Interview: Michelle Young's Fantasy World
As I am sure all of you read my reviews of Dragonstone and The Dragon's Heart in a previous posting, you are by now familiar with up-and-coming author Michelle Young. This weekend, Michelle is hoping to take DragonCon by storm as she introduces new readers to her world: the magical world of Latharia. I had the chance to interview Ms. Young about her books, her beginnings, her inspirations and her plans for the future. Celebrity Extra: Had you always known that you wanted to be a writer, or did you develop this love later in life?
Michelle Young: I’ve always loved writing, but I never thought I would be a writer professionally. At one time I was going to go to school to become an English Literature Teacher, because I love reading the classics; I love creative writing, but I never thought I would do it professionally. And then it just kind of happened.
CE: How did the whole thing happen?
MY: The best way to say it — and it sounds really weird — but I had this story in my head, and it got to the point that I was compelled to write it. And I sat down at my computer — because my kids were younger, so they would go to bed and my husband would play his video games — and this is my relaxation at the end of the day. I would sit and write it. And I kind of thought it would be a romance. And I was just embarrassed. I was embarrassed of the subject; I was embarrassed to think: “I think I could write a book?!?” So I didn’t even tell my husband. We were married almost 18 years and I tell him everything, but I didn’t even tell him.
And after a month of me writing it, he came up behind me and I slammed down my laptop. And he said: “What are you writing? Who are you writing to?” So I had to confess to my husband, who was amazingly supportive. And the more I wrote — it got to the point that I was sitting at my computer eight to 10 hours a day, just writing. I only worked part time, so my days off I would do that. My husband would take the kids camping for the weekend so I could just write. And after spending thousands of hours writing it, I thought, “I wonder what it would take to get this published?”
I stumbled onto the Central Florida Romance Writers Association and went there a few times. I learned a lot but got intimidated by all of these other authors. There’s about 50 members and about a quarter of them are published, and some of them are big published. And I’d gotten to the point where I thought, “I am not that good, and I am never going to get published.” I’m going to go to one more meeting and see what happens. And I went to that one more meeting and it just so happens Rhonda Penders — the owner of the Wild Rose Press in New York — was here on vacation. So the president had invited her to come speak to our little romance writers group. She took pitches after the meeting. So I talked to her, I pitched, and she said: "It sounds really good. Submit it." So, I did and I got accepted.
CE: Were you nervous about the whole pitch?
MY: Oh, yes. And the whole point of the Wild Rose Press is that they’re a gentler publishing company. So, when I talked to her, it probably was not the kind of pitch you’d want to give to Harlequin. I probably sounded like a babbling idiot, but she got it. She was like, “It’s okay, just relax; tell me, what your story is about?” So I got through it. I don’t know if the universe just aligned and everything just fell into place. I just can’t explain it. I felt like I was meant to do this.
CE: When did the first idea of “Dragonstone” come to you? How did it develop for you in your head?
MY: I had little scenes in my head. And have had those little scenes in my head for years. And then it just got to the point of this scene is starting to flow into this scene, and it was kind of just developing. And I was kind of like, “How is this all going to … I don’t know.” It just flowed. I did not have the entire story in my head from beginning to end. I just sat down and started writing it, and I’d get to a point and be like, “I don’t know where it’s going to go next.” And I would just put it aside or I would go to bed, and it would just come to me. You’d be surprised by how many things are in there now that were not in there at the very beginning.
CE: Did you know how it was going to begin and end, and you just needed the middle? Or it all just developed at one time?
MY: I knew the ultimate ending. And I knew, kind of like the basic flow. But a lot of the twists kind of came in later. “Ooo, he’s going to do this and they’re going to be related this way … Ooh, that’s good.” (Laughter)
CE: How long did it take you — from conception through fruition?
MY: “Dragonstone” only took me about six months to write. And a lot of it was the eight to 10 hours a day sitting in there writing. But “The Dragon's Heart” took me almost a year and a half.
CE: Now when you are developing characters, do you put in the personality of people that you know? Or do you try to keep people out of it?
