Nagpaunlak ang controversial actress-singer na si Gretchen Barretto ng isang exclusive interview saGMA News at PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) habang sinu-shoot niya ang kanyang kauna-unahang music video para sa kanyang single na "Please Don't Ask Me" sa G Hotel sa Roxas Boulevard kanina, February 27.
Seksing-sexy si Gretchen sa kanyang La Perla lingerie at mamahaling high-heeled shoes habang kinukunan ang "sensual" scenes kasama ang model-actor na si Zanjoe Marudo.
"It's sexy pero hindi naman po ako mag-e-ST. Sensual lang in a way ang mga shots, pero walang kissing scene, walang love scenes," paglilinaw ni La Greta.
POSITIVE ENERGY. Bago ang interview nakiusap na si Greta na huwag nang pag-usapan ang intrigang kinasangkutan nila ng kaibigang si Nadia Montenegro. Sa naunang interview ni Mario Dumaual ng TV Patrol World, nagbago ang mood ni Greta nang mabanggit ang pangalan ni Nadia.
"You know, I am doing a lot of things today. I am very busy today. I don't want this to be on the way. Tao lang din naman ako, sana bigyan n'yo naman ako ng pagkakataon na mag-heal," pakiusap ni Gretchen.
Nanghingi si La Greta nang ilang sandali para humupa ang kanyang nararamdaman. Matapos ang ilang minuto ay ipinagpatuloy na niya ang interview.
Sa gitna ng kontrobersiya, nagbigay rin si Gretchen ng ilang bagay na tila natutunan niya habang binabato siya ng intriga sa mga nagdaang taon.
"Yung mga intriga ngayon na busy ako, hindi ko na masyado iniisip. Huwag mo lang i-bring up yung topic, okay naman ako, e," sabi niya.
"Kasi ang buhay, dapat responsible ka sa sarili mong buhay. Kung magkamali ka, kung masaktan ka, sariling diskarte mo ‘yon, e. Kahit magkamali ka sa diskarte mo, okay lang because you will learn from it."
LESSONS LEARNED. Marami raw natutunan si Gretchen sa mga nagdaang intriga sa kanya. Ang hindi raw niya maintindihan ay kung bakit binibigyan ng matinding pagtuon ang mga bagay na nangyayari sa kanya, pati na ang bagay na kanyang ginagawa at iniisip.
"I should be asking you that... I mean, why? Bakit nga ba? Gusto ko na ngang palitan ang pangalan ko na Gretchen Kontrobersya!" nakatutuwang sagot ni Gretchen. "Hindi ko nga maintindihan, maupo lang ako, may makatabi lang ako, boyfriend ko na o nakikipaghalikan na ako."
Ang isang bagay na marahil ay maituturing na maganda sa likod ng mga kontrobersiya ngayon ay ang pagiging malapit at solido nilang magkapatid.
Matatandaang dinayo pa ng bunso niyang kapatid na si Claudine Barretto ang kinalalagyan ni Gretchen sa kasagsagan ng away nila ni Nadia kahit kagagaling lang nito sa Hong Kong Disneyland.
"Nakita mo naman kami sa Rembrandt [Hotel]," sabi ni Gretchen. "Parang ang nag-iba ay parang si Claudine ang ate ko, si Marjorie ate ko rin, parang ako ang bunso nila. They enjoy taking care of me."
BIRTHDAY IN BOSTON. Nakatakdang samahan ni Gretchen ang kanyang life partner na si Tonyboy Cojuangco patungong Boston sa darating na Sabado ng gabi, March 1, para sa regular na throat treatment nito. Gagamitin din daw ni La Greta ang pagkakataong ito para makapagpahinga.
"We will spend one day sa San Francisco, then we will go to Boston the following day. Dun ako magbe-birthday para naman may break din ako. Para makatulog ako nang maayos, makakain ako nang maayos," pagtatapos ni Gretchen, na magdidiwang kanyang 38th birthday sa March 17.
For two consecutive days, Daisy Siete took the lead from Eat Bulaga! in the daytime race. Last February 26 and 27, the "Ulingling" episode of Daisy Siete starring the SexBomb Girls posted 24 percent and 23 percent ratings versus Eat Bulaga's 22.8 percent and 21.4 percent.
But Eat Bulaga! managed to regain the lead on Thursday, February 28, by virtue of its 22.2 percent rating compared to Daisy Siete's 20.9 percent.Two GMA-7 Sine Novelas, Maging Akin Ka Lamang and My Only Love, meanwhile, were untouchable in their third and fourth positions from Tuesday to Thursday.
Other shows that squeezed into the Top 10 during the past three days were Wheel of Fortune, Hana Yori Dango 2, Game KNB?, Wowowee, Come Back Soon-Ae, and Takeshi's Castle—in no particular order.
Marimar still rules in the primetime race, consistently posting a rating of more than 46 percent; the highest was 47.8 percent last Wednesday.
Richard Gutierrez's Kamandag took the No. 2 position Tuesday and Thursday while Robin Padilla's Joaquin Bordado occupied that spot Wednesday.
It's interesting to note that Marimar, Kamandag, and Joaquin Bordado all posted more than 40 percent rating last Tuesday.
GMA-7's primetime newscast 24 Oras placed fourth Tuesday night, but the Koreanovela Coffee Prince grabbed that slot Wednesday and Thursday.
ABS-CBN's Primetime Bida block, in the meantime, held on to its sixth to ninth positions. TV Patrol World was consistent at No. 6, although it tied with Lobo Thursday night with identical 23.6 percent rating.
Kung Fu Kids remained untouched at No. 7. Lobo and Palos were at No. 8 and No. 9, respectively, on Tuesday and Wednesday. Lobo moved to No. 6 and Palos to No. 8, Thursday.
Another Kapamilya soap, Maging Sino Ka Man, made it in the Top 10 Thursday because of a tie in sixth place between TV Patrol World and Lobo.
Here are the Top 10 daytime and primetime programs from February 26 to 28 based on the overnight ratings conducted by AGB Nielsen Philippines among Mega Manila households:
February 26 (Tuesday)
Daytime:
1. Daisy Siete (GMA-7) - 24% 2. Eat Bulaga! (GMA-7) - 22.8% 3. Maging Akin Ka Lamang (GMA-7) - 21% 4. My Only Love (GMA-7) - 20.5% 5. Hana Yori Dango 2 (GMA-7) - 17.5% 6. Wheel of Fortune (ABS-CBN) - 17.4% 7. Devil Beside Me (GMA-7) - 16.7% 8. Wowowee (ABS-CBN) - 16.4% 9. Pilipinas, Game KNB? (ABS-CBN) - 15.4% 10. Takeshi's Castle (GMA-7) - 15.2%
Primetime:
1. Marimar (GMA-7) - 47.8% 2. Kamandag (GMA-7) - 43.6% 3. Joaquin Bordado (GMA-7) - 42.2% 4. 24 Oras (GMA-7) - 35% 5. Coffee Prince (GMA-7) - 32.3% 6. TV Patrol World (ABS-CBN) - 24.4% 7. Kung Fu Kids (ABS-CBN) - 23.1% 8. Lobo (ABS-CBN) - 22.8% 9. Palos (ABS-CBN) - 17.2% 10. Kung Ako Ikaw (GMA-7) - 16.1%
February 27 (Wednesday)
Daytime:
1. Daisy Siete (GMA-7) - 23% 2. Eat Bulaga! (GMA-7) - 21.4% 3. Maging Akin Ka Lamang (GMA-7) - 20.5% 4. My Only Love (GMA-7) - 19.6% 5. Wheel of Fortune (ABS-CBN) - 17.6% 6. Hana Yori Dango 2 (GMA-7) - 17.5% 7. Wowowee (ABS-CBN) - 16.1% 8. Come Back Soon-Ae (GMA-7) - 15.2% 9. Pilipinas, Game KNB? (ABS-CBN) - 14.8% 10. Takeshi's Castle (GMA-7) - 14.7%
Primetime:
1. Marimar (GMA-7) - 46.6% 2. Jaoquin Bordado (GMA-7) - 40.9% 3. Kamandag (GMA-7) - 37.4% 4. Coffee Prince (GMA-7) - 32.5% 5. 24 Oras (GMA-7) - 31.1% 6. TV Patrol World (ABS-CBN) - 23.6% 7. Kung Fu Kids (ABS-CBN) - 22.4% 8. Lobo (ABS-CBN) - 21.7% 9. Palos (ABS-CBN) - 18.2% 10. Kung Ako Ikaw (GMA-7) - 16.8%
February 28 (Thursday)
Daytime:
1. Eat Bulaga! (GMA-7) - 22.2% 2. Daisy Siete (GMA-7) - 20.9% 3. Maging Akin Ka Lamang (GMA-7) - 20.2% 4. My Only Love (GMA-7) - 20% 5. Pilipinas, Game KNB? (ABS-CBN) - 16.8% 6. Come Back Soon-Ae (GMA-7) - 15.9% 7. Wowowee (ABS-CBN) - 15.8% 8. Takeshi's Castle (GMA-7) - 15.6% 9. Wheel of Fortune (ABS-CBN) - 15.3% 10. Hana Yori Dango 2 (GMA-7) - 12.5%
Primetime:
1. Marimar (GMA-7) - 46% 2. Kamandag (GMA-7) - 40.2% 3. Joaquin Bordado (GMA-7) - 39.3% 4. Coffee Prince (GMA-7) - 34.2% 5. 24 Oras (GMA-7) - 31% 6. TV Patrol World (ABS-CBN) / Lobo (ABS-CBN) - 23.6% 7. Kung Fu Kids (ABS-CBN) - 23.5% 8. Palos (ABS-CBN) - 17.7% 9. E.S.P. (GMA-7) - 14.9% 10. Maging Sino Ka Man (ABS-CBN) - 14.8%
Four more aspiring singers failed to convince viewers that they have what it takes to win the star-making talent contest "American Idol."
