December 2008 Archives

Merry Christmas to all! Check out the lastest edition of The Scoop. FlipSide editor Laura Burkey and entertainment reporter Erin McCracken try their hand at some trivia during FlipSide's totally awsome '80s party at the Pullo Center.

The Associated Press has spoken. It picked funny lady Tina Fey as the top entertainer of 2008. Fey won three Emmy's for her NBC sitcom "30 Rock." Her movie "Baby Mama" grossed $60 million. But her most memorable roles were her "Saturday Night Live" impersonations of Gov. Sarah Palin. Watch her in action below. For more Palin parody, click here.

It might not be a white Christmas, but get ready for when the snow does start to fall this season. Click here to enter to win two AvalancheXpress season passes.

Kiss that funky fly-away 'do "Twilight" hunk Rob Pattison's been sporting good-bye. He got a haircut. No word yet on how many OMG!!! text messages were sent concerning said haircut or if it's news. Anyway, it's the perfect excuse for a sweet before-and-after photo comparison.

Here's lookin' at you, falcon statue thingy

Season's greetings FlipSiders. You can call me old-fashioned because that's my thing right now, at least as far as cinema's concerned. Thursday night, I watched the copy of "The Maltese Falcon" that I kidnapped borrowed from my father. It was pretty sweet, but what movie with Humphrey Bogart isn't?

It's "Best Year Ever" time

It's hard to believe that it's almost time to ring in 2009. Who should be the 2008 Man and Woman of the year? The stars weigh in here. You can weigh in on what was Big in '08 here.

Click here and here to find out what's going on this weekend. Don't forget to check in Monday for the Weekend Roundup. Ciao for now.

FlipSide editor Laura Burkey and entertainment reporter Erin McCracken take in the fresh pine scent at Strathmeyer's Christmas tree display at the York Expo Center.

Cat fights!
"Bride Wars" stars Anne Hathaway and Kate Husdon as best friends who book their weddings on the same day at the same venue. Sabotage via fake tanner and hair dye ensues. It hits theaters Jan. 9.

"He's Just Not That Into You" is based on the best-selling book that tried to help desperate/needy women deal with unrequited love. This sap fest and its stellar ensemble cast premieres Feb. 6.

The HBO comedy series "Flight of the Conchords" aired its season two premiere on Funny or Die's website. The episode doesn't air on HBO.com until Dec. 22 and HBO until Jan. 18. Check it out. (I guess it's a little late in the game for a spoiler alert.)

In an awesome display of birthday gift-giving saavy, my husband bought us tickets to see a performance of "Sleepwalk With Me", a one-man show by my favorite comedian Mike Birbiglia.
So it was with much excitement that we headed to the Bleeker Street Theatre in New York City on Sunday afternoon to see Birbiglia in person.

Here he is on "Conan O'Brien".

In: Frank and April / Out: Jack and Rose

A lot of people seem to be focused on the Kate (Winslet) and Leo (DiCaprio) reunion coming to the big screen soon. I recently read a painful Q & A in Entertainment Weekly. It focused too much on "Titanic" nostalgia and not enough on the poignant and less cheesy "Revolutionary Road," which could earn several Oscar nods. I loved "Titanic" as much as the next sap. Heck, I even wrote notes about how hot Leo was to my BFF in seventh grade. But it's time to let Jack and Rose rest in peace.

Scarlett Johansson said that Cosmopolitan's UK edition printed fabricated quotes about her relationship with actor Ryan Reynolds. They include:

Don't look up

I kicked off a festive weekend Friday at happy hour at the Harp & Fiddle. I chatted people up about who they'd like to kiss under the mistletoe. Here are my top three picks:

Egos were bruised after Tom Cruise chewed out Matt Lauer three years ago. But they rekindled their bromance Monday on "The Today Show." See if you can figure out what's up with Cruise's neck and count how many times he almost falls off his stool. At least he toned down the Scientology talk. Is he not nuts anymore?

You like?

"Sexiest Man Alive" Hugh Jackman will host the 81st Annual Academy Awards.

Can anyone else say boring? Where did the Academy's sense of humor go? Jon Stewart hosted the 2008 Oscars and Ellen DeGeneres hosted them in 2007.

