MamaPop™

Introducing: The Mamapop Limited Edition Tee, Numero Uno

The first of what will henceforth be a monthly tradition... This one goes out to all of you American Idol/Paula lovers:

Miss I've-Never-Been-Drunk-In-My-Life? Pah-leese. With Mamapop logo on back.

Available for purchase here in a variety of sizes, colors and unisex styles,
between now and 2/28 only.

Get yours while you still can!

I'm told that Meatwad has been hauled in for questioning as well.

Oh, people. This is just too priceless.

Authorities arrested a man in connection with electronic light boards depicting a middle-finger-waving moon man that triggered repeated bomb scares around Boston on Wednesday and prompted the closure of bridges and a stretch of the Charles River.

Meanwhile, police and prosecutors vented their anger at Turner Broadcasting Inc., the parent company of CNN, who said the battery-operated light boards were aimed at promoting the late-night Adult Swim cartoon "Aqua Teen Hunger Force," condemning Turner for not taking proper steps to end the bomb scares earlier and for not issuing an adequate apology to the city.

American Idol Los Angeles Open Thread

Bring on the freaks! (Not you -- I'm talking about the LA contestants, silly!)

How Do You Say "Oh, Snap!" in Italian?

If, like me, you've followed the career of the utter buffoon that was until recently Italy's prime minister, then you will enjoy this.

The wife of Italy's former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi forced him to make a public apology on Wednesday for flirtatious quips that outraged her so much she published an open letter scorning him in a leading newspaper.

Berlusconi told some women at a TV awards dinner last week that "if I wasn't already married I would marry you right away", and "with you I'd go anywhere," she said in the letter.

Veronica, Berlusconi's second wife and mother of three of his children, said the comments belittled her and that she only decided to make her marital spat public after failing to win an apology in private.

For the Italians, this public smackdown makes our Rosie vs. Trump feud look like piccoli patate (small potatoes).

Reminder: American Idol Los Angeles Auditions Open Thread Tonight!

If Hollywood is indeed Hollyweird, then tonight's American Idol auditions in Los Angeles should offer a virtual feast of aural atrocities for our snarking pleasure. We'll be here per usual, with bells on, starting at 9pm EST (and please do note that later start time), a flask of bourbon in one hand and a lit lighter held aloft in the other. [gives The Goat]

Chirky is dead. Long live Chirky!

Your Mid-Week Timesuck

Although TVLand is not on my list of favorite channels, the TVLand website has become one of my favorite guilty pleasures. Their collection of classic TV theme songs, while limited to songs from shows that are currently aired on TVLand, is a great source for a quick fix of nostalgia. I'm not willing to give up an hour of my life to watch an entire episode of Miami Vice, but listening to the show's theme song gives me that warm and fuzzy feeling that I can only get from a mid-80's new wave cop drama. (But please let's not discuss how painful it is that a show from my high school years is now "classic" television.)

Also available for your listening pleasure: themes from Good Times, Night Court, and three different versions of the Brady Bunch theme.

Jon Stewart on Jack's Big Music Show!

Comedy Central has announced that Jon Stewart, darling of the The Daily Show, will be on Noggin's Jack's Big Music Show on Friday, February 2nd. This news will probably only be of interest to parents and caregivers...er, well, parents and caregivers who still have the ability to stay up past 11 p.m. I only fall into that category about once a week, but whatever.

Thanks to LJ user banshee for the tip!

Searching for Pussy

I always thought the Pussycat Dolls were entirely too cheesy to be taken seriously but apparently somebody out there disagrees because the PCD's are going to be starring in their very own reality show, Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll. Ooooh! Someone pinch me!

Now, given what is routinely served up on some of my fave reality shows, you don't have to be particularly talented (Surreal Life Fame Games) or intelligent (I Love New York) or classy (neither of them) to get a reality show these days and apparently, being skanks that sing about seducing your boyfriend is no impediment either.

The premise of the show is to showcase a lot of T & A their search for their newest member (like SIX of them isn't enough???) as they "sift through thousands of gifted hopefuls." Right

Each episode will feature a specific theme and weekly challenges ranging from "ballet dancing in toe shoes" (because that's SO relevant) to "designing an original Pussycat Doll-style outfit."

