Chat with the 'Stars'!
Heads up, "Dancing" fans. One of your favorites wants to talk with you!
"Dancing with the Stars" two-time winner and recording artist Julianne Hough will be talking to her fans and answering questions on Fancast.com next Monday November 24th, from noon to 1 p.m. EST (9 a.m. to 10 a.m. PST).
You can join the link by logging on to Comcast.net and clicking on the Julianne Hough link that will be featured on "Showbiz Buzz" on our Home Page beginning at noon, or you can go directly to Fancast.com and join the fun there.
If you love Julianne, you should check out her personal blog here to warm up with questions for the "Dancing" cutie. She announced in her last post at Fancast that she would not be returning to "DWTS" in the spring, so this may be your last chance to get your Julianne fix for a while.
Earlier this year, Hough released her debut album, "Julianne Hough," on Mercury Nashville label and saw it shoot to #1 on the country chart. She also recently released the Julianne Hough Holiday Collection of Christmas songs.
Hough and partner Cody Linley were recently eliminated from "Dancing with the Stars," but the pair will be returning to the dance floor for the not-to-miss, two-night season-finale extravaganza, beginning Monday, Nov. 25th, at 8 p.m. on ABC. Cody's "Hannah Montana" costar Miley Cyrus is performing, and there will be a surprise guest. Oh, and the winner of the disco ball trophy will be crowned on Tuesday night's big results show.
Check back here at the TV blog on Sunday for my exclusive interview with judge Carrie Ann Inaba for who she thinks is going to take it all!
But wait there's more!
Stick around, because later in the day on Monday there's another chat with a hot blonde!
Fancast will be hosting a second live chat at 2 p.m. EST (11 a.m. PST) Monday with Charlie Hunnam, the rising star of FX's new hit, "Sons of Anarchy," along with executive producer Kurt Sutter. You'll find the link to join the Live Chat on "Showbiz Buzz" on Comcast.net's Home Page.
Hunnam plays Jax in the motorcycle-gang series, which has been described as "Hamlet on Harleys." The series has been riding high, averaging 2 million viewers a week, making it the network's most successful new show since Denis Leary's "Rescue Me."
The stars of "Anarchy" talk shop in this exclusive interview. Check it out, then get caught up on this compelling series by watching the free full episodes available on Fancast.com.
Sign on and chat live with Charlie and Kurt to get the scoop on the "Sons of Anarchy" season finale, which airs Wednesday, November 26th, at 10 p.m. on FX.
Click here to comment: Are you excited for the chance to talk to Julianne Hough and Charlie Hunnam? Will you be watching the finales of "Dancing with the Stars" and "Sons of Anarchy"?
Message Edited by Tracy_Phillips on 11-22-2008 02:02 PM…
Sat, 22 Nov 2008 18:58:01 GMT | Tracy_Phillips
Jack Is Back with '24: Redemption'
After a 16-month delay, Jack Bauer finally returns to the small screen in the show’s first-ever TV movie, “24: Redemption,” airing at 8 p.m. ET/PT Sunday.
Bridging the long span between the melancholy end of Season 6
and the beginning of Season 7 (which starts Jan. 11), “24: Redemption” finds
Jack starting life anew as a missionary in Africa. Working with his old friend
and mentor Carl Benton (played by Robert Carlyle), the men become embroiled in
a fight for the safety of the mission children who are being forced to join the
corrupt militia run by Colonel Ike Dubaku (played by Hakeem Kae-Kazim). When
Bauer decides to take a stand for them, it reveals his whereabouts to the
The “24’ cast and crew shot “Redemption” in early summer on
location in
Kiefer Sutherland
On where we find Jack Bauer after 16 months…
We find Jack Bauer in the prequel, which is a real
continuation of season six, where he was disenfranchised with the government,
what they asked of him, and is deeply disappointed in himself and some of the
things he’s done for them, now in
On the energy of the two-hour movie…
The writing energizes everything and the fact that the writers got to write something with a two-hour framework instead of a 24-hour framework energized them immensely and it trickled down from there.
On how Jack reconnects to the world again…
I’ve wanted you to believe Jack was in a very peaceful place
[in
Robert Carlyle
On working with Kiefer again…
We made a movie together about eight years ago and we got on spectacularly well together, so we loosely kept in touch with the hopes of the possibility, perhaps, that I would come and do something on “24.” I was delighted when they called and particularly this part because here are two guys who haven’t seen each other in a long time, old friends, and that seemed perfect.
