Boys are Back in Town

Remember the ultimate boy band Backstreet Boys? Girls swooned over their ever popular songs - “Quite Playing Games”, “Get Down” and “I Want it That Way”? Famed for music videos that persistently linger in your head way after you've turned off the TV – Take That-style open button shirt, splashing about in the rain, slinky dances moves? I must admit they were the popular buzz until N-Sync came along with the aptly named “Bye-Bye-Bye”.



Well, seems like these boys are back in business again. Their new album Unbreakable is coming on in the US on 30th October. Take note, eager fans! With promises of an autograph signing session at Virgin Megastore Times Square 45th & Broadway, on Tuesday, October 30th @ 6PM, this is definitely a Dear Diary moment!



After their two year sabbatical from the music world ( no album releases remember? ), it will be interesting to see what these boys have to offer. Especially now that the magical five has lost the lankier member of the group. Yes, didn't I mention it before? Kevin Richardson has bid adieu to his singing buds to expand his horizons ( in the music world, of course) ; to seek the meaning of life and universe, that sort of thing. Last I heard he was spicing up the score for the animated movie the Spirit Bear.

Question is, will they nostalgically ape styles from their hey-day in 90's or will they set new trends more appropriate for the last decade of the 21st Century?

Leonardo and Scorsese together for Shutter Island

Dennis Lehane must be a movie maker's dream come true. Well, at least his books are. First it was Mystic River, then Gone Baby Gone and now Shutter Island! Yes, finally, his eerie tale set in set amidst the Cold War paranoia is coming to the big screen. Watch out Harry Potter, there's a new book-to-movie craze coming along. I'd suggest 's books but some of them didn't quite have the box office ka-ching that Lehane and Potter ushers in, does it?





As for Shutter Island, it's an intriguing crime novel that keeps you guessing until the very end. Of course all the die hard fans of the novel have probably thumbed through the book endless times and bookmarked your favorite bits. They don't need to know if the butler did it. Oh no, they want to know about the man behind the camera, the man who will, hopefully, make movie magic for this super thriller. In other words, should they send him thank-you flowers or are we going to the garden shed for our pitch forks?





Have no fear. If you are looking for big names, how does Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio sound? Synonymous with movie moolah and famous for portrayal of testosterone-driven, emotionally disturbed male characters. And need I mention that numerous awards have found cozy homes on their mantelpiece?

Is this another Oscar award in the making?

Mutant Posh

Horrid breakout of acne, ghastly gammy legs and glaringly luminous eyes are the colorful words linked with the newest cameo on Ugly Betty. Ready to dismiss it as a new angle to hike ratings for the show? Think again. These are the choice words used to describe the incredibly famous and over rated Victoria Beckham. Mostly by herself and strangely enough about herself.

Stay with me on this. After reading about Posh (anyone else think of fluffy poodles when they hear this word?) Beckham's pimple attack, I used the ever friendly googling option. And you know what? Almost all were vehement denials by Posh claiming, I don't have spots, nor gammy legs and I hate my luminous hair. Yea, everyone is talking about the ugly spots but I honestly have not caught onto scarecrow legs ( you want to call her toothpick legs anything else?) nor glow in the dark hair until she was thoughtful enough to point that out. Is this the silent rage of someone with an image complex?






I mean truly, so you have an acne breakout. Big deal, everyone gets it and a million and one treatments are there for a reason. Judging from her past extravaganzas involving $119 facials, she's got their phone numbers taped to the fridge door.

And really, who cares about her gammy legs? Thanks for pointing that out though. Now anyone unaware of those news will be scrambling over each other to see what her legs look like. Possibly right after they look up meaning of 'gammy'.





Need I even mention the hair? The rate at which her I-pose-more-than-I-play husband changes his hairdo, no one will notice her radioactive bob cut. Listen to the number of parents complaining about teenagers shamelessly imitating celebrities. She can put a skunk on her head and millions will follow without question. That's what celebrities do, they set the trends, they pull the strings and they promote weird fashion. Get with it.

Deed Worthy of a Slytherin

What happens in Bahamas stays in Bahamas. At least that's what magician David Copperfield was hoping for. Unfortunately for him, the FBI was not falling for his bag of tricks.

