Tradition states that once one becomes a member of the royal family, they will spend the holiday with only members of the royal family. This means that Kate will not get to spend the holiday with her mom, dad, brother, or sister. She will actually be quite far from her family at the Queen’s Sandringham Manor in Norfolk, England. It will not be a relaxing holiday for her either. While there she will have to follow strict rules and likely have to change outfits up to five times a day for the formal events she will be required to attend. These events include formal meals, cocktail hours, church services, and gift exchanges. It is expected that all eyes will be on her since she is the newest member of the royal family. She will also have to decide a suitable gift for the Queen for Christmas which has to be stressful enough!
When VH1 introduced its I Love the 80s and I Love the 90s mini-series, few expected them to gain as much popularity as they did. Both shows are based on short BBC series of the same name. The series explore their respective decades and offer short interviews with celebrities and other guests about the popular culture of the time. These shows frequently appear in syndication on VH1, which is available through most TV service providers, including Direct TV.
VH1 first introduced I Love the 80s in December of 2002. The series included ten episodes aired over four days. Each episode explored a year from the decade and popular topics from that year. While the episodes varied in their guest appearances and topics, there were some recurring hosts and segments. For instance, every episode included the same celebrity presenting lists of top events and celebrity facts from that year. Each episode also featured a Public Service Announcement and a clip from a popular music video from that year. The show has become so popular largely due to its varied perspectives and wide scope. Each episode discusses not only pop cultural topics but also politics, news stories, and fashion of the era.
Following the popularity of the first series, the network aired I Love the 90s in July of 2004. The series also aired over a four day span. The format was similar to that of its predecessor, with ten episodes exploring each year. This sister series also featured recurring segments, though they varied in theme and subject matter. They included more technologically-based segments, such as email responses with the “Snapple Lady.” While these episodes also focused largely on pop culture trends and incidents, interviewees also discussed crime, society, and advancements of the era. A “Part Deux” of the second series premiered in early 2005 featuring more topics related to the 90s. While it was released to relative popularity, it has not been quite as successful as the first two series.
What is it about these shows that prompts such interest? They are rife with nostalgia, and the current generations of twenty and thirty somethings all can relate. These clips bring them back to their childhood, when they were steeped heavily in the televised, broadcasted culture. The events, songs, and personalities of the past unify our experience. A unification now so lacking in our technological, atomized world. These shows remind us of a sentimental and simpler time, which may only exist in retrospect. The effect of VH1′s efforts may be slightly more profound than might be implied by such a ridiculously shallow commentary show.
British heiress Petra Eccleston married James Stunt in a wedding costing over million. She recently purchased the house of Candy Spelling in California for 85 million, and that is just one of her residences. Her father is the President and CEO of Formula racing, he is a Billionaire! Congrats to the happy couple!
Last weekend Heidi Montag hosted a pool party in Las Vegas at Wet Republic at the MGM Grand. The former “The Hills” star is remembered for going under the knife and getting 10 plastic surgeries done in one day. Heidi isn’t done transforming her body though she said that she lost 27 pounds in the past two months. When asked how she did it Heidi said “I’ve been working out from like 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. everyday for two months now”. That is 14 hours per day! Heidi also said “I’ve been running a lot, and I’ve been doing weights. When you work out, you boost your metabolism, so you have to [make sure you eat enough].” She also told the mag that her new augmented assets caused her to stay away from the gym. “My breasts, because they’re so big, really needed some time,” she explained. “So I’m just starting to work out again after my surgery. Sometimes I get shooting pains, but I hear that’s normal.” Heidi said she has been in hiding the last year and got up to 130 lbs, she is now down to 103 lbs.
Kim Kardashian is engaged! Her boyfriend of about six months Kris Humphries proposed to her by spreading rose pedals all around her room that read “WILL YOU MARRY ME?” He then dropped down on one knee and asked the question while presenting a 20.5 carat ring from Lorraine Schwartz. Kim did an interview with People magazine and said “I didn’t expect this at all. I was in such shock. I never thought it would happen at home, and I never thought now.” Kris Humphries has played in the NBA for seven years and currently plays for the New York Nets. The ring is thought to be worth $2 million, wow!
Former governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife Maria Shriver have split after 25 years of marriage. They have four children together. The couple released a statement Monday night saying “This has been a time of great personal and professional transition for each of us. After a great deal of thought, reflection, discussion and prayer, we came to this decision together. At this time, we are living apart while we work on the future of our relationship. We are continuing to parent our four children together. They are the light and the center of both of our lives. We consider this a private matter and neither we nor any of our friends or family will have further comment. We ask for compassion and respect from the media and the public.”
Pink Taco restaurant in Century City California made a very poor decision that has sparked outrage. The restaurant chose to advertise their Cinco
de Mayo party by painting a real life donkey pink named “Pinky” after they shaved him. They also wrote in black the name of their restaurant. Animal rights activist and many celebrities took the internet and twitter to voice their outrage. The donkey was tied to a post and had to stand in the 90 degree heat for hours. Pink Taco has not released any kind of apology.