MY: My sister will tell you that Kat is modeled after her. My husband will tell you that he’s Logan. (Laughter) But no, it’s not. They’re just personalities that just developed in my head. They’re not based on anybody I know.
CE: Is there anything about Kat that you’ve drawn from yourself?
MY: She’s probably completely not me. I am actually more like Serena in “The Dragon's Heart.” I am not athletic, not coordinated, not confident. So no, she’s probably the complete opposite of me. (Laughter)
CE: When you get feedback from fans who have read the books, what are some things they've been telling you?
MY: I think for me the neatest thing is when I get the people who say: “Gee this is not normally the kind of book I read. But, wow! I loved it because it wasn’t what I expected.” Or the people who say, “I’m exhausted today and it’s your fault, because I had to finish reading it. I couldn’t go to bed until 1:30, and I had to get up at 6:00.” Or you get somebody in New Zealand who said, “I went to the bookstore today and ordered your book.” Those things are really cool.
CE: How are you getting the word out about your books, because you are with a small press?
MY: Really, a lot of it is word of mouth. I hope people who read the book like it enough to tell their friends, “Hey, this is a really good book. You should read it.” I do have a website. I go to the Southern Women’s Show and I do try to go to different conferences. Through my local romance writers group, we do a once-a-year Booksellers Tea that you invite people to who own small bookstores, librarians, that kind of thing, and you try to get them to buy your book. I’ve been to Author's Day at libraries. So different things like that. I try to make as many appearances as possible.
Q and A: Week of Aug. 29
A: Aside from having a baby on the way, the biggest professional news to come from the Mike Myers camp is that Mike is set to break out his Austin Powers character for a fourth film. There’s no word about what the plot will center on, but you can bet he’ll have a sexy and smart new sidekick to follow in the wake of Elizabeth Hurley, Heather Graham and Beyonce. I’d like to see Emma Stone give Austin a run for his money. Yeah, baby!
Q: Do you know what the status is on a new “Bridget Jones” movie? Every so often I hear rumors that one is in the works, but then nothing ever happens. Would Renee Zellweger and Colin Firth even be interested in returning to the franchise? — Pauline F., Akron, Ohio
A: Since 2009, Working Title Films (which produced the first two movies) has been thinking about a sequel, and hints of that have been reaching our ears. Renee Zellweger had always said there couldn’t be another movie without another book. Well, the series’ author, Helen Fielding, announced earlier this year that she is hard at work on the third “Bridget Jones” book. Helen has confirmed: “I will be working on both the book and the film, but I don’t know if they are the same thing yet. It’s not been decided.”
And Academy Award-winner Colin Firth, who plays Mark Darcy in the series, told the BBC this summer, “I think the idea of Mark and Daniel (played by Hugh Grant) and Bridget in advanced stages of deterioration could be quite fun. We’re making a comedy, after all.” The wheels are indeed in motion for a third “Bridget” movie.
Q: I have a question about a show that featured a married couple with eight children, but they split up. Did the mom get her own show? — Ken J., The Villages, Fla.
A: The mom in question, Kate Gosselin, did get her own show: What was “Jon and Kate Plus 8″ became “Kate Plus 8.” However, TLC announced the final show will air on Sept. 12, with this statement: “TLC has decided not to renew another season of ‘Kate Plus 8.’ By the end of this season, ‘Kate Plus 8′ will have hit the 150-episode mark (including ‘Jon and Kate Plus 8′), an exceptional milestone. TLC hopes to check in with Kate and the family periodically with specials in the future.”
Q: I heard that the actor John Dye, who played Andrew on “Touched By An Angel,” passed away. Is that true? He was so young! – Ruth S., Chillicothe, Ohio
A: John Dye passed away on Jan. 10, just shy of his 48th birthday, of a heart attack. He was survived by two brothers, both of his parents, and a grandparent.
Interview: Beau Mirchoff Is Feeling Awkward.
