Showing posts with label Dancing With the Stars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dancing With the Stars. Show all posts
Interview: Apolo Ohno Pushes New Boundaries
Celebrity Extra: What was the impetus behind your decision to participate in Ironman?
Apolo Ohno: [Fellow “Dancing with the Stars” champion] Hines Ward completed his first Ironman challenge in Kona last year, and I was inspired by it. I had been thinking about doing it last year, but I was traveling so much, it didn’t make sense. But I needed a challenge. I needed to inspire other people. I needed to inspire myself. I needed something that wasn’t anything like speed skating. I was a 40-second athlete. I could sprint. I was ballistic. I was powerful. But then after 40 seconds, that’s when my laces came off. Hines said this is the complete opposite side of the spectrum. It’s endurance based. It’s a triathlon. It’s three sports in one.
CE: Personally, I can’t imagine myself ever being able to survive an Ironman, but if I were to try, how would I train? How have you been training?
AO: You know, you think you can’t, but you could. It just takes consistency. It takes dedication. It takes a lot of time. The businesses that I’m involved with require me to be up very late, and I’m traveling internationally. And so it’s all about scheduling. I need this in my life, but I also do it because I want to inspire other people. One of the things that I was really, really adamant about is, I said, “Look, if I’m going to do this, we’ve got to make sure that we chronicle all the steps of the way.” So, that’s what we’ve been doing.
You can see the episodes of my training on gotchocolatemilk.com. There will be eight specific webisodes total. We’re chronicling from when I first arrived in Kona and seeing the transformation process — seeing my mind, my body, my struggles, and the difficulty in training for something of this nature.
It also chronicles my training. It’s different every week. This week, on Thursday I had a very long bike ride, a seven-hour bike ride. I rode like 100 or 110 miles or something like that, solo. It’s going to be very interesting. And then I follow that with a T run — or a transition run — which is a 40-minute run right after I get off the bike. It’s wild. I mean, anytime you bike 100-something miles, it’s a pretty intense day.
CE: Since you are a world-renowned athlete, that has to give you some advantages, but since your previous training is so different, that must present some cons for you as well.
AO: The pros are that I know what training is like. I’ve suffered through difficulty and pain in my own sport. The cons are I’m not an endurance athlete. I’m based around power, explosiveness, speed. Like any sprinter who’s designed for that, we require lots of rest between intervals. I’m very good at doing intervals as long as I have a little bit of rest. But with Ironman training, there is no rest. You’re going nonstop for hours and hours and hours, and you have to complete the entire 2.4-mile open-water ocean swim to 112-mile bike ride followed by running a marathon (which is 26.2 miles). And you have to do that all in under 17 hours.
CE: Wow.
AO: I know. Whenever I say that, it blows my mind. Especially in the conditions that we compete in in Kona, Hawaii. You’re in an incredibly beautiful place, but make no mistake, the conditions are brutal: 100-degree weather; 100 percent humidity; 60-mile-an-hour crosswinds; black lava rocks in which you have to run through and bike through; ambient temperatures upwards of 120 to 130 degrees. It just sucks all of the energy, nutrients, and minerals out of your system, so you have to make sure that nutrition is a key component in that entire process.
CE: How are you preparing mentally for the competition?
AO: I do meditation, and I focus on my breathing, making sure that I have those goals in sight. Any time you have somebody in front of you, you have to make sure you are achieving those goals, whether it is on a daily basis, weekly basis, or monthly basis. And I have specific goals set up. That’s the best way to maximize performance, whether in business, life, relationships, or in sports.
CE: Did Hines give you any advice for the big day?
AO: The first thing Hines said to me was, “Brother, I’m praying for you.” He said to just enjoy it. He said to take my time. It’s once in a lifetime. It’s pretty incredible.
I’m in a whole new place now. I’m more confident; I’m stronger; I’m getting leaner; and I can’t wait to arrive in Kona. It’s a good feeling.
Cameron Mathison Goes Undercover in Along Came a Nanny
Celebrity Extra: What was it about the film, and the character of Mike, that appealed to you?
Cameron Mathison: The comedic aspect was a really big factor. It was one of the first things that hooked me. I also really like that he was this big kid who hadn’t grown up, and he has to take care of other kids. He’s not really taken that seriously at work, but he wants to make a serious change as far as progressing in his job. He wants to move up. In order to do that he has to step it up. It was a moment in his life where he knew he had to take that step into responsibility and learn to deal with kids. I've lived through that phase myself, and I can really relate to it.
CE: While it was a feel-good movie, it was very believable and didn’t come off as pat or saccharine.
