I happened to catch Lady GaGa’s new video Bad Romance
or shall I say Nemiroff’s Vodka new video?

I had to both laugh and cringe at the story behind her video and the rampant amount of product placement.

By the looks of this video, it seems like Nemiroff Vodka (which you can see about seven times in the video) is the winner of the “most shoved in your face award” hands down.

The video not not only shows the Lex Nemiroff bottles repeatedly, they show people drinking glasses of clear liquid which is supposed to insinuate drinking the vodka. They also show someone pouring it into a glass, and also forcing a glass of clear liquid down GaGa’s throat. 

Nemiroff Vodka is not only being shoved down GaGa’s throat in the video, but GaGa chose to shove it down her fan’s throats.

Then there is the story behind the video, that can be very questionable to certain audiences. Doesn’t GaGa have an awful lot of young fans? Was booze, kidnapping and sex slaves the right direction to go with this video? We will get to that in a bit.

The product placement is EVERYWHERE in this video.

In the beginning of the video, once you get past the first picture of the Nemiroff Vodka bottle, there is a group shot of the “cast” in the video and right up front on either side of GaGa is a Parrot by Starck pair of black funnel tower speakers with an iPod or iPhone perched on top on the left speaker.

Then you can see GaGa’s mesh covered finger push the button on a Parrot by Starck iPod speaker. Parrot by Starck was designed by French product designer Philippe Starck (although the real product name is “Zimku”). It is a $1,600 sound system for an iPhone or iPod.

We then move on to GaGa wearing a pair of her very own silver Lady Gaga Heartbeats head phones in the bath tub scene. These will set you back $100.00 and of course, they’re available on her website.

Then THREE times you see GaGa wearing a pair of white “Safari” sunglasses by Carrera.

And last but not least, there is the HP Envy Beats Limited Edition laptop and headphones by Monster. There is a whole row of these laptops to show the “sex slave bidding” results in the video’s story. The laptop logo was very prevalent. A real bargain at $2,500. 

Also making an appearance, was a Wii controller a couple of times which was used to bid on GaGa the sex slave by the bidding Russian mafia men. Wonder how Wii weighs in on what their controller was used for?

Now there are a few smaller product placements in the video, but they are not as visible. There are gold aluminum cans in the beginning of the video on the floor and some of the “actors” are holding them. Maybe someone knows what they are? 

There are also plastic bottles of a red “drink” on the tables which are seen several times. It also shows one the “actors” drinking one of these bottles. Looks like Vitamin Water (acai blueberry) to me, but the name is not visible. I guess they didn’t pay enough moolah for their name to be visible in the video. Funny they showed people pouring vodka, made it look like people were drinking vodka, but put no emphasis on the Vitamin Water.

They showed SO much vodka in this video, I was kind of shocked. Even though you don’t actually see the word vodka on the bottle, I still think it was a big mistake. Gaga has a lot of young fans, what kind of message does this send? In one of her earlier videos,LoveGame, it shows people drinking Campari on the subway. Again, more booze placement.

I know many other artists do this too. Rappers show a lot of crap they shouldn’t be showing when it comes to excessive behavior and demeaning women, but this video wins the award for booze placement.

This new video is definitely Lady GaGa’s style in all her wackiness and her “edgy” shenanigans. One of the things I did like about this video, was the scene with the floating crystals around her, I thought that was pretty darn cool.

Now the premise behind the video according to Wikipedia:

“Gaga is kidnapped by a group of supermodels who drug her and then sell her off to the Russian mafia for sex slavery.”

The Russian mafia? OH! That’s where the Nemirfoff Vodka ties in — their bottles state it’s a product of the Ukraine.

Lovely story for young fans, isn’t it? Hello sexual degradation…your table it waiting!

Lady GaGa believes that the opening scene with her wearing a pair of razor blade glasses “portrays a tough female spirit.”  I didn’t really pick that up from that scene.

I guess the “tough female spirit” is then squashed with the rest of the video’s story:

“Two women pull her out of a bathtub, rip her clothes off and force her to drink a glass of vodka. As the second verse begins, Gaga seductively dances for a group of men bidding on her. She straddles one of the men and performs somewhat of a lap dance on him.

Afterwards, he raises his bid and becomes the highest bidder for Gaga. When the chorus is played for the third time, Gaga is shown wearing a jacket made of a polar bear hide. She walks toward the man, who is sitting on a bed, unbuttoning his shirt. Gaga has a look of indifference on her face and removes her jacket and sunglasses.

Suddenly, the bed spontaneously combusted with the man still sitting on it. The video ends with Gaga laying beside a smoldering skeleton on top of the destroyed bed with ashes everywhere. She smokes a cigarette, while her pyrotechnic bra goes off”

The Russian Mafia Bidding Scene

Ok, I am not a fan of censorship, but again, she has MANY young fans. Between all the vodka drinking and sex-slave bidding…is this the message GaGa wanted to send? FYI.. Her website sells Lady GaGa back to school supplies.

There was a comment left on her website by a women who said her daughter loved the video so much that she watched it 100 times. Now I know it is up to the parent to police their kids, and I don’t know how old this girl was, but it’s close to impossible to watch your kids 24/7.

