Camila Alves may have started her career as a model, but she's more than just a pretty face.
Alves joined forces with her mother to create Muxo, a line of handbags inspired by the natural beauty she's encountered while traveling the world. The former 'Shear Genius' host will debut Muxo by Camila Alves during QVC's presentation of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on Friday, Feb. 11, at 10PM ET.
Fans of Alves shouldn't be surprised that Muxo is a family collaboration. The doting mother of two has made no secret about her devotion to her children and partner, Matthew McConaughey.
"Family for me comes first, more than anything because if that's not good, then everything else is not gonna be good," said Alves.
PopEater sat down with Camila Alves to talk about Muxo, her super stylish son, Levi, and what it's like to be trailed by the paparazzi. Read the full interview after the jump.
You're a busy mom of two young children, a television host, a red carpet staple and a handbag designer. How do you do it all?
Sometimes I gotta start my day at 4 in the morning in order to get things done. I'm not the most organized person out there, but I am becoming very organized, learning to be organized and learning to try to get the most amount of things done in a short amount of time. Just balance, I love that word, I love to lead my life that way.
Health and happiness and family, those things are priceless -- that's first, that's gotta be good and happy and healthy, and everything else follows after that.
What does the name of your line, Muxo, mean?
It means Goddess of the water in an African language. Reason why I chose that is because I think that women are kind of like the water, that beauty that you can't explain, that mystery. You don't know what is really under there. Women [have] that beauty and mystery, and I wanted to relate that in the name of the handbag.
Are we going to see you return to television soon?
You're gonna see me on QVC soon!
The world has fallen in love with your son, Levi! He's so fashionable for a 2-year-old.
I've got all these people that are fans of my son's style. And I'm like "What?!" I didn't know this because we don't follow that stuff. He gets more fashion spreads than me and Matthew together.
Look, we don't try to do that. Me and my mom, we're designers, that's part of what we do for a living. I was modeling for a lot of years. I've been around fashion forever. My mom is in that world. I guess it just comes out. We don't try to! A lot of things we do, [like] his suspenders, I know people love his suspenders; we made those.
The paparazzi seems to follow your every move. Do you feel pressure to maintain a certain image or be super fashionable?
Some people live by that. I actually have appreciation for people who do it. I'm like, "How can you live like that?" I have a hard time doing it. But people do it, and it's awesome, I'm impressed. I have a hard time doing it just because we really try to keep our life as simple as we can. We don't have a thousand people working for us, doing everything we need to do. We're very hands on with everything.
I had two babies in two years. I had the TV show. [Muxo] is doing great. We had so many things that happened. We've been traveling for six months; I haven't been home for six months. We've been so, so busy, but I feel that I'm just now coming out of a cloud of so many things going on. Now I can think straight, my hormones are down to a normal level since having the second baby! Hopefully you see me a little more established walking around.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Does Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' Rip Off Madonna's 'Express Yourself'?
People are already going crazy for Lady Gaga's anthemic new single, 'Born This Way.' But we couldn't help but notice that in just about every article or review of the song (not to mention your comments, beloved PopEater readers), people are calling out its similarity to Madonna's 'Express Yourself,' with some even claiming it's a blatant rip-off.
While we wouldn't go that far -- we love Madonna (you have no idea), but people give her so much credit as a pop innovator you'd think she built the first synthesizer with her bare hands -- it's impossible to not see the thematic and melodic parallels between Her Madgesty's pop classic and Gaga's latest club jam.
If imitation really is the sincerest form of flattery, Madonna should be feeling pretty good this morning. People are loving Gaga's new tune, but the big story that has emerged since its debut this morning is its rather obvious similarity to the Material Girl's 'Express Yourself' (there's also a little 'Deeper and Deeper' in there, too, if you ask us).
The buzz has sent the Internet aflutter, with "Madonna," "Born This Way" and "Express Yourself" all trending on Twitter, and headlines from The Atlantic ("Is Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' a Rip-Off of Madonna's 'Express Yourself'?") to the Washington Post ("Lady Gaga's New Song, 'Born This Way,' Premieres Online. We think Madonna Will Like It") drawing the comparison.
But as Vulture notes, "['Born This Way'] has Gaga, an artist constantly compared to Madonna, cheerfully swiping some melodies from Madonna's 'Express Yourself' -- because this is not the kind of song where that feels like a big deal, or anything much at all seems like a big deal."
Exactly. To us, Gaga's new tune feels like more of an homage than a rip-off. The 'Bad Romance' singer has made no secret of her respect for Madonna, and with that in mind, there's no way the thematic and musical similarities between 'Born This Way' and 'Express Yourself' were not purposeful. With its full-on disco swagger and lyrics about self-acceptance, Gaga is taking a page straight out of the Madonna handbook and not apologizing for it.
And why should she? Just about every female pop star -- from Britney Spears and Rihanna to Katy Perry and Christina Aguilera, whose 'Not Myself Tonight' video got raked over the coals last spring for borrowing imagery from the 'Express Yourself' video -- has been accused of aping Madonna at some point. At least when Gaga does it she has the class and pop sensibility to do it right. 'Born This Way' isn't a poor-man's retread of 'Express Yourself'; it takes the feel and concept of that empowerment anthem and ups the ante. Gaga cranks the bass and opens the door to everybody -- and it's something we should be celebrating her for.
'Express Yourself' -- song and video -- remains a high point in Madonna's particular brand of pop culture feminism, and in a lot of ways, it's probably her most successful "message" song. And sure, 'Born This Way' is cut from the same cloth, but who cares? Twenty-two years after 'Express Yourself' topped the charts, it's about time someone dropped a self-acceptance tune that holds a candle to the Queen of Pop's showstopper.
Let's just hope Gaga's likely-to-be-awesome video for 'Born This Way' -- she reportedly already filmed the clip with her 'Telephone' and 'Paparazzi' director Jonas Akerlund, himself a longtime collaborator of Madonna's (he directed her videos for 'Ray of Light,' 'Music' and, most recently, 'Celebration') -- is half as good as Madge's legendary David Fincher-directed clip for 'Express Yourself.'
What do you think, PopEater readers? Do you think 'Born This Way' hews too closely to 'Express Yourself,' or is Gaga simply paying her respects (in the best way she knows how) to the Queen of Pop?
While we wouldn't go that far -- we love Madonna (you have no idea), but people give her so much credit as a pop innovator you'd think she built the first synthesizer with her bare hands -- it's impossible to not see the thematic and melodic parallels between Her Madgesty's pop classic and Gaga's latest club jam.
If imitation really is the sincerest form of flattery, Madonna should be feeling pretty good this morning. People are loving Gaga's new tune, but the big story that has emerged since its debut this morning is its rather obvious similarity to the Material Girl's 'Express Yourself' (there's also a little 'Deeper and Deeper' in there, too, if you ask us).
The buzz has sent the Internet aflutter, with "Madonna," "Born This Way" and "Express Yourself" all trending on Twitter, and headlines from The Atlantic ("Is Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' a Rip-Off of Madonna's 'Express Yourself'?") to the Washington Post ("Lady Gaga's New Song, 'Born This Way,' Premieres Online. We think Madonna Will Like It") drawing the comparison.
But as Vulture notes, "['Born This Way'] has Gaga, an artist constantly compared to Madonna, cheerfully swiping some melodies from Madonna's 'Express Yourself' -- because this is not the kind of song where that feels like a big deal, or anything much at all seems like a big deal."
Exactly. To us, Gaga's new tune feels like more of an homage than a rip-off. The 'Bad Romance' singer has made no secret of her respect for Madonna, and with that in mind, there's no way the thematic and musical similarities between 'Born This Way' and 'Express Yourself' were not purposeful. With its full-on disco swagger and lyrics about self-acceptance, Gaga is taking a page straight out of the Madonna handbook and not apologizing for it.
And why should she? Just about every female pop star -- from Britney Spears and Rihanna to Katy Perry and Christina Aguilera, whose 'Not Myself Tonight' video got raked over the coals last spring for borrowing imagery from the 'Express Yourself' video -- has been accused of aping Madonna at some point. At least when Gaga does it she has the class and pop sensibility to do it right. 'Born This Way' isn't a poor-man's retread of 'Express Yourself'; it takes the feel and concept of that empowerment anthem and ups the ante. Gaga cranks the bass and opens the door to everybody -- and it's something we should be celebrating her for.
'Express Yourself' -- song and video -- remains a high point in Madonna's particular brand of pop culture feminism, and in a lot of ways, it's probably her most successful "message" song. And sure, 'Born This Way' is cut from the same cloth, but who cares? Twenty-two years after 'Express Yourself' topped the charts, it's about time someone dropped a self-acceptance tune that holds a candle to the Queen of Pop's showstopper.
Let's just hope Gaga's likely-to-be-awesome video for 'Born This Way' -- she reportedly already filmed the clip with her 'Telephone' and 'Paparazzi' director Jonas Akerlund, himself a longtime collaborator of Madonna's (he directed her videos for 'Ray of Light,' 'Music' and, most recently, 'Celebration') -- is half as good as Madge's legendary David Fincher-directed clip for 'Express Yourself.'
What do you think, PopEater readers? Do you think 'Born This Way' hews too closely to 'Express Yourself,' or is Gaga simply paying her respects (in the best way she knows how) to the Queen of Pop?
Giuliana Rancic Reveals Her Sweetest Valentine's Day Memory
After three years of marriage, E! News host Giuliana Rancic and her husband Bill are keeping the spark alive and planning a fun and romantic Valentine's Day.
"Bill is cooking me dinner," she told PopEater at the Red Dress Awards in New York. In return, she'll be giving him a 30-minute massage. "I hate giving backrubs, but he's obsessed with them," she revealed.
But nothing will compare to the couple's first Valentine's Day together. "Bill got a suite at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago and snuck a tiny box into my pajamas, so as I was putting them on, the box fell out. Inside was a diamond heart necklace with a sweet inscription on the back," she said of her favorite Valentine's Day memory. To this day, she's never told anyone what it says. It's the couple's "little secret." Aww!
The 'I Do, Now What?' power couple, who married in 2007, understand marriage takes work, but they've learned to "be spontaneous and spice it up" to keep the passion alive. "It's also about taking time to connect with each other and not taking each other for granted," she added.
"Bill is cooking me dinner," she told PopEater at the Red Dress Awards in New York. In return, she'll be giving him a 30-minute massage. "I hate giving backrubs, but he's obsessed with them," she revealed.
But nothing will compare to the couple's first Valentine's Day together. "Bill got a suite at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago and snuck a tiny box into my pajamas, so as I was putting them on, the box fell out. Inside was a diamond heart necklace with a sweet inscription on the back," she said of her favorite Valentine's Day memory. To this day, she's never told anyone what it says. It's the couple's "little secret." Aww!
The 'I Do, Now What?' power couple, who married in 2007, understand marriage takes work, but they've learned to "be spontaneous and spice it up" to keep the passion alive. "It's also about taking time to connect with each other and not taking each other for granted," she added.
Carrie Underwood's Husband Traded to Her Favorite Place: Nashville!
Carrie Underwood can say "so long" to Canada, for now at least. Her husband, hockey player Mike Fisher, has reportedly been traded from the Ottawa Senators to the Nashville Predators -- right in the heart of country music!
Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations and General Manager David Poile released a statement regarding Fisher's move.
"We were seeking a top-six forward, and Mike Fisher was the player we set our sights on," Poile said. "Mike's playoff experience will be invaluable to our team, and he immediately makes our team stronger and deeper."
The move couldn't be to a better city in Underwood's eyes. She recently opened up to Detriot radio station WYCD about her and Fisher's love for Nashville, according to OK! Magazine.
"We both love Nashville," she said. "I envision myself living there long after I have kids and long after I'm done singing and all that stuff, just because it's a great place to live."
She continued, "You can work, you can write, you can record, you can shoot videos and all that stuff, but you can also find land and spread out a bit."
Underwood and Fisher wed last July in Georgia. But while the newlyweds continue to work and settle into their new Nashville home, Fisher will also be busy making the trade a worthwile one for the Predators.
According to the team's press release, the Predators acquired Fisher from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for the team's first-round pick in the 2011 draft and a conditional pick in the 2012 draft. The conditional pick is Nashville's third-round selection if the Predators win one round in the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and turns into a second round pick in next year if the team wins more than two rounds.
Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations and General Manager David Poile released a statement regarding Fisher's move.
"We were seeking a top-six forward, and Mike Fisher was the player we set our sights on," Poile said. "Mike's playoff experience will be invaluable to our team, and he immediately makes our team stronger and deeper."
The move couldn't be to a better city in Underwood's eyes. She recently opened up to Detriot radio station WYCD about her and Fisher's love for Nashville, according to OK! Magazine.
"We both love Nashville," she said. "I envision myself living there long after I have kids and long after I'm done singing and all that stuff, just because it's a great place to live."
She continued, "You can work, you can write, you can record, you can shoot videos and all that stuff, but you can also find land and spread out a bit."
Underwood and Fisher wed last July in Georgia. But while the newlyweds continue to work and settle into their new Nashville home, Fisher will also be busy making the trade a worthwile one for the Predators.
According to the team's press release, the Predators acquired Fisher from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for the team's first-round pick in the 2011 draft and a conditional pick in the 2012 draft. The conditional pick is Nashville's third-round selection if the Predators win one round in the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and turns into a second round pick in next year if the team wins more than two rounds.
Peggy Rea, of 'Waltons' and 'Dukes of Hazzard' Fame, Dies at 89
Actress Peggy Rea, best known for her roles on 'The Waltons,' 'Dukes of Hazzard' and 'Grace Under Fire,' died Saturday at her home in Toluca Lake, Calif. She was 89. The cause of death was heart failure, according to The New York Times.
Rea became a fixture on television in the late 1970s and early 1980s, playing Olivia Walton's cousin Rose on 'The Waltons' and Boss Hoggs wife Lulu on 'The Dukes of Hazzard.' The actress also appeared on 'All in the Family,' 'The Golden Girls' and 'Step By Step.'
In the late 1940s, Rea moved from her native Los Angeles to New York City to pursue a career on the stage. She appeared in Tennessee Williams' 'A Streetcar Named Desire' and Cole Porter's 'Out of this World' before returning to LA and giving up acting for nearly a decade to work as a production secretary on 'Gunsmoke.'
She made a few appearances on 'I Love Lucy' in 1953, but didn't return to acting full time until 1962, with a role in 'Have Gun – Will Travel.' Rea went on to make countless TV appearances and was featured in a variety of films, including 'In Country' with Bruce Willis, 'Love Field' with Michelle Pfeiffer and 'Devil in a Blue Dress' with Denzel Washington.
Rea's last TV role was as Jean Kelly, the feisty mother-in-law to Brett Butler's titular character on the sitcom 'Grace Under Fire.'
Rea became a fixture on television in the late 1970s and early 1980s, playing Olivia Walton's cousin Rose on 'The Waltons' and Boss Hoggs wife Lulu on 'The Dukes of Hazzard.' The actress also appeared on 'All in the Family,' 'The Golden Girls' and 'Step By Step.'
In the late 1940s, Rea moved from her native Los Angeles to New York City to pursue a career on the stage. She appeared in Tennessee Williams' 'A Streetcar Named Desire' and Cole Porter's 'Out of this World' before returning to LA and giving up acting for nearly a decade to work as a production secretary on 'Gunsmoke.'
She made a few appearances on 'I Love Lucy' in 1953, but didn't return to acting full time until 1962, with a role in 'Have Gun – Will Travel.' Rea went on to make countless TV appearances and was featured in a variety of films, including 'In Country' with Bruce Willis, 'Love Field' with Michelle Pfeiffer and 'Devil in a Blue Dress' with Denzel Washington.
Rea's last TV role was as Jean Kelly, the feisty mother-in-law to Brett Butler's titular character on the sitcom 'Grace Under Fire.'
Heidi Montag Spent $2 Million on Failed Music Career
Heidi, Heidi, Heidi -- do you really think you can be the next Britney, Christina or Lady Gaga? Apparently she does, because the reality star spent $2 million on a music career that failed to take off, according to RadarOnline. But now, Heidi Montag claims she's been given a second chance to fulfill her dreams.
The aspiring singer, 24, says she has hired Deb Antney, mother of rapper Waka Flocka Flame, as her new manager.
"I spent $2 million on my music career, and it didn't happen for me, and now I have this opportunity," Montag said.
Her new opportunity comes thanks to husband Spencer Pratt's reported new career as a rapper.
"Spencer is going into the studio with Waka Flocka Flame, and I requested that his mother Deb Antney meet with me and manage me, because she is just fabulous," she said. Antney currently works with top stars, including Nicki Minaj and Gucci Mane, through her Atlanta-based company, Mizay Entertainment.
Montag hopes she can use this second chance in the music industry to let people in on the "real Heidi" -- not the person they saw on reality TV.
"I've never been able to be the true Heidi, and now that I am not working on 'The Hills,' I can really focus on this."
She's also looking to teaming up with others in the business.
"While Spencer is working with Waka Flocka, I'm going to do some tracks with [jazz singer] Eric Nolan Grant," she said. They are reportedly working together in the studio later this month.
Montag claims she has what it takes to make it and she's looking to make a mark in the music industry.
"I want to make my own niche in the music world, that's just Heidi," she said. "It could be a Pink meets Britney Spears."
No word on when we'll get to hear some of Montag's new songs.
The aspiring singer, 24, says she has hired Deb Antney, mother of rapper Waka Flocka Flame, as her new manager.
"I spent $2 million on my music career, and it didn't happen for me, and now I have this opportunity," Montag said.
Her new opportunity comes thanks to husband Spencer Pratt's reported new career as a rapper.
"Spencer is going into the studio with Waka Flocka Flame, and I requested that his mother Deb Antney meet with me and manage me, because she is just fabulous," she said. Antney currently works with top stars, including Nicki Minaj and Gucci Mane, through her Atlanta-based company, Mizay Entertainment.
Montag hopes she can use this second chance in the music industry to let people in on the "real Heidi" -- not the person they saw on reality TV.
"I've never been able to be the true Heidi, and now that I am not working on 'The Hills,' I can really focus on this."
She's also looking to teaming up with others in the business.
"While Spencer is working with Waka Flocka, I'm going to do some tracks with [jazz singer] Eric Nolan Grant," she said. They are reportedly working together in the studio later this month.
Montag claims she has what it takes to make it and she's looking to make a mark in the music industry.
"I want to make my own niche in the music world, that's just Heidi," she said. "It could be a Pink meets Britney Spears."
No word on when we'll get to hear some of Montag's new songs.
Kate Middleton is Related to...Ellen DeGeneres?
The royal wedding is just a few short months away, but it looks like Prince William and Kate Middleton might need to add an extra seat for the bride-to-be's newly discovered family member: Ellen DeGeneres.
