By SASHA PASULKA
This past week was all about the television, as the Jersey Shore finale aired with 4.8 million viewers watching, marking a new ratings record for MTV and a fist-pump to the face of this season’s ratings-challenged The Hills.
The show’s success has also been good news for whomever owns the cast’s Seaside Heights beach house, as it’s currently renting at $3500/night, with prices going up to $6500/night for the summer. Jersey’s never been so classy!
American Idol refuses to be caught with its pants on the ground; the juggernaut pulled in well over 20 million viewers this week, despite initial fears that a Paula Abdul-less season nine would be a ratings disappointment. I have to admit, it’s strange watching the show when all the judges are sober and have at least a loose grasp of the English grammar, but I’m holding out hope that Ellen DeGeneres can develop a quick Xanax addiction before they begin filming live episodes with her as the fourth judge.
In other television news, the giant Hope for Haiti broadcast raised over $58 million the night it aired, with over 100 celebrities performing and/or answering phone calls from donors. Donations continue to pour in and will be accepted for the next six months.
In movie news — well, there is no movie news (it’s January, where bad movies go to die), but Wernersville resident Jon Gosselin was spotted with his new girlfriend, Morgan Christie, at the Sundance Film Festival in her home of Park City. Jon was looking large and in charge, with an emphasis on the large.
Hopefully the frigid Park City weather kicked his metabolism into high gear, because he just seems to be getting bigger every time we see a new photo of him. Lay off the beer, Jonny!
Also spotted at Sundance: Boston boy Ben Affleck, tossing back vodka with Tommy Lee Jones. Tsk tsk, Ben! Didn’t you already go to rehab for this behavior? You have a wife and two beautiful children waiting for you in Los Angeles. Perhaps you ought to make a brief detour through rehab on your way home?
Check back in next week for all the latest dirt from Hollywood!
—
Sasha Pasulka is the managing editor of Evil Beet Gossip, your daily source of celeb gossip and snarky wit. Check us out at www.EvilBeetGossip.com.
January 28, 2010
JON’S LIVIN’ LARGE!
January 22, 2010
LACKLUSTER GOLDEN GLOBES
By SASHA PASULKA
This week in celeb gossip was dominated by the Golden Globes and NBC’s decision to give Conan O’Brien’s Tonight Show timeslot back to Jay Leno, and I have to admit I was bored by both.
From a red-carpet perspective, the Golden Globes were a grim affair — the rare Los Angeles downpour combined with the tragedy in Haiti caused celebs to err on the side of caution, so we didn’t see a lot of fun or interesting fashion choices.
Kate Hudson, Lea Michele and Olivia Wilde sported some of my favorite looks, while Mariah Carey, Penelope Cruz and Fergie disappointed.
From an awards perspective, it started out on the right note, with Mo’Nique taking home a best supporting actress award for her phenomenal turn as an abusive mother in “Precious,” but then it veered off-course, as Sandra Bullock inexplicably beat out Helen Mirren and Gabourey Sidibe for the best motion-picture actress, Julianna Margulies bested Anna Paquin and Glenn Close for the best television actress, and James Cameron’s three-dimensions-but-zero-script “Avatar” scored the best motion picture win.
Meanwhile, the nation rallies firmly around O’Brien – something they seemed unwilling to do before, you know, NBC canceled his show and gave Leno his time slot back.
While NBC’s decision might not delight the Internet, it makes good business sense: Leno consistently beat CBS’s David Letterman in the ratings, whereas Conan couldn’t ever seem to best him.
Leno’s primetime show’s been getting slammed for months – it can’t compete with existing primetime television. It was a poor decision on NBC’s part to move Leno in the first place, and now they’re going to take heat for trying to make it right again.
It’s not especially fair to O’Brien, but, in the end, NBC answers to its stockholders, not to Conan, and this is the right call. It’s not personal; it’s just business.
On a happier note, hometown cutie Taylor Swift just released a fantastic new single called “Today Was a Fairytale,” used in the upcoming film Valentine’s Day, where Taylor S. has a cameo opposite her former love, Taylor Lautner.
I’ve been listening to it over and over again since it first showed up on YouTube on Tuesday. I adore her so!
While Kate Gosselin comes to terms with her new hair extensions, ex-hubby Jon seems to be coming closer to his new girlfriend, Park City lady Morgan Christie. He’s been spotted out regularly with the 25-year-old Morgan and her family.
In an even stranger turn, Jon’s former flame, ex-Star reporter Kate Major, has taken up with none other than Father of the Year Michael Lohan, who palled around with Jon in the months following his split from Kate. This Kate Major chick is either addicted to fame or the beer gut – it’s anyone’s guess which. Man, I’d much rather be dealing with hair extensions than love triangles composed entirely of crazy people. Kate wins. Check back next week to see what all our favorite beautiful fools are up to!
—
Sasha Pasulka is the managing editor of Evil Beet Gossip, your daily source of celeb gossip and snarky wit. Check us out at www.EvilBeetGossip.com.
