Access Blogs
September 2008 Archives
America is great and we all have to be willing to serve....better to be willing when you're actually being forced.
Jury duty...that civic responsibility so mundane in its execution, but essential to the liberties our forefathers and mothers asked for and received back in the 1700s.
A jury of our peers to decide our fate...what an awesome system.
-- CBS's "The Late Show With David Letterman"
Former President Bill Clinton tells David Letterman whether or not it’s a good time to be President.
# 9 -- “It’s not sweet. It’s like a disease. I slept with Robin one time and I caught feelings. I caught feelings bad. I used protection and everything!”
-- CBS's "How I Met Your Mother"
Barney admitting to Lily that he has fallen in love with Robin.
# 8 -- “Google revenge and you get Blair Waldorf dot.com.”
-- CW’s “Gossip Girl”
Dan to Vanessa when he suggests she show Blair the photos she snapped of the Duchess making out with her stepson Lord Marcus.
# 7 -- “I came to a fat loss show and gained three pounds. Would you be mad if you went to like a makeover show and they made you uglier?” -- NBC’s “The Biggest Loser”
Grey team member LT on his disappointment at having gained three pounds during his second week on the ranch, which led to the grey team being voted off.
# 6 -- “Are you kidding? You drink. You gamble. You have different women here practically every night. You're the best role model a guy could want. Yeah, they should put your face on money.”
-- CBS’s “Two And A Half Men”
Jake on whether or not his Uncle Charlie is a good role model.
It's a huge night of television tonight and frankly it's a darn good thing I have three DVR's and four TV's in my home. Here is what I will be watching, TiVo'ing and skipping on this big Thursday. "Survivor: Gabon" - CBS, 8 PM -- Eighteen contestants are heading to Africa in this latest season. But for the first time ever they will be battling the elements in HD! Watching emaciated, exhausted, sweaty people in HD, no thanks.
Skip It!
"Ugly Betty" - ABC, 8 PM -- Tonight we find out whether or not Betty chooses Henry or Gio. Personally, I'm betting it's neither. Lindsay Lohan guest stars as Betty's high school rival again in the first episode shot in their new filming home, New York City.
Watch it!
"My Name is Earl" – 8 PM, NBC -- Joy cons Make-A-Wish to send a celebrity to her trailer which makes Earl remember a wish he stole from a dying child. He decides it's time to cross him off the list. When he returns to the kid's home, he finds that little Buddy (guest star Seth Green) has exceeded all of the doctors' expectations and is still alive. I'll always choose Betty over Earl.
TiVo it!
"The Office" – 9 PM, NBC -- The Dunder-Mifflin team embarks on a weight loss challenge "Biggest Loser" style. Meanwhile, Michael pursues a relationship with Holly (guest star Amy Ryan) and Jim misses Pam while she is away at art school. It all sounds so serious, but trust me when I tell you that the uncomfortable, laugh out loud moments will make this the show of the night.
Watch It!
"Grey's Anatomy" – 9 PM, ABC -- Mer and Der begin their new relationship which creator Shonda Rhimes has said will be permanent. Boring! McDreamy needs to move on from the crazy that is Meredith. More interesting is the new love interest, a military doctor for Christina, guest star Kevin McKidd from NBC's brilliant but cancelled "Journeyman." I'd follow his journey anywhere. Normally I watch "Grey's" and TiVo "The Office." Not tonight!
Tivo It!
Week two on "The Biggest Loser" is always the toughest for the contestants. After pulling large weight loss numbers their first week on the ranch, the second week numbers go down significantly. Grey team member L.T. Desrocher felt the wrath of this last night when at weigh in, he had gained three pounds, which ultimately got he and his dad Tom voted off. That setback hasn't stopped this father and son team from their weight loss goals though. L.T. has now dropped a total of 92 pounds while Tom has shed off 77 pounds so far. L.T. has been able to quit smoking. Tom has gotten off the nine pills he was required to take daily for his health problems caused by his excess weight. In a conference call with reporters, Tom let loose on what he thought of trainer Jillian Michaels' training methods.
