Swag Award January 18-24

As we draw to the close of the first month of a new year, renowned ghost-writer and Virginia representative Skillz has released his annual “Rap-Up.” For those of you unfamiliar with Skillz or his rap-ups, take this time to familiarize yourself. For as far back as I can remember, Skillz has been releasing these songs every January recapping all the major events of the previous year. Skillz cleverly touches on everything from the music world, to politics, to pop culture. By now, we’ve all seen retrospectives on the events of last year, but no one does it quite like this guy. I’ve always enjoyed these and I’m sure you will too.

Click on the video below and let Skillz take you back through 2009 and the year that was…

Kanye West & Lady Gaga cancel tour

I didn't think much of it when Kanye West told Jay Leno that he has been on the go and had not taken time to deal with his mother's death.

West made the announcement the day after he rudely interrupted Taylor Swift at the MTV VMA Awards.

Apparently West has finally decided to take some time off and regroup. He and budding pop sensation Lady Gaga announced recently that they will cancel their 'Fame Kills' Tour. which was set to make stops around the country beginning in November.

The duo did not give a reason for the cancellation, but one can only imagine it has a lot to do with Kanye's desire to deal with his emotions and get his life back together.

All the best Mr. West.

David Letterman drops late night bombshells on personal life

Last week, David Letterman shocked viewers when revealed that one of his producers for the Late Show was seeking to extort $2 million as hush from publishing a book about Letterman's extra-curricular activities.

Letterman went on to reveal that he has had multiple sexual relationships with female staffers on his show and has done some "terrible" things in his past.

Despite these seemingly embarrassing and humbling revelations, Letterman in true late night host form managed to make light of the situation and keep the audience laughing.

My question is, what is the big deal? What, when and who Mr. Letterman does should be between he and his significant other. I'm sur we'll be hearing more about this in the coming months.

In case you missed Letterman's segment where he discussed the situation, check it out below.

Chris Brown apology...what a joke

Have you ever seen a more scripted, insincere apology than this pile of crap offered up by Chris Brown??

After jet-skiing at Diddy's estate, laying low for a few months, then getting shut down from the BET Awards by Jay-Z, Chris makes his first public statements since that fateful night when he assaulted Rihanna from the drivers seat of his car.

If this is the best he could do, he shouldn't have said anything. Watching this makes me even question if he's truly remorseful for what he did or remorseful over the fact that his actions have affected his public image...Chris and his lawyer should be ashamed of themselves for this one.

You be the judge:

Blast from the past: M.Jackson vs. M. Jordan

Only a few days removed from the shocking news of Michael Jackson's death, radio station playlists and TV coverage are still devoting a great deal of time and attention to the pop icons music. 

Remember the song Jam from Jackson's 1991 album "Dangerous" ? The song had cameos from Kriss Kross, a verse from Heavy D, and more importantly Michael "His Airness" Jordan was featured alongside Jackson shooting hoops and dancing.

Never before had two powerhouses of sports and entertainment been featured together in a music video..

Here is some footage of Jackson talking about playing ball with Jordan & showing him some of his patented dance moves.

Nowadays, cameos such as the one Michael Jordan made are commonplace. Athletes frequently appear in music videos, and musicians frequently support athletes in the arenas (i.e. Jay-Z & LeBron James).

LeBron actually has a similar cameo to Michael Jordan in Jay-Z's new video for his single 'Death of Autotune.' People always say nothing is new under the sun. Michael Jackson was the first to feature a prominent athlete in his video over 15 years ago...The man truly was a pioneer.

Jay-Z: 'Death of Autotune' video (LeBron cameo @ 3:55)

Musicians tribute M. Jackson at this year's BET Awards

The BET Awards aired last night live from Los Angeles...Where do I start? I'm not going to share my personal views of the show, but know that overall they are not positive. The attire, the behavior, the performances, the acoustics, the speeches, the production value more closely resembled a high school talent show than a premier awards show on a reputable cable network.

So I guess I just shared my personal views, huh? Oh well.

Despite all of its failures, BET made a conscious effort to praise, tribute and pay homage to Michael Jackson's achievements and contributions to the music industry and I appreciate their effort in that regard. Putting forth the effort doesn't always yield positive results and that was the case last night. Many of the so-called "tributes" to MJ were nothing more than artists performing their hits in MJ inspired outfits. There were a handful of artists who performed some of Jackson's hits (none worth writing about) with the exception of Ne-Yo.

Ne-Yo performed "Lady in my life" and in my opinion was one of the few artists who actually did justice to a Michael Jackson song. If you missed the BET Awards, please do not feel bad as this video is one of the few highlights from three painful hours of live television.

