Abbey Analyzed

Death at Downton Abbey

For those who've completed the third season 
(otherwise, spoilers ahead)

Aye, the skies are dark upon Downton Abbey (aka Highclere Castle)

The now departed Dan Stevens and Jessica Findley-Brown.

….. and that's not just Lady Sybil and Matthew Crawley. This third season marked the demise of consistency.

Downstairs at Gosford Park

Upstairs at Gosford Park 

There was something lovely, elegant and compelling about "Downton Abbey's" first season (Episodes One to Three, specifically, or pre-Pamuk). That was the Julian Fellowes of "Gosford Park," a beautifully crafted film with subtle, but no less dramatic intrigue. That was the Julian Fellowes of "Snobs," a novel in which he carefully chronicled social nuances.  It's not likely there'll be another storyline with sweetly era-appropriate annual flower show "controversy," or the second season's Mrs. Bird's Soup Kitchen.

The unfortunate (and apparently unhealthy) Mr. Pamuk and Mary

As the second season evolved, the heavy-handed soap opera aspect firmly set in, and set in to stay. The fact that lowly Vera holds the parted Pamuk story over Bates is beyond far-fetched.

One element -- that, granted, fuels the narrative for DA -- was, and is, oddly out-of-touch for Fellowes: the overly collegial (and moreover, emotional) relationships between the Granthams and their staff. While Mrs. Hughes seems to operate most realistically for the time, Carson's overt devotion to Lady Mary is, simply, too familial.  Think Anthony Hopkins in "Remains of the Day;" he behaved as a butler.

Carson and Mary

A contemporary way of speaking flitters its way into the DA dialog and stands out because it is incongruous. In the season finale, Mary refers to herself as "pregnant," and Anna also refers to Mary as "pregnant," which is very unlikely terminology to be used by either, in such a euphemistic time.

Nearly all the DA servants speak-before-thinking and act emotionally. Fellowes must know -- as he's shown in plenty of previous endeavors -- that the foundation of a good staff is discretion and an unflappable understanding of boundaries.

Branson and Sybil

The "romance" between Lady Sybil and Branson just never seemed believable. Credible, yes, but not believable; a chauffeur/peer romance can happen, but whether a weakness in the writing, or lack of chemistry between actors, the union always felt like engineered.  For his part, Branson has thrived in his widower-hood, he's much more likable than the pedantic, self-centered, cowardly, irresponsible "activist" he once was.

Thomas sneaks into Jimmy's room (and hopes, into Jimmy).

But it's not only the dialogue that's incongruous and the romances contrived.  Carson's reaction (and Alfred's, for that matter) to Thomas' sexual harassment of Jimmy is likely dead on -- it is something that would never be discussed or even be imagined, in this universe at this time. This is an isolated, Christian country family, with servants from the local town.

The Sybil-is-dead-but-we-have- a- cricket- match, and now Alfred's narc'd on Thomas for being a gay. Carson and Lord Grantham

"We all knew," attaching current sensibilities to this bygone era.

When the stalwart Mrs. Hughes comments, "we all knew," about Thomas' proclivities, that seemed bloody unlikely, but nothing, absolutely nothing was more implausible than Lord Grantham telling Alfred that Thomas "can't help the way he way is." Really? Really? This is the man who allowed a pompous posh doctor to take precedence over the better informed, but less status-y Dr. Clarkson, ultimately allowing Sybil to die (whatever silliness the Countess Dowager makes Clarkson later tell the Granthams).  Lord Grantham suddenly becomes tolerant towards gays, more open-minded than even today's Christian right?  Did Fellowes realize he'd made DA's only gay character a despicable person and wanted to be sure he meant one had nothing to do with the other? Is Fellowes so desperate to infuse modern-day enlightenment, at the risk of betraying both his established characters and DA's era?

Other leaps of faith include the dramatic personality changes extended to Mary and Edith (compare First Season Mary and Edith, with Third Season). In fact, when Mary does have moments of snobbery (as she did while on the family trip to Scotland), it is wholly refreshing, because that is who Mary is.

The favored and the not: Lady Mary and Lady Edith

Adorable Anna and Bates

Also completely out of character was the released-from-prison Bates, exerting Herculean efforts to "save" Thomas. From the cozy sit-down tea with the odious O'Brien (when did all three, critical staffers, have time for this?) at the freshly renovated cottage he shares with the lovely Anna, to the chummy chats with Lord Gratham, it was utterly expositional.

