Results tagged “Dish Of Salt” from Access Hollywood

4:48 - My interview with Randy Jackson gets interrupted when he spots our executive producer Rob Silverstein who he proceeds to interview. Gotta head into the show now!  

4:32 - Kim Kardashian says to press, "I'm not doing any interviews tonight." OK well, then why did you come to the Emmy red carpet?

4:30 - Blake Lively looks simply stunning in a red Versace gown. She says she picked it because she thought it was young and modern and loved the color.

4:20 - After I tell John Krasinski he should gain sympathy weight to go along with Pam's pregnancy he says he's glad I'm not writing for the show.

4:15 - Julia Louis-Dreyfus in a stunning Vera Wang dress jokes that she botoxed her whole body so she would not sweat today.

4:00 - Tina Fey and Jane Krakowski did their dress fittings across from each other for today. So they knew what each other was wearing. Tina says she has a knife hidden under her dress in case anyone pulls a Kanye on her.

3:48 - Karina Smirnoff says there will be no fighting on stage with her ex-fiance Maksim Chmerykovsky. They are professionals and will be just fine.  

3:45 - Jamie Lynn Sigler fills me in on her role on "Ugly Betty." She says she sports a mohawk in the show!

I meet people all the time who want to get into the entertainment business and they always ask me for advice. I'm always happy to dish out whatever information I can to aspiring students. I was a struggling student myself once, wondering how to break into the biz and several people helped me. So, I believe in paying it forward.
 
Last night, I had the opportunity to moderate a panel at the Academy Of Television Arts and Sciences. They have an extremely prestigious student internship program and invited the interns and their hosts (from entertainment companies all over Los Angeles) to come and listen to industry professionals speak. Nina Tassler, the president of CBS Entertainment, was the keynote speaker. I hosted a Q&A session with James Duff, the executive producer of "The Closer" and Joe Pokaski, a writer and supervising producer on "Heroes." I have to admit, I've been in this business for 16 years and even I was fascinated with the information and advice that three powerhouse professionals were doling out to this room of young ingenues.

So, this morning on a conference call, "The Bachelor" creator Mike Fleiss was asked by someone if the show is set up to hurt people. I think his response to this question says everything we need to know about this show.

"It's set up to help people find each other," Fleiss began to explain.

Then the zinger.

Yesterday, I attended the Grand Opening of Disney's new theme park attraction at their Hollywood Studios, The American Idol Experience.  

If you have ever wanted to know what it's like to audition for the show, then this is the place to go first. I got a sneak peek at the attraction, which opens tomorrow officially to the public. I arrived and was told that I would need to choose a 30 second song, anything I wanted, which I would then sing for a Disney casting director. I made it through that and then was ushered in to sing for the producer.

I'm then ushered into the "red room" which is similar to what they have at Idol. This is where you sit with an iPod and can choose from over 100 songs to sing. I chose to sing "Achy Breaky Heart" because I figured I could never be as bad as William Hung! You chill for a while and learn your song and then it's time to sing for the producers. The good thing here is that words are on a karaoke style screen so you don't need to remember them! Despite my lack of vocal skills I made it through and would be singing on stage! I was handed a yellow ticket (actually a credential that said "Vote For Me") and just for the heck of it... Oh OK, who am I kidding just because our cameras were there I screamed those famous words, "I'm going to Hollywood!"

Next, I was brought into a hair and makeup room to get stage ready. Then a vocal coach worked with me on my song and gave me tips on performance, how to move and how to work the camera. Finally, it was my big moment. I was rushed to the stage for my big performance. A stage manager led me to my mark. I stood out and looked at the crowd of tens.

Where was the thousand member audience?! Well, this was just a press day so no audience was there, which I'm thankful for now that I watched the footage back! I belted out my best "Achey Breaky," danced a little, even pretended to sing to Simon who, of course, was not there!  Again the words were up on a huge screen karaoke style. I wish I had learned the lyrics though because it really was just like doing karaoke on a huge stage. Then as fast as it started it was over. My 90 seconds of glory were up. Sure, I can't sing -- but I headed the advice given to me along the way, "Just have fun." And boy did I ever have fun!  

For more information on the attraction, Click Here!