But wait, there’s more…

Seth Green, 35, has starred in many movies over the years, including heavy hitters like Austin Powers, Rat Race and the Italian Job. He has lent his voice to Chris and Dylan’s son on the Family Guy. He is also well known for palying Oz, on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Seth also co-writes Robot Chicken, and Adult Swim where he performs anywhere from 35-60 voices a week and recently finished a movie called Old Dogs with Robin Williams and John Travolta. (no comment)

This is barely scraping the surface of what this young man has accomplished. He has worked non stop since about the age of seven. You can visit his website, and read his bio, it’s pretty darn amazing.
And Seth’s life just got a little sweeter. Literally.

It was just announced that Seth will be the new mouthpiece for Butterfinger TV ads and their new video contest, where Butterfinger wants to know, “How far would you go to protect your Butterfinger bar?”
(Hmmmm… Sounds very close to ”what would you do for a Klondike Bar” to me)

Contestants will send in their videos, and the winner with the highest number of votes will win $25,000! *sweet* And they may also have the chance to have their video aired in a 15 second spot on TV.
 
Looks like the voice of Bart Simpson which hasn’t been used for the past decade (done by Nancy Cartwright who gave the cult of Scientology 5 MILLION DOLLARS last year)  will not be used for this new ad campaign. Smart Move Butterfinger!
After all… we wouldn’t want to start seeing “Way To Happiness“ PR inside the candy wrappers! *snicker*

TRH.com writes:

Green is laying a finger on Bart Simpson’s Butterfinger. The writer, actor, director and producer can now add Butterfinger spokesperson to his resume. Green has been tapped as the official “Butterfinger mouthpiece” for a new national TV ad campaign and video contest.
 
The creator of the Cartoon Network’s Emmy award winning “Robot Chicken” will be the first celebrity to represent the Butterfinger brand since Bart Simpson’s memorable run ended nearly a decade ago. But while the spokesperson is new, the “Nobody’s gonna lay a finger on my Butterfinger” tagline will again be used in the company’s national TV spots, developed by ad agency Dailey & Associates.
 
To accompany the familiar tagline, the brand is also running a user-generated video contest in which entrants create one-minute videos answering the question of “How far would you go to protect your Butterfinger bar?” Contestants can visit ProtectYourButterfingerBar.com to enter their videos. Visitors will vote on them. The biggest vote getter wins $25,000 and may have their video aired as a national 15-second spot for the candy bar.
 
Butterfinger, which spent only $125,000 on adverting last year, has beefed up its ad spend considerably in 2009. It already investing $1.6 million in advertising for the first six months of this year, per the Nielsen Company.

The selection of Green, who also voices the character of Chris Griffith on Fox’s “Family Guy,” is an appropriate successor to the last cheeky spokescartoon, said Tricia Bowles of Nestle Confections & Snacks, in a statement. “[He] made perfect sense for a brand that honors humor and praises the punch line,. Butterfinger has been a fan and supporter of comedic talent, such as Seth Green for years–as evidenced by our promotions highlighting clever, irreverent humor.”
 
Green agreed. “I’ve been eating all kinds of Butterfinger candy all my life, so this union seems not only natural, but predestined.”

It looks like just about everything Seth touches turns to gold, and at the ripe old age of only 35, he has just begun. He has also managed to stay squeaky clean as far as his reputation goes, and has stayed out of the whole Hollywood party drug scene.

Added to the fact that this young  man must be worth a pretty big chunk of change by now and it will only continue to grow.

And although I was never partial to redheads, *snicker* I bet he is way up there on the desirable bachelor list due to his vast fortune. He has has many love interests over the years, but he’s not married yet!

And what does Seth have to say about this success?

Wallet Pop had some Seth quotes about his success:

Growing up as a child actor, Green’s parents taught him from an early age how to pay his bills and live within his means.

Green may not be Dr. Evil, but he’s coy on this one. “You do your best,” he says. “Everybody does.”

“I don’t spend a ton of money,” he says. “I work very very hard. I save very well. I have assets in specific things, in property, and I live a very simple life. I’m happy with that.”
Green’s advice for success is equally simple: “Work hard, acquire many skills, and don’t take anything personally.”

Nobody really gives you anything,” he says. “It’s really up to the individual to propel themselves forward with drive and commitment to a singular purpose.”

“Anytime you’re taking a risk for pleasing someone else, you’re doomed for failure,” he says. “The best risks I’ve taken were the ones I wholeheartedly believed in. I rather risk and fail than never jump.”

“Every company that has had dramatic success has stepped on someone to do it,” says Green. “The very fact that they have risen to a dominant position is that they are able to play harder than other people, breaking rules when it’s appropriate. Whatever philanthropic things they do is just to sleep better at night.” Does the same apply to business leaders? Or to himself?

Wise words from a wise young man.
I wish Seth continued success and happiness.

Pamela Anderson with Henrik Winther

Pamela Anderson has a bone to pick with Kentucky Fried Chicken. She is a member of PETA. Although she has been criticized in the past for being a bit of a hypocrite when it comes to PETA, as far as what she has worn and eaten, I have to say that  this fight against Kentucky Fried Chicken is justified in my opinion.