"Soap" 

Fellowes appears to have forgotten the Thomas he created. Consider Season One: Bates  physically threatens the no-goodnik troublemaker Thomas, who subsequently tries to frame Bates for both the snuff boxes AND the wine bottle. Thomas -- who set up Mr. Pamuk, who stole cash from Carson's wallet, who callously taunted a grieving William, purposefully incurred a cowardly injury to leave the war -- Thomas, who has been nothing but snarky, sneaky and unpleasant -- is saved by Bates. Seriously, when Thomas gets promoted over Bates, it utterly served the otherwise sympathetic and likable Bates right.

Lady Edith, the unlucky, the Jan Brady of Downton

Laura Carmichael, the super-hot actress who plays Edith

Poor Edith. If she only could have some self-esteem counseling.  Edith began as the nasty, least-favored daughter (who Cora thinks will be the one to take care of them in dotage), and evolved into…something more sympathetic. By the end of Season Three, she's basically agreed to be her editor Michael Gregson's mistress -- beyond pathetic, or as they might have (actually) said, beyond the pale. At least establish Gregson as engaging enough, enticing enough, appealing enough or charming enough. However, he's not. Edith only "feels" for him because he's attracted to her.

Since the final episode of Season Three jumped forward a year, it would make sense that Gregson's and Edith's relationship would have developed -- but from the manner in which they behave (alone, even) in Season Three's last episode, and, conceivably, they'd been working as columnist and editor, it's impossible -- based on the way they behave together --  to imagine a year had passed.

For heaven's sake, Edith clearly has no issue with age, why can't she just be involved with the single-ready-to-marry-not-mingle Dr. Richard Clarkson? He's handsome and healthy. At the very least, he's about the same age as Gregson, and younger than Sir Anthony. And since this is DA, and contrivances abound, why not just have her marry widower Branson? Enough time has passed and she'd be keeping it in the family, just like Mary did with the now-departed Matthew.

Regarding the way DA handles death -- it's always dramatic and directly correlates to what has just happened moments before.  As William dies (unbearably slowly), he marries Daisy. When Lavina dies, it is surprisingly quick and extremely convenient (more notably, later, when the status of her fortune is reveals).

Just when it seemed Sybil and Branson were happiest....

DA toys with the audience as Sybil goes into labor-- clearly something is wrong; she
has pre-eclampsia -- then, momentary sigh of relief, she delivers a healthy baby
 girl.  Everyone goes home (the Countess Dowager) or to bed (the family) and 
then, lots of shouting, drama, crying, Sybil succumbs. Very filmic death moment.

Jesus! Watch the road!!!

Meanwhile, Matthew, who has survived the Granthams' snobby judgement,  Mary's capriciousness, being paralyzed and wheelchair bound, the death of his fiancé, and possible infertility, is at the very happiest moment in life, when he dies (thus, as DA had, with beautiful Jessica Brown-Findlay, allows Dan Stevens a permanent exit from DA).

Fellowes says he doesn't want to deal with funerals, etc., so Season Four
will begin seven months later,and they've already lined up a handsome 
beau for Mary. Fellowes doesn't dwell on mourning. Remember? For 
heaven's sake, Lady Sybil just died, but there's a very, very important
cricket game!

Sybil is dead, but we have an important cricket game. And, damnit, Alfred narc'd on Thomas for being a gay. Carson and Lord Grantham

What Downton does well -- crisp, biting dialogue from the Dowager Countess, showcasing both 

Highclere Castle (which doubles as Downton Abbey) and gorgeous era-appropriate fashion (courtesy 

of London's well-stocked costumers) -- is in direct opposition to the melodrama that pervades the show.

Witticisms

To wit: Lord Grantham loses his (Lady Cora's) fortune (which he worked so judiciously to 

acquire) and, like Walter, Elizabeth and Anne Elliott (of Jane Austen's Persuasion, for the 
ill-informed) they must retrench. Through some cumbersome and incredulous bit of 
improbability, dead Lavina's  now also- dead father appears to have left their fortune to her 
former fiancé, Matthew.

Just in time! Lavina, then her father dies -- Downton is saved!

Guilt-ridden, and, despite badgering from Mary, Matthew vows to not accept the inheritance. Suddenly, it is revealed: as she was dying, Lavinia wrote her father a secret letter -- despite what happened between them (the inconvenient falling-in-love with cousin Mary aspect), Lavina knows Matthew's a good man.  Lavinia's father (really?) adamantly leaves all his coin to Matthew (really?), who he sees as terribly noble. Matthew finally accepts the money and puts it into Downton, which, with Matthew's mad admin skills, soon works like the proverbial well-oiled clock, or, in this case, castle. It doesn't get much more pat than that.

