Fred & Barney try to get into a nightclub

Creator Seth MacFarlane put this little piece together.

It's kinda funny to see Fred & Barney getting all bent out of shape with a 2009 attitude.

As the Palin Turns: Levi to Sue for Custody of Tripp?

OK, it must be sweeps week up in Alaska because this soap opera is getting pretty stale. With Levi Johnston latest interview--last night on Larry King--I'm starting to lose whatever sympathy I had for the guy. The headline, I guess, is that Levi may sue for custody of his son. Emphasis on may. But it's hard to come away from this clip thinking much beyond, why the hell is this guy still doing interviews? How much money is he being paid to keep this up? Oh, actually, come to think of it, that pretty much answers the whole "why" question. Well, try to have fun, anyway. 

What do you all think of today's "HOT MESS" topic?

Idol: Anoop Desai & Lil Rounds Leave In Double Elimination

After disco night on Idol, comes disco inferno. Because of the judges’ save of Matt Giraud last week, two singers instead of one were slated to go on Wednesday’s show.  

The one disturbing development was that Allison Iraheta instead of Matt wound up in the bottom. She’s a powerful singer, the judges love her, her performance on Tuesday arguably showed much greater natural confidence than Matt’s, so what’s the problem here?  

The hour included Paula Abdul's choreography for the opening group number, a not very danceable medley of songs by aging disco hit-makers, and a performance by former Idol runner-up David Archuleta.  He sang a slightly rocky pop song, “Touch My Hand,” then told Anoop and Allison, “It’s amazing to see where you can go after this.”

Did America make the right decision? Will you miss Anoop and Lil? Which one will be successful?  

Beyonce Amazed By Hacked Vocals Prank

Oh, oh, oh  Oh, Oh, NO - to the clip of Beyonce singing "If I Were A Boy," where there are cracked notes and other examples of vocal struggling that sounded embarrassing.  I have to admit, that hearing this recording had me LMBO & ROFL.  Take a listen and tell me what you think.

Wednesday, E! News revealed that the entire story was a hoax and even found the person who edited the track to sound as if Beyonce could not sing.

A sourced named Matt from an upstart blog admitted that the Beyonce vocals were a joke. "Yes I created them, and they are fake," he told E! News.

Thursday, Beyonce also confirmed the scam to Today Show host Matt Lauer.

"It's so amazing that someone in their home can do a little prank and it can end up on these major radio stations," Beyonce told Lauer.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

She added that she had not heard the track but was surprised by the attention it has caused. "How could you believe that? I heard it was really over the top."

While Beyonce laughed about the ordeal, Matthew Knowles, her manager and father, was furious. When TMZ contacted him about the incident he replied in a fiery statement.  

The gossip blog described Papa Knowles' statement as the best they have ever seen and I agree. Knowles called an idiot anyone who ever doubted his daughter's singing ability.

"If no one took the time to look at the biggest inauguration in the history of America then shame on them," Knowles quipped to TMZ.  "If no one took the time to listen to Beyonce sing 'America The Beautiful' and 'At Last' at the Neighborhood Ball for the first dance of President Obama and the First Lady, and they question Beyonce's vocal ability, they've gotta be an idiot,'" Knowles added.

Losing Its Cool at the Mall

With the current economy the way it is, Abercrombie, is facing a consumer revolt, while others are paradoxically upbeat. A clue: It has to do with price.

Robert Wright for The New York Times

"This spring, spending by teenagers, a closely studied but rarely understood segment of the population, is off by 14 percent, a direct reflection of the economy, according to a report this month by the investment bank Piper Jaffray. And that is having a profound effect on an already unraveling mall culture, where deep discounters and stores known for heavy promotions are suddenly the popular destinations and aspirational brands are struggling to fit in."

What are you doing to cut back?  Where are you shopping for clothes?  Are the days of shopping by the label or name brand over?  

For more on this topic see the NYTimes article by Eric Wilson at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/23/fashion/23TEENS.html

Taking Hair Color Into Their Own Hands

Just one more indicator that the current recession is hitting home in a big way many are taking hair color into their own hands.  "Not every woman is ready to slip on a pair of latex gloves and take hair coloring into her own hands. But like Spam and instant potatoes, home hair color appears to be that rare product that is getting a lift from the recession."

James Martin/Getty Images

Asked how the economy had changed their spending habits, 15 percent of 1,000 American women who have their hair colored professionally said they now color it at home, according to a recent survey by Mintel, a market research firm. Another company, Information Resources, said dollar sales of a popular Clairol product, Root Touch-up, shot up 20 percent over the last year.

An indication of home color’s rising profile can be seen in the latest products, which are created by name-brand salon owners, a new twist in an industry long dominated by mass market manufacturers like Clairol and L’Oréal.

Do you find yourself cutting back in such a manner during this recession? Want to know more?  Read the full NYTimes article by Terry Trucco at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/23/fashion/23skin.html  and let me know what you think.