On connecting with the role…
My wife and I have had three children in the past six years so that changes things quite a lot. It certainly changes your perception of the world and the pain and the suffering that kids can go through. If that comes through, that’s great.
On working with the children in the cast…
I love working with children. A lot of my work is with children over the years and there’s a reason for that. They really level you. What I mean by that is that they humble you because they don’t really act. They just say their stuff. You’ve got to be careful because if you start to act then the whole thing just looks odd and weird. They are very good at walking up and saying their line then they go off and play, whereas actors can think too much. [Director] Ken Loach (“Carla's Song”) always used to say that to me, “Don’t think too much.”
Hakeem Kae-Kazim
On
shooting in
I
auditioned several times for the show and finally they offered me this
character. I lived in
On
creating a “24” villain…
I’m
Nigerian by birth so for me it was interesting because I am very passionate
about
Jon
Voight
On
doing his first television series with “24”…
I
think there was a writing session and they were composing this villainous character
and someone said, “Wouldn’t it be great if Jon Voight would play it?” or
something nice like that. There was an enthusiasm for my name and they came to
me and we talked. I hadn’t done episodic television, so it was something new. I
was a big fan of Kiefer’s and especially this role. Early on, I said to Kiefer
this was important and something special about the [Jack] role for his talent.
Having had that moment with Kiefer and then having this, it was almost like
closing a circle when they asked me seven years later to be an adversary for
him. I said yes and threw in.
*** Click Here to Comment! Are you excited to see “24” back on the air?
Watch a clip from "24:Redemption":
Message Edited by TaraDi on 11-21-2008 04:14 PM…
Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:59:37 GMT | TaraDi
'Ghost Whisperer' Fans Outraged
Jennifer Love Hewitt sees dead people, but fans of "Ghost Whisperer" were devastated—and outraged—when Melinda's husband Jim became one of those dead people when he was killed off in last week's episode!But producers are quick to remind angry viewers, this is a show about ghosts.
Spoiler Alert: If you don't want to know what's in store for Jim and Melinda, skip the next paragraph!
Jim Clancy may be gone, but his portrayer David Conrad is not.
Executive producers Kim Moses and Ian Sander tell TV Guide, "We are rebooting Jim and Melinda's love story. They will get something very few people ever get in life—a second chance at true love. Starting with Episode 408—the key to moving forward in Season 4—"Ghost Whisperer" fans will get to experience Jim and Melinda falling in love from the beginning."
How's that going to happen? Jim has taken over the body of a dead man named Sam. The revived Sam—who only looks like Jim to Melinda—has no memories as either Sam or Jim, hence Melinda's chance to make him fall in love with her all over again.
Watch a sneak peek of tonight's new "Ghost Whisperer" on Fancast.com.
Earlier in the season, I talked with Jennifer Love Hewitt at a party and got a few bits:
Tracy Phillips: There’s a ton of buzz around the show this season, and the death of a certain beloved character.
Jennifer Love Hewitt: “You’ll learn more about the live people this season then you will about the dead. It’ll be interesting for people. The biggest thing that’s ever happened in “Ghost Whisperer” history will be happening--and it will change history of the show forever. It’s a big thing.”
TP: Any ghost-busting in real life?
JLH: “People always ask me if there’s anyone attached to them. Or if there are people around them, and I’m like, I’m buying lettuce. What do you want me to do?
And I get invited to a lot of funerals, which is very uncomfortable.”
TP: Is it easier coaxing ghosts into the light in nighties and wispy tops?
JLH: [laughs] “To say we didn’t throw those in for the certain people who need it would be a lie, so we know what we’re doing when we do that. We know that is a fun eye candy thing for the 14- and 18-year-old boys watching show. [Editor’s note: 14- and 18-year-old boys watch this show?] But we try not to ruin the integrity of the show by using it in the wrong moment.”
TP: What about your love life? You’ve been engaged [to Ross McCall] for a year, how are those wedding plans coming?
JLH: “It was love at first sight. We are making wedding plans…but we still don’t have a date!”
Photo Gallery: Click here or on the image below for a collection of our favorite TV characters who've come back from the dead.
Click here to comment: Were you upset by the death of Jim? Do you have faith in the producers' new direction for the show? Who should they have killed off instead?
Message Edited by Tracy_Phillips on 11-21-2008 02:03 AM…
Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:51:58 GMT | Tracy_Phillips
Baldwin Addresses 'Dirty' Rumors
Just yesterday I spoke with "Dirty Sexy Money" star William Baldwin about the status of his juicy ABC drama and he sounded optimistic that the show would get a little more time to prove itself. But inside sources tell me an announcement was made late today to the "Dirty Sexy" crew that the show has been canceled.
