Author: Castina

  • Bandleader Kevin Eubanks Leaving “The Tonight Show”

    It’s official: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno is looking for a new bandleader.

    After 18 years, musician Kevin Eubanks has announced that he is leaving NBC’s flagship late-night program. Rubanks made the announcement during a taping of The Tonight Show, telling host Jay Leno that he was ready for a change of pace in his career.

    “It’s a really difficult decision because this has become my second home, as it has been for the band. I love the audience, and the American people really love the show, and it’s been a wonderful experience to be here.”

    Eubanks, 52, who served as a comic sidekick to Leno as well as a guitarist, has been aboard since Leno took over Tonight in 1992. Eubanks became musical director when Branford Marsalis left in 1995.

    When asked about the highlights of his years, Eubanks fondly recalled “meeting B.B. King, Willie Nelson, all these wonderful musicians that I’ve grown to be friends with.”

    Kevin’s final day on Tonight is May 28.

  • Maksim Chmerkovskiy On Kate Gosselin: “She Doesn’t Get It”

    Maksim Chmerkovskiy says Kate Gosselin just “doesn’t get” Dancing with the Stars.

    In a posting on his TV Guide blog on Monday, the outspoken dancer said the reality Octomom who is currently paired with Maks’ good friend Tony Dovolani, doesn’t understand the purpose of the ABC talent competition.

    “I’ve spoken to Kate, and I don’t think she gets the point of this thing yet,” wrote Maks — who is partnered with ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews this season. “The pain on her face says it all, which is unfortunate.”

    “…She has an opportunity that she won’t have again,” he continued. “It’s a chance for her to focus on something other than personal drama. How many women with multiple kids sit back and reminisce about the days they could go and dance when they watch our show? How many people vicariously live through us? You need to enjoy it.”

    Although Maksim thinks Kate needs to get with the program, the former Jon & Kate Plus 8 star is having her best week yet on DWTS.

    Despite custody drama with ex-hubby Jon Gosselin, Kate managed to bring her game face to Monday night’s Dancing. The mother of eight and her professional dancing partner, Tony Dovolani, whipped out a mostly technically accurate tango Adam Lambert’s “For Your Entertainment.”

  • Drake “Over” VIDEO; ABC “Chasing” Pamela Anderson With Pasties; Is Suri Too Old For A Bottle? & More Monday Crunch Crumbs

    -Loving Drake’s new video for “Over” – Check It Out!

    -Actress Andie McDowell shares some of the secrets of her lengthy career in Hollywood with the May issue of Prevention Magazine….

    Private Practice star Kate Walsh will make her Off-Broadway debut later this spring in a two person production written by Stephen Belber…..

    -The cast of Glee recreates some of Madonna’s most iconic looks on the cover of TV Guide…..

    -You don’t have to be an expert on babies to know that Suri Cruise, who turns 4 on Sunday, is just too damn old to still be using a bottle. Would someone please introduce this child to sippy cups?

    -Gisele Bundchen unveiled the latest collection of her European flip flop line in Paris last week…..

    -Interesting…..With Jennifer Lopez’s latest romantic comedy, The Backup Plan, scheduled to open in theaters this month, some critics are questioning why the Bronx-born Latina is almost always coupled with a White love interest…..

    -Brandy spills the tea on Flo Rida…..

    -There will be no ninth trip down the aisle for Elizabeth Taylor….

    -The guys of Jersey Shore chat about their plans for life after Seaside Heights in the new issue of Interview….

    Iron Man’s Robert Downey Jr. for Men’s Fitness May 2010….

    -Did you know that Fred Savage took Jennifer Love Hewitt out on her first date? Too bad he never called her again!

    -Life after Betty is looking up for America Ferrera. The Golden Globe winner is developing a TV and web-based telenovela inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet….

    -The parents of a Hollywood reality TV producer suspected of killing his wife South of the Border have taken custody of the couple’s two young children….

    -Pittsburgh Steeler QB “Big Ben” will not face charges for an alleged sexual assault in the bathroom of a Georgia nightclub last month…

    -Bryant Gumble celebrates 15 years of Real Sports….

    The cast of Shrek goes chic for VMAN…..