It becomes increasingly easy to find fault with DA, as it tests credulity with each episode. The fault, alas, must be laid at Fellowes' posh feet. From the subtle (the going-nowhere faux illness of Mrs. Hughes and Mrs. Pattmore's paramour) to the over-the-top (the awkwardly campy Martha Levinson aka Cora's mum; Gregson's lunatic wife), the Downton "hits" just keep coming. From the highly unlikely (contrived personality and inexplicable character changes; i.e. Thomas'  sudden redemption) to tedious afterthoughts (how the Bates-in-Prison storyline felt all season), DA is both infuriating and inevitable. Like it or not, it's like any project in which time has been invested: hard to let go.

More Real Life Pics

Check out O'Brien, far right (Siobhan Finneran, looking very Connie Britton-ish)

Look how cute Ethel is, arm around Lady Grantham

Lady Grantham and Bates make a cute couple here (Elizabeth McGovern and Brendan Coyle, right)

Here, Anna and Thomas are cutest couple (right, Joanne Froggatt and Rob James Collier, who's revealed that Thomas was slated to die in the first season).

Check out hottie Mrs. Hughes (Phyllis Logan, second from left)

Anna and Thomas, again, are very cute here -- if nerdy.

Mrs. Patmore is adorably tiny (Leslie Nichol, second from right)

It might be just me, but doesn't it seem like Anna and Thomas are always next to each other in "real life" pics? (Joanne Froggartt and Rob James Collier)

So, do you think Lady Grantham and Lady Mary (aka Elizabeth McGovern and Michelle Dockery) liked that they wore such similarly shaded gowns?

We've established that everyone is way hotter as themselves. But check out Ethel (Amy Nuttall, second left) and Lady Lavinia (Zoe Boyle, fourth from right). Sizzle!

Mrs. Patmore, O'Brien (!!!), Edith and Thomas (aka Lesley Nicol,  Siobhan Finneran, Laura Carmichael and Rob James Collier)

And, there's Anna again, next to Thomas (just joshin' Collier is married and has a baby).

Mind of a Rampage Killer

What makes a person walk into a theater or a church or a classroom full of students and open fire? In the wake of the tragic events at Newtown, a growing body of scientific research is bringing us closer to understanding the complex web of circumstances that can conspire to produce a rampage killer: uncontrolled violent urges, depression, and perceived social isolation.

NOVA correspondent Miles O'Brien explores how brain function, genetics, and early life experiences may prime the brain for each of these risk factors. From the autopsy of a mass shooter in the 1960s through cutting-edge genetic research today, scientists are learning a lot about how our brains mediate violent urges--and what can go wrong when these "brakes" fail. And in the rare cases of rampage killers like Adam Lanza, we'll explore how suicide, coupled with the desire to go out in a media- fueled blaze of glory, may be the main motivation.

To find out how it works, NOVA goes inside the mind of a killer named Andy Williams. When he was just 15, Williams opened fire on his schoolmates, killing two. In a rare interview, Williams, now 27 and serving 50 years to life in California's Ironwood Prison, reveals how months of loneliness and despair motivated him attempt to "suicide by cop." Yet in the final showdown, Williams chose to surrender to police, making him one of a tiny number of surviving rampage killers--and one of the few people who can begin to answer the question: Why?

That's a question that haunts Andy's father, Jeff. Jeff reveals his struggle to understand how the boy he saw as a sweet class clown could have transformed into a murderer. We see old family videos of Andy as he goofs for the camera and see how his smiles hid his deep despair, escalating drug abuse, and suicidal urges.

Andy's story embodies Liza Long's deepest fears. Long is the mother of 13-year-old "Michael," a bright and articulate boy who, with terrifying suddenness, can flip into a wildly violent rage. At ten, Michael pulled a knife on Liza. In the hours after the Newtown shootings, Liza penned the viral essay "I Am Adam Lanza's Mother," an emotional plea for help from a mother torn between her love for her son and her need to protect herself and her family from his violent outbursts. Now, speaking for the first time on camera, Michael himself describes how it feels to be in the grip of uncontrollable rage.

Illuminated by neuroscience and psychology, these personal stories bring us one step closer to answering the ultimate question: Can we recognize and heal dangerous minds in time -- and stop the next Newtown?

