Our Favor!te Things 2010: Kate Hamill
It’s year in review time, folks. This year we’ve asked the editors, marketers, publicists and favorite authors of It books to share with us what they think the highlights of the year have been. We start our series with one of our favorite editors, Kate Hamill.
Favor!te Film: “The Kids Are All Right”
Favor!te
Album: Tie between Mumford & Sons’ “Sigh No More” and Eminem’s “Recovery”
Favor!te Book: Jonathan Franzen’s FREEDOM
Favor!te TV show: Tie between “30 Rock” and “Dexter”
Favor!te Blog/Website: www.AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com
Favor!te Twitterer: Justin Halpern, www.twitter.com/shitmydadsays
Favor!te You Tube Video: “Double Rainbow”
Favor!te Internet Meme: “If Historical Events Had Facebook Statuses” (shamless plug: full-length book coming from !t in Fall 2011!)
What do you want the most as a holiday gift? An iMac.
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.
COVET: What I Want Right Now
Lately I’ve been kind of obsessed with the idea of convertible clothing. Why limit your clothes or accessories to just one purpose when they could have more? Saves time and money!
Take, for instance, this fantastic new scarf / bag combo created exclusively for OfaKind by husband-and-wife team Symmetry Goods. Made of contrasting herringbone and ikat fabrics, this limited edition scarf features two detachable straps that help transform it from neck warmer to grocery holder. Perfect for impulse purchases. Get it at the OfaKind site for $225.
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:
Hip Hop: The Revitalization of Rap
The Editors of Rolling Stone have brought you back to when Grunge Was King and when Alternative Went Mainstream. In YourItList’s third installment from The ’90s: Inside Stories from the Decade that Rocked we give you Hip Hop: The Revitalization of Rap.
In addition to an introduction from RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan, Rolling Stone brings you back to Snoop Dogg and Dre in Compton from 1993, “The Short Life and Violent Death of Tupac,” Anthony Bozza’s “Eminem Pisses off the World,” as well as essays about Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z and Missy Elliott.
Buy your copy of The ’90s today.
Cowboys & Aliens: The Book
Before it was the most anticipated summer movie of 2011 (watch the just-released trailer here), Cowboys & Aliens was a hit graphic novel. We’ll be re-issuing the book in its entirety on March 22, but until then, check out the page spreads below, then pre-order a copy:
Book images © 2006 Platinum Studios, Inc.
The ’90s – When Grunge Was King
With the last few weeks of 2010 in front of us, Your It List is looking back – way back to the 1990s with The ’90s: Inside Stories from the Decade that Rocked by the Editors of Rolling Stone.
Each week we will bring you back into the ’90s through photos from the biggest names in music from Metal to Pop, Hip-Hop to Jam Bands.
This week we remember When Grunge Was King.
The Grunge chapter includes articles about Pearl Jam by Cameron Crowe, The Seattle Scene by Michael Azerrad, Soundgarden by Kim Neely and Kurt Cobain by David Fricke, as well as an introduction from Matt Cameron of Pearl Jam and Soundgarden fame.
Buy your copy of The ’90s today.
COVET: What I Want Right Now
As the temperatures drop ever lower here in NYC, I’ve been thinking about an affordable way to make my cold weather wardrobe even chicer: patterned tights. There are some really fun styles on the market this season, especially at Urban Outfitters. Here are a few of my favorites:
Urban Outfitters tights with heart bands around the thigh ($14):
Urban Outfitters tights that look like suspenders ($28):
Urban Outfitters tights with a peacock pattern ($14):
At Nordstrom, I like this jazzier version of plain nude tights ($8):
And my standby favorite tights brand, Hue, has these Lacy Herringbone Tights ($18):
What do you think? Will you be busting out the patterned tights this winter?
How to Infuse Booze
This month, we bring you step-by-step instructions for infusing booze, pulled straight from the pages of More Show Me How. As the chill sets in, you’ll want to take on all kinds of new hobbies and projects, so why not start with a tippling tip to help you forget your cares during the long winter months?
Volume two of the Show Me How series contains brand-new instructions that show readers how to amaze, trick, create, style, and love, among other endeavors. Ideas range from the practical (hang a ceiling fixture; hem a pair of pants) to the outrageous (boobytrap a bathroom; forge an antiquity) to the romantic (ace a school crush; send a saucy cell phone pic).
“This book is a gold mind…If I could only pack two books to take with me on a deserted island, this one would be at the top of that list.”
–Amy Sedaris
Learn more about the book here.
