I took a week off from posting while I worked on redesigning the site, I’m still toiling away and probably won’t have the finished results for another few days, in the mean time however, it seems in seven days since, not much has changed. The media is still fixated on Paris Hilton and covering her jail sentence as if she were that of Nelson Mandela’s and the average Joe could care less –goes to show how out of touch the entertainment media can be at times.

In my honest opinion, if you hear one piece of gossip about Paris Hilton or the other media mess, Lindsay Lohan, you’ve read them all. Seems the same program is always playing on those channels. Here then, is what happened this week outside of rehab and Paris’ jail cell.

Turner And Waters Hit P-Town Drive-In

Actress Kathleen Turner and director John Waters hosted a double-feature at the Wellfleet Drive-In in Cape Cod last Friday, where their 1994 camp classic, “Serial Mom,” was paired with Turner’s 1989 comedy, “War of the Roses,” as part of the Provincetown International Film Festival‚Äö?Ñ?¥s “Family Night.”

“I’ve never been to the drive-in before,” said Turner. “And I haven’t seen ‘Serial Mom’ for some time, so I was looking forward to this.”

Her date for the evening, John Waters, had a different story: “I grew up at the drive-in,” he said. “I got arrested at the drive-in for underage drinking!”

This was Turner’s first visit to Provincetown, the Golden Globe-winning, Oscar and Tony-nominated actress, was in P-Town for the weekend to receive the festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award. “It‚Äö?Ñ?¥s beautiful here,” she said. “But I wish it would warm up.” Source: Boston Herald

Brazilians Don’t Think Bigger Is Better

Here’s something right up John water’s alley, ads for Itamb?¬© Fit Light Yogurt in Brazil are stirring up controversy with their re-working of classic movie scenes featuring plus size models.

The heavily Photoshoped ads (no pun intended), recreate memorable moments from “Basic Instinct,” “The Seven Year Itch” and “American Beauty,” and sport the tag-line “Forget about it. Men’s preferences will never change.”

While American women seem to be on a campaign to embrace their girth with Dove Soap’s “Real Beauty” ad campaigns and Tyra Banks’ recent “kiss my fat ass!” declaration on her talk show, Brazilians are clearly sending the message that fat is not fabulous and BBWs need to stay away from the BBQs. Source: Pop Bytes

FOX And CBS Are Prudish On Trojans
Meanwhile, advertisers here in the U.S. are not without their own bit of controversy. The FOX and CBS TV networks have deemed a new Trojan condoms ad as “not appropriate” for TV despite the fact that their regular program line-ups contain material which is far more objectionable than anything in the 30-second ad.

The commercial shows a bunch of pigs ( literally ), going through the routine of trying to pick up hot women at a bar. Upon scoring with one of the babes, a hog is seen going off to a bathroom and buying a condom, which in turn “evolves” him into a man. According to a press release from Trojan, the hog is a “hero who demonstrates responsibility by choosing to keep his little piggy in a latex blanket.” Nothing wrong with that.

TMZ reports that CBS justified their decision by saying “While we understand and appreciate the humor of this creative (ad), we do not find it appropriate for our network, even with late night only restriction. Also, the hard liquor references/props are not allowed.”

FOX, on the other hand, told Trojan that “Contraceptive advertising must stress health related uses rather than the prevention of pregnancy.” Yes, much like the high quality, educational programming FOX provides. Gimme’ a break.

ABC and NBC have chosen to run the spots, which will be airing after 11:30PM later this month. Source: TMZ

If You Wanna Be My Lover
Someone who could’ve profited from watching those Trojan ads is Eddie Murphy. People Magazine reports a DNA test Murphy took on June 11, proved he is the father of “Scary Spice” Melanie Brown’s 2-month-old daughter.

“He’s the baby’s father, it’s official. The baby is undoubtedly, 110 percent his,” says a source close to Brown. “There was no doubt in people’s minds anyways, least of all hers. It wasn’t a surprise to her. She knew all along.”

Angel Iris Murphy Brown was born to Melanie Brown on April 3, 2007 and Brown maintained from the beginning that Eddie Murphy is the child’s father. Murphy’s reps declined to comment. Source: People Magazine

Witches Conjure Up Magic in The U.S.
Following favorable reviews from D.C. area theatre critics, Signature Theater’s U.S. premier of the Cameron Mackintosh-produced musical “The Witches of Eastwick” has extended its engagement by one week.

