Media Mondays

I feel like the weeks are whipping by in 2013, so I was grateful for a day and a half off this weekend.  This week starts an even bigger whirlwind as we trudge towards the last 20 days of awards season 2013...Nominees Luncheon, a commercial shoot, movie premiere, a trip out of town, and a desperate Oscars dress search.

Here are my media appearances from last week:

Dara on Radio:  I made a return appearance and chatted about the SAG Awards and what it means to the Oscars.  Right now, all eyes are on the Best Picture category.  Listen here.  (You can find the rest of my SAG Awards coverage here.)

Tom Barnard Podcast: All I have to say is "Dat Ass."  It's hilarious.  Start listening at the 13:00    mark. I promise you, it's worth it.

If you know about my Club 33 obsession, then you know I need to get into California Adventure's 1901 too.  

The Radio Dish: At the 20:30 mark, you can listen to the latest snark about Kim Kardashian and her butt. 

SheKnows: Some of my articles from last week. 

Cody Simpson: "I feel blessed"--If you have a teen in your house, then you know they will like my interview with him. 

Lindsay Lohan too sick to appear in court--Another day, another Lohan drama.

January Jones: "My hair is falling out in clumps"--Slow news day. 

My football strawberries!

Cocktails and Conversation:  It's the first Saturday of the month and we dished all about the BeyoncéBowl.  That's right, the Super Bowl is just a myth, it was a Beyoncé concert. I come in at the 23:00 mark. 

If you missed my awards show updates from last week, check them out here, here, and here.  I also gave out some DWTS dish, so click here.  

I'll be on Metro News Hotline with Dave Weekley today at 1:30pm PT/4:30pm ET.  Or join me at 6:35pm PT/9:35pm ET on Driving with Gass at KWSS.org for your Super Bowl and Oscar Nominees Luncheon update.

DWTS Season 16: Who's In? Who's Out?

Okay, we are getting closer and closer to that March 18 premiere date for Season 16 of Dancing with the Stars. The rumors are out there, let's see who is definitely out and who might be in. Remember, we don't have any confirmations yet.

NO:
Lindsay Lohan:  While this gal could use the money and she surely could use the career boost, Lindsay won't be stepping on any dance floor any time soon.  If you have been following her recent court case, Lindsay will begin her next trial on March 18th.  Oh, guess what show premieres that day?

Lance Armstrong:  I believe this is a name ABC pursued pretty heavily.  His story is legendary in a not-so-good way, but DWTS might be a good place to start his comeback.  However, I think Armstrong has said his peace to Oprah and he is now going to step away from the media for a time.  Remember, he has a lot of personal relationships to heal before he ever steps back into the public arena.

MAYBE:
Emily Maynard:  ABC is very loyal to their reality stars and they have utilized Maynard for two rounds of the The Bachelor franchise.  Don't doubt for a minute that they are at least thinking about using her for DWTS.  She is a polarizing figure, but people would tune into watch her.

Katherine Webb:  She's the hottest pop culture figure these days thanks to Brent Musburger and the BCS championship game.  We will see her reporting for Inside Edition at Super Bowl LXVII and in the swimsuit issue for Sports Illustrated plus she's starring in ABC's new celebrity diving show called Splash.  Webb has made no secret about the fact that she wants to hit DWTS next....stay tuned.

The Fierce Five:  A few of the team members talked about wanting to star on the show after their appearance on the Season 15 finale.  We chatted with Jordyn Wieber on Afterbuzz TV's DWTS after show and she mentioned how much she would love to do the show. Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, and McKayla Maroney also expressed interest in the show.  If I was going to pick one from the gold medal-winning team, my money is on Maroney for a few reasons.  One, she's focusing on an acting career.  Two, she's local to the Southern California area.

Things we know for sure:

1.  The show will be back for two seasons per year.

That's it!  We need to know more.  If you have any insider scoop, send your tips here.