Ne-Yo performing "Lady in my life":

Swag Award of the Week June 22-29

King has left the building. I'm sure most of you were as shocked as I when you found out about Michael Jackson's untimely death. There is no doubt that the megastar, pop icon, musical pioneer turned freak show in recent years had an effect on your life. His music is timeless and his dance moves were impeccable. 

A few weeks back I wrote about Jackson's announcement that he was planning a world tour that was set to begin sometime this year. Fans now will not get that opportunity to see Jackson on stage again. Jackson's death reminds us how precious life is, and not even the most accomplished entertainers and celebrities are exempt. 

MJ will truly be missed. He touched many lives during his career. Fans from Beijing to Baltimore are still coming to grips with the harsh reality that Jackson is no longer with us. R.I.P Mike.

T-Pain's chain...

He can't be serious... T-Pain introduced his chain to the world last weekend at the Summerjam concert in New York. Worth over $400K, adorned with 197 carats of diamonds and weighing 7.5 pounds, T-Pain's "Big Ass Chain" is exactly that. 

I cannot think of a more frivolous way to spend money than on a big ass chain that actually says "Big Ass Chain." I am in sheer disbelief over this one. I like jewelry as much as the next man, but all in good taste. You can overdo anything...They used to put "big ass chains" on my people hundreds of years ago, but for different reasons. I guess Mr. Pain forgot that fact. He should be ashamed of himself.

Why does Zak Morris still look 16???

In case you missed it, Mark Paul-Gosselaar appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon last night. Fallon is attempting to get commitments from all the old cast members for a Saved By the Bell reunion show in the near future.

Dude still looks like he did in the 90's.. How has he maintained his boyish good looks over the last decade and a half? In addition to introducing us the the wonders of the cell phone, has Zack Morris also found the fountain of youth? Does he take botox? I guess we'll never know. There's cool, and then there's Zack Morris status.. 

Here's the segment:

Actor David Carradine found dead at 72

Hollywood lost a star today. Actor David Carradine was found dead today in his hotel room in Bangkok where he was filming a movie. It is suspected that Carradine committed suicide and hanged himself.

Though Carradine appeared in a variety of roles, he is most famous for his work as a martial arts connoisseur. In the 70's he played  Kwai Chaing Caine, the star of the hit Tv show,  'Kung Fu.'

Many of you remember him as Bill, the coldhearted kung fu instructor who taught Uma Thurman everything she knew, and then with the help of Thurman's assassin friends attempted to kill her following a heartbreak. Kill Bill Vol's 1 & 2 are the story of Thurman exacting her revenge on her attempted killers, culminating in a showdown with Bill (Carradine). After a duel for the ages, Thurman prevails when she strikes Bill with the '5 point palm, exploding heart technique.'

Before Jet Li, before Jackie Chan, there was David Carradine. The Kung fu genre on TV and in film owes a lot to this man for his contributions. RIP.

Cool guys don't look at explosions: another digital short from Andy Samberg

Ok, so Andy Samberg is quickly becoming the funniest man on TV in my opinion. His skits on Saturday Night Live are epic, and his digital shorts are even more legit. 

Samberg hosted the MTV Movie Awards this year, and he along with Will Ferrell performed a song mocking the quintessential shot from every action movie you've ever seen...the hero or villain walking away from a huge explosion unfazed by the heat, noise and concussion from the blast. 

You've seen it in Dark Knight. You've seen it in No Country for Old Men. You've seen it in Transformers. You've seen it countless other times. You're not an official badass until you blow some ish up and walk away like it never even happened. Enjoy.

Puke in my mouth: Ladies offer response to SNL Digital Short

The ladies have come up with a response to SNL's 'Jizz in My Pants' Digital Short. It's called 'Puke in my mouth.' Enjoy.

Rick Ross rocks suspect shades

Fresh off his third #1 album release, Rick Ross has been called out by execs at Louis Vuitton for wearing imitation Louie sunglasses on this month's cover of XXL magazine.

Here is what the letter says:

Dear Editor:

We were dismayed to see the cover of the May 2009 issue of XXL Magazine, which features a photo of Rick Ross wearing a pair of sunglasses prominently featuring counterfeit Louis Vuitton trademarks. Because the photo has generated considerable confusion among your readers and Louis Vuitton customers among others, we feel it is important to clarify several points.

The first is that the sunglasses Mr. Ross is wearing were not made by Louis Vuitton, and in fact, are counterfeit. Louis Vuitton did not grant permission to Mr. Ross or to whoever did make the sunglasses to use our trademarks. The second is that no affiliation, sponsorship or association exists between Rick Ross or XXL and Louis Vuitton. The third is that counterfeiting is illegal.

