Daily News Headlines

The Beef ‘Doing Fine’ After Hand Surgery

Faris — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 10:21:51 +0000

Dec. 23) — All Shia LaBeouf wants for Christmas is a fully functional hand.
The ‘Transformers’ and ‘Indiana Jones’ star underwent a second surgery to repair his left hand that was hurt when he drunkenly crashed his car — though it was later determined it wasn’t his fault).
E! News reports that a source close to LaBeouf says “he’s doing fine now,” and that the actor had surgery to correct damage around his thumb. That area wasn’t tended to during his emergency surgery following the July crash.
LaBeouf reportedly initially put off the corrective surgery in order to finish shooting ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.’

source:www.popeater.com

Possibly Related Posts:

Jennifer Hudson To Sing in Public for First Time Since Tragedy

Faris — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 10:19:17 +0000

(Dec. 23) - Jennifer Hudson is finally set to sing in public following the murder of her mother, brother and nephew in October.
Variety (via PEOPLE) reports that the singer will be among the Grammy nominees who’ll sing the songs of Neil Diamond at February’s MusiCares Person of the Year event. The Grammy week event could mark the first public appearance for Hudson since the tragic events in Chicago
In early December, Hudson got back to work to film the video for the single “If It Isn’t Love.”
Hudson’s label, J Records, said that Hudson was originally due to film the clip in Los Angeles when her mother, Darnell Hudson Donerson, and brother, Jason Hudson, were discovered shot to death in their Chicago home on the city’s South Side on Oct. 24. The body of her nephew, 7-year-old Julian King, was found in a sport utility vehicle three days later.
Hudson’s estranged brother-in-law, William Balfour, who is married to Hudson’s sister Julia, has been charged in the slayings. Prosecutors have said Balfour was upset Julia had been dating another man.
Hudson has been in seclusion since the killings. However, she has thanked the public for their support since the tragedy, and last week issued a statement after she was nominated for four Grammy awards, including best R&B album for her self-titled debut.
“It’s been a childhood dream of mine to release an album, so to receive four Grammy nominations is truly a blessing,” she said. “I am extremely honored and humbled by the nominations.”
Hudson — also an Academy Award-winning actress — was reaching a new career peak at the time of the killings. She had just released her first CD, and was also starring in the movie “The Secret Life of Bees.” She was featured in the summer blockbuster “Sex and the City” and sang the national anthem the night President-Elect Barack Obama accepted the Democratic presidential nomination in Denver.
She has recently been featured in ads for the Gap, but those images were shot well before the murders.

source:www.popeater.com

Possibly Related Posts:

Snowboarding Ben Stiller Breaks Hand

Faris — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 10:15:22 +0000

(Dec. 24) — Ben Stiller may need a hand opening his Hanukkah presents this year, mainly because he broke his own.
The ‘Tropic Thunder’ star/director broke his hand during a recent snowboarding trip, and was admitted to New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital on Sunday for treatment, E! is reporting. There’s not much more info about the 43-year-old actor’s accident, accept for that he’s “on the mend.”
Unlike Shia LaBeouf’s recurring hand woes, there will likely be no lasting effects for Stiller, and E! reports he’ll be fully healed and ready to do the publicity rounds for May’s ‘Night at the Museum’ sequel.Unlike Shia LaBeouf’s recurring hand woes, there will likely be no lasting effects for Stiller, and E! reports he’ll be fully healed and ready to do the publicity rounds for May’s ‘Night at the Museum’ sequel.

source:www.popeater.com

Possibly Related Posts:

Tisdale Loves Fries But Not Her Figure

Faris — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 10:12:05 +0000

(Dec. 23) — Ashley Tisdale entertains the ‘tween set with her family-friendly roles in the ‘High School Musical’ trilogy and various Disney shows, but the 23-year-old actress showed Shape magazine that she’s all woman. Tisdale appears on the January 2009 cover in a fetching yellow bikini and discusses her body image and love of carbs.
In her Shape interview, Tisdale shares, “I was always super thin — too skinny, actually. I felt like someone could break me in half.”
Her naturally slim shape doesn’t stop her from exercising and eating well. Tisdale does 30 minutes of cardio and 30 minutes of strength training three or four days a week with a personal trainer, and says, “I’ve found I’m definitely eating better since I started working out more rigorously. It kind of happened naturally. I don’t really crave junk food that often now.”
But nobody’s perfect: “I love carbs. Bread, corn bread, french fries - all that stuff.”

source:www.popeater.com

Possibly Related Posts:

Lindsay Lohan Reveals a Half-Sister

Faris — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 10:06:02 +0000

(Dec. 23) — Lindsay Lohan has a half-sibling, according to a post on her personal MySpace page. Lohan, 22, writes, “My father just let my family and [me] know, amongst other [things] that he had another child after my little sister Aliana. Or maybe he had it before Aliana?? Either way, he cheated on my mother and that really sucks.”
“I think that people go through a lot in life,” Lohan writes in her blog post. “And the things that we go through, whatever they may be, simply just make us stronger in the long run. That is, if we actually take what it is we have learned from our mistakes and teach ourselves what NOT to do in the future.”
In an e-mail to PEOPLE, Michael Lohan denies his daughter’s claim. He later claimed there was “a 99 percent chance” the MySpace post was actually written by Lindsay’s girlfriend Sam Ronson.
Whoever wrote the post also gives a shout out to Britney Spears’ well-publicized comeback this year. “[Upheavals teach] young girls and boys that there are certain things in life that you should not let get in the way of your dreams and accomplishments. At the end of the day, you have to look at yourself in the mirror and see who you really are. So YAY Britney for just being you and still following through with your dreams.”

source:www.popeater.com

Possibly Related Posts:

Brad Pitt Bridges Actor-Character Age Gap

Faris — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 10:03:09 +0000

(Dec. 25) - In ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,’ Brad Pitt retrogrades through life. Born as an man in his eighties, Pitt’s character ages gracefully, looking younger with every passing year. What could be more confusing than being a 45-year-old actor, who has to portray a 17-year-old character who looks 65?
While we’re intrigued by his ability to play such a wide age range, we had to wonder what other Hollywood stars had been cast outside their age range and managed to pull it off? Check out our list and let us know if age truly is just a number.
Similarly, ‘High School Musical 3′ star Monique Coleman was 27 years old when she took on her role as high school senior, Taylor McKessie.
In an interview with Black Voices, Coleman believes being more than seven years older than her co-stars makes her a positive influence.
“I’m the one who definitely steps away and goes, ‘hold on guys, can we please just take a moment and recognize where we are? We’re standing in the middle of New York City and people are listening to the songs from our movie. Can you hold off and wait to get your Diet Coke and just take a moment,” she recalls.
The starlet makes sure her younger co-stars, who include Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Corbin Bleu and Ashley Tisdale, stay grounded and not let fame go to their heads. “I bring back sentimental moments and the fact that it is not always gonna be this way and that we’re lucky,” she explained.

source:www.popeater.com

Possibly Related Posts:

Movie News Daily: Get Today’s Biggest Hollywood Headlines

Faris — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 09:58:56 +0000

Get the latest on blockbuster deals, casting coups, hot scripts and news from the set of Hollywood’s biggest projects.

source:www.popeater.com

Possibly Related Posts:

Watch New Zealand vs West Indies 1st T20 Match, Eden Park, Auckland Live

Faris — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 03:15:46 +0000

Auckland:
New Zealand bowler Ewen
Thompson has a no-frills game plan ready if he gets the nod to make his
international
cricket debut in the Twenty20 series against
the West Indies.

Thompson, who turned 29
last week, is the new face in the
New Zealand team to play Twenty20 matches in
Auckland tomorrow and in Hamilton on Sunday.

The Central Districts medium pacer agreed the shortened format is a difficult place make an
international debut but he had decided to stay true to what had largely worked for him in all forms of domestic
cricket over the past two seasons.

New Zealnad’s all-rounder Jacob Oram missed the drawn Test series against the same opponents due to a calf strain and also sat out the visit
to Australia in November because of a
back problem which had forced his early return home from the tour of Bangladesh.

Coach Andy Moles, who took over from John Bracewell at the start of the domestic season, is glad to have Oram available for the Boxing Day encounter under the
Eden Park floodlights.

After a drawn test series with
the West Indies, he could sense his
New Zealand teammates were desperate for a 2-0 win in the Twenty20s ahead of the five-match one-day series starting in Queenstown on New Year’s Eve.

Like test opening batsman Tim McIntosh this month,
Thompson had no qualms about making his
international debut less than a year out from his 30th birthday.

Of the present squads, only four from each side played in that
match — Scott Styris, Brendon McCullum, James Franklin and Jeetan Patel for
New Zealand and Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Denesh Ramdin and Jerome Taylor for
the West Indies.

Only Twenty20 played between Newzealand and Westindies at same ground ended with tied.

Possibly Related Posts:

Watch Bangladesh v Sri Lanka 1st Test, Mirpur Live

Faris — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 03:04:57 +0000

Mirpur: After the fog, which had blighted their preparation on the tour so far, relented, the Sri Lankans got themselves some useful
batting practice on the final day against a
Bangladesh
Cricket Board XI in Savar.

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene hopes his deputy Kumar Sangakara will be ready to solve their top order batting woes when they
face
Bangladesh in the first Test in Mirpur starting on Friday. Sangakkara had a cut in his right foot and was struggling to wear shoes since
Sri Lanka arrived in Dhaka
last week to play the two-match Test
series and a tri-nation One-day tournament involving Zimbabwe and hosts
Bangladesh. Wicket keeper batsman also missed Sri Lanka’s only warm-up game against
Bangladesh
Cricket Board XI.

Possibly Related Posts:

Watch Australia v South Africa 2nd Test, Melbourne Live

Faris — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 02:54:54 +0000

Melbourne: It will be almost impossible for the Boxing Day Test to live up to the drama of South Africa’s win in
Perth. So unexpected was their brilliant
chase of 414 that it left both teams
in a state of shock. The squads have had a few days to digest the outcome and for
Australia the distaste of losing forced at least one player to be spat out. But it will take more than just personnel alterations for Ricky Ponting’s men to fight back in
Melbourne. They face
the challenge of turning a moderate attack into one capable of curbing South Africa’s powerful batting line-up, while their own batsmen try to click back into gear.

Matthew
Hayden has insisted he is not
thinking about retirement yet but he will consider his future at the end of Australia’s Test series against
South Africa.
Hayden, 37, had been keen to push on for the Ashes
tour of England next year and while he has not written off the goal, his immediate focus is on the remaining two Tests against
South Africa.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith has been cleared to play against
Australia in the second Test at the MCG from December 26. Smith, one of the stars of the Proteas? six-wicket win in
Perth, has battled pain in his right elbow for some time and regularly undergoes painkilling injections, The Age reported.

Click here for Match

Possibly Related Posts:

Make Your Own Celebrity!

Faris — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 19:28:42 +0000

LOS ANGELES (Dec. 24) - Talk about scrooge! Warner Bros. Television surprisingly filed a $49 million breach of contract lawsuit on Tuesday against television network CBS, alleging that they haven’t paid up on the agreed-upon premium fees for airing the Charlie Sheen hit sitcom ‘Two and a Half Men.’
The suit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges that as part of CBS’ renegotiated license agreement to air “Men” for a fifth and sixth season, it agreed to pay Warner Bros. a premium above the initial license fee schedule and reimburse the studio for costs associated with the production of TV’s top-rated comedy. This “deficit recoupment,” as the term is commonly known, required CBS to pony up if the show reached specific ratings milestones in its fourth season.
“CBS has reaped the benefits of the tremendous success of ‘Two and a Half Men” but wants to deny Warner Bros. the right to its agreed-upon share,” the complaint argues.
A CBS spokesman said he was unaware of the complaint and declined further comment Tuesday night. It is rare for a major TV studio to sue a network. Similar disputes are typically handled through private arbitration. Also unusual in this case is that the two side are close business partners and co-owners of the CW network.
According to the complaint, the premium fees and recoupment requirement were renegotiated shortly after “Men” began airing on CBS in 2003 and were based on the show remaining on the air for six seasons and maintaining sufficiently high ratings.
The Pics You May Have Missed
WENN
71 photos

Next
Mark Wahlberg and his daughter Ella Rae Wahlberg go for a Christmas outing to Santa’s Grotto at The Grove in Los Angeles, California on December 22, 2008.
(Note: Please disable your pop-up blocker)
“Men,” now in its sixth season, is television’s top comedy and the cornerstone of CBS’ high-flying Monday night lineup. It has enjoying a ratings resurgence in the fall, hitting several ratings highs, including a season high in total viewers and the adults 18-49 demographic last week. It finished last week as the highest-rated entertainment program among adults 18-49.
“Men” also is a strong performer in syndication, where it airs on the Tribune stations. However, in Tribune’s recent bankruptcy filing, Warner Bros. was listed as the company’s top creditor with $23.7 million owed to it. (Tribune has deals for Warners’ “Men” and “Friends.”)
Source:www.popeater.com

Possibly Related Posts:

Warner Bros. Sues Sheen’s ‘Men’

Faris — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 19:24:19 +0000

Possibly Related Posts:

‘Mad Men’ Starlet Welcomes a Baby Boy

Faris — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 19:21:38 +0000

Anne Dudek of the hit AMC show ‘Mad Men’ and her husband have even more reason to celebrate this holiday season, as they have become proud parents together.
Dudek and painter Matthew Heller gave birth do 7 lb., 7 oz. baby boy Akiva on Dec. 14, PEOPLE is reporting. It’s the first child for 33-year-old Dudek and Heller.
Keeping Track of the Baby Boom
Getty Images
101 photos

Next
Anne Dudek and Matthew Heller
It’s a Boy!
The former ‘House’ and current ‘Mad Men’ starlet (seen here in July) gave birth to 7 lbs., 7 oz. Akiva on Dec. 13. It’s the first child for her and Heller.
(Note: Please disable your pop-up blocker)
Before ‘Mad Men,’ Dudek played a character on ‘House’ that was unceremoniously killed off. Now, she’s the nosy neighbor on the Emmy-winning AMC show.
When PEOPLE caught up with Dudek over the summer, she said her pregnancy was going “great,” and boasted that her entire life revolved around “cheese and sleeping.”

Source:www.popeater.com

Possibly Related Posts:

Hef’s Ex ‘Girl’ to Marry in Playboy Mansion

Faris — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 19:19:32 +0000

Think of it what you will, but Kendra Wilkinson — Hugh Hefner’s ex-girlfriend who was part of the ‘Girls Next Door’ reality series — is set to tie the knot to her NFL star boyfriend … and it’s at the Playboy mansion. Awkward much?
Wilkinson, 23, confirmed the news to Robin Leach, telling hims she’s “retiring from the whole nudity thing” and will become a married woman on June 27. Wilkinson says she’s waiting for fiance Hank Baskett to “come out here and help me plan” their wedding.
Kendra Wilkinson Snapshots
AP
58 photos

Next
** FILE ** In this Sept. 24, 2008 file photo, from left, Holly Madison, Hugh Hefner, Bridget Marquardt, and Kendra Wilkinson arrive at the Fox Reality Channel Really Awards in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, file)
(Note: Please disable your pop-up blocker)
Kendra Wilkinson Snapshots

** FILE ** In this Sept. 24, 2008 file photo, from left, Holly Madison, Hugh Hefner, Bridget Marquardt, and Kendra Wilkinson arrive at the Fox Reality Channel Really Awards in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, file)

HOLLYWOOD - SEPTEMBER 24: (FILE PHOTO) Hugh Hefner poses with (L-R) Holly Madison, Bridget Marquardt and Kendra Wilkinson at the Fox Reality Channel Really Awards on September 24 2008 at the Avalon Hollywood club in Hollywood California. Co-Star of E! reality series “Girls Next Door” and Playboy playmate Wilkinson (R) has announced her engagement to Philadelphia Eagles Receiver Hank Baskett on November 7, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Hugh Hefner;Holly Madison;Bridget Marquard;Kendra Wilkinson

Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 14: (FILE PHOTO) Playmate Kendra Wilkinson arrives at the 2008 ESPY Awards Kick-off party held at the Playboy Mansion on July 14, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. Co-Star of E! reality series “Girls Next Door” and Playboy playmate Wilkinson has announced her engagement to Philadelphia Eagles Receiver Hank Baskett on November 7, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kendra Wilkinson

Getty Images

GREEN BAY, WI - SEPTEMBER 09: (FILE PHOTO) Hank Baskett #84 of the Philadelphia Eagles warms up before a game against the Green Bay Packers on September 9, 2007 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Co-Star of E! reality series “Girls Next Door” and Playboy playmate Kendra Wilkinson has announced her engagement to the Philadelphia Eagles Receiver Baskett on November 7, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Hank Baskett

Getty Images

Playboy Playmates Holly Madison, Bridget Marquardt and Kendra Wilkinson attend the Playboy fragrance launch at the Hotel on Rivington on October 30, 2008 in New York City.

Joe Kohen/WireImage.com

Playboy Playmates Holly Madison, Bridget Marquardt and Kendra Wilkinson attend the Playboy fragrance launch at the Hotel on Rivington on October 30, 2008 in New York City.

Joe Kohen/WireImage.com

Playboy Playmate Kendra Wilkinson attends the Playboy fragrance launch at the Hotel on Rivington on October 30, 2008 in New York City.

Joe Kohen/WireImage.com

Playboy Playmate Kendra Wilkinson attends the Playboy fragrance launch at the Hotel on Rivington on October 30, 2008 in New York City.

Joe Kohen/WireImage.com

The Girls Next Door Playmat Kendra Wilkinson attends the Playboy Launch of new men

Michael Loccisano/FilmMagic.com

“I’m ready to just get married,” she added.
As a part of ‘Girls Next Door,’ Wilkinson and two other Playmates lived in the Playboy Mansion with Hef. She only recently moved out.
In another odd twist, Wilkinson says she initially planned on having Hefner walk her down the aisle, but is reocnsidering.
“I think so, but I don’t know yet,” she says.
Wilkinson is the second of the ‘Girls Next Door’ to begin dating someone other than Hefner. Holly Madison, Hef’s main girlfriend during the show, is currently dating magician Criss Angel.

Source:www.popeater.com

Possibly Related Posts:

Lindsay Lohan’s “Debbie Downer” Holiday Blog

Faris — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 19:13:27 +0000

Lindsay Lohan has taken to her MySpace blog to spread her own brand of, um, Christmas cheer.

While she shares with the universe that she’ll be spending the holidays in Los Angeles with girlfriend Samantha Ronson instead of with her Long Island-based family, Lohan also spills a few beans about her father and waxes poetic about the resurgence of Britney Spears.

“I’m still going through a lot right now,” she says. “My father just let my family and I know, amongst others that he had another child after my little sister Aliana, or maybe he had it before Aliana?? Either way he cheated on my mother and that really sucks. Wow—do I sound like ‘Debbie Downer’ or what? Not trying to be.”

The Mean Girls starlet then applauds Spears’ comeback and notes their similarities.

“Back to the real reason for this blog—I feel like Britney Spears is an amazing talent, and she has gone through a lot, (just as I have) in the public eye. Which is not necessarily a bad thing,” she writes. “It teaches young girls and boys that there are certain things in life that you should not let get in the way of your dreams and accomplishments.”

Presumably not counting quickie marriages, shaving your head and attacking cars with an umbrella…Now we’re being the Debbie Downer. Go on, LiLo.

“You need to take care of yourself before anyone else, and I mean anyone and everyone else. Because at the end of the day, you have to look at yourself in the mirror and see who you really are. Stripped of all the distractions in life. So YAY Britney for just being you and still following through with your dreams.

“HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!”

Thanks, Lindsay. Now that we can get behind.

Possibly Related Posts:

Is Kelly Clarkson Poised for a Comeback?

Faris — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 19:11:08 +0000

Since Kelly Clarkson’s been gone, have you missed her?

The original American Idol’s last album, My December, and subsequent tour didn’t exactly strike a chord with fans—at least in comparison with her 2004 smash, Breakaway.

The songbird is set to launch a new single, “My Life Would Suck Without You,” in January, followed by a new album dropping in March. This comes nearly a year after her fourth album was rumored to debut. Tracks from that attempt were leaked and the recording was abandoned as Clarkson went on tour with Reba McEntire.

Clarkson’s forgettable 2007 included bad buzz for My December, the scrapping of her tour due to lousy ticket sales and several much-publicized feuds, including one with record boss Clive Davis and another with her managers.

Has she bitten the hands that feed her a few too many times, or are we ready to get behind those hazel eyes once again?

Source:www.eonline.com

Possibly Related Posts:

Jennifer Aniston’s Fitness Secret: I’m Photoshopped!

Faris — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 19:09:42 +0000

While making a Christmas Eve visit to the ladies of The View, Jennifer Aniston came on to promote Marley & Me, but gave the audience a different kind of gift. (No, she didn’t diss Angelina.)

Instead of making the rest of us feel inadequately toned, the superfit actress claimed her sexy nude GQ cover was courtesy of Photoshop. Which was pretty nice of her to say, because judging from her appearance on the couch we think she’s just being modest.

What did you think? Did she seem charming to you—or something else?

Souirce:www.eonline.com

Possibly Related Posts:

Kate Walsh Counterfiles for Divorce

Faris — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 19:08:03 +0000

Kate Walsh’s marriage was facing cancellation even sooner than we thought.

Two weeks after her husband filed for divorce, the Private Practice star has submitted her own paperwork asking for a permanent split from 20th Century Fox exec Alex Young.

Both parties cite irreconcilable differences as the reason their 15-month union wound down so soon, but while Young’s filing listed their date of separation as Nov. 22, Walsh’s counterfiling has the break coming five days earlier.

Not in question is the fact that the duo tied the knot Sept. 1, 2007, in front of more than 100 guests, including a number of Walsh’s former Grey’s Anatomy costars.

Source:www.eonline.com

Possibly Related Posts:

Why Do So Many Movies Open Christmas Day?

Faris — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 19:02:47 +0000

Why are there so many movies opening on Christmas Day? There’s Marley & Me, Benjamin Button, Valkyrie with Tom Cruise and Adam Sandler’s Bedtime Stories.
—Anna, West Virginia

Don’t forget Doubt, starring Meryl Streep as a nun, and The Spirit, costarring Scarlett Johanssen, Eva Mendes and Jamie King as … the exact opposite of all that.

“The end of the year is one of the biggest times for movie ticket sales,” says Box Office Mojo’s Brandon Gray. “This week in December, since the year 2000, has consistently been the highest-grossing week of the year.”

So in other words, people go to the movies on Christmas. Because, as Gray puts it so well, “You’re opening presents on Christmas morning, and then what? So you go to the movies.” But there’s more…

Christmas is also an excellent time to platform a so-so film and give it a chance to build over time. Remember the Hilary Swank weeper P.S. I Love You? Thought you’d flossed your brain clean of that one, didn’t you? That film was released right around Christmastime last year, and its producers are sure glad they did that.

“That’s an example of a movie that didn’t really have an outstanding opening but held on for a while,” Gray says. Specifically, the film opened with $6.5 million its first weekend but managed to draw in a total domestic gross of $53.7 million through January.

“Normally, if a picture opens to $6.5 million, you’re lucky if you can make it to $20 million,” Gray says.

Source:www.eonline.com

Possibly Related Posts:

The Star Wars Holiday Special: Revenge of the Stiff

Faris — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 18:58:33 +0000

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, there began a perilous adventure involving Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, Han Solo…and Bea Arthur and Bruce Vilanch?

That’s right, this year is the 30th anniversary of the Star Wars Holiday Special, the notorious television event in which Chewbacca’s family celebrated Life Day, Carrie Fisher’s Princess Leia serenaded her Wookiee friends, and the future Golden Girl Arthur entertained the cantankerous cantina crowd. Even Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford were on hand, if perhaps not entirely willingly.

Star Wars creator George Lucas, it’s been said, is not a big fan. (He reportedly called it a “travesty,” and the special, broadcast on CBS on Nov. 17, 1978, has never aired again.) But on a positive note, the special also introduced the bounty-hunter character Boba Fett, so there’s that.

While the special has long held a special place on the Internet, whether on the fansites, Wikipedia or more recently even StarWars.com, this year Vanity Fair has a terrific piece on the making of the special, which became an unwieldy mix of Star Wars characters and lore and thickly applied variety-show shtick written by Vilanch and others.

It was a combination that was ultimately more forced than The Force.

Although the Jefferson Starship landed perhaps its easiest booking ever, even the band’s guitarist Craig Chaquico still marvels at the result.

“It was such a strange iteration of the original big-screen-movie concept and your regular variety-show, Carol Burnett vibe,” he says. “I was like tripping on it myself, man.”

Join the club.

Still, it’s Star Wars, and for that reason it holds a place in the hearts of those who watched it so many years ago and were baffled by it, and those who watch it today and continue to be baffled by it. Like The Force, it unites us.

Happy Life Day, everyone.

Source:www.eonline.com

Possibly Related Posts: