Separated at Birth: R Couri Hay and Matthew McConoughey?



(image via kmrcommunications)



Separated at Birth? (image via hollywood.com)

The gossip biz is like a game of telephone, sometimes. Last week, the British tabloids mistakenly named Matthew McConoughey as having broken his collar bone while surfing. He didn't, as Rush and Molloy duly informed us.

But, interestingly enough (Well, perhaps to three of you), social butterfly R.Couri Hay did bust his breastbone, while skiing. Skiing, surfing; Tomato, toMAHtoe; Coury Hay, Mcconoughey -- whatevs. Did the media finger -- slight pun intended -- the wrong guy? According to those intrepid Page Sixxies:

"FLAMBOYANT publicist R. Couri Hay is injured. The jet-setter was skiing in Courcheval last week when he made a bet for $10,000 against Dimitri Abramowitz - whose billionaire father, Roman Abramowitz, owns Britain's Chelsea soccer team. The rules were simple: Whoever gets down the mountain first wins. Alas, Hay crashed and broke his collarbone - losing not only the race but his sable hat as well. Abramowitz kindly sent a magnum of Cristal and a pot of beluga caviar to Hay at the clinic to which he was airlifted. The painkillers must have kicked in because Hay is demanding a rematch upon his recovery."

We can understand why someone would mistake the swan-necked McConoughey with the, uh, "well-preserved" Couri Hay. Anyway, get well soon; Manhattan society is significantly less colorful without R Couri Hay calculated into the mix.

Sam Mendes Made Jake Gyllenhaal Cry



The goat od Mendes. (image via ziyue.com)

What everyone really wants to do is direct. It's a swell job. Unlimited power. On set the director is at the top of the food chain (Off-set, though, the Producer has some say). But being "God" means having to enforce, on occasion, tough love.

Kate Winslet's director-husband Sam Mendes is a strict disciplinarian. A hard ass, even, some might say. The Oscar winner elicited a spray of hot tears from buzzy actor Jake Gyllenhaal. According to TheMirror:

"Hollywood hunk Jake Gyllenhaal, 25, told how director Mendes showed who was boss when bickering erupted on set of new flick, Jarhead.

"Gyllenhaal said: 'I had a fight with a guy who knocked my tooth out with the butt of a gun - I started hitting him after the camera stopped rolling.

"'We didn't speak for a few days, then Sam wrote a scene where I had to apologise to him. So what you see on screen is for real - even the tears.'"

The Primrose Set



Sadie Frost and Barry. (image via newsoftheworld)

Yes, the rich are different than you and me. They copulate on yachts, for one. They also frolic topless. They issue Biblical commandments when their boyfriends cheat with the Nanny. And, most colorfully, they turn a tasteful shade of "Puce" when their manwhore dates Salma Hayek.

Ex-dogwalker and "love rat" Barry Smith, a boytoy in full, breaks the first rule of the polymorphous perversity of the soi-dissant -- nose upturned -- Primrose Set (The Law-Frost-Moss-sexnexus). First rule of the Primrose Set is -- huffily: One doesn't speak of the Primrose Set. At least not to the commoners. According to the extremely downmarket Newsoftheworld:

"Barry Smith witnessed all the shameful bedhopping antics as lover to Sadie Frost, ex-wife of movie idol Jude Law and closest pal to Kate Moss.

"He exclusively confessed to the News of the World: 'I even cheated on Sadie in her own bed with her best friend, Hollyoaks star Davinia Taylor.

"...'There was an unwritten vow of silence among the Set. But I'm finally speaking up because I was pushed out."

Or, more accurately, "pushing in," namely -- another set of inviting, Brazillian bikini-waxed Euroloins. (Averted Gaze) We won't entertain the possibility that Newsoftheworld gave the dogwalking toyboy a modest "reseacrh grant" for the details of his anthropological experiments with the Upeer Classes:

"'When Sadie dumped her lover Jackson Scott, who I didn't like, Davinia and Dave (Gardner)encouraged me to ask her out,' said the 6ft Irishman.

"'Last August she invited me to her Ibiza villa with a group of family and friends. The only single people there were me and Sadie. We finally hit it off after a day by the pool. All the others drifted away and we started messing about in the pool on an airbed. We ended up making love right there in the water.

"'We did it again under a towel on the sunbed, looking up at the villa lights and wondering if we'd been spotted. But over dinner Sadie got tipsy and openly flirty. And at 2am she led me by the hand to her bed.'

"The next day Barry�who doubles for Orlando Bloom in the movie Love And Other Disasters�and Sadie made love six times. In the shower, in the pool, on the sunbed, twice on the balcony and finally in bed."

Finally. And here we thought that Sadie Frost was awash in a sea of exquisite melancholy. Who knew?

"The following day the party sailed to the island of Formentera. It was then that the secret romance between the �6 million Hollywood divorcee and the movie wannabe became headline news after they were photographed on a beach.

"'Sadie was furious�she said they made her look a slapper.'"

There are so many ways we could go with that; but --Drumroll-- Enter stage right ... Kate Moss:

"That night Barry witnessed how spookily close Sadie was to supermodel Kate Moss�just before the News of the World exposed the girls' three-in-a-bed lesbian sessions with Davinia.

"'Kate invited us to her villa for dinner,' he said. 'But she and Sadie were so engrossed in each other all night I barely got a word in.

"Back in Britain Barry and Sadie carried on sleeping together whenever Sadie's children stayed away with Jude. 'I met him a couple of times,' said Barry. 'He was fine with me. But by now Dave was getting increasingly jealous.

"Before I'd arrived it was always Dave, Davinia and Sadie together. But as the new kid on the block I got all their attention."

"Soon Barry discovered that Davinia�known as the Loo Roll Princess because her daddy made his �150m fortune from toilet tissue � wanted more.

"He told us: 'She flirted with me from the start. Then one night she asked, �What would you think about a threesome with me and Sadie?'

"'I laughed. I thought she was playing games. But one afternoon I ended up watching TV on Sadie's bed with her and Davinia.

"'Suddenly Davinia started kissing Sadie. I didn't know where to look. I never knew they were that way inclined.

The incline being, of course, 90 degrees. More salacious British sex here.

Picture Pages, Picture Pages ...