"You can pretty much keep Jillian. I didn’t care too much for her. I understand she has a job to do but she really doesn't treat people like adults. She treated most of us like children, which I didn't take too kind to. You see a lot of it on the camera, it’s kind of like a stinky pig -- they pretty it all up nice for the audience but she.. her mouth is just, it's incredible. I have to thank her because she probably saved my life with what she did, but didn't care too much for the method in which she did it," he explained.
Like millions of Americans I’m hooked on fantasy football.
There’s nothing like getting ready for a draft or, if you are like me, your drafts. I currently have 5 (yes 5) teams playing in different leagues. Keeping track of my players is really not that tough, ‘cause I pretty much have every player in the league on a squad.
Last year was one of my better years, making 3 out of 4 super bowls. Now if I had only won one of them then this blog would be more about my clear superiority in the game. But since that is not the case, I digress.
She can turn the world on with her smile! I just took a picture with Mary Tyler Moore and I'm already thinking about how I'm going to get it framed. Here I am, in the official Emmy Presenter's gift lounge at the Nokia Theater in downtown LA. There is security buzzing throughout the hallways - lots of the stars who are presenting awards or nominees themselves for today's Emmy show are zipping by getting some touch-ups - the hair/makeup and wardrobe rooms are just around the corner.
Oprah's dressing room is right across the hall from where I am sitting now, directly next door to Heidi Klum's, who is one of the show's five hosts and who we watched run in and out of her dressing room to change into her array of outfits . Howie Mandel just walked by followed by four of his helpers. A few minutes later, Josh Groban took a peek inside.
For two days, many of the celebs have been coming to the Gifting Suite to nab some goodies. Brooke Shields, Dana Delaney, America Fererra, and Vanessa Williams all caused quite a buzz when they came into the room. Alec Baldwin, Ed McMahon, Lawrence Fishburne, Martin Sheen, James Spader, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross, and Mariska Hargitay. What an exciting night!
After presenting an award, Marcia Cross walks off rubbing Dana Delaney's back -- obviously they are close friends. Mark Wahlberg is on the end of the row in front of me. He keeps having to get up to let people out to hit the bathroom.
A very pregnant Amy Poehler runs up the aisle at commercial to say, "Hi" to some friends. She runs back and says, "Hi" to John Krasinski from "The Office" then runs back up to say, "Hi" to Seth Myers. She is truly glowing.
Adrian Grenier heads out to the lobby. He stops to chat with Mark Wahlberg and gets caught in a logjam of folks trying to hit the lobby too. Only an hour into the show and everyone is antsy already. Not good!
Melora Hardin and Kate Flannery from "The Office" stand up because they can't see the screen during the throws to commercial.
Josh Groban's TV theme medley was fantastic! Just in case he forgets a word or what song is next it's all on the teleprompter. He only seems to glance at it once.
David Boreanaz, prior to the Laugh In reunion, waits in the wings for his turn to present. He nervously messes with his tux and pulls up his striped socks. He attended rehearsal yesterday but his co-presenter, Lauren Conrad, did not. He told me they would meet for the first time tonight. He has never seen an episode of "The Hills." They don't talk much as they wait together backstage. LC nervously wipes something off her dress.
Half way through the show and boredom has set in. The lobby is jamming. Conan O'Brien, who has been up at every commercial and clearly can't sit still, is out in the lobby on the phone. Mark Wahlberg waits in line for a drink at the concession stand. A bunch of people asks to take photos of him. A group of people stands and uses their phones to snap photos of him standing in line. Really? At the Emmys! Kinda rude if you ask me.
Love that Kathy Griffin just yelled at the audience to, "GET UP!" when she walked out to stage with Don Rickles.
By Jeremy Blacklow, Managing EditorForget about the Emmy Awards – Zzzzzzz.... the most exciting part of my weekend was the opening night of Dolly Parton's new stage production of "9 to 5: The Musical" at the Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles.
(left to right -- book author Patricia Resnick, Dabney Coleman, Allison Janney, Lily Tomlin, Megan Hilty, Parton, Jane Fonda, Stephanie J. Block & Marc Kudisch) -- click on photo to view full size!)
Based on the hit 1980 movie about women in the workplace taking revenge on their chauvinist boss, the show is pure Dolly at her best.
And on Saturday night, I was reminded what it meant to be a part of a legendary night at the theater – something that's very rare for a former theater-spoiled New Yorker, transplanted to LA.
On hand that night – none other than original film stars Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dabney Coleman. They were present to root on the respective talents taking on their iconic roles for the stage – Megan Hilty, Stephanie J. Block, Allison Janney and Marc Kudisch.
It was reported that the show had been having technical problems – and well, opening night was no exception – as the complicated set pieces (which operate by computer) didn’t quite operate exactly as planned during the first Act.
So, as spontaneously as she had done a week earlier during the first previews, Dolly hopped out of her seat and treated the entire audience to an impromptu performance. This time she even tried to coax Jane and Lily to join her (although they chose to stay seated). She then led the crowd in a sing-a-long version of "9 to 5," and was ready to launch into "I Will Always Love You," when the set problems were solved, and the show went on.
And this, folks, is why I LOVE live theater – you never know what you're gonna get, and sometimes, you experience something so special, it's practically cathartic. Dolly put everyone in the house Saturday night in a good mood – you'd have to have been Scrooge, not to have been smiling.
Bright Colors. Lots of Black. Metallics. Pretty much every fashion trend was covered on Sunday's Emmy Red Carpet. Some with more success than others!Eva Longoria looked very flapper-esque in her short fringy gown, smoky eyes and slicked back bob. I'm not sure about the big bow across the chest because it was a lot going on with all that beading AND fringe... but love that she took a risk. Eva was the person AccessHollywood.com voted most likely to make a fashion splash and she did not disappoint.
Heidi Klum came in second in our poll… and she looked absolutely stunning in metallic gunmetal Armani Prive. But then again, she's a supermodel, so she kind of has the advantage of being beautiful, having an amazing body and knowing how to work a red carpet like a runway... so, how could she NOT look amazing? -- Even if she was wearing a trash bag.
I was excited to see Christina Applegate because I think her story is so inspiring and this was her first big red carpet after undergoing a double mastectomy in July. She looked lovely in her one-shouldered bluish-gray gown with gold metallic floral accents... and elegant dark red lips.
America Ferrera also went with bold red lipstick, the perfect compliment to her Veronica Lake waves and chic black strapless gown. Others in not so basic black... Hayden Panettiere, Kristin Chenoweth in Armani, and Lauren Conrad in her own design. Debra Messing, in a black Monique Lhuillier ball gown, joked with us that she is a blackberry!
As I predicted last week - Tina Fey, ditching her trademark glasses, was as far from Sara Palin's Soccer Mom Style as could be. No poofy updo for her. Her hair was down, and she wore a sleek, form fitting David Meister gown.
This is my first year with a ticket for the Emmy Awards. This is complete celebrity insanity and I love every minute of it. I just left the Presenters Gift Lounge to get to my seat. One of the hosts, Howie Mandel, was being rushed to the stage. Just before he left, he ran into Joanne Worley who is part of a Laugh In reunion tonight. Her signature laugh had the entire room lit up smiling. I head upstairs and just as I get to the Nokia floor, I run smack into Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick. I act like I'm part of their group and breeze into the front of the theater.
Then, I hit the motherload! The front row is chock full of stars. Nominee Neil Patrick Harris sits quietly with his partner, David Burtka, taking it all in. Yesterday, he told me he was so happy his award was the first. Less pressure. Mariska Hargitay chomps on gum. Jack MacBrayer is standing next to me and I shamefully tap him on the shoulder and tell him I love him on "30 Rock." Alec Baldwin talks to Jane Krakowski, his "30 Rock" co-star. Jane turns around and gives a hug to Conan O'Brien who introduces her to his wife. Jimmy Kimmel chats with Tim Robbins. Jeremy Piven is on his blackberry. His "Entourage" co-stars, Kevin Connelly, Adrian Grenier and Jerry Ferrera (all sans dates) sit together behind him and (I'm not ashamed to say) checked me out as I headed to my seat. I feel cool all of a sudden. Kevin Dillon sits behind them on the aisle with his wife.
I ask an usher to help find my seat and while she looks at my ticket she is blocking Larry David from getting to his seat. He seems less that enthusiastic about this. I get to my row and "Saturday Night Live's" Seth Myers and his brother stand up to let me pass. They are at the end of the row. I'm sitting behind the actors who play the writers of "30 Rock."
I've just arrived to the Emmys and let me tell you that red carpet is "H.O.T. - hot" and I actually am talking about the temperature.
So, thanks to our friends at On3 Productions, Access Hollywood is exclusive backstage Dishing with the stars on Saturday and Sunday at the Presenter's Gift Lounge at “The 60th Primetime Emmy® Awards” hosted by AEG Ehrlich Ventures, producers of this year's landmark show.
[left, Laura tries on the necklace from the 1.5 million dollar collection from D'Annunzio Fine Jewelry]
It's not your ordinary gift lounge though, for all the stars who stop by, Bertolli Oven Bake Meals is making a donation on their behalf to the Dream Street Foundation and Girls, Inc. -- two great causes!
I am thrilled to be spending my Emmys inside the gift lounge. It's right next to Oprah Winfrey's dressing room! So, I'm hoping for a sighting. I missed her yesterday when she came through the lounge. One of my eagle eye spotters did see her though. She arrived at around 1 PM with her best friend Gayle King in tow. She snagged some Michael Kors Trench Coat Frame sunglasses and actually left wearing them (UPDATE late Sunday evening: Oprah was also seen sporting them on her way out after presenting). Gayle picked a pair of Emilio Pucci sunglasses for herself. Oprah also grabbed a Stella McCartney designed LeSportsac bag. She was overheard saying that her favorite thing (and we know how she loves her favorite things!) was Truejeans.com, a Web site that matches customers with jeans that fit them perfectly.
Oprah also checked out a 1.5 million dollar 255 carat diamond necklace, earrings, a bracelet and a ring collection from D'Annunzio Group International. They were hoping she would want to borrow it for tonight but she told them, "I wouldn't take it, it's too much responsibility!" I'm told that Oprah bumped into nominee and host Heidi Klum in the elevator and told her someone sent her a Seal CD and that's all she was listening to in her car right now.
So, instead, I tried on the necklace. Unfortunately, they weren't going to lend it to me for the red carpet.
The hysterical Ross the Intern from "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" was hanging out at the Bertolli Oven Bake Meals booth where they were having celebs sign their own signature dishes for charity. I asked him if he ever got married would he change his name. He said he would hyphenate. I suggested Ross Matthews Clooney. "From your mouth to God's ears," he replied.
Jennifer Love Hewitt dropped in and picked up a pair of grey Koolaburra boots with a Swarovski crystal peace sign, "Ooh," she joked. "I know what I'm wearing with my dress tomorrow!" She's a huge fan of Tweety Bird and just about fell over when she saw D'Anunnzio's diamond Tweety Bird charm. She also grabbed a Palm centro smartphone. The one-of-a-kind Palm centro's phones were all blinged out with Swarovski crystals by Ed Hardy Icing – same for the matching Plantronics Bluetooth headset.
With the Fall TV season back in full swing my friends and I have scoured the channels for the funniest, silliest, most engaging, dramatic or compelling dialogue on TV this week. Here are the Dish's picks for the Top Ten TV Quotes Of The Week!
# 10 -- "I know about you and that woman. She's so old!"
-- AMC's "Mad Men"
Betty Draper finally showing some gumption and confronting her husband Don about his affair with Bobbie Barrett.
