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Niagara Frontier Publications, March 9, 2009
Camille Ford, center, oversees “Food Wars” between Duff’s and the Anchor Bar.
(photo courtesy of the Travel Channel)
Among the many things world-beater Camille Ford is zealous about, Buffalo and chicken wings are climbing the list.
As the host of “Food Wars,” a new culinary competition debuting March 9 on the Travel Channel, Ford says she initially wasn’t too keen about coming to the Queen City – or sampling its most famous food.
“I’ll be honest: I wasn’t really a Buffalo fan before coming to Buffalo,” she tells BTS. “I grew up working on a ranch; working on a farm; with turkeys; helping cut up stuff. I know what a Buffalo wing looks like before it’s beautiful and crispy and delicious. And it wasn’t my first thought, like, ‘that’s a food I can’t wait to eat all day long!’ ”
However, after four days in Buffalo, “I am now an official Buffalo wing addict,” Ford says. “I can’t get enough of them. I’m addicted; completely addicted. And it’s all because of going to Anchor Bar and Duff’s. … Literally. I can’t tell you how much I love them. I had no idea they could be that good.”
Moreover, “I was just blown away by how absolutely friendly and warm people were in Buffalo; just wonderful people,” she says.
Of course we know Ford’s trip wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies. It was war that brought her to town, and it was her job to moderate a duel between Buffalo’s premier chicken wing locations: The Anchor Bar and Duff’s.
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Niagara Frontier Publications, March 5, 2009
Whoever said second place is the first loser never met Katharine McPhee.
Since finishing as the runner-up on season five of “American Idol” in 2006, the singer’s debut solo album reached No. 2 on the Billboard Top 200; her first major film, “The House Bunny,” netted more than $70 million in total box office sales; she recently participated in the remake of the song “We Are the World”; and she just landed an NBC pilot, which is in consideration for a fall pickup.
On Thursday, McPhee guest stars on the Peacock Network’s critically acclaimed comedy “Community.”
Though she first made a name for herself as a singer on “American Idol,” McPhee says acting was actually her first love. |
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Pictured from NBC’s “Community” are Katharine McPhee as Amber and Joel McHale as Jeff (photos by Trae Patton/NBC) |
“Well the acting thing really – like the passion for acting – started a long time ago, actually,” she tells BTS. “A lot of people don’t know I was pursuing acting long before I went on ‘Idol.’
“I was, you know, born and raised here in L.A., and I was going out for pilot season and films, and then just sort of fell into doing the ‘Idol’ show. And, obviously, music was always something that I wanted to pursue. But as soon as the show was over, I got to, like, take time to go back and really focus on trying to pursue the acting a little bit more.
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Behind the Screens with Joshua Maloni
But first, season three finale airs Thursday on USA Network |
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Niagara Frontier Publications, March 2, 2010
Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan) and Fiona Glenanne (Gabrielle Anwar) are in search of “the world’s deadliest fugitive” when the “Burn Notice” season three finale airs Thursday at 10 p.m. on the USA Network. (photo by Glenn Watson; copyright USA) |
If you’re a fan of “Burn Notice,” the USA Network’s hit action-spy caper, I’ve got good news and bad news for you.
The good news is that stars Jeffrey Donovan (who portrays burned CIA operative Michael Westen) and his onscreen leading lady, Gabrielle Anwar (former IRA provocateur Fiona Glenanne), are totally committed to the series. Though both actors have achieved big screen success, they’re currently enjoying their small screen adventure.
“I think that, especially with cable, it's an avenue to be creative,” Donovan tells BTS. “I think why people are drawn more now to cable shows than ever is that they take more risks; they're creatively pushing the envelope. I think that the networks have to answer to a bigger advertising calling, whereas the smaller cables have lower ceilings that they can bump their heads on. So I think that's why I keep being drawn back to television, because I think it's one of the most creative outlets.
“And if you think about it, we make 16 one-hour movies a season. You don't get any opportunity like that in movies. I mean, I can't say I'll be able to do 16 movies in the next year, and so that's how I see it.”
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St. James, ‘Sarah’s Choice’ offer different slant on abortion
Feature film debuts on TBN
by Joshua Maloni
Niagara Frontier Publications, February 27, 2010
Rebecca St. James stars in “Sarah’s Choice.”
For as much as Australian singer and author Rebecca St. James claims to be just a normal, ordinary girl, her actions prove otherwise.
For starters, how many girls – famous, as Christian music icon St. James is, or otherwise – would willfully and boldly boast of their virginity and plans to remain abstinent until marriage? Of the ones that do, how many would go out of their way to live, dress and act in a way that backs up that statement?
Then, who among those girls would be willing to star in a movie – about abortion – and portray a knocked-up, church-avoiding businesswoman?
St. James has, does, and seemingly will continue to do such things. And with the whole world watching, nonetheless.
She is, if nothing else, unafraid to go against the grain to make her point. St. James believes in living a sexually pure life, and she has championed that platform to her fans and critics. Whether they agree or disagree, St. James has never shown herself capable of being swayed by popular opinion.
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Niagara Frontier Publications, February 20, 2010
The “American Idol” Top 24. (Fox photo by Patrick Ecclestein)
If you watch “American Idol,” and you’re like me, then by about the second episode you’ve had enough of the sob stories. Yes, we feel bad for those down-on-their-luck contestants. And sure, it’s nice to learn about the participants and find someone or a few singers to root for throughout the season. But come on, this is the show that brought us Sanjaya, Bikini Girl and Gen. Larry “Pants on the Floor” Platt. We’re not watching “AI” because of its cultural enrichment – we’re watching it to be entertained.
And truth be told, the sob stories aren’t just wearing thin on viewers. After almost a decade of tear-jerking tales, these trips down memory lane no longer impact the judges’ decisions.
“Not really; not on me. I’ve heard so many of them over the years,” head judge Simon Cowell tells BTS. “It’s about remembering people. And part of the problem when you do this show – from the auditions to the Hollywood round – is that most people you can’t remember. If you can remember somebody, it’s a good place to start.”
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Niagara Frontier Publications, January 22, 2010
Pictured from “Psych” are John Cena and James Roday (USA Network photo by Alan Zenuk)
“Psych” creator and executive producer Steve Franks has mastered pop culture, brilliantly re-imagined cult ’80s lines, and marvelously merged action, comedy and romance into his hit USA Network series. So, to up the ante for the second half of season four, he’s set his sights on something much larger, stronger and even more theatrical: professional wrestling.
“We’re starting off doing a military episode, and we’ve landed our dream guest star: That’s John Cena from (World Wrestling Entertainment). We’ve been trying to do that since season one. We actually had a wrestling idea. We’re really excited,” he tells “BTS.”
In the mid-season premiere, titled “You Can’t Handle This Episode,” Santa Barbara Police Department psychic detective Shawn Spencer (James Roday) takes on the army when he discovers a private’s suicide was murder. In the process, he tangles with a military mercenary – the WWE’s Cena.
The episode airs at 10 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, on USA.
A professional wrestler, part-time actor, and Gold Album-producing recording artist, Cena was, well, psyched about his guest-starring role.
“Just because of the relationship with (USA), I’ve seen bits and pieces (of ‘Psych’). I’ve never been involved and dedicated for the seasons and everything, but really kind of saw that it was my sense of humor. And definitely when I got on set I knew I would fit right in,” Cena tells “BTS.” “The show’s very well written and it’s very … those guys certainly (distinguish) themselves … with their personality. I love how it’s put together.
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