Party with Neil Strauss and Ben Greenman in NY this Thursday
Join It Books and our friends at Harper Perennial this Thursday, November 4th at Brooklyn’s powerHouse Arena for a party and reading featuring Neil Strauss (Everybody Loves You When You’re Dead, Mötley Crüe’s The Dirt) and Ben Greenman (Celebrity Chekhov and Gene Simmons’ Kiss and Make-up). The evening will feature a performance by the Upright Citizens Brigade comedy troupe, on-site memoir ghost-writing, alcohol, and more!
RSVP here.
Learn more about the event here.
Meet The Red Hot Chili Peppers in Los Angeles
November 4, 2010 is a day Red Hot Chili Peppers fans have been waiting for! Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith and Flea will be making an appearance at Barnes & Noble: The Grove at Farmer’s Market in Los Angeles to sign copies of their book The Red Hot Chili Peppers: An Oral/Visual History. Please see below for event rules and regulations.
“I am struck with the moments of these photos, the feelings of the times they were taken, and where we were at on our beautiful and happy-sad journey. It’s pretty fucking heavy, actually, like thinking how much we have changed over the years, and all the different dynamics of our lives that shaped us, and also realizing so clearly that nothing has changed at all—we’re all still just trying to get it on, make something great. It is all here, nothing can hide: all the honesty, the pretense, the courage and one-of-a-kind-ness, the unbridled joy, the melancholy, and the shields we put up to shelter our scared, vulnerable little selves.” —Flea
Please note:
- Only those in possession of a bracelet will be granted admittance the day of the signing.
- A limited number of bracelets will be available at Barnes & Noble: The Grove at Farmer’s Market beginning on Wednesday, November 3 at 9:00 am PST.
- The band will only be signing copies of The Red Hot Chili Peppers: An Oral/Visual History. No albums or memorabilia, please.
- The signing will begin promptly at 12:00 pm PST. Please arrive early.
- Photography and audio/video recording devices are not allowed within the venue.
An It Halloween
For some publishers, it might not be all that fun to play author dress-up on Halloween. I guess one could arrive as Salman Rushdie (with newest ingenue in-tow), or go for the conceptual “Jonathan Franzen’s $100k eye glasses” costume. For us, however, our eclectic and fabulous authors offer many opportunities for clever Halloween attire.
A few suggestions from the It Books team:
Our fearless leader Carrie says she’d go as Isabella Blow. “For the fashion. The fashion.”
Dearest Joseph would like to dress as Russell Brand, and provides a helpful hair-styling lesson from Mr. Brand’s Booky Wook 2.
Editor extraordinaire Kate takes a cue from one of her own projects. She’d choose Alison Arngrim, “because it would be fun to wear Nellie Oleson’s infamous blonde ringlet wig, though (if you read Alison’s book you’ll know that) it was extremely painful for Alison to put on every day and often made her scalp bleed!”
In these recessionary times, I’ll opt for a budget-friendly Judah Friedlander costume. A t-shirt and trucker cap are easy enough to procure at a reasonable price.
The real World Champion vanquishes all imposters.
Which author would you channel for this year’s trick-or-treat ensemble?
Written in indelible Ink
In case you haven’t noticed, we have a thing for books, and for tattoos. We just had to share this great video featuring THE WORD MADE FLESH: Literary Tattoos from Bookworms Worldwide by Eva Talmadge and Justin Taylor. Just released by our friends at Harper Perennial, this book is a beautifully packaged full-color collection of literary tattoos and short personal essays.
Jerry Lee Lewis to Pen Autobiography for It Books
LEGENDARY ROCK ’N’ ROLL PIONEER JERRY LEE LEWIS TO WRITE AUTOBIOGRAPHY FOR IT BOOKS
NEW YORK, NY (October 13, 2010) – It Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, announced today a deal to publish the memoir of rock ’n’ roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis in 2012.
The book was acquired at auction by Cal Morgan, Vice President and Editorial Director of It Books. The agent was Erin Hosier of the Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary Agency.
One of the greatest showmen of all time, Jerry Lee Lewis is one of the founding pioneers of rock—and his life story is at least as dramatic as his famously outrageous performances. From his childhood in Louisiana and his evangelical upbringing (Jimmy Lee Swaggart was his double first cousin) to his expulsion from Bible college in Texas, Lewis always knew he was going to be a star. In this long-awaited memoir, he will share a lifetime of untold stories, from his early years at Sun Records, where he lit up the music charts in 1957 with the back-to-back hits “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” and “Great Balls of Fire”; to his longtime friendships with Sun stablemates Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and others; to the scandal that scuttled his first UK tour and jeopardized his career; to his triumphant comeback in the late 1960s, when he became the #1 Country Music star in America; to the cycles of excess and tragedy that dogged him for decades—to his present-day comeback with a pair of hit CDs, Last Man Standing and Mean Old Man. The result will be a truly no-holds-barred memoir—a rock epic if ever there was one.
