I've started this blog as an open forum to discuss current topics in the news in a "Point - Counter Point" manner. By using this method of debate, I seek to encourage all to lend their voices and opinions by weighing in on the current days topics up for discussion. Welcome to POINT - COUNTER POINT.
Captain Lou Albano, the former professional wrestler whose WWF fame as a manager in the 1980s was surpassed by his crossover fame as a collaborator with Cyndi Lauper, has died. He was 76.
The New York Daily News reports: He was inducted into the World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame in 1996, paying tribute to Albano's management of 15 WWE tag team champions and WWE title holder Ivan Koloff. The colorful and kooky Albano was dubbed "The Guiding Light" for his "management" work.
"One of the company's most popular and charismatic legends," the WWE said in a statement. "He will be greatly missed." Born Louis Vincent Albano, Captain Lou grew up in New York and briefly went to Tennessee on a football scholarship before turning his attention full-time to wrestling. He and his tag team partner Tony Altimore were known as The Sicilians and at one point in the 1960s held the WWWF tag team championship, but he was more famous to wrestling fans as a manager of popular wrestlers including the tag team champion British Bulldogs.
He found his greatest fame outside the ring working with Lauper, including appearing as her father in the "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" video. He continued to work as an actor in the 1990s.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a new bill into law Sunday that will fine paparazzi for taking photos that invade a celebrity's right to privacy. The law also targets media outlets who purchase the photos.
Throngs of photographers often jockey to get the perfect shot of a celebrity, but that doesn't mean it's welcomed. Britney Spears famously had enough one night, taking an umbrella to a photographer's SUV.
In 1998, Schwarzenegger himself had his car swarmed by paparazzi while he was picking up his child from school.
Jennifer Aniston received $550,000 and an apology from a photographer who used a high-powered telephoto lens to shoot her in the backyard wearing only panties.
While paparazzi may get a bad rap for their methods, celebrity columnist Ben Widdicombe said things are not always what they seem.
"A lot of times the shot you see in the magazine is actually orchestrated by the celebrity themselves," said celebrity columnist Ben Widdicombe. "Celebrities like Britney Spears, for example, are infamous in the industry for letting their assistants tell the paparazzi when they'll be leaving the gates."
Celebrity photos can be big business, especially when it comes to major milestones. Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher reportedly pocketed $3 million from OK for their 2005 union. Eva Longoria and Tony Parker received $2 million from OK for photos of their lavish Paris, France, wedding.
Expectant celebrities can also rake in big bucks. People magazine reportedly paid $14 million for the first pictures of the Brad Pitt-Angelina Jolie twins.
The new California law makes it a crime to take and sell unauthorized photos of celebrities in "personal or familial activity." Violators face fines up to $50,000. The anti-paparazzi amendment takes effect in January.
These days, life's a walk in the dog park for Dean Sheremet. Smiling and escorting his pooch into a concrete dog run in New York City on Tuesday, LeAnn Rimes' estranged husband tells a photographer in a video posted atRadarOnline.com that he's doing "pretty good" and that he still talks to his wife. Shown a photo (not visible in the video) of Rimes and an unidentified person the photographer calls her "new beau," Sheremet, 28, laughs and says "that's a good friend of ours!"
Of Brandi Glanville -- the soon-to-be-ex-wife of Eddie Cibrian with whom Rimes has been involved since late 2008 -- Sheremet says simply, "she's a good woman!" The former dancer -- now enrolled at NYC's French Culinary Institute -- seems to be cheering up after an emotionally trying time. In August, when asked about the extended Rimes-Cibrian affair that ended his marriage, he fought back tears and told Usmagazine.com, "It's bizarre. It's surreal. But I'm doing OK."
Us Weekly reported in its September 14 cover story that Sheremet and Glanville reached out to one another in the wake of their imploding marriages. "They're the ones who understand what the other is feeling," a pal says. Glanville, meanwhile, recently complained that new neighbor Rimes -- whose new home is half a block from her son Mason's school -- is "invading my space" and "needs to back the F up."
