I rarely speak of new music here on The Egg (because I’m rarely aware of it).
But Katy Perry has been hard to avoid. She’s everywhere. I’ve seen her all over the talk show circuit promoting her new album “Teenage Dream,” and more recently hosting the Teen Choice Awards, which I’m not ashamed to say I watched.
(Okay, maybe I have a little shame.)
If you haven’t seen the album cover, Katy is lying in a cloud of pink cotton candy, which I assume inspired the scented CD.
That’s right. When you open it up, your nose is tickled by the sugary-sweet smell of everyone’s favorite carnival/circus/baseball game confection. Even if you’ve gotten sick on cotton candy in the past — hasn’t everyone? – it will no doubt inspire a memory of a good day.
Which begs the question: why aren’t more things out there scented?
In the movie “Legally Blonde,” Elle Woods scents her resume and prints it on pink paper. She says it ‘gives it a little something.’ Her instructor and future husband both seem to agree.
What other items would benefit from good smells? We obviously add scent to detergents and candles and body splash. But what about movie posters on display at the theater? Or Playbills handed out at Broadway shows? Or how about best-selling hardback novels?
Would scent add ambiance or irritation? Inspire comprehension or incite allergy attacks?
Add a ‘little something’ or ultimately, take away?
Posted in Advertising, Books, Broadway, Business, Celebrities, Entertainment, Humor, Internet, Life, Magazine, Movies, Music, News, TV, Technology, Television
Tagged Movies, books, Broadway, Television, Internet, advertising, celebrities, entertainment, Humor, The Sticky Egg, news, talk show, Katy Perry, life, Music, technology, Business, talk show circuit, TV, magazine, new music, Teenage Dream album, Katy Perry album, Teen Choice Awards, cotton candy, pink cotton candy, cotton candy cloud, scented CD, scented items, confection, Legally Blonde movie, Elle Woods, scented resume
There is nothing I love more than watching a movie and discovering a hidden gem.
You know — that actor or actress who’s the friend of the lead who looks kinda familiar but you can’t figure out where you’ve seen ‘em before.
But I can.
It’s one of my favorite pastimes. Ask my friends. I’m actually pretty annoying about it. So I cannot believe that I totally missed this one.
After seeing Anna Kendrick play Jessica in three “Twilight” movies and nab a much-deserved Oscar nomination for her work in “Up in the Air,” it was only this week during publicity for her upcoming stint in “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” — opening in theaters today — that I realized that I had seen her years ago in a little movie musical called “Camp.”
I think I hear my friends laughing at me….
If you haven’t seen it, “Camp” is about a summer camp for theater geeks. Anna plays Fritzi, a wallflower who attaches herself to the camp diva…or so it appears. At the end of the film, when all the campers are performing at the big gala for the parents, Fritzi sabotages the diva and steps in to sing her big number, “Ladies Who Lunch,” blowing off the roof in an incredible performance.
Of course, I didn’t know it was Anna then…just that there was this HUGE voice coming out of a teeny tiny little girl.
And that little girl was Anna Kendrick.
Well, knock me over with a vampire.
Posted in Broadway, Celebrities, Entertainment, Humor, Life, Movies, Music, Summer
Tagged Anna Kendrick, Broadway, Camp movie, celebrities, diva, entertainment, Humor, Ladies Who Lunch, life, movie actor, movie actress, movie musical, Movies, Music, Oscar, Oscar nomination, Scott Pilgrim vs the World movie, summer, summer camp, summer camper, theater geek, Twilight, Twilight saga, Up in the Air movie, vampire
Dear Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler:
Run. Run as fast as you can.
The producers of “American Idol” are on a sinking ship, and they want you to pull them ashore.
The problem is, they will pull you under with them….just like they did Kara. They tried to do the same to Ellen, but she has her own boat and is able to avoid the undertow.
Love all my water metaphors? That’s what you use when a show has — wait for it — JUMPED THE SHARK!
Why can’t the producers just admit that AI has reached its natural end? Simon Cowell could see it. Audiences can see it coming, too; that’s why the numbers have been declining over time.
Don’t judge the program by the number of yahoos who show up for the auditions. There will always be people who want to be discovered.
The producers should create a new program that will generate some excitement and spend their time and energy on that…instead of trying to revive “American Idol” with musical stars that are nearing or past their prime.
(No offense intended.)
Continue with your fabulous careers. Goodness knows you don’t need AI.
Posted in Business, Celebrities, Entertainment, Humor, Music, TV, Television
Tagged American Idol, American Idol auditions, American Idol judges, American Idol producers, American Idol ratings, American Idol tv show, Business, celebrities, Ellen Degeneres, entertainment, Humor, Jennifer Lopez, jump the shark, Kara DioGuardi, Music, Simon Cowell, Steven Tyler, Television, TV
“Saludos amigos”
That means “Greetings friends.”
I learned that phrase when I was five years old from a Spanish record for children. It was narrated by Ricardo Montalban – who no doubt voiced it before he was a big star – and included songs about Spanish numbers, geography and even words in English and Spanish that sound ‘the same – “es lo mismo.”