#9 -- "I would get into bed and say, 'Please don't let me wake up in the morning.' I thought, 'I just can't do it anymore.'"
-- ABC's "Good Morning America"
Alec Baldwin revealing to Diane Sawyer that he contemplated suicide after the phone call of him berating his daughter Ireland was leaked to the tabloid media.
# 8 -- "I thought it was you. He had an accent."
-- the CW's "Gossip Girl"
Blair Waldorf trying to explain why she was making out with Chuck Bass to Lord Marcus. The irony being that Ed Westwick in real life is actually British himself, so when he spoke to Leighton Meester earlier it was in his real voice.
# 7 -- "You're still in love with Dylan."
-- the CW's "90210"
Brenda Walsh finally revealing who is the father of Kelly Taylor's four-year-old son.
# 6 -- "The only way you are coming off this treadmill, is if you die on it!"
Trainer Jillian Michaels to yellow team member Jerry.
Thanks to this week's episode of "90210" we now know that the father of Kelly Taylor's four year old son, Sammy, is in fact Dylan McKay and not Brandon Walsh. The big reveal happened during a scene where Kelly confronts Brenda Walsh for revealing personal information about her to teacher crush, Ryan Matthews. Brenda accuses Kelly of still being in love with Dylan and not being capable of moving on. Speaking to reporters this morning from Sweden, Luke Perry made it clear he will not be returning to the show. When asked how he felt about Dylan being the father he sniped, “They own the name and likeness."
When pressed further about returning to the show he added, “That would be a no.”
Being voted off of 'The Biggest Loser" in the very first week of the show hasn't kept married couple Adam and Stacey Capers from working towards their goal. When Adam started on the ranch he was 340 pounds. During last night's final "where are they now segment" he was at 286 pounds. Today he weighs 275 pounds. Stacey was at 221 pounds when she first started. Last night they showed her at 175 pounds. Today she is at 168 pounds!
In a conference call this morning with reporters, Adam told me he hopes to get to his goal weight of 220 for the finale. Stacey couldn't even pick a number because she said, "I have never been this small in my life. All I can do is continue to push through and see where I can get before I start looking real crazy."
By Tara AdamosCalling all fans of MTV's "The Hills." If you love the show, then you’ll love the show’s new online game, Backchannel, which launched last night at 9:00 PM EDT.
The game allows fans to participate in water-cooler chat while watching the show -- think "Pop-up videos" from the 90’s -- except it’s online, in real-time and you’re creating the quotes for all of your fellow gamers to see.
Here's how the game works – fans come up with their most clever or irreverent comments about what’s taking place on the show, and type it into the game. If other players like your comment, they can click on it -- and when they do, you earn points. The more clicks you get, the more points you earn. The points lead to virtual badges and medals, but really… who cares? It’s fun to have your wit acknowledged by your peers. At least, it was for me.
I have to admit - I don’t watch the show, but I really enjoyed the game and all the glorious sarcasm that went with it. You can check it out for yourself by going to backchannel.mtv.com.
The game is only live when a show is being broadcast, but don’t worry, that includes all re-runs, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to work on your skills.
My favorite reality show starts again tonight, NBC's 'The Biggest Loser." I've seen the first episode. The tears flowed. Now in it's sixth season, the show continues to inspire people with its heart, warmth and the sheer determination of the contestants. Unlike most reality shows there is no backstabbing, no gimmicks, no "clueless" assistants, no cat fights and no faux agenda. I spent the day up at the "Biggest Loser" ranch getting to know the sixteen contestants. Here is a look at the teams and my thoughts on the couples who I think are the ones to watch.
Brady and Vicky - a married couple from Houma, Louisiana. He's a pharmacist. She's an Anesthetist.
Ed and Heba - a married couple from Raleigh, North Carolina. He's a chef who owns his own catering business. She's a sales rep. 
Phillip and Amy - a married couple from Greenville, South Carolina. They are both real estate agents.
Adam and Stacey - married couple from Cleveland, Ohio. He is a contracts manager. She is a contract pricing analyst.