"Miscommunication, my good man. I offered Britney some 'Marijuana,' she misheard me, and answered, '... Of course, I wanna.' So I guess I owe it all to the Bubonic Chronic." (image via ohnotheydidnt)



Do you suppose that when Mischa kisses Nicole Ritchie it inadvertently makes the fragile sound of two errant fishbones coming into brief contact in a bowl of bouillabasse? (image via justjared)



Why spoil this moment with words? (image via nysocialdiary)



Bill Gates only had me whipped once. (Gravely) I wasn't keeping my dance steps in lock-and-pop with his clapping. It was totally my fault. (image via justjared)

David Cronenberg Burns Crash



(image via double-whammy)

When we think of Director David Cronenberg -- and he occasionally crawls, spiderlike, into our Mind Palace -- the words: intense, Canadian, sexually perverse and thoroughly transgressive -- not necessarily in that order, come to mind. ... He's got "issues" ... (A considerable pause) a freak, to be sure; but he's our freak.

The helmer of such unyielding classics as Videodrome, History of Violence, Existenz and the upcoming -- and, unfortunately entitled -- "I, Kill" is not all too happy that Paul Haggis named his movie after Cronenberg's own project, Crash. Someones ass, needless to say, will be kicked at Graydon Carter's Vanity Fair Oscar bash.(Averted Gaze) Our money is on the cat who directed Friday the Thirteenth. (Exaggerated cough suggesting feigned detachment)

We can, of course, see how hardcore car crash sex-fetishists might be a tad goddam-fucking-pissed to tweak some effervescent crank ("Beam Me Up, Scotty!"), hoist an adult beverage ("Crack!"), and pop into into their home entertainment systems ... a placid DVD on racial sterotypes ("What-the-fuck?").

Car crash sex-fetishists are old school like that.

According to Mass Appeal Magazine:

Mass Appeal: "What did you think of this bullshit-ass movie that just stole the title of Crash?

David Cronenberg: "That did upset me. I thought it was really disrespectful, not just to me, but to JG Vallard who wrote the book. It's interesting, in France, where my movie is much revered, they refuse to call that other movie Crash. They renamed it Collision and I like that."

In his next outing, expect Cronenberg to auteur a little dungeon-fantasy about rival directors who steak your films name and get all the critical buzz. Any resemblence to Haggis will be purely coincidental.

A Little of the Old In and Out



Untainted. (image via msnbc)

In: Senator John McCain, Majority Leader? As the House rethinks its leadership structure (DeLay is out), perhaps the Senate ought to do the same. If this week doesn't show how prescient Senator John McCain has been on the subject of Campaign Reform legislation, well, The Corsair frankly doesn't know what does. Granted, The Senator is watching "Channel Zero" on issues such as Gay Marriage and Intelligent Design; but, in a sense, he's all we have with regards to sanity and principle in the Senate. McCain, a true Centrist, is as popular among conservatives as a case of the clap is at a dive bar. But MCain cannot be ignored.

We are at present in a bona fide McCain moment.

Consider: McCain's steady guiding of the momentum of the United Sates Senate -- the Greatest Club on the planet, so they say, outside of the Papal enclave -- has been unparalleled (Sorry, Frist; its the truth). From the somber Abu Graib hearings, to steroids in baseball, to the carefully crafted Gang of 14, to the torture Amendment, to -- now -- the Abramoff scandal, Senator John McCain is all but the Senate Majority Leader if only with regards to moral tone of the chamber, if not the actual directing of the flow of legislation.

Yes, John McCain is as popular among Conservatives as a social disease at a college, but a) McCain's clean of Abramoff money (Mitch McConnell and Trent Lott, leading campaigners for Majority leader are both "infected" by the issue), b) McCain represents campaign reform and will get it done, and, c) Bill Frist is tainted by scandal, and the Republican Party cannot go forward into the 2006 Midterm elections with a tainted chief. That having been said -- McCain would be a perfect Majority Leader, one that the President -- veering Centerwise, ever since New Year's -- could work with, and both aisles of the Senate could be proud of.



(image via tonyshatz)

Out: Gene Shalit. Ancient film-critic Gene Shalit -- Frankly, we didn't even know he was still hustling -- is reason #7,548 why networks should really try to keep their on-air talent somewhat "with-it." Otherwise, the culture changes, and the show is still caught up in an Eisnhower aesthetic. To wit:

"For the most part, the critics agree that Brokeback Mountain is one of the year's most commendable films.

"Then there's Gene Shalit's point of view.

"The veteran Today show critic has been taken to task by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation over his negative review of the gay cowboy western, in which he referred to Jake Gyllenhaal's character, Jack, as a 'sexual predator' who 'tracks Ennis down and coaxes him into sporadic trysts.'

"The group claimed that Shalit's statements, delivered during his 'Critic's Choice' segment on Thursday's Today show, promoted 'defamatory anti-gay prejudice to a national audience," and criticized NBC News for providing the eccentric critic with a platform from which to air his views.

"Shalit's bizarre characterization of Jack as a 'predator' and Ennis as a victim reflects a fundamental lack of understanding about the central relationship in the film and about gay relationships in general,' GLAAD said in a statement."



(image via mediavillage)

In: Comedy Central's Motherload Channel. The Corsair has always said that as far as iPod content -- think: $.99 downloads and the possibility of "iNetworks" -- Porn (Playboy's iBod, amateur "Bodcasts"), Extreme Fighting, Cartoons and Edgy Comedy Routines are the no-brainer commercially viable options.

(A considerable pause) Uhm ... is the future of iPod programming looking like the result of our Attention Deficit society?

Still, props to Comedy Central, which is putting salt up in their game with the Motherload Channel (Now, when will WWE, UFC and The Cartoon Network elevate their game to allow for iPod-programming?) According to PaidContent:

"Comedy Central's getting serious...eight-original-web-only-shows-serious. It is introducing its 2006 slate of new shows today for its online channel MotherLoad.

"The MotherLoad lineup includes such series as 'All Access: Middle Ages,' billed as the inside story behind the coolest crusades and 'most awesomely bad plagues,' and "Golden Age," which finds out what happened to retired cartoon characters. The numbers are still small. During its best week, in early December, MotherLoad attracted 109,000 viewers. "

Out:



(image via variety)

In: Proenza Shouler. What's with the stories that they're going to do "Fashion for the Masses"? According to British Vogue:

"THE Proenza Schouler design duo are apparently in talks with Target to follow in the footsteps of Isaac Mizrahi and Cynthia Rowley in creating a diffusion line for the budget US retailer. Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez have put nothing in writing yet, however, and they are also no-commenting rumours that they were approached by LVMH for the top jobs at Celine and Givenchy."

