Hollywood headlines: A week in review
If Seth MacFarlane was using Thursday’s Academy Awards nominations announcement as a test-run for his Oscar show hosting patter, he might consider changing directions. Fast. Early reviews of MacFarlane’s jokes were strongly negative, with many critics saying the “Ted” and “Family Guy” maker favored insults over insights and belittled entire swaths of the creative community.
Full story: Early reviews on host Seth MacFarlane are not kind
OSCARS 2013: Complete list | Snubs & surprises | Reactions | Play-at-Home ballot | Trivia | Oscar Watch | Timeline| Full coverage (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Britney Spears leaves ‘X Factor,’ Mark Wahlberg gives Philly a weather forecast and Rosie O’Donnell has a baby in this week’s Hollywood headlines.
After a few weeks of speculation regarding Britney Spears’ future on “The X Factor,” the pop star has officially confirmed she has decided to exit the Fox singing competition after one season. “I’ve made the very difficult decision not to return for another season. I had an incredible time doing the show and I love the other judges and I am so proud of my teens but it’s time for me to get back in the studio,” Spears said in a statement released to Pop & Hiss on Friday. “Watching them all do their thing up on that stage every week made me miss performing so much! I can’t wait to get back out there and do what I love most.”
Full story: Britney Spears confirms ‘X Factor’ departure | VIDEO: ‘X Factor’ vs. ‘The Voice’ finale (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
What were you doing when you were 18? Looks as if Justin Bieber has been getting his party on. Bieber was photographed last Wednesday at a hotel-room party in Newport Beach holding what appears to be a marijuana cigarette while sitting with fellow partyers and a couple of empty beer bottles. The photos, taken in the presence of security and obtained by TMZ over the weekend, show the Biebs laughing and chatting with the lighted blunt between his fingers.
Full story: Charlie Sheen ponies up $12,000 to help Bieber paparazzo’s family (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
In the newest round of score-settling, Sharon Osbourne has been using her Facebook page to dress down Lady Gaga for remarks that Lady Gaga made about Sharon’s daughter Kelly. This followed an earlier bout of acrimony after Kelly in a magazine interview called Gaga’s fans “the worst.” The tiff started years ago and ramped up over remarks Kelly once made about Gaga’s apparent weight gain.
Full story: Sharon Osbourne calls Lady Gaga a ‘bully’ as feud escalates (AFP / Getty)
