Gossip and Gab

Jersey Shore’s Snooki Dancing Fall Fail – VIDEO

K. Sweet — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:07:59 +0000

Jersey Shore’s Snooki sure does know how to dance her ass off – right onto the ground! Apparently the MTV reality star was feeling a bit wobbly while she was dancing at the Shrine club in CT on Jan. 22. After weaving a bit on her feet, Snooki landed smack on her butt after falling on the dance floor. Of course, the whole thing was captured on video, because when does Snooki NOT have a camera shoved in her face at every opportunity?

Snooki from Jersey Shore (Photo: YouTube screenshot)

Personally we think Jersey Shore is one of the most inane, vapid excuses for a television program we’ve ever seen. And that’s saying something coming considering how many reality TV programs we’re rabidly addicted to. You have to admit though, something about those Jersey Shore people has folks watching – the show is one of MTV’s biggest hits ever. We can’t figure it out, but maybe we just can’t force our taste levels down that low to understand it.

Since we really abhor Jersey Shore and all it stands for, we can’t help but have a giggle when one of the cast members has a ’stupid’ moment in public. This video of Snooki stumbling around in what appears to be a drunken stupor and then crashing her ass on the floor happens to be one of our favorites.

>> Watch the Snookie falls video <<

Too bad we didn’t really get to see the look on her face after her ‘crew’ helped her back on her feet. We’re betting it was priceless.

Of course, there is another Snooki video out there that’s even better.

Personally, while we never approve of violence – especially towards women, we can kind of sympathize with the dude throwing the punch. That mouth would tempt anyone to smack it.

>> Related: Jersey Shore Cast Fired by MTV?

Ticketmaster and Live Nation Merger Approved by Justice Department

M. S. Stubbs — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:27:38 +0000

The U.S. Justice Department approved a merger on Monday between Ticketmaster and concert promoting company Live Nation, paving the way for an entertainment conglomerate of unbelievable force in the market. The new merged company will be called Live Nation Entertainment and could change the face of the live music industry forever.

The $889 million merger between Live Nation and Ticketmaster received approval from the U.S. Justice Department on Monday. The two companies have faced serious criticism regarding the merger due to the near-monopoly the combined company could have over concert ticket sales. One of the major concessions in the deal to forestall such a monopoly was an order for Ticketmaster to provide access to its technology to Live Nation rival AEG Live.

Some are still not convinced enough concessions have been made to prevent the new Live Nation Entertainment conglomerate from taking a stranglehold on the live music industry.

“While we appreciate the efforts of the DOJ to extract meaningful concessions from the parties, we remain concerned that these two companies, with a history of anti-consumer behavior, will abide only by the letter and not the spirit of the settlement agreement,” said Sally Greenberg, executive director of the National Consumers League, according to MTV.com.

Ticketmaster and Live Nation argue their combined power will actually be good for customers, despite complaints they will drive their competitors into the ground. It will give us greater flexibility in how we promote market and sell tickets to events,” Ticketmaster CEO Irving Azoff told the Senate Judiciary Committee. “It will give us a pathway to alternative pricing and fee structures.”

We just feel bad for anyone trying to do business in the live music industry without going through Ticketmaster and Live Nation. No matter how much they might want to dismiss the ‘monopoly’ accusations and no matter how many ‘concessions’ they had to make to finalize the deal, a monopoly is pretty much what they’ve got at this point.

Walmart Scary Clown Commercial Makes Us Laugh – And Cry – VIDEO

A. Turner — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 20:03:26 +0000

We’re used to getting a kick out of some of the more creative Super Bowl commercials, but this year we got a gem a bit early. The Walmart clown commercial aired during Sunday’s playoff games certainly got a laugh out of us, but we have mixed feelings about being entertained by the amusing advertisement.

Walmart scary clown commercial (Screenshot)

When we first saw the Walmart scary clown commercial, it was a laugh-out-loud reaction. After all, how many of us DON’T have a strange, buried fear of clowns? They are just fucking creepy! And any adult who wants to dress up like a clown and act like a weirdo in front of gangs of children freaks us out!

