4th Quadrant 7/30-8/6 '07

Week of July 30-August 6, 2007

$15,000 Hampton's Concert Tickets

ABCNews.com reports on the 2007 Hampton Social @ Ross concert series, which kicked off recently with a performance by Prince in ritzy East Hampton, N.Y. For the exorbitant price tag, of $15,000 ticket buyers will get the chance to see Prince, Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds, Billy Joel, James Taylor and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in separate shows during July and August in an "intimate" outdoor setting. Along with the music, attendees will enjoy extravagant side entertainment like art exhibits and magic by David Blaine.
Spin Magazine assistant editor Kyle Anderson told ABCNEWS.com, "… I've never seen anything at this level of expense or decadence. It just seems kind of silly." Silly or not, the series is already "practically sold out," according to Nicole Kotovos, the public relations representative for Bulldog Entertainment, the event's organizer.

David and Victoria Beckham

David Beckham, was given a five-year contract to move from England, where he was a superstar player, to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy soccer team. The contract is believed to be worth up to $250 million.
David’s wife, Victoria “Posh Spice” has benefited from the move too by getting her own reality television show “Victoria Beckham: Coming to America.”
Alessandra Stanley of the Times writes in her review of the reality show, “While Mr. Beckham whips up his profile in the United States with television interviews, soccer-field appearances, endorsements and Galaxy jersey sales, Mrs. Beckham pumps up her end of their business partnership with her jeans label and line of designer sunglasses and perfume and, of course, the television special.
Will Leitch, writes in an OP-ED piece in the Times that critics feel that Beckham is, “… an over-the-hill player being shoved down our throats by a publicity machine.”

Simpson Movie Promo

The Sun reports that pagans have pledged to perform “rain magic” to wash away a giant 180ft, doughnut brandishing, Homer Simpson that was painted next to the Cerne Abbas. The Cerne Abbas is the famous well-endowed fertility symbol, and symbol of ancient spirituality that is located in Dorset, England. The painting was a publicity stunt to promote “The Simpsons Movie.” It was painted with water-based biodegradable paint, which will wash away as soon as it rains. The district manager for The Pagan Federation said referring to the Homer painting, “It’s very disrespectful and not at all aesthetically pleasing.”
Rohit Bhargave has the very impressive - The Complete Gallery of Simpsons Movie Marketing.

North Korea's Karaoke Bars

Reuters reports that North Korea's security agency not only shut down karaoke bars, but also the Internet cafes in the country that don't have state authorization saying that, "... they are a threat to society." Ironically, the bars, and cafes aren't frequented by ordinary citizens. They are mostly used by businessmen who have, "... quite a bit of money..."

Magnolia Bakery

Eater reports that Magnolia Bakery, which was made famous by the show "Sex and the City", and the "SNL" Lazy Sunday skit was shut down, and re-opened by the Department of Health on July 11th. A recent change in ownership prompted the inspection. The bakery was cited for not having a sink in the area where cupcakes are iced by hand, for having mouse droppings, and fruit flies by the garbage area, for missing a door handle, and for missing a light cover. There is controversy surrounding the closer, because on the previous inspection that took place on 04/28/06, the bakery was not shut down, and the missing sink was not mentioned in the report.

Hairspray

The Times review of “Hairspray” mentions that Adam Shankman directed, and drawing from his long experience as a choreographer, choreographed “Hairspray”, which was adapted from the Broadway musical.
I’ve summarized a plot summary posted on IMDb by leoprez1030: "Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky), an overweight teenager with all the right moves, is obsessed with the Corny Collins Show. After one of the stars of the show leaves, Corny Collins (Jason Marsden) holds auditions to see who will be the next person on the show. With help from her friend Seaweed (Elijah Kelly), Tracy makes it on the show, angering the evil dance queen Amber Von Tussle (Brittany Snow) and her mother Velma (Michelle Pfieffer). Tracy then decides that it's not fair that the black kids can only dance on the show once a month, and with the help of, Motormouth Maybelle (Queen Latifah), Edna (John Travolta), and others, she's going to integrate the show...without denting her 'do!"
David Denby of the New Yorker says, “Hairspray is perfectly pleasant -- I smiled to myself all the way through it -- but it’s not as exhilarating as the show.” However, Scott Foundas of L.A. Weekly says that “Hairspray” is, “An odd hybrid that lacks both the rambunctious energy of a live performance and the expressionistic pull of a great movie musical.”
The movie got a 93% on the Critics Tomatometer, with an average rating of 8/10.
The Times has a full review with the trailer, and clips from the movie.

QB Michael Vick

The Times reports that Michael Vick, and three others were charged with running a dog-fighting ring at his home in Virginia. The trail is set for November 26, which means that he may not play football this season. Per the N.F.L. commissioner, Vick isn’t even allowed on the practice field. If convicted, Vick could face up to six years in jail, and a $350,000 fine. The 18-page indicted accuses Vick of having 54 pits bulls, a “rape” stand, which was allegedly used to hold dogs in place for mating, and pit bull graves. The indictment further states that, “losing dogs were sometimes put to death by shooting, drowning, strangulation, hanging or electrocution.”

The Times goes on to report that Nike suspended Vick’s endorsement contract, Reebok, the maker of his N.F.L. jersey, said that his jersey will be pulled from shelves, his trading card will not be released, Nike will not release his Air Zoom Vick V shoe, and Upper Deck has removed all of Vick’s autographed memorabilia from it’s website.

Dan Wetzel of Yahoo! Sports interestingly observed from the crowd standing outside the federal courthouse were Vick faced federal charges that almost all of the people supporting Vick or holding signs pleading for "due process" were African American, and on the other side was an anti-Vick group that was overwhelmingly white.