Paris Hilton vs. Elle Woods
In one corner, Paris Hilton…worth something like $45 million dollars, she has more than a dozen lines of branded merchandise, a bestselling book, a hit single, an impressively hot mug shot, and new reality show—The World According to Paris—launching tonight. (I can’t lie: I’ll be watching. Oxygen, 10 pm EST.) She’s also appeared in many a movie and TV show, including my new favorite, Veronica Mars.
In the other corner, Legally Blonde star Elle Woods: Delta Nu sorority president, Harvard Law grad, animal rights activist, and the leading lady of two hit movies and an Emmy-award nominated Broadway show. She feels comfortable using legal jargon in everyday life, and also has her own Barbie Doll.
Both Paris and Elle are two relentlessly goal-oriented blondes, defying social expectations and hair color stereotypes to succeed on their own terms, with perfect hair the entire way. Sure, they may come across as flaky at times, but who am I to judge? I recently hit myself in the face with a door I was trying to open. We all have our blonde moments! And if you’re so smart, then you shouldn’t have any trouble guessing which blonde said what…
Paris or Elle?
1)
“People think I’m stupid. But I’m smarter than most people.”
2) “I have always respected redheads as members of a hair color minority.”
3) “This is just like C-SPAN, except I’m not bored.”
4) ”Oh, and I’ll see you at the White House. I might paint it pink.”
5) “The only rule is don’t be boring and dress cute wherever you go.”
Bonus essay question! OK, there’s one big difference between these two: Elle Woods is imaginary and Paris Hilton is real. Or is she? Paris acknowledges that she plays up a certain image for the media as a business branding strategy—and let’s be honest, do you have an album, movie and TV credits, multiple reality shows, and a perfume? That’s what I thought. Elle, on the other hand, while technically a movie character, is authentically herself in every scene, even managing to win legal battles based on her extensive knowledge of the rules of hair care (simple and finite, people!). So who’s really real: Elle or Paris?
Answer the bonus question in the comments, and best answer gets a copy of 101 Reasons to Shop, something both of these women know a little something about!
(Quiz answers: Paris: 1, 4, 5. Elle: 2, 3. If you are surprised by #4, you have forgotten Paris’s faux-Presidential campaign ad, in response to John McCain.)
Latest posters for Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Pt II
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part II, the eighth and final movie of the series, promises to be something EPIC. Check out some of the new posters below–I’m especially pleased to see some previously unsung heroes getting their solo poster due. Like Neville! In the books, he’s such a great character: it’s a shame that the movies had to gloss over his story, but here’s to hoping that he gets his props in this last movie. Check out the trailer here, and thanks to MuggleNet.com for the images.
July 15 can’t come quickly enough.
Harry Potter, man of the summer.
Time to step up, Neville Longbottom.
Severus Snape. <3
Draco Malfoy: wicked or just scared?
Everyone, calm down.
Adele!
Hi! I’ve not contributed to YourItList since approximately 1964, but I’m back! Get excited.
- Celine Dion – she is amazing after all.
- Justin Timberlake – now that he’s an “actor” I don’t guess this is likely to happen.
- Dolly Parton – it’s coming on June 28th! Before the apocalypse(s)!
- En Vogue – but I’m probably Never Gonna Get It.
- Charlene – without her, I’d have never been to me.
And since it seems that I’m writing about music, I have to tell you … not that you asked … that I’m getting quite tired of this “Lady Gaga is trying to be Madonna” thing. It’s getting old and I have other things to think about … like the Tony Awards or what I’m supposed to watch until 30 Rock and Modern Family come back. Anyway, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about it; probably too much time. If you like Lady Gaga, listen to Lady Gaga. If you like Madonna, listen to Madonna. If you like them both, well, then you have good taste and you should carry on.
