lemonwade

Inspired perhaps by the kick-off in New York of Fashion Week, LemonWade co-founder, Jerry Wade, passed along to me this item from Vanity Fair, which estimates the cost of the outfits that Cindy McCain and Laura Bush wore to the Republican National Convention this week. As VF comments, “One of the persistent memes in the Republican line of attack against Barack Obama is the notion that he is an elitist, whereas the GOP represent real working Americans like Levi “F-in’ Redneck” Johnston. It caught our attention, then, when [Mesdames Bush and McCain] took the stage Tuesday night wearing some rather fancy designer clothes.” Laura’s outfit is estimated at between $3,425 and $4,325, and Cindy’s is estimated at a whopping $299,100-$313,100! That’s about the cost of three foreclosed homes in Detroit. In the immortal words of George W. Bush’s mother, Barbara: “We like to go rich.”

Composer Howard Shore is perhaps best-known for his scores to “The Lord of the Rings” movies, but he’s recently re-teamed with director David Cronenberg, with whom he’s worked on many films, to do an opera of their picture “The Fly.” The work had its premiere this summer in Paris, where the reviews were decidedly mixed; one English-language critic recommended “insecticide.” The opera, however, won’t be put out of its misery just yet. Shore has made some changes, and the piece will debut at the Los Angeles Opera this weekend. Here’s an interview with him about the revision.

Maybe it’s my reaction to the revolting oodles of praise being ladled on right-wing fanatic Sarah Palin by corporate-media pundits, but I find that I’m desperate for escapism this week. How else to explain the fact that I’m looking forward to the just-announced appearance of Britney Spears at this Sunday’s MTV Music Video Awards? Will she bomb as badly as last year? Has she gotten her act together enough to re-enter the pop mainstream? Will she actually try to sing rather than half-lyp-sync? LemonWade is dying to know.

“I think he has greater appeal for more people than I do.” That’s David Letterman, speaking about his long-time rival Jay Leno. This remark comes from a rare sit-down interview, which expresses Dave’s bafflement as to why NBC is about to replace Jay with Conan O’Brien.

According to the London Times, young pop singer Lily Allen received a very public dressing down from Sir Elton John last night as the pair hosted the British GQ Men of the Year Awards. In front of an audience comprising the crème of the entertainment world, the 23-year-old chart-topper sipped champagne on stage until she began slurring and swearing. When Allen told the audience at London’s Royal Opera House “now we reach a very special point in the evening”, Sir Elton replied: “What, you are going to have another drink?” Allen, dressed demurely in a full-length ball gown, responded: “Fuck off Elton, I’m 40 years younger than you, I have my whole life ahead of me.” But the 61-year-old Mr. John was not to be one-upped. He replied: “I could still snort you under the table.”