CM: Good! I’m glad it came off like that, because that can be a challenge. These movies get shot really quickly. We don’t have a lot of luxuries as far as time goes. To me, it’s important in my life, in general, to be happy and to be a benefit to those around me. We all got along really well. I try to be happy; I try to make the set happy. Sometimes it’s challenging when things are stressed, but with that said, this was a feel-good set. We were just having a lot of fun, a lot of laughs, and there was a lot of silliness. It was probably one of my favorite jobs that I can remember doing. It was a lot of fun.
CE: How was your leading lady, Sarah Lancaster, to work with?
CM: She’s the best. She’s such a pro and so fun and so down-to-earth and genuine. It’s maybe a little intimidating knowing that she’s a big deal. I went in making sure I was as prepared as I could be so that I could just really relax and be spontaneous and listen and react and play off her. Right off the bat she was so sweet and kind and funny — she has a great sense of humor.
CE: This movie had a very “Castle” feel to it. I could see it being a semi-regular series for the channel.
CM: I’m a big fan of “Castle,” so I love that comparison. Let’s see … how do we make this into a series? I guess we have to keep on changing his name and undercover occupation, because I don’t think he could be a nanny in every episode. But if I were, that would be fun. I know that Hallmark loves their mysteries, and I love working for them, so let’s hope for more!
CE: What would you like people to come away with after watching this movie?
CM: That’s a good question. First, I want them to have fun watching it, because there’s lots of comedy in it. I want them to feel warm, because there’s love and there’s growth within the characters through the story. I’d like for them to be entertained by the comedy, warm from the love, and also surprised by the mystery. Those are the three biggies that I would like people to take away.
CE: I know you’re in Vancouver now filming a show. What is it?
CM: It’s called “Game of Homes,” and I’m hosting it. It’s a really fun renovation/reality show where they’re taking four dilapidated houses off their foundations, and moving these four houses to a really cool downtown location. The contestants make up four teams, and they each end up, through a series of events, getting a specific house. Every week they renovate a new room of the house and the aspect of the house. And every week there is a new challenge with prizes. You can win a trip to Paris or a week cruise in the Caribbean. The ultimate goal, if you win, is that you win your house and a piece of land to put it on. It’s a fun show, because it’s reality show-esque: You get to vicariously live with them; they sleep and live in their houses, even though they are being renovated. The stakes are super-high.
Another other aspect about it that I really like is that I graduated with an engineering degree like 700 years ago, and my dream was always to go into a design firm with my best friend, who’s an architect. I was going to be the engineer, and he was going to be the architect. That was always my dream. And then I bailed on him and went in the entertainment world. But since that time, this is the closest gig I’ve ever had that involves design, construction, engineering, load-bearing walls, header beams — all that kind of stuff. For me it’s kind of coming close to my original dream of what I wanted to do with my life.
CE: Do you know when it airs, and when we’ll get to see it?
CM: It’s a Canadian production. Initially, it’s going to air in Canada. But I have a feeling it’s going to appear elsewhere; it’s just one of those shows. I’ll definitely let you know when I know what channel it’s going to be on in the States.
Q and A: Week of March 18
A: Since wowing her fans during two separate runs on “Dancing With the Stars,” Kirstie is taking that momentum to TV Land, where she’ll star in a new sitcom, “Kirstie’s New Show,” beginning this fall. According to the network, the show “revolves around Madison ’Maddie’ Banks (played by Kirstie), a renowned Broadway star who finds her life turned upside down when Arlo, the son she gave up at birth, suddenly appears hoping to connect after his adoptive parents have died.” The show co-stars Kirstie’s fellow “Cheers” alumnus, Rhea Perlman.
Q: I am so happy that my favorite reality/competition show, “Dancing With the Stars,” is back. But why hasn’t my favorite dancer, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, returned? — Hannah Y., via e-mail
A: Right after the season 16 cast was announced last month, the 33-year-old ballroom pro released a statement explaining his absence this season: “I just want to set the record straight to all of my amazing fans that I will, unfortunately, not be returning for this season of ’Dancing with the Stars,’ I’ve been a pro dancer on the show for about seven years now and am eager to explore other opportunities that have been made possible because of ’Dancing with the Stars.’ I’m going to take this time to dive into producing and acting, while fulfilling my sponsorship obligations.”
A representative for the show went on to explain why Maksim — as well as Anna Trebunskaya, Chelsie Hightower and Louis van Amstel — wouldn’t be returning: “We frequently rotate the professional dancers, so it is not unusual for them to rest a cycle. As we consider who will be matched up each season, there are a lot of factors that dictate which couples make the best pairings. We appreciate each of our dancers’ dedication to the show, so this is a very difficult decision.”
