Posts Tagged ‘damien fahey’

Damien Fahey’s Dream “I’m a Celebrity…” Cast

June 23rd, 2009 / Author: OK! Staff

As the number of surviving celebrities is narrowed down to three tonight on NBC’s hit summer reality show I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, the show’s co-host Damien Fahey, is already thinking about his dream cast for a future season.
 
"I would love to see Paris Hilton survive in the jungle for four weeks," Damien tells OK! by phone. "Lindsay Lohan, Dave Coulier from Full House, Clay Aiken — all would be great casting.”

Looking back at this first wild season in the jungles of Costa Rica, Damien now believes that — more than the snakes, bugs and bad weather, the mental aspect of the game has been more difficult for contestants. 

“Surviving on rations of beans and rice the size of your fist, and not being able to e-mail or Twitter," he explains. "I think that’s the toughest.”

Though America still has another day to decide the show’s ultimate winner, Damien’s already got his three faves selected. “I think Lou Diamond Phillips, Sanjaya and Patti Blagojevich are my top three” he says. “But it’s anyone’s game at this point.”  

As for the show’s most controversial celebs, Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt, who quit the show on repeated occasions, only to come crawling back. “They were a real pain when they first started," Damien admits. "And then when they came back they seemed quite friendly… It will be interesting to see which version shows up.”

Don’t forget to watch tonight’s elimination and tomorrow’s live finale, where one celebrity is crowned king or queen of the jungle on NBC starting at 8pm ET.

Stars Share New Year’s Resolutions

January 1st, 2009

A New Year is time for a new you, and stars are revamping their outlooks. What are their resolutions?

Julianne Hough says, “Keeping my skin fresh and not tanning so much. I won’t have to so much when I take the season off from Dancing With The Stars, so I can keep my face fresh.”

Emma Roberts is practical. “Probably just to eat healthier and get more sleep,” she tells me. “I have a problem where if I start thinking about something, I’m up all night just thinking and can’t go to sleep.”

“I’m always 15 minutes late, so I’m going to try and wake up 15 minutes earlier,” Natasha Bedingfield says.

Gabrielle Union is going to stop obsessing. “I think I worry too much, and put too much emphasis on ‘Oh my God, she’s an eight, or oh no, she’s a double-zero.’ You know what, do your thing. If you look like one of the 90210 girls, then God bless you. And if you are a 12, God forbid – that’s illegal in the county of Los Angeles – then go with that. Do you and keep it moving.”

Gossip Girl’s Lydia Hearst has her list ready. “Honestly, to remain happy and healthy and maintain good friendships and be able to be back in the City more and do more charity work with God’s Love We Deliver,” she tells me. “I work in the kitchen.”

Jesse McCartney says, “I always procrastinate and put things off to the last second.  Maybe that should be my resolution. Stop procrastinating.”

Jake T. Austin is under the parental influence. “My mom really wants me to try not to argue with my sister,” the Wizards of Waverly Place star, who appears in January’s Hotel For Dogs, tells me. “I don’t know how long that’s going to last, but I’ll try as hard as I can.”

Darius Rucker is also thinking family. “I’m going to make the same one I make every year, that I’m going to get in much better shape and I’m going to start breaking that around January 2. I think next year I’m going to try to make a resolution to stay home a little more. I’m going to try and see the family more next year.”

Jake Owen seconds that notion. “I think it’s going to be to call home more just because I think everybody should do that. Time flies, and I seem to sometimes go a week or two without talking to my mom and dad. I want to make sure that I keep up with them.”

Lena Olin, who appears in The Reader with Kate Winslet, doesn’t think big just once a year. “I start every day with a resolution. I try to make the most of every day I wake up, so New Year’s – I start out fresh every day. I have a lot of ambition in my life. Personal. To make the most of every day.”

“We’re all going to try and sit back with our families and soak this up and reflect,” Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley tells me. “Be thankful.”

