Monday, June 11, 2007
Phone-y, Tonys, Tony
Alright ... there is a whole heckofalotta shizz to get thru for today ... I had a hard time editing stuff out because it's all so good and worth talking about ... so, let's get to it.
Happy Day! It would seem that Britney Spears is really over the whole Hiding Jayden James from Plain Sight thing because she brought him out in bright daylight again over the weekend. You may recall she first started letting the little tyke enjoy the sunshine out in public while she vacationed with her cousin Allie and her eldest son Sean Preston in Hawaii last week. I had hoped that she would continue to let Jayden be seen out in public once she returned home and it appears that I got my wish:
Photo credit: X17
He is such a cutie ... and he looks exactly like Sean Preston. With a baby this cute, you'd think she'd be anxious to let the whole world see him for themselves. [Source]
In even happier news, it appears that Britney is finally ready to bury the hatchet with her family. There has been speculation that mama Lynne Spears is on the major outs with Brit Brit since her whole ordeal with rehab earlier this year. In fact, there has been no word from Lynne nor, from what I understand, has there been any contact between Britney and her mother. But, all of that may be over now. Britney met up with her mother (and her sister Jamie Lynn Spears) at a neutral palatial Bel Air mansion (owned by the Malouf brothers) yesterday in what appears to be an attempt to end the bitter feud that has been going on between mother and daughter. Here are pictures of the parties making their arrival at the meeting:
Photo credit: Splash News
Lynne Spears was scheduled to make an appearance on The View last Wednesday but cancelled for some reason a few days earlier. It was believed that Lynne was ready to tell her side of the story about how things went down with Britney but the interview never took place. I really do hope that Britney and her mother can mend fences ... Brit seems to be in a much better place these days, it seems like the right time to reconcile with her family. [Source]
One last bit of Spearsness ... Jamie Lynn has been keeping herself bizzy these past few days. Here are pictures of JL making appearances at the Hollywood premiere of the Nancy Drew movie on Saturday and then at the A Time for Heroes event to benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation:
Photo credit: Splash News
It's unclear whether or not Britney was angry with her little sister while all the mama drama was going on with Lynne but considering that Brit has not been seen with JL during her post-rehab phase, I would imagine that things weren't totally kosher between the two. Here's hoping all's well with the Spears clan so that Britters can ditch cousin Allie and start hanging out with her little sister again. [Source]
Paris Hilton enjoyed her first visitors this weekend at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility over the weekend. Sister Nicky Hilton and ex-boyfriend Stavros Niarchos were the first family members that came out to visit Paris in the slammer:
Photo credit: Splash News
Apparently, prisoners under medical watch at the Twin Towers facility are only allowed 2 visitors per visiting day so Nicky and Stavros jumped at the chance ... after all, this is the most media attention I think Nicky has ever enjoyed in her whole life -- er, not that that was the sole reason for her visit. Yeah, I'll bet Nicky really hates having the spotlight shine on her while her way famouser sister is cooling her heels in jail. It was very nice of Stavros to come out for a visit ... but let's just hope that not all of Paris' exboyfriends try to do the same ... I don't think 45 days is enough time to accommodate them all. [Source]
Kathy and Rick Hilton, Paris' parents, must've gotten quite enough of Paris when they spent time with her in court last Friday because they decided to hold off on visiting her until tomorrow. So instead, Kathy and Rick packed up Paris' little brothers Barron Hilton, II and Conrad Hilton, III and headed off for a lovely time at church:
Photo credit: Splash News
Jamie Lee Curtis has taken up the blogger mantle and decided to place the blame of Paris' woes (and the woes of her fellow Hollywood "It" Girls Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan) squarely on the shoulders of the parents -- imagine that. Jamie Lee writes: As the denouement of a really upsetting celebrity scandal came to its close, a tearful child pleaded to her mother... "Mom, it's not right." It was a painful episode to watch. A young woman, begging her mother, the person who should have taught her right from wrong, to help her, to teach her the rules of life. It was a little too late. And so she wept as the Universe was bringing the teaching and settling the score ... The sad paths of the three most popular young women -- privileged but from varying backgrounds, talented, beautiful and spectacular -- have ended in prison, rehab and mental illness. I hope their mothers are worried sick and wondering, "What could I have done differently?" And our culture should be asking the same question too. What we need to do is look long and hard at our part in all this. Where did our children get the message that the rules don't apply to them? And where did we, the Mothers, get the message that if we abdicate our responsibilities as Mothers, the Universe will do our job for us? And it does, but without any of the love and tenderness and compassion that we could have given, along with the lessons. Now it's just the cold hard facts of a jail cell or the emptiness of a rehab room. I'm not pointing fingers. I'm asking questions ... Let's hope that we all learn what is RIGHT and what is so WRONG. Wake up, Mothers and smell the denial. I think Jamie Lee has got it right ... children who grow up without any concept of consequence can't solely be blamed when they turn out the way that they do. It seems clear to me where (and from whom) the problem stems from. Let's hope that the Hilton parents wisely spent their time at church seeking the truth about their responsibility in all of this mess. Who knows if the Hiltons will remain religious folk after Paris gets released from jail but I suppose anything is possible ... if Paris Hilton can change her tune, why can't her family? [Source]
Speaking of the new Paris, it appears that the hard partying heiress has finally changed her prison stripes after all ... well maybe. First, she told her lawyers to halt any appeals regarding her sentence because she wants to serve out her complete 45-day sentence like a good girl. And second, Paris gave a jailhouse phone interview to Barbara Walters explaining just how much she is learning in jail about how she wants to emerge from jail as a better person ... yes, we're still talking about Paris Hilton:
On Sunday at 3 p.m., Paris Hilton phoned me collect from jail. Prisoners must call collect ... She sounded tired but totally aware of what she was saying. "How are you?" I asked. Paris answered, "I'm hanging in there." But she declared, "I feel as if I'm a different person. I've dropped my appeal. I don't want to cause any more problems." I asked what happened in the jail that led to her being released or reassigned to her home. She said she had not been wailing, sobbing or screaming as had been described. "But," she said, "I was not eating or sleeping. I was severely depressed and felt as if I was in a cage. I was not myself. It was a horrible experience." "How are you different?" I asked. "I'm not the same person I was," she said. "I used to act dumb. It was an act. I am 26 years old, and that act is no longer cute. It is not who I am, nor do I want to be that person for the young girls who looked up to me. I know now that I can make a difference, that I have the power to do that. I have been thinking that I want to do different things when I am out of here. I have become much more spiritual. God has given me this new chance." I asked what kinds of things she might want to do. She said she would like to help in the fields of breast cancer — her grandmother had breast cancer — or multiple sclerosis. Her father's mother suffers from that disease. She thought she might get toy companies to build a kind of Paris Hilton playhouse, where sick children might come, and the toy companies could donate toys. She has had a person whom she described as a spiritual adviser who said, "My spirit or soul did not like the way I was being seen and that is why I was sent to jail." "God," she said, "has released me" ... She is reading newspapers — The LA Times and the Wall Street Journal — and books like "The Secret," "The Power of Now" and the Bible ... She wears the prescribed prison garb: an orange or brown jumpsuit. She is not allowed makeup. She said that her skin was very dry and that she was not allowed cream. "It doesn't matter," she said, "I'm not that superficial girl. I haven't looked in the mirror since I got here." She said, "I feel that the purpose of my life is to be where I am. However, usually with a situation like mine, the person serves 10 percent of their time. I have already served 30 percent of my time. I hope if there is overcrowding in the jail, I would be let out before someone with a much more serious crime." Her mother had earlier told me that Paris said, "I will never again have a drink and drive." While I'm convinced that it is in the realm of possibility for a person to have a moment of life-changing clarity after only a few days in jail, I have to admit I'm not absolutely convinced that this is entirely the case here (isn't it a bit superficial to tell the world how unsuperficial you are? I'm just asking). She sounds contrite but she did manage to sneak in that little bit about getting an early release. So apparently, she's ready to serve her full sentence, but ... In any regard, if she at the very least holds true to her vow never to drink and drive again I think that she will have at least learned the most important lesson of all. [Source]
Joe Francis doesn't seem willing to let Paris Hilton enjoy all the in-prison media attention. In response to a TMZ item titled American I-Cons (which you can read HERE), Joe sent TMZ a long and rambling letter explaining his side of the story from the Nevada jail that he's locked up in. Here is the entire text of Joe's letter:
June 10, 2007
RE: "American I-Cons"
Dear TMZ,
I returned to my cell the other day after a leisurely walk through the Washoe County Detention Center yard and received a message from Deputy Keast, the Public Information Officer, that you had called. To be honest, I was hoping that my penpal, Candy Spelling, had written me again, but to my dismay I was told that you just wanted to know how I felt about Paris being released from jail early. I was then handed a TMZ.com article titled "American I-Cons". I just thought since I seem to have some extra time on my hands these days that I would like to take a moment to set the record straight.
The "American I-Cons" title is a very clever play on words, but unlike in Paris's current situation, the title does not apply to me. I am not in jail because I have been CONvicted of a crime, but am merely awaiting a chance to vindicate myself. Paris's early release from jail did not surprise me, nor unfortunately, did her return to jail a day later. My heart goes out to Paris, not only because I consider her a friend, but because I have experienced first hand that incarceration is not set up for high-profile people. In my experience to date, when jail personnel are told to give no special treatment to an individual because of who they are, it normally results in them getting far worse treatment. I must however tell you that this has not been my experience at the Washoe County Detention Center, where my treatment has been fair and where the staff is very considerate. However, the stark reality that I've encountered in the five previous facilities I've been in is that celebrities are segregated from other inmates, and it can be quite a lonely existence with no human contact. It seems as though Paris is seeing this first hand now that she's been sent back to jail to serve her original 45 day sentence. If her name was Jane Doe and everything else in the case remained unchanged, she would never have served a day in jail. As Los Angeles County Sheriff Baca said on Friday: "The special treatment appears to be her celebrity status. She got more time in jail." I empathize with Paris, because I believe I too would not still be in jail were it not for my "high profile status."
Your story also outlined 3 other things: living conditions, food, and free time.
When you discussed my living quarters, you brought up the fact that I was in my own cell until I passed my tuberculosis test. Well, I studied hard and took a Princeton Review crash course and passed it with flying colors. I also passed my HIV test and my hepatitis test as well, so feel free to post the rest of my confidential medical history on TMZ.com, as you and others have done on in the past. I wouldn't want your readers to be getting any incomplete information.
My living arrangements are more than adequate. My cell is actually nicer than my USC dorm room. Yes, it doesn't have cable, but it doesn't have the cockroaches either.
