Robbie Williams Fan Blog

Images thanks to Gerardbutler gals

2008-05-09T16:28:00.000-07:00

Images of Gerry's NY Apt

Misc shots

"Instinct" Magazine Throws Party, Names Gayest Nerd! ...Gerard Butler Walks By

2008-05-09T15:56:00.000-07:00

The scene is poolside at The Standard on Sunset. Instinct Magazine is throwing a party, and I'm there celebrating my moment as their May Bachelor. I run into old friends like Bobby Trendy and Jonathan Chang and make some new ones.While all this is happening, Gerard Butler, who is not at the party, but is at The Standard is spotted in the restaurant. Party-goer Roberto Ezzevalli grabs him for photo op, shot by the LA Gay & Lesbian Center's Jim Key.I am bummed I miss this as I will forever be grateful to 300 for all the hot guys that now show up at Comic-Con International dressed up like Spartans!

source http://aman-about-town.blogspot.com/

another image of Gerry from JFX

2008-05-09T15:52:00.000-07:00

Does A Body GoodIn: Gerard Butler (source JFX online)

2008-05-09T15:50:00.000-07:00

Our photogs spotted Gerard Butler yesterday on the set of The Ugly Truth in Studio City. Gerard made sure he had enough energy for the day’s filming, as he packed in the liquids with coffee and a muscle drink. I think that’s what those things are called. Maybe he needed a pick me up. Gerard will be seen in the next Guy Ritchie movie, RocknRolla. The film’s about London’s criminal underworld and knowing Guy Ritchie’s work, it’ll be packed full of action. Gerard kind of reminds me of Russell Crowe, I don’t know why. Anyway, check out a couple other pics of Gerard below.

A couple of unexpectedly favourable views of Robbie following the UFO programme: (thanks to jlml)

2008-05-09T10:46:00.001-07:00

From The Times Online On Tuesday we were privileged to hear Robbie Williams and Jon Ronson Journey to the Other Side, an ambiguous title for a programme in which the troubled pop star (©) described his latest bid for inner peace – the paranormal. Or was the Other Side the people he met along the way, the strange beings he found at a UFO conference in sleazy Laughlin, Nevada? Cruelly, Radio 4 had scheduled it in the 6.30pm drivetime comedy slot, which made one wonder – was it a hoax, with a Robbie soundalike? Paranormal stuff does tend to make you paranoid. But no, Laughlin exists, and two of the people they met there have websites to call their own. One is Dr Roger Leir, a surgeon who says he has extracted 15 items of alien metal from human abductees but had brought none of them to the conference to show off. The night before Robbie and Ronson arrived in Laughlin there had apparently been a fight between two alien beings that had yielded a vial of alien blood that was in Leir’s possession. He denied this, laughing avuncularly. He did, though, have a scale from a 7ft alien that someone had disturbed in their kitchen. Only it might have also been a moth’s wing. The other delegate was Ann Andrews, whose son Jason is an Indigo Child, an alien sent to Earth in human guise. She reminded Robbie of his mum. “You know, you look a lot like Robbie Williams,” she said. She’s a big fan. Robbie being Robbie, while he declared himself totally open to believing everything he was told, he’d brought along someone to be his nominated cynic. He was called Brandon. When Andrews showed photographs she had taken of aliens that were blurred because she had taken them on a disposable camera, Brandon asked why she didn’t buy a better camera. It was easy to laugh, but at the heart there was a touching portrait of a man who has tried it all and is still unfulfilled. “Every time I meet charlatans,” he said. “I think: ‘I thought you knew the truth, but you’re just a nutter’.” He’ll keep searching. We wish him well. From The New Statesman Even a pop star obsessed by UFOs can turn out to be charming and witty The big question of the week was not "Did Ken always look this much like Ethel Merman?" but "Is Robbie Williams properly mental?". Robbie Williams and Jon Ronson Journey to the Other Side (6 May, 6.30pm, Radio 4) arrived sequinned and tinselled with a fanfare of trailers and even a more or less complete transcript in the Guardian, like things to do with Richard Nixon. After reading Ronson's excellent 2001 book Them: Adventures With Extremists, Williams emailed Ronson asking him to find a haunted house where the two of them might spend a night. The plan fell through only when Williams remembered that he had 59 international stadium gigs pencilled on his roster, but he later invited Ronson to come with him to the International UFO Congress in Laughlin, Nevada, instead. Obviously simultaneously concerned for the balance of Williams's mind and holding a tissue up to his mouth to catch the saliva, Ronson took the first flight out to Williams's mansion in LA. Initially things looked promising: Williams had grown an enormous beard. On the downside was the presence of Williams's sane and ungroupie-like girlfriend, Ida. This put paid to any proposed wallow with a Williams long-locked in Château Marmont scarfing Twinkies. "Why UFOs? Why now?" asked Ronson in his girlish, yearning voice. Williams answered that he'd grown tired of sitting in at night reading the UK tabloids online, and so had turned to studying alien visitations, the proponents of which seemed to him rather more reasonable. At the convention in Nevada there was an air of weariness. The night before, there had been a fight between two reptilian beings outside the lobby, but people were scarcely doing their nut over it. Instead of taking a photograph, someone had actually extracted a scale from one of the creatures and it was being held now in a piece of tissue in a hotel room by a scientist who also specialises in removing implants from the brains of grateful abductees. He sounded a little depressed, considering. The people downstairs in the queue to talk to speakers also came over somewhat muted. It was clear that not nearly enough drugs were being taken around here. I mean, how wired would you have to get to listen to a woman giving a lecture on the subject of her barely human son under the title "Indigo Boy: Raising a Multi-Dimensional Star-Child in a Changing Universe"? "I've been incarnated on this planet," said the woman. "I've been incarnated on many planets." "She reminds me of my mum," said Robbie. Williams seems like a very nice, chatty person, and quite Lenny Bruce-ishly laconic. Being oracular is his natural inclination. He kept up a little running commentary on anything from how much the reptile scale looked like a sliver of chocolate to how warped a memory he has. Ronson piped up now and again to be familiarly pragmatic and tender, but it was very much Robbie's show. He has a talent for making the universe feel profoundly personal. "You look like Robbie Williams," said the mother of the star child during a coffee break. "I am Robbie Williams," he answered back, a little surprised at the fact, and then flew home on his aeroplane to stargaze with Ida, smiling left and right.

A couple of unexpectedly favourable views of Robbie following the UFO programme: (thanks to jlml)

2008-05-09T10:46:00.000-07:00

Where Is Robbie Williams? (thanks to Geraldine @ rwap)

2008-05-09T10:44:00.000-07:00

From MSN.co.uk - there are pics and videos at the link http://entertainment.uk.msn.com/celebrity/PhotoGalleries/article.aspx?cp-documentid=8262776 Where Is Robbie Williams? Robbie Williams has ditched pop stardom for a secluded life scanning the skies for UFOs in Los Angeles. He’s loving aliens instead… It’s been over 18 months since 34-year-old Robbie Williams, serial chart-topper and heartthrob, entertained us. After the release of Rudebox and his record-breaking 59-date Close Encounters world tour, Rob saddled up and galloped into obscurity. Since then, the star has been chilling in America, playing a bit of football, and growing a big beard. But his spare time isn't taken up writing songs for his next pop comeback, it's watching the skies for extra terrestrial activity! What’s going on with Robbie? Music career on hold It’s fair to say that Rudebox wasn’t Robbie’s finest hour. Lots of reviews, and quite a few fans, branded it rubbish. But Robbie’s not the first big star to have a career slump (isn’t that right, Britney?) and he certainly won’t be the last. Now would be the perfect time for Rob to put that record behind him and get working on a new one (ideally without trying to rap this time). But sadly, it’s not as simple as that. Robbie is on an unofficial strike from his record label as a result of some unpopular decisions made by EMI’s new boss, Guy Hands. Radiohead quit the label last year and Kylie Minogue is said to be unhappy too. Another reason for Rob's extended break is exhaustion: “I’ve put out 10 albums in 10 years and it takes its toll,” he said. “I definitely wouldn’t go on a tour that was more than about a month. I’m just not built for it.” And it's not like Robbie need to work to pay the bills – he recently ranked 28th on The Sunday Times’ list of Britain’s top 50 music millionaires, sitting just behind Simon Cowell and the Osbournes. The quiet life Understandably, after having cameras pointed in his face for most of his young adult life, Robbie now enjoys the relative peace and quiet of LA where he’s not very famous at all, which is why, as he explains, he wouldn’t move back to the UK at the moment: “I think situations would probably have to change,” he said. “If I based myself in England it would mean that I don’t sell records anymore. I wouldn’t be in a country that has the tabloids that we do... I’m not famous here. I can go out and do everything I want here, and that’s lovely.” She's the one After years of jumping into and out of beds, struggling to find a meaningful relationship, Robbie seems to be the most settled he’s ever been with girlfriend Ayda Field. The 28-year-old American actress, who starred in the More 4 series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, supported the star when he went into rehab last year to battle an addiction to prescription drugs. Friends of the former Take That star say that Ayda is the reason he’s put on weight – because he’s so relaxed! “Robbie has made it clear he’s put his showbiz life on hold,” a mate said. “He doesn’t need to remain trim for any professional reason, so he’s let himself go. He’s really happy with Ayda and being content can lead to weight gain.” Football success Robbie has always loved his football, but after moving to Los Angeles fulltime five years ago, he immersed himself in the game more than ever before. In 2005, Rob bought a pitch and formed a team with ex-pats and fellow celebs, which he named LA Vale. He spent over a year developing and managing the team, and they soon found themselves at the top of the LA Premier League. But just when it looked like Rob would soon be swapping post-match shirts with his mate David Beckham in the big leagues, the team disbanded over an argument about money. The truth is out there Robbie’s new passion, or some would say obsession, is UFOs and alien abductions. He’s travelled across America to UFO conventions, spoken with abductees and scientists, and he owns hundreds of books and DVDs on the subject. And now, according to reports, he is considering spending £2.5 million on an observatory of his own in the desert outside Los Angeles. Rob went public about his new interest when he teamed up with journalist Jon Ronson to make a Radio 4 documentary on their experiences at a UFO convention. In Journey to the Other Side, the pair travel to Nevada to hear testimonies of alien abductions and perhaps witness a paranormal event or two. Robbie also revealed that he’s seen UFOs a few times himself – once as a child, then again while lying on a sun-lounger in LA, and more recently while listening to a song he’s written about alien contact, called Arizona. “A big ball of gold light turned up,” he said. “We thought it was Venus or Mars, but when the track stops playing, it disappears. When Arizona was turned back on again, the ball came back and it happened four times.” During a recent radio interview alongside Joss Stone, Robbie also admitted he sometimes contemplates quitting music altogether and make a career out of his new obsession. “Seriously, I want to go out and investigate UFOs. I’m stopping being a pop star; I want to be a fulltime ufologist.” Nice to hear you’re enjoying yourself, Robbie. But, like your mate ET, maybe you could phone home now and again? We miss you back here in Blighty! Should Robbie stay in LA and while away his days watching for UFOs, or move back to Britain and relaunch his music career?_________________

2008-05-09T10:43:00.000-07:00

ROBBIE WILLIAMS AND ANT & DEC IN NEW TELLY VOTE SCANDAL

2008-05-08T16:04:00.000-07:00

Those clean wholesome boys of telly, Ant and Dec, are a little tarnished this afternoon.
After being fingered for conning viewers of Saturday Night Takeaway in 2005 and 2006 out of millions of pounds, they have now handed back a British Comedy Award when they actually came second to Catherine Tate!
So the golden boys are a golden shower!
The trouble at the comedy awards happened because ITV cut into the broadcast of the live show with a news bulletin. Meanwhile, the show went on 'as live' and was shown in full after the news.
But the viewers hadn't been told that, and they continued to vote in the category in which Ant and Dec picked up their gong. Even though Catherine Tate was in the lead. Stinks, doesn't it?
And what's worse is that there's a suggestion ITV rigged the award because Robbie Williams - who was handing out the trophy - only agreed to do so if he could hand it out to Ant and Dec.
It's gets worse. Shame on Robbie for insisting this - and shame on ITV for agreeing to it.
And shame on Ant and Dec, whose careers will no doubt continue to flourish.
Indeed, see the cheekk Geordie chappies on Britain's Got Talent on ITV1 on Saturday night.
Yep, you and I would have been fired and ruined if we'd done such a thing.
There's one rule for them.....

