Cleaned up and on the road

My Camaro is FINALLY back on the road.  After a cruise around the neighborhood, she was do for a good washing.  As always, it's a lot later in the season than I had originally planned, as there are only a few big car cruises left over the next few months, but I will be at most of them.  My excuse?  Well, we had daughter #2, Lily Mae, so that pushed everything back a bit.  Now that she's ready to go, I plan to be at both Woodward and Hines Drive this year, and possibly Frankenmuth.  Toss in there a visit to Norwalk Raceway Park in a few weeks, minus the Camaro, to check out some NMCA racing, and the next month or two should be a blast.

I have decided that I'm not going to push that one day at the track this season.  I have too many small items to shore up on the car, some of which I wasn't planning until winter.  Also, the replacement of my shifter cable was intended to shore up an occasional 1-2 shift that sometimes slips.  That wasn't the case, and instead will be freshening up the trans this winter.  Also in the plans are a rocker arm stud girdle, plumbing in my roll control and new brake distribution block/proportioning valve, have the torque convertor cut open and inspected, 5 point harnesses, window net, and push/pull style kill switch. A set of sticky Mickey Thompson's are also on the list.  With all that done, I hope to be ready to bang some gears early in the season.  When I say early, mean EARLY!  Like around the first track day if all goes as planned.

It's been way too long since I've been to the track.  13+ years to be exact!  For a big chunk of that time, the car had sat, awaiting to be put back together.  The rest of that time, well, as stated above, the car just hasn't been track ready.  I hope for all that to change in 2014.  My friend/partner on the 68 Firebird, hopes to have his fully caged 88 Formula ready for the track next year as well.  So we should be able to hit the track two cars strong, until our 68 is finished, then we could possibly be pulling up 3 cars deep!  With a few other friends whom I'm pretty confident I could lure to the track, some good, fun years of racing could be in the near future.

Ready to go!

Magic Mike Casting Rumors: Is Derek Hough Headed To Broadway?

Have you seen this tweet yet? Yep, this social media message and photo (see below) are sending SYTYCD and DWTS fans into a frenzy. So, I did a little sleuthing around to see whether this was a fun joke with some good casting ideas or if this is the "good news" Derek Hough and Travis Wall were tweeting about.


Well, it's not true. You aren't looking at the new cast of Broadway's Magic Mike. I think they are smart to put the idea out there because having Derek Hough, Neil Haskell, Allison Holker, Travis Wall and Nick Lazzarini is a great way to sell tickets and put butts in those theatre seats!

Here are a few reasons why:
1. The project was just fast tracked as of Friday, July 19. It was revealed by Deadline that they have come up with collaborators Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey to write songs and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa to write the book. Nothing is written yet. No story, no songs.

2. Channing Tatum just confirmed the news on his site on July 22. That was the first official news that the show is definitely happening.

3. Without songs or a story...you cannot cast just yet. It too early in the process. There isn't even a director who is definitely announced before the cast or choreographers.

4. I also spoke with a Broadway insider today who told me, "Heard nothing about him [Derek Hough] here. And seems way too early for casting."

5. Even though this show is fast-tracked, it takes so much time, effort and money to get a show mounted. While casting will happen in the future...it's not happening right now.

So, I think this was a fun shot with five hot guys and one smoking girl...perfect for a Magic Mike photo.  Perhaps it puts a bug in the casting director's ears that some of these amazingly talented dancers/choreographers might be interested in doing the show. As an artist, it sure never hurts to throw your name in the ring.


Don't forget that tonight we have Spencer Liff on SYTYCD on AfterBuzz TV at 9pm PT. Watch here.

TRAILER: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Starring Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig

One of my favorite short stories from my school days, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty by James Thurber, is being rebooted. There was a 1947 big screen version starring Danny Kaye, but Hollywood feels like it is time for an update. Audiences can expect to see it in theatres on Dec. 25, so that means the studio is aiming for awards show season.

