Remy Ma shot someone

Remy Ma
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LAN / Retna

Remy Ma was cuffed and taken away today after she was found guilty on four charges. SOHH reports that Remy cried, "Oh My God" as they escorted her out of the courtroom.

Remy was found guilty on charges of first-degree assault, attempted coercion, possession of a deadly weapon, and felony assault. She faces up to 25 years in the big house.

Remy shot a friend, Makeda Barnes-Joseph, last July after she accused the woman of taking $3,000 from her purse. Remy's lawyer tried to make the shooting look like an accident.

courtesy of idontlikeyouinthatway.com

Here's a Remy Ma video for all of you kids to watch.

Ryan and Reese and Jake, Oh My!

Witherspoon, Reese & Phillippe, Ryan
Originally uploaded by retnablog

Theodore Wood/Camera Press/Retna

Although he says he wishes his ex-wife, Reese Witherspoon, and friend, Jake Gyllenhaal the best, Ryan Phillippe now says he doesn't like looking at pictures of the new couple. I don't either. They're boring. Us Magazine reports:

It's bizarre," the Stop-Loss star, 33, tells USA Today. "There's plenty of times when I say, 'What a strange situation I've found myself in.' But at a certain point you know it's going to happen, so you are prepared in some fashion."

Courtesy of idontlikeyouinthatway.com

Tyra Banks

Tyra Banks
Originally uploaded by retnablog

© Paul Smith / Featureflash / Retna

It looks like Tyra Banks is pretty much over "America's Next Top Model" and will bail on it in favor of spending more time on her stupid talk show. MSNBC says:

OK! magazine reports that Banks isn't getting along with photo shoot creative director Jay Manuel, and her days on the show could be numbered. "It's gotten so bad that Tyra and Jay aren't speaking," an insider told OK! magazine. The selective silent treatment isn't limited to Manuel, either. "Tyra barely interacts with the contestants and only wants to show up on judging day," the source told the magazine."

Courtesy of Idontlikeyouinthatway.com

Now we can look forward to more of this:

Dancing with the stars has Jonas Brothers

KEVIN JONAS & JOE JONAS & NICK JONAS
Originally uploaded by retnablog

@Michael Desmond / ABC / Retna

Things were rocking and fans were screaming on "Dancing With the Stars" Tuesday night and it wasn't the dancers making everyone go crazy. The hype was due to the three guys known as the Jonas Brothers, the pop-rock band made up of brothers Kevin, 20, Joe, 18, and Nick, 15.

Even judge Bruno Tonioli got into the act, practically stealing the show by head-banging and rocking his air guitar during a set break when the Jonas Brothers sang "Year 3000." During the show Tonioli and fellow judge Carrie Ann Inaba could also be seen rocking and singing along in their seats.

According to People.com, Joe said, "They said it was the loudest audience they ever had. They had to tell people to calm down, which was cool."

It was the first time for the brothers to appear on "Dancing With the Stars," but they said they are fans. Kevin even joked that he could see "Dancing With the Stars" in their future.

When asked what professional dancer they would like to be paired with to learn fancy footwork, the brothers smiled and said that all the female dancers were great.

Courtesy of allheadlinenews.com

Watch the DWTS Performance below!

Richie Sambora got a DUI

Richie Sambora
Originally uploaded by retnablog

Eckstein/RD/Retna

Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora has been arrested in Laguna Beach, on suspicion of driving while under the influence of alcohol.

According to celebrity website TMZ.com, Sambora was pulled over by police officers at about 11pm last night.

Police claimed that the star was driving erratically before they pulled him over.

Sambora then reportedly failed a number of field sobriety tests before being arrested on a DUI charge.

According to People magazine, Laguna Beach PD Sgt Jason Kravetz said: "At this point there's no indication of drugs."

Sambora checked into a rehab clinic last year to receive treatment for alcohol-related problems.

Courtesy of www.rte.ie

Richard Widmark (1914 - 2008)

Widmark, Richard
Originally uploaded by retnablog

Walter McBride/Retna

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Richard Widmark, who made a sensational film debut as the giggling killer in "Kiss of Death" and became a Hollywood leading man in "Broken Lance," "Two Rode Together" and 40 other films, has died after a long illness. He was 93.

Widmark's wife, Susan Blanchard, says the actor died at his home in Roxbury on Monday. She would not provide details of his illness and said funeral arrangements are private.

"It was a big shock, but he was 93," Blanchard said.

After a career in radio drama and theater, Widmark moved to films as Tommy Udo, who delighted in pushing an old lady in a wheelchair to her death down a flight of stairs in the 1947 thriller "Kiss of Death." The performance won him an Academy Award nomination as supporting actor; it was his only mention for an Oscar.

"That damned laugh of mine!" he told a reporter in 1961. "For two years after that picture, you couldn't get me to smile. I played the part the way I did because the script struck me as funny and the part I played made me laugh. The guy was such a ridiculous beast."

A quiet, inordinately shy man, Widmark often portrayed killers, cops and Western gunslingers. But he said he hated guns.

"I know I've made kind of a half-assed career out of violence, but I abhor violence," he remarked in a 1976 Associated Press interview. "I am an ardent supporter of gun control. It seems incredible to me that we are the only civilized nation that does not put some effective control on guns."

Two years out of college, Widmark reached New York in 1938 during the heyday of radio. His mellow Midwest voice made him a favorite in soap operas, and he found himself racing from studio to studio.

