Joan Rivers F****ed Up

American comedian is claiming she was chucked off the ITV1 lunch time show Loose Women for using the 'F' word on air Joan while talking about interviewing Russell Crowe on the red carpet.

Her exact words were, "He is a piece of - get ready to bleep this. Fucking shit!"

Dear Joan, her 700 years and all the anaesthetics from the plastic surgeries are catching up with her and she must had forgotten the show was completely live - NO DELAY.

Joan had been there to promote something or other - oh yeah her London acting debut in the self-penned autobiographical play Joan Rivers: A Work In Progress By A Life In Progress. Such a small ego.......

The 75-year-old said it was the first time she had been removed from a TV show and, "I'm certainly not mellowing with age. Viewers, people have heard the word 'fuck'.
"People have heard it in Sex And The City, it's such a common word." She is so right and I make no qualms about putting it on my blog today. We hear it all the time now and I understand that maybe it was not right for daytime TV however it is the norm. Little kidlets repeat this language from their parents and it is them that are responsible not ancient old women on TV.

Rivers seems to be taking this in her usual stride but is not happy to had been removed from the show; "I'm thrilled - everyone keeps saying to me: 'What more is there in your career? You've got every award there is."' She had been discussing sex on the show and added: "Tell me your rules." She continued: "I would be delighted to go back if they would apologise and give me a gift."
Rivers joked of her show: "It's going to be on ****Tube" and added: "They should be ashamed of themselves." Why because an aged old hasbean could not remember not to swear?

An ITV statement was issued after the show and this stated the usual blurb of: "Guests are always briefed that it is a live daytime show and are reminded not to swear or use inappropriate language."An editorial decision was taken that Joan Rivers should not appear in the final part of the programme."We would like to apologise to Loose Women viewers for the inappropriate language used on [the] show."

Any publicity is good publicity hey Joan? And I do think she can be 'f***ing fantastic!!!! But dear me old woman get over it. The plastic surgery can make you look younger but your marbles may well be going. ALl you had to do was read the contract or listen to someone say to you 'THE SHOW IS LIVE' It was that simple. If she was on American TV, she would have been thrown to the wolves. Over here all we ask is an apology which she has now grudgingly given with a few swear words thrown in.

"Yes, I swore, and I'm so fucking sorry. No one told me the TV show Loose Women was a reality show and that I would be voted off. It's funny: offstage, I hardly ever use profanity. My favorite four-letter word is 'shop.'"

Oh F***** F***! F***!F***! F****** OFF JOAN!

You Tube - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=eOpquHD4HJQ

Angelina Jolie, has defended her choice to speak publicly about what she calls her 'dark' self harming days, instead insisting her confessions are a "nice thing to do".

The actress who is heavily pregnant and who in my opinion is always trying to look for a new way to gain publicity, was discussing her past and how she used to enjoy having sex as a teenager using knives.

"The reason I talked about going through certain pains or even cutting myself is that I was already out the other side", she told Entertainment Weekly.
"I knew there were people that do that — and somehow are happy that somebody admitted they did and discussed how they got out of it."

The 33-year-old continued, "I don't see the point of doing an interview unless you're going to share the things you learn in life and the mistakes you make."
"So to admit that I'm extremely human and have done some dark things, I don't think makes me unusual or unusually dark. I think it actually is the right thing to do and I'd like to think it's the nice thing to do", she said.

Meanwhile, the actress is set for a box office show down with Brad Pitt's former wife Jennifer Aniston, when her new film Changeling is released in October. Aniston's romcom 'He's Just Not That Into You' will be out on t

Interesting? I hope Jennifer wins the battle of the babeseone day faces her demons as someone who adopts so many babies as often as she does.

Now the history of self history of self harm is coming out too and we are seeing more of a rounde perseonality. Sadly the rounded personality is disturbed.

Which One is The Love Guru?

