Mike & Carrie Fisher married July 10th

Brides of today know one thing for sure: the entire day is about them. This is nothing new to celebrity brides either. This past month, the world has seen several women of celebrity caliber walk down the aisle and all in their own special way. This goes to show that being a modern bride is not about how much money you spend or how many people you invite; it all comes down to atmosphere and how you work with what you’ve got! Mix in a variety of touches here and there and sooner than later you can take your personal style and march down the aisle like Carrie Underwood, Emily Blunt and Lala Vasquez.

Each bride spent their days different but the most recent issue of People Magazine lays it all out for us so that we may get an insight to how each bride spent their magical day. The star-studded events would not be complete without the A-List guests that attended in all parts of the globe. Carrie Underwood spent her day in Georgia, Emily Blunt in beautiful Italy and Lala strutted down the aisle in the city that never sleeps, Manhattan. While many women and men may scour the pages of People and magazines of the like to get inside scoop on these special days, no one should overlook the great tips that they can steal from each page as well!

The magazine’s focus truly acquires the taste of the modern bride in every contemporary woman out there by displaying a six-page layout of Mike and Carrie Fisher’s wedding and honeymoon. While Carrie has decided to keep Underwood as a stage name, she and Mike are officially Mr. and Mrs. Fisher. While this traditional aspect stayed in place, celebrities are not afraid to include and exclude any detail they so choose.

Hints that modern brides even on a budget can take up are Carrie’s simple ways to change traditional ideas. For example, Underwood decidedly did away with the fancy and pricey wedding cakes that glamorize weddings and had a fun cupcake wedding cake instead that rose above six tiers. In an additional fun twist, Underwood’s dog and best pal, Ace, was present in his pink tux and gracefully walked down the aisle to be near Carrie on her special day.

Accents of pink and sparkle glitter could be seen all over the Georgia Plantation that was booked out for the entire day and even with Mike’s gentle protests, Carrie’s wedding planner, Jayne Bubis, states to People, “Carrie wanted it sparkly and pretty and pink.” A special nod at Mike Fisher, hockey player for the Ottawa Senators, was the painted hockey pucks that were used to bore the guests names for table seating.

These are glamourous and yet simple ways that modern brides can still have weddings their grandparents recognize without sacrificing the fashion-forward and modern gal inside. Websites like The Knot and Brides.com are great starting places to get the latest on ideas, tips and tricks for every type of bride or groom. Weddings may turn up to be A-list in the way of Hollywood but if you’re on a budget, take some accents and bits of your favorite stars’ days to create a vision of your own for much less!

Amanda Bynes

The news that actress Amanda Bynes was going to retire at age 24 was shocking and almost unbelievable. Good thing most of us didn’t believe it.

The actress announced July 23 via her Twitter page, “i’ve unretired.” This post comes almost a month after Bynes first hinted at stepping away from her acting career. Bynes previously posted comments on her Twitter page such as, “Being an actress isn’t as fun as it may seem,” and “If I don’t love something anymore I stop doing it.” Finally, Bynes tweeted about her early retirement. “I know 24 is a young age to retire but you heard it here first,” Bynes said in a Twitter post. “I’ve #retired.”

Like most people, I definitely thought Bynes was way too young to retire, and I was a little confused by it. She never really came out and said why she was retiring or what she hoped to do with her life after she gave up acting. Bynes is at the prime age in her life for a successful acting career. Why would she throw that all away?

I’m guessing, for whatever reason, Bynes herself realized it was a bad decision to quit acting now, especially when she has her movie Easy A ― which actually looks like a pretty good high school flick ― arriving in theaters September 17.

Bynes is a very talented comedic actress who I’ve enjoyed watching since I was a kid. I loved her characters on the Nickelodeon shows All That and The Amanda Show, like Ask Ashley and Judge Trudy. Bynes was even able to successfully move out into more “mature” roles on her own, like on her WB sitcom What I Like About You, which also starred Jennie Garth. After seeing her in films like She’s the Man and Hairspray, I’m looking forward to seeing Bynes in Easy A and just watching a fun movie, even if it’s not Oscar-worthy.