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to correct the confusion.

Sincerely,

Michael D. Pantalony, Esq.

Louis Vuitton Malletier

Ouch. I think the funniest part is the caption at the bottom of the cover. "I've never had a credibility problem and still don't." You might have a small issue on your hands now Ricky. 

Is Miss California's crown in jeopardy?

Does anyone else find it ironic that the woman who placed second in the Miss America pageant has been in the media more than the woman who won?

Carrie Prejean AKA Miss California has been making headlines since she voiced her opposition to gay marriage to Perez Hilton, one of the judges for the competition. Following her loss, Carrie toured the country on an anti-gay marriage rant of sorts.

Then there came the revelations that the Miss USA pageant actually paid for her breast implants so that she would have a more robust cup size for that all important swimsuit competition. 

As if that wasn't enough, the validity of her California crown came into question earlier this week after gossip website TheDirty.com posted a photo of a scantly clad Prejean topless in her undies. The photo is in direct violation of the Miss America contract which candidates sign claiming there are no nude photos that exist... When the photo became published, Prejean admitted that it was indeed her and that one photo was the only of its kind.

Those claims have now come into question after TheDirty.com posted a second photo of a semi-nude Prejean on the website. Prejean and her representatives claim the second photo is her face, but it has been doctored and placed on another body. Donald Trump, who is in charge of the pageant has not announced whether or not he will revoke her crown or not, but it is expected to make an announcement in the coming days. To further test her moral compass, adult film giant Vivid Pictures has offered Carrie $1 million to star in an adult film...

The hypocrisy of this situation is sickening. The pageant paid for her implants so that she would increase her chances at winning (as if she weren't attractive enough before the boob job). All of that was for naught, as she lost the competition because she told a gay man that she doesn't support gay marriage. She may lose her California crown because she took a few photos in her underwear, but they make the contestants prance around that stage in bikinis for everyone to gawk over. How do you define semi-nude? Is a skimpy two piece not semi-nude? Do you really expect for a woman who has made it to the level of the Miss America pageant to have never been photographed wearing minimal clothing until the swimsuit competition? This whole situation disgusts me and really highlights some of issues we have in America in terms of defining beauty and being politically correct. 

She already lost the pageant. Let's leave her alone and find another girl to pick on. Where's Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton and Britney Spears when you need them?

Swag Award of the Week April 20-26

Susan Boyle captivated audiences last week when she stunned judges on Britain's version of American Idol last week with her stirring rendition of 'I Dreamed a Dream' from Les Miserables. Everyone who was present that night  has minimal expectations from the 47 year old spinster from Scotland, but she raised the bar as soon as she belted her first note:

Boyle was back in the news this week following a $50 makeover where she plucked her eyebrows, colored her hair, and upgraded her wardrobe. Seen here, wearing a leather jacket & Burberry scarf, Boyle looks like a completely different woman than the one who graced the stage last week. 

Make no mistake about it though. Although the looks have changed, the angelic voice is still the same, and more importantly...the swag levels are higher than ever. 

Susan Boyle is proof that you should never judge a book by its cover, and despite what others think about you, if you are confident in yourself and your abilities then the sky is the limit. Now that's what I call swagger.

Life Lessons from the most interesting man in the world

"His reputation is expanding faster than the universe. He once had an awkward moment just to see how it feels. He lives vicariously through himself. He is the most interesting man in the world..."

I've been a fan of Dos Equis ever since Spring Break '07 in Cancun, and this new campaign is absolutely genius. More so than just TV spots, the 'Most Interesting' campaign also features a Cirque de Soleil meets Ripley's Believe it or Not meets cabaret type show called, you guessed it...'The Most Interesting Show in the World.' There's also a bunch of funny/interesting stuff on the website.

In case you haven't caught any of the spots on TV yet, here's my personal favorite. 

The Most Interesting Man in the World on pick up lines:

"...There's a time and a place for them. The time is never. You can figure out the place on your own. Stay thirsty my friends." 

LOL. I love it.

I'm So Alone!! Lindsay Lohan's E-Harmony Profile

HAHAHA. This is is hilarious. Following her very public split with girlfriend Samantha Ronson, Lindsay Lohan appeared on the cover of US Weekly, and did an interview with the mag to spill the beans on the rocky relationship.

The newly single Lohan has decided to poke fun at the situation and did a fake e-Harmony profile for

funnyordie.com.

In case you were wondering, here are a few traits Lindsay looks for in a mate.

"The perfect mate enjoys long walks on the beach, car chases on the PCH, antiquing, and passing out in Cadillac Escalades.."

