‘True Blood’ Recap: Everybody Hates Sookie

It’s not often we get an episode of True Blood in which every storyline touches Sookie’s lifeline in some way, shape, or form. Oh wait. That’s right. It happens all the time. This week, True Blood managed to keep the tradition alive while reminding us that Sookie is both the glue that hold the series together and the dynamite that blows its plots and relationships to smithereens.

And she starts out the episode by standing in the shrapnel shower of her latest big decision: Telling Alcide the truth about who killed Debbie. Lafayette storms out of Merlott’s, chastising her for confessing her guilt to Alcide. She swears Alcide won’t tell (but it’s obvious she’s not really sure that’s true) and that doing right is the only way to get right. Lafayette is livid, worried her passionate, irrational choice will get him locked up for Jesus’ death too. “You’re the f**king angel of death,” he says.

But it’s not just Lafayette. Tara, fresh off her revelation as a self-loathing vampire, is still furious with Sookie for making Pam turn her. When Bill visits Fangtasia and asks Tara about Sookie’s safety, Tara responds with a curt command for him to stop asking. Sookie will be fine. Someone will always protect her. But she makes sure to note that someone else always pays the price. And it’s true. Sookie is at the center (and is often the catalyst) for some of the biggest dramatic problems in Bon Temps. But Tara should step back for a second and remember the time her friendship was the one that caused the whole town to be turned into sex-crazed zombies when a Maenad came to town in Season 2.

Still, the Sookie hate continues. At Merlott’s Sookie experiences a similar level of contempt and curiosity to the time she took a shift after going public with (then) Vampire Bill. Her customers’ and coworkers’ thoughts invade her brain and everyone is thinking about how she had Tara changed into a vampire and whether or not it makes her a terrible person. Because she’s not already worried enough about that herself. She even goes to Jason’s to confess, since he’s the deputy, and he tells her they’re going to keep her out of jail. Of course when she confesses she turned Tara, Jason freaks out completely. Oh, Jason. You’ve always got your priorities straight.

At this point, Sookie is so wrought after the events of the day, confessing to Alcide, and being chewed out by Lafayette that with tears in her eyes she cries, “I ruin lives, Jason!” But does she? Or does she just draw such attention, what with her sweet blood and her ability to read minds, that she’s an unwilling magnet for trouble and those who are willing to protect her? It’s about time True Blood at least opens the door to that question (because we’ve been thinking it for four years) and it seems that Bill may be about to use that quality to his own tactical advantage. But more on that later.

Back at Merlott’s, Lafayette is still livid with Sookie even after she leaves and his dark magic, apparently left from when Marnie stole it from Jesus while she was in Lafayette’s body, comes out in creepy, kindergarten clay mask form and Lafayette (or the dark magic; we’re not quite sure who’s really responsible here) puts a spell on Sookie’s car. Later, when she hops in a drives home from Merlott’s, it begins to speed up and the brakes fail, so she bails right before the car crashes.

Convinced the crash is punishment for her status as a life-ruiner, Sookie walks home and pours herself a glass of every hard liquor known to man. Soon, she’s drunk and singing new vampire lyrics to Rupert Holmes’ “Escape” (yes, sight, the Piña Colada Song). Lafayette calls her; he found her car wrapped around a tree and he’s worried something happened to her. When she sings him the song (literally – she’s wasted, remember?) of what happened to her, Lafayette realizes he’s the one that did it. So that’s happening this season. Why can’t Lafayette just drop the magic and be his magical self so we can actually enjoy his character again? Why, True Blood, why?

Sookie drunkenly puts down the phone as Lafayette tries to do the right thing (like she taught him) and confess, but Alcide is at the door. He didn’t turn her in (because of course he didn’t, he’s a big ol’ lovable softy who just happens to be incredibly attractive, the vampire race’s greatest rival outside of humans, and a man with a raging case of Sookie love). He told Debbie’s parents she was dead, because he’s a good man and he knows they deserve closure. But, he tells them Marcus killed Debbie, got drunk and bragged about it, and Alcide killed him as retaliation. Of course, only the Debbie being dead part and the Alcide killing Marcus part are true, but let’s all take a moment to ooh and ahh over the werewolf who is not only sweet, selfless, heroic, and… okay, let’s just say it : hot. He’s got the cherry on top that he’s also incredibly clever and quick on his feet. Bill and Eric who? (Sorry shippers, but this new Sookie suitor is just so my speed. No disrespect.)

