Wow, hard to believe that 2010 is almost over! I mean - 2010!!! I remember when we were all bracing for Y2K and here we are, a decade into the new millennium already. 2010 was a great year in entertainment and all this week I’m going to be counting down my Top 10 lists of hook-ups, most over-exposed, and moments in pop culture. But first I’m gonna kick off my countdown to 2011 with this year’s biggest and most surprising breakups in entertainment news. Here’s the breakups that shocked me the most – let me know if you agree!
10. Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco
I love The Big Bang Theory – so it came as a huge shock to me when the stars of the show, Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco, who play Leonard and Penny on the show, announced that they had broken up. Wait – what?! We didn’t even know they were dating! That’s right; these two managed to keep their TWO YEAR relationship a secret, and only confirmed it when they decided to announce their split. And people say you can’t keep anything a secret in Hollywood!
9. Blake Lively and Penn Badgely
These two Gossip Girl co-stars had been dating for over 2 years before the announced their breakup this year. Shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone – Blake’s star is on the rise after a role in ‘The Town’ this year and Penn’s star is perfectly still after a few lacklustre movie performances. It’s not pretty, but in Hollywood who you date is almost as important and who you know, and with Blake being linked to Ryan Gosling (believe what you want) it’s obvious her management team needs her dating someone a little more high profile. Sorry lonely boy.
8. Halle Berry and Gabriel Aubry
The couple who might very well have been the most attractive couple on earth called an end to their relationship this year, but did so on seemingly good terms. The couple have a 2 year old daughter and seem to agree that she is a priority for both of them. Halle has since been linked to Olivier Martinez while Aubry – a Canadian model, was linked to Kim Kardashian. But don’t hold that against him.
7. Mark Salling and Naya Rivera
Oh those crazy kids! Salling and Rivera both star on Glee – as Puck and Santana, and had been rumoured to be hooking up off set as well. Rivera got wind that Salling wasn’t a one woman kinda guy and decided to go all old school high school jealous on his ass and key his car! Wonder if we’ll see that on an upcoming episode of Glee?
6. Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens
I include them on my list because of my incredible love of High School Musical! This Disney dream couple were actually really cute and really sweet and I loved that they were together for so long, but they announced their breakup only at the beginning of the month, leaving them both available for a new year with new opportunities. Rumors have run rampant that Efron is ready to make a move into more ‘leading man’ roles, even though Charlie St. Cloud tanked at the box office, and being single allows the studio to link him with more leading ladies. Sucks to be Vanessa Hudgens.
5. Ryan Reynolds and Scarlett Johansson
I have to admit, I never bought these two as a couple, and maybe that’s because I really wanted him and Alanis Morrisette to get married and have babies and be the ultimate Canadian couple (especially since Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams broke up). Just over 2 years into their marriage the couple have called it quits, surprising really no-one.
4. Christina Aguilera and Jordan Bratman
This Fall season found a ridiculously large amount of celebrity break-ups, and the split between X-Tina and her music exec husband Jordan Bratman was one of those that came as a surprise. Not as surprising as her apparent ability to move on, already being photographed with a new boy toy and prompting pregnancy rumors at the same time. I guess time will tell.
3. Eva Longoria and Tony Parker
When there’s smoke there’s normally fire, especially in Hollywood, so when rumours started that Eva Longoria Parker had filed for divorce from her basketball player husband, which she quickly denied, you knew that something was up. Sure enough only a day later official papers were filed signalling the end of the marriage. But it was what caused the split – namely the fact that Tony was involved in a ‘sexting’ scandal with the wife of a fellow teammate that really shocked. These two seemed like a pretty solid couple, and rumors have it that Eva thought the same. Good for her for dumping his cheating ass!
2. Courteney Cox and David Arquette
While always a bit of an odd couple, these two seemed to weather the Hollywood storm pretty nicely together, so it was a bit of a shock when they announced that they were separating. And while both of them made it clear that they weren’t divorcing – just separating, all signs seem to be pointing to a permanent split. Arquette confirmed that he had an affair with a young woman while he and Courteney had separated, he spilled way too much information about their personal life to Howard Stern and he seems to be sowing as many wild oats as he possibly can right now. Arquette isn’t completely without blame here either though, with Arquette accusing his wife of having an ‘emotional’ affair with her ‘Cougar Town’ co-star Brian Van Holt. I have a feeling that these two just might work things out though!
