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Dunce Flash: Week of Dec. 27, 2010

in: the press

“Natalie Portman Got Pregnant and Engaged to Crush Your Dreams”

Image from Gawker

Gawker gave the story the perfect headline, but I think NY Mag put it best:

“Natalie Portman: Doing everything all of a sudden! Not content simply to star in the indie smash Black Swan, pick up award after award on the way to the Oscars, circle movies like the Alien prequel, The Great Gatsby, and The Dark Knight Rises, sit terrified while Annette Bening issues queenly pronouncements in her basso profundo during an actors roundtable, co-write a screenplay described as a “female-themed Superbad,” appear in roughly 8 million billion movies next year including Thor, Your Highness, and No Strings Attached, and wear vegan shoes made special for her by Christian Dior … deep breath to recover … the 29-year-old actress has now announced her engagement to ballet choreographer Benjamin Millepied, who appeared opposite her in Black Swan. What’s more, Portman is pregnant, People has confirmed. It’s her turn now!” [New York Magazine]

That’s right – the gorgeous and terrifyingly talented Natalie Portman is expecting with her now fiancee, French ballet dancer Benjamin Millepied. Mazel tov, Nats. Breaking hearts all over the place!

And, for good measure, my favorite short-form Portman piece. “Natalie’s Rap,” from a 2007 Saturday Night Live Digital Short, is posted below. Frankly, this video reminds me – I’m not mourning Portman’s pending nuptials. It’s the fact that she’s no longer (supposedly) with Andy Samberg*that brings the tears.

*An unsubstantiated rumor from US Weekly in 2007 that I desperately wanted to be true.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

 

Hugh Hefner Engaged to Former Playmate

Image from The Village Voice

Snore. Who cares?

The 84-year-old Hefner proposed to 24-year-old Crystal Harris, Dec. 2009’s Playmate of the Month, on Christmas Eve. [The Village Voice]

I much prefer this hilariously gross rumor from 2007, pairing then-72-year-old Morgan Freeman with his 27-year-old stepgranddaughter. Heebie jeebies!

The A.V. Club Releases “Turds in the Caviar” List

The exceptional people at The A.V. Club composed this list, “The turd in the caviar: 24 songs that almost derail great albums.” At the top of the list was The Beatles’ abrasive “Revolution 9,” from The Beatles (a.k.a. The White Album). Also included: The Hold Steady‘s “Chillout Tent” from The Boys in Girls in America (“…The multiple-singer approach inadvertently makes “Chillout Tent” sound like the faux-Broadway stylings of Meat Loaf.”); Belle & Sebastian‘s “Electronic Renaissance” from Tigermilk; and Kanye West‘s “Drunk and Hot Girls” from Graduation (“West deliberately shifts from mildly funny to drunken asshole, singing badly the entire time.”)

I think it’s a pretty stellar list, though BaBe wishes to note his dissatisfaction with the inclusion of Bob Dylan’s “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35” from Blonde on Blonde. [The A.V. Club]

Does Buffy Think Dolphins are Just Gay Sharks?

Glee‘s Heather Morris – the devilishly inane cheerleader Brittany – is in talks to portray Buffy the Vampire Slayer in the Warner Brothers film adaptation (or remake? or follow-up? or something.) of the eponymous ’90s show. Morris is hilarious, and I think she’d be a killer slayer (heh. Pun intended.), but I just can’t imagine Buffy sans Joss Whedon. The Frisky compares Morris to Sarah Michelle Gellar, who portrayed Buffy for seven seasons in the television show, and Kristy Swanson, who originated the role in the 1992 film alongside the dreamy Luke Perry. [The Frisky]

Dunce Flash: Week of 11/08/10

in: the press, in: viewing room

This has been quite the week. It’s been chocked full of disappointments and total excitements, to be sure, and it’s been a rather hectic and disappointing week on my end, but I am eager for the weekend. And, certainly, I’m thrilled to share with you five big pieces of news for the week.