Later that night I got to see an example "finale show" and how it will look when it all comes together. This was a special version though for press with Ryan Seacrest, Paula Abdul and all seven Idol winners but we did get a good glimpse of the process. The stage is literally an exact replica of Idol's set last seen in season six. The show will have a host, a la Ryan, and three judges. There is no band, just a backing track like they used in season one which Kelly Clarkson always jokingly likes to call "Ghetto Idol" (She said that to me again last night when I interviewed her!).

I've just returned from one of the best weeks ever down in Tampa, Florida - capped off by my first Super Bowl ever! I've been in other cities during Super Bowl week (Houston, San Diego) covering parties for work but never have gotten to attend the actual game. However, I knew as soon as the Steelers won the AFC title, this had to be the year I would get to go to the Super Bowl. I'm from Pittsburgh. NBC, the network I work for, was carrying the game and I used to live in Tampa. I was determined.

 

It turned out this whole trip was meant to be too. As fate would have it my good friends who run a non-profit organization called Pros vs. G.I. Joes was having an event at the Madden Bowl (one of the Super Bowl parties) and needed an extra hand. In another twist of fate, one of my co-workers could not attend the game on Sunday. So, I was able to use their credential in order to write this very blog! My flight was taken care of through Pros vs. G.I. Joes, I found a hotel and I was off! 

 

Tuesday, 12 AM - Arrived in Tampa amidst a sea of yellow and gold jerseys. A very good sign that Pittsburghians were going to be out in full force.

The consensus seems to be split over whether adding new fourth judge Kara DioGuardi was beneficial or unnecessary for Season 8 of "American Idol." A few critics have been praising her while others have been dissing her. On our Web site poll, 35 percent say you love her, 34 percent are not sure and 30 percent say no thanks. I'm reserving my judgment until we get to the live shows next month.

I spoke with Kara this week about her big wedding news  -- she recently got engaged to her school teacher-turned-general contractor boyfriend, Mike McCuddy  -- and how she feels about 30 million people knowing her name after this week's season premiere episodes:

 

#10 -- "Sugar, you are an unemployed, uneducated leech on society and the only thing I would vote to give you is a handful of anti-depressants so that no one else has to be subjected to your constant crying anymore. And maybe if you got some then it would seem a little more sincere when you are crying about your dead father."
-- CBS's "Survivor: Gabon"
 
"Survivor" contestant Corrine during the show's finale to final four contestant Jessica "Sugar" Kiper. Host Jeff Probst called it the meanest thing ever said on "Survivor" in seventeen seasons (Clearly he forgot about Sue Hawk's "rat and snakes" rant against Richard and Kelly in season one!).
 
#9 -- "Boo-yaaaaah!!!!!"
-- Showtime's "Californication"
 
Hank Moody's (David Duchovny) fist pumping reaction to seeing Sonja's baby when it's born mulatto, confirming that he is not, in fact, the father.  
 
#8 -- "I cannot have a black one. I can't have an Asian one. I can't have a fat butt girl. I just can't see that white and black thing right now because of the kids. No Jewish girls. No way. I cannot stand them. I'm sorry but I can't handle them. It has to be a white girl."
-- NBC's "Momma's Boys" (Pictured Above)
 
Mrs. B's (single guy Jojo's mom) shocking and hateful rant about the girls she does not want her son to date on Ryan Seacrest's dreadful new reality show.
 
#7 -- "I possess the DNA of Leonard Nimoy!"
-- CBS's "The Big Bang Theory"
 
Sheldon Cooper's overjoyed reaction to neighbor Penny's Christmas gift of a dirty cloth napkin used by Leonard Nimoy and autographed for Sheldon.
 
#6 -- "What do you want? 'This is CNN' or 'Luke, I am your father?'"
-- CBS's "Two and A Half Men"
 
James Earl Jones to Alan Harper (Jon Cryer) who asks him to record a message for his answering machine at the fake funeral Charlie imagines for himself in a dream sequence.
  
 
The rest.... After The Jump!

McSteamy Stays Put --
 
There has been lots of gossip and speculation recently about "Grey's Anatomy" and the drama going on behind the scenes. Whose airtime has been cut because they are acting like a pain in the neck? Is Katherine Heigl being axed from the show? Has the show jumped the shark with the Izzy and deceased Denny storyline? Well, one thing I can tell you for sure is that Eric Dane, who plays hot plastic surgeon Dr. Mark Sloan (although most of us just know him as McSteamy. I actually had to look up his character's real name on IMDB!) is not going anywhere. He told Nancy O'Dell he has no plans to leave the show saying, "Absolutely, as long as they have me. I think its a great show. It's like a blessing. This job has been so great to me. I love it."
 