Premiere time

Justin Randall Timberlake, (Don't you love that middle name) and Michael Cassandra Myers, (Yes I made the Cassandra up - you've caught me); both turned up at the premiere of The Love Guru at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.


Second time in a week these two have been together.....Is there something we should know?

Thanks to The Mail Showbiz for this. Will compose my own tomorrow so come back and see what the mutt has blogged

A salesman who lied about his CV has won a £100,000 job with Sir Alan Sugar after winning this year's The Apprentice.

Lee McQueen, 30, was tonight the surprise victor of the hit BBC2 show, beating favourite Claire Young to the job. He will become the sales director of a new digital marketing company within Sir Alan's business empire, after winning the final task on the show.

McQueen won the competition after eleven gruelling weeks on the show. He went up against retail buyer Claire Young, 29, global pricing leader Helene Speight, 32 and sales manager Alex Wotherspoon, 32 in the final tasks.

The four were split into two teams with Claire and Lee up against Helene and Alex as they were given a week to create and launch a new male fragrance. Previous contestants on the series were brought back to help them for the finale of the hit reality show.

Alpha's attempt Roulette was branded boring and unoriginal and the association with gambling was branded negative. But Team Renaissance's bottle proved more problematic, the dual themed bottle was costly, and would leave them with little room for profit, so it was Alex and Helene who were the last candidates to be fired.

It was then left to Lee and Claire to fight to be hired by Sir Alan in the final boardroom.
After axing devastated duo Helene and Alex from the competition, Sir Alan told the final two: "It's been a long journey as you know, and at this final hurdle I have to make a very serious decision.

"Claire you have some great attributes and Lee you're very convincing. You are very, very, very convincing. I've concluded...Lee, you're hired!"

McQueen admitted he was 'surprised' to have won because he viewed Claire as a 'formidable opponent'.

Many thought she would win the show after turning around Sir Alan's perceptions of her around on the show and he refused to fire her when given numerous chances.

He said: "There was an element of surprise but I have always had confidence in my ability.

"I believe I won because I was Mr Consistency. If it had been the Premier League for example I would have been top of the table because I won more than everyone else and I consistently delivered. So on that basis I should have won.""From my point of view I did not need to turn anything around. People described me as a rough diamond, but at the end of the day, if you look at it from my perspective I didn't need a b******** from Sir Alan to help me turn it around. "So I have gone into The Apprentice probably more rounded than anyone else if you look at it that way."

But the appointment of the wannabee tycoon, who previously headed a sales team in the recruitment industry, has already come under fire. Employment experts are angry that the winner, whose father is a milkman and mother is a doctor's receptionist, won after lying about his CV.

McQueen, billed as the show's 'rough diamond' suggested he had attended Thames Valley University for 2 years, when he was only there for four months. He also made a series of glaring spelling mistakes on the same CV, which were also overlooked when Sir Alan fired Lucinda Ledgerwood instead last week.

Despite these revelations coming to light on last week's penultimate show, he was allowed to stay on the series and yesterday won the whole thing. His victory has led business organisations to accuse the BBC show of 'sending out the wrong message' to the public about lying to employers.They fear his victory will give the impression, particularly to youngsters, that it is acceptable and 'worth the risk' to mislead potential bosses in your CV.

Stephen Alambritis, head of public affairs at the Federation of Small Businesses, said: "The Apprentice finalist lied on his CV and he still got there. It sends out all the wrong messages and bodes badly for industrial relations in the UK."It says you can actually get away with it and that may encourage those viewing the Apprentice, who are toying with the idea of lying to leave it in, or to put a lie into their CV and use it as justification." He added: "There is not gradient of lying on a CV. A lie is a lie."

Deborah Fernon, an advisor at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) said: "There's a whole range of issues here. Number one what are you doing letting spelling mistakes through. It's not sending the write message to me. The CV represents you."Also there was the casual relaxedness the show took to the fact he had lied on his CV and that they give him an opportunity to speak up about this and he did not take this. It is an interesting message to send out."She added: "It's not just about who can do the job it is also about things around having personal integrity, honesty and transparency."