Even a pop star obsessed by UFOs can turn out to be charming and witty

2008-05-08T16:03:00.000-07:00

Even a pop star obsessed by UFOs can turn out to be charming and witty
The big question of the week was not "Did Ken always look this much like Ethel Merman?" but "Is Robbie Williams properly mental?". Robbie Williams and Jon Ronson Journey to the Other Side (6 May, 6.30pm, Radio 4) arrived sequinned and tinselled with a fanfare of trailers and even a more or less complete transcript in the Guardian, like things to do with Richard Nixon.
After reading Ronson's excellent 2001 book Them: Adventures With Extremists, Williams emailed Ronson asking him to find a haunted house where the two of them might spend a night. The plan fell through only when Williams remembered that he had 59 international stadium gigs pencilled on his roster, but he later invited Ronson to come with him to the International UFO Congress in Laughlin, Nevada, instead.
Obviously simultaneously concerned for the balance of Williams's mind and holding a tissue up to his mouth to catch the saliva, Ronson took the first flight out to Williams's mansion in LA. Initially things looked promising: Williams had grown an enormous beard. On the downside was the presence of Williams's sane and ungroupie-like girlfriend, Ida. This put paid to any proposed wallow with a Williams long-locked in Château Marmont scarfing Twinkies.
"Why UFOs? Why now?" asked Ronson in his girlish, yearning voice. Williams answered that he'd grown tired of sitting in at night reading the UK tabloids online, and so had turned to studying alien visitations, the proponents of which seemed to him rather more reasonable.
At the convention in Nevada there was an air of weariness. The night before, there had been a fight between two reptilian beings outside the lobby, but people were scarcely doing their nut over it. Instead of taking a photograph, someone had actually extracted a scale from one of the creatures and it was being held now in a piece of tissue in a hotel room by a scientist who also specialises in removing implants from the brains of grateful abductees. He sounded a little depressed, considering.
The people downstairs in the queue to talk to speakers also came over somewhat muted. It was clear that not nearly enough drugs were being taken around here. I mean, how wired would you have to get to listen to a woman giving a lecture on the subject of her barely human son under the title "Indigo Boy: Raising a Multi-Dimensional Star-Child in a Changing Universe"? "I've been incarnated on this planet," said the woman. "I've been incarnated on many planets." "She reminds me of my mum," said Robbie.
Williams seems like a very nice, chatty person, and quite Lenny Bruce-ishly laconic. Being oracular is his natural inclination. He kept up a little running commentary on anything from how much the reptile scale looked like a sliver of chocolate to how warped a memory he has. Ronson piped up now and again to be familiarly pragmatic and tender, but it was very much Robbie's show. He has a talent for making the universe feel profoundly personal.
"You look like Robbie Williams," said the mother of the star child during a coffee break. "I am Robbie Williams," he answered back, a little surprised at the fact, and then flew home on his aeroplane to stargaze with Ida, smiling left and right.

Robbie Williams: fat bloke with tattoos

2008-05-08T15:53:00.000-07:00

http://www.musictoob.com/robbie-williams-is-now-a-fat-bloke-with-tattoos

It doesn't matter who is wearing them...but no one looks good in a speedo..unless you are going for a gold medal in freestyle..

Good lard, Rob's got even bigger

2008-05-08T11:46:00.000-07:00

Photo thanks to Lindsay, story thanks to Kaula both at rwap and thanks so much. The Sun is banned at my school

Good lard, Rob's got even bigger THAT’S a cracking set of man baps lardy ROBBIE WILLIAMS has cultivated in the past couple of years. The pop nob showed off his barrel belly and moobs while on holiday in Mexico with pals — and gave snappers a clear message. See more of wobbly Williams by clicking on the link below. To give his pot extra prominence Robbie even wore a pair of, gulp, speedos. Dear, oh dear, oh dear. He looks like he did in the Old Before I Die era — but this time he is off the ale. Rob had stunning girlfriend AYDA FIELD wrapped around his bulk as they relaxed in the pool. He has been putting his feet up while his label EMI are left to sweat on the arrival of his next album — even though he is on a lucrative contract. At least he’s shaved off his ridiculous beard.

May's Exxxxxplotion Vol.IV

2008-05-08T10:36:00.000-07:00

May's Exxxxxplotion Vol.III

2008-05-08T10:27:00.000-07:00

Image thanks to Gata @ rwap

2008-05-07T10:09:00.000-07:00

ALWAYS A LADIES` MAN

2008-05-06T22:28:00.000-07:00

http://www.javno.com/en/lifestyle/clanak.php?id=146266 ALWAYS A LADIES` MAN Robbie Williams Has Sex In A Swimming Pool The act itself was not photographed, but body language showed it was sex. British singer Robbie Williams was on holiday in Mexico with several beauties when he was photographed making love to one of them in the swimming pool. Robbie, who has put on a few pounds lately, cuddled with the girl in the swimming pool, pushed her against the rim and this is when “the action” started. The act itself was not photographed, but body language showed it was sex. The singer has been avoiding the media lately, and there is no indication of a new album either. Still, once a ladies` man, always a ladies` man, Bild.de writes

Q&A with Gerard Butler

2008-05-06T15:25:00.000-07:00

Adventuring, at least in movies, for Gerard Butler, seems to be in his blood, what with Lara Kroft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, Timeline, Reign of Fire and 300 under his belt. But the Scottish actor is getting he feet wet in good ole family entertainment in not one but two roles in Nim’s Island, which was released on Friday. Here’s a Q&A with the actor.

Talk about the two characters you play in the film, Jack and Alex Rover?
Jack is Nim’s dad. He’s a scientist who is crazy, passionate about the smallest things in life. Jack has huddled up and stowed himself away in this island that he really doesn’t want anyone to know the whereabouts of, so they can live their life in peace. Nim and Jack have a great relationship. They are best friends. Jack gets himself into a bit of trouble by going out on one too many adventures. Alex Rover himself is an adventurer, who kind of lives as an alter ego to Jodie Foster’s Alexandra Rover. He is the epitome of courage, motivation, inspiration and good humor.

How did it come about that you were considered for both roles?
I never went in for either but they offered me one role and my agent said, he’s not going to do that but why don’t you offer him both roles and then it might be a more tempting proposition’. So they said, ‘OK, we will do that.’ Then when I read the script, we all agreed it could not have been anything different, that one person to play both roles just seemed like the perfect way to go about this and get more into that fantastical element of the story. So that’s when I decided to come aboard.

How tough was it to play both parts? Were you switching between the two on the same day?
Very rarely, but it was unavoidable. They made me a promise; look, we are really going to avoid you having to play both roles in the same day as much as possible, but there are going to come times when we are going to be adding a bit of a false beard here with a hair plucker there! There were times when we were wiping off a seven-minute sunburn and then putting on seven minutes more, or we’d be putting on the wig, taking off the wig. In fact, there was one time when I had to swap twice. I had to have the wig on, and then change to Jack and take the wig off then go back to Alex Rover and have the wig on and that was a huge pain in the ass!

How did you approach playing such a swash-buckling character like Alex Rover: seriously or tongue-in cheek?
It was a bit of both. There were times when it was tongue-in-cheek and times where it was serious. There were moments for instance when I’m dealing with Nim or towards the end with Alexandra that it gets far more intimate and meaningful. Although it was a serious message, it was delivered in a very fun way. The second Jodie and I got together and started playing these parts, we realized that this was how it had to be done. You always try to play it in same respect usually, but you understand that there is humor lying in there and you cannot get too heavy with it. It doesn’t need that. The message is better passed on by lightening it up.

Can you talk about the specific challenges for each role?
The biggest challenge was gauging it right, especially between both of us and not going too far to the comedic side and making these roles caricature, but at the same time, not getting too heavy with them. For Jack, I think it was just dealing with the sea. It was winter in Australia, so there was a cold wind blowing in there and there were times when I was standing all day just soaking wet – not even wet – but soaking wet because the scenes I was doing I had just been in the water. So literally, I had to be dripping with water. Either water falling off me, or I was lying in cold water at the bottom of the boat because supposedly I had just been knocked out. I spent a lot of time lying in freezing water, or diving into the sea, which was freezing. Of course, I could not have anything on like a wet suit, so that was a bit of a pain in the ass. Some of it was in the studio, but even in the studio when you are just sitting about, nothing is worse than being in wet clothes unless it is a hundred degrees and even then, it is a pain in the ass. It never was a hundred degrees. On the sea, I felt like I was in a refrigerator at times.

Jack is quite the fixer and very self-reliant. How are you in that department?
I’m clueless. I was thinking that I better never get lost at sea. If anything were to happen to me out at sea, I would be so lost. I don’t know if I would be more scared of dying or just embarrassed at how hopeless I was. Fixing things is not my thing, which is weird because as a kid I was great at that sort of thing, but somewhere along the line, I must have quit.

Have you spent much time on the water sailing?
I have not really spent much time sailing. I have sailed a little bit and when we were in Australia I sailed with a whole team of people around Sydney Harbor, which was the most beautiful experience, but no, in terms of knowing what I was doing on the sea, I did not at all.

You went from one extreme to another with your characters. What was that like?
I find that whenever I am doing films, I sit back and think, what did I get myself into? There are times you just suddenly get a hold of yourself and you think what the hell am I doing here? To be honest, that is a bit like me in my life. I am constantly thinking how the hell did I get here or where did this come from? You constantly evaluate the weirdness in one day and how you have swung from one thing to another. That is kind of what happens in this movie. OK, today I am out at sea freezing. OK, today I am in the studio with Jodie and I am trying to drag her out of a door. OK, today spiders are attacking me. OK, today I am being carried around by a bunch of natives. OK, just give me your best shot, whatever you have got!

Was this film a completely different energy for you compared to your other films?
Yes. I have done other films like Dear Frankie and P.S. I Love You but in some ways, the bigger, more macho roles that I do stand out more. I do a lot of different roles, but those 300-Gladiator style films are just the ones that stick more in your memory for good or bad reasons.

You’re not a dad in role life, so how did you develop that rapport with Abigail? Was it important?

It was important, but sometimes the most important thing is realizing that you don’t have to work at something. From the second we hung out we hit it off fantastically. I literally fell in love with this girl. That is the kind of girl that makes me want to have a daughter. I can hang out with this girl all day. We have so much fun. She can be my daughter. She can be my friend. She just is so cool. The first time we read, Mark Levin, the director, literally had tears flooding his eyes. He was just so happy to see us reading this together because he said we were so great together.

What was it like to work with Abigail?

She is more grown up than half of the grown ups I have worked with. And yet as much fun. My final day, Abigail painted something on canvas for me. It was beautiful and I was so touched. But when she gave it to me, part of it was not dry yet, so when I was sitting it was rubbing against me, and I had paint all over my pants. But it was beautiful that she did this painting for me but I felt bad that I ruined it!

