Word Up

12/31/09

Great things are happening for the Cristian Rivera Foundation in 2010. The not-for-profit plans to follow up the success of its first gala last September with a brand new event coming in January. Check back here often, as well as www.cristianriverafoundation.org, for updates on date, location and special guests. And as always, the Cristian Rivera Foundation is accepting donations towards finding a cure for Pontine Glioma. Visit www.cristianriverafoundation.org for more details.

Article by: Michelle Loeb

12/31/09

Is Jake Gyllenhaal Hollywood’s latest bad boy? He’s certainly been spending a lot of time in prison these days. But don’t worry, his split from Reese Witherspoon didn’t send him over to the dark side. He’s actually been visiting children in juvenile hall out of the kindness of his heart. “I came across this incredible writing program for kids that are spending time in juvenile halls. 14-18 year-olds participate in this writing program and that really changed my perspective on the prison system and the people inside it,” explained the actor, who first became aware of the program while preparing for his role in Brothers. “My character starts off in jail so I did a lot of research at LA County Jail, Lancaster State Prison and some juvenile state halls. I have since been back many times to work on this writing program and with these kids,” he added. “It’s so life changing and extraordinary.” He sounds like a real stand-up guy. How did Reese let him get away?

Article by: Michelle Loeb

12/31/09

Rumors are circulating that Whitney Houston’s life may not be as clean as previously thought. The “I Will Always Love You” singer publicly admitted to battles with drink and drugs but appeared to have turned over a new leaf when her comeback CD came out earlier this year. Now, the National Enquirer says Houston’s friends are showing concern that the diva’s downward spiral has returned. “Everyone is worried about her,” a source told the National Enquirer. “Whitney seems to go from being a nervous wreck to being completely out of it in a short period of time – just like she did when she was freebasing and using crack cocaine.” If she is back to her old ways, pals blame the pressures of re-starting what was once a very successful career. After Houston was completely ignored for this year’s Grammy’s, it’s safe to say the comeback isn’t packing quite the punch we expected it to.  “You can’t help worrying that she’s slipped back into some of her bad habits,” the source added. “She’s worked so hard to get back on top. It would be tragic for it to go up in smoke because she can’t stay clean.”

Article by: Michelle Loeb

12/31/09

Your New Year’s Eve celebration just got a little bit safer—at least if you’re going to be in New York or Las Vegas. And you have Sean Combs to thank for it. Combs is handing out thousands of subway passes and vouchers for free taxi rides in both cities on December 31 to help discourage drunk driving on what’s typically a hard-partying holiday. “New York stands as the world’s icon for a New Year’s Eve celebration and Las Vegas is the biggest party destination in the country,” said Combs. “By bringing this program to both of these great cities we will continue to show the rest of the country that a sophisticated holiday celebration doesn’t end when the ball drops, but when everyone gets home safely.” Combs partnered with Ciroc vodka to offer the free ride vouchers as part of the Safe Rides program he started last year.

Article by: Michelle Loeb

12/30/09

MTV’s Jersey Shore is the most buzzed about new show this year. Everyone’s got an opinion. Alyssa Milano parodied it; New Jersey lawmakers urged MTV to cancel it. So of course the most recognizable face on the show is gonna try to use that momentum to her benefit. “I want a dating show,” revealed Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, who is best known for getting punched in the face by a male gym teacher. “I want to find my prince.” So what would happen on Snookin’ For Love? “I’d have 27 guys: guidos and juice heads. That’d be heaven. Every time I’d pick a guy, I’d give them a pickle and we’d eat the pickles at the end.” But of course that’s all in the future…or at least next season. For right now, Snooki thinks everyone needs to chill out about the show that’s made her a household name. “It’s just young people having a good time at the Shore,” the 21 year old told OK Magazine. “We want to have fun, and yeah we get drunk. It’s just a TV show.”

Article by: Michelle loeb

12/30/09

Kim Kardashian just tweeted herself into a heap of trouble. The reality TV star took to the popular social networking site to refute claims that she’s become a fan of Dr. Siegal’s Cookie Diet. She questioned Dr. Siegal’s integrity and wrote, “Dr. Siegal’s Cookie Diet is falsely promoting that I’m on this diet. NOT TRUE! I would never do this unhealthy diet! I do QuickTrim!” Those are fighting words, apparently, because Kardashian just got herself sued! Not only does Dr. Siegal claim Kardashian has defamed him and his product, but the suit also claims Kardashian had “commercial motive” for the tweet because she’s a spokesperson for QuickTrim. “Perhaps I shouldn’t presume to question Kim Kardashian’s medical opinion. After all, I’m no reality TV star, just a physician who’s treated more than a half million overweight patients during a fifty-year medical career,” said Dr. Siegal. “But when I saw her derogatory comments about my diet and my character, I knew we had no choice but to take action. Disparaging someone’s product while surreptitiously hawking someone else’s in the same breath is, to use Kim’s words, ‘not cool!’” Not cool indeed. She’d better watch out or else she might be eating her words in court.

Article by: Micheel loeb