January 14, 2008

American Idol Season 8 kicked off last night and it did not disappoint. In fact, it reminded me oh to well of why I missed it so much. I'm still trying to get over my break-up with Bikini Girl (when the show ended). And Ryan Seacrest tried to high-five a blind guy:


Are you kidding me?! Too awesome. I'm lovin' the new judge, Kara Dioguardi. It's a hard "a" Simon, try it out. Kara is sassy, funny, and she can sing! Oh, and she's engaged. Her boyfriend popped the question on the 8th. Congrats!

Patrick Swayze is "doing fine" after checking into a hospital last Friday for pneumonia, according to his mother. She told me that her son, who's battling pancreatic cancer, "sounds really upbeat and positive." She also added, "We don't talk about illness when I talk to him."

Speaking of hospital visits...
Howie Mandel, the host of Deal or No Deal, was released from a Toronto hospital yesterday after checking in the night before with an irregular heartbeat. His rep told me Howie is expected to return to work today. He's in Toronto, where he was born, to tape his new NBC comedy show, Howie Do It.

Ok...one MORE health scare...
Law & Order: SVU actress Mariska Hargitay is recovering from a partially collapsed lung. She is "feeling better," and Law & Order says "We are looking forward to her quick recovery and return to set."

Time has run its course on Fox's Prison Break. The network announced yesterday that it's pulling the plug on the drama this spring. The series' final four episodes will begin airing on April 17th, though there's a chance some additional episodes may be shot.

The trash-collecting robot WALL-E wouldn't mind rotten tomatoes. The animated film WALL-E won the award for best wide release in the 10th annual Golden Tomato Awards, based on the reviews of film critics compiled by the movie website RottenTomatoes.com. Here's the full list of award-winners:

Wide Release
WALL-E

Limited Release
Man on Wire

Action-Adventure
The Dark Knight

Animation
WALL-E

Comedy
Happy-Go-Lucky

Horror
Teeth

Kids/Family
Kit Kittredge: An American Girl

Romance
Ghost Town

Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Musical
High School Musical 3: Senior Year

Drama
The Wrestler

Thriller
Transsiberian

Documentary
Man on Wire

Foreign
The Band's Visit

Worst Reviewed Film
One Missed Call

Best Reviewed Australian Film
The Black Balloon

Best Reviewed UK Film
Man on Wire

January 12, 2008

Hey, the Golden Globes actually weren't that bad last night. It was especially entertaining when I could feel the guy on the "Censor Button" flinch when Mickey Rourke got on stage. I was really happy Slumdog Millionaire won all those awards. That movie is the first in a long time that I left the theater thinking, "I loved that movie." If you haven't had a chance to see it - make a point to. Here's a link to showtimes for it around the area. It was also wonderful that Heath Ledger won for Best Supporting Actor in a Movie (Drama). Oh, and Kate Winslet's last acceptance speech had me almost shed a tear. Almost. In terms of the big categories, here are the winners:

FILM
Best Movie, Drama
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Movie, Musical or Comedy
Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Best Director
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

Best Actress, Drama
Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road

Best Actor, Drama
Mikey Rourke, The Wrestler

Best Actress, Musical Or Comedy
Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky

TELEVISION
Best TV Drama
Mad Men

Best Actor, TV Drama
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment

Best Actress, TV Drama
Anna Paquin, True Blood

Best TV Series, Musical Or Comedy
30 Rock

Best Actress, TV Comedy
Tina Fey, 30 Rock

Best Actor, TV Comedy
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock

Best Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made For TV
John Adams

If you wanna see a complete list of winners, click here!

Here are the Top 10 Movies from the weekend:

1. Gran Torino, $29 million
2. Bride Wars, $21.5 million
3. The Unborn, $21.1 million
4. Marley & Me, $11.4 million
5. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, $9.4 million
6. Bedtime Stories, $8.6 million
7. Valkyrie, $6.7 million
8. Yes Man, $6.2 million
9. Not Easily Broken, $5.6 million
10. Seven Pounds, $3.9 million

January 2, 2009

Resolutions of the Stars:

* STAR Artist Fergie says that every year, her New Year's Resolution is the same: to work out as much as possible. But in 2009, she especially wants to stick to her regimen, because she's planning to rejoin The Black Eyed Peas and hit the road for a big tour. She says, "I wanna make sure I [work out] on tour and I don't slack off."

* Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria Parker: "To give up meat."

* Actor Jamie Foxx: "I'm looking for the right woman. I need a magnifying glass. I'm trying to find that rare jewel."

* My Life on the D-List star Kathy Griffin: "To eat more carbs."

* Party animal Carmen Electra: "To have more fun."

* Actress Cameron Diaz: "I have always had the same New Year's resolutions: to stop smoking, to start wearing a bra and to stop shopping."

* Actor Brian Austin Green: "It seems to be to stop smoking every year. We'll see how it goes this time."

Speaking of Kathy Griffin...
In an odd-ish pairing for the New Year’s Eve countdown, CNN put Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin together. It led to…well…this:

CAUTION: LANGUAGE!
We haven't seen much of Mad About You star Paul Reiser in recent years, but not because he's dead. Get this: the Wikipedia page for Paul was recently updated with the false claim that his body was discovered last Saturday in the "Squallahassee River," where he, "reportedly enjoyed fly fishing." It was easy to figure out that the statement was just a hoax, since there is no river named “Squallahassee.” The statement has been removed from the Wikipedia page. Ok so Paul Reiser isn't dead. His career on the other hand...

Missed Marley & Me last weekend? Still haven't seen Tom Cruise wearing an eye patch in Valkyrie? Now's your chance to catch up on these films and more, since there are no movies opening in wide release this week. Marley & Me, starring Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson, is the reigning box office champ, having earned over $36 million last weekend. Bedtime Stories, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Valkyrie also did well after opening on Christmas Day.

There are only 11 more days until the debut of American Idol season eight, and viewers are curious about how the new judge, Kara Dioguardi, will fit in. Well, it turns out she'll fit in between Randy and Paula, literally, at the judges’ table. They tried her between Paula and Simon, but Kara tells me, "They kept trying to communicate and I didn't want to be in the middle of that." So how is Kara fitting in? "The other judges are like brothers and sisters...and I'm like the long-lost cousin who they're not sure they wanted to see, but now they're like, ‘Okay, you can stay for dinner.'" She reiterated she is NOT going to replace Paula, "We have a good vibe...I'm not of the thinking that women should drag each other down." Idol’s back January 13th!

Speaking of American Idol...
STAR Artist David Arculeta is singing at the inauguration! No, not Barack Obama’s inauguration. Archie will actually sing the national anthem at the inauguration of Jon Huntsman, the Governor of his home state of Utah.

It’s like she’s talented or something…STAR Artist Taylor Swift’s latest CD "Fearless" topped the Billboard charts for a 4th consecutive week to end 2008.

December 31,2008

There will be no "Welcome Matt" update tomorrow. So...Happy New Year!!

Every network will be welcoming 2009 with their own special countdown show, most of the live from New York City. The good thing about all the shows is all the musical guests you can see. Check out a complete rundown of who is performing where and when:

--NBC's New Year's Eve with Carson Daly will feature performances by STAR Artist Katy Perry, T.I., Ludacris and the Ting Tings, as well as a performance by Elton John, live via satellite, from his concert at London's O2 arena.

--On Fox's New Year's Eve Live, STAR Artists David Cook & Daughtry plus Lynyrd Skynyrd and former Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland will all be seen performing in Las Vegas. There will also be a death-defying motorcycle jump by Robbie Knievel, son of the late Evel Knievel.

--MTV presents A Miley-Sized Surprise: New Year's Eve 2009, which features Miley Cyrus hosting the show from a fan's bedroom, as well as the gym of a California high school. Also look for performances from Metro Station, Kevin Rudolf, All Time Low and The Academy Is. The Veronicas host from MTV's Times Square studios.

--CNN's Live New Year's Eve, with hosts Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin, promises performances from Lil Wayne, STAR Artists 3 Doors Down, Hinder, Lynyrd Skynyrd and My Morning Jacket.

25 films are being added to the National Film Registry, which is a database designed to preserve movies of historical or cultural significance. Among the new additions: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator, 1967’s In Cold Blood and 1972’s Deliverance. Check out what other movies were deemed important, the full list of additions is here:

* The Asphalt Jungle, 1950
* Deliverance, 1972
* Disneyland Dream, 1956
* A Face in the Crowd, 1957
* Flower Drum Song, 1961
* Foolish Wives, 1922
* Free Radicals, 1979
* Hallelujah, 1929
* In Cold Blood, 1967
* The Invisible Man, 1933
* Johnny Guitar, 1954
* The Killers, 1946
* The March, 1964
* No Lies, 1973
* On the Bowery, 1957
* One Week, 1920
* The Pawnbroker, 1965
* The Perils of Pauline, 1914
* Sergeant York, 1941
* The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, 1958
* So's Your Old Man, 1926
* George Stevens WW2 Footage, 1943-46
* The Terminator, 1984
* Water and Power, 1989
* White Fawn's Devotion, 1910

How will STAR Artist Jordin Sparks be spending her New Year's Eve? Right next to my hometown actually, in Naperville, Illinois, serving as a bridesmaid in the wedding of Gina Glocksen, her fellow American Idol season six finalist. Another season six finalist, Haley Scarnato, will also be a bridesmaid at the ceremony. By the way, Jordin plans to sing at the wedding, and so does Gina.

From hospitalizations to #1 hits, 2008 was a year of ups and downs for Britney Spears, but it helped keep her in the news all year. As a result, she's now topped USA Today's annual Celebrity Heat Index, which measures celebrites' exposure in various entertainment news sources throughout the year. Britney was the #1 most-reported-on celebrity for 11 weeks this year, allowing her to pull ahead of Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt, who were numbers two, three and four, respectively.

What's the secret to STAR Artist Fergie's success? Would you believe...hypnosis? Fergie told me she regularly sees a therapist, and at least ten minutes of each session is devoted to hypnotherapy, so she can receive, quote, "the power of positive suggestion. If you're in a negative place, it helps you get out of that and empower yourself."

The suspect in the murders of Jennifer Judson’s mother, brother and nephew was formally indicted yesterday. 27-year-old William Balfour, who is Hudson's estranged brother-in-law, made a court appearance in Illinois but did not speak.

Charles Barkley, former NBA star, took a few too many…”shots” last night and was booked for DUI. The arresting officer told me, "He was cooperative and respectful during the entire incident," And speaking of celebrity arrests actor Matt Dillon felt the need for speed. The Vermont State Police felt the need to bust him for it. The Oscar-nominated, and apparently lead-footed, actor was arrested and cited for excessive speeding in Vermont last night after being clocked at 106 mph in a 65 mph zone.

December 30, 2008

What do the two David’s (Cook and Archuleta) say was the best part of their incredible 2008? Can either David even begin to choose a highlight of the year? Well, yes. Both mention the American Idol tour as one of their greatest experiences of the past year -- especially Cook, who got off on the fact that he played two sold-out shows in his Kansas City hometown to an audience that included former girlfriends and people who said he'd never amount to anything. For Archie, actually being offered a record deal just hours after he lost the competition pretty much blew him away. He says, "It was just like, 'Whoah!'...it's really crazy to see how much has happened this year that I wasn't expecting to happen." I know, David Archuleta said “Whoah.” Shocking :)

Big news coming out late yesterday – Sarah Palin’s 18 year-old daughter Bristol has welcomed a baby son with her boyfriend Levi Johnston. The baby came into the world Saturday at 7 pounds, 4 ounces. It’s name? Yes, just as peculiar as Bristol, Piper, Willow or Trig. The new son’s name is Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston. According to a family member, "The baby is fine, and Bristol is doing well. Everyone is excited."

Speaking of babies...
Tom Cruise wants to have more kids with Katie Holmes. How many more? How about seven? He told me, "I want ten children. I love kids. I feel really fortunate to have the teenagers and a two-and-a-half-year-old. It's a great dynamic." He also told me he’s done talking publicly about Scientology. “That's it, no more - go to the Scientology website."

Speaking of even MORE babies...
Angelina Jolie has reportedly been told she should not have any more biological babies for health reasons. However, it's doubtful such a threat will deter the paparazzi from stalking her belly.

Woody Harrelson tied the knot with Laura Louie, his girlfriend of 20 years, in Maui on Sunday. Congrats you two!

Kate Winslet isn't afraid to show skin on the big screen, Titanic being one example. She currently appears nude in the drama The Reader, which is playing in limited release. Kate told me nudity sometimes is part of an actor's job description, but she adds that she's only naked in the first third of the movie. In the movie she plays a former SS officer who has an affair with a 15-year-old boy in 1950s Germany. Ralph Fiennes also stars in the movie.

STAR Artist Timbaland's new CD “Shock Value 2” will reportedly hit stores February 14th. According to sources, the first single, "Meltdown," features STAR Artists Gwen Stefani and Justin Timberlake, and will be released next week. The other guest stars who are reported to be included on the album are The Jonas Brothers, Usher, Keri Hilson, STAR Artist Jordin Sparks, Madonna, Rihanna, T.I., Linkin Park, Jay-Z and Akon.

I would imagine there’s not a lot of stuff that makes STAR Artist U2’s Bono nervous. He’s been lots of places, seen lots of terrible things, helped impoverished nations… But he recently told me he’s shaking in his boots about one specific thing in his life: U2’s new CD. The guys in U2 still worry whether or not people are going to like their music, "Sure, you're always nervous, but we've gone at it as if it was our first." Bono added that, with this new CD, U2 is, "going after the younger audience this time."

Amazon.com has released its year-end list of the best-selling products of 2008, and it's no surprise that STAR Artist Coldplay’s album "Viva La Vida" was the online retailer's top-selling music item of the year.