Her organisation has just published a report which shows 25 per cent of organisations have withdrawn a job offers because a candidate lied in their CVs.Yesterday McQueen, who starts his new job within the next few weeks, was adamant that the issue had been addressed in the programme. But the winner, from Princes Risborough in Bucks, did reveal he was still 'ashamed of the situation' and admitted his actions had been 'not good enough'. Speaking after his victory he said: "I am not condoning it, and I have already said I am ashamed. But at the end of the day it was a long long time ago and it just shows my frailties and insecurities about my education."

He claimed he had 'put it to bed' saying it would have been a different issue if he had lied directly about something that was relevant to the job. McQueen added: "I got the grilling and Sir Alan put it to bed." He said while he wrongly suggested he was at the university for two years, he had included on his CV that his studies had been incomplete there. Yesterday clearly sensitive about his academic record he refused to reveal the grades of his GCSEs. He said: "All you know is that I need to know is that I passed 8 GCSEs. I wouldn't say they were very good." He denied he had a problem working with women after he was criticised for his behaviour towards two women contestants on the show.

In his new job he will be launching a new mystery product, building a sales team as he works closely with one of Sir Alan's trusted aides. He said: "If I does this well I will continue to work for him over and above the year long contract."

Further Information: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1025785/Apprentice-winner-special-The-humble-mummys-boy-Middlesex-landed-job-lifetime.html

Apprentice Winner - LEE McQUEEN

Alex and Helene have been booted out for designing or NOT designing a bottle for their male perfume and now who is left - Claire and Lee.

Lee was my early favourite but then I had started to feel a real liking for Claire. She's a fighter who has always worked hard for everything she has done and I want her to win.......BUT has Lee pulled it out of the bag? He reminds me of someone I know and there is a side to him which I do not like. But again he is a fighter and he will work hard for Sir Salad

Who is the winner......SIR ALAN WILL DECIDE.

LEE McQUEEN

Osbourne-X FACTOR=No Judge+COLE=Judge

It has been announced that Girls Aloud member, Cheryl Cole will replace Sharon Osbourne as a judge on The X Factor.

There were a few names in the hat including Spice Girl Mel B and singer/TV host Charlotte Church, however Cheryl has won the coveted (?) job and will now be joining Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Dannii Minogue on the judging panel.

Sharon Osbourne, 55, announced her decision to quit on Friday and yesterday (Monday) was interviewed on Radio One. She said of her decision to quit: “It’s just time to move on.“I love the show, I love everybody there, the producers, Simon (Cowell). But it’s just time to move on.”As I said in my last blog entry, she is tipped to be a contestant on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing.

Sharon went on to say: “I’ve heard that they’re asking certain people (to be the new judge).“I think they’re asking Cheryl (Cole) who I love. They’re asking Mel B.“It’ll be interesting, it’ll take the show to a different place, it’ll be probably even better than it has been if that’s possible.”Asked if there was one person she would prefer", she said: “I think Cheryl.” That's a big thumbs up from the out-going judge then to the incoming one.

Ms Osbourne denied that she asked for more money and was turned down.

But she admitted she was a “drama queen” and also said that “Yes, I was negotiating and I asked for a ridiculous amount of money and they offered me an obscene amount of money and it just doesn’t change the way I feel. I think I’ve done my best and that’s it.”Asked whether ridiculous was more than obscene or obscene more than ridiculous, she said: “It’s all ridiculous in this industry, we’re all bloody overpaid.“We all get paid too much that’s why we’re all drama queens. That’s why we’re all spoilt brats.”She said: “I loved it, it was the best four years of my life but I gotta do something else right now.”Osbourne said of Louis Walsh: “Lulu’s gonna stay. He just loves doing the show, he really does.“And I do, I love the show, I owe the show so much but it’s just time to move on.”She joked she would like to see Dannii Minogue in a shark tank, before adding: “No, no..”

