talent NETWORK NEWS: March 2008

2008-03-31

Frank Nicotero in "Gingerdead Man 2"

2008|Monday Mar. 31
From talent network, inc
by Frank. D. Murgia
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Frank Nicotero is really making the news rounds lately. This week a trailer to "Gingerdead Man 2: Passion of the Crust" is released (Video Below) and just last week Frank was featured in articles in Hollywood and Pittsburgh about his new Yahoo TV venture.

Nicotero is a Pittsburgh native who is finding continued success in Hollywood. After a five year run on the wildly popular game show "Street Smarts' Frank is now one of the key ingredients on Yahoo's original content agenda. On Yahoo TV Frank Nicotero hosts a daily television roundup show called "Prime Time in No Time" where in just under a minute Frank puts his funny take on getting you up-to-date on the previous nights television shows.

Please visit our links below for more information and even stand-up comedy clips from Frank Nicotero and Enjoy the movie trailer below.

RELATED LINKS:

Frank Nicotero is Prime Time on Yahoo TV.

Frank Nicotero.com (Comedy Clips)

Primetime.tv.yaho0.com

2008-03-27

Hillary Clinton Bosnia youtube Video Spoof

2008|Thursday Mar. 27
From MTV News |YouTube
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A video spoof by Barley Political.com of Hillary Clinton's version of her trip to Bosnia is becoming popular up on youtube. Hillary recently stated how dangerous her visit to Bosnia was. This trip was back when she was the 'First lady'. Clinton said she flew trough sniper fire when landing. Ha-ha. 'CBS' has Exposed Hillary's Lie. Also below is former MTV news reporter Tabitha Soren's view on that trip which she was on.

After Hillary Clinton's Bosnia Flap, Onetime MTV News Reporter Tabitha Soren Recalls Her 1996 Trip

'I didn't feel like we were in immediate danger, but it did seem like an unpredictable situation,' Soren says of her Tuzla visit.

By Gil Kaufman|MTV.com News

Democratic presidential candidate Senator Hillary Clinton recently had to backtrack on claims that when she visited war-torn Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1996, she landed amid dangerous sniper fire. MTV's own former first lady (of news) Tabitha Soren flew into the same airbase in Tuzla about six weeks before Clinton did and sent back reports from the front on young U.S. military peacekeeping forces flown in to make sure there were no more flare-ups in the conflict that had cost more than 250,000 lives.

Arriving just weeks after the Dayton Peace Accord effectively ended the war, Soren recalled feeling tension in the air, but said she didn't sense that her life was in jeopardy.

"The reason MTV News wanted to go into Bosnia was primarily because of the age of the soldiers serving both in the peacekeeping forces and the forces that went in before the Dayton Accords," Soren remembered. "Their average age was about 26, and that obviously connected directly to our audience. Once the Dayton Accords were signed, MTV sent me and a producer and a cameraman in there. We stopped over at the Ramstein airbase in Germany and then flew into Tuzla in a C-17 cargo plane, which meant that I sat in some sort of cargo net on the flight over.

"It was winter, it was a bumpy flight, the weather was not great, and it was very noisy on the plane. I believe we all had bulletproof vests on, but they weren't bulky like you'd expect or some sort of thing you'd see in 'Batman.' They were pretty lightweight and you could still be shot, but they covered the important parts. It was nerve-racking because you didn't know what to expect, but because the Dayton Accords had been signed, it didn't feel like we were flying into an active war zone.

(This Story Continued and Tabitha Soren Speaks on Video HERE)

Video Spoof of Hillary Clintons Version of her Bosnia Trip

2008-03-26

Jimmy Miller Producing Film in His Hometwon of Pittsburgh.

2008|Wednesday Mar. 26
From The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
By Robert Dvorchak
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Hollywood breaks out at a hockey game

If you're attending tomorrow night's Penguins game and security is summoned to remove an unruly spectator, don't be alarmed. It's part of a Hollywood script, most likely.

A crowd shot with hockey action in the background is part of the new movie "She's out of My League," being filmed at the Mellon Arena, where the executive producer once toiled as an usher in section D25 to earn money while he was a journalism student at Point Park University.

Jimmy Miller - Photo by John Heller

Yes, Jimmy Miller -- native of Castle Shannon, graduate of Keystone Oaks High School and alumnus of Point Park -- is coming home to make a romantic comedy set partly in a storied arena nearing the end of its historic run.

"This will definitely be the highlight of my career," said Miller, a partner in Mosaic Media Group of Los Angeles. "There's no place other than Castle Shannon that I feel more at home than at the arena. I have so many great memories of the place."

Not that he's exactly ever left his roots. Even though his business card has a Los Angeles address, Miller still has season tickets for Penguins and Pirates games. And he's on the board at Point Park, which is holding its annual Star Makers gala on April 12 at the Pittsburgh Hilton to benefit the school's Conservatory of Performing Arts.

Actually, he was introduced to hockey through his older brother Dennis, the acid-tongued comic and former announcer on "Monday Night Football" who now has a radio show and a game show on TV.

"Dennis took me to my first game, and I got bitten by the hockey bug," Miller said. "It's my favorite sport to see live."

The original script for "She's out of My League" had its hockey scene happening in Phoenix. But it seemed natural to tweak it and move it to Pittsburgh, where both the Penguins and city officials were quite receptive to movie-making at the arena.

"Obviously, I wanted to get it to Pittsburgh. And it's so attractive financially to shoot a movie there. The crew has already done a lot of preliminary work in and around the arena, and they've been blown away by what they've experienced. They just love the city," he said.

The movie tells the story of an average Joe who meets a girl described as a perfect 10, both of whom are hockey fans. Much to his surprise, she takes an interest in him.

It stars Alice Eve ("Starter for 10") and Jay Baruchel ("Knocked Up" and "Tropic Thunder"). Filming of the Dreamworks SKG feature, co-produced by Miller and David Householder, will run through May 24 in Pittsburgh, but no release date has been set. Some shots will be seen from the perspective of Mario Lemieux's private box while others will be from the seats right on the glass. After the crowd scenes are filmed, the cast will return to the arena to record the dialogue.

"It's one of the better scripts I've seen," said Miller. "It's a great cast, great director, great script and great crew. I'm really excited about it."

The arena, which opened in 1961 as the home of Civic Light Opera and later featured such performers as Elvis Presley, The Beatles and Frank Sinatra, is no stranger to the big screen. The 1995 movie "Sudden Death," starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, had a hockey scene with the roof opened even though the roof has always been closed for real hockey games. And "The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh," featuring basketball star Julius Erving and Harlem Globetrotter Meadowlark Lemon, was made there.

"I was around when 'The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh' was being shot in 1979. It was pretty wild," Miller said.

Mosaic Media Group is a talent management firm that represents Jim Carrey, Will Ferrell and the Wayans brothers. It has also produced such films as "Elf," "Breaking Up" and "Talladega Nights."

(Story Continued)

2008-03-25

The Clarks, Donnie Iris, and B.E. Taylor. Pittsburgh All-Stars

2008|Friday Mar. 21 (Good Friday)
From talent NETWORK NEWS
By Frank D. Murgia
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Our parent company talent network, inc books the best musical acts in Pittsburgh. They our fortunate to have a great working relationship with three of the biggest band legends in the tri-state area. Donnie Iris, The Clarks and B.E. Taylor are living Pittsburgh Rock Legends. Actually many of the bands key members appear on stage together performing as the Pittsburgh All-Stars.Below you can view their classic videos found on YouTube.

DONNIE IRIS "Ah Leah "

The CLARKS "Better Off Without You"

B.E. TAYLOR "Vitamin L "

2008-03-24

Frank Nicotero, "Prime Time in No Time" on Yahoo TV

2008|Monday Mar. 24
Re-posted From
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
By Adrian Mcoy
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tNN Note... talent network, inc has had the privilege of maintaining a great working relationship with Frank Nicotero even as he enjoys success in Los Angeles as a comedian and television host and now internet host. talent network signed Frank at the age of 18 and still books him at colleges across the land.

Cybertainment: No time for prime-time shows? Find them online

SO MUCH TV TO WATCH, SO LITTLE TIME. If you can't even keep up with your TiVo recording, you may want to visit Yahoo's "Prime Time in No Time: A Recap of Last Night's Shows."

The new Web series is hosted by comedian and Pittsburgh native Frank Nicotero.

"Prime Time in No Time" is what E! network's "Talk Soup" was to TV talk shows -- great for people who want to keep current with their watercooler chat topics but who hate themselves for spending so much time watching TV.

"Ideally, what Yahoo wants is the people who get to work at 8 a.m. Let's admit it. No one starts working as soon as they sit at their desk," Nicotero says. "In two minutes they can get some highlights from 'Lost' that they might not have had time to watch last night.

"I saved you an hour of your life."

The "Prime Time in No Time" episodes are two-minute recaps of a handful of the previous night's shows, with Nicotero commenting and cracking jokes.

New episodes post Monday through Friday. The site archives the previous four days' episodes.

The Yahoo team decides beforehand what shows should be highlighted, based on whether they're premieres, their popularity and buzz factor. "We always want to lead with what's going to be the watercooler moment," Nicotero says.

Featured shows are a mix of network and cable offerings. Right now they're heavy on reality series. But Nicotero says viewers will be seeing more scripted series featured as they return to production following the end of the writers' strike.

Nicotero blogs about the shows on the site, adding his comic take: "I'm so obsessed with March Madness that I apply bracketology to everything. So I'll take Mario and Guttenberg [on "Dancing With the Stars"] in my male bracket. Two females round out my Final Four tomorrow."

Nicotero, who lives in Los Angeles' Studio City section, watches the East Coast feeds starting at 5 p.m. Pacific time, starts writing his comments, and then tapes the nightly episode around 10 p.m. The video is edited in the wee hours and posted early the next morning.