Now I am not a big fan of corporate food chains to begin with. The most I ever venture into is a Crackle Barrel or Burger King if I am on the highway and the choices of meal stops are very limited. I haven’t been in a Kentucky Fried Chicken since the late 1970’s, and after watching the KFC chicken processing video, I never will.

I had the misfortune of suffering through the entire video of Kentucky Fried Chicken’s processing plant which you can view at  www.kentuckyfriedcruelty.com and I was totally horrified to say the least. Workers throwing chickens against the walls, stomping on them alive, clipping their beaks off on arrival, over crowding, boiling them alive and the tale of terror goes on.

Pamela Anderson has contacted Kentucky Fried Chicken and has asked them to be more humane in their processing plants and and even asked Kentucky’s governor to remove a bust of Col. Sanders from the State Capitol Building. Pam went as far as to contact Henrik Winther, president of Rostik, KFC’s Russian partners and asked them to watch the slaughter house video.

Pam has appeared in billboard adds in her “lettuce bikini top” and TV spots asking people to boycott Kentucky Fried Chicken until they change their evil ways.

Pamela is not alone in her fight against KFC. Many celebrities as well as musicians have joined her fight. From Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, Tommy Lee (natch), and Pink, to the Smashing Pumpkins and Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders. For the full list of  almost 60 celebs that support this boycott click here. And some of the celebs have provided short videos. These stars are asking people to “Kick the Bucket” and sign the petition.

Kentucky Fried Cruelty Activists explain their beef with KFC:

The roughly 1 billion chickens killed each year for KFC’s buckets are crammed by the tens of thousands into excrement-filled sheds that stink of ammonia fumes. The birds’ legs and wings often break because they’re bred to be too top-heavy and because workers carelessly shove them into transport crates and shackles.

Chickens’ throats are slit and the animals are dropped into tanks of scalding-hot water to remove their feathers, often while they are still conscious and able to feel pain.

KFC lets frustrated factory-farm and slaughterhouse workers handle live birds, so many of the animals end up being sadistically abused. At a KFC “Supplier of the Year” slaughterhouse in West Virginia, workers were documented tearing the heads off live birds, spitting tobacco into their eyes, spray-painting their faces, and violently stomping on them. This was discovered more than two years after KFC promised PETA that it was taking animal welfare seriously.

KFC hides behind its Animal Welfare Advisory Council, even though five members of the council have resigned in frustration. One of them, Adele Douglass, told the Chicago Tribune that KFC “never had any meetings. They never asked any advice, and then they touted to the press that they had this animal-welfare advisory committee. I felt like I was being used.”

And How KFC Can Clean Up Their Act:

PETA wants KFC to adopt the animal welfare programdeveloped by five members of its own animal welfare board. These advisors are the world’s top poultry experts; they advise the meat industry in North America and Europe and believe that KFC can—and should—adopt them. KFC has yet to do any of the following:

Adopt the “Animal Care Standards” program. This would lower the amount of ammonia in the air in factory farms, improve the living spaces and lighting in chicken sheds, prohibit the intentional starving of breeding birds, and ensure that birds are provided with mental and physical stimulation.

Switch to controlled-atmosphere killing (CAK). This would prevent live birds in slaughterhouses from being abused by workers, having their throats slit, or being scalded while they were still conscious. CAK would also improve conditions for workers and decrease contamination levels in chickens’ flesh.

Switch to mechanized chicken gathering. This would drastically reduce the number of broken bones and painful bruising that birds endure when factory-farm workers carelessly throw them into transport crates.

Breed for health rather than rapid growth, and stop feeding drugs to chickens. This would reduce the rate at which birds suffer painful, crippling diseases and injuries, such as broken legs, heart attacks, and lung failures.

Make all welfare standards transparent and verifiable. This would simply ensure that the animal welfare program is being adhered to through announced and unannounced independent audits (the results of which must be made available to the public through KFC’s Web site).
 

Seems like all reasonable requests to me. So if people have to pay a little more for their bucket of bird, then so be it. Besides, these places are only adding to the ever mounting and staggering problem of obesity in the US. Fast food chains play a huge part in the rising cost of health care due to all the health problems associated with being overweight.

Now I am not a fan of Pamela Anderson’s one iota. I can write an entire article on her that would rip her a new one as far as her and Tommy Lee’s shenanigans over the years, besides her overall phony fake parts appearance. And some will say she does all this for the publicity. Whatever. It’s still a good cause and KFC can certainly be less cruel. I know all slaughter houses are a nightmare, and I am certainly not dismissing all the other cruelties that go on in other places, but simple measures can be taken to make them less cruel. And I will admit that I am a bit of a hypocrite due to the fact that I am not a vegetarian myself, but I do try to limit my eating habits.

Many people think PETA goes way too far, but I agree with what they have asked of KFC, and I saw the horrific processing video. And since I HATE corporate fast food chains already… this campaign gets my vote. I am also in full agreement with PETA’s stance on any circus that uses elephants and big cats in their shows. Go to the Cirque baby! Animal free circuses all the way!

I digress….
So before you pull in to that next drive thru… stop and think of what you are supporting. If the chicken processing video you watched of your next lunch or dinner being prepped didn’t bother you, perhaps when you order that next KFC Chunky Chicken Pot Pie , Mmm mmm, that has 770 calories and 42 grams of fat,  and 2,160 mgs of sodium, will make you think twice.

For all the caloric, fat content and sodium levels of all KFC’s menu items, go here, and feel ill. Check out the stats on other fast food menu items too. I guarantee you won’t be making as many trips as you used to!

Kentucky Fried Cruelty Website Logo

The economy today has had an effect on retail sales across the board. Even celebrity fragrances have been hit with tough times.  Oh the inhumanity! *snicker*

Just two years ago, Forbes reported that according to Euromonitor International, (a Chicago-based market research firm) sales  totaled $353.6 million for the top seven celeb fragrances. Geez! No wonder why so many stars have their own scents.

This year however, overall sales are down 10%. Yep, the celebrity fragrance market is just not as hot as it used to be. Perhaps people just can’t afford it. Or maybe people are wising up to the fact that celebrity fragrances are just plain silly and embarrassing to wear? Could that be the culprit?

The celebrity fragrance market unlike other fragrances are way more fickle. If a celeb was caught in a scandal and their career turned lukewarm in the public eye, it can put a big damper on the popularity of the scent. Because that’s just how silly people are. Ridiculous but true.

So which celeb’s scents are currently top sellers?
Well, P Diddy, or Sean Puffy Combs, or Sean John, or Sean Combs, or just plain Diddy (wish he would make up his freakin’ mind) had a best seller with Unforgivable  that brought in brought a whopping $74.9 million in the past. And Britney’s scents are still selling VERY well and defying all odds even with the recent slump of other celebs fragrances. Maybe Diddy’s and Britney’s stuff just smells better?

The NY Daily News reported:

Fragrance peddler Parlux France relies heavily on its celebrity branded scents and has taken a hit for it. The company produces Queen Latifah’s Queen, Jessica Simpson’s  Fancy and Fancy Love, Andy Roddick’s Andy Roddick and all of Paris Hilton’s many fragrances (Paris Hilton, Paris Hilton for Men, Heir, Heiress, Just Me, Can Can, Fairy Dust and Siren).

The company lost $4.3 million last year and $2.5 in the second quarter of this year alone.
While the prestige fragrance market as a whole is down 10% from last year, Britney Spears is one celeb who appears to be bucking the odds.

Sales of her fragrances – Fantasy Britney Spears, Britney Spears Believe, Curious Britney Spears and Curious in Control Britney Spears – rose 13% in the June quarter. Elizabeth Arden, the company behind the ageing pop tart’s perfumes, just brought out Circus Fantasy, named after her latest tour and album. Then again, she’s global.

“More than half of the sales of Britney brands were sold of outside of North America,” said an Arden company spokesman.
Also doing well are classics like Chanel’s Coco, Mademoiselle and No. 5 and Dolce and Gabbana’s Light Blue. But it remains to be seen how Forever Mariah Carey, Derek Jeter Driven Black or Sara Jessica Parker’s Lovely will fare in recessionary times.

So even if the scent is sold globally and has a huge advantage over others, it still seems more important if the star selling the perfume is currently a hot commodity. Perhaps Paris Hilton’s perfumes have taken a nose dive due to her failing popularity. I think people are just sick to death of her. I know I am.

Mariah Carey’s ” Forever”is due to hit this September because she has a new album coming out. She also has a movie coming out this November. Anyone remember her movie *cough* Glitter?  Only time will tell how long ”Forever” will be around.

With over 100 fragrances coming out each year both from stars and regular companies, the market has become flooded. The competition has become fierce for celebs to have their scent be the next big hit. So many celebs in the music industry are scheduling their fragrances to coincide with their CD releases. This can be a risky move if the album totally bombs, because then the fragrance becomes a reminder of that failed album and then in turn becomes an embarrassment to wear to most.

Some celebs fragrances have stayed around for a while, like Sarah Jessica Parker’s Lovely and Covet .  Covet debuted two years ago when her Sex In The City Movie was released. Perhaps Sex in the City’s popularity has kept it’s ratings up? (the perfume that is)

I am sorry, I just think the whole celebrity fragrance thing is so cheesy. What’s next celebrity scented candles?

Especially for the fact that these fragrances’ popularity stem from whether or not the star is hot or not. If you find a fragrance you like and it was put out by a star that everyone now thinks is washed up or has failed in the popularity poles… would you stop wearing their fragrance even if you liked it? Would you be embarrassed to say,  “oh yes I still wear Clay Aiken’s Evening In The Stable” *snicker*
But this is exactly what happens.

I am not a big fan of perfume to begin with. I can’t tell you how many times someone has walked by me and I literally choked from whatever perfume that took a bath in before they stepped out their door. Some people slather it on so heavy, that their perfume arrives before they do and stays long after they’re gone. Thank God Poison is no longer popular. That stuff used to literally kill me. It was appropriately named.