For Cheryl , who is 24, it will be life on the other side of the fence so to speak as she originally came to fame and fortune by winning on Popstars: The Rivals, reality TV show. It "scary" to be joining the ITV1 show. Cheryl said but at least she knows what it is like for the contestants. This could bring a new dynamic to the show - who the heck knows and I have no idea what Simon Cowell is doing anymore - I think I am too old.

The Girls Aloud star said "I'm so excited to be part of such a great show and although it's scary joining a huge programme like The X Factor, it's a massive honour to be following in the footsteps of Sharon Osbourne.
"The rest of the girls have said they're right behind me, which is really important for me as it will be weird to be on the other side of the fence this time. So whilst we get started on the next album, it will be brilliant to be a judge on The X Factor."

Is Sharon Sashaying To Strictly?

Rumours, rumours, rumours.......

What was happening this time last year? Oh yes, Louis Walsh was SACKED! Lots of publicity taken away from the BBC's winter anchor show and placed firmly on to Simon Cowell's baby. Lots of money into his pocket and his Hollywood teeth have been paid for.

This year Sharon Cowell...Oh slip of the tongue, Sharon Osbourne - has allegedly asked for an extra £500,000 to do her judging thing. That amount may be more or less depending on which newspaper or website you read. You know what it is like - Chinese whispers, the amount gets bigger every time it is repeated. Missus Osbourne has also never got on with Dannii Minogue or so the media would have us believe? Again a ploy to get us watching? Yeah you know how it works. Alas the ploy backfired and Sharon has decided to leave the X Factor but not because of the money - That's just a RUMOUR.

A statement released by one of Sharon's publicity team said: "Sharon Osbourne announced today that after four fantastic and successful series of The X Factor she has decided to leave the show.
"Sharon would like to thank the wonderful British public for their enormous support during what's been an exciting ride. She would also like to take this opportunity to thank Simon Cowell and ITV while wishing them all the best for the next series. Sharon will be making no further comment."

So what is next for Missus Osbourne?
According to the Sun (and they even have a mocked up picture), Sharon, will be joining the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing team. Oh joy, I can't wait......I'd rather boil my head in acid than tolerate her dancing and screeching all in one show. Only major flaw for Sharon is that the dancers have to show expression and it may be very difficult for her with her plastic surgically induced face to show anything but shock.

But is this all true or a case of the publicity bandwagon rolling trying to take away coverage from Big Brother and other reality shows?

ITV have made an official statement:
"Sharon Osbourne has decided to leave The X Factor after four fantastic years," an ITV spokesman said.
"ITV thanks her for her immense contribution to the show and for all her humour, compassion and energy. She has been a tremendous judge and mentor on the programme but we respect her wish to leave and wish her the very best with her future projects."

OK.....Bye then Sharon. Back to America is it?

Seems so, Sharon on Strictly is a bit of a laugh really and the truth is that she loves America and her life is mostly over there. She judges America's Got Talent and with her new face, she's bound to cash in on what it can bring her. With Simon as her mentor, she'll go far - Look at what he's doing for Leona Lewis!

Sick Swayze Fit For Work

The Hollywood Reporter claims that Patrick Swayze, the Dirty Dancing star, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March, is well enough to resume playing an FBI agent in the A&E programme The Beast. This was the show he recorded the pilot for in January just before he was diagnosed with cancer.

Swayze did not address concerns over his health, but doctors are understood to have cleared him for work on the series.

In a statement Swayze did not mention his health concerns but said; "I have searched for quite a long time to find a character that is this multi layered, unpredictable and downright entertaining as well as a project this current and cutting-edged."

A&E's executive vice-president Bob DeBitetto told the New York Times; "Obviously, we've had candid conversations with him and his doctors, and we have a fairly high degree of expectation that Patrick will be good to work a full production schedule."

Reports of Swayze's illness in entertainment media were initially pessimistic but late last month he said he was "responding well" to treatment, which is believed to include chemotherapy.

