The Talented Mr. Benson
Jace Lacob on the true identity of eager-to-please ad man Bob Benson (James Wolk) on “Mad Men.”
Kim Kardashian's daughter was born five weeks before her reported due date. So naturally, the rumor mill expects foul play. We’ve rounded up the best Internet conspiracy theories on what was really happening when the cameras stopped rolling on the reality star.
There’s never a lack of interest in anything Kim Kardashian–related. So when the reality star gave birth to her baby girl on June 15—five weeks earlier than her reported due date—the rumors began to fly. Had the Kardashian clan pulled one over on the unsuspecting public? Was it just another publicity stunt? Did Kanye West, the baby’s father, have anything to do with it? While there are some reports that medical complications led to an early delivery, the Internet needed no proof to start spinning crazy conspiracy theories. Here are a few of the best.
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian attend the Costume Institute Gala for the "PUNK: Chaos to Couture" exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2013 in New York City. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty)
Timed Birth to Kanye’s Record Release
What’s the formula behind the viral success of Barry’s Bootcamp?
In the cool, dark fitness studio painted in camouflage and lit like a nightclub, instructor Todd Mendiola shouts, “Let’s get this done!” This is the Sunday-morning full-body session of Barry’s Bootcamp in New York City’s TriBeCa neighborhood. About a dozen students warming up on a treadmill pick up their pace; a second group prepares to hold the beginning position of a pushup known as the “plank” for one minute. Fifteen minutes of grueling drills later, the groups switch places.
The hourlong sequence is billed as the “1,000-calorie workout.” The “treaders” practice speed intervals, and the “floor” cycles through classic gym routines: lunges, bicycle-style sit-ups, and free weights. “The idea is to burn out your legs,” Mendiola shouts to the panting, sweating group of men and women in their 20s and 30s.
The exercises aren’t particularly original, yet group fitness instructor and founder Barry Jay has hit on a formula that has inspired a fervent following willing to plunk down up to $38 a class, the price at the franchise’s Hamptons outpost (the average session ranges from $20 to $30, depending on location). Jay’s brainchild is one of a growing niche of boutique fitness studios, such as CrossFit and SoulCyle spinning, that are attracting a health-and-fitness-conscious set willing to pay a premium to be barked at and pushed to their limits to mixes featuring Lana Del Rey and Justin Timberlake. It’s a concept that’s helping to boost the $22 billion health-club industry patronized by approximately one fifth of American adults.
Check out the music video for “(I Wanna) Channing All Over Your Tatum,” a hilarious R&B ballad feat. Channing Tatum, Jamie Foxx, Jimmy Kimmel, Miley Cyrus, and more.
Move over, Yeezus.
Jimmy Kimmel Live
During a special edition of Jimmy Kimmel Live that aired Tuesday night before Game Six of the NBA Finals, Kimmel premiered the music video for a smooth—and hilarious—sexually suggestive R&B ballad called, “(I Wanna) Channing All Over Your Tatum.” In the video, Channing Tatum and his White House Down co-star Jamie Foxx are seen frolicking on a beach in white suits while bikini babes pop bottles of ‘Channing Champagne.’
Kanye West’s incredibly quotable new album, ‘Yeezus,’ is out today. From Chewbacca to croissants, here are West’s most quotable lines from the album. (Warning: Lyrics NSFW.)
Kanye West’s sixth solo album, Yeezus, is in stores now and is already being hailed by critics as one of the best LP’s of the year. We called it “bizarre, brilliant, and like nothing you’ve heard before.” It’s also incredibly, incredibly quotable, with lines touching on Chewbacca furs, croissants, and lascivious Hamptons spouses. If you thought West’s interview with The New York Times was packed with quotables, well, you ain’t heard nothing yet.
DefJam;Shareif Ziyadat/FilmMagic
“Real nigga back in the house again / Black Timbs all on your couch again / Black dick all in your spouse again / And I know she like chocolate men / She got more niggas off than Cochran, huh?!?” – Kanye West, “On Sight”
The fashion mogul tells the New York Post that the reality kinda-star torpedoed his popularity with the socialite set.
Ed Hardy was a "thing" of the early 2000s. Sported on the likes of wild-and-crazy celebutantes—think Tara Reid, Heidi Montag, and Paris Hilton in their party girl heydays—the line's trucker hats and blinged-out tees (helmed by French designer Chrisitan Audigier) became a staple of Hollywood's elite.
Jon Gosselin, 2008; Ed Hardy, 2011. (Ethan Miller/Getty; Dave Allocca/Starpix/AP)
This past week, Ed Hardy, the 68-year-old tattoo artist-cum-fashion mogul, blamed not the out-of-control socialites, but rather celebrity hanger-on Jon Gosselin for the demise of his fashion empire.
Charles Saatchi built up the world’s largest advertising firm and became the face of the swinging ’80s in London—only to be ousted from his own company. Peter Jukes on the reclusive man who now has been accused of choking his wife in public.
