Halle Berry Splits From Model Beau
(from Us Weekly)After four years together, Halle Berry and boyfriend Gabriel Aubry have called it quits, according to TMZ.com and RadarOnline.com.
TMZ.com reports that they are currently working out a custody agreement for their daughter, Nahla, 2.
The Oscar-winning actress, 43, and the model, 34, first met at a 2006 Versace shoot. Two years later, their daughter was born.
Berry never seemed to mind their nine-year age difference — or the fact that they never wed.
"I feel more married now than I did in any of my actual marriages," she told the March 2009 issue of Essence. "We live the truth of that and that's more important than a piece of paper."
Bill Condon to Direct Breaking Dawn
(Press Release)Los Angeles, CA April 28, 2010 – Summit Entertainment has confirmed that Academy Award® winner Bill Condon will direct The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, based on the fourth novel in author Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, is currently being written by Melissa Rosenberg, and will star Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner. Wyck Godfrey, Karen Rosenfelt, and Stephenie Meyer will produce the project.
"Bringing Stephenie Meyer's Breaking Dawn to the screen requires a graceful and intelligent hand and we believe Bill Condon is exactly the right steward, having shown equal and abundant talents of immense creativity and subtle sensitivity,” said Erik Feig, President of Production and Acquisitions, for Summit Entertainment.
Added author Stephenie Meyer, "I'm so thrilled that Bill wants to work with us. I think he's going to be a great fit, and I'm excited to see what he does with the material."“I'm very excited to get the chance to bring the climax of this saga to life on-screen. As fans of the series know, this is a one-of-a-kind book - and we're hoping to create an equally unique cinematic experience," said Bill Condon.
Sandra Files for Divorce, Has Adopted Baby
(from msnbc.com)Sandra Bullock revealed to PEOPLE magazine that she and her estranged husband, Jesse James, adopted a baby boy in January and that, in the wake of allegations of James’ infidelity, the Oscar-winning actress has filed for divorce and plans to raise the 3 1/2-month old child as a single mother.
Larry Hackett, managing editor of PEOPLE, told Meredith Vieira Wednesday morning on TODAY that Bullock reached out to the magazine to tell the story of the baby's adoption and to discuss her marriage.
The baby, whose name is Louis (pronounced Lew-ee) Bardo Bullock, was born in New Orleans. Bullock told PEOPLE she chose that name because she heard Louis Armstrong's song “What A Wonderful World” playing in her head when she first saw him.
Bullock said she was blind-sided by the news of James’ infidelity and, while feeling “sad and scared,” is filing for divorce and is finalizing Louis’ adoption as a “single parent.”
Bullock told PEOPLE she didn't want the baby pulled into “the awards season energy” and after she brought him home she kept virtually all visitors out of her home, including stylists and make-up artists working with her for the awards.
“I did not want him brought into a world that would not have been too sincere to him as I wanted,” Bullock told PEOPLE. “I wanted to be alone with him as long as I could then we had to tell his story.”
“I really don’t know how our paths will intersect in the future, but that father I have known Jesse to be … is one that I hope Louis can experience one day, no matter how Jesse and I go on with our lives.”
Bullock had been involved in parenting James’ three kids from previous marriages, and told People that she couldn’t imagine her life without them, and the plan is for them to co-parent.
People received a statement from James, in which he seems remorseful and hopeful about reconciliation. “I know in my heart that I can be the best father possible to my four children and the mate Sandy deserves, and realize that this is an incredible mountain to climb. But I believe the steps I have taken in the last 30 days are the foundation to making this happen.”
Rob Lowe Gets Around!
Rob Lowe, who recently joined the cast of the fabulous Parks and Recreation, will guest star in the fourth season of Showtime's Californication.Rob will play Eddie Nero, an imbalanced yet charismatic, award-winning movie star who finds himself in contention to play Hank Moody (played by David Duchovny) in the film version of Moody's hit novel.
Rob will appear in at least one episode, but could possibly become a recurring character.
Yay! I am always in favor of more Rob Lowe!
TNT Renews Southland for Third Season
TNT has booked a third season of its critically acclaimed drama Southland, from Warner Bros. Television and Emmy-winning producer John Wells (ER, The West Wing). The network has ordered 10 episodes for the third season, which is slated to begin airing in January 2011.“Southland is a challenging, visceral show that engages viewers with its immersive style, provocative storylines and complex characters,” said Michael Wright, executive vice president, head of programming, for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). “These qualities have made Southland a favorite among critics and appointment viewing for an extremely loyal audience.”
Q and A: Week of April 26
Q: I thought Conan O’Brien (pictured left) was going to be heading to Fox with his late-night talk show, but now I hear he is going to TBS. Is this true? And is he taking over George Lopez’s timeslot? — Trista W., SeattleA: Conan recently announced that he will indeed be bringing his late-night-hosting duties to TBS. His show will air at 11 p.m., with George Lopez taking on the midnight timeslot with “Lopez Tonight.” However, make no mistake: There is no animosity in this timeslot switcharoo. George is the one who actively courted and pursued Conan to sign with TBS, and he couldn’t be happier that Conan accepted.
“I can’t think of anything better than doing my show with Conan as my lead-in,” George said. “It’s the beginning of a new era in late-night comedy.” With a reported eight-figure deal, as well as allowing Conan to own his own show (which he would not have been able to at Fox), the move to TBS was the most profitable, creativity-wise and monetary-wise.
Q: How is actress Maura Tierney doing in her breast cancer treatment? Will she be back on TV soon? — Greta D., via e-mail
A: Maura’s representative, Christina Papadopolous, said that the 45-year-old actress “has finished treatment and is doing very well, and is happy to move forward with the next phase of her life.” That next phase happens to be returning to the FX network’s action-drama “Rescue Me,” where she’ll return in 2011 for four episodes as Denis Leary’s love interest during the show’s seventh (and final) season.
Q: I was very upset to hear that Dixie Carter had passed away. She was the epitome of grace, beauty and talent. How are her friends and family doing? — Edith D., via e-mail
A: Not surprising, Dixie’s family is heartbroken by her passing on April 10 from complications of endometrial cancer at the age of 70. Husband Hal Holbrook released this statement: “This has been a terrible blow to our family. We would appreciate everyone understanding that this is a private family tragedy.”
Friend and former “Designing Women” co-star Annie Potts told People magazine: “Dixie Carter was a Goddess. The kind of wife and mother that every mother hopes their daughter will become, and the kind of friend that is absolutely irreplaceable. She loved fiercely and was adored in return.”
Q: Is James Van Der Beek getting married again? I’ve heard that he is, but didn’t he just recently get divorced from his first wife? — Ginger F., Port St. Lucie, Fla.
A: While the former “Dawson’s Creek” star hasn’t revealed if there are wedding bells in the future for him and girlfriend Kimberly Brook, I do predict plenty of diapers and pacifiers. James recently revealed via Twitter (the latest go-to forum for celebs to reveal personal, breaking news) that he and Kimberly are expecting their first child later this year.
Bret Michaels Still in ICU, Suffered Brain Hemorrhage
(from KTLA News)LOS ANGELES -- Rocker turned reality star Bret Michaels remains in critical condition at an undisclosed hospital after suffering a brain hemorrhage Thursday night.
