AfterBuzz TV SYTYCD: Courtney Galiano

It was ladies' night last night on SYTYCD on AfterBuzz TV. We were excited to have Courtney Galiano back on our show after joining us last season. It was really important that she talked about her MS diagnosis and her charity because she's really an inspiration to so many. Even with obstacles, she's getting out there and living her dream of dancing. 

I know a lot of the fans were upset that Paul was voted off. I was, too. I sometimes feel like reality shows have a bit of producer manipulation behind the scenes and this was one of those times. Courtney feels like you should only be able to win in one country and I know she isn't alone. It will be interesting to see if they change the rules for next season. I loved Paul's journey on the season. The one thing we shouldn't be sad about is the fact that he will be working a lot. We will see him again soon.

With the Top 4 officially announced, who do you think will win? We haven't seen the final dances yet, but is Nigel right about Twitter popularity? What do you think?

Let me know in the comments below.

For more information on Courtney's MS Dance Walk on Sept. 22, click here.

SYTYCD: Did a contestant buy Twitter followers?

With so much focus from the fans about Twitter on last season's Dancing with the Stars, I decided to take a look at So You Think You Can Dance.  Fox has each contestant create a new account with the season and their name.  It is a level-playing field and the audience can decide who to follow during the season.  I think this is incredibly fair way to handle everything if the producers decide to do any Twitter voting. Fans spent half the season of DWTS arguing over the number of Twitter followers for Disney star Zendaya and how unfair any Twitter voting was for the celebs. While the SYTYCD contestants are in a different situation, I like the way the network handles the social media aspect of the show.

On Thursday, I created a Twitter list for the contestants so I could follow them without cluttering my already over-cluttered feed.  I wrote down how many followers each contestant had as of Thursday, June 20, thinking it would be fascinating experiment to see who is the fan favorite early on.

Last Thursday's Twitter count.

If you can read my chicken scratch in the photo above, notice that Malece Miller topped the Top 10 girls while Brittany Cherry was at the bottom. For the Top 10 boys, Nico Greetham was at the top with 2,410 followers and Carlos Garland had only 661 followers. If you checked their numbers today, you would see an increase for all of the contestants by now.

However, over the weekend, I noticed one contestant's numbers jump astronomically: Paul.  He went from 729 followers to over 5,000 within two days.  Really?  It made me think that only one thing happened: He bought followers. You can buy about 5,000 followers for about $75 via several internet sites. It's a deceiving way to make people think you have more followers than you actually do. Many of the accounts following you are fake or inactive when you buy them off of the internet.

What many people do not know is that there is a site that will track the percentages of fake followers. I did a little sleuthing and this is what I came up with for Paul's account.

His account is showing that over half of his followers are inactive on Twitter. Let's compare his account to Nico who had the most followers last week:

Nico, who is now up to 3,131 followers as of Monday, only has 13% of inactive followers. That is a a pretty typical number. Every Twitter account has some fake and/or inactive followers because of spam accounts or people who only open an account to follow celebs, but are inactive tweeters. The real number to focus in on is how many of the accounts that are following you are "good." This is where I raise eyebrows.  Nico has 84% and Paul has only 44%. Also, remember that Paul's follower count jumped from Thursday to Saturday...not on a show night after the audience watched him dance.

I am suspicious. I'm pretty sure that Paul bought followers because the pressure is on to be "America's Favorite Dancer."  Maybe he feels even more stressed to perform since he won SYTYCD Armenia? We all know how important social media is to connecting to the fans. I just think it's a really sneaky way to do it.

Chime in! Let me know what you think about social media, buying followers, and SYTYCD. Am I wrong? Is Paul wrong to do this?  I look forward to your feedback. 

AfterBuzz TV DWTS, Week 6: The Twitter Controversy

Even at Disneyland, there is no escape from DWTS!

I think this is our most hotly debated show of the season.  Team Zendaya thinks we hate Zendaya. If you have followed our shows over the last month and a half, you know that isn't true. I'm a big fan of the 16-year-old as a celeb and as great role model. I personally don't care how many Twitter followers she has and I don't think she is a ringer for ABC. I just want to see the girl dance! I think we all know where I stand and I believe my co-hosts are in the same boat on that. Any other interpretation of our opinions is erroneous.

