Helio and dancing partner Julianne Hough were still energetic as they performed there then on "The View."
"This has been an amazing experience," Helio said on "GMA."It was a big challenge for me...In the race car, you do not move your hips and your feet."

Said Julianne: "I have said from the beginning it's not about me winning. It's about my partners winning. [Helio has] come so far and I'm so proud of him. We've said from day one all we're going to do is have fun and just do the best he can do and it got him the trophy."

Helio, a two-time Indy 500 champion, later told entertainment news show "Extra" that he has split from his fiancée, Aliette Vazquez saying "it was time to let go."

There's speculation about a budding romance between Helio and Julianne who also danced to the championship last season with Olympian Anton Apolo Ohno. If so, it would be the second time a dancer and celeb got togeher this season. Sabrina Bryan and dance partner Mark Ballas were eliminated earlier than expected but their romance has endured.

Helio and Julianne edged Spice Girl Melanie Brown and partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy in what is considered to be the most dramatic finale ever for the show. Fan favorite Marie Osmond was the first to be eliminated in the finals which resulted in the final showdown between the two highest-scoring couples.

Melanie and Maksim appeared on "GMA" via satillite from L.A. and the Spice Girl said: "I'm so amazed that America embraced us so much and voted for us. I am honored to be on this show for this long, truly."

Then she quipped: "We were robbed."

Maksim, who had dissed Marie prior to the finals saying she had played-up some of her personal travails to get votes, said he wouldn't trade the experience but also said he wouldn't be returning next season. He made it to the finals with partner Laila Ali last season.

"I wouldn't trade the two friendships for any trophy," he said. "Helio can keep this one."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 1:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I ask you, how does In Touch Magazine not get sued like, every week?

This magazine splashes so many untruths on its cover, week after week, that I would not line my birdcage with it - if I had one.

The latest cover has the parental skills-challenged Britney Spears as pregnant again - this time with music producer J.R. Rotem's child. Britney sent a message to Ryan Seacrest during his 102.7 KIIS FM radio show this morning, saying, "It's B.S. Don't know who made it up. J.R. doesn't even know what's up. It's completely false."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Gotcha!

It's the real Daniel Craig and Nicole Kidman at the premiere of their new film "The Golden Compass." I'm certain it will fare better at the box office than their last collaboration, "The Invasion," which was a real summer stinker.

"Compass" bows Dec. 7.

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Bob Barker, who hosted “The Price Is Right” for nearly 35 years, was grand marshall of the Hollywood Santa Parade on Sunday night but before he hit the parade route, I caught up with him for a quick gab.

I quickly introduced myself then just blurted it out: What do you think of Drew Carey as the new host of “Price is Right”?

Bob, a healthy looking man of 83, did not hesitate to talk about his successor: “I think that Drew is his own man. He is not imitating me or anyone else. He's doing the show the way Drew Carey thinks it should be done and that’s exactly what he should do. Now, it’s up to the viewers. If they like his style, the show will go on forever. If they don’t, why they’ll let us know that too.”

Well, that was awfully diplomatic!

Before Bob began hosting “Price,” he had already spent 18 years as the host of “Truth or Consequences.” This is a guy who sure knows how to keep a job! So what’s he been doing now that he isn’t due at the studio every day?

“I have been sitting and doing nothing and I think I excell at it,” he said, straight-faced. “I think I’m going to be a complete success as a retiree, I really do.”

I wasn’t buying it.

Then this longtime animal activist told me what he has really been up to: “Actually, I’ve been very busy. I’ve been out of town. I went to Anchorage, Alaska, to help an elephant get from Alaska down to a sanctuary down in Northern California and I’ve been working on some other aniimal projects. I’ve really been very busy but I’m looking forward to eventually being retired.”

“I have done some spots just recently and I’m gonna write a book and that will take a lot of my time.”

Let's hope Bob does something REALLY fun like the classic cameo he did in "Happy Gilmore" when he kicks the crap out of Adam Sandler on the golf course. I think the sky's the limit - next we should have him taking down The Rock or someone like that.

