AfterBuzz TV, Dancing with the Stars: Week 2 with Anna Trebunskaya

My notes, gossip, and Twitter page ready for last night's show.

I want to thank everyone for joining us last night on AfterBuzz TV for Dancing with the Stars. I had a blast tweeting live with many of you at our official hashtag:  #ABTVDance.  It was interesting to see the show from a different perspective since I joined via phone from New York.

One thing I want to address is our current time slot. Many of you on the East Coast have asked about the time of our show.  This season, we are locked into a 9pm PT time slot.  This will remain a fixed time for Season 16.  I know this is late for most you on the East Coast (I know firsthand, since I was up until after 1am ET chatting with you!) We will definitely take this into consideration for next season, but I want to let you know why we are on so late:

1.  AfterBuzz TV is a full working studio with many shows scheduled before and after us.  Since Season 16 of DWTS falls mid-season, we have to take the available studio slots.

2.  The times that were available were not always convenient for our DWTS guests, so we took the best slot that would make our show more attractive for the pros and celebs to come on our show. If we schedule it too early, we cut into rehearsal time. If we schedule it on a broadcast day, we won't get anyone.

3. AfterBuzz TV actually moved around the schedule to accommodate our 9pm PT slot. Originally, it was going to be at 10pm PT...which is even worse for you East Coasters.  So, the crew and I are very grateful that they made this happen.

So, don't worry, we hear you!  We will take your comments and suggestions and use them for Season 17. In the meantime, please enjoy last night's broadcast below or download the podcast in iTunes here.

Hyundai's Press Event at NYIAS: 2014 Equus

It is always such a thrill to work in New York.  I lived here for nine years and I miss the craziness of the city sometimes. Yes, LA offers its own version of crazy, but there's nothing like New York. 

This week, I was back at the New York International Auto show for Hyundai's press event for the 2014 Equus. I've been honored to host their internet broadcasts for the last year and it has been so much fun to interact with the executives, designers, and Hyundai owners who represent the brand so well. 

Chef Tom Colicchio

It was such a thrill that Top Chef's Tom Colicchio was also on hand to serve up some incredible food to the attendees. It was the perfect pairing to a premium brand like the Hyundai Equus.  

You can see a snippet of yesterday's broadcast below which begins in the streets of Manhattan.  For the full broadcast, head to the Hyundai site to see more of yesterday's event.




My NYC adventures don't end just yet. I will be on Vh1's Big Morning Buzz with Carrie Keagan on Friday, March 29 LIVE at 10am.  I can't wait to talk about the day's pop culture events.

AfterBuzz TV: DWTS Week 2 Show Updates

I know I have been chatting with a lot of you on Twitter, so some of you know I am working in New York this week.  I will still be participating in the show though. (And what a week it was! Wow! I wouldn't miss it.)

As of right now, this is how the show will run:

Suri will be leading the show and joining her in studio: Jake DuPree,whom some of you may know from AfterBuzz TV's Vanderpump Rules show. Also in studio, Anna Trebunskaya, last seen in Season 15 of DWTS: All-Stars with Drew Lachey.

I will be joining the show live on the phone from New York.

As for Peta (See, I got her name right!) Murgatroyd and Sean Lowe, they are still up in the air. Their schedule keeps changing, so it's been a "yes" and now it's a "maybe."  The rehearsal schedule is brutal and everyone wants to compete and win.  We have to be patient, but we will get as many guests for you as possible this season.

If this news changes, I will try and update it here and on Twitter.

Thanks for all of your comments and support. I have tried to answer as many of your comments as possible this week. Let me know if I have missed you somehow.

See you tonight on AfterBuzz TV!

Watch the show here live at 9pm PT/Midnight ET.

If you missed any of my DWTS coverage from last week, you can find it here. 

Media Mondays

I didn't take any photos in LA last week. In this day and age of all digital, all iPhone, all Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, I find that hard to believe.  Okay, I do have a few DWTS photos, but I posted those with the Sharna Burgess interviews.  So, I pulled out an old photo from a night out with my pals Jenine Mayring and Kelly Stables from 2004-ish. If Kelly looks familiar to you, she's currently starring on The Exes on TV Land.  The best part of the photo is that I'm wearing a sheer lacy shirt and I have a really bad haircut. Awesome!

Here are a few of my media appearances from last week:

DWTS:  You can find everything here.

