Crossing the Blues

Friday, December 31, 2010

MTV's Abortion Special 'No Easy Decision' Saw Raw Emotions

MTV aired a raw and bold documentary called "No Easy Decision" as a holiday special and it presented an issue as hard as its title. The spin-off to "16 and Pregnant" follows the reality show's alumna Markai Durham who fell pregnant for the second time. It highlights the emotional distress that Markai went through until she reached the decision to abort the baby.

Markai, who actually was banned from talking to the press before the episode aired, wrote on her Facebook page to prepare viewers of what they would see. "I thought I was on birth control," she wrote on early Tuesday morning. "I thought I was protected I thought this would have never been anything I would have to go through. But it just shows you ...you will never know."

She continued, "If your pro-life I understand. If your pro-choice hey Im with you. If your anti-abortion I was you. Each and everyone of you I listen to. Even if its only calling me names or disrespecting me because of my decison. (sic)."

In the half-hour show, Markai said, "We can't take care of another baby. Abortion is the best choice for us." She called several clinics to find out more about her options, received information about the differences between a medical and a surgical abortion and broke in tears after the call was over. She said, "I never thought [abortion] would be an option for me."

She was six weeks into the pregnancy when she had the abortion. At the end she concluded, "I wouldn't choose abortion as a first option for anyone, but it was the best decision for me. I know I'll make it through."

Michael Jackson's Fans and Estate Executors Want 'Autopsy' Canceled

Michael Jackson's fans and estate are protective of his image, forcing Discovery Channel to cancel the plan to air an upcoming special that re-enacts the late singer's autopsy. John Branca and John McClain who act as Michael's executors have written a letter to the channel's CEO David Zaslav, and they are backed up by more than 9,000 online petitions from fans.


In their letter, the executors said, "Your decision to even schedule this program is in shockingly bad taste, insensitive to Michael's family and appears motivated solely by your blind desire to exploit Michael's death, while cynically attempting to dupe the public into believing this show will have serious medical value."

"We were especially outraged when a sickening print advertisement for the program appeared making light of Michael's death by depicting a corpse sprawled on a steel gurney covered by a sheet with a hand sticking out wearing Michael's signature glove."

The program which is deemed "exploitative" is set to air on January 13 in the U.K. Discovery is yet to comment on the protest as of press time.

'Bend It Like Beckham' Is the First Western Film Aired on North Korean TV

North Korean censors have lifted a movie ban to give citizens to a rare treat this week - a televised screening of British film "Bend It Like Beckham". Western films are largely banned in the country but an edited version of the 2002 movie, starring Keira Knightley and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, was broadcast on December 26.

The hour-long edit, arranged by the British Embassy and monitored in Seoul, was a break from the regular state programming of news, documentaries and soap operas. "Bend It Like Beckham", referring to soccer star David Beckham, features several topics considered taboo in North Korea, including interracial relationships, homosexuality and religion.


In a Twitter.com posting on Thursday, December 30, British Ambassador to South Korea Martin Uden called it the "1st ever western-made film to air on TV" in North Korea.

'Lost' Is Most Pirated TV Show of 2010


Cult series "Lost" and "Heroes" are the two most pirated TV shows on BitTorrent in the year of 2010, TorrentFreak has found out. These are the exact two shows that also topped the list in 2009 although the number of illegal downloads slightly decreases this year.

"Lost" scored higher than "Heroes" which came out as the winner last year. A single episode was downloaded almost 6 million times, while the estimate U.S.
TV viewers is 13.5 million. "Heroes", which aired its very last episode in February, was downloaded 5.4 million while its average viewership on TV is 5.3 million.

"Heroes" is one of the examples of how TV viewing habits have steadily changed throughout the years worldwide. While in the U.S. the number of downloaders has declined due to alternatives like Hulu, those in Australia and Europe remain "at pretty much the same level as last year".

At the same time, the demand for U.S. TV shows increases but it takes weeks and even months before the show debuts overseas. Those not patient enough turn to BitTorrent. The top 10 most pirated shows are below while the numbers are available at TorrentFreak.com.
  1. "Lost"
  2. "Heroes"
  3. "Dexter"
  4. "The Big Bang Theory"
  5. "House M.D."
  6. "How I Met Your Mother"
  7. "24"
  8. "True Blood"
  9. "Glee"
  10. "Family Guy"

'X Factor' Alum Cher Lloyd Signed to Jay-Z's Roc Nation

 Cher Lloyd might not be the 2010 winner of "The X Factor", but she took one step ahead of her fellow "X Factor" friends by landing a record deal in the U.S. with rap mogul Jay-Z. "Even though Cher didn't do terrifically well in the X Factor finals, there's been a hell of a lot of interest in her," a source said.

