The Flip Side

Evel Knievel

The world’s greatest daredevil ever has passed on.

AP -

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Evel Knievel, the hard-living motorcycle daredevil whose bone-breaking, rocket-powered jumps and stunts made him an international icon in the 1970s, died Friday. He was 69.

Longtime friend and promoter Billy Rundel said Knievel had trouble breathing at his Clearwater condominium and died before an ambulance could get him to a hospital. He had been in failing health for years, suffering from diabetes and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable condition that scarred his lungs. He had undergone a liver transplant in 1999 after nearly dying of hepatitis C, likely contracted through a blood transfusion after one of his many spills.

Rest In Peace…

Katie Holmes

I don’t usually post about things like this, but I have to say that I just love this ‘do on Katie.

Jody Foster

The 45-year-old star will add the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award to her many other achievements.  She is scheduled to receive this award on Tuesday at the Hollywood Reporter’s 16th annual Women in Entertainment breakfast.  After reading what the award is for, I must say that it is well deserved.  Here’s to a magnificent actress!

Zac Efron (High School Musical 2)

At the Ninth Family Television Awards, Zac Efron, 20, won the best actor award for “High School Musical 2”, which earned best movie musical honors.  The ceremony took place at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California Wednesday night.  By my count (which could very well be wrong) that brings the total to:
1 Family Television Award
3 Teen Choice Awards
1 Hollywood Film Award
1 Young Hollywood Award
Shoosh, did I miss any?  That’s a lot of awards for someone who’s been in the business maybe 5 years.
America Ferrera won best actress for “Ugly Betty”. 

America Ferrera (Ugly Betty)

Also honored were Kyle Chandler and Zachary Levi.  Congrats to all of them.

Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights)

Dolly Parton

Dolly’s been showing up a lot these days.  I don’t really follow country music but I’ve always liked Dolly.  Recently, I saw her on the television coverage of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade and an episode of “Hannah Montana” (in which she was magnificent).  Today I saw her new video “Better Get To Livin’”.  Amy Sedaris’ appearance was a special treat.  Ms. Parton’s costumes are outrageous and I find them charming.  She is definitely someone I would love to meet.  From everything I’ve read she is a very compassionate woman who has never (given her decades of extraordinary success) forgotten where she’s from and who her friends are.

Puss ‘N Boots

Shrek the Halls was a really good half hour Christmas special and I could sooo identify with Shrek (who just wanted a quiet family Christmas and got everyone in the swamp visiting him).  I have to say that Puss ‘N Boots (Antonio Banderas) got all of the best lines (which I would repeat but they would lose a lot of charm if you can’t see Puss say them).  Do yourself and your kids a favor and make sure you get to see this one.

Ashley Tisdale

So I’ve been reading rumors that Ashley Tisdale lip-synched her way through the tree lighting performance at Rockefeller Plaza last night.  As proof, several sites offered up a youtube clip.  I watched the clip and couldn’t help that notice that Nick Lachey’s introduction of Ashley was also out of synch.  This looks suspiciously like a poorly synched clip in general.  I don’t know if Ashley did or did not lip-synch her performance (I wasn’t there), however if we’re basing our opinion on that youtube clip then you have to say Nick Lachey was lip-synching the intro.  Somehow, I doubt that.

Kurt Cobain

Fuse ran a night of Nirvana programming last Tuesday night.  While I was never a HUGE Nirvana fan, I was (and still am) a fan.  I didn’t realize until last night what it was that I liked about them.  (These days I’m all about Dave Grohl’s sense of humor, but I knew nothing of it then.)  Anyhooo, I had a nice hard listen to Kurt Cobain and came to the conclusion that his aura of displacement and that “lost” quality in his personality really showed through in his music and lyrics.  There’s always been a heartbreaking sort of honesty in his writing and singing that attracted me.  For this reason, I’ve decided that all the hype Kurt’s been given over the years has been well deserved.

Ashley Tisdale

I just love the way Ashley Tisdale puts together an outfit.  I saw this today and just thought that she manages to look so good without the slut factor you see in so many her age.  Those shoes are amazing and I’m not really into fashion.  I bet she becomes a style icon down the road.

Johnny Depp

It is rumored that Johnny Depp will be in both Sin City 2 and Sin City 3.  I loved Sin City and he wasn’t even in that.  I think the cinematography was fantastic in that movie.  Of course, as far as I’m concerned Robert Rodriguez has the midas touch when it comes to film.  Sin City 2 is also rumored to have Rachel Weisz and Antonio Banderas.  Apparently some of my faves from Sin City have already been signed including Clive Owen, Jessica Alba, Rosario Dawson, Danny Trejo, and more more more.  Go here for the listing.