Lady’s Hillary Scott adds, “Keep dreaming big, too. I think always if you put it out there and you say it, it can happen. We just try to stay optimistic and make goals and I think this dreaming big.”

The Dish host Danielle Fishel uses a slogan for each year. “I tend to not make resolutions because I think you tend to set yourself up for failure, but what I do is I make a statement about whatever I want this year to be for me. Last year, my statement was ‘no fear’ so anything that scared me –  such as going back to school – it scared me, and I did it anyway. This year I’m not exactly sure what my positive affirmation is going to be, but I think it’s going to be career-based.”

Some are not so serious.

“Always wear socks with boots,” Ashanti laughs.

And some are opting out. “I don’t make resolutions because I’m not good at keeping promises,” Damien Fahey tells me.

Be sure to make the most of your 2009.

Stars Share Party Tips

December 31st, 2008

New Year’s Eve is here. It’s out with the old and in with the new as we say goodbye to 2008 and usher in 2009.

Former Boy Meets World star Danielle Fishel, who hosts The Dish on Style Network, offers party tips.   

“Don’t trap somebody in a corner and talk their ear off,” she tells me. “Keep your conversations short and pleasant. Laugh, and smile, and be welcoming. And don’t get drunk.”

Former TRL host Damien Fahey, who has jumped to Extra, remembers his highlight of 2008.

“I was really affected by the election of Obama,” he tells me. “The bar in my head has been raised for the American public in their idea to hope for better things and for change. That was really surprising to me.”

Since Damien is a staple of the NYC party scene, I thought he might have a few hangover tips up his sleeve. (He does!)

“I do a Dewar’s soda and then I’ll do a glass of water immediately afterwards,” he tells me. “If you do that, that is it. It’s also difficult because the more Dewar’s you drink, the less apt you are to reach for the water. So if you are hungover the next day, I recommend staying in bed and sleeping it off. Puking is good – just get it out, get rid of it. And then, eat a lot of fried food. A lot of fried chicken, a lot of barbecue is good the next day. It soaks all the alcohol up.”

 

Yonkers Joe star Chazz Palminteri and wife Gianna make their New Year kid-friendly for son Dante, 13, and daughter Gabriella, 7. “We usually go to a house party in the neighborhood where I live. It’s  low-key. But we like to keep the kids with us. They get to stay up late. We always like to have the kids with us.”

 

Happy New Year, guys!

Maria Menounos, Sterns Stand Up For Pets

November 19th, 2008

Maria Menounos saves the day during North Shore Animal League’s Dogcatemy Celebrity Gala, which takes place at NYC’s Capitale. Howard Stern and wife Beth talk the Today/Access Hollywood star into filling in as host for Law and Order’s Richard Belzer, who has suddenly fallen ill, moments before festivities begin.

Luckily, Maria couldn’t be more perfect for the gig where pets dressed in top hats, tuxedos and glittery dresses are feted during a fundraiser for the no-kill animal shelter that urges shelter adoption over pet store purchases. Her entry in tonight’s video competition is all about why dogs are better than kids. The comedic satire wins Best Tail Waggin’ Comedy – an honor she shares with Chris Booker.

Maria breaks out her BlackBerry Bold to show me a video.

“There’s my dog Noelle,” she explains. “She’s a quadriplegic poodle. That’s my rescue, Athena, in my tennis court, and that’s my rescue Apollo. He knows he’s on camera. I swear he thinks he’s a superstar. And then they kiss in a minute. They’re my chickies, my little lovebugs. Watch, ready, you’re gonna see this. She sits down like a good girl right next to him, and then watch this – come on – they kiss. This is my favorite thing in the world because I get to stay connected to my dogs.”

Her five pooches have their own special traits.

“When I’ve been sick, my boy bichon Benjamin has never left my side. Only to go to the bathroom, not even for food. And he is the biggest pig in the world. He loves food, but when I’m sick he doesn’t leave my side. My quadriplegic poodle, Noelle, she’s like a healing poodle. When you’re upset, you put her on your chest – and I have five dogs – so I know she has the special power in the group. She’s very healing. My dog Apollo, the big white German shepherd I have, rescued the little bichons when they fell in the pool. Ripped them up by their neck and saved them.”  

