Leah Remini & Corbin Bleu Interviews: Get Excited For DWTS Season 17!

Is it Wednesday yet? I'm dying for the ABC reveal of the Season 17 cast for DWTS. As I was going over the rumored cast list, I realized I had two old interviews with possible cast members: Leah Remini and Corbin Bleu. Coincidentally, the red carpet interviews I have with them were both done at the same event. It was the LA opening of the Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus back in July 2011.

Both of the interviews were pretty hilarious. Leah misunderstood my question, so watch have the whole thing goes down...over and over...



My interview with Corbin was kind of awesome because I had tickets to see him in Hairspray at the Hollywood Bowl as Seaweed J. Stubbs...and yes, the boy can dance. I think both Corbin and Leah are going to add a ton of personality to Season 17. Bring it on!

Are you ready for this season? I sure am!

VIDEO: My Interview with Stan Lee: 1st Annual Geekie Awards

I know many of you saw my photos from the Geekie Awards, but here's my official interview with the legendary Stan Lee and actor Seth Green who presented the very first Geekie award ever to him. It was an honor to interview the Marvel icon. I hope I'm as virile at 90. See our interview below...and let me know if my geek cred went up a notch in the comments below.

Have a great Labor Day weekend!

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.

DWTS Season 17: Initial Cast Thoughts

If my Twitter feed was an indication of what is to come for Season 17 of Dancing With the Stars, I am in for a busy fall. TMZ leaked a few of the celeb names today: Valerie Harper, Leah Remini, Elizabeth Berkeley, Snooki, Amber Riley, and Christina Milian. I've said it before and I will say it again, TMZ is pretty good about fact checking, so this list should be your six female celebs for the season.

Once it was revealed that Tristan MacManus was paired with Valerie, the tweets began. Many of the tweets were people who were angry that he was matched with a 74-year-old woman battling terminal brain cancer. Really? Doctors told her she would be dead by June and miraculously, she's still with us and is tackling DWTS. I don't know about you, but that's kind of awesome...and inspirational.

Re: Tristan--The gift of working with someone bravely fighting a terminal illness is greater than a mirrored ball trophy. #DWTS
— Kristyn Burtt (@KristynBurtt) August 28, 2013

Look, I get it: We all love Tristan and we want to see him win. It was disappointing to see him have to drop out in Season 16 when Dorothy Hamill was injured. Then it was a bummer to see him injured during the finale and he couldn't have one last dance with her. (Bravo to Henry Byalikov for stepping in!)

I'm just not going to get my panties in a bunch over this. I'm going to look at it from the Sharna Burgess School of Opportunity. I love what she did with Andy Dick last season, it was fun and moving to watch his journey. I'm going to take that same approach with Tristan and Valerie. I have a lot of faith in his talent, don't you?

So let's kick off this season on a positive note. I know you guys won't always agree with me, but I love to hear your opinions as long as it's handled with mutual respect. I love a good dance debate!

Here's to a great Season 17. I'm excited by the cast so far and we've already booked our first guest for DWTS on AfterBuzz TV. Hooray!

I would love to hear from you....hit me up with your thoughts and opinions in the comments below.

AfterBuzz TV SYTYCD: Top 6 Preview

I think the cat is out of the bag and most of you know who are guest is this week. Yep, Courtney Galiano! She's returning to our show for the second time after making a visit last season. Courtney's story is amazing and she's an inspiration to us all. If you missed her All-Star appearance with Tucker on SYTYCD last week, make sure to watch it before our show on Wednesday.

Courtney recently has been a principal dancer on VH1's Hit the Floor and helped organize the upcoming 1st Annual The Beat MS Dance Walk on September 22. There's a lot to talk about! So get those questions in for Courtney at the comments below.

Watch us on Wednesday on AfterBuzz TV at 9pm PT right here.

HYD For Men Review

I usually get products to review for myself, but this time, my significant other had the opportunity to test drive a few new products. iFabbo and HYD for Men gifted these shaving items and I am happy to share the results with you.

