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Jay-Z Performs At Carnegie Hall

Author: AP

NEW YORK — As Jay-Z transitioned from hit song to hit song at a Carnegie Hall concert Monday night, so did the lighting, changing from red to white to blue.

The veteran rapper then performed his latest hit, "Glory," about his 1-month-old daughter with Beyoncé, Blue Ivy Carter.

"I didn't think I was going to make it through that one," he said, sounding emotional. "That was tough."

It was one of the many jams Jay-Z performed at New York's famed venue, his latest achievement in music domination.

The rapper is the second hip-hop act to perform at Carnegie Hall. Wyclef Jean did so in 2001 with Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton and Whitney Houston.

Jay-Z was joined by fellow New Yorkers Alicia Keys and Nas. He was backed by an orchestra of 30-plus and a band that included Questlove of The Roots and neo-soul singer Bilal. It was one of two shows for charity planned this week.

The Grammy-winning rapper, born Shawn Carter, started off in a black-and-white tuxedo, bowtie and black sunglasses, commanding the stage with confidence in a somewhat unfamiliar territory: The audience was mostly men in suits or tuxedos, and women in conservative dresses. About 2,800 people filled the hall.

Though some tickets were sold to the public, most were offered in a private sale, going from $500 to $2,500. The proceeds will benefit the United Way of New York City and the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation, which helps low-income students cover college costs. Students from Jay-Z's foundation also attended the show.

Jay-Z, who released his debut album in 1996, performed more than two dozen hits including "Hard Knock Life," "99 Problems" and "Dirt Off Your Shoulder." Classic New York anthems also entertained the audience. The orchestra played a medley of Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind," Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" and Gil Scott-Heron's "New York Is Killing Me."

Changing into a black tux, Jay-Z performed "Empire State of Mind" with Keys, who wore similar attire. Nas followed with his song "N.Y. State of Mind."

"Make some noise for the Giants," yelled Jay-Z, giving a shout-out to the recent Super Bowl champions.

Jay-Z changed outfits once again, this time to a black T-shirt, black pants and a black cap. He traveled to the second floor and began to rap songs from the top of a chair.

He gave shout-outs to some of those missed in music, from the Notorious B.I.G. to Aaliyah to Don Cornelius. He also gave a shout-out to Liza Minnelli, who waved to the audience before Jay-Z hit the stage.

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Online:

http://rocnation.com/jayz/

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Mesfin Fekadu covers entertainment for The Associated Press. Follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/musicmesfin

Laura Prudom: 'Gossip Girl' Recap: Top 5 OMG Moments in 'The Backup Dan'

Author: Laura Prudom

Note: Do not read on if you have not seen Season 5, Episode 14 of The CW's "Gossip Girl," entitled "The Backup Dan."

This week's "Gossip Girl" picked up right where the milestone 100th episode left off, with Blair turned Runaway Bride and the rest of the Manhattan apparently on the hunt for her. After the twists and turns of last week, "The Backup Dan" seemed choppy and strangely paced in comparison, lurching across New York as Blair and Dan tried to escape the evil Grimaldi clan and their Bond villain accents. Serena, Chuck and Georgina were hot on their heels, but since we ended up almost exactly where we started -- with Blair reluctantly departing for her honeymoon with a man she doesn't love -- it kind of felt like a wasted hour to me (not to mention one that offered up some deeply disturbing subtext for Blair's relationship with Louis -- but more on that later).

Regardless, here are the stand-out moments in an otherwise underwhelming episode.

1. My Love Don't Cost a Thing
Apparently, nothing creates a stronger foundation for marital bliss than prenuptial blackmail, at least, if you're royalty. After Blair discovered that Louis intended to keep her as a loveless trophy wife, she (understandably) decided to escape the display case, with her heart set on divorcing her new hubby without his consent in the Dominican Republic, Elizabeth Taylor-style.

Sadly, the pesky pre-nup that she was so reluctant to sign had some truly dastardly small print; if Blair defaulted on the marriage, then the Grimaldi family could reinstate the dowry they'd waived, forcing the Waldorfs to fork over a right royal fortune for the embarrassment. One would think that having a soulmate who happens to be a billionaire would come in handy during such a crisis, but Blair, masochist that she is, refused Chuck's offer to pay off the dowry. Their scene was as heartfelt as it was heartbreaking, with Chuck once again pleading for Blair to reconsider her pact with God and abandon Louis once and for all. While her refusal was undoubtedly frustrating for all the fans still rooting for Chuck and Blair to work things out, her reasoning was actually pretty solid, in this case: If and when the star-crossed couple finally ends up together, Blair wants them to be equals, without one owing the other anything. Considering how unequal their relationship has been in the past, I was actually impressed that she wanted to find her own way out of the mess she'd gotten herself into, without letting a man save her.