Gaga vs. Madonna
Remembering Elizabeth Taylor
As of today, with the passing of Elizabeth Taylor, we are left without one of Hollywood’s greatest actresses. We can look back to some of her most memorable movies, like Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and A Place in the Sun, to really know why she was so legendary. And did we mention what a knockout she was? Check out these 100 jaw-dropping photos of Taylor on Buzzfeed.
Here is a scene from Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf–some of the best acting ever in just 1 minute 41 seconds. Dont you think so?
Sammy Hagar Rocks the House with his New Book Red
Last night (March 15), Sammy Hagar’s die hard fans came out in droves in New York City to hear the rock legend speak about his new book Red. Interviewed by author and journalist Neil Strauss, whose book Everyone Loves You When You’re Dead also came out yesterday, Hagar touched on his relationship with his Van Halen bandmates, the possibility of an upcoming reunion, his relationship with his parents, and much much more! For those who couldnt attend the book launch, check out this short video clip:
And here are some photos from the event:
(Sammy posing for cameras)
(Neil Strauss interviewing Sammy)
(Sammy signing copies for fans)
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Rock out with your own copies of Sammy Hagar’s Red and Neil Strauss’ Everyone Loves You When You’re Dead, available everywhere.
It Books and HarperCollinsCanada Acquire Book by Superstar Blogger Kelly Oxford
It Books and HarperCollinsCanada, imprints of HarperCollins Publishers, have just jointly acquired a book by blogger and Twitter superstar Kelly Oxford. The book is scheduled to be published in the summer of 2012.
Oxford is a wife and mother of three who lives in Calgary. A blogger since the 1990s, she has a wide and growing following on Twitter, and her vocal fans include Roger Ebert, Jessica Alba, Jimmy Kimmel, Tony Hawk, Diablo Cody, Kevin Nealon, Susan Orlean, Ann Curry, Adam McKay, Mindy Kaling, Steve Nash, and Jonathan Ames. In March 2010, she performed alongside Ben Stiller, Ashton Kutcher, Will Ferrell, and other celebrities in A Night of 140 Tweets, a fundraising event for Haitian earthquake relief in LA, which brought together the biggest names on Twitter. Her Tumblr has received more than 2 million hits in the last nine months alone.
Last month, Oxford sold a sitcom based on her life, to be called The Mother of All Something, to CBS Studios with Jessica Alba and Jhoni Marchinko (Will & Grace) both attached to produce.
Oxford’s book will tell her story through a series of side-splitting essays touching on episodes throughout her life, from her childhood (when she wrote her first play in grade school, a classmate screamed, “DO YOU THINK YOU’RE THE QUEEN OF THE WORLD OR SOMETHING?”), to her days as an aspiring model (“I was 5’6″ and 80 pounds. Up to this point my middle school fame had mostly come from my Steve Urkel and Kids in the Hall “Chicken Lady” impressions”).
Much of the book will be devoted to her life today as a wife and mom, familiar to her fans through the blog posts and tweets that have made her famous (“Had my son’s hearing tested because he’s always yelling. Turns out he’s just an asshole”; “When my daughter was three I told her where meat comes from: ‘I love piggies so much more now that I know they taste like bacon’”).
Legendary film critic Roger Ebert has said of Oxford, “She’s bitingly funny, but everybody knows that. Didn’t the man write in the play, ‘We laugh, that we may not cry?’ That may provide insight into why she’s funny.”
“I couldn’t be happier that my book is coming out before the Mayan Calendar ends,” said Oxford. “I hope it’s the last thing everyone reads.”
Vivienne Westwood wants her own TV show
As told by Carrie Kania
In an interview with Vogue UK, Dame Vivienne Westwood - no secret, my favorite designer – admitted that she is interested in hosting a chat show called “Get a Life”
This is fine with me.
The world may not need another show with celebrities pitching products and productions, another show with musical guests and scripted off-the-cuff remarks, another show awkwardly tackling serious subjects while Bieber waits in the wings to discuss his haircut – but the world does need more from Dame Westwood.
