Hi!

Hello loyal readers...just letting you know why my posts have been so non-existent of late. I guess I've just been feeling a little pop-culturally unispired, and have just started a new blog, about art and artful things I like...so check it out if you so miss my witty words...thanks for reading :)

http://artlifeetc.blogspot.com

Exciting news!

I know, I know-I promised no mention of John or Jim but I'm a rebel, man. Give me a rule and I'll find a way to break it. Also, this is too good not to share: The latest news from Hollywood is that the writer's strike is all but over which means we could still get up to 6 new episodes of the Office before the season ends! I'm almost as excited as these guys:

"And they say she's so lucky, she's a star..."

Hi, sorry I have been so slack but I am finally meeting my challenge of connecting Britney to Jim Halpert or John Krasinski, for I am a woman true to my word.

While we are all aware of Britney's sad downward spiral, I wanted to take a moment and focus on the beautiful girl she was and still is, with these stunning and simple photos taken several years ago...










And while Britney been on a downhill slide since her days of glory, some stars just get better with time, for instance John Krasinski, who went from this:



To this:



Hmmm, that gives me an idea...



Ummm....nope.

And I promise to mention neither Britney nor John/Jim in my next post. Well, not exclusively anyway...:P

I'll just call it Jim/John-time! @ Ani-time!

I just read a great account/review of John at http://laineygossip.com/John_Krasinski_at_the_Superbowl.aspx

Here are some tidbits:

"The best hotness is the kind that takes you by surprise. Sure - he's cute in that college backpack kinda way but - at least for me on tv - not in that rip your panties passion. Until you see him in person.In person, cute becomes quiver. In person there's a quiet confidence that gets real sexy real fast. Especially since he is still a regular dude. No entourage, no handlers... Just John and his dad.

...John is not pretty. His nose is probably a little more bulbous than it should be and he doesn't have the best hair but there's a super chill vibe about the way he walks - a gait that implies he'd know what to do with you when no one's around and large soft looking hands and clean fingernails and when he stopped to take photos he would easily slip his arm around your waist, resting it just above the hip...it all makes for a fresh laundry scented fantasy. Or on a rug in front of the fireplace after a night of dvds and cheetos...

...He took his hat off and gave it to someone and showed off some awful hat head. Of course he didn't care. Rare a man who doesn't care about his hair. Even my husband cares about his hair. And he is the most style un-friendly, fashion backwards dude you can find. But John Krasinski didn’t care about his hair. Love, love, love. We made eye contact twice. I want to say ten seconds but it was more like three....several fans asked to have their picture taken… he obliged every time. With a smile and that arm around the waist. Sigh."

Although, I must disagree with the "John is not pretty" statement, and here is some evidence to back me up:

"You want more? I'll give you more..."

In case you've been otherwise distracted, here's the latest on Britney Spears: She has been commited to a psychiatric ward and has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Also, her parents have issued a restraining order against her dodgy 'manager'/enabler Osama Lufti (who seems to aspire to be Howard K. Stern aka Anna Nicole Smith's dodgy ex 'manager'/enabler). For all the latest, perez has the goss: http://perezhilton.com/category/britney-spears/

But the very latest news is Britneys mother Lynne Spears' declaration in court about the events that led up to Britney being commited, and it's pretty shocking:

"...I also heard the evening that Britney’s and Sam’s fight that evening, Sam(Osama) had told Britney that she was an unfit mother, a piece of trash and a whore, that she cares more about Adnan, her current boyfriend, than she cares about her kids, and that she does not deserve her kids...

...The paparazzi reported to Sam and addressed him with great respect. They treated him like a general. He instructed them to get her back to the house. They later told Sam that Britney was on her way back...

...(Sam) then told me, “I’m the one who spends 24/7 with your daughter. I sleep in cars outside her house so she can’t leave.” Sam then said, “You people throw everyone under the bus, if you don’t listen to me I’m going to make your name sh** in the papers.”...

...Sam told me,” You’d better learn that I control everything. I control Howard Grossman, Britney’s business manger. I control her attorney's and the security guards at the gate. They don’t listen to Britney, they listen to me. That’s why Jamie (Britneys Dad) was gone tonight.”...

...(Sam) told me that if he weren't in the house to give Britney her medicine, she would kill herself. Then he said to me "If you try to get rid of me, she'll be dead and I'll piss on her grave."...

...At one point during the night, Sam was screaming at me and Britney said to me, “Sam treats me like that.” Then she picked up the house phone and said, “Look at the phone, it doesn’t work.” Sam then blamed the dead phone on Britney. Jackie spoke up and said to Sam, “You said you cut down the phone wire.”

