People Get Ready, There's a Train A-Coming

(t/y Lindsey)

Je M'appelle John

On October 9, 2002, John McCain hosted Saturday Night Live, odd as that seems now. In a sketch, he croaked out the hits of Barbra Streisand. "I've been in politics for over 20 years," he said. "And for over 20 years, I've had Barbra Streisand trying to do my job. So I decided to try my hand at her job." Turns out he's always been a kidder. Note prophetic mention of Alaska.

We've brought this clip to your attention because it bespeaks volumes about our upcoming art show at the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery. "Hollywood DC: Lights! Camera! Election!" is a group show exploring what happens when politics and celebrity collide. Show opens October 17.

Politicians in Action #26

John McCain's hero Ronald Reagan falls down the stairway ramp of Air Force One in 1984. (via tsutpen)

Dems Go Digital at GOP Rally

Palin's New Don't

Sarah Palin's been sporting her hair down of late. Good move. By losing the sloppy suburban beehive and letting her hair hang loose, Palin has undergone a quick 'n' easy image makeover that her handlers think will make her not only look more like Tina Fey but also as popular as the country's most beloved Emmy winner. (HuffPo slideshow)

But Nothing Can Stop You Drunk Dialing

Google launched Mail Goggles this week, a new tool that helps prevent sending late-night drunken emails you'll later regret. Once you enable it and adjust the settings, it will ask you a series of math questions to verify you're in the right state of mind before sending that drunken rants to your ex, coworker, employer, etc. It's like a mini SAT that's on your side. But there's still the phone. (Gmail Blog; t/y Kristy)

Say No to That's So Gay Campaign Is So Gay

A new campaign is afoot aimed at stopping casual use of the word "gay" in a derogatory fashion, especially in the form of saying "That's so gay" to describe, well, just about anything you come across that's not actually gay. There will be TV and radio commercials, as well as print ads and billboards and a website. And of course concerned celebrities are inevitably involved. In one PSA, Wanda Sykes (love!) catches a teenage boy saying "That's so gay" about a statue of a chef at a pizzeria (come on, those really are so gay, aren't they? You've seen them). She asks him not to say that, then wonders if he'd like if it if she said something was "so 16-year-old boy with a cheesy mustache.” Oh, snap!. The campaign has other see-how-you-like-it zingers meant to teach a lesson, like “That’s so jock who can complete a pass but not a sentence ” and “That’s so gamer guy who has more video games than friends.” Which are totally not the same, really lame, and waaaay too wordy. And, ironically, gayer than "That's so gay." (NY Times)

Lacroix, Darling!

Despite disastrously unsuccessful previous attempts to reproduce in the US the delicious, hilarious magic of the Britcom Absolutely Fabulous, the folks at Fox think they can do it this time, with the original series creator Jennifer Saunders executive producing. Variety reports that the latest attempt at a US version will transplanted it in LA but try to retain the basic concept of the original series, which was about two alcoholic, drugs-and-fashion-addicted 40something best friends desperately trying to stay hip and young on the London scene. Roseanne Barr and Carrie Fisher gave it a try back in 95, and so did Jean Smart and Mary McDonnell, but neither duo could recreate the bracing chemistry of Saunders and sidekick Joanna Lumley in the roles. (Even later AbFab reunions of Saunders and Lumley themselves seemed less than fabulous.) The original series represented a specific time in pop culture history; it needs to stay there. We have Entourage.

What This Country Needs...?

Brendan Donnelly puts forth as a serving suggestion Ron Paul for prez and RuPaul for vice prez, and we think, well, at least Ru would add just the right dash of vice to the position. Visit Donnelly's very fun site, Remember...You're a Winner, here.

Sarah Palin Debates Joe Biden on SNL

You saw it, you loved it, let's savor it again. (NBC)

Breakfast Nanook

This really IS a miracle. There's no mistakin' Sarah Palin on this piece of toast. It's gotta be Wonder Bread. Listed as "part of a fair and balanced breakfast," this inspirational home slice is up for auction on eBay, and all of the final sale price will go to charity.

