The X Factor features a pair of very young, very talented contestants in Rachel Crow and Drew Ryniewicz. But this 13-year old and this 14-year old are practically hardened veterans when compared to Willow Smith, 11, who took to the stage last night during a results show that sent a second straight group home . Watch Smith’s performance of “Fireball” now and let’s hope Crow and company are taking notes. Yes, it helps to have a very famous father, but Willow is also an impressive performer. See for yourself: Willow Smith – Fireball (Live)
Going broke without the money train that was Kate Plus 8 funding her lifestyle and ego, Kate Gosselin has been forced to enter the workplace like a normal person. Fortunately, she got a gig in a field she feels passionately about. The reality TV mom of eight reported for her first day at CouponCabin, a web-based discount company, Thursday. She’ll serve as a contributing blogger/manager. Drawing upon her experience of clipping coupons like a madwoman, Kate Gosselin will now be giving online readers money-saving advice and shopping tips. Kate Gosselin met with the CouponCabin team to “discuss creating exclusive coupons, blog ideas and money lessons that Kate has learned over the years.” Kate’s first penny-pinching blog will run on Tuesday, November 22 and will feature tips on how to navigate the busiest holiday shopping day, Black Friday. She may not be the best mom ever (who lets their kids play under the car ), but at least Kate is doing what she has to do to make a living and save ends. [Photo: WENN.com]
William Blankinship, a TV editor who worked on TLC’s Jon and Kate Plus 8 and other family-oriented reality TV, was arrested last week on child porn charges. Blankinship, 56, has been charged with 10 counts of sex exploit of a minor, meaning he possessed photos and/or video of a minor engaged in sexual activity. A subcontractor for Figure 8 Films, Blankenship edited such TLC shows as Jon and Kate Plus 8 , its spinoff Kate Plus 8 , 17 Kids and Counting and Table for 12 . No bond has been set for the accused; he is likely “under the authority of the U.S. Marshals” until trial, a spokesperson for the Federal Bureau of Prisons said. His employer wasted no time taking action. “Upon learning of the shocking allegations his employment was terminated,” Figure 8 films said in a statement. Fortunately, Blankinship was never in contact with the famous eight Gosselin kids, the 17 Duggar offspring or any other of TLC’s stars, according to reports. “At no time was this man ever in the field or in direct contact with any of the talent for any of our productions,” the network said in its own statement.
Kate Gosselin WILL be back on TV. The reality star and perennial contender for Worst Person in America made this abundantly clear this morning, mere hours before Kate Plus 8 airs its last episode. Even Jon Gosselin has a clue these days and recently told Kate to get a life – as in a normal life – but she told Today ‘s Matt Lauer that her concerns lie elsewhere. Kate hilariously/depressingly expressed concern for her show’s “devastated” fans whom she says must feel like they are losing their next-door neighbor. While “there is some relief,” she said, “there is sadness, because it’s the end of an era.” An era where she must now worry about her children , she says. Regarding her ex-husband’s advice to scale back, Kate countered, “Jon may be accepting of mediocre for his kids … I only want the best for my kids.” More like for your ego, you grating banshee! As for how and when she plans to return to TV, she didn’t have a specific show in mind, saying “It would have to be the right one.” But rest assured: “I’m sure you will see my kids again at some point,” she said. We’re sure they will see psychiatrists again soon, as well. [Photo: WENN.com]
CNN’s Anderson Cooper weighed in on some recent misbehavior by Kate Gosselin last night, and, well, it was certainly worthy of The Ridiculist. On Monday’s episode of Kate Plus 8, which has been mercifully canceled by TLC and ends its run next week, Kate FREAKED over a slice of pizza. Like, for real freaked. Anderson Cooper on Kate Gosselin On a cross-country trip with her kids, a babysitter and bodyguard Steve Neild, Kate lost her $h!t on nanny Ashley for not saving Steve the final slice. Cooper found Gosselin ridiculous – and didn’t hold back. “It is a cautionary tale,” he said last night. “If you somehow, against all odds, find a woman who’s willing to help you take eight kids on a cross-country road trip, for goodness sake, let her divide the pizza any way she wants.” It got worse. After Kate Gosselin demanded that her eight children “eat salads” and give Steve the final slice of pizza, one of the children handed it to him. “That’s disgusting!” she screamed. “Why didn’t you wrap it in foil?” Cooper then quipped: “Middle-aged bodyguards can get pretty cranky if their routine is thrown off: You know, lunch, juice box, pinkie, nap.” The babysitter quit, unable to take another minute of Kate, who was left alone with Cara, Mady, Alexis, Hannah, Aaden, Collin, Leah and Joel. And Steve Neild, who she may or may not be sleeping with. She seemed awfully fired up about her man getting that piece of pizza. Just saying. Or she could just be a raging banshee bitch. Who’s to say.
