Iron Man star Robert Downey, Jr. was spotted making his way out of the Waverly Inn in NYC last night proudly showing off a sassy new porn’ stache:

And, as usual, he was also carting around one of his manbags. The accessory I don’t mind but the facial hair … I’m not too sure about. The ’stache makes him look a bit like Javier Bardem but not in a good way … do we like?

[Photo credit: Splash News]

There were a few rumors going around that X Factor judges Dannii Minogue and Sharon Osbourne weren’t the best of friends when they worked together on the show but now that Sharon has been replaced with Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Cole, things appear to be hunky-dory for all involved. Here are a few pics of a happy-looking Dannii making her way into an X Factor meeting in the UK today where, no doubt, she enjoyed a much less drama-filled work environment:

t wouldn’t be X Factor without a few scraps between judges. But there was no sign of reported tension as Dannii Minogue arrived for the show’s launch. Looking radiant in a cute strapless dress and fabulous pink shoes, the Australian popstar was all smiles for the camera. There have been reports of underlying strain between Dannii, 36, and newcomer Cheryl Cole, 25, with some newspapers claiming the pair barely speak to each other on set. In a preview for the show, an immaculately made-up Cheryl shows signs of stress as she struggles to hold back the tears – although the reason for her distress is not known. Dannii claims she is thrilled the Girls Aloud star has replaced Sharon Osbourne on the panel. Sharon, 55, who left the show in June after allegedly making extortionate wage demands, had upset Dannii by claiming she had only got the job as a judge because of her good looks. Dannii welcomed Cheryl with the words: “She brings a breath of fresh air to the show and isn’t afraid to voice her opinions.” X Factor supremo Simon Cowell praised Cheryl as “a little fighter” and said she was there to bring honesty to the panel.

Aww … Dannii looks amazing and I’m happy to hear that things should be a lot less bitchy on X Factor (which is kinda like our American Idol) now that Sharon has left the show. Incidentally, Sharon has joined the judging panel of America’s Got Talent so she is David Hasselhoff’s problem now. I think Dannii and Cheryl Cole make a great team of judges … they can offer a Paula Abdul-like perspective but without the booziness ;)

PS: I love the pink shoes!

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]

Anna Faris, the star of the upcoming new comedy The House Bunny, is featured on the cover and in the pages of the new issue of Playboy magazine … tho, unlike some other Playboy covergirls, Anna stays fully clothed and does not appear in the mag’s centerfold with a staple thru her belly-button. In the mag, she opens up about her self-esteem issues and a bit about her raunchy comedic talents:

Anna Faris plays a Playboy bunny in the upcoming film The House Bunny and posed (clothed) for the September cover of Playboy magazine – but she says she wasn’t always so eager to show off her physique. In high school, “I felt unattractive, short and self-conscious about my body, and I would purposely emphasize that by doing odd things,” Faris, 31, tells Playboy. “I wore glasses, braces, odd hairdos and dumpy clothes. I was clumsy and awkward. When I was a freshman I wore a Christmas tree skirt as a cape. I couldn’t get any dates until senior year.” That’s not really a problem anymore for Faris, who was divorced from her husband, Ben Indra, in February. Neither are raunchy comedy roles – which even her parents are used to now. “When I went with my parents and brother to see Scary Movie at a Seattle strip mall the opening weekend, I was like, ‘Mom, there’s going to be a couple of points when I’m going to need you to go to the bathroom or get me popcorn. Just obey me,’” she says. “Now I’ve totally broken them in.”

Without a doubt, The House Bunny looks like it’s going to be the funniest movie of the summer, at least to me. When I first saw the trailer earlier this year I couldn’t stop laughing … there are so many things in the trailer that are laugh out loud, riotously hilarious (like, the trick she employs to remember people’s names, for example). Anna is one of my fave comedic actresses … she is very good at what she does and I don’t think she gets the attention and lurve that she deserves. I am planning on seeing The House Bunny the day it opens … tho, I might pass on picking up this issue of Playboy ;)

[Source, Source]

Liz Phair, amazing musician and sexpot, is featured in the new issue of Fashion Rocks magazine which came as a supplement to the September issue of Details magazine. The magazine which marries music and fashion showcases the lovely Ms. Phair in a short piece on her new album and offers some new insight about her previous work that I was unaware of:

In the piece, entitled Dirty Pretty Thing, Liz gushes a bit about her new boyfriend for the early part of the article without offering too much information about him … which I thought was kinda cute. She talks about her debut album Exile in Guyville but it’s pretty much the same sort of stuff that we’ve heard her say over the years … I was more interested in learning that her last album Somebody’s Miracle (which I love) did not feature her on guitar. She wrote all of the music but she claims that higher-ups at her record label (Capitol) insisted on having the guitarist in her band play all of her guitar parts for her:

The album was then barely promoted and ultimately flopped, yet Phair says label president Andy Slater made it as difficult as possible for her to get out of her contract.

