Oh, Gaga...You never cease to amuse me.

Yes, this is probably my millionth post about Gaga…but you have to admit, she just never seems to fade into the pack! On the David Letterman show last night, Lady Gaga’s third outfit was a revealing one…consisting of underwear and a mask. Now, let’s be realistic: why would they even allow her to dress this way on a television talk show? But then again, this IS Gaga that we’re talking about—the same artist who served as a mentor on American Idol and wore some not-so-acceptable shoes (without anyone noticing, might I add)!

 She was on the show due to the release of her album “Born this Way” on Monday. Many are questioning how she even managed to record the album within the time span that she did, and Ryan Seacrest revealed on his LA radio show the same morning it released that most of the album was actually recorded ON the roads! After shows, Gaga would record her songs on a bus that was converted into a mobile studio while traveling to her next location. She never does quit, does she? You have to give her credit though…recording the majority of an album while on a moving bus is rather impressive.

Flintstones Set to Return to Fox!

After almost 45 years of absence from primetime television, they’re back: the Flintstones! Fox will be picking up the new version of this popular animated show. Like the old version, the new will still features the same characters, with the same friends, in the same village of Bedrock. Executive producer Seth Macfarlane says that Fred Flintstone was the first character he drew at the age of two. Kevin Reilly, the President of Entertainment of the Fox Broadcasting company, is ecstatic about the show; “The Flintstones are among the funniest and most beloved characters in television history, and we can’t wait to introduce them to a whole new generation on FOX,” he says. He also mentions a few of the iconic families that began on fox, including the Simpsons and the Griffins, and seems to be quite sure that the Flintstones, and even the Rubbles, will fit in rather nicely. I grew up watching the Flintstones every day on cartoon network, and cannot wait to see what producers have in store when it comes to the new episodes. However, much to my disappointment, the article I read concerning the topic ended with the following sentence: “The series is set to air on FOX in 2013.” What a bummer!

Update: Top Three on Idol

Yes, another American Idol update. However, regardless of how many I’ve already posted, this one is completely necessary. James Durbin, the metal/rocker powerhouse on Idol, was sent home in a shocking elimination last Thursday evening. Personally (and after reading many online reactions, I know most of the other viewers share my opinion), I would not have been surprised to see James win the competition. He always puts on quite a show, and portrays many different sides to his rocker style. But what’s up with America not feeling it? Fox news blames his level of maturity and, thus, lack of ability to relate as a sole reason. Considering two of the remaining contestants are in their teens, I can understand this theory. Fox also references, but does not clearly blame, Durbin’s disabilities—high functioning autism and Asperger’s— for his elimination. I do not see how these conditions hindered him in any way, especially since we all learned early in the competition that, oddly enough, James never shows symptoms of these while performing. If anything, persevering through the competition, all things considered, is miraculous, and quite inspiring.

Just in case the thought wasn’t caught, yes…it upset me to see James go. I looked forward to his performances and what different element he would bring to the stage each week. Wednesday night’s show will seem like it’s missing something (maybe because it is!).

FarmVille Goes Gaga

What do you get when you mix Lady Gaga with FarmVille? Yeah, I don’t know either…but the singer has turned to yet another odd method of expanding her fan base.  Gaga has made the decision to release some of the songs from her new album on FarmVille before allowing them to be heard anywhere else. There will be a special “farm”-like profile created on the game called “GagaVille”, where the users can visit. Once there, there will be daily tasks for the users to complete in order to unlock another new exclusive track from May 17^th to May 19^th. Starting May 20, users can continue to complete tasks in order to unlock songs, however, the songs they unlock will not be exclusive to FarmVille. Zynga, creator of FarmVille, declares the brevity of the event; “GagaVille” will only be available until May 26^th, since it is simply a celebration of the release of the singer’s new album “Born this Way”. In addition to “GagaVille”, Zynga is also offering Gaga-based goods to players on their other games, as well. Neither party would enclose on whether or not any type of money or financial exchange would occur.

