Yes, there’s a whole new line of IPods announced yesterday. They have phones, cameras, and frappe blenders attached to them.

What they don’t have is...music.

Whether you listen to digital music on an IPod or — my personal favorite–a Creative Zen XFi2-- it doesn’t matter. You simply aren’t hearing what was recorded. This is especially true for classical, jazz, and classic rock records. No matter how good the earbuds– from the Klipsches we heard last week in L.A. to my preferred Ultimate Ears— 50% of the music is lost.

Some digital music is called “lossless” but that’s not true. In…

My dear Hanson fans:

You are a devoted group but you’re not buying CDs.

According to Nielsen Soundscan, the new Hanson album, “Shout it Out,” has sold a paltry 31,000 copies.

The most recent one before that was called “Walk.” Total sales to date from 2007: 54,000 copies.

The days of “MMMBop” are long since passed. This doesn’t mean Hanson are not talented musicians. It’s just that their day in the sun has come and gone. This can be said for plenty of acts. I wish them well in all their endeavors.

Oscar Isaac, the hot star of Madonna’s highly anticipated “W.E.,” is joining the cast of “Drive.”

“Drive” stars Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, and Albert Brooks. The action thriller is based on James Sallis‘s novel.

Isaac is hot as a pistol. He’s in Zack Snyder‘s upcoming “Sucker Punch.” In the last two years he’s starred in “Agora” with Rachel Weisz, and the cult film, “Balibo.” He was Prince John to Russell Crowe‘s “Robin Hood’ earlier this year, pretty much stealing the show.

In Madonna’s movie, Isaac is one half of a modern day couple who are juxtaposed with the…

What has happened to Rob Reiner?

His latest film, called “Flipped,” has made just around $690,000 since its release on August 6th. It’s dead, it’s over, it’s gone. A total write off of last $25 million.

“Flipped” got mixed reviews when it debuted. The trade papers didn’t like it. Some bloggers and a few newspaper reviewers were okay with it. It registered a high 68% on Rottentomatoes.com, with a cadre of little known bloggers pulling it up.

But “Flipped” is a Warner Bros. It’s not some little indie. And it has names, albeit not box office magicians: Rebecca deMornay, Anthony…

Seal– such a good singer songwriter, has a new album coming out on September 28th. It’s called “Commitment.”

Did you know about it? Of course not. It’s from Warner Music Group.

The first single is called “Secret.” It was released to YouTube and other outlets three days ago. Surprise!

I ran into Seal at the Governor’s Ball for the Emmy Awards with his delicious wife, Heidi Klum. They were celebrating losing the Emmy for “Project Runway” to “Top Chef.” Oh well. It’s better to look good than to feel good.

Seal told me he decided to stick with WMG for…

The great and legendary musician Billy Preston would have turned 64 on September 2nd. He died in June 2006, however, leaving a crazy legal entanglement.

Billy was the real “Fifth Beatle,” the only artist ever to have his name on a record with the Beatles–”Get Back.” He played on many of their hits, and with the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton. Of course, he’s not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Billy’s hits included “Will it Go Round in Circles,” “Nothing from Nothing,” and “Outta Space.” He co-wrote the classic hit song, “You Are So Beautiful to Me.”…

I wrote about Hanson today and got a lot of email from their fans. I didn’t even know they had fans. Who knew? Hanson seems very 1997. If they sell CDs or downloads, they must have a very devoted group of followers. It’s not like Hanson recordings are showing up in sales charts or on the tradio.

But plenty of groups inspire loyalty who are not that well known anymore. So I tip my hat to Hanson’s gang of believers. Never will take their name, with o or an e, in vain again! All hail Hanson!

http://tinyurl.com/ckqb9e

My hero: Ricky Gervais.

The British comic and creator of “The Office” has a lot of plans for the Golden Globes when he hosts them again in January.

Gervais is well aware of the terrible reputation of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and doesn’t mind saying so on national television.

This past year, he took a fair number of swipes at them during the show. HFPA members are currently starting their annual swag tour, traveling from Venice to Telluride to Toronto and more on the studios’ money, all to see films they could see at home in Los Angeles. The…

Yes, “Mad Men” did win the Emmy for Best Drama. It was a great night, but it means I didn’t get to watch Sunday’s episode until just now.

As usual, Harry Crane is being used to deliver some messages to the audience, and maybe the press. In this instance, Harry is busy telling the guys from Life cereal what’s going to happen on “Peyton Place.” In 1965, “Peyton Place”–starring Ryan O’Neal and Mia Farrow–inspired just as much cult loyalty as “Mad Men.” Everyone wanted to know what was going to happen. If I remember correctly, “Peyton Place” aired twice a…

A little sleep 48 hours after the Emmy Awards and we can look back with relief.

Best Official Party goes to HBO, of course. As usual they tent and decorate the entire Pacific Design Center to a fare-thee-well. It’s a magnificent spectacle. There were go go belly dancers perched about 30 feet in the air. There was also a great deejay set up beneath them, with a crowded dance floor.

But the big story at the HBO party is that Cheryl Hines, one of our faves, is only in a couple of the new episodes of “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” I…