    The Blind Side’s gentle giant, actor Quinton Aaron, has been dropped from his Hollywood casting agency after failing to land any new jobs. Do we smell a Blind Side curse?

    -Miley Cyrus’ former flame, guitarist Justin Gaston, will be performing with former Idol contestant Brooke White on this week’s Idol Results Show…..

    -ABC and Dancing with the Stars producers have been “chasing” Pamela Anderson around with covers for her ample nipples. BTW, Pam says she’s not feuding with Kate Gosselin….

    The list of 2010 Pulitzer Prize winners is in — and The National Enquirer is not on it. Enquirer editors had hoped that blewing the lid off of John Edward’s lovechild sex scandal would earn them literature’s most prestigious prize — despite the publication’s sleazy reputation. It was not to be…..


  • Michelle “Bombshell” McGee Apologizes To Sandra Bullock: “I’m Surprised More People Aren’t Taking My Side!”

    How do you apologize for helping to wreck someone’s marriage?

    “Gee Lady, I’m really sure I boinked your husband on your sofa.”

    Somehow we don’t think that would go over very well. Nonetheless, Michelle “Bombshell” McGee says she owes Sandra Bullock “a heartfelt apology” after carrying on an 11-month affair with her husband, biker Jesse James.

    That might be a bit more believable if Michelle weren’t also accused of banging Pink’s husband back in 2008.

    The first woman named in the Jesse James alleged infidelity scandal has offered an apology to the West Coast Choppers executive’s wife in an exclusive interview with an Australian tabloid TV show.

    “I’d like to say, ‘Sandra, you know, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for your embarrassment, I’m sorry all this is public,” the tattooed stripper told Australia’s Today Tonight. “I feel bad for Sandra, you know, I know what she’s going through. She must be hurt, devastated, upset, embarrassed,” Michelle told the show.

    Although she claims to feel “sympathy” for Sandra, Michelle argues that she too was lied to by Jesse and admits that the public’s reaction to the cheating scandal has not been as understanding as she would have hoped.

    “I’ve been getting very harsh reactions, name-calling – ‘I’m a homewrecker, a slut, a whore,’ and I’m very surprised by that, that more people aren’t taking my side. I don’t want any pity… but Jesse is the bad guy here…. I got duped as much as Sandra did,” she said.

    Excuse us, but you slept with another women’s husband. Dude! What does she expect, a medal of valor? Even if Sandra and Jesse were separated, as Bombshell insists she was told, they’re still legally married — and that makes Jesse off-limits. Geez, where’s The Real Housewives of New Jersey’s Teresa with her infamous “Prostitution Whore!” chant when you need her?

    Anywho, Michelle is also disturbed that world thinks she’s a racist. Sorry — the Nazi hat and swastika must have thrown us off!

    “I’m gonna try to redeem my reputation. My reputation’s been tarnished, especially with the Nazi and the white supremacist stuff,” she said. “It’s very, very hurtful to hear those things over a silly photoshoot… In hindsight, I shouldn’t have done the photoshoot, but that hurts me that that is what people are seeing now is that photoshoot.”


  • “Law & Order: LA” Premiering Fall 2010

    Law & Order creator Dick Wolf and executives at NBC have hit the green light on another Law & Order spinoff, this one based on a crime unit in the Los Angeles, California area, TV tipsters say.

    According to a scoop from Deadline Hollywood, the network has picked up Law & Order: Los Angeles (LOLA) for 13-episodes that will premiere next fall.

    I’m not sure about this move. For me, the on-location setting in the Big Apple is a huge part of Law & Order’s lasting charm. The city is like another character in itself. Hmm — we’ll see what transpires…..

    The original Law & Order, which spawned 3 spinoffs (albeit the ill-fated Trial By Jury), has been on the air since 1990 and will likely be renewed for a historic 21st season.


  • “Jersey Shore” Sparks Economic Boom In Seaside Heights

    The small shore community of Seaside Heights, New Jersey is fist-pumping all the way to the bank — thanks to the drunken twentysomethings who star on MTV’s controversial hit Jersey Shore!

    Alhough Italian-American interest groups continue to decry the show for its perceived stereotypical portrayal of Italian-Americans, Seaside Heights is bracing for one of its busiest seasons in memory due to the success of the unscripted smash.

    The town’s Executive Director of Business Improvement, Maria Maruca, told MTV News Monday that the shenanigans of cast members such as Snooki, Vinny, and The Situation have brought an impressive “economic benefit” to the tiny town alongside the Atlantic.

    In fact, Maria says the boardwalk that was home to some of the gang’s wildest nights at The Shore saw a substantial increase in traffic during the winter months, mostly from out of towners hoping for a glimpse at Karma, Beachcomber Bar & Grill, and some of the other places frequently featured on the show.

    “There’s the curiosity factor. Celebrities draw crowds. That’s going to give us an edge that we didn’t have before. The exposure that the show brought to Seaside Heights — when every late-night host is talking about Snooki, when Leonardo DiCaprio is talking about the show — we could never have afforded that type of media. This is more than we could ever have asked for,” she explains.

    Maruca isn’t the least bit worried about her hometown being affiliated with the foolery, fist fights, and chronic GTL-ing that clings to the cast like a second skin.

    “The show isn’t about Seaside Heights; the show is about eight individuals. It just happened to be filmed in Seaside Heights. And when you look at Seaside Heights as a backdrop, our beaches look spectacular; our boardwalk, our amusements look great.”


  • “Entourage” Parody Highlights Nation’s Obsession With Cell Phones

    In a hilarious parody of the HBO drama Entourage, caricatures of Vince, Eric, Johnny Drama, Turtle, Ari, and Lloyd highlight the necessity of cell phones.


  • New “Sex And The City 2″ Poster Unveiled

    Listen up, SATC stans: Warner Bros. Pictures has rolled out the red carpet for a second promotional poster for the buzzed Sex And The City sequel, stomping its way into theaters — in sparkly stilettos — next month.

    Check out the all new Sex and the City 2 poster that was revealed on Monday.

    In the poster, Sarah Jessica Parker, who plays the fashionable Carrie Bradshaw in the series, walks along the sand dunes of Abu Dhabi, sporting strappy sandles and a floor-length gown that shows off plenty of thigh. Though there have been few details released about the plot of the second film, the cast was spotted shooting in Morocco in October and we know that the film will feature cameo appearances by Liza Minnelli, Oscar winner Penelope Cruz, and teen queen Miley Cyrus — who pops up on the red carpet alongside Kim Cattrall’s Samantha wearing the same outfit.

    The first SATC 2 poster was unveiled in December. The image was heavily-photoshopped and a bit on the cartoonish side — a fact that earned it plenty of criticism from Sex fans. What do you think of the new promo poster — Yay or Nay?

    Sex and the City 2 hits theaters May 27. If you missed the premiere of the most recent trailer, here it is one more time:


  • Tiger Woods Loses Cool During 2010 Masters: “You Suck!”

    CBS mics picked up a frustrated Tiger Woods saying things he’d probably prefer we didn’t hear during The Masters in Augusta on Saturday. The womanizing sportsman finished fourth in the coveted tournament on Sunday.


  • Justin Bieber Will Be Protected By Glass During Performance In Australia

    In the most extreme case of “Bieber Fever” we’ve seen since some radio station in Florida convinced a mother to tattoo Justin Bieber’s name on her body to win her daughter tickets to one of the heartthrob’s sold-out shows, obsessed Australian teens are so in enamored with the “One Less Lonely Girl” crooner, Bieber will have to perform behind a glass shield for his own safety when he takes the stage on a popular Australian morning program later this month.
    Are they protecting a teen star or The Pope?

    Fans are reported to have reacted wildly to the news Bieber was due to perform at a shopping center in Sydney on April 25, forcing a change of plans. Bieber will now perform his hit single “Baby” on the city’s Sunrise morning show on April 26, The Sydney Daily Telegraph reported Monday. He’ll be protected from his teen admirers behind a glass window during the entire show, sources tell the paper.

    Last fall, Bieber famously sparked a stampede when approximately 10,000 teen girls showed up for a chance to meet the handsome 16-year-old star during a CD signing event at Roosevelt Field Mall in Long Island, NY.

    The teen idol he first solo artist to have four songs from a debut album on the Billboard Hot 100’s Top 40 prior to its release.


