Gawker: defamer, bruce springsteen

Mickey Rourke Visits Tanning Salon, Set to the Reflective Strains of Bruce Springsteen

Seth — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 12:30:47 EST

As the final grains run through the Oscars Hourglass installed outside the Kodak (we love the addition of a bored-looking model sunbathing inside the top half), Mickey Rourke busily readies himself for the big night.

TMZ paparazzi captured The Wrestler star emerging from his West Village lodgings, then followed him to a tanning salon/Brazilian waxing/staple-removal studio for a beautification regimen not unlike the one his character Randy "The Ram" undergoes in the film. He emerges a little later to the applause of appreciative fans wishing him best of luck, offering yet further echoes of The Wrestler, and we thought the moment could really benefit from the melancholic Americana of Bruce Springsteen's title song. Thanks to Gawker's Mike Byhoff, our dream became a reality. Enjoy.

Mickey Grieves Dead Dogs, Tans His Hide [TMZ]

Defamer Rates Bruce Springsteen's Halftime 3-D Super Bowl Ballstravaganza

Seth — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 14:02:43 EST

Perhaps we spoke a bit too quickly when we declared that a Bruce Springsteen halftime show would be safely free of any demonshlong appearances.

Adding his own twist to the now seemingly requisite Super Bowl "did I just see that?" FCC-baiting moment (Janet's exposed breast, Prince's monstrous silhouette, Tom Petty in only chaps giving Full Moon Fever, etc...), Bruce Springsteen slid down a runway at full speed, his momentum stopped by a potentially catastrophic crotch-camera collision.

We were actually tuned into the Puppy Bowl's kitty show at the time, but we were alerted to the Balls in the U.S.A. moment by a text message reading, "Did you just see Bruce Springsteen slide into the camera and facefuck America?" Today, Defamer commenters expressed similar concerns.

In case you missed it, the moment is above, replete with the sound of delighted Super Bowl party guests squealing at the very thought of the Boss's genitals pressed against every TV screen in America like a jar of pickles.

Degree of Difficulty: 5 Execution: 8.7 Anticipation: 9, for the nauseous awareness that Springsteen's crotch is inexorably rocketing our way.

[You Tube]

KISS Army Declares War On Suspiciously Familiar Bruce Springsteen Song

Seth — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:30:50 EST

We're not sure when the tide turned, but lately it's become OK to dislike Bruce Springsteen. He's been accused of crass commercialism, of writing the worst grocery-themed music of his career, and now—gasp—stealing from KISS.

The track in question is "Outlaw Pete," the very first on new album Working On a Dream. To argue their point, a disappointed fan used the preferred method of all melody-embezzlement whistleblowers—putting the two songs side-by-side on YouTube.

Has Jersey's favorite son borrowed too heavily from his kabuki-rocking contemporaries across the Hudson? Is it just a matter of time before a certain serpent-tongued Celebrity Apprentice candidate goes all Satriani on Bruce's cap-toting ass? Or can we all just move on with our lives, and enjoy some half-time entertainment courtesy of 100% Certified American Original™ The Boss, comfortable in the knowledge that no demonshlongs will rear their pointy heads during a rousing rendition of "Born to Run?" [YouTube]

When Stars Themselves Get Starstruck

Margaret — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:30:00 EST

Celebrities are used to being gawked at, but yesterday, following the inaugural celebration "We Are One" at the Lincoln Memorial, performers got starry-eyed themselves when meeting the president-elect, as seen in the gallery below.

The Boss, 'Office' to Battle 'Wipeout' in Super Bowl of the Soul

STV — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:10:43 EST

Chalk up another victory for the creative class: ABC's obstacle-course competition hit Wipeout will return for two episodes on Super Bowl Sunday, directly challenging both NBC's halftime show featuring Bruce Springsteen and a special postgame edition of The Office. It's the biggest such counterprogramming battle in five years, and as with everything else pertaining to the network these days, the Peacock might be in trouble.

Though it looked for a while like Wipeout may have its lowest-common-denominator license revoked for any number of intellectual-property infractions, that day won't come soon enough for NBC, which will be forced to stave off what THR calls "one of the most ambitious Super Bowl Sunday programming plans ever mounted by a non-host network." And yes, let's face it: If Pop Culture Doomsday has proven anything, it's that inbreds falling off padded balls (with NFL retiree-commentary) is the definitive sophistication Americans crave between football halves.

And as for counterprogramming against The Office? Boobs, naturally:

ABC will air an hourlong Wipeout in which cheerleaders compete against male "couch potato" sports fans. [...] "It's broadcast's biggest day, and this is a big mass-market show, and it's fun to be able to participate and be a part of it," said John Saade, senior vp alternative programming at ABC. "This will put Wipeout back in the public's consciousness between runs, and we plan to have a lot of fun with it."

Meanwhile at NBC, Jeff Zucker is hoping the Japanese can pick up the pace on that Wipeout injunction, lest he be forced to augment his own gameday programming with the stakes-upping, fan-friendly halftime act tested out earlier this year in New York. You don't know what this guy is capable of when he's cornered.

'Wipeout' special set for Super Sunday [Source]