Doctors are still trying to find the source of his brain hemorrhage, and the 47-year-old former Poison front-man is under 24-hour surveillance, according to an update on Michaels' website.
"Further testing this week will help locate the source of the bleeding," Monday's update stated.
The rocker's tour manager, Janna Elias, has been posting the online updates.
"As we all know Bret is a fighter and we are hopeful that once all is complete the slurred speech, blurred vision and dizziness, etc. will be eliminated and all functions will return to normal. Everyone at Michaels Entertainment would like to thank all fans and friends for their continued thoughts and prayers through this difficult time."
Though there were reports circulating that Michaels' condition had stabilized, Elias, who is reportedly at the rocker's hospital bedside, said on Sunday that he remains in critical condition.
"There are several incorrect reports on Bret's condition. Bret remains in critical condition at an undisclosed location. Further tests are being ran and information will be updated in the coming days," she said in a statement.
The rocker is currently a contestant on Donald Trump's NBC competitive reality series, "The Celebrity Apprentice." He has also starred on VH1's "Rock of Love."
Donald Trump said in a statement Friday that he was "deeply saddened" to hear of Michaels' condition.
"He's a great competitor and champion, and I hope he will be fine," Trump said.
On "Celebrity Apprentice," Michaels has been concerned of late with his daughter's health.
She has been tested for diabetes after Michaels said recently "she is showing all the signs."
Lost: Final Flight
The Lost cast photograph titled “Final Flight” has been released wide today. This image was originally made available for purchase as a 300 limited-edition print run, numbered and signed by ABC chief photographer Bob D’Amico. The limited edition prints are sold out, however, previous season cast prints are still available at www.officiallostphotos.com. The highly anticipated finale of Lost will air Sunday, May 23 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.
Interview: Jaclyn Smith, a Trendsetter Who Makes a Difference
Throughout her career, Jaclyn Smith has been known as a trendsetter — whether it’s with her clothing, your hairstyles, etc. From Breck girl to Charlie's Angel to breast-cancer-awareness spokesperson, Jaclyn is a woman on a mission, a mission to empower other women who might not feel empowered otherwise.Celebrity Extra: What was the impetus behind your new line of wigs with Jose Eber and the STYLE collection for Paula Young?
Jaclyn Smith: Well, you know, being an actress you really realize — I don't think the world realizes that so many actresses today are wearing hair extensions or they’re wearing a wig for a role. You might not want to stress out your hair and bleach it blond, or you might not want to cut it. You put on a wig and boom! — you’ve got a new look, a new character or a look that is right for the character you’re portraying. And some people just want enhancements. Some people want thicker hair or straighter hair and they put on a hair extension, a volumizer and it’s magic. I think about 21 million women have thinning hair; one in every four women experience some form of hair loss, so I think it’s important.
Jose certainly understands this; he's my dear friend. I had a friend who went through chemo and I realized the importance of wigs there. As you know, I’m a breast cancer survivor, but I didn’t go through chemo — and I thank God every day for that — but when you go through that and you are dealing with hair loss, it is so traumatic. It can just make you retreat. I was able to help my friend with a wig, and it turned out to be just spectacular looking on her and gave her a whole new zest for getting out there and not giving in. I think women need to feel pretty, and I think hair can make the biggest difference in a woman more than makeup, more than anything I think hair can do that.
CE: Not everyone has access to someone as great as Jose (pictured above, with Jaclyn) to do their hair — is that a big reason for the line, so women can get saloon beauty at home on their own?
JS: Right! Say your hair cut isn’t what you want it to be or you know, hair when my hair is right, I feel great; when my hair isn’t happening, it’s not so great. Now all women can feel great about their hair.
CE: With the popularity of hair extensions and hairpieces for women, do you think STYLE collection wigs will give women an independence and newfound confidence they might not have had without them?
JS: I think certainly that is true, and I think with my branding — as you know I've been with K-Mart 25 years — part of my giving back, my philosophy on giving back is making things possible that ordinarily wouldn't be or doing the leg work to bring some idea together. Certainly having Jose, I mean, you know, he's my friend so he just cuts my hair. But, a haircut by Jose is quite expensive. A wig is quite expensive when you go to certain wigmakers, so by doing this for the masses, we're really giving quality, wonderful hair. We have synthetic, but we also have human hair. We’re really able to give them something that ordinarily wouldn't be possible and having his expertise was immeasurable — getting the root color right, getting multicolored pieces put into the wig for highlights and low lights, where it isn't just one color. Certainly he's an expert at that and choosing the right hair, and he’s handpicking the colors too. They call my color caramelized brown, which has a lot of different colors in it — it isn’t just brown. It might have a lighter blond, a caramel blond, a honey blond, so you get this look of being more natural. When something is all one color, it feels or screams “Wig!”
CE: The design of wigs in general really has come a long way — they really look natural!JS: Definitely, and I think we’ve designed our wigs so it doesn’t look like a hat. There’s not too much hair — it’s not thin, but it’s not that “wiggy” look that you used to see where there is just so much hair in it that it said, “Hey I’m wearing a wig.” We don’t have that. Putting the wigs on myself, I’ve wanted to make it more tossled, more windblown looking, which is what your real hair is.
What we do sometimes is find styles we like and then design our wig around that. We might pick an iconic style — Katie Holmes sort of inspired the Vivian wig (pictured left). It’s a version of that bob. And then certain roles I’ve done like through my career, those have inspired particular styles.
CE: Can you tell me a bit about the spring collection?
JS: The new part of our spring collection is the lace wig. It’s 100% real hair. We added a few new styles, the Vivian being one, the Millie (pictured below) being another. And they’re just really different styles of hair. We’ve added our hair volumizer — it use to be synthetic, but it’s real hair now and easier to put into your own hair.
We have some little clip-on pieces that you can put anywhere. You just clip them where you want. Also you can do those in different colors. Like if you want a blond streak in your hair, you get blond even if you’re a brunette. And it just gives you that added streak without stressing your hair.
CE: I know you successfully fought breast cancer about seven years ago. I don’t know anyone who isn’t affected in some way by some form of cancer. Can you tell me about your participation in the documentary, 1 a Minute, and the overall importance of this film?
JS: Enlightening women everywhere is so important. You don’t realize how many women are in denial and then when they hear that diagnosis they shut off, and they don’t open themselves up to knowledge and what’s out there. We’ve come so far with research, we’ve come so far with treatment — with stage one breast cancer there’s a 98 percent cure rate. I understand shutting off, because sometimes you hear something like that and your world stops spinning.
I haven’t seen the finished film yet, but, boy they really brought together a great team. They knew what they were doing. Everybody’s story is unique and special, and I think it makes women everywhere feel they’re not alone. But as you know, you’re getting older; being female puts you at greater risk. It’s not family history, it’s just being female and getting older. With each passing decade, your chances of getting breast cancer go up. That early detection is the key. We want to put that out there.