Nicotero was in Pittsburgh to take part in a recent roast for WDVE-FM morning host Jim Krenn when he got the call telling him he had the job. He's delighted to be getting paid to watch TV.

"This is probably the first full-time job I've had since National Record Mart," where he worked in the late '80s. "The best part of it is when my girlfriend comes in to the living room and I'm watching TV. I'm like, shh, I'm working. I have to watch 'American Idol.' It's my job, OK?"

Nicotero has been doing stand-up for 20 years, and the Yahoo gig means adjusting his performing schedule. Since it's a weekday show, he's still free on Friday and Saturday for comedy club work.

While there are plans to add new elements, such as walk-on guests, keeping the Web episodes short is also important, he says. "The research shows that people like seeing something around two minutes or under two minutes. That's what's happened to our attention span."

Nicotero enjoys getting instant feedback from people, although at the moment, since the series has only been on for two weeks, "It's mostly my friends calling and ripping on the shirts I'm wearing."

primetime.tv.yahoo.com

To Book Frank Nciotero for your college, club or private party contact talent network, inc. HERE

2008-03-23

Man admits radio station prize scam

2008|Wednesday Mar. 26
From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
By Gabrielle Banks
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Man admits radio station prize scam

It was an old scam. And a petty thief by the name of Alan Carter McDonald had been duping strangers with some version of it for years, police said.

Mr. McDonald would tell people he met on the street that he worked for WXDX-FM, 105.9 "the X," and offer them concert tickets, flat-screen TVs and other prizes. All they needed to do to collect the purported freebies was pay cash up front to cover shipping costs.

He pleaded guilty yesterday to pulling off the prize scam on 14 separate occasions around the city from June 2006 to September 2007.

The 58-year-old former steel mill worker from Baldwin Borough got an average of about $127 from his victims. Individual "prize winners" handed over from $20 to $170. All but one of the victims were male.

"He's actually pretty smart and he's personable. He'd walk up to these strangers and ask them for money," said his attorney, Assistant Public Defender Sumner Parker.

When confronted about his history by Pittsburgh police Detective Allen Flemm, who works with a plainclothes unit, Mr. McDonald confessed last year that he was guilty of theft by deception in several of the cases, but was offended that one of the victims accused him of outright robbery.

"If they didn't want to give him the money, he'd just walk away," Mr. Parker said. "He never took stuff. It was always handed to him."

Assistant District Attorney Lisa Mantella reduced the robbery count to theft, in a plea agreement in which Mr. McDonald also admitted to possessing a small amount of heroin and stealing a foot-long turkey hoagie from a Giant Eagle.

Allegheny County Judge David R. Cashman sentenced him to consecutive terms of two years' probation on each of the theft counts and ordered him to submit to drug screening and pay $1,775 restitution.

Mr. McDonald apologized to the court, explaining, "Since I lost my job I had a history of depression ... and drug abuse. I don't consider myself a bad person. I consider myself a decent person. I've just had some problems."

After the defendant left the courtroom, the judge expressed surprise at how little Mr. McDonald had swindled from his victims.

Records show he had 20 additional theft by deception cases in Allegheny County from 1983 to 1998. Police said he'd used the same scam before, posing as an employee for other radio stations.

Mr. McDonald's sister, Ruth Bedeian, confirmed the low yields on the scam. She wrote in a letter to Judge Anthony Mariani, the judge originally assigned to the cases, that her brother never earned much in his petty thefts and that "they have been acts of stupidity and desperation sometimes related to drugs and sometimes related to poverty."

She also said he was "musically talented" and had "a warm sense of humor" but was scarred at a young age by the deaths of his mother and older brother.

John Rohm, regional vice president for Clear Channel, which owns WXDX, said he'd heard of a few scams of this sort in his 30 years in radio.

He advised people to "be suspicious" of offers that seem fishy, ask for ID and "use the same precaution you'd use when anyone asks you for money."

He said WXDX, a modern rock/alternative rock station, gives away all prizes from the station, so there never is a shipping cost. Anyone in doubt about a prize should feel free to contact the station and ask for information, he said.

Gabrielle Banks can be reached at gbanks@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1370.

2008-03-21

LOST: "Meet Kevin Johnson" Episode Breakdown

2008|Friday Mar. 21
From Around the Net
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Here are a few Internet takes on last nights (Mar. 20) episode of Lost titled "Meet Kevin Johnson"

From talent NETWORK NEWS
Our take on why Michael can't kill himself goes back to the bizarre but amazing TIME LOOP THEORY. A theory with some holes but a theory that makes sense to many of the story lines. Michael can't kill himself or die in the flash forward because he is already dead. Not dead like a ghost but dead in the past. He dies during his mission on the ship. Remember that Desmond knew when Charlie was going to die and he could only alter when that death would happen so much. He was seeing the future. I know, UGH!

The 'Oceanic 6' are revealed and Michael and Walt are not of those 6. How can this be? No explanation at this point. But again it leads to some theory of traveling back and forth in time. Michael going on that ship is going back in time to some degree. Michael is going to die that is a guarantee. The flash forward from last season of Jack and kate in a black neighborhood outside of a funeral home could lead to Michael being that guy in the coffin. Reasons are now known why they would not want to attend the funeral.

So confusing and so many answers that await until the end of this great tale that is 'Lost'

From E! ONLINE (Watch With Kristen)
Tonight's Michael/Kevin-centric Lost installment was indeed the last episode produced before the strike, which means we'll need to wait until April 24 (at 10 p.m.) to see what comes next. But thankfully, we do have plenty to chew on in the meantime...

What We Learned

"All of the Oceanic Six Have Been Revealed." Ben may be another story, but the ABC promo dude don't lie! And so, from tonight's teaser, we know that Claire's wittle bebeh Aaron does most definitely count as one of the six who get off the island. BTW, how genius was it that Damon and Carlton left that spot open for possibly Jin and then for possibly Michael so we'd not really know their fates while watching the last two episodes? Goddang I love this show.

Ben Isn't Evil. He's EEEEEVILLLLE: New drinking game! Every time Benjamin Linus allllmost convinces you that he's playing for the "good guys"—but then does something so despicable you want to climb through your screen and squish his little beady eyeballs like peeled grapes—take a nice big swig. Tonight was perhaps the most whiplashing of all such occasions, as he tossed out statements such as:

* "I do not kill innocent people."
* "I will not kill innocent people."
* "Then Michael, consider yourself one of the good guys."

And then...Whammo! It became clear he was behind the slaughter of two of the most seemingly innocent of all characters on the entire show (and the only two loved ones his daughter has): Boyfriend Karl and Mama Rousseau.

Michael Has Reverse Charlie Syndrome: You think you had it bad, Charlie? Oh really? Well, how about finding out like Michael Dawson did that you are seemingly incapable of doing anything even remotely heroic, and your last-ditch resort—offing yourself—isn't even a viable option because, as Mr. Friendly put it, "The Island will not let you die." WTF? "Let you?"

The big, massive, mind-boggling question, of course, is exactly why and how "the Island" is controlling the Losties' destinies.

Wacky and Probably Wrong Theory of the Day: Did you notice that Walt's grandma sure looked a whole lot like the woman who asked Miles to get rid of her grandon's ghost in the second episode of the season?

What Lies Ahead

Claire Is in Trouble. Not only do we know that baby Aaron makes it off the island and she does not, but the promos clearly spell out trouble for the fair-haired mamacita. "The War" as Ben calls it, seems to have begun. (Then again, if Ben the pathological liar calls it a war it's probably more of a bake-off.) (FULL STORY)

From the BIG LEAD
That’s pretty much all we want to know. Who is bad: Ben and the Others, or Widmore’s people? Could it be both, with the survivors of the flight stuck in the middle?

Mind is playin’ tricks on ya: Remember in the flash-forward when Jack went to jump off the bridge after seeing a newspaper clip of someone who hanged themself in NYC? That had to be Michael (or someone that Ben planted to make it seem like Michael killed himself - just like all those bodies at the bottom of the ocean!). Thus, Michael has to be the guy who dies next week (and it also leads us to believe that Michael, Sayid and Desmond don’t reconnect with Jack in the coming episodes, because why would Jack be so crushed in the future if he knew Michael and Walt were OK?). To be clear - the guess here is that Michael does die next week, but not in his apartment.

But wait - why else would some random person who died in NYC warrant a mention in a California newspaper? Oh! Because it is revealed that Michael was on the flight, and survived! So wait … maybe he doesn’t die next week? We’d have better lucky solving the Son of Sam murders than guessing what the hell is going to transpire in this show. Help. Please.

From ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY (EW.com)
Tom friendly didn't show up just to complete Lost's Benetton dance card. He also reinforced three major elements of the show's mythos: He told Michael (1) that some of the Others can leave the Island whenever they want, (2) that the Island won't let Michael kill himself, and (3) that Charles Widmore faked the Oceanic 815 crash by buying an old Boeing 777, filling it with bodies dug up from a Thai cemetery, and sinking it in an ocean trench.

The more I think about Charles Widmore as a merciless Lex Luthorian villain, meanwhile, the less I'm convinced. First of all, a quick DVR pause on that invoice for the ''old'' 777 plane — a model that was only ten years old in 2004 — reveals Widmore purchased it for $450,000. Which is a bargain considering Boeing's website quotes the cheapest new 777 at $200 million. That's not to say that Widmore definitively isn't behind the fake Oceanic 815 wreckage. Just that Friendly's ''proof'' smelled bogus to me. In fact, I'm beginning to wonder if we don't have an Emperor Palpatine situation going on here, i.e., a mastermind playing both sides of a faux war against each other so he can ascend to power.

The code for the bomb was 71776, i.e., July 1776, i.e., the month our fair country was born. What does it mean?

