Gettin' Funky on the Mic Like an Old Batch of Mistle Toe!!

Lol @ this illustration by Dr. Nick D. Kim of Nick's Cartoons.

Merry Christmas my loves!!! As many of you know, Christmas is a time ripe with traditions both spiritual and personal, and while no two families celebrate the season exactly alike (ok, maybe they do, but just play along:), here at Glam Vita we like to celebrate in our own special way. And what way might that be, you ask? Well, lets just say it involves an all-up-in-your-grill film review, some snarky celeb commentary and a dollop of whatever else I want to discuss, damnit!! (Still not sure what you're in for? Click HERE to see last year's Christmas post for further preparation.)



Christian Bale schools Mark
Wahlberg in the ring in The Fighter.
Photo Courtesy: Paramount Pictures

 So, yeah, on to the film review!! Going to the movies on Christmas night is an established tradition in my family and it's usually a film both of my parents can get into, which usually means action and solid acting for my dad's taste, and lovey dovey romance plus numerous costumes and dance numbers for Mamacita. (What can I say? The lady is a die-hard Bollywood buff!!) Given the family's criteria coupled with my own penchant for shirtless hotties a solid plot when it comes to picking a flick, we all agreed The Fighter with Mark "yummy abs" Wahlberg and Christian "What don't you f*ckin understand??" Bale would be the best bet.

Mark Wahlberg channels his inner southie
boy to play boxer Mickey Ward in The Fighter.

The film is based on the life and career of prize fighter "Irish" Micky Ward, a true-to-life man's man outta gritty Lowell, Mass., and his trashy-as-all-hell family that just can't stop dumping on him and capitalizing off of him all at the same time.

That being said, what I liked most about the film is how it takes the universal theme of the underdog held hostage by a chronically unhealthy family dynamic, and turns it on its chain-smoking, beer-drinking ear into something completely fresh and engaging.

While the direction and writing are impenetrably tight, the acting is equally as ferocious. It's been reported Marky-Mark has been training for this role since, like, The Funky Bunch, and while that hard work translates through his performance, it's actually Bale's performance as big bro and ex-fighter Dickie Eklund (ugh, so many lame names in this movie) that really packs the punch in this film (no pun intended). Who knew Batman could lose the cape and play the part of a toothless crackhead so well??! Bottomline: You've gotta catch this flick!

Speaking of unfortunate life turns, it's come to my attention that old skool R&B artist and one-time Rick James protégé, Teena Marie passed away in her sleep the day after Christmas at age 54...Can't say I was a big fan of hers, but I do have a special love for the post-disco, Prince-esque, funk-pop genre she carved her neon guitar niche in. And I must admit, her big hit Lovergirl was the JAM of that era!! Here's a vid of it for those not familiar:

..."I'm for the real, and for you I'm true blue"...indeed...



Deck the Halls with Glee & Elmo!!!

The 2010 Hollywood Christmas Parade went down pretty much
without a hitch (save for the Elmo incident, below)!!
Photos and coverage by Yours Truly =-)

 A few days back my editor at Socal.com contacted me to work the red carpet for the Hollywood Christmas Parade and I jumped on the opportunity like Charlie Sheen on a coked-up hooker!! I mean, hey, I love me some holiday cheer and I especially love red carpet events, so you can only imagine my merriment at getting the assignment!! For my official straight-up news style write-up of the parade published on Socal.com, please click HERE.
Anywho, so I hit the red carpet a little before sundown armed with my mic and my not-so-trusty little 7.3 megapixel steed, and within minutes the celebs started showing up to deck the halls Hollywood style!! (Which basically means teeth so white you can see them from outer space, and even a couple of product plugs while walking the carpet. ;)
Yes-yes y'all, your girl got a chance to snap and speak to the likes of Larry King (Grand Marshal of the parade and recently-outed sick bastage who banged his sis-in-law), hosts Erik Estrada (best known as "Ponch" from CHiPS & BFF to Vanilla Ice on VH-1's The Surreal Life) and Laura McKenzie (best known for, ummm, yeah I dunno). I also got a few minutes with a couple of the gals from Grey's Anatomy (Sara Ramirez & Sarah Drew) and even Courtney Galiano of So You Think You Can Dance & Glee!!! Scroll down for the full scoop!!
 

  

Lookin like they about to git freekay!! Lol, parade hosts
Erik Estrada and Laura McKenzie chatted with me a bit about what
they love most about Christmas in SoCal and being excited for the season in general. "It's the holiday season in Hollywood," Estrada said.
"We love this time of year here!! Get ready for a great time"!!!

 

Glee's Courtney Galiano strikes a pose for your girl!! What's that look on her face, you ask?? It reads, "I've never heard of your magazine, but you look like you know what you're doing, so I'll just pose & get it over with!"



Larry King and wifey still together after he was smashin her sister???? Ahh, those cooky old folks!! Speaking of which, is it just me or is ol' Larry startin to look like he belongs in the Thriller video??? Yeah, I said it!!



Grey's Anatomy actresses Sara Ramirez (left) and Sarah Drew (right) were my faves that night!! They were super sweet and sooo down to talk to your girl!! Sarah Drew chatted with me a little bit about the issue of teen bullying and being comfortable in your own skin:

"I’d like to go back and have a dinner with my 16-year-old self," she said. "I would tell her that in order to be loved and accepted you don’t have to perform. You don’t have to be the best and be everything to everyone all the time, you can actually just be and relax, and acknowledge that you are who you are. I think that’s what I would tell her, and I would tell every teen that."

What can I say? The lady is D.O.P.E!!!

And last but not least is the Elmo, uh, incident I mentioned above. I didn't take the video since I decided to hit American Apparel after the red carpet and then watched the whole parade from a toasty spot inside the Hollywood & Highland Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. (What can I say? I'm a priss!!)
Note: the vid doesn't actually capture the entire incident, but close. What you don't see here is how poor Elmo got stuck between two traffic lights that were really close together right in front of Madame Tussauds!!! Mad props to Elmo's wranglers for getting him through the bowsh*zz cuz it was majorly windy that night!!

My Own Private WikiLeak...



You love me! You really, really love me!! Ok, maybe
you don't know me, so just play along... =-p
Photo Credit: Loni Schick, Hip-Hop photographer

 As a freelance journalist, I get the opportunity to report on and give press to some really cool shizz and for the first time in my nearly decade-long career as a writer, someone reached out and asked to interview me!! Well, I won’t say he’s just a “someone.” No, my lovelies. His name is LeRon (aka Ninjagaiden) and he’s the super stoked blogger extraordinaire behind fellow fashion-and-everything-else-dope-blog, Window Shopping. So yeah, Mr. Window Shopping saw us being fabulous here on Glam Vita and asked to interview your girl -- how's that for a little "Thank You & You're Welcome" action, Kanye?? Click HERE for the full interview!!

It's Kate's World & We Just Live In It!

Yes, yes, I know - Kate's showing her boobie so go ahead and get your ogle on...need more time?...ok...done now? Cool, let's move on! So yeah, it's no secret that Kate Moss is one of those models who's teflon steez just can't be f*cked with, but this lingerie shoot she did for the December issue of Vogue Italia really quiets any speculation over whether she can still rock our world a decade after her debut in the grunge-laden 1990's!! Lock your doors y'all cuz Kate's servin' it up pin-up girl style!!!

The shoot is set in a voyeristic style by Nick Knight



You might be wondering exactly what young Kate's trying to sell us here?? The shoot is actually to feature lingerie by Yves Saint
Laurent, Dolce & Gabbana and Jean Paul Gaultier.



I remember looking at her in YM Magazine as an 8th grader and wishing to the Lord above that I could have her skin and her perfect lips!!



Rockin my 3 faves all at once: pink, leopard and black!!



Gotta push 'em out when you rock the Gaultier - it's a bust, err, MUST!!