Blondie

• I'm devastated by the news about Jeffrey Dean Morgan's split from Mary-Louise Parker, though JDM has some good news to console him: he's been cast alongside Ryan Gosling and Kirsten Dunst in All Good Things, according to Hollywood Reporter.
• Variety reports that Robert DeNiro, Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale and Sam Rockwell will star together in the family comedy Everybody's Fine.
• Before there's even a High School Musical 3, they're working on a fourth one! Though ComingSoon reports that No. 4 will be another TV movie, not released theatrically.
• If you want to be all nerdy-like (I sure did), the Wall Street Journal has posted a downloadable version of the Project Runway lawsuit.
• Yet another time I wish I were in Seattle: the Bumbershoot Festival lineup looks fantastic, with Beck, Stone Temple Pilots, Neko Case and M. Ward among the confirmed acts listed in today's Billboard article.
• Meet the new Cupid: Bobby Cannivale has been cast in the lead in the Rob Thomas remake, Zap2it reports.
• According to Variety, Nim's Island — not Leatherheads — was the No. 2 movie at the box office over the weekend, coming in behind 21.
• The Tom Cruise WWII thriller Valkyrie has been pushed back even more, this time from an October 2008 release date to February 13, 2009, writes Hollywood Reporter.
• NME reports that Blondie is set to go on tour this summer.

Source

Kate's peroxided blonde hair got me thinking about Debbie Harry, and how fresh she is. If you want to know more about her, read all about it, but I wanted to share my favorite music video of hers. Let's start with her sassy little outfit — black sequined strapless top, high waisted shorts, a sash tied around her waist and black heels — so chic 2007 now and so chic 80s then. Harry piled on clothes and accessories a lot of the time but in this video she exercised restraint, and it did her body good. The video itself is dreamy and random, as she visits and dances with various peeps in different urban settings. The best part though is her rap. Not many white girls have rapped successfully, especially about a man from Mars who eats cars and bars where the people meet! Too funny. Leave it to Harry to pull it off, she is just enrapturing.

Sit back, relax and enjoy the FABTV.

Who better to school a bunch of toddlers on the principles of going punk than Deborah Harry, the legendary lead singer of Blondie? Given the generation gap, these kids have no appreciation for the greatness sitting before them, but that's what makes this group discussion (or peanut butter belly fest) all the more amusing. From "pooping on stage" to the meaning of love and life, Deb breaks it down for us all... (Thanks, Nancita!)

I'm holding myself from bursting out with some bad "Rapture" rappin', because this week's Bella Donna is the fabulous Debbie Harry. Of course, you probably know her better as Blondie, the name of her band that nonetheless has become her nickname. One of the 20th century's iconic blondes, her '70s platinum hair was punky but accessible—much like her band's music.

Before leaping to fame as Blondie's lead singer, Debbie was a waitress, a dancer and even a Playboy Bunny. But as the front of Blondie, she lept to fame with hits such as "One Way or Another," "The Tide is High," and "Heart of Glass." To see a photo gallery of Ms. Harry, read more

Last I checked in with Debbie Harry, the former Blondie front woman was performing on the "Today Show" with Lily Allen. Apparently, she's also been working on a new album, called Necessary Evil and coming out September 25. If this song "Two Times Blue" is any indication, Harry still has a firm understanding of girl power, even if she's old enough to have Kirsten Dunst will play her in an upcoming biopic.

The synth-heavy song is the opposite of a jilted-lover ballad; my favorite line: "You can call me Miss Calculation." Though I love the lyrics and the '80s-tinged verses, the soaring arcade-noise chorus is a bit much. Listen and tell me what you think when you read more

I used to have a theory that girls who grew up in the '80s identified with either the punk style of Blondie's Debbie Harry or the slick sexiness of Madonna. Now, the two are colliding in an intriguing way: Madonna's 1985 comedy Desperately Seeking Susan is being made into a musical featuring the songs of Blondie. The project is set to premiere this fall in London.

No, Madonna won't be a part of it (an actress named Emma Williams will play the role of Susan, while Kelly Price will take on Rosanna Arquette's character, Roberta) — but Debbie Harry will be all over it. According to Playbill, "One Way or Another" and "The Tide is High" will be among the Blondie songs woven into the show, and Harry is writing a new song for the production.

Until I reread the plot summary, I didn't realize Roberta's last name was Glass — so I guess that explains how "Heart of Glass" will fit in. In case you've forgotten how the movie goes, here's Playbill's summary:

Roberta Glass, a suburban New Jersey housewife, escapes her humdrum life by reading the personal ads placed by Susan, a street-smart New York City drifter, and her freewheeling boyfriend Jay. Through a quirky twist of fate, Roberta and Susan unexpectedly swap lives and are plunged into a madcap world of jewel heists, magic shows and rock 'n' roll.

A musical theater version of this story certainly has the potential to be awful, but it's such a weird concept that I think it could turn out awesome. What do you think?

Desperately Seeking Susan photo Source
Debbie Harry photo Source

According to Kirsten Dunst, Blondie front-woman Debbie Harry "chose" the actress to play her in an upcoming biopic. Already anticipating naysayers — like me — Dunst told Variety, "She chose me... so anyone who disputes that choice can take it up with her."

While I can see the resemblance, I think Debbie Harry has a coolness factor that pretty far outshines any of Kirsten Dunst's qualities. I foresee a lot of hysterical, screechy scenes in which Dunst attempts to approximate her idea of "different" and "crazy." Hmm... maybe I should take this up with Debbie Harry...

Source