The story revolves around an average man who has five heroic dreams. Will he see his dreams realized? The film version stars Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Sean Penn, Shirley MacLaine and Patton Oswalt.

Will you be adding The Secret Life of Walter Mitty to your Christmas movie list?

Watch the trailer below:

SYTYCD on AfterBuzz TV: Top 14 Preview

What a great weekend for dance! If you missed some of my Dizzy Feet Foundation Gala photos, be sure to check them out here. I've been working hard on booking some good guests, so be sure to check out the updated list here. There are two dancers in particular who I sweating over to get into our studios. If it happens, I am going to make sure Chloe, AJ and Jake buy me a cocktail after the show.

Our guest this week is one of my favorites from last season, Spencer Liff. He's so talented as a choreographer and just an incredibly nice guy. I hope you are all following his career because he star is on the rise in the Broadway world. He also just choreographed a number honoring Chita Rivera at the Dizzy Feet Gala.

Get those questions for Spencer...you know what to do, questions go in the comments section below.

I will see you all on Wednesday at 9pm PT on AfterBuzz TV. Watch here.

PHOTOS: Dizzy Feet Foundation Gala Red Carpet

 It's the annual Dizzy Feet Foundation Gala and I have to say it is a must for any So You Think You Can Dance or Dancing With the Stars fan. Next year, save up and come to LA for National Dance Day, you won't be disappointed. Another good note, the fans are able to watch the red carpet and grab photos of the dance stars as they went into the venue.

Here are a few of  my photos from the evening. My official article will be up on Press Pass LA next week, but I will give you some inside scoop from the red carpet.

So sit back, relax and enjoy!

 tWitch and Allison Holker are the King and Queen of dance. They stayed the longest on the red carpet and talked to EVERYONE. Total class. The dance world couldn't have better ambassadors. 

 NappyTabs!!!

 Look who they brought, little London, who was wheeled down the red carpet in his stroller. They talked about London loving music, so perhaps he's a future contestant on American Idol. 

 Alex Wong looked very handsome on the red carpet. He talked about the importance of influencing a future generation of Asian dancers. If you missed his ABTV appearance, watch it here. 

 Chehon is ready to be a huge face in the choreography/producing/directing world. He's determined and I believe him.  Watch his ABTV appearance here.

 How incredible does Mollee Gray look? We keep showing up at the same events lately, so I am sure I will have more scoop for you soon. Her red dress is by Ted Baker--gorgeous!

Watch her ABTV appearance here.

 Every time I interview Mary Murphy, I like her even more than I did the last time. She's so kind and thoughtful. She talked a lot about the format changes and how much she hated the first elimination.

 Allison being a good friend and fixing Mollee's hair.

 I love that we have such a strong generation of choreographers including Travis Wall. He was a fan favorite, people screamed for him in the crowd. 

 Jane Lynch looked beautiful. The Glee cast members did not answer any questions...totally understandable. They need their privacy.

 Honoree Chita Rivera. If you have never seen her work, watch this, she's a legend.

 Arthur Mitchell is the first black ballet dancer for New York City Ballet and the founder of the Dance Theatre of Harlem. He paved the way for so many other black dancers in the ballet world. Watch him in the Balanchine "Agon" piece. 

 Adam Shankman, Nigel Lythgoe and Christina Applegate conferring on the red carpet.

 Adam is thinking...

 What are they talking about?!! This is when I asked Nigel when he was going to make Christina a permanent judge. He said he's tried but they have massive scheduling problems. Christina then looked over at me and jokingly signaled she wanted a lot of money. Then, Adam chimed in..."Wait, that leaves me off the panel if she's a permanent judge." 

There you have it...they've tried to get her permanently, but can't.

 Stacey Tookey...she's dying to get her hands on Makenzie for choreography. 

 For those that were asking, Mark Ballas' new album is expected to drop early next year.

