Monday, November 30, 2009

Rupert Everett: "I Wouldn't Advise Any Actor Thinking of His Career to Come Out"

Rupert Everett has done it again.

The out actor charmed us as Julia Roberts‘ pal in My Best Friends Wedding and was also so good in such films as Another Country, The Madness of King George and An Ideal Husband. But he seems to be on a one-man crusade to keep gay actors in the closet because his own career has not lived up to his expectations.

He tells the UK’s
http://www.guardian.co.uk/ newspaper: “The fact is that you could not be, and still cannot be, a 25-year-old homosexual trying to make it in the British film business or the American film business or even the Italian film business. It just doesn’t work and you’re going to hit a brick wall at some point. You’re going to manage to make it roll for a certain amount of time, but at the first sign of failure they’ll cut you right off. And I’m sick of saying, ‘Yes, it’s probably my own fault.’ Because I’ve always tried to make it work and when it stops working somewhere, I try to make it work somewhere else. But the fact of the matter is, and I don’t care who disagrees, it doesn’t work if you’re gay…It’s not that advisable to be honest. It’s not very easy. And, honestly, I would not advise any actor necessarily, if he was really thinking of his career, to come out.”

Rupert has made similar remarks over the years and has not swayed from his position one bit despite mounting evidence to the contrary.

We're glad that we have a growing list of busy and high-profile actors proving Rupert wrong and changing the old rules: Neil Patrick Harris, Cheyenne Jackson, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, John Barrowman, Alan Cumming, Chad Allen, T.R. Knight, Scott Evans, David Hyde Pierce, Harvey Fierstein, Wilson Cruz, Luke Macfarlane, Alec Mapa, Peter Paige, Ian McKellen, B.D. Wong,Gavin Creel, Robert Gant, Bryan Batt , Nathan Lane, Mario Cantone, Malcom Gets, and Leslie Jordan – among several others.

Jake Gyllenhaal Wins Role for Teen Drug Smuggler

One troubled teen impressed Jake Gyllenhaal so much as he was researching his ex-convict character in new film Brothers, the actor won him a part in the movie.

Gyllenhaal, who plays a grown up juvenile delinquent in the film, spent time with convicted drug smugglers and murderers in an effort to determine what life behind bars for a teenager is like - and he admits the experience has changed his life forever.

He met with 18 year olds who are serving life sentences and others who have since been freed and are trying to get their lives in order.

One such teen, Victor, made such an impact on Gyllenhaal and director Jim Sheridan, they cast him in the film.

The actor explains, "This kid Victor was in jail and he was released and had the opportunity to change his life and told us stories that were unreal to me.

"He was hiding meth in the back of a lamp of a four wheel vehicle driving over the border and he was 16. He changed his life and is working for the governor's office in Sacramento now.

"Jim (Sheridan) ended up putting him in the movie in a scene where my brother Tobey Maguire's helicopter goes down."

In the film, Maguire and Gyllenhaal play feuding siblings.

MUZOPHILE: The Decade Collection #37

#37 in the "MUZOPHILE: The Decade Collection" of his 100 favorite dance club mixes goes to Janet Jackson's newest release "Make Me" (Dave Aude Club Mix) from this year.



For more MUZO, visit his blog at: http://blog.muzophile.com/.

New Moon Scores Thanksgiving Box Office Record

The Twilight Saga: New Moon is at the top of the U.S. box office for the second consecutive week, taking North American ticket sales into a record-breaking five-day Thanksgiving weekend.

The Twilight sequel, starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, boasts $66 million in earnings over the five-day holiday period, including a three-day haul of $42.5 million taken from Friday through Sunday.

Total movie ticket sales in North America over the Thanksgiving period amounted to $278 million, breaking a previous record of $244 million set in 2000 - when How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Unbreakable were the two top films

New Moon now boasts a staggering worldwide total of just under $475 million.

Sandra Bullock's drama The Blind Side took in $40.1 million over the weekend, bringing its own two-week total to $100.3 million.

Disaster film 2012 followed at three with $18 million in profits in three days.

Rounding out the top five are Robin Williams and John Travolta's comedy Old Dogs and Disney's A Christmas Carol, taking in $16.8 million and $16 million.

Source Close to Reese Witherspoon Said She and Jake Gyllenhaal Have Split

Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal have split, a source close to the actress has told People Magazine. No further details were given.

Witherspoon, 33, and Gyllenhaal, 28, costarred in the 2007 movie Rendition, after which rumors started flying about them as an off-screen couple.

By the summer of 2008, however, the rumors appeared to be confirmed, thanks, in part, to an extended Bastille Day holiday in Paris – followed, the next month, when they were seen in Marrakech, spending a Saturday strolling hand-in-hand, checking out bazaar stalls, before stepping into the shade for lunch, according to reports.

Come that Sunday, the couple reportedly stayed in their suites at the 5-star Amanjena Hotel, described as a beautiful, romantic getaway boasting a view of the Atlas Mountains.

'Very Supportive'

By that fall, Witherspoon was telling Vogue about Gyllenhall: "He's very supportive. Suffice it to say, I'm very happy in life, and I'm very lucky to have a lot of really supportive people around me who care very much for me, and, you know, that's all you can hope for in life. I am very blessed in that way."

This spring, in April, the two enjoyed a steamy escape to the Southern California desert, where they looked cozy together at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival. "Reese looked cute in a hat and bikini," an eyewitness told reporters. "She was in a great mood and kept chatting with Jake between sips of a piƱa colada."

And as recently as last month, things still appeared to be running smoothly between the two, with Witherspoon telling InStyle, "We spend the weekends outside L.A, in Ojai, where I have a farmhouse. We have chickens and we grow cucumbers and tomatoes. I love it. It reminds me of where I grew up in Tennessee."

Oscar Recognition

Witherspoon, the 2006 Oscar winner as Best Actress for her role as June Carter Cash in the Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line, was married for seven years to her Cruel Intentions costar Ryan Phillippe, until their 2006 divorce. They have two children, Ava, 10, and Deacon, 6.

Gyllenhaal's high-profile roles included those in Brokeback Mountain, which earned him a 2006 Oscar nomination.

Last year, Witherspoon costarred with Vince Vaughn in the holidays Four Christmases, about a couple who all but split due to pressures brought on by their respective families.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Lady Gaga Wears Crazy Clothes Because She Was Bullied at School

So, apparently there is a reason for Lady Gaga's eccentric style: She said she was bullied at school. The "Bad Romance" singer claims she was teased as a teen, and now wears her crazy outfits so people in her former shoes can look at her and not feel bad, or alone. It's for the kids!

She told talk show host Ellen DeGeneres: “I want to create a space for my fans where they can feel free, and they can celebrate. I didn't fit in at high school, I wanted to be like Boy George and I felt like a freak. So I like to create this atmosphere for my fans where they feel like they have a freak in me to hang out with, and they don't feel alone."

It took Lady Gaga, now 23, years to get over the bullying she suffered but she is now totally comfortable in her own skin and is proud of who she is. She added: “It took a long time for me to be OK with myself. But I want my fans to know that it is OK. Sometimes in life you don't always feel like a winner, but that doesn't mean you're not a winner."

MUZOPHILE: The Decade Collection #38

Beyonce's "Get Me Bodied" (Hex Hector Club Mix) from 2007 is the #38 mix in the "MUZOPHILE: The Decade Collection" countdown of his favorite 100 dance club mixes.



Get more MUZO at http://blog.muzophile.com/.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Hunky Santa at the Mall is Sooooooooooo L.A.

You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I’m telling you why: Santa Claus has abs of steel.

Or at least this one does.

Leave it to Los Angeles to concoct a wild plot twist involving the role of the traditional mall Santa. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings throughout the holiday season, Hunky Santa and the Candy Cane Girls dance and delight throngs of shoppers at the Beverly Center mall. (The standard jolly and rotund Kris Kringle appears at the mall during the week and midday on weekends.)

A big bonus for the big kids who flock to see Hunky Santa: Hopping onto Hunky’s lap and telling him what they want for Christmas.


The advice doesn’t stop there, though. Hunky Santa — played by Eli Wilhide, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound 31-year-old who has appeared on “CSI: Miami” — takes the time to dispense tips on nutrition and exercise, share gift ideas for guys who don’t know what to get their girlfriends or wives, and give all-around guidance about how to stay upbeat and healthy over the hectic holiday season.

“If I can make somebody feel better about what they put in their body and help them live longer and have more energy, that’s great,” Hunky told the Los Angeles Times.

Those biceps are no accident

Hunky also told the Times that he religiously exercises every morning — “I like a fresh, healthy glow before work” — and he shed some light on the kind of diet it takes to maintain a physique like that:

“Right after I work out, I try to have something right away, usually a protein shake with whey protein, and a piece of fruit. I try to eat every two to three hours, and my staple meal is chicken and broccoli. When I know I have to go somewhere, I'll put some oatmeal with protein powder and berries in a container with an ice pack and snack on that. Basically, I try to eat a lean meat source and vegetables and brown rice — six small meals a day.”

So where did the mall find this guy? The process wasn’t easy. The Beverly Center has been featuring a Hunky Santa for several years now, but this year mall officials conducted what they described as “an exhaustive two-month search” for the perfect specimen. After analyzing the credentials and muscle mass of more than 350 applicants, they knew they had found their man in Wilhide.

‘Illegally gorgeous’

A kinesiology and nutrition major at the University of Maryland, Wilhide worked as a motivational speaker alongside inspirational life coach Tony Robbins for more than three years. These days he’s pursuing a career in acting. In addition to “CSI: Miami,” Wilhide has appeared on Disney’s “The Suite Life on Deck.” He told the Times that he recently read a script for “Days of Our Lives.”

While he waits to hit it big in the acting world, Wilhide is getting lots of love from lots of fans in his role as Hunky Santa. He wears red velvet pants, black shiny boots, a red velvet hat and a fur-trimmed coat that’s open and sleeveless. What better way to flaunt those muscles?

He’s “gorgeous,” said one woman who recently posed for a photo on his lap. “Illegally gorgeous.”

MUZOPHILE: The Decade Collection #39

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Top 10 TV Series of the Decade

Every decade has its landmark TV shows, and there will or should never be complete agreement on which 10 series belong at the top of the list.

For purposes of this list, a TV show is eligible only if it premiered in or after 1999. In addition, TV shows were judged on their artistic merit and overall contribution to the medium, not on their ratings or profit margins.

10. MODERN FAMILY (ABC, 2009-present)
It's a little risky to pick a new show as one of the best of the decade, even after seeing about a dozen episodes. In the case of "Modern Family," the risk is minimized by the track record of its creators, Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd. At a time when most new shows are just finding themselves, this one has been so consistently funny, smartly produced and crisply written that it has all the earmarks of a classic in the making.

9. LOST (ABC, 2004-present)
Part adventure, part mystery and part sci-fi, "Lost" defies convenient characterization. Supposedly conceived as a blend of "Lord of the Flies," "Survivor," "Gilligan's Island" and "Cast Away," the series developed a unique mythology and an unconventional rhythm that mixed stories of the present with those from the past and future. Creators Jeffrey Lieber, J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof created one of TV's biggest casts, then made each character utterly fascinating.

8. 24 (Fox, 2001-present)
Robert Cochran and Joel Surnow conceived this series when the idea of a terrorist attack that would bring down the World Trade Center towers seemed inconceivable. But when the unthinkable happened, America rallied around indefatigable agent Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) and some super-suspenseful, action-packed, provocative stories. Even the real CIA took notes. With an uncanny knack for selecting guest stars and a real-time format, "24" injected shots of excitement to the small screen.

7. 30 ROCK (NBC, 2006-present)
Maybe it's because Tina Fey and Lorne Michaels know TV from both sides of the camera. More than that, they understand the nutty things that happen when the surf of corporate culture pounds the shore of creative anarchy. "30 Rock," a TV show within a TV show, is occasionally guilty of biting the hand that schedules it, but never runs out of business and showbiz targets ripe for being lampooned.

6. MAD MEN (AMC, 2007-present)
Matthew Weiner rewound the clock nearly a half-century to create a drama that provides a fresh look at relationships and business and gender through vintage glasses. Set in the early 1960s in a prominent ad firm, "Mad Men" is beautifully written and blessed with a strong cast, starting with Jon Hamm as flawed executive Don Draper. You've come a long way, baby, but it sure is fun to look back.

5. DAMAGES (FX, 2007-present)
Few if any creators have ever spun more intricate and surprising yarns than Glenn Kessler, Todd A. Kessler and Daniel Zelman in "Damages," a high-stakes legal drama in which almost nothing is exactly as it seems. A superb cast, starting with Glenn Close, brings to life some of the most ambitious plots ever conceived for TV. This may be as intriguing and addictive as TV gets.

4. THE SHIELD (FX, 2002-2008)
Just as David Chase found a new and powerful direction for crime drama, Shawn Ryan shattered the mold for police drama. "The Shield" was everything no police series had ever been, starting with antihero Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis), a sympathetic but impossibly corrupt Los Angeles cop who made up his own rules of law enforcement as he went along. Moral ambiguity provided a gateway to stories that were stark, real and absolutely incredible.

3. CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM (HBO, 2000-present)
From his earnings as creator of "Seinfeld," Larry David could have bought one of the Virgin Islands and retired to a life of leisure and luxury. Instead, he trumped himself with a comedy series that poked fun at political correctness and poked even more fun at a curmudgeonly version of himself. Plotted but not scripted, "Curb Your Enthusiasm" raised mortification and tactlessness to art forms.

2. THE WEST WING (NBC, 1999-2006)
Creator Aaron Sorkin swore this show wasn't his way of making civics palatable to a mass audience, but it did just that. Neo-cons ran the real White House during most of the show's run. On TV, though, a team of highly principled progressives operated the levers of TV government. Quite possibly, this unfailingly witty and intelligent series, packed with powerful performances, whetted the country's appetite for change it can believe in.

1. THE SOPRANOS (HBO, 1999-2007)
From its opening musings about ducks in Tony Soprano's swimming pool to its ambiguous and much-discussed ending, "The Sopranos" pioneered a new form of drama. Creator David Chase brilliantly melded the dark, violent world of organized crime boss Soprano (James Gandolfini) with the conventions of middle-class suburbia. It dominated water cooler conversation even though, as an HBO program, it was available in only a small fraction of the nation's households.

MUZOPHILE: The Decade Collection #40

Kylie Minogue has the #40 spot with "Can't Get U Out of My Head" (Superchumbo Mix) from 2001, in the "MUZOPHILE: The Decade Collection" countdown of his 100 favorite dance club mixes.

Here's the original version:



To hear the "Supercumbo Mix", click on this link: http://new.music.yahoo.com/videos/--2154446.


Visit MUZO's blog at: http://blog.muzophile.com/.

Is Twilight's Taylor Lautner Gay?

Those rumors about Twilight beefcake star Taylor Lautner romancing the same-sex might have easily died down, at least for this press tour, if the entertainment media did its job and let celebrities stay in the closet. But they did not!

What's this about you being gay?, Rolling Stone magazine threw at Lautner for his cover story interview.

Supposedly dating Taylor Swift, Lautner isn't exactly making a convincing argument the pair are anything more than friends. He tells the magazine: "We instantly clicked. And she''s – she''s an amazing girl. Aside from being beautiful, she''s extremely funny, charismatic and fun to be around, and so we definitely get along. We"re close." Wow, we can feel the sexual tension!

And as for those rumors that he's gay?

Playing coy, Lautner would only say he's "possibly" dating someone, which could be Swift or somebody named Sean Fox Zastoupil, whose name has been curiously planted in B-list celeb blog reports as dating Lautner.

"I’m really big about, like, commitment. Loyalty is a major thing for me," he tells Rolling Stone. Except, the mag asked: “Another possibility is that maybe you’re just sort of discovering yourself …"

Lautner replies: "OK."

Rolling Stone: "… As a young person trying to figure out his sexual identity in the world."

Lautner: "OK. I see where you’re going. Interesting choice."

Rolling Stone: “It is a possibility."

Lautner: "There’s a lot of rumors out there."

Well that's certainly not a confirmation. But moreso, it's not a denial, which is usually the obvious choice for actors who are heterosexual, and the scripted choice for actors who are gay but playing heterosexual in public.

For now, Lautner is a 17-year-old actor with overnight success. We'd love to have him on our team but for now, we're comfortable speculating.

Music Video:
"Art of Love" by Jordin Sparks & Guy Sebastian

Check out the music video for Australian singer/songerwriter Guy Sebastian’s new single “Art of Love” featuring Jordin Sparks.



The hit song is from his latest album, "Like It Like That," in stores now.

Guy will head out on the Like It Like That Tour in February 2010. For more info, visit his website at
www.GuySebastian.com.au.

Mario Lopez Shuns Playgirl

Although Levi Johnston irked Sarah Palin’s family by stripping down for Playgirl, Mario Lopez avoided the same fate by turning down an offer from the skin publication, which is now available only online.

“I was flattered that they asked, but I politely declined,” the energetic former Saved By The Bell star/current Extra host, 36, said during the Charmin Restrooms opening held this week in NYC’s Times Square. “I don’t think my mom would be too happy about that, and I have no interest to be honest.”

But that’s not the only present the muscley mama’s boy has in store for his loved ones. Despite a denial that they were a couple several weeks ago, he’s committing to “someone special” in Courtney Mazza.

“Everything’s good,” he tells me. “She has her own passions and interests, and I have my own passions and interests. I think that’s what keeps things healthy. We both like to exercise, dance and that sort of thing, but she’s her own person.”

This holiday season, lucky Courtney will be lavished with luxuries by the actor, whose book Mud Tacos is out now.

“I’ve gotta keep it a surprise, but I’m a good gift giver,” he says. “I pride myself as a good gift giver, so my family always does well. I don’t care so much about gifts for me. I like to see the reactions. I’ve got lots of nieces and nephews, so I’m going to spoil them.”

“I feel pretty set. Even when I was a kid, I never really asked for too much. I don’t have too many crazy requests. I want to get an iPod with a bunch of whole new music. That’s about it. Maybe a cool new laptop, but other than that … I always like getting the same thing every year. I like getting cologne and aftershave, new scarves, I like getting movies, CDs and books.”

But you did not catch him waking up early for sales trumpeted by retailers this Black Friday.

“I avoid the stores, to tell you the truth,” he says. “It’s crowded, everything seems like it’s a mess. I always think I can get the same stuff on Saturday as I could get on Friday. The whole weekend’s pretty crazy. I just stay out of it.”

Paparazzi!: Sweaty Zachary

Zachary Quinto clutches onto his yoga mat after working up a sweat at the gym on Tuesday in Los Angeles.

Hugh Jackman Talks About Visiting Gay Clubs

Hugh Jackman who has had to deal with rumors that he's gay for much of his career admits he used to frequent gay clubs but not for the obvious reasons.

People magazine's 2008 Sexiest Man Alive actor says he and his best friend used to frequent the nightspots as teenagers so they could prey on unsuspecting girls.

He said: "I probably shouldn’t be saying this, but I remember when I was about 19, my friend and I used to go to these dance parties which were 80% gay guys, 18% girls who were sick of heterosexual guys hitting on them, and then vultures like my mate and I. We would go there until two in the morning, when the girls were really drunk and wishing they weren’t with 80% gay guys. I'm the worst kind of straight guy."

Lady Gaga Says She Prefers Guys In Bed

When it comes to getting down in the bedroom, or wherever it is Lady Gaga decides to get down, she's made it known that she likes the ladies and the gentlemen. But it turns out that maybe she does have a slight preference.