Before sealing the deal with Roc Nation, Cher reportedly was in the middle of bidding war between will.i.am and Jigga. "All the labels are on the lookout for sassy, young female artists with bags of attitude, and Cher fits that bill perfectly," the source gushed. "will.i.am's backing only intensified the battle to get her signature."


Actually, Cher has caught Jigga's attention before will.i.am set his eyes on the girl. Early this month, Jigga's partner Tinchy Stryder testified, "Cher is a real target for Jay-Z because she's proved she can sing really well, rap - and she's got great stage presence."

The insider went on, "After weighing up the pros and cons, it was thought that the team at Roc Nation would be best placed to turn her dreams of stardom into a reality." Now the singer who finished at the fourth place on the "X Factor" is sharing home with young rising star Willow Smith.

Although Cher and will.i.am did not end up in the same label, that doesn't stop them to make a duet. Previously joining forces on the live stage of the TV show, Cher and the Black Eyed Peas star have entered studio for a duet track. "Cher loyd (sic) and I went in the studio and made a mega smasher... Hey cher, when should we release the song we recorded in london???...(Its a smasher)," he tweeted.

Britney Spears' 'Hold It Against Me' Will Come Out on Jan. 7

Next week, Britney Spears will give the first taste to her new album via its lead single "Hold It Against Me". The news was revealed by Sharon Dastur, program director for New York's Z100, in an interview featured in the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly.

"It's produced by Dr. Luke and Max Martin," Dastur spilled the beans. "And the beat that they give her is really unique compared to other artists - this infectious bass beat beneath the song. Plus, the hook is just amazing. It will be out on January 7."

Lyrics of the song have been circulating on the web, and audition for dancers in the music video has been held. On top of that, Dr. Luke revealed on Twitter that one of the instruments used to record the single has been donated for good cause. He wrote, "The guitar donated for charity in sweden was used on britney's 1st single."

Britney is eying to release the new album, which is yet to be titled, in March next year. The latest music maker who is rumored to join Danja, Darkchild and Sean Garrett as her A-list crew reportedly is production and songwriting team Xenomania. They have previously worked with the likes of Kylie Minogue, Sugababes and Cher.

Eminem Pays Tribute to Proof in Leaked Song 'Difficult'

Eminem's songs keep flooding the web. After being heard on all-star track "Syllables" and collaborating with Jazmine Sullivan in "Cocaine", now the Slim Shady salutes fellow rapper Proof, the former member of D12, in another song "Difficult".

Proof was gunned down in a nightclub in 2006, and the Slim Shady devotes his verses to remember him in this track. His usual furious rhymes turn into soft, gentle ones when talking about his late friend, "I don't know where it came from, but it just stuck with us, we was always brothers/ Never thought about each other's skin colors."

"Doody, most of my life it's just been me and you there/ I continuously stare at pictures of you. I never got to say 'I love you' as much as I wanted to, but I do/ Yeah, I say it now when you can't hear me/ What the f*** good does that do me now?/ But somehow I know you're near me."

Eminem has also paid homage to Proof in "Recovery" song "You're Never Over". He raps, "If Proof could see me now, I know he'd be proud/ Somewhere in me deep down, there's something in me he found/ That made him believe in me, no one can beat me now."

New Katy Perry Leaked Song 'Part of Me'

Katy Perry's never-heard-before track called "Part of Me" has just surfaced. The 26-year-old singer resents an unnamed ex-boyfriend in this pop/rock song, talking about walking out of his life with head held high and stating that he won't ever bring her down.

"Days like this I want to drive away/ Pack my bags and watch your shadow fade/ 'Cause you chewed me up and spit me out/ Like I was poison in your mouth/ You took my light, you drink me down/ That was then and this is now, now look at me," she sings. "This is the part of me that you're never gonna ever take away from me."


The song reportedly comes from production hands of duo top-notch music makers Max Martin and Dr. Luke. It is allegedly an unreleased track from Perry's summer album "Teenage Dream" and will be added to the re-release package which is expected to come out next year.

In the meantime, the next single from the album is ready to roll out. It's reportedly a futuristic single called "E.T." which recently got a remix featuring British rising star Tinie Tempah. The song was chosen based on fans' advice. "Thanks for all your great suggestions for the next single today!" she wrote on her Twitter. "Your voice has been heard! We're on the same page..."

Justin Timberlake's New Song 'Take You Down' Surfaces

Around the same time Katy Perry's song "Part of Me" leaks, a track called "Take You Down" which is claimed to be Justin Timberlake's emerges. The drum-driven song is reportedly produced by The Neptunes and revolves around a guy flirting with the girl he desires.

