There’s something about Maria Menounos and Derek Hough’s salsa dance tonight that rubbed me the wrong way (no pun intended). Perhaps it was Derek Hough’s insatiable desire to show-off his body, or Maria’s faux-coy act. Either way, it didn’t work. I finally understand Howard Stern’s rants about how the male dancers’ egos have become to big for the show. Watch below.
Category: Television
Rachel Dratch Continues Self-Hate Tirade — I’ve Had Enough
I like self-deprecating humor just as much as the next person, but even The Dishmaster has a boiling point. Former Saturday Night Live performer Rachel Dratch is promoting her new book, which involves endless confessions about how by “Hollywood standards” she’s considered a “troll, ogre, woodland creature or manly lesbian.” She also recounts how Tina Fey replaced her character on 30 Rock, and how the media subsequently speculated that Dratch wasn’t attractive enough for the part. I’ve had it with Rachel Dratch. I realize that controversy sells books, but there comes a point where self-deprecating humor just becomes sad. She’s not ugly, and I’m sick of hearing her proclaim otherwise — even if it’s a joke.
SNL Does “The Californians” — Excellence!
My favorite part of Saturday Night Live’s “The Californians” skit was the very obvious effort for the performers to stay in character. I’m told that Lorne Michaels becomes insanely angry when his performers laugh during their skits, which makes it even funnier to watch. Also, after living in California for a few years, I was shocked at its accuracy. We’ve all been to the party where all anyone discusses is Los Angeles traffic, and we’ve also all encountered a brain-dead-nutjob. Watch below.
Quote of the Day — Penn Jillette — Why’d He Do Celebrity Apprentice?
“It turns out that if you put a camera in front of anybody, not just a narcissistic amoral celebrity, but actually a good human being, if you put a camera on them for four, five, six hours and tell them to simply be careful what they say, not even in any particular direction but just weigh each word before you say it, and if you do that for like a bunch of hours without giving that person a break, that person ends up with their willpower depleted. They lose the same kind of governing that people get when they’re really drunk. It’s fascinating to watch people who are being careful about what they say and trying to come off very well lose that governing.” Penn Jillette on his choice to do Celebrity Apprentice, and what he learned about reality television and human nature from the experience.
Is Tristan MacManus the New DWTS Powerhouse?
Derek Hough has some serious competition. Tristan MacManus is officially a contender for the best-professional-dancer title on DWTS. In fact, when Tristan performed with Gladys Knight on tonight’s episode, I found myself exclusively watching Tristan. Plus, he’s also a nice guy who doesn’t yell at his partner to get results. I know this because I went to the show last season and made a point to watch him off-stage. I saw him comforting Nancy Grace who was profusely apologizing for her sub-par performance. He’s a true gentleman.
Craig Bierko Interview — A Hot Actor With A Purpose
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I’ve had a crush on Craig Bierko for many years, and then one day while ruminating on my Dishmaster greatness — it suddenly occurred to me. Why not commission him for an interview? After all, if I can’t use this blog to solicit interviews from hot men, then what good is it? My Bierko crush began during his guest-stint on Ally McBeal (my favorite show in history), and it was solidified by his appearance on Sex and the City (my second favorite show in history). While researching his very impressive resume, I discovered that he’s not only a talented actor, he’s also a giver (a standard I require from my future husbands). He’s been involved with the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital Foundation for years, and if you’d like to join him in helping, just text “KIDS” to 27722, and you can automatically donate ten dollars to the hospital. It’s a pretty easy, charitable gesture. Did I mention he has great hair? Alright — enough drooling — enjoy the interview below.
You guest-starred on my two of my favorite shows. Do you still get recognized as “jazz man” — the guy who gave Carrie Bradshaw her most intense orgasm?
All the time.
Your scene in The Change Up was extremely disturbing, yet comedically brilliant. You stole the show. Did you break character while shooting?
Oh, God, yes.
I heard you trained as a boxer for Cinderella Man. Are there any dream roles you would like to play just to have an excuse to adopt another new skill? A ballet dancer, perhaps?
I would love to play “Max” without the burden of being the heavy. Baer was a uniquely charming, colorful personality, worthy of real attention.
