Brilliant or Insane?: variety

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Lindsey Lohan Goes Public with Miscarriage, Sex List

By Anna Turner

via clevelandleader.com

It's been a tumultuous week for Lindsay Lohan, that adorable redhead Hollywood starlet everyone seems to have given up on--everyone except Oprah, that is, who gave Lohan a reality show on the Oprah Winfrey Network entitled Lindsay. The eight-part docuseries was fetching viewership numbers less than one million, which is never good news for a reality show, and it was during Lindsay's season finale that Lohan revealed she had suffered a miscarriage. Mere days later, Lohan is still creating buzz with her "Sex List," or a roster of all her sexual partners.

Now, we've all suffered Lohan-whiplash over the past several years with her stints in and out of rehab, prison, and homosexuality (does anyone else remember when she was a lesbian?). Like most 20-somethings, the actress is struggling to find identity and belonging. Unlike most 20-somethings, her quarter-life crisis is really, really annoying. Even more annoying is that her crisis has been made into a TV show. But what really irks me most is that Lohan's miscarriage became just an act out on said TV show--a final gasp before breaking to commercial.

Losing a child in pregnancy is perhaps the most devastating thing a woman can experience, so I am not going to downplay the tragedy, or what Lohan must be experiencing. I am, however, going to chastise Lohan for choosing to share it on her OWN reality show. That kind of trauma is not meant to be tabloid fodder. Some critics are speculating that Lohan is using her miscarriage (or making it up, which is unforgivable) as a means for better ratings, but I don't think anyone could stoop that low--not even a Kardashian.

Adding fuel to the fire are the recent headlines about Lohan's "Sex List," which purportedly included big names like James Franco, Justin Timberlake, and Colin Farrell.

The "Sex List," as it is being called, was allegedly part of Lohan's rehabilitation treatment at the Betty Ford Clinic. According to an E!Online article, Lohan confided the list to her sponsor and her sponsor alone. Lohan is quoted as saying that the list was part of the 12 Steps followed by Alcoholics Anonymous. "It's step number five or step number eight...It's your sexual inventory. That was in my Betty Ford book, so that was really personal to my sponsor."

In the 12 Steps Program, Step Five is admitting to one's wrongs and Step Eight is listing everyone one has harmed--so yes, it seems having sex with Lindsay Lohan is as harmful as you thought.

But even more harmful, it seems, is living your life in the spotlight. My suggestion to Lohan is to step away from the cameras, from the interviews, from the media. Put some space between yourself and your fame and figure out who you are, what you want, and when you're making the Parent Trap sequel.

Get it together, Lindsay. As a fellow Ginger, I am rooting for you.

Anna Turner is Brilliant or Insane's managing editor and pop culture diva. Learn more about Anna on our Team Page. Follow her on Twitter here.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Miley Cyrus Hospitalized, Cancels Kansas Show

By Anna Turner

via billboard.com

The state of Kansas is thrilled to announce that something good finally happened in the land of the Wildcats: Miley Cyrus cancelled her concert. While thousands of young tweens will be able to do something useful with those three hours of their lives, a most fortunate outcome indeed, the circumstances of the cancellation are most unfortunate for the Bangerz icon.

Cyrus has reportedly been battling head and sinus issues on and off for the past month. The ailments followed a bad case of the flu that resulted in another concert cancellation in Charlotte, NC. According to an article by E! Online, it was the medications intended to treat her head and sinus condition that caused Cyrus to have a very severe allergic reaction.

Currently the 21-year-old is resting in the hospital, tweeting apologies to her fans in which she expertly replaces letters with numbers: "Kansas I promise Im as [heartbroken] as you are. I wanted so badly 2 b there 2night. Not being with yall makes me feel s--ttier than I already do," reads her tweet. She also tweeted the below photo with the caption, "Mr. Octopussy & some amazing Drs are taking good care of me."

via Twitter

Well. Thank God for Dr. Octopussy. It seems father Billy Ray Cyrus couldn't take care of his invalid daughter as he was too busy doing this.

But really, Kansas. Consider yourself lucky. This is seriously the best thing that has happened in your state since...well, I don't know, honestly. Just consider yourself lucky.