"Let me get that drink now for you, I'll keep it filled tonight/ A little secret for ya, I'm a gentleman before midnight," he croons. "I've seen my magic/ What's your looks and your religion?/ And I want you to understand that I can make you feel better/ So it's me and you, my place, sexiness all day/ I'mma do whatever you like, if you cater to me all night, girl."

There is no official word on what project the song is recorded for, but rumor suggested it's just a demo. The others even doubt that it's really a Justin Timberlake song since in some parts, the singer in the song doesn't exactly sound like the former NSYNC star.

Justin's music career itself is currently put on a break as he is now focusing on acting. But, he doesn't rule out to appear on other singers' songs, and most recently collaborated with Jamie Foxx and T.I. in a track called "Winner". His next offering might be a duet with Drake for the Canadian rapper puts him on his bucket list.

"One thing that's in the works -- one thing that I haven't mentioned to anybody yet but will right now. I've always wanted to work with him and it's in the works right now; me and Justin Timberlake will probably have a song soon," Drizzy once said. "I'm really excited about that, 'cause I've wanted to work with Justin for a long time. And we've recently talked about it, and I think we're going to make it happen."

New 'Kung Fu Panda 2' TV Spot Looking Forward to the Year of Awesomeness

 Just in time of the New Year's Eve, DreamWorks SKG unleashes a TV spot for "Kung Fu Panda 2" that gives us a notice to prepare for the year of awesomeness. Not much is offered from the scenes beside Po, who is this time featured alongside The Furious Five, running and jumping off a cliff.

In this "Kung Fu Panda" sequel, Po's new life as The Dragon Warrior is threatened by the emergence of a formidable villain, who plans to use a secret, unstoppable weapon to conquer China and destroy kung fu. To stop this, Po must look to his past and uncover the secrets of his mysterious origins; only then will he be able to unlock the strength he needs to succeed.

Original voice cast including Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross and James Hong return, joined by the likes of Jean-Claude Van Damme, Michelle Yeoh and Victor Garber.


Jennifer Yuh Nelson directs the animated comedy, previously known as "Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom", which is set to entertain moviegoers in the U.S. on May 27, 2011. 

'Little Fockers' Took the Lead in U.K. Box Office

Ben Stiller's new comedy "Little Fockers" has flown straight to the top of the British box office after dominating the holiday season. The latest installment in the hugely successful "Meet the Parents" franchise toppled the third "Chronicles of Narnia" film from the top of the sequel-heavy chart this week.

"Little Fockers" took $4.5 million ahead of "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" with $1.39 million. Britain's festive box office chart was dominated by follow-ups, with "Tron Legacy" ($729,975) in third place, followed by "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I" ($624,834).

Bollywood action film "Tees Maar Khan" rounded out the top five, with $479,805.

Director Pulls Out of 'Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark' Chat

"Spider-Man" musical director Julie Taymor has axed plans to discuss the beleaguered Broadway production at a public speaking engagement. Taymor had agreed to appear at a New York Times event on January 8 to be interviewed by theater reporter Patrick Healy about "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark".

But she has now withdrawn from the talk to continue overseeing rehearsals of the stage show. Her representative explains, "With the changes to the Spider-Man production schedule, Julie will be deep in rehearsals and will not be available to participate." Refunds are being offered to ticket holders.


aymor's show has suffered a number of setbacks, including delays and onstage stunt accidents. The musical is due to open in February 2011.

Brad Pitt's 'Cogan's Trade' to Start Filming in New Orleans in March

Brad Pitt is going to head to New Orleans for the filming of "Cogan's Trade" in March 2011. He is reportedly attached to portray the title character in the film, based on George V. Higgins novel about Jackie Cogan. According to Scene Magazine, the movie is expected to shoot entirely in the New Orleans area.

This project will reunite Pitt with "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" director Andrew Dominick and co-stars Casey Affleck as well as Sam Rockwell. Other possible cast members are Josh Brolin, Mark Ruffalo, Javier Bardem, Bill Murray and Zoe Saldana, the site reports.


"Cogan's Trade" will additionally become the first film Pitt shoots in Louisiana since 2008 "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". The actor and his living partner Angelina Jolie share a residence in the city.

"Cogan's Trade" is a crime thriller that revolves around Jackie Cogan, a professional enforcer who investigates a heist that takes place during a high stakes poker game under protection of the mob. Andrew Dominick will write in addition to directing the movie.

