BobbyD

Country Strong: Why Paltrow Isn't America's Sweetheart :4biggrin: By Mary Pols Friday, Jan. 07, 2011 In the unfortunately weak Country Strong, Gwyneth Paltrow plays country-and-western singer Kelly Canter, an alcoholic. She struts, sings, swills, sleeps around and in some truly perilous acting moments, intended to be rich with metaphor, cradles an orphaned baby bird. Anytime an actress steps this far out of her comfort zone, without a strong script to support her, she has to hope audiences are on her side. And they might be, if this were Sandra Bullock, say, or perhaps Jennifer Garner. But this is Paltrow, the American actress whose achievements seem to have piled up in reverse proportion to the goodwill she inspires. If there's an opposite of America's Sweetheart, she's it. How did this happen? Things started off so well. Paltrow earned deserved praise for films like Emma and Sliding Doors and took home an Oscar at 26 for the winning Shakespeare in Love. A decade ago she was cool enough for Wes Anderson to cast her in The Royal Tenenbaums, playing the aloof and miserable Margot. Now that character seems to have leached over into the public perception of Paltrow herself. Envy would be the first suspect. Paltrow came to Hollywood as a wealthy insider (her mother is Blythe Danner; the father she lost to cancer in 2002 was director Bruce Paltrow) and dated Brad Pitt and Ben Affleck before marrying British rock star Chris Martin. She has two adorable children, and though 38, she is capable of carrying off shorts with 2-in. (5 cm) inseams. She seems perpetually at her physical peak, which gives her a vibe reminiscent of Dorian Gray. She pals around with Mario Batali, Beyoncé and Jay-Z. Even her Spanish is pretty. When word got out that she'd be making a guest appearance on Glee in November, Gleeks viewed this as an invasion; the woman Britain's Daily Mail once called "the blonde bore" seemed more likely to be a slushie thrower than a kindred spirit to the glee club's misfits. She then proceeded to turn in such a solid performance as a suspiciously perfect substitute teacher (a spoof of her own image; clearly she has a sense of humor) that even her detractors had a hard time denying she was great. Still, the praise had an edge: the New York Times noted that her performance all but erased the recent perception of her as a "smug, unbearable scold." Note the all but. The woman who is clearly one of life's winners can't seem to get ahead in the public-opinion polls. Is the problem that Paltrow appears superhuman? Actually, no. Thanks to her two-year-old lifestyle website, Goop.com (she's said Goop is an old nickname), we know just how human she is. For instance, she sometimes feels compelled to starve herself on miso soup, greens and tidbits of protein for a week to "detox." On Goop.com we can watch a video of her making guacamole for her children Apple and Moses and see that it is no more magical or complicated than when we make it. We know that looking as she does requires her to work out at least 90 minutes a day six days a week, often accompanied by a personal trainer who used to train her friend Madonna and is now Paltrow's business partner. We know she likes to shop locally and that she enjoys a bargain (Goop tip: Spanish Cava is much cheaper than Champagne) as much as she does a "cozy" $1,095 spike-heeled winter boot. Like any celebrity, Paltrow lives behind glass, but her authorship of Goop takes the tint off her windows. It's like Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous narrated by the rich, famous and self-congratulatory. When someone like Chelsea Handler tells Paltrow, as she did during a November interview, "I love you," the words carry more than a hint of "I know I'm bucking a trend here." Handler went on to rave about Paltrow's singing and even suggested she make an album. Paltrow graciously accepted the compliment. But if she needed it, it didn't show. A lack of humility may be the issue — that and the dangers of taking your act cross-platform. The very existence of her website suggests Paltrow assumes we are eager to sit at her knee. She has said she wants to share the wealth of opportunities she's had — from talking novels with Christy Turlington to staying at the best hotels — and she does, magnanimously, in e-mail newsletters signed, "love, GP." The implication is, Of course you'd like to be me. Her lifestyle-guru identity, combined with the cookbook she's got coming out in April, suggests Paltrow aspires to be an object of emulation, an Oprah with an Oscar. Yet pop culture has cast her not so much in the role of helpful nurturer as in that of the mother-in-law you will never be good enough for. She slings that guitar around like a champion in Country Strong, and when Kelly's onstage, she bravely and astutely taps into the necessary narcissism of a big-time performer. But neither Paltrow nor writer-director Shana Feste ever make us understand this troubled character in full, and the personal satisfactions and triumphs of Paltrow (those legs!) cast a long, distracting shadow. When Kelly's manager-husband James (Tim McGraw) tells her young love interest Beau (Garrett Hedlund, in a performance as alluring as Brad Pitt's in Thelma & Louise) that Kelly "doesn't travel light," he's referring to baggage both literal and metaphorical. He might also be talking about Paltrow. This article originally appeared in the Jan. 17, 2011 issue of TIME. Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/...l#ixzz1Aakbusz3