Mind of a Rampage Killer is part of PBS' "After Newtown" initiative, a series of documentaries, news reports and public affairs programs that provides thought-provoking context to the national conversation about gun violence in America. PBS has brought together its science, documentary and public affairs programs to provide in-depth reporting on the myriad issues related to gun violence, including gun laws, mental health support and availability, and school safety. The NOVA program premieres Wednesday, February 20th at 9PM/8c on PBS.

Stripes Star

Striped Cashmere Top & Mix-Stripe Shantung Skirt

Trina Turk Flagimi Multi-Stripe Dress. Neiman Marcus, $368

Adjust Your Vertical Setting

Wherever we look around shops these days we're seeing double... triple...quadruple...lines. It can't be disputed. Stripes -- despite the oft-repeated adage of horizontal stripes adding girth -- are solidly in the fashion mainstream

French Connection's current line appears to consist only of stripes, with Jones New York and Michael Kors not far behind. That must mean most people aren't like me (immediately scanning past horizontal stripes).

Michael Kors striped shift dress. Neiman Marcus, $995

ALICE + OLIVIA Hoffman Motorcycle Jacket & Dee Stripe Fitted Dress Neiman Marcus, $297

Stop Betraying Jim, Damnit

"The Office" Betrays Jim Halpert

The very fact that this editorial exists reveals how heavily invested BeansTalk is in NBC's long-running comedy, "The Office." We anxiously await Thursday nights, and have watched each episode of the previous eight seasons at least three times. 

That said, the super-sized, hour-long "Moving On" episode of Thursday (Valentine's Day 2013), confirmed many things -- the most evident: the show's (writers, producers) betrayal of Jim Halpert (John Krazinski). 

We have a strong suspicion (not based on anything, except our own instinct) that it may have something to do with executive producer and writer Mindy Kaling leaving. Kaling has a crystal clear view of the (familiar) bad, booty-calling boyfriend (Ryan); the rebound beau (Daryl), the disgruntled adulterer (Stanley), the devoted, macho-but-sweet traditionalist (Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration); the creepy (Gabe); the clueless (Andy); the desperate (Michael Scott), and finally, the idealized (Jim). In her book "Is Everyone Having Fun Without Me?" she pretty much states just that -- finding a real beau can be a challenge when Jim Halpert is a stalwart in your daily life. 

Some TV analyst speculate that Jim was previously a depressed, even pathetic character, stuck in a job he doesn't like, resigned to mediocrity. We see it another way (and maybe because we can so relate to Jim): Jim -- who clearly had opportunities to move up at Dunder Mifflin, move to another company with greater career prospects -- made the conscious decision to choose his happiness (clearly, Pam) over more money, more status, more…career definition. 

It was, in fact, Jim's quiet, constant devotion to Pam that kept him at Dunder Mifflin, where he excelled despite himself (as Michael Scott once noted, complaining, Jim doesn't work hard: "I can spend all day on a project, and he will finish the same project in half an hour.") He's very well-liked by his colleagues and customers and bosses (with the sole exception of self-absorbed Charles Miner) -- and rightfully so. Jim is, to paraphrase "Austin Powers'" "Mrs. Kensington," who all men want to be, and who all women want to be with.

And Jim's idealization wasn't far-fetched, because "The Office" gave its audience plenty of men with defined quirks. 

It is Jim who always takes the moral high ground, always offering honesty as the best option, when he's asked to counsel. 

When Jim finally "got" Pam -- revealed in the first episode of season four -- he knew what he wanted. In a talking head segment, he says that within a week of actually dating Pam, he'd bought an engagement ring. A few episodes later, he buys his childhood home from his parents for her. He does so without consulting her -- they aren't married yet -- and is joyfully relieved when she is thrilled. 

The dynamic of the pining good guy and the sweet artist he adores, ebbed after the couple's genuinely beautiful (and hilarious) wedding, but there was enough mayhem swirling around them, for fresh stories to be told. 

Another TV critic noted that the recent strife between the couple seems to have resulted from their lack of communication, but that is directly in opposition to the "JAM" (as fans dubbed them) developed over the previous eight seasons. 

Pam repeatedly refers to Jim as her best friend, and the arch phone conversation that evolved into tears from Pam and sympathy from smitten boom-mic guy Brian was handled by Pam (and most excellently by actress Jenna Fischer, who plays her) in typical Pam fashion. Pam jokes with Jim that he was right, that she had a harder time than she thought pointing a rectangle to shoot video. But the Jim Halpert of that episode, "Customer Loyalty," the Jim who humorlessly berates her was completely out of character, just as he was in the subsequent episode "Vandalism," where Daryl is fed up by Jim's sloppiness. At no point in previous seasons is Jim revealed to be slovenly. In Season Two's "Email Survelliance," when Jim has the barbecue, in which Michael is famously not invited, but crashes, Pam inspects his clean-as-a-pin room. Jim as an organized, neat guy just goes hand-in-hand with the considerate person "The Office" has always -- until this season -- has shown us. 

