Starting a bit early. Hope everyone has a great weekend.
Happy long holiday weekend!
Lauren Alaina, Idol runner-up, passed over by Americas Got Talent
Lauren Alaina came close to grabbing the top honor on “American Idol,” but the runner-up had far less luck with another televised talent show.
During a Thursday night visit to the “Tonight Show,” the 16-year-old admitted that before “Idol,” she set her sights on “America’s Got Talent.” The confession came while “Talent” judge Piers Morgan was on the program.
“I thought you were the better singer to be honest,” Morgan told Alaina.
“Do you want to hear something funny?” the teen shot back. “I tried out for your show and didn’t make it. … Twice!”
Morgan appeared genuinely shocked to hear the news, especially after Alaina explained that she never even made it past the first round of auditions.
“This is a scandal,” Morgan said. “This is awkward.”
Of course, now that Alaina has found her big break with “Idol,” she’s over the oversight. Still, the country singer had some advice for others facing similar circumstances.
“So for all the people that try out for ‘America’s Got Talent’ and don’t make it – try out for ‘American Idol’ instead!” she cheerfully suggested.
Morgan just couldn’t shake the shame from not snagging Alaina for his own show.
“This is so embarrassing,” he continued. “I’m going to get new producers. The moment this finishes, I’m getting them. Twice? Twice, you applied?” The judge then joked, “Well, I’ll tell you, it shows you the standard on ‘America’s Got Talent.’”
(via theclicker.com)
Jeff Conaway passes away at 60
Jeff Conaway has passed away at 60.
Conaway, 60, rose to fame playing one of the T-Birds in the 1978 film adaptation of Grease. Later that year, he co-starred in the popular sitcom Taxi, as actor-turned-taxi-driver Bobby Wheeler, before leaving in Season 4. He later appeared on The Bold and the Beautiful and Babylon 5 in the ’90s.
In recent years, however, Conaway has turned to reality TV. He was a contestant on the third season of Celebrity Fit Club, but was forced to leave the show and enter rehab. Two years later, he returned to VH1 to appear on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, seeking treatment for addictions to cocaine, painkillers and alcohol.
Born in New York City, Conaway shot to fame in the ’70s as a quintessential cocky guy: first in the internationally successful Grease and then on the TV hit Taxi, on which he played a similarly brash struggling actor named Bobby Wheeler from 1978 to 1981 (he left the show for its last two seasons). In 1980, he married Grease co-star Olivia Newton-John’s sister, Rona, and had a son named Emerson, though the couple divorced five years later.
He snagged roles on The Bold and the Beautiful in 1989 and Babylon 5 in the ’90s, but his most disturbingly memorable appearance came when he appeared on Celebrity Rehab as one of Dr. Drew Pinsky’s most difficult cases. After a long struggle with addiction, he first appeared on the show’s 2008 season to fight a dependency on alcohol, cocaine, and painkillers.
He was admitted to a Los Angeles hospital after being found unconscious in his Encino, CA, home. He remained in a coma for two weeks.
RIP.
50/50 – new Seth Rogen/Joseph Gordon-Levitt movie
Very much looking forward to seeing this.
Inspired by personal experiences, 50/50 is an original story about friendship, love, survival and finding humor in unlikely places.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen star as best friends whose lives are changed by a cancer diagnosis.
Rogen also serves as producer, along with Evan Goldberg and Ben Karlin. Jonathan Levine directs from a script by Will Reiser.
“We worked with Will on Da Ali G show, and it was shortly after that we learned he was sick.” Rogen recalls. “As shocking, sad, confusing and generally screwed up as it was; we couldn’t ignore that because we were so ill-equipped to deal with the situation, funny things kept happening. Will got better, and when he did, we thought the best way to pull something good out of the situation was to get him to write a screenplay. Ideally we wanted to make a film that would be as funny, sad, and hopefully as honest as the experience we went through. As soon as the script was completed, it quickly became a passion project for all of us. It helped us come to terms with Will’s struggle as well as our own experiences.”
50/50 is the story of a guy’s transformative and, yes, sometimes funny journey to health. 50/50 draws its emotional core from Will Reiser’s own experience with cancer and reminds us that friendship and love, no matter what bizarre turns they take, are the greatest healers.
Defense Bill Passes in House With Antigay Amendments
The House of Representatives on Thursday approved its version of the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act with three controversial, antigay amendments, one of which is aimed at delaying repeal implementation of “don’t ask, don’t tell.”
The amendments, all opposed by the Obama administration, would require the four service branch chiefs to sign off on DADT repeal, affirm that the Defense of Marriage Act applies to Defense Department policies, and prohibit weddings for same-sex couples at military facilities — as well as bar military chaplains from performing such weddings in their official capacity. The House version of the defense authorization bill was approved by a 322 to 96 vote.
In a Tuesday statement of policy, the White House objected to any legislative attempt to delay repeal of DADT, which would “create uncertainty for service members and their families,” according to the statement.
(via The Advocate)
Lindsay Lohan begins house arrest
Lindsay Lohan is officially confined to her townhouse … TMZ has learned the actress surrendered to authorities this morning and has begun to serve her house arrest sentence.
Lohan arrived to the Lynwood Jail at 5:02 AM this morning to check in — where she was fitted with an electronic ankle bracelet. She was quickly sent home to her pad in Venice, CA and we’re told she’ll spend roughly 35 days in confinement.
According to the booking sheet, 24-year-old Lohan was listed at 5’7″ and 117 lbs.
The sentence stems from Lohan’s legal troubles involving a necklace she allegedly stole from a Venice jeweler. Lohan pled no contest in the case.
In addition to the house arrest, Lohan was also ordered to complete 480 hours of community service – which includes a stint at the L.A. County morgue.
NYC Mayor Bloomberg makes the case for marriage equality
Mayor Bloomberg of NYC gave a speech today at the Cooper Union for Advancement of Science and Art that clearly and forcefully makes the case for marriage equality in New York State. Here are excerpts:
“It’s fitting that the gay rights movement began in our City, because New Yorkers have always been at the forefront of movements to expand American freedoms – and guarantee American liberties. Long before our founding fathers wisely decided to separate church from state, leading citizens of our City petitioned their colonial rulers for religious freedom. Long before Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, many New Yorkers – including the founder of this college, Peter Cooper – crusaded against slavery. Long before the nation adopted the 19th Amendment, New Yorkers helped lead the movement for women’s suffrage. And long before the Civil Rights Act of 1964, New Yorkers played a pivotal role in advancing a color- blind society.”
“That has always been what sets us apart. In our city, there is no shame in being true to yourself. There is only pride. We take you as you are – and we let you be who you wish to be. That is the essence of New York City!”
“We are the freest city in the freest country in the world – but freedom is not frozen in time. And if we are to remain the freest city, with the most dynamic and innovative economy, we must lead on this issue – just as we have on so many other matters of fundamental civil rights.”
“The time has come for us to fulfill the dreams that exploded onto Sheridan Square 42 years ago: to allow thousands of men and women to become full members of the American family, and to take the next step on the inspired journey our founding fathers first began.”
It’s a pretty amazing and all-encompassing speech that clearly makes the case for New York State to lead in the fight for LGBT equality.
Thank you Mayor Bloomberg.
Missouri congressman calls for repeal of stimulus, attends ground breaking of stimulus project
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| Rep. Billy Long attends groundbreaking of stimulus funded health care clinic |
Freshman Rep. Billy Long (R-MO) called for a complete repeal of President Obama’s stimulus program during his campaign last year. “I hope that Congress will admit they made a mistake and vote to repeal the Stimulus Act in order to reduce our deficit,” he said confidently at the time.
On the second anniversary of the bill’s signing, Long sent out a press release claiming that the stimulus had “failed.”
On Friday, however, Long appeared with other community leaders to break ground for the new Access Family Care clinic in Cassville, Missouri. The construction was made possible with a $635,000 grant from the stimulus, secured in part by Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO), who unlike Long supported the stimulus.
Plans for the facility include housing three medical providers, two dentists and two dental hygienists. “This will be a great facility,” Long declared at the event.
I’m not sure if Long revealed to the audience that he had called for repealing the funds that made the clinic possible.
Ah, hypocrisy. It’s a funny word, isn’t it?
Sharron Angle NOT running for NV congressional seat
Sharron Angle, who lost in her recent bid for US Senate to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid by 5 points, has made a statement saying although she was the first to put her hat in the ring to run for Dean Heller’s recently open seat in Nevada, she will now NOT be running. Here’s her official statement:
“Current outcomes concerning the special election have made this election in Nevada an illegitimate process that disenfranchises the electorate. Clearly, no solution that the Supreme Court can make will correct the injury to free and open elections caused by ambiguous laws and subsequent lawsuits.
“I do not have any desire to participate in a process described by others as a “ballot royale” or a situation where the party central committees choose their nominees because it makes a mockery of the most important constitutional element in exercising freedom. Voter participation has been preempted in either case by disallowing primary elections, or in allowing a select group of people to make a decision who otherwise would not be allowed to vote in Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District. The longer this drags out the more it will become a contest of bank accounts and negative campaigning based on personal attacks instead of the important issues that face Nevada and our country.”
“Although I do not intend to participate as a candidate in the special election, I am not ruling out a future run for office. Meanwhile, I will remain busy working as an advocate for the voters of Nevada and this great nation. I thank all my supporters for their dedication and encouragement. I will be making additional announcements soon detailing my plans.”
And the state of Nevada breathes a sigh of relief…
Wisconsin Anti-Union Law Struck Down By County Circuit Judge
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| Gov. Walker |
From Huffpost Politics: A Wisconsin judge has struck down a law taking away nearly all collective bargaining rights from most state workers.
Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi ruled Thursday that Republican legislators violated Wisconsin’s open meetings law during the run up to passage. She says that renders the law void.
The law pushed by Gov. Scott Walker takes away all bargaining rights except over base salary for teachers and other public workers.
The decision is not the end of the legal fight. The state Supreme Court has scheduled arguments for June 6 to determine whether it will take the same case.
Lawmakers could also pass the law again in order to nullify open meeting concerns that led to the judge’s ruling Thursday.