The Slug

Bravo's Guiltiest Pleasures are Coming Back

(AP Photo/HO/Bravo)

Forget "Top Design" and "Work Out." Bravo is finally giving us more of what we want: "The Real Housewives of Orange County" and "Project Runway." The Slug sucked up the first episodes of their upcoming new seasons, premiering Nov. 6 and Nov. 14, respectively. While the first "Runway" challenge is sorta boring — express yourself as a designer with a bunch of fabric donated by Mood —  this season's contestants are not. We'll be keeping our eyes on fierce Carmen Webber, full-of-himself Christian Siriano and fiery Rami Kashou (pictured above, left). Their debut garments worked best for us.

Over in "Orange County," new bobbleheaded cast member Tamra Barney (pictured above, right) has moved in. She just turned 40 and has a 21-year-old son. You do the math. Meanwhile, the returning "housewives" are dealing with new domestic distresses. Tammy Knickerbocker is coping with the death of her ex-husband. Jeana Keough seems headed for divorce with her current husband. And Lauri Waring is planning a wedding to a new husband. These ladies may not be as vivacious as "The Hills" girls, but their "Orange County" drama certainly feels more real.

Liveblogging the 2007 Emmys!

(AP Photo/Derrik J. Lang) 

It's time for the Emmys, the awards show that's more fun than the Oscars but less trashy than the MTV Video Music Awards. We're liveblogging the ceremony from AP World Headquarters in New York. Keep clicking refresh all night long as we provide catty comments and insights on McEmmys' winners, losers, presenters, acceptance speeches and suspiciously spontaneous moments.

Favoritest Photo of the Week: Head Gear

(AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

It's a two-peat for the Favoritest Photo of the Week. AP photographer (and Pulitzer Prize winner) Oded Balilty impressed The Slug once again with another photo from New York Fashion Week — even though this image looks like it could be from a horror flick. Hey, fashion kills, right? You'll never believe what's really going in this photograph. Wrap your head around the original caption (and see more from this series at Far & Wide, the AP news blog):

A model waiting to get dressed wears protective headgear after hair and makeup preparations backstage at the Willow 2008 spring/summer show during Fashion Week in New York, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Don't Forget the Emmys

(AP Photo Illustration/Jenni Sohn)

We know it's just three days until the Emmys, but you simply must do more to contain your excitement. Everybody is pointing at you and whispering, in case you hadn't noticed. To help quench your award show thirst — we're sure your MTV VMA hangover has probably subsided by now — The Slug helped craft this fun little interactive asap Emmy quiz. It's sure to kill a few minutes of your workday and inform you just how stupid you are when it comes to crazy award show moments. Good luck.

Favoritest Photo of The Week: Sittin' Pretty

(AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

It's Fashion Week here in New York. Again. Instead of selecting a Favoritiest Photo of the Week from the runway — boring! — The Slug is picking this hauntingly beautiful and well composed shot from AP photographer Oded Balilty of some mannequins hanging around the Goldsmith factory. (Yes, we're suckers for mannequin photos.) If you squint, maybe you can see Kim Cattrall in this image. Feast your eyes on the original caption: 

A Goldsmith employee carries a mannequin at the Goldsmith factory in New York Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2007.As Fashion Week gets underway in New York, rail thin models will still be on the runways, but when garments reach the stores, many of them will be displayed on mannequins that more realistically reflect the human form - and the shapes of customers shopping for clothes. Goldsmith also has a line of full-figured mannequins.(AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Put Down That Controller and Design a T-Shirt

(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

We don't usually do posts about contests or sweepstakes. We're a pop-culture blog, not the freaking Publishers Clearing House. However, we wanted to tell you about Threadless' "E for All" T-shirt design competition for the following three reasons: First, we had a chance to visit Threadless headquarters a coupla years ago for this asap story so we know they're on the up and up. Second, the prize is truly grand: a $400 airfare gift card, lodging, Nintendo Wii, $2,000 and admission to the first-ever "E for All" video game extravaganza for you and a friend. Third, looks like we probably won't get to go to "E for All" so maybe you'll let The Slug be the friend you take since we're the ones that told you about the contest in the first place. Pretty please? 

