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kim kardashian (145 posts)
Can We Blame Gosselin Mania on the Recession?
INFphoto.com
What's with the obsession over people who aren't stars, like Kate Gosselin? Is it a recession thing?
—Kaybe, via the Answer B!tch inbox
The fixation on Kate Gosselin's bank balance could be some sort of symptom of hobo times, especially when combined with breathless accounts of—Miley Cyrus! Leaving Twitter! Like, forevvvvvs! And now look—up in the sky, but not really—it's Balloon Boy!
Meanwhile, coverage of more traditionally glamorous stars like Brad Pitt or Beyoncé actually seems to be dwindling.
But does our taste in gossip really reflect our jobless rate? Well, consider this...
Why Do Reality Stars Hang Out in Malibu So Much?
Courtesy: Polk Imaging
What the hell is the Sierra Mist Beach House, and why do so many reality-TV people seem to live there?
—Chris, Los Angeles
Let me be plain: Every year middling celebrities like Lindsay Lohan, AnnaLynne McCord, Audrina Patridge and Jamie Kennedy show up at pop-up beach parties in Malibu. Big corporations or brands such as Polaroid, Sierra Mist or Boost Mobile shell out five-figure sums to rent private homes on the beach, fill them up with free booze, food and stuff, and then wait for the invitees to come and take it all.
The rest of us stay outside. It's, you know, marketing...
Can Speidi Still Charge $100,000 to Attend a Party?
Matt Symons/PacificCoastNews.com
I'm about to attend a convention in the U.K. Curious as to what organizers have to pay for a celeb appearance.
—Laiq, via Twitter
Looks like the worldwide monetary crisis hasn't hit celebrities so much. Unless you count Speidi, who recently whined that the crappy economy has killed their usual $100,000 appearance fee.
Kim Kardashian reportedly charges more than $20,000 to attend a club. No word on the separate appearance fee for her moon-shaped booty, but I'm working on it.
Meantime, this:
A-List Secrets: Catch a Star in Their Own Store
INFDaily.com
Was thinking about celeb-owned businesses, like the Kardashians' boutique in Calabasas, Calif. How much of a chance is there that a celeb owner is on hand when you drop by?
—Erica, Palmdale, Calif.
During the two weeks a month or so that they're in town, the Kardashian girls are "in and out of the store all day long," according to Kris Jenner. Kind of like the female Flying Zucchini Brothers of fashion, I guess. Good luck with that.
Your odds increase greatly in the case of Belle Gray, a boutique run by both Lisa Rinna and her fabulously pneumatic lips.
Here's why:
Can Kim, Heidi or Oprah Really Sway the Election?
James Devaney/WireImage.com
So Kim Kardashian has endorsed Barack Obama, and Heidi Montag likes John McCain. Can either woman actually influence an election?
—Clara, Los Angeles
It's possible, say strategists. Hard-partying reality stars may actually hold the future of the free world in their hands. But only under very limited circumstances. Before Heidi could score votes for John McCain, she would first have to prove that she can spell McCain.
"The celebrity endorsement card has to be played very carefully," says Robin Bronk, whose Creative Coalition helps celebrities get involved in the political process—under these conditions:
Podcasts
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For real, Taylor Lautner = Matt Damon
- Pretty much an all-Twilight/New Moon episode this week. With some strippers thrown in. All in our weekly podcast.
Why Did Rihanna Wait So Long?
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Where Did Gerard Butler Come From, Anyway?
- Also: Aniston, Selena Gomez, Gitmo! All in our weekly podcast.