Phew! Okay, I think we are good on that...until the next controversy. You guys like to keep me on my toes!

Don't forget to send in your red carpet questions on Mondays and Tuesdays to JC Rubio and Jackie Miranne. We are featuring one question each week on the Wednesday show. (Click on their names to tweet your questions.)

As a fan of SYTYCD, I am super excited that tWitch and Allison Holker will be performing together on Tuesday's show. Their dancing is amazing and they are a cute couple.  It's a great reminder that Season 10 is just around the corner....

If you missed this week's episode, you can watch it below:

Red Carpet Closet Archives: Reese Witherspoon Interview

Based on the news of Reese Witherspoon's arrest yesterday, I made a comment about the actress on Twitter that sparked a lot of you to search for our interview together.  This press junket took place in either late January or early February (It was released in mid-February.) for the release of her film This Means War. I interviewed her along with Chris Pine and Tom Hardy for iVillage.

This is the interview:

My Smarter Commerce Begins: Oscars Week

Covering the Oscar Road Trip for Starpulse in Chicago.  

Photo credit:  Jeff Schear/Getty Images North America

I'm back in L.A. and I am excited to share all of the incredible events that Oscars Week brings forward.  I will be covering a few new events this year, so it will change up my coverage a bit and hopefully, make it even more exciting than previous years.

This year, I have teamed up with IBM in a program called "My Smarter Commerce," so over the next month you will see me using the #MySmarterCommerce on Twitter to talk about how technology affects my work as an entertainment reporter.  Frankly, without the internet, I wouldn't have a career.

So, all of my entertainment-related posts will be tracking what I am up to over the next 30 days, but I want to hear from you!  In comments, on Twitter, and on Facebook, I want to hear how technology has changed your life and what you use in your daily life that has changed the way you do business and see the world.

So, let's get started, I will throw the first question out to you:

What would you like to see from me over the next month in terms of photos, stories, and how technology shapes my job?

What #MySmarterCommerce is all about:

#spon: I have been invited by IBM to share my honest thoughts and experiences around Smarter Commerce, and as part of this collaboration, IBM may provide me with product, access, content or other forms of remuneration. All opinions are expressly my own.

My Week With the Acura ILX

If you saw my tweet yesterday, you might have heard that Acura is giving me the opportunity to drive the ILX this week.  I'm planning on taking it all over Los Angeles with me to test drive the technology and ride quality of the vehicle.  I hope you join me on some of my adventures as I take the car to set, to workout, to a screening for Oscar season and for a little R&R in Palm Springs.  I will be posting photos on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram: @KristynBurtt, Pinterest, Google + , and logging my locale on Four Square....yep, all over every possible social media outlet.

So here's where I need YOUR help....and you will want to read #2 because it involves some cool giveaways.

1.  Help me decide where I should take the ILX during my week:  should I go for cupcakes (Gluten-Free, of course.)?  Shopping for a new dress?  To watch the sunset at the beach?  Give me some suggestions in the comments below.

2.  Tell me what you would do if Acura gave you a free ILX for the week.  Respond in the comments below or on Twitter using the hashtag #WeekWithILX (You must use this hashtag to qualify.). The best responses will receive $50 or $100 gift certificates or a FREE week with the ILX!  Not a bad giveaway, right?

So, join me for all of the fun as I kick off my ILX week beginning tomorrow.  Ready, set, go.......tell me what you would do with this sweet ride:

Disclosure: Acura has invited me to test the new ILX and share my honest thoughts through social media. I may receive product, access or content, but all commentary is my own.

Streamy Awards 2013

2010 Streamy Awards red carpet.  Recognize the dress? 

Well, it's officially awards season and it looks like the Streamy Awards are officially back.  I want to thank everyone that has nominated me on Twitter, but a few of you have asked for the official widget so you don't have to type anything.  Well, here it is!