“It would be called Get A Life – and it’s on two levels, get a life for future generations but also what are you doing right now with your own life? If we are an endangered species it is your duty to do something about it and get the most out of it,” she tells Vogue (UK) .
Other celebrities who should host talk shows that I would watch, include Lindsay Lohan, Karl Lagerfeld, Lady Gaga, and Barry Gibb.
Guitar Hero’s Last Gig
I have always enjoyed killing Nazis, eviscerating zombies, and scoring touchdowns on my PlayStation. It was all about the shooters and sports games… Until Guitar Hero landed. Honestly I wasn’t sure what to make of it. My six-string playing friends scoffed, and were completely frustrated when they tried it because, of course, it’s not like playing a real guitar. But cracking open the box of the first version of the game, and pulling out that plastic Gibson SG over my shoulder felt cool, felt like, man, now I can deliver the rock. And strumming along to the opening chords of “Iron Man” or “Smoke on the Water” gave me chills. For someone who was at the absolute zero of music ability, this was transporting.
Then I started playing and realized how much I sucked. The weakest part of my game was my pinky, the cause of my downfall many a time, particularly on the more intense fretting. The primary colors were tough enough—green, red, yellow, blue—without having to deal with that freaky orange. Still, battling through Joan Jett’s I Love Rock N Roll, Franz Ferdinand’s Take Me Out, Motorhead’s Ace of Spades and Ozzy’s Bark at the Moon not only allowed me to ride the subway with a bit of swagger, but also gave me a deeper appreciation for the inner workings of a song. Not to mention the power and nuance of the whammy bar.
I know there were a bunch of versions and variations, with Legends of Rock and Aerosmith and Metallica and all that. But there’s nothing like the first time, the very first time. (I think that’s from a Foreigner song. Were they ever in Guitar Hero?) It was something completely different—feeling a sense of accomplishment after achieving a new level not because, say, you wiped out slews of demon spawn, but because you had mastered a song. Even at the crudest level, that’s satisfaction of a different order.
So, goodbye Guitar Hero. Thanks for transforming our living rooms into Madison Square Gardens, and for making those of us who could never be a rock star, feel like one.
My Dead Dad Was in ZZ Top
Last night an enthusiastic crowd of 400+ people packed into The Bell House in Brooklyn to enjoy an evening of “solemnity”, celebrity, and laughter in celebration of comedian and author Jon Glaser’s new book, MY DEAD DAD WAS IN ZZ TOP, published by our friends over at Harper Perennial. In attendance were Ira Kaplan, John Hodgman, Zoe Lister-Jones, Scott Adsit, Jon Hamm, and Paul Rudd, who all (hilariously) reenacted selections from this collection of “100% real” never-before-seen documents from the world of rock and roll.
In his introduction speech, Jon Glaser explained that he was inspired to “organize” this collection of documents after cleaning the attic of his recently deceased father and finding a box labeled “Do Not Show This To My Son”. In the box were dozens of letters written by his father to the fellow members of his band, ZZ TOP. Yes, Jon Glaser’s father was in ZZ TOP (an earlier incarnation of the band, not the one we know today). Jon never knew this fun fact about his father and so he set out to “discover” other important documents from the world of rock and roll, collected for the first time in MY DEAD DAD WAS IN ZZ TOP.
Inspiring.
Below, some highlights from the event!
Jon Glaser makes his opening remarks
John Hodgeman is first up to read from the book
Up next is Scott Adsit
Jon Hamm
Paul Rudd brings it home with The Tonight Show letters
Truly a hilarious evening for a very “real” book!
Signed copies of It’s Not Really About the Hair!
Unable to make it to one of Tabatha Coffey’s book signings but still want a signed copy of It’s Not Really About the Hair? You’re in luck!
Bookends Bookstore in Ridgewood, New Jersey will accept phone orders for those fans who would like to purchase signed copies of Tabatha Coffey’s It’s Not Really About the Hair.