Did you work with the pelicans, seals and sea lions like Abigail?
I did, but not as much as her. It was interesting. Sea lions are huge and they were like four times the size of Abigail. I didn’t realize how big they were until you get up close and then you can see how these things could do so much harm if they wanted to. I had to do a scene where I was running down with a massive bag towards one, and they were like, “OK, can you just stop and swing your bag over your head and put it down and get down next to the sea lion?” And I was thinking this thing is going to bite my head off if I do this! He’s this big, cumbersome, slimy thing and I’m coming down towards him with this flat thing that he probably thinks is his sister and I am coming after him and he probably wants to bite my head off. The pelican, talk about a life of its own. We never knew what that thing was going to do. I did a scene and it flew behind me instead of to my side. He was literally behind me and could have ripped my ear off. You couldn’t actually see his body because he was behind my body and he raised his wings and literally it looked like I had wings. It is hard to play a scene with a bloody pelican behind you that nips people!

How did you get along with Jodie Foster?
It was easy getting along to be honest. That woman, considering what an amazing talent she is, is so easy going. That was one of the most refreshing things about this film was to realize how cool she was and how she didn’t dominate and didn’t try to control and just let things flow, which for me is the best kind of space to work in. So we both just immediately got along and worked together great and I felt so relaxed working with her and this was just one of those things where we started doing the scenes and we were like, ‘this is awesome!’