If they were going to choose a non-comedian who wasn't nominated, they should have gone with Justin Timberlake. Can Jackman's Aussie accent keep the award show's ratings from going down under again this year?

The Academy Awards air Feb. 22 on ABC.

We want to know your best tips and tricks for throwing a New Year's Eve bash on a budget.

Do you know of a great place to score cheap decor or party goods for your house party? An inexpensive way to get out of the house and celebrate (other than First Night York)? Send your tips and suggestions to jvogelsong@ydr.com by Tuesday, Dec. 16.

Take a shot with Santa

Ho-ho-ho. Let FlipSide get you into the holiday spirit. Click here and here to find out what's going on this weekend. Click here to read about the 2008 York Santa Stumble.

The sci-fi remake "The Day The Earth Stood Still" hit theaters Friday. The Earth will actually stand still for one second this New Year's. Read about it here.

Could it happen?

Sunday evening, I met friends at the Appalachian Brewing Company in Harrisburg to see a live performance of Winter Radio Theater. The show was fun. The great singing and clever lines had me smiling the whole way through.

The atmosphere, however, left much to be desired.

The show was held in the second floor gallery room, and I don't know if they were having problems with the heat in there or if it's always that cold, but nearly everyone in the crowd of more than a dozen (by the way, I'm surprised they didn't have a bigger audience -- has word not gotten out how good they are?) was bundled in winter coats, hats, gloves and still shivering.

I was so cold that I considered leaving early, but I stuck it out. At times, the music from the band performing for a live party in the next room covered some of the lines.

They'll perform the show again this Sunday at 6:30 p.m. at ABC, 50 N. Cameron St. Admission is $5, plus donation of one non-perishable food item. If I were you, I'd bring an extra scarf, too.

Just in case.

"If I Were a Boy"...

...I'd have to know all of this stuff?!? Why didn't open doors, pull out chairs and put down the toilet seat make the list? How many items can you or the man in your life cross off?

Calling all "Twilight" fans: You will laugh out loud at this YouTube clip. You will also wonder how someone has so much time on his/her hands to produce it. Click here to read new details about "New Moon."

The 66th Annual Golden Globe nominees were announced Thursday morning.
"Frost/Nixon," "Doubt" and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" each got five nods. It's strange that all three movies haven't come to the area yet and they're already receiving awards.

Leonardo DiCaprio, Frank Langella, Sean Penn, Brad Pitt and Mickey Rourke got acting noms. Anne Hathaway, Angelina Jolie, Meryl Streep, Kate Winslet and Kristin Scott Thomas were recognized in the actress category. As exptected, Heath Ledger got a supporting actor nom.

For a complete list of nominees, click here. The ceremony airs at 8 p.m. Jan. 11 on NBC.

Comedian and "30 Rock" star Tracy Morgan performs his standup routine at 7:30 p.m. April 18 at Penn State York's Pullo Family Performing Arts Center, 1031 Edgecomb Ave. in Spring Garden Township. Tickets go on sale Dec. 19 and cost $42.50. Watch this clip of Morgan from his hit NBC show "30 Rock."

Tracy gets some therapy

Entertainment reporter Erin McCracken and FlipSide editor Laura Burkey have a seat with Santa at the West Manchester Mall to discuss the hottest holiday toys and share their own wishlists.

I've had "Live Your Life" by T.I. feat. Rihanna stuck in my head for about a month. Here's a look back at when they debuted the song at the 2008 MTV VMAs.

Antifrontin' anthem

Nothing says the holidays like models in lingerie

Watch CBS Videos Online

Since when has Wednesday night TV been must-see? I guess since now.

Before you tire of the same ol' Christmas carols this season, re-write them. To enter our Twisted Carol contest, compose your own lyrics to a familiar Christmas tune.
Include your name, age, municipality and a daytime phone number, and e-mail to mburke@ydr.com by Dec. 5. Limit one entry a person.

Don't forget to tell us which song your lyrics would be sung to. We'll enter your name in a drawing for tickets to Hershey Sweet Lights or Christmas Candylane.

Don't Stop Believing...in Santa

This weekend started early and ended late. Wednesday I went back East for the holiday. I kept up my pre-Turkey Day tradition of rocking out to my best friend's dad's band at a local fire hall.