I think the captain already knows Kevin Johnson is really Michael Dawson. (FULL STORY)

2008-03-19

Terrelle Pryor Chooses Ohio St.

2008|Wednesday Mar. 19
From ESPN
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Terrelle Pryor announced he will be attending Ohio State University. ESPN carried the announcement live from Pryor's Jeanette High School Gymnasium. Terrelle Pryor is a two-sport athlete. He just wrapped up winning the Pennsylvania State Championship. He also led his football team to the State Championship this past November. Pryor will Major in Football for OSU Head Coach Jim Tressell and Minor in Basketball for Coach Thad Motta.

LINKS:

TERRELLE PRYOR GOOGLE

TERRELLE PRYOR -YOUTUBE

TERRELLE PRYOR INCITES CROWD and HIS DUNK ON VIDEO HERE

TERRELL PRYOR'S "TRIPLE DOUBLE"

Girls Gone Wild Owner Gets out of Jail. Finds Lottery Ticket.

2008|Wednesday Mar. 19

From Talent NETWORK NEWS
Written By Frank D. Murgia
---

"Girls Gone Wild" Owner, Joe Francis was just released from his Vegas Prison Stay last week. Yesterday he offered Ashley Dupre, the call girl behind the prostitution scandal that involved and has forced the resignation of New York Governor Eliot Spitzer $1 Million for a photo spread and tour. The deal would have Ashley Dupre tell her side of the story in print in the "Girls Gone Wild' Magazine as well as on DVD and a publicity bus tour with with the 'GGW' camera crew. Francis has reportedly said that Dupre would not have to appear nude.

The 22-year-old aspiring has already made over $200,000 from downloads of her songs, the New York Post reported Saturday.

MAJOR DEVELOPING NEWS UPDATE:
As reported today on WDVE Radio 102.5 in Pittsburgh. Francis has decided to pull the offer and save himself a Million bucks. Apparently the thought crosses his mind to check the massive 'GGW' archives for a chance that his camera crew may have filmed Ashley Dupre flashing for his camera's. Well, it looks like the rich get rich and the filthy get filthier. Joe Francis has found the golden ticket. he has footage of Ashley Dupre in Miami at the age of 18 flashing for his camera's. Francis was quoted as saying "It's kind of like finding a winning lottery ticket in the cushions of your couch."

THIS FROM TMZ..
Spitzer Girl's "Wild" 18th B-Day Caught on Vid!

Before she sold herself to Eliot Spitzer, TMZ has learned that Ashley Alexandra Dupre gave herself up to the "Girls Gone Wild" cams for her 18th birthday -- and spent an entire week aboard the "GGW" bus.

Sources tell TMZ that "GGW" has "a week's worth" of video of Ashley celebrating her 18th birthday, which she did on the big bus. We're told that "GGW" plans on releasing an Ashley Dupre-specific video "shortly."

Story developing at TMZ...

THIS FROM "HUFFINGTON POST"
But Francis said someone had a revelation at the Tuesday morning staff meeting: Did anyone think to check the archives?

They did, he said _ and there she was.

"It'll save me a million bucks," Francis told The Associated Press on Tuesday. "It's kind of like finding a winning lottery ticket in the cushions of your couch."

Francis said at that point, his offer was off the table.

"We actually had been dealing with her rep," he said. "Our (offer) was the real deal. We just never made the connection."

Employees got to work on pulling the footage and planned to offer it all on the Web site _ with a $29.95 monthly subscription.

Dupre's attorney Don D. Buchwald declined comment.

According to a "Girls Gone Wild" press release, Dupre visited Miami in 2003 to celebrate her 18th birthday. After fighting with a friend and getting thrown out of her hotel, Dupre found a nearby "Girls Gone Wild" bus, the company said.

She signed legal papers and spent a full week on the bus, filming seven full-length tapes which included nudity and same-sex encounters, according to the company.

"I personally ended up buying her a Greyhound bus ticket back home to North Carolina," Francis told the AP. (MORE)

MORE "ASHLEY DUPRE" STORY LINKS:

Client #9 T-Shirts on sale now.

Exclusive: Ashley Dupre is Published in a book called "What Guys Do Wrong"

WGDW MYSPACE SITE - Ashley is on the friends list. This is the exclusive link to it.

2008-03-18

Army Holds Annual 'Bring Your Daughter To War' Day

2008|Tuesday Mar. 18
From The Onion News Network

Army Holds Annual 'Bring Your Daughter To War' Day

Van Halen Reschedules Pittsburgh Mellon Arena show

2008|Tuesday Mar. 18
From Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Van Halen has rescheduled its postponed Mellon Arena show for Wednesday, April 30.

Tickets for the band's previously scheduled date (March 21) will be honored. Refunds are also available at the point of purchase.

READ: Van Halen Cancels Tour Without Fair Warning.

Pittsburgh's PNC Park Named in Top 5 Next-Gen Ballparks

2008|Tuesday Mar. 18
From MSN.com/City Guides
Descriptions by Jay Berman for MSN City Guides

5 BALLPARKS WE LOVE

PNC Park
Pittsburgh
Opened 2001

A couple of years ago, a TV network Web site set out to grade all major league parks on such categories as seat comfort, food, other concessions, appearance and even such esoterica as ushers, beer quality and seventhinning stretches.

What were the findings? Would the winner be a great old stadium like Fenway Park or Wrigley Field or one of the new ones like Jacobs Field, Camden Cards or Safeco Field?

The winner was PNC Park in Pittsburgh, home of the struggling Pirates. They haven't won the World Series since 1979. Their last winning season was 1993. But Pittsburgh has been in the National League since 1887—eight years before Babe Ruth was born. Pirates fans are hard-core. And the Pirates have the legacy of the great Roberto Clemente, the legendary right fielder who was killed in a 1972 plane crash while trying to take emergency supplies to Nicaragua. The new park honors Clemente with a statue of him at its main entrance and with the Roberto Clemente Bridge, which links the park with downtown Pittsburgh. Even the right field wall is involved—it’s 21 feet high, paying tribute to Clemente's jersey number, 21.

PNC Park, which overlooks the Allegheny River and the city skyline, was designed by the same firm that produced Baltimore's Camden Yards. The plan was to come up with a stadium reminiscent of Forbes Field, home of the Pirates from 1909 until 1970. It does resemble Forbes Field, but with the comfort and amenities not available a century ago.

The Pirates won 70 games in 2007, an improvement of three games from the previous year, but that wasn't good enough to keep them from finishing last in the National League's Central Division. They have, in Jason Bay, one of the best young stars of the game. They drew 1.8 million fans last year, the fifth highest total in team history. And—in the statue, the bridge and that right field wall—they still have Roberto Clemente.

PETCO Park
San Diego
Opened 2004

Camden Yards
Baltimore
Opened 1992

AT&T Park
San Francisco
Opened 2000

Busch Stadium
St. Louis
Opened 2006

DMX Doesn't Know Who Barack Obama Is.

2008|Tuesday Mar. 18
From TeamSugar | HollyScoop
By justingirl1989

This is hard to imagine someone, at this stage of the campaign, that doesn't know who Barack Obama is. My four-year-old niece knows who he is, but DMX doesn't. He's been too "busy". Here's a snippet from an interview he just did with XXL Magazine.

Are you following the presidential race?
Not at all.

You're not? You know there's a Black guy running, Barack Obama and then there's Hillary Clinton.
His name is Barack?!

Barack Obama, yeah.
Barack?!

Barack.
What the f*** is a Barack?! Barack Obama. Where he from, Africa?

Yeah, his dad is from Kenya.
Barack Obama?

Yeah.
What the f***?! That ain't no f*ckin' name, yo. That ain't that nigga's name. You can't be serious. Barack Obama. Get the f*ck outta here.

You're telling me you haven't heard about him before.
I ain't really paying much attention.

I mean, it's pretty big if a Black…
Wow, Barack! The nigga's name is Barack. Barack? Nigga named Barack Obama. What the f*ck, man?! Is he serious? That ain't his f*ckin' name. Ima tell this nigga when I see him, "Stop that bullsh*t. Stop that bullsh*t" [laughs] "That ain't your f*ckin' name." Your momma ain't name you no damn Barack.

So you're not following the race. You can't vote right?
Nope.

Is that why you're not following it?
No, because it's just—it doesn't matter. They're gonna do what they're gonna do. It doesn't really make a difference. These are the last years.

But it would be pretty big if we had a first Black president. That would be huge.
I mean, I guess…. What, they gon' give a dog a bone? There you go. Ooh, we have a Black president now. They should've done that sh*t a long time ago, we wouldn't be in the f*ckin' position we in now. With world war coming up right now. They done f*cked this sh*t up then give it to the Black people, "Here you take it. Take my mess."

Right, exactly.
It's all a f***in' setup. It's all a setup. All f***' bullsh*t. All bullsh*t. I don't give a f*** about none of that.

We could have a female president also, Hillary Clinton.
I mean, either way it doesn't matter. I don't care. No one person is directly affected by which president, you know, so what does it matter.

Yeah, but the country is.
I guess. The president is a puppet anyway. The president don't make no damn decisions.

The president…they don't have that much authority basically?
Nah, never

wtf? very rude.. he is out of his mind..True story

What to NETFLIX -Tuesday, Mar. 18

2008|Tuesday Mar. 18

From Buzz Sugar.com

All of the new DVD releases
hit stores (and Netflix) on Tuesdays.

In addition to the titles below, Guy Ritchie's Revolver and Southland Tales starring Justin Timberlake, The Rock, and Sarah Michelle Gellar are also available today.

Enchanted

Is it just me or does it feel like we've been waiting for this movie to come out on DVD for forever? Enchanted is a treat for anyone who grew up loving those good old-fashioned animated Disney films (remember life before Pixar?). I truly enjoyed this trip down Disney Memory Lane and I know a lot of you did, too. The movie, starring Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, Susan Sarandon, and James Marsden is a wonderfully fun twist on the classic princess tale.