'True Grit' and 'Black Swan' Music Ineligible for Oscar

 
The scores for "True Grit" and "Black Swan" have been ruled out of the Oscar race - because they feature too much existing music. Officials at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences have selected 77 film scores for members to vote on between now and January 14, when the ballots are due - and there are some big omissions.

The Academy bosses have disqualified Clint Mansell's "Black Swan" score and Carter Burwell's "True Grit" music - because they feature themes from Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" and sections from 19th-century music, respectively. Burwell's "The Kids Are All Right" score has also been disqualified because the film was "diluted" by having too many songs on the soundtrack, according to EW.com.

Composer James Newton Howard leads the Best Score list with four eligible efforts for "Salt", "Love and Other Drugs", "The Last Airbender" and "The Tourist", while another Oscars favorite, Alexandre Desplat, and David Arnold have three apiece. Clint Eastwood is also on the shortlist for his Hereafter music. The nominations will be announced on January 25.

Battle Scene in 'Breaking Dawn' Reportedly Sees Edward and Bella's Deaths

"The Twilight Saga's Breaking Dawn" will allegedly feature two contradictory things, life and death. While welcoming their daughter Renesmee, Edward and Bella will be seen dead in the second part of the film, says a source who claims to have read the script.

According to Lainey Gossip (via Hollywood Life), this bloody scene happens as the Volturi confront the Cullens about their half vampire/half human child, Renesmee. While in the book the conflict is solved with talking, both parties are almost involved in brutal killings in the film version.

[SPOILER ALERT!] Fortunately, it is just a vision that Alice shares with Aro. The details read, "Alice touches that head [Volturi] guy. When she touches the [Volturi] guy he 'sees' what will happen if he continues his course. So, the first person whose head comes off is Carlisle. In the vision."

"Then everything goes to s**t and all kinds of dying happens. And Bella and Edward kill Aro. Bella and Edward, they die too. All these other people die, too. Jane and her brother. Lots of deaths on both sides. Then the [Volturi] guy snaps out of it, says he's sorry. Everybody makes up and lives happily ever after."

Split into two parts, "Breaking Dawn" will see the newfound married bliss of Bella and Edward cut short when a series of betrayals and misfortunes threatens to destroy their world. "The Twilight Saga's Breaking Dawn Part I" will come out November 18, 2011 in the U.S., while "The Twilight Saga's Breaking Dawn Part II" will be released a year later on November 16, 2012.

Both movies are shot back to back with Bill Condon serving behind the lens. Filming locations include Louisiana, Brazil, Vancouver and Mexico.

New 'Water for Elephants' Photos Show Robert Pattinson's Love for Rosie

Robert Pattinson portrays an animal lover in "Water for Elephants" and it has been highlighted in some new pictures from the film. The depicter of veterinarian Jacob is seen lying on an elephant called Rosie in one image, while another picture sees him wearing dull clothes and having some fun with the 4.5 ton elephant.

The images appear on People magazine and the scans can be found here. Additionally, there is a photo showing Jacob dancing with Reese Witherspoon's Marlena and the other image features the twosome along with Marlena's husband August, who is portrayed by Christoph Waltz.

"Water for Elephants" follows Jacob who meets and falls in love with Marlena, a star performer in a circus of a bygone era. They discover beauty amidst the world of the Big Top, and come together through their compassion for a special elephant. Against all odds - including the wrath of Marlena's charismatic but dangerous husband, August - Jacob and Marlena find lifelong love.

The story is based on bestseller book by Sara Gruen with the same title. Richard LaGravenese turns the novel into a script, while Francis Lawrence directs the movie. This drama is set for April 22, 2011 release in the U.S.

'Stargate Atlantis' Movie Shelved Following 'SGU' Cancellation

A planned big screen adaption of "Stargate Atlantis" has been shelved "indefinitely" following the cancellation of sci-fi TV show "Stargate Universe" earlier this month. The series, a spin-off from popular 1994 film "Stargate", will come to an end in the spring, and the axing of the show appears to have put plans for a movie on hold.

TV show "Stargate Atlantis" aired from 2004 to 2009. In a post on his blog, executive producer Joe Mallozzi reveals, "I'm sorry to say, but the cancellation puts the brakes on whatever progress the SGA movie had made in the past month. Contrary to what some may think, the cancellation of SGU is very bad news for those looking forward to an Atlantis movie."

Teaser for Wong Kar Wai's 'The Grandmasters' Arrives

A teaser to Wong Kar Wai's next film "The Grandmasters" has been made available for viewing pleasure. It, however, does not offer a look at the footage from the film but features some letters which come in and out on black background.

Some posters from the film were unveiled at Los Angeles' American Film Market last November and can be seen here. Additionally, there is a picture which gives a look at Zhang Ziyi in her character's costume.