When I did some publicity for my home line for K-Mart before Christmas, there was all that talk going around that we don’t need our mammograms every year. Well, that’s not true. You need a mammogram every year. If I hadn’t had my mammogram, my diagnosis and my prognosis could have been different. So you need that, and you can’t base it on a price analysis. That is not where to cut down. Everybody’s life is important. And you need to get out there after 40 and do it, and if you have a family history, then you need to do it even earlier.
CE: I am very glad you are helping to get the word out, because this really is something that we women need to be aware of and active in.
JS: Oh, I know. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Many women are in denial. When I traveled for Strength in Knowing, women would come tell me: “Well I was diagnosed, but I need to do this and I need to do that; I’m being healed through mental telepathy; I’m a spiritual healer.” Come on — I believe in spirituality and a positive attitude but, you need to get the poison, you need to get the tumor out.
I’m seven years out. I feel just enlightened about so much from that experience. It did make me stronger. I am definitely stronger for it.
Interview (Glee): Kevin McHale: "We're in Awe!"
Glee triumphantly returned to Fox last week to enormous critical praise, and tonight's episode, "The Power of Madonna," should be no exception. I got the chance to catch up with one of the show's stars, Kevin McHale [pictures courtesy Fox (2) and NBC (1)], who plays Artie Abrams on the hit musical comedy. (Catch the first part of my interview here.)Celebrity Extra: How long does it take for the cast to learn the songs and choreography to be ready for filming? It would seem to be a lot more work than your conventional sitcom or nighttime drama.
Kevin McHale: It’s regular for us to do a 15- or 16-hour day. Just shooting the episode itself takes eight days, sometimes 10. That doesn’t include the dance rehearsals before and the recording of the songs before that. It’s really hard for the writers too. You have to go into getting the songs cleared and dance before you even look at the scripts. It takes months and months of work, just per script. It’s a big process, and I think now that we’re shooting the back nine for season, we kind of got the rhythm of it. We’re doing something new. No one has ever done all this in combination with each other. It’s a learning curve learning how to balance everything. I think we have it down.
CE: How long did you work with the wheelchair before filming? You look very natural with it.
KM: For the pilot, we had about three weeks of dance rehearsal and recording, so I did get to kind of mess around with it for a good two-and-a-half to three weeks before we started shooting. The first number we ever did was “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat.” In the show, it’s only like 5 seconds long. In reality, we choreographed the entire song. Within those first few days of learning that number, I kind of figured out everything I could do in the wheelchair. It was pretty early on that I tried to master my skills in the wheelchair.
CE: Your arms must be really tired at the end of the day!
KM: I wish I could say they were. I wish I could say I’m super strong now, but no I’m generally really light and the wheelchair’s light, so I’m not really pushing around anything.
CE: I want to go back to that very first episode where you guys helped make Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” hip again. Did you have any idea that Glee would become such a phenomenon?
KM: No, not at all. It was kind of insane because the pilot came out, and it wasn’t like it hit like, “Oh my god this is the best thing ever!” It took time because we were away still filming the episodes and when the show came back, we re-aired the pilot twice in the same week, and as word of mouth started to spread, it started to grow. We had hoped that it would become what it is now, but you can never even imagine what that would be. So, it’s beyond any of our expectations, including Ryan Murphy who created the show. We’re all just kind of in awe and shock, and we’re just happy that people are watching it and buying the songs so we get to go back and make more episodes.
KM: I would really love to do some sort of Michael Jackson or maybe like a Paul McCartney solo song. We’ve done the Beatles now so maybe — maybe do a Paul McCartney episode. I just saw him in concert, so I’m re-obsessed with Paul McCartney. But the thing is, we’ve kind of given up thinking of songs we could do, because the writers think of songs we would never think of, and the way they use them in the story line and in context with what’s going on with the characters is 10 times better than anything we could imagine.
CE: You all must work so hard; how do you blow off steam on the set?
KM: You know what, I think the work within itself, you don’t have time to do anything else. Performing these songs and making people laugh and the crew is so awesome. It doesn’t ever feel like work. It’s like we are with our family every single day, and we get to sing and dance and make music videos and sometimes do the most ridiculous costumes.
CE: True — you guys get to blow off steam just by doing all that singing and dancing.
KM: Yeah, it’s not like we are solving murder mysteries. If we were on a 16-hour day of CSI or something, I think we all might have to be serious all day. But we get to laugh, and we’re all roughly the same age. In between scenes, we have a lot of fun, and during the scenes, we try to mess with each other to make each other laugh. We keep each other entertained.
CE: You’ve also guest-starred on another hit comedy, The Office, as the pizza delivery kid. I was very surprised when I realized that was you. How was that set to work on? KM: That was kind of my first big thing being a part of a big show like that. They were really, really super nice. I walked on set and they’re like, “This is Kevin McHale.” And they all stood up clapping and came up to me and introduced themselves. They were just super, super nice and super friendly. It was a really chill, easy set to be on. I was the only kid on the set and I was a little shy, but they were all extremely nice. That whole thing was like the most insane three days of my life. I was like, “Oh my god. I get to be on The Office.”
When I watch it, I’m like, “Oh, there I’m about to laugh … and there,” the whole time. They’re all geniuses. I don’t know how they do what they do. I guess that was the fourth season the episode I was on, and I guess after four seasons you learn not to laugh. It was just insane. I remember the very first take was the first scene that I’m in and it’s with Steve Carell and he’s getting angry about the pizza. Then he starts improvising, and I had to hide my face behind the pizza boxes cause I’m like, “This is ridiculous.” It was hilarious.
CE: I’ll have to watch that episode again and watch you as you try not to laugh.
KM: Every time I start frowning — the same thing on Glee — if you see me frown it’s because I’m about to laugh. That’s kind of my go-to. I just have to absolutely frown so I don’t do the opposite and smile.
Don't miss tonight's episode of Glee at 8:59/7:59c, as the cast celebrates the Material Girl. And how will you prepare for tonight's show? Me — I am listening to Madonna's greatest hits double CD all day to get me pumped.
Q and A: Week of April 19
Q: Is it true that S. Epatha Merkerson (pictured) is leaving “Law and Order”? I hope not, since she is one of my favorite characters. — Sheila F., Harrisburg, Pa.A: I’m sorry to be the one to tell you that the rumors are true. Merkerson recently told EW.com that she did indeed plan to leave the hit crime drama after 16 years on the show. She revealed: “It’s the end of my contract this year, and the story line has been so perfect. I’ve given it my best for 16 years. It’s time to move on. I’m doing other things, and this will be a great way to leave what has been an extraordinary gig.”
Q: I really like the actress who plays Flo on the Progressive Insurance commercials. Can you tell me her name and a little bit about her? I think she is hilarious! — Lawrence D., West Palm Beach, Fla.
A: Stephanie Courtney, 40, plays the beehive-hair Progressive Insurance agent in the series of comedic commercials. She has made appearances in a variety of television shows and films, including “Blades of Glory,” “Sons of Tucson,” “ER,” “For Your Consideration,” “The United States of Tara” and “Mad Men.” On a related note, she also starred on the series “Cavemen,” which was based on the cavemen characters in the Geico Insurance commercials. Apparently Progressive didn’t mind her association with its competitor, as they cast her in their most successful series of commercials to date.
