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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.
- Read Tirdad's blog Tirdad Derakhshani Sideshow
Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino on his stint in rehab 
Email Tirdad at sideshow@phillynews.com
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"It is exciting. [But] I feel a little nervous," Beyoncé says in a YouTube docu video on the eve of her return to the stage since giving birth to Blue Ivy Carter®. B was set to make her comeback with four shows, Friday through Monday at Revel resort in Atlantic City. "I enjoy being a mother. [Performing] is like going back to my old job. It’s a little strange." With the ObamasFirst lady Michelle Obama tells People she and President Obama have a bedtime "ritual where he tucks me in, because I’m usually in bed before anybody," she says. "He’ll come and turn the lights out and give me a kiss, and we’ll talk. He’s like, ‘Ready to be tucked?’ I’m like, `Yes I am.’ "
Women dominate the world, at least on Forbes’ latest list of the 100 most powerful celebrities.Teen idol Justin Bieber was the only male to muscle into the top eight, landing at No. 3 behind Jennifer Lopez and Oprah Winfrey, and ahead of Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Brittany Spears, newcomer Kim Kardashian and Katy Perry. The list was compiled by crunching rankings not only for income but "media visibility" and "social media power," sizing up a star’s reach via everything from TV to Twitter.
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New Travolta twists; Nicole on Zac; Baldwin's new bride
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Few gossipers have taken too seriously claims by various masseurs that John Travolta assaulted them with unwanted sexual advances. But the case took a strange turn Thursday, with a report that Travolta’s lawyers offered the first masseur $125,000 to withdraw his federal sexual battery lawsuit.
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Bond will dump his martini for a Heineken
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Producers of Daniel Craig’s James Bondfilm Skyfall have committed the greatest outrage since the execution of Joan of Arc: They’ve sold out Bond to a beer brand.
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N.M. Comanche tribe adopts Johnny Depp
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Johnny Depp, who plays American Indian sidekick Tonto in a Lone Ranger pic, has been made an honorary member of a Comanche tribe in New Mexico.
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SideShow: Touching moments at Billboard Music Awards
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The Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas Sunday night was a feast of celebrities, emotions and various degrees of clothing. The most touching moment came moments before Bobbi Kristina Brown, daughter of Whitney Houston, received an award on behalf of her late mother, who died in February. Just before the presentation, Brown began crying as singer Jordin Sparks sang the Houston megahit “I Will Always Love You.”In less poignant news, Katy Perry wore a shimmering lilac gown by Blumarine while Miley Cyrus’ white, low-cut blazer and mini-mini skirt by designer Jean Paul Gaultier fell considerably above her knees. Obviously, her zebra-striped high heels are made for walking far, far away from her ex-employer, the Disney Channel. In actual music news, Adele scored big, with awards for top artist, top hot 100 song, and top Billboard 200 album.
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Cannes is filming Cannes this year
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The movie market in Cannes, France, this week is such a dramatic sideshow that this year it’s getting its own film. Director James Toback and actor Alec Baldwin are running along Boulevard de la Croisette, filming a documentary on the feverish deal-making that surrounds the film festival. The industry hatches deals in hotel rooms, over drinks at evening parties, and aboard yachts just off the beach. Toback, director of Fingers and Tyson, will document the process of selling a film at Cannes while also trying to land financing for a fictional film. They’re calling the documentary Seduced and Abandoned. The Cannes marketplace — le Marché du Film — is the world’s largest. Bollywood’s bouncing baby
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‘SideShow’: Summer’s lung cancer; Will Smith slap-happy; High Laurie tearful
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Donna Summer’s family says the singer died of lung cancer even though she wasn’t a smoker. TMZ says the diva believed she contracted the disease by breathing in toxic air after the Sept. 11 attacks in New York. Summer, who died Thursday at 63 in Naples, Fla., lived near ground zero.
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Jennifer Lopez to ditch ‘American Idol’?
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Jennifer Lopez, 42, shocked fans this week when she said she wasn’t sure she would stay on at American Idol. To some, it felt like a betrayal of all they held good, sacred, and true. Alas, E! News’ Mark Malkin says J-Lo already has decided to ditch the show. “She’s just too busy,” Anonymous Source says, noting that the singer is due to go on a months-long world tour with Enrique Iglesias.
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‘SideShow’: Cruise cruisin’; Philly Folk Fest; Travolta-gater bails!
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He looks as studly, dewy-fresh and baby-faced as the day he modeled his sparking-white briefs in 1983’s Risky Business. It’s hard to believe that Tom Cruise, who turns 50 in July, has never had a nip, tuck, lift or lipo in his life. “I haven’t, and I never would,” Tom tells Playboy on the set of his next sci-fi blockbuster, Oblivion. Of wifey Katie Holmes, he says: “Everything she does, she does with this beautiful creativity,” says Tom. “She’s funny and charming, and when she walks into the room, I just feel better.” Phila folk fest returns Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle and John Hiatt will be among the guitar pickers at the 51st annual Philadelphia Folk Festival Aug. 17-19 at the Old Pool Farm in Upper Salford, near Schwenksville. The lineup also includes Wanda Jackson, Mary Gauthier, Strand of Oaks and Little Feat. Tickets at www.folkfest.org.— Dan DeLuca Two princes for Katie Couric
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SideShow: ‘X Factor’ inks Britney Spears, Demi Lovato
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It’s official! Fox on Monday announced what we’ve all known for weeks: Britney Spears will be a judge on season two of The X Factor. The network made a big to-do about it, trotting out (like so much overpaid cattle) Brit, 30, and a second hire, multitalented youngster Demi Lovato, 19. They will join show czar Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid this fall at the judges’ table. The gals uttered words such as excited and thrilled. (Brit better be happy: She reportedly will pocket $15 mil just for one season!)
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‘SideShow’: Travolta accuser wants a deal; murderous rage; good granddad Bob
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Travolta accuser No. 2: Arbitration The second Anonymous Masseur who lodged a sexual battery complaint against John Travolta is willing to withdraw his lawsuit and enter arbitration, says his lawyer.
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