Friday, October 29, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Sweet Transvestites
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| Caption: aceshowbiz.com |
And I must say - Ryan Murphy (Glee creator) did not disappoint.
From the second I saw Rachel's painted lips in the opening credits, I knew this was an episode done right. The classics were performed with the usual Glee twist and the show cleverly wove its own emotional story lines into the sweet transvestism of the Rocky Horror legend.
The show also touched upon the musical's risqué content and what we should and shouldn't be exposing our kids to at such a young age. The plot was poignant in that the show itself airs in the 8pm time slot when many kiddies are not yet in bed and, as such, are watching Glee along with the rest of us 20-somethings.
So why does the thought of high school kids celebrating the 25th anniversary of a revolutionary musical scare the bejeezus out of so many people?
I understand that, in the play, Dr. Frankenfurter (the pivotal sweet transvestite) sleeps with both men and women, all while wearing a corset. And I realize that the star virgin loses said maidenhood in a water tank to a half-human man wearing gold lame spandex shorts. But who hasn't experienced that in real life by the time they're 16?
Spandex aside, I say BRAVO! to the cast and writers of Glee for putting on an amazing production of one of my all-time favorites. I'll personally be singing Touch-A-Touch-A-Touch-Me well into the night as I wait for my Rocky to discover me.
Happy Halloween, folks! Magenta, out.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Eff the F Word
Smoking in Mad Men.
Saying "gay" in the new Vince Vaughan movie.
The dreaded "n" word in Roots.
For fear of overquoting the ladies of The View, are we as a society expecting too much from our entertainment sources?
Musicians like Eminem and Marilyn Manson were vilified after Columbine for allegedly putting homicidal thoughts into the impressionable minds of the high school shooters. Britney Spears was charged with corrupting school girls around the globe after the debut of her "Hit Me Baby One More Time" video (I still have the skirt). Shows like "Gossip Girl" and "90210" appear to glorify premarital sex and underage drinking, thereby, influencing their viewers to do the same.
Or is it all crap?
I can guarantee that underage sex was around long before "Gossip Girl", "The OC" or even "Leave It To Beaver". That last title alone was suggestive enough for some mid-50's teens. And Eminem wasn't the first person to verbalize his hate for an ex-wife.
So why is it that the PTA's of the world are looking to Hollywood as the reason for their children's corruption?
I agree that Miley Cyrus' pole dance at the Teen Choice Awards wasn't the wisest decision. Nor were her half nude pictures with her father in Vanity Fair. They are southern, after all.
However, neither of those decisions should affect whether or not Susie Q from Springfield, MO decides to sext a boy from her 5th grade class in order to get his attention. The fact that she's sexting at all with little to no parental supervision is the real issue here.
I know technology's gotten way out of hand and parents are having issues keeping up. And with artists like Justin Bieber writing lyrics about getting a girl's first dance as a euphemism for her first..."dance"...it's understandable that moms and dads feel like they are at a loss for control. But that doesn't mean that we should censor ourselves completely just because society is choosing to march onward.
I recently learned that the movie Roots has bleeped out the "n" word due to it's un-PCness. As a half African-American (don't you wish you knew what the other half was?), I think this is absurd. The whole point of Roots is to highlight a section of our American history that cannot be erased and to demonstrate the idiocy of bigotry and hate. As such, the "n" word is actually an integral part of the movie's overarching message.
To bleep it out would be like separating Mary Kate from Ashley Olsen. One just doesn't make sense without the other.
Critics have also jumped on Mad Men for romanticizing smoking and drinking on the job. But without a glass of scotch, could any of us REALLY get through our work day? I know I certainly couldn't.
While I agree that folks like "The Girls Next Door" are a blight on humanity (just the new ones, Kendra's cool), I think we may have leaned a bit too far to the right.
We can't seriously blame Kanye West for inspiring all the d-bags of the world. And we can't blame Marilyn Manson for causing two disturbed young men to make horrific decisions. What we can do is take responsibility for our own families and hit the off button during TV hour if you don't like Katy Perry's boobaliciousness on Sesame Street.
Meanwhile, I will continue to drink my scotch during the work day and whip my hair back and forth because I want to - and not because Willow Smith is just so damn infectious with her hot beats.
Saying "gay" in the new Vince Vaughan movie.
The dreaded "n" word in Roots.
For fear of overquoting the ladies of The View, are we as a society expecting too much from our entertainment sources?
Musicians like Eminem and Marilyn Manson were vilified after Columbine for allegedly putting homicidal thoughts into the impressionable minds of the high school shooters. Britney Spears was charged with corrupting school girls around the globe after the debut of her "Hit Me Baby One More Time" video (I still have the skirt). Shows like "Gossip Girl" and "90210" appear to glorify premarital sex and underage drinking, thereby, influencing their viewers to do the same.