MJ ‘to give evidence in his own death case’!

Michael Jackson will seemingly give evidence from beyond his grave at his own death trial.

His personal doctor Conrad Murray, who is set to face involuntary manslaughter charges over the singer’s death, will reportedly use old video footage featuring the King of Pop as the star witness for the defence.

Murray has been at the centre of the probe after he confessed giving the powerful sedative ‘propofol’ to Jackson hours before his death.

The medic and his legal team will purportedly show the video to demonstrate the depth of Jackson’s drug habit to claim Murray cannot be held guilty over the tragedy.

"Murray`s legal team have quietly but steadily been building a robust defence case,” a daily quoted a legal source as saying.

"A key element will be on-camera interviews Michael Jackson gave where he discusses and admits his drug use and others where he appears to be intoxicated.

"In effect, Michael Jackson himself will be the defence`s star witness as they set out to prove he was a seasoned and habitual user and knew how to self-administer.

"The interviews and other evidence aim to show that Jackson had been addicted to prescription drugs for at least 15 years.

"They will try to prove that Jackson was in poor health and therefore the build-up of drugs and the effects of further doses were increased tenfold because of a weakened system.

"For these reasons, they will say Murray is not culpable and should therefore be found not guilty," the source added.

Daniel Radcliffe’s Biography

Birth Name:
Daniel Jacob Radcliffe Nickname:
Dan
Height:
5′ 8″ (1.73 m)
Mini Biography:
Daniel Jacob Radcliffe was born on July 23rd, 1989 to Alan Radcliffe and Marcia Gresham. He began performing in small school productions as a young boy. Soon enough, he landed a role in David Copperfield (1999) (TV), as the young David Copperfield. A couple of years later, he landed a role as Mark Pendel in The Tailor of Panama (2001), the son of Harry and Louisa Pendel (Geoffrey Rush and Jamie Lee Curtis).
Lee Curtis had indeed pointed out to Daniel’s mother that he could be Harry Potter himself. Soon afterwards, Daniel was cast as Harry Potter by director, Chris Columbus in the film that hit theatres in November 16, 2001, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001). He was recognized worldwide after this film was released. Pleasing audiences and critics everywhere, filming on its sequel, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), commenced shortly afterwards. He appeared again as Harry in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) directed by Alfonso Cuarón, and then appeared in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) directed by Mike Newell.
Shortly afterwards, he finished filming December Boys (2007) in Adelaide, Australia, Kangaroo Island, and Geelong, Australia which began on the 14th of November, 2005 and ended sometime in December. On January 27th, 2006, he attended the South Bank Awards Show to present the award for “Breakthrough Artist of the Year” to Billie Piper. Dan reprised his famous character once again for the next installment of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007). In February 2007 he took on his first stage role in the West End play Equus to worldwide praise from fans and critics alike. He has finished filming the TV movie My Boy Jack (2007) (TV), which will air on 11 November 2007 in the UK.
Now being one of the world’s most recognizable people, Daniel leads a somewhat normal life. He has made friends working on the Harry Potter films, which include his co-stars Rupert Grint and Emma Watson.

Judge denies Polanski in absentia sentence bid

A Los Angeles judge on Friday denied a bid by lawyers for Roman Polanski requesting the fugitive filmmaker be sentenced in absentia in his decades-old child sex case.
Polanski’s attorneys had filed a motion urging Judge Peter Espinoza to sentence the director without him having to appear in the United States.
However Espinoza denied the motion at a hearing Friday, saying the only way the case could be resolved is if Polanski returned to California.
“He needs to appear,” Espinoza said. “Motion is denied.”
Polanski’s lawyers told reporters immediately after the hearing they would appeal the judge’s decision.
Polanski, 76, is under house arrest in Switzerland, where he has been held since his detention in September on an arrest warrant.

