Sheathed in layers of golden fabric of an Oscar de la Renta gown appearing like a mythical Greek goddess, Cate Blanchett is featured on the cover of this December’s issue of VOGUE, appearing on newsstands November 24th, with an interview by VOGUE writer Adam Green about her greatest role to date: A Streetcar Named Desire’s Blanche DuBois.  Green observes that Cate ‘’remains a creature of the stage” and also asks her about the importance of theater, family life and career path.

Here a few highlights from Adam Green’s interview with Cate, the self-proclaimed ‘theater geek’:

On the importance of theater:

“In the wake of everything that’s happened in the world in the last eighteen months, we’re thinking about what we’ve lost. So much of the play is about the death of poetry and idealism and hope—the fine, delicate things in our lives, the intangible, ephemeral things in our lives—which theater actually represents, doesn’t it? It’s ephemeral by its very nature. If you’re not there, you miss it. It’s gone.”

She is so dedicated to preserving theater, she and her husband of twelve years, Andrew Upton, became artistic directors of the Sydney Theatre Company, in Sydney, Australia, beginning in 2008.

On appreciating the sense of stability that staying semi-put and working regular hours has allowed both Blanchett and husband, Andrew Upton, to give their three boys:

“’There are so few experiences in our manicured, nanny-stated existence that have the quality of circus.  Theater still does.’ And so, when the boys aren’t playing with friends, they can usually be found playing backstage.  ‘They’re always engaged in the family business, so to speak.’”

Cate, with her sense of humor intact, on the matter of having children said, “The world is so massively overpopulated, but if you’re halfway decent-looking and you make nice ones, then I think it’s probably your responsibility to make more. That’s why we just have to have more of them!” We just adore Cate at LA’s The Place because she doesn’t take life too seriously!

On career choices:

“I’m not very cautious or careful. It’s always been more about having a variety of experiences than any planned trajectory… I think that in a way, projects choose you.”

From playing the ethereal Elf Queen Galadriel in the “Lord of the Rings” movies to the tough Katherine Hepburn in “Aviator” to the young Queen Elizabeth I in the movie, “Elizabeth”, this certainly demonstrates her immense range of acting abilities and diverse career projects.  Geoffrey Rush makes a insightful comment about her intelligent acting technique.

Actor Geoffrey Rush on Cate Blanchett:

“As an actor, you either work off your own personality, and that’s what you’re peddling, or, like Cate, you draw out from the source material all the many dark, mysterious, and conflicting elements of the character that are going to make it engaging and trilling for the audience.”

To read the entire article from the December VOGUE article, “Truth or Dare” on Cate Blanchett, please click HERE.

Cate Blanchette, photographed for the cover of Vogue, by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz.

Or to see the charming and elegant Cate expose her self-effacing personality as a risk-taking actress under the lens of renowned celebrity photographer, Annie Leibovitz, please click HERE for VOGUE’s December Arts Issue.

The winner receives two round trip airfare tickets to New York City for the premiere of the film, two nights hotel stay in Manhattan, a digital camera, autographed FIX merchandise, including an autographed script of the movie, and press and photo ops on the red carpet.  Since this is a viral video contest, the winner will also have their viral video screened in front of the entire audience during the premiere. To enter contest, click this link.

FIX’s Synopsis

Racing across Los Angeles in one, unwieldy day, documentary filmmakers Bella and Milo must race from Beverly Hills to Watts — and places in between — in order to get Milo’s brother Leo from jail to rehab before 8pm, or Leo goes to prison for three years. A story inspired by true events, the trio documents their trip from a suburban police station in Calabasas through mansions in Beverly Hills, East LA chopshops, rural wastelands, and housing projects in Watts as they attempt to raise the $5,000 required to get Leo into the rehab clinic. Along the way they encounter dozens of colorful characters, each with their own anomalous perspective on Leo’s larger-than-life personality and style, and each with their own excuse for why they cannot help out. In the end, it may take the desperate irony of a drug deal to get the necessary funds to send Leo to rehab. FIX stars Shawn Andrews, Olivia Wilde, Megalyn Echikunwoke, and Dedee Pfeiffer.

Director Tao Ruspoli’s Statement

FIX is inspired by a true story: My brother, a very charming, larger than life character in real life, was struggling with drug addiction. The law caught up with him, and he was offered a deal by the judge: if he didn’t check himself into rehab in 10 days, he would be sent to prison for 3 years. On the 8th day, he was arrested again, for something else. His lawyer called me, while I was working on a documentary in San Francisco, and said, “If someone doesn’t bail him out of jail and get him to rehab by 8pm tomorrow, he is going to prison for 3 years.” So I drove overnight to bail him out and soon found out that the rehab wouldn’t accept him without a nonrefundable $5000 deposit. Since we didn’t have the money, the day turned into a race to get the funds before the 8 o’clock deadline.

Years later, my wife Olivia and I had the idea of turning this premise into my first narrative feature film. I knew it was time for me to move into scripted features and I was also dying to work with Olivia, who was developing into an incredible actress. We always joked that while we had gotten married after only knowing each other for 6 months, the real commitment (and risk) it takes to make a film together required 4 years.

Given my background in guerilla style documentary filmmaking, I wanted to use the language I had developed in that medium and apply it to my first narrative project. In that way, I hoped to get the best of both worlds: the immediacy and realism of documentary and the structure and story arc of scripted, fictional work. Given advances in digital media, I was also excited by the fact that we could do this without sacrificing my love of photography and “cinematic” imagery.

The process and result turned out to be more gratifying than I ever could have imagined. Seeing Shawn bring his own vision and spirit to the Leo character was delightful. Shooting was adventurous and fun, and bringing the film to festivals around the world and seeing how the film touched people from so many walks of life was more than I ever dreamed of. I am excited for the film to now reach an even larger audience with this fall’s release.

FIX stars Shawn Andrews and Olivia Wilde.

Entering the Contest

• Fill out the form and upload your video clip
• We want your video to show us what YOUR fix is – tell us about the one thing that you can’t live without, in a creative, fun and compelling way. Videos should be no longer than 5 minutes long.
• Director Tao Ruspoli will choose the top 5 semi-finalist videos based on creativity, ingenuity, and by how much he is entertained/moved/humored by your FIX.
• The semi-finalists will be notified by phone
• Semi-finalist videos will be uploaded to viral video channels – videos will place 1st, 2nd and 3rd by total number of views

1st Place:

• 2 round-trip airfare tickets to the New York City premier of FIX, November 14th, 2009
• 2 nights hotel stay in New York City
• Red-carpet appearance and photo opportunity with Actor Olivia Wilde and Director Tao Ruspoli
• A digital camera or iPod
• Official autographed copy of the script from the cast
• Official autographed FIX memorabilia

2nd Place:

• A digital camera
• Official autographed copy of the script from the cast
• Official autographed FIX memorabilia

3rd Place:

• A digital camera
• Official autographed FIX memorabilia

To enter contest, click this link. Good luck!

FIX’s homepage: http://fixthemovie.com/

Remember Pee-wee Herman, the goofy gray-suited character with a red bow tie that had a guileless attitude and laugh that begged to be impersonated? He’s making a comeback after a humiliating arrest that sidelined the actor’s career for decades. Pee Wee Herman, played by Paul Reubens who developed this character at The Groundlings, became a cult classic figure with children and adults after the 1985 Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, directed by the then unknown Tim Burton and the 1988 sequel movie, Big Top Pee-wee. This led to a CBS Saturday morning children’s program, Pee-wee’s Playhouse which only secured his fame and recognition even more.

After the 1991 indecent exposure arrest in an adult theater, the bad press dramatically changed the public’s view of Reubens and his once beloved character, Pee Wee. Since then, he appeared in Mystery Men and the blockbuster Blow with a few cameos on Reno 911, Pushing Daisies, 30 Rock and Dirt. But with a new Pee-wee Herman stage show in Los Angeles set to open at the Henry Fonda Theater in Hollywood running November 19 through December 20.

The November issue of DETAILS Magazine hits stands next week and we discover how Paul Reubens will prove to Hollywood that Pee-wee can still pack a house.

Click HERE to read the full DETAIL Magazine article about Pee-Wee’s big comeback.

Photo Credit: DETAIL Magazine’s Chris McPherson

All-star athletes to heroic astronauts to business leaders along side 1,300 others guests were hosted by NFL Hall of Famer Nick Buoniconti for the 24th Annual Great Sports Dinner to benefit the Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis.  Together, uniting their powerful resources, they raised more than $6.3 million to help find a cure for paralysis. An additional $10 million was also pledged by an anonymous donor to fund the human clinical trials initiative at The Miami Project.

Olympic swimmer Dana Torres, Marc Buoniconti, and Mike Piazza.

Sport Legend Honorees
At the 24th Annual Great Sports Dinner, which too place at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City on October 6th, 2009, the 2009 Great Sports Legend honorees were Troy Aikman, Clyde Drexler, Mike Piazza, Ivan Lendl, Rusty Wallace, Brett Hull, Dara Torres, Pat Day and Chris Waddell.   Sports broadcaster Bob Costas returned as Master of Ceremonies and Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin made a special appearance.

Apollo 11's Buzz Aldrin and honoree Chris Waddell.

Other Honorees were President, CEO and sole owner Kinray Stewart Rahr who received the 2009 Outstanding Philanthropist Award; Chairman Emerita of TotalBank, Adrienne Arsht who received The Buoniconti Fund Award;  Managing Director, Allen & Company, Chairman of The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis, Jack Schneider who received The Barth A. Green Spirit Award;  and Writer, African-American activist and educator, Dr. Maya Angelou who received the Buoniconti Fund Humanitarian Award.

“It’s always a thrill to be in the presence of such legends and leaders in the sports and business arena.  The support that we continue to receive year after year is astounding and validates the work we are doing as significant and meaningful.  I look forward to when we can walk side by side with those who are paralyzed by spinal cord injury.  We all know that this can happen to any one of us, which is why we need to stay focused on a finding a cure,” says Nick Buoniconti, founder of The Buoniconti Fund.

Dr. Maya Angelou receiving the Buoniconti Humanitarian Award.

Legendary Fundraising
The Great Sports Legends Dinner honors an All-Star roster of athletes who have been recognized for their outstanding athletic achievements and have helped raise millions of dollars for the spinal cord injury research programs at The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis.  The dinner has become known for uniting individuals from the sports, business and entertainment industries and this year’s event was again a sell out with the capacity crowd enjoying a moving and inspirational program. The live auction was an exciting moment of the evening with six-figure bids for several dream packages, including golfing with Jack Nicklaus and a Dream Hawaiian Vacation.

Honoree Troy Aikman, Marc and his dad, Nick Buoniconti.

MVP Guest List

Other notables in attendance included NFL NY Giants Hall of Famer Harry Carson, Sportscaster from CBS Lesley Visser,  Apollo 11 Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, New York Knicks player David Lee, 1968 Olympic Long Jump Medalist Bob Beamon, 10 x Olympic Medalist in Swimming Gary Hall, Jr, Crystal Hunt and Kristen Alderman from ABC’s One Life to Live, Vincent Piazza from HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, Boston Celtics Hall of Famer John Havlicek,  Former Knicks player John Starks, MLB Great Rusty Staub, Captain of the 1980 Miracle on Ice Team Mike Eruzione, Former Miami Dolphin Earl Morrall, NY Giants Great Brian Kelley,  Former Miami Dolphin Nat Moore, Former MLB Player with the Mets and Yankees Phil Linz, Former Miami Dolphin Tommy Vigorito, Former Miami Dolphin Dick Anderson, NYC Sports Commissioner Ken Podziba, NY Jets Linebacker Greg Buttle, Former Race Car Driver Brendan Gaughan, Former Bills player Leo Hart, Former Jets players Richard Caster and Greg Murphy,  and many others.

NASCAR past champion Rusty Wallace signs autographs at the cocktail reception at The 24th Annual Great Sports Legends Dinner.

Great Sports Legend History

Over the course of the past twenty-three years, the Great Sports Legends Dinner has honored 253 of the world’s greatest athletes and individuals. They are recognized for their contributions to the world of sports and acknowledged for their commitment to high ethical standards, dedication to their community, worthy causes and achievements as positive role models.

2009's honorees at the 24th Great Sports Legends Dinner.

In 1985, Barth A. Green, M.D. and NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Nick Buoniconti helped found The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis after Nick’s son, Marc, sustained a spinal cord injury during a college football game. Today, The Miami Project is the world’s largest, most comprehensive spinal cord injury research center and is housed in the Lois Pope LIFE Center at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. The Miami Project’s international team of over 200 scientists and clinicians take innovative approaches to the challenge of spinal cord injury.

Buoniconti’s Vision

Committed to finding a cure for paralysis resulting from spinal cord injury and to seeing millions worldwide walk again, the Buoniconti family established The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis in 1992, a non-profit organization devoted to assisting The Miami Project achieve its national and international goals.  The Buoniconti Fund serves as the national fundraising arm of The Miami Project. It is designed to complement the scientific accomplishments of The Miami Project by generating funds and high levels of awareness.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Nigel Barker, Alessandra Ambrosio

“One can’t get through MBFW without lots of hydration…so it was especially exciting for us to be introducing all attendees to O.N.E. Water. Offering an eco-chic healthy water to all our fashion industry guests who thankfully are becoming more aware and conscious of sustainable products, will make a lot of fashionistas very happy,” commented Fern Mallis, Senior Vice President of IMG Fashion.

Clean Water for All

Established in 2005, O.N.E. World Enterprises was created to fulfill the growing demand for nutritional products in the U.S. market by providing a line of intelligently packaged and healthier beverage alternatives, including coconut water and other natural juices. The company launched O.N.E. Water nationwide in late May 2009.  Currently, O.N.E. Water is available for purchase in various specialty retailers as well as on Amazon.com.

O.N.E. is dedicated to the belief that access to clean water is a fundamental human right.  Therefore, they donate 100 percent of the profits from O.N.E. Water (after operating expenses) to non-profit organizations.  In fact, O.N.E selects 10 to 15 non-profits annually to receive funds from the sales of O.N.E. Water.  Consumers can select the charity of their choice by casting their vote directly on the O.N.E. Web site.

Sustainability

O.N.E. Water is 100 percent pure, comes from a sustainable source in Canada and is packaged in Tetra Pak cartons made mainly from paper, a renewable resource.

“We are thrilled to offer attendees at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week a new packaged water concept,” said Rodrigo Veloso, Founder & CEO of O.N.E.  “Packaged in BPA-free Tetra Pak cartons, O.N.E. Water is a great alternative to on-the-go water consumption.  In fact, O.N.E. produces all its beverages in carton packaging because of its tremendous benefits.”

Fashionistas Recycle Too

Tetra Pak, the company behind the carton packages utilized by numerous brands for a variety of food products including broth, wine, juice and milk and more, will also be making its debut at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, where they will be facilitating on-site recycling. Tetra Pak is a Swedish company with worldwide presence and has supported different fashion weeks in countries like Brazil and Greece in the recent past. In North America, Tetra Pak has been present since the 1980s and has been leading the industry in promoting carton recycling since 1990. Visit www.recyclecartons.com for more information on recycling.

“We feel this is a great opportunity to present the benefits of carton packaging to some of the most influential trendsetters in the U.S.,” said Carla Fantoni, Director of Marketing, Tetra Pak Inc., U.S. “Consumers across the nation already associate carton packaging with environmental friendliness and this awareness and passion for cartons will only continue to grow. We look forward to seeing how consumer response to using carton packaging evolves.”

Celebrity Fans of O.N.E Water

Current celebrity fans of O.N.E Spring Water include Ed Begley Jr., Josie Maran, Kim Kardashian, Denise Richards, Jordana Brewster, Maria Menounos, Mario Lopez, Jennie Garth, Christina Milian, Adrienne Bailon, No Doubt, Perez Hilton and more.

O.N.E.™ World Enterprises

O.N.E.™ World Enterprises was established in 2005 in order to fulfill the growing demand for nutritional products in the U.S. market by providing a line of packaged, better-for-you beverages that serve as a healthier and natural alternative to sports drinks, energy drinks, sodas, enhanced waters and bottled waters. To learn more about O.N.E. ™ go to www.onedrinks.com.

Tetra Pak

Tetra Pak is the world’s leading food processing and packaging solutions company. Working closely with our customers and suppliers, we provide safe, innovative and environmentally sound products that each day meet the needs of hundreds of millions of people around world. With over 20,000 employees and operations in more than 150 countries, we believe responsible industry leadership and a sustainable approach to business. Our motto, “PROTECTS WHAT’S GOOD,”™ reflects our vision to make food safe and available, everywhere. More information about Tetra Pak is available at www.tetrapakusa.com.

Actor Ray Park who stars in the upcoming action movie “G.I. Joe” as  Snake Eyes, personified evil playing Darth Maul in Star Wars Episode I – The Phantom Menace and scared audiences stiff as the headless horseman in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, finally reveals himself to loyal fans for the first time without a mask or costume in the upcoming season of “Heroes“.

Though his moves and martial artistry is certainly recognizable, his face has been curiously obscured in nearly every film in which he’s appeared until now.  Ray Park will come out from ‘behind the mask’ on September 21st, 2009 starring as the character, Edgar, in the first episode of the new season of Heroes.

Training to the Top

Scottish-born Park always set his sights to be in the movies, but his true passion was martial arts. At the tender age of seven, he began practicing martial arts. Park mastered the traditional Chinese Northern Shaolin Kung-fu (in the Chin Woo style) and various other styles, including Wushu. Soon becoming a regular fixture at martial arts exhibitions and tournaments, the now defined and disciplined athlete dominated Great Britain’s martial arts championships before later traveling to Malaysia to refine his skills.

Masked Acting Roles

After he conquered the martial arts world, Park set his sites on acting and became a natural on the set, gaining more roles as he the industry recognized his abilities as both actor and martial artist. He was later contacted by stunt coordinator Nick Gillard to audition for George Lucas’ upcoming Star Wars prequel. Offered the job by producer Rick McCallum, Park was given the creative freedom to develop his choreography by an impressed Lucas, while gaining confidence to develop his role to the best of well trained skill set.

After playing headless horseman in Sleepy Hollow (1999), Park finally saw his face and voice joined on the silver screen (his voice was dubbed in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace) with his role as Toad in Bryan Singer’s X-Men (2000). Park took the lead as the title character in Iron Fist later the same year. Though curious Star Wars fanatics clamored to rumors that Park would return as Darth Maul in the eagerly anticipated Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002), their many speculations were shot down by George Lucas himself with the announcement that although that specific character would not return for the sequel, Park would indeed play a role in Episode II. Currently, Ray is starring as Snake Eyes in G.I. Joe.

LA’s the Place caught up with Ray to find out what his thoughts are about his  current role and his ‘coming out’ role on Heroes.

LA’s The Place: Your costume in G.I. Joe looked really constraining, was it hard for you to move in it during the action sequences?

Ray Park: Yes, it was a challenge and I was a bit freaked out at first. I wasn’t expecting it to be so thick and I couldn’t really move my head or breathe very well. I asked them to give me a practice costume so I could practice moving in it.  I started going to the sauna and wearing hoodies and as much clothes as possible so that I could work through it and overcome it. Eventually it became standard to put the mask on and channel the character.

LATP: Heroes is your first TV role; how is it different from film?

RP: For me, it’s very different the setups are shot quicker and there is not a lot of time for making mistakes. On a movie you spend a lot of time in your trailer but with Heroes you go straight to the set. I’m really enjoying it

LATP: Heroes will be the first time your fans get to see your face.  Are you excited?

RP: Very excited! I hope that it will open up more opportunities for work. I think it’s going to be great.

LATP: How did you prepare to play Edgar?

RP: Circus and carnival are my key words for this role. I really channel them when I’m playing Edgar. I sat down and created my own thoughts on him before I ever met with the writers and producers. This is the first time I have used knifes, aside from cooking so I practiced a lot. I definitely took some tips from the chefs at Benihana’s.

LATP: Do you help to create the action sequences?

RP: That would be really nice if I did but it’s a team effort. I don’t create the action sequences but I know the producers want me to show off the best moves I can do so we work together. The sequences are already mapped out but we have to go over them to find out what works best.

LATP: Can you let us in on any secrets from the season?

RP: You will just have to wait and find out…

Cynthia McFadden’s

Excepts from the Tyra Banks interview are below, courtesy of ABC News’ Nightline…

On Having Children:

CYNTHIA MCFADDEN: Are we going to see little Tyra’s?

TYRA BANKS: I think you will. I think you will. I don’t know when but sooner than later definitely. I have a lot of success and make a good living but after while you start going why? Why are you doing all this, especially because I’m not materialistic so it’s not like “ooh yeah I’m making all this let’s get the jet plane you know! I don’t have that so I need to be able to pass this down. I need to be able to share it with a family and go to “Toys R Us” and buy a lot of toys for my child- you know what I’m saying, like what is the point? Because right now my life…when I was a model it was all about me, like how many covers can I get, how many…me me me …I’m gonna break barriers, I’m gonna do this and then now in my career I’m so excited about discovering stars, making other people stars and creating shows and my talk show has hundreds of people whose livelihood, depends on me showing up every single day, so that excites me more and to me that goes more into having a child because it’s not really all about me, it’s about giving sustenance in life to other people.

On Being a Diva:

CM: How much of a diva are you?

TB: I wish I was more of a diva. I wish I was harder, I wish I didn’t care so much about being the nice girl all the time because a lot of the time people can take kindness for weakness, so I wish I had a little bit more “oomph” in me. When it comes to being in charge, being a boss, being an executive producer because you know a lot of the times they are probably like, “Oh it’s Tyra, she’s cool, she’s not gonna trip” so I could learn maybe from some people, and you know what? It’s not a diva…it’s about being a strong businesswoman and being a better leader I can learn to do that.

On Status:

CM: The New York Times famously called you America’s next top mogul. Do you feel like a mogul?

TB: No I don’t! I think I’m too young to be a mogul. I think I’m too young for that when I think about moguls I think like Donald Trump. He owns NYC practically, that’s a mogul I feel like…I’m a on my way to a lot more but mogul is a really serious thing. I think it’s a word that gets thrown around easily.

CM: There’s been a lot of talk about money and reports that you make upwards of 20 million dollars a year, are they in the ballpark?

TB: I don’t know, I always say it could be a hell of a lot less, and it could be a hell of a lot more. My mother told me don’t talk about your money.

CM: Money doesn’t buy happiness but it does buy some things…

TB: I love being able to go to a store let’s say…a store like Topshop or Zara or maybe even Macy’s depends on what department and not have to look at the price tag.

CM: Well you could go lots of places and not look at the price tag.

TB: Rodeo Drive and all that I’m looking at the price tag and gulping even with success and the, you know…

CM: So you’re not buying $10,000 pocketbooks?

TB: Don’t own one. And when I do, means I didn’t buy it.

CM: Really?

TB: Really.

CM: You don’t have a taste for that?

TB: No, I don’t like expensive things, I buy property, and that has a lot more zeros behind it than a $10,000 bag but to me I like things that appreciate! I don’t want to take something and the minute it leaves the shelf it depreciates!

CM: Sounds like a mogul to me!! A mogul in training here!

TB: I started buying a couple of designer clothes and I put it on and I’m like wow this looks really really good but then I just can’t help looking in a magazine for the splurge and the save….and I go but dang, I just paid all this but look at her.. she paid like 20 bucks ..that is still in me I don’t know what that is.. Some person told me I had like a poor man’s syndrome or something…I never was really poor.

CM: Do you have an extravagance though, is there something that you…

TB: Property, I like to buy property. And my accountant says that I’m like the best blackjack player in Vegas because I bet on the right stuff. I know when something is gonna appreciate. I just have a gift for that!

On Her Future:

CM: So much has gone right in your life, but the man thing has never quite gelled.

TB: Wouldn’t say it hasn’t gelled, I just, because I’m not married is that why?

CM: Maybe it’s because we don’t know!

TB: Exactly.

CM: You’ve been very private about all of it, why?

TB: Because, sharing your relationship does nothing except for share your relationship doesn’t help people, it doesn’t do anything it just creates gossip fodder.

CM: So you don’t look and say, oh well I’m 35, I’m not married. You’ve talked a lot about models trading in their pretty…for rich husbands. That certainly wasn’t your path, have you sort of gone the other way with a vengeance!

TB: I don’t have that OMG I gotta get married thing! If it happens it happens, but it’s never been like oh I need to do that! I don’t know, it’s a little difficult for me to understand actually when women really want to get married. I don’t understand it.

CM: Really?

TB: Not in today’s day and age. When my friends really want to get married I’m like OK I’m gonna help you find a husband, I go and I do it and I set them up on blind dates and all that but I don’t understand that. I think it’s because I’m a product of divorce, my parents divorced so I don’t understand that whole married thing when 70 percent of marriages fail and 50 percent of second marriages fail…so that forever and ever thing and people get divorced…i don’t know, I’m trying to figure it out.

CM: So would you have a baby without getting married?

TB: I don’t know! Not sure.

CM: Is the biological clock ticking?

TB: Child, 50 year olds are having babies now, I think I’m ok!!

“Nightline” is anchored by Cynthia McFadden, Terry Moran, and Martin Bashir. James Goldston is the executive producer. “Nightline” airs at 11:35 p.m. (ET/PT) weeknights on the ABC Television Network.

Most recently, you might have seen Sorbo play the hunky, scantily-clad Captain co-starring with Carmen Electra in the comedic movie, “Meet the Spartans”. But Sorbo has accomplished an almost Herculean feat by having one of the most enduring and bankable careers in Hollywood; Electronics Media Magazine named Sorbo TV’s third most bankable star behind Oprah and Regis!

Minnesota native, Kevin Sorbo, was just another Tinseltown wanna-be when he arrived in LA at age 27 with aspirations of hitting it big. And boy did he. His success was not overnight but grew steadily. He began consistently booking beer, hair care products and clothing commercials while going to acting class with some of Hollywood’s biggest actors like Brad Pitt, Matthew Perry and Sharon Stone.

Sorbo says of his early days in LA,“I was one of the lucky guys. For about a three-year period in the early ‘90’s, I was one of the top three male actors in terms of booking commercials.”

Hercules Is Huge

In 1992, he lost the lead role of Superman in “Lois and Clark” to Dean Cain but was offered the part of Hercules in a new syndicated show. “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys” show evolved into a sweet gig that most actors can only fantasize about. It ran for seven years until 1999 and aired in 140 countries, surpassing “Baywatch” as the most watched TV show in the world.

Art Imitates Life

Fame and fortune was not the only thing the “Hercules” show provided Sorbo. “Talk about art imitating life,” Sorbo says of meeting his real-life leading lady, Sam Jenkins, on the show. She made a guest appearance as one of Hercules’ love interests in 1996. Sam and Kevin married in 1998 and they had their first ‘Hercules Jr.’ in 2002, followed by two more children.

Beam me up, Sorbo

During the last 3 months of shooting the “Hercules” role, he was a hot commodity and simultaneously landed the lead role of Captain Dylan Hunt in the sci-fi action series “Gene Roddenberry’s Andromeda”. Seemingly to bestow the golden touch on anything Sorbo got involved with, “Andromeda” held the #1 hour show spot for its entire five year run.

Film Appearances

Sorbo also is a prominent film actor while juggling his busy TV career. In 1997, Sorbo made his feature film debut in “Kull, the Conqueror”, a prequel to “Conan, the Barbarian”. Other films include, “Walking Tall, the Payback”, “Walking Tall, Lone Justice, “The Last Chance Café”, “Something Beneath”, “Clipping Adam”, and most recently, “The Avenging Angel” which aired on Hallmark summer of 2007 and was the third highest rated movie in the history of Hallmark. Another ’08 release for Sci-Fi cable network was “Fire From Below”. “The House Next Door” and “Prairie Fever” were two other 2008 movies he starred in. The year 2009 and 2010 is a flurry of activity for Kevin. Here are a few films he’s working on: “What If…”, “The Illuminati: Out of Chaos Comes Order”, “Sleeping with the Lion”, and “Puzzle Vision”. Read below in LAs the Place’s face to face with Sorbo about more film and TV appearances in 2009 and 2010.

TV Appearances

Since his two big TV hit series, Sorbo has guest starred on numerous other hit shows like “Just Shoot Me”, “According to Jim”, “Hope and Faith”, “Two and a Half Men”, USA networks “Psych”, and had recurring appearances on “Dharma and Greg”, and on Fox’s “The OC” in 2006-2007. In 2005, he signed an unprecedented development deal with ABC/Touchstone Television that resulted in the creation of “Bobby Cannon”, a half-hour comedy pilot written by Barry Kemp of “Coach” and “Newhart” fame.

An Actor with Heart

Despite juggling family and career demands, Sorbo makes being a spokesman for A World Fit for Kids a priority. A World Fit for Kids is a non-profit organization that provides gang, drug and dropout prevention to teens through mentoring programs.

He was also named national spokesperson as successor to Arnold Schwarzenegger for The After School Alliance, a nonprofit organization working to ensure that all children have access to safe, enriching after school programs by the year 2010.

Swinging for Charity

Lately, he has combined his passion to give to others in need and his passion for golfing. He tours around the country playing in charity golf tournaments raising funds to find  cures to cystic fibrosis, kidney disease, melanoma cancer, among others. Read here about his Second Annual  Kevin Sorbo Celebrity Golf Tournament  at Dragon Ridge Country Club in Henderson, NV on October 8th and 9th. The event is held in support of A World Fit For Kids!

LA’s The Place Editor-in-Chief Jane Emery got a chance to chat with actor Kevin Sorbo discovering his views on what it takes to succeed, politics, and his charity work among sharing some insightful words of wisdom.

On Success

KS: I always push myself, I look at successful people and I ask them how they became successful and I learned that failure is a positive thing, not a negative thing. In a town like Hollywood, a political mafia, you have to put up with so much crap and there are so many reasons to fail in this town and there are so few reasons to even get a chance at success. All the doors that slammed for me just fueled the fire and it is perseverance for me more than anything else. I’m a 13-year “overnight success”. It’s just a matter of sticking with it and never ever giving up. Most people are afraid of failure so they just stay where they are and they don’t make that movie role or have anything good happen to them.