Did you people not watch the awesome cat fight between Karen and Lisa last night? How can they get rid of this deliciously wicked show?!
ABC has also reportedly pulled the plug on the beloved "Pushing Daisies" and its other critical darling, "Eli Stone."
The network has yet to comment on the cancellations, but they have confirmed that three more "DSM" episodes will air, through December 10th.
You should still read this interview though, because just as Alec dished on kissing Jennifer Aniston on "30 Rock," this Baldwin brother also kisses and tells. He's also not too happy with Alec....
Tracy Phillips: What can you tell me about the rumors that the show has been canceled?
William Baldwin: "The critics love it and the buzz is on the street is fantastic, but as you know there’s been an unexpected shift in viewing habits. The writers’ strike contributed to it, I think the election contributed to it, the economy, and I think DVR viewership too, so there’s been a shift across the TV board, and a significant downturn coming into this season. And it is a cause for concern for many shows that are in a holding pattern, until the executives figure out what they want to do. I would implore you as a fan that if you like the show and you want it to be around, then the next three or four episodes are going to be critical.”
TP: You have some cool guest stars coming up, like the return of missing Darling twin Juliet, Donna Mills ("Knots Landing") and John Schneider from "Dukes of Hazzard." What's Bo Duke going to be doing?
WB: "There are some bizarre and delicious and deviant elements to the John Schneider storyline coming up. He plays a congressman and I’m the senator elect, and there’s a very, very twisted, hilarious story between our characters."
TP: What’s it like kissing your transgender co-star Candis Cayne, who plays your mistress Carmelita?
WB: “It’s great. I’ve kissed many a beautiful woman in my day, Julia Roberts and Sharon Stone and Cindy Crawford, and I add Candis Cayne to the list. She’s a beautiful woman.”
TP: Nola Lyons (Lucy Liu) is now Patrick Darling's chief of staff. That sounds like trouble.
WB: “We are going to add her to the list of all the gorgeous women I’ve kissed in my career.”
TP: So Lucy Liu’s making the rounds with the handsome men on the show.
WB: “Yeah, she’s working her way through the family....That’s happened with the Baldwin Brothers, too, I might add.”
TP: Oh, do tell!
WB: “I’ll take it to the grave, honey.”
TP: Well, if "DSM" doesn't work out, “30 Rock” is stunt casting like crazy. Have you talked with your brother Alec about appearing on the show?
WB: “Excuse me, what’s their problem? They cast his brother and do I get an availability check? No. They go straight to Nathan Lane! Lane plays my brother’s brother on ‘30 Rock.’ I don’t get an invitation, I don’t get a meeting, I don’t get a call, I don’t get an audition.... Unbelievable."
TP: Alec said in an interview that you were the “least murderous” Baldwin Brother growing up.
WB: “Yeah, that’s sort of on the outside. I think on the inside he knows I’m sort of like one of the Darlings, I have a façade I project to the public, but behind close doors I’ve got all sorts of skeletons in the closet.”
Click here to comment: Are you disappointed that "Dirty Sexy Money" is canceled? Will you miss "Pushing Daisies" and "Eli Stone"? Do you think networks should be more patient with shows?
Message Edited by Tracy_Phillips on 11-20-2008 11:38 PM…
Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:00:45 GMT | Tracy_Phillips
Rosie Talks New Show, 'View,' and Trump!
Rosie O’Donnell is returning to TV next week with a one-hour, live variety show, “Rosie Live,” that will air at 8 p.m. ET/PT Wednesday on NBC. The show will feature a variety of musical numbers and comedy bits, with an array of special guests, including Alanis Morissette, Ne-Yo, Kathy Griffin, Alec Baldwin, Liza Minnelli and Gloria Estefan, to name a few. Rosie took an hour to chat with TV columnists and bloggers from around the country on Wednesday about why her new show won’t be controversial, a look back at her time on “The View,” and whether you can “never say never” about having Donald Trump as a guest on her show. Here are some of the highlights:
On whether the special is a one-time thing, or the start of a series...
They wanted me to do a pilot, a taped pilot but I said I was selling a live show. So I’d prefer to do one live show and then if they like it they can pick it up in groups of six. So each cycle will be six and they’ll be renewable in cycles of six should they be picked up.
On which classic variety shows she watched as a child...
