Super Bowl commercials
If you’re like me you watch your favorite shows without commercials thanks to your TiVo or DVR. But on Super Bowl Sunday, the commercials are part of the show. With advertisers paying an average of $2.7 million for a 30-second spot, this is indeed the Super Bowl of advertising: some 55 ads will run Sunday night. Bob Horowitz, producer of Super Bowl’s Greatest Commercials, says, “The commercials are part of American Culture. If you took the commercials out, the ratings would go down.” The ads that are memorable "are really mini-skits, vignettes that are funny and clever, much like a 30 to 50 second spot on Saturday Night Live. The entertainment value is front and center,” says Horowitz. And what about celebrities: Are they worth the money? “I tend to think it’s the celebrities you don’t expect,” says Horowitz. “Like when Bob Dole did his spot walking down the beach or when Jerry Seinfeld started doing American Express." This year expect to see some very cool ads for companies like Coca-Cola, Disney, Fed-Ex, Gatorade and many more.
Ledger's view of stardom
Heath Ledger was just a 23-year-old on the verge of a big career when one of our writers interviewed him around the time of the movie Ned Kelly (he's pictured at right in a still from that movie, with co-star Orlando Bloom). It was an interview that for various reasons we didn't run in the magazine. In hindsight, and as his friends, family and Hollywood colleagues are still dealing with his death, his quotes seem both philosophical and prescient.
"We feed, we breed, and then we die,” Ledger said, speaking about the human race. “Most people don’t want to believe it, cause that would kill the delusion that we’re something special. Look, I’m nothing special, and I have absolutely no problem with that. But then again, I’m Australian.”
He was proud to be Australian.“Maybe it’s an authority issue, but I won’t let Hollywood mold me into something I’m not,” he saids “If my career ends tomorrow, it ends, but I won’t let the fear of that make me do things I’m not comfortable with. I won’t be motivated by demographics, money, or whatever. I just want to make good films, and there’s not a thing my agent, a producer, a studio, or a teenage girl can do to change that.”
And he had a healthy attitude about stardom. “I’m very realistic, and I know how this business works. The notion of stardom is laughable. It’s happened to thousands of people before me, and it will happen to thousands of people after me. It’s a completely manufactured thing that doesn't last. If there’s such a thing as a star, it’s someone who can exist happily throughout their life and not have to jump out of their skin like they’re not big and not important enough. That’s heroic—that’s something special.”
(photo courtesy Focus Features)
Brooke Shields on 'Lipstick Jungle'
Brooke Shields is all over the media this week promoting her new NBC show Lipstick Jungle, which premieres next week. I have seen two episodes and can tell you that I liked it well enough to put the show on my TiVo's season pass for guilty-pleasure viewing. Brooke is always a forthcoming interview and we had a chance to catch up with her on her life as a mother of two little girls, Rowan, 4, and Grier, 2.
On working in a television show: “It’s beyond a good gig: to be able to do what you love to do and to be able to navigate your children. As a person, I’m a much better human being when I’m working, a better mom when I’m working: more giving, more clear, more patient."
On allowing her daughters to work in show business: “I feel like such a hypocrite, part of me dreads it and wishes that they don’t want to..just because how fraught with insecurity it is, how competitive... how it predicates itself on devouring the young. There is that hope. But how can I deny them what they were born into? Their father is a writer and I have been in the business since I was 11 months old. The highs are so high; the lows are so low. The thing I will not let them do is not go to school.”
(photo by Ali Goldstein/NBC)
Happy birthday to Lisa Marie Presley
Happy February, and happy birthday to these celebrities: Twin Peaks star Sherilyn Fenn is 43, as is Princess Stephanie of Monaco. And guess who's older between Lisa Marie Presley (at left) or Pauly Shore...
You're right if you guessed either! Both turn 40 today.
(photo courtesy lisapresley.com)
January 31, 2008
Tracey Ullman on Ira Glass and becoming a citizen
Tracey Ullman has a few things to say about the state of the union, (also the title of her new show) and now that she's an American citizen she isn't hesitating to say what's on her mind. "It's given me a new perspective on what I say and feel about the country. I've lived here 25 years, I've invested a lot in this country, I'm having a wonderful time in this country, I've had my kids in this country, and I thought it's time to really join in. So I can vote, and work for the post office, wear a uniform," she joked. All kidding aside, though, she does want to make a statement about things she sees going on in around her, and said she draws particular inspiration from Ira Glass' show, This American Life, on NPR. In fact, she said the one thing that would "really excite" her is if she got to do show promos with Glass.
Another person she is a fan of is Bob Greenblatt, which explains her switch from HBO to Showtime. He made the jump between networks, and she wanted to keep working with him on State of the Union.