It could be possible Bynes originally said she wanted to retire because she didn’t find her previous comedic roles all that fulfilling. Whether she plans on tackling some dramas or other genres in the future doesn’t matter to me. Bynes makes me laugh in everything she does. I’m happy I will get the chance to see Bynes in more movies and TV shows for years to come. Or at least until she decides to retire again at 30.

Despicable Me, starring Steve Carell as the villain-turned-dad, Gru

Just what are those adorable little yellow things that make those cute chipmunk noises in the previews? Well…evil minions. And the main character? A malicious villain who adopts three orphan girls and tricks them into helping him steal the moon. You may not find any heroes in Pierre Coffin’s and Chris Renaut’s animated film, Despicable Me, but you’ll enjoy an original storyline, impressive visuals and a clever script that will keep you laughing from credits to credits.

Despicable Me, the number two movie in America (second only to Inception), is receiving praise from a number of powerful critics for its laugh out loud moments, impressive visuals and unique plot. The film’s bright, witty script is perhaps its best quality. Clever banter between the characters is enjoyable throughout.

The film’s visuals are also very pleasing, despite its overall dark appearance. The houses and characters, for instance, are intricate and eye-popping, and the villain versus villain fight and/or chase scenes are innovative and exciting.

Once past the initial, sinister storyline, the film becomes a grippingly heartwarming tale. Gru, who at first uses the young orphans for his own malevolent purposes, eventually warms up to the three girls and becomes a sort of father figure. The evil doer, who at first is only concerned with his next big heist, later spends his time in amusement parks and reading bedtime stories.

Besides the humor, visuals and plotline, critics’ admiration has also stemmed from the film’s enjoyable cast of voices. Steve Carell (Gru) endlessly entertains with his hysterical accent (French, I think?) and spot-on delivery of the main character’s dry humor. Russell Brand, known for his eccentric role in Get Him to the Greek, takes on his most conservative role yet as the elderly Dr. Nefario. Jason Segel (Forgetting Sarah Marshall and TV’s How I Met Your Mother), plays Vector, the villain of the villain. One of the movie’s truly wicked (and annoying) characters, Vector tries to out-evil Gru at every turn. Saturday Night Live cast member Kristen Wiig is successfully scary as the nasty orphanage secretary, Miss Hattie, and the always lovely Julie Andrews is almost unrecognizable as the voice of Gru’s eccentric mother.

Despite its title, there are not many despicable characters in the film. Instead, Gru leads a cast of likeable personalities, and, no matter how evil those yellow minions may be, you can’t help but want to give them a hug.

The new season of The Apprentice will, however, be different from any other season of the show so far. The formula may be the same: Gather a group of professionals from all across the country and put them to work in various tasks that test their skills. At the end, one person will score a job working for Trump. But this season promises to be the most intense and emotional yet, because for this group of contestants, people who have recently been laid off from their jobs due to the recession, the stakes are the highest they could possibly be. They need the job more than any other “apprentice” before them.

The promo for the 10^th season of The Apprentice was released on July 13, and from the looks of it, this will be the most heartrending season yet. In the promo, we meet a few of the contestants and hear them speak about losing their jobs. Some even tear up. With the economic crisis still upon us, the new Apprentice may be the most “real” reality show ever. And as we see contestants getting eliminated each week, it’s going to be painful for us to wonder what they’re going to do next, now that they have no job to return to.

Many reality competitions can change people’s lives. There’s no doubt that shows like American Idol, Project Runway and Survivor have changed their winners’ lives with their newfound fame and prize money. But winning the upcoming season of The Apprentice seems like it will mean more to the contestants than to those who have won any other reality show before. Like it says in the show’s promo, “There is nothing more American than a second chance,” and there is nothing more valuable than that, either.

Who says reality TV marked the decline of Western civilization as we know it? We may finally be able to see a reality show that’s more important than just entertainment.

The Apprentice premieres Sept. 16 on NBC.

The BP oil spill in the Gulf has threatened 400 species of wildlife, including 30 species of birds

The BP oil spill in the Gulf Coast has been the source of much frustration for 97 days now. At this point it seems difficult to rely on the government to alleviate the blackening situation. So, a number of celebrities are joining forces with the non-partisan group, Women of the Storm, to take action against this disaster. Restore the Gulf is their relief campaign created to help quench the effects of the now infamous oil spill.

Women of the Storm, an association of Louisiana women affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, have recruited a number of famous personalities for their cause. In an effort to gain signatures for their petition, the group produced a video message entitled, “Be the One,” to encourage viewers to help restore the Gulf Coast.

The video features stars such as Sandra Bullock, James Carville, John Goodman, Blake Lively, Peyton and Eli Manning, Alfre Woodard, Lenny Kravitz, Dave Matthews and Emeril Lagasse. In the commercial, they urge viewers to sign an online pledge which Women of the Storm will take to Congress in hopes that national leaders will realize the essential funding America needs to restore the Gulf. By presenting this appeal in Washington, the Women hope to achieve long-term funding for the Gulf’s restoration.

“Be the One” brings to light just how important the Gulf Coast is to our nation. For instance, as stressed by the celebrities, the protection of domestic energy, shipping, wetlands and countless sea life all depend on the Gulf’s well-being. By signing this petition, you make a profound pledge posted on its Web site. It reads, “I demand that a plan to restore America’s Gulf be fully funded and implemented for me and future generations.”

With almost 94,000 signatures as of Saturday morning, Women of the Storm are hoping to reach one million. To make your voice heard for sea turtles, dolphins, national security and many other things threatened by the BP oil spill, go to RestoretheGulf.com to sign the petition.

Denzel Washington accepts the Tony for Best Lead Actor in a Play

Nowadays, acting on stage has become an increasingly popular fad among celebrities, something which was proven at last night’s Oscars, er, Tony Awards.  As movie star after movie star was called on stage, it was easy to forget that the show was a recognition of Broadway.

Host Sean Hayes opened the 64^th annual Tony celebration with his impressive piano playing, accompanied by the stars of Broadway’s Million Dollar Quartet. He was later joined by his Promises, Promises co-star Kristin Chenoweth who sang a number from their hit play ans he provided the music on the baby grand. Hayes continued to entertain the audience throughout the night with his infectious sense of humor, especially when he dressed up as different characters such as Annie, Billy Elliot, and even Spiderman. Other entertaining moments included performances from “Glee” stars Matthew Morrison and Lea Michele. Morrison sang and danced to a number from Gypsy, while Michele sang a show stopping rendition of “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” which she also performed on the Fox show. Morrison, a former Broadway star, earned a Tony nomination for his role as Fabricio Nacarelli in Adam Guettell’s The Light in the Piazza. Michele also started her career in the theater and starred in Spring Awakening, a play which won the Tony for Best Musical in 2007. This year, the title was given to Memphis, while Red won the award for Best Play.

Although the Tony’s are meant to celebrate Broadway actors, at every turn it seemed like A-list movie stars were taking awards away from more seasoned theater performers. Hollywood celebrities such as Denzel Washington, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Scarlett Johanssen were all winners. Academy Award Winner Denzel Washington won the Tony for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play for his dramatic performance in August Wilson’s Fences. Washington’s co star, Viola Davis, took home the award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play. Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones won took home a high honor, winning Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical in A Little Night Music. Johanssen picked up a Tony and was named the Best Featured Actress in a Play for her controversial role in A View From the Bridge, in which she becomes the object of her uncle’s (actor Liev Schreiber’s) unhealthy obsession.

Movie stars acting both on camera and on stage is no new phenomenon. In past years, multitalented actors and actresses such as Julie Andrews, Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick and Antonio Banderas, to name a few, have all succeeded in both. In 2003, for instance, Banderas  hung up his Zorro mask to impress theater audiences with his performance as the womanizing Guido Contini in Nine. Another notable performance came from Australian actor Hugh Jackman. Although he is most known for his roles as Wolverine in the X-Men series, Jackman proved he was a superhero on stage as well in The Boy From Oz.

With all of the familiar faces at the Tony Awards, it appears that Broadway is becoming the new Hollywood.

ABC Family's "The Secret Life of the American Teenager"

Former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin was no stranger to headlines in 2008, and not only because of her campaign. Palin’s oldest daughter, Bristol, caused quite a stir of her own with her unexpected pregnancy at the age of 17. Now, after the initial media backlash she faced, Bristol is ready to send a message of abstinence to other adolescents as she guest stars on an episode of the popular ABC Family series, “The Secret Life of the American Teenager.”

“Secret Life,” which premiered July 1, 2008, broke the record to become the highest rated debut on ABC Family. The show centers on the life and challenges of teenager Amy Jeurgens, a young woman who became pregnant before entering her freshman year of high school. Although many critics haven’t exactly praised the show, others have applauded it for being “real,” and the series remains popular with its female and teenage demographic.

Bristol Palin can certainly relate to “Secret Life’s” main character. But, the former’s young pregnancy wasn’t only publicized in high school; it was broadcast across America. The teenage Palin accepted a role on the series without looking for an acting career, but to send an important message. Palin believes “Secret Life’s” portrayal of teenage pregnancy is accurate, stating, “I think the show’s doing a great job of showing that teen pregnancy isn’t getting worse, and it doesn’t just affect the mother.” This was especially true of her own situation, in which her mother, her campaign, and a myriad of family and friends were affected by her early pregnancy. Whereas other famous teen mothers, such as Jamie Lynn Spears, were merely chastised in the news, Palin had the added guilt of possibly tainting her mother’s campaign. Growing past the hardships she faced, Palin is hoping she can teach her now 1-year-old son, Tripp, as well as other teenagers, about abstaining from premarital sex.

Airing July 5, the episode featuring Palin will show the main character speaking with the politician’s daughter at a band camp for teenage mothers. Palin’s character will be a fictionalized version of herself.

Contrary to the show’s title, it is obvious by witnessing the highly publicized pregnancy of Bristol Palin, that the lives of teenage mothers are anything but secret.

Andrew Garfield

Spider-Man is swinging back onto the big screen with a new movie, a new director, and a new face. Andrew Garfield, a 26-year-old actor from England, may not be as well-known as Tobey Maguire, but the young Brit is taking over as the web-spinning superhero.

Born in L.A., Garfield moved to England at the age of three and was raised in Surrey. He’s appeared in previous films such as The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus with Heath Ledger, Lions for Lambs with Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep, and is co-starring in the new Keira Knightley and Carey Mulligan film, Never Let Me Go. He also has a key role in The Social Network, an upcoming film about the founders of Facebook. Co-starring with Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Timberlake, Garfield will play Eduardo Saverin, one of the network’s three co-founders. Both soon-to-be-released films will hit theaters October 1.

Having acted alongside such well-known actors, Garfield is hoping his own name will become recognizable in Hollywood as he takes his turn as leading man. In his home country, Garfield won a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Best Actor award for his emotionally-charged role in a film about an ex-convict, Boy A. He is hoping to gain popularity in America as well with his first star opportunity.

Director Marc Webb, who is responsible for one of last year’s hit films, 500 Days of Summer, has high hopes for Garfield in his new leading role. Of the rising young actor, Webb states, “He has a rare combination of intelligence, wit and humanity. Mark my words, you will love Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker.” The latest Spidey franchise will feature a younger Parker and the movie will be set in high school.

The new Spider-Man cast and crew was assembled after former Director Sam Raimi and star Tobey Maguire opted out of the fourth installment due to scheduling issues. Garfield and crew start filming in December. The movie will be shot in 3-D and is set to hit theaters July 3, 2012. After the lackluster third film in the franchise, Maguire may be happy to pass on the tights to Garfield. He may be a bit more international, but he’s still our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

Glee is a top Emmy contender with 19 nominations, including Best Comedy

The nominations for the 62^nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were revealed July 8, but not without a bit of controversy over the year’s “snubbed” shows and actors.

Modern Family and Community stars Sofia Vergera and Joel McHale announced this year’s Emmy nominees, which proved to be both obvious and surprising. First to be revealed were the nominees for Outstanding Comedy Series. Among the contenders were Curb Your Enthusiasm, Glee, The Office, Nurse Jackie, 30 Rock and Modern Family. For Drama, Breaking Bad, Lost, True Blood, Mad Men, Dexter and The Good Wife received nods. The HBO World War II miniseries, The Pacific, and Fox’s Glee led the nominations with 24 and 19, respectively.

In the category of Lead Actor, a few usual suspects were named, including Alec Baldwin of 30 Rock, Tony Shalhoub of Monk and Steve Carell of The Office, who recently announced his departure from the NBC show at the end of next season. Facing his first Emmy nomination, Matthew Morrison was recognized for his role as the singing and dancing choir director, Will Schuester, on Glee. Another Matthew, Matthew Fox, received his first nod as well. Fox is nominated for his performance as the compelling Dr. Jack Shephard on Lost, which completed its six-year run this May.

Nomination surprises included the slighting of Patricia Heaton and her show, The Middle, Charlie Sheen for his character on Two and a Half Men, Courteney Cox for Cougar Town, and, although Vergara was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress for Modern Family, her fellow Emmy announcer, McHale, was overlooked for his role on Community. Kiefer Sutherland and 24 also failed to get nominated.

An additional shock came when David Letterman and his Late Show were absent from the list. Not only was he not recognized, but this was the first time since his first full season that Letterman was not in Emmy contention. Meanwhile, in another late night talk show controversy, The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien was acknowledged by the Academy of Arts and Sciences, but Jay Leno, who’s become O’Brien’s rival, was not. Leno responded jokingly, “Oh man. I guess Dave and I will be watching the Emmy’s at Oprah’s house this year,” clearly referencing the surprising Superbowl commercial he and Letterman appeared in together.

For a complete list of Emmy nominees, go to Emmys.com. Tune in to NBC August 29 as Jimmy Fallon hosts the 62nd Emmy Awards to see which primetime television stars and shows take home the golden trophies.

"Cake Boss" Buddy Valastro

Anyone with a sweet tooth will be happy to know that the TLC hit show, “Cake Boss,” has been given a spin-off series. This time, the boss, Buddy Valastro, will have some help in the kitchen as ten aspiring bakers vie for the chance to be his apprentice at his family-owned business, Carlo’s Bakery.

The bakery, stationed in Hoboken, New Jersey, is family-owned by his mother, four older sisters, brother-in-law and other relatives and is the setting  for “Cake Boss.” Valastro’s larger than life personality, along with the drama and humor that comes from supervising his family, has continued to attract roughly 2 million viewers per episode. New episodes of “Cake Boss” can be seen Monday nights at 9 on TLC.

For the untitled new reality show spinoff, Valastro will have more than just his family to manage. The head baker of Carlo’s will study ten contestants as they compete in an eight-episode series of tasks. High Noon entertainment is producing the show, which is still in its casting stages. To apply for the chance to be the “next great cake artist,” go to TLC.com and fill out a questionnaire. Filming begins in September and the spin-off will air in December.

For the competitors, having the opportunity to work with one of the most renowned bakers in America will be an unequaled privilege. Winning will just be icing on the cake.