To order your signed copy please call Bookends at 201-445-0726 between 9:00 am to 6:00 pm est.
Signed books will be available to pick up at Bookends, 211 East Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey beginning the morning of January 26.
For an additional fee, Bookends can ship signed copies Domestically and Internationally. Personalization, in addition to signature, is available.
Our Favor!te Things 2010: Molly Ringwald
The wonderful Molly Ringwald shares some of her personal favorites of 2010. You can’t help but like her even more after you read this!
Favor!te Film: The Father of My Children
Favor!te Book: If I Loved You, I Would Tell You This by Robin Black
Favor!te Work of Art: 
A sculpture made by my seven year old, Mathilda
Favor!te Designer: Todd Thomas
Favor!te TV show: Mad Men
Favor!te Blog/Website: Five Chapters
Favor!te Twitterer: Alas, I twitter not
Favor!te You Tube Video: Beweaved Hair Salon
Favor!te Internet Meme: I know it’s old, but Charlie Bit Me is still my favorite. It is just so great on so many levels.
What are you most excited about for 2011? 
The release of Getting the Pretty Back in paperback!
Who do you most want to smooch on New Year’s Eve? My husband.
What do you want the most as a holiday gift? The time to smooch with my husband.
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Molly Ringwald is author of Getting the Pretty Back: Friendship, Family and Finding the Perfect Lipstick
Golden-voiced Ted Williams is having a kickass year indeed
I sure do love a nice redemption story! What a great way to kick in the new year for Ted Williams. Who would think that someone can go from homeless panhandler, to an internet sansation receiving national and international attention, to now living his dreams of working in broadcasting in just a matter of days. How great is the internet people!?
We at !t books wish Ted the best of luck on what looks to be a bright new career in the media.
Our Favor!te Things 2010: Kevin Callahan
Favor!te Book:
“Who can know the heart of youth but youth itself?”
Favor!te Movie:
A bit different from last year’s pick. But incredible. Claustrophobic. Heart breaking. Amazing. Don’t see if it you have any doubts about your current relationship.
Favor!te TV show:
Totally missed out on this show while it was on the air, but it is definately something to fill the time in between Law & Order: SVUs.
Favor!te Blog/Website:
Favor!te YouTube Video:
I enjoyed learning about Alfred Hitchock’s films.
Our Favor!tes of 2010: Leslie Simon
We had so much love for our favorite things of 2010, we just can’t stop posting them. More to come this week, but for now please enjoy the 2010 stylings of Leslie Simon.
Favor!te Film: Greenberg
Favor!te Album: The Age Of Adz by Sufjan Stevens
Favor!te Book: If You Have To Cry, Go Outside by Kelly Cutrone
Favor!te Designer: Rebecca Minkoff
Favor!te TV show: Parenthood
Favor!te Blog/Website: The Frisky
Favor!te Twitterer: Conan O’Brien and me (because I’m completely self-centered like that!)
Favor!te You Tube Video: This is my most recent YouTube obsession:
Favor!te Internet Meme: Sad Keanu
What are you most excited about for 2011? I’m most excited for the release of my third book, Geek Girls Unite: Why Fangirls, Bookworms, Indie Chicks And Other Misfits Will Inherit The Earth,which is expected to hit bookshelves in fall 2011. Follow all my uncensored geekitude on twitter. 
Who do you most want to smooch on New Year’s Eve?I’ll take Nicholas Hoult for $500, Alex.
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Leslie Simon is author of Wish You Were Here: An Essential Guide to Your Favorite Music Scenes—From Punk to Indie and Everything In Between .
Our Favor!te Things 2010: Stephanie Meyers
Favor!te Book: The Hunger Games series. (Yes, I am still 12 years old at heart.)
Favor!te Designer: Karen Millen, because of her stunning and uber-flattering and tantalizingly close-to-affordable dress collection.
