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Donald Trump and Carrie Prejean - Source: Reuters -
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I have learnt never to be surprised by Americans' appetite for scandal.
All other things go out the window - the economy, recession, war in Iraq. When a scandal breaks there is nothing else on the radar.
This week it was Miss California Carrie Prejean under the microscope. When I woke on Wednesday morning, it seemed like the whole country was waiting with baited breath to find out one thing ... had Miss California let down the Miss American Pageant by breaking her contract and would she lose her crown?
I know! 'Really' I hear you say! But yes, really - it lead the late night news on Monday night and was all anyone was talking about on Tuesday and I must admit, it has turned into quite an interesting story.
Prejean's story is a tabloid dream. She has a strong religious stance, she critiqued gay marriage , lied about having breast augmentation (she did have surgery AND the pageant committee even paid for it) and last but not least - the straw that broke the camels back - the "semi-nude" photo scandal.
She didn't lose her crown , stood by her opposition to gay marriage and defended posing for topless photos.
Carrie Prejean is an overnight sensation.
She has been flooded with offers that will keep her fifteen minutes of fame ticking a little longer. Offers have come streaming in - her own reality show and of course the obligatory offer from playboy.
Scandals are a good gig in Hollywood and Carrie Prejean knows it - Just look what a little sex tape scandal did for Paris Hilton, spoiled heiress one day, pop culture icon the next. And (sadly) she doesn't look like she is going away anytime soon.
They're even trying to get fellow worldwide sensation, Susan Boyle in on the mix. The self confessed "never been kissed" singing star has been offered $US1 million by a los Angeles based TV company, (a very reputable one I imagine) to star in an adult movie, outraging everyone including the big O, Oprah!
As for Miss California, the jury's still out on how long she'll be around. Will she weather the storm and turn into the next Paris Hilton or will she go the way of poor old Monica Lewinsky.
Only time will tell but she could take some heart from the success of one Vanessa Williams, who lost her Miss USA crown in 1984 under a similar scandalous cloud and went on to be more fanous than pretty much every other beauty queen ... ever.
This week, tips.
What I have done recently and thoroughly enjoyed, wait for it, I
think the
Griffith Park observatory is a must see.
The view on a clear day is one of the best in town. They have just finished a complete refit of the inside and you'll recognise the location as it has appeared in everything from Seinfeld to James Deans' Rebel without a Cause.
And as far as music goes, loving the re-release of Pearl Jam's album Ten. The Redux is a re mastered version of the classic album and is part of a planned re-release of the rest of all of their albums, leading up to their 20th anniversary in 2011.
And go see Fan Boys, the tale of four friends on a mission to see the first screening of Star Wars: Episode One, doesn't sounds like much but take a look at this trailer.