"Hold onto your crumpets, everybody," the talk show host said on her show as she shared the news in a segment titled 'Ye Olde Wedding Watch,' according to E! Online.
DeGeneres received a letter from the New England Genealogical Society -- which she joking thought was a letter from her "lady doctor" -- revealing she was in fact a distant cousin of Middleton.
"You are distant cousins ... but cousins still the same," the letter said, claiming the future royal and talk show host are 15th cousins, related by a man named Sir Thomas Fairfax and his wife, Agnes Gascoigne.
"I'm definitely invited to the wedding now!" DeGeneres told her live audience. "Between the Packers winning the Super Bowl and this, I'm having a good week."
Middleton is set to marry Prince William on April 29 at Westminster Alley.
Watch the video of DeGeneres revealing the news on 'Ellen' below!
"Hold onto your crumpets, everybody," the talk show host said on her show as she shared the news in a segment titled 'Ye Olde Wedding Watch,' according to E! Online.
DeGeneres received a letter from the New England Genealogical Society -- which she joking thought was a letter from her "lady doctor" -- revealing she was in fact a distant cousin of Middleton.
"You are distant cousins ... but cousins still the same," the letter said, claiming the future royal and talk show host are 15th cousins, related by a man named Sir Thomas Fairfax and his wife, Agnes Gascoigne.
"I'm definitely invited to the wedding now!" DeGeneres told her live audience. "Between the Packers winning the Super Bowl and this, I'm having a good week."
Middleton is set to marry Prince William on April 29 at Westminster Alley.
Watch the video of DeGeneres revealing the news on 'Ellen' below!
Jamie Foxx Brawl Aftermath
Jamie Foxx was held in a headlock last night before club security broke up the brawl and dragged the other guy out in a choke hold ... and TMZ obtained video from inside the club seconds after the fight.
As we first reported, Jamie got into a scuffle at the Belvedere Red party at Avalon last night. According to an eyewitness who was in the thick of things, Foxx and the other guy were in a long conversation -- and a pretty intense handshake -- when the guy suddenly pulled Jamie down and put him in a headlock.
We're told it took security about 20 seconds to pull the guy off Jamie and then drag him out.
No cops were called and there were no injuries.
UPDATE: We just got our hands on video of the fight taken from a balcony above.
As we first reported, Jamie got into a scuffle at the Belvedere Red party at Avalon last night. According to an eyewitness who was in the thick of things, Foxx and the other guy were in a long conversation -- and a pretty intense handshake -- when the guy suddenly pulled Jamie down and put him in a headlock.
We're told it took security about 20 seconds to pull the guy off Jamie and then drag him out.
No cops were called and there were no injuries.
UPDATE: We just got our hands on video of the fight taken from a balcony above.
Ashlee and Pete -- They Were In Different Marriages
It's as if Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz were in two different marriages ... sources connected with the couple tell TMZ.
TMZ broke the story ... Ashlee filed for divorce Wednesday. Turns out she's been "extremely unhappy for a long time," so says one source familiar with the situation. Ashlee has wanted out of the marriage for a while.
Meanwhile, Pete was happy with the marriage and had no idea Ashlee had reservations about the union.
When Ashlee told Pete she wanted out, he begged her to change her mind, our sources say. As recently as yesterday, Pete has been crying, asking Ashlee to give the marriage another try.
We're told Ashlee isn't budging. As we already reported, she feels Pete's "erratic behavior" has made the marriage impossible.
TMZ broke the story ... Ashlee filed for divorce Wednesday. Turns out she's been "extremely unhappy for a long time," so says one source familiar with the situation. Ashlee has wanted out of the marriage for a while.
Meanwhile, Pete was happy with the marriage and had no idea Ashlee had reservations about the union.
When Ashlee told Pete she wanted out, he begged her to change her mind, our sources say. As recently as yesterday, Pete has been crying, asking Ashlee to give the marriage another try.
We're told Ashlee isn't budging. As we already reported, she feels Pete's "erratic behavior" has made the marriage impossible.
Kelsey Grammer and Kayte At City Hall For Wedding!
Kelsey Grammer and Kayte Walsh just left City Hall in New York City for a wedding, but it wasn't theirs ... TMZ has learned.
Kelsey's daughter, 27-year-old Spencer (who stars in the ABC Family show "Greek"), got married to James Hesketh in a City Hall ceremony.
The photo shows Kelsey and Kayte, along with Kelsey's son Jude, at a counter at City Hall, but we're told they were not applying for a marriage license.
As TMZ first reported, Kelsey's divorce from Camille was finalized Thursday ... freeing him up to marry Kayte Walsh.
Sources tell us Kelsey and Kayte hope to tie the knot before the end of the month.
Earlier in the day, Kelsey was out and about and even hit up a jewelry shop.
Kelsey's daughter, 27-year-old Spencer (who stars in the ABC Family show "Greek"), got married to James Hesketh in a City Hall ceremony.
The photo shows Kelsey and Kayte, along with Kelsey's son Jude, at a counter at City Hall, but we're told they were not applying for a marriage license.
As TMZ first reported, Kelsey's divorce from Camille was finalized Thursday ... freeing him up to marry Kayte Walsh.
Sources tell us Kelsey and Kayte hope to tie the knot before the end of the month.
Earlier in the day, Kelsey was out and about and even hit up a jewelry shop.
NYC Celeb Gym Ordered to Vacate Over Fire Hazards
Tom Cruise, Kelly Ripa and Gwyneth Paltrow could have been spinning in their graves ... because TMZ has learned, the locker room in their NYC gym just got shut down over safety concerns.
City inspectors issued a vacate order this afternoon for the basement of the SoulCycle spinning gym in Union Square due to "hazardous conditions."
According to the order, the cellar has no functioning secondary means of exit ... and also fails to meet the building's fire code -- two serious violations.
The City also tells us, SoulCycle has been operating without several required permits -- including operating as a gym without proper City approval.
City inspectors issued a vacate order this afternoon for the basement of the SoulCycle spinning gym in Union Square due to "hazardous conditions."
According to the order, the cellar has no functioning secondary means of exit ... and also fails to meet the building's fire code -- two serious violations.
The City also tells us, SoulCycle has been operating without several required permits -- including operating as a gym without proper City approval.
Christina Aguilera -- Divorce Settled
Christina Aguilera and Jordan Bratman have reached a divorce settlement that was filed with the court ... TMZ has learned.
Sources tell us they will share joint custody of their son, Max, though the legal papers -- filed with the court Wednesday -- don't specify the terms of custody.
As for dividing up the goodies, as TMZ first reported, the couple had a prenup, but sources connected with Jordan tell us he got a little somethin' extra as part of the settlement.
As for what Christina got ... Jordan, who is repped by attorney Bruce Clemens, has FINALLY moved out of the house. Chrissy Christina, her new boyfriend Matt Rutler, and Jordan have all been living under the same roof. Jordan officially left a few days ago.
Although disso-queen Laura Wasser, who reps Christina, filed the final divorce papers Wednesday, the divorce won't be final until 6 months from the date it was originally filed ... so they will officially be single on April 15.
Sources tell us they will share joint custody of their son, Max, though the legal papers -- filed with the court Wednesday -- don't specify the terms of custody.
As for dividing up the goodies, as TMZ first reported, the couple had a prenup, but sources connected with Jordan tell us he got a little somethin' extra as part of the settlement.
As for what Christina got ... Jordan, who is repped by attorney Bruce Clemens, has FINALLY moved out of the house. Chrissy Christina, her new boyfriend Matt Rutler, and Jordan have all been living under the same roof. Jordan officially left a few days ago.
Although disso-queen Laura Wasser, who reps Christina, filed the final divorce papers Wednesday, the divorce won't be final until 6 months from the date it was originally filed ... so they will officially be single on April 15.
Cal preserves 1 Men's, 2 Women's Teams
California reinstated three teams Friday that were slated to be eliminated in a cost-cutting move after an aggressive fundraising campaign to keep the programs, while going ahead with plans to get rid of the baseball and men's gymnastics teams.
Chancellor Robert Birgeneau partially reversed a decision announced in September when he said that enough money has been raised to keep the men's rugby, women's lacrosse and women's gymnastics teams. The two women's teams had been slated for elimination, while men's rugby was going to be reclassified as a "varsity club sport."
"We're three-fifths of the way there and we're not going to stop," said former Cal and major league pitcher Doug Nickle, who was involved with the fundraising efforts for the group "Save Cal Sports." "We're heartened and also emboldened. We're energized. We take our licks and we'll keep coming back."
Campus officials said they received between $12 million and $13 million in pledges to retain the programs. They are confident that $8 million will be available for the three sports that were retained, covering all of their costs for seven to 10 years.
Vice chancellor Frank Yeary said the pledges specifically for baseball and men's gymnastics were insufficient. He said the baseball program raised between $1.5 million and $2.5 million, which would have covered its costs for about two years.
He said the supporters needed to come up with $10 million to achieve the goal of self-sustainability for the seven- to 10-year period.
"We're very impressed with the way the community has rallied," Yeary said. "The challenge for baseball is it is a larger sport in terms of costs. As a practical manner, they would have had to raise four, five or six times as much money as they raised to remain in position to be maintained. From the very beginning we said we simply could not agree to short-term or stopgap measures. We needed a sustainable solution."
Nickle disputes the university's numbers, saying his group raised $15 million and that the money the school is turning away would be more than sufficient to put baseball and men's gymnastics on firm footing.
He said officials never gave the baseball program the $10 million figure and he believes that target could have been reached if it was made clear. He said his group still will work to reinstate the two programs.
"We know the university has now made two wrong decisions," Nickle said. "The University of California deserves better. We will continue to work to provide better."
The plan to cut the sports was part of a broader campaign to reduce UC Berkeley's annual support for intercollegiate athletics from more than $12 million today to about $5 million in 2014.
That became even more necessary after Gov. Jerry Brown recently proposed an additional $500 million in cuts from the UC system budget, which would have taken about $80 million from the Berkeley campus.
"This was always about our ability to fund the programs," athletic director Sandy Barbour said. "This was about getting our expenses down to the point where we have a financial model that would fit with what the university was providing us in terms of institutional support."
Birgeneau said he did not believe the announcement in September was premature, even though three of the programs were eventually retained.
He said he sent a message to athletic department supporters 16 months ago that the cuts might be necessary and little was done to retain them until the announcement was made.
"My message engendered virtually no response for an entire year," he said. "The responses only came after the announcement of the cutting of sports. These sports had a full year to raise funds. But until the actual reality of no longer continuing the varsity sports was on the table, it was not until then that we got this wonderful response that we got now."
The decision to retain the two women's programs keeps Cal in compliance with Title IX under the provision that it was meeting the "interests and abilities" of its female student body.
Had the women's sports been eliminated, Cal would have been in violation and would have needed to make the percentage of female athletes proportionate to the overall female enrollment. To achieve that, the school would have had to undergo "roster management" -- a process that would have required the remaining men's teams to reduce their rosters by dozens of athletes, while substantially increasing spots on the remaining women's teams.
Part of the money to fund the two women's sports comes from donors to the men's rugby program, which needed the women's teams to stay alive in order for the school to remain in compliance with Title IX.
"Our donors have once again generously demonstrated their high regard for Cal rugby through their impassioned response to these financial challenges," coach Jack Clark said.
The decision to cut baseball leaves the flagship campus of the University of California as the only Division I school in the state not to field a baseball team.
Cal won the College World Series in 1947 and 1957 and had nine players appear in the major leagues last season. Perhaps the most notable player in its history is 2000 NL MVP Jeff Kent.
The Golden Bears, who open their season next week, are ranked 17th in the Baseball America preseason poll and are hopeful of making the NCAA tournament for the third time in four years.
"I never thought this day would happen, but you have to go forward," said infielder Tony Renda, who will transfer after the season.
Cal will honor the existing scholarships for the baseball and men's gymnastics athletes, although many have already started to look at transfer options.
Chancellor Robert Birgeneau partially reversed a decision announced in September when he said that enough money has been raised to keep the men's rugby, women's lacrosse and women's gymnastics teams. The two women's teams had been slated for elimination, while men's rugby was going to be reclassified as a "varsity club sport."
"We're three-fifths of the way there and we're not going to stop," said former Cal and major league pitcher Doug Nickle, who was involved with the fundraising efforts for the group "Save Cal Sports." "We're heartened and also emboldened. We're energized. We take our licks and we'll keep coming back."
Campus officials said they received between $12 million and $13 million in pledges to retain the programs. They are confident that $8 million will be available for the three sports that were retained, covering all of their costs for seven to 10 years.
Vice chancellor Frank Yeary said the pledges specifically for baseball and men's gymnastics were insufficient. He said the baseball program raised between $1.5 million and $2.5 million, which would have covered its costs for about two years.
He said the supporters needed to come up with $10 million to achieve the goal of self-sustainability for the seven- to 10-year period.
"We're very impressed with the way the community has rallied," Yeary said. "The challenge for baseball is it is a larger sport in terms of costs. As a practical manner, they would have had to raise four, five or six times as much money as they raised to remain in position to be maintained. From the very beginning we said we simply could not agree to short-term or stopgap measures. We needed a sustainable solution."
Nickle disputes the university's numbers, saying his group raised $15 million and that the money the school is turning away would be more than sufficient to put baseball and men's gymnastics on firm footing.
He said officials never gave the baseball program the $10 million figure and he believes that target could have been reached if it was made clear. He said his group still will work to reinstate the two programs.
"We know the university has now made two wrong decisions," Nickle said. "The University of California deserves better. We will continue to work to provide better."
The plan to cut the sports was part of a broader campaign to reduce UC Berkeley's annual support for intercollegiate athletics from more than $12 million today to about $5 million in 2014.
That became even more necessary after Gov. Jerry Brown recently proposed an additional $500 million in cuts from the UC system budget, which would have taken about $80 million from the Berkeley campus.
"This was always about our ability to fund the programs," athletic director Sandy Barbour said. "This was about getting our expenses down to the point where we have a financial model that would fit with what the university was providing us in terms of institutional support."
Birgeneau said he did not believe the announcement in September was premature, even though three of the programs were eventually retained.
He said he sent a message to athletic department supporters 16 months ago that the cuts might be necessary and little was done to retain them until the announcement was made.
"My message engendered virtually no response for an entire year," he said. "The responses only came after the announcement of the cutting of sports. These sports had a full year to raise funds. But until the actual reality of no longer continuing the varsity sports was on the table, it was not until then that we got this wonderful response that we got now."
The decision to retain the two women's programs keeps Cal in compliance with Title IX under the provision that it was meeting the "interests and abilities" of its female student body.
Had the women's sports been eliminated, Cal would have been in violation and would have needed to make the percentage of female athletes proportionate to the overall female enrollment. To achieve that, the school would have had to undergo "roster management" -- a process that would have required the remaining men's teams to reduce their rosters by dozens of athletes, while substantially increasing spots on the remaining women's teams.
Part of the money to fund the two women's sports comes from donors to the men's rugby program, which needed the women's teams to stay alive in order for the school to remain in compliance with Title IX.
"Our donors have once again generously demonstrated their high regard for Cal rugby through their impassioned response to these financial challenges," coach Jack Clark said.
The decision to cut baseball leaves the flagship campus of the University of California as the only Division I school in the state not to field a baseball team.
Cal won the College World Series in 1947 and 1957 and had nine players appear in the major leagues last season. Perhaps the most notable player in its history is 2000 NL MVP Jeff Kent.
The Golden Bears, who open their season next week, are ranked 17th in the Baseball America preseason poll and are hopeful of making the NCAA tournament for the third time in four years.
"I never thought this day would happen, but you have to go forward," said infielder Tony Renda, who will transfer after the season.
Cal will honor the existing scholarships for the baseball and men's gymnastics athletes, although many have already started to look at transfer options.
Unprecedented 42K in UFC ticket sales
In an unprecedented day of sales, the UFC sold 42,000 tickets for its UFC 129 event, which will be held April 30 at Rogers Centre in Toronto.
The total was considered 'presale' tickets, or tickets made available only to those in the UFC fan club. Tickets to the general public do not go on sale until Saturday.
UFC officials had predicted the event likely would set records in attendance and revenue for a North American MMA event and are prepared to open up additional seating at Rogers Centre.
The venue has held more than 60,000 in the past; however, it's expected the total number of seats made available for UFC 129 will not exceed much more than 50,000.
"We don't take anything for granted," said Tom Wright, UFC Director of Canadian operations. "We did a lot of homework. We've spent literally weeks and months figuring out how to best configure this stadium. We're making this jump from arena to stadium and we didn't leave anything to chance."
The current all-time attendance record for a North American MMA event is 42,757, set by a K-1 Dynamite!! card in June 2007, despite evidence that much of that attendance came from unpaid tickets. The top-attended card in UFC history is UFC 124, which drew 23,152 in December in Montreal.
Wright said the UFC has tried to limit brokers from getting their hands on tickets.
"There's no way to track that but we do our best to make sure our tickets get in the hands of our fans," he said. "You can only buy a limited amount. It's not like you can get online and buy 200 tickets. Every individual order is capped to a certain number. That certainly wasn't the situation we wanted to happen where there would be a secondary ticket market."
UFC 129 will be headlined by two title fights, both featuring Canadians. George St. Pierre looks to defend his welterweight belt against Jake Shields, and fellow Canadian Mark Hominick faces current featherweight champion Jose Aldo.
"I think we're going to find that this is the best experience fans have ever had," Wright said. "The No. 1 objective Dana [White] and Lorenzo [Fertitta] set was making sure that the fan experience was in no way compromised. I believe we've enhanced it for this fight."
The total was considered 'presale' tickets, or tickets made available only to those in the UFC fan club. Tickets to the general public do not go on sale until Saturday.
UFC officials had predicted the event likely would set records in attendance and revenue for a North American MMA event and are prepared to open up additional seating at Rogers Centre.
The venue has held more than 60,000 in the past; however, it's expected the total number of seats made available for UFC 129 will not exceed much more than 50,000.
"We don't take anything for granted," said Tom Wright, UFC Director of Canadian operations. "We did a lot of homework. We've spent literally weeks and months figuring out how to best configure this stadium. We're making this jump from arena to stadium and we didn't leave anything to chance."
The current all-time attendance record for a North American MMA event is 42,757, set by a K-1 Dynamite!! card in June 2007, despite evidence that much of that attendance came from unpaid tickets. The top-attended card in UFC history is UFC 124, which drew 23,152 in December in Montreal.
Wright said the UFC has tried to limit brokers from getting their hands on tickets.
"There's no way to track that but we do our best to make sure our tickets get in the hands of our fans," he said. "You can only buy a limited amount. It's not like you can get online and buy 200 tickets. Every individual order is capped to a certain number. That certainly wasn't the situation we wanted to happen where there would be a secondary ticket market."
