Variety

Variety Power of Women Luncheon | Pictures
Jennifer Garner

Variety Brings Out the Stars to Celebrate the Power of Women

Variety hosted its annual Power of Women luncheon today at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills.
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Variety hosted its annual Power of Women luncheon today at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. The event, which celebrates influential women in the entertainment world, brought out a long list of boldfaced names. Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck were in attendance after stepping out for the LA premiere of Argo last night. The couple were among the presenters at the event, which spotlighted several actresses and their charitable contributions. Inside the lunch, Jessica Biel and Jennifer were seen catching up side by side at their table and posing for pictures together.

Today's honorees included Jessica, Halle Berry, Katherine Heigl, Queen Latifah, and Felicity Huffman. Queen Latifah's remake of Steel Magnolias premieres on Lifetime this weekend, and the cable network cosponsored today's festivities. The actress and rapper was specifically honored for the scholarship foundation she founded in her late brother's memory.

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Charlize Theron Indie Impact Award Pictures
Charlize Theron

Charlize Snaps Up Another Award and Thanks Her "Sexy" Young Adult Costar Patton

Charlize Theron was presented with her second award of the weekend yesterday at Variety's annual brunch during the Palm Springs International Film Festival.
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Charlize Theron was presented with her second award of the weekend yesterday at Variety's annual brunch during the Palm Springs International Film Festival. The Young Adult star looked lovely in a bold Reed Krakoff dress as she accepted her Indie Impact Award. Her leading man in the film, Patton Oswalt, was on hand to present her with the honor and gushed about the time he spent working with her. When Charlize tried to hide behind her napkin, he joked, "Don't hide that beautiful face. It's keeping the bees alive with its beautiful sunshine!"

The duo formed a close friendship on the set of their Diablo Cody-penned film. Charlize, Diablo, and Patton all joined director Jason Reitman on Saturday night to accept their shared accolade for best creative ensemble at the Palm Springs annual gala. Yesterday, Charlize took the podium alone to pick up her individual honor, and gave a thoughtful and funny speech from the podium. Here are some highlights:

  • On being humbled by her Indie Impact Award: "I know I've had an impact on donuts, wine, and vodka — and designer handbags — but I know that indie world has definitely had an impact on me, and so maybe I can talk a little bit about that. I think my career could have been very different, and I feel 100 percent sure that I have the career I have today because of independent film making . . . And I'm pointing at all of you who are here today who had the balls to believe in me. I'm speaking particularly of Patty Jenkins who wrote and directed Monster."
  • On being addicted to great producers: "When you work with a good producer it's, I guess, like that first hit of crystal meth. I don't know, I haven't done that one yet. But you chase it."
  • On taking chances: "I want to thank all of those filmmakers — even the bad ones — for giving me jobs and for letting me fall on my face. But mostly just letting me be brave to do things that I don't think naturally would have come my way. I'm not naïve to think that those things would have been handed to me, and so I'm very grateful that I've had those opportunities.
  • On her costar Patton Oswalt: "I've been naked with [Patton]. There's a sexy man under that suit."
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Video of Gisele Bundchen at Paris Fashion Week, Lea Michele Posing For Marie Claire, and Bradley Cooper Talking About His Love F 2010-10-01 13:45:27
POPSUGAR News

PSR 10/1/10: Gisele Strips Down, Glee Gives Lea Confidence, & Bradley Shares Renee Love

Gisele Bundchen dons a mask in Paris after stripping down to her lingerie, Lea Michele reveals that Glee helps her see her own true beauty, and Bradley Cooper gushes over girlfriend Renee Zellweger.
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Gisele Bundchen dons a mask in Paris after stripping down to her lingerie, Lea Michele reveals that Glee helps her see her own true beauty, and Bradley Cooper gushes over girlfriend Renee Zellweger. Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook for all the latest celebrity gossip!

Bobby Flay Joins Cast of America's Next Great Restaurant
News

Bobby Flay Signs On to NBC Restaurateur Show

Today there's more intel on NBC's restaurateur reality TV show, formerly titled United Plates of America.
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Today there's more intel on NBC's restaurateur reality TV show, formerly titled United Plates of America. Variety reports that the competition, which will air next season, has a new name, America's Next Great Restaurant, that's perhaps more fitting of the show's premise than its old title.

In addition, Bobby Flay has signed on to be one of the five restaurant and business leaders who will be a judge, mentor, and investor to the contestants. On the new program, which is casting right this moment, industry insiders like Mesa Grill owner and Iron Chef Flay will help a winning chef or aspiring restaurateur open a new eatery.

NBC hasn't had too much success in the food reality series department: 2003's The Restaurant, starring Rocco Dispirito, was a flop; last year's The Chopping Block with Marco Pierre White was canceled after just three episodes. Still, this is a completely new premise, and having Bobby Flay star certainly can't hurt. What do you think? Does the show sound like it has the ingredients for success?

Gordon Ramsay Developing an Animated TV Series
News

Next Up For Gordon Ramsay: Cartoons

With 27 restaurants and five television shows, Gordon Ramsay easily has the world's biggest celebrity chef empire.
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With 27 restaurants and five television shows, Gordon Ramsay easily has the world's biggest celebrity chef empire. And, it appears, he has no plans to slow its growth.

Coming soon: an animated version of the already over-animated restaurateur, tentatively called Gordon Ramsay, at Your Service. He's set to create the half hour-long, stop-motion animated series with Toronto-based animation studio Cuppa Coffee, the creators behind MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch. According to Cuppa Coffee's Adam Shaheen, the show will capture "the essence of who he is and have a bit of fun with it."

Does this mean the chef has plans to poke fun at himself? Considering his rather serious reaction after being asked if he still cooks, I seriously doubt it. The project will be shopped out next month — who do you think will pick it up? Would you be likely to watch it?

How Often Do You Switch It Up?
Poll

How Often Do You Switch It Up?

One of the biggest reasons we lose interest in exercise is because either our minds, or our muscles, get bored.
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One of the biggest reasons we lose interest in exercise is because either our minds, or our muscles, get bored. One way we can keep this from happening is switching workout routines every few weeks or so to keep things challenging. Me, I like to change my routine each month. What about you?

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Variety's Women's Impact Report: J.K. Rowling
JK Rowling

Variety's Women's Impact Report: J.K. Rowling

Every year, Variety issues their Women's Impact Report in which they highlight women in the entertainment industry that they think deserve some praise.
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Every year, Variety issues their Women's Impact Report in which they highlight women in the entertainment industry that they think deserve some praise. From industry executives (like United Artists bigwig Paula Wagner) to household names (like Angelina Jolie), the list spotlights some strong, smart, intriguing ladies.

For the next few Wednesdays I'll focus on some of the women who I find particularly noteworthy as well. I've already sung the praises of filmmaker Adrienne Shelly and Tina Fey, and today I'm turning my attention to one of the world's most beloved authors: J.K. Rowling.

Rowling is responsible for bringing Harry Potter into the world, which turned out not only to have a far-reaching effect on readers of all ages, but also proved financially lucrative.

As her Variety profile points out:

J.K. Rowling's ability to astound in the marketplace has become a given. Barnes & Noble reported pre-orders for the new book at 1.2 million in the U.S., the largest in the chain's history. In its first 24 hours on sale, 8.3 million copies were purchased, topping the previous record (also held by Rowling).

The author already had sold more than 325 million books worldwide and is, according to Forbes magazine, one of just five self-made female billionaires — and the first billionaire author.

Getting to this place of success, however, is truly an inspiring story. To find out what I mean, read more

Variety Women's Impact Report: Tina Fey
Tina Fey

Variety Women's Impact Report: Tina Fey

Every year, Variety issues their Women's Impact Report in which they highlight women in the entertainment industry that they think deserve some praise.
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Every year, Variety issues their Women's Impact Report in which they highlight women in the entertainment industry that they think deserve some praise. From industry executives (like United Artists bigwig Paula Wagner) to household names (like Angelina Jolie), the list spotlights some strong, smart, intriguing ladies. For the next few Wednesdays I'll focus on some of the women who I find particularly noteworthy as well. Last week I told you about filmmaker Adrienne Shelly, and today I'm spotlighting Tina Fey.

Frankly, I'm always looking for an excuse to write about Tina Fey, one of my favorite funny ladies. It's no accident that she turns up in Variety's report in the "multitaskers" category, because she's made her mark as a writer, as a producer, and now — with her Emmy-nominated role in "30 Rock" — as an actress as well. But she doesn't just multitask professionally; she's also a mother of an almost-2-year-old, and she lists her vocation in her Variety profile as "writer/performer/diaper-removal expert." For more about Fey, read more

Variety's Women's Impact Report: Adrienne Shelley
Movies

Variety's Women's Impact Report: Adrienne Shelley

Every year, Variety issues their Women's Impact Report in which they highlight women in the entertainment industry that they think deserve some praise.
by

Every year, Variety issues their Women's Impact Report in which they highlight women in the entertainment industry that they think deserve some praise. From industry executives (like United Artists bigwig Paula Wagner) to household names (like Angelina Jolie), the list spotlights some strong, smart, intriguing ladies. For the next few Wednesdays I'll focus on some of the women who I find particularly noteworthy as well.

Listed under the "Filmmakers" category, Adrienne Shelly was the driving force behind the funny, heartwarming romantic comedy Waitress, which I loved. Not only writing and directing it, Shelly also played the role of Dawn, who ultimately finds love with an unusual man. As Dawn, Shelly's adorable, goofy and endearing, sensitive, cute and honest. On-screen she's completely lovable. Off-screen, she created one of my favorite films of 2007 so far. To find out why, and more about Adrienne Shelly, read more