Gawker: defamer, defamer on the street

Walk Of Fame Zorro Sees Opportunity In Writers Strike

Mark — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 16:55:17 EST

While we never know exactly what to expect each time Defamer videographer Molly McAleer takes her camera to Hollywood Blvd. to have a chat with one of the Walk of Fame's Polaroid-proffering superheroes (for example: who knew that Reasonably Passable, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man has such a hard time with handsy tourists?), we were especially surprised to hear that Zorro, a legendary defender of the powerless against the rich and strong, might see the strike as a great time to launch a writing career.

But before anyone in a red t-shirt runs down to the Chinese Theatre to seize the crusader's épée and carve a scab's "S" into his costume, let's give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that he's just trying to infiltrate the studios, rob them blind, and distribute their loot to the scribbling underclass.

Previously: Walk Of Fame Spider-Man May Be Too Sexy For The Hollywood Tourist Crowd [Defamer]

Rallying Writers Hit Hollywood Blvd., Break Out Their New Strike Anthems

Mark — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 13:00:26 EST

Once alerted that there would be delicious scones (courtesy of the generous cater-agents of CAA) at yesterday's WGA Solidarity March on Hollywood Blvd., there was no way to keep Defamer videographer/sweet-toothed pastry-junkie Molly McAleer from rushing to the scene of the 4,000-protestor strong rally. And while she mercifully kept the throng's snacking activities off-camera (nobody wants to watch video of writers eating—anyone who's seen a sitcom staff attack the craft services table during a runthrough knows what we're talking about), she did entice a number of Guild picketers to share their favorite strike anthems, all of which exhibited a lyrical complexity that eclipsed the work of featured performer Alicia Keys.

Previously: WGA Picketers At The Fox Rally Give Rupert Murdoch A Piece Of Their Minds [Defamer]

Walk Of Fame Spider-Man May Be Too Sexy For The Hollywood Tourist Crowd

Mark — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 17:13:58 EST

Somehow finding the one red-costumed individual in this city patrolling a sidewalk in front of a Hollywood landmark with no interest in discussing the WGA strike, Defamer videographer Molly McAleer enjoyed a brief chat with the Chinese Theatre's Reasonably Passable, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, inviting the Polaroid-proferring hero to share his origin story.

(Sadly, he wasn't one of the characters chosen for the excellent documentary Confessions of a Superhero, denying us—for now, at least—a deeper look into his wall-crawling psyche.) Though we're sure he would have had many illuminating things to say about the stalled negotiations between the writers and studios had he been pressed, we're glad the duo's conversation steered clear of strike-related matters in favor of somewhat less timely topics, like how Spidey's web-slinging magnetism turns passing tourists into arachnid-craving sexual predators.

Previously: The Hollywood Blvd. All-Stars Review Britney Spears' 'Blackout' [Defamer]

WGA Picketers At The Fox Rally Give Rupert Murdoch A Piece Of Their Minds

Mark — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 19:14:54 EST

For the next leg of her continuing tour of the hottest WGA picket lines in Hollywood, a journey that recently brought her to Paramount to witness the birth of the strike's first sidewalk-theater group, we dispatched Defamer videographer Molly McAleer to today's massive rally at Fox Plaza, as the gates of other studio headquarters were being patrolled only by the usual, non-Guild teams of tourists, vagrants, and sex workers.

Wading into the sea of red shirts, our correspondent asked attendees (at least the ones without agents and publicists to chase her away—wouldn't want a client to say something interesting on camera, now would we?) to explain in 2,000 words or less to News Corp. overlord Rupert Murdoch, the event's unwilling host, why they were throwing a kegger in his Century City backyard. Enjoy.

Previously: Defamer Visits The Paramount Picket Line [Defamer]

Defamer Visits The Paramount Picket Line

Mark — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 19:29:00 EST

In an effort to document for posterity how some of the striking writers tasked with pacing the sidewalks outside of Hollywood's temporarily stalled dream-fabricating factories spent this third, historic day of picketing, we dispatched Defamer videographer Molly McAleer to the Paramount lot, hoping that her bribes of tasty donuts (the beer we offered was less well-received; we suppose the drinking has to wait until happy hour at Lucy's across the street) would encourage some of the protesting scribes to open up for the camera.