UFC 129 will be headlined by two title fights, both featuring Canadians. George St. Pierre looks to defend his welterweight belt against Jake Shields, and fellow Canadian Mark Hominick faces current featherweight champion Jose Aldo.
"I think we're going to find that this is the best experience fans have ever had," Wright said. "The No. 1 objective Dana [White] and Lorenzo [Fertitta] set was making sure that the fan experience was in no way compromised. I believe we've enhanced it for this fight."
Garrett Wittels' playing status unclear
Shortstop Garrett Wittels' status for the start of Florida International's season -- when he was to resume pursuit of the NCAA Division I record hitting streak -- remains unclear after he was charged in a rape case in the Bahamas in December.
Wittels has a 56-game hitting streak and is chasing the 1987 record of 58 straight games with a hit, set by Robin Ventura of Oklahoma State. FIU opens its season Feb. 18.
But there's more hanging over Wittels than the continuation of the streak.
The university's decision on Wittels' status is expected next week, although the rape charge will likely be pending for several months.
Wittels declined to discuss specifics of the case in an interview with The Associated Press, on advice of his attorneys. He was freed on $10,000 bond and allowed to return home without entering a plea. Bahamian officials do not plan to begin a preliminary evidentiary inquiry until April.
"The day that everything came out, that was the hardest day of my life," Wittels said.
Wittels is accused of forcing sex on a 17-year-old girl. The age of consent in the Bahamas is 16. Wittels was with a group of friends, some of whom were charged with raping both the female who accused Wittels and another 17-year-old as well.
"I just put myself in a bad situation," Wittels said.
Coaches and close friends say that when Wittels is on the field or in the batting cage these days, he seems the way he was last season. Wittels batted .412, was the Sun Belt Conference's player of the year -- he was tabbed Friday as the preseason pick to win that award again -- and helped FIU reach the NCAA tournament.
When the streak was in jeopardy, he was at his best, going 7-for-7 in situations where he was down to his final at-bat without a hit.
For someone who hit .246 in 2009, last season was more than a breakthrough.
"He's handled it like an absolute champ," FIU coach Turtle Thomas said. "He is solid as a rock between his ears. He's been raised to expect to do well and be the best and practice hard, play hard. He's been raised to be a winner. And he's clutch. It could end Feb. 18 or it could go a long time into 2011."
Thomas was tightlipped when asked about Wittels' legal matters, saying only he has not lost any faith in his shortstop.
"None whatsoever," Thomas said.
ESPN plans to broadcast FIU's opening series. Wittels got more media attention than he thought possible last season, and finds himself curtailing use of Facebook and Twitter because he wants to keep some sense of privacy.
The constant attention, he says, can be too much.
"You can't really worry about what people think about you," Wittels said. "The No. 1 thing I've learned throughout this whole thing, really, is that you just have to know who you are and that the people who are around you are your backbone. You'll have your fans, your haters, all these people ... but the people around you are the ones who'll have your back."
FIU will gather Saturday for its annual start-of-season baseball banquet, and Wittels plans to wear his 2010 championship ring. He's only slipped it on a few times, choosing instead to simply look at it when he needs inspiration for this season.
It's a reminder of the storybook 2010 and makes him briefly forget everything -- positive and negative -- swirling around him.
"It can't be a one-year championship. It can't be one year of hitting .400," Wittels said. "Sports is about 'What have you done for me lately.' All I'm worried about right now is balls and strikes, wins and losses, just playing ball."
Wittels has a 56-game hitting streak and is chasing the 1987 record of 58 straight games with a hit, set by Robin Ventura of Oklahoma State. FIU opens its season Feb. 18.
But there's more hanging over Wittels than the continuation of the streak.
The university's decision on Wittels' status is expected next week, although the rape charge will likely be pending for several months.
Wittels declined to discuss specifics of the case in an interview with The Associated Press, on advice of his attorneys. He was freed on $10,000 bond and allowed to return home without entering a plea. Bahamian officials do not plan to begin a preliminary evidentiary inquiry until April.
"The day that everything came out, that was the hardest day of my life," Wittels said.
Wittels is accused of forcing sex on a 17-year-old girl. The age of consent in the Bahamas is 16. Wittels was with a group of friends, some of whom were charged with raping both the female who accused Wittels and another 17-year-old as well.
"I just put myself in a bad situation," Wittels said.
Coaches and close friends say that when Wittels is on the field or in the batting cage these days, he seems the way he was last season. Wittels batted .412, was the Sun Belt Conference's player of the year -- he was tabbed Friday as the preseason pick to win that award again -- and helped FIU reach the NCAA tournament.
When the streak was in jeopardy, he was at his best, going 7-for-7 in situations where he was down to his final at-bat without a hit.
For someone who hit .246 in 2009, last season was more than a breakthrough.
"He's handled it like an absolute champ," FIU coach Turtle Thomas said. "He is solid as a rock between his ears. He's been raised to expect to do well and be the best and practice hard, play hard. He's been raised to be a winner. And he's clutch. It could end Feb. 18 or it could go a long time into 2011."
Thomas was tightlipped when asked about Wittels' legal matters, saying only he has not lost any faith in his shortstop.
"None whatsoever," Thomas said.
ESPN plans to broadcast FIU's opening series. Wittels got more media attention than he thought possible last season, and finds himself curtailing use of Facebook and Twitter because he wants to keep some sense of privacy.
The constant attention, he says, can be too much.
"You can't really worry about what people think about you," Wittels said. "The No. 1 thing I've learned throughout this whole thing, really, is that you just have to know who you are and that the people who are around you are your backbone. You'll have your fans, your haters, all these people ... but the people around you are the ones who'll have your back."
FIU will gather Saturday for its annual start-of-season baseball banquet, and Wittels plans to wear his 2010 championship ring. He's only slipped it on a few times, choosing instead to simply look at it when he needs inspiration for this season.
It's a reminder of the storybook 2010 and makes him briefly forget everything -- positive and negative -- swirling around him.
"It can't be a one-year championship. It can't be one year of hitting .400," Wittels said. "Sports is about 'What have you done for me lately.' All I'm worried about right now is balls and strikes, wins and losses, just playing ball."
Mo Williams to Come off Cavs' Bench
The struggling Cavaliers got some needed Mo on their side.
Point guard Mo Williams has returned after missing 13 games with a hip injury for the Cavaliers, who hope to end an NBA record 26-game losing streak Friday night against the Los Angeles Clippers.
"I haven't felt this good at all this season," said Williams, whose season got off to a bad start when he strained his groin in the days leading up to the opening of training camp. "I'm more explosive, attacking the rim more, because I have the strength to do it.
"I feel reinvented. I have a different pep to my step."
The Cavs haven't won since Dec. 18, and the return of Williams is at least some good news in an otherwise dreary season.
Coach Byron Scott plans to use Williams as a reserve, but will re-insert him into the starting lineup once he shows he's ready.
Scott said having Williams back is a plus -- on and off the floor.
"It's good to have a veteran player back," he said, "and the guys listen to him."
Williams hasn't played since Jan. 15, when he returned to Cleveland while the Cavs were on a road trip. He received a cortisone shot a few days later and has been rehabbing his injury while the Cavs have set an NBA mark for consecutive losses and dropped 36 of 37.
Ramon Sessions has been starting in place of Williams, who is averaging 13.6 points and 7.1 assists. However, Williams' shooting percentage is way down.
"I was playing injured," Williams said. "We made the decision to shut me down and make sure we got it to 110 percent."
Point guard Mo Williams has returned after missing 13 games with a hip injury for the Cavaliers, who hope to end an NBA record 26-game losing streak Friday night against the Los Angeles Clippers.
"I haven't felt this good at all this season," said Williams, whose season got off to a bad start when he strained his groin in the days leading up to the opening of training camp. "I'm more explosive, attacking the rim more, because I have the strength to do it.
"I feel reinvented. I have a different pep to my step."
The Cavs haven't won since Dec. 18, and the return of Williams is at least some good news in an otherwise dreary season.
Coach Byron Scott plans to use Williams as a reserve, but will re-insert him into the starting lineup once he shows he's ready.
Scott said having Williams back is a plus -- on and off the floor.
"It's good to have a veteran player back," he said, "and the guys listen to him."
Williams hasn't played since Jan. 15, when he returned to Cleveland while the Cavs were on a road trip. He received a cortisone shot a few days later and has been rehabbing his injury while the Cavs have set an NBA mark for consecutive losses and dropped 36 of 37.
Ramon Sessions has been starting in place of Williams, who is averaging 13.6 points and 7.1 assists. However, Williams' shooting percentage is way down.
"I was playing injured," Williams said. "We made the decision to shut me down and make sure we got it to 110 percent."
Blake Leads Lehman at Champions Event
A lack of practice didn't hurt Jay Don Blake in his Champions Tour debut this season.
Blake opened with an 8-under 64 at the Allianz Championship on Friday to take a one-stroke lead over Tom Lehman after the first round of the over-50 circuit's first full-field event.
"I'm still trying to knock the icicles off my body from living in Utah," said Blake, who has been busy remodeling his house in St. George. "It's been crazy with how bad the weather's been."
Blake didn't look rusty or frozen in shooting eight birdies in a bogey-free round on the Old Course at Broken Sound. The 60-degree temperatures felt downright balmy and Blake wasn't bothered by the occasional drizzle.
"I felt I kept my composure out there and executed the shots I needed to," said Blake, whose wife, Marci, is his caddy. "You have to make some putts to shoot a round of 64 and I felt like I putted really well."
Lehman had no complaints about his 65 coming off the PGA stop in Phoenix, where he played 54 holes in 29 hours because of bad weather.
"Bogey-free round — pretty stress-free," Lehman said. "There were a lot of good scores. The greens were perfect. The wind wasn't too strong. So if you hit good shots and a few good putts, you could definitely have a good round of golf.
"And I started my round out beautifully. I birdied the first three holes and kind of got the run going right off the bat."
Lehman was in position to tie Blake with a birdie on the par-5 18th, but he hit a short chip about 9 feet past the pin, then missed the putt and settled for a par.
"It was just disappointing to not make a four with such a good tee shot," he said. "Chip on 18 didn't come off the club face like I expected at all. It was a disappointing chip."
Scott Simpson, Peter Senior, Tom Jenkins and Jeff Sluman were tied for third at 6 under.
Simpson, Senior and Jenkins birdied 7 holes and bogeyed one, while Sluman had six birdies.
Defending champion Bernhard Langer shot a 68 to tie for 14th with seven other players. The German had five birdies to offset a bogey on the par-4 fourth.
Olin Browne hit the third hole-in-one in Allianz Championship history, hitting a 6-iron on the 176-yard eighth. He finished with a 69.
Jim Colbert, the winner of 20 senior titles and the 1995 and 1996 Player of the Year, became the ninth player in Champions Tour history to make his 500th start.
"I feel like I have more game now than I had the last few years," said Colbert, who shot a 75. "It's my hobby. I don't do anything else. And I feel like I'm still working at it."
Blake opened with an 8-under 64 at the Allianz Championship on Friday to take a one-stroke lead over Tom Lehman after the first round of the over-50 circuit's first full-field event.
"I'm still trying to knock the icicles off my body from living in Utah," said Blake, who has been busy remodeling his house in St. George. "It's been crazy with how bad the weather's been."
Blake didn't look rusty or frozen in shooting eight birdies in a bogey-free round on the Old Course at Broken Sound. The 60-degree temperatures felt downright balmy and Blake wasn't bothered by the occasional drizzle.
"I felt I kept my composure out there and executed the shots I needed to," said Blake, whose wife, Marci, is his caddy. "You have to make some putts to shoot a round of 64 and I felt like I putted really well."
Lehman had no complaints about his 65 coming off the PGA stop in Phoenix, where he played 54 holes in 29 hours because of bad weather.
"Bogey-free round — pretty stress-free," Lehman said. "There were a lot of good scores. The greens were perfect. The wind wasn't too strong. So if you hit good shots and a few good putts, you could definitely have a good round of golf.
"And I started my round out beautifully. I birdied the first three holes and kind of got the run going right off the bat."
Lehman was in position to tie Blake with a birdie on the par-5 18th, but he hit a short chip about 9 feet past the pin, then missed the putt and settled for a par.
"It was just disappointing to not make a four with such a good tee shot," he said. "Chip on 18 didn't come off the club face like I expected at all. It was a disappointing chip."
Scott Simpson, Peter Senior, Tom Jenkins and Jeff Sluman were tied for third at 6 under.
Simpson, Senior and Jenkins birdied 7 holes and bogeyed one, while Sluman had six birdies.
Defending champion Bernhard Langer shot a 68 to tie for 14th with seven other players. The German had five birdies to offset a bogey on the par-4 fourth.
Olin Browne hit the third hole-in-one in Allianz Championship history, hitting a 6-iron on the 176-yard eighth. He finished with a 69.
Jim Colbert, the winner of 20 senior titles and the 1995 and 1996 Player of the Year, became the ninth player in Champions Tour history to make his 500th start.
"I feel like I have more game now than I had the last few years," said Colbert, who shot a 75. "It's my hobby. I don't do anything else. And I feel like I'm still working at it."
Kovalchuk Hero Again for Devils in Win Over Sharks
Ilya Kovalchuk is finally playing like the $100 million man.
Kovalchuk scored with 3:59 to play for his second game-winning goal in as many nights and the New Jersey Devils won the matchup of the NHL's hottest teams with a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Friday night.
"I've seen it before," said Devils goaltender Johan Hedberg, who played with Kovalchuk in Atlanta. "This is the fifth year I've been with him. He's an elite player in the world. Like everybody else, he had a slower start than he wanted. You can tell he's stepped it up a couple of notches. He's playing a complete hockey game all over the ice and he's scoring the big goals."
The turnaround has coincided with the late-December coaching change that saw Jacques Lemaire replace John MacLean.
Kovalchuk not only has developed his two-way game under Lemaire, he has rediscovered his scoring touch, tallying 11 of his 19 goals since the switch.
"We're all playing better," said Kovalchuk, who has nine goals in the Devils' current 12-1-2 spurt that has kindled playoffs hopes. "It seems like we never stop battling. That's character. That's when you feel comfortable to play confident with the puck and without it and we get the bounces. We didn't feel that in the first 30 games, that's for sure."
This game was a mirror of the last three. They fell behind and found a way to come back.
Brian Rolston had tied the game earlier in the third period on a power play and Hedberg made 31 saves to keep the Sharks at bay as New Jersey won its fourth straight.
Patrick Marleau scored for San Jose, which had a season-high five-game winning streak snapped and lost for the first time in regulation in 11 games (9-1-1).
"You don't want to see the streak end, that's for sure," Marleau said. "I think we carried the play a lot of the game and didn't find the back of the net. It's something we wanted to keep going. Now we have to start a new one."
Kovalchuk had given the Devils a 2-1 win over Toronto with 23.2 seconds left in overtime on Thursday night with a great rush up the ice.
This game winner was ordinary, except for the shot. Travis Zajac won a faceoff in the Sharks' end and Kovalchuk swooped in from the left side of the circle, skated to the right edge and snapped a shot that beat goaltender Antti Niemi.
"He's one of our best guys on faceoffs," Kovalchuk said of Zajac. "I always think he's going to win and I just looked for the puck. We've been practicing that a lot."
Sharks coach Todd McLellan wasn't sure if Kovalchuk's shot went off a shin pad.
"You need to win those faceoffs, especially with him on the ice," McLellan said.
Any chance the Sharks had of tying ended quickly when Torrey Mitchell picked up a four-minute high sticking penalty to put the Devils on a power play the rest of the game.
This is a game the Sharks seemed to have the upper hand for the first 47 minutes.
Marleau tapped in the rebound of a point shot by Niclas Wallin at 6:02 of the third period to give San Jose a 1-0 lead, and things looked bad for New Jersey when defenseman Henrik Tallinder picked up a hooking penalty a little more than a minute later.
Instead of capitalizing, the Sharks picked up their first two penalties as Joe Thornton was called for hooking and Logan Couture was whistled for a tripping penalty on an odd-man Devils' rush.
New Jersey cashed in quickly on the 4-on-3 advantage as Rolston took a pass from Kovalchuk and ripped a shot past Niemi, who was looking for his third shutout in four games.
Hedberg, starting his third straight game with Martin Brodeur sidelined with a sprained right knee, stopped Dany Heatley and Kyle Wellwood in close before Kovalchuk, who signed a 15-year, $100 million contract in the offseason, delivered again.
For much of the first two periods, the Devils showed the effects of playing their seventh game in 11 days. They looked a step slower than the Sharks and the puck stayed in their end much of the opening 40 minutes.
New Jersey's only action came in the opening two minutes of the second period, when Rolston had a shot between the circles and Tallinder had two shots from the right points. The shot total was one more than they had in the first period.
While San Jose had the territorial advantage and a 24-11 edge in shots, it didn't have a lot of great scoring chances. The best might have been Ryane Clowe's deflection of a Wellwood centering pass with 14:49 left in the second period.
Notes: Defenseman Jay Leach, who was acquired in a minor league trade between the Devils and Sharks on Wednesday, was called up from Albany for the game, but was a healthy scratch. ... Mitchell returned to the lineup after missing 10 games with a lower body injury. ... The Sharks beat New Jersey 5-2 in San Jose on Oct. 27. ... San Jose has not won in New Jersey since Nov. 14, 2000.
Kovalchuk scored with 3:59 to play for his second game-winning goal in as many nights and the New Jersey Devils won the matchup of the NHL's hottest teams with a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Friday night.
"I've seen it before," said Devils goaltender Johan Hedberg, who played with Kovalchuk in Atlanta. "This is the fifth year I've been with him. He's an elite player in the world. Like everybody else, he had a slower start than he wanted. You can tell he's stepped it up a couple of notches. He's playing a complete hockey game all over the ice and he's scoring the big goals."
The turnaround has coincided with the late-December coaching change that saw Jacques Lemaire replace John MacLean.
Kovalchuk not only has developed his two-way game under Lemaire, he has rediscovered his scoring touch, tallying 11 of his 19 goals since the switch.
"We're all playing better," said Kovalchuk, who has nine goals in the Devils' current 12-1-2 spurt that has kindled playoffs hopes. "It seems like we never stop battling. That's character. That's when you feel comfortable to play confident with the puck and without it and we get the bounces. We didn't feel that in the first 30 games, that's for sure."
This game was a mirror of the last three. They fell behind and found a way to come back.
Brian Rolston had tied the game earlier in the third period on a power play and Hedberg made 31 saves to keep the Sharks at bay as New Jersey won its fourth straight.
Patrick Marleau scored for San Jose, which had a season-high five-game winning streak snapped and lost for the first time in regulation in 11 games (9-1-1).
