One of the best sources for continual breaking news is Google News. The Web site has complete lists of every major newspaper plus countless blogs and magazines, organized by stories. In the past 48 hours, two stories have dominated the entertainment page of the site.
Britney Spears:
In case you haven't heard, the former Mousekeeter/pop star got married, had two kids, shaved her head, went to rehab and got divorced. Now she is trying to rebuild her image as a musician and artist, starting with opening the MTV Video Music Awards show Sunday night. Unfortunately, the performance was a complete disaster, from her sad attempts at lip-syncing to her own single "Gimme More" to the body-exposing outfit. Although we understand that sex sells, the glitter bra and black panties with high boots were not a complimenting choice for Ms. Spears.
Vanessa Hudgens:
Although most female college students don't like to admit it, almost all of them have seen/memorized/obsessed over High School Musical and its sequel. The made-for-TV movies are light fluff for a night in with the girls and we highly enjoy them. So it was depressing this week to see the female star of the movies be dragged through every major news outlet with headlines such as "Vanessa Hudgens Nude Photo Scandal: Second Set May Get Her Axed" and "Disney's High School Nudie Musical." Photos of the 18-year-old star started circulating on the Internet that showed her in various states of undress, as well as at least one nude photo. Most assumed someone bored at home Photoshopped the photos, but Vanessa's reps confirmed that they were the real deal. Rumors have been swirling about whether Disney and/or beau Zac Efron will drop her.
Perhaps by accident, all of the night-deskers are women. And though none of us claim to be feminists, it makes all of us sad to see women behave so badly. Debate amongst yourselves whether or not naked pictures supposedly meant for your boyfriend are a serious error in judgment when you're a high profile Disney star. But in a time when women should be leading the news with international issues, political debates and social changes, we have instead a pop princess whose past her prime and who has two kids yet still stumbles out of nightclubs without panties. It may be the merciless pressure of paparazzi and constant scrutiny that makes such stars crack, but it is still a crying shame.