Rejected by the Army because of a punctured eardrum, Widmark began appearing in theater productions in 1943. His first was a comedy hit on Broadway, "Kiss and Tell." He was appearing in the Chicago company of "Dream Girl" with June Havoc when 20th Century Fox signed him to a seven-year contract. He almost missed out on the "Kiss of Death" role.

"The director, Henry Hathaway, didn't want me," the actor recalled. "I have a high forehead; he thought I looked too intellectual." The director was overruled by studio boss Darryl F. Zanuck, and Hathaway "gave me kind of a bad time."

An immediate star, Widmark appeared in 20 Fox films from 1957 to 1964. Among them: "The Street With No Name," "Road House," "Yellow Sky," "Down to the Sea in Ships," "Slattery's Hurricane," "Panic in the Streets," "No Way Out," "The Halls of Montezuma," "The Frogmen," "Red Skies of Montana," "My Pal Gus" and the Samuel Fuller film noir "Pickup on South Street."

In 1952, he starred in "Don't Bother to Knock" with Marilyn Monroe. He told an interviewer in later years:

"She wanted to be this great star but acting just scared the hell out of her. That's why she was always late — couldn't get her on the set. She had trouble remembering lines. But none of it mattered. With a very few special people, something happens between the lens and the film that is pure magic. ... And she really had it."

After leaving Fox, Widmark's career continued to flourish. He starred (as Jim Bowie) with John Wayne in "The Alamo," with James Stewart in John Ford's "Two Rode Together," as the U.S. prosecutor in "Judgment at Nuremberg," and with Robert Mitchum and Kirk Douglas in "The Way West." He also played the Dauphin in "St. Joan," and had roles in "How the West Was Won," "Death of a Gunfighter," "Murder on the Orient Express," "Midas Run" and "Coma."

"Madigan," a 1968 film with Widmark as a loner detective, was converted to television and lasted one season in 1972-73. It was Widmark's only TV series.

He also was in some TV films, including "Cold Sassy Tree" and "Once Upon a Texas Train."

Richard Widmark was born Dec. 26, 1914, in Sunrise, Minn., where his father ran a general store, then became a traveling salesman. The family moved around before settling in Princeton, Ill.

"Like most small-town boys, I had the urge to get to the big city and make a name for myself," he recalled in a 1954 interview. "I was a movie nut from the age of 3, but I don't recall having any interest in acting," he said.

But at Lake Forest College, he became a protege of the drama teacher and met his future wife, drama student Ora Jean Hazlewood.

In later years, Widmark appeared sparingly in films and TV. He explained to Parade magazine in 1987: "I've discovered in my dotage that I now find the whole moviemaking process irritating. I don't have the patience anymore. I've got a few more years to live, and I don't want to spend them sitting around a movie set for 12 hours to do two minutes of film."

When he wasn't working, he and his wife lived on a horse ranch in Hidden Valley, Calif., or on a farm in Connecticut. Their daughter Ann became the wife of baseball immortal Sandy Koufax.

I read the news today...

Neil Aspinall, who ran the Apple Corps music empire for the Beatles, has died at a hospital in New York, aged 66.

A school friend of Sir Paul McCartney and George Harrison, he was regarded by some of the band as the "fifth Beatle".

In an Apple Corps statement, Sir Paul, Ringo Starr, and the widows of Harrison and John Lennon paid tribute to "Neil's trusting stewardship and guidance".

Notoriously media-shy, Aspinall nonetheless fought hard to protect the Beatles' music, image and copyright.

Road manager

Aspinall also played background instruments on tracks including Magical Mystery Tour, Within You Without You and Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite.

But it was for his stewardship at Apple Corps that he will be best remembered.


This great mass of shaggy hair loomed up and an out-of-breath voice requested a quick drag of my Woodbine
Neil Aspinall on George Harrison

Send us your comments

He was chief executive from 1970 until last year.

Throughout his career, he remained fiercely loyal to the group, looking after their business interests and taking legal action on their behalf.

He led the legal battle with Apple computers over the use of the Apple name and a royalties dispute between the Beatles and record label EMI.

Money-maker

He is credited with ensuring they continued to make money decades after they split up.

He was behind successful retrospective albums such as Beatles Anthology and Beatles One.

Apple Corps estimates that in his last 20 years at the company, the Beatles sold 70 million albums.

Beatles and Neil Aspinall
Neil Aspinall, top right, with the Fab Four, in 1964

Aspinall first befriended Sir Paul and Harrison at the Liverpool Institute Grammar School in the 1950s.

In The Beatles Anthology DVD, he described his first encounter with Harrison behind the school's air-raid shelters.

"This great mass of shaggy hair loomed up and an out-of-breath voice requested a quick drag of my Woodbine," Aspinall said.

"It was one of the first cigarettes either of us had smoked. We spluttered our way through it bravely but gleefully."

In 1961, he became the Beatles' road manager and drove them between gigs in his van before becoming their personal assistant.

'Good friend'

Sir Paul, Starr and the widows of Lennon and Harrison said: "All his friends and loved ones will greatly miss him but will always retain the fondest memories of a great man."

In a separate statement, Starr added: "I've known Neil many years and he was a good friend. We were blessed to have him in our lives and he will be missed."

And Harrison's widow Olivia and the couple's son Dhani said: "Neil takes with him the love and history of his extended family.

