Kathy Griffin Banned from The View Again

Sometime co-host Kathy Griffin has reportedly been banned for a second time from appearing on that post-menopausal bitch-fest, The View. Seems that every time Kathy comes on the show, she uses it as fodder for her stand-up comedy routines, in which she mercilessly skewers the celebrity guests and hosts—including Barbara Walters.

Kathy Griffin is an outspoken comedian who has apparently stepped over the line, at least where Barbara Walters is concerned. Griffin does a dead on impersonation of Babs. She has been performing her standup act in a sold out run at Madison Square Garden. Her final show is tonight, and she had planned to be a guest on this morning’s broadcast of the popular talk show, The View.

Griffin apparently received a phone call yesterday from the shows producer Bill Geddie. He informed her that they have canceled her scheduled appearance because she was too mean to Barbara during her last special on Bravo.

The comedian said that she had been banned once before, but was incredulous to have been rebanned. Griffin is likely to use this momentary setback as fodder for her stand up act. Babs may regret the slight because of the ensuing fallout that is likely to occur.

[From Bitten and Bound]

Barbara Walters really needs to get over herself. It’s obvious that Kathy Griffin idolizes Walters, and is poking fun in the same, good-natured way a kid sister picks on her older sibling. Griffin herself has admitted to antagonizing Walters on the set because she loves trying to “shock” her. It also happens to be hilarious. Besides, Griffin isn’t the first comedienne to mimic Walters—Gilda Radner did a killer impression of Babs on Saturday Night Live back in the ‘70s. If Walters had been hosting this piece of crap show back then, Gilda probably would have been banned, too.

Drew Barrymore and Justin Long go public with relationship

Drew Barrymore and Justin Long, who've been photographed trying to exit restaurants from the back and who seemed like they were going to great lengths to conceal their relationship, were photographed kissing and hugging on the red carpet at the LA premiere of "Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show" last night. Drew looks a little tipsy. Star notes this week in what seems like a recycled story that Drew has been supposedly partying too hard. They seem to come out with a story that she's partying too hard every time she gets photographed out with a drink in her hand. She doesn't look entirely sober here, but it could be the look of love instead of inebriation. Star reports that Drew and Justin "were all over each other" at a Pussycat Dolls show on January 17.

Drew and Justin have been dating for over five months, according to The Sun.

Thanks to PRPhotos for these pictures.

Lindsay Lohan drinking in public again

Though it’s not exactly a surprise, Lindsay Lohan appears to be back on the booze again. Again. Again. This is the third time she’s been spotted drinking in public since her massive rehab, right? It gets hard to keep track. I’m only one person – if I were to actually try to keep track of all the terrible and salacious things Lindsay Lohan does in one day, I would have to cease all activities. Including sleeping and bathing. Both of which I’m pretty sure Lohan herself avoids. According to Rush Malloy, Lindsay was spotted downing at least two vodka cocktails at the Beatrice Inn on Friday night. According to the report, Lohan was actually with ex-boyfriend Stavros Niarchos (who’s also dated an Olsen twin [I really don’t think it matters which one] and Paris Hilton) though Brody Jenner was also with the couple. Various reports said Lohan was all over Jenner… which would make sense, considering she was supposedly actually there with Niarchos. It just makes more sense – in the Lohan context – to come with one guy and have sex in the bathroom with another. On top of making a gross spectacle of herself as usual, Lohan also partook of some “liquid courage” – not that she needed any.

The "I Know Who Killed Me" star knocked back "at least two" vodka cocktails Friday night at the Beatrice Inn and later snapped at snappers trying to take her picture, according to our spies.

Lohan, who checked out of a Utah rehab center in October, downed the drinks while partying with ex-boyfriend Stavros Niarchos and MTV reality "star" Brody Jenner, sources tell us.

[From the Daily News]

But don’t worry, one of Lindsay’s ever-present enablers was on hand to quickly explain her behavior.

