Posts Tagged ‘Dancing with the Stars’

Last night was a big night for Boston locals on television. In addition to the premiere of the much anticipated “Boston’s Finest” on TNT, a couple of local folks made headlines related to some rather prominent reality show competitions.

Earlier in the day, Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman was announced as a contestant on the upcoming 16th season of the ABC series, “Dancing With the Stars.” Raisman hails from Needham, Massachusetts, and first captured the hearts of America during her Olympic debut in London last year, where she successfully walked away with three medals. She won a bronze in the balance beam, and gold for both the floor final and for the overall team competition. The new season of DWTS will debut on Monday, March 18 from 8:00-10:01 p.m.

Last night, Boston-based chef, Kristen Kish was announced the winner of season 10 of the Emmy winning Bravo show, “Top Chef.” After having been sent home early in the season, Kristen Kish was able to demonstrate her fighting spirit by earning a spot back into the competition during the “Last Chance Kitchen” challenges. She ended up defeating L.A. chef Brooke Williamson by two rounds to earn the title of Top Chef.

Kish, a former model who originally hails from South Korea and was raised in Michigan, currently works as Chef de Cuisine at Barbara Lynch’s Stir. This educational culinary facility hosts demonstration dinners seven nights a week, and features a revolving menu showcasing different cooking styles, cuisines, and regions. Previously, Kish worked as Chef de Partie at Chef Guy Martin’s Boston restaurant, Sensing.

Along with the title of “Top Chef,” Kish was awarded a showcase at the Aspen Food and Wine Classic, a feature in Food and Wine magazine, and $125,000 in prize money. She told the crew she plans on traveling back to South Korea for the first time since her birth with a portion of her winnings. She is only the second female chef ever to win the prestigious competition.

That’s right! The once Miss Massachusetts teen USA, Emerson Alum, pretty TV personality and actress, Maria Menounos can add yet another credit to her hot resume.  Cause its official, the native will be getting down on the dance floor in the upcoming Season 14 of “Dancing with the Stars”.

And it looks like Maria will have no problem ‘skimplyfing’ her wardrobe this season with abs like hers! You remember? Maria, Times Square and nothing but a tiny Giants bikini bet. Go Maria! She just might have moves like Mike Jagger.

Oh and just when you think you couldn’t envy the very likeable Maria anymore. She is hooking up with not only the fan favorite but the very SEXY Derek Hough! You got my vote.

Early this week, New England’s own Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke served twelve celebs including Medford Menounos a chance to win the Mirror Ball Trophy. So who else is on tap? Let’s pour us a little, “Did I do that”? Former “Family Matters” star Jaleel White aka Urkel will be hiking it up for former champ Kym Johnson. Tennis pro Martina Navratilova is matched with Tony Dovolani. Green Bay Packers Donald Driver will be playing the field with Peta Murgatroyd.

Telenova actor William Levy lines up with two-time champ Cheryl Burke. Disney star Roshon Fegan will beat it with Chelsis Hightower. Singer Gavin DeGraw will tune it with reigning champ Karina Smirnoff. Singer Katherin Jenkins will sing it with Mark Ballas. 80′s General Hospital icon Jack Wagner will hit the floor with veteran Anna Trebunskaya.

This “midnight train” Gladys Knight will be blowing the whistle with the feisty Tristan MacManus. Sherri Shepherd will view the dance floor with Val Chmerkovskiy.  And “Little House on the Prairie”, Melissa Gilbert will tie it up with Maskim Chmerkovskiy. Yup, Max is back and will continue to sweat it on Season 14. Yes please! We just hope for Gilbert’s sake that she is a stronger dancer than Hope.

“DWTS” returns on March 19th with a two-hour season premiere.  Just a week after Bachelor nation watches Ben Flajnik get down on one knee to well, we think to Courtney? Ben, not your best move but its time we move on with our Monday nights to DWTS. Can’t wait! Mondayfunday DWTS anyone? Tell us on our FB page.

On Thursday, July 14, the 2011 Emmy awards were announced, and more than a few New England connections were found, proving once again that Hollywood East has become a powerful force in the entertainment industry.

In the Outstanding Comedy Series category, “Glee” was once again nominated. The musical series was co-created by Newton native Brad Falchuk. The show will compete against the likes of “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation” which stars Concord’s Steve Carell and Burlington’s Amy Poehler, respectively. Each were nominated for their own individual awards for Outstanding Actor and Actress in a Comedy. Poehler will compete against Laura Linney from “The Big C”, and series that has been shooting in Connecticut. Carrell will compete against fellow Massachusetts native, Matt LeBlanc, for his role on “Episodes”. The former “Friends” star originally hails from Newton.

On the drama side, Kathy Bates was nominated for Outstanding Actress for her role in the new “Harry’s Law”, yet another lawyer-themed show from the Boston-educated David E. Kelley.

“Glee” star Jane Lynch was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy. The funnywoman got married in Massachusetts in 2010.

Connecticut resident Tom Bergeron was nominated for Outstanding Reality Host in his role “Dancing With the Stars” ringleader.

The controversial Reelz channel miniseries, “The Kennedys” racked up a number of nominations, including Greg Kinnear and Barry Pepper for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie and Tom Wilkinson for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie.

Brookline’s Conan O’Brien earned himself a little redemption, getting a nomination for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series for his TBS talk show, “Conan”. The late-night funnyman found himself hoisted from a short stint as host of the “Tonight Show” only to be replaced by its former host, Jay Leno in early 2010, only to reemerge on basic cable this past November. Leno and the “Tonight Show” did not receive any nominations this year.

For a complete list of the nominations, check out the official Emmy website. The 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards will air on Sunday, September 18th, at 8 p.m. on Fox.