Despite reports that she still pines for Jon , Kate Gosselin says she’s looking for someone new and is about ready to get back into the dating world. “I’m kind of out-ish, sort of,” the Kate Plus 8 star said. “You never really picture yourself back in that scene after you’re done with it in your 20s.” “But I’m trying to be a little more open-minded now,” Kate added . “If there’s anybody out there that wants to deal with us, that would be good.” JON & KATE : On the same page, albeit not together . It’s not like the mother of eight, who has gone through personal and media hell and back over the last few years, hasn’t come a long way, though. “I’m encouraging the kids to enjoy their time with him,” Kate says, referring to ex-hubby Jon, who she’s a lot kinder to in public comments lately. Kate, who just celebrated her 36th birthday last week, says that when it comes to her ex, she’s “keeping communication as positive as possible.” Not exactly a convincing, heartwarming statement, but … baby steps. Speaking of Jon Gosselin, dude has probably has had a half dozen jobs in as many months, but like Kate, he’s gotta do what he’s gotta do to get by. He used to whore himself out to any mediocre girls that showed interest. Now he’s doing that for any entity that will pay him. The latest – Quiznos. Seriously, the working stiff is pushing Quiznos promos on Twitter to his (soon to be declining number of) 72,184 followers for around $500 a pop. How the mighty have fallen. Hope he also gets free subs, at least.
Meet Christina Grimmie. Following in the YouTube-based footsteps of Rebecca Black , this 17-year old is hoping to turn a few homemade videos into a successful singing career. But she’s doing so with solid backing. Grimmie opened for for Gomez, Allstar Weekend and the Jonas Brothers at this year’s Concert For Hope and is actually managed by Selena’s parents, Brian and Mandy Teefey. Below, watch her cover their daughter’s latest single, “Who Says.” Christina Grimmie Covers “Who Says” Think Christina Grimmie has a future in the business?
They fought and fought. They split and traded barbs in the press. He paraded around with a bunch of mediocre girls, then faded into relative obscurity. After all that, Kate Gosselin misses her ex, Jon. The demise of Jon and Kate’s volatile and fertile marriage was one of the more epic celebrity splits of recent years … but is there still a glimmer of hope? Jon may not care. He’s happily out of the limelight, working a 9/5 construction job and supposedly so in love with girlfriend Ellen Ross. But Kate still misses her ex. OK Magazine says as much , so it must be true, right? “Friends” say she’s lost without him, professionally and personally, struggling with her mass motherhood situation and a show floundering sans Jon Gosselin . “He was her whipping boy,” says a pal, “but also her best friend. Yes, things were very toxic between them, but there was at least some sort of camaraderie.” Maybe so. It was the kids – but also the Jon and Kate Gosselin fighting over the kids, chores, infidelities, you name it – that made Jon & Kate Plus 8 so fun. Team Kate saw Jon as a jackass. Team Jon saw Kate as a grating banshee. Team Neither wished they’d both go away but ate up the gossip just the same. Kate Plus 8 (Minus Jon) has posted disappointing numbers. The show debuted with 3.4 million viewers, which promptly declined by more than 50 percent. With a new season premiering this Sunday, April 4, the pressure’s really on. “His departure made the show less interesting to people and left a very real hole in her life,” adds the insider, noting that she misses him personally, too. “She pretends to be made of steel, but underneath, she is very sensitive.”
In a recent interview, Kate Gosselin said she will never say a bad word publicly about her ex Jon, as he will always be the father of her children. That doesn’t mean she’ll get back together with him, however. A deluge of recent celebrity gossip reports have suggested Kate and Jon Gosselin, who have been on much better terms lately, might reconcile. Not the case, says a source close to Kate. “There is absolutely no chance of a reconciliation. They remain civil for the sake of the kids, but that’s it,” said the insider. “It’s frustrating for Kate that people keep making stories up. Things are better but they have both moved on.” Jon has been dating Ellen Ross for the better part of a year and seems quite content living a normal life, working 9-to-5 installing solar panels. As for Kate, she’s single and has no qualms about it. “Kate wants nothing more than to be seen in a completely different light than Jon is viewed,” says the source. “Obviously he is the father of her children and that won’t change, but she is feeling very happy about her decisions and situation.”
Katy Perry’s singles from her album Teenage Dream have collectively tallied over 10 million downloads. That’s not even counting sales of the actual record! “California Gurls” has sold over 4.4 million, while “Teenage Dream” the song passed three million and “Firework” has totaled around 2.5 million. Quite a feat. “Peacock,” which hasn’t even been released as a single yet, is already near 200,000. Safe to say she has a hit record? Here’s the video for its title track: Katy Perry – Teenage Dream