It's good stuff. Enjoy

Top 5 celebrity dogs since 1985

Bo Obama was introduced to the world on Tuesday as he and the first family paraded around the South Lawn of the White House for press cameras. Virtually overnight, the 6 month-old Portuguese water dog has been propelled into the media spotlight that comes with living in the White House. In honor of Bo's arrival, I have put together a list of my 5 favorite celebrity dogs since 1985:

#5: Clifford the Big Red dog

Let's be honest...childhood wouldn't have been the same without this guy and his antics. Plain and simple. Clifford was, and continues to be a timeless staple of children's literature. For that, he gets a spot on the list.

#4: The Beast from Sandlot

One of my favorite characters from one of my favorite movies of all time. 'The Beast' as he was known by the youngsters was a ferocious looking mastiff who lived just beyond the left field fence at the Sandlot. The Beast becomes the focal point on the movie when an autographed Babe Ruth baseball gets hit over the fence and into his domain. The boys from the Sandlot spend the better part of the movie trying to get the beloved baseball back while avoiding certain death by The Beast. We later learn the dogs name is Hercules, and his owner is none other than James Earl Jones. Awesome. 

#3: Brian from Family Guy

How often do you see a two-legged beagle as intelligent, articulate and witty as Brian?? Exactly. His cynicism and humor make him one of my favorite characters on the show and one of my favorite dogs since '85. 

#2: Baxter from Anchorman

Ron Burgundy loved him. He can eat an entire wheel of cheese, wears a retainer at night for dental aesthetics, and he speaks Spanish. He even made it back to Ron Burgundy after being punted off of a bridge by Jack Black. Extremely talented, loyal and adorable, Baxter gets the #2 spot. 

#1 Uga V

From 1990-99 Uga V patrolled the sidelines at home games for the University of Georgia. The bulldogs have had mascots on the sidelines since 1956, but none were more highly regarded as Uga V. In 1996, Uga V forever ingrained himself in sports lore when he attacked a football player from Auburn who got too close  during a game (UGA won the game in 4 OT's). He was named the top mascot in the country by Sports Illustrated in 1998 and appeared on the cover. As if those credentials weren't strong enough, Uga V also made a small cameo in the Clint Eastwood film 'Midnight Garden of Good & Evil'. 

To further cement his legacy, Uga V also fathered the most accomplished mascot in UGA history. Between 1999-2008, Uga VI had a record of 87-27, 2 SEC Championships, 2 Sugar Bowl victories, and over 20 wins vs. ranked opponents. Not bad. 

The next time you watch a UGA football game look out for Uga VII, UGA's newest mascot. 

What do you think about the list? Who should have been included? Who on my list shouldn't be there? Any and all thoughts are welcomed.

BK brings back 90's jam to market kids meals

Burger King has some really funny people working on its TV ads. 

I'm sure by now, you all have seen at least one BK video featuring the King rapping, dancing, and/or singing about the tasty flame-broiled goodness that is Burger King. 

Not sure if you caught the most recent on-air campaign. BK is doing a spoof of Sir Mix-a-Lot's 'Baby Got Back' song to market its Spongebob Squarepants themed kids meals. One of the most classic booty appreciation jams from the 90's is making a comeback to appeal to young children who watch Spongebob and love BK's kids meals.

Now I don't know how effective this will be, seeing as how anyone watching Spongebob these days probably is too young to remember Baby Got Back, but damn it's funny. If only the food were as tasty as the commercials are funny.

There are :30 versions on air, but at BDumasonline.com we bring the heat....The full 2 minute music video is below. Enjoy! As usual click the 'HQ' button in the lower right corner for the Hi-res version. Remember, this is a commercial for the BK kid's meal...

Kanye West OK's South Park bashing

Happy Friday. First of all, let me apologize for not putting anything new up in a few days. I am home in Atlanta right now enjoying some much needed R&R with family and friends. The weather is beautiful, and I haven't been online as much...That being said...

This weeks episode of South Park has been making quite a stir. Kanye West is the victim for the entire episode because he's the only person who doesn't catch a joke Cartman and Jimmy come up with. The joke takes the nation by storm. Leno, Jimmy Kimmel, Conan etc. all use the joke on their shows. Cartman and Jimmy appear on Ellen to talk about the joke and how fantastic it is. Without giving away too much, let's just say the joke involves 'fishsticks.'

West, who's known to have a short temper (see post on LAX paparazzi incident) did not take offense to the beating he took, even acknowledging that he was OK with it on his blog.

If you haven't seen it yet, the entire episode is below. Enjoy.