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This week's pic: Twilight star Robert Pattinson leans in for a bite of Tyra Banks, the former supermodel and current annoying talk show and reality TV host ...

“I saved that one for you guys,” said Sondre Lerche, premiering a new song last night at the Bowery Ballroom. “I could have played it up in Canada, but did I? No effin’ way!” The 26-year-old Norwegian singer-songwriter’s infectious enthusiasm, and the fact that he was the lone figure onstage for most of the evening, made it feel as if one had been invited into a crush’s bedroom to chat and hear a few tunes. Lerche discussed his record coming out next year, congratulated us on our new president, and professed his love for Polaroids. (The last bit was a sly bit of marketing — the merch table featured his Polaroid Pumpkin Party EP, a six-song homemade CD packaged with casual Polaroid pictures of, well, himself.) He later played an extended bridge so speedily on his guitar that we feared he’d hurt his finger, as he did at Joe’s Pub earlier this year. He didn’t! After that, opener Sylvie Lewis came onstage for some duets, but sensing the fandom in the room, she opted at times to simply remain silent, allowing the audience to fill in the void. And fill the void they did, especially during the sing-along “Two Way Monologue.” But they were probably just thinking, Isn’t he dreamy?

Read more posts by Vanita Salisbury

Filed Under: last night's gig, music, sondre lerche

Indeed, Rikki and Vikki Ikki have been chosen by MTV to star in a spin-off of the timeless Tila Tequila reality show sensation, A Shot at Love. The latest installment of the dating competition will appropriately be titled A Double Shot at Love.

In the show, both genders will compete for the affection of Rikki and Vikki Ikki, sisters that were destined to appear naked in Playboy as soon as their parents dubbed them with such a moniker.

However, despite their usual penchant for this position, Karissa and Kristina won't lie down for Rikki and Vikki. A naked gauntlet has been thrown down, one that only our readers can answer:

Which set of twins is hotter? Follow this article's jump to see both pairs of sisters in the buff, and then vote in our all-important poll...

Who is more attractive: Karissa and Kristina Shannon or Rikki and Vikki Ikki?

Tagline: "With a little luck, this could be my ticket back on top."

Translation: Real-life parallel alert.

Verdict: Oscar buzz for Mickey Rourke's big comeback seems to have plateaued a bit lately, so now seems like a pretty good time to release the trailer for The Wrestler, both to re-hype the film and to give us a small taste before the movie comes out in a month and it's only mentioned in connection with Rourke's award bid. Anyway, it was already evident from the movie stills and Rourke’s Wikipedia entry, but dude really is perfect for the role: It’s hard to look away from his mashed, hints–of–Bell’s palsy face, and he’s achieved just the right level of cheesy muscularity. Mix it up with a string of restrained, tearful moments, a new Bruce Springsteen track playing over the proceedings, and a crucial Todd Barry appearance, and we're just about sold.

Read more posts by Amos Barshad

Filed Under: bruce springsteen, mickey rourke, music, the wrestler, todd barry, trailer mix

Tobey, 33, and Jennifer Meyer, 31, are already proud parents of two-year-old Ruby Sweetheart Maguire. The new bundle of joy has a due date of Spring 2009.

GROWING THE FAMILY: Tobey Maguire will forever be known as Spider-Man to fans. But to little Ruby Sweetheart and his second, unborn child, he'll just be dad.

According to a friend of the couple, who wed in September 2007, “they are ecstatic.”

So are we, because they seem pretty normal and probably won't pick a stupid-ass name like Bronx Mowgli for Ruby's little brother / sister. Congrats, kids!

"I would probably date Bella. Bella is the coolest girl, you know? Well, it depends if it was from the movie or the book version. In the book version, I'd do — what's her name? — Jessica. The cheerleader one." —Robert Pattinson actually prefers cheerleaders [MTV]

"A lot of those guys on the board can go and get my sandwich when I want, and I mean that in the nicest way. There are disco bands, rap bands, Yiddish folk song bands in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but not Kiss. I believe we have more gold records in America than any other group, but it's OK." Gene Simmons [Billboard]

"Bands don't do what we used to do. Bands don't have the theatrics. We were lighting ourselves on fire. I had a chainsaw and cut a nun's head off. You don't see that shit at all anymore, which is kind of sad." —Vince Neil missed the good ol' days [Rolling Stone]

