Posts Tagged ‘Delaina Dixon’

Idol alum scores a Tony nom!

May 5th, 2009

Tony nominee Constantine Maroulis only wants one thing from American Idol tonight.

 

Now starring in the new Broadway production Rock of Ages, for which he was nominated for leading actor in a musical, Constantine says, "It would be nice for them to mention it tonight on rock night in front of 30 million people.

 

"It’s sort of a big deal, and it would be great for our show."

 

Constantine is the first Idol alum to be nominated for a Tony award.

 

"I’m very excited and blessed," he shares. "We have a great show, and this a great cast. I’ve been in tons of shows, but this a team effort, and the show got a best musical nomination, which is amazing," he reveals to the TV Fanatic.

 

Constantine found out about the nomination while lying on his home couch.

 

"I fell asleep watching Sports Center. I woke up this morning around 8:30 a.m. and said let me turn on the television, and they were on my category. They mentioned my name and I was sort of floored. Then my phone started ringing."

 

In Ages, Constantine plays Drew, a struggling wannabe rocker sweeping floors in a bar on the Sunset Strip, dreaming about the day he’ll make it big.

The show features a kick-ass medley of ’80s hits, and yes, you do wind up singing along!

I’ve been saying that Constantine would be in this very predicament after watching him sing his heart out at the show’s opening night last month.

Now he only has one thing to think about: should he thank Idol judge Simon Cowell if he wins!

 

"I haven’t thought about that," he laughs.

 

The 63rd Annual Tony Awards airs on June 7 at 8 p.m. on CBS.

TV Weekly Recap: Idol Alum Rocks on Broadway!

April 10th, 2009

I loved my time off last week in the Caribbean, but I was so glad to be back in NYC this week and indulge in one of my favorite pastimes: musical theater!

Catching a preview of Brunch, The Musical was a nice warm-up for my main dish Tuesday night: the Broadway opening of Rock of Ages, which stars American Idol alum Constantine Maroulis!

Constantine plays Drew (or should I say Wolfgang Von Colt!), a young guy who dreams of making it big on the Hollywood Sunset Strip rock scene in the 1980s.

This musical comes with a soundtrack of ’80 hits you’re guaranteed to know and sing along with.

Being the originator of a Broadway role makes Constantine the first Idol eligible for a Tony nomination, though the singer isn’t trying to dwell on that.

“I don’t really think about stuff, I’m just so blessed to be able to create a role on Broadway,” he told me at the show’s opening after-party.

“All that stuff will come if it’s meant to happen. I just want people to love our show as much as I do.”

Of course, if Constantine does find himself with a statuette in his hands on Tony night, he won’t forget his Idol roots.

He’ll give a shout out from the podium, just like past Idol winner Carrie Underwood did when she won Entertainer of the Year at the American Country Music Awards this past Sunday.

“I owe so much to American Idol, I would thank them, thank 19 Entertainment, thank the judges, I’d thank everybody!” Constantine declared.

Simon, cue up your DVR. He might have this one in the bag!?

Catch Constantine in Rock of Ages, now playing at the Brooks Atkinson Theater in NYC.

Fashion alert: I was catching up on few past episodes of The Real Housewives of New York City when I spotted Jill Zarin wearing some fabulous multi-colored earrings that I was dying to cop myself.

So I did a little research. Turns out they are the Gwen Earrings by designer Kendra Scott and thoroughly affordable!

Those Housewives know how to be fabulous, and frugal!

Until next week, fellow Fanatics!

Constantine’s Idol Crush!

March 10th, 2009

American Idol’s final countdown to the winner begins tonight!

While most of America will be watching the Top 13 sing for their lives, one former Idol, Constantine Maroulis, will only have eyes for the newbie at the judge’s table: Kara DioGuardi!

"I think Kara is amazing, I’ve had the biggest crush on her forever," he told OK!’s Rana Meyer at a rehearsal for the Broadway opening of Rock of Ages, where he plays the lead role.

"I remember her on a show from a few seasons ago, The One, on ABC. She was the lone bright spot," he continued to gush. "She’s an incredible songwriter. She’s fronted a band, is a solo artist. And she’s beautiful."

Talk about devotion! Constantine’s even come up with a plan to get Rock of Ages, a musical featuring hot hits from the eighties, right in front of his fave judge’s eyes.

"Hopefully, they’ll put us on the show," he said. "They’ll do a big ’80s night and have us on there and we can kick some butt."

Of course, Constantine plans to do just that when Rock of Ages opens April 7 at New York City’s Brooks Atkinson Theatre.

And he wouldn’t mind if a few of his fellow Idol alum are in the audience.

"Carrie Underwood is such a huge star. I’m sort of honored to have been in the running with a girl like that who has become so big," he said.