Walmart’s scary clown ad touched on that social stereotype of clown fear in their humorous advertisement and we laughed right along with thousands of other viewers. And then we realized it was a Walmart commercial and hated them for pulling us in. Because we hate blood-sucking, union-busting, corporate mega-whoring companies like Walmart.

And it makes us sad that we laugh at their commercial anyway. You have to admit, they are pretty damn good at what they do. That’s why they keep draining the life out of their competitors on a daily basis. Sigh.

We won’t be, however, buying a damn thing from Walmart just because they sucker-punched us into a quick laugh. So there.

Hope for Haiti Now Telethon Raises Record $58 Million So Far

B. K. Nelson — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:41:55 +0000

The celebrity laden Hope for Haiti Now Telethon has raised $58 million in funding so far to help Haiti earthquake survivors – and the number is still growing. Donations are still being accepted online, via text, by phone or by mail.

The amount raised by the star-studded Hope for Haiti concert telethon is staggering, setting a record for the most funds ever raised from a telethon event. Donations from corporations and money raised through iTunes sales are still being added up.

Madonna performing at 'Hope for Haiti Now' telethon (Photo: Hope for Haiti Now)

The Hope for Haiti Now album is topping the charts as the number one album on iTunes in over a dozen countries worldwide and is reportedly the biggest one-day album pre-order in the history of iTunes. Individual songs from the album can also be purchased through iTunes and the album can be pre-ordered for $7.99. You can also download the full two-hour video of the telethon.

If you haven’t contributed yet and can spare a few dollars for this massive relief effort, you can contribute by one of these methods:

•Online: www.hopeforhaitinow.org
•Phone: 1-877-99-HAITI
•Text: Text “GIVE” to 50555
•Mail: Hope for Haiti Now Fund, Entertainment Industry Foundation, 1201 West 5th Street, Suite T-700, Los Angeles, CA 90017

100% of funds will go toward Haiti earthquake relief efforts supported by the Clinton Bush Haiti Foundation, Oxfam America, Partners in Health, the International Red Cross, UNICEF, United Nations World Food Programme and the Yele Haiti Foundation.

Nancy Kerrigan Brother Mark Kerrigan Pleads Not Guilty to Beating Father

K. Sweet — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:19:09 +0000

Nancy Kerrigan’s 45-year-old brother, Mark Kerrigan, pled not guilty on Monday to charges he assaulted their father shortly before his death. Daniel Kerrigan died Sunday after the two allegedly fought at the family’s home on Massachusetts. Mark Kerrigan is facing a charge of assault and battery on an elder with serious bodily injury.

American Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan (Photo: Gianluca Platania - Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Daniel Kerrigan reportedly collapsed after his son allegedly choked him during an argument over using the telephone, according to police reports. The two were reportedly screaming at each other and exchanging physical blows. Police reported Mark Kerrigan appeared intoxicated when they arrived and were forced to subdue him with pepper spray.

Daniel Kerrigan was pronounced dead after being taken to a local hospital from the scene. Nancy and Mark Kerrigan’s mother told the Boston Herald her husband had “a massive heart attack.”

Just sad.

Tiger Woods Wife Tricked Mistress Rachel Uchitel into Affair Confession

K. Sweet — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:44:41 +0000

Tiger Woods‘ wife, Elin Nordegren Woods, allegedly tricked mistress Rachel Uchitel into revealing their relationship by posing as Woods on the phone. Elin Nordegren reportedly found Rachel Uchitel’s number in her husband’s phone and tricked Uchitel into a confession by sending text messages to her pretending to be Woods.

Tiger Woods (Photo by: Keith Allison - Source: Wikimedia Commons)

“I miss you,” Elin Nordegren allegedly texted in a message to Rachel Uchitel, using husband Tiger Woods’ phone, “When are we seeing each other again?” Uchitel reportedly texted back and Nordegren then decided to take the trap one step further by calling. Uchitel allegedly answered, thinking Tiger Woods was ringing in, and was shocked to find his wife at the other end of the line. She reportedly blurted out “Oh f–k!” and then hung up, according to Daily Beast investigative reporter Gerald Posner.