One time I actually had to change my seat on an airplane due to the women sitting next to me. She must have dumped an entire bottle of Woah! Do I Stink! all over herself. I got an immediate headache, my throat was closing up, and I couldn’t even breath. I say wearing heavy perfume should be banned on airplanes. And that goes double for any of my gal OR guy pals who want to climb in my car. Whatever happened to the oh so silly move of spraying the room and then walking into it? *snicker*

Ok, enough of my drama on perfume.
Except I have to say that I would never buy something based on a star’s popularity and I have never bought a celebrity fragrance.
I have been wearing Alyssa Ashley Musk by Houbigant for ever. It’s less than $30.00 for a good sized bottle and I have received mega compliments on it over the years. It’s all I wear AND I am proud to wear it. I am just not caught up in the whole perfume mania. You will never hear me say “oh I am wearing The Beckhams Intimately Line” (you would actually have to pay ME to wear it)  Their promo picture alone is beyond pretentious.

Look How Sexy We Are!

Speaking of which, I wonder why Beckham’s  BFF Tom Cruise hasn’t come out with an entire line of Scientology cult scents yet? I am sure he would be able to talk Scientology cult members into buying Galactic Spice, or how about KSW Cologne (their acronym for Keeping Scientology Working), OT Orchard  for the gals or perhaps a line of body splashes like Body Thetan Splash. Oh I can go on forever, the possibilites are endless.

Of course Cruise would never use those particular names because….what is the first rule about Scientology? Don’t talk about Scientology.
So maybe he would have to kick it old school and name it something like Risky Business. After all, the name Risky Business does describe any company investing in any new movie projects with Cruise now. Oh snap!
But at the very least, we all know he would be the authority on fragrances. *tee hee*

Awesome! Got My First Order!

Aaaaanyways….
If you are going to buy celebrity fragrances in the first place, than you should buy it because you like it. Don’t be like all the other sheeple who buy what’s popular because the celebrity had another hit movie or a CD release. Because if this is the way you think, then that sixty clams you once plunked down for Jaylo’s Glow *snicker* has surely been wasted. Unless you want to lie about what your wearing. Yes some people are that ridiculous.

One fragrance that has stood the test of time is the hilarious Elizabeth Taylor’s White Diamonds (of course with the much older crowd)

Sorry Liz, no dis intended, but White Diamonds always reminds me of a friend of mine whose husband bought her White Diamonds for Christmas. She hated it, but didn’t want to hurt his feelings so she acted appreciative. She left the bottle in plain site unopened, hoping he would get the hint that she never used it. But the following Christmas she received yet another bottle. We laughed are asses off. Men!

Perfume’s popularity has gone through many changes over the years. Sure the old standards like Channel No. 5 are here to stay. But the classics are a breed all their own, and cost a lot more to boot. I think celebrity fragrances have their own little group.

bellasugar posted The Top Ten Fragrances that You Loved or (Hated) in Jr High School.
 Which was a blast from the past.
They listed Jean Nate, Charlie, The Body Shop Perfume Oil, Heaven, Electric Youth,The Entire Roster of Designer Imposters, Sunflowers, Exclamation, Ck One, and Love’s Baby Soft.

The most popular fragrance when I was in school, was Patchouli Oil. And yes I wore it for quite a while, and I stil like it, but I haven’t worn it since then. So I guess I am guilty of changing fragrances for the changing times. (I also don’t want my car searched if I am pulled over) *snicker*

I also remember using  “Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific” shampoo, which was so fragrant, it killed two birds with one stone. Sure wish I can find some of that stuff today just to smell it once again.

There were plenty of fragrances that used to be popular way back when. (including the guys stuff)
Some biggies were English Leather, Old Spice, Aqua Velva After Shave, Tabu, Tigress, Shalimar, L’Eur Du Temps, Windsong, O’ de London, Rive Gauche, and the infamous Evening in Paris, just to name a VERY few.

Whoops! Almost forgot Hai Karate After Shave!
Who can forget their commericals of girls going wild?

Today it has been replaced with the more updated AXE which uses the same girls gone wild idea for their AXE “you have been warned” commercials. YouTube has many parodies of their commercials, but one of my all time favorite fragrance parodies was for a pseudo cologne, called Douche Cologne. Click here and giggle. (it’s a tad racy in one part, so if you are easily offended, you may want to pass)

It’s any one’s guess which celebrity fragrance is going to be the next big seller and if it has any staying power in today’s economy and the fickleness of the market. With over 100 fragrances coming out each year world wide, the market has become flooded. The competition has become very fierce to have that next big hit.

I am surprised others in the music industry haven’t come out with their own fragrances. Doesn’t seem to be any rocker’s fragrances . The Stone’s Brown Sugar would be a no brainer, and I am sure with all the Beatles flap lately, if they were to come out with a fragrance it just may work. It would probably have hints of Apple *tee hee*

OR how about for the younger crowd? Perhaps Green Day Garden or Blink 182 Bouquet would sell? Probably not. The target audience is not the same. But you never know. Hey I want 10% if I see any of these on the market!

Even other celebs like Donald (ick) Trump and Simon (ick) Cowell jumped on the fragrance band wagon. I guess they needed the cash?
Wonder how Donald Trump’s stuff is selling? Maybe it’s selling better than his Trump Water?

