January 2008 Archives

ABC has chosen it's new "Bachelorette" and just like the last several girls chosen for the show, she's a familiar face. 26-year-old DeAnna Pappas, who failed to find love on last season's "The Bachelor," is the chosen one.  Pappas made it all the way down to the final two women only to find out that Bachelor Brad Womack had rejected both she and Jenni Croft, her competition.

 

Why this Campbellsville, Kentucky native would put herself through this torture again, I have no idea. The last two “Bachelorette’s” both ended up single.

Jen Schefft rejected both of her suitors' marriage proposals in the show's season three finale. Season two’s Merideth Phillips got engaged to banker Ian McKee only to breakup after a year together. 

Then again, the very first Bachelorette, Trista Ryan, remains the show’s only true success story -- having married her hot fireman, Ryan Sutter. The couple recently had a baby, Maxwell.

Reality shows be damned. It's finally time to get engrossed in a really great fictional drama thought up by the minds of writers. Though "Lost" has only eight episodes in the can this year due to the strike, judging from the first episode, which I have just watched,  "Lostees" will be glued to their sets for every single second. 

 

If you are desperately awaiting tonight's show and have no interest in hearing anything about it then you best be clicking off this page in case there is a spoiler or two. I'll keep them to a minimum though as even I don't like to read spoilers.

 

If you want just a taste, then keep on reading. "Beginning of the End" is the appropriate title for this nail-biter of an episode that begins like the season three finale ended, in the future. How far into the future it is won't be revealed until later into the episode. Back on the Island, Hurley will be dealing with the loss of his friend, Charlie, and taking it very hard. An event will divide the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 into two camps, which may or may not affect who gets off the Island.

 

 

I don't often comment on our competition, but because we have so much of it in the "entertainment show" genre these days, we are often lumped in a group together. The fact is, we're very different, and that stems mostly from the difference in scruples of the respective Executive Producers.

”Entertainment Tonight” and “The Insider” ran a promo tonight for their Heath Ledger drug use video, which they "reportedly" (love that lawyer enforced word) bought for a couple hundred thousand dollars. A still frame of this video which shows Heath apparently doing cocaine ran on the east coast feed of “ET,” but on the west coast feed, the tasteless still shot was replaced with a shot of someone's feet (Heath’s, I guess). The voice over by Mary Hart had not changed, however. She still spoke of the incriminating scene and still promo'd the full video tomorrow.

Yes, the still shot was just a taste. Tomorrow is Day 1 of the sweeps ratings period.

Gross. Totally gross.

And add to that some predictability:

”ET” and “The Insider” higher ups released this tonight:

"Out of respect for HEATH LEDGER's family, ‘Entertainment Tonight’ and ‘The Insider’ have decided not to run the Heath Ledger video which has been circulating in the world media,"

"Out of respect" — Oh my. How about, "in response to a letter of outrage, written by Heath's publicist, circulating the industry hotter and faster than nude Brangelina photos could, we have decided to duck and run here.” That would be refreshingly honest.

It’s 11am here and I have completed my interviews with Cate Edwards and the Romney boys. It’s been a hectic pace up until now with long days and much travel. The interviews not only afforded us the chance to speak with potential future first family members but also allowed for the opportunity to experience life on the campaign trail.
 
We interviewed Cate back in South Carolina where she was speaking at an AIDS rally. My producer and I were quite impressed. We both remarked that if you didn’t know it, you might have thought Cate were a candidate herself. She was incredibly well-versed on her father’s policies and his track record. However, her own views, particularly on gay marriage, and the fact that she has her own set of beliefs while supporting her father so ardently, are what made her truly impressive. On the subject of gay marriage, we discussed her and her father’s differing views. Cate supports gay marriage and is continuing discussions with him in the hopes of altering his stance.
 
Cate said her father taught her and her siblings to be appreciative of everything they have. He continually stressed that they as a family, and as individuals, were blessed and extremely fortunate. As a result, he told them they should always give back to the community, and I believe Cate is and will continue to do so. 
 
She studied politics and is a second year Harvard law student. Though she has no plans to ever run for office, she says she could never learn in the classroom what she has learned on the campaign trail. Campaigning since the year 2000, she may have the most experience on this level, second only to Chelsea Clinton.
 
This school year, Cate opted to take a lighter class load at Harvard in order to participate more in this election than she did in her father’s previous run. Campaigning for one election is grueling enough: a twenty four-seven schedule where sleep and food are luxuries and your every move is scrutinized. Now imagine doing this for years - as many of these children have. Yet, Cate seems to somehow handle it all with grace. She did mention that having such vast campaign experience has made this year’s effort more routine and therefore, easier in terms of execution and even much more fun.

She may not have won "Dancing with the Stars" but Marie Osmond is certainly coming out on top becoming the first of the season five celebs to secure a prime deal for herself.

 

I said to someone, just after the finale, that I bet Marie will take another stab at a talk show - and wouldn't you know it,  I just received a press release that Marie unveiled plans for a new syndicated talk show at NATPE this morning.  This will be Marie's second run as a talk show host. She and her brother Donny hosted the syndicated "Donny and Marie" talk show which lasted two seasons. 

 

I knew something was up when a few weeks ago my producer friend Bryant and I were walking out of the NBC commissary and ran smack into Marie. I almost didn't recognize her. From far away I thought she was the new hot reporter KNBC had just hired! As we approached closer we hear her say, "Bryant, Bryant" and there is Marie looking slim and sexy.  She told us she was "taking meetings" on the lot.  Walking away we both agreed that a talk show was most likely in her future and we were right.

 

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Last, week, a 29-year-old woman from Orlando, Florida was successfully able to trick the media into believing that she had a video of "American Idol" contestant (and rumored Top 12 female) Kristy Lee Cook naked in a video available for sale on www.undercoveredonline.com. 

 

The story was picked up all over the Internet and its legitimacy was debated on message boards. It turned out to be a hoax perpetrated by someone with a different message - Get out and vote. 

 

I tracked the person responsible for this down and while I absolutely, unequivocally don't agree with her choice of how she got her message across (hurting an innocent victim) I do agree with the message - That we spend too much time watching, reading and discussing frivolous topics.

 

5:40 pm: Bada Bing! The cast of "The Sopranos," winners of Best Ensemble drama all come back to the press room. There's a ton of them! Edie Falco poses alone double fisted with her two awards. She's got some muscular arms! James Gandlofini, as usual, hangs back from giving any interviews. The man hates to talk to media.

5:42 pm: Javier Bardem must wait his turn while "The Sopranos" get their photo taken in the press room. After he gets his picture taken he blows off the rest of the press because he wants a cigarette. His publicist asks if its normal for someone not to do the rest of the press interviews and someone involved with event says "no." Though most people want to celebrate their wins and get publicity, he didn't seem to care.

5:57 pm: The entire cast of "The Office" comes back to the press room after winning for Best TV Comedy. Steve Carell is sweating badly! Jamie Lynn Sigler from "The Sopranos" walks by and holds up her award when she sees the cast and says "Yeah, I'm so excited for you." Melora Hardin says back "Yeah you guys." As the cast files in for their photos and the photographers begin screaming all their names, James Gandolfini is walking behind them and starts yelling out, "Bobby, Bobby," as a joke. 

6:07 pm: John Krasinski and the gang come and talk to "Access Hollywood." A pretty brunette seems to be here with John as his date. She touches his arm and he gives her a big smile. New girlfriend?

The 14th Annual SAG Awards shall be known this year as the SOG awards thanks to a rainy LA weekend. It will be interesting to see just how many celebrities brave the weather to attend. Read on to find out about the behind the red carpet reality of an awards show.

 
2:00 pm: I can't remember an awards show where I have ever been this cranky. It was pouring rain when I got in my car to come here. Apparently, parts of the red carpet area were flooded. When I finally arrive to the Shrine it has stopped raining and the sun is peaking through the clouds. The aftermath still remains. The red carpet is all wet and soggy.

2:30 pm: I just arrived to the red carpet where I have to climb over a hedge to get to my position. They literally have us in front of a pole.  To make matters worse, every two seconds I feel a drop of rain on my neck. Can I go home?

3:00 pm: The SAG awards red carpet has officially just opened. The first celebrity to arrive is Nikki Blonsky from "Hairspray" and Christina Applegate who is nominated for her role on "Samantho Who?"  

3:05 pm: Sara Ramirez from "Grey's Anatomy" arrives and I wonder if she will be the only cast member to make the red carpet trip. We are so far down the line I can't even see them.

3:06 pm: Who the hell is Phoebe Price and how does she get invited to these events? She looks like a statue in her gold dress and not in a good way. Somebody IMDB her for me and tell me what the heck she has done.

3:10 pm: Wait I need another IMDB. Who was the cute kid who played Jack's son on "Will and Grace?" He is standing right in front of me. I just watched him in "Sky High" on Disney Channel in my hotel room last weekend. Yes, I'm that pathetic.

3:15 pm: It's all about the bit players in these earlier minutes. Brenda Strong and Andrea Bowen from "Desperate Housewives" are here. So is Angela Kinsey from "The Office." Later, I talk to her. She is glowing and six months pregnant.

3:33 pm: The highlight so far is when I spot Mrs. McCluskey from "Desperate Housewives". My producer informs me that her real name is Kathryn Joosten. I'm about to go live and she could be my first "get." Yes, I know its pretty bad down here at my end. Meanwhile up at our platform with Nancy O'Dell are bigger names like Christina Applegate and Debra Messing, who have just arrived.

3:37 pm: Here comes the rain again!!!!!!! Ugh. Nightmare.

We're still three weeks away from the top 24 "American Idol" contestants being chosen but that hasn't stopped people from trying to dig up the dirt on those rumored to have made the cut. Spoiler sites have revealed most of the names (which you'll have to go locate yourself if interested) and based on past years I'd say its probably fairly accurate.  
 
One of those rumored to be among the Top 12 girls is 23-year-old Oregon native, Kristy Lee Cook.   Kristy had already caused a bit of a buzz on message boards recently because she had signed a record deal with Arista Nashville in 2001, and in addition to her label contract had signed a deal with Britney Spears' then production company to be a debut artist.  Well, since most of America had never heard of Kristy until she showed up in front of Randy, Simon and Paula , you can guess where all that went for her.
 
Now Kristy has become a victim of an internet Hoax.  Yesterday, news broke that a 'racy' video of her with nude footage had hit the internet and a website "Undercoveredonline" was selling it for $29.99.  Well, it turns out that the website was pulling the wool over everyone's eyes.  The video in question was apparently sliced together from a real music video that Kristy had made for a song called "Devoted" with footage of an anonymous undressed blonde pretending to be Kristy.
 
Dozens of bloggers and websites picked up the story calling her 'the next Antonella Barba', the Top 24 contestant from last season whose racy photos were uncovered and strewn all over the internet.   As it turns out, Kristy was a victim on a cruel hoax perpetrated by someone looking to getting a different message across - Get Out And Vote. 

 

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy plenty of people who are not from America - but shouldn't a show called "American Idol" be looking for just that - an American?  Yet, last night we were treated to the song styling's of an Irish gal and a cute young Australian kid who both got put through to Hollywood.

 

Of course, this is not the controversy. Just something I feel like pointing out because I've never seen an American on Australian, Irish, Canadian or any other countries' versions of "Idol."

 

No, the real controversy started up because those sleuthing people over at VoteForTheWorst.com are stirring the pot once again with their story about said "Irish girl," who's name is Carly Hennessy. Last night, during the San Diego auditions it was mentioned that Carly Smithson (her married name) had auditioned in 2005 , in Las Vegas, and received a ticket to Hollywood. Unfortunately, her Visa did not come through and she had to give up her chance at stardom. Or… did she?

 

 

  The death of Heath Ledger is....
 
What's the word?
 
It's unexpected, tragic, gut-wrenching, stunning, awful, but none of these seem to account for who suffers here. That's where the pit in the stomach comes from.
 
I can't help but think of Heath's two-year-old, Matilda, his innocent daughter. She'll wonder where her playmate went...that big, captivating, exciting man that made her feel so good. She may only verbalize it occasionally, and in a repetitive two year old sort of way, but she'll feel it so deeply.
 
That profound and raw sense of loss is what sticks.

by Matt Smith, Access staffer

 

Imagine for a moment, if you will, a world without actors or actresses.

 

Imagine a world without entertainment.

 

Imagine a world where you couldn't forget your troubles.

 

Every now and then a great actor or a great actress comes along and wows us with an extraordinary performance, and us ordinary folk are lucky enough to witness the true magic of movies or television.

 

What they do is all powerful.

I flew from NY, having finished my duties on the "Today" show Wednesday, to Columbia, South Carolina in order to interview Sarah Huckabee and Meghan McCain. I had been efforting the candidates’ kids for a few weeks and finally on Monday night I started getting responses, which I am very happy about.

I sat with Sarah Huckabee in the boardroom of the Courtyard Marriott. They took over this conference room as a mini headquarters of sorts for her, her brother David and a few staffers to work from. She has been on a 36-hour bender and was definitely tired, but she managed to give us a lot of time.

The candidates’ kids have been very visible in this campaign, more so than we’ve ever seen and all in very different roles. With Sarah and Meghan for example - Sarah is the national field director for her dad’s campaign and Meghan chose a less official role - she started a blog to document her journey for those curious about the process. Both have chosen very public roles unlike the more silent role of Chelsea Clinton.

Why? I think we live in a time where there is unprecedented access to information - via the Internet and sites like YouTube and MySpace. In this particular campaign, that access is helping to connect these candidates with the masses, and the younger voters in particular. It humanizes them to see their real moments and to see that their kids are just like us. The young people relate to the kids and thereby connect with the parent much more than ever before, which may be the reason why so many young people seem to be more interested and engaged in this race than previous races.

 

Fantasia's older brother, Ricco Barrino, woke up from his late night recording session and gave me a call this afternoon. I had to put down my tuna sandwich to get to the bottom of exactly what happened during his "American Idol" audition in Dallas and why it was never shown last night.  Unfortunately, I'm still a little confused about the whole 'Fantasia making a phone call' part of this (more on that in a second) from my last post but I'll at least give Ricco the chance to try and explain what happened. 

 

First of all, you have to know that even though Simon Cowell called his singing "dreadful" and Nigel Lythgoe said talent skipped over him in the family, Ricco is a backup singer for his sister, a song writer for EMI and an artist who has put out some singles and is working on his album.

 

As for why he even auditioned, Ricco says he was pushed into it.

 

"I knew that wasn't what I wanted to do in my heart. It was basically something that I was talked into for some good exposure. I really wasn't looking to try and make it to the top." 

 

Ricco admits things went bad in front of Randy, Simon and Paula because he knew he didn't want to continue with the show, but swears that when he met with the producers it was a different story.

 

"The biggest obstacle is getting through Nigel and Ken [Warwick]. Those guys to me matter the most out of the whole situation. From what they seen when I came in with my A game they look at me and said 'we gotta have you.' So, that's love. Basically my accomplishment ended with them. After that I lost my drive. I didn't care to do it anymore."

 

 

 

If you pay attention to the message boards and spoiler sites for "American Idol" then you'd know that there has been a lot of talk about season three winner Fantasia Barrino's brother, Ricco. Ricco tried out for "Idol" this year at the Dallas auditions, which aired last night. He was expected to be on the show. There had been a false report that he had made it to the Hollywood rounds but as it turned out he was cut in Dallas and never got the golden ticket.   

 

On a conference call last week, someone asked Simon Cowell his thoughts on Ricco,

 

"He was terrible. Absolutely dreadful…. he can't sing. I remember thinking, 'Oh great – Fantasia's brother has come in,' and it was all fantastic until he started singing and then I think we disputed the fact that he really was Fantasia's brother because he hasn't got his sister's talent."

 

I asked Nigel Lythgoe about Ricco on Monday and he too had some pretty negative comments,

 

"It just shows you that talent doesn't flow in one area in the family. Fantasia was probably at the front of the cue when talent was handed down by God and her brother was in the back. He missed out." 

 

Ouch! 

 

 

I wish you could see the e-mails flying around our offices here at Access Hollywood today. Everyone is getting all riled up over last night's crazy stalker guy - Paul Marturano - who was escorted out by security after getting a little too close to Paula Abdul. Was he a freak? Yes! Was his song outrageous? Yes.

 

Wasn't it just more of the same? Yes. 

 

You see, nothing has changed about "American Idol." Every year there are overweight girls who cry. Every year there are nerds dressed up in weird costumes. Every year someone freaks out and yells obscenities to Simon after they leave the room. Every year the judges make fun of someone and the public complains they are too mean. Every year there is a crazy guy who professes his love to Paula. Never have they sung such creepy (as Simon called it) song lyrics as Paul did though. So, I guess that is why we are going to extend his fifteen seconds of fame. 

 

As is turns out, Paul is a professional "musical comedian" as his personal Web site shouts out. Producers loved his shtick and he easily made his way in front of the "Idol" panel. This morning he pretty much told us he did it for the exposure. Remember he is 32, four years past the age limit to audition. So, I say, 'Bravo' to him. He successfully used and abused the "American Idol" system! 

 

 

"American Idol" returns tonight.  Now that its here I feel like it was just yesterday that I was watching the finale from my seat at the Kodak Theater.  Has really been seven months since I woke up at 4 AM to meet Jordin Sparks on her first day as the chosen one? Sadly, yes. Time flies. 
 
Not only will "Idol" be returning tonight but its also time for those wanna be dancers, who are looking for their shot at fame, to come out and show their stuff.  Fox's summer reality show hit which immediately proceeds Idol, "So You Think You Can Dance" will be holding their auditions beginning on Thursday and running through March.  This season the producers are expanding the auditions from four cities to six - Dallas; Charleston, SC; Salt Lake City; Washington, D.C.; Los Angeles; and Milwaukee.
 
Audition location information for the fourth season of "So You Think You Can Dance" is as follows:
                                    

Dallas, TX                              Jan. 17, 2008         Southern Methodist University

McFarlin Memorial Auditorium

6405 Boaz Lane

Dallas, TX 75205

 

My Sunday started at 3:00 in the morning when the alarm went off while I was dreaming about Javier Bardem.

 

Not in an “oh-he’s-hot” way but, in a “please-don’t-kill-me-like-you-did-everybody-in-No Country For Old Men” way. I pushed the snooze button a couple of times before I dragged myself out of bed to get ready before the car came to pick me up at 4:45 to take me to the studio to get hair and makeup done.

 

My first “hit” time was 6:10am. I was doing affiliate hits – interviews with a series of television stations around the country promoting NBC's Golden Globe Winners Special announcing the winners of the awards. With the writer’s strike, the Globes were reduced to a press conference – no red carpet, no fancy gowns.

 

So, NBC decided to make things a little more fun for the audience by presenting the announcements in a one-hour show full of clips from the film and television shows nominated along with other interviews of the stars that we have done over the years.

 

Putting on a show was a monumental task with details changing by the minute.

 

Nancy O’Dell and Billy Bush read the winners as they were being announced by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association at the news conference.  My job during the show was to give an analysis of the winners with Dave Karger of Entertainment Weekly magazine.

 

It was a night of sure winners and some surprising upsets and with the Golden Globes being a good predictor of the Academy Awards, it was very exciting!

As I mentioned on Monday, "American Idol" is getting a major face-lift this season.  A show source revealed to me that the set would be getting a "major overhaul" and now I can confirm that this is in fact the case.  Starting on the Top 12 live shows you will see a brand new "American Idol" set that will encompass two levels. This morning executive producer Nigel Lythgoe explained how it would look.

 

"It's a sort of dome with a set inside and then {you see} skyscrapers in the distance outside of the dome, and then everything pulls out and Idol is sort of a pimple on planet Earth."

 

The set will feature a second level where Ricky Minor and his band will play as the contestants sing below.  One other major change taking place is that the set will feature a mosh pit for audience members to watch the live performances, a tool that has worked well for Lythgoe's recent series "The Next Great American Band."

 "It really gives a great atmosphere and everyone is sort of cheering and everything else."

Well the reviews are in for our primetime Golden Globe Winners Special last night on NBC and they are wildly positive....or positively wild. 

 

Frankly, we all knew the raves would escape us.  Who wants to see anyone reading winners' names instead of the unpredictable speeches, surprised newcomers, inebriated celebrities, great gowns, hair and jewels that come with the Globes every year?  Nobody really.

 

We knew that. I'd much rather see the globes and then host our backstage hour with the winners...as was the original plan before the writers strike changed all of this.

 

In the end, people are not saying nice things about me and Nancy O'Dell today (and she's the nicest person I know), but the roots are not personal.  People are frustrated with the writers strike and the first time since 1964 when they were first televised nationally, the Globes did not go on.  If the parade of celebs are going to be halted, from the viewers perspective, it had better be because there is something much better.

 

Nope, it was Nancy and me.  Before us, it was Matt Lauer and the folks at Dateline....they are not faring well with critics either.   

By Buddy Singer

I knew this was going to be an unusual Golden Globes when I arrived at the Beverly Hilton this morning and found a spot on the ground floor of the hotel's self-parking lot. That never happens, let alone on Golden Globes day when that structure is usually off-limits! The hotel had none of the outward signs of a big Hollywood night - no red carpet, no signage, no limos, not a zillion TV crews running around laying cable and doing whatever else they do for all those hours to prepare. There were, however, the usual compliment of security people in dark suits, thwarting your every attempt to move freely through the hotel. The only thing I can figure is that the security guys were paid for, so why not use them?

 

The reading of the winners was held in the Grand Ballroom, the same room where they hold the event every year. Seating was open so I picked a prime table near the front. I'm sure I had Clooney's seat or maybe it was Julia's. There was a nice but understated floral centerpiece at each table and at each seat an official program to take home (sorry George, if you're interested I'm sure we can work something out).  As the hours passed the room started to fill -- dozens upon dozens of camera crews, hundreds of journalists. At 2 PM, we were all asked to leave so they could do a security sweep. Guess the HFPA just couldn't face the fact that no celebrities were coming and a sweep just wasn't necessary. They should have chained the doors with us inside to be sure they'd have an audience at 6 PM.

 

Finally about 3:30 PM we were allowed back in. What was the buzz, the vibe? That's what the people back at the office kept texting me. Well, I can report with confidence that there was an undeniable current pulsating through the room - I have never seen so many reporters so thrilled that they'd be out by 7 and wouldn't have to do any interviews. This was going to be the easiest Golden Globes (from a reporters standpoint) ever. As it turned out, it was all over by 6:30. It took just 30 minutes to go through the 25 categories. But instead of a rush for the door, there was a stampede to the buffet tables set up in the back of the room. If you give a reporter a shrimp and cocktail napkin.... well, you know the rest.

 

Jimmy Choo got a brand new home in Beverly Hills and the party celebrating the swank Rodeo Drive digs was such a hot ticket... the fire marshal shut down the over-crowded party before it had barely begun. 

I was standing outside next to Lisa Kudrow, Debra Messing and her husband and Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin, who were all waiting to get in. Lisa Kudrow politely posed with fans for photos and Lisa Rinna laughed about the situation and said - "It's Jimmy Choo, who doesn't want to get in!" 

Once we did go inside... it was jam-packed. Wall-to-wall beautiful people including a Malandrino clad Angie Harmon who hosted the evening. Also there - Lauren Conrad, Audrina Partridge, Gabrielle Union and Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon, who gave birth to twins in October. 

Jimmy Choo founder Tamara Mellon - gorgeous in Dior - jetted in in from London, of course.  Even Miramax honcho Harvey Weinstein was there... with his new bride, Marchesa designer Georgina Chapman.

There was lots of Veuve champagne to go around and, of course, shoes and bags to ogle. Sexy snakeskin... brightly colored patent heels. Yum, I'll take one of each delicious pair! 

Of course, wearing such high heels does come at a painful price. At the end of the night I looked over at Debra Messing, who was one of the last celebrities at the party, and saw that even she had slipped off her Choos to give her feet a rest.
 

I woke up this morning and within minutes my mind started to race. After, “Thank you, Lord, for getting me up this morning”, it sped to “What is wrong with Britney?” “Will she get her kids back?” “Is someone going to do an intervention?”

 

I interviewed Britney Spears years ago not long after I started at Access Hollywood. Even back then, she was a star in the music world – there was no doubt about that. She seemed very centered, very focused.

 

I never really bought into the “sweet southern girl” off-stage image that was presented to the audience. I found it hard to balance that with the schoolgirl mini skirt bumping and grinding to “hit me baby one more time.”

 

Provocatively, she would pose for a picture pulling down her panties and then, in interviews, would say she doesn’t consider herself a sex symbol. Well, the white-hot virgin is a nice fantasy for some but it’s just that – a fantasy.

She had smart people around her – she had to.

 

No one would argue that she is great vocally or the best dancer in the world but that was okay. There are many of those in Hollywood. I’m-not-the-best-but-I’m-the-best-at-working-what-I’ve-got. She was packaged right and she knew that. She was very good at her brand.

 

And because she knew her brand well, she had a major impact on American culture.  She had sold millions of albums – many purchased by moms for their little girls who looked at her as a role model of sorts.  You had to give the girl her props.

What a get! My producer, Jen Zweben, had been working the Hillary people forever for this interview and it paid off. Tim Russert even made mention of the fact that she was denying him an interview-but granted one to Access Hollywood!

 

I never really paid much attention to gender issues. In my own life, I’ve never allowed thoughts of gender discrimination to convolute my thinking. Even though I’m sure there are occasions that I am treated differently due to the fact that I'm a female, I try never to consider the possibility and opt to always remain positive.  But reflecting upon Hillary and her journey, I have discovered that the issue cannot be ignored.  Of all the candidates in this presidential election, Hillary may have the toughest road simply because it's a new road that she, and she alone, has to pave her herself. 

 

Being the first, legitimate (and by legitimate I mean one of the favorites to win), female presidential candidate, she has no examples or role models to follow. No path/road has been paved. She doesn’t have the luxury of making choices based on the success, or even failures, of candidates before her. The male candidates have seen what works: the crisp suit…the witty charm…the hidden talents. I wonder how many candidates have referenced the indelible image of Former President Clinton, in sunglasses, playing his saxophone. Countless, I am sure. But for Hillary, that luxury doesn't exist. She is a pioneer and she is building this road for all of us.

If it seems like the TV landscape is bleak in the face of the writer's strike, I assure you there will be plenty of things to watch for the next few months. If a resolution doesn't come soon it's the Fall of 2008 that I think will see the biggest hit.

For now, while we will miss "Heroes", "Grey's Anatomy", "Desperate Housewives" and "The Office" we can at least tune into some brand new and returning shows that should tantalize our TV senses. Here's twenty shows worth a look.

COMEDIES/DRAMAS

"Cashmere Mafia" - premieres January 6th >(then moves to Wednesdays), ABC. Four professional women (Lucy Liu, Miranda Otto, Bonnie Sommerville, Frances O'Connor) juggle their high powered careers and their messed up personal lives in this Manhattan set drama from "Sex and the City" creator Darren Star.

"The Sarah Conner Chronicles" - premieres January 13th, Fox. Buzzworthy show that picks up where the second "Terminator" movie left off, as John's mom Sarah takes matters into her own hands to protect her teenage son. I predict that the nerd herd will help make this one a hit.

"Lost" - returns January 31st, ABC - The survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 return for this super short fourth season. Just eight episodes were filmed before the strike - but based on the trailer circulating the internet rife with clues about when and if the lostees get off the island, less is certainly more. One change we know for sure is that episodes will now feature flash backs and flash forwards.

Ah yes, it's January 2nd. The day when most of us have decided we need to get back in the gym, start eating healthy and lose our unwanted excess weight. Now granted at a size 4, it's not like I'm a candidate for the "The Biggest Loser" and really don't need to worry about such things - but if you have heard the saying 'the camera adds ten pounds' then you know why women who work in Hollywood are crazy about their weight.

So, I too will be hopping on a treadmill with the masses and trying to keep my New Year's Resolution to get in shape and shed ten pounds by April. Did you know that only 1 percent of people who make resolutions actually keep them?

In order to not be part of the 99 percent failure rate, I've decided that while at the gym I'm going to use the brand new Biggest Loser contestants as inspiration. Season five started last night on NBC with the reveal of 20 new contestants, this time paired together as couples. While we were shoving our faces with Halloween candy, Thanksgiving stuffing and Holiday cookies they have been at the ranch working their tails off to lose the weight since October.