Al Sharpton takes the moral highground.

Remember about a month ago when everyone seemed to have an opinion on Don Imus?  In case you've forgotten, Don Imus is the radio shock jock who was fired for using racially and sexually derogative language against the Rutgers women's basketball team.  Most people seemed to agree that his comments were, at the very least, tacky.  But many also thought that the reaction of firing Don Imus was over the line and even hypocritical. 

So although Don Imus is no longer the go-to conversation for watercooler chat, the incident is still having repercussions.  Al Sharpton, naturally one of the most outspoken against Imus, recently said of Mitt Romney's presidential run:  "As for the one Mormon running for office, those who really believe in God will defeat him anyways, so don't worry about that; that's a temporary situation."

Nice.  I don't know which is more offensive - the comment about Mormons or the comment that God decides who will become the President of the United States. 

Ironically, Al Sharpton has been spending much of his time lately trying to "clean up" rap and hip hop music.  While I personally am not a huge fan of the language in many rap and hip hop songs, I tend to think that it is the individual's right not to buy music that offends them, just as it is the artist's right to express themselves however they want.  Sure, many of these songs can be distasteful, but do we really want to start legislating taste?  Is this not a slippery slope?  And isn't it ironic that Al Sharpton is standing on such a moral highground? 

Ultimately, I think that people should be able to say whatever they want, but that we all have the right in turn to think that they are complete morons and snicker about them with our friends.  That's really the American way.

We love Blake Lewis!
We are officially putting our support behind Blake Lewis,  American Idol's resident beat-boxer.  We were unsure about the beat-boxing at first, but now we are running around the office creating Mixes and squeeing, "I heart Blake!" at one another with tears in our eyes.  (Seriously.)

Blake Lewis totally commanded the stage during last night's Bon Jovi-focused "American Idol" episode.  And this will probably be a divisive and controversial statement, but he totally reminded me of of one Justin Randall Timberlake.  And for me, this is incredibly high praise.

Jon Bon Jovi did not seem too pleased with Blake's creative, remixed take on "You Give Love a Bad Name."  (Could you take yourself more seriously, JBJ?)  But Simon's mom loved it.  And we suspect that Simon's mom is a difficult lady to win over.

Marry me, Blake!

 

New planet!

Last weekend, I found myself in an argument with my friends about the benefits of space exploration.  Many of my friends feel that space travel is, and I quote, "an exorbitant waste," and that we should use the money and resources we spend on space exploration  on something that may benefit our own planet.  However, I had to disagree (though my friends felt that my argument was colored by my lifetime loving sci-fi TV shows). 

What if we deplete the resources on this planet in a nuclear holocaust? I argued.  Don't we need somewhere to go?  What about the scientific benefits of space exploration, such as weather forecasting?  WHAT IF THE ALIENS INVADE US? 

Gliese 581 c

Anyway, I felt that my argument was supported this morning by the announcement that astronomers have discovered the most Earth-like planet beyond the solar system.  The planet is named Gliese 581 c because it orbits the red dwarf star, Gliese 581 (in 13 days! What a quick year for future humans!) It is about five times as large as Earth and orbits its home star within the so-called habitable zone where surface water could exist under the right conditions.

So, maybe I'm not totally ready to buy a condo on Gliese 581c yet, but it's nice to know that we have options if the Cylons attack.

Celebrity Adoptions

 

Every time I glance through an Us Weekly in line at the supermarket (or - let's face it - an Us Weekly I made a special trip out to buy), it seems that Angelina Jolie is adopting another child from a foreign country.  In 2002, she adopted Maddox from Cambodia; in 2005, she adopted Zahara from Ethiopia; and in 2007, she adopted Pax Thien, a three-year-old boy from Vietnam. 

Madonna is also on the foreign adoption train.  In October of 2006, she filed papers for the adoption of Malawian baby boy, David Banda.  Public controversy arose out of Madonna's adoption of David Banda, as there was some question over whether Malawian law requires one year of residence for adoptive parents.  Also, it was reported that the birth father did not understand the meaning of "adoption" and did not realize that he was giving up his son.  At this point, Madonna and her husband, Guy Ritchie, are the boy's foster parents.

There have been rumors that Mariah Carey is considering adopting a child from Mexico, and Cameron Diaz has said that she wants to follow in Angelina Jolie's footsteps.  Of course, back in he 1970s, Mia Farrow adopted ten children from developing nations.

Much fuss has been made in the media about these celebrity foreign adoptions.  Though celebrities can certainly afford to provide children with a life away from poverty, their celebrity also ensures a childhood in the public eye and perhaps more time spent with nannies than parents.  Are these adoptions a vanity move? Are celebrities inspiring a trend of other Americans adopting from foreign countries (while there are certainly many children in the U.S.  who could use loving homes)?  This seems doubtful to me; many Americans have been adopting from foreign countries for years because looking outside of the US expedites the adoption process a great deal. 