The Beast will start shooting in Chicago later this summer, this is as originally planned. Swayze is being looked after by doctors at Stanford University in California and it is understood that Chicago doctors will co-ordinate his care with his usual oncologist.

I wish Patrick well and dealing with a daemon of a cancer. Pancreatic cancer is one of the worst and he is being treated with a guinea pig treatment now which is working for him. he could have lost his life quicker because of the drugs and that was a chance you take but he has gone for it with some success.

Judging from the photo he looks appalling, but has love and support of a good partner. Who could ask for more.

ONLY Lucinda OUT!

WOW that was a turn up for the books.

Week 11 and three were told they would be fired but only Lucinda Ledgerwood and her purple beret were fired. This picture was taken when tragically she had lost her beret and had to receive counselling.

Her "accent wasn't right apparently".........

I have a horrible feeling Alex will get that 'one job' but secretly hope that Claire will get it. Only one problem, she's stuck with my early favourite Lee. And then there's that mysterious website which has hardly any details?

But back to Lucinda-Beret-nutcase; "It wouldn't have been right for me to have been located in the middle of nowhere in a bland office environment." She told the Mail. "I'm not going to be disappointed that I'm not going to be a sales person."
She said: "I would certainly say that I was targeted (by the other candidates). I didn't have an easy time. I would certainly not condone the behaviour of the majority of them."I wasn't liked. My accent wasn't liked and what I wore wasn't liked.
"On occasions it was verging on bullying. I do not advocate bullying or bitchiness. You don't need to resort to that.

OK Lucinda......so you were bullied then for what you wore but you chose your own clothes and I don't think you listen anway so how would you know if anyone was bullying you?

For more from the Mail: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1024264/Sir-Alans-empire-bland-says-sacked-Apprentice-Lucinda.html

THANKFULLY SHE FOUND HER BERET BEFORE SHE LEFT.

Presenter Fern Britton has admitted misleading the public over her brilliant weight loss.

This Morning presenter Fern has finally told all that is was not a steady diet and exercise which helped her to shed the pounds. But instead the News of the World has reported that it was a gastric band inserted in 2006 which allowed her to lose the weight. She took questions from This Morning viewers and said she wanted to keep this to herself yes BUT.......

Fabulous Fern, 50, dropped from a size 22 to a size 16, and in the past had told viewers that cycling and diet changes made the difference. Naughty naughty Fern! She is a role model to many women out there and when you reach a certain age it is hard to get rid of that excess weight.

In a statement to the paper, Ms Britton said:

"As I know, many people are interested in my weight loss over the past two years. "As interest is so high I'm making public, as a personal choice, that I had a gastric band operation two years ago. I did this purely for myself and I would not wish to influence others to do the same. But for me it has worked and I am very pleased with the results."

The newspaper initially said that she denied the claim through her agent. Apparently her agent did not even know she had the surgery and the newspaper contacted him and she knew she would have to come clean about this. But I don't know why she didn't say something in the first place? She's in the public eye and as I said she's a role model to many 'normal women'. Why not just be NORMAL?

Gastric band surgery works by constricting the stomach and lessening the amount of food that can be eaten. My problem is I cannot exercise because of my spinal condition therefore I have this flabby belly. Hubby loves the curves anyway and so even if I could afford this surgery it would not be the right choice for me but it works for many where other options do not.

I say good for Fern. Shame she was not honest though. The problem with Fern Britton is that she had previously said on TV and numerous magazine articles of how she had lost weight naturally and denied having and surgical assistance to help her lose the weight. It is true that she is one fit mama and has undertaken a a transformed exercise regime over the past couple of years. I recall how she cycled down the Nile - not literally ON IT but next to it! Haha.

She's currently on holiday with her four children and TV chef husband Phil Vickery and I'm sure he knows how to cook up a sensible eating regime......Then again, some of those meals on Ready Steady Cook have got so much cream and fat in them you put weight on just watching the show.

