Blonde Ambition 2007 release?!

Buried way down in a weekly synopsis by MTV News staff writers is the following blurb about whether Blond Ambition starring Jessica Simpson will be shown on the big screen or not:

"Despite UsMagazine.com's Thursday report that Jessica Simpson's "Blond Ambition" flick is going straight to DVD, People.com says the movie actually get a limited theatrical run in the actress' home state of Texas. "Blonde" will be shown in eight theaters starting December 21, and if it does well, could see a wider release, according to the site. The DVD of the comedy — which co-stars another Texas native, Luke Wilson — will hit stores January 22."

I can't confirm this.  Moviefone still lists Blond Ambition as coming out in March 2008, Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes has no release date, IMDb shows it as a video only release and Box Office Mojo doesn't list the movie at all.

So, can anyone confirm a limited release in Texas?  And would such a limited release count towards an appearance on the Razzie nomination ballot? 

Response from Head RAZZberry: Technically, a regional release in Texas only would not qualify a film for RAZZIE® consideration, since we base our "rules" on those of the Academy. Their rules clearly state that only a minimum one week regular admission engagement in either New York or Los Angeles qualifies a film for their awards. But, hey, we're the RAZZIES® and our rules are not written in stone. If, when it comes out on DVD, BLOND AMBITION is even half as bad as its trailer makes it look (LINK) we might be willing to give Mizz Simpson some recognition for the consistent caliber of her work. Bear in mind, though, that Simpson's OTHER potential 2008 release, MAJOR MOVIE STAR (LINK) will likely get a wider release and, since it's apparently a recruiting poster for the US Army disguised as a rip-off of PRIVATE BENJAMIN, it alone could get Simpson back in the RAZZIE® race for next year...

It gets even more embarrassing.  Apparently, her father won't fork out the bucks to make a proper movie poster.  The paragraph below comes from the top part of MSNBC's celebrity gossip columnist's Courtney Hazlett's Scoop column for 15 Dec 2007:

***************************************
"That said, there are still signs of spending cuts at Papa Joe Productions. Among the first luxuries to go: photo shoots. “One of Jessica’s shoots can cost upwards of $50,000 to $60,000,” said one person who’s been involved with her shoots in the past. “The movie poster for ‘Blonde Ambition’ is an outtake from her ‘Public Affair’ album shoot, and take a look at the ‘Major Movie Star’ poster — it’s not hard to tell that is actually her GQ cover.” "

Looking over this list of brave Texas theatres, it occurred to me--except for Laredo, I haven't heard of any of these cities.  It's not showing in Dallas, Ft. Worth, Houston, Austin, Corpus Christi, Galveston, San Antonio, Lubbock, Beaumont, Waco, El Paso, Amarillo or even in Simpson's birthplace of Abilene. 

That's sad!

I just read that article, Budgieboy.  Perez Hilton has glommed onto this?!  I thought we were the only ones interested in this!

Box Office Mojo estimates that Blond Ambition has grossed $1300 in the eight theatres where it was shown (the eighth one was in Brownsville) during this weekend.  Normally, that means that during the entire weekend long, approximately 130 people across Texas paid to see this movie, with the biggest city where it was shown being Laredo.  However, I read some things in the IMDb message board that Blond Ambition may have opened in cheap theatres.  If that's true, the attendance could be 400 or more.

That's worse than Chevy Chase's Funny Money, and at least ThinkFilm had the guts to show that one in Los Angeles and New York!

That is so bad, it's funny.  See, she can make you laugh! . . .

Well, on the second to last day of its showing in the cheap theatres of 8 mostly small Texan cities, Blonde Ambition as pulled in $5,561.00.  Now, each ticket cost $1.00 to $1.50, so that means the total audience for the past 13 days was anywhere from just under 3,800 to 5,561.  I'd guess the total number of tickets sold would be somewhere around 4,700.  Now, considering that (1) the price is extremely cheap, (2) this is during the holiday season and (3) this is showing in Jessica Simpson's home state, but on the other hand, (4) all those people gave up an hour and a half of their lives, and (5) all these people come from small cities, I don't have a clue of how this movie would have fared had it been given a wider release.

I'm just disappointed that it wasn't shown in Los Angeles or New York.