"You don't want to see the streak end, that's for sure," Marleau said. "I think we carried the play a lot of the game and didn't find the back of the net. It's something we wanted to keep going. Now we have to start a new one."
Kovalchuk had given the Devils a 2-1 win over Toronto with 23.2 seconds left in overtime on Thursday night with a great rush up the ice.
This game winner was ordinary, except for the shot. Travis Zajac won a faceoff in the Sharks' end and Kovalchuk swooped in from the left side of the circle, skated to the right edge and snapped a shot that beat goaltender Antti Niemi.
"He's one of our best guys on faceoffs," Kovalchuk said of Zajac. "I always think he's going to win and I just looked for the puck. We've been practicing that a lot."
Sharks coach Todd McLellan wasn't sure if Kovalchuk's shot went off a shin pad.
"You need to win those faceoffs, especially with him on the ice," McLellan said.
Any chance the Sharks had of tying ended quickly when Torrey Mitchell picked up a four-minute high sticking penalty to put the Devils on a power play the rest of the game.
This is a game the Sharks seemed to have the upper hand for the first 47 minutes.
Marleau tapped in the rebound of a point shot by Niclas Wallin at 6:02 of the third period to give San Jose a 1-0 lead, and things looked bad for New Jersey when defenseman Henrik Tallinder picked up a hooking penalty a little more than a minute later.
Instead of capitalizing, the Sharks picked up their first two penalties as Joe Thornton was called for hooking and Logan Couture was whistled for a tripping penalty on an odd-man Devils' rush.
New Jersey cashed in quickly on the 4-on-3 advantage as Rolston took a pass from Kovalchuk and ripped a shot past Niemi, who was looking for his third shutout in four games.
Hedberg, starting his third straight game with Martin Brodeur sidelined with a sprained right knee, stopped Dany Heatley and Kyle Wellwood in close before Kovalchuk, who signed a 15-year, $100 million contract in the offseason, delivered again.
For much of the first two periods, the Devils showed the effects of playing their seventh game in 11 days. They looked a step slower than the Sharks and the puck stayed in their end much of the opening 40 minutes.
New Jersey's only action came in the opening two minutes of the second period, when Rolston had a shot between the circles and Tallinder had two shots from the right points. The shot total was one more than they had in the first period.
While San Jose had the territorial advantage and a 24-11 edge in shots, it didn't have a lot of great scoring chances. The best might have been Ryane Clowe's deflection of a Wellwood centering pass with 14:49 left in the second period.
Notes: Defenseman Jay Leach, who was acquired in a minor league trade between the Devils and Sharks on Wednesday, was called up from Albany for the game, but was a healthy scratch. ... Mitchell returned to the lineup after missing 10 games with a lower body injury. ... The Sharks beat New Jersey 5-2 in San Jose on Oct. 27. ... San Jose has not won in New Jersey since Nov. 14, 2000.
Robinson Hired as Cowboys Receivers Coach
Jimmy Robinson was hired Friday as receivers coach for the Dallas Cowboys, joining their staff less than a week after coaching for the champion Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl.
Robinson, who spent the past five seasons in Green Bay, replaces Ray Sherman. Robinson also gets the title of assistant head coach with the Cowboys.
Sherman was the receivers coach the past four seasons and interviewed for the Cowboys' head coaching vacancy after the season. Jason Garrett became the head coach and Sherman's contract as an assistant coach wasn't renewed.
Robinson has been an NFL assistant for 21 years after six seasons as a player. He has coached for Atlanta (1990-93), Indianapolis (1994-97), the New York Giants (1998-2003), New Orleans (2004-05) and Green Bay.
During Robinson's time with the Giants, Garrett was a backup quarterback in New York.
As an assistant coach, Robinson has worked with several star wide receivers, including Donald Driver, Donte' Stallworth, Joe Horn, Amani Toomer, Marvin Harrison and Andre Rison.
Among the receivers Robinson will work with in Dallas are two-time Pro Bowler Miles Austin, Roy Willams and Dez Bryant, coming off a shortened but solid rookie season.
Robinson played for the Giants (1976-79), San Francisco (1980) and Denver (1981) after being a 15th-round pick in the 1985 draft out of Georgia Tech. He had 85 career receptions for 1,437 yards and six touchdowns in 58 NFL games.
He led the Giants in receptions in 1977 and 1978. He scored the first New York touchdown in Giants Stadium history, on a 30-yard pass from Craig Morton against Dallas on Oct. 10, 1976.
Robinson, who spent the past five seasons in Green Bay, replaces Ray Sherman. Robinson also gets the title of assistant head coach with the Cowboys.
Sherman was the receivers coach the past four seasons and interviewed for the Cowboys' head coaching vacancy after the season. Jason Garrett became the head coach and Sherman's contract as an assistant coach wasn't renewed.
Robinson has been an NFL assistant for 21 years after six seasons as a player. He has coached for Atlanta (1990-93), Indianapolis (1994-97), the New York Giants (1998-2003), New Orleans (2004-05) and Green Bay.
During Robinson's time with the Giants, Garrett was a backup quarterback in New York.
As an assistant coach, Robinson has worked with several star wide receivers, including Donald Driver, Donte' Stallworth, Joe Horn, Amani Toomer, Marvin Harrison and Andre Rison.
Among the receivers Robinson will work with in Dallas are two-time Pro Bowler Miles Austin, Roy Willams and Dez Bryant, coming off a shortened but solid rookie season.
Robinson played for the Giants (1976-79), San Francisco (1980) and Denver (1981) after being a 15th-round pick in the 1985 draft out of Georgia Tech. He had 85 career receptions for 1,437 yards and six touchdowns in 58 NFL games.
He led the Giants in receptions in 1977 and 1978. He scored the first New York touchdown in Giants Stadium history, on a 30-yard pass from Craig Morton against Dallas on Oct. 10, 1976.
Packers Extend Thompson's Contract
The Green Bay Packers have signed general manager Ted Thompson to a multiyear extension.
The 58-year-old Thompson took over as general manager in 2005. The Packers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 on Sunday to win the Super Bowl, just the second time a No. 6 seed has accomplished the feat.
Thompson's old deal went through the 2012 season.
Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy says Friday the organization is thrilled to keep Thompson after working on and reaching an agreement on a new contract in December.
Of Green Bay's 53 active players against Pittsburgh, 49 were acquired by Thompson, including 26 through the draft.
The 58-year-old Thompson took over as general manager in 2005. The Packers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 on Sunday to win the Super Bowl, just the second time a No. 6 seed has accomplished the feat.
Thompson's old deal went through the 2012 season.
Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy says Friday the organization is thrilled to keep Thompson after working on and reaching an agreement on a new contract in December.
Of Green Bay's 53 active players against Pittsburgh, 49 were acquired by Thompson, including 26 through the draft.
Player Agents' Call Talks a 'Mess'
NFL owners have been heard on the labor front. So have the players.
What about the agents?
Some say they aren't expecting much progress in negotiations between the NFL and the players' union before the collective bargaining agreement expires March 3.
"The reason for that date is it's the end of the league year," said Joe Linta, who represents Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco and three dozen other players. "Sure, an extension could be coming. If I still believe in Santa Claus, I still have hope."
Linta is among many agents who believe every other issue will get resolved quickly enough once the owners and union agree on how to split nearly $9 billion in revenues.
The owners get $1 billion off the top for operating expenses and are seeking an additional $1 billion. The players note how popular the league is, with record TV ratings, and say they shouldn't have to take a pay cut.
"It's all about money, as it always is," he said Friday, "and everything will flow from there once there's a macro agreement."
Ralph Cindrich has been through every labor dispute between players and owners dating back to the 1970s and the union's infancy. While saying of the state of negotiations "it's fair to call it a mess," Cindrich also concludes "it's too early to panic" and when both parties want to seriously negotiate, they will.
"When they come to the time period when decisions need to be made, that's when they will get down to something," said Cindrich, who represents Steelers linebacker James Farrior and Colts center Jeff Saturday among many others.
A key issue is the owners' intent to include a rookie wage scale, which Linta calls "way overblown" and Peter Schaffer, agent for All-Pro tackle Joe Thomas, says is "scouting insurance against poor selection decisions."
The rookie wage scale proposed by the owners would cover a five-year period. Many players and their representatives say that translates into a veteran wage scale, too, by limiting earnings for players whose average career is less than five years.
Besides, Schaffer says in an e-mail to The Associated Press, a rookie wage scale would not really help NFL owners' spending concerns, and it would damage college football by causing a rush of underclassmen turning pro earlier so they could get to free agency quicker.
"The reality is that the current NFL draft system in its entirety is a tremendous economic windfall to the NFL teams," Schaffer said, "as it provides a large source of cheap, young labor to the league signed for contracts exceeding four years.
That's not true for the highest picks in the draft — Rams quarterback Sam Bradford signed a deal with $50 million guaranteed as the top selection last year. But, as Linta mentions, the extremely lucrative contracts go to a dozen or fewer rookies.
Devin McCourty, selected 27th overall last April, received $10 million over five years, which Schaffer said was not in the top 60 for cornerbacks. McCourty started for New England and made the Pro Bowl.
Eugene Parker, who has Ndamukong Suh, the Defensive Rookie of the Year, among his clients, sees a rookie wage scale as an incentive for agents to potentially not represent players coming out of college.
"It could be a scenario like basketball where the salaries are fixed and there really is little negotiating room for the agent up front," Parker told Sirius NFL Radio on Friday, "and if that is the case you will see more and more agents focusing on the vet players than on the rookie players."
Expanding the regular season to 18 games is negotiable in the view of the dozen agents interviewed by the AP. Each of them cited player safety and the increased chance for injuries as the major stumbling block to a longer regular season.
Don Yee, who represents league MVP Tom Brady, suggested a longer season be accompanied by increased roster size from 53 players to 58, all eligible to play on game day; currently, only 45 can suit up, plus a third quarterback. He also would institute a rule that prohibits any player from appearing in more than 16 games.
"This compromise will create even more interest from fans," Yee said. "What two games will the head coach sit the starting QB? That's a discussion that will set sports talk radio airwaves afire.
"This compromise will also be popular with coaches and general managers who want a greater opportunity to develop younger players. The NFL doesn't have a minor league, and this compromise will force meaningful participation by younger players on the roster.
"Players also would endorse this because each would effectively get two bye weeks during the year. Bye weeks afford important healing time and personal time away from the game."
The agents get their information on negotiations from the NFLPA and its player representatives. They say the lines of communication have been good thus far.
"Technically, he has no obligation to us," Linta says of union head DeMaurice Smith. "We are piano players, nobodies in the process. But he is keeping us informed and making it timely."
What about the agents?
Some say they aren't expecting much progress in negotiations between the NFL and the players' union before the collective bargaining agreement expires March 3.
"The reason for that date is it's the end of the league year," said Joe Linta, who represents Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco and three dozen other players. "Sure, an extension could be coming. If I still believe in Santa Claus, I still have hope."
Linta is among many agents who believe every other issue will get resolved quickly enough once the owners and union agree on how to split nearly $9 billion in revenues.
The owners get $1 billion off the top for operating expenses and are seeking an additional $1 billion. The players note how popular the league is, with record TV ratings, and say they shouldn't have to take a pay cut.
"It's all about money, as it always is," he said Friday, "and everything will flow from there once there's a macro agreement."
Ralph Cindrich has been through every labor dispute between players and owners dating back to the 1970s and the union's infancy. While saying of the state of negotiations "it's fair to call it a mess," Cindrich also concludes "it's too early to panic" and when both parties want to seriously negotiate, they will.
"When they come to the time period when decisions need to be made, that's when they will get down to something," said Cindrich, who represents Steelers linebacker James Farrior and Colts center Jeff Saturday among many others.
A key issue is the owners' intent to include a rookie wage scale, which Linta calls "way overblown" and Peter Schaffer, agent for All-Pro tackle Joe Thomas, says is "scouting insurance against poor selection decisions."
The rookie wage scale proposed by the owners would cover a five-year period. Many players and their representatives say that translates into a veteran wage scale, too, by limiting earnings for players whose average career is less than five years.
Besides, Schaffer says in an e-mail to The Associated Press, a rookie wage scale would not really help NFL owners' spending concerns, and it would damage college football by causing a rush of underclassmen turning pro earlier so they could get to free agency quicker.
"The reality is that the current NFL draft system in its entirety is a tremendous economic windfall to the NFL teams," Schaffer said, "as it provides a large source of cheap, young labor to the league signed for contracts exceeding four years.
That's not true for the highest picks in the draft — Rams quarterback Sam Bradford signed a deal with $50 million guaranteed as the top selection last year. But, as Linta mentions, the extremely lucrative contracts go to a dozen or fewer rookies.
Devin McCourty, selected 27th overall last April, received $10 million over five years, which Schaffer said was not in the top 60 for cornerbacks. McCourty started for New England and made the Pro Bowl.
Eugene Parker, who has Ndamukong Suh, the Defensive Rookie of the Year, among his clients, sees a rookie wage scale as an incentive for agents to potentially not represent players coming out of college.
"It could be a scenario like basketball where the salaries are fixed and there really is little negotiating room for the agent up front," Parker told Sirius NFL Radio on Friday, "and if that is the case you will see more and more agents focusing on the vet players than on the rookie players."
Expanding the regular season to 18 games is negotiable in the view of the dozen agents interviewed by the AP. Each of them cited player safety and the increased chance for injuries as the major stumbling block to a longer regular season.
Don Yee, who represents league MVP Tom Brady, suggested a longer season be accompanied by increased roster size from 53 players to 58, all eligible to play on game day; currently, only 45 can suit up, plus a third quarterback. He also would institute a rule that prohibits any player from appearing in more than 16 games.
"This compromise will create even more interest from fans," Yee said. "What two games will the head coach sit the starting QB? That's a discussion that will set sports talk radio airwaves afire.
"This compromise will also be popular with coaches and general managers who want a greater opportunity to develop younger players. The NFL doesn't have a minor league, and this compromise will force meaningful participation by younger players on the roster.
"Players also would endorse this because each would effectively get two bye weeks during the year. Bye weeks afford important healing time and personal time away from the game."
The agents get their information on negotiations from the NFLPA and its player representatives. They say the lines of communication have been good thus far.
"Technically, he has no obligation to us," Linta says of union head DeMaurice Smith. "We are piano players, nobodies in the process. But he is keeping us informed and making it timely."
No Labor Deal Puts Free Agency at Risk
Jason Babin has won the gamble he took by signing a one-year deal with Tennessee.
The defensive end racked up a career-high 12½ sacks and earned his first Pro Bowl berth. But all his hard work may not pay off in a multimillion dollar deal.
NFL labor strife will likely mean Babin won't be wined and dined on an owner's private jet during free agency.
With the collective bargaining agreement expiring March 3, Babin and other would-be free agents face the very real possibility that they get ordered back to their old teams at the bargain basement price of 120 percent of their last salary. Play another season, risk serious injury. And wait.
"That's really scary to me," Babin said. "That definitely wouldn't be good timing. Hey, there's so many guys in a similar situation as myself with contracts expiring, it would be unfair practice and I think a lot would have a huge problem with it."
Babin has lots of company in facing this nightmare scenario.
More than 700 NFL players have contracts expiring with the labor deal, a group that includes players like Indianapolis running back Joseph Addai finishing up his fourth season in the league to Titans linebacker Stephen Tulloch who missed out on free agency in 2010 when rules for the final year of the CBA allowed Tennessee to keep him with a one-year deal.
How many years a player needs to reach free agency is something that could change in a new labor deal.
There are veterans like Titans quarterback Kerry Collins, who might to decide to retire after 16 NFL seasons. Tennessee fullback Ahmard Hall signed his first league deal as a free agent in 2006, and the former Marine is ready to capitalize on blocking for a 1,000-yard rusher in each of his five pro seasons.
Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway was a Pro Bowl alternate this season and with his five years' experience could find himself not eligible for free agency. He doesn't know what's happening this offseason with his family wanting to know where they'll live next.
"For me, of course you're anxious because you want to know what's going to happen, but at the same time ... you can't do too much about it. Just going to stay patient," Greenway said recently.
Then there's Babin.
The Titans are his fifth NFL team in seven seasons. A first-round pick out of Western Michigan in 2004 by Houston, the 6-foot-3, 260-pound Babin didn't fit in as the outside rushing linebacker they wanted. He had just 13 sacks in his three seasons with the Texans before Houston traded him to Seattle in September 2007.
He played four games before the Seahawks released him a year later. Kansas City signed him as a free agent in November 2008, and Babin landed in Philadelphia in August 2009 where he played in 12 games with 2½ sacks. Babin signed an offer for $1 million with Tennessee on March 19, and the Eagles declined to match.
For the kid who once dragged a tire down the streets of Paw Paw, Mich., trying to prepare himself for the NFL, Tennessee proved the perfect defense for Babin as he turned in the best year of his professional career. He had 58 tackles, those 12½ sacks and forced two fumbles in a performance that earned him a trip to Hawaii as a starter.
Babin is back home in Texas with his family and says he tries not to worry about what he has little control over.
"There's so many moving parts to this and so many people that will be affected by it, it would be atrocious on the owner's side of things to forego the season ... they would be looked on by the public as monsters. I don't think they want that," Babin said.
The NFL and the NFL Players Association met for a few hours Wednesday, then canceled Thursday's session.
Teammates elected Babin as an assistant player's representative during the season, so he stays in touch updating fellow players because they all want to know the latest information whenever they run into each other or talk on the phone.
"It's in everybody's minds," he said.
Babin said he has been planning a long time for whatever happens in 2011 in case the NFL suffers its first stoppage in play since 1987 and feels he's been pretty wise. He has a side business running a hunting ranch in Texas. He's much more worried about younger players.
"Those guys in their second or third year that don't have much saved or don't have much direction if things do go south. That's who I think is really in the most jeopardy and most concern in my mind," Babin said.
"Everyone's been talking about it. It's obvious the owners have been preparing for it for three years secretly so they think it's a real possibility to at least prepare for it. I'm glad now I'm kind of on the inside to see the truth of what's really going on. It's something that happens every ... 25 years it seems like. It's the NFL timetable."
Tennessee is a team Babin wanted to return to with a new contract. But his defensive line coach Jim Washburn is now in Philadelphia, the Titans parted with coach Jeff Fisher at the end of January after 16 full seasons as head coach and replaced him by promoting offensive line coach Mike Munchak on Monday.
So Babin isn't sure yet what defense will be run until Munchak hires a new coordinator and line coach. He just monitors the situation closely with friends texting him updates every time something new happens in Nashville. He's staying busy living life as a father and husband as he usually does each offseason.
Though this offseason brings this new twist.
"There's definitely a wait and see," Babin said.
The defensive end racked up a career-high 12½ sacks and earned his first Pro Bowl berth. But all his hard work may not pay off in a multimillion dollar deal.