Little is known about the story but it is a story of martial-arts master Ip Man, played by Tony Leung. The existing plotline says, "In martial arts there is no right or wrong, only the last man standing." The action drama, that will mark Wong Kar Wai's first kung fu movie, is expected to come out sometime in 2011. 

Kourtney Kardashian's Man Explodes at 'F**kin' Idiot' Photographer

Kourtney Kardashian's man exploded at one of the paparazzi who surrounded his family while at Miami International Airport on Thursday, December 30. Scott Disick reached a boiling point and yelled at one photographer who was actually about two meters away from his baby Mason.

The couple's publicist had actually tried to send away the snappers but they didn't budge. "How close can you get??"
Disick threw a fit as seen on TMZ's video. "Stand back, you f***ing idiot. Don't get that f**king close to me!!!" He then attempted to calm down and said, "I mean he's this f***ing close to my kid man."

Kardashian kept her cool all the time while carrying Mason. But she defended Disick's action later on a blog, writing "Paparazzi beware. Please don't get too close to Mason. We don't like it. Stay at a friendly distance, don't ask dumb questions and we can all get along."

TMZ said Disick and his family left the airport minutes after the explosion without any further incidents.   



Prince William Wanted as Spokesperson for Hair Loss Brand

Bosses at hairloss firm Rogaine are courting balding royal Prince Williams for a major new ad campaign. The heads of the haircare company want the groom-to-be to become a spokesman for them - and they're sending him a basket of goodies ahead of his 2011 wedding to Kate Middleton in the hope he'll be suitably impressed.

A company spokesman tells Life & Style magazine, "We've been watching Prince William's growing bald spot closely for years, and we believe Rogaine can help. We'd love to send him our new Unscented Men's Rogaine Foam.
William would be the perfect spokesman for Rogaine because whether you're a prince or an average Joe, hereditary hair loss affects one in four men."

"When he's on the altar and the world is looking at the back of his head, he won't have to worry about the hair that's not there."

Naomi Watts Served as Maid of Honor in Australia

Naomi Watts acted as maid of honor at the wedding of one of her longtime friends in Australia on Thursday, December 30. The Hollywood actress, who grew up Down Under, spent the festive season in Sydney and this week fulfilled a promise to her friend, film publicist Emma Cooper, by acting as her chief bridesmaid.

Watts' partner Liev Schreiber was also involved in the nuptials at Sydney's Shore Chapel, giving a reading during the ceremony, while Australian actor Simon Baker and "Without a Trace" star Anthony La Paglia were also in attendance.

Cooper, daughter of director Guy Cooper, married Australian television writer Henry Cripps. Watts is godmother to the couple's six-month-old son Casper and they all live in the same New York neighborhood.

Michelle Williams Is 'Proud' of Oral Sex Scene With Ryan Gosling

Michelle Williams has defended a controversial sex scene in her movie "Blue Valentine", insisting she is "proud" to have filmed the risque clinch. The actress plays Ryan Gosling's lover in the drama, which was initially stamped with a restrictive NC-17 rating because of a graphic oral sex scene between the two stars.

Williams admits she was baffled by the decision, since she is adamant there was nothing "scandalous" about the shoot. She tells Reuters, "When we shot that scene, both Ryan and (director) Derek (Cianfrance) said to me, 'If this bothers you when you see it in the movie, we'll take it out.' "


"I thought, 'I've never seen that before in a movie and I'm proud to be the first. Good on us for making that happen.' As the woman in the situation that was in question, I found absolutely nothing scandalous, tawdry or disgusting about it."

Film censors at the Motion Picture Association of America's Classification and Rating Administration agreed to release the movie with an R rating after studio bosses challenged their original decision.

Charlie Sheen Gives iPad to 'Two and a Half Men' Crew for Christmas

Charlie Sheen and his "Two and a Half Men" co-stars reportedly handed every crewmember an Apple iPad for Christmas as thanks for their contribution to the award-winning series. The actor's involvement with the hit show was in doubt following a bust-up with his wife Brooke Mueller on Christmas Day last year which left him facing criminal charges - putting the staff's jobs at risk. He agreed to sign on for more episodes of the series until 2012 - and to reward the loyal "Two and a Half Men" crew, Sheen and his fellow screen stars gifted every worker with this year's must-have gadget, according to Deadline.com. In August, Sheen was sentenced to 30 days in jail in relation to the Mueller incident, which was suspended pending his completion of a court-ordered rehab program in Malibu, California.