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| Beau Mirchoff/Ron Tom/ABC |
Celebrity Extra: As someone in my 30s, I wasn’t expecting to like “Awkward” as much as I do, but I have to tell you, I absolutely love it! It’s smart, funny, well written and well acted.
Beau Mirchoff: I think so too. I think there are diverse characters and that people of all ages can relate to the situation and to the characters. It’s a show about teenagers, but I think there is a little bit of everything for everyone. My mom is in her 50s, and I guarantee you this will be her new favorite show. I’m glad to be on something that people are really talking about.
CE: Tell me about your character, Matty, and the things about him that appealed to you as an actor.
BM: The characteristics that appeal to me are he’s lovable and he’s loving. Matty’s thing is, he wants to be perfect; he wants his family to be perfect, and he doesn’t want anything to look negatively on his family. He constantly wants to be liked and to please people. And does he do that in the wrong way sometimes? Yes, of course. I think most teenagers don’t have a clue how to handle most situations. They might think they do, but they don’t.
CE: While this is told from a girl’s point of view, the writers do a great job of showing how being a teen, whether girl or boy, is just plain difficult.
BM: I think they are often very similar, emotionally. Guys put on the façade that everything is cool, but deep down I think they have some of the similar problems with image, popularity and fitting in — finding a girl and being loved and all those types of problems.
CE: This seems like it would be a fun set to work on.
BM: It was awesome; it was fun; it was happy! Everyone was great and supportive. We always would run lines and talk about our scenes and our characters, trying to find new things in scenes that we hadn’t found before. We’d come up with new, creative ideas and run them by Lauren (Iungerich, executive producer/creator/writer). Every once in a while, I’d come up with a really good idea and it would work. Life on the set was creative and fun.
CE: Another fun and creative set you worked on was with the folks at “Desperate Housewives.” What was that experience like?
BM: Educational. I learned so much from all the people on that set with all those actors and actresses. They are pros and they know what they’re doing. I was very grateful to get that job. Not just for the recognition and whatnot, but to grow as an actor. You can only learn so much in acting class, but when you’re on set, it’s a whole different thing. I learned a lot from Jeffrey Nordling, who played my father, and Drea de Matteo, who was my mother. A majority of my scenes were with them. You learn a lot from just watching them work, and you see how they do it. That was what was most beneficial from that.
CE: I am a big “Sopranos” fan, and was so happy to see Drea on the show. How cool was it that she played your mom?
BM: Yeah, I had a big crush on Drea. I hope it didn’t read on camera. That would have been creepy, since she was my mom, but it probably came out. It’s inevitable. She’s quite attractive and so great at what she does.
Q and A: Week of Aug. 22
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| Max Irons |
A: Max Irons, 25, is the son of Academy Award-winning English actor Jeremy Irons. Next up, Max is set to star as the title character in the feature film ‘Vivaldi,’ along with Alfred Molina, Elle Fanning and Tom Wilkinson. It is due for release in 2013.
Q: I have been hearing rumors that ‘Desperate Housewives’ has been canceled. Is that true? I hope not, as it’s my favorite show! — Emmy R., via e-mail
A: ‘Desperate Housewives’ has not been canceled; however, creator Marc Cherry recently announced that this upcoming eighth season will be the show’s last. While the news was bittersweet for everyone involved, cast and crew agree that the time has come to wrap things up on Wisteria Lane. Marc teased at ABC’s Television Critics Association party last month that this final season will return to the basics and revisit the mystery that launched the show: Mary Alice’s death. Teri Hatcher and company will return on Sunday, Sept. 25, at 9 p.m. EDT.
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| Leeza Gibbons |
A: Leeza, 54, has never been one to rest on her laurels. In fact, she prides herself on remaining busy, be it with her PBS weekly show ‘My Generation,’ her work with the Home Shopping Network and Guthy-Renker on her Sheer Cover beauty-product empire, or her tireless work as an advocate for those affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
Regarding her signing on with ‘America Now,’ which premieres Monday, Sept. 12 (check your local listings for time), Leeza told me: ‘I’m so excited, because this is a real change of pace for me going back to daily television. I’m crazy about Bill Rancic (her co-host), and we’re very excited about working together on this.