Let's go through all three items:

Shave Cream:

Description of Product from the HYD for Men website:

HYD For Men Shave Cream allows your razor to glide effortlessly across your skin, resulting in a comfortable, more precise shave.

Key Benefits:

Shave Cream hydrates and rejuvenates your skin by minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Our unique blend of natural oils and moisturizers allows your razor to glide effortlessly across your skin, reducing friction and irritation.

Our soothing low lather formula is designed to provide superior coverage while using less shave cream. As a result, your razor will perform better and your blades won’t clog from excess shave cream.

Ingredients:

Aqua (Deionized Water), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf (Aloe Vera Gel) Juice,Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine,Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Leaf Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Mineral Oil, Hydrolyzed Wheat Proteins, Hydrolyzed Wheat Proteins, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin-E), Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf (Green Tea) Extract, Dimethicone, Sodium Stearate, Citrus Aurantium (Orange) Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Carbomer, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Aceteyl Hexapeptide-8, Titanium Dioxide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin

Does It Work?:

For a clean, close shave, this is a great product. You will love the results whether your man uses it for his face or if you use it to shave your legs. However, if you are ingredient-wary like me, note there are products like Mineral Oil and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. As a result, it makes me give this a cautious review.

Cost: $12.99

Where Is It Sold?: If you go through the HYD for Men website, there's currently a 20% off your entire purchase code for you to use. Just plug in SAVE20.

Connect:

If you want to learn more about HYD for Men, visit their social media pages:

Facebook

Twitter

YouTube

Buffer Stick: 

Description of Product from the HYD for Men website:

HYD For Men Buffer Stick exfoliates and energizes skin, allowing for deep hydration, while preventing ingrown hairs.

Key Benefits:

Eliminate 50 million barriers to healthy skin with this one-step microdermabrasion treatment. Buffer Stick combines hydration and long-lasting, skin-enriching treatment with professional-quality microdermabrasion.

Buffer Stick offers instant results with no pain or irritation, increased absorption of your skin care products and minimizes the appearance of dark spots and fine lines. Add to your grooming routine to hydrate your skin and gently remove dead skin cells while fighting ingrown hairs.

Ingredients:

Propylene Glycol, Aluminum Oxide, Nonyl Nonoxynol-150, Water, Sodium Stearate, Dipropylene Glycol, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan), Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Oil, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Ferocactus Wislizenii (Cactus) Extract, Orchis Maculata Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi (Bearberry) Leaf Extract, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Caffeine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Lauryl Methacrylate/Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, PVP, Trihydroxystearin, Fragrance, Phenoxyethanol

Does It Work?:

Again, I am hesitant when I see Aluminum Oxide on the list, so use with caution. This might be a good product to grab in a pinch if you need to soothe the bikini line area after waxing. Again, read the ingredients if you are worried about certain items in this product.

Cost: $24.99

Razor Shield: 

Description of Product from the HYD for Men website:

A proprietary formula that coats and protects razor blades, preventing oxidation and calcification to greatly extend razor blade life.

Key Benefits:

Razor Shield creates a liquid barrier, protecting razor blades from the corrosive chemical reactions that dull blades and make shaving uncomfortable.

Sharp blades coated in our proprietary blend of natural oils keep your face smooth and revitalized, making for a clean shave.

Ingredients:

Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf (Aloe Vera Gel) Juice, Petrolatum, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D), Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A), Isopropyl Palmitate, BHT, Simmondsia Chinesis (Jojoba) Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Australian Tea Tree Oil)

Does It Work?:

I love this product, especially if you have bought an expensive razor. It helps keep the blade lasting longer and sharper for better use. It's probably not worth it on a disposable razor, but it's great for those nicer blades.

Cost: $17.99

Don't forget about the 20% off code, use the link above to purchase any of the items. If you want to tweet about it, use #hydformen.

