Friday, August 1, 2008
Sam Newman Surprised To Find Saying Woman Is ‘Worthy Of Coming On’ Could Be Misconstrued
2:40PM Clem Bastow | Oh Sam Newman, you incorrigible rogue, you!
The beleaguered Footy Show star has stepped in it again, though this time he claims he had no idea he’d said something naff. And not only that, but he was “horrified” to think that anyone could’ve misinterpreted what he’d said about Tasmanian MP Paula Wriedt.
[T]he controversial Newman asked: “We couldn’t get her on, could we?”
The remark sparked a raucous reaction from the audience and panel, before Newman continued: “Worthy of coming on, her.”
The comments immediately drew the ire of co-host James Brayshaw, who berated Newman telling him: “Sam you cannot say that.”
[...]
After Newman’s aside co-host James Brayshaw was clearly upset and took the former Geelong star player to task several times.
Newman then became defensive and said it was a genuine slip of the tongue.
Co-host Garry Lyon sided with Newman, but news reporter Craig Hutchison appeared unhappy with the comments, saying “that’s disgraceful”.
Newman accused his co-hosts of misinterpreting his meaning.
Well, at least this time the co-hosts called him out.
Perhaps this is like that horror movie where the person gets a hand transplant, and they’re evil hands, and they kill people against the body’s will? Maybe Sammy got a sexist scalpel left inside him when he had surgery, and it’s making him say bad things. Is that right, Sam? More » 
Attention Australian Gamers: Remember This Face
11:30AM Clem Bastow | Here’s one for those of you who think success is necessarily only facilitated by television and movies: an expat Australian actress took an odd call from her agency and her digitised form will now be seen by bazillions (note: may not actually be scientifically proven statistic) of gamers.
Welcome to the darkened bedrooms and LAN parlours of the world, Michelle Van Der Water!
The 30-year-old has scored an unique role as the heroine in the fifth instalment of hit video game Resident Evil, which will be released in October.
Makers of the horror game, set in Africa, have used Van Der Water as the model for Sheva Alomar, an agent who handles firearms and is involved in hand-to-hand combat. Alomar is also the partner of the main character.
For the part, Van Der Water had to be photographed dressed up in outfits with guns and firearms.
The digitised end product looks very much like her, she said.
“It was very exciting… I was pretty pleased,” Van Der Water said from Los Angeles today. “It came out really well.”
Michelle is onto a good thing here, as much as most will shrug and say “so what?” Geek fame is the best fame of all – it’s everlasting.
If Galaxy Quest has taught me anything, it means that, so long as you don’t piss off the faithful, you can go to comic-cons and open shopping centres and discount computer retailers for the rest of your natural life! More » 
Dannii Minogue Set To Revive YTT Days By Being Bigger Than Kylie
11:20AM Clem Bastow | As much as I love Our Kylie, I’ve always been of the opinion that Dannii has released some corker tracks (Put The Needle On It? Genius!) that were unfairly overlooked if only because her sister had become a publicity maelstrom that left no room for ‘the other Minogue’ to succeed.
That, however, could possibly be a thing of the past, with Dannii apparently being picked up by a powerful US talent agency with dollar signs going round and round in their eyeballs plans to make her a star.
While Kylie’s recent attempt to break into the tough US market collapsed with a splat, a British newspaper is reporting Dannii has signed with high-powered Hollywood talent agency William Morris and is being groomed for stardom.
The star, 36, is said to have all the right credentials to hit the big time across the pond and is even thought to have a chance at bagging her own show.
“Dannii has the body, the hair, the teeth and the boobs to make it in America,” a source told The Sun newspaper.
Right. Well, go Dannii, eh? That’s some high praise if ever I read it!
Although… all it takes is teeth and boobs, then? Sign me up for orthodontics and a push-up bra, Hollywood and Vine here I come! More » ‘Yeah, I Acted Up – But They Served Me 20 Glasses Of Champers, Your Honour!’: Qantas’ Week Just Gets Better And Better
11:05AM Clem Bastow | It’s been a great few days in the world of Australia’s favourite carrier, Qantas, and it looks like it’s the week that just won’t quit! Now, a woman charged with causing a ruckus on a Qantas flight has blamed her bad behaviour on the flight staff, who – if we are to believe her – were, shall we say, generous with the drinks cart.
A MELBOURNE woman penalised $1000 for offences on a Qantas flight says she was served 20 glasses of champagne and other alcohol after take-off.
Bronwyn Streader’s lawyer yesterday told a court that she drank the champagne, two glasses of red wine and a gin and tonic while on medication.
Defence solicitor Alex Lewenberg said Streader, 30, is a human rights and refugee activist in Japan who has a doctorate from a Sydney university on Japanese culture and life.
“When I fly Qantas economy I’m lucky to get three glasses of orange juice, but if you’re blonde and good looking you get 20 glasses of champagne,” Mr Lewenberg said.
She was nicked for interfering with a crewmember, smoking (presumably in the dunnies) and refusing to wear a seatbelt when the little light was on.
But if she really did put away a Boon-esque drinks menu on her flight, they’re lucky smoking in the toilet was all she did – you probably wouldn’t have blinked had she shoved her way into the cockpit, said, “Don’t mind me, gentlemen, we’re taking this bus to fairyland!” and then wet her pants while crying, “But why was The Notebook so saaad?” – or something like that. More » 
Don’t Tremble The Earth Beneath Judge Judy’s Legs And Tell Her It’s Raining
11:00AM Seth | · Did we say we were done with earthquake stories? We lied. Shake it, Judge Judy! (And Judge Penny, whoever you are.) [Access Hollywood] · Were three dimensions not enough for you to enjoy the dead-eyed zombie children delights of The Polar Express? Well, all aboard! TOOT! TOOT! The Polar Express 4-D Experience is on its way. What does the additional D get you? “Upon your arrival at the North Pole…it actually begins to snow inside the 4-D Special FX Theatre and when the conductor sings ‘Hot Chocolate’ and the dancing waiters begin to pour, the audience can smell the delightful aroma of every cocoa cup!’” [NY Post] · Despite a hospitalization, Elizabeth Taylor’s flack insists she is nowhere near death: “Her hospital visit was precautionary. She will be returning home shortly. At present, she is surrounded by family, friends and fabulous jewels.” And Pepperoni & Bacon Pizza Pops—her favourite. [ET Online] · All hail Siaosi Tupou V, Tonga’s new king! [Yahoo/AFP] · Posters for The Canadian Filmmakers Festival feature some fine Canuckistanian send-ups of classic film images. [Super Punch] More »
Celeb-Crazy LAPD Chief Just Happy That Lindsay Lohan Has Found A Nice Girl to Settle Down With
10:40AM Defamer Hollywood | Good news for the beleaguered Hollywood paparazzi: LAPD Chief William Bratton opposes a new proposal to place restrictions on particularly aggressive photographers. In fact, he took time out of his daily workout to tell KNBC that the problem lies not with the paparazzi but with the bad girls they photograph — a salient point made amusing by Bratton’s brusque verbiage and up-to-the-minute starlet savvy (preserved on video after the jump): More »
Awww, Let’s Appreciate Some Nice Photos Of Naomi Watts And Her Bub
10:18AM Jess McGuire | Bless ‘em to bits – Splash News have a delightfully heartwarming collection of snaps starring Naomi Watts and her little fellow Alexander wandering around the streets of New York. If you’re in an oddly clucky place right now, you may find yourself flinging your contraceptive pills out the window and wildly stabbing your stash of condoms with a pin. Which is completely irresponsible and will result in you having a Mia Farrow-like brood of bairns, so DON’T CLICK HERE. You’ve been warned. More » 
As Earthquake Hits, Amateur Comedian James Woods Cracks, ‘Tumbler? I Barely Know Her!’
10:01AM Defamer Hollywood | And now, we promise: our very last earthquake anecdote, courtesy of reliable Hollywood lech James Woods. The former Shark star was climbing into his red SUV outside Joan’s on Third when the fearsome 5.4 earth-shaker began. Then, says Page Six: “He held tight to his door handle as some Beverly Hills ladies lunching outside held onto the table,” our spy said. “When it was over, this gal with a pair of fake boobies the size of the Hollywood Hills blurted, ‘Oh my God! Did you feel the earth move? Did you feel that?’ Woods responded, ‘Ah, so it was good for you too, my dear?’ ” More »
YouTube Clip Of The Day
9:40AM Jess McGuire | For absolutely no reason the other day, I began remembering a happier time when Robbie Williams ruled the world with his swingin’ Bi-Lo Sinatra style, gazillion pound record deals, and a happy and productive relationship with songwriting partner Guy Chambers.
And then I remembered the original song the pair wrote for Robbie’s insanely successful ‘Swing When You’re Winning’ record called ‘I Will Talk And Hollywood Will Listen’.
And I recalled those stirring words in the chorus I will talk and Hollywood will listen/See them bow at my every word and how, for a brief moment, it seemed almost possible that Robbie could take his hugely successful schtick and actually make it in the notoriously difficult US music scene.
Things didn’t quite work out that way though, did they? More » 
“Breaking Up Is Not All That Hard To Do” Says Stephanie Rice
9:29AM Jess McGuire | Given their Facebook history, I would have thought that a clean break up between Olympic swimmers Stephanie Rice and Eamon Sullivan would have simply involved updating their respective relationship statuses to “Single” or, if still slightly hopeful for a brighter future, “It’s Complicated Until After The Games”. Nevertheless, this bizarrely gripping (it must be gripping someone, somewhere, surely? It’s certainly getting column inches) split is apparently still news and Steph has spoken to the press about how effortless her transition from loved up half of an athletically.gifted couple to single lass-about-Beijing-town has been.
World record holder Stephanie Rice today said the decision for her and Eamon Sullivan to split was not a tough one on the eve of the Olympics. Speaking at the Australian team’s training camp in Kuala Lumpur, Rice said she had been surprised her personal life had been getting so much attention in the media.
“It wasn’t a tough decision. We made the decision because of the Olympics, so getting so much attention is something we are just going to push aside,” Rice said. “The whole reason that we decided to have a bit of a break was because of the Olympics.
“Media talking about it is a little bit draining. But at the same time we both know that we made this decision because of Olympics and being such elite athletes and professionals that we want to do what’s best for us.”
Yes, for a couple who allegedly parted ways in order to stay focused on their upcoming performances in the pool during the Olympics, they’ve spent more time out of the water blabbing about their relationship to eager journalists than I would have perhaps liked.
KEEP TRAINING AND SHUT YOUR PIE HOLES! WE WANT GOLD GOLD GOLD FOR AUSTRALIA!
Actually, I couldn’t care less about the Olympics right now, but I’m sure once the bloody thing starts I’ll become a rabid flag-wearing bogan sports nut. Because the Olympics is a magical time where every couch enthusiast somehow becomes an expert on sports they’ve never participated in (”That hoof totally landed in the water! Call this dressage? BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSHIIIIIIIIIT!”) and that’s why we love it so. More » 