Cory Monteith: An all-too-familiar & tragic Hollywood ending

Last night I received a text from a friend just as the news about Cory Monteith's passing was breaking. This is exactly the same way the Heath Ledger news went down in 2008. In 1993, it was via a New York Post headline for the shocking news of River Phoenix's death. Sadly, the news of losing someone far too young in such a tragic way like Phoenix or Ledger will happen again and again. It's a familiar Hollywood tale.

While we don't know yet what caused Monteith's death since an autopsy won't be performed until Monday. (Toxicology tests can take weeks for the final results.) However, the public and media will speculate what might have happened.

On May 2, I wrote an article about the Glee star and his devoted girlfriend/co-star Lea Michele for SheKnows. The article discussed the united front the two were showing upon his release from his stint in rehab. It's really hard to even read that article now, especially with the adorable video that accompanies it.

Post-rehab Cory Monteith & Lea Michele show a united front >>

I've interviewed Michele before and she is a driven and focused young woman. She's not a familiar face on the Hollywood party circuit. Everyone I know who has worked with the young couple said that they were great together and that the Broadway star's positive influence was good for Monteith. From friends to co-workers, that rehab stint this spring was a surprise to everyone. No one had an inkling he was in trouble and that his former demons had resurfaced.

Addiction is a beast and it's even harder under the microscope of Hollywood, fame and fortune. The 31-year-old was always honest and open about his struggles. In Tinsel Town, it's really an admirable quality in a city that is filled with smoke and mirrors.

As he told Parade magazine in June 2011, "I don't want kids to think it's okay to drop out of school and get high, and they'll be famous actors, too. But for those people who might give up: Get real about what you want and go after it."

Let's remember Cory Monteith as the talent that he was...youthful, hopeful and sweet to the core.

"Just the Way You Are"

Media Mondays

Happy Memorial Day, everyone!  I hope you are all enjoying the day off while remembering all of those who bravely fought for our freedom throughout history. You are appreciated--thank you!

Here are all of last week's media appearances. Pick and choose your adventure:

AfterBuzz TV DWTS: Final week....last of the controversies. You can find it all here.
Kell
The Hangover III premiere:  All of the photos are here.

AfterBuzz TV SYTYCD:  The show will ramp up once the audition rounds are over, but we are still discussing what we are seeing in each city as the contestants head to Vegas.



Tom Barnard Podcast:  We talk about the Biebs at the Billboard Music Awards and Bradley Cooper wearing a pumpkin suit at The Hangover III red carpet. I come in at 2:08.

SheKnows:
Kellie Pickler comes out on top on Dancing with the Stars:  All of the delicious controversies...phew, glad that's over.
Jennifer Lawrence's hot bod for X-Men: No body paint this time, it's a body suit.
Lea Michele lands a book deal:  Would you buy this book?

The Amy Beth Arkawy Show: I chatted with Amy Beth about the string of TV cancellations and what we can expect from next season's TV shows. Listen here.

My Top 10 Thoughts About The 2012 Golden Globes

Photo Credit: Esquire

The show is over and my Top 10 is up!  I thought this year was rather snoozy versus boozy.  Do you agree?

1.  Spray Tan:  When you are asked if you want a second coat, just say "no".  Oompa Loompa orange is not pretty and we witnessed it on too many last night.  Bradley Cooper, Matt LeBlanc, and Rob Lowe, I'm talking to you.

2.  Accessories:  Every lady will be sporting a sparkly headband on the red carpet this season and men will be sashaying down the press line with a Brad Pitt-inspired cane.  Even an injury can be hot when you're shacking up with Angelina and your best friend is Clooney.

3.  Please EAT, Julie Bowen:
This is Julie Bowen in 2012:

  This is a healthier Julie Bowen in 2011:

I ran into her about two weeks ago.  It (her scrawny body) doesn't look pretty in person.  Bones aren't beauty.  Sorry, Hollywood.

4.  Reese Witherspoon: I've called off the Baby Bump Watch.  She's not pregnant.

5. Year of the Actress:  I've seen just about everything this awards show season and I cannot think of a finer year with standout performances by women:  Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Viola Davis, Jessica Chastain, Michelle Williams, Octavia Spencer, and Tilda Swinton are proving you don't have to be 25 years old to get the juicy meaty roles in this town.

6.  Ricky Gervais:  He was funnier last year.  Less snark makes Ricky a dull boy.

7.  Sofia Vergara: I don't find her that funny on Modern Family with her non-stop yelling and yapping.  She keeps on receiving nominations.  I said her acting was one note.  A pal reminded me her acting is "two note".  Yes, kids, she's getting honored for her own Golden Globes.  So, while I might find her acting over the top and not award worthy, her dress certainly merited a mention here.

8.  Sarah Michelle Gellar:  Um.......color is always good on the red carpet, just not like this:

Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage.com

9.  Lea Michele:  This is also a NO.  Look, Lea works a mean red carpet and everyone knows it, including Sarah Hyland.  Lea takes fashion risks, but they don't always pay off.  This was one of those times.