Personally, I tend to believe that Madonna and Angelina Jolie are not adopting with the same whim that they would buy a purse.  As any adoptive parent - or friend of an adoptive parent - knows, cross-cultural adoption is a multi-faceted issue that is rarely simple whether the parent is a celebrity or not.  While these ladies have certainly received their share of criticism, I like to give them the benefit of the doubt.  They will give these children loving homes and opportunities that they would not have had otherwise and at the end of the day, isn't that all that counts?

This past Sunday evening, HBO debuted new episodes of The Sopranos and Entourage.  The Sopranos drew an audience of 7.7 million viewers, which is down 19% from their most recent new episodes in March 2006.  This will be the last new batch of episodes Sopranos fans will see - there are only nine episodes left of the series.  The Sopranos, which premiered in 1999, has run for seven seasons on HBO.   

Will Tony Soprano die?

Some might argue that The Sopranos is the best television series ever.  Certainly, it excelled in making the "lower medium" of TV palatable to snobs who only watch movies. (Obviously, I am not one of these people, as I will sit around and watch The View.) 

The big question going into this final run of episodes is: Who will die?  Or, more specifically, will Tony Soprano, the head of the New Jersey crime family, bite the big one?  The ending of The Sopranos will either see Tony paying for all of the strife and bloodshed he has caused over the years, or survive as the antihero he is. 

My guess?  Tony will not die.  The death of Tony would be too traditional an ending for a series that has most often ignored traditional, moralistic sensibilities.  Tony will continue to survive by the skin of his teeth; I would not expect anything less.

Entourage

Entourage also had a debut episode on Sunday night in which the lead character celebrated his birthday.  Obviously a much lighter, frothier show than its Sunday night counterpart, Entourage does provide suspense in its own way.  Much like James Gandolfini's Tony Soprano, Jeremy Piven's Ari Gold is a perfect coupling of actor and character, and his frantic Hollywood machinations are fantastic to behold.  Obviously, Ari will use Medellin - and whatever else it takes - to win Vince back as a client, but it is gratifying to see him get a bit of a comeuppance in the meantime.

Summer Movies I'm Dying to See

Although it is still quite dark and dismal outside - and it seems as if everyone in the office is fighting off the plague, I still cannot help but feel a tinge of excitement for summer.  Every year, winter always seems to be more and more endless.  Although this winter felt milder than many, I'm still getting a case of spring - or actually, summer - fever.

In addition to barbecues, trips to the beach, and relaxing for hours at outdoor cafes, a central focus of my anticipation is the summer movie season.  So, here are the top 5 movies that I am looking forward to hitting the air-conditioned cinemas for this summer:

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

 

 The best thing about Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest was - SPOILER ALERT! - the reveal of Captain Barbossa.  Although that movie felt bloated and a bit (I hate to say it) boring, that moment alone left me excited for the third installment, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.  With Chow Yun Fat and an appearance by Keith Richards, I hope that the third installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy can redeem the mistakes of the second.  The trailer looks promising.

(I just hope we get to see more of Commodore Norrington looking all rugged and scruffy...)

Spiderman 3

Spiderman 3 is another highly anticipated third installment in a popular trilogy.  How will Peter Parker balance his relationship with Mary Jane with his responsibilities as Spiderman?  Will Topher Grace be able to pull off a believable Venom? (Doesn't Topher Grace sort of seem like the poor man's Tobey Maguire?)

The Spiderman movies are always a fun mixture of action, comedy, and angst.  I'm totally psyched about this popcorn flick.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

 

 

 This one is a personal top pick of mine.  Each installment of the Harry Potter movies has gotten progressively better.  Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban had a lovely artistic vision, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was both exciting and heartbreaking.  The actors - especially Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe - have done fine jobs of growing into their characters. 

That said, I have extremely high expectations for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.  Dolores Umbridge has always been one of the most terrifying villains to me throughout this series; I suppose we can all relate to having that one horrid teacher who seems to take immeasurable pleasure in the pain of others.   

The Bourne Ultimatum

So I guess I like sequels.  Jason Bourne tries to avoid being killed while simultaneously discovering the mysteries of his past.

Mostly, Matt Damon is really cute, especially in secret agent mode.

Evan Almighty

 

 

Evan Almighty breaks the mold of the big, epic action adventures that I anticipate, but it has one thing the other movies don't - Steve Carell.  Steve Carell is, in my humble opinion, the funniest man working in Hollywood today.  I would pay money to watch him just sit silently in a folding chair onscreen because I know that he would find a way to make it hilarious. 

 

Gossipy Tidbits

Katie Holmes's New BFF

 

What is up with how Katie Holmes and Victoria Beckham are hanging out all the time lately?  Apparently, the women are even teaming up to put out a children's clothing line (because Katie Holmes and Victoria Beckham both love clothes and being moms, imagine that!).  Is Posh Spice on her way to becoming a Scientologist?  Or is she actually working behind the scenes to subvert Tom Cruise's influence over poor, powerless Katie?

Rumor has it that Tom Cruise monitors pretty much every step Katie Holmes ever makes.  Maybe what Katie really needs in her life right right now is a close girlfriend who can say things like, "Katie? The way Tom sends you 18 text messages within an hour?  Its weird.  Assert yourself. Seriously." 