All this supposedly occurred shortly before that whole post-Thanksgiving Tiger Woods car wreck that eventually led to the media frenzy over his various ‘indiscretions’ with over a dozen alleged mistresses. (Check out a photo gallery of Tiger Woods’ alleged mistresses here.)

According to several unidentified sources reported by Posner, Elin Nordegren responded to revelation from Uchitel by waking up Tiger Woods in a rage and beating him about the face and chest. She then allegedly chased him out of the house with a golf club. Woods, meanwhile, was allegedly half-drugged on Ambien and crashed into a tree after jumping into his SUV to escape his enraged wife.

We don’t know who Gerald Posner’s sources are or if their story is legit or not. But we always did think it was pretty damn strange Elin Nordegren Woods supposedly bashed in the windows of Tiger Woods’ SUV to ‘rescue’ him after he crashed. Not to mention, it was more than weird that Woods’ wouldn’t even reveal his face to police investigators after the incident. Wonder what kind of injuries he was covering up that didn’t come from ramming his SUV into a tree?

Avatar Box Office May Sink Titanic World Record

M. S. Stubbs — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:21:21 +0000

James Cameron’s sci-fi epic Avatar is edging closer to becoming the highest grossing film of all time. The only movie that still stands in its way is James Cameron’s previous epic blockbuster, Titanic. Avatar topped the weekend box office for the sixth time in a row, easily taking home first place ahead of the competition.

Avatar (20th Century Fox)

Avatar scored another $36 million over the weekend, beating the heck out of Legion, which placed at number two with $18.2 million. The post-apocalyptic film The Book of Eli placed third with $17 million, with The Tooth Fairy and The Lovely Bones rounding out the top five.

So far worldwide, the estimated take for Avatar stands at $1.841 billion at the box office, compared to Titanic’s record of $1.843 billion. Looks like a pretty good bet Avatar will probably overtake that global record. Avatar has already topped Titanic in overseas ticket sales, although it still trails a bit behind in the U.S. domestic box office.

Avatar won Golden Globe awards for best drama and best director last week and is heavily favored to receive at least a few Academy Award nominations on Feb. 2. If the film does receive an Oscar nod, the honor will more than likely result in another surge of earnings for the film at the box office.

We have to say that Avatar certainly is worthy of the title of a blockbuster film and a treat to watch. The sheer insanity of the film’s earnings, however, manages to keep surprising us. Now we’re just wondering if the sequel we know is likely on the way can even hope to come anywhere close to the original.

Hope for Haiti Live Broadcast Telethon Adds Beyonce and Madonna

A. Turner — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:17:39 +0000

Pop icons Beyonce and Madonna have signed on to perform for MTV’s Hope for Haiti telethon, broadcasting live tonight at 8 p.m. EST. Beyonce and Madonna join other notable names such as Jay-Z, Rihanna, U2, Shakira and Taylor Swift scheduled to perform to raise funds for Haiti earthquake survivor relief efforts.

Earthquake damage in Port au Prince, Haiti (Photo: Marco Dormino/ The United Nations United Nations Development Programme)

The Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief telethon will feature performances from dozens of today’s hottest music celebrities, including Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys and Justin Timberlake.

The two-hour Hope for Haiti event will air live on all major television networks and cable stations MTV, VH1, CNN and more. Hollywood star George Clooney will co-host the telethon with Haitian-born rapper Wyclef Jean. Twilight star Robert Pattinson will present via satellite from London.

The benefit concert will also be broadcast live on YouTube.com, Hulu, MySpace, Fancast, MTV.com, CNN.com and host of other websites. The concert will raise funds for a variety of charitable organizations providing relief to survivors of the massive 7.0 earthquake in Haiti, including the Red Cross, UNICEF, Oxfam America, Partners in Health and Yele Haiti – the charity organization run by former Fugees member Wyclef Jean.