Hartford born television host, Brooke Burke shares her tips for doing it all in a self-help book for the modern mom.  In “The Naked Mom: True Confessions, Authentic Advice and Smart Reflections on Modern Motherhood” Burke shares how the mother of four juggles her career as host of “Dancing with the Stars” and raising her young children.

Although born in Hartford, Connecticut, Burke moved to Arizona and a young age and earned a broadcast journalism degree from UCLA.  Burke gained fame in the modeling world posing for men’s magazines like Playboy, Maxim and FHM.  She also led a career as a television host, hosting the E! travel show, “Wild On!” and rock band reality competition, “Rock On.”  Burke took top prize in season seven of “Dancing with the Stars” and started hosting the reality competition on season 10.

Burke has two children with ex-husband Garth Fisher and two children with her fiance, French singer and actor David Charvet.  Burke’s four kids range in age from 11-year-old, Neriah to her only son, three-year-old Shaya.

★ Seth Meyers to Host Roundtable at Nantucket Film Fest

★ Connecticut native, Michael Bolton, makes a surprise appearance on “Saturday Night Live” and follows with a performance on “Dancing with the Stars.”

★ Kristen Wiig talks about working with Jill Clayburgh on her last film before she passed away in Connecticut late last year.

★ Tilda Swinton appears in Cannes for the debut of Connecticut filmed  We Need to Talk about Kevin; Boston born Uma Thurman makes an appearance as well.

★ Local celebrity genealogist talks about his work.

★ CBS anchor Jeff Glor speaks to graduates at Suffolk University’s commencement while Katie Couric speaks at BU.

★ Brighton-based band Gentlemen Hall amidst the gossip at the Billboard Music Awards.

★ West Newbury high school track star sets his sights on an acting career.

★ Amy Poehler speaks to students on Class Day at Harvard, as Alec Baldwin talks about his regrets with the law school grads.

Kenny Wormald, a 25-year-old Boston native, will star as Ren in the 2011 remake of Footloose. Wormald is a professional dancer and has had dancing roles in MTV’s “Dancelife” and starred in Center Stage: Turn It Up. Dennis Quaid and former “Dancing With The Stars” contestant Julianne Hough will star opposite the young actor as the Reverend Moore and his daughter Ariel.

The newcomer is catching a big break with the role, since it was supposed to go to a much higher profile actor…twice. Zac Efron was originally cast for the role but backed out not wanting to be pigeonholed as a musical man after his previous roles in the High School Musical series and Hairspray. Next in line was the similarly coiffed Chace Crawford, who had signed on then dropped out due to conflicts with the WB’s “Gossip Girl” shooting schedule.

The 1984 original launched Kevin Bacon’s career and hopefully Wormald will follow in his dancing footsteps. Ren will still turn the town upside-down with his dance moves, which will be choreographed by Jamal Sims this time around. Sims most recently worked on Madonna’s “Sticky Sweet” tour.

There’s something extra sparkly about the holidays in Boston this year, and it’s not because metallics are in this season. As what seems to be the norm these days, stars abound in Beantown, giving shows and making appearances at local events.

On Friday, December 11th, comedian Jim Breur will be bringing his unique sense of humor to the Wilbur Theatre. The four season former SNL-er, whose July 25th Comedy Central special received raves, is bringing it to Boston. Check out his show, “Let’s Clear the Air” at 7 and 9:45 PM at the Wilbur Theatre, tickets range from $25-$32.

Also on December 11th, fill your Christmas quota of lords a-leaping and ladies dancing by meeting Edyta Sliwinska and Alec Mazo from ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars”. The professional ballroom dancers from one of the alphabet network’s biggest hit shows will be giving a workshop and performance at a reception at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel to benefit  prostate cancer research and education, sponsored by AdMeTech.

On Sunday, December 13, the National Geographic Channel’s “Dog Whisperer” Cesar Milan will be bringing his unique skills to the Agganis Arena at Boston University through a national tour intent on helping humans understand their canines better. When purchasing tickets, make sure to enter or mention the code SHELTER and a portion of the ticket sales will go to benefit homeless pets at the Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem, MA.

New Year’s Eve at the TD Garden will be full of laughs, as hilarious homeboy Dane Cook will be helping Bostonians count it down to the New Year. Tickets are still available for the show, which commences at 7PM, and are priced from $32.50 to $102.50.

He’s kept Whoopi Goldberg confined to the center square in “Hollywood Squares”, helped people across the country see the lighter side of getting hit in the crotch on”America’s Funniest Home Videos”, and talked up the tango on “Dancing with the Stars”.

Yes, Tom Bergeron is very comfortable in his role as “host with the most” on some of America’s most popular and successful TV shows. Now, the ebullient entertainer has put pen to paper with I’m Hosting as Fast as I Can!: Zen and the Art of Staying Sane in Hollywood. The Haverhill, MA born fill-in host for “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” can thank his New England roots for helping him along. First, as a radio DJ for southern New Hampshire, Bergeron went on to host a local game show, before moving to the metro- Boston area market on the WBZ-TV network as an on-air personality. There, his hosting duties ranged from the local morning show to announcing the Massachusetts State Lottery. His success grew amongst the locals as he became a staple on both TV and radio.

In 1994, Bergeron left the network for cable, before landing his first high-profile gig as host of the new revival of “Hollywood Squares”. Amidst these and other biographical highlights, in his book, Bergeron discusses his struggles with an explosive temper, and describes his meditative techniques for dealing with it. These days, the man is described as one of the most unflappable fellows on live TV. Not a bad thing when in an environment where almost anything can happen and millions of people are watching. No matter what, Bergeron always manages to coax a laugh.