Thursday, June 24, 2010

The Boondocks - Create a 'Madea' type character?


South Park‘s decade-plus of brilliantly skewering celebs has made that type of satire de rigueur for adult-oriented animation. But when The Boondocks‘ latest episode featured a sassy, gun-waiving, bump-and-grinding Madea-esque character that ruled stage, film, and TV — and the Jesus-praising male auteur who plays her — it still got folks talking. The “Pause” episode’s Ma Duke character was clearly Madea, and it stands to reason that the Winston Jerome character was Tyler Perry (neither Perry’s office nor Turner Networks would comment on the episode). Jerome’s works were portrayed as poorly written and almost buffoonish and set him up as a closeted, cultish leader, who created his Ma Duke empire as a way to solicit sex with men. In the episode, Huey and Riley’s grandpa gets cast in Jerome’s new play, “Ma Duke Gets a Man.” First he’s asked to kiss Ma Duke on stage, then Jerome asks him straight out for sex.

Even though shows like South Park have taught us that there are no sacred cows, did Boondocks go too far with “Pause”? A satirical take on the kind of work Perry does and the “prosperity Christianity” he seemingly espouses is one thing, but some folks are up in arms because the episode also calls into question his motivation and brings his sexuality into the mix. What do you think? Is that all fair game? Did you see the episode? Funny, mean, both?

Unseen Portraits of Michael Jackson To Be Auctioned...


Michael Jackson was one of the most photographed human beings in history. Countless iconic images of Jackson were published during his lifetime, and a year after his death, new ones are still surfacing. For instance: This fall, 12 previously unseen, one-of-one prints of the King of Pop will go up for auction.

Rolling Stone has more details on the portraits, which were taken by French photographer Arno Bani in 1999 for potential use on Jackson’s Invincible album. Instead they remained in an archive somewhere until now. Bids for each print will start at a hefty 1,000 Euros.

The sole image that the auction house has released so far is a striking one. Take a look to the left of this post: Jackson stands in a reflective pose, both eyes shut with one encircled in aquamarine glitter. The make-up and the contours of his face recall Aladdin Sane-era Bowie.

What do you think of this news? Are you looking forward to seeing the other portraits from this previously unseen session?

You can find more about this at; http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/17386/121182

Friggin' Twilight - The Jersey Shore

LaToya Jackson visits with Bubbles for a documentary


After 20 years of estrangement, La Toya Jackson has reunited with her late brother's pet chimp for an emotional Animal Planet documentary, "Michael Jackson & Bubbles: The Untold Story."

Jackson, 54, is seen visiting the Center for Great Apes in Florida, which 27-year-old Bubbles - who toured with Michael and appeared in his music videos - has called home since 2004.

Though Michael had been to the sanctuary several times before his death last year, this was the first visit by any other Jackson family member, reports the Highlands Today newspaper.


"Oh, I want to kiss you, I want to hug you but I know I can't because you're so big!" Jackson tells Bubbles before breaking down into sobs. "You remember me, don't you? I miss you, Bubbles."

"He looks the same to me," she says later in the documentary, which airs tonight. "The eyes, everything's the same. You see just a more mature person."

According to Highlands Today, Jackson's visit brought back memories of her brother. "She is still mourning her brother's death," said sanctuary director Patti Ragan, "and Bubbles reminded her of Michael."

And I say, has her career gotten so bad that she has to revisit Bubbles? Probably.

Showbiz Tonight's AJ Hammer looks into whether the guys of "Jersey Shore" got tricked into posing for a gay cover story.

Naked Cowboy Showing Another Kind of Brief - A LEGAL BRIEF


For more than 12 years, the Naked Cowboy has made a name a for himself by performing music while clad only in a cowboy hat and tighty-whitey briefs.

Now he's whipping out his legal briefs.

Back in 2008, the Naked Cowboy (aka Robert Burck) sued Mars Inc. for trademark infringement after the company played a short animation of the blue M&M character playing a guitar while dressed in a white cowboy hat, cowboy boots and underpants on the electronic animation display that hangs outside the M&M's store in New York City's Times Square -- the Naked Cowboy's main venue.

For nearly three years, Brodsky has been performing ditties like "Tits My Party" dressed up -- or down, as it were -- as the "Naked Cowgirl," complete with cowboy hat and a skimpy red, white and blue bikini.

But now the Naked Cowboy has his panties in a bunch and has sent his female counterpart a cease-and-desist letter through his attorney, Todd Rubenstein.



Brodsky is confused by the legal threats, in part because she has been friends with Burck and also because of the timing.

"They waited three years?" she asked in a voice that reminiscent of Fran Drescher. "Plus, how can they trademark the word 'Naked'? There's Naked Juice and the Barenaked Ladies. ... I was born naked. It doesn't make sense."

And if you ask me all of this is rather foolish and you know what, Brodsky has a point. We were all born naked so why don't we all just go around calling ourselves "Naked - So&So" just to tick the Cowboy off!

Harry Potter Ride Turns Some Muggles Away for Being Too Big...


When most people get in line at Orlando, Fla.'s new Harry Potter theme park, they're worried about the wait -- not their weight.

But according to some Harry Potter lovers, pudgy muggles -- those who weigh about 265 pounds or more -- are getting tossed from line at the most-hyped ride in Universal Studios' Wizarding World of Harry Potter amusement park.

Harry Potter fanatic Jeff Guillaume said he was "quite disappointed" after park officials turned him away from the Hogwarts-touring attraction because his 5-foot, 8-inch, 265-pound frame was deemed too large for the ride's safety harnesses.



"What it boils down to for me, and what surprised and disappointed me the most, was that many of Universal's other rides contain 'modified seating' rows for larger guests, and -- let's face it -- a good number of people in the Harry Potter fandom are a bit heavy, so why didn't Universal anticipate and accommodate us here?" he wrote on his website, the Harry Potter Automatic News Aggregator (HPANA to Potter maniacs).

Now if you ask me, the theme park is only doing what it must to protect those who are riding the rides. Weighing in at 265 pounds what did the 5-foot, 8-inch (who btw clinically he's obese) think - that he could actually fit into it? I mean come on, at his weight I'm sure they would make him purchase TWO seat tickets on Jet Blue just to travel. I think he should be a little less worried and bothered about not being able to be harnessed to a ride and a little more concerned for his overall health. Here's a suggestion; How about loosing about 165 pounds and bring yourself into the average weight class for someone your size and THEN go onto the ride. I'm sure you'll enjoy the experience a hell of a lot more then!

Just sayin' - thoughts?

For those who may want to book a travel or see more information on the ride itself go to the link below;

http://www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/

Don't Text & Drive...

Brazilian Baby Boy Getting Down to the Samba...

I think he should have been on Dancing With The Stars or America's Got Talent!