McSteamy just recently embarked on a possible love match with intern Lexie Grey - a relationship that may have him changing his womanizing ways. "I think we are still on that road. I know that the candy stripers or the nurses have formed a union or have united against me and I think I've exhausted every other option and last season the threesome fell through. So, I'm a one woman guy."
 
A Walker Throwdown --
 
So, last week I introduced you to Luke Grimes, the Robert Pattinson look-a-like who will play Ryan Lafferty, the new Walker family sibling on ABC's "Brothers & Sister" - the result of the late William Walker's affair with yet another woman. This week, I've got Justin's (Dave Annable) take on his new sibling.

Four of "American Idol's" favorite finalists have teamed up and are coming to a city near you. Season 3 runner-up Diana DeGarmo, Season 2 third place finisher Kimberley Locke and last season's David Hernandez (Top 12) and Chikezie Eze (Top 10) are embarking on a 15 city tour under the title "American Stars In Concert For The Holidays."  

Audiences will get a chance to get up close and personal as these former Idols perform an array of holiday songs and a few original tunes. Unlike Season 7's mostly solo-heavy "American Idol" tour, this show will be a mix of solos, group numbers and duets. Joining in on the fun as the tour,s musical director is one of my favorite Idol guys, Michael Orland, who serves as the "American Idol" pianist, arranger and Associate Music Director each season.  

I had a chance to visit with the fabulous foursome as they rehearsed for the tour, which kicks off Saturday, November 29th in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (my hometown!).

Ever find yourself missing that quirky little show "Ally McBeal" and wondering what happened to all those super short mini skirts Calista Flockhart used to wear? Would you love to suit up in a power suit like Dylan McDermott showed off in court every week on "The Practice"? Well, if you have always wanted to own a piece of TV history then now is your chance to get in on the action.

Premiere Props on behalf of David E. Kelley Productions is holding a two-day public lot sale of thousands of high-end wardrobe and costumes from "Ally McBeal," "The Practice" and "Boston Legal."

The sale is taking place at Manhattan Beach Studios (1600 Rosecrans Avenue, Manhattan Beach, CA) on Saturday, November 22 and Sunday, November 23 from 8AM to 4PM.

A wide variety of one-of-a-kind formal, casual and children's clothing, shoes, accessories and wedding gowns will be made available from designers like Ralph Lauren, Frye, Armani, Dolce and Gabbana, BCBG, Charles David, UGG, Manolo Blahniks and many more. Manolos at discounted prices!!! I am so there!

Dan Levin, Vice President of Marking for Premiere Props, tells me that the wardrobe departments for each show chose pieces that were meant to be timeless. So, you won't have to worry about people wondering why you are rocking some classic 90's clothes. Last year, thousands of people showed up so expect crowds. The great news is that a portion of the proceeds from the sale will benefit the Entertainment Industry Foundation.

So, not only do you have access to some cool stuff just before the holidays but you are being charitable too!

People magazine finally gets it right with their Sexiest Man Alive issue. Now personally, I've been repeatedly disappointed with their choices over the years, which always seemed just a tad bit cliché. There is a bit of a debate around the Access Hollywood trailers this morning though. Some of the naysayers around here don't agree that Hugh Jackman really is the Sexiest Man. So, since this is a man who truly makes me giddy (sorry to my new "fiancé" Rob Pattinson) I feel I must defend his honor with my Top Ten reasons for loving him.
 

#10 - He man-scapes

There is nothing wrong with a guy who likes to groom and Hugh admits his love for Lancer Rx Repair moisturizer and a hair product called Easy Rider to People magazine. You can still be a man and be metrosexual.

#9 - He sings, dances and is still secure in his manhood

He played Peter Allen on Broadway in "The Boy From Oz" which sparked rumors that he, like Allen, was gay. And he took it all in stride. His wife tells People, that during performances, she used to overhear gay men saying, "Is he or isn't he?" She was always quick to correct them.

 

#8 - He's a cute daddy

You can always count on the tabloid magazines to capture a photo of Hugh doing something fun with son Oscar and daughter Ava. His wife told People magazine he likes to make them pancakes in the morning for breakfast. Yummy.