The voting public cut loose Alaina Whitaker, Jason Yeager, Robbie Carrico and Alexandrea Lushington, trimming the number of contestants to 16 Thursday night.
Whitaker, a 16-year-old from Tulsa, Okla., let out a sob after she heard the result.
"Sorry, this is so embarrassing," she told host Ryan Seacrest, who consoled her with a hug.
The other "Idol" female contestants gathered on stage to lend moral support to Whitaker as she gave a final performance of "Hopelessly Devoted to You." Several contestants wiped away tears.
"You are a gifted, bright young talent. ... This is the start of an amazing career from you," said judge Paula Abdul, who gave Whitaker a standing ovation.
Simon Cowell wasn't surprised by Yeager's exit.
"Your problem — quite simply — is that you don't stand out in the crowd at the moment," the cranky judge told Yeager, a 28-year-old single dad from Grand Prairie, Texas.
Cowell told Carrico, who sang Foreigner's "Hot Blooded," that his rocker act "just never ever felt real." Carrico, 26, from Melbourne, Fla., was part of the pop group Boyz N Girlz United.
Lushington, a 17-year-old Douglasville, Ga., resident (and a snappy dresser and favorite of judge Randy Jackson's), displayed a lack of confidence Wednesday, acting sheepish and uncomfortable onstage, following her cover of Chicago's "If You Leave Me Now." Jackson said the '70s song didn't suit her youthful style.
A standout this week was 17-year-old David Archuleta, who sang a soulful cover of "Imagine."
Brooke White, 24, also scored a glowing review from Cowell for her bare-bones performance of "You're So Vain."
Cowell joked he thought the song was about him.
"American Idol," now running three times a week, will return to a twice-weekly schedule March 11 for the elimination of the final dozen. The decision-making finale will be held in May.
David James Archuleta (born December 28, 1990 in Miami, Florida) is an American singer and "Top 16" contestant, and amongst the top eight male vocalists, on American Idol's seventh season as of the moment.
They say David Archuleta has the biggest chance in bringing home the 'American Idol' title.
At the age of 12, Archuleta won the Junior Singers competition on Star Search.
Archuleta started singing when he was six because he was inspired by a Les Misérables 10th-anniversary video he was watching, "That musical is what started all of this." He started performing for others at the age of ten, when he participated in the Utah Talent Competition with the song "I Will Always Love You", by Dolly Parton, receiving a standing ovation, and winning the kid division. This later led to his competing in the Star Search reality show as well as appearing on The Jenny Jones Show and CBS' The Early Show as well as meeting the finalists from American Idol 1. He once suffered partial vocal paralysis but refrained from risky surgery and feels he has fully recovered.
Archuleta lives in Murray, Utah and is a student at Murray High School. If his bid to become the next American Idol fails he plans to continue school and keep singing. The only regular job he has had was over the summer of 2007 as a sound "techie" at a park amphitheater
In 2003, at the age of 12, Archuleta sang on several episodes of the television show Star Search. He ended up winning grand prize on Star Search 2. On one episode, he sang against then 13-year-old Alexandréa Lushington, who was a "top 20" semi-finalist on American Idol alongside Archuleta.
Archuleta won his ticket to the Hollywood final auditions at the San Diego tryouts held at Qualcomm Stadium - July 30 & July 31, 2007. He was still only sixteen during the Hollywood auditions and, along with other contestants not yet 18, will have to go to school ("doing schoolwork in the morning and then come onto the stage and then go back to the schoolwork") while a part of American Idol's seventh season.
His parents are also on hand, likely because he's a minor.Archuleta is considered to be one of the frontrunners for his series of exceptional performances. After his rousing rendition of "Imagine", all three judges praised his abilities with Paula Abdul citing as one of the most "moving performances [she had] ever heard." Entertainment Weekly critic Michael Slezak stated that Archuleta "[has] shown more star quality and stage presence in two weeks of performances than all the other male constestants combined."
awww, he's so cute! love his smile so A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E. hope he win! ooopps... i'm still rooting for Ramiele.LOL
Paris Hilton poses topless for the latest issue of 944 Magazine. I can't tell if she's trying to be sexy in these pictures, or really has to go to the bathroom. It's like "Ooh, yeah, I'm Paris Hilton and I've got to piss like a race horse. Isn't that hot?" I dunno, I guess - sort of. But you know what's really hot? Drinking anti-freeze. I mean, wow, e to the rotic. And, hey, I've got some right here. You go first, sexy girl. Mmm, yum yum! See the pics here
Angel Locsin is the Covergirl for Cosmopolitan Magazine this March 2008
Angel Locsin (born Angelica Locsin Colmenares on April 23, 1985), is a Filipina television and film actress, commercial model, film producer, fashion designer, and product endorser who was introduced in GMA Network's youth-oriented program, Click.
Locsin rose to prominence after being cast as one of the lead stars in the fantasy-themed television series Mulawin in 2004. Soon after, she starred as the superheroine Darna in the TV adaptation of the popular Mars Ravelo comics hit.
Locsin top-billed in several films and is known as the screen love interest of Richard Gutierrez and Dennis Trillo. When her contract expired last March 2007, Angel did not renew her contract to her mother studio, GMA Network and signed an exclusive contract in ABS-CBN despite her booming career in GMA.
GMA was saddened by her decision but her manager Becky Aguila claimed in her interviews done by ABS, that it's just a career move.
As time goes by, even the closest couples sometimes struggle to find new things to talk about. So it was no surprise that during their 20th and final debate, Democratic presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama struggled to say anything that supporters haven't already heard them say many, many times during their daily stump speeches and 19 other showdowns.
For the most part, they played nice — again — complimenting each other when they weren't attacking the other's nasty campaign tactics, arguing about who opposed the Iraq war first and chewing up 16 minutes parsing the sliver of difference between their healthcare plans.
Sitting just a foot away from each other during the 90-minute debate at Cleveland State University, the candidates were mostly cordial, but their body language indicated that, at this point, they're just plain irritated with each other. So, with Obama the resounding champion in recent primaries and make-or-break ones for Clinton coming next week, what did we learn from this final showdown?
"If anything, we learned that there isn't any serious difference between these two on major issues like healthcare," Roger Simon, chief political columnist for Politico.com, told MTV News on Wednesday (February 27). "Which is why they have to keep getting into this endless wrangle about how many people would [not be covered] under the other's plan. It's like two hamsters chasing each other around in a wheel."
Other things we learned:
Hillary Clinton doesn't like to go first ... but she'll do it anyway After the endless healthcare back-and-forth, co-moderator Brian Williams brought up what appeared to be Clinton's flip-flopping support for the North American Free Trade Agreement passed by her husband, former president Bill Clinton. "Well, could I just point out that, in the last several debates, I seem to get the first question all the time?," Clinton said. "And I don't mind. You know, I'll be happy to field them, but I do find it curious. And if anybody saw 'Saturday Night Live,' you know, maybe we should ask Barack if he's comfortable and needs another pillow." The line brought one of the only audible "boos" of the night from the audience. Then, when the other moderator, Tim Russert, aimed a question at both of the candidates about the upcoming Russian election, Clinton happily jumped in first. "If you don't think she was the kid in school who always raised her hand first ..." Simon told MTV News on Wednesday.
Barack Obama gives as good as he gets, and says there's no whining in politics The night began with a tense exchange in which Clinton accused Obama of dirty tricks over a mailing she said he's distributed in Ohio that she said mischaracterized her healthcare plan and stance on NAFTA. Obama shot back with an assertion that, "I have endured over the course of this campaign repeatedly negative mailing from Senator Clinton in Iowa, in Nevada and other places suggesting that I want to leave 15 million people out [of my healthcare plan] ... Senator Clinton — [or] her campaign, at least — has constantly sent out negative attacks on us, e-mail, robo-calls, flyers, television ads, radio calls, and we haven't whined about it because I understand that's the nature of this campaigns."
The biggest difference between them on the issue they say is the most important one, healthcare, is ... well, we're still not sure Obama admitted that 95 percent of his and Clinton's healthcare plans are the same, so the bitter back-and-forth over how many people would be left behind in Obama's plan, or who many would be forced to pay for a plan under Clinton, was kind of pointless. As Simon noted, "maybe six people in the country can understand the differences in their plans anyway."
