Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton made an unannounced stop in Northern Alberta yesterday to tour the fire-devastated city of Slave Lake that fell prey to a wild fire back in May. 40% of the town was destroyed and relief efforts are currently underway to try and rebuild. Altho it was a somber visit, I’m sure, Wills and Kate did take some time to meet as many people as possible who came out to see them. Click below to check out some photos from their visit.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made an unscheduled visit today to a town almost entirely reduced to ashes by forest fires less than two months ago. Some 40 per cent of Slave Lake in Northern Alberta was razed when ground when it was hit by a wildfire on May 15. Fortunately there were no deaths in the town, named after the First Nations People there known as the Slavey. But the damage was extensive and forced the complete evacuation of Slave Lake’s 7,000 residents – the largest such displacement in the province’s history. The inferno began as a forest fire 15 kilometers outside town. Firefighters battled to keep in under control and had thought they were winning the fight when the wind turned violent and gusts of up to 100 km per hour whipsawed glowing embers overhead and on to homes and businesses which quickly ignited. Most of the destruction happened in the south-eastern section of town – where half the homes were consumed by flames – as well as the mall, town hall and many downtown businesses. Almost all 7,000 residents were evacuated from the town, with hundreds going to evacuation shelters in nearby towns including Edmonton. The Duke and Duchess flew into the town on Wednesday on a government Challenger jet. The couple stepped off their jet and were greeted by a small line of dignitaries … The couple immediately headed off in a mini bus to see the devastation first hand and meet with displaced residents. The request to tour the devastated town came directly from the royal couple, said Kevin MacLeod, Canadian secretary to the Queen. But it was kept under wraps until the last minute to ensure their presence wouldn’t disrupt any relief efforts in the region. 'It wasn’t a last-minute decision,' he said. 'Their overwhelming concern was that they did not want a public announcement early on for fear that it would somehow detract from those people who are now putting in place all the reconstruction efforts' … The Duke and Duchess spent an hour and a half touring areas of the town which were affected by the fire and visited Northern Lakes College, where they met with emergency services personnel from the fire brigade, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the medical response team. Their Royal Highnesses also had a private meeting with families affected by the disaster, still reeling from their loss of their homes and livelihoods. Most of Slave Lake’s residents turned out to catch a glimpse of Kate and William. Families stood in the baking sunshine outside the town’s Northern Lakes College waving flowers, posters and balloons. Banners read 'We love you for coming' and 'Welcome Will and Kate'.
I love causal Kate. She looks so fab in those jeans. As for their visit to Slave Lake, I’m sure that the people in the area appreciate that they came. Hopefully the royal visit will help with relief efforts in some way … at the very least, the visit gives the affected area more public attention. Today is the last day the royal couple will be in Canada … they head for the US tomorrow. I can’t wait ’til they get here to LA :)
On Monday we learned that Tori Amos released the first US tourdates of her upcoming <em>Night of Hunters Tour in support of the release of her new album of the same name. Today we learn, via Undented, that the tracklist for Hunters may have inadvertently been posted online. I don’t think the tracklist is a big secret but it has not yet been officially unveiled so … we can’t be 100% sure of this leaked list’s authenticity. Click below to see which songs may be included on Tori‘s new album.
01. Shattering Sea 02. Snowblind 03. Battle Of Trees 04. Fearlessness 05. Cactus Practice 06. Star Whisperer 07. Job's Coffin 08. Nautical Twilight 09. Your Ghost 10. Edge Of The Moon 11. The Chase 12. Night Of Hunters 13. Seven Sisters 14. Carry
Battle of Trees? Job’s Coffin? Seven Sisters? These titles deffo sound like Tori Amos songs. As you may recall, we previously learned that Night of Hunters is an album inspired by classical music. I’m so freakin’ curious to hear what Tori‘s new music sounds like. I’m hoping we’ll be hearing the first single soon, ahead of the album’s release in September. As for these titles, Tori fans, which one is your fave?
For, like the past FOREVER, we’ve been hearing about a new Joss Whedon-produced horror-type film called Cabin in the Woods that was supposed to get released over and over and just kept getting shelved over and over. Apparently, the film is finally going to come out because we are today getting our first look at the first promo photo still from the film. Altho we still don’t have a release date, this first glimpse from the film gives me hope that we may get to see the film soon.