Fourth Season of "Jersey Shore" Faces a Setback

It looks as though the next season of Jersey Shore could be in jeopardy. As the cast members entered the Newark airport to prepare for the flight to Italy over the weekend, they received news that several filming permits had suddenly been pulled. These permits included permission to film scenes in the Uffizi art gallery, the Boboli gardens, and the symbol of Florence, Palazzo Vecchio. This season was meant to include all the veterans—Mike “the Situation” Sorrentino, Paul “DJ Pauly D” Delvecchio, Vinny Guadagnino, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, Jenni “JWoww” Farley, and, of course, Sammi Giancola and Ronnie Ortiz-Magro. Production for the fourth season was set to begin today, but this set-back has put the show on hold—indefinitely, might I add—until the situation is worked out… (Pun not intended.)

Will Charlie Sheen be a "Winner"?

According to Los Angeles Times on Sunday, Charlie Sheen teamed up with Snoop Dogg and Korn guitarist Robert Patterson to record a song titled “Winning”, named after the catchphrase repeated nonstop by the actor through interviews and tweets. Sheen told his Twitter followers to “get ready to rock the Sheenius”, as the hit will be aired on Tuesday. However, Patterson’s stand on the song is a little less enthusiastic; he claims he does not want people to take the song seriously, because it is “meant to be fun and entertaining.” The lyrics were written by Snoop Dogg solely 45 minutes before heading to the studio to record it, and the actual recording itself took no more than two hours. The beginning of the song features a cameo from Carmen Electra, who is engaged to Patterson. Sheen seems to be optimistic about the song’s future, asking the rhetorical question “Who doesn’t like winning?”

Gaga's New Hit Offends

Just two days before the start of holy Week, Lady Gaga’s new single “Judas” leaked onto the internet. Needless to say, many Catholics aren’t exactly pleased about this song, nor it’s not-so-timely release—in fact, most are down-right outraged. The song lyrics exert Gaga’s love for Judas, who is infamously known for betraying Jesus: "Jesus in my virtue and Judas is the demon I cling to...I'm just a holy fool, oh baby he's so cruel, but I'm still in love with Judas baby.” Crazy enough, Gaga, herself, was even raised Catholic. She seems to be taking after artists such as Madonna and Sinead O’Connor, both of whom also adopted offending religious innuendos and imagery in their performances and videos. Some of Lady Gaga’s previous acts were offending—such as dressing as a nun and swallowing a rosary on stage—but her new single portraying her “love” for Judas tops that event in the eyes of many viewers, according to the New York post.

American Idol Update: Top 5

The Season 10 American Idol finale can be seen just over the horizon. With only five contestants left, every performance 9along with every vote) is crucial. Last night, the top 5—which consists of James Durbin, Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina, Haley Reinhart, and Jacob Lusk—each performed two songs, doubling their chances to win over the much-needed votes from the audience. And if I were a judge, I would have responded the same way Jennifer Lopez did at the closure of the night, when she exclaimed she was glad that it was up to America, and not her. At this point, the competition is anyone’s to win. Each contestant comes out week after week with a strong performance, which just piles up the pressure as the number of singers left dwindles away. One faulty performance is all it would take at this point to knock someone out of the competition, and based on last night’s show, I’ve made my prediction as to who will be leaving tonight: Jacob Lusk. Although I’ve always favored him quite highly, I feel he has strayed too far from his intense, gospel genre (although it almost seems as though the judges pushed him away from it), and has set himself at the bottom of the pack.

New Record Set on Twitter

As well as being broadcasted non-stop on almost every news station, the death of 9/11 terrorist Osama Bin Laden has been overflowing Twitter, setting a new record on the media site. Users posted, on average, 3,440 tweets per second from 10:45 PM to 2:20 AM (Eastern Time) on the night the news was released. The peak occurred at 11 PM, with a staggering 5,106 tweets per second. This is not the highest number of tweets on record, however. On New Year’s in Japan, there was a record of 6,939 tweets per second, but this rate only lasted about 4 seconds, which is a significantly lower sustained time frame when compared to that involving Bin Laden’s death.

Yes, the death of Bin Laden is a big accomplishment for our country; just as Obama stated in his announcement speech, “Justice has been done.” However, there’s only one fact that has me uneasy…Although Obama was the main mind behind the 9/11 attack, he was not alone. One has to wonder whether or not any type of retaliation is in the cards for the U.S. taking this step.

All I Have to Say? ...J-WOW.