The story centers around Giselle (Adams), an amalgamation of Disney heroines from the days of yore who lives in a land called Andalasia. Giselle's chief concerns are marrying Prince Edward (Marsden), singing, and dancing with forest creatures. Edward's stepmother (Sarandon) is unhappy with Gisele and Edward's relationship, and she uses her evil magic to boot Giselle out of the animated world and into real-world Times Square. Once there, Giselle's simple, optimistic outlook on life is challenged by a force much darker and more cynical than any evil witch: a New York divorce attorney (Dempsey).

This DVD comes with lots of special featurettes including bloopers, a glimpse behind the creation of Andalasia, and extra shorts about Pip's (Giselle's trusty chipmunk friend) adventures.

I am Legend

I Am Legend was hit or miss with folks when it came out, but now that it's on DVD it's the kind of movie that will do the trick if you're looking to kick back and be entertained by some action. Plus, it's Will Smith and he's always good entertainment.

The film is based on Richard Matheson's 1954 sci-fi novel and follows Robert Neville (Smith), one of the few people who survives a virus that nearly renders humanity extinct. Robert's not alone however, there is another group of people, the infecteds, who have turned into "the night seekers." These scary things are like vampires/zombies that go around at night trying to infect surviving humans. Robert, a scientist, is working hard to find a cure for the disease before the creepies can get him. Thus, this sci-fi thriller takes you through a suspenseful race against time.

Special features include four animated comics as well as bonus material "exploring the history and current status of life-threatening viral infections."

Love in the Time of Cholera

I'm a big fan of Gabriel García Márquez’s wonderful 1985 novel Love in the Time of Cholera, as are many, but when I heard it was being adapted to film I had a hard time figuring out how that would work. In the book, plot isn't necessarily the driving force so much as the long, gorgeous sentences and the poetic feeling of the exquisite torture of longing for something you love. Like many, this film slipped off my radar and I still haven't been able to see this story brought to life onscreen.

I'm adding this to my queue partly out of curiosity, but also because the Oscar-winning super dreamy Javier Bardem stars as Florentino Ariza, a young man who falls hard (seriously, he loves her forever) for Fermina Daza (played by Giovanna Mezzogiorno). The film is directed by Mike Newell (Donnie Brasco, Four Weddings and Funeral) and was filmed in Columbia. Add it all up and this is one romantic drama I'm excited to get lost in at home.

2008-03-17

"HollyBeej" -Monday, Mar. 17, 2008

Live From Hollywood...News From Inside The Hollywood Machine

Weekend Box Office Estimates: Mar 14-16, 2008

* Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears A Who! (Fox) $45.1 million - opening weekend
* 10,000 B.C. (Warner Bros.) $16.4 million - 2 wk total $61.2m
* Never Back Down (Summit) $8.6 million - opening weekend
* College Road Trip (Buena Vista) $7.9 million - 2 wk total $24.3m
* Vantage Point (Sony) $5.4 million - 4 wk total $59.2m
* The Bank Job (Lionsgate) $4.9 million - 2 wk total $13.1m
* Doomsday (Universal) $4.7 million - opening weekend
* Semi-Pro (NewLine) $3.0 million - 3 wk total $29.8m
* The Other Boleyn Girl (Sony) $2.9 million - 3 wk total $19.2m
* The Spiderwick Chronicles (Paramount) $2.4 million - 5 wk total $65.4m
* Source: Box Office Mojo

* Paris Hilton returns to reality TV as MTV ordered a 10-episode series for fourth quarter called Paris Hilton's My New BFF. In the series, Paris will search for a new best friend among twenty wannabes who will live together in a house to compete for her attention with the winner getting the chance to go to parties and business functions with her. Produced by independent production company Ish Entertainment, the series will be paired with an online voting site ParisBFF.com which launched this week. Production is set to start in Los Angeles this spring.

* NBC is reportedly looking at a pilot project starring Christian Slater in what would be his first television series, reports THR. From Universal Media Studios and writer/producer Jason Smilovic, the story revolves a perfectly normal, middle class husband and father, who realizes he is also an international spy.

* Ken Burns will continue developing documentaries for PBS through 2017. The Corporation For Public Broadcasting (CPB) made a ten year deal to fund projects which include an update of his Baseball series, one on prohibition, biographies of two Roosevelt presidents and another on the Vietnam war. CPB also granted funds for three documentaries from Harvard professor and African American studies expert Henry Louis "Skip" Gates Jr., The Faces of America premiering in 2010; Searching for Our Roots: The History of the African American People slated for 2011; and African American Lives III: Reclaiming Our Past for 2012.

* Heather Mills and Paul McCartney have reached an agreement in their divorce case; Heather will receive almost $49 million, which includes five million to purchase a home in London and provisions for the education and care of their four-year-old daughter, Beatrice. — UK PopSugar

* Horton Hears a Who took the top spot at the weekend box office and set a record for the highest grossing film of 2008 so far with $45 million. 10,000 BC came in at second, followed by Never Back Down. — BuzzSugar

* Nicole Kidman and her bodyguard, David Michael Garris, may be sued by a paparazzo who claims that David assaulted him outside a LA gym where Nicole was working out. — Page Six

* Radar Magazine claims that Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith are the new faces of Scientology. — The Scoop

* Kimora Lee Simmons is denying reports that she is pregnant with her third child. — People

* ICYMI, Halle Berry and Gabriel Aubry welcomed a baby girl on Sunday! — lilsugar

Buzz News Roundup – From BuzzSugar:

* ComingSoon reports that Harry Potter 6 will definitely be released in IMAX when it hits theaters November 21.

* ABBA drummer Ola Brunkert has died at the age of 62, writes Billboard.

* Though the current season hasn't been getting great ratings, another season of Big Brother has been slated for this summer, Reuters reports.

* CBS Films shelled out a cool $1 million for an untitled Dan Fogelman comedy script about four semi-retired baby boomers who take a trip to Las Vegas, according to Variety.

* Justine Bateman will guest-star on Desperate Housewives playing an artist living with Gaby and Carlos, TV Guide reports.

* Radiohead has launched a contest for animated, fan-made videos for any song from In Rainbows, according to the Associated Press.

* Hollywood Reporter writes that Kathy Bates and Rupert Friend have joined Michelle Pfeiffer in the French period drama Cheri.

* Ashlee Simpson's third album, Bittersweet World, will be released April 22, Billboard reports.

2008-03-14

LOST: "Ji Yeon" Episode Breakdown

2008|Friday Mar. 14
From Around the Net

Here are a few internet takes on last nights (Mar. 13) episode of Lost titled "Ji Yeon"

Lost: “Yi Jeon” The Seat 42F Theory” (From Seat 42F)

"It would seem we are REALLY about to dive into the time travel pool and best guess is we will learn that depending on what direction you leave the island you emerge from the storm clouds in a different time. Hypothetically you leave due South and you wind up in 1998. Leave due North and you emerge in 2001 etc etc. Ben gives Michael specific coordinates to have Michael end up in America prior to the crash and uses Walt as leverage to get Michael on the boat. If this is the case then there are two Michael’s. hmmmmmmmmmm... and you can't have two of someone. One of the Michael's has to die, right?"

"Nikki Sighting - Remember Nikki of Paulo and Nikki fame? Did you catch her on tonights episode. She was on the TV Jin was watching from her show Expose. That show she was in where she played a character named Corvette. The same show that featured Billy Dee Williams."

"Is the island/Ben/Jacob rewarding those with loss by letting them leave? If Jin is in fact dead then Sun lost Jin, Hurley lost Libby and Sayid lost Shannon. 3 of the 6 Oceanic Six with a "connection." Could this mean Jack loses Juliet and Kate loses Sawyer? hmmmmmmmmmmmm "

"One last parting shot to wrap your head around. If Ben does send Michael back in time, so to speak, how does Ben know when and where to send him and why to send him? To do this Ben must have access to the future. He has seen it all play out. I can’t help but think of Ms. Hawking and her telling Desmond the universe course corrects itself. Maybe Ben keeps working backwards and looking forward to fix the endgame. An endgame that he doesn’t like the outcome of and every step he takes is to try and alter things to his desired ending. Each time the universe course corrects and he has to try and change fate.. .over and over again."

Lost: “Yi Jeon” Cheating Time (From EW.com)

"Why did Regina kill herself? Because she was inconsolable over the death of her lover — the late, Locke-knifed Brit Naomi. Remember the inscription on her bracelet? ''N, I'll always be with you, R.G.'' Yep: I'm thinking Regina is ''R.G.''

" I've become quite taken by the suggestion offered by several readers that actor Harold Perrineau isn't playing Michael but rather a grown-up version of Walt. I gotta tell you I really dig that idea. "

From BuzzSugar.com:

Did you have a rollercoaster evening as well? For a full rundown of the details from this week's episode, check out SweetPeasMom's recap. For some of my thoughts and to share your own (spoilers ahead), read more.

I have to talk about the time stuff first. Making us think both Jin and Sun were a part of the Oceanic Six — I was racing to figure out what that panda signified — was nothing short of awesome. Did anyone else curse out the TV upon figuring this out, but also kind of smile? Well played, Lost.

And I thought I was so smug when I figured out that hers were flash-forwards before they even said Oceanic Six. I do have to say, though, I took note of how old and clunky Jin's cell phone seemed.

Also: Yay, Sun is one of the Oceanic Six!

I love that Desmond can't seem to button up his shirt. I'm not being snarky here, I really do love that.

My favorite line: "Don't worry, everyone loves a panda." — toy store clerk, after inquiring about whether it's a boy or girl.