"I did go to see James Cameron. He didn't give us his blessing, but he didn't shit all over our movie. When Jim was making Alien, he was following the great Ridley Scott, so he knows how we feel." —McG is tired of hearing that James Cameron hasn't blessed Terminator: Salvation [TotalFilm]

"We give presents to each other on Christmas Eve and the ones from Santa come on Christmas morning. We also line up from youngest to oldest on Christmas Eve and we march around the house in a line. We process around the house singing 'Silent Night.' The youngest child gets to put the infanta in the crèche. And if you were good, you get to put straw in the manger — everyone's been good so far." —Stephen Colbert on the Colbert-family Christmas tradition [USAT]

"They are trying to figure it out between me and Hillary, and I keep telling them I've got some things I can bring to the table that they've never had before." —Common is in the running for secretary of State [MTV]

Read more posts by Tammy Oler

Filed Under: common, gene simmons, mcg, movies, quote machine, robert pattinson, stephen colbert, twilight, vince neil

The 26-year-old Sweetin filed papers in Orange County, Calif., for legal separation from Cody Herpin, 31, whom the actress had once called a "blessing" who helped turn around her life after years of methamphetamine addiction.

The pair were married in July 2007 and welcomed a daughter, Zoie, this April. They recently announced they were working on a reality show together.

That's a new one, splitting up before their reality show airs. Maybe they can re-marry in time for the premiere? One can hope. One can only hope.

Here's a look back at some of the highlights of their marriage:

However, the pair is handling its problems in a mature fashion, reportedly seeking guidance from a couple's counselor. The main basis for contention, the newspaper writes, is Ronson's issue with Lohan being Lohan.

"Sam and Lindsay are still very much together and very much in love, but drama just seems to follow Lindsay, and Sam hates it," said an insider. "She deals with Lindsay every day. And every day for Sam means questioning, 'Is this worth it?'"

So far, it appears to be. After all, another source states:

"No matter what happens, at the end of the day, they are always fine."

Digital projection may be the future, but The Curious Case of Benjamin Button so thoroughly screws with the space-time continuum that recent, anticipated digital screenings went haywire, leaving everyone looking greenish and un-Oscarable. Since more screenings are being rescheduled, may we suggest Netflix's "Watch Instantly" feature on XBox360? It works great. [Variety, In Contention]

Read more posts by Logan Hill

Filed Under: A.V. Club, movies, oscars, the curious case of benjamin button

At this point, the only thing standing in the way of Pam and Jim giving fans the marriage they've been waiting for is if one of the couple gets hit by a truck. (Or a falling piano. Whichever.) Since Jim manned up and asked Pam out, the writers have been carefully planting land mines: Art school. Jim doppelgänger in New York. Jim’s jealousy and general lack of ambition. All easily tiptoed past, and not thought of again. Last night brought (another) potential deal breaker: Jim, a small-town imp socially just stunted enough to think it’s a good idea to buy his parents' house for him and his fiancée without telling her, unveils the “surprise.”

Pam is already about to freak out, realizing how little the office respects her — Ryan’s passive-aggressive demands that she clean the microwave were quietly humiliating. And Jim, with the house purchase, dismisses Pam’s thoughts just like everyone else. Quite a pickle! So he shows her the depressingly broken-down home — complete with a hideous, immovable clown in the living room — and … she cries and says she loves it. “You bought me a house!” Another land mine deftly sidestepped. If Jim were diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer, Pam would probably smile the tumor away. We’re glad they’re going to be together. Enough with the red herrings.

In other goings-on, Toby returns from Costa Rica, which also means a return of Evil Michael, who for reasons unknown despises Toby. It’s nice to have the blustering impotent Michael back, at least temporarily. Ryan and Kelly break up again, Dwight calls the police as Andy, and … well, that’s about it. Now there are two weeks off before the Andy-Angela wedding plans kick in at Schrute Farms; should we also expect Jim and Pam to face another “threatening” development?

Read more posts by Will Leitch

Filed Under: overnights, the office, tv

Mary-Kate Olsen and Mischa Barton cozied up at the landmark Grand Opening of Atlantis, the Palm Resort, and the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

She may not be ordering many burgers, but Mary-Kate finds new boyfriend Nate Lowman delicious. Mischa hasn't swallowed anything since her Cisco Adler daze.

Mary-Kate Olsen and Mischa Barton cozied up at the landmark Grand Opening of Atlantis, the Palm Resort, and the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

She may not be ordering many burgers, but Mary-Kate finds new boyfriend Nate Lowman delicious. Mischa hasn't swallowed anything since her Cisco Adler daze.

Today the New York Times reports that Angelina Jolie didn't just bank a $14 million payday for her baby photos — she demanded that People produce an "'editorial plan' providing a road map of the layout." Shocking? Unethical? We say: Awesome! At Vulture HQ, we've been rejoicing all morning. This means we might finally have our shot at a Q&A with Angelina — if our "editorial plan" is strong enough. So here goes! (Angelina, if the below proposal sounds good to you, please just leave your cell number in the comments and we'll get back to you.)

Dear Angelina Jolie,

New York would like to request an online Q&A for our socially conscious entertainment blog, Vulture. We do not have $14 million to offer. (In fact, we have substantially less, but on the positive side, it is all untraceable, in small, unmarked coins.) What do we have? An editorial plan that will knock your socks off. We won’t make you sound like Madonna at all!

1. Lede: Profile opens with natural, humanizing detail that presents you as just another American mom — but way hot and more morally centered. We say you and Brad are like “Jon & Kate Plus Eight — if Jon was a hot architect-actor and Kate was like a hot Obama and the kids were like young superhero prophets drafted from the far corners of the globe to save the world.”

2. Response to your critics: Angelina the Alchemist: We argue that selling baby pictures isn’t creepy at all. You’re like the girl who turned straw (the despicably craven impulses of the nasty media) into gold (a multi-million-dollar end to global suffering). And all those meanie “ethics” reporters are just jealous Rumplestiltskins.

3. We mention that since you started dating Brad, he doesn’t look anything like Kato Kaelin anymore.

4. 7,500 words on humanitarian issue of your choice. You can even pick the writer. We’ll just paste it in!*

5. Small scene: You deflower David Archuleta.**

6. Riff: On how you totally deserve an Oscar for Changeling. To make up for not getting one when you totally deserved it in A Mighty Heart. And Beowulf.

7. Highbrow quote to class up the interview, like this one from T.S. Eliot.

8. Sidebar: World hunger stats.

9. Sidebar: Maddox’s hair secrets.

10. Megan Fox's accurate description of you: “like a superhuman goddess!”

11. Not mentioned: that blood-filled vial necklace thing. It’s played out!

12. Also not mentioned: Jennifer Aniston. What a hater. Friends sucked, anyway.

13. Rebuttal: Your holistic worldview is nothing like Madonna’s. You’re so much more serious and un-publicity-stunty.

14. Tough questions: (These are negotiable.) Are you the best woman in the world because of your generosity, courage, or dedication? Do you consider yourself the most powerful woman in the world — more so than even German chancellor Angela Merkel?

15. We confess our love, and the look in your eyes tells us that you desperately want to run away to rural Pennsylvania with us and live off nothing but apples and Amish jelly — but now you have the kids to think about: “Perhaps in another life,” you whisper, while a witch doctor inks our matching tattoos.

16. Kicker: We observe some spontaneous, deep moment between you and Brad that makes us realize that everything about you is soulful and uncalculated!

* 4-point type
** Online slideshow and online video component.

Angelina Jolie’s Carefully Orchestrated Image [NYT]

Related: Angelina Jolie Really IS Manipulative and Conniving, Says the ‘Times’ [Daily Intel]

Read more posts by Logan Hill

Filed Under: angelina jolie, awesome, movies, new york times

But new reports are indicating that the nuptials are creating a series of problems for the Playboy model, her mediocre wide receiver of a fiance and others in the world of television. Here's are examples of the controversies caused by this couple:

• Following The Girls Next Door, Wilkinson was scheduled for her own reality show spin off. “It was supposed to be Kendra being even more...Kendra,” a source told E! Online. Now? A Newlyweds-type series is being considered.

• Along with the engagement news, it was announced that Wilkinson and Baskett would get hitched at the Playboy Mansion, with Hugh Hefner giving the bride away. But insiders say Baskett may not want someone that has seen his soon-to-be wife naked walking her down the aisle.

• Now, Kendra won't commit to any location for the wedding.

We'll keep readers apprised of the latest plans for these nuptials. For now, just one thing is certain:

Baskett and the Philadelphia Eagles need a major winning streak if they wanna reach the playoffs.