Cam Will Do Anything To Get His Nancy

The OLIVER! Website has announced that 28-year -old agony aunt, former cruise ship and club singer Jodie Prenger or should I say 'the people's Nancy', will only be appearing in 4 shows a week!

In fact it did not matter if Jessie, Sam or Jodie had won on Saturday night, because even though Graham, Sir Cam, the Lord and the judges, kept going on about the pressures of 8 shows a week, this was never a possibility according to the official website. http://www.oliverthemusical.com/

"Sickness and holiday permitting, we have decided that the winning Nancy is scheduled to perform on Monday and Tuesday evenings, Wednesday matinees and Friday evenings. Until the show opens in December we cannot make a final decision on any additional performances."

There are few tickets left on Saturdays and Fridays for those who wish to see 'their Nancy' so hurry and book.

This information was changed when Rachel went out two weeks ago. She was offered the remaining four shows by Cameron Mackintosh and has since turned them down; but doesn't this turn this whole phone voting into a travesty again? We were lied to constantly, misled and our trust has been broken. I had wanted to get tickets for the show but now I shall not bother. I do not want to see an alternate Nancy unless it is Jessie. On Saturday night she sung for her life and deserved to win over Jodie IF she sang like that all the time. Oliver! was the first west end show I ever saw 28 years ago and it holds a special place in my heart. I suppose I shall get over my little strop and get tickets eventually, but right now I'm aggrieved and no doubt will be seriously out of pocket when I find out how much those tickets actually cost.

Jodie was consistency, had she been a size ten would Mackintosh be reacting the way he is? Or is it genuinely her lack of stage experience that worries him? Let's hope that by December she is a complete professional and will be starring in ALL EIGHT SHOWS. Personally I do not see the problem and would be happy to pay my squillion pounds to hear her sing As long as he needs me.

There was a reason why Rachel was voted in the bottom two for many weeks.......She's not the public choice.

Mackintosh get the message!

Gone With The Wind Has Gone With A Whimper

The BBC news website reports that Trevor Nunn's short running over stretched version of Gone with the wind, will be closing later this month after being panned by critics when it opened in April.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7430135.stm

The show which stars Pop Idol finalist Darius Danesh as Rhett Butler will close on June 14 and those who have brought tickets will be given refunds and an apology by the sounds of it.

"The show was TOO LONG" Critics cried! At three hours and forty minutes, this is way too long to be sat in a theatre and even if you like Darius, I'm still haunted by his Britney Spears.

I wish the cast and crew well for future projects. There's Oliver due for release in six months time and there will be jobs for one or two people there!

Big Brother is Back

Big Brother will be back on our screens again next week as as every year I will no doubt be addicted. I say this will not happen every year and still it does....
But we have some changes to personnel; NO DERMOT!

The lovely George will be presenting with zany Zizi.

And then there's the house!
Here's some photos to keep you going till next week.

The Rottweiler Gone Walkies?

I have a funny feeling that big mouth Claire has finally made her bed after she has now been accused of cheating during tonight's supercars’ task.

The last six candidates, under the ever watchful eye of the scowling Nick Hewer and the cringing Margaret, in which the final lambs to slaughter attempt to rent out ’super expensive’ cars to members of the public.

It has been said that Claire was making secret phone calls to friends off camera in a bid to win more business and this is a clear break of the apprentice rules as all calls whether to friends, family or stranger must be on camera. It is said the others went "Up the wall." But it was all a misunderstanding and once Claire explained all to the show's producers she was let off the hook.

This is an interesting one? Were the other candidates jealous and looking for a way to oust the rottweiler from her kennel? Alex, Lee and Lucinda are on the opposing team and I can see Alex and Lee going spare over any excuse while Lucinda would try and call a meeting to rationalise about it, then demand everyone have counselling and insist that the house change their diets to fully organic vegetarian with supplements of organic multi berries.

My reason for Claire going...........THE BADGER!