All my newfound affection for Juliet from last week's episode is out the window. I don't care how good her intentions are, that is a low blow with telling Jin about the affair. When Sun is getting the prenatal vitamins, Juliet says, "After everything you confided in me, I should at least have your trust." Well, now she's proven that she'll promptly abuse that trust. Do you think her intentions justified her actions?

Also, this was great: Juliet: "Translate for me." Sun: "No."

Why does Kate have to be such a snot-nosed tattletale? "I'm going to have to tell Jack." Seriously?

OK, a woman drapes herself in chains and jumps off the side of the ship. And . . . I stopped breathing for a minute.

I love it when Bernard pops up to say some good-natured things. Who else would you want to go fishing with just after learning of your wife's affair? I think his karma talk is going to prove significant. "See, it's all about karma, Jin. You make bad choices, bad things happen to you, you make good choice, good —" Jin catches a fish. "See that? Now, that's karma. We must be the good guys."

So, this is Charles Widmore's boat, and the captain is determined to find Ben who is responsible for faking the recovery of Flight 815.

With all this other stuff going on, I'm glad it was who we all expected on the boat (Michael) and not someone else in a big twist.

"So I forgive you." I thought that Desmond-Penny episode wrung me out, but no. More tears. More tears!

Awww! Ji Yeon is born!

Hurley — in a suit!

Jin's tombstone states the day he died is the day of the crash, September 22, 2004. As Lostpedia points out, "This implies that the Oceanic 6 have told the world that he died in the crash," and brings up questions about the true circumstances of his real death.

From E! Online:
From 'Watch With Kristen'

WHAT WE'VE LEARNED

Daddy's Little Girl: To start, Jenn from Conyers, Georgia, I'd like thank you for being the sacrificial emailer! Hope you don't mind being involuntarily thrown into this Lost discussion group! Now, Jenn writes in, "On Lost, did you catch that Sun had her baby in 2008, the 'Year of the Dragon'? That is quite the time warp!"

Er...I could be misinterpreting this all terribly (it's been known to happen), but I think that's not quite right. From what I saw, I believe there are two "flash" stories going on in this episode: (1) In a flashforward, Sun has her baby in 2005, after being rescued from the Island, and (2) in a flashback, set in 2000, the most recent Year of the Dragon, Jin and Sun had just gotten married, and Jin was all mobbed up running panda errands for Mr. Paik. (Sun's baby was born in the Year of the Rooster.)

Further to the point of the timeline, according to people with very good eyesight, Jin's tombstone (sob) stated his death date as Sept. 22, 2004. That means the world and/or the stonemason believes Jin-Soo Kwon died in the crash, along with 317 others.

Now, tombstone notwithstanding, if Jin isn't alive, well and still stuck on the Island playing Parcheesi with Locke (even if Sun herself doesn't know it), I'll eat my shoe.

We Have Offspring: Can I get a hell yeah for another wonderful circle-of-life baby-delivery episode? I cried when Claire gave birth to Aaron, and I cried again when Sun gave birth to Ji-Yeon. It feels, though, I must admit, that Ji-Yeon is more ours than even Aaron. We've known her since before she even existed, and we're friends with both her parents. You know they teach you in third grade that Oceanus Hopkins was the first kid born to the Mayflower pilgrims? This reminds me of that. It's a landmark of our journey together. (Yes, I know wee Oceanus didn't make it, but let’s not dwell...)

Memorandum: Note to self: When it's time to give birth, don't leave husband in car. Labor looks extra traumatizing when you're all alone. Poor Sun. (Yunjin was kind of awesome though, huh?)

By Any Other Name... Some of the Oceanic Six seem to have a tenuous connection with reality. Jack was in the hospital referring directly to his long-dead father. Kate was gripping the labels "my child" and "son" like something would electrocute her if she let go—but Aaron is Claire's baby, and Kate knows it. Sun screams for her husband when he's way MIA—dead perhaps, or at least trapped on a haunted Island. Is this all just narrative misdirection while we unknot the who-and-what mystery of the Oceanic Six, or have all the survivors gone plumb loco? A little bit of both perhaps, but mostly the lies, I think, are too much. The lies have made them all mad as hatters.

Counting Games: Jack, Hurley, Sayid, Kate, Sun = Oceanic Five, for sure. But where do the babies fit in? Aaron was on Oceanic 815 by way of Claire's uterus, so he should be the sixth, I guess, but if Sun was known to be preggers when they were rescued, why don't they call it the Oceanic Six-Point-Five? Or could there possibly be another adult hanging around? I wouldn't put it past D&C to have Rose or Frogurt stashed somewhere...I need to see the People magazine cover from the week the Six were rescued!!

Kiele Sanchez, Razzle-Dazzle! On the TV in the background there in that first Sun flashforward scene, holy moly, that's the legendary low-budget TV extravaganza known as Exposé! Dubbed in Korean! Starring Kiele Sanchez as Nikki as Corvette! Yeee! I love all three.

Somebody Hide the Steak Knives: Um, hello there, smear-on-the-wall person and chain-wrapped crazy lady...Does anyone have Davy Jones' locker combination? The captain says a nasty case of cabin fever is going around his ship, but that's pretty much the lamest mass-suicide explanation ever. So the question remains: Why is this happening? Is contagious suicide a symptom of the still-mysterious but apparently fatal Sickness? Is it a time-freakout thing that Constant-less people suffer from most terribly? Are these people actually drinking the bad Kool-Aid? Is the "kitchen problem" really just mad-cow disease? Aaahh!

Gang of Three: Our boys are stone-cold. Love that Desmond and Sayid don't bat an eyelash at the introduction of Mr. Kevin Johnson, aka ZOMGMICHAEL!!! Nice to meet you, too, K.J.

More Great Breakdown and Theory Links below:

Lost: "Yi Jeon" Prelude to Somebody's Death" (The Big Lead)

LOST: A Theory on Time Travel

LOST: Timeline to the Theory Loop

"Lost" The Actors Are Now Asking Plot Questions.

Client #9 T-Shirts on sale now.

2008|Friday Mar. 14
From CafePress.com

Governor Eliot Spitzer aka, Client #9 on the Emperors Club Escort Service books is blowing up in and on every media outlet in the world this week. You know you have made it to the big time when you have a t-shirt line made for you.

Here are some of the shirts being sold at CafePress.com. make sure you check them out to see the rest. There are some good ones.

EXCLUSIVE: Governor's Call Girl is Published in the book “What Guys Do Wrong” (NEW Photo, The Book Excerpt and New MySpace link HERE only.)

2008-03-13

EXCLUSIVE: Governor's Call Girl is Published in the book “What Guys Do Wrong” (NEW Photo, The Book Excerpt and New MySpace link HERE only.)

2008|Thursday, March. 18

From talent NETWORK NEWS
By Frank D. Murgia

This exclusive information just in to "talent NETWORK NEWS.com"

The name and identity of the 22-year-old call girl/high priced escort that has become the centerpiece attached to just resigned New York Governor Eliot Spitzer was revealed yesterday. Her aliases previously included Kristen, Ashley Dupre, Ashley Dipietro, Ashley Alexandra Dupre - but her real name Ashley Youmans or just Ashley as published in my friend's book.

“What Guys Do Wrong -The Real Way to Attract and Keep Women You Want” That is the name of a book sitting on my bookshelf. The book is authored by my good friend John Piermarini of Los Angeles. Ashley Dupre is in this book. She is one of only 100 women from across the United States to have submitted to this book. The book is a guide for men. The author asked women from all walks of life to explain in their own words what guys do wrong when approaching them. There are some mid-level celebrities and reality stars in the book such as Aubrey O’Day from MTV’s ‘Making the Band 3’ (aka P-Diddy’s ‘Danity Kane’ project), Playboy Playmate Andrea Lowell, and WWE Diva Trish Stratus just to name a few. Also featured in the book are female accountants, casting directors, realtor's and aspiring singers and actresses.

Author, John Piermarini called me late last night and said that about three hours after reading the Gov. Spitzer story and viewing the photos of Ashley Dupre he pulled his car over to the side of the road, grabbed his book out of his carry bag, leafed through it and found on page 25 “Ashley, 21 - from Manhattan, NY”. John's Ashley is Spitzer's "Kristen". Piermarini has given us exclusive rights to publish his name and the photo and excerpt from his book. Piermarini had nothing but very good things to say about Ashley. He said she was very pleasant, helpful, intelligent sounding and of course very striking.

Here is the full excerpt and exclusive photo from page 25 of the book "What Guys Do Wrong". This excerpt was written exclusively by Ashley for inclusion in John's book. Grammar, spelling and all is untouched from what was submitted to the author/publisher by Ashley Youmans.

ASHLEY, 21
NIGHTLIFE
MANHATTAN, NY

Guys don’t realize that we can tell when they are trying to act all cool and tough. I do not understand why guys cannot just be themselves. A compliment is always the best way to go when approaching a girl. But don’t be too nice…just enough to keep us wondering. I would love for a guy to just walk up, introduce yourself, and ask me out. I like men who are confident and who like to take control. But not cocky. It’s extremely sexy when a confident man who is pretty secure with himself approaches you.

Why don’t guys listen? I’m looking for a best friend in my boyfriend. Guys get too scared in relationships when they feel they are getting too close, its like they don’t want to admit the fact that they actually care about the girl. Don’t forget to listen and communicate. We’re not that difficult, well some of us are. I want a guy who’s a gentleman. I know this sounds corny but it’s so nice when a man caters to you. If a girl talks to you…LISTEN! You have to communicate, compromise, and do fun things together. Never forget, actions speak louder than words. Don’t tell me, SHOW ME.

