BuzzSugar

Buzz News Roundup, 12/17

BuzzSugar — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:30:36 PST

Jesse Eisenberg and Pushing Daisies' Anna Friel are set to star together in the romantic comedy The Wedding. - The Hollywood Reporter
Jessica Alba and Cloris Leachman are the newest guest stars for the post-Super Bowl episode of The Office. - TV Guide
Olivia Wilde has landed the female lead in Disney's Tron sequel. - Variety
Four Christmases director Seth Gordon will direct the comedy Mr. Romance. - ComingSoon
Taylor Swift bested Britney Spears in album sales this week. - Billboard
Lionsgate has acquired screen rights to Loving Frank, a historical novel about architect Frank Lloyd Wright. - Variety
Oprah's production company will produce films and documentaries exclusively for HBO starting in 2009. - New York Times
BBC America will air the Life on Mars sequel Ashes to Ashes starting in March. - Broadcasting and Cable
Jennifer Lopez will star in the movie Plan B as a single woman who becomes pregnant via artificial insemination only to meet Mr. Right. - E! Online
Rob Zombie will definitely write and direct the next Halloween movie. - ComingSoon

Song of the Day: David Bowie, "Ashes to Ashes"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 10:06:20 PST

David Bowie turns 60 today, officially making him one of the smoothest sexagenarians on the planet. Sure, he's looking a bit rough around the edges, but in his poise, style, and performance, he's a great example of how rock stars can grow old gracefully.

To celebrate, I've dug up this contemplative and self-reflective track from Bowie's 1980 album, Scary Monsters. (Fun fact: Bowie shares a birthday with Elvis, so you should also feel free to celebrate with an Elvis classic.)

Peek Inside the W Hotel Union Square's Splashy New Redesign

Angela Swinderman Elias — Tue, 15 May 2012 03:00:05 PDT

Located in the historic, turn of the century-crafted Beaux Arts Building, the W Hotel Union Square's redesign merges cutting edge style with old world decadence. The hotel’s 270 guest rooms and the Extreme-WOW and WOW suites, designed by internationally renowned firms d-ash design and Wilson Associates, are the latest additions to the hotel's massive renovations. Other recent changes include the unveiling of W Hotel Union Square's subterranean bar, Lilium, and a renovation of Todd English’s Olives New York restaurant, which will be completed this month. Aside from the awe-inspiring decor, there are plenty of perks related to the hotel's ideal location as well, including direct access to Union Square Park's facilities and one of Manhattan's largest sustainable markets, the Union Square Green Market. If you're considering a trip to the Big Apple, take a look at everything the newly refreshed hotel has to offer!

Orange You Glad? 5 Ways to Use a Carrot-Colored Concealer

BellaSugar — Tue, 08 May 2012 03:30:00 PDT

Orange might not look good when it's streaked across your skin à la a bad self-tanner incident. But when used for color-correcting the complexion, the warm hue is perfect for balancing out unwanted cool tones in the skin. There's more to this carrot-y shade than that, though; find out more when you keep reading.

The Poem That Inspired Mad Men's "Lady Lazarus"

Annie Scudder — Mon, 07 May 2012 11:05:16 PDT

Megan Draper sets out for a new life this week on Mad Men, as she quits her job at Sterling Cooper Draper Price to resurrect her acting career. As the title of the episode, "Lady Lazarus," suggests, our friends on Mad Men are adapting to new lives. Don lets Megan pursue her acting dream, but he's lost at work without her. Pete has morphed into the sad Don of the past, cheating on his wife and sneaking around. Megan is leaving the working world to go back to acting class and auditions, finding time to play the housewife in between.

The episode borrows both its title and themes from a Sylvia Plath poem ("Lady Lazarus") about rebirth. Lazarus, of course, refers to the man Jesus raises from the dead in the Bible. In Sylvia Plath's poem, which uses allusions to Nazi Germany, the narrator almost dies three times. The first is an accident, the second is a failed suicide attempt. Sylvia Plath did commit suicide in real life, and her "Lady Lazarus" poem reads in part:

The second time I meant
To last it out and not come back at all.
I rocked shut

As a seashell.
They had to call and call
And pick the worms off me like sticky pearls.

Dying
Is an art, like everything else.
I do it exceptionally well.

Finally, the third time, she is reborn like a phoenix: "Out of the ash/ I rise with my red hair/ And I eat men like air." The rebirth is not wanted, and she hopes to eat the men who continue to revive her.

The episode about new life came filled with overt references to death, just like Sylvia Plath's poem. When Pete talks life insurance with his train buddy, Howard, he touts that his current plan even covers suicide after two years. Howard later mentions that Pete's father died young, but in a plane crash - an accident. We also see Don warn Megan about the dangers of cooking barefoot, and Don nearly step into an empty elevator shaft. Later, Megan lies lifelessly on the floor during her acting class, and Don listens to the Beatles song "Tomorrow Never Knows," off their album Revolver. This season, you can find signs predicting the death of a variety of characters. But perhaps the line from the poem - "Dying/ is an art, like everything else/ I do it exceptionally well" - references Megan. After all, Peggy complains that Megan does everything exceptionally well.

The uncomfortable changes and rebirths present in both the poem and the episode could represent the societal upheavals happening in 1960s America. Change is coming whether these individuals want it, and rebirth is being forced on some of them.

Photo courtesy of AMC

Pee-Wee Herman and Conan Teach Us About Ash Wednesday

PopSugarTV — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 12:05:26 PST

Pee-wee Herman and Conan bring the story of Ash Wednesday to life, sort of. They seem to be foggy on some of the details.

Retail Therapy Avatar Style Award Winner Is AmberAsh!

FabSugar — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 03:14:27 PDT

This super-chic look from RT player AmberAsh is the definition of workday polish: she tucked a gray v-teck tee into a black, high-waisted pencil skirt, then added a cropped cardigan with fun, feathery puff sleeves. Her quilted bag is classic, and the ankle-strap sandals add a bright pop of color.

Here's what she has on:

Skirt: Banana Republic
Cardigan: Juicy Couture
Shoes: Diane von Furstenberg
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff
Top: Gap

Congrats AmberAsh!

Want a chance at next week's sparkly trophy and 50 Pop Stars? Join our Retail Therapy Avatar Style group and submit your avatar's looks!

Give Your Bedroom a Stylish Makeover With Industrial Accents

Laura Marie Given — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 04:00:45 PDT

The industrial trend has been around for a while, but it's usually reserved for the living room or dining area - so why not try it in your bedroom? Mix these rustic wood and metal accents with your soft, cozy bedroom décor for an unexpected, contemporary style.

The Hoyne Pendant Lamp ($399, top center) adds a cool, urban touch without seeming out of place. With a hand-welded iron wire build and a galvanized steel finish, it's a great way to tap into the trend without letting go of your usual style.

It's two fads in one: the Horchow "Vermundo" Mirror ($450, top right) combines the sunburst mirror craze with the industrial obsession. With a 43" diameter, it's a large statement piece, but neutral wood in a light walnut stain keeps it subtle and understated.

Going for something more sleek? Try the Hilja Nightstand ($998, bottom center). Made of white ash wood, the piece isn't too far from a traditional side table, but its streamlined design carries an urban, modern sophistication.

Click on all the items in the layout to shop directly!

Video: Watch Sacha Baron Cohen's Dictator Spill Ashes on Ryan Seacrest!

Karli Bulnes — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 19:01:16 PST

Ryan Seacrest was a good sport on the Oscars red carpet this afternoon by interviewing Sacha Baron Cohen, who was in full character for his upcoming film, The Dictator. But before the playful chat ended, Sacha spilled an urn full of ashes on the E! anchor! See how Ryan handled the situation.

What We're Sweet On: Black Soap? More Like Black Gold

Miriam Lacey — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 03:30:00 PST

If you've never heard of black soap, get ready: this stuff is about to have its moment in the sun. Made from ashes (specifically those of plantains, palms, and/or cocoa pods) mixed with shea butter or another natural skin hydrator, black soap is one of West Africa's best-known skin treatments. It has hydrating, antimicrobial, and cleansing properties, and having used it, we can aver that it's a sure thing. If you can't make it to Ghana, though, we recommend you try Shea Terra Rose Hips Black Soap face wash ($18).

It's a liquid formula, unique since traditional black soap is a paste, and does a wonderful job of removing post-workout grime without drying out or irritating skin. It also exfoliates just as well as a light scrub, which is great if you need daily maintenance to keep your pores from getting clogged. And with more high-quality black soap formulas becoming available Stateside in general, there's never been a better time than now to follow in Darth Vader's footsteps and join the dark side.