Could be a riot!

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In support of the Writers Guild of America strike, "Ugly Betty" cast members America Ferrera, Judith Light, Rebecca Romijn, Ana Ortiz, Ashley Jensen, Mark Indelicato, Tony Plana, Freddy Rodriguez, Eric Mabius, Christopher Gorham and Michael Urie filmed this very dramatic ad that certainly gets its point across:

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How great it was to chat with Zach Braff and Lisa Kudrow this morning after they announced the nominees for Film Independent’s Spirit Awards in Beverly Hills.

Of course everyone knows Lisa from her role as Pheobe on “Friends” but what isn’t as well-known is her gem of her HBO comedy “The Comeback” which earned her an Emmy nod for her role as actress Valerie Cherish.

But the show, critically acclaimed with a loyal but perhaps too small a following, lasted only a single season.
I asked Lisa about the show and Zach interjected with: “I was just telling her how much I loved it.”
Lisa: “Yeah, me too.”

I wondered if there had been any talk of the series returning and Lisa said: “Oh God, I wish. I would love to do more. \[The cancellation\] was a heartbreak. It was, I was gonna say my pride and joy, but I have a child so he would occupy that space in my heart.”
Zach: “What about “The Comeback: The Movie”?
Lisa: “That didn’t happen either!

The actress next appears in the romantic comedy “P.S. I Love You” out Dec. 21.

“I always say to people that I would not have been cast in that movie had I not written it because it’s hard to break out of what people see you as,” he said. “I think that’s one of the things that’s so wonderful about independent cinema.”

Monday was the last day of shooting on the final season of “Scrubs” which will end six episodes prematurely if the writers strike is not resolved soon.

“This is really sad and I’m sad it’s over and I hope we get to do the last six,” Zach said. “But \[fans\] should know that \[the strike\] is for a really important cause. It’s not really about wealthy people getting wealthier, it’s about the rank-and-file writers who pay their mortgage with residuals. Something has to be done now because all of entertainment is moving to the Internet and those people need to have a way to have an income. So we who have been very successful in the business want to stand by the people who have not been as fortunate and say, ‘We’ll do whatever we can to make sure you are paid fairly.”

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Maybe it's because the L.A. County District Attorney isn't gonna throw him in the slammer for his little slugfest with a paparazzo recently, according to TMZ.com.

"Los Angeles County prosecutors have decided NOT to file any criminal charges against actor Pierce Brosnan, who allegedly got into a scuffle with a photographer in Malibu last month. The District Attorney's office found that there was insufficient evidence to pursue a battery charge against the former 'James Bond' actor."

Brosnan had been under investigation for allegedly sucker-punching a paparazzo at a Malibu shopping center in October.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 1:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

She has the flu.

Although she appeared to be uncharacteristically low-energy during the opening segment, she soldiered on and also did an interview with Tim Gunn of "Project Runway." Then it was bye-bye Reege. Philpin told viewers that "Kelly [is]a little bit under the weather right now. We hope she'll be back before the show is over."

She did not return.

Later, Philbin told Extra, "I thought she was pretty brave to come out and try to finish the whole show, but under the sun and everything, I guess she got a little warm."

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For Kyra Sedgwick playing LAPD Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson has been a role of a lifetime and the actress’s award-winning performance has made TNT’s “The Closer” the highest-rated drama on basic cable the last two years.

“I hope for everyone that they work something out that feels right and fair and good for everybody,” Kyra said when we spoke yesterday. “There’s plenty, there’s enough to go around. Knowing that, this should be solved.”

The episode has Brenda going home to Atlanta for part of it but for her own holidays, Kyra, husband Kevin Bacon and their two kids will not be making a really big deal out of things.
“Thanksgiving is the big holiday for us,” she said. “We always go away for Christmas because we’re not big fans of the holiday. We stay away and give each other one present and that’s the end of it. This year we will go work and be of service as a family somewhere.”

