I don’t know whether to be more appalled or impressed that the marketers at 20th Century Fox have persuaded ticketgoers to part with $153 million (through last weekend, making it the No. 12 grosser of 2007) to see the abysmal “Alvin and the Chipmunks.” But in a rare case of honesty about a paycheck job, David Cross has ‘fessed up at his blog that he signed to play opposite the singing CGI rodents because: (1)he hadn’t worked in six months and (2) he needed the money for a down payment on a place in Sullivan County. What’s your excuse, Jason Lee? (Hat tip: Movie City News).