By MOLLY DAVIS
The Taylor Swift “opinions” keep on rolling in.
It seems that every time something amazing happens in the country cutie’s career, there are naysayers that want to take her down a notch.
Or several notches.
Wynonna Judd is the latest to jump on the Kanye West express.
You’d think that after the verbal backlash of Kanye’s stunt at the MTV VMA’s this year, where he jumped on stage and interrupted the PA native as she was accepting her “Video of the Year” moonman award, people would learn something.
Nope.
Wynonna Judd is trying to remove her cowboy boot from her mouth after stating her opinion about Taylor’s big win at the CMA’s.
The country singer has apologized on her Web site (where else – who does personal apologies anymore?) for her slamming Swift, who became the youngest artist ever to win the Country Music Association Awards’ Entertainer of the Year trophy.
“I understand that my comment . . . came across as a negative statement,” Judd writes.
Prior to the awards show, Judd told USA Today that the 19-year-old’s nomination was “too much, too soon . . . Time is God’s way of keeping everything from happening at once. It’s just too much of a good thing soon . . . I want kids to earn it.”
Really, Wynonna?
Do you think Swift hasn’t “earned” her success?
I beg to differ — as do her legions of fans and supporters.
Judd tried to backtrack: “My intent was not to take anything away from her talent and contributions to the country music industry…all of which are truly unprecedented for an artist of ANY age.”
She adds: “Taylor is a beautiful, hard working young woman that deserves the success she has had and I support her as an artist and as a woman in the business.”
Too little, too late.
It smacks of jealously masked as “concern.”
This coming for a 45-year-old irrelevant country “star” who is famous for being the daughter of Naomi and the sister of actress Ashley Judd.
Does she have talent?
Sure.
But not like Taylor.
Jumping on the Taylor-dissing bandwagon is creepy country crooner Randy Travis.
He said, “As a writer, she is a phenomenal talent. When you look at the body of work that she has written at the age when she came into this business, it’s remarkable. It really is. But do I think that entertainer of the year might have been a little early? In my opinion, yes, for whatever that’s worth.”
It’s worth nothing, Randy.
If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all – didn’t your momma’s teach you that lesson?
Apparently not.
Next time these two want to share their opinions, when they put cowboy boots in their mouth by uttering something stupid, I hope they choke on their spurs.
November 19, 2009
COUNTRY CREEPS TARGET TAYLOR
November 11, 2009
TERRIFIC TAYLOR RULES ‘SNL’
By MOLLY DAVIS
Taylor Swift knocked it out of the park Saturday night.
She hosted “Saturday Night Live,” and has added another career to her already overflowing plate of accomplishments.
Comedienne.
She began the night in a glittery black number, guitar at her side, and performed the comic “Monologue Song (La, La, La).”
She wowed the audience.
The usually soft-spoken, PC girl stepped aside and was replaced by an edgier version of herself.
In the number, she took a lyrical swipe at Joe Jonas, her ex-boyfriend, calling him a “dbag,” and let him know, as if he already didn’t, how amazing she’s doing and her accomplishments of the past year.
She also took a verbal swing at Kanye West: “You might be expecting me to say/ something bad about Kanye…But there’s nothing more to say/ cause everything’s OK/ I’ve got security lining the stage…”
About her rumored love life, she belted out: “And if you’re wondering if I might/ be dating the werewolf from “Twilight”/ I’m not going to comment on that in my monologue.”
Then she blew a campy kiss and winked at maybe-boyfriend Taylor Lautner, but she’s “not gonna comment.”
Her skits were hilarious.
They included:
Deftly channeling one of my favorite targets, Kate Gosselin, in skit skewering “The View.”
Taylor even looked good with the crazy “Kate” asymmetrical hairdo — which is no small feat — that ‘do is not easily pulled off.
“My hairdresser was halfway through giving me ‘The Rachel’ when his blowdryer exploded on the back of my head,” Swift as Gosselin said, explaining the evolvement of “the Kate.”
Taylor donned another wig to play a Bella-esque lead in an over-the-top dramatic spoof of “Twilight.”
Only in her version of the lovesick teen, dubbed “Firelight,” Swift is not crushing on a vampire — her love interest was Frankenstein.
“I know what you are,” her character says. “You’re green… You have bolts in your neck… You freak out around fire…”
Swift nailed Kristin Stewart’s trademark lip-biting and constant tucking-hair-behind-her-left-ear moves.
It was hilarious.