SheKnows:
Gwyneth Paltrow's spring fashions total over $450,000--Um, someone might be out of touch with reality.
Selena Gomez: Wingman for her dad at Hooters--Because you just can't make stuff like this up.
Holly Madison: "I was laughing as I was pushing"--She also named her kid Rainbow Aurora. Yikes!

The Radio Dish:  Justin Bieber is a punk. Is it the beginning of the end?  Listen in at the 19:45 mark.

It's Monday, so you have two opportunities to catch me on the air today:
1:30pm PT Metro News Hotline with Dave Weekley
7:35pm PT Driving with Gass on KWSS.org

Own Lifting Eye Cream

From time to time I'm given products to test drive. This month, it is Own Lifting Eye Cream which happened to be great timing since I was looking for something to help battle the dryness of winter around the sensitive eye area.  I have been really picky with ingredients when it comes to skin and hair products because the FDA approves too many sketchy ingredients.  I think we all need to become more aware of what we are putting in and on our bodies.  So, the good news is that Own products eliminate some of the ingredients I am concerned about.

Description of the Product:

Own Anti-Aging Lifting Eye Cream is formulated to lift and smooth wrinkles while brightening skin with clinically proven CLA technology. CLA technology lifts and firms, restores and hydrates so your eyes can look as good as you feel.

Own Anti-Aging Lifting Eye Cream has been clinically proven to:
● Reduce the appearance of crow’s feet by 61%
● Decrease in the total number of wrinkles around the eye area by 30%

Product Details
● Retinol-free formula
● Does not cause irritation, redness or flakiness
● Dermatologist-tested
● Fragrance-free
● Paraben-free
● Sulfate-free

Does it Work?:
From my experience, nothing gets rid of lines completely unless you are going under the knife or hit the Botox, but this product does reduce fine lines, especially if your skin is dry.  Since I have been traveling between Chicago and LA all winter, my skin has been suffering from the winter climates.  This product has helped moisturize the delicate eye area.  The fine lines become less noticeable and the skin is plumped up by hydration.  There is no scent for people who are sensitive to fragrance and the elimination of possible cancer-causing Parabens makes it a product definitely worth checking out.

Cost:
The price is $23.99 for .5 fl. oz, but as you know a little dab will do you on eye cream so this should last you a long time.

Discount for YOU!:
Click HERE to order the product and make sure to enter CLAIFABBO1 at checkout for 30% off your first purchase of Own products.  That brings the eye cream down to about $16.80...not bad at all! The code expires on 4/01/13.

Connect:
If you want to learn more about Own products, you can follow them here:
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Pinterest


Disclosure: I was given a complimentary sample of this product by iFabbo. I was not paid and all opinions are my own.

Celebrity Photos of the Week: Colin Farrell, Sharna Burgess, Rozzi Crane

 Here's a little eye candy for you to end your week. Colin Farrell. 

Colin Farrell attended friend Ante Novakovic’s shorts premiere at the Gasparilla International Film Festival (GIFF) on Thursday, March 21, 2013.  Colin, came to Tampa, Florida to support his friend’s directional debut for the short, The Fix. Rumor has it that he was really sweet to everyone, posing for photos, and watching all of the shorts presented that night. I like to hear that.

 Me and the awesome Rozzi Crane at the Staples Center.

I am still waiting on our video interview, but the article is up on SheKnows!  She's such a superstar and mark my words, she's going to be big. Read all about her and her career as the first artist signed to Adam Levine's 222 Records.

Me, Sharna Burgess, Suri Serano, and Karl Warden

 It was so much fun to return to AfterBuzz TV for Dancing with the Stars. In case you missed it, here is the video and my exclusive article with Sharna Burgess for SheKnows.



Colin Farrell Photo Credit: GIFF
AfterBuzz TV Photo Credit: Suri Serano

AfterBuzz TV's Dancing with the Stars: Sharna Burgess

We are finally back for Season 16 on AfterBuzz TV and Suri Surano and I started off with a bang!  We had guests Sharna Burgess, who is paired with Andy Dick this season, and professional dancer/choreographer and coach on Stars in Danger, Karl Warden, in studio with us.

Let me know what you think of episode 1. We always love your comments. And yes, I accidentally called Peta by the wrong name. I know her name isn't Petra.  Anything can happen with a live broadcast so mistakes do happen. Yep, I made a mistake! I'm human. 

Check out my EXCLUSIVE interview with Sharna Burgess for SheKnows:
DWTS' new pro Sharna Burgess:  Andy Dick is "in a great place"

Next week's Guests:  The Bachelor's Sean Lowe and Peta Murgatroyd. Same time, same place: 9pm PT on AfterBuzz TV.

If you want to listen to the broadcast in iTunes, you can download it here.

Media Mondays...on a Tuesday

Green river in Chicago!

I hope you all had a fun St. Patrick's Day weekend. My holiday was spent in Chicago where they take the holiday very seriously. The crowds were lined up at the bars as early as 8 a.m. in order to drink their green beer. The weather was freezing though, so I hope it was worth it. I can't imagine needing a drink that badly, but then again, I can't drink green beer anyway.

Here are some of my media appearances from last week...pick and choose your adventures!

I spent a lot of time writing last week, so it was nice to go for a run outside and see this.

If you missed my Ryan Seacrest/Julianne Hough article about their split and the PR machine about the breaking story, click here. To see the new promo for AfterBuzz TV's Dancing with the Stars, click here.

Tom Barnard Podcast:  The one where I accidentally ask if former Minnesota Vikings player Mike Morris had a Super Bowl ring. Oops, I didn't know Vikings didn't win the Super Bowl. Listen here.

The Radio Dish:  Does Matthew McConaughey have hair plugs? I give you the truth on his hair regrowth. Listen in at the 17:45 mark.

On the Fox lot to catch a sneak peek at Epic.

SheKnows:  My favorite articles from last week:
Epic: Animated films reflect a new generation for girls--My sneak peek look at the animated film, Epic.
Ryan Seacrest and Julianne Hough call it quits--They are never, ever, ever getting back together.
Director Ang Lee makes his next move: FX's Tyrant--As an Oscar winner, your next move is important. Lee makes a smart choice and does something fresh for his career.

Don't forget that I will be back on AfterBuzz TV with our first episode of Dancing with the Stars for Season 16. Our first guests will be Sharna Burgess and Andy Dick!  Watch us here live at 9pm PT. 

The Art of Breaking News: Ryan Seacrest and Julianne Hough

Yesterday, a big story broke at the end of the day and I talked about the thrill of breaking news on my Facebook page. When I say "big", I am not talking about important news that affects the world, I am talking about Hollywood fluff.  That's a part of my job, so that's what I am referring to here.

On Friday, at the end of a work day and the news cycle, it was announced via "sources" to People magazine that Ryan Seacrest and Julianne Hough had broken up.  I hopped on and wrote the breaking news article for SheKnows here as well as linking it to my Facebook page after my copy editor polished it up and published it. (I lucked out on the timing. I had to write one more article for the day just as the news was breaking.) The reactions to the breakup were interesting; everything from "the contract is up" to "I was rooting for them as a couple."

It's fascinating to me how the public interprets what publicists put out there and what the truth actually is. I usually read between the lines on the stories because it is Hollywood and it is all smoke and mirrors.  So, let me break down a few things about the Seacrest/Hough story.

And before anyone calls me heartless, I will go on record to say that breakups are tough and they are even tougher when they are public.

Also, I've interviewed Julianne twice now (here and here) and I think she is a total kick-ass awesome kind of gal. 

The Details
     1.  Ryan is 38 years old, Julianne is 24 years old.  There is a big age difference between the couple.
 
     2.  They both have huge careers. No one is busier than Ryan Seacrest, no one. Julianne
spent several months promoting Safe Haven. She has two other movies coming out this year. Her career is no.1 at this stage of the game. Julianne is young and she has to strike while the iron is hot.

    3.  Even though there has been no official statement from the couple's rep. Trust me, this is PR 101. You release a story at the end of the day and at the end of the work week. It lessens the impact of the news since less people are tuned into their TVs or the internet.  (Massive PR 101 strategy is releasing the news on a holiday weekend. See the Bethenny Frankel divorce announcement for an example of how it is done.)

     4.  The reason the news was released?  You can bet it relates back to the story about Julianne and the theft of her jewelry making headlines earlier in the week. Why was she staying at a friend's apartment when she lives with her boyfriend?  The media started sniffing around and the couple knew they had to make a move.

     5. "Sources" gave the exclusive to People.  People always does celeb-friendly articles.  They keep it light, tell the public they are still friends, etc. The source was most likely their publicist.

A few people have asked me if they will get back together?  My guess is that this is the end of the line for the couple. He's married to his work and she has a hot career to handle right now.  They were both supportive of each other's work though. In fact, Ryan was hanging out with the entire Hough family at the after party for the Safe Haven premiere.

