Pop culture Archives

Los Angeles, January 23, 2010 – There wasn’t a tool belt in sight at the SAG Awards, where the entertainment industry’s working stiff union workers pay tribute to their own.  The skies cleared after days of rain, and Hollywood stars trod the red carpet dressed to the nines.  (Although none of the actors from the movie Nine won anything.)

Despite her moving Best Actress acceptance speech, Sandra Bullock displayed her comedic talents in presenting Betty White with a Lifetime Achievement Award: “She starred in four different television shows called The Betty White Show. Four. Most people would stop naming shows after themselves after the third one.”  (Bullock is turning out to be an entertaining presence of this year’s awards circuit, after kissing Meryl Streep at the Critics’ Choice Awards.)  Backstage, Bullock said she was surprised by her SAG win.  “My money was on Meryl,” she said. 

The 88-year-old White was no slouch in the comedy department herself, coming back at Bulock with, “Isn’t it heartening to see how far a girl as plain as she is can go?”  White continued to crack jokes, and working a high-slit dress, told reporters backstage, “You’ve got to use everything you possibly can!”

Other notable union label winners included Drew “Um” Barrymore, Jeff Bridges, Julianna Margulies, Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Kevin Bacon and Mo’Nique. 

New York, January 6, 2010 – Patti Smith and Steven Sebring collaborated for eleven years on the documentary Patti Smith: Dream of Life, which aired on PBS on December 30.  The two artists just put together an exhibition, Objects of Life, consisting of a range of works, some collaborative, some individually executed, in a celebration of the odyssey that the filming itself was.  The installation at Chelsea’s Robert Miller gallery includes significant objects belonging to Smith - her childhood dress, her Land 250 Polaroid camera, and a tambourine made by Robert Mapplethorpe - along with Sebring’s monumental photographs of these objects.

The opening night was a revolving door of celebrities and artists.  We noticed Sam Shephard wandering around the gallery, later on, his lady Jessica Lange joined him.  Filmmaker Albert Maysles, artist Ryan McGinley, Zoe Kravitz and fashion designers Calvin Klein, Zac Posen, John Bartlett, Reed Krakoff, Nicole Miller and Nanette Lepore all popped in.  Kelly Cutrone waltzed in with photographers Mary Ellen Mark and Roxanne Lowit.  Once Patti’s dear friend Michael Stipe arrived, she led him through the entire exhibit, and the two remained inseparable for the rest of the evening. 

Photos: Caroline Torem Craig

New York, January 5-7, 2010 – While seemingly all of Hollywood fled to ski slopes or beaches during the holidays, a few red carpets unfurled in the first days of January as stars trickled back to work.  New York was the site of three movie premieres, a good number for one week at any time of year.  On Tuesday, Michael Cera, Zach Galifianakis and Fred Willard debuted their Youth in Revolt. The next day Amy Adams and Matthew Goode rolled out their romantic comedy Leap Year, and then Willem Dafoe and Ethan Hawke jumped on the vampire bandwagon with their neck-biter Daybreakers. 

TLC had “Miracle on the Hudson” pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger on hand at the screening of Brace for Impact, a documentary about how the hero safely landed US Air flight 1549 in the Hudson River after a flock of geese knocked out the plane’s engines. 

Tween girls had their knickers in knots when Nick Jonas, the youngest Jonas brother, turned up at David Letterman’s studio for his solo appearance with his new, sibling-free band, The Administration. 

And hunky Brits Hugh Dancy and Ben Whishaw (Bright Star) introduced themselves to the press during rehearsals for the off-Broadway play The Pride, opening January 27 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre downtown. 

New York, December 11, 2009 – This year’s Z100 Jingle Ball was star-studded, as usual, with performances from acts like Taylor Swift, John Mayer, The Fray, Boys Like Girls and pint-sized sensation Justin Beiber, who clomped around with one foot in a cast.  American Idol was well represented with Adam Lambert, Kris Allen, Jordin Sparks and Alison Ireheta all in the house. 

Just as impressive were the celebrity guests who roamed backstage at Madison Square Garden and grazed for goodies in the gift lounge.  Twilight’s Peter Facinelli popped in (New Moon is raking in money - does he really need free stuff?)  Facinelli said if he were to find a golden ticket in the Wonka candies, he’d go to Mars.  “And I’d be the first, no one’s been there yet.” 

Adam Lambert grabbed Wonka Nerds, but confessed, “I’m on such a diet.”  He worked some of it off pedaling the Duracell Power Rover which will help power Times Square on New Year’s Eve 2010.  And Lambert already uses Moroccanoil hair products on his famous mane - “I have it in my bag,” he said. 

Judah Friedlander grabbed a New York Health & Racket Club membership, and said he’s going to lose weight this year - if he “gets his ass in there.” 

Tween heartthrob Justin Beiber shook the hands of all of the LIV Fashion dolls and said “so nice to meet all of you…my sister’s gonna flip when she sees you,” which was kind of weird, actually. 

H&M’s recession-friendly merchandise was a big hit, and LeSportsac handily provided bags for the celebrities to pack all their swag.

New York, December 8, 2009 – The music industry made a move to consolidate eyes online with the launch of VEVO, a Web site designed to view high quality music videos.  With Sony Music, Universal Music and EMI Music behind it, marketable stars like Bono, Mary J. Blige, Ricky Martin and Sheryl Crow gathered at downtown Manhattan’s Skylight Studio for the launch.  And the stream of superstars didn’t seem to end: Shania Twain, Rihanna, John Mayer, Pete Wentz and John Legend were all in the house.  A laughing Mariah Carey waltzed in hand-in-hand with husband Nick Cannon. 

A crop of this year’s younger top-selling artists like Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga and baby faced Justin Beiber attended, rounded up by recording industry heavyweights like Clive Davis. 

Reviews of the VEVO site were mixed, with glitches and spotty performance, but obviously, the ailing music industry is looking to compete with YouTube and Hulu, and most likely trying to figure out how to profit from putting their content online.