My story today in the Weekend Life section about Super Bowl ads proves one point: It isn't enough anymore to make a big splash by showing an ad for the first time during the Super Bowl. From sneak peeks to online contests to pick the ad to posts of "outtakes" on YouTube, the ads are everywhere already! Here are four we particularly liked:
CareerBuilder had a disturbing ad last year, about a woman whose heart jumped out of her chest and went into her boss's office to hold up a tiny "I Quit sign. Was it the squishy sounds the heart made as it slid across her keyboard, or the hole it left in her chest? Anyway, this year's as is a lot better, and, as mentioned in today's story, contains a clever nod to the state of the economy -- "if you're making loads of money .. it may not be time."
And finally, here's a Diet Pepsi Max commercial that was previewed Friday morning on "Good Morning America."
Join me back here at the PopStand blog tomorrow during the game to discuss the commercials and participate in polls to pick the best ones! -- Anne Neville
An Australian shepherd named Stains, featured on a recent episode of Victoria Stilwell's show, "It's Me or the Dog," has developed a cult following.
Poor guy -- first, he's named "Stains." Second, because he has a tendency to eat food left unattended (dog-owners call it "counter-surfing"), Victoria makes a big plate of cupcakes and confronts him with them. He has that wacky Australian shepherd coloring, so his eyes are already unearthly bright. His transfixed reaction when basically offered the cupcakes -- a kind of trancelike zombie stare -- has made him a star.
John Lennon's sons, Julian and Sean, are set to perform together in public for the first time at a United Nations Millennium Development Goals Awards program on Feb. 26. The two half-brothers (Julian's mother is Cynthia Lennon, while Sean's mother is Yoko Ono) will join Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Akon and Macy Gray before an audience of 3,000.
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Ashton Kutcher first complained in a foul-mouthed rant about a neighbor who is building a house near his and whose workers start hammering around 7 a.m. "I'm going to lose it on this guy," he exclaimed. He and Demi also complained that the neighbor "is building a fort" on Ryan Seacrest's radio show. Later in the day, on his Web cam, a calmer Kutcher said, "I've calmed down from my morning spaz-out," and apologized. The neighbor, screenwriter Bruce Goldsmith, says Kutcher "just doesn't want to deal with reality" and took two years to build his own house.
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The new woman seen on a sushi date with George Clooney is a game-show veteran. Calling herself Katie, Kate or Stephanie Moeser, she has appeared on "Hollywood Squares," "The Price Is Right, "Don't Forget the Lyrics," and "Trivial Pursuit."
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Elisabeth Hasselbeck revealed on "The View" that she and husband Tim will add a little brother or sister for their two children in August. She told Barbara Walters on camera, "I'll try to pop this one out before we leave" on summer break. They already have a daughter, Grace, 3, and a son, Taylor Thomas, 1.
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The family of two young impoverished children who appear in the award-winning film "Slumdog Millionaire" say their youngsters have been exploited. The boy who played Salim was paid just $2,500 for his role and a girl who played Latika got about $700, while the film has grossed more than $85 million in the United States alone. The film's director, Danny Boyle, says the children have been attending school since they starred in the film "at our expense."
Jennifer Hudson is back to work for the first time since the murder of her mother, brother and nephew in October. The "American Idol" finalist is making the music video for her song, "If This Isn't Love," from her self-titled album. The video will debut Feb.9, but before that Hudson will sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl Sunday and perform at the Grammys. Her sister's estranged husband has pleaded not guilty in the murders.
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In other "American Idol" news, producers apologized for judges' interpretation of a rejected singer's goodbye remark, "Y'all take care and be careful" as a threat. The producers' statement, posted on the Idol Web site, explains that "visits to audition cities are relatively brief and sometimes regional greetings and salutations are lost in translation." After contestant Mark Mudd's goodbye, Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul replied, "That was a threat!"
Tonight, oddly, "American Idol" wraps up Season 8's audition shows with two cities in one hour. We have the New York auditions -- which actually took place in New Jersey, and here are a few photos -- and the San Juan, Puerto Rico, auditions. Simon Cowell said in a phone interview that the talent was not great at the San Juan auditions, so it's unlikely the show will head back there.
Read the live chat to see why a commenter asked me, "Anne, will you be live-blogging [on] monster trucks at the Aud?" And check this blog Sunday for a recap of some of the people we'll see next week in Hollywood!
The tabloids are all abuzz over some new photos of Jessica Simpson performing at a concert where she appears to have gained a few pounds. The pop singer was wearing some high-waisted jeans that accentuated her new curves, and tabloids have begun calling her names, and even the NY Post has a mean-spirited cartoon.