Obama rejects and denounces the support of controversial Nation of Islam leader Minister Louis Farrakhan Even after he called Farrakhan's past anti-Semitic comments "unacceptable and reprehensible" and said he did not solicit the support of his fellow Chicagoan, Russert asked Obama if he implicitly rejected Farrakhan's support, to which Obama responded, "Well, Tim, I can't say to somebody that he can't say that he thinks I'm a good guy." After Clinton called Obama to task for denouncing — but not rejecting — Farrakhan's support, Obama seemingly threw up his hands and said, "I have to say I don't see a difference between denouncing and rejecting. There's no formal offer of help from Minister Farrakhan that would involve me rejecting it. But if Senator Clinton feels the word 'reject' is stronger than the word 'denounce,' then I'm happy to concede the point, and I would reject and denounce."
Neither of them is willing to kick NAFTA to the curb on Day One, or commit to re-invade Iraq if things fall apart after our pull troops out When Russert asked Clinton and Obama to commit to pulling out of the North American Free Trade Agreement within six months of taking office, both said they would put Mexico and Canada on notice, but pledged to renegotiate the treaty, not scrap it. Both also were noncommittal about sending American troops back to Iraq if the situation deteriorates after U.S. troops pull out under their presidencies. "You know, Tim, you ask a lot of hypotheticals," Clinton responded. Obama's take was, "I think we should always cooperate with our allies and sovereign nations in making sure that we are rooting out terrorist organizations. But if they are planning attacks on Americans like what happened on 9/11, it will be my job as president to make sure that we are hunting them down."
Hillary's working on getting her tax returns out into the public domain, for real The Senator promised to get it done as soon as she can, but added, "I'm a little busy right now."
Obama's pledge to sidestep special-interest money by taking public financing in the general election: Eh, not so fast: When Russert asked Obama why he wouldn't pony up now that expected Republican nominee John McCain is "calling your bluff," Obama said, "if I am the nominee, then I will sit down with John McCain and make sure that we have a system that is fair for both sides. Because, Tim, as you know, there are all sorts of ways of getting around these loopholes."
Clinton doesn't know the correct pronunciation of the name of Russian President Vladimir Putin's hand-picked successor Guess what? Hardly anyone does ...
It was the second week of these live showcases and we were still straddled with mediocre-at-best performances by a group of guys I once stated was one of the more talented so far. I was mostly wrong.
Keeping up with the themes — which usually don't happen until the group is whittled down to the top 12 — this week's subject du jour was '70s classics. (One can only surmise that next week's subject will be, uh, let me think ... '80s classics?!) Tuesday night, I couldn't help but wonder just how many Stevie Wonder songs would be botched. Mercifully, none. I called for a moratorium of all things Stevie long ago, only to be beaten over the head with bad renditions over and over again, season after season. So far, so good.
As Ryan Seacrest name-checked the top 10 fellas, the biggest screams were for future "Idol" winner (just my guess, folks) 17-year-old David Archuleta, from all the naive, if-they-only-knew tweens situated in the audience. He hadn't even sung a single note yet, proving that the PR cogs at Idolwood are keeping the wheels spinning efficiently. In his defense, David has by far the biggest Idol fanbase on the Internet now, as his ArchAngels (as they're called) have been overpowering various "Idol" message boards since his very first audition. So call him the Zac Efron of the season. Or the lost Jonas brother.
It's always frustratingly funny to hear Randy spew that "Idol" is first and foremost a singing competition. And he did so again Tuesday night for the umpteenth time. I'm not sure if he's just delusional, or if he's reading the Oprah's Book Club hopeful "Better Living Through Denial," because anyone with an IQ of Jasmine Trias knows that "AI" is the world's biggest, most spectacular popularity contest. Sure, there's a modicum of talent involved, and each season begets at least one great potential star (maybe two), but it hasn't been about the singing since way back in season one (the absolute worst season for talent) and briefly, in season three, with Fantasia, Jennifer and LaToya making up the Great Triumvirate (check out our "American Idol" video timeline for high- and low-lights from previous seasons!). But I digress — the evening did have three or so fond memories.
Michael Johns Song: Fleetwood Mac's "Go Your Own Way" Verdict: Honey, he can go my way ... but only if he sings better
Coasting on his sex appeal since day one, this Michael Hutchence wannabe struggled with his upper register and seemed confused about the melody. That said, Fleetwood Mac were second only to the Mamas and the Papas when it came to perfect, intricate, shimmering male/female vocal harmonies, something this arrangement sorely lacked, and something that the backup singers couldn't muster, as reliable as they usually are. Not to mention, Michael Johns is no Lindsey Buckingham — heck, he ain't even Stevie Nicks. He'll sail through, of course; his fanbase is tremendous. Unfortunately, though, all we are left with is a good karaoke singer whose physical attributes outweigh his vocal finesse. But, boy, what physical attributes they are. How soon before the CW snatches him up? I mean, can't you just see his face on this poster?
Jason Castro Song: Andy Gibb's "I Just Want to Be Your Everything" Verdict: The question is, will his fanbase want to be his after that performance?
While it was interesting for John Travolta look-alike Castro to choose this song — which the Bee Gees wrote for their less talented brother, Andy — the weird bossa nova arrangement couldn't hide Castro's awkwardness or his flimsy guitar skills. He should've chosen a song from "Grease" or "Saturday Night Fever" to better highlight the Travolta look. He might not like the nonmusical parts of "Idol," like he stated in his pre-performance clip, but if he wants to be in it for the long haul, he'll need to gain some confidence. Ditching the guitar, stirring it up a bit and choosing a less-Gibb-identified song would be the first steps away from, as Simon so astutely stated, "schmaltzy."
Luke Menard Song: Queen's "Killer Queen" Verdict: As dead as Freddie Mercury
Menard contradicted himself with this performance. After telling us that members of world-traveled a cappella group Chapter 6 must be pitch-perfect, you'd think he'd back it up with something more than a mush-mouthed version of a great classic-rock tune. It was an ambitious if foolish choice. Part of the song's charm is the lyrics, but they were rendered undecipherable. His falsetto — while not as ear-blood-inducing as Ace Young's — was nonetheless weak, in a song that requires a more burly register. It could have been a lot worse, but I swear I heard the plaintive wails of Freddie Mercury bellowing from the grave.
Robbie Carrico Song: Foreigner's "Hot Blooded" Verdict: Left me "cold as ice"
First, get out of the dirty bathwater, kid, and wash your hair. You look like a homeless man who rummaged the garbage bins behind Hot Topic. You don't have to try so hard to prove that you're rock 'n' roll (albeit as cliché and true a rocker as Bret Michaels). Second, I can almost sympathize when the judges lecture you about "authenticity," with nary a mention to any other phony aspirant in this year's contest. But trying to pull off that appalling rendition of a lame Foreigner song was the bandana that broke the wannabe's back. Love 'em or loathe 'em, Foreigner were a welfare Bad Company, but Lou Gramm's pipes were ear-shattering. While no one should expect rock-star vocals from anyone in this "amateur" competition, your ex-girlfriend Britney couldn't have sung this song worse with a gun to (or pair of panties on) her head.
Danny Noriega Song: The Carpenters' "Superstar" Verdict: He did say he'd be coming back this way again, maybe
Ruben Studdard channeled Luther Vandross when he performed this song in season two, but I was thankful that resident diva Noriega chose the Carpenters' route. Not because theirs is a better version (oh, Lord, it ain't), but because Noriega's supple tones are better suited for a more sedate rendition. And he kinda pulled it off. But Randy nailed it precisely — as Danny sang, I couldn't help but think that he was performing instead of merely performing. He needn't try so hard. Vote for the Worst support notwithstanding, Danny does have one of the better voices this year. He's shaky on the bottom notes, but overall it was better than I expected. I'm not sure how far America is willing to let his flamboyance take him, as you can only flaunt your, um, personality so long before it delves into Taylor Hicks territory. But hey, look where that got him! Oh, better yet, don't.
David Hernandez Song: The Temptations' "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" Verdict: A rolling stone gathers no moss. Will David sustain his?
Though he veered into Tony Orlando & Dawn/ Sonny & Cher '70s variety-show terrain (I was half-expecting the Ernest Flatt dancers to shuffle in from stage left), this was a surprisingly good performance by Hernandez, who I previously thought didn't stand a chance at surviving, especially after last week's tepid "Midnight Hour." Hearing the opening refrain, I was instantly vexed. How many people can actually pull off the Temptations? But I'll be damned if he wasn't pitch-perfect, with solid vocal flexibility and just the right showbiz chutzpah. And believe it or not, a lil' bit o' soul.
Jason Yeager Song: The Doobie Brothers' "Long Train Runnin' " Verdict: Out of gas
Jesus freak Yeager wanted us to know that he's a self-taught multi-instrumentalist. Too bad he couldn't find a "Singing for Dummies" manual anywhere. OK, OK, I'm being hard on him — it wasn't as awful as the judges would like us to believe. He was even better on Tuesday than judges' fave Michael Johns, but that was a fluke and a half. In his pre-perf video, he mentioned that he wanted to find a "killer" song to incorporate his guitar skills. In his post-judging bash-a-thon, he went on and on about how he has a wide range and how he understands that he needs to accelerate his talent because this group of guys, including himself, are a "killer" bunch of singers. It's this type of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi-like hallucination that makes him a bad father. Go home and take care of your kid.