Anna Turner is Brilliant or Insane's managing editor and pop culture diva. Learn more about Anna on our Team Page. Follow her on Twitter here.

Saturday, April 12, 2014

The Art of Living Skillfully in the Modern World

via amazon.com

Today's world presents us with an unprecedented set of perplexing challenges. Our bodies are suffering, our minds are confused and our spirits are in turmoil. We need knowledge and understanding, but we also need experience, participation and...

Thursday, April 10, 2014

5 Things I Think About Twitter After 25,000 Tweets

By Mark Barnes

via Twitter.com

It's fair to say I'm a bit obsessed with Twitter. I send dozens of tweets daily, participate in and moderate twitter chats, have multiple Twitter accounts, and I even teach a 3 semester hour course on using Twitter as a professional development tool.

Soon, I'll surpass 25,000 tweets. This got me thinking about Twitter. Here are 5 things I thought:

I Tweet a lot: The average number of tweets sent by a user on Twitter is 307 according to DMR. Considering more than 100 million people are active Twitter users each month, I was astonished by this statistic. It makes my 25K really cool, or it means I have far too much time on my hands.
6,000 people make for a lot of friends: For a couple of years now, I've been actively attempting to build my Twitter following. At roughly 6,000 followers, I used to feel sort of lonely. After all, I know educators who have more than 100,000, which is staggering, I think, for someone who is not a celebrity. Then, when I reviewed the stats on DMR, I realized that the average Twitter user has a paltry 208 followers. Suddenly, it seems like I'm standing in a very large crowd. Thanks PLN.
It's okay to seek out new friends: For a long time, my connection philosophy was: "If you tweet it, they will come." I shared lots of content and waited for followers. Sure, I gained a couple of thousand loyal friends, but then my connections stagnated. I realized not so long ago that seeking out interesting people and following them first is sort of like handing out a business card. You'll be surprised how many people follow back. This reciprocation is what puts the "social" in social media.
Cyber friends can be real friends: When I started using Twitter, it was nothing more than a promotional tool, and the people there were nothing more mythical figures, locked in my computer monitor. Now, I have made numerous friends from Twitter, whom I have met at conferences, dined with and collaborated with on various projects. This is the best part of Twitter.
Mixed in those 25,000 tweets is some compelling conversation: While there are plenty of times I tweet a link to something and there is little follow-up, sometimes a simple statement or link sparks a very interesting debate, like this one.

How often do you tweet, and what do you think about Twitter?

Mark Barnes is an education author and consultant and the publisher of Brilliant or Insane. Learn more about Mark on our Team page. Follow him on Twitter here.

Saturday, April 5, 2014

3 Reasons to Defend James Franco's Social Media Mistake

By Anna Turner

via adweek.com

Actor and Greek God James Franco has put the rumors to rest regarding his alleged online affair with a 17-year-old. Unfortunately, those rumors were true. Sort of.

Franco met 17-year-old Scottish tourist Lucy Clode while the young lady captured him in an Instagram visit. He requested her to tag him in the video, and messaged her from there. The Social Media flirting progressed to a hotel hook-up invite from the 35-year-old actor, an action that landed him in hot water.

On Friday's episode of Live! With Kelly and Michael, a sheepish Franco admitted to making a bad decision. "I used bad judgment," Franco said. "I learned my lesson."

Franco has been applauded for his transparency and honesty, and his choice to be upfront about the illicit romance has nipped what could have been a scandal in the bud. I wonder, though, were his actions truly that dishonorable?

Let's be honest, here. What is Franco really guilty of? It is being argued that he has acted in poor taste in three major ways: random hook-up, online flirting/dating, and stalking underage prey. Now, let me explain why none of these make him a bad guy.

Random Hook-up: While the "random hook-up" may not be the most savory of excursions, it is a stronghold of the dating world. One night stands, dance floor make outs, morning afters in hotel rooms...These things seem dirty, yes, but they aren't illegal. They aren't morally wrong, really. They're just part of today's ingenue's love story.
Online Flirting: In a world where 1 in 5 relationships begin online (according to StatisticBrain.com), the taboo of internet and social media dating isn't really a taboo at all. Social Media sites like Instagram, the breeding ground for Franco's flirtations, are virtual representations of ourselves. You learn a lot about a person based on what videos and photos they post--especially if they're the kind that likes to post every single meal they ever eat.
Underage Prey: Perhaps the biggest criticism of Franco's actions is that he was flirting with an underaged girl. True, she is under the age of 18. However, they met in New York, where the age of consent is 17, and Clode is from Scotland, where the age of consent is 16. Neither Franco nor Clode were acting in violation of any statutory laws. True, there is quite the age difference, but that is far from being a crime.

