The annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show aired tonight on CBS. The one hour fun and flirty show flew by leaving what I can only assume millions of viewers yearning for more - and rightfully so. The producers of what one Victoria's Secret angel called the "biggest fashion show on earth" delivered six high-energy, star-studded shows in a neatly-packaged one hour production.
The show's debut theme, Tough Love, featured spikes, rhinestones, tall boots and even taller legs. The angels continued strutting their heavenly bodies across the runway to themes spanning from country chic to all-star athletes to angels with wings and wild things, and then ending with the infamous Victoria's Secret Pink line.
Viewers were treated to an inside look at the supermodels including a vulnerable Chanel Iman who cried when learning she was getting winged. The youngest model donned a gorgeous set of long, white feathered wings (a tradition that gets "bigger and bigger each year"), and the ladies also shared what they loved most about each other - ranging from their eyes to their butts.
Celebrities like socialite sisters Paris and Nicky Hilton, hottie A-listers Gerard Butler and Vin Diesel, and the boys of Kings of Leon sat in the show's front rows clearly enjoying themselves.
Katy Perry and Akon were this year's chosen artists who both performed well. Bubbly and colourful, Katy fit right in with the angels while performing her latest single, "Firework". She later finished the show by performing a medley of her hit singles including "Teenage Dream" and "California Girls". Akon sang his hit, "Angel", while sharing the runway with the supermodels.
Near the end of the show, people were standing, dancing and cheering the girls on. The red-hot production closed with the supermodels' final walk down the runway to Blondie's "Call Me" - who just happened to be in the audience.
If you missed the fashion show, watch the clip below for a cute rendition of Katy Perry's "Firework" by the models who can apparently do everything. Enjoy.
Kanye West - the international hip hop artist who used to be known for his music, his clothes, his women, and yes, his outspokenness - took his outspokenness to a whole new level when disrespectfully interrupting country starlet, Taylor Swift, while she accepted the award for Best Female Video at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.
Matt Lauer interviewed Kanye West for NBC's "Today" show this past Tuesday, November 9. It's clear when watching the interview that aired Thursday that Kanye becomes upset very easily with Matt and the show's producers when simply trying to do their jobs. I'd be walking on eggshells if I ever met Kanye in a professional capacity - anything said or done may be disrespecting him in some way, shape or form. However, from what the world has seen from Mr. Kanye West, it should be him who is much more careful in what he says and does.
Watch the "Today" show interview below.
In the interview, Kanye talks about the way he reacted at a celebrity telethon to then-President George W. Bush's response to Hurricane Katrina. Standing next to Mike Myers, Kanye stated that Bush "doesn't care about black people." Matt Lauer then tells Kanye to watch a clip of an interview the "Today" show co-host had just taped with Bush a few days earlier, and to pay close attention to the former president's emotional reaction when discussing Kanye's racist remark.
Kanye says to Matt Lauer, "I don't need you guys to show me the tape in order to prompt my emotions about what I'm going to say." A few seconds later, he looks off set and tells people to be quiet. Has Kanye never been interviewed before? How has he not yet learned that these overreactions will all be included in the airing of his interview? No way would the NBC producers cut those clips out - it makes for great television.
Later in the interview, when referencing the MTV VMA debacle, a clip was played of the very moment when Kanye storms the stage to interrupt Taylor Swift's acceptance speech. Kanye looks confused, then angry, and then says, "Yo how am I supposed to talk if you're gonna run this thing in the middle of while I'm talking?" Matt asks the producers to turn off the sound, and Kanye proceeds to say, "Please don't let that happen again. It's, like, ridiculous."
The interview stops airing and Matt Lauer quickly discusses Kanye's reaction to the MTV clip with his "Today" co-host, Meredith Vieira. He explains that it's common practice to roll video or sound about something that is being referenced by a guest - duh.
Now of course, just because Kanye had left the NBC studios did not mean that he was finished speaking his mind. He took to his Twitter account later that day to rant about his feelings toward his and Matt Lauer's interview. One of the tweets included the following: "HE TRIED TO FORCE MY ANSWERS. IT WAS VERY BRUTAL AND I CAME THERE WITH ONLY POSITIVE INTENT."
Then yesterday, Friday, November 12, Kanye tweets this message: "I'm not performing on the Today Show for obvious reasons. I'm so happy the world got to see just a small piece of "the set up"."
Later that day, Kanye's record company confirmed the cancellation to "Today". He was set to perform on Black Friday (the Friday after Thanksgiving) at the "Today" show studios - part of a promo tour for his new album, "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" being released November 22.
This cancellation is a big mistake on Kanye's part. He's going to miss targeting an insane amount of shoppers who would have seen him perform and potentially added his album to their holiday shopping lists. Many people also have that day off from work and school and would have seen him on the U.S's most-watched morning show.
Once again, bad PR, and even worse manners. This man will never learn.
Tonight, the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards were live the world over. Comedian Chelsea Handler stated during the beginning of the show to the artists packed in the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, "Don't cheer for Jersey Shore - they're the reason MTV doesn't play your videos anymore."
Handler, the first female host of the awards show in 16 years, couldn't be more right. I haven't tuned into MTV or MuchMusic to watch music videos in years and instead tune in to watch them on the Internet. Why did I stop? Because whenever I'd turn on the music stations, there wasn't any darn music being broadcasted.
I was hoping this year's VMA's would be all about the music, and so far, it hasn't been that off. We've seen Eminem open the show with help from Rihanna singing "Love the Way You Lie", home-grown pop sensation Justin Bieber performing on an outdoor stage, newbie but uber-popular Canadian hip-hop artist Drake singing with Mary J. Blige, and my new favourite artist, Florence and the Machine singing "Dog Days are Over".
Unfortunately, I can't say that Usher sang two of his most recent hits, because he didn't. The guy showed off his obvious technically-perfect dance moves, but failed to move his lips to the pre-recorded music. He could have at least tried. Oh well, that disappointment wasn't nearly as bad as bearing witness to MTV's obsession with reality television that is simply getting worse and more intolerable.
The one hour VMA's pre-show included an exclusive clip from Jershey Shore - the terrible yet massive hit show from MTV about guidos and tanned girls from New Jersey who love to bitch and start fights - and Jackass 3-D - the mish-mash of daring and completely insane stunts from guys who are clearly on large quantities of drugs. Nonetheless, besides seeing some members of Jersey Shore in a hot tub on the stage, and one of the Jackasses tear off his clothes to show us his tighty-whities and a plastic you-know-what flopping out, the main awards show was mostly entertaining and thankfully, Kanye-free.
Damnit, I spoke too soon - the rumours were true. Kanye had the opportunity to sing in the final spot at the VMA's. Mr. West attempted to make-up for his terribly rude and selfish interruption of Taylor Swift at last year's MTV VMA's by hopping along the stage in a red suit singing, "Let's have a toast for the douchebags . . . scumbags . . . assholes . . . jerkoffs . . . Everyone that I know." And, continuing with, "You've been putting up with my shit for too long." Ummm hmmm, you can say that again - which he did - over and over. It was anti-climactic and lame, but apparently that was the best he could do.
For the full list of winners at this year's MTV VMA's, visit MTV.com.
Miss Janet Jackson is touring for the first time in two years, and by the looks of it, girl is still as nasty as ever! In the video below - filmed at the Essence Music Festival yesterday in New Orleans - Jackson toys with a very lucky male concertgoer for the entire four minute song, "Discipline".
As much as I did enjoy this - I laughed, screamed, and my mouth was pretty much hanging from my face the entire time - I can't help but think about other performers (think Adam Lambert at the 2009 American Music Awards), who dared to perform certain sexual acts on stage.
Janet licks this guy's face (as did Adam), pulls his head into her cleavage and rubs it between her breasts, pretends to hump him while he's lying on the ground, and gropes his crotch three times. Seriously, it was hot, nasty, and I felt like I was a fly on her bedroom wall. This made me feel like a creep; therefore resonating a not-so-great feeling by the time the video ended.
This steamy performance also makes me confused by who Miss Jackson really is, because she is a very shy person during on-camera interviews.
Anyways, this is my break from writing a paper on religion - a very different topic than mimicking sex acts on stage - that I must now return to. Tata.
When I think of McDonald's, the world's largest fast-food chain, beautiful and subtle don't usually come to mind.
However, this new McDonald's commercial from France just genuinely made me feel good. Their ad execs created something big: sending a message to their customers to "come as you are".
I can't personally relate to the issue of having to come out to a parent, but I can empathize, as this would be an extremely difficult thing to do. There are so many young adults in this world who are afraid to admit to their loved ones who they really are - gay, bisexual, transgendered, whatever.
McDonald's France is sending out the message that they are accepting of individuals no matter what their sexual orientation. Some people may think this is too profound a message for a fast-food chain, but I disagree - it's creating good PR.
A good humane message will help to expand their brand to a larger audience, which will in the end affect their bottom line (i.e. sell more food and drink!)
As difficult as I can only imagine it would be for someone to share his or her private demons with friends and family, Robert Munsch - the bestselling Canadian children's author - came clean to his audience last Friday by posting a message on his website titled, "A Note to Parents".
In this brief message, we learn that the author of such beloved classics as The Paperbag Princess, was diagnosed several years ago with obsessive-compulsive disorder and manic depression, and that these illnesses have led him "to make some big mistakes."
Munsch, 64, doesn't delve into further detail of his private life; however, he hopes that "everyone will talk to their kids honestly, listen to them, and help them do their best with their own challenges."
I commend Munsch for posting this message on his website. With a title typed in all caps under the "What's New?" section - who else would look there besides the parents of the children who read his books? He is upfront about his private issues to his most important audience members - those who decide whether or not their children will even read his books.
The day after the message to parents was posted on his website, Munsch made a Saturday television appearance where he admitted to doing "stupid things" like using cocaine while drinking. He says he began doing both to try and help regulate his mood swings. Apparently, he has been sober for four months now.
Perhaps the people involved in the following situation should have taken pointers from Mr. Munsch...
I'm confident most of you recall the lap dance that took place between two teachers at Churchill High School February 17. Now, if only the Winnipeg School Division, or more importantly, the administration of Churchill High School, had done the same thing that Munsch had done, i.e. communicate immediately to the children's parents. Ideally, the staff should have sent a letter home with each child addressed to his or her parents, or at least post a message on the school's website.
Once news stories like those involving teachers giving eachother a lap dance at a school assembly, or a beloved children's author admitting to his alcohol and cocaine issues go public, there's no way of stopping them. The stories will hit YouTube, social media sites, and mainstream media before the six o'clock news.
When a major issue arises, there's no better rule than the following: tell the truth, tell it first, tell it all. It's best to hear the truth from the source, rather than hearing it, or some form of it, from a second or third party.
Let it be known, I heart Chicago. Like a lot - a lot, a lot.