#7 - He gives great interviews

Hugh knows what we want to hear and doesn't self edit.

 

#6 - He appreciates his fans

At this years Comic-Con convention he flew all the way from Australia to surprise 6,000 plus fans with new footage of his upcoming "X-Men" spin-off, "X-Men Origins: Wolverine"

Move over Zach Levi -- our fake TV engagement is over!

It's been a great run ever since you proposed to me last year on the set of "Chuck" with that fake 20 karat diamond ring.

We've been milking it for laughs ever since (including last week on the set where we even discussed Honeymoon spots) but now my love, I've got a new fiancé - And his name is Robert Pattinson.

If you haven't been living under a rock you might recognize him as the world's sexiest vampire right now; Edward Cullen from the "Twilight" series. You see, last weekend Shaun Robinson interviewed Robert at the press junket for "Twilight" and he talked about how he kept proposing to Kristen Stewart (that would be Bella, rock dwellers) while they were on set. She has a boyfriend though, so that didn't work out very well.

The tables got turned on him when somehow a bunch of young fans had gotten his phone number and kept texting him marriage proposals. So, I figured if Zach can't set a date after 15 months of fake TV engage-ary, why not get in on all this proposal action with Robert!

Yesterday I headed down to the uber-hip Echo Park neighborhood here in Los Angeles to hang out on the set of a new TheWB.com series called "Rockville, CA." It's a web only series created and executive produced by Josh Schwartz, the man behind "'Gossip Girl," "Chuck," and the late "OC" The show is a drama that centers on a group of LA hipsters who work at the fictional Rockville club and will feature performances from some very cool indie bands. It's not set to air until March though, so I'll tell you more about that project in a few months.

 

In the mean time, I grilled Josh for some scoop on our favorite guilty "Gossip" pleasure. Let's just say this is a man who is a good at keeping secrets, but I was able to squeak a few things out of him.

 

Even now they are still talking about "Gossip Girl" and how it's bad for teenagers to watch and how there is all this drinking and sex and drugs - things that we would hope that our teenagers in high school don't do. How do you feel about that?

 

I mean we got that on the "The OC" too and, you know, I'm sensitive to it. I get that there is a young audience watching and so, to that extent, I want to be responsible. At the same time I would harbor a guess that teenagers were having sex and drinking before "The OC," before television. I'm also weary of how much blame there is to weigh at the feet of these shows. 

 

OK. Let's debunk some of our spoilers that I have read on the message boards about 'Gossip Girl.' I've read obviously that someone is going to die. So you are confirming that?

 

I confirm that.

 

The rumor that everyone has put out is that its Chuck's dad, Bart?

 

I have read that rumor.

 

Close? Not close? Possible?

 

I would be violating what we just spoke about -- giving people something to watch (but not too much) [from an earlier conversation]. It's not Blake Lively.

 

Fans of the original "Beverly Hills 90210" were hoping that when they first heard the news that Jason Priestley was returning to the zip code that made him famous it would be as his character Brandon Walsh. Unfortunately, Jason will not be reprising his role, but rather, he will direct the 18th episode of the series, which will start shooting in January.

So, why is Brandon staying out of "90210"? In a conference call with reporters this morning Jason explained it to me:

"There really wasn't anything interesting for me to do as Brandon on that show." He added, "As a director who directed the most episodes of the original show, I felt that I just had more to offer as a director over there and apparently, so did they."

Especially since producers chose to make Dylan the father of Kelly Taylor's four-year-old son Sammy in the show. Priestley says he has no hard feelings about the decision:

"I'm not the baby daddy -- how about that? I think that ultimately that made more sense. I think that Brandon was the kind of character that if that was Brandon's child, I think that Brandon probably would have stuck around. I would hope so anyway."

So much for coming to "The Biggest Loser" ranch to shed pounds and change your life. This season several contestants have turned the show into a "Survivor" like game which has had trainer Bob Harper calling the underhandedness, "almost Shakespearean."
 
When last night's eliminated contestant, Philip, was asked if he thought this season's dirty dealings had gone further than in any other season he emphatically replied,
 
"Yes. That is the short answer."
 
