Spice Girls, Victoria's Secret

Spice Girls, Victoria's Secret

Lip-Synching Spice Girls are back!I was at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood last night for the Victoria’s Secret show, where the five Spices performed two songs, "Stop" and "Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)." Despite the apparent lip-synching, the gals did okay. Say what you will, but they are a sight to be seen. (And you can see them Dec. 4, when the show is broadcast on CBS.)For the "Stop" performance, it was earth-toned retro-military ensembles. The biggest standout? Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham’s lips! They were painted shiny, fire-engine red, while the others were much more muted.Geri "Ginger Spice" Halliwell was looking skinny, while Mel C (Sporty Spice) skipped the tight miniskirt and heels for more comfortable pants and flats. The gals were surrounded by hot male dancers in military attire. Behind them onstage were towering wood letters covered in pink and silver glitter that spelled out S-P-I-C-E. Their mikes and stands were also slathered in glitter. They performed "Headlines" in evening gowns and furs that radiated old Hollywood glamour. Neither the song nor the performance stuck with me, though. It’s a ballad that sounds like one of any of their past ballads. They didn’t even move much in their gowns; they stood almost frozen, like a museum display.

A rep for the group would not comment on the lip-synching but said they will sing live during their world tour, which kicks off next month in Los Angeles.

Will.I.Am opened the show as a fill-in for Kanye West. Sadly, Will made no mention of West or West’s late mother, Donde. Even a short shout-out would have been nice.

Will also was in the unfortunate position of being compared to last year’s opener, Justin Timberlake. The SexyBack singer oozed sex and high energy when he opened the show as supermodel Gisele Bündchen simultaneously hit the catwalk. A source tells me Chris Brown was also approached to fill in, but he couldn’t even consider it because he’s apparently suffering from some sort of laryngitis.

Heidi Klum joined husband Seal onstage for a duet and a chance to show how much in love they are. At the end of the number, they didn’t just give each other a little peck. It was a full-on open-mouth public display of affection. Hope Seal took his echinacea, because I hear Klum was battling a nasty cold (not that you would know it by looking at her! The mama of three’s body is rockin!).

Now, let me tell you about the seating. In the front row were Eva Longoria, Ryan Seacrest, Gerard Butler, Jason Statham, Neil Patrick Harris and his hunky boyfriend, actor David Burtka, Hills stars Lauren Conrad and Audrina Patridge and former Dancing with the Stars contestant Stacy Keibler. But Jeremy Piven was relegated to the second row, as were Paramount Pictures boss Brad Grey and gazillionaire Steve Bing. Scary Spice’s Dancing with the Stars partner, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, watched from the seventh row.

There was no missing Hayden Panettiere. Someone get this gal a new stylist. She was done up way too much. In fact, when she first arrived in her body-hugging striped minidress, I didn't realize it was her. She looked like a woman in her late twenties or early thirties. Tone it down, child! You're only 18!

While most of the models on the runway are known by their fans and, of course, fashion insiders, there was at least one unknown, leggy blonde. I’m told producers were so enamored by one of three college-age gals who won tickets to the show through an in-store promotion, they ended up putting her in the show!

The fun times continued at Imperia vodka’s official after-party, held upstairs in the Kodak ballroom. And how’s this for modesty? Longoria was so nervous about not getting into the bash because she didn’t have the required hot-pink bracelet, she and best buddy-hairstylist Ken Paves kindly asked a staffer for one. He quickly slipped one around the Desperate Housewives star's tiny wrist.

Femalefirst Malkins Moments


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