Q: I was sad to hear of the passing of actor John Forsythe, who seemed the consummate professional in every role he played. How are his Hollywood friends responding to his death? — Patti T., via e-mail
A: John’s former “Dynasty” co-star Joan Collins called him the “last of the true gentlemen of the acting profession. He will be greatly missed.” Kate Jackson, who worked with him on “Charlie’s Angels,” said: “He had a grace about him that was incredibly awesome. He was wonderful.” Heather Locklear, who also worked with him on “Dynasty,” said: “John was a gentleman in every sense of the word. He was a gifted actor who knew the true meaning of being gracious and kind.” John passed away on April 1 from complications of pneumonia after a four-year battle with cancer. He was 92.
Q: Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott seem to be fighting a lot this season on Oxygen’s “Tori and Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood.” Are they going to get a divorce? — Terri F., via e-mail
A: According to Tori herself, she and Dean are NOT heading to divorce court. The actress — whose reality show just began its fifth season — told NBC’s “Today” show: “We’re committed to each other; we’re committed to this family. But you know, we work on things just like everyone else. We have our fights. We have our ups and downs. It’s a real relationship.”
Interview: A New Side of Emeril Lagasse
Platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated bandleader Dave Koz along with house band The Kozmos will join Emeril each week to dish about the latest news and cuisine as he shares his world, his friends and his passion for food with the studio and home audience. Each week of the show will feature different guests and a themed celebration, kicking off, of course, with a housewarming party for the neighbors – and who better to invite than ultimate hostess, Martha Stewart? Themes for later episodes include “Guys Night,” “Sports Night,” “BAM for your Buck,” “Blasts from the Past,” “Do It Yourself,” “Emeril’s Fiesta” and more, with celebrities like Eli Manning, Jennie Garth, Mario Batali, Tim Gunn, Steve Schirripa, Sammy Hagar and even Elmo, among others.
I had the chance to chat with Emeril recently about his new show, and we are both excited for fans to get the chance to see his new show.
Celebrity Extra: We all know you for your cooking shows and your warm and entertaining personality, so it seems only natural that you'd host a variety/talk show. I watched the first episode and really loved it - this seems a natural fit for you. How did this opportunity come about for you?
Emeril Lagasse: Well, the opportunity came about, because ION is finally beginning to start looking at original programming, and they wanted to have some sort of cooking element. But they just didn’t want a straight-on cooking show. So, as you know, I have been out of production with Emeril Live now for almost two years. And I did the Emeril Green Show - just kind of a little different format and had I think some good success with that in helping Planet Green launch. And this opportunity came and it was kind of right up my alley. As a matter of fact, the first show that we did after the rehearsal, I turned to Karen Katz, who’s my friend and co-executive producer, and I said, “This is kind of like almost like being right back at home.” Except we are adding a lot more variety to it a lot more fun. It’s like a gigantic party actually.
And you know Dave Koz is a wonderful human being. Very, very talented musician and he works in really great musicians for the table. So that was another perfect piece of the puzzle for me. And just the timing worked out great, and I personally hope that people feel the same way that you and I do. I think it’s a really, really great show, I really do. And I hope that it succeeds on ION. I can’t imagine why it wouldn’t, but as you know, when you are in the business, you just never know what’s going to happen as far as timing and all of that stuff. I’m really thrilled about it. I love that there’s more to it than just cooking. There’s always at least a guest if not two. We try to always make the connection around food and entertaining and education. We’ve added some elements of fun in there as you know. I’m just really thrilled about it.
CE: How did you manage to score such a great musician as David Koz?
EL: I actually got really lucky, I’ll tell you the truth. I have a lot of respect for Doc Gibbs and those guys. Most of them are on the road right now so it was rather difficult trying to lure them back. Dave Koz had been a guest on my show at least two or three times, and not only is he just a great human being, but he is so talented and sort of has that magnet part of him when it comes to music. It just so happened that the timing for him worked out for the timing for me. I have never realized that Dave had never spent much time in New York. He had been to New York but it was basically to play a show and he was out of there. To get him to actually get him to come to New York for about three weeks was an incredible task. I think he really, really had a great experience and experienced the city and a whole different realm of people and way of life. He certainly brought an incredible bunch of gifted musicians, New York studio musicians. A lot of those guys are also very talented. One had toured with Rod Stewart. One has his own collection of records. It was just a good fit.
CE: I think it is so apropos that Martha Stewart was your first guest.
EL: Really warm person that she, it was just so Martha, that most of the things that she made came from her garden. We have some really great guests. We have a lot of great guests coming up both musicians and talented people that I think have a connection. I think the thing for us is that people need to have a little connection. It’s not just about something that you want to promote, but it’s really something about the connection with food and entertaining and cooking and just having fun. And I think that comes across with the show.
CE: Did she give you any advice for you to help get your new show off the ground?
EL: Martha and I are not only great friends, but we are also business partners. I’ve done her show a bunch of times, and she sort of does her thing and that’s what sort of makes her Martha; and she lets me kind of do my thing, so I’m just Emeril. And when the two of us sort of meet at the line, it’s pretty funny. It’s pretty entertaining because she does have a lot of experience. Basically her only message for me was, “You know, Emeril, if you are going to do this, just have fun.” And I think that you probably know me well enough by now that I don’t do too much in life if you don’t have fun.
CE: What can fans expect from this new show, and how is it different from your previous shows?
EL: As an example we wanted to break up the set, so we included that beginning section, which is what we call the bar section, and not that it’s necessarily a cocktail, but it could be anything from a smoothie to an hors d'oeuvres. There’s a little burner there that I can actually cook, so it switches up, whatever the connection with the guest is.
We had Sammy Hagar on, which was a great show. He’s a great musician, but Sammy just didn’t come to play. He came to not only play a song, but he came to actually play and be a part of the show. That was pretty hysterical. We’ve done some really fun pieces outside of the studio. And I kind of wanted to break it up a little bit so it kind of brings a little bit of the outside to the inside. There are a lot of those remotes where I have Em the street guy, and Emeril just outside of his element, and maybe it’s in a flower shop or maybe somebody is sick of working in a fish market or something like that. I think the whole thing is just to really have a lot of fun.
CE: Have any of your guests surprised you, or have their been any unexpected moments on the show?
EL: We had Alison Sweeney from Days of Our Lives. She’s been on that show for a long time. I didn’t realize that she lives with her husband and children in Los Angeles and doesn’t get to New York a lot, and I was very surprised, and I was kind of humbled at the same time, because she not only was a big fan back in the Emeril Live Days, but I kind of influenced her in learning how to cook. I didn’t know that. When she came on the show she began to start telling people that, and she was very, very comfortable doing the cooking segment with me, and we had a lot of fun together and really a great connection. It’s just been a lot a lot of fun. I hope people get excited about it and I hope it lasts a long time because it’s fun doing.
CE: Are you excited to get the chance to show your fans, old and new, a different side of Emeril?
EL: Absolutely. I think that people who know me know that I’m very involved with my foundation, which is all about kids and just the whole education of kids, etc. So, there’s that side of me. There’s also the business side of me besides being a cook in a restaurant. So, I’m hoping that people will see that and see that, hey this guy is really having a lot of fun doing this. But at the same time I also want to give the message that what I do do in food is serious, and I am trying to break down the unknowns for people and not make it so frightening to get in the kitchen and to cook. So, I’m hoping that I can also carry and continue that message as well. Just getting people excited about cooking and the family table.
