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> 50 Cent is none too pleased with Taco Bell. The rapper is suing the fast food chain for their new advertising campaign, which he claims uses his likeness to promote their products without his permission or providing compensation. The ads feature a letter Taco Bell execs sent to 50 cent (but only after they'd sent it to the press) asking if he'd be willing to change his name to "79 Cent," "89 cent," or "99 cent," to celebrate the chain's "79-89-99 Cent Why Pay More" value menu. "As Taco Bell intended, many customers believed that 50
Cent had agreed to endorse Taco Bell's products. Indeed,
postings on numerous Internet 'blogs' castigated 50 Cent for
'selling out' by his apparent endorsement of Taco Bell," the lawsuit claims. And we all know that 50 would never sell out. Unless you consider hawking a line of Reebok Shoes, a Right Guard body spray, 50 cent "Magic Stick" condoms, and his very own Vitamin Water flavor selling out. Then maybe just a little tiny bit? But we're assuming 50 is operating under the golden rule of "you haven't really sold out until you're promoting a food item that involves sour cream being dispensed from a caulk gun."
> John Barrowman may be the next star in a long line of stars to bring a comic book superhero to the big screen. In addition to all the sex jokes made during the Torchwood panel at Comic-Con, the actor was apparently asked about playing Captain America. "He smiled and gave the stock answer that he'd love to play the character and that Captain America has always been his favorite comic book superhero," a fan reported. Superherohype.com is reporting that the subject didn't seem to take Barrowman by surprise -- and that he admitted there have already been meetings with his agents about the film. Barrowman in spandex fighting to save America from whatever evil forces happen to be threatening our pursuit of life, liberty, and gas below $11 a gallon (which means he'll have to kick off his crime busting crusade in Washington D.C.)? Yes, please.
> If you've been reading Popnography for more than 72 hours, you're well acquainted with our love of all things Brangelina. Especially if it involves any mention or notion of the "so filthy hot they must be illegal in Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi" couple engaged in intimate relations. So it is with great sadness that we bring you this week's final Quickie, in which the always-reliable Us Weekly (that was sarcasm) reports that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's new twins were conceived using in vitro fertilization. "They both desperately wanted more babies soon," a source tells the magazine. Angelina chose the procedure so that "she wouldn't have to deal with the stress of trying to get pregnant. She could just knock it out," the source said. Ignoring the fact that "knocking it out" still involves nine months of carrying twins, we have one complaint. We're all for people using whatever means necessary and possible to get exactly what they want, especially in this modern age of non-traditional families -- but there's no need to tell us about it! Do not ruin the image of you two screwing on top of the kitchen counter covered in Nutella and mini marshmallows at 1:30 in the afternoon while your already impressively sized brood of children take their naps! Sometimes it's the only thing (besides occasional chugs of tequila in the bathroom) that gets us through the day!
-- NOAH MICHELSON
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