The show is only five episodes because "that's what the budget would reach to," she explained. "We figured we could shoot for two weeks, so we asked ourselves how many shows we could reasonably do and five was the figure."
Politics are something Ullman thinks should be private, but she did dish on her 2006 citizenship ceremony. "I had to go downtown for the ceremony, it was like 5,000 of us in the Staples Center. We had to wave flags and they showed us film of the moon landing and grains waving and they played that song 'I'm proud to be an American.' And there was a mesage from President Bush -- it was all kind of mind-blowing." And though she was happy to join her kids in dual citizenship, they had a pretty low-key celebration. "We didn't eat hot dogs or anything, because we're vegetarians. We had Pinkberry, which is very American now. I had extra toppings to commemorate the occasion."
As for her favorite guilty pleasure cable news anchor, it's Rita Cosby, of whom Ullman did a dead-on "We're gonna make news, we're gonna break news!" impression. She also said she likes "crappy shows" like House Hunters on HGTV and a program called The Knife Collectors Show that airs on satellite networks. She's watched it so much she could name different types of knives (skinners, gunners). "It's just intrinsically American: It's American presentation, it's American camera work, it's American males. But I have this horrible suspicion that all the knives are made in China. Because how can you sell 100 knives for $50? It makes no sense."
Happy birthday to Justin Timberlake
Happy birthday to Justin Timberlake, the first artist who made me scream like a little girl at a concert (even though I was 18 at the time). He turns 27 today. Several actresses also have birthdays today, including Minnie Driver, 38, Portia de Rossi, 35, and Jean Simmons, 79, and Without a Trace's Anthony LaPaglia turns 49.
January 30, 2008
Bill Rancic update
Remember Bill Rancic, one of the winners of The Apprentice? He's no longer working for Donald Trump, but he's keeping busy: He's blogging about the current Celebrity Apprentice, he's hosting a talk show, and he and E! News anchor Giuliana Rancic are blissful newlyweds. Our Gayle Carter had a catch-up conversation with him recently and learned:
* He wants children. “Definitely. If it was up to my wife, (it would be) right away. I want to enjoy marriage, spend time together before kids."
* He'd like to work with his wife. “It would be a lot of fun. I don’t think we’ve seen a husband and wife team in a long time.”
* He was inspired by luxury. “I just started college and I had a boat wash/wax business. I was taking care of all these beautiful boats. It was my first experience with people who had money. It really broke down the barrier. I got to see and know these people: I thought, 'If that guy can do it, why can’t I?' I adopted the ‘Why not’ kind of thinking.”
(photo by Joe Bransky/NBC)
Questions for Tracey Ullman
Tomorrow afternoon I'm talking to Tracey Ullman in anticipation of her new show, Tracey Ullman's State of the Union. It's a sketch comedy show that puts Tracey in all sorts of different characaters, and will air five episodes on Showtime beginning March 30. I've seen the premiere, and can report that it's just as funny as you'd expect from Ullman. I can't wait to ask her about her apparent fascination with Ryan Seacrest (he's mentioned multiple times in the show), but what questions do you have for her? Post them in the comments below.
(photo by Art Streiber/Showtime)
Happy Birthday, Christian Bale
Happy birthday to a superhero and a superhero's foil: Christian Bale (at left), aka Batman, and Gene Hackman, aka Lex Luthor. Bale turns 34 today, while Hackman turns 78. Also celebrating today are actors Wilmer Valderrama, 28, and Tony O'Dell, 45; singer Phil Collins, 57; and Mr. Vice President Dick Cheney, 67.
(photo courtesy thecinemasource.com)
January 29, 2008
Gordon Ramsay is no food snob
Gordon Ramsay is known for his sharp tongue (to put it lightly) when dealing with participants on his cooking shows and for his phenomenal cooking, so editorial assistant Reyhaneh Fathieh was understandably nervous to talk to him. But she was pleasantly surprised by his personable persona. Here's her full report:
"He hosts three cooking shows (like Hell’s Kitchen, back April 1 for season four on Fox), owns an international restaurant empire, writes recipe books and collects Michelin stars, but Ramsay, 41, is no food snob. 'I fell in love with In-N-Out Burger. My God Almighty, they are delicious,' Ramsay (at right) exclaims in his heavy British accent. Fast food is only one of America’s many charms drawing the Scotland-born, England-raised chef and TV personality to the U.S. Ramsay, wife, and four kids are shopping for a house in the Hamptons. The East Coast may now get its very own Simon Cowell (albeit with a far more refined palate). 'I’m always compared [to Simon],' Ramsay says. 'I’m brutally honest… I don’t blow smoke up people’s a--es so I can make them superficially look good.' Tough-guy is no act for Ramsay. He is strict, even with his own children. 'I don’t want snobs on my hands, one of those puffy little bastards that turn their nose up and think that they deserve in life,' Ramsay says, so he gives each kid a modest allowance which matches his/her age (nine pounds a week for the 9-year-old, for example). But Mr. Discipline -- he runs marathons, too-- is nothing to be scared of. I was surprised to find a charming Brit, who, instead of barking at me, continuously called me 'darling,' repeatedly apologized for missing my call, and promised to make me a giant cocktail. Here, the aftertaste was sweet."