Chicago completely exceeded my expectations. I pre-mapped most of the Loop (aka downtown Chicago) the week before I left for the great Mid-Western city, but I really had no idea what I'd feel like actually being there. One word to describe it: stunning. Each step I walked downtown, whether on Michigan Avenue (aka the Magnificent Mile), or on Lake Shore Drive, I couldn't stop myself from taking a photo. Note: all photos in this post are mine, except for the photo of Cloud Gate.
Almost every building was built beautifully and can therefore feed anyone's appetite for architecture as there are so many different styles and designs to see. I've decided to create a list of my top three favourite buildings in downtown Chicago because this blog post would be way too long if I wrote about all of its interesting buildings.
One of my favourite building's is the Tribune Tower (home of the Chicago Tribune) on North Michigan Avenue. Completed in 1925, the neo-gothic building was the outcome of an international design competition held by the above-mentioned newspaper. The prize was $50,000, and was ultimately won by two New York architects. There were over 260 entries, and proved to be great PR for the Chicago Tribune.
The other building is the Willis Tower, which was referred to as the Sears Tower by virtually every Chicagoan I met. The 107-storey skyscraper is located on South Wacker Drive and was completed in 1973, but its name changed last July as London-based insurance broker, Willis Group Holdings Ltd., agreed to lease a portion of the building and therefore obtained its naming rights.
It features three glass Skydeck boxes (or balconies) for tourists and residents alike that opened last July, and surprisingly made this roller-coaster and thrill ride enthusiast very nervous. It really didn't help when an annoying little school kid decided to jump on the glass that juts out of the side of the 103rd storey that I was in the process of standing on. I told him that was my cue to leave, and then proceeded towards the gift shop.
The other building that fascinated me is the Merchandise Mart on Merchandise Plaza. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to go inside the art deco building, but I'll likely return to the city very soon - this time with my boyfriend Dave - and we'll be sure to visit the building that has its own area code (yes, it's that big). With over 4,000 windows, it was completed in 1930 and centralized the city's wholesale goods business by consolidating vendors and trade under one roof.
Another must-see attraction in the Loop is Cloud Gate (or more commonly known as "The Bean"), which is a large stainless steel sculpture that was completed in 2006 and reflects the city's landscape in its giant facade. It's located in the beautiful Millennium Park, which would be a perfect place for an afternoon picnic with your sweetie pie. Corny? Yeah, I'd say so.
To anyone considering visiting Chicago, you must make a trip to 2548 North Halstead in Lincoln Park (a mere $12 taxi ride). Home to Kingston Mines, it's the most genuine and super chill blues club in the city. It was recommended to me by three Winnipeggers, so I expected to have a great time and to hear great music. Make sure to pay it a visit next time you're in the Windy City, and be ready to sit back and listen to some darn good Chicago blues music, which even made this not-so-great-dancer dance all night.
For all the art lovers reading this blog post (because I know you're out there whether you like to admit it or not), the Art Institute of Chicago is fabulous. Like I wrote in an email to Dave and my parents as soon as I had returned to the hotel from the institute, I had fallen in love with another man. His name? Claude Monet. Sigh. Looking back on it, I would have been happy to have just stayed all evening in the two rooms where the impressionist painter's breathtaking paintings are featured.
And now, to save the best for last, my experience at The Oprah Winfrey Show - yup, no big deal. My classmate, Gina, and I scored three tickets to the most epic talk show on TV by writing the Big O a cute pitch letter.
We were treated to a private screening of the film, Eat Pray Love, at the gorgeous and modern Kerasotes Showplace Icon Theatre when we arrived in Chicago last Tuesday night, and then woke up, got dolled-up, and took a taxi to Harpo Studios Wednesday morning, where we would soon see the taping of the Eat Pray Love-themed show with Oprah, Julia Roberts and the book's author, Elizabeth Gilbert.
We first stood in line, actually more like four or five lines and an intense security check (tip: they'll check your hairspray and pen in addition to your camera and cell phone), and then ultimately sat in a very cold holding room for two and a half hours. We got over it though, as it truly was an experience of a lifetime.
Interested in finding out whether or not Oprah is actually who she seems to be on TV? To me, Oprah is sincerely real, professional, and honest. Walking out into the studio, which is a lot smaller than it appears, without her usual four-inch heels on, Oprah spoke to us 365 studio audience members and stood patiently as her four stylists put on her heels, fixed her hair, and touched-up her makeup. Like she told us, "You don't have to do much when you're rich."
Julia was as real as a celebrity can get - very down to earth - and a lot skinnier than I thought she would be. The taping included pre-recorded greetings from the film's men (heartthrobs Javier Bardem and James Franco, as well as the talented Richard Jenkins).
Our taping airs Monday, May 24, and the film hits theatres Friday, August 13. As Oprah says, "It's a great film to go out and see with the girls."
P.S - Did I mention to all the Twilight saga fans who read my blog that when the taxi dropped us off, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning were leaving the studio's private garage in an SUV as they had just filmed a special Oprah and Twilight special (which airs Thursday, May 13)? Yup, Robert was actually two feet away from me; unfortunately, I couldn't catch a glimpse of his face because the SUV's tint was so dark. Booooo.
I'd also like to note how surprisingly friendly and helpful every person we met working in the hospitality industry was to us. I really have nothing bad to say about Chicago. I even enjoyed taking the "L" train and am in fact more scared walking in downtown Winnipeg than riding a subway on a Friday night to the city's south side for a White Sox game.