I suppose she was also morally right in stopping her mother from selling her business to help her, but that won't ease the stress and worry it'll place on her parents. Even though the story gave Blair a good opportunity to try and solve her own self-made problem, the overall plot point of a man blackmailing a woman into a marriage in exchange for money was an extremely troubling concept for me. (See Moment 5.)

2. Georgina Isn't Gossip Girl?
Nothing is ever as simple as it appears on this show, so even with last week's revelation still ringing in our ears, it didn't take long for Georgina to drop another bombshell. She confirmed what many predicted after last week: She is Gossip Girl's self-appointed successor, but not the original troublemaker. Isn't it nice to have your cake and eat it too? She's still sticking around to cause optimum damage, though -- stalking Serena and Chuck around town to discover where Blair was hiding from Louis -- but her evil plan backfired when the princess ended up back with her frog. Still, she obviously has another plan up her sleeve, since she knows who really leaked Blair and Chuck's video. Judging by the lingering shot of Dan we closed out the show with, he's our prime suspect. Was he simply hoping to drive a wedge between Blair and Chuck, since he knew everyone would assume that our resident Basstard was the sabotaging type?

3. A Dan For All Seasons
Though Humphrey spent most of the hour being treated like Blair's chauffeur, butler and personal bank account, the long-suffering Lonely Boy did finally put his foot down and insist that Blair should treat him less like a slave and more like a friend. And, horror of horrors, Queen B actually listened to him. Not only did she admit that she cares for him, she also gave him a thank you and an apology -- it just got very chilly in Hell. While I still don't think that Blair's in the right place mentally or emotionally to reciprocate Dan's obvious feelings, they undeniably have a real friendship now, and it's clear that Blair believed that she could rely on him to help her without all the baggage that Chuck or Blair would bring. What the girl really needs is a break from guys altogether -- some "me" time in the Dominican Republic probably would do. Still, their honest moment in the hotel bar was one of the most genuine of the episode.

4. Family Matters
Poor Lola Rhodes. No matter how well she thinks she's hidden herself from her mom's influence, there's no escaping family. Even when she's minding her own business and picking up odd jobs to pay for the dorms at Julliard, she just keeps getting pulled back into her aunt's orbit. Now we know why Carol seemed so convinced that her relatives would never run into the real Charlie: She thinks her daughter is safely hidden away in Michigan, not flirting with a guy whose family is almost as messed up as hers is. It's only a matter of time before Nate or Lily figure out the real family connection, (you can certainly see the fake resemblance -- kudos to the casting team) but will she get to confront Ivy in some kind of Charlie catfight, winner take all the inheritance?

5. OMG WTF? (a.k.a. What is "Gossip Girl's" obsession with treating its women like property?)
I hate to end on a sour note, but this time around, I feel like it's warranted. This is more of a meta OMG moment than a plot-driven one, but are the show's writers seriously unaware of how deeply problematic it is that they continue to write Blair as a commodity to be bought and sold by the men in her life? First, Chuck sold Blair for his hotel, and now, Louis has bought her for a year of marriage in exchange for a dowry. "Gossip Girl" has always walked a very dangerous line in failing to delineate between consensual and non-consensual acts (especially in storylines relating to Chuck). The entire premise of the series is built upon the idea of commodifying a bunch of rich teenagers' lives so that complete strangers can interfere in their romantic and personal interactions, like they exist purely for the entertainment of Gossip Girl's site visitors.

Similarly, there is no way to skew this current Louis/Blair arc into anything but a forced marriage, in which Louis will at least kiss Blair in public without her consent, if not more. Yes, this show is vapid and frothy and silly in the extreme, but Blair and Serena are also characters that -- wisely or not -- are role models to young women. Maybe most of us don't take "Gossip Girl" seriously, but if there is even one girl out there who thinks that she needs to compromise her integrity or desires to please an overbearing and emotionally manipulative man, the show has done a great disservice to its audience and its actresses. I'm disappointed that the writers couldn't find a more responsible storyline to keep Blair and Chuck apart without needing Blair to both martyr herself and give in to psychological abuse. Rationalize away, but nothing will convince me that this is a worthwhile narrative to pursue.

"Gossip Girl" airs Mondays at 8 p.m. EST on The CW.

Chris Brown Will Perform At The Grammys

Author: AP

NEW YORK — Chris Brown will perform at this year's Grammy Awards, the event where his career almost ended three years ago.

Brown admitted to assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna at a pre-Grammy party in 2009 and is serving five years of probation for the felony attack. A source told The Associated Press on Monday that Brown will hit the stage at Sunday's show. The source spoke on condition of anonymity because Brown's performance has not been officially announced.

After the attack, Brown's reputation plummeted, but he has since bounced back, releasing multiple mixtapes and the multi-hit album, "F.A.M.E. (Forgiving All My Enemies)." The CD is nominated for three Grammys, including best R&B album.

Rihanna also will perform at the show. She's nominated for four awards, including the top prize – album of the year – for her platinum effort "Loud."

Brown and Rihanna were supposed to perform at the 2009 Grammys, but that changed after Brown attacked the pop singer in the early morning hours before the awards show. Since then, Brown has not attended the Grammys, although he was nominated for three awards last year.

A judge eased a restraining order last February after an attorney for Rihanna said she didn't object to removing the stay-away provisions. The former order required Brown to stay 50 yards away from 23-year-old Rihanna, but the restriction was reduced to 10 yards if they were at a music industry event.

Brown, 22, has been nominated for Grammys in five of the last six years, though he has never picked up the top prize in music. His song "Look at Me Now," which features Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes, is nominated for best rap song and best rap performance.

Rihanna is the owner of four Grammys, three with Jay-Z. She alone won a Grammy last year for her No. 1 smash, "Only Girl (In the World)" for best dance recording. In addition to album of the year, her fifth CD "Loud" is up for best pop vocal album. Rihanna is also nominated twice for best rap/sung collaboration for another No.1 jam – the Drake-assisted "What's My Name?" – and for her guest appearance on Kanye West's "All of the Lights."

The Grammys will air live on CBS from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

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Online:

http://www.grammys.com

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Mesfin Fekadu covers entertainment for The Associated Press. Follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/musicmesfin

Jaimie Etkin: 'Pretty Little Liars' Recap: Jason Returns And A Huge Bomb Drops

Author: Jaimie Etkin

Note: Do not read on if you have not seen Season 2, Episode 19 of "Pretty Little Liars," entitled, "The Naked Truth."

Pursed lips abound when Kate, Hanna and their moms sit, waiting to speak to the vice principal about the photo debacle that closed out last week's episode.

Meanwhile, Spencer, Emily and Aria are standing around a red trenchoat, which is what Ali's claim ticket was for. It's not something Ali would wear (because she is not Carmen San Diego), but maybe Vivian Blackwood would, they surmise.

"Can I touch it?" Aria asks. To which, Spencer replies: "Yeah. It's a raincoat, Aria. Not a mummy."

The girls talk about how Kate's mom is threatening to sue Hanna for the step-sister sexting situation and then Aria checks the coat pockets and what do you know -- there's a phone number written on a crumpled up piece of paper with no name and no other info.

Though obviously Spencer and Aria are ready to give the number a ring, Emily doesn't want to. They say they could find out why Ali was pretending to be Vivian if they do.

"You think we're gonna find that out from a number in a pocket?" Emily asks. "Well, it's probably easier than hiring the fat lady with the tube top at the farmer's market who's gonna tell you your fortune," a particularly snarky Spencer retorts.

Spencer then accuses Emily of being scared and Emily gets indignant: "I'M. NOT. SCARED" she replies and this is probably the angriest we've ever heard the mild-mannered Ms. Fields.

Back in the vice principal's office, it's clear that Hanna's and Kate's moms don't just have the same taste in men, but in hairstyles too. Though Vice Principal Tamborelli (who sadly probably has no relation to Danny of "Pete & Pete" and "Figure It Out" on Nickelodeon) says there's usually a no tolerance policy for bullying, the girls are going to work through it at "Truth Up" day, an overnight workshop where students own up to bad behavior and teachers and parents supervise.

Hanna's mom agrees to participate and Mr. Tamborelli says everyone will need a "sleeping bag, tooth brush and change in attitude."

Though the other liars tell Hanna she's lucky it's not worse, she knows there's more to come. After all, it's only a matter of time "until A gets hungry again and takes another bite out of [her] ass." That took a weird turn.

Hanna says they thought they had the power when they found A's phone, but A is using their phones against them. As Hanna walks away in a Huff, Aria, Spencer and Emily talk about how Mr. Tamborelli is preventing Em from rejoining the swim team. "How much longer are we gonna have to pay for picking up that stupid shovel?" she asks. I'd venture to say until ABC Family cancels this show, but only time will tell.

After their bitchfest, Aria confronts Holden in the music room about his bruise. She says it's not fair she doesn't get to know who he's meeting, but, he says, "that's [their] arrangement." Then, someone knocks over Holden's bag and Aria sees a baggie with pills. We're talking Dr. Mario-looking pills. He quickly shoves them in his bag and says he'll be right back. Way to play it cool, bro.