She had a maniacal laugh in a bit about being interviewed by manipulative celebrity reporters.
In another segment she played a teen, fed up with all the talk about “Driving While Texting,” who starts campaigning against the dangerous things that parents do, including “Driving While Arguing with the GPS” and “Driving While Singing Along To a Song You Don’t Know the Lyrics To.”
The texting teen came complete with headgear and the excess saliva mouth orthodontics cause.
And she was still adorable, mouth metal and all,
The only skit I thought was a little stretch for Swift?
The prisoner “Skeet Deadly,” complete with cornrows, facial hair, prison-issued jumpsuit, Timberlands, and badass attitude in a “Scared Straight” parody.
She was playing a dude.
I just have trouble seeing the uber-sweet singer playing a male, tatted up gang member.
She ended her skits on a high note — the last being an impression of the hip shaking, throaty singer Shakira.
Oh, and she sang her little heart out.
I actually forgot she was also the musical guest, but she reminded me quickly where her roots are firmly grounded.
She performed “You Belong With Me” as her first musical number and “Untouchable” as her second song.
She rocked.
As usual.
“This has been the best week of my life,” Swift said at the close of the show.
November 5, 2009
WHY WE LOVE TAYLOR
By MOLLY DAVIS
I don’t like country music.
But I like Taylor Swift.
Correction — I love Taylor Swift.
Who doesn’t?
The angelic artist is the epitome of class, grace and elegance.
Not to mention she’s one little bundle of adorable-ness.
The 19-year-old Wyomissing native has attracted millions with her honesty, subtle humor, independence, tenacity, and her ability to inspire girls.
An incredible talent, her draw is that she appeals to all ages, young and old.
Her fan base extends well past teens – she more than 3 million copies of her latest effort, “Fearless,” and her 2006 self-titled debut album went triple platinum.
She won album of the year at the 209 Academy of Country Music Awards — the youngest singer in history that can claim the title.
Her music speaks to her fans — young and old alike.
You’ll never see her caught in a compromising position, mouthing off about her rivals, or partying into all hours of the night – and that really says something in today’s culture.
When Swift’s acolytes are busy having public feuds or swilling vodka at the latest trendy LA club, Swift is nowhere to be found.
She’s a trendsetter, not a Hollywood hanger-on.
Following up on the heels of this year’s many successes is her double duty as host and musical guest on “Saturday Night Live” on Nov. 7 — a high honor only bestowed on the worthiest of celebrities.
And since everything else in her life has fallen into place, the next logical step would be her own real-life “Love Story.”
Which seems to be blossoming in the form of 17-year-old Taylor Lautner.
Taylor squared?
These two have been seen hanging out at hockey games, he sits in the front row at her concerts, and Hollywood gossip sites are dishing about Taylor/Taylor dalliances.
Reports of the two cuties kissing and holding hands are spreading like wildfire through the ranks, but Miss Swift is shy on the topic, saying she “didn’t know” whether or not the two were dating.
The pair are starring on the big screen together in 2010’s big budget “Valentine’s Day.”
I think it’s a match made in heaven.
So do her fans, who unfailingly root for Swift.
You remember the MTV “VMA’s?”
Never has there been such a public outcry for some Tinseltown justice as there was on the heels of “Kanye-gate.”
When Taylor won Best Female Video for ‘You Belong With Me,” Kanye jumped onstage, grabbed the mike from the country singer’s hands and delivered this rant:
“Yo Taylor, I’m really happy for you, I’ma let you finish, but Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time,” he yelled. “Of all time!”
He was booed at the show, and publicly shunned immediately following the debacle.
Swift had to perform the song about five minutes after Kanye’s outburst.
She gave an unbelievable performance. She was the picture of poise and class, and absolutely shined.
As usual.
Swift was more gracious about the event than her fans, saying she didn’t want to start anything and declined to bash her tormentor.
But her supporters did it for her — she is truly loved by her fans and the entire entertainment industry.
Kanye apologized.
She forgave him.
Her fans did not, and probably never will.
But Taylor, ever humble, has moved on to bigger and better things.
She has no time to waste on such trivial drama — she’s worked too hard and long for her standing.
Because while her female contemporaries, singers Miley Cyrus and Carrie Underwood, had huge backing to get their start (Disney and “American Idol”), Swift had nothing.
No fancy agents, no launching vehicles — just tenacity and pure, raw talent.
So while it took her longer to reach the top of the heap, where she presently resides with some self-absorbed status seekers, the journey has paid off.