She is on You're Fired tonight and Claire is the most like her compared to any other candidate there has ever been. I do not always like Claire's tactics. I think she is shallow but they all are, I'd rather see Claire walk away...sorry waddle because she does doesn't she? ....I'd rather she won over any of those men that are left. The only other woman I would like to win over her is Lucinda and I NEVER thought I would say that at the beginning.

PS AND why has she already got her own website if she has WON the role as Sir Salad's apprentice? http://www.claireyoung.co.uk/

The Apprentice Tonight 9pm

PPS BYE BYE MICHAEL!!!!!!!! (EVEN BETTER RESULT AND PLEASE EXCUSE ME WHILE I DO ACROBATICS)

Film-maker Sydney Pollack has died of cancer at the age of 73. Yet another great name from the world of cinema to have passed through the pearly gates this year.

Pollack's biggest success was with Tootsie back in 1982 which is reputed to had earned him $14m within a year of its release. This was not bad for the man who started out as a dialogue director on John Frankenheimer's The Young Stranger at the age of 25.

Sydney Pollack went on to work with the finest actors in Hollywood and produced many magnificent films, including; The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989), The Talented Mr Ripley (1999), The Quiet American (2002), Cold Mountain (2003) and Michael Clayton (2007). He produced quality pieces of art and he "never insulted an audience's intelligence, if on occasion he strained their patience." - So one media obit reads today.

Sydney Irwin Pollack, film producer, director and actor, born July 1 1934 in Lafayette, Indiana, to Russian-American parents, Pollack went to high school in South Bend, where he fell in love with theatre. Rather than going to college, he went straight to the Neighbourhood Playhouse school of the theatre in New York. Army service was the only minor interruption plus a small Broadway debut. His next step was to return back to teach drama and then he went onto act and direct episodes of Ben Casey, The Defenders, Dr Kildare and The Fugitive.

He graduated to the big screen with War Hunt (1962), which starred Robert Redford in his debut. His first feature though was, The Slender Thread (1965), a factual based story with Sidney Poitier and Anne Bancroft. This Property is Condemned (1966), came next followed by The Swimmer (1968), a film starring Burt Lancaster. This led onto a western called, The Scalphunters (1968), and then a complete flop by the name of Castle Keep (1969); well we all have them, even superstar film director/producers!

Another 1969 film was They Shoot Horses, Don't They? Set within a depression era dance marathon, this movie became a rather large success and Pollack moved on to direct a couple of what were to become classic Pollack/Redford films next (there were seven in total); Jeremiah Johnson (1972) and The Way We Were (1974). Barbra Streisand appeared in the later singing the theme tune and making it infamous for differing reasons. So what was next? The Yakuza (1975) with Robert Mitchum, Three Days Of The Condor (also 1975), with Redford, Bobby Deerfield (1977) with Al Pacino. Ah The Electric Horseman (1979) - Who could forget this film! Absence Of Malice (1981), this starred Paul Newman and Sally Field. We then have Tootsie of course which received TEN Oscar nominations and came second to ET at the box office.

Three years later Pollack won best director and best film Oscars for Out Of Africa, starring Redford and Meryl Streep. Havana followed (1990) and again starred Redford but was a box office flop this time. John Grisham's thriller The Firm (1993), starring Tom Cruise was next out of the bag and a much safer hit. The man was a one hit movie making machine and went on to direct Sabrina (1995) and Random Hearts (1999).

In recent years, Pollack has moved towards productions and has worked on films such as Eyes Wide Shut (1999), Cold Mountain, Iris (2001), The Interpreter (2005) The man has even appeared in episodes of Will and Grace!

Sydney Pollack's last film was to have been Recount, a film about Florida's hanging chads, by a 30-year-old actor writing his first screenplay.

A man of brilliance and humour now no longer here.

Sir Alan IS Hired

Jenny 'the bitch' Celerier, mentioned this a couple of weeks ago.

Does Sir Salad of Tate and Lyle need to be seated on his own booster seat?

Staff at Virgin Radio have come up with photographic evidence to support, (ahem), this mystery chair without which the old man ensure would not be able to look down on those poor unsuspecting candidates as he fires them.

Look very carefully at the picture, there's a makeshift wooden plinth which increases his seated height by at least three inches thus enabling him to look more dominant. Sir Salad is only 5ft 6 inches tall and he looks tiny in comparison to some of the contestants

The 3ft square inch thick board which stands on inch-thick lifts at its four corners, was spotted by staff at Virgin Radio, who quizzed contestants about it after they left the show. The Beeb then cocked up last week when a quick snapshot showed the platform and the game was up.

A spokesman for The Apprentice insisted the platform is not there to boost Sir Alan's height, but to hold his chair in place.

"Being a swivel chair, there is a wooden frame, bolted to the floor into which the five wheels are sunk – to anchor it for camera positions."

So what about Nick and Margaret's chairs then?

Eurovision Pong Stink Fest

Eurovision is a bit like marmite, you either love it or loathe it.

I watch it EVERY YEAR although there are some acts I cannot bear to watch all the way through and if I do manage to open my eyes I'll watch through my fingers and cringe at the tastelessness of it all.
The favourites tonight are Sweden and Ukraine, two beautiful women who can probably sing and obviously have not gone for the revolting jibber-jabber that some countries have.

Terry Wogan will be talking over the male/female combo who will appear on stage speaking French and English and oh how we will laugh at his terrible jokes at their expense and their terrible jokes too.

Andy Abraham sings second which is deeply concerning. Not only is the UK song bad but being on early makes it even more forgettable.

Some further very good ramblings; http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2008/05/7089B51F-9064-488C-84BC-C3976C821BBF.html


Eurovision Website; http://www.eurovision.tv/splash/index.html

American Idol - And the Winner is?

As we have to wait....Oh OK we are only a day behind the yanks but what the heck. Here's a great review which I tend to agree with the sentiment of.

http://www.salon.com/ent/tv/review/2008/05/22/american_idol/

GO DAVID COOK!

Oooo I've come over all American.

Am Dram No Thank You Sian!

Do I believe this that Michael has escaped again!

Is he Sir Salad's secret love child or has he incriminating photos of Nick, Margaret and the boss in a threesome fetish?

Whatever the case dear Raefy-bear was fired last night and I am in shock. While I did not expect Raef to win, I certainly did not expect Michael to last longer than him. The show is becoming an oddity but still great to watch and oh last night again showed Lee in his true light......

The man I really liked at the beginning is now the candidate I wish fired even in preference to Michael! Michael lies and saves his skin this is true but Lee is as deep as a puddle, and a follower certainly not a leader. Last night it was Lucinda who showed up the disgraceful side of Lee's personality. We saw this some weeks ago when he bullied Sara. Alex was also a sh*t and the advert won by luck not by judgement because they followed the rules of advertising. The advert was dire dribble, the box was snotty. They had a brilliant name thought up by Lee eventually but if only they listened to Lucinda instead of being 'bothered' by her, they may of had an even better outcome.

'Make sure you put the product you are advertising in the advert and make sure your target audience know what it is you are advertising'

Co-Directors Raef and Michael (who jumped the sinking ship of course) decided to drop the shot of the box of 'I love my tissues' - And nobody loves their tissues by the way; instead they had Sian Lloyd dropping her fake son at a posh school who then met up with his little girl friend with a weird tag line of 'Everyone needs'. Were they advertising childhood sexual relationships? Were they promoting Sian Lloyd? Who knows.

Raef has gone.......Sir Salad of Tate and Lyle was wrong but now for Raef it is back to life with his girlfriend Virginia, back to running his own company and back to looking after his four houses. He only applied for the apprentice to push himself and has fantastic future awaiting him. This is one of his four houses by the way not just one I found on the Internet. Cannot imagine him driving that corsa though?