Or is it all crap?
I can guarantee that underage sex was around long before "Gossip Girl", "The OC" or even "Leave It To Beaver". That last title alone was suggestive enough for some mid-50's teens. And Eminem wasn't the first person to verbalize his hate for an ex-wife.
So why is it that the PTA's of the world are looking to Hollywood as the reason for their children's corruption?
I agree that Miley Cyrus' pole dance at the Teen Choice Awards wasn't the wisest decision. Nor were her half nude pictures with her father in Vanity Fair. They are southern, after all.
However, neither of those decisions should affect whether or not Susie Q from Springfield, MO decides to sext a boy from her 5th grade class in order to get his attention. The fact that she's sexting at all with little to no parental supervision is the real issue here.
I know technology's gotten way out of hand and parents are having issues keeping up. And with artists like Justin Bieber writing lyrics about getting a girl's first dance as a euphemism for her first..."dance"...it's understandable that moms and dads feel like they are at a loss for control. But that doesn't mean that we should censor ourselves completely just because society is choosing to march onward.
I recently learned that the movie Roots has bleeped out the "n" word due to it's un-PCness. As a half African-American (don't you wish you knew what the other half was?), I think this is absurd. The whole point of Roots is to highlight a section of our American history that cannot be erased and to demonstrate the idiocy of bigotry and hate. As such, the "n" word is actually an integral part of the movie's overarching message.
To bleep it out would be like separating Mary Kate from Ashley Olsen. One just doesn't make sense without the other.
Critics have also jumped on Mad Men for romanticizing smoking and drinking on the job. But without a glass of scotch, could any of us REALLY get through our work day? I know I certainly couldn't.
While I agree that folks like "The Girls Next Door" are a blight on humanity (just the new ones, Kendra's cool), I think we may have leaned a bit too far to the right.
We can't seriously blame Kanye West for inspiring all the d-bags of the world. And we can't blame Marilyn Manson for causing two disturbed young men to make horrific decisions. What we can do is take responsibility for our own families and hit the off button during TV hour if you don't like Katy Perry's boobaliciousness on Sesame Street.
Meanwhile, I will continue to drink my scotch during the work day and whip my hair back and forth because I want to - and not because Willow Smith is just so damn infectious with her hot beats.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Girls Gone Crazy
| Credit: Gearlive.com |
Just this morning I told a coworker/life partner that I refused to write about Ms. Lohan again. And I meant it until I saw the picture to the right. When did Lindsay and Taylor Momsen (of Gossip Girl fame) become friends?? Clearly before Lindsay's most recent stint in rehab, but either way it's bad news bears for all.
Momsen used to be a wholesome, up-and-coming actress looking to make her mark on Hollywood. Now she's a 17-year-old gutter punk who is fired up about porn and masturbation.
I get it. Being edgy is cool and wearing torn fishnets and more eyeliner than Ozzy Osbourne shows just how rocker chic you can be. But does anyone need to know just how much you enjoy masturbation? Momsen treats these magazine interviews as bar side chats, telling reporters things that my best friend of 15 years doesn't know about me. And he knows a LOT.
In her interview, Momsen criticized the Pam Anderson/Tommy Lee porn tape as being mediocre and said that she would never "f^ck" Tommy Lee because of it. Maybe I missed the memo but did anyone ask her to? Beyond the gross factor, she is still a minor and I think Tommy Lee would be better served avoiding jail as his record isn't exactly clean.
And Miley Cyrus certainly isn't helping any. Her latest video - Who Owns My Heart - is rather confusing. I was confused because I couldn't figure out where her pants were.
I get being in the bathroom in your underwear. I'm writing this blog post scantily clad from my bathroom as we speak. But throughout the entire video? On the dance floor, in a limo, on a pool table...all sans pants. I know Miley's birthday is next month, because I celebrate it with her every year, but she's still technically 17 and, therefore, may want to consider saving the money shots for later in her career.
Of course, this story would not be complete without Lindsay Lohan rounding out the trifecta. Our leading lady is currently residing at the Betty Ford clinic where she most recently attempted an escape in order to purchase a Coca-Cola from the vending machine.
There are no words.
With these ladies running the entertainment industry, I don't see how we could possibly go wrong. You know those days when you wake up and think to yourself "if only I could see a minor half-naked and saying inappropriate things right now..." Well wish no more because Taylor, Miley, and Lindsay - an adult by legal standards only - are all happy to oblige.
Maybe I'm getting more conservative in my old age. But discussions of one's porn fetishes are best reserved for intimate nights between you and your resident dominatrix. I'm just saying.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Is Monogamy Realistic?
| Credit: Realbollywood.com |
As "Today" explained it, marriage was first created as a business arrangement to signify the ownership of women as property and legitimize paternity for family lines. But as Maury Povich has proven time and time again, a marriage certificate no longer guarantees a husband's role as baby daddy.
| Credit: Bittenandbound.com |
I heard a new stat today that 1/3 marriages end in divorce or separation within the first ten years. I can only assume that number then goes up although I don't have any studies to back me up.
Arquette told Howard Stern this morning that he and his wife hadn't had sex in over four months, which contributed to their current separation. As the ladies of "The View" said today, once the sex goes (if you're into that sort of thing) you should start worrying.
Fueling the separation fire this week is Christina Aguilera and her producer-husband Jordan Bratman. They just announced their split as well prompting another round of chatter about whether or not relationships can really last.
Are we hard wired as a society to attach to someone for a certain period of time, but not stay with them for the long haul? If my track record is any indication, the answer is a definite yes. But that doesn't mean that I'm discounting a life long commitment altogether.
Then again, I don't have the pressure of paparazzi examining my ring finger when I leave the house every morning or Photoshopping pictures of me with my main squeeze to "prove" that we're on the outs. Business relationship or not, many marriages do stand the test of time but those simply aren't the ones we hear about.
Do you know what Annette Benning and Warren Beatty have been up to lately? No, because they are happily married ergo boring to the In Touches and Us Weeklies of the world. Did you see Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell out at dinner last night? No, because the paparazzi were too busy stalking Courtney Cox on the set of Cougar Town.
I bet she regrets the day she agreed to do a show with that title.
Maybe I just want to see a return of "Friends" but I think this trial separation for Cox and Arquette could be a great thing. Think about it - Jennifer Aniston and Courtney Cox are besties. Now they are both in their 40s, single, and ready to run LA like it's their own personal playground. If I were them, I would start with the Las Vegas boys of Thunder Down Under and work my way west. I mean, why not?
Ladies - I suggest we all dig up our Britney Spears-inspired school girl uniforms (you know you have them) and hit the college campus scene in a big way.
Us cougars have to stick together!
Monday, October 11, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
As Cruel As School Children
Dane Cook Takes A Stand Against Bullying
Every celeb and their mom (literally) is coming out with their own childhood traumas about bullying and being made to feel like an outsider.
It's devastating that it has taken the recent tragedies in the media to shed light on something that's been happening for decades. Though we are told to embrace our differences and appreciate what makes us each unique and beautiful, there are thousands of kids everyday who are being teased relentlessly for not shedding their individuality for the sake of being accepted.
Nowadays you can be teased for having red hair, wearing colorful socks, being too tall, being too fat, being too thin, being too short or - heaven forbid - being gay. Shows like Glee work to bring attention to the schoolyard "misfits" of the world to tell them that it's OK to be different. But a popular show with catchy ballads isn't enough to eradicate the pain that is being caused everyday by the bullies who take out their own insecurities on people who can't defend themselves.
And bullying isn't limited to recess and walks home after school. Just this week, two Staten Island men attacked a 34-year-old man in the restroom of NYC's Stonewall Inn, known as the birthplace of the gay rights movement. The victim, Benjamin Carver, fought back and the men are now facing assault charges as hate crimes plus attempted robbery.
But not many people are as brave or prepared as Carver to defend themselves and win and that is when we learn about the Matthew Shepards of the world.
All of these acts can be broken down into one simple word: SENSELESS.
In the video above, Dane Cook calls for everyone to take action and stand up for someone else who may not be able to stand up for themselves. And that is a great call to action from one of my most beloved entertainers. But it's simply not enough.
These kids and poor excuses for adults will not stop until we take action. No innocent person should have to look over their shoulder when walking down the street for fear of being persecuted for being themselves.
Prevention is worth more than the cure. If parents won't take responsibility for their kids' bad behavior, then the onus must fall on the teachers, principals and support staff to engage in regular dialog and stop this nonsense before it starts. Once a person falls victim to bullying, the damage is already done. We must mobilize our friends, our families and everyone we've ever met to stamp out this moronic behavior.
And we must do so before it results in more irreparable harm and senseless deaths that an "I'm sorry" will never be able to fix.
Every celeb and their mom (literally) is coming out with their own childhood traumas about bullying and being made to feel like an outsider.
It's devastating that it has taken the recent tragedies in the media to shed light on something that's been happening for decades. Though we are told to embrace our differences and appreciate what makes us each unique and beautiful, there are thousands of kids everyday who are being teased relentlessly for not shedding their individuality for the sake of being accepted.