She is quoted by website
www.Jetzt.de as saying: “In love there are no rules or boundaries. But I separate love and sex. I just love the male sexuality. Men have something that I miss but that I really appreciate.”

The openly bisexual "Bad Romance" singer has always been adventurous when it comes to sex and showing off her body

Lady Gaga, real name Stefani Germanotta, left her father Joseph Germanotta shocked when he came to see her dance in a gay bar.

“I was a burlesque go-go girl in a gay bar in the Lower East Side of New York," she said. "One evening my father came into the bar because he wanted to see as what I worked there. When he saw me dancing in a leather thong he turned around and went home."

MUZOPHILE: The Decade Collection #41

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Dominic Cooper's Mamma Mia! Sequel Concerns

British star Dominic Cooper is desperate to star in a Mamma Mia! sequel - but he fears movie bosses will leave him out if a new movie is made.

The actor has heard rumors a follow-up to the successful 2008 movie musical is in the works, but he has not yet been approached to reprise his role.

He says, "I'm quite worried because a lot of people are talking and hearing about this number two but I haven't heard anything yet. It is giving me the impression that perhaps I am not included in this one. I'm hearing whispers it may be a prequel so I'm thinking, if it is that is not good for me."

Cooper has very fond memories of making Mamma Mia! because he met girlfriend Amanda Seyfried on the set, playing her love interest.

The Abba-themed film, which stars Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth, scored huge box office success with global takings of $573 million.

Adam Lambert Jokes Being a People Magazine "Sexy Man" Inspired Performance

Adam Lambert's performance at the American Music Awards – during which he locked lips with a male and simulated oral sex – was deemed too sexual for some. And just weeks before that, the American Idol finalist was featured in People Magazine's Sexiest Men Alive issue. Coincidence? Maybe not: Lambert jokes that inclusion on the Sexy Man list may have inspired him.

"I don't know, maybe it went to my head and that's why I did the performance the way I did," the singer, 27, quipped to eTalk, a Canadian entertainment program.

Still, he said of the title, "It's very flattering. I don't think of myself like that, so that's crazy."

But does Lambert, who split from his longtime boyfriend, Drake LaBry, in October, think that being a Sexy Man will help him get more dates?

"No," he told eTalk, laughing. "I don't really have much of a social life right now."

MUZOPHILE: The Decade Collection #42

Thalia has the first spanish song in the "MUZOPHILE: The Decade Collection" countdown of his 100 favorite dance club mixes with "A Quien Le Importa" (Hex Hector & Mac Quayle Club) from 2003 in the #42 spot.



Get the music scoop at MUZO's blog http://blog.muzophile.com/.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Gobble! Gobble! Gobble!

We wish you a Happy Thanksgiving Day!
Thank you for visiting MyWorld!
CharlieCruiser

John Mayer Covers December Details Magazine

John Mayer poses in a black tanktop on the December 2009 cover of Details, on stands December 1nd. Here are some interview snippets from the 32-year-old musician:

On creating pop music: “I don’t know if you know, but I’m not exactly Bob Dylan – I’m already a pop musician…I want to reach as many people as possible…I don’t mind compromising.”

On people hating him: “What if I had a booth on the street and I said, ‘Attention everybody who hates me: If you have a problem with me, I’m ready to hear your gripes! I will be outside the Barneys store on 60th Street from two to four this afternoon…I will only be speaking to people who do not like me. Come out and let me have it.’ How many people do you think would be standing there?…Ze-ro.”

Check out the full cover story at
www.Details.com!

CBS Explains Why They Blurred Adam Lambert’s Kiss

Adam Lambert kissed his straight keyboardist Tommy Ratliff during his sexually charged American Music Awards performance on Sunday.

On a Wednesday segment during the CBS Early Show, the kiss was blurred out before showing unedited footage of Madonna and Britney Spears making out.

A rep for CBS finally has spoken up, telling Extra: “We gave this some real thought. The Madonna image is very familiar and has appeared countless times including many times on morning television. The Adam Lambert image is a subject of great current controversy, has not been nearly as widely disseminated, and for all we know, may still lead to legal consequences.”

Oprah to Interview Obama in Christmas Special

Oprah will interview President Barack Obama in a special on ABC called Christmas at the White House: An Oprah Primetime Special.

The special, which will be taped next week in D.C., will include a tour of the White House, decked out for the holidays, as well as an interview with President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.

The special will mark the first interview between Oprah and Obama since he took office.

The special will air on Sunday, December 13th.

Gordon Ramsay Ordered to Pay Off Debts

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has been given just weeks to pay off outstanding tax debts for two of his restaurants after he was taken to court over the outstanding sums.

The British cookery expert presents a string of TV shows - including Hell's Kitchen and Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares - in both the U.S. and U.K. and owns over 20 eateries across the world.

Ramsay admitted he was recently advised to file for bankruptcy because his upmarket venues were hit hard by the economic downturn.

The star managed to stave off the debt-collectors momentarily by pumping $8 million of his own money into his empire in a last ditch bid to keep it afloat.

But on Wednesday Ramsay was ordered to pay off the debts relating to a restaurant in Mayfair, London and his Plane Food joint in the British capital's Heathrow airport.

Tax debts for two of his other London restaurants had already been paid prior to the hearing, which Ramsay was not present for

Paparazzi!: Dancing King

Dancing with the Stars champ Donny Osmond and partner Kym Johnson proudly show off the famed mirror-ball trophy Wednesday while celebrating their victory in New York City.

Lady Gaga Does It for the Freaks

Outcasts, misfits and the forgotten of society, rejoice: Lady Gaga is doing it all for you.

"I didn't fit in in high school and I felt like a freak," she tells Ellen DeGeneres in an interview to air Friday. "So I like to create this atmosphere for my fans where they feel like they have a freak in me to hang out with and they don't feel alone."

"The whole point of what I do – The Monster Ball, the music, the performance aspect of it – I want to create a space for my fans where they can feel free and they can celebrate," the singer, 23, says.

It's all about letting people who don't fit in know that someone out there is fine with who they are – and that other people have gone through the same thing, the fan-loving musician says.

"This is really who I am, and it took a long time to be okay with that," she says. "Maybe in high school you, Ellen, you feel discriminated against. Like you don't fit in and you want to be like everyone else, but not really, and in the inside you want to be like Boy George – well, I did anyway. So I want my fans to know that it's okay. Sometimes in life you don't always feel like a winner, but that doesn't mean you're not a winner, you want to be like yourself. I want my fans to know it's okay."

Is Adam Lambert a 'Role Model' or 'Nightmare'?

Adam Lambert knows that, as a performer with an over-the-top stage act, audiences are going to love him or hate him – and he's fine with either.

"I could be somebody's role model, but on the flip side I could be somebody's worst nightmare at the same time," the singer, 27, tells Popeater. "You never know how you're going to affect people, being in this position."

Right now, the "nightmare" tag seems to be predominant among many, since his overtly sexual show at the American Music Awards on Sunday infamously caused ABC to cancel Lambert's morning-show performance a couple days later.

"If you are in the public eye and you are a certain type of persona, you're putting certain ideas out there you're bound to have people look up to them," he says. "You're also bound to have people who completely reject them and hate you for it."

But despite the negative feelings some people have about him, Lambert says the positive things he can do outweigh all that.

"The role model thing is interesting, it's kind of like a catch 22," he says. "Part of me is like, 'That's flattering.' And if I'm helping people find truth in their lives or lead lives [that] are more open themselves, if they feel that they also want to be comfortable in their skin, then that's great. If I can inspire that, I'm thrilled."

CBS nabbed Lambert to sit down and perform on Wednesday's The Early Show as well as the Late Show With David Letterman. During the morning interview, he admitted the one thing he would do differently is "sing better," and that the questionable actions were not rehearsed but impromptu.

"When I got up on stage, I don't think about things like, 'this is network television, what time is it, what children were watching?' I just was in the moment," he said. "I did get carried away, but I don't see anything wrong with it."


Watch CBS News Videos Online

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Donny Osmond Dances to Victory on the 9th Season "Dancing with the Stars" Finale

Donny Osmond danced his way to victory on Tuesday, winning the 9th season of the hit ABC television show "Dancing With the Stars" after wowing the judges with his irrepressible determination and final tango.

Osmond, a lifelong performer who started in show business as a member of The Osmond Brothers singing group in the 1960s and 1970s, beat out the front-runner for much the 10-week competition, Grammy award-winning singer Mya.

The third finalist Kelly Osbourne, daughter of rocker Ozzy Osbourne who was in the audience to cheer her, charmed the show's judges but placed third behind Mya based on scores for the three contestants' performances Monday and Tuesday nights, as well as votes from television viewers after Monday's show.

Osmond was overjoyed at his win, screaming out "Tom! Yeah!" in a nod to host Tom Bergeron, and holding the silver disco ball trophy aloft in triumph alongside his dancing partner, Kym Johnson.

He pulled his sister Marie, who competed on a previous season, from the audience to join the ballroom floor celebration that capped a two-hour live broadcast from Hollywood.

Osmond, dancing with Johnson, impressed the program's three judges with his consistent showmanship, drive and determination, and he improved week after week on the program.

He danced an Argentine Tango for his final night freestyle, causing judge Carrie Ann Inaba to dub his performance "artistry in motion." Judge Len Goodman said Osmond "finished strong" in the final two nights.

Mya, the judges said, had shown the most natural ability from the start, while Osbourne turned on the charm, drawing great affection and growing better as the season went on.

Highlights of Tuesday's finale included performances by Whitney Houston and appearances by this season's eliminated contestants, including former U.S. House of Representatives Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who returned to dance the Texas Two Step that an injury kept him from doing earlier in the series.

Past season celebrity contestants such as Jerry Springer and Cloris Leachman also appeared.

Singer Nelly Furtado Doesn't Want Madonna's Exercise Routine

Singer Nelly Furtado isn't going to obsess about getting older. The pop star says she'd rather enjoy good food than stick to an intense exercise regime -- like some people she knows.

She said: “I am not ready to adjust physically, just to be marketable. My sell-by date will run out eventually. Unlike Madonna, I wouldn’t be willing to do Pilates round the clock, just to slow down the deterioration of my body. I prefer to sit in the kitchen, drink tea and eat biscuits.”

Nelly, who is married to sound engineer Demacio Castellon and has a six-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, took a two-year break after she finished promoting her 2006 album Loose and says she was enjoyed having the time to lead a more normal life.


She explained to Germany’s Petra magazine: “After the tour I was terribly exhausted and had to find a way back to a healthy routine. I cooked chicken soup for my family and just enjoyed everyday life. The small things that make you happy are important to me.”

Video Game, Dragon Age: Origins, Features Secret Gay Sex Scene

A scene in new video game Dragon Age: Orgins features a secret gay sex scene between a man an a elf.

The new game, which has received high ratings, allows players to access the scenes by using the correct combination of chat-up lines on warrior elf Zevran.

Footage then turns to a romantic fireside embrace.

Although developer BioWare has been criticised by many fans, www.GayGamer.net welcomed the scene, describing it as "deliberate and respectful".

The website said: "With this bare-chested and unflinching portrayal, it feels as if the depiction of gay sex in video games has reached a new level of equal treatment.

"This is more than just a mincing gay pirate or an evasive fade-to-black: there's choreography, tenderness, humour and even an element of sexual politics to Zevran's post-coital conversation.

"Kudos to BioWare for adding a bit of a gay storyline to their game and for dealing with gay romance as even-handedly as they do the heterosexual options."

Watch the scene below:

MUZOPHILE: The Decade Collection #43

#43 in the "MUZOPHILE: The Decade Colleciton" countdown of his 100 favorite dance club mixes is "Shiny Disco Ball" by Who Da Funk (featuring Jessica Eve) from 2002.


Get more MUZO at http://blog.muzophile.com/.

Video: "For Your Entertainment" by Adam Lambert

Adam Lambert’s new video for “For Your Entertainment” is out now for you to be entertained!



We don't care what America thinks, Adam's performance on Sunday's AMAs was HOT!

Fox Unveiled Its Midseason Lineup

Fox unveiled its midseason lineup Tuesday, giving homes to new entries "Our Little Genius," "Human Target," "Past Life" and "Sons of Tucson."

Given its limited shelf space and the need to accommodate the return of "American Idol," Fox is forced to do a bit of scheduling musical chairs in midseason -- although less so this year, as "Idol" will follow the scheduling pattern of "So You Think You Can Dance" in the fall.

That also means that unlike past years, much of Fox's midseason schedule looks like the lineup the net announced at the May upfronts (save Tuesday and Friday nights).

Meanwhile, with several new shows waiting in the wings, a handful of incumbents will take a hiatus -- most notably, "Glee," which will go dark between December 9th and April 13th. (On the bright side, net execs note that "Glee" originally wasn't even on the midseason sked that Fox unveiled in May.)

The net's midseason kicks off on Tuesday, January 12th with the two-hour premiere of "American Idol," now Paula Abdul-free. The show also airs the following night, January 13th, at 8:00 pm (EST).