And keeps accumulating with every new feat she conquers.
Success will never spoil Miss Swift.
KATE’S SOB STORY
By MOLLY DAVIS
Kate Gosselin always has to have the last word.
Her teary TV interview, “Kate: Her Story,” aired Monday night on TLC.In her “heart-to-heart” interview with NBC’s “Today” anchor Natalie Morales on , Kate addressed the end of her 10-year marriage, saying, “Whatever happened, it happened so quickly … I remember thinking, ‘We’re not going to recover from this.’”
There were three rounds of tears.
Crocodile tears?
In my opinion, yes.
She has no credibility as the victim in my eyes.
She recalled her bumpy marriage, and soon-to-be ex-husband Jon Gosselin didn’t have much sympathy for her either.
Jon, wanting to get the last word, shot back, in what is turning into a war of public apologies.
On Tuesday he was all a-twitter. Via Twitter.
He posted, “Kate even slipped last night and admitted we split up a year ago!” the octodad tweeted. “Though she claims she ‘didn’t remember’ who called it quits. Hey at least she said ‘didn’t remember’ instead of lieing. [sic]”
I’ll excuse the spelling.
Enter Rabbi Shmuley Boteach.
That’s right. I said Rabbi.
No, Jon is not Jewish.
Not even close.
But he’s seeking “spiritual guidance” from Rabbi Shmuley, and hosted a public discussion at the West Side Jewish Center Sunday, where he apologized to Kate and said he has “decided to calm things down until the divorce, just until the divorce” about his relationship with 22-year-old Hailey Glassman.
“I don’t want to ruin things with Hailey like I did with Kate,” he said. “We just need to slow things down. I don’t want another failure in my relationships.”
Jon copped to some bad behavior in the last few months.
“Half the stuff I’ve done, if I look at my moral compass, I shouldn’t have done,” he said. “Every day I look in the mirror and I wonder [why I'm famous]. I don’t sing. I don’t dance. I’m not a Nobel Peace Prize winner. I just had eight kids and I had a show on TLC.”
Jon also said he plans to apologize to Kate.
Rabbi Shmuley says he’s “working on Jon’s moral development.
Jon was once a good husband and father and somewhere along the line that changed and I am helping him to return to his former self.”
This may be a job for a priest, as Rabbi’s aren’t known for their exorcism skills.
When I heard about the Rabbi, my spidey sense tingled…
Shmuley had his on show on TLC,”Shalom in the Home.”
Conicidence?
Doubtful.
Shmuley seems to be as big a media whore as Jon and Kate, appearing on “Oprah” whenever he can and is was well known for “advising” Michael Jackson.
It smacks of publicity.
Is this whole thing an act?
Not just the goings-on of late, but the entire Jon/Kate drama?
I wouldn’t be surprised.
What would surprise me are the couple’s phenomenal acting chops.
“And the Academy Award goes to…”
October 29, 2009
PHILLIE FANS ARE CREEPS!
By MOLLY DAVIS
And so it begins.
The Phillies are World Series contenders again.
If they win, the city will swell with pride.
Along with thousands of miscreants that will turn the city upside down.
Raging Phillie “Phans” will riot — win or lose.
Which I don’t understand.
If your team wins the World Series, wouldn’t you be happy?
Why would that drive you to destruction?
Last year, rioting residents took over a fire truck, which I’m sure needed to be somewhere — oh, say, a fire — and flipped over cars.
A true expression of happiness in Philadelphia.
An upside-down happiness, just like the cars that encounter the “happy” phans.
That’s not a fan – that’s called a criminal.
Look, Philadelphia, you have no control over the game.
When they’re playing well, you’re all about cheering them on and screaming their praises.
But one inning of errors, poor pitching or “lack of effort” on the players part and you turn on them faster than a mean girl tears down a wannabe.
I’d like to see you get out there and do what those players do.
And deal with your “fans” when they regress into foaming-at-the-mouth, insult spewing lunatics.
What you do have control of, dear fans, is your reactions to winning or losing.
That’s it.
Well see what this year brings.
Hopefully some classier fans.
Dubbed the “turnpike series” — which is weird, because the turnpike is nowhere near the Phillies stadium
— the games against NY’s Yankees are sure to be interesting.
Interesting to me, because of the drama unfolding in the stands.
Fights between New Yorkers and Pennsylvanians will undoubtedly break out.
I hope they show more of those than the game.
Maybe the outcome will be decided in N.Y. and they can try to tear up that city.