One film I’ve been extremely skeptical about is Drew Goddard’s The Cabin in the Woods, his high-concept horror slasher that got caught in the middle of MGM’s financial debacle. While the delay doesn’t concern me a bit, it was the top secret script that I had read during filming. While I refuse to reveal a single bit of information, I will say this: everything depends on Goddard’s vision, his imagination, his ability to turn a super bizarre screenplay into a believable reality. Word on the street out of the film markets (Berlin and Cannes) is that the movie delivers quite a punch, and Lionsgate has to be happy that Thor’s Chris Hemsworth is the lead. I hope we see this sooner than later… ANYWAYS, Bloody Disgusting reader ‘Lichtbringer’ was kind enough to drop the first ever image in our lap. It features Hemsworth and company investigating something in said “cabin”. I can only assume it’s a stack of beer cans or a dirty condom, what else would be on the floor after a big time party? Much like Cloverfield, which Goddard scripted, the Cabin story line provides a new twist on a classic scenario — in this case the young-people-stranded-in-the-woods horror trope.
Anything with Joss Whedon‘s involvement is sure to be amazing. I LOVED Cloverfield very much so I’m confident that I’m gonna love this Drew Goddard penned film as well. Until this photo came out, I was starting to think Cabin in the Woods was just an urban myth. Now that I see that it actually exists … I really want to see it get released. Hopefully soon. Hopefully.
Amazing. Meryl Streep has the amazingly uncanny ability to become the characters she portrays. She is seriously one of my favorite actresses. I am really looking forward to seeing The Iron Lady. She was so damn impressive as Julia Child in Julie & Julia, I can’t wait to see her kill it at Maggie Tatch. Great clip … I wanna see more!
Back in June of last year, the Backstreet Boys surprised an NYC audience at a New Kids on the Block concert by jumping up on stage to perform … thus was born NKOTBSB. Since that time, the megaboyband recorded an album together and went on tour. I honestly never considered seeing the show but I kept hearing such great things … and NKOTB is a group I never saw in concert back in the 90s so I thought … what the Hell. I managed to score a couple of sweet tix for David and me and we went to the Anaheim, CA show last night. I was expecting a fun concert but I was not expecting to LOVE it as much as I did. I gotta say … NKOTB blew me away!
The show was amazingly fun … over the top … and LOUD! And not just the music, but the screams … oh, the screams. As you may recall, AJ Mclean from BSBchecked himself into rehab back in January so I was happy to see him looking so well last night. Here are a couple of videos to give you a taste. First up, New Kids on the Block perform You Got It (The Right Stuff):
Here is video of Backstreet Boys performing Larger Than Life:
Whoever came up with the idea to put these two groups together for one big show is a freakin’ genius. Even if you’re not a big fan of either group, like me, this show will WOW the pants off you. I’m really glad we went last night … it was a blast.
Thus far, no plans for today … but the weekend approacheth so I might need to rest up before it hits ;) Happy Thursday!
Jorja Fox (CSI:) is 43, Billy Campbell is 52, Shelley Duvall is 62 and Ringo Starr is 71 years old. Click HERE to see who else is celebrating a birthday today.
Rolling Stone magazine asked its readers to vote in an online poll to determine who they believe is the Queen of Pop. For some strange reason, I guess, there was some doubt as to who sits atop the throne of popdom but, well, there you have it. Unsurprisingly, the ONLY Queen of Pop was voted the winner so there’s really no news there … but click below to find out who the pretenders to the throne are, as voted by RS readers, and see if YOUR fave female popstar made the list … and where she ranked.
1. Madonna To say that Madonna won this poll in a landslide would be like saying that she was a kind of popular pop singer in the 1980s. It wouldn’t even begin to explain the scope of the situation. She received five times as many votes as Lady Gaga, who landed in second place by a very comfortable margin. The only persistent criticism that Gaga has dealt with in recent years is that she’s too much like Madonna. It’s a hard shadow to escape. Madonna is a musical icon without peer. Her run of hits over the past 30 years is simply astounding, and when she hits the road, tickets sell like it’s a Led Zeppelin reunion tour. Sure, her last few albums didn’t match up to the classics. Nobody cares. She’s Madonna. Lady Gaga has accomplished more in recent years than any artist of her era, but she’s still got a long climb until she reaches Madonna level. It’s very likely that no other artist will ever reach it though. Her manager Guy Oseary recently tweeted that she’s started recording her 12th studio album, so clearly she has no intention of slowing down anytime soon.
