HowLegit Blog

In Search of a New Legend

2009-08-18T03:27:00.000-07:00

First of all, deep, deep apologies for the long disappearance, and many thanks to those of you who wrote to check in if I was ok. I was, just took off to introduce the family to the new bubby. We are all back, and my thoughts are brimming.

I was one of those people who cried when I heard about the death of Michael Jackson. On the eve of his burial, it's fit to look around and wonder, who will be the legends in our generation of entertainment. I see contenders, but I will admit, I am not impressed. All the potentials have some characteristics of the master, but not all. For instance, when it comes to sheer entertaining capacity, we have some class acts like Beyonce. For new direction in music and dance, we could probably look to Justin Timberlake for the next couple of years (even though recent press has been more focused on his love life than on his career). We have seriously bad plastic surgery and family acts, drug addictions and failed romances but we don't have one living legend, who will roll it all together, and inspire us for decades on end. There was Elvis, and the Beatles, and then there was Michael Jackson. RIP, Michael. There will never be another.

(Thank you for indulging me - this post wasn't supposed to be a tribute. It just became one. Had to get it out of my system, I guess.)

Heidi and Spencer and "I'm A Celebrity": The Reality Behind Reality TV

2009-06-08T03:01:00.000-07:00

The current controversy doing the rounds involving Heidi Montag, Spencer Pratt and NBC's newest reality show (fiasco?), "I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here", is doing more than providing entertainment, it's about to expose reality TV as we know it today. And quite frankly, it's about bloody time!

The newlyweds claim to be have been tortured to the point of death, and the network, while defending its safety arrangements, accuses Heidi and Spencer of being completely unprofessional and seeking to quit the show against their contract. Looks like the off-the-scene show is messier than the on-screen one. Now one must wonder: did Speidi understand the premise of the show, or were they so stardom-hungry that they jumped on the wagon for the next newest thing, without a thought to the fact that they may actually have to do some work? Let's face it, Speidi have been known to do the darndest things for fame, and they don't exactly have a reputation for authenticity. What kind of torture chamber was this anyway, where they were allegedly deprived of food and water, but provided with an internet connection that enabled them to twitter? Sounds very ominous!

Regardless of how this messy media war pans out, one thing is sure: it will reveal the fascinating truth about just how real reality TV is, for those who are interested. As a start, here's a read about the politics that brew alongside such drama behind the scenes. Aren't you glad HowLegit exists to help you make sense of it all? I certainly am!

HowLegit Seeking Star Ambassadors - Protect Your Favorite Stars from Celebrity Goss That Just Ain't True!

2009-05-25T03:22:00.000-07:00

Don't you hate it when you want to learn something about a celebrity, and you have to sift through pages of dribble to find anything newsworthy or accurate? Or when bloggers or "journalists" throw out rumors and insinuations with sensationalist headlines, just to get your attention? Well, I do, too, and that's why I started HowLegit.com. Now you can be a part of the media revolution by signing up to be a HowLegit Star Ambassador.

As an Ambassador, it's your job to keep up with the news on your favorite star, and tell the world what's actually going on by using HL's unique voting system!

Can't wait?

Here's how you sign up:
Go to www.howlegit.com and create a user profile.
Then email kaamna@howlegit.com and let me know that you would like to be an Ambassador.

You'll even get a badge on your profile so everyone knows that when it comes to a particular celeb, you're the one in the know.

ACCEPTING AMBASSADORS NOW! SIGN UP BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE REPRESENTS YOUR FAVORITE STAR AND YOU'RE JUST LEFT, WONDERING WHAT'S LEGIT!

HowLegit's Celeb Moms We Love

2009-05-09T04:29:00.000-07:00

In the world of celebrity news, we are always looking out for mothers who get it wrong. This Mother's Day, we decided it was time to pay tribute to the moms who do it right. (HowLegit did a piece on the other kind a while ago too. Check it out). These moms love being moms and we love watching them be moms. They're the kind of women who spend their off days in the park, and whose kids won't end up in rehab! Presenting HowLegit's Celeb Moms We Love:

Cate Blanchett

Cate is one of the few in Hollywood to shun plastic surgery, and it's a good thing too. Very rarely do you find a celebrity who is this true to her art form, and who looks so good doing it. When she is not dazzling the silver screen or running the Sydney Theater Company with her Director husband, Cate enjoys family time, and may well be planning a new addition!

Heidi Klum

Here's a lady who grows more elegant with each successive child. Having announced that she and husband, Seal are pregnant with their fourth child (a girl), Heidi Klum still dazzles us with her grace and beauty. While her career continues to evolve, Heidi still maintains her sense of humor, and quality time for the kids.