President Barack Obama announced Sunday evening that Osama Bin Laden is dead. Bin Laden 54, the mastermind of the Al Qaeda terrorist network that is responsible for the attack on America on September 11.. He was killed in Abbottabad, Pakistan as a result of a U.S. military operation. Bin Laden used his families wealth to fund his terrorist activities. He has been on the FBI’s Most Wanted Fugitives List since 1999. In Obama’s address to the nation he said “No Americans were harmed” and “Justice has been done.” This September will mark the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attack. The U.S. has the body of Osama Bin Laden and DNA tests prove it is him.
Prince William married Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey today, Friday April 29, 2011. Worldwide about 2 billion people watched the couple become husband and wife. Prince William wore a scarlet tunic of an Irish Guards officer and Kate wore a dress designed by Sarah Burton of the Alexander McQueen fashion house. The wedding dress was a stunning ivory and satin lacey gown which had a plunging neckline. Kate’s wedding shoes were hand-embroidered with lace at the Royal School of Needlework in Surrey, UK. Her tiara was loaned to her by the Queen and was Cartier, and her Robinson Pelham earrings were bought for her by her parents. After the wedding the couple appeared on the balcony at Buckingham Palace to give the watching crowd the obligatory kiss. The initial kiss was a quick peck on the lips. The crowd chanted “Kiss Her Again!” so the young royals gave them exactly what they wanted. Queen Elizabeth II then hosted a private luncheon for William and Kate with 650 guests which lasted about two hours. The happy couple then left Buckingham Palace in a Aston Martin convertible with the license plate “Ju5t Wed.” The car is owned by Prince William’s father. The couple will now be known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge following their marriage, the Royal family announced this shortly before the wedding.
Journalist Katie Couric 54, is stepping down from her anchor position at CBS Evening News. She made the official announcement today and in a statement said to PEOPLE exclusively “I have decided to step down from the CBS Evening News. I’m really proud of the talented team on the CBS Evening News and the award-winning work we’ve been able to do in the past five years in addition to the reporting I’ve done for 60 Minutes and CBS Sunday Morning. In making the decision to move on, I know the Evening News will be in great hands, but I am excited about the future.” When asked what Katie’s future plans are she said “I am looking at a format that will allow me to engage in more multi-dimensional storytelling,” she says, adding that other details, including when and where the show will air, are “still being discussed.” Along with her new career path Couric has a book coming out called The Best Advice I Ever Got: Lessons from Extraordinary Lives. Wish her all the best in her new endeavor!
Reality television star Kristen Cavallari 24, and boyfriend of 8 months Jay Cutler 27,are engaged! Cutler is the quarterback for the Chicago Bears. The couple was vacationing in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico over the weekend when Cutler proposed with a 5.2 carat diamond ring and had been planning to ask her for a while. Congrats to the happy couple!
Heidi Montag, best known for her reality role in MTV’s show The Hills will be returning to reality tv in a new show called Famous Food. Starring alongside her will be other reality television rejects Jake Pavelka and Danielle Staub, along with Vincent Pastore from “The Sopranos” and DJ Paul and Juicy “J” from the rap group Three 6 Mafia. The show will follow the characters as they open a restaurant in Los Angeles. Their duties will include, renovating a space for the restaurant, agreeing on a concept, creating a menu, hiring the staff, and then hosting the grand opening. The show will debut in the fall on Vh1 and will consist of 10 1 hour episodes. The show is sure to have a lot of drama with these stars as the cast! Will you watch?
Lindsay Lohan, 24 was sentenced today to 120 days in jail and 480 hours of community service because of a probation violation. Lohan allegedly shoplifted a $2,500 necklace from a Venice, California, jewelry store on January 22. She was facing felony charges but instead charged with a misdemeanor. Lohan will do her community service at a women’s center in downtown Los Angeles. Her bail as been set at $75,000 and it is likely that she will be bailed out within the next couple of hours.
Star of the the hit MTV show Teen Mom 2, a show that chronicles the hardships faced by teen moms, is divorcing her husband of just six months. Leah who was first featured on MTV’s 16 and Pregnant, gave birth to twin daughters Aliannah and Alleah on December 16, 2009. Alleah was born with several disabilities and her parents have discussed the challenges on the show. Leah and her husband Cory Simms wed on October 17, 2010 in Charleston on the season finale of Teen Mom 2. At the time Leah was quoted as saying “Marriage to me is a big commitment. If I took that vow it is going to be forever.” Looks like forever has ended, friend close to the couple say that money problems and infidelity. The cameras were following her as she cried over signing her divorce documents, and it is going to be a big focus of the show’s next season. The show been a big hit for MTV but has also stirred up a lot of controversy. Many believe that it glorifies teen pregnancy.
Nicholas Cage was arrested early Saturday morning in New Orleans when an argument broke out between him and his wife Alice Kim. Cage and his wife were arguing over the address of one of their rental properties. They were standing in front of the property that Cage didn’t think was their and that is when he grabbed his wife’s arm. He was reportedly “very drunk” and a cab driver called police when he witnessed the argument. The cab driver said “Nicholas is one of our best clients and normally such a gentleman. He is a big tipper and always very kind.” At some point Cage actually dared the cops to arrest him and so they did. Cage’s bail has been set at $11,000.