Vanessa Williams' fashion photo shoot
Vanessa Williams plays an influential fashion editor on ABC's hit show Ugly Betty, and she's a style icon in her own right, so she was an obvious choice for our annual Spring Fashion Issue, which you'll find in newspaper's across the country this weekend. In the magazine Williams dishes on everything from her top five fashion must-haves to just how similar she is to her ruthless, Botoxed character, Wilhelmina Slater. But we've got some extra scoop for you from the photo shoot.
Photographer Mike Ruiz shot Vanessa for the cover and inside story, and sent us this fun photo of the two of them from the set, which he says "is a good indication of how sweet she is." Here's his full report: "Vanessa was an absolute delight and consummate professional. We reminisced about the good old days including the time she did the cover of Interview (which I loved and kept a copy of for years after.) The music we listened to was appropriate for the nostalgia of the day. We were grooving to Michael Jackson's Thriller and other of his greatest hits all day. We had a limited amount of time but were able to do three wardrobe changes. She was very warm and self assured which was reflected in how amazing she was in front of my lens."
(photo courtesy Mike Ruiz)
Happy birthday to Matthew Broderick
Happy birthday to Matthew Broderick, who turns 46 today, as does Rosie O'Donnell. Gary Oldman turns 50, Kevin Federline turns 30, and Timothy Dalton turns 62.
March 20, 2008
Rainn Wilson and Greg Daniels on the return of The Office
Fans of The Office, you're in for a treat. Kathy just got off a phone call with the man in charge, Greg Daniels, and the very funny Rainn Wilson, at right, who plays the character we love to hate Dwight Schrute, and she got some great scoop on the rest of the season.
But first, allow us to point out that The Office comes back in 14 days, after what feels like an eternity due to the writers' strike. Kathy admits to being "positively giddy" about it so she was the perfect woman to take part in the call.
Daniels and Wilson joked around throughout it, starting off by identifying themselves as Rainn with the "deep, husky, male voice" and Greg with the "whiny, nerdy, unfamiliar voice." What most Office fans are pining for, though, is info on what to expect when the episode, titled Dinner Party, airs April 10. Kathy got that and more. Read on.
Love is in the air: "We'll be seeing a lot more facets of Dwight when it comes to dating and women," Rainn said. Greg brought up Rainn's audition, when he and co-star Jenna Fischer improvised about Dwight's ex-girlfriends (one was a reservist stationed in Kuwait City, according to Rainn) and said they'd always kept that story in mind.
The documentary's air date hasn't been set: One of the big questions about The Office is if the characters will ever watch the documentary, which is the whole premise of the show. It's not out of the question, Greg said, but it won't happen for awhile. "We definitely love it as a big, game-changing story move. There are certain ideas that we store away in our back pockets and if we got to that place where we ran out I think we could go to that and then see what comes out of it."
Jim and Pam are doing OK, we think: They weren't giving up much info on that plot line, but Greg also didn't make any vague, ominous remarks, so it sounds like JAM fans have some good times ahead. All Greg said on that front was that the writers "certainly didn't have it planned in season one what was going to happen to them. I know what's going to happen to them for about the next 10 episodes or so" but that's as far ahead as he works.
Dinners and felons and clubhopping, oh my: Greg was a little more forthcoming with some teasers about upcoming episodes. There's the Dinner Party episode, "where Michael has been asking Jim and Pam over and over and over again and he finally manages, through kind of a scam, to destroy all of their excuses. This happens to be after the previous episode, when Michael blew Jan's unlawful termination suit, so there's a lot of tension between them." Also coming up this season may be the downfall of Ryan (played by B.J. Novak), "whose website started the season off and is kind of crumbling underneath him. It has for some reason become infested with sexual predators." And there are episodes where "Dwight and Michael are going to join Ryan in some of his clubhopping and New York partying, trying to get involved in his life a little."
(photo by Byron J. Cohen/NBC)
Happy birthday to Holly Hunter
Much of our office is celebrating the beginning of March Madness (who do you have picked to win?), but these three celebs also have birthday parties to plan: Holly Hunter (at left) turns 50, Spike Lee turns 51, and Carl Reiner turns 86.
(photo by Darren Michaels/TNT)
March 19, 2008
Tony Danza's Dancing With the Stars fave
Tony Danza is a song and dance man at heart. Since 1995, when he's between acting gigs he might be found doing a cabaret show in New York or Las Vegas (he tells us got a bunch of shows coming up in the next few months, in fact). So Tony naturally has a somewhat informed opinion of the contestants on Dancing With the Stars. What we didn't know, and our Kathy found out in her interview with Danza today, is that Tony has a natural favorite — one of his NYC neighbors.
"I'm rooting for Steve Guttenberg," Danza says. "He's one of the great guys of all time. We live together (i.e.) in the same building in New York." Tony was also impressed by Kristi Yamaguchi, exclaiming, "Holy crap, can she dance!" Danza says, "of all the reality shows, there's a
tremendous amount of commitment that goes into that show." Take it from the song and dance man. He should know.