The musical, based on the John Updike novel and the 1987 Warner Brothers film, made it’s debut on the London stage in 2000, to mixed reviews and less than magical business. Following extensive revisions to add a darker edge, Mackintosh is hoping the revamped production will click with U.S. audiences and perhaps propelling it to Broadway or other regional theatre dates.

Mackintosh is the mastermind behind the Broadway phenomenon, “Les Miserables,” and more recently co-produced “Mary Poppins” on Broadway for Disney Theatricals. Source: Variety

Happy Birthday Nicole!

And finally, a Happy Birthday to Nicole Kidman, who celebrated her 40th birthday Wednesday, June 20th with friends.

“Indiana” Is Back In The Saddle
The first picture of Harrison Ford as “Indiana Jones” from the upcoming fourth installment in the “Indiana Jones” adventure, is up at the official site. The photo, taken yesterday on the set of the production, marks the first time since 1989, Harrison Ford dons the familiar costume. Source: IndianaJones.com

“Blade Runner’s” New Look
In somewhat related Harrison Ford news, the trailer for Ridley Scott’s upcoming “Blade Runner Final Cut” DVD release aired last night during the AFI TV special and it’s now up on YouTube. Catch it before the YouTube goon-squad decide to spoil the fun.

The 5-disc DVD set will include pumped-up special effects and new footage shot by Scott for the film’s 25th anniversary re-release. The set is due out this fall.

The Serious “Four”?
On the heels of “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer’s” impressive debut at the box office this past weekend, Chris Evans, who plays Johnny Storm in the film, tells MTV Movies Blog he would like to see a more grown-up take on the characters for the third installment.

‚Äö?Ñ??I think I‚Äö?Ñ?¥d just like to see the characters grow up” said Evans. “I like to see them more mature. I think that we‚Äö?Ñ?¥re starting to see [with ‚Äö?Ñ??Rise of the Silver Surfer‚Äö?Ñ??] that if we give these guys depth ‚Äö?Ñ?Æ if we don‚Äö?Ñ?¥t shy away from taking a more serious tone ‚Äö?Ñ?Æ it will still work…I think that if this movie does ok and people respond with the appreciation of a more serious tone, hopefully [with] the third one we can inch closer to a legitimate cast and a legitimate film.‚Äö?Ñ??

“Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer” took in $57.4 million at the box office on it’s opening weekend, slightly surpassing the $56.1 million opening of “Fantastic Four” two years ago. Source: MTV Movie Blog

“Speed Racer” Goes French
French actor Melvil Poupaud will be playing a small part as a former champion turned TV network race commentator in the Wachowski Brothers’ big-screen adaptation of “Speed Racer.”

Poupaud says “he’s kind of cool and pretentious, and at one point, when the race becomes crazy, he starts speaking in French.” Source: Coming Soon.

“Bond” 22 Gets A Director
Producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli have chosen Marc Forster, best known for dramas such as “Finding Neverland” and “Monster’s Ball,” to direct the upcoming 22nd James Bond film. Foster will shortly begin working with writer Paul Haggis on a draft of the screenplay by Neil Purvis and Robert Wade.

This marks a decidedly different direction for the producers of the Bond franchise, who have typically gone for more action oriented directors. Forster said the latest direction of the Bond character opens up “a host of new possibilities” for him as director.” “I have always been drawn to different kinds of stories, and I have also always been a Bond fan,” he said “so it is very exciting to take on this challenge.”

The 22nd installment in the Bond franchise will once again star Daniel Craig as Bond and is slated to start shooting this December in London for a November 7th, 2008 release. Source: Variety.

According to Mike Walker of The National Enquirer, Angelina Jolie took a break from filming her new movie ‚Äö?Ñ??Wanted‚Äö?Ñ?? in Prague recently, to purchase some “toys” from a local sex shop. Jolie apparently bought a black leather garter belt and a black riding crop at the shop, aptly named ‚Äö?Ñ??Erotic City‚Äö?Ñ??.

“Since Angelina doesn’t ride horses in her movie”, writes Walker, “this week‚Äö?Ñ?¥s intriguing gossip question is: If the idea is to whip up a little consensual fun, who’s the whip-ee? Or is the crop simply a decorator accessory destined to hang on a wall?”

Although Angelina has made no secret of being sexually adventurous, the fact that this piece of gossip is being reported by The National Enquirer, gives cause to take the news with a grain of salt. Still though, it’s fun to imagine Brad Pitt bent over Jolie’s knee and having his bare butt whipped, all the while confessing what a bad boy he’s been.

