New Year's Eve With Zac Efron

At the press junket for the film, New Year's Eve.

I had a pretty amazing birthday this year.  I had the opportunity to spend the day with Michelle Pfeiffer, Abigail Breslin, Hector Elizondo, Lea Michele, and Zac Efron from the movie, New Year's Eve.  Not a bad day on the job at all.  I headed over to the Beverly Hilton Hotel to ask the cast about their experiences on the set and if they believed in New Year's resolutions.  Not surprisingly, most did not share their New Year's resolutions because I think we all make a list each year and often fail or forget about the list.  If a celebrity makes that resolution public, I'm sure the tabloids would love to hold them accountable for it. I expected everyone to be excited about the Lea Michele interview, but I found out on Twitter that Zac Efron has some fervent fans.  So fervent, they call themselves "Zanessa" fans.

Now, let's talk about this for a moment: Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens met and dated during their High School Musical years.  They were a very cute couple and they lived in my neighborhood, so I saw them quite a bit with the paparazzi constantly on their trail.  Like many first loves, they broke up.  This happened about a year ago.  Well, the Zanessa fans relentlessly hounded me on Twitter to ask Zac about Vanessa when I'm supposed to be asking about New Year's Eve.  They called me a bad reporter.  Giggle and sigh.  I understand when fans get excited about their favorite stars, I think that is why it is so enjoyable to interview the Disney Channel stars.  However, at a certain point, you have to understand that these stars have a life and feelings and sometimes things should just be private.  Zac hasn't ever discussed the Vanessa break-up and I doubt he will beyond saying it was a lovely time in his life, she's a sweet girl, etc. (You know, the standard answers to the press.  So, foolish me for thinking everyone wanted to hear a Glee interview, they wanted a Zac interview.  I definitely learned something that day and it convinced me that having enthusiastic fans is pretty powerful in Hollywood these days.  I should have remembered that from my Angie Harmon Twangels encounter......maybe that's my New Year's resolution? Remember the fans, KB, remember the fans!!



Anyway, enjoy my interviews for iVillage with Zac and Michelle Pfeiffer, who is perhaps the most stunning celebrity I have ever interviewed and so NICE to boot,  as well as Lea Michele, who gave a great answer to her red carpet/Twitter disagreement with Modern Family star Sarah Hyland.



What's your New Year's resolution?  Let me know in the comments below.

Don't forget to enter my Holiday Giveaway!  You have until Sunday, December 18th to enter.

Weekly Wrap-Up

Welcome to Friday the 13th!  Is it supposed to be a lucky day or an unlucky one?  Since it has been a great week, I am going to vote that it is going to be a good one for us all.  Here's a wrap-up of this week's events:

Sunday:  Thanks to all of you that read and commented on my Sunday excursion to the Hollywood Bowl to see Rent.  You had a lot to say about Vanessa Hudgens as Mimi and I was thrilled to hear how many of you attended the show.  It warms my theatre geek heart.  Speaking of theatre geeks, I have always been one.  In fact, CBS News did a great piece on my theatre camp, Stagedoor Manor.  A little 15-year-old me even made the clip.  Stop at 4:28 and see if you can pick me out of the line-up:

Monday:  I spent Monday morning at the movie theatre watching Step Up 3D for Jenn Page's Movie Review Round Table.  Before you start to groan, watch the review video and remember, Jon M. Chu of The LXD directed this movie:

Tuesday:  I am in the running in Logitech's "Host with the Most".  If I win, I get to host my own show on Google TV from a beautiful loft in downtown LA.  Tough job, right?  Well, I need your votes!  You do need to have a Facebook account to vote, so if you think I would be right for the job, head here:  Logitech Host.  (And here's a secret, the site tells me who voted.  I've gotten a few chuckles that people have claimed to have voted, but they really didn't.  Facebook doesn't lie. Haha!)

Wednesday:  It's another week with Broadcom and MoreWireLess and I think we are down to the last couple of videos.  I know, I know, I keep saying that, but I think it was supposed to be ten episodes and now it is twelve.  The good news?  I finally change my shirt. Check out the wardrobe change, it's green this time.  Oh yeah, and you will learn about transferring files using Bluetooth:

I also found out that my panel proposal for SXSW Interactive had been accepted.  The title of my proposal is "Hosted Web Series:  New Opportunities for Creativity".  If you are planning on heading down to Austin and would like to attend this panel, well, yep, I need your vote again.  Sigh.  I know it is a lot to ask.  Here is the link to the panel.  I will also keep an icon up on my blog to remind you if you would like to do it another day.  Thanks!

The crazy selections at Voodoo Doughnuts...Cocoa Puffs, M&M's, Butterfinger doughnut, anyone?