Ashlee Simpson is defending her big sister, saying, "I am completely disgusted by the headlines concerning my sister's weight ... Since when did a woman's weight become newsworthy ... All women come in different shapes, sizes, and forms and just because you're a celebrity, there shouldn't be a different standard."
Curvy Kim Kardashian -- who is the frequent target of tabloids over her weight as well -- tells People, "Call me crazy, but when I saw the picture [of Simpson], I was like, 'Oh my God, Jessica looks hot!' "
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Good Charlotte guitarist Billy Martin is a new father. Martin and his wife Linzi welcomed a son on Monday. Martin is the second member of Good Charlotte to get into the baby business. Singer Joel Madden welcomed a daughter with girlfriend Nicole Richie a year ago.
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American Idol Season 1 winner Kelly Clarkson will break a music industry record today. Clarkson's single "My Life Would Suck Without You" is expected to make the largest leap ever on the Billboard chart, in its 50-year history. The song was at No. 97 last week on the Hot 100 chart, and is expected to be No. 1 today. The previous record was held by Britney Spears, whose "Womanizer" jumped from No. 96 to No.1 last year.
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A stuntman was injured during pre-production of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." The 25-year-old stuntman is Daniel Radcliffe's stunt double and was injured during an explosion on set, which caused the harnessed stuntman to crash to the ground. The stunt was in the planning stages, before filming begins, and the stuntman told others on the set that he couldn't feel his legs, suggesting possible paralysis.
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Reconciliation may be in the works for Rosanna Arquette and husband Thomas Jane. Arquette filed for divorce earlier this month, after 2 1/2 years marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. But E! Online reports that the couple will co-host a party for a musician friend, fueling speculation that they are getting back together.
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Bart Simpson is calling people to promote Scientology... sorta. Nancy Cartwright, who has voiced the character for 20 years, has been leaving messages via tape promoting the "religion," and tooting her horn about reaching OT VII (Operating Thetan 7) level of auditing.
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Neil Patrick Harris gave attendees at the TV Academy fan event for "How I Met Your Mother" something to remember. Harris left the panel discussion to visit the restroom, and forgot to turn off his microphone. Fans heard Harris in the men's room, including a pep talk he gave himself to "wake up." Harris' rep ran into the bathroom to alert the actor that he was being heard by everyone.
The "American Idol" crew hit Salt Lake City, where Simon Cowell says they were pleasantly surprised both by the city and by the level of talent they found. So maybe they'll give out more than 11 golden tickets tonight!
Here are a few photos from the Salt Lake City auditions. It's the Mormon capital of the world, and some Mormons have heavenly pipes -- not only the Osmond family, but David Archuleta, for example!
Remember, we're live blogging again tomorrow night --a rare Thursday session of Idol -- on the New York City and San Juan auditions. Join us and make your voice heard!
The iconic "Thriller" music video is not only headed to Broadway, it's also headed to court. John Landis, who directed the award-winning 1983 music video (as well as "The Blues Brothers," "Animal House" and "Trading Places,") is suing Michael Jackson, says he has not been paid royalties from the video or the "Making of" documentary. He's entitled to 50 percent of the profits from each.
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Backstreet Boy Nick Carter celebrated his 29th birthday Monday night at the Key Club in Los Angeles at a party attended by friends, family, including his little brother Aaron, and fellow Backstreeters Howie Dorough and AJ McLean.
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But AJ McLean,who went to rehab for alcohol and cocaine addiction in 2001 and 2002, was filmed stumbling and under the influence later outside the club. Friends said they saw him drinking shots and beer inside before making him leave and putting him into a taxi. The woman who was seen confronting him outside the club is Wendy Rice, who says he has been drinking alcohol during the month they have been seeing each other.
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A private investigator hired by Dateline NBC believes that the man who was Olivia Newton-John's boyfriend when he mysteriously vanished in 2005 from a boat at sea may have faked his own death. Patrick McDermott had debts and a $100,00 life insurance policy, which was cashed in by his son. Although Newton-John, who was devastated when he vanished, is now married to someone else, she checks the investigator's web site for news on McDermott, who has been sighted many times along the coast of Mexico and South America.
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With all the big kids walking on their own and the twins in their parents' arms, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie brought their brood to Japan. Little Knox wore a tiny flat tweed cap, just like his dad's. It's the first time the family of six kids -- one short of the "rainbow family" of seven Angelina said she wanted -- has been photographed together.
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We'll be seeing a lot more of Sienna Miller, Jude Law's ex, when she hits Broadway in September in the show "After Miss Julie." Meanwhile, Miller's looks were criticized by Vogue editor Anna Wintour in a behind-the-scenes documentary about the sover shoot for the September issue of the magazine. Wintour griped that Miller was too "toothy" and had "unruly hair." For the final cover photo, one shot of her face was pasted onto another of her body.