We're Getting a "Dirty Dancing" Fever

(AP Photo/Max Nash)

As if "Dirty Dancing — The Video Game" and WE's "Dirty Dancing" reality series didn't shake you enough, now comes news that "Dirty Dancing — The Classic Story on Stage" will premiere in Chicago in September. Don't get in line just yet. That's Sept. 2, 2008. For some reason, the stage version has been selling out for years in London's West End. Wowie zowie. We're probably not too far off from "Dirty Dancing — The Clothing Line." Oh, you so know you'd wear some Johnny Castle trousers.

Make It Work

(AP Photo/HO/Bravo)

By "it" we mean "Tim Gunn's Guide to Style." We really wanted to like the dry-but-tasty "Project Runway" mentor's new Bravo makeover show, but after watching a preview screener of the first two episodes, we felt the same way about "Guide to Style" as we felt about anything Vincent Libretti ever designed: Ehhhhhhh. In each episode, Tim Gunn and Veronica Webb teach a fashion victim some rules, let her make some bad decisions in a fancy store, correct her, give her an expensive haircut then encourage her to make her friends and family feel jealous and/or ugly. Touching!

The whole show is scandalously reminiscent of "What Not to Wear" — the slight bland American version on TLC, not the biting British version on BBC America. Such copycatting makes us wonder if Keith Michael had anything to do with this venture. The biggest difference in "Guide to Style" is that Gunn has this hand-dandy checklist of clothing items that every woman must own. Trenchcoat? Who knew?! Beyond that, there's not much innovation here. As Gunn might say himself, "It's a little ahhlarming." Hopefully, this makeover show gets a makeover if it continues.

Dear "Diaries"

(AP Photo/HO/Twentieth Century Fox/Barry Wetcher)

Layoffs make for great drama! While watching a preview screener for SoapNet's new "Devil Wears Prada" and "Ugly Betty" inspired reality series "The Fashionista Diaries," which chronicles three pairs of assistants in the fashion biz in New York, The Slug couldn't help but wonder what's gonna happen to the two assistants assigned to Jane magazine, which folded earlier this month. According to a press release that landed in our inbox, they'll be "reassigned" to CosmoGirl magazine and the Jane closure drama will be part of the show, which premieres Aug. 1. Now if only the Jane staff members not being chronicled for a reality show were so lucky.

We're Speaking the Language of "SYTYCD"

(AP Photo/HO/Fox/Kelsey McNeal)

When we heard Wade Robson was gonna be this week's guest judge on Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance," we sorta felt like skipping the reality dance revolution. If he's next to screechy Mary Murphy then he can't choreograph one of his ahhhmazing dance routines, meaning the show will kinda be a dud.

We were wrong! That Jazzercise number set to Queen's "Body Language" choreographed for newbie couple Sara Von Gillern and Pasha Kovalev by Mandy Moore — not that Mandy Moore —  made The Slug want to run out and purchase white suspenders and teal pants. Lacewho? Kamerwha? This ballroom boy and b-girl are becoming the couple to beat and dress like!

 

Favoritest Photo of (Last) Week: Shakira, Shakira

(AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Let's start the week off with some Shakira, shall we? Her hips don't lie and her hair don't stay in one place. Our Favoritest Photo of (Last) Week comes from Mexico City where photographer Eduaro Verdugo captured Shakira mid-shake during her concert. If he's not too busy judging reality shows, Vidal Sassoon needs to give this lady a contract. Girl has volume. Don't shake the original caption:

Colombian singer Shakira performs during her concert in Mexico City, Sunday, May 27, 2007. Mexico is the final stop of Shakira's "Oral Fixation" world tour. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Anthony Wins "Shear Genius" by the Hair

(AP Photo/HO/Bravo)

We quit caring who would win Bravo's "Shear Genius" after witchy Tabitha and crazy Dr. Boogie were snipped in previous episodes, but we're happy chipper Anthony took home the $100,000 prize in last night's finale, even though Ben's razor cut was the hotness. Also, we were shocked that Vidal Sassoon was a guest judge  — or should we say we were shocked that Vidal Sassoon was actually a real person and not just a plastic bottle. What will Bravo do next? Have Cap'n Crunch guest judge on "Top Chef"?

Another Day, Another Stardoll

(AP Photo Illustration/Derrik J. Lang)

Few things leave The Slug speechless, yet Stardoll has. What the heck is a Stardoll? They're digital celebrity caricature paper dolls, ranging from Madonna to the "High School Musical" cast. The two-dimensional  dolls can be dressed up with more accessories than are available at a Claire's (tiaras, balloons, wheelchairs) and placed in a myriad of settings (movie theater, enchanted forest, an alleyway).