Queen Elizabeth II's First Great Grandchild Is Born

Queen Elizabeth II has become a great-grandmother for the first time - and she's "delighted" with the baby news. The British monarch's grandson Peter Phillips - the son of the Queen's daughter, Anne, Princess Royal and Mark Phillips - and his wife Autumn welcomed their first child, a girl, at a hospital in Gloucestershire, south west England on Wednesday, December 29.

The birth was announced on Thursday and a spokesman for Buckingham Palace said the Queen and her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh are overjoyed at the addition to the family. A statement reads, "The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal, Captain Mark Phillips and Autumn's family have been informed and are delighted with the news."


The baby weighed in at eight pounds, eight ounces (3.9 kilograms) and her name had not been confirmed as WENN went to press. She becomes 12th in line to the British throne.

Boney M Star Found Dead in His Hotel Room

Boney M star Bobby Farrell has died at the age of 61. The singer, who was on tour in Russia, was found dead in his hotel room in St. Petersburg on Thursday, December 30 morning. Farrell's body was reportedly discovered by hotel staff after he failed to respond to a wake-up call.

The pop star's agent, John Seine, tells AFP, "(Farrell) was found dead in his bed... The cause of death is not known... He was not feeling well (on Wednesday night)... This morning, he did not wake up." Farrell performed as scheduled in the city on Wednesday night but reportedly complained of breathing difficulties before and after the show.


The vocalist, born Roberto 'Bobby' Alfonso Farrell, rose to fame with Boney M in the 1970s, scoring a number of hits including "Daddy Cool" and "By the Rivers of Babylon". The group disbanded in 1986, but Farrell continued to perform.

Michelle Williams and Daughter to Watch 'Brokeback Mountain' Together

Michelle Williams plans to watch "Brokeback Mountain" with her daughter by Heath Ledger - so her little girl can see the film which brought her parents together. The actress met her late ex-fiance Ledger on the set of the cowboy drama in 2004 and they went on to welcome Matilda the following year.

The couple parted ways in 2007 and a year later, the actor died of an accidental overdose in his New York City apartment. Williams has since raised Matilda on her own, but she hopes to share the film with her daughter so the youngster can see her parents together.


She tells Angeleno Magazine, "What does that movie ('Brokeback Mountain') mean to me? That movie is many, many things... It is a piece of cinema history and I happen to be involved in it. There've been a few films that I have been so transported by the filmmaking that I couldn't focus... I felt like I got really close to the thing that I wanted to do and I was very proud... to be associated with it."

"I was just an actor who happened to be lucky enough to be in the right place, and it was the place where I met Matilda's father, and that is a lot. It was a lot. And it will be a lot for Matilda too, when she gets around to watching it."

"I will watch it with her, when she's ready. It is hard to imagine what that would feel like, but one day, yes, we will watch it together."

Ryan Phillippe 'Happy' for Ex-Wife Reese Witherspoon's Engagement

Actor Ryan Phillippe has publicly congratulated his ex-wife Reese Witherspoon upon her new engagement to Hollywood agent Jim Toth. Witherspoon and Toth began dating at the beginning of 2010, shortly after the actress split from Jake Gyllenhaal, and the couple have ended the year with an engagement.

Phillippe, who was married to the "Legally Blonde" star for seven years until they split in 2008, has congratulated his ex. He tells the New York Daily News, "I'm very happy for both Reese and Jim. I wish nothing but the best for the mother of my children."

Witherspoon and Phillippe share 11-year-old daughter Ava and seven-year-old son Deacon.

John Mellencamp Ends 18-Year Marriage

Rocker John Mellencamp has split from his wife of 18 years. The veteran songwriter's spokesperson announced on Thursday, December 30 that the star and his supermodel wife Elaine had parted ways.

The statement reads, "John and Elaine Mellencamp are proud of their 20 years together and are very happy with their accomplishments both as parents and as a family. They will continue to raise their two children in Indiana but have decided to call it a day as a couple."


The pair met when Elaine was hired to appear on the cover of his 1991 album "Whenever We Wanted" and they wed the following year. The couple went on to have two sons together, Hud and Speck. No reason has been given for their split.

Rupert Everett's Career Dies After Coming Out as Gay

Rupert Everett has become the latest gay star to speak openly about the downside of 'coming out', revealing he was shunned by Hollywood after he declared he was a homosexual. The "My Best Friend's Wedding" star, 51, admits he had to flee Hollywood after his big reveal two decades ago - because no one would hire him.

He tells the BBC, "I just never got a job there (in Hollywood), and I never got a job here (in Britain), after (coming out)... I never had another job here for 10 years, probably, and I moved to Europe."


