City Belt

THE PEACH PIT: US WEEKLY, KING OF GOSSIP

By Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg

When I saw Us Weekly’s headline “Saint or Sinner” above a picture of Angelina Jolie, I felt like a heroin addict who couldn’t wait for her next fix. My subscription was coming in a few days; there was no need to shell out the money, I repeatedly told myself. Ultimately I soothed my cravings with Star magazine. But that’s like snacking on ice cream when you want crack. (Full disclosure: A grad school chum of mine works at Us Weekly. Holy shit. Is it just me or did that sound so classy?)

THE PEACH PIT: AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL

By Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg

 Sorry the Peach Pit’s been closed for renovations the last few weeks. It’s been wild. Brandon just came in and wanted his job back after only giving Nat, uh, no notice to take a job at the Beverly Hills Beach Club!

But back to the subject at hand – America’s Next Top Model, cycle 8.

Union-busting must do a body good, because Tyra is more like her cycle 1 or 2 self. If only the same could be said for the girls.

Last season Tyra paraded around like a more-narcissistic-than-usual drag queen. No matter the topic Tyra could make it about herself. But the rumors that Tyra wants to be the next Oprah “When will everyone see I’m a cult leader?” Winfrey must be true because Ms. Banks (ohh, la-de-dah, look at me! I work at The New York Times!) is adopting that down-to-earth every woman’s BFF style that Oprah does so well.

THE PEACH PIT: SARAH SILVERMAN IS MAGIC

By Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg

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I can’t remember why I didn’t like Sarah Silverman -- maybe it was because she embodies my boyfriend’s Chabad girl fetish a bit too well? But after watching her new Comedy Central show and her movie, Jesus is Magic, I could walk in on them doing some bar mitzvah role-playing and I’d still think she’s a dirty giggle festival of pussy/Jewish/Black/German car/Chinese/gay jokes that -- and this is the testament to her talent -- are actually funny without a taste of real venom.

THE PEACH PIT: A TALE OF TWO DOCUMENTARIES

An Inconvenient Truth and Who Killed the Electric Car? take different approaches to documenting environmental woes -- and placing blame.
By Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg

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So, I finally saw An Inconvenient Truth. I also recently watched Who Killed the Electric Car? -- I guess I’ve been on an enviro-doc kick lately. (Oh, didn’t catch that? Get with the lingo, gramps!) Plus, in early January we had shorts weather, so it just seemed appropriate.

Who Killed the Electric Car? was everything An Inconvenient Truth wasn’t. Who Killed? indicted big business, California leaders and the federal government – and it named names. It would happily make any GM executive squirm. (However, my favorite segments were definitely interviews with the electric car loving Mel Gibson! Oy! He loves electric cars! Who knew? I didn’t see that in the minutes of the last Jews Run the World Conference. Tova Gladbergsteingreen – I didn’t make you secretary to sit on your hands!)

THE PEACH PIT: GOLDEN GLOBES

By Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg

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So I have a dilemma: the Golden Globes are on tonight. Every year I tell myself not to watch but I always do. The middle-class girl in me always hopes merit will be recognized but it rarely, if ever, is.

It’s a night that pretends to reward talent but really just rewards the prettiest and often youngest women. I know what you’re probably thinking: It’s Hollywood! Duhburgerfriesketchupplease! (Smith, Shane; ©2006)

But what really bothers me is the legitimacy it seems to give actresses once they win. Like, Angelina Jolie isn’t just a globe-trotting, UN Goodwill Ambassador (shame on you, UN, shame!), baby-shopper, she’s a legitimate ack-tress. Jolie won a Golden Globe and Oscar for Girl, Interrupted. Nothing like the cliché of a troubled, beautiful lass to scream awards gold!

THE PEACH PIT: THE APPRENTICE: LA

Editors' note: It's a day of both high and low culture ... another new column being introduced today at City Belt is "The Peach Pit," which will focus on TV and DVDs. Again, enjoy.

By Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg

So Trump did it for ratings. I know that. 

For all you philistines, The Apprentice: LA premiered Sunday night. After several lackluster seasons Trump moved his disciples to LA and introduced a few twists. Some were welcome: Ivanka Trump is now a judge, alongside her dad – her best asset being her smug self-entitlement, as if her dad didn’t get her into Wharton (his alma mater), or secure her job (er, at Trump.) As my dad used to joke about Tori Spelling on 90210: “You know how she got the job? Her mom slept with the boss.” 

When I was little I was always relieved that my parents didn’t hold any high-powered positions to get me anywhere. Wouldn’t those kids always wonder – gee, do I deserve this? Well, at the age of 27 and after meeting many of those kids I’ve learned most carry a sense of entitlement -- without a sliver of self-consciousness.