#serving nicole scherzinger realness

[yesloulou]

Thursday | 2020 Italian Grand Prix 🇮🇹

[kaisooficrec]

Swords and Hearts (2021): kaisoo fics

Enemies to lovers AU on the horizon! Please enjoy (and kudos and comment too :)

Take Two

Genre: Enemies to Lovers, Implied Smut, Light Angst, Idol Do Kyungsoo, CEO Kim Jongin, Pining, Sexual Tension, Exes TaeKai

Rating: M

Length: 20,050 w

Summary: Kyungsoo realized that the guy he hated the most during high school actually admired him a lot - ten years later.

My Body Is A Cage

Genre: Enemies to Lovers, Alternate Universe - College/University, Fake/Pretend Relationship

Rating: PG-13

Length: 14,885 w

Summary: jongin loves moving kyungsoo things to higher shelfs on purpose in their room and kyungsoo hates him a lot for that.

i’d take a bullet for you (but i’d need to check my schedule first)

Genre: Enemies to Lovers, Romance, Comedy, Action, Drama, Detectives, Spies & Secret Agents, Undercover, Undercover as Married, Fake Marriage, Fake/Pretend Relationship, there's a lot going on here, rich people generally being terrible and doing terrible things, milf magnet kyungsoo, dumb jongin, lots of himbo jokes, lots of champagne, jongdae being a girl group stan, birds aren't real they're just drones operated by the government, Smut, Eventual Smut, is this a slow burn? you tell me

Rating: NC-17

Length: 43, 945 w

Summary: “So, how does it feel to be relegated to backup for once?” Jongdae’s voice is so unerringly loud and chirpy in his left ear, it makes Jongin wonder why these earpieces never came with volume controls. “You’re like, the-rest-of-the-Pussycat-Dolls to Kyungsoo’s Nicole Scherzinger.”

in which jongin learns through experience that it’s possible to detest champagne after having it served at every other meal; that they do, in fact, make child-sized Rolexes; and that minseok hadn’t written a way for him to navigate this situation. and really, all he wants is to go home.

[shhhlikeme]

hi can u do a headcanon when a fem reader moves from karasuno to aoba johsai and still is friends with the karasuno boys.Iwaizumi falls for her because of her skills as a setter and also for being independent and not crushing on oikawa lol.She occasionally smiles at him and likes him too but shes too scared of relationships because of her past one and, scenario where iwaizumi is watching her lead her team and making fun of the other team lol after that he confesses to her

This is the first request I’ve received that is this specific and while I found it harder to write than the rest.... it was a fun challenge trying to follow your plot! I had so much fun! Thank you anon youre awesome💜

TRIGGER WARNING: this story slightly explores themes of abusive relationships. Please tread carefully.

Iwaizumi Hajime x “The Spicy New Girl” Crush

Iwaizumi x Reader

———————————————-

After 2 1/2 years on the Karasuno’s volleyball team, you kind of figured that if you were really serious about getting a volleyball scholarship for University, you had to get on a better team.

A full-ride athletic scholarship was very important because you knew your parents couldn’t afford it otherwise and you’d just love to take that stress away from them

You were already in 3rd year and time as ticking

Not that anyone knew it, but your parents couldn’t afford your post secondary education because they had to tap into/empty your entire college savings fund in order to afford your lawyer expenses

The money had been used to fight a case against your abusive (all types), much older ex-boyfriend. You were susceptible and groomed in middle school by a 20-year old volleyball coach and you fell for him. It went how it usually goes for girls who stand up against their abuser who has power and was known as a stand-up coach in the community. No one believed you. The restraining order never worked or stopped him and the last time he found you he had beaten you so badly that you were able to put him away for battery only.

Your parents and yourself decided to pick up and move to the countryside of Japan in the hopes of starting fresh. You got to start high school at the charming Karasuno High School since the beginning.

They had a volleyball team, and you would be damned if you let your ex ruin your love for volleyball like he tried ruining your life

Each summer you trained like crazy and even though you were your own judge, you knew you were a force to be reckoned with as a player.

Of course you made the team and you were pretty happy

But you soon realized ‘happy’ did not equate to ‘scholarship’ not even close.

The Karasuno girls volleyball team wasn’t like the boys team, where it took shaking them up, new first years and determination to make them a killer team....

Your team didn’t even garner a 20% turnout at practices.

While your teammates are nice, none of them really saw volleyball as more than a club to satisfy a credit

Which meant you would constantly go over to the boys’ practice and wait until Ukai thought it was fine for you to set some spikes for them....

Kageyama, who became like a little brother to you, would bitch at you for stealing his reps while Sugawara (who was more like a twin brother since you were the same age) would give you corrections

While you had a strict personality by nature, It was great to watch talented setters like them

Improving was imperative because you just had to get that scholarship & if Universities were going to recruit you then you’d need to get to Nationals, at the very least

This was not going to be possible on your current team at Karasuno

Even though you adored your captain/bestie Michimiya —or what you liked to call her: Daichi’s dickrider who was always the only other girl at practice — even she had mentioned to your parents at a sleepover that they should look into other volleyball programs at other schools

She had known of your story because you trusted her so she was set on getting you that scholarship also

Your parents listened to Michimiya and sent your highlight tapes out.

Before you knew it you had been invited to multiple crash-tryouts mid-semester

Soon your parents received many offers, but they believed the best one was from a wealthy private school called Aoba Johsai (aka Seijoh) because they not only had an amazing team, they offered their daughter fully paid room and board on campus.

You immediately agreed because that meant even more money your parents could save after emptying their bank accounts on your awful lawsuit

So, after saying goodbye to your lovable Karasuno boys team and Michimiya, you traded your Karasuno high school uniforms much to Nishinoya’s displeasure for Seijoh’s turquoise accented fits

One week went by

You settled into Aobo Johsai school pretty quickly. The team was practically a shoe-in to win Nationals, especially with you, and your teammates were a little boy crazy but SO intense which you kind of loved.

The intense not the boy crazy .

You could get aggressive when it came to volleyball because you had so much on the line so it was nice to know the girls could take your attitude

Your team and coaches really got your head in the game to the point where you would caught yourself not even thinking about your past relationship some days

You made budding friends especially your roommate who was also on your team and everything was going smoothly for the first week

On your first Friday after move in you and your roommate were running late for practice

On the opposite side of school, Seijoh setter and Ace Oikawa Toru and Iwaizumi Hajime were making their way over to the gym too

They had just finished eating and were asked to run some errands for their coach, which included giving some time sheets to the girls volleyball teams head coach who they knew very well

Their coach happened to be the old captain of the boys team when Iwa and Toru were wee little first years

Iwaizumi had a little pet peeve of long treks with his best friend .... because they would be stopped 50 fucking times by his fan girls for shit-all.

It’s not that Iwaizumi was jealous of his best friend, not really. He knew he was a pretty good looking guy and he was sure Oikawa would die if he didn’t receive that kind of attention so it didn’t matter

It didn’t bother him most the time

But when it interrupted even a simple 10-minute walk to the girls gym it got pretty damn annoying

Granted, he would probably like for the hot girls in school to fawn over him as much as Oikawa but even when girls saw Iwa first and thought he was attractive, they would then see his best friend approaching and Iwaizumi would ultimately be eclipsed by his pretty-boy of a best friend

Oikawa’s bitch of an ex girlfriend once said that if Toru was “The Great King,” then Hajime was the attractive Lord Commander of the Kings Guard. Not as good as the king but, definitely still good.

He hated her lol. ❌ She really thought this was Game of Thrones or something

Iwa’s analogy was better:

It was kind of like that singing group The Pussycat Dolls...... while the other 5 members were smoking hot and talented, Nicole Scherzinger was the main event.

Toru was Nicole.

Maybe he should start calling him “Pussykawa” as a commemoration

Back to the present

Iwa-chan waited with his hands stuffed in his pockets like he always did while his friend thanked his admirers profusely for the compliments and gifts

The girls squealed and told him they’ve been trying to accidentally run into him all day

Yuck, are these chicks not embarassed to admit that? Iwa thought in disgust.

He’s heard worse before though. And then some. Even when they go off-campus on a normal outing to the movies or something with just the boys - Oikawa would be recognized from that volleyball magazine and tv and consequently get swarmed by cute girls. It made a lot of guys unable to even be around Oikawa because they were so insanely jealous

Over the years, Toru lost a lot of friends because of it

But Iwa-chan was a better friend than that. While everyone ditched annoyingkawa.... he endured the eclipse that was his best friend’s so-called peak-attractiveness because he was a real ass friend. They’ve been inseparable since they were kids. So, as much as he hated to admit it, and as much as they tease each other: he’d take a bullet for shittykawa and shittykawa would do the same tenfold.

Anyway, in double the time it should have taken, the 2 boys finally made it to the gym to deliver the sheets to the coach

Iwa walked over to the coach coolly while the girls team mostly stopped to wave and bat their eyelashes at Toru.

“Hey ladies, I saw your last game. Amazing pinch serve Natalie. Leah, awesome receives and—“

Iwa drowned him out as the coach began talking to him.

“Hajime, I thought I told you to keep Mr. Oikawa out of my practices? He distracts my players way too much.”

Iwa shrugged. “I’m not his keeper, coach.”

- Iwa squinted his eyes when he noticed there was one girl on the team that wasn’t gushing over shittykawa. She was setting herself in perfect sets, looking up at the gym ceiling so he couldn’t see her/your face.

Hajime looked away when the other squealed at something Toru said. He sighed. “You need someone on the team that will whip them into shape coac—“ Iwa started to say but he was interrupted by the yelling of that mystery girl. You had your back facing Iwa now because you were facing the group of girls who should be bloody practicing surrounding a boy who just walked into the gym. Getting PTSD from the times when your last team wouldn’t take volleyball seriously, you snapped at them.

“LADIES!” You belted. All the girls jumped from being startled. “I KNOW I’M NEW BUT YOUR AMAZING PARENTS DO NOT PAY 30K A YEAR TO THIS SCHOOL FOR YOU TO BE OVER THERE BEGGING FOR LIKES IN REAL LIFE. WE SHOULD BE PRACTICING! GET YOUR ASSES BACK HERE! NOW.”

The girls looked back with widened eyes before they jogged away from the boy, muttering their apologies to you and getting straight to drills.

“You were saying.....?” Laughed Seijoh’s coach to Iwa. He cupped his ear like he was listening. “I need someone on the team that does what now?”

Iwa barely heard because he was too busy staring at you in awe.

“W-wh-who is that?” Iwaizumi asked the coach as he crossed his arms in front of him.

“Meet Y/N L/N. 3rd year. New recruit. Used to be a crow, can you believe it? Tryna get a last minute scholarship. But she’s good. Very analytical. Setter. Brilliant and—“

“Gorgeous.” Iwa finished for the coach, finally gifted with the luxury of seeing your face as you let your bouncy hair out of its ponytail only to do it up again. His throat went dry temporarily.

“Iwa-chan, the new girl is pretty cute right?” Iwaizumi jumped out of his skin when he heard his best friend’s voice right beside him.

“Wha-when when did you get here?!” Hajime accused in surprise.

Oikawa studied his best friend with an amused smile. “Iwa-chan...are you blushing while you stare at our girls team’s new starting setter?!” He clutched his heart for dramatic effect. “I can admit that she’s almost as good looking as me but.... I don’t think I’ve ever seen you blush before. My little boy is discovering the joys of the fairer sex.”

Iwaizumi was just about to punch the lights out of his friend for saying something so embarrassing before a volleyball did it for him. It hit Oikawa smack in the head and he fell to the ground.

You ran over in panic because you totally didn’t mean for your flying receive to go that far!

“Oh my God, oh my God I’m soooo sorry!” You ran past another tall boy and attempted to help the one that was on the floor back onto his feet.

Iwaizumi was on cloud nine when you brushed past him because you smelled like citrus. He openly stared at your ass as you bent down.

ya he was definitely going to be attending all of the girls games from now on just to see you

To Iwaizumi, you weren’t just gorgeous with a drool-worthy body, you were athletic, you put your team in their place just like he did without caring about being mean

which ultimately made you a fantasy of his

He wanted to know more about you

He wanted you to choose him.

For the first time, Iwaizumi silently held his breath because now was the part where you would come face-to-face with “the great kingkawa” and fall in love with him like every other girl did.

Iwa braced himself for dejection because for all he knew you hit Toru on purpose to have an excuse to talk to him

It was a volleyball players pick up strategy number #1

I’m serious lol

Well, if you did, at least she is better than the “we tried to run into you” girls, -__- thought Iwa.

“I didn’t hurt you, did I?” You asked, genuinely concerned.

Iwaizumi caught himself staring at your lips as you spoke to his friend. Keep fucking talking, he thought, as he felt himself get a little aroused at the mere fact that you were so close. Blame him as you may but he wanted those lips of yours to move against his lips, and on his chest, and on his.....well, you know.

Iwa mentally slapped himself. God, he’s already having day dreams about you?! And he had just seen you for the first time 10 minutes ago??!! He needed to get it together.

Oikawa shook his head and blushed in response to your question. While he may get tons of female attention, he was still a guy, and he still recognized that you were really beautiful. Standing up, Oikawa smiled down at you. “I’m fine. No need for alarm, new princess. I can still attend the boys vs. girls game next week so there’s no need to cry or worry....”

You looked up at the boy curiously.

No one could have prepared themselves for what you were about to say to Oikawa next:

“Oh, are you on the boys team? Are you the manager?”

“World Stop.” - *Beyoncé voice*

..........

ummmmmmm

ummmmmmmmm

err-what’s worse than saying RIP Oikawa?

‘Sorry that you just ceased to exist’, Oikawa?

Iwaizumi froze when he heard what you said, instantaneously falling in love with you.

it’s possible ok? fight me

If there was ever a time when fast love was possible it would be now aight

Stunnedkawa, on the other hand, had frozen too.... but for entirely different reasons than his friend’s. He drew into himself, shutting his mouth and walking away like he was in a trance. He muttered something about going back to the room he and Iwaizumi shared and Iwaizumi watched him pass a few girls who were calling to him like he couldn’t even hear them.

“Strange guy.” You shrugged, turning your attention to the other guy who you thought truly looked like a volleyball player. “Can you make sure to tell your manager that I’m sorry for hitting him?” You ask hopefully.

Iwaizumi nods as you two maintain eye contact.

She’s perfect, he thinks

This man is so fine, you think. Tall, broad shoulders, brunette, looks like he could go for rounds, yes ma’am!

You snap back out of it, giving him an apologetic smile before running back to the court to finish the drills. Iwa melted at your smile. You yelled some more at your teammates who looked to be flirting with some more boys who came in.

Iwa’s gaze followed you as you moved out of earshot, unable to take his eyes off of you as you yelled again.

He thought you were beyonnnnd sexy when you yelled like that

Hajime didn’t know he had a type before today but he knows now that his ideal type is whatever comes closest to you

The girl’s coach, who was still standing beside Iwaizumi, nudged him lightly with his elbow.

“You stare at Y/N any harder and I think you actually will manage to ask her out telepathically.”

Iwa let a small smile grace his face. The desire to ask you out had taken off when he saw your little ponytail release. Now it was about — “Hey, thanks for the advice.” He mumbled sarcastically. “But, hey coach?” Iwaizumi asks in his deep voice, clearing his throat and still not taking his eyes off of you.

The coach turned to Iwa.

“Yeah?”

He smirked to himself. “Know any good jewelry stores in the city? I’m ready to buy your new setter an engagement ring.”

—————————-

Let me know if you guys want a part 2 to this bc I couldn’t get to the confession in this post obviously.... I was writing too much. In part 2 I’m thinking you and Iwa run into your ex one day? And we see that Seijoh boys vs. Girls volleyball match? You decide!

Ps. I almost titled this story Iwaizumi x “The New Girl That Fucked Shit Up” lmao

[tabloidtoc]

OK, October 19

You can buy a copy of this issue for your very own at my eBay store: https://www.ebay.com/str/bradentonbooks

Cover: Pregnant Princess Eugenie betrayed by her own dad -- Queen Elizabeth bans Prince Andrew from delivery room 

Page 1: Big Pic -- Lea Michele and husband Zandy Reich enjoying a leisurely stroll with their son Ever in a stroller in face masks 

Page 2: Contents 

Page 3: Contents 

Page 4: Demi Lovato moving on -- a heartbroken Demi is picking up the pieces after splitting from her fiance Max Ehrich 

Page 6: When Kris Jenner shocked fans with her announcement that Keeping Up With the Kardashians was ending she didn’t explain why she decided to pull the plug on the show after 20 seasons but now she’s gearing up for a big TV interview in which she’ll reveal the real reason she’s calling it quits which is ironically because there’s too much drama going on with her family and she wants to see her children happy again 

Page 7: It’s a good thing Taylor Swift has been sheltering in place at her Nashville farm and not at her posh pad in New York City where bullets were flying outside her $18 million Tribeca townhouse during an armed robbery at a sneaker store next door, after just one season on The Talk Marie Osmond has been unceremoniously given the boot because her ex-cohosts Sharon Osbourne and Sheryl Underwood threatened to quit unless she was canned because they felt Marie didn’t bring anything to the table and just made it difficult for them to get their ideas across plus they thought she was too refined and too nice and too polished, Emma Stone’s recent hush-hush wedding to Dave McCary has her ex-boyfriend Andrew Garfield crying the blues and ever since Emma and Dave were spotted wearing matching wedding bands Andrew has been telling people that he’s happy for Emma but everyone knows that deep down it must be devastating for him because she was the love of his life 

Page 8: Red Hot on the Red Carpet -- stars are chic in suits -- Emily Blunt, Sandra Oh, Gugu Mbatha-Raw 

Page 9: Olivia Palermo, Charlize Theron 

Page 10: Who Wore It Better? Lily-Rose Depp vs. Kaia Gerber, Mj Rodriguez vs. Kat Graham 

Page 11: Brie Bella vs. Kyle Richards 

Page 16: News in Photos --  Gwen Stefani modeled one of the new styles from her L.A.M.B. eyewear collection while shooting a campaign 

Page 17: Brie Larson and her boyfriend Elijah Allan-Blitz wore masks at a grocery store, Drew Barrymore posed on the set of her new talk show, Katie Holmes and boyfriend Emilio Vitolo Jr. had dinner with his dad Emilio Vitolo Sr. 

Page 18: Kidding Around -- famous parents can’t get enough of their mini-me’s -- Prince William and sons Prince George and Prince Louis, new dad Artem Chigvintsev and his son Matteo, pregnant Ashlee Simpson enjoyed a day of shopping with daughter Jagger 

Page 20: Wells Adams out on a run, Keo Motsepe and Anne Heche take a selfie, Alessandra Ambrosio spending a day at the shore 

Page 21: Arnold Schwarzenegger and his girlfriend Heather Milligan took their two-wheelers out for a spin 

Page 22: Farrah Abraham clad in a patriotic bikini in Venice in California, Olivia Jade and boyfriend Jackson Guthy on a dinner date 

Page 23: While guest-hosting the Ellen show Stephen “tWitch” Boss created a TikTok video with wife Allison Holker and guests Addison Rae and Derek Hough, Irina Shayk served looks for designer Nicole Benisti’s Fall/Winter 2020 campaign 

Page 24: At the Hometown Heroes Live Music Festival Snoop Dogg honored his late friend Tupac Shakur with fellow headliner Nelly, Helen Mirren stunned while attending Prince Albert II’s Monte-Carlo Gala for Planetary Health, Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly 

Page 25: Ireland Baldwin getting her tresses dyed back to blonde, Kaley Cuoco filming a scene for her show The Flight Attendant 

Page 26: Inside My Home -- Armie Hammer and Elizabeth Chambers’ historic home -- the spouses of 10 years are calling time on their marriage and saying farewell to their L.A. hideaway 

Page 28: Julianne Hough and Brooks Laich’s divorce is off 

Page 29: Ryan Gosling will turn 40 in November and there’s just one thing he wants for his birthday -- baby No. 3 with longtime girlfriend Eva Mendes because he loves being a dad and is eager to grow their family and Eva is totally on board and the couple who already have two daughters would be thrilled to have a baby boy, after quarantining in Big Sky in Montana for months Justin Timberlake is itching to get back to work in L.A. but his wife Jessica Biel doesn’t want to let him out of her sight -- while Jessica likes the slower pace of Montana Justin is bored as hell but Jessica wants Justin around to help with their son Silas and their new baby boy but everyone knows she’s afraid Justin will go back to his old habits

Page 30: Rebel Wilson’s romance with hunky new businessman beau Jacob Busch is heating up and the two have been inseparable since she returned to L.A. last summer after shooting a TV series while Down Under -- they hang out at her house cooking healthy meal and exercising and go for hikes in the canyons and Jacob is wonderful and generous and sweet and he loves her sense of humor, Kim Kardashian is close to ending her marriage to Kanye West but she’s holding off on filing court papers until she finishes mapping out the details of her post-divorce life, Oh Baby -- these couples secretly welcomed little ones -- Amanda Seyfried and Thomas Sadoski welcomed their second child which was a boy, Billie Lourd and Austen Rydell welcomed a boy named Kingston Fisher Lourd Rydell, Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix welcomed a son named after Joaquin’s late brother River 

Page 32: Cover Story -- Princess Eugenie’s royal baby drama -- the mom-to-be is worried her disgraced father Prince Andrew will steal the spotlight for all the wrong reasons -- Queen Elizabeth is set on making sure that Eugenie and her great-grandchild are spared any future embarrassment caused by Andrew because she’s had enough of his reckless behavior -- Prince Andrew is crushed by Eugenie’s decision to keep him out of the delivery room and is hoping she’ll reconsider 

Page 36: Sandra Bullock -- wedding and baby and a tell-all -- she is planning for a family-focused future and ready to clear up rumors from her past 

Page 38: Parenting the Pandemic -- Ex Factor -- these former couples may have their differences but they make it work for the sake of the kids -- Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale, Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson 

Page 39: Tarek El Moussa and Christina Anstead, Anderson Cooper and Benjamin Maisani, Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck 

Page 40: Interview -- Demi Moore -- the star talks about her bravest roles including her latest in the pandemic thriller Songbird 

Page 42: Primetime Babes -- how this fall’s hottest stars stay in tip-top shape -- Gabrielle Union, Hilary Swank, Nicole Scherzinger 

Page 43: Lily Collins, Nicole Kidman 

Page 46: Style Week -- Becky G’s new collection of sunglasses with Dime Optics 

Page 48: What’s Hot Right Now -- be a trailblazer this season in a statement-making jacket -- Iskra Lawrence 

Page 49: Mad for Mascara -- Rosie Huntington-Whiteley 

Page 50: Think Pink -- shop these pretty items that support breast cancer awareness month 

Page 54: Entertainment 

Page 55: Q&A with Candace Cameron Bure 

Page 58: Buzz -- VanderBump Rules -- Brittany Cartwright and Jax Taylor the latest Vanderpump Rules couple to announce they are expecting celebrated the news at a gender reveal party and among these guests were current costar Lala Kent and their former castmate Stassi Schroeder both of whom are also pregnant 

Page 60: Sound Bites -- Jane Fonda recalling the time she told Kim Kardashian West she had a beautiful butt, Millie Bobby Brown on doing arts and crafts during quarantine, Drew Barrymore revealing her experience on the dating app Raya 

Page 61: Catherine Giudici joking about how her life revolves around poop with three kids, Sharon Stone on how she was madly in love with Robert De Niro before the two starred in 1995′s Casino, Chace Crawford joking about the time he turned down an offer to become a Chippendales dancer 

Page 62: Horoscope -- Libra Cardi B turned 28 on October 11

Page 64: By the Numbers -- Julia Garner 

[emritcheson]

Why The New Cats Movie is a Terrible Idea

I was first introduced to Cats in my sixth grade music class.  Which, trust me, is the last thing you want to watch while in the same room as a herd of twelve-year-old-boys.  People in strange wigs and skintight suits gyrating their hips and rubbing their heads against other people’s crotches.  I was horrified and I wanted to go home.

In trying to convince myself how much I hated it, I found the film uploaded in segments to YouTube, and as it turns out, without the outside influence, I fell in love with it.

I fell in love hard.  The music, the costumes, simply how different it was from any other musical I had seen in my life, the characters and the actors’ different interpretations of them, and the energy of the fellow devoted fans - all of it was and continues to be pure magic.

I’m sure most of you have at least heard of the phenomenon that is Cats, but you may not be as familiar with it as you think.  Despite popular belief, it does have a story.

Based on a book of poems by T.S. Eliot, it takes place on the night of the Jellicle Ball, at which the Jellicle leader Old Deuteronomy chooses one cat to “be reborn and come back to a different Jellicle life,” which is considered a great honor.  Meanwhile, Grizabella - an old, fallen-from-grace cat - seeks affection from the others and tries to join in on the fun, but they reject her.  This leads her to singing “Memory,” arguably the most famous song from the entire show.  After she sings her guts out, the other cats finally accept her and Old Deuteronomy selects her to be reborn.

The version I watched in my music class that served as my introduction to this show was a film released by The Really Useful Group in 1998 and directed by David Mallet.

Talk has been thrown around for a few years now that Tom Hooper (director of the 2012 Les Misérables film) wanted to make a big screen film version of Cats, but in early 2016 the rumors were officially confirmed.  Now it’s 2019, filming has begun, and big names have come down like locusts in a Laura Ingalls Wilder book.  It will be produced by Working Title Films and distributed by Universal Pictures, Steven freaking Spielberg will serve as an executive producer, and then there’s the cast...

This cast hurts me in the way that I love all of them and don’t want to see them affiliated with this inevitable train wreck.

Ohhh, dear Lord, simply looking at this makes me ill.

The fact that Macavity has higher billing than Grizabella or Deuteronomy gives me extreme pause.  While he may be the main antagonist of the show, Macavity is physically present for about a scene and a half max.  He shows up to kidnap Old Deuteronomy, fights Munkustrap and a couple other cats, and then disappears in a puff of smoke (quite literally).

I don’t know how to explain why Judi Dench as Deuteronomy is a bad idea without sounding sexist, but it is.  What’s more, Judi Dench was cast as Grizabella (as well as Jennyanydots) when the show premiered in London in 1981, but due to an injury she had to back out and was replaced by Elaine Paige, who would go on to reprise the role in the 1998 film.  So clearly, bringing Dench on as Grizabella would have been a far more satisfying decision.

Ian McKellen as Gus the Theatre Cat is the only one I can see actually working.  He gave an impromptu sample of his lines on The Graham Norton Show and my heart swelled with tenderness, though he immediately showed he seems to be taking the whole thing with a grain of salt.

Jennifer Hudson is another one that I can almost see, except for the perpetuation of the “young Grizabellas” trend that’s been rolling ever since Nicole Scherzinger (seen above) was cast in the London revival in 2014.  I think half of the appeal and heartbreak of Grizabella’s character is that she is traditionally portrayed by an older actress and you can tell that she’s no longer in “the prime of her life.”  When she’s portrayed younger, it cheapens her.  Like, “Yeah, we know you only came to hear me sing the song, so hold onto the rafters, kiddos.”

Taylor Swift as Bombalurina (the character known for her voluptuous qualities) feels like they just picked two names out of a hat, and Jason Derulo...I’m not even touching that because Rum Tum Tugger is my favorite character out of the whole show and I hold him to very high standards on a regular basis.  I can only pray that they don’t try to bring Street Cat Tugger back from the dead, since they seem to be taking a lot of inspiration from the recent revivals.

(Aaand now that video is in my YouTube history.  It burns.)

There’s also the fact that Cats is an extremely dance-heavy show - jazz, ballet, tap, the works - and most of these celebrities are not exactly know for their dancing.

Now all of that said, let me go on record to say that I am not opposed to the idea of a new Cats film in general.  as much as I love the 1998 version, they did take a sprinkle of liberties and I would like to see something closer to the traditional stage version on film.  However, that is clearly not what Hooper is trying to do here.

The most important element of Cats - moreso than in any other musical, I will argue - is immersion.  This is a landscape that takes place between real life and fantasy, not quite one or the other.  And to make that work, you have to believe that these characters are real even though they look very little like anything you’ve ever seen before.  Star power is only going to distract from that, especially in a film version where the audience is going to be up close and personal with the actors as opposed to the minimum distance a theater provides.  We won’t be thinking, “Wow!  Macavity is so terrifying yet graceful at the same time!”  We’ll be thinking, “Wow!  That’s Idris Elba in cat makeup!”

Fortunately, not everyone on this list is a household name.  We have some proper theater people attached to this project, and while that does give me a little bit of hope, it doesn’t take away the fact that the production team is giving the most attention to the actors that have the most star power.  We’ve heard nothing about the music.  We’ve seen no photos from the set.

This film is already a Frankensteined cash cow with very little soul from the production on which it’s based.  And I have a feeling it’s only going to get worse from here on out.

[x--wildxangels--x]

Cancerians are born between June 21 and July 22, and belong to the Water element of the zodiac (along with Pisces and Scorpio). Water signs are emotional and intense, they are also extremely intuitive and compassionate. They ‘get’ people.

Cancers are known for their traits like loyalty, their emotional depth, and their parenting instincts. In your squad they’ll be the one that knows the secrets (and keeps them), the one that others turn to first, and the one that can almost smell when something is off. They are wonderful people to have in your life (although getting them OUT of it, should you want to, is another matter…)

Cancer is ruled by the moon and this connection is strong, it has a direct impact on their moods, which wax and wane as swiftly and powerfully as our planet’s satellite.

To get an idea of the classic Cancerian personality traits and types, we need only to look to some of the most famous crabs (the sign’s symbol): Princess Diana, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, Solange Knowles, Nicole Scherzinger, and Lindsay Lohan. You could say all of these people wear their heart on their sleeve.

TYPICAL CANCERIAN PERSONALITY TRAITS

INTUITIVE (read: nosey AF)

Cancerians have an almost supernatural sense of intuition - they KNOW what you’re thinking, and they KNOW what you did. Don’t try and lie to them, hoodwink them, or manipulate them because you’re tangling with a dangerous creature. This instinctive ability to sniff out secrets can also make them a tad over-sensitive (paranoid?) They’ll go on AND ON AND ON about something until they get it out of you… heavens above, it can be draining.

LOYAL (read: clingy)

No star sign is more loyal than Cancer, they would die for love (and kill for hate... so you‘ve been warned, my friend). They have a total blind spot for those they love, and will overlook almost anything… That said, they demand the same in return, with bells on, scribed in blood, sealed with everlasting love. If they’re into you, you’ll know about it, and if you enjoy romance-on-tap and having a constant companion, then congratulations. If, however, you need space and privacy, then commiserations. Cancer will invade every corner of your life, and install themselves there. There is NO escape.

ENIGMATIC (read: moody bitch)

The moon controls their moods, quite literally, and this means they can switch rapidly. You can walk in the room and they’re laughing and joking (they always have a great sense of humour), nip out to get something, return and find them lying on the floor in tears. This is just everyday Cancer life. Get used to it, and ride the waves.

NOSTALGIC (read: vengeful)

Most Cancerians are terrific hoarders, they are very sentimental and can’t bear to ever let anything go. This applies to people too. So, expect to discover a cupboard full of (still warm) exes and old flames. They can’t (and won’t) turn their feelings off once they have been ignited. If you go way back with a Cancerian, chances are you’re in it for life. They’ll always remember your birthday, ask how your mum is, and sense instantly how things truly are. Chances are your Cancerian friend still lives where they grew up, in the bosom of their family, surrounded by old pals.

It cuts the other way too, though. If you hurt them and damage their feelings, that wound will never heal. They’ll take the grudge to the grave and their warm-hearted nature can warp into a dark, vengeful wraith hellbent on revenge. Don’t cross them. Please.

CHARMING (read: manipulative)

When the mood is on the up, Cancerians can be wonderful company and magical partners. Funny, passionate, insightful, adventurous and indulgent, they know how to have a good time. They are not like this all the time, though, because when that moon phase changes… another side may emerge. The side that demands pay back for their loyalty/entertainment services rendered. Deep down, Cancerians are fragile. They like to illicit the sympathy of others, often presenting themselves as mistreated or wounded, and will go to great lengths to ensure they are getting the attention/support/encouragement they truly believe is due. It can be kinda exhausting…

WHAT ARE CANCERIANS INTO?

Chillin’ in the bath. If you can’t contact them, chances are they’re in the bath. Seriously, this star sign is drawn to water, well, like a crab to the sea. They are big on self care and bathing is more than just a cleansing exercise, it’s an opportunity to ponder, daydream, indulge themselves in pampering and slip away from real life for a while. Bliss.

Being ‘fake’ poorly. This is one of their signature strategies for gaining attention- plus it enables them to wear their PJs in the daytime, laze about, guzzle whatever they like, and have a lil’ Self Pity Party. You’re only invited if you’re serving up buckets of sympathy.

Beautifying their world. Cancerians are innately creative and imaginative, and love beautiful things. Looking good is important to them, as is making their home/room/desk/car look on trend and welcoming.

Maintaining intense friendships. As previously stated, Cancerians are intuitive people who know (and keep) your darkest secrets. They CBA with relationships which are just about fun or never go beyond skin-deep. They want to be as close and connected with those they love and like as possible.

S.E.X. Bonking is an obsession. They’re good at it, too.

[cottonfreakz]

Feel music on your skin with the Soundshirt

The soundshirt is a haptic wearable device that allows deaf users to feel music on their skin. designed by fashion tech company cute circuit, the sound shirt brings music to life using a series of haptic sensors that are built into the material. The soundshirt features 30 micro-actuators embedded in the fabric of the garment. these sensors translate the sound in real-time, into a tactile language that is unique to each piece of music being performed.

Cute circuit is a fashion company based in London that was founded in 2004 by Francesca Rosella and Ryan Genz. The company specialises creating electronic wearables and has developed a prêt-à-porter collection that includes pieces made of laser-cut reflective materials, 3D digital print and smart textiles. The company has won awards for its designs, such as the hugshirt and the galaxy dress — the world’s largest wearable led display, which features 24,000 full color LEDs. It has also designed clothes for notable celebrities including american singers Nicole Scherzinger and Katy Perry.

images courtesy of cute circuit

‘In this way the violins can be felt on the arms and the drums on the back creating a fully immersive feeling for a deaf audience member,’ explains cute circuit. ‘essentially the entire composition comes to life as a language composed of a series of haptic (touch-like) sensations across the torso of the person wearing the shirt.’

In order to provide a comfortable experience for the wearer, the sound shirt is created using specifically developed smart and stretchy textiles. There is no need for wires and instead, all of the conductive pathways within the garment are composed of woven conductive textiles that are seamlessly integrated into the garment.

The sound shirt derives from the award-winning hugshirt, the world’s first haptic telecommunication wearable invented by cutecircuit in 2002. the exterior decorative elements in the first prototype were precision laser cut appliqués, and in the recent iterations, this decorative element was replaced with high-resolution digital fabric printing to create the striking design.

The visual design is a metaphor for the relationship between vibrations and sound waves modulating in different frequencies. The connecting lines also serve as a tacit diagram of the underlying data network of stretchable micro-electronic circuitry.

The shirt sells for upwards of £3,000 GBP (approximately 3,387 EUR and 3,712 USD) and is currently available in a selection of package deals for museums and orchestras. each package comes with a Q antenna which enables sound broadcast, 8 microphones, a mac or PC with pre-installed software, an audio converter and 1 sound shirt 2.0.

These packages range from £9,500 and £11,000 respectively. a consumer version of the shirt is available to pre-order from the cute circuit website.

[celebritylive]

When half of the remaining contestants took the stage on Wednesday’s episode of The Masked Singer, one came back from a costume malfunction and another caused judge Jenny McCarthy to confess, “I think you broke my botox.”

Butterfly actually nearly broke her disguise when it sparked during her dress rehearsal after she got electrocuted by the platform. But luckily things went off without a hitch for her rendition of “Livin’ On a Prayer” and all she needed was her smooth voice to electrify the crowd.

The singing competition ditched the faceoffs for week four when Flamingo, Leopard, Black Widow, Skelton, Thingamajig and Butterfly gave their second performances of the season.

Host Nick Cannon asked the performers for an additional clue after they sang and ultimately the studio audience voted for its favorite singer of the night.

The competitor with the least amount of votes got unmasked, and this week that unlucky contestant was Skeleton, who turned out to be David Letterman‘s former musical director and sidekick for the Late Show and Blues Brothers co-creator Paul Shaffer.

RELATED: Dr. Drew Pinsky Reveals He Suffered a Vocal Cord Injury While Prepping for The Masked Singer

“It gave me a chance to try songs that I never would’ve thought I could pull off in real life,” Shaffer, 69, said after getting unmasked. “And then you say, ‘Hey, I’ll give it a shot. Nobody can see me anyway.'”

Shaffer joins TV and radio personality Dr. Drew Pinsky (Eagle), fighter Laila Ali (Panda), Olympic ice skater Johnny Weir (Egg) and videogame streamer Tyler “Ninja” Blevins (Ice Cream) in season 2’s pool of eliminated stars.

Keep reading for the new clues from Wednesday’s episode and to learn who judges Ken Jeong, McCarthy, 46, Nicole Scherzinger and Robin Thicke think the other contestants might be underneath their masks.

FLAMINGO

Clues: Los Angeles exit; an apple; a gas station; a photoshoot; “Being here has been so dope. It reminds of when I first started out and went from hoodrat to Hollywood triple threat.”; “I was discovered by a powerful wizard who plucked my off of my stoop and led me into a dream.”; “After years of highs and lows, it’s been a while since I felt that same passion.” Song: “Footloose” by Kenny Loggins Judges’ guesses: Adrienne Bailon, Ally Brooke, Kandi Burruss Additional clue: “When I was a kid, I wanted to be a doctor. I even attended a medical training school.”