CES Wrap



(image via justjared)

Interoperability. Connectivity. Robin Williams. You know the geeks have inherited the world when the "Avids" at Comicon get visited by Peter Guber, Charlize Theron, Hugh Jackman, Bryan Singer, Kate Beckinsale, Avi Arad; and now, to seal the deal: CES -- a Consumer Electronics Show! -- gets A-Listers. From Endgadget:

"... 5:40 Morgan Freeman and Lauren McCready come onstage to promise movies 'within a few weeks of their release to theaters,' Morgan says. Now walking onstage: Tom Hanks, Danny DeVito, Tom Shadyac, Brad Silberling. Hanks jokes about his earlier appearance for Sony: 'I've been hanging around backstage for three hours.' Lots of apple-polishing speeches. Hanks cuts the BS and just says it's really great. DeVito gets a phone call onstage, promises Rhea Perlman that although he's in Vegas their are no girls there."


CES Endgadget's coverage here
Paidcontent coverage here.
Colbert Low here.
JustJared here.

Agent Provocamanpour?



(image via ohiou.edu)

Did you happen to catch the clearly starstruck Renee Zellwegger interview her "girl crush" Christiane Amanpour on "Iconoclasts"? It was really quite sexy to see Zellwegger so flush and overwrought about another woman.

Christiane -- and we can't say enough good things about this lady -- is intellectual catnip to people of a certain amount of Being and Taste. (The Corsair pops open a Pouilly Fuisse) Urbane, yet tough, intelligent, internationalist, principled, fearless -- The Corsair is, as we speak, becoming quite physically aroused just discussing her qualities. We'll spare you the visuals; good taste, you see.

But we digress. If Angelina Jolie is a peppery cognac, then Christianne Amanpour is a floral Armagnac. In a sense, it is a rich but fitting irony that an Administration so proud of its lack of sagfroid may or may not have Amanpour dead in its sights as the enemy. According to TVNewser:

"Yesterday, MSNBC.com published a transcript of Andrea Mitchell's interview with author James Risen about the CIA's domestic spying program. In it, Mitchell asked Risen if he had uncovered evidence that CNN correspondent Christiane Amanpour was eavesdropped upon. It was a specific and pointed question that led AMERICAblog to ask if the veteran journalist had been spied on by the Bush administration.

"This afternoon, MSNBC.com removed the portion of the transcript that referred to Amanpour. (Here's what it originally said.) In a statement to TVNewser tonight, NBC explained why:

"'Unfortunately this transcript was released prematurely. It was a topic on which we had not completed our reporting, and it was not broadcast on 'NBC Nightly News' nor on any other NBC News program. We removed that section of the transcript so that we may further continue our inquiry.'"

"I sure hope NBC continues the inquiry."

Me too. Other web coverage:

Indymedia
TPMCafe
The ReidReport

Picture Pages, Picture Pages ...



The teacup is for the drool, alright? The only beverage luscious over here is drinking is Al Reynolds; and he's drinking with his eyes. (image via ohnotheydidnt via socialitelife)



Sometimes Tori Spelling and Dean McDermot like to close their eyes and imagine themselves in their own Lifetime TV special, only, like, without the abusive spouse. (image via wireimage)



Queen Latifa doing some richly-deserved penance for her participation in "Taxi" and "Bringing Down The House." (image via Hello!Magazine)



Okay, seeing Bai Ling's nipple has officially Jumped the Shark. It's dead to me. There is no more charm or novelty anymore, it's such a common occurrence. The Corsair never thought he could understand how New Guinean tribesmen remain nonchalant at all the bared-breasts of the tribeswomen, but Bai Ling has allowed us to understand the cultural anthropology of the overexposed nipple. (image via wireimage)

UK Metropolitain Police To Kate: Come Back or Face Arrest



(image via cnn)

Our favorite waif mannequin may have at present a well-appointed boytoy to snuggle up with while kicking the booger-sugar, she's not out of the woods yet. Hardly. Even though she's off the old "Evo Morales," the ghost of crackheads past have come a-calling in the form of the "Po-po." According to British Vogue:

"THE Metropolitan Police have appealed to Kate Moss to return to Britain and face arrest in order to assist with the investigation into drug dealing. Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur, whose boss is the Police chief Ian Blair, told The Sun that Kate's help could be invaluable as they prepare to make arrests. 'It is very important to us that she comes back to assist us with this investigation,' he said. 'We hope that Kate will give us her version of events. It is in her interests and everybody's interests that she does this as soon as possible. There has been a lot of speculation as to whether she has decided to stay in the United States. But we have an investigation to carry out and we need to speak to her as soon as possible. The investigation is progressing very well and the Met is closing in on those who are behind the supply of drugs. But we have got to speak to Kate. I am making an appeal Kate to come back to this country. If she does we will seek to see her by appointment. We will arrest her and interview her under caution.'"

Apparently Kate hasn't been back to the UK since before rehab because she's "scared ... with good reason." The po-po probably want Moss to rat out her Euro drug supply, which, quite frankly, sounds like some evil-dangerous shit for someone who weighs 90 pounds soaking wet and has a young child to get into.

A Little of the Old In and Out

(image via blognewschannel)

In: Google Video. As if, at this point in their ascent, they need a dubious "In" from a cute Ugandan-born blogger. Still, from Paidcontent:

" The speculation looks like it is true: Google, which has publicly said that it will offer premium videos sometime soon, will begin allowing consumers to buy and download videos from content partners. Among the media companies expected to be part of the service: CBS and NBA, the story says. Larry Page is expected to announce the details at CES keynote tomorrow."



(image via style.com)

Out: Tom Ford. Tom Ford is tripping. First there was word that he was going the "shocking" route at his Vanity Fair stint, tarting up the poor Dakota Fanning. Then, the Adobe House. (Exaggerated cough suggesting feigned detachment) Let's not even go there (Zen Quote: "Our goal is to make the house seem of the hill and not on the hill�). Third: the French-kissing the mannequins. Now, this from those intrepid Page Sixxies:

"TOM Ford is taking heat from all sides. A week after spies sniped he was making life difficult for Vanity Fair staffers during his stint as creative director for the Hollywood issue, word comes that the former Gucci boss is equally imperious around Est�e Lauder folks. Ford teamed up with Lauder to create a luxe line of makeup that launched in November. A new line hits shelves in a couple of months. Insiders say Ford is so demanding, he's even told Lauder staffers what to wear when they have a meeting with him. Our source reports, 'He doesn't return calls or e-mails. And he has a thing against colored socks. He insists that we have to wear black socks while in a meeting with him.'"