You’ve said that most of the actors you’ve worked with seem mentally unbalanced. Is there a secret to maintaining your sanity in this industry? Does it have anything to do with living in New York instead of Los Angeles?
I think parenting is important. I was raised to value other people’s feelings as much as my own. Show business creates an illusion that the opposite is true, which leads to a great deal of unhappiness.
You’ve talked about the taxing hours of network television, but nothing can be worse than eight shows a week on Broadway. Do you have a preference?
No. I like to work. I’m always grateful about work.
Tell me about your work with the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital Foundation.
I stumbled on them, really. Out of an obligation I visited the hospital, and that visit transformed me. I was ready to care about something, I suppose — and it would have been easy to move on — but I decided that this would be the corner of the world on whose behalf I would advocate. I shamelessly pimp my friends for benefits, and we just raised about 50 grand in a night, which will help pay for a new satellite pharmacy. It’s the greatest feeling to know you contributed to something like LLUCH.
I hear you’re technically a Jew. I need to know if this is true so I can take you home to my mother.
I am a very proud, totally non-practicing Jew.
You gave a very beautiful description of what it was like to sit at the Tony Awards with your mom when you were nominated for The Music Man. Were your parents always supportive of your pursuit of an entertainment career?
I lucked out, yeah. They never questioned it.
When you go to your grave, do you think you’ll be most proud of somehow convincing the esteemed John Malkovich to do an interview with you in Carrie Fisher’s bathtub? Does that beat your Tony nomination?
I found both experiences completely surreal, but as they were occurring they just felt like work. I hope I can look back and feel good about everything in that same way.
Rosie’s Goodbye Message — Takes Dig at Oprah’s Staff?
If there’s anything The Dishmaster is good at, it’s reading between the lines. And there’s something that stuck out in Rosie’s goodbye message explaining that there’s no bad blood with Oprah. She took responsibility for the show’s failure, saying that she shouldn’t have tried to copy her old show’s format, and that by the time she switched, it was just too late. Then she complimented Oprah’s staff (whom she had rumored disagreements with), but stuck a dig in there for good measure, saying, “It was a different show than what they were used to doing.” Yikes! Despite her attempts at good-will, I’m convinced there’s bad blood. When shows get canceled, fingers will inevitably be pointed in all directions. I doubt these two television titans will be having a ladies-lunch anytime soon.
Dancing With the Stars — Jaleel White Makes His Television Comeback
I’ve had a crush on Jaleel White ever since he removed his suspenders on Family Matters. In fact, I’ve snooped around town to ask whether he’s a nice guy, and sources tell me he’s not only nice, he’s also smart, and contrary other child stars, he never blew all that money he made from the show. He shed some light on his lengthy stint as Steve Urkel in a recent Vanity Fair interview, saying, “It’s not overly sophisticated, man. I’m the highest-paid black kid in the history of television, just so you understand that. I was trying to prolong the checks! For all of the people who want to scratch their heads about this . . . we’re probably the second-longest-running African American show in the history of television.” Perhaps the child stars of today’s generation should take notes. Watch his great performance below.
Dancing With the Stars Debuts — Katherine Jenkins Steals the Show
They should just hand Katherine Jenkins the mirror ball trophy now. She’s not only a great dancer, but she also has the personality necessity to win over the audience. She’s adorable, sweet, and beautiful. And since she’s a classical singer — she’s also talented. Can I marry her? I realize this is a game and everyone competes for the prize, but she’s got it in the bag. Watch below.
Jon Hamm on The Today Show — Still Thinks Kim Kardashian is Dumb
When Matt Lauer addressed the Jon Hamm/Kim Kardashian feud while interviewing the cast of Mad Men to promote the new season, Hamm held firm. He said his comments weren’t “careless” (as Kim Kardashian put it), but rather — “accurate.” “It’s a part of our culture I don’t identify with,” he said. Though I appreciate Hamm’s refusal to back down, it’s worth pointing out that all scripted actors hate all reality stars. Reality television takes away their jobs, and contrary to Matt Lauer’s point, there simply isn’t room for both. Sure both might currently co-exist, but as time passes, scripted shows are dwindling. Reality television is just cheaper to make, and so it makes sense for networks and studios to push for them at the expense of real actors on scripted shows. Greed always trumps creativity.
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