Kelly Clarkson is working on the music video for her single, poetically titled, "My Life Would Suck Without You." The tune, already a hit, is the first single from her album, "All I Ever Wanted," which drops March 17.
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In more "American Idol" news, join me back here at the PopStand blog at 8 p.m. tonight while I live chat during the audition show! See you then!
"American Idol" auditions from Jacksonville will be televised tonight starting at 8 p.m. Here are a few photos from the auditions, which drew 12,000 people, to peruse. The hourlong show is the first of three this week, so set your laptop up in front of the TV! After this week, we all go to Hollywood!
The first paramedic on the scene in the Jett Travolta death case has been arrested for an alleged extortion case. Bahamian officials arrested Tarino Lightbourne on charges of attempting to extort and conspiracy to extort.
Details of the extortion plot have not been released, but police believe that there may be a document that ties Lightbourne to the plot, as well as two other officials who were arrested over the weekend, including a member of the Bahamian senate and the former Minister of Tourism.
E! Online reports that the FBI has become involved in the case, offering assistance in voice analysis technology, Bahamian police has recorded telephone conversations that are part of the investigation, and will be the focus of FBI involvement.
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Mariska Hargitay has returned to the set of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit after missing two weeks of filming due to a partially collapsed lung.The actress has yet to reveal details about how she suffered the injury while on a show hiatus.
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Kevin Federline is debunking rumors that he would be joining the eighth season of Dancing with the Stars. Federline was once a background dancer for Britney Spears, and would have been a contender to win, but his rep says his rumored involvement is "not true."
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David Beckham is being sued by a photographer who says he was roughed up by the soccer star's bodyguards.The photog says in court papers that on Dec. 7, the bodyguard "beat him repeatedly, grabbed his camera and threw it in a trash can."
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Mickey Rourke said during the Screen Actors Guild red carpet interviews that he may be taking his role as a "washed up wrestler" to the real thing, an appearance at the WWE pay-per-view Wrestlemania in Houston on April 5.
"The nicest thing has been the whole wrestling community embracing us," Rourke told E! News."The movie was about their world and so I think maybe I'm gonna do Wrestlemania in Houston."
Rourke won a Golden Globe for his role in "The Wrestler," was nominated for a SAG Award and is nominated for an Oscar. Before his comeback role, Rourke had a brief stint as a boxer in the 1990s, so the ring is nothing new to him.
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British tabloids are reporting that legendary musician Paul McCartney is ready to tie the knot again. But not so fast, says McCartney's rep Paul Freundlich:"[There's] no truth to it."
McCartney has reportedly been dating Nancy Shevell since November 2007, but has known her for more than 30 years. The Sunday Mirror and Sunday Telegraph both had stories saying that the couple was tying the knot, going as far as to say that the couple had received the blessing of McCartney's adult children, including fashion designer Stella McCartney.
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Michael Jackson is in talks to bring a musical to Broadway based on his hit song "Thriller." The plot is rumored to be based on the storyline of the music video, which featured Jackson and his date being chased by undead creatures. The musical will reportedly feature songs off Jackson's "Thriller" from 1982 and his 1979 solo album "Off the Wall."
Tickets for David Archuleta's just-announced all-ages show March 3 at Club Infinity go on sale Saturday at noon. An original on-sale time of Tuesday was pushed back late Monday afternoon. They're $25 and will be available at all Ticketmaster outlets, at Ticketmaster.com, or by calling 852-5000.
There will be a limit of eight tickets per person, said David B. Taylor, owner of Empire State Concerts, which is presenting the show wth Tom Barone's ESI.
Archuleta is on tour, appearing in smaller venues "to build up hype and gt some live show chops" before moving on to larger venues, Taylor said. "This is a very rare opportunity to see him in an intimate performance."
Taylor said, "I'd be surprised if this show didn't sell out instantaneously."
Club Infinity, which used to be Howdee's country-western palace, is a big barn of a place with only a few places to sit, so tickets are general admission standing-room. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show, which is being called "David Archuleta and special guests," begins at 7 p.m.
Archuleta last visited this area in early December, when he headlined the nearly sold-out Kissmas Bash at HSBC Arena.
So if you really want to see David Archuleta in March, be on the phone or online at noon Saturday!
Are you going to try to get tickets? Come back here Saturday and let us know if you do!
And if you like "American Idol," join me back here on the PopStand every night during the show as we watch and discuss it together live, as it happens. Will you be able to spot the next David Archuleta?
