Tuesday, December 28, 2010

'Glee' Britney Spears Episode Slammed By Parents Television Council

Group describes show as 'an endorsement of narcotics abuse, public masturbation, and school-sanctioned burlesque.'
By James Dinh


Heather Morris in the "Britney/Brittany" episode of "Glee"
Photo: FOX

Last week's episode of "Glee" found Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) shouting, "It's a Britney Spears sex riot!" as she attempted to put a stop to the glee club's saucy rendition of "Toxic."

But she's not the only one who had an issue with the Spears takeover at William McKinley High School. The hit Fox show has come under fire as the Parents Television Council has deemed the "Britney/Brittany" episode the "Worst TV Show of the Week" due to the broadcast's "explicit sexual content."

A message posted on the organization's website decries the episode's "skimpy outfits" and "sultry grinds" during "I'm a Slave 4 U." And even though "Glee" castmembers show very little skin in the re-creation for the 2001 Madonna duet "Me Against the Music," the PTC said the interpretation included "plenty of girl-girl bumping and grinding."

According to the group, the tribute to the always-controversial Spears wasn't appropriate because the singer is far from a suitable role model.

"Glee earned its highest ratings ever with this Britney Spears tribute, drawing 13.3 million viewers," the message continued. "A scary thought considering that the mostly young teen/tween audience basically witnessed an endorsement of narcotics abuse, public masturbation, and school-sanctioned burlesque. But perhaps most troubling is the deification of a troubled pop star into a symbol of empowerment and self-esteem. Considering her stints in rehab, her very public breakdowns, and her questionable parenting skills, there is absolutely no way Spears should be considered a role model. The producers of the show can spare us the old song-and-dance about fallen celebs turning their lives around. What's next? Portraying Ike Turner as a reformed feminist?"

Spears knows controversy and criticism far too well. Since the beginning of her career, she's always raised eyebrows with everything from her sex-kitten public image to her sometimes-questionable parental judgment. While the pop star has played it relatively safe since her comeback, the singer did make headlines last year for her suggestive single "If U Seek Amy," the third offering from her album Circus.

Do you think the "Britney/Brittany" episode of "Glee" was inappropriate? Tell us in the comments below!

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Monday, December 27, 2010

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LeAnn Rimes Gets Engaged To Eddie Cibrian

'It's been an incredible last few days. I was shocked!!!' singer tweets.
By James Dinh


Eddie Cibrian and LeAnn Rimes
Photo: Getty Images

With a slew of recent pregnancy and engagement announcements, it appears to be the season of romance for celebrity couples. LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian are the latest couple to take on the relationship milestone by announcing their engagement on Monday (December 27), according to People magazine.

"Yes, they were engaged over the holidays and are very happy," a rep for Rimes said in a statement. A source tells the mag that while the duo spent Christmas at home in Los Angeles, they did have family and close friends in town to celebrate the momentous occasion.

On Monday, the pair was spotted on a Malibu beach, where the blond songstress was seen wearing her new engagement ring. According to the source, the couple wanted the ring to have "an antique feel, but a new ring." Rimes, Cibrian and the actor's childhood friend Brent Polacheck collectively designed the platinum band, which bears a 5-carat oval diamond set in the middle of a rose gold fleur-de-lis.

The singer/songwriter took to Twitter on Monday afternoon to share the big news with her fans. "Thank you for all your well wishes!!" she wrote. "We are extremely excited and look forward to a beautiful future. It's been an incredible last few days. I was shocked!!! We are blessed, our families are so happy and our lives are filled with love. It was nice to have our little secret for us, our families and friends a few days! So excited to now share the wonderful news with our fans."

The 28-year-old songstress gave a shout-out to her publicist, who also serves as representation for Natalie Portman. The "Black Swan" actress also had big news to share by announcing her engagement and pregnancy Monday. "So funny, my dear publicist is the same rep for Natalie Portman and me. So much for his vacation lol!!! Love you Rhett!!!!!" Rimes tweeted.

However, the duo's road to engagement hasn't always been smooth sailing. Both Rimes and Cibrian were married when they first met each other during the filming of the Lifetime original movie "Northern Lights." The affair made headlines, but the singer stuck to her guns saying, "That's just not me. What happened is not who I am, period. ... You had two couples whose marriages didn't work who really stumbled upon each other and fell in love."

After the duo separately finalized their divorces, there was nothing but love on the horizon. In November, engagement rumors sparked after Cibrian tweeted a photo of himself on bended knee holding Rimes' hand before a sign that read "White Chapel Lunatic Asylum."

Share your well-wishes for the couple below!

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Lady Gaga Calls Born This Way Her 'Most Innovative' Work

Gaga tells BBC new album crosses genres, from electronic to rock and roll
By James Montgomery


Lady Gaga
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

Lady Gaga hasn't exactly been shy when it comes to describing Born This Way, calling her upcoming record everything from "almost perfect" to "the greatest album of this decade."

And, in a new interview with the BBC, she continued that trend, calling Born her "most innovative" work so far, and promising her fans a musical experience unlike any they've ever heard.

"[The album is] a marriage of electronic music with major, epic, dare I even say, metal or rock and roll, pop, anthemic style melodies with really sledge-hammering dance beats," Gaga said, immediately before jumping onstage at London's O2 Arena. "I think that lyrically this album is more poetic ... It's really written by the fans, they really wrote it for me because every night they're funneling so much into me. So I wrote it for them. Born This Way is all about my little monsters and me, mother monster."

Echoing something she's been saying since the summer, Gaga promised that the album is "finished and all," but that she's currently "fine-tuning everything."

"It's kind of like the post-operative stage of the album," she said. "I've already done the full heart surgery. I'm just sewing myself back up again."

And, to that end, she added that her monsters might not have to wait much longer to hear the album's first single — the title of which is still unknown — telling the BBC it would be released in February 2011, with the album arriving "shortly after."

Are you eager to hear Gaga's Born This Way? Tell us in the comments!

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