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25 Sep 2009 22:15

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Culture: It’s a (kinda screwed up) Phillips family reunion on Oprah

  • I was praying for her the whole time because it is a very, very taboo [topic]. Many people were repulsed, many people were horrified at the allegations. … She had the courage to come out and talk about it, and I’m proud of my sister.
  • Chynna Phillips (a.k.a. the “Phillips” of Wilson Phillips) • Regarding her sister Mackenzie’s incest revelation on Oprah. The original episode was such a cluster(#&^@ that they had to bring Mackenzie back (as well as Chynna) on to discuss her utterly bizarre relationship with “Papa” John Phillips, who Allmusic.com states “may easily be called one of the best pop songwriters of the later 20th century.” Because, well, if you’re gonna drag a dead guy’s name in the ground, you might as well emphasize that he once had a storied reputation. • source

25 Sep 2009 00:34

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Culture: Randy Quaid’s hijinks lead to an arrest over an unpaid hotel bill

  • $10,000 size of the Quaids’ collective hotel bill that they hadn’t paid source

24 Sep 2009 09:55

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Culture: Columnist: Why are Tyler Perry’s stereotyped movies so popular?

  • Maybe it’s easy for whole church buses to go see a Perry flick after Sunday service. Maybe we’re just happy to see black folks on-screen no matter what they do. Or maybe we don’t have the sense of a billy goat when it comes to choosing meaningful entertainment—I just don’t know.
  • The Root columnist Thembi Ford • Lamenting the level of success that Tyler Perry‘s movies, which have been critically lambasted across the board, have had in a short period of time. Ford notes that Perry’s movies have grossed nearly as much in seven years ($319 million) as Spike Lee’s entire canon has in over two decades ($372 million). Perry will be tackling the film version of an iconic feminist play in the future – Ntozake Shange‘s “For Colored Girls who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf” – and Ford argues that he’s simply not a good enough director for the honor. • source

24 Sep 2009 08:54

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Culture: Matthew McConaughey gets by with a little lean from his friends

Matthew McConaughey shoulder lean
  • It’s totally not Matthew McConaughey‘s fault that his career has evolved in such a way that he has to lean on the strength of his romantic comedies to have any standing in Hollywood. Though we wonder if he wobbles.source

23 Sep 2009 21:46

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Culture: When the cell signal drops, you know a cliche is coming

  • Funny as heck compilation of the lack of cell-phone coverage by the well-written fourfour. 66 movies are included in this compilation, all of them facing a similar problem: No cell phone coverage.source

23 Sep 2009 20:49

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Culture: You know swine flu is bad when Dr. Sanjay Gupta has it

  • It is worth pointing out the irony of a medical reporter getting influenza type A, which was then ultimately confirmed as H1N1.
  • Dr. Sanjay Gupta • Describing in great detail how he managed to get swine flu (a.k.a. H1N1) while in Afghanistan. Gupta notes that the disease was no joke: “I am not someone who gets sick, really ever. And this was the sickest I have ever been.” Bet he’s regretting not taking that spot in the Obama administration now. • source

23 Sep 2009 10:22

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Culture: Mackenzie Phillips’ tell-all novel tells way too much, guys

  • Say it ain’t so, Papa John! Mackenzie Phillips grew up as the very kind of child star you read about in the headlines. The daughter of John Phillips of The Mamas & The Papas, she was known in her own right as star of “One Day at a Time.” But a long history of drug abuse followed, which Phillips recounts in her new book “High on Arrival,” out today. Also today, Phillips will be on Oprah’s couch today talking about that and the revelation that her father had a long-term sexual relationship with her. Gah! source
 

22 Sep 2009 11:17

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Culture: Will Ferrell’s pro-health insurer PSA will get you to support LOLs

  • This is clever. This “pro”-health-insurer PSA strikes at the heart of the whole debate by “favoring” the health insurance companies who are just trying to make millions of dollars. Funny as heck. One of the best Funny Or Die videos yet.source

22 Sep 2009 09:23

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Culture, World: Nigerians say “District 9” makes them look like mongrels

  • I was so angry. They were showing Nigerians as corrupt, eating aliens, saying they have sex with aliens. I could not watch that.
  • Atlanta-based Nigerian native Ken Umeano • Describing his disgust with “District 9,” a sci-fi movie that’s been universally acclaimed for its strong moral center but criticized by some for its depiction of Nigerians. It’s so bad that Nigeria’s banned the movie and wants an apology from Sony Pictures. “‘District 9’ is a work of science fiction, and no offense was intended toward any country or person,” Sony’s PR person shot back, noting that the country initially approved the movie for release. • source

21 Sep 2009 10:42

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Culture: A quick by-the-numbers of last night’s big Emmy winners

  • Emmy wins – out of 16 nominations – for “Mad Men,” including “Best Drama” source
  • Emmy wins for “30 Rock,” including “Best Comedy” and a win for Alec Baldwin source
  • straight “Best Actor in a Drama” wins for “Breaking Bad” star Bryan Cranston source
  • straight “Best Reality Show” wins for “The Amazing Race” – yeah, seven source