She adds, “They are gifts from God. I truly believe that. They’re my everything. They’re my kids.”

Here comes Marcia Gay Harden and daughter Eulala, 8, who is decked out in mascara for the big night out. (They win Best Dogumentary!)

How do they spoil their pets? Although Marcia says she doesn’t believe in spoiling pets, she lets Eulala give their border collie some love. “She gave it a little teddy bear,” Marcia tells me. Eulala adds, “I also gave him a baby blanket.” Marcia continues, “It was her own from when she was a baby. She totally gives it baby things, baby blankets, baby bibs. We do take care of them.”

Mya is thrilled she recently adopted her first kitten, Mellow, from the North Shore Animal League. The owner of three dogs and one cat is gearing up for a brood of her own.

“I really believe animals prepare you for parenting,” the Lady Marmalade singer tells me. “Dogs are a 24-hour job. They are kids. They go to school as well. They’re lovable, loyal animals. They’re very responsive. They absorb a lot of information. They understand whatever language you speak over the course of time. They’re very dedicated to protecting you as the owner, and they look up to you as a child would. Whatever behavior you exemplify, they easily repeat, so if you raise them a certain way, they’ll repeat that behavior. So yes, it’s very similar to raising a kid.”

Here’s TRL host Damien Fahey and girlfriend Grasie Mercedes, who bring dog Hayden out for the evening.  “We bought him the bow tie off the Internet, gave him three treats today and stuck him in a car,” Damien tells me. “It was like a dog nap. We threw him in a town car and he just arrived here and that was it.” He laughs, “This is his first red carpet and I’m already not allowed to look him in the eye. He already has an ego problem.”

Monica Seles’ dogs love chasing tennis balls. “What’s so nice in tennis when you win a match or you lose a match, they’re always just happy to see you. After such a pressured day, it’s so nice to come home, and no matter if I won the match or I lost the match, they treat me the same way. The love they have is truly amazing – and the bond. I love both cats and dogs. They love chasing after the balls. They just really want to be near me. They really want to be part of me.”

Time for dinner! Tonight we have salmon with pickled beets and ginger-carrot broth for the entrée and chocolate passion fruit parfait for dessert. Mmm!

During the ceremony, Howard shocks wife Beth by giving her the Crystal Angel Award. “Howard doesn’t ever do that,” she gushes. “I’m too famous,” he adds. (Too famous indeed – Maria yuks that she’s acting as a shield to hide the supertall DJ from fans before the event.) Beth raised $300,000 for North Shore Animal League by running New York City Marathon on November 2.

Beth jokes that while running in the marathon, different people would say “Oh my God, it’s Beth Stern. Bababooee, bababooee, bababooee” several times as she ran.

And in the gift bag is a pink pet dress complete with diamond heart at the waist. I put it on our cat Mysty, who is totally confused because it’s a little big. Hahaha. The other cat, Spense, seems pleased I didn’t try it on her. Another day…

Solange Knowles & Natasha Bedingfield Want You!

September 9th, 2008

If you think you can warble like Whitney in the shower and your hairbrush is constantly in use  a microphone, pop stars Solange Knowles and Natasha Bedingfield want to help make your dreams of performing in front of a huge crowd come true.

 

The talented duo are teaming up to offer the chance for three aspiring female musicians to open up for them at a big concert in NYC this December.

 

Three finalists will perform in the opening slot, and will also hang out with the host of MTV’s TRL,  Damien Fahey to get the lowdown on what it really takes to be a star.

 

So all you ladies out there with a song to sing or a tune to play, just rock out with your best personal best performance, catch it on tape, and upload your video at www.youtube.com/cosmostarlaunch between Sept. 9 - Oct. 6 to get your chance at stardom. 

 

Hey, if you don’t try, you’ll never know if you’ve got what it takes to be the next Solange or Natasha!

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