Who would ever admit to wearing Trump or Cowell’s stuff anyways?
Or maybe your more of an Antonio Banderas fan? Look he even has his hand extended on the display, as if to say (in Antonios’s accent of course) “Come… come… take a whiff of sexy” *snicker*  

Speaking of celeb fragrances that people may be (or should be) embarrased to wear…
How about Britney Spears new Circus Fantasy?

Some how the name Circus Fantasy doesn’t sound appealing to me. I know it is a reference to Britney’s album and tour, but Circus Fantasy? Really? Has Elizabeth Arden lost their damn minds?

Even the packaging looks tacky. Looks like it comes with candy circus peanuts (the worst candy ever). And at $55.00 a pop, it should come with popcorn or a candy apple at the very least.

Sorry, but a perfume with the word circus in it, reminds me of  clowns and something that would smell like elephant poop stuck to a clown’s shoe and cotton candy all in one. Others may be reminded of a sexy trapeze artist, or perhaps a day at the circus with their family? Or dancing circus dogs in little hats and tutus? Ummm…. again, I just dont’ get it.

But hey, maybe she will be laughing all the way to the bank with this one. After all her fragrance Curious was a best seller in celebrity fragrance world.

For me, the word circus makes my mind go right back to the image of CLOWNS. Scary freakin’ clowns.
And clowns have always freaked me out! *shudder*

Look Edward! You Can Suck On That Rabbit Over There!

Ok all you Twilight freaks out there. Now you can have Bella and Edward to play with in your home!
Well, not exactly. Barbie has jumped on the Twilight movie merchandise band wagon and they have just introduced Edward Cullen and Bella Swan Barbie dolls. Edward Cullen is Barbie’s first vampire doll, complete with shiny skin. No mention if the doll actually has fangs or not. *snicker*

Twilight, which was released last year, was pretty much bashed by movie critics and people who read the book. But it was uber popular with the yougin’s. It raked in $383,489,834. world wide and won several awards. It won the Teen Choice Awards, Young Artist Awards, MTV Movie Awards and  Bravo’s A-List Awards. Granted all the awards lean towards the youngsters, but hey isn’t that were all the money is? Right Hanna Montana?
You can buy Twilight posters, clothing,a soundtrack,key chains,jewlery,t-shirts,back packs,messenger bags,pillow cases, etc… and now of course… Barbie dolls.

People reported:

If Twilight-inspired greeting cards and clothing weren’t enough to satisfy fan-pires’ desires, now they can add Edward
Cullen and Bella Swan Barbie Dolls to their collections! As a tribute to the on-screen lovers, Barbie has created a set of dolls modeled after Robert Pattinson’s Edward Cullen and Kristen Stewart’s Bella Swan. Featuring Robert’s strong jawline and vampire-glow and Kristen’s long brunette hair and innocent face, the dolls are almost an exact replica of the stars. Looks like Bella’s wish for immortality is finally coming true! The Twilight Barbies, $25 each, will be available starting November 1, 2009 — just in time for the release of New Moon.

Where did this mania begin? With a book by author Stephenie Meyer.The book became a best seller. Many people thought the book was ten times better than the movie. But I think that consensus was from a crowd that was a tad older and from those who read the book first before seeing the movie. And rightly so. The movie was just not that good.Young gals think Robert Pattison is the cat’s meow, and they didnt’ really care if the movie did not receive the critic’s nod.
With the movie sequel ”New Moon” coming out  soon, I am sure movie producers will have a bigger budget to work with this time around and the Twilight stars will be staying on the top of the heap once again in popularity polls among young teens.

Of course the mystique and sexiness of vampires has been around a long time. One of my all time favorite movies was simply called Dracula and starred a very young Frank Langella and seasoned actor, Laurence Olivier. (you just have to get over Langella’s late 70’s poofy hair in this movie) This was the first movie to bring sexy to Dracula in my opinion.

Langella was quoted as saying:

‘It was like being Elvis Presley for two years. It was like being a rock star”

The movie came out in 1979 and it was well filmed, frightening and steamy. The underground scenes in this movie were totally gruesome and the end of the movie was simply incredible. I won’t spoil it for you. If you haven’t seen it, walk don’t run and rent it. Or I guess it’s download or “click to order” these days. This movie also has one of my favorite lines in the whole world.
Dracula says:

“If at any time my company does not please you…you would have only yourself to blame”

Wow talk about cocky! You can see the original “fuzzy” trailer with Langella as Dracula on YouTube, along with other countless clips from the original movie. Keep in mind the trailer does not do the movie ANY justice at all.  And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Christopher Lee  in Dracula Has Risen From The Grave.  NOT at all sexy, but totally creep and the ending is classic.

I was always afraid of Dracula when I was young. The Dracula movies from way back were ultra creepy and I always had nightmares. From the early Bella Lugosi movie to Christopher Lee, they always scared the crap out of me. But then later in the 70’s, they made Dracula sexy. And in the same year decided to also give Dracula a sense of humor, in the movie Love At First Bite. That film’s tagline was: “Your favorite pain in the neck is about to bite your funny bone!” Egad, they would never get away with that corny stuff today.