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10. Mariah Carey Even the Mariah haters have to marvel at all this woman has accomplished. She’s sold over 200 million records, and has 18 Number One singles – more than any other solo artist in history. Many counted her out after 2001′s Glitter turned to dust, but she came roaring back in 2005 with The Emancipation Of Mimi and her supporting role in Precious a few years later. Sure, the last two albums didn’t do so hot – but another comeback is always right around the corner for Mariah.
9. Elton John Okay, so Elton isn’t a woman. Calling him a Queen Of Pop might even seem a bit homophobic – but he did get the votes. And Elton John is also one man who probably wouldn’t mind the title. After all, he did write “The Bitch Is Back” and wear more fabulous dresses than most members of the royal family. He can also throw a hissy fit like nobody else in the business. If you have any doubts, take a look at his 1997 documentary Tantrums & Tiaras and watch what happens when a fan bothers him while he’s playing tennis. It isn’t pretty.
8. Cher The joke has been repeated so many times it’s become an extremely tired cliché, but we’ll repeat it anyway: When the world is destroyed by a nuclear holocaust there will be two survivors: cockroaches and Cher. By all logic, her career should have dried up around the time the Sonny And Cher Comedy Hour went off the air in the 1970s. But that didn’t happen. She just kept coming back, and somehow she became more famous each time around. She won a freakin’ Academy Award in 1988, and 11 years later scored the biggest hit of the year with “Believe.” In 2002 she went on a “Farewell Tour,” but everybody knew it was bullshit. She’s not going anywhere.
7. Katy Perry Remember the first time you heard “I Kissed A Girl” in early 2008? Whether you hated it or thought it was brilliant, you probably thought that Katy Perry’s career would last about as long as Jill Sobule’s – the last artist to land on the charts with a song called “I Kissed A Girl.” Katy didn’t pull a Sobule though. She just kept releasing shockingly popular hits. Even the haters can’t hate on “Teenage Dream.” It’s just too good. Her second album seems to be a modern-day Thriller, just scoring number one hit after number one hit. She’s now on a sold-out arena tour – and has been on the cover of Rolling Stone twice.
6. Aretha Franklin If this was a Queen Of Soul list there’s little doubt that Aretha Franklin would be number one. But Franklin is so insanely brilliant that she even lands high on a Queen Of Pop list. What more can be said about Aretha? In 2008 we named her the single greatest singer of all time. Last year, horrible rumors were circulating that she had a particularly lethal form of cancer and just months to live – but she stunned everybody by returning to the stage earlier this year. By all accounts, she looked and sounded absolutely amazing.
5. Beyoncé When Destiny’s Child released their debut LP in February of 1998 Beyoncé Knowles was just 16. The group was massively successful right from the release of their first single “No, No, No Part 2″ and the hits got bigger from there. Everybody knew it was just a matter of time until Beyoncé went solo. After “Crazy In Love” hit in 2003 there was simply no doubt. She was just way too big to be part of an ensemble. The group did one more LP in 2004 before splitting, and since then Beyoncé has become one of the most famous women on the planet – headlining arenas, starring in movies, and launching perfume and clothing lines. Marrying Jay-Z hasn’t exactly lowered her profile, and it seems like everyday the tabloids have new stories about her being pregnant. When it does finally happen, it’ll be almost as big a story as Kate Middleton’s first child.
4. Tina Turner It’s easy to forget, but before she released Private Dancer in the spring of 1984, Tina Turner was widely seen as a has-been. In 1976 she walked out on Ike Turner after a long, abusive relationship. She had no money and few people thought she could last as a solo act. Her first four solo albums failed to find an audience, but Private Dancer changed everything. Since then, she’s been an international superstar and rock icon. In 2000 she went on a farewell tour, but eight years later she was back on the road. By that time she was nearly 70, but hadn’t slowed down one bit. Hopefully she has at least one more tour left in her.
