Oh, Mr. Bean! You’re so wacky!

Kidding. Rowan Atkinson wrecking his million-dollar sports car might actually be funny if it had happened in an episode of a television show; instead, it happened yesterday evening on the A605. Atkinson suffered only a fractured shoulder blade, miraculously. He was discharged from the hospital just this afternoon.

The car wasn’t so lucky. It was a McLaren F1 supercar which, at speeds of 240mph, is often acknowledged as the world’s fastest “production” road vehicle. (TMZ reports that there are only 100 in the world. Er—make that 99, I guess.)

When Atkinson lost control of his McLaren yesterday, he reportedly spun around three times, crashing into a tree and then a signpost. (What?) The engine burst into flames and, as news reports tell it, Atkinson crawled away from the fiery wreckage.

This isn’t the first time Atkinson has gotten into trouble in his McLaren, either. In 1999, the comedian was involved in an accident that shredded the hood of his car.

We have it! We have the first photo of Anne Hathaway as Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises!

What do you get when you add…

…a Yamaha hybrid motorcycle…

…a pair of Wild Planet -brand Spy Goggles…

…and Jessica Alba on the set of Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World??

(more…)

President Obama celebrated his 50th birthday yesterday! Happy birthday, Mr. President!

And how did Madame Tussauds D.C. celebrate the occasion?

PARTY HATS. PARTY HATS FOR EVERYBODY.

Something about this whole display gives me the screaming heebie-jeebies. The wax figures themselves look like reflections in a funhouse mirror.

Another thing: I am actually vaguely offended by the party hats. No matter your opinion of our Commander-in-Chief, I don’t think his effigy needed to spend his Big Day wearing a paper cone on his head. (Now, Bill Clinton wearing a party hat in the Oval Office? That’s hilarious.)

And finally, can you identify the wax woman standing with President and First Lady Obama? Because I genuinely thought it was Jennifer Hudson, you guys.

Once upon the 1980s, dancing was all the rage. Back then, teenagers danced in front of their television sets. They also crimped their hair and wore Keds with scrunchy socks.

And then there was Dancin’ On Air, a “dance reality” program broadcast live from Philadelphia. Many would-be starlets appeared on the show, yet there was none so eager as little Kelly Ripa. (Dancin’ On Air was also responsible for Will Smith and Madonna‘s television debuts.)

Have you heard about this book? It’s a book of photographs, 350 photographs, to be exact, that Terry Richardson took of Lady Gaga during a magical period in which he followed that crazy bitch around for ten whole months. Are you interested? Well, then let’s let the Lady herself give you a more solid synopsis:

“I didn’t hold anything back from Terry. He was with me every minute, every moment,” Gaga said. “He has photographs of me waking up in the morning, brushing my teeth, in the bathroom, in the bathtub. And the thing about Terry, if you know anything about his photography, is that nothing is staged.”

“What I love so much about Terry is that he thinks everything is so beautiful. I’m always, ‘Oh Terry, get out of here,’ and he’s like, ‘Oh, it’s so beautiful, let me just shoot it,’” she added. “I felt so comfortable with Terry. I love him so much. He’s a really close friend, and I feel honored that he traveled with me.”

“My favorite thing, honestly, is that he loved the fans. He shot the fans the same way he shot me: with no pretense. No ‘Well, she’s put out records and they haven’t.’ None of that. The music was all of ours,” she said. “He would come backstage and he would say, ‘Oh my God, the fans!’ And I’d say, ‘I know what you just photographed.’ And he’d say, ‘Baby, wow!’ And then he’d film me, like, peeing in a cup and, like, ridiculous things.”

Here’s a thought I never thought I’d think: “Wow, it might be kind of neat to see Lady Gaga pee in a cup.” But you know what? I thought it. I kind of love Terry Richardson, that fabulous, fabulous man, and if he followed Gaga around for ten months? I’m sure he shot something that will change the world.

Are any of you guys planning on picking up the book?

As the evening fades into night, as the stars come out to play, let us all take a moment to appreciate Coldplay‘s cover of that most infamous song by Amy Winehouse, “Rehab,” and let’s allow it to soothe our weary hearts.

Goodnight, friends!