OUCH! In a new interview with USA Today, Stephen King was asked about his thoughts on the writing talents of J.K. Rowling (who created the amazing Harry Potter series of books) and Stephenie Meyer (who created the Twilight Saga that is all the rage with the tweens these days) and he had some very nice things to say about Rowling. When he gave his opinion of Meyer, well, I think it’s best if I just let him speak for himself:

Stephen King’s opinion may drive a stake through the heart of “Twilight” author Stephenie Meyer. In an interview with USA Weekend, the bestselling author compared Meyer with J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series. According to Stephen, “Both Rowling and Meyer, they’re speaking directly to young people… The real difference is that Jo Rowling is a terrific writer and Stephenie Meyer can’t write worth a darn. She’s not very good.” Meeooww! While Stephen may not be a fan of Stephenie’s writing, he understands the appeal of the series. “People are attracted by the stories, by the pace, and in the case of Stephenie Meyer, it’s very clear that she’s writing to a whole generation of girls and opening up kind of a safe joining of love and sex in those books. It’s exciting and it’s thrilling and it’s not particularly threatening because it’s not overtly sexual.” He further explains, “A lot of the physical side of it is conveyed in things like, the vampire will touch her forearm or run a hand over skin, and she just flushes all hot and cold. And for girls, that’s a shorthand for all the feelings that they’re not ready to deal with yet.”

To be fair, King also states that author Dean Koontz is “sometimes … just awful” and that author James Patterson “is a terrible writer” … so it’s not just Stephenie Meyer that he is not too fond of. To be completely honest, I see his point. Having read the entire Twilight Saga, I also do not feel that Meyer is a particularly good writer … even tho she is able to capture the imagination of millions. Rowling, on the other hand, is an absolute master storyteller and is, IMHO, a brilliant author. They’re just very different … and both very entertaining writers. I have always respected Stephen King for his brutal honesty … he may not always have the most popular thing to say but, at least you know he’s being honest. If I can interject my own opinion on Stephen King’s writing … over all, I’m a fan. I’ve enjoyed way more books of his than I’ve not enjoyed — but there have been those books of his that are absolutely terrible. They can’t all be gems … and to each their own. I’m sure some Meyer fans are bound to give King flak for his comments but I ain’t mad at him. He’s merely giving his opinion … which may resonate with some and clash with others.

[Source]

The New York Post has a semi-regular feature that showcases prominent New Yorkers photographed at their desks and explains the work that they do, in the environment where they do it. This week, the NYP features two people who I am very fond of … Tim Gunn from Project Runway and David Hauslaib, my boo:

On the face of it, a desk doesn’t amount to much. It’s a flat slab of wood or glass on legs, with maybe a few drawers attached. But given the number of hours many of us spend at them, they take on styles as idiosyncratic and varied as our dwellings, reflecting not only someone’s aesthetic sensibility, but also their working habits and the rituals that shape their day. With that in mind, we asked five notable city folks for what you might call a desktop tour:

What’s next: Applying more of a magazine model to the blogs. “Our editorial calendar used to be 24 hours long, but we’re planning packages ahead of time now.”

Yay! What a great piece and doesn’t David look hawt in his photo (Tim’s not bad either). Regarding David’s piece … I have to admit that I’ve never seen him EVER play with that Etch-A-Sketch (which came from his Xmas stocking) but the bit about the “4-to-5-cups-a-day habit” … yeah, that’s totally right on. On a really exciting day, it’s more like 7-to-8 cups a day. The window behind him looks out onto the corner of 6th Ave. and Greenwich Ave. and, I have to share, a framed photo of the two of us (the first photo we ever took together, on the day we met in Amsterdam in 2006) is on the table next to his desk … not that I’m AT ALL bothered that fact didn’t make the piece ;) In any event, I totally love this little NYP piece on David and Tim. Click HERE to see which other notable New Yorkers and their desks are featured this week.