Yes, James Franco flirted with a 17-year-old online. But he is not a terrible person, and he is certainly not a criminal. The only true crime in this situation is that he elected to flirt with Miss Clode and not with me, which is clearly what he should have done.

Anna Turner is Brilliant or Insane's managing editor and pop culture diva. Learn more about Anna on our Team Page. Follow her on Twitter here.

How You Can Boost Our Egos: Just Like Us

Click this picture for a chance to win

As Brilliant or Insane grows in popularity, we're also sharing content every day on our Facebook page. Sure, we want you to return here daily for all of the wonderful stories, pictures and videos, but we certainly don't mind a few more fans on Facebook (every little bit of promotion helps, you know, and fans are good for our fragile egos).

So, as a little extra incentive, we're going to give a loyal fan a $50 Visa card, which you can use any way you like. All you have to do for a chance to win is Like us on Facebook. Think about it; Like us, and you might have $50 in free money!

Maybe we have an inferiority complex

You can help boost our confidence levels! All you have to do is Like the Brilliant or Insane Facebook page, and you are entered to win a $50 Visa card to use any way you want. Pretty simple, huh? You can even click the like button to the right. We make it abundantly easy for you because, hey, we like you. We just want you to like us back.

Hurry, this sweepstakes ends soon, and entering takes about 30 seconds. So, why wouldn't you Like us?

From the Brilliant or Insane staff

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

So...How Did I Meet Your Mother?

By Anna Turner

via foxnews.com

After nine long years of wondering how Ted really met his wife and mother of his children, the question was finally answered on Monday's season finale. So, how did he meet your mother? At a rainy train station after the woman he chased for nine seasons married his best friend. Oh, and your mother's name is Tracey.

TWIST

That's right, folks. We just got M. Night Shyamalan-ed.

For nine long years, the American public has been lead to believe that Robin was the children's mother, the one that inspired Ted to narrate the entire series. While some long-time fans were rooting for Robin the whole time, the series' writers could not have told the romance of Ted and Robin in a more fitting way.

Here's why.

For starters, the entire story told to Ted's children encourages the love between Ted and Robin. In the end, it is the children that seal the two lovebirds' fate. If it weren't for Ted's children, he would never have reconnected with his former flame. Interesting that the true audience of How I Met Your Mother (Ted's Children) actually chose the ending.

Another reason why this finale redeemed three previous seasons of mediocrity is its unabashed and raw look at love. It isn't always the linear meet-date-fall in love-marriage-happily ever after we all dream of. In fact, love is never that way. Ever. It finds you when you least expect it, like at a train station in the rain. It takes time--seven years for Ted and Tracey--before marriage is right. And then, like the cruel mistress she is, life gets in the way. And by life, I mean death. Tracey passed away six years prior to the beginning of the How I Met Your Mother saga.

Finally, the story arc of Ted's heart puts to the test his theory of having one true love. While some hold true to the idea of soul mates, the fact is that true love is about friendship and commitment, not being two pieces of the same whole. The only time in the history of mankind that humans have been made for each other is in the instance of NSYNC, in which five beautiful young men melded into a harmonious majesty of musical splendor. Some critics are disappointed that there wasn't "one true love," and even more disappointed that said one true love may not have been the Mother.

Didn't you see this coming?

These same critics are outraged that the writers killed the mother, but you honestly should have known this all along. Why else would Ted be telling the story of how he met her? If she were alive, wouldn't the Mother be telling the story with Ted? Narrating together their illustrious love affair, ups and downs, journey on that roller coaster of heart ache, heart break, and true love? The very fact that Ted felt compelled to tell his children the story of how he met their mother signifies that she has been lost--he is remembering her, telling the story in her honor.

So, while I hated the laugh track and "live studio audience" feel of How I Met Your Mother, I must applaud the writers on straying from the overdone, worn out, one true love denouement we find in so many sitcom finales.

Watch parts one and two of the How I Met Your Mother series finale, Last Forever.

Anna Turner is Brilliant or Insane's managing editor and pop culture diva. Learn more about Anna on our Team Page. Follow her on Twitter here.

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Cancel Colbert Campaign

By Anna Turner

via fireandreamitchell.com

People love being offended.

Never has this been more obvious than in the trending #CancelColbert campaign on Twitter, an uprising against the comedian's allegedly racist tweet against Asians.

Colbert has been pissing people off for years, and it's pretty much been hilarious. But for some reason, people seem to think the above tweet went too far.

The tweet was a satirical take on Washington Redskins' owner Dan Snyder's Original Americans Foundation, a group Colbert claims is an attempt at positive PR for the NFL, mitigating the supposed racism of the Redskins' mascot. I'm not saying that the tweet isn't racist, but I'm not saying it isn't awesome, either.

For starters, Stephen Colbert is a known satirist, humorist, and comic. He makes jokes for a living. Humor is supposed to be irreverent and offensive. Without the incongruent darkness of a twisted punchline, there would be no joke.

You cannot call for the downfall of a funnyman for being funny under the presumed banner of offensive humor. No shit, it's offensive. It's humor. It's satire. Let's just calm down, OK?

Colbert is giving the world the opportunity to see serious issues through a lighthearted lens. If anything, we should be thanking him for making us laugh, for continually delivering heavy content in a relatable manner, and for calling out the idiots running society into the ground.

But of course we can't thank him, as most of us revel in the outrage brought on by offensive comments. There's a self-deprecating joy people find in the scandal of being offended, and those people get high on things like #CancelColbert.

So for those of you posting and tweeting and blogging about how personally hurt you are by Colbert's joke, how about you save yourself all this pain and despair by electing not to follow or watch Colbert? I feel like that's a pretty easy solution to the problem. You're welcome.

Anna Turner is Brilliant or Insane's managing editor and pop culture diva. Learn more about Anna on our Team Page. Follow her on Twitter here.

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Brilliant or Insane Promotes Anna Turner to Editor

Anna Turner sees a bright future for Brilliant or Insane. As the site's new managing editor, Turner will play a major role in that future.

Turner has degrees in journalism and theatre from Miami of Ohio and has written widely on many subjects. Most recently, she has served as Brilliant or Insane's pop culture writer.

"Anna's consistency and professionalism make her the perfect candidate for this position," publisher, Mark Barnes, says. "She has been on board with our vision from the beginning, and she's a tremendous, up and coming writer.

"Says Turner, "I like to bring a humor and quirk to my pieces, giving them a little bit of pizzazz. With Brilliant or Insane, there is an established readership that I need to write for. It is challenging, but rewarding, to write about what's important to me in a way that makes it enjoyable for the readers."

While she will continue to write those quirky articles on an array of topics, Turner will take on many other responsibilities in her new role, including planning articles, editing content, checking facts and representing Brilliant or Insane at some major events, as the site expands its news coverage.

"Moving forward with Brilliant or Insane is all about cultivating diverse content," Turner says. "The blog is a frontrunner in education and Cleveland-area stories, but I want to bulk it up with new areas of interest, satiating every bit of a reader's palate."

Stay tuned to Brilliant or Insane for more of Turner's work and follow her on Twitter here.

From Brilliant or Insane staff reports

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Runway Girl Mary Kirby has ideas to avert tragedies like Flight MH370

Mary Kirby suggests backup transponders on airplanes

If only it were so simple. Mary Kirby, founder of the Runway Girl Network, says that one fix to the kind of communication breakdown that occurred when all contact was lost with Malasia Airlines Flight MH370 is to install backup transponders.

Would a backup transponder have maintained communication long enough to save MH370? The world will likely never know, but it certainly would have been a step in the right direction.

Kirby, whose Runway Girl Network creates a connectivity among flyers worldwide, has plenty of ideas for avoiding this sort of tragedy. Watch her brief CBS interview below and let us know if you think her ideas are brilliant or insane.