See my other reviews:

Hydroxatone Anti-Aging BB Cream
Own Firming Silk Concentrate
Perlier Shower & Bath Cream Kit

Who Are You Wearing?: 1st Annual Geekie Awards Edition

I guess I need to wear the color blue more often...I received so many comments on this dress. Thank you!

Here are the details on the entire outfit:

Dress:  Taylor Petites (Nordstrom on sale for $82.80!)
Shoes: Guess (Winter 2007 at $110, You've seen them before here and here.)
Bracelet: Secret of Treasures, New York ($2.99, If you haven't checked this place out, look here.)
Ring: Alexander Kalifano ($20)
Necklace: Sorrelli (Compliments of Sorrelli.)

Hair: Elizabeth H. at DryBar
Makeup: Blushington

TRAILER: The Book Thief

Oscar season is just around the corner and this film is high on my list. The Book Thief, starring the divine Geoffrey Rush and Emily Mortimer, opens on November 15. It has Oscar written all over it. The movie is based on the New York Times bestselling book by Markus Zusak. Watch the trailer and let me know what you think in the comments below.

I am already counting the days until this film opens.

AfterBuzz TV SYTYCD: Audrey Case & Matthew Kazmierczak

This competition is tough and getting tougher. In the YouTube comments, someone asked me who I thought would make the Top 4. This is when the fan votes are strong and the judges don't have any say.

Here are my Top 4 picks: (based off of FAN votes, not who I want in the Top 4.)

Men:                        Ladies:
1. Paul                     1. Amy
2. Aaron                  2. Hayley

Sadly, my picks send Fik-Shun and Jasmine home. If my picks turn out to be true, I hate the thought that Jasmine is going home. All three women are incredible dancers. I would prefer to see Amy and Jasmine as the last two standing. On the men's side, if I am correct, I think it's time for Fik-Shun to go home. He had an incredible run and I've really enjoyed watching him on the show this season.

A huge thanks to Audrey Case and Matthew Kazmierczak for joining us in studio this week. I love that they are still friends after their season. Having former contestants on the show always gives us more and more perspective on SYTYCD. The stress, the excitement and the injuries are all a big part of each season, so I'm happy we've had some great guests to give us that insight.

If you missed our show last night, watch it below:

Don't forget to let me know your thoughts on this week's show in the comments below!



Photo Credit: Audrey Case

1st Annual Geekie Awards

NASA JPL Mars Curiosity Rover team

 The 1st Geekie Awards were held on Sunday at The Avalon Hollywood with a sold-out crowd celebrating the best in geek culture. The night was conceived by actress and producer Kristen Nedopak who works in the genre. She's well known for her web series, The Skyrim Parodies, so creating the awards show was a natural fit for her.

Kristen Nedopak

The show was hosted by Alison Haislip who ushered in the inaugural awards show to great fanfare. However, the big highlights of the night were reserved for the honorees. Stan Lee accepted his Lifetime Achievement Award from Seth Green while the Geek Cred Award went to the NASA JPL Mars Curiosity Rover team. Also receiving an award for Geek of the Year was Nathan Fillion who was not in attendance, but accepting on his behalf was GoDaddy's make out king Jesse Heiman.

 Stan Lee and Seth Green

Here's a list of your Geekie Award winners:

One Pumpkin to Rule Them All… for Best Geekie Arts & Crafts
COLONUS for Best Geekie Comics & Graphic Novel
The Goon (on Darkhorse Comics) for Best Geekie Crowdfunded
A Podcast of Ice and Fire for Best Geekie Podcasts
The Nerd Machine for Best Geekie Retail Store & Website
Undying Love for Best Geekie Short Film
The Record Keeper for Best Geekie One Shot
Cosplay Piano for Best Geekie Web Series
Takenoko for Best Toys & Games