================
Keep an eye out for Piermarini's next book "What Governor's Do Wrong - The Real Way to Pay for Hookers and Not Get Caught" (Kidding of Course)
================

MINI-SUMMARY on ASHLEY DUPRE: ( The Full Story can be seen on the big boys blogs and sites like CNN, FOX, etc.)
The 22-year-old call girl/high priced escort has had many aliases and many paths that have led to her becoming front-page headline news. She left her mom and the New Jersey shore at age 17. She ended up in a high school in North Carolina in which she dropped out of to pursue music. She landed in New York City where she found herself in a bad relationship full of false hopes and dreams. Struggling to survive and to keep her music career alive, Ashley started working with “Emperors Club” a company that charged $1,000/hour for the services of Kristen/Ashley.

THE INFORMATION THAT MADE ASHLEY FAMOUS:
February 13, Washington, D.C., The Mayflower Hotel, Room 871, Kristen meet Client- #9.

ASHLEY'S MYSPACE SITE AND MUSIC

LINKS below to the book (WGDW):
“WHAT GUYS DO WRONG - The Real Way to Attract and Keep Women You Want”

Purchase WGDW at AMAZON.com

WDGW BLOG

WGDW MYSPACE SITE - Ashley is on the friends list. This is the exclusive link to it.

Source: John Piermarini- What Guys Do Wrong

ASHLEY'S PHOTO HUT BELOW

Here below is the actual escort ad for Kristen/Ashley. That photo is not her but a stock fake photo on the site.

2 Family Photos from the New York Post

Sources: The Smoking Gun, What Would Tyler Durden Do, New York Post,

2008-03-12

'Gilligan's' Mary Ann Caught With Pot. Mr Howell still in the Closet.

2008|Wednesday Mar. 11

From MSN.com/AP

'Gilligan's' Mary Ann Caught With Pot

DRIGGS, Idaho -- Dawn Wells, who played Mary Ann on

"Gilligan's Island," is serving six months' unsupervised probation
after allegedly being caught with marijuana in her car.

She was sentenced Feb. 29 to five days in jail, fined $410.50 and placed on probation after pleading guilty to one count of reckless driving.

Under a plea agreement, three misdemeanor counts — driving under the influence, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance — were dropped.

On Oct. 18, Teton County sheriff's Deputy Joseph Gutierrez arrested Wells as she was driving home from a surprise birthday party that was held for her. According to the sheri

ff's office report, Gutierrez pulled Wells over after noticing her swerve and repeatedly speed up and slow down. When Gutierrez asked about a marijuana smell, Wells said she'd just given a ride to three hitchhikers and had dropped them off when they began smoking something. Gutierrez found half-smoked joints and two small cases used to store marijuana.

The 69-year-old Wells, founder of the Idaho Film and Television Institute and organizer of the region's annual family movie festival called the Spud Fest, then failed a sobriety test.

Wells' lawyer, Ron Swafford, said that a friend of Wells' testified that he'd left a small amount of marijuana in the vehicle after using it that day, and that Wells was unaware of it. Swafford also said several witnesses were prepared to testify that Wells had very little to drink at the party and was not intoxicated when she left. He said she was swerving on the road because she was trying to find the heater controls in her new car.

2008-03-10

CASTING CALLS: NBC, MTV...

2008|Monday Mar. 10
From Beej at "HollyBeej"

Casting Call: A new adventure-reality show, I Can Do That! for NBC is looking for thrill seekers interested in a life-changing adventure. Open casting is happening now in Boston and later in Tampa and Austin. The show will be a combination of The Amazing Race, Fear Factor and Survivor and the winning participant will have to have strength and wisdom to win a large cash prize. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, a legal resident of the U.S. and must provide a license or passport. To set up an interview with the Casting Directors, email Jonathan at jspazdog@yahoo.com and include name, age, phone number, email address and a recent photo.   

Casting Call: For MTV's upcoming reality show The Real My Fair Lady (wt) rough talking and acting girls will be taught how to act like a princess with one ultimately winning a prize. Interested applicants or to nominate someone send an email to Twinsworld1@aol.com. Include name, age, contact telephone numbers, a photo and a description of yourself or the person you are nominating and mention why you/they would be right for the show.

Casting Call: Conway Twitty United is casting for the world premiere of a new two-act musical play, It's Only Make Believe about the life and music of Conway Twitty. The three city audition tour will stop in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Nashville between March 29 and April 10. Rehearsals start this July and performances and tour will run through 2010. For information about the production and details on the musical roles available plus key production positions, visit www.randyjohnson1.com and www.conwaytwittymusical.com

"HollyBeej" -Monday Mar. 10, 2008

Live From Hollywood...News From Inside The Hollywood Machine

Weekend Box Office Estimates: Mar 7-9, 2008

10,000 B.C. (Warner Bros.) $35.7 million - opening weekend
College Road Trip (Buena Vista) $14.0 million - opening weekend
Vantage Point (Sony) $7.5 million - 3 wk total $51.7m
Semi Pro (NewLine) $5.9 million - 2 wk total $24.8m
The Bank Job (Lionsgate) $5.7 million - opening weekend
The Spiderwick Chronicles (Paramount) $4.8 million - 4 wk total $61.7m
The Other Boleyn Girl (Sony) $4.0 million - 2 wk total $14.6m
Jumper (Fox) $3.8 million - 4 wk total $72.5m
Step Up 2 The Streets (Buena Vista) $3.0 million - 4 wk total $53.0m
Fool's Gold (Warner Bros.) $2.8 million - 5 wk total $62.8m
Source: Box Office Mojo

Apple announced the next generation of the iPhone due out in June will support Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync, meaning that the business world will now be able to use it for Blackberry-like functions such as syncing corporate email and calendars. (The company said Nike and Disney have already been testing the service internally.) Apple also officially opened up its internal APIs to allow 3rd party software developers to create applications utilizing the innovative "Cocoa Touch" interface. iTunes will become the exclusive online retail outlet for iPhone apps, some of which will be offered for free if in an ad supported model is chosen. Developers will get to keep 70% of the sales revenue generated monthly from each application.

NBC has given a script commitment to a new comedy project called My Problem with Women, based on a show that launched in Peru last July and in 20 other countries, reports THR. Starring in the project is Justin Timberlake as a bachelor in his 30s who goes to a therapist to try to identify why he has trouble in his relationships with women. The project comes from Reveille, who will co-produce with UK based Power and Frecuencia Latina International.

Buzz News from BuzzSugar:

Zap2It reports that Showtime has picked up The L Word for a sixth and final season.
A Ponds ad featuring Chinese actress Tang Wei has been banned in China — not because of the content of the advertisement, but because of "official displeasure" at Wei's involvement in the Ang Lee film Lust, Caution, Variety reports.
Justin Chadwick, director of The Other Boleyn Girl, is in talks to direct a contemporary London thriller titled The Property, writes ComingSoon.
According to Variety, Cate Blanchett will play Blanche DuBois in an Australian production of A Streetcar Named Desire.
Gnarls Barkley's video for "Run" has been re-edited to pass the Harding Test — guidelines intended to prevent TV images from triggering epileptic seizures — and can now air in the U.K., Billboard reports.
According to Hollywood Reporter, the Warner Bros. Television Group will resurrect The WB network in the form of a new website that will feature video of old WB favorites, like Gilmore Girls and Everwood.

Pittsburgh One of the Seven Places to Retire During an Economic Downturn

2008|Monday Mar. 10
From Smart Money Magazine
By Kelli B. Grant

Seven Places to Retire During an Economic Downturn

4. PITTSBURGH, PA.

"Pittsburgh has this reputation for being a smoky, industrial city — but that's just not the case anymore," says Bland. Steel and chemical manufacturing have largely given over to the burgeoning high-tech industry, particularly robotics and biomedicine. The city also hosts seven Fortune 500 companies, including PNC Financial Services Group, Mellon Financial Corp., and electric distributor Wesco International.

In his "Places Rated Almanac," author David Savageau named Pittsburgh "America's Most Livable City" in 2007, citing its cultural amenities and vibrant downtown. The cost of living here is 5% lower than the national average. And while the median sales price of existing homes nationwide fell 1.4% last year to $218,900, Pittsburgh's increased by 1% to $120,700, according to the National Association of Realtors. Seniors can save on taxes as well. The average state and local tax is 8.9%, vs. 9.7% nationwide.

Other bonuses: a low crime rate (compared with other cities its size) and more than 20 quality hospitals. U.S. News and World Report named the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center among its "Best of the Best," in 2007, and awarded its geriatric division a No. 8 spot.

2008-03-07

Free Rice - Answer Questions, Feed the Hungry.

2008|Friday Mar. 7
From talent network, inc.

FOR EACH WORD YOU GET RIGHT, THEY DONATE 20 GRAINS OF RICE THROUGH THE UNITED NATIONS WORLD FOOD PROGRAM TO HELP END HUNGER.

( Play the Game at FREE RICE )

About FreeRice

FreeRice is a sister site of the world poverty site, Poverty.com.

FreeRice has two goals:

1. Provide English vocabulary to everyone for free.
2. Help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free.

This is made possible by the sponsors who advertise on this site.

Whether you are CEO of a large corporation or a street child in a poor country, improving your vocabulary can improve your life. It is a great investment in yourself.

Perhaps even greater is the investment your donated rice makes in hungry human beings, enabling them to function and be productive. Somewhere in the world, a person is eating rice that you helped provide.

Total Donations by Date

Date	Grains of Rice

OCTOBER 2007	537,163,380
NOVEMBER 2007	4,768,969,790
DECEMBER 2007	6,948,988,060
JANUARY 2008	4,551,581,980
FEBRUARY 2008	3,893,361,180

March 1, 2008	81,426,180
March 2, 2008	81,305,920
March 3, 2008	132,758,120
March 4, 2008	139,195,100
March 5, 2008	136,685,180
March 6, 2008	147,217,560
	____________
Total All Dates	21,418,652,450

FreeRice began on October 7, 2007.

2008-03-06

LOST: Clues From the Book Ben is Reading.