OJ Simpson: Guilty As Sin Charged

Late last night, 13 years to the day after being acquitted of murdering Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman in 1995, OJ Simpson was found guilty as charged on all 12 counts in his trial stemming from a raid he led on a Las Vegas hotel room over sports memorabilia last September. The charges included conspiracy to commit a crime, robbery, assault, and kidnapping with a deadly weapon. Simpson will be sentenced on December 5 and could spend the rest of his life in prison, with the operative word being "could." (CNN; photo: AP)

Absurd and Artful Takes on Biden vs Palin: From Owl Signs to Macarena Meltdowns

Situationists for Sarah! A group of protesters outside Washington University in St. Louis ... embraced the surreal nature of the event, which pitted a woman heralded for hauling kids to soccer and moose-hunting against a foreign-policy veteran who introduced many Americans to the word “Bosniak.” One held a Magritte-esque sign that read, “This is a sign.” Another’s countered, “This is an owl.” Artblogger Greg Allen comments: “What does it say about the election mediascape that a dadaist poster stunt could just as easily be a dog whistle for some invisible target demographic as a marketing tool for goldenpalace.com? Though there’s not a URL to be seen.”

– From The Minnesota Independent; photo: Brett Marty, FiveThirtyEight.com; t/y Fenton)

Palin Bingo

Play Palin Bingo while you watch the debate tonight. It's just like regular Bingo, but wordier.

Palin Playin' the Flute

Sarah Palin played the flute for the talent portion of the 1983 Miss Alaska pageant she didn't win. It'll put your teeth on edge. Hopefully, the Sarah Palin lookalike that Hustler founder Larry Flynt cast in his adult film will be better at playing the skin flute.

Was This Woman in a Love Triangle With John McCain?

Yes, this is Amy Lumet, the California socialite daughter of filmmaker Sidney Lumet and granddaughter of legendary singer and actress Lena Horne. She's the one for whom many blog inches at Gawker today have been given over to astonishing and salacious gossip regarding her affair with John McCain and marriage of honor to PJ O'Rourke. Who knew? But she is not, as some Gawker commenters have mistakenly assumed, Jenny Lumet, the writer of Jonathan Demme's new film Rachel Getting Married. Amy is Jenny's older sister. Same background, different boobs.

Consumable Costumes

Funny, we'd have thought Pottery Barn would make cunning costumes like, say, teapots, lamps, and end tables, or invented a magical gay interior decorator character named Harry Pottery Barn, instead of these bland fast-food burgers, dogs, and fries, which ironically don't even tie in to Barn stock items like plates, flatware, and table linens. Still, we suppose the idea of dressing up like giant products that can lead to obesity and death is way scary. (Pottery Barn; t/y Fenton)

"Hey Sarah Palin" Is the New "Kum Ba Yah"

You'll want to want to watch and listen and read the subtitled lyrics as MC Howie and Julie K sing this stirring and funny "Hey Sarah Palin" a couple of times so you can commit it to memory when you gather with your neighbors this evening for an old-school singalong before the vice-presidential debate. Or maybe during the debate. (t/y Pamela)

Russia and Canada: Palin's Axis of Evil

Huh?

I Don't Give a Fuck. How About You?

Here's one of the glorious things this youth-obsessed culture doesn't want you to know about being over 40: You fall through a trap door, slide down a long chute, and find yourself in the Land of I Don't Give A Fuck. I've been living there for four years and I wouldn't relocate for anything, because the day you realize you're within the city limits of I Don't Give A Fuck is the day you take your first deep breath and feel your shoulders fall about three inches. Also? You can't get to I Don't Give A Fuck by way of a therapist's couch. Sorry!

There was a recent photo on the WOW Report of someone who no longer gives a fuck: Kirstie Alley. I believe she was flipping off a photographer? Those who are younger looked at that photo and thought, "Gross!" Those over 40, however, looked at that photo and somewhere, deep down, thought, "Fuck yeah." If you want to meet two other glorious women currently living in the Land of I Don't Give A Fuck, TiVo The View on any given day and watch Joy Behar and Whoopi Goldberg. Those two women own beachfront property.

– Ray Cochran

The Good Ol' Red(neck), White, and Blue

Folsom: Fair Enough

Quartknee, a San Francisco friend of WOW, sent some photos from the weekend's Folsom Street Fair, including the one above of WOW runner Blake Jacobs with a new pal. Below, evidence that the event was actually a fair.

You Can Put Polish on Your Toenails But It Won't Stop You Sticking Your Foot in Your Mouth

Sarah Palin gobbledigooks herself into a hole.

Folsom Beauties: Love Will Keep Us in Leather

World of Wonder's Cooper Green took his camera when he went to the 2008 Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco over the weekend and returned with these shots. The much-anticipated event is held annually on the last Sunday in September and climaxes, so to speak, SF's Leather Pride Week. Like we need to tell you.

How Do I Look

The trailer for How Do I Look, the touching 2006 doc that serves as a kind of sequel to 1990's classic Paris Is Burning, in which contestants in New York's uptown voguing balls battle for face and fame. (MySpace; t/y James)

Obama Mama

I realized there was one contingent not being heard from thus far in the election, so I decided that Classic House from the Year 1992 would have its say! Featuring Emmy-winning and Beatport-chart topping singer/songwriter, Katreese Barnes ("Dick In A Box" / "Alright Alright").

– Greg Scarnici

SWAK Not Swag

This magazine clipping was included in a letter to James St James from Michael Alig, who's still in prison for his involvement in the events that are the subject of the movie Party Monster. Alig has circled the pertinent area of the page – the four lipsticks "named for iconic New York nightclubs in the '80s." And they got it right, iconwise. The four colors are, from left: Area, Limelight, Palladium, and Danceteria. Click here.

Juno, Alaska

Lauren Zalaznick, president of Women and Lifestyle Entertainment Networks at NBC Universal, has some interesting notes on Ellen Page's Juno vs Sarah Palin's Juneau. (Huffington Post)

Sarah Silverman Urges You to Make the Great Schlep

Interesting Fact and Video

Page Six reports that Senator John McCain spent more than twice as much ($5,583.43) getting his 72-year-old mug beaten by a makeup artist from American Idol than his running mate Sarah Palin did ($2,500) on the Valentino jacket she wore to give her acceptance speech at the RNC. Remind us again – which one is the celebrity candidate? And after McCain was busted last night on the Letterman show, it's gotten to the point that you'd really have to be special ed to vote for the McCain-Palin ticket. Wake up, people! We're just saying.

Where Are They Now?

Transgendered Thomas Beatie, the famous "pregnant man," and his wife Nancy enjoy a day in the park in Bend, Oregon, with their two-month-old onetime talk-of-the-town fetus, Susan Juliette. Later, they did a little shopping. Boringly normal. (Mail; photos: Getty Images)

New Ben & Jerry's Flavors: Breast Pumpkin Pie and Boobberry Muffin

The PETA organization has sent a letter to Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield of Ben & Jerry's ice cream, asking them to please stop using cow's milk to make their delicious product and switch to the more palatable human breast milk. Seems they got the idea from a Swiss restaurant owner who will begin purchasing breast milk from nursing mothers and substituting it for 75% of the cow's milk used in his food preparation. Read PETA's letter here. The hippie ice cream giants replied: "We applaud PETA's novel approach to bringing attention to an issue, but we believe a mother's milk is best used for her child." Developing. PETA doesn't ever take no for an answer. (Image via OMG blog)

Trick Question: Is David Blaine Really Hanging Upside Down?

Didn't Blaine say he would hang upside down for 60 hours? His people are saying he never said that and always intended to "occasionally get his head above his heart and lower his legs to correct circulation" and once every hour get "upright for about five minutes for a medical and equipment check," drink something, and relieve himself – "something even David can't do upside down." So what's the trick? (via Gawker)

Pleasure and Palin

Here's Sarah Palin – on the left, ironically – back in 1999 singing joyously and steppin' flawlessly with the other ladies of her Christian music group, the Wasilla Singers. She blends well. On the second of the group's two self-produced albums, Palin performed a solo number, "Jesus Is Inside Me."

Psychopath in the Photograph

When InTouch recently did a style piece on Dave Nararro's digs, it neglected to mention a prominent piece of art screaming bloody murder from one of the photographs: a painting by amateur clown John Wayne Gacy Jr, whose pastimes included painting clowns and killing 33 young boys and burying them in the crawl space under his house. Navarro is a collector of Gacy's work. (via gigglesugar)

It's Owl She Cares About

Liz Smith (not THE) lives in Leeds, England, where the official bird is the owl. Smith has a thousand of them in her house, and not one is real. They're all in the form of such things as key rings, mugs, plates, tapestries, paperweights, cards, tea towels, and toys. She fell in love with hooters when she was first dating her future husband Peter 10 years ago and she saw one for the first time, "perched on a post somewhere out Huddersfield way," she says. "I've just like them ever since." Her favorite is the barn owl. We'll invite Smith to attend our owl art show at the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery, which begins November 13. (Rothwell Today; t/y Fenton)

All Tomorrow's Mustaches

Avast, Ye Maties!