On Bettering Our Future

KS: We can’t be sitting still and blaming other people for our losses. It’s like come on, you guys. If you look, for instance, at Bill Cosby - he came off and said this is what we need to do as African Americans and they jumped on him and called him an Uncle Tom. Here is a guy that went through all kinds of racism in his life, and he rose above it, he studied hard and he found a way to get to a successful place in life. Everybody goes through it. It’s all about making things happen for themselves and not pointing fingers.

On Developing Work Ethic

KS: You know, I started a paper route when I was only in the second grade, I was eight years old, and I held it for 7 years. For 7 years, I got up at 3 or 4 in the morning, 6 days a week. I was out there in Minnesota, 25 below zero in winter, and I’d get up to ride my bike through snow covered streets covering my sales route. I worked hard. And in the summers, I worked at my dad’s golf course where he was a manager there.

On Being Resilient

KS: I think the biggest thing happening in our country is people are just giving up, they are just getting lazy and they want the government to take care of them. I’m just scared of what’s going on in this country. For the last 20 years, I’ve just been seeing this weird entitlement thing. It happens every single year, where people just say, “Oh what the heck”. You know? And it’s kind of sad to me in a way. It’s like this country was built on doers, not on people sitting around expecting people to take care of them. JFK said one of the greatest lines ever when he gave his inauguration speech and he said, “Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country” and we’re getting away from that, we need to get back to that.

On the Effects of Fame

KS: I never really got to clear my head and deposit the fact that it took me so many years to achieve success so I think I appreciate it a little more. I mean there are young kids that are between 18-25 yrs old and they’ve had success when they were young in their lives and their attitudes are quite different. In the back of my mind, I’m always thinking when the shows over, lets see where you are because it ain’t easy. It’s hard to keep things going and those are the reasons Hollywood decides when and where something is over.

On America’s Public Education

KS: You look at public education and it’s horrendous, we should be embarrassed. And everyone from Obama on down has said that their going to make public education better and they haven’t. Now I’m not a public schoolteacher and I don’t want to get in trouble for this but it’s ridiculous that the only communist business that we have in this country is public education. Now if you’re a teacher for 15 years and you’re a bad teacher, and you don’t do what you need to do to teach children what they need to know and they come out not knowing how to read and write…

On Getting Back What You Put Out

KS: I think teachers should be paid by the jobs that they do and not just because they’ve been teaching 20 years so they get paid the same. It’s ludicrous. If I worked for IBM and I sold 300 billion dollars worth of computers and my other buddy sold 300 million dollars worth of computers and we get paid the same salary, I’d be a little upset like wait a minute, I worked my butt off. If he worked 40 hours a week and I worked 100 hours a week, I want to be paid for that. I don’t begrudge anybody’s success. I just don’t. I have friends who complain about their bosses and I’m like wait a second, your boss took all the chances and was able to raise all the money to accomplish something in this business, and now you’re going to rag on your boss? Go create your own company then. People that do this stuff, it blows my mind that they are able to do these things. I’m a champion for democracy but this country needs to get back to the great country that it was and we’re losing ourselves.

On His Part to Improve LA Public Schools

KS: I decided that I’d always wanted to work with kids that weren’t necessarily unhealthy but lived in very unhealthy environments. So I’ve worked with World Fit For Kids to raise 3 million dollars a year that enables us to work with twelve LA schools and 12,000 kids. There is a 54% dropout rate in LA public schools and we have a 100% of the kids of the 12,000 in our program graduating. We have parents knocking down our doors to work with their child. We received a gold star from Gov. Schwarzenegger for the best after school program this year. We’re kicking off our second annual fund raising golf tournament in October 8th and 9th 2009 in Las Vegas. To get involved, check out: www.worldfitforkids.org.

On His Latest Acting Projects

KS: Right now I’m working on an independent film in Baton Rouge called “Flesh Wounds”. I’ve got a movie called “Fire from Below” in September on the Sci-Fi channel. A feature film called “Paradox” is coming out in theaters in January 2010 and another feature film, “Tales from an Ancient Empire” in January or February. And also “Lighting Strikes” on Sci-Fi channel in December. I’ve been filming a lot of movies, but I’d like to get back on TV and get another series going.

Check out his website to see where Sorbo is in front of the camera and also wielding his golf club for good next. www.kevinsorbo.net

Kevin Sorbo lives in LA with his wife Sam and their three young children.

The Matter of Everything” Extended Trailer from Riverchoir Feed.

Another film, “What the Bleep Do We Know” first aired in 2004, became one of the most successful documentaries of all time. Audiences embraced the combination of quantum physics and spirituality in the neurology of new thought. It was one of those movies that moved your consciousness into new possibilities of manifesting new personal reality.

“The Secret” aired in 2006 and with an amazing effect people around the world as everyone began to explore the power of thought.

If our society continues to develop and evolve as it should we will investigate the matter of everything in the universe by transcending any particular science but as the fundamental nature of our being. As difficult as these times may seem, these documentaries are exhilarating with awe and wonderment to be alive…really alive.

Dramatic actors get all the attention for taking risky roles. A guy puts on a dress or a girl wears a prosthetic nose and somehow it’s instant Oscar nomination. But what Kevin Farley did as leading man in An American Carol showed more daring than all the cross dressers and accent deliverers combined; he dared to spoof director Michael Moore in a satirical look at Moore, Hollywood and America’s politically correct culture.

LAs The Place Daily TV Interview with Kevin

An American Carol

Farley’s warmth and charisma prevents An American Carol from ever coming off as mean spirited. He removes the soapbox as a potential set piece by never taking himself too seriously while portraying Moore’s cinematic doppelganger, “Michael Malone”. What’s striking about Farley is that he always seems at ease in interviews or even when confronted by wandering paparazzi. Perhaps it is this quality of Farley the man that speaks to Farley the actor’s ability to perform without pretense.

From getting slapped in succession by General George S. Patton, President John F. Kennedy, and Bill O’Reilly or firing at ACLU zombies that are attacking a courthouse, Farley delivers an organically hilarious performance. He holds his own while acting with a cast of Hollywood heavyweights like Kelsey Grammer, Jon Voight, Dennis Hopper, James Woods and Leslie Nielsen.

Hollywood & Wine

Farley is surrounded by family and long time friends in his writing and directorial debut, Hollywood & Wine. Joining him in writing the film were his brother John Farley, sister in law Jennifer Farley (as Jennifer Herron) and Matt Berman. Berman also joined as co-director on the project, which stars SNL’s Chris Kattan.

John Farley, Kevin Farley

Starring in the film is Nicky Whelan, the fresh-faced Australian import known for her work as Pepper Steiger on the television drama Neighbours. She appears poised for a sensual takeover of American audiences as Whelan’s undeniably stunning appearance is matched only by an affable and inviting charm.

Whelan plays Diane Blaine, an aspiring actress who can’t land a role because her face is “Too Jamie Stephens”; a Britney Spears/Lindsey Lohan type that has fallen on hard times. When her boyfriend (played by Chris Kattan) becomes indebted to a mobster, Whelan’s Blaine must play the only role ever really meant for her; pretending to be Jamie Stephens as she has dinner with the crush-struck mobster. The film also stars Norm MacDonald, Chazz Palminteri, David Spade, Horatio Sanz, Chris Parnell, Pamela Anderson, Vivica Fox and includes an appearance from Farley himself.

Back in the Saddle

Farley has now turned his attention to starring in Back in the Saddle. A devout fan of the film Blazing Saddles, Farley wrote Back in the Saddle as an homage to the Mel Brooks classic. Back in the Saddle (a western comedy) is the story of a train-robbing cowboy who tries to go straight. He retires to the town of Tumbleweed to live his life happily ever after. Unfortunately, rumors of an impending railroad coming to town have the jealous sheriff and ambitious mayor of Tumbleweed grabbing for gold and looking to neutralize any opposition…to their dismay, our hero comes out of retirement to ride again. “We want to shoot in Wyoming because people care about real characters, and I wanted the locations to be as real as the characters on screen,” said Farley.

American Regal

He’s also partnered with Fay Byrd to develop a clothing line that caters to bigger men. Farley and Byrd are tweeting the progress of American Regal on Twitter at www.twitter.com/americanregalby. Kevin also updates his fans through his personal page, http://twitter.com/kevfarls.

More About Kevin

At first, Farley resisted the call of comedy. Growing up in a family that used humor to deal with life, it was fate that he’d end up sharing that laughter with the world. Once he graduated from Marquette University with a degree in business, he began work for his father’s asphalt company, Scotch Oil. While that road may have been paved by good intentions his love for making people laugh grew too strong to ignore. He would get off work and jump on stage at the local comedy club. Farley studied at the famed Second City in Chicago, and would spend time watching his brother Chris Farley and cast create comedy for Saturday Night Live, which was a tremendous education, before moving to Los Angeles and landing a role in Adam Sandler’s The Waterboy, and never looked back.

Chris Farley and Kevin Farley clown around as kids.

His breakthrough role came as boy band member Doug Linus in the MTV parody 2gether: The Series. The role was distinctly different from anything that Farley had done and attracted high praise from many reviewers.

Farley’s roles include films such as Joe Dirt, Beverly Hills Ninja, The Third Wheel and Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star. He lent his voice to Eight Crazy Nights and has had guest appearances on programs like That ’70s Show, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Just Shoot Me and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Many thanks to the beautiful $35 million dollar refurbished LA landmark Hotel Shangri La for hosting our interview with Kevin Farley.

www.shangrila-hotel.com
1301 Ocean Ave.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 394-2791

Whether you get pampered on someone else’s dime and your extravagant lifestyle includes luxury cars, designer handbags and expensive jewelry, or you’re tapping out your resources to do whatever it takes to maintain the image, you could be just the girl they are looking for!  In this new reality show, it’s all about you and your glamorous lifestyle.

The Good Life show is searching for the most outrageous, over-the top ladies who are living large! Maybe you were born with a silver spoon or maybe everyone only thinks you were—either way, you’re A-List, baby! And, it’s time everybody knows.

If you answer yes to any of these questions, you are on your way to being the next star of The Good Life:

•    Is your closet full of designer clothes and shoes that would make Imelda cry?

•    Do you carry your teacup Maltese as an accessory?

•    Do you live in an amazing home with maids, a chef, a personal assistant or a driver?

•    Is your job an intense social calendar and your hobby shopping at Gucci?

•    Are you on the cutting edge of every trend and don’t miss a beat when it comes to Hollywood gossip?

•    Do you live a lifestyle everyone envies?

Your parents or your boyfriend may think you’re over the top- but The Good Life show gets it!  You don’t shop sales, you don’t let rules get in the way of a good time and you love champagne! Your friends want to be you and you want to be famous. And The Good Life wants to help. Attitude is everything–show the world what its like to be you!

For more information, contact: Rachel@thegoodlifecasting.com
818.325.6911

To apply for the show in Los Angeles or Orange County,  go to: www.thegoodlifecasting.com

To be considered, you must be over 21 years of age.

Alec Baldwin, actor, 30 Rock

Playboy:  Setting up this interview was like trying to shoot a moving target. It took months for you to carve out time in your schedule. Not many actors your age are so busy.
Alec Baldwin:  For me to have any career opportunities at the age of 51 is a miracle. But it’s all about 30 Rock. We’ve won every prize they give out, some twice. People need to laugh right now. Tina Fey and her writers are so good, they’ve skewed things for me.

Playboy:  How?
AB:  People send scripts now, and I read them and go [breathes in loudly], “I don’t know. It’s more cute than funny.” I work with people who are really funny. It sets the bar high.

Playboy:  You, Tina Fey and Tracy Morgan are very different. On what level do you connect?
AB:  I love Tracy because he is this sweet kid from the Bronx, a real New Yorker who went from comedy clubs in the outer boroughs into the 212 area code with Caroline’s and then stardom on SNL. But he’s still childlike. When he was told he was going to host SNL, he burst out crying in front of us; he couldn’t believe they’d asked him. He’s among a handful of people in my life who always make me laugh. He’s sick and perverted but in a wonderful way. He’s my favorite pervert.

Playboy:  How about Tina Fey?
AB:  Tina’s a smart and sexy woman who writes with an edge and thinks like a guy. The success of 30 Rock is not how many people watch the show but who’s watching the show. Industry people watch. There are shows far more successful than we’ll ever be that nobody in my business watches. So when NBC chief Jeff Zucker or NBC programming honcho Ben Silverman or SNL and 30 Rock producer Lorne Michaels are having lunch at the Grill and people walk up and say, “My kid downloads that show, and we watch the DVD boxed set,” it’s enormously gratifying.

Playboy:  You’ve had enough classic moments on SNL to fill your own DVD. Which skit do people bring up most often?
AB:  “Schweddy Balls.” It’s going to be on my tombstone: HERE LIES ALEC BALDWIN AND HIS SCHWEDDY BALLS.

Playboy:  Did you turn down any sketches for being too outrageous?
AB:  Probably a few. It’s hard to remember. I’m often asked if I think about going into politics. If I do, these guys will have a field day. I’ve given them so much crap to use against me—Canteen Boy, Schweddy balls. I just did the Wii sketch. Did you see that?

Playboy:  Describe it.
AB: I did this with two SNL guys. I’m their father, and I show them that the best way to shake the Wii wand is to go like this [simulates masturbation], and we’re doing this obscene, horrible thing. Google or YouTube that one; it’s just ridiculous. While I’m doing it, I’m thinking, If I run for political office, they’ll have a forest of material to kill me with.

Playboy:  Can comedy be held against you?
AB:  I always hope people will understand that what I do as an entertainer is totally different from the way I behave. The day you say “I am a candidate,” you have a different responsibility. You hope the American public has the ability to delineate what of your private behavior matters and what doesn’t. If a guy’s a drunk driver, he has shown a lack of judgment that could hurt people. A womanizer? Well, you don’t know what someone’s going through in their marriage. Maybe he or she was miserable and unhappy, and if they were seeking companionship from someone else, that’s none of my business. If they don’t pay their taxes? That I’d worry about. The truth is, you have to assume they’ll slam you for all of it.

Playboy:  Your hosting career spans 14 SNL episodes. Who are the most impressive cast members you’ve worked with?
AB:  Phil Hartman, Will Ferrell and Will Forte. Hartman used to just amaze me. But maybe the most impressive moment I witnessed on the show involved Mike Myers. He hosted a Japanese game show in which Chris Farley is tortured when he doesn’t answer the questions right. Myers took my breath away. He just so nailed it, doing all this phonetic Japanese. We were peeing in our pants.

Playboy:  Do you watch a lot of television?
AB:  No. I’ve watched 60 Minutes and The Sopranos on Sunday nights, and I cried when The Sopranos ended. I don’t watch anything else.

