ecorazzi.com :: the latest in green gossip

May 14th 2008

Oprah Cancels Big Give After Just One Season

Filed under: film-tv, television — parrish @ 2:14 pm

OPRAH WINFREY HAS SPOKEN!!

Oprah has recently canceled her reality television show, Oprah’s Big Give, after just one season. The show — which ran on ABC — featured 10 regular old folks competing to see who could find the most creative ways to raise money for charity. Ecorazzi previously reported that even a few celebrities jumped on board to donate some loot, and by the end, Oprah and friends had raised millions of dollars for charity!

But even though it was a hit Oprah said she would not bring it back. Network exec, Steven McPherson told the New York Post, “We loved that show and absolutely would have loved to bring it back. But it was something Oprah didn’t want to do.”

And let’s be honest —  Oprah gets what Oprah wants!!

thanks:starpulse.com

May 13th 2008

FOX News Says Al Gore Is The Reason For High Food Prices

We can't even make this stuff up.

Filed under: film-tv, television — michael @ 6:10 pm

Just when you thought there couldn’t possibly be anything else to throw at Al Gore, Sean Hannity on FOX News came up with his hilarious segment: “Gore’s Grocery: Blame Al Gore for your rising food prices.”

Oh man, you know the conservative news stations are walking a thin line of sanity when you actually publish something like that. Of course, coming from someone as out of touch as Sean Hannity, such incomprehensible logic is to be expected. While increased demand for biofuel is certainly contributing, it is barely more than the tip of the iceberg. Newshounds breaks down the real information that FOX so conveniently fails to do itself. From the article,

“According to Time magazine, there are three other factors: One is the chronically low productivity of farmers in the poorest countries, caused by their inability to pay for seeds, fertilizers and irrigation. Another is the growing demand for food and the third, which Hannity would probably rather die than admit to, is climate change. Time reported that recent droughts in Australia and Europe cut the global production of grain in 2005 and ‘06. New York Times columnist and economics professor Paul Krugman says that high oil costs play a big role, too.”

Furthermore, the type of biofuel throwing Hannity’s panties into a bunch is not the kind backed by Al Gore. In 2006, the the former V.P. endorsed cellulosic ethanol — a much different process that utilizes perennial grasses, waste, or other sources of low-production, high yield organics.

Check out the full video here — laugh track not included.

Newshounds via Green Daily

May 13th 2008

Radiohead Sheds Light On Human Trafficing

Filed under: campaigns, film-tv, green and famous, music, politics, television, thegreenpicture — parrish @ 12:19 pm

In the past Ecorazzi has told you all about Radiohead’s environmental agenda and political ideology, so it’s no surprise that the dudes of Radiohead are speaking out once again.

Radiohead is teaming up with MTV to raise awareness about child slavery and sex trafficking. In their new video, All I Need,  we see a split-screen view of the lives of two boys — one in white suburbia and one in an Asian sweatshop. The message: some things cost most more than you realize.

Thom Yorke admits this was a risky move for MTV to make on a purely advertising level. Thom says: “With the (’All I Need’) video, their lawyers had to beg to make sure there wasn’t a single white trainer with a logo on it because the implication would be a little too close. But the implication is still there.” 

Check out the video below.

May 9th 2008

Shia LaBeouf & Andy Samberg Explore The NBC Roof Garden

Filed under: film-tv, television, web — michael @ 9:25 am

Check out the hilarious promos below for Shia LaBeouf’s hosting of Saturday Night Live tomorrow night. Who knew NBC has such a lush roof garden?

May 8th 2008

Gossip Girl Cast Member Goes Green Thanks To Motherhood

Filed under: film-tv, green and famous, television, thegreenpicture — parrish @ 9:45 pm

Which one doesn’t fit: boys kissing girls, girls kissing boys, boys kissing boys, girls kissing girls, eco-friendly parental figure kissing Mother Earth? While the last choice might have stood out more than Lindsay Lohan in a stolen fur coat, it was actually a trick question! They all have one thing in common…GOSSIP GIRL!!!

True, the first thing you think of when you hear Gossip Girl is probably a bunch rich, horny, young people doing scandalous deeds against the balmy backdrop of a perfect NYC. However, like all actors, when the camera turns off they’re all just a bunch of normal people doing regular old things. And nowadays being regular means GOING GREEN!!!

Industry vet and Gossip Girl regular Kelly Rutherford recently told US magazine that she’s officially gone green. That’s right, Kelly and her husband are building an eco-house complete with denim insulation, earth-friendly lighting, and all the other bells and whistles you might expect in eco-architechture. And what inspired the change? None other than her brand new 18-month-old baby. Kelly said, “You think: Wow, they come in so pure, you want to keep it that way.”

Kelly isn’t the first celeb to develop green baby inspiration. In fact, in the past few months Ecorazzi has told you all about the maternal environmental awakenings of stars like Julia Roberts and Melissa Joan Hart. But you don’t need a bun in the oven to get serious about the environment. Just throw on that organic cotton shirt, hop in your solar powered car and head down to the local used bookstore and pick up one of the many inspirational green books now available.  I mean if the Gossip Girls are doing it, it must be cool. Right?

May 8th 2008

Sundance Channel Sold For Almost $500 Million

Good news for the rest of us

Filed under: film-tv, television — michael @ 10:31 am

As we reported earlier, the Sundance Channel was recently put up for sale. Robert Redford and Co — who started the network in 1996 — were eager to a.) cash in on their investment and b.) have a larger entity scoop up and subsequently expose their fantastic array of programming to an even larger audience.

Now it’s been announced that Cablevision’s Rainbow Media Holdings will acquire the network for $496 million. For his part, Redford should expect to earn almost $30 million — not bad for something largely a labor of love. From the release,

“For Rainbow Media, the purchase expands and strengthens its entertainment presence with the addition of a recognizable and desirable brand that attracts loyal viewers. Sundance Channel will join AMC, IFC and WE tv as another valuable and distinct network within Rainbow Media’s portfolio of award-winning national services.

‘Robert Redford is a true visionary and, through everything he has accomplished with Sundance Channel, has made immeasurable contributions to the world of independent film,’ said Rainbow Media President and CEO Joshua Sapan. ‘Rainbow has experienced firsthand how impressive original programming like Mad Men and Breaking Bad can distinguish a network’s brand. Sundance Channel has already established its own distinct voice through impressive programming like The Green and Iconoclasts and our vision is to build on this type of original content, further strengthening the uniqueness of the network.’”

And speaking of The Green — if you’ve not been able to experience it through your current cable offerings — there’s a good chance that the pickup by Cablevision will give you the opportunity.

Thankfully, Redford will stay on as the network gets cozy with its new parent company. “We look forward to working with Rainbow to further distinguish Sundance Channel and to create even greater value for this important service,” he said.

May 6th 2008

Tom Cruise Was The Original Voice Of Captain Planet

And several other celebrity planeteers you probably didn't recognize

Filed under: film-tv, green and famous, television — michael @ 4:56 pm

It’s safe to say that Ted Turner’s original eco-cartoon Captain Planet was way ahead of its time. If it was released today, it might be criticized as something to take advantage of current awareness, but because it arrived in a decade of relative indifference towards environmentalism, it’s a great reflection of Turner’s green values and willingness to educate others on the topic.

Anyways, we’ve had a lot of fun over the past few months speculating whether or not a live-action version of this cartoon will ever see the light of day. We remain steadfast that something is/was in the works — especially since the information came from Ted Turner himself. Whether or not anything actually ever comes from it is another matter entirely.

But all rumors aside, there are some fun “Did You Know?” Captain Planet facts that we would love to share. First off, and most bizarre, is the fact that Tom Cruise was the original voice of the blue-skinned superhero. In fact, as early as December 1989, Time Magazine lists the Days Of Thunder star as the lead for the “cable-TV cartoon”. Apparently, Cruise pulled out and actor David Coburn then picked up the reins. Perhaps this makes sense, as Cruise reportedly spent $1 million alone in 2006 to fuel his hungry fleet of cars, motorcycles, planes, and other gas-guzzlers.

But that didn’t necessarily faze the producers of the comic book based on the cartoon. They appear to have paid homage to the star’s Top Gun movie by illustrating three pilots chasing a large dragon formed from smog. Their callsigns? Iceman, Maverick, and Goose.

To this day, we have no idea if any vocal record of Tom Cruise as Captain Planet exists.

Did you know there are a bunch of other celebrities that have lent their voices to the show? Click on the images below to take a look at each one and the awesome roles they played.

May 6th 2008

Dwight Shrute Selling His Nissan Xterra For A Hybrid

Filed under: cars-houses, film-tv, television, transport — michael @ 11:49 am

On last week’s The Office, Dwight Shrute offered to buy Andy Bernard’s 2001 Nissan Xterra for about $1,500 less than what he was asking. Using pressure tactics, Andy gave in on the spot. Dwight then pulled a classic move and “flipped” Andy’s car up on Ebay for more than what he was initially selling it for. Hilariously, this is also now happening in real life.

The very same Nissan that appeared in the episode is now up for sale on eBay. The owner, who works as a hairstylist for The Office series, is auctioning off the vehicle so that she can trade up to a hybrid. She/He’s also including some goodies like a cast-signed script from the episode the car starred in, actual sides used during filming, and a prop handled by Dwight. This could be anything from pepper spray to a taser.

Interested in grabbing a piece of Office history? With gas prices headed north and the price of this Xterra also climbing (currently at $15,300), you might do better to pick up a t-shirt or something. But, if you feel the urge to support the Shrute Beet Farm, jump here.

May 6th 2008

Famous Actress Isabella Rossellini To Make Green Porno

Filed under: animals, film-tv, television — parrish @ 10:30 am

In perhaps one of my the most bizarre career moves ever, actress Isabella Rossellini (most recently known for her work on Alias) is working with the Sundance Channel to produce a series of short films called Green Porno.

While you might be imagining a scantily clad Rossellini doing the dirty on an organic mattress with bamboo sheets, a non-down comforter and responsible lighting, the actual premise is a whole lot stranger.  

In Green Porno Rossellini dresses in a series of different costumes and impersonates various small creatures getting their groove on.  I know it’s a lot to take in so let’s talk through it for a sec. So picture Rossellini…ok got it? Now picture Rossellini flapping her “wings” in…say a bee costume. Now picture Rossellini flapping her “wings” in a bee costume and mating with a cardboard cut out of another bee while her son and his friends play background male bees in the “hive”. No, I’m serious!

Rossellini recently told CNN that she hopes the short films will be both entertaining and educational (and creepy?).  She also shared this little pleasantry about the praying mantis’ mating ritual: ”While they’re mating the female eats up the male and the male continues to mate until he’s completely eaten and dead. With a lot of insects, a lot of females eat the male.”  I holding my breath for that one! 

May 5th 2008

Joaquin Phoenix Gets Inked In The Amazon Rainforest

Filed under: campaigns, film-tv, television — michael @ 3:56 pm

Joaquin Phoenix has joined the indigenous Yawanawa people of the Brazilian Amazon as part of a new series with MTV Canada called 4REAL.  The activist actor, who also is executive producer of the program, hopes to call attention to global social issues and foster cultural awareness and understanding of different societies. I’m not certain, but I also believe Phoenix will be penning an article for Vanity Fair on the plight of those living in the Rainforests. The above pictures come from a new edition of the Italian Vanity Fair.

Supposedly, Joaquin’s experience in Brazil will air tonight on MTV Canada. It should be available tomorrow online at MTV THINK.  Also taking part in these specials are celebrities like Cameron Diaz, Eva Mendes, Casey Affleck, and Mos Def. We’ll keep you posted.