But then Dracula took a second seat to just plain vampires. More edgier and creepier vampire movies sprouted up in the 1980’s like The Lost Boys which was about a gang of fighting teenage vampires. Sounds silly, but it was it was pretty freaking scary. Then on to Anne Rice’s Interview With A Vampire, which became a cult classic in 1994 and brought back creepy to vampires once again, and this movie even featured a child vampire. And let’s not forget the whole Goth culture of kids that sprouted up and really got into the whole vampire thang.

But today, producers thought that vampires needed an update. So in Twilight, vampires were not only going to high school, but also going to the prom. They frolicked around during the day in the meadow and perched in trees. But creatures going to highschool is not a new concept. Let’s not forget the corny movie Teen Wolf  which starred Michael J. Fox. He wasn’t a vampire, but a werewolf. And he was quite popular in school I might add. *snicker*

Twilight also put a bit of a spin on their leading vampire. Edward only drinks animal blood. That way his love interest Bella, would remain mortal and not be ”vampirized“. Perhaps Bella’s wish to become immortal will happen in the upcoming movie(s). After all, vampires are once again… back in. And back in a BIG way. With all the merchandising  that goes for movies these days, you can buy anything under the sun. (or should I say moon). I am really  surprised that Burger King didn’t come out with “Twilight Burgers” yet. I guess there’s always the next movie! 

So back to vampire Barbie dolls. I wonder if Edward comes with a mirror, some garlic, a cross and wooden stake?  Nah.. that’s the old vampire image. It’s more likely that if these Barbie dolls came with any accessories, they would probably come with a mini mp3 player and a skateboard.
After all Edward is forever 17 years old.

Yes Barbie has come a long way. Barbie Corvettes and Barbie Dream Houses are totally out, and Ken has been replaced by a hunky vampire.
And now I feel officially old.
What’s next ? Vampire baby dolls in Osh Kosh overalls? Oh wait….

Well, not sure if everyone in America wants to be a Pepper, but Dr Pepper sure wants to see Axl Rose release the long-awaited (and awaited and awaited) “Chinese Democracy” this year…so much so that the soft drink giant is offering a free can of Dr Pepper to every man, woman, and child in America (excluding Slash and Buckethead) if Axl releases his album in 2008:

Many have tried, but so far nobody has been able to pry the decade-in-the-works Guns N’ Roses album “Chinese Democracy” from the hands of lone remaining original member Axl Rose.

Now, Dr Pepper thinks it’s up to the challenge. The soft drink company says it will give a free can of Dr Pepper to “everyone in America” (excluding ex-Guns members Slash and Buckethead) if “Chinese Democracy” arrives anytime during the calendar year 2008. [...]

“Chinese Democracy” was most recently scheduled for release in March 2007, but promptly vanished from the schedule without a new date being set. Rose said at the time that all the recording had been completed, but there were some “scheduling difficulties.”

It will be the first album of fresh Guns N’ Roses material since the 1991 sets “Use Your Illusion I” and “Use Your Illusion II.” Rose has reportedly burned through $13 million in recording expenses for “Chinese Democracy,” and also burned his bridges with the bandmates who helped him turn Guns into one of the biggest rock groups in the world by the early 1990s.

Now there’s motivation if I ever saw it!

Axl, for his part, doesn’t seem to be as thirsty as other people are:

We are surprised and very happy to have the support of Dr Pepper with our album “Chinese Democracy,” as for us, this came totally out of the blue. If there is any involvement with this promotion by our record company or others, we are unaware of such at this time. And as some of Buckethead’s performances are on our album, I’ll share my Dr Pepper with him.

Could somebody please fetch the diva a manicurist, I think he has a hangnail and it’s making him a cranky-pants.

Here’s a thought…why not just have Axl buy us all a Dr Pepper and skip the album release altogether.  It isn’t like G&R are, oh, what’s the word I’m looking for…relevant? Did it suddenly become 1987 again when I wasn’t looking? I stopped caring about G&R (outside of “Sweet Child o’ Mine”) about the time I stopped bleaching my hair like Cyndi Lauper’s. (don’t ask)

Besides, it looks like Miss Thang has been spending a little too much time with Mr. Plastic Surgeon and Miss Hair Oh-No-You-Dinnt. I mean, look at the guy. What happened?

Scuze me. I need to step out to the corner mart for a moment.

I drink Dr Pepper, don’t you know
It’s the original taste that I love so
And the taste is making Peppers
Everywhere I go…

I’m a Pepper
He’s a Pepper
She’s a Pepper
We’re a Pepper
Wouldn’t you like to be a Pepper, too?

Be a Pepper, drink Dr Pepper…

Dear Santa:

I just wanted you to know that I’ve been very, very, very good this year and I have not been bad at all…at least, not so’s you’d notice.  I can explain about that time I hollered at that old grandma in Wal-Mart.  And there’s a perfectly good reason why I tailgated that guy on my way to church this week.  And I swear, I didn’t mean to be so nasty when that teenager working at Taco Bell forgot my chili cheese burrito.  There is a perfectly good explanation for all of this.