Jenni “JWoww” Farley and her ex-boyfriend, Tom Lippolis, may be broken up, but there are still some boiling charges between them. In the past, Farley has accused her ex of physical abuse and theft from her home. She also took him to court with attempts to keep him from selling inappropriate photographs of her. However, on the contrary, Lippolis also has his own list of charges against Farley. Topping that list is the accusation that JWoww stabbed him with a kitchen knife during one of their fights, leaving him in need of 37 stitches; he even claims to have a video of the attack. According to Fox, Lippolis did not press charges because “he was in love” with the Jersey Shore star. In addition to the stabbing, Lippolis also put Farley at fault for cheating on him, as well as being the abuser in their relationship. In situations as these, no one can point the guilty figure in solely one direction: both are at fault for at least something. Clearly, the relationship was not healthy for either member (and probably had more downs than ups!). Needless to say, it's probably a good thing that it's over...

iCarly Star Chooses Show over Education

Miranda Cosgrove, star of the hit TV show iCarly, revealed her acceptance to her top two college choices—University of Southern California and NYU—where she planned on studying film. However, the 17-year-old (soon to be 18) has chosen to put off college until next spring, or possibly even the following fall. Cosgrove told the NY Post press, “I’m chickening out at the last minute. I love New York, but I’m scared to move and leave LA.” But why? Surely, with iCarly bringing in about $180,000 per episode, money is not the issue at hand. Not to mention, the popularity is through the roof at the moment; the latest episode drew in more than 7 million viewers. Is it worth putting off college in order to continue the pursuit with this hit series? But then again, with the popularity showing nothing but growth, I can understand her decision. It’s always better late than never, I guess…even when it comes to getting a college education. Right?

Nicolas Cage Arrested for Domestic Abuse

Early Sunday morning in New Orleans, a drunken Nicolas Cage was arrested with charges of domestic abuse, as reported by TMZ, after a loud, heated argument with his wife. The abuse was reported by a local cab driver, who reported seeing Cage push his wife. When the police arrived at the scene, they simply ordered Cage and his wife to go home. Cage, however, did not cooperate with the officers, and continuously dared then to arrest him. So, they did just that—he was arrested one a count of domestic abuse and one of disturbing the peace. Opposite of what the cab driver said he witnessed, Cage’s wife declared no physical contact, and stated that he wanted to press no charges. According to TMZ, he was in custody until late Saturday morning.

American Idol upset: Favorite Leaves Earlier than Expected

Last night’s American Idol elimination could very well be considered the biggest upset on the show…ever. Pia Toscano, whom most expected to make it to the finale (and possibly even win), was voted off, placing her ninth in the competition. Whether you are a fan of Pia or not, you cannot deny that her voice was by far the strongest in the competition. Yes, she did sing ballad after ballad, but she seemed to be finally breaking out of that routine. But should the blame be placed on America or the judges?

Randy, Steven, and Jennifer were all gung-ho about saving Casey when he was in danger of leaving the competition—so anxious to save him that they didn’t even allow him to finish his do-or-die performance. Did the jump the gun too soon? Many believe so. Not to mention, Casey’s vocal talent can barely be compared to that of Pia’s. However, when it comes to America, you have to look at the facts. Who watches American Idol? Probably not the “million men at a million bars having a millions drinks” over Pia (as Steven put it). This would also explain the past few winners—all of which were male rockers. In other words, a teenage girl is going to vote for someone like Scotty McCreery or James Durbin before they even begin to think about voting for Pia, or even Lauren or Haley, for that matter. The current standings even support this theory. Of the top eight left, only two girls remain. Needless to say, the winner this year should more appropriately be named the “teen of America’s idol”.

Teen Mom's Violent Twist

Janelle Evans, left. Amber Portwood, right.

Janelle Evans and Amber Portwood, two stars from MTV’s “16 and pregnant” series, have both had encounters with the law. Evans has been charged with breaking and entering, credit card theft, and possession of drugs all within the first year of the show. For these, she is facing up to six months in jail. The show was started to showcase how the lives of these teens have been altered and complicated by the bearing of a child, but it seems as though it has taken a violent turn.



Jennifer Del Rio, to be on the following season.