"Hopefully she comes and checks the show out. I know she loves the ’80s and she sings the hell out of it."

Just like we hope all the Idols do tonight.

American Idol airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on Fox.

Jessie Pavelka on Rita Rocks

January 9th, 2009

For all you who think that just one hour of Diet Tribes’ Jessie Pavelka isn’t enough on Monday nights, here’s some killa casting news!

The hotastic personal trainer is guest starring on an upcoming episode of fellow Lifetime series Rita Rocks.

On the show, Patty (Tisha Campbell-Martin) tries to convince Rita (Nicole Sullivan) to let her hunky personal trainer (Jessie) play in their band. Yep, looking at those abs would keep your energy up through an entire night of rock ‘n roll sets!

Jessie maks his Rita Rocks debut Monday, Jan. 19 at  8:30 p.m. on Lifetime. Watch Rita, hit the treadmill for an hour, and then cool down with Jessie and the gals when Diet Tribes airs at 10 p.m.

And make sure you pick up this week’s issue of OK!. Jessie’s our OK! Hot Guy.

Brody Jenner’s Bro Code

December 29th, 2008

The number one resolution on the New Year’s list of The Hills‘ star Brody Jenner? Find a new best bro!

He’ll be doing exactly that on his new reality series Bromance, which premieres tonight.
 

Brody isn’t taking the search to find a new BFF lightly. "Every bro is different," he tells me of the nine men who compete for the title.

"Ultimately, I"m looking for someone to be a loyal friend who is trustworthy, first and foremost. And someone who gets along with who you surround yourself with already is good too."

That means Brody’s new pal will have to gel with his existing bros Sleazy T and Frankie Delgado, who aid him in his search.

"Frankie was always getting jealous, which is pretty funny," Brody laughs.

Earning entry into Brody’s inner circle isn’t an easy feat. Some of the challenges are just, well, strange.

"There could be some alligators involved in the sleeping arrangements," Brody reveals. "It’s not pretty."

But worth the battle. Bromance’s winner is a pretty cool dude, according to Brody.

"I get along with him very well," Brody confesses, then spills, "We can’t hang until the show airs, which kinda sucks."
 

Don’t worry, Brody. True friendships withstand the test of time!
 

Bromance premieres Monday, Dec. 29 at 9 p.m. on MTV.

TV WEEKLY RECAP: Ciara, Shawn Johnson and Pushing Daisies news!

December 5th, 2008

It’s all about lights, lingerie and legwarmers this week!

After getting coifed at Eiji Salon in midtown (where Sarah Jessica Parker and Sarah Paulson get their tresses done), I grabbed my gal pal Rebecca and headed to the Victoria’s Secret Lexington store opening party on the corner of 58th Street Tuesday night.

Singer Ciara – also sporting a fierce ‘do – and I bonded over our love of the undergarment emporium’s vast selection of unmentionables.

“I love their PJs, but I love their bras too,” she cooed. “I’m a religious shopper at Victoria’s Secret. Anyone will tell you they are my favorite. I have every item in the store, well, not some pieces like the $5 million bra.”

Yes, Ciara, only a few chosen can be in that pretty little gem’s orbit!

On Wednesday, I froze my butt off to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting inside the very cold square. But my heart warmed a little listening to Kristin Chenoweth sing the holiday ditty “Do You Hear I What I Hear” during the live broadcast. She then filled me in on the depressing Pushing Daisies cancellation.

“We’re going to air the rest of the season, and then we’ll be done,” Kristin confirmed.

Will the series be picked up by another network? “I hear rumors of it, but you just never know,” she said, adding the writer’s strike may have sped up the show’s demise.

 

“It’s hard to think something that helped the writers hurt our show. But we’re an expensive show to produce, and when the numbers aren’t astronomical… I don’t get bitter about it, I just wish it were different.”

Kristin isn’t planning on jumping right into another series.

“I’m kind of not sure about TV right now, I’m thinking I just want to sing. I have concerts booked for four years.”

And I’ve got tickets booked for the next 48 months, my fellow petite diva!

I capped off the week at the Ugg store opening, co-sponsored by Vogue magazine, on the Upper West Side Thursday night.

Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson showed off her hand painted, one-of-a kind boots, which are being auctioned off to raise money for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a leading cancer research center.

Shawn appeared on The Secret Life of the American Teenager, but the show she really wants to visit for a second time? The Ellen DeGeneres Show!

“She was just so cool and nice, and it would be great to see her again,” Shawn explained.

Who wouldn’t want another chance to boogie down with Ellen?

Until next week, fellow fanatics!

What’s replacing ER?