Above is a portrait The Slug made at Stardoll starring "Prison Break" star Wentworth Miller. We've titled it "Prom Queen and Pimped-Out Wheelchair." Granted, this hybrid social networking site is aimed at the highly unstable tween demographic, but perhaps that makes the customizable bizarreness even more baffling. Who needs Us Weekly when celebrities are now our children's playthings?!

Head's Up on "Shear Genius"

(AP Photo/HO/Bravo)

Time to make an appointment with "Shear Genius" if you haven't already. Tonight's episode, which we've already seen because Bravo thoroughly rinsed The Slug with a preview screener, is bangingly bizarre. If you think you've seen the last of Evangelin's hedge clippers, you're all washed up. Not only does she unnecessarily bring those suckers back to the salon, the behemoth clippers incite a snippy catfight amongst the contestants. Then, Vanessa Williams from "Ugly Betty" guest judges.

"Heroes" and "Top Model" Going Mobile

(AP Photo/HO/The CW)

We're vibrating with excitement! The Slug learned today that "America's Next Top Model" and "Heroes" are being turned into mobile games. In the "ANTM" game from Artificial Life, players will train an avatar representing one of the ladies from the cycle 8 to become a top model. When that girl is eliminated, her avatar will be removed from the game. Harsh! And mini-games based on the show's modeling challenges (walking? connecting with the camera? uh, walking?) will be unlocked each week.

Meanwhile, in "Heroes: The Mobile Game" from Gameloft, gamers will be able to play as superhumans Hiro, Matt, Peter or Niki. (What?! No Claire?!) Interestingly, the press release says the game’s action, penned by writers from the show, will be based on "events from the electrifying first season as well as the hotly awaited second season." Hmmm. We're hot that this could possibly mean Niki will be included in season two. Both games will be available later this year.

Bling and Thongs

(AP Photo/Warner Bros/Sakchai Lalit)

It's a match made in scantily clad heaven! On the left is Xerxes, the giant Persian man-god played by Rodrigo Santoro who's currently taunting King Leonidas on the big screen in "300." On the right is a model donning a design by Tippy/Matthew yesterday during Bangkok International Fashion Week. Is art imitating real life or vice versa? Who cares! We soooo want either one of these to be our Halloween costume this year. Only 3,429 crunches to go! Now does anyone know where we can pickup some bedazzled BVDs? We're not on a man-god budget.

Favoritest Photo of the Week: Hair and Makeup

(AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

This was a sad week for The Slug. We reported there's currently no deal on the table to bring vintage "Price is Right" episodes back to GSN. The President of the United States of "Prison Break" was revealed to be in an incestuous relationship. And both Captain America and Ms. Klugh died. But at least our Favoritest AP Photo of the Week — from the National Open Championship for Hairstyling and Makeup in the Philippines — brought a smile to our face. Peacock feathers! The original caption:

A Filipino model waits for her turn during the 17th National Open Championship for Hairstyling and Makeup competition in Manila on Monday, March 5, 2007. About 8,000 hairdressers from all over the country participated in the annual event in hopes of winning cash prizes and an educational grant to Shanghai, China. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

No Cure for This Oscar Hangover

(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Slug knows that you know that last night was the 79th Annual Academy Awards. Sorry we didn't liveblog it for you. Actually, no, we're not sorry. Liveblogging is as painful as watching Joan Rivers mispronouncing the nominees' names on the red carpet. Instead, here are five things we're still talking about the morning after. What did you love and hate about this year's mammoth ceremony? Tell us at theslug@ap.org.

The Ellen DeGeneres show. Ellen, you know we love you, but we weren't gaga for your hosting job. As soon as you popped up on screen, you were gone. We wanted more of you. Your monologue? Ehhh. But that vacuuming bit? High-larious! Who invited Chris Connelly, anyway? That should've been you traipsing through backstage, not him.

iPhone commercial. At first we wondered, "Why are they doing yet another montage? And why is it just everyone saying hello?" That's a bizarre thing to pay tribute to at the Oscars and then — blam! — it's the first-ever iPhone commercial! You got us again, Apple. You got us again.

Clint Eastwood as translator. The actor-director-Dirty Harry couldn't read a TelePrompTered introduction for honorary Oscar winner Ennio Morricone ("I should have worn my glasses," he told the crowd), but he could apparently translate the Italian composer's acceptance speech. Made our night!

