Jerry Springer, Mel B Take on Miss Universe
The Miss Universe Organization is getting a dose of Spice. And chair-throwing sleaze.
The Donald Trump-owned brand has tapped Melanie Brown (aka Mel B) and Jerry Springer to host the 2008 Miss Universe Pageant, which airs live on NBC July 13, direct from the Crown Convention Center in Khanh Hoa, Vietnam.
“This is obviously a great honor and getting to work alongside Mel B makes it even better,” Springer, who’s currently enmeshed in his second season as emcee of America’s Got Talent, said of his fellow Dancing with the Stars also-ran.
“I’m thrilled to be a cohost of the Miss Universe Pageant,” Brown added. “I believe the diversity and dedication that the pageant brings inspires and empowers young women across the globe.”
And considering what a veritable gateway to the hosting world that DWTS has become, these two are only the latest ballroom types to mingle with the sash-and-tiara crowd.
Mario Lopez was behind the mic three times last year, for Miss America, Miss and Universe and Miss Teen USA (which he’d also hosted twice before DWTS even existed), on the third of which Joey Lawrence also served as a judge.
Drew Lachey cohosted the 2006 Miss USA Pageant, shortly after his season-two DWTS win and season-three champ Emmitt Smith served as a judge at Miss Universe that year, as well.
Further down the food chain, Shanna Moakleractually was Miss USA in 1995, as was Shandi Finnessy in 2004, and Willa Ford cohosted Miss Teen USA in 2002.
Celebs Dish Up Diet Secrets, Inferiority Complexes
Here’s what we love: TV Guide, the magazine devoted to sitting on our butts watching TV, wants to give us tips for getting in shape.
Why do you think we enjoy television, TV Guide? Because we don’t want to think about how we haven’t gotten in shape!
That said, we do enjoy toned, half-naked celebs, so click on for some of the important tips we gleaned from the stars in the Hot Bods issue:
Mario Lopez perspires a lot. Or as he puts it: “I never feel awake unless I’m sweating.” We know he’s talking about being athletic and fit, but…ew.
Audrina Patridge turns housework into a kinky-sounding exercise regimen: “I wear heels when I vacuum because it works my calves and my butt.” Finally, an exercise routine that both men and women can enjoy!
Jared Padalecki, thank goodness, gives us a reason to run out and get this issue. The Supernatural man has a fitness regimen that we can totally integrate into our TV-loving lifestyle: “I really have to make sure I eat and eat and eat.”
The new issue hits newsstands Thursday, June 26. Maybe you can get someone to pick it up for you and bring it by your house. Preferably with a pizza.
Exclusive: Rosie Perez and Carlos Ponce Swing Into Lipstick Jungle
Hey, Andrew McCarthy, don’t look now, but a totally hot Latin guy is headed for your girl.
Inside sources reveal that Rosie Perez and Puerto Rican singing sensation Carlos Ponce are coming to NBC’s Lipstick Jungle for multiepisode arcs in the new season, which premieres Sept. 24.
I just got off the bat phone with Lipstick show runner Oliver Goldstick who confirmed the news and revealed inside details on their roles…
Carlos will play Rodrigo, a contractor and potential love interest for Lindsay Price’s character, Victory Ford (side note: an insider connected to Mario Lopez tells me he was up for the same role), while Rosie is playing Dalia, Lindsay’s passionate new publicist. She’s “fiery and fiesty and the hottest publicist on the planet right now,” explains Oliver.
Oliver reveals that Rosie’s role was inspired by Salma Hayek, whom he worked with on Ugly Betty. “To Salma, nothing’s unreachable and no one’s untouchable,” Oliver explains.” That’s what I love about her, that can-do approach to everything, and I thought that was a great character to introduce to the show.”
Oliver also first met Rosie on Ugly Betty when she auditioned to play Hilda’s boss (a role which never came to fruition).
So does Victory’s hot new lover mean McCarthy is on his way out? Definitely not, says Oliver. “He is still very much apart of Victory’s life via the business. Andrew is still a regular on the show, and Rodrigo is basically the opposite of Joe Bennett in every way.”
What’s that I smell? Oh yes, a very spicy love triangle! Yum.
What do you think of this casting? Post in the comments below.
Mario Lopez Named Hottest Bachelor, Talks Dating
Mario Lopez Named Hottest Bachelor, Talks Dating
Just voted as People magazine’s Hottest Bachelor, fitness buff Mario Lopez has a shocking confession to make. “I was a chubby baby. I looked like a sumo wrestler. My mom had to pull the folds apart when she bathed me!”
The exercise guru, who’s recently single following his split with Karina Smirnoff, says that a full slate of projects has kept him off the dating market - but that hasn’t completely stopped him from thinking about dating.
“I like a girl who’s from a modest sort of upbringing, because it’s more relatable,” he says, explaining what he looks for in a potential girlfriend.
“I’m a first-generation American. My parents [Elvia and Mario Sr.] emigrated from Mexico and live in the same house I grew up in Chula Vista, Calif. I’d feel weird if the girl was a little too uppity or affluent, because I’m a very down-home kind of guy,” tells Mario.
And for the lucky ladies who do manage to land a date, expect to be flexible.
“I like to go to a place in Korea town in L.A. where they have private karaoke,” he says of his favorite date activity. “It’s a great place to bring a girl and see how she reacts. If she rolls with the punches and has a good time, then I’m like, ‘All right, this girl is cool!’”