"He was our constant and avuncular caretaker for so many years; there is no way to measure how much he will be missed."

Aspinall died at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.

It's understood he was suffering from lung cancer.

He is survived by his wife, Suzy, and five children.

Courtesy of news.bbc.co.uk

Tiffany Evans and Bow Wow make a music video

Photos by John Ricard/Retna
Bow Wow and Tiffany Evans on the set of "I'm Grown" music video in New Jersey, February 05, 2008.

Here's the finished product. Wow, edited and got that out fast.

Corinne Bailey Rae's Husband found dead.

Corinne Bailey Rae
Originally uploaded by retnablog

The husband of british soul singer Corrine Bailey Rae was found dead of unknown reasons on Saturday (Mar. 22).

According to BBC reports, Jason Rae, 31, was found deceased in a flat in the Hyde Park section of the city of Leeds in West Yorkshire. Police say they found the body after they were called to the apattment afternoon.

Rae's body was examined by medical examiners to determine the circumstances of his death but the results have so far been inconclusive and police said they were awaiting toxicology reports.

A 32 year-old man has been arrested by West Yorkshire police on suspicion of supplying illegal drugs, but has since been released on bail.

Rae, a saxophonist in the funk band The Haggis Horns, had been due to play a gig at the HiFi Club in Leeds on Sunday night, but the date had to be cancelled. Along with having performed with his wife, Rae's band had also previously worked with other British acts including Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson.

Jason Rae and Corrine wed in 2001 while she was 22 years-old after the two met at a jazz club. Corrine's record label, EMI, released a statement after learning of the singer's husband's death.

"EMI Records would like to offer its sincere condolences to Corinne Bailey Rae and the Rae family at this tragic time. We ask that the media respects Corinne's privacy and that of her entire family."

Bailey-Rae herself has yet to release a statement on the incident.

Corrine has sold over 1 million copies of her self-titled debut in America and was nominated for song of the year at the Grammy's during both 2007 and 20008.

Courtesy of www.sohh.com

Chris Rock is on Tour.

Chris Rock
Originally uploaded by retnablog

Chris Rock performed at The Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia., on March 21, 2008.




List of upcoming tour dates:

Perez Hilton turns 30.

Perez Hilton writes about celebrities on his blog, supplementing seriously lame jokes with crude illustrations scrawled on copyrighted photos he doesn’t pay for or cite.

So naturally, his birthday party this weekend was, like, a big deal.

Not as big as Melanie Brown. But big.

The quote-unquote Gossip Gangsta, who gets sued a lot, actually drew some pretty big stars for his b-day bash, held at the SoCal hotspot, The Roxy.

He celebrated the 29th anniversary of him not dying wth the likes of Paris Hilton, John Stamos (really), buddies Amy Winehouse, Kelly Osbourne and Dita Von Teese Friday.

Courtesy of Hollywoodgossip.com

Saul Williams works with Nike

The whole song from the new Nike Commercial



From Saul William's Myspace Page:

The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust! is the lovechild of me and Trent Reznor. I met Trent when he asked me to fill the opening slot of his European With Teeth tour. After only the 2nd show he asked if I might be down to collaborate on a song or album, whatever I saw fit. At the time we were both listening to the Kanye/Jon Brion collaborations and feeling like a cocktail of our two worlds would fare even more interesting…and harder. Since then, Trent Reznor has become the big brother I never had, offering his insight, expertise, and shared desire to fuck up the system while believing fully in the power of music and the intelligence of the masses. What we both first realized we had in common was a deep love of Public Enemy and their Bomb Squad production, which personally served as the backdrop of my adolescence and fueled the fire that matured my vision of the sort of artist I wanted to be. A lot of people get caught up on my lyrics and poetry, but my writing is always founded on beats and polyrhythmic backdrops. My background as a dancer (I used to dance for a rap group in ATL in the early 90s) has always made me crave hard rhythms. Through Public Enemy I discovered that my ability to dance somehow improved when I truly felt the power of the words. This album captures everything I have aimed for in a song. Of course, as a performer, what truly inspires me is the opportunity to perform them live. The Niggytardust concept sets me free to do more on stage with costume, etc. than one might expect from a regular Saul Williams show. It allows me to put my theatre training to use. I’ve also thought long and hard about all the discussion surrounding racial epithets etc. and chose this title as a means of furthering the dialogue while also showing how creativity will outlive and outshine hatred of any kind.

The album would not have been possible without the collaborative spirit Trent and the other artists involved: CX Kidtronik and Thavius Beck brought beats and fire to the vision, energizing the process with blown amps and head-nodding cramps. Atticus Ross engineered and programmed. Alan Moulder is sonic testimony from headphone to full blown that the very rocks will cry out if you work with the right engineer.

I’m also collaborating with visual artists and designers as part of the whole NiggyTardust concept and presentation. Melody Ehsani designed Tardust jewelry, bracelets, rings. necklaces, etc. and also did the cover layout. Angelbert Metoyer has contributed greatly to the visual aesthetic with paintings and soon to be finished set design for the shows.

As far as the way we’ve decided to release the album, we’re aware that it’s pretty risky, but are even more aware that we cant turn to the so-called powers that be of the industry for answers. Someone has got to be willing to take chances. I was very inspired by the recent Radiohead release and felt compelled, almost instantly, to follow my gut and expand on their concept. Obviously, independent artists have been around for years. My indie film, Slam was in fact what opened so many doors for me. yet, the stigma of being an indie artist in the music world hasn’t always been rewarding. This time I feel different. I feel like the times have conspired to make this album an important part of history.