As for the rumors about a dating contract because one of them is allegedly gay...I've never had any confirmation about those rumors in comparison to someone who might have starred in Saturday Night Fever, Grease, and Pulp Fiction.  So, until I hear otherwise...I think it's a case of age, heavy work schedules, and life in the public eye.

Now, that I've broken it all down for you. I want to hear your thoughts! Hit me up in the comments below:

AfterBuzz TV DWTS Week #1 Guests Are...

We are coming back on Wednesday, March 20th at 9pm PT LIVE on AfterBuzz TV for the after show of Dancing with the Stars!

Have you heard who our first guests are?

New pro Sharna Burgess and her celeb partner Andy Dick!  

Suri Serano and I are so excited to be back and joining you for Season 16! Get ready for all of the fun and the drama.

A huge thanks to AfterBuzz TV supporter, Adrian, for creating this amazing promo for our new season.  If you have questions for Sharna or Andy, hit me up in the comments below.  See you on Wednesday!

Are You Looking For A Summer Internship?

If you are looking for a fun summer internship, look no further than what 20th Century Fox and Miller Lite are doing for two weeks this summer. In conjunction with upcoming comedy, The Internship, starring Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, the two companies are partnering up to offer four friend with are of legal drinking age to experience the job of a lifetime.

While your friends are slaving away in some boring and stuffy law office, you could be spending two weeks in an RV tricked out like a man cave with stops in Philadelphia, Charlotte, Milwaukee, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles.  How do some of these tasks sound?

• Checking out the Miller Lite plant
• Hitting a pool party in Vegas
• Sitting in the pit for Brad Keselowski's team on race day
• Walking the red carpet at the premiere of The Internship                                                                       

Ryan Reis, the senior director of marketing for Miller Lite said it best, "Our partnership with ‘The Internship’ film led us to wonder, what would a dream internship with Miller Lite look like? Miller Time is all about great times over a beer with good friends, so the winners had to be a group of friends rather than an individual. And to deliver on the great times part of that equation, we’re going to fill their internship with the type of experiences only Miller Lite can deliver.”     

Here's how to enter:

1. Go to the Miller Lite Facebook page to enter. You have until April 7.
2. You must enter as a set of four and everyone in the group must be of legal drinking age.

From there a panel of judges will select 15 groups of finalists. Finalists will then be interviewed either video conference call or in person in Chicago.  The winners will hit the road with Miller Lite from May 17-May 30.

The Internship hits the big screen on June 7.

Good luck and be safe out there on the road!  Let me know if you win! (And ladies, you should enter...you can always redecorate that man cave.)

Media Mondays

A gluten free cupcake from Frosted Cupcakery. Yum!

All of my media appearances from last week.  Pick and choose...and enjoy!

Dara On Radio:  Dara always asks the really good in-depth questions about what goes on behind the scenes at the awards shows. This time, it was all about the Oscars.  Listen here.

Tom Barnard Podcast:  The most I will ever reveal about my significant other is right here on the Tom Barnard Podcast.  Also, Tom reveals his love for Ed Burns.  Listen here, I come in at the 48:00 mark.

SheKnows: A few of my favorite articles this week--
Who Gave Barbara Walters The Chicken Pox?--Frank Langella, but she never explains that New Year's kiss. Hmmm...
Director Sam Mendes says no to the next Bond film--This bums me out.
Emma Watson vamps it up in The Bling Ring--I cannot wait to see this Sofia Coppola movie.


WNWO:  I make a little cameo at the 2:15 mark...in Toledo!


Cocktails and Conversation:  It was fun to be back with Erika and Robin after a little longer hiatus than normal. We talked about why Justin Bieber is a punk. I come in at the 17:00 mark. Listen here.

Oz The Great And Powerful: The Mila Kunis Interview

My feet on the yellow brick road...

If you are planning on seeing Oz The Great And Powerful this weekend, walk, don't run, to the theatre.  It's a fun and colorful journey back to the Emerald City.  While it's not in the same category as the Judy Garland classic, this prequel gives the viewer some great backstory on how the Wizard came to be.

I have already written a couple of posts about the film. You can take a look at some of the fun Oz merchandise and also see my interview with the entire cast talking about the magical power they would like to have and how they would use it.

Below is a more extensive interview with Mila Kunis who plays Theodora in the film. We talked about life, love in Hollywood, and the dreaded paparazzi.  You can also see the companion article my iVillage colleague, Ali Gray, wrote for the piece here.

If you see the movie this weekend, let me know what you think in the comments below!