But new reports are indicating that the nuptials are creating a series of problems for the Playboy model, her mediocre wide receiver of a fiance and others in the world of television. Here's are examples of the controversies caused by this couple:

• Following The Girls Next Door, Wilkinson was scheduled for her own reality show spin off. “It was supposed to be Kendra being even more...Kendra,” a source told E! Online. Now? A Newlyweds-type series is being considered.

• Along with the engagement news, it was announced that Wilkinson and Baskett would get hitched at the Playboy Mansion, with Hugh Hefner giving the bride away. But insiders say Baskett may not want someone that has seen his soon-to-be wife naked walking her down the aisle.

• Now, Kendra won't commit to any location for the wedding.

We'll keep readers apprised of the latest plans for these nuptials. For now, just one thing is certain:

Baskett and the Philadelphia Eagles need a major winning streak if they wanna reach the playoffs.

Every week between now and February 2, when the nominations are announced, movies and stars will help themselves — or, sometimes, hurt themselves — in the Oscar race. Vulture's Oscar Futures will listen to insider gossip, comb the Oscar blogs, and out-and-out guess when necessary to track who's up, who's down, and who's currently leading the race for a coveted nomination.

Best Picture	UP: Slumdog Millionaire. Rave reviews, great (per-screen) box office, and passionate supporters make this once-underdog seem like the only sure-bet nominee so far.	DOWN: Australia. Well, it's finally finished, and reviews are in: It's just okay.
	CURRENT PREDIX: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Milk, Revolutionary Road, Slumdog Millionaire, Wall-E

Best Director	UP: Jonathan Demme, Rachel Getting Married. Roger Ebert seems to think he's "a lock." Plus, voters got screeners of his movie this week.	DOWN: Sam Mendes, Revolutionary Road. Is Road too much like American Beauty? Is he just repeating himself? The Hollywood Reporter thinks so.
	CURRENT PREDIX: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire; David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Sam Mendes, Revolutionary Road; Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight; Gus Van Sant, Milk
Best Actor	UP: Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler. Following his apology for using a homophobic slur in an interview last Monday, he's impressively managed to avoid saying anything egregiously stupid for an entire week.	DOWN: Hugh Jackman, Australia. Will anyone be able to look past his sexiness? Variety's Todd McCarthy sure can't: "Women and not a few men will marvel at a stripped-down Jackman's sculpted torso as he rinses himself off in the campfire light."
	CURRENT PREDIX: Leonardo DiCaprio, Revolutionary Road; Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon; Sean Penn, Milk; Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
Best Actress	UP: Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road. With Meryl Streep getting mixed reviews for Doubt, is this Winslet's award to lose? Apparently she's "a revelation."	DOWN: Angelina Jolie, The Changeling. Promoting her movie in the U.K. this week, she talked more about breast-feeding, her parents, and her imminent plans to quit acting. Her celebrity cost her a nomination last year — will it happen again?
	CURRENT PREDIX: Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married; Angelina Jolie, Changeling; Kristin Scott Thomas, I've Loved You So Long; Meryl Streep, Doubt; Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road
Best Supporting Actor	UP: Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road. "When Shannon is onscreen," says Variety, "it's impossible to watch anyone else"…	DOWN: Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road. …Too bad he will definitely lose to Heath Ledger, who Roger Ebert's top-secret Oscar source claims will win, "period. For the other contenders, the nomination itself will be their reward."
	CURRENT PREDIX: James Franco, Milk; Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt; Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight; Dev Patel, Slumdog Millionaire; Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road
Best Supporting Actress	UP: Viola Davis, Doubt. Is she Doubt's best hope for an acting statue? After screenings last weekend, that's what some are saying.	DOWN: Kathy Bates, Revolutionary Road. Did you know she was in this? Early reviews barely mention her.
	CURRENT PREDIX: Penélope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona; Viola Davis, Doubt; Rosemarie DeWitt, Rachel Getting Married; Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Kate Winslet, The Reader

Read more posts by Lane Brown

Filed Under: kudos, movies, oscar futures, oscars

And another one bites the dust. According to Playbill, "13, the new middle school-set musical with songs by Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown, will play its final performance at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre Jan. 4, 2009." The show will have played 105 regular performances when it closes, which is about 11.67 times more than American Buffalo. [Playbill]

Read more posts by Lori Fradkin

Filed Under: 13, closings, theater