“I have spent my life listening to those who know so little say so much about me and my life,” said Lewis. “I am ready to say a whole lot about why I lived my life the way I did. People can read it, burn it, or never give it another thought. Either way the truth is about to be told, and I’m the only man still standing who can touch it.”
“Mr. Lewis personifies the American story, in all its richness and contradiction,” said Morgan. “He’s a man of astonishing natural talent, profound belief, and indomitable spirit. What a thrill to have the chance to work with him on this unforgettable book.”
Jerry Lee Lewis was the first person inducted in the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame, at its opening ceremony in 1986. His original recording of “Great Balls of Fire” was elected to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” received this honor in 1999. He has garnered countless honors, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Rolling Stone ranked him one of their Top 25 Greatest Artists of All Time, and he is a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, the Hit Parade Hall of Fame, and the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. Lewis has had 14 #1 Hits, 47 Top 20 hits, and 10 Golden Records. In 2010, actor Levi Kreis won a Tony Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Lewis in the hit Broadway show Million Dollar Quartet. At the age of 75, Lewis is currently on tour in support of his latest CD, Mean Old Man, a deluxe 18-track collection of duets and collaborations with some of the greatest musicians in rock and country music.
About It Books: Launched in September 2009, It Books is dedicated to publishing exceptional books in entertainment, music, fashion, design, art, celebrity, pop culture and sports. It Books has published numerous New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times bestsellers including Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern, Getting the Pretty Back by Molly Ringwald, Neon Angel: A Memoir of a Runaway by Cherie Currie, I Love Your Style by Amanda Brooks, Booky Wook 2 by Russell Brand and Satiristas by Paul Provenza and Dan Dion. Upcoming publications include Blow by Blow by Detmar Blow with Tom Skyes, The Red Hot Chili Peppers by The Red Hot Chili Peppers, How to Beat Up Anybody by Judah Friedlander, True Whit by Whitney Port, Everyone Loves You When You’re Dead by Neil Strauss and Al Jaffee’s Mad Life by Mary Lou Weisman. It Books is an imprint HarperCollinsPublishers, one of the largest English-language publishers in the world and a subsidiary of News Corporation (NYSE: NWS, NWS.A; ASX: NWS, NWSLV). It Books can be found online at www.YourItList.com, www.Facebook.com/YourItList, www.Twitter.com/YourItList and www.Twitter.com/ItBooks.
Our weekend at New York Comic Con
We had a great time this weekend at New York Comic Con. Thanks to everyone who swung by the booth to check out our books and meet authors like Al Jaffee, Judah Friedlander, Jo Weldon and Ryan Buell. With over 90,000 ticket pre-sales, this was a massive event–look out San Diego, we’re gaining on you!
Some photo memories from the weekend:
Judah Friedlander demonstrates why he is The World Champion
Our beloved authors, Judah Friedlander, Al Jaffee and Mary-Lou Weisman discuss strategy before their book signings
Big Foot and the Abominable Snowman square off in a neighboring booth. As soon as Judah--with his reputation for beating up Bigfoots--showed up, they made themselves scarce.
Gumby busts a move at the Ubisoft "Michael Jackson Experience" booth
Visit It Books at New York Comic Con this weekend
This Friday, Saturday and Sunday (October 8-10), It Books will be holding it down at booth #2235 at New York Comic Con. Here’s why you should stop by our booth:
- We’ll be selling signed books by authors like Judah Friedlander, Al Jaffee, and Bon Jovi.
- The “busties” from BUST magazine are sharing a booth with us and will be doing their thing all weekend.
- You can find out about our in-booth author signings, official show signings, and author panels.
- We’ve teamed with Royal Flush magazine, A&E and Eos Books to create a scavenger hunt. Pick up a card, get it stamped at all 4 booths, and return to us for your choice of an exclusive Al Jaffee fold-in poster or a DVD of A&E’s hit show Paranormal State.
- Jo Weldon, author of The Burlesque Handbook, will be spending time at our booth with some of her burlesque-y friends. Use your imagination.
- You’ll get a tote bag from Ice Cream & Sadness, Judah Friedlander, Kat Von D or Camille Rose Garcia with book purchases.
- We’re giving away lots of great stuff like a Simpsons Comic Book Guy collectible fan–#5 in our annual series.
