Media-Whore D'Oeuvres



(image via princeharry.co.uk)

"Stay tuned for live updates from polo match: Prince Harry vs. Argentine pro and (Ralph lauren) model Nacho Figueras." (WWD/Twitter) LIVE UPDATES here (hit refresh)



"With some of the world’s best athletes speeding across a field at 35mph on horseback, hitting a ball, and frequently colliding with each other, polo is as beautiful as it is dangerous. 'Speed, danger, strategy and teamwork, are all the ingredients that a sport needs to be huge,' says polo’s version of Brad Pitt, Ignacio 'Nacho' Figueras. The tall, dark, and handsome Argentine—who moonlights as the face of Ralph Lauren fragrances—will captain the Black Watch team this Saturday at the second annual Manhattan Polo Classic, sponsored by Veuve Clicquot on Governor’s Island. Anglophiles take note: Also saddling up will be HRH Prince Harry, who is in town for his first official state visit. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the American Friends of Sentebale." (Blackbookmag)



"Less than two years ago, Claudia Schiffer declared that the age of the supermodel was over. Magazine covers and beauty contracts had become the province of celebrities. The industry's newest generation had not quite attained the international, first-name basis fame that Naomi, Cindy and Christy had pioneered. A lot has changed in two years. While fashion magazines and retail brands still market their wares with stars from music and movies, models have moved off the runway in equal measure, expanding their brands into fashion, entertainment and philanthropy. The age of the multi-hyphenate model has replaced the age of the supermodel, giving the top girls more earning power than ever before ..A perfect example is the No. 2 earner on our list, Heidi Klum. While still a successful model at the age of 35 after having three kids, the majority of Klum's earnings are driven by her TV and endorsement career. Klum remains a member of the Victoria's Secret angel entourage as well as host of Project Runway and Germany's Next Top Model .. Returning at No. 1 this year is Gisele Bündchen, who earned an estimated $25 million in the last year from numerous campaigns including Versace, True Religion jeans, Dior, and Ebel watches." (Forbes)



"Former President George W. Bush called former President Bill Clinton 'his brother' and the two rarely disagreed in their first-ever appearance together on stage. The Republican and Democratic ex-presidents defended each other at a Toronto forum on Friday, disappointing some in the crowd of 6,000 who expected a more heated debate. Mr. Bush said that he never liked it when previous administration officials criticized his government, but said Mr. Clinton was respectful and never did. Mr. Bush declined to criticize the Obama administration, in contrast to former Vice President Dick Cheney, who has been a vocal critic of the sitting president. Mr. Bush, who wasn't asked about Cheney, said there are 'plenty of critics in America.' The two former chief executives did differ on Iraq: Mr. Clinton said U.N. inspectors should have been given more time to conduct the search for weapons of mass destruction and that President Bush should have concentrated on Afghanistan. Mr. Bush disagreed. 'I don't buy the premise that our attention was diverted,' Mr. Bush said. Mr. Bush joked about how much time his father, former President George H.W. Bush, and Clinton spend together. He said his mother, Barbara Bush, 'said President Clinton and Father share the stage so much, he's like a son to her.' He said, "So brother, it's good to see you." (CBSNews)



"Since moving into the White House four months ago Michelle and Barack Obama have made one thing crystal clear: they have no intention of staying home. Not even in those luxurious digs. As devotees of good food and fine wine they have decided to shake up the conventional Washington scene by stepping out, having fun—going out on the town. And not to traditional boring embassy functions or the well-appointed homes of desperate hostesses either. The Obamas are genuinely enjoying city life, corralling friends for impromptu forays at an eclectic mix of DC restaurants—cutting a wide swath from downtown to the Capitol and DuPont Circle, to Georgetown and even Arlington, Virginia—leaving a gaggle of star struck proprietors and fellow diners in their glossy wake. (Quite unlike the Bushes, who preferred to hunker down with Tex-Mex inside the confines of 1600 Pa. Ave.)" (TheDailyBeast)



(Jane Campion's 'Bright Star' via IndieWIRE)

"The triple threat of film festivals that end off the summer - Telluride, Venice and, especially, Toronto - are an unofficial trinity kicking off awards season. Fall schedules are finalized and ‘For Your Consideration’ campaigns are set in motion, and from that point on awards prognosticators scurry to keep up with constant shifts in buzz. But inklings of what’s to come can often materialize much earlier .. The most obvious category that Cannes should affect is best foreign language film .. Perhaps Penelope Cruz has an outside shot at best actress for 'Rotos' (though the film’s relatively mild reception doesn’t bode particularly well), as does non-Cannes foreign entry 'Coco Before Chanel'‘s lead Audrey Tatou (the film has already opened in France, where it’s been a huge success) ..Jane Campion’s 'Bright Star' is probably the most likely film from the Cannes competition to make inroads with awards season. Campion is one of only three women to be nominated for a best director Oscar (for 'The Piano,' back in 1993)." (IndieWIRE)

"John Kerry has never run for sheriff. As chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee he is starting to act like one, and the world is his jurisdiction. The Massachusetts Democrat is wielding his gavel with an investigative zeal, and plans to take on Iran’s nuclear program, gun-running on the Mexican border, terrorism, narcotics and human trafficking, all through the prism of money laundering. He has hired a former investigative reporter, an ex-CIA agent and a one-time managing director of Bear Stearns Cos. LLC to help him. 'There are lots of big pieces out there that depend on money moving,' he said in an interview in his office in the Senate, where he is serving his 24th year. Kerry, who was a prosecutor and attorney in Massachusetts before starting his political career in 1982, said the lack of congressional oversight during the Bush administration left behind a target-rich environment for his panel. The Treasury Department 'has its hands full' and is 'inadequately resourced' to pursue these inquiries, he said ..The wide mandate Kerry has set for his panel, though, creates an expectation for significant results. It also opens the possibility that his agenda will collide with that of President Barack Obama or cause friction with other agencies specifically charged with conducting investigations." (Bloomberg)

"For the past few years, it seemed as though the broadcast networks had all but abandoned Friday nights. No one save CBS made a serious effort to air scripted programming, with a mix of reality shows, reruns and newsmagazines filling the evening. That won’t be the case this fall. All of the Big Five networks are making an effort to draw viewers on Friday night by airing scripted programming, including veteran shows like 'Ugly Betty,' 'Medium' and 'Smallville' that have thrived on other nights. There are a number of reasons for this change, not the least of which is the development of the DVR, which allows viewers to record programs for later viewing. Friday, a night when many people are out, would seem the ideal night for airing shows with strong DVR potential." (Medialifemagazine)



"After fifteen years running the New York Observer, today is Peter Kaplan's final day on the job. He'll start Monday as creative director of Condé Nast Traveler. Kaplan groomed countless young journalists in his years at the Observer, many of whom now populate the city's more remunerative newsrooms. Jesse Oxfeld spoke to a number of Observer alums to create an oral history of the Kaplan era." (NYMag)



"'Meet the Press with David Gregory' was #1 again last week, but the gap continues to shrink in the Sunday morning ratings race. 'Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer' came in second place, up 33% in Total Viewers and up 17% in A25-54 viewers. And for the 17th consecutive week, 'This Week with George Stephanopoulos' closed the Total Viewing gap with 'Meet' by 59% versus the same weeks last year (570,000 in '09 vs. 1,400,000 in '08)." (TVNewser)