“I’ve already hit the ground running and started looking at some segments that I want to make my own, including interviewing leaders and newsmakers and celebrities about success and living without limits. There’s also consumer news, lifestyle and fitness, and things for children — we’re going to tackle all of it."
Check back later this week for my entire interview with Leeza where we talk about her new show, her recent marriage, her Sheer Cover line, and Leeza's Place, her nonprofit organization for caregivers of people with memory disorders.
Q: With all the talk of Amy Winehouse’s recent death, the death of football great Bubba Smith was overlooked. Can you give me any information on him? – Harold T. in Florida
A: Charles Aaron ‘Bubba’ Smith passed away on Aug. 3 of apparent natural causes (as of this writing, the final coroner’s report had not been released). The former defensive end for the Baltimore Colts, Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers — who some consider even more famous for his work as Moses Hightower in the ‘Police Academy’ films — was 66 at the time of his passing.
Q and A: Week of Aug. 15
A: You’re in luck! On Aug. 23, Acorn Media will be releasing the first series of the police-procedural television drama (go to acornonline.com for more details). This series — which aired in the 1990s and 2000s on Britain’s ITV network, for a total of 14 episodes — garnered rave reviews and numerous accolades. Aside from starring the fabulous Helen Mirren, it also had big-name guest stars like Ralph Fiennes, Tom Wilkinson and David Thewlis. Director Tom Hooper, who won the Academy Award last year for “The King’s Speech,” also directed series six. Those are some mighty big shoes to fill for NBC — which will air the U.S. version beginning Sept. 22 — but I have my fingers crossed for Maria Bello and crew to make “Prime Suspect” their own.
Q: I am really digging the new TNT show, “Franklin and Bash.” Do you know if it’ll be back for a second season? — Hank F., Baltimore
A: Well, Hank, if you’ve got a hankering for a second season of “Franklin and Bash,” then I’ve got good news for you: TNT has picked up the hit legal drama for another season. Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Breckin Meyer will return as the titular characters to cause more waves at their button-down agency. No word yet on many episodes will be in the new season or when it will premiere, but we’ll assume it’s summer 2012. The show also stars Malcolm McDowell, Dana Davis, Kumail Nanjiani, Reed Diamond and Garcelle Beauvais.
Q: I am a huge fan of “White Collar” and have season one on DVD. When will seasons two and three be out? — Rita S., Port Charlotte, Fla.
A: The USA network show about a con man working with an FBI agent to catch criminals (as part of his work-release program from prison) recently returned for its third season in June, so you’ll have to wait a bit for those DVDs. However, you can now find season two at your favorite local and online retailers. The four-disc set includes all 16 episodes, deleted scenes, a gag reel, featurettes and commentaries for episodes nine, 12 and 16.
Q: I am so glad that “The Glades” has returned, and I was wondering what else has series star Matt Passmore been in? He is my favorite actor on television right now. — L.S., Granbury, Texas
A: Prior to landing the lead role of Jim Longworth on A&E’s “The Glades,” Matt Passmore — who was born in Brisbane, Australia, on Christmas Eve 1972 — worked on several TV shows and movies. You might have seen him in: “McLeod’s Daughter,” “Son of the Mask,” “Last Man Standing” or “The Cut.”
Interview: Nicollette Sheridan's Honeymoon
You can’t mention Nicollette Sheridan without thinking of her most recent alter ego, Edie Britt of “Desperate Housewives.” However, when you watch Nicollette in her new Hallmark Channel movie, “Honeymoon for One” — which premieres Saturday, Aug. 13 at 9/8c — Edie will be the furthest thing from your mind. In “Honeymoon,” Nicollette plays Eve Parker, a woman scorned who decides to travel to Ireland on what would have been her honeymoon. Along the way, she discovers love in the form of the breathtaking countryside, a sweet preteen named Kathleen, and a handsome (and irksome) outdoorsman named Sean. Celebrity Extra: What brought you to the Hallmark Channel, and to this movie in particular, “Honeymoon for One”?