Sonny and Cher, you know, was fantastic - Carol Burnett, Donny and Marie, Shields and Yarnell, the King family. I watched them all, you know. And it was the O’Donnell tradition to just sit around and everyone my Nana and my dad, everyone and when my mom was alive, would watch them together and it was a huge event in our house back when there were three channels.
And when one was coming on, I remember “Liza with a Z,” which I think was 1973 or 1972, and my mother, being so upset because the promotion during the movie of the week or the 4:30 movie said, “And remember tomorrow night’s special, 'Lisa with a Z,'” and my mother called up the station to say, "It’s Liza. That’s the whole point of the song," and being so upset by this. So they’ve been a big thing in our house since I was a kid and totally defined my desire to be an entertainer.
On the surprise tune she'll be singing with Liza Minnelli...
It’s going to be a song you haven’t heard her sing in about 30 years and it’s a song that I grew up singing very loud on the shag rug in my living room, pretending to be her friend and dance with her. And now the dream is coming true 30 years later. So, she’s showbiz royalty to me. She is the epitome of old time glamour, showbiz variety, triple threat, multitasking talent. And she was the first person I thought of and we’ll be doing the opening number together. I’ll give you a hint: It was in "The Act."
On why the timing is right for an old-time variety show...
I think the economy has made it so that people are staying home more and, sadly, unable to go out. And to give people an hour to forget about their troubles, to have an hour of fun, laughter and singing and dancing, no politics, no arguing, no talking, you know, about controversial things.
On current shows like "American Idol" being versions of variety shows...
There are variety shows on TV now, only they have judges, you know, which I think kind of ruins the concept of a variety show. It’s "The Gong Show" with the variety genre. And, they - to me, there’s nothing fun about gonging someone who is actually really trying. There’s nothing fun about the audition segments of American Idol to see people brought to tears and humiliated. You know, I’ve never been for humiliation television.
On whether she watched "The View" during the presidential campaign...
Well after I left the show I couldn’t watch it because I had so many kind of mixed emotions and it would just be kind of - almost like post traumatic stress disorder. Every time I would turn it on I would have mild panic and have to turn it off. So truly I haven’t really watched it. When something does make the You Tube rounds or hits The Huffington Post or something, I usually watch the clip.
But, you know, having been there and having seen what goes on behind the curtain is a different experience to watch it than the average viewer. And, you know, there are parts of it, like when you go to Thanksgiving and Nana just wants everybody to get along. And even if mom and dad are on the verge of divorce and one of the kids is a drug addict, and all she wants is for everyone to be happy during Thanksgiving, you know? And so usually that’s what you do. And in some ways, I found that that was what happened on that show.
No matter what Barbara wants everyone to believe and think and act as if everybody gets along and is really good friends and happy, and hangs out together. And it’s just not the reality. I’m not saying that they loathe each other. But, you know, the fact is there wasn’t a lot of camaraderie off camera there. People don’t get together and have dinner once a month, the "View" ladies. They don’t.
On the infamous argument with Elisabeth Hasselbeck that resulted in Rosie's early "View" exit...
For me, what happened on the show was a personal argument with a friend that was publicly displayed. You know, what happened there was personal, not political and it was viewed for everyone. And I didn’t want to be paid to fight. When I started and took that job, I made the decision that it was with the intent of speaking for the millions of mothers whose voices were not represented on television.
You know, here I was every day at my kids’ school listening to mothers total bereft about the war, about what was happening politically in our country, about the lack of civil rights, about the direction America was moving in. And no one was saying it. And if you look back now, the things that I said on that show two years ago have all kind of come to pass. You know, I was talking about torture at Guantanamo way before anyone else was and I was called un-American and a Communist, and a troop hater.
Everything that I said, it’s kind of, now, people are, like, "Wow." So I don’t know. I think that it was - I was happy that I did the show at the time because I think those things needed to be said. But I also was done when I was done.
On the difference between expressing her political ideas on "The View" and what the NBC variety show will offer...
When I took the job on The View, I knew it was to express my views politically and I felt that they weren’t being expressed, the views that I held and that I felt millions of mothers -- and I still feel -- and fathers, hold across the nation. So I took that job knowing that that was the job description. The job description on this (variety show) is to entertain. There’s not going to be any talks about Vietnam or Guantanamo Bay or, you know, there’s not going to be a production number about torture.
On how her one year on "The View" affected the arc of her career...
