What's the Buzz? The Buzz Lady is back -- on the Map

Happy to report that the vivacious Roseann Rogers, my former colleague at Channel 2/KPRC-TV, has rejoined me at CultureMap.com. She'll be contributing videos of celebrity interviews like this one, a chat with Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis about The Campaign. Funny stuff. I must admit, though, to a certain amount of puzzlement (if not serious jealousy) as I note that Roseann -- a.k.a. The Buzz Lady -- actually appears younger now than she did back when we worked together in the mid-to-late 1990s. Trust me: Time hasn't been nearly so kind to yours truly.

Film: The universal language

Today, I have a review of Semi-Pro, the new Will Ferrell comedy, in Variety, and a review of The Band's Visit (above), the acclaimed Israeli-produced dramedy, in the Houston Chronicle. Hey, do I cover the waterfront, or what?

MILF madness

Brian Alexander of MSNBC rightly praises the appeal of "older" movie actresses -- i.e., hotties over 40 -- in an article with this money quote from Lois Joy Johnson, fashion and beauty director for More magazine: “There is a big secret that women are discovering after 50, which is that you can become more irresistible than ever without even trying." (Which may explain why I thumb through More with the same interest I once brought to ogling Playboy.)

Alexander also notes -- as I did several weeks ago -- that Jack Black, Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly probably weren't kidding when they admitted to lusting in their hearts (and other vital organs) for sexy sixtysomething Helen Mirren during this year's Oscarcast. Hey, they're only human. Who can blame them?

On the other hand: It was a bit jarring to see Alexander refer to Halle Berry as an "older woman." I mean, geez, if she is "older," what does that make me? Antediluvian?

Early weekend b.o. report

From Nikki Finke: Will Ferrell's ice-capades score big time.

Helen Mirren: Hottie

Speaking as someone who has long had lust in his heart (and several other vital organs) for Helen Mirren, I must admit that I enjoyed Sunday's Oscarcast musical interlude that had Jack Black, Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly admitting they, too, wanted to pay homage to The Queen. (Can you imagine that sort of gag in an Oscar show even just five years ago? I mean, a gag in which an older lady is genuinely appreciated by younger guys as the hottie she is? Truly, 60 is the new 40.) But had I known beforehand that Dame Helen would go commando for the evening's revels -- well, let's just say that I might have invested in a Hi-Def TV. And maybe a Tivo.

Blogging Oscar, 8:06 pm

Will Ferrell (who should have been nominated for Stranger Than Fiction), Jack Black and John C. Reilly made the most of a clever comic premise in their musical number bemoaning Oscar's lack of respect for comedy performances. And they're right -- Helen Mirren is a hottie, and Mark Wahlberg could kick their asses.

Nice presentation of Letters from Iwo Jima as a Best Picture nominee. Hope the other four will be presented in this nontraditional manner.