- Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Parents group boycotting Ben & Jerry’s Schweddy Balls

OneMillionMoms, an organization affiliated with the American Family Association, has announced a boycott of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream over a new flavor called Schweddy Balls. The group said Friday on its website: “The vulgar new flavor has turned something as innocent as ice cream into something repulsive. Not exactly what you want a child asking for at the supermarket.”

The idea for the ice cream flavor’s name came from a 1998 “Saturday Night Live” comedy segment featuring Alec Baldwin, Molly Shannon and Ana Gasteyer. In the sketch, Mr. Baldwin plays Pete Schweddy, a baker who brings his best-selling holiday treat to share with two public-radio hosts. “No one can resist my Schweddy balls,” Mr. Baldwin famously says in character.

The new Ben & Jerry’s flavor consists of vanilla ice cream with a hint of rum flavor, mixed with fudge-covered rum-and-malt balls.

The AFA-affiliated boycott group objects to the Vermont ice-cream company’s use of the Schweddy Balls name and its sexually suggestive pun.

“It seems that offending customers has become an annual tradition for Ben & Jerry’s,” the organization added on its website.

Ben & Jerry’s has a history of embracing political activism, including an ice cream flavor - Hubby Hubby - that serves as an endorsement of same-sex marriage.

“The name is irreverent,” said Ben & Jerry’s spokesman Sean Greenwood of his company’s Schweddy flavor. “But we’ve always been about having some irreverence and having some fun. … We’re not trying to offend people. Our fans get the humor.”

Read more: https://dailycaller.com/2011/09/20/new-ben-jerrys-flavor-sparks-boycott/#ixzz1YbGEce8M

’Twilight’s’ Robert Pattinson recording an album

Now that he has a free moment, “Twilight” star Robert Pattinson can sink his fangs into a record deal.

The 25-year-old actor-singer, who since 2008 has appeared in at least two major motion pictures in addition to the “Twilight” films, finally has a chance to record an album.

“Rob has been kicking a few original songs around for a long time, but his schedule didn’t allow it,” an insider told Us Weekly.

Mr. Pattinson has been filming the “Twilight” saga of films for the past few years. The first part of “Breaking Dawn,” the final “Twilight” movie, will be released in November, with the second part debuting in fall 2012.

This isn’t Mr. Pattinson’s first run-in with music. He recorded the songs “Never Think” and “Let Me Sign” for the “Twilight” soundtrack.

“Now he’s got some weeks to get everything in line before going back to promoting ’Breaking Dawn,’ ” the source said.

“Twilight” may appeal to teeny boppers, but the British lad isn’t necessarily trying to appeal to that crowd with his music. Another source told Us Weekly that Mr. Pattinson’s album will be “[l]ike stripped-down Ray LaMontagne meets Van Morrison.”

“The album Rob will make will be guitar-based and drums, very organic-sounding, nothing pop,” the source said.

Mr. Pattinson first hit the celebrity radar in 2005 when he portrayed heartthrob Cedric Diggory in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” but he is most easily recognized for playing the troubled but well-intentioned vampire Edward Cullen in “Twilight.”

Read more: https://dailycaller.com/2011/09/20/twilight-star-to-record-album/#ixzz1YbGg8jtV

’Avatar’-themed areas to open in Disney parks

Enthralled with the commercial success of James Cameron and Jon Landau’s 3-D blockbuster “Avatar,” Disney plans to open specialized areas at its theme parks based on the film.

Disney will install the first Avatar Land at the Animal Kingdom park at Disney World in Orlando, Fla. A Disney spokesman told the Hollywood Reporter the site was chosen because the Animal Kingdom park emphasizes “living in harmony with nature” and “the ’Avatar’ stories … share the same philosophy.”

Mr. Cameron and Mr. Landau have struck an exclusive deal to install “Avatar”-themed rides at Disney’s parks. Mr. Cameron told the Hollywood Reporter that “with Disney, we’ll be able to bring Pandora to life like never before.”

Read more: https://dailycaller.com/2011/09/21/disney-to-open-%e2%80%98avatar%e2%80%99-themed-areas-at-amusement-parks/#ixzz1YbITaw99

Compiled by Laura Donovan, Betsi Fores and Michael Watson 2011 The Daily Caller

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