Despite internet buzz, I am happy to report that Dolly Parton is not dead - at least according to her publicist earlier this morning.

I hope this isn’t like Bernie Mac though and that Dolly keeps on chugging for years to come.. For now, let’s send her good thoughts and watch the opening credits to Nine to Five below:

Read the rest of this entry »

The TakePart Top 10 Weekly Roundup is a compilation of the week’s most notable stories from our entertainment-meets-social-action blogging network. Check out some of our most popular stories of the week, as well as a few TakePart blogger favorites!

Katie Halper:

“The First Time I Every Saw Your Face” May Be the First Time You Hear About Ewan MacColl

California’s Gay Marriage Ban Overturned & 5 Ways To Take Action

* * *
Nicole Hughes:

“Bottlemania” Book Takes Bottled Water Industry To Task

Arnold Tells Automakers To “Stop Whining” About Tougher California Emissions Standards

* * *

Andy Kondrat:

Department of Energy Forecasts Large Increase In Wind Power Usage

Edward Norton & Gavin Newsom Speak To Congress About Environmental Building Practices

* * *

Jon Popham:

Spencer Tunick Strips Hundreds Naked

Lichtenstein Sculptures At Fairchild Garden In Miami

* * *

Giulia Rozzi:

Does Being Ethical Pay?

Is the Anti-Female Genial Mutilation Campaign Offensive?

* * *

Gina Telaroli:

A Global Look At Media On Pangea Day

Everything Cinema: Brody Takes On the Working Life of Jean-Luc Godard

The First Time Ever I saw Your Face, was made famous by Roberta Flack, but American Idol’s David Cook brought the song back into the spotlight tonight. But most people haven’t heard about the man who wrote the song. Born in 1915 in Langshire, England, Ewan MacColl, was a true renaissance man– a trade-unionist, iron-moulder, singer, songwriter, writer, playright, and activist. And he wrote The First Time Ever I saw Your Face, for his wife, Peggy Seeger, the half sister of Pete Seeger.

Check out the great versions of the song, one by Roberta Flack and one by Johnny Cash. And watch Ewan MacColl sing The Joy of Living

Read the rest of this entry »

American Idol’s season finale, which appears to be happening on May 20 and May 21 (don’t know how a finale can be two separate shows, but whatever), will be a carbon-neutral event.  This is a part of FOX’s campaign to be a network with no carbon footprint by 2010.  FOX News/pollution joke goes here.  Anyhow, from the American Idol website:

In partnership with the LADWP [Los Angeles Department of Water and Power], FOX secured renewable energy for the Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE for the duration of the American Idol production. The power will be provided by LADWP’s “Green Power for a Green LA Program,” and sources will include a combination of solar energy, wind energy and hydropower.

Read the rest of this entry »

Last night on “American Idol” the judges’ held their critiques and praises until every contestant had a turn, which is different than the usual AI format. As you’ll see in the video below, judge Paula Abdul offered feedback for two songs by Jason Castro when he only sung one. Of course this has now become all the buzz and people are asking straight up now tell me what’s up with Paula Abduls behavior?

Whatever. People make mistakes. However last week after Brooke White stopped and re-started her song, Paula said something to the effect that one cannot make mistakes on live TV. Hmmmm…

None the less I do love that Paula, mistakes or not. I mean she did a duet with a cartoon cat. Not only that, but it was a cat that was cool enough to explore his relationship differences in a mature manner paired with a snazzy upbeat tempo.

Read the rest of this entry »

The TakePart Top 10 Weekly Roundup is a compilation of the week’s most notable stories from our entertainment-meets-social-action blogging network. Want to learn our top eco-kinky tips for ‘greening up’ your sex life? How about the top 10 ways to take action against AIDS?  Check out some of our most popular stories of the week, as well as a few TakePart blogger favorites!

Katie:

Annie Lennox & Top 10 Ways to Take Action Against AIDS

Somewhere Over the Rainbow: American Idol & Yip Harburg

* * *
Nicole:

Top 10 Ways to ‘Green Up’ Your Sex Life

Top 10 Global Warming Myths Debunked

* * *
Giulia:

Mortified Makes Movies

What a Bunch of Boobs

* * *
Gina:

Top 10 Immigration Films

Boarding Gate’s Empty Adventure of Capitalism

* * *
Say Hello to Our Guest Bloggers!

Jon Popham wrote:

Young At Heart Hits the Silver Screen

Death and the River

Andy Kondrat wrote:

Top 5 Things You’ll Love About Planet Green

Leonardo DiCaprio Does Everything For the Environment, Ever

Somewhere Over The Rainbow, was performed on American Idol by Jason Castro. Though Israel Kamakawiwo re-popularized this classic from the Wizard of Oz, it was the legendary lyricist and activist Yip Harburg who penned the song. In fact, Harburg wrote the lyrics to all of the songs in the Wizard of Oz. Born in 1896 of Russian-Jewish immigrant parents, raised in poverty on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, Yip attended City College of New York where befriended his classmate, Ira Gershwin. Yip wrote over 600 songs including “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” “April in Paris” and “It’s Only a Paper Moon.” Known as “Broadway’s social conscience,” Harburg also wrote the lyrics to Bloomer Girl (1944) and Finian’s Rainbow (1947). Yip was even a poet and published two anthologies Rhymes for the Irreverent (1965) and At This Point in Rhyme (1976).

From 1951 to 1961 during the House Un-American Activities Committee investigations and the McCarthy hearings Yip was “blacklisted” for his political views from film, television and radio. “He believed that all people should be guaranteed basic human rights, political equality, free education, economic opportunity and free health services. He spent most of his life fighting for these goals; his songs “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” and “Over the Rainbow” express these universal cries for hope in hard times to all peoples.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Idol Gives Back is on tomorrow night and celebs coming our more than ever. this annual event is causing an online stir, here are just some of the many mentions of Idols efforts:

Read the rest of this entry »

When Brad Pitt was taping his segment for American Idol’s second annual Idol Gives Back special, he was caught off guard when he microphone didn’t work, leaving the actor without a voice:

The crowd jumped to their feet for the hunky superstar, whose efforts to help rebuild housing for families who lost everything in 2005’s Hurricane Katrina were recognized by show. (The broadcast will air Wednesday, April 9.)

After nearly 30 seconds of cheers, the 44-year-old Pitt “” who was slated to introduce a film clip about former Idol contestant Chris Daughtry’s visit to Uganda “” tried to say “thank you,” but his microphone wasn’t working. [People]

to learn more about Daughtry’s charity work and how can make an impact.

Dolly Parton is mentoring the kids on American Idol and will be on the show Wednesday. But Dolly has been working 9 to 5 on another exciting project: 9 to 5 the Broadway musical for which Dolly has written a score. The play, which will be directed by Joe Mantello of Wicked, is based on the hit 1980 film 9 to 5, starring Dolly, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, which featured Dolly’s hit 9 to 5 song. The classic comedy is hilarious! But, at the same time, the film is serious in its portrayal of sexism, double standards, and pay inequity. In fact, there is even an organization called 9to5, which is dedicated to the rights, raises and respect of working women and works to build a movement of low-wage women to achieve economic justice. Luckily the real life Dolly knows how to deal with sexist jokes: “I’m not offended by dumb blonde jokes because I know that I’m not dumb. I also know I’m not blonde.” And with her own Dolly Parton Enterprises, a $100 million media empire, Dolly doesn’t have to worry about putting money in the pocket of any man. The message is in the music, and the movie, so check them out below.

Read the rest of this entry »