Lindsay & Sam -- WeHo Dinner Date 1/9/2011 10:30 AM PST by TMZ Staff Lindsay Lohan is falling back into old habits -- TMZ has learned she's hanging out with Sam Ronson again, but they are not back together. Sources tell TMZ the pair met up last night to have dinner in West Hollywood. We're told the new neighbors have been "getting along well" since LiLo moved in next door to SamRo -- but for now they are "just friends." Being friends with your ex rarely ever works out well, but good luck girls!

I wondered what happened with that? Wasn't he supposed to go to court or something, because he used those funds improperly?

Lindsay Lohan Case Referred to District Attorney 1/6/2011 2:14 PM PST by TMZ Staff TMZ has learned ... Lindsay Lohan's fate is now in the hands of the Riverside County District Attorney, who will decide whether to charge her in the Betty Ford brouhaha with the former staffer. The Palm Desert Police Department has turned its investigation over to the D.A., who will decide whether to charge Lohan with battery. The case would be an uphill battle, because alleged victim Dawn Holland says she will not cooperate and does not want Lindsay prosecuted. No word on when the D.A. will make a decision.

Or maybe Sandy will hookup with ScarJo? Mmmmmmmm....

Bloody Nose From Drunken Stunt Sent David Arquette to Rehab, Report Claims Published January 06, 2011 FoxNews.com David Arquette went into rehab soon after partying so hard he busted his nose on the floor while trying to do "the worm" at a trendy LA club. Before checking into the Betty Ford Clinic over New Year's weekend, the 39-year-old actor fell flat on his face and bloodied his nose while trying the break-dancing move at Trousdale right after Christmas, Page Six has learned. Arquette showed up in Miami days later with his face black-and-blue, and refused to take off a Lone Ranger-style mask that barely hid his red, swollen and bruised face. Still nursing his heartache over his split with his wife, "Cougar Town" star Courteney Cox, Arquette returned to LA for New Year's Eve and spent late nights at Hollywood strip club Crazy Girls. A source told us, "David has not handled the split well. He's been drinking heavily and just went wild. At Trousdale, he got wasted and tried to do the worm, but ended falling on his face and smashing up his nose. There was blood everywhere. And he's been spending a lot of money at strip clubs. He ended up a total mess."

Vulture Ebert on Huck Finn Controversy: ‘I Should Have Shut Up’ Roger Ebert caused a stir yesterday when he took on the controversy over censored words in a new edition of Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, tweeting, "I'd rather be called a N***** than a Slave." After the commentariat noted that Ebert probably wasn't speaking from his own experience, he conceded today, "You know, this is very true. I'll never be called a N***** or a Slave, so I should have shut the **** up." That's definitely the word in the sentence you would have used your asterisks on, right?

Lindsay's Battery 'Victim' to Cops: 'Back Off!' 1/5/2011 5:10 PM PST by TMZ Staff The former Betty Ford employee who filed the battery report against Lindsay Lohan thinks the Palm Desert Police Department is out of line by gunning for LiLo, and thinks cops should "back off." Dawn Holland, who was fired from Betty Ford after the December 12 altercation, tells TMZ, "Lindsay has got enough to deal with as is ... they just need to back off and let it go." Holland is suspicious of the Palm Desert cops' motive, saying they seem to be going way out of their way to nail Lindsay. Holland adds, "Jail is not going to rehabilitate her."

Cops: Lindsay Under the Influence at Betty Ford 1/5/2011 9:22 AM PST by TMZ Staff Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Palm Desert Police Department officials believe Lindsay Lohan was under the influence of drugs or alcohol while at Betty Ford. As TMZ first reported, the PD believes Lindsay committed violations of her probation -- apart from the alleged December 12 battery. Sources say the cops believe Lindsay was under the influence of drugs or alcohol -- which would be a violation of her probation in the Beverly Hills DUI case. And they believe she violated probation by refusing to submit to a breathalyzer. The former Betty Ford staffer who filed the battery complaint against Lindsay -- and then said she didn't want Lindsay prosecuted -- has told TMZ she believed Lindsay was under the influence of alcohol on the night of the incident. It's curious that Palm Desert cops are weighing in on a probation violation outside their jurisdiction. But Shawn Chapman Holley tells TMZ, "I had numerous conversations with Betty Ford counselors and doctors and it was never suggested by anyone that she ever drank or used drugs." Holley adds, "Her discharge letter is totally consistent with that."

