I hate hearing about stuff like this

Marriage is hard enough as it is. Magnify it by 1,000 and you have the pressures that come with a "Hollywood marriage."

When a seemingly happy and stable Hollywood marriage falls apart - one you don't read about in the tabloid magazines - it's especially sad. Seven years is a lifetime in Hollywood.

So when I read this about one of my favorite actresses and her director husband, I was saddened.

I have no idea what the issues are in their relationship, but I sincerely hope that they can work it out, not only for themselves but for their son and her daughter.

Choose wisely, Mr. Cooper.

When I was out and about yesterday meeting K to give her back V amd M for the week, one of the things I wanted to do was look at the magazines. Specifically, magazines like US Weekly, People, OK! - magazines that do a good job snooping into the lives of of our favorite famous Hollywood-athlete types. You know to see who is dating whom, who is splitting up and all of that kind of stuff. This week these magazines all have more cover stories relating to MJ's death and memorial service more than two weeks ago. But I'm not as interested in that story.

Aw, let's cut to the chase.

I wonder what Bradley Cooper is thinking...

First these magazines report that he and my fave Hollywood crush (co-stars in "He's Just Not That Into You") are dating. Then I read that he was seen on a couple of "dates" with Renee Zellweger. One mag reports that Cooper dumped Aniston in favor of Zellweger, whom he's now filming a movie with. Another reports that Cooper and Zellweger are just friends and that he's still dating Aniston. Yet another magazine reports that Aniston is pissed off about Cooper and Zellweger being seen together. And finally a fourth magazine reports that Coooper is not serious about dating either Aniston or Zellweger but just playing the field..

Come on Bradley, make up your mind!

Sometimes I wish celebrities would learn to stay out of the tabloid spotlight, even though it would mean I wouldn't be able to read about them. Those are the couples that seem to last in the Hollywood circles. Couples like Courteney Cox and David Arquette, Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart, Geena Davis and whomever the doctor is that she married, Johnny Depp and whomever he's ddating/married to, or - well you get the point.

At the same time I can understand (I think) the need to keep your name afloat in the Hollywood buzz. If you're being talked about, that seems to mean you'll have no shortage of scrpits to choose from and you'll stay working.

Still, is paparazzi publicity really the kind of publicity you want?


Maybe I'm crazy. Maybe, as a Hollywood outsider, I just don't get it.


Somehow, I don't think so.

=========

Yes, I do enjoy reading the tabloid magazines when I'm standing in line at the checkout counter at the stores I shop at.

Angelina Jolie v. Jennifer Aniston

Scribe thinks that Brad Pitt traded up in the looks department when he went for Angelina Jolie over Jennifer Aniston. I say he traded down. So I thought it'd be fun to put them side to side and see who is better looking. Of course, looks and Hollywood style glamour are in no way an accurate guide to judge a person's character or what's inside a person's soul. But.... Since physical attractiveness is all we've got to go on for this little excersise, let's consider the candidates. Of course, it's a matter of personal opinion but I still want to know what you think.

In all fairness, there were a great many photographs to choose from, and the choices were not easy. When selecting these pictures, I tried to find similar shots for each: a head shot and a bust shot.

Ok Brad, ya big goofball, you either are married to or have been married to both of these women. What does Angelina have that Jennifer does not?

First, a few pictures of Angelina and Jennifer together, side-by-side...







On the left, we have Angelina and on the right we have Jennifer.

First we have the head shots... then the bust shots:



































Of course, if you've not been living in a closet, you know where my preference lies.











No contest.

Natasha Richardson (1963-2009)

I was wondering who the first notable Hollywood death would be for 2009. Kind of a morbid thought, but now we know. It's always disheartening to me when someone reasonably close to myself in age passes away. My prayers go out to her family. It must be especially hard on her two boys, aged 13 and 12, or it will be as they grow up without a mom. It must be hard for her mom, Vanessa Redgrave, knowing you've outlived your child.

The circumstances of her passing make it all the more tragic. This is just one more example of how fragile life can be, and how fortunate we are to be alive.

Her work isn't as well known to me as that of her husband, Liam Neeson. Still, I remember seeing her in "Nell" and a few other movies. From the articles I've been reading, Richardson, 46, was well liked and respected in Hollywood and on Broadway.

Here's the article on Richardson from people.com.