Our buddy Chez is Mr. Popularity this week! (NY Times) And don’t forget, you can also catch him on Sirius this evening. (Deus Ex Malcontent)
If you thought yesterday’s Hillary music video was ill, check this out — it’s atrocilicious!™ You can thank/murder Seth for it. (QuizLaw)
Ding ding ding! In this corner, weighing in at 97 pounds, we have Jennifer Aniston! In the other corner, our heavyweight champion: Angelina “the Berserker” Jolie! (WIMB)
I’m starting production of “Free Bai Ling” T-Shirts as we speak. (Yeeeah!)
“30 Rock’s” Jack McBrayer gets bumped from the Michael Showalter Showalter. Aww, how totally cute is he when he’s mad? (CollegeHumor)
Lily Allen is wasted. But more importantly, why you should avoid drinking chocolate martinis. (DListed)
Slash from Guns N Roses is raising two absolutely charming little future date rapers. (Agent Bedhead)
Tyra Banks humiliated a cancer patient who went on her show, which is not actually that surprising since Tyra supposedly seems to humiliate everyone who goes on her show. (Celebitchy)
After the jump, a little known fact: President Lincoln is in fact alive today, and lives in the forest. True story.
So what's wrong with Slash Juniors' behaviors? I know I was smacking my babysitter's on the ass when I was only 5. People need to lighten up.
Speaking of which...I love the header to the Quiz Law article.
Posted by: Shadows of Dakaron at February 15, 2008 3:46 PM
i would punch a showalter out for jack mcbrayer.
Posted by: Jen Vegas at February 15, 2008 4:41 PM
"and Pajiba, a left-wing blog of movie and book reviews."
Sweet reference in the Times.
Posted by: Andrea at February 15, 2008 5:12 PM
Oh c'mon, Jolie versus Aniston isn't even a fight. The stand across from each other, Jolie narrows her eyes and twitches a fist, Aniston freaks out, runs away, and cries in the bathroom for the rest of the evening.
Man, if a babysitting charge of mine smacked me on the ass I would return the favor immediately. I was raised south of the Mason Dixon line, spanking is totally allowed.
Posted by: Genny at February 15, 2008 5:48 PM
I can't believe the NY Times linked to our humble abode. I'm a little nervous. Will it be all down hill from here? Well, the masses can come and visit but then they need to get the hell off our lawn.
Posted by: katy at February 15, 2008 7:04 PM
"Well, the masses can come and visit but then they need to get the hell off our lawn."
Amen.
"Get off our lawns, you young whippersnappers!"
Posted by: Shadows of Dakaron at February 15, 2008 7:14 PM
I was raised south of the Mason Dixon line, spanking is totally allowed.
So, what are you doing this weekend, Genny? I think I need a sitter.
Posted by: socalledonlycousins at February 15, 2008 7:24 PM
AS a occasional poster on QuizLaw, I have never and do not condone such video antics. Also, I REALLY don't want to see their search histories.
Jolie vs. Aniston, huh? Sorry, I can't see any scenario where they DON'T end up making sweaty monkey love. I think boo and her side boob and her talk of assaulting the mammary glands of actresses with false genitalia have corrupted my innocence. That is my story and I am sticking to it.
Jack McBrayer. Who would have thought such comedic talent could come from my neck of the woods?
Sweet Zombie Jesus, folks need to lay off of Lily Allen. The woman just lost a kid, broke up with her man, AND had her show crash. I think she has earned the right to get a little bit shitfaced.
Man, if a babysitting charge of mine smacked me on the ass I would return the favor immediately. I was raised south of the Mason Dixon line, spanking is totally allowed.
I get the feeling those kids might like it.
Posted by: Vermillion at February 15, 2008 7:51 PM
"and Pajiba, a left-wing blog of movie and book reviews."
I was kind of surprised by that too. I know that the writers of Pajiba have "strong views" and criticize the awful government of the USA, but I never pictured them as "left-wing" (tough, to be honest, for a non-american, it's kind of hard to see any left-wing opinion coming from the USA)
Posted by: Radlum at February 15, 2008 9:20 PM
I'm sympathetic towards Chez during this whole debacle but....
He appears to have had prior knowledge of CNN's policy about writing things outside of CNN. If he knew of this policy (ambiguous or not), he probably should have vetted his blog with CNN.
I'm not saying I agree with the policy of not having a personal blog if you work in journalism (I think CNN is wrong for having the policy and wrong for firing Chez). I'm just saying, as a company, they're allowed to set their policies with regard to how their staff handle themselves.
Posted by: wood at February 15, 2008 10:08 PM
I agree with Vermillion. I'd be doing the same thing if I were Lily. Well, to be honest, I'd probably be lying on my couch in my darkened living room watching daytime TV, but it all comes from the same place.