NFL labor strife will likely mean Babin won't be wined and dined on an owner's private jet during free agency.
With the collective bargaining agreement expiring March 3, Babin and other would-be free agents face the very real possibility that they get ordered back to their old teams at the bargain basement price of 120 percent of their last salary. Play another season, risk serious injury. And wait.
"That's really scary to me," Babin said. "That definitely wouldn't be good timing. Hey, there's so many guys in a similar situation as myself with contracts expiring, it would be unfair practice and I think a lot would have a huge problem with it."
Babin has lots of company in facing this nightmare scenario.
More than 700 NFL players have contracts expiring with the labor deal, a group that includes players like Indianapolis running back Joseph Addai finishing up his fourth season in the league to Titans linebacker Stephen Tulloch who missed out on free agency in 2010 when rules for the final year of the CBA allowed Tennessee to keep him with a one-year deal.
How many years a player needs to reach free agency is something that could change in a new labor deal.
There are veterans like Titans quarterback Kerry Collins, who might to decide to retire after 16 NFL seasons. Tennessee fullback Ahmard Hall signed his first league deal as a free agent in 2006, and the former Marine is ready to capitalize on blocking for a 1,000-yard rusher in each of his five pro seasons.
Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway was a Pro Bowl alternate this season and with his five years' experience could find himself not eligible for free agency. He doesn't know what's happening this offseason with his family wanting to know where they'll live next.
"For me, of course you're anxious because you want to know what's going to happen, but at the same time ... you can't do too much about it. Just going to stay patient," Greenway said recently.
Then there's Babin.
The Titans are his fifth NFL team in seven seasons. A first-round pick out of Western Michigan in 2004 by Houston, the 6-foot-3, 260-pound Babin didn't fit in as the outside rushing linebacker they wanted. He had just 13 sacks in his three seasons with the Texans before Houston traded him to Seattle in September 2007.
He played four games before the Seahawks released him a year later. Kansas City signed him as a free agent in November 2008, and Babin landed in Philadelphia in August 2009 where he played in 12 games with 2½ sacks. Babin signed an offer for $1 million with Tennessee on March 19, and the Eagles declined to match.
For the kid who once dragged a tire down the streets of Paw Paw, Mich., trying to prepare himself for the NFL, Tennessee proved the perfect defense for Babin as he turned in the best year of his professional career. He had 58 tackles, those 12½ sacks and forced two fumbles in a performance that earned him a trip to Hawaii as a starter.
Babin is back home in Texas with his family and says he tries not to worry about what he has little control over.
"There's so many moving parts to this and so many people that will be affected by it, it would be atrocious on the owner's side of things to forego the season ... they would be looked on by the public as monsters. I don't think they want that," Babin said.
The NFL and the NFL Players Association met for a few hours Wednesday, then canceled Thursday's session.
Teammates elected Babin as an assistant player's representative during the season, so he stays in touch updating fellow players because they all want to know the latest information whenever they run into each other or talk on the phone.
"It's in everybody's minds," he said.
Babin said he has been planning a long time for whatever happens in 2011 in case the NFL suffers its first stoppage in play since 1987 and feels he's been pretty wise. He has a side business running a hunting ranch in Texas. He's much more worried about younger players.
"Those guys in their second or third year that don't have much saved or don't have much direction if things do go south. That's who I think is really in the most jeopardy and most concern in my mind," Babin said.
"Everyone's been talking about it. It's obvious the owners have been preparing for it for three years secretly so they think it's a real possibility to at least prepare for it. I'm glad now I'm kind of on the inside to see the truth of what's really going on. It's something that happens every ... 25 years it seems like. It's the NFL timetable."
Tennessee is a team Babin wanted to return to with a new contract. But his defensive line coach Jim Washburn is now in Philadelphia, the Titans parted with coach Jeff Fisher at the end of January after 16 full seasons as head coach and replaced him by promoting offensive line coach Mike Munchak on Monday.
So Babin isn't sure yet what defense will be run until Munchak hires a new coordinator and line coach. He just monitors the situation closely with friends texting him updates every time something new happens in Nashville. He's staying busy living life as a father and husband as he usually does each offseason.
Though this offseason brings this new twist.
"There's definitely a wait and see," Babin said.
Jennifer Love Hewitt: From Team Edward To Team Everyone
Jennifer Love Hewitt is working on her “Twilight” werewolf diplomacy.
The actress hit the BCBG show at New York Fashion Week on Thursday and she said in the run up to “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1,” red carpet premiere in November, where she plans to do interviews for Access Hollywood, the diehard Team Edward member is ready to be kind to the Wolf Pack.
“I’m Team Edward, but I guess if I’m gonna be on the carpet, I have to be Team Everyone ‘cause I’m going to have to do interviews,” the beautiful brunette laughed.
Jennifer, who exploded with glee when Access’ Billy Bush asked her to cover the “Breaking Dawn, Part 1,” red carpet, during her recent visit to the set of Access Hollywood Live, said she’s ready to put a pause on taking sides.
“I’m going to try very hard to be professional,” she said with a smile.
As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, Jennifer, a die-hard Twi-Hard recently revealed that several years ago, she missed out on being able to meet Edward’s portrayer – Robert Pattinson.
“I love Edward,” Jennifer told Billy and his Access Hollywood Live co-host Kit Hoover, earlier this month. “I actually waited in line to take a picture with him after the very first premiere for like an hour and 15 minutes and as I got up to take my picture, they were like, ‘Rob are you tired?’ and he’s like, ‘Yes,’ and he left. And I was standing there like, ‘Are you kidding me?’ Forty women from Milwaukee got their photo, but not me.”
So, of course, when Billy asked if she’d hit the red carpet, she told Access it was a done deal.
“Are you kidding? Are you kidding? Really? Shut up! Are you kidding?” a joyous Jennifer exclaimed on the February 1 Access Hollywood Live episode “Oh my God! It’s like getting a rose on ‘The Bachelor’ right now, this is amazing.”
The actress hit the BCBG show at New York Fashion Week on Thursday and she said in the run up to “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1,” red carpet premiere in November, where she plans to do interviews for Access Hollywood, the diehard Team Edward member is ready to be kind to the Wolf Pack.
“I’m Team Edward, but I guess if I’m gonna be on the carpet, I have to be Team Everyone ‘cause I’m going to have to do interviews,” the beautiful brunette laughed.
Jennifer, who exploded with glee when Access’ Billy Bush asked her to cover the “Breaking Dawn, Part 1,” red carpet, during her recent visit to the set of Access Hollywood Live, said she’s ready to put a pause on taking sides.
“I’m going to try very hard to be professional,” she said with a smile.
As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, Jennifer, a die-hard Twi-Hard recently revealed that several years ago, she missed out on being able to meet Edward’s portrayer – Robert Pattinson.
“I love Edward,” Jennifer told Billy and his Access Hollywood Live co-host Kit Hoover, earlier this month. “I actually waited in line to take a picture with him after the very first premiere for like an hour and 15 minutes and as I got up to take my picture, they were like, ‘Rob are you tired?’ and he’s like, ‘Yes,’ and he left. And I was standing there like, ‘Are you kidding me?’ Forty women from Milwaukee got their photo, but not me.”
So, of course, when Billy asked if she’d hit the red carpet, she told Access it was a done deal.
“Are you kidding? Are you kidding? Really? Shut up! Are you kidding?” a joyous Jennifer exclaimed on the February 1 Access Hollywood Live episode “Oh my God! It’s like getting a rose on ‘The Bachelor’ right now, this is amazing.”
Access Hollywood Live: Aida Mollenkamp’s Valentine’s Day Cocktails
Aida Mollenkamp, star of “FoodCrafters” on The Food Network, stops by Access Hollywood Live to share some of her favorite recipes to stir up a little romance on Valentine’s Day!
Here are three of Aida’s favorite Valentine’s Day cocktails:
The Fruit of Eden
Yield: 1 drink
1 piece crystallized ginger
3 dashes orange bitters
1 ounce Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur
4 ounces chilled brut sparkling wine
Pomegranate seeds, for garnish
Place ginger in champagne flute and add bitters. Add ginger liqueur and top with sparkling wine. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and serve.
The Bee’s Knees
Yield: 1 drink
For the honey syrup:
1 cup lavender honey
1 cup water
For the cocktail:
1 1/2 ounces gin
1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 ounce honey syrup
Lemon twist, for garnish
Candied lavender, for garnish (optional)
For the syrup:
Bring honey and water to a simmer over medium heat and stir until honey dissolves. Let cool to room temperature before using. (Syrup can be made up to 2 weeks ahead and store refrigerated in an airtight container.)
For the cocktail:
Combine gin, lemon juice, and syrup in a cocktail shaker and stir to dissolve honey syrup. Fill shaker halfway with ice and shake until thoroughly chilled, about 10 seconds. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, garnish with lemon twist and candied lavender, as desired.
Canela y Chocolate
Yield: 2 drinks
6 ounces Mexican (such as Ibarra) or milk chocolate, finely chopped
1 cup half-and-half
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 (2-inch long) strip orange zest
1 1/2 to 2 ounces reposado (100% agave) tequila
2 cinnamon stick, for garnish
Combine everything except the liqueur and ginger in a small saucepan and place over medium-low heat. Stir frequently until chocolate is melted, mixture is smooth, and slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in liqueur, pour into snifters or glass coffee mugs and garnish with cinnamon stick.
Here are three of Aida’s favorite Valentine’s Day cocktails:
The Fruit of Eden
Yield: 1 drink
1 piece crystallized ginger
3 dashes orange bitters
1 ounce Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur
4 ounces chilled brut sparkling wine
Pomegranate seeds, for garnish
Place ginger in champagne flute and add bitters. Add ginger liqueur and top with sparkling wine. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and serve.
The Bee’s Knees
Yield: 1 drink
For the honey syrup:
1 cup lavender honey
1 cup water
For the cocktail:
1 1/2 ounces gin
1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 ounce honey syrup
Lemon twist, for garnish
Candied lavender, for garnish (optional)
For the syrup:
Bring honey and water to a simmer over medium heat and stir until honey dissolves. Let cool to room temperature before using. (Syrup can be made up to 2 weeks ahead and store refrigerated in an airtight container.)
For the cocktail:
Combine gin, lemon juice, and syrup in a cocktail shaker and stir to dissolve honey syrup. Fill shaker halfway with ice and shake until thoroughly chilled, about 10 seconds. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, garnish with lemon twist and candied lavender, as desired.
Canela y Chocolate
Yield: 2 drinks
6 ounces Mexican (such as Ibarra) or milk chocolate, finely chopped
1 cup half-and-half
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 (2-inch long) strip orange zest
1 1/2 to 2 ounces reposado (100% agave) tequila
2 cinnamon stick, for garnish
Combine everything except the liqueur and ginger in a small saucepan and place over medium-low heat. Stir frequently until chocolate is melted, mixture is smooth, and slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in liqueur, pour into snifters or glass coffee mugs and garnish with cinnamon stick.
‘The Hobbit’ Closer To Filming After Long Delays
The cast members of “The Hobbit” on Friday declared themselves ready for the cameras to roll on the next edition of mythical adventures from Middle Earth, after months of production trouble.
Hollywood studio funding problems, a threatened actors’ boycott and ulcer surgery for director Peter Jackson have plagued pre-production on the $500 million, two-movie project.
Some cast members spoke to reporters Friday on location in New Zealand and said they were putting the troubled history behind them.
“We’re all optimistic, ready to go,” said English actor Martin Freeman, who will play Bilbo Baggins.
Freeman and 13 actors who play dwarf characters said they enjoyed the first month of preproduction, in which they trained in the gym, rode horses and practiced dialect to prepare for scenes depicting long journeys and dramatic battles between good and evil.
The twin movies of J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy novel about a short, hairy-footed hero are expected to take up to two years to make, with the first timed for release in late 2012.
“The Hobbit” is a prequel to “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy by Tolkien that Jackson helmed to blockbuster film success in 2001-03, winning best-picture and best-director Oscars for the finale.
Jackson in the process established his home country of New Zealand as the nearest thing to a real-world version Middle Earth for many fantasy fans and has worked toward making “The Hobbit” since 1995.
Jackson underwent surgery last month for a perforated stomach ulcer and said Friday he was “under a medical form of house arrest” though he would be “be jumping back into it very soon.”
Filming is set to begin March 21. Other cast members, including Elijah Wood and Ian McKellen are set to join the production in coming weeks.
New Zealand actor William Kircher, who plays Bifur, a dwarf, dismissed concerns that an actors equity threat to boycott the production over pay levels for local actors had nearly seen the movies’ location shifted to Europe.
“It’s 2011 and we’re here to do the work,” he said. “We don’t even think about it. It’s last year’s news.”
Last October, New Zealand changed labor laws and tipped in extra tax breaks for Hollywood studios MGM and New Line Cinema to ensure the Hobbit films would be made in the country.
The changes mean actors and others working on the films will be hired as contractors not employees. The union had wanted local actors and other production workers to be hired as full-fledged employees on union contracts.
New Zealand received a huge boost to its tourism and film-making industries from “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy.
Irish actor James Nesbitt, cast as the dwarf Bofur, said the union row had not affected the project.
“That’s something that’s in the past and now we’re moving forward on this,” he told The Associated Press. “We’re here to do this fabulous job and we’re looking forward to it.”
Freeman, whose films include “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and “Hot Fuzz” but who may be best known from Ricky Gervais’ “The Office” television comedy, said playing Baggins was the role of a lifetime.
“I’m not often grateful to people who employ me,” he said, adding, “I’m extremely chuffed about it.”
Hollywood studio funding problems, a threatened actors’ boycott and ulcer surgery for director Peter Jackson have plagued pre-production on the $500 million, two-movie project.
Some cast members spoke to reporters Friday on location in New Zealand and said they were putting the troubled history behind them.
“We’re all optimistic, ready to go,” said English actor Martin Freeman, who will play Bilbo Baggins.
Freeman and 13 actors who play dwarf characters said they enjoyed the first month of preproduction, in which they trained in the gym, rode horses and practiced dialect to prepare for scenes depicting long journeys and dramatic battles between good and evil.
The twin movies of J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy novel about a short, hairy-footed hero are expected to take up to two years to make, with the first timed for release in late 2012.
“The Hobbit” is a prequel to “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy by Tolkien that Jackson helmed to blockbuster film success in 2001-03, winning best-picture and best-director Oscars for the finale.
Jackson in the process established his home country of New Zealand as the nearest thing to a real-world version Middle Earth for many fantasy fans and has worked toward making “The Hobbit” since 1995.
Jackson underwent surgery last month for a perforated stomach ulcer and said Friday he was “under a medical form of house arrest” though he would be “be jumping back into it very soon.”
Filming is set to begin March 21. Other cast members, including Elijah Wood and Ian McKellen are set to join the production in coming weeks.
New Zealand actor William Kircher, who plays Bifur, a dwarf, dismissed concerns that an actors equity threat to boycott the production over pay levels for local actors had nearly seen the movies’ location shifted to Europe.
“It’s 2011 and we’re here to do the work,” he said. “We don’t even think about it. It’s last year’s news.”
Last October, New Zealand changed labor laws and tipped in extra tax breaks for Hollywood studios MGM and New Line Cinema to ensure the Hobbit films would be made in the country.
The changes mean actors and others working on the films will be hired as contractors not employees. The union had wanted local actors and other production workers to be hired as full-fledged employees on union contracts.
New Zealand received a huge boost to its tourism and film-making industries from “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy.
Irish actor James Nesbitt, cast as the dwarf Bofur, said the union row had not affected the project.
“That’s something that’s in the past and now we’re moving forward on this,” he told The Associated Press. “We’re here to do this fabulous job and we’re looking forward to it.”
Freeman, whose films include “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and “Hot Fuzz” but who may be best known from Ricky Gervais’ “The Office” television comedy, said playing Baggins was the role of a lifetime.
“I’m not often grateful to people who employ me,” he said, adding, “I’m extremely chuffed about it.”
Will Golden Globe-Winning ‘Glee’ Snag Grammy?
Yes, 106 songs from the “Glee” cast have landed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. And yes, the cast’s five albums have reached platinum or gold status. And yes, the stars of the show performed on a sold-out tour.
And yes, they can actually sing.
But could the “Glee” cast win a Grammy? Well, maybe so.
At Sunday’s award show, the cast of “Glee” will compete for two awards. The first isn’t a surprise: Their first album, “Glee: The Music, Volume 1,” is up for best compilation soundtrack album for motion picture, television or other visual media. The competition includes TV series “True Blood” and “Treme,” and films “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” and “Crazy Heart.”
The cast’s second nomination, though, is where the real contest is. They’re up for best pop performance by a duo or group with vocals for their rendition of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin.’” The song peaked at No. 4 on the Hot 100 chart and is the cast’s best-seller and highest-charter.
“Don’t Stop Believin’” will battle it out with hits from Maroon 5, Paramore, Sade and Train, who’s up for a live version of the smash “Hey, Soul Sister.”
The nomination for the cast of “Glee” brings up the question: Is this a real band or musical group outside of its hit TV show, which recently picked up three Golden Globes.
“It’s weird because I feel like we’re not necessarily a singing group,” said Amber Riley, who stars as diva-like glee club member Mercedes Jones. “We just do it for television, so to be recognized as a group … it’s just is really weird. I guess we weren’t really expecting it being on a TV show.”
Even Recording Academy CEO and President Neil Portnow thought the nod in the pop group category was an “unique” one.
“Some of the categories where they wound up are interesting because they do face off with other groups that really are established strictly as musical groups and don’t have the other components of a television show or something of that nature,” Portnow said. “They are a group that works together, performs together, did these recordings together as an ensemble and have done some touring and continues to do live performance, (so) it is a component of what they do. I think what’s interesting is it’s not solely what they do.”
Two of the songs the cast will compete with are ones they’ve covered.
“It’s really weird because these are people who have actually helped the show,” 24-year-old Riley said of the Train tune and Paramore’s “The Only Exception.”
“There’s such a convergence between some of the songs that are nominated and some of the songs that are performed on ‘Glee,’” said Glen Brunman, a consultant for Columbia Records who works as the A&R the “Glee” music releases. Brunman is referring to songs that are record of the year nominees, most of which has been covered on the show, like Cee Lo Green’s “Forget You,” which was performed by Gwyneth Paltrow — who, by the way, will perform the song with Green on Sunday’s telecast.
“Just the way the show and popular music are dovetailing really speaks volumes for the Grammys and for the way that the show is bringing songs into people’s lives,” Brunman added.
Andrew Anders, executive music producer of “Glee,” says the show’s cast deserve to be Grammy-nominated and highly regarded.
“People don’t just watch the show and hear the songs and go, ‘That’s it.’ They live with the music, they buy the records, they listen to it in the car,” he said. “It’s legitimate to people. It’s the real thing.”