It's always strange in my line of work when you have to ask someone about his or her salary. Wouldn't you be horrified if a virtual stranger walked up to you and said, "Hey, I heard you got a huge pay raise. Tell me all about it." Most people would shoot you a dirty look and walk away. As they should! This is Hollywood though and the rules are just not the same as the rest of society. For some reason, star salaries are published information. On Friday, I found myself in the precarious position of being on the set of "House" the morning that The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Hugh Laurie would be receiving a huge pay raise for his role on "House" [from $50,000 per episode to $400,000 per episode].
Just as I suspected, I got an e-mail from my bosses saying that I should ask about it when I talked to him. I got that pit in my stomach thinking about it. Alas, this is my job and it's what I get paid to do. So, somehow I have to find a way to get him to tell me how feels about it. Thank goodness for one of our smart producers who had the idea to ask it like this. "So, is it strange that the entire Internet is buzzing today about your pay raise?"
His co-star Lisa Edelstein (Dr. Cuddy) looks at me and goes, "Awkward." Fortunately, she meant that people are talking about it - not the actual question.
Bless Hugh for going easy on me and not getting upset about the question. He actually chuckled a little bit when he told me, "I will now demonstrate how awkward it is with my awkward answer. It's very peculiar. I do my job as well as I can do it and clever people in offices somewhere else do the other stuff. I'm just incredibly lucky but I was very lucky when this whole thing started."
Edelstein politely added, "You have done your job well which has continued the good fortune."
The writer's strike threw a monkey wrench into the network's fall schedules. No true pilot season meant very few new shows. When you consider how many shows typically get the ax though, less shows might not be a bad thing. I certainly feel like we have a few winners out there. Of course, I haven't actually seen many of the pilots/premiere episodes because some networks chose not send them out this year. Instead, I'm going on clips I have seen and interviews Access Hollywood has done. Here are a few of my fall TV favorites:
"Kath and Kim" - Based on a wildly popular Australian comedy, NBC takes a stab at their version of the show starring Molly Shannon and Selma Blair. Molly is Kath Day a forty-something divorcee who loves her life, with a new boyfriend and a new body (after turning her adult daughter's room into a home gym). Then her self-absorbed daughter, Kim, returns home after leaving her husband. While I haven't seen a finished episode the clips are hysterical. I also spent some time on the set and Selma Blair had me cracking up. My favorite clip is when she announces to her mom, "I'm getting a divorce. It's over. O-V-U-R." With a lead-in to "The Office" I think this is a "can't miss" show for those fans and "30 Rock" fanatics. Thursdays at 8:30 PM, NBC. Beginning 10/9.
"The Ex List" - I will admit this quirky comedy is not going to be everybody's cup of tea. It's essentially a "chick flick" for TV. "Grey's Anatomy's" Jane Doe, Elizabeth Reaser, gets a stab here at her own show. She plays a thirty-something woman who learns via a psychic that she must marry within one year or she will never get married. To top that off, she is told that she has already met and dated her future husband - hence the "ex list." Back in May, Reaser described the show to us like this: "It's a woman in her thirties who is sort of boy crazy and sort of ambivalent at the same time, who is really fun and really cool." So, basically it's my life story! I watched the pilot and loved it. The time slot, not so much. I'll most likely be out on a Friday night being boy crazy and ambivalent but I will set the DVR. Fridays at 9 PM, on CBS. Beginning 10/3.
The very second I walked backstage at the Betsey Johnson show, I knew this was a different kind of fashion show. I have never been to a Betsey show and apparently I was in for a real party. A DJ spun old school Michael Jackson tunes and there were cupcakes, pink champagne and balloons everywhere. Then there were the models; they had pink and purple and blue wigs and makeup that transformed them into living china dolls.The front row at the show wasn't your typical front row at all. Stars like Kelly Osbourne sat next to the runway at tables filled with cupcakes. As we waited for the show to start, music by The Muppets played loudly. Then the show... themed "Betsey Betsey Land" started.
