Tag: Howard Stern

Bella Hadid Blows a Banana — Cause That’s Cool


There’s a fine line between empowering and humiliating when it comes to selling sex, and it’s difficult to articulate. For instance, I don’t mind Kim Kardashian posing naked or baring her genitals, and I would guess it’s because that’s been her brand from day one. To quote Howard Stern, she might be the most famous porn star in history. So why does the new video starring Bella Hadid for Love Magazine make me cringe? Is it because I find blowing a banana inherently gross? Though I fully support the actual act, I draw the line at simulating it for clicks. Love Magazine is known for their off color features for their holiday advent calendar, and Hadid kicked off their 25 days until Christmas countdown with the video below. Need I also point out that smoking a cigarette in a “sexy” way is grossly objectionable in 2016 (80’s throwback or not).

Howard Stern Should Feature Undiscovered Musicians

sirius-howard-stern

Howard Stern’s star has never shined brighter. The man’s “shock jock” status has slowly morphed into a one-stop-shop for career cleanup interviews whose long-form format is unprecedented in the business. Gone are the days of the small club of cool kids or loyalists who understand his appeal. In fact, those who poo-poo the radio titan are now considered old school, up tight outsiders.

In the last few years, Stern has dialed down his on-air time to just about twelve hours per week, which means that he must be extremely judicious about his interviews. And though he’s still loyal to the comedians whose careers he helped launch, there’s a large space for something more, and it lies in music. Though Stern often interviews the musicians who perform live on his show, that space only leaves room for huge acts, and there’s an opportunity to feature up-and-coming talent at the end of each show. He should follow in David Letterman’s footsteps and hire a talent scout to find rising stars. It’s simply ten minutes at the end of each show and it would keep in current.

Get on it, Stern. We’re all waiting.

Lady Gaga Performs “Million Reasons” on Howard Stern — Listen Now

I’ve been tough on Lady Gaga’s new album, ‘Joanne,’ but there’s no doubt that it’s peppered with powerful tracks, one of which is “Million Reasons,” which Gaga sang for Howard Stern in one of the best live performances I’ve heard on the show. According to Gaga, she wrote the song for women all over the world, and it’s origin can be attributed to finding a million reasons to leave a relationship, but being lured back by only one good reason to stay. We can all relate. In fact, Robin Quivers related so much she was crying at the end of the song. Listen below.

Rose McGowan Defends Renee Zellweger

bridget jones baby

Aside from Rose McGowan’s arbitrary assault on Howard Stern, the actress made some serious sense when defending Renee Zellweger, who had her looks insulted by a writer for Variety. The original article, entitled, ‘Renee Zellweger: If She No Longer Looks Like Herself, Has She Become a Different Actress?” spurred a response from McGowan in an article for rival trade, The Hollywood Reporter, saying, “”You are an active endorser of what is tantamount to harassment and abuse of actresses and women. I speak as someone who was abused by Hollywood and by people like you in the media, but I’m a different breed, one they didn’t count on.” She furthered:

Renee Zellweger is a human being, with feelings, with a life, with love and with triumphs and struggles, just like the rest of us. How dare you use her as a punching bag in your mistaken attempt to make a mark at your new job. How dare you bully a woman who has done nothing but try to entertain people like you. Her crime, according to you, is growing older in a way you don’t approve of. Who are you to approve of anything? What you are doing is vile, damaging, stupid and cruel. It also reeks of status quo white-male privilege. So assured are you in your place in the firmament that is Hollywood, you felt it was OK to do this. And your editors atVariety felt this was more than OK to run.