Season Nine Jim is detached and distant, both literally and figuratively, separating himself from Scranton and home life. In "Couple's Discount," it was surprising, not only that Jim "didn't want to stay and fight," but that he asks Pam to drive him from the office directly to the train station. Would the Jim Halpert "The Office" has established even conceive of going back to Philly without seeing Cece or Philip??? Without even mentioning them?

"The Office" hasn't shown the catalyst for this dramatic, disturbing and out-of-character turn in Jim. Why is he suddenly so self-absorbed? In an earlier episode of Season Nine, "Andy's Ancestry," when Nelly tries to tell Pam that Jim is cheating, Pam confidently replies that she knows he won't, "because he loves me too much." That is not Pam being cocky. That is Pam as she has been established on the show. Jim spent years, biding his time, distracting himself with office pranks, to throw it all away? We don't buy it. Period. 

Andy's Far From Dandy

In other "Office" news, the series seems wholly unsure of what to do with Andy. It seems utterly unconscionable that he wasn't fired (or at least suspended) for his three-month absence. "The Office" could have solved the "Couple's Discount" episode dilemma of no one in the office wanting to tell David Wallace about Andy's disappearance, by having Val in the warehouse tell him during their meeting. (By the way, it was also never explained, with the exception of a throw-away "it's going nowhere," why Daryl has gone off Val.) So this week, when Andy finally realizes that Erin is now dating Pete, he responds by hiring Pete's ex-girlfriend Alice to be a marketing executive and re-hires the odious Gabe, all for the purpose of making Erin and Pete feel bad. Andy's behavior is just too "out there" (coincidentally, both Alice and Gabe are unemployed and available that very day?) and mean. He was mean in "Couple's Discount," too, despicable, even. It's hard to look at him. They need to decide if he's the sycophantic dweeb they introduced, or this scary sociopath. 

Dwight and Angela

Sure, it's a little neat, but we want Dwight and Angela to get together (and for that big baby to be a Shrute!), for the selfish senator to come-out and campaign with Oscar by his side, and for goddsakes, for Jim and Pam  -- not to just be together -- but be true to who they have been -- and start talking. A lot. 

Happy VD

Some Old-Time-y (Childhood) 
TV Cutest Couples
Just for Valentine's Day

Hawkeye and Hunicutt from "M*A*S*H"

Ann Marie and Donald Hollinger from "That Girl."

Jeannie and Major Nelson from "I Dream of Jeannie."

Laura and Rob Petrie from "The Dick Van Dyke Show"

Mr. Ed and Wilber from "Mr. Ed"

Curbed

Curb Your Enthusiasm Lands on TV Land

Larry David's Season 8 version of  his "Curb Your Enthusiasm" character.

We suspect there will be quite a bit of judicious editing when TV Land premieres Larry David’s HBO comedy series, “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” which kicks off with marathons on Saturday and Sunday, February 16 and 17,  2013, from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. and Monday, February 18 from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. The show will then settle into its regular timeslot of 2 a.m. ET/PT beginning Tuesday, February 19h, where it will air daily. TVLand.com will also stream full episodes of the show, and fans will be able to stay engaged with @tvland during the marathon to judge #awkward or #notawkward on their favorite Larry moments.

“Curb Your Enthusiasm” stars Larry David as himself in an unsparing but tongue-in-cheek depiction of his life. Shot in a vérité style and often featuring celebrities who play themselves, the episodes are improvised by the actors from a mere outline created by David. The series also stars Cheryl Hines (“Suburgatory”) as David's wife Cheryl, Jeff Garlin (“Daddy Day Care”) as David's manager Jeff and Susie Essman (“Keeping the Faith”) as Jeff's wife Susie.

We're very curious as to how they'll handle the notorious Season Three episode when Larry gets a pube stuck in his throat.

The series has been nominated for seven Primetime Emmy® Awards, and won a Golden Globe® Award for Best Television Series, Musical or Comedy in 2003. “Curb Your Enthusiasm” has also received awards from the Writers Guild of America, Directors Guild of America, Producers Guild of America, NAACP Image Awards, the American Film Institute and Monte Carlo Television Festival, among others. “Curb Your Enthusiasm” is executive produced by Larry David, Jeff Garlin, Gavin Polone, Alec Berg, David Mandel, Jeff Schaffer, Tim Gibbons and Erin O'Malley.