Well, when my show ended on May 22, 2002, I felt in many ways I had career achievement completed. It doesn’t get much better than that. I was in three number one movies three summers in a row, I had all these Emmy awards and this amazing, successful TV show, and people I never had thought I would be able to talk to came and sat down next to me. And it was almost like a dream. And I left because it was like being at the all-you-can-eat buffet. And at some point you got to get out of the buffet and go back to living your life because it was like gross excess.
But, when Barbara Walters came and watched the documentary I did for HBO about our family vacations and was so moved by it, and asked me would I possibly come and do that show, and I said, "For you, Barbara, I will do anything. And I will only do it for one year," because my goal in life was not to argue for a living and I knew that it would be a one-year job.
And, you know, so I did it for a year and I thought it was really great right up until the day it kind of went off the track. And when your own team is not going to support you, when you’re on a football team and your own guy tackles you, it’s time to take off the uniform. And that’s what happened for me.
I don’t regret doing it in any way. I think that it was an amazing experience and I think we kicked it up a notch on that show. And that show is relevant in the pop culture in a way that it hadn’t been, I think, before.
On whether she would never say never to a Donald Trump appearance on her show...
No, I think that we could actually say never. I know they say never say never, but as far as my show is concerned I think we can adequately and accurately say never. I think that he is going to exist in his world and throw mud at me when he needs to. And I will smile and wink, and throw some back. And that’s going to be that. The great part about having a celebrity fight is that your publicists really get to do it for you. You never have to interact with the human being you’re having the feud with.
*** Click here to comment! Are you excited to see Rosie's variety show?
Message Edited by Victor_Balta on 11-20-2008 03:26 PM…
Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:19:00 GMT | Victor_Balta
Will Hough 'Dance' Again? 'Maybe, Maybe Not'
"Dancing with the Stars" pro Julianne Hough was eliminated from the competition this week, and fans who are disappointed that they won't be seeing her any more may be in for even more of a shock. On her exclusive blog with Fancast.com, Hough says, "I won’t be on 'Dancing' this spring season. I don’t know about the fall."
Read on for Julianne's full entry:
Don't be sad. Someone has to leave; too bad it was us, but it's the name of the game. Cody and I hoped for the best and expected the worst. We definitely got the worst. We’re OK with it, though. He came to terms with it. He came such a long way since the beginning, and I’m so proud of him. When I first me him, I thought he was going to be this young, immature kid, but as I’ve gotten to know him, I've realized that he’s a deep, loving young man.
He’s going to have a lot of opportunities coming his way from doing this show, putting his heart on his sleeve, and trying so hard. I think he made a lot of new fans.
I feel like I've been awake since yesterday. I stayed up with Derek late last night; we were hanging out after the show and he asked if I wanted to help him out with some lifts he was practicing for Brooke. I said absolutely, anything I can do to help you win. I’m totally rooting for you.
I want everyone who voted for Cody and me – first, thank you very much – but start voting for Brooke and Derek!
I got up at 3:45 am to get ready for Good Morning America. Then I got home and did phoners with radio stations and now I’m doing this blog.
I want to thank all of you who have listened to my album, said such nice things about my songs, and waited patiently for last night's performances of "My Hallelujah Song." I was excited it finally ran. As I wrote a few weeks ago when that was taped, I’ve sung in front of thousands of people, but I don’t think I”ve ever been as nervous as when I performed on the show in front of my peers and the producers. It was fun but definitely nerve-wracking.
A lot of you have asked what's next. Well, there’s one more week and because everyone is back for the finale, I figured I’d stay here in case my brother needs any more help. I’m presenting at the AMAs. I’m doing some last minute stuff. Then packing up my clothes and shipping everything back to my place in Nashville. I’m spending Thanksgiving with my family in Las Vegas. I’m doing the run of Christmas shows. I have one in Washington, which I mentioned yesterday. Getting ready for next year. There are two really great tours coming up. I’m 99.9% sure I’ll be on one of them.
I won’t be on Dancing this spring season. I don’t know about the fall. Maybe, maybe not. We’ll see. I’m definitely going to focus on the music. My first album was a learning experience, and I can’t wait for the next one. I feel like the writing and producing will be even better, really awesome.
My prediction: I really hope Brooke and Derek win. I think they deserve to win. From day one, they’ve been awesome. I think Brooke is the most technically sound of the celebrities and she’s a beautiful dancer.
Click here to comment: Are you disappointed that Julianne won't be back next year? What do you think of her decision to focus on her music career? And will you send your votes to Derek and Brooke instead?
Message Edited by Tracy_Phillips on 11-20-2008 11:30 AM…
Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:26:41 GMT | Tracy_Phillips