Previews for the next season further support this violent change. Jennifer Del Rio from Riverview, Florida is showed throwing punches at her boyfriend, then being dragged off, exclaiming that he will never see his children again (“children” being plural because she is the mother of twins). Each season appears to introduce more and more violence and conflict throughout these teens’ lives, and writer Brian Balthazar from PopGoestheWeek.com makes a good point: “[The producers] are going to need to have even more over-the-top characters, even more rebellious kids.” Domestic violence seems to be becoming a key ingredient…when will enough be enough?

¡Bieber en Fuego!

On Monday, US Weekly reported that, during a gig in Germany, Justin Bieber's mom had her hair go up in flames while attempting to blow out her birthday candles. Pattie Mallette, better known as Justin’s mother, was celebrating her 35^th birthday on the day of one of her son’s performances. Following the show, Bieber invited his mom on stage, presented her with a cake, and proceeded to lead the audience in a “Happy Birthday” song. Upon leaning over the blow out the candles, several strands of hair fell into the flames of the candles. And, of course, it was Justin to the rescue! He immediately noticed his mother’s enflamed locks, and quickly patted the flames out. Bieber tweeted several times about the incident after the closure of the show.

Kate Plus 8: Back for Another Round

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Here’s a sneak peek into the new “Kate Plus Eight” series to be aired on April 4^th. The focus of this season’s shows? Kate and her children’s travels in Australia. From looooong plane rides, to beach explorations, and even swimming with sharks, us, the viewers, can yet again follow this family through their adventurous life.

However, there are some viewers who think the family should call it quits with the TV show. I can somewhat agree, too, but for different reasons. Some viewers believe the idea of the show is only continuing to try to see how far they can take it, and that it is simply “wearing out its welcome.” Personally, I think the show should come to an end simply because I think the kids should be able to enjoy their lives without camera crews following them around everywhere they go. Then again, it’s probably all they’ve ever known, considering the shows have been airing since before they were born. Sure, the show is entertaining…but is it worth it, or is it possibly time for a wrap-up?

"Does my hair look okay?"

Think of how many times you style your hair in a week, whether it be with a flat-iron, curling iron, blow dryer, etc. It’s a lot, right? So it’s no wonder everyone always complains about dry, overworked hair. We all see countless hair care commercials every day, and (don’t lie, you know you do this, too…) always think “Oh, maybe THAT kind of shampoo will work…I think I’ll try it!” Here’s a newsflash: most shampoos don’t really do much of anything. Even the most advanced ingredients can’t really penetrate the hair. Instead, they pretty much just sit there until they’re washed off again.

So how can you get rid of that dry—or better yet, fried—hair? The hottest new thing in hair care is called Phyx from Kronos, which introduces a new technology called T-SFERE. The serum is applied before bed, and left to work its “magic”. It was even rated number one overnight hair repair treatment by The Good Housekeeping Institute. Surprisingly, this costs around $50 on DermStore.com. Quite frankly, I was expecting even a higher price than that.

Walk on the Wild Side

In 2009, BBC One aired a “Walk on the Wild Side” segment, including voice-over’s of natural history clips. A second series also aired in September of 2010. Some of the featured voice-overs include Jason Manford, Sarah Millican, Rhod GiIbert, John Richardson, and Pal Aron (along with many others, of course!)  I found a “Best Of…” video on YouTube, which pieces together various absolutely hilarious clips from the show, and just HAD to share it. Nothing is funnier than talking animals, right?!

Move over Gaga...there's a Rising Star Shining Through!

The world of pop culture has come to love Katy Perry, but her fame is in danger of being overtaken. By whom, you ask? Why, Kitty Purry, of course!  It all started with Katy tweeting a picture of the feline snuggled up in her cozy bed, then the snowball effect began. Fans were just completely awestruck by the animal! Kitty is not the only cat of the family, however—there is almost Morrissey and Krusty. Katy Perry may have a slight obsession with cats. She even named her fragrance “Purr”. Now what’s that tell you!

Katy perry isn’t the only celeb cute little pets. Adam Sandler, the well-known actor, has a bull-dog named Matzoball. Also, Jennifer Garner  and Ben Affleck own a Labrador named Martha Stewart! I don’t think any of these are going to give Kitty Purry any tough competition though. I mean, c’mon…look at that cute little face! :)

Skins: Should there be a Season 2?

