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Premiering Tonight! The Agency

FabSugar — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 12:33:33 PST

Ok I admit it: I will be checking out the new model TV show "The Agency" tonight at 10:00 PM on Vh1. I am an America's Next Top Model fan (premiering next week - wahoo!), but I have a feeling this show will deliver a different, and just as drama-filled, guilty pleasure experience. Although, I am a little worried of the timing for such a show. With all the controversy over models and the body image issue, these model agents could be seen as the devil when nit picking people's looks. On the flip side, I can't wait to see the male models! Will you watch with me? We can dish about it in a chat tomorrow? You know you want to...

TV Preview: "The Agency"

BuzzSugar — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 08:00:59 PST

Want to know how long it took me to declare myself hooked on VH1's slick new modeling series "The Agency"? Thirty seconds. Thirty seconds in which an odd-looking man named Pink unceremoniously turns away more than a dozen hopefuls at an open call at the Wilhelmina Modeling Agency. One pretty young thing asks Pink what he suggests she do, and Pink responds: "Do something else."

Maybe it's because picking apart the faults of others makes me feel better - come on, you do it too - but "The Agency," which premieres Feb. 20 at 10 p.m., looks addictive. To find out why I'm already sucked in to this reality show - and to find the premiere episode online -

We're always told fashion is a cutthroat business, but I never realized how much of that throat-cutting comes from the models' agents. The first episode of "The Agency" has a lot of the nastiness you'd expect from a show about modeling (one teensy girl gets dubbed "doughy Chloe," while another is told to stop being hungry for sandwiches and start being hungry for fame), but there's also a whole level of psychosis among the agents that I didn't see coming. In the pilot, one hot male model can't even get his hair cut without consulting a room full of agents debating what the change could mean for his career; apparently, it takes a village to spruce up a surfer dude.

The agents aren't exactly endearing; I wanted to slap Becky, one of the women's agents, by the end of the first episode. Luckily, another agent slapped her for me - but in the future, can I have less Becky and more Pink, please? But at the same time, their harshness is part of why they fascinate me. After all, you'd have to be a pretty off-kilter person to make your living, as Becky bluntly puts it, selling flesh.

Also, can we talk about how the Wilhelmina owner's name is Dieter? I mean, it's pronounced "deeter," but wow. Diet-er? Most perfect name for a modeling agency guy ever.

You can check out the first episode of "The Agency" on the show's Web site or download it for free from iTunes. Will you be watching along with me? Check out this clip from another upcoming episode, then let me know.

Photo copyright VH1

Bar Refaeli Celebrates Her Hotness With Maxim

Katie Henry — Fri, 25 May 2012 10:18:22 PDT

Bar Refaeli hit the red carpet at Maxim's Hot 100 List party in NYC last night. She earned the top spot on the magazine's annual list and joins past winners Katy Perry, Eva Longoria, and Jessica Simpson. Though Bar's known for her bikini body, she opted for a sexy black L'Agence jumpsuit and a Christian Louboutin clutch for last night's soiree. Bar partied alongside Olympic athlete Shaun White, though when it comes to guys, apparently the supermodel has a tough time finding dates. Bar told Conan O'Brien about her personal woes, saying, "No one hits on me . . . no one flirts with me; it's very sad actually." We think Bar will probably be OK in the dating department, but she does need your help in the PopSugar 100. Be sure to vote for Bar and all your other favorite stars and don't forget that just by logging into your Sugar account and playing our PopSugar 100 faceoff game, you're entered to win $2,500!

What It Takes to Buy a Home

Kiplinger — Mon, 21 May 2012 03:14:47 PDT

Do you have what it takes to buy a home? Consider this exhaustive guide from Kiplinger.

Tired of renting? It could be a great time to buy your first home. In many cities, home prices have bottomed, and rents have risen. Mortgage rates are still superlow. In fact, homes haven't been as affordable since 1971. On the downside, in many cities, buyers have fewer homes from which to choose and more competition for the best houses.

In Austin, TX, newlyweds Mark and Ariane Corcoran bought their first home in March. They were renting in a popular downtown neighborhood, where they paid $1,200 a month for a 500-square-foot loft apartment, when they inherited enough money for a down payment. When they began shopping, they expected to buy a classic 1930s Austin bungalow. They found lots of prospects online but drove by most of them. "Agents are really good at taking photos that exclude what they don't want you to see, like the used-car lot out back," says Mark.

They put in an offer on a $225,000, 800-square-foot home. But after the home inspection, they realized that it needed $20,000 to $30,000 in renovations and repairs and that they'd quickly outgrow it. They walked away during the state-mandated rescission period (during which a buyer can back out for any reason and get back any earnest money deposited).

Ariane identified their next prospect within an hour after the listing appeared online. It was a newly built, 1,600-square-foot home with three bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and a yard for the dogs. The builder asked $270,000, the couple offered $260,000, he countered, and they paid $268,000. They put down 20 percent to avoid private mortgage insurance and snagged a 30-year fixed rate of 3.75 percent from a credit union. Their monthly mortgage payment is $1,524.

Before you take the plunge, consider the answers to questions often posed by first-time buyers. Read on for what to ask yourself.

Easy Ways to Get More From Your Food Budget

LearnVest — Fri, 18 May 2012 05:15:48 PDT

Go the extra mile with your food budget with these tips from LearnVest.

For years, many people - my husband, mom, sister and even my son - told me to stop wasting so much food.

Throwing away half a piece of chicken here or a handful of grapes there never seemed like such a big deal to me. If I was full or no longer in the mood for that particular food, then I had no problem tossing it.

That is, until I experienced a bad case of sticker shock during a recent trip to the supermarket. The cost of bread, eggs, fish - basically everything I was purchasing - had increased. And, according to the USDA, we can expect prices to rise even higher this year.

As I forked over my money and left with only a handful of bags, I realized just how important it is for me to pay more attention to what I spend on food . . . and to confront how much of it I shove down the garbage disposal.

Unfortunately, I'm not the only one with wasteful ways. In 2010, 33 million tons of food was thrown away, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. Obviously, wasted food means wasted money, but figuring out how to make your grocery budget go further can be a challenge.

To keep more food in your fridge (and more money in your pocket), try these expert tips.

1. Ward Against Freezer Burn

Those large bags or packages of frozen veggies or meat come in handy when you have a large family, but "each time you open a bag of frozen food, air gets in and will cause freezer burn within two to three weeks," says consumer saving expert Andrea Woroch. Freezer burn will dry out the meat and make it less tasty. Woroch suggests going small.

Read on for more.

16 Weird Reasons People Quit Their Jobs

Emily Co — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:28:26 PDT

Although common sense dictates a graceful exit when you're leaving a company, there are always going to be some who slip up. Staffing agency OfficeTeam recently conducted a survey among more than 1,300 employers who divulged some of the strangest reasons former employees have given them when resigning from their jobs. Here are a couple of doozies:

"A guy said he was making too much money and didn't feel he was worth it."
"The worker told us he just couldn't get up in the morning."
"He quit because he didn't like the way the office smelled."
"An individual did not like the sound of file cabinets being slammed."
"One person quit to watch a soccer tournament."
"We had someone leave because he had to stay home to feed his dog."
"An employee left because he wanted to watch a movie with his girlfriend during work hours."
"A person quit because he hated the carpet."
"He just walked out without a peep. We have no idea why he left, and we were not able to contact him."
"One worker left to become an apple farmer."
"A staff member quit to climb Mount Everest."
"There was an individual who left to play the trombone."
"Someone left because her boss lost the dog she had given him."
"Our employee said he was joining the circus."
"One person left because she lost her cell phone too many times at work."
"An employee said it was his routine to change jobs every six months."

Although you may be tempted to leave a job in a manner of your choosing (especially if you harbor negative feelings), it's best to reconsider your approach.

"How you leave a job can be just as important as what you did while you were there," said Robert Hosking, executive director of OfficeTeam. "Regardless of the reason for resigning, making a graceful exit by tying up loose ends and thanking colleagues shows your professionalism and can help you down the road in your career."

For those who are contemplating an exit, here's a quick guide to leaving your job with grace.

Mad Men's 5 Maddest Moments: "Dark Shadows"

Becky Kirsch — Mon, 14 May 2012 06:44:57 PDT

It feels like just yesterday it was summertime in Mad Men world, but alas, we've already arrived at Thanksgiving. It's not exactly a celebratory episode: Betty's cranky about both her new diet and Don's new wife; Pete's still struggling to figure out his life; and Don and Ginsberg have a showdown at work.

Roger, on the other hand, is still using his money to get everything he wants, which includes using Jane for some help landing a new client and paying off Ginsberg. And Ginsberg's success is Peggy's lack thereof; with him cleaning up, she has less and less to show for her work. Ready to break down the big moments? Just

Carry that weight: Betty's already looking noticeably thinner than the fat suit episode, and it's because she's joined Weight Watchers. Her weekly meetings seem to be helping with her portion control, but despite measuring her sad little grapefruit dinners on the scale each night, she still can't resist sucking down a little whipped cream every now and then. As much as Betty irritates me, my heart went out to her at the end of the episode when she eats her tiny Thanksgiving dinner and seriously savors her one allotted bite of stuffing.
Green-eyed monster: While Betty's picking up the kids, she gets an eyeful of Don's swanky new apartment - and his new wife. Clearly shaken up by the incident, she retaliates by spilling the beans about Anna to Sally while Sally is in the midst of making a family tree. Betty easily manipulates Sally into thinking that Megan is a liar, but the joke's on Betty in the end. After a squabble, Don explains the Anna situation to sassy Sally and Sally reports back to her mother without even mentioning the argument. Betty proceeds to freak out. I've got to hand it to Megan for convincing Don not to call Betty in a rage; not only is Megan spot-on about giving Betty what she wants, but she also diffuses the argument pretty quickly.
Fantasy land: Pete is particularly smug because he's been chatting with a reporter from the New York Times Magazine who's doing a piece about ad agencies. Once he's done bragging about his connection with Roger and Don, he assures them that he'll be the only one contacted for the interview. Pete then proceeds to have gross sexual fantasies about how the article will help him win Beth back, but - surprise - he doesn't even make it into the article! He calls Don enraged, but it's clear that Pete's really just mad at the world since, once again, things are not going his way.
Wine time: Bert asks Roger to court a potential new client, and since it's Manischewitz wine, he suggests that Roger's Jewish wife could be of service. Though Bert is a bit behind on his interoffice gossip, Roger still takes the client and asks Jane for help. In return, she asks for a small favor, and by that I mean a brand-new apartment. Roger agrees, and then proceeds to um, christen the new apartment with Jane after dinner. She's angry that he's tainted her new place, but there's a much bigger concern at play here than Jane's whining: when is all the money that Roger's been throwing around going to catch up with him?
Still got it: While Don's putting in a little overtime at the office, he comes across Ginsberg's folder of sketches, and is inspired to get back to basics. His idea is a little dark (you know, because it's based in hell and all), and he puts it head to head against Ginsberg's childlike pitch for the same product, SnoBall. The rest of the team likes both ideas, and agrees that Ginsberg should be the front-runner. Too bad Don conveniently leaves Ginsberg's pitch in the taxi, and sells his snowball's chance in hell idea to the company. Ginsberg obviously isn't in a celebratory mood, but when he confronts Don about what happened, Don just shuts him down. Now that both Don and Peggy feel threatened by Ginsberg, might we see them teaming up against him?

There's also more death omens in this week's episode, including Megan teaching Sally how to fake cry by focusing on something sad, and of course, the mysterious toxic smog that invades Thanksgiving. How'd you feel about the episode overall?

Photo courtesy of AMC

Baby's Debut: Celebrity Tots' First Official Photos

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 10 May 2012 08:50:02 PDT

Hello Mabel Ray Willis! Bruce Willis and Emma Heming welcomed baby Mabel back on April 1, and the couple just shared the first picture of the precious tot via Emma's Twitter account. Tweeting, "A beautiful day in Budapest with the loves of my life. Daddy and Mabel cracking each other up," we have our first look at the proud papa's fourth child. Baby Mabel joins a long line of celebrity tots who've made their public debut through some careful planning by their parents.

For a long time running, it seemed People had a monopoly on introductory celebaby photos. Nicole Richie, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez, and the Jolie–Pitts all turned to the well-established magazine to show off their newest family members. However, today, many celebs are turning to competitors who are doling out generous offerings to new parents. Others are releasing their own photos - either on their own or through photo agencies - to bypass the whole magazine scenario. See how your favorite Tinseltown parents debuted their lil ones and tell us how you think the newest Hollywood babies will be introduced to us!

When and When Not to Use a Travel Agent to Save Money

LearnVest — Wed, 09 May 2012 12:02:20 PDT

Will using a travel agent help you save money for your upcoming trip? LearnVest has the answer.

Are travel agents back?

This question, posed by The New York Times, got us thinking. According to the piece, nearly one in three leisure travel agencies is hiring, and in 2011 travel agencies experienced a second consecutive year of growth; in fact, their bookings accounted for a third of the $284 billion US travel market.

Silly us, we thought travel agents had become passé.

But if the travel agent business is thriving, we started wondering - is there something to this? Could using an old-school travel agent actually save us money on travel?

To find out, we consulted Barbara Vong, a travel agent with Wright Travel Agency, the 2011 winner of the Best of the Best Globe Award from Travel Impressions.

Globe Award From Travel Impressions.

The first thing we learned? Travel agents usually don't charge customers for their services! Their payment actually comes through the hotels and wholesalers, meaning that we can simply tap into a free service. That also means using a travel agent should never be more expensive than booking by yourself online . . . and these are experts well-versed in where to find the best deals.

Of course, booking your flights in 30 seconds with a few clicks sounds a lot easier than playing phone tag with a live person, so it pays to know when a travel agent can help the most, and when you might as well DIY it. Vong let us in on the best times to call an agent, and some money-saving travel tips she's picked up in her line of work:

Use a Travel Agent If . . .

You're Traveling With a Group

For group bookings that involve coordinating travel for multiple people, it's always easier to use a travel agent, says Vong. “I just had a bride call me because one of the groomsmen booked his own trip through a discount travel site, and he wanted to add someone to the room,” says Vong. "The customer service representative from the travel site he used told him they couldn't do it, but they were probably just being lazy. This is a great example of when you’d rather hand the responsibility of changing that booking to a travel agent, rather than trying to fix it on your own."

Read on for more.

Ryan Seacrest Relists His Mediterranean Villa For $3 Million Less

Elka Karl — Tue, 01 May 2012 11:46:35 PDT

American Idol host Ryan Seacrest has relisted his Hollywood Hills estate for $11.985 million, chopping nearly $3 million off the asking price from late 2010, when it listed for $14.95 million.

The house, which Seacrest refers to as Casa di Pace, or the House of Peace, was designed by Jeff Andrews (who also designed Khloe Kardashian's home).

The house's listing describes it as "The crown jewel of the Hollywood Hills. Located atop of Nichols Canyon behind wrought iron gates. Truly spectacular Mediterranean villa with every conceivable amenity, completely remodeled with the highest level of quality and taste. Incredible city and canyon views, extremely private and secluded. Spectacular public rooms, screening room, living room with beamed ceilings, incredible master, guest house, etc. Beautiful grounds, pool, championship tennis court, and much more. A rare estate in the hills. Fabled Hollywood history. Shown to pre-qualified clients only."

Keep clicking for a peek at the house, which is listed through Westside Estate Agency.

House photos courtesy Prudential California Realty

Ryan Seacrest photo source: Getty Images