The final portion of the article talks about her upcoming return to her “indie roots” by releasing an album on Dave Matthews’s ATO Records label:

On her upcoming album, she’s happily preserving the “messy, sloppy Liz Phair core of passion” by reinstating spontaneity as the key ingredient. Every sound will be genuine Phair, not just her vocals and guitars but sounds from her everyday life, like the thundering horse hooves of her corral and the waves crashing outside her Manhattan Beach, CA home … “Everything I’ve been doing is coming from a really right place, like I’ve never been this happy …”

To which I say, Hallelujah. Unlike a bitchy group of indie snobs who cast her out and basically spit upon her — metaphorically, of course — after she released her “mainstream” album Liz Phair, I have been a huge fan of hers from the start. Getting to see her perform 2 nights at the Hiro Ballroom earlier this summer was such a treat … I am so ready for new Liz Phair music. I’m excited at the prospect of a totally Phair album … all her, entirely. She is an amazing talent and I know the best is yet to come. If you’re not familiar with her work, I highly suggest you seek it out. She is one of my fave artists ever, I think y’all may love her, too.

[Source]

John Mayer, fresh from his dumping of most recent girlfriend Jennifer Aniston, stepped out in NYC today with a new look that seems to be inspired by everyone’s favorite whacko — Michael Jackson. Believe it or not, the dude wrapped up in all of this … stuff … is actually the newly single John Mayer:

Um … yeah … this new look is really reminiscent of the look that Michael Jackson wore on a visit to Bahrain in early 2006 where he was seen wearing a traditional Arabic women’s veil and all-covering gown … you know, except with blue jeans. He’s single now, ladies … any takers?

[Photo credit: Splash News]

In an update to an earlier post today, it is my extreme pleasure to report that prospectors have decided to drop all charges of assault against Christian Bale (stemming from an incident with estranged members of his family late last month) in full. It was earlier reported that Christian would be able to evade criminal charges and would only receive a “caution” IF he admitted guilt in open court next month, it now turns out that that won’t be necessary … he won’t be facing any charges at all:

Batman star Christian Bale will not face charges relating to an alleged assault last month on his mother and sister, prosecutors said Thursday, suggesting their decision was based in part on the family members’ wishes. Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service said there was insufficient evidence to afford a “realistic prospect of conviction,” and ordered police not to take any further action. The service said in a statement that while it “treats all incidents which take place in a domestic context seriously, it is important that the views of complainants are also taken into account when making decisions in such cases.” Bale, who denies the allegation, said through his spokeswoman, Jennifer Allen, that he was relieved the issue had been settled. The actor “hopes to put the matter firmly behind him” and will be providing no further comment, Allen said in a statement released by Bale’s lawyers.

Whew! This is great news for Christian Bale. I was wary of him admitting guilt in open court just to have the issue resolved without criminal prosecution but that is no longer an issue … the case has been dropped, there is nothing further to be said on his part. At least this ugly incident has been resolved and he can carry on. What do y’all think? Was this the right course of action?

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No big news from yesterday … the major accomplishment for me was my first trip to the gas pump with my new car. Now, of course this news isn’t at all exciting but I am a bit embarrassed to admit that I had to read the car’s manual to figure out how to open the gas tank! I searched high and low for the gas tank release latch only to learn that there isn’t one … you just press on the door and it pops open — voila! Yeah, I’m a total dork.

Last night I got to meet up with and have dinner at my fave Thai place EVER Rambutan with my good friend Michael. He and I haven’t had the chance to hang out for a few weeks so it was cool getting to catch up with him. But, yeah, that was pretty much my day. David arrives from NYC late tonight and then we fly out to Wyoming tomorrow afternoon where we will be until Sunday. It’ll be a quick trip but I’m sure it’ll be a hella fun trip.