Chikezie Song: Donny Hathaway's "I Believe to My Soul" Verdict: I know his name is Chikezie — I just can't pronounce it
His soulful vocal styling trumpeted his return to form Tuesday night, and it just might save him from going home. However, it's that superciliousness that will eventually do him in; playful or not, his retorts to Simon came across as sour grapes. Accept the accolade graciously and move along. While it was nice that he acknowledged Hathaway's daughter Kenya as one of the backup singers (as Elliott Yamin did in season five), it didn't mask the ignorance he displayed, and that's a turnoff. These Idols don't get it ... you'd better be as great as Fantasia if you want to sass the headmaster. Chikezie, you may be good, but you ain't Fantasia. Heck, you aren't even Ne-Yo.
David Cook Song: Free's "All Right Now" Verdict: Lord above, now he's tryin' to trick us in love
David wanted us to know that he's a word nerd who loves crossword puzzles. OK, five-down, two words, nine letters: the clue is "Rock 'n' roll irrelevance." What's the answer? David Cook! You know the type: one of those young guys who strums the guitar his mama bought him from the five and dime, reaching for rock-star dreams only his parents and friends understand. Hmmm ... too bad he doesn't have the musical chops to make that vision a reality. But history is chock full o' rock stars with dubious rock credentials, especially recent history. (Don't believe me? Then click here, here, here or here for a miniscule sampling.) So what's to stop Cook? Well, that Trump-like comb-over, for one. (Will balding men never learn?) And, like Chikezie, he needs to realize that mouthing off to Simon — especially when the judge is spot-on — is "Idol" suicide.
David Archuleta Song: John Lennon's "Imagine" Verdict: Imagine there's no David, it's so hard to do
OK, I'll admit it. I didn't get this kid or his Liza Minnelli-like breathiness and theatrical hand movement. The judges' relentless, almost embarrassing platitudes were uncomfortable at best, nauseating at worst — they all but crown him victor on a weekly basis, and the season hasn't even hit full steam yet. During his pre-perf interview, they pimped him out even more by showing the now-famous Internet clip of his singing the not-very-masculine (and not very pleasant) "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" to a perplexed Kelly Clarkson during season one's tour. Besides that, he has yet to give anything better than an average performance. Until now.
As of Tuesday night, by the musical heavens, I am a fan. And to admit that to myself I had to re-listen to the MP3 three times just to make sure I wasn't suffering a case of acute Abdulism (trust me, it's a real affliction). But damned, if he didn't pull a Melinda Doolittle on us. His "Imagine," while a curious choice, was akin to Doolittle's "My Funny Valentine" insomuch that, besides the gorgeous fluttering tones, he changed the melody a tad — not as a showcase of skill, but to enhance and reflect upon the lyrics' profundity. His vocals were so impassioned and so real that I didn't mind the few times he strayed off-key; it just contributed to the validity of his delivery. For the first time in years, I can say I profoundly agree with a Randy overstatement: It was one of the best "Idol" performances ever.
This all leaves me to ponder if America will get it right. I mean, this season could have been a bit scarier, so despite my misgivings, I'm still grateful. But will you save Danny the Diva from banishment? Will deaf "Pirates of the Caribbean" fans mistake this for this? (As if!) Clearly, the two weakest links tonight were Menard and Carrico, with Yeagermeister coming in a close third. But who knows what America will do? We are, after all, responsible for this.
"SOS" is a song by American pop rock band Jonas Brothers. Written by Nick Jonas, a member of the band, the song was released as the band's second single from their self-titled second album in 2007.
The song is about their troubled relationships with their girlfriends.
Nick said he wrote this song in a span of only ten minutes after having experiencing a certain situation with a girl. Upon release, the song managed to get positive reviews and feedback. According to Radio Disney's Music Mailbag, a program in which listeners get to rate the song, the song managed to get a 98% approval rating.
S.O.S. - Jonas Brothers Lyrics
Told you I made dinner plans You and me and no one else That don't include your crazy friend Well I'm done With awkward situation's empty conversations
Oh This is an S.O.S. Don't wanna second guess, This is the bottom line It's true I gave my all for you, now my heart's in two And I can't find the other half It's like I'm walking on broken glass, better believe I bled It's a call I'll never get
So this is where the story ends A conversation on IM Well I'm done Texting, Sorry for the miscommunication
Oh This is an S.O.S. Don't wanna second guess, This is the bottom line It's true I gave my all for you, now my heart's in two And I can't find the other half It's like I'm walking on broken glass, better believe I bled It's a call I'll never get
Next time I see you I'm giving you a high five 'cause hugs are over rated, just FYI
Oh This is an S.O.S. Don't wanna second guess, This is the bottom line It's true I gave my all for you, now my heart's in two (yeah)
Oh This is an S.O.S. Don't wanna second guess, This is the bottom line It's true I gave my all for you, now my heart's in two And I can't find the other half It's like I'm walking on broken glass, better believe I bled It's a call I'll never get
Zachary David Alexander Efron (born October 18, 1987) is an American actor and singer. He began acting in the early 2000s, and became known to young audiences after his roles in the Disney Channel Original Movie High School Musical, the WB series Summerland, and the film version of the Broadway musical Hairspray.
Speaking to Newsweek in June 2006, director Adam Shankman described Efron as "arguably the biggest teen star in America right now." In 2007, right before the release of High School Musical 2, Rolling Stone declared him the "poster boy for tweenyboppers" and featured him in their late August issue
^ He looks older in that pic!
Cutie!
Woah! What's he's grabbing?
that shades ^ made her looks more hotter!
Awards: * 2006 - Teen Choice Award: Choice Breakout Star * 2006 - Teen Choice Award: Choice Chemistry for High School Musical (with Vanessa Hudgens) * 2007 - Kids' Choice Award: Best male Actor * 2007 - Teen Choice Award: Choice Male Hottie * 2007 - Hollywood Film Award: Ensemble of the Year (shared with the rest of the Hairspray cast) * 2007 - Young Hollywood Award: One to Watch in Hairspray
GMA-7 daytime and primetime shows continue its dominance over their counterparts in ABS-CBN—at least in Mega Manila.
Eat Bulaga! and Daisy Siete are still holding on to their top positions in the daytime race while Marimar, Joaquin Bordado, Kamandag, 24 Oras, and Coffee Prince refuse to step out of the Top 5 positions in the primetime race.
Last Friday, February 22, Regine Velasquez's second appearance on Maalaala Mo Kaya took the tenth spot with 13.4 percent. KC Concepcion's episode, which was shown the previous week, also took the No. 10 position but rated higher with 17.3 percent.
ABS-CBN's delayed telecast of the 80th Oscar Awards generated a rating of 11.5 percent, which is only good for 13th place. The prestigious award-giving body, which named No Country For Old Men as best picture, was also telecast live over Velvet, a cable channel.
Eat Bulaga! is still the No. 1 daytime show during Saturdays taking a very high 27.4 percent rating on February 23. StarTalk was a far second with 18.4 percent followed by Takeshi's Castle with 18.3 percent and Wish Ko Lang with 16. 7 percent. Wowowee and Pinoy Records tied at No. 5 with identical 14.6 percent rating.
In the primetime race, Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho lorded it over with 35.5 percent; followed by Bitoy's Funnierst Videos with 33.5 percent, Imbestigador with 28.3 percent; Kakasa Ka Ba Sa Grade 5? with 25.1 percent. Completing the Top 5 is ABS-CBN's XXX with 20.6 percent.
The new reality show of ABS-CBN (tie-up with Del Monte's Fit 'n Right juice), Got 2B Fit Challenge, debuted at No. 9 with 10.7 percent.
Meanwhile, the rerun of the Richard Gutierrez-Angel Locsin Valentine movie I Will Always Love You topped the daytime race last Sunday, February 24, with 22.9 percent. Also in the Top 5 are Showbiz Central (16.8 percent), SOP (16.1 percent), ASAP '08 (15 percent), and The Buzz (13.1 percent).
Mel & Joey grabbed the No. 1 position in the primetime race with 29.4 percent. Tok! Tok! Tok! Isang Milyon Pasok was a close second with 29.1 percent. Taking the third to fifth slots are All Star K, Kap's Amazing Stories, and Ful Haus.