Favor!te TV show: Fringe, Castle, and Boardwalk Empire are in the running, but… Glee. (See above, re: 12 years old.) 
Favor!te Blog/Website: Hyperbole and a Half. “This is why I’ll never be an adult” is a must read.
Favor!te Twitterer: Shameless author plug alert! @evilwylie (a.k.a. @andrewtshaffer)
Favor!te YouTube Video: OK Go!, This Too Shall Pass
What are you most excited about for 2011? Well, according to AstrologyZone, “Cancer, your career soon on fire. Best career aspects you’ve ever, ever seen.” So that sounds pretty good!
What do you want the most as a holiday gift? For everyone to buy The Atheist’s Guide to Christmas! Royalties go to a charitable cause, eternal glory goes to me.
Our Favor!te Things 2010: Detmar Blow
Favor!te Film (all time): Fellini’s La Dolca Vita 
Favor!te Album (all time): Roxy Music
Favor!te Book (all time): The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald 
Favor!te Work of Art: The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, Even (The Large Glass), by Marcel Duchamp
Favor!te Designer: Alexander McQueen
Favor!te TV show: Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
Favor!te Blog/Website: Mara Castilho.co.uk
Favor!te You Tube Video: Fla & Flu by Los Super Elegantes
What are you most excited about for 2011?Watching my son Sasha Blow, now aged 2 years 4 months grow up
Who do you most want to smooch on New Year’s Eve? Mara Castilho
What do you want the most as a holiday gift? Books on Ernest Hemingway
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Detmar Blow is the author of Blow by Blow.
Our Favor!te Things 2010: Tracy McMillan
Favor!te Film: The Social Network 
Favor!te Album: Because I have a 13-year-old son and live in Los Angeles, I end up logging many, many miles of hip-hop radio in the car. I am age-appropriately shocked at most of it, but I will say Drake is very impressive. And Lil Wayne has quite the knack for melody.
Favor!te Book: I’ve had the same favorite book for years now: Passionate Marriage by David Schnarch – changed my understanding of relationships. For current books, I know I will love Freedom by Jonathan Franzen – but I’ve been too damn busy to read it. 
Favor!te Work of Art: Loved the William Eggleston show at the LA County Museum of Art.
Favor!te Designer: Rodarte. And Vuitton. But my real fashion-world fave: photographer Scott Schuman’s Sartorialist. Genius!
Favor!te TV show: Friday Night Lights, hands down. And always, the cheesy real-estate show Property Virgins, on the Home and Garden Channel. It’s my guilty pleasure.
Favor!te Blog/Website: I do all my procrastinating on the New York Times online. My two favorite jams: Weddings and Celebrations, and Great Homes and Destinations.
Favor!te Twitterer: The novelty wore off very quickly. Now it’s just a horn-tooting, cleverness machine for writers and comedians.
Favor!te You Tube Video: I’m always shocked at how great stupid videos are once you actually watch them. Antoine Dodson is a classic. Also, Teach Me How to Dougie. Obviously, I live with a teenager.
Favor!te Internet Meme: I think maybe I’m too old for internet memes.
What are you most excited about for 2011? Another great year of life.
Who do you most want to smooch on New Year’s Eve? I’d give my kid a kiss, but he pretends not to know me when we’re in public.
What do you want the most as a holiday gift? It’s boring, but I would really love a great pair of slippers.
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Tracy McMillan is a television writer and the author of I Love You and I’m Leaving You Anyway
Our Favor!te Things 2010: Kateri Benjamin
Favor!te Film: Tie between The Kids Are All Right and The Social Network
Favor!te Album: Vampire Weekend’s Contra 
Favor!te Book: Patti Smith’s Just Kids
Favor!te Designer: Mondo from Project Runway – He deserved to win but Gretchen needed the money more, so I’m ok with how it turned out. 
Favor!te TV show: 30 Rock. Always.
