People:

This summer, Justin Timberlake accepted a servicewoman’s invitation to attend the Instructor Battalion Marine Corps Ball, and Saturday he made good on that promise.

“What I didn’t know was how moved I would be by the whole experience,” Timberlake, 30, posted afterwards on his website.

Politico:

“To all of you that serve every day for us… Ensuring our freedom, I say: My deepest gratitude to you. I’ve met so many of my heroes… From Michael Jordan to Michael Jackson. And, nothing makes me feel more honor and pride than when I get to meet one of you. Last night changed my life and I will never forget it,”

Along with praising his date and the Armed Forces, he wrote about how moved he was by the evening: “To all of you that serve every day for us… Ensuring our freedom, I say: My deepest gratitude to you. I’ve met so many of my heroes… From Michael Jordan to Michael Jackson. And, nothing makes me feel more honor and pride than when I get to meet one of you. Last night changed my life and I will never forget it,”

He encouraged readers to send their thanks to the Armed Forces and to his date wrote, “Thank you Corporal Kelsey DeSantis. Thank you for inviting me. And, thank you for being my hero.”

More here.

Via Yahoo:

“I feel incredibly honored to have been invited to the Marine Corps Ball by Sgt. Dustin L. Williams,” Johansson said in a statement to Zap2It. “Not only does Sgt. Williams deserve recognition for his bravery, selflessness and dedication to the United States and its people, but he also displays a cheeky talent for film making. Sgt. Williams, unfortunately due to prior commitments I will not be able to attend the Ball with you this year but I am sending you a case of Moet and Chandon with gratitude. In my absence, I raise a glass to you and all the men and women of the U.S. Marine Corps, past and present, in thanks for your continued commitment to preserving the safety of our nation.”

A kind and gracious response, no?

It sounds like Williams will be understanding of Johansson’s conflict.

He told Zap2It before learning of Johansson’s reply, “If I was told she could not attend, I would understand. I would not believe the invitation would be denied without good cause. With her current career I would imagine Scarlett Johansson is a busy woman.”

Full story here.

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Thanks to Scott for the heads up.

Due to the immense media attention Sgt. Scott Moore has received for his YouTube Marine Corps Ball invitation to Mila Kunis and the operational tempo of 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, he has elected to make a written statement and answer the most commonly asked questions. …

Q.1 Where are you and what do you do?
A.1 I currently serve as the data chief for 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, based out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. My military occupational specialty is Data Systems Technician, which is responsible for implementing and monitoring security measures for Marine Corps communication information systems networks, and ensuring that systems and personnel adhere to established security standards. My unit is located within the district of Musa Qal’eh in the Northern Helmand province of Afghanistan.

Q.2 How did you come up with the idea for the video?
A.2 It was kind of a bet between me and Marines in my platoon. I told everyone I was going to do it, but they didn’t think I would go through with it. One day we had a couple minutes, and I took another Marine out with me and we shot two takes. The first one was without sunglasses but I was squinting too much because it was so bright, so we shot the one I uploaded to YouTube. The rest of the Marines liked it, so I posted it that day.

Q.3 When you posted the video, did you ever think you’d really get a date with Mila?
A.3 I always thought I had a chance, and sometimes that’s all you need. The Marines I work with did their best to spread it around.

Q.4 Why did you post the video?
A.4 I wanted to take Mila Kunis to the Marine Corps ball. We all talk about what we are going to do when we get back, and this was my dream. I do feel bad for putting her on the spot, but it’s not like I was going to bump into her on the streets of Musa Qal’eh between now and the ball.

You’ll want to read the whole thing.

A little snooping around led me to this article from the New York Times; something everyone here should have a look at. It goes to the very heart of what is being done on Big Hollywood. Apparently the official reason why there was no 2001 MTV Ball was:

There was not enough time to plan for a party, given the delay in resolving the election.

Good one. It doesn’t ring true for me, since there was going to be an Inauguration regardless of who won the election. Perhaps the people at MTV thought (hopefully) that if the election wasn’t resolved by January 21, Clinton could just stay on for another four years.

It is also telling, that little has changed since then. The rift between Pop Culture and Republicans is just as deep and wide as it has always been. This article could have been written yesterday:

Culturally, Republicans always seem to be flush with country music stars and fading celebrities but don’t seem to have much entree into the entertainment business beyond that.

Conservatism is as welcome on MTV as music videos and women over thirty. (I also think the absence of the last two MTV Balls should be brought up if the Fairness Doctrine is ever reconsidered.)  And a footnote: For those of you who are buying the whole argument that Obama must be given a little time to settle in before the comedians start to parody him, please note that there was no grace period in 2001:

“Bush has been minimized and diminished by the Hollywood liberals … and it’s reflected in all those ‘Saturday Night Live’ sketches, which depict him as a doofus.”

Get that comedians? We’re already WAY over due. A guy who can’t even recite an oath that isn’t written on a tele-prompter, is as ready for ridicule, as a view of Russia, a Pet Goat, or a Potatoe.