Jennifer Lopez: Actress, Singer...Wireless Store Entrepreneur?

She's a singer, actress, dancer and all-around entrepreneur. With her new network NUVOtv already launched, what's someone like Jennifer Lopez to do?

Well, J.Lo isn't one to just sit around, she's one to take action. On Friday, she launched her new retail store Viva Móvil in Brooklyn with partner Verizon Wireless.

Lopez shared, “There was no better place to debut Viva Móvil than right here in my home city of New York. We have found the best and the brightest to create a convenient and comfortable shopping experience where customers will really feel the spirit of the community.”

The native New Yorker is definitely giving back to the Latino community as of late. This store will offer a fully bilingual staff to assist customers in Spanish or English. All of the employees were outfitted in fashionable uniforms that were selected by Lopez. The best part is the unique scent that the entertainer selected for a pleasant shopping environment.

Families will love the Kids Zone with comfy seating and the opportunity to play with Samsung tablets and kid-friendly apps. Adults can shop from a plethora of electronics or pick out their favorite JLo-designed Smartphone case.

More stores with the J.Lo signature shopping experience are expected to open around the country.

For more information: Viva Móvil 

Photo Credit: Wireimage

A Look Back at the 53rd Annual Academy Awards

This gem was just posted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences yesterday. It shows the opening of the 53rd Annual Academy Awards and the red carpet looks downright quaint. The ceremony was delayed by a day due to the assassination attempt the day before on President Ronald Reagan, so the stars showed up the next day on March 31, 1981. (I wish the show was still in late March, that red carpet would be a lot warmer for ladies in evening gowns.)

Robert De Niro, Best Actor, Raging Bull

Watch the eight-minute video because it really showcases an era of entertainment and red carpet that we will never see again. With an announcer describing celebrities like Mary Tyler Moore as "popular" and a healthy and vibrant-looking Michael Jackson escorting Diana Ross to the show, you might get a bit wistful.

Take a look back at 1981 Academy Awards.

Robert Redford, Best Director, Ordinary People

Bet you didn't know Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters were an item back in the day.

Johnny Carson hosted the show in his tux and tails, elegant, reverent and classy. I doubt we will ever see the ceremony helmed the way Carson and Bob Hope did the show, but then again, I actually was entertained by Seth MacFarlane's "We Saw Your Boobs" this year. 

If you've missed my other posts on the Oscars, take a look back at 1989, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Timothy Hutton, Best Supporting Actor, Ordinary People

SYTYCD on AfterBuzz TV : Mollee Gray

I love Mollee Gray! She's so sweet and I think she gave us the best insight on the choreographers and how they work in the studio. Mollee talked quite a bit about Travis Wall and Dee Caspary's process in the studio. It was fascinating to hear more from that side of SYTYCD.

The one topic that keeps coming up is why Alexis is getting pushed through each week. I'm not sure I understand why or how. Her fans are clearly supportive, but we all seem a bit baffled by it. I have to say that I love this season because there are so many good contenders. While we all may think Fikshun and Amy are going to win, you can't count out Aaron, Jasmine, Paul or Makenzie at this juncture.

Finally, Carly Rae Jepsen was one of the worst judges ever on the show. She joins the list with Zooey Deschanel for me. I polled a few of you on Twitter and several of you also mentioned Megan Mullally, Carmen Electra, Katie Holmes and Rob Marshall as your least favorite guest judges. Did we miss anyone? Let me know in the comments below.

P.S. If you came here to find out if Mollee is dating Kent Boyd, the answer is "no." They are great friends, but they are not dating. I hope that clears up any confusion.

If you missed the show, you can watch it here or download it on iTunes here.

Awkward Bruce Willis Interview: Is It Time to Rethink the Press Junket?

Well, here we go again. Another celebrity, another press junket and more rude behavior. I talked about this topic before regarding the Jesse Eisenberg incident while he was promoting Now You See Me. The press junket is a way to get the media and the celebrities together in one place to help promote a film. However, it's a long day for the celebs who are subjected to questions from journalist after journalist over a weekend. The reporters get a timed four to fifteen minutes with the stars of the film. On any given junket, you will see big media outlets like E! News waiting in line with a local news station from Miami. 

However, is it an outdated format? Within a matter of hours, YouTube is littered with the interviews with the same hotel background and the same questions being asked by reporters from multiple outlets. As you can see, some stars are gracious and others can't fake their disdain like Bruce Willis promoting Red 2. 

I won't let the journalist off the hook either. The media has to walk in there confidently and be ready to steer the interview in another direction if it gets awkward...and this one was certainly awkward. Whether it was a lack of experience or just feeling intimidated by Willis, this interview certainly didn't go his way. 