If you've never checked out Saul Williams, you absolutely should. Go get the movie Slam and SlamNation asap. And read his books. And buy his albums.

Exclusive Tila Tequila at Lounge 46

Tila Tequila performs at Lounge 46, Totowa, New Jersey, March 20, 2008.

The performance probably sounded similar to this:

Ryan Phillippe is in a movie.

RYAN PHILLIPPE
Originally uploaded by retnablog

Ryan Phillippe talks about his new movie "Stop-Loss,"on GOOD MORNING AMERICA, March 21, 2008.

Stop-Loss Trailer



A Paramount release of a Paramount and MTV Films presentation of a Scott Rudin production. Produced by Kimberly Peirce, Mark Roybal, Rudin, Gregory Goodman. Directed by Kimberly Peirce. Screenplay, Mark Richard, Peirce.

Brandon King - Ryan Phillippe
Michele - Abbie Cornish
Steve Shriver - Channing Tatum
Tommy Burgess - Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Roy King - Ciaran Hinds
Lt. Col. Boot Miller - Timothy Olyphant
Rico Rodriguez - Victor Rasuk
Isaac "Eyeball" Butler - Rob Brown
Jeanie - Mamie Gummer
Sen. Orton Worrell - Josef Sommer
Ida King - Linda Emond
Shorty - Alex Frost


By JOE LEYDON
Auds heretofore resistant to Iraq War-themed pics likely won't be lured to the megaplexes by "Stop-Loss," a wildly uneven drama, by turns sincere and synthetic, about a decorated Army sergeant whose homecoming is cut short when he's unexpectedly ordered back to the war zone. Helmer Kimberly Peirce ("Boys Don't Cry"), working from a script she co-wrote with Mark Richard, charts a bumpy road trip through familiar territory where vividly drawn characters rub shoulders with stock stereotypes, and persuasive verisimilitude is too often overshadowed by contrivance. Expect a short tour of duty in theaters before a quick transfer to homevid.
Opening minutes crackle with energy, as Peirce and ace lenser Chris Menges employ variegated film stocks to create faux homevideos supposedly shot, edited and scored by U. S. troops in Iraq (a fact-based conceit they sporadically reprise throughout, with steadily diminishing effect). But this testosterone-fueled montage quickly gives way to an impressively staged and powerfully kinetic battle in Tikrit, as Staff Sgt. Brandon King (Ryan Phillippe) and his men pursue insurgents who have fled their roadblock. King displays courage under fire, but some of his men (and a few innocent bystanders) don't survive the deadly encounter.

Shortly thereafter, King and a few buddies are shipped back to their warmly welcoming friends and family in the small town of Brazos, Texas (much of "Stop-Loss" was shot in and around Austin). King is proud to receive both the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star from a visiting senator (vet stage and screen actor Josef Sommer, making the absolute most of minimal screen time), but he's more interested in simply returning to civilian life.

Unfortunately, his discharge is delayed by "stop-loss," a controversial policy whereby the military can indefinitely extend enlistments and send soldiers back for second or third tours in Iraq. Peirce and Richard bend over backward to portray King as a model soldier and genuine patriot who rebels against the stop-loss order not because of cowardice or politics, but because he feels personally betrayed by a government he's already served far beyond the call of duty.

This characterization may enable some otherwise disapproving auds to accept King's impulsive decision to go AWOL. Accompanied by Michele (Abbie Cornish), the girlfriend of King's more conventionally gung-ho buddy Steve (Channing Tatum), the angry soldier sets out for Washington, D.C., in the naive hope that he can plead his case to the senator who recently honored him. Along the way, he takes side trips to visit and/or honor former comrades, even as he remains the target of a nationwide manhunt.

Peirce reportedly was inspired to make "Stop-Loss" by her brother's experiences serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, and by accounts of real-life soldiers who defied their stop-loss orders. And yet, huge swaths of her pic play like mash-ups of features from the 1970s and early '80s about distressed or disturbed Vietnam War veterans. Indeed, the more dedicated deconstructionists in the audience will identify various influences reflected here, ranging from the blatantly obvious ("The Deer Hunter") to the relatively obscure ("Heroes," Jeremy Kagan's 1977 cross-country odyssey with Henry Winkler as a troubled vet). There's even a hint of "First Blood" in a scene where King opens up a can of whup-ass on punks who break into his car and trigger his wartime flashback.

Phillippe is creditable and credible -- he even manages a convincing Texas twang -- and there are standout supporting performances by Tatum (despite his lack of an equally believable drawl), Victor Rasuk (as a battle-scarred Hispanic soldier) and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (as a fellow Iraq vet who finds peace can be hell). But Ciaran Hinds is criminally underused as King's supportive father, and even some of the better actors are hamstrung by the script's cliches; at least one key character is so obviously fated for an unhappy ending, he might as well have a vulture perched on his shoulder.

The ending of "Stop-Loss" may be attacked by some critics (especially those with a political agenda) as a bases-covering cop-out. But it's actually one of the most dramatically and emotionally sound elements in the entire pic. More's the pity, then, that so much of what precedes this finale seems secondhand and second-guessed, the work of well-intentioned filmmakers whose stumbling efforts suggest that, much like the Vietnam War, the Iraq War won't inspire truly great and substantial dramas until the passing of time allows for perspective.