It makes Mad Men’s depiction of admen look tame. The backstory of Charles Saatchi, who was cautioned by police Monday night for allegedly repeatedly grabbing the throat of his wife, celebrity TV chef Nigella Lawson, during dinner at an exclusive London restaurant, is far more extraordinary than Don Draper’s—and he remains even more enigmatic and elusive.
Nigella Lawson and Charles Saatchi attend a dinner party in London in January 2012. (Dave M. Benett/Getty)
Born in Baghdad to Iraqi Jews who fled to London in 1947, Charles and his brother Maurice built up the world’s largest advertising company, with over 600 offices, before they were 40 years old. Having turned modern advertising into an art form, the self-confessed “artoholic” Charles went on to establish himself as the most influential art collector of the last 25 years, creating the Young British Artist phenomenon—and launching the careers of Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst. For someone who has radically altered the visual perceptions of the public, Charles studiously avoids the limelight and has given only a couple of newspaper interviews. Compared with him, Svengali is an attention seeker.
While more men are staying at home and excelling at fatherhood, movies and TV still portray such dads as bumbling, emasculated weaklings, writes Soraya Roberts.
In 1983, the poster for a new movie called Mr. Mom showed Michael Keaton as a perturbed dad, his two kids wreaking havoc as he held his baby at arm’s length while his business-suit-clad wife cheerfully walked out the door. Thirty years later, pop culture’s stay-at-home dad hasn’t progressed very far beyond that. Cue the laugh track.
The recently aired and immediately canceled ‘Guys With Kids’ is just one more example of the media portraying men as incompetent at home and women breadwinners as problematic. (Vivian Zink/NBC)
Last month, a Pew study showed that 40 percent of U.S. households now have a woman as the leading breadwinner. Fox News’s Juan Williams said the change was “hurting our children” while a professor of economics and behavioral science at the University of Chicago, Richard H. Thaler, argued in The New York Times that it was leading to the “decline in the formation and stability of marriages.” This despite the fact that, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 20 percent of fathers with working wives regularly care for their children (by comparison, 23 percent of marriages were found to have stay-at-home moms).
A union, health insurance, residuals? Porn stars get none of those things, and few manage to save their ‘movie money.’ Aurora Snow on why many keep returning to the business—and how she finally got out.
I was certain that I would never want a family of my own. I wouldn’t have entered porn if I had. I scoffed at the idea of being tied down in any way. But four years ago my brother was in a motorcycle accident, and I found myself thrust into the role of caregiver to my 4-year-old and 6-year-old nephews. My youngest nephew clung to me half asleep as I carried him from my car to his bedroom, and as I tucked him in, everything changed. I suddenly wanted a family of my own. That meant I needed to leave the adult business, but I wasn’t even slightly prepared. Like most of my colleagues, I had never considered an exit strategy. Worse, I felt I had no other skill sets.
Pando Hall/Getty
A day in the life of a porn star might, on the surface, seem like the life of a Hollywood A-lister. Shopping in Beverly Hills, getting $500 facials, and spending thousands on shoes that will rarely see the light of day. But take one look at performer contracts and you will notice some major differences. Hollywood actors have a union, health insurance, and even earn residuals on their projects. Porn actors have none of these things. Once the money jar is drained on fashion, facials, and shoes, that’s it. There’s no more. So retirement is a tricky concept.
After Miss Utah’s painfully awkward answer during Sunday night’s Miss USA pageant, watch more good, bad, and sometimes ugly scenes from beauty contests, from Miss China’s ‘nudity’ question to Miss Teen South Carolina’s ‘like, such as’ fumble.
Beauty and the Missing Brains
"If I could be great at one thing, I would be in more than one place at one time." These unfortunate women sadly reinforce the stereotype that pageant contestants are, well, dumb. From flubs to faux pas, addlebrained answers to moronic monologues, we've compiled the kookiest comments from pageants past.
Allegedly hit a paparazzo with his FerrariMore
While filming new music video.More
At lobby of Atlantic City hotel and casino.More
But Miss Utah steals the show.More
Allegedly smashing car windows in L.A.More
‘The Voice’ still hasn’t found a star. Its new winner, Danielle Bradbery, isn’t it, says Kevin Fallon.
Jace Lacob on the true identity of eager-to-please ad man Bob Benson (James Wolk) on “Mad Men.”
Following the shocking pics showing art multimillionaire Charles Saatchi apparently choking his celebrity-chef wife, the gallerist now claims it was just a ‘playful tiff.’ Tom Sykes on the rumors that Saatchi has finally flipped.
Get your mind out of the gutter! In an undeniably brilliant (and controversial) way to boost name recognition of their brand, the protein drink company 'For Goodness Shakes' has just released this awkwardly prurient ad. Decide for yourself if it goes too far.
The fashion mogul tells the New York Post that the reality kinda-star torpedoed his... More
and Irina Shayk is reportedly ready to battle her stalker. More
Liberty United has enlisted some of the fashion industry's most esteemed jewelry... More