A couple of weeks ago, a Facebook group called “Against Jennifer Lopez Performing in Occupied Cyprus” came to my attention.  Being a Greek-American and half Cypriot, I immediately investigated and found out that Ms. Lopez was scheduled to perform in Cyprus on July 24th, as part of the opening of the Cartos Premium Hotel and in celebration of her 41st birthday. The uproar was due to the fact that the event was not an ordinary concert at some new 5-star hotel at a Mediterranean resort, it was a hotel that is located in the town of Kyrenia, which is one of the many towns occupied unlawfully by the Turks.

Why would this be so personal? Because my Grandparents are from Kyrenia and their land was unlawfully taken away from them during the Turkish occupation of Cyprus in 1974. Even though they had to come to the United States many years prior and became American citizens (like they use to do back in the day), there is no recourse for them to claim what is rightfully theirs. In brief, the Turks invaded the northern half of Cyprus, brutalizing its citizens and evicting 180,000 Greek Cypriots from their homes as Turkish Forces settled the Turks into the properties of those displaced Greeks.

The events were a violation of the Geneva Convention and various UN resolutions. In 1983, Turkish Cypriots proclaimed the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus which is recognized only by Turkey. So when I read about J. Lo’s concert it affected me as well as many others of Greek heritage. (more…)

Very few romantic comedies these days manage to get both the romance and the comedy right. But the surprisingly well-written, deftly cast and impressively scored new film “The Back-Up Plan” manages to be a rare success on both fronts.

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What’s even more surprising is that the film serves as the comeback vehicle for Jennifer Lopez after a string of cinematic bad luck that includes what is easily regarded as one of the 10 worst films ever made (“Gigli”), a film that went straight to DVD – “Bordertown” – and the poorly received “El Cantante,” in which she co-starred with her husband, Latin singing superstar Marc Anthony. But J. Lo has proven her ability to charm audiences in her fair share of hits (“Maid in Manhattan,” “The Wedding Planner”) as well, and she delivers a wonderfully rounded performance here.

Lopez portrays Zoe, a woman approaching 40 without Mr. Right in tow (I know, this seems impossible with a woman of J. Lo’s beauty, but she makes it work). But she wants a kid, so she enacts her back-up plan: artificial insemination. The film follows Zoe as she visits the sperm bank right before finally meeting Stan, the dude who wins her heart (Aussie actor Tom O’Laughlin, who shows the charm that built him a rabid cult following playing a vampire on the former CBS series “Moonlight.”) (more…)

What is it with the hopelessly unfunny who share the last name Lopez?

Just a few weeks ago Jennifer Lopez tried to get her Hollywood A-Ticket out or NowheresVille punched by calling Sarah Palin a “bitch.” Which obviously makes sense on some level. The easiest way to enhance your resume with the Hollywood Frat Boys is to lash out at anything conservative — especially our favorite self-made Governor and mother of five. But look at George Lopez; he’s so desperate to be loved he’s stealing jokes from … J-Lo?

And look at the left as a whole. They’re so frustrated with the utter collapse of all-things Obama that they’ve resorted to this kind of mean-spirited name calling. You have the Roger Eberts of the left using degrading sexual slurs against the everyday folks who make up the Tea Party movement, the Unfunny Lopez-Twins going for the cheapest, cruelest laugh imaginable, and Mt. Lawrence O’Donnell blowing his invective in front of the whole world. (more…)

The best way to tell if a celebrity is on the downward slope of their career trajectory is when they start making partisan political attacks during concerts or interviews. Then you know they’ve boarded the train to has-been land.

Take John Cleese for example, a comic legend, member of the shrinking Monty Python troupe, he of “Fawlty Towers” fame. One of the funniest shows ever made. His contemptible elitist rant in this video reveals him to another rich snob who thinks those beneath his station, who don’t concur with lefty cant, aren’t real people. And any news station at variance with his world view is nothing but propaganda of the worst sort. Even though Hillary Clinton said Fox News treated her more fairly than any other news station in the 2008 primaries. (more…)

As always, there’s stiff competition, but based on this performance Jennifer Lopez might have just sewn up the 2010 trophy for Female Performer Who Finds Herself Incredibly Adorable.

The “bitch”  line is what Lopez says in Spanish under her breath. MTV calls this moment a “highlight“:

The highlight came early, when she referred to former Alaska governor and new Fox News contributor Sarah Palin as “la cabrona,” which is slang for “bitch.”

Fox News interprets the line as ”crazy bitch.” (more…)

Did you know celebrities have a right to speak their minds about politics courtesy of The First Amendment? Or that the 1960 Kennedy/Nixon televised debate changed the way we saw politicians forever? “Poliwood,” a new film “essay” from director Barry Levinson, uncovers those nuggets and much, much more.

The film, set to bow at the Starz Denver Film Festival this weekend and already airing on Showtime, does offer more than just those recycled themes. It’s an occasionally fascinating look into the modern actor’s mindset as well as the anger the general public feels when they hear celebrities pontificating on events of the day.

Director Barry Levinson

We’re also given a peek at the passions driving some celebrities to speak out on the issues. Yet the film is emblematic of Hollywood productions which strain to achieve balance but come up mostly empty.

The bulk of the film features liberal celebrities from the Creative Coalition, a nonpartisan group, maneuvering around last year’s Democratic National Convention in Denver. (more…)

And now a word from an NFL owner:

“And the game done chose me to bring pain to niggas and pussy holes, they one in the same.” - I’m Real, co-written by Jennifer Lopez, minority owner of the Miami Dolphins.

Amidst the uproar over Rush Limbaugh having to step aside from his participation in the bid to purchase the NFL’s St. Louis Rams over racially insensitive statements he never actually made, is the fact that current ACTUAL owners of an NFL team have said much worse than the false and the left says nothing.

Fergie: NFL Owner

Jennifer Lopez, whose Sondheim-like lyric genius is on display at the top of this post, holds the same status with the Miami Dolphins as Limbaugh would have with the Rams.  And, not only does she have co-writer credit on this offensive drivel, she also recorded and performed it live.  She continues to earn money in royalties for her genius use of the “N-Word.” My guess is that those who took issue with Limbaugh’s imaginary racial slur are OK with J-Lo’s actual racial slur because she looks a lot better in tight pants. (more…)