Source: The National Ledger

Spacey Retires
Is Kevin Spacey really calling it quits? In an interview with Hollywood.com, the Academy Award-winning star of such films as “American Beauty” and “The Usual Suspects”, confessed he’s tired of the Hollywood system.

“I don’t care about my personal acting career anymore. I’m done with it,” said Spacey. “After 10 years of making movies and going better than I ever could have imagined, I sort of had to ask myself, ‘What am I supposed to do with all of this success that I have had?

“Am I just going to keep making movie after movie and be concerned with all of that ‘Are you up, are you down, are you hot, are you not?’–and I don’t really care.”

The multi-talented Spacey said he’s quitting his acting career in order to concentrate on his position as artistic director of the Old Vic Theatre in London. He went on to say, “what I really care about is the remarkable experience of being able to be a part of bringing people together.”

Brad Pitt’s “Mother” Talks
In an interview with Blackfilm.com, actress Taraji P. Henson talks about playing Brad Pitt’s mother and working with Pitt and co-star Cate Blanchett, in director David Fincher’s “The Curse of Benjamin Button.”

Henson plays Queenie, the mother of Pitt’s character Benjamin Button, a man who ages backwards. “This role is certainly the biggest role of my career and most challenging to date because I age from 26 to 71, prostethics, fat suit and all,” said Henson. “It’s a period piece. Early 1900 period piece. It’s incredible work. This is the film that I can’t wait for to come out.”

“The Curse of Benjamin Button” is based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s short story “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”, the screenplay was adapted by Eric Roth, who wrote “Forrest Gump” and “Munich”. The film was shot on location in New Orleans and is set for a November 26, 2008 release.

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Batman Gets A Makeover
Entertainment Weekly has scored the first photo the new Batsuit being used in the “The Dark Knight,” the sequel to 2005’s highly successful, “Batman Begins”

The new suit is sleeker and more high-tech than its predecessor and has been redesigned to be both more form-fitting and easier to assemble.

Christian Bale returns as The Caped Crusader, alongside Heath Ledger as his arch-nemesis, The Joker. “The Dark Knight” is once again being directed by Christopher Nolan and is set for a July 18, 2008 release.

Bourne Again
Above are three new posters for “The Bourne Ultimatum”, the third entry in the “Jason Bourne” franchise. The film stars Matt Damon as Bourne and will be released August 7th, 2007.

Tarzan’s Big Snake
Producer Jerry Weintraub is said to be planning an upcoming film version of the classic “Tarzan” and promises it will be “Big. Bigger than you can imagine.” Weintraub went on to say “My snake can reach from one side of Hollywood Boulevard to the other. It’s that big.” Sounds promising.

Weintraub is enlisting “Pan’s Labyrinth” and “Hellboy” director, Guillermo Del Toro, to helm the picture, which has yet to start a production.
Source: TMZ

The Scorpion Raises It’s Tail
Australian filmmaker, Russell Mulcahy, best known for his 80’s “Duran Duran” music videos and the feature film “Highlander”, is tipped to be directing Universal Picture’s “The Scorpion King 2″.

The first “Scorpion King”, a prequel to Universal’s own “Mummy” franchise, opened in 2002 and despite terrible reviews, managed to gross $91 million domestically and turned Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, into Hollywood’s newest action hero.

News of “The Scorpion King 2″ comes on the heels of Universal jump-starting it’s “Mummy” franchise with “The Mummy 3″ set for a July 11th, 2008 release.
Source: Shock Till You Drop

Sweeny Todd Is Official
Tim Burton’s adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim musical “Sweeny Todd”, has opened it’s official site. The film stars Burton regulars, Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, who are joined in the production by Alan Rickman
and “Borat’s” alter ego, Sacha Baron Cohen. “Sweeny Todd” opens in theaters January 11th, 2008.
Official site: SweenyToddMovie.com

Mystique Is The New Face Of Bebe
Rebecca Romijn makes a quick return to her modeling roots in these photos from Bebe’s Summer 2007 ad campaign.

The 5′ 11″ star of the “X-Men” and “Ugly Betty,” replaces Mischa Barton as the face of the popular clothing line and will next be seen co-starring opposite Sissy Spacek, in the searing Southern drama, “Lake City.” See the rest of Rebecca’s ads for Bebe at the Gotham Journal Flickr gallery.