Never Never Land never looked like this! Lots of signature whimsical clothes... from hoop skirts to ruffles... to an outfit described in the program as "Puffy Wuffy Dress." There was an homage to Peter Pan's Wendy and Captain Hook even made an appearance. The show ended with several bridal outfits and then 66-year-old Betsey came out and ended the show the way she always does... doing a cartwheel. 
Carolina Herrera's #1 Hollywood fan made a surprise appearance at the designer's show Monday at New York Fashion Week. With a security detail to rival that of any First Lady, Renee was escorted to her front row seat by five bodyguards right before the show started. And once the show did start, you could picture Renee wearing pretty much every single outfit, and I predict that we WILL see the actress in these beautiful designs. Ms. Herrera's signature lady-like looks were once again evident. The collection was a mix of bright colors like teal, fuchsia, golden yellow and classic black and white. All were gorgeous and red carpet worthy.
Ms. Herrera has been dressing Renee for nine years, an eternity as far as Hollywood partnerships go. The designer told us she is happy to dress Renee for her most special moments. And who wouldn't want their very own fairy fashion godmother like Carolina Herrera dressing us to perfection... that alone is a special moment.
So, last night FOX held its annual eco-friendly Fall TV launch party. Many of the stars from all of their TV shows attended the party and walked the blue (not red) carpet which had been recycled from the Teen Choice Awards as a nice way to go along with the eco-friendly theme. Let's start with the good stuff...
My first interview is with Nancy Cartwright, the sprite blonde woman who voices Bart Simpson and other characters. The show is celebrating its 20th season, which ties it with "Gunsmoke" as the longest running show ever on television. So, there had been all these reports recently about the huge salaries the voice actors negotiated this year for the show. It's been reported the top cast will get around $400,000 per episode. It's a ton of money for voice actors and much more than most TV actors. That's not to say it's not completely deserved for a show as popular as "The Simpsons."
So, in reference to this, I ask Nancy how lucrative those 20 years have been for her. She begins to answer my question and then my cameraman tells me he messed up the shot and please re-ask the question. Nancy proceeds to berate me for asking the money question and then tells me to "F!%k Off!" She was half joking but since I didn't want her to "have a cow man" when the interview started again I left out the money question. I think we're friends again!
Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin might want to stay away from watching anything on FOX this season. "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane tells me he and his writers have a lot in store for her this year. "Sarah Palin is just going to want to crawl under the covers and never come out when we are done with her. Let me put it out there."
"Family Guy" has never shied away from skewering controversial issues and people. The first episode of this season proved that, with a particularly off color joke about First Lady Laura Bush, where Peter dresses up as her for a costume party and Lois dresses as... well I won't give it away. I love the show. It's one of my favorites. But it's in really poor taste. I'll admit that.
The Palin jokes won't come right away though, as each episode takes about a year to come to fruition because of the animation, but McFarlane isn't worried.
"If people are as stupid as I think they are and McCain gets elected, the jokes are gonna work great. There will be so many hilarious jokes about a mom who doesn't believe in contraception winding up with a pregnant seventeen year old."
As for other celebrity voices for season seven, Drew Barrymore returns as Brian's dimwitted girlfriend, Jillian.
When last we saw HR representative and Michael Scott nemesis, Toby Flenderson, on NBC's "The Office" he had quit his job and was heading off to Costa Rica. In the season finale we met new HR rep, Holly Flax (played by Oscar nominee Amy Ryan) who manages to charm the pants off Michael. Toby got a going away party and then - thanks to Michael - a security escort out of the building. This is not the last you will see of Toby though. In a conference call with reporters, Paul Lieberstein, who plays Toby and is also a writer on the show, revealed why he'll return and where the idea for Toby's Costa Rican journey transpired,
"What brings him back is failure to escape. There was a friend of mine, who is actually one of the writers here, who decided to [maybe about ten years ago] collect enough money to live poor in Hawaii. He was gonna just do it and surf, because he loved to surf, and he had made a big deal out of it – he had a little going away party and he was back in two weeks. He was lonely, nobody talked to him, he was robbed on the beach and that was it. So, that was our model for Toby’s success."
Paul wouldn't reveal what exactly happens when Toby comes to take his job back from Holly but he did have some other future "Office" gossip.
Jim and Pam will be thrown a relationship obstacle as Pam heads off to New York City for an internship and they attempt a long distance romance.
The curiosity factor and the pre-show hype of Shannen Doherty and Jennie Garth's return helped make the premiere of '90210' the highest rated in CW history. While another 2.1 million viewers were checking it out as it re-aired again, the cast of the show partied it up at the Nylon magazine party at the Tropicana Bar at the Hollywood Roosevelt hotel. The show has obviously already got the hip factor as even "The Hills" star Lauren Conrad attended the soiree. She told me she Tivo'd the show and had yet to watch it, so I’m guessing she just came to be seen. Paris Hilton apparently made an appearance too but I had already ditched out by then.
I did a get a chance to talk to many of the cast members from 90210 who were all absolutely beaming about how successful the show did. Personally, I thought the show needed a bit more heat and a bit more drama. So, I gave them the opportunity to convince me some scandal was coming and drop a few spoilers. Here's what I found out:
Michael Steger, who plays Navid Shirazi the head of the school's TV show, told me his character will be getting a female love interest very soon. However, It won't be any of the porn stars that work for his dad though because according to him they are like family and were his "babysitters" growing up. And we quite possibly could be getting to know more about Hannah Zuckerman Vasquez who reads the Blaze News for the school. Yes, she is the daughter of Andrea Zuckerman and Jesse Vasquez from Beverly Hills 90210. Uh, I think that was a given.
Another fall... another fashion week. One of my favorites, BCBG, kicked off the first day of Mercedes-Benz Spring '09 Fashion Week. (Yes, spring! - and we haven't even broken out our new fall boots yet!)
I passed by a bevy of models smoking outside the tents at Bryant Park, as I made my way to the backstage entrance. With my BCBG pass in hand, I arrived to a flurry of action. Bumble and Bumble artists worked on hair - all of the models sported middle-parted straight locks. Hair extensions covered a table to help fill in what nature did not provide. The makeup, by Nars, was very natural and understated... all the better to let the clothes shine.
And then it was time to get the models dressed and ready for the runway.
Dressers helped strap the models into massive high-heel platform sandals - so high that the models had to practice walking in them backstage. When I asked exactly how high the heels are, one of the dressers joked with me that the model was 4 ft 2 before she put those shoes on. I said, "I need a pair of those!" And I did. Once the models put them on, I was literally two feet shorter than they were!
"Gossip Girl's" second season kicked off last night on the CW and here's how it all went down, at least in my eyes. 
After three years and 246 games, 27-year-old Jessica Robinson became the first person to finally win the million dollar prize on "Deal or No Deal." After whittling the 26 briefcases down to the $200,000 case and the $1,000,000 case, Robinson turned down a $561,000 offer from the Banker to walk away. After she shouted out her decision, "No Deal", Howie opened her remaining case to reveal the million dollar prize.
The promos for the show scream out "old friends, new faces, same zip." The question is though, will "90210" (they lost the Beverly Hills for this version) actually have any zip? It's never a good sign when the TV networks don't send out preview screeners of a new show to the press. Normally, if something is good you want to get it out there as soon as possible so the buzz can build. That's how The CW got the word out on "Gossip Girl." Most TV critics, TV bloggers, cynical people, etc., will tell you that if you are not seeing a screener, it's because the show is going to be a clunker. It sounds like that is the general consensus around here. I'm going to give the show the benefit of the doubt. I have a seen a couple of clips and they look decent. 
The countdown is on until tonight's big premiere for a brand new update of "Beverly Hills, 90210." I was a teenager when it first came on in 1990. So, I think the word obsession would be fitting for how I felt about the show. Now, mentally I'm like a teenager, so I'm not ashamed to say I'm looking forward to seeing this redux version.