3. Britney Spears In February 2007 it sure didn’t seem like Britney’s career had much of a future. That month she left a drug rehab center in Antigua after just one day, flew back to California and then shaved her head in front of around 100 paparazzi. It was one of the biggest celebrity meltdowns of all time. That same month she attacked a photographer’s car with an umbrella with a truly crazy look in her eyes. Many careers couldn’t come back from that, but not many fathers could get a judge to grant them a “temporary conservatorship” that’s lasted for over three years. Whatever Jamie Spears has done since taking over his daughter’s affair, its certainly working. She’s been largely out of the tabloids and continues to sell out arenas and score hits. Whether or not she’s happy is an entirely different question – and one maybe even she doesn’t know the answer to.
2. Lady Gaga Everybody has a different point at which they realized that Lady Gaga was an absolute genius. For me, it was watching her performance of “Paparazzi” at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. Not only was it one of the most daring and bizarre spectacles in recent VMA memory, but she sang with incredible passion while fake blood poured all over her and she was suspended from the ceiling like a recently disemboweled pig. The shocked look on Puff Daddy’s face says it all. Gaga spent the last two years on the road, earning sqaujillions of dollars and rivaling Springsteen in terms of energy poured into a single performance. Word is she’s planning an even crazier show for the next tour. We calculated that she’s the reigning Queen of Pop, and you almost agreed.
IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, I have a few issues with the results of this poll. While I 1000% agree that Madonna is the Queen, I’d say that No. 2 and 3 should be reversed … but I doubt that comes as any surprise to anyone who knows me ;) I do NOT believe that Katy Perry should be anywhere near the Top 10 of a list like this but I do love that Aretha Franklin and Elton John (!!!) got love from poll voters. What do y’all think of this list? Do you agree with it? Any grievances?
After being in existence for 168 years, the British tabloid newspaper News of the World will publish it’s final issue this Sunday amid revelations that the publication has been hacking into the phones of everyone from murder victims to members of the Royal family. When news of the hacking came to light, shockwaves of digust spread across the UK but I think it’s safe to say that no one thought that the decision would be made to kill the tabloid altogether. Click below for some deets about the scandal and read the official statement announcing the end of News of the World.
News International announced Thursday it is shutting down the News of the World, the best-selling tabloid at the center of Britain’s phone hacking scandal. James Murdoch, who heads European operations for the paper’s parent company, said the 168-year-old weekly newspaper would publish its last edition Sunday. The scandal has cost the Sunday-only paper prestige and prompted dozens of companies to pull their ads. Murdoch said in a memo to staff that all revenue from the final issue, which will carry no ads, would go to “good causes.” The announcement took British media-watchers — and the newspaper’s staff — by surprise. The Rupert Murdoch-owned tabloid is accused of hacking into the cell phone messages of victims ranging from missing schoolgirls to grieving families, celebrities, royals and politicians in a quest for attention-grabbing headlines. Police say they are examining 4,000 names of people who may have been targeted by the paper. The News of the World, which sells close to 3 million copies a week, has acknowledged that it hacked into the mobile phone voice mails of politicians, celebrities and royal aides. A reporter and a private investigator working for the paper were jailed for phone hacking in 2007. But in recent days the allegations have expanded to take in the phones of missing children who were found slain, the relatives of terrorist victims and families of soldiers killed in Afghanistan. James Murdoch, Rupert’s son, said if the allegations were true, “it was inhuman and has no place in our company.” “Wrongdoers turned a good newsroom bad,” he said, “and this was not fully understood or adequately pursued.” “While we may never be able to make up for distress that has been caused, the right thing to do is for every penny of the circulation revenue we receive this weekend to go to organizations — many of whom are long-term friends and partners — that improve life in Britain and are devoted to treating others with dignity,” he said.
