December 9th's Earl Grey-induced Vpsot

by B Condon 2:03 PM

The Christmas festivities just keep on coming.... and I keep finding more things to get geeked out on (Michael Buble duet with the Puppini Sisters anyone?)

Uggie the Dog from The Artist

French director and writer Michel Hazanavicius probably did not envision where his small little film (and silent of all things shocking and postmodern!) to be taken as far as being in talks for Oscar nominations for Leading Actor (Jean Dujardin) and even the off-chance of a petition to give Uggie the Jack Russell terrier a special nomination, much to the annoyance to Susan Orlean that in the case of Rin Tin Tin being the legendary almost-Oscar winner back in the first year of the now established Award show, "...members of the Academy, anxious to establish the awards were serious and important, decided that giving an Oscar to a dog did not serve that end.'" It's a dog! I think we are much smarter nowadays to believe anyone can act... if that monkey can speak, animals more than enough have a capability to be just as prominent as George Clooney or Ryan Gosling in a movie -- either way, women want to take Uggie home or at least Consider_Uggie on twitter and facebook for a nomination! This is a dumb piece of news anyway but I'm all for rallying to get The Artist nominated somehow; sound production would probably be the effective win because apparently a French actor of Dujardin's stature could never have a chance against Leo DiCaprio this year. Just saying.

They're Baaaack! Sound the Sleigh Bells!

Allison Krauss, Goddess of my heart and the Destructor to my eardrums, is back collaborating with Derek Miller for sophomore LP Reign of Terror, but they are coming back in style and down the rabbit hole a little bit in this 2 1/2 minute teaser.

Open Letter to Entertainment Weekly's Owen Gleiberman 

Dear Mr. Gleiberman, 

I more than respect your opinion in your column in last month's Entertainment Weekly "6 Fabulous Silent Film Classics," but I was saddened as an extreme historical cinephile that I have not even heard of all of them except for Pandora's box, which is rightfully there. What I also have a problem is the common theme. Your first statement is "Want more like 'The Artist?'" Well, silent film is not one huge encompassing genre, and you as a movie columnist should know that! 

If you want to get more readers, you have to include some more historic pieces that precurse our more favorited genres, such as "M" featuring the marvelous Peter Lorre pre-Casablanca love (although you did pen Conrad Veidt's 'The Man Who Laughs' and he is a very honorable mention) and especially Metropolis, and I'm not just saying that because it's my favorite, but because science fictions and thrillers are what today's movie-goers are the most attracted to. The more films you include that have made cultural impacts will make the readers more interested. I have no hate against Sunrise and the others, but you should have made a conscious effort to include movies that don't push all the stereotypes we so easily watched during Singing in the Rain. 

Rufus Wainwright: Good News, He's Back in the Land of the Living!

"Whatever happened to that guy who sang Cohen's Hallelujah in the movie Shrek and Across the Universe for I Am Sam?" you might ask, knowing those are the only huge claims to fame Rufus's, the brilliant bastard hybrid of the MacGarrigles and the Wainwrights, pop culture repertoire. Idiots... or maybe I'm just a hipster like that. But our favorite dramatic and theatrical man sits down with Stereogum for a Progress Report on Prima Donna, his opera which is premiering in February (WAAAAANNT!!) his daughter and boyfriend but most importantly his latest album "Out of the Game" but will it be as majestic as his last one where he put music to Shakespeare's Sonnets? Time will tell.

David Burtka does E! News

While the Mayor of Munchkin-Land otherwise known as Ryan Seacrest is in talks for taking Matt Lauer's place on "The Today Show," what about his E! gig on the channel's news program, aka. my horrible horrible addiction I cannot get rid of, the same program recruits Neil Patrick's husband and co-father to their twins David Burtka and last night was his first night. 

Yes, he was a little shaky and slow in the voice as he announced Kris Humphries coming out of the divorce shadow to discuss his plans for the future, but there's always room for improvement, although his voice will be something to get used to as it is a closed off almost guttural sound. Until then, looks like this is going to be one busy family and it's always a perk to get another gay man on the staff next to "fashion insulter" Robby Lachlan. 

Will try to hunt for a video clip of his work -- as well as Rainn Wilson's air-guitaring Christmas Eve by Trans-Siberian Orchestra last night on the Office.

Dani Stahl Keeps Getting Epic on my Face

Stahl is popping up everywhere, on E! on both Scouted AND another guilty pleasure Fashion Police last Friday, but now she's popping into the offices of my Zen: Essie Nail Polish where she mixes a color and even gets Essie to mix a special color that matches the Nylon's logo. WAAAAAANT!!!

Sophia Rossi gets FOAMy

 As we all know, I get bored easily and need to change up my fixes -- as with magazines, my new found addictions to i-D Magazine and a growing fondness for West Coast's "Fashion, Ocean, Art and Music" FOAM magazine. FOAM seems to be like that girl in high school who managed to be a total jock-ette but still managed to have her hair look perfect and still manage to be incredibly girly in fashion and a total boy on a boogie board in the ocean. This, I like... this I heavily approve of. 

So what could have really sparked my interest? Well, remember a little name of Sophia Rossi, hellogiggles co-owner and L.A. socialite in the least Paris Hilton sense of the word? Featured in their "The Gift Girls" segment she shows her enduring love for friend Charlotte Ronson's  (which always gets a message on hellogiggles) lip gloss and other accessories. And I will answer Rossi's million dollar question: it used to be Mary Anne, now it's Stacey.

Raveonettes Get Freaky with Jack Skeleton Pillow

After ten years and enough in their catalog to make a B-sides and rarities album, well aptly named "B-Sides/Rarities," Sharin and Sune finally put out a video to their "The Christmas Song" ten years after its conception and it does not disappoint, in fact, I would love to have a Christmas party with them!

 ...And my Undying Love for Diablo Cody Continues...

Thank you BUST Magazine, for tweeting this interview between movies.com and Diablo Cody, for every so often I forget about her awesomeness. "I've learned that you absolutely cannot create anything without offending somebody." is apart of my quote canon, as Mrs. Maurio discusses new movie "Young Adult," what it means to just write about horrible horrible person yet manage to be funny about it at the same time, and her place in Hollywood. Have I mentioned I effing love her?