While going rogue with her lunch tray, Spencer stumbles upon a cuddly Jenna and Noel and follow that up with a serious eye roll. Then of course, formerly M.I.A. Jason arrives at school, despite not being a student, parent of a student, teacher, or the like. My mom is not so much a fan of his new look: "Ok what is up with Jason's hair?? He looks like he went to Elvis's hairdresser!!!! hahah"

He tells Spencer that he was in Georgia fixing up his grandma's house and asks her to give her father a message for him and tell him he owes him a call: He's back and he can't keep dodging him. My mom is still hung up on Jason's obviously bizarre presence: "why does he just appear at a high school in the middle of the day?? that's what Spencer's Gma did too. what is up with that?"

Ella asks Jason for help at "Truth Up" day and he says "no" until he finds out Spencer's parents will be there. Suddenly, it's game on.

Hanna's in her bedroom holding her phone very strategically while looking at the topless photo of Kate when her mom comes in. "I don't care what it says on your driver's license -- to me, you are still my baby girl and I will crush anyone that tries to hurt you." She says it's not the first time Hanna's told her she was being framed and asks for a name.

But obviously, all Hanna's got is an initial and a whole lot of suspicion. She tells her mom there's no name and we know she not lying. Then, her mom asks if she did it. After skillfully shedding a couple single tears, Hanna says she didn't and her mom leaves the room without another word.

Everybody now: Poor Hanna!

It's "Truth Up" day, which should really be called "Truth Up" night. The girls gather at Rosewood where they have to turn off their phones and prepare to find out their smaller group assignments. Holden confronts Aria about the pills and she makes sure he knows that she knows what's up: "That bag wasn't filled with Flintstone's vitamins. I'm not stupid."

He also says it must suck to always be around her mom, who is currently shouting at the students to get in line. "oh man.....Ella I could tell her where to go," my mom says of her on-screen enemy.

Aria and Caleb are in a group with Jenna, who's playing the piano. (We get it, Jenna.) Outside the class room, Jason and Spencer's mom run into each other and she tells him her husband won't be joining them because he's out of town. They walk into Aria/Caleb/Jenna's group and my mom has two thoughts: "why Jason is there for this truth thing??" and "Jenna can see." But back to Caleb, who clearly means business: "If everyone's spilling their guts today, some of us might have a lot to say. I know I do," he said, looking at Jenna.

Over in the cafeteria, Hanna's mom is running a session in which you take a step forward if you agree with the statement she's reading. (Note: If you've had any sort of orientation, you've probably played this game. If not, sorry you're disorientated.) Emily and Mona are both in Hanna's mom group. When she reads a statement about the lack of a positive environment at her school, Emily -- who would suck at Mother, May I -- takes two giant leaps forward. When Hanna's mom corrects her, she goes into this diatribe about how Tamborelli is being unfair, without any specifics.

The vice principal observes her monologue and calls her over. Essentially, he tells her to watch herself and says, "You're no saint, Emily." (Mind you, while this is happening, everyone is taking a huge gallop forward when Hanna's mom says: "Ever lied to your parents about drinking alcohol.")

Back in Mama Hastings and Jason's classroom, Aria's phone goes off. It's a text that reads: "Truth hurts, sweetie. May hurt your new pal more than you. -A"

Aria looks around and sees Jason with his back to her, while "creepster Jenna" (as my mom calls her) is reaching into her bag. But worry not, she's getting some Eclipse gum.

Over in Cinderella Sexting Scandal Central, Hanna and Kate are in a group with Noel, run by Aria's mom, Ella. They're doing an exercise where only the person holding a big red bouncy ball can speak. Ball in hand, Kate wants to go back to her old school and she wants to decide Hanna's punishment. Then Noel asks for the ball and says he'd go "postal" if someone did that to him. But if he were Kate, he'd "rent a billboard."

When Ella calls him a bad guy, he says it's really the girls who don't fight fair. Hanna grabs the ball and asks Ella if she's a bully, begging her to believe her. Ella says nothing and Hanna drops the ball and storms out. Courtesy of my mom: "If I really couldn't stand Ella before I have a whole level of loathing for her!!!!!! She soooooo should have been there for the Hanna-she's wretched!!!!!!! Oh and did I mention??? She still looks pregnant too!!!!! hate her."

Back in Mrs. Marin's session, Mona and Emily have a moment. Emily confesses she let Ali treat her badly and apologizes for not stopping her. Though we can see on Mona's face it means a lot, to Emily, she says: "Oh, honey, that was like two personalities ago." They talk about the conversation with Tamborelli -- or, as Mona calls him, Toad of Toad Hall" -- and Mona's suggests he's sexist and they should call him out.

