November 2009 Archives

   

You may remember a few weeks ago Rabbi Shmuley Boteach had a public (but not free...) talk with reality TV star Jon Gosselin about whether fame was a blessing or a curse. During that talk Jon publically apologizes to Kate, and expressed his desire to apologize to her in private as well.

Beliefnet has the exclusive video of the event. In the clip above, Jon talks about how he wasn't feeling loved and felt Kate wasn't letting him be the "spiritual leader" of the home.

View more video clips from the Rabbi Shmuley interview with Jon Gosselin here on Beliefnet.

"New Moon" the latest offering in the "Twilight" series, based on the books of the same name by Stephanie Meyer, is a critic-proof movie. Just ask the estrogen-filled throngs flooding the 14 midnight showings at my local theater, voraciously consuming the development of the vampire-human-werewolf love triangle of Edward, Bella, and Jacob. An informal straw poll of the XX-ers sitting around me revealed that, on whole, they found the movie to be superior to the first and truer to the book. An informal straw poll of those few XYs sprinkled throughout the auditorium revealed a discomfort with the amount of drool being expelled over the leading men.

"New Moon" is a completely different animal than director Catherine Hardwicke's moody, bleached-out "Twilight." Sure, Edward (Robert Pattinson) is still angsty and the whole piece is driven by Bella's (Kristen Stewart) depression over his leaving, but director Chris Weitz has infused the film with some "Golden Compass" magic, upping the special effects budget and creating a hybrid of teen drama and fantasy that mostly works. (The Volturi scenes are great fun.) Of course the special effect that received the most attention in Theater 7 was the 30 pounds of muscle that Taylor Lautner packed on to play the post-werewolf-pubescent Jacob. You may know how the books end, but you'll be Team Jacob by the end of this flick.

But this isn't a CGI-fueled film, it's all about the sexual tension between Bella and Jacob. Oh sure, Edward's still in the story, more so than in the book, but this is really Jacob's set piece. Still growing as an actor, Lautner's performance has some weak points-what my friend calls Keanu Reeves moments: cute but wooden (I think this goes for Pattinson at times, too)-but he's perfect as the best friend with the puppy dog crush: balancing the the pain of unrequited love with the desire to remain a loyal friend. Just as importantly, he brings out the best in Stewart. Gone, for the most part, are the distracting rapidly fluttering eyelashes and stuttering, replaced by an engaging, believable intimacy.

I have already stated here at Idol Chatter that I am not flash in the pan Susan Boyle fan. I am not surprised by the recent news that her debut CD has set a new global sales record for pre-orders over at Amazon. I know I certainly pre-ordered my copy weeks ago when I first discovered she was going to be covering many classic hymns such as "How Great Thou Art." But I am even more excited about the spotlight begin on Boyle again for another reason. She is bringing awareness to those with learning disabilities.

CNN and other outlets are reporting today that "The Oprah Winfrey Show" will be ending after 25 seasons.

The last show will be coming up soon: on September 9, 2011.

Okay, so it's not so soon! Mrs. Winfrey has followed the path of evening talk show host Jay Leno, the host of "The Tonight Show" from 1992-2009. To remove speculation about the potential of him moving to another network, or about what would happen with Conan O'Brien, the succession plan was announced well in advance of his May, 2009 departure from the show. Mrs. Winfrey's announcement comes almost two years before her show will actually end.

I have several questions and reactions to the news:

Wow! Sometimes it takes the end of something to appreciate how amazing it's been. According to the Oprah.com website, "The Oprah Winfrey Show" has been the highest-rated talk show for 23 consecutive seasons, being seen by 42 million viewers a week in the United States and 145 other countries. It has spun off "Oprah's Book Club," "O" Magazine, Oprah.com, "Oprah's Angel Network," Harpo Films and a host of other associations.

More Than a Show. "The Oprah Winfrey Show" is more than a show. It's an institution. It's a movement. It's a congregation. It's a marketing animal. It's the home base of a much larger media empire. While most talk shows ("Larry King Live," "The Today Show," "Good Morning America," "Late Night With David Letterman, etc.) attract media leaders who are releasing a book, movie, campaign or public relations message, Oprah's endorsement has turned unknown people into household names, including Eckhart Tolle and Marianne Williamson. She has helped turn unknown gadgets into everyday must-haves . She once urged her audience to read Leo Tolstoy's"Anna Karenina," and the ancient Russian classic shot to the top of the Best-Seller list.

A big welcome to one of Beliefnet's newest blogs, Stuff Christian Culture Likes, written by the hilarious and wonderful Stephanie Drury.

From her bio: "I sort of consider myself an expert on Christian culture as I am a preacher's kid and I'm also married to a preacher's kid. Christian culture is funny because it doesn't have much (if anything) to do with Christ himself."

Some of the recent "things" she's written about Christian culture liking are: "taking up a pipe at Bible college," "Jesus fish decals," "saying that you're married to your best friend," and more recently, "gossiping via prayer requests.

For more visit Stuff Christian Culture Likes on Beliefnet.

FNL's latest focuses on Julie Taylor's thoughts on church.

Entertainment Weekly and the usually astute, if crabby, Get Religion blog did their best to raise a kerfuffle last week about news that Dimension Films is hoping to market "The Road," the new apocalyptic movie thriller, to conservative Christians. Dimension...

You might not recognize the name Jessica Harp, but you might recognize the name "The Wreckers," the country-rock duo Jessica Harp formed with Michelle Branch between 2005-2007. Earlier this summer, I saw Jessica Harp perform to a crowded, small...