I was reminded of that record this morning, when I was training a group of Latin American doctors in public speaking skills. The class was conducted in English – since I was the one teaching it – but all of the doctors were native Spanish speakers.
I envied their ability to switch back and forth between English and Spanish. The only Spanish I am able to speak with any fluidity are the phrases I learned from Ricardo (and I have to sing them to get them right!).
‘One is uno, two is dos
Three is tres, four is cuatro, yes and
Five is cinco, six is seis
Seven is siete, number eight is ocho.”
There was also a section on Spanish geography; the one song that sticks in my head is:
The Pyrenees are great mountains, great mountains in Spain.
Los Pirineos son grandes montañas , grandes montañas en España.
And, of course, my personal favorite, “It’s the Same,”
It’s the same
Es lo mismo
It’s the same
Es lo mismo
There are so many words that are the same, you know
And except for the fact that the accents are different
The words are the same
The words are the same.
So…all it takes is an accent to speak Spanish?
Well, shiiiiiiitt. I’ve got one of those. I’m set.
Posted in Celebrities, Education, Humor, Movies, Music, TV, Travel
Tagged bilingual, celebrities, communications training, education, English, English to Spanish, Humor, languages, Latin America, Movies, public speaking, Pyrenees Mountains, Ricardo Montalban, Spanish, Spanish geography, Spanish numbers, Spanish record, Spanish to English, Television, Travel, TV
Did you see the ‘big-eye’ contacts that Lady Gaga wore in her “Bad Romance” video?
I didn’t….which is no real shock. If a song hasn’t appeared in a movie or Broadway musical, I don’t know it.
My sister Lou told me about this one….and let’s face it — it’s an effect worthy of a movie, like most of Lady Gaga’s artifice. That big-eyed, Disney character look? As soon as I saw the contacts, I wanted a pair. So it’s no surprise that younger fans are out there, trying to find them in the stores.
You know who really benefits from this trend? People like Amanda Seyfried, the young actress and star of “Dear John,” “Letters to Juliet,” and “Big Love.”
She was born with anime eyes. They are practically on either side of her head…and HUGE. She has the Lady Gaga look built-in. No contacts required.
Some people have all the luck.
Posted in Beauty, Broadway, Entertainment, Fashion, Humor, Movies, Music, TV, Television
Tagged Movies, Television, Humor, Dear John movie, Music, TV, Lady Gaga, Lady Gaga contacts, Lada Gaga big eye contacts, Bad Romance song, Bad Romance video, Lady Gaga Bad Romance, movie music, movie soundtrack, Broadway soundtrack, Disney characters, Amanda Seyfried, Letters to Juliet movie, Big Love tv show, anime eyes
The past week has seen its share of good-byes.
Fans of “Lost” and “24″ bid tearful farewells to their beloved series. Even “10 Things I Hate about You” got a bit of love when it exited the scene after only one season…from whomever watched it.
And there’s always a void after the season finales air — that hole in your schedule that used to be filled.
Monday nights, for example. Now that “Dancing with the Stars” has crowned Nicole and Derek the mirror ball champions, and “Castle” has wrapped for the season, my evening is wide open. I don’t even have any DVR to catch up on the next day now that “How I Met Your Mother” and “Big Bang Theory” have concluded their runs.
Sigh.
And tonight, “American Idol” announces its winner, and at the same time, sends Simon Cowell off into the great beyond.
But, let’s get real. Simon leaving IS the end of “American Idol.” It’s time for the producers to admit it…the fans to accept it…and really, for everyone to be happy the ride is over.
This last season was pretty lame. If you watched the finals last night, they were more a whimper than a blaze of glory. Lee and Crystal are both talented, but how would they have fared in last year’s final? Would you have considered them differently in a group with an Adam Lambert or a David Cook?
I think so.
The contestants this year are a reflection, I believe, of Simon’s lack of commitment to the process. He stepped out months ago, and let Kara and the rest of the judges drive the process.
When he steps out for good, look out. “American Idol” becomes “American Mediocrity.”
Enjoy.
Posted in Humor, Music, Television
Tagged 10 Things I Hate about You television series, 24 television series, Adam Lambert, American Idol, Big Bang Theory television series, Castle television series, Crystal Bowersox, Dancing with the Stars, David Cook, How I Met your Mother television series, Humor, Lee DeWyze, Lost television series, mirror ball trophy, Music, Simon Cowell, Television, television season finales, television series, television series finales
Tonight, “Dancing with the Stars” crowns its Season 10 champion.
Having loaded the field with an Olympic figure skater and a professional dancer, the ending seemed almost a foregone conclusion. But after a season of high ratings and critical acclaim, the producers and judges suddenly got an enormous attack of conscience…and at last night’s finals, attempted to balance the scales.
Erin Andrews, the ESPN reporter, is the only true non-dancer left in the competition. She has steadily improved over the season and deserves to be in the final three. But in the two dances she performed last night with partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy, the judges were overly effusive in their praise and votes. The pair ended up tied for first place for the first time this season.