Ryan And Eva At Starbuck’s
Dad of the century, Ryan Phillippe, is seen here taking his 7-year-old daughter, Eva, out for a stroll. Eva is growing up to be quite the dead ringer for her mom, actress Reese Witherspoon.

Unlike most celebrity dads, Ryan takes great care to spend as much time with his kids as possible, opting to maintain a relatively low profile which includes staying out of the L.A. party scene. Click the images for a larger view.

Brokeback Broadway
“Brokeback Mountain” star, Jake Gyllenhaal, might be making his Broadway debut this fall. The 26-year-old Oscar nominee is said to be considering taking on the lead role in the political stage drama “Farragut North.”

Gyllenhaal would play an idealistic communications director for an unorthodox presidential candidate said to be based on 2004 Democratic candidate Howard Dean.
Source: People

Click for the NSFW version

“Britney is asking her most die-hard fans for some assistance in order to name her upcoming album.” So reads the latest update to Britney Spears official site, britneyspears.com, just a day after the nip-slip above failed to generate any excitement. The list of so-called “possible album titles” include:

1. Omg is Like Lindsay Lohan Like Okay Like
2. What if the Joke is on You
3. Down boy
4. Integrity
5. Dignity

Deciphering the Da Britney Code:

With Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton dominating the media spotlight the past few weeks, perhaps Spears was feeling a bit neglected and figured that by falling out of her dress (”Dignity”) and taking a jab at one of her fellow party girls (”Omg is Like Lindsay Lohan Like Okay Like”), the world might shift their focus and take notice of her once again (”Integrity”).

In order for fans to vote on the “proposed” album title, they must first join Britney’s fan club, which at the rate of $24.95 a year in U.S. dollars, would make it one very exclusive club (”What if the Joke is on You”).

And that, in a Cheetos bag, is a look into Britney Spears’ psyche (”Down boy”).

Click for larger view

Supergirl Does Smallville
Supergirl will be joining Clark Kent in the CW Network’s hit series “Smallville” in its upcoming seventh season.

The new season will premiere with the arrival of Kara, Clark Kent’s (Tom Welling) 19-year-old cousin born on Krypton. Like Clark, Kara will have superpowers, including one that Clark has yet to develop: the ability to fly.

Executive producer Al Gough said “One of the joys of creating ‘Smallville’ has been our ability to reinvent and reinterpret classic DC Comics characters…I believe that Supergirl will give our series the mythic jolt that it needs as we head into our seventh season.”

Source: Zap 2 It

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“Woody Allen Does Spain”
Woody Allen arrived in Barcelona on Monday to prepare for filming of his latest feature, tentativly titled “Midnight in Barcelona.” The 71-year-old Oscar-winning film director, actor and jazz musician was accompanied by his wife Soon-Yi Previn, 36, and their daughters Bechet, 8, and Manzie, 7.

“Midnight in Barcelona” stars Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem and Woody’s latest muse, Scarlett Johansson. The film is scheduled for a 2008 release.

Source: Yahoo! News

Gays Won’t Do John Travolta
Gay fans of John Water’s original “Hairspray” movie won’t be coming back for a touch-up.

Gay leaders are calling for a boycott of a new musical update of the cult classic starring John Travolta, because of Scientology’s stand on homosexuality.

Kevin Naff, managing editor of the gay-oriented publication The Washington Blade, says “Travolta, a prominent Scientologist, has no business reprising an iconic gay role, given his [religion's] stance on gay issues.” Naff continued, saying “It’s well known that Scientology rejects gays and lesbians as members and even operates reparative therapy clinics to “cure homosexuality.”

Travolta dons drag to play Edna Turnblad in the film, a role originally played by drag performer Divine. “Divine is spinning in her grave,” said Naff.

Source: MSNBC

It’s a No Go For Double “O”
It now looks like Sean Connery will not be joining the fourth installment of the popular “Indiana Jones” movie franchise. An agreement was in the works for the 76-year-old acting veteran to reprise his role as Indy’s father in the George Lucas/Steven Spielberg production, but that deal has since fallen through.

In a statement issued by Connery’s reps, he said: “I thought long and hard about it and if anything could have pulled me out of retirement it would have been an Indiana Jones film. I love working with Steven and George, and it goes without saying that it is an honor to have Harrison as my son. But in the end, retirement is just too damned much fun.”