 Chris Scott wants to choreograph on Fikshun this season...

 Lindsay Arnold and Sharna Burgess looked incredible on the red carpet. I even met Sharna's mom who is here on holiday. So sweet! Watch Sharna and Lindsay's ABTV appearance.

 Yep, that's Cat Deeley running late and running down the red carpet as the show was beginning.

 And that's the elegant Cat having a wardrobe malfunction.

Jennifer Lopez: Actress, Singer...Wireless Store Entrepreneur?

She's a singer, actress, dancer and all-around entrepreneur. With her new network NUVOtv already launched, what's someone like Jennifer Lopez to do?

Well, J.Lo isn't one to just sit around, she's one to take action. On Friday, she launched her new retail store Viva Móvil in Brooklyn with partner Verizon Wireless.

Lopez shared, “There was no better place to debut Viva Móvil than right here in my home city of New York. We have found the best and the brightest to create a convenient and comfortable shopping experience where customers will really feel the spirit of the community.”

The native New Yorker is definitely giving back to the Latino community as of late. This store will offer a fully bilingual staff to assist customers in Spanish or English. All of the employees were outfitted in fashionable uniforms that were selected by Lopez. The best part is the unique scent that the entertainer selected for a pleasant shopping environment.

Families will love the Kids Zone with comfy seating and the opportunity to play with Samsung tablets and kid-friendly apps. Adults can shop from a plethora of electronics or pick out their favorite JLo-designed Smartphone case.

More stores with the J.Lo signature shopping experience are expected to open around the country.

For more information: Viva Móvil 

Photo Credit: Wireimage

A Look Back at the 53rd Annual Academy Awards

This gem was just posted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences yesterday. It shows the opening of the 53rd Annual Academy Awards and the red carpet looks downright quaint. The ceremony was delayed by a day due to the assassination attempt the day before on President Ronald Reagan, so the stars showed up the next day on March 31, 1981. (I wish the show was still in late March, that red carpet would be a lot warmer for ladies in evening gowns.)

Robert De Niro, Best Actor, Raging Bull

Watch the eight-minute video because it really showcases an era of entertainment and red carpet that we will never see again. With an announcer describing celebrities like Mary Tyler Moore as "popular" and a healthy and vibrant-looking Michael Jackson escorting Diana Ross to the show, you might get a bit wistful.

Take a look back at 1981 Academy Awards.

Robert Redford, Best Director, Ordinary People

Bet you didn't know Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters were an item back in the day.

Johnny Carson hosted the show in his tux and tails, elegant, reverent and classy. I doubt we will ever see the ceremony helmed the way Carson and Bob Hope did the show, but then again, I actually was entertained by Seth MacFarlane's "We Saw Your Boobs" this year. 

If you've missed my other posts on the Oscars, take a look back at 1989, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Timothy Hutton, Best Supporting Actor, Ordinary People

SYTYCD on AfterBuzz TV : Mollee Gray

I love Mollee Gray! She's so sweet and I think she gave us the best insight on the choreographers and how they work in the studio. Mollee talked quite a bit about Travis Wall and Dee Caspary's process in the studio. It was fascinating to hear more from that side of SYTYCD.

The one topic that keeps coming up is why Alexis is getting pushed through each week. I'm not sure I understand why or how. Her fans are clearly supportive, but we all seem a bit baffled by it. I have to say that I love this season because there are so many good contenders. While we all may think Fikshun and Amy are going to win, you can't count out Aaron, Jasmine, Paul or Makenzie at this juncture.

Finally, Carly Rae Jepsen was one of the worst judges ever on the show. She joins the list with Zooey Deschanel for me. I polled a few of you on Twitter and several of you also mentioned Megan Mullally, Carmen Electra, Katie Holmes and Rob Marshall as your least favorite guest judges. Did we miss anyone? Let me know in the comments below.

P.S. If you came here to find out if Mollee is dating Kent Boyd, the answer is "no." They are great friends, but they are not dating. I hope that clears up any confusion.