Winner of the Golden Globe Award and twice nominated for the Emmy for her performance as professionally tough but personally vulnerable Brenda, Kyra doesn’t try and tell writers which direction to take the cop with a major sweet tooth.

“I’m so in the part, so in her life that I can’t project myself out of it enough to know what I want for Brenda,” she said. “I really feel like it’s just too hard for me to be that objective. I don’t think she’s the kind of person who has any real insight into where her life is going anyway. I really trust the writers. I think last year was beyond my wildest dreams about where the character got to go and I’m hopeful this year will be the same.”

Kyra has steadily worked in movies for more than two decades, mostly in independent features like “Singles” and “The Woodsman” with Bacon, but occasionally she's been in big hits like “Phenomenon” and this year’s “The Game Plan.” She earned a Golden Globe nomination playing Julia Roberts sister in “Something to Talk About.”

The major success on television has led to more offers, she said, including the upcoming film “Game” in which she co-stars with Michael C. Hall.

“I’m still waiting for that real great, amazing ‘Oh my God’ role \[in movies\] I get more offers now, I don’t have to audition as much although I don’t mind auditioning. It’s hard to find something in the hiatus \[from ‘The Closer’\] The perfect thing doesn’t always come along in that six months period. ‘Game Plan’ was great because it was a big hit and it’s important to be in that kind of movie.”

But a movie role would have to be pretty spectacular if it is to match the richness of playing Det. Johnson each week. Last season, Brenda had a health situation with early onset of menopause which Kyra says "was fantastic to play, not knowing much about menapause. It really is such a huge deal. I can imagine if men went through it, we;d hear about nothing else. It was exciting for me to do the research about it and talk to women.I think eveyeine had sort of a deeper connection to Brenda after seeing her go through that stuff. She kept doing her job, never old a member of her staff and didn't even want to talk about it with her boyfriend. A lot of women have come up to me and say how amazing it was, How wonderful it was to see that on TV. No one ever talks about that on TV."

The special two-hour episode of "The Closer" airs Monday, Dec. 3 on TNT.

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You woulda had to be a real Grinch not to get caught up in the holiday spirit at Hollywood's Santa Parade Sunday night, being held for the 76th time along the streets of Tinseltown.

Bob Barker, recently retired host of "The Price Is Right," brought some much-needed star power to the event which had been canceled the Chamber of Commerce then revived three months ago by the city of Los Angeles.

"I was delighted when the city of Los Angeles stepped in and saved the parade," Barker said before the start of the event. "The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce did all they could but they couldn't handle it financially. This gives us an opportunity to continue a true tradition. It gives us an opportunity to invite people from every community, all colors...to join together, to have fun together and together, with one voice, acknowledge that Hollywood is indeed, the entertainment capital of the world."

Barker was joined on the parade route by "Ugly Betty" star Tony Plana, Fred Willard, Dick Van Patten, a number of soap stars, and young performers from various Disney Channel and Nickelodeon shows and a float with firefighters from various Southern California companies.
B efore the celebs took their places in the parade, I chatted with a number of them - whether I'd heard of them or not!

"This is my first time in the parade," said Daniel Curtis Lee, one of the stars of "Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide." "A couple of my castmates had done if before but I was busy in Mississipi for the holidays. It's a great atmosphere."

Rip Taylor, who I have heard of, was telling jokes left and right: "On behalf of Bob, I had my hair neutered today," said the famously wigged comedian who came armed with his trademark confetti in his pocket.

I wanted to know what brings Rip back year after year to this parade: "Cash!" he said, without skipping a beat. "No, no. We don';t get paid for it. We love to do it for the fans, for the city. The kids scream at me and I yell back the little [expletives]. They know me from 'Zach and Cody' and from 'Jackass.' I'm still there, I'm still workin'."

"When I first moved her, I would being my daughter up to Hollywood Boulevard, she would sit on my shoulders and watch the parade. She's grown up now and today my grandson will be in the car with me. Everyone was so upset when we thought there wasn't going to be a Christmas parade....It's so festive and so much fun. Now it's back and it should go on forever."

