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The biggest news shocker of the year has to be the death of the very talented Michael Jackson. I have to say, no one, but no one, expected this. Apart from his doctor perhaps. It's up there with Princess Diana's death. Although having announced a fifty date tour, -apparently he thought he had signed up for ten shows- it was hard to believe that this would actually happen. Fifty shows? In London? That's a lot of pressure. Although even more pressure is owing $400+ million. Creditors are queueing up to slice up his assets, although almost depleted. His family demanded a second autopsy, refusing to believe that Michael would take an overdose. There are various rumours surrounding the death of Michael. The more popular one is that he was full of painkillers and even addicted to them.Other gossip was that Michael weighed only 8 stone, was balding, addicted to various drugs et al. Whether this is true or not, the fact is that the guy was weird. Talented yes, but very weird. Nothing bad in being weird per se, although 'ghoulishly' entertaining. The last time I photographed Michael was at the World Music Awards in London. Then, he was by far the biggest draw. My photos were published in The Sun on it's front page and full page inset. His face looked weird. It looked like it was melting, and his nose looked disfigured. What puzzles me and everyone else is what drove him to turn into circus freak? We all know the gist of the family history. Disciplinarian father, beat him and his brothers endlessly, was forced to perform at all hours, -at one time they were woken up at 3 A.M. and forced to sing and dance or face another beating- whether they liked it or not. The other side of the coin is that at least the great talent was 'encouraged' and Michael became extremely successful. Better than hanging out on street corners with hoodies on. No doubt more stories will be unearthed in due course as to what exactly happened to Michael. What is absolutely certain is that the man was one of the greatest talents of our recent -and not so recent- times.
Michael Jackson
The 49th Monte Carlo TV festival was once again the usual smoothly run and friendly event it always is. The service we get makes it a pleasurable event to cover. The organizers arranged for a chauffeur to collect me from Nice airport. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw my car, it was an elegant Maserati Quattroporte. This attention to detail goes through the whole festival. The biggest stars are always the American actors from the popular series like: Gray's Anatomy, The Bold and the Beautiful, CSI, Desperate Housewives, Sex and the City etc.
Kate Walsh and Tim Dale.
 Kim Kardashian
Although there were many other TV series from across the continent -Europe- taking part, and some are very good, there is NO money in syndicating their pictures, as they will not sell. Very rare from a UK standpoint. The food was excellent, -all you can eat and drink- even the 'stars' and the press share the same restaurant and it's all free. You can see the attraction for me. Sadly dear readers, it's not all paradise.....THE CHAMPAGNE ISN"T COMPLIMENTARY!!! What an utter shame. It was NEARLY the perfect festival. I was forced dear readers to bring my OWN in a flask! It's just not the same, to have quality food but drink boring wine albeit gratis.
Prince Albert II with Jennifer Love Hewitt and others.
Sofia Milos.
On a serious note, the festival for me was marred somewhat by the death -by drowning- of a woman on the beach next to the forum where the festival takes place. To see police, paramedics and the fire brigade try for 45 minutes to resuscitate this lady was stomach churning. They loaded her half naked body on to the ambulance eventually, but nothing else they could do. I covered the rest of the festival with a different perspective. It brought home to me big time the many frivolities of life and what's really important.
Desperate Housewives won 'Best Comedy', and The Bold and the Beautiful won best 'Best Soap'...See what I mean?
The cast of The Bold and the Beautiful receiving award
Premieres this month in London folks included the second installment of Transformers -Revenge of the Fallen-. Here's the plot: The battle for Earth has ended but the battle for the universe has just begun. After returning to Cybertron, Starscream assumes command of the Decepticons, and has decided to return to Earth with force. The Autobots believing that peace was possible finds out that Megatron's dead body has been stolen from the US Military by Skorpinox and revives him using his own spark. Now Megatron is back seeking revenge and with Starscream and more Decepticon reinforcements on the way, the Autobots with reinforcements of their own, may have more to deal with then meets the eye. Zzzzz....Fallen asleep already....That's my 'revenge'. Ha ha.
Megan Fox
Shia LaBeouf
The lovely MEGAN FOX was in attendance with her co-star SHIA LaBEOUF. The woman voted 'Sexiest in World' proved to me that the accolade wasn't far off the mark. She is gorgeous make no mistake. I was disappointed though to see her wear a black 'no frills' dress.
She looked great in it but it paled into insignificance when compared to the stunning red low cut dress she wore for the Berlin premiere the night before. Very annoying to say the least.
The premiere was the usual lively affair with all cast present including 'monster muscles' RENO WILSON, JOHN TURTURRO, JOSH DUHAMEL and director MICHAEL BAY.
Reno Wilson.
SASCHA BARON COHEN's new flick Bruno premiered in Leicester Square. Directed by Larry Charles, its a about flamboyant gay Austrian TV reporter and fashionista Brüno who takes his show to America. What ensues is very funny and very crude. Worth watching but don't go with 'in-laws' or your parents! It will be hit hard at the box office though as the film sensors have given it an 18 rating. They were hoping for a 15 rating, as given to Borat, but the censors wanted two -oral sex- scenes cut, and the producers of Bruno refused. It will struggle in sales against Borat. Jeez, have they -censors- not visited the average school in Britain? There is nothing in the film that a 15 year old could not direct, Let alone write.
Bruno.
And lastly peeps, Big Brother contestant Angel -the Russian freak- was the latest housemate to be evicted from the Big Brother house. Although she blew me a kiss, she
still makes MICHAEL JACKSON -RIP- look normal.
Angel
Over and out. See ya next month.
JOE ALVAREZ
joealvarez@verycool.co.uk
Website: www.myspace.com/redcarpetspecialist
WORDS AND ALL PICTURES COPYRIGHT JOE ALVAREZ 2009. |