From Kim Hastreiter of Paper Blog: "Speaking of Tom Ford. What is UP with him? Is he losing it or what? He seems to be more and more obsessed with pornography as time passes. He collaborated with artist Jeff Burton on a shoot for a piece on his new eyewear collection in the next GQ. Burton, who has photographed Gucci ads in the past for Ford is an artist who actually works doing stills on porn sets. For the GQ piece, Ford chose a porn star named Luca (who he claims was not 'waxed or shaved') to model nude, of course, for the eyewear shot."

Tom Ford: Turning Conde Nast into a porn empire, one magazine at a time.



(image via fishbowlny)

In: Lunch at Michael's. Laurel Touby of FishbowlNY renders the swell crowd at Michael's today in festive digital watercolors. A lot of big-ass media power going on in that room, doing media power hugs and alpha male chest butts, if you go in for that sort of thing (Averted Gaze). And we do:

"Table 1: A very attractive bronzed gent, who we didn't recognize at first waited patiently for a fashionably late Barry Diller. When Diller arrived, the deeply tanned commercial manager of Fiat, Lapo Elkan (practically Italian royalty!), rose from his seat as any well-bred Euro-scion should. Before joining his guest, Diller padded over to hail Paula Zahn and Joe Armstrong, as well as John Huey.

"2: Time's editor in chief John Huey with a guy who looked like John Waters. (Incidentally, Huey has named Martha Nelson editor of the PEOPLE Group and Larry Hackett managing editor of PEOPLE. So, everyone's happy!)

"3: Paula Zahn and Joe Armstrong, the 'Mayor of Michael's.'

"4: Leonard Lauder with someone else (who?)

"5: Stan Jaffe, who produced Kramer v. Kramer and has done other amazing things too numerous to go into right now.

"6: Dominick ('Nick' to his friends) Dunne in a pin-stripe suit, with Konrad Kessee (sp?) and Cathy? Liz Smith made a point of hugging Dunne when she arrived. So did Schleiff, who said 'We should catch up.'

"...8: New York Social Diary's genteel David Patrick Columbia at his regular table, with the executive editor of Quest Magazine, Sian Ballen. David Patrick Columbia is the Editor in Chief of same.

"... 12: We were at Table 12 with the hilarious Michael Gross, author of 740 Park, or was it 450 Park? Well, it was Park, that's for sure. We like him very much. He's got a quip for everything and everyone. We want to stay on his good side, that's for sure. Many people came to our table to say hello to Michael.

"... 21: Dapper Jonathan Wald, of MSNBC, former executive producer at the Today Show.

"... 23: Albie Hecht, formerly of Spike TV, with Tim Arango of the Post and two other guys. What were they meeting about? Did anyone happen to overhear?"

Okay, you get the point. Wall-to-wall establishmentarians. Want more? Here.



Kaput. (image via yahoo.movies via Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com)

Out: Denise and Charlie, Splitsville. Okay, so Barbados was not Charlie's first choice for a reconcilliation. Does that mean he has to get sour? One could do worse in life than having one's hot wife in Barbados without the papoose in tow. Was it too hard for Charlie Sheen to go out of his way to give Denise Richards a little romance and attentiveness on Barbados? Then again (Averted Gaze), we're talking about Charlie Sheen, a cosmos whose idea of romance includes an extra, crumpled c-note on the dresser, post-prostititional coitus. (Exaggerated cough suggesting feigned detachment) -- According to our favorite superhero duo, Rush and Molloy:

"Did CHARLIE Sheen do something wrong over the holidays? The actor's wife, Denise Richards, announced last March she wanted out of their marriage. Lately, however, they seemed to be patching things up. They just spent a vacation together in Barbados with their daughters Sam, 1, and Lola, who was born in June. But now Richards is moving forward with a divorce."

At this news, throughout the San Fernando Valley, porn stars and high-end call girls alike prepare, gingerly, to move up to a higher tax bracket.



(image via oldenberg)

In: Elton and David. Not all marriages are collapsing, mind you. Some are in the nascent blush of life. Congratulations -- warmly -- to Sir Elton and David Furnish. According to Liz Smith:

"THE VENETIAN honeymoon of Elton John and David Furnish has been blissfully extended. They are enjoying the romantic canals .."

(A considerable pause) Oh, I'll bet they are enjoying those "canals," but we are rather surprised that Liz Smith could be sink -- no pun intended -- so salaciously in her column. Really, Liz: Let's leave some mystery in the honeymoon! We do not need to gondola down those "canals" ..

"... and gondolas and staying at the Hotel Danieli. (Newlyweds love the sexy mystery of Venice!) It is reported the happy couple were spotted at Harry's Bar with their dog, Arthur. A waiter tied a napkin around Arthur's neck, and he was allowed to eat at the table."



For his cooperation, prosecutors will not place Abramoff in a cell with a lonely 300 pound weightlifter in "Gen-Pop." (link via NyTimes Magazine)



... Separated at Birth?

Out: Corruption. The Abramoff scandal and the problem with Lobbying-usual today only highlights how prescient a thinker Senator John McCain is (Excepting, of course, Gay Marriage and Intelligent Design) on the subject of campaign reform. David Brooks' "tough love" Op-Ed to the Republicans is also cautionary reading. Go "Brooksie." Even Newt Gingrich, clearly in full-on Presidential campaign mode, is back to throwing grenades, carving himself a slice of the thoughtspace. According to Bloomberg:

"`The Abramoff scandal has to be seen as part of a much larger and deeper problem,'' Gingrich said. `It's not about lobbyist corruption. You can't have a corrupt lobbyist without a corrupt member or corrupt staff. This was a team effort.''

"Democrats are seizing on the Abramoff scandal as the latest example of what they call the `culture of corruption' in Washington under Republicans. Former California Representative Randy 'Duke' Cunningham resigned in November after admitting to taking $2.4 million in bribes, and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is facing an insider-trading investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

"One of the biggest issues is the growing power of incumbents and their dependence on contributions from lobbyists, Gingrich said. He proposed changes including a ban on fund raising in Washington and allowing citizens to make unlimited donations to politicians in their own districts. Gingrich also would make lobbyists and U.S. officials disclose their meetings each week. "
McCain for Senate Majority Leader? (I know, I know; theoretically impossible.)