Plana had previously participated in the parade when he was a member of the cast of Showtime's "Rescurrection Blvd." and said "I love it because it's a local parade, it's a community parade and most of the people who come to this parade to watch it are Latinos because they live in this area som it's a great connect for me to be able to represent Latinos on television and Latinos in the audience. They love our show."

He said the cast of "Ugly Betty" will be filming episodes until Dec. 6 bringing the season's total to 13 which could be it unless the writers strike is resolved soon. Negotiations are expected to resume today.
"We're hoping that it will be resolved soon so we can go back and finish this wonderful season that we have planned," the actor said.

Kevin Chapman of Showtime's "Brotherhood" had been to the parade the last few years with his wife and kids as a spectator.
"I was just in the crowd, enjoying the parade," he said. "When I was asked to participate this year, it was a slam dunk. It's a really great thing for the community to get everyone together and gets you in the holiday spirit."

Melody Thomas Scott, Nikki Newman on the daytime soap "The Young and the Restless" for 28 years, was riding in the parade for the first time but as a child, she was a regular along the parade route.
"When I was 4,5,6,7,8,9,10, I was at the corner of Chuenga and Hollywood every year," she said. "If someone had told me that I'd grow up and be famous enough to be asked to be to be in the parade, I would not have believed it. It's very exciting to be here."

Scott's co-star, Don Diamont, was among those from the soap riding together. He has played Brad Carlton on the show for 20 years and in 2000, was one of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People.

"I grew up watching the Hollywood Christmas Parade, I never missed it," he said. "Melody called and asked me if I would join her in her car and I jumped at the chance."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 11:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Is this really such a smart idea?

Maksim Chmerkovskiy, who participates in the “Dancing With the Stars” finale tonight with his partner Mel B. (aka Scary Spice), doesn’t think Marie Osmond deserves to be in the final with him and Scary along with Helio Castroneves and partner Julianne Hough.

“I know first-hand there are a lot of celebrities on the show that went through similar situations this season and decided not to make it public,” he said.

Ouch!

That might cost Maksim some votes. Marie is a showbiz survivor who enjoys enduring and deep affection from the public.

The final results will be revealed tomorrow night on ABC.

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People magazine reports this morning that Oprah met with the father of a 12-year-old girl who had allegedly been abused along with her mother. He told the magazine:"The meeting went well. It took about two hours, and I appreciate that Oprah took time to listen," the father said. "Oprah looked beautiful and was so easy to talk to. It went very smoothly...I am very happy and pleased that Oprah heard our side of the story," added the father, whose name is not being revealed. "We have closure."

The emotional meeting is one of several Winfrey had throughout the day.

"I think they are planning new rules and staff for the school," he said, expressing happiness that his daughter will return to complete eighth grade there. (The academy is located in Henley-on-Klip, south of Johannesburg.) "I am so excited because we were invited to the end-of-year school party, which will be on Tuesday. The other pupils and families knew about the party, but we were never told. So it was a big surprise for us when Oprah asked us to join the party."
"I am happy because at last we had a chance to speak. Oprah resolved everything."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 8:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The magazine also reports that according to the St. Petersburg Times, a Times reporter reportedly broke the news to Hogan on Friday night.

He thanked the reporter for the "great information" then called back five minutes later to say, "I'm kind of shocked. You caught me off-guard. My wife has been in California for about three weeks. ... Holy smokes. Wow, you just knocked the bottom out of me. ... I just pulled over to the side of the road for five minutes to find out what was going on here."

The Hogans have most recently been in the news when their son, NICK, 17, crashed a Toyota Supra into a palm tree in the median of a highway. He faces felony charges.

The couple also has a daughter Brooke, 19.

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But after our conversation, I found myself a big fan of this man who has a unique perspective on the sudden that has come to him and the rest of the show’s cast - most of whom were unknowns - over the past year.

“In my case it’s very special because I come from Haiti, a place where I really grew up with nothing. No shoes, no shirt, or anything like that,” he explained. “So to have that kind of beginning and end up where I am now, it’s a huge stretch. So I don’t know if everybody is having the same experience even though we are all on the same show. I know that it’s something quite unbelievable coming from where I’m coming from.”

