the buzz log

If we had to sum up this past week in one sentence, we'd have to go with: "Sheesh, we're glad that's not us." Over the past seven days, a famous starlet was mocked for her weight, a woman gave birth to eight (count 'em, eight!) kids, and a disgraced governor was kicked to the curb after begging for his job. Revisit those tales of woe with the Buzz week in review.

J-Simp's Controversial Curves
Has Jessica Simpson (gasp!) gained weight? Pictures of her wearing a rather unfortunate pair of mom jeans seemed to indicate that the formerly svelte starlet had (how to put this delicately?) packed on a few pounds. Yes, we know. Making fun of anyone's weight is not nice, but many bloggers and searchers didn't seem to care. Fortunately for Jessica, several celebs came to her defense, including the curvacious Kim Kardashian, ex-husband Nick Lachey, and sister Ashlee. Ashlee, who knows a thing or two about being made fun of, went so far as to call the comments about her sister's weight "disgusting."

She has a "love-eight" relationship
Knowing you're responsible for the health and well being of one kid is terrifying enough. So, imagine the sense of pressure that comes with having eight kids. At once. Heart attack city for some, but for a proud mother from Los Angeles, the birth of healthy octuplets was a joyous occasion. Mom asked not to be identified for privacy reasons, but that didn't stop the buzz. In fact, it likely encouraged folks to search high and low for pictures and gossip. An article on the family and the six kids the mysterious mom already has stirred up a cloud of buzz. Additionally, queries on "octuplets" and "eight babies" screamed like an ornery child.

Bye-bye to Blago
He may have left politics, but we'll always remember his hairline. Rod Blagojevich, the disgraced former governor of Illinois, was removed from office this week. After making an impassioned plea for his job that apparently fell on unsympathetic ears, state representatives not only took away Blago's job, they banned him from seeking any political office in the state of Illinois. Ever. Cue the sad trombone. Blogs and talk shows weighed in on the courtroom theatrics (The Daily Show called Blago "Scumdog Million-Hairs") and searches soared on "blagojevich" as well as countless creative misspellings.

Also buzzing this week...
• Exxon Mobil posted record profits ($45 billion) for 2008 and Wall Street executives treated themselves to $20 billion in bonuses. Try to keep your blood pressure from rising too high...
• Elizabeth Hasselbeck is pregnant and she wants you know it! The co-host of "The View" (aka television's longest hour) announced the news on her show. If you saw strangers weeping with tears of joy on Thursday and wondered why, well, mystery solved.

Filed under: Politics, Recaps, Jessica Simpson, Week in Review, Wrap Up

It's been days since the New York Giants knocked the Dallas Cowboys out of the playoffs, and Dallas fans are still struggling to understand how the upset happened. Is the Curse of Jessica Simpson to blame?

For those who don't follow the revolving door of celebrity romance, Ms. Simpson is currently dating Cowboy quarterback Tony Romo. Ever since the two became a couple, Dallas fans have been worried that the curvaceous Jessica might distract Tony from throwing touchdowns. Anyone who's seen Jessica in a tight sweater knows this is a legitimate concern.

Following the Cowboys heartbreaking loss, in which Romo threw a last-minute interception that sealed his team's fate, Cowboy fanatics dialed up searches on "jessica simpson curse" and "tony romo cursed." Apparently, the only thing more satisfying than bragging when your team wins is finding a scapegoat when your team loses.

It's worth noting that Dallas fans aren't the only ones who believe in the hex. The New York Post, who wanted a victory for their hometown Giants, placed a Jessica look-alike in the crowd just in case the curse is real. Searches on Lynsey Nordstrom, the dead-ringer who wore a pink Romo jersey to the game, surged once her secret slipped. Of course, we doubt either Jessica or Lynsey "caused" the loss, but since when are football fans rational?

Filed under: NFL, Jessica Simpson, Curses