On Dawson's Creek, Joey Potter eventually dumped controlling, self-serious Dawson for cute, funny, easygoing Pacey.  I think that Katie Holmes needs a Pacey of her own. (Don't we all, though?)

Paris Hilton's New Pet

Paris Hilton yet again has PETA members shaking their heads in disbelief with her adoption of a dwarf cat.  What's wrong with adopting a cat?  Well, a dwarf cat cannot function like a normal cat; its legs are too short, which can lead to easily broken bones, and other serious health issues.  Is Paris Hilton willing to take the time and energy out of her schedule to care for such an animal?  Is Paris Hilton willing to take the time and energy out of her schedule to care for any living being that is not named Paris Hilton? 

It was bad enough when Paris was carting that little dog around like a purse.  Why must she now target rare breeds?  What's next - is Paris going to adopt a panda or a snow leopard?

 

Is Sanjaya the worst?

Fans of American Idol may be a bit perplexed to note that the skinny kid with the terrible voice and uber-feminine haircut continues to be a presence on the show from week to week.  How is Sanjaya Malakar surviving each elimination?  Sanjaya is not particularly talented.  Sanjaya is not particularly attractive (except, perhaps, to that one girl in the audience who always seems to be in tears when he is performing).  Simon Cowell has said that if Sanjaya wins, he will leave American Idol.  What force of nature is keeping Sanjaya in our lives?!

The answer may be found with a bunch of cynical fans posting on a website called Votefortheworst.com.   As the site's mission statement says, "[American Idol] starts out every year encouraging us to point and laugh at all of the bad singers who audition. We want this hilariously bad entertainment to continue into the finals, so we choose the contestant that we feel provides the most entertaining train wreck performances and we start voting for them." 

During the sixth season, Vote for the Worst has focused their attention on perhaps one of the most hopeless contestants yet with Sanjaya.  His voice is weak, he has a dorky demeanor, and he always seems a bit lost.  Simon's comments about his performances are usually quite hilarious. (My personal favorite: "It was like some ghastly lunch...where after lunch, the parents have asked the children to get up and sing.")  He is, undoubtedly, the worst.  But he has just survived yet another week due to these strangely powerful cynics who are determined to push him to the finals.

I have to say, I respect the idea of voting for the worst in the same way I have a grudging respect for hackers because they want to stick it to The Man.  Of course, as goofy as Sanjaya is, it also seems horribly mean to turn him into a national joke when he could just quietly fade away and move on with his life.

Check out this Sanjaya Mix.

Heather Mills, Dancing Star

Why does the world care so much about Heather Mills?

The estranged wife of Paul McCartney is currently competing in the latest season of Dancing with the Stars.  Heather Mills, of course, has a prosthetic leg, and viewers are clearly either inspired by her determination or are frothing at the mouth to gape at an artificial limb flying across the stage.  Nearly 22 million viewers tuned in to the season premiere, which is Dancing with the Stars' most successful season premiere yet. 

In May, Heather Mills and Paul McCartney announced their divorce, and it has also provided the public wth a source of fascination.  Rumors about the divorce have been widespread, including gossip that Heather had become involved with her personal trainer.  In January, a divorce settlement was announced that has McCartney paying Heather 32 million pounds in cash and property. 

Viewers on the ABC message boards are divided over whether they love or hate Heather (though some may love to hate her).  Some are calling her a gold-digger (most likely ardent admirers of Sir Paul); others believe that she is an inspiration.  Either way, dancing with one leg is pretty cool.  I have two functioning legs and fall down getting out of my car.

Donna Martin Graduates!

On Tuesday, March 13, Tori Spelling gave birth to a son named Liam Aaron McDermott.  Word is that her estranged mother, Candy Spelling, was at the hospital while Tori was giving birth.  Tori and Candy have been at odds since the death of Aaron Spelling.  When Aaron died, Tori was set to inherit a chunk of his $500 million dollar estate, but Candy, the executor of Aaron's will, only gave her a small portion of the money. 

Tori's romantic life has been as soap operatic as her family life in recent years.  After separating from her first husband, she quickly became engaged with Dean McDermott, an actor whom she met on the set of a television movie.  McDermott had been married to actress Mary Jo Eustace, who later wrote a tell-all book. (Ouch!) 

I truly hope that Tori finds the peace and happiness with her new family that her television character eventually found by marrying David Silver.  Donna and David were a truly inspiring couple who overcame odds like high school nerdiness, getting drunk at the prom, abusive pumpkin-farmer-cum-rock-star Ray Pruit, cheating, atrocious dancing, learning disabilities, bad haircuts, racial warfare, disapproving parents, and Donna's attempt to become Rose Queen. 

Though Tori Spelling played perhaps one of the most annoying and poorly dressed television characters of all time, I have sort of been rooting for her lately. I actually liked her VH1 show, "So NoTORIous."  (It was funny!) It sort of warms my heart to hear that she and Candy may be reconciling.  I'm such a softie.