That leads into new reality skein "Our Little Genius," the show from Mark Burnett and Zoo Prods. that tests tykes on their knowledge of certain topics. Reality czar Mike Darnell had promised that the show would get a post-"American Idol" boost, and this indeed will be the case.
"Genius" will shift to Tuesdays behind "Idol" on January 19th, when "Idol" pares down to an hour. (Expect frequent pre-emptions of "Genius," however, as "Idol" frequently expands to two hours.)

Then, on April 13th, "Glee," which takes a break after December 9th, will assume that post-"Idol" slot Tuesdays at 9:00 pm (EST).

New drama "Human Target," based on the comic book franchise, will get a special preview on Sunday, January 17th at 8:00 pm (EST), behind the NFC Divisional Playoff game.

That same night, "24" returns at 9:00 pm (EST) for the first half of its two-night, four-hour season premiere. (Making for a rare instance of Fox programming extending into the 10:00 pm hour for a night.)
"24" will also air for two hours on Monday, January 18th, before settling into its normal 9:00 pm (EST) slot the following week, on January 25th.

"Human Target" will then take over the Wednesday 9:00 pm (EST) slot behind "Idol" starting January 20th.

In February, "Fringe" will take a hiatus after its Febuary 4th episode, leaving room for "Past Life," which will debut with a two-hour premiere on Thursday, February 11th at 8:00 pm (EST), before settling into its 9:00 pm (EST) slot on February 18th. (As announced last May, "Past Life" was originally slated for Tuesdays at 9:00 pm)

"Fringe" will return on Thursday, April 1th, after "Past Life" completes its run.

Live-action comedy "Sons of Tucson" will invade Fox's "Animation Domination" Sunday lineup on March 4th, airing at 8:30 pm (EST) in the plum spot between "The Simpsons" and "Family Guy."

"Sons of Tucson" pushes "The Cleveland Show" to 9:30 pm (EST); that means "American Dad" will be temporarily without a timeslot.

Also returning to the net in January is Gordon Ramsay's "Kitchen Nightmares," which will air Fridays at 9:00 pm (EST) starting January 29th. That's the slot formerly held by "Dollhouse," which airs its series finale on January 22nd.

Fox will air drama repeats (first, "Bones," and later, "House") on Fridays at 8:00 pm (EST) -- rather than comedies "Brothers" and "'TIl Death," as had originally been announced.

Shows on the bench include "Lie to Me," which will return later in the season, as well as "'Til Death," which the net would only say "will return to the schedule at a later date."

Fox also said its one-hour special "The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special in 3-D! On Ice!" will now air on January 10th at 8:30 pm (EST), behind the 450th episode of "The Simpsons."

Paparazzi!: Gaga Signs & Delivers

Between performances on Sunday's American Music Awards and Monday's Jay Leno Show, Lady Gaga finds time to sign copies of her new album The Fame Monster for fans at a Best Buy in Los Angeles Monday. But admirers didn't just get autographs: The singer generously ordered them $1,000 of pizzas.

Rosie O'Donnell Does Not Enjoy Being Single

Living single is less than rosy for Rosie O'Donnell.

"I'm not [enjoying the single life]," O'Donnell said on Monday at Rosie's Broadway Extravaganza annual gala. "But on we grow, so to speak."

Earlier this month, O'Donnell revealed on her SIRIUS Satellite radio show that her longtime partner Kelli Carpenter had moved out two years ago.

Accompanied at the gala by her son Parker, 15, the former View co-host side-stepped other questions regarding her personal life but says that through everything, her four kids are doing "very well."

Her friend Judy Gold says O'Donnell waited two years to let the public know of the split because of her children. "She has the kids," said Gold. "I think she's entitled to her private life and that’s what it is, private."

Although O'Donnell may not enjoy being single, Gold said that "Ro" is getting by just fine: "She seems happy and grounded. She's in the drivers seat here."

O'Donnell's annual Broadway Extravaganza, held in New York City, is a fundraiser for her arts education organization, Rosie's Kids.

Adam Lambert Shrugs Off AMAs Controversy

Everyone's aflutter about Adam Lambert's racy performance at the American Music Awards on Sunday – except Adam Lambert.

"I'm not a babysitter, I'm a performer," Lambert, 27, tells Ryan Seacrest in an interview on the latter's Web site, adding, "The spirit of rock and roll is alive and well."

Not on ABC, which apparently didn't approve of Lambert's stage show in which he French-kissed a band member and simulated oral sex. The network has made it clear that Lambert won't be performing on its morning program. It cancelled an appearance on Good Morning America slated for today after receiving over 1,500 complaints about the Sunday broadcast. The network says it doesn't feel he'd be appropriate for a morning audience. After the GMA cancellation, CBS asked Lambert to perform today on its Early Show instead.

"I think the adrenaline kind of took me over," Lambert tells Seacrest. "I admit and I'm kind of proud of the fact that I did get a little carried away. I had a good time and I was merely interpreting the lyrics of my song. It wasn't meant to piss anyone off, it wasn't meant to hurt anyone or cause any problems."

But the reaction, he says, is far out of proportion to the offense.

"I don't feel like I owe anyone an apology," he says. "I did something female performers have been doing for years. All of a sudden a guy does it, and it's crazy. I do think there's a slight double standard."

His fans seem to agree. On Twitter, the topic #shameonYouABC has been a hot topic since the GMA cancellation was announced, with many fans accusing the network of homophobia and discrimination.

Though he doesn't hold any grudges against the network, Lambert says that at least people have more realistic expectations since his days on a reality-show competition.

"I'm sexual person, and maybe people didn't see that on American Idol," he says. "But now ... they do."

MUZOPHILE: The Decade Collection #44

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Adam Lambert's Sexually-Charged Act on the American Music Awards Draws Complaints

ABC television said on Monday it had received about 1,500 complaints about the sexually-charged performance by "American Idol" runner-up Adam Lambert at the American Music Awards on Sunday.

Millions of viewers saw Lambert simulate oral sex with a back-up dancer, plant a passionate kiss on the mouth of a male keyboard player and gesture to the audience with his middle finger during the closing act of the live music awards show.

Lambert, 27, said his goal was "not to piss people off, it was to promote freedom of expression and artistic freedom".

ABC cut the most controversial part of his act -- Lambert rubbing the face of a male dancer in his crotch -- from the U.S. West Coast telecast that aired later on Sunday.

But by then, the singer's racy rendition of his debut single "For Your Entertainment" was already on its way to becoming one of the most provocative TV moments in the music industry since Madonna and Britney Spears kissed on the MTV Video Music Awards show in 2003.

Adam Lambert was among the top 10 most popular topics on Twitter on Monday.