He moved to Paris as a young man to pursue modeling and began landing roles in French musical theater and in television commercials. Then came a move to L.A. and small roles in some hit films (“The Bourne Identity” and “Monster-in-Law”) and some flops (“Tears of the Sun” and “Hollywood Homicide.”).

But to be cast on “Heroes” and have it be a break-out hit right out of the gate, that was a shocker.

“Amazing, just amazing. Because it was unexpected, you know? Life is unexpected. So to find myself in one of the biggest TV shows in the world, I was like, ‘Wow! OK, what am I gonna do with it?’ So, I’m taking it as it comes and hopefully I’ll be able to keep on moving up with the show but also by doing other projects.”

He co-starred with Mo’Nique in the comedy “Phat Girlz.” But he’s not ready to give up his day job even though production on “Heroes” stopped Nov. 9 due to the writers strike.

“I like the direction they are going with \[my character\]. But the thing about being with “Heroes” is you never know what’s going to happen with your character. They don’t tell you anything until the script is ready to be given to you. So, I’m in the dark the same way the audience is unless I’m shooting.”

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There’s Emmy-winner Jimmy Smits, Emmy-winner Hector Elizondo and Oscar-winner Rita Moreno, among others.

“I’m so thrilled,” Nestor said when we chatted last week. “You always hope that strides are made and I feel they certainly have been. Even before “Suddenly Susan” when I started \[in 1996\], the kinds of roles that were open to Latinos are nothing like there are today.”

On “Susan,” his role on the Brooke Shields sitcom required that Nestor speak with a thick accent, nothing like the erudite Harvard grad actually sounds.

“You have felt that in the past, the minority characters quite often are ancillary characters to a show. Here, you have a show where most of the cast is Latino. It’s wonderful and we hope that we can break ground and that it doesn’t stop just with ‘Cane.’”

The wealthy Duque family is in the sugar and rum business and Frank is constantly overshadowed by Smits’ Alex character.

I wondered what it was like for Nestor to work with Smits, with whom he shares many heated scenes including a few weeks ago when he landed a right hook to his on-screen brother’s jaw.
“He’s amazing,” Nestor says of Smits.
I then blurt out: “But you punched him!”
Nestor, cool as ever, replied: “I did punch him. It felt kinda good though (laughs).”
“I never knew Jimmy,” he continued. “I had met him sort of briefly at events but never knew him. It’s been a real joy. The star sets the tone for the show and we have an amazing star in him. He’s always looking out for everyone in every part of the process.”

The handsome actor, who turns 40 on Dec. 1, is on a nice career roll. In addition to “Cane,” he will be seen next summer in as the mayor of Gotham City in “The Dark Knight,” the sequel to “Batman Begins.”
Nestor has worked steadily on television since “Suddenly Susan” with recurring roles on “Lost,” “Strong Medicine,” “Resurrection Blvd.” “Kim Possible” and “Cold Case.”

But “Cane” gives him a leading role in a drama for the first time since the short-lived CBS drama “Century City in 2004.

“It is a great role,” he said of Richard. “It’s sort of the brother who’s been passed over and he’s got an ax to grind. But he’s conflicted. He’s got love for his family on the one hand and obviously he’s got this contentious relationship with his adopted brother. It’s great stuff to play.”

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In Hollywood, most actresses are ready to let inquiring minds know exactly what designer they are wearing on the red carpet.

But when Brittany Snow was asked the question by a People magazine reporter standing next to me on the red carpet of the 15th annual Diversity Awards over the weekend, I just loved her honest reply: "I don't know!"

Then she explained.

"It's been a long night. I had something else to wear, it got ruined. I, at the very last minute, pulled this out of my closet. That's why I'm not exactly sure."

The blond-haired, blue-eyed beauty also seemed perplexed about why she was receiving an award as 2007's rising star from the Multicultural Motion Picture Association when the character she played in the musical smash "Hairspray" was a racist.

