy telling her that too much plastic surgery is a good thing to share with her that the Sesame Street look is out. The painful alternative would be that Madge skinned Oscar the Grouch and wore his pelt the launch of the Tattoo Heart Collection to Benefit UNICEF dinner at The Plaza on Wednesday in NYC. Sigh. Somewhere Jim Henson is turning over in his grave.
Hot grandma
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes celebrated their two year anniversary on November 18. Scientists marked the occasion by continuing to ponder life’s great mystery: Why does she look so freakin’ old?
“Brooklyn” was unfortunately taken.
E! reports that Ashlee Simpson finally gave birth to the long-awaited spawn of Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz. The baby boy’s name is being reported as Bronx Mowgli Wentz, giving him the tacky as hell initials “B.M.W.”
The child may have been named after where he was concieved which I’m sure will make for great Thanksgiving dinner conversation right after the one about Mommy’s lip-synching fiasco and that time Daddy put his penis on the internet.
Skeptics and Wentz-enthusiasts maintain, however, that Wentz, who was born the boring “Peter Wentz III,” likes to screw with the media and just might be monkeying around about this atrocious moniker.
Let’s hope so. The kid has enough on his plate without having to outwit the King of Apes and battle fire-fearing tigers.
Spotted:
#1 Designated Office hottie (Though I’ve always been a Ryan Howard girl myself) John Krasinski majorly upgrading from fishface Renee Zellweger with Devil Wears Prada actress Emily Blunt. They make a cute pair but my guess is he’s smitten with her sweet British accent and will be back with on-again, off-again ladylove Rashida Jones faster than you can say “Bears, Beets, Battlestar Galactica.” (Source: JustJared)
#2 Josh Hartnett (who peaked with 1998’s The Faculty) and British tabloid staple Sienna Miller (who peaked on Hayden Christensen in Factory Girl. Get it? Get it?) snuggling at Chateau Marmont. For him, it’s a downgrade from one-time paramour Scarlett Johansson. For her, it’s an upgrade from balding, nanny-nailing Jude Law. Yawn. This coupling is totally neutral. (Source: People)
Looks like someone’s not drinking Gossip Girls’ kool-aid martini.
The CW sensation’s apparent apology to gay fans for not letting Dan and Chuck get it on that time in Chuck’s limo was to offer everyone’s favorite boy-loving little brother, Eric Van der Woodsen (played by the adorable Connor Paulo) a spot as a series regular.
But according to Entertainment Weekly, the recently-outed fan favorite turned the network down flat!
Seems little E didn’t ink the dotted line because he wants to keep his options open. EW reports:
See, the deal that was put before Paolo was not for all episodes produced, or ASP as it’s called in the biz. Rather, the contract called for him to appear in only half of this season’s 25 episodes, which is about what he’s been averaging as a recurring player, anyway. So, basically, by remaining a free agent, he’s got the same gig with none of the strings attached.
“He probably didn’t want to commit to being ninth fiddle on a show,” theorizes one TV agent. “Sure, he’ll make less money, but he’s free to accept other opportunities in TV and film should they come along. It’s not a bad move if you have aspirations to do other things.”
Methinks Paolo, who off screen is straight until pics prove otherwise, didn’t want to be typecast. Maybe he wouldn’t worry so much if the writers gave him steamier storylines. Like say, a Cruel Intentions-inspired fling with sexy step-brother Chuck. Just sayin’.
Us Magazine reports that Paris Hilton and Benji Madden broke up on Tuesday. And the news only comes as a shock to the three people that still believe there’s was a match made in celebrity heaven and not as the result of some dare made at the Peach Pit.
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