P, I'm not entirely buying that they are broken up...at least until I see Ronson packing up and moving out. The other issue is...isn't Lohan moving next door a person who she was involved with during her addictive "past?" Is this part of the therapy to be back around the same folks?

Palm Desert PD Gunning for Lindsay From the Get-Go 1/4/2011 10:50 AM PST by TMZ Staff Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the Palm Desert Police Department was rabidly trying to get Lindsay Lohan arrested just days after her altercation with a Betty Ford Center staffer. Sources say a police lieutenant contacted L.A. County Deputy Probation Officer Barbara Parker shortly after Lindsay's December 12 run-in with Dawn Holland, asking her to come to Betty Ford and arrest Lindsay for violating her probation. When Parker told the lieutenant it would be premature to take such drastic action, we're told the lieutenant began arguing with her and it got "extremely heated." We've learned after the call, the lieutenant's boss called Parker to apologize. As TMZ reported earlier today, the police are now saying Lindsay violated her probation by committing a battery. What's interesting is that it's for the L.A. County Probation Department and ultimately a Beverly Hills judge -- not the police in Riverside County -- to conclude if Lindsay violated probation. Sources tell TMZ ... the L.A. County Probation Department will take no action against Lindsay unless she's convicted of battery in Riverside County. So she skates...I bet.

David Arquette Enters Rehab Sunday January 02, 2011 08:15 PM EST After a tough couple of months, David Arquette is seeking help. The actor, who separated from wife Courteney Cox in October, has entered a rehab program, his rep confirms to PEOPLE. The rep had "no further information," however a source says the actor needs help with alcohol and other issues. "He is in there for drinking and depression, not hard drugs. Rehab was inevitable," says the source. "He is dealing with a broken heart. He can't handle all the changes in his life. All his inner demons came out." During a recent interview on Howard Stern's radio show, Arquette, 39, said that his psychologist, whom he sees once a week, believed he was having a "nervous breakdown," and the actor confessed he'd been "drinking a lot." "Everybody's worried and concerned about me," he added during the interview. "When I drink, I become a maniac." A source told PEOPLE recently that Arquette, who is dad to 6-year-daugher Coco with Cox, 46, was having trouble managing the separation. "He's just not handling this situation well," the source said. "He's really depressed. TMZ.com first reported that Arquette had entered rehab.

Actually, I think he's right. It WAS cool in its time. Bringing it back WOULD be pathetic. Good for him. I agree. Besides, I'm sure they will all be supporting their great grandchildren on the residuals. Well, maybe not Aniston. Meee-OUCH! :4biggrin: My point for posting is that I think they all could use some work right about now. Don't be all high and mighty, Matt. Maybe he shouldn't have brought it up in the first place.

Merry X-mas and Happy New Year!

Matt Leblanc: 'Friends Reunion Would Be Sad' December 28, 2010 Matt LeBlanc has ruled out a “Friends” TV reunion because he can only imagine such an idea would be sad. The actor, who played clueless Joey in the hit sitcom, is still in touch with his Friends castmates and he’d love to meet up for a party to reminisce, but he can’t imagine a storyline that would bring the sextet back together. He says, “What would the story be? We all get together and what? Have coffee? It would be almost sad. It’s better to just imagine what those characters are doing now.” LeBlanc just wants to be left with the memories of his time on the show, which ended in 2004 after a 10-year run. He adds, “Friends was this magical, cool thing, like lightning in a bottle, and I feel superfortunate to have been part of it.”