His comments come just days after veteran Richard Chamberlain went public with his regrets about 'coming out' as a gay man. The "Thorn Birds" star has urged gay actors not to follow in his footsteps - insisting his homosexual admission has damaged his career. The 76-year-old star revealed his homosexuality in his autobiography, "Shattered Love", published in 2003 and he recently told gay publication The Advocate the confession wasn't a good career move.

He said, "There's still a tremendous amount of homophobia in our culture. For an actor to be working (at all) is a kind of miracle, because most actors aren't. So it's just silly for a working actor to say, 'Oh, I don't care if anybody knows I'm gay' - especially if you're a leading man."

"Personally, I wouldn't advise a gay leading man-type actor to come out... Despite all the wonderful advances that have been made, it's still dangerous for an actor to talk about that in our extremely misguided culture."

Rep: Ashley Greene NOT Engaged to Joe Jonas

Ashley Greene's publicist has dismissed reports boyfriend Joe Jonas proposed to the "Twilight" star over Christmas. The couple has been dating since the summer and they spent the festive season with Greene's family in Florida.

They jetted back to Los Angeles on Wednesday, December 29 night and the actress was spotted with a new gold band on her ring finger, prompting gossip the singer proposed over the holidays. But Greene's rep has been quick to dispel the rumours, telling GossipCop.com the speculation is "untrue".

The talked-about ring is indeed none like a wedding band.

Top 10 Most Shocking Celebrity Stories of 2010

Compared to last year, 2010 is 'tamer'. Nothing can beat the shocking meter of Michael Jackson's death in June 2009 or when Chris Brown almost choked Rihanna to death in February that year. But 2010 does have its iotas, predominantly the splits of high-profiled celebrities which number is higher as it nears the holiday season.

AceShowbiz presents ten of the most shocking celebrity stories in the past 12 months, starting with Lily Allen's miscarriage in the month of November and ending with one of the biggest celebrity scandals of the year.

#10 Lily Allen Miscarried Six Months Into Pregnancy


Lily Allen had miscarriage for the second time

For the second time, Lily Allen had miscarriage. Unlike the first one in December 2007 when she was pregnant with Ed Simons' baby and then lost it within two months, Allen already experienced the second pregnancy for a full six months. It was revealed then that she had a viral infection and suffered from stomach cramps before losing the baby, which belongs to Sam Cooper. Allen's health was indeed in trouble. Few days later she was back on the hospital for potentially lethal blood-poisoning condition called septicaemia.

#09 Amber Heard Came Out of Closet


Amber Heard debuts girlfriend at GLAAD

Amber Heard was every men's sexual fantasy, named among Maxim's Hot 100 Women and FHM's 100 Sexiest Women in three consecutive years starting 2008. Then the "Pineapple Express" actress came out of the closet publicly by walking down the red carpet of GLAAD 25th Anniversary Party with her lesbian partner Tasya van Ree. The 24-year-old decided to come out of the closet because she doesn't want to be "a part of the problem." She said, "I personally think that if you deny something or if you hide something you're inadvertently admitting it's wrong. I don't feel like I'm wrong. I don't feel like millions of people are wrong because they love who they love or they were born how they were born."

#08 Mel Gibson's Ugly Split With Oksana Griegorieva


Mel Gibson and Oksana Griegorieva split went ugly

Mel Gibson and Oksana Griegorieva did not quietly separate like most couples but their split came to a full blown domestic violence when she claimed to have taped him throwing racist, profanity-laced tirade at her. Oksana is the woman said to have become Mel's close companion as his wife of 28 years Robyn filed for divorce, the most expensive marriage break-ups in legal history. In the alleged tape Mel said, "You're an embarrassment to me. You look like a f***ing pig in heat, and if you get raped by a pack of n***ers, it will be your fault." The "Braveheart" actor also referred to Oksana as a "wh**e" and "c**t". The nuclear separation continued with custody battle of their infant daughter and the mess was not yet cleaned by the end of the year.

#07 Bret Michaels Had Near-Death Experience


Bret Michaels rushed to hospital for brain bleeding

Bret Michaels could have been no more, but he survived. In April this year the rocker was admitted to ICU for brain hemorrhage and was in "critical" condition for days. Doctors put him under 24 hours supervision while they tried to locate the source of bleeding. He woke up a day after rushed to the hospital and tried to talk although it was still slurred. He was released from the hospital but was wheeled back few days later when he suffered numbness on the left side of his body which doctors described warning stroke. The medical team found a hole in his heart but unlike the hemorrhage, it was treatable. Michaels made a full recovery by July, emerging as the winner of "The Celebrity Apprentice" in May and proposing to his long-time girlfriend in December.