Here is the full, official statement concerning the end of News of the World:
"I have important things to say about the News of the World and the steps we are taking to address the very serious problems that have occurred. It is only right that you as colleagues at News International are first to hear what I have to say and that you hear it directly from me. So thank you very much for coming here and listening. You do not need to be told that The News of the World is 168 years old. That it is read by more people than any other English language newspaper. That it has enjoyed support from Britain's largest advertisers. And that it has a proud history of fighting crime, exposing wrong-doing and regularly setting the news agenda for the nation. When I tell people why I am proud to be part of News Corporation, I say that our commitment to journalism and a free press is one of the things that sets us apart. Your work is a credit to this. The good things the News of the World does, however, have been sullied by behaviour that was wrong. Indeed, if recent allegations are true, it was inhuman and has no place in our Company. The News of the World is in the business of holding others to account. But it failed when it came to itself. In 2006, the police focused their investigations on two men. Both went to jail. But the News of the World and News International failed to get to the bottom of repeated wrongdoing that occurred without conscience or legitimate purpose. Wrongdoers turned a good newsroom bad and this was not fully understood or adequately pursued. As a result, the News of the World and News International wrongly maintained that these issues were confined to one reporter. We now have voluntarily given evidence to the police that I believe will prove that this was untrue and those who acted wrongly will have to face the consequences. This was not the only fault. The paper made statements to Parliament without being in the full possession of the facts. This was wrong. The Company paid out-of-court settlements approved by me. I now know that I did not have a complete picture when I did so. This was wrong and is a matter of serious regret. Currently, there are two major and ongoing police investigations. We are cooperating fully and actively with both. You know that it was News International who voluntarily brought evidence that led to opening Operation Weeting and Operation Elveden. This full cooperation will continue until the Police's work is done. We have also admitted liability in civil cases. Already, we have settled a number of prominent cases and set up a Compensation Scheme, with cases to be adjudicated by former High Court judge Sir Charles Gray. Apologising and making amends is the right thing to do. Inside the Company, we set up a Management and Standards Committee that is working on these issues and that has hired Olswang to examine past failings and recommend systems and practices that over time should become standards for the industry. We have committed to publishing Olswang's terms of reference and eventual recommendations in a way that is open and transparent. We have welcomed broad public inquiries into press standards and police practices and will cooperate with them fully. So, just as I acknowledge we have made mistakes, I hope you and everyone inside and outside the Company will acknowledge that we are doing our utmost to fix them, atone for them, and make sure they never happen again. Having consulted senior colleagues, I have decided that we must take further decisive action with respect to the paper.
This Sunday will be the last issue of the News of the World.
Colin Myler will edit the final edition of the paper. In addition, I have decided that all of the News of the World's revenue this weekend will go to good causes. While we may never be able to make up for distress that has been caused, the right thing to do is for every penny of the circulation revenue we receive this weekend to go to organisations – many of whom are long-term friends and partners – that improve life in Britain and are devoted to treating others with dignity. We will run no commercial advertisements this weekend. Any advertising space in this last edition will be donated to causes and charities that wish to expose their good works to our millions of readers. These are strong measures. They are made humbly and out of respect. I am convinced they are the right thing to do. Many of you, if not the vast majority of you, are either new to the Company or have had no connection to the News of the World during the years when egregious behaviour occurred. I can understand how unfair these decisions may feel. Particularly, for colleagues who will leave the Company. Of course, we will communicate next steps in detail and begin appropriate consultations. You may see these changes as a price loyal staff at the News of the World are paying for the transgressions of others. So please hear me when I say that your good work is a credit to journalism. I do not want the legitimacy of what you do to be compromised by acts of others. I want all journalism at News International to be beyond reproach. I insist that this organisation lives up to the standard of behaviour we expect of others. And, finally, I want you all to know that it is critical that the integrity of every journalist who has played fairly is restored. Thank you for listening."
It’s no secret that British tabloids have a reputation of taking things a bit too far in the pursuit of reporting gossip but when you start hearing about murder victims and dead soldiers being victimized for gossip … that’s pretty damn heinous. Even still, I never guessed that News of the World would get the ax. I figured, at the worst, the entire staff would get canned and replaced. Clearly, Murdoch thinks that no one would ever take NotW seriously again so … it’s dunzo. This may not mean much to some of y’all here in the US in the gossip world, it’s huge news. I love gossip and pop culture … but only if it’s fun. If this hacking business is the way they operate then good riddance. I’m sure some other publication will step up and try to fill the void, you can be assured of that.
The world of Harry Potter will enjoy it’s FINAL world premiere event in London, England today and, sadly, it looks like it may do so without its main star Daniel Radcliffe. DanRad is currently starring in the Broadway musical How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying in NYC and was not in attendance at the London photocall last night. It’s feasible that he may still fly in for the event (and let an understudy perform the show tonight) but even if not, the world premiere of The Deathly Hallows will not be without stars. Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Ralph Finnes and other HP stars will be in attendance today … click below to see a couple of cute group photos from the photocall earlier today.