Favor!te Blog/Website: Racked.com posts the most interesting fashion stories
Favor!te Twitterer: @McNallyJackson gives good book tweet
Favor!te You Tube Video: “Many too small boxes and Maru”. This is perhaps the best video demonstration of cat psychology that I have seen in a while:
What do you want the most as a holiday gift? iPad!
Our Favor!tes of 2010: Carrie Kania
Favor!te Film: The film I haven’t seen yet, Somewhere.
Favor!te Album: Pandora: the “New Order” channel
Favor!te Book: You can’t ask me that – I love all my children.
Favor!te Work of Art: Olympia Le-Tan’s handbags http://www.olympialetan.com/
Favor!te Designer: It was the year of McQueen 
Favor!te TV show: Project Runway never fails to amuse
Favor!te Blog/Website: Ours, silly.
Favor!te Twitterer: @ Karl_Lagerfeld
Favor!te You Tube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfi4X13fGCU
Who do you most want to smooch on New Year’s Eve? Sad Keanu
What do you want the most as a holiday gift? All of this: http://www.viviennewestwood.co.uk/
Our Favor!tes of 2010: Justin Halpern
Justin Halpern had was released from the CBS writers room of $#*! My Dad Says to give us a few of his all time favorites.
Favor!te Film: Godfather II 
Favor!te Album: Pet Sounds
Favor!te Book: Lord Of The Flies
Favor!te Work of Art: Dali’s portrait of Mrs. Jack Warner
Favor!te Designer: Whoever designed the Snickers
Favor!te TV show: Breaking Bad 
Favor!te Blog/Website: Theonion.com
Favor!te Twitterer: Tie between Bill Oakley (@thatbilloakley) and Bill Simmons (@sportsguy33)
Favor!te You Tube Video: Riskay’s “Smell Yo Dick.” A fine ballad that examines both sides of the argument regarding infidelity.
Favor!te Internet Meme: Hitman Monkey Finds No Joy In His Job
What are you most excited about for 2011? The same thing every year, the San Diego Chargers season, which will end ultimately in heartbreak.
Who do you most want to smooch on New Year’s Eve? My fiancee (I am required by law to say so, but also feel this way)
What do you want the most as a holiday gift? Tie between World peace and one of those remote control helicopters from Brookstone.
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Justin Halpern is the New York Times bestselling author of Sh*t My Dad Says. You can follow him on Twitter and visit his website.
Our Favor!te Things 2010: Rachel Shukert
Favor!te Film: I loved The King’s Speech. It’s like My Fair Lady, but with
the English Royal Family and the impending Nazi threat, and when I saw it
I thought finally! Someone’s made a movie for a focus group of only me.
It’s like proof that the Secret works.
Favor!te Album: I purposefully stopped paying attention to new music
when I moved to New York in 1998, like how kids from Bible Belt move here
and give up God. I will say that my personal listenership of the original
cast recording of A Little Night Music was +27%, while that of the original
cast recording of Candide went -43%.
Favor!te Book: I don’t know how to be diplomatic about this one. At least
it wasn’t my own. That would be SO tacky.
Favor!te Designer: Alexander McQueen, right? That’s the only logical
answer. He didn’t stick around for most of 2010, sadly.
Favor!te TV show: Peep Show. I’m just obsessed with that show. It’s my
favorite of all time, even though it doesn’t air in America and it messes
up my computer whenever I try to stream it. And I like Mad Men, being as
how I am a New York media type that belongs to a certain socio-economic
bracket, although I’m pleased to say that my unhealthy overidentification
with Betty Draper has lessened considerably this year. And I have kind
of a love hate relationship with all the Real Housewives shows, in that I
love them, but I hate the fact that they mean there will probably never be a
remake of Dynasty now, because this is just so much cheaper.
Favor!te Twitterer: My friend Ben Rimalower, (@benrimalower) and his
quixotic dream of making #pattilupone a trending topic on Twitter.