Back in Jason and Spencer's mom room, she gives them paper and asks if Jenna needs help. "I don't trust anyone around here," Jenna says. "This school's filled with phonies and liars ... they're everywhere."

Caleb agrees and calls Jenna out: "Just to clarify, we are telling the whole truth today, right? Not just the part you want to remember? By the way, this is Caleb speaking, in case you were confused."

Honestly, that was hilarious, as noted by the "hahahahahahahahhaah this is Caleb speaking" from my mom.

Spencer approaches Jason in the hall and says she knows about the will and adds that her dad risked a lot to protect him. But he won't give her any more info and instead says, talk to your dad when he gets back in town. But he's not out of town, Spencer replies. Yep, her mom lied. Clearly, it's genetic.

Emily and Aria call the raincoat number again from the bathroom. A girl answers and says no one knows a Vivian and says they should not ever call again. Soon, Emily gets called to the office and they head out.

Holden sees Aria and asks if she wants to eat together, but she says she can't. He asks if they're still on for Saturday and she says she's starting to feel weird about covering for whatever it is he's doing. "I don't know if I can handle it if I know you're hurting yourself," she says. But onto more serious matters: "Aria is in a tank and Holden is in a down vest?" my mom wonders. Really, Rosewood weather is just the most confusing.

Meanwhile, Caleb and Hanna, who "are so adorbs," according to my mom, talk on the roof. While saying she wishes they could just go to California, she hears something. Is someone up there? "Let me help you," Caleb says, asking for her phone. "Just hold me," she replies. "That will help me." Too. Cute.

When Emily gets to Tamborelli's office she sees Mona and realizes it was her who called her down there. "I didn't even recognize your voice," Emily explains. "Yes, I know; it's a gift," Mona replies. (I'm putting this in my back pocket.) Soon enough, Mona hacks into the computer and they're in. She's also started calling Emily, "hon," which my mom would like to interpret as a shout out to Paige on "Degrassi: The Next Generation."

In a rare instance on "Pretty Little Liars," Aria, Spencer and Hanna's moms bond over coffee. "there are actually 3 moms in this episode--shocking," my own mom says. Spencer's mom, a.k.a. Olivia Benson (no seriously, it's uncanny) says, "I think the truth is overrated;" Aria's mom doesn't think Hanna did it; and Hanna's mom is convinced something happened to them. Maybe after Ali died? No, no, Spencer's mom explains: "I think it was when they met Allison."

Mona and Emily are looking up expenses and it soon becomes clear their vice principal has been taking bribes from wealthy football parents. "Well, base me in bilng and call me Bulgari," a giddy and superficial Mona says. Emily's not sure this is right thing to do, but Mona knows what they have to do to get her back on the swim team. "Honey, you can't be a shark if you're toothless," she explains.

Jason is alone in a classroom leaving a message: "Same number, same house, you know where to find me." Spencer mom walks in and he says he was leaving her husband a message. They talk about coming clean and Spencer overhears them from outside and, of course, decides to listen in.

But then, she's flashing back to her and Ali, hanging out in her bedroom while her parents fought downstairs. "We've been neighbors for 15 years?" her mom says, prompting Spencer to tell Ali that the argument is due to the fact that Melissa was caught making out with Jason. Ali now understands their anger seemingly: "Let's just say, it'd be a match frowned upon by the gods." Really? Toby and Jenna and now this?

Back in the present/dinner time, Kate takes off her sweater, causing her shirt to life up. Eagle eye Hanna sees a birthmark and suddenly realizes, the image of Kate had been photoshopped. What if it wasn't A who sent the photo? Clearly, all fingers are pointing to Kate. She follows her new evil step-sister to the bathroom and tells her she knows what's up.

Finally, Kate fesses up and Aria and Emily -- complete with recording devices -- emerge from the stalls. Gotcha!

And my mom brings up a good point, "dont you think Hanna's dad would have something to say to Hanna about that picture when it came out???" I mean, he is the reason these people are all even interconnected.

Hanna tells Aria to find Caleb and put the damn computer down and so she walks into their group room, which now only consists of Jenna, Noel and magic black flashlight. They're examining the questions everyone presumably wrote and though they range from being afraid of a parent to hating one's body, one clearly stands out: "I know who killed Allison DeLaurentis."

Aria asks them if they've seen Caleb and Noel replies, "Maybe somebody threw him out with the rest of the garbage." So she heads to the roof to look for him and puts a brick out to hold open the door.