[Source]

The new issue of Empire magazine features the first photos to come from the Transformers sequel, Revenge of the Fallen, which is due for release later on this year. Additionally, USA Today has a few Transformers 2 exclusives of their own. Here are the pics that appear in the new issue of Empire magazine:

If there’s one film out next year that sums up the word ‘blockbuster’ it’s Michael Bay’s monster sequel to 2007’s Transformers. It’s perhaps appropriate then that Transformers 2 kick starts our big 2009 preview feature in the latest issue of Empire (on sale now). You can read all about our exclusive visit to the Cairo set of the film in the issue and, in the meantime, cast your eyes down to see some exclusive new images from the film.

Woot! I am very much looking forward to the release of this movie. As you may recall, we got to see both Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox on the desert set of this Transformers sequel earlier in the year and it looks like they’ve got a lot of production on the film already in the can. After the jump, check out a few more pics which are featured in the new issue of USA Today …

READ THE REST OF THIS POST »

Faking Breaking News! The Sun newspaper is reporting that Eddie Murphy has signed on to play The Riddler in the new Batman sequel which they claim is titled Gotham. Despite the fact that no other news outlet has any of this information, The Sun goes on to further claim that Shia LaBeouf has been cast as Robin and Rachel Weiz has signed on as Catwoman. Umm … yeah:

FUNNYMAN EDDIE MURPHY will play The Riddler in the next Batman movie, The Sun can reveal. The Beverly Hills Cop star, 47, has been signed up by British director CHRISTOPHER NOLAN to reprise the role played by JIM CARREY in 1995’s Batman Forever. The surprise move follows speculation linking Pirates of the Caribbean star JOHNNY DEPP to the part. The film, set for a 2010 release, is being developed under the working title Gotham. Execs have also signed up rising Transformers star SHIA LABEOUF, 22, to play Robin. CHRISTIAN BALE will return as Bruce Wayne, while MICHAEL CAINE will again play Bruce’s assistant Alfred. Meanwhile, Brit RACHEL WEISZ is said to be up for the Catwoman role. Insiders also revealed to The Sun the flick will end on a cliffhanger over whether Batman survives a blast at Wayne Towers.

While I don’t really believe a single word of this report, I figured it’d be prudent to pass along the information cuz, I guess you never really know. Click HERE to read the full story at The Sun’s official website. So … do any of y’all think that there could be any bit of truth to any of this?

[Source]

Woot! A new day has dawned here in America … and the World … and while there is still much to celebrate, there is also much work to get done in the aftermath. It’s also time to get back to the goss ;) Yesterday I created a photo album of friends and Pink readers proudly showing off the I Voted stickers (or handmade signs) that they were given after they voted yesterday and today we get to see a whole bunch of photos of celebs showing off their I Voted stickers, too. Americans came out in record numbers to vote yesterday and those numbers included celebs … here are a few of them who exercised their right to vote yesterday:

Depending on where the celebs live, these photos were snapped in NYC and here in LA. Here is another batch of celebs who came out to vote yesterday:

I’m pretty sure that some of these celebs were voting for President for the first time in their lives and it seems pretty safe to assume that the lion’s share of them added to President-elect Barack Obama’s historic win.

I’ve been getting emails and messages from around the World of folks cheering on Obama’s victory as news of his election as the 44th President of the United States of America made headlines around the world. Here are a few of the UK papers splashing the news across their covers:

David tells me that newsstands all over NYC are selling out of copies of The New York Times, etc. so I would suggest that y’all snap up your local newspapers — wherever in the country you are — and put them away for posterity. I’m just sayin’ ;)

Madonna was in concert in San Diego, CA last night and was on stage when news of Obama’s win was announced … she happily broke the news to her assembled audience and talked a little bit about the momentous nature of the win while on stage. After the jump, check out video of her impromptu speech …

READ THE REST OF THIS POST »