Here are the Top 10 daytime and primetime programs from February 22 to 25 based on the overnight ratings conducted by AGB Nielsen Philippines among Mega Manila households:
February 22 (Friday)
Daytime:
1. Eat Bulaga! (GMA-7) / Daisy Siete (GMA-7) - 22.5% 2. Maging Akin Ka Lamang (GMA-7) - 17.8% 3. My Only Love (GMA-7) - 16.7% 4. Takeshi's Castle (GMA-7) - 16% 5. Wowowee (ABS-CBN) - 15.7% 6. Wheel of Fortune (ABS-CBN) - 14.9% 7. Pilipinas, Game KNB? (ABS-CBN) - 14.6% 8. Hana Yori Dango 2 (GMA-7) - 14.1% 9. SiS (GMA-7) / Come Back Soon-Ae (GMA-7) - 12.2% 10. Prinsesa ng Banyera (ABS-CBN) - 10.9%
Primetime:
1. Marimar (GMA-7) - 44.3% 2. Joaquin Bordado (GMA-7) - 36.6% 3. Kamandag (GMA-7) - 36.2% 4. Coffee Prince (GMA-7) - 34.3% 5. 24 Oras (GMA-7) - 30.5% 6. TV Patrol World (ABS-CBN) / Kung Fu Kids (ABS-CBN) - 22% 7. Lobo (ABS-CBN) - 20.3% 8. Bubble Gang (GMA-7) - 20.2% 9. Palos (ABS-CBN) - 16.8% 10. Maalaala Mo Kaya (ABS-CBN) - 13.4%
February 23 (Saturday)
Daytime:
1. Eat Bulaga! (GMA-7) - 27.4% 2. StarTalk (GMA-7) - 18.4% 3. Takeshi's Castle (GMA-7) - 18.3% 4. Wish Ko Lang (GMA-7) - 16.7% 5. Wowowee (ABS-CBN) / Pinoy Records (GMA-7) - 14.6% 6. Cinema FPJ (ABS-CBN) - 14.1% 7. Volta (ABS-CBN) - 14% 8. Pilipinas, Game KNB? (ABS-CBN) - 11.7% 9. Entertainment Live (ABS-CBN) - 11.2%
Primetime:
1. Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (GMA-7) - 35.5% 2. Bitoy's Funniest Videos (GMA-7) - 33.5% 3. Imbestigador (GMA-7) - 28.3% 4. Kakasa Ka Ba Sa Grade 5? (GMA-7) - 25.1% 5. XXX (ABS-CBN) - 20.6% 6. TV Patrol World (ABS-CBN) - 19.8% 7. 1 vs. 100 (ABS-CBN) - 18.7% 8. Nuts Entertainment (GMA-7) - 15.3% 9. Got 2B Fit Challenge (ABS-CBN) - 10.7% 10. Sabado Movie Special: Mano Po 3 (ABS-CBN) - 9.1%
February 24 (Sunday)
Daytime:
1. Kapuso Sine Special: I Will Always Love You (GMA-7) - 22.1% 2. Showbiz Central (GMA-7) - 16.8% 3. SOP (GMA-7) - 16.1% 4. ASAP '08 (ABS-CBN) - 15% 5. The Buzz (ABS-CBN) - 13.1% 6. Takeshi's Castle (GMA-7) - 11.5% 7. Your Song (ABS-CBN) - 8.6% 8. Love Spell (ABS-CBN) - 8.4% 9. Ka Pete Na! Totally Outrageous Behavior (ABS-CBN) - 7%
Primetime:
1. Mel & Joey (GMA-7) - 29.4% 2. Tok! Tok! Tok! Isang Milyon Pasok (GMA-7) - 29.1% 3. All Star K (GMA-7) - 25.4% 4. Kap's Amazing Stories (GMA-7) - 24.8% 5. Ful Haus (GMA-7) - 20% 6. Goin' Bulilit (ABS-CBN) - 18.2% 7. Rated K (ABS-CBN) - 16.8% 8. TV Patrol World (ABS-CBN) - 13.3% 9. Pinoy Meets World (GMA-7) - 13.2% 10. That's My Doc (ABS-CBN) - 11.8%
February 25 (Monday)
Daytime:
1. Eat Bulaga! (GMA-7) - 25.8% 2. Daisy Siete (GMA-7) - 21.4% 3. Takeshi's Castle (GMA-7) - 19.8% 4. Wheel of Fortune (abs-cbn) - 17.9% 5. Maging Akin Ka Lamang (GMA-7) - 16.8% 6. Wowowee (ABS-CBN) - 16.3% 7. My Only Love (GMA-7) - 15.7% 8. Prinsesa ng Banyera (ABS-CBN) - 14.6% 9. Pinoy Movie Hits (ABS-CBN) - 13.8% 10. Hana Yori Dango 2 (GMA-7) - 13.2%
Primetime:
1. Marimar (GMA-7) - 43.9% 2. Joaquin Bordado (GMA-7) - 40.2% 3. Kamandag (GMA-7) - 38.3% 4. 24 Oras (GMA-7) - 34.1% 5. Coffee Prince (GMA-7) - 32.1% 6. Lobo (ABS-CBN) - 23.7% 7. TV Patrol World (ABS-CBN) - 23.3% 8. Kung Fu Kids (ABS-CBN) - 22.7% 9. Palos (ABS-CBN) - 20.1% 10. Kung Ako Ikaw (GMA-7) - 16%
Willie Revillame's angels will be the covergirl of Maxim Magazine this coming April 2008, the trio says that they are not competing with any sexy stars and it's a pleasure for them to grace the cover of Maxim considering the fact, that Maxim's editorial team is so strict in choosing their covergirls.
Incidentally, Luningning (real name: Lea) is FHM's Top 99 Sexiest last year, pics below.
Callalily is a Filipino pop-rock band, composed of Kean Cipriano (Vocals), Aaron Ricafrente (Bass), Alden Acosta (Lead Guitar), Tatsi Jamnague (Rhythm Guitar) and Lemuel Belaro (Drums). They released their debut album Destination XYZ on 2006, with singles Stars, Take My Hand, Magbalik, Pasan, Takipsilim and Sanctuary.
Takipsilim - Callalily Lyrics Ilang hakbang papalayo Sa bawat singhot Ako'y napapaso Ihahanap ka ng langit Saan kita itatago?
[Chorus] Ang buhay di mahalaga Kung ikaw hindi makakasama Walang ibang idadalangin O diyos ko Wag kang agawin sa akin
Kislap ng 'yong mga mata Ang siyang nagbibigay ng kulay Mga bulong ng hangin na naguugnay Sa? yo at sa'king buhay
[Repeat chorus]
[bridge] At sayong paglayo Tangay tangay mo ang buhay ko Sa bawat pintig ng puso ko Aking dalangin Wag kang agawin sa akin
[Repeat chorus]
Gagawin ang lahat Wag kang agawin sa akin Gagawin ang lahat Wag kang agawin sa akin Gagawin ang lahat Gagawin ang lahat Gagawin ang lahat O diyos ko, wag kang agawin sa akin
Other Song on the Album: Destination XYZ
1. Stars 2. Pasan 3. Take My Hand 4. Magbalik 5. Yakap 6. Kung Kaya Ko Lang 7. Takipsilim 8. Sanctuary 9. Muli 10. Dream 11. Insane 12. The Final Song
Erstwhile best friends Gretchen Barretto and Nadia Montenegro’s word war has gone overboard. It was triggered by Nadia’s allegedly texting their common friends fabricated stories about Tony Boy Cojuangco throwing Greta out of their mansion because of her rumored affair with businessman Dodie Puno.
They reportedly had a face-to-face encounter in Rembrandt last Feb. 22, which only aggravated the situation. Supposedly with them in the room were Dodie, Boy Asistio (Nadia’s longtime partner), Tanya Montenegro and a relative of Dodie’s.
An insider recounts for us juicy parts of what supposedly transpired that fateful afternoon. It could well be one of RP show biz’s historical, este, hysterical moments:
Nadia shouted at Greta, “Baboy ka!” Greta fired back, “Mas baboy ka! And then she blurted out one of Nadia’s darkest secrets which stunned Boy Asistio. (Clue: It involves an actor with foreign blood who’s making a comeback.)
Boy (who likes gambling) looked liked he lost the biggest gamble of his life. He was advised that maybe Nadia needed professional help for the sake of their kids, that she seemed to have a bipolar disorder. My source also says, “Students pa si Greta and Nadia ay may lihim na inggit na si Nadia kay Greta na dala-dala niya until now.”
My source adds: Greta loves Tonyboy but she’s thrilled about Dodie’s marriage proposal. Tonyboy also wants to marry Greta but his annulment hasn’t come through. Until that happens, Tonyboy will just put up with Greta’s partying and casual flirtations. His only condition is that she’s back home when their daughter Dominique wakes up.
Greta and Nadia’s case reminds me of what my Mom used to say: “Mag-ingat sa mga ’di mo kilala. Pero mas mag-ingat sa mga taong kilala mo na.”
After Marimar, Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera teams up once again in Dyesebel, i heard GMA-7's top-rating Marimar will end on March 14, 2008 (Friday) as LIVE! (remember, Judy-Ann's soap also end this way?) Will it surpassed Angel Locsin's Darna 54.3 single episode ratings? Well we must watch Marimar finale episode to do this!
GMA-7 executives formally announce casting of Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes in "Dyesebel"
Mismong ang mga top executives ng GMA-7 na sina Atty. Felipe Gozon, Chairman, President & CEO; Jimmy Duavit, Executive Vice President & COO; Wilma Galvante, SVP for Entertainment TV; Lilybeth Rasonable, AVP for Drama & Entertainment; at Annette Gozon-Abrogar, GMA Films President, ang pormal na nag-announce ng pagkakapili kina Marian Rivera at Dingdong Dantes sa roles na Dyesebel at Fredo sa Dyesebel, ang bagong fantaserye ng Kapuso network.