- You can enter our sweepstakes for a chance to win a copy of the SIMPSONS WORLD The Ultimate Episode Guide Seasons 1-20
Nice to Meat You
Desperate for a humane and hygenic way to replicate the controversial meat dress worn by Lady Gaga at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards? Look no further than the “Meat-Lace” from OnchMovement!
Made of completely animal-free materials, the Meat-Lace stays fresh, juicy, and tender for years, without the pesky spoiling problem that comes with live meat accessories. Featuring an attractive 18 inch black and gold chain, and priced at an affordable $55, this Meat-Lace is sure to add flavor to any outfit. Also perfect for Halloween!
What do you think – will you buy the Meat-Lace?
How to Pitch a Curveball
On October 5th, MORE SHOW ME HOW, the sequel to the popular visual how-to book SHOW ME HOW, will hit store shelves.
Volume two of the Show Me How series contains brand-new instructions that show readers how to amaze, trick, create, style, and love, among other endeavors. Ideas range from the practical (hang a ceiling fixture; hem a pair of pants) to the outrageous (boobytrap a bathroom; forge an antiquity) to the romantic (ace a school crush; send a saucy cell phone pic).
Each month we’ll be bringing you a sample of one of the 400+ instructional illustrations from the book. This month, in honor of playoff baseball, we offer you a chance to develop your own wicked curveball.
“This book is a gold mind…If I could only pack two books to take with me on a deserted island, this one would be at the top of that list.”
–Amy Sedaris
Learn more about the book here.
Uniqlo Fifth Avenue: September 9, 2010 Edition
As promised, we’re keeping you apprised of every development in the Uniqlo Fifth Avenue saga. As you can see from the photos below, the official logo is now in place, assuring that this really will be the gigantic Uniqlo store we were promised. Until now, all we could do was hope that this wasn’t just another ruse perpetrated by the mainstream media. Time for a deep sigh of relief.
Uniqlo Fifth Avenue: September 3, 2010 Edition
Ever since the news broke that Uniqlo was taking over the huge former Brooks Brothers flagship store at 666 Fifth Avenue, the Your It List office has been eagerly anticipating any and all progress. Since we’re less than a quarter block away from the new location, we’re all trying to find ways to finagle a big raise before it opens. Running out for a soup at lunch will now turn in to a soup and a pair of selvedge jeans (and probably a pair of HeatTech long johns, too).
There doesn’t seem to be an official opening date set, but at a reported $20 million a year lease, I’m guessing the Uniqlo folks will want to start moving product out the door before too long.
Until then, we promise to bring you all the latest construction developments as soon as we see them (and we’ll be watching closely). For now, enjoy these glamor shots from the corner of Fifth Ave and 55th Street.
Happy 90210 Day to All!
Today is a very special day in the world of ‘90s television — 90210 Day! Get it? September 2, 2010. 090210! So let’s revisit the hallowed halls of West Beverly High and the well-worn booths of the Peach Pit with a look back at some of our favorite memories:
Once a Bimbo: When Brenda catches her on-again off-again brooding boytoy Dylan kissing blonde bombshell Kelly, she says: “If you are trying to lose your bimbo image, I honestly don’t think this will help.”
French Faux-Pas: While spending the summer in Paris, Brenda tries to snag hottie Dean Cain by pretending to be French. When he comes to LA and looks her up, she keeps the charade up until she arrives at the Peach Pit and finally gives it up when she is faced with pr
The Dark Side of Diet Pills: Kelly’s experimentation with over-the-counter diet pills lands her in the hospital. Best pal and occasional nemesis Brenda comes for a visit. Kelly looks up from the hospital bed and says: “I’m gonna live so you can’t have Dylan back.”
Dylan’s Dad: One of the most emotional and gut-wrenching moments of the entire series is when Dylan’s father Jack, a convicted felon just released from prison, is killed by a car bomb. Dylan is standing nearby and witnesses the explosion, which sends him on yet another downward spiral.
Funny Valentine: Bad girl Emily Valentine tries to take upstanding citizen Brendan Walsh down with her at an underground club one night by slipping a hallucinogenic drug in his drink. The police raid the club and Brandon is forced to flee and leave his prized car to get torn apart. The tagline for the episode when it originally aired: “Tonight, Brendan finds out about drugs and Emily… the hard way.”
David Silver Saves the Day: Oh-so vulnerable Donna is attacked by previously-convicted stalker Garret Slan. Earlier, she and boyfriend David Silver had been arguing, so he came back to the apartment to apologize. Donna tells him to leave but she keeps calling him “Dave” rather than “David.” This miraculously tips him off that something is amiss and he storms back into the apartment with a baseball bat, saving Donna.