The LA Times is eagerly counting down to the release date of the much-anticipated Twilight movie based on the book of the same name. Robert Pattinson stars as the beauteous vampire Edward in the film and is featured in a new LA Times article that is due for publication on November 2. To tease the article’s release, the Times have released a new photo of Mr. Pattinson with furry facial hair that was snapped earlier this month for the article’s accompanying photospread. Twilight fans might want to brace themselves for the bounteousness ahead … behold:

29 days left … In today’s gift bag we have this exclusive shot of Robert Pattinson taken earlier this month for an upcoming story about “Twilight” in The Times. Publish date: Nov. 2. Write it down.) You’re welcome. I now welcome your thoughts on it. The facial hair, I think, is very un-Edward. (Could Bella’s marble prince even grow facial hair? It seems unlikely). But do we like it just the same? Does it make Robert sexier? More smoldering? Or just too Wolverine? Perhaps he’s sporting the new look in the name of Spunk Ransom’s next Whiskey A Go-Go gig.

I gotta say … I like the facial hair. It’s a nice look on him. While he may be lookin’ more Jacob than Edward in this pic, I think that Pattinson fans will take very kindly to this new photo … yes? What do y’all think of Robert’s new look?

Incidentally, while shopping at Hot Topic yesterday for Halloween costume ideas I came across an aisle of Twilight merchandise for sale … including this t-shirt:

It should be noted that Hot Topic also offers Team Jacob t-shirts but the store I was at in Burbank, CA was out of stock on those. Click HERE to get your Team Edward shirt, click HERE to get Team Jacob.

[Source]

Just days after the UK newspaper The Sun broke the worldwide story that Madonna and Guy Ritchie were announcing their divorce, the British publication newly reports that the divorce deal between the couple has already been struck and will be finalized soon. Considering The Sun was absolutely correct on the initial reporting of the divorce, I’m more inclined to believe this settlement report. According to The Sun, Guy will get $20 million dollars in cash and the couple’s British properties:

GUY RITCHIE will get at least £20million in cash and properties worth many more millions in his surprise settlement with MADONNA, it emerged last night. The 40-year-old film director gets the couple’s 1,200-acre country estate and a swanky London pub. The cash is to cover their London properties — a family townhouse in Marylebone, a ten-bedroom property next door and two mews cottages each. The total value will be around $60million — enough for Guy to walk away satisfied … Guy will also be happy to get the couple’s Punch Bowl pub in Mayfair and the Ashcombe House estate in Berwick St John, Wilts. Madonna, 50, on tour in the US, keeps her New York and Los Angeles homes without having to delve deep into her estimated £300million fortune. A source close to the couple told The Sun last night: “The negotiations were relatively painless. Guy knew what he wanted and Madonna knew what she was keen to keep. There was a spell when Guy was in a mood to dig his heels in, but he decided this arrangement seemed reasonable and a long battle over money would make life unbearable.” Madonna is being represented by famous divorce lawyer Fiona Shackleton, who played a pivotal role in protecting SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY’s fortune from his ex-wife Heather Mills this year. Shackleton negotiated with Guy’s lawyers in a day of frantic phone calls. They are expected to reach a compromise over their kids — Lourdes, 12, Rocco, eight, and David Banda, three … Meanwhile, we can reveal that Madonna went to New York in August to ask best pal GWYNETH PALTROW for advice on whether to save her marriage or get a divorce. She told actress Gwyneth she was considering staying with Guy because she is “terrified of being alone”. The source said: “They decided it would make sense to end the marriage before it became even more painful.”

As sad as I am to learn of Maddy’s divorce from Guy, this report of a quick and quiet settlement does not surprise me in the least. I absolutely contend that the couple will remain cordial and friendly thruout these divorce proceedings and everything from the money to the kids will be decided upon quickly and to each person’s satisfaction. Sad to say, in retrospect, I guess I can see how trouble may have been brewing between the two of them over the past months and mebbe years. I never expected this split to get ugly and it looks like it won’t. This may end up being the quietest, most friendly celeb divorce ever.

[Source]