So, get excited about Emeril and his guests, Martha Stewart and Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child, tonight on The Emeril Lagasse Show on ION television at 8 p.m. EST.
Interview: Paul Stanley — Family Man, Rock Star and Painter
We all know Paul Stanley, lead singer of KISS. But you might not recognize him without his makeup (left, all photos and artwork courtesy and copyright Paul Stanley and paulstanley.com). What you might be surprised to know is that Paul is more than a musician: He is a prolific painter whose works are shown around the country and sell for big money. I was thrilled to get the chance to catch up with Paul, and he told me all about his artwork, KISS's latest album and their recent appearance on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.Celebrity Extra: Thank you so much for talking with me. I’ll get right into it so you can start your morning.
Paul Stanley: My morning starts when my 3-and-a-half-year-old walks in the room.
CE: That’s true. I’m thinking about the rock-star lifestyle, but you’re actually a family man as well.
PS: I am a family man and a rock star.
CE: I think it is going to come a surprise to a lot of your fans that you are such a great artist. You fairly recently started showing and selling your artwork to the public — what made you decide to share it with the masses?
"Crossroads" by Paul Stanley
PS: I’ve been doing it for quite a few years now. I started painting 10 years ago really as a way of finding another creative outlet. I’m always looking for another way to express myself, and that’s how I attempted to find myself. So whether it was doing Phantom of the Opera or painting or doing what I do in KISS, they’re all ways for me to emote and stay creative. That’s who I am, that’s what’s in my blood. I originally painted with no expectations of ever doing a show or of ever showing anybody my art. It came about because I hung the piece in my house, and people kept saying, “Who did that painting?” And it's funny because I wasn’t very secure or confident in my ability, so I never signed it. To this day that piece isn’t signed, but it gave me food for thought, because people seem to connect so much with it that I got talked into doing a show. At this point I’ve been averaging probably anywhere from 12 to 15 shows a year around the county, and they’ve been amazingly successful in a way that quite honestly leaves me speechless.
CE: What do you like best about when you tour with your artwork and when you get to interact with the public?
PS: I think it’s terrific to connect with the people who have made you who you are, made your life possible. I never became famous to cut myself off from the people who made me famous. But, the great thing about art is that I think anybody who appreciates somebody’s work gets so much more out of meeting the person and getting a sense of what’s behind the piece. Ultimately, what’s most important is that you have your own sense of what a piece means because you’re taking it home.
Much in the same way that I believe that life and theater are, unfortunately, intimidating to people because there are critics whose livelihood depends upon convincing you that you need them to tell you what’s good. And I try to break through that, because whether or not someone else likes what you like is irrelevant. If you’re a vegetarian, what difference does it make that somebody else loves steak? So that being said, I guess I’m out there trying to not only show people who are collectors of serious pieces, I’m also trying to show people who have never been in a gallery how much art has to offer. I’m a big believer that whether you’re living in a van or a villa, art would look great on your wall. So, you don’t need a degree to have an opinion, and you don’t need an education to know what you like. You don’t need to justify your taste, and it’s enough that you like something. So, I try to get people to experience things that they wouldn’t necessarily experience and also enjoy it.
CE: I’ve checked out the websites and galleries, and I don’t know how to describe art other than I like it or I don’t, and I do like yours. I love the use of bold colors — many of the colors remind me of the sunset in the Southwest, like Utah and New Mexico. I think it's great that you are bringing your artwork to people for them to like, not to dissect, to declare: "This is good!" or "This is bad!"
"Purple Haze" by Paul Stanley
PS: Oh, it does people such a disservice ultimately. It may guarantee somebody a job, but the fact that there are people around who somehow convince you that you need them to tell you what’s good is unfortunate. I’m here to tell you that you know what’s good. Good is what you like. Nothing more and nothing less. You don’t need to justify, qualify or explain what you like. And if you love something and somebody else hates it, what good is it to them? So, it’s purely an individual like or dislike, and I try to make sure that people can enjoy something without feeling that it’s a test and that there is going to be a quiz.
CE: Do you get a lot of KISS fans coming to the openings or is it mostly serious art collectors, or a healthy mix of both?
PS: There is a very healthy mixture of both. Obviously there are a lot of KISS fans who come out of curiosity, and that’s terrific too because they're seeing something they perhaps they wouldn’t see otherwise. And then there are people clearly spending unsizable amounts of money for pieces to hang alongside other pieces by other artists that they may like. It’s been a great cross-section.
CE: Does your painting inspiration come from a different place than your songwriting inspiration, or is it interconnected?
PS: I think everything I write about or paint comes from my life. I tend to believe if you don’t wake up inspired everyday, you either should go back to sleep or turn your life around. Life on its worst day is a miracle. So, I tend to treat it as such. I celebrate life every day.
CE: You’re not just a “hobbiest” painter — you’ve sold millions of dollars worth of paintings. If you had to make a choice between being a painter for the rest of your life or a rock star, would you be able to choose?
PS: That would be a very, very tough, tough choice for me. Thankfully I don’t have to make it. I came to art later than music in the sense of really applying myself to it, and at this point I can’t imagine life without it.
CE: I was surprised to learn that you attended New York's High School of Music and Art, for art not music.
"Liberty" by Paul Stanley
PS: It’s funny, when I first saw Fame, and then I went to my school, I was expecting to see people dancing on the cars, but it wasn’t happening. For me, I put art aside at some point because I’m just not a fan of being told what I need to do by somebody else. Some people are cut out for listening to authority and some are just cut out for going their own way. I just soured on art, and I had people living their life through me or wanting to see me accomplish what they do. I’m the hardest worker you’ll ever meet, but it’s gotta be on my terms. So, I kind of got tired of art and put it aside. By the way, I also had the dubious distinction of probably being one of the few people to go to that school who ever failed art. That sets me in very lofty company.
I came back to painting and came back to art, because I needed another way to express myself. Whether it’s doing theater or whether it’s through Phantom of the Opera, I love challenge. I also have an innate sense of what I’m capable of doing, and I have to follow those inspirations and aspirations. Perhaps it serves in some way as a role model to others that if you have a true sense of what you are capable of, the only thing standing between you and success is you.
CE: I know late last year KISS was touring in the U.S., and you begin touring in Europe in May. Is there a noticeable difference between the American KISS Army and the European fans?
PS: Interesting question. I have to say, worldwide it’s very much the same. I really believe that KISS has transcended everything that is rock-and-roll in the sense that rock-and-roll tends to be music that’s owned by a specific age group and to think of it as purely their music, when in fact with KISS, it’s more of a tribal gathering. It’s all ages and everybody feels a part of it because everybody believes in the same lifestyle and the same values — or lack of values. KISS transcends everything that other fans have to live within, and rightfully so.
CE: KISS is such an iconic staple of anything in pop culture. You are referenced many, many times on TV shows, other music, movies — KISS was pretty much a main character in the movie Role Models.
PS: Yeah, we are a part of Americana, and we are part of everything that makes up the American lifestyle and the American dream.