Contestants will be judged by PCD founder Robin Antin (sister of egomaniacal hairdresser/reality TV star Jonathan Antin), the chairman of Geffen records and rapper/ex-convict Lil Kim.

The real question is will I be watching the show's March 6th debut on the CW? Ummm. I'm not sure yet. I mean I do love me some tawdry, low-brow reality TV and these chicks do meet the tawdry requirement but they just don't seem quite like my brand of crazy. I do think, however, that Lil Kim will be the wacky, wild card judge and if anyone on the show persuades me to tune in, it will probably be her.

American Idol Birmingham Auditions Open Thread

Mirror, mirror on the wall
Who is the suckiest of them all?

Let's find out together, shall we?

Liveblogging: Some Random Gilmore Girls Episode That Is Sure To Piss Amy Off

* A continually updated, running commentary on the broadcast in real-time (hit refresh as necessary)*

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

So Amanda and I were emailing today (part four frillion and two of the non-stop tantrum I've been throwing since the Palladinos left Gilmore Girls in the hands of some dirty typewriter surrender monkeys), and she informed me that the Rumors That Be report that this show might actually be back for an 8th season after all.

ANOTHER SEASON? Jesus. I've gone on record as swearing to go down with the ship, but another season? That's like going down with the ship, washing up on a deserted island, and then starving to death after you run out of coconuts.

Sigh. Okay, it's showtime. Let us all gather together around this little bonfire I've managed to build (Wilson the volleyball helped), and support each other by reminiscing about the days before this show went totally off the rails. And peanut butter. God, I would totally fuck a has-been musician for some peanut butter.

Paula Abdul To Be Replaced By Courtney Love?

Apparently generic crazy is not enough for American Idol.

US Weekly is reporting that the producers have tapped Courtney Love to "replace Paula Abdul" as the third judge on American Idol, bringing her own special brand of crazy (aka "batshit crazy") to the show.

As if American Idol viewers don't already have anough to cringe over. Personally, Paula always creeped me out, but in an overly earnest eager-beaver way. At least with Courtney when she attacks Simon and drains his blood we'll cheer her on.

Eddie Izzard Totally Called It

Dudes, check it (from today's CNN):

A village of small houses that may have sheltered the builders of the mysterious Stonehenge -- or people attending festivals there -- has been found by archaeologists studying the stone circle in England. The ancient houses are at a site known as Durrington Walls, about two miles from Stonehenge. It is also the location of a wooden version of the stone circle.

Of course, fans of Eddie Izzard have suspected this all along.

24 Questions

OK, is anyone going to address the question on everyone's mind today?

Anyone?

No one? Fine, then. I'll do it.

Why the hell isn't Donald Sutherland playing Jack Bauer's dad on 24? Come on, that's casting inspired by the Lord himself! Seems like the big, dramatic moment when Jack's father is revealed should inspire me to shout, "Oh, my God, he has a dad?" and not, "That'll do pig!"

I wish this were my only problem with this season's cast. Although I was delighted by the Graem's-your-brother twist, I've simply never gotten past the roles I saw him in first. In my mind, his name is Mongomery and he sings the body electric and glories in the thrill of rebirth. He creates his own tomorrow by becoming a doctor but then a flaming helicopter falls on him, which makes me wonder exactly when he had time to carpool with Jack to pee-wee hockey practice.

Or, how about the gal I only know as the daughter from Vegas Vacation? I'm pleased to know she used her Keno winnings to attend college for a degree in computer science, but when did she become Muslim? Is Clark pissed that this is going to ruin Christmas? And would CTU even hire anyone related to Cousin Eddie?

And what about Milo, the dude from The OC who beat up Marisa? Are felons allowed to have Class Four security clearance? Also, what's the deal with his facial hair? Good Christ, can't the show get a Gillette product placement already? (And don't get me started about the President and his GOATEE. Seriously, don't the proudcers know that goatee = evil in every cartoon? Does this mean the President is going to break bad? Because I had enough of that last time.)

