Moore matures, becomes Amanda

Mandy Moore has been in the public eye for a decade (see above for the different stages of her career, as dictated by her hair color). She has spent time as a singer, actress and spokesperson and has never really been given enough credit in any of those arenas.

As a pop star she was always in the shadows of Britney, Christina and Jessica for being younger and more wholesome. Her pop career fizzled and she went more Earthy with her last release, Wild Hope -- which got her some good reviews and some more credibility.

Hoping to keep that momentum she is releasing a new album this spring, entitled Amanda Leigh. The album is slated for a release date of May 26th on Storefront Recordings and has been described as "personal reflections and insights about life and love."

Williamson Returns to the Teen Genre

Looks like Vampires are coming to the small screen too. The CW network has just picked up a new pilot from Dawson's Creek creator Kevin Williamson (right). The series is based off of the Vampire Diaries series from the 90s.

The series, written by L.J. Smith, focuses on a teenager caught in a love triangle between a pair of vampire brothers.

The pilot is written by Williamson and Julie Plec (of the recently cancelled Kyle XY). What this means for Williamson's other project is unknown.

Official word of whether the show will be picked up for next season will come in May at the network upfronts.

She's Just Being Miley...

She's just being Miley...and apparently Miley Cyrus just isn't that smart. She responded to the controversy from the above photo by saying that it's not her fault. In a blog post she says:

Ive also been told there are some people upset about some pictures taken of me with friends making goofy faces! Well, Im sorry if those people looked at those pics and took them wrong and out of context!

In NO way was I making fun of any ethnicity! I was simply making a goofy face. When did that become newsworthy? It seems someone is trying to make something out of nothing to me. If that would of been anyone else, it would of been overlooked! I definitely feel like the press is trying to make me out as the new ‘BAD GIRL’!

I feel like now that Britney is back on top of her game again, they need someone to pick on! Lucky me! haha Anyway, I just wanted to let you guys know what is on my heart. You guys know me and have been by my side every step of the way!

You guys know my heart and know the most important things to me are my friends, family, fans, and GOD! In NO WAY do I want to disappoint any of you! But, when I have made mistakes in the past, I feel like Ive owned up to them and apologized.

I'm sorry but anyone who has been in as many Internet photos as this girl should know not to make a goofy face like that when it's being photographed. And the one Asian guy in the photo actually looks a little uncomfortable.

But what's troubling most is that she is blaming others for trying to make her into being a bad girl. As Brenda Walsh once told Kelly Taylor (yes, as some of my friends know I can pretty much relate anything back to the original 90210 since i have started trying to watch the whole series on Soapnet), if it walks like a duck, talks like a duck and looks like a duck... Miley is a DUCK. If she thought before taking clothes off in front of the camera or goofing off there wouldn't be anything for people to talk about. Sorry, but that's what you get for being in Hollywood at such a young age.

Go Ricki, Get Your Beat on, Go Ricki

Ricki Lake, who hosted her own talked show for six years, looks like she may be taking over the Charm School reigns from previous hosts Mo'Nique and Sharon Osbourne for the third installment.

Lake will be playing denmother to the badgirls from Rock of Love Bus and Real Chance at Love. So in other words, no one knows who her crazy hoes are going to be.

We'll still be watching though.

Deja Vu Anyone?

Jennifer Aniston has been on a role lately since resuming her acting career with last year's hit, Marley & Me. Reports have come out that the former Friends star has signed on for a new film -- the only problem is that it kind of sounds familiar.

The Baster is about a woman who goes to a fertility clinic to get pregnant, but her best friend -- played by Jason Bateman -- exchanges the samples and impregnates her.
Now this doesn't a direct copy, but isn't it reminiscent of her early romantic comedy misfire The Object of My Affection? Maybe now that she has a few $100 million dollar moneymakers she is trying to correct the wrongs she has done...

which leaves me with just one question. Where's the new version of Leprechaun???

He's Just Not That Into You...the long and short of it

The short of it: He's Just Not That Into You starts out with a few chuckles but veers into Robert Altman terrority with too many characters and their intersecting lives. Most of them end up being unsympathetic, pretty people with dating problems. Jennifer Aniston and Ben Affleck fare the best of the group, while Drew Barrymore is unnecessarily filling time in the 129 minute film.

The long of it: to read the full review click here

Buzz Factor (out of 5): 2.5

Beat the Blogger...