Nicollette Sheridan: First of all, I really liked the character and I liked the movie. Hallmark is making beautiful movies that everyone can watch. And at times, they are dealing with slightly edgy material, so Hallmark has come a long way. And I do love that their movies are something the whole family can watch.
CE: Tell me about your character, Eve.
NS: Eve is hiding from herself and her intimate relationship by immersing herself in her work. I think a lot of people are guilty of that, and when something traumatic happens, she is forced to look at her life and make huge changes. And as we know, your career doesn’t wrap itself around you at night, and keep you safe and sound. Being present and being aware, and having a life filled with love, friendship and trust does. When you reach outside yourself and you do for others, it enriches many more lives, including your own. And that’s what I really liked about her journey.
CE: What were some of the aspects of her character that you could relate to or that you were really proud of?
NS: Well, she’s a very kind person, and she means well. Then again, she really needs to pull her head out of the sand and see what’s going on around her. And she’s a strong character. I like that she’s not a victim. It’s very difficult to go through a relationship breakup. Especially when somebody cheats on you, and though these things are very painful in her life, the outcome is a much better path.
CE: It’s very exciting and brave of her to go off on her own to a foreign country to clear her head and decide what she wants to do with her life.
NS: And it’s very out of character for her to do something like that, but her friends urge her to go. When she does, it’s very awkward at first, but she transcends all of that.
CE: What was Greg Wise, who played Sean, like to work with?
NS: Greg is a fantastic actor, and he’s very playful. We had a lot of fun shooting this film.
CE: And the location was just gorgeous! Where did you film, and what was the actual filming like?
NS: It was just stunning. We were in the most beautiful places. And I’d never been to Ireland, and coming from England myself, you have that expansive countryside, but it’s a much wilder feel in Ireland. I loved it over there. And of course I’ve been riding since I was a tiny little thing, and so for me to be out there and belting across the countryside on that white horse was heaven for me. It was just breathtaking over there. People are so nice and warm and friendly, and I’m looking forward to going back when I don’t have to work so I can really explore the country.
CE: A movie of yours that I absolutely loved you in was “Noises Off!” Do you hope to do some slapstick comedy like that again? Everyone in that movie was absolutely brilliant and I know you’re good at comedy. You’re good at the romance and the drama, but I just loved you in the slapstick, physical comedy. NS: Thank you. That was a very special movie. It had an incredible cast, and we would all convene at a roundtable in the morning, and everybody would tell stories and just share in a way that I’d never experienced on a set before. Basically we rehearsed it as a play. And then when we were ready to start shooting, we would shoot eight pages at a time, all in one shot. It was pretty demanding, physically, because as you remember, we were up and down the stairs and all the backstage business. The outtakes from that film were hilarious. I do love physical comedy as well as drama, so hopefully there will be a bit of everything to come.
CE: What are your thoughts on all these remakes that seem to be happening? I know TNT is doing a remake of “Dallas.”
NS: I know! I just saw an ad for it. It looked exciting. There was a nostalgia that came with seeing the ad for the show, and I think the music and those faces that are so familiar to so many people … I think there is something comforting about it. And it looks exciting! You’ve got all those colorful characters, and I’m sure they are all going to do an incredible job with it.
Larry Hagman looked great and Patrick Duffy, and I noticed that Brenda Strong, who was Mary Alice on “Housewives,” is in it. I’m thrilled for her, because she’s a beautiful actress and one of the loveliest human beings that I know.
CE: If they decided to do a “Knots Landing” remake, would you be on board, or would you say, “Good luck, but my time on ‘Knots Landing’ has passed”?
NS: I haven’t heard about anyone speaking of doing that. I think that “Dallas” was a lot flashier than “Knots Landing.” “Knots Landing” was really the down-home, simpler, more-pained version. Just very real people going through real situations, but I haven’t heard if they are interested in remaking that.
CE: I know you’re involved with a lot of charities, especially animal charities. Can you tell me a bit about them?