Spencer sees Jason, lying back and listening to music like he's on the beach with a Corona. As she walks past one classroom, we see Caleb still plugging away and soon she gets a text, "Don't be scared, Spence. We are all family here. Some more than others. -A."

Spencer tells Jason she has to ask him something: "My dad is your father, too?"

"Who told you?" Jason asks. Spencer says Ali told her a long time ago ... only thing is: "I didn't hear it until tonight." Deep, Hastings.

Back on the roof, the door shut behind on Aria. Of course. And we see a hooded figure walk behind her. She hears a thud and runs to climbs up a ladder when Noel grabs her leg, which is barely covered in some slit-filled pants. "btw--her pants or leggings are soooo jersey shore," my mom says. "and she's in PA." Holden comes to her rescue and roundhouse kicks him to the ground. He says he wasn't attacking her. Seriously, you guys. He was just playing. LOL. JK. NBD. Holden and Aria head back downstairs and suddenly, the door opens quite easily.

Next, we see Mona talking to Mr. Tamborelli who emerges to tell Emily the good news. Mona then asks the all-important question about fan attire for swim meets. "If I show up in my wedges, are they gonna get mushy?" Ew.

Hanna's mom is waiting outside the vice principal's office when Isabel shows up, chastising Hanna yet again. "in the future, Isabel, before you point fingers, you may want to take a whiff of the rotten fruit under your family tree," Hanna's mom says. Seriously, Hanna is surrounded by some impressive zingerers. Soon enough, the girls walk out of his office and Hanna goes over to her mom to give her a hug and hide her smirk.

Spencer confronts her mom about Jason being her half-brother. Her mom says she didn't even know until Jason was an adult and adds that Melissa still doesn't know. "Spencer, every family has secrets," her mom explains. But Spencer doesn't want to go home to look at her dad or talk to him. She doesn't want to go home because "where's home? ... That's a joke."

A hurt Spencer is owling in the sleeping quarters while everyone else is tangled up in their sleeping bags. Seriously, that can't be comfortable. My mom, meanwhile, is concerned about the realism of this at-school sleepover: "like all those high school kids would just lay down and go to sleep ???"

Emily wakes up, notices Spence is not in her sleeping bag and sees she has six missed calls from the number in Vivian's pocket. Of course, Aria and Hanna wake up and the number calls back. It's a guy on the line now, who says he can't say anything about Vivian over the phone. It's gotta be in person. Can they meet? Emily says yes. It's on, baby!

And in closing, some final thoughts from my mom:
"i thought that the guy's voice who called Emily sounded like Garrett and then he was in the previews with Caleb...so I kind of think he took his computer but that seems so obvious. And there was a big Noel presence in this episode--Im also wondering if he and Jenna are just a front so it seems like she's not with Garrett because then it would seem like Jenna and Garrett arent working as a team and they really would be. Also, I so dont get why Spencer's mom was ok with the handling of the Jason thing with Spencer and Melissa--and why would she stay with the dad--but really they could be separated and we would never know it because they are both never on at the same time. So Ali's mom and Spencer's mom were probably pregnant at the same time with Melissa and Jason--this is such an Arnold storyline."

In the spirit of the former governator: "We'll be back."

Worst look of the week
Aria's yellow shoes. No contest. OK. Maybe those pants. But there is nothing more to say about the shoes than to wonder which Wisconsin fan she stole them from. Or was it Minnie Mouse? Either way, there's a cheese connection.

Best quotes of the week
"Yeah, I don't know about her fortunes... But that lady with the tube top makes really good apple butter." -Aria on how to crack the Vivian code

"If I had a pom-pom, I'd shake it," Mona says after Emily gets back on the team.

"Just hold me ... that will help me." -Hanna to Caleb on the roof.

"I spent all of ninth grade trimming my thighs." -Hanna

"Pretty Little Liars" airs at 8 p.m. EST on Mondays on ABC Family.

Can You Find Max Von Sydow In The Oscar Class Photo?

Author: Christopher Rosen

Despite being on the shortlist for Best Supporting Actor seemingly all throughout awards season, some were still shocked that Max von Sydow earned a nomination in the category last month. Now, the actor could be poised to pull one of the biggest upsets of Oscar night -- at least if you believe the rousing ovation the screen veteran received at the Academy Awards luncheon in Beverly Hills on Monday afternoon.

"[V]on Sydow was the clear winner, drawing the afternoon's only standing ovation when he came to the stage very late in the lengthy, alphabetical roll call of 150 nominees," wrote TheWrap's Oscar guru Steve Pond. Before you start checking off the "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" star on your Oscar ballot, note that Christopher Plummer -- the presumed Best Supporting Actor frontrunner -- was absent from the nominee luncheon, and thus did not enjoy a massive standing ovation.

Still! Good day for Mr. Von Sydow. Why don't you celebrate by trying to find him in the Oscar nominees class photo, which you can see below? Here's a hint: he's in there! Good luck.

[Click for bigger]

Will You Watch 'The River'?

Author: Maggie Furlong

Still have questions about "The River"? Well, it's a mysterious show -- that's kind of the point.

I got a little bit of scoop when I interviewed the cast, but it's not an easy show to pitch (as you'll see with star Bruce Greenwood's Ouija board analogy). This teaser-filled new video from ABC, shot on the show's set in Hawaii, might help you decide if the show is worth watching or not.

Check out the video below to get more backstory, more freaky footage and the cast and producers shedding a little more light on their suspenseful journey in the Amazon, then tell us: Will you watch "The River"?

Clint Eastwood Addresses Commercial Buzz: 'I'm Not Politically Affiliated With Obama'

Author: Jordan Zakarin

After a day filled with chatter about the political implications of his "Halftime in America" Super Bowl commercial for Chrysler, acting legend Clint Eastwood moved to quell any speculation that he was making a pitch for President Obama's economic policy.

"l am certainly not politically affiliated with Mr. Obama. It was meant to be a message about job growth and the spirit of America," Eastwood, a libertarian and longtime Republican voter, said Monday evening on Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor" about the ad, which features him extolling the virtues of a revitalized Detroit. Chrysler was one of the companies saved in President Obama's 2009 auto bailout, which Eastwood has publicly opposed. "I think all politicians will agree with it," he continued. "I thought the spirit was OK."

Eastwood, who said he was "not supporting any politician at this time," also gave his blessing for either party to reference the spot, or at least its message.

"If Obama or any other politician wants to run with the spirit of that ad, go for it," he said.

Earlier in the day, Fox News contributor Karl Rove criticized the ad for being "a sign of what happens when you have Chicago-style politics, and the President of the United States and his political minions are, in essence, using our tax dollars to buy corporate advertising."

In response, Eastwood's longtime manager Leonard Hirshan told NY Magazine that the ad was never intended to be political.

"I think that Rove and everybody, if they're sensible, would wonder why a longtime Republican and Libertarian would do that," he said. "Just think about that, how silly that is: It's not like [the ad] was done by a left-winger, like Paul Newman in his day. It was done by a Republican, and he was doing it about America. There's not anything political to do with it whatsoever. I don't want him to do commercials, and as far as I'm concerned, it's a PSA [public service announcement]. Period."

Michele Willens: FACE IT: Documentaries Are the New Therapy

Author: Michele Willens

So you are all grown up but still get agitated every time you see your parents. They never were really there for you -- even if they brought pleasure to millions of others. Or maybe you realize it's about time you learned more about a grandparent whom you never really appreciated. Get thee to an analyst? Maybe. Or better yet, pick up a camera.

At the Sundance Film Festival this month, the most anticipated documentary was Ethel, about Ethel Kennedy, the matriarch of the Robert Kennedy clan, directed by her daughter, Rory Kennedy. It joins a growing list of personal passion projects made by filmmakers recently: Decoding Deepak, which has just been announced for the South by Southwest Festival, sees director Gotham Chopra examining his famous father; The Man Nobody Knew: In Search of My Father, by Carl Colby about his father, former CIA chief William Colby; Sing Your Song, co-produced by Gina Belafonte about the life of her father, Harry Belafonte, on and off the stage; Mr. Conservative, which is granddaughter CC's take on Barry Goldwater; My Architect, son Nathaniel's compelling story of his father, Louis Kahn; 51 Birch Street, by Doug Block, which plays like an onion peeling before your eyes as he discovers deeper and deeper family secrets; and Disturbing the Universe, about left-wing attorney William Kunstler, chronicled by daughters Emily and Sarah.

To some, these may feel like the ultimate in narcissism. On the other hand, virtually all the great works of theater, in my opinion, are autobiographical. And the bestseller lists are filled with memoirs. Still, the documentarians acknowledge that they walk some very fine lines: how to make their own personal families compelling to a wide range of viewers, and how to tell the stories of loved ones, warts and all.

Sascha Rice spent the last four years working on California State of Mind, a documentary about her grandfather, the ebullient former Governor Pat Brown. While the film was a way to connect to her grandfather, she knew that "as a filmmaker and artist, I needed to tell a story, to find the conflict," she told me. "That meant if there were skeletons, I needed to expose them." While she had a strong relationship with the man whose career ended when he lost to "newcomer" Ronald Reagan -- "he always made me feel like I mattered" -- she admits that the decision to tell his story may have been motivated by guilt. "I guess I sort of felt I let him down," she says, "because I didn't go into the business of politics. So this was a way to do my part in keeping his legacy alive."