I doubt that would be taken kindly, and maybe they’d be taught a lesson about sportsmanship.
Dare to dream, I say.
The bottom line is that in a crowd of thousands, there are bound to be hoodlums, goons and idiots.
There are most certainly true fans that love their team and celebrate wins with high fives, smiles, and good cheer.
The bad apples in the celebration ruin it for the rest of the city.
I’m hoping the PA fans don’t live up to their image this year.
I’m not optimistic.
JON HITS NEW LOW?
By MOLLY DAVIS
I’m looking for my jacket — hell has frozen over.
I have temporarily switched to Team Kate.
Temporarily.
If the rumors turn out to just that — rumors — back on Team Jon I go.
The scoop?
Jon Gosselin is reportedly going to appear in a new reality show where he will date the other Octomom.
Yes, THAT Nayda Suleman.
The single mom of 14, and also the mayor of crazy town, is creepier than Kate.
According to the New York Daily News, the show will be produced by former “Cheaters” producer Bobby Goldstein and a former producer of “The Jerry Springer Show.”
“I heard that Nadya has an insatiable desire to spend time with Jon and to put their families together,” Goldstein said. “And I had the idea that this could be a very entertaining fiasco.”
Though reps for both parties deny that any show is in the works, Goldstein says he will produce the pilot, called “Jon – Kate = Jon Octomom.”
It’s screaming classy already.
The press release says cameras will follow Jon Gosselin “as he contemplates what hooking up with Octomom could really be like. He’s totally creeped out by the idea that if they got married, they’d have 22 kids.”
The press release continues, “It’s so bad that when they finally meet, Octomom’s brood may start calling Jon ‘Daddy.’ If this doesn’t make Jon lose it, then Octomom modeling her bikini body for him will.”
Now, I have been firmly rooted on team Jon since the beginning.
I’m really surprised with his decision to participate with this pilot.
The Jon naysayers have always said that he was a self-serving fame seeker.
I thought he wouldn’t go this far – maybe I’m naive.
But if there is any truth to this story, I will switch to Team Kate.
As much as I dislike Kate, I know she is pretty sane.
Mean, but definitely sane.
The 33-year-old Angelina-wannabe-Suleman?
Not sane.
October 22, 2009
IT’S CURTAINS FOR KATE
By MOLLY DAVIS
The fat lady is singing for “Jon & Kate Plus 8.”
It’s over.
Done.
Finito.
Kate will have one last hurrah next Monday on an hour-long special on TLC, where the mom of eight will answering “your questions about life, the show and moving on,” the network has announced.
It will be the last, dear fans.
It’s not clear whether she will address the breach-of-contract lawsuit between her soon-to-be-ex Jon Gosselin and the TLC network.
Coincidentally, the special airs the same day the Gosselins are due in court to try reach a financial settlement.
It’s all about timing.
And media manipulation.
Having known people who live in the same community as Kate, she has the reputation of being pushy, butting in lines, maniacally grabbing clothing off the racks at Gymboree and then huffily stuffing them in a bag while screaming at her kids, and demands star treatment.
She is not a star and her sense of entitlement is through the roof.
She is just another Pennsylvania housewife with a lot of kids.
No talent and certainly no class.
As for the kids response to the show ending, Kate says they are “angry” and “acting out.”
In an interview with Vanity Fair, the reality mom tells what went down when she told her eight cuties that the show was dunzo.
“Actually, times eight, there was wailing and sobbing,” Kate says. “They love our crew, they love the interaction, they love the events. There is nothing harmful about it. They are angry.”
And while Kate constantly scolds the paparazzi, she says the kids have become so used to their presence, that she has to “instruct” them how to act.
“I always tell [the children], ‘Turn your back and don’t look at them, don’t speak to them,’” says Kate. “I don’t even let them use the word. I mean, no five-year-old should be using the word ‘paparazzi.’”
“The ones claiming we are exploiting our children,” Kate says, “are the ones exploiting our children!”
It must be nice to be mayor of crazy town, Kate.
If she really feels she hasn’t exploited her kids, God bless her.
She goes on to say, “I’m trying to give them the grace to see, if they’re acting out of line, I’m trying to look deeper into why that is,” she says. “Why the kids are acting out. Cause it’s all inter-related. I mean, they don’t see it, but it’s all interconnected.”
The fate of this family remains to be seen.
Whatever happens, we won’t be seeing it on TLC.
Good thing for the paparazzi.
Sorry, Kate.