2008|Thursday Mar. 6
From "talent NETWORK NEWS.com"
By Frank D. Murgia

This posting will make more sense if you have read our most recent postings on a very convincing theory that The island is/was trapped in a time warp in the year 200o, not the real 2004 of the crash. This is why Locke can walk and Rose does not have cancer. They did not have it yet in the year 2000. ( See Links below for more of that explanation) Read on for clues from the past two weeks episodes.

Key Finding from the past 2 episodes that play into a science fiction or delusional world...

In the most recent episodes this season, (Episode #5/6, Feb.28/Mar.6, 2007) Locke gave Ben a book to read. The book, "Valis" by Philip K. Dick a world-famous as a science-fiction writer and hence, by definition, a creator of futuristic worlds.

March 18, 1974: It, from inside me, looked out and saw the world did not compute, that I - and it - had been lied to. It denied the reality, and power, and authenticity of the world, saying, 'This cannot exist; it cannot exist.'

"March 20, 1974: It seized me entirely, lifting me from the limitations of the space-time matrix; it mastered me as, at the same time, I knew that the world around me was cardboard, a fake. Through its power of perception I saw what really existed, and through its power of no-thought decision, I acted to free myself.

It is wise to remember that Dick himself always bore in mind what he called the "minimum hypothesis" -that is, the possibility that all that he had undergone was merely self-delusion.

On the other hand, there are those who regard Dick as a charlatan who foisted upon his readers a pseudo-mystical revelation fueled by mental disorder.

Dick is the master of the psychological pratfall, the metaphysical free fall, the political conspiracy within a conspiracy within a conspiracy.Again these become hints and clues that support the Time Loop Theory. (Links below)

MORE EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE TIME TRAVEL THEORY

1. It’s been confirmed that the “ghosts” such as Jack’s father, Dave (Hurley’s imaginary friend), Walt and Kate’s horse are very real. Remember when Hurley picked up Dave’s physical slipper after the short chase? Unless these people are just simply “ghosts,” then there has to be a manipulation of time in order to justify their physical presence.

2. Naomi serves as a huge piece of evidence to prove that the island exists in the past. She directly states that the plane crashed and all of the heroes are dead. Why, and for what purpose, would she lie to the heroes about their death? Also, she mentioned Charlie’s greatest hits album, which implies that she’s from a time even AFTER 2004, possibly 2007. I certainly can’t think of anything that she’d gain by lying to them.

3. The producers said that the show will contain the same level of “sci-fi” elements as a Michael Chriton book. Note that he wrote a book called “Timeline” where people traveled back to the past via time machine. Furthermore, Cuse and Lindelof also said made a side comment in an interview that the island could exist in “any time.”

4. People (Besides Desmond) don’t actually start arriving at the island until AFTER the hatch implosion – suggesting that when the fail safe was turned, something happened to open the island up to the outside world. Desmond had the special boat, which brought him to the island. The boat was likely programmed with the coordinates of the portal between island time and real world time – allowing passage for only him to the island.

5. Ben knows what’s going to happen in the future! Take the first episode of season 3. During then book club meeting, Juliet makes a point that Ben is a strong believer in fate. Ben is also portrayed as the ringleader and manipulator of many people. Why would he manipulate if he wasn’t trying to “shape” some type of events that are meant to take place in the future?

6. The fact that the producers introduced the idea of “constants” is PROOF that they can manipulate the concept of “time travel” to any degree that they want. Let me ask: has any other movie or show portrayed “constants?” Does this concept of “constants” conform to any type of time travel as we know it? NO! And that’s why the producers can apply concepts like aging wombs, and the ability to heal rapidly. The only fundamental concept of time travel that applies to the show is that you can’t change the future – and fate will do ANYTHING to course correct.

MORE: Click links below to get more Lost.

LOST: A Theory on Time Travel

LOST: Timeline to the Theory Loop

"Lost" The Actors Are Now Asking Plot Questions.

LOST: "Ji Yeon" Episode Breakdown

LOST: The Actors Are Now Asking Plot Questions.

2008|Thursday Mar. 6
From Buzz Sugar.com

If you think you're befuddled about all the many mysteries and puzzles presented in Lost, try being a cast member of the show! In the latest issue of TV Guide, the main cast members get to ask showrunners Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof their burning questions about the show, and it's interesting to see what each actor is most curious to know about.

I figured the actors would ask questions specific to their own characters, but this isn't always the case. Some of them are just generally interested in the same questions we ask each other here in the Lost posts every week. For example, Yunjin Kim, who plays Sun, asks a question about the Oceanic Six that's been front and center in my own mind. Of course, Cuse and Lindelof deflect the really pressing questions, but still, there are some gems of information in this article. Also, one of the ways they deflect is by telling us in which episodes we'll get certain answers (the March 20th episode will bring us answers about Michael, for example).

To see a few of the questions and answers from Cuse and Lindelof that I found most intriguing, read more.

Jorge Garcia (Hurley) asks if Ben is in the coffin that Jack sees when he attends the funeral in the flash forward. Of course, we don't get an answer to this question besides "Before the end of the year, you will know who's in the coffin."
Yunjin Kim (Sun) asks my burning question: "Is Aaron actually one of the Oceanic 6?" to which we get another non-answer, but the assurance that "Who the actual six are is very much in play through the end of the [March 13th] episode. We'll confirm or deny after that."
Henry Ian Cusick (Desmond): "It's 2004 on the boat. What year is it in Penny's world? What year is it when the Oceanic 6 get home?" There's more avoidance with this answer, though Carlton Cuse mentions, "There are some growth issues when you go on or off the island. But I can't say more about that."
According to Damon Lindelof, in response to a question posed by Josh Holloway (Sawyer), "we haven't seen the last of Sawyer and Kate this season. Not by a long shot."
And here's my favorite gem: Henry Ian Cusick asks, "Did Jack's flash-forward in the third-season finale take place after the events of Sayid's most-recent episode?"
Cuse and Lindelof: "Yes."

(READ) "LOST' : TIME MACHINE LOOP THEORY

2008-03-05

LOST : Time Machine Theory

2008|Wednesday Mar. 5
By Frank D. Murgia|tNN
From Lost TV-forum.com

My niece sent me an email with a link to a theory about the TV show 'Lost.' The show is frustrating, confusing and brilliant all in each episode. This Theory makes much sense to explaining what has happened and why it is happening and what the future may hold. Yes, it has many holes but it closes many, many holes as well. It is long, almost 30+ pages when you print it out. BUT, it is amazing and a must read for all Lost fans. You will never ever watch the show the same way once you read this.

Here is the short blurb. The links below take you to the whole theory which again, is amazing.

Pretty much the island is a time machine to a degree. On the island it is the year 2000 not 2004 when they crashed. Out on the big boat where Desmond and Sayid just landed it is 2004. You remember that the helicopter had to fly exactly straight on its course so as to go through the time warp to go to ahead to 2004. (How the Island became a time warp is fully explained in the theory with the links below.)

Pushing the button every 108 minutes on the island was actually keeping time from moving forward on the island. It was resetting the time loop. It kept the island locked into the year 2000 and when they stopped the pushing the button and the magnetic explosion happened time started to move forward again.

This is why on the island, Locke can walk. On the Island it is the year 2000...he was not crippled yet. This is why Rose does not have cancer...she did not get it yet. If they leave the island they will be back in 2004 and Locke will be paralyzed and Rose will have cancer.

In last years finale in the flash forward Jack wants to go back to the island and wants Kate to come with him because when they do get off of the island they somehow go back further in time and can relive their live from then until the day the get on the plane in 2004. A bit confusing but the plane trip hasn't happened yet and they know when that day comes if they get on that flight that it will crash on the island and they will be back on the island to escape the life they have in the real world. UGH! I know.

The reason Desmond could see the future of who was going to die...well that Daniel guy with beard is Desmonds' constant as we saw in the last clip of the show last week. Daniel was somehow able to send signals to Desmond what was going to happen because it actually happened already because the island had not caught up to the real time of 2004 yet.

You have to plow through it all but WOW! Many questions and thoughts and a lot of holes but interesting.

EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE TIME TRAVEL THEORY

1. It’s been confirmed that the “ghosts” such as Jack’s father, Dave (Hurley’s imaginary friend), Walt and Kate’s horse are very real. Remember when Hurley picked up Dave’s physical slipper after the short chase? Unless these people are just simply “ghosts,” then there has to be a manipulation of time in order to justify their physical presence.

2. Naomi serves as a huge piece of evidence to prove that the island exists in the past. She directly states that the plane crashed and all of the heroes are dead. Why, and for what purpose, would she lie to the heroes about their death? Also, she mentioned Charlie’s greatest hits album, which implies that she’s from a time even AFTER 2004, possibly 2007. I certainly can’t think of anything that she’d gain by lying to them.

3. The producers said that the show will contain the same level of “sci-fi” elements as a Michael Chriton book. Note that he wrote a book called “Timeline” where people traveled back to the past via time machine. Furthermore, Cuse and Lindelof also said made a side comment in an interview that the island could exist in “any time.”

4. People (Besides Desmond) don’t actually start arriving at the island until AFTER the hatch implosion – suggesting that when the fail safe was turned, something happened to open the island up to the outside world. Desmond had the special boat, which brought him to the island. The boat was likely programmed with the coordinates of the portal between island time and real world time – allowing passage for only him to the island.

5. Ben knows what’s going to happen in the future! Take the first episode of season 3. During then book club meeting, Juliet makes a point that Ben is a strong believer in fate. Ben is also portrayed as the ringleader and manipulator of many people. Why would he manipulate if he wasn’t trying to “shape” some type of events that are meant to take place in the future?