Playboy:  Why did you say yes to 30 Rock?
AB:  It’s shot in New York. Lorne Michaels made a provision in my contract that says I would never miss my visitation with my daughter. I work a limited number of days a week, and then I’m on a plane. That was the biggest consideration. The pilot was funny, the show got funnier, and by the end of the first season people were saying glowing things.

Playboy:  You’ve clashed with studio heads and producers. What bothers you about the way Hollywood works?
AB:  I worked for Warner Bros. on The Departed, and I just did My Sister’s Keeper with Cameron Diaz. My problem with Warner Bros. is that it’s part of the same company as TMZ, and it’s like that with all these companies—Extra, Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight. I would be so happy if those shows went off the air. It is a huge problem in our business—this microcosmic analysis and elevation of people who are just witless and talentless, or people with talent, like Lindsay Lohan, who struggle. Who gives a shit about their personal trivialities? It hurts the business.

Playboy:  TMZ’s Harvey Levin ran the audio of the biting voice-mail message you left your daughter. How mad were you?
AB:  I thought about suing Warner Bros. My attorneys told me digital or electronic property of a minor is the intellectual property of the parent or legal guardian. TMZ was not allowed to release that tape without my approval. I don’t think they did anybody any favors. Everybody knows Levin is a human tumor, a graceless character who lives in that weird netherworld. I don’t blame those pathetic people; they are what they are. This is about the company. Warner Bros. wants me to do a movie and then shoves it up my ass with another company down the hall. You work for Paramount, and they say, “We want you to promote the movie you’ve done for us by going on a TV show we own. We’re going to double dip and make money on you both way”. They’re not paying me serious appearance fees, and as a union member I have a big problem with that. You want me to do appearances now on Entertainment Tonight? Pay me. Are you making a profit on Access Hollywood and Entertainment Tonight? Everybody says, “Do it for free because you’re promoting your movie”. Pay me.

Playboy:  We take it you’re not winning this one.
AB:  It’s the stance my union should take. Promotional activities for films and television shows have replaced talented marketing and publicity departments. These division heads want to walk into a meeting and say, “We ran this star up the flagpole, nobody saluted, and the movie bombed. So the movie bombed because nobody liked so-and-so.” They’ve relieved themselves of any responsibility by tying the marketing to the star’s name. They psychologically abuse talent by going, “Hey, if the movie bombs, it’s bad for you.” They’ve psyched you into thinking you’ve got to run around the country for four weeks, telling the same anecdotes over and over until you want to drop dead. You miss your child’s volleyball game because if the movie doesn’t do well, it reflects on you. They’ve conspired to wash their hands of any responsibility.

Playboy:  Would you be reluctant to work with Warner Bros. again?
AB:  Well, I did My Sister’s Keeper after that. The publicity I do now is modest because I don’t think it makes a difference. Why am I even here with you? Do you think this is something I enjoy?

Playboy:  It’s not?
AB:  I want to assure you of something. Four out of five actors I know wouldn’t do this if their life depended on it—unless they felt pressure to promote a film. That’s exactly how I feel. I wouldn’t be sitting here with you, talking about this crap and my opinions of the business. I wouldn’t bother. I like you personally. I wouldn’t talk to somebody who was a shit heel. If Harvey Levin wanted to interview me, I would tell him to go drown. But if this wasn’t about promoting My Sister’s Keeper and maybe 30 Rock and the movie I’m now doing with Meryl Streep, I wouldn’t waste fucking five minutes on it.

Playboy:  Did you always feel this way?
AB:  When you’re younger you get sold that it’s vital. Bit by bit you see through that. Like the Today show. I’m on an NBC show, and Today was considered vital. But when that voice-mail tape thing happened, Matt Lauer interviewed Levin before he even called me. Lauer put Levin on Today, and they never phoned me. When it’s in their interest to reach me, they know how. I saw that and said, “My relationship with the Today show is over.” I’ll never do Today again, ever. Life’s too short.
P:  But media everywhere focus on TMZ.
B:  NBC will periodically give you that NBC-family spiel. I expected that, since I was starring on an NBC show, I would have gotten a phone call and they would’ve said, “Would you like an opportunity to come in and talk about it?”

Playboy:  Would you have accepted?
AB:  I probably would have done that before I did The View. I raced in to do that show. Whoopi Goldberg is a friend. I called her and said, “Do you think I can get a fair shake?” Because when you talk about family law and parental alienation, there is this unfortunate gender-based dynamic. Could I walk into a show with a strong female audience? Would they understand my point of view? I trusted Whoopi and Barbara Walters. Whoopi is an impeccably decent person, and I am grateful she gave me a forum.

Playboy:  When you hit back at Levin, reports say you outed him as a homosexual. Was that fair?
AB:  No, I don’t think I outed him. I thought Levin had been candid about that. But for a long time he wasn’t. I have nothing against people who are homosexual, but I find it funny that people in that tabloid world keep their own secrets. They want the world at large to respect that but spend their lives outing the secrets of others. I find Levin peculiar and hypocritical.

Playboy:  You’ve had a front-row seat at intrusive celebrity coverage—helicopters at your wedding, photographers trying to snap pictures of your newborn. Is it still this bad for you?
AB:  No. Those magazines focus on people who are younger and newer. I’m 51 and have moved into another world, where they’re done with you—unless you do something. The three quickest ways to get back into that loop are: Don’t pay your federal income taxes, get drunk and try to bolt through airport security with a gun in your suitcase, and last but not least, get a DUI and be arrested in Malibu. A series of events could heat up that pot again, but the benefit of being older is they don’t care about me.

Playboy:  Why is there such an insatiable appetite to see stars in unflattering moments?
AB:  This society is very wired together, and it’s the most neurotic a society has ever been. Twitter, all this stuff, I don’t view as anything good. Everyone is so hyperaware of what everybody else is doing. Everybody has been convinced their opinion should count. We all need to be spouting opinions. I’m now giving you an opinion about opinions.

Playboy:  You are.
AB:  Another element is how distant government has become for the average person. People want their opinion to count somewhere, so they’ve transferred the desires and expectations of their democratic voice over to entertainment. They don’t have any input into what the government does. There is a chasm thousands of miles wide between Washington and the people. That’s why shows like American Idol are so important: People want to think they can affect something in that Roman gladiatorial way—thumbs up or thumbs down. I’m not saying public officials are exempt, because every time the people can gang up and condemn a public official, they do.

Playboy:  When you hosted SNL recently, you jokingly thanked Christian Bale. Whose audio tirade was worse?
AB: Mine was worse by far because it involved parenting. Christian Bale’s was a skirmish with a colleague on set, and the only odd thing was how long it went on. Probably on half the films I’ve done I’ve seen someone lose it. You’re shooting and someone gets in your eye line, or a light blows when you’re really onto something as a performer. A phone goes off or a walkie-talkie. I’ve seen people lose it on behalf of their creative expedition. It’s frustration, nothing personal. Mine was so much different.

Playboy:  What reaction hit you hardest?
AB:  The most harrowing for me was negative mail I got from people who were critical but not hating or condemning. What hurt was that it was heartfelt. They’d say, “My father or my mother did this to me one time, and I’ve never forgotten it, never gotten over it.” Wow. I still believe the people who released the tape only made it worse, but the worst part for me was the way it touched the people who parent their kids. I’m thinking of my next book being about this.

Playboy:  After all that, you’ll write a book about parenting?
AB:  It will be ironic for some people, but I’m going to write a parenting book. We’re at, not a crisis, but an awful place right now in terms of parenting. People are raising their children with the belief that we need to be friends with our children. Kids have too much power and call too many of the shots, telling their parents what they will and won’t do.

Playboy:  Why has this happened?
AB:  In my gut I feel it’s another manifestation of how hard life has become. People are working hard to make money and manage their feelings about what the country’s going through. We live in stressful times. People come home, walk up the driveway, put the key in the door, and they just can’t do another hard job. Parenting your children effectively is a tough job.

Playboy:  You write in your book that after the tape leaked you offered to leave 30 Rock and even thought of jumping out a window. How serious were you?
AB:  Very serious.

Playboy:  What did you learn from all this?
AB:  Don’t lose your temper and act out in that way. I spoke to a lot of professionals, who helped me. If I hadn’t left that message, I wouldn’t have left myself open for that. On the other hand, I left the message with the presumption of privacy. I never dreamed they would do that. I was mortified, stunned. And not for me, because if I blew my brains out, a cadre of people on the other side would be elated. If I committed suicide, they would have considered that a victory. Destroying me was their avowed goal.

Playboy:  This is your ex’s legal team?
AB:  Oh, it’s a whole them. But the important thing is, when they released that, I was devastated for my daughter, who goes to school with other showbusiness kids. When parents are doing their job, these kids admire their moms and dads as entertainment professionals. When you go the opposite way, and this happens—I couldn’t imagine anything more overwhelming for my daughter.

Playboy:  How did you repair your relationship with her?
AB:  All I will say is, I met a therapist, one of the few smart therapists in the court-appointed family-law business. Most of them are racketeers who turn you upside down and shake your pockets out onto the table. But this guy said, “This is hard for you to believe right now, but you are the child’s father, and a child has only one father. Your child will come back to you. Her nature is to come back to you.” And over time that’s indeed what happened.

Playboy:  Ironically, in your new film, My Sister’s Keeper, you play a lawyer in a child-custody battle.
AB:  [Laughs] I tried so hard to put just a little sheen of oil on him.

Playboy:  Did your experiences shape your character?
AB:  No, because if I had put in the things I might have wanted to, it would kill the movie. My character is very sympathetic, an epileptic who has a seizure in the middle of the trial. My guy’s on the right side of the issue, representing a young girl in a medical-emancipation case. He’s not a divorce lawyer, but I tried to give him the requisite oily sheen of most lawyers I know.

Playboy:  Do you really have it in for lawyers?
AB:  I’ve met women since I’ve been single, and the minute I find out one is a lawyer, I’m like, “Check, please.”

Playboy:  Compared with the controversial things you’ve said in the past, your words seem more measured now.
AB:  I think it just doesn’t help anybody. I’ve watched people go at it, like Rosie O’Donnell and Donald Trump. All the negativity in my ugly assessments of Harvey Levin or my ex-wife’s divorce lawyers, all the negativity that has been in my life—I don’t want that. Let’s say there are 10 people I’ve had real tension and conflict with in the past. I never think about them anymore; none of them live in my life now. I did The Marrying Man with my ex-wife at Disney. A lot went wrong. Almost 20 years ago I did things I would do differently now. Yet 15 years later Michael Eisner called and asked me to do his interview show on CNBC, and he was a delight to talk to. Did I enjoy doing the movie when he ran Disney? No. I set that aside. Jeffrey Katzenberg ran the studio back then, and many of the frictions I had on The Marrying Man were with him. He called and said, “Would you come and do Madagascar with us?” I had a great time; he was an absolute gentleman. You’ve got to set those things aside.

Playboy:  When did you come to this realization?
AB:  For me, everything changed when I turned 50.

Playboy:  How?
AB:  Suddenly life is too short. 30 Rock has spoiled me in terms of realizing there’s nothing like having an audience for what you do. You realize you have plenty of time left but none to waste. And you don’t want to do anything you don’t want to do anymore.

Playboy:  What’s the biggest downside of being 51? What do you miss about the guy who starred in The Marrying Man and The Hunt for Red October?
AB:  About being younger? Having dark hair. When you get older, you look older, and there’s nothing you can do.

Playboy:  At least you have plenty of hair, even if it’s gray.
AB:  I’ve got hair for five guys. That’s one thing I am proud of. I don’t miss much else. I still throw a football with people at work all the time. I play tennis. But now, at 51, boy, my arm hurts the next day. You don’t recover as well, and you don’t want to get hurt. I ski, but if visibility is low, I don’t want to go out. I get a little scared. I don’t have time to lie in bed and recover for four or six weeks from a broken back or collarbone. But I’ll answer that question in a different context, in terms of what I went through in divorce. My only regret in life is that my daughter had to go through what she went through. I wonder how she’ll feel years from now, how it will affect her relationships. That is one of the greatest tragedies of the system, the reason I wrote the book. The most important thing is what is in the best interest of the child, but the system treats parents like mules. They just beat you with this incessant metronome of what’s best for your child. Who cares how much you suffer or how much you spend financially or emotionally? It’s not about you. That is a lie and a huge mistake. It should be that both parents deserve to have a life as well, with some dignity, decency and privacy, without the intrusion of these judges and lawyers, who are just the worst people you’ve met in your life.

Playboy:  Could even a perfect legal system mitigate the bitterness that obviously existed between you and your ex?
AB:  They have to ignore the emotionalized part of it. Judges should sit down and say, “If either of you alienates the child from the other, I will give primary and sole custody to the other person. Don’t do it.” But they don’t want to get in the way of the gamesmanship. Once one alienates the other, it’s more lawyer fees. If you get divorced, if your wife keeps your kids from you, you’re going to spend money to get them. The courts don’t want to get in the way of that commerce. A woman walks in, takes all your behavior as a father, puts it in the blender with the lawyer and paints you as a bad father for the purposes of alienating your child. That has to change.

Playboy:  How did growing up with five siblings in the Long Island town of Massapequa shape you?
AB:  You discover as years go by how much that determines who you become as a person. There are times I love living alone and other times I really miss a house filled with a big family. My dad was a teacher. He didn’t have money, and his six kids had to entertain themselves. My friends had money, boats, country houses, finished basements with pool tables. We had none of that. So it was my brothers and I, playing football, baseball, softball in a field adjacent to a golf course near our house. We lived there. At home everybody told jokes, finding a way to be funny. That led to what we’re all doing.

Playboy:  Were you surprised they followed you into acting?
AB:  My brothers had been putting one another on and entertaining one another out of necessity since they were five years old. I realize ending up in this business was natural for them. I was formed in my home, with my family, living a very simple life. I’m not some bling kind of person, no privatejet guy with big gold-encrusted jewelry. I linger on this because when I think about what the average American is, I think of my dad—the average American who wakes up every morning, puts in the hours trying to hold on to his job and do it well. If I run for office, my goal is to recognize that government doesn’t need to have lower taxes, a smaller budget. It’ll be smaller than now because we are undergoing a correction. But government needs to spend money more responsibly. It’s the only entity in this country authorized to stick its hand in your pocket and take your money, and if you don’t pay, you go to jail. It’s a disgrace, the way they just piss it away. Government needs to build roads, put satellites in the air, have bombs, ships and planes for the defense department, and schools. We need basically everything we have now. We just need to do it better. Let’s say I want you to build a highway. I’d have people come in from all around the world and explain how they built one in Germany, Italy or Riyadh, and I would turn to people in my country and say, “You’ve got six months to build the highway, and if you don’t, you’re fired.” It becomes a reservoir a certain group of politically connected people drinks from. That has to stop.

Playboy:  How?
AB:  Make everyone understand that when you steal on a government contract, it’s almost like treason. If I were president, I would make defense fraud treason. I would make it a treasonous act to play on the security fears of the American people, to have them authorize the building of all these things to defend and protect us, and then have you steal money inside the life of that contract. I’d send you to prison for treason.

