These are photos from last night’s Hope for Children Benefit Gala, in which several celebrities were in attendance. Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony were probably the biggest “gets” for the event – and to her credit, J.Lo has worked with Hope for Children for years, and she’s always been a big supporter. For this year’s event, Jennifer went with this pink-red Temperley London cocktail dress. Well… I like the color. The color pops. And the neckline would have been interesting if not for the massive ode to Carmen Mirando shoulder-detail. Wouldn’t this have been cute without the shoulder thing?

Next up: Demi Moore and her freshly tweaked face (right?) in Louis Vuitton. I don’t really hate this dress either but… I don’t know. Demi has gotten so weird. I wonder why she and Ashton weren’t clutching each other through this red carpet. They haven’t made a joint appearance together on a red carpet in a long time, I think.

And last but not least, Selita Ebanks and her new, fug-tastic hair. WHY?!!? This looks horrible. Oh, and the dress is the Carlos Miele Fall 2011 RTW Halter Neck Velvet Gown. Meh.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

I don’t think I could pick Simon Fuller out of a lineup. He looks kind of like Piers Morgan, right? Like a thin version of Piers, I think. Anyway, Simon Fuller, the creator of such shows as American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance?, and various hit reality-competition shows overseas (he’s British, and he got his start in the UK), got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Monday. Several people whose careers were launched by Fuller attended the event. Like Ryan Seacrest, Carrie Underwood and Posh Beckham. Jennifer Lopez was there too, with Marc Anthony, and they put on a little show for the photographers, nuzzling, touching and kissing.

Is it gross? I’m of two minds on this. On the surface, yeah, it’s kind of gross. Gross because Jennifer is acting like she’s all hot and bothered for Marc, who is not a very attractive man, in my opinion. BUT… it’s also kind of nice. Jennifer finally settled down with somebody who makes her really happy. They’ve been together how many years now? Seven? That’s forever in Lopez-years. So… yeah, they’re kind of gross, kind of cute. And there’s also an element of Jennifer’s resurging power too – she and Marc were placed in the front row, and most of the cameras were pointed on them, rather than on Posh Beckham or Carrie Underwood, or even Simon Fuller. Jennifer never goes any place where she cannot be THE STAR.

By the way, the dress is… not flattering. Yes, she’s proud of her curves and no, she shouldn’t have to hide them. But she should know how to flatter them, and this is not flattering.

Photos courtesy of WENN & Fame.

These are photos of Jennifer Lopez performing at Wango Tango yesterday. She’s wearing some kind of silver, web-like catsuit that is not particularly flattering, but even Spiderman is like, “Fabulous bitch.” Jennifer really is so dated, isn’t she? A diva-version of Spiderman’s suit? Big, gigantic hair? A “rap break” in your hit song? Yes, this is 1999.

The other night, when I was waiting for Bones to come on (sidenote: how much did Thursday’s episode of Bones make you cry? I was sobbing), I put it on Fox and watched the last 10 minutes of American Idol. I managed to catch the tail end of a performance by Jennifer Lopez, and while the performance was not technically “good” (or even really a vocal “performance”), I ended up admiring Jennifer’s hustle. That ass managed to hustle her way back into relevancy, didn’t it? Not only relevancy – Jennifer now has a new generation of fans who don’t even remember the original Jenny from the Block. And those of who do remember the J.Lo from a decade ago… well, maybe we’re muttering “This too shall pass (Gigli).” But I also think we should give it up for Jennifer. Her hustle really is awesome. She’s really working for this comeback, and we should just let her have it. Why not? She’s so much more fun than so many of the other marginally talented pop stars.

My point? I love J.Lo and I’m not ashamed of it.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

These are photos of Jennifer Lopez at a CD signing in Hollywood yesterday. Yes, those are maybe the most unflattering pants EVER. It’s one thing to embrace your curves, it’s quite another to wear a pair of pants that make your hips and ass look comically oversized. Jennifer has Clown Butt. She is Vesty McClownButt.

Didn’t Kim Kardashian wear a pair of pants very similar to this? Only KK’s pants had more draping around her biscuits, creating a “vagina drape” effect. These pants are just “hip drape” pants. Ugh.

Anyway, Jennifer just launched a new video and single and it is… not bad. Here’s Jennifer new video, “I’m Into You” featuring Lil Wayne:

Okay, I have to admit a few things. First, this song is much better than her first single, “On the Floor”. I even like Lil Wayne’s featured rap. Secondly, I have to admit to kind of liking the video. It feel like vintage J. Lo, like it’s circa “Love Don’t Cost A Thing”. She looks really pretty here. And even though the half-naked dude is making a “Bitch, don’t you even think about resting your tacky weave on my manscaped chest” face, there’s a sexy vibe to it all.