So you were trained as a lawyer and wound up as an actor. How did that happen?
Perhaps going into the wrong career, developing a drinking problem and then following my dreams if you can ever describe all that in under 20 words, then that was pretty much it! I’d always known I wanted to get into acting, but the legal training had taken over and then things just got crazy in my life and the decision was made for me and I moved down to London and just caught a couple lucky breaks. I stepped into a film, got a manager in LA and then a couple years later came out and then just went from there.

~~~~~~~~~

thanks to tonya @ rwap

2008-05-06T15:16:00.000-07:00

Ayda, Suzzane....Sophia...........................man, how many places can get one woman's name wrong? Oh, no wait.....he's with identical triplets! :P

Still more images

2008-05-06T13:13:00.000-07:00

Sorry if some of these were on the thread before.

Pool pics here

more images thanks to Lindsay @ rwap

2008-05-06T13:05:00.000-07:00

big thanks to Lindsay for letting me post these from her :)

He wanted to be big in America and now he is enormous. Obese, even.

2008-05-06T09:58:00.000-07:00

(thanks to jlml@rwap)
Tony Parsons in the Daily Mirror: He wanted to be big in America and now he is enormous. Obese, even. Robbie Williams is pictured on a golf course, puffing on a fag, looking far older than his 34 years and far heavier than the rest of Take That put together. A spokesman says that Robbie is piling on the pounds because he is taking a break from showbiz, and because he is so happy. But no pop star can be truly happy when they are as fat as that. Robbie Williams has chucked in the towel. He has given up trying to be Justin Timberlake. He knows he will never crack America. And he makes Amy Winehouse look like she is in great shape.

Warning pretty intrusive pap shots (thanks to Lindsay at rwap)

2008-05-05T15:26:00.000-07:00

thanks to gata @ rwap

2008-05-04T22:27:00.000-07:00

May's Exxxxxplosion Vol.II

2008-05-04T19:35:00.000-07:00

May's Exxxxxplotion Vol.I

2008-05-04T10:35:00.000-07:00

Blobbie Williams: Portly Robbie enjoys a game of golf in LA

2008-05-02T22:49:00.000-07:00

By RICHARD SIMPSON - More by this author » Last updated at 00:01am on 3rd May 2008
Comments He used to be lean, mean and hungry for success. Now, it seems, he's just hungry.
That, at least, could be one explanation for Robbie Williams's growing girth.
The singer, who is taking a break from his career, was spotted practising golf at a range near his home in Los Angeles. He puffed on a cigarette as he concentrated on his best shot.

Williams, 34, disappeared from view at the end of 2006.
He now lives permanently in LA, preferring the sunshine and the relative anonymity he finds there.
The golf seems to be an attraction too. He was recently pictured playing a game with his girlfriend, Ayda Field, a 28-year-old actress.
"Robbie has made it clear he's put his showbiz life on hold," a friend said. He doesn't need to remain trim for any professional reason, so he's let himself go.
"He's also really happy with Ayda and being content can lead to weight gain."
Wearing a loose black t-shirt and white gloves, the 34-year-old looked bloated and unfit as he played a round of golf in Los Angeles with his old friend and former drummer actor Max Beesley.
Although changed by the weight he has put on, the ex-Take That member has shaved off his thick beard which made him almost unrecognisable lately.
Clean-shaven, it was clearly Robbie, albeit carrying a few more pounds than usual.
Known for his cheeky charm, Robbie has previously dated ex-All Saint Nicole Appleton and supermodel Rachel Hunter.

From Time Magazines 100 most influential people in 2008

2008-05-02T15:05:00.000-07:00

Bruce Springsteen
By Sean Penn
In the chain of our responses to the most influential art, or artists, of our day, there is a link for most of us, an image. One could describe it as a honey-drip, slow-motion picture. We see one hand passing a baton into another, the influences of the influential. And in that rite of passage, Bruce Springsteen is no exception. But perhaps more than any other living artist, his personal work and the personality of his singular voice conjure the smaller hand of his own youngest days. The hand of a young man whose shoe soles walked the sands and streets of the Jersey Shore, humming, dreaming, hiding. The shy thoughts, and the bold heart thumping ever harder, his hand drawn to enter into our picture to pass that baton to the guy we call the Boss.
Sense of self, and the way one shares it, is perhaps the most valuable and poetic gift in the arsenal of one's life and craft. In contemporary American music, Springsteen, 58, is its most enduring and robust giver. Whether in a song or an appearance on The Charlie Rose Show, you always get a sense of personal truth, humility and passion. A sense of humor, a sense of rock 'n' roll and a raconteurism once solely the domain of tribal chiefs. But chief comes from chieftain. And that's just not an American word. Boss? Now that comes from boss man, and if this guy ain't the boss...man, nobody is.
Penn is an actor and director. His most recent project was Into the Wild

George Clooney
George Clooney has an incredibly wide range, and he's prolific as hell. The reason he can make you believe he's an overalls-wearing harmonizing hillbilly during the Depression (in O Brother, Where Art Thou?) or a suave, silk-suited robber (in Ocean's Eleven, et al.) is that he plays it all so "south of snob and north of slob" that you forget he's acting.
He breathes believability into his roles because he's real where it's hardest for actors to be: in life. Somehow he manages to be cool, handsome and a standout while keeping that regular-guy thing going. He never looks like a pretty boy or a playboy, even though that is what he is by all tested and accepted movie-star standards.
How can you not like—or at least not resent—someone who uses his fame to harangue the world (and what passes for its leaders) about the responsibilities of a free press and the horrors of Darfur or even the closer-to-home and lesser agonies of the writers' strike?
I knew that George, 46, would be a big star years before you did. It was a great pleasure for the cast and crew of Roseanne to watch how he would craftily deliver lines, making them funny and sexy no matter how they read on the written page. He's a crack-up and a damn good sport. A favorite snack-table gossip-talk meet would start with "Did you hear what Clooney did/said?"
He can drink too much and still, while standing in a bar parking lot at 3 a.m., discuss the world with such passion and good sense that you actually stop imagining him nude and really listen. Simply as I can put it, George Clooney could run for President (and maybe should) and get my vote!
Comedienne Barr, now appearing in Las Vegas, blogs daily at roseanneworld.com

Barack Obama
By Deval Patrick

The first time I met Barack we had coffee together at a shop in downtown Chicago. He was in a small law firm, and I was at the Justice Department's civil rights division in the Clinton Administration. Like many who meet him, I hoped he would one day run for public office. You just want people of his caliber to lead.
When at last he decided to run for the Illinois Senate, he called to ask for my help, and I was eager to give it. "I'll contribute at the max," I pledged. "Deval," he said, "in Illinois there is no max." I said, "Brother, I'm sorry, there has to be a max!"
Barack, 46, has already changed American politics. We often hear about the size of the crowds he attracts, as a measure of the excitement about his candidacy. It's the variety of the crowd that is the real phenomenon: little kids who sit on the floor in front of the podium, and the 101-year-old gentleman who stood up from his wheelchair in Iowa and said, "I'm with him too." Farmers in overalls next to people in business suits. Every race, religion and creed. Every political party and no party at all.
You can feel their excitement about being in Barack's presence—and about being in the presence of one another. They glimpse for a minute what it might be like to find common cause across differences. That's how Barack has changed politics.
Patrick is governor of Massachusetts (added because I'm from Massachusetts and am leaning toward Barack)

May Hunk of the Month

2008-05-02T11:19:00.000-07:00

Click here to vote

May Hunk of the Month
Filed under: Hunk of the Month, Yummy, Fun Stuff — April 30, 2008 @ 11:36 pm
Vote for the hunkiest romantic hero! This month, our featured hero is Gerard Butler!!
At the end of the month, a name will be drawn from the comment on this hero blog and the winner will receive an entire bag of books & goodies, including Beth Andrews’ debut - NOT WITHOUT HER FAMILY.
Do you go for the historical Hero?

Or do you prefer a contemporary Hero?

Or is a paranormal Hero your kind of guy?

Which of the May Heroes is YOUR favorite?
Historical
Contemporary
Paranormal

On Emergence of New Celebrity Culture and Economics

2008-05-02T11:16:00.000-07:00

On Emergence of New Celebrity Culture and Economics
Posted May 1, 2008 Tagged 300, celebrity, celebrity culture, celerities, economics, film, Hollywood, studio era
There have always been individuals who are well exposed in the public domain but how and why they got there changes with time. Even though the types of celebrities changed, their relationship with our culture and economic system did not. It is on this premise that I began my search for the new definition of “celebrity” and means to achieve such status in the contemporary culture. There are three general stages in the creation of the “new celebrities.” First, the fall of the Star Era and change in Hollywood stars. Secondly, the emergence of a new generation of famous people who are successful in their respectable fields, and last but not least the rise of mass media and mass celebrity. There is an inherent connection between the rise of a new cast of celebrities and the economic forces behind them. The stardom of Hollywood provides us with a sufficient starting point to where it all began.
The history of Hollywood and film making goes back to about 100 years ago with the birth of first film The Great Train Robbery (1903). This new, experimental medium was promoted as an illusion, a magic of some sorts that are offered in places such as vaudeville theaters. However, the rise of stars such as Charlie Chaplin and Mary Pickford changed everything. Stars like such promoted the cinema around the world. This can be contributed to the fact that they give the audience some sort of guarantee. In other words, people believed that once a star is in a film, then it must be good. Their success is also associated with the public’s growing interest in the magic of cinematography, as well as the personal lives of its stars. It is because of this interest that people go to the movies as they have no other means of access to the stars. Corliss, a leading researcher in the history of film and economics, wrote that “By the 1930s, numerous studios enlisted A-listed stars to ensure stability.” (Corliss, 1) Studio owners realized that paying a premium on famous actors could greatly increase the box office income. This is because people enjoyed watching their favorite stars as if they give plot itself legitimacy. By the 1950s, the cinema scene is different again, with top talents like John Wayne, Burt Lancaster becoming their own producers. These individuals are celebrities by their own right, without studio support. This is really the Golden Age for Hollywood and its stars. (Corliss, 1) Countless people went to Hollywood in search of fame, even if it is short lived. Fast forward to today, the world changes again to a new era where A-listed stars no long guarantees box office hits while no name epics dominated the movie industry.
Take a quick look at the box office today, one would quickly realize that the old business model of putting up a star studded line up no longer guarantees a productions success. George Clooney, in the Good German, a classical spy thriller, earned 1.3 million in the box office. He might as well have just paid for it himself and have everyone watch it for free. After all, it is the trend of Hollywood stars to indulge themselves with personal film projects. This is much the same with his next release the Leatherheads, though there are no box office predictions yet. For another example, Brad Pitt in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, earned merely four million dollars. (Corliss, 1) This is not a figure that would please any producer.
On the other hand, Gerard Butler in 300, The epic of the year, earned $211 million in box office alone. That is not counting the upcoming DVD release, the merchandise, and the fan fare. He was not known for anything in particular except couple minor roles in the beginning of 2000s. For another example Shia LaBeouf, the new comer, became the main character in the special effect filled epic about robots-Transformers. The movie is not about the characters and their stories, but rather about the visuals and explosions. Last but not least, Tobey Maguire, in the third installment of the Spider-Man movie, earned $337 million at the box office. That is a whole lot of cash if you add all three movies together. Again it is not counting the DVDs, the T-shirts, and all the licensed products. Compares to the older studio era, this is already a drastically different business model. Stability of box office income can no longer be guaranteed so the risk is balanced with other means. In the case of 300, it is lower paying actors, great market campaign, and global sale in film related merchandise. Of course such a claim is not fault proof. Frame this section a bit more .
As I am writing this, I feel there is a counter argument to the point I just made. When the non-stars became center of a Hollywood hit, they become a “star.” Gerard Butler is going to be in two movies this year and at least two more next year. Compare to his five in total in the past six year that is definably a much welcomed change. However, the star in his case is very much different compare to the stars of the past. The old studios made movies that are tailored to the actors and the film is often about how great of the star is. In Gerard Butler’s case, it is more about the Spartans in 300 than who “Gerard Butler” is. One might even argue that the casting of a well known actor would bring too much character into the film, when the image should be built on a blank slate. For another example, Shia LaBeouf’s role could not have been carried out with tons of CGI effects. This is vital as part of the argument because the focus of the movie is on the robots, not the characters. Without it, Transformers would have fallen into the typical high school romance and below average at best. I personally never quite understood why LaBeouf must carry the cube to the helicopter for extraction when obviously a helicopter is vulnerable to a flying evil Decepticon. In fact I am not too sure if he was needed at all except to provide some “human element” to a robotic epic. Now, it is not to say that human element is not needed for a huge CGI production like the Transformers, however my argument here is that it wouldn’t have mattered if LaBeouf played the part of not. Another actor could have worked just as well given the same amount of acting experience, since the the image of LaBeouf’s character does not benefit from how LaBeouf is as a actor. Certainly not to the same degree as the old days. Just to drive the point home, John Wayne is THE cowboy. He could dress up in a Armani tux, stand in the middle of anystreet in LA and still communicate his distinct film character. This is a quality very much lost in most recent film stars.