Posted by: Mimi at February 15, 2008 10:36 PM
I think that Times article is the first time I have ever seen Pajiba referenced outside of the Pajiba/Quizlaw/WIMB Triforce. Way to move on up in the world. Side note: how many daily page views does Pajiba get? if you don't mind my asking.
the_wakeful: Not to boast, but we have been mentioned in Vanity Fair (as one of the Fug Girls' favorite sites), Harper's Bazaar, and we were once quoted in USA Today, plus we've been mentioned in a few regional newspapers (as well as quite a few non-mainstream places). But, yes: I'm considering bringing on only writers who will be fired in a high-profile sort of way from now on, esp. if it means a little attention from the Times. I appreciate Chez for going down in the appropriate amount of flames (my guess: It'll be the best thing that ever happened to his career). As for page views (and for the sake of transparency): We do about 1.2 million a month, while the Triforce does about 1.7 million. We're not Gawker, obviously, but we do all right. -- DR
Posted by: the_Wakeful at February 15, 2008 10:53 PM
This is a "left-wing" movie review page? Where the hell did that come from? I just read it because I have standards that lead me away from bullshit; does that necessarily make this page left-wing? Did I miss something?
Have some god damned objectivity, NYT. At least characterize it as "brazen" rather than using the language of simpletons Otherwise, I may approach being irritated someday with your lack of accuracy in choosing you descriptors.
Posted by: rick at February 16, 2008 1:22 AM
See, Vermillion, I think men have to get to a more enlightened age (like socalled has ;) before they can... appreciate spanking in that manner. And socalled if you're around Ireland this weekend, you're welcome to give me a call.
Frankly, I think most of us should remember is that the only reason the world has not seen us look the way Lily Allen does in that picture is because there are not cameras following us around waiting for us to look like shit all the time. She's alright by me.
Posted by: Genny at February 16, 2008 2:07 AM
Miss Genny, as a Southern gentleman, I can truly appreciate the fine arts of corporal punishment/pleasure much more than some Yankee. Not trying to co-opt your attention or anything, just putting the facts out there.
Posted by: Vermillion at February 16, 2008 8:29 AM
Linking to the Lily Allen photo was unnecessary, although not surprised that the self-hating slag who runs DListed posted it. Girl just had a miscarriage, which can be brutal for some women.
Posted by: Matt at February 16, 2008 11:40 AM
I think back in the old days, the site had regular political commentary, mostly of the liberal variety, along with movie reviews. Maybe Dustin can confirm. In any case, the Times description is half-outdated, but it's cool to see a link there. Though I lean liberal on a lot of issues, I'm certainly not "left-wing," speaking as one Pajiba staffer.
Michael Showalter was two tables over from me at dinner last night. I almost yelled at him for his treatment of McBrayer, and then remembered it was just a joke.
Yeah: I have no idea why they referred to us as a left-wing blog; even during the brief period when we did run political commentary, we had a right-wing columnist as well. We threw stuff at her, but still ... -- DR
Posted by: JMW at February 16, 2008 11:57 AM
The Lily Allen hate is just idiotic. Copious amounts of alcohol are an accepted coping mechanism after having a miscarriage. I've been through it myself, and personally I'm impressed she even left the house rather than staying home drinking in her bathrobe.
Posted by: Kris at February 16, 2008 11:59 AM
I remember the political stuff!! (geez, I guess that means I have been reading this blog since..... 2004? huh, I should get some kind of ribbon or something :D)
Posted by: Zanna at February 16, 2008 12:09 PM
I can truly appreciate the fine arts of corporal punishment/pleasure much more than some Yankee.
Was this directed at me? Need I remind you, sir, that I am a bona fide, jackass Arkansas cracker? Not the True South, I know, but she did fight in the losing cause in the War of Northern Aggression.
Ah, Genny, I'd love to be around Ireland this weekend, or any other. But alas, I'm sitting in my study in San Francisco, listening to goddamn Hell's Angels roaring by every five minutes. If I'm up that way at some point, I'll look you up and take some "correction."
Posted by: socalledonlycousins at February 16, 2008 4:35 PM
I assure you, Mr.Vermillion, I meant no slight to your person.
And speaking of ass beatings, I believe I will be getting one from Miss Alex The Odd for inadvertently stealing her fan club...
Posted by: Genny at February 16, 2008 6:07 PM
I suppose Pajiba COULD be seen as "left-wing." I mean, left-wing has basically come to mean "generally open-minded" nowadays, hasn't it?
On another note, I recently had a friend describe the site as "a feminist movie website, mostly run by guys."
Posted by: KatyBelle at February 17, 2008 11:12 AM
On another note, I recently had a friend describe the site as "a feminist movie website, mostly run by guys."
[/chuckles] I read this comment during the same visit that I noticed that Alex the Odd's Pajiba Drinking Game is linked on the banner. (!) Not only does the site lean strongly toward a pro-woman worldview, even the cranky traditionalists [ahem] tend to have a worshipful attitude toward the fairer sex. Further to your point, am I wrong in thinking that only a website run by guys would have a drinking game on the menu bar (even though a delightful young lass invented it)?
Posted by: socalledonlycousins at February 17, 2008 3:14 PM
yeah, but they've taken love off of the menu bar, which kinda sucks. i liked being able to surf through old loves for links or clips that i had forgotten to bookmark.
Posted by: causaubon at February 17, 2008 3:47 PM
The last time I saw an movie review that had an actual politically left wing slant was at a group writing session in uni full of turgid marxist critical analyses of films that had the audacity to me made in the mid 80s or under the studio system.
Snark is if anything anarchic in intent.
No sandwiches today?