CE: Fans were thrilled that you released Sonic Boom back in October. Am I jumping the gun, but can we expect another KISS album within the next few years?
PS: Making that album was so much fun, and it reinvigorated and restated everything that we are that yeah, I think that we’ll see another album.
CE: You are such a prolific songwriter. If possible, can you narrow down some of the favorite songs you've written?
PS: “Love Gun” is one of my favorite songs, because it’s simple and direct, and I love singing that every night. I love “God of Thunder,” because it’s always fun to know that Gene’s signature song was actually written by me.
CE: Can you tell me about the experience of appearing on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition?
"Scream" by Paul Stanley
PS: It was terrific, because basically a lot of schools and the school system in general are losing all their funding for music. It’s really criminal, because any scientific study has shown that programs in schools involving music only help with the academics and other forms of education. So the fact that they’re pulling the plug on so much of the music education is something that’s alarming. On that particular episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, there was a family who basically were losing their house and they were big champions of music and music education, and they gave lessons. They had their home rebuilt, and through the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, we gave a very, very handsome amount of instruments to a school that very much needed it.
CE: I am so glad you are helping to bringing awareness to this. As someone who was in band and choir all through high school, it really saddens me to see the arts programs going through so much neglect.
PS: Oh yeah, it’s a calamity — it’s way beyond a problem. I think it has far-reaching implications.
If you'd like to see Paul's artwork, or to check if he might be heading to an art gallery near you, head over to paulstanley.com.
Stars Calling It Quits
Hot on the heels of learning that Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey have split comes news that two more Hollywood couples are calling it quits.Melissa Etheridge, 48, and Tammy Lynn Michaels, 35, have separated after nine years together. The singer and actress (respectively) were married in 2003 and have twins, son Miller and daughter Rose, who were born in October 2006 (Tammy was artificially inseminated with an anonymous donor's sperm).
Mel Gibson (pictured) and Oksana Grigorieva split after a year of dating. The couple also share a 5-month-old daughter, Lucia. The split is said to be very amicable and friendly, with no great blow-up leading to it — they simply decided to go their separate ways.
Interview: Kevin McHale Divulges Some Glee Secrets
After a four-month hiatus, Glee is finally returning to Fox tonight at 9:28/8:28c. I got the chance to catch up with one of the show's stars, Kevin McHale (picture courtesy Fox), who plays Artie Abrams on the hit musical comedy. I am very excited that Glee is finally back tonight — it seems like it's been away forever!
I know, it does seem like forever, doesn't it? We are very excited to be back.
What can we expect for tonight's show?
Tonight sets everything back up. It’s two weeks after Sectionals, and it reintroduces the story lines: who’s together, who’s not together. We also get some new characters — the lead singer and the coach of Vocal Adrenaline, played by Jonathan Groff and Idina Menzel. There’s the Will and Emma story line, and what’s going on with Rachel and Finn. And just, the Gleeks are getting focused for Regionals. In tonight’s episode, there are definitely some love triangles that you didn’t think would come up yet — a little Santana, Brittany and Finn kind of thing.
I was happy when Artie and Tina got together earlier in the season, but that was squelched. Now I hear rumors that they might be getting back together?
It does come up again next week, in the Madonna episode. The episode is like Glee on steroids. At the end of it, you are exhausted, because it is overstimulating. There is so much stuff packed into an hour — it feels like a movie. It’s definitely my favorite episode. But back to the Artie and Tina thing, I think they kind of fit together, so we’ll see how long they end up staying together — if that happens.
You can catch the full interview next week, but I hope you enjoyed this sneak peek — and enjoy the show tonight, fellow Gleeks!
Q and A: Week of April 12
Q: I read somewhere that KISS frontman Paul Stanley went to the “Fame” high school majoring in art. Is that true? — Matt H., Akron, OhioA: Paul Stanley attend the High School of Music & Art in New York City. The “Fame” high school was the High School of Performing Arts, which later merged with the High School of Music & Art to form Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.
I spoke with Paul recently, and he told me about his high-school experience: “It’s funny, because when I first saw ‘Fame,’ and then I went to my school, I was expecting to see people dancing on the cars, but it wasn’t happening. But I ended up putting art aside at some point, because for me, I’m just not a fan of being told what to do by somebody else. Some people are cut out for listening to authority, and some people are cut out for going their own way. I just sort of soured on art.”
But now, Paul is back in the art scene, but on HIS terms. You can see Paul’s artwork at paulstanley.com, and also check to see if he is touring with his art in your area.
Q: This season of “The Celebrity Apprentice” is really good so far. I love the different personalities clashing as they try to work together on their challenges. I was wondering, who decides what the challenges will be? — Hank F., via e-mail
A: Ivanka Trump, wunderkind daughter of mogul Donald Trump, recently revealed on Twitter that they all — Ivanka, Donald and brother Donald Jr. — throw out ideas for all the different challenges and then decide collectively which ones they’ll do throughout the season. Next season “The Apprentice” is going back to its original format of casting regular people to compete for a job within the Trump empire. If you are interested in auditioning, go to nbc.com for all the details.
Q: “In Plain Sight” is one of our favorite shows. Will it be back for a third season? — Jackie D., via e-mail
A: The USA Network’s popular drama centering on a Deputy U.S. Marshall for the Federal Witness Protection program began its third season on March 31. The show has moved to Wednesday nights at 10/11 p.m. Central. Season Three will consist of 16 episodes — and if you need to catch up on any previous episodes, season one and two are available on DVD.
Q: Were Jordan and Jeff, teammates from “The Amazing Race,” on “Big Brother” together? — Lee R., via e-mail
A: Jordan Lloyd and Jeff Schroeder met while they both were contestants on “Big Brother 11″ in 2009. As you may know, Jordan won a half-million dollars on the show, and also walked away with Jeff’s heart. Jordan was unable to repeat her winning magic, as the pair was eliminated from “The Amazing Race” in March.
Conan O’Brien Joins TBS
(Press release from TBS)Comedy icon Conan O’Brien is joining TBS to host a late-night talk show that is expected to debut in November. The EmmyÒ-winning comedian’s new program will be followed by Lopez Tonight, which will shift to a midnight time slot.
(See more here.)
O’Brien began talks in earnest with TBS just last week, after George Lopez personally called him to ask that he consider joining the network’s late-night line-up. “I can’t think of anything better than doing my show with Conan as my lead-in,” Lopez said. “It’s the beginning of a new era in late-night comedy.”
Said O’Brien: “In three months I’ve gone from network television to Twitter to performing live in theaters, and now I’m headed to basic cable. My plan is working perfectly.”
O’Brien and Lopez will give TBS a dynamic lineup in late-night television. TBS – which has built a programming slate that appeals to a young, diverse audience – expects O’Brien to be a long-term addition to the network’s late-night landscape. O’Brien will host his hour-long, yet-to-be-titled show Mondays through Thursdays at 11 p.m. (ET/PT).
“Conan has been the comedic voice for a generation. TBS already has a huge audience of young comedy lovers, and Conan’s show will give these fans even more reasons to watch our network,” said Steve Koonin, president of Turner Entertainment Networks.