Other thoughts, randomly: great manicure, I like the chain mail dress (A LOT), her body looks AMAZING, and I love all of the profile shots. Jennifer has a great profile!

Photos courtesy of Fame.

Jennifer Lopez has been all over the place lately. I saw her yesterday on Kathie Lee and Hoda’s portion of the Today Show (video here) and she was doing her “aw shucks, people just need to get to know me” act. (I’m paraphrasing.) She comes across well and she’s doing a good job on Idol, but all you need to know about Jennifer Lopez is evident in her career. She just put out a new video in which she’s writhing around on the sand with some buff guy like it’s 1999 and she’s promoting her new album, Love, out today. She’s not going to stop, and she’ll be in our faces for as long as she gets paid for her mediocre music or for promoting some product.

Last night at the Met Gala LA Lopez wore a fuchsia Gucci gown with puffy cutout sleeves adorned with feathers or flowers (it’s hard to figure out exactly what that bunchy fabric covering the top of her arms is supposed to be). Her dress featured cutout panels flanking her stomach (because this woman has to show her stomach somehow) and a long draped bow hanging from the throat. She accessorized with giant diamond stud earrings, two large rings, one on each hand, and a clutch that was more purple than fuchsia. I guess the color of the clutch matched some of the flower fabric pieces on her arms.

J.Lo had her hair back in a severe bun and wore bright red shiny lipstick. It was all too much together, and while I don’t hate the dress I dislike the overall look. It’s borderline ridiculous, but so is Lopez in so many ways. She is in no way subtle and I doubt she has an off switch.

Check out the side view. It’s even worse.

Photo credit: WENN and Fame

Last week, I read an interesting report from gossip columnist Mike Walker at the National Enquirer. Walker claimed – or his sources claimed – that Jennifer Lopez is making $12 million this year just for her flat American Idol salary, but that Idol producers think J.Lo is worth every penny. They claimed that when it comes time to renegotiate her contract, Jennifer could easily be making $20 million a year (or more) if she wants to continue being an Idol judge. Walker’s insider source says, “The producers will do whatever it takes to keep her happy… her new contract’s their major priority.” They also claim Steven Tyler is only making about half of what Jennifer makes – but producers are convinced that Jennifer is the one driving viewership at this point.

So Jennifer find herself in-demand once again, and back on top, sort of. She’s relevant again, she’s People Magazine’s “Most Beautiful” and she’s restarting her own music career. How could she possibly go wrong? Oh, right. She might think she’s too good to do Idol now:

‘American Idol’ judge Jennifer Lopez is reportedly shopping around her own reality singing competition show, further fueling the rumors of her departure from the ‘Idol’ judges panel after just one season on the hit show.

Tentatively titled ‘Que Viva,’ Jennifer’s show would feature herself and hubby Marc Anthony talent scouting Latin American countries for future stars. The Puerto Rican couple are teaming up with ‘Idol’ creator and executive producer Simon Fuller to make the project happen. Apparently the show has been in the works for some time now.

Jenny has come a long way from “the block” — she recently snagged the coveted No.1 spot on People’s ‘World’s Most Beautiful’ list and her forthcoming studio album ‘Love?’ is generating a lot of buzz ahead of its April 29 release, following the success of her Pitbull-assisted club hit ‘On the Floor’. J.Lo’s seventh studio album will boast Lady Gaga-penned tracks and a collaboration with rapper Lil’ Wayne.

[From PopEater]

It could be that this is just some fancy way to renegotiate her contract, and this is all some kind of ploy for more money. It could also be that Jennifer intends to do both Idol and this other show. Or it could be that Jennifer is so self-absorbed that she thinks it’s all about HER and that now that she’s relevant again, she can walk away and do her own thing and everybody will follow her.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

These are photos of Jennifer Lopez at an album signing/launch. I don’t even know what to call it. She just showed up in this outfit (ugh) and signed stuff for fans. First: her face looks strange. Botoxy strange. Second: Why is she obsessed with showing us her stomach? We get it, J.Lo. You had babies and your stomach bounced back. Now put on a shirt. I know this is mean to say and some of you will yell at me, but Jennifer is too old to be dressing like this. She basically put on a bra and an ’80s jacket and called it a day. She’s such a Fly Girl.

Next: her album is called LOVE? Seriously, there’s a question mark. And after she released her first single “On the Floor” to mixed reactions, Jennifer has now released the second single, “Papi”. Ugh. Here it is:

I find it sad. But Jennifer thinks she’s the second coming of Rihanna/Beyonce/Gaga. Read this delusion:

Jennifer has complete faith in the record, although she likes having feedback from her entourage to confirm she hasn’t lost touch with the music scene.