Favor!te You Tube Video: I was a pretty big sucker for that little boy who
cried when he couldn’t be a Single Lady. But then my friend Evan sent
me this trailer for this movie called “Christmas With a Capital C” which is
about some big city slickster elitist who wants to take Christmas away from
the hard-working folk of Trapper Falls, Alaska. It’s sweet when Gentiles try
to make movies. It reminds me of Count Bessie, the piano-playing chicken
from that episode of The Golden Girls.
What are you most excited about for 2011? Maybe I’ll finally figure out
what this lump at the back of my neck is!
Who do you most want to smooch on New Year’s Eve? The lovely Ben.
And after that, the lovely Alec Baldwin.
What do you want the most as a holiday gift? I have been looking
everywhere for a pair of black pull-on riding boots with a tan cuff, like
the kind you wear fox-hunting. I have been looking for these boots for
probably like four years. This year I found this amazing pair at Fratelli
Rossetti, and then I got spooked by the price and didn’t buy them, which
was probably a good decision from a financial standpoint, but has left me
an emotional wreck. So if anyone comes across them in a size 7.5, you
heard it here. I also want peace on Earth and a really nice lemon zester.
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Rachel Shukert is the author of Everything Is Going to Be Great. You can visit her website and follow her on Twitter.
Cool Gifts for Everyone on Your List
Your It List presents our eleven top books to give this holiday season.
Coco Chanel: The Legend and the Lifeby Justine Picardie
Richly illustrated with hundreds of color and black and white photos, Coco Chanel illuminates Chanel’s path from little-known seamstress to the aristocracy of style in this stunning look at the fashion icon.
Perfect Gift for anyone who loves Chanel in all it’s forms – clothes, perfume, jewelry, bags, shoes –as well as all those who loved Audrey Tautou‘s award-winning role of Gabrielle Chanel in the film Coco Before Chanel.
Buy Coco Chanel, read an excerpt or watch a video.
Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern
The # 1 New York Times bestseller and inspiration for the hit CBS sitcom, $#*! My Dad Says, starring William Shatner, Justin Halpern’s memoir of his dad is laugh out loud hilarious and heartwarming at the same time. You’ll never think of little league, Denny’s or your dad the same way again.
Perfect gift for your Dad, for fans of the show and followers of Twitter.com/ShitMyDadSays.
Buy Sh*t My Dad Says or read an excerpt.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers: An Oral/Visual History by the Red Hot Chili Peppers
One of the biggest bands in the world, The Red Hot Chili Peppers finally bring fans an audacious look back at their thirty-year odyssey, in their own words and accompanied by over 300 photos.
Perfect gift for all RHCP fans, past and present, and those who can’t wait for their next album.
Buy The Red Hot Chili Peppers or read an excerpt.
The Tattoo Chronicles by Kat Von D
The New York Times bestselling follow-up to High Voltage Tattoo, The Tattoo Chronicles delves deep into Kat Von D‘s personal journals and notebooks to reveal one tumultuous year in the life of the star of TLC’s LA Ink and contains photos taken and drawings made by Kat herself as well as the stories behind some of the most meaningful tattoos Kat has ever created.
Perfect gift for fans of LA Ink and lovers of tattoos.
Buy The Tattoo Chronicles, read an excerpt or watch a video.
How to Beat Up Anybodyby Judah Friedlander
An instructional and inspirational Karate book by the World Champion and star of 30 Rock, Judah Friedlander. Learn how to beat up street gangs, attackers with weapons, ninjas, dinosaurs, and gangs of street ninjas with weapons riding on dinosaurs! With over 500 photographs, this is a book that could quite possibly save your life.
Perfect gift for fans of 30 Rock and anyone wanting to survive.
Buy How to Beat Up Anybody, read an excerpt or watch a video.