Credit lenser Menges and production designer David Wasco for giving pic (including battle scenes shot in Morocco) at least a patina of truth.

Camera (color), Chris Menges; editor, Claire Simpson; music, John Powell; music supervisors, Randall Poster, Jim Dunbar; production designer, David Wasco; art director, Peter Borck; set decorator, Sandy Reynolds Wasco; costume designer, Marlene Stewart; sound (Dolby), Danny Michael; supervising sound editors, Eugene Gearty, Larry Wineland; sound designer, Gearty; visual effects supervisor, Thad Beier; visual effects, Hammerhead Prods.; associate producers, Michael Diliberti, Reid Carolin, Sam Cassel; assistant director, William M. Connor; second unit director/stunt coordinator, Doug Coleman; casting, Avy Kaufman. Reviewed at SXSW Film Festival (Spotlight Premieres), March 13, 2008. MPAA Rating: R. Running time: 112 MIN.

Courtesy of Variety.

Flo Rida is on MTV

Rapper Flo Rida pictured backstage during MiTRL at MTV Studios in Times Square on March 20, 2008 in New York City

Watch Flo Rida's video Elevator Here:

David Schwimmer has a movie out...(he's not actually in it)

But he directed it. And to be honest, it looks pretty funny. I love that other dude that's in the trailer. He's hilarioius!

She & Him are here.

Listen to:
Why do you let me Stay Here


"She" is Zooey Deschanel, indie boys' movie-star crush of choice. "Him" is M. Ward, the rootsy guitarist. Together they pose as a great lost Seventies AM-gold couple. Their acoustic vibe conjures up a time-travel fantasy of key parties, hot tubs and Chablis-crazed groping behind the spider plants. If this is your kind of thing, you will love this record, because Deschanel and Ward definitely know their mellow. In every song, they sound like they wish they were cruising in their Le Car, hitting the beach at Martha's Vineyard with James and Carly to pound strawberry daiquiris and sing "Mockingbird." Whoops — don't want to be late for that Mo Udall rally!

Deschanel's vocals are so Carly Simon it hurts, especially on country-flavored tunes like "Got Me" and "Take It Back." Lazy souls will compare her to Dusty Springfield, but the more accurate touchstone is soft-rock goddess Rita Coolidge. Deschanel's voice also has sweet country curves that evoke Lynn Anderson, Jennifer Warnes and Linda Ronstadt. "Change Is Hard" is a loving homage to Ronstadt's "Different Drum" — Ward even plays the harpsichord solo on steel guitar. Deschanel's songs are simple, which is a smart move — what a drag if she were trying to sing serious torch songs — but She and Him don't fare so well with covers. Smokey Robinson is over their heads, judging from the flubbed chords and notes in "You Really Got a Hold on Me." And they do the Beatles' "I Should Have Known Better" as giggly camp. It's more fun to hear them do their own laid-back thing on "This Is Not a Test," with its EST lyrics and L.A. malaise. Deschanel doesn't go for the sassy comic edge she brings to her movies. In these songs, she's just a girl standing in front of a boy asking him to love her. And if Ward could resist, he must have a heart of stone, or maybe just a switchblade-packing girlfriend.

ROB SHEFFIELD

Courtesy of Rollingstone.com


She & Him @ SXSW

Danity Kane has a new Album

Within the two years that followed the release of Danity Kane’s self-titled debut, the group – consistent of Dawn, Audrea, Aubrey, Shannon and D. Woods – amassed a legion of loyal fans and experienced Platinum sales. Yet speculation about rifts between the ladies and management, as well as among themselves, threatened to dissolve the group just as quickly as they were formed. Having ironed out their issues, Danity Kane are back with their sophomore effort ‘Welcome To The Dollhouse’ (due March 18th). An eclectic Pop/Urban/Dance fusion, with ‘Dollhouse’ the ladies prove their worth and then some.

The rousing Missy Elliot-assisted ‘Bad Girl’ lifts the album off to a great start. With its up-tempo, whimsical production – courtesy of Danja - and clever play on the album’s title concept (‘When the red light comes on I transform’), the track sets the tone for the rest of the record. Elsewhere, the metaphorically steamy ‘Striptease’, as well the club-destined ‘Pretty Boy’ (both also produced by Danja) are standouts. The great reception of the album’s lead single ‘Damaged’ also speaks for itself.

Markedly more Pop sounding than their 2006 debut, ‘Dollhouse’ possess a distinct appeal to a broader audience. The synthpop sounding ‘Sucka For Love’ – a personal favourite – as well as ‘Lights Out’ are good examples of this; as are edgy standouts ‘Poetry’ and ‘Is Anybody Listening?’

Despite its many highpoints, ‘Dollhouse’ isn’t without a few shortcomings. The gritty ‘Ecstasy’, which is somewhat reminiscent to the group’s first single ‘Show Stopper’, could have done without the Rick Ross feature – totally unneeded. ‘Street credibility’ may have been a reason, yet the end result makes it tempting to hit the skip button. What’s more, the Bryan Michael Cox produced ‘2 of You’ suffers from the text-book case of ‘awesome production, terrible lyrics’ - ‘You got me having breakfast in the afternoon…’ Ok then. ‘Ain’t Going Nowhere’ – a collaboration with fellow ‘Making The Band’ co-stars Day26 and Donnie- seems out of place on the otherwise very well flowing record.

With ‘Welcome To the Dollhouse’, Danity Kane, not only deliver a solid collection of sassy, assertive radio-ready hits, the ladies serve up their most cohesive effort yet – highlighting both their artistic growth and uniformity as a group. Indeed, one of the better releases so far this year, ‘Dollhouse’ sets the group head and shoulders above their competition. The successors to the girl-group thrown vacated by a certain Destiny’s Child, perhaps? A long shot, maybe, but Danity Kane are undoubtedly headed in the right direction

Review Courtesy of www.thatgrapejuice.net

Watch the Damaged Video Below!

Tori Spelling wrote a book

Tori Spelling Book Launch Cocktail Party Kitson, Los Angeles, CA, USA March 18, 2008 © Sara De Boer / Retna Ltd.

"Stori Telling" is Spelling's chance to set the record straight and let readers experience the unique life she's led--with its undeniable childhood privileges, successes, and regrets. 16-page full-color photo insert.
From The Publisher:
She was television's most famous virgin--and, as Aaron Spelling's daughter, arguably its most famous case of nepotism. Portraying Donna Martin on Beverly Hills, 90210, Tori Spelling became one of the most recognizable young actresses of her generation, with a not-so-private personal life every bit as fascinating as her character's exploits. Yet years later the name Tori Spelling too often closed--and sometimes slammed--the same doors it had opened.

sTORI Telling is Tori's chance to finally tell her side of the tabloid-worthy life she's led, and she talks about it all: her decadent childhood birthday parties, her nose job, her fairy-tale wedding to the wrong man, her so-called feud with her mother. Tori has already revealed her flair for brilliant, self-effacing satire on her VH1 show So NoTORIous and Oxygen's Tori & Dean: Inn Love, but her memoir goes deeper, into the real life behind the rumors: her complicated relationship with her parents; her struggles as an actress after 90210; her accident-prone love life; and, ultimately, her quest to define herself on her own terms.

From her over-the-top first wedding to finding new love to her much-publicized--and misunderstood--"disinheritance," sTORI Telling is a juicy, eye-opening, enthralling look at what it really means to be Tori Spelling.

Peter Sarssgard gets "An Education"

PETER SARSGAARD On the set of new film, "An Education" currently filming in London, England, March 18 2008. © Ian Allis / Capital Pictures / Retna

Anthony Minghella (1954-2008)

Sad news this morning. Word just hit the wires that Anthony Minghella has died. Just 54 years old, Minghella was a director very much in his prime. His trio of films (”The English Patient,” “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” and “Cold Mountain”), released between 1996-2003, garnered an impressive 24 Academy Award nominations.

Minghella’s filmmaking recalled the masters of another time. Films like “Cold Mountain” and in particular his Best Picture-winning “The English Patient” bore the scope and romantic classicism of a David Lean. Put simply, few filmmakers were doing the kind of work Minghella clearly had a gift for. In recent years Minghella had released “Breaking and Entering,” starring Juliette Binoche and Jude Law to decidedly mixed reviews. His son, Max, has embarked on an acting career as well, with roles in “Art School Confidential,” and “Syriana.” Reportedly Minghella was to direct one portion of the anthology film, “New York, I Love You.”


Courtesy of MTV.com

Tyler Perry's MEET THE BROWNS

A funny, moving romantic drama about the power of love and family, Lionsgate’s TYLER PERRY’S MEET THE BROWNS marks another winning portrayal of life by producer/writer/director/actor Tyler Perry. The film features a return to the big screen by Perry’s beloved comic creation, the indomitable and outrageous Southern matriarch Madea.

A single mother living in inner city Chicago, Brenda (Academy Award® nominee and Golden Globe winner Angela Bassett – WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT) has been struggling for years to make ends meet and keep her three kids off the street. But when she’s laid off with no warning, she starts losing hope for the first time – until a letter arrives announcing the death of the father she’s never met. Desperate for any kind of help, Brenda takes her family to Georgia for the funeral. But nothing could have prepared her for the Browns, her father’s fun-loving, crass Southern clan. In a small-town world full of long afternoons and country fairs, Brenda struggles to get to know the family she never knew existed…and finds a brand new romance that just might change her life.

Based on the popular stage production of the same name, TYLER PERRY’S MEET THE BROWNS is a charming story about the joys of family, and the possibility of second chances. The film also stars Rick Fox, David Mann, Tamela Mann, Irma P. Hall, Margaret Avery, Jenifer Lewis and Sofia Vergara. TYLER PERRY’S MEET THE BROWNS was produced, written and directed by Tyler Perry, and produced by Reuben Cannon.

View the Trailer:

SXSW Coverage!

Click on the photo to see who, where and when. Check back for updates SXSW photos, videos and more!

Kate Moss Likes Art.

Kate Moss
Originally uploaded by retnablog

Kate Moss at the opening of Barbara Hulanicki's new exhibition of illustrations entitled The Art of Barbara Hulanicki, at The Coningsby Gallery, London. 10/03/08.

Carson Daly Loves Beer.