 Stan Lee with Jesse Heiman

Stan Lee on the red carpet with Kristyn Burtt

Photo Credits: Joe Lester, BNatural Photography

UPDATED: DWTS Pro Watch: Contracts

I know things are heating up with speculation about the pros and who is returning for Season 17. One thing that has raised my eyebrows though was yesterday's news that Kym Johnson wasn't returning. She is reportedly headed to DWTS Australia to work as a judge for the next season, although she has yet to confirm that news. I found the announcement rather curious because of this: Contracts are pretty ironclad and it's hard to get out of a DWTS U.S. contract.  Yes, it's not one big happy family of DWTS shows, it isn't easy to jump from one country's show to another. That's not to say that it hasn't been done before, we know it has. I'm just saying a DWTS U.S. contract is more challenging than others. Is there subtext in this post? Perhaps.

UPDATE: 
While this was written about last season's pro cast, I learned something interesting about contracts that could affect some pros we haven't seen in awhile. According to an insider, DWTS U.S. contracts are for five years. That means you have to ask permission to do outside work during this time period. While I didn't get specifics on this aspect of the contract, it usually means other TV shows or anything related to ballroom or using the DWTS name. (It is most likely a typical non-compete clause in the entertainment industry.)

Here's where it gets even more interesting, if ABC does not use you as talent for two seasons in a row, you are free to do what you want. We didn't see a few DWTS pros at all in Season 17. With the show down to one-night a week, it makes sense to use the eliminated pro from the prior week in group dances. However, we may see a few former pros gone for good if they aren't used for Season 18. (Chelsie, Louis, etc) ABC has signaled a change not only with the format, but with the pros they are using.

Season 17 was a big shift and it might get even bigger with Season 18. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

SYTYCD on AfterBuzz TV: Top 8 Preview

I cannot believe we are down to the last four weeks on SYTYCD. This season flew by for me because I have really enjoyed the competition and the talent this year. As you know, I've talked a lot about our guests this season and how much they've added to our shows this year. So, I'm so excited to announce that this week's guest is Audrey Case.

She was a Top 10 contestant on Season 9 and you may have remember her for her routine with tWitch by Dave Scott or one of my favorites with her partner Matthew Kazmierczak by Travis Wall.  The "Unchained Melody" piece was picked for the finale and for the tour.

UPDATE: So I received a text from Audrey last night asking if she could bring a friend with her on the show.  This is who she is bringing...

Yep, Matthew Kazmierczak! Get those questions in for Matthew, too! It's going to be a great night on AfterBuzz TV.

So, get those questions in for Audrey and I will see you all on Wednesday on AfterBuzz TV at 9 p.m. PT. Watch here.

Hollywood and Mental Illness

This summer has been rough, hasn't it? We lost lots of young talent and TV personalities lately. Amanda Bynes will hopefully be saved, but I'm not sure the media will be saved. Yep, I am one of the people who has to cover celebrities with drug addictions, mental illness and trips to rehab. So, I am guilty as charged. However, I do feel like we have a responsibility to some of these celeb having public breakdowns.

I got to a point midway through the Bynes saga where I just felt sorry for her. I didn't want to write about her latest cry for attention on Twitter. I didn't want to hear who she targeted for her latest "you're ugly" comment. I just wanted her to get help.

The problem is that it ain't easy.  Every comment I read on articles about the former Nickelodeon star insinuated that her parents were horrible for not helping their daughter. Hey guys, guess what? Their daughter is over 18 years old, she can do whatever she wants. It wasn't until she had an epic event like burning someone's driveway that the law could finally do something with her. She's on an involuntary psychiatric hold where she is reportedly being treated for schizophrenia. It's a lot less funny now, right?

In the last week, the entertainment community has lost a reality TV star with Gia Allemand and Rizzoli & Isles star Lee Thompson Young to suicide. Depression runs deep and for some, suicide seems to be the only answer. Sadly, Allemand and Young felt like they had no other place to turn. 

In this 24/7 news cycle that I actively participate in, I want Hollywood to step up and be more sensitive to those that are suffering. I hope we don't see another saga like Amanda Bynes or even Paris Jackson. I hope their story has a better ending like Britney Spears who has moved forward with her life under controlled circumstances. 