BASEBALL & PHILLIE FANS: BORING & ANNOYING
By MOLLY DAVIS
Baseball may be America’s favorite pastime.
But it’s definitely not mine.
Not that I don’t enjoy going to a game on a gorgeous day.
To socialize, get some sun, and have a beer… or five.
What I don’t enjoy is watching the snoozefest on TV.
Yes, I know, it’s exciting, the Phillies are world champs, blah, blah, blah.
All I care about is that TBS preempts my two-hour “Family Guy” marathon in lieu of the game.
I’d much rather watch Stewie Griffin’s hijinks rather than stare at my screen for nine innings of pitch, hit, repeat.
The other annoying thing about the Phillies?
The fans.
I’m being barraged nightly on facebook by rabid followers who update their statuses every five minutes.
Examples?
“Let’s Go PHILLIES! (clap, clap, clap).”
I guess I’m supposed to “clap” along while I read…
But I don’t.
I “hide” that person so I’m not subjected to their updates in the future.
It’s very un-American of me.
Another doozy?
“These TBS announcers SUCK!”
Multiply that update by 100.
People are focused more on hating the announcers than watching the game.
Those people are all “hidden” as well.
The only thing I’m sort of looking forward to is a Yankees-Phillies World Series.
And not because of the baseball.
So I can see the adorable Miss Kate Hudson in the stands.
She’s much more interesting than the game she’s watching.
October 15, 2009
REPORT: SHOW’S DAYS ARE NUMBERED
By MOLLY DAVIS
Hallelujah.
It’s over for Jon & Kate Gosselin.
And I’m not talking about the divorce.
Sources are saying that their reality show on TLC, “Jon & Kate Plus 8,” has about a month left before it is bounced off the air.
Is it wrong that “Ding dong, the witch is dead” from “The Wizard of Oz” is running through my head when I think about Kate’s TV demise?
Yes, it is.
But I’ll keep humming it anyway.
Now, before I break into full song and dance, let me say that TLC has not confirmed the rumor.
But according to RadarOnline.com there is only enough unused new footage to take them through about another month.
How many more hours can we watch of Kate cooking and doing “green activities” with the kids?
No one knows.
And no one seems to care.
Well, I don’t care.
And since Jon has forbid the network to film the kids, TLC will not challenge his wishes.
I’m not getting my hopes up for the cancellation, as Jon (or Kate) tend to change their minds every 10 minutes.
If he does decide that he needs his TLC paycheck, “Kate Plus 8.”
Don’t hold your breath.
Or hold it – the story could change tomorrow.
In the meantime, “Ding dong, the witch is dead…”
DAY IN COURT CREATES MORE CONFUSION
By MOLLY DAVIS
Jon & Kate had their day in court.
I was going to say “Jon & Kate plus litigate.”
But I’m trying to cut back on my rhyming puns.
So, the estranged reality couple went before a PA judge this week.
All I can say is WTF?
Something is very odd.
Kate says Jon took $230K.
He says he didn’t and can prove it.
The judge rules Jon has to return $180K.
Why not the full $230K?
Is this a different sum of money?
According to TMZ, Jon was ordered to return the funds because they were in violation of an arbitrator’s order.
He was reported to have removed $230,000 initially from their account, despite a ban from such instances due to the couple’s ongoing nasty divorce.
Kate spoke out following the ruling, saying: “As difficult as this has been for me, I am pleased that the Court has ruled fairly on behalf of myself and my children. Now that this matter has been ruled on, I look forward to returning to private arbitration, as we have agreed to do, to resolve any remaining issues.”
Holy obvious.
Kate, if it took a judge to tell you that you and Jon should’ve been handling your split privately, you have have more problems than I thought.
Which is really saying something.
The story states she took $55K to pay for bills for her and the kids but doesn’t have to return it… as of yet.
But I remember reading she had taken that money out BEFORE he touched the account and she had already returned it.
There is something WAY wrong here.
If there is ban on taking money out of the account for the BOTH of them, shouldn’t ALL the money be returned?
Was the money SHE took actually used to help pay bills and why didn’t they do this in private to begin with?
I’ll say it again — WTF?
Jon must replace the missing money by their next court hearing, which is scheduled for Oct. 26.
If the money is not replaced, he’ll have to appear before a judge for a contempt proceeding, TMZ reported.
There is a lot more going on to this than they are telling the public.
Which is how it should be — it’s nobody’s business.
They are BOTH horribly guilty of using the media to sway opinion.
Thing is, Kate’s playing the game better.