With the addition of O’Brien’s show, TBS will establish two hours of late-night talk. Lopez Tonight, while just a few months old, has already become a destination show for a diverse audience. The Lopez Tonight audience is young as well, with a median age of just 34.
“For decades, late-night TV has been dominated by broadcast television,” Koonin said. “Now, with a young audience and a growing late-night lineup, TBS is set to be the choice of comedy fans for years to come.”
O’Brien is well-known from his many years in comedy. He grew up in a large, Irish Catholic family in a suburb of Boston. His love of comedy began at an early age and carried on when he entered Harvard University, where he earned a degree in history. During his years at Harvard, he also wrote for the legendary Harvard Lampoon publication, eventually serving as its president.
After leaving Harvard, O’Brien went to Los Angeles, where he found several writing jobs for television, including HBO’s Not Necessarily the News. After returning to the East Coast, O’Brien joined the writing team at Saturday Night Live, earning his first Emmy in 1989. He was writing for the hit show The Simpsons when Lorne Michaels approached him about a new late-night series for NBC. In 1993, Late Night with Conan O’Brien launched. The show ran for 16 years, ending when O’Brien briefly took over The Tonight Show.
O’Brien is currently touring the United States and Canada with his live show, Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour.
Dixie Carter Dies at 70
Designing Women actress Dixie Carter (pictured, in red, with Designing Women cast), who used her charm and stately beauty in a host of roles on Broadway and television, died Saturday. She was 70.
Publicist Steve Rohr, who represents Carter and her husband, actor Hal Holbrook, said Carter died Saturday morning.
UPDATE: Her publicist says she died of complications from endometrial cancer, which affects the uterus
"This has been a terrible blow to our family," Holbrook said in a written statement. "We would appreciate everyone understanding that this is a private family tragedy."
A native of Tennessee, Carter was most famous for playing quick-witted Southerner Julia Sugarbaker for seven years on Designing Women, the CBS sitcom that ran from 1986 to 1993.
Hagrid's Hut — Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Have you seen Hagrid's Hut? Here's a new image from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Orlando (opening June 18).
(© Universal Studios, All Rights Reserved)
Don't miss the new video of Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey — see it here.
Interview: Melora Hardin on You and All the Way to Mars
Melora Hardin (photo credit: Kirstin Knufmann) has come a long way from ABC Afterschool Specials and the nighttime dramas Once and Again and Judging Amy. This singer/dancer/actress extraordinaire has released a new movie called You, which she stars in and directed. It also was written by and co-stars her husband, Gildart Jackson. You truly is a family affair, as the movie also features her mom, Diane Hardin, and her dad, Jerry Hardin, as well as her children and many friends of the family — who also happen to be famous actors (Brenda Strong, Joely Fisher and Amy Pietz).Oh, and she just released her first full-length album, All the Way to Mars. I caught up with this busy woman recently to discuss her latest projects.
Celebrity Extra: How did the idea for You come about?
Melora Hardin: My husband wrote the screenplay. We had had that real moment in the beginning of the movie where I was nursing my daughter and planning what I was going to say at her wedding. That really happened when we had our first daughter. Gildart then had to go out of town for an acting gig and, as he would say, he “cragged” the script out in a few days. It was one of those wonderful real-life moments that inspired a whole screenplay.
CE: You are fortunate to have so many talented friends and family members to call upon to help bring this movie to life for you.
MH: Absolutely — I really am fortunate. It was definitely a family adventure. Having our kids in it and our friends, it really was quite a fun journey to take together. We used our own home for a lot of it, and we had our production offices here. We were wearing a lot of different hats at all times. It was both really exhausting and very fulfilling.
CE: Paula Cole is one of my favorite singer/songwriters. How long have you two been friends, and was she anxious to help with the film?
MH: We’ve been friends for about nine years. We met when we were both pregnant with our first children. We hit it off right away, and have been really close ever since. I told her I was making the movie, and she was really excited and totally behind it all the way. She was really happy for me. So I asked her to write the title song for me. She sings it in the movie, and I recorded a version of it for my record.
CE: What do you hope people take away from the movie after watching it?
MH: It’s a really moving movie, very life-affirming. I think it speaks to familial connection and really appreciating the time you have with your family. I am just really proud of the movie.
CE: Now tell me about your new CD, All the Way to Mars. What made you decide to cut an album?MH: I am really proud of the record. It’s been a really amazing experience making the record. I met Richard Alexander, my producer, a few years ago, and we really clicked. He liked my original songs and really liked my voice, and I thought he was a lot of fun and gifted and talented. He had just directed Barbra Streisand’s European tour, and he’s worked with Bernadette Peters and Bette Midler and Johnny Mathis. He has an incredible breadth of experience behind him. I was honored that he thought I was great, because I think he’s pretty great.
For the past few years I’ve been singing every day and writing, and we realized we needed to get into the studio and make a record.
CE: I think a lot of your fans who know you from your acting work like The Office and Monk will be surprised when they hear that you are such a great singer, too.
MH: Most people don’t know that I can sing, so it’s exciting to be able to let people in on it. I am absolutely floored by how much people love the album — the feedback has been tremendously supportive. You don’t hear many real, grounded female-vocal records like this nowadays; it’s simply produced, not overproduced.
CE: Speaking of The Office, please tell me Jan Levinson will be popping up again soon!
MH: She is coming back. I had lunch recently with Greg Daniels, the executive producer of The Office, and we tossed some ideas around. We just haven’t landed on the what/when/why of her return, but it will happen. I miss Jan, so we will make this happen.
Melora’s film, “You,” and new album, “All the Way to Mars,” are available online and wherever DVDs and CDs are sold.
A Night of Lost
(from cnn.com)
ABC is seeking to make an all-night event out of the series finale of Lost on Sunday, May 23. TheWrap.com reports that prior to the two-hour episode that night at 9 p.m. ET, there will be a two-hour retrospective. Then later that night, one of the most famous Lost fanatics, Jimmy Kimmel, will do a special Jimmy Kimmel Live in honor of the show.
So, Lost fans will be able to get their fill of the show - and then some - on the final night with five full hours of programming.
Seeing Vs. Believing
Today, TLC announced plans to premiere SEEING VS BELIEVING, a one hour special featuring soap star Ricky Paull Goldin and his skeptic friend Jeff Gurtman as they journey across America to seek the truth behind great stories of unexplained phenomena. The one-off will premiere May 2nd at 8PM (ET/PT) only on TLC.Ricky Paull Goldin is a well-known soap star and is the son of a prominent figure in the spiritual world. Prior to his role on “All My Children” as Jake, he could be seen on “Guiding Light” as Gus Aitoro. Ricky is a life-long ‘believer’ in the metaphysical world, but knows that not every story out there is the real deal. That’s where his skeptic friend Jeff comes in.
Jeff Gurtman, host of shows such as Travel Spies, Frugal but Fabulous and Cube Fabulous, has always been a skeptic- he needs proof before he’ll buy any theory. His analytic thinking allows him to be a perfect, rational companion for Ricky on his quest to discover the truth behind unexplained phenomena.