Today is a day I will never forget. Corny? Yes, but so so true.
Next week I am going to Chicago with some of the advertising and public relations majors from the Creative Communications program at Red River College. Usually, The Oprah Winfrey Show provides an online reservation system in order for everyone to have an equal chance at getting tickets. However, because there are little shows being taped in May as they stop taping that month for summer vacation, my friend and classmate, Gina Nasuti, and I decided to write a pitch letter and send it to literally dozens of her staff members. Crazy? Yes. Did it work? Heck yes it did!
Sally Lou, Oprah's audience supervisor, phoned me yesterday acknowledging our letter, saying that "it's cute and got the attention of the whole office." She informed me she could only get us three tickets (we had asked for more), for the Wednesday afternoon live taping of The Oprah Winfrey Show. However, it was mandatory to have read the book, "Eat, Pray, Love". Two out of three of us hadn't yet read the book, so we got on the most vital assignment of our lives, and read that darn book! Thank goodness it was a quick read!
This now brings us to today, where I anxiously waited all day - quite tensely - for Sally Lou to email or call me back. She did, finally, at 2:00 and informed me that Izzy, Gina and I were booked for the Wednesday, May 5 afternoon taping of The Oprah Winfrey Show! P.S - this just may be Izzy's best birthday yet - she turns 24 that day!
So, Sally Lou thanked us for "taking the time to write the letter," and informed me that us three gals are invited to attend the advanced private screening of the film, Eat, Pray, Love - starring Julia Roberts - Tuesday at 7:00 p.m at the Kerasotes Showplace Icon Theatre in Chicago! She then told me that non-other than Julia herself will be at the live Oprah taping on Wednesday. Oh, and if you watch the film's trailer below, you'll notice that hotties James Franco and Javier Bardem also act in the film. Can you imagine if they appear on the show as well?! We'll be the chicks screaming in the audience! Heck, I'm sure all the females would be screaming in the audience!
I'm so thankful Gina pushed me to write a draft pitch letter one afternoon. I'm thankful that that extremely-gifted girl wrote such a quirky poem to include in the letter, and for her awesome design skills. Our passion and drive made this possible (as well as our public relations training from Melanie Lee Lockhart ;) ).
Well, it's a sign of the times - Archie Comics is set to introduce its first openly gay character, Kevin Keller. The new hottie in town is said to quickly gain the attention of Veronica when he defeats Jughead in a burger-eating contest.
Readers of the oldest teen comic book will be able to read the full-issue story, "Isn't it Bromantic" in the Veronica #202 edition, when it hits news stands September 14.
Jon Goldwater, Co-CEO of Archie Comics, explained on the publication's official blog that the "introduction of Kevin is just about keeping the world of Archie Comics current and inclusive . . . and is part of the commitment to keep Archie properties reflective of the current world of teens and teen media."
When this news was announced yesterday, I was nothing less than thrilled. This is an excellent, timely news story that will help Archie Comics reach a new audience they previously may not have had.
As a hetero-female, I didn't know how it felt to be a young girl confused about her sexuality. However, with this well-established publication developing an openly gay character, a new audience will have the opportunity to connect with the comic and hopefully see that what they're going through in their personal lives isn't strange, yet quite common. This could very much help begin a new dialogue on homosexuality amongst teens, which is a very good thing, as the subject is unfortunately still taboo amongst many communities.
It was announced yesterday that Conan O'Brien is returning to TV in November with a new late-night talk show. The network? FOX? CBS? Surprisingly, the answer isn't any of the aforementioned, but is in fact, TBS.
All together now - what the eff? Seriously? In the evenings, the cable TV channel owned by Time Warner, airs mostly old-school movies from the '90s, and as much as I love watching reruns of King of Queens, Seinfeld, and Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, I'm seriously surprised this is the route he chose to take.
Oh well - TBS will be ecstatic for the ratings he'll bring them, even though they won't come close to the ratings he received on his short-lived stint as host of NBC's The Tonight Show. However, he'll be a big help to the TBS brand, and I wish him the best.
If you're a big fan of Conan and can't wait to see him on TV until November - you're in luck. He just started his nationwide comedy tour called, The Legally Prohibited from being Funny on Television Tour, and will be in Vancouver tonight. For other tour dates, check out teamcoco.com.
The Fox News Channel has taken a snippet of an interview they filmed with rapper-actor LL Cool J (aka James Todd Smith), 42, in January 2008, and included it in their new special hosted by Sarah Palin titled, Real American Stories.
So, you may be thinking, "yeah, so what?" Well, the clip was filmed for something completely different, and Fox never asked LL or his camp permission to re-use it for this show.
On Tuesday, LL wrote the following on his Twitter: "Fox lifted an old interview I gave in 2008 to someone else & are misrepresenting to the public in order to promote Sarah Palins show. WOW."
LL Cool J's spokesperson, Rhett Usry, commented yesterday by saying, "Contrary to what was reported, LL Cool J was never scheduled to be a guest on 'Real American Stories' with Sarah Palin this week. The show had planned to use an interview from 2008 that was being repurposed without LL's permission."
As a communications student, I know better than to take an interview I filmed with someone and attempt to pass it off by using it for a totally different segment. That's bad journalism. This could have not been an issue if they had asked for LL's permission to use the old interview, or rather film a new one to reflect the script they have for this new show.
Demonstrating professionalism and good public relations, LL's spokesman continued to address the issue by stating the following: "This statement is not a reflection of any feelings LL has toward Fox News or Ms. Palin, whom he has never met, rather a clarification of what we have seen published in the media."