As for the Howard Stern part, McGowan said, “I am someone who was forced by a studio to go on Howard Stern, where he asked me to show him my labia while my grinning male and female publicists stood to the side and did nothing to protect me.” First, I am a massive Stern fan, and he asks everyone about their genitals, male AND female. In fact, he’s so obsessed with the small size of his own penis, he often harasses men more than women about the size of their privates. As for the rest, it’s important to note that commenting on the looks of anyone is ridiculous. It has nothing to do with the movie part, and the uproar over Zellweger’s looks is extremely exaggerated. If an actress has had such extensive plastic surgery that she is no longer recognizable, it MIGHT be worth mentioning, but writing an entire article about it is tantamount to bullying and it’s only purpose is to go viral. Lastly, does Rose McGowan have a podcast? She needs one.

Allure Interview: Is Zoe Saldana “Difficult”?

zoe-saldana-allure-july-2016-cover

I’m all for women speaking up, but the movement for equality is sometimes an excuse to justify bad behavior. Such might be the case with Zoe Saldana, who previously enraged me for her complaints about a big movie studio who refused to pay for her nanny. According to Saldana, “you’re going to make [her] work a lot more hours than [she] usually would if she was home. Therefore, [she] would have to pay for this nanny for more hours . . . ” It’s one thing to fight for a change in legislation, but at the very least, acknowledge that every other working mother in America is forced to figure it out, and you get paid far more than others for more options. She also complained about executives who thought of replacing her on a project due to her pregnancy. She was bothered that she was finally in love and starting a family and it “messed up their schedule.” Again, this is a business. If you cannot physically perform because of your pregnancy and production is delayed, that is costly. To complain about it is understandable.

In her new interview with Allure, she’s at it again. Of her difficult reputation, she said, “I was told walking into this project that they really wanted me for the part, and that any input or ideas I had to please share them. That’s what I was doing, and this producer was so bothered by the fact that he had to disrupt his vacation to call me and tell me to stop being a difficult bitch. I thought, Wow, it’s real. It really happens.” Though I can understand the blanket statements about sexism and the idea that a woman is not allowed to speak her mind, this feels more like a kind platitude from a producer that was pounced on by Saldana. Writers and producers don’t generally want their actors making notes on their script. It is annoying. In fact, Quentin Tarantino once told Howard Stern that he expects his actors to know his script word for word. Improvising is not allowed. Samuel L. Jackson confirmed this in a subsequent interview, and said his relationship with Tarantino has finally evolved to the point of making notes.

I understand gender inequality and I support change. But some people are just . . . difficult.

Hollywood’s Top 8 Most Sexist Films

KNOCKED UP

knockedupThough Katherine Heigl entered a firestorm for suggesting her character in ‘Knocked Up’ might be sexist, she was onto something. With a nagging wife and a killjoy girlfriend, it would be an understatement to suggest the women in the film were not well-represented. After all, what girl wouldn’t like her soon to be baby-daddy smoking weed all day? Only a shrew, of course. Seth Rogen and Judd Apatow did not take kindly to the criticism of their film, but it appears they got the memo, because in Rogen’s film, ‘Neighbors,’ his on-screen wife was portrayed in a far better, cooler light. In truth, Rogen admits to his real-life wife’s influence, saying, “My wife read the script. She’s a writer. She’s one of the people who was like, ‘This isn’t how it would be. We get along, I want to have fun too…’ And then as we started talking about it, that actually became the most exciting idea of the movie to us. That we could portray a couple where the wife is just as fun-loving and irresponsible as the guy, and they get along really well. In a comedy, that’s almost non-existent. An actual healthy couple that really likes each other.”

 

 

 

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON
BlackWidow-AvengersOne might think a kick-ass woman like Black Widow was invincible, but everyone needs an achilles heel, right? In a bid to live a more normal life, Black Widow makes a play for Bruce Banner during ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron,’ but he’s The Hulk, and there’s no future. Black Widow then gives a speech about her devastating infertility, which was a sad requirement of the job. It didn’t take long for the audience to erupt, objecting to the idea that all a woman really wants is to get married and have babies, even if she can save the world instead.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

pretty womanPRETTY WOMAN

Do women need to be rescued? ‘Pretty Woman’ is timeless, which may or may not be concerning. It’s a classic Cinderella story, and it’s about time the roles were reversed, especially in an economy where women are increasingly more successful. Plus, what’s so wrong with prostitution? It’s the oldest profession there is (that’s a joke . . . . sort of).

 

 

 

 

 

 

AMERICAN HUSTLE

american hustleThough the movie itself might not be sexist, the Sony hacks revealed sexism behind-the-scenes when the public learned that the leading women in ‘American Hustle’ were paid less than their male counterparts. When Jennifer Lawrence addressed her sub-par salary in comparison to Bradley Cooper, she started a national conversation and other actresses spoke up on her behalf with similar stories.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JUMPER

Jumper‘Jumper’ might be responsible for the enduring, off-screen romance between Hayden Christensen and Rachel Bilson, but the under-performing action film fell short for its female lead, who was completely helpless throughout most of the movie. If only the writers could have jumped to the future to see Rebecca Ferguson kick some serious ass in ‘Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation.’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SEX AND THE CITY

SATC‘Sex and the City’ became famous for it’s anti-establishment view of single women, proving that there’s more to a woman’s goals than finding a man and having babies. But when Carrie finally landed the man of her dreams in the end, the show bowed to convention for the sake of its Mr. Big storyline.

 

 

 

 

 

 

JURASSIC WORLD

Bryce_Dallas_Howard_HeelsWho says a woman can’t outrun a dinosaur in heels? ‘Jurassic World’ received serious criticism for his portrayal of Bryce Dallas Howard’s character, whose incompetence was only surpassed by a strange desire to run around in heels throughout the film. Dallas Howard defended the decision, saying, “This character needed to seem ill-equipped to be in the jungle. She was somebody who looks like she belongs in a corporate environment for a reason because she was someone who was disconnected from the animals and disconnected from that reality and disconnected from herself. She doesn’t at all expect that she’s going to be tromping through the jungle.” As for the director, he insists that we don’t need to “to surrender a woman’s femininity in order for her to be a badass action hero.” I need not reiterate the Rebecca Ferguson point previously mentioned, as she was both feminine AND a badass.

 

TRAINWRECK
Trainwreck-PosterWhile many might tout ‘Trainwreck’ as a movie about an empowered woman taking ownership of her sexuality, Amy Schumer’s character was no Samantha Jones. Schumer didn’t help matters much on her press tour when she said the lead was acting out sexually because she was “in pain.” Does a woman really need a reason to get laid, and does an excessive amount of partners mean she’s “broken?” The ending felt like a standard romcom rescue rather than a woman’s struggle to give up her fun life for monogamy.

 

KUTK Premiere: Caitlyn Jenner v. Khloe Kardashian

KUWTK

 

You’d think that if your entire fortune was based on the Kardashian empire, you’d be a little more grateful for the family that made you famous. But Caitlyn Jenner missed the memo. When the transgender LGBT advocate caught wind of Khloe Kardashian’s Howard Stern interview, she erupted and insisted that her ‘Keeping Up With the Kardashian’s’ step-daughter should simply smile and say only kind things. You can imagine Khloe’s reaction, given Caitlyn’s extremely honest Vanity Fair interview, which involved a very negative account of Kris Jenner’s actions toward not only her transition, but Caitlyn’s children from previous marriageS. And though I have zero issues with honestly and bemoan biting one’s tongue, I do have an issue with hypocrisy, and Caitlyn takes the cake. She’s so concerned with creating a positive image post-transition that she’s forgotten that what the public truly craves is authenticity. In fact, I’d advise Caitlyn to appear on Howard Stern and tell her own story. And yes, I am aware Bruce Jenner is a gold medalist. But both Bruce and Caitlyn have done absolutely nothing since that win, and without the Kardashians, no one would care at all anymore.
Continue reading “KUTK Premiere: Caitlyn Jenner v. Khloe Kardashian”