#06 Laurence Fishburne's Daughter Is a Porn Star


Montana Fishburne put her dad to shame

If there were a case of a child putting his/her parents to shame in a grand scale, then it would be Montana Fishburne. Her father Laurence Fishburne led a clean life before 18-year-old Montana came to the press with her own shocking announcement. She was making a serious push to break into Hollywood with a hardcore sex tape which was picked up by Vivid Entertainment. She reasoned, "I've watched how successful Kim Kardashian became and I think a lot of it was due to the release of her sex tape." Deeply hurt, Laurence refused to comment on this but paid for her treatment in a facility to help her deal with anger management and mental issues.

#05 Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds Divorce


Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds in their happier days

If 2009 can be identified as the year marred with celebrity deaths, then 2010 would be the year of splits. Towards the end of the year, more and more high-profiled couples announced their separation starting with Courteney Cox, continuing with Christina Aguilera and ending with Scarlett Johansson. Together with her husband, Ryan Reynolds, Johansson was notorious for keeping their married life private, seldom seen in public together. People have actually put doubt on their relationship because Johansson was only 24-year-old and they had only dated slightly more than a year. But the actress insisted that in married life, she found a security which apparently didn't last long. Two days before Christmas, the couple went on with their divorce proceeding.

#04 Lady GaGa Risks It With Meat Dress


Lady GaGa makes fashion statement at MTV VMAs

Lady GaGa wearing something dramatic is something common but she took it to the extreme at the red carpet of 2010 MTV Video Music Awards in September when she showed up in a meat dress. Made entirely out of raw beef, the short dress was completed with a meat purse and a pair of meat-covered shoes. The first one to react? PETA called it "offensive enough to bring comment", adding "more people upset by butchery than impressed by it". Defending her move, GaGa said it was not meant to offend vegans but to make a statement that she is "not a piece of meat". A week before that, GaGa had also tested PETA's temper by posing in a meat bikini for Vogue Hommes Japan. For creating a controversy, Time magazine editors placed it as the number one Fashion Statement of 2010.

#03 Brittany Murphy's Widower Died 5 Months After Her


Simon Monjack followed his late wife to heaven

Call this an irony or a 'till death do us part, Brittany Murphy's widower was found dead five months after she died for the exact cause. Simon Monjack who frequently said how heartbroken he was when his wife died in December 2009, was found unconscious by his mother-in-law on May 23 this year in the master bedroom. "Just like Brittany," Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter said while confirming that he died from pneumonia and severe anemia. Four days later, he was laid to rest next to Murphy at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles. On her daughter's one year death anniversary, Sharon Murphy said that she still pretends that they are still around.

#02 Demi Lovato Punched Dancer in the Face


Demi Lovato before entering rehab

The good girl image frequently attached to Disney stars is now arguable since Demi Lovato becomes the next after Miley Cyrus to prove otherwise. Few months after she broke up with Joe Jonas, Lovato entered rehab for "emotional and physical issues", so sudden that she had to pull out of a tour with Jonas Brothers. Her rep said she was taking a personal responsibility before the truth came out that she actually punched a female friend in the face. The victim Alex Welch, a backing dancer in her tour, threatened to sue her but Lovato's team managed to reach a financial agreement before Christmas to avoid court battle. To date, it is still unclear what happened that day. Many said it occurred on a flight back to Los Angeles where Lovato decided to confront Welch for telling on her about her night-out.

#01 Sandra Bullock's Husband's Dirty Laundry


Jesse James' dirty laundry came out after Oscars

For Sandra Bullock, 2010 is a bittersweet year. She won an Academy Award at the beginning of March but lost her husband's faithfulness less than two weeks after she proudly walked the red carpet of Oscars with him. A tattoo model by the name of Michelle 'Bombshell' McGee claimed she enjoyed an 11-month affair with Jesse James while Bullock was on location shooting "The Blind Side". Bullock skipped several public appearances following the news and went into hiding for several weeks, bouncing back to the limelight with an announcement that she is mother to a newborn baby. Louis Bardo Bullock from New Orleans was actually adopted while Bullock and James were still together but the actress has since filed for divorce and declared status as single mother.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

'Sexiest Asian Men'





Bieber, Gomez kissing picture fake?

 
Teen sensation Justin Bieber’s representative says the picture which appears to show the singer kissing Selena Gomez is fake.
The picture of the two singing stars, who are rumoured to be dating, began circulating on the internet Tuesday, reports femalefirst.co.uk.
‘This is not Selena nor is it Justin. Someone is trying to shop around false pictures,’ said Bieber’s representative.
Gomez had recently dismissed reports the pair enjoyed a breakfast date earlier this month. But according to the latest buzz, the duo spent the night together at a Miami, Florida hotel Dec 17.