Lilit Marcus: April 2008 Archives

Scottish heartthrob actor James McAvoy has quickly become one of Hollywood's biggest rising stars, with roles in "The Last King of Scotland," "Atonement," and "The Chronicles of Narnia." However, had he made a different career choice, the screen might have been robbed of his talents. As a teenager, McAvoy considered becoming a priest. He tells "Closer" magazine: "I considered becoming a priest very seriously. I wanted to travel the world--and as a young Catholic it seemed the easiest way. By the time I turned 16 I realized I was only in it for selfish reasons, and there were easier ways to explore the world. And, more importantly, I didn’t want to sacrifice the ladies!"

Well, I can name quite a few ladies who are more than happy with McAvoy's decision. Like his wife, for example.

Clay Aiken has been many things. He was an unassuming North Carolina college student, an "American Idol" runner-up, a popular and mega-selling solo artist, a Broadway star, and now... the Messiah?

Aiken is currently starring on Broadway in the Monty Python musical "Spamalot." One devoted fan, who was not idenfied by name, told the New York Daily News gossip columnist Ben Widdicome that she has been to see the show more than 40 times since Aiken's debut and that she considers him "the Messiah."

Aiken has made no secret of his devout Christian faith, but has no comment on whether he's actually Jesus Christ. A rep for "Spamalot" was quoted as saying, "I am not familiar with this devoted fan, but I know there are many of them." Talk about taking celebrity worship to a whole new level.

This week on "American Idol," contestants sang songs from the canon of music theater genius Andrew Lloyd Webber. The field had been narrowed to six contestants, and each worked one on one with Webber to prepare their song. Carly Smithson, an Irish woman (now married to a US citizen) who had auditioned two seasons prior but had to drop out due to visa issues, had chosen the ballad "All I Ask Of You" as her song. Webber, however, felt that Smithson's voice was better suited to her second-choice song, "Superstar," from the musical "Jesus Christ Superstar." The song is sung in the musical by Judas and questions whether Jesus is real and credible. The lyrics are: "Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ, who are you, what have you sacrificed? Jesus Christ Superstar, do you think you're what they say you are?"

The show's three judges agreed that Smithson's spirited, lively performance was strong and one of the night's best. They, along with many in the audience, were shocked when she was voted off on Wednesday's elimination show over contestants like Jason Castro, who had gotten poor reviews, and Brooke White, who had flubbed the lyrics to her song and made the band start over.

Have you ever wished you could change the future? Uma Thurman and Evan Rachel Wood star in this edge-of-your-seat thriller about how making a single choice can alter your fate. Watch the trailer below.

Last night's two and a half hour long celebrity installment of "Idol Gives Back" ranged from the bizarre (Teri Hatcher?) to the popular-but-not-inspirational (Fergie) to the truly meaningful. British singer Annie Lennox was one of the few celebrities who seemed genuinely moved by the trip she took to visit poor families in Africa, and was one of the only guests who did something more than look directly into the camera and ask people to donate money. Here's her beautiful performance of "Many Rivers to Cross."

Last night the actual Idols performed on 'Idol Gives Back' (tonight is when the celebrities perform, and Thursday is eliminations--whew!). The theme, as it was last year for the charity show, was "inspirational songs." Here are my two favorite performances...

You may not have heard of John Shannon, but you will soon. The soulful singer-songwriter just released his debut album, "American Mystic." Many of the songs on the album were inspired by Shannon's experiences at a meditation retreat in the...

In the movie "The Visitor," opening this weekend, a depressed college professor (Richard Jenkins) discovers that a young immigrant couple has illegally moved into his New York City apartment. Rather than turn them away, he befriends them, a decision that...