The Diane Rehm Show (Abramoff Investigation)

Jon Stewart Breaks Out Hearts



Stewart, thou hast cleft our heart in twain! (image via mindspring)

If you haven't already heard the news via those alliterative Jesses at Gawker or Defamer, Jon Stewart has decided to host the Oscars. That was not some bit of snarky Corsair discourse. We had such high hopes for Jon (The Corsair plays a particularly melancholy CD of Elgar). He was going to take over from Andy Rooney on 60 Minutes; he was going to host the White House Correspondents Dinner; but no, alas -- the Chateau Marmont calls.

While, yes, we are vaguely aware that he is a comedian-ironist who does "fake news," Stewart just struck us as so much more serious than Hollywood, that unquenchable thirst for ego. (The Corsair majestically lowers his tricorner Pirate cap) Hollywood has claimed yet another innocent soul into its botoxed vortex.

No word yet if, as an afterthought, Jon Stewart will portray Graydon Carter's "personal bitch" at the VF party afterwards.

According to the LATimes:

"For the moment no one at AMPAS or involved with the production will confirm it--but according to three sources familiar with the process, the job of hosting the 78th Academy Awards will go to Jon Stewart, the Emmy-winning writer-host of "The Daily Show" and a host of the Grammy Awards in 2001 and 2002.

"Times staff writers Scott Collins and John Horn report that Oscar show officials first approached Stewart shortly before Christmas. According to a source with first-hand knowledge of the situation, the deal was wrapped up in a flurry of activity a day or two before the holiday.
For the past couple of months, Oscar producer Gil Cates' search for an emcee has sometimes seemed to belong under the 'Daily Show'-style heading 'Indecision 2005.' Last year's host, Chris Rock, was not asked back; eight-time host Billy Crystal said he declined an invitation because of his busy schedule. Published reports claimed that negotiations were underway with Whoopi Goldberg and Steve Martin, though those were never confirmed.

"The 43-year-old Stewart does not have an extensive movie career, an attribute Cates generally prefers in his hosts. Stewart has appeared in a handful of films, few of which were Oscar material: 'Death to Smoochy,' 'Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back' and 'The Office Party,' among others."

Ah yes, "Death to Smoochy." Who among us doesn't like "Death to Smmochy" (Averted Gaze)

Picture Pages, Picture Pages ...



The most dangerous place in Hollywood: The space between Keifer Sutherland and a pint of Guinness. (image via justjared)



"God, I wish I knew how to quit you!" (image via washingtonlife)



In the absence of visual confirmation of actual functioning ass cheeks, we will assume that Pamela Anderson is --as we always supected -- a lifesize plastic Barbie Doll. (image via --eew-- Hollywoodtuna)

Ashley Bush Makes Her Paris Debut



(image via nysocialdiary)

Prince Ashley Poniatowski, the grandson of ex-French Interior Minister Prince Michael Poniatowski, escorted Ashley Bush, neice of the President, as she "came out" at Hotel de Crillon's Haute Couture Ball. Was that aristocratically incestuous enough? The snarkily brilliant Facepalm blogs:

"Oh to be born wealthy and with passable good looks. Every year a select group of well-born young ladies are presented like prize fillies at the Hotel Crillon's Haute Couture Ball. This year, however, the event seems to have set a new low by allowing celebrity offspring in its midst. Being the grand-daughter of Steve McQueen can still probably carry some cachet in social circles but what notable birthright can the daughter of Andie 'Is it still raining? I hadn't noticed' MacDowell claim? Why not just open the floodgates and invite every girl whose mum uses L'Oreal Revitalift?"

(A considerable pause) Notwithstanding that we rather admired McDowell's "coltish good looks" in St. Elmo's. According to R Coury Hay of NYSocialDiary:

"�Tis the season for the world�s loveliest young girls to begin blossoming into young women. This rite of passage is known as 'coming out ' as in making one�s formal 'debut' into high society."

R Coury Hay is in rare form here, as he begins the lecture (And here, dissing -- I think -- the new Russian money):

"These girls are called debutantes. Some became glamour girls of their generations such as Barbara Hutton in 1931, Brenda Frazier in 1938 and Jacqueline Bouvier, later Jackie Kennedy Onassis, in 1947 and Charlotte Ford in 1959.

"... We didn�t see a debutante of this magnitude until 2000 when Lauren Bush, Lydia Hearst�Shaw, and Amanda Hearst made their debuts in Paris at the Le Bal Crillon des Debutantes which not only launched their social careers but also their modeling careers. This year it was Ashley Bush who took the crown in Paris at 16, which means she�ll reign for at least three years until she makes her official debut at 18 in New York.

"Miss Bush was a vision in a periwinkle blue gown with a train by Ralph Lauren, and a pearl tiara by Mikimoto Her 21-year-old sister Lauren Bush wore a black Ralph Lauren gown with an opera length strand of pearls. Her beau is David Lauren, the son of Ralph Lauren."

"I attended the ball with the girls� mother Sharon Bush who wore a divine green velvet column by Naeem Khan and her own blinding chandelier diamond earrings. Other New Yorkers at the ball included John deNeufville, Vogue magazine contributing editor Alexandra Kotur, Teen People Editor Kimball Hastings, Vanity Fair Editor Punch Hutton, and celebrity modeling agent Christine Schott who was checking out this years crop of girls for potential modeling contracts. Schott represents both Lauren and Ashley Bush and Amanda Hearst."

Andie McDowell, whose daughter, Rainsford Qualley made her debut as well as Molly Flattery, granddaughter of Steve McQueen, were in attendance. Also coming out was was Vicomtesse Doroth�e de Jonghe d�Ardoye of Belgium.

The full story and attendees here.

Who Will Host the WHCD?



Famous for DC. (image via c-spanstore.org)

The White House Correspondents Dinner is, essentially, a rest stop before the big-ass Bloomber Party (Or, as Cedric the Entertainer called it, "The B-Diddy event"). And, quite frankly, who can resist the allure of having your gussied up image replayed on C-Span for all the retirees in Iowa to see? C-Span is, like, HBO for those who have no chic. (Averted Gaze) Can you resist rubbing elbows with Newsweek's Howard Fineman, like Meg Ryan -- pre-fucked up plastic surgery -- did?