Now, instead of responding back in a professional manner and apologizing for the mistake they have made, Fox News Channel responded by releasing a statement to media outlets. It said, "Real American Stories' features uplifting tales about overcoming adversity and we believe Mr. Smith's interview fits that criteria. However, as it appears that Mr. Smith does not want to be associated with a program that could serve as an inspiration to others, we are cutting his interview from the special and wish him the best with his fledgling acting career."
Uhh, ouch? And in the words of Stephanie Tanner (yeah, that's right), how rude! I mean, seriously? Does the Fox News Channel not have any tact at all? Besides an obvious lack in manners, they're quite wrong. LL is currently starring in the hit CBS series, NCIS: Los Angeles, as well as recent film roles in Last Holiday and S.W.A.T.
Also, note that the statement from Fox was released to media outlets and not to LL himself, as they clearly want any media attention they can get. Unfortunately, they're receiving the attention. This story is all over media sites right now, and I'm even blogging about it. Shoot - I'm giving them what they want.
... If yes, then you could be the owner of Schindler's list, and I don't mean the Oscar-winning Steven Spielberg film, but the actual 14-page list of 801 names Oskar Schindler used to save Jewish people during the Holocaust.
The original draft was produced by Schindler and used to employ over 1000 Jewish people in his factory in Poland. It's being sold by its anonymous owner for $2.2 million. If you're interested and can afford this rare WWII document - which I'm sure many of my beautiful blog readers are capable of purchasing - then check out MomentsInTime.com. This site is owned by Gary Zimet, a New York memorabilia dealer, who has been asked to sell the document for the owner.
Three copies of the list are already owned by museums, but hopefully another museum will purchase it so that many people have the opportunity to see such a truly priceless artifact.
Three weeks ago this evening, Erica Zawadowski and I executed the human rights-themed masquerade fundraiser we had begun planning last year as part of our Independent Professional Project in the Creative Communications program at Red River College.
We organized this event in order to raise funds for the Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, while targeting an audience the organization had not yet successfully reached - post-secondary students age 18 to 24. The CMHR is slated to open in Winnipeg in 2012, and Erica and I couldn't be happier that this large-scale project is being built in our hometown.
When this project began, we knew we couldn't fundraise without "friend-raising". Therefore, we founded the Red River College Human Rights Group. We invited local guest speakers to attend our bi-weekly meetings. They included the following people: Shaneen Robinson, Creative Communications alumni and former CTV reporter; Dr. Marilou McPhedran, human rights lawyer and Dean of The University of Winnipeg's Global College; Shelley Faintuch, Community Relations Director, Jewish Federation of Winnipeg; Larry Updike, Senior Communications and Advocacy Spokesperson, Siloam Mission; and, our final guest speaker at this Monday's meeting is Lise Harris, Public Engagement Advisor, Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
Our masquerade fundraiser, Behind the Mask... We're All People, was held Thursday, February 25 at The O.C Social Club. With ticket sales, silent auction sales, and FCMHR shine pin sales, we've raised $2500.00 for the organization. Money is still needed to build this beautiful museum, so please help out by donating whatever you can.
Thank you to everyone who has helped out with our projects - we've really appreciated it! Please enjoy the video below taken at our event. It was filmed by Jeffrey Vallis and edited by Erica and I.
P.S - it was YouTube who blacked out the first six seconds of the montage... not sure why!
As part of last year's Television Production class, we had to each create a video montage. I chose to film and edit a promotional video for Bae's Martial Arts. I really enjoyed editing the footage using Final Cut Pro, and was quite happy with how it turned out as it was the first time I worked independently with an ENG camera and editing software.
Tampons, pads, and panty liners: all products that have graced our TVs for years in misrepresented ads. We've all had to watch cheesy commercials of women dancing and prancing around in white dresses and teeny-weeny bikinis during their supposed menstrual flows and cringe at the fact that, ahem - excuse my language - this is bull shit.
Anyways, it was to my gleeful surprise when I saw this ad for the new U by Kotex during a commercial break while watching Gossip Girl this evening. It pokes fun at the ridiculous way feminine hygiene products have been advertised for so long.
In fact, in a New York Timesarticle published today, we learn that "the clips mocked in the spot are actually from Kotex commercials, some shown within the last year in the United States and Europe." I find it fantastic that a company is being so frank about its products, because come on, do I really feel like riding a horse on a beach in a white sun dress while on my period? No, hell no.
So, not only did the new U by Kotex commercial grab my attention and make me chuckle, but it sent me directly to my laptop to Google this new brand. I must say, I love, love, love what they're doing. This new line is catering to women age 14 to 21, and the packaging alone will grab its target audience's attention. The packaging is mostly black that pops with a couple bright, bold colours. To be honest, it's a darn cool look for a box of tampons or pads.
The website is also interactive, which is perfect for their web savvy target audience. Under the "Real Answers" section of the website, viewers can find answers to questions commonly asked by those who may not yet fully understand the monthly bodily function. There is also a video that teaches the viewers how to insert a tampon, because hey, not every girl is comfortable asking their school nurse about this.
This company is logically creating a new brand equity that states the truth, while demonstrating what it truly represents in a transparent fashion: proper feminine hygiene.
The NBC late night wars may have ended weeks ago; however, due to a backlash on my Facebook status whereby I expressed happiness to see the (re) premiere of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno this past Monday, I decided to write a blog post focusing on the company that caused this mess: NBC.