Tony Danza on cooking
I go back with Tony Danza to Taxi. But our Kathy Rowings is young enough to remember watching Danza in Who's the Boss? when she was a kid. So she got a kick out of talking to him today. In fact, they just got off the phone. Here's Kathy to fill you in:
Tony really made my day with such a fun conversation. I absolutely loved Who's the Boss? so I was really excited to get to talk to him, about one of my favorite topics — food! We were chatting about his new cookbook, Don't Fill Up on the Antipasto: Tony Danza's Father-Son Cookbook, due in stores May 13. (Be sure and check out that link -- you'll see a very fun video of Tony and his son, Marc Danza.) The book is chock-full of 50 recipes straight from his Italian family, and has great personal anecdotes throughout.
Growing up, Tony's dad was the one who did all the cooking for their family, because he got home from work first. And Tony loved watching his dad cook, so he spent a lot of time in the kitchen, too. But he says he really started cooking when he went away to college — and when he realized it was good way to impress women. Speaking of impressing women, Tony said his mom taught him to always iron his clothes — a lesson that stuck with him so much that he and a friend started an ironing business in college. "Our slogan was 'We'll make your jeans look like dress pants,'" Tony said.
But back to the cooking, Tony's favorite recipe is for meatballs. "Once you can make a meatball you can make just about anything else. It's all about the seasoning." He also told me that Marc's great in the kitchen, too, "but he'll make stuff like mango salsa." He said that with a bit of disdain, though, so I asked if Tony was anti-mango. "Oh no, I like it!" he said. "But I just wouldn't make it. I'm a garlic and oil guy. That's me."
During our conversation, I'd told Tony that I wasn't much of a cook (but I can bake like nobody's business). When we were getting off the phone, he made sure to tell me, "I want you to know that you will be a good cook." I'm still not sure I'll ever be a master chef, but I do know I'll be giving Tony's recipes a try.
(photo © Capitol Concerts)
Gerard Butler talks action heroes
Every now and then my magazine readers respond overwhelmingly to a particular actor. I'll be scrolling through the hundreds of questions I get each month and realize that I have dozens about one guy. When I first started writing my Who's News column it was Richard Dean Anderson in MacGyver, who commanded attention. Since then there have been many, among them Mark Harmon for any of his series, Kevin Sorbo in Hercules, Joe Lando in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, David James Elliott in J.A.G., George Clooney in ER, Chris Noth of Sex and the City, Colin FIrth after the BBC's Pride and Prejudice, Vincent D'Onofrio from Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and since his sexy performance in the movie version of The Phantom of the Opera, the very handsome Gerard Butler. In fact, I still get lots of questions about Butler, whom we also saw in 300 and will see again April 4 when his Nim's Island, with Jodie Foster, opens, so L.A. writer Nancy Mills took the opportunity to converse. (You can watch the Nim's Island trailer below.)
They ended up talking about action heroes. More specifically, why many of America’s recent action heroes — for instance, Spider-Man’s Tobey Maguire and X-Men’s James Marsden — don’t look too tough. “In general, I think that men in America grow up more as boys,” says Butler, 38, who was raised in Scotland. “It seems to be a physical thing. Even if they’re big and pumped, they still have a boyishness about them. In a way, maybe they’re lucky. In America, you have such a broad spectrum. I hate to say it but boyishness appeals because it satisfies everybody. It works on both coasts and the Midwest.”
Butler wants to make sure we make clear that this is a comment, not a criticism. “They might be boys,” he adds, “but there are some incredible actors among them.” As for his own manly looks, he says, “I definitely think, having grown up in Europe and also lived in America, that people in Europe mature faster. But I shouldn’t generalize because sometimes you run into someone like Abigail Breslin (his co-star in Nim’s Island), who’s 12 and is more mature than I am. Or Emmy Rossum, who was 16 when she started The Phantom of the Opera and who was so intelligent and so mature it was kind of scary, actually.”
Happy birthday to Glenn Close and Bruce Willis
Happy 61st birthday to Glenn Close (at right) and happy 53rd birthday to Bruce Willis. And don't forget about Jake Weber, who turns 45 today, or Harvey Weinstein, who turns 56.
(photo by Eric Loiebowitz/FX)
March 18, 2008
Kristi Yamaguchi takes the Dancing lead
Jason Taylor said it Monday night — real men ballroom dance. So do real women. And all the women on Tuesday night's Dancing With the Stars made me want to learn a proper fox trot or cha-cha. But even before the show began, Kathy put her money on Kristi Yamaguchi. She predicted Kristi would be the best, and she was right on the money. Kristi's fans were rewarded with a performance almost as elegant as those she's given on the ice. I have to say, however, I was more impressed by Priscilla Presley than I expected to be. And Marlee Matlin was down-right amazing. So, who are your instant favorites? Monica Seles, pretty in pink? Marissa Jaret Winokur, the most energetic woman on Earth? Shannon Elizabeth, the competitive one? Post your favorites below.