As luck would have it, Molly arrived just as the the script we mentioned earlier was tossed picketer-ward by a passing motorist looking to break into the business, providing them with the dramatic material they used for the first-ever performance of the newly created Bronson Gate Players, a curbside tour-de-force none in attendance will soon forget. In addition to being treated to the unexpected read-through, Molly chatted with People Vs, Larry Flynt and Man on the Moon screenwriter Larry Karaszewski, WGA-supporting actresses Valerie Harper and Frances Fisher, and experienced a drive-on by premium cable's favorite fast-talking agent, Jeremy Piven. Enjoy.

Previously; Paramount Strikers Finding New Ways To Spice Up Their Picketing Routine [Defamer]

The Hollywood Blvd. All-Stars Review Britney Spears' 'Blackout'

Mark — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 18:07:07 EDT

In the unlikely event that it's slipped your mind, today marks the official release of the most anticipated comeback in the history of music, Britney Spears' Blackout, a record that the erstwhile pop-star, her label, and the intermittently estranged children who want their momma to start earning a living again desperately need to make the public forget about the vagina-flashing, VMA-trainwrecking desperation of her post-In The Zone life.

As we are wont to do on such important occasions, we sent indefatigable Defamer videographer Molly McAleer down to Hollywood Boulevard earlier this afternoon to share some of Britney's new tracks with the Walk of Fame's finest critics; we don't want to spoil too many of the video's surprises (especially a cameo by a previous Defamer on the Street contributor), but even the Chinese Theatre's Man of Steel seemed willing to let Spears' music once again touch his Kryptonian heart.

Previously: Hollywood Blvd. Reacts To Britney's Bad Night [Defamer]

Captain Jack Sparrow, Homer Simpson React To The O.J. Situation

Mark — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:25:36 EDT

Concerned that Hollywood's most interesting voices were being willfully ignored by the mainstream media in the aftermath of O.J. Simpson's daring, if ill-fated, Las Vegas sports-memorabilia heist, we sent tireless Defamer videographer Molly McAleer to Grauman's Chinese Theater's intellectually vibrant public square to document the reactions of some of the insightful cultural pundits who tirelessly patrol the Walk of Fame. Had our intrepid reporter not made the journey, the world may never have had heard fellow incorrigible outlaw Captain Jack Sparrow empathize with O.J.'s vigilantism, or listen as a clearly distressed Homer Simpson laments how the tabloid-industrial complex is unfairly monetizing his distant cousin's troubles.

Previously: Jamie Foxx Feels The Love At His Walk of Fame Ceremony [Defamer]

Inside The O'Quinn Fashion Show At Falcon

Mark — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 19:43:31 EDT

As regular readers of this site already know, we are so shamefully fashion-obsessed that we waste a good half-hour each morning fretting about whether the tattered pair of boxers we've chosen to wear to "the office" that day properly complements at least one of our mismatched socks. Accordingly, we dispatched videographer Molly McAleer to the O'Quinn Fashion Show at Falcon last night, instructing her to return with footage from the event that might inspire us to even greater sartorial heights.

Previously: Working The Carpet At The Maxim Style Awards [Defamer]

Working The Carpet At The Maxim Style Awards

Mark — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 19:44:17 EDT

Having subjected Defamer videographer Molly McAleer to a number of assignments on the filthy sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard, we decided it was time she got to class things up a bit and tote her camera to a red carpet, so we dispatched her to the Maxim Style Awards at Avalon last night to see what would happen. Unsurprisingly, an encounter with party ubiquity Bai Ling ensued (who we're not entirely sure exists outside of the event circuit), as did some firing squad time with Brady-loving former Top Model Adrianne Curry. Part I of Molly's video report is above, while the thrilling conclusion—starring a dude from Weeds who discusses his co-star's recent adoption news—follows after the jump:

Previously: Jamie Foxx Feels The Love At His Walk of Fame Ceremony [Defamer]

Jamie Foxx Feels The Love At His Walk of Fame Ceremony

Mark — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 19:47:46 EDT

As we briefly mentioned on our way out the door on Friday afternoon, the Oscar-winning Jamie Foxx, star of such big-screen entertainments as Bait, Stealth, and critically acclaimed prophylactic-acquisition farce Booty Call, received his very own slab of Hollywood Walk of Fame immortality. Confident that Foxx's star-laying ceremony would generate more local excitement than that of previous honoree Vin "America's Funniest Testes-Traumatizing Home Videos" Di Bona, Defamer videographer Molly McAleer once again decided to thrust her camera lens where it probably didn't belong, basking in the eardrum-bursting love provided by the enthusiastic throng of Fox fans who turned out for the event.