It's Talk Like a Pirate Day today. Personally, we want no part of it, would rather walk the plank, but here's the official site. This, by the way, is Robert Newton, the actor who portrayed Long John Silver in the 1950 Disney film Treasure Island and is responsible for pirate impersonators forever after saying, "Arrrrgh!" etc. Previously, there had been no common pirate accent. So take off your tri-cornered hat to him. (t/y Lydia for the heads up)

Angry Mob Takes Stand Against Scientology on Broadway

Previews for Arthur Miller's All My Sons began last night on Broadway, and outside the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater, restrained behind barricades, a disparate mob wearing masks brandished signs suggesting that Scientology kills and requesting that the play's co-star Katie Holmes be freed. "We are not boycotting Katie, we are not boycotting the play," said a representative from the group. "We are protesting Scientology. It is evil. Scientology kills people. It follows you home at night. It is perverted." So, thankfully, this protest has put a stop to it. (Us; photo via dlisted)

Snap! Snap!

For Charo's "España Cañi" video this morning, two-week-old Manolo the Bull stood on his mark like he'd been doing it all his life, then trotted over to the craft service truck for a snack. (Photos: top, Kristy Benjamin; bottom, Steven Corfe)

Charo Week pt 4

Charo sees her music video shoot to the top of the charts.

Choreographer Enrriqué Lugo instructs Charo's "España Cañi" dancers on some cuchi-cuchi moves while she takes a break to be interviewed.

Hey, boom man! The interview is with Charo, not Sarah Silverman!

(Photos: Kristy Benjamin)

Lego My Ego: The Stars Get Small

Not to be outdone by Mattel's new Birds-Attacking-Tippi Hedren Barbie, Lego has created a whole effing line of celebrity figures that are even more horrifying than the stars they're based on. The series marks the 30th anniversary of Lego's manufacture of tiny people. But, really, do Brad and Angelina deserve this? Fortunately these hideous creatures will not be available to the public. (Source)

Charo Week pt 3

The irrepressible Charo knocked three times on the Tonight show back in 1971, on a night when Rat Pack comic Joey Bishop was guest-hosting for Johnny. It's hard to believe, but Charo was suffering through a bad cold that night. Tomorrow, the cuchi-cuchi girl will be down in the World of Wonder studio making the video for her Billboard chart-climbing single, "España Cañi."

She Looks Like H-E-Double Hockey Sticks

Sarah Palin wore a shantung silk Valentino jacket worth $2,500 during her first big speech, telling the GOP delegates, "I was just your average hockey mom, and signed up for the PTA because I wanted to make my kids' public education better." A source familiar with Palin's secret cadre of stylists told Page Six, "They do not want the American public to know that Palin is using stylists or that she is paying for expensive clothes this early on in the campaign." Hmm, you can put lipstick on a pig, but don't get any on that Valentino.

Barbie vs Tippi

Mattel is dropping The Birds Barbie Doll in stores in October. But we can't tell if it's supposed to be the iconic Barbie dressed like Tippi Hedren in the classic Hitchcock film or whether it's meant to be a likeness of Ms Hedren herself. The ad copy would have us believe Barbie starred in the movie. Whatever the situ, it's a bizarre plaything for little girls. Meanwhile, there's talk of a remake of the movie and, in what you might call a moment of sacrilege, we say, "Please do!" The original is Hitchcock's most boring and artificial film, with mechanical performances by the entire cast, especially Hedren. It's a sad day when a movie's robot birds are better actors than its leading lady. We'd love to see Naomi Watts in the Melanie Daniels role. And look forward to the Psycho Barbie.

Charo Week pt 2

Four things you might not know about the legendary Charo:

1. She studied classical and flamenco guitar with Andrés Segovia and was voted Best Flamenco Guitarist twice by readers of Guitar Player magazine.