Another profound reason for the falling of stars is the rise of new media such as television. Perhaps it is appropriate to go back to time where studios signed big stars. There were two kinds of studio owners. On the East coast, the studios tried to hide the private lives of the stars from the newspaper. When the actors are on the screen, they represent their character and to certain extend their studio employers. However, the West Coast, or Hollywood, took a different approach. They focused on giving the stars a private life. Even though sometimes these lives are fabricated and tossed to the reporters, it none the less satisfied people’s curiosity of the private lives of the stars. It is more then apparent that such strategy guaranteed the success of Hollywood, and more importantly underlined how the system of film industry functions. On another hand, some things have changed since then due to several reasons. First of all, the rise of Internet took out the necessity of going to the movies. One doesn’t have to go very far to become acquainted with the daily lives of their favorite stars. Secondly, people’s interest shifted heavily towards the “real” lives of the stars rather then the fabricated illusions on screen. It became in a sense irrelevant how great an actor of actress is on screen, but rather how good they are at generating interesting stories in their real lives. Though true movie stars are fading but interested in the lives of the famous people in blossoming. However they have a new name, called celebrities.
Celebrity, the demigods of our society, are by no means a recent concept. However the rise of mass media such as television had given rise to public figures such as Michael Jordan and many others in the 80s and 90s. They are a new generation of famous people who did not rely on film as a medium to establish their image with the public. However, they did gain public attention through their talent in many fields. For example, Deborah Jermyn has commented that, in the pages of contemporary celebrity magazines:
The hierarchy once headed by cinematic stars has apparently shifted as glamorous names from film, TV and other arenas feature alongside one another as equal objects of desire and public interest. (Jermyn 70)
The Michael Jordan phenomenon, as many may call it, is a sign of things to follow. Nike, like the studio owners of old Hollywood, elevated Jordan to the level of god, and racked in profits by the billions. Sports superstars have always enjoyed their fair share of public attention along the side of the movie stars, but never to the degree observed in recent decades. This is because no matter how famous a sports star might have been, their image did not travel beyond the stadium. In contrast, during the age of mass media the images of famous people are marketable products that increased the sale of anything associated with it. Corporate endorsement pushed the idea of celebrity to a new realm because they are the once who has the financial means to put people like Michael Jordan under the Television spotlight. It is debatable if Jordan’s shoes really made him jump higher, but the marketing strategy certainly paid off. According to David Marshall,
[a] celebrity is a public individual who participates openly as a marketable commodity serves as a powerful type of legitimating of the political economic model of exchanges and values. (Marshall, 120)
While the Hollywood stars sold movies, the new celebrities sold just about anything with their name on them.
This point is further illustrated by the countless magazines such as US weekly, People etc, all with a strong focus on what the celebrities are doing with their lives, their fashion sense, and their pregnancy. There are considerable amount of money to be made in this capitalistic business of star watching. Living in Los Angeles, one can not help but to see paparazzi with their cameras patrolling Rodeo Drive. It pays to broadcast the private lives of the celebrity because it is simply what people are interested in. some argue that while England has their royal family to admire, the Americans have the celebrities to worship.
Worship, I believe is an important word here.Nice move. It is vital in the sense that the famous people are idolized to the extremes. They serve as images for the mindless consumption of the public. There are several reasons for this. Celebrities provide us with entertainment. They provide us mortals with things to gossip about around the clock. They give us something to focus on in what is otherwise an uneventful work day. It is all around us. Today’s headline on US magazine.com reads, “Jamie Lynn Spears Relaxes after Birthday.” (And I am supposed to convince you that those are the kind of headlines that make money.) Under related topics it reads,
Jamie Lynn Spears Spends 17th Birthday Without Family
Jamie Lynn Turns 17!
Jamie Lynn Spears Hides Growing Bump Under Hoodie
Jamie Lynn Spears Wears “Rumors Are True” T-Shirt
Cousin Confirms Jamie Lynn Spears Is Engaged (Merrit 1)
For many of you who do not know who Lynn Spears is, she is the sister of Brittney Spears who recently got pregnant at the age of sixteen. Reportedly her mother sold the story to a magazine for one millions dollars. And now Jamie Lynn shares the spotlight with her sister as the focus of popular culture. The fact that such news could be sold for one millions dollars is not a sign of inflation, but evidences for the lucrative businesses that parasite around the celebrities. According to Neal Gabler, celebrity attracts so much attentions because we, the people, want to read about their stories. He made an important distinction between famous people, such as Dick Cheney, and a celebrity, such as Brad Pitt.
There are no paparazzi elbowing one another aside to snap Cheney’s picture, no swooning Cheney fans crying out, “Dick, Dick,” most of all no Cheney stories filling the tabloids. (Gabler, 4)
Thus a celebrity is created through their ability to generate interesting narrative stories for the media to publish, and for the public to indulge on. There is a direct relationship between the amount of public attention they receive and their news worthiness. And there is an inverse relationship of the newsworthiness of an individual and the importance of the news event. (If you can call it news). The more famous you are, the less you have to do. In other words, all Brittney Spears have to do is to get a cup of coffee to be on the headlines of any tabloid magazine. However even this role of thumbs changed in the new age of mass produced celebrities. Brittney had many platinum hits and a Pepsi Commercial while the new emerging class of famous people had much less talent wise.
In the age of new media it is almost easy to become famous compared to the old days. For example, Gerard Butler, an otherwise unknown actor, now receives unbelievable amount of media attention. Such attention is not sourced from general consensus about his acting skills, but rather his role in 300. He is invited to many talk shows and movie screening, which arguably demands nothing to his acting talent, but certainly adds to his image as a celebrity. According to the prominent cultural historian Daniel Boorstin, “a celebrity is a person who is known for his well-knownness.” (Boorstin 25) This is more so then ever, because one does not have to look very hard to find such instances every where. Of course this example is more or less conventional because it is none the less linked to the stardom of Hollywood. There are many others who simply endow themselves with the news worthiness of a celebrity.
What does Paris Hilton, and Kim Kadashian share in common? They both released their sex tape to the public. While such an action might be condemned few decades ago, both ladies enjoyed a raise in their celebrity status. Paris Hilton, given the multi million dollar heiress of the Hilton fortune, acquired her own club, TV show, movie role (The Museum of Wax) and last but not least bill board 100 album. All of these began with a tape, one that instantly proliferated the Google search engine, the magazine stands, and Pay Per View sites. Kim Kadashian on the other hand fared equally as well. Her new show “keeping up with the Kadashians” was just released and she appeared in countless events as special guest of hostess. Perhaps being a celebrity is about sex appeal, or it is simple being rich and known. There are other famous people following the example of Hilton and Kadashian by releasing their sex-tapes. It’s almost as if one is willing to do whatever it takes to reach that paparazzi filled plateau. More importantly, our society accepts them, praises them, and to some degree wants to be just like them. I can not help but to notice that while Paris Hilton received considerable criticism a few years ago, Kim Kadashian achieved instant success. Going back the the early notion of “news worthiness” vs. media attention, a sex tape is the the golden stamp that elevates someone’s “news worthiness.” In addition, through the powerful medium of Internet (ahum), the content spreads like a wild fire that could not be contained. As an result, famous people who have released a sex tape in today’s society finds their fame multiplied exponentially.
The idea of celerity is a completely different concept compare to that of a “star.” There is something glamorous, and ever lasting in a “star.” Gregory Peck, Jimmy Stuart, Humphrey Bogart, and Grace Kelly commands authority in their name. These names meant something to many generations of movie goers. They represent the golden age of Hollywood. On the other hand, I can not help but to think that famous people like Jon Heder, the star of Napoleon Dynamite fades as quickly as he rises. Twenty years later, Kim Kadashian would not mean the same to the teenagers of the time. This of course is all rooted in the very nature of the concept celebrity. It suggests temporary fame. So what about the long tail of the internet?
While people have the idea that the famous people are different from us, that they are something of a different realm, it is rewarding to see their demise. Interestingly, the purpose behind US Weekly is to show famous people doing normal things just like one of us. There are comforts to know that no matter how wealthy, and famous someone is, he or she is still mortal and is subjected to the obstacles of life. Hollywood reporters give us exactly that. For every story about the rise of a new celebrity, there are five more stories about another celebrity’s downfall. The unfortunate events that revolves are Brittney Spears is an excellent example in how the media explores the tragedies of a famous person’s life. Ironically, being famous at a very young age, one could argue that it is the media empire that contributed to her rise, and now it is the same empire that is contributing to her destruction. It almost seems that we are addicted to see how vulnerable our “gods” are, and how they are susceptible to the cruelties of life. Besides the possibility of jealousy, some part of us want to know that no matter how wealthy, famous, and talented a person is, he or she are just like one of us. However, there is a greater desire to feel that we could be part of “them.”
The promise of being famous is the force behind the new age of celebrity culture. From Survivor to American Idol, no matter how different the concept of the show is, it is about ordinary people doing things on TV. Ordinary people in this case is like the stars, the sports figure, they help to sell the show as “reality TV.” American Idol is in its god knows how many season, and more and more TV shows is proliferating. While there is still the need for famous faces, the average person has better chance then ever to become famous in today’s world. This is certainly true in the Cinderella story of Sarah Larson, the current girlfriend of George Clooney. Sarah Larson, a Fear Factor winner who met Clooney four years ago, is now vacationing with “the last real movie star.” She is constantly in tabloids and news headlines due to her relationship with Clooney. Perhaps what shows such as American Idol offers is the idea that anyone can become famous, anyone can have their 15seconds of fame. And this is validated through the very fact that “ordinary celebrities” are on them. For another example, Youtube, with the tag line “Broadcast Yourself,” has already sent many to the road of fame. It’s as if in this day and age being ordinary is an essence to fame since the media can not get enough of how a regular guy became well known. Such a phenomenon could not have occurred without the media pushing the wheels.
First came the age of mass media that changed stardom forever. Then there was the rise of reality TV shows that feeds off people’s desire to be under the spotlights of the world stage. In Joshua Gamson’s words what is now in place is a system where “surface has overwhelmed substance, image has overtaken reality, and truth is submerged in a sea of irrelevance.” (Gamson 46) The values of life-style and consumption have pushed aside those things that really mattered. With celebrities as its vehicle, the economical forces of today’s America have pushed superficiality to a new extreme. Even though Hollywood’s glamour was carefully fabricated through the images of the stars, it never sold itself as the reality. Fame today on the other hand floats under the guise of reality television, game shows, contests and especially tabloid generated lives of celebrities.

Link from GodMummy Lindsay @ RWAP

2008-05-02T10:53:00.000-07:00

http://robbiewilliamsjourney.blogspot.com/2008/05/mms://a1236.v266758.c26675.g.vm.akamaistream.net/5/1236/26675/4817509a/1a1a1a9c09709e0263cc38b11e7fe85482e55482f762910770d439a8d7093969a1d031a1137ce81a4a7ab2/RobbieWilliams.wmv
should open in Real PLayer......comments welcome on this one.

Image and story thanks to Lindsay @ Rwap

2008-05-02T10:52:00.000-07:00

Robbie Williams shocks fans with dishevelled golfer appearance Friday, May 2, 2008

In the rough: Robbie Williams looks twice the man he used to be Below par and podgy - Robbie Williams looks more like Tiger Puds than Tiger Woods as he lumbers around the golf course. He has certainly let himself go since his heady days as a toned boyband pin-up. The singer was snapped playing golf with his best mate actor Max Beesley and looked twice the man he used to be. Robbie, who used to regularly flash his six pack in music videos and on stage, seems to have piled on the pounds since stepping out of the media spotlight. The singer used to love showing off his toned abs Instead of the snappy suits he used to don, Robbie tried to hide his weight with a large black t-shirt and navy blue tracksuit bottoms - and reportedly nearly hit a squirrel on the golf course. The singer recently took a break from his pop career to focus his time on investigating the existence of aliens. The former Take That-er has teamed up with British journalist Jon Ronson to work on a radio documentary about extraterrestrials. Robbie Williams and Jon Ronson Journey to the Other Side will be broadcast on Radio 4 next Tuesday (May 6).

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm What to do

2008-05-01T10:12:00.000-07:00

My IS subscription is up on 5/11...........should I renew? I have to figure out the current exchange.

Go oh - oh - oh - oh!!!

2008-05-01T08:26:00.000-07:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cathcuk/2434457555/

Article from NOW magazine thanks to Lindsay @ rwap

2008-04-30T15:40:00.000-07:00

Robbie Williams shuns spotlight

2008-04-30T10:04:00.000-07:00

Indo-Asian News Service

Wednesday, April 30, 2008: (London) :

British pop star Robbie Williams, who has put his showbiz life on hold, has gained a lot of weight.

Williams hasn't recorded any new material or toured in quite some time and has really put on some weight. Earlier in the year, he hinted that he would not put out any album this year and just might retire for good.

He said, "You won't be seeing a lot of me for a while. The more I'm away from public life, the more I like it."

According to a source, "Williams has made it clear he's put his showbiz life on hold. He doesn't need to remain trim for any professional reason, so he's let himself go. He's also really happy with Ayda Field and being content in that area can also lead to weight gain."

Williams has of late become obsessed with UFOs and believes they exist.

You ain't nothing but a round hog

2008-04-29T21:55:00.000-07:00

By PETE SAMSON, Deputy Bizarre EditorCARL STROUD and LUCY HAGAN