**The following is information from a PR assignment my classmate, Lisa Bernstein, and I wrote and presented February 23.
TIMELINE OF WHAT HAPPENED
The late night wars issue blew up this past January; however, the shake-up slowly began in 2004, when NBC executives asked Jay Leno to give up his number one-rated show to make room for a new host - Conan O'Brien. NBC said the switchover would happen in five years.
Jay told his fans he was retiring, and in May 2009, he passed the torch to Conan as planned.
"I am thrilled to get this opportunity," O'Brien said in a statement at the time. "I am thankful to everyone at NBC . . . and I am particularly grateful to Jay for all the generous support and kindness he has always shown me."
Then in December 2008, in an unprecedented move, NBC decides to keep Jay on the network and creates The Jay Leno Show that would air in a coveted prime time slot (10:00 p.m), five nights a week.
In July 2009, there was much industry talk that Jay's show would be an epic fail. However, research from the firm NewMediaMetrics used predictive analysis to call Leno a probable "powerhouse" at 10:00 p.m.
June 1, 2009, Conan begins his new role as host of The Tonight Show, and Jay's show premieres September 14, 2009. Ratings for Conan's Tonight Show dropped off sharply from what they had been under Leno. Leno himself experienced a prominent failure when he moved to prime time that NBC's affiliated stations demanded change.
Both shows had strong starts, but ratings for both shows began to plummet and rumours were swirling that The Jay Leno Show would be canceled. January 7, 2010 is when we first heard from NBC. They released a statement to Access Hollywood:
"We have the best comedy team in the business. We remain committed to keeping Conan O'Brien on NBC. He is a valued part of our late-night line-up, as he has been for more than 16 years and is one of the most respected entertainers on television."
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Instead of canceling Jay's show outright, NBC came up with a new plan. They asked Jay to cut his show to 30 minutes and move to the 11:35 p.m time slot, which would push The Tonight Show back to 12:05 a.m, and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon to 1:05 a.m. NBC released another statement to Access Hollywood January 8:
"Jay Leno is one of the most compelling entertainers in the world today. As we have said all along, Jay's show has performed exactly as we anticipated on the network. It has, however, presented some issues for our affiliates. Both Jay and the show are committed to working closely with them to find ways to improve the performance."
On January 11, there are rumblings that Conan isn't happy with the situation. On January 12, Conan releases a statement to his fans.
On January 13, Conan tells NBC he'd rather quit than mess with Tonight, and on January 14, rumours circulate that NBC will give Tonight back to Leno and Conan will leave NBC.
On January 16, reports circulate that NBC and O'Brien are in negotiations for his departure from The Tonight Show and NBC. Bargaining chips include a $30 to $40 million severance package for O'Brien and hefty packages for his staff, control of characters like Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, and when O'Brien can turn up in a new show on another network.
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Slide 6Slide 6 On January 18, the website and "religious movement", I'm with Coco, stages a series of fan rallies to support O'Brien and denounce NBC's decision. Jeff Zucker, President and CEO of NBC Universal, appears on Charlie Rose - where we finally hear what NBC has to say about the issue.
Below is a short clip of the Charlie Rose interview. To view the full interview, click here.
On January 21, Conan is officially removed from Tonight. He explains his decision to leave in a letter to his fans. On Friday, January 22, Conan hosts his final show and says goodbye.
"Walking away from The Tonight Show is the hardest thing I have ever had to do. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get, but if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen."
On January 28, Jay makes a statement too, and where's the best place to do damage control? Oprah! Click here for a part of the interview with Jay on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
On March 1, the (re) premiere of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno received massive ratings. According to Neilsen, around 6.6 million people tuned in.
MEDIA ATTENTION
Based on preliminary metered-market estimates, because of the attention the late night wars received, O'Brien drew nearly double his usual average. The last week of The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien was the highest-rated week for adults aged 18 to 49, topping the show's premiere week of June 1 to 5, 2009 by a tenth of a rating point. In total viewers, the last week of The Tonight Show averaged 5.3 million, making this the show's second-biggest week, behind only its premiere week of June 1 to 5, 2009 (6.1 million).
This issue also took the media by storm, and was even covered across the Atlantic Ocean in newspapers such as the UK's Daily Mail.
CONAN'S RESPONSE
In his statement to his fans mentioned earlier, Conan states what he believes is important and this was a smart move. He used the facts to reinforce what should be important not only to him and the viewers, but also the company.
He puts the ball directly in NBC's court by explaining that he has no control over the fate of his show. This puts NBC on the defensive and forces them to react, instead of going on offense.
"The Tonight Show at 12:05 simply isn't the Tonight Show" is the strongest line in the whole statement - this sentence boils the whole ordeal into ten words, one that conveys clear and literal meaning and speaks volumes.
JAY'S RESPONSE The vast majority of viewers who have long watched The Tonight Show will not feel that Jay is "tarnished" or is the "bad guy". Leno will likely emerge just the way he's been positioning himself: as the loyal underdog who's now coming to rescue NBC's late-night ratings. And, damage control clearly went into high gear as Jay appeared on Oprah - TV's great anointer of forgiveness - Thursday, January 28.
THE ORGANIZATION'S STAKEHOLDERS AND MEDIA RESPONSES
Although the final decision was with NBC, public sentiment - at least on the Internet - was with O'Brien. The "I'm with Coco" campaign was started by L.A.-based designer Mike Mitchell and features a poster that Entertainment Tonight likened in its online ubiquity to Shepard Fairey's famous Barack Obama "Hope" portrait.
A corresponding O'Brien Facebook support group was at just over 900,000 fans as of mid-January.
"This is a group dedicated to supporting Conan O'Brien with the recent decision of saying no to NBC executives for moving his show back to 12:05 a.m and giving Jay Leno his old time slot back of 11:35 p.m. . . . He recently became a victim of the producers of NBC."
There was also a protest rally in front of NBC studios in Burbank, California.
NBC'S RESPONSE
Besides the two short statements to Access Hollywood January 7 and 8, NBC finally appeared on Charlie Rose January 18 and discussed their decisions. There was also an article published in The New York Times January 14 with the following:
"Jeff (Zucker) and I are big boys,"Dick Ebersol, Chairman of NBC Universal Sports, said. "When we do something big in the public forum and it doesn't succeed, we know we'll be the butt of criticism."
NBC's choice to keep quiet at first wasn't the right thing to do. The organization took a page from Tiger's book by keeping quiet, which didn't help it at all.They should have spoken immediately on the matter instead of letting rumours circulate, and they should have also posted a statement immediately on their website. Today there is still no response on their website. Ultimately, NBC's responses were all too little too late.
NBC deservedly receives a wag of the finger for their lack of immediate response on this issue. When they finally made media appearances, their responses were very business-like instead of family-oriented; whereas Conan's responses were delivered with grace and were much more sentimental.
Epic Friday Clothing has officially been launched by Winnipeg clothing designer, Lisa Rowson. Paying homage to old school glamour, Lisa's debut clothing line is "about pairing cinched waists with short hemlines, femininity with obscenely high heels, and satin with the confidence that can make any night an Epic Friday."
Beginning one year ago as her Independent Professional Project for Red River College's Creative Communications program, Lisa has designed and sewn this ten-piece collection, organized three photo shoots, as well as directed and edited a virtual fashion show.
Epic Friday Clothing is available now as an entire collection, or by individual piece. Each piece is one-of-a-kind, so you won't have to worry about another woman wearing the same dress as you next time you're out on the town!
To view photos of Epic Friday Clothing shot by Winnipeg photographer, Jonathan Boehm, as well as a virtual fashion show, visit epicfridayclothing.com
Winnipeg's newest, coolest magazine is hitting newsstands across Winnipeg March 5.
Sandbox Magazine is created by Jeffrey Vallis and Braden Alexander - two driven, smart, and very talented men from Winnipeg who decided to begin this adventure because they wanted to "honour exactly what they feel makes life worth living: beautiful, confident women and everything they love, including fashion, lifestyle, arts, entertainment and culture."
Sandbox Magazine has issued three online issues since beginning last fall, and their first print issue will be launched in style Thursday, March 4 at Mystique Nightclub. The Glamour Party will be an evening of style, fashion and hottness so be sure not to miss it. Tickets are $10 in advance, or $12 at the door. Each attendee will receive a copy of the first print issue, The Glamour Issue, featuring Winnipeg's own Meaghan Waller - winner of Canada's Next Top Model.
The movie hit theatres last October, but I've only now sat down to watch Michael Jackson's This Is It. My first opinion while watching this film is that it's incredibly awkward. MJ is rail-thin, pasty white, and looks as though he'll break into a thousand pieces if he falls down or trips on stage.
The footage for this film was taken during rehearsals last April through June as MJ and his dancers and band members got ready to perform for sold-out crowds at London's O2 Arena. Unfortunately, Michael died June 25, 2009, and so this film has been released so that Michael Jackson fans all over the world can experience his last project.
The Los Angeles County coroner found many prescription drugs in the King of Pop's system - to which he didn't have prescriptions for, and MJ's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, has since been charged with involuntary manslaughter.
The coroner's report states that, at the time of his death, MJ had punctures all over his body, and his home contained an oxygen tank, a broken syringe, an open box of needles, IV-catheters, and glass vials to name a few.
When I see MJ in this film, all I can seem to picture is his frail body lying in bed with an oxygen mask on and his doctor sticking all kinds of drugs in him. He was an addict, and obviously in no shape to perform such an extensive concert residency in London.
American Idol judge, Kara Dioguardi, compared this season's AI hopeful, Andrew Garcia, to Adam Lambert, and not because he's a flamboyant rock star, but because he can take a song and "flip it."
Andrew performed an amazing acoustic version of former AI judge, Paula Abdul's hit song, "Straight Up," and let me tell you, if Paula was there, she would have loved it.
Watch the performance below:
Speaking of Adam Lambert, his rendition of Tears for Fears' "Mad World" on last year's American Idol brought tears to my eyes and as corny as that may sound, listen to the song and try not to be blown away.
This performance won Adam a standing ovation by non other than Mr. Grouch, Simon Cowell. It's one thing to be able to sing a song well, but it's another to be able to put a unique spin on it and make it your own.
Adam's clearly pleasing his fans, as his debut album, For Your Entertainment, has officially hit Gold with sales reaching 500,000 copies.
On behalf of the Red River College Human Rights Group, Erica and I invite you to "Behind the Mask... We're All People" - an unrivaled masquerade experience taking place Thursday, February 25, 2010 at 8:00 p.m at The O.C Social Club.
DJ Cassanova & MC Escalade will be spinning the ones and twos, and don't forget - each person will receive a mask at the door with his or her ticket purchase.
All money raised from ticket and silent auction sales will go to the Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) - the organization responsible for raising funds for the CMHR set to open in Winnipeg in 2012.
Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased from the following ticket outlets:
The Mercantile at the RRC Princess Street Campus The Ox at the RRC Notre Dame Campus Answers at the U of M's University Centre The U of W Info. Booth The front desk of the Express by Canad Inns, 1792 Pembina Hwy. Or, email rrchumanrights@hotmail.com
There will be great silent auction prizes to be won as well. Prizes include donations from the following businesses:
Berns and Black Salon and Spa Edward Carriere Salon Fabutan Global Television The Habadashery Guys and Girls Mariaggi's Theme Suite Hotel MTS Prairie Theatre Exchange Provici Cosmetics St. Vital Golf Centre/McGibby's Golf
If you know someone interested in donating a prize or sponsoring the event, please let Erica or I know at rrchumanrights@hotmail.com
This event will be unlike any other - so make sure to mark Thursday, February 25 in your calendars!
The 81st Academy Award nominations have been announced!
Surprise, surprise, Avatar has been nominated for nine of them.
The following is a very brief rundown of some of the most notable nods:
This year, there are ten films nominated for Best Picture. This includes The Blind Side, Avatar, The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, and Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire.
Colin Firth has been nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in Tom Ford's A Single Man. I haven't yet seen the film, but am quite excited to. My favourite, Christoph Waltz, is nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his brilliantly evil portrayal as SS Col. Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds. He'll win it for sure.
Sandra Bullock is nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in The Blind Side. If she wins, she will undoubtedly have the best year of her life. She is, however, up against the mother of all actors, Meryl Streep, for her portrayal as Julia Child in Julie and Julia.
For a full list of Oscar nominees, click here. Don't forget to tune in to ABC Sunday, March 7 for the 81st Academy Awards!
As usual, the Grammy Awards were way too long; however, this doesn't mean I didn't enjoy most of the show. Read on to see what my favorite moments were, and of course, what my general thoughts are on the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards.
WHOA! Number one fave Grammy moment just appeared on my TV screen: The legendary Stevie Nicks walking on stage to perform with Taylor Swift. Very pleasant surprise!
The wonder woman from Fleetwood Mac sang the hit "Rhiannon" with the luckiest 20-year-old in the world. The set then went on to include Taylor singing her hit, "Belong with Me," with Stevie as her backup vocalist and tambourine player. UGH. So jealous, but Taylor couldn't be more deserving - she's so humble and talented. She's also the big winner of the night, having picked-up the Grammy for Best Album of the Year.
2. So who knew Pink worked part-time with Cirque du Soleil?!
Her performance was absolutely beautiful as she sang and twirled over the crowd at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles. Her body suit was quite the number as well, especially when she became drenched with water all the while continuing her acrobatic number. I'm not sure, though, how some of the celebrities felt when their couture gowns got soaked in water... ah well.
3. Wearing my 3D glasses for the Michael Jackson tribute (yes, I just so happened to have kept them from a 3D movie screening and had them conveniently stored in my desk drawer).
Great idea for prime time; however, it didn't work that well. That's okay though, because the artists who sang the tribute were fabulous (Celine Dion, Usher, Carrie Underwood, Smokey Robinson and Jennifer Hudson).
4. Paris, 11, and Prince Michael, 12, accepting a Lifetime Achievement Award for their father, Michael Jackson.
I commend their appearance as it's not easy to lose a parent, never mind being on television in front of millions of people to speak about that special person. Prince acknowledged his father's humanitarian work and said a big thank you to the pop icon's fans for their support.
5. So the rumours were true: Lady Gaga opened the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, but with help from none other than Sir Elton John.
The piano duet was better than I had expected, and that smile on Gaga's face was priceless - she sure is on top of the world. She's fearless by being true to herself, and it sure is paying off.
6. Mary J. Blige, Andrea Bocelli and David Foster's performance of Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water," dedicated to the Haitian people.
People from all over the world can download this touching performance at www.iTunes.com/Target, where donations will be made to the American Red Cross's Haiti disaster relief efforts.
7. What a year for Toronto rapper, and former Degrassi: The Next Generation actor, Drake, 23.
Drake has two nominations at this year's Grammy Awards, and he hasn't even released his debut album. Toward the end of the awards show, he shared the stage with heavy-weights Travis Barker, Lil Wayne and Eminem. I liked the performance, and apparently so did Jamie Foxx, who was filming it on his BlackBerry. I was, however, quite annoyed that the sound kept on cutting out for at least one quarter of the performance.
8. Slash's guest appearance on Jamie Foxx's performance of "Blame It."
The hat, the hair, the leather pants, the electric guitar - it couldn't have been hotter. He definitely made that performance...
9. Shocker: Kings of Leon beating out Lady Gaga for Record of the Year.
Don't get me wrong - I pretty much wore out my Kings of Leon CD; but, Gaga's worldwide popularity is undeniable, so I'm definitely surprised by this win.
10. The Grammy's attempts at web 2.0... not impressive, but thanks for trying!
People had the opportunity to vie for a spot on the Black Eyed Peas' Grammy performance by uploading their own rendition of some Black Eyed Peas songs. However, the chosen performances hardly received any attention. They were shown on a couple screens that never received anything more than, at best, a few medium shots. I'm sure many, many people were disappointed.
Also, the Grammy's and CBS collaborated to host "You Pick It, They Play It!" where viewers could go online and choose the song they wanted Bon Jovi to perform as the third in the rock band's Grammy set list. Bon Jovi ended the set with "Livin' on a Prayer" - as chosen by the fans.
To see the full list of this year's Grammy Award winners, click here.