"Lindsay is learning how to work through her addictions and, once in a while, she chooses to have a cocktail," says a friend, attempting to explain. "People overexaggerate [sic] her behavior when in fact on Friday night, many people commented to her on how composed she was."

Lindsay's last reported slip was on New Year's Eve, when she was caught on video swigging Champagne on the Italian isle of Capri. One source contends that drinks were showing on Linds on Friday. Confronted by paparazzi at the Beatrice, "she started going berserk," claims a witness. "She didn't want them taking shots of her with Brody."

"[If she got in a fight,] that would be shocking," argues her rep. "Most likely, there were so many photographers and she probably couldn't get to her car. Lindsay is always polite, but sometimes doesn't want to have her photo taken."

[From the Daily News]

My heavens, we wouldn’t want to overexaggerate anything. If Lindsay’s behavior was so bad that her friends (all of whom I’m sure are well-educated and joking) are forced to make up new, redundant words like “overexaggerate” then things must have really gotten out of hand. Oh wait, the friend is actually claiming that Lindsay’s behavior was really restrained and she’s well-behaved when drinking… it’s the rest of us that are overexaggerating everything. Got it. Honestly I really don’t understand why she bothers to keep up the charade. There are some people for whom you can tell rehab will never hold. At least until she’s hit rock-bottom, which Lohan clearly hasn’t. It’s pretty obvious that her many trips to rehab this year were just done to save her “career”/get her out of legal trouble. She clearly doesn’t take her sobriety seriously. At least stop insulting us Lindsay. Like we really believe you just had two drinks. I misunderestimated you.

Picture note by Jaybird: Here’s Lindsay Lohan leaving Barbuto after eating dinner with friends last night. She later stopped by club Socialista in New York City. I’ll give you two guesses as to what’s in her purse. Scratch that. I’ll give you two guesses as to how many bottles are in her purse. Images thanks to Splash Photos.

Mischa Barton says she was ?actually really academic?

Mischa Barton has been doing the Sundance press circuit over the last few days, promoting her movie "Assassination of a High School President" – which is actually getting some good reviews. But what she really wants you to know is that her empty-headed, party girl image is undeserved. I never knew Mischa Barton was so freakishly intelligent. According to an interview she just gave, she’s down to earth and smart. Mischa described herself as, “really academic.” And by that, it appears that she meant she has at some points in her life gone to school. She doesn’t give a single example of how she was academic, nor does she say anything that would lead a reasonable person to believe she possesses an ounce of intelligence beyond the very basics that get you through life. You know, the breathe in, breathe out, repeat thing. Not dodging in front of fast moving cars. She seems to grasp the basics that have kept our species alive, but not much else.

Mischa Barton didn't seem so smart when she was arrested recently for suspicion of DUI. However, the star of the upcoming (and very buzzed about) "Assassination of a High School President" insists that despite her character's mischievous ways, she was actually "academic" in her school days.

"I went to public school in New York until I was about 15, so I had a definite school experience, the whole nine yards," the now super-blond starlet told Pop Tarts, curled up on the couch in her Uggs at Sundance.

"But I loved school, though. I was actually really academic, so I liked it it was a lot of fun."

[From Fox News]

School does tend to be a lot of fun when you skip most of it to film an occasional scene with a cute boy and hang out with your on-set tutor. Mischa goes on to talk about her upbringing in the film industry. Be warned, she uses the word “kinetic.” I think she most likely learned it from her Word-a-Day toilet paper.

And even though Mischa spent several seasons on the small screen as Marissa on "The O.C.," the actress definitely seems to prefer doing films.

"I started doing film when I was 1, and I love it — it is the best experience for me," she said. "Each film that you do — it is like a little group that you make friends with and you have that for life. When you go on a television series, it is a different thing. Of course you have it for life, but it's a long-running show and it's not the same kind of temporary kinetic energy that you get from a movie.”

