30 Rock Just Got Hotter

Forgive me for the excessive Broadway postings (I’ve done a whopping three), but rumors are that Xanadu star Cheyenne Jackson is joining the cast of the Emmy Award-winning show. They’ve already got Jane Krakowski…how much more B-Way bang does that show need?

I am a fan. Read about it here.

Law & Order Loses Actor

No! I am not a fan of this decision. Law & Order: Criminal Intent star Vincent D’Onofrio will no longer be on the hit show—now in its ninth season. Vincent has been on the show since its inception and I honestly can’t imagine it without him.

The way him and co-star Kathryn Erbe sleuthed their way through the most heinous and—at times—unrealistic crimes is what kept me watching this show in the wee hours of the night as a scared-out-of-my-mind 10-year-old.

I still have aspirations to be Vincent. What am I gonna do now?

Alice Ripley at Sardi’s

It’s something of an honor to have your caricature drawn for the renowned walls of Sardi’s Restaurant. Known as a hot-spot for Broadway actor dining, Sardi’s has adorned its walls with cartoon drawings of actors, celebrities and much more. Sutton Foster, Jane Fonda and Daniel Radcliffe are just a few among many other talents with self portraits.

Yesterday, Next to Normal actress Alice Ripley joined the list of stars honored with a Sardi’s picture. With big smiles and even bigger excitement, the Tony Award-winning actress was graciously inaugurated into the restaurant’s history.

Alice Ripley is one of the greatest actresses on the Broadway stage. She invokes so much emotion into her performances and every time I watch her I am reminded why I do theater. I’m even her friend on Facebook! If you haven’t heard of Next to Normal, I highly encourage that you click through that link up there and join the buzz around this groundbreaking musical on Broadway right now.

Team Lautner

I had my speculations and reservations. I didn’t think he could do it. But, like Shakira’s hips, the trailers and photos don’t lie.

Just as quickly as his character morphs into a werewolf, Taylor Lautner has transformed into Jacob Black.

Over the past few days, I’ve had minor spasms over the anticipation of the next film installment of the Twilight Series, New Moon. Call me a giggling teenage girl if you want, but I am legitimately excited to see this movie. When I saw Twilight, I went with my best friends and the entire time I mumbled plot spoilers and added lines of dialogue to the awkwardly silent scenes between Bella and Edward. Jacob Black was a side note—a character I felt was too poorly represented to care too much about.

I may have been proven wrong. We’ll just have to wait and see come November.

Side Note: This is quite possibly the happiest I have ever seen Kristen Stewart.

Real Housewives Alter-Egos

In a recent episode, The Real Housewives of Atlanta each had photo-shoots that depicted their alter-egos. Ranging from an innocent Girl Scout to a scintillating stripper, each of the Atlanta vixens took a ride on their wild sides. My favorite was Lisa’s good girl/bad girl shoot. You can find the rest here.

I’mma Let You Finish: The Blog

Freakin’ Kanye West. I swear he does these things in full awareness of the attention he garners from it. Of course, I’m talking the increasingly popular Kanye-Taylor moment at the VMAs (See the link a few posts down).

But this isn’t to bash in the already overdone point that Kanye is a brat. No. This little post is to highlight the amazing, hilarious aftermath. Specifically, a blog I found today called I’mma Let You Finish. The premise is simple: using a plethora of Photoshop cutouts of the Kanye, this blogger has pulled images that place the Louis Vitton Don into several situations in which he interrupts someone or something—all with the phrase “I’mma let you finish!”

There have been several other remix videos and spoofs of the moment, but I particularly enjoy this blog…however, I am still a bit taken aback as to how this blogger was able to dedicate the time to post so many. Kudos, mystery blogger.

Does America Have Talent?

Yes. But “America’s Got Talent” shouldn’t be the show to determine it.

I can understand that talent competitions are mostly popularity contests. And I am a firm believer in democracy. But the results of “America’s Got Talent” completely blew me out of the water. At a certain point in the competition, I expect audiences who vote on the show to understand that these performers should be judged mainly on their talent.