“To be honest I’m at the point where there’s no need to put out something that I know is not good,” she told Stylist.

“I have people around me who I trust implicitly: my record company and my manager. They tell me it’s a great record and I go, ‘OK, so I’m not crazy’.”

The gorgeous star is proud to still be making hit dance records in her 40s, despite also being a busy mother and devoted wife. Jennifer has three-year-old twins Emme and Max with husband Marc Anthony, and she says her family consider her to be both a mom and a pop icon. Marc has two kids with ex-wife Dayanara Torres, and Jennifer admits one of the little boys cannot believe she is a parent because she’s so glamorous.

“It’s me, the same as ten years ago, but not the same and I’m proud of that,” she smiled.
“Marc has two other sons, one of whom is six years old and he’s always telling me, ‘You don’t look like a mom, you look like a rock chick.’”

[From Music Rooms]

Oh, Jennifer. Ugh. I mean, I get it. She’s transitioning, and she doesn’t realize that she’s still not relevant, really. Sure, she was once the biggest thing – ten years ago. And while she made a good move by going to American Idol, let’s not pretend she’s on her way to becoming J.Lo circa 2000. That ship has sailed.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

Gossip Cop had this exclusively several days ago, but I didn’t run with it because I didn’t want to believe that Jennifer Lopez was named People Magazine’s “Most Beautiful” yet again. I’m pretty sure she got it in the early 2000s. It just seems like… meh. Yeah, I think Jennifer is very pretty, but I’d like to see some new ladies get the title. Can I get some Anne Hathaway into this junk? Maybe some Kate Middleton (it would be timely!)? How about some Jon Hamm? I mean, I know the “Most Beautiful” title traditionally goes to a lady, but WHY NOT THE HAMM? (I want that on a t-shirt.) So, blah, whatever, Jennifer is Most Beautiful:

Jennifer Lopez admits she loves glamming it up as a judge on American Idol or for her upcoming album, Love?.

But at home with husband Marc Anthony and their 3-year-old twins, Max and Emme, Lopez is a zero-makeup kind of mom. “That’s when I’m my happiest,” she says in this week’s exclusive cover story. “Just being able to touch my face and rub my eyes and put my fingers in my hair and not having to worry about messing it up. It’s so much better.”

From her skincare regimen to her grueling workouts and portion-controlled diet, Lopez says she makes a concerted effort to stay in top form. “The thing is, it’s part of my job,” says the singer, who ran a triathlon six months after she gave birth. “I don’t want anybody thinking it’s easy. It does take time and it’s hard work. HDTV wide-screen is nobody’s friend!”

Lopez, 41, also has learned valuable beauty tips over the years, and says daughter Emme is starting to prove she’s her mother’s child. “She is very girly-girl, just like me since I was very little. She loves for me to paint her nails,” Lopez says. “She lays out her clothes on the floor like I do with my stylist and she’s like, ‘This matches very good!’ ”

And what about son Max? “He wants to paint his nails too. Because for him, it’s just paint. He’s like, ‘I want the blue!’” Lopez says, laughing. “Then Marc is like, ‘Why are Max’s nails painted?!’ But he won’t sit still so it’s only like two nails.”

As for being called a “diva,” she says, “I kind of like it. We’ve kind of owned it now. But I certainly don’t like and I’ve never been a person who has what they call ‘diva behavior,’ which is something they tried to pin on me for a long time.”

[From People]

Bitch, you’re a diva and you have committed thousands of acts of diva-hood over your lifetime. Own it. Acknowledge it. Love it. Stop trying to play like you’re just some normal working mother who can relate to all of the moms out there. But that’s who Jennifer is trying to be now – she’s all mainstream now that she’s on American Idol. J.Lo is Middle America. Guess how Middle America she is? She sends her nannies to Target. FOR REAL.

Apparently the other big names on the “Most Beautiful” list include a who’s who of C-list bitches in desperate need of good publicity. Zac Efron… Jessica Alba… Anne Heche, Hayden Panettiere, Angie Harmon. Ugh. Also included: Clooney, Bullock and Beyonce.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

I’ve been catching American Idol occasionally this year, but I haven’t kept up with it because it’s just so long. Some of the episodes are like two hours and I have better things to do than sit there through so much filler and dramatic music. You can fast forward, I know, but I always feel like I’m going to miss something. They need to repackage that show for the YouTube generation and stop trying to squeeze so much out of it.