[From Fox News]

Mischa you probably didn’t get that same “temporary kinetic energy” from your television show because you were supposedly a nightmare to deal with. You showed up late, hung-over, (sometimes still drunk…), were a total diva, refused to work with people, and generally made everyone’s lives such a living hell that they killed of your character by having her tumble off a hill in a car. Working on a film is probably a better fit for Mischa, since people only have to tolerate her for much shorter periods of time.

Picture note by Jaybird: Here’s Mischa with all of her free swag from Sundance. Splash notes: “Actress Mischa Barton has her hands full with some Sundance freebies including a Nintendo Wii Guitar Hero game and a couple of umbrellas as she makes her way through Los Angeles International Airport. Barton was attending the festival in Utah to promote her new movie 'Assassination of a High School President.'” Images thanks to Splash Photos.

Amy Winehouse reportedly doing well in rehab

Amy Winehouse is reportedly doing surprisingly well in rehab. After months of crazed and public drunkenness and drug use, Amy finally went to rehab – most likely at the insistence of her record label. Even though an addict generally needs to hit rock bottom and really want to go to rehab and make a change (and a record label forcing you to go isn’t quite the same thing) it appears that Amy is actually doing well in rehab. Of course these reports are coming from The Sun, so take them with a massive grain of salt. But The Sun generally likes to report negative stories – so if they’re saying someone is doing well, I’m a little more inclined to believe there’s some truth to it.

The Back To Black star spent her fourth day in rehab yesterday, where she is delighting doctors with her progress. Especially because she hasn’t even tried to do a runner. For the first time it actually looks like Amy is making an effort to sort herself out. A relieved close family friend said last night: “Although Amy is still taking each day at a time she has done the hardest thing in the world by going into rehab. She has been ill and is withdrawing but at least she is sticking with it as she detoxes. With her family’s support we are hopeful that there is finally light at the end of the tunnel as she weans herself off drugs. She will stay in rehab for as long as it takes even if it is three or four weeks. Nobody is saying it will be easy, but things are looking good at the moment and doctors are encouraged.”

[From the Sun]

Amy’s loser jailbird husband Blake Fielder-Civil supposedly told Amy to quit smoking crack or she’d be dead within three months. This of course comes not directly for Blake’s mouth, but from his mother Georgette Civil. She has always claimed Amy is the whole problem and to blame for all of her son’s issues, even though by pretty much everyone else’s account the reverse is true. Georgette told News of the World that Blake said, “I'm so relieved she [Amy] has finally taken my advice after I begged her to go into rehab.” Yeah right. Funny Blake would beg her to go, considering the first time she went to rehab this summer Blake insisted on coming along, and quickly talked Amy into leaving after he found out that couple’s rehab isn’t so fun. Georgette clearly can’t stand that the entire UK seems to hate her son. But she’d do herself a lot more good by keeping her mouth shut, instead of giving such ridiculously fabricated quotes to the press.

The Sun speculates that once Amy hears about Blake’s supposed “quotes,” she may not pay for his lawyers in his upcoming trial. Wouldn’t that be tragic if he ended up languishing in jail? If Amy takes rehab seriously and gets Blake out of her life, she could really be poised for a comeback. And she’d have some pretty interesting stuff to sing about.

Picture note by Jaybird: Amy Winehouse and her dad Mitch arrive at a clinic in Marylebone, northwest London on January 22nd. Images thanks to WENN.

Posh wants you to stop tanning

I love irony. Speaking of which, always perma-tanned-to-the ugliest-shade-of-orange-you’ve-ever-seen-in-your-life Spice Girl Victoria Beckham has joined forces with designer Marc Jacobs to create an anti-skin cancer t-shirt for the Interdisciplinary Melanoma Cooperative Group. Wait, this isn’t irony so much as it is hypocrisy. I’m assuming it’s actually like those anti-smoking ads that feature people who just couldn’t quit – and they’re smoking a cigarette through their surgically-created neck hole. So Posh is basically their stoma.

Despite her recent foray back into global pop stardom, Victoria Beckham has still managed to find time to strip off and pose nude for a new designer campaign. Covering her modesty with her hands and the caption "Protect the skin you're in" Posh Spice is the official face of a T-shirt created by Marc Jacobs to raise awareness of the damage sun can do to skin.

Although it is sure to gain the campaign column inches and a significant following, using perma-tanned Posh could be seen as a bit of an odd choice to be the face of such a cause.

However, the Spice Girl, who has not sported the pale and interesting look since back in the nineties, claims her attitude to skincare has changed since moving to the States. "I have realised how important it is to practise safe sun for myself and to keep the skin of my three boys well protected as well," she says.

[From the Daily Mail]

While I’m guessing the shirts are supposed to be sexy, I think they actually serve as a warning. If Victoria’s image were in color instead of black and white, you’d really get the picture. “Stop going to the tanning booth or you could end up looking like this!” While it’s good she claims to have had a change of heart and at least covers her kids, Victoria’s still looking like she hits the tanning beds. Though I suppose she could just be really good at applying self-tanner. It’s going to be really uncomfortable when we see Posh out and about, sporting the shirt which clashed so terribly with her carrot-laced skin.

Picture note by Jaybird: Here’s a collection of recent (past six months) photos of Posh. To be fair, anyone would look tan next to Dita Von Teese. Images thanks to PR Photos.

?Tracy Morgan wants to father waitress? babies? links

Tracy Morgan asked a waitress if he could father her baby [Dlisted]
Naomi Campbell’s Former PA Commits Suicide [Bossip]
Life Sucks and Then You Die: "Breaking Bad" review [Pajiba]
Tony Romo Jessica Simpson in Hollywood [Celebslam]
More scary details about Sam Lufti [Yeeeah!]
Alyssa Milano At Rockin’ Skate NHL All Star Game [I'm Not Obsessed]
Nicky Hilton Got Wasted @ Villa Nightclub, Hollywood [The Bastardly]
Sean Young admits herself to rehab [In Case You Didn't Know]
Maria Menounos Pumping Gas (Site NSFW) [Drunken Stepfather]
Jessica Alba is Confusing and Showing [CityRag]
Jordan says big boobs are so 2007 [Seriously? OMG! WTF?]
How does Woody Harrelson manage to grow more unattractive with each passing day? [Agent Bedhead]
Jenna Jameson pops out of a cake for her boyfriend [The Blemish]
Best Animated Short Films [CityRag]
More On Sean Young [Crazy Days and Nights]
Jim Carrey Really Throws Himself Into His New Role [Popsugar]
More Jenna Jameson Stripper Pictures [The Grumpiest]
Michelle Williams’ Film on Hold [Evil Beet]
Michael Lohan is Ready to Beat Some Ass [CelebWarship]
Tony Romo Will Never Learn [I Don't Like You In That Way]
Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson are doing a music video. Sadly, MC Skat Kat is nowhere to be seen [Glitterati Gossip]
The Spice Girls Arrive In Boston With Their Kids In Tow [Celebrity Baby Scoop]
Fashion against AIDS with Rihanna [Popbytes]
Mariah Carey's Diamond Drawer Needs Refilling [A Socialite's Life]
Rumer Willis is a Frequent Flyer [Just Jared]
Uma Thurman Bikini Pictures [Egotastic]
Look at Tom Cruise's new toy [Lifeline Live]
Ryan Seacrest Butches It Up For American Gladiators 2000 [Best Week Ever]

Con artist poses as Heath Ledger?s father

I debated all day about publishing this story. Given how empathic our readers have been towards Heath Ledger and his family, I wasn’t sure if it would be too upsetting to read this story. There’s nothing inflammatory, nor is there any speculation; it’s just hard to think about. So with that caveat, police are reporting that a con artist posed as Heath Ledger’s father, Kim Ledger, in order to trade on Health’s name and get free stuff.

…police were still trying to find a twisted impostor pretending to be [Heath’s] grieving father. The imposter cruelly duped superstar Tom Cruise into consoling him over the phone – and nearly got John Travolta to buy him a plane ticket to the United States, sources told The Post.

The sick scammer also suckered the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Home in Manhattan, where the tragic actor’s body was held before being flown to Los Angeles, into booking him and his “family” rooms at the ritzy Carlyle hotel nearby on Madison Avenue, sources said. The hoaxer even got them to send free stuff to their rooms “when nobody was there,” a source said.

And the man falsely claiming to be Kim Ledger spoke on the phone with the doctor who performed the autopsy on the “Brokeback Mountain” star, a spokeswoman for the Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed.

[From the New York Post]

The major media outlets are reporting that the police have no idea who the con man is. I’m guessing they’ve got some ideas and are just playing it close to the vest. I mean the man stayed in a hotel, they’ve got to have some video. And it’s logical to assume hotel employees would remember someone who’s supposedly Heath Ledger’s dad. Police had detectives at Ledger’s funeral hoping they might find the con artist but didn’t have any luck. They also say the man tried to get Mel Gibson and Christian Bale’s telephone numbers from one of the celebrities he conned. This story is incredibly sad and the last thing the Ledger family needs to deal with. Unfortunately it’s not that shocking. There are all sorts of con artists who prey on people overcome with grief. Considering all the press this story has gotten today, I’m guessing the NYPD is working overtime to find the guy.

Becks starts a Boyzillian trend

It seems that once people came to grips with David Beckham's billboard bulge - or gave gripping it some thought - they noticed something else besides the bulge: his personal grooming habits. Becks had what is called a Boyzillian, the male equivalent of the brazillian bikini wax. Otherwise known as the classic back, crack and sack. Google this if you're still unsure, I'm not sure I can explain it without being gross.

Becks had some smooth thighs and a distinctive lack of hair in those ads, and it seems that he's started another must-have hair craze.

Kim Lawless, who calls herself the Wax Queen, runs the Brazilia Waxing Studio in Upminster, east London, and specialises in intimate waxing for both sexes. "But most of my clients are men," she said, adding that most of them were straight. "They come from every walk of life and profession - accountants, stockbrokers, teachers, boxers, models - but I've noticed that a lot of my clients are in the building trade."

Business is booming. "A year ago I was doing three men a week. Now I am doing three men a day," she said. "I don't know why it has suddenly become more popular, but when people come in they do mention David Beckham. Now that celebrities like him are open about waxing, it makes other men feel more comfortable about it."

Guardian

Before you decide that a little manscaping is a good idea, let me warn you. It really, really does hurt. Friends of mine claim it hurts more than getting a tattoo (although it is over with quicker) and a few claim it hurts worse than childbirth. In the interests of research I'll be sending my husband to confirm this for me.

What makes my mind boggle is not the fact that people follow celebrity fashion trends, but who would even notice David's public hair, or lack of it? That didn't seem to be the dominant feature in the poster.

In the article, beautician Amanda says that while the women scream a lot more than men, she thinks that might just be a case of 'male bravado'. I can't get over the fact that anyone would pursue a beauty treatment that involves screaming. And pay between �40 and �60 for the privilege.

TV chef Nigella Lawson won?t be leaving her children a fortune

Nigella Lawson - a British celebrity chef, for those of you who aren't following the cooking-show-as-entertainment trend - has an estimated fortune of �110 million, from her television show and cook books, as well as from her marriage to marketing guru Charles Saatchi. But she doesn't plan on her children claiming the spoils of her hard work upon her death.

She has decided that she won't allow her children to inherit a large quantity of wealth, as it spoils them for life, but her husband disagrees.

Mr Saatchi has one daughter, 12-year-old Phoebe from his first marriage.

Miss Lawson, 48, has two children, 13-year-old daughter Cosima and son Bruno, 11, from her marriage to the late journalist John Diamond.

Asked what she hoped the children would learn from her, Miss Lawson told the magazine My Weekly: "To know that I am working and that you have to work in order to earn money.

"I am determined that my children should have no financial security. It ruins people not having to earn money.

"I argue with my husband Charles, because he believes that you should be able to leave money to your children.

"I think we'll have to agree to disagree."

Miss Lawson has not said what she would rather do with the couple's fortune, although she has worked closely with cancer charities after her mother, sister and first husband died of the disease.

Daily Mail

While I think it is nice that Nigella might donate money to cancer causes, who almost certainly would do good work with the fortune, has she considered the fact that by the time she dies her children will probably be in their 30s and 40s? If they haven't learned fiscal responsibility by that point they probably never will.

They also have not exactly been sheltered from the privileges of wealth - Nigella indulges in designer labels and celebrity beauty therapy, as well as employing someone to do her shopping. The family live in a �7 million London pad. All of which sounds pretty good - maybe Nigella and husband Charles could adopt me?

I think this is actually a ploy on Nigella's part to scare the children into aiming high, and upon her death she will leave them money. While the Daily Mail suggests that Nigella plans on leaving her children with nothing, she actually doesn't say this herself.

Last year Body Shop founder Anita Roddick died and left all of her fortune to charity, and her children seem to have accepted this decision. Perhaps it is a good idea - what do you think Paris Hilton would be like today if she had to work 9-5 like other people, instead of partying every night? She gets paid for partying though so that may defeat the purpose of cutting her off.

PICTURE NOTE BY CELEBITCHY: Nigella Lawson is shown at The Golden Age Of Couture VIP Gala on 9/17/07, thanks to PRPhotos.

Kiefer Sutherland May Be Mending Fences With Dad Donald

Donald and Kiefer Sutherland at the 2006 Emmys
Since his release from jail for DUI earlier this month, “24” star Kiefer Sutherland appears to be a model citizen—keeping a low profile, staying out of trouble and even spending some quality time with his father, actor Donald Sutherland, currently the star of the ABC hit “Dirty Sexy Money.”

Kiefer, who has been recorded in various stages of drunken undress and infamously attacking an innocent Christmas tree in a hotel lobby, has had an up-and-down relationship with his famous dad for years. Reportedly, Donald pulled some strings behind the scenes to get Kiefer’s acting career started back in the ’80s, and Kiefer has spent years trying to distance himself and prove his talent away from his father’s influence.

In a recent statement, Donald, who struggled with his own substance abuse problems in the ’70s, commended his son for owning up to his mistakes and accepting his punishment accordingly:

DONALD SUTHERLAND has applauded his son KIEFER’s "perfect" behaviour in the aftermath of his arrest for drink (sic)-driving in September (07). 24 star Kiefer will spend Christmas behind bars after a Los Angeles judge sentenced him to 48 days in jail for driving under the influence.

But Donald insists his son conducted himself in an "honourable" manner and that other people, who he refuses to name, behaved in a disrespectful way at the time of the incident.

Sutherland Sr says, "You don’t want to get me going on this. All I can tell you is that he (Kiefer) is the most honourable, responsible, decent man I know, and I love him with a passion.

"(Kiefer) behaved in a way that was so pure and so perfect and so respectful.
There are other elements in our community that were less so, but he was perfect."

[From PR Inside]

Hmmm. Could that be a dig at the Lohans and Hiltons of the world?

Kiefer and Donald were photographed, smiling and walking together, outside Mr Chow restaurant not long after his release from jail. These two are rarely photographed together—and Kiefer is more rarely photographed smiling. Hopefully, he can learn something from his time in jail and get help for his addiction. It seems like his dad is a great support system these days.

PICTURE NOTE BY CELEBITCHY: Kiefer and Donald Sutherland are shown in an image from the 2006 Emmys. Page Six has the photos of father and son hugging recently before having dinner.

Beckham?s name used to promote condom; users may have to sleep with Posh

I haven’t been able to get a decent night’s sleep in at least a week. I have no idea what’s changed, but suddenly I’m awake for hours in the middle of the night. Last Wednesday, I was having weird dreams about Avril Lavigne trying to make soup out of me. Last night, it was about the New Kids on the Block reunion. Somehow they’d turned it into a reality show, and I was the judge, but there were weird sexual overtones and an oddly big microphone. And I have a feeling that tonight’s nightmare will most likely feature incredibly scary images of Victoria Beckham, naked, having sex, and in some way impaling me with her pointy scissor legs. Why? Because I’ve just learned that the image of Posh’s husband, David Beckham, is being used to promote a brand of Chinese condoms. They’re not actually endorsed by Beckham – in fact it appears many of the Chinese people are rather mortified, as they really like the soccer star and don’t want to offend him. But just putting his face on the box has made it the number one selling condom in China. Something tells me they didn’t use one of the “seductive” photos that also features Posh.

A Chinese firm is using soccer star David Beckham's name to promote its brand of condoms - without his permission. The firm is claiming men who use the Beckham contraceptive - which has become the best-selling in China - will score in bed like the L.A. Galaxy star does on the pitch.

But fans in the country are calling for a ban on the condoms - because they don't want to offend the British sportsman.

A fan explains, "We do not want Beckham to think the Chinese people are disrespecting him. We love him here." A spokesman for Beckham says, "It's not an official brand."

[From PR-Insider]

Does using Beckham’s condom mean you have to think about Posh when you’re having sex? I’m pretty sure that would kill nearly any intimate moment. I’m not sure it’s the smartest long-term move by that condom company - I would think that’d knock your sales down by at least thirty percent. Can you imagine the injuries that implants that hard and pointy could cause? Jokes about poking an eye out aside – you really could end up with some sort of spleen puncture or something. Considering the Beckham’s “business savvy” (i.e. ability to make a lot of unnecessary cash from sticking their pictures and names on random products) I’m pretty sure we’ll end up with “Intimately Beckham” condoms here by the end of the week. In other Posh/David news, “Intimately Beckham” was on sale for 15% of its original price at my local Target yesterday.

PICTURE NOTE BY CELEBITCHY: David and Victoria Beckham are shown in a spread in W Magazine that came out last summer, and in an ad for their perfume.

Clay Aiken says he?s never had a romantic relationship with anyone

Clay Aiken has been doing a TON of press for his recent starring role in “Spamalot” on Broadway. This is tolerable or terrible depending on your view of Clay Aiken. It’s definitely more tolerable if you only have to read it instead of hear him speak. Clay’s moved to the big city and at 29 years old is living alone for the first time in his life – and seems to feel rather panicky about the whole thing. He gave a surprisingly candid and friendly interview to New York magazine (let’s not forget his terse exchange with Newsweek recently). Clay’s still promoting his family-friendly, nerdy/geeky/dorky, pure-as-the-snow routine.

“Let’s not fool ourselves,” he says with his eyebrows up in his arch, queeny way. “The truth is? There are people like Justin Timberlake, males who are cool on radio right now, and then there’s me. If I heard myself in a dance club? If I went into a dance club—which I never do—and I heard Clay Aiken come on, I’d roll my eyes and get out. But you know what? I’m fine with being kind of vanilla! It’s oh-kye!” In his book, Aiken says that it’s not just clubs but also bars he dislikes: “The only reason people go to bars is to get drunk and have sex. To me, bars are what hell is like.”

[From New York Magazine]

Clay has long refused to talk about his sexual orientation, however he does talk about his personal life a bit – or lack thereof. Apparently Clay’s not interested in the men or the women – his only meaningful relationship is with his dogs.

He imagines his social life here will be “nonexistent, really. I’m not a nighttime person.” He does not plan on dating, and he is not involved with anyone. “Heck, no,” he says. “My dogs.” He has never had a romantic relationship with anyone, unless you count the girls he took to dances back in high school in Raleigh. “I just don’t have an interest in … any of that at all. I have got too much on my plate,” he says. “I’d rather focus on one thing and do that when I can devote time to it, and right now, I just don’t have any desire.”

But Aiken is 29 years old and he is also a human. Surely he must have needs. Urges. He contemplates this in silence for 20 or 30 seconds. “Ah think maybe I don’t! I mean, not really. I’ve just kind of shut it off, maybe. Is that bad?”

[From New York Magazine]

Given that interview, Clay Aiken strikes me as someone who could very well be asexual. I saw a story a while back on ABC News about people who say they’re asexual, and their whole motto was “sexless and proud.” Most of the people interviewed described themselves as asexual and said sex just had no appeal to them. Many claimed they had no inclination towards romantic relationships in general, and they had incredibly happy and fulfilling lives – they just have nothing to do with sex. It really sounds like that’s what Clay Aiken is describing. He’s been pestered by gay rumors for years – which he’s refused to discuss. It’s obviously possible Clay says the things he says as a way of sidestepping the issue. But it is also possible he’s got his own way of doing things and living his life, and he’s perfectly happy with that.

Clay’s been getting pretty good reviews for his Spamalot performance. Although New York magazine was definitely hard on him at several points in the article, they said he really fits into the role well – he even broke his “no cussing” policy. The article also speculates that living in New York may break Clay, and get him to loosen up a bit. Only time will tell.

Best and Worst Dressed at the SAG Awards

I wanted to post as many photos of the celebrities at the SAG Awards last night as possible, so instead of just doing "Best" and "Worst" Dressed or posting by single celebrity, which takes too long, I'm adding an "Undecided" category for those dresses that don't hit either extreme.

Some outfits are obviously bad, like Sandra Oh and her giant bow, and Tilda Swinton's oversized purple metallic jacket. I feel bad for putting Cate Blanchett on the worst dressed list, and usually she would get a pregnancy pass for that busy flowery dress, but we hold Blanchett to a higher fashion standard than everyone else and she's expected to look fabulous throughout her pregnancy.

Other gowns are just not to my taste but don't deserve a "Worst Dressed" label, like Terri Hatcher's too-tight white gown with a silver and bronze flower print. It wasn't a hideous dress, the print just looked like wallpaper to me. Simple clean lines and solid colors are what I prefer to see on the red carpet. I've been aptly criticized in these best and worst dressed posts in the past for being too conservative in my fashion tastes, though. I didn't adore Angelina Jolie's dress - the cut was lovely for a probably pregnant woman, but the colors seemed kind of muddy to me.

Michelle Pfeiffer was striking in a sleeveless tan dress with matching peep-toe shoes and subtle accessories. Holly Hunter cut a striking figure in cowl neck white dress with a grey ribbon. Kyra Sedgwick and Marcia Cross wore flowing dresses in bright hues of blue. And Ellen Pompeo seems to have escaped her sometimes-fug fashion past with a gorgeous silver gown with subtle layers of soft fabric.

Thanks to PRPhotos for these pictures.

Best Dressed: Michelle Pfeiffer, Holly Hunter, Kyra Sedgwick, Marcia Cross, Ellen Pompeo, Marion Cotillard, Brittany Snow, Nancy O'Dell, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Glenn Close, Lymari Nadal, and Becki Newton:





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Worst Dressed: Tilda Swinton, Sandra Oh, Amanda Bynes, Melora Hardin, Nikki Blonski, Jane Krankowski, January Jones, Dana Delaney, Debra Messing, Missi Pyle, Christina Hendricks, Cate Blanchette





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Undecided: Kate Beckinsale, Eva Longoria, Edie Falco, Chandra Wilson, Christina Applegate, Teri Hatcher, Maria Gay Harden, Lisa Rinna, Sara Ramirez, Rebecca Romijn, America Ferrera, Ellen Burstyn, Sophia Bush, Alison Janney, Vanessa Williams, Nicolette Sheridan, Ashley Tisdale, Tina Fey, Angelina Jolie, Sally Field.