The long answer involves his contention that blue team members Heba, Brady and Vicky were "vicious and mean" against both he and his wife Amy (who was eliminated last week). Philip believes that Brady and Vicky last week conspired to get rid of Amy by purposely not losing enough weight. 
 
"Oh absolutely. When Vicky said last night to Bob that Brady was not eating every four hours... total fabrication. He had no difference in the way he was eating since the time he hit the ranch. They are game playing. They have been doing it since they got there."
 
The tension between the teams has been building since the black and blue teams were established several weeks ago. Blue team member Heba accused Phil last night of talking about her behind her back, which led to a heated argument in the dining room.

#10 -- "Don't talk to me like I'm a child. Now take me to return my "Star Wars" sheets!"
-- CBS's "The Big Bang Theory"

Twenty-something nerd Sheldon Cooper to roommate Leonard when he learns his friend can no longer drive him to work and help him run errands.

 

#9 -- "Wake up! Play dates were invented by mothers for this exact purpose.  Shopping. Sex. Drinking in the afternoon. Play dates make all these things possible!" -- ABC's "Desperate Housewives"

Gabby Solis explaining to her husband Carlos why it's important to get their daughter, Juanita, into a play date group.

 

#8 -- "Seriously kids: never invite an ex to your wedding!"
-- CBS's "How I Met Your Mother"

 Narrator Ted Mosby, from the future, at the end of the episode, after its revealed his fiancé Stella ditched Ted on their wedding day to go back to her ex, Tony, her daughter's father.

 

#7 -- "I wonder if they like blondes in New Zealand?"
-- CBS's "Amazing Race"

Blonde "Southern Belle" contestant Marisa to equally blonde race partner Brooke upon learning the next leg of the race will take them to Auckland, New Zealand. Brooke's reply -- "I'm sure they have blondes so we're not like rare or anything."

Last night we learned that yet another incident occurred on the "Dancing With The Stars" set. Juliannge Hough was taken to the hospital after complaining of stomach problems. Brooke Burke just hurt her foot while rehearsing on Sunday. We also learned this week that Susan Lucci's injury last week resulted in two broken bones in her foot -not to mention Misty May's injury which ended her run on the show, Derek Hough's neck issues, Jeff Ross's eye injury and Karina's injury during week one. Some would say it's just a physically demanding show where amateurs are taking on dancing challenges they have never done before - so, injuries are bound to happen. Others are saying the stage is "cursed." 
 
Two weeks ago I posted, in my blog, my research about CBS Television City where the show is taped. The lot used to be occupied by a place called Gilmore Stadium, which was used as a football field and a racetrack. Five racecar drivers died on the racetrack in its 18-year history. Prior to that, it was an oil field. This so called "curse" began in season five when Helio Castroneves, the racecar driver, first joined the show. So, I wanted to investigate this and see if maybe there actually was a connection.
 
Yesterday our producer, Bryant, and myself took two psychic mediums to the set, Alice and Dennis Jackson, a married couple from Seattle, Washington; to see what they might be able to pick up.
 
After the entire experience of the day, let me just say that I am a believer. You'll have to read on to see why though...
 

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 -- "We could kill him and no one would know."
-- HBO's "Entourage"

Guest star Eric Roberts (playing himself) to Turtle, Eric, Vince and Johnny while they are trying to relax in the middle of Joshua Tree as Ari Gold yammers away on his cell phone.

# 9 -- "I'm a trophy wife!"
- NBC's "Kath & Kim"

An annoyed Kim Day explaining what she does to her mom Kath's new boyfriend.

# 8 -- "Hey, this is what Edie and I do. We tease each other. I say she's easier to get into than community college. She says my face looks like a knee. Its fun."
-- ABC's "Desperate Housewives"

Mrs. McCluskey explaining to Edie Britt's new husband Dave why she will not apologize to Edie.

# 7 -- "What you see here, all of this, vinyl albums they all become obsolete replaced with CD's and digital music you listen to on MP3 players this big. And the sound is um, well its much worse."
-- ABC's "Life on Mars"

After walking into a record store in 1973, Detective Sam Tyler explaining to co-worker Annie Norris about life in 2008.

# 6 -- "Yeah. Yeah. The hair. Its one of the things that makes me happy."
-- ABC's "Grey's Anatomy"

Meredith to a patient who she has told all about her relationship with McDreamy. Upon seeing McDreamy for the first time the patient remarks, "you forgot to mention the hair."