Playboy:  What about bailed-out companies like AIG cutting bonus checks?
AB:  That’s a complicated question I don’t even think experts can answer now. People have contracts; it would be illegal to void them. These things were rushed by the former administration. What we need is an SEC that matters. The reason I think I would want to run for office and be good at it is, the way all this should be done is overwhelmingly obvious to me.

Playboy:  Explain.
AB:  You want business, but you’ve got to stand up to business. If a company says, “Hey, you break our chops about exhaust, about our factories…,” you turn to them and say, “Go. Leave. Because the jobs and tax base we’ll lose are less than what it would cost to clean up your mess, what we’ll pay later in hospitals for the people who get cancer from what you’re going to do.” I think our society is evolving that way now. This is the thing that excites me about Barack Obama: He gets that you’ll pay now or later. Tell that corporation to drop dead, get out of your state and move someplace where they need jobs so bad they’ll sell their souls for short-end money.

Playboy:  Every article written about you cites your decision to do A Streetcar Named Desire on Broadway—which cost you Patriot Games—as the reason you dropped off the superstar track. Would you do it differently now?
AB:  I don’t know if I’m so certain and self-assured about the choices I’ve made. Sometimes I think, What if I had done it their way? Where would it have led? You are asked to be a part of a system in which the bulk of the films you make will be forgettable but will give you an opportunity to do certain things creatively. I look at Tom Cruise, who made films that called for him to be young, fit and charming, and that appeal made him a star. When Tom wanted to give a real performance, he made Magnolia. It was like watching some alien that looked like Tom Cruise, because it was nothing you’d ever seen Tom do. That he was not given the Oscar that year for Magnolia was devastating to me. I thought he was breathtaking. Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich—like Tom, she’s beautiful, charming, smart, funny and winning, yet she plays a self-serving woman, a little coarse and willing to go to considerable lengths to get her way. She won the Oscar. Could I have done that?

Playboy:  How might that system have worked for you?
AB:  You can get into that rhythm of “I’ll do one for them, one for me.” I didn’t do that. I wanted independence. I thought, You want me to do these movies, and they suck. Only later do you realize that if you do the one that sucks, you could do the one you wanted to do and have an audience for it. In spite of the reversals he has had over the past several years, the person who has done the most with that is Mel Gibson. He has made great films in all genres. Mel is everything you want in a movie star, but there’s a layer underneath him. I don’t know if the word is danger or pathos, but there’s a complexity to Mel. Apocalypto is one of the most overwhelming, exhilarating but hideously violent films I’ve ever seen.

Playboy:  You mentioned to me after our first session that you had never made a truly great film. The Departed won an Oscar. You made Glengarry Glen Ross, The Hunt for Red October, The Good Shepherd, Married to the Mob. How can you say that?
AB:  What I meant was, it’s one thing to make a small contribution to a great film. The goal of a film actor is for your name to be above the title in a film that is a soaring commercial success or wins an Oscar. Not you, necessarily, but the film wins something significant.

Playboy:  Is that still your goal?
AB:  I had to let go of that. Whatever dreams of glory I had, so to speak, I no longer have. I’m doing the TV show. When that is over, my eye is looking toward doing something else.

Playboy:  Won’t TV momentum help your future in movies?
AB:  I’ll be too old by then.

Playboy:  Is there a performance you are most proud of?
AB:  No. I don’t have the feeling for anything I’ve done in movies that equals anything in the plays I’ve done. I liked them, but take every supporting role and throw it out the window. You just come in and play your scene. I remember being around Leo DiCaprio in The Aviator and thinking, God, how gifted this guy is, how he’s taking advantage of his opportunities. I love to watch the young actor transition into the grown man on film. There was always something boyish and puckish about Johnny Depp, but I’ll never forget watching Sweeney Todd and feeling profoundly impressed by his performance.

Playboy:  You say you have no regrets, but it sounds as if you wish you had trusted the system more.
AB:  Yes, not that I should have but rather what might have resulted if I had? A lot depends on who sponsors you in that club. If you’re a young De Niro and you forge into a unit with Martin Scorsese or Woody Allen and the company of actors that included his former wife, or Leo with Scorsese—I didn’t have that. It’s like they’re asking you to walk down a dark alley. If it’s the right people, a door at the end leads to a fabulous wonderland. But the people who asked me to come down the alleyway? I was like, “Eh…let me get back to you.”

Playboy:  Should you have gone down the alleyway anyway?
B:  From time to time I wonder. Maybe I say this to myself just to medicate whatever anxiety I have, but had it worked out, I might have been seduced into doing that the rest of my life. I do not want to do this for the rest of my life. There are other things I want to do. I do what I do on a case-by-case basis, and I see that this is going to end, probably very soon.

Playboy:  By your choice?
AB:  It doesn’t really matter. More my choice, since I want to do other things. This is the jail with golden bars, but it would be so horrible for me to read this article and not have said there is a lot of wonderful in this business, a lot I’m going to miss. God knows, to walk away will be hard, but I’m trying to have the discipline to understand that I want to have other experiences. Maybe a private life.

Playboy:  Is that realistic?
AB:  I have this silly fantasy. I get married again, I have a kid. I’d love another shot at that, with everything I’ve learned. My kid’s like eight, comes home and says, “Dad, Jimmy’s mom says you were a famous actor on TV and in the movies. Is that true?” And I go, “Yes, Johnny, Dad was famous.” I whip out my scrapbooks and my DVDs and say, “Believe it or not, that’s your dad.” And my kid’s like, “You used to be on TV and everything? And now you stay home and just clean the house all day while Mom works?” “That’s right, son.” It’s a dream, that the kid doesn’t know anything about that part of my life. Our normal life is uncontaminated by it.

Playboy:  How long are you committed to 30 Rock?
AB: I’ve got three more years to go.

Playboy:  Will you run for office?
AB:  I’ll put it this way. The desire is there; that’s one component. The other component is opportunity. A law firm in a liberal Democratic bastion in Ohio state politics sent me a binder with a cover letter that read, “Mr. Baldwin, here’s who we represent, the kinds of cases we handle, our credentials in Ohio state politics. We want you to move to Ohio and run for governor. We will launch your career.”

Playboy:  Could you live in Ohio?
AB:  I have sometimes thought I could move to New Jersey or Connecticut and run. I’d love to run against Joe Lieberman. I have no use for him. But it’s all fantasy. I’m a carry-me-out-in-a-box New Yorker. Here, anything can happen. Who thought Eliot Spitzer would go down the way he did? Senator Hillary Clinton left to serve as secretary of state. Two of the biggest forces gone. Maybe Andrew Cuomo will run for one of their old seats. How much longer will Chuck Schumer stay as senator? After 2013 Bloomberg will be gone. What happens then? Do I run for Congress on Long Island? What’s Tim Bishop going to do? He represents my district. People get sick, die. They’re offered lucrative deals and want to cash in and make money for their retirement. People misstep. Unfortunately, an opportunity for me may mean bad things for someone else. I don’t wish that.

Playboy:  How does all this factor into your career?
AB:  I’m done in 2012. In March 2012 I’ll wake up and say, “What am I going to do now? Am I done?” I think I will be done. I may finish a play or something, but I’m retiring at the wrap party.

Interview courtesy of Playboy. To view the interview as it originally appears, click here.

But don’t fear! There is a call to action! True horror aficionados have taken up a Facebook Petition to reinstate FEARnet on Time Warner and BrightHouse.

If 50,000 Fearnet fans sign the Facebook petition by the May 15, 2009 deadline, Time Warner will consider the number of members in this group and decide if FEARnet will return, or they may extend the deadline to recruit more signups needed to get FEARnet back on the air!

Go here to sign the petition…

The deadline for signups is fast approaching…save quality horror programming on Time Warner and Bright House Cable!

To  find out about FEARnet availability in your area, call (877) FEAR-247 to connect you to your local cable company to request FEARnet to be added to your service.

The contest is limited just to six cities, and your local NBC affiliate is sponsoring the event. The LA deadline for entry is May 15, 2009.

A special “magic word” will be aired, beginning May 4, during the NBC programs “The Bonnie Hunt Show”, “Ellen” and “Extra”. To enter, visit the following link and enter your Zip code, then follow the on-screen instructions for the specific show you watched: Click here…

Daily prizes will also be available including Harry Potter movies on Blu ray and DVD, video games, toys and more. The prize packs from NBC include various apparel and memorabilia from these shows, as well as an exclusive Harry Potter pendant: Check it out here…

Also, LA’s The Place has been presented with the opportunity to give our readers the chance to win a Harry Potter Blu-ray movie, DVD movie or video game as an Amazon gift for the winner of our own contest. Just subscribe to LA’s The Place here, and several lucky winners will be chosen!

Shows to watch for your chance to enter:

New York, WNBC   5/4 – 5/22                     
Los Angeles, KNBC  4/20 – 5/8                                 
Chicago, WMAQ    5/4 – 5/22                                 
San Francisco, KNTV  4/20 – 5/8                     
Dallas, KXAS  4/20 – 5/8                                 
Miami, WTVJ  4/27 – 5/15                                
*1st week is pre-promotion
 
Show Tune-in Info by Market and Affiliate URL

•         NY WNBC: Bonnie: 2 pm, Ellen: 3 pm, Extra: 7 pm – www.NBCnewyork.com
•         LA KNBC:  Bonnie: 12 pm, Ellen: 4 pm, Extra: 7 pm – www.NBCLA.com
•         CH WMAQ:  Bonnie: 2P, Ellen: 3P, Extra: 4 pm – www.NBCchicago.com
•         DL KXAS:  Bonnie: 11 am, Ellen 3 pm, Extra 6:30 pm – www.NBCbayarea.com
•         SF KNTV:  Bonnie: 2 pm, Ellen: 4 pm, Extra: 7 pm – www.NBCdfw.com
•         MI WTVJ:   Bonnie: 3 pm, Extra 4:30 pm, Ellen: 5 pm – www.NBCmiami.com
 
Prizes being given away daily:

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on BluRay
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Videogame—Wii (available to public on 6/30)
HP20Q (Electronic Trivia Game)  
Harry Potter Clue Games
Harry Potter Soundtrack
Chicago Only:  Harry Party Exhibit Family 4-packs 
Harry Potter Jibbitz
Harry Potter Tshirts

Hollywood Celebrates Earth Day

Setting the Standard for Green

Distinctive Assets made special effort to provide celebs with an amazing array of products and services that assist people in becoming “green”. Now more than ever there is a focus on lowering the our carbon footprints and saving earth for future generations, and the products we use on daily basis have a huge impact.

Celebrities are the trendsetters and eco-friendly stars set the bar for going green. Among the eco-conscious celebrities that graced the “Earth Day in Hollywood” suite were Jeremy Piven, Heather Graham, Justin Timberlake, Bill Maher, Adrian Grenier, Jake Gyllenhaal, Pink, Leonardo DiCaprio, Melissa Etheridge, Sheryl Crow, Eva Longoria, Tobey Maguire, Drew Barrymore, Ellen DeGeneres, Kathy Griffin, Tyra Banks, Bette Midler, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Holly Robinson-Peete, Sting, Rosario Dawson, Tina Fey, Alicia Silverstone, Ricky Martin and Courteney Cox.

Best, Brightest and Most Green

Curious about the products and services that helped celebrities see green? A listing of these innovative companies that contribut to health of our planet and the “Earth Day In Hollwood” gift baskets is below.

520-nm (www.520-nm.com)

A Distinctive Style Magazine (www.adistinctivestyle.com)

Agreenday.org (www.agreenday.org)

Arise Magazine (www.arisemagazine.com)

Awaken Savor® (www.awakensavor.com)

BAMBOOT Aesthetics (www.bambootm.com)

Bardessono (www.bardessono.com)

Biotta (www.biottajuices.com)

Boku International (www.bokusuperfood.com)

BrytonPick (www.brytonpick.com)

CHANGE a Starter Kit (www.starterkitforchange.com)

CoolCorC Cup Sleeves (www.coolcorc.com)

Crofters Organic (www.croftersorganic.com)

Davanee (www.davanee.com)

DoshaCare (www.doshacare.com)

DuMi (www.du-mi.com)

EarthLust (www.earthlust.com)

eco-panda (www.eco-panda.com)

Eminence Organic Skin Care (www.eminenceorganics.com)

Eufora (www.eufora.net)

For the Earth Corporation (www.fortheearthCorp.com)

Freshology (www.freshology.com)

Gamila (www.gamilasecret.com)

Gertie Gear (www.gertiegear.com)

Green SUV (www.greensuv.com)

Harrisons’ Pet Products (www.harrisonspetproducts.com)

Hippie Rehab (www.hippierehab.com)

InnovAsians Limited (www.innovasians.com)

JAIDYE (www.jai-dye.com)

JR Watkins (www.jrwatkins.com)

Kids Konserve (www.kidskonserve.com)

Leaves (www.eosgame.com)

Lindblad Expeditions (www.expeditions.com)

Lloyd London (www.myspace.com/lloydlondon)

Lollypop (www.lollypoppublishing.co.uk)

Method (www.methodhome.com)

myEARTH360 (www.myearth360.com)

Organic Diva (www.organicdivas.com)

Precious Earth Jewelry (www.preciousearthjewelry.com)

PUR (www.purwater.com)

Pureology (www.pureology.com)

Rain Organics Vodka (www.greatvodka.com)

Range of Motion (www.rangeofmotionfitness.net)

Revel Seven (www.revelseven.com)

Rojeti (www.rojeti.com)

Royal Paws (www.royalpaws.com)

Salon TRUE (www.salontrue.com)

Singer’s Saving Grace (www.herbsetc.com)

Solatube International (www.solatube.com)

SolMaté (www.drinksolmate.com)

sukispa (www.sukipure.com)

Sustainable Youth (www.sustainableyouthproducts.com)

Tetra Pak (www.tetrapak.com)

The Americana at Brand (www.americanaatbrand.com)

True Natural Taste (www.truenaturaltaste.com)

True Blue Pet Products (www.truebluepets.com)

Vita-Mix (www.vitamix.com)

World’s Best Cat Litter (www.worldsbestcatlitter.com)

The Unhealthy Truth
How Our Food Is Making Us Sick and What We Can Do About It (www.robynobrien.com)

No Impact Man by Colin Beavan (www.noimpactman.com)

About Distinctive Assetes

(www.distinctiveassets.com) is the mastermind events company behind some of the most sought-after gifting swag suites. At the forefront of gifting lounges, Distinctive Assets has created memorable events at most major awards shows such as the GRAMMY®s, American Music Awards, Kids’ Choice Awards, MTV Movie Awards, Latin GRAMMY®s, Academy of Country Music Awards, and the HBO Comedy Festival.

Recently, Cynthia McFadden interviewed American Idol judge Paula Abdul on ABC News “Nightline”. In the wide-ranging interview, the award-winning singer discussed her journey to stardom, rumored prescription drug and alcohol use, her tempestuous relationship with Simon Cowell, her thoughts on adding fourth judge Kara DioGuardi, and other projects she has currently in the works. Here are some excerps, courtesy of ABC News Nightline…

On the Addition of a Fourth Judge on the Show:

Cynthia McFadden:  So were you consulted before they added the 4th judge?

Paula Abdul:  Well, yes, you want to know when?  I just got out of this hospital this past August. I had three days to pack and go on the road. I found out on the way to the airport.

CM:  To this season’s auditions?

PA:  to go to the first city.

CM:  Well I wouldn’t say that’s consultation.

PA:  that’s being informed. Nor was Randy. Randy found out hours before me and…

CM:  Were you mad?

PA:  I thought that respectfully all of us as a group, maybe we could even figure this out together and I was surprised because Simon has always been against the 4th, we’ve had guest judges come in before and he banned that from happening anymore. 

Cynthia McFadden with Paula Abdul

On Kara DioGuardi:

 

PA:  Well, I started her success. And I’m proud of it. Happy of it. I moved a stranger from NY, told her to give 2 week’s notice to billboard magazine, and moved a stranger into my home in LA…

CM:  So how is it now? Do you sense that at least some of the audience would love to have the 2 ladies fighting?

PA:  I actually think that Simon got mad that we are friends and that I actually knew her and that her humble beginning began sleeping in my guest bedroom and I just believed in her.

CM:  No tension between the two of you?

PA:  None, seriously.

On Simon Cowell:

PA:   He’s a bully, he’s a masterful bully.

CM:  So of all the egos is Simon’s the biggest?

PA:  Without a doubt without a doubt.  And I go the first day I went to work on season one I quit 7 times. 7 times.

CM:  Why?

PA:  Because I couldn’t believe that that someone was actually getting away with crushing fragile kids. This happens behind your back, [not] in front of your face.
I couldn’t take the pain that I saw and I think being an artist who has had success it’s very vulnerable when you are the talent.  And when someone attacks you with criticism that isn’t constructive sometimes it’s hard to take.

On her Idol Contract:

CM:  So is your contract up?

PA:  Cynthia, this is my last season under contract.

CM:  Do you think she [Kara] will replace you?

PA:  I don’t think anyone [can].  First of all Kara says “I could never replace you”. And I said I whenever there is change it’s not about replacing anybody it’s about possibly moving on.

CM:  So do you want to stay on the show or not?

PA:  I love the show, I do. I love what I do on the show and I’m loving it more this season than ever. It’s taken me a while to get comfortable in my own skin with the show.

On Rumored Prescription Drug and Alcohol Use:

CM:  So let me just ask you the question straight up. Absolutely crystal clear you have not abused prescription drugs?

PA:  Never.

CM:  You have not consumed alcohol before going on the air?

PA: Never. I’ve never been drunk in my life I don’t like it. It’s not my thing. Spending money on clothes and shoes that’s another thing.

On her Chronic Pain from a Neck Injury Suffered in 1992:

CM:  There’d be no dishonor in taking pain medication if you’re in pain. 
Vicadin, Oxycontin, those drugs?

PA:  No, no. no no no. Will not take those drugs. And you can check my medical records there is nothing like that. I was never on Oxycontin or Vicadin or anything like that. I was on nerve medicine and anti-inflammatories.

CM:  But on your reality show [Hey Paula] there are so many times where you don’t look like you are really there. You’re eyes are closing, you’re head is falling back…

PA:  Because I’m falling asleep and a camera is on me. I don’t have anything that is shameful. I don’t have anything to be embarrassed about that was NOT accurate documentation of my life.

Excerpts courtesy of ABC News “Nightline”.

“Nightline” is anchored by Cynthia McFadden, Terry Moran, and Martin Bashir. James Goldston is the executive producer. “Nightline airs at 11:35 p.m. (ET/PT) weeknights on the ABC Television Network.

Hollywood is looking for you! The casting people state: “Regardless of experience, anyone who thinks they might be qualified is encouraged to audition”. This is a MULTI-CITY casting search. (See below for cities and roles).

Los Angeles open casting call is Saturday, April 18 at Hollywood United Methodist Church,  6817 Franklin Avenue, Hollywood, CA.

Directed by Julie Taymor
Music & Lyrics by Bono and The Edge
Book by Julie Taymor and Glen Berger
 
SPIDER-MAN “Turn Off The Dark”, featuring direction by Julie Taymor (Across The Universe, Frida, The Lion King on Broadway), music and lyrics by 22-time Grammy® Award-winners Bono and The Edge (from U2), and written by Taymor and Glen Berger (Underneath The Lintel), will be holding an open casting call Saturday, April 18 (10 AM – 5 PM) at Hollywood United Methodist Church (6817 Franklin Avenue) in Los Angeles as part of an ongoing nationwide casting tour.
 
SPIDER-MAN is seeking principals and understudies for the roles of ‘Peter Parker,’ ‘Mary Jane,’ and ‘Female Lead Villain.’ The production is looking for performers with dynamic rock/pop voices including those with experience in bands and as solo performers. Regardless of experience, anyone who thinks they might be qualified is encouraged to audition.
 
The open casting call is being organized by Telsey + Company (Rent, Across The Universe, Sex & The City, Wicked). Open casting calls have already been held in Orlando and New York City. Following Los Angeles, additional casting calls will be held in the following cities:
 
SEATTLE, WA (Monday, April 20; 10 AM – 6PM)
Theatre Puget Sound
Seattle Center House
305 Harrison Street
Seattle, WA  98109
 
CHICAGO, IL (Thursday, May 7; 10 AM – 5 PM)
Visceral Dance Chicago
2820 N. Elston Ave
Chicago, IL  60618
 
AUSTIN, TX (Wednesday, May 27; 10 AM – 6 PM)
Dougherty Arts Center
1110 Barton Springs Road
Austin, TX  78704

The production is looking for candidates to fill the following roles (both principals and understudies):
 
PETER PARKER – Male. 16-20’s. Must have a great rock tenor voice. Can be nerdy with understated sex appeal and a good sense of humor.
 
MARY JANE – Female. 16-20’s. Beautiful girl next door. Strong pop/rock singing voice required.
 
LEAD FEMALE VILLAIN – Female. 25‐35 years old. All ethnicities encouraged. Must have an amazing rock voice. Think Sinead O’Connor with a Middle Eastern /Bulgarian/Greek twist. Foreign and/or world music types are great. Foreign accents are great.
 
WHAT TO BRING:
All interested people should bring a snapshot or photo of themselves and a brief pop/rock or rock song to sing. Please note that no accompanist or audio equipment will be provided.
 
For more information, updated casting call information, or if you are not able to attend any of the above casting calls, please e-mail: SpiderManCasting@gmail.com or visit www.SpidermanOnBroadway.com.
 
SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark will open in New York on Thursday, February 18, 2010.
 
™ & ©:  2009 Marvel Entertainment, Inc. and subsidiaries, all rights reserved.
 
www.SpidermanOnBroadway.com
 
www.Marvel.com

To celebrate Kathy Griffin hosting the 2nd Annual A-List Awards, Bertolli hosted an exclusive “A-List” Night-In event. Held in a loft  in Tribeca (New York City), Chef Rocco DiSpirito whipped up an amazing menu for Kathy and friends.

Rocco DiSpirito and Kathy Griffin cooking up something good.

Instead of going out to celebrate, Kathy and friends skipped the Italian restaurant and had Rocco cook in for her and her friends. Along with serving a trio of Bertolli skillets, Rocco prepared the following delectable menu for the celebs:
 
Hors d’ouevres:

• Scallops in chilled Tomato Brodo
• Eggs in Purgatorio with caviar
• Purple Potatoes with Pesto Rosso and Fresh Mozzarella

First Course:

• Asparagus with Morel Mushrooms, Mushroom Vinaigrette and Fresh Pecorino

Second Course:

• Trio of Bertolli Skillets: Chicken Florentine Farfalle, Chianti Braised Beef, Chicken Rigatoni & Broccoli

Third Course:

• Aragosta with Swiss Chard and Burro Nero

Dessert:

Duetto di Crema Brusciatta con Sorbetto di Arangione e Cioccolato Fonduta

It is hot in the kitchen or is it us?

Other celebs got in on the action including fellow Food Network stars Rachael Ray and Gail Simmons, as well as Tyson Beckford, Ross (the Intern) Mathews, Jill Zarin (Real Housewives of NYC) and Robert Verdi.

Rocco and comedian Ross "the Intern" Mathews praise Kathy's talents.

The 2nd Annual A-List Awards airs on Bravo TV April 15.

From top left: Rachel Ray, Jill Zarin (Real Housewives of NYC) Rocco DiSpirito, Ross Mathews, Tyson Beckford and Kathy Griffin.

The nominees and categories for “The A-List Awards” include:

A-LIST TV SHOW
 - The freshest, most creative and innovative television program, be it comedy or drama, on-air in the past year.

“Gossip Girl”
“Mad Men”
“The Office”
“30 Rock ”
“True Blood

A-LIST ACTOR (Female)
- Awarded to an actress in a scripted series whose character portrayal in the last year has moved, delighted, amused, enthralled and entertained us more than any other actress on television.

Christina Applegate, “Samantha Who”
Tina Fey, “30 Rock”
January Jones, “Mad Men”
Mary-Louise Parker, “Weeds”
Chloe Sevigny, “Big Love”

A-LIST ACTOR (Male)
- Awarded to an actor in a scripted series whose character portrayal in the last year has moved, delighted, amused, enthralled and entertained us more than any other actress on television.

David Duchovny, “Californication”
Jon Hamm, “Mad Men”
Neil Patrick Harris, “How I Met Your Mother”
Julian McMahon, “Nip/Tuck”
Hugh Laurie, “House”

A-LIST STYLE (Male)
- Awarded to the celebrity who is always on the best-dressed list.

David Beckham
Anderson Cooper
Daniel Craig
Justin Timberlake
Kanye West

A-LIST STYLE (Female)
- Awarded to the celebrity who is always on the best-dressed list.

Anne Hathaway
Scarlett Johansson
Michelle Obama
Rihanna
Gwen Stefani

A-LIST FUNNY
- Awarded to the funniest of funny, the top of the heap, the cool of comedy.

Tina Fey
Ricky Gervais
Chelsea Handler
Conan O’Brien
Amy Poehler

A-LIST BREAK OUT
- Presented to the celebrity who officially broke out this year.

Rosemarie DeWitt – “Mad Men,” “Rachel Getting Married”
Malia and Sasha Obama
Katy Perry
Mickey Rourke – “The Wrestler”
Robert Pattinson – “Twilight”

SEXIEST TV MOMENT
- Presented to the couple that made our windows steamy and our TVS fog up.

“Gossip Girl” – Chuck & Blair in the limo
“The L Word” – Elevator Scene
“Lost” – Sawyer & Kate on the chopper
“The Office” – Dwight & Angela
“True Blood” – Bill & Sookie’s Love Scene

A-LIST ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Awarded to the artist that kept us coming back for more.

Beyonce
No Doubt
Katy Perry
Britney Spears
Kanye West

A-LIST ALBUM
- Presented to the album that rocked our year.

Beyonce – I Am.Sasha Fierce
Coldplay – Viva La Vida
MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
Britney Spears – Circus
Kanye West – 808s & Heartbreak

A-LIST DOWNLOAD
- Given to the song that kept you dancing.

Beyonce – Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)
Britney Spears – Circus
Coldplay – Viva La Vida
Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake – 4 Minutes
Katy Perry – I Kissed a Girl

A-LIST DESIGNER
- Presented to a fashion designer who has proven to be a tried and true trendsetter and taste maker.

Derek Lam
Marchesa
Zac Posen
Nina Ricci
Jason Wu

A-LIST CELEBRITY DESIGNER
- Presented to the celebrity whose designs we can’t get enough of.

Victoria Beckham – dVb Denim
Sean Combs – Sean John
Gwen Stefani – L.A.M.B.
Justin Timberlake – William Rast
Kanye West – Kanye Louis Vuitton Shoes

A-LIST KATE
- Given to the Kate with the mostest.

Kate Beckinsale
Cate Blanchett
Kate Bosworth
Katie Holmes
Kate Hudson
Kate Jackson
Kate Moss
Katy Perry
Mary-Kate Olsen
Kate Winslet

A-LIST ABS
- Awarded to the 6-pack that you can drink in without taking in a calorie.

Christian Bale
Tyson Beckford
David Beckham
Hugh Jackman
Matthew McConaughey

A-LIST CELEBRITY AUTOBIOGRAPHY
- Presented to the celebrity that most would like to read about.

Eminem – The Way I Am
Carrie Fisher – Wishful Drinking
Steve Martin – Born Standing Up
Maureen McCormack – Here’s The Story: Surviving Marcia Brady
Tori Spelling – sToriTelling

REALITY’S GUILTIEST PLEASURE
- Presented to the most popular and entertaining individual in a reality TV series.

The Girls Next Door -”The Girls Next Door”
Kim Kardashian – “Keeping Up with the Kardashians”
NeNe Leakes -”The Real Housewives Of Atlanta”
Bret Michaels – “Rock of Love”
Gretchen Rossi – “The Real Housewives Of Orange County”

A-LIST CELEBRITY RESTAURATEUR
- Presented to the celebrity whose restaurant is more than just a fun place to hang out, it tastes good, too.

Ryan Gosling – Tagine, Beverly Hills
Ashton Kutcher – Geisha House, Dolce, Ketchup
Eva Longoria Parker – Beso, LA
Rose McGowan, Ben Harper, Laura Dern – Dominicks, LA
Sandra Bullock – Bess Bistro, Austin

A-LIST CHEF
- Presented to a chef who has shown the greatest ingenuity and creativity with his or her culinary creations.

Grant Achatz – Alinea, Chicago, Ill.
David Chang-Ko – Momofuko, N.Y.
Todd English – Beso, Olives
Koren Grieveson – Avec, Chicago, Ill.
Gavin Kaysen – Caf Boulud, N.Y.

A-LIST RESTAURANT
- Awarded to the restaurant that has put itself on the map as the most delectable eatery in the United States.

Anthos, N.Y.
Beso, Los Angeles, Calif.
Ko, N.Y.
The Publican, Chicago, Ill.
Scarpetta, N.Y.
Cochon, New Orleans, La.

A-LIST INNOVATION
- Presented to the accessory we can’t leave home without and would stand in line for.

Bugatti Veyron
4th Gen iPod Nano
New MacBook
Samsung Blu-Ray Player
Sony Vaio P series

A-LIST HOTEL
- Awarded to the hotel that has put itself on the map for the place to visit.

101 Hotel, Reykjavik
Faena Hotel, Barcelona
The Gramercy Hotel, NYC
The Standard Highline, NYC
Haymarket Hotel, London

Kathy Griffin, host of Bravo's A List Awards

This tribute to all things “celebrity” was kicked off by Distinctive Assets‘ backstage gift lounge, where the unique band of presenters, performers and winners were treated to their own best of the best. Held at the historic Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, the A-List Awards paid homage to our ever-changing modern culture and leading creative minds. Also featured was a tribute to the late actress and AIDS activist Natasha Richardson of “The Parent Trap” fame.

A Constellation of Stars

The red carpet welcomed celebs from all areas of entertainment including reality television, music, drama, and comedy. The Real Housewives from the three of Bravo’s location shows (Orange County, Atlanta and New York City) were on hand to raise $100,000 for charity and celebrities from Gwen Stefani and Jenny McCarthy to Neil Patrick Harris and Chelsea Handler pumped up energy for the evening. The A List Awards airs April 15, 2009 on Bravo TV.

The Newest and Coolest Gifts

Distinctive Assets’ backstage gift lounge showered celebrities with latest and greatest products, as well as a personal décor touch with beautiful flower arrangements by Tic Tock Flowers. Among the unique gifts given to the VIPs were eco-friendly water-powered clocks, new-fangled exercise equipment, fashionable rain gear, performance sunglasses, portion-conscious dishware, high heel baby footwear, premium skincare and much more. These innovative products made the A-List Awards gifting lounge a happy, relaxed moment for everyone involved in the show.

Lash Fary with his creation, Slimware.

Slimware (www.slimware.com) has an easy way for you to control your portions. No more weighing, no more wondering how much you should be eating. Each plate design has interesting patterns that culminate in a space for a particular food type (three lilly pads, for example, show you where exactly your food goes). The accompanying guide illustrates what to put in each of the three spaces (a protein, carbohydrate and vegetable). An easy and foolproof way to lose weight. This is the brainchild of Lash Fary, founder of Distinctive Assets. Way to create a winner, Lash! This successful product is selling out on QVC as well.

Janet Harris, TV Personality, author and owner of Skin Rejuvination Center in Beverly Hills.

Janet Harris (www.janet.us) knows skin. The celebrity skincare expert on television shows such as Dr. Phil® and The Rachel Ray Show® offers her own line of amazing products, Janet’s Skin Care, specializing in gentle, effective care for your skin. The products feature the well-researched Kine-pHirm that exfoliates and keeps skin looking fresh and young. Janet has recently been featured in Robin McGraw’s new top selling book “What’s Age Got to Do With It” and co-authored the chapters on skin care. She is the owner of the all-encompassing medispa, Skin Rejuvination Center, the best in Beverly Hills.

Mark Bedol and daughter Laura Bedol with their water-powered clock; Bedol What's Next Store in Claremont.

The Burn Machine- the secret weapon of MMA fighters!

 The Burn Machine (www.theburnmachine.com) is a hand-held piece of strength training equipment that builds muscle, increases core strength, aids flexibility and burns calories. Their patented asymetrical barbell system is heavy enough to work your muscles with more traditional moves, or crank it up in what looks like bicycling with your hands, blasting calories. Your core muscles stay engaged through most of your moves, working your abdominals.

Heelarious (www.heelarious.com) are your baby’s first attempt at grown-up heels. Completely soft, these adorable baby shoes are meant to look like heels – without the discomfort. Your little fashion plate will be tres chic in the line that includes look-alike cowboy boots and heels in patterns such as leopard and zebra, as well as girlie colors like soft pink, hot pink and hello baby red.

Rooly (www.rooly.com) rolls out performance sunglasses and goggles for active individuals. Their diverse line of eyewear is designed for both the world class athlete and those just on the red carpet of life. These fashionable eyepieces are built to excel in all conditions, providing value, comfort, function and most of all, quality

Däv (www.davrain.com) offers fashion-forward rain boots, umbrellas, rain gear and purses. Filling a need for trendy rain gear, Däv has comfortable, functional, hip, and sophisticated apparel. The brainchild of creator Dave Sengstaken, president of Style West, Däv offers collections with hand-created original colorful prints on coordinated handbags, umbrellas, rainboots, and other inclement weather accessories. Take a walk on the fashionably wet side.

Spongelle

Spongelle (www.spongelle.com) is a quick and easy way to bathe and shower. These handy sponges are infused with gentle, silken gel that feature scents such as French Lavender, Papaya Sandalwood, and Peony, in both regular and travel sizes. No more having to use both a sponge and body wash separately. The premium-formula ingredients moisturize, protect and rejuvenate your skin, while the texture of the sponge provides light exfoliation.

Prana SpaCeuticals (www.pranaspaceuticals.com) brings pure, biologically active products to salons and spas. The professional line is tailored to help even the most aggressive skin problems, and offers botanically-based skincare perfected through science.

H2O is earth-friendly natural spring water in an award-winning renewable, aseptic package. This unique packaging helps spare landfills those empty plastic bottles, which annually add up to 38 billion containers. H2O provides safe drinking water while simultaneously minimizes the consumer’s impact on the planet.

Tic Toc Flowers added to the dazzle.

Each of the A-listers in attendance also received a special gift basket with fabulous goods from from DuMi, Carita Paris, Decleor, DEX New York, Forever Lily, Fresh Face, Glass Hair Design, Kids Konserve, Monroe Hair Care, Paperbax, Royal Paws, Sassy Soles, Setoso EyeBalm, Shoshana Bean, The SOI Company and Utta Body Sculpture.

Behind the Glam

Distinctive Assets (www.distinctiveassets.com) recently celebrated its 10th year of creating incredible celebrity swag suites. Lash Fary, the founder of Distinctive Assets, has put his talents to good use behind the scenes at gifting suites at most major award shows. At the forefront of gifting lounges, Distinctive Assets has worked magic at events such as the GRAMMY®s, American Music Awards, Kids’ Choice Awards, MTV Movie Awards, Latin GRAMMY®s, Academy of Country Music Awards, HBO Comedy Festival and many other high-profile events.

Blush Winner Nolan Robert

One of ten competitors chosen from thousands across the country, Hawaiian native, Nolan “Makaawaawa” Robert was the top winner of Lifetime’s new reality competition series, “Blush: The Search for the Next Great Makeup Artist.” Nolan took home $100,000, inked a deal with Max Factor and will be the featured make-up artist for the cover of an upcoming InStyle magazine photo shoot. But Nolan is no stranger to Hollywood, having created ‘looks’ for Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, Liv Tyler, Carmen Electra, and America’s Next Top Model winners Yoanna House, Eva Pigford, and Jaslene Gonzales, to name a few. And now, Nolan is ready to share his tricks of the trade.

Beauty on a Budget – Go From ‘Frump To Fab’ in Minutes!

“In this economy, everyone is watching their dollars but it really doesn’t cost a lot to be gorgeous and it doesn’t take a lot of time!” says Nolan. “I use a lot of Max Factor products which are high quality and not very expensive.”

For under $50, you can go from ‘frump to fab’ in 10 minutes and Nolan Robert will tell you how. “Use a tinted moisturizer and sheer pressed powder for the face; a neutral colored eyeshadow duo, mascara and a soft powder eyeliner for the eyes; lip stain or gloss for the lips; finish your face with a dust of bronzer (optional) and off you go! You are looking gorgeous in less than 10 minutes — on a budget!”

The Search for the Next Great Makeup Artist Winner Nolan Robert's Techniques

Nolan Shares His Beauty Tips!

LA’s the Place: What is the biggest mistake women make when applying makeup?

Nolan Robert: Every woman should feel confident and look their best every day and a really big mistake women make is when they apply make-up in the car! That’s a big mistake for many reasons! Remember: less is more so pick your best feature i.e. lips, eyes, etc., and apply your boldest color there. Make that your focal point because 20 coats of mascara is not pretty.

LATP: What products do you recommend for a quick evening look?

NR: Always use a good lash plumper to create voluptuous lashes and add a bold color on your eyes or lips. Find eye shadows that compliment your eye color i.e. green eyes really ‘pop’ when you use an orange or red hue. Brown eyes ‘pop’ with a blue or green hue. These colors don’t have to be true to shade but the must have an undertone of those colors. Lips need a bold color that is powerful yet feminine. Shades like a bright pink or a bright red are perfect for the evening. A great blush color is a plus as well.

LATP: How does daytime make-up differ from evening make-up?

NR: The difference between day and evening make-up is up to one’s own personality and style. We tend to wear less makeup during the day because, in the sunlight, makeup can look heavy and the colors can seem a bit dramatic. The evening allows you to play up your style by adding bolder shades and more coverage to your look without feeling that everyone is staring at you or that you are on your way to a Halloween party!

LATP: Can you go from daytime make-up to evening make-up in less than 10 minutes?

NR: Absolutely! Apply a bold color to your eyes or lips, a dark eyeliner or lip liner, a blush color and MORE mascara – but be careful with the mascara! This transition is very easy and very fast.

LATP: Do men wear make-up?

LATP: What products do you recommend for men?

NR: Look for products that work for your particular skin-type. Cream concealers are best for men and a loose, translucent powder is recommended to set. Clear mascara is a great product for men to enhance their lashes but not over do them. A powder shadow in brown also makes a great eyeliner and, if you apply the shadow to the lash line, your eyes will pop!”

For more ‘insider’ tips, check out Nolan at: www.xnolanrobertx.com or visit Nolan at www.myspace.com/nolanrobert

Kids' Choice Awards Gift Suite - Fun Activities

Say the Magic Word

Platinum Publicity cast a spell of its own when it arranged for the Celebrity Lounge to be held at the world famous Magic Castle, a private clubhouse in the Hollywood Hills usually reserved for a select few. Originally built in 1909, the Magic Castle’s artifact-filled themed and maze-like interior provided the perfect setting for the unique gift suite. The enchantment was evident from the beginning, where guests had to whisper a secret password to cause a bookcase to open, allowing entry into the gift lounge area.

Platinum Publicity's Melanie Segal and Chris Palzis

Fun for Guests and Food for the Needy

A-List guest and VIPs were treated to many surprises and activities, from decorating their own plates and workin’ it with Dance Dance Revolution, to artsy fun such as caricatures and airbrush tattoos. Grammy Award winning pianist/composer Charles Segal entertained guests while Mani Pedi Cutie worked magic on both little and big nails.

Christine Lakin, "Race to Witch Mountain" Shows off a Decorated Plate

Stouffers went over and above by donating 1,000 meals to Los Angeles’ needy in honor of each celebrity that attended the lounge. Stouffer’s intentions are to “Feed LA for the Day” and provide funds to serve up approximately 70,000 meals. Feeding America and the LA Food Bank were on-hand at the event as beneficiaries of the bewitching gift lounge, and additional funds were raised through the auctioning of a celebrity-signed arcade game from Dream Arcades. The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank (www.LaFoodbank.org) is a nonprofit charitable organization that has served the disadvantaged since 1973. They partnered with Feeding America, the nation’s largest non-governmental, domestic hunger relief organization, to provide food to those in need.

"Average Joe" Marc Marcuse (l) with Jeffrey Sebelia of" Project Runway" (r)

The Gifts Sparkled Plenty

This unique suite was made possible by the vendors that gifted celebrities and created a marvelous day for all guests. Some of the vendors who supported the suite included those below.

Brett White of Stouffers Helped Make the Day Possible

Stouffers (www.stouffers.com). Not only did Stouffers have their own room where guests could decorate their own plates, but they also arranged for feed LA’s needy. Stouffers is one of the best-known brands in the U.S., having started life as a mere coffee shop in 1922. Becoming synonymous with tasty and easy frozen meals over the years, Stouffer’s mission is to bring families together over the dinner table by allowing them to spend less time cooking and more time with each other.

Laurie Parent of Polaroid Takes a Moment

Polaroid (www.Polaroid.com). Creating lasting memories all around the world, Polaroid focuses on fun, easy-to-use, and family-friendly products that capture life’s moments. Best known for their instant photography cameras, where people would huddle around to watch their picture develop, Polaroid has expanded its line to digital cameras, underwater cameras, digital photo frames, camcorders and LCD TVs.

Alexis Ramirez (l) and Melissa Medina (r) Show Off Little Stride Rites

Stride Rite (www.StrideRite.com). Stride Rite is the leader in quality children’s shoes and sandals. Their expertise is little feet, shoe comfort and foot growth. Stride Rite uses the latest technology and the finest materials to ensure that their shoes fit right, and are engineered specifically for growing feet. Each pair of shoes is subjected to over 100 tests, so you can be assured of getting the proper footwear for your little one.

Iris Belson of Crumbs Bake Shop Tempts with Delectable Goodies

Crumbs Bake Shop (www.Crumbs.com). Providing deliciously simple treats, Crumbs Bake Shop believes in appreciating the little tasty things in life. Cupcakes are their staple, and they offer a whopping 50 kinds of these happiness-inducing treats. Using only the freshest ingredients, Crumbs also bakes delectable cookies, brownies, muffins, cakes and scones.

Seth McFarland chats to MTV

Guilty Pleasures (www.KheperGames.com). If you are willing to admit how much you know about pop culture, Guilty Pleasures is the game for you. With categories including Books & Tabloids, Movies, Reality TV, and TV Sitcoms & Dramas, you can strut your knowledge of allthings fluff – and fun. Guilty Pleasures can also be found at www.urbanoutfitters.com

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PAC Perfect Acne Control (www.PACperfectskin.com). Combat acne with this complete skincare system that is effective yet gentle on the skin. PAC’s three-step system calms skin while preventing breakouts, improves health and radiance, and is clinically proven to reduce acne.

Renee Olsted of “Secret Life of an American Girl” at PNY

PNY Technologies Inc. (www.pny.com). Solutions for every technological need, PNY products are found in most homes and offices. From flash cards, USB flash drives, motherboards, graphic cards, and memory upgrades, PNY leads the technological pack, with quality products sold in over 50 countries.

Mani Pedi Cutie Pampered Gift Suite Guests

Mani Pedi Cutie (www.manipedicutie.com). An upscale natural nail salon for women, men and children, Mani Pedi Cutie is a cool, eco-friendly place to pamper yourself. They use only non-toxic beauty supplies and offer manicure/pedicure and waving services for adults, as well as specialized treatments for pregnant women, toddlers and teens.

Fun and Exercise with Dance Dance Revolution

Dance Dance Revolution. Dance Dance Revolution is the interactive game that tempts its users off the couch and onto the dance floor with its high-energy music for a healthy, energetic and fun fitness workout. In this premiere dancing game, and all of its differing versions, you are challenged to match you dance steps with the flashing arrows on the screen and keeping up with the beat while exhibiting your very own flare. www.ddrgame.com

Nettiescrub (www. nettiescrub.com). Quality, natural ingredients are the cornerstone of Nettiescrub products. With ingredients such as rich shea butter, natural plant extracts and powerful antioxidants, Nettiscrub differentiates itself from the pack with a forward-thinking distinctive design of finely-tuned skin care products. Nettiescrub formulas are only sold in sustainable and reusable packaging.

Flip Video (www.flipvideo.com). People have flipped for Flip Video. Billed as the fastest, smallest and thinnest camcorders on the market, the simple little devices have captured the hearts of the public. These cell phone-sized cameras are easy-to-use, inexpensive and best of all, techno-dummy-proof.

Blockbuster (www.blockbuster.com). No longer just video rentals in your neighborhood store, Blockbuster has expanded to offer downloadable rentals, service to your mail box, as well as video game rentals.

Richard Solo Electronics (www.RichardSolo.com). Everything you need to make your life easier – in one click. iPhone/iPod/Blackberry accessories, baby monitors, watches, pogo jumpers, radios, and grooming items are all available from this service-oriented gadget retailer.