Rosie O’Donnell Moving in with Girlfriend Tracy Kachtick-Anders

A. Turner — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:49:10 +0000

Former TV talk show diva Rosie O’Donnell is planning to move in with her new girlfriend, artist and children’s advocate Tracy Kachtick-Anders. O’Donnell tells Oprah Winfrey in an interview airing on Monday that she still wants ex-wife Kelli Carpenter to live as close as possible to facilitate co-parenting of the former couple’s children.

Rosie O'Donnell at Tribeca Film Festival (Photo: David Shankbone - Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Rosie O’Donnell tells Oprah Winfrey she was attracted to new girlfriend Tracy Kachtick-Anders the first time she saw her. “She got out of the car in Miami and I was like, zoinks, you know, because she’s absolutely gorgeous and, I don’t know, I felt like I knew her right away.”

O’Donnell said she and Kachtick-Anders plan to move in together “as soon as we can arrange the kids’ thing where she lives in Texas, you know.” Kachtick-Anders has six children of her own to add to O’Donnell’s four kids with Kelli Carpenter.

Even though she’s moved on to a new love, O’Donnell tells Oprah she still wants her ex, Kelli Carpenter, as close as possible. The former talk show host says Carpenter “lives nearby” but it is still “not close enough. I wanted her to live in the same town, and she was like, ‘I don’t know how good that’s going to be for me.’”

Even though their romantic relationship has ended, O’Donnell says she and Carpenter share a comfortable co-parenting existence of their four kids.

Screw Jon & Kate Plus 8, we think Rosie & Tracy & Kelli Plus 10 would make an insanely entertaining reality show…

John Edwards Admits He is Rielle Hunter’s Baby Daddy

M. S. Stubbs — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:37:27 +0000

Former presidential hopeful John Edwards has finally admitted he is the father of former staffer Rielle Hunter’s 2-year-old daughter. Not that we haven’t already known that for the past two years. I mean, please, how stupid does this guy think the American public is?

After all, we were smart enough not to elect his lying, cheating ass to the highest office in the land.

John Edwards (Photo: United States Congress)

In a press statement released Thursday, John Edwards admitted he is the father of Frances Quinn Hunter, daughter of former Edwards staffer Rielle Hunter. Edwards only admitted to the actual affair with Hunter after being hounded by the tabloids for months after his failed presidential bid. Before that, he denied he cheated on wife Elizabeth Edwards repeatedly, over and over again. The same way he denied fathering a child with his mistress, repeatedly and with fervent denial.

In other words, John Edwards apparently has a serious problem with the truth, even when it is shoved forcefully in his face. Even lamer, Edwards didn’t even bother to represent himself to the public in finally admitting to being the baby daddy. No, instead he issues a press statement and sends one of his buddies out to talk to the media about all the bullshit that’s spewed out of his mouth over the years. Rather than taking the lumps he deserves in the public eye, he subjected Harrison Hickman, his personal advisor, to suffer the pointed questions of the media on his behalf.

If John Edwards thinks hiding behind his buddy to try to tone down the media frenzy is going to help, he’s sorely wrong. Just wait until his former staffer Andrew Young appears for his ABC News interview next week. You know, the guy who posed as the father of Rielle Hunter’s baby on Edwards behalf and then turned on him to spill the beans about the affair? Yeah, we’re thinking it’s not going to be pretty…

We also can’t wait to hear the eventual findings of the federal grand jury investigating John Edwards for possibly paying hush money to Rielle Hunter out of his campaign funds to keep the affair (and resulting baby) quiet. Talk about ruining your whole life for a piece of tail. Who knew John Edwards and Tiger Woods had so much in common? Maybe Edwards could join Woods for some sex rehab therapy and they can cry on each other’s shoulders about the horror of actually having to try to be faithful to the woman you married and had kids with. We know that must just be terrible!