The first widget is for hosting, while the second one honors the show, Red Carpet Report.  Any support or help is appreciated.  Let me know if you throw my name or show in the hat so I can personally thank you!

New Adventures With SheKnows.com

I've been hinting at new adventures a lot lately.  Normally, I would be with my Toyota team gearing up for another season of Toyota Live.  This year, I am staying put in Los Angeles to cover all things entertainment.  A new season brings new changes and I alluded to some of the changes last week.

Well, I can officially announce that I am joining the SheKnows.com team as a trending entertainment writer.  I will be posting daily news stories about the hottest scoop in entertainment.  I will let you know when my first story posts, but you can find SheKnows entertainment here or on Twitter or Facebook.  I will, of course, cross post all of the articles on my social media sites to make it as easy as possible for everyone to find me.  So, you will see a lot more entertainment news coming your way.

I have a few more tricks up my sleeve, so make sure to watch this space for more announcements. Thank you all for your support over the last year, it's been a fun ride so far!

Don't forget, I will be on Driving with Gass tonight at 7:35PM PT/9:35PM ET on KWSS. org or 106.7FM in Phoenix talking about the weekend's hottest entertainment news.  

Still In Munich!

Wow, I just checked and saw that the last time I posted was on Friday.  The last five days have been a complete blur of work and food and fun here in Munich.  My quiz show hosting gig is officially over, but here are two photos of my station.  I played over 200 rounds of this quiz during my days here at ESC.  Holy cow!  The best part is meeting people from all over the world and trying a few of my Spanish and French phrases on everyone.  Hey, a girl has to practice her languages somehow!  It's also fun to compare the trade shows of the U.S. versus the congresses in Europe.  In Europe, they are more formal and the hostesses (known as "booth babes" in the U.S.) are all dressed up in suits.  I actually like the formality of it versus the khakis and golf shirts approach.  It is somehow more dignified.

Now that my Munich journey is wrapping up, I am hopping a train to the Czech Republic.  Yep, I am off to Prague.  Let the vacation and the shopping begin!  I will be able to post more now that I am on vacation, so join me for more photos this week.  My poor mom was worried when I stopped posting over the last five days, so I gave her this photo bomb on Facebook.

I am also posting more photos on Instagram:  @KristynBurtt and Twitter if you want to follow along!

A Thought To Start Your Week....

Grand Canyon, May 2007

"Be glad of life, because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars."

Henry Van Dyke

What are you looking forward to most this week?

Me:  Bill Irwin, Vampire Mob, and Hellos.....Not Goodbyes.

Share your thoughts with me in the comments below or on Twitter or Facebook.

First Weekend at the NY Auto Show 2012

This was not choreographed.

If you have been following me on Twitter, you know I am retiring from Toyota Live at the end of the NY Auto Show.  I will post more about this later in the week, but I want to thank you all for the well wishes and support.  Here are some fun photos from my first weekend at the NY Auto Show.  I still have 6 days remaining, so come on down and say "hi" if you are in the NYC area.  My shows are at the top of the hour beginning at 11AM and ending at 8PM, no show at 4PM, because a girl has to eat!

 The countdown has begun on the production room wall.

 Trackside Tina, Camping World Truck Series driver, Timothy Peters, me, and Matt Troyer after our Saturday show.

 Eating a slice at one of my favorite NYC pizza joints.  They are under new management and their pizza is not-so-good. Boo!

You know me....posing on a red carpet no matter where I am.  Um, the sneakers really make the outfit?

The Great Cupcake Caper

I received a knock on my door today to find half a dozen cupcakes greeting me from Crumbs Bake Shop.  Anyone that hangs out with me or follows me around the internet knows that I love cupcakes.  The note read "Get Well Soon, Matthew".  Hmmmm, no last name and no indication of which Matt in my life it was from.  I sent a text to my co-host of Toyota Live, called my Paris pal, Crabby, and I started to formulate an email to my cousin in Chicago.  I put a photo and tweet out on Twitter and on Facebook and the culprit was found!  A big thanks to Mathieas AKA Matthew for my Crumbs Cupcakes.  I already feel better after downing a ginormous Red Velvet cupcake.  As you can see, the cupcake never stood a chance:

The Tale of the iPhone Case

This weekend, a few of you may be stopping by Red Carpet Closet because of this post by my friend, Ken Davenport.  Yep, I love my iPhone and I thought it was wasted advertising space lately.  I am currently using my own case, but in the past I have utilized cases given to my by PR agencies to advertise certain products.  I thought, why don't I advertise for Godspell?  (By the way, it's no secret that I am an investor in the show.)