The infamous Maple Bacon Bar.  Yum.

Thursday:  I am here in Portland for The Dew Tour this weekend.  I am hoping for a Shaun White sighting since I love anything related to the Olympics.  I almost had a heart attack when a co-worker asked, "Who's Shaun White?".  Do you know who Shaun White is?  Just wondering if I am out of line for thinking most people in their 20's and 30's would know who he is.  I digress. If you are in Portland.  Make sure to make a visit to Voodoo Doughnuts for their signature Maple Bacon bar. (Um, there is even a cock and balls doughnut for you adventurous types.)  Yep.  I said bacon and it is delicious.  The wait can be long, but you won't be disappointed.  I first learned about it on The Amazing Race.  The store was a stop along the way.  Remember, "The Magic is in the Hole".  

Friday:  Here is where all of the fun stuff begins.  

      1.  If you are interested in the digital space, check out Digital Chick TV for shows that produced by women.  They have a great list of web series and solid descriptions of each show.  

      2.  My lovely pal, Kristoffer Kelly, wants me on Entertainment Tonight to replace outgoing host, Mary Hart.  Why it might be a long shot, he started a Facebook page for me.  I'm flattered.

      3.  GIVEAWAY!:  If you haven't entered yet, head on over to my Online Shopping post.  I am giving away an amazing pair of City Slips.  They are perfect to slip into your bag and pull out when those high heels start to pinch.  You have until August 19th to enter.  Good luck!

Have a great weekend and I'll see you back here at Red Carpet Closet on Monday!

Hollywood Bowl

                                           

Perhaps the best part of a Los Angeles summer is the Hollywood Bowl.  It is a 17,000 seat amphitheatre featuring the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the summer home of the LA Philharmonic, and some of the finest musical offerings in the area.  In my ten years in LA, I have had the opportunity to see great artists like Angela Landsbury, Audra McDonald, John Williams, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Donna Murphy on that massive stage.  I am never disappointed with the atmosphere, the company, and the affordable tickets to enjoy a little culture here in Southern California.

With my pal, Melody Freeman, in the nosebleed seats at the Bowl.

Each year my friends and I hit the Bowl during the first weekend in August for their annual musical theatre selection.  This year was an interesting choice, not only for its racier content, but for its choice of directors, Neil Patrick Harris (NPH). The musical for 2010?  Rent.  NPH is very familiar with the material having played Mark in the National Tour of Rent back in 1997, so he made so unique choices with this production.  He wisely added ten chorus members to fill the cavernous Hollywood Bowl stage so it never felt empty and he had the set designer build a set with levels to fill the vertical height of the the Bowl shell.  When it came to casting, he went in several directions starting with classic musical theatre choices like Gwen Stewart and Tracie Thoms.  Since this is an LA production, you need more star wattage, so Wayne Brady, Vanessa Hudgens, and Nicole Scherzinger rounded out the cast and added the celebrity power.  The real question is, did they deliver the musical theatre goods?

Nighttime at the Bowl with a blurry iPhone camera.

Well, Wayne Brady was as solid as you would expect him to be in the touching role of Tom Collins. Vanessa Hudgens tried so hard in her role as Mimi.  She acted, danced, and sang with so much effort, it was exhausting to watch.  She really wanted to pull this off, but she was miscast in the role.   It was a definite departure from her role as Gabriella in High School Musical, but it wasn't the right departure.  She needs to think more Fosse, less junkie stripper.  I think a turn in Chicago on Broadway might do the girl good.  The true surprise of the night was Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls performing as Maureen, a role made famous by Wicked veteran, Idina Menzel.  I was not a fan until last night.  Holy cow!  That girl can sing, dance, and act.  I think she was the only one prepared to sing to an audience of 17,000 given her experience in the pop world. If her handlers manage her career properly, expect to see the next Beyoncé level diva on the horizon.  She's THAT good and we need a new diva since Beyoncé can barely sing.  (Yes, I said it.  She can't sing.  I've heard her live, she's a performer, not a singer.)  Overall, this show is always going to be a tribute to the work of Jonathan Larson.  Did it move me the way the original Broadway cast did in 1996?  No, but it certainly offered a great night out for a bunch of musical theatre geeks in Hollywood. 

The crowds exiting the Bowl after a night at Rent.

While Rent wrapped up last night, be sure to grab Hollywood Bowl tickets before the season is over.  It's affordable entertainment, a great date night, and an excuse to dine al fresco with lots of wine.

To read more about Neil Patrick Harris and this production of Rent:  LA Times.

And a photo of me and Melody Freeman made it on to the Hollywood Bowl site.  It's good to know they appreciate their cheap seat customers as much as their box owners.  Thanks!