THE UNANONYMOUS #1 MOMENT… Notorious good girl Donna has a few sips of champagne on an empty stomach (trust me, if you saw her in the mid-90s it was very empty). She gets caught and isn’t allowed to graduate with the rest of her class. Her friends and the entire student body gather outside her school board hearing in solidarity. A chant grows among the protesters, softer and first, then louder and louder, until these three words were heard across all of Beverly Hills: DONNA MARTIN GRADUATES!
What are your favorite moments from 90210?
Happy Birthday Macaulay Culkin (and some others)
There’s been a lot of attention today on the Twitters and the Facebooks and the Internets drawn to the thirtieth birthday of Home Alone star Macaulay Caulkin, starting (as far as I can tell) from the tweet from forever-young actor @GaryJBusey Macaulay Culkin turns 30 today, but I still don’t trust him to be left home alone followed by countless blogs relaying the information that Culkin will be spending his birthday “home alone” with some close friends.
In honor of Mac’s birthday, and all of us born in 1980, here’s a quick rundown of the wealth of talent born the year Reagan was elected and Lennon was killed.
January 17 – Zooey Deschanel, American actress
January 18 – Jason Segel, American actor
January 22 – Christopher Masterson, American actor
January 28 – Nick Carter, American pop singer
February 11 – Matthew Lawrence, American actor
February 12 – Christina Ricci, American actress
February 15 – Conor Oberst, American singer/songwriter
February 27 – Chelsea Clinton, First daughter
April 1 – Bijou Phillips, American actress and socialite
June 17 – Venus Williams, American tennis player
June 26 – Jason Schwartzman, American actor
July 10 – Jessica Simpson, American singer
July 20 – Gisele Bündchen, Brazilian supermodel
August 26 – Macaulay Culkin, American actor
September 9 – Michelle Williams, American actress
September 25 – T.I., American rapper
November 12 – Ryan Gosling, Canadian actor
December 18 – Christina Aguilera, American singer
December 19 – Jake Gyllenhaal, American actor
All the news that’s fit to animate
When I received my first link to the Steven Slater CGI animation, a day after the new broke, I was impressed and intrigued by the quick turnaround time. Sure it wasn’t Pixar-worthy, but it wasn’t half bad, either. There was something satisfying about seeing a relatively realistic recreation of the working man’s Chesley Sullenberger grabbing two beers, dramatically exiting via the emergency slide, and arriving home to the loving arms of his shirtless boyfriend.
After sending the video to a few friends, it didn’t really cross my mind again until I opened the newest issue of Wired magazine. There, in substantial detail, was the story of Jimmy Lai–the tabloid king of China–and his newest venture: Next Media. The studio’s mission is to give us the thrill of video re-enactment when no live tape exists. Apparently I missed one of the studio’s first international hits, an unpolished rendering of the Tiger Woods car-crash incident. Since that rudimentary effort, however, Next Media has refined their skills, and the more recent offerings are quite sleek considering their less-than-24-hour turnaround time.
Here’s the video that launched Next Media onto the world stage: Tiger’s trials and tribulations:
Visit their official YouTube page for the full collection. May I recommend the hilarious Snookie vid, featuring a fantasy sequence of our favorite Jersey Shore cast member assaulting the the President over the tanning tax?
If he dares wear short shorts
As a straight man who enjoys the freedom of a pair of high and tight swimming trunks, I was heartened by recent news that Gossip Girl star Ed Westwick favors Speedos over “the surfer ones.” I have no problem with baggy surfer trunks, as long as you’re actually catching waves in Oahu or Malibu; but if the only thing you’re catching is sun poisoning at the Soho House pool deck, ditch the cargo-trunks. Somewhere along the line American men abandoned the more flattering trunks that prototypical manly men like Paul Newman (you know, the guy who, at age 80, could drive a car faster, pick up more women, and make better salad dressing than you in your prime) used to sport in their day, in exchange for the current crop of amorphous bathing sacks.
There’s still time to reverse the trend this summer. Check out these alternatives to the modern American monstrosities:
These Apolis Classic swim trunks ($99) are a good gateway for guys who aren’t ready to jump straight from those roomy board shorts into the world of the banana hammock. They have a slim, above-the-knee cut, but you’ll still feel fully-covered enough to play a vigorous game of paddle ball.
Once you’ve gotten accustomed to the slimmer look of your new Apolis, these retro trunks from LA-based Lightning Bolt are a logical next step. Their designs are still surf-inspired, but the 1970s cut is more Hawai’i Five-O than Jersey shore-style bro-trunks:
When you’re ready to take the plunge into full-on Daniel Craig territory, this square cut trunk from Tulio will send a message that you’re confident in your manhood, without landing you in Borat-territory.