If you missed the show, you can watch it here or download it on iTunes here.

Awkward Bruce Willis Interview: Is It Time to Rethink the Press Junket?

Well, here we go again. Another celebrity, another press junket and more rude behavior. I talked about this topic before regarding the Jesse Eisenberg incident while he was promoting Now You See Me. The press junket is a way to get the media and the celebrities together in one place to help promote a film. However, it's a long day for the celebs who are subjected to questions from journalist after journalist over a weekend. The reporters get a timed four to fifteen minutes with the stars of the film. On any given junket, you will see big media outlets like E! News waiting in line with a local news station from Miami. 

However, is it an outdated format? Within a matter of hours, YouTube is littered with the interviews with the same hotel background and the same questions being asked by reporters from multiple outlets. As you can see, some stars are gracious and others can't fake their disdain like Bruce Willis promoting Red 2. 

I won't let the journalist off the hook either. The media has to walk in there confidently and be ready to steer the interview in another direction if it gets awkward...and this one was certainly awkward. Whether it was a lack of experience or just feeling intimidated by Willis, this interview certainly didn't go his way. 

What do you think needs to be done with press junkets?  Should publicists retool the format or get rid of it?  It doesn't seem to be working for some celebs and a few journalists lately.

SYTYCD on AfterBuzz TV: Top 16 Preview

We are back! After a long week off, it's time to get back on the SYTYCD bandwagon. This week we have a really exciting guest with Season 6's Mollee Gray. Not only will she be bringing her SYTYCD expertise, we are going to ask her all about her role in Disney Channel's original movie Teen Beach Movie.

So, get those questions ready!  You know what to do...questions go in the comments below.

AJ is on vacation this week, so I will be leading the show alongside Chloe and Jake.

See you all on Wednesday at 9 p.m. PT on AfterBuzz TV.  Watch here. 

VIDEO: 2013 Emmy Nominees: Outstanding Choreography

Here are your 2013 Emmy nominees for Outstanding Choreography. I think this is Derek Hough's year. His work has been so outstanding over the last year.  Mark my words: He's going to define this generation of choreographers.  Who are you rooting for? Let me know in the comments below:


Outstanding Choreography

Dancing With The Stars • Routines: Heart Cry / Stars • ABC • BBC Worldwide Productions

Derek Hough, Choreographer

Allison Holker, Choreographer





Dancing With The Stars • Routines: Hey Pachuco / Para Los Rumberos / Walking On Air • ABC • BBC Worldwide Productions

Derek Hough, Choreographer









Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel (Live From Lincoln Center) • PBS • A Lincoln Center Media production

Warren Carlyle, Choreographer



So You Think You Can Dance • Routines: Possibly Maybe / Turning Page / Sail • FOX • Dick Clark Productions, Inc  19 Entertainment

 Sonya Tayeh, Choreographer

 





So You Think You Can Dance • Routines: The Power Of Love / Wild Horses • FOX • Dick Clark Productions, Inc. & 19 Entertainment

Mandy Jo Moore, Choreographer

   

So You Think You Can Dance • Routines: Call Of The Wild (Circle Of Life) / Love Cats / Beautiful People • FOX • Dick Clark Productions, Inc. & 19 Entertainment

Napoleon Dumo, Choreographer
Tabitha Dumo, Choreographer

 



So You Think You Can Dance • Routines: Where The Light Gets In / Without You / Unchained Melody • FOX • Dick Clark Productions, Inc. 19 Entertainment

 Travis Wall, Choreographer

 

Driveshaft installed

After picking up my driveshaft, I battled the mid 90's and high humidity to get some work done on the Camaro.  I hope to have her on the road by the weekend.  I wrapped the rear end fittings with pipe thread tape installed the ones I could, leaving the main plug free so I could see when the fluid level was sufficient.  After topping it off, I installed the plug and fill cap, and everything appears to be leak free.