Fergal Murray & Carson Daly
Originally uploaded by retnablog

Fergal Murray & Carson Daly pictured as Carson Daly learns the art of the Perfect Pint from Guinness Brewmaster Fergal Murray at The Perfect Pint Pub in New York City on March 13, 2008.

shoWest

Rick Ross ft. T-Pain: The Boss

Dr. Drew works wonders (sometimes)

marycarey
Originally uploaded by retnablog

I found this photo browsing Retna and noticed that Mary Carey looks really great now. That VH1 show, celebrity rehab may have done wonders for Mary.

Gilligan's Mary Ann smokes pot

Wells, Dawn
Originally uploaded by retnablog

DRIGGS, Idaho (AP) — Dawn Wells, who played Mary Ann on "Gilligan's Island," is serving six months' unsupervised probation after allegedly being caught with marijuana in her car.

She was sentenced Feb. 29 to five days in jail, fined $410.50 and placed on probation after pleading guilty to one count of reckless driving.

Under a plea agreement, three misdemeanor counts — driving under the influence, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance — were dropped.

On Oct. 18, Teton County sheriff's Deputy Joseph Gutierrez arrested Wells as she was driving home from a surprise birthday party that was held for her. According to the sheriff's office report, Gutierrez pulled Wells over after noticing her swerve and repeatedly speed up and slow down. When Gutierrez asked about a marijuana smell, Wells said she'd just given a ride to three hitchhikers and had dropped them off when they began smoking something. Gutierrez found half-smoked joints and two small cases used to store marijuana.

The 69-year-old Wells, founder of the Idaho Film and Television Institute and organizer of the region's annual family movie festival called the Spud Fest, then failed a sobriety test.

Wells' lawyer, Ron Swafford, said that a friend of Wells' testified that he'd left a small amount of marijuana in the vehicle after using it that day, and that Wells was unaware of it. Swafford also said several witnesses were prepared to testify that Wells had very little to drink at the party and was not intoxicated when she left. He said she was swerving on the road because she was trying to find the heater controls in her new car.

Courtesy of Associated Press

March 11th Birthdays

MaddensJM00004813
Originally uploaded by retnablog

Joel & Benji Madden (29)
Johnny Knoxville (37)
Anton Yelchin (19)
Thora Birch (26)
Terrence Howard (39)
Lisa Loeb (40)
Peter Berg (44)
Alex Kingston (45)
Sam Donaldson (74)
Rupert Murdoch (77)

Star Jones is getting divoreced

Star Jones
Originally uploaded by retnablog

Star Jones and her husband of three and a half years, Al Reynolds, split in January and are getting divorced according to reports. Oh, whatever could be the reason? A source says:

They hadn't been seeing eye to eye for months and had already spent a great deal of time apart," a friend of the couple told the Enquirer. "Finally, Star decided it was over. She told Al at the end of January that he had 30 days to get his act together or 'get out."'...As for reason behind the split, the source added, "I think Star felt Al had spent their marriage riding her success while she did all the heavy lifting. She resented it. Deep down, Star is a very old-fashioned woman who believes a man should support her emotionally, physically and financially. She now believes Al failed her."

courtesy of dlisted.com

I've never thought of Star Jones as a demanding person at all! How very surprising....

Clooney is getting married

Sarah Larson & George Clooney
Originally uploaded by retnablog

Long-time Hollywood bachelor, George Clooney, is reportedly planning to marry Sarah Larson, his girlfriend since mid-2007. A Fear Factor winner, Larson met Clooney when she served him drinks at the Palm Casino Hotel in Las Vegas. Marie Claire says:

One restaurant worker in Laglio, the town where Clooney has a villa, said: 'They haven't made any announcement yet, but there are people in this town who know more than me. They say the couple are already engaged.' Since Sarah met George she has ditched her £100,000-a-year job to join the jet-set, and has since enjoyed romantic trips to Venice, Dubai, Miami and his Lake Como hideaway. But it was the Oscars destination that really set tongues wagging: Sarah was the first woman to be invited to walk the red carpet with Clooney. George previously enjoyed romances with Renee Zellweger and Lisa Snowdon but, the source says, he's finally found someone 'he wants to really give it a go with'."


Wow, Italian villas, romantic getaways to exotic locations, and the Oscars? I wonder why a cocktail waitress would agree to marry George Clooney? It's because of the way he communicates with her and never undervalues her feelings, I bet.

courtesy of dlisted.com

Janet Jackson Hospitalized

JanetJackRD011710
Originally uploaded by retnablog

Janet Jackson was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on March 10, 2008, due to shortness of breath.


How come all celebrities get taken to the same hospital in Los Angeles?

Madonna Inducted

Madonna & Justin Timberlake
Originally uploaded by retnablog

Madge was induced into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last night in NYC and it was a night full of laughs. Justin Timberlake introduced Madge and used this time to make a joke about Brit Brit Spears.

He said, "The world has always been full of Madonna wannabes and I might have even dated a couple." Is Jay Leno writing his jokes?

He went on to say, "She has still found time to kiss someone I may or may not have publicly kissed myself while I was in the audience. Of course you know I was talking about Sean Penn." Leno is totally writing his jokes.

When Madge finally accepted her award she called the audience "motherfuckers" and talked about her past drug use. She's so hardcore rock and roll. She said she split a tab of ecstasy with an A&R exec Michael Rosenblatt after she gave him her demo tape. She also talked about smoking joints in front of her publicist, Liz Rosenberg, back in the day.

