Hollywood and Mental Illness

This summer has been rough, hasn't it? We lost lots of young talent and TV personalities lately. Amanda Bynes will hopefully be saved, but I'm not sure the media will be saved. Yep, I am one of the people who has to cover celebrities with drug addictions, mental illness and trips to rehab. So, I am guilty as charged. However, I do feel like we have a responsibility to some of these celeb having public breakdowns.

I got to a point midway through the Bynes saga where I just felt sorry for her. I didn't want to write about her latest cry for attention on Twitter. I didn't want to hear who she targeted for her latest "you're ugly" comment. I just wanted her to get help.

The problem is that it ain't easy.  Every comment I read on articles about the former Nickelodeon star insinuated that her parents were horrible for not helping their daughter. Hey guys, guess what? Their daughter is over 18 years old, she can do whatever she wants. It wasn't until she had an epic event like burning someone's driveway that the law could finally do something with her. She's on an involuntary psychiatric hold where she is reportedly being treated for schizophrenia. It's a lot less funny now, right?

In the last week, the entertainment community has lost a reality TV star with Gia Allemand and Rizzoli & Isles star Lee Thompson Young to suicide. Depression runs deep and for some, suicide seems to be the only answer. Sadly, Allemand and Young felt like they had no other place to turn. 

In this 24/7 news cycle that I actively participate in, I want Hollywood to step up and be more sensitive to those that are suffering. I hope we don't see another saga like Amanda Bynes or even Paris Jackson. I hope their story has a better ending like Britney Spears who has moved forward with her life under controlled circumstances. 

Let's try to understand a bit more about mental illness and depression. Perhaps one more life will be saved.

If you need help, reach out to someone: National Suicide Prevention Hotline

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

It's hard to get back into the swing of things after the holidays, but I'm doing it big.  It's going to be a busy 10 days with stops in Vegas, Chicago, LA, and Detroit.  Currently, I am in Vegas for the New Media Expo, CES, and the IAWTV Awards.  Don't forget though, I will be bringing you all of the Oscar nominations on Thursday, so make sure to stop by to see what happened and what dress I picked.

In the meantime, here were a few of my media appearances from the first week of 2013:

If you live in LA, you have probably seen me in your living rooms. I am currently the spokesperson for Kia of Cerritos, so thank you for all of the tweets, texts, and emails!  This the commercial that is running right now:



Cocktails and Conversation:  My first show of the year with Robin and Erika...and it was good one.  We talked a lot about the use of the N-word in the film Django Unchained and a little exchange Samuel L. Jackson had with a reporter friend of mine.  I come in around the 15-minute mark, listen here.

The Radio Dish:  Ahhh, we talked celebrity babies and the one bump we are going to hear about all year.  No, not the royal baby.......the Kardashian baby. Sigh.  Join me at the 18:00 mark here. (I was also sick as a dog that day...you can hear it in my voice. UGH!)

SheKnows:  My favorite articles from last week:
Website Reveals Possible Oscar Nominee--I got the exclusive on this one.  Find out the answer!
Reality Steve Sues again by The Bachelor's producers--Yep, another exclusive quote from Steve himself.
Jenny McCarthy wants you to choose her NYE kiss--This was my most popular article last week...guess you all wanted a say in her midnight kiss.

Don't forget that tonight is the first #RadioBurtt night of the year!  Listen in at 6:35pm PT/9:35pm ET at KWSS.org.

And if you happen to be at #NMX in Vegas, I will be moderating a panel on Monetization in Web Series at the Rio Hotel today at 10:30am PT.  See you there!

Hollywood Secrets: Reality Show Edition

I always love demystifying Hollywood whether it is from the "days of yore" (Guess which show that quote is from) or taking current accepted practices in the entertainment industry and revealing the truth. Today's edition of Hollywood secrets is telling you the truth about reality shows.......they aren't real.  Here are three things to think about:

1. The Kardashian House:  Yes, I try to keep this site as Kardashian-free as possible, but this fact irks me.  The house that they show in Keeping Up With The Kardashians is not even in Calabasas.  It is in Studio City on a heavily-traveled street that not only counts George Clooney as a neighbor, but it is also the exit of a well-trafficked canyon and hiking trail in LA.  This house is so recognizable, I have no idea why the producers tried to pretend that it is their home. (I know the Kardashians want privacy, but this home is SO well-known.)  In fact, they need to figure out what they are going to do for next season because the house is for sale. I hope the new owners negotiate a fat fee to pass their home off as a Kardashian home.  Below are a few photos I took on my recent hike and check out a recent real estate article about this farce.