Nowadays you can be teased for having red hair, wearing colorful socks, being too tall, being too fat, being too thin, being too short or - heaven forbid - being gay. Shows like Glee work to bring attention to the schoolyard "misfits" of the world to tell them that it's OK to be different. But a popular show with catchy ballads isn't enough to eradicate the pain that is being caused everyday by the bullies who take out their own insecurities on people who can't defend themselves.
And bullying isn't limited to recess and walks home after school. Just this week, two Staten Island men attacked a 34-year-old man in the restroom of NYC's Stonewall Inn, known as the birthplace of the gay rights movement. The victim, Benjamin Carver, fought back and the men are now facing assault charges as hate crimes plus attempted robbery.
But not many people are as brave or prepared as Carver to defend themselves and win and that is when we learn about the Matthew Shepards of the world.
All of these acts can be broken down into one simple word: SENSELESS.
In the video above, Dane Cook calls for everyone to take action and stand up for someone else who may not be able to stand up for themselves. And that is a great call to action from one of my most beloved entertainers. But it's simply not enough.
These kids and poor excuses for adults will not stop until we take action. No innocent person should have to look over their shoulder when walking down the street for fear of being persecuted for being themselves.
Prevention is worth more than the cure. If parents won't take responsibility for their kids' bad behavior, then the onus must fall on the teachers, principals and support staff to engage in regular dialog and stop this nonsense before it starts. Once a person falls victim to bullying, the damage is already done. We must mobilize our friends, our families and everyone we've ever met to stamp out this moronic behavior.
And we must do so before it results in more irreparable harm and senseless deaths that an "I'm sorry" will never be able to fix.
Monday, October 4, 2010
What's Love Got To Do With It?
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| Credit: Engagements.ca |
We've witnessed too many crashes and burns to count - Brad and Jen, Sandra and Jesse, Tiger and Elin, Susan and Tim. Some couples fell victim to the ravages of conflicting schedules and drifting ideals, while others succumbed to the cliche of the wandering eye.
Whatever the reason, Hollywood's relationship dissolution chart continues to climb faster than the nation's already staggering divorce rates. It makes you wonder if we're better off leaning towards the tried and true George Clooney method of an active and ever-changing love life. At least he seems consistently happy.
Susan Sarandon put it well when she recently said, "You bring people into your life at certain times. Maybe you have a relationship to have children, and you realize that it's fulfilled after that point."
"Your relationship with people...has to be a growing organism," she continues. "It's not something where you reach a certain point and then you start preserving it. You have to nurture it, you have to stay curious and hungry and foolish. Once you stop doing that, you get satisfied, and you get stuck."
The latest couple to face the rumor mill's divorce rumblings is Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore (my unofficial, cougarriffic life coach). With scandal surrounding Ashton's alleged infidelities, the couple can't seem to enjoy a simple night out at the movies without being pitied for putting on a brave face.
I haven't been privy to Ashton's sexual escapades as of late but is it all too optimistic of this Dirt Dishing Dame to believe that perhaps Kutcher should be held innocent until proven guilty? As of right now, we have only the musings of an admittedly "obsessed" fan claiming she has text messages from a man saved as Ashton in her phone.
Not to call the 'lil lady a liar, but I could easily save my college dorm mate, Dustin, in my phone as "Johnny Depp" and send a variety of suggestive texts to him in the hopes that my self-deception will somehow become a reality. I'm just saying.
But should it really be so easy to stir up these headlines anyway? At the end of the day, I worry that love doesn't have a whole heckuva lot to do with many of these Hollywood unions. Not that deeply committed couples don't split up everyday, because they do, but all too often you see lackadaisical celebs hopping in and out of marriage like a merry-go-round with the attitude that if it doesn't work you can always hire Liz Taylor's divorce attorney and move on.
I'm not a traditionalist and I'm not even a huge proponent of marriage (for myself at least) but for those who do get hitched, I'd hope they're doing it for the right reasons to at least preserve the sanctity of it for others.
There are too many folks out there (gay Americans unite!) who want nothing more than the legal right to say "I do" to their one true love. So I'm a bit discouraged by those making a mockery of the institution just because they can and say "I do" when they should be screaming "I don't - or at least let's talk about this" first.
To Demi and Ashton - don't let the man get you down. Age difference or no, you guys seem to have it together in a way that Britney Spears and Charlie Sheen do not. So if you find yourselves struggling because of the paparazzi outside your door, ask yourself what love's got to do with it and pack it in for the night.
If Bruce Willis backs your union, then so do I.
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