  • Conan O’Brien TBS Late-Night Show Premieres Nov. 2010

    Watch out, Leno: Conan’s on his way back to late-night.

    Coco’s coming to TBS After Dark for a talk show that is expected to debut in November, the network announced on Monday.

    Monday’s announcement comes the same day O’Brien kicks off a long-awaited two-month, nationwide comedy tour — his first major gig since leaving his post as host of NBC’s The Tonight Show after a scheduling dispute with The Peacock in February.

    O’Brien began serious talks with TBS just last week, the network said.

    “In three months, I’ve gone from network television to Twitter to performing live in theaters, and now I’m headed to basic cable,” quips O’Brien. “My plan is working perfectly.”

    The hour-long program will air Mondays through Thursdays at 11 PM, shifting George Lopez’s Lopez Tonight to midnight.

    For his part, George doesn’t seem to be too bothered by the shakeup:

    “I can’t think of anything better than doing my show with Conan as my lead-in,” Lopez said in a statement. “It’s the beginning of a new era in late-night comedy.”

    So much for those Conan on FOX rumors! What do you think, TV fans? Did Conan make the right choice in heading to TBS?


  • Taiwan’s Susan Boyle Lin Yu-Chun Voted Off TV Talent Show

    Lin Yu-Chun’s uncanny and soul-stirring rendition of Whitney Houston’s version of Dolly Parton’s classic ballad “I Will Always Love You” got millions of views on YouTube, but even all those eyeballs won’t help the portly 24-year-old become Taiwan’s next Idol.

    Yu-Chun was voted off Super Star Avenue, Taiwan’s version of American Idol on Sunday night. But don’t cry for Lin. The soft-spoken soprano, who discovered the joy of singing as an escape from bullying from his peers growing up, is now in talks for a record deal. And while he only speaks a little English, Lin’s excited about a possible move stateside sometime in the future.

    Chun’s Cinderella story has been compared to that of another dowdy singer: Scot Susan Boyle, who shot to fame when she the world with her stirring version of “I Dreamed a Dream” on Britain’s Got Talent in 2009.

    Although she lost out on the Talent crown, Boyle’s performance got millions of hits on YouTube and the former “Cat Lady” eventually landed a recording contract that spawned a No. 1-selling album.


  • John Tesh Oprah Dated In The ’70s, Kitty Kelley Tell-All Reveals

    Celebrity biographer Kitty Kelley cites sources who claim The Queen of Talk, then in her early 20s had an unlikely live-in romance with pianist and Christian pop composer John Tesh.

    So The Divine Madame O’s down with “The Swirl?” Who knew?!

    Kelley’s insiders claim Tesh dumped Oprah, now 56, — in the middle of the night no less — after the social pressures of an interracial romance in 1970s Nashville became too great for the young musician to bare.

    “He said one night he looked down and saw his white body next to her black body and couldn’t take it anymore,” says a friend.

    While Oprah has no comment on the romance whispers, on Monday, John confirmed that he did indeed date the girl that would grow up to be a billionaire chat show diva many years ago.

    “Oprah and I were cub reporters in Nashville nearly 40 years ago and we dated for a short time,” Tesh, 57, revealed to “>The New York Daily News. “We remain friends to this day.”

    Kitty Kelley’s Oprah: A Biography hits booksellers’ shelves on Tuesday.


  • Female Sports Reporter Rips Erin Andrews For Appearance On “Dancing With The Stars”

    It wasn’t enough that some Looney Bird Johnson videotaped her naked through a peephole, now ESPN’s Erin Andrews is waltzing into some drama for her turn on ABC’s Dancing With The Stars.

    In an article titled “Erin Andrews Looks More Ballroom Bimbo, Less Reporter” and published last week, Toronto Sun sports columnist Rosie DiManno bashes the “comely blonde” for her sexed-up image on the TV talent show (where Andrews is paired with Russian Maks Chmerkovskiy), as well as the devastating effects she believes the beautiful vamp role can have on women in the world of sports reporting.

    “She’s made a fool out of herself and a sham of her profession….” she writes.

    DiManno argues that Erin’s decision to appear as a contestant on the ballroom dancing series harms the reputation of women in sports reporting — who already have their work cut out for them trying to earn respect among their male colleagues.

    “I want to grab Andrews by the shoulders and shout: ‘What are you thinking, woman?!’” DiManno wrote. “I’m appalled by the damage she is doing to her profession and her own reputation as a journalist — a term albeit used lightly in the realm of sports,” the column said.

    Thoughts? Does the columnist have a point? Erin has plenty of thoughts on DiManno’s blog blast. Check out with the sideline reporter had to say on the subject in her new interview with Sports Illustrated…..


  • Rihanna Lilith Fair 2010 Performance Salt Lake City July 12

    Give it up for Girl Power: Rihanna will make a special appearance at Lilith Fair’s Salt Lake City date on Monday, July 12.

    The pop queen will take a brief break from her recently announced “Last Girl On Earth” Summer Tour to join the prestigious lineup of all-female singers for a one night only engagement in Salt Lake City, tour organizers said Monday.

    Other performers on this year’s tour include Lilith Fair founder and creator Sarah McLachlan, Colbie Caillat, Emmylou Harris, Erykah Badu, the Indigo Girls, Jill Scott, Kelly Clarkson, Ke$ha, Mary J. Blige, Norah Jones, Sara Bareilles, Selena Gomez, Sheryl Crow, Sia, and Sugarland.

    Tickets go on sale April 17. Visit LilithFair.com for more information……


  • Razzies Headed To TV In 2011

    The Golden Raspberry Awards is headed to a network near you! The pre-Oscars spoof ceremony that has been poking fun at Hollywood’s worst in show since 1980 is set to make its television debut next winter.

    The 31st Annual Razzie Awards will air on February 26, 2011, the night before the 2011 Oscars, on a still-to-be-determined TV network, Access Hollywood insiders spilled on Monday.


  • Jared Leto Pink Mohawk

    They say it takes a strong man to wear pink….and it takes an even tougher one to leave the house looking like this. Jared Leto debuted his brand-new pink Mohawk over the weekend.


  • Oprah “Twilight” Episode Coming Soon: Twi-Hards Wanted!

    The Queen of Daytime is looking for Twi-Hards for an upcoming Twilight-themed episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show expected to air later this year.

    Even Madame O isn’t safe from the cultural phenomenon that is The Twilight Saga! What’s next — the kids from Jersey Shore?

    “Calling all Twilight fans. Are you or your kids obsessed with the Twilight series?” reads a notice posted on the talk show diva’s Oprah.com over the weekend.

    Oprah is reportedly planning a show about Stephenie Meyer’s wildly-popular book series and the blockbuster film franchise that followed, and she’s interested in how Twilight has impacted the lives of its fans.

    Chances are The Oprah Show is completing audience prep for a possible Eclipse-related cast appearance, although no dates for such a show has been announced.

    The announcement probes: “Have you or your kids read all the books, seen both movies and now you are counting down the days until the release of Eclipse? Have you already made plans for the release of the newest movie in June? Who’s your family’s favorite Twilight star…and why? Why do you love the story so much? How has it impacted your life? What have you learned from the series and how has it made you a better person? Are you a housewife who’s started a fan club with friends? Do you have a young adult in your family who’s been inspired to write his/her own stories? Has the romance in Twilight sparked the romance in your own relationship? ”

    “Please only write if you are willing to appear on The Oprah Winfrey Show….” the announcement adds.


  • Live Studio Audience Coming To “Anderson Cooper 360″

    CNN has come up with an unorthodox way to boost ratings for Anderson Cooper’s fleeting network news program, Anderson Cooper 360.

    The cable news network is pulling a page from the book of tawdry daytime talk shows and classic sitcoms by inviting a live studio audience to sit in on Anderson’s nightly broadcast, The Hollywood Reporter said Monday.

    The trial run of episodes will be called “specials” and are scheduled to tape on April 15 and 22. Depending on how the format is received, live studio audiences could become a regular part of the format of 360, sources say.


  • Mickey Rourke Throws Tantrum In Bavaria Beer Commercial

    Now here’s something you’re not likely to see on American TV! In a profane but awesome new German commercial for non-alcoholic beer, Oscar-nominated star Mickey Rourke — accompanied by his teacup pup — screams at hotel bellhops, throws various tantrums, and gets generally crazy at a local bar!