On Monday January 17^th, MTV premiered its new series called Skins, a show meant to portray the secret lives behind the average American teens. However, instead of satisfying viewers, the first episode struck many in an offensive manner. As the New York Times states, the show is “mostly about explicit teenage characters doing explicit things”. MTV press, responding to the TV-MA rating of the show, says that it is meant to be viewed solely by adults. However, the fact that the show is being aired on one of the most popular channels among teens suggests the intentions were not for it to be viewed by adults alone.  Deeper concerns are rising, as well. Several teens that star in the series are only fifteen years old, and many critics brand the show as being on the borderline between simply overexposed and child pornography.

With the season having now come to a close, should another season be aired? It is questionable. Do teens really behave in such a lude manner like this every day? Sure, we hear about the crazy parties over the weekends, and all the ridiculous things that happened. But the show makes it seem as though acts like this are normal and expected of teenagers in this day and age. Speaking as a teenager, i tend to think otherwise. There may be a good bit of troublemakers, but there's still a decent amount of good apples among the bad ones!

Taylor Swift Snags Entertainer of the Year

Another big event at the Academy of Country Music Awards last night? (Besides Steven Tyler trying to plant a big one on Carrie Underwood, that is…) Taylor Swift walked out with the most prestigious award of the evening—Entertainer of the Year. But is Swift really considered a country music star, along with names such as Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Garth Brookes, and Loretta Lynn? According to Fox news, Swift was completely astonished by the win by stating, “This is the first time that I’ve ever won this, and I’m just losing my mind.”

It seems as though young artists like Taylor Swift are really taking over, whether it be in the music industry or elsewhere. Yes, everyone must start somewhere, and great music can’t be brought about without new young artists contributing. However, the older, more traditional artists seems to be losing a bit too much of the limelight. Not to mention, it’s questionable as to whether Taylor Swift’s music can all be consider pure country.

Are YOU addicted to Facebook?

10. If you can type “Facebook.com” in less than two seconds, with or without your eyes closed, without EVER having a typo.

9. When Facebook goes temporarily unavailable, you curl into a ball in the corner and sob until it’s up and running.

8. As soon as any life-changing event occurs, you immediately post it to your status.

7.  You call your friends to let them know they have new posts on their wall before they even have the chance to see them.

6. You have a Facebook application on your phone, your iPod and every other electronic device you own Thinking about trying to install one into your dog, too?

5. If someone does not have his own Facebook, you immediately make one for him, with or without consent.

4. The only way someone can successfully communicate with you (meaning, the only way they can generate a response) is if they send you an IM on Facebook, even when you’re both in the same room.3. You see nothing wrong with Facebook stalking.

2. The sole purpose of your camera is to take a new profile picture each month. Really, who takes cameras to important events anymore?

1. You’ve become so desperate to have new friends that you have finally accepted a few “Mohammads” or “Amrinders” whosend creepy friend requests to you and all of your friends.

Lindsay Lohan, who is currently on probation due to a D.U.I. back in 2007, was seen stumbling into a faceplant outside of Motor City Bar in New York’s lower east side at 2:30 in the morning on Wednesday. She was grasping a burning cigarette, and wearing a leopard print coat with dark stockings. However, Lohan claims the fall was simply due to clumsiness, rather than being under the influence of any alcohol. Lohan claimed to TMZ that the press is trying to “make something out of nothing.”

Stumbling out of a bar, cigarette in hand, at 2:30 in the morning just does NOT set up a very positive scenario. If Lohan is still currently on probation, why would she put herself into such a questionable situation? The whole thing just doesn’t seem to add up for me. She can’t blame the press for playing up this incident—just hearing the details of the surrounds, I think almost anyone would come to the same conclusion!

Judges use their ONLY Save for Season 10...

As any American Idol fanatic knows (or maybe simply anyone who tunes in from time to time), the judges have the opportunity to save one contestant per season, up until the top 5. This year, the judges used their save quite early—on Casey Abrams. As Casey began to sing for his life after being told he had the fewest amount of votes, Randy began waving his hands for the performance to be stopped. He and the other two judges then proceeded to exclaim that Casey was too good to be the bottom contestant, and that they did not need to hear him sing to know how good he was. Casey himself was caught completely off guard (hence, the quivering/almost fainting…). He was filmed before the result show started stating that the judges would “never use their save this early in the season. As expected, viewers reacted in various ways to this decision. Some were ecstatic, some were less than enthused, while others had the simple “Ehh...” reaction. I would place myself more-so in the “less than enthused” category.