Armed with a journal from Ricky’s late father and a GPS, Ricky and Jeff travel in search of abnormalities, unexplained phenomena and the paranormal. Their journey across America leads them to a man who refers to himself as a Perceptionist, to Arkansas in search of the devil and finally, they land in Missouri to track down a boy who survived a tornado. Who will prevail in the quest to explain the unexplainable?
Jimmy Fallon Spoofs Kate Gosselin
Jimmy Fallon spoofs Kate Gosselin's horrendous Paso Doble (from Monday night's Dancing With the Stars) to Lady Gaga's Paparazzi.
Watch all the way to the end — with 24 seconds to go, we get a shot of Florence Henderson in the audience. No kidding! Mrs. Brady could kick Kate's butt — in dancing, in multiple-kid-raising and in overall awesomeness.
Watch all the way to the end — with 24 seconds to go, we get a shot of Florence Henderson in the audience. No kidding! Mrs. Brady could kick Kate's butt — in dancing, in multiple-kid-raising and in overall awesomeness.
Q and A: Week of April 7
Q: I was very sad to learn that Capt. Phil Harris of “Deadliest Catch” had passed away. How will they handle his passing on the show? — Timothy G. in FloridaA: The Discovery Channel’s hit show returns for its sixth season on April 13, and Capt. Phil will be in most of the 16 episodes. Capt. Phil died on Feb. 9 after suffering a stroke two weeks earlier while unloading crab from his boat, the Cornelia Marie, at Saint Paul Island, Alaska. He was 53. His death won’t be dealt with until episodes 12 and 13.
According to Phil Segal, president of the production company that produces “Deadliest Catch” for the Discovery Channel: “He was fishing all the way up to the end. We’re so concerned about the family and the crew right now that we haven’t stopped to think about how we’re going to deal with this. We’ll have to figure it out in the weeks and months ahead.”
Q: Would you please tell me the name of the actor who does the Allstate commercials? I think he was in a military series for a couple of seasons a few years ago. — Ellie L., via e-mail
A: Dennis Haysbert has been the spokesman for the Allstate Insurance Company since 2003. He is best known for his roles of President David Palmer on “24,” as well as Jonas Blane on “The Unit,” which aired from 2006-09 on CBS. He is currently at work on the feature film “The Details,” which also stars Elizabeth Banks, Tobey Maguire, Ray Liotta and Laura Linney.
Q: Is it true that they are going to make a sequel to “Atonement”? I don’t see how that’s possible! — Theresa W., via e-mail
A: There are no plans for a sequel to the blockbuster 2007 romantic-drama, which was based on the Ian McEwan bestseller. However, Ian did reveal plans to turn the period piece into an opera, and is working on the operatic version with composer Michael Berkeley and poet Craig Raine. He says, “It’s not a chamber piece, that’s for sure.” Theater owners in the U.K., Germany and the U.S. are reportedly interested in staging the “Atonement” opera, and are eyeing a 2013 premiere.
Q: What is Michael Vartan up to now? I’ve enjoyed him in shows like “Alias” and “Hawthorne,” and movies like “Never Been Kissed” and “One Hour Photo.” — Wanda F., Harrisburg, Pa.
A: Michael Vartan, 41, is co-starring in the upcoming film called “High School,” which also stars Colin Hanks, Adrien Brody and Michael Chiklis. However, his most important upcoming engagement is his 2011 nuptials. He proposed to girlfriend Lauren Skaar in March and is involved in almost every aspect of planning of the wedding. He told OK! Magazine: “I feel like it’s about time I met someone special. I’m excited about throwing an engagement party, I’m excited about choosing the bridesmaid dresses, and what kind of knives and food.”
Maura Tierney to Return to TV
Maura Tierney is returning to television in 2011, after successfully battling breast cancer since August 2009. Maura was originally cast in NBC's Parenthood, but had to bow out when she got word of her illness. She was replaced by Lauren Graham.Maura’s spokesperson, Christina Papadopolous, has confirmed the 45-year-old actress is doing well and will be returning to television. She revealed that Maura “has finished treatment and is doing very well, and is happy to move forward with the next phase of her life.” That next phase happens to be returning to the FX network’s action-drama Rescue Me, where she’ll return for four episodes as Denis Leary’s love interest during the show’s seventh (and final) season.
Ugly Betty Series Finale April 14
"Hello Goodbye" — It's the end of an era, but the beginning, Betty hopes, of something wonderful. In the award-winning series' finale, which also features appearances by familiar faces from the past, Betty finds it hard to tell Daniel important news about her future. When she does, his reaction surprises her, but not Claire. Justin and Bobby enthusiastically consider taking advantage of a softening real estate market by apartment-hunting in Manhattan, but Hilda's resisting even the most amazing places. Amanda grapples with the death of her dog, Halston, and Marc wonders if he'll ever have a successful relationship, on the series finale of Ugly Betty, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.
Jim Carrey and Jenny McCarthy Split
Jim Carrey, 48, and Jenny McCarthy, 37, (pictured left, at Jim's Yes Man premiere) have taken to Twitter to announce their breakup.The two actors each tweeted Tuesday that they have ended their relationship after five years. Publicists for Carrey and McCarthy confirmed the split.
Jim says he wishes her "the very best!" While Jenny tweeted that she "will always keep Jim as a leading man in my heart." She also revealed that she would remain involved in his adult daughter's life.
Both say they were grateful for the time they spent together.
No reason was given for the split, but my sources say Jenny finally saw The Number 23.
Nicollette Sheridan Sues Marc Cherry for Assault
Nicollette Sheridan (pictured, second from left) has filed a suit against her former employer, Marc Cherry, claiming he physically abused her on the set of the hit TV show.In the lawsuit filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Sheridan, 46, alleges assault and battery, gender violence and wrongful termination. She is asking for $20 million in damages.
Sheridan claims that during a dispute over the script on September 24, 2008, Cherry, "took her aside and forcefully hit her with his hand across her face and head."
The suit also contends that when Cherry discovered Teri Hatcher had complained to ABC about him as well, he said, “I hope Teri Hatcher gets hit by a car and dies.”
ABC has responded: “While we have yet to see the actual complaint, we investigated similar claims made by Ms. Sheridan last year and found them to be without merit.”
(See the entire story here.)
Sheen to Exit "Two and a Half Men"?
(from the Associated Press)Charlie Sheen is looking at a future without Two and a Half Men.
According to a person close to the actor, Sheen has told friends that he wants to leave the hit CBS comedy in which he's starred for seven years.
The person spoke Thursday on condition of anonymity because Sheen had made the remarks in private and had not intended them to be discussed publicly.
CBS had no comment, spokesman Phil Gonzales said Thursday. An after-hours call to Sheen's representatives was not immediately returned.
Two and a Half Men, which also stars Jon Cryer, is the top-rated comedy on TV and a key part of CBS' Monday night lineup. Last year, CBS gave the show a three-year renewal, through the 2011-12 season, but Sheen's contract is up at the end of the current season.
Sheen, 44, has tired of the demands of a weekly show and wants to focus on movies, the person close to him said. Sheen is in the upcoming film Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, a sequel to the 1987 Wall Street in which he starred.
Sheen's desire to exit the sitcom was reported by People magazine online Thursday.
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