Random Photos Part Four

Jennie Garth got her hair done and a photo with the name of the company to get a discount.

Jon Hamm looks a little buzzed here doesn't he?

Anna Kendrick on her way to a meeting.

Kate Mara and Ellen Page head out for some fun last night.

The always cheery Kaley Cuoco and Ryan Sweeting.

At the same event was Beth Behrs.

Jim Parsons and Blossom were there too.

Joey McIntyre was part of the musical performance.

Donnie Walhberg & Jenny McCarthy Are Dating

Trying to give herself a little publicity to boost her chances of getting that cushy job on The View, Jenny McCarthy has started dating Donnie Wahlberg. He shows up on her VH-1 show which is dying a little death everyday and Jenny sees an escape and the next thing you know the couple are dating. Not exactly the typical guy Jenny dates anymore. She tends to date guys who are athletes. Sure, she dated Jim Carrey but he made her laugh. Making someone laugh can make up for a lack of muscles. Plus he is well endowed so that is always a bonus too. I always feel bad about writing that someone is well endowed. What if his daughter is reading this? Now she might not read the site anymore because she will associate the site with me talking about her father's giant peen. Now, where was I? Oh yeah. the two dating. They spent the 4th of July together hanging out together with other people also there. I guess you could call that dating. I don't think Donnie is going to say no to Jenny although she needs him way more than he needs her. NKOTB makes big bucks every summer now and ever since he got divorced he has never been with someone longer than it takes to get dressed after.

Jonathan Knight Walks Off Stage Mid-Concert

Last night in New York City, New Kids On The Block were in the middle of performing Survive You to a packed crowd when he suddenly just walked off the stage. I know Jonathan has had some issues in the past, but it apparently shocked all of the other members of the group who laughed it off by saying that Knight had to go to the bathroom. He never came back, but did Tweet early this morning that he was sorry. That is all anyone has said about it.

NKOTB98BTM Tour

Just when you didn't think New Kids On The Block would go out on tour anymore to keep taking in your millions of dollars you give them every year, they found a new way to keep things interesting. No more Back Street Boys for them. Nope. Instead, this summer, they are headed on tour with 98 Degrees. Yes, all of the original members. They have to earn a living somehow. Also in the mix is Boyz II Men who are out shopping right now to make sure all of them look identical at all times. So, pull out your old posters. Find those old cassette tapes and explain to your kids how they work and then explain how all of the bands were the Justin Bieber of 20 years ago. Then call your girlfriends and tell them it is party time unless of course your husband forgets Valentine's Day and then you can shame him into going and he can sit in the corner with all the other men who had to choose between the concert or Titanic in 3D.

Jeezy Beats NKOTBeezy

Well the good news for the old men over at NKOTB is they had their biggest album since 1990. For those of you counting, that is almost 20 years. Not since Step By Step have people wanted to buy a NKOTB album so darn much. The bad news is that Young Jeezy is loved even more by the masses and the people too embarrassed to have a NKOTB CD in their car.

Now don;t go kicking yourself if you are a soccer mom who was going to buy the album and now blame yourself for NKOTB being denied. It really wouldn't have made much difference. Basically they got their ass kicked by Young Jeezy, but no one will remember that and will only remember the fact they finished second.

Young Jeezy sold 260,000 copies of his album while NKOTB sold 95,000.

Hey, there is always next week, or in another 20 years when they start to burn through this money. I guess buy then it will be Old Jeezy and Old Kids On the Block fighting it out.

A. Reader Reviews NKOTB

Due to personal and business reasons beknownst only to myself and some of my associates who have heard me screaming in my office in frustration, I was fully prepared to hate the new New Kids on the Block album. I was not always this bitter towards the guys who defined the term, boy band. Back in my youth I, along with every other girl in my 4th grade class, was an avid New Kids fan. I had all the tapes (this was before the days of every kid under ten having their own ipods), the trading cards, the lunchbox, the bed sheets, and, perhaps most embarrassingly, the stage complete with Jordan and Jonathan Knight dolls. (they fell out of popularity before grandma could get me the remaining band members for Christmas)

Upon announcement of their reunion my shrieks could be heard echoing through out the Hollywood Hills. Though, like many of both the lovers and the haters, in the back of my mind I wondered, could they do it again?

With the tour fast selling out and 20 additional dates added, plus plans for an international leg in 2009, all signs were pointing to yes. But, and I know I'm not the only one feeling this, the appearances on the Today show had me a bit worried. It was clear that, like their fans, the guys had grown up. And one had to wonder if that was a good thing, or signs of a midlife crisis. The dance moves weren't quite so energetic because, let's face it, one wrong move and these guys were likely to throw out their back. Could a group of five guys in their late thirties to early forties really reclaim their status as sex symbols? The group was originally manufactured by super producer Maurice Starr. What if they, like the Jonas Brothers, are simply the product of good PR and the public was distracted from their lack of talent by flashy dance moves and boyish good looks? Excited as I was, admittedly, I had to wonder, did my life experience at age nine qualify me to judge talent?