Happy birthday to Vanessa Williams
We got caught up in Dancing With The Stars fun yesterday, so today we've got a double dose of celebrity birthday information. These stars all shared their big day with St. Patrick: Mia Hamm turned 36, Gary Sinise turned 53, Billy Corgan turned 41, Kurt Russell turned 57, Patrick Duffy turned 59 and Rob Lowe turned 44.
Today's birthdays include new Jenny Craig spokeswoman Queen Latifah, who turns 38, and actress Vanessa Williams (at left), who turns 45 today and will be on the cover of our Spring Fashion Issue this weekend. Retired speedskater Bonnie Blair turns 44 and singer James McMurtry turns 46. And while he's not famous quite yet, Kathy's younger brother Steven Rowings, who just landed his first job as a sports reporter, turns 24 today.
(photo by Bob D'Amico/ABC)
March 17, 2008
Mario may be my Dancing man
I am SO hooked. Monday night's opener of Dancing With The Stars was so much fun. I told you earlier that I haven't watched a full season before now, and now I don't know what I was thinking. The six male contestants performed tonight and I'm having trouble deciding upon a favorite. I have a soft spot for Penn Jillette because I've interviewed him a couple of times and I like his sense of humor, though I don't think it quite came out on the show tonight. Kathy loves Steve Guttenberg. Mario, the youngest competitor, was definitely the sexiest dancer of the bunch. Can't wait to see more of him. Macho man Jason Taylor was hot, right? And Cristian de la Fuente - be still my heart. What do you think? Post your favorites below.
Go Dancing with us
Call it my March Madness but I'm about to go a little crazy over the new season of ABC's Dancing With the Stars. Though I've dipped in and out, watching various episodes of previous seasons, I've never followed start to finish until now. My readers, who ask questions about Dancing every week, my friends and my family have been singing the show's praises since Season One, so I'm finally getting with it. And, let me tell you how with it I'm getting. From tonight's Season Premiere until the Season Finale in May, I'll be blogging about the show, bringing you interviews with current contestants (both the celebs and pros), and comments from some of your previous seasons' favorites as well as celebrity fans of the show. The last weekend of April, I'll go to L.A. to blog from practice sessions — maybe I'll get a quick lesson myself — and then the shows themselves. Sound like fun? Then join me! Watch the shows and post your comments. Begin with tonight's 90-minute-long opener at 8 p.m. ET. I'll post just after the show and you can tell me your new favorites. To get ready, take a look at our photo gallery of the new stars and their pros, below.
George Clooney is a well-liked director
George Clooney is handsome, charming and an Oscar-winning actor. Does he have to be a well-liked director, too? Indeed, that's the case — as our Nancy Mills found out when she met up with the Leatherheads cast over the weekend. Renee Zellweger, who stars opposite Clooney in the upcoming romantic comedy-period football comedy, which opens April 4, says he is "focused and good at what he does. He’s not indulgent or insecure about it so we’d have to do a scene 600,000 different ways. He seems to have the facilities of a much more experienced filmmaker.” (She and Clooney are pictured at right.)
The Office’s John Krasinski, who plays Clooney’s teammate and rival for Zellweger’s affections, is similarly complimentary and even uses the same “F” word. “George is incredibly focused,” Krasinski says. “He’s composed and competent. We’d do scenes together where Clooney the director was directing Clooney the actor, and when the scene was over he’d run back to see the replay, praying that it was good enough that he didn’t have to go back and shoot it again.”
And what does Clooney the actor says about Clooney the director — when he’s not cracking jokes, that is? “In the other movies I directed (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind and Good Night, and Good Luck), I wasn’t the lead. This time it was tricky because an enormous amount of narcissism comes into play. You’re breaking the trust between two actors. As an actor, I’m not supposed to be judging you as an actor. So I had to go to each actor and say, ‘Listen, this is going to be awkward.’ For instance, I’m sitting across from Renee and I can feel the camera is in too close and I say, ‘Cut.’ It’s awkward, but you get over it.”
Clooney could have hired someone else to play his aging football player, but he didn’t for one simple reason. “I’ve wanted to play this character for a long time,” he says. “I’m 46. If I don’t do it now, I’m done. Steven Soderbergh was going to direct it in 1998, but the script wasn’t in good shape. It had no plot.” He helped create one, noting that his inspiration came from “the whole John Kerry Swiftboat thing. I came up with the idea of one of the characters having a secret.”
Carrie Underwood gets Opry invite
Former American Idol Carrie Underwood just keeps getting bigger. Saturday she was invited to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. Underwood will be formally inducted into the Opry on May 10.