Britney then said again at some point during the night, “When do I get to see my babies?” Sam answered, “Wednesday. “ Britney then said, “What do I have to do to see them?” Sam responded, “Take the pills I tell you to take.” Britney said, “I don’t like the pills and I don’t like the psychiatrist. Can’t I see another psychiatrist so I can see my babies?” Sam responded, “If I told you to take 10 pills a day, you should do what I tell you to see your babies.” Jackie then said, “Britney, your parents can help you find a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist needs to get to know you to give you the right medicine.” Sam then raised his voice and said, “Why don’t you get back with Kevin.”

Britney then said, “I’ll do anything to get them back.”...

...Adnan has called me and told me he’s worried about Britney. He told me that Sam hides the phones and tells her he has lost them. He also hides her dog, London. She looks for him all over the house crying and then Sam brings the dog from the hiding place and acts like her savior."

Read the full story at http://perezhilton.com/2008-02-05-every-little-bit#more-13574

How did I miss this!?

I was perusing johnkrasinski.net and it looks like John Krasinski was on Law & Order:Criminal Intent...

Jim and Goren on the same screen-be still my heart!

Michelle's statement...

Michelle Williams has released her first statement since Heath Ledger's death, and her words are sad yet lovely:

"Please respect our need to grieve privately. My heart is broken. I am the mother of the most tender-hearted, high-spirited, beautiful little girl who is the spitting image of her father. All that I can cling to is his presence inside her that reveals itself every day. His family and I watch Matilda as she whispers to trees, hugs animals, and takes steps two at a time, and we know that he is with us still. She will be brought up with the best memories of him."

Baby Spice's baby...

How adorable is Baby Spice Emma Bunton's baby Beau!?, although...

...he's not quite as cute as Jim:

"What has one thumb and loves Ani-time? This guy!"

(hmm, exactly where is that other hand?)

If you all haven't noticed- I am obsessed with Jim. So I am issuing a challenge. Just post a comment about any pop-culture related topic and I will write a post about it and somehow link it to Jim or John Krasinski. Bet you can't stump me...

Dragonette-I Get Around...

Dragonette are my new obsession-the singer is the chick who sang 'Take me back to your house' with Basement Jaxx and I think she's totally gorgeous and this song/video is so cool!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQwJOVOtZpY

Also, check out this beautiful song-True believer also by Dragonette:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LZd8TT2Nyo

For all you Felicity fans...

Word on the street is that Scott Speedman (best known as Felicity's 'stalkee' Ben) is dating Cameron Diaz. I'll be thrilled if this is true, because do you know what this means? No, not that Cameron will have a gorgeous new manbag, but that the paparazzi will start taking notice of Scott and we can get a more steady flow of pics! So really, Cameron is doing a good deed for womankind-she is such a humanitarian.

So what do you think, hot couple or not?...

Jim's Fake PSA (JellyBeans)

So friggin' adorable...and so true!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AZTagcmgiE

Jim/Brad...

Never mind the Brangelina baby rumours (although congrats to them and Gwen Stefani too), I'm just loving Brad's shaggy new 'do!

Although, is it just me or does it look a little familiar?

I guess I'm not the only Jim fanatic, huh Brad? (I know, i know-there are many a Jim fan out there!)

Now if only Jim/John Krasinski would grow a bit of facial scruff like Brad I could die a happy girl...

So cool!...

Annie Leibowitz, one of my favourite photgraphers, has taken a set of photos for Disney which include Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony as Jasmine and Aladdin, Giselle Bundchen and Mikhail Baryshnikov (the dancer best known as Carrie's older, artist boyfriend Alexander in Sex and the City) as Wendy and Peter Pan, with Tina Fey as Tinkerbell, and Jessica Biel as my favourite, Pocahontas. As I said, so cool!

A close-up of Tina Fey as Tinkerebell-cute!:

Behind the scenes:

Best Chemistry (film)...

Couples with chemistry fire up the screen with lust and intensity and make our hearts ache in compassion and yearn in recognition, and I think onscreen chemistry comes from a combination of things: the actor's must have been in love and experienced a broken heart, or have the ability to act like they have, and there should be some mutual attraction, but it usually can't be acted upon offscreen without destroying the spark onscreen. Onscreen chemistry between actors is a defining factor in whether a film is succesful or not, and there have been many a terrible pairing in film: Jennifer Lopez and Joseph Fiennes in Maid in Manhattan, or Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker in Failure to Launch (which was redeemed by the wonderfully kooky Zooey Deschanel). Here, I've compiled a list of the onscreen couples with the most chemistry, in my humble opinion:

5. Uma Thurman & Bryan Greenberg in Prime

4. Claire Danes & Leonardo Dicaprio in Romeo & Juliet



3. Nicole Kidman & Jude Law in Cold Mountain



2. Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt in Mr & Mrs Smith



1. Diane Lane & Olivier Martinez in Unfaithful




Also notable: Nicole Kidman & Ewan McGregor in Moulin Rouge, Diane Lane & Viggo Mortensen in A Walk on the Moon, Leonardo Dicaprio & Kate Winslet in Titanic, and Heath Ledger & Jake Gyllenhal in Brokeback Mountain.


Any hot onscreen couples I missed? Or terrible ones?

Sad news...

28 year-old actor Heath Ledger was found dead in his bed with sleeping pills beside him. At this time it looks like an accidental drug overdose, and it's a shame. He was a truly talented actor and will be missed by many. Rest in peace Heath.

Random 'the Office' goodness...

Here are some cute ads the cast of 'the Office' did for Puma awhile ago. Enjoy...





And no fair...

I want an 'I Heart Jim' mug!

Hot new (rumoured) couple...

"Hey Rachel, do you get the feeling we're being watched?"

No, I'm not slow-i know Rachel Bilson and Adam Brody broke up awhile ago, and as much as I loved the real-life pairing of Summer and Seth from 'The O.C.', I thought it time to let go of the possibility of a reunion. Especially when I read that Adam Brody is dating rising star and fellow Adelaidian Teresa Palmer-just imagine how cute their babies will be!...

...And isn't Adam the prettiest guy you ever saw?

That aint no etch-a-sketch...

Okay, so due to overwhelming popular request (6 votes), I will write my first movie review. I have seen a few films lately, and there are several I still want to see (mostly chick flicks like p.s. i love you, 27 dresses and the jane austen book club), but they aren't always worth talking about.

Eg. I am legend= Depressing, grim view of the probable future. Like a New York City version of 'Castaway' with a dog instead of a volleyball. Enchanted= Sweet, funny and sparkly. Best watched with a little kid, not a surly ex-boyfriend. Much of the charm due to Amy Adams superb turn as the princess (she should play Ariel in a live-action 'The Little Mermaid').



So, one film I have seen recently that is worth reccomending is 'Juno'. Written by stripper turned blogger Diablo Cody and directed by Jason Reitman, it stars Ellen Page from the creepy 'Candy' as Juno MacGuff, and Michael Cera from 'Superbad' as Paulie Bleeker. Other standouts include one of my faves, Allison Janney as Juno's stepmother, who puts a judgemental ultrasound technician in her place in one killer scene, and Olivia Thirlby as Juno's sweet and supportive cheerleader best-friend Leah.

The basic premise of the film is that after having sex with her best friend Bleeker, Juno discovers that she is pregnant. At first she considers an abortion but reconsiders after a schoolmate/anti-abortionist tells her that the baby has fingernails. So she decides to put the baby up for adoption, and after finding their ad in the local penny-saver, she meets the impossibly beautiful and self-contained Vanessa, played by Jennifer Garner, and Mark Loring, played by Jason Bateman and decides to give them her baby. As the months pass and her belly swells, Juno becomes aware of her true feelings about Bleeker, and she connects with Mark over their shared taste in music and movies, until he makes a revelation that leaves her reeling. But don't worry, the ending is very sweet.



'Juno' represents a very realistic view of teenage life, in which kids aren't fools and parents aren't monsters. Juno is smart, sassy, cool and confident. She is the girl you wish you were in high school, flawed but self-aware, mature but still trusting and open. When a Jock teases her, rather than feel bad about it, she is aware enough to know it's because guys like him lust after alternative girls like her: "future children's librarians". Ellen Page turns a character that could easily have become a victim, into a funny and strong girl on the verge of womanhood. One of the funniest quotes, (which might not sound funny, but it's all in the delivery) to paraphrase: "Inexplicably, every Valentine's day my mother would send me a cactus. They stung almost as much as her abandonment"


So if you want to see a funny, realistic portrayal of teenage life through the eyes of one special girls and her unique experience, see Juno.

My Ideal Guy...

It's a delicate science:

30% adorable, funny slacker like...

Jim Halpert!

(John Krasinski in 'The Office')

20% sweet, self-deprecating outcast like...

Pacey Witter!

(Joshua Jackson in 'Dawson's Creek')

20% thoughtful, cool and arty guy like...

David Bloomberg!

(Bryan Greenberg in 'Prime')

15% tall, dark and intense man's-man like...

Javier Bardem!

15% laid-back, soulful strummer like...

Jack Johnson!

What's your formula for a perfect mate? Don't be shy, I showed you mine...