Jennifer Garner

What's not to love about Jennifer Garner? Although her first choice for a profession didn't work out, probably because she was just to good looking to be a librarian, Jennifer Garner juggles her current roles of mum and superstar with characteristic ease. How does she do it? A killer fitness regime, and a very well-trained husband, no doubt!

Michelle Obama

Not only is she the First Lady of the country, Michelle Obama is also the first lady to ever tell the White House staff not to do their jobs! Little Malia and Sasha live by the same house rules, no matter what color the house. In her first 100 days, Michelle has proven that she has her feet firmly planted to the ground, and her fashion ratings soaring to the ceiling. And she even loves animals!

Celebrity Twits

2009-04-22T04:05:00.000-07:00

Ashton Kutcher has found his calling: he is the ultimate Twitterer. He now joins the ranks of Twitter Royalty like Oprah and others of the million dollar matrix. Eager to dethrone the reigning King Twit, Spencer Pratt has challenged Ashton to another race to see which one of them can add the most users in the next 30 days (couldn't really be a race to 2 million since Ashton has an 800k head start over him). While the general debate is entertaining, I can't help wondering, why do we care about what these people have to say (or twit, as the case would be)?

People today become celebrities by reciting other people's words and by executing someone else's vision. This certainly requires talent, but being profound in 140 characters is a totally different skill set. Yet, one million of us have tuned in to hear Ashton's thoughts on the government, or his favorite bedtime lullaby. If the celebrity in question were a writer or a politician (Spencer Pratt doesn't count), I would get it, and those on Twitter have a well deserved following for sure. But why we are so fascinated with the mind of someone who makes his living by thinking like someone other than himself confuses me a little. As if that's not enough, Kutcher's company, Katalyst media is spearheading a deal with UStream that will enable live streaming of celebrities. Your favorite celebs, unscripted, uncensored, and unairbrushed. Really? Ew.

Sure we get random tit-bits about their lives (Miley Cyrus likes Spanish boys), and perhaps even believe that we are one step closer to interacting with them directly (how much do you think Diddy's Chief Executive Twitterer makes?), but it seems as if they want their off-screen characters to get more attention than their on-screen ones. And it truly takes all the fun out of celebrity stalking. So, ease up, boys, leave a little to the imagination.

PS. If you have an opinion on whether Spencer will beat Ashton, vote here

Stardom Equals Singledom?

2009-04-08T23:18:00.000-07:00

Celebrity split-ups have always been hot news, especially since they tend to be particularly dysfunctional or expensive, and we as human beings like nothing more than to see other people stripped down to their base survival instincts. By that standard, 2008 this year was a highlight with the very high profile divorce of Madonna and Guy Ritchie, which included all the regular gory elements like custody battles, mud-slinging, and interfering in-laws. And our focus on the final number of the settlement ($70 million) and the sensationalism of it all versus the emotions of the people (and not to mention, children) involved confirms the very obvious truth: Celebrity status and "in a relationship" status are mutually exclusive.

It seems that celebrities just can't be in relationships, and we, the onlookers, have become so acclimatized to this that we contemplate the "when" not the "if" of every celebrity break-up. The piece of information that confirmed this for me was the news that SJP and hubby of 12 years, Mathew Broderick are calling it quits. One can only speculate about what a celebrity couple has to fight about. It's not "normal" couple problems like who does the dishes, or spending too much money (presumably these are non-issues in a celebrity household). So it must be those usual hollywood predators like insecurity, infidelity, or .. competition? Two stars in one house is just too many to handle?

While celebrities have different problems, they also have many that are just too much the same. The recent RiRi and Chris Brown flare-up was nothing more than the familiar cycle of domestic abuse. Their celebrity status may have shone a very bright light on their relationship, but there is nothing unique about its emotional implications. And what about the kids in such situations? What happens to the Brat Pack if Brad and Angie split because Brad was really sleeping with the nanny? (Or his ex-girlfriend?)

I can count on my fingers some long-term celebrity couples, and the sad thing is, their remarkable achievement is never in the limelight. When was the last time you heard about Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon, or Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones? On the other hand, maybe that's why they are still together. Because too much light can burn you, as these overexposed Hollywood couples can certainly testify.