This weekend has a handful of films opening up that are sure to accommodate everyone's appetite. Whether they will be the $10.00 and two hours of your life is another story. Let's who can predict the box office better, you or I.

My predictions:
It's going to be close for number 1. Pink Panther 2 and He's Just Not That Into You will battle it out. Panther should do around $20 million while Not That Into You will do just under and settle for number two. The marketing will get those happy couples celebrating an early Valentine's Day. (See my review tomorrow)

Taken will slide down to third with $10-12 million. Coraline should do around $10 itself. The wildcard is the Chris Evans actioner Push which will probably do somewhere between the two.

Now what do you think will happen???

OH NO he went there...

Unless Jonathan Knight took a dump in his boyfriend's coffee and then laughed while he drank it before disappearing, the above story from The National Enquirer is probably the worst thing you can do. Knight, the shyest of the NKOTB brood, has never publicly come out -- though there have been rumors for awhile.

It turns out that Kyle Wilker doesn't believe in keeping things private. He has gone an sold his story to the checkout stand tabloid. Reports have the payday at merely $5,000.00 In the picture above the article says that Wilker and Knight went from dating to being friends when the Kids got back together last year.

Now I don't know much about gay relationships (considering how long I've been single I probably don't know much more about hetero relationships either) but to sell an ex-boyfriend out for $5,000.00 seems kind of cold.

Editorial Note: I debated whether to add this because I don't believe that people should be outed unless they are ready for it and are willing. But it's a big story that everyone will be talking about.

Sex and the City 2 Official...britney's participation not so much

Rumors began towards the end of last year, after the surprisingly healthy $152 million gross last summer, that a sequel to the film version of Sex and the City was already in the works. Kim Cattrall was the first one to spill the news. Sarah Jessica Parker poo-pooed the talk saying it was still in the ether.

Well it seems now the girls are finally ready to strap the strappy shoes on again and take it public. It's being reported that the entire quartet will be back onscreen as well as writer/director Michael Patrick King.

King has previously been quoted as saying that the next film will be much different in tone then the first one. "In the last movie, I thought [the fans] wanted to see an epic and violently tragic love story, and drama, but I don’t think you go to that candy store twice,” he told reporters at a WGA discussion in Los Angeles. “You can’t try to do what you did already, so you come up with a different tone that you like.”

Parker, who proved that she is the the Diana Ross of the group and the rest are just merely the Supremes last year when it came time to promote the film, has also been quoted as saying she'd like to have someone like Britney Spears play her sister in the film and come to the big city for the first time.

Shooting is scheduled for later this year for a release next summer.

There may finally be movement on the screen adaptation of DC Comic's Green Latern hero.

Warner Bros. is one step closer to signing a director to the film. Martin Campbell, who has previously directed the James Bond flicks Goldeneye and Casino Royale, is in talks for the film.

The script was written by Greg Berlanti, who was attached to direct but bowed out due to another project.

Another day, Another Twilight Rumor

Vanessa Hudgens casting rumor debunked? Check.

Dakota Fanning talk thrown in for good measure? Check

Pretty much anyone under a certain age in Hollywood has been rumored to be in New Moon, the sequel to Twilight. Hell, I'm waiting for a phone call to audition over here. Surely it's coming any day now...

Well the latest name currently being talked about is 90210's resident bitch AnnalynneMcCord. E! Online's Marc Malkin is reporting that the former Nip/Tuck bad girl is in the running to play the small role of Heidi in the new film. In the book series Heidi uses her looks to lure humans to the vampires to be vamp food.

No confirmations are being offered by any reps of the parties involved. One thing is known, McCord's 90210 co-star Kellan Lutz appeared in the original and will be reprising his role in the next film.

Shooting on the sequel is due to begin with director Chris Weitz next month. The film is scheduled to hit theaters in November.

Zac Efron's at it AGAIN

Zac Efron is making a go of it as a real actor, taking a break from the musicals that have made him a teen idol. His new film, 17 Again, comes out in April -- on the 17th, get it.

The film stars Matthew Perry as a middle aged father who becomes a teenager again. Think Big in reverse. The film also stars Michelle Trachtenberg as Perry's daughter.

The newly released poster (to the left) leaves a little bit to be desired, coming from a poster aficionado.

She Said, She Said.

It's good to see that while Hilary Duff may not have yet mastered the skills of acting or singing perfectly, she has learned how orchestrate publicity like a pro.

Duff, who previously had a highly publicized feud with Lindsay Lohan, was recently announced to be in a new version of Bonnie and Clyde, a re-imagining if you will. Upon her casting original Bonnie, the ever blunt Faye Dunaway, took the first swing by making a comment to the press, "Couldn't they at least cast a real actress?"

That hurts. Point for Dunaway.

Well, the now 21-year-old star has hit back at the Oscar winner. While on the set of The Ghost Whisperer (yes, the Jennifer Love Hewitt show where careers go to die) Duff responded to E! Her comment was, "I think that my fans that are going to go see the movie don't even know who she is. "I think it was a little unnecessary, but I might be mad if I looked like that now, too."

Duff hits below the belt and did so on the set of Ghost Whisperer so no points are awarded.

The Boys are Back in Town

Anyone out there a Renthead?
The national tour has two of the original main actors -- Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal -- back in the roles they originated. I got to talk with both of them.

Check out the article: "Rent" Boys Return

Tucson's Porn Bowl

Well, i would show an image for this post but that might get me into some troubles --- kind of like Comcast currently is in. Apparently if you live in Tucson, Arizona you got more than you paid for last night during the Super Bowl. For a brief interlude the game switched over to a porn clip of a chick trying (and ultimately failing) to unzip a guy's pants and him swinging his ding-a-ling around. The incident lasted only 10 minutes and occurred right after Arizona took control of the game.

If Comcast did that to my cable I wouldn't complain about them so much.

JMac out, Patel In

Looks like Jesse McCartney (or JMac as he is known to me since everything gets shortened around here apparently) is leavin' something else. The singer-actor-chipmunk voicer has just dropped out of the new M. Night Shyamalan film The Last Airbender. The reason being given for his departure for the film is due to musical commitments, which kind of makes sense since he is currently on tour in support of his album "Departure" and the film is set to begin filming in March.

The live-action version of the Nickelodeon show has been widely criticized for its mostly white cast, despite the show having mostly Asian characters in it.

Perhaps his departure was more dubious because his replacement is Slumdog Millionaire star Dev Patel. The film also stars Twilight actor Jackson Rathbone.

Oprah gives a little "Push"

It was the film that Sundance festivalgoers couldn't stop talking about it. Push: Based on the novel by Sapphire is the difficult, bleak film by Lee Daniels that swept up three awards at this year's festival. Despite its winnings the film ended Sundance without a distribution deal, but the search has now ended with Lionsgate picking up the rights.

The film tells the story of 16-year-old Precious is pregnant with her second child -- both by her father -- and dealing with an abusive mother who only wants her around so that the welfare checks continue to come.

Push won both the Grand Jury and Audience Awards for U.S. Dramatic films as well as a special acting award for Mo'Nique, who plays the abusive mother. Having seen the film, I can tell you that the comedianne deserved her award.

Lionsgate, which previously released the Daniels' produced Monster's Ball a few years, are teaming up with Oprah's Harpo Production and Tyler Perry's 34th Street Films to support the film. No release date has been set for the film.

F---in Christian Bale

Either someone was having a bad day or Christian Bale needs to tone down the prima donna behavior. In the past he has had troubles with the law for domestic disputes, but this time the tantrum was onset.

The actor went on a rant for over three minutes yelling at the director of photography, Shane Hurlbut, for messing up a shot while filming this summer's Terminator: Salvation.

The tape, which was recorded last year is just hitting the net now and show Senor Bale in a less than flattering light. The 35-year-old actor even threatens to quit if Hurlbut isn't fired from the film and even threatens to kick his "fucking ass."

Needless to say, he was acting more like a villian than the superhero he tends to play onscreen. Below is the audio, which is NSFW, which is appropriately accompanied by pictures of Bale in American Psycho.

Tranformers 2 Super Bowl Spot

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen also had a commercial airing during the Super Bowl. I didn't see it, but if you see France in the commercial that's actually my neighborhood in Philadelphia. Let me know if you catch a glimpse of it.

G.I. Joe Trailer

Got to get tough...YO JOE!
That was a great game tonight and thankfully the Steelers won. Besides the game one of the highlights that came from tonight was the G.I. Joe commercial that was aired prior to kick-off. For anyone who missed it, check out the video below for the August 7, 2009 release.
It sure beats those creepy lizards...