The countdown to the release of 'New Moon,' the second movie in the Twilight Saga, is long underway. In less than forty-eight hours all will be revealed! OK. Maybe I'm being a bit melodramatic. Regardless, I'm excited to see what's...

Miley Cyrus is no fan of "Twilight."

In celebration of Thanksgiving, Robin Williams, Kate Gosselin, Michael J. Fox, Renee Zellweger, Michael Strahan, and other movie stars and TV personalities tell Beliefnet what they're most grateful for this year. Check out our Thankful Quotes from Celebrities gallery....

In this clip from "Veggietales: Saint Nicholas: A Story Of Joyful Giving," Bob the Tomato, Larry the Cucumber, and their friends travel in a runaway sleigh.

National Geographic Channel's Second Annual Expedition Week offers plenty of adventure.

If you haven't seen this already it's a must. Twitteleh: Twitter for your Jewish Mother, is hilarious. Twitteleh is a spoof on both Twitter (obviously), and the affectionate reputation Jewish moms have for checking in on their kids a bit...

Critics have labeled VH1's "Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew" voyeuristic but does that devalue the show's message?

Michelle Duggar talks about enjoying her new granddaughter Mackynzie Renee.

'Glee' has always been a quirky blend of song and social commentary, but this week's episode, "Wheels," feels like after school special territory.

A documentary about Liberian women and their peaceful protest is now on DVD.

While visiting hotels, openly gay actor Sir Ian McKellen rips the page calling homosexuality an "abomination" from the hotels' Bibles.

Stephenie Meyer will do only one appearance to promote New Moon, the second movie in the Twilight Saga (releasing Nov. 20th), but it's a biggie: Oprah will feature Meyer for a full hour this Friday, November 13th, on her show....

"Glee" shined with an inspiring look at those with disabilities.

Everything you wanted to know about Stephenie Meyer, author of the Twilight Saga that has turned into a world-wide vampire-loving phenomenon--is available today, Wednesday, November 11th, and it's illustrated. A graphic novel biography series called "Female Force," which has featured...

Former tennis pro Andre Agassi opens up about his drug use in a new book, "Open."

Comedy Central starts a Middle East comedy channel in Abu Dhabi.

In this clip from the upcoming PBS documentary "A Passion for Giving," Count Alexandre de Lesseps talks about the work he has done in Burman, helping rebuild a village after a tsunami. For more information on when the documentary is...

Ms. Carrie Prejean is either a humble servant of the Lord who's learned from her prior mistakes, a courageous champion for Christian values, an opportunistic young diva who's ingeniously combining a conservative mindset with risqué acts caught on tape, a...

In the newly released DVD "Thou Shalt Laugh 4," watch and laugh as Christian comedian Michael Jr. talks about his experience going back to church for the first time.

The quirky 'The Men Who Stare at Goats' delivers laughs and lessons.

Is "The Family Guy" an equal opportunity offender, or just anti-Semitic? Or are there things that some will always view as comedically "off-limits"?

Were you inspired and uplifted by the TV show "Touched by an Angel"? If so, you'll love our latest giveaway. We have 5 sets of 2 "Touched by an Angel: Inspiration Collection" DVDs to give away. Want one? Post a...

A list of musicians who have famously stayed clean and sober after fighting drug addictions.

Watch the trailer for "The Messenger" starring Woody Harreslson and Ben Foster as military officers tasked with notifying the family members of fallen soldiers.

A new BBC version of "The Diary of Anne Frank" takes a slightly different approach, including a more authentic narrative.

"I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth." "I just wanna go the distance." "You're an impertinent man, Mr Hobbs!" Perhaps you remember one of these quotes from a certain kind of movie. A special kind...

"I'm goin' to Disneyland!" ...Or so went the story of what champions used to say to the camera after winning the world championship. In an inspiring twist to a great evening for Gotham, New York Yankees Manager Joe Girardi provided...

Michael Lohan has said God has taken his daughter Lindsay Lohan's career away.

"Happy Days" mom Marion Ross shares her 10 tips for "Happy Days" with Beliefnet.

Watch the trailer for "Avatar," the upcoming James Cameron sci-fi film.

Vanity Fair magazine has a long tradition that's being made into a book. I suspect it'll be a movie before too long! There's just something wonderful and inspiring about getting to know other people better, whether it be stars, friends...

The reimagining of the classic 80s sci-fi series delivers deep messages, but also face-ripping, alien-revealing good fun.

For Sesame Street 40th Anniversity Beliefnet staff share the lessons they have learned from the beloved children's TV show.

Really: what's a day without gazing at "Twilight"'s Edward Cullen--I mean Robert Pattinson--and that gorgeous face of his. And those smoldering eyes! Can't forget the eyes. The moody look. That twisted smile. Sigh. Okay. I'll stop. But really: want to...

Let's out with it: Jared and Jerusha Hess, who wrote (both of them) and directed (Jared) the 2004 independent film "Napoleon Dynamite" are Mormons. Can we move on now? We cannot. The Hess family religious affiliation gets brought up in...

Last night in between watching my beloved Yankees try to win the World Series, I tuned into TLC's special "Kate: Her Story," in which Kate Gosselin, star of "Jon & Kate Plus 8," was interviewed by NBC's Natalie Morales. When...

I'd never really thought of Alice Sebold's bestselling novel "The Lovely Bones" as a ghost story--though to call it haunting is an understatement, too. But there is no getting around the fact that the story's protagonist, Susie Salmon, raped and...

Here are three reasons to suspect that you're a fame-a-holic. One, your life is a disaster. Two, even when you come to terms with your mistakes and apologize to those you've hurt, you have a microphone clipped to your lapel....

Take the Beliefnet Classic Move Love Quotes quiz.