Harry Potter Film Wizardry by Brian Sibley
The official, behind the scenes guide to ALL the Harry Potter Films, including the recently released Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Volume 1 AND the upcoming Volume 2, Harry Potter Film Wizardy shows fans why Yule Ball ice sculptures never melt, where Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts are really “minted,” how to get a Hippogriff to work with actors, the inspiration behind Hogwarts castle, and why Dementors move the way they do.
Perfect gift for all Harry Potter fans.
Buy Harry Potter Film Wizardry, read an excerpt or watch a video.
The Simpsons World: The Ultimate Episode Guide by Matt Groening
At 1,200 pages, this cromulent compendium provides a comprehensive synopsis of every episode for the past twenty years, including every couch gag, every “D’oh” and “Mmm…” Homer has ever muttered, every song ever sung by citizens of Springfield, over 400 character profiles and lots more stuff you may have missed!
Perfect gift for all Simpsons fans.
Buy The Simpsons World or read an excerpt.
Designs on Film by Cathy Whitlock
Open the curtain on movie magic and explore the set designs of the biggest films in movie history including The Wizard of Oz’s yellow brick road, Cleopatra‘s ancient Egypt, the Dakota apartment building in Rosemary’s Baby, Norma Desmond’s “white elephant of a place” from Sunset Boulevard and the vast world of Pandora from Avatar.
Perfect gift for fans of classic films and those interested in behind the scenes details of their favorite films.
Buy Designs on Film or read an excerpt.
The Art of Classic Rock by Rob Roth
For many, the items lovingly cataloged in the pages of The Art of Classic Rock will evoke nostalgic memories of their youth—of blazing lights, drifting smoke and of the all-pervading power of their favorite rock concerts.
Perfect gift for fans of classic rock, especially the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Who, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Queen, Alice Cooper and Elton John, as well as fans of album and music poster art.
Buy The Art of Classic Rock, read an excerpt or watch a video.
Al Jaffee’s Mad Life by Mary-Lou Weisman
A biography of Al Jaffee, creator of the massively popular MAD magazine “fold-in” delves deep into the artist’s life and brings readers from the shtetls of Lithuania to the streets of New York and deep inside the world of the top cartoonists of the 20th century, fully illustrated by Jaffee himself.
Perfect gift for fans of MAD magazine and readers interested in 20th century America.
Buy Al Jaffee’s Mad Life, read an excerpt or watch a video.
The Lost Rolling Stones Photographs by Larry Marion
A revealing look at the earliest days of the legendary Rolling Stones, captured in a collection of personal, never-before-seen photographs—the largest single trove of such important rock images ever uncovered—shot as the band were on the brink of international stardom.
Perfect gift for all fans of The Rolling Stones and readers of Keith Richards’s memoir Life.
Buy The Lost Rolling Stones Photographs or read an excerpt.
Kara DioGuardi hits A Helluva High Note
It Books is thrilled to be publishing A Helluva High Note by the amazing Kara DioGuardi, coming April 2011.
Fare thee well!
This, my friends, will be the last Your It List post from the keyboard of Jeremy. I’ve had a blast helping to build our blog from scratch, as both writer and co-editor, and I’ll miss the chance to share my strange obsessions with you as I depart for new opportunities. My talented and courageous colleagues will take the reins from here, which only means great things for YIL going forward.
As a final salute, I leave you with a collection of some of my favorite Your It List posts. Thanks for reading, and gobble, gobble!:
In a year when brassy women ruled the TV world, Pam celebrated the Year of Sues:
While it may have been ahead of its time (based on traffic numbers) I’ll always have a soft spot for the short-lived Mork & Darwin series:
You may be asking yourself, “What’s all the fuss about this Joseph fellow?”: your answer is here:
no joke
Michael artfully deconstructs Adam Lambert’s album cover:
Taking on the under-appreciated world on men-in-spandex, Kateri explores Weir vs. Lysacek.
Exhibit A: Evan Lysacek wears feathers
From the Aestheticism archives, Theodore tells a tale of two important photography shows:
