With The Reader and Australia in the awards-season rearview mirror, Hollywood desperately needs a new soap opera to occupy its time. They might have it with Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott's oft-delayed Nottingham.
The voicemail message at Wes Anderson's New York office/apartment.
Studios found no happy surprises beneath the Chrismukkah bush today, as snowed-in audiences opted out of Will Smith's messianic broodiness and Jim Carrey saying "yes" more times than Tara Reid at the Promises buffet line.
Because what everyone on Wall Street is looking for right this moment is a more lavish and expensive way to travel, US Helicopter announced today that it hopes to resume flights between the Wall Street heliport and JFK and Newark beginning in January. But even now penniless, suicidal financiers may want to take note of the news: We're pretty sure jumping from the top of a skyscraper is painful enough without getting caught in the rotor blades of a passing helicopter. [NYT]
It seems that Leigh Lezark's coldstare doesn't just look good in photos, it actually hypnotizes suggestible reporters into thinking it's still 2006: An interview in the UK Times over the weekend describes her as "the reigning queen of the feckless, fickle world of New York cool," and has her age listed as 22. It's a testament to Lezark's fascinating personality that a conversation with her yields as many as three quotes, including her devastating put down to some idiot who dared to criticize Chanel: "I was, like, have you worn it, ever?" The Misshapes DJ and model, you see, possesses "the enigma and understatement of a glamorous star of the silent screen," which may just be an elegant way of saying she should just keep quiet, lest the world realizes that barely a thought inhabits her glossy black head.
Groans are issuing from the Googleplex over this year's holiday bonus. In the past, the search engine paid cash — as much as $20,000 or $30,000 per Googler, we hear. This year? A cell phone.
Just in case you had any doubt the real estate market in the Hamptons is in the dumps, there's new data today to support the claim. The average home sale price fell 23.3 percent in the third quarter compared to the same period last year, and the number of sales declined by 28.8 percent. Here's a way to boost the Hamptons real estate market in these troubled times: Why not offer up tours of the homes of disgraced Wall Streeters? We'd gladly hand over a ten-dollar bill for a guided tour of ex-Lehman COO Joe Gregory's $32 million Bridgehampton home. [Real Deal]
That's the headline on Associated Press' review of the Scientology bigwig's new "let's kill Hitler!" film. Everyone (well, lotsa people) want to slam this film, and the AP's early dig is hard to top.
After months of delays and several projected opening dates that never quite happened, Andre Balazs' Standard NYC finally opened its doors to guests yesterday. It's a soft opening, which means people who book rooms for $195 a night still won't have access to a restaurant, room service, or gym. Nonetheless, the reservation line (212-784-5530!) has been switched on, which we'll count as a victory in these scary, recessionary times. [HotelChatter]
• Conservative radio is expecting a big boost once Obama takes office. Also, Fred Thompson, not Rudy Giuliani, will take over Bill O'Reilly's slot. [NYT]
• Publishers don't seem to be very interested in Laura Bush's memoir. [NYer]
• After a three-day blackout, China has unblocked the Times' website. [NYT]
• Is Chris Matthews running for office or sticking with NBC? [THR]
• The AP's list of top 10 news stories of 2008. [AP]
• Politico's list of the top 10 media blunders of 2008. [Politico]
• A list of the biggest media losers of 2008. [Business Sheet]
That crazy Duggar family from the reality show 17 and Counting was on the Today this morning. Because mom just gave birth to baby number 18. Why are we encouraging these people?