As fans eagerly countdown the hours to the final Harry Potter film premiere tonight, the cast joined together for a final photocall yesterday evening. And there was no doubt about it, Emma Watson's star was certainly shining bright. The 21-year-old looked simply stunning in a chic black Rafael Lopez dress with lace and ruffle detail as she joined her co-stars to pose for pictures. And with her pixie crop hair emphasising her delicate and captivating features teamed with a LBD showing off her enviable figure it was clear to see why she has become a model in demand. The actress was mobbed by over eager fans as she left her hotel and was quickly surrounded by members of the public who were desperate for an autograph. Emma tried to sign as many posters as she could despite the hectic crowds but was quickly whisked away into her car to join her co-stars with an impressive backdrop provided by the St Pancras Hotel. The actress, who has recently admitted she has struggled to find a boyfriend because men find her success intimidating, greeted Rupert Grint, who plays Ron Weasley with a warm embrace. The pair were missing their co-star Daniel Radcliffe from the line-up who did not attend the photo call because of other work commitments … It was quite a gathering of cast members and James and Oliver Phelps who portray Fred and George Weasley joined the younger cast members. Ralph Fiennes, who plays the villain Lord Voldermort was seen alongside Michael Gambon, Julie walters and Robbie Coltrane. While the stars of the film were posing for pictures the number of fans at Camp Potter in Trafalgar Square has been growing today after hundreds pitched up tents last night.
The world premiere is about to start so if you’d like to be a part of it, you can watch the Live Stream of Harry Potter‘s last London hurrah below:
She only gave birth to her twins Morocco and Monroe just over two months ago. But it appears that Mariah Carey is already pinging right back into shape. The 41-year-old new mother revealed her post-pregnancy figure for the very first time today as she stepped out in Los Angeles. In a comfortable black tracksuit and white t-shirt, she showed off her famous curves. Wearing her hair in natural curl, the Butterfly singer appeared make-up free but shielded herself with some oversized sunglasses. Helped by two handlers, Mariah made her way through a crowd of fans eager to get a glimpse of the mother-of-two who has been busy spending time with her newborns … The superstar singer was rumoured to be initially joining the U.S. edition of the hit talent show as a mentor for an episode or two. But now Simon has confirmed that she is in talks for a more major role – even telling Cowell she wants to be ‘the judge of the judges’. ‘I think Mariah will have a role on the TV live shows. I met her recently and she was on great form,’ the music mogul said. ‘And her idea was to be the judge of the judges, which only Mariah could come up with.’ The new role would be the first time the format has changed in the seven year history of the show. A source told Entertainment Weekly: ‘Mariah and Simon are great friends, and now she has had her babies, it’s very possible that she will be involved some way in the show.’ ‘She has always said she wanted to work with the show, so it’s something they will certainly be discussing ideas for soon.’ The U.S. version of The X Factor premières on September 21. Simon is set to appear on the show along with judges Nicole Scherzinger, LA Reid and Paula Abdul.
This is the first I’m hearing about the X-Factor thing but it makes sense. Christina Aguilera has proven that a big star on a singing show can turn into a BIG deal. Now that Mimi is a mom, she may want a more regular “9 to 5″ type stationary job. Whatever she does, her babies will come first … that’s for sure. It’s great to see her out and about. We may have gotten a peek at baby Monroe‘s little hand but I’m really ready for the first official photos of the twins already. Hopefully soon?
Sean Kingston showed off the remnants of his injuries from his near-fatal jet skiing accident. In the photo obtained by TMZ, Sean — left arm and hand bandaged — is seen with Soulja Boy at a 4th of July/welcome home party he threw for himself at his Miami mansion. Sean’s friends tell us — about 100 people showed up at the party, and ALL guests were warned: “NO JET SKIING!” Even though personal water crafts were banned, it was still fun — jerk chicken, booze, and a stripper who, sadly, didn’t strip.
Awww … this is great news! Sean continues to get better and, hopefully, he’ll be 100% back to normal again soon. I’m sure being around his friends helps a lot. Get well soon, Sean … we need some new music ;)
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