What Tiger Woods, Jesse James and Eva Longoria taught me about love Mara Reinstein.Writer, Us Weekly According to the Chinese calendar, 2010 was the year of the tiger. In the celebrity universe, it was the year of the Tiger divorce. Sandra and Jesse's split too. And Scarlett and Ryan. And Eva and Tony. And David and Courteney. And Tammy Lynn and Melissa. And Halle and Gabriel. And Blake and Penn. And Madonna and Jesus. It's difficult to scan this list and be optimistic about long-term love. If these fabulously gorgeous and wealthy people with multiple vacation homes can't make it work, how do us mortals have a chance? The facts look even grimmer from my perspective: Not only am I a single 30-something, I've been covering ugly A-list break-ups for Us Weekly since La Bennifer. Let me summarize thousands of reporting files in one sentence: You know how stars always swear their split is amicable and they want to remain friends? Yeah, not so much. A few have rocked me personally. I was genuinely shocked and disappointed when the golden couple themselves -- Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, as if you have to ask -- divorced in 2005. For all the Hollywood mishigas surrounding them, they practically radiated with love in public. She's the fire we all crowd around for warmth, he gushed to Vanity Fair months earlier. Suddenly, the marriage was just a pile of smokey ash, sob. But this essay isn't a woe-is-me lament. It's actually a thank you note. For these couples' painful mistakes have turned into my life lessons. You see, I now know exactly what not to do in a relationship. Having an 11-month affair with a heavily tattooed stripper and Internet porn model named Michelle "Bombshell" McGee is a given. My rules are simple, useful and, best of all, universal. Though I do hope Katy Perry and Russell Brand pay special attention. I'm already worried about them. 1. Don't live apart Absence doesn't make the heart grow fonder; it makes the heart go to bars and flirt with the closest warm body. That's not always the case, of course, but it's a sad truth that two people plus non-stop frenzied work and travel schedules do not equal one solid relationship. There's just no quality time left over to spend with each other. Consider Ryan Reynolds and Scarlett Johansson. I think they collectively filmed 23 movies (and starred in one Broadway play) during their two-year marriage. Doomed. 2. ...But don't be attached 24/7 either Movie stars fall for each on a set, then get to wrap up their project in six weeks. To paraphrase Christian Bale during his Terminator 4 tirade, Gooood for youuuu! Everybody else who makes a move on the clock -- especially TV stars, like Dexter's Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter -- is susceptible to a ticking time-bomb romance. That's because when you work and cohabitate in close confines with your mate, essential breathing room comes at a premium. Even worse, a break-up can lead to the dreaded working-with-your-ex scenario. 3. Don't over-share in public It doesn't matter if Oprah Winfrey herself is gently asking the questions in soft-focus lighting. Keeping the sacred details of your personal life behind closed doors is respectful and, frankly, good common sense. And keep in mind: the more you rave, the more apparent it becomes that you're just hiding something (cough, Jenny McCarthy, cough). Plus, as Ryan Reynolds recently -- and presciently -- pointed out, if you invite people into your marriage, you have to invite them into your divorce. This notion is only appealing if you're Camille Grammer. 4. Don't settle down too young Committing to one person for the rest of your life before you can legally rent a car stacks the odds against you. Your personal tastes and behavior all need to time to develop. This clause even applies to freakishly-mature-for-their-age Disney child stars such as Christina Aguilera. She wed at 24. She filed for divorce at 29. 5. Don't bother with over-the-top nuptials They had a $1.5 million wedding in Paris, complete with 10,000 red roses, 2,000 candles and an orchestra. Three years later, Eva Longoria Parker found inappropriate texts between her husband, Tony Parker, and a close girlfriend and those extravagant I do details were worthless. Look, fairy tale weddings are lovely. Just not quite as lovely as focusing on the happily ever after. 6. Don't crowd yourself When you're surrounded by a talented and supportive team -- including an assistant, a chef, a nanny, a doorman, a stylist and a gaggle of friends -- it's easy to ignore the need for a teammate at home. That's when many complacent romances fall by the wayside. Athletes should grasp this concept easily, but they have a higher split rate than Olympic gymnasts. 7. Don't live in Los Angeles It can't be a coincidence that some of the most successful Hollywood couples -- Kevin Bacon & Kyra Sedgwick, Goldie Hawn & Kurt Russell, Michael J. Fox & Tracy Pollan, Sarah Jessica Parker & Matthew Broderick to name a few -- don't live in Hollywood. Can it? Breathtaking views, though.

Richard Chamberlain to Gay Actors: Don't Come Out! 12/27/2010 3:45 AM PST by TMZ Staff Hollywood legend Richard Chamberlain -- a gay man who revealed his sexuality in 2003 -- has fired off some shocking advice to other gay actors: Stay in the closet! 76-year-old Chamberlain -- who became a teen idol in the '60s playing the lead role on "Dr. Kildare" -- told The Advocate, "Personally, I wouldn't advise a gay leading man-type actor to come out." Chamberlain explained, "There's still a tremendous amount of homophobia in our culture" -- adding, "Despite all the wonderful advances that have been made, it's still dangerous for an actor to talk about that." Chamberlain continues, "For an actor to be working [at all] is a kind of miracle, because most actors aren't ... so it's just silly for a working actor to say, 'Oh, I don't care if anybody knows I'm gay' -- especially if you're a leading man."

Lindsay's Alleged Victim Will Refuse to Cooperate 12/24/2010 1:00 AM PST by TMZ Staff The ex-Betty Ford staffer who claims Lindsay Lohan assaulted her earlier this month will not only drop her criminal complaint, she'll refuse to cooperate with authorities ... TMZ has learned. Dawn Holland, who told TMZ earlier this week how Lindsay ripped a phone from her hand causing a severe sprain, now says Lindsay should not be prosecuted. Holland's lawyer, Keith Davidson, tells TMZ, "Dawn will not continue to press charges against Lindsay, nor will she be assisting any further in the investigation or prosecution." And this is interesting ... we asked Davidson how his client would respond if she's subpoenaed, and he said, "She won't." Davidson says Holland and Lindsay share a common bond -- they're both recovering addicts, Holland does not want "in any way shape or form to do anything that would violate Lindsay's probation or cause an arrest." Davidson says, "A crime has quite simply not been committed by Ms. Lohan."

I would hope she is screwed, so maybe sitting behind bars will finally scare her straight to the path to recovery. No one(the media) seems to bothered that she was in a bar. But I think she'll get off also...

I agree with you that this woman is seeking an easy payday, but Lindsay did refuse to take a breathalyzer (at least for several hours), which doesn't look so good for her. Has anyone else backed up that story or is it just this employee who is claiming that? I can't keep up! actually, I'm not sure -- I can't keep up either! It's confirmed that she didn't take a breathalyzer. I also don't trust the worker either....however, if I'm the judge...I'm like, uhhhh..Lindsay, WTF are you doing in a bar, since you are a recovering addict? She broke curfew and that's what started the trouble, so now it's everyone else's fault...which is her and her Mother's motto.

Lindsay Lohan a suspect in criminal battery investigation By staff writers ACTRESS Lindsay Lohan, currently in drug treatment at the Betty Ford Centre, is a suspect in a criminal battery investigation stemming from an altercation that occurred after Lohan and her rehab roommates went to a bar. Lohan, 24, and her Betty Ford roommates reportedly left the facility to go to a bar on the night of December 11, TMZ said. After the group returned to the facility, police received a report of hand-to-hand battery from a female Betty Ford staffer at 1.03am on December 12. Palm Desert Police Department officers arrived on the scene and interviewed both Lohan and the Betty Ford staffer. Officers told TMZ the staffer "desired prosecution". Sources close to Lohan told TMZ that she claims the staffer put her hands on Lohan first. Lohan responded by saying, "Take your hands off me" and pushed the woman back, the sources said. The Department is investigating the incident. When the investigation is complete, the case will be forwarded to prosecutors for review. One of the terms of Lohan's probation is that she "obey all laws", and being found guilty of battery could send her back to jail for six months. A source told Radar Online that both Lohan and the Betty Ford Centre are trying to keep the incident out of court. "Both sides are trying to work out something," the source said. "But right now the talks do not include the worker involved in the incident." TMZ reported that Lohan will file a formal complaint against the Betty Ford staffer and wants the facility to take action against her. Lohan, 24, checked into Betty Ford in September after testing positive for cocaine while on probation for a previous offence. Under the terms of her court sentence, Lohan is to stay at the treatment centre until at least January 3, 2011. The Mean Girls star spent 14 days behind bars in July for violating the terms of her 2007 DUI probation. Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/linds...1#ixzz18n1k8qe6

Lindsay Lohan -- The Chick Touched Me First 12/21/2010 7:35 AM PST by TMZ Staff Lindsay Lohan claims she did NOT strike first in a physical altercation with a female staff member at the Betty Ford Clinic ... but she did push back ... this according to sources close to LiLo. Lindsay is telling people close to her ... the drama unfolded when she arrived to the BFC on December 12 roughly ten minutes after her curfew. Lindsay claims when she walked into the BFC -- a female staff member was "unfairly" scolding her about the situation ... and demanded the actress take a drug/alcohol test. We're told it was during the heated exchange that the woman "put her hands on Lindsay." Lindsay claims she told the woman, "Take your hands off of me" and then "pushed back." As we previously reported, local police received a call at 1:03 AM for "hand-to-hand battery" -- and LiLo was named as a suspect. The staffer wants LiLo prosecuted for criminal battery. We're told Lindsay feels the staffer has had it out for her for a while ... and with LiLo reaching the end of her stay at the clinic, the actress believes the staffer was looking for a final confrontation.

Lindsay Lohan Under Investigation in Battery Case Lohan Allegedly Involved in Altercation With Female Betty Ford Staffer By SHEILA MARIKAR Dec. 21, 2010 Lindsay Lohan's clean streak may have met its end. According to authorities, detectives are investigating Lohan for alleged misdemeanor battery against a female staffer at the Betty Ford Center, the California facility where she's been receiving treatment since September. Police arrived at a Betty Ford Center facility early Dec. 12 in response to incident involving Lohan, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department said in a statement to ABCNews.com. "On Dec. 12, 2010 at 1:03 a.m. officers from the Palm Desert Police Department conducted a battery investigation," the statement said. "The incident involved Lindsay Lohan and another female adult who is a staff member. Lohan was reported as a suspect in the investigation. The victim desired prosecution." "The incident is being investigated as a misdemeanor not committed in the presence of a peace officer," the statement continued. "Therefore, no one was arrested at the scene. The investigation is currently ongoing. Upon completion of the investigation, the reports will be forwarded to the District Attorney's office to determine if charges will be filed in the case." ABCNews.com's calls and e-mails to Lohan's lawyer for comment were not immediately returned. Lohan reported to rehab for the fifth time since 2007 in September after testing positive for cocaine. Earlier this year, she served two prison stints for violating her 2007 DUI probation. One of the terms of Lohan's probation is to abide by all laws. If she is charged with battery, she could spend another session behind bars. Until now, rehab seemed to be doing good for the 24-year-old starlet. According to RadarOnline, last week, she celebrated 100 days of sobriety. While in treatment, Lohan reportedly made ammends with her estranged father, Michael Lohan, with whom she spent Thanksgiving. The "Mean Girls" actress is reportedly planning to travel to New York to spend Christmas with her mother, Dina Lohan, at the family's Long Island home. It is unclear if the investigation into the Betty Ford incident will affect that trip.

Sam Worthington Admits 'Clash of the Titans' Let People Down; Promises Sequel Will Be Better By Gabrielle Dunn (Subscribe to Gabrielle Dunn's posts) Posted Dec 17th 2010 2:00PM It's not often that an actor admits a movie they starred in was straight-up bad. But on the set of his latest movie, 'Man on a Ledge,' Sam Worthington told Moviefone that he wasn't exactly pleased by -- but agreed with -- the Internet's response to the 2010 remake of 'Clash of the Titans.' "I just think we can improve on it," he told Moviefone of the upcoming 'Titans' sequel. "I think the first one, we kind of let down some people. And yeah, I totally agree. The only point of doing a sequel is either the audience demands it or you believe you can better the first one. What we're setting out to do with this one -- the writers and the director and myself -- is improve. I think I can act f***ing better, to be honest ... Just take all the notes from people that I have been reading about on the 'net and give them a movie they f***ing want. This one I want to kind of try to satisfy a lot more people." Seems like Worthington is the rare actor who listens to what the people want. And he promises 'Clash of the Titans 2' will be better. "I've always said you make movies for an audience, that's who you make movies for," he said. "If the audience is speaking, it's like the old gladiator thing, they give us the thumbs up/thumbs down, you want to stay alive in that coliseum as long as you can."

Neil Patrick Harris Regrets Bashing Actor on Twitter By Alla Byrne Saturday December 18, 2010 10:30 AM EST FacebookTwitterE-mailIt's the stuff that soap operas are made of. Neil Patrick Harris and The Young and the Restless actor Eric Braeden exchanged barbs after Braeden backed out of a guest appearance on How I Met Your Mother. "Eric Braeden is a D-Bag," griped NPH, 37, on Twitter Friday. "The actor, (Robin's dad) agreed to a cameo, then last night bailed, saying the part wasn't 'substantial' enough." Braeden, 69, fired back, telling in an Entertainment Weekly, "His choice of words bothered me." "It seems to me like a young whippersnapper, having seen himself on a few covers, who's received a few awards, is now suddenly suffering from the first signs of hubris," he said. "I've been in the business for 50 years. I've seen people come and go and I'm still here." Braeden said he "truly enjoyed" his first appearance on sitcom in 2008, but explained he's "exhausted" from recent hip surgery and, "I was not about appear on a show for two lines." Three hours after his initial Tweet, Harris backed off: "Now I feel bad for the D-bag comment. Don't know the guy personally. I'm just fiercely protective of our show."