"My character didn't like anybody except for herself so that's not very diverse," she said. "It's nice that they recognize that I'm not like my character and that they appreciate the movie and what it stood for."

The movie, one of the highest-grossing musicals in Hollywood history, was released on DVD on Tuesday. It's the biggest hit of Snow's career, which also includes the films "John Tucker Must Die" and "The Pacifier" and a recurring role on television's "Nip/Tuck."

Brittany, who gained fame on the series "American Dreams," hopes people are not only entertained by "Hairspray" but take home the message of tolerance and acceptance of people different from you.

"I'm just really grateful that people have loved it and taken it to their hearts," she said. "The movie has a great message that it shows in a very light-hearted way. It's not hitting you over the head. There is a great message about acceptance and believing in yourself and accepting people for their differences, no matter what it is. All at the same time we are singing and dancing. What better way to get a message across?"

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Grace, 48, had to deliver the babies a few months early after developing a pulmonary edema during the pregnancy. She was released from an Atlanta hospital Nov. 16 and remains on medication. Grace is married to investment banker David Linch.

*******************************************************************************

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I love this young mega-talent, a rising star with a good head on her shoulders. Nikki sang "You Can't Stop the Beat" from the new "Hairspray" DVD at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Here is a clip:

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Lisa Edelstein of “House” will be giving thanks if the entertainment industry’s striking writers can settle their differences with producers so her show and others can resume production.

“When we got the news that they were going back to the table [on Monday], I felt like about 1,000 pounds had been lifted from my shoulders,” she said when we chatted earlier this week. “It’s been a very sad month. I hope we come to a quick and reasonable resolution.”

Lisa was particularly excited about episodes 13 and 14 which were supposed to air after the Super Bowl. But production on “House” was halted after episode 12 was completed.

The 41-year-old actress first gained notice while still a teenager when she was known as “Lisa E” around the NYC club scene and dubbed a “celebutante” by Newsweek magazine.

But the real high point has been playing Dr. Lisa Cuddy on the edgy medical drama.

“It’s really fun to play a character for this long and layers of the onion get peeled away and you get to really explore somebody,” she said. “With such smart writing, that makes it even more successful an experience.”
And then there is her leading man, Hugh Laurie.

“I love working with him,” she said. “He’s so talented and a hard worker. If you’re lazy at all, it really shows. You have to step it up with somebody like that. It’s great.”

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 3:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Can you BELIEVE it? "That Girl" herself, Marlo Thomas! The multiple Emmy winner still looks like a million bucks, still acts, and runs St. Jude's, the amazing hospital founded by her father, the late Danny Thomas.

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And those mac & cheese balls? Like crack cocaine. I had three and decided to stand on the other side of the room before I had four, five...25 of 'em.
I missed the screening so waited outside the club for the party to start and there went Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens bounding up the stairs. They stopped to pose for pictures with this adorable little blonde girl who just happened to be at the absolute right place and the right time.

Once inside, I saw Cordin Blue surrounded by young fans and cast members Ashley Tisdale and Monique Coleman were among the other cast members present. Also being treated like a rock star was the film's director, Kenny Ortega, who I had chatted with the night before at the Diversity Awards where he was honored.

With the cast so famous, so quickly, I wondered if Kenny worries about them being under such an intense spotlight - especially Zac and Vanessa.
"Yeah, I do. Not that they can't handle it or that they can't be responsible. It's just that they're chased around a lot. I'm discovering that it's hard for them to have personal lives - just to step outside of an apartment and go down the street and grab a sandwich is a thing of their past. That bothers me. They love new adventure, they love being kids, they love going to the movies, they love hanging out with friends and going to parties and that part of being young has kind of been taken away from them. Their interests is what makes them interesting people. You start to pull them back and not allow them to have that sort of full experience."

