Neil Patrick Harris & His Awesome 40th Birthday Present from David Burtka- Page 2

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 5/10/13 at 6:44pm

Kimball and NPH were on each others genitals at some point? Dude likes his showboys.

[Kad]

Posted: 5/10/13 at 6:49pm

It was a while ago- ten years-ish?

[John Adams]

Posted: 5/10/13 at 7:33pm

I'm with all the people who found this to be an excess of riches.
I began to get turned off at the Ipad mini buried in the garden part. I see that as being one step away from the "wiping your a** with $100 bills" that was mentioned earlier.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 5/10/13 at 8:04pm

I do see your point, John.

But in thinking about this thread, it occurs to me that the original point of TV talk shows was to allow the hoi polloi a glimpse into the lives of those who are richer, more famous and more privileged than us regular people.

How is this any different?

And in Burtka's defense, I imagine it's a challenge to plan a birthday surprise for someone who makes $200K per TV episode.

[Playbilly]

Posted: 5/10/13 at 10:09pm

What kills me is these celebrity couples who parade their newborns (or newly-adopted) kids on the cover of People, invite TV crews to family events, then scream they want their privacy when a photographer snaps an photo they haven't authorized. And they bemoan spending a fortune on security for their family.

It's just ego that makes them "share" their "private moments".

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/10/13 at 11:31pm

Dude likes his showboys.

You know what they say. Once you go Fosse, you can never go un-glossy.

[larrystyles]

Posted: 5/11/13 at 12:05am

Just a reminder for all the NPH "fans"

http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/64004275.html

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/11/13 at 12:31am

I remember after the kids were dropped off they "tweeted" asking for privacy. Whatever.
Actually, talk shows began as a way to allow civilians an opportunity to get to know a more personal side of celebrities-it was never about flaunting wealth.

I love how Burtka "invented a new technology" according to Harris. Um, yea, I'm sure he did. SMH.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/11/13 at 1:07am

"What kills me is these celebrity couples who parade their newborns (or newly-adopted) kids on the cover of People..."

Would it... please?

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 5/11/13 at 6:36am

Did the kids go along on these scavenger hunts? I mean, they are 2 1/2 years old. Do they stay home with nannies while they fly from clue point to clue point? When they are that little, they should be with their parents whenever possible. Yes, I am biased, but I HATE when celebrities (and the uber wealthy in general) have babies and let nannies raise them. It's one thing when they are working. I am not saying this is NHP's habit, just a general bitch.

[John Adams]

Posted: 5/11/13 at 9:27am

>> "it occurs to me that the original point of TV talk shows was to allow the hoi polloi a glimpse into the lives of those who are richer, more famous and more privileged than us regular people.

How is this any different?"

For me, personally, everything is different due to the economic recession/depression that still continues. I view the world very differently now.

When it comes to money, specifically, I'm much more cynical than when times were better. I react more emotionally when I see examples of people extravagantly flaunting their wealth. I used to be able to let stuff like that roll off...

[billis2]

Posted: 5/11/13 at 2:13pm

That Halloween party "decoration" is incredibly tasteless. Incredibly. Especially since there was a good chance that someone could have been there who knew her.

And that birthday party story on Ellen? Way too long and boring, and way too self-congratulatory. "This great thing happened to me because I have a great boyfriend and I'm rich!"

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 5/11/13 at 11:19pm

Fair enough, John. I see what you mean.

To be upfront about it, I'm not a big fan of talk shows (except Graham Norton, which is something else entirely), but I don't understand how we are to get a "personal view" of celebrities without also getting a look at wealth and privilege.

***

As for the Amy Winehouse gag, I'd say she was rather in on the joke after selling umpteen million copies of "Rehab". (For which I will always love her, BTW.)

Updated On: 5/11/13 at 11:19 PM

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 5/12/13 at 1:09am

I would hardly say she was in on the joke of her own death.

[John Adams]

Posted: 5/12/13 at 10:56am

>> "I don't understand how we are to get a "personal view" of celebrities without also getting a look at wealth and privilege."

My negative reaction isn't in regards to the knowledge that NPH is wealthy. I was just turned off by how unappreciative and self-centered his tale made him seem.

Oprah told a similar story on her show at a time when the Recession/Depression was at its height in the news media. She bragged about how expensive and luxurious the dog houses were that she'd bought for her dogs (she even broadcast pictures of the dog houses) - and she told this story at a time when people all across the country were losing their own homes, jobs and faced with homelessness.

