Paul Newman Dies

The great Paul Newman died today, succumbing to cancer. Very sad news, but not unexpected - news of his disease had been out for a short time. In his time he appeared in all-time-great films like 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof', 'Cool Hand Luke', 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid', 'The Sting', as well as its sequel decades later 'The Color of Money', for which he finally won an Oscar. Privately he was a major philanthropist:

All proceeds from Newman's Own salad dressings and snacks go to charity. Newman gave away $120m in 2005 and 2006, Fox News reported earlier this year.

He was also half of the most celebratedly long marriage in Hollywood, and is survived by Joanne Woodward, whom he married in 1958. I don't normally note the passing of actors, but Newman was a true role model on top of being an amazing looker and underrated actor, and will be rightly missed. In my mind his greatest role was in 'The Verdict', a clip of which is below:



May he rest in peace.

Hillary Voters Show Their True Colours

(via Towleroad)

We're all screwed.

David Letterman Slams McCain

I thought this would be a nice segue from Matt Damon slating Sarah Palin.



John McCain's 'campaign suspension' (which might, just might be connected with opinion polls now showing Obama emerging ahead into a lead that's statistically relevant) had the side effect of cancelling an appearance on the Letterman Show. Dave didn't like it one bit. Enjoy.

Clay Aiken Comes Out

A story about as shocking as Will Young coming out in 2002, I know. But Clay Aiken has finally admitted to the world that he's a raving poofter. Simon Cowell's response?

"Wow. That's a shock. It's like being told Santa Claus isn't real," he told "Extra." "Unbelievable."

But he did offer some words of support for the singer: "Good for him. If he said it, it's the right thing for him. Good for him." Cowell added that he didn't think the singer's fans should be shocked by the revelation, saying, "I don't think anyone cares. Let's face it: It's 2008. You know. Who cares?"

He's right of course. The attention grabber though is that Clay, American Idol runner-up in 2003, has just become a father. May he and his son be blessed with success and happiness.

George Michael...on Crack!

This isn't a surprise but it's still disappointing. George Michael, he of the multiple drug busts whilst driving his car, and cottaging which he's since attributed to being down to depression at the death of his mother, has been busted yet again. Apparently this time it was in a notorious 'cottage' at Hampstead Heath, and he was in possession of cannabis and crack cocaine. Really sad news, but his constant protests of how happy he's been since his infamous 1998 'outing' always sounded too much, particularly in his music.




He's a great man, one of the finest pop singer song writers ever, but I really tire of this self-loathing. Some people can indeed handle their drugs, and even keep them in perspective; he clearly can't. I wonder how much better his music would become if he got clean, but remember an interview in the 'Big Issue' during the period of his masterpiece 'Older', where if I recall correctly he, like Paul McCartney before him, attributed much of his creative success to drugs. It remains a huge shame, and is quite revealing, that he's not released anything even approaching that quality since then.

Of Gay Judges and Pink Glass Ceilings

Excellent news!

Sir Terence Etherton, pictured, will be the first openly gay judge to be sworn in as Lord Justice of Appeal when his appointment is confirmed later this month.

It's a very important development for an area of civil society marked by both significant homophobia and an even greater expectation of homophobia. He's not notably the first gay judge, but the Court of Appeal has only 36 members, and is the second highest court in the land, making this quite important. As the article goes on to show, it puts him in line to become the first out gay law lord.

This was nice too:

One of the most interesting things about him is that he was the first High Court judge to announce — in The Times in February 2006 — his entry into a civil partnership.

A real, non-self-hating progressive. We can only hope that our horribly unrepresentative criminal justice system will be influenced by an ever more diverse judiciary.

Matt Damon Slams Sarah Palin

If you are against the teaching of fake science on equal terms with real science, if you are against book banning, if you don't think that America's mission in Iraq is God-ordained, if you think that using executive power to resolve family battles is unacceptable, or that women should have no control over their bodies, then this is for you.

Oh yeh if you think Matt Damon's still super hot that helps too.

Russell Tovey - 11th Doctor?

In an interesting move, outgoing Doctor Who supremo Russell T Davies has named Russell Tovey - Midshipman Frame (allons-y Alonso!) - as his preferred choice for Eleventh Doctor:

In e-mails serialised in The Times newspaper, Davies said Russell Tovey, who appeared in Alan Bennett's play The History Boys, would fit the role.

The creator, who leaves the show next year as lead writer and executive producer, said he thought Tovey was "going to be huge" and is "amazing".

I'll admit if I had my own way I'd get Hugh Laurie - British, older (but not that much older), has the comedic chops, and House has proven he can draw from a much darker (and odder) seam too. But he's just had a massive payrise, so I don't think that'll happen any time soon. Tovey though is interesting, not least because he's gay.



It's understood (but not confirmed) that David Tennant's not going anywhere yet - he has a Who feature film he appears to be negotiating, in addition to probably starring in Who series 5 - but it does make you wonder whether this has already been decided, and what Steven Moffat could do with him.

Time for Some Campaignin'!

Absolutely priceless American general election satire. Enjoy!