Last year's attendees included, surrealy: Venus and Serena Williams, Al Sharpton, Goldie Hawn, former American Idol contestant Constantine Maroulis and, for good measure, Elle MacPherson. According to Garrett at FishbowlDC:

"If it's a new year, then it's never too early to start gossiping about Prom (a.k.a. the White House Correspondents Association dinner). Karen Feld says the WHCA is having some trouble tracking down a headliner:

"'No kidding: Who can follow Laura?... It's a question being asked almost as much as who will host this year's Oscars. The president's popularity in the entertainment industry hasn't made a comeback, and first choice comedian Jerry Seinfeld turned the gig down. Insiders tell me he's just not a Bush fan and didn't want to sit on the dais with the president and roast him in front of the press corps. David Letterman and 'The Daily Show's' Jon Stewart have also sent regrets this year. Jay Leno would be pleased to do it for a third time if asked, but the WHCA hasn't decided whether to go that route again. Whoever accepts the disputable honor may have to follow first lady Laura Bush, a tougher act than her husband. Regardless of the entertainment, the dinner at the Washington Hilton where pressies compete for top sources and celebrities as guests is still the hottest ticket in town - sort of the Super Bowl of schmoozing.'"

Save us from the cornmeal-bland comedic stylings of Jay Leno. (Exaggerated cough suggesting feigned detachment) But seriously, who can top a Laura Bush "Desperate Housewives" joke? Well, since we are lobbying hard and hungry for Larry David to host the Oscars, how about Tina Fey?

Yeah, she's got a sharp edge, but she'll be respectful of the office of the President, and, better yet, funny -- something Jay Leno is not.

A Little of the Old In and Out



(image via radiocitta.it)

In: iTunes. Variety weighs in on the growing iTunes phenomenon. iTunes is like the prettiest girl in the school, everyone wants to date her. According to Rafat Ali at Paidcontent:

"Everyone and their peacock wants to be distributing their video through iTunes...and the wheeling-dealings on which TV network gets most content out faster is fascinating to watch and read. This one in Variety is about NBC, which played the catch-up game to Disney fast...

"Just a month after launching, NBC Universal programming now dominates the service, all but erasing Disney's early advantage as the first network to tie-up with Apple, says Variety, though I'm not sure that's very true. But as the story says, NBC is promoting the iTunes download option on its TV network and website much more than Disney. Visitors to Universal theme parks are also bombarded with messages touting the availability of NBC shows for download. 'In the next 12 months, our intention is to heavily increase the content you see there today,' said Frederick Huntsberry, who as president of NBC U Television Distribution is heading up NBC's platform push."

Update: Disney's Bob Iger was just seen frenchkissing iTunes in the Chattering Class cafeteria during third period, wheras NBC Universal only got to 1st base during homecoming. More here.



(image via foxuk)

Out: Fox Searchlight. After the success of Napoleon Dynamite, Sideways and acquiring the industry sobriquet "The new Miramax," you would think the gang at Fox Searchlight could easily continue the momentum. Quite the contrary. Sequels are always dodgy. It was, as they say, and "erratic year for indie films." According to the gang at Cinematical:

"Despite the fact that its parent company ended the year on top of the studio heap, Fox Searchlight had not a single hit for the year. Even with late-2004 release Sideways adding to the coffers, by the end of the year the indie arm found itself $70 million down from the year before. This is in huge contrast to fellow studio/indies Warner Independent and Focus Features, who both had stunning years. with WIP grossing over $100 million more in 2005 than in the year before."

Ouch.



Texas, carved up, DeLay style. (image via comdig2)

In: The Texas Redistricting Case. Once again Texas redistricting is in play. According to our favorite Dickensian villain, Robert Novak:

"The biggest Republican concern about future control of the House rests with the Supreme Court's decision in the Texas congressional redistricting case.

"Republican leaders were stunned when the court agreed to a review. They had thought the issue was settled when the justices, by 5-4, refused to consider a similar case in Pennsylvania. But Justice Anthony Kennedy, who cast the decisive vote on the Pennsylvania case, is a swing vote who could go the other way on Texas.

"Even if the Supreme Court rules against the redistricting orchestrated by Rep. Tom DeLay, it might come too late to affect the 2006 election. Republicans gained six House seats from Texas after the redistricting."

As if DeLay didn't have enough to worry about.



(image via skreb.co.uk)

Out: Fleet Street. What the fuck is up with these clowns in the British press? First, there was that spurrious report that Catherine Zeta-Jones was nearly kidnapped by banditos in Mexico (she wasn't), and now the false report that Matthew McConoughey broke his collarbone. What the fuck?

Do they have standards in the UK? Anyway, that's my way of a correction. (Thank you Rush and Molloy)

In: Blind Items. These Blind Items are almost impenetrable. Almost. They are from the British papers, so, take it with a grain of salt (and vinegar!):

"1.WHICH young Hollywood starlet is so desperate for cash she's propositioned several LA-based Brit actors asking if they could stage a relationship? The fruity girl in question wanted to share the proceeds of any set-up pictures to pay off her debts.

"2.WHICH down and out drug addict is giving up smoking for the new year? The guy in question is back to his old needle-using ways so no longer needs his pipe.

"3.WHICH stick-thin socialite was caught unawares by a waiter, er, powdering her nose by the emergency exit at a showbiz bash? Next thing, she grabbed her boyfriend and legged it without a word to her friends.

"4.WHO's the Hollywood star who's so paranoid about his wife cheating on him he's hired a private investigator to keep an eye on her? 5.WHICH fashionista is wearing a full-time weave after her years of drug abuse have left her almost bald? The friend of the stars is now considering a hair transplant on top of the nearly �50,000 she's already spent on surgery."

More here.

Halle Berry: Versace Face



Can I be your boo? (image via vogue)

Will Halle Berry do for Versace what she did for the orange bikini? According to British Vogue:

"WE knew Donatella Versace had picked Halle Berry to star in the next Versace campaign but we could hardly have expected her to look this good. Photographed by Mario Testino in LA for the spring/summer 2006 ads, the Oscar winning actress follows Madonna and Demi Moore in becoming the face of the label � and Donatella's new best friend. 'I have always chosen inspirational women to represent Versace,' says the Italian designer. 'Halle represents everything that is great about this collection � someone who loves colour, has a real sensuality, who is strong yet feminine and who is a real woman who has lived. For me she is easier to relate to and more relevant than a model and of course she looks simply beautiful in the clothes.