Photo Courtesy of Ken Davenport.

Just to prove that my iPhone is with me at all times, here are a few photos from the 83rd Annual Academy Awards in February. I will be sure to take a picture on the red carpet with my new Godspell iPhone case once it reaches the Left Coast. Be sure to leave a comment below, so I can learn more about you.  Have a great weekend, everyone!

Get your Godspell iPhone case here.

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Taking video with my iPhone of the cute kids from PS 22 walking the red carpet.

 Showing Mr. Brainwash the photo I took alongside his artwork.  

Tony Awards Links

Here are all of the links to my Tony Awards coverage on Sunday.  Pick your favorite!

For the most up-to-date coverage:  Twitter.

You do not need an account to follow my feed.  I will be Tweeting photos and comments during the red carpet which starts at 5:30PM ET and ends at 7:15PM ET.  

For similar coverage if Twitter scares you and if the Facebook app isn't acting up that day:  Facebook.

Post-coverage and articles:  Starpulse (Everything will be linked here at Red Carpet Closet too.)

I am so happy this red carpet is actually happening as there was a threat of a protest by the Local One union and The Tony Awards producers.  And everyone knows......you don't cross a picket line......especially one in New York.  

Feel free to leave questions you would like me to ask on the red carpet.  Remember, Neil Patrick Harris is hosting. (Doogie).  Just had to say it.

During the show, I will be hanging here.  BroadwaySpace.com is throwing a Tony viewing party, so come join the fun. Tickets can be purchased here.  

Logo courtesy of The Tony Awards.

Hey Soap Fans, This One is for You!

Last week, I wrote a post asking soap fans, "What the Heck Happened?".  After ABC's decision to cancel All My Children and One Life to Live, the viewers rallied across the internet, created petitions, and shouted loud enough for advertisers to respond.  After getting tremendous response to my post and capturing the voices of the daytime community, I finally gathered all of my material and wrote a lengthy article for Starpulse.  I also want to thank Spin's Vixenella on Twitter for spearheading all of the fans to come to Red Carpet Closet and share their thoughts on the cancellation.  Now, I want to know what you think of the article.  Remember,  I love to read your feedback!

Starpulse article


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It's Time For A Giveaway!

It's been awhile since I have done a giveaway, so let's dust off the gifting closet and find something fun.  This month's giveaway is a pair of sparkly silver Summer Jasmines, "the comfortable, compactable evening and pedicure shoes that fit in your purse!"  Consider these shoes the multi-purpose sandal to throw in your big, slouchy bag when you are walking all over the city, grab a pedicure, and then need a reprieve at the end of the night when your Louboutins (or a fabulous pair of knock-offs) are dragging you down.

So, I am going to do a spectacular giveaway with these shoes and by the way, they retail for $98. Shazam! That's a good giveaway. They are Silver, they are Size 7 (They run big, so I would say it is closer to a Size 8), they come complete with sparkles, and it includes a black satin carrying case PLUS a cute red Summer Jasmine key chain.  Does this sound like a good deal or what?

Here's how to enter:

1. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Bloglovin'.

2.  Leave me a comment letting me know where you follow me and be sure to leave your contact information.

Rules:   18+ to enter, US residents only, Enter by 11:59 PM on Friday, March 18th.

Winner will be selected by Random.org and announced on Monday, March 21st.

Good luck, everyone!

This giveaway is featured on Blog Giveaway Directory.  Be sure to visit them for the most comprehensive list of blog contests and giveaways happening each week.

March 21, 2011:  The winner is announced!