That was not the case this season.

Following the epic Susan Boyle must have been tough for the show, but giving the title of most talented person in America to a dude who mumbles out Garth Brooks songs and lacks on-stage charisma and presence? Listening to the final two contestants, Kevin Skinner (Garth dude) and Barbara Padilla (a cancer-surviving opera singer) presented two extremes of talent. Barbara totally deserved the title.

P.S. Nick Cannon is the worst television host I’ve seen in a while—including Jimmy Fallon.

A VMA Hangover

I didn’t get to see the VMAs live. I spent last night cooped up in The Ithacan office editing stories and trying to make my deadline. I did; however, redeem my status as a YouTube junkie by searching for the best and worst moments of the awards show while it was being broadcasted. I had to be swift though (not a pun on Taylor—we’ll get to that later), as YouTube quickly deleted any recordings that violated their Terms of Use.

I’m all caught up now—after a frantic morning-after video clip search and frequent visits to the VMA Website. There were a lot of…interesting moments. I think a list is in order.

1. The Michael Jackson Tribute
What was, in my opinion, the best performance of the evening, the multi-artist tribute to the late King of Pop was also a poignant, epic rendition of some of his most popular tracks. I was even moved to get up and clap after seeing Janet Jackson perform the same iconic moves first danced by her brother. Madonna’s inspiring words were an added bonus and befitted the occasion…The Queen reminisced about the King.

2. Beyoncé’s Single Ladies
It will never get old in my book. I can see myself in my 40s one day, still dancing and humming to this tune on my balcony in the Upper West Side of Manhattan (a little fantasy of mine). Looking similar to a recent 100-person Single Ladies Dance, her performance was nothing short of sexy. After watching, I could only think one thing: “Where my ring at?”

3. Lady Gaga’s Bleeding Torso
She was bleeding from her torso…Do I need to say anything else?

4. Kanye’s idiotic Taylor Swift diss
As much as I enjoy Kanye’s music, the guy is a complete brat. His publicly disrespectful move last night asserted the fact that he is the one guy everyone in the music industry loves to hate. His words were true, but way out of line. And how/when did he get on stage? Beyoncé played it cool and even gave Taylor a chance to take her moment.

5. Jay-Z and Alicia Keys
“Empire State of Mind” is one of the best tracks off Jay-Z’s new album, “The Blueprint 3″ and his collaborative performance with Alicia Keys and Lil Mama—also an homage to 9/11—was gripping and basically awesome. No flashing lights or elaborate costumes needed.

She Didn’t Even Pole Dance

All this hoo-hah and hullabaloo over Miley Cyrus’ supposed “pole dancing routine” during her “Party in the USA” performance at the Teen Choice Awards is getting completely out of hand. First off, as evidenced by this video, the country diva barely did any kind of gyrating or sexually-fueled motions. ONE dip. So sue her.

A recent article published by E! Online stated that Cyrus will be nixing the pole that was initially meant to serve as support for the singer as she is carted halfway across the stage during the number. While her father, Billy Ray, had no opposition to the short segment, the pole was removed to keep the performance “tween friendly.” Huh?

I’m pulling a Chris Crocker and asking everyone to leave Miley alone!

Catherine Zeta-Jones to star in Broadway revival

Keeping with the standing tradition of casting film stars and TV personalities in leading Broadway roles, word on the Great White Way is that Catherine Zeta-Jones will be in the cast of the Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music. Apparently her hubby, Michael Douglas was the one to spill the news.

For those of you familiar with Stephen Sondheim, you know that he is notorious for writing shows with intricately designed musical compositions and strenuous acting roles. Case and point, the man’s stuff is hard.

I have faith that Catherine will peform well, though. We’ve already seen her shine brighter than Renee Zellweger in the film version of Chicago. Now it’s time to transfer that on-screen splendor on-stage.

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