Published: Today

CHUNKY ROBBIE WILLIAMS is turning into a double of his hero ELVIS as he piles on the pounds during his showbiz retirement.

The troubled star, 34, revealed a bloated face and bulging paunch as he played golf with his family and actress girlfriend AYDA FIELD, 28, in California.
He is a devoted fan of the rock and roll legend, who died a portly junk food addict — he has “Elvis Grant Me Serenity” tattooed on a shoulder.
Now he is even starting to look like him.

Battling
Former Take That singer Robbie’s weight has yo-yoed throughout his career and he has battled drink and drugs.
See Robbie's weight yo-yoing, and more pics of the star with his girlfriend by clicking on the link below.

But he has never been further from the image that won him millions of female admirers.
The Los Angeles-based star recently told fans there would be no new album this year and has hinted at retiring for good.
A source revealed yesterday: “Robbie has made it clear he’s put his showbiz life on hold.
“He doesn’t need to remain trim for any professional reason, so he’s let himself go.

“He’s also really happy with Ayda and being content in that area can also lead to weight gain.”
Robbie now devotes his time to investigating aliens and UFOs — and is convinced they exist.
He recently revealed: “You won’t be seeing a lot of me for a while. The more I’m away from public life, the more I like it.”

Rotund Robbie Williams gains a few pounds... and a new girl

2008-04-29T21:51:00.000-07:00

Video: See a very chunky Robbie Williams pucker up with his girlfriend

2008-04-29T11:09:00.000-07:00

Video: See a very chunky Robbie Williams pucker up with his girlfriend
By Jody Thompson, Mirror.co.uk (Video: Splash News) 29/04/2008

click here and roll to bottom

(What's this?)He's always struggled with his weight - but now Robbie Williams seems to be spending his time off from being a rock star by eating. A lot.

The svelte star of old looks long gone in the video below as he sneaks a quick kiss with his girlfriend Ayda Field after a game of golf with family members in Studio City, California.

It looks like Robbie tried to make the kiss as quick as possible so no one would see. We're only surprised that Ayda could get her arms round him to get a snog.

Click below to see our sneak peek of the rather tubby former Take That star.

Robbie Williams To Team Up With Derren Brown

2008-04-29T11:03:00.001-07:00

According to The Daily Star, via NME.com, Robbie Williams has signed on to have Derren Brown give him a “mind reading” tutorial. We cannot find the article online but it may mean that we can expect Williams on the new season of Trick or Treat which is rumored to be celebrity heavy.

Posted by Editor on Monday, April 28th, 2008 at 5:43 pm

Robbie Williams To Team Up With Derren Brown

2008-04-29T11:03:00.000-07:00

Gerard Butler Rears His Ugly Truth

2008-04-28T22:14:00.000-07:00

thanks to justjared.com
Gerard Butler struts his sexy self onto the set of The Ugly Truth in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon.
Gerry, 38, arrived on the set with his pug, Lolita. Co-star and Grey’s Anatomy actress Katherine Heigl cruised around set with–what else–a cigarette in hand.
The Ugly Truth, out 2009, is about a romantically challenged morning show producer (Heigl) reluctantly embroiled in a series of outrageous tests by her chauvinistic correspondent (Butler) to prove his theories on relationships and help her find love. His clever ploys, however, lead to an unexpected result.

Image thanks toSue @ rwap

2008-04-28T14:40:00.000-07:00

Gerard Butler Shows Us What It's Like to Work with Katherine Heigl

2008-04-28T14:26:00.000-07:00

Gerard Butler made this face when reporters asked him what it's been like working with Katherine Heigl on the new rom-com, 'The Ugly Truth,' which is still in production in LA. Of course, I'm just kidding. He's probably reacting to a question about his love life, which has been the subject of quite a bit of speculation as of late. First, he was romantically linked to Cameron Diaz and now 'Dancing with the Stars' hoofer Cheryl Burke is flapping her jaws about their romantic (or not) encounters. Gerard needs a lady love who's not in the business. Someone who know how important discretion is. Someone like...me, perhaps? I'm just saying.

Miley Cyrus apologizes for sexy photos

2008-04-28T11:21:00.000-07:00

Okay, this is majorly off topic, but I've been watching this story come about for the past week or so. I would say that I'm shocked and suprised, but I'm not. She's 15 and a typical teenager. If she was just Billy Ray's daughter or that HM hadn't become the hit it has, this would be no big deal. I guess what bothers me is that my daughter idolizes Miley Cyrus.

Regarding the photos on the Internet, Cyrus said these were "silly,
inappropriate shots" and she was sorry if she had disappointed anyone.
"I appreciate all the support of my fans, and hope they understand that along the
way I am going to make mistakes and I am not perfect," she said.
"Most of all, I have let myself down. I will learn from my mistakes and trust my support team. My family and my faith will guide me through my life's journey."
Late last year, some candid photos of Cyrus frolicking with a female friend during a sleepover raised some eyebrows. She said at the time that there was "nothing
wrong" with those photos.
Cyrus rocketed to fame as "Hannah Montana" on the Disney Channel's TV show of the same name about a girl who leads a double life
as a teenager and singing sensation."Hannah Montana" ranks first among TV
series of U.S. cable television for children aged 6 to 14. Her concert tour last
year, "Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds" was a sensation,
sparking a 3D movie that topped the box office chart.
(Writing by Belinda
Goldsmith, Editing by Dean Goodman)

Robbie Williams: Through The Years

2008-04-28T11:16:00.000-07:00

Click here for a look at Robbie through the years from Capital radio

Heigl and Butler, Ugly on the Weekends

2008-04-27T18:27:00.000-07:00

While everybody else is working for the weekend (hey there, Loverboy fans), Gerard Butler and Katherine Heigl are working on the weekend.Yesterday, the hot co-stars were spotted filming their upcoming flick "The Ugly Truth." Even though they were seated within inches of each other in between takes, the two preferred to keep to their respective reading material than to chat with each other. And we completely understand this choice. It was (and is) blazing in Los Angeles. With Katherine and Gerard being incredibly hot regardless of the weather, any interaction between the two, added to the already uncomfortably warm temperature, could just make the heat situation get out of control.So, read away. And don't dare you speak, lest we find ourselves in a situation similar to this one.

2008-04-27T16:16:00.000-07:00

Soooo... here's the final proof that the beard has disappeared! (though, thanks to cali, we already knew, i found it kind of hard to envision it ) Seems like Ayda is rather enjoying the disappearance, too! thanks to luisa @ rwap (her comments above)

WAITING FOR ROBBIE NAKED

2008-04-27T13:38:00.000-07:00

OMG what happened to Danny Zucko? Where'd he go?

2008-04-26T20:45:00.000-07:00

Gillian McKeith: 'I can help Robbie'

2008-04-25T18:53:00.000-07:00

TV nutritionist Gillian McKeith has revealed that she wants to help Robbie Williams change his diet.In an interview with DS, the You Are What You Eat presenter said: "I'd like to get my hands on Robbie Williams. I have a lot of experience working with people who are probably a bit like him."McKeith admitted to being a fan of Williams but felt a change in his eating habits could do wonders for his career."I love his music so it would be nice to talk to him about that but he seems like someone I could really help in all kinds of ways. We all know that he had a drug problem and I've had quite a bit of success with addictions."

Gerard Butler Salutes the Youth

2008-04-25T18:52:00.000-07:00

Actor Gerard Butler attends The 23rd Annual “Salute to Youth” Benefit And Venetian Masquerade at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Thursday.
At the benefit, Gerard presented an award to honoree Ryan Kavanaugh.
Gerard has been rumored to be dating Dancing with the Stars‘ Cheryl Burke, but she shot down those rumors on Ryan Seacrest’s KIIS-FM morning show.
The 38-year-old actor can be seen this October in RocknRolla as One Two, a street-smart mobster who runs a real estate scam that makes millions and draws the attention of London’s criminal underworld.

more images here

Robbie Williams: Reluctant Sex Symbol

2008-04-25T18:48:00.000-07:00

These days, an artist has to be extraordinary and multi-talented to make their name known. One of the most remarkable contemporary musicians is Robbie Williams. His unique face, charismatic personality, and sweet but sexy music style have made him one of the highest earning UK solo musicians of all time.
As millions of fans around the world already know, Robbie Williams started his career as part of the sensational boy band Take That. In the early 1990s, the five talented members of Take That wowed the UK and the rest of the world. Robbie was set to become a giant among pop musicians even at that early stage of his career.
When Take That broke up in 1996, fans all over the globe were stunned. Fans in the UK, especially young girls, were prone to fits of crying and hysteria for weeks after the announcement. The group had been described as the biggest British music act since the Beatles, and their breakup was met with just as much shock and dismay as that of the Beatles.
Fans of Robbie Williams didn’t need to fret for long, though: he launched a solo career in 1996. His first successful solo single was a cover of George Michael’s “Freedom,” and reached the number two spot on the UK charts.
Unfortunately, a life in show business had a similar effect on Robbie to many artists before him. He began to struggle with drug and alcohol abuse, his weight climbed, and he was referred to in the media as unstable and depressed. Eventually Robbie entered rehab to get control of his problems and get his life in order.
Substance abuse and depression were not the only factors that made his solo career start off on a rocky path. After being in a band with four other members, Robbie struggled to find his own musical voice. Not long after the release of his first album, critics wrote his career off as finished for good.
Robbie Williams went on to prove that you can’t keep a good man down. Following his stay in rehab, his fortunes turned around. The release of his album’s fourth single, “Angels,” was met with acclaim all around the world. This song is still thought by many people to be the one that saved Robbie’s career.
On the heels of his first solo album’s success, Robbie released six more studio albums along with several live albums and special compilations. His popularity was and is concrete in the UK, with a fan base made up of both loyal Take That fans from the 1990s and new fans who weren’t around for the first leg of Robbie’s career.
This charming man is the heartthrob of many a teenage girl in the UK and Europe, but he has never found much success in the American market. Despite living in Los Angeles, Robbie’s attempts to make an impression on the United States have been much less successful than he had hoped. Don’t feel bad for Robbie, though: he has been quoted as saying that he enjoys the anonymity of living in LA, whereas in the UK he would never be allowed to walk down the street without being mobbed by fans.
Robbie’s current life and career continue to be as tumultuous and unpredictable as his early days. In early 2007, he underwent another stay in a rehab facility, this time for an anti-depressant addiction. He has been very open about his struggles with depression and has never denied that he has been treated for the condition.
Robbie Williams may be so popular because he refuses to fit into the mold of a typical pop star. He is at once wholesome and naughty; arrogant and insecure; outspoken and demure; sweet and sexy. His music often reflects his battles with the media and his surprise at being considered a sex symbol.
There’s no doubt that Robbie’s status as a legendary British musician has been secured. His success has been won through a lot of hard work and perseverance. What can you expect from Robbie in the future? If his career up to this point is any indication, we all know to expect the unexpected from this dynamic performer.

Lust Hurts

2008-04-23T22:50:00.000-07:00

Lust Hurts
Which of Cam Diaz's famous exes isn't faring too well in the gal department? Lindsay Lohan feels the pain of feeling no pain, and how's the possibility of marriage for Ellen and Portia lookin'? You'll just have to wait, babes! Sapphic love's delish, doncha know?
This! Is! Lame!
Just 'cause you’re treated like a VIP by all the trendy T-town clubs, it doesn’t mean all the gals and guys inside will gaze upon you as if you're royalty. Case in point: Gerard Butler and his bud were at the Tropicana Bar at the ritzy-butt Roosevelt Hotel in H'wood, enjoying a stud’s night out. Dude was dressed to the sorta-eights in black pants, ratty shoes more apropos for beers 'n' bowling and a fitted white Tee that would’ve been too pectoral-gazing even for Simon Cowell. G.B. also donned a scruffy five-o'clock job, a seriously messy mop of hair and bounced around the room, feelin' just a wee bit too pain-free. What a dreamboat, eh? Still pretty doable, though. 'Least he didn’t have that face he had in Phantom of the Opera, tho maybe a mask woulda helped cover up some of that blasted bedhead.
Ger-babe’s anticlassy antics continued when it appeared he was attempting to pick up two lovely ladies in the lounge. Sure, the guy’s a celeb, but his off-screen demeanor certainly has nothing on his onscreen persona. G.B. tried out some tried-and-trite classic pickup lines such as, “you must be an angel because you fell from heaven.” So say the pregagging gals present. Gosh, do some straight women actually like that stuff? I mean, isn’t that just the prick polar opposite (same diff, though) from the ol’, "OK, come over here and do me, bitch"? Just a thought. You het gals must let me in on that one.
Gerard did, however, make the women laugh uproariously. And no, not because they were hysterically swooning over the 300 thesp, but rather, because they were tragically embarrassed for him. Gerry laughed along, too, obviously not in on the joke at his expense—not to mention, the dude’s Scottish brogue was so thick it made it hard to understand half of what he was saying, besides the lame flirt parts. That’s simply tragic. You gotta work damn hard to make a sexy Scottish accent lose its appeal, especially with cocktail-consuming chicks dying to be hit on by anything remotely famous.
Gerard’s friend, tho, was every bit the witty hunk Ger-hon wasn’t, and the ladies would’ve gladly left in his company had Butler not eventually picked up on the girls’ interest in his less famous bud and left, taking his crushed pal along to sulk. We gotta wonder how G landed Cameron Diaz with an arsenal of antigame like that. Was it just the bod? Women are so shallow.

Gerard Butler Says No to Cameron Diaz and Cheryl Burke!

2008-04-23T22:47:00.000-07:00

Gerard Butler is Hollywood’s latest lothario, but his leading ladies, Cameron Diaz and Dancing With the Stars’ Cheryl Burke, aren’t having much luck holding down the sexy Spartan.
We were triple smiley-faced over rumors that Gerard and Cameron were a couple, but before we could even mash their names together TomKat-style, the two were already reported as split. To our horror, Gerard was suddenly love-linked to DWTS lifer Cheryl Burke, after the two were spotted kissing at an Us Weekly event at Beso restaurant in LA.
We’re sorry, who??...and what??...and why?! Trading in Cameron Diaz for Cheryl Burke? That one smells like a Pop Fiction to us.
Fortunately Gerard’s latest love connection might actually be false, with Burke denying the relationship on Ryan Seacrest’s KIIS-FM radio show. “He actually lives in my apartment building,” she explained of her connection to Gerard. “And we’ve been friends for, you know, a few months.” She claims the kisses were just friendship kisses, saying “Everyone says hello and goodbye and kisses each other. Don’t you Ryan?”
Hmm, kissing Gerard Butler just as a friend? That cover is even worse than Nick Zano’s paparazzi pizza box. Although we’ve got our fingers crossed that Gerard isn’t with Cheryl and will find his way back to our beloved Cameron (otherwise our desktop collage of the two will just go to waste!), we’re not convinced that there isn’t more to the Cheryl Burke story.
We’ll keep you updated on any developments between the two, but in the meantime – Gerardiaz? Camerutler? We’ll keep working on it.

DANCER RECONSIDERS BUTLER ROMANCE DENIAL

2008-04-23T22:46:00.000-07:00

DANCER RECONSIDERS BUTLER ROMANCE DENIAL

Print article

Refer to a friend Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)
2008-04-23 23:32:23 -
Professional dancer CHERYL BURKE has had second thoughts about denying a romance with 300 hunk GERARD BUTLER, revealing they may become an item in the future.Burke recently ruled out romance between her and the Scottish star, insisting they were just good neighbours who lived in the same Los Angeles apartment block.But now Burke, who recently split from actor Joey Lawrence's brother Matthew, admits she and Butler were set up on a blind date by her Dancing With The Stars partner Christian de la Fuente.The dancer reveals, "He (Fuente) introduced us, trying to be all matchmaker (and) we went to dinner one night." The dinner went well because Burke is now considering a second date: "Possibly, maybe in the future. I don't know!"

2008-04-20T23:07:00.000-07:00

We're on vaction here in Red Sox Nation. And believe it or not I'm off for the shores of Cape Cod until Wednesday. So check out RWAP or PureRobbie for any news..........
big **sshhmmaaaccckkksss** to you all
Kelly

The Sexiest Robbie....EVER!!!

2008-04-20T06:26:00.000-07:00

image thanks to LIndsay @ rwap

2008-04-19T22:21:00.000-07:00

2008-04-19T18:48:00.000-07:00

Ellis Taylor said...
Hi, Thanks for a highly enjoyable article. I was at the conference too. The Andrews are friends of mine and I can assure you that they, and the experiences they recount, are authentic. I have had similar incidents happen to me too and some of them have been at, and whilst travelling to, the Andrews' home.www.ellisctaylor.com/missingtime.htmlwww.ellisctaylor.com/doggeddays.htmlA pity you missed the Alagash guys, Jim and Charlie, (2 of the four artists) that is a wonderful story, and they are lovely guys too - come from Boston btw.p.s. I'm the geezer who took the photos of RW and Ann.Anyway cheers,Ellis
1:52 AM

I spent the whole day watching Robbie Williams videos

2008-04-19T17:48:00.000-07:00

I got stuck again and lost a lot of time watching movies and short videos on the Internet… Anyway, here’s one I liked.
Youtube description: “I’ve been having fun with the looks of Robbie Williams and the sound of Timbaland feat. danish band Nephew.
I know the lipsync is far from perfect, but practice makes perfect.. some [...]

Don’t miss the latest news!

2008-04-19T15:39:00.000-07:00

Get all the links to the latest Robbie Williams articles on my blog, I never miss an important news

Las Vegas SunOn December 18 2006, Robbie Williams played the last of 59 stadium shows in a row, announced he was going to spend Christmas at his home in Los Angeles, and then basically disappeared. [...]

I'm loving aliens instead (thanks to tinkerbell @ rwap)

2008-04-18T22:50:00.000-07:00

I'm loving aliens insteadRobbie Williams disappeared from view at the end of 2006. Since then, he has become obsessed with UFOs and extraterrestrials. To gather evidence, he and Jon Ronson headed deep into the Nevada desert
On December 18 2006, Robbie Williams played the last of 59 stadium shows in a row, announced he was going to spend Christmas at his home in Los Angeles, and then basically disappeared. He was hardly seen at all in 2007. He briefly checked into rehab. He spent quite a bit of time hiking and playing football (he owns a football pitch on Mulholland Drive). Then he stopped hiking and playing football. His record company, EMI, announced he had no plans to release an album in 2008. Today he unexpectedly calls me to ask if I want to go with him to the desert in Nevada to meet UFO abductees.
I've been spending so much time at home on the internet on sites like AboveTopSecret.com," he says. "I want to do something. I want to go out there and meet these people. I want to be a part of this. I want to do something other than sit in my bed and watch the news. And it starts with the UFO conference in Laughlin, Nevada, on Thursday. We can hear people's testimony about being abducted by aliens. There's an entire family of abductees going to be there, apparently."
I log on to the conference website. It's taking place at the quite down at heel-looking Aquarius hotel and casino. The conference slogan is Educating The World One Person At A Time, which makes it sound as if there won't be many people attending. The speakers will include Ann Andrews, from Lincolnshire, who claims her son Jason has had "disturbing experiences at the hands of many different alien species", and a surgeon, Dr Roger Leir, who claims he has extracted from patients 15 metallic implants that are not of earthly metal.
"I wonder if he'll bring the implants along," I say.
"So you can see with your own eyes whether they're earthly or not?" Robbie asks.
"Yes," I say.
"According to Jon," Robbie says.
He seems a bit disapproving of my scepticism. I tell him that my problem with spaceships is this: if they exist, why do they reveal themselves to the human race only in ambiguous ways? "I think maybe they're making mistakes," he replies. "I think the shield comes off by mistake and they were there all the time." He pauses. "I don't want to hear any debunking because I want to believe."
I fly to Los Angeles. When Robbie comes to his door, I hardly recognise him. He has grown a very bushy beard. He sees me scrutinising it, slightly agape, and says, "OK, I'm piecing it together now. I've grown a beard and I'm going to Nevada to speak to people about UFOs. I think I should shave so I don't look so mad."
Actually, I don't think his beard is a visual symbol of any kind of madness. This is just the first time in 18 years he has taken a break from work and is enjoying doing things he was never before allowed to do, which includes having a beard.
"Pop stars aren't allowed to have beards," he says. "Name me a pop star with a beard."
"Biffy Clyro," I say.
"I'm talking about pop stars," Robbie says.
We go to his TV room. His girlfriend, the actor Ayda Field, is in there, watching a UFO DVD. We all watch it. This isn't all he does nowadays - he has been writing songs and playing golf, too - but the paranormal has become a very big part of his life since he disappeared from public view.
Robbie first contacted me in 2005. He telephoned me out of the blue from a hotel in Blackpool where he was filming the video for Advertising Space. He said he liked a book I had written about conspiracy theorists and was thinking of spending a night in a haunted house.
"Do you know any?" he asked.
"I'll make some inquiries if you like," I said.
I spent a week sending emails: "Dear Lady X, I've read that, if the portrait in your drawing room is moved, a ghost is apparently disturbed and manifests itself. The pop star Robbie Williams would like to spend a night in a haunted house and so I wonder whether he and I can pay a private visit."
I expected not to hear back from anybody but, in fact, once I invoked Williams' name, owners of country piles started flinging their ghosts at me as if they were their debutante daughters.
"One of the guest bedrooms is definitely haunted by a young woman called Abigail who was starved to death by a monk in 1732," emailed one baroness. "Robbie is more than welcome to spend the night."
I was surprised to find how widespread the belief in ghosts was among the aristocracy. Every person I contacted responded instantly to say their houses were definitely haunted and Robbie was more than welcome to spend the night. But it never happened. He cancelled because of his workload; he had to fly around the world to promote his album, Intensive Care. But we kept in touch. He'd speak wistfully about some future day when he'd have less work on and could investigate the paranormal for real. And now that day has come.
Laughlin, Nevada, looks from the sky like a tiny, ugly Las Vegas, a cluster of crumbling themed casinos poking strangely out of an expanse of desert. We are travelling here in a private plane that Robbie has rented for the day. He has brought along Ayda and a lugubrious friend, Brandon. Being on a private plane is exciting. The flight attendant says Snoop Dogg often uses this plane and we can do anything we like. Robbie and his friends look at each other. The truth is, everyone is getting a bit older. Everyone here is nice and polite and quite genteel, and so, instead of doing "anything", we spend the journey eating breakfast rolls and talking about how exciting it is to be on a private plane.
"The toilet is amazing," I say.
"Am I allowed to stand as we land?" Brandon asks.
"We're on a private plane going to Nevada to hear abductees speak about their experiences," Robbie says. "That's ace."
We land. A car is waiting on the Tarmac to take us to the nearby Aquarius hotel. We take the escalator to the second floor, walk past the stalls selling Secret Space: What Is Nasa Hiding? DVDs, past a giant inflatable alien, and into the cavernous conference room where British speaker Ann Andrews has just begun her audiovisual presentation to an audience of 500.
I have to say, after all the anticipation, she seems a bit boring to me. She's recounting various tales of alien visitations in quite a dull voice. I half switch off and glance over at Robbie. He is engrossed. He is leaning forward, taking in every word, rapt. I decide to pay more attention so I can try to understand why.
Ann Andrews' life was quite ordinary, she says, until 1984, the year her son, Jason, was born. She flashes on to the screen a snapshot of a sweet little boy sitting in a field in Lincolnshire with a horse in the background.
"That's Jason," she says.
One day, when Jason was a toddler, Ann says she noticed he had a terrified look on his face. She asked what was wrong. He replied that aliens had appeared the night before at the foot of his bed and taken him to their spaceship, where they conducted tests on him. He said it was happening every night. As the weeks and months passed, Jason's story apparently never changed. When nobody was looking, aliens would come, float him up to a spaceship, and teach him the mysteries of the universe. They would teach him that he was placed on earth to become a psychic sage.
"We took him to a psychiatrist," Ann says. "We cried so much. We had him tested. But the tests all came back negative."
And then one day when Jason was 12, Ann says she made a very big decision. She decided to take the giant leap and believe her son. Every word. She has subsequently written a series of books about Jason including one called Jason, My Indigo Child: Raising A Multidimensional Star Child In A Changing World.
I lean over to Robbie.
"She believes Jason!" I whisper. "She believes it all! Isn't that amazing?"
"What's the other side of that, though?" Robbie whispers back. "It's either believe everything the boy is saying or remain steadfast to earthly beliefs and have a black sheep in the family. 'Oh, it's him again.' For her own sanity she has had to believe him." He pauses. "But for me, right now," he says, "everything she's saying is true."
Ann's audiovisual address ends with her projecting on to the screen behind her a series of extremely blurry photographs. From time to time, she says, Jason is summoned to the spaceship for some psychic brush-up training. When this happens, Ann tries to photograph the UFOs. But she has only a disposable camera and so the pictures always come out fuzzy and inconclusive.
It's time for the Q&A. Unexpectedly, Robbie's friend Brandon stands up and walks to the front. Brandon is a record producer and co-wrote some of the songs on Robbie's last album, Rudebox.
"I just wanted to ask, why don't you buy a better camera?" he says. A slight gasp reverberates around the hall. People don't usually ask cynical questions at UFO conferences.
"I'm absolutely useless at anything technological," Ann replies.
"Have you ever had any psychiatric evaluation or presented yourself for that?" Brandon asks. Robbie flinches and smiles.
"No, I haven't," Ann says. "I'd like to think I'm all there, but if I'm not, there are quite a few of us that have these experiences, so maybe we're all crazy!" She laughs, awkwardly.
"Thank you very much," Brandon says.
Robbie goes out for a cigarette. I tell Brandon I'm surprised Robbie brought him along after what he'd said about not wanting to hear any debunking.
"There's two sides to Rob in that respect, though, aren't there?" Brandon says. "There's the side that wants to go along with it, but there's also a very sarcastic, sceptical side." He pauses. "Which I'd like to think is the real side." Robbie comes back.
"My toes curled up the moment you walked towards the stage," he tells Brandon. "But I think questioning somebody's sanity when this is happening to them is perfectly acceptable. I question my own."
We're standing near the table where Ann is signing copies of her various books about Jason.
"She reminds me of my mother," Robbie says, glancing at her. "Mum was a tarot card reader. She'd have people round and read their palms. She'd talk about spirits and ghosts. On the shelf of books just outside her room, there'd be the books about the world's mysteries, elves, demons, witchcraft. I was so scared. I'd never talk to her about it. Instead, I just lived in fear of all of this stuff. Maybe that's why I want to investigate UFOs and ghosts and everything. So I can work out why I get scared at night." He pauses. "I'll go and say hello to her."
He approaches the table. "Hi, darling," he says, "I'm Rob. Can I buy a book from you? Will you sign it for me? How is Jason these days? Is he happy? Has he got many friends?"
"No," Ann says, "Jason doesn't have many friends at all. In fact, it's been awful, really. He's socially shunned."
"When did this social shunning begin?" Robbie asks. "What age?"
"I suppose it was when my first book about him came out," Ann replies, "when he was 14. He lost all his friends at school. Nobody wanted to know him. And, of course, word got around the small village where we live. It got very nasty."
"I can completely relate to that," Robbie says. "What is it he encounters from people?"
"In England, in particular, people are really spiteful," Ann says. "They ridicule him. They call out things from across the road like, 'Oi! Mental boy!' "
Robbie puts his hand on Ann's hand.
"Even if this was all made up, which I don't believe, by the way. Even if it was," Robbie says, "compassion should be shown anyway. Well, thank you." Robbie pays for the book and goes to leave.
"You know," says Ann, "you look very much like Robbie Williams." There's a silence. It's as if Robbie was having so much fun, he briefly forgot who he is.
"I am Robbie Williams," he says.
"Can I just say I'm a big fan of yours?" she says.
"Oh, bless you. Thanks, darling," he says. "And please send Jason my best. Maybe we can have a chat one day. In fact..." Robbie writes out his email address for Ann. "Tell him to drop me a line if he wants. It must have been a terrible time for you, and an awful time for him. It's just so sad to hear it happens. It's happened to me."
"Really?" Ann says.
"I think joining Take That was like leaving on a spaceship," Robbie says, "and coming back and all your friends going, 'He's weird now.'"
We queue for the lunch buffet at the restaurant.
"I'm glad I had a chance to sit down with her and talk to her, so I could see her eyes and read her," Robbie says. "She's a really beautiful woman."
"It's interesting that you identified with Jason," I say.