Leave Al Gore alone, Leo. What was the deal with Leonardo Dicaprio goading Al Gore to announce his run for presidency? Yeah, yeah, yeah. We know it was in the script, merely a setup for the drowned-out-by-the-music punchline. It just left The Slug a little queasy. Guess we just don't like politics in our Oscars.   

Dance, dance revolution. That 12-member modern-dance troupe Pilobolus was a shapeshifting sorbet between Oscars' main courses. The way they formed that Oscar statuette and "The Devil Wears Prada" logo was so inventive and unexpected. Quite possibly our favoritest part of the show!

Hair Today, Gone Friday Night

  (AP Photo/HO/KABC-TV)

Well, shucks, y'all. We were gonna spend our President's Day — love those guys, thanks for everything! — at our neighborhood salon drinking a cappuccino and getting a lil' trim trim followed by some intense high-definition video gaming back at the homestead. (Come on. It's still cold outside. We don't wanna go out there.) But then ol' Britney Spears had to go and one-up The Slug once again by popping up at a tattoo parlor completely bald on Friday night. There's no way we can top Brit Brit's latest look now!   

Favoritest Photo of (Last) Week: Not in Kansas

(AP Photo/Louis Lanzano)

Our schedule was crazy last week so The Slug didn't get a chance to pick our Favoritest Photo of the Week on Friday. Since it was New York Fashion Week, and we sorta ignored it because we were sooo over fashion after attending the World Shoe Association show in Las Vegas, we thought it'd be fitting — fitting, fashion, get it? — to choose a Favoritest Photo from the catwalk. So here's an insane knitkini from Heatherette's Wizard of Oz-themed fashion show. The original caption doesn't reveal much info, but here it is, anyway:

A model walks the runway at the showing of the Heatherette Fall 2007 collection during Fashion Week in Bryant Park, Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2007, in New York. (AP Photo/Louis Lanzano)

Soled Out

(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Boo. Where are all the celebrity shoe designers? Although their footwear has been on display in full force at the World Shoe Show in Las Vegas this week, The Game, Gwen Stefani, Kimora Lee Simmons, Beyonce and Jessica Simpson (pictured above from last year's show) are absentees. And we brought our autograph books and everything!

Two of the divas — Stefani and Beyonce — have shoes on preview that launch this year. Both Stefani and Beyonce (along with her mama Tina Knowles) are extending their clothing lines (Stefani's L.A.M.B. and the Knowles ladies' House of Deron) to shoe lines featuring heels and flats with embellishments. Beyonce's comes in a more subdued color palette with purples and roses while Stefani's has some over-the-top glam fabrics. Make your feet "Bootylicious" or "Luxurious." The choice is yours!

Where There's Smoke, There's Shoes

(AP Photo/Derrik J. Lang)

The World Shoe Show kicked off last night in Vegas at the Fashion Show Mall with an, um, fashion show titled StyleWalk. Footwear from such labels as Diesel, Asics, Sugar and Dr. Martens were on display. The runway was unlike anything we're ever seen before. The steel mass arose from the floor and models just started pouring out of it. And the shoes — expect lots of flashy colors and comfort next season, darlings — were so hot that, at one point, smoke started billowing out of the runway (for drama, of course). Thankfully, the haze dissipated and shoe visibility was only momentarily interrupted.

The World Shoe Show continues for the next three days with vendors from all over the world showing off their trendiest treads. The Slug will hit the convention floor running in search of wacky heels, bizarre boots, super sneaks and celebrity sightings. (You know Jessica Simpson is a shoe designer, right?!) And look for our asap video on all the shoe show madness in the near future.

Favoritest Photo of the Week: Beauty Mark

(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Our Favoritest Photo of the Week doesn't just have to look good, The Slug thinks it should also tell a story or explain something that text just can't. That's what this week's pick by photographer Jae C. Hong does so well. One of the best ways to describe what a wannabe Miss America needs to succeed is to peek inside of her suitcase. Would you look at Miss Mississippi's giant curlers?

A suitcase packed with makeup products is shown as Miss Mississippi, Taryn Foshee, right, fixes her makeup in her hotel room in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2007. Becoming America's most idealized miss is a grueling exercise in good grooming and creative beauty tricks, not to mention the poise, talent, interview techniques and community service required to win the tiara and its accompanying $50,000 scholarship. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

"Heroes" Goes to Supercuts

(AP Photo/HO/NBC)

No major revelations on "Heroes" last night. Just lots of makeovers. Did you notice everyone's follicles got better looking in the "two weeks" since we last saw them? Seems the cheerleader got some extensions. Her memory-wiped B.F.F. got a blow dryer. Nathan Petrelli didn't shave. Simone got a dye job. Even creepy radioactive man got a spiffy 'do. And Jessica/Niki, well, she just looks like Aileen Wuornos now.