Angie Does the UN and the Latest in Celebrity Adoptions

2009-03-31T22:03:00.000-07:00

The latest in celebrity adoptions is that Angelina is looking to adopt an orphan from India, which was inevitable after the whole Slumdog craze. Apparently, the inspiration struck her on her trip to India in 2006, and has nothing to do with the success of Slumdog. If she succeeds, she would have covered Asia and Africa, and will perhaps turn her attention to the poverty stricken parts of South America. After that, it probably wouldn't hurt to check on the many orphans here in the US.

Angie's competition for "Adopter of the Year", Madonna, has conversely stayed loyal to her choice of place of adoption. Apparently the Queen of Pop is in the middle of another adoption from Malawi, the same country from which her last adoption was fraught with controversy. This time doesn't look so different, to be honest.

One could argue that all celebrities should adopt a child from an underprivileged country. After all, they have the money, and the space. They also inhabit what is arguably the least child-friendly environment, fraught with insecurities, substance abuse, and broken marriages. Suri Cruise is a classic example of a f#cked up Hollywood baby. And she doesn't have any adoption baggage to deal with. Or what if upstanding citizens like Amy Crackhouse went on an adoption spree?! Is that actually an improvement in these kids' circumstances?

At some point, I hope this craze in celebrities to collect children like china is going to be scrutinized a little more carefully by the authorities responsible. Personally, I think Oprah had the right idea.

The Social Success of the Slumdog Story

2009-03-14T21:21:00.000-07:00

Nobody saw it coming - the low budget, rags to riches story about the boy from the slums who strikes it rich through a series of fascinating coincidences that make him the winner of the popular game show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire". Slumdog Fever seems to have taken over the world, from its sweep at the Academy Awards to the controversy behind the treatment of the stars.

No doubt, the success of the movie has altered forever the lives of those who were part of it. The kid stars were launched into instant celebrity status and are even now being wooed as political influencers in the upcoming national election. Frieda Pinto, the doe-eyed beauty who played the protagonist's love interest is being considered as the next Bond Girl. Even the PussyCat Dolls managed to get a hit by knocking a song off the soundtrack.

The social implications of the win eclipse even the success of the film. Think of how the the global audience has evolved for a movie whose dialogue is 40% in another language to have conveyed such a strong message. Educators are learning to apply lessons from the movie to their classrooms, to better engage their students. And of course, a light has shone once again on India, either as a cause or effect of the popularity of the movie.

For these and so many other good reasons, we can expect to see a new genre of film present itself in front of the Hollywood audience.

7 Hollywood Men to Give Thanks For This Year

2008-11-19T15:22:00.000-08:00

With the season of thanks approaching, now's the time to look around and appreciate those Hollywood men that have manifested talent, class, social responsibility, and maybe even allowed us to ogle their goods in the process this year.

Presenting, HowLegit's 7 Hollywood Men to Give Thanks For in 2008

7. Javier Bardem:

With killer performances in No Country for Old Men, Love in the Time of Cholera and Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Javier has taken over as the Latin lover on the block, mesmerizing us with his "come-hither" eyes and highly kissable mouth. Plus, you could dance to the sound of him speaking his native Spanish. You can see him next in Spanish drama, "Biutiful".

6. Will Farrell:

No doubt movies like Semi-Pro and Step-Brothers kept us in splits but Will's real talent was revealed in his George Dubya impersonations, popularized through SNL. For getting us through those difficult election months, and for the promise of more to come, Will Ferrell secures a spot on our list today.

5. Zac Efron:

Special mention to the leader of the next gen of Hollywood superstars (unless he does too many HSM movies and gets forever cast as the pretty boy jock), 21 year old Zac Efron is getting nods from his predecessor sex symbols, and making sure he hangs out with the right Hollywood crowd. His girlfriend has nothing but nice things to say about him and he looks great without a shirt on. That's a pretty good start to stardom.

4. Brad Pitt:

Now despite the huge focus on Angelina's astounding net worth and breastfeeding problems here stands a good man, Brad Pitt. With career hits such as Burn After Reading, and putting himself out there for all sorts of causes, I'd say this Basterd deserves a little bit of love all to himself. Plus, he is still very easy on the eyes, to which we are always partial.

3. George Clooney:

Can there ever be such a list without mention of Mr. Cool Clooney? Actor and activist, George helped challenging and non-mainsteam roles, and loves how he is ageing. Oh, and do we care that he might be a bit of a commitment-phobe? Not really- at least he helps the rest of us keep our sex lives exciting.

2. Hugh Jackman:

Recently voted People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive, Hugh Jackman seems to have it all: a thriving career, a fulfilling family life, and the ability to piss himself, admit it and still making everyone drool. Now that's sex appeal.