Steve Miller Blasts the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

steve miller band

 

I love truth tellers, especially when it’s in the name of efficiency for the greater good. When Steve Miller was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the legendary singer/songwriter took the opportunity to blast the organization for its ridiculous policies, including its $10,000 fee for any extra tickets. Miller made it clear that though it’s nice to have ONE TICKET for his wife, his bandmates would also like to bring guests.. He also made note of their ludicrous legal contract, in which Miller was asked to indemnify the Hall of Fame. As a lawyer, I can say that’s pretty standard, but that doesn’t make it any less stupid. It basically means if the Hall of Fame gets sued for any reason related to the music played by Miller at the event, Miller is responsible for any and all fees. As for The Black Keys introducing him during the event? Well, he simply hadn’t heard of them, so he was less than honored by their presence.

All kidding aside, I read a post-interview with The Black Keys, and they had a different perspective that’s actually on point. They are fans of Steve Miller, and they left their children at home to take three days out of their life to honor an icon, and the man couldn’t take five seconds to simply google their accomplishments. For lead singer Dan Auerbach, he hopes that when he’s in his “twilight years, [he] can look back and be grateful to the people who have appreciated [him] and to be able to give back.” According to Dan “music is about sharing and passing on inspiration and that was [Steve Miller’s] opportunity to do that; not just lashing out in a way that was just completely unfocused.” So is Miller just a prickly old rock star that isn’t up with the times? Probably. But during a recent interview with Howard Stern, Ice Cube expressed the exact same discontent with Hall of Fame for N.W.A’s induction, so the man is obviously onto something.

Katherine Heigl Clears Her Image On Howard Stern

Katherine_heigl

I’ve been very hard on Katherine Heigl over the years, which may or may not be fair, because I’m guessing she didn’t need another blogger bashing her during that time. There’s no need to rehash what landed her on the Hollywood shit-list, but in case you’re wondering, click HERE. Though Heigl has tried to correct her cantankerous image, she’s failed to fully reform in the public eye, UNTIL NOW. Heigl visited the Howard Stern show, and the format allowed her to adequately explain herself absent sound bites. For the first time in history, I finally understand her intentions. Here’s a rundown.

In response to that infamous comment about ‘Knocked Up’ being “sexist.”

Heigl said that though she liked the film, she personally felt her character was judgmental and unlikable. That doesn’t mean she took issue with the writing, she just would not personally hangout with the uptight chick she played. She might not have ever said that out loud, but she was somewhat when a Vanity Fair interviewer asked her to respond to the idea that the film was sexist (as in, the men are cool and the women are nags). Since she’s obviously not good at navigating controversial comments, she stepped in it. And Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen have yet to forgive her.

In response to removing her name out of Emmy contention.

Heigl rose to fame on ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ but there was a slow year for her character, and when asked to sift through her material to find something worthy of submitting to the Emmys, she simply felt she didn’t have a deep enough performance to compete. Though she didn’t think anyone would notice, they did, and when asked about it, she stepped in it again. She admits to apologizing to Shonda Rhimes. She also explained that the nature of an ensemble cast is difficult, because with 7 series regulars, everyone wants their time to shine.

Is she difficult to work with?

She doesn’t think so, but she’s so concerned about her image, she’s lost her “voice,” and she’s constantly baited by interviewers to give them something juicy or “f-ck up,” as Heigl puts it. In fact, her shoes once fit too tight, and she didn’t say anything for fear of fanning the fire.

And there you have it. Let this be a lesson to anyone in hot water. If you want to clear your name, go on Howard Stern.

The Hulk Hogan Case — Everything You Need to Know

hulk

Terry “Hulk Hogan” Bollea was awarded $115 million for emotional distress ($60 million) and economic damages ($55 million) in his case against Gawker Media, and he stands to gain even more when the jury decides on punitive damages. Punitive damages can total three times the award, which nets out at $345 million. Though unlikely, punitive means “punishment,” and if the jury wants to send a message, that’s where they’ll do it. According to the Los Angeles Times, Judge Pamela A.M. Campbell of the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court in Pinellas County advised the jury that the damages should not devastate the defendants, which include founder Nick Denton and Albert J. Daulerio, who was editor-in-chief of Gawker.com at the time the sex video was published. Denton is worth $121 million, and Gawker made nearly $50 million last year alone. As for Albert J. Daulerio, he’s insolvent. One thing is clear; however, and it’s that Daulerio deserves punishment.

While on trial, Daulerio was asked about whether he could imagine a situation in which a celebrity sex tape would not be “newsworthy,” and he said “if they were a child.” He then said that the only banned age would be “four.” He later back off his testimony insisting it was a joke, though the damage was likely done. It was also revealed during trial that he ignored desperate pleas from a college student to remove a video of her having drunken sex on the floor of a bathroom stall, claiming again that it was “newsworthy.” When asked whether he investigated the tape to determine if the sex was consensual, he admitted that he did not. In fact, he responded to the victim’s email plea by saying “Blah, blah, blah” followed by “advice” to “keep [her] head up.” In an interview with GQ Magazine, he admitted that the video in question might have in fact been a rape.

Because so many people misunderstand what “Freedom of Speech” means according to the First Amendment, this case provides the perfect opportunity to explain it. We’ve all heard “you can’t yell fire in a crowded theater” as a limitation on free speech, but what exactly does that mean, and how does it apply to the Hulk case? For starters, Hulk is suing for Invasion of Privacy, and Gawker’s entire defense revolves around the First Amendment. Our right to privacy means that one can not publicly disclose private information if it would offend a reasonable person, and if that information is not “NEWSWORTHY.” To sum this up in a nutshell in relation to Hogan, “the jury balanced privacy and press rights, and privacy won.” Because courts have traditionally upheld press rights, this case is monumental, and it will certainly send a message. As for Hogan, he’s aware, tweeting “Told ya I was gonna slam another giant” immediately after the verdict.

As a lawyer and a blogger that has long vowed to never post paparazzi pictures or invade the privacy of celebrities, this is especially interesting from a legal standpoint. Having said that, I’m getting more questions about the backstory of this sex tape than the lawsuit, so in an effort to satisfy that curiosity, here goes.

Hogan and Bubba “the Love Sponge” Clem were longtime friends, and the Sirius radio “shock jock” claimed to have helped Hogan heal from his tempestuous divorce with then-wife Linda. The pain of his divorce also came on the heels of his son’s arrest and some alleged financial issues. Needless to say, Hogan was not in the best place, and what does a good friend do when you’re grieving the loss of your family as you knew it? Well . . . he offers his wife, of course. Bubba told Hogan to have sex with his wife Heather, though their stories vary as to who initiated this idea. Bubba did not watch the act itself but seemed completely fine with sharing his wife. According to Hogan, he had no idea he was being filmed. When asked by Howard Stern what kind of marital arrangement they had, Bubba would not elaborate. Stern asked if Bubba suffered from some type of erectile disfunction, but Bubba remained coy. Clem and his wife later divorced. The sex tape in question was allegedly stolen by a former, disgruntled employee of Bubba’s, though he was not prosecuted for the theft. Gawker got wind of the tape and posted a minute long snippet. That was enough, and Hogan sued. The rest is history. Bubba and Hogan are no longer friends.

There are a lot of lessons to be learned from this case. First, if you are a blood-sucking maggot, you will get your due, and it’s nice to know a jury of our peers has a conscience. Second, though friends might let friends fu-k their wife, they certainly don’t tape it. Third, if your wife wants to f-ck other dudes and you’re not watching, she’s either selfish or your sex drive needs a serious evaluation. And lastly, don’t leave your secret sex tapes in your office for your employees to steal. If you do, label them “easy diet tricks.”