Next, I was on to installing the driveshaft, a 3.5" monster.  I was a little skeptical how tight of a fit it would be, and removed a portion of my driveshaft loop to make installation easier.  After the rear loop was removed, installation was a breeze, and I snugged up the u-bolts.  I immediately realized that the current position of the loops was going to be an issue, and quickly decided they would need to be removed, new holes drilled, and both loops relocated.  So, out came the interior.

After several hours, the heat started to get to me and I decided to call it a day.  I will get back at it tomorrow, getting the brakes bled, loops moved, and interior back installed.  I have a new shifter cable on the way, to replace the one that seen it's limit of heat.  With a little luck, I will take a short ride either tomorrow of Friday.

CCI Driveline

Today I made the trek up to CCI Driveline in Casco, MI.  I had spoke to one of the guys at this year's Detroit Autorama.  I ordered my driveshaft on Monday, with a one day turnaround, though I wasn't able to make it up there until today.  For a little over $330 I got a 3.5" steel shaft capable of withstanding transbrake launches backed by 2,000 hp, plenty for what I'm gonna throw at it.  I was able to meet the owner, Mike Cameron, as well as one of his sons.  This family knows what they are doing, has arguably the best driveshafts in NASCAR, and will be my go to for any future purchases.

Here is a shot from inside their shop where the magic happens.

CCI Driveline

Address:	9568 Marine City Hwy Casco, MI 48064
Telephone:	586-716-1160 or 586-725-2247
Fax:	586-716-1162

CCI Driveline

Cory Monteith: Sober Cory vs. Addict Cory

Photo by Jeff Lipsky

When the news came down yesterday about toxicology reports showing that a mix of heroin and alcohol killed Cory Monteith, I received texts, emails and tweets looking for my reaction. I was on my way to set, so driving and texting is never a good idea.

I eventually posted this tweet:

In the past few days, I have been talking with people who worked with Monteith. Some considered him a work friend while others considered him a personal friend. What emerged was two different Corys: the sober Cory and struggling addict Cory.

Those who knew sober Cory talked about the professional who showed up on time, knew his lines and was nice to everyone.

Those who knew the addict gave me stories about him at parties where there were a lot of unsavory people doing illicit things.  Unfortunately, much of this occurred even as early as Season 2 of Glee.

Kristen Johnston on Cory Monteith: Death was "not shocking" >>

I've been talking a lot about the fact that the 31-year-old had two different lives. He was a closet addict. Many of his close friends did not know he had fallen off the wagon earlier in the year until he went to rehab. Those who knew of his recent struggles were aware that he had resorted to heroin. There was an intervention and he went off to Betty Ford to dry out and then completed the rest of his rehab at Eric Clapton's Crossroads facility in Antigua.

In the age of tabloid journalism where people sell their story to rat out celebrities, it's pretty incredible that we are only hearing about the Glee actor's addiction to heroin now. That is how loved and protected he was by his friends, castmates and family members.

Rob Delaney on his own addiction >>

For someone battling demons like addiction, every day is a war. Falling off the wagon is common.  Getting back on the wagon is hard. Detoxing and then using again changes tolerance levels, so overdosing is always a risk.

Monteith's story is a familiar Hollywood tale and one that I've already talked about, but it's also a good reminder to try and get help if you need it and if you want it. If you have a friend struggling with addiction, support them.  If you live in this crazy town of Hollywood like I do, hang out with people who will lift you up, not drag you down.

I'm already hearing stories about a young female star who has her own addiction issues. She comes from a Tinsel Town legacy family where addiction is familiar. Let's hope she finds the support and light that she needs...because the tabloid press is already sniffing around. (If you are a super sleuth, the actress made headlines this week.) UPDATE: I chose not to report on this story because she needs help, but TMZ revealed the young star whom I was referring to. You can read it here.)

I don't want to report on more tragic tales.