(photo by Kharen Hill/FOX)
Happy birthday to Ed Burns
We took a break from posting birthdays while we were busy in L.A., but we're back and so are birthdays. Ed Burns (at left), who plays a very attractive magazine editor in 27 Dresses, turns the big 4-0 today. And the speaking of big O's, Oprah turns 54. Also celebrating today are Tom Selleck, 63, Greg Louganis, 48, Sara Gilbert, 33, Katherine Ross, 68, Heather Graham, 38, and Athina Onassis Roussel, 23.
(photo by Barry Wetcher/Twentieth Century Fox)
January 28, 2008
Chandra Wilson, Dana Delany and more
Post SAG Awards outtakes: Grey's Anatomy's Chandra Wilson - who has a new stylish and un-Bailey like bob - told me she's spending her forced down time with her family, doing more of the mom side of "working mom." ...Sally Field was escorted by her youngest son, an NYU student who is interested in sports journalism. ...Tony Shaloub and many others wore WGA buttons on their lapels in support of the writers' strike...Hairspray's Brittany Snow said when she found out she was to play Michelle Pfeiffer's daughter, "I almost died." ...Eric Dane (aka McSteamy) said he and wife Rebecca Gayheart were "just glad to be in a work-related environment." ... A Patrick Dempsey lookalike was among the last to arrive. He peeked his head in the entry to the red carpet and caused quite a stir among everyone hoping to see McDreamy, but the real Dempsey was in Daytona at a race. ... into the show....Desperate Housewive's Dana Delany is as beautiful in person as she looked on the cover of More magazine touting her age, 51....Everyone here has a spray-on tan so they look bronze. The New Yorkers like Tina Fey, were among the few who were pale. ...Vanessa Williams said she'd had the cast of Ugly Betty to her house for a reunion because they haven't been seeing each other at work. ... Forest Whitaker's wife Keisha says her husband is a man of style. ...Casey Affleck doesn't look anything like Big Brother Ben. ...Holly Hunter is so small I mistook her for someone's daughter until she turned around. ... Glenn Close is definitely weight-training. Her upper body is ripped.... People magazine and the Entertainment Industry Foundation put on a party in the tented back parking lot after the show but kept the press out. We were like Cinderellas not invited to the ball.
January 27, 2008
Check out our photo gallery
Kathy and I were in a prime viewing spot because Access Hollywood is the first platform the stars hit before they move on down the rest of the red carpet. Kathy played photographer and grabbed these candid shots as celebrity after celebrity came over to chat. Click on each photo to read who's who and what they said.
Julie Christie on not working
Julie Christie is back here now. I have followed her career since I saw Dr. Zhivago when I was in high school so it's great fun to see her in person. She's beautiful at 66 and a breath of fresh air in terms of being dressed in a dark suit. She says she's wearing her own pants and "I don't buy into the walking advertisement thing," when it comes to fashion. She has been praising her director, Sarah Polley, and says she's not looking for another job. "No, I'm quite happy without one," she said. Next up for her will be an Oscar ceremony, if, in fact, there is one.
Daniel Day-Lewis on Heath Ledger
Daniel Day-Lewis arrives in the press room and is asked why he paid tribute to Heath Ledger. He says he never met him but "I think we should leave him alone, and leave his family with their unimaginable grief." There has been some talk here tonight about whether there will be an Academy Awards ceremony so Day-Lewis was asked whether he'll attend if the writers' strike isn't settled and picketers are out "I'll abide by the decision of my union," he said. "They just gave me this lovely award and I'm a card carrying member of the Screen Actors Guild." We're waiting for Julie Christie, who won for Away From Her.
Getting there
Traffic in Los Angeles can be a nightmare - we all know that. Nancy O'Dell was on her way to work the red carpet today when she got held up by an accident. Her producer Bryant Huddleston ably filled in for the first interviews with Grey's Anatomy's Chandra Wilson and Ugly Betty's Becki Newton.
Nancy always gives credit to her glamour team but today I got to meet them all - her makeup artist Karen Knopp, her hairdresser Dwayne Ross and a member of her wardrobe team, Daniel Hernandez. I decided I need a glamour team too. Karen tells me the secret to looking so finished for a big event - and that's what these women all do - is NOT to over do it. OK, no over doing it anymore!