On the Runway

Actresses Katherine Heigl and Vanessa Hudgens both wore British designer Jenny Packham to Mercedes-Benz Winter 2012 Fashion Week as Packham debuted her Autumn/Winter 2013 Runway Collection at New York’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on Tuesday, February 12, 2013  at 1:00 p.m. in The Studio at Lincoln Center. Heigl wore a sleeveless black cocktail dress with crystal beading from Packham's Pre-Fall 2013 Collection and Hudgens wore Packham's sleeveless nude jumpsuit with sequined collar. 

Early Oscar Celebration

Oscar Luncheon: A Valentine's Day Party

Oscar-winner Martin Landau with Traveler's Choice Luggage

A bevy of celebrities turned out for Doris Bergman's Fifth Annual Valentine Romance Oscar Style Lounge & Party at West Hollywood, Calif.'s La Boheme last Wednesday, February 6, 2013…and BeansTalk was there. More than 100 of Hollywood's best-known celebrated Valentine's Day and checked out what may be hot for the Oscar red carpet. 

Guests donated new and unwrapped gifts for kids 13 to 17, which will be distributed at a Pre-Holiday Gift Drive for "Wednesday's Child," a weekly segment on KTTV Fox 11 News, Los Angeles, with anchor -- and event attendee, Christine Devine. 

Kevin Eubanks and Christine Devine with Wednesday's Child 

Oscar-winner Martin Landau gushed, "This party is amazing! Such love and warmth -- amazing gifts, delicious food, a wonderful ambiance – I am very happy to be here!” Other guests included John Gatins, Oscar Nominee, Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen for ‘Flight.’   Actree Dyan Canon,  David Steen (‘Django Unchained,’) Anne-Marie Johnson, Estella Warren, Kevin Eubanks, Obba Babbatunde, ‘Modern Family’s’ Rico Rodriguez and his sister Raini Rodriguez (Disney's ‘Austin & Ally’), Diedre Hall, Elizabeth DeRazzo (HBO’s ‘Eastbound & Down'),’ Hal Sparks, Ken Davitian ('The Artist'), Lisa Ann Warren,  Rosa Blasi, Ann Lopez, Angeline Rose Troy, Nicholas Guest, among others. 

Rico Rodriguez ('Modern Family') & his sister Raini Rodriguez ("Austin & Ally") with Qmadix

The gifting suite portion of the day featured fashions for both men and women, jewelry, beauty and skin care, electronics, trips, luggage, lingerie, footwear, food, and cocktails. Gifts and services included:  Couture gowns by Monatelier; Art Lewin & Co. Custom Clothiers;,  i-Phone 5 cases, iharmonix Stereo Mobile Earphones w/Microphone; Q-i-sound Stereo Bluetooth Speakers by Qmadix;  Lusciouss jewelry; Twisted Silver®’; Aditi Jewelry; evening bags and accessories by Charlie Lapson; sexy lingerie by Dulcenea; bath and shower treats by Spongeables® LLC; My Spa Life; Pauline’s Peanut Brittle; Honest Tea; Caribbean vacations provided by Caribbean Living Magazine; innovative hair design tools by Whirl-a-Style, home décor accents by Bon Bon Home; Kelly Nishimoto®; Whitening Lightning; Nature’s Flavors;  Undiepads; exquisite handbags by Lauren&Luca; candy-wrapper handbags by Ollin Arm Candy; luggage by Traveler’s Choice & Pacific Gear; glass-blown hearts by Handmade Hearts; Tequila Azul Imperial; KIND Snacks; Terox footwear; Kara Cham Jewelry; Carol Lynn Sweets Jewelry and Bully Bling Energy Drink

Actor Dennis Christopher with Whitening Lightning

“This is marvelous!” said ‘Django Unchained’s’ Dennis Christopher, who starred in the sleeper hit "Breaking Away."

Actress Estella Warren with Twisted Silver

Wednesday’s Child’ highlights ‘harder to place’ children in the LA County foster care system who are in need of adoptive families. “In Los Angeles County, alone, there are over 35,000 children receiving child welfare services,” says social worker, William Wong.  “This event reached far beyond the Hollywood ‘glitz’ and into the heart and soul.  Gift donations to the ‘Wednesday’s Child’ Valentine’s Day Gift Drive from event Sponsors and guests, alike, has been overwhelming and, most importantly, we have formed new relationships that will extend outside of today!  Additionally, Bergman invited two foster children to join in on the festivities and experience what it felt like to be treated as a VIP -- the love from the sponsors was tremendous!” added Wong.