Oz The Great And Powerful: The Interviews

The week is finally here!  I feel like my interviews with the cast of Oz The Great And Powerful were a million years ago yet, it was only the weekend before the Oscars.  This video has the whole cast explaining the one magical power they would like to have and how they would use it. I received some surprising answers. My iVillage colleague, Ali Gray, also wrote a companion article to this piece, so be sure to give her some love here.



If you missed my breakdown of the Oz The Great and Powerful gift bag, click here. They gave us a few really cool items that I am already using.

Are you going to see the movie this weekend?  Let me know what you think in the comments below.

Red Carpet Questions: 4 Tips To Survive Your Next Big Premiere

Lately, I have been noticing people are being directed to my blog and looking for "red carpet interview questions" via Google. A discussion about this same topic also came up with one of the media outlets I work for.  Red carpet questions are very specific, so here are 4 tips for your next red carpet interview.

1. "Brevity is the soul of wit": While Shakespeare wasn't talking about the red carpet when he wrote these words in Hamlet, it is a really good phrase to remember. Your red carpet questions should be short, concise and to the point. As any experienced entertainment reporter will tell you, time is of the essence. You might only get one question with a celeb, make it count.  This isn't the time to roll out the question that requires three or four follow-up questions. Save that question for the sit-down interview.

George Clooney is a pro. He can answer red carpet questions with his eyes shut.

2.  Do Your Research:  You should get a tip sheet before the event and at the event, but don't expect to do your research on your iPhone five minutes before the carpet starts.  At big events like the Oscars, data service can be spotty with so many people all trying to tweet, text, and IMDB every A-lister in Hollywood.  Be prepared, it will make you a much better reporter.  Tip: My homepage on my laptop is The Hollywood Reporter. It will keep you updated on the latest industry deals, cancellations, and gossip.

3.  Be Original: When you are the last media outlet on the red carpet, the celebs are exhausted and probably do not want to stop to talk anymore.  So, even if  you have to shout the question at them (and often you will have to do this), make it an original one...even if it sounds absurd.  You will often get the soundbite of the night, a funny quip, or at least a laugh.  BuzzFeed listed "The 10 Dumbest Red Carpet Questions" ever, try to avoid these...although your media probably will want the usual "Who are you wearing?" question.  One other question to avoid is: "What's in your purse tonight?"  If you are totally stuck, these can be your back-up emergency questions, but try not to use them because everyone else does.

4. Kindness and Courtesy: Celebs are human and they go through the same trials and tribulations all of us do. So, don't be that guy on the red carpet who is rude and intrusive, have a little compassion. If you are going to ask super personal questions about someone's divorce, loss, or financial issues, don't be direct and ask, "What has life been like since your husband cheated on you, left you broke, took the kids, and then divorced you?" You aren't going to make any friends.  Try something softer like, "When you are faced with challenges in life, what have you learned about yourself?"  You will get a soundbite and much more appreciative celeb.

I hope this helps your next red carpet adventure.  If you have more tips or questions, feel free to add them to the comments section below.  As always, you can tweet, Facebook, or Google + me, too!

Media Mondays

Oh, I am a little slow on my Media Monday this week.  I think things will be back to normal-ish by Wednesday, so I will update you on what has been happening.  Here are all of the crazy places I was last week:

Oscars:  If you missed my coverage, you will find it all here.

Tom Barnard Podcast:  This was a fun episode since I had the opportunity to appear with a former colleague from ShopNBC, Christopher Straub. If you are a fan of Project Runway, then you remember him from Season 6.  Listen here.

SheKnows:
Did Anne Hathaway have an Oscar-sized meltdown?--All signs point to a "yes."
Jack Nicholson crashes Jennifer Lawrence interview--Creepy or just Jack?
Jennifer Aniston ready to be Mrs. Theroux--Then the baby bump rumors begin all over again.

On The Red Carpet With Sofia Alves

Sometimes when you are at the biggest event in Hollywood, you need a little perspective. Well, I got that perspective from Sofia Alves who traveled all the way from Portugal as a part of the Make-A-Wish program.  They flew her in to see the red carpet action at the Oscars.  The group then surprised her with the opportunity to walk the red carpet and hold an Oscar statuette. What a fun night!

I've been working with IBM with their #MySmarterCommerce campaign and how technology affects my career and my life.  It is stories like this that make me so proud to work in the online space and introduce you to a special girl like Sofia.


It was such a pleasure to meet you, Sofia! (By the way, she's on Twitter:  @ana_ralves)

My interview with Sofia Alves:


Photo courtesy of James Molnar