Wednesday, September 30, 2009

'Housewives' scoop: Kathy Najimy is Susan's latest rival


Actress-comedienne Kathy Najimy is set to guest star in an upcoming episode of Desperate Housewives as a police officer with a surprising connection to Teri Hatcher’s Susan.

“Susan suspects Katherine was the one who attacked Julie, so she gets [a cop] to help her,” explains Housewives creator Marc Cherry. “But then she finds out the policewoman went to high school with her — and Susan stole her boyfriend, too! So [Najimy] has been going around the past 30 years resenting her."

Kathryn being the one who attacked Julie is something I've been saying to friends of mine after the last episode since it looks like they are trying to pin it on the Natural Born Killers next door. But what about the Professor she was dating back at the college? Could he have snapped and come to Wysteria Lane set on revenge? This has all the makings of a "Who Shot Jr?" season!

Najimy’s episode is slated to air in late October.

Heather Locklear returns to the 'Melrose Place' set: Countdown to her Nov 17th episode!!


I’m pretty stoked that Heather Locklear’s Amanda Woodward will soon be in the mix to stir up trouble and (hopefully) boost ratings.

Locklear was back on the set of Melrose — and back in Amanda’s signature short skirt — for her first day of shooting yesterday, as the accompanying photo proves. Locklear is scheduled to make the first of her multiple appearances starting with the show’s Nov. 17 episode, and I’m curious, if her presence will make you more likely to watch Melrose?

'Melrose Place' recap: Jane's back in black(mail)


Jane Andrews is back, announcing: “I’m ready for a comeback.” Seemingly, she was referring to the fashion business she’s ready to relaunch. Don’t worry, Michael Kors, Jane seems to be stuck in the 1990s ofMelrose 1.0, judging from the horrible peach bridesmaid style of her new signature look.

But her real comeback is to the famed apartments of Melrose Place, as Michael ex-wife and Sydney’s sister moved into her old turf as landlord, declaring “I inherited this building” (huh? Who owns this place?)

Within four minutes of her arrival, Jane revealed that she also inherited Sydney’s secret files – including some incriminating emails from Ella. So Jane blackmailed Ella to get that peach dress on a hot starlet at a red carpet premiere. Thank god we’re not getting the boring sweet Jane of Melrose’s first season.

Jane did play nice when Violet revealed that she was Sydney’s daughter – there are hugs and chamomile tea all around, until Jane called the police to come pick up this “fugitive” (Violet stole money from her folks to come to L.A. to find Syd). Violet and her horrible jean shorts were soon in the slammer, but Riley bailed her out (leaving behind Jonah, in his adorable skinny tie, at his friend’s big movie premiere). We’re just glad Riley left the party so we didn’t have to hear more of her golfing small talk. Zzzzz.

David, of course, has his dad’s files on Jane (David’s would-be ex-stepmother) – so he stepped up to her, threatening to expose her secrets about that suspicious boutique fire years ago if she doesn’t leave Ella alone (no chance). Ella even swooned a little: “Wow. I don’t think anyone’s ever offered to destroy an enemy of mine before. David, that’s almost romantic.” Double-blackmail seemed to be very effective foreplay. David and Ella did make a pretty hot couple – I hope we see them together more often this season.

Lauren also got some action, but not in a good way — she picked up a new client who stiffed her on the bill and then shoved her around. Just when we were shouting “GET A PIMP” at the TV, in walks Miss Mattison, or should we say Madam Mattison, Lauren’s new mentor on how to work it as a working girl.

Now with Jane back, and news that The CW has ordered more Melrose episodes and Heather Locklear is returning, I expect this show to keep getting better, and hopefully bitchier. Meanwhile, I beg the show’s writers: please, please no more “dramatic” speeches from Auggie (“My world doesn’t work like yours”) or Violet (“My parents who adopted me weren’t exactly Brad and Angelina”). These moments are painful to watch. Give us more David having sex in his car, Lauren hooking up with clients, and Ella doing absolutely anything!

So what did you think of Jane? Did you agree there was chemistry between David and Ella?


Patrick Swayze's final performance: The audiobook version of his memoir




Shortly before his tragic Sept. 14 death from pancreatic cancer at the age of 57, actor Patrick Swayze completed work on what would be his final performance: the abridged audiobook version ofThe Time of My Life, the memoir he wrote with his wife, Lisa Niemi, which was published Sept. 29. (According to Jennifer Smith at Atria Books, the three-time Golden Globe nominee completed his work in the recording studio on Aug. 23.) Thanks to the good folks at Atria and Simon & Schuster Audioworks, we’re able to share three short clips of the late actor reading from his sadly now-posthumous work.

In the first audio clip from The Time of My Life, Swayze talks about shooting the memorable love scene in 1990’s Ghost with costar Demi Moore. “The best love scenes don’t require what I call ‘humpage,’” he notes.

In the second clip, the actor discusses recovering from the death of a loved one, and finding “a positive way to keep their spirit alive in the world, by keeping it alive in yourself.”

In the third clip, he shares how he responded to his pancreatic cancer diagnosis in January 2008. “Show me where the enemy is and I’ll fight ‘em,” he recalls telling his doctor. “Facing your own mortality is the quickest way possible to find out what you’re made of.”

Spotlight on Jonathan McCoy: Committed to Eliminating the 'N' Word'

Too often, as a society, we insult our young people, labeling them as a lost generation. Here's a young man who has taken leadership in to his 11-year-old hands.

Jonathan E. McCoy
gave a rousing speech earlier this year to his church in Baltimore about why our community needs to drop the 'N' word. His speech, "A New Petition," called for the discontinuation of that six-letter word, and the slang usage of the word.

"I'm sending a message to everyone who knowingly or ignorantly uses this word to describe our people, whether you're a gangster rapper who uses it to communicate with your boys, or someone who looks down on us who haven't got a college education," said the pint-sized orator. "Whatever the case, it's time to discontinue the use of this word. It is implausible that 40 years after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we still use this word that holds no worth in our lives nor our future."