1. ‘Blackout’
Britney’s latest attempt to regain favor with the public doesn’t seem to be working so far. The album itself has received decent reviews, but it is nothing compared to Britney’s past releases. This sub-par attempt to change her image isn’t working. Her habitual bailing on any situation that could help her image, from fan signings to child-related events, outshines any attempt to produce a decent album. Even if “Blackout” were the best album of the year, Britney’s image is far too tarnished for her music to affect it. A new album isn’t the magical fix that Britney needs; she has to clean up her act and hope the public will embrace her once again. Her unwillingness to change makes the album a futile attempt at gaining positive publicity.
2. Oh no, Romo!
Speaking of Britney – she was spotted with Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo earlier this week. This was probably a bad decision on Romo’s part because of Britney’s bad press (to say the least). The two were seen engaging in allegedly unsavory behavior, according to Perez Hilton, but this is no longer much of a surprise given Britney’s recent shenanigans. The only surprise here is seeing one of our own with the most talked-about celebrity of the moment. Even though this encounter has given him a huge amount of publicity that he probably would not have otherwise received, Romo should stay as far away as possible from the former pop sensation and save his own image. With a recently renewed multi-million dollar contract with the ‘Boys, he could have any woman in Hollywood; why affiliate with the one with the most problems?
3. Miley Cyrus acting fishy
The talented and sweet daughter of Billy Ray recently declared one of her favorite restaurants to be Long John Silver’s. The restaurant jumped at the opportunity for celebrity support and offered to donate $10,000 in Miley’s name to Friends of the World Food Program if she agreed to have a meal at the location in Moline, Ill., where she was scheduled to perform last Saturday. E!Online makes a good point: If you’re famous enough to receive endorsement offers, use that opportunity to your full advantage. Why endorse seafood when you could potentially have anything you want for free?
4. Gwen helps at home
Orange County native Gwen Stefani plans to give back to her home state through donating the proceeds from her San Diego concert to aid in fire relief efforts. What an excellent way to shine a positive light on Hollywood at a time when stars are constantly going to rehab and prison. It’s good to see a celebrity giving back, especially in the wake of Ms. Spears’ misadventures.
5. Jimmy Eat World ‘Chase’ after next hit
I was eagerly awaiting the release of Jimmy Eat World’s newest album, “Chase This Light,” on Tuesday. However, after listening to it from beginning to end, I was left wanting something more substantial and just plain better. While it has its enjoyable moments, it is quite sub-par compared to the band’s noteworthy past albums. While “Chase” seems to be an opportunity for the guys to explore variations of their signature sound, the album falls short of fans’ expectations. This is strangely appropriate since producing a disappointing album seems to be trendy this year: Kanye and 50 Cent are both guilty of this, as is the aforementioned Spears. Despite the disappointing album, the guys are touring until the end of the year, so get out and see them if you’re in the northeast. One mediocre album does not define a band as great as Jimmy Eat World.
6. ‘Pop 10’ Costumes
According to CostumZee.com, Miley Cyrus’ alter ego, Hannah Montana, was the number one costume of 2007. This is no big surprise since the TV show has skyrocketed in popularity this year. It’s no wonder Long John Silver’s wants Miley’s support. Also on the list of popular costumes is “High School Musical,” another Disney sensation. Perhaps parents don’t mind too much about Vanessa Hudgens’ picture scandal after all. The Burger King holds a place at No. 6; why? Apparently it’s trendy to dress up as characters from commercials, since the GEICO cavemen made it onto the bottom of the list as well. I was surprised that the infamous “Saturday Night Live” skit featuring Justin Timberlake and oddly-placed gift boxes didn’t make the list since this costume seemed to be so popular.
7. Spice up your life
Emma Bunton’s arrival in Los Angeles this week means all the Spice Girls are now in the U.S. With all of the ladies on our turf, the reunion tour is just that much closer. The enormously successful ticket sales have caused the addition of new dates almost weekly, which just adds to the anticipation of young and old fans alike. It seems that those who are most interested in the tour are women in their 20’s who grew up with Baby and the whole gang. The tour kicks off in early December and promises to be worth the trip to the cities lucky enough to host a tour stop. Maybe a Dallas date is on the way? One can only hope.
8. ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ sans Walsh and Washington
Since Kate Walsh and Isaiah Washington left the show, things just aren’t the same. This season, the characters have gone adultery crazy, and the new interns, especially Meredith’s half-sister (Addison’s replacement?), are annoying at best. The remaining characters from past seasons are as dramatic as ever, and while I do look forward to what will unfold each Thursday, I’m not sure how many more failed relationships I can stomach. I can only hope that Dr. Bailey isn’t next on the list. Can’t anyone just be happy? At least the adultery-free relationship between Cristina and Dr. Burke provided some chance for happiness; now that he’s gone, we’re left with very little to look forward to. Addison and Dr. Burke always added a little something extra, and without these two characters, the “Grey’s” recipe is rather bland.