"'... Our campaign was photographed during the shooting of X Men 3 and as she only had one day off in which to complete it, she worked tirelessly from 5am to 1am the following morning � 20 hours straight � without batting an eyelid.'"

Picture Pages, Picture Pages ...



Due to a rare neurological disorder Tracy Bingham cognitively inserts the words "Dress-to-Get-Laid" immediately preceding the word "Party"on all Hollywood invitations received. (image via wireimage)



Kevin Federline convenes this ad hoc Great Books Discussion Group with the age old Socratic inquiry: "Can virtue be taught?" (image via photos.blogger via justjared)



"I knew I had to get a picture with you -- not because of your Oscar, mind you -- but because your creme-colored dress sets off the burnt umber underpinnings of my "Mantan" so exquisitely.(image via style.com/Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene)

A Little of the Old In and Out



(image via dhm.de)

In: Angela Merkel, Iron Lady. Employing the same steely resolve that she used to overcome former Chancellor Gerhard Schroder's shameful "Hell, no, I won't go" strategem after he lost the election, German Chancellor Angela Merkel faced the first major challenge as head of state when Vladimir Putin attempted to start off the new year by lustily strangling Ukranian oil supplies and, ancillary to that, affecting European oil in the process (Russia supplies 30 percent of European oil). Charmed, we're sure (Averted Gaze). The Chancellor passed with flying colors, bringing up the uncomfortable prospect that Russia: 1) May risk its hard-won new G8 Presidency, and, 2) That Europe may need to rethink getting 30 percent of it's oil supply from a politically pathological regime.

Okay, she didn't actually say "politically pathological regime," that was The Corsair on a tear. From WSJ Europe:

"With Poland and the other 'new Europeans' in the EU firmly supporting Ukrainian democracy, Germany will be the key in this crisis. Under the previous Red-Green government, Berlin was particularly indulgent of Mr. Putin. Its gas industry is also closely linked with Russian energy giant Gazprom.

"But new Chancellor Angela Merkel, an avowed Atlanticist with hopes of mending ties with the U.S., has promised a new approach. This will be the test for both her and George W. Bush. The Ukrainian crisis demonstrates what a colossal disservice previous Chancellor Gerhard Schr�der has done to Europe and his own country by pushing for the ill-conceived new pipeline that will go under the Baltic Sea and bypass Ukraine and the Baltic countries.

"At the moment, Moscow can't shut off the Ukrainian pipelines without also hurting European gas supplies. Once the new pipeline is finished around 2010, Russia's power to reward those states that follow its ukase and punish those that question its policies will only increase. And this doesn't only apply to Russia's former vassals. It would also allow Moscow to target just Germany and Western Europe without affecting deliveries to other regions."



Freak! (image via variety)

Out: Tom Ford. The drama -- Tomfoolery? -- at Vanity Fair over Tom Ford continues apace. When last we left the professional shocker (Averted Gaze), he was trying to tart up Dakota Fanning (How CONTROVERSIAL!!). Now, apparently, he's getting on Graydon Carter's nerves. According to those intrepid Page Sixxies:

"TOM Ford's stint as creative director of Vanity Fair's Hollywood issue is getting messier by the minute. West Coast sources say the former Gucci designer's frequent fits and imperious manner during photo shoots have forced the magazine's battle-weary fashion stylists to take extreme measures. According to a source close to the L.A. set, Ford's finicky taste in designer labels has run his staff so ragged, they now remove the tags on all garments before Ford can see them. 'It was getting comical,' says our spy. 'He would like a dress and then look at the label and send it back because he hates that particular designer. Eventually, somebody got the idea to just cut out all the labels so he couldn't tell what was what.'

"Meanwhile, back in New York, sources say editor Graydon Carter is getting concerned. 'Graydon's a conservative guy, and Tom's out there telling people everyone in the issue's going to be naked and bringing in all these outside photographers who've never worked at VF, like [debauched downtown snapper] Terry Richardson. It's been one disaster after the next, and I think at this point he's just praying Tom doesn't embarrass everyone."

And here we thought Graydon was an Ayn Randian self-invented liberatrian.



This ... can only properly be construed under the category of: "Sweet Ass." (image via pub/tv2)

In: James Burke. Is Kate Moss' new "boo" James Burke? And is he 11-years her junior? Hott! According to British Vogue:

"AFTER frenzied tabloid coverage of her romance with Pete Doherty last year, Kate Moss has given us all something new to gossip about by being pictured snogging someone else. The 31-year-old British supermodel apparently insists she is 'just friends' with the 20-year-old hottie she was spotted with in Aspen, Colarado, over the New Year break. Thought to be singer-songwriter James Burke, the new man was introduced to Kate by Richard Branson's son Sam � and while we're told it's very early days, he has already met the model's mother Linda and brother Nick, both of whom joined her on holiday. Formerly a pupil at Charterhouse School in Surrey, Burke signed with Models One before moving to New York to try and set up a band."



(image via kasharnews)

Out: Digital Cable "Channels." First, our beloved Trio TV switches to the computer screen today, now something simian-sounding called "Vongo" unceremoniously pops up onto our media radar. (The Corsair sips an urbane, hand-crafted Armagnac with an herbal nose) According to the always excellent Rafat Ali on Paidcontent:

"These are very initial thoughts ... I haven't subscribed to the full service, and probably won't unless the company gives me a trial pass. Anyway, the Vongo movie service from Starz (read about the launch below) has launched and the site has a lot of intro information on how to use the service. (It does not work in Opera on PCs, and not yet on Macs either)

"... It is all Flash magic... The preview window for movies works well. The same window is used to stream the live Starz TV channel, and the interesting part is that you can download most (depending on the rights issues) of the movies being shown on the live movie channel from the schedule window below the preview window. But the most interesting thing is to read the terms of service, where there is a lot of info on the restrictions placed on the service. Among them: --

"'Please be advised that the Vongo Client will only allow you to have 10 Content files in your download list at a time.

"-- Except for Pay Per View Content, each Content file downloaded will allow you to have 10 24-hour periods to view the Content, provided that the Content does not otherwise expire due to availability.