We would quit watching after such an obvious filler episode, but that scene with Peter Petrelli and Christopher Eccleston's character invisibly fighting in the street was just too cool. (If you want to apply for a job at Claire's father's paper company, NBC has set up a "Lost Experience"-like phony site for Primatech Paper. The code is MT36.)

In the "Ugly" Now

(AP Photo/Mary Altaffer/ABC)

ABC is building an army of Ugly Betties. First, last fall on the day "Ugly Betty" premiered, they stationed look-a-likes in New York to hand out compact mirrors and resumes (propaganda?) to passers-by. On New Year's Eve, another troop of Uglies were dispatched to Disney-MGM Studios in Orlando, Fla. Now, the media empire has launched the "Be Ugly '07" campaign, seeking new recruits via the Internet. We hope ABC doesn't plan on all this Ugly becoming part of coalition forces!

We Want Houndstooth Vans for Christmas

(AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

The Slug recommended 12 gifts for each day of Christmas. Now we want something in return. Here's the deal: When we were in Malaysia earlier this year, we spotted some sharp-lookin' Vans slips-on with a black-and-white houndstooth pattern at a couple of stores in the Sungei Wang Mall. (Not even Ryan Cabrera has them. See above.)

Unfortch, they didn't have mens size 11. So we figured we'd just pick up at pair when we got back to the States, but these babies are nowhere to be seen. Macy*s. Journeys. Barneys. David Z. Yellow Rat Bastard. Dr. J's. Nowhere! We even sent a letter to Vans, but they haven't responded. Look, we don't want you to buy them for us. We got our own flow. Just e-mail us at theslug@ap.org and tell us where we can get a size 11. Then it will be the best Christmas ever.

Notes on "Notes on a Scandal"

(AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

Va va voom! Check out Cate Blanchett at the New York premiere of "Notes on a Scandal" on Monday. The film opens nationwide Dec. 28. The Slug had the opportunity to preview this complex flick about an art teacher (Blanchett) who sleeps with her student (Andrew Simpson) and another teacher (Dame Judi Dench in her crazy finest) who both befriends her and torments her about it.

Both women are well deserving of their Golden Globe nominations — especially Denchie. Usually, we despise voiceover, which "Notes" relies heavily on, in movies. (Our screenwriting professor in college called it a crutch. He wrote classy B-movies.) But it works beautifully here with Patrick Marber's adaptation of Zoe Heller's novel, "What Was She Thinking: Notes on a Scandal." On screen, Dench presents one person. In narration, she's another. Don't worry. There's no "Million Dollar Baby" twist. Just an elaborate look at duality.

Slug Gift Guide: Smell Like Spears

(AP Photo/HO/Elizabeth Arden)

Get the scent whore on your shopping list a bottle of Britney Spears' In Control Curious. (We have no idea what it means to be In Control Curious either.) The bottle looks like a cross between the home of "I Dream of Jeanie" and a Transformer, as Scentzilla so hilariously pointed out in this asap story from October. And while In Control Curious doesn't smell as loverly as, say, Sarah Jessica Parker's Lovely, The Slug believes giving the gift of In Control Curious is charitable. Just think. Brit Brit can buy a pair of panties with every purchase.

Without Further Ado

(AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere)

Nicole Richie and Ashley Olsen topped peta2's — guess that's like MTV2 — worst-dressed list for decking their skinny selves out in fur in 2006. The Slug conducted our own experiment. We plugged the names of the Hollywood starlets who made the list into the AP Photo Archive to see who turned up in pelt the most. The results were furnominal.

1. Ashley Olsen. Although Richie was the furriest on peta2's list, we actually found more photos of the Olsen Twins donning fur. We gave 'em bonus points for appearing in a snapshot next to a fur-clad Anna Wintour, editor of Vouge and notorious PETA adversary.

2. Nicole Richie. What a minx. The Slug spotted Richie in a few fur-covered outfits including a furry capelet during a "TRL" appearance and a black number at New York Fashion Week last fall that looks like it was made out of "Black Beauty" but probably wasn't.