2.  Housewives:  Let's all just admit it, most of us watch one franchise or the other.  I am a huge fan of the Beverly Hills edition because it is so close to home.  The stories that have evolved from this series are dramatic and often tragic, but they are real.  It's is sometimes hard to remember that what we are watching on camera is a person's real life.  This fact hit me on Friday when I was at the GBK Productions MTV Movie Awards gifting suite when I interviewed Taylor Armstrong who has had a tough year.  In my mind, she is always crying, breaking down, and fighting demons in her life because that is what I have watched on the show the last two seasons.  Well, it was refreshing to see her happy and full of joy during our interview.  She couldn't confirm that they were currently filming the next season, but I can confirm they are.  Let's hope her story takes a turn towards happiness:



If you want to see the Chagoury Couture dress we both wore and mentioned in this interview, click here.


3.  The Bachelor:  This is probably one of the most fake shows on TV.  I used to watch it for the cheese factor, but it is amazing to me how many people buy into this fantasy. If you don't believe me, go visit my friend, Reality Steve.  He will give you the inside scoop on the smoke and mirrors of this franchise.  I honestly think this show needs to fade away, but y'all keep watching.  Stop it!  Anyway, here's a 2010 interview with Vienna Girardi, "winner" of Jake Pavelka's season.  She debunks the fancy food and timeline of the show.  You can see her comments at the 1:14 mark:



What do you think about the "reality" of reality television and why do you keep watching The Bachelor?

My Top 3 Posts of 2011

I am a total nerd, but I've known this since elementary school.  I love analyzing numbers and seeing what is working and what isn't.  I love looking into the psychology of what makes people stop and pay attention.  That is why I love analytics for my blog.  It is fun to see what makes you come here and read my posts, whether you are a regular reader or you came through a Google search.  So, here are my Top 3 posts of 2011.  They aren't necessarily my favorites, but they are your favorites.  For my regular readers, one of the Top 3's popularity may surprise you, it sure surprised me.

Simone Harouche, one of my favorite stylists on the list. 

1.  The Stylist Edition:  This article was the number one most trafficked post this year.  I compiled the list of top stylists for the celebrities from a Hollywood Reporter article.  I loved it because it gave us insight into who is consistently setting trends as a stylist for their clients (Rachel Zoe and Anne Hathaway with that amazing tuxedo at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards.) and it also made me note who needs to change stylists. (e.g. Amy Adams) This is also a fun one to read because Brad Goreski made an appearance on the list at number 22 while his former mentor, Rachel Zoe, was listed at number 1.  Will that change with this awards season and the premiere of his reality show?  Only time will tell.

2.  Saturn Awards, EZ Curler, and Interviews, Oh My!:  This one was a bit of shock to me as it was just a quick "here's what I've been up to" post, but I sure covered my bases on popular internet searches:  Anna Torv from Fringe, anything related to The Bachelor, and an infomercial sensation called the EZ Curler.  Really, there is something for everyone in this post.  Enjoy the photos and video because I'm sure Google sent you here for this one.

3.  The Oscar Looks of Elizabeth Taylor:  We lost the divine Elizabeth Taylor this year, but there are stunning photographs of her that will live on and endure the test of time.  Following her death, I compiled a series of photos from some of the Academy Awards ceremonies she attended.  I will let the photos speak for themselves.

So, there you have it, the Top 3 Posts of 2011.  Did your favorites make it into the Top 3?  If not, tell me what was your favorite article from Red Carpet Closet this year?

Infomercials Update

A snapshot from my hotel TV earlier this year.