Previously: Informal Polling Reveals Kanye West Outpacing 50 Cent In Local Sales Race [Defamer]

Informal Polling Reveals Kanye West Outpacing 50 Cent In Local Sales Race

Mark — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:17:28 EDT

Publicity averse hip-hop artists Kanye West and 50 Cent, as you may have heard, have mutually agreed to participate in a "feud" over the sales of their just-released albums, wherein 50 has promised to retire if West's CD outsells his, and West has pledged to suffer a marginally more intense conniption of wounded self-regard at the next awards show that fails to recognize his greatness if outdone by his rival. As we're deeply invested in the outcome of this competition, we dispatched Defamer videographer Molly McAleer to Hollywood's Amoeba Records for an update on the early results of the local sales race and some incisive analysis of the rapping frenemies.

Kanye Leads 50 Cent in CD Sales Face-Off [AP]

Hollywood Blvd. Reacts To Britney's Bad Night

Mark — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 20:54:51 EDT

Sensing that Hollywood Blvd.'s legendary pop-culture-dissecting minds might have something to say about Britney Spears' disastrous VMA performance, Defamer videographer Molly McAleer grabbed her trusty camcorder and headed for the talking-head paradise that is the sidewalk outside of the Kodak Theatre, where a talkative cross-section of fans from around the world were more than happy to offer their reviews. For those who find the assessments of the Walk of Fame opinion-havers unfairly negative, we direct you to ABCNews.com's penetrating piece analyzing What Went Wrong, which found at least one anonymous truth-teller willing to defy the anti-Britney thought police:

And it seems that Spears' performance didn't leave all VMA viewers with the same feeling of disgust. Weighing in on a story about Spears and her subpar routine, ABCNEWS.com commenter wheaton1006 remarked, "I'd hit it."

Why Was Britney So Bad? [ABC News]
Previously: Compassionate 'Extra' Selflessly Offers Britney Spears a VMA Do-Over [Defamer]

Defamer Goes To The 'American Gladiator' Auditions

Mark — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 16:53:39 EDT

After pummeling our readers with the endlessly depressing discussion of the ongoing, precipitous decline phase of a once-meteoric show business career, we suppose that it's time to offer them the uplifting stories of those whose dreams of one day having thousands of flashbulbs directed at their accidentally exposed genitalia are still very much alive.

On Saturday morning, we dispatched Defamer videographer Molly McAleer to the Gold's Gym in Venice, where NBC was holding an open audition for their new version American Gladiators, hoping that the (mostly) well-muscled local talent pool would yield a faster, stronger, more gloriously coiffed generation of Malibus, Skyes, and yes, even Nitros—who, despite the unkind appraisals of the gladiatorial up-and-comers we surveyed, was a character so appealing he could charm the pants off even Ellen DeGeneres.

Previously: A Chance To Chase Your Gladitorial Dreams [Defamer]

Hollywood Blvd. Reacts To Whoopi's First Day On 'The View'

Mark — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 15:56:22 EDT

Unsatisfied by Rosie O'Donnell's disappointingly cursory video review of Whoopi Goldberg's controversial first day on The View ("Whoopi was good," said Rosie in the middle of critiquing the show's new, beige-heavy set), Defamer videographer Molly McAleer decided to take her camera to the sidewalk outside of Grauman's historic Chinese Theater, home to some of Hollywood's most outspoken and insightful media critics, for more penetrating appraisals of the show's new co-host. Unfortunately, her subjects had not yet seen Whoopi's debut, but that didn't stop them from decrying the conspirators who ousted Rosie for her 9/11 truth-telling, holding forth on Elizabeth Hasselbeck's intellect and spank-worthiness, or sharing anecdotes about their second-degree connections to the dreadlocked comedian.

JAHERO [Rosie.com]