Stephen Frears Doesn't Care About the Oscars

Matthew Shepatin · 02/17/11 01:35PM

Gawker had a chance to speak with Stephen Frears—the renowned British director of such films as My Beautiful Launderette, Dangerous Liaisons, High Fidelity, and The Queen—and get his views on this year's crop of Oscar nominees, George Clooney's politics, and why smart actresses are so sexy.

Funny or Die Prematurely Remakes Upcoming Big Momma Sequel

Richard Blakeley · 02/17/11 01:15PM

Big Mommas: Like Father Like Son is surely destined to be one of the greatest films of all time, and the folks at Funny or Die couldn't wait until this weekend to see it. So, they made their own version, featuring Jaleel White (aka Steve Urkel) as a very hairy Big Momma.

Top Chef: The Cookie Monster Crumbles

Brian Moylan · 02/17/11 01:11PM

Top Chef is often full of monsters, but they're usually egotistical chefs, screaming cohosts, and otherwise unruly contestants. Last night the monsters were the lovable ones from Sesame Street. We have never been so tickled by Elmo.

The Borders Aftermath: Who Falls Next?

Hamilton Nolan · 02/17/11 12:54PM

Borders filed its long-expected bankruptcy yesterday. Hundreds of its stores will be closing in the next few weeks. Besides Borders employees, two other groups are worried: book publishers, and mall owners.

Patriarch of Piano Prodigy Family Charged with Sodomy, Sexually Abusing Daughters

Richard Lawson · 02/17/11 12:43PM

Keith Brown, the father of the popular classical piano quintet The 5 Browns, has been charged in a Utah court with "one first-degree felony count of sodomy on a child and two second-degree felony counts of sexual abuse of a child," according to the AP. While the actual court records don't name the victims, a spokesman for the 5 Browns has confirmed that the case involves Brown's three daughters Desirae, Deondra, and Melody. The alleged abused occurred on several occasions over a period ranging from 1990 to 1998.

'Orgy of the Rich' Actually Pretty Awkward

Maureen O'Connor · 02/17/11 12:35PM

A group of protesters staged an "Orgy of the Rich" at Sotheby's auction house last night. To protest the British government cutting funds to arts programs, the sexy hooligans pulled a fire alarm and started moaning during the auction of a Warhol, unfurling a scarlet banner labeled "ORGY OF THE RICH," thereby disproving everything I learned by watching Eyes Wide Shut on Netflix last week. After the orgiastic poors were removed from the premises, everyone applauded and the auction began anew. The Warhol canvas sold for $5.09 million. [AnimalNY, NYT]

See a Room Instantly Remodeled With Video Projectors

Marie Bardi · 02/17/11 12:30PM

Don't have enough time to redecorate a shabby room? The video-mapping team Mr. Beam used a white room, two video projectors, and a whole lot of creativity to create a 360° live-in projection space that changes colors and designs instantly.

Nameless Republican Candidate Who Doesn't Exist Could Beat Obama

Jim Newell · 02/17/11 12:24PM

Why are Republicans having such a hard time finding a decent presidential candidate to crush all the others? It shouldn't be that hard. You only need one, and it's a country of 309 million people. The sitting president is vulnerable, too. That's an incentive to pluck some generic governor who doesn't say insane things all the time! And yet we still have this weak GOP field, where so many candidates have major flaws and aren't really loved by anyone, especially their mothers.