I, personally, do not mind Casey. By this statement, I mean the following: he is not one of my favorites, nor is he one of the ones I wish would go home week after week. However, as a follow-up to this, I do not believe he is talented enough—when compared to the competition this year—to win the competition. Therefore, I believe the judges should have wished him the best and proceeded to have him leave the show. Clearly, American thinks otherwise, based upon the results of last week, which showed that Casey was not even in the bottom three anymore. Is it possible that this “near-death experience” sparked a sudden fondness for Casey among the nation? It is quite possible, but only time will tell. Quite frankly, I’m hoping not. He is far from being the most talented among the bunch this season, and to see others who exceed his level of talent leave instead of him would be almost heart-breaking.

Steven's Risky Attempts...

Anyone who knows anything about Steven Tyler knows one thing—he’s a HUGE flirt. However, at the ACM’s, last night, Tyler may have stepped past his boundaries, attempting to throw Carrie Underwood’s recent marriage vows out the window. During the duo’s performance of “Walk This Way” by Aerosmith, Tyler attempted to kiss Underwood after singing the line “gimme a little kiss, like this…” First of all, Underwood was just recently married; therefore, Steven Tyler should watch his steps when it comes to intruding upon that. Secondly, at the age of 63, Tyler is well beyond old enough to be the father of Carrie Underwood, who is only 28 years old. I personally did not see this scene occur, but the act would not catch me off guard…

Chris Brown's Outburst & Apology

A day after storming backstage (and shattering a window and a glass bottle) after being interviewed on Good Morning America, R&B artist Chris Brown publically apologized for his actions. His reason for the outburst was that ABC’s interview exceeded the guidelines which the interview was to follow. He stated that he was disappointed in himself, and apologized to anyone who may have been startled by the incident. However, he went on to emphasize that no one was hurt, and he just had to “release the anger he had inside of him” that was brought about by the mentioning of his past relationship with Rhianna. ABC News was then quoted stating that "Chris Brown was invited on 'Good Morning America' to perform and to be interviewed. There were no talking points offered.” which is a different story than that of Brown. Despite whether any interview guidelines were discussed, this has not been the first time Brown has acted out violently.
At this time, ABC is not pressing any charges for the damaged property. Why, you ask? They are claiming that, since Brown and his crew left prior to the damage being discovered, they cannot directly blame him for the incident. Isn't his apology for the mess he made enough evidence to be able to press charges? However, i digress, as previously stated, Brown has a history of violence. This beginning with his abusive relationship with Rhianna and currently relating to his outburst on ABC. I think this incident makes it clear that Chris Brown is NOT by any means ready to jump back into the public eye. If he does so now, I believe we will be seeing more outbursts in the near future.

Charlie Sheen: Losing his Mind?

On Monday, Warner Bros. announced Charlie Sheen’s dismissal from the hit TV series Two and a Half men, which is to be effective immediately. How did Sheen react to his removal? Quoted from TMZ magazine, Sheen stated the following: “This is very good news. They continue to be in breach, like so many whales. It is a big day of gladness at the Sober Valley Lodge because now I can take all of their bazillions, […] and I never have to put on those silly shirts for as long as this warlock exists in the terrestrial dimension." Personally, the wording alone of his statement makes it quite clear that Sheen is just completely losing it.

Warner Bros. reasoned Sheen’s termination by saying that the contract he had allowed him to be cut if a felony offense involving moral turpitude was committed. However, again referencing TMZ magazine, Sheen’s lawyer is arguing that his client did NOT commit any such felony, due to his confession to drug use and partying. As for the series Two and a Half Men, the show was put on hiatus back in January due to Sheen’s actions of entering drug rehab. Now, with their finally decision to remove Sheen from the show, the future of the series is still undetermined, as said in a statement from Warner Bros.

However, back to Charlie Sheen…he has recently launched his web series “Sheen’s Korner”, where he rambled about everything from cat and dog fights, to phone calls from the President. Sound crazy enough? Also, on his second installment of the web show, he began posing threats onto the lives of children. On Monday night, Sheen tweeted that his web series held over 100 million viewers after only two broadcasts.

Lady Gaga Becoming Too Much?

Lady Gaga. When hearing that name, all one thinks is…wow. Her extremely outrageous fashion and music statements (for example, sporting a meat dress) are always completely out of the ordinary. However, recently, her “original” ideas may not be so original. Her most recent music video, “Born This Way” is, of course, quite bold—and also has many similarities to several of Madonna’s music videos, such as Express Yourself, Ray of Light, and Vogue. The response to this from the fans was split; some began to question Gaga’s artistry. On the other hand, some embraced the likeness of the videos. There were also those who completely discharged any similarities to Madonna’s Express Yourself, and simply praised the song.

Personally, I have not watched either video, so I cannot state my opinions of whether the two are similar in sound and context. I can say, however, that as lady Gaga has become more popular, she has also became more extravagant, and I am torn with whether this is necessarily a good thing. Compare her recent works (not to mention, latest looks), with those from when she first emerged—they have escalated drastically, thus pushing the line as to what is publically acceptable.

Celeb's Eating Disorders Stemming from Portraying Characters?

Natalie Portman received a great honor at the Oscar’s this year…but at what cost? For her performance in Black Swan, she portrayed a distraught ballerina who lets the pressure she is under overtake her. Throughout the filming of the movie, Portman lost twenty-pounds by means of a grueling diet. Considering the fact that she is already thin, can this really be healthy?

As one can guess, she is not alone when it comes to dropping the pounds for a role. Among her are actresses such as Beyoncé, Jennifer Hudson, and Megan Fox. People are beginning to become concerned; will these stars develop eating and health disorders due to their constant weight loss and gain? I mean, clearly, the act is not healthy, but as actors they must be engulfed by the character they are portraying.

The health of the actors and actresses alone is not the sole reason for concern. Lanae Brody, entertainment reporter and media expert from Fox news, surfaces a good point. Many women really do watch the lives of some celebrities quite closely. Is it possible women could develop these unhealthy habits due to their admiration for top-notch celebrities? They may simply think “Oh, well if *insert well-known celebrity name here* does that, then I should, too!”

One cannot blame the celebrities for any ignited health issues among women among their audience. They are simply doing their job—and that is acting the part. However, I do agree that such diets are not healthy and should not be demanded of these actors and actresses.

Top 24 for American Idol Revealed (Finally!)

Over the past two nights on Fox, Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler, and Randy Jackson had narrowed the top 40 contestants down to the top 24, who will perform live on the American Idol stage with hopes of winning the hearts of America  (Click here to view all contestants chosen). The judges made it apparent that the talent level was through the rook this year—the contestants had to be better than good to have any shot at going into the next round. With that being said, viewers (and some contestants) had to realize that some of those who were great singers had to be sent home, even if they did not necessarily deserve it.



Chris Medina, 26



Among those who many thought did not deserve to go home was Chris Medina. Yes, I have to say that his story was heartbreaking, and his devotion to his now-handicapped fiancé is nothing short of admirable. Not one person can deny that he is just overall a great individual. However, as previously stated, the competition is fierce, and, though it was horribly sad to see him go, he was not consistent enough to meet the par for the top 24.

Another controversial aspect of this season was the decision to lower the entry age to 15, which is a year under the 16-year-old limit of all previous seasons. The judges feel, however, that the right decision was made, due to two 15-year-olds, Thia Megia and Lauren Alaina, being part of the prestigious top 24.

Next week, the official live show will begin; the top 12 men are to perform on Tuesday, followed by the top 12 girls on Wednesday. Thursday night will be the dreaded elimination night, when even more cuts will have to be made. This time, however, America will decide who stays and who goes. Do you have a favorite contestant yet?

Glee Passes Up Legends On Billboard Top 100

With only 18 months of appearing on the charts, the hit show Glee now has more hits on the Billboard top 100 than anyone—this including artists such as the Beatles, Elvis Presley, and Michael Jackson. With debuting six songs last week, they are now up to 113, surpassing Elvis, who totaled 108. Anyone familiar with the show knows that all of their songs are simply covers of other artists’ hits. With that being said, one has to question—is it really a legitimate record for the show to hold? In my opinion, no…and for several reasons. These songs were not written by them, simply re-sang—and often quite similar to the original version. On the contrary, artists such as Elvis and the Beatles primarily produced their own original music. Not to mention, some of Glee’s covers which contributed to their record are songs of these great artists whom they superseded! Not too fair, is it? I don’t mean to offend any lovers of the show. I will admit, I have never watched a single episode, and I’m sure, with how big the show is (and from what I’ve heard from friends), it is a decent show in context. That still does not change my opinions with them holding this record.