1. Sandra Bullock and Jesse James
While their union was considered odd by most Hollywood watchers, it seemed to work for them. So while it didn’t come as much of a surprise that these two split, it was why they split that seemed to cause the most shock! Hot on the heels of Bullock having what looked to be the year of her professional career – with Golden Globe and Academy Award wins for her role in ‘The Blind Side’ – Bullock was blindsided when she learned that James was having an affair with Michelle ‘Bombshell’ McGee, and who knows who else! Bullock held her head high, divorced James, became a single mother of her new son Louis, and proved that she would not be defined by her ex-husband’s actions.
So there you have it – my Top 10 Breakups of 2010! Let me know what you think, and check back tomorrow for my Top 10 Hook-ups of 2010!
Scene and Heard
Confessions of a Pop Culture Mummy
Christmas is my favourite time of the year. From the baking to the cooking to the decorating and wrapping, I love it all. I even love the shopping because I truly enjoy the giving part of the season and nothing makes me happier than finding the perfect gift for every person on my list. With the majority of my big purchases done and less than two weeks until the big day, I’m on to my favourite part - stocking stuffers. Buying stuffing stockings is fun because that’s when you can pick up a collection of little items perfectly selected for each person.
While I do buy typical things to stuff my kids' stockings, socks, toothbrushes, chocolate and candy, I also like to pick up a special DVD for each of them. My children love movies as much as I do but because we have a big family we don’t get out to the theatres often. DVD’s are an affordable alternative. In fact, at our house we turn the family room into a home theatre and have movie night at least once a week.
If you’re not sure what DVD’s you should pick up for your family, here is my Top Ten DVD list for the holidays. Now while you’re at Walmart picking up socks, toothbrushes, chocolate and candy for your stockings, you can pick these up for under $25 each!
For The Man In Your Life
1. Salt – This action packed thriller features none other than Angelina Jolie which means of course they’ll love it.
2. Inception – Starring Leonardo DiCaprio this movie is supposed to be all kinds of awesome! A twist on the typical crime drama, your significant other will love seeing it sticking out of his stocking on Christmas morning!
For The Kids
3. Toy Story 3 – I got this one up for my youngest son but know the entire family will enjoy it. It’s the perfect movie for a weekend movie night snuggled up at home! And for under $25 it’s way cheaper than renting it every weekend!
4. Despicable Me – Just out on video this is a great selection for kids and adults. Featuring the voices of Steve Carrell and Russell Brand it’s sure to be a hit with the whole family!
For The Teen
5. Step Up 3 – OK I put this in the teen category, but it would also serve well in the ‘Grown woman who still thinks she’s in high school’ category (that would be me). This movie was a huge hit in the theatres and I can guarantee your teen will love to see this in their stocking on Christmas Morning!
6. Scott Pilgrim Vs The World – At a loss for what to get that teen son of yours? Based on a comic book, this hysterical movie stars Michael Cera (Superbad, Juno) and will definitely score you cool points.
For Her
7. Eat Pray Love – Women across the globe fell in love with the book and now you can drop those hints to your significant other for him to buy you the movie. The visuals alone in this movie are stunning and it's a perfect film for a snowy Sunday afternoon when the kids are watching Toy Story 3! Oh....and it stars Javier Bardem – enough said.
8. Twilight Saga: Eclipse – Really, I know a lot of you out there might be buying this for your teenage daughter, but let’s face it – it’s really for you. I don’t think there’s a Twilight fan that wouldn’t love to see this movie in their stocking on Christmas morning.
For The Entire Family
9. A Christmas Carol – This remake of the old classic stars Jim Carrey and is a great addition to any home theatre. The perfect movie to watch on Christmas Eve with the whole family. Add in hot chocolate and candy canes and you've just created a new tradition!
10. How The Grinch Stole Christmas – Young or old, this classic Christmas movie is the perfect stocking stuffer for any age. Or better yet, buy it as a pre-Christmas gift for the whole family. Nothing gets you in the giving spirit like sitting down and watching The Grinch's heart grow three sizes!
So as you’re out trying to find the perfect stocking stuffers for everyone on your list don’t forget to drop by Walmart to get DVDs. With new releases under $25 they’re so affordable you can get one for everyone. And let’s face it – finding that one movie your child will watch over and over again is priceless.
Scene and Heard
Confessions of a Pop Culture Mummy
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It seems that Barbara Walters and I have a very different definition of the word ‘Fascinating’. Last night Barbara hosted her annual ‘Most Fascinating People’ special and while I am normally underwhelmed by her choices, this year I was just confused.
Barbara opened the evening with a one hour special on Oprah Winfrey, which possibly replaced having her on the most fascinating list. And as much as I think Oprah is a very interesting woman I don’t find her fascinating per se – maybe because we know as much as there is to know about her. And it’s obvious that Barbara’s interview was just to pay lip service to the mighty O because she didn’t ask one tough question! In fact, when she asked Oprah about her relationship with her parents, Oprah shut her down by saying “My relationship with my mother is FINE, my relationship with my father is FINE.” In other words – don’t ask me again about that! And when talking about her legacy – the school for girls that Oprah founded in South Africa – no mention was made of the abuse scandal that happened there. Because we weren’t watching CNN, we were watching Barbara Walters.
But I get it, we weren’t there to watch a hard hitting interview as much as a nice fluff piece that would segue into the most fascinating people special – and another way of garnering ratings. I get it. I respect it. Whatever. But then came the ‘Most Fascinating People’ special, and that just boggled my mind!
We already knew 8 of the 10 people going in – Betty White, Justin Bieber, The cast of Jersey Shore, Sandra Bullock, Kate Middleton, LeBron James, Jennifer Lopez and Sarah Palin. The other two were kept a secret until the night of the broadcast when we found out Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg had made the list. But who would be number 1???
Theories flew that it would be the Chilean Miners (love that one) – I mean they dominated our televisions screens for months leading up their heroic rescue – or Taylor Swift who at 20 has achieved more than artists twice her age. But no, who was Barbara Walters Most Fascinating Person of 2010? General David Petraeus. Who?! Yes, that’s what I said.
Barbara said;
“IF YOU HAD TO FIGHT A WAR IN AFGHANISTAN, A COUNTRY WHICH HAS DEFEATED EVERY FOREIGN ARMY THAT EVER ENTERED IT, YOU WOULD PROBABLY WANT THE SMARTEST, TOUGHEST, MOST RATIONAL, COMPETENT AND REALISTIC LEADER YOU COULD FIND,”
“IN OTHER WORDS – GENERAL DAVID PETRAEUS.”
“A LOT DEPENDS ON GENERAL PETRAEUS AND HIS COMBINATION OF HUMANITY AND STRENGTH,” SAID THE TV HOST.
“AND THAT, FOR US, MAKES HIM THE MOST FASCINATING PERSON OF 2010,”
Well I do not doubt, for one minute, that Gen Patraeus is more important than the cast of Jersey Shore, or Betty White and definitely more relevant than Sarah Palin – but when the entire list of your most fascinating people of 2010 has landed on the cover of US Magazine at least once, to throw in a General with the US Military just seems – odd to me. Because in this context – to appeal to this crowd, General David Petraeus isn’t fascinating. For the most part he isn’t even known!
Sadly I was disappointed yet again this year. I mean the cast of Jersey Shore is not fascinating no matter how you slice it. Is the phenomena that is ‘The Jersey Shore’ fascinating? Yes – but the cast themselves – no.
And one thing that really bothered me – if it’s supposed to be ‘Barbara Walters Most Fascinating People of 2010’ don’t you think that she should find them fascinating? Obviously she didn’t select the cast of Jersey Shore to be on the show because she clearly didn’t understand their appeal given the condescending way that she spoke to them, and while Justin Bieber may be totally cute and a tween pop sensation right now, fascinating he is not. Coincidentally – those two have dominated Google trends and search engine hits for the entire year. Let’s face it - it’s an MTV world right now, and even Barbara Walters has to play the game.
Was LeBron fascinating – yes. Kate Middleton – absolutely! Mark Zuckerberg – for sure! I’ll even give you Sandra Bullock just because of how she handled herself throughout her ex-husband’s cheating scandal. But Sarah Palin?!? Really? Seems that her daughter doing so well on Dancing With The Stars brought her back into the spotlight a bit. And JLo?! Seriously – what kind of favours did that woman call in to get her on that special!? Then there’s Betty White - while I love her, she is no longer fascinating because she’s just everywhere right now. For me, to be fascinating, there has to be something left to know – you know?
So I can’t believe I stayed up and watched 2 full hours of Barbara Walters only to discover someone I have never heard of was named the Most Fascinating Person of 2010. I blame it on being Canadian, but really, I think it’s more to do with the fact that I watch more MTV than I do CNN. I’m ok with it.
So I really would have liked to see the Chilean Miners on the list – maybe even Joannie Rochette (she lost her mother right before her performance at the 2010 Olympic games and went on to win a silver medal). I mean it was an Olympic year and not one Olympian was on the list. Who would make your list of most fascinating person?
Scene and Heard
Confessions of a Pop Culture Mummy
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