1. Daniel Craig:

Well who would have thought that the first Blond Bond would create such a stir? With Quantum of Solace tearing up the box office, and Daniel displaying all the right proportions of class, romantic, and rugged machismo, we hope that Daniel sticks around for at least a few more Bond movies, and then perhaps a few adult films so that we can just enjoy the sights.

Tired of Crappy Celeb Rumors? Make Your Own at HowLegit.com

2008-11-06T16:52:00.000-08:00

We launched HowLegit.com a month ago with a view to allowing users to distinguish between celebrity news that was Legit and Full of Sh*t. Now, we have added a fun feature that allows you, the reader, to play a bigger role in entertainment news: Make Your Own Rumor and submit it to HowLegit? to see if the community can tell if it's celeb dish or celeb trash!

It's easy and fun to do: Click on the MYO link in the Main Menu on HowLegit.com, select your lead, co-star, write your own saucy plot, and hit submit! You can track community votes in your user profile, and see if you have duped the community or not!

We want your feedback. Email comments/praises/abuses to kaamna@howlegit.com

HowLegit.com - Bringing You the Trues in Celebrity News!

Madonna: In Defense of the She-Devil

2008-10-23T16:32:00.000-07:00

Divorces usually bring out the worst in people, and only occasionally do we see one as ugly as Madonna and Guy's recent trip to Splitsville, even in Hollywood. With settlement numbers in the tens of millions (pounds sterling that too), three children, and all the mudslinging one would expect in such a high profile case, this divorce has engaged Madonna haters and empathizers alike. Along the way, Madonna has been described as "beastly", a control freak, or psychologically abused. The whole gamut, really.

My first response was: typical, the powerful woman becomes the She-Devil, while the man walks away looking appropriately dejected, and strangely clueless.

As I sat down and dissected the barrage of Madge criticisms, I found myself wondering if any other woman with the means and the stakes she was facing would have done anything different. In an industry that is ruthless in its criticisms of women, their bodies, and their age, Madonna took steps, albeit a bit extreme, to maintain herself in an image that the people wanted to see. How many times have you watched her in concert and marvelled at her toned body or ageless face? Anybody who thinks that come without a lot of care and sacrifice should talk to the 20-somethings in Hollywood that are already half way down this path!

After 8 years of living in London for her husband, it's natural that she would want to move back to her hometown, New York, and even more natural that she would retain custody of her children. Subjecting them to steamed veggies and no TV hardly given that celebs get slammed for feeding their kids junk food. Of course, opportunists who were perfectly comfortable engaging in an arrangement with the superstar when the price and the publicity was right, conveniently question her parenting skills now.

Being a celeb mom is tough. Being Madonna is impossible. Only one woman can do it - and this woman has reinvented herself for almost 30 years, stood up for causes she cared about, and wowed us every step of the way. I say let her marinate in all the $500 cream she likes- she deserves it.

Celeb Mothers: The Ultimate Working Mom?

2008-10-21T15:51:00.000-07:00

With many of Hollywood's leading ladies in the midst or on the brink of motherhood, the spotlight is shining on celebrities mommies and their living/coping strategies. While they dazzle us with their maternity wardrobes and pre and post exercise regimes, it's hard to ignore that their every move is on public display for all to see and critique (and boy, do we critique!). Being six months pregnant myself and ever fighting the urge to hide my head under a rock to avoid another piece of "well-intentioned', unsolicited advice, I have to wonder, are celeb moms the ultimate working moms, because despite the glamor and the fame, their motherhood is just another Hollywood blockbuster, for every Tom, Dick and Martha to review? Remember Kate Moss and her love for gas? Yeah, case in point.

When female celebrities announce they are pregnant, they are either revered or subtly shunned, based on Hollywood's internal hierarchy. If you're an Angelina or Cate, you can graduate to more mature roles that don't necessarily revolve around having perky breasts and a barbie doll waist. But if you are an upcoming no-name star with secondary roles in Disney productions, a pregnancy could mean a faster death to your career than in any other industry. Remember Jamie Lynn?

Whether or not you survive career suicide at the point of pregnancy, your body, your diet, your behavior, and your parenting are all fair game for gossip sites and mainstream news sources. Can you imagine making the transition into motherhood and battling physical and mental demons with the whole world watching and commenting? So Angelina's kids eat Cheetos, whose kids don't? And doesn't Suri Cruise actually need a break from the media more than anything else? Further, your ability to do long shoots in obscure locations, for extended periods of time is indefinitely impaired, and if you do jump back in too early, you're under the gun for being a potentially negligent parent. But if you stay away too long, celeb oblivion has a chauffeur-limo waiting at your door.