I’m just a wee bit crazy.

So, if you can overlook that, and realize that I really am trying, and that I have a good heart (that I’d like to get healthier), then you can understand why this is all I am asking for this year as my Christmas present.  You see, my badonkadonk has a bit more kadonk that I like, and I want to get it in shape.  But who has time, now that I am writing for GlossLip?  I barely have time to work in my three-hour daily nap, my afternoon carb overload, and my midnight Moon Pie odyssey, let alone find a chance to get on the treadmill.  This could solve all my problems.  Yes, I do need to learn how to type and walk at the same time, but I recently mastered the art of walking and thinking about where I am going, so I am pretty sure I can do it.

I know it is going to run about $6500 USD, but think of the joy you’ll give me when I find this under the Christmas tree.  And I promise, if you bring me one, I won’t write that piece about you and those suspicious “reindeer games”.  Hey, I can understand how these things happen, but I’m just sayin’, that’s all.  You forgot the numero uno rule of celebrityism…never record in any way what you don’t want to come back to haunt you.

Have a nice Christmas.  I’ll try to remember not to eat all the chocolate chip cookies and to leave you a couple.

kthxbai
k

 

(Note:  I have no idea what brand of lipstick Christina, Gwen, or Dita use, I just chose them because in these photos their lipstick color is red.)

The FDA today said they would look into claims from an advocacy group that says certain shades of red lipstick made in the USA have potentially harmful levels of lead:

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics said that a third of the 33 red lipsticks examined by an independent lab contained a level of lead exceeding 0.1 parts per million — which is the FDA’s limit for lead in candy. The FDA does not set a limit for lead in lipstick.

The organization commissioning the lipstick study says its goal is to pressure companies to remove toxic chemicals from their products and replace them with safer alternatives. The lead tests were conducted by an independent laboratory last month on red lipsticks bought in Boston, San Francisco, Minneapolis and Hartford, Conn., the organization said.

According to the Campaign For Safe Cosmetics:

More than half of 33 brand-name lipsticks tested (61 percent) contained detectable levels of lead, with levels ranging from 0.03 to 0.65 parts per million (ppm). None of these lipsticks listed lead as an ingredient.
One-third of the tested lipsticks exceeded the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s 0.1 ppm limit for lead in candy – a standard established to protect children from directly ingesting lead. Lipstick products, like candy, are directly ingested into the body. Nevertheless, the FDA has not set a limit for lead in lipstick, which fits with the disturbing absence of FDA regulatory oversight and enforcement capacity for the $50 billion personal care products industry. [...]

Among the top brands testing positive for lead were:
-L’Oreal Colour Riche “True Red” – 0.65 ppm
-L’Oreal Colour Riche “Classic Wine” – 0.58 ppm
-Cover Girl Incredifull Lipcolor “Maximum Red” – 0.56 ppm
-Dior Addict “Positive Red” – 0.21 ppm

Lead is a proven neurotoxin that can cause learning disabilities in children, can be the cause of lowered IQ and language problems, and can also cause behavioral problems such as increased aggression.  Small children and pregnant women are most at risk; lead easily crosses the placenta and enters the fetal brain.  It also has been linked to infertility and miscarriage.

While there is a certain amount of lead naturally present in some ingredients used to make lipsticks, most in the cosmetic industry say it is not intentionally added.  And a group representing the cosmetic industry says that the amount of lead present in makeup is negligible, anyway:

The trade association representing the cosmetic industry acknowledged “negligible” levels of lead in some lipsticks, but said it is not intentionally added.

“Consumers are exposed daily to lead when they eat, drink water and breathe the air,” said John Bailey, an executive vice president at the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association. “The average amount of lead a woman would be exposed to when using cosmetics is 1,000 times less than the amount she would get from eating, breathing, and drinking water that meets Environmental Protection Agency drinking water standards.”

Does it never end?  Our pets are poisoned, our fruits and vegetables are tainted, the toys we buy our preschoolers are toxic, and now we can’t wear lipstick without worrying that we’re endangering our health.  I don’t wear red red lipstick, but it’s worrisome just the same.  Most lip colors are just some shade of red, anyway…pink, brown, violet, coral, all shades of red.  I don’t think there is a need to get hysterical about this, but it should make us stop and think about the products we use on our faces and bodies, and perhaps push for them to be more stringently regulated.

A historical note:  Some scholars say that Queen Elizabeth I was slowly poisoned by the lead in her makeup, called ceruse…a mixture of white lead and vinegar.  We have come a long way since Elizabethan times….I think.

You can download the entire report including names of all test subjects and their performance here.

 

We here at Glosslip aren’t just satisfied with bringing you the latest in celebrity news – we have other skillz too!  Our resident ninja-stylist and fashionista, D-Bomb (witness protection program assignment) will be bringing you weekly tips on the best styling products, fashion trends and tips to overall enhance you life.  If it’s hot, she already has the third-degree-burns to prove it.  And she whips up a mean mojito. 

So unless you want your hair to look like Britney Spears scabby-beat-ass-weave you better listen up!

But wait, there’s more…