Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Lucy Hale Gets Playful in Sexy Bongo Ad Campaign Shot by Terry Richardson

This Pretty Little Liar isn't quite so little anymore! Lucy Hale, who shot to fame playing Aria on the ABC Family hit, recently worked with notoriously raunchy photographer Terry Richardson for a playful and provocative ad campaign for Bongo.

Lucy Hale
Credit: Terry Richardson for Bongo

In the shots, the 23-year-old actress poses with a number of oversized props, including a telephone, a teddy bear, a fishbowl and a hula-hoop. Hale works her doe-eyed look in the photos, dressed in a colorful array of the junior brand's bikini tops, bright jeans and printed dresses while eyeing the camera in a very confident manner.



Richardson has previously worked with such A-list talents as Lady Gaga, Kate Upton, Lindsay Lohan and most recently, Beyonce, for GQ's February cover.

Terry Richardson for Bongo
Credit: Terry Richardson for Bongo


Hale, for her part, has been looking to grow up from her more tween-centric fan base and will be redirecting her career back toward her musical roots, she told Billboard magazine in an interview.

"[The album] is something I wanted to do way before Pretty Little Liars or anything," she told the magazine. Hale recently signed with Hollywood Records to produce a country album later this year. "I grew up singing, and acting sort of came up along the way. ... [Recording] is a lot of weekends, it's a lot of long nights but I'm so passionate about it ... I'm just really excited."




But though Hale was among the winners in 2003's American Juniors, a short-lived spinoff of American Idol, the Memphis-born actress still admits that she has her occasional doubts.

"It's absolutely terrifying," she told Nylon magazine's December/January issue. "You only get one album. You only get one single. You get one shot in music. But I have a million different dreams. Why can't I go out and try to achieve them all? Who are you to say I can't?"

Kim Kardashian Shows Off Baby Bump Hanging Out With Serena Williams

Girls' night! Mom-to-be Kim Kardashian enjoyed a night out without boyfriend Kanye West on Tuesday, Jan. 29. The pregnant reality star met up with pal Serena Williams for dinner at Nobu restaurant in L.A.

Kim Kardashian and Serena Williams
Credit: Splash News

"I simply cannot get out of bed," Williams, 31, tweeted earlier that evening, to which Kardashian replied, "You better! We have dinner tonight!"

Despite her exhaustion, the tennis pro rallied! "Getting dressed now!" she wrote back

.

And the ladies ended up having a great time together. "Fun girls night!!! But where's my nose Serena Williams? Lol. Too flashy," Kardashian joked of a picture the pals took with too bright of a flash.

"Such a fun night," Williams agreed. "Love you!"

Kim Kardashian and Serena Williams
Credit: Instagram

The Kourtney and Kim Take Miami star flaunted her pregnancy curves in a short, black lace dress during the night out. She wore the same ensemble for her appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live with sister Kourtney Kardashian earlier that same day.

The first-time mom-to-be also accessorized the sexy little black dress with some major bling. "Twinkle twinkle little star," she captioned a photo of her gorgeous, star-shaped ring that covered four fingers.




Kardashian has been loving her bling lately. After a shopping spree with West, 35, at the Cartier store in Paris on Jan. 25, she tweeted a photo of five stunning bracelets from the jeweler on her wrist. The estimated cost of her accessories? $65,000!



Monday, January 28, 2013

Mary O'Connor, Hugh Hefner's Longtime Playboy Secretary, Dies

Heavy hearts are aplenty at the Playboy Mansion today. Hugh Hefner's longtime secretary Mary O'Connor has died, the Playboy boss announced via Twitter on Sunday, Jan. 27.

"Mary passed away today. We loved her more than words can say," the Hef tweeted to his nearly 1,300,000 followers. O'Connor, who worked with Hefner for more than 40 years, was a familiar face to fans of E!'s hit show The Girls Next Door.

Hugh Hefner; Mary O'Connor (inset)
Credit: Michael Buckner/Getty; E! (inset)


The three former stars -- and Hefner's then-girlfriends -- all similarly took to Twitter to share their condolences for the Playboy mansion's loss.

"RIP Mary O'Connor. She was an amazing person who helped me through so much," Kendra Wilkinson-Baskett posted. "But I know she's happy with her boo Captain Bob. :)"

"Thank you for all the sweet messages," Bridget Marquardt wrote. "Mary O'Connor will be missed. #RIPMary."



Holly Madison kept her sentiments succinct: "Rest In Peace Mary."

Hefner, 86, has previously credited O'Connor with helping to orchestrate his reunion with wife Crystal Harris, 26, after the two famously called off their engagement in June 2011. The couple married in a private ceremony this past New Year's Eve.

"It's Mary O'Conner that brought Crystal Harris back," Hefner tweeted on June 1, 2012, after the pair reconciled. "Crystal was miserable & said so. Mary told Crystal to write & tell me, which she did."



Harris also expressed her sadness over O'Connor's death Sunday.

