Level Orange

I’ve never understood March Madness. Not because I don’t like basketball or because I don’t get the fuss over college sports (OK, maybe that’s a little true). It mostly because I don’t follow any sports with enough regularity to know who’s doing what or why any of it matters.

However, this year, as a perk with my new job, I was invited to take part in the office March Madness bracket. While I was at first reluctant to display my ignorance for all to see, the latest issue of Esquire arrived just in time to offer up a solution—their Sexiest Woman Alive bracket.

I’d seen it as I was flipping through the pages and just thought it was a fun thing to get cats who are really into sports to take pause and think about beautiful women for a few minutes. Then I considered that maybe this was actually created with guys like me in mind who couldn’t care less about sports. I mean, I don’t know any of the schools or teams in the NCAA but I’m all right with figuring out who the hottie du jour is (although I did have to look up a few).

So I took all of my picks and essentially mapped them onto the NCAA bracket, then added them to the office pool. I have to admit, it’s made March Madness fun for me for the first time ever. Now to see if my taste in sexy ladies pays off.

Round 1

After the first round, here are my picks that are moving on:

• Beyonce
• Rihanna
• Katy Perry
• Ana Ivanovic
• Gina Carano
• Tanith Belbin
• Megan Fox
• Marion Cotillard
• Penelope Cruz
• Eva Mendes
• Ashley Greene
• Lindsey Vonn & Julia Mancuso
• Jessica Alba
• Zoe Saldana
• Christina Hendricks
• Bianna Golodryga
• Gisele Bundchen
• Adriana Lima
• Alessandra Ambrosio
• Natalie Gulbis
• Blake Lively

Not bad for what I figured would be a fun gag. I’ll let you guess who made it all the way to the end, and while you’re at it, why not pick your own?

Check out Esquire’s Sexiest Women in the World bracket here

There’s no mistaking the voice, the style or the suave-ality of Ricardo Montalban. Probably best known for his role as Mr. Roarke in TV’s Fantasy Island (or as the menacing Khan to Star Trek nerds), he was in many ways an inspiration for Latinos to cross boundaries and carry themselves with dignity. Even his final on-screen appearance in Spy Kids 3D, in which he was seen standing proud and tall  with the help of visual effects magic (Montalban had been confined to a wheelchair since 1993 from a debilitating spinal injury), was a touching sight to see.

I like to think of him as the Mexican Sidney Poitier, if you will. But with a fly three-piece white suit and Hervé Villechaize always within arm’s reach. A class act, indeed.

RIP Senor Montalban

Can you imagine the magical fields of sweet mystery that must be Michael Jackson’s mind these days? Just when you thought you could identify a celebrity kid toucher, he goes and turns all Hamburglar on us. Beware kids, danger lurks out there. And it brings with it a phat Barney mixtape.

LINK

After the lackluster Incredible Hulk, I’m glad to see that Edward Norton was actually able to find a project worth his time and effort during the last few years. Apparently, HBO has already expressed interest in the project, but regardless, I’m anxious to see the finished product.

Since 2006 — starting with Obama’s trip to Africa — Norton and his team have had the cameras rolling every step of the way. The whole project was kept fairly secret — since neither the campaign nor Norton wanted it to fuel any criticism of Obama’s ‘celebrity’. Last month, Norton spoke briefly about the project to the Vancouver Sun saying, “We’re making a historical record, not something to play a role in the election. So we have an agreement with [the campaign] that we won’t talk about this, or publicize it until the election is over. I can’t talk about access [but] it’s a fascinating thing to document.”

Edward Norton’s Obama Documentary Gets A Hollywood Ending // Archives // ecorazzi.com :: the latest in green gossip.

Honestly, I couldn’t tell if he was kidding or not, but given Pheonix’s reputation for being quite the intense sort of guy, I wouldn’t doubt it for a second. Especially if I was interviewing him on the red carpet. I’d say it’s a loss to the acting world if he really decided to retire, but I’m sure he’ll find a footing in music and do his thing there, or just give it up and come back to acting someday. You know, like Don Johnson.

www.declareyourself.com

After spotting the new trailer for the new movie, How to Lose Friends and Alienate People, I found myself thoroughly delighted and eager to see the movie itself. The comedic stylings of Simon Pegg and Jeff Bridges are plenty enough, but now, as it turns out, I have another reason. No, really, I’m sure it’s gonna be a great movie. Yezzir.

One of the funniest moments in television history: Ed Ames’ hatchet throw on “The Tonight Show” (April 29, 1965). Johnny Carson at first humbly struggles to keep his composure, then proceeds to lose it.

I can remember seeing the Superman movies in theaters so many years ago. For an entire generation, Christopher Reeve embodied Superman in all his glory. Even when Superman III and IV were released and failed miserably, Reeve’s portrayal and following came away unscathed. Why? I think because there was truth in him. Truth in character, truth in spirit.

Wouldn’t it have been a monumental shame if Reeve had not previously been an actor—a superstar no less—and we would have never seen his struggle?

After years of physical therapy and what must have been an epic mental and spiritual struggle, Reeve began working his way back into the spotlight. Not one to give in to his condition, he directed, he acted and received honors and tributes the world over. His determination to overcome and his inspiration were like none the world had ever seen before. He spoke out and appealed to the government to continue research, in the hopes that one day a way to repair his body would be found. Unfortunately, he would never walk again, but his pure, sound strength of will was amazing.

In his recent appearances on Smallville, it looked like Reeve might have found a new home to continue his craft—and in such close proximity to that which made him a star. It was obvious that he’d never be able to play Superman again, but to see a sort of “passing of the torch” to a new hero for a new generation was so genuinely touching.

For him as an actor, I’m sure it was frustrating that he wasn’t able to shake the character of Superman, but part of me thinks he came to embrace it after his accident. Fortunately, this also gave him the perfect venue to educate the public and reach out to those suffering from handicap. Wouldn’t it have been a monumental shame if Reeve had not previously been an actor—a superstar no less—and we would have never seen his struggle? It happens everyday, maybe to someone you know, but now the world has had a chance to see it up close and now it’s up to us to take action.

It is said that it’s best to remember those who have passed not by how they were last witnessed, but how they were at their greatest height of glory. I believe Christopher Reeve was and will always be Superman and a super man.