Monday Musings

PRINCE CHARLES WAS IN NEW YORK CITY over the weekend to, among other things, pick up an award for his environmental efforts. Critics on his side of the pond complained that if he were really so concerned with global warming, etc., he would have received the honor via videoconference. Yes, by all means, let’s pick on the one world leader who has actually committed to reducing his carbon footprint. Imagine, the heir to the British throne treated like a prisoner on his own isle, expected to travel only if he can reach his destination by foot, bike or, I guess, horse drawn carriage. Now, I’m all for saving the environment. I’ve seen “An Inconvenient Truth” and assessed my household’s carbon impact (smaller than average, thank you very much) but there’s such a thing as taking a cause too far.

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Over at Entertainment Weekly’s web site, staffers are wondering whether anyone WILL ANYONE CARE ABOUT NEXT MONTH’S OSCAR CEREMONY given that all of the acting categories are pretty well sewn up. As if people watch for the awards. What matters most: how pretty the female nominees and presenters are and how fabulous their gowns are likely to be. But, to take EW seriously, if an upset is brewing, I would guess Eddie Murphy is fair game in the supporting actor category. Why? One word: “Norbit.” This latest Murphy flick is due out in a couple of weeks and if members of the Academy haven’t all handed in their votes by then, “Norbit,” in which Murphy makes like Martin Lawrence and takes on the role of an obese woman, just might give them a reason not to check his name.

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OPRAH has announced Sidney Poitier’s memoir as the new pick for her book club. Because there aren’t enough struggling authors out there to choose from who’ve made writing their life’s work.

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Over in Davos, Switzerland, at the WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM a gathering of world leaders is debating how to best deploy computers in the Third World. Oh, you forgot about Davos because Brad and Angelina aren’t attending this year. So, it would seem, did everyone else. Except the New York Times.

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LINDSAY LOHAN IS OUT OF REHAB. Gosh, it seems like just last week she entered treatment. Oh wait, it was. I contrast this with Keith Urban, whose stay lasted close to three months. Wanna take bets on who lands back in the tabloids first?

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THE AUDIENCE AWARD AT THE SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL went to the John Cusack vehicle “Grace Is Gone.” Harvey Weinstein ponied up $4 million to distribute the flick. True confession: I worked as an extra on a scene in this movie. From what I saw, I thought it was going straight to DVD. Guess that’s why I’m not a media mogul.

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SKINNY MODELS ARE BACK IN THE NEWS. While not quite yet an endangered species, their days are numbered, at least in Spain. Kudos to the Spaniards, who are looking at implementing a ban not only on the ultra-light waifs, but on store mannequins smaller than a (U.S.) size 8. But the problem, people, is not the skinny models. And it’s not anorexia. The problem is the designers. Who create clothing intended to be worn by human hangers. The models are skinny because the clothes are skinny, not the other way around. Models don’t drive the fashion industry, designers do.

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Just wondering how much it sucks to be THE “OTHER” DREAMGIRL? You know, the one who isn’t Beyonce or Jennifer Hudson. I ask because I saw her on last night’s telecast of the SAG Awards, where they threw her a bone and let her introduce clips from “Dreamgirls” in the Best Picture category. For the record, her name is Anika Noni Rose, which you’d think would be memorable but apparently isn’t.