Due to some personal beefs with certain members, I took somewhat of a sick pleasure in the critics inevitable "Old Guys on the Block," jokes. But secretly, I hoped that yet another childhood memory would not be crushed with the release of their new album. The truth about Santa sent me to a shrink for the first time; could my delicately balanced sanity handle a blow like a flop of New Kids proportions?

Their first album of new material since the 1994 disappointment, Face the Music, (which yes, I had to wikipedia for the name since, like most New Kids fans, I don't remember anything past Step by Step) dropped this past week. And fans, breathe with me a collective sigh of relief because the album is HOT. The guys have, for lack of a better term, faced the music and the reality that they are fast approaching middle age. So instead of trying to recreate the sound of their youth, they have come up with a new, mature style that will keep the asses of their fans shaking. And hey, since everyone's grown up (and one New Kid is on the brink of divorce) they can enjoy the view! Something the Kids sneakily acknowledge in grown up lyrics like those of "Big Girl Now:" You know I like the way you move it/girl you're all grown up and now you're ready to let it go/wanna be a big girl got to prove it/with a body like that you've got a grown man ready to blow.

Oddly, I think the first single off the album, "Summertime", is by far the weakest track. And apparently the listeners agree since the song peaked at 36 on the Billboard chart. Why they didn't pick songs like "Big Girl Now" featuring dance club queen Lady Gaga, "Dirty Dancing", or "Full Service" paying homage to Starr's original boy band creation, New Edition, is beyond me. The songs have irresistible beats and a unique blend of hip hop and electronic dance that will surely earn them wide club play. While the lyrics are not life changing, the BEATS! Oh dear reader, the beats! Had I not been listening to the album for the first time in a crowded café in the Valley, I would've been up and dancing. As it was I was busted by a very handsome gentleman while I was bobbing my head and tapping my feet (and, sexy senor, if you know I'm speaking to you, call me!). The record is so catchy that I couldn't help myself. The guys' collaboration with hip hop heavyweights Timbaland, Ne-Yo, and Akon is brilliant; adding just enough cool factor while still retaining a style uniquely their own. And for those who are just looking for a little pop cheese to get stuck in their head during a boring board meeting, "Twisted" will be the highlight of the album for you.

My only complaint? That the euphoric pop experience ends so quickly! Only as long as a spin class, I was hoping for something that would make my mind numbing cardio experience on the treadmill stretch to an hour or so. But, admittedly, I'd rather the 45 minutes of pure joy the album delivers versus an hour plus of mediocrity. In the entertainment industry, where aging is a sin of epic proportions, the "Kids" have proven that growing up and becoming men is not necessarily a bad thing!

Someone Still Likes NKOTB

Pouring rain on a Friday morning in New York City and still, The Today show had its biggest crowd ever to see one of their Friday morning concerts. About 3,000 people showed up to watch NKOTB rub themselves down with Ben Gay and Grecian formula and head back out on stage again. After spending all the money they made the first time around, the group decided to take advantage of the fact that people seem to be willing to spend hundreds of dollars per ticket to see groups which weren't all that great the first time around.

Hey, I would do the same thing if I were in their position. I'm probably just jealous that they are all going to get 8 figures when they go on tour, and have hair. Kind of. I don't Here is NKOTB from The Today Show.

NKOTB About Ten Years Too Late

I'm fairly sure that most of you saw that New Kids On The Block is reforming or reuniting or going to try and get some money out of people or something. Their website which had previously been dormant like their careers is now back up and running. If this premise sounds familiar, it is the same thing The Spice Girls did before announcing their reunion tour. Unlike The Spice Girls though, NKOTB have waited a little long to make their comeback.

In 1999, MTV tried to reunite the group for the Video Music Awards but Jonathon said no. If you can't remember who Jonathon is, he is the pretentious one of the group. That really helps doesn't it? 1999 would have been a good time to do it. 1994 was their last album which bombed so bad that it is unfortunate it was even released. The problem was all their fans had grown up and were listening to real music.

There is nothing wrong with having liked NKOTB. Nothing at all. I think bubble gum pop is a very important part of the growing up process, and don't disparage their success for even one second. What I think is the wrong thing to do is to try and think they can come back now and make a ton of money and try to reclaim their lost glory like a a 40 year old guy in a slow pitch softball league.

The Spice Girls were always campy and kitschy and it hasn't been that long since they had been together. Second, most of their members have stayed in the public eye and so people were familiar with what they were doing and there was some star power. Even with all of that, the Spice Girls still overdid it and ended up looking greedy as they played half filled arenas for much of their latter dates.

Who is going to want to see NKOTB? If you were 16 when their final album was released, you are now approaching 30. While it was fun to dance and scream and have their posters on your wall when before you could rive, are you really going to spend $100 a person to see a bunch of 40 year old guys attempt to dance and lip synch for 90 minutes? If you want that go to Karaoke that has drink specials.

These guys just need to leave everyone with a warm nostalgic smile on their faces when they think of NKOTB memories and not replace them with the sight of a bunch of balding, beer bellied guys mouthing the words to Hangin Tough.

If you want to relive your youth or just see really bad acting, Step By Step is the video below.