Let's try to understand a bit more about mental illness and depression. Perhaps one more life will be saved.

If you need help, reach out to someone: National Suicide Prevention Hotline

AfterBuzz TV SYTYCD: Lindsay Nelko

What a night! So much to talk about and so little time. I am thrilled that this season of SYTYCD has brought such incredible talent. These kids are going to work a lot once they are off the show and done with the tour.

Lindsay Nelko was a great addition to the show. I wish we could have done an after, after show where we talked about her mentors Brian Friedman and Desmond Richardson. It was actually Richardson who recommended her for the show, but it's Friedman's The Pulse tour that got her noticed. We also had a personal discussion about being a young artist in the business and honoring commitments including making sure you understand the business part as much as the creative part. It was fascinating.

I want to thank Shannon Mather for talking to me on the phone about how she felt about her piece and what she on the show this week. It really does seem that "Medicine" is a popular piece for choreographers this year. She and Travis Wall are fine, so it's not a controversy. I know she really wants to choreograph for the show, so let's support Shannon and Travis. I think we cleared everything up on her end for the viewers.

Shannon Mather's Piece
Kristin McQuaid Piece
Travis Wall Piece

Finally, we have some great guests for the rest of the season. I hope you join us through our last show on Sept. 11. I know Jake and I will be rolling right into Season 17 of DWTS which will begin on Sept. 17 at 8pm PT.

You can download the podcast here.

SYTYCD on AfterBuzz TV Top 10 Preview

These last few weeks of SYTYCD are going to be so exciting. We have our Top 10 and the talent is just incredible. All of our guests are booked through the finale, so stop by and take a look. You might like what you see, we have all worked really hard to get the best guests possible this season for AfterBuzz TV.

I am thrilled that we were able to book Lindsay Nelko because she is one of the new emerging choreographers from Season 10. It's exciting to see new talent and Lindsay had an impressive debut this season. If you didn't see the number she choreographed for Paul and Makenzie, watch it below. The number is just gorgeous and it's one of the reasons I have been shocked Makenzie has seen so many Bottom 3 placements this year.

So watch us LIVE on Wednesday night at 9 p.m. PT on AfterBuzzTV here.

If you have questions for Lindsay, please put them in the comments below. See you tomorrow!

Dizzy Feet Foundation Gala: The Interviews

I decided to try something new here on my site, so definitely give me your feedback and let me know if you like it. I'm going to be updating this page over the next few days with a couple of the interviews I did on the red carpet at the Dizzy Feet Foundation Gala. I think there are some fun soundbites for fans of SYTYCD.

First up, it's tWitch who gives his thoughts on his role in dance, being a judge during the audition rounds and the importance of the Dizzy Feet Foundation:





Come back to this page later, I will continue to update it for you. Up next, Travis Wall!

If you missed my Dizzy Feet Foundation Gala photos, click here.
This week's ABTV interview with Spencer Liff, click here.
Or take my quick survey on Dance in the Media, click here.

AfterBuzz TV SYTYCD: Spencer Liff

What a show! I think I learned more about SYTYCD dance in this hour than in the last two seasons of covering this show. Spencer Liff gave us a real insider's look at the pressures the choreographers and the contestants are under. It's a time crunch each and every week. Doesn't it make you admire the work everyone puts in even more?

I hope you all take note of Spencer's career because you are going to hear his name a lot outside of SYTYCD. It's really exciting to see choreographer's emerge from this show. It also makes me excited to have Lindsay Nelko on as a guest on Aug. 14. We will get the opportunity to talk to someone who is just breaking out.

I have also updated our guest list for August, it's a great line-up this month and I like the variety that we have.

Finally, it was definitely time for Alexis and Curtis to exit, but I think this is going to be a great stepping stone for them. They both said they wanted to head to New York to Disney's Newsies. I hope to see them on the Great White Way soon.

Watch the show below or you can download the show in iTunes here.