Pero tila anti-climatic ang announcement na ito dahil marami na ang nakakaalam na sina Marian ang gaganap na Dyesebel. Sa katunayan, bago pa sa isang panayam ni Marian ay kinumpirma na nga niya na siya nga ang gaganap na Dyesebel. Sari-sari na rin ang mga naririnig na reaksiyon sa pagkakapaili nila ni Dingdong sa naturang proyekto.
Natuwa siyempre ang fans nina Marian at Dingdong dahil hindi magtatapos sa Marimar ang kanilang tambalan. Sa March 14 na ang final telecast ng Marimar at live na lalabas ang buong cast.
May nagagalit din na bakit si Dingdong na naman ang ipinareha kay Marian. Bakit daw hindi subukang itambal ang young actress kay Dennis Trillo. Pero siyempre, ang mga boss ng GMA-7 ang masusunod at nakapagdesisyon na sila na si Dingdong ulit ang magiging leading man ni Marian.
May nakapagsabi sa PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) na hindi sina Marian at Dingdong ang original choice for Dyesebel and Fredo roles. Tama ang mga nasulat na si Rhian Ramos ang first choice sa TV remake ng Dyesebel, pero pinalitan siya at the last minute.
Hindi lang daw dahil hindi kaya ni Rhian na mag-topless kaya siya napalitan. Kasama na rin dito ang naglabasang negative write-ups sa kanya. Pero may maganda at malaking project daw na ibibigay sa kanya this year ang Kapuso network.
Sa role ni Fredo, na-consider din si Mark Anthony Fernandez. Nakita siguro ng GMA-7 management na bagay rin sila ni Marian at magkakaroon ng on-screen chemistry. Hindi na nga lang umabot na i-offer sa aktor ang role dahil may Kamandag ito at kay Dingdong na ibinigay ang role.
Ipinaglaban ni Direk Joyce Bernal sina Marian at Dingdong na para sa kanya, perfect for their respective roles. Naalala ng PEP na sinabi ni Direk Joyce na hindi pa man sila nagsisimulang mag-taping, nai-imagine na niya si Marian na naka-costume with matching buntot ng isda, lumalangoy, at sumasabay ang galaw ng boobs sa alon ng dagat. Natawa nga kami sa description ng direktor sa boobs ng young actress na "may sariling buhay."
Paano nga kaya kung natuloy kay Rhian ang project? Si Dingdong pa rin kaya ang makakapareha niya? Kung natuloy si Mark Anthony as Fredo, lulutang nga kaya ang chemistry nila ni Marian, gaya nang ipinaglaban ng mga naka-idea nito? http://www.pep.ph/news/16518/GMA-7-executives-formally-announce-casting-of-Marian-Rivera-and-Dingdong-Dantes-in-Dyesebel
We Know that Edison Chen already quits in the entertainment industry after all this media frenzy, but this is the full story. The Edison Chen photo scandal is a media scandal in early 2008 involving Hong Kong actor Edison Chen Kwoon-hei and various actresses, including Gillian Chung Yan-tung, Bobo Chan Man-woon, and Cecilia Cheung Pak-zhi.
Beginning in late January 2008, racy photographs depicting Chen and the aforementioned actresses engaged in sexual acts were circulated on the Internet. As of 12 February 2008, nine people were arrested in connection with the distribution of the photographs. The scandal made front page of local newspapers for several weeks, and has made international news.
Despite enlisting the assistance of Interpol, the Hong Kong police have not been able to stem the spread of the photographs. Their crackdown has instead caused concern among over violations of the privacy and free speech rights of Internet users. The manner in which actors, their management, and the police have handled the situation has, in turn, made those arrested into heroes and martyrs for some netizens.
On 21 February, Chen hosted a press conference in Hong Kong in which he admitted being the author of most of the photographs. However, he also claimed that the photographs were distributed illegally and without his consent. In order to protect the victims of the scandal, Chen would take legal action to stop further proliferation of the photos. He publicly apologised to the actresses involved, and also announced that he would "step away indefinitely" from the Hong Kong entertainment industry
History
In November 2006, Chen allegedly purchased a pink PowerBook from eLite Multimedia, a computer shop in Hong Kong's Central district. According to the police, Chen's "Cotton-candy Mac" computer was sent in for repairs, and an estimated 1,300 intimate photographs of Chen and numerous female celebrities may have been accessed and copied by one or more of the shop's employees without consent.Chen's photographs were reportedly taken some time between 2003 and 2005.
One close friend of Chen indicated that he liked to take photographs during intimate moments with his sexual partners, of which 14 were celebrities, and privately showed these to a select group of close friends.
Exposure
The first nude photograph, depicting a sex act between Chen and a female (presumably Gillian Chung), was posted on the Web site Hong Kong Discuss Forum at approximately 8:30 p.m. on 27 January 2008. Although the original post was deleted after a few hours, some visitors forwarded the photo to other major forums in Hong Kong such as Uwants and HKGolden. Chung's management agency, Emperor Entertainment Group (EEG), immediately denied that the photographs were authentic and filed a police report.
At 3 p.m. the day following EEG's statement, a second explicit photograph of Chen (with presumably Bobo Chan.) appeared on the Internet. An emergency meeting was held at EEG immediately that evening after which the company declared through its solicitors that it would pursue the publisher of the image for this "irresponsible" and "malicious act." Gillian Chung was reportedly very distraught, had taken a leave of absence, and would not comment on the matter. Shaped by the denials, the initial media consensus was that the photographs had been manipulated. The story became the headline of major local Hong Kong newspapers.
At 12:30 p.m. on 29 January, a third photograph appeared on the Internet. The photograph was of a much higher resolution than the previous shots. The photographs became the talk of the town, and journals noted the uncanny resemblance to Cecilia Cheung by comparing physical features and the distinctive tattoos of the starlet. Local discussion forums became saturated as a result. A low-resolution sequence (photos 4 to 7) of Chen with a female (possibly Chung) wearing a bikini at the start of the sequence appeared at 3 p.m.; a photograph, allegedly of Cecilia Cheung standing in a bathroom with her back facing the camera appeared at 6 p.m. Journals compared the backgrounds of the photographs to previously released videos filmed inside Chen's residence.The police, and photographic experts who examined the images involving the first three female celebrities, said the photos were unlikely to have been composites.
On 6 February, a forum user, dubbed by the public as "Kira" with reference to the protagonist in the manga Death Note stated he was not in Hong Kong and leaked more photos in defiance of the police. "Kira" promised to release a 32-minute video of Chen and Chung the next day.
Edison's current girlfriend, 18 year old Vincy Yeung (楊永晴), is the niece of the Chairman of Emperor Entertainment Group, Albert Yeung. On 8 February, three pictures of her showering appeared on the Internet. The police confirmed these three images were part of the set of 1,300 photographs. Having said there were only six victims, the police explained the appearance of a seventh, saying that her photographs had been erroneously grouped with one of the other females.
On 14 February, after a lull of five days, two new photographs surfaced. One photograph featured an unidentified woman with Edison, and another showed Rachel Ngan, lying on a bed.
Photos were also posted on the popular mainland China chat room, Tianya.com, and have been viewed nearly 20 million times a day.
Police actions
Hong Kong
China News Service (CNS) reported that more than 100 police officers had been sent to investigate the case, although Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Vincent Wong Fook-chuen later declared that a team of 19 officers from the Commercial Crime Bureau was working the case.The Hong Kong police moved on all Internet service providers to stamp out all local traces of the "offensive material" (which had not yet even been classified). The police held a meeting with more than 200 people responsible for major Hong Kong Web sites and BBS communities to urge them to delete the pictures on appearance "as they have the responsibility to stop crimes". Related discussion threads were progressively deleted
CNS reported the Hong Kong media as saying that police ordered several locally registered Web sites and BBS management firms to submit information about their clients, and had retrieved the IP addresses of more than 30 Internet users who allegedly posted photographs.
On 31 January 2008, an unemployed 29 year-old man who had allegedly uploaded one image was arrested. Twelve pictures were found on his computer. The next day he was arraigned, and the judge denied bail on grounds that he had reasons to suspect that the man would use the pictures to blackmail the actor and actresses. The case would reconvene in eight weeks. After investigating the connection between the suspect and artists, the police were satisfied that blackmail was not involved.
On 2 February, police arrested four men and two women in connection with the distribution of the photographs. Of the six, three men and a woman were released on HK$20,000 bail and must report back to the police in eight weeks. The police revealed that during 2007, Edison Chen brought his computer to a shop for repairs. Employees of the shop discovered over 1,300 nude photos or those depicting sex acts, and were suspected of secretly copying these files.
On 4 February, a 29-year-old man became the eighth person to be detained in connection with the Internet posting of nude photos. On the same day, the 23-year-old man, Sze Ho-Chun (史可隽), arrested in Central on 2 February was charged with the "dishonest use of computers with criminal intent", which has a maximum penalty of five years of imprisonment. The man appeared in Eastern Court on 5 February, where he denied the charge and was released on HK$50,000 bail. The case has been adjourned to 22 February.