"Hef's long time secretary & my dear friend Mary O'Connor has passed away," she wrote. "It's a very sad day here at the Playboy Mansion. We love you Mary."

Liberty Ross, Rupert Sanders Divorce: She Couldn't "Get Over" His Kristen Stewart Affair

After one of the most trying (and public) years of her life, Liberty Ross is ready to liberate herself from husband Rupert Sanders. As revealed on Friday Jan. 25, the British model, 34, filed for divorce from the director, 41, after ten years of marriage and two kids (Skyla, 7, and Tennyson, 5). The move (Ross asks for joint custody of the kids, spousal support and attorney's fees) isn't exactly shocking: Despite several amicable meet ups with the kids, the twosome had appeared to be mostly estranged ever since Sanders was caught (in exclusive Us Weekly photos) having a midsummer fling with Kristen Stewart, the 22-year-old star of his Hollywood blockbuster Snow White and the Huntsman.

Rupert Sanders and actress Liberty Ross attend a screening of "Snow White and The Huntsman" on May 29, 2012 in L.A.
Credit: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

"This was a long time coming," one source tells Us Weekly, explaining that, in the aftermath of the shocking tryst, Sanders "did want to try to repair the relationship and didn't want a divorce."

Ross, who picked up her life and career in London to move with her husband to Hollywood a couple years ago, "was more than a little upset," adds a second insider. "They gave it a shot for the kids, [but] she was just so angry . . .she's the kind of person who wouldn't really ever get over it."



The stunning brunette, who walked in Alexander Wang's NYC Fashion Show last fall, hinted at changes to come in a confessional video series for the designer. "[This year was] the end of some things and the beginning of something else," she continued. "Beginnings and endings are always really exciting."



By contrast, in the wake of her betrayal (and a very public apology) Stewart mended things with her longtime love Robert Pattinsonl; although the British hunk is now filming in Australia, the Twilight costars were most recently spotted together at a private Golden Globes afterparty in Hollywood Jan. 13.

Ashton Kutcher Was Hospitalized After Adopting "Fruitarian Diet" for Steve Jobs Movie

Ashton Kutcher definitely suffered for his art. To realistically channel the late Apple Inc. founder Steve Jobs in biopic jOBS, the actor, 34, went to extreme lengths: Watching "hundreds of hours" of footage, scouring the visionary's speeches, interviewing Jobs' friends . . . and even copying his "fruitarian diet," Kutcher told the Associated Press at the Sundance Film Festival premiere of the film in Park City, Utah on Friday Jan. 25.

Ashton Kutcher during the CBS portion of the 2012 Television Critics Association Press Tour.
Credit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
The choice to go "fruitarian" -- consuming only fruits, nuts and seeds and no animal products, vegetables or grains -- "can lead to some serious problems," Kutcher revealed. Indeed, as a result, Kutcher "ended up in the hospital two days before we started shooting the movie," he said.



"I was like doubled over in pain, and my pancreas levels were completely out of whack, which was completely terrifying, considering everything," said the That 70s Show alum. (Jobs died in October 2011 at age 56 of pancreatic cancer.)



The pain was worth it, Kutcher (a tech entrepreneur himself) insisted to Us Weekly at Friday's red carpet, which he attended without love Mila Kunis. Not that he isn't a little nervous about the reception to the film: "It's portraying a guy who just passed away that is really fresh in people's minds ,that people are really passionate about, and care about, and have an opinion about -- that's really scary," he confessed. "Especially portraying a guy that I really admire . . . it's terrifying, it's terrifying!"

Jennifer Lawrence Has Pneumonia

Get well, Jennifer Lawrence! The Silver Linings Playbook actress, 22, is dealing with a bout of pneumonia. Her costar in the acclaimed film, Jacki Weaver, announced Lawrence's illness at the the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Awards in Los Angeles on Saturday, Jan. 26, where an absent Lawrence won the Best Actress trophy.

Jennifer Lawrence arrives at the BAFTA Los Angeles Awards Season Tea Party.
Credit: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

"I'm going to receive this on her behalf," Weaver, 65, said at the podium. "Poor Jen is really sick. She really is sick. She has pneumonia."



Silver Linings Playbook producer Bruce Cohen explains to Us : "With all her appearances, she hasn't gotten enough bed rest, but I think her plan is to be at the SAGs tomorrow," Cohen said. He cautioned: "I haven't spoken to her recently."

Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
For her performance as a quirky young widow in Silver Linings, Lawrence has already won a Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy Golden Globe, and is up for a Screen Actors' Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role; the 19th Annual SAG Awards will be handed out Sunday, Jan. 27 from the L.A. Shrine Exposition Center, and broadcast on TNT and TBS at 8 p.m. EST.



Lawrence has also received her second Oscar nomination for Best Actress in the film, while Weaver (who plays Bradley Cooper's mom) is up for a Best Supporting Actress trophy.

Taylor Swift, Harry Styles Avoid Each Other at NRJ Awards in Cannes, France

Timing really is everything for Taylor Swift and Harry Styles' now-defunct relationship. The former lovebirds were both in Cannes, France, on Saturday, Jan. 26, to attend the NRJ Awards, but the exes managed to time their appearances just right to avoid any potentially awkward run-ins.

Styles, 18, hit the red carpet with his group One Direction and Korean pop sensation Psy first, and Swift, 23, arrived 25 minutes later, sources tell Us .

Harry Styles attends the NRJ Music Awards; Taylor Swift attends the NRJ Music Awards on January 26, 2013 in Cannes, France;
Credit: Marc Piasecki/WireImage; Francois Durand/Getty Images


"It was very carefully timed so they didn't do the carpet at the same time," an insider tells Us. "Taylor didn't do any backstage interviews and didn't use a dressing room -- she changed at the hotel because she didn't want to see Harry at any point. ...Things were timed to keep them apart and for it to not become a big media circus."

Swift dazzled in a short gold-and-white Elie Saab number with a plunging neckline on the red carpet and later changed into a tiny black lace dress with knee-high boots for her performance of her hit, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together."



The song, which was reportedly written about one of Swift's other exes, Jake Gyllenhaal, held extra meaning for the country crooner, who reportedly looked directly at Styles -- who was several feet away in the audience -- as she sang her breakup anthem.

"She was talking in French on the microphone saying, 'So he calls me up and he's like 'je t'aime, je 't'aime toujours … je ne sais pas [I love you, I still love you, I don't know]. No! We are never ever getting back together, like ever!'" an eyewitness told Us of her passionate performance.

Swift and Styles famously split earlier this month after reportedly having a huge argument during their holiday getaway to the British Virgin Islands.

"They had a fight," one insider told Us at the time. The British singer had "said something he shouldn't have … This [breakup] is definitely going to be for good."



In a cryptic tweet on Jan. 10, Swift hinted at a new song that she's penning about their public split.

"Back in the studio," she wrote at the time. "Uh oh..."

Styles has not directly addressed the breakup, and in a tweet late Saturday evening, thanked fans for their support as he and his band won Best International Group.

"Thank you so much to @NRJhitmusiconly and our fans for the award!! See you later .xx," he tweeted.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Kim Kardashian Gets $65,000 in Jewelry from Kanye West, Reveals Stunning Pregnancy Curves on Cartier Shopping Trip

Just imagine what her push present might be! Kanye West indulged pregnant girlfriend Kim Kardashian with some considerable bling during a recent shopping spree at the Cartier store in Paris. "The Don strikes again!!!" the reality starlet, 32, wrote beside an Instagram snapshot, in which her wrist is adorned with five eye-popping gold bracelets from the luxe, iconic jeweler.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are shopping at the stores 'Hermes', 'Cartier', 'Lanvin' and 'Ermmano Scervino', in Paris, France, on January 25 2013.
Credit: RAMEY PHOTO
ETOnline reports that the baubles include the Cartier Panthere Bracelet (embedded with diamonds), a yellow gold Cartier Love Bracelet with diamonds ($9,400), and the Cartier Juste un Clou, said to cost $34,650, plus two animal print bracelets -- with an estimated total of $65,000.

Credit: Kim Kardashian/Instagram


Kardashian and the rapper, 35, were photographed during their extravagant trip outside the famed boutique -- sweetly holding hands and smiling outside the store. "So sex & the city!" Kardashian wrote of the pic, in which she looks more radiant than ever, showcasing her evolving pregnancy curves in a dramatic white dress (embellished with feathers) and a white blazer.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West went shopping together at Cartier in Paris, France on January 25, 2013.
Credit: FameFlynet


The only thing cramping this pregnant star's style? Wicked insomnia! "Why can't I ever sleep?" the frequently jet-lagged star Tweeted Friday. "Honestly can't believe I still haven't been to sleep since I woke up at 2am, and now its 2pm. I'm going to bed!"

Beyonce's Super Bowl Halftime Show: Sneak Peek Pictures Revealed!

Star Spangled what? Remaining mum on last week's Inauguration kerfuffle, Beyonce is getting to work on her next big internationally-broadcast performance: Her Super Bowl halftime show, which goes down next Sunday, Feb. 3. Sharing behind-the-scenes rehearsal photos on her Instagram page, the 31-year-old singer gave fans a small tease of the spectacle to come.
Beyonce prepares for her upcoming Superbowl XLVII performance.
Credit: baddiebey/ Instagram

In one snapshot, the mom (who welcomed daughter Blue Ivy nearly 13 months ago) showed off her skinny post-baby bod -- and love for husband Jay-Z's basketball team -- as she stretched in a Brooklyn Nets t-shirt. In another, slightly more mysterious photo, Beyonce appears to be surrounded by a circle of dancers as they work out some choreography. A third image reveals a backup dancer splayed artfully on the floor.



Not seen in the photos? Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, the "Love on Top" singer's Destiny's Child bandmates. As revealed exclusively by Us Weekly, both women will join Beyonce during the show at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans for a reunion, singing a medley of their hits "Bills, Bills, Bills," "Survivor," and ending with their new track, "Nuclear." Beyonce is expected to begin the set solo, crooning her smash, "Crazy in Love."