Spoiler for last night’s episode
Anyway the guy who got voted off last night by the voting public, Casey Abrams, was saved by the judges after what was undoubtedly a lot of hand-wringing and dragging out of the process. (There will be two eliminations next week to make up for the save.) The ginger-bearded Abrams was sick this season and was hospitalized twice for ulcerative colitis. He was still allowed to compete after all he went though and generally comes across like a nice guy with a solid voice. Abrams will have to do more to win over the audience if he wants to stay on.

In this week’s Enquirer there’s a story that claims that judge Jennifer Lopez’s husband, Marc Anthony, comes up to her and gives her input on commercial breaks during American Idol. He does it so much that he’s supposedly considered like a “fourth judge” on the show. Here’s what the Enquirer says:

“J.Lo wants to be the most thoughtful and helpful evaluator on ‘Idol’ and Marc is her No. 1 adviser,” an insider divulged.

“He’s been huddling with Jennifer on her picks at home and on breaks during the show. His input truly influences her decisions…”

Marc – the top-selling salsa artist of all time with 30 million albums – attended a number of “Idol” auditions and has either been in the audience or his wife’s dressing room for each live show, the insider revealed.

“What TV viewers don’t see is that during commercial breaks, Marc often leaves his seat and meets with Jennifer at the judges’ table to discuss how the contestants are doing and influence her comments,” the insider said. “If it were up to him, he’d have a fourth chair right next to his wife, Steven and Randy.”

[From The National Enquirer, print edition, April 4, 2011]

This really bugs me, because I find it unfair. Anthony is a musician and I can understand him influencing Lopez’s decisions on the show with a few conversations at home, of course they’re going to talk about it. He shouldn’t be interrupting her at work like that and trying to influence what she says. The judges’ comments do make a difference.

It seems surprising to me that he would be at her job every day. I’m surprised these two are even still together.

Photos are from 1/17/11, 2/13/11 and 12/22/10. Credit: WENN and Fame

There’s a big story on the front page of the Lifestyle section of USA Today Weekendall about how Jennifer Lopez is having a career resurgence now that she’s on Idol, has a top digital single somehow, and is endorsing Gillette and L’Oreal products. She has a new album coming out in April and she’s promoting that too. Whenever we hear from Lopez she seems to be working hard to shed those diva stories, and this profile is no different. Some choice quotes include:

“Her down-to-earth appeal [on Idol] has pretty well erased the spoiled diva image that had followed her for so many years. And that’s something no amount of money can buy,” – pop music critic George Varga…

“I was just saying last night to Marc, ‘I am so ready to just bite into some role so hard.’ And he said, ‘I know, I can feel your creative juice going crazy.’ ”

As with the public, Hollywood is seeing a different side of Lopez, too, [her manager] Benny Medina says. “There’s a quality of filmmakers and other creative people in the industry that are being drawn to work with her. One of the greatest byproducts of this particular time is this new introduction of Jennifer Lopez to a community that’s always known her but had misconceptions about her.”

[From USA Today]

Only how much has Lopez changed really? She may get visibly moved by contestants on Idol, and I’ve been watching a little this season and I’ll admit that she’s doing a great job at changing her image. Those diva stories just won’t die, though. The National Enquirer reports this week that she was so demanding while staying at the Mirage in Vegas during Idol auditions that “she was one of the most difficult celebrities the staff had ever encountered.”

“Within five minutes of her arrival, her assistant had demanded two cribs for her 3-year-old twins, Max and Emme. A runner from the show was quickly sent out to buy cribs and assemble them, and that was explained to Jennifer. But within minutes, she called down to reception wanting to know where they were,” said the insider.

In the next hour, the impatient 41 year-old singer called 20 times demanding the cribs.

“She was boiling with rage that they weren’t ready – but it was the responsibility of ‘Idol’ producers to provide her cribs, not the hotel. She was every bit the prima donna.”

After the cribs arrived, J.Lo turned her attention to her wardrobe.

“She ordered 12 racks for her wardrobe changes, 20 mirrors and a ton of spotlights for her makeup team,” said the insider.

“There were around 50 people in her villa dealing with her makeup, hair and wardrobe – but the funny part is, she wore only two outfits during the entire two days of filming!”

[From The National Enquirer, print edition, March 28, 2011]

If Lopez’s twins were getting tired and fussy and she can’t get them to go to sleep in a big bed, I guess I understand her freaking out about the cribs. It must be frustrating to have two cranky toddlers at once. The wardrobe stuff is out of hand, though. This could possibly all be Idol’s fault for not having all the equipment necessary to satisfy La Lopez. I get the feeling she decides on the spur of the moment what she wants though, and expects everyone else to jump.

Here’s a link to a new photo of Lopez with her twins on the set of Idol.

Jennifer Lopez is shown on 3/2/11 (White outfit, credit: Fame) and 3/3/11 (Ridiculous checkered outfit, Credit: WENN.com