Who do you think will be on the show?  Any other rumors?  Where are all of the men--no rumors yet?
Chime in the comments below.

If you missed my fan chat with Henry Byalikov, you can check it out below.  I will have Henry back on along with Teagan Lowe on Tuesday, February 26 at 5pm PT/8pm ET, so mark your calendars!

Behind The Red Carpet: Get Your Celebrity Drink On!

We are hitting Episode 2 of Behind The Red Carpet and I tweaked the show a bit.....a tad shorter and one less question.  I pulled one question from my Facebook page and one question from my blog that came out of my live chat on Spreecast the other day.  So, a big thanks to Eric and Emmy for helping me out this week.  I talk about the hottest place to spot celebrities and what reporters/publications do when they have a hot story on their hands. If you have questions or comments for next week's episode, hit me up in the comments below.

If you missed my Spreecast from Monday, you can check out the show here.  We will be doing it again on Monday, July 30th at 6:30PM PT/9:30PM ET at Spreecast.  

Clearing Out the Clutter, Rediscovering My 15 Minutes of Fame.

Since I am home for much of the summer versus hitting the road like I do the rest of the year, I am cleaning out the clutter.  I am posting clothes on Ebay and Smashion, I had a yard sale over the weekend, and I purging the junk drawer, closet, box....wherever I can clean, I will!  While cleaning out one of my end tables, I can across some great entertainment memorabilia.  Much of it was from the 2007 Academy Awards, the program, ticket, and a few of the entertainment magazines from the event when I was on the red carpet versus covering the red carpet.  I also came across a July 25, 2007 People magazine and I couldn't remember why I held on to it, but here's what was happening just four years ago:

1.  Eva Longoria and Tony Parker got married in France on 7.7.07.  I guess that wasn't their lucky number.

2.  The MailBag featured letters from readers who were thrilled that Billy Ray Cyrus was "Raising a Teen Star (The Right Way!)".  Sure, dating men in their 20's, taking half-nude photos on your iPhone, and grinding against a pole at the MTV Music Awards is definitely a great way to raise your Disney kid.

3.  Lindsay Lohan was partying.  Oh wait, that hasn't changed.

4.  Charlie Sheen got engaged to Brooke Mueller.  I wish I could tell the girl, "Run for your life!"  Oh well, we all know how that one turned out.

5.  The main article focused on rich teens like Hilary Duff, Daniel Radcliffe, and the High School Musical kids who are now officially.....rich adults.

Finally, I came across an article and I knew why I had kept the magazine.  Take a look at this photo.  Look carefully.  Maybe you see someone familiar?

 Leave it to me to have my 15 minutes in People magazine with a drug possession/arrest article.

Year in Review: July 2010

I was looking through my calendar and my photos from July 2010 and I was happy to see that I took some time to relax.  I am really going to try and make that a priority for 2011...maybe 2/3 work and 1/3 personal. I think that is a good start since my life last year was 90% work and 10% play.  Here's to New Year's Resolutions!

1. While in Chicago for Women's Health Magazine's annual Are You Game?, I had a chance to hang with one of my favorite cousins, Michael. He's been my little buddy ever since the day he was born.  Awwww......

2.  I was invited by Lexus Dark Ride to the opening of SPiN Hollywood at the Mondrian Hotel.  It was an evening of A-listers like Susan Sarandon and an evening of D-listers like Michael Lohan who arrived at the party on the same exact day his daughter, Lindsay, went to jail.  Ponder that thought for a moment.  Anyway, I had a great night laughing until my stomach hurt with my pal, Maria.

3. On the set of one of my favorite live online shows, Stupid for Movies, hosted by Wade Major and Mark Keizer, and created by my pal, Mike Rotman.  I was lucky enough to be asked to do a guest spot where I had the opportunity to bring in a film you might have missed. Given my love for Bob Fosse, All That Jazz was my pick.  I like to think I was ahead of the latest dance movie trend.  If you love Black Swan, do yourself a favor and watch Fosse's incredible film.  Also, I will hopefully be helping out on SFM during Awards Season in 2011, but I will keep you posted about any possible upcoming appearances.

4.  You know how much I love my Prius, well, you are going to get really tired of me once the 2012 PHV Prius comes out.  Here I am at the Plug-In Conference in San Jose.

5.  The ITVFest Opening Night Gala continues to be one of the hottest parties in Web TV each summer.  Here are a few photos from my red carpet coverage where I hugged.....everyone and check out the red carpet interviews with Mingle Media TV here.

(Yes, that is James Denton of Desperate Housewives. Swoon.)

Photos 5-7:  Courtesy of Mingle Media TV

LINDSAY LOHAN

DE QUIÉN SON ESOS ZAPATOS?

 

que lindos shoes

The GQ/Glee Controversy

Well, the controversy of the week belongs to GQ Magazine and the cast of Glee.  Someone has to be a part of a media's salacious story of the week and I imagine Lea Michele and Dianna Agron are wishing it would go away or that the cast of Hellcats would do something tabloid-worthy.  If you missed all of the controversy, the Parents Television Council "denounced the makers of the TV show 'Glee' for a hyper-sexualized GQ photo shoot that will be featured in the November issue.”  Words like "pedophilia" have been thrown around in the press and Dianna Agron took to her blog and apologized to those that are offended by the shoot. 

Many people have weighed in on the photos adding that the cast members involved in the shoot are all in their 20's and that Glee really isn't a show for the young set.  I think what people are failing to realize is that they are missing the real point of this controversy.  We get it:  GQ is a men's magazine, Glee is a hot, and sometimes racy, show, and parents to need monitor what their kids are watching on TV or reading in magazines.  The real tragedy is the handlers for these young stars.  I am sure there was a network publicist or an agent/assistant/manager to one of these young stars on set that day.  Who decided that Lea Michele posing with her crotch open to the camera in white panties would be great for her career?  I realize at 24 years of age, she is an adult, but she has been thrust into the spotlight and things are happening around her quickly.  That is when you need a strong advocate on your team and they failed the young stars of Glee that day.  

Look, I think that the Dianna Agron pictures aren't that bad. She is dressed like every video vixen from the 1980's and Cory Monteith gets off easy because he is a guy.  It's Lea Michele who really gets stuck.  Her body looks amazing, but she really needed someone in her corner that day.  Unless you have a contract to pose for Playboy or Penthouse, you should never spread eagle in front of the camera.  I actually feel bad for her.  If you want to know what happens to young Hollywood, it starts with all of the handlers saying "yes" to everything for fear jeopardizing their young star's career and the cash flow that is coming in so quickly.  When people learn to say "no", you have a career like Anne Hathaway, not Lindsay Lohan.  The bottom line, young actors have to start understanding show business is just that:  a business that is dying for you to put on a show.  

Take a look at more of the photos from the November issue of GQ.  Weigh in. I want to know what you think:

**All photos are property of GQ Magazine.

Off With Her Head

I'm tired, kids.  Tired of the shenanigans of those Hollywood starlets who offer nothing but the same tabloid fodder year after year.  Now, don't get me wrong, I still read my Hollywood gossip, but I don't need to hear about the following people anymore........or ever:  Lindsay, Britney, Paris, Kim, Khloe, Kourtney, or Miley. I just don't care.  What I do care about is finding out what one of our little troubled tarts was wearing for her 590348530958th court appearance.  So, I say, "Off with her head, let's get right to the fashion!"

Photo Courtesy of  Tony Canham/Getty Images

While I don't care for her antics, I sure do like her outfit.  Here's where I stand so far:

Jacket:  ??

Skirt:  ??

Shirt:  ??

Shoes:  Christian Louboutin

Yep, all I can name is the shoes because I can see the red soles peeking out.  Can anyone help here?  I will find a prize from the Red Carpet Closet to anyone that can help me assemble this outfit.  I'm not looking for knockoffs on this one, I want the read deal.   Ready, set, go!

