“So that you might come to a reading in Paris and I could walk up to you and ask, "Where the fuck were you?" – Ethan Hawke, “Before Sunset”
‘Before Sunrise’ and ‘Before Sunset’ are small, character-driven films which are long on dialogue, and a really fine one-two punch if you’re in the mood for the genre. I’m personally ready for the sun to set on work today since the office feels as stifling as the 100 degree heat outside, but to focus on the positives, there are breakfast tacos in the break room.
So, before I scarf two of them with coffee on the side, let’s look at the hard stories of the week such as:
After almost seven years dating, Janet Jackson and music producer Jermaine Dupri have reportedly broken up, according to Us Weekly.
Dupri, who was noticeably absent from Michael Jackson’s memorial on July 7, produced several of Jackson’s recent tracks on her last two albums — which could have contributed to the split, according to the article.
“You shouldn’t mix business with pleasure,” a friend of the former couple said. “Janet felt their lives were too crossed and they should have kept things separate.”
Hopefully, Janet made Dupri sign a prenuptial agreement to keep her money separate as well.
Actress Mischa Barton was put under an involuntary psychiatric hold at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center last week and remains hospitalized and the production start on CW's new drama "The Beautiful Life" has been pushed back by a week to July 31.
But despite Barton's widely publicized recent meltdown, sources close to the show are claiming that the reason for the delay was due to some of the sets not being completed on time.
Barton will remain in the hospital until she stops requesting all staff members to take her back to ‘The O.C.’ where she was still popular.
Paula Abdul might not be returning to ‘American Idol’ next season, according to her new manager.
According to a Los Angeles Times report, David Sonenberg says he doesn't have a proposal for a new contract for Abdul. He says it doesn't appear she'll be back, and auditions for the new season begin next month. Meanwhile, Abdul’s fans have started a Save Paula campaign using Twitter to try to get Fox to bring the singer back to the hit show. 
I’m not sure who’s crazier – Paula or her fans behind the campaign.
Carrie Prejean -- the recent Miss USA who was stripped of her title by Donald Trump – announced a new book deal this week.
The dethroned beauty queen will tell her story in “Still Standing”, which is set to be released in November 2009, and will detail what happened behind the scenes at the pageant, why she answered the gay marriage question as she did, and what she believes really led to her losing the Miss California crown.
It would be published sooner if Prejean would talk to her ghostwriter instead of just smiling and waving during every writing session.
Charges against Kiefer Sutherland for allegedly head-butting a fashion designer who was talking with Brooke Shields and breaking his nose in a New York City nightclub are over.
The Manhattan district attorney's spokeswoman said Tuesday that misdemeanor assault charges against the actor are being dropped because the alleged victim wouldn't cooperate with prosecutors. Sutherland's attorneys declined to comment Tuesday.
It appears that Jack Bauer got the job done – again, although it took a lot longer than 24 hours to do it.
Chris Brown made a public apology Monday for the incident in February that sent his then girlfriend, Rihanna, to the hospital, a charge which he plead guilty to last month and received probation.
In the Youtube posting, Brown said:
“Since February, my attorney has advised me not to speak out, even though ever since the incident I wanted to publicly express my deepest regret and accept full responsibility,” the singer said in a two-minute clip posted on his official YouTube channel. “Although I will do some interviews and answer some questions in the future, I felt that it was time that you heard directly from me that I am sorry.”
Brown is also sorry he’s had awards show invitations taken away and lower album sales since then, but didn’t address those issues in his apology.
Actor Stephen Baldwin is millions of dollars in debt and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this week.
The ‘Usual Suspects’ actor and recent born-again Christian filed the documents Tuesday in federal court in New York, and they show that Baldwin owes $1.2 million in two mortgages on a property about 30 miles north of New York City valued at $1.1 million. The document shows he also owes more than $1 million in taxes and has about $70,000 in credit card debt.
Baldwin was forced to file for bankruptcy after asking both the Lord and Keyser Soze for money and neither stepped forward.
As always, let’s end with a gold image or two:
I've always admired flexibility, although I'm usually not so enamored of extreme close-ups, however, we all make exceptions under the right circumstances. So, keep an open mind today, don't worry about getting too close to others and . . . Happy Friday!
-BDS
There's something I'll never understand about Stephen Baldwin. He was pretty darn good in Usual Suspects, but other than that film, his second best role was Pauly Shore's best friend in Bio-Dome.
Oh well, happy Friday!!!
WIGSF - I know (and hadn't thought of 'Bio-Dome' in forever) as some people only get or have the ability to be good in a role or two and it seems like Stephen fit that bill because he was very good in 'Suspects.' Happy Friday.
Loved the "Sunset" movies, despite the long dialogue...
I was reminded by this post of Stephen Baldwin baptizing Spencer Pratt on that recent reality show. Pretty hysterical.
Hope you enjoyed the breakfast tacos and Happy Friday!
Quick Heff Friday !!!
(Damn, I'm gonna have to start getting up earlier)
I think the split was actually due to Janet breaking the "Don't get Fat" clause of DUPRI's prenup.
Barton can "meltdown" on me, anytime.
Are you sure the "Save Paula" campaign has anything to do with A.I., or is it regarding pill-popping ?
I'm guessing Carrie Prejean's book MIGHT not show up, either, lol !
I think if Kiefer had head butted Brooke Shields instead, there wouldn't have been any charges AT ALL.
Sadly, I think Chris Brown's album sales will soon begin to KICK ASS again....
Stephen Baldwin, unlike Alec, is a complete dumbass. "That Barney Rubble - what an actor"
Regarding the 1st Gold Image, I certainly hope YOU don't get bent-over today !
Have a good one, BDS !
Jlee - Those were great films, and I own both on DVD. And yeah, that baptizm was nothing short of ridiculous. Ha. Happy Friday and have a great weekend.
Heff - The early bird and all that . . . Ha. I appreciate the detail, so thought about something along those lines for the Jackson story so glad you hit it, Barton doesn't do much for me and she is a bad, bad actress, you might be right about Paula as I need to check into the specifics, you're probably right about the book and about the different head-butt, oh and about Brown's album sales too, had forgotten about Stephen in 'Flintstones' even though I never saw it, and let's hope nobody gets bent over today. Ha. Happy Friday.
The only thing I remember about Janet is that wardrobe malfunction. I haven't heard of much from her since then.
Someone should mention to Misha Barton that lack of nutrition will cause people to lose their minds. Somehow I don't think she would care as long as she is a skeleton with skin.
If Paula isn't on Idol the show won't be the same. One of my favorite parts of the show is to watch her mind search for just the right, crazy words. Watching Paula makes me feel smart.
If Jack Bauer played his cards right, he could have me. I'm just sayin...
I don't care enough about Chris Brown or Steven Baldwin to think of a comment for them.
Happy Weekend!
Twitter for a twit.
Gold image drawing. A first?
Down the long ladder.
Before Sunrise and Before Sunset are cool to watch back to back on a rainy Sunday. Amazing dialogue. I saw absolutely no sincerity in the Chris Brown apology, guy is a punk. Too bad, talented dude. Sad about Janet & Jermaine, I always thought he made her seem a little less kooky. Prejean another faux celebrity who needs to pipe down, don't think anyone really cares. Have a lovely weekend and Happy Friday!
Kmwthay - Appreciate the detail as always, so Janet peaked awhile ago even before the malfunction, Barton is too skinny and apparently known for partying really hard, tend to agree about Paula on the show even though I don't watch (though I see clips in various places), kind of funny about Bauer but we all have our desires, and Happy Friday to you.
Haiku Master - Is that first one a drawing? Regardless, it still works for me. Happy Friday.
Linda - Yeah, I think those films are probably the best ones either Hawke or Delpy will ever be in too. I didn't see the Brown video, kind of thought the same thing about Dupri, and Preejean should just go away for good. Happy Friday and have a great weekend yourself.
Now if American Idol would just get rid of the other judges, and the show altogether, we'd be all set.
sure. right. Paula may not return. pfffft. So she has a new manager and he's playing "Ari Gold". I wouldn't miss her. I can honestly say that I watched every episode of American Idol this past year and NEVER bothered to hear what she had to say. Thanks to tivo, I sped right past her and would only stop for Simon. Now if he left, I'd have a hard time watching the show.
Have a great weekend.
I have never seen either Sunrise or Sunset (the first struck me as too chick-flicky when it came out and the second seemed pointless without having seen the first) HOWEVER being a character-driven-lots-of-dialogue type o' gal, and having heard some really amazing reviews of both movies (and no longer being a teenager trying to prove she's too tough for chick flicks), I know I need to see them.
The first is indeed a sketch but jeez what a sketch (and I'd put money that there was a model who posed for it because ballerinas can do some crazy shit).
Have a great weekend. We're looking at 112 here, too, so it's beer time for you and frosty drinks for me. :) (With apologies for so many parenthesis ~ apparently I like them today, which is why I found a reason to use them one more time in this last paragraph.)
Native Minnow - Ha. No chance as it's still a huge ratings draw & will be forever. I think. But I don't watch, so . . . what do I know? Happy Friday.
Boxer - I would agree that Simon is the only legitimite judge on the show these days, although I would kind of miss Paula because I see clips of her crazy feedback on the Soup and they could probably use her bit of craziness on the panel. Maybe not. But yeah, I bet she ends up back there because really, what else is she going to do? Have a great weekend yourself.
Bostonpobble - I go through parenthese phases myself, so I can relate to that one. Ha. As for 'Sunrise' and 'Sunset' those were perfectly valid reasons for not seeing them at the time, but you should check them out sometime now as you'd probably enjoy them more anyway. I saw 'Sunrise' in high school on a date, and so it struck a chord based on their age in the film, and saw 'Sunset' a few years ago in the theater with my wife which was also very good and interesting. They would make a good afternoon on the road sometime . . . And finally, sketch or not, I still like it. Ha. Happy Friday.
Happy Friday to you guys- good post as I didn't think anything much at all happened this week.
Master volunteers
to ghost-write for dethroned Queen
if she defrocks too.
Fastest tortoise asks
slimmest hippo which Baldwin
is the smartest one.
Stephen, Stephen, Stephen...guess it's expensive to be born again.
Does anyone really care about American Idol anymore anyway???
The Usual Suspects is one of my favorite movies of all time!! His career should have flourished after such a movie.
Nobich - Happy belated Friday to you, and thanks, as it was a slow week, so I was pulling together anything. Ha.
Haiku Master - Alec is by far the smartest, although Stephen and Daniel don't give him much competition. Happy Friday.
Vivavavoom - And there's not much money in it apparently. Ha. Happy Friday.
Miss Ash - It is still a huge hit with the ratings, so . . . no real idea as to why. I also love 'Suspects,' but that's the best thing he ever did, and it was a low-budget movie, so I doubt he made that much cash for it. Happy Friday.
Ive just started yoga and I am hopeful that one day... :)