2. She's an American citizen.

3. Her signature exclamation, "Cuchi Cuchi!" comes from the name of her childhood dog, Cuchillo ("knife" in Spanish). People loved hearing her call the dog, so she kept it up.

4. She holds the record for the most guest-star appearances on The Love Boat: 21.

Decision '08

A Trick-or-Treat Tit for Tat

On Sunday, a campaign adviser confirmed that Ms Palin had, indeed, watched the “Saturday Night Live” skit from her screen at the front of the plane. “She thought it was quite funny,” the adviser said in an email response to inquiries, “especially because the governor has dressed up as Tina Fey for Halloween.” (NY Times)

Labelle: Cougar Attack

Last we heard from Labelle, the space-age trio were forcing us to learn French with their naughty disco hit "Voulez-Vous Coucher avec Moi (ce Soir)." Now, 30 years and a slew of solo efforts later, the fierce girls are back – as fiercer women – with a new album, brain-teasingly titled Back to Now, and the single "Roll Out." Wanna hear it? Click here. It's délicieux.

Craig Ferguson: Great Scot

Does it take a Scot to set us straight about the political issues currently swirling around us? Apparently, maybe. Here's the inarguably adorable and hilarious Craig Ferguson on the topic of the presidential nominees and the country's voter apathy. If you haven't already seen this Late Late Show episode, it's well worth your investment of a combined total of 14:33 minutes. (t/y Jim)

Famously Gay Group Gets Star on Sidewalk in Front of Scientology Test Center

Welcome to CAMP FRIDAY here on Hollywood Boulevard. If tonight’s DOLLYPOP opening wasn’t proof enough that we are the gayest, most fabulous place on earth, today the VILLAGE PEOPLE got their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! OMG! OMG! OMG! Located just two blocks east of WOW, one block north of the Hollywood YMCA (get it? get it?), and nestled between the stars of Betty Grable and Liberace. A massive crowd gathered to watch the unveiling and sing a few of the old songs. And if you aren’t already WILDY jealous that you weren’t there, I haven’t told you the best part: CHARO opened the festivities by leaping about the podium, screaming "CUCHIE! CUCHIE!” and just generally causing a hot fuss wherever she posed for pics. I stood next to a little girl named Sydney (who was DRAGGED there by her mother) and the poor dear had NO IDEA what was going on. Between the CUCHIE GOOCHIES and the "YMCA" arm gestures, she must have thought we had all lost our minds. “This is what the '70s were like, dear,” we explained to her. Now, can I get a little gayer? Also spotted in the crowd was Greg Louganis, still looking handsome. Oh! Oh! And Disco Gus and Disco Liz, the American Bandstand dancers (and Village People superfans) who originally came up with those YMCA arm movements.

– Text by James St James; photos by Kristy Benjamin

Harry Dean Stanton Dreams of Bob Dylan

...or something like that in this road-movie promotional video of Dylan's "Dreamin' of You" from his authorized 27-track bootleg album #8, Tell Tale Signs. Must say, Stanton and Dylan are looking very separated-at-birth these days.

Animal Owners Drop Daringly Named Cookbook

If you dug 2girls1cup, now comes Two Dudes One Pan, from the men who own LA's Animal restaurant. Give it as a gift and watch the reaction. (t/y Fenton)

Sarah Palin Gets All Dolled Up

As Queerty points out, the ironically named Palin action figure from Hero Builders is suspiciously similar to Hero Builders' HotBox action figure named X-Raider. Hairdo, glasses, and Palin's faint scent of fish oil seem to be the only obvious differences. (t/y Lindsey)

Heart Wants No Part

Sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson aka Heart are so angry that their 1970s hit "Barracuda" is being used by the Republicans as the theme song for Sarah Palin that they've sent a cease-and-desist letter to the GOP, saying "The Republican campaign did not ask for permission to use the song, nor would they have been granted that permission." Sadly, though, copyright law might not apply since the song is licensed for public performance under a blanket fee paid by the venue to ASCAP. Nancy Wilson says she feels "completely fucked over" and she and Ann sent this email to EW.com:

"Sarah Palin's views and values in NO WAY represent us as American women. We ask that our song 'Barracuda' no longer be used to promote her image. The song 'Barracuda' was written in the late 70s as a scathing rant against the soulless, corporate nature of the music business, particularly for women. (The 'barracuda' represented the business.) While Heart did not and would not authorize the use of thei