Tirdad Derakhshani was born in Tehran, Iran, and raised in London and rural North Jersey, where he closely studied a theoretical, radical post-Hegelian approach to cow-tipping. He moved to Philadelphia in the mid-‘80s to seek enlightenment, and instead received a B.A. in literature at Penn. While pursuing doctoral studies in modern religious thought and philosophy, he worked at the Inquirer as a news clerk, researcher, editor, and entertainment writer.
He hopes SideShow will help citizens better understand the vicissitudes of the Consumerist-Military-Industrial-Infotainment Complex, or, in other words, why Britney Spears has a tendency to shave her head, Brangelina to adopt children, and Lindsay Lohan to crave imprisonment.
For live gossip and entertainment coverage visit the SideShow blog.
Email Tirdad at sideshow@phillynews.com
- New Randy Travis vid: you kidding me?
Paul McCartney turns 70 in June, yet the Beatle rocks on.
He says he has already beaten the odds. "You really don't want to go beyond 50," a former manager once told him. "It's going to get embarrassing." So recounts Sir Paul in the March issue of Rolling Stone, a mag founded by kids who thought it was all over at 30.
You can keep the Oscars. What really matters to us is the Golden Collar Awards, which honor the year's best canine thesps. Held Monday night at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Lalaland, the inaugural kudofest crowned The Artist's star, Jack Russell terrier Uggie, as top dog in a movie. Uggie is a "great performer," said his trainer, Omar Von Muller, "but he's also a great family member. . . . He sleeps with us."
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Nun Nicki and the 'pope'
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She did the red carpet as Little Red Riding Hood (in a blood-red Atelier Versace nun-inspired satin robe) with a pope-alike in full faux-Vatican regalia on her arm. Nicki Minaj at the Grammys. So scandalous! Minaj, 29, later performed "Roman Reloaded
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At Houston tribute, Bennett calls for drug legalization
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Legendary crooner Tony Bennett, 85, appealed to the U.S. government to legalize drugs at an impromptu Whitney Houston tribute held hours after her death, says the Hollywood Reporter.
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Madonna: Gesture spoiled the love vibe
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She's had time to think it over, and it appears that Madonna is regretting her invitation to British hip-hop artist M.I.A. to join her in the Super Bowl halftime spectacle.
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Naked truth about Adam Levine
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Sideshow: Ever wonder why NBC's The Voice coach Adam Levine likes to appear bare as a newborn bairn in so many of his photo shoots?
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Roland Martin suspended
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CNN has suspended Roland Martin for tweeting "offensive" remarks demeaning gays on Sunday. Shocking: The cable news network finally decided to do something after taking a demure three-day time-out.
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Philly's Wells Fargo is first stop on Madonna's U.S. tour
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Madonna - you know, the 1980s and '90s pop superstar who got upstaged Sunday at her own Super Bowl party by M.I.A.'s middle finger - will open her U.S. tour in Philly at the Wells Fargo Center on Aug. 28. She'll also play Yankee Stadium in New York on Sept. 6 and Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on Sept. 15.
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Greatest show ever, says Nielsen
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Every man, woman, child, household pet, and domesticated farmyard animal on the planet (with the exception of yours truly) watched Sunday's Super Bowl game, which saw the New York Giants fell the mighty New England Patriots, 21-17. It was the most-watched program in U.S. TV history, drawing an average of 111.3 mil domestic viewers, according to Nielsen SoundScan (Madonna's halftime show drew 114 mil). Global numbers aren't in, but we imagine they are spectacular.
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Report: Demi Moore in facility
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Although Demi Moore has not been spotted since a health crisis in January sent her to the hospital, People has confirmed she is in treatment.
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Blue Ivy's folks seek to trademark name
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Jay-Z and Beyoncé are showing their extraordinary love for new bairn Blue Ivy Carter by trademarking her name. The Washington Post says the couple's application to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states they want to use the moniker for a line of - no doubt groovy - baby carriages, baby cosmetics, diaper bags, and so forth.
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Leslie Carter autopsy inconclusive
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Leslie Carter's mysterious death Tuesday has kicked off a round of rumors, speculation, and wild guesses. TMZ cites Anonymous Sources, who say Carter's family thinks the 25-year-old singer, sister to Backstreet Boys member Nick Carter and singer Aaron Carter, was addicted to prescription drugs and died of an overdose.
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