Q: I really loved Jane Seymour’s raunchy turn as BJ’s mom on Fox’s “Ben and Kate.” Since that hilarious show has unfortunately been canceled, will we see Jane on anything else soon? I sure do hope so! — Harold W., Roanoke, Va.
A: The gorgeous and talented Brit has signed on to co-star in a yet-untitled pilot for NBC. The show revolves around a character named Karey, “the clean-nosed black sheep in a family of petty thieves, drug addicts and narcissists.” Jane will play Dotty, Karey’s mother, who’s described as “self-centered, theatrical and often inappropriate.”
Q: I have been hearing for a while about a new Aaron Eckhart movie called “Erased.” It is supposed to be in theaters, but I can’t find it anywhere. — Danni R., via e-mail
A: The action thriller was released in Europe at the end of 2012, and will finally be making its way to American theaters come May 10. However, you can see it beginning April 5 on Video on Demand if you can’t wait until May.
Q and A: Week of March 11
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| Eric McCormack |
A: The multifaceted actor can next be seen on the Lifetime Original Movie “Romeo Killer: The Chris Porco Story,” which airs Saturday, March 23 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. It’s inspired by the true story of a handsome young college student who became the prime suspect in the shocking murder of his father and disfigurement of his mother in a savage ax attack. Eric portrays Detective Joe Sullivan, the lead investigator on the case, who goes on a mission to prove Chris’ guilt.
In “Perception” news, Scott Wolf, of “Party of Five” and “V” fame, has signed on to be a recurring character as an assistant U.S. attorney. He has a hidden agenda that involves his soon-to-be ex-wife, Kate, played by Rachel Leigh Cook. Look for 13 new episodes of “Perception” to begin airing this summer.
Q: I am absolutely gutted by the ending of season three of “Downton Abbey,” and I can’t wait for season four. Can you recommend anything for me in the meantime? — Jen S. in California
A: Well, if you’re looking for another high-quality period piece to take your mind of the heartbreaking fate of Matthew Crawley, then may I recommend another Masterpiece series? “Mr. Selfridge,” which premieres March 31, stars Jeremy Piven as a wheeling, dealing, womanizing American who teaches early-1900s Londoners how to shop. The eight-part series centers on the real-life story of the flamboyant and visionary founder of the London department store Selfridge’s.
Q: What has “Lost” star Josh Holloway been up to? Will he be on another series soon? — Nora S., Savannah, Ga.
A: Josh was cast as the lead in a pilot for CBS called “Intelligence.” The action takes place at U.S. Cyber Command, and focuses on a unit that has been created around one agent (Gabriel Black, played by Josh) with a very special gift: A microchip has been implanted in his brain that allows him to access the entire electromagnetic spectrum.
Josh also co-stars in the dramatic thriller “Paranoia,” which also stars Harrison Ford, Liam Hemsworth and Gary Oldman. It will be released in October. Also, in January 2014, look for Josh in the Arnold Schwarzenegger action movie “Ten,” which also stars Sam Worthington and Joe Manganiello.
Q: My husband and I recently watched a new series called “Do No Harm” on NBC; however, we haven’t been able to find it on the TV schedule. Has it been canceled? — Laura K., via e-mail
A: The medical drama, which premiered Feb. 1, was indeed canceled after two episodes. “Do No Harm” was the lowest-rated, in-season broadcast scripted series debut in modern history. The second episode declined even further, sealing the show’s fate.
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| Kevin Sorbo |
A: On March 23 at 8/7c, you can catch Kevin in the Hallmark Movie Channel’s “Shadow on the Mesa,” which also stars Wes Brown (“Deception”), Gail O’Grady (“NYPD Blue”) and Meredith Baxter (“Family Ties”). The movie takes place in the Old West, and Kevin plays rancher Ray Eastman, who is trying to protect his property from a land grab by a corrupt neighbor.
I asked Kevin if he’d like to do another comedy, and he told me: “I would love to. I’ve done a lot of guest spots ‘Dharma and Greg,’ ‘Two and a Half Men,’ ‘Just Shoot Me’ … all those different things. I did have my own sitcom back in 2005. It was a half-hour comedy called ‘Bobby Cannon,’ where I played an end-of-the-year quarterback for the Chicago Bears.
“It tested No. 1 for ABC, but then the then-president of ABC decided not to pick it up. To this day we are shocked. There’s no doubt in my mind we’d be in our eighth season right now. Oh well … welcome to the business of Hollywood.” Read my full interview with this charming and talented man here.
Q: Isn’t it about time for a new “Dancing With the Stars”? — Gina W., Columbus, Ohio
A: It sure is, Gina. And this year has your usual crop of actors, singers and athletes, all of whom are ready to heat up the dance floor beginning Saturday, March 16, at 8 p.m. EDT with a two-hour premiere. The 16th season of the hit dancing-competition show stars country singer Wynonna Judd, gymnast Aly Raisman, skater Dorothy Hamill, boxer Victor Ortiz, football player Jacoby Jones, reality star Lisa Vanderpump, country singer Kellie Pickler, comedian D.L. Hugley, comedian Andy Dick, soap-opera star Ingo Rademacher and Disney star Zendaya Coleman. **This just in: "Bachelor" star Sean Lowe will also be competing for the coveted disco-ball trophy.**
Q: Has CBS canceled “Vegas”? Visually and stylistically, it’s different from the usual cop programs on TV, and it’s a joy to watch. — Marcia A. in New York
A: While CBS hasn’t canceled the Dennis Quaid/Michael Chiklis drama as of this writing, things aren’t looking good for it. The ratings aren’t as high as CBS expects from its dramas, especially one that’s so expensive to produce, and CBS downgraded its episode order from 22 to 21. “Vegas” returns with new episodes on Tuesday, March 19, after a month-long hiatus.
Q: Did you ever find out if “The Witches of East End” is going to be a regular series on Lifetime? — Callie D., via e-mail
A: Lifetime recently announced that it did indeed pick up “Witches” for a 10-episode run to launch later this year. The drama stars Julia Ormond, Jenna Dewan-Tatum and Rachel Boston. As soon as I get a firm date, I’ll let you know.
Q and A: Week of March 12
Q: It’s official: I am hooked on “GCB.” Can you give me any info on the handsome actor who plays Blake? — Trudy F., via e-mailA: Mark Deklin, 44, along with being a super actor is also a professional fight director, talented musician, smarty-pants English and History degree holder, father, husband, and all-around great guy. I spoke with him recently about his role of in-the-closet Blake (who’s married to Cricket, but it’s OK, because she knows and is fine with it), and he gave me some scoop: “As the season goes on, we explore the dynamic of our marriage. What are the rules? If we’re not jealous of the other’s sexual encounters, what are the things that we ARE jealous of? There are certain guidelines. Being with someone else sexually is not seen as a betrayal in that marriage, but having a best friend outside the marriage IS a betrayal. We’ve had a lot of fun figuring it out together.”
Read my entire interview with Mark here.
Q: I love ABC’s “Suburgatory,” especially Jeremy Sisto. I’ve had a crush on him since “Clueless.” Any chance that one of his former “Clueless” castmates will appear on his new show? — Justine M., via e-mail
A: Not only is there a chance, but it is actually happening: “Clueless” star Alicia Silverstone will join Jeremy on “Suburgatory” for a four-episode story arc at the end of this first season. No word yet on her character, but I can’t wait to see what they come up with!
Q: Can you tell me what one of my favorite actresses, Elaine Hendrix, has been up to lately? — Jeff D., Savannah, Ga.
A: Aside from saving animals in her spare time as the founding officer of Animal Rescue Corps, the “Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion” actress just landed a lead role opposite Judy Greer in the ABC pilot “American Judy.” The comedy centers on Judy, who gets married and moves to the suburbs, juggling stepkids, her mother-in-law and the ex-wife (Elaine) of her husband, who also happens to be the town sheriff.
Q: You always seem to be on top of this, so could you let me know as soon as you find out who the new contestants will be on the next season of “Dancing with the Stars”? — Pauline R., Oxford, Ohio
A: You know I will, Pauline. This season’s contestants are your usual hodgepodge of athletes, singers, entertainment reporters and actors (with the usual soap star thrown in for good measure. The new season, which begins March 19, consists of “Family Matters” actor Jaleel White, singer Gladys Knight, football player Donald Driver (who did very well for me in fantasy football a few years back), “The View” co-host Sherri Shepherd, singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw, “Little House on the Prairie” actress Melissa Gilbert, Disney Channel star Roshon Fegan, tennis player Martina Navratilova, soap star Jack Wagner, telenovela star William Levy, operatic singer Katherine Jenkins and “Extra” co-host Maria Menounos.
Interview: Lea Thompson Is Queen of The Cabin
I spoke with Lea recently, who told me all about the movie, as well as her new ABC Family show, "Switched at Birth." We also discussed "Red Dawn," Judd Nelson, Patrick Swayze, Charlie Sheen, John Hughes, Leonardo DiCaprio, Clint Eastwood and "Dancing with the Stars" — so sit back, relax, read and enjoy!
Celebrity Extra: What made you decide to do this movie for the Hallmark Movie Channel?
Lea Thompson: I hadn’t done a romantic-comedy movie in my whole career. I like trying different things and I thought, isn’t this fun that I get to do this kind of family romantic comedy that’s generally kind of reserved for 30 year olds. How nice to do this. I love the whole thing with the Scottish games. I thought that would be really fun. I love to do physical things. The idea that I got to go to Ireland to shoot the movie was really, really, really fun. I just liked the script and I really liked the director, Brian Trenchard-Smith, who’s just so lovely. It was a win-win-win situation.
CE: That must have been a lot of fun to not only get to shoot a cute movie, but to get to travel to Ireland to do it.
LT: I know! It was very exciting and my sisters got to come and visit me. Our mother’s Irish, so that was really fun to spend a week and a half with them in Ireland. I love making movies in these places, because you really get a chance to really know the people and go to places you wouldn’t go if you were just a tourist.
CE: Can you empathize with some of the stuff Lily goes through to try to make this a great vacation for her kids?
LT: You know that idea of really wanting the vacation to go really great, and there’s lots of things that are out of your control? Being a working mom, your time is so precious with your kids that you want things to go perfectly, and they never do, and a lot of times the things that go wrong are the things that are the most special. Like in the movie, the little mistakes that happen end up making the trip even better in some ways — if you can role with the punches. I can definitely relate to that.
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| "The Cabin" cast |
LT: I loved that idea. The world is filled with blended families. There are so many people who get divorced and families getting together, and there are adopted kids and all that. Family is not only the people you are blood related to, but also your extended family, which can be just as important.
CE: I know you are athletic, but just watching you guys preparing for and competing in the games was making me tired!
LT: Yeah, it was exhausting. We didn’t have a lot of time to really train, especially the hammer throw. It was a little bit dangerous every once and awhile. Everyone was really game. It was a great cast. Everyone was really willing to try. Steven Brand (who plays Conor) was unbelievable at all of this stuff. He was so good at all these things, and he had never done it before. He is a really amazing athlete and he kind of led the way. The competition was very real between us. I really love that. It’s really fun in a movie to get out and be outside and do something physical. The crew always appreciates it. When you’re acting, they kind of go to sleep sometimes. When you’re throwing a rock, they wake up.
CE: Your character could have come off as somewhat of a two-dimensional bitch, but she wasn’t. You made her very likable. Was that a conscious choice on your or the director’s part?
LT: I think sometimes when people find those parts they purposely put me in them to try to soften them out a little bit. That’s a very nice compliment. I try to make you see why she is acting like she is. If you can understand why someone is acting defensive, you get to see underneath. You can see she’s just being a good mom and protecting her kids.
It’s my job to make words on a page feel human. I start by falling in love with my character. I fall in love with them so I can see that they’re good people underneath. You need conflict, and you need people in movies to not get along, but you also have to be rooting for her, because she was one of the main characters.
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| Cast of "Switched at Birth" |
LT: I did my nine movies for the Hallmark Channel for “Jane Doe,” so that was kind of like a series, even though it was movies. Regarding “Switched at Birth,” I just really liked the part. I’ve never played this person before. She’s really rich and she’s really uptight, and she’s got her whole life kind of perfectly ordered.
It’s also a really, really smart show. It’s not talking down to teenagers at all. There’s a lot of really great conflict in it. Just the idea that you got to meet your daughter and the woman who raised her after sixteen years, and try to live together.
I really love the opportunity for growth that she has that all of a sudden this kind of bomb goes off in her life and everything that she thought she knew was real is not real. I liked the opportunity for growth, and the writing was really, really good. I have two teenage daughters, and they love ABC Family, so the idea of being on a show that they have a lot of fun watching was really great to me.
CE: I see you are also set to co-star in “J. Edgar” as Lela Rogers this winter. What can you tell me about the movie and your part in it?
LT: I don’t have a huge role that’s for sure. But I play Ginger Rogers’ mother, who was actually a really interesting character. She was an actress and a writer, and she also was an expert witness at the McCarthy hearings. She determined what lines and which movies were Communist propaganda. Yeah, pretty nutty. You don’t get to see that part of her life, but I was fascinated reading about that.
It’s just an amazing movie and it was really an honor to work with Clint Eastwood. He’s kind of like Woody Allen: Whenever he calls, you’re like, “I’ll do whatever you want me to do.” So that was really exciting and it’s been a long time since I’ve done a period movie, so it was really fun to be immersed in the ’30s. Leonardo DiCaprio is amazing, he looks amazing, and he sounds amazing. He’s just awesome.
CE: I see that both you and Christopher Lloyd will be at September’s DragonCon sci-fi convention in Atlanta.
LT: Yeah, we have fun doing those things together. We’ll call each other up: “You going? OK, I’ll go.” We both never wanted to do them before, but we did a couple of them, and it was really fun. It’s good PR and it’s really fun.
CE: Do you have any other projects in the works?LT: I have a movie that just came out on DVD that I produced called “Mayor Cupcake.” I produced and starred in it with my daughters. It’s such a cute movie, you’d love it. It’s a great family movie. It’s about a woman who makes cupcakes in this little tiny town. My husband is Judd Nelson. I also have three daughters in the movie with two of them played by my real-life daughters, Madelyn and Zoey Deutch. In the movie, I accidentally get elected mayor of this little town, and of course it’s really corrupt, and I have to clean up the town in my down-home kind of way. It’s just a lovely, funny little movie.
CE: It’ll be great to see you working with Judd Nelson …
LT: This is kind of a convoluted story, but when we were shooting — you remember that Judd Nelson was in “Breakfast Club”? The main song was “Don’t You Forget About Me.”
CE: Of course — that was actually my high-school senior-class song.
LT: Really? Then you’ll definitely appreciate this. My daughter sings it in the movie backed up by a band. My husband, Howard Deutch, and I met on “Some Kind of Wonderful,” a John Hughes movie. Two days before Madelyn had to record the song, John Hughes died. So Madelyn was singing “Don’t You Forget About Me” to Judd Nelson and myself and my husband, and we were all just balling. It was so special, and it was a really amazing moment. Sometimes things like that happen and we were all so sad. My husband loved John Hughes. We all loved him. He was obviously important to us in particular, because we’ve been married for 22 years.
CE: I have to ask, how do you feel about the remake of “Red Dawn”? Personally, I have my doubts …
LT: I don’t know. I have my doubts too, clearly, because they haven’t even released it yet, and the fact that they turned the Chinese people into Koreans digitally afterward was kind of interesting. I don’t know. I’ll be really interested to see it. One of the really amazing things about the original “Red Dawn” is that there were no special effects in terms of CGI or any computer-generated effects. Everything that happened really happened, which I think makes it more of a visceral nightmare. Because you never see it, we just talk about what happened in the other cities. But I’m sure in the new version, you’ll get to see a lot of bombs going off and stuff like that. Sometimes some things left to your imagination are actually more haunting.
CE: I also can’t believe that the original movie came out in 1984!
LT: I know. It’s so shocking that Patrick Swayze is gone. And that Charlie Sheen is so crazy. And Jennifer Grey won “Dancing with the Stars.”
CE: I loved her in that! I was voting for her the whole way.
LT: Me too, she was amazing.
CE: Would you ever compete on “DWTS” if they came a’callin’?
LT: Probably. I always do whatever anybody asks me to do. I’m like: “Really? Okay, I’ll do it.” I’m working with Marlee Matlin right now on “Switched at Birth,” and she loved doing “DWTS.” Everyone who does it loves doing it, so it must be great.
Q and A: Week of June 20
Q: I love “Army Wives.” This past season was especially phenomenal. I can’t believe Frank and Denise lost their son, Jeremy. It really broke my heart. How did the cast handle shooting those scenes? — Sally D., Columbus, OhioA: You can bet those scenes were absolute torture to film. I spoke with Brigid Brannagh, who plays Pamela on the hit series, and she gave me the scoop: “We were all like, ‘Make this episode stop.’ It was so upsetting. And I’ve been to enough funerals where ‘Taps’ was played, and just hearing that song evokes so many things. It’s impossible not to feel completely consumed with melancholy when ‘Taps’ comes on.
We’ve met all these soldiers, heard stories and met people who have lost soldiers,” she said. “We’ve been so surrounded by this world, by this military Army life for all of these years, that you just think about a soldier that you love gone, and he’s just a boy. It tore all of us up. Watching Terry Serpico (who plays Jeremy’s father) walk in and trying not to cry — oh my God, it was terrible. It was just heart wrenching all the time. But we all really appreciated what it was. It was just a long day shoot.”
Q: My sister and I want to know what happened to our favorite show, “Bleep My Dad Says.” Will it be back, and if so, when? — Linda P., via e-mail
Q: What happened to “Human Target”? It just disappeared from TV. — Carol S., via e-mail
Q: Is it true that “Brothers and Sisters” and “Off the Map” are both being canceled next season? I hope not, as I am a big fan of both of them. — Sharon M. in California
Q: Have you heard if another network has picked up “Detroit 1-8-7″ or “Body of Proof”? They both were both fabulous. — Lee K., via e-mail
A: To answer all of your questions in one fell swoop, ABC has renewed the Dana Delany medical drama “Body of Proof.” However, the other shows mentioned weren’t so lucky and have been canceled. You can get a full rundown of which shows are returning, along with which new shows have been picked up at www.celebrityextraonline.com.
Q: What is my favorite dancer, Derek Hough, doing? Why wasn’t he on this spring’s season of “Dancing With the Stars”? — Marilyn S., via e-mail
A: Derek, 26, took a break from the hit dancing show to focus on his acting and singing career, much like sister Julianne. He guest-starred on an episode of “Better With You” and is slated to star in the movie “Cobu 3D.” He also is in a band with fellow “DWTS” dancer Mark Ballas, called the Ballas Hough Band, which released its first record in March 2009. Fun fact: He played the uncredited role, Hogwarts schoolboy, in “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.”
Q and A: Week of March 14
Q: While I like all these new reality-competition shows, I need to know when my favorite one, “Dancing With the Stars,” will return, and who will be the stars this season. – Gina R., via e-mail
A: “Dancing With the Stars” returns for its 12th season on Monday, March 21, at 8 p.m. ET. Eleven celebrities have been tapped to compete this season: Kirstie Alley, “Psycho” Mike Catherwood, Chris Jericho, Chelsea Kane, Sugar Ray Leonard, Ralph Macchio, Petra Nemcova, Romeo, Hines Ward, Kendra Wilkinson and Wendy Williams.
Q: My family loves “The Waltons.” It’s such a wonderful family show; they just don’t make them like this anymore. What is Richard Thomas (John-Boy) doing now, and does he ever see his old cast members anymore? — Patricia C., Altoona, Pa.
A: I spoke with Richard recently to talk about his latest movie, “Time After Time” for the Hallmark Channel (check your local listings for info), and he told me he does keep in touch with his fellow Waltons.
“Mary Elizabeth McDonough was just here a few weeks ago, and we had dinner. Michael Learned and I are very close friends. We all keep tabs on each other. I saw Kami (Cotler) not long ago. We don’t all see each other all the time, but there is a great deal of genuine fondness and familial feeling. We love each other a lot.”
He is counting on his “Waltons” fans embracing “Time After Time.” As he tells me, the movie is right up their alley. “This (movie appeals to) a segment of the old ‘Walton’ audience. I consider it a nice family movie and something that the family can enjoy together.”
Q: My husband told me that a crewmember from “Deadliest Catch” died. Is that true? If so, who was it? — Francine R., Rochester, N.Y.
A: Justin Tennison (some sources say he was 33, some 34), deckhand for the “Time Bandit” crab fishing boat, died in his sleep in late February. An autopsy is scheduled, and as of this writing, no cause of death has been announced. Beer, hard liquor and a small amount of marijuana were found in the Alaska hotel room where his body was found. Justin will appear posthumously in the seventh season of “Deadliest Catch,” whose premiere date has yet to be announced by Discovery Channel.
Q: I loved the movie “The Hangover.” I’ve heard rumors that there is going to be a sequel. Is there? — Dave F., via e-mail
A: Get ready for a roadtrip with the guys. “The Hangover: Part II” hits theaters May 26 (Memorial Day weekend), and the boys are headed to Thailand for Stu’s (Ed Helms) wedding. All the guys are back for the sequel (Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha and Ken Jeong), with a cameo by Liam Neeson.
DWTS Lineup Announced
Here is the cast for the new season of Dancing With the Stars, which begins Monday, Sept. 20 at 8 p.m.:
We have: singer/songwriter Michael Bolton (not pictured), R-and-B singer/actress Brandy, comedian Margaret Cho, ex-Laker Rick Fox, actress Jennifer Grey, actor/singer David Hasselhoff, actress Florence Henderson, Kyle Massey of the Disney Channel’s Cory in the House, former first daughter of Alaska Brisol Palin, The Hills star Audrina Partridge, reality-show star Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino (not pictured) and ex-quarterback Kurt Warner.