6. The fact that the producers introduced the idea of “constants” is PROOF that they can manipulate the concept of “time travel” to any degree that they want. Let me ask: has any other movie or show portrayed “constants?” Does this concept of “constants” conform to any type of time travel as we know it? NO! And that’s why the producers can apply concepts like aging wombs, and the ability to heal rapidly. The only fundamental concept of time travel that applies to the show is that you can’t change the future – and fate will do ANYTHING to course correct.

MORE: Click links below to get more Lost.

LOST: A Theory on Time Travel

LOST: Timeline Theory Loop

"Lost" The Actors Are Now Asking Plot Questions.

LOST: Clues from the Book Ben is Reading.

LOST: "Ji Yeon" Episode Breakdown

2008-03-04

Jeff Foxworthy Says you know you live in Pennsylvania if...

2008|Tuesday Mar. 4
From Debbie King

You Know You Live In Pennsylvania...

If you consider it a sport to sit in a tree stand all day long with a bow or a gun just to put food in your freezer you might live in Pennsylvania

If you're proud that your region makes the national news 96 nights each year because Bradford is the coldest spot in the nation, you might live in Pennsylvania

If your local Dairy Queen is closed from November through March, you might live in Pennsylvania.

If you instinctively walk like a penguin for five months out of the year, you might live in Pennsylvania .

If someone in a store offers you assistance, and they don't work there, you might live in Pennsylvania cause you're all so darn friendly.

If your dad's suntan stops at a line curving around the middle of his forehead, cause he wears a hardhat you might live in Pennsylvania.

If you have worn shorts, sunglasses and a parka at the same time, you might live in Pennsylvania.

If your town has an equal number of bars and churches, or if you are in church and your priest or minister asks you to pray for the STEELERS, and wants to get you all home for 1 p.m. kickoff, you might live in Pennsylvania.

If you have had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you might live in Pennsylvania.

YOU KNOW YOU ARE A TRUE Pennsylvanian WHEN:

1. "Vacation" means going up north past I-80 for the weekend.

2. You measure distance in hours.

3. Yo u know several people who have hit a deer more than once.

4. You often switch from "heat"to "A/C" in the same day and back again.

5. You can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard,without flinching.

6. You see people wearing camouflage at social events (including weddings).

7. You install security lights on your house and garage and leave all the doors unlocked.

8. You carry jumper cables in your car and your girlfriend knows how to use them.

9. You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit.

10. Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow.

11. You know all 4 seasons: almost fall, winter, still winter and road construction.

12. You can identify a southern or eastern accent.

13. Your idea of creative landscaping is a concrete statue of a deer next to your blue spruce.

14. You were unaware that there is a legal drinking age.

15. Down South to you means MORGANTOWN W.V

16. A critter is something you eat.

17. Your neighbor throws a party to celebrate his NEW FORD F150

18. You go out to fish fry every Friday.and bingo every Wednesday.

19. YOUR 4TH OF JULY PICNIC WAS MOVED INDOORS DUE TO FROST.

20. You have more miles on your snow blower than your car.

21. You find 0 degrees "a little chilly."

22. You actually understand these jokes, and you forward them to all our Pennsylvania friends.

What to NETFLIX: New DVD Tuesday

2008|Wednesday Mar. 5
From Buzz Sugar.com

All of the new DVD releases hit stores (and Netflix) on Tuesdays.

In addition to the titles below, Awake, a thriller staring Hayden Christensen and Jessica Alba is out on DVD as well.

Into the Wild

There has been no shortage of buzz around this heartbreaking and visually stunning film directed by Sean Penn and starring Emile Hirsh. While it didn't make it as far at the Oscars as many hoped it would, it did make it onto my March Must-Haves, and I know many people are just as excited as I am that this movie is finally out on DVD. Into the Wild is based on the best-selling true story by Jon Krakauer all about a young, upper-middle class man with the world at his feet who decides to part with his normal, steady life in search of adventure. He sets out on a journey across the country and eventually ends up alone in the wilderness of Alaska.

The breathtaking scenery and unforgettable characters, along with the thought-provoking tale of a young man's journey on the path less taken makes for an important and moving film. Special features include interesting information about the true-life inspirations for the movie.

Things We Lost in the Fire

Starring Halle Berry and Benicio Del Toro, Things We Lost in the Fire is Susanne Bier's directorial follow-up to her Oscar-nominated After the Wedding. At first glance, this movie looked melodramatic and depressing but I gave it a shot (after all, who can resist Benicio?) and I'm so glad I did.

The story follows a widow (Berry) attempting to put her life back together after her husband tragically dies. Benicio plays the husband's childhood best friend, now a troubled recovering drug addict, who moves in with the grieving woman and her children. Together they deal with the loss and learn to accept each other, in memory of the man they all cherished. This isn't an escape movie, but it is touching and features some beautiful performances by Berry and Del Toro. Special features include audio commentary and extra scenes.

Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium

First off, until now I've never been concerned that a DVD cover might have the same effect on my vision as looking straight into the sun. Those are some bright colors. Moving on. Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium stars Dustin Hoffman as a 243-year-old toy store owner and Natalie Portman as the store's manager. When Mr. Magorium discovers he's not well, he turns to Portman's character to take over his magical world of toys. Lots of colors, slapstick comedy and whimsical fun make this a great choice for family viewing, especially with little ones in the house.

2008-03-03

Van Halen Cancels Tour Without Fair Warning.

2008|Monday Mar. 3
From TMZ.com

Sources tell TMZ the Van Halen tour has just been canceled!

We're told arrangements are being made right now to cancel hotel stays for the tour -- which was scheduled to continue through April 19th. Sources tell us the reason for the cancellation is Eddie -- that he is having "issues."

The last three shows had already been canceled. There have been reports that Eddie was out of it during concerts -- and video of recent performances in which his guitar playing was atrocious.

Reps could not be reached for comment.

(READ) New date for postponed Van Halen show in Charlottesville. Still no Explanation.

"Semi-Pro" Semi Bombs At Box Office.

2008|Mar. 3 2008
From Huffington Post
By Alicia Chang

Will Ferrell Movie Disappoints At Box Office With $15M

LOS ANGELES — Will Ferrell's basketball comedy "Semi-Pro" dribbled to the top of the weekend box office, but it fell short of his previous blockbuster openings in the sports spoof genre, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The New Line Cinema film, starring Ferrell as the owner of a fictional basketball franchise, grossed $15.3 million in its weekend debut. That was lackluster compared to Ferrell's 2006 NASCAR parody "Talledega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby," which opened at $47 million, and last year's figure skating comedy "Blades of Glory," which earned $33 million in its first weekend.

Box office analysts said "Semi-Pro" likely suffered because it was released during a normally slow season and was rated R, while "Talledega Nights" and "Blades of Glory" were rated PG-13.

"Will Ferrell is always a draw and audiences love him. But this particular weekend is not quite as strong as his earlier efforts," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of the box-office tracker Media By Numbers LLC.

New Line representatives declined to comment. Last week, media conglomerate Time Warner Inc. announced that New Line would be merged with its Warner Bros. Entertainment studio to cut costs and improve profitability.

Last weekend's top film, the Sony Pictures terrorism thriller "Vantage Point," dropped to second place with $13 million in ticket sales, bringing its two-week domestic total to $41 million.

Sony's new release "The Other Boleyn Girl" performed better than expected, opening at No. 4 with $8.3 million at 1,166 theaters. Its $7,118 per theater average outdistanced other movies in the marketplace.

The weekend's other opening, the Summit Entertainment fantasy romantic comedy "Penelope," debuted in eighth place with $4 million.

Box office revenues overall were down for the third straight week. The top 12 movies grossed $81 million, down 10 percent from last weekend and 25 percent from the same weekend in 2007.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released Monday.

1. "Semi-Pro," $15.3 million.

2. "Vantage Point," $13 million.

3. "Spiderwick Chronicles," $8.8 million.

4. "The Other Boleyn Girl," $8.3 million

5. "Jumper," $7.6 million.

6. "Step Up 2 The Streets," $5.7 million.

7. "Fool's Gold," $4.7 million.

8. "Penelope," $4 million.

9. "No Country For Old Men," $4 million.

10. "Juno," $3.4 million.

___

On the Net:
http://www.mediabynumbers.com

Big Bucks for Big Ben

2008|Monday Mar. 3
From ESPN.com
By Michael Smith

Roethlisberger gets more than $36 million in guarantees in new deal

The Pittsburgh Steelers and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger have agreed to a new eight-year, $102 million contract, according to sources.

The contract, which includes more than $36 million in guarantees and is easily the largest in team history, places Big Ben among the game's highest-paid players. In comparison, Peyton Manning received a $34.5 million signing bonus in his big deal and Michael Vick received $37 million in guarantees from the Falcons in his mega deal. Both Manning's and Vick's deals were signed in 2004.

Roethlisberger's agents, Ryan and Bruce Tollner of REP 1 Sports, traveled to Pittsburgh and finalized the deal with the Steelers late Sunday night. The team is expected to announce the move Monday in a press conference.

Roethlisberger, who turned 26 on Sunday, is coming off a Pro Bowl season in which he completed more than 65 percent of his passes with a tean-record 32 touchdowns and an efficiency rating of 104.1, leading the Steelers to an AFC North title and the playoffs for the third time in his four seasons.

Roethlisberger, who two years ago became the youngest quarterback ever to win a Super Bowl, grew as a team leader last season and bounced back from a disappointing 2006 where his offseason was marred by a serious motorcycle accident.

In addition to a pay raise, the Steelers are also in the process of adding another weapon to Roethlisberger's arsenal. Pittsburgh hosted former Vikings running back Mewelde Moore on Sunday and his signing appears imminent.

Moore will provide Pittsburgh's offense with the legitimate receiving threat out of the backfield it had lacked. He's also likely to serve as the team's primary kickoff and punt returner.

Michael Smith is a senior writer for ESPN.com.

Big Ben's Photo Hut

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