November 4th, 2008

We’ve all got our hankies out for what promises to be the poignant final season of  ER.(Anthony Edwards returns! Neela and Ray finally do the nasty!)

But as one good thing comes to an end, something beautiful is destined to take its place.

According to Regina King, it will be the new cop series LAPD, which was greenlit to the pilot stage this past summer.

“It’s taking ER’s place,” Regina told me at the third annual Black Girls Rock! Awards at NYC’s Lincoln Center Sunday night. “It’s ER’s last season, so we would follow in its time slot.”

Nice, except for one little detail. According to Regina, the show can’t be called LAPD!

“With the NYPD and FDNY, someone ran that into the ground with hats and T-shirts, and the LAPD didn’t want that same thing happening,” she explained. “So a couple years back, they patented their name. No one can use it, and we can’t use.”

Such a bummer!  So who does Regina play on the yet-to-be-renamed Los Angeles-inspired cop drama?

“I’m playing a D2, a second level detective. We learned everything [real cops] had to learn to get to where they are,” Regina shared. “I feel like a kin to them, even if they don’t look at me that way.”

Regina also revealed that L.A. provides an endless well of stories to dramatize on the series.

“Just the other day, this lady was in a high-speed chase on the freeway. Her car went out of control and flipped over 3 or 4 times. When they got to the car, she was butt-naked. Only in L.A.!”

And that’s just fine with the rest of us!

Coolio’s Dating Rules

October 27th, 2008

Rap star Coolio launches his own reality series Coolio’s Rules tonight, and he’s got some simple rules on dating one of his two daughters.
 

When a suitor comes knocking, "I get my pit bull, I get my knife, and we walk around the block," he explains. 

"I tell them don’t come around here trying to get nothing you ain’t getting at home. First of all, you ain’t going to get it." 

Wait, there’s more.

"Don’t disrespect my child and don’t put your hands on her, cause I’m that motha that will go to jail for mine. I will do the rest of my life in prison if you mess with my kids." 

We’re convinced! But the rules don’t only extend to the suitors. His girls, Artisha and Brandi, have a few to follow as well. 

"I don’t sit there and watch over them, but the other day, I walked in the living room, and Artisha was sitting on some dude’s lap, I was like, ‘Oh hell no,’" Coolio recalls. 

 

"She just sat there, so I picked up one of the legs from the pool table and said, ‘You better get up right now.’ She was like, ‘I’m 20-years-old.’ I was like you better get yourself a 20-year-old house then!" 

 

No need to test that limit. But what about Coolio’s dating rules? After all, this single dad is looking for love too.  

 

"I was dating a lot of variety of people, but I don’t want them to do that," he exclaims. 

 

Ah, the old parent double standard! 

 

"I pay the bills, I make the rules. It’s do as I say, not as I do," Coolio declares. 

 

True that! 

 

Coolio’s Rules premieres Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 10 p.m. on Oxygen.

DWTS’ TED MCGINLEY SPEAKS!

September 22nd, 2008

(In honor of my birthday week — the big day is Friday — I’m celebrating with five days of TV hunks. Enjoy!) 

 

Dancing with the Stars returns tonight!

No one is more excited to get to the dance floor than Ted McGinley, even though he admits his moves may be more a train wreck than cha-cha.

“I think watching me is going to be like driving on the freeway, and you see that accident and you think, ‘I just got to look, even though I know I shouldn’t.’”

So how did the Married with Children alum even make his way to the competitor’s ring?

 

Blame it on his annual retreat with his golfing buddies.

“ABC called and asked if I wanted to do it, and I said, ‘Nah, I don’t know how to dance,’” he admits. “Then I talked to these guys and they said I was out of my mind if I didn’t do it. They watch the show.”

Realizing just how intense the competition could be, Ted decided to take the plunge.

“I was just sitting around and coaching my kids in sports, so I thought why not go out of my comfort zone,” he says.

 

Just how tough is it?

“The only thing I can say for certain is that I will never master anything in the dance world,” he jokes.

“It’s coming slowly because I dance like an athlete. But I’m the kind of guy that will work hard for anything. That’s my promise to myself.”  

That’s the spirit! Ted gives props to his professional partner Inna Brayer who’s making her DWTS debut this season. ?

“She’s young, 21, from Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, and this girl can dance,” Ted exclaims.

“She’s a ball of fire, like a young Franny Drescher, without the annoying laugh.”

Seems like Ted is definitely ready for the challenge, but not so much for the sequins.
 
“I told them ‘I’m fine, just give me the shirt, I don’t need all the sparkles,’” he laughs.

He’s saving those sparks for the dance floor!

Dancing with the Stars, season seven, premieres Monday, Sept. 22 at 8 p.m. on ABC.

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