Cee-Lo drops “The Lady Killer”

Can you say finally? I’ve been looking forward to this album from Cee-Lo for months, what with the tease of such a killer (no pun intended) lead track. I haven’t given the full thing a spin yet, but I’m hoping to do it this weekend, with (hopefully) a review to follow. In the meantime, PopMatters has a pretty thorough review praising “Fuck You,” noting the album’s sheer brilliance in nostalgic hooks and failure to maintain the musical throwback. [PopMatters]

Check out the video for “Fuck You” above.

Warner Bros. attempts to redirect obnoxious VM movie pleas (like mine!)

The cast of "Veronica Mars," Image courtesy of CW

Five months after “Veronica Mars” producer Joel Silver confirmed that the feature film project was dead, Warner Bros. created an official e-mail address where fans can send requests and open letters (cough) for a VM movie. New York Mag (unfortunately) (and rightly) believes this is simply a ploy to clean out the inboxes, but the move must say something – maybe the fans are really demanding some sort of conclusion. I say give it a shot. If you want it as much as I do, the effort certainly couldn’t hurt. [New York Mag via Playlist]

Daria Morgendorffer directs you through traffic

Good news! Now you can customize your GPS to have MTV’s most apathetic teen guide you to your destination. Daria Morgendorffer (of the eponymous ’90s cartoon) will be your guide! And remember: “There is no aspect, no facet, no moment of life that can’t be improved with pizza.” [Frisky via MTV]

Below, Daria on popular culture.

more exciting news after the jump

The Dunce Cap: April 5, 2010

in: heavy rotation

I am quite pleased with this week’s mix. It’s got eight solid artists, a couple of covers and a delicious new track from one of my favorite artists, The Morning Benders. So, without further ado, The Dunce Cap, Vol. 2, presented as a playlist by 8tracks:

Natalie Dee comics

The Dunce Cap, Vol. 2: Slow it down, make it stop, or else my heart is going to pop. Just enjoy the show.
(mix via 8tracks)

  1. “You Can Make Him Like You” – The Hold Steady
  2. “Gravity Rides Everything” – Lenka
  3. “ONE” – Yeasayer
  4. “Let Forever Be” – The Chemical Brothers
  5. “The Past and Pending” – The Shins
  6. “You Wear It Well” – Rod Stewart
  7. “Excuses” – The Morning Benders
  8. “Gold Digger” – Glee Cast (OST)
  9. “The Show” – Lenka
  10. “You Gotta Dance (With Who You Came to the Dance With)” – The Hold Steady

This mix is a little bit different from the last. It’s chocked full of bizarre-o tracks that make me jive&dance&shake, some from television shows I’m excited about (“Gold Digger” from “Glee”) or movies I love (“The Past and Pending,” from “Garden State”), and even artists whose albums I’m highly anticipating (The Hold Steady). I hope you enjoy it.

I’m not linking each of the tracks to YouTube or the ilk because I hope to send some traffic to 8tracks. Check it out – it’s a fun playlist-making and listening site!

Happy listening.

(editor’s note – you can also link to the mix by clicking on the photo/album art!)

Book Club: April television

in: on queue

Presenting the third installment of April’s Book Club: grandiose emotion on the small screen!

Channel surfing:

The cast of NBC's "Parenthood"

The return of “Glee“! (April 13)
The cultural phenomenon is back, and I cannot be more excited. I sat in rapt attention, captivated by the singing and pretty colors and glowing faces, and the season left off with such a bang. I am eager to find out about Finn & Rachel, what’s-her-face‘s baby and, of course, Emma and Mr. Schuester!

“Parenthood”
Despite poor critical reception, “Parenthood” captured my heart with its various plotlines all intertwining with the Braverman family. I’m optimistic about the future of the series, and I am hopeful that the characterization will further as the season progresses.

Even the characterization in “Parenthood” is flexible – the immature Crosby (Dax Shepard) grows, matures and constantly morphs into a man more like his brother. It’s an emotional show I adore, an interesting family series similar to but entirely divergent from ABC’s “Modern Family.”