2007 Ironman Pro Discord

As with any bodybuilding show there's always dissent amongst the fans with regards to the judging. So-and-so should have placed higher, whojamacallit was holding water, and whatsisname just couldn't control his stomach.

This years 2007 Vyotech Ironman Pro Invitational, held over the hill at the Pasadena Civic Center Auditorium, was no exception, except maybe with regards to winner, Toney Freeman, who's first place finish seemed to be met with unanimous approval (well pretty much unanimous, at least the viewers watching on bodybuilding.com gave him their vote).

Many thought Silvio Samual certainly deserved higher than 4th, having added a good 15lbs of muscle to his frame since last season (under the tutelage of Milos Sarcev), and a posing routine that earned him the Vince Gironda Award. "But heres the silver lining," thought Enter the Mind's BB is 4 life :) "with the position he got it shows he wasnt ignored, he grabbed their attention, now he is on the radar."

Second place finisher Mark Dugdale, one of the smaller IFBB pros, has one of the more symmetrical and proportional physiques, but not the mass that many like their pro bodybuilders to have. As Mike, the Admin Dude from Muscle Mayhem put it, Dugdale just "doesn't have that 'wow' factor [and basically] needs to get off that porch and put on some more mass."

39 year old Eddie Abbew, who's been around for a while now, placed 3rd, but how, asked Mayhem's dbcb314 when "his thighs are really narrow. His arms are nothing special. His conditioning was nothing special. He isn't a mass monster."

Then there's the case of unknown Russian Sergey Shelestov who was never even called out for a comparison against the top guys. "Yeah Shelestov got robbed BIG time. I think those mofos are racist," shouted Freak, a fellow Russian over at Muscle Mecca. His sentiments (well maybe not the racist parts) were echoed by many over all of the boards. Bodybuilding is a name game, and no one knew Sergey, hence his poor, poor placing.

Whether it's a guy's symmetry, aesthetics or proportions. Whether they have full round muscle bellies, lor ack the appropriate striations Maybe they look too chemically enhanced. Or maybe they just don't display and can't pose well. There's many a reason these boys place how they do... and only the judges really know the ins and outs of judging (deep I know).

The Force Unleashed at Toy Fair

The most important event in February, more important than the Grammys, the Ironman Pro, and the Oscars combined, is the American International Toy Fair, held last week in New York City.

Geeks around the world look to Toy Fair for news (and pictures) from their favourite toy lines. Avid fans clamor for sneak peaks of upcoming action figures from such lines as Hasbro's Marvel Legends, McFarlane's Spawn, JAKKS' WWE series, even My Little Pony. It's the anticipation of new Star Wars toys that really makes me moist however, and with this being the 30th anniversary of Episode IV: A New Hope, 2007's product is going to be one bumper crop!

A couple of the upcoming Gentle Giant animated maquettes will look great on my shelves (hint hint Joe), and those 12" Sideshow Collectibles, Galactic Heroes and Nerf Blasters all have their place (and fans) I suppose, but it's Hasbro's classic line of 3¾" figures that I most look forward to adding to my collection.

This year's line will consist of at least 60 basic figures, in brand-spanking-new specially designed 30th anniversary packaging, complete with a collectible coin (a homage to Kenner's 1985 Power of the Force line).

Future goodies include the likes of M'iiyoom Onith, Hermi Odle and Umpass-Stay, and a series of figures based on Ralph McQuarrie's original concept art, all mixed in with new renditions of the core characters (like Luke, Leia and R2). The most exciting news however is that Hasbro will finally embrace the Expanded Universe with characters from the Lucas Arts' upcoming The Force Unleashed (a video game for the "next generation" platforms, where you play Vader's secret Sith apprentice) along with versions of Darth Revan, Darth Malak and Roron Corobb.

And so with the prospect of all these wonderful new toys on the horizon, I passed up the one remaining Betrayal of Felucia battle pack I found at Target this morning. It could end up being one expensive year with many storage challenges!

CELEBFLASH: Repeat City

The CelebFlash, a self-coined term used to describe my encounters with the Hollywood elite (and once a significant part of my blog) has seemingly been long since absent from my writings. Thinking about it now, the majority of my CelebFlashes occurred when I was still at The Farm. You would have thought my position at Spago would have granted me better access to the stars, however being stuck up in the office I just don't get the opportunity to interact like I did back at The Grove. Sure I've brushed passed Jake Gyllenhaal's ass, had a conversation with KeiraKnightley's mum, and planned a lunch for those Knots Landing folks, but it's just not the same as gushing over Buffy, pouring tea for Corbin Bernsen, or mocking Breckin Meyer.

Sure I recently met past Deadwood inhabitant, and sleight-of-hand artiste Ricky Jay. Glimpsed both Terminators: the T-1000's Robert Patrick shortly after his fine performance in Cena's The Marine, as well as the original T-800 , the Governator himself, Arnold. Chanced upon Rocky IV's Ludmilla Drago herself, the ever-imposing, incredibly tall, international reality TV queen Brigitte Nielson (who seems as tall sitting as I am standing). I even once had to tell Candice Bergen, no, she could not get a reservation.

Nowadays however I feel like I'm trapped in the equivalent of network TV's summer season (aka rerun season), running in to the same old faces again and again. Ian Ziering (at The Griddle, Rite Aid or Baja Fresh), Michael Rapaport, Grant Show, The Biggest Loser's Trainer Bob, Peter Paige and, of course, the one and only Jesse Metcalf (causing me to wonder "Where's Jesse?" every time we go to the gym).

Sadly I suppose the CelebFlash has become part and parcel of my everyday life here in LA! (exactly like people warned it would). Meeting Carrie Fisher or James Marsters would still cause me to go into conniptions (similar to the way Bentley does whenever I come home), but I suppose when all's said and done "stars" still have to buy their toilet paper at Target just like the rest of us!

Just Two!

MyBentley, now just two years old (or fourteen in dog years), and still very much my pup, my baby, my son!!!

"It's not a day out at Alton Towers, you know"

Each week I sit down in front of the telly, Tivo remote in hand, ready to immerse myself in my little bit of heaven, Eastenders.

Eastenders is a prime time British soap opera produced by the BBC. Now over 20 years old, Eastenders first aired February 19th, 1985, and to this day continues to be one of the highest-rated programmes in the UK, consistently viewed by 50% of the country's population, spawning numerous spin-offs and much water-cooler talk.

When I moved from DC I was concerned as to whether or not I would continue to get my weekly Eastenders fix. Thankfully here in LA! the local PBS affiliate, KOCE, airs two episodes a week, Friday nights at 7:00 and 7:30pm (with repeats in the early hours on Sunday mornings).

Set in the fictional London borough of Walford (complete with Tube station, Walford East, and postal code, E20), Eastenders centers on the strong, matriarch lead and seemingly incestuously interwoven families who inhabit Albert Square and frequent the local pub, The Queen Vic.

Now Eastenders may not be as flashy and sophisticated as some US shows (I’m thinking Battlestar Galactica and Heroes in particular), but it blows your common-or-garden melodramas, like Brothers & Sisters, Grey’s Anatomy and ER, out of the water.

Eastenders was conceived a a social realist drama. Yes there is still murder, arson, marital infidelity, young love and much gossiping (it is after all still a populist kitchen sink drama), but over the years the programme has dealt with the likes of domestic and child abuse, euthanasia, teenage pregnancy, racial prejudice, drunk driving, mental health issues and abortion among other issues.

A recent episode serves as an example of the programmes power, featuring only four of the characters and juxtapositioning their two stories. One of a son (former Spandau Ballet member Martin Kemp) confronting his dieing mother with the abuse she put him through as a child. The second that of a young wife, unable to cope with her new pregnancy, telling her husband that she plans on aborting their child. Great powerful televsion!

Devilish Oscar Nods

Early this morning (we're talking 7:09am) an email came through my Outlook from my Kansas City dwelling good friend Marky Mark. Attached was his yearly Oscar nominations matrix, a handy reference sheet to all those flicks you ought to catch before Joan and Melissa take to the red carpet on February 25th to chastise the stars at the 79th Academy Awards, both the gay equivalent of the Super Bowl and the ultimate CelebFlash.

While JM previously poo-pooed my predication that Meryl would receive an Oscar nom for Prada, since (and I quote) "that sort of role (and movie) isn't even close to Oscar material" (obviously it was), what other surprises did those Oscar folks deliver us?

No Best Picture for Dreamgirls even after it's win at the Golden Globes.

Best Original Screenplay for Pan's Labyrinth, a Spanish language movie (and a movie less about fantasy and more about the Spanish civil war than I expected).

Several big nods to Little Miss Sunshine, with it's truly rib tickling moment when young Olive, having been left at a gas station, has to run after (and jump in to) the family's moving VW van.

Best Director, but no Best Picture, for United 93, a stunning film that took me on a roller coaster of emotions (though I'm glad about the lack of Best Picture nomination, the film is way too emotionally charge for that category).

A Best Actress nod to Penélope Cruz for her powerful portrayal of Raimunda in Volver, an otherwise pointless movie about independent, morally void women sticking together through adversities (and getting away with murder).

And lastly the original Marky Mark (aka Mark Wahlberg) beating out Jack Nicholson in the Best Supporting Actor category for The Departed.

While it might seem at the moment that the Oscar statuettes for both Helen Mirren and Forest Whitaker are theirs to lose, we've seen upsets in the past (especially with Peter O'Toole, Judi Dench and the ever present Ms. Streep lurking in the background). And will Scorsese finally take one home for The Departed? We'll have wait and see.

Things I've Learnt So Far This Year

I was shocked to hear on Donald Trump's new LA based Apprentice, that West Hollywood is a "homosexual area." The episode coincidentally featured my workplace, Spago Beverly Hills, and our Assistant GM, Laurent. Manager Mikey had his scenes cut - sadly that's the TV business for you Mikey.

Little Cuban New York hairdresser's can have smokin' hot bodies (and can pass on real nasty colds).

Sometimes you do have to waste a sick day on a day when you really are sick.

Yes, maybe because of the Santa Anas, the wide fluctuation in day and night temperatures, or just maybe because of the recent bout of bloody freezing weather (it snowed in Malibu yesterday for god's sake), but I've had the worst cold ever.

Now that DayQuil (and NyQuil) are no longer made with the decongestant pseudoephedrine (an ingredient used to make crystal meth) DON’T BUY THEM, they no longer work.

Being one of the biggest guys at The Firehouse in Venice is just not right.

Dogster is the new MySpace! Give my dog a bone and go check out Bentley's profile.

Bentley has had a couple of mishaps lately, and I cannot praise highly enough Laurel Pet Hospital with its efficient, friendly, and particularly cute veterinarians (I’m talking about you Dr. Arnold).

With Meryl Streep accepting the Golden Globe for her Prada wearing portrayal of the devilish Miranda Priestly, it looks like my previous Oscar predication is one step closer to fruition.

Target really is "the Happiest Place on Earth," especially now that they sell grocery items in bulk-sized family packs.

Super hunky John Vito returns in The Amazing Race's all-star edition (unfortunately so do reality whores Rob & Amber).

After recently discovering some shots of my boy Branch from the 2005 Charlotte Pro show (where he took home the first place trophy), it’s confirmed, this man does have one hell of an ass!

So Top Chef finalists Ilan and Elia both shaved their heads, accounting for the bandanas, hoodie and wig (?) they’ve been wearing during their recent one-on-ones.

And lastly, catching up with my Sad Clown (who was visiting from DC for a few days to see whether or not LA! would be a viable living environment) was just wonderful! Selfishly I think LA! would be the perfect fit!