Courtesy of dlisted.com

March 9th Birthdays

Emmanuel Lewis
Originally uploaded by retnablog

Emmanuel Lewis (37)
Bow Wow (21)
Brittany Snow (22)
Chingy (28)
Kerr Smith (36)
Juliette Binoche (44)
Linda Fiorentino (50)
Mark Mancina (51)
Joyce Van Patten (74)

You can't get enough of Sara Bareilles

You've seen that commercial a million times, but only know 1 line of the song because of it. here's the video for the rest.

Linkin Park Donates

Linkin Park
Originally uploaded by retnablog

Mike Shinoda, of Linkin Park, pictured at a memorabillia dedication at the Joint in The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on March 6, 2008.

No Mo' J.Lo

Marc Anthony & Jennifer Lopez
Originally uploaded by retnablog

TMZ has learned not only has Jennifer Lopez sold her baby pics to People mag for a cool $6 mil -- she got the mag to agree to stop calling her J.Lo! A source tells TMZ J.Lo made the deal and threw in the moniker clause as well. We're also told J.Lo instructed People, in addition to the loot and the name thing, that her hubby, Annie Leibovitz wannabe Marc Anthony, has to be the one to shoot the photos."

MGMT at SXSW

Cynthia Nixon is happy

Cynthia Nixon
Originally uploaded by retnablog

Cynthia Nixon hasn't really talked much about her 4-year relationship with Christine Marinoni. The two live in Brooklyn together with Cynthia's two kids. Cynthia ended her relationship with her children's daddy the same year she hooked up with Christine. Cynthia finally opened up to the media.

Cynthia told OK! Magazine, "I'm in a fantastic relationship. It's been about four years. I'm in love with [Christine] because she's her. If she were a man, would I be in love with her? I don't know. We shop and cook and raise children - we both pitch in." Christine isn't a man? Since when?!

Cynthia also said her kids were fine with her coming out, "My son was very little [when it happened], but my daughter has a gay uncle [and her godmothers] are lesbians."

Caution: Gnarls Barkley may cause seizures. (Watch it here!)

Gnarls Barkley teamed up with Justin Timberlake for their new song “Run” but the video’s strobe effects are more than some people can handle; a revision has been deemed necessary in order to protect from epileptic seizures.

The video for “Run,” the first single from Gnarls Barkley’s sophomore effort, “The Odd Couple,” is famous before ever being seen it would seem. It was correctly reported in the media earlier this week that the video has such strobe effects that could trigger epileptic seizures.

It was incorrectly reported though that MTV had banned the video because of its potential health risk. MTV.com reported Wednesday that “Run” has not been banned but that an edited (and safe) version will be aired on the network.

According to an MTV spokesperson, MTV’s international channel, MTV U.K., initially rejected the video but has accepted a revised version. The clip, having been already scheduled to premiere on “TRL” Thursday, will be presented to the world as planned and is set to go into rotation on Monday. The only difference is its strobe effects have been tempered.

The clip is heavily ‘80s influenced, has a definite psychedelic feeling and features a surprise cameo from Justin Timberlake, all decked up as the Jheri-curled host of dance show “City Vibin’” where Gnarls Barkley are performing on.

Of Timberlake’s participation, vocalist Thomas “Cee-Lo” Callaway said the “SexyBack” singer volunteered. “Justin’s a real cool dude, and he did his thing,” he told MTV News.

Cee-Lo and multi-instrumentalist/producer Brian “Danger Mouse” Burton released their first album, “St. Elsewhere,” in 2006; it spawned the hugely successful single “Crazy.”

Their musical collaboration earned the duo two Grammy awards in 2007, for Best Urban/Alternative Performance (“Crazy”) and Best Alternative Music Album (“St. Elsewhere”).

“The Odd Couple” is set to be released on April 8. The second single, “Who's Gonna Save My Soul,” and an accompanying video will follow.

“Run” ran into trouble after failing the Harding Test, which monitors strobe effects in video content to ensure there’s no risk of seizures.

Courtesy of efluxmedia.com

My main question on this whole thing is, "MTV runs videos still? Really?" I hadn't noticed.

Patrick Swayze

Patrick Swayze
Originally uploaded by retnablog

Patrick Swayze's rep has confirmed the story to PageSix.com. He said Patrick was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer about a month ago. Patrick is receiving treatment at Stanford University Medical Center.

I really thought the story was all sorts of bogus. This is heartbreaking...

UPDATE: His rep issued this statement to TMZ, "Patrick Swayze has been diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer and is currently undergoing treatment. Patrick's physician Dr. George Fisher states, 'Patrick has a very limited amount of disease and he appears to be responding well to treatment thus far. All of the reports stating the timeframe of his prognosis and his physical side effects are absolutely untrue. We are considerably more optimistic.' Patrick is continuing his normal schedule during this time, which includes working on upcoming projects. The outpouring of support and concern he has already received from the public is deeply appreciated by Patrick and his family."

Courtesy of dlisted.com

Falling Slowly

Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
Falling Slowly from the Oscar winning Once

Salma Hayek wanted a boy

Salma Hayek
Originally uploaded by retnablog

Salma Hayek told Glamour Magazine that when she was knocked up with her daughter, she was really hoping for a boy. She said, "I have something to confess, I wanted a boy. Probably because I was afraid. I think women suffer more a bit more than boys, and there is always conflict between mother and daughters.

"But now that she's here, I'm so happy she's a girl. And I can't imagine there ever being conflict between us, because I'm in a state of innocence where I love everything she does."

Courtesy of DListed.com