"...But You Didn't Have to Get Me Anything!"

Heart-shaped boxes of chocolate, gushy love letters, and dozens of roses—all these things are what we typically relate to Valentine’s Day.  Sure, a diamond ring is always nice, but a sweet note, accompanied by a single rose or box of chocolates, will always suffice. However, these gifts aren’t usually enough to satisfy the world's biggest celebrities. We all know, of course, that buying a fancy, expensive gift is never the way to show your sweetie how much you care. Apparently, some stars would beg to differ. Let’s take a look at what BuzzFeed considers as the top five celebrity gifts over the past several years!

1. Given to David Arquette by his wife Courtney Cox. I guess he was a little too old for a real pony? However, I’m not so sure substituting a carousel one makes it too much more suitable!

2.       What says “I love you, Beyoncé!” better than a platinum, jewel-encrusted cell phone? According to Jay-Z, not a thing…

3.       Romantic nights are common among couples. The difference between the average Joe and Jane couple and the fancy celeb couple? Celebs don’t invite one another to their homes; instead, they rent a $40,000 hotel suite (remember…this is only for one night!), like the one George Clooney purchased for Sarah Larson.

4.       Okay… it’s true. A pricey engagement ring is not exactly out of the ordinary for a Valentine’s Day gift, but if it’s one like Howard Stern bought Beth Ostrosky, it is. In other words, only celebs spend $250,000 on a 5.2 carat emerald-cut rock like this one!

5.       Of all the celebs with the love-bug, Katy Perry must have been bitten pretty hard. What did she purchase this year for Russell Brand?  A $341,000 Bentley, of course! I must say, receiving a set of keys to that beauty would be a sufficient exchange for the key to my heart…*hint hint*



Polaroids, Glasses and LED Lights...Oh My!

Strange accessory crazes are taking off lately. One that has caused bundles of hype? Polaroid glasses; and, of course, who would propose such an idea rather than Lady Gaga, who is far from the average accessorizer. These glasses, the Polarez GL20, contain a camera, as well as two one and a half inch LCD projectors, in the lens. What all does this contraption do? Capture photos, playback said photos, watch slideshows and videos, enable photo sharing—you name it, they are most likely capable! Gaga was inspired by linking two similar iPod screens to play movies; the details were strung along after. Surprisingly enough, it is still possible to clearly see what is ahead of you, due to the LCD screens being positioned just below the line of vision.

A bright white smile sure does attract the eye—but how about a bright green smile…or a bright blue one? Japan has been struck by a new craze: LED teeth. Designed and fitted in a similar manner to an everyday mouth guard, a small LED insert is positioned on the teeth and…VIOALA, a brightly accented smile. A wireless hand-held control switch helps to allow the colors to be changed from blue, green, red and even a flashing sequence of all three options. Creator Moto Ishibashi and his partner Daito Manabe are beginning lessons to teach kids how to make their own LED teeth. One thing’s for sure...anyone will be able to spot that smile from a mile away!

Ohhhh Say... Can You See?

Any singer in the music industry would agree on the fact that having the opportunity to perform the national anthem at the Super bowl is far more than the chance of a lifetime. Performers such as Carrie Underwood, Billy Joel, Diana Ross, Neil Diamond, Mariah Carey and Beyonce Knowles are among the previous to achieve this honor; joining the list this year was Christina Aguilera. As the judges on American Idol have said for years, forgetting the lyrics is a HUGE no-no. If a contestant goes blank, they usually go home. Forgetting the lyrics to the national anthem, as Aguilera did at the Cowboy’s Stadium on Sunday, is an event that does not usually strike spectators in an approving manner. Stumbling on the fourth line of the song, Aguilera sang the phrase “what so proudly we watched at the twilight’s last gleaming” in the place of “o’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming”.  The singer blamed her fumble on being so caught up in the moment that she lost her place, and assures she knows the anthem by heart by stating she has been performing the song since the age of seven.

*Click here to watch the video, if you missed it on Sunday!