What do you think needs to be done with press junkets?  Should publicists retool the format or get rid of it?  It doesn't seem to be working for some celebs and a few journalists lately.

SYTYCD on AfterBuzz TV: Top 16 Preview

We are back! After a long week off, it's time to get back on the SYTYCD bandwagon. This week we have a really exciting guest with Season 6's Mollee Gray. Not only will she be bringing her SYTYCD expertise, we are going to ask her all about her role in Disney Channel's original movie Teen Beach Movie.

So, get those questions ready!  You know what to do...questions go in the comments below.

AJ is on vacation this week, so I will be leading the show alongside Chloe and Jake.

See you all on Wednesday at 9 p.m. PT on AfterBuzz TV.  Watch here. 

VIDEO: 2013 Emmy Nominees: Outstanding Choreography

Here are your 2013 Emmy nominees for Outstanding Choreography. I think this is Derek Hough's year. His work has been so outstanding over the last year.  Mark my words: He's going to define this generation of choreographers.  Who are you rooting for? Let me know in the comments below:


Outstanding Choreography

Dancing With The Stars • Routines: Heart Cry / Stars • ABC • BBC Worldwide Productions

Derek Hough, Choreographer

Allison Holker, Choreographer





Dancing With The Stars • Routines: Hey Pachuco / Para Los Rumberos / Walking On Air • ABC • BBC Worldwide Productions

Derek Hough, Choreographer









Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel (Live From Lincoln Center) • PBS • A Lincoln Center Media production

Warren Carlyle, Choreographer



So You Think You Can Dance • Routines: Possibly Maybe / Turning Page / Sail • FOX • Dick Clark Productions, Inc  19 Entertainment

 Sonya Tayeh, Choreographer

 





So You Think You Can Dance • Routines: The Power Of Love / Wild Horses • FOX • Dick Clark Productions, Inc. & 19 Entertainment

Mandy Jo Moore, Choreographer

   

So You Think You Can Dance • Routines: Call Of The Wild (Circle Of Life) / Love Cats / Beautiful People • FOX • Dick Clark Productions, Inc. & 19 Entertainment

Napoleon Dumo, Choreographer
Tabitha Dumo, Choreographer

 



So You Think You Can Dance • Routines: Where The Light Gets In / Without You / Unchained Melody • FOX • Dick Clark Productions, Inc. 19 Entertainment

 Travis Wall, Choreographer

 

Cory Monteith: Sober Cory vs. Addict Cory

Photo by Jeff Lipsky

When the news came down yesterday about toxicology reports showing that a mix of heroin and alcohol killed Cory Monteith, I received texts, emails and tweets looking for my reaction. I was on my way to set, so driving and texting is never a good idea.

I eventually posted this tweet:

In the past few days, I have been talking with people who worked with Monteith. Some considered him a work friend while others considered him a personal friend. What emerged was two different Corys: the sober Cory and struggling addict Cory.

Those who knew sober Cory talked about the professional who showed up on time, knew his lines and was nice to everyone.

Those who knew the addict gave me stories about him at parties where there were a lot of unsavory people doing illicit things.  Unfortunately, much of this occurred even as early as Season 2 of Glee.

Kristen Johnston on Cory Monteith: Death was "not shocking" >>

I've been talking a lot about the fact that the 31-year-old had two different lives. He was a closet addict. Many of his close friends did not know he had fallen off the wagon earlier in the year until he went to rehab. Those who knew of his recent struggles were aware that he had resorted to heroin. There was an intervention and he went off to Betty Ford to dry out and then completed the rest of his rehab at Eric Clapton's Crossroads facility in Antigua.

In the age of tabloid journalism where people sell their story to rat out celebrities, it's pretty incredible that we are only hearing about the Glee actor's addiction to heroin now. That is how loved and protected he was by his friends, castmates and family members.

Rob Delaney on his own addiction >>

For someone battling demons like addiction, every day is a war. Falling off the wagon is common.  Getting back on the wagon is hard. Detoxing and then using again changes tolerance levels, so overdosing is always a risk.

Monteith's story is a familiar Hollywood tale and one that I've already talked about, but it's also a good reminder to try and get help if you need it and if you want it. If you have a friend struggling with addiction, support them.  If you live in this crazy town of Hollywood like I do, hang out with people who will lift you up, not drag you down.

I'm already hearing stories about a young female star who has her own addiction issues. She comes from a Tinsel Town legacy family where addiction is familiar. Let's hope she finds the support and light that she needs...because the tabloid press is already sniffing around. (If you are a super sleuth, the actress made headlines this week.) UPDATE: I chose not to report on this story because she needs help, but TMZ revealed the young star whom I was referring to. You can read it here.)

I don't want to report on more tragic tales.