But wait, there is one more outfit!  I have been asking around about this dress worn by Tina Fey on a recent episode of 30 Rock.  A good friend of mine is looking for this dress and I offered to help. I have reached out to several fashion contacts, but no one has given me a concrete answer yet.  So, perhaps you can help?  I know a lot of my friends, readers, and fellow bloggers are total fashionistas, can you spot the designer on this dress?  Again, a prize from Red Carpet Closet to the person who hooks me up with the correct answer.  

Even if I buy the Lindsay outfit, I promise that you won't see a SCRAM bracelet on my ankle ever.  I wouldn't want to draw focus away from my beloved shoes.  Happy Searching and Thank You from Red Carpet Closet.

My Tabloid Life

Okay, I'm not really leading a tabloid life, but I need to rant here for a little and some of it is my own fault.  See, I have a bit of an addiction to a little US Weekly and perhaps I have Perez Hilton bookmarked on my tool bar.  I'm part of the problem even though I now refuse to read any Kardashian, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, or Palin Family articles anymore.  I'm just tired.  Give me scoop on Sandra Bullock and her cute baby or Shiloh's "Montenegro" style outfits, but save me from these famous-for-no-reason-people.  I like light and fluffy, not overexposed, talentless hacks, but lately I can't seem to avoid these paparazzi-on-speed-dial-manufactured-"stars".  Besides my willingness to buy the magazine or click on a link, I blame Alexis Neiers.  Why?  She started my tabloid month.

I was in downtown LA at the courthouse sitting on a bench one day (I'm not a criminal, just helping out someone on a case.) when I see this wild-eyed woman walk past me with a huge entourage.  Holy cow! It's that wacky, hippy dippy mom from Pretty Wild on E!.  I scour the crowd and see her daughter, Alexis Neiers, in the middle of the pack.  Ah, she's turning herself in today.  That's what you get for being part of the "Bling Ring" and breaking into Orlando Bloom's home.  (And Mazel Tov to him for getting married yesterday!)  This encounter led to a series of F-list encounters that comes full circle back to Lindsay Lohan and Alexis.

Earlier this week, I head off to the opening of SPiN Hollywood at the Mondrian.  This is a hip new ping pong bar owned by Susan Sarandon. Great, my reality show luck has turned as I see Susan, her gorgeous daughter, Eva Amurri, and a slew of ICM agents circling the VIP table.  An Oscar winner?  Score.  This is an A-list night.  Well, it WAS an A-List night until they all decided to go to dinner and the riff-raff took over.  Over in the far corner stood The Bachelor's, Vienna Girardi.  She looks much softer and prettier in person, but I just wanted to tell her that Jake Pavelka really did ping my gaydar, so she's much better off.  Then, the ultimate F-lister joins us.  Oh yeah, Michael Lohan.  He had been on every news outlet that would have him crying about how upset he was that Lindsay was jailed that day.  Waaahhh, waaaaahhhh.  Yeah, he's so upset that he HAD to attend the opening of a ping pong lounge.  Would you be out partying if your daughter was sent to jail that day?  Just saying.

Yep, that's Michael Lohan at the SPiN Hollywood party. See how upset he looks?  (Snort)  The best part is the SPiN employee's shirt:  "Balls are my business".  Awesome.


That's when we knew it was time to exit the building.  Susan's out, Michael's in, and with that, we hustled right back out onto Sunset Boulevard.  And Lindsay Lohan?  Well, she's sitting in a prison cell right next to Alexis Neiers.  Yep, Lindsay was a victim of the "Bling Ring" too.  Poetic justice or just another day in Hollywood, kids?

**UPDATE** As of Saturday, July 24th, Alexis Neiers has been released from jail.  Uh-oh, do my tabloid run-ins start all over again?  Stay tuned.......

  

LET´S GO!