 John Gatins is an Oscar Nominee, Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen for ‘Flight," with Ollin Arm Candy. 

David Steen ('Django Unchained') with Nature's Flavors

Actor Obba Babbatunde ("Young & the Restless") with My Spa Life

Superbowl Style

Sachin + Babi Roberto Studded Blazer

$1295 

Pre-Order at Neiman Marcus

Dress Like Beyonce

The Super Bowl show marked the official kickoff of Beyonce's 2013 Pepsi campaign, featuring the Roberto crystal studded blazer from contemporary womenswear line Sachin + Babi. The brand feature in this ground-breaking campaign is part of an ongoing partnership with designers Sachin and Babi Ahluwalia.

Their relationship with the superstar began when the husband and wife duo made swatches for custom pieces for Destiny’s Child. Prior to this most recent partnership, the designers created unique embroidery for stage costumes for Beyoncé’s post-Blue Ivy concert in Atlantic City in May. The intricate embroideries that the New York-based designers are known for add extra sparkle to the superstar’s already dazzling façade.

Norah Jones to Perform at The Oscars

Norah Jones is set to perform “Everybody Needs A Best Friend,” the theme song from Universal Pictures’ blockbuster comedyTed, at the Oscar® ceremony. The song, with lyrics by the film’s director, Seth MacFarlane, and music by Walter Murphy, has been nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song. She will perform during the ceremony that will be broadcast on Oscar Sunday,  February 24, on ABC at 7pm ET / 4pm PT. Norah will also perform the song on NBC’s Tonight Show With Jay Leno on February 8. Listen to “Everybody Needs A Best Friend” here.

Norah has just released Little Broken Hearts Remix EP (Blue Note), a digital EP collecting all seven of the remixes done for songs from Jones’ acclaimed Danger Mouse produced album Little Broken Hearts. The EP includes the four transcendent remixes done by TV On The Radio’s Dave Sitek (“Good Morning,” “She’s 22,” “Take It Back,” and “After The Fall”) that were released on a limited edition 10” for the Record Store Day “Back To Black” promotion in November. Also included are two brand new remixes (“Say Goodbye” and “Travelin’ On”) delivered by Jose Padilla, celebrated Ibiza chill ambassador and legendary DJ of the island’s Café Del Mar. Finally topping off the collection is Peter Bjorn and John’s re-invention of the chilling murder ballad “Miriam.”

Norah also recently released Covers (Blue Note), a 10-track compilation of rare and unreleased cover songs recorded over the first decade of Jones’ career that is available exclusively through Target. Included are interpretations of songs from some of Norah’s favorite artists from Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson to Tom Waits, Wilco and Horace Silver. See below for full track listing.

Norah will be participating in The New York Times’ popular interview series TimesTalks doing an on-stage conversation in New York City with music critic Jon Pareles on January 29. She will embark upon an Australian tour in February, and has rescheduled her concert in Perth for February 13 to accommodate the Academy Awards performance. Norah will also give her first ever live performances in India in March. Additionally, Norah’s country collective The Little Willies will be performing at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on May 4, as well as the Stagecoach Festival in Indio, California on April 26. See below for a full list of confirmed tour dates or visit www.norahjones.com for ticketing details.

The track listing for Norah’s Covers album is as follows:

1.       Sleepless Nights (Boudleaux Bryan-Felice Bryant)

As performed by The Everly Brothers.

2.       I'll Be Your Baby Tonite (Bob Dylan)

3.       Jesus Etc. (Jeff Tweedy-Jay Bennett)

As performed by Wilco

4.       Sweet Dreams (Don Gibson)

As performed by Patsy Cline

5.       Cry Cry Cry (Johnny Cash)

6.       Picture In A Frame (Kathleen Brennan-Tom Waits)

7.       Hands On The Wheel featuring M Ward (William Callery)

As performed by Willie Nelson

8.       She (Chris Ethridge-Gram Parsons)

9.       My Blue Heaven (Donaldson-Whiting)

As performed by Fats Domino.

