News

Actress Sylvia Miles, who was Oscar-nominated for “Midnight Cowboy” and “Farewell, My Lovely,” died Wednesday at her home in New York. Her friends, journalist Michael Musto and actress Geraldine Smith, confirmed her death. She was reportedly 94, although she gave various accounts of her age.

Celebrity journalist Musto, who was about to appear with Smith and Miles in an indie film, said, “She was one of my first celebrity interviews (in the 1970s) and was charismatic and career driven. She’d run up to directors at Studio 54 and say ‘Hire me!’ She was very proud of her two Oscar nominations.”

Smith said “Her family was her New York friends,” and related how she had been excited to get back to acting.

Miles’ first major role came in the 1969 film “Midnight Cowboy” alongside Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman. Despite only appearing on screen for about six minutes, her role as Cass earned her an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress.

The CBS/CW/Showtime panels are wrapping up at the Television Critics Association press junket in Beverly Hills, and to celebrate their interesting bevy of new shows, we quizzed a bunch of the networks’ stars and asked them to name their favorite gay entertainers of all time. We caught Robin Williams (who stars in the new sitcom The Crazy Ones with Sarah Michelle Gellar), Tyra Banks (whose next season of America’s Next Top Model will feature eight competing male models), Arsenio Hall (whose new talk show debuts September 9), LL Cool J, Aisha Tyler, Toni Collette (of the new drama Hostages), and my beloved Julie Chen. Check out their gay idols of choice below.

Robin Williams

Years ago I worked with Wayland Flowers and Madame. We did Laugh-In together, the second Laugh-In. Wayland himself was such a sweet guy, and Madame was the most vicious c*nt in the world.

Daniel Barrow has one of the most intriguing animation styles I’ve ever encountered. This is the first time I’ve encountered it, though, in the music video “A Miracle” by the band the Hidden Cameras. Technically, you could call this traditional “cel animation,” but what Barrow really does is draw on clear sheets, then layers and moves those sheets underneath an overhead light projector. The projected end result is very painterly and makes you marvel at the coordination needed to manipulate the cels.

This is an animation process that Barrow performs live, but also sometimes captures his performances in films and videos such as this one. This particular video really captured me during the headphones sequence, in which two hands, two halves of a headphone and lettering swirl about a young boy’s head as he lies in bed.

If you watch it again, pay particular attention to the...

It's a Walker family Christmas. Pray for Santa. Join us at 10 Pm Est for the eggnog, mistletoe, and recriminations.

We start with Nora, who's running around the kitchen in a Nora-Panic™. She's trying to wrap packages and bake Kevin's favorite cookies, pfeffernusse. I have two words of advice for Nora - Pepperidge Farm! Oh, and maybe fix the level on her hormone replacement patch.

After Nora goes on about finding just the right wine for Kitty's first Christmas without Dead Robert, Hawk says "you forgot to worry about Justin." Nora responds "no I didn't. I'm making him a huge batch of inedible, burnt gingerbread men."

Nora throws her mits down and exclaims "why am I even doing this? Why am I even bothering with this huge over-the-top extravaganza when I know they all hate it? I know they're all dreading it. They're probably making fun of me right now!" Well Finally!

Hollywoodnews.com: We place a lot of emphasis on modern Hollywood. Which Jonas brother is cutest? Who is Paris Hilton dating? What did Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and the “Twilight” cast eat for lunch yesterday. But it’s important that we remember Hollywood’s past every now and again.

With that in mind, Profile’s In History will be conducting a massive online auction of vintage Hollywood memorabilia, and one of the items on the block is Marilyn Monroe’s iconic pink satin gown from the “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” sequence in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.” The auction will be held June 10-12.

The gown was worn by the late bombshell in her role of Lorelei Lee. It was later used (or, a replica, at least) by Madonna in her “Material Girl” video. The dress is estimated to sell for between $150,000 and $250,000.

That’s not the only item of note in the auction,...