On the bright side, none of the casting issues have dampened my enjoyment of the current season, particularly since I've seen neither hide nor hair of Kim Bauer or Audrey Raines. (AND LET'S KEEP IT THAT WAY, THANKS.) But more importantly, how do you guys feel about Day Six so far? Do you miss Edgar desperately? Are you buying that Chloe is now a hot property? Will there be trouble if Jack finds himself another manpurse? Were you shocked about the nuke or simply annoyed by the guy in the car on the phone with the chick and would it kill someone to tell us who he is already so we don't have to keep assuming? Anything you'd improve? Other than adding Donald Sutherland, of course. Discuss.

Prizes for the 2007 Mamapop Oscars Challenge

The winner of this year's challenge will receive the following swag (we will be updating this continually as the prizes* flow in), with a current total value estimated at over $185:

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1. A signed galley copy of (Mamapop's own) Jen Lancaster's memoir "Bright Lights, Big Ass" ($15 value), courtesy of Jen Lancaster

2. A signed copy of Ayun Halliday's "Job Hopper" and a one-year East Village Inky subscription ($27 value), courtesy of Ayun Halliday

3. One $5 BLOCKBUSTER Gift Card, courtesy of Team Mamapop

4. One $10 Bath & Body Works Gift Card, courtesy of Team Mamapop

5. One $10 Starbucks Gift Card, courtesy of Team Mamapop

6. A Cuban Coffee Kit ($20 value), courtesy of Tere

7. A $100 Gift Certificate for Threadless, courtesy of Threadless

8. A 6-month Membership to Netflix ($108 value), courtesy of Netflix

. . . . . . . . . .

Be sure to check back here for more additions! And don't forget to VOTE!

*If you or your business would like to donate an item to our swag bag in exchange for massive linky-love, please contact us!

Reminders: American Idol & Gilmore Girls Open Threads Tonight!

Its another big evening for us, my pretties! American Idol Birmingham auditions AND Gilmore Girls (the former being helmed by this season's AI mainstay Tracey, the latter being liveblogged by everyone's favorite GG fanatic Amy), both covered in full here starting here at 8pm EST (and running until we all collectively lose our will to live type). Get your momtinis mixed and cozy up to the teevee with us for what will doubtless be an evening of snarktastic fun! See ya'll then!

The 2007 Mamapop Oscars Challenge!

***VOTING IS NOW CLOSED, THANKS!***
Long-time readers of sweetney know that for the past several years I've done this here Oscars challenge thingy over on my personal blog. And they also know that, beyond a shadow of doubt, IT IS THE AWESOME. But, what with the advent of Mamapopdom since Oscar season last year and all, I figger this is now the place for the Oscar love to flourish. So without further ado:

Cast your predictive vote(s) in The 1st Annual Mamapop Oscars Challenge HERE. Be sure to include your email address AND full name in the appropriate fields (both will remain private).

The individual with the most correct votes* wins a Mamapop Oscar Swag bag, the contents of which will be detailed here shortly (but it'll be some good shizzle, rest assured) can be viewed here (incomplete, more added soon!). So chop-chop!

Voting will be open until 5pm EST Sunday February 25th (the day of the Oscars). Our winner will be announced -- with much fanfare -- the following morning, once all the numbers have been crunched.

*In the event of a tie, we'll do an old-skool pulling-a-name-out-of-a-hat thing to determine the final winner, fyi.

PS: Crazy-mad props to defective yeti!!

PPS: The voting page uses the term pool, when in reality this is more a simple contest. You aren't contributing anything; just voting and, hopefully, winning.

**If you are interested in contributing an item or product to our Oscar Swag Bag, please contact us for details!**

Where In The World Is Nicole Kidman?

Does anyone else wonder if Nicole Kidman ever sees her kids?

I do realize that we don't see every detail of celebrities' lives through magazine photos, but I'm pretty darn sure we've seen every one of Conner and Isabella's soccer games and yet? Where is their mother? You never hear her talk about them, you never see them together, and then she recently said this to US Weekly:

My priority right now is my life in Tennessee.

How can you say that when your children live in California? More importantly, when you are a millionaire why exactly would you choose to move away from your children? Something is up. ...I have, um, no idea what. But, you heard it here first!