Credit: baddiebey/ Instagram

"She can't wait to get on the Super Bowl stage and show everyone," a source tells Us, adding that she's ready to "knock them dead" as fans and detractors alike continue to chatter about her use of a pre-recorded track at the Inauguration in Washington, D.C. on Monday Jan. 21.

Credit: baddiebey/ Instagram

"She did sing," another source explained to Us. "There was a [pre-recorded] track, but Bey sang 100 percent."

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Kristen Bell Rubs Baby Bump at Sundance Film Festival: "I'm Feeling Great!"

Shakira gives birth to baby boy Milan, Beyonce is caught lip-synching at the Inauguration, Brandi Glanville calls LeAnn Rimes "insane": See Us's top 5 stories from Tuesday, Jan. 22 in the roundup!

Shakira, Beyonce Knowles, Brandi Glanville
Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images, Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images, Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images

It's a bouncing baby boy for Shakira! The Colombian singer welcomed her first son with boyfriend Gerard Pique on Tuesday, Jan. 22, in Barcelona, she confirmed on her website. "We are happy to announce the birth of Milan Piqué Mebarak, son of Shakira Mebarak and Gerard Piqué, born January 22nd at 9:36pm, in Barcelona, Spain," the proud singer wrote.




Was Beyonce's Inauguration Day rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" almost too flawless to be live? On Tuesday Jan. 22 -- one day after the 31-year-old's stirring performance of the national anthem in front of a crowd of nearly 1 million -- a rep for the U.S. Marine Corp Band told multiple media outlets that the singer, 31, chose to lip-sync to a pre-recorded track of the song.




There's no house party like a White House party! On the evening of Monday Jan. 21 -- following more public, official inauguration galas -- President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama opened up their historic Washington, D.C. home to about 400 super-VIP guests for a private shindig. The feud continues! During the Jan. 21 episode of Bravo's Watch What Happens Live, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Brandi Glanville was asked to comment on LeAnn Rimes' recent revelations about her marriage to Eddie Cibrian. "I feel like every day there's a tell-all interview," Glanville, 40, told WWHL host Andy Cohen. "It's kind of cray-cray."



Throughout her career, Katie Couric has shared the most painful, personal moments from her private life with millions of TV viewers. But when she opened up about her battle with bulimia during a September 2012 episode of her eponymous talk show, the 56-year-old audience opened a new can of worms. "I had no idea it would be a big bulletin," Couric says in the February issue of More. "But I think it got traction because in a way people see me as somebody who has their sh-t together."

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Shakira Has Baby Boy Milan, Beyonce Lip-Synched at Inauguration, Brandi Glanville Calls LeAnn "Insane": Top 5 Stories of Today

Shakira gives birth to baby boy Milan, Beyonce is caught lip-synching at the Inauguration, Brandi Glanville calls LeAnn Rimes "insane": See Us's top 5 stories from Tuesday, Jan. 22 in the roundup!

Shakira, Beyonce Knowles, Brandi Glanville
Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images, Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images, Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images

It's a bouncing baby boy for Shakira! The Colombian singer welcomed her first son with boyfriend Gerard Pique on Tuesday, Jan. 22, in Barcelona, she confirmed on her website. "We are happy to announce the birth of Milan Piqué Mebarak, son of Shakira Mebarak and Gerard Piqué, born January 22nd at 9:36pm, in Barcelona, Spain," the proud singer wrote.




Was Beyonce's Inauguration Day rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" almost too flawless to be live? On Tuesday Jan. 22 -- one day after the 31-year-old's stirring performance of the national anthem in front of a crowd of nearly 1 million -- a rep for the U.S. Marine Corp Band told multiple media outlets that the singer, 31, chose to lip-sync to a pre-recorded track of the song.




There's no house party like a White House party! On the evening of Monday Jan. 21 -- following more public, official inauguration galas -- President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama opened up their historic Washington, D.C. home to about 400 super-VIP guests for a private shindig. The feud continues! During the Jan. 21 episode of Bravo's Watch What Happens Live, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Brandi Glanville was asked to comment on LeAnn Rimes' recent revelations about her marriage to Eddie Cibrian. "I feel like every day there's a tell-all interview," Glanville, 40, told WWHL host Andy Cohen. "It's kind of cray-cray."



Throughout her career, Katie Couric has shared the most painful, personal moments from her private life with millions of TV viewers. But when she opened up about her battle with bulimia during a September 2012 episode of her eponymous talk show, the 56-year-old audience opened a new can of worms. "I had no idea it would be a big bulletin," Couric says in the February issue of More. "But I think it got traction because in a way people see me as somebody who has their sh-t together."

Michelle Obama's Inaugural Ball Dress: All the Details

Wu for the win! For her second-term inaugural ball, First Lady Michelle Obama went back to an old favorite: Jason Wu, the designer whose one-shouldered white gown she wore to the first inauguration celebration back in 2009. This time around, the 49-year-old wore a stunning new creation by Wu, a custom ruby chiffon and velvet gown, as she danced with her husband, President Barack Obama, sworn in earlier on Monday, Jan. 21, in front of the U.S. Capitol.

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama wave after dancing during the Commander-In-Chief's Inaugural Ball January 21, 2013 in Washington, DC.
Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty

The FLOTUS -- who debuted her new bangs last week -- accessorized her bold gown with a handmade diamond embellished ring by Kimberly McDonald, and shoes designed by Jimmy Choo.



Michelle joined the President, clad in a tux, for their first dance: This time, it was Al Green's classic "Let's Stay Together," as sung by Jennifer Hudson. Ahead of Monday's very special dance, the President told a crowd he most definitely approves of his wife's talked-about hair switchup."First of all, I love Michelle Obama," he began. "And to address the most significant event of this weekend, I love her bangs. . . She looks good. She always looks good."



Tell Us: What do you think of Michelle's inauguration gown?

Adele Debuts Post-Baby Body on Golden Globes Red Carpet, Thanks "Lovely Son"

Welcome back, Adele! After many months of seclusion, the 24-year-old British singer returned to the red carpet for the Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton -- her first official public appearance since her pregnancy and the October birth of her first child, a son, with boyfriend Simon Konecki.

Adele
Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage.com



Nominated for her James Bond theme song "Skyfall," the superstar looked retro-elegant in a black, lacy gown by Burberry, with her dirty-blonde locks in an undo, finishing it off with Cartier jewels. Speaking with Ryan Seacrest on the red carpet, Adele didn't speak about her baby or motherhood -- but detailed the recording of "Skyfall," which was enriched, in a way, by her pregnancy.



"I was very pregnant and very emotional," she said of the recording process. "But [it was] very exciting . . . it was very good." Adding that recording a track for the 007 franchise is a "big responsibility," she gushed that "Daniel Craig is a gorgeous bond."



Back in November, Adele's pal, British comedian Alan Carr, let it slip that her little boy is "such a cutie . . . She's doing great, she's glowing!"

UPDATE: Winning the Golden Globe for her moving track, an awestruck Adele dedicated her latest trophy to her new family: "This is for my boyfriend Simon, who convinced me to do it, and my lovely son."

Kim Kardashian's Personal Trainer Tracy Anderson: Inside Kim's Pregnancy Workouts

Kim Kardashian and boyfriend Kanye West are just six months away from becoming first-time parents to a little boy or girl. So have they thought at all about a name for their bundle-of-joy? Perhaps something like Kaleb or Kassidy?

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West arrive for the New Year;s Eve countdown at 1 OAK Nightclub At The Mirage on December 31, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Credit: Denise Truscello/WireImage.com


 "We're not sure yet," the mom-to-be told E! News, adding that she and West still "have to think about" whether they'll give their future son or daughter a "K" name to carry on her family's tradition. "I have to discuss that with my boyfriend to see where we are. But we'll keep the name private, I think, whenever we decide."

In fact, the 32-year-old plans to start holding back a lot more personal information as her due date approaches -- which could make keeping up with the newest and littlest Kardashian somewhat difficult. Reiterating claims she made earlier that her baby-to-be would not appear on her E! reality shows, the starlet said she felt newly compelled to protect the things and people closest to her. "[I don't] want my career to overshadow the love in my life," she told E!.

That includes her romance with West, 35, whom she calls the love of her life. "I feel like I have divulged so much in the past. Not that that was wrong, but I just choose to be a little bit more private this time around, just for me and my family," Kardashian explained of her yearlong romance with the rapper. "I like to keep all that stuff about why it's so perfect and why it works and all that just between us."



As Us  reported earlier this week, the happy couple will welcome their first child in July. And though legally the E! reality star is still wed to NBA player Kris Humphries (she filed for divorce after 72 days of marriage in October 2011), emotionally she's ready to start a new life with her new family.

Speaking with Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford during a visit to the TODAY show on Jan. 15, the pregnant Kourtney & Kim Take Miami star said she was anxious to finalize her split from Humphries, 27, before her baby is born in July. "I'm really hopeful," she told the hosts. "I'm just hoping to get through it sooner than later...it's a process."

To find out more about Kim Kardashian's divorce drama as she prepares for the arrival of her first child, pick up the new issue of Us , on stands Friday.

The Bachelor Episode 3 Recap: Lesley M. Breaks World Record For Longest On-Screen Kiss While Tierra Nearly Breaks Her Neck

Houston native Robyn said it best -- and most bluntly -- at the beginning of this week's drama-filled episode of The Bachelor when she joked that she couldn't wait for "the note that reads 'Robyn, let's ditch these b-tches and fall in love for real.'"

Lesley M. kisses Sean Lowe on ABC's The Bachelor.
Credit: ABC/RICK ROWELL

Because judging by the increasingly aggressive behavior of the remaining 16 ladies on this season, she's not the only one who feels that way.