NS: It’s always wonderful to place animals in homes, because there are so many unwanted furry friends that need a beautiful family to go to. So, that’s something that I like to help with. Also, I got involved with Guide Dogs for the Blind. It is such a wonderful gift to be able to pair up somebody in need with a set of eyes and a companion. That was a very fulfilling thing to be a part of.
Recently, there is this charity called Ride On that is with horses. It’s for the disabled — both physically and mentally, adults and children — and just through the love that you get through working with and riding horses. It’s an incredibly healing experience and gives them a sense of accomplishment to be able to ride and to be able to bond in that fashion. I’m going to have a little bit more free time coming up, so I’m actually going to get to be more hands-on with the people and the horses. Animals are such a gift.
Paul Stanley and Wife Erin Welcome Baby Girl
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| Paul, Erin, Evan, Colin and Sarah |
August 9, 2011 – A star (child) has been born to Paul Stanley, the iconic front-man and founder of the legendary band KISS, and his wife Erin, a successful Los Angeles attorney. Emily Grace Stanley, who weighed 7lb. and 10 oz., was born August 9, 2011, in Los Angeles.
The new princess of the KISS Army will join sister Sarah Brianna, 2, and brothers Colin Michael, 4, and Evan Shane, 17.
“Erin and I are once again blessed with the addition of Emily Grace to our family,” Stanley said. “I’m not sure she can sing but her first screams let me know she’s definitely Daddy’s Girl.”
Q and A: Week of Aug. 8
CORRECTION: It was recently reported in this column (as well as many other entertainment columns) that Mariska Hargitay would be in only 13 episodes of this coming season’s “Law and Order: SVU.” Well, I am happy to amend that report with news from the Big Guy himself: Showrunner and executive producer Warren Leight contacted me to dispel the rumor. He told me: “Mariska will be in all 22 ‘SVU’ episodes this season. Rumor she is leaving at 13 just wrong.” With Christopher Meloni’s Detective Stabler leaving, it’s a relief to learn Mariska’s Detective Benson will be sticking around.Q: It seems like every other year, there is a rumor that “Jurassic Park 4″ is going to made. But so far, no movie. Will it ever happen? — Paul G., Miami
A: All signs point to “yes.” Producer/director Steven Spielberg told a crowd of enthusiastic sci-fi fans at last month’s San Diego Comic-Con fan convention that there will be another “Jurassic Park,” and it might be only two to three years away. Steven said that he has a story and a screenwriter ready to go for the fourth movie of the dinosaur-clone series, and Steven himself will serve as producer.
Q: I really love MTV’s new teen comedy, “Awkward.” The actor who plays Matty looks really familiar. Can you tell me what else I might have seen him in recently? — Cara D., via e-mail
A: Beau Mirchoff, 21, plays Matty, the nice-guy jock with a heart — and it appears he also has a thing for our heroine, Jenna. You might remember Beau from “Heartland,” or from his turn as Drea de Matteo’s son on “Desperate Housewives.”
Of his year on “DH,” Beau told me: “I learned so much from all the people on that set. They are pros, and they know what they’re doing. I learned a lot from Jeffrey Nordling, who played my father, and Drea de Matteo, who was my mother. I had a big crush on Drea. I hope it didn’t read on camera. That would have been creepy.”
Playing a teen on “Awkward.” has Beau remembering his own awkward time in high school: “Everything seems like such a dire situation. Like it’s the last time you’ll be able to do something. Or it’s the end of the world if you can’t go out with that girl. But it’s really not, and it’s so insignificant looking back. But you’re growing up and you’re figuring things out.”
Q: I was so sad to hear about the passing of singer Amy Winehouse. Do authorities know what caused her death? — Grant D., via e-mail
A: Toxicology reports will probably take weeks to get back, so it might be a while before we know what killed the troubled songstress, who was only 27 when she passed away on July 23. Amy had publicly battled addiction, but police say there were no signs of drug or paraphernalia in her home at the time of her death.