Like Oprah's story, I feel that NPH's was heard by me in a way that I find insensitive to what is happening to us "little people down here on the ground". His tale also made him appear to be extremely superficial in the sense that "monetary over-indulgence" is a demonstration of "love".

Public behavior regarding speech that comments on social issues like Gay marriage, etc. has changed. Speech that used to be acceptable is no longer tolerated. There's a "new normal".

I extend the "new normal" to include flaunting of wealth. I see it equally as gauche to flaunt one's wealth during a time of economic crisis as it is to deny Gays a right to marriage equality, yet demonstrate nonchalance regarding the "sanctity" of one's own. Updated On: 5/12/13 at 10:56 AM

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 5/12/13 at 6:24pm

Do you also plan to ban talk shows, John? Or just confine the conversations to the plugging of new projects?

NPH's birthday trip netted him an iPad mini ($350 retail), a trip to Vegas (pretty standard and not very expensive from LA) and to Albuquerque (his home town).

He was hardly bragging about acquiring the Hope diamond and spending a week on the international space station.

Do you want celebrities to fake poverty as well as humility?

(For the record, I don't have an iPad, mini or otherwise. Can't afford one.)

[Popular]

Posted: 5/12/13 at 10:36pm

Looks like I may be in the minority but I happen to think his bday scavenger hunt was very thoughtful, and I got the sense that he was impressed by the time and effort put into the planning as opposed to the expense. I didn't take it as flaunting it to the have nots. Oh, and I'm also excited to see him back to host the Tonys.

[John Adams]

Posted: 5/12/13 at 11:11pm

>> "Do you also plan to ban talk shows, John? Or just confine the conversations to the plugging of new projects?

I don't understand...? I'm confused by the words, "also plan to ban". I don't feel like I was suggesting to ban or confine anything - and I can't recall suggesting to ban anything in previous posts, from other threads.

Not that I'm apologizing for my perception of NPH's story, but I did kinda preface that my opinion might not match a majority opinion in an earlier post.

At any rate, like you, I enjoy Graham Norton, too! Updated On: 5/12/13 at 11:11 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 1:29pm

Popular, I think he tried to shift it to how "thoughtful" he thought it was, but NPH set the whole thing up by almost challenging his partner to deliver something incredible. "I mean this is FORTY ... come on!!" he said.

It made the whole thing sound crass after that. "You must spoil me now, because I'm ME and I'm turning 40. And I've pretty much given you an ultimatum to deliver the goods."

Don't get me wrong, I would be saying this about anybody who acted this way, not just a famous, rich person, and not just NPH.

A spoiled person who HAS to be shown something INCREDIBLE on his 40th birthday ... or else!!!

... and before some of you say, "Oh, come on, anybody would have done that." No, they wouldn't. And no, they don't all have to have INCREDIBLE birthday parties when they "flip the first digit." I always wonder about the trust in a relationship when someone has to be shown that much demonstrative proof of affection and attention.

It's one thing to go all out for someone you love because you want to. It's another thing entirely to do it because you were told you have to.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 1:40pm

In all honesty, I don't find the Winehouse corpse offensive. Many people would do something similar in the privacy of their own homes. They know their friends and guests who get them and their sense of humor. The problem is all this stuff gets tweeted to the public who have no context and it appears insensitive.

I guess NPH and DB need to talk to their guests about privacy.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 2:08pm

I usually enjoy NPH, but I just couldn't bear this video. They've got way too much money, and clearly in David Burtka's case, time on their hands to spend on stuff like this.

I'm fine with elaborate birthday celebrations, especially on the landmark first digit flip years. But this one feels like they've seen LAST OF SHEILA a few times too many.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 5/13/13 at 8:14pm

--I know a lot of people who demand creatively planned birthday celebrations every year, not just on the decade breaks. Fortunately, I am not married to one of them.

--The purpose of Halloween is to allow people the catharsis of a time when the usual conventions of decorum don't apply, when black humor is allowed to triumph over piety. Historically, most cultures devoted more days than Halloween and Super Bowl Sunday to such liberties.

--John Adams, I apologize. I used the phrase "plan to ban" carelessly; I knew you weren't actually calling for censorship. But I still say there's a large audience of people who WANT to hear about people more fortunate than they. If there weren't, Bravo wouldn't survive almost exclusively on REAL HOUSEWIVES series.

By that standard, NPH and his partner are rather humble. Like some others, I thought the emphasis of the story was on the extensive planning rather than a large sum of money spent.