Assistant Commissioner Vincent Wong said the source of the pictures had been traced, but he would not confirm reports they had been taken from Chen's computer. He added that the authenticity of the photographs was no longer a line of inquiry. Wong also said of the six women found in the photographs, four were local celebrities; two were not known to the police. None of the women were named. Wong said he was certain that no overseas artists were involved. Ignoring copyright laws, he said that people who had only transferred the obscene picture files to friends had not violated the law, but those who had posted them to Internet Web pages would be in breach of the Hong Kong law. His statement has prompted people to email the picture files to their 'friends' en masse.
On 5 February, as another one of the suspects was released on HK$50,000 bail, six more photographs of people resembling the actresses surfaced on the Internet.In the early hours on Chinese New Year's eve, several hundred more photographs with two new faces appeared on the Internet, as promised, in effect cocking a snoot at the Hong Kong Police.
The police arrested a tenth person in connection with the case on 10 February. Named as Kwok Chun-wai, a 24 year-old logistics clerk, he was charged with distribution of pornography. He had allegedly posted the link to a local discussion forum after uploading a compressed file containing over a hundred images to a site in Cyprus. Kwok was not required to enter a plea, was released on HK$10,000 bail and is required to report to the police three times a week.
Mainland China
Web sites on the mainland are usually more sensitive to political issues than to pornography, and for several weeks major sites such as Baidu permitted the images to be disseminated, attracting Hong Kong users. Around 20 February however, mainland sites took action to prevent access to the photos.
A crackdown began in mainland China on the criminal activities of manufacturing, selling and spreading the CDs of the celebrity photos, which have been "selling like hotcakes". Police have arrested 10 people suspected of the production in Shenzhen.
On 21 February, police in Beijing announced it would act to stop the circulation of the photographs. Officials declared that showing the photos to friends or posting them on blogs or online forums, even without profit motive, could be punishable by detention for up to 15 days; transmission of more than 200 of the photos as a package on the internet would be met with criminal prosecution.
Taiwan
A Taiwanese man aged 24, Huang Wei-lun, was arrested in Taipei county on suspicion of posting the explicit photos and videos in his blog and instructing net surfers how to download the images.
Taiwanese actor (陳漢典) have also been seen parodying Chen's early apology statement on the Taiwan variety show (全民最大黨) on the nationally broadcasted CTiTV. The sketch shows the actor apologizing with an exaggerated calm, low voice similar to Chen. Despite praise from users, associates of Chen are said to be offended by the sketch. Legal issues
Copyright, which could be a central issue, has been slighted. On 2 February, Commissioner of Police Tang King Shing warned that anyone with the pictures on their computer 'could be' in breach of the law, even if there was no record of distribution. The Commissioner's remarks led to lawmaker "Long Hair" Leung Kwok Hung's immediate objection. Leung, together with about two dozen people protested outside police headquarters in Wan Chai, accusing the police of sowing confusion and creating an atmosphere of "white terror" among netizens. Leung urged Commissioner Tang to clarify whether merely keeping the pictures violated the law.
The police's selectiveness in this case, as compared with previous cases of pornography distribution on the Internet has also been the focus of attention. Regina Ip said that police would commonly apply the law selectively, citing the difficulty of taking action against every person who had overstayed in Hong Kong. Similarly local Chairman of the Internet Society said that it would not be practical for the police to ticket every traffic offender.
The denial of bail for Chung Yik-tin sparked controversy over the subjective application of the law. South China Morning Post (SCMP) columnist Tim Hamlett said the presumption of innocence was an issue.Commentary in Ming Pao also remarked on the widespread outrage about the perceived selective application of legal principles - that a person charged with an apparently minor offense being denied bail whilst two others, unnamed, with allegedly heavier involvement in the spread of the photographs were allowed out on bail. A commentary in Apple Daily decried the "clear intimidation of netizens" by the police, and referred to the "hypocrisy in law enforcement" for arresting people without bringing the alleged main source and victim (Edison) for interrogation.
While publishing an Obscene (淫褻) article carries a maximum sentence of 3 years, an Indecent (不雅) article only carries a maximum sentence of 12 months.Ming Pao revealed on 14 February that it had received interim classification from the Obscene Articles Tribunal (OAT) relating to five photographs it had submitted for opinion. Three of these photographs were classified as "indecent" while two were considered "obscene". The only photograph which was in circulation on 27 January, allegedly posted by Chung Yik-tin, belonged to the "indecent" category. Thus, the journal raised the question that Chung may have been charged with a wrong offense. Also, the law applies only after OAT's classification. Since the police arrested and charged Chung prior to classification, some viewed the arrest as unlawful while some see his release, despite the fact he did upload at least stolen photo of the nude celebrities, as too lenient. Legislator Ronny Tong accused the police of humiliating a suspect by their excessively hasty actions. An Assistant Professor at the University of Hong Kong questioned whether an amended charge of "Publishing an Indecent Article" applied to photographs uploaded onto the Internet. At 3:30 p.m. on 15 February, Chung was unconditionally released from detention when charges against him were dropped.
The Police were widely condemned for their handling of the case. In addition, in a survey published by the SCMP, some 48% of people surveyed believed the Police had created unnecessary fear among the Internet community, and a similar percentage were dissatisfied with the police handling of the case. However, Assistant Commissioner Wong insisted that they had "not departed from normal practices" and had "acted correctly under the laws".
Responses and apologies
After the exposure of the eighth photograph, Chen quietly left Hong Kong and flew to Boston to be with his girlfriend Vincy Yeung. Chen remained silent to the public. Until 1 February 2008, Chen's blog had been updated with new posts about his featured action movie Sniper.
On 4 February 2008, Chen sent a 90-second video clip, spoken entirely in English, to the press. In the video clip, Chen apologised to those who may have been affected by the posting of compromising nude photographs. He did not comment on the authenticity of the photos.
As of this evening, the police have made significant advances towards solving this malicious crime. As from the beginning I will continue to give the police my fullest cooperation to bring the perpetrators to justice. At this time I am not able to discuss matters related to the case, but I do feel it is my obligation to accept full responsibility and take action to help both the victims and those associated with them to heal their wounds. In this regard, I plead with everyone to please stop forwarding the images on the Internet. Furthermore, to completely rid the images from your computer. This is a small step that each one of us can take to help the innocent rebuild their lives. The priority now is for all of us to pitch in and help those in need.
– Edison Chen, as posted to his blog
Gillian Chung was the first starlet to make a public appearance when she greeted fans at a New Year celebration on February 11, 2008. After the meeting, she delivered a brief statement to the press in which she did not expressly state whether she was the subject of some of the photographs. Chung apologised for the hurt caused to those around her by her silliness and naivety, saying that she "had now grown up". She promised to "work hard and act positively" in future. Emperor sought closure by stating that neither it nor any of its artists would be making any further statement about the incident. The press conference drew mixed response from the media and the public - some praised her courage in facing the public while others complained of her insincerity and her refusal to face the issue squarely. An Apple Daily commentary was particularly scathing about the hypocrisy of Chung and of her management company for only obliquely hinting at her "licentiousness".
On 21 February, Edison held a press conference during which he asked for forgiveness and announced his retirement from the Hong Kong entertainment industry. He sincerely regretted harm he caused to the women involved and their and his families.
...I would like to say sorry to all the people of Hong Kong. I give my apologies sincerely to you all, unreservedly and with my heart... I know many young people in Hong Kong look up to many figures in society, and in this regard I failed as a role model.
– Edison Chen, press conference, 21 February 2008
Chen confirmed that the photographs were indeed his, and that they were private; the photographs made public were obtained without his consent. He stated that he had been cooperating with police to solve the case since the first day, and would continue to do so. Through his lawyer, Chen asserted the photographs were protected by his property rights, and that reproduction whether in whole or in part without his consent would constitute copyright infringement.
Protests
On February 3, approximately 20 people, led by Leung Kwok-hung, protested the abuse of power by the police.
A week later, on February 10, several hundred people attended a protest march alleging "discriminatory" law enforcement against Internet users. Since this scandal involved local celebrities, protesters complained that the recent wave of arrests has been indicative of a legal double standard.They claimed that the police failed to investigate other cases of nude photos being released without their subject's permission.
Police initially anticipated about only 150 people to show up.Ultimately, approximately 300 Internet users marched from Victoria Park to police headquarters in Wan Chai. They petitioned the police to apologize publicly, release Chung Yik-tin (鍾亦天) —the 29-year-old detained without bail for eight weeks—and stop what protesters called an abuse of power. They also demanded the resignation of Commissioner Tang King-shing.
In the wake of the scandal, citizens also became more concerned about the integrity of the law, resulting in increased resentment towards the Hong Kong Police. In December 2007, Chief Inspector Cindy Kong was hit from behind by a truck,[67] but was unusually allowed to drink water prior to being breathalysed. One month later, businessman Peter Lam was acquitted of a speeding offense due to legal technicalities. Citizens cited these examples to show that, in Hong Kong, some were clearly more equal than others.
International media attention
The news of the scandal has received international media attention, notably on CNN, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times,The Economist, MSNBC, The BBC,The Guardian, Le Figaro and Le Monde.
For Chen
On 5 February 2008, Chen was pulled from the upcoming Stephen Fung movie Jump as a result of the scandal. On 10 February 2008, it was reported that credit card company Manhattan Titanium has withdrawn all advertisements featuring Chen. He announced his retirement from the entertainment field, and would dedicate his energy to charitable work.