10.   Peace (Horace Silver)

NORAH JONES – TOUR DATES:

February 13 – Riverside Theatre – Perth, Australia

February 15 – State Theatre – Sydney, Australia

February 16 – State Theatre – Sydney, Australia

February 17 – State Theatre – Sydney, Australia

February 19 – Brisbane Convention Centre – Brisbane, Australia

February 21 – The Plenary – Melbourne, Australia

February 22 – Festival Theatre – Adelaide, Australia

February 27 – Star Performing Arts Center – Singapore

March 3 – Summer’s Day Festival – Mumbai, India

March 5 – Siri Fort Auditorium – New Delhi, India

March 8 – Nice Grounds – Bangalore, India

THE LITTLE WILLIES – TOUR DATES:

April 26 – Stagecoach Festival – Indio, CA

May 4 – New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival – New Orleans, LA

Modern Family Star's Jewels

Actress Ariel Winter wore John Hardy’s Batu Bamboo Ring in Cognac Quartz to the ELLE Women In Television Celebration at the Soho House in Los Angeles.

Curling's in Season

Drew Barrymore's Whirly Curls

Curls of Wisdom

The New York Times reported on January 17, 2013, this is the time of year when many women are making changes to their looks, whether it's "ditching ombre highlights or deciding to wear their hair naturally curly." Miss Jessie's, the leader in naturally wavy, curly and kinky hair, has a few tips to help you wear (and love!) your new curly style:

1.     Don't over-wash your curls. Frequent shampooing strips hair of its natural oils which hair, especially curly hair, craves. Miko Branch, co-founder of Miss Jessie's, recommends shampooing curly hair once per week. If your hair is oilier and you need to wash more frequently, use a non-sulfate shampoo. Miko suggests Miss Jessie's Crème de la Curl; a sulfate-free, suds-less cleansing cream that won't dry hair out.

2.     To refresh curls the next day, dampen hair with water and add styling product. There's no need to wet your entire head and start over. Instead, dampen the sections that need refreshing and apply product, like Miss Jessie's Quick Curls or Miss Jessie's Pillow Soft Curls, to those sections only.

3.     Don't continue to touch your curls once you've set your styling pattern. That is to say, once you have taken the time to apply your styler in just the right way and positioned your hair so that it dries exactly how you like it, keep hands away from your hair! When you keep playing with your hair after you've set the style, your curls can lose their hold.

4.     Always apply styling product from root to end, as that is the natural curl direction!


Miss Jessie's Crème de la Curl ($16.00), Quick Curls ($32.00), Pillow Soft Curls ($22.00) can be purchased online at www.missjessies.com and in select Target, CVS and Ricky's NYC stores.

Robin Wright in Stuart Weitzman

Robin Wright wore Stuart Weitzman's black kid "Victoria" pumps at the red carpet premiere for the launch of "Netflix House of Cards" in London.

Bob Seger & Kid Rock on Tour

Bob Seger & Kid Rock on Tour


Bob Seger and Kid Rock are good friends who have talked about doing shows together for years. Finally, this vision has become a reality. Both artists have been preparing for Spring tours. The trick was getting the tour schedules, which are crisscrossing the country, to match up. The result will be two special concerts featuring Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band and Kid Rock & The Twisted Brown Trucker Band: the first in Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN on March 15, the second in Fargo, ND on March 16.

Seger and Kid Rock go back a long way. The two became friends shortly after they met in 2000. Rock inducted Seger into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 and appeared on Seger’s 2006 Face The Promise album for a duet of Vince Gill’s “Real Mean Bottle”. Seger appeared on Kid Rock’s Born Free album playing piano on his duet with Sheryl Crow, “Collide”. Seger and his Silver Bullet Band have often rehearsed at Rock’s rehearsal warehouse. Both share an interest in classic cars and both have stayed true to their Michigan roots.

Seger has written and recorded many timeless classics through his career including Turn The Page, Night Moves, Mainstreet, Against The Wind, Hollywood Nights, Like A Rock, Rock And Roll Never Forgets, We’ve Got Tonite, Old Time Rock And Roll, Her Strut, You’ll Accomp’ny Me, Travelin Man/Beautiful Loser, and Katmandu.

Kid Rock, an early innovator, masterfully clashing hip hop, rock and country musical styles, has written and recorded many classics of his own, including “Bawitdaba”, “Cowboy”, “Only God Knows Why”, “Picture” (duet with Sheryl Crow), “All Summer Long”, “So Hott”, “Born Free” “Forever”, “American Bad Ass” and soon to be’s from his new album “Rebel Soul”.

Tickets go on sale January 26th at 10:00 a.m. Both Bob Seger and Kid Rock fan club members will have early access to tickets. Visit www.bobseger.com and www.kidrock.com for more info.