My Publicist Note Book

Move over, Oprah! Beyonce is world's most powerful celebrity Rob Hoffman / AP file Beyonce performs onstage at her "Mrs. Carter Show World Tour 2013," on Monday, Dec. 9, 2013 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. There's a reason why they call her Queen Bey. Beyonce has seized the crown in  Forbes Celebrity 100 , the magazine reported Monday, bumping off Oprah Winfrey as the world’s most powerful celebrity.  Besides an estimated $115 million in annual revenue since last June, the ranking is a measure of media mentions, social media status and overall societal impact — and Beyonce rules. It’s been a stellar year for the pop star who shocked the world by dropping a title album with no promotion, endorsed brands like H&M and Pepsi and ran her own fashion  business . While she just wrapped up a 95-stop tour collecting $2.4 million a pop,  according to Pollstar , she's on the move again this summer with her hubby, Jay-Z (No. 6 on F...

Rihanna looks incredible.  Rih covers the publication's June/July issue of Harpers Bazaar ARABIA, ushering in the era of New Modesty.  It is an age that's defined by elaborate beading, rich patterns, and hardly any skin showing. In the magazine — the Arabic satellite of Harper's Bazaar — the New Modesty human (their term, not ours) is adorned in crystal bodysuits and full-length garments made of silk.  There are headpieces that veil the face in glamorous mystery and beg the audience to wonder: Who is she? Yes, even a personality as loud and unapologetic as Rihanna can come across as elusive.  Harper’s Bazaar Arabia did well to avoid another controversy with its styling, opting for more covered and "demure" (for RiRi, at least) outfits and looks.  North Face jackets and a trusty pair of L.L. Bean boots are not part of the "New Modesty" aesthetic, according to Harper's Bazaar This isn’t the first time Rihanna has played the...

Live from the red carpet of the 41st Daytime Emmy Awards, host Kathy Griffin reveals she is working at the show for free. Soap star Don Diamont recalls an unexpected fan encounter. “Welcome to the [expletive]-show!” said host Kathy Griffin at the beginning of Host Kathy Griffin speaks at the  41st annual Daytime Emmy Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.   the evening, perfectly summing up the 2014 Daytime Emmy Awards. Where to even begin? The Daytime Emmy Awards were already a questionable endeavor this year, given that the Academy couldn’t work out a deal in time for the telecast to air on a real TV network — therefore relegating the award ceremony to an online-only live stream for the first time in history. Sheryl Underwood, left, and Sharon Osbourne present the  award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. We’ll cut to the chase: The entire thing was a top-to-bottom train wreck. From the horrifying  red carpet sh...

North West's family spared no expense giving her a birthday party fit for a princess. Although North turned 1 in NYC on Father's Day, the family decided to celebrate with their friends and loved ones in LA this weekend.  The party took place in the backyard of Kourtney and Scott Disick’s new home in Calabasas. Named Kidchella after Coachella, the popular music festival Kendall and Kylie Jenner attended earlier this year, the party was complete with a Ferris wheel, bouncy house, and mini performance stage. With all the attractions, the Saturday afternoon affair gave the social-media-friendly family several photo ops. North’s birthday was officially on June 15, but with the big day falling on Father’s Day, the family kept the celebration in New York laid-back. Teepees, food carts and a bounce house are seen on the massive lawn in another picture from Kris captioned, “View from the Ferris wheel!” Kris Jenner posted a video in which daughters Kenda...

A rumor suggests that Apple is testing the health and fitness capabilities of its new iWatch with famous athletes. Is Apple about to play the celebrity game at a new, all-pro level? Steve Jobs liked to court celebrities, but he did it quietly. He might give Sean Lennon a Mac, Bob Dylan an iPod or Barack Obama an iPad, but you wouldn’t hear about it from Apple. That may be about to change. According to Mark Gurman, a young reporter at 9to5Mac who has broken more stories about Apple’s “iWatch” that the rest of the pack combined, Apple is teaming up with a  raft of sports celebrities  to test — and perhaps market — what the Street and the tech press expect will be Apple’s next big thing. Gurman mentions in particular L.A. Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant, L.A. Kings right wing Dustin Brown and a player from the Boston Red Sox to be named later. Bryant was a key spokesperson for Nike, which is win...

Bill and Melinda Gates deliver a stirring address on optimism to Stanford University’s 2014 graduating class. Bill and Melinda Gates share the podium as the 2014 commencement speakers during  the graduation ceremony at Stanford University in Stanford, Calif., on Sunday, June 15, 2014. How do you inspire a group of unusually smart, hard working, optimistic, and largely privileged youngsters who are already destined for success? Encourage them to learn from those most in need; urge them confront inequity; exhort them channel their optimism with empathy; oh, and remind them that for all their accomplishments, they wouldn’t be where they are without a heavy dose of luck. That was the message that philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates delivered to Stanford’s 2014 graduating class  in a poignant commencement address . At a time when inequality is becoming one of the central issues of our time, the Gates', whose foundation has becom...

Another key landmark has been erected for the Warner Bros. Pictures’ upcoming release of ‘Batman vs. Superman Dawn of Justice’ film, the building is soon to be the epicenter of all evil from Lex Luthor, appearing for the first time in the series in this installment. It was confirmed earlier this year that Eisnenberg would play Luthor. At the time of the announcement director Snyder stated, “Lex Luthor is often considered the most notorious of Superman’s rivals, his unsavory reputation preceding him since 1940.  What’s great about Lex is that he exists beyond the confines of the stereotypical nefarious villain. He’s a complicated and sophisticated character whose intellect, wealth and prominence position him as one of the few mortals able to challenge the incredible might of Superman. Having Jesse in the role allows us to explore that interesting dynamic, and also take the character in some new and unexpected directions.”   Eisenberg received Academy Award, Golden Glo...

Jeremy Ray Meeks  police mug shot has caused thousands of women to throw their figurative underpants at the computer screen.  We’re having a moment.......... Here we were minding our business and scrolling through the days News timeline, when we came across the mugshot of an extremely handsome Steele blue-eyed man that (we’re ashamed to say) turned even our heads.  We haven’t seen a mugshot this fly since  Porsha beat up Kenya  on “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” reunion. The thousands of social media admirers did not show up for Jeremy Ray Meeks’ arraignment. Instead, his friends and family were there, very upset about the attention he’s been getting over his infamous mugshot. Those much talked about blue steel eyes were locked behind a heavy steel door last night at the San Joaquin  County Jail. Friday afternoon, Meeks was arraigned on eleven felony counts related to firearm possession, street gang membership, and violating his probatio...

You’re Just  Too Good to Be True At the end of  “Jersey Boys,”   Clint Eastwood ’s likable, resolutely laid-back adaptation of the Broadway musical, the actors all freeze. “Jersey Boys” is a strange movie, and it’s a Clint Eastwood enterprise, both reasons to see it. For those with a love of doo-wop, it also provides a toe-tapping, ear-worming stroll down rock ’n’ roll memory lane that dovetails with that deeply cherished American song and dance about personal triumph over adversity through hard work, tough times and self-sacrifice. It’s a redemption narrative that’s got a good beat, and you can dance to it. No wonder it’s been such a popular trip: The stage version of “Jersey Boys” opened in 2005 on Broadway, where it’s still going  strong , and has long been printing money around the  world , from Australia to South Africa. ABOUT THE FILM From director Clint Eastwood comes the big-screen version of the Tony Award-winning musical “Jersey B...