Across US networks, stars urge Haiti donations

Hollywood stars and top musicians led a huge fundraising drive for Haiti live on television Friday, pleading for funds to help the devastated Caribbean nation rise ‘from the ashes’.

Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney led a galaxy of stars performing live on national television networks and also manning the phones in the “Hope for Haiti Now” telethon.
The telethon, one of the biggest such events since the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, was broadcast across every major US television network.
Featuring some 130 celebrities and presented by music channel MTV, the telethon came as the Caribbean nation struggled to recover from the deadly January 12 disaster.
Heart-rending images of fragile survivors being pulled from the rubble of Haiti interchanged with emotional performances from top rock acts, including Coldplay and Bruce Springsteen, in the attempt to raise millions of dollars for the shattered country.
Actress Reese Witherspoon was among the celebrities who lent a hand at the phone bank, handling calls from donors.
Haiti is “a tragedy that reaches across all borders, all boundaries,” Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney said, and “at the core of every religion is the belief that we take care of one another.”
“The Haitian people need our help. They need to know they are not alone,” he told the national audience.
In one of the most moving segments of the event, Rapper Wyclef Jean told the national audience: “I am a Haitian. From the ashes we shall rise.”
Other star acts lined up for the telethon, airing across MTV, ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CNN, HBO and other major networks, included Madonna, Beyonce, Jay-Z, Bono, and Jennifer Hudson.
Joining Clooney in hosting the program were CNN’s star reporter Anderson Cooper in Haiti and Wyclef Jean in New York.
“There is so much more for many of us to do,” Cooper said. “They need to know we care for one another.”
Facebook and MySpace were helping to drum up aid, while donors could also go online at HopeForHaitiNow.org, or give over the phone by dialing 877 99-HAITI, or by just texting the word “GIVE” to 50555.
Clooney says he will donate one million dollars of his own money.
Hollywood megastar Leonardo DiCaprio announced Thursday that he was also giving one million dollars to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, while Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie donated one million dollars earlier to help aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres’s operations in Haiti.
In the telethon, DiCaprio praised aid workers, recalling an incident in which a poorly-equipped doctor “had to use a bottle of vodka to clean a wound.”
The 7.0-magnitude quake killed at least 110,000 people and left half a million homeless.
Friday’s telethon had few parallels over the last decade, said Charity Navigator, an organization monitoring charities across the United States.
A telethon was held in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks against New York and the Pentagon. Also hosted by Clooney, the event was simulcast across 35 network and cable channels, raising about 150 million dollars.
Another big telethon took place after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in 2005, but that was broadcast only on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and less major channels. About 40 million dollars was raised.
NBC and its affiliated networks broadcast a telethon in aid of victims of the Asian tsunami in 2005, raising 18 million dollars.

Is Robert Pattinson Running Off To The Circus With ‘Elephants?’

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

Robert Pattinson may be trading in his fangs and joining the circus.
According to Variety, “The Twilight Saga” star is mulling a role in Fox 2000’s period piece “Water For Elephants,” a novel adaptation following a veterinary student who joins the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth during the Great Depression.
Already set to star in the film is Reese Witherspoon, who will play horse rider Marlena. Sean Penn is reportedly considering the role of her husband, August, the circus’ animal trainer.
Robert will next appear in “Remember Me,” due March 12, and in the third film in “The Twilight Saga,” “Eclipse,” on June 30.
He also has upcoming roles in two more period dramas — “Bel Ami,” in which he’s set to share steamy love scenes with Uma Thurman, and “Unbound Captives” alongside Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz.
Meanwhile, news of a film adaptation of the fourth and final novel in “The Twilight Saga,” “Breaking Dawn,” is expected to be announced in the coming months.
“We’re all excited to move forward on this and we are slowly but surely getting there,” author Stephenie Meyer wrote on her Web site earlier this month.