Interview: Russell Ferguson Wants to Change How We See Dancing
Russell Ferguson captured America's heart, as well as the sixth season's "So You Can Think You Can Dance" trophy, when he burst onto the scene in 2009. I caught up with Russell recently to discuss life after "SYTYCD," as well as the fact that now you can see Russell and his co-competitors competing on the dance-contest show all over again on Ovation beginning tonight at 8 p.m. ET/PT. (Check ovationtv.com for a complete schedule.) Celebrity Extra: Have you wanted to dance for as long as you can remember, or is there a moment when you realized, "Hey, I want to be a dancer."
Russell Ferguson: Good question. That has always stuck with me from the beginning. The furthest I can remember back, I was like 3. I remember my mother asking me in the kitchen what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I had always said an artist and a dancer. And it’s just stuck with me ever since. I think I was born into it honestly. I remember dancing all my life, whether it was just in the street or in a dance class.
CE: When did you start training?
RF: I started when I was 5. I was in a nonprofit dance company called Boston City Lights. Inner-city kids would just go there and learn how to do choreography, and then you would join the company after you got a certain amount of training. We would do shows around Boston. I guess I was always in that kind of setting, so I always had experience picking up different professional techniques and stuff like that.
CE: What made you decide to even audition for "SYTYCD"?
RF: Honestly, it was my mother. I was in college. I was doing a year at the University for the Arts, and it was basically get a degree in that or be a part of a dance company, where you would be set but you wouldn’t really make a name for yourself, and you would be part of a company. I wasn’t really a big fan of school — but I DO encourage kids to stay in school. But I was much more focused on dancing.
Once the auditions came to Boston, my mother said, “Hey, this is your time.“ She just felt it. She called me and said: “I’ve got the papers, and I really think you should audition. Even if you don’t make it, I really feel like you should just go. I feel like if you make it, you’re gonna win. This is your time.”
And I was like: “I don’t know. I don’t know about the whole Hollywood thing. But then I just though, Why not? If I get in, I get in. If I don’t, I don’t.”
CE: The whole process must have been excruciating — I figure you are constantly rehearsing, learning, dancing, all that.
RF: You could easily be fooled that it’s all just lots of fun by watching it on TV. But if you don’t know how to discipline yourself during certain situations or if you don’t know how to be professional during certain situations, it’s hard to get past certain things. And a reality show could really break you, a competition like that, because 24/7 you’re under pressure. Cameras are in your face, and when you’re just used to performing for the love of it, it’s hard to be on stage and focus on things like, "OK, this camera is going to be shooting your face up close at this time."
It’s hard to focus on things like that when you’re trying to please the crowd. So, things like that could really take away from the love of it. But, if you know why you’re there and you’ve got your head on straight, then you know you can make it through anything. You’ve just got to have faith in whatever you believe in.
CE: Sounds like it's really stressful!
RF: Oh, man! It’s definitely a stressful process. Friends are going home and friends are crying. Everybody is wondering, “Is it gonna be me next?” You just never know. Some of the best people were getting kicked off, and we were just like, “Wow!”
All that was going through my head was, “As long as you do everything that you need to do perfectly, there’s nothing that can go wrong. And if you do go wrong, hey, then you know you’ve done your best.” I wasn’t focused on trying to go home like that. My whole thing was, “I’m not saying I’m gonna beat everybody, but I am gonna say that I’m not going home.” Which is pretty much the same thing, but it’s more humble of a mentality.
CE: That's an optimistic, half-glass-full way to look at competing with friends. What else did you take away from the competition?
RF: I really learned that no matter how my body is feeling, my spirit takes over. Another reason that I did this competition was to prove to myself that I was as good of a dancer as a felt I was. And I was like, “This is gonna prove that.” It almost felt like one big battle.
CE: What kind of doors did this open for you and your dancing career?
RF: God has just been blessing me! Right after that, I got to perform at the Academy Awards. I’ve been teaching pretty much everywhere around the country — from Virginia to Utah to Washington to Cali. And I’m in an upcoming film called “Battlefield America” that’s gonna be coming out pretty soon, probably at the end of next year. It’s definitely like the next big dance movie coming out. It has a lot of youth in it, and it basically revolves around the youth and how they get down. It’s gonna be real big.
