Media-Whore D'Oeuvres

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"THE heartbroken fiancé of Slumdog Millionaire beauty Freida Pinto today reveals how the film’s success and her 'infatuation' with co-star Dev Patel finished their relationship. Dumped Rohan Antao blames the hit movie and her on-screen lover for wrecking his wedding plans. As gorgeous Freida prepares to walk down the red carpet at tonight’s Oscars on the arm of the Slumdog star, Rohan told the News of the World: “She ended it with me after getting close to Dev Patel. 'Now everywhere I go I see them on billboards. I am devastated.'" (Newsoftheworld)



"Bobby Jindal is interested in running for president in 2012. We know this not because he has said much about the matter—on Sunday's "Meet the Press," he provided all of the customary non-answers—but because of his words and actions on another subject. Jindal, who will deliver the Republican response to Barack Obama's address to Congress on Tuesday night, has shrewdly built anticipation for his moment in the sun by announcing that he will refuse $100 million in federal stimulus money earmarked for Louisiana, a posture he reaffirmed on Meet the Press." (Observer)

"HERO pilot Capt. Chesley Sullenberger and his wife, Lori, were the surprise stars of Vanity Fair's Oscar dinner and after-party that closed out a subdued Academy Awards weekend on a triumphantly glamorous note. The bash at the chic Sunset Tower Hotel was half the size of previous VF parties at the old Mortons, which only made it seem more special .. At the Weinstein Co. and Valentino Garavani event at the Andaz hotel, Victoria Beckham was caught 'rolling her eyes at Kathy Hilton and walking away from her - the Hiltons are just considered so low-class,' one source said." (PageSix)

"So why are our largest money-center banks—you know, the ones that are supposed to be the survivors of the financial crisis, like JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo—in the process of a further, and possibly fatal, meltdown? Last week alone, Citigroup’s stock fell by one-third, JPMorgan’s fell 13 percent, and the shares of Bank of America and Wells Fargo each fell 25 percent. With apologies to economist Nouriel Roubini, the 'Dr. Doom' of the financial crisis, the reason for the continuing collapse in the financial sector is not that the prospect of nationalization looms large for these money-center banks, although if that were to happen, shareholders would be wiped out in much the same fashion as those of AIG. Rather, the reason for the downward spiral is that, incredibly, some 20 months into the crisis, credibility is still the most acute problem facing the banks. We still don’t know the extent of the toxicity of the assets on their books and, in many cases but not all, we no longer trust the people who run these institutions to tell us the truth about the danger lurking therein. Until the trust is restored, and soon, there can be no equity or franchise value, regardless of whether the government or shareholders own the equity." (TheDailyBeast)



"In advance of Sunday's red-carpet bling-a-thon, Julianne Moore hosted a dinner at the Chateau Marmont to promote diamonds as a keystone, so to speak, of the African economy. A trio of jewelry designers from southern Africa and former president of Botswana Festus Mogaer(seated next to Idi Amin portrayer Forest Whitaker) joined Saffron Burrows, Camilla Belle, and other pretty Hollywood faces to talk rocks." (Style)

"The 38 elections for governors in the current election cycle will provide a big test of whether the presumed advantages of incumbency can survive troubled times. Two states, New Jersey and Virginia, will choose new governors in 2009 and 36 other states will have gubernatorial elections in 2010. Mapping the state of play is a challenge at this stage because a few incumbents who are eligible to run for re-election have not yet said with certainty that they will do so. They include Democrats David A. Paterson of New York and James E. Doyle of Wisconsin, and Republicans Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and C.L. 'Butch' Otter of Idaho .. The economic downturn adds a dramatically unpredictable element to a long slate of governors’ elections that will test another political factor: the degree of partisan polarization across the 50 states. As convenient as it is to divide the nation neatly into Democratic 'blue' states and Republican 'red' states, most states actually are some shade of purple." (CQPOlitics)

"Dear Ben Stiller: You really thought it was funny to make fun of Joaquin Phoenix? Even though everyone already did it a week and a half ago? And even though there’s a possibility he has a drug problem? Like the one that killed his brother, River? Okay, then .. Steve Martin and Tina Fey should host the Oscars together every year." (Jessi Klein)



(Gilligan's Island star Tina Louise via nysocialdiary)

"Last night, of course was Oscar Night, which is a good night to do your laundry if you live in a large apartment building and want the place to yourself. Over at the Carlyle many New York-based members of the Academy including past Oscar nominees and winters gathered for a dinner and a private viewing of the 81st Annual Academy Awards. Among those attending were: Geoffrey Rush, Tovah Feldshuh, Patricia Neal, Cynthia Wade, Shirley Knight, Rip Torn, Burt Young, Celia Weston, Denis O’Hare, Tina Louise, Elaine Stritch, Lisa Eichhorn and Sylvia Miles. " (NYSocialDiary)

"OK, I'm going to say it: GAYEST OSCARS EVER! (Not that there's anything wrong with that. I voted against Prop 8.) But Hugh sitting on Frank Langella's lap? Talking about kissing him? After performing a song and dance number?" (DeadlineHollywoodDaily)