"-- For Pay Per View Content, you will be provided with 1 24-hour viewing period, which period shall commence when you initiate the viewing of the Content. -- Please be advised that not all Content may be available for all purposes."

Ah, the fine print (AKA: the "Thou-Shalt-Nots"). More here.



(image via computerclubhouse)

In: Aspen. Where to powervacation over New Year's? There are votes for St. Bart's (Barry Diller, Lorne Michaels, Jon Bon Jovi, "Go-go" Gagosian), to Cabo San Lucas (Howard Stern, Julie Chen, Les Moonves), to Punta del Este, Uruguay ("the boho chic of South America" according to Fashionweekdaily; featuring: Brooke de Ocampo, Lillian Wang von Stauffenberg), to South Beach (Mischa Barton, uber-wigger Scott Storch)but Aspen -- where Kate Moss spent New Years -- appears to have had the highest concentration of the jet set. According to our favorite social chronicler David Patrick Columbia in NYSocialDiary:

"Way out west in Aspen there were parties galore (and fresh powder almost everyday for the ski bums and bunnies). Christy Ferer had a dinner for Cathy and Stephen Graham, Carolyne Roehm, Charlotte Moss and her hubby where they all watched the fireworks on Aspen Mountain. Steve and Jamie Tisch entertained their troops at their chalet just outside Aspen, with those can�t-stop eatin�-em hors d�oeuvres � pigs in a blanket, mini-hamburgers, etc. Among the guests: Denise Rich, Don Johnson, Jack Wagner, Bill and Maria Bell (producers of 'The Young and the Restless,' and 'The Bold and the Beautiful'), Bob and Soledad Hurst, Richard Edwards (of the Caribou Club), Ashley Schiff, KK Kravis, and Johnny Schulhof.

"The day before, art collectors Melva Bucksbaum and Ray Learsy had a party for Carolyne Roehm and her new internet business 'Presentations.' Up on Red Mountain that night, Congresswoman Jane Harman and her husband Sidney (Harman Electronics) hosted a party for about eighty guests included ... Queen Noor, Senator Dianne Feinstein and Dick Blum, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Eisner, Arianna Huffington, and Jeff Blau. While over at the Caribou Club, Kurt and Goldie (you have to ask Kurt and Goldie who?) threw a dinner in a private room.

"Meanwhile back in town, Jack Nicholson entertained at home."

Kim Hastreiter on the Papermag blog notes that Isaac Mizrahi recently had some fun at the expense of Carolyne Roehm: "Oh, my God, and then he TORTURED the society babe Carolyn Roehm when she was on. She has a new book out about giftwrapping presents and Isaac tormented her til I thought she would storm off. It was hysterical."

Quick! Someone get me the DVD!

Matthew McConoughey Breaks Collarbone



(image via jam.canoe.com)

The long swan-like neck that alighted the fancy of People Magazine at present terminates in a busted collarbone. Alas. We can only wonder in studied silence if there was "kind bud" involved. Like, did the 2005 Amsterdam Cannabis Cup's winner find it'sway into McConoughey'ssystem, by any chance?According to the 3AM Girls:

"LET'S hope Spanish siren Penelope Cruz's nursing skills are up to scratch - because boyfriend Matthew McConaughey has gone and broken his collarbone.

"Our spy in the sunshine tells us the 36-year-old Sahara stud was surfing off the Costa Rican coast with Cruz, 31, over Christmas when he took a tumble.

"'It's really easy to break your collarbone while surfing, but at least he's got Penelope there to look after him,' says our mole."

Hydro? Chocolate Thai?

2005 Predictions



(image via lott.senat.gov)

Trent Lott will Machiavel his way to become Senate Majority Leader (Beating out "Sure Thing" Mitch McConnell), launching a thousand "Comeback Kid" profiles. In his new, "kinder, gentler" reincarnation, he will bring in millions in pork dollars to help low income African-American causes in his home state of Mississippi and the rest of the US.



Mike Tyson begins a profitable career in porn.



(image via webfantasy)

Parker Posey will absolutely fucking steal the Superman Returns movie, becoming the breakout star of 2006.

Les Moonves will actively court George Clooney to replace Bob Schieffer on the Evening News. Clooney, flattered, will avoid speculation, but ultimately turn down the offer (After Cronkite pipes in), leaving Katie Couric with the job.

Playboy.com "iBod" porn downloads will become incredibly profitable -- .99 a pop?-- sending Playboy shares and "Vivid Video" into the stratosphere .

Extreme Fighting shorts will also storm young male 18-34 iPods. Late in the year, Congressional Republicans and Democrats -- led by Joe Lieberman and Hillary and McCain -- will move to regulate the bloodsport, prompting organizations to move overseas to Russia and Central Asia(The lands of Genghis Khan); where they will be embraced by Russian Video-on-Demand's thirst for bloodsport.

Warren Beatty will run for Governor of California and West Wing producer and former Daniel Patrick Moynihan aide Lawrence O'Donnell and former Colorado Governor Gary Hart will play major roles as advisors.

Democrats will miraculously win control of the House of Representatives, making the already insufferable Rahm Emmanuel the "It" boy of the Democratic Party.

As the studios recalibrate themselves as purveyors of spectacular "event films" a la Narnia/LOTR -- Pixar Animations, surprisingly, will yield increasing clout (Also, beyond Hollywood in the spheres of iPod animated shorts and mobile phone gaming).



(image via outsidethebeltway)

Sexy coppertop Ana Marie Cox will be the "Reliable Source" columnist for the Washington Post.

Mississippi Governor Haley Barbor will emerge as the evangelical alternative to John McCain in the Republican Party.

Arianna Huffington will get her own prime time cable talk show.

Vaughn Ververs' CBS Eye Blog will garner major media kudos and a Dupont Award.

Rob Lowe's Sam Seborn character -- a one term California Congressman -- will run on the Santos Ticket on "The West Wing." Future lot lines will focus around Santos' increasing jealousy over Lowe's fawning press coverage ("Golden Boy" "People's Sexiest Politician")

One time losers AJ Discalia, Nick Lachey and Jonathan Scaech will form the "Hollywood First Husbands Club," an updated version of Leo DiCaprio's late 90s social phenomenon "The Pussy Posse."

Hilary Clinton and John Kerry will decline to run for President late in the year. John McCain will announce his candidacy around Thanksgiving.