It's only three weeks into this drama-filled, tear-ridden "journey," and poor Shirtless Sean is already feeling the pressures of "diggin' a lot of women" at once. The earnest entrepreneur -- who kicks off the episode with a few sweaty bicep curls and some gratuitous treadmill jogging for the cameras -- will tackle three dates this week: two one-on-one dates and a group date.

First up is political consultant Lesley M., whose sexy cowboy getup and subtle smooching from last week clearly left Sean wanting more. So much more, in fact, that the 29-year-old bachelor manages to finagle some more lip-locking time with her -- 3 minutes and 16 seconds of it, to be exact.

But before the pair can get do the (kissing) deed, Sean first takes Lesley to the dismal-looking Guinness World Records museum on Hollywood Boulevard, where she pretends to ooh and ahh at displays like the "world's smallest woman" and "dude eating a bike wheel."

Not exactly the most romantic of locales, but Lesley seems game enough, and actually genuinely impressed when Sean points out a photo of his dad setting the world record for shortest amount of time spent driving continuously through 48 states (97 hours and 47 minutes, for those keeping track at home).



But tour time comes to a close when Chris Harrison gleefully emerges and announces the real point of the date: the two lovers will lock lips for 3 minutes and 16 seconds to break the world record for world’s longest on-screen kiss.

And with the timer ticking away painfully slowly on the screen and a crowd of gawkers crowding around on Hollywood Boulevard, they kiss … and kiss … and giggle … and kiss some more until they finally best the record and confetti explodes around them. Romance, indeed!

That night, the pair sit down to chat about their lives and families -- an easier feat now that their faces aren’t glued to one another anymore.

"You just make me nervous," she tells the red-faced bachelor, filling in awkward pauses with random banter. Finally, though, girl finally takes the hint, goes silent and leans in for the kiss. And, naturally, gets the rose.

The Bachelor, airing January 21, 2013.
Credit: ABC/MATT BROWN

Meanwhile, back at the Bachelor mansion, the remaining 15 girls are anxiously awaiting their date cards. Ding dong! AshLee dashes to grab the card and read off the names for the group date: Kacie, Robyn, Leslie H., Kristy, Catherine, Desiree, Taryn, Amanda, Lindsay, Daniella, Jackie and Tierra are summoned.

The next day, the 12 gals pile into cars to head to the beach, where they strip down to their bikinis and toss a football around self-consciously until Chris Harrison once again makes his big bad appearance (sans champagne flute) and lays out the day's challenge. The girls will be split into two teams, he says, and will play a round of beach volleyball to vie for Sean's time -- and ultimately, his heart.

"I'm so bad at volleyball!" Daniella whines as the teams are created. She, Taryn, Leslie, Catherine, Kristy and Tierra form the red team, while Lindsay, Jackie, Robyn, Amanda, Kacie and Desiree comprise the blue team.


What follows is a whole lot of girls and abs and sand and surf and bikinis -- and Shirtless Sean standing by helplessly feeling nervous for the losing team but secretly enjoying the role reversal of the ladies vying for his attention.

After what looks to be several hours of emotional, angry volleyball-playing, the blue team wins, and the red team is forced to hang their collective heads and tromp home to the mansion. There may have even be a few tears and a fair amount of pouting. The ladies on the winning team, however, are ecstatic to spend more time with Sean and each snatches him away to say her piece with the bachelor later that evening.

But it's returning contestant Kacie B. who makes the strongest impression on Sean that night -- and not necessarily in a good way. After the tension between Desiree and Amanda starts to heat up, Kacie decides to use their friction to her advantage -- by tattling to Sean. The only problem is, however, that Sean seems to be more turned off by her chatter than he is sympathetic.



"Why are you involving yourself in that?" he asks incredulously as Kacie tries to tell him how the girls' conflict is making her "not herself." "I want you to act like Kacie, not like this crazy person I'm seeing."

No rose for Kacie, then. Substitute teacher Lindsay instead gets the flower for the night.

Unfortunately for Sean, however, the drama is far from over. The following day, Shirtless Sean arrives (covered, in a pink shirt this time) at the mansion to pick up AshLee for their one-on-one date and instead finds Tierra sprawled on the stairs. Having had "several concussions" himself before, he does what any self-respecting gentleman would do and calls the ambulance -- only problem being that Tierra, hungry for attention but dubiously hurt, refuses to be taken to the hospital.

In the end, the "accident" draws nothing but angry murmurs among the girls and a delayed first date for poor AshLee, who waits patiently inside the house as Tierra snags some more alone time with Sean. Eventually, though AshLee and Sean get on their way, driving out to Six Flags Magic Mountain, where the entire theme park has been shut down for the two of them -- and two very special young guests.



Sean introduces AshLee to Emily and Brianna, two best friends who suffer from mitochondrial diseases, and who are meeting for the first time through the Starlight Children's Foundation. The foursome spend the day together riding roller coasters and dressing up for a western-inspired photo shoot (Sean clearly had a hand in the plans for this date), and AshLee is won over by Sean's "caring heart."