Happy Holidays!  Are you in the swing of the holiday season yet?  I am happily ensconced in LA for most of the month while I catch up on Oscar fare, friends, and my workout regime. (I plan on eating a lot this holiday season.)  I'm going to update you on a few projects that I worked on earlier this year:  The Amazing Mat and the EZ Curler. (In addition, The Rhythm Rocker continues to run almost two years later.) Yes, that means you will be seeing me on your TV screens in the middle of the night when you have insomnia.  First up, The Amazing Mat and FYI, I have one by my door and it works really well!

 

Next up:  EZ Curler.  This is the styling tips video, but the full infomercial will be running soon with a couple of familiar Bachelor/Bachelor Pad faces.



I will announce my Caption the Photo contest winner tomorrow, so get in those last minute entries.  It's pretty simple:  come up with a creative caption, win a prize!

Have You Heard Anything About The Kardashians This Week?

Okay, before you groan at me, I hope you check out my article over at Starpulse about this week's incessant news on the 72-day marriage.  The article is entitled:  "Breaking Up With The Kardashians:  Where Do We Draw The Line?"  I talked with reality experts who weighed in with their opinions:  everyone from a casting director to a YouTube personality to a former Bachelor star to the biggest Bachelor spoiler blogger in the industry.

I have met Kim, in fact, she styled me for the Oscars in 2007 because I bought my dress from Dash. She was alone in the store that day.  Yep, that's how simple her life was in January 2007. Things changed by the fall of that year and it is amazing to see the transformation in four short years.  She's a sweet girl who I think has been misguided by the fame and the money.  I hope this gives her an opportunity to take a step back, breathe, and reassess the world around her.

The article:  Click here.

Bachelor Pad 2: Vienna Girardi

I've been notoriously critical of The Bachelor franchise, but we all know it is my own fault for even watching the manipulative, scripted (UPDATED:  One of my Bachelor pals corrected me and she would know, there is no scripting whatsoever on The Bachelor franchise.) reality show.  After spending another Monday night wasted on the couch watching Bachelor Pad 2 with the immature shenanigans of Kasey and Vienna, I was reminded of an interview I did with Vienna Girardi in September 2010 during Emmys Week.  I spoke a bit about my interview in a post I did after the event.  Hmmm, after last night's episode, I am not sure my 2010 assessment was correct.  If she hated the manipulation of The Bachelor franchise so much, why is she appearing on Bachelor Pad 2?  If it was so bad, wouldn't you stay far away from ever participating in a reality show again?  Money talks and when Mike Fleiss calls, most former Bachelor contestants say "yes".  Watch my interview with Vienna Girardi and let me know what you think:

Saturn Awards, EZ Curler, and Interviews, Oh My!

I've been a little MIA on the blog this week, but I have a few fun videos and photos to share.  The video you have been waiting for:  The Saturn Awards highlights including my questions I posed to Anna Torv backstage.  Other fun moments include my veeerrrrrryyy interesting interview with Hung's Thomas Jane and a playful moment with the Silver Surfer, Doug Jones.  Let me know what you think about the Saturn Awards red carpet and all of the colorful characters I encountered (And don't forget to enter the Caption The Photo Contest with Brandon Routh.  Winner gets an awesome Alien Invasion Kit.  I kid you not.):



Last week, I also hit the set of the EZ Curler with two ladies from The Bachelor franchise, Krisily Kennedy and Natalie Getz.  The infomercial should be hitting your flat screens soon at 2 or 3 AM soon.  (And don't tell me you don't watch infomercials.  I get recognized more for my DRTV work than anything else.  I think we are all a bunch of insomniacs.)

Finally, I was a return guest on Leon Kaplan's show on 790 KABC AM talking all about Toyota's vehicle line-up for 2012.  If you are a fan of alternative fuel vehicles, you are going to have a plethora of choices in about 6 months.  It's an exciting time for the industry and I thrilled to see the shift finally happening.  And yes, Leon likes the ladies.  He snuck in a kiss during our photo.  What a charmer!

Photos 1 & 3:  Property of Kristyn Burtt (Feel free to link the photos)
Photo 2:  Courtesy of Krisily Kennedy