Mark Barnes is an education author and consultant and the publisher of Brilliant or Insane. Learn more about Mark on our Team page. Follow him on Twitter here.

Saturday, March 22, 2014

The Biggest Loser under scrutiny with emaciated winner

By Anna Turner

via eonline.com

The Biggest Loser winner Rachel Frederickson has recently taken a lot of heat for her dramatic weight loss--an initiative that reduced the 260-pound voice over actor to a feathery 105-pound skeleton. Critics of Frederickson claim she utilized unhealthy practices for an edge in The Biggest Loser weigh-in, but she claims she did it all in a healthy manner.

But let's think about this; on a show that only rewards you if you lose weight, is there really "a healthy manner?"

Here is my issue with The Biggest Loser. Yes, it does convey lots of helpful weight loss tools and practices to it contestants, but those contestants are only rewarded if they lose the most weight. These people are in need of a lifestyle change, and the only lifestyle change they're getting is Pavlovian conditioning at its finest: You lose weight, you win.

The lessons we should be learning about lifestyle change are that you master portion control, you win. Or you find a workout you enjoy, you win. Everything is focused on the weight loss, which is a fleeting thing. After all, weight loss is always followed by weight gain. If the focus of the show were truly on changing these people's unhealthy lifestyles, then their success wouldn't be measured in pounds.

Do Biggest Loser contestants push too hard?

Because success is quantitative on Loser, contestants push themselves to lose as many pounds as possible as quickly as possible. Their transformation is all about what the scale reads, which is merely a physical transformation. The show's concept of "winning" doesn't put any emphasis on how contestants are learning to eat better, control cravings, and battle emotional distress. While these are all things discussed on the show, it isn't the premise for who wins and who loses. Would Frederickson have dropped to such an extreme low weight if winning hadn't relied on number of pounds lost?

I believe The Biggest Loser contestants are, for the most part, coming out of the experience better individuals. What I don't believe is that the "contest" aspect is the healthiest way to go about losing weight. People will do some pretty crazy things to win, and even if Frederickson wasn't employing dangerous means to shed the most weight, someone else will.

Anna Turner writes about pop culture for Brilliant or Insane. Learn more about Anna on our Team Page. Follow her on Twitter here.

Monday, March 17, 2014

Backstreet Boys are back. . . seriously?

By Anna Turner

via abcnews.com

Backstreet Boys and Avril Lavigne, perhaps the two last musical acts that anyone ever wanted to see again, have announced a joint tour beginning May 3. The announcement was made on Good Morning America Marh 14.

The North American tour route will kick off in Canada, because that country doesn't have enough to be depressed about, and will make its way down the west coast (first US stop is in Seattle), make a bee line for Vegas, bop through the midwest, hit up the east coast and finally end in Florida.

BSB is currently touring in Sweden as part of their "In A World Like This" tour. This North American tour is actually an extension of "In A World Like This," adding Avril Lavigne to the line-up.

Lavigne's last tour wrapped up in February 2012, and we're sure the semi-androgynous emo-chick has all kinds of new things to bitch about. We can't wait to hear what new and original whining she has in store.

This North American addition to "In A World Like This" is reminiscent of a concert ticket you may have purchased ten years ago, but make no mistake: these tickets go on sale March 21 in the year of 2014. The current year. This is really happening. Right now. Backstreet Boys and Avril Lavigne.

While dozens of fans across the country are amped to see their favorite teen idols hit the stage again, those of us with some sanity are asking, "WHEN THE HELL IS NSYNC COMING BACK!?!?!?!?!?!?!"

Anna Turner writes about pop culture for Brilliant or Insane. Learn more about Anna on our Team Page. Follow her on Twitter here.

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Little People, Big World Stars Cut Marriage Short

By Anna Turner

via eonline.cm

Amy and Matt Roloff, stars of TLC's hit reality series Little People, Big World, have filed for a legal separation.

AFter 26 years of marriage, the small but mighty couple is going through with a court separation. They plan on continuing to raise their children together, but have no concrete plans for their relationship. The Roloffs have four children: 23-year-old twins Zack and Jeremy, 20-year-old Molly, and 17-year-old Jacob.

The Roloffs both admit to the past years being hard and difficult. In an article by International Business News, Matt is quoted as saying, "Amy and I stuck it out for years and years when we maybe we shouldn't have. I never quite felt at home in my home so something needed to change. We needed to try something different."

That "something different" was Matt moving out of his home and into their bridal home, a structure on their farm property designed for farm weddings. This move occurred around last Thanksgiving when the tension rose to such a point the couple could not take it any longer.

TLC plans to air a special about the family's current state on March 25 at 9 p.m. To learn more about the Roloffs, visit www.therolofffamily.com.

Anna Turner writes about pop culture for Brilliant or Insane. Learn more about Anna on our Team Page. Follow her on Twitter here.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Were Midnight Rider producers negligent in death of camera assistant?

By Anna Turner

via abcnews.com

On a live film or television set, there are two rules: Don't piss off the talent, and safety first. Crews must adhere to strict guidelines set forth by governing bodies such as Motion Picture Association, Occupational Health and Safety Association, and more--not to mention common sense--while on-set to ensure that "safety first" is upheld. This was not the case in the tragic and completely preventable death of Assistant Camera Sarah Jones.

The Feb. 20th incident occurred outside Doctortown, GA., when the cast and crew for Midnight Rider were shooting a dream sequence on a 100-year-old train trestle. The film was a low-budget independent piece about 1970's rocker Gregg Allman. In the film, Allman is portrayed by William Hurt, who was starring in the scene being filmed that day. Sarah Jones was acting as a 2nd AC, working with producers, talent, and camera operators to get the perfect shot. She was on the trestle when they were alerted to the train's approach, but was not able to escape in time.

At first glance, it may seem like this is a tragic accident: time just wasn't on her side. This is totally and completely false.

This was an accident, yes, but an accident that never should have happened. For starters, the production should have gotten a filming permit and location release from CSX, the company that owns the railroad. Midnight Rider was permitted to film near the railroad but not on it, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Having done this, a CSX operator and crew would have been present during filming to alert the crew of the day's schedule and to have open communication with any trains operating the railway that day. That's how it should have happened, and the fact that something as simple as a filming permit is behind a death of a crew member has Hollywood up in arms.

Ignored rules turn deadly

CSX has reported that it did not grant permission to the film to use the trestle. But Midnight Rider used it anyway.

How can a director,line producer, production manager, production coordinator and more working on this film have allowed the shoot to occur without a permit? This is tantamount to telling someone to eat chicken that hasn't been cooked. It's the first thing you do when setting up a shoot--not just because it will protect you from being sued for trespassing, but because it is a safety ordinance.

Apparently, though, the lead crew members of Midnight Rider were either too busy, too dumb, too cheap, or too lazy to be bothered with safety.

According to eyewitness accounts from Feb. 20th, the crew was informed that, should a train come down the tracks, they should run. That was their safety plan: Run.

As someone who has worked on a live set for both scripted and unscripted programming, I can wholeheartedly tell you that if you're safety blanket is "run," you need to get the hell out of there. That is not an environment you want to be in.

Unfortunately, though, for every one job in production, there are 1,000 people eager and willing to do it better and for less pay. There is an immense amount of pressure on crew members and producers to "get the shot" because if they don't, there are a thousand others who will. So crew members can't really just up and leave if they feel uncomfortable about the evacuation plan.

I am assuming that it is this pressure to keep their jobs that prevented anyone on set that day from saying, "Wait, wait, hold on...this seems a little reckless, doesn't it? So, we're just going to shoot on a working train track? Without anyone here from the railways?" In addition to wanting to keep their jobs, Midnight Rider's crew, like Jones, love filming. They're creating dynamic, living art. It's exciting and fun and people who do this job wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. Another reason why they can't really just up and leave if they feel uncomfortable about the evacuation plan.

As much as Jones loved her job, it is not fair that she died for it. She should still be doing what she loves, but because some people didn't think a permit was necessary, she is dead. A life is lost, and the lives of her loved ones are forever shaken. Not only is it tragic, it's infuriating.

Hollywood needs to do more than wear Black Ribbons at The Academy Awards to compensate for this tragedy. They need to enforce permit regulations and safety codes on any set -- low-budget or blockbuster.

Crew members need to step up and vocalize if they feel unsafe without having to worry about losing their jobs. There are lots of things that need to happen, but in a fast-paced industry that has become more about the dollar than the people earning it, I doubt any of those things will come to fruition.

Anna Turner writes about pop culture for Brilliant or Insane. Learn more about Anna on our Team Page. Follow her on Twitter here.

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Olympic Gold Medalists to headline Dancing With The Stars

By Anna Turner

Never miss a Brilliant or Insane post -- subscribe in a reader

via popsugar.com

What do you do after winning an Olympic gold medal? You dance with washed-up celebrities, of course! At least that's what United States ice dancing champs Meryl Davis and Charlie White will be doing in season 18 of ABC's long-running hit Dancing With The Stars.

Trading in their skates for ballroom dance shoes, Davis and White will try out a new kind of dancing. The first time since 1997, the two will be dancing with partners other than each other. It seems their first-ever head-to-head competition will take front and center of this season's dance-off, as fans of the show are already peeing their sequin-studded spandex over the news.

White and Davis are not the only athletes trying out a new sport, though. This season's cast is loaded with athletic prodigies, including the show's first Paralympian Amy Purdy, a double-amputee snowboarding champion. Also making DWTS history is Sean Avery, the series' first hockey player.

This season's cast will also feature stars that aren't so familiar with medals and trophies. Drew Carey is one such competitor, as is Big Time Rush's James Maslow; don't know who he is? Go to your nearest H&M, look at any adolescent boy shopping there, and that is more or less James Maslow.

In true DWTS fashion, we will see some of our favorite forgotten and B-List celebrities. These include Candace Cameron Bure, known better as D.J. Tanner from Full House, and Real Housewives' NeNe Leakes, known better as Who-The-Hell-Cares.

As you can see, the true headliners of season 18 will be Meryl Davis and Charlie White. Regardless of their success on Dancing With The Stars, I can pretty much guarantee they'll get their own reality show on A&E. It will probably be entitled Ice Dynasty and will launch a new line of clothing at Wal-Mart.

So, we have that to look forward to.

Anna Turner writes about pop culture for Brilliant or Insane. Learn more about Anna on our Team Page. Follow her on Twitter here.

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

5 things Ellen DeGeneres did to save the Oscars

Never miss a Brilliant or Insane post -- subscribe in a reader

via twitter.com/TheEllenShow

Okay, maybe you think the Oscars don't need saving. If you love a four-hour variety show with a few interesting moments sprinkled over a bundle of drivel, then Hollywood's big night is perfect for you.

If you're like me, and you want more from the biggest awards show on TV, then you may not be a huge fan of the glitzy marathon.

Thanks to host Ellen Degeneres, this year's edition of the Academy Awards was more palatable than ever. Here are 5 things Ellen did to save the Oscars.

The selfie seen round the world -- Ellen wowed viewers and social media lovers worldwide with what is sure to be the most famous selfie ever taken (see above). The picture, snapped by Bradley Cooper, received more than 2 million retweets in a couple of hours, literally breaking Twitter temporarily. This was certainly one of variety TV's most memorable moments.
"Who wants pizza?" -- Wondering out loud who was hungry, Ellen decided to order pizza for the stars, sitting in the front section. What seemed to be a sure gag turned into Ellen serving pizza a short while later and asking Sandra Bullock and Brad Pitt for tip money.
Ellen's rapport with the audience -- As promised in pre-show interviews, Ellen worked the crowd magically. She bantered, strolled, skipped and mingled without taking emphasis from the awards.
The Jonah Hill joke -- The Wolf of Wall Street star took it all off and Ellen took advantage, deadpanning, "You showed us something in that film that I haven't seen in a very, very long time." This joke set the tone for an evening of lighthearted, hilarious quips and barbs.
Her smile -- Ellen DeGeneres is cute, funny and downright lovable. Her smile is infectious and it infected me all night. That radiant smile was one of the 5 things Ellen did to save the Oscars.

What do you think? Did I miss anything?

Mark Barnes is an education author and consultant and the publisher of Brilliant or Insane. Learn more about Mark on our Team page. Follow him on Twitter here.