With the "High School Musical" franchise such a success and "Hairpsray" and "Dreamgirls" doing some well at the box office, does Kenny think this really is the return of the musical - a genre which used to dominate in decades past but since the 60s has only resurfaced, successfully, every so often.
"I'm hoping that they're gonna stay around and that we're gonna get the chance to make more of them and that audiences will want them," he said. "I just saw Julie Taymor's film the other night, "Across the Universe," and I loved it. Beatles music, brilliant staging, gorgeous casting, wonderful cinematography."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The AP reports that the 30-year-old actor refused repeated requests by police to calm down. Police charged him with two counts of violating the Public Order Act. He was allowed to post bail and must return to Dublin District Court on Dec. 5 for arraignment.

He was admitted to a California alcoholism-treatment clinic in April and checked out the following month. He was in Dublin to appear on 'Tubridy Tonight,' a Saturday night national talk show to promote his new film, 'August Rush.'"

They say any publicity is good publcity so we'll see if this helps box office!

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"Let me check the script and I'll get back to you," he said.

What. A. Woman.

She was the star of the night and got the evening's only standing ovation. We chatted before the event and I wanted to know if she knew how happy she makes people - how much she makes us smile and laugh out loud.

"If you knew how happy people made me...I pinch myself every morning and think, 'God, for real? Another day of this? Thank you! Appreciate ya sugar.'"

Mo'Nique was honored as the 2007 Renaissance Artist last night. After she gained fame as the star of the hilarious series "The Parkers," she used that success to become a real showbiz multi-hyphenate with her best seller "Skinny Women" and new book "Skinny Cooks Can't Be Trusted," a movie star in such films as "Queens of Comedy," "Phat Girlz," "Hair Show," and "Good Fences," a TV host of "Showtime at the Apollo," and the full-figured beauty pageant "Mo"Nique's F.A.T. Chance."

She says: "When you start playing by your own rules and you start playing in your own ball field, it's incredible. And when people start coming out to your games? It's really incredible....You create your own options. Just believe, that's it. People think it's a special formula where you gotta take a pill. Just simply believe. I'm a 250 pound black woman, all you gotta do is believe."

Mo'Nique brought her grandmother to the event and tearfully paid tribue to her from the stage. Earlier, she told me: "My grandmother has been an incredible force in my life. Very humble, very kind. Not real fancy. She's very simple and to the point. So when you see Mo'Nique, you see a whole lot of her."

Kevin Frazier of "Entertainment Tonight" was a smooth and charming host while E! personailty Debbie Matenopoulos was pretty annoying I must confess. Comedy is not - I repeat, not - her forte.

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Carter Oosterhouse doesn’t want to talk about how good looking he is.

But it’s kinda unavoidable now that one of the former stars of TLC’s “Trading Spaces” franchise is now a leading man of sorts. He’s got his own home improvement show now and it’s even got his name in the title: “Carter Can.”

“I was at the right place at the right time and there was a job available,” Carter said when I caught up with him recently. But being named one of People magazine’s sexiest men on TV probably doesn’t hurt, right?

“Someone said the other day, ‘You look like a model,’” he said. “I was like, ‘Dude, I am not a model, I’m a carpenter.’”

On HGTV’s “Carter Can,” which debuted last month, the 28-year-old Oosterhouse has the chance to show off his carpentry skills to a national audience.

“It’s a blast,” he said of the gig. “Being on a show, being able to rebuild and help people in their homes and being able to get the feedback instantly from fans all over the U.S. I work with the exact same things people are dealing with every day and re-purposing and re-doing things for their homes. When they see what you’re doing and they like it, it’s a great feeling.”
The idea is "not to just put color on the walls but the idea is to construct. We're able to get in there and actually move walls around and make the house what they really want. People don't want to leave their homes, they love their homes. But maybe they want it a little different and that's what we do."

He looks at me, like I’m from the moon.

“No, I didn’t do Kirstie Alley’s kitchen,” he said patiently. “But there are a lot of kitchens that we have done.”

Not much of a name-dropper this guy.

Carter’s older brothers, Todd and Tyler, are also carpenters and there is still a bit of sibling rivalry among them. He knows though, that he has landed a dream job being able to pl