Many police officers protected Chen throughout the press conference, and some citizens complained about the waste of manpower. The police replied that, according to their risk assessment, their strong presence was essential to maintain public order due to the great public and media interest in the case.
The triads reportedly offered a HK$500,000 reward to anybody who hacked off Edison Chen's hand. This contributed to fears for Edison's safety upon his return, and heavy police protection.
For Chung
Whilst Emperor declared that Gillian Chung was on sick leave, her fellow "Twin" Charlene Choi twice publicly denied rumours of suicide attempts by Chung -once was during the promotion of the film Kung Fu Dunk. According to Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, their music video for the celebration of the Chinese New Year would have featured Twins, but has since been dropped because of Chung's involvement in the controversy. A new video featuring other artists was selected as a replacement. Preparations for the Twins concerts in Hong Kong originally scheduled for 12-16 April were seriously affected, and the shows would be postponed until September.
Chung's appearance at a charity programme on 17 February met with around 2,100 complaints to the Broadcasting Authority, 373 to TVB, and 202 to the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority (TELA). On 21 February the Broadcasting Authority decided that the complaints were outside its jurisdiction to consider, and passed all the correspondence received to TVB.
For the Press
The blanket coverage of the local press, their reporting style, and the appearance of photographs has also been met with complaints from members of the public to TELA. TELA suspects at least two journals of violating the Obscene Articles Ordinance, and sent copies of issue 936 of Next Magazine and issue 531 of the Oriental Sunday magazine to the OAT for classification. The Tribunal returned an interim classification of "Class I", meaning the magazines were "neither obscene nor indecent", and TELA demanded a full public hearing to review its decision. The OAT, the method of selecting its adjudicators, and the Obscene Articles Ordinance, are under fire. It reportedly classified Michelangelo's "David" as indecent by adhering rigidly to a definition.
For the public in Hong Kong
The scandal has shocked the general public and ignited debate about sexual morality. When legislator Timothy Fok asked Chief Executive Donald Tsang whether the scandal affected Hong Kong's reputation as a regional hub, Tsang replied that it was "a serious issue which demanded [...] further follow-up"
For Baidu
The images reached China mostly through an image-sharing service on Baidu (Tieba).Beijing Network News Council (BNCC) held a meeting on February 18 to discuss the "romantic pictures", and criticised Baidu for spreading the pictures.
Other Web sites that actively discouraged the photo distribution, namely Sohu, Sina and Netease, were praised by BNCC.
R&B crooner Ne-Yo was busted a few days back in Georgia for reckless driving and not having a license — check out the mugshot photo! Is this guy 50 years old?
Find out who went home with an Academy Award.It's time for the 80th annual Academy Awards, and there will be no silver or bronze handed out tonight — only Oscar gold. We're keeping track of the winners in every category right here, so bookmark this page and don't be afraid to answer the doorbell when the pizza guy arrives.
Best Motion Picture WINNER: "No Country for Old Men" · "Atonement" · "Juno" · "Michael Clayton" · "There Will Be Blood"
Performance By An Actor In A Leading Role WINNER: Daniel Day-Lewis in "There Will Be Blood" · George Clooney in "Michael Clayton" · Johnny Depp in "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" · Tommy Lee Jones in "In the Valley of Elah" · Viggo Mortensen in "Eastern Promises"
Performance By An Actress In A Leading Role WINNER: Marion Cotillard in "La Vie en Rose" · Cate Blanchett in "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" · Julie Christie in "Away From Her" · Laura Linney in "The Savages" · Ellen Page in "Juno"
Stars At The 2008 Academy Awards Show George Clooney, Jessica Alba Hit The 2008 Oscars Red Carpet
Performance By An Actor In A Supporting Role WINNER: Javier Bardem in "No Country for Old Men" · Casey Affleck in "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" · Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Charlie Wilson's War" · Hal Holbrook in "Into the Wild" · Tom Wilkinson in "Michael Clayton"
Performance By An Actress In A Supporting Role WINNER: Tilda Swinton in "Michael Clayton" · Cate Blanchett in "I'm Not There" · Ruby Dee in "American Gangster" · Saoirse Ronan in "Atonement" · Amy Ryan in "Gone Baby Gone"
Achievement In Directing WINNER: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen for "No Country for Old Men" · Julian Schnabel for "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" · Jason Reitman for "Juno" · Tony Gilroy for "Michael Clayton" · Paul Thomas Anderson for "There Will Be Blood"
Adapted Screenplay WINNER: "No Country for Old Men" by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen · "Atonement" by Christopher Hampton · "Away From Her" by Sarah Polley · "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" by Ronald Harwood · "There Will Be Blood" by Paul Thomas Anderson
Original Screenplay WINNER: "Juno" by Diablo Cody · "Lars and the Real Girl" by Nancy Oliver · "Michael Clayton" by Tony Gilroy · "Ratatouille" by Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava and Jim Capobianco · "The Savages" by Tamara Jenkins
Achievement In Music Written For Motion Pictures (Original Song) WINNER: Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova for "Falling Slowly" from "Once" · Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz for "Happy Working Song" from "Enchanted" · Jamal Joseph, Charles Mack and Tevin Thomas for "Raise It Up" from "August Rush" · Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz for "So Close" from "Enchanted" · Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz for "That's How You Know" from "Enchanted"
Achievement In Music Written For Motion Pictures (Original Score) WINNER: Dario Marianelli for "Atonement" · Alberto Iglesias for "The Kite Runner" · James Newton Howard for "Michael Clayton" · Michael Giacchino for "Ratatouille" · Marco Beltrami for "3:10 to Yuma"
Achievement In Cinematography WINNER: Robert Elswit for "There Will Be Blood" · Roger Deakins for "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" · Seamus McGarvey for "Atonement" · Janusz Kaminski for "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" · Roger Deakins for "No Country for Old Men"
Achievement In Film Editing WINNER: Christopher Rouse for "The Bourne Ultimatum" · Juliette Welfling for "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" · Jay Cassidy for "Into the Wild" · Roderick Jaynes for "No Country for Old Men" · Dylan Tichenor for "There Will Be Blood"
Achievement In Costume Design WINNER: Alexandra Byrne for "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" · Albert Wolsky for "Across the Universe" · Jacqueline Durran for "Atonement" · Marit Allen for "La Vie en Rose" · Colleen Atwood for "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
Achievement In Art Direction WINNER: Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schiavo for "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" · Arthur Max and Beth A. Rubino for "American Gangster" · Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer for "Atonement" · Dennis Gassner and Anna Pinnock for "The Golden Compass" · Jack Fisk and Jim Erickson for "There Will Be Blood"
Best Animated Feature Film WINNER: "Ratatouille" · "Persepolis" · "Surf's Up"
Best Animated Short Film WINNER: "Peter & the Wolf" · "I Met the Walrus" · "Madame Tutli-Putli" · "Même les Pigeons Vont au Paradis (Even Pigeons Go to Heaven)" · "My Love (Moya Lyubov)"
Best Live Action Short Film WINNER: "Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets)" · "At Night" · "Il Supplente (The Substitute)" · "Tanghi Argentini" · "The Tonto Woman"
Best Documentary Feature WINNER: "Taxi to the Dark Side" · "No End in Sight" · "Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience" · "Sicko" · "War/Dance"
Best Documentary Short Subject WINNER: "Freeheld" · "La Corona (The Crown)" · "Salim Baba" · "Sari's Mother"
Best Foreign Language Film WINNER: "The Counterfeiters" (Austria) · "Beaufort" (Israel) · "Katyn" (Poland) · "Mongol" (Kazakhstan) · "12" (Russia)
Achievement In Visual Effects WINNER: Michael Fink, Bill Westenhofer, Ben Morris and Trevor Wood for "The Golden Compass" · John Knoll, Hal Hickel, Charles Gibson and John Frazier for "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" · Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, Russell Earl and John Frazier for "Transformers"
Achievement In Makeup WINNER: Didier Lavergne and Jan Archibald for "La Vie en Rose" · Rick Baker and Kazuhiro Tsuji for "Norbit" · Ve Neill and Martin Samuel for "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"
Achievement In Sound Editing WINNER: Karen Baker Landers and Per Hallberg for "The Bourne Ultimatum" · Skip Lievsay for "No Country for Old Men" · Randy Thom and Michael Silvers for "Ratatouille" · Christopher Scarabosio and Matthew Wood for "There Will Be Blood" · Ethan Van der Ryn and Mike Hopkins for "Transformers"
Achievement In Sound Mixing WINNER: Scott Millan, David Parker and Kirk Francis for "The Bourne Ultimatum" · Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff and Peter Kurland for "No Country for Old Men" · Randy Thom, Michael Semanick and Doc Kanefor "Ratatouille" · Paul Massey, David Giammarco and Jim Stuebe for "3:10 to Yuma" · Kevin O'Connell, Greg P. Russell and Peter J. Devlin for "Transformers"
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"Plleease, don't never ever complain for wrong gramars and wrong spelings words on this blogs, the bloggers is just a wanabee, she didn't even pinished her elementary days and just wanna blog, is that a krime?"