5 Gum Sports Cool Packaging

Wrigley’s 5 Gum (www.5Gum.com). A hip-looking sugar-free gum, “5″ probably is the coolest package that gum comes in. Long-lasting flavors include are Rain, Cobalt and Flare.

Crayola (www.Crayola.com). There is no need for an introduction with Crayola – they have been providing color for over 100 years. Kids have held a Crayola product in their hands for generations, and the company still adheres to its original creed: color is king. Focusing on creativity, learning and fun, Crayola now spans the world and leads the way for kids to develop artistically with an amazing array of new and innovative products.

Charles Segal Entertained

Charles Segal (www.CharlesSegal.com). Charles Segal provided musical entertainment at the magical suite. Charles is an award-winning, world-renowned pianist and composer who has composed more than 2,000 songs and performed on over 200 albums. The classically-trained Segal blends feelings with musical notes to create soul-stirring melodies. His talents include musical varieties from romantic melodies and upbeat jazz to children’s music.

GameDoc (www.GameDoc.com). Pinball, video games, pool tables, and parts. An official distributor of Rockola, NSM, and Wurlitzer Jukeboxes, The Game Doc offers sales, service and rentals.

Lipsmackers (www.lipsmackers.com). Colorful, good-smelling and fun, Bonne Bell Lipsmackers are available in tasty well-recognized variations such as Skittles, Dr. Pepper, Starburst, and even M&Ms.

Yelena Is a Picture of Fun at Classic Photo Booth

Classic Photo Booth (www.classicphotobooth.net). Move the fun of the photo booth to your event with a photo booth rental. Vintage and branded photo booths are perfect for parties, weddings, and meetings. This one was branded for Platinum Publicity, their charity sponsor Stouffer’s and of course green slime in honor of the Kid’s Choice Awards.

Barts Carts (www.bartscarts.com). Delicious popcorn, tasty snow cones, cool ice cream and frothy lemonade have to come from somewhere: Barts Carts. They have been providing carnival supplies rental, carnival food, concessions and catering in Los Angeles and all California since 1990.

Young Rockers Show off Capelta Boots

Capelta Boots by Monique is classic glamour and vintage looks at its finest. Capelta’s unique approach to footwear highlights bold, original and sexy designs. The handcrafted Brazilian boots blend eco-friendly materials with vintage flair, creating recycled appeal with an exotic touch. Detached decorative emblems, interesting textures, and a variety of fabrics are blended to create their sought-after footwear designs.

Scholastic Books for Home and School

Scholastic Books (www.scholastic.com). Scholastic has been recognized by parents and teachers for over 85 years. They create quality children’s educational materials for both school and home including books, magazines, television programming, technology-based products, videos and toys.

Los Angeles Regional Food Bank Benefited from the Day

Photography by Jane Emery

Winners from the 22nd annual Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards are as follows:

Favorite Movie: “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”

Favorite Movie Actor: Will Smith, “Hancock”

Favorite Movie Actress: Vanessa Hudgens, “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”

Favorite Animated Movie: “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa”

Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie: Jack Black, “Kung Fu Panda”

Favorite Song: Beyonce, “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)”

Favorite Male Singer: Jesse McCartney

Favorite Female Singer: Miley Cyrus

Favorite Music Group: Jonas Brothers

Favorite TV Show: “iCarly”

Favorite Reality Show: “American Idol”

Favorite TV Actress: Selena Gomez, “Wizards of Waverly”

Favorite TV Actor: Cole Sprouse, “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody”

Favorite Cartoon: “SpongeBob SquarePants”

Favorite Male Athlete: Peyton Manning

Favorite Female Athlete: Candace Parker.

Favorite Video Game: “Guitar Hero World Tour”

The Scots came out to celebrate Dressed to Kilt, the highest-profile Scottish event in the United States. The highly-anticipated event featured kilted gents and plaid-clad ladies strutting their stuff down the runway for an A-list of judges. Traditional kilts as well as fashion-forward garb are showcased in a lavish display of Scottish pride. Honorary Chairman Sir Sean Connery and his wife hosted the seventh annual Dressed to Kilt charity fashion show in New York City, which took place March 31, 2009.

Oh behave! Mike Myers works that kilt on the runway.

This year’s proceeds from Dressed to Kilt benefitted the Wounded Warriors program and the Paralyzed Veterans of America through Friends of Scotland, a non-profit corporation dedicated to advancing contemporary Scottish interests in the United States.

NASCAR/Indy 500 Champion Dario Franchetti and NY Jets Damian Woody wear their kilts proudly!

Their mission is to be “the primary US organization promoting a contemporary view of modern Scotland by showcasing Scottish cultural, educational, historical and genealogical connections between the United States and Scotland”.

Andie McDowell and daughters

The 2009 Dressed to Kilt fashion show featured appearances by:

Mike Myers, actor; Andie MacDowell, actress; Ed Westwick, Gossip Girl; Kellie Pickler, American Idol; Mark Indelicato, Ugly Betty; York George Wayne, Vanity Fair; Marcus Schenkenberg, model; Tom Gold, New York City Ballet principal dancer; Whitney Casey, bestselling author and TV personality; Lauren Tempany, Scottish supermodel; Stephanie Willemse, reigning Miss Scotland; Rusilko, “Mr. USA”; Lawrence Tynes, New York Giants; Donald Trump, The Apprentice; Brian d’Arcy James, Broadway Shrek star;  Keanan Duffty, fashion designer; Maggie Rizer, actress/model; Chris Meloni, Law and Order: SVU; Katrina Bowden, 30 Rock; Paul Blackthorne, Lipstick Jungle; Damien Woody, New York Jets; Laura Bennett; Project Runway finalist Alex McCord, Real Housewives of New York; Dario Franchitti, NASCAR/Indy 500 Champion. www.friendsofscotland.org

Plaid can be glamorous, too. Stephanie Willamse,(left) the reigning Miss Scotland and "Obama girl" Amber Lee Ettinger rock the plaid.

The Reel Recovery Film Series is one of the many fundraising events sponsored by Writers In Treatment (www.writersintreatment.org),

The eight classic films selected for the series include:

April 7:  “Permanent Midnight” with American novelist Jerry Stahl presenting and U.K. director Bernard Rose scheduled to attend.

April 14   “The Lost Weekend” (Won Academy Awards for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Screenplay)

April 21:  “Leaving Las Vegas” (Academy Award to Nicholas Cage for Best Actor. Nominated for Best Film, Best Director and Best Actress and Best Screenplay).

April 28:  “Sid and Nancy”

May 5:   “Days of Wine and Roses” (Won Academy Award for Best Song. Nominated for Best Actor (Jack Lemmon) and Best Actress).

May 12:  “Less Than Zero”

MAY 19:  “Barfly”

MAY 26:  “Ivan’s XTC”  Director Bernard Rose will present with special guests.

Directors, writers and cast members will be invited to speak before each film. Comedian Ritch Shydner, co-founder of Yuckaholics, actor Jack McGee and special guests will lead an open discussion with audience members following each screening. Celebrity guests Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., and Danny Huston have been invited.

“This series isn’t just for addicts or alcoholics. It’s for anyone who has ever been impacted or just wants to learn more about the disease and its treatment in a less traditional and entertaining environment”, said co-founder Leonard Buschel. “We hope to raise both money and national awareness so that indigent writers can learn that there is free help available.

Founded in 2008 W.I.T has a volunteer advisory board of substance abuse counselors, therapists and psychologists who offer free counseling for their clients.
 
Attendees will be treated to live jazz preceding each screening and free popcorn all evening. Beverages courtesy of HINT water (drink water not sugar!), TeaZazz (sparkling tea), Peet’s Coffee from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Writers In Treatment has partnered with top tier rehabilitation facilities including the Betty Ford Center, Hazelden and Caron Treatment Centers so our writers will receive the highest quality care available in America.

For additional information about the film series or W.I.T, please contact:

Debbi Berlin
Berlin Media Services, llc
323-528-2352
Debbi@BerlinPublicRelations.com

REEL Recovery Film Series~2009″

REEL Recovery Film Series

April 07, 2009 7:00 p.m. through May 26, 2009 7:00 p.m.
 
The Silent Movie Theater
611 N. Fairfax St.
Los Angeles, CA 90036 [map it!]

Donation: $10.74
 
Info Line (818)762-0461
Website:  www.writersintreatmen.com
 
Contact:  Leonard Buschel
12059 Hoffman St. #201
Studio City, CA 91604

(818) 762-0461

Amber Smith from Sober House, actor Brandon Molale, Shar Jackson, Kathy Hilton

What’s In a Name?

A-listers were treated to sparkling Izze juices or Alize cocktails that were creatively named to coincide with some of this year’s Oscar nominees. The “Slumdog Sparkler,” “Revolutionary Rose,” and “The Curious Cordial of Benjamin Button” all were a refreshing hit.

Alize Natural Juice and Alcohol Beverage

Christine Devine and Melanie Segal with a child from Wednesday's Child adoption agency.

From supermodel Amber Smith of “Sober House” to Kathy Hilton of the famed Hilton clan, celebrities turned out to the receive fabulous goodies ranging from shoes to jackets and manicures. Leyla Milani of NBC’s “Deal or No Deal” enjoyed her MBT footwear, Shauna Sands Llamas brought family, and Jai Rodriquez of Bravo Network’s “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” graciously stopped for photos.

FOX 11’s Christine Devine, whose “Wednesday’s Child” segment profiles foster children seeking loving families, brought with her a special child who received some pampering.

Charles Segal

Also on-hand at the fun-filled event was Charles Segal (Melanie’s Segal’s dad) with Hollywood Piano, who has amassed a formidable body of work, composing over 2,000 songs and performing on more than 200 albums. His talents as a jazz and commercial pianist and composer have lent themselves to a wide variety of tunes, from beloved children’s musicals to spirited jazz to soothing compositions to loving melodies (www.CharlesSegal.com).

The Gifting Gurus

Some of the vendors that gave useful and gorgeous gifts included:

Ada Handbags (www.adahandbags.com). Beautifully handcrafted from Argentina, Ada handbags are inspired by world travels that exude simplicity and elegance for every woman. Ada handbags maintain quality clean lines and sophistication that will get you noticed for your unique elegant style rather than flash.

MBT (www.swissmasaius.com). Unique footwear that activates leg and butt muscles while simply standing or walking. Their line consists of everything from athletic to professional shoes, sandals to boots. MBT considers themselves the “anti-shoe,” whose products not only firm and tone but also assist with posture and hip, leg or foot problems.

Leyla Milani Shows Off MBT Shoes

Corum Watches (www.lussori.com). Brilliant pieces with everything a man or woman needs to shine. Their fine timepieces are simple yet elegant. Corum has given the Gold Coin Watch, with a $20 gold coin encased inside it it, to every U.S. president since Nixon after their inauguration. Corum watches are worn by some of the most well-known names in entertainment the industry.

Beautiful Corum Timepieces

Blurb.com (www.blurb.com). Express your creativity or share a vacation by creating your own photography book online. Easy step-by-step guide will help you customize your personal layout for the look you want. Super easy to do and it is delivered right to your door. Makes for a wonderfully thoughtful gift or a great conversation starter on your coffee table created by you!

Sense (www.beautifulscience.com). Just like proper nutrition for the body, Sense works at the cellular level, getting to the source for great skin. Clinically proven to smooth fine lines and wrinkles with new patented Self-Preserving Technology free of chemical preservatives and parabens. It is naturally formulated to revitalize skin cells, leaving the skin rejuvenated and refreshed. You feed your body with proper nutrition; shouldn’t you do the same for your skin?

Jai Rodriquez with Sense

Sharpie (www.sharpie.com). Sharpie marker is getting a makeover. The classic smooth high-quality marker you know and love is now sleeker than ever in a stylish stainless steel design. The new marker is refillable and is perfect for any project you may have. Write out loud with the new stylish sharpie!

Kathy Hilton Wields Her Sharpie

Mobile Spa (www.mobilespalosangeles.com). Wouldn’t it be wonderful if after a hard day’s work you could come home and get a professional massage or facial? Or for a big event not worry about battling traffic just have your hair and nails primped and polished? The new Mobile Spa makes it possible, delivering professional high-quality spa services to your home, office, hotel, or filming locations. Now that’s a treat!

Hollywood Piano (www.hollywoodpiano.com). Keeping musicians’ prized instruments working at their premium is what Hollywood Piano does. Serving the largest names in entertainment since 1928, they provide professional tuning, repairs, sales and rentals. This family-owned business’s pianos are the top choice for motion picture, television, entertainment, and recording professionals.

Hollywood Piano Covers the Bases Musically

Makeup Mandy (www.makeupmandy.com). Want A-list treatment for a special event? Make up Mandy Eyelash Bar and Makeup Studio provides a taste of old Hollywood glamour in the modern era. Specializing in creating lavish lashes with eyelash extensions, Makeup Mandy is also a makeup expert working on the likes of Leighton Meester, Stacy Keebler, and Vivica A. Fox

Storm of London (www.stormwatches.com). Exclusive London-based brand features an amazing line of unique, stylish watches and accessories. Sold in more than 45 countries worldwide, the collection is available in Shanghai, Riga, Prague, Bratislava, Dubai, Melbourne and Delhi. From super cool to ultra-sophisticated timepieces, Storm has a watch for every personality.

Storm Watches - Sleek and Sophisticated

Bodi-Tox (www.bodi-tox.com). Bodi-Tox gifted their Carb Catchers Food Patches and detoxifying capsules to the interested crowd. Focusing on detoxification, Bodi-Tox’s products offer options with detox baths, body wraps and creams.

Plantronics (www.plantronics.com). The clear leader in headsets has units for all types of technology including mobile, computer, gaming, home and office. They gave celebs gift cards for their high-quality blue tooth headsets.

Shauna Sands Llamas and Family

About Platinum Publicity

Melanie Segal’s Platinum Publicity provides publicity, gifting suites, event planning, branding and strategic media planning for a variety of industries and clients. Their great gifting suites have included unique lounges prior to events such as the MTV Awards, Oscars, Emmy’s and the Kids’ Choice Awards. Please visit www.platinumpublicity.com for more information.

I just love how quantum physics and paranormal experience is extended one step beyond the imagination into the outer limits of medical science pulling it all together in a doable Fringe episode.

Mediums and psychics of varied sensitivity access information through the alpha and theta states of mind at will. It is also common to hear authors and artist speak of a zone in which information flows through them as they work.

In this (zone) altered state, however, the mind can take the form of that vision and becomes united with that internal reality. In episode 3 of the 1st season of Fringe titled, “The Ghost Network”, we watch the precognitive mind of Roy McComb, (played by guest star, Zak Orth) as he sees a violent gas attack on passengers on a bus. The FBI team then uses Roy’s visions to find the perpetrator responsible.

This particular episode flooded my mind dozens of memories of real to life case stories in the early days of experimentation in criminal investigations and psychic abilities in the 1980’s. Those were the good ole days when most of what we have in our reality today was science fiction. Imagine where the film industry will be in another 20 or 30 years; viewer interaction? Wow, imagine that!