10.  The Truth:  If any of these red carpets during award show season make you feel bad about yourself, here is the truth.  Fantasy:  The first photo is of me on Thursday night with a spray tan plus an outfit assembled by a stylist, hair professionally done, and makeup courtesy of a makeup artist.

Reality: This is the REAL me and my pal Julie at our Golden Globes party in Detroit.  Feel good about yourself, don't let the smoke and mirrors fool you.

What were your thoughts on last night's Golden Globes?  Give me the scoop in the comments below.

New Year's Eve With Zac Efron

At the press junket for the film, New Year's Eve.

I had a pretty amazing birthday this year.  I had the opportunity to spend the day with Michelle Pfeiffer, Abigail Breslin, Hector Elizondo, Lea Michele, and Zac Efron from the movie, New Year's Eve.  Not a bad day on the job at all.  I headed over to the Beverly Hilton Hotel to ask the cast about their experiences on the set and if they believed in New Year's resolutions.  Not surprisingly, most did not share their New Year's resolutions because I think we all make a list each year and often fail or forget about the list.  If a celebrity makes that resolution public, I'm sure the tabloids would love to hold them accountable for it. I expected everyone to be excited about the Lea Michele interview, but I found out on Twitter that Zac Efron has some fervent fans.  So fervent, they call themselves "Zanessa" fans.

Now, let's talk about this for a moment: Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens met and dated during their High School Musical years.  They were a very cute couple and they lived in my neighborhood, so I saw them quite a bit with the paparazzi constantly on their trail.  Like many first loves, they broke up.  This happened about a year ago.  Well, the Zanessa fans relentlessly hounded me on Twitter to ask Zac about Vanessa when I'm supposed to be asking about New Year's Eve.  They called me a bad reporter.  Giggle and sigh.  I understand when fans get excited about their favorite stars, I think that is why it is so enjoyable to interview the Disney Channel stars.  However, at a certain point, you have to understand that these stars have a life and feelings and sometimes things should just be private.  Zac hasn't ever discussed the Vanessa break-up and I doubt he will beyond saying it was a lovely time in his life, she's a sweet girl, etc. (You know, the standard answers to the press.  So, foolish me for thinking everyone wanted to hear a Glee interview, they wanted a Zac interview.  I definitely learned something that day and it convinced me that having enthusiastic fans is pretty powerful in Hollywood these days.  I should have remembered that from my Angie Harmon Twangels encounter......maybe that's my New Year's resolution? Remember the fans, KB, remember the fans!!



Anyway, enjoy my interviews for iVillage with Zac and Michelle Pfeiffer, who is perhaps the most stunning celebrity I have ever interviewed and so NICE to boot,  as well as Lea Michele, who gave a great answer to her red carpet/Twitter disagreement with Modern Family star Sarah Hyland.



What's your New Year's resolution?  Let me know in the comments below.

Don't forget to enter my Holiday Giveaway!  You have until Sunday, December 18th to enter.

Does Zac Efron Make A Good Birthday Present?

Are the holidays flying by or is it just me?  I am running around and enjoying the holiday season. I'm not traveling right now, so it's good to be home with a living room that smells like Balsam and Cedar.  No fake trees allowed in my house.

Here are a few places to catch some of my recent work:

1. Sprint:  I shot this commercial back in May 2002.  It was the worst audition of my life, yet I booked the job.  They cast me as a sheriff which is completely bizarre.  I finally dug up the old VHS tape and transferred it to DVD only to find that it was already on YouTube (Of course!).  Take a look at this:  The Sprint Guy, Charo, an unknown Jane Lynch, and me as a Sheriff.  Enjoy the old hairstyle and feel free to make fun of me.

2.  Nerdy at Thirty:  I was on the Nerdy at Thirty radio show last night at the same time that I was covering Radio Disney's NBT finals.  It was loud and I had every Disney Channel kid running around while I was trying to talk.  Ah, showbiz is so glamorous.  You can listen to the broadcast here.

On the phone for my interview with Nerdy at Thirty while covering the Radio Disney NBT finals. 

3. The Web Files:  For those of you who have hung around Red Carpet Closet for awhile, you might remember this show.  Well, PlaceVine kindly gave us a great review and a write-up on the show.  You can read the article here and see the shows here.

4.  My Birthday Weekend:  I started out my weekend with the press junket for the film, New Year's Eve.  Spending my birthday with Zac Efron, Lea Michele, and Michelle Pfeiffer was not hard work at all. (Coverage coming soon!).  Then it was dinner in LA with friends and then off to Vegas to hang with my NYC pals. It was a great weekend and it sure beats last year's dismal celebration.  Here are a couple of photos from the festivities.

 My friend took me to Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in Vegas where I hung out with Britney Spears and Hugh Hefner.  My friends take me to the best places.

I'll be back tomorrow with all of the coverage from Radio Disney's NBT from videos to photos to the inside scoop.  

In the meantime, tell me what you are up to this holiday season in the comments below: