The latest flu in town - IPL

Not that I hold anything in particular against one of the most celebrated cultural legacies that we have bequeathed from the British imperials – Cricket; however, I fail to fathom the feverish popularity of this colonial game.

The game assumes epidemic proportions during the World Cups, Indian Premium League (IPL) series and, these days, any match that India is playing in.
Deserted streets, cold food waiting at the dining table, selective hearing disorder in especially the men folk, joyous applaud interspersed with sighs of disappointment, the rambunctious bursting of crackers, irrespective of the hour of night or day, at a win, and the fanatic violence at a loss – ohh how I hate it all, this obsession with a game of bat and ball. (Wow, that rhymes; I always knew the first step towards poetry is misery.)

Ok, let’s talk about the latest manifestation of this malady – IPL. ‘Cricket for cricket’s sake’, they say – balderdash! The who’s who of the bollywood fraternity, the liquor baron, the Ambani’s, the ‘whoever’ with that extra buck, bid for players as if they were horses or something.
The millions pumped in by the otherwise broke sponsors (and no, I don’t specifically mean Citi), the deluge of ads, the not-so-bad cheerleaders (alas, South Africa seems to be outside the ruthless control of the Ram Sena) who seem to cheer the crowds and not the players, the pathetic expression of SRK after every match, the irritating interviews of Priety Zinta where she shows her support for the “boys”, the Shetty sisters giggling in corner, the Kingfisher with the mermaid (Katrina), the boy-cut Mandira Bedi, the MTV VJ compering for Set Max – tell me what is not unbearable about this game.

Everywhere – at home, office, the local grocery store – people are speculating, betting, hoping, praying – Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Darevils, Royal Challengers Banagalore, Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, Mumbai Indian, Deccan Challengers – how does it matter who wins? They do not really represent the state they are playing for. They are a part of the team cos they were bought for so many millions and they are raking even more because everybody is so emotionally involved in this game of moolah.

The politics of the country – the impending General Elections - have all been pushed to the periphery of our consciousness – relegated to the space of the media. We are not sure, and frankly, care a damn as to who the next prime minister will be. Mention IPL, and our brows knit together in deep concern - we sincerely deliberate – Chennai doesn’t seem to have a chance, close call between Deccan and Delhi, Punjab’s not far behind, Mumbai can still bounce back, is Kolkata still in the series?

Nothing unites us or divides us like Cricket does. And it is precisely this despotism that the sport enjoys that exasperates me thoroughly. Relish the game as you please, don’t revere it.

Sarah Jessica Parker Expecting Twins - Matthew Broderick Happy

After years of divorce rumors and public speculation, Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick are expecting twin girls by way of a surrogate mother.

Parker, the star of the hit show and movie "Sex and the City" is currently filming "Did You Hear About the Morgans?" a romantic comedy costarring Hugh Grant.

It is also rumored that she will appear as Ivy Ames in the dramatic comedy "The Ivy Chronicles" due next year. The film tells the story of a New York mom who starts a new life for herself and two girls after she loses her husband, her apartment and her job on Wall Street.

Matthew Broderick's latest film "Wonderful World" is due later this summer, and he's currently starring on Broadway in "The Philanthropist."

He has also just completed filming on the dramatic "Margaret" due later this year. It stars Anna Paquin, Mark Ruffalo and Matt Damon. The story revolves around a young woman (Paquin) who witnesses a bus accident, and is caught up in the aftermath, where the question of whether or not it was intentional affects many people's lives.
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I need a break!

The last two three weeks have been frenetic. As if extended work hours (from eight hours to nine hours a day), thanks to my organization's paranoia over recession, was not enough to frazzle me, now work spills over to holidays and weekends!

Have been toiling away every holiday (Tamil New year, the impromptu bandh by the Tamil Nadu govt.) and weekend for the last three weeks. Add to that 3 hours of traveling everyday - the perfect recipe for an exasperated and weary being faintly resembling me.
Often my mind feels numb and it takes long to focus on something outside my long list of to-dos.

The only extended family, relatives and friends I am in touch with are those that are on Orkut and Facebook. For some small mercies, since I am always at the comp, I steal some time here and there to log on to these social networking sites. Gone are the days of those never-ending phone calls with endless banter and gossip and the aimless surfing of channels on the idiot box. I am totally out of touch!

Believe me, I am not a cribber at work and till a couple of months back, I have seldom had Monday morning blues. In the true earnestness of being a Monday's child (yes, was born on a Monday!), all through school, college and work, I have been that one-off cheerful kid, enthusiastically and meticulously engaged with preparation for the coming week every Sunday evening.

But this year has been so frenzied that all my patience and perseverance has been put to test. I swear to god I need a break to recuperate from the damage of having overworked and to rejuvenate my spirits so that I can atleast endeavor to think from a new perspective.

Stephen Hawking In Hospital - Very Sick

One of the great minds of physics and math has fallen ill.

Uber physicist Stephen Hawking is very ill and has been hospitalized with a chest infection and possibly other ailments.

He had reportedly not been feeling well for the last couple of weeks.

The news was released by Cambridge University where he works as Lucasian Professor of Mathematics.

Hawking, 67, suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Hawking has survived for more than 40 years with the disease.

Hawking grew to fame with his 1988 book, "A Brief History of Time", and went on to write "Beyond the Horizon" (2009) and "Fate Of The Universe".

He has also appeared as himself on the smash hits "The Simpsons", "Futurama", "Last Days On Earth", "Alien Planet", "God, the Universe and Everything Else"

Video: Stephen Hawking Lecture Video


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April 20 - International Pot Smoking Day

I was wondering why Family Guy on April 19, 2009 was about legalizing weed - and then it hit me. Today is 4/20 - or 4:20, as you potheads call it - International Pot Smoking day. So yeah, nothing will get done today.

For all of you who went to work stoned, more power to you. For those of you who have to deal with the stoners who think the word "stapler" sounds funny and won't stop eating Doritos, hang in there, it's almost over.

By the way, for those of you completely out of the freakin' loop, 420 comes from a story about a group of teenagers from San Rafael High School in 1971. They would meet after school at 4:20 p.m. to smoke weed at the Louis Pasteur statue because that was the time that afternoon detention was dismissed.

Ellen Pompeo is Pregnant

Ellen Pompeo and husband Chris Ivery are pregnant with their first child and the Grey's Anatomy star claims that this is going to be one of many. Hmm, I wonder how Shonda Rhimes is going to work this into the story. I'll give you 3 guesses.

So now Ellen Pompeo, whom I always thought looked to mousy to carry a child to term, is about to turn 40 and she decided that now was as good a time as any to get pregnant. 

Ellen Pompeo told Allure magazine in 2008: "I've got to get on it. The clock is ticking." And so there you have it. Next season on Grey's Anatomy, Meredith Grey and Derek Shepherd will be with child.

Black Eyed Peas' Boom Boom Pow Video

Well it's here: the Black Eyed Peas official video for "Boom Boom Pow." The song is hella addictive and everyone who has an ear for music is in love with this song. The Black Eyed Peas have nailed the song of summer for 2009. 

So check out the "Boom Boom Pow" video and let me know what you think. Boom. Boom. Pow.

Jimmy Fallon Does Susan Boyle Skit

Jimmy Fallon  is smart enough to know that even if his show has terrible ratings, if he manages to make a skit that goes viral online, like say, one that features Britain's Got Talent's phenom, Susan Boyle, he's going to make a killing.

So Jimmy Fallon did just that and guess what? You'll be watching in just a second below. And yeah, it's pretty damn funny. And who knew Jimmy Fallon could get so angry?

Here She Is: Mel Gibson's Mistress Oksana Pochepa

So Oksana Pochepa is the "mystery mistress" that Mel Gibson has been giving it to for the last little while. Oksana Pochepa recently did a very provocative shoot for the Russian version of Maxim magazine and is likely thrilled at the publicity all this Mel Gibson divorce fiasco is garnering her.

Not only is she sleeping with a filthy rich actor who has his own island, now Oksana Pochepa will be making money in her own right by taking off all her clothes and posing in men's magazines all over the world. I wonder if Mel Gibson would approve. 

So what do you think? More power to Oksana Pochepa, or will she become a distant memory in no time? I mean, remember Monica Lewinsky? Yeah... but then, this chick is hot.

Celebrity Flaw - Drew Barrymore Yellow Teeth

As a celebrity, Drew Barrymore should know better than to parade around the paparazzi with canary yellow teeth - that's just wrong on so many levels. Drew Barrymore decided that she would wear all the Cover Girl makeup she had in her house before leaving the house.

If that weren't bad enough, Drew Barrymore then decided that she would wear a lipstick that would further accentuate the yellow teeth that she so proudly flashed during her Grey Gardens movie premiere.

It is a celebrity's job to look glamorous and when someone like Drew Barrymore - who is rolling in dough, mind you - doesn't get her cigarette and coffee stains removed, you gotta wonder what's up with that.

John Mayer Badmouths Jennifer Aniston

Did you know that John Mayer used to get bullied in high school and would get the crap kicked out of him? Well, you're about to find out why.

John Mayer is apparently badmouthing Jennifer Aniston to anyone who will listen, all in a bid to remain relevant to the world at large. And likely to promote his new album.

When John Mayer isn't busy hitting on anything with a pulse, he's telling these pulsating women what a clingy, needy and insecure woman Jennifer Aniston is. Wow, if I were Jennifer Aniston, I'd call up John Mayer for a meeting in a public place, tip the paparazzi off and then lay into Mayer and make him cry like a little girl. Then I'd give him a wedgie. But then, he is quite tall, so that might be a tad difficult. 

Heidi Klum is Pregnant With Her Fourth Child

Congratulations to Heidi Klum who is pregnant with her fourth child - her third with singer Seal. Heidi Klum's people confirmed that the 35-year-old is about 4 months along and that she and Seal are ecstatic about the pregnancy.

So watch out for the next Project Runway because Heidi Klum will be sporting some killer maternity wear that pregnant women all over the world could only dream of. 

Rupert Everett Got Plastic Surgery - Why?!?

Oh my God, what has Rupert Everett done to his once beautiful face? The 49-year-old actor went from rugged and charming to tightened and plastic. Rupert Everett has just ruined his career because there is no way anyone would pay to see that new mug up on the big screen.

Some say he looks 10 years younger, but I think Rupert Everett looks 49 but with some awful palstic surgery. Maybe it just needs time to settle. Yeah, that must be it. Ugh, I can't take it. It doesn't even look like the same person.

Pop Star Knowingly Infected Partners with HIV

You may have never heard of the group No Angels, but the all girl band won a Popstars competition in Germany in 2000. The band broke up in 2003 but reformed in 2007 to represent Germany at the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest with their single "Disappear".

Anyway, band member Nadja Benaissa, who had HIV and knew it, knowingly exposed several sexual partners with the disease and it has since been confirmed that at least one of her lovers is infected.

Nadja Benaissa, a single mom of one, was arrested in Frankfurt on Saturday, April 11, 2009, right before she was about to do a solo performance. She was kept in custody after a judge ruled that she might repeat her alleged offense.

If found guilty Nadja Benaissa faces up to 10 years in prison.

Pole Dancing Competition Highlights 2009

When I say I was blown away by this video, you gotta believe me. I've been to many strip joints and have never seen anything even remotely close to this talent. And did you notice the rock hard butts on these women?!?

Anyway, watch the Pole Dancing Competition Highlights Video and tell me that your mouth didn't drop at least a couple of times. These ladies have talent!

Ashton Kutcher Challenges CNN on Twitter

Ashton Kutcher is probably the most avid Tweeter, besides his wife, Demi Moore. And now Ashton Kutcher has challenged CNN to a "fan off". Allow me to explain:

Ashton Kutcher bet CNN that he could reach 1 million and the AP reports that:

The 31-year-old actor recently threw down the gauntlet, challenging CNN and its founder, Ted Turner. In a Web video posted earlier this week, Kutcher said he would ding-dong-ditch Turner's house if he beat CNN to 1 million. (For those unfamiliar with the classic adolescent prank, ding-dong-ditch is when you ring someone's doorbell and run away.)
"I find it astonishing that one person can actually have as big of a voice online as what an entire media company can on Twitter," Kutcher said in a video he posted on qik.com. "I just thought that was kind of an amazing comment on the state of our media."

I don't know about you, but Ashton Kutcher seems like he has a whole lot of time on his hands and I find it worrisome that all he does is Twitter all day long. I mean, can't the guy get a job or something?!? Then again, I'm pretty sure that Twitter pays Ashton a bunch of money per post, as does Qik.com as of now. 

Twitter is great and everything but to "ding-dong-ditch" Ted Turner's house at 31 years old makes you a... a loser. For the record, CNN is winning.

Jessica Alba Has a Bow Tattoo on her Butt

Jessica Alba is about as beautiful and perfect as they get, and she has the perfect little bow to prove it.

Jessica Alba is smart enough to hide her tattoos from plain sight, but when she bends over, sometimes things that she may not want to show off end up in plain sight anyway. So we all know now that Jessica Alba has a cute little bow tattoo above her butt crack.

So what do you think of this bow tattoo? Classy or tacky? At least it's not a blatant bull's eye, I guess.

Angelina Jolie Pregnant With 7th Child

Angelina Jolie is 2.5 months pregnant again... and the world sighs with a happy smile. Who can believe that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are going to have a seventh child?!?! SEVENTH!

Angelina Jolie is almost past her first trimester and considering she just loves being pregnant, I'm guessing Brad Pitt is going to continue to impregnate her until the well runs dry. 

To be honest, I'm very happy for the both of them and I guess this will put all the "break up" rumors to rest once and for all. I wonder if Angie and Brad are still going to head to Pakistan to adopt as well.

Chris Brown Dating Natalie Mejia

So yesterday the rumor mill had us believing that Chris Brown was dating Erica Jackson, an ex-girlfriend and nobody from Virginia. Well now Girlicious band member Natalie Mejia admits that she and Chris Brown are, in fact, dating.

Chris Brown and Natalie Mejia were seen coming out of a tattoo parlor together on April 13, 2009, but she wouldn't tell the pappos what they were doing in there together. Natalie Mejia is telling anyone who will listen that Chris Brown is a total gentleman and treats her with the utmost respect. 

So essentially, Natalie Mejia is getting paid to tell the world that Chris Brown isn't beating her. Yay!

Jamie Foxx Badmouths Miley Cyrus

Jamie Foxx has a radio show called The Foxxhole (who knew?) and he and some of his genius friends at the station decided that they would diss Miley Cyrus for badmouthing Radiohead.

Jamie Foxx called her a bitch and one of his cohosts suggested that she release a sex tape that she makes with her dad. Someone else even suggested that she do crack. Wow, classy, this show is.

So now we're all waiting on Jamie Foxx's apology and the excuse he's going to use for saying the stupid things he said. What a mo.

Lindsay Lohan Does a Dating Ad

When the world is laughing at you, you can do one of two things: you can shave your head and attack people with umbrellas, or, you could laugh at yourself. Lindsay Lohan chose the latter and she did a great job of it.

Lindsay Lohan did a spoof (or is it?) dating ad in search of love and she addresses all the things that are being said about in gossip magazines and blogs. Lindsay Lohan admits that she's newly single (or she thinks so) and takes credit for selling most gossip rags. 

So what do you think? Does Lindsay Lohan still have the acting chops? I say yes.

Mel Gibson's Wife Files For Divorce

It was inevitable and it only took 28 years, but Robyn Gibson has finally filed for divorce from Mel Gibson and will likely get half his assets. And despite the recent photographs of Mel Gibson cheating with another woman (Oksana Pochepa), apparently, Robyn Gibson claims their problems started long before that. Hmm, ya think?

So Robyn wants half his shit and wants joint custody of their 10-year-old son Tom (they have 7 kids together, but Tom is the only minor of the bunch). Do you know how much Mel Gibson is worth? About $900 million. Now that's gotta hurt. 

The couple has already been separated for the last 2.5 years, so it comes as no surprise that she took the final step.

So what do you think this means for Mel Gibson? Think he'll be about town, drinking up a storm and sleeping with 20-year-olds? Or will he head off to his private island and become a recluse? Oh wait, I think Robyn might own that island now...

Flo Rida Gives the World His Phone Number

Flo Rida really loves his fans. Flo Rida loves his fans so much, in fact, that during a CNN interview, he gave out his phone number - 350-528-2786 - and now all his fans can call him, text him, or leave him a message.

Flo Rida claims that he responds to 30% of the calls he receives, but I'm guessing that that number is going to go down significantly after all the bloggers put up his number.

So again, that phone number is 350-528-2786, so give Flo Rida a call and tell him that he spins you right round, baby, right round.

Chris Brown Dating Erica Jackson

Chris Brown wasted no time and managed to land himself a new girlfriend in Erica Jackson. Who the hell is Erica Jackson? Well, she's an ex-girlfriend of Chris Brown's that he hooked up with again when he went back to Virginia recently.

Chris Brown and Erica Jackson were dating well before he met Rihanna, and now the two are back in the saddle again. I'm guessing that his PR people suggested that he find a girlfriend fast so that he can slowly put his woman-beating past behind him by dating girls and not, well, beating them.

Sources say that Rihanna is going to be crying hysterically under her umbrella-ella-ella (sorry, had to work that in there) when she hears that Chris Brown moved on so quickly. Them's the breaks, huh?

Susan Boyle Britain Got Talent Video

I have to admit that when Susan Boyle walked onto the stage of Britain's Got Talent, I thought she was going to suck. I guess because of the way it was built up. But when she belted out the first lyric, I got goosebumps and felt like an idiot.

I didn't feel like an idiot... I felt the way Simon Cowell felt - shocked and awed. Susan Boyle, get yourself a good stylist and you'll make it all the way to the top on Britain's Got Talent, baby!

Simon Cowell to Quit American Idol?

If this is true, American Idol is screwed. It appears that Simon Cowell just can't keep up the brutal schedule he has and plans on quitting one show, and right now that show looks like it's going to be American Idol.

Between Britain's Got Talent, X Factor and American Idol, Simon Cowell has a one year contract with the latter, so it looks like he can get out of it easily. It's also possible that Simon Cowell is fishing for a hell of a lot more money.

So would you watch American Idol if Simon Cowell left? I'd probably watch the auditions but wouldn't watch it through to the end.

How One Man Prepares to Attract Women

There's this guy, see, and he takes attracting women very seriously. No, I mean very, very seriously. I'm not sure if he's pulling a Tom Cruise-like act, or if he's for real. It's probably the latter.

Anyway, he starts lip-synching and dancing his pretty little heart out. And if you listen to the ritual he goes through before going to a "social gathering" to "attract women," you can bet that he will never end up in your bed. 

Enjoy. And keep in mind that - he is not alone.

Billy Bob Thornton Cancels Canadian Tour

After Billy Bob Thornton was stupid enough to call Canadians "mashed potatoes without the gravy" on a local radio station, he was met at a concert in Toronto with full-on boos on April 10, 2009. Billy Bob Thornton and his useless band then proceeded to leave the stage because no one really wanted to hear them.

This all began because Billy Bob Thornton got pissed off because radio host Jian Ghomeshi brought up his acting career upon introducing him and his band The Boxmasters, and Billy Bob Thornton started pouting like a little biah (see video below).

Now Billy Bob Thornton has cancelled his Canadian tour because some of the band members are "sick" (which is code for, everyone's asking for their money back), and he's headed back to a place where he's more comfortable.  Looks like Angie Jo really did give him the kiss of death, huh?

Sarah Michelle Gellar is Pregnant

Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. are going to have a baby in the fall according to a close friend of Sarah's. Sarah Michelle Gellar, 31, and Freddie Prinze Jr., 33, have been married for 6 years and this is the first child for both.

Sarah Michelle Gellar hasn't had a stellar movie career of late, but I'm sure she made enough money off of The Grudge and the other replica movie she made that she's pretty comfortable. And Freddie Prinze Jr.? Well, he's still living off of his dad's royalty checks.

Congrats to both of them, even though they're about 3 years late jumping on to the baby bus. Just kidding, relax, will ya?

Christina Applegate Smoking After Cancer Scare

I adore Christina Applegate and was so glad to hear that she recovered fully from a double mastectomy recently after she discovered she had breast cancer. So why oh why is Christina Applegate taking a crap on her good fortune?

I guess it's one of those things where you start speaking to God and making all kinds of promises, then, once you're better, you slowly start to fall back into your routine and taking advantage of your situation.

That's right. Christina Applegate was snapped smoking a cigarette. A cigarette. It won't get her high, it won't make her more attractive - in fact, it will kill her. And yet, even cancer didn't stop her from lighting up. Ah, will wonders ever cease?

Robert Pattinson Injured on New Moon Set

Robert Pattinson was injured during a scene on the New Moon set. Did he break an arm? No. Did he cut up that darling face? Absolutely not.

No. Robert Pattinson pulled ligaments in his gluteus maximus. In plain English - he hurt his butt. Po, po baby. Now he needs to undergo intense butt massage to remedy the situation. I can just see the women ligned up right now, volunteering their time to his butt cause.

Personally, I think that Robert Pattinson is making the whole thing up because he has a butt fetish. One can only hope.

Pete Wentz Cheating Ashlee Simpson

Maybe Pete Wentz isn't giving it to someone else just yet, but it's only a matter of time before Pete Wentz ends up cheating on Ashlee Simpson. After Ashlee Simpson headed home during Pete Wentz's tour, Pete and the rest of Fall Out Boy headed to Vegas. And you know what happens in Vegas...

Pete Wentz ended up in his hotel room with a bunch of groupies and ended up bumping and grinding with a few of them (and there are pictures to prove it). Ashlee Simpson is at home taking care of Bronx Mowgli and you know she's pissed as hell about this.

Pete Wentz doesn't seem like the type of guy who can stay married and committed for too long, so watch out divorce court, because here they come. And I don't mean that in a perverse way.

Kid Cudi Invites Kanye West and Common to Poke Her Face

So Kanye West, Common and Kid Cudi decided that doing an insane remix of Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" would be a fantastic idea. And you know what? They were right.

Common and Kanye West kill it on this song, and I don't know who Kid Cudi is, but the boy has got the right idea. Take a listen to "I Poke Her Face" and let me know what you think. It likely won't hit the airwaves (maybe if they remove the "k"), but it may hit it big in the underground.

Funny 911 Calls

Jay Leno did a segment on The Tonight Show where he aired actual 9-1-1 calls from stupid people who should be fined for what they're doing.

The 9-1-1 calls are pretty damn funny, but the best one, by far, is the very last one. So make sure you listen to the last 9-1-1 call because it is definitely worth it.

And for the record, the one with the stupid chick who called 9-1-1 from McDonald's because they didn't have Chicken McNuggets isn't on it.

Halle Berry Harper's Bazaar Cover

Halle Berry still looks gorgeous at 42, and I'm sure that having 33-year-old Gabriel Aubry by her side helps somewhat. Unfortunately, the people over at Harper's Bazaar decided to put up one of the most awful pictures I have ever seen of Halle Berry.

It looks like Halle Berry has bags under her eyes, and her hair looks like she just put it on without looking in the mirror first. Maybe it's just me, but I'm guessing that this cover just won't sell very well.

In the magazine, Halle Berry reveals that getting back in shape after daughter Nahla was born wasn't easy and that she has to work hard at staying in shape. It's nice to hear a celebrity being honest about what it takes, rather than the usual, "I don't diet, I hate exercise, I just look like this naturally" spiel.

Zac Efron Throws a Pool Party For Funny or Die

Zac Efron and his buddies - Vanessa Hudgens, Carmen Electra, Brody Jenner, Queen Latifah, Nicole Richie, and many more - put together this video exclusively for Funny or Die. And while it's not really that funny, you will die after seeing it. Lame, I know.

Anyway, Zac Efron's cheesy uncle shows up and embarrasses him and tries to sleep with everyone present. Given, there are a couple of times where you might crack a smile, but overall, this video was put together to show you that Funny or Die can get many celebrities together and make a spoof.

Yay!

Adam Lambert Performs Mad World on American Idol

Adam Lambert has officially proven that he is in a league of his own. After performing "Mad World" from the year he was born, American Idol had run off its allotted time slot and only Simon Cowell was able to comment.

And what did Simon do? He gave Adam Lambert a much deserved standing O. The performance gave me chills and you know that it's going to be the most downloaded song of the night on iTunes.

What did you think of it? Shouldn't they just sign Adam Lambert now and get it over with? It's not fair to the other contestants.

Video: Adam Lambert Sings "Mad World" - American Idol April 7, 2009

Most of the east coast was up in arms Wednesday morning when they realized that American Idol ran long Tuesday evening, and most DVR's cut off just before Adam Lambert performed "Mad World" by Tears for Fears.

It was one of the season's best performances and Simon Cowell actually gave Lambert a standing ovation. Awesome.

Last week, Las Vegas odds makers moved Adam into the winner's circle with spot on odds to walk away with the grand prize.

This guy is emerging as one of the most unique and talented performers ever seen on AI.

Watch Adam Lambert Sing "Mad World" April 7, 2009


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Robert Pattinson in Dossier Magazine

Robert Pattinson really knows how to photograph well, and he proves it again and again in magazine. This time Robert Pattinson lent his increasingly attractive mug to Dossier magazine, and goodness he looks hot.

I'm certain that any magazine that sports Robert Pattinson on the cover sells out in minutes. Robert Pattinson knows how to sell himself and really works it.

So what do you think of these Robert Pattinson pictures? I think they're smoking hot.

Celebrity Flaw of the Day - Serena Williams Cellulite

Serena Williams is one woman I would not want to mess with. Yes, she's soft spoken, but she carries a big stick - well, a tennis racket, but you know what I mean.

But I will, however, reveal that even Serena Williams, the woman who can throw down with the best of them in a tennis match, is plagued with cellulite. And boy does baby have back. 

Serena Williams looks like she enjoys a bucket of wings every now and then, and it's starting to show on her bottom and thighs. Ah cellulite, what a formidable opponent. 

Hugh Hefner's 83rd Birthday Party

Ah, another year has come and gone and now Hugh Hefner is 83 - 83! Wow, that's a lot of sex for one man in one lifetime. Unfortunately, Hugh Hefner refuses to admit that he now needs afternoon naps and Ben-Gay, and so he tries to keep up with the 20-year-olds.

But looking at this picture, you have to admit it - either it Hugh Hefner is more interested in finding out who called or he's acting like he's interested in finding out who called and is taking a little, well, we'll just call it a catnap.

Poor Hugh Hefner... most 83-year-olds are surrounded by their kids and grandkids and poor old Hef is surrounded by vagina and silicone as far as the eye could see. I'm guessing most guys would still choose the latter.

Eminem's We Made You Video

Eminem is back, but he has nothing new to offer this time around. Yes, Eminem goes after the usual suspects - Jessica Simpson, Kim Kardashian, Lindsay Lohan and Sam Ronson - but it just feels like I saw this video in 2006.

I adore Eminem and must say he looks pretty damn good (he was getting fat for a while there), but he really needs to step up his game if he wants to get back in the good graces of his fans.

So watch the video, "We Made You" and let me know what you think. I think it has a great chorus but that's about it.

Gary Coleman Hates White People

I know, I know. Gary Coleman should not be making the gossip headlines, but this video is pretty interesting. Gary Coleman lets the world know that he thinks that white people are just, just... he can't find the words.

Gary Coleman is angry and bitter... probably because people still run up to him and say, "Watcha talkin' 'bout, Willis?" every time he goes out. That, and the fact that he's pretty short. 

Anyway, Gary Coleman is shown talking smack about white folks. But the best part of the video is at the very end when Gary Coleman jumps up to slap a DJ. Now that's entertainment. 

Angelina Jolie Collapses on the Set of Salt

Angelina Jolie has reportedly collapsed after shooting a scene for her upcoming movie Salt. Word has it that Angelina Jolie is in a desperate bid to lose weight for the role and ended up collapsing after a pretty tough scene in which she was running around the set. 

Angelina Jolie is also stressed out - what with the hottest man by her side, 6 kids to contend with and working long hours - so she tends not to eat when she's in this funk. 

I thought Angelina Jolie was pretty thin to begin with, but I guess when you see yourself on a humongous screen, you always look fat. Hopefully, she starts eating again soon and begins feeling better.

Chris Brown Pleads Not Guilty

I don't know how this is even possible, but Chris Brown is said to be pleading "not guilty" in today's arraignment, and everyone, including Rihanna, is scratching their heads and saying, "What the f&^%?!?"

Chris Brown was arrested after he beat up Rihanna on February 7, 2009 while driving in his car. At first, it was believed that Rihanna would not press charges and just wanted to go back to the way things were before the beating and that picture of her bruised and battered face surfaced. But that would not be so. 

Now word has it that Rihanna is cooperating with the prosecution and Chris Brown might never sing in this town again. Stay tuned.

A Princess I Don’t Envy

Having grown up on an extravagant indulgence of fairytale romances with princesses in distress and knights in shining armor, I have always envied the lives of the royalty across geographies and cultures – the Victorian splendor, the Mughal opulence, the Arabic excesses.

I have read legendary tales of birds in gilded cages but I always felt that in any given period in history, I would rather be a wealthy queen with no freedom than a woman who has to struggle. My argument goes like this - a Victorian princess must have been much more blithe and contented than a woman from, say, the bourgeoisie. Going by that logic, till yesterday, I’d not mind being an Arabic heiress with plenitude and luxury at my beck and call. Ignorance is bliss, they say and I agree. On my mother-in-law’s recommendation, I decided to spend my weekend reading “Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia” by the American writer, Jean Sasson. The book has been classified as the top 500 books written on women.

The story is a non-fictional heart wrenching autobiography of a princess that takes its readers to the forbidden realms of the royal house in Saudi. The princess, unfortunately, has an indomitable spirit and great courage, both causes of grave threat to a patriarchal society that sees women as only objects of possession. The men in her life – her brother, her father, her husband rule her life and do everything possible to annihilate her chutzpah. Much as the tale is about the harassed weaker sex whose only sin is the missing male organ, it is also a tale of the decadence of the male community who continue to live in the barbarism of the dark ages.

The powerful indictment of Sultana, the pseudonym of the central character of the narrative, made me shudder in first, disbelief, then anger and frustration. The thought of a contemporary undergoing such an arduous and torturous life in this age – yes, Sultana is still living, if her existence can be passed off as that, is abominable. This is not a prehistoric saga but a 21st Century extraordinary account of the ordinary lives of women in a part of the same world that we inhabit. I am inevitably forced to compare our lives. Is my equal status to my husband something I should feel privileged about? Should I be grateful to my dad for having educated me? Am I honored that the society I live in considers polygyny a crime?

A profound sadness shrouds the book, leaving little room for hope even though the Princess tries every trick from open defiance to subtle manipulation. The story ends as it begins, the closest men in her life visiting the mosque, leaving her alone behind. There is this helplessness that is so intricately woven with the unfolding of events that no reader can escape the despair the reading of the book brings. I have little courage to read the other two books as part of the trilogy – Princess Sultana’s Daughters and Princess Sultana’s Circle.
Equality of men and women is debatable in any society, but this blatant denial of basic human rights to women, and relegating them to a status worse than that of animals and slaves, is very disturbing, to say the least.

Sam Ronson Dumps Lindsay Lohan

Sam Ronson has finally caught on that Lindsay Lohan is nothing but dead weight. Yes, it's true that Sam Ronson got most of her DJing gigs because she was dating Lindsay Lohan, but now it seems that Lindsay Lohan is broke and useless in every way. That's right. Sam finally dumped Lindsay.

So Sam Ronson locked Lindsay Lohan out of her house on April 4, 2009, because, and I'm just guessing here, Lindsay Lohan is getting too expensive and useless for her own good. I think she may need an intervention. Where are Ben Affleck's people?!?

It may also be because Lindsay Lohan has been getting too close to Lily Allen, and not just as a "friend." Sam Ronson didn't just lock Lindsay out, she changed the locks. So Sam must mean business. That, or Lindsay just doesn't get the message.

Obama Says F*ck You

Thanks to the boys over at College Humor, Barack Obama tells it like it is. He tells the crowd "F*ck you" over and over again.

To be fair, the crowd deserves it. After all, they're holding up all these signs and they just won't settle down. Thanks to Barack Obama, that's a change I can definitely believe in.

Madonna Adoption Request Rejected

Madonna has been trying to adopt Mercy James, a 3 1/2-year-old girl living in an orphanage in Malawi; the same place where she adopted her son David Banda, now 3. Unfortunately, because of the controversy that erupted the first time around, this time Madonna's request was rejected.

Madonna is pissed, no doubt, but she was not in court when the decision was rendered (she probably should have been there) and there is no word whether or not Madonna's lawyers will appeal the decision. If there's one thing we know about Madonna, it's that she doesn't respond well to rejection.

Lindsay Lohan Shows Up During Lily Allen's Performance

Lily Allen decided to cover Britney Spears' "Womanizer" once again. This time, she was live, and Lily Allen performing the song isn't strange whatsoever. What is strange though, is Lindsay Lohan showing up out of nowhere to greet her. Wow, does Lindsay Lohan ever have time on her hands or what?

Lily Allen's performance is meh at best, but when Lindsay Lohan shows up (at about 3:35) and does some weird dance move, you really have to ask yourself... How coked up does one have to be to show up on stage during Lily Allen's performance and think it's cool? Only Lindsay Lohan can answer that, my friends, only Lindsay...

Suri Cruise Eating Flip Flop

Suri Cruise and Katie Holmes were out and about in New York when, all of a sudden, Suri Cruise thought it would be a good idea to chew on her flip flops. And your question is, "Well, was she wearing them before that?" Yes, yes she was.

Suri Cruise was walking the very dirty streets of New York before she decided that eating her shoes was a scrumptious idea. And in Katie Holmes' defense, she can't see what her daughter is doing and I'm sure the pappos didn't say a word.

Nevertheless, that's probably the least harmless thing that Suri Cruise, or any toddler, will be putting in her mouth. I mean, I picked up gum off the street once and put it in my mouth. And I'm 34.

John Mayer Debuts Heartbreak Warfare Song

John Mayer debuted his new breakup song "Heartbreak Warfare" aboard the Mayercraft last week and introduced the song by saying, "it's miserable being around someone who's negative." Hmm, I'm guessing he's not talking about Perez Hilton.

John Mayer likes media attention and that pissed Jennifer Aniston off (one of the major reasons they broke up), but now that John Mayer is single again, he is free to get as much media attention as he likes. I have to admit that I'm really starting to appreciate John Mayer.

So what do you think of "Heartbreak Warfare"? I think it at least goes to show that Jennifer Aniston was a source of inspiration to some degree.