CE: Now that you know the outcome of your season of "SYTYCD," are you excited about getting the chance to watch them all again?
RF: I haven’t even watched every episode myself, so to watch that would definitely be an experience. I am looking forward to it.
CE: Tell me about your dance company, Side Street.
RF: Side Street is a company that I came up with. We’re trying to grab some youth and make positive things. We’ve got different projects. We’re seeking to teach and establish a program where we can go around and perform everywhere, and get it on Broadway, hopefully. That’s what we’re really striving for. The opportunity that "SYTYCD" gave me, I’m trying to take advantage of it.
CE: What are your long-term goals and plans for yourself and your career?
RF: Right now I’m trying to be like a spider. I’m trying to be everywhere. I definitely want to kick hard into the movie industry, because that has always been a passion of mine. One of my goals is to do what Michael Jackson did and put dancing on film — the way it should be, the way it used to be. There are not really a lot of people out there with those kinds of motives. They’ve kind of just conformed to everything that’s going on, because they know it’s going to get that kind of hype.
I feel like stuff that’s on YouTube should be on TV. There should be sitcoms with dancing in it! I feel like the Disney Channel and "Glee" are cool, but let’s get even more in depth with the dancing. I just feel that dance is at a point right now where it’s evolved tremendously, and it has to be seen in the light that a lot of other arts are seen. That’s my goal. I know, it’s real big!
Q and A: Week of Aug. 1
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| Noah Wyle, photo by Ken Woroner |
A: You can bet your sweet bippy that TNT has renewed cable’s No. 1 new series for another season. The alien-invasion saga, which airs Sundays at 10 p.m. (ET/PT), also stars Moon Bloodgood, Will Patton and Drew Roy, and is executive-produced by Steven Spielberg. TNT has ordered 10 episodes for the second season, which will air summer 2012.
Q: I just saw a preview for the remake of “Dallas,” which excites me to no end. I was wondering if any of the other older nighttime soaps have plans for a remake, like “Falcon Crest” or “Knots Landing”? — Diedre D., via e-mail
A: So far, no plans are in the works, but of course, you can never say never. I spoke with Nicollette Sheridan recently, who co-starred as Paige Matheson in the sudster “Dallas” spinoff, and she told me: “I haven’t heard of anyone speaking about doing that. I think ‘Dallas’ was always flashier than ‘Knots Landing.’
“‘Knots Landing’ was a down-home, simpler, more-pained version. Very real people going through very real situations. But so far, no, I haven’t heard of any plans for doing that.” For now, you can catch Nicollette in the Hallmark Channel original movie, “Honeymoon for One,” which premieres Saturday, Aug. 13.
Q: I’ve seen commercials for a new police drama on Lifetime, but I didn’t catch the name of the show. Could tell me about it? — Derek F., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
A: You’re thinking of “Against the Wall,” which is part police procedural, part family drama. It centers on a family of Chicago police officers, and stars Rachael Carpani, Brandon Quinn, Treat Williams and Kathy Baker. The show airs Sundays at 10 p.m. (ET/PT).
I spoke with Brandon Quinn, who plays Richie Kowalski, about the show: “The folks at Lifetime are really trying to re-identify themselves, and this show is definitely unlike anything else they have right now. It’s going to put them on the map. I’m really proud of this show. I would stack it up against any other show on network television right now.”
Q: I absolutely love the series “Bored to Death.” I read somewhere that Ted Danson is leaving the show to star in another show. Please tell me this isn’t true! — Hadley F., via e-mail
A: What you heard is only half-true. Ted is indeed going to star in another show; however, he won’t leave “Bored to Death.” He will remain a series regular on the HBO comedy that also stars Zach Galifianakis and Jason Schwartzman, and is slated to return for its third season this fall. Ted also has joined the cast of “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” where he’ll play the new supervisor for the Las Vegas CSI team. “CSI” returns for its 12th season Sept. 21.
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