“This is a remarkable cast,” said Connery, “and I can only say, ‘Break a leg, everyone.’ ”

The fourth “Indiana Jones” film, is being directed by Spielberg and stars Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, Shia La Beouf and John Hurt. Shooting is already underway in nearby Connecticut, and the movie is set for a May 22, 2008 release.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Ginger Beef
Former “Spice Girl” Geri Halliwell‚Äö?Ñ?¥s trainer-cum-bodyguard is one huge dude. Halliwell and her hulk of a hunk, who works for the personal training company Outdoor Extreme, are seen here going for a power walk in Hampstead Heath in North London, England, on Tuesday afternoon.

Even though 34 year-old Halliwell stands at a petit 5? 2¬¨?‚Äö?Ñ?? feet tall, that still makes her trainer nearly 7 feet tall! And you know what they say about big men –they like to wear Jimmy Choos.

The former “Ginger Spice” is reported to be working out hard in order to look her best for a new British talk show and “Spice Girls” reunion. See more of Ginger Spice and The Incredible Hunk at the Gotham Journal Flickr gallery.

Reichen Hawks His Jewels
Lance Bass’ ex-boy toy, Reichen Lehmkuhl, has decided to launch his line of titanium jewelry for men called “Fly Naked with Reichen,” by putting the his own family jewels on display.

The former U.S. Air Force pilot and author of the book “Here’s What We’ll Say: Growing Up, Coming Out, and the US Air Force Academy,” has enlisted the help of his current boyfriend Ryan Barry, in modeling for the line’s promotional images, which feature Reichen in the buff.
Source: Love & Pride

Paris When It Fizzles
Paris Hilton and her Hollywood talent agency Endeavor, have parted ways after two years of doing business together.

On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the agency announced Paris “is no longer a client of Endeavor,” but People magazine reports the agency had dropped her last Friday, the same day she caused a media frenzy when she was ordered back to jail to complete her sentence for violating probation in a drunken-driving case.

Endeavor, which represented Hilton since 2005 and handled her deal for the reality TV show “The Simple Life,” announced its separation in a company-wide memo.
Source: People Magazine

In a follow-up to the story posted June 2nd on actress Anne Heche’s messy divorce from her husband Coley Laffoon and the custody battle for their five-year-old son, Homer, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge this week awarded Heche’s estranged husband primary physical custody of their son and ordered the actress to pay an unspecified amount of child support.

However, E! News reports that Laffoon, who was originally asking for $33,000 a month in spousal and child support, got “far below his original demands.”

In court documents Heche accused her husband of being a bad parent, “Coley does stay at home while I am working,” she said, “but not to parent.” Heche made allegations that Lafoon liked to engage in “playing ping-pong, playing poker, checking out online porn and masturbating. Laffoon, in turn, claimed he was the one who had created a stable home life for their son and that is was Heche who had “poor parenting skills” and exhibited “bizarre and delusional behavior” which made him wary of leaving their son in her care.

Heche, who returns to Vancouver next month to start shooting the second season of her show “Men in Trees,” will have alternate weekend visits with her son, Homer.
Source: E! News

Jamie Bell is heartbroken over his split from 19-year-old actress Evan Rachel Wood.

In an interview with Britain’s GQ magazine, the 21-year-old star of “Billy Elliot” and “King Kong” confessed: “It was difficult because I was very much in love with her. It was a mutual decision to split - we were both very upset because we had such a great time.”

“We’re in two very different places,” he continued, “she’s only just getting the idea of independence, which I’ve had since I was 14. I’m still utterly in love with her and think she’s an amazing talent.”

Bell’s ex-girlfriend, Evan Rachel Wood, became involved with 39-year-old meth goth-rocker Marilyn Manson, shortly after her break-up with Bell a year ago. Go figure.

Jamie Bell can next be seen in the film “Hallam Foe,” in which he has his first on screen sex scene opposite Claire Forlani, who is 15 years his senior. “It’s the first sex scene I’ve done,” said Bell, “sex was going to come up in the next three years and I wanted to do it with someone who has a good repertoire.

“Sex is incredibly awkward. There’s always that moment when you know it’s going to happen - and you still have to take your pants off. I find that interesting - those moments of awkwardness between two people.”

Jamie can also be seen co-starring with Samuel L. Jackson and Diane Lane in the upcoming sci-fi thriller, “Jumper.”

Source: Female First

Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig star in “The Invasion,” a re-imagining of the 1956 sci-fi classic “Invasion of the Body Snatchers.” The film was directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel and is set for an August 17th, 2007 release.

Official site: theinvasionmovie.com