Cibrian and Glanville, both 36, filed for divorce in August following eight years of marriage. That same month, Rimes, 27, and Sheremet announced their separation after seven years.
As part of their ongoing series of parties and events at the White House, the Obamas hosted a Latin music celebration (or, "Fiesta Latina") on Tuesday night. The performers included Gloria Estefan, Marc Anthony, Jose Feliciano, Los Lobos, the New York bachata band Aventura, the Mexican singer Thalia, among others. In the video below, the Obama family is onstage and dancing -- Michelle with Malia, and Barack with Sasha -- and Jennifer Lopez, wearing gold, is swaying just behind them.
I have to admit I feel bad for the man. I'm biracial and boy can I dance! I can't say the same for the Obama's. LOL
A show is only as great as its opening credits. Here's our list of the 15 best title sequences.
Quick! Think of your favorite TV show. Chances are, your memory turns to a favorite character, a favorite episode, or a favorite line. But when it comes to defining the overall feel of the show, the show's opening title sequenceprobably comes to mind.
A title sequence isn't just the name of a show spelled in a cool font, slapped over a few choice scenes from last season, and then sewn together with a snappy theme song. In under 90 seconds, a title sequence can tell you what a show is about, and what it wants to be. It can evoke terror, bring a smile, tell a story, ask a question -- and convince you that what you're about to watch is special. TV.com has recently reviewed the best of the best title sequences throughout TV history (and there are quite a few excellent ones out there). These made the cut as the Top 15 Title Sequences of all time.
And NO Kanye, you cannot take our microphone and let us finish and tell us that Beyonce has the best title sequence of ALL TIME!
Don't act like this theme song wasn't your ringtone for at least six months, because it was. Those bells, that hair, that tutu, that bus, and that splash of water all represent Carrie Bradshaw's (Sarah Jessica Parker) fashionable, emotional exploration of sex and love in New York City.
14. Cowboy Bebop The trumpets, the rapid-fire stand-up bass, and those colors! Japan's Cowboy Bebop title sequence makes other cartoons mad with jealousy.
13. Dexter Who knew that shaving and frying eggs could be so ... creepy?
12. Weeds It doesn't matter who sings "Little Boxes" -- the irony in this idyllic suburban scene is so obvious that you can smell it. What is that smell, anyway?
11. Pee-Wee's Playhouse This two-minute-plus title sequence gives Fantasia a run for its money in the "Most Likely Created Under the Influence" category.
10. Star Trek Three words: The final frontier. Three more words: To boldly go. Now there's how you split an infinitive.
9. The Muppet Show Is it just me, or did the Muppets work harder than anyone else in show business? Check out that choreography!
8. Flight of the Conchords Bret and Jermaine may lead dull lives, but that doesn't mean that their salt and pepper shakers can't do a little dance. Look at 'em go!
7. The Brady Bunch 3x3 grids were never this cool before, and they'll never be this cool again. Neither will Florence Henderson's haircut.
6. Mad Men The title sequence doesn't contain Jon Hamm's face, but it's mesmerizing nevertheless. And that silhouette? It's already legendary.
5. Desperate Housewives On the surface, it's a campy, fluffy homage to pop art. But dig a little deeper, and you'll see twinkles in those dark eyes and sarcastic smirks behind all the smiles.
4. The Simpsons The clouds always part, there's always an aerial view of Springfield, Bart always ditches school, Homer always gets in an accident, Marge always shops for groceries, and Lisa always jams on the sax. Other than that, it's all up in the air -- and in the end, they all end up on the couch.
2. The Sopranos The big white Suburban, the drag on the cigar, the New Jersey Turnpike, and solitude: four of Tony Soprano's (James Gandolfini) favorite things. Cue the smoky music, and you've got an iconic image.
1. True Blood Why did a two-year-old show's title sequence beat out all these other guys? It's overflowing with sin-and-redemption symbolism, the footage is raw and graphic, and the song is almost too good. In short, it's perfect.