World famous Illusionist David Copperfield is being investigated by the FBI. Apparently there has been claims of sexual assault in the Bahamas. No, he didn't drink a bit much and pounce on an unsuspecting tour guide. Seems like this was between him and another US citizen, probably on holiday? His lawyer David Chesnoff has the classic “oh-puleeze” reply to these allegations - “We know these allegations are false because David Copperfield has never forced himself on anyone.” So what's the real story? Trick of the hand, typical now-you-see-it-now-you-don't scenario or the ...er pulling bunny out of hat routine? Let's assume something did happen, I mean they are simply stating that “he's not that kinda guy” and simply not taking the Clinton route with “he did not sleep with anyone in Bahamas.”




Here's the weird bit. If the allegations are of sexual misconduct, why did the FBI seize a computer hard drive, a memory chip from a digital camera and close to $2 million in cash from his Las Vegas warehouse? How is that related? Let's see, camera took pictures of the lady, computer was used to email them to questionable websites and the cash was money reeling in from profits? I'm just guessing here.

Wait, it gets better. Turns out this investigation is connected to a case in Seattle. Really? Another woman accusing him perhaps? Something he downloaded in the wee hours of morn from a Seattle based site? He waved his hands and a woman based in Seattle appeared magically in his bed in Bahamas? Only time will tell.





Here's a possibly bizarre angle to the story. Doesn't Copperfield call Bahamas his second home? Does anyone else remember him purchasing a cluster of four islands in Bahamas called Musha Cay? There was that strange claim that he has found the fountain of youth there? Biologists and geologists had been hired by him to investigate it? Oookay! Now you wonder what he gets up to in Bahamas, in the name of prolonging his youth of course.





Something tells me Copperfield has lost the plot. Whatever happened to splashing out on a fancy sports car to appease your middle life crisis. Only a magician would take vanishing cream that seriously.

Rowling on a Roll

Spoiler alert: This story reveals some key plot points in the final Harry Potter book.

You know what they say about 15 minutes of fame. It's your moment but it sure doesn't last. You also get those artfully makes the most of the spotlight; if you keep making a noise you'll still be the hottest news since chocolate donuts. Would you agree if I said this rings true for attention hogging stars like Paris Hilton, racing about like a caffeine crazy squirrel, rampant and wild with their mindless lifestyles? Question is, would you also think the same of the super famous Joanne Kathleen Rowling?



Rowling, better known as J.K. Rowling, the writer who penned the magical tales of Harry Potter and friends has recently released the much awaited final tale of the Potter frenzy. Fans sigh with sadness, religious groups rejoice and parents worry about their kids ever reading again. Not Rowling though. Instead of grieving the end, it looks like she is devising methods to prolong her 15 minutes in the limelight.

Don't get me wrong, I like the Potter books. And you have to give her credit for stellar social work. I just wonder about “I wanna be in the news today” schemes.

Take for instance her latest comment. During a Q&A session with fans on her US tour, she casually let is slip that good old Dumbledore is gay. Here you would pause and think “Hmm, that does explain late night sessions with Gellert Grindelwald from Deathy Hallows, don't it?” Bold move and, quite frankly, much needed portrayal of diversity amidst fictional characters. Good job on her part.



Then she goes on to mention that this is probably more ammunition for religious groups to dislike her books. Now just a minute ... Can anyone else remember her comment just few days ago? The surprising remark about underlying Christian messages in the Potter books? The biblical quotes on on Potter's parent's graves, the resurrection of Potter, immortal soul? I've honestly not thought about that. More importantly, has anyone informed the anti-Potter religious groups about this new revelation? Then came the second declaration - "I go to church myself,". Good for you. I don't see why she has to justify herself but I'm sure she has her reasons.



Ahh, but she does have very valid reasons, doesn't she? Bringing Dumbledore out of the closet, announcing religious themes in Potter books – give one of the Potter characters a drug problem and you've got three of the main news grabbing topics amidst the media. Think about it – anyone revealing their sexual orientation or being caught in any act that even vaguely implies homosexuality guarantees celebrities front page coverage. Throw in controversial or surprise comments about religion and you might be invited to elaborate on a talk show. Add a nasty drug habit and the camera will not waver from your face.



I'm not saying Rowling loves dodgy substances. Far from it. But I am curious to know how much attention she is planning to grab when she hinted at a Potter encyclopedia this July. Maybe there will be a dramatic confession about Voldermort snorting cocaine or even selling drugs. Maybe Hagrid trying some LSD in this youth that led to a creature war?

So much to explore about Potter, so much possible ways to make more money. Rowling is truly riding the most of the Potter wave all the way through to the bank.