3. Eva Longoria. She barely wears clothes, let alone fur. But we did spot the "Desperate Housewife" wearing a fur shaw while attending a benefit at the American Museum of Natural History. But the photo was taken in 2005. Null and void.

4. Christina Ricci. Sorry, PETA. Your beef with Ricci must be personal because we couldn't find one photo of Ricci wearing fur in the entire AP Photo Archive. Why didn't Lindsay Lohan make the list instead? She's worn plenty of fur this year. Oh. Is it because she bought a button?

Slug Gift Guide: Our Lips are Sealed

(AP Photo/Hillary Rhodes)

Yesterday we recommended a nifty gadget for grandma. Today we're suggesting a gift for somebody you don't like. (If you don't like your grandma, get her both. And why don't you like your grandma!?!?) It's lip gloss called Lip Venom. The company line says Lip Venom is a "spicy, tingly gloss that enhances lips' natural color and shape with a blend of essential oils including cinnamon, ginger, and wintergreen, in a jojoba oil base."

The Slug says it's the Cover Girl equivalent of Chinese water torture. Once you apply this stuff to your smackers, your lips irritatingly tingle for hours. (We should know. We tried it.) But darn. They do look good. (We should know. We looked in the mirror.)

Everything is Possible in Kuala Lumpur

(AP Photo/Derrik J. Lang)

Hello from the other side of the planet. Well, unless you're one of The Slug's Asian readers then hello from your neck of the woods. It's fabulous. We love what you've done with the place. Both the mall shopping and the eating here in KL is wonderfully decadent. It's like New Jersey but with much better food! For the past few days, we've been feasting on delicious Malaysian bites like roti cani, tissue bread and coconut rice. Today, we're gonna make like Fruit Loops and soak in a milk bath at the spa. And maybe later we'll regain our innocence at the Berjaya Times Square mall with some eyebrow shaping. Take a look at the menu. Romantic! Fantastic! Virgin? Who knew it was that easy!?

Slugshots: Tyler Florance is Not Actully Cooking in the Back of Your Neighborhood Grill and Bar, Buddy

• Just when Vincent from "Project Runway" couldn't annoy us anymore, somebody fluffed and folded his shirts.
• Maybe she was upset about getting kicked off "Dancing with the Stars."
• Please don't judge Tyler Florence for this. Remember Rachel Ray used to do Burger King commercials.
• Scorcese's still got it, baby.
• Wonder if they'll have to rename those ugly PODS (Portable On Demand Storage) moving bins everyone has out in front of their houses. Our suggestion: TURDS (Transportation of Urgent Receptacle Delivery Storage).
• We'll wait for "Ugly Betty" shoes. Thanks.
• Chick-fil-a got it going on, y'all.
• Vivica, you better not punch Paris Hilton.
• Oh no. Those eyelashes.

Disturbing Omission in Tyra Mail

(AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

Poor Giles Bensimon! The CW (or The Country Western, as The Slug likes to call it) sent us a press release about the new grand prize for the latest cycle of "America's Next Top Model," which starts tonight. It says besides that $100,000 contract with CoverGirl, this year's package includes a contract with Elite Model Management and a cover and six-page fashion spread in Seventeen magazine. (Previously, the winner received a contract with Ford modeling agency and a photo spread in Elle magazine.) Does this mean we won't have to hear Tyra say "world renowned photographer Giles Bensimon" every week?

The Slug Attends the "Project Runway" Finale

 (AP Photo/Stephen Chernin)

The Slug's auntie and asap entertainment editor Caryn Brooks — oh, you know you remember her text messages from inside "The View" audience — went to the "Project Runway" finale Friday morning and came back with this report:

So what's it like to watch the "Project Runway" fashion week show live? Exciting — even if you're wearing galoshes. The Slug promised itself that we'd rise to the occasion and wear heels. You know, this being a fashion show and all. But then it was pouring rain. And the truth is, we're just a sensible shoe kind of blog. And then we saw Carson Kressley sitting in the front row wearing equestrian boots. If it's good enough for the Kress, it's good enough for The Slug.

You know how when you see a celebrity in person, they almost never look like they do in the movies? They're shorter. They have mottled skin. Well, all the "Project Runway" peeps look the same in person as they do on the show. That's reality, folks. Today's show featured the three finalists and one placebo designer so we wouldn't know who won the final challenge before it aired. Read our very unprofessional spoilery analysis of their clothes after the jump and listen to some dirt from season three contestants below. —Caryn Brooks

LISTEN: Katherine Gerdes is not a fashion girl.