When you discussed food, you mentioned that I was eating "catfood sandwiches, a mix of ground turkey mixed with mayo, and franks n' beans." Well, those two delectable dishes, among others, are offered free of charge to all inmates, but the WCDC also offers inmates the option to order from a local restaurant - "The Burger Barn." My diet actually consists of mostly chicken-Caesar salads with crisp romaine lettuce and half-dressing (my trainer would be proud) usually with a Diet Coke. If I really want to splurge, I may order a Powerbar or two for dessert.
This "free time" thing took me by surprise. I would love to know who gave you the information that I'm out of my cell 8 hours a day. It's probably more like half that. It is during this time that I have the fortunate privilege of meeting new "friends" such as car thieves, drug dealers and murderers. It should make for an interesting night at HYDE when the "gang" and I get back together for a reunion.
Feel free to post a mugshot or two (this one is by far the best). Blue is my color over bright orange for sure, but please remember one thing: In this country anyone who stands accused of a crime is innocent until proven guilty, even if they are a celebrity. I urge that there be no rush to judgment, because you may be wrong. I am still an innocent man standing accused, stuck in jail not because I've been CONvicted of a crime, but rather due to a legal quagmire. I have faced far worse things in the past and I am confident that I will prevail again.
Your friend,
Joe Francis
I love how concerned Mr. Girls Gone Wild is all of the sudden about his public persona ... in jail. The whole "courting sympathy" thing is also pretty rich. Something tells me that he hasn't experienced that moment of clarity that Paris Hilton did and that he prolly hasn't learned much from his jailtime experience ... maybe he needs a bit more time in the bighouse until God releases him as well. [Source]
The 61st Annual Tony Awards were held in NYC last night and Broadway's brightest and best came out in their best finery to celebrate The Great White Way. Here are a few pictures from the red carpet:
Photo credit: Wireimage
Of course Laura Bell Bundy and Orfeh (who both star in Legally Blonde: The Musical) looked stunning but so did the entire cast of Spring Awakening and a very pregnant Naomi Watts. Idina Menzel just plain looked stunned (but I still love her). You could tell Duncan Sheik, one of the composers for Spring Awakening, was having a great night ... he spent much of the night grinning from ear to ear. [Source]
As well he should have, his musical Spring Awakening pretty much cleaned house last night at the Tony Awards. Altho I'm very bummed that Laura and Orfeh didn't win their nominations (sooo bummed, actually), I think the whole show was really fun and some great people walked away with much deserved awards:
Photo credit: Wireimage
Russian revolutionaries and rebellious teenagers were the big hits at the Tony Awards on Sunday when Tom Stoppard's "The Coast of the Utopia" and the rock musical "Spring Awakening" took home the top honors. Stoppard's epic trilogy won seven of the awards given for Broadway productions and performances, including best play and director, and "Spring Awakening" dominated the musical categories, taking home eight prizes including best musical and direction of a musical. "The Coast of Utopia's" crop of seven awards was a new record for a play, breaking the record of six set by Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" in 1949 and matched last year by Alan Bennett's "The History Boys" ... While Stoppard's play came to Broadway amid huge expectations 40 years after his first show in New York, "Spring Awakening" was created off-Broadway against the odds. It tackles taboo subjects such as teenage sex, homosexuality, abortion and masturbation, and has a cast of little-known actors ranging in age from 16 to 24. "When we couldn't get anybody to look our way for four years, imagine how gratifying this is," writer and lyricist Steven Sater told reporters backstage. The musical was adapted from Frank Wedekind's 1891 German play about teenage sexual angst, and features rock music, graphic language, partial nudity and a tragic ending -- a far cry from feel-good shows such as "Mary Poppins," this year's Disney offering, which won just one award, for scenery. Composer Duncan Sheik said the success of "Spring Awakening" was a sign of the times. "(With) what's happening politically, people were ready for something that dealt with real issues and had teeth and was about turning the tide away from hypocrisy and foolishness," Sheik said. His co-writer Sater said they started working on it at the time of the 1999 Columbine school shooting in Colorado. I would have never thought that musical theater could be so revolutionary, especially for young people. I guess I am starting to see how people can call Spring Awakening the new Rent. Congrats to all the winners ... and I really hope that lots and lots of people start going to see musicals so that even more revolutionary shows can be created in the future. Click HERE for a full list of Tony Award winners this year. [Source]
ATTENTION: THE SOPRANOS SPOILER ALERT WARNING
Okay ... this isn't really my usual TV show spoiler alert warning, since I have prolly only watched 4 episodes of The Sopranos ever -- and last night's series finale wasn't one of them. But pretty much everyone is saying how much they hated how the series ended and from the sounds of it, I think the fans have got a right to be miffed:
In the end, it was Tony Soprano, Carmela, Meadow, A.J. – and Journey. HBO's The Sopranos ended its 8-year-run Sunday with the New Jersey gangster very much alive, eating onion rings with his family while "Don't Stop Believin'" played on a restaurant jukebox. And despite fan predictions, there was no bloodbath, no redemption, no closure – only Brooklyn mob boss Phil Leotardo met a gruesome demise, in a gas station parking lot. Fans were almost unanimously outraged by the ending. Among the posts on the HBO message boards, Mamamia22 writes: "These characters deserved to go out with a bang and this finale was pathetic." Seconds Bergin77: "There should be some sense of closure and a tying of loose ends. Last night's ending left too many questions unanswered." While David was watching the series finale in the living room, I was in my room reading ... I could hear Journey playing on the TV ... I heard "Don't stop ..." then about 2 beats of silence and then, "THAT'S IT?!" followed by a few expletives. Poor David thought that the cable went out or that HBO had cut off the ending ... he replayed it on the DVR a few times hoping for a different outcome. Yeah, he wasn't happy. Truth be told, there aren't very many series finales that fans are always happy with. Many people did not like the way both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel (for example) ended their runs. Fans have a hard time letting go ... but if the ending of The Sopranos did anything, it generated a whole crapload of buzz ... and it left the whole thing wide open if they ever want to do a movie later on down the line. Besides, if you're gonna get all artsy and piss off the fans what better time to do it than with the last episode ever. [Source]
Evan Almighty had its Hollywood premiere last night at Universal City ... here are a few pics from the red carpet:
Photo credit: Wireimage
I didn't particularly care for Bruce Almighty but I think I'd be up for seeing this sequel of sorts. Steve Carell is one funny mofo so I think it'll be a good time. Plus, I'd love to see a Morgan Freeman movie that doesn't also co-star Ashley Judd. [Source]
Jennifer Lopez was a guest of honor at the Puerto Rican Pride parade as she rode the MTV TR3S float down 5th Avenue in NYC over the weekend ... here are a few pics, including one sent in by Pink reader David:
Photo credit: Splash News
J. Lo hopped floats for a bit so that she could ride around with her hubby Marc Anthony who was on his own float promoting his new movie El Cantante. I love that J. Lo always wears her pride on her sleeve ... I'm sure her peoples appreciate the love. [Source, thanks David]
Ricky Martin was also on hand for the Puerto Rican parade but he had the extra special honor of being named the parade's first "king":
Yeah, that king sash looks fit for a queen. LOL! [Source]
Hold on a damn minute ... there is a report out there that Spanish soccer team Real Madrid was trying to pay off the LA Galaxy so that they could keep David Beckham in Spain playing for them instead of him moving to LA to play in the US. I am happy to report that they have failed and that Becks is still on his way to the U S of A:
REAL MADRID have already made an astonishing bid to buy back David Beckham from LA Galaxy. SunSport can exclusively reveal the secret swoop came late last week. Real president Ramon Calderon said yesterday his club would make an effort to keep the rejuvenated England star. But we can reveal the Spanish giants contacted LA Galaxy last week -- and were promptly turned down. Becks is believed to have a get-out clause in the £128million five-year mega-deal which starts next month. Real even told Galaxy to name their price -- but they were having none of it. The Americans also laughed off a proposal to loan Beckham, 32, back to Madrid for up to two years. It is an embarrassing state of affairs for Real who, inspired by Beckham, will win the Spanish La Liga title next Sunday if they beat Real Mallorca. And Calderon yesterday tried to calm fans angry at Beckham's departure ... [but] a [Beckham] spokesman [said]: "There will be no change to David's position. He is looking forward to playing in the States." And Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas last night insisted: "I don't doubt that Real Madrid, along with numerous clubs, would love to have the services of David Beckham, but the reality is that ship has sailed." I've got nothing but love for the Spanish but they need to step the eff off and leave Becks alone. He's coming to the US, he's coming to live in LA and that is that. They can keep Victoria Beckham if they want to, tho :) [Source]
Speaking of Victoria Beckham, here are pictures of the she-robot out and about in LA over the weekend:
Photo credit: Splash News
She seems to have 86ed her friends Melanie Brown and Jennifer Aniston's new dude Paul Sculfor because she spent the rest of her weekend with just her usual entourage of nobodies. [Source]
And speaking of Paul Sculfor, he was snapped making the walk of shame as he exited Jennifer Aniston's Malibu, CA home yesterday morning/afternoon:
Photo credit: Splash News
Maybe things are a bit more serious between the two than I had previously believed. Could Jen have finally found a lasting and true love? Er, it's more likely that she's gotten tired of sleeping alone since Brad Pitt left her for Angelina Jolie. [Source]
While Prince Harry has been spending his training time in Canada horsing around with the ladies, Prince William has been back home in London doing some horsing around of his own:
Photo credit: INFdaily
This would be so much sexier if Wills were wearing much less clothing. Sorry, I'm having an Equus moment. [Source]
Do make sure you tune in for the Spike TV Guy's Choice Awards that will air on June 13th so that you can watch Carmen Electra do this:
There have to some peeps out there who might get a kick out of a performance like this. [Source]
And finally, a couple of Pink readers have sent in some pictures of Jake Gyllenhaal as he posed for pictures with them in NYC over the weekend. Normally I don't post pictures like this but since Jakey Poo was so nice to his fans I figured it'd be cool to show off the pics ... plus, it's a good reason to look at him, too:
Pink reader Lola snapped the first 2 pics of Jake with fans (one of them outside her apartment window) and Kyle (and his friends), who are visiting the US from Singapore also got to take a picture with Jake outside the restaurant Prune. What great pics ... thanks so much for sharing! [thanks Lola and Kyle]
Les News:
And I guess that's about it ... I hope y'all have a great week ahead ... I am out.
[Permalink]
Happy Day! It would seem that Britney Spears is really over the whole Hiding Jayden James from Plain Sight thing because she brought him out in bright daylight again over the weekend. You may recall she first started letting the little tyke enjoy the sunshine out in public while she vacationed with her cousin Allie and her eldest son Sean Preston in Hawaii last week. I had hoped that she would continue to let Jayden be seen out in public once she returned home and it appears that I got my wish:
Photo credit: X17
He is such a cutie ... and he looks exactly like Sean Preston. With a baby this cute, you'd think she'd be anxious to let the whole world see him for themselves. [Source]
In even happier news, it appears that Britney is finally ready to bury the hatchet with her family. There has been speculation that mama Lynne Spears is on the major outs with Brit Brit since her whole ordeal with rehab earlier this year. In fact, there has been no word from Lynne nor, from what I understand, has there been any contact between Britney and her mother. But, all of that may be over now. Britney met up with her mother (and her sister Jamie Lynn Spears) at a neutral palatial Bel Air mansion (owned by the Malouf brothers) yesterday in what appears to be an attempt to end the bitter feud that has been going on between mother and daughter. Here are pictures of the parties making their arrival at the meeting:
Photo credit: Splash News
Lynne Spears was scheduled to make an appearance on The View last Wednesday but cancelled for some reason a few days earlier. It was believed that Lynne was ready to tell her side of the story about how things went down with Britney but the interview never took place. I really do hope that Britney and her mother can mend fences ... Brit seems to be in a much better place these days, it seems like the right time to reconcile with her family. [Source]
One last bit of Spearsness ... Jamie Lynn has been keeping herself bizzy these past few days. Here are pictures of JL making appearances at the Hollywood premiere of the Nancy Drew movie on Saturday and then at the A Time for Heroes event to benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation:
Photo credit: Splash News
It's unclear whether or not Britney was angry with her little sister while all the mama drama was going on with Lynne but considering that Brit has not been seen with JL during her post-rehab phase, I would imagine that things weren't totally kosher between the two. Here's hoping all's well with the Spears clan so that Britters can ditch cousin Allie and start hanging out with her little sister again. [Source]
Paris Hilton enjoyed her first visitors this weekend at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility over the weekend. Sister Nicky Hilton and ex-boyfriend Stavros Niarchos were the first family members that came out to visit Paris in the slammer:
Photo credit: Splash News
Apparently, prisoners under medical watch at the Twin Towers facility are only allowed 2 visitors per visiting day so Nicky and Stavros jumped at the chance ... after all, this is the most media attention I think Nicky has ever enjoyed in her whole life -- er, not that that was the sole reason for her visit. Yeah, I'll bet Nicky really hates having the spotlight shine on her while her way famouser sister is cooling her heels in jail. It was very nice of Stavros to come out for a visit ... but let's just hope that not all of Paris' exboyfriends try to do the same ... I don't think 45 days is enough time to accommodate them all. [Source]
Kathy and Rick Hilton, Paris' parents, must've gotten quite enough of Paris when they spent time with her in court last Friday because they decided to hold off on visiting her until tomorrow. So instead, Kathy and Rick packed up Paris' little brothers Barron Hilton, II and Conrad Hilton, III and headed off for a lovely time at church:
Photo credit: Splash News
Jamie Lee Curtis has taken up the blogger mantle and decided to place the blame of Paris' woes (and the woes of her fellow Hollywood "It" Girls Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan) squarely on the shoulders of the parents -- imagine that. Jamie Lee writes: As the denouement of a really upsetting celebrity scandal came to its close, a tearful child pleaded to her mother... "Mom, it's not right." It was a painful episode to watch. A young woman, begging her mother, the person who should have taught her right from wrong, to help her, to teach her the rules of life. It was a little too late. And so she wept as the Universe was bringing the teaching and settling the score ... The sad paths of the three most popular young women -- privileged but from varying backgrounds, talented, beautiful and spectacular -- have ended in prison, rehab and mental illness. I hope their mothers are worried sick and wondering, "What could I have done differently?" And our culture should be asking the same question too. What we need to do is look long and hard at our part in all this. Where did our children get the message that the rules don't apply to them? And where did we, the Mothers, get the message that if we abdicate our responsibilities as Mothers, the Universe will do our job for us? And it does, but without any of the love and tenderness and compassion that we could have given, along with the lessons. Now it's just the cold hard facts of a jail cell or the emptiness of a rehab room. I'm not pointing fingers. I'm asking questions ... Let's hope that we all learn what is RIGHT and what is so WRONG. Wake up, Mothers and smell the denial. I think Jamie Lee has got it right ... children who grow up without any concept of consequence can't solely be blamed when they turn out the way that they do. It seems clear to me where (and from whom) the problem stems from. Let's hope that the Hilton parents wisely spent their time at church seeking the truth about their responsibility in all of this mess. Who knows if the Hiltons will remain religious folk after Paris gets released from jail but I suppose anything is possible ... if Paris Hilton can change her tune, why can't her family? [Source]
Speaking of the new Paris, it appears that the hard partying heiress has finally changed her prison stripes after all ... well maybe. First, she told her lawyers to halt any appeals regarding her sentence because she wants to serve out her complete 45-day sentence like a good girl. And second, Paris gave a jailhouse phone interview to Barbara Walters explaining just how much she is learning in jail about how she wants to emerge from jail as a better person ... yes, we're still talking about Paris Hilton:
On Sunday at 3 p.m., Paris Hilton phoned me collect from jail. Prisoners must call collect ... She sounded tired but totally aware of what she was saying. "How are you?" I asked. Paris answered, "I'm hanging in there." But she declared, "I feel as if I'm a different person. I've dropped my appeal. I don't want to cause any more problems." I asked what happened in the jail that led to her being released or reassigned to her home. She said she had not been wailing, sobbing or screaming as had been described. "But," she said, "I was not eating or sleeping. I was severely depressed and felt as if I was in a cage. I was not myself. It was a horrible experience." "How are you different?" I asked. "I'm not the same person I was," she said. "I used to act dumb. It was an act. I am 26 years old, and that act is no longer cute. It is not who I am, nor do I want to be that person for the young girls who looked up to me. I know now that I can make a difference, that I have the power to do that. I have been thinking that I want to do different things when I am out of here. I have become much more spiritual. God has given me this new chance." I asked what kinds of things she might want to do. She said she would like to help in the fields of breast cancer — her grandmother had breast cancer — or multiple sclerosis. Her father's mother suffers from that disease. She thought she might get toy companies to build a kind of Paris Hilton playhouse, where sick children might come, and the toy companies could donate toys. She has had a person whom she described as a spiritual adviser who said, "My spirit or soul did not like the way I was being seen and that is why I was sent to jail." "God," she said, "has released me" ... She is reading newspapers — The LA Times and the Wall Street Journal — and books like "The Secret," "The Power of Now" and the Bible ... She wears the prescribed prison garb: an orange or brown jumpsuit. She is not allowed makeup. She said that her skin was very dry and that she was not allowed cream. "It doesn't matter," she said, "I'm not that superficial girl. I haven't looked in the mirror since I got here." She said, "I feel that the purpose of my life is to be where I am. However, usually with a situation like mine, the person serves 10 percent of their time. I have already served 30 percent of my time. I hope if there is overcrowding in the jail, I would be let out before someone with a much more serious crime." Her mother had earlier told me that Paris said, "I will never again have a drink and drive." While I'm convinced that it is in the realm of possibility for a person to have a moment of life-changing clarity after only a few days in jail, I have to admit I'm not absolutely convinced that this is entirely the case here (isn't it a bit superficial to tell the world how unsuperficial you are? I'm just asking). She sounds contrite but she did manage to sneak in that little bit about getting an early release. So apparently, she's ready to serve her full sentence, but ... In any regard, if she at the very least holds true to her vow never to drink and drive again I think that she will have at least learned the most important lesson of all. [Source]
Joe Francis doesn't seem willing to let Paris Hilton enjoy all the in-prison media attention. In response to a TMZ item titled American I-Cons (which you can read HERE), Joe sent TMZ a long and rambling letter explaining his side of the story from the Nevada jail that he's locked up in. Here is the entire text of Joe's letter:
June 10, 2007
RE: "American I-Cons"
Dear TMZ,
I returned to my cell the other day after a leisurely walk through the Washoe County Detention Center yard and received a message from Deputy Keast, the Public Information Officer, that you had called. To be honest, I was hoping that my penpal, Candy Spelling, had written me again, but to my dismay I was told that you just wanted to know how I felt about Paris being released from jail early. I was then handed a TMZ.com article titled "American I-Cons". I just thought since I seem to have some extra time on my hands these days that I would like to take a moment to set the record straight.
The "American I-Cons" title is a very clever play on words, but unlike in Paris's current situation, the title does not apply to me. I am not in jail because I have been CONvicted of a crime, but am merely awaiting a chance to vindicate myself. Paris's early release from jail did not surprise me, nor unfortunately, did her return to jail a day later. My heart goes out to Paris, not only because I consider her a friend, but because I have experienced first hand that incarceration is not set up for high-profile people. In my experience to date, when jail personnel are told to give no special treatment to an individual because of who they are, it normally results in them getting far worse treatment. I must however tell you that this has not been my experience at the Washoe County Detention Center, where my treatment has been fair and where the staff is very considerate. However, the stark reality that I've encountered in the five previous facilities I've been in is that celebrities are segregated from other inmates, and it can be quite a lonely existence with no human contact. It seems as though Paris is seeing this first hand now that she's been sent back to jail to serve her original 45 day sentence. If her name was Jane Doe and everything else in the case remained unchanged, she would never have served a day in jail. As Los Angeles County Sheriff Baca said on Friday: "The special treatment appears to be her celebrity status. She got more time in jail." I empathize with Paris, because I believe I too would not still be in jail were it not for my "high profile status."
Your story also outlined 3 other things: living conditions, food, and free time.
When you discussed my living quarters, you brought up the fact that I was in my own cell until I passed my tuberculosis test. Well, I studied hard and took a Princeton Review crash course and passed it with flying colors. I also passed my HIV test and my hepatitis test as well, so feel free to post the rest of my confidential medical history on TMZ.com, as you and others have done on in the past. I wouldn't want your readers to be getting any incomplete information.
My living arrangements are more than adequate. My cell is actually nicer than my USC dorm room. Yes, it doesn't have cable, but it doesn't have the cockroaches either.
When you discussed food, you mentioned that I was eating "catfood sandwiches, a mix of ground turkey mixed with mayo, and franks n' beans." Well, those two delectable dishes, among others, are offered free of charge to all inmates, but the WCDC also offers inmates the option to order from a local restaurant - "The Burger Barn." My diet actually consists of mostly chicken-Caesar salads with crisp romaine lettuce and half-dressing (my trainer would be proud) usually with a Diet Coke. If I really want to splurge, I may order a Powerbar or two for dessert.
This "free time" thing took me by surprise. I would love to know who gave you the information that I'm out of my cell 8 hours a day. It's probably more like half that. It is during this time that I have the fortunate privilege of meeting new "friends" such as car thieves, drug dealers and murderers. It should make for an interesting night at HYDE when the "gang" and I get back together for a reunion.
Feel free to post a mugshot or two (this one is by far the best). Blue is my color over bright orange for sure, but please remember one thing: In this country anyone who stands accused of a crime is innocent until proven guilty, even if they are a celebrity. I urge that there be no rush to judgment, because you may be wrong. I am still an innocent man standing accused, stuck in jail not because I've been CONvicted of a crime, but rather due to a legal quagmire. I have faced far worse things in the past and I am confident that I will prevail again.
Your friend,
Joe Francis
I love how concerned Mr. Girls Gone Wild is all of the sudden about his public persona ... in jail. The whole "courting sympathy" thing is also pretty rich. Something tells me that he hasn't experienced that moment of clarity that Paris Hilton did and that he prolly hasn't learned much from his jailtime experience ... maybe he needs a bit more time in the bighouse until God releases him as well. [Source]
The 61st Annual Tony Awards were held in NYC last night and Broadway's brightest and best came out in their best finery to celebrate The Great White Way. Here are a few pictures from the red carpet:
Photo credit: Wireimage
Of course Laura Bell Bundy and Orfeh (who both star in Legally Blonde: The Musical) looked stunning but so did the entire cast of Spring Awakening and a very pregnant Naomi Watts. Idina Menzel just plain looked stunned (but I still love her). You could tell Duncan Sheik, one of the composers for Spring Awakening, was having a great night ... he spent much of the night grinning from ear to ear. [Source]
As well he should have, his musical Spring Awakening pretty much cleaned house last night at the Tony Awards. Altho I'm very bummed that Laura and Orfeh didn't win their nominations (sooo bummed, actually), I think the whole show was really fun and some great people walked away with much deserved awards:
Photo credit: Wireimage
Russian revolutionaries and rebellious teenagers were the big hits at the Tony Awards on Sunday when Tom Stoppard's "The Coast of the Utopia" and the rock musical "Spring Awakening" took home the top honors. Stoppard's epic trilogy won seven of the awards given for Broadway productions and performances, including best play and director, and "Spring Awakening" dominated the musical categories, taking home eight prizes including best musical and direction of a musical. "The Coast of Utopia's" crop of seven awards was a new record for a play, breaking the record of six set by Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" in 1949 and matched last year by Alan Bennett's "The History Boys" ... While Stoppard's play came to Broadway amid huge expectations 40 years after his first show in New York, "Spring Awakening" was created off-Broadway against the odds. It tackles taboo subjects such as teenage sex, homosexuality, abortion and masturbation, and has a cast of little-known actors ranging in age from 16 to 24. "When we couldn't get anybody to look our way for four years, imagine how gratifying this is," writer and lyricist Steven Sater told reporters backstage. The musical was adapted from Frank Wedekind's 1891 German play about teenage sexual angst, and features rock music, graphic language, partial nudity and a tragic ending -- a far cry from feel-good shows such as "Mary Poppins," this year's Disney offering, which won just one award, for scenery. Composer Duncan Sheik said the success of "Spring Awakening" was a sign of the times. "(With) what's happening politically, people were ready for something that dealt with real issues and had teeth and was about turning the tide away from hypocrisy and foolishness," Sheik said. His co-writer Sater said they started working on it at the time of the 1999 Columbine school shooting in Colorado. I would have never thought that musical theater could be so revolutionary, especially for young people. I guess I am starting to see how people can call Spring Awakening the new Rent. Congrats to all the winners ... and I really hope that lots and lots of people start going to see musicals so that even more revolutionary shows can be created in the future. Click HERE for a full list of Tony Award winners this year. [Source]
ATTENTION: THE SOPRANOS SPOILER ALERT WARNING
Okay ... this isn't really my usual TV show spoiler alert warning, since I have prolly only watched 4 episodes of The Sopranos ever -- and last night's series finale wasn't one of them. But pretty much everyone is saying how much they hated how the series ended and from the sounds of it, I think the fans have got a right to be miffed:
In the end, it was Tony Soprano, Carmela, Meadow, A.J. – and Journey. HBO's The Sopranos ended its 8-year-run Sunday with the New Jersey gangster very much alive, eating onion rings with his family while "Don't Stop Believin'" played on a restaurant jukebox. And despite fan predictions, there was no bloodbath, no redemption, no closure – only Brooklyn mob boss Phil Leotardo met a gruesome demise, in a gas station parking lot. Fans were almost unanimously outraged by the ending. Among the posts on the HBO message boards, Mamamia22 writes: "These characters deserved to go out with a bang and this finale was pathetic." Seconds Bergin77: "There should be some sense of closure and a tying of loose ends. Last night's ending left too many questions unanswered." While David was watching the series finale in the living room, I was in my room reading ... I could hear Journey playing on the TV ... I heard "Don't stop ..." then about 2 beats of silence and then, "THAT'S IT?!" followed by a few expletives. Poor David thought that the cable went out or that HBO had cut off the ending ... he replayed it on the DVR a few times hoping for a different outcome. Yeah, he wasn't happy. Truth be told, there aren't very many series finales that fans are always happy with. Many people did not like the way both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel (for example) ended their runs. Fans have a hard time letting go ... but if the ending of The Sopranos did anything, it generated a whole crapload of buzz ... and it left the whole thing wide open if they ever want to do a movie later on down the line. Besides, if you're gonna get all artsy and piss off the fans what better time to do it than with the last episode ever. [Source]
Evan Almighty had its Hollywood premiere last night at Universal City ... here are a few pics from the red carpet:
Photo credit: Wireimage
I didn't particularly care for Bruce Almighty but I think I'd be up for seeing this sequel of sorts. Steve Carell is one funny mofo so I think it'll be a good time. Plus, I'd love to see a Morgan Freeman movie that doesn't also co-star Ashley Judd. [Source]
Jennifer Lopez was a guest of honor at the Puerto Rican Pride parade as she rode the MTV TR3S float down 5th Avenue in NYC over the weekend ... here are a few pics, including one sent in by Pink reader David:
Photo credit: Splash News
J. Lo hopped floats for a bit so that she could ride around with her hubby Marc Anthony who was on his own float promoting his new movie El Cantante. I love that J. Lo always wears her pride on her sleeve ... I'm sure her peoples appreciate the love. [Source, thanks David]
Ricky Martin was also on hand for the Puerto Rican parade but he had the extra special honor of being named the parade's first "king":
Yeah, that king sash looks fit for a queen. LOL! [Source]
Hold on a damn minute ... there is a report out there that Spanish soccer team Real Madrid was trying to pay off the LA Galaxy so that they could keep David Beckham in Spain playing for them instead of him moving to LA to play in the US. I am happy to report that they have failed and that Becks is still on his way to the U S of A:
REAL MADRID have already made an astonishing bid to buy back David Beckham from LA Galaxy. SunSport can exclusively reveal the secret swoop came late last week. Real president Ramon Calderon said yesterday his club would make an effort to keep the rejuvenated England star. But we can reveal the Spanish giants contacted LA Galaxy last week -- and were promptly turned down. Becks is believed to have a get-out clause in the £128million five-year mega-deal which starts next month. Real even told Galaxy to name their price -- but they were having none of it. The Americans also laughed off a proposal to loan Beckham, 32, back to Madrid for up to two years. It is an embarrassing state of affairs for Real who, inspired by Beckham, will win the Spanish La Liga title next Sunday if they beat Real Mallorca. And Calderon yesterday tried to calm fans angry at Beckham's departure ... [but] a [Beckham] spokesman [said]: "There will be no change to David's position. He is looking forward to playing in the States." And Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas last night insisted: "I don't doubt that Real Madrid, along with numerous clubs, would love to have the services of David Beckham, but the reality is that ship has sailed." I've got nothing but love for the Spanish but they need to step the eff off and leave Becks alone. He's coming to the US, he's coming to live in LA and that is that. They can keep Victoria Beckham if they want to, tho :) [Source]
Speaking of Victoria Beckham, here are pictures of the she-robot out and about in LA over the weekend:
Photo credit: Splash News
She seems to have 86ed her friends Melanie Brown and Jennifer Aniston's new dude Paul Sculfor because she spent the rest of her weekend with just her usual entourage of nobodies. [Source]
And speaking of Paul Sculfor, he was snapped making the walk of shame as he exited Jennifer Aniston's Malibu, CA home yesterday morning/afternoon:
Photo credit: Splash News
Maybe things are a bit more serious between the two than I had previously believed. Could Jen have finally found a lasting and true love? Er, it's more likely that she's gotten tired of sleeping alone since Brad Pitt left her for Angelina Jolie. [Source]
While Prince Harry has been spending his training time in Canada horsing around with the ladies, Prince William has been back home in London doing some horsing around of his own:
Photo credit: INFdaily
This would be so much sexier if Wills were wearing much less clothing. Sorry, I'm having an Equus moment. [Source]
Do make sure you tune in for the Spike TV Guy's Choice Awards that will air on June 13th so that you can watch Carmen Electra do this:
There have to some peeps out there who might get a kick out of a performance like this. [Source]
And finally, a couple of Pink readers have sent in some pictures of Jake Gyllenhaal as he posed for pictures with them in NYC over the weekend. Normally I don't post pictures like this but since Jakey Poo was so nice to his fans I figured it'd be cool to show off the pics ... plus, it's a good reason to look at him, too:
Pink reader Lola snapped the first 2 pics of Jake with fans (one of them outside her apartment window) and Kyle (and his friends), who are visiting the US from Singapore also got to take a picture with Jake outside the restaurant Prune. What great pics ... thanks so much for sharing! [thanks Lola and Kyle]
Les News:
- Ocean's 13 was the #1 movie at the box office over the weekend.
- Today's the day that Eddie Murphy finds out if he is the father of Melanie Brown's baby.
- Wesley Snipes says he's being unfairly targeted by the IRS.
- Katie Holmes says goodbye to Louisiana.
- Who do YOU think is Hollywood's Hottest Bachelor?
- Trouble is a-brewin' amongst the ranks of the Claymates. BONUS: Meet Mr. Croatia 2007.
- Sharon Stone goes topless: Proceed with caution! (NSFW)
- Hillary Clinton's hair-do looks really bad on Elisha Cuthbert's head.
- Matt Damon is really looking forward to Father's Day this year.
- Those shoes do NOTHING for that dress.
- Shia LaBeouf is 21, Peter Bergman (The Young and the Restless) is 54 and Gene Wilder is 74 years old today. Click HERE to see who else is celebrating a birthday today.
- Ryan Seacrest says Simon Cowell is to blame for American Idol's sinking numbers.
- Stephen King's next short story thriller will be published in 23 pages of the July issue of Esquire magazine.
- Morrissey has finally settled on a final resting place.
- DON'T FORGET about the Herbal Essences Pink is the new Header Contest where YOU can design the header that will be featured right here on PITNB. Entries are due by Wednesday, click HERE for all the deets.
And I guess that's about it ... I hope y'all have a great week ahead ... I am out.
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