For these filmmakers, their cinematic journeys are almost always filled with illuminations. "I learned that he was in Palm Springs with Frank Sinatra one weekend to dodge the farm workers boycott," Ms. Rice laughs. CC Goldwater says creating Mr. Conservative: Goldwater on Goldwater was like digging through a maze:

I thought I knew him pretty well, but in the discovery, I was amazed at all he had accomplished. He was a profound politician but also a master photographer, an experienced aviator, and an honest man with true convictions. Ultimately, it gave me the opportunity to see an icon through the eyes of others while having the personal roots to pull from.

51 Birch Street started out as a friendly handheld story of Mr. Block's parents' long marriage, more along the lines of the family video to pass on to the following generations. But then his mother died, a long term affair was uncovered, and there were revelatory diaries and letters left behind. "That is when I realized I was meant to make the film," says Mr. Block, who warned his father that he might be seen as "the bad guy early on, but that he would ultimately be seen as far more complicated. When it came out, he was suddenly treated like a little rock star." A film like his was a true challenge in that it deals with the unfamous. Here, the secret ingredient is resonance. "Truly, I had no idea why anyone would care," says Mr. Block. "But boy, did it resonate," he told me.

As for those younger relatives chronicling famed family members, the trick is to give us something we don't already know while still making the subject relatable. You may have thought you knew Harry Belafonte from his Day-O days, but "Sing Your Song" -- which should be required viewing for every history class -- gives us a far more complex portrait. Gina Belafonte says the project really began as her own exploration of the civil rights movement.

"As an activist myself, I felt my generation was not coordinated and I wanted answers -- being the recipient of all that hard work," she says. Like Ms. Rice, she wanted to be sure the legacy was appreciated. "I worried that my soon to be 7-year-old child would never know the depth of his grandfather's contribution." While some feel the film may be too reverential, the viewer is left appreciating how Gina and her siblings often felt slighted by their father's constant absences. Parental neglect is a recurring theme of the personal docs.

While screen storytelling may be the new shrink, movie memoirists beware: this is not for the faint of heart. Selling documentaries (unless you are Michael Moore) is never a cakewalk, and convincing investors that you are going to tell an honest and revealing (not to mention commercial) tale about a family member may be even tougher. "I had countless pitch meetings," says Ms. Goldwater. "It seemed if there were no sex, drugs, or scandal, there would be no interest. I began to think I was nuts," she confided to me. (HBO finally partnered with her.)

While the documentarians don't exactly buy into the camera-as-couch theory, they don't deny the guilt-reducing and cathartic personal results. "So much has happened in the making of our film," says Ms. Belafonte of the process. "My dad and I got through many struggles on the project together, and we are now very very close." Still, as summed up by Doug Block, "Obviously, I am trying to get through some issues. But believe me, therapy is cheaper."

Lisa Vanderpump Says She Was Ambushed At 'Real Housewives Reunion'

Author: Alex Moaba

Perhaps a move like appearing on "Good Day LA" (weekdays, 9AM PT on Fox) to discuss how she felt ambushed in Part 1 of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Reunion" was what Kyle Richards was referring to when she said being friends with Lisa Vanderpump is "like playing chess with Bobby Fischer." Or maybe she was just defending herself from a barrage of attacks.

Nevertheless, Vanderpump speculated that the dynamic on display at the reunion may have emerged because she was "out of the loop," busy planning her daughter's wedding and opening a new restaurant, while the other ladies were getting on the same page. When Steve Edwards joked that the other Housewives had "ganged up and planned" a bad day for Vanderpump, she not only agreed, but also elaborated on the conspiracy theory. "Adrienne did say to Brandi, 'Oh, let's meet the night before,' and Brandi declined. I know that for a fact," she claimed.

But facts can be fuzzy in the world of the "Housewives." Dorothy Lucey asked Vanderpump about an argument she had with Adrienne Maloof during the reunion in which Maloof claimed that Vanderpump was selling gossip stories to Radar Online. Radar has since denied ever paying Vanderpump for "Housewives" scoops.

Naturally, this led to a discussion of Maloof and Vanderpump's dueling shoe-lines, which has been dubbed "The Vander Pump" vs. "The Maloof Hoof." Vanderpump swore it was joke when she nicknamed Adrienne's shoe "The Maloof Hoof." "It wasn't meant in a mean-spirited way," Vanderpump insisted, just as she did in Part 1, right before she called it "a fat little shoe."

Part 2 of the "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Reunion" airs Monday at 9 p.m. EST on Bravo.

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