LISTEN: Robert Best is not boring — he's easy.

LISTEN: Kayne Gillaspie and his model Amanda talk about her talking.

What? Vincent is Back on "Project Runway"

(AP Photo Illustration/Derrik J. Lang)

Just when you thought you were done looking at horrible — horrrible! — clothes, Vincent Libretti was brought back on "Project Runway" last night long enough to create this ensemble that reminded The Slug of mud flaps. Have you driven a Ford lately? Luckily, he was sent back to wherever he came from along with Angela "Don't Talk to My Mama Like That" Keslar and Kayne "I'm Not Really a Bitch" Gillaspie. Get excited, realitytelevisionistas, because The Slug will be in the audience at the "Project Runway" show at Olympus Fashion Week on Friday.

Finally! Vincent is Out on "Project Runway."

(AP Photo Illustration/Derrik J. Lang)

Vincent Libretti, the designer responsible for turning a bowl into a hat in the "Project Runway" premiere, was booted on last night's episode, in which he made a couture dress that looked like a pillow sham on top of a sofa. Now we're down to the final five and The Slug is not sure who to back: a.) Michael Knight, the levelheaded man with the vision; b.) Jeffrey Sebelia, the tattooed man with the attitude; or c.) Kayne Gillaspie, the Southern man with the glitter. Tell us who you're rooting for at theslug@ap.org.

In the (Old) Navy

(AP Photo Illustration/Derrik J. Lang)

Old Navy, those purveyors of cheap threads, sent The Slug a glimpse of their fall collection. For the boys, duds that look like they're straight outta the wardrobe department of a Disney musical. For the girls, skinny jeans and leggings. Oh, and we almost forgot. One photo of the new Old Navy denim line was particularly peculiar. Take a look. Is that lady in the skinny jeans on the right kneeing that guy in the crotch — or is he humping her leg!? Send guesses to theslug@ap.org.

(AP Photo/HO/Old Navy)

Mel Gibson Never Apologized for This Mullet

(AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

Readers have been writing in and wondering why we haven't posted anything about Mel Gibson. Come on now. You know we don't go there. In lieu of possibly ticking off "Bird on a Wire" fans, we're just going to reprint headlines from some press releases concerning the incident. Here goes!

A READER’S DIGEST EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH MEL GIBSON: EXCLUSIVE OUTTAKES FROM THE ORIGINAL TRANSCRIPT

MEL GIBSON’S ANTI-SEMITIC TIRADE PROMPTS BETUS.COM TO OFFER SENSITIVITY TRAINING IN COSTA RICA

IN TOUCH WEEKLY EXCLUSIVE: MEL GIBSON FALLS OFF THE WAGON

ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE WELCOMES MEL GIBSON'S APOLOGY TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY

SPIKE CELEBRATING MEL GIBSON AND HIS PASSION FOR ACTION WITH MEL GIBSON MOVIE MARATHON

Slugshots: If only Keith Richards and Nick Lachey would tour together

• Nick Lachey is hitting the road.
• What? No halter tops?
• Hmmm. Maybe we're the only ones watching.
• Keith Richards keeps on tickin'.
• "Excuse me, before you mug me, can I reapply my lipstick?"
• Uh, they're probably at the nearest keg.
• Snakes on a newscast.

Making the Brand

(AP Photo/HO/Hasbro)

Huge Superman! Giant Pikachu! Behemoth Jennifer Aniston! Everything is supersized — except McDonald's — at the Licensing 2006 International show at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on Manhattan's West Side. Even the "My Little Pony" is enormous at this show where marketing mavens hock brands from the United States Postal Service to "Bratz." Read the full report on upcoming product weirdness after the jump.

(AP Photo/Derrik J. Lang)

Hopefully, "Project Runway" Will Be Soooo Last Season

(AP Photo/Stephen Chernin)

Bravo has unveiled the latest "Project Runway" designers. The bad news: There's no Austin Scarlett or Santino Rice to be found. The good news: We just might have substitutes. We'll be keeping our eye on Kayne Gillaspie, 27, from Norman, Okla., and Jeffrey Sebelia, 36, from Los Angeles.

According to their official bios, Gillaspie graduated magna cum laude from the Fashion Institute of Technology and co-owns a pa