LEOPARD

Clues: 1963; being dropped off at a door as a baby in a basket; newspapers; “After all my years at the top, it was humbling to nearly lose my mask in the smackdown. It made me more determined than ever to prove I’m still primetime champion.”; “I wasn’t born a winner, I wasn’t even always wanted.”; “I have lived my life in color.”; “I always tell my cubs that no matter what the world labels you, it’s never too late to flip the script.” Song: “Stitches” by Shawn Mendes Judges’ guesses: Billy Porter, RuPaul, Neil Patrick Harris Additional clue: “What some of you may not know is I once served fast food.”

RELATED VIDEO: ‘Masked Singer’ Host Nick Cannon Admits He Would DM Lizzo ‘For Sure’

BLACK WIDOW

Clues: knitting; a peach; a framed record; “I’ve got to embody a squeaky clean image.”; “I never felt like I fit the part.”; “While I’ve had an amazing career that’s taken on all different shapes, I’ve been waiting for a moment like this where I don’t have to pretend.”; “My voice and my badonkadonk.” Song: “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood Judges’ guesses: Christina Aguilera, Tatyana Ali, Raven Symone Additional clue: “I never went to prom but I pretended to.”

SKELETON

Clues: puppets; “My first shot at being a headliner.”; “You see amigos, my life has been pretty great, but sometimes it feels like joint custody and I’m the deadbeat dad who only gets the kids on the weekend.”; “The long and short of it is ever since childhood, I felt overshadowed.” Song: “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” by Jet Judges’ guesses: Paul Shaffer, Martin Short, Teller Additional clue: “I was once inducted into the National Black Sports and Entertainment Hall of Fame.”

RELATED: The Masked Singer: Who’s Been Revealed So Far?

THINGAMAJIG

Clues: three female dolls; a tea party; an American flag; “Don’t run with bulls.”; “Singing has actually always been my first love.”; “Thingamajig’s real magic comes from within.”; “I’ve always worn my heart on my sleeve.”; “I just want to show the world I’m just as warm and fuzzy on the inside as I am on the outside.” Song: “Rainbow” by Kacey Musgraves Judges’ guesses: LeBron James, Montell Jordan, Dwight Howard, Dennis Rodman Additional clue: “My darkest moment was when I went to rehab.”

BUTTERFLY

Clues: Big Ben and London; a headline reading “Please stop showing me memories of my ex”; hands holding with the message “You are not alone”; “At the height of my career I had everyone saying my name.”; “When I tried to spread my wings I lost flight.”; “Everyone had something to say and it always got back to me. It led to a breakup, breakdown and hibernation.” Song: “Livin’ On a Prayer” by Bon Jovi Judges’ guesses: Mel B, Fantasia Barrino, Leona Lewis, Twiggy Additional clue: “I was good in school but a rebel outside of school. And I even rebelled and I got a butterfly tattoo.”

The Masked Singer airs Wednesdays (8 p.m. ET) on Fox.

from PEOPLE.com https://ift.tt/2BkvVV3

[thehappiestblogonearth-55]

Get Disney's Moana on Blu-ray and Digital HD Today!

Disney’s award-winning, hit musical, “Moana” is now available for download on Digital HD and Blu-ray via iTunes, Amazon, and Disney Movies Anywhere!

Download Now:

Amazon

iTunes

Disney Movies Anywhere

Continuing the fun-filled adventure, families can continue their journey filled with hours of extensive and entertaining bonus offerings including: a new, hilarious mini-movie featuring Moana and Maui; an in-depth look at how the people, cultures and heritage of the Pacific Islands shaped the story of “Moana;” revealing Q&A with co-stars Auli‘i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson, and famed animation directors Ron Clements and John Musker; insider access to Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mark Mancina and Opetaia Foaʻi, the trio behind the film’s moving music; four mini-documentaries highlighting the movie’s groundbreaking effects; deleted scenes; a deleted song; hidden Easter Eggs; music video; “Inner Workings,” the theatrical short film directed by Leo Matsuda that spotlights the internal struggle between a man’s Brain and Heart; and much, much more.

“Moana” stars Auli‘i Cravalho as the voice of Moana, Dwayne Johnson as the voice of Maui, Temuera Morrison (“Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones,” “Once Were Warriors,” “Six Days, Seven Nights”) as Moana’s no-nonsense father, Chief Tui; Rachel House (“Whale Rider,” “Hunt for Wilderpeople,” “Eagle vs Shark,” “Boy,” “White Lies”) as Moana’s trusted Gramma Tala; and Nicole Scherzinger (Grammy®-nominated singer, West End’s “Cats”) as Moana’s playful and strong-willed mother, Sina; Jemaine Clement (“The BFG,” “Despicable Me,” “Rio,” “Rio 2,” “What We Do in the Shadows,” Flight of the Conchords) voices Tamatoa, a self-absorbed, 50-foot crab; and Alan Tudyk (“Zootopia,” “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Big Hero 6”) lends his voice to stowaway rooster Heihei.

According to directors Ron Clements and John Musker, the story of “Moana” was inspired by the great explorers who masterfully navigated the vast Pacific, discovering the many islands of Oceania. “Voyaging is a real source of pride for many Pacific Islanders, a part of their identity,” says Clements. Many experts believe that about 3,000 years ago, those deep-sea exploratory voyages halted for about a millennium before resuming. This rebirth of exploration sparked the filmmakers’ imaginations, and the heroine at the heart of the story. “The idea of a teenage girl who dreamed of becoming a navigator—considering the abilities of her ancestors—was so appealing,” explains Musker. Moana’s quest to become a wayfinder also serves as a journey of self-discovery, empowering her to find her own identity – a beautiful and powerful message for audiences of all ages and genders.

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Get Disney’s Moana on Blu-ray and Digital HD Today! was originally published on The Happiest Blog On Earth