The pair dance to Sean's favorite band, the Eli Young Band, and seal the night on a more serious note, talking about AshLee's difficult childhood. Even big bad Sean gets teary-eyed at her heartfelt story.

"It felt good to tell somebody I'm falling in love with all my insecurities," the personal organizer says during her confessional. "I never thought I'd believe in this." Sean's making believers out of non-believers! He's just that good.

At the cocktail party the next night, the mood is a little different, a bit tenser. Aside from Sarah, who gets a surprise chance to catch up with her French bulldog Leo, the other women take to lurking around Sean and stealing him away for conversations throughout the evening like a maddening game of reverse hot potato.



Kacie in particular tries to get a little bit of time with the bachelor to apologize for her gossipy behavior and to right their relationship once more, but even she and her spray-tanned legs can't keep Sean away from the other women, resulting in one of the more awkward/human moments in Bachelor history, depending upon how you look at it.

At the rose ceremony, Sean looks a bit preoccupied before he asks to speak to Kacie alone. Ultimately, he tells her, he respects her too much to put her through an entire rose ceremony. And so, with a hug and a gentle push, he sends her home before returning to the rose ceremony.

Tierra, Leslie H., Catherine, Daniella, Robyn, Selma, Sarah, Jackie, Amanda and Desiree get roses, while model Kristy and fitness coordinator Taryn get the boot. Both Leslie M. and AshLee are safe through next week as well. The more of the story? Don't tattle on the other women.

"I really wanted this to work," Kacie tells the cameras as her car peels away from the mansion. "Last time I left here with no regrets. This time, there are regrets that I have and that's something I'll have to live with."

"I have a great life," she continues tearfully. "And hopefully I can find somebody who can join me in that. It's just not Sean right now."

Malia Obama Photobombs Picture of President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama Kissing at Inauguration

Best photobomb of the year? Malia Obama ruined a rare photo opportunity when she popped her head in front of the camera while sister Sasha was snapping a picture of their parents, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, stealing a kiss on Inauguration Day.

Credit: CNN

Huffington Post's social media editor spotted the epic photobombing incident while watching CNN's coverage of the inaugural parade. As the screenshot shows, 14-year-old Malia leans in to block the picture -- with a funny face, no less -- at the exact moment the newly sworn-in POTUS is puckering up for a sweet smooch with his wife.



And Malia's photobomb was not the only such incident on Inauguration Day. A few hours earlier, singer Kelly Clarkson was photobombed by former President Bill Clinton as she performed "My Country 'Tis of Thee" with the United States Marine Band. The hilarious snapshot was uploaded to Twitter soon after.



Tell Us: What was your favorite moment of the Inauguration?

Monday, January 21, 2013

President Barack Obama Officially Sworn in for Second Term in the White House

It's official: President Barack Obama has begun his second term in the White House. The Commander-in-Chief was quietly sworn into office just before noon on Sunday, Jan. 20, one day before the public ceremony on the Capitol steps, which is expected to attract more than 800,000 people.

President Barack Obama is sworn in for his second term by Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Roberts, January 20, 2013.
Credit: whitehouse/YouTube

The private ceremony, which lasted less than two minutes, took place in the White House Blue Room with just a few witnesses, including the president's wife, First Lady Michelle Obama, and their two daughters, Malia, 14, and Sasha, 11. The oath was administered by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.




A few hours earlier, Vice President Joe Biden was officially sworn in by Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor at his residence on the grounds of the Naval Observatory. Among the audience at his ceremony were his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, and other family members.

Vice President Joe Biden Sworn in for a second term by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington on January 20, 2013.
Credit: Kevin Lamarque/Pool/startraksphoto


Sunday's intimate events -- which satisfied the Constitutional requirement that the POTUS be sworn in before noon on the Jan. 20 after an election -- were in stark contrast to the pomp and circumstance planned for Monday. The Jan. 21 Inauguration will be attended by hundreds of thousands of people, including several celebrities.

Earlier this month, the Presidential Inaugural Committee announced that Beyonce, Kelly Clarkson, and James Taylor would take the stage to sing the National Anthem, "My Country Tis of Thee," and "America the Beautiful," respectively. Alicia Keys, Katy Perry, fun, and Usher are also scheduled to appear at various Inaugural events.



"Vice President Biden and I are honored to have these wonderfully talented musical artists perform at the Inaugural ceremony," President Obama, 51, said in a statement. "Their music is often at the heart of the American story and speaks to folks across the country."

Jennifer Lopez, Casper Smart Adopt Puppy Together

Jennifer Lopez is expanding her family with boyfriend Casper Smart! The couple of more than a year recently adopted a puppy together -- a little brown boxer they named "Bear."

Casper Smart and Jennifer Lopez attend the 2012 Vanity Fair Oscar Party.
Credit: Jeff Vespa/VF12/WireImage


Smart, 25, tweeted the news on Thursday, Jan. 17. "Introducing the new addition to the family..." he wrote alongside a picture of the pooch. "Welcome home."

Lopez, already a mom to 4-year-old twins Max and Emme, her kids with ex-husband Marc Anthony, retweeted her beau's announcement, with an added note about the pup's name. "So happy!" she wrote. "LilBabyBear. Could get confusing!"



"Bear" isn't just the couple's pet's name; it's also their pet name for each other. Both Lopez and Smart have used it in the past as a term of endearment on Twitter.

"BEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Today is OURS!!" the "Dance Again" singer, 43, wrote on the micro-blogging site for her one-year anniversary with Smart in October. "Thank you for sharing your beautiful smile with me everyday!"



Her man responded in kind. "Happy 1 year anniversary to the most gorgeous, kind, sweet, funny, beautiful lil Bear in the world..." he said on Oct. 25.

Adopting a puppy together is a big step, but Lopez and her love seem stronger than ever these days. "[Casper's] fantastic; he's like my best friend," the former American Idol judge told Harper's Bazaar in a recent interview. "I can tell him everything, when I'm feeling down, when I'm feeling good. He gives moral support, endless love and support."

Selena Gomez on Life After Justin Bieber Split: "It's Been Weird and Sad and Cool"

Selena Gomez has been putting on a happy face in the wake of her recent breakup from on-again/off-again boyfriend Justin Bieber, but if her performance in New York this weekend is any indication, there's more to the situation than meets the eye. Taking the stage for a private concert benefiting UNICEF on Jan. 19, the 20-year-old singer made several cryptic references to moving on from an old relationship.

Selena Gomez arrives at the InStyle And Warner Bros. Golden Globe Party on January 13, 2013.
Credit: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic


"I've been through a lot the past few months. It's been weird and sad and cool," she told the crowd before introducing an acoustic cover of Justin Timberlake's scorned lover's anthem "Cry Me a River." "This song definitely speaks to me."

Gomez didn't specifically mention Bieber, but a source at the event tells Us  she "seemed so angry" during the song. (Incidentally, her ex performed the same tune in concert a few months ago.)



Prior to the show, however, the newly single Wizards of Waverly Place actress was all smiles as she spoke to reporters on the red carpet. And she seemed to light up when asked about her friendship with fellow starlet Taylor Swift.

"Taylor is one of the most inspirational, positive, good-hearted people I know," she gushed of her BFF, who recently went through a breakup of her own, with One Direction boy-bander Harry Styles. "I met her when she was 18...it was absolutely incredible to see someone so successful and so humble. I think she's been a big part of me staying who I am, too."



Gomez also discussed her risque role in the upcoming movie Spring Breakers, in which she plays one of four bikini-clad co-eds who rob a restaurant to pay for their spring break trip. "It's kind of been refreshing and nice for me to step out of my comfort zone and do things that I didn't think I could do as an actress," she said, noting that she had tried to warn her younger fans about the film.

The singer revealed that she was taking more risks offscreen, as well, particularly with her music. "I'm a little bit more mouthy [now]," she said of her new album. "I'm a little bit older. I've got a little more sass. [I'm] telling a lot more, too."



"Everything happens for a reason," she added mysteriously, "so enjoy every moment."

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Robert F. Chew, Prop Joe on The Wire, Dies at 52

Robert F. Chew, known to fans of HBO's acclaimed series The Wire as drug kingpin Proposition Joe, has died, The Baltimore Sun reports. He was 52.

Robert F. Chew at Proposition Joe on HBO's The Wire.
Credit: HBO



Chew's sister Clarice told the paper that her brother passed away in his sleep at his home in Northeast Baltimore, Md., on Thursday, Jan. 17. The cause of death appeared to be heart failure.

As both an actor and a teacher in Maryland, Chew mentored younger artists at Baltimore's Arena Players, even after he rose to fame on David Simon's HBO drama. Some of his proteges played students in season four of the show, which focused on Baltimore's city schools.

"Robert was not only an exceptional actor, he was an essential part of the film and theater community in Baltimore," Simon told the Baltimore Sun in an email. "He could have gone to New York or Los Angeles and commanded a lot more work, but he loved the city as his home and chose to remain here working."





"Robert's depiction of Proposition Joe was so fixed and complete -- from the very earliest scenes -- that the writers took for granted that anything we sent him would be finely executed," he continued, adding that Chew was also a "fine and generous man" offscreen.

Others in the Wire family expressed their condolences via Twitter. "I didn't want to believe this. RIP Robert F Chew," Marlo Stanfield-portrayer Jamie Hector tweeted. "Prop Joe will always be remembered. Robert Chew will always be loved and missed."

"To the beloved Robert Chew, a man who was real Bawlmore, and created the iconic character of 'Prop Joe,' may you RIP," Wendell Pierce (Detective Bunk Moreland) wrote. "A teacher & friend."



Added Jermaine Crawford, who played Duquan "Dukie" Weems: "RIP to Mr. Robert F. Chew, a.k.a. Proposition Joe. You impacted our lives more than you'll ever know...love you."
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