Like Riley, Anders still thinks some of the success, like the Grammy nods, is somewhat odd.
“It’s weird because it’s a cast of a show, so it’s not like your typical artists in the truest since. But it is too. It’s a new world,” Anders said.
Outside of the Grammy nods, the question of the “Glee” cast being an actual musical group is solidified by a recent nomination at the Feb. 15 BRITS awards. They’re up for international breakthrough act, alongside Justin Bieber and Bruno Mars.
Even Riley seems to be convinced: “We put out albums. We see if they sell. We go out on tour just like everybody else does. So I guess we are a singing group.”
Guess so.
And yes, they can actually sing.
But could the “Glee” cast win a Grammy? Well, maybe so.
At Sunday’s award show, the cast of “Glee” will compete for two awards. The first isn’t a surprise: Their first album, “Glee: The Music, Volume 1,” is up for best compilation soundtrack album for motion picture, television or other visual media. The competition includes TV series “True Blood” and “Treme,” and films “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” and “Crazy Heart.”
The cast’s second nomination, though, is where the real contest is. They’re up for best pop performance by a duo or group with vocals for their rendition of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin.’” The song peaked at No. 4 on the Hot 100 chart and is the cast’s best-seller and highest-charter.
“Don’t Stop Believin’” will battle it out with hits from Maroon 5, Paramore, Sade and Train, who’s up for a live version of the smash “Hey, Soul Sister.”
The nomination for the cast of “Glee” brings up the question: Is this a real band or musical group outside of its hit TV show, which recently picked up three Golden Globes.
“It’s weird because I feel like we’re not necessarily a singing group,” said Amber Riley, who stars as diva-like glee club member Mercedes Jones. “We just do it for television, so to be recognized as a group … it’s just is really weird. I guess we weren’t really expecting it being on a TV show.”
Even Recording Academy CEO and President Neil Portnow thought the nod in the pop group category was an “unique” one.
“Some of the categories where they wound up are interesting because they do face off with other groups that really are established strictly as musical groups and don’t have the other components of a television show or something of that nature,” Portnow said. “They are a group that works together, performs together, did these recordings together as an ensemble and have done some touring and continues to do live performance, (so) it is a component of what they do. I think what’s interesting is it’s not solely what they do.”
Two of the songs the cast will compete with are ones they’ve covered.
“It’s really weird because these are people who have actually helped the show,” 24-year-old Riley said of the Train tune and Paramore’s “The Only Exception.”
“There’s such a convergence between some of the songs that are nominated and some of the songs that are performed on ‘Glee,’” said Glen Brunman, a consultant for Columbia Records who works as the A&R the “Glee” music releases. Brunman is referring to songs that are record of the year nominees, most of which has been covered on the show, like Cee Lo Green’s “Forget You,” which was performed by Gwyneth Paltrow — who, by the way, will perform the song with Green on Sunday’s telecast.
“Just the way the show and popular music are dovetailing really speaks volumes for the Grammys and for the way that the show is bringing songs into people’s lives,” Brunman added.
Andrew Anders, executive music producer of “Glee,” says the show’s cast deserve to be Grammy-nominated and highly regarded.
“People don’t just watch the show and hear the songs and go, ‘That’s it.’ They live with the music, they buy the records, they listen to it in the car,” he said. “It’s legitimate to people. It’s the real thing.”
Like Riley, Anders still thinks some of the success, like the Grammy nods, is somewhat odd.
“It’s weird because it’s a cast of a show, so it’s not like your typical artists in the truest since. But it is too. It’s a new world,” Anders said.
Outside of the Grammy nods, the question of the “Glee” cast being an actual musical group is solidified by a recent nomination at the Feb. 15 BRITS awards. They’re up for international breakthrough act, alongside Justin Bieber and Bruno Mars.
Even Riley seems to be convinced: “We put out albums. We see if they sell. We go out on tour just like everybody else does. So I guess we are a singing group.”
Guess so.
Glam Slam: Go Big Or Go Home
My daughter Harlow recently turned two and we threw a birthday party for her at our house. A few people have been teasing and razzing us about the party being over-the-top for a two-year-old who won’t remember it.
Maybe they are right, but boy did we have fun planning it. It was a “Posh Pirate Party” and we had pirate flags on pink cupcakes, lots of pirate coins and beads and a “treasure” chest for the gifts people brought. There was “pirate booty” in the skull and crossbones goodie bags, of course!
Guests even walked a plank to get into the party. But I’m sure what put it over the edge was the huge pirate ship that covered our front wall. Our contractor friend Al (our daughter calls him “Owl”) built it as her birthday present.
Sure… we didn’t NEED to have a ship… or maybe even half the decorations we had… but so what? If you’re gonna do something, why not go all out?
If you’re getting married, for example… don’t you try to make the day as special as you can? If you have a job interview, don’t you show up dressed to perfection and beyond prepared to make a lasting impression?
If you’re a star, you don’t show up at the Oscars in a great dress without the fabulous hair and makeup to go with it, right? You go all out. (Otherwise, be prepared to be crucified in the press!) Or, let’s say, your team is headed to the Super Bowl… you’re gonna go there and give it everything you’ve got… and then some. It’s all about making an effort… to make things as great as you possibly can.
Why do ANYTHING half-heartedly? Especially when it comes to your children, your spouse, your family or yourself.
So I look at it like this… she only turns two once, so why not celebrate to the max? In the end… the moments and memories we create are what matter most. And I can guarantee she ain’t gonna forget her pink pirate ship anytime soon!
Maybe they are right, but boy did we have fun planning it. It was a “Posh Pirate Party” and we had pirate flags on pink cupcakes, lots of pirate coins and beads and a “treasure” chest for the gifts people brought. There was “pirate booty” in the skull and crossbones goodie bags, of course!
Guests even walked a plank to get into the party. But I’m sure what put it over the edge was the huge pirate ship that covered our front wall. Our contractor friend Al (our daughter calls him “Owl”) built it as her birthday present.
Sure… we didn’t NEED to have a ship… or maybe even half the decorations we had… but so what? If you’re gonna do something, why not go all out?
If you’re getting married, for example… don’t you try to make the day as special as you can? If you have a job interview, don’t you show up dressed to perfection and beyond prepared to make a lasting impression?
If you’re a star, you don’t show up at the Oscars in a great dress without the fabulous hair and makeup to go with it, right? You go all out. (Otherwise, be prepared to be crucified in the press!) Or, let’s say, your team is headed to the Super Bowl… you’re gonna go there and give it everything you’ve got… and then some. It’s all about making an effort… to make things as great as you possibly can.
Why do ANYTHING half-heartedly? Especially when it comes to your children, your spouse, your family or yourself.
So I look at it like this… she only turns two once, so why not celebrate to the max? In the end… the moments and memories we create are what matter most. And I can guarantee she ain’t gonna forget her pink pirate ship anytime soon!
Germany’s Cross-Eyed Opossum To Pick Oscar Winners
Heidi, Germany’s beloved cross-eyed opossum, is taking a page from Paul the Octopus’ playbook: the marsupial will attempt to pick this year’s Oscar winners.
Leipzig Zoo Director Joerg Junghold told Germany’s RTL television on Friday that Heidi will beappearing on the “Jimmy Kimmel Show” alongside the Oscars on Februart 27.
He isn’t revealing much about the show but says: “quite similar to Paul, it will be about tips.” He says Heidi will be filmed in Germany over the next few days for the U.S. show.
Junghold says Heidi’s appearance fee will be donated to an animal protection charity.
Paul correctly predicted the outcome of all seven German games at last year’s World Cup plus the Spain-Netherlands final from an aquarium in Oberhausen. He died in October.
Leipzig Zoo Director Joerg Junghold told Germany’s RTL television on Friday that Heidi will beappearing on the “Jimmy Kimmel Show” alongside the Oscars on Februart 27.
He isn’t revealing much about the show but says: “quite similar to Paul, it will be about tips.” He says Heidi will be filmed in Germany over the next few days for the U.S. show.
Junghold says Heidi’s appearance fee will be donated to an animal protection charity.
Paul correctly predicted the outcome of all seven German games at last year’s World Cup plus the Spain-Netherlands final from an aquarium in Oberhausen. He died in October.
Bravo’s Andy Cohen Responds To Heidi Montag’s ‘Real Housewives’ Hopes: ‘That Trash Is Delusional!’
Heidi, Don’t Start Packing Your Bags!: Heidi Montag expressed interest in appearing on “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” earlier this week and last night Bravo’s Andy Cohen responded. “That trash is delusional!” Andy said on Thursday’s “Watch What Happens Live,” referring to Heidi. “And I would sooner stab my knives into my own eyes than see her on this network!” Andy then named her the show’s “Jackhole of the Week” Meow! Heidi, we have to agree with Andy, you’re best staying put in the land of obscurity.
Bald Biebs?!: Did Justin Bieber do the unthinkable and shave his career-making coif? The singer appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on Thursday night and let Jimmy touch his iconic ‘do. When they returned from commercial, Biebs was sporting a shiny bald head – but was it all a joke or real? Find out, HERE!
Despite All Her Rage, She’s Still Just A Rat In A Cage!: Remember D’arcy Wretzky from The Smashing Pumpkins? The former Pumpkins bassist is not having a good week – and it’s only going to continue to get worse until Valentine’s Day. According to E! Online, the musician is behind bars in Michigan for…“animals running at large.” Berrien County Animal Control told E! that Wretzky was cited in 2009 after her horses broke free from her farm and ended up running through town. She reportedly failed to pay the fine and missed four court dates, which lead to arrest on Tuesday morning. A judge put the 42-year-old behind bars for six days. Check out Wretzky’s less-than-flattering mug shot, HERE!
So Long Sammi!: Have “Jersey’s Shore’s” sweethearts, Sammi Giancola and Ronnie Magro, fought their last fight? After Thursday’s massive blowout, where Ronnie hurled every verbal insult possible at his girlfriend and then destroyed all her belongings, Sammi left the show! See the drama, HERE! But will the split last or will Sammi and Ronnie rekindle their toxic love when the cast heads to Italy next season? Let’s hope she finds herself a nice local authentic Guido if she actually makes the trip to the Motherland!
Bald Biebs?!: Did Justin Bieber do the unthinkable and shave his career-making coif? The singer appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on Thursday night and let Jimmy touch his iconic ‘do. When they returned from commercial, Biebs was sporting a shiny bald head – but was it all a joke or real? Find out, HERE!
Despite All Her Rage, She’s Still Just A Rat In A Cage!: Remember D’arcy Wretzky from The Smashing Pumpkins? The former Pumpkins bassist is not having a good week – and it’s only going to continue to get worse until Valentine’s Day. According to E! Online, the musician is behind bars in Michigan for…“animals running at large.” Berrien County Animal Control told E! that Wretzky was cited in 2009 after her horses broke free from her farm and ended up running through town. She reportedly failed to pay the fine and missed four court dates, which lead to arrest on Tuesday morning. A judge put the 42-year-old behind bars for six days. Check out Wretzky’s less-than-flattering mug shot, HERE!
So Long Sammi!: Have “Jersey’s Shore’s” sweethearts, Sammi Giancola and Ronnie Magro, fought their last fight? After Thursday’s massive blowout, where Ronnie hurled every verbal insult possible at his girlfriend and then destroyed all her belongings, Sammi left the show! See the drama, HERE! But will the split last or will Sammi and Ronnie rekindle their toxic love when the cast heads to Italy next season? Let’s hope she finds herself a nice local authentic Guido if she actually makes the trip to the Motherland!
Pauly D To Join Access’ Billy Bush On Grammys Red Carpet
It’s tuxedo time!
“Jersey Shore” star DJ Pauly D will serve as Access Hollywood’s guest correspondent covering the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards this Sunday, February 13.
As guest correspondent, DJ Pauly D will join Access’ Billy Bush on the red carpet and will help to interview nominees and presenters of the Grammy Awards, capture behind-the-scenes moments and provide a unique perspective at the awards show.
“Last year, Pauly nicknamed me ‘Billy B the Sensation.’ I’m still trying to make it stick,” Billy said. “Pauly is a one-liner machine and very sexy, but here are three distinct reasons I am excited to have Pauly D by my side at the Grammys: 1. Gym… 2. Tan… 3. Laundry.”
Pauly is equally excited about the opportunity.
“I am excited to be alongside Billy Bush on the red carpet this year for the Grammy Awards,’ the reality star said. “I’m looking forward to interviewing so many of my favorite artists whose songs I have been playing my whole life.”
Paul “DJ Pauly D” DelVecchio rose to fame when MTV’s “Jersey Shore” premiered in December 2009 and has quickly become a fan favorite on the show, known for his memorable catch phrases, fun-loving attitude and perfectly coiffed hair. He is now one of the nations most sought after DJs and he’s sure to bring his passion for music to the Grammy’s red carpet.
The 2011 Grammy Awards air live on February 13 on CBS.
“Jersey Shore” star DJ Pauly D will serve as Access Hollywood’s guest correspondent covering the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards this Sunday, February 13.
As guest correspondent, DJ Pauly D will join Access’ Billy Bush on the red carpet and will help to interview nominees and presenters of the Grammy Awards, capture behind-the-scenes moments and provide a unique perspective at the awards show.
“Last year, Pauly nicknamed me ‘Billy B the Sensation.’ I’m still trying to make it stick,” Billy said. “Pauly is a one-liner machine and very sexy, but here are three distinct reasons I am excited to have Pauly D by my side at the Grammys: 1. Gym… 2. Tan… 3. Laundry.”
Pauly is equally excited about the opportunity.
“I am excited to be alongside Billy Bush on the red carpet this year for the Grammy Awards,’ the reality star said. “I’m looking forward to interviewing so many of my favorite artists whose songs I have been playing my whole life.”
Paul “DJ Pauly D” DelVecchio rose to fame when MTV’s “Jersey Shore” premiered in December 2009 and has quickly become a fan favorite on the show, known for his memorable catch phrases, fun-loving attitude and perfectly coiffed hair. He is now one of the nations most sought after DJs and he’s sure to bring his passion for music to the Grammy’s red carpet.
The 2011 Grammy Awards air live on February 13 on CBS.
Janet Jackson Wants To See ‘Justice’ Over Michael’s Death
Janet Jackson appeared on the “Today” show on Friday for a new interview where she opened up about the death of brother Michael Jackson, Dr. Conrad Murray’s trial and finally being able to watch “This Is It.”
The singer/actress/author, who just penned a self-help book, “True You,” spoke candidly about the ongoing involuntary manslaughter trial of Murray.
“Do you still feel as strongly about his culpability now as you did then?” Meredith Vieira asked, referencing her 2009 comments where she told ABC’s Robin Roberts that she believes Murray was responsible for her brother’s death.
“Mmm-hmm,” Janet told Meredith. “And that’s all I’m going to say. I do. I really do.”
The Jackson family has attended all of the pretrial hearings in the Murray case, something that has been difficult, but remains important to Janet and the musical clan.
“That’s tough, though, sitting in the courtroom,” she explained. “It’s my brother, it’s my blood. He’s no longer here because of…X, Y and Z. I think it’s important to every family who’s lost someone. You know, you want to see justice.”
In “True You,” Janet wrote that she was unable to watch “This Is It,” but has since viewed the documentary that gave Michael’s fans a look into the late singer’s final days.
“I finally was able to… I was in Paris and I just spent the night just watching all his videos, listening to his music,” Janet said. “There were moments when I [cried,] moments that make me laugh. It was good for me.”
Janet said the weight of her brother’s June 2009 death still weighs heavily on her head and heart.
“There’s still not a day that goes by that I don’t think about him,” she told Meredith. “Not one day. Not one day.”
The singer said her last exchange with Michael was one filed with love.
“The last thing we said to one another, I said ‘I love you,’ he said, ‘I love you too, Dunk,” Janet said, adding, “My nickname. Dunk. Dunky fried chicken. It makes no sense. Michael was always silly like that.”
The singer/actress/author, who just penned a self-help book, “True You,” spoke candidly about the ongoing involuntary manslaughter trial of Murray.
“Do you still feel as strongly about his culpability now as you did then?” Meredith Vieira asked, referencing her 2009 comments where she told ABC’s Robin Roberts that she believes Murray was responsible for her brother’s death.
“Mmm-hmm,” Janet told Meredith. “And that’s all I’m going to say. I do. I really do.”
The Jackson family has attended all of the pretrial hearings in the Murray case, something that has been difficult, but remains important to Janet and the musical clan.
“That’s tough, though, sitting in the courtroom,” she explained. “It’s my brother, it’s my blood. He’s no longer here because of…X, Y and Z. I think it’s important to every family who’s lost someone. You know, you want to see justice.”
In “True You,” Janet wrote that she was unable to watch “This Is It,” but has since viewed the documentary that gave Michael’s fans a look into the late singer’s final days.
“I finally was able to… I was in Paris and I just spent the night just watching all his videos, listening to his music,” Janet said. “There were moments when I [cried,] moments that make me laugh. It was good for me.”
Janet said the weight of her brother’s June 2009 death still weighs heavily on her head and heart.
“There’s still not a day that goes by that I don’t think about him,” she told Meredith. “Not one day. Not one day.”
The singer said her last exchange with Michael was one filed with love.
“The last thing we said to one another, I said ‘I love you,’ he said, ‘I love you too, Dunk,” Janet said, adding, “My nickname. Dunk. Dunky fried chicken. It makes no sense. Michael was always silly like that.”
Matt Damon Enjoying Daddy Duty
In Matt Damon’s new movie, “The Adjustment Bureau,” the actor plays a man who is forced to fight his destiny, but in his own life, the 40-year-old couldn’t be happier about how his life has turned out.
“I’m very lucky. Right now, I’m at a place in my life where I feel completely on the right path,” Matt told Access Hollywood at the junket for “The Adjustment Bureau,” on Friday in New York City.
The actor’s path includes wife Luciana and four daughters, with his most recent daughter, Stella, arriving last October.
“I felt a great sense of calm turning 40. All of those bigger kind of questions have been answered for me, so now it’s just about enjoying living the life that I have chosen and I love that,” he said when asked about his family and recent birthday.
“I remember being 25 and being 30 and not having a lot of that stuff figured out and it’s always kind of there looming, ‘I know I want kids some day, but I haven’t met the person I want to have kids with,’ you know, all those types of things,” Matt continued. “And now that I have four… What the hell was I thinking?”
Matt explained that after pursuing almost every acting gig possible for many years, the box office star is now more selective about being away from his family for work.
“What I really want now is health. To be healthy and to be there as much as I can and to hang out with my family,” he told Access. “I work a lot, but not too much. I believe in hard work… But I’m in control of my work now.”
One upcoming project that he’s excited about is the Liberace biopic, with Michael Douglas playing the late flamboyant piano-playing superstar and Matt portraying his lover, Scott Thorson.
“Michael is just going to be, its such a good role!” he explained. “It’s going to be a good one! I can see Michael doing it, he’s going to be great!”
Matt joked that he and Michael have been sexting with each other to prepare for their intimate onscreen romance.
“You gotta build up to these things, you don’t want to just jump right in,” he told Access. “I’m warming him up a bit.”
Matt told Access the as-yet-untitled Liberace movie is slated to start shooting in summer 2012. First up, Matt is back on the big screen with Emily Blunt in “The Adjustment Bureau,” which opens on March 4.
“I’m very lucky. Right now, I’m at a place in my life where I feel completely on the right path,” Matt told Access Hollywood at the junket for “The Adjustment Bureau,” on Friday in New York City.
The actor’s path includes wife Luciana and four daughters, with his most recent daughter, Stella, arriving last October.
“I felt a great sense of calm turning 40. All of those bigger kind of questions have been answered for me, so now it’s just about enjoying living the life that I have chosen and I love that,” he said when asked about his family and recent birthday.
“I remember being 25 and being 30 and not having a lot of that stuff figured out and it’s always kind of there looming, ‘I know I want kids some day, but I haven’t met the person I want to have kids with,’ you know, all those types of things,” Matt continued. “And now that I have four… What the hell was I thinking?”
Matt explained that after pursuing almost every acting gig possible for many years, the box office star is now more selective about being away from his family for work.
“What I really want now is health. To be healthy and to be there as much as I can and to hang out with my family,” he told Access. “I work a lot, but not too much. I believe in hard work… But I’m in control of my work now.”
One upcoming project that he’s excited about is the Liberace biopic, with Michael Douglas playing the late flamboyant piano-playing superstar and Matt portraying his lover, Scott Thorson.
“Michael is just going to be, its such a good role!” he explained. “It’s going to be a good one! I can see Michael doing it, he’s going to be great!”
Matt joked that he and Michael have been sexting with each other to prepare for their intimate onscreen romance.
“You gotta build up to these things, you don’t want to just jump right in,” he told Access. “I’m warming him up a bit.”
Matt told Access the as-yet-untitled Liberace movie is slated to start shooting in summer 2012. First up, Matt is back on the big screen with Emily Blunt in “The Adjustment Bureau,” which opens on March 4.
Usher Ready To Unite With Justin Bieber On Stage At The Grammys
Usher will join Justin Bieber and Jaden Smith at the Grammys and he explained to Access Hollywood why he has decided to use the forum to unite with his protégé on stage.
”[It’s] just in time for the launch of [his movie], ‘Never Say Never,’” Usher explained at Belvedere Vodka’s pre-Grammy party at Avalon to celebrate its partnership with (RED) to raise proceeds for the Global Fund, in Los Angeles on Thursday night. “This has definitely been a very successful year for him and for myself as well so we found a very creative way to bring our worlds together.
“He wouldn’t be the artist that he is if I didn’t help introduce him, so I felt like, you know, it would definitely be fun for the fans,” Usher added. “And hopefully you know [we’ll] top off the night of him winning Best New Artist. I’m really hoping for that. I think he deserves it.”
Usher said he’s thrilled to see the rise of The Biebs and glad he’s been able to help out the 16-year-old on his rise to fame.
“I’m very proud, proud for many reasons,” he said. “Here you have an artist that was recognized and has actually been able to benefit from some of the experiences good and bad of my own.
“This is just the beginning of his career; this is his first album and look at the type of success that we’ve had,” Usher continued. “Some people it takes an entire lifetime to have this type of success, but having been protected and mentored by myself, I’m doing everything in my effort to make sure that he’s headed the right direction.”
”[It’s] just in time for the launch of [his movie], ‘Never Say Never,’” Usher explained at Belvedere Vodka’s pre-Grammy party at Avalon to celebrate its partnership with (RED) to raise proceeds for the Global Fund, in Los Angeles on Thursday night. “This has definitely been a very successful year for him and for myself as well so we found a very creative way to bring our worlds together.
“He wouldn’t be the artist that he is if I didn’t help introduce him, so I felt like, you know, it would definitely be fun for the fans,” Usher added. “And hopefully you know [we’ll] top off the night of him winning Best New Artist. I’m really hoping for that. I think he deserves it.”
Usher said he’s thrilled to see the rise of The Biebs and glad he’s been able to help out the 16-year-old on his rise to fame.
“I’m very proud, proud for many reasons,” he said. “Here you have an artist that was recognized and has actually been able to benefit from some of the experiences good and bad of my own.
“This is just the beginning of his career; this is his first album and look at the type of success that we’ve had,” Usher continued. “Some people it takes an entire lifetime to have this type of success, but having been protected and mentored by myself, I’m doing everything in my effort to make sure that he’s headed the right direction.”
Elizabeth Taylor’s Rep Shoots Down Tabloid Health Scare Report
Elizabeth Taylor’s rep has confirmed the Hollywood icon was hospitalized earlier this week. However, the rep denied a tabloid report, which claimed that the 78-year-old actress is “fighting for her life” after being “rushed to the hospital” on Tuesday.
“Elizabeth Taylor was hospitalized earlier this week when she was taken to Cedars-Sinai suffering from symptoms caused by congestive heart failure, an ongoing condition,” a rep for Elizabeth told Access Hollywood on Friday. “This issue is being addressed. She is currently being kept in the hospital for monitoring.
“Her family and close friends are appreciative of the warm support and interest of her loyal fans but have asked that people respect her privacy and allow her medical team the time and space to focus on restoring her back to health,” the rep continued.
Concerns over the Hollywood legend’s health were raised after Elizabeth failed to appear at the amfAR 25th anniversary event on Tueday, where she was scheduled to be honored by the AIDS research organization.
Despite her ongoing health problems, Dame Elizabeth did sit down with for a recent interview with Kim Kardashian, which appears in the new issue of Harper’s Bazaar. Among the topics the two discussed were which of today’s leading men Liz would like to share the screen with.
“I love Johnny Depp, and I love Colin Farrell – both brilliant, nuanced actors with great range,” Liz told Kim.
“Elizabeth Taylor was hospitalized earlier this week when she was taken to Cedars-Sinai suffering from symptoms caused by congestive heart failure, an ongoing condition,” a rep for Elizabeth told Access Hollywood on Friday. “This issue is being addressed. She is currently being kept in the hospital for monitoring.
“Her family and close friends are appreciative of the warm support and interest of her loyal fans but have asked that people respect her privacy and allow her medical team the time and space to focus on restoring her back to health,” the rep continued.
Concerns over the Hollywood legend’s health were raised after Elizabeth failed to appear at the amfAR 25th anniversary event on Tueday, where she was scheduled to be honored by the AIDS research organization.
Despite her ongoing health problems, Dame Elizabeth did sit down with for a recent interview with Kim Kardashian, which appears in the new issue of Harper’s Bazaar. Among the topics the two discussed were which of today’s leading men Liz would like to share the screen with.
“I love Johnny Depp, and I love Colin Farrell – both brilliant, nuanced actors with great range,” Liz told Kim.
‘Charlie’s Angels’ Reboot Finds Its Bosley
Angels, meet Bosley.
“Transformers” franchise star Ramon Rodriguez (he plays Leo Spitz in the films), has signed on to play Bosley in the TV revival of “Charlie’s Angels,” a rep for ABC confirmed to Access Hollywood on Friday.
Ramon who starred as Renaldo in the cult HBO series “The Wire,” joins Minka Kelly and former “General Hospital” star Annie Ilonzeh in the remake.
Rachael Taylor (another “Transformers” alumn) is also rumored to be part of the cast as one of the three leggy ladies, as is former “Hart To Hart” star Robert Wagner, who may voice the famous Charlie.
As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, producers are said to be reworking Minka’s role as Marissa, who is described as a former Marine and a weapons and combat expert – along with being an obsessive neat freak.
Rachael could reportedly play Abby, who is described as young, sassy and privileged.
Her character, a skilled con artist and Krav Maga expert, has a checkered family history.
The reboot – from Drew Barrymore’s Flower Films and Sony Pictures TV – is a modern-day take on the iconic ‘70s franchise, which originally starred Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith as the first “Angels.”
The new series, set in Miami, will follow three sexy female detectives – Kate, Abby and Marisa – who work for a wealthy mystery man.
“Transformers” franchise star Ramon Rodriguez (he plays Leo Spitz in the films), has signed on to play Bosley in the TV revival of “Charlie’s Angels,” a rep for ABC confirmed to Access Hollywood on Friday.
Ramon who starred as Renaldo in the cult HBO series “The Wire,” joins Minka Kelly and former “General Hospital” star Annie Ilonzeh in the remake.
Rachael Taylor (another “Transformers” alumn) is also rumored to be part of the cast as one of the three leggy ladies, as is former “Hart To Hart” star Robert Wagner, who may voice the famous Charlie.
As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, producers are said to be reworking Minka’s role as Marissa, who is described as a former Marine and a weapons and combat expert – along with being an obsessive neat freak.
Rachael could reportedly play Abby, who is described as young, sassy and privileged.
Her character, a skilled con artist and Krav Maga expert, has a checkered family history.
The reboot – from Drew Barrymore’s Flower Films and Sony Pictures TV – is a modern-day take on the iconic ‘70s franchise, which originally starred Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith as the first “Angels.”
The new series, set in Miami, will follow three sexy female detectives – Kate, Abby and Marisa – who work for a wealthy mystery man.
Emily Blunt Dubs Matt Damon ‘Captain Delightful’
Emily Blunt plays a ballerina who is forced to fight her own fate in her new film, “The Adjustment Bureau,” but in reality, the British beauty feels incredibly grateful for the way her destiny has played out.
“I look back with gratitude to a lot of stuff that’s happened [to me],” Emily told Access Hollywood at the junket for “The Adjustment Bureau” in New York City on Friday. “At the time it seemed awful and so upsetting, but when you look back you’re like, ‘Thank God I didn’t get into that school, because if I had gone to that school, I never would have got into drama, I’d never be here.’
“So I look back at those times that I remember as a teenager when I was reeling around the kitchen being like, ‘‘I’m a failure, I didn’t get into that school’, but it’s actually what led me here,” she added. “It all works out.”
The 27-year-old actress revealed she had only eight short weeks to learn how to dance for the role, but credits the extreme training for her killer Award-show-gown-ready physique.
“It definitely was daunting and there’s something uber-embarrassing about learning how to dance in front of people who can dance, and they’re looking at you going, ‘Wow, you really can’t dance,’ and that was a lot,” Emily told Access. “It’s very embarrassing, almost to do something physically that you are horrible at.
“And then as the weeks went on and I gathered confidence, it really was an extraordinary experience in the end to overcome something, and overcome your own insecurities, fears and pride,” she continued. “Suddenly you feel a dancer, and you start to look like one.”
However, earning her new lean bod came with a bit of a price – in the form of a few injuries.
“You get dropped, you bruise your knees, calves, and ankles,” Emily told Access. “I threw my back out; I threw my shoulder out…I got lots of massages!
“It was worth it, I guess, for [the result],” she added. “It was blood, sweat, and tears though.”
As for her handsome co-star, Matt Damon, Emily said working with the Academy Award-winner was nothing short of “amazing.”
“[Matt] is the worst guy ever,” Emily said, jokingly. “He’s actually Captain Delightful! He is the coolest guy and my friend and I just love him. He was amazing to work with and we laughed so hard and I think that really makes the experience.”
Emily wasn’t the only one who found Matt mesmerizing – his star power distracted the film’s background actors as well.
“Most of the time there was a guy on the loudspeaker yelling, ‘Do not look at Matt Damon!’ because all the extras were just staring at him,” she laughed. “When they meet Matt, he’s a massive movie star. I feel like I see people’s brains melting when they see him!”
See Emily and Matt on the big screen when “The Adjustment Bureau” opens on March 4.
“I look back with gratitude to a lot of stuff that’s happened [to me],” Emily told Access Hollywood at the junket for “The Adjustment Bureau” in New York City on Friday. “At the time it seemed awful and so upsetting, but when you look back you’re like, ‘Thank God I didn’t get into that school, because if I had gone to that school, I never would have got into drama, I’d never be here.’
“So I look back at those times that I remember as a teenager when I was reeling around the kitchen being like, ‘‘I’m a failure, I didn’t get into that school’, but it’s actually what led me here,” she added. “It all works out.”
The 27-year-old actress revealed she had only eight short weeks to learn how to dance for the role, but credits the extreme training for her killer Award-show-gown-ready physique.
“It definitely was daunting and there’s something uber-embarrassing about learning how to dance in front of people who can dance, and they’re looking at you going, ‘Wow, you really can’t dance,’ and that was a lot,” Emily told Access. “It’s very embarrassing, almost to do something physically that you are horrible at.
“And then as the weeks went on and I gathered confidence, it really was an extraordinary experience in the end to overcome something, and overcome your own insecurities, fears and pride,” she continued. “Suddenly you feel a dancer, and you start to look like one.”
However, earning her new lean bod came with a bit of a price – in the form of a few injuries.
“You get dropped, you bruise your knees, calves, and ankles,” Emily told Access. “I threw my back out; I threw my shoulder out…I got lots of massages!
“It was worth it, I guess, for [the result],” she added. “It was blood, sweat, and tears though.”
As for her handsome co-star, Matt Damon, Emily said working with the Academy Award-winner was nothing short of “amazing.”
“[Matt] is the worst guy ever,” Emily said, jokingly. “He’s actually Captain Delightful! He is the coolest guy and my friend and I just love him. He was amazing to work with and we laughed so hard and I think that really makes the experience.”
Emily wasn’t the only one who found Matt mesmerizing – his star power distracted the film’s background actors as well.
“Most of the time there was a guy on the loudspeaker yelling, ‘Do not look at Matt Damon!’ because all the extras were just staring at him,” she laughed. “When they meet Matt, he’s a massive movie star. I feel like I see people’s brains melting when they see him!”
See Emily and Matt on the big screen when “The Adjustment Bureau” opens on March 4.
Celebs Tweet Over Regime Change In Egypt
A host of stars are celebrating the historic regime change in Egypt.
After an 18-day revolt, Hosni Mubarak resigned as president and handed over control of the nation to the military, something even the stars watched in awe.
Here’s what they had to Tweet:
Kim Kardashian: What a historic day for Egypt! The people of Egypt made the regime step down!!! Now they can enjoy the freedom they deserve!
Lindsay Lohan: Congratulations to the people of Egypt. Your voices were heard and you proved that peaceful demonstrations are possible and effective …. x… And I pray Egypt maintains it’s treaty with Israel and sets the trend for its neighbors to create peace with Israel and the entire region
Danny Devito: Egyptian people congratulations! Democracy! Keep holding on peacefully! You have the positive direction. Human rights …
Hugh Hefner: Good news from Egypt. Democracy prevails in a relatively bloodless revolution. A happy day!
Louis vam Amstel of “Dancing with the Stars”: Congratulations to the people of Egypt!
will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas: Mubarak was the President of Egypt and he just stepped down today…historic… Let’s pray for egypt and also pray for the USA let’s focus on our own hurdles and problems. Jobs, education, and political division. Fix it
Omar Epps: Salute to the people of Egypt for standing together as one & reclaiming their freedom from tyranny!
Heidi Montag: So excited for the people of Egypt! You’re making history. Congrats Egypt!
Ryan Seacrest: We have had the news from egypt on all morning here…cheers erupted earlier. Incredible to see unfold live!!
Taraji P. Henson: WOW!!!!! Just turned on CNN and just WOW!!!! Power to the people!!!!! The revolution WILL BE TELEVISED!!!!!! Congrats Egypt!!!!!
Melissa Joan Hart: Only history will tell us what this means for Egypt but I for one am tearing up knowing change has come for that country!
Kate Walsh: Wow: Egypt, incredible. I am speechless. Saying prayers for a smooth, safe transition of power.
Ian Somerhalder: Congratulating the people of Egypt- freedom is every living person’s right! You deserve it! Dictators be done!
Alyssa Milano: Happy Birthday, #Egypt!
Eddie Izzard: Congratulations to Egypt! Well done for staying the course and good luck with your democratic future
Howard Stern: You can overthrow a country now with your phone. How cool is that?-Ralph Cirella thought on a friday night
After an 18-day revolt, Hosni Mubarak resigned as president and handed over control of the nation to the military, something even the stars watched in awe.
Here’s what they had to Tweet:
Kim Kardashian: What a historic day for Egypt! The people of Egypt made the regime step down!!! Now they can enjoy the freedom they deserve!
Lindsay Lohan: Congratulations to the people of Egypt. Your voices were heard and you proved that peaceful demonstrations are possible and effective …. x… And I pray Egypt maintains it’s treaty with Israel and sets the trend for its neighbors to create peace with Israel and the entire region
Danny Devito: Egyptian people congratulations! Democracy! Keep holding on peacefully! You have the positive direction. Human rights …
Hugh Hefner: Good news from Egypt. Democracy prevails in a relatively bloodless revolution. A happy day!
Louis vam Amstel of “Dancing with the Stars”: Congratulations to the people of Egypt!
will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas: Mubarak was the President of Egypt and he just stepped down today…historic… Let’s pray for egypt and also pray for the USA let’s focus on our own hurdles and problems. Jobs, education, and political division. Fix it
Omar Epps: Salute to the people of Egypt for standing together as one & reclaiming their freedom from tyranny!
Heidi Montag: So excited for the people of Egypt! You’re making history. Congrats Egypt!
Ryan Seacrest: We have had the news from egypt on all morning here…cheers erupted earlier. Incredible to see unfold live!!
Taraji P. Henson: WOW!!!!! Just turned on CNN and just WOW!!!! Power to the people!!!!! The revolution WILL BE TELEVISED!!!!!! Congrats Egypt!!!!!
Melissa Joan Hart: Only history will tell us what this means for Egypt but I for one am tearing up knowing change has come for that country!
Kate Walsh: Wow: Egypt, incredible. I am speechless. Saying prayers for a smooth, safe transition of power.
Ian Somerhalder: Congratulating the people of Egypt- freedom is every living person’s right! You deserve it! Dictators be done!
Alyssa Milano: Happy Birthday, #Egypt!
Eddie Izzard: Congratulations to Egypt! Well done for staying the course and good luck with your democratic future
Howard Stern: You can overthrow a country now with your phone. How cool is that?-Ralph Cirella thought on a friday night
Rihanna Approves Modification of Chris Brown's Restraining Order
They may not be ready to kiss kiss and make up, but Rihanna's indicating that she's ready to ease the tension in her relationship with ex, Chris Brown.
The 22-year-old pop songstress has directed her attorney to reduce the restraining order keeping him away from her, reports E! Online.
According to the new agreement, the order is being reduced to a level one, which means that the two can have contact as long as Brown does not "annoy, molest or harass" Rihanna.
Brown's attorney has been informed of the deal, but has yet to file the paperwork acknowledging the changes, reports US magazine.
Rihanna and Brown, 21, had one of the more infamous breakups in recent memory following his Grammy-night attack on her in 2009.
Brown was eventually charged with felony assault and making criminal threats. He accepted a plea agreement that involved community labor, domestic violence counseling and five year's probation. He largely removed himself from the public eye in the wake of the scandal, only to resurface with an emotional performance at the 2010 BET Awards.
There was a possibility that the two singers could have faced each other at the upcoming Grammy Awards, but Brown - who is nominated for three awards - will not attend due to a prior commitment. Rihanna is set to perform at the ceremony and has been nominated for several awards, including record and song of the year for "Love the Way You Lie," her collaboration with Eminem.
The 22-year-old pop songstress has directed her attorney to reduce the restraining order keeping him away from her, reports E! Online.
According to the new agreement, the order is being reduced to a level one, which means that the two can have contact as long as Brown does not "annoy, molest or harass" Rihanna.
Brown's attorney has been informed of the deal, but has yet to file the paperwork acknowledging the changes, reports US magazine.
Rihanna and Brown, 21, had one of the more infamous breakups in recent memory following his Grammy-night attack on her in 2009.
Brown was eventually charged with felony assault and making criminal threats. He accepted a plea agreement that involved community labor, domestic violence counseling and five year's probation. He largely removed himself from the public eye in the wake of the scandal, only to resurface with an emotional performance at the 2010 BET Awards.
There was a possibility that the two singers could have faced each other at the upcoming Grammy Awards, but Brown - who is nominated for three awards - will not attend due to a prior commitment. Rihanna is set to perform at the ceremony and has been nominated for several awards, including record and song of the year for "Love the Way You Lie," her collaboration with Eminem.
Spider-Man Freezes in Midair, Show's Problems Persist
The accident-ridden Spider-Man musical on Broadway experienced yet another technical problem Thursday night when the Green Goblin and Spider-Man got stuck in the air over the audience.
“The goblin is supposed to fly over the audience and Spider-Man flies out to catch him,” said audience member Stuart Schwartz of Manalapan, N.J. “But Spiderman and the goblin got stuck over row P of the orchestra.”
Schwartz says the actors in “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” “were making jokes,” saying, “Give us a minute” and “the show must go on.”
Schwartz, who attended the show with his wife and two young children, said that his kids were confused by the mishap.
“They were stunned; they were nervous,” he said. “There was a lot of hype about this show, and they didn’t understand what was happening.”
Show spokesman Rick Miramontez says the actors got stuck as a result of safety technology built into the equipment.
“The aerial mechanisms have been outfitted with state-of-the-art safety technology that automatically stops if a performer is even a tiny bit off course,” said Miramontez. “While the ultimate goal is to minimize these stoppages, the production is not going to do so at the risk of the cast.”
At first, the audience members couldn’t figure out if the accident was part of the show or not, said Schwartz. When people began pulling out cameras, “security forces came out and hovered over the whole audience, telling people not to take pictures and calming people down,” said Schwartz.
The show has been constantly plagued with problems, including an accident in which a stunt double fell 30 feet and ended up in the hospital.
After multiple delays, the $65 million show is scheduled to officially open March 15.
“The goblin is supposed to fly over the audience and Spider-Man flies out to catch him,” said audience member Stuart Schwartz of Manalapan, N.J. “But Spiderman and the goblin got stuck over row P of the orchestra.”
Schwartz says the actors in “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” “were making jokes,” saying, “Give us a minute” and “the show must go on.”
Schwartz, who attended the show with his wife and two young children, said that his kids were confused by the mishap.
“They were stunned; they were nervous,” he said. “There was a lot of hype about this show, and they didn’t understand what was happening.”
Show spokesman Rick Miramontez says the actors got stuck as a result of safety technology built into the equipment.
“The aerial mechanisms have been outfitted with state-of-the-art safety technology that automatically stops if a performer is even a tiny bit off course,” said Miramontez. “While the ultimate goal is to minimize these stoppages, the production is not going to do so at the risk of the cast.”
At first, the audience members couldn’t figure out if the accident was part of the show or not, said Schwartz. When people began pulling out cameras, “security forces came out and hovered over the whole audience, telling people not to take pictures and calming people down,” said Schwartz.
The show has been constantly plagued with problems, including an accident in which a stunt double fell 30 feet and ended up in the hospital.
After multiple delays, the $65 million show is scheduled to officially open March 15.
Adam Lambert Feeling "Less Rhinestones These Days"
Adam Lambert got his start performing in musical theater, rose to fame as an "American Idol" runner-up and now, he's nominated for a Best Male Pop Vocal Grammy Award – an honor not lost on the glam rocker.
"To be nominated in the same category as [Michael] Jackson, that blows my mind," Adam told Access Hollywood Live's Billy Bush and Kit Hoover about his illustrious competition, which includes the late King of Pop for his song, "This Is It."
"I grew up listening to Michael Jackson and he's such an icon," Adam continued. "He was such an influence on so many of these artists… It's a real honor."
Adam will not be bringing a date to the famed award ceremony, as he said he views the evening as "work."
"We do a lot of interviews, we're on the carpet," Adam told Billy and Kit. "I get to enjoy the show, of course, but then afterwards its more interviews and appearances so, it's career time.
"I wouldn't want to drag anybody around and ignore them all night," he added.
"Would you ever go just clean, like you've done before?" Kit asked. "I love when you shake up the looks."
"Yeah, I'm feeling less rhinestones these days," Adam said. "Just a little bit more, like, cool and comfortable."
While the 29-year-old performer may be leaning toward more casual fashion on his off time, he said his tour costumes will retain the expected over-the-top detailing that his legion of "Glam Nation" fans expects.
"I actually just started renting a new house, here in Los Angeles," Adam revealed.
"For the costumes?" Billy asked.
"Yeah, a whole home for the costumes. You know, those spikes — they need their own room," he joked. "There's like, a large walk-in closet in one of the guest rooms and it's dedicated toward the storage [of my costumes]."
Talk of a possible Lambert clothing line has circulated for a while, but Adam said right now, they're just rumors.
"There's talk about everything! I don't know, I think people make some stuff up," Adam told Billy and Kit. "That would be fun. I'm not saying it will never happen, but no plans as of now."
Adam shocked (and angered) many viewers worldwide during his now infamous 2009 American Music Awards performance, where he made out with a male band member and simulated a sex act by pulling a male dancer's face into his nether regions. While the singer didn't necessarily agree with the public's outcry over his performance, he said he learned a lesson from the fallout.
"I definitely have to think twice now about certain choices," he told Billy and Kit. "I think you get on a show like that, and you kind of ad-lib, do an improv thing — which is what I'm used to doing as a performer — all the crazy LA nightlife gigs we've done, we just kind of go with it.
"I've learned something about an audience that tunes in for a network television awards ceremony," he continued. "I accept the circumstances, I take responsibility for the performance. It is what it is, and it's water under the bridge. I think we've all moved on.'
Although Adam found mainstream success thanks to "American Idol," he doesn't watch the show. He is, however, tempted to join the viewing audience now due to his admiration for "Idol's" newest addition to the judges table — Jennifer Lopez.
"I know very little, I haven't been watching," he told Billy and Kit. "I usually wait to watch 'Idol' until they get their Top 12… I'm not a huge fan of the auditions — partially because I know how stressful and nerve-wracking an audition really is and I kind of feel bad for the kids when they get cut.
"I love J. Lo. — I still haven't met her," he continued. "I want to meet her at least! She's so stunning. I think she's going to be a great judge because she's been in the business for a very long time… Hopefully she'll help these contestants kind of reach their potential."
Adam's new concert DVD/CD, "Glam Nation Live" hits stores on March 22.
"To be nominated in the same category as [Michael] Jackson, that blows my mind," Adam told Access Hollywood Live's Billy Bush and Kit Hoover about his illustrious competition, which includes the late King of Pop for his song, "This Is It."
"I grew up listening to Michael Jackson and he's such an icon," Adam continued. "He was such an influence on so many of these artists… It's a real honor."
Adam will not be bringing a date to the famed award ceremony, as he said he views the evening as "work."
"We do a lot of interviews, we're on the carpet," Adam told Billy and Kit. "I get to enjoy the show, of course, but then afterwards its more interviews and appearances so, it's career time.
"I wouldn't want to drag anybody around and ignore them all night," he added.
"Would you ever go just clean, like you've done before?" Kit asked. "I love when you shake up the looks."
"Yeah, I'm feeling less rhinestones these days," Adam said. "Just a little bit more, like, cool and comfortable."
While the 29-year-old performer may be leaning toward more casual fashion on his off time, he said his tour costumes will retain the expected over-the-top detailing that his legion of "Glam Nation" fans expects.
"I actually just started renting a new house, here in Los Angeles," Adam revealed.
"For the costumes?" Billy asked.
"Yeah, a whole home for the costumes. You know, those spikes — they need their own room," he joked. "There's like, a large walk-in closet in one of the guest rooms and it's dedicated toward the storage [of my costumes]."
Talk of a possible Lambert clothing line has circulated for a while, but Adam said right now, they're just rumors.
"There's talk about everything! I don't know, I think people make some stuff up," Adam told Billy and Kit. "That would be fun. I'm not saying it will never happen, but no plans as of now."
Adam shocked (and angered) many viewers worldwide during his now infamous 2009 American Music Awards performance, where he made out with a male band member and simulated a sex act by pulling a male dancer's face into his nether regions. While the singer didn't necessarily agree with the public's outcry over his performance, he said he learned a lesson from the fallout.
"I definitely have to think twice now about certain choices," he told Billy and Kit. "I think you get on a show like that, and you kind of ad-lib, do an improv thing — which is what I'm used to doing as a performer — all the crazy LA nightlife gigs we've done, we just kind of go with it.
"I've learned something about an audience that tunes in for a network television awards ceremony," he continued. "I accept the circumstances, I take responsibility for the performance. It is what it is, and it's water under the bridge. I think we've all moved on.'
Although Adam found mainstream success thanks to "American Idol," he doesn't watch the show. He is, however, tempted to join the viewing audience now due to his admiration for "Idol's" newest addition to the judges table — Jennifer Lopez.
"I know very little, I haven't been watching," he told Billy and Kit. "I usually wait to watch 'Idol' until they get their Top 12… I'm not a huge fan of the auditions — partially because I know how stressful and nerve-wracking an audition really is and I kind of feel bad for the kids when they get cut.
"I love J. Lo. — I still haven't met her," he continued. "I want to meet her at least! She's so stunning. I think she's going to be a great judge because she's been in the business for a very long time… Hopefully she'll help these contestants kind of reach their potential."
Adam's new concert DVD/CD, "Glam Nation Live" hits stores on March 22.
Beyonce To Close Britain's Glastonbury Festival
Beyonce will close this year's Glastonbury Festival, following her husband Jay-Z's headline act at the British music event in 2008.
The pop singer said Friday she cannot wait to perform. She says: "I'm pumped just thinking about that huge audience and soaking up their energy."
She joined about 140,000 music fans at the festival in southwest England's Somerset in 2008 to see Jay-Z's show.
Last year's headline acts included Stevie Wonder and Gorillaz, alast-minute replacement for U2 who were forced to cancel after singer Bono suffered a back injury.
The outdoor festival, one of the largest and best-known of its kind, celebrated its 40th anniversary last year. Tickets for this year's event on June 22-26 already have sold out.
The pop singer said Friday she cannot wait to perform. She says: "I'm pumped just thinking about that huge audience and soaking up their energy."
She joined about 140,000 music fans at the festival in southwest England's Somerset in 2008 to see Jay-Z's show.
Last year's headline acts included Stevie Wonder and Gorillaz, alast-minute replacement for U2 who were forced to cancel after singer Bono suffered a back injury.
The outdoor festival, one of the largest and best-known of its kind, celebrated its 40th anniversary last year. Tickets for this year's event on June 22-26 already have sold out.
Miley Cyrus To Host "Saturday Night Live"
The 18-year-old star is slated to host for her first time on March 5, Access Hollywood has confirmed.
The actress, who just wrapped "So Undercover" with Kelly Osbourne and rumored new boyfriend Josh Bowman, will not also be singing that night – a separate musical guest (Access has not confirmed who yet) has been booked.
No word yet if Miley will join "SNL" featured cast member Vanessa Bayer in her hilarious sketch, "The Miley Cyrus Show," in which Vanessa plays the teen star and Jason Sudeikis plays dad Billy Ray.
In December, Vanessa spoofed Miley's recent Bong-Gate – which the singer spoke out on for the first time week – in a sketch.
The actress, who just wrapped "So Undercover" with Kelly Osbourne and rumored new boyfriend Josh Bowman, will not also be singing that night – a separate musical guest (Access has not confirmed who yet) has been booked.
No word yet if Miley will join "SNL" featured cast member Vanessa Bayer in her hilarious sketch, "The Miley Cyrus Show," in which Vanessa plays the teen star and Jason Sudeikis plays dad Billy Ray.
In December, Vanessa spoofed Miley's recent Bong-Gate – which the singer spoke out on for the first time week – in a sketch.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Returning to Acting
He told us all that he'd be back and now he's making good on that promise.
Former California governor and one-time Hollywood action star Arnold Schwarzenegger has announced that he will return to the silver screen, reports Reuters.
"Exciting news," the Terminator star wrote on his Twitter account. "My friends at CAA have been asking for me for 7 years when they can take offers seriously. Gave them the green light today."
The 63-year-old actor was recently termed out of office after eight years of running the nation's biggest state. He made his way to Sacramento on the crest of a popular wave of political discontent following a recall election in 2003 and, as a moderate Republican, initially enjoyed widespread support across the electorate. However, his popularity sagged after tangling with the state's powerful public unions.
Though he didn't take on any substantial roles while serving as the "Governator", Schwarzenegger didn't entirely shy away from making movies either. He most recently made a cameo appearance in Sylvester Stallone's 2010 surprise action hit The Expendables.
Schwarzenegger was once one of the most dependable action stars in Hollywood, racking up a string of hits that included the original Terminator film and two of its three sequels (a CGI doppelganger showed up in Terminator Salvation), Commando, The Running Man, Predator, Total Recall and True Lies. The former Mr. Olympia also showed off his comedic chops in the hits Twins and Kindergarten Cop.
Former California governor and one-time Hollywood action star Arnold Schwarzenegger has announced that he will return to the silver screen, reports Reuters.
"Exciting news," the Terminator star wrote on his Twitter account. "My friends at CAA have been asking for me for 7 years when they can take offers seriously. Gave them the green light today."
The 63-year-old actor was recently termed out of office after eight years of running the nation's biggest state. He made his way to Sacramento on the crest of a popular wave of political discontent following a recall election in 2003 and, as a moderate Republican, initially enjoyed widespread support across the electorate. However, his popularity sagged after tangling with the state's powerful public unions.
Though he didn't take on any substantial roles while serving as the "Governator", Schwarzenegger didn't entirely shy away from making movies either. He most recently made a cameo appearance in Sylvester Stallone's 2010 surprise action hit The Expendables.
Schwarzenegger was once one of the most dependable action stars in Hollywood, racking up a string of hits that included the original Terminator film and two of its three sequels (a CGI doppelganger showed up in Terminator Salvation), Commando, The Running Man, Predator, Total Recall and True Lies. The former Mr. Olympia also showed off his comedic chops in the hits Twins and Kindergarten Cop.
This Week's New Movies: "The Eagle," "Gnomeo & Juliet," and "Cedar Rapids"
Friday brings us a surprisingly good swords-and-sandals saga, a wretched Shakespeare re-telling, Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston, The Bieber, a raunchy but sweet comedy, and a thriller about an ambulance chaser and an EMT.
"The Eagle"
A Roman soldier (Channing Tatum) and his slave (Jamie Bell) set off on an epic adventure to retrieve the gold standard of a fallen legion. Imagine Capture the Flag meets "Trading Places."
"Gnomeo and Juliet"
A brutally dull re-telling of Shakespeare's classic tragedy about two star-crossed lovers whose families have been feuding for as long as anyone can remember, but this time they're GNOMES!!!
"Just Go With It"
Adam Sandler convinces Jennifer Aniston to pretend to be his ex-wife so he can get Brooklyn Decker into bed. Have fun with that.
"Justin Bieber: Never Say Never"
The story of Bieber's climb from street performer to YouTube sensation to global superstar -- in 3D!
"Cedar Rapids"
Tim Lippe (Ed Helms) is sent to represent his company at a big insurance convention, but gets swallowed up by the mean streets of Iowa, falling in with loose women, drugs, booze and all manner of ill repute.
"Carancho"
Sosa (Ricardo Darin) is an ambulance chaser who falls for Lujan (Martina Gusman), a beautiful EMT. Together they make a desperate attempt to break free of their old lives.
"Orgasm Inc."
Documentarian Liz Canner takes at look at the way the pharmaceutical industry tries to make money off women's pursuit of sexual gratification.
"The Sky Turns" ("El cielo gira")
Some 35 years after leaving her native village in northwestern Spain, documentarian Mercedes Alvarez returns to talk the 14 remaining inhabitants on topics ranging from Caesar to Bush.
"The Eagle"
A Roman soldier (Channing Tatum) and his slave (Jamie Bell) set off on an epic adventure to retrieve the gold standard of a fallen legion. Imagine Capture the Flag meets "Trading Places."
"Gnomeo and Juliet"
A brutally dull re-telling of Shakespeare's classic tragedy about two star-crossed lovers whose families have been feuding for as long as anyone can remember, but this time they're GNOMES!!!
"Just Go With It"
Adam Sandler convinces Jennifer Aniston to pretend to be his ex-wife so he can get Brooklyn Decker into bed. Have fun with that.
"Justin Bieber: Never Say Never"
The story of Bieber's climb from street performer to YouTube sensation to global superstar -- in 3D!
"Cedar Rapids"
Tim Lippe (Ed Helms) is sent to represent his company at a big insurance convention, but gets swallowed up by the mean streets of Iowa, falling in with loose women, drugs, booze and all manner of ill repute.
"Carancho"
Sosa (Ricardo Darin) is an ambulance chaser who falls for Lujan (Martina Gusman), a beautiful EMT. Together they make a desperate attempt to break free of their old lives.
"Orgasm Inc."
Documentarian Liz Canner takes at look at the way the pharmaceutical industry tries to make money off women's pursuit of sexual gratification.
"The Sky Turns" ("El cielo gira")
Some 35 years after leaving her native village in northwestern Spain, documentarian Mercedes Alvarez returns to talk the 14 remaining inhabitants on topics ranging from Caesar to Bush.
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