Nicole and Derek and Evan and Anna, in contrast, were more harshly judged for both of their dances. Evan and Anna were especially criticized for their free dance (following a package that showed the two fighting and crying — nice setup).
But as we’ve seen on the lesser “American Idol,” audiences don’t like it when they see their favorites treated unfairly by cranky judges. My guess is Evan and Anna may actually benefit from their last-place finish with a ground swell of viewer support.
Who knows? Nicole’s predestined win may have just experienced a slight hiccup.
Can you say backfire?
Posted in Humor, Music, Television
Tagged American Idol, audience votes, dance, Dancing with the Stars, Erin Andrews, ESPN reporter, Evan Lysacek, Humor, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Music, professional dancer, Television
“American Idol” is down to the final three, and ladies, you’ve done it again!
You’ve proven that you are the true power behind the AI vote. Just take a look….
- Crystal Bowersox Gap-toothed, dread-locked ‘Mama Sox’ has been the favorite pretty much from day one. Her talent transcends her sex, and the fact she’s a mother earns her extra votes as well.
- Casey James The good-looking, guitar-playing eye candy was my pick at first glance, simply because he was cute…and I think America has kept him in the competition for the same reason. He wasn’t bad enough to eliminate, and he was awfully fun to look at. He won’t win it all; in fact, I don’t think he’ll be in the final two. Voters are pretty fair at the end. And they can look at him during the AI tour.
- Lee DeWyze This diamond-in-the-rough (and the best singer in the competition in my opinion) has improved steadily over the weeks. Lee’s issue is confidence; as it has grown, so has his command of the stage.
And in the finale — which will be Crystal vs. Lee — America, fueled by the ever-powerful female vote, will crown Lee DeWyze their next “American Idol.”
You heard it here first.
Posted in Humor, Music, Television
Tagged American Idol, American Idol finale, American Idol tour, Casey James, Crystal Bowersox, Humor, Lee DeWyze, Mama Sox, Music, popular music, reality television, Television
Dear Anne Hathaway:
Rumor has it you’ve picked another winner…
Current boyfriend Adam Shulman reportedly stole part of an art mural — where do they come up with this stuff?? — and the building owner wants it back, or he’s calling the police.
Bi-zarre.
Admittedly, it’s not nearly as bad as your former boyfriend, ‘embezzler to the Vatican’ Raffaello Follieri, who’s currently serving a 4 1/2-year prison sentence for ‘misappropriating investments’…but still.
Far be it from me to dole out relationship advice — ’cause I’m not — but I do want to point out some obvious physical characteristics that both Adam and Raffaello share. You might want to avoid them in the future (because they seem to have consistently attracted you in the past).
- Sloping eyes — You may consider this feature dreamy. I see shifty…and their behavior has followed suit.
- Rounded nose — Rounded, no doubt, from being stuck too often where it doesn’t belong.
- Tan — Too much time on their hands.
I hope this brief catalog of traits to avoid has been helpful.
Oh — and a background check wouldn’t hurt either.
Posted in Humor, Music, Relationships, Television
Tagged Adam Schulman, Anne Hathaway, Anne Hathaway boyfriend scandal, Anne Hathaway scandal, celebrities, celebrity gossip, embezzlement, Humor, Movies, mural, Raffaello Follieri, Relationships, stolen mural, Television, Vatican
Yesterday I got a front row seat for some of the programming that has replaced music videos on MTV.
Did the ‘radio star’ really die for this?
I was background on the set of the MTV game show “Silent Library.” If you haven’t seen it — because goodness knows I hadn’t before yesterday — six contestants vie for cash prizes trying to complete ‘Jackass’-style stunts. My role as background was to sit in the library set and read my book, unaffected by the craziness going on around me.
And it was totally whack. These six guys, who started out full of energy and attitude, were by day’s end totally defeated by the challenges they had to perform. Licking dirty dishes, getting a gigantic band-aid ripped off of their chest, getting a surprise pie-in-the-face from four clowns, having debris vacuumed into a domed helmet they were wearing — ridiculous!
It confirmed two things in my mind.
One, I want to be a game show host. The host of “Silent Library,” whose name is ‘Zero,’ did just that. He sat off to one side and did as little as the background actors for the bulk of the program. Then, at the end of the shoot, he stepped forward and recorded about 10 lines of dialogue.
I want that gig.
Second, I need to submit some show ideas to the networks. Clearly they are hard up for programming and will buy pretty much anything.
Now is the time to make it big…if only to make those radio stars feel better in the great beyond.
Posted in Humor, Music, Television
Tagged Television, Humor, television programming, Music, game shows, music videos, MTV, video killed the radio star, background actor, Silent Library game show, Jackass television show, library, library book, game show host, Zero game show host, television networks, great beyond
If you haven’t seen the album cover, Katy is lying in a cloud of pink cotton candy, which I assume inspired the scented CD.