American Music Awards producers, Dick Clark Productions, said they were unaware from rehearsals what Lambert had planned. "We did not expect the impromptu moments," a spokeswoman told Reuters.

An estimated 14.2 million viewers watched the "American Music Awards" telecast, the largest audience since 2002, ABC said, based on preliminary viewing figures.

Lambert, 27, who publicly declared he was gay after "American Idol" ended in May, said his act with dancers in bondage costumes, was no different from the erotic performances of some female pop singers. He added that much of the sexual energy he brought to Sunday's show was "in the moment."

"Adrenaline is a crazy, crazy, crazy feeling. Some of the things I love most about performing is when you're up there and all of the sudden you just have these feelings, this rush that comes over you," Lambert told CNN afterward.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which has strict rules on the broadcast of indecent or profane material, said it could not confirm or deny receiving complaints.

The FCC fined CBS $550,000 for broadcasting a fleeting glimpse of Janet Jackson's breast to roughly 90 million TV viewers of the 2004 Super Bowl half-time show, which Jackson famously blamed on a wardrobe malfunction.

It was unclear whether ABC could be at risk of an FCC fine because Lambert's performance was broadcast around 11 pm in most of the nation, outside the FCC's 6am-10pm time frame prohibiting the broadcast of indecent material.

Entertainment Weekly music reporter Michael Slezak wrote that Lambert's first major TV outing since the "American Idol" show "felt less like a genuine expression of his high-octane sexuality...and more like a carefully planned stab at dominating the post-AMA blogosphere/water-cooler discussion."

Lambert released his debut album, also titled For Your Entertainment", on Monday and by midday it was No. 11 on the iTunes albums charts.

Drea De Matteo Dropped From Housewives?

Former The Sopranos star Drea De Matteo has been fired from Desperate Housewives after just five episodes, according to reports.

The actress joined Eva Longoria, Marcia Cross and Felicity Huffman on the program as the matriarch of an Italian family who moves to Wisteria Lane.

But falling ratings have cost her her primetime TV role - TV bosses have decided to cut De Matteo from the show, reports the National Enquirer.

New Release Tuesday!

Here are this week's new releases on Blu-Ray and DVD including "Angels and Demons" starring Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer and Stellan Skarsgard.

MOVIES
Angels and Demons (B/D)
Blood: The Last Vampire (2000) (B)
Cujo: 25th Anniversary Edition (B)
Far Cry (D)
Funny People (B/D)
Gomorrah: Criterion Collection (B/D)
Janku Promoters (D)
The Maiden Heist (D)
My Bloody Valentine: Special Edition (B)
Shorts (B/D)

TV SHOWS
Alfred Hitchcock Presents - 4th Season (D)
Beverly Hills, 90210 - 8th Season (D)
Daniel Boone - Fee's Favorites & The Best of Mingo (D)
Hogan's Heroes - Kommandant's Kollection: The Komplete Series (D)
Law & Order: Criminal Intent - 4th Year (D)
Life on Mars - Series 2 (UK) (D)
Melrose Place - 5th Season, Volume 2 (D)
The Sopranos - 1st Season (B)
Superman: The Animated Series - Complete Series (D)

(B) - Available on Blu-Ray
(D) - Available on DVD
(B/D) - Available on Blu-Ray & DVD

Regis Philbin Taking Leave of Absence for Surgery

Regis Philbin will be taking a leave of absence from his long-running ABC daytime talk show to undergo a hip replacement surgery.

Philbin, 78, made the announcement Monday on "Live with Regis and Kelly," which is broadcasting from Las Vegas this week.

"I've been limping around here; it really is painful," Regis said at the end of the show's opening segment. His surgery is scheduled for December 1, after the show's crew returns to New York.

Philbin didn't give a firm date for his return to the show, saying only, "I'll be back next year."

The show later issued a clarification. "Recovery for this procedure typically is estimated to be four to six weeks, and Regis expects to return to 'Live' as soon as possible," a rep for "Regis and Kelly" said.

Neither Philbin nor co-host Kelly Ripa addressed who would be filling in for Philbin while he is away. "Regis and Kelly" has often employed guest co-hosts when one of the stars of the talk show is away.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Boy George to be Locked Up Again?

Pop star Boy George is about to be banged up again, but this time it is in the Big Brother house, we can exclusively reveal.

The gender-bending pop star is already used to being confined in a small space. He was jailed earlier this year for imprisoning a rent boy in his flat.

Now he has been released, Boy George wants to sign up for the last series of Celebrity Big Brother.

The former Culture Club singer, 48, has turned down offers to appear on the show in the past. But now he has decided to give it a go and it is rumored he has bagged a $400,000 fee for agreeing to sign.

George said recently he is the happiest he has ever been and his stint in jail made him change for the better.

He said: “I had prison coming to me. It wasn’t that big a surprise, I kind of knew it was going to happen. I just thought: ‘I’m going to make this work for me.’ I got a job quite quickly and worked in the kitchen.”

A reliable source said: “Boy George will be explosive – get ready for Celebrity Big Brother to finish with a bang.”

New Moon's Fang-tastic Opening

Twilight sequel New Moon has shot to the top of the U.S. box office, sucking the competition dry and earning a staggering $140.7 million in its opening week of release.

The vampire adventure achieved the third highest American debut of all time - taking $258.8 million worldwide, after opening in 26 countries.

New Moon isn't the only box office success story, Sandra Bullock's The Blind Side - the true story of American football prodigy Michael Oher - opened with an impressive $34.5 million.

John Cusack's disaster film 2012 followed with $26.5 million.

Planet 51 and Disney's A Christmas Carol round out the top five with $12.6 million and $12.23 million respectively.

Taylor Swift &Michael Jackson Win Big at the American Music Awards

How hot is Taylor Swift right now? The country star dominated the American Music Awards on Sunday night – and she wasn't even there.

After sweeping the Country Music Association Awards earlier this month, Swift won a leading three American Music Awards, including Favorite Artist of the Year, all while she was in London.

A stunned and momentarily speechless Swift, 19, gave her acceptance speech via satellite, paying homage to the night's other big winner, Michael Jackson.

"To even be mentioned in a category with Michael Jackson … is an unimaginable honor," said Swift, who also won Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist, Favorite Adult-Contemporary Artist, Favorite Country Album for Fearless and Favorite Country Female Artist. "I'm sending my love to the Jackson family."

Jackson won four trophies: Favorite Soul/R&B Artist, Favorite Pop/Rock Male Vocalist and Favorite Pop/Rock Album and Favorite Soul/R&B Album, both for Number Ones, giving him a record 23 AMAs over his career.

"It's not just about the winnings, the awards," his brother Jermaine said in an acceptance speech. "It's mainly the message. The message Michael had will live on forever. He saw good in everyone. … Start with love and let's love each other."

Sister Janet Jackson got a standing ovation when she opened the show with a choreographed-heavy medley of her hits.

But the applause for Jackson turned into shock and awe by the end of the show, when American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert took the stage in a silver suit and cane to close out the night. The pompadoured and glammed-out singer gyrated against his dancers and kissed a male band member. The spectacle instantly lit up Twitter as fans debated whether he was a fresh match for Lady Gaga or too unseasoned for such a prime gig.


Other winners were:

• Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group – The Black Eyed Peas
• Favorite Country Band/Duo/Group – Rascal Flatts
• Favorite Alternative Artist – Green Day
• Favorite Country Male Artist – Keith Urban
• Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist – BeyoncĆ©
• Breakthrough Artist Award – Gloriana International
• Artist of the Year – Whitney Houston
• Favorite Hip-Hop Male Artist – Jay-Z

American Music Awards Performances

Many of the big names in the music world performed at last night's American Music Awards. Here are my favorite performances:

ADAM LAMBERT


LADY GAGA


JENNIFER LOPEZ


BLACK EYED PEAS


WHITNEY HOUSTON


JANET JACKSON


SHAKIRA


MARY J. BLIGE


KELLY CLARKSON


JAY-Z & ALICIA KEYS


CARRIE UNDERWOOD

"Special" New Release Monday!

In order to get an early start on your holiday shopping, the music world has released this week's new CDs a day early, including the long awaited release of Adam Lambert's "For Your Entertainment" and Lady Gaga's "The Fame Monster":

Adam Lambert - For Your Entertainment
Angie Stone - Unexpected
Beyonce - I Am...Yours: An Intimate Performance At Wynn Las Vegas
Bon Jovi - The Circle
Boys II Men: Love
Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster

Rihanna - Rated R
Shakira - She Wolf
Susan Boyle - I Dreamed A Dream
Timbaland - Shock Value 2
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - The Live Anthology (Best Buy Exclusive)
50 Cent - Before I Self Destruct (Deluxe Package)

Support the music industry...buy or download your favorites today!


Sunday, November 22, 2009

Friends React to Oprah Winfrey's Decision to End Show

As the realization sinks in that, after a quarter of a century, Oprah Winfrey will be ending her syndicated talk show September 9, 2011 – a decision she intends to explain on her program Friday – rivals, admirers and industry analysts are chiming in with their reactions.

As with most things Oprah, there's admiration mixed with a sense of awe.

Martha Stewart, attending Diddy's 40th birthday bash at New York's Plaza Hotel Thursday night (the news about Winfrey had broken late that afternoon), pointed out that Oprah was not retiring.

"She'll do another show," said the domestic diva, 68. "She's evolving. She's fabulous."

Only don't be so sure. Winfrey, 55, whose current program reaches about 7 million viewers a day, is preparing to start her own cable channel. And while it has been widely rumored that she would bring her program to OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, a joint venture with Discovery Communications, on Friday's Today show, during a news report on Winfrey's impact on TV, it was said that there will be no Oprah show once she pulls the plug on the current program.

Gayle King's Reaction

Winfrey's best friend Gayle King, 54, dismissed any thought of risks involved with something new, and said at the Diddy party, "When you think about it, Oprah Winfrey has been No. 1 every single year since she started."

King, who is an editor-at-large for O, The Oprah Magazine, and is close to the media queen, said in response to a question that she was not consulted about Winfrey's move. "This was definitely Oprah's decision, and Oprah's decision alone."

As for any sense of loss Winfrey might feel about her show, King laughed and said, " I think that Oprah always makes the best decision for herself. I really do. And I have a feeling she will come up with some things to do. She has a very full life … We don't need to worry about her filling her time, I promise you that! Life is good for her."

Ellen's Announcement

For Ellen DeGeneres, who is the cover girl (along with Winfrey) on the December issue of O magazine, the news about Winfrey's decision was so big that she announced it to her in-studio audience Thursday.

"Hey listen, I'm going to tell you some news you're going to hear as soon as you go out into the world, when you leave here. Right before I came out here, I got a call from Oprah and she told me that she is announcing that next year will be her last year. It will be her 25th year, and she feels like it's time for her to stop."

Putting her own career into perspective, DeGeneres, 51, went on to say, "I don't think I could be here without her. I think she has blazed a trail ... She is an amazing woman."

In terms of Winfrey's legacy, "She will always be the Queen of Daytime Television," said Ellen, "and she also said she is leaving me all of her money. I was like, thanks Oprah, thank you."

Heartbroken Fans?

In Winfrey's hometown of Chicago, reaction is bittersweet – even in a Windy City sweet shop.

"Oprah is huge in Chicago," candy store worker Sara Crane tells the Chicago Tribune. Despite the rumbling that Oprah is planning to uproot from Chicago and settle in Los Angeles, Crane said, "I think it'd be more detrimental if she left Chicago and went to a different city. I think people would be offended.

Still, looking at the big picture, Crane says, "People will support anything Oprah does. She could run for president and probably win."

Sam Worthington: GQ Australia’s Man of the Year

Sam Worthingon shows off his GQ Australia Man of the Year Award at Australia’s Sydney University on Thursday.

The 33-year-old Terminator Salvation actor, who had stylist girlfriend Natalie Mark on his arm, took home the title of Man of the Year from GQ Australia.

“This year has been an amazing year for Australian celebrities, GQ Australia editor Nick Smith told AAP. “You’ve got Hugh Jackman and you have your ever present Russell Crowe and Eric Bana and now we have Sam Worthington who is running up straight behind them.

Rihanna Rocks Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship

Rihanna, wearing David Koma, performed at the first-ever concert on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas cruise ship on Thursday, November 19th in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The Oasis is the world’s largest cruise ship and cost $1.5 billion to build. It’s 5x bigger than the Titanic and accommodates 6,300 passengers.

The concert was the first to promote Rihanna’s new album, Rated R, which is due out tomorrow.

Music Video:
"Fresh Out The Oven" by Lola aka Jennifer Lopez

Check out this video for “Fresh Out The Oven” by Lola, better known as Jennifer Lopez - and she calls this “just a warmup track.”



The track featuring Pitbull, which was first released in teaser clips online last month, will not be on JLo’s upcoming album, but it’s an idea of what we can expect from her new music!

Jen also said that Lola isn’t a Sasha Fierce type alter ego - word on the street is that it’s hubby Marc’s nickname for her.

This video was directed by Jonas Akerlund.