"But that's not what I want to talk about," Robbie says. "Because it's long-winded, and whingeing, and nobody wants to hear a whinger." He pauses. "But if I was doing your job I'd be asking that, because I'm asking the same question of myself, about why that nearly moved me to tears."
He signs a few autographs, and then a few more, and then everyone starts asking for his autograph, including one elderly American who says, "I don't know who you are but my daughter works for MTV and so she might." Word has obviously got around the conference that, in the absence of any aliens, the most interesting thing to have come down from the sky today is Robbie Williams. One conference organiser asks him if he'll consider being their official spokesperson.
"We need someone like you to spread the word and get the young people in," he says. Robbie seems quite attracted by the offer.
"This is possibly the most important thing ever to happen to the planet," he says. "It just amazes me that people aren't as interested as I am in this stuff."
There is so much commotion, we miss much of the next presentation and consequently never find out "what happened when four artists embarked in 1976 on what was expected to be a routine fishing trip".
This isn't the first time that Robbie's fame has hindered his forays into the paranormal world. A few years ago he invited the TV psychic Derek Acorah to his home for a psychic reading. A story subsequently appeared in the Sun under the headline, I Helped Robbie Williams Talk To His Dead Gran:
"Robbie invited me to his apartment in London. We chatted and he told me how much he loved the programme [Living TV's Most Haunted]. He said he had given Most Haunted DVDs to lots of friends, including Robert De Niro, Danny DeVito and Billy Crystal, and they were hooked. I was able to contact a couple of his loved ones, including his grandmother, whom he dearly loved. It was very emotional."
"The twat used my dead nan to sell his DVD!" Robbie told me, quite furiously, at the time. "Plus, I've never met Robert De Niro, Danny DeVito and Billy Crystal. I've never even met them!"
Robbie never spoke to Acorah again, but he persevered with psychics for a while. He met one he liked a lot more, but then one night over dinner the man told Robbie that he wasn't only a leading psychic, he was also "one of only eight people outside Japan ever to be awarded a samuraiship". He said if anything were to happen in Japan, he would have to drop his psychic career "and fly over there to protect the emperor". After dinner Robbie did a bit of research and discovered that nobody has been awarded a samuraiship since 1872 and that "samuraiship" isn't even a real word.
"Haven't all those bad experiences with psychics shaken your wider faith in the paranormal?"
"I suppose they have," he says. "I never watch psychic TV shows any more." He shrugs. "And I suppose it might happen with UFOs, too. And then I might be able to get on with my life."
But if that day ever comes, it's not going to be today, for at this moment an intriguing rumour reaches us. Apparently, a woman tells Ayda, a number of conference attendees spotted a battle between two giant reptilian beings in the desert outside the hotel the other night .
"Did anyone take any photographs of the battle?" Ayda asks her.
"No," she says, "but someone collected a tissue sample and gave it to Dr Roger Leir. He might show it to you, if you can find him."
Robbie says he'd recognise Dr Leir if he saw him. He has been a talking head on UFO documentaries Robbie has watched. And, sure enough, he spots him in the coffee shop adjacent to the casino. Robbie says he feels starstruck around UFO experts in the way other people feel starstruck around pop stars.
"Doctor," he says, "sorry, I'm Robbie. I saw you at the Conscious Life Expo. And I've seen you many times on the Discovery Channel."
"I've been a lot of places," Dr Leir growls.
"We've heard that you have a reptilian tissue sample here in the hotel," I say.
"Have you done any tests on it?" Robbie asks.
"I only got it yesterday," Dr Leir says.
"Can we see it?" I ask.
"Sure," he replies.
He takes us to his room. Dr Leir is the surgeon who claims to have extracted from patients 15 implants that are not of earthly metal. In the lift I ask if he has brought any of the implants to the hotel. He looks at me as if I'm an idiot.
"That would be absolutely ludicrous, unscientific and ridiculous," he barks. "I keep them locked away." We reach his bedroom.
"Where's the skin stored?" Robbie asks. There is a silence.
He produces it from his wardrobe. It is a tiny flake at the bottom of a jar. Robbie, Ayda and I crowd around and examine it.
"It could be a scale," I say. "It could be a reptilian scale - which is, of course, the hope - or it could be a little bit of a wing of a moth. Could it be a moth wing?"
"It could be a lot of things," Robbie says, cutting me off. "So, Dr Leir, this was given to you last night. Are you excited about what it may be?"
"In a word," Dr Leir replies, "no."
"Oh," Robbie says.
"It could be a piece of nothing," snaps Dr Leir. "I was recently sent an object that was surgically removed from an abductee. I put it under the electron microscope. It looked like an organic compound, so we went to the next level. We did a test that uses infrared spectroscopy. Long story short, it was a piece of wood."
"Ah," says Robbie, a bit disappointed.
"So I just spent $25,000 to look at a piece of wood," Dr Leir says. "You ask me if I get excited? No."
We fall into a slightly depressed silence.
"Do you worry that the aliens might want their stuff back?" Robbie asks, hopefully. "Do you get scared that they may want to come and get their transmitters back?"
"Well, if they want them back," Dr Leir says, "they certainly have an advanced technology over what we have. They could just take them."
And so ends our day at the conference. Robbie buys 15 UFO DVDs and we catch the plane back to Los Angeles. He puts the pile on the table in his TV room. They have titles such as UFO Space Anomalies: 1999-2006. I ask if he's really going to watch them all. He nods.
"I used to read the Sun, the Mirror, the Mail all the time," he says. "Eventually I had to stop looking because I'd find things that would upset me, whether it would be about me or about somebody else. So I had to fill that void. And that void has been filled with this stuff."
I think it's healthy that he doesn't look himself up in the papers any more. That week alone it had been falsely reported in the News Of The World that he had been dumped by a "Norwegian beauty" called Natassia Scarlet Malthe, and falsely reported in the Daily Star that he had been having secret face-to-face meetings with "mental conspiracy theorist David Icke" (they've never met). But the world he's obsessed with now - the UFO world - has its many liars, too.
"It's surely out of the frying pan and into the fire, liar-wise," I say.
Robbie nods. He says he knows that there is a chance it's all nonsense. "But even if it is all made up," he says, "it's better made-up stuff than what the tabloids are writing. It's more interesting. To me, anyway."
"And it isn't about you."
"Yes," Robbie says.
I leave him standing on his balcony with Ayda, and he does seem happy, gazing up at the sky, even if there's nothing paranormal up there.
"There's always this weird black circle," Ayda says. "You see that black patch over there? It's like dark fog."
"Yeah," Robbie says, "but that might be something as easily explained as light pollution." He pauses. "Right now I'm, 'You crazy American bitch! That's just light pollution!' But if we didn't have company, I'd be going, 'Let's stare at it for an hour and a half. Materialise! Materialise!' We'd be doing our materialise dance. But let's not do that while Jon's here. He'll think I'm weird." They carry on looking at the night sky.
"No," Robbie says, finally, "I don't think there's anything up there tonight."
· A radio documentary of their trip, Robbie Williams And Jon Ronson Journey To The Other Side, will be on Radio 4, May 6, at 6.30pm.

Last set of Egypt pics from the IS

2008-04-18T19:18:00.000-07:00

I didn't put up the Egypt ones...I mean the ones of the pyramids and stuff..sorry

'Back to You' undergoes casting changes

2008-04-18T15:26:00.000-07:00

The producers of the promising new comedy Back To You may be looking to reboot the sitcom now that it's back in originals on Fox. A source close to the production says that actress Ayda Field (pictured), who plays weather girl Montana Diaz Herrera, may leave the freshman laugher to make way for a new cast member. Herrera is expected to appear in at least one more episode before departing the comedy that stars Patricia Heaton and Kelsey Grammer as two anchors who work for a Pittsburgh TV station. Meanwhile, a Fox spokesman said the producers decided to "go in a different direction" by casting Lily Jackson (My Name is Earl) as 10-year-old Gracie Carr, the daughter of Kelly (Heaton) and Chuck (Grammer). Gracie was previously played by Laura Marano. Jackson made her first appearance in the April 16 episode. Back To You will wrap its first season on May 14.

I love youtube…

2008-04-18T13:39:00.000-07:00

…and I love this Robbie Williams video! Don’t you?
Youtube description: “Robbie Williams is the skate master on ice. However Scots skater Pam O’Connor was a body double on Robbie Williams video.
I must say that figure skating is my favorite sport since I was a child.
The highest achievement for a man and a woman is the [...]

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN’S KEYBOARD PLAYER DIES

2008-04-18T13:20:00.000-07:00

April 18, 2008
A longtime member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band died Thursday. Danny Federici died Thursday at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. He was 58. The keyboard player’s stylish work helped define the band’s sound on hits from “Hungry Heart” through “The Rising.” Federici had battled melanoma for three years. He had taken a leave of absence in November during the band’s current tour. He returned to play portions of a show in Indianapolis in March.

New video added!

2008-04-18T07:29:00.000-07:00

Watch this video with Robbie Williams and enjoy =)
Youtube description: “Presentación de Robbie Williams en Telefe, entrevista con Marley y mini recital el 9 de septiembre de 2006.”

Tags: Robbie Williams, video, youtube, celebrity, gossip, entertainment, tv

Cheap ebay items :-)

2008-04-17T18:21:00.000-07:00

If you are not yet a member on ebay you really MUST be, I know no other place like ebay to shop collectibles! Check out these ones for example:

LEGENDS CDG #83 KARAOKE - Robbie Williams Greatest Hits. Listed at $7.95
Robbie Williams Framed Film Cell, Photo, Mini Poster. Listed at $19.99
Robbie Williams - Intensive Care 2005 [...]

Only for your eyes…

2008-04-17T13:36:00.000-07:00

OK I don’t want you to be bored with a lot of text of this blog, so I will continue to post Robbie Williams pictures as often as I can. I hope you enjoy it

Tags: Robbie Williams, pictures, celebrity, gossip, entertainment, tv

I’ve been browsing youtube again

2008-04-16T20:03:00.000-07:00

Watch this video that I found today and why not leave a comment to tell me what you think about it?
Youtube description: “Clip de Robbie Williams : Tripping”

Tags: Robbie Williams, video, youtube, celebrity, gossip, entertainment, tv

Do the journalists like Robbie Williams?

2008-04-16T07:05:00.000-07:00

Sometimes they write nice things, sometimes not… Check out these recent articles I found on the web.

Robbie investigates UFOsRobbie Williams is to turn radio DJ next month and host a show about aliens.=> Found on Yahoo! Launch UK & Ireland
Robbie Williams - Williams Records Ufo DocumentarySinger ROBBIE WILLIAMS has been recruited to present a radio [...]

New Robbie Williams videos

2008-04-15T19:14:00.000-07:00

I found this video on youtube today, and of course wanted to share it with you
Youtube description: “Robbie Williams Leeds p6″

Tags: Robbie Williams, video, youtube, celebrity, gossip, entertainment, tv

We’d Be Smiling Like We Were Eating Rainbows Too, If…

2008-04-15T13:08:00.000-07:00

If we were Josh Kelley, we'd be a little worried!
The musician's new bride, Katherine Heigl, was seen with a shit-eating grin on her face while joking in between takes with one of the hottest men out there, Gerard Butler, on Monday.
The pair are working on a new film together, The Ugly Truth, in Los Angeles and it's so nice to see Katherine NOT smoking!
[Image via Pacific Coast News Online.]

Gerard Butler is a Potty Mouth — Literally!

2008-04-15T10:07:00.000-07:00

Gerard Butler is a Potty Mouth — Literally! (thanks to justjared.com)
Mon, 14 April 2008

Gerard Butler takes a leak in the on-set porta-potty during a film break in Pasadena, Calif. on Monday afternoon.
Gerry, 38, is filming The Ugly Truth with Grey’s Anatomy actress Katherine Heigl, who was seen squatting and smoking as a chimney (as usual).
The Ugly Truth is about a romantically challenged morning show producer (Heigl) reluctantly embroiled in a series of outrageous tests by her chauvinistic correspondent (Butler) to prove his theories on relationships and help her find love. His clever ploys, however, lead to an unexpected result.More Here! »

More Robbie Williams images for you, my readers :-)

2008-04-15T03:07:00.000-07:00

Check them out. Pretty cool, don’t you think?

Tags: Robbie Williams, pictures, celebrity, gossip, entertainment, tv

What do the journalists say?

2008-04-14T15:55:00.000-07:00

Today I’m too lazy to write something myself :p But here are some links to other articles about Robbie Williams that I think you will like!

Robbie Williams turns radio presenterRobbie Williams will present a radio documentary about UFOs. Williams has been paired up with BBC broadcaster Jon Ronson to record the 30-minute feature, in which [...]

Who's Hottest? Gerard vs. Keanu vs. David

2008-04-14T13:21:00.000-07:00

click here to vote on team
Who's Hottest? Gerard vs. Keanu vs. David
Fri, 04/11/2008 - 11:24pm by Monty, Rudy, Lucy, Bailey with help from nikkih
men who, in my opinion, don't get nearly enough play here on Sugar.
Gerard Butler vs. Keanu Reeves vs. David Duchovny
What can I say? Keanu. He had me at.....whoa.Sure, he might be a little scruffy and unkempt during his downtime, but you gotta admit, he cleans up nice.And David, he's got that geeky/sexy thing going on from X-Files, plus he's got a sly sense of humor that I really dig.Okay, so here we go.The truth is out there, are you ready?Excellent!

MICHELLE GAYLE TELLS ALL IN NEW BOOK

2008-04-14T13:10:00.000-07:00

REJECTED Eurovision hopeful Michelle Gayle is to release a new book which she claims will blow the lid on the shocking goings-on in the music industry.
The former EastEnders actress and singer, who lost out to Andy Abraham as the UK’s entry in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, believes readers will be “shocked” when her novel Comeback hits the shelves.“It shows how some people in the music industry manipulate artists and the public,” insists Michelle, 37, who enjoyed seven UK top 30 singles in the 1990s. “You don’t have to make up outlandish stories as the real ones are much better.“I’ve seen artists protest because a Ford Galaxy has been sent to pick them up and they expect a Mercedes, refuse to fly unless it’s first class, check out of hotels because they don’t like the carpet, insist everyone calls them ‘Miss’ etc. If that’s their reality, they’re in trouble.”She adds: “There’s a whole side to how the industry works that I don’t think people understand. That’s why they get confused when they see Robbie Williams so unhappy or Britney Spears going nuts. I know exactly why it happens and how easily it happens.”Surely you’re not really comparing your own comparatively modest career to theirs, Michelle?

I can tell

2008-04-14T12:32:00.000-07:00

I added David Beckham because this pic made me go oh my!

It's going to be another of those amazingly boring weeks where all the news will be about Robbie and the aliens[img]http://smilies.vidahost.com/contrib/corky/corkysm65.gif[/img] or CamBut..............................I guess in lieu of new news I'll just put up a pic a day to keep my readers happy