You may think this case of sympathy for celeb moms is a bit misplaced. After all, it's unlikely that us "mortal" women will have the ability to hire a nanny per kid, or to rent out the whole world for a birthday party, but at least we can celebrate our parenting victories and overcome our shortcomings in private, away from the degrading eye of the media or of hypocritical mothers who spend more time minding other people's families than their own (don't even get me started on the men who do the same).So, I would like to take this moment to show my support for all the celeb moms out there - it's a dirty job, but somebody's gotta do it (I am just glad it is them and not me).

PARIS HILTON BEATS THE SKIRTS OFF OF SARAH PALIN IN PRESIDENTIAL POLL: HOWLEGIT.COM

2008-10-16T17:59:00.000-07:00

This Presidential race has seen more overlap between politics and entertainment news than most others. From Obama's past romances to McCain's desperate attempts at showbusiness, Washington has been paralleling Hollywood in drama and sensationalism for the last 10 months. But no one has drawn more attention than Republican Vice President candidate, Sarah Palin. Not the porn star, the politician.

From her questionable career goals to her pregnant teenage daughter, Sarah Palin has raised attention and eyebrows since the day she came on the scene. That was until none other than the Hotelier princess, Paris Hilton, entered the political arena.

Known for her quirky and unapologetic spoiled millionairess attitude, Paris is usually dismissed as a blond socialite with more shoes than brain cells. In this election, she has managed to show that she may actually be in on the joke, instead of the butt of it. After a few misfired shots by the Presidential candidates involving her, Paris decided to cease sitting in the wings and enter the main stage with her "Paris for President" campaign. And it worked! In a recent poll run on HowLegit.com, Paris for President won 65% of the votes over Palin for President! Looks like no competition! Paris was even kind enough to offer her opponent some advice on how to make it in politics. How Presidential!

While the poll was meant in fun, it is more than a little indicative of the mockery this race has been reduced to with the addition of Sarah Palin to the ballot. So if you see Palin on the street, tell her to do America the courtesy of spending the last three weeks studying her US history and politics, rather than on publicity gimmicks. Just make sure it's not Lindsay Lohan you're talking to.

CELEB MOMS - THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE FUGLY

2008-10-13T22:35:00.000-07:00

With most of Hollywood's leading ladies at the brink or in the midst of motherhood, the spotlight is shining on celebrity mommies and their (sometimes grossly inadequate) parental skills. Some, like Angelina and her growing brood, seem to remain inexplicably clear of controversy, while others, like Kate Moss, could use some help with their parental judgment. All in all, in true Hollywood style, we see some real class acts, only this time they're off-screen. Let's look at some highlights:

Most Likely to Damage a Child's Psyche for a Photo Op: Victoria Beckham (aka Posh Spice).
In what looks like a regular family outing to the mall Posh Spice, decked out like any other mom in a miniskirt and impossibly high stilettos, took the boys out to do a little shopping. That's all fine, but isn't the oldest one a little too old to carry a teddy bear!? Sigh! What some mums will do for the right photo op!

Most Likely to Overly Endorse Teenage Pregnancy: Sarah Palin
I appreciate mothers' supporting their children through good and bad but most moms who find out that their teenage daughters are pregnant would undergo a little bit of hysteria and a whole lot of soul-searching, even if they are Republican. Let's hear it for Sarah Palin, who embraced Bristol's stupidity with all the fervor normally reserved for a globally acclaimed hockey team, and even managed to turn self-affirmed redneck Levi Johnston into a card carrying member of the Republican party!

Most Likely to Jump on the Parenting Bandwagon, 26 Years too Late : Lynne Spears
In a pathetic attempt at publicity and sympathy, Lynne Spears released a book this year describing the trials and tribulations of her fame-plagued family. No we didn't buy it, Lynne (the story or the book). A few months later, she is back at playing mommy again, with a slightly more drastic attempt at fixing problems that should have been addressed a decade ago: "No sex for six months, or you'll go to your room". Or your multi-million dollar mansion that you bought through the career we sold you out to when you should have been in gym class with other pre-pubescent girls your age.

Alas, all celebrity moms are not nuts. Here's our shining beacon of hope:

Most Likely to be Kidnapped and Pummelled by Other Celeb Moms Who Can't Stand the Pressure: Jennifer Garner
Now iisn't she perfect? Dimpled beauty and former Alias star is all about motherhood as she goes about her motherly chores, maintains a full exercise regime while other preggie moms are OD'ing on twinkies and popcorn, and aspired to do more for the world. Refreshing!