Given that Jennifer Grey had an excellent dance teacher back in 1987 (the late Patrick Swayze for Dirty Dancing), she might have a leg up on the competition. Of the men, my money is on the Hoff.
Q and A: Week of July 9
A: Well, first off, you can expect guest stars a-plenty: Cybill Shepherd, Natasha Henstridge, Vivica Fox, Leelee Sobieski and more. Also, “Diva” star Kate Levering (pictured, left), who plays rival lawyer Kim Kaswell, dished a little with me and let me know that Kim gets a new love interest. Kate says: “We’ll see some of the fallout with her last relationship last season with Grayson, and she’ll enter into a new relationship that creates some scandal. That storyline for me has been really cool. And there will be more interesting, quirky court cases and great dream sequences with really exciting talent.”
Q: I read somewhere that a prequel to “The Wizard of Oz” is in the works. Is that true? — Daniel F., via e-mail
A: Director Sam Raimi of “Spider-Man” fame is in contention to direct the “Oz” prequel, which is called “Oz: The Great and Powerful.” As of this writing, Disney had not confirmed the news, as they are still in the negotiation stage. Robert Downey Jr. has been linked to the lead role. Sam himself is a very busy man — he has dozens of films in production, either as a writer, director and/or producer. He is producing and writing “Evil Dead IV,” producing “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” directing “No Man’s Land” and many others.
Q: I know you’re a big fan of “Dancing With the Stars,” so I was wondering who you’d like to see compete on the show. — Renee, B., via e-mail
A: Thank you for asking! I think former 98 Degrees singer Jeff Timmons would do very well — and get a lot of the ladies’ votes! And funnyman cutie-pie David Blue of “Ugly Betty” and “Stargate Universe” fame would do very well, especially given his musical theater background.
I spoke with “DWTS” judge Carrie Ann Inaba in June (as she was helping to bring awareness to Cat Adoption Month), and she told me one of her dream guests: “I would love to see Lindsay Lohan come on our show. I think it would be a really good opportunity for her to sort of turn her life around, as she’s been going through some hard times. She is a talented young actress, and she’s a very sexy girl. I’m very curious to see that — I think she’d do very well on our show.”
Q: Since her departure from “NCIS,” I haven’t heard anything from Sasha Alexander. What’s she up to? — Art U., Johnson City, Tenn.
A: Since leaving “NCIS,” Sasha, 37, has appeared the feature films “Yes Man,” “Love Happens” and “He’s Just Not That Into You,” as well as many guest spots on various TV series. She is currently wrapping production on the film “Coming and Going,” which should be released later this year. Beginning July 12, she can be seen with Angie Harmon in the TNT original program called “Rizzoli and Isles,” which airs on Mondays at 10/9c.
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.
Brooke Burke to Co-Host DWTS
(from people.com) Brooke Burke is set to co-host Dancing With the Stars alongside Tom Bergeron, it was announced Monday on Good Morning America.
Burke, who partnered with Derek Hough (pictured) to win on Dancing's seventh season, will replace Samantha Harris, who announced in January that she was leaving the show.
"She'll be able to talk to the couples backstage with the perspective of having been there herself," said Bergeron, who made the announcement solo Monday morning, adding that Burke was still on vacation in Africa with her family.
THIS JUST IN: Season 10 DWTS Cast
UPDATE — Here Are the Pairings:
Pamela Anderson gets Damian Whitewood, who joins the show this season.
Kate Gosselin gets Tony Dovolani.
Buzz Aldrin dances with Ashly Costa, who was formerly Ashly DelGrosso.
Erin Andrews teams with Maksim Chmerkovskiy.
Shannen Doherty will work with two-time champ Mark Ballas.
Evan Lysacek is paired with Anna Trebunskaya.
Niecy Nash will perform with Louis van Amstel.
Chad Ochocinco gets Cheryl Burke.
Jake Pavelka is with Chelsie Hightower.
Nicole Scherzinger teams with former champ Derek Hough.
Aiden Turner performs with Edyta Sliwinska (like his AMC predecessor, Cameron Matheson).
(previous post below)
It's Official: Here is the cast for season 10 of Dancing With the Stars, which premieres Monday, March 22: Pamela Anderson, Chad OchoCinco, Aiden Turner, Erin Andrews, Shannon Doherty, Buzz Aldrin, Niecy Nash, Nicole Scherzinger, Evan Lysacek, Kate Gosselin and Bachelor star Jake Pavelka .
Place your bets now! My bet is for a catfight between Shannen Doherty and Kate Gosselin. My money's on Shannen, for sure.
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