McSteaming up the red carpet
Forget Angelina and Brad. Eric Dane, aka Dr. "McSteamy" from Grey's Anatomy and his wife, Rebecca Gayheart, get my vote for most attractive couple on the red carpet tonight and believe me, out here the competition is stiff.
The Office cast on Angelina's pregnancy
The cast of The Office just walked in, and are trying to all squeeze on the stage. Angela Kinsey is adorably pregnant, Jenna Fischer is gorgeous in a navy sparkly dress, and John Krasinski
just told us it's a miracle the cast can keep a straight face during
scenes because they're "just like seventh graders." Fischer revealed
that the award they give on stage is actually much lighter than the
real one, and BJ Novak joked that he's "starting to wish they had an award check" (like a coat check). A reporter asked about Angelina Jolie's pregnancy, and BJ joking introduced Angela as "Angelina Kinsey, ladies and gentlemen." "Adopt me!" yelled Rainn Wilson.
Steve Carell was asked about being seated next to Ricky Gervais, creator of the British version of The Office. "We don't much like him, and he doesn't like us," he joked. "Earlier tonight I was in the bathroom, and he leaned over the urinal and said "I knew it!'"
Tina Fey feels like an actress
Tina Fey is here telling us that it means a lot to her to be recognized as an actress because she's been working as a writer for so long. She's prettier in person than on the show. She is telling us that 30 Rock is the kind of show that is in jeopardy because of the strike. "We can't be off the air for six months." Tina told us that she remembers watching Steve Carell when she was a student at Second City and being blown away by his talent. She says she's spending most of her time with her daughter these days because she's not working during the writers' strike. She plans to put her new SAG Award "up high because this is a baby crusher."
The Sopranos last hurrah
The cast of The Sopranos, on a sweep tonight, just arrived en masse into the press room - they can barely fit on the stage. Edie Falco and James Gandolfini - also winners tonight - are with the cast but not leading it. They're having a good time together, making fun of questions like "you played fearless on TV, what are your fears?" Tonight could be the last time the cast is together as the show ensemble so they were asked whether Los Angeles would still be standing after their partying. "The city," said Lorraine Bracco, who looked lovely in brilliant purple, "not the hotel."
On the red carpet
The red carpet scene has always been crazy, but each time I cover one of these award shows I am amazed at how much crazier it gets. Today, however, I was in a great spot (as you can see here) — on the platform right at the red carpet entrance with Access Hollywood’s Nancy O’Dell and her crew.
That meant I saw everyone who is anyone and more. The scene is a little surreal – a sea of publicists and press dressed mostly in black attached to their cell phones, blackberries and headsets. Then the beautiful people…the people we see in the movies and on TV — and yes, they really do look different from you and me.
Tonight’s red carpet trends were instantly obvious. Strapless dresses in brilliant colors. Nancy, no surprise, was in tune with the trend (this year in Carolina Herrera). But Glenn Close, Kyra Sedgwick, January Jones, Vanessa Williams, Rebecca Gayheart, Sara Ramirez and Marcia Cross wore the most vivid dresses – some of which you can see in our coming slide show.
The Big Night begins
It's Sunday morning and Kathy Rowings and I off to the SAG Awards site. We're dressed for evening when most people are dressed for church! Thanks to my friend Nancy O'Dell, co-host of the entertainment show Access Hollywood, and thanks to her producers there, Kathy and I will be on the Access Hollywood platform today, where we will get a close-up view of the stars when they stop to talk before they head into the show; it's a much better red carpet spot than we had secured in the print reporters' area.
Access plans to air fashion and fun moments from backstage with all the winners on Monday night's show. (You can go to AccessHollywood.com to check local listings). Who knows? You might get a glimpse of us. Access also will have live streaming, live blogging, fashion photo galleries and a game for users to design their own SAG look. Check it out here, but come back to us for live reports throughout the evening as winners meet with the press. And, of course, you can watch the show on TNT or TBS. It begins at 8 p.m. ET, 5 p.m. PT.
Welcome to rehearsal
Snippets from SAG Awards rehearsal day. TNT show director David Bryant stands on freshly laid and dry red carpet worrying about the high winds and rain predicted for show day. It's not looking good. ... Life Achievement Award winner Charles Durning arrives right on time to get the lay of the land for his big night and brings a tear to my eye as he practices his acceptance speech. What a pro. ...Tom Cruise pushed his rehearsal time from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and some of we cynics were betting on whether he'd arrive at all - for rehearsal, that is, not the show. ... Workers painted the stairs to the stage that all the winners will climb....Click on the video below to see me at the presenters' podium.
And below I'll show you where the big stars are sitting.
I found the biggest stars, but Kathy found her favorite TV nice guy.
