Donnie Walhberg Talks About Charity, Family, and Reality TV

We all got to know Donnie Walhberg as the bad boy of New Kids on the Block. But after the band faded Donnie took it "step by step" and became a big time actor. He broke onto the scene with the brief, but very memorable role of Vincent in The Sixth Sense. From there he did a few TV shows including Band of Brothers and, our favorite, Boomtown.

It's been a while since Donnie graced the small screen but he's back tonight doing a guest spot on USA Networks' In Plain Sight at 10:00 PM. We took part in a conference call interview with Donnie and asked him about his charity work, his favorite TV shows, his family's support, and his upcoming projects.

E!’s Save One Show Campaign

We’ve all had them. Those special shows that go away before we’re emotionally prepared to lose them - The Gilmore Girls, Once and Again, Life Goes On. Seriously, don’t get us started.

But sometimes, fans rally and manage to wage campaigns that catch network execs’ eyes. Shows like Friday Night Lights. 

But Facebook aside, it’s still hard to organize a movement. That’s where E! comes in. For years, they’ve asked fans to voice their support for their favorite network shows that are at risk. As a result, they’ve helped extend the lives of Angel, Felicity, and One Tree Hill.

And now they want your opinion again. You can go to E! Online and choose from a list of shows “on the bubble” in their annual Save One Show campaign. Then on April 12, they will announce the fan favorite. But more than that, they’ll carry the word to the potentially axe swinging network in question and beg a little on the fans’ behalf.

Here’s the list of shows they say are hanging by a thread:

Casting for America's Next Great Restaurant

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomcensani/ / CC BY-ND 2.0

Do you have a great idea for a restaurant but don't know where to start? Why not try a TV show? A new reality series, America's Next Great Restaurant, is holding an open casting call from March 19 through April 5. But they are only stopping in eight cities nationwide.

The production company Magical Elves (the creative geniuses behind some of our favorite shows like Project Runway and Top Chef) is selecting a cast for their next TV adventure, America's Next Great Restaurant. Everyone with an idea for an eatery (no matter what their level of experience or how far they have taken their business plan) can come pitch their vision to a panel of judges.

Bobby Flay, Food Network star and griller extraordinaire, will head the panel made up of big names in both the culinary and business worlds. Adding an interesting twist, as the Magical Elves usually do, the judges have an enormous stake in the success of the victor. They will be investing their own money into the winning concept in an attempt to make it the next big nationwide restaurant chain.

During the open call, the panel will pick finalists who will go on to compete in a series of challenges to determine the owner of America's Next Great Restaurant. NBC says they intend to "make the American Dream come true for someone out there."

Think you have what it takes? Then get yourself down to New York, Raleigh, Nashville, Columbus, Chicaho, Kansas City, Denver, or Burbank this week to audition. Interested participants must pre-register at the NBC website. Everything you need to know is there.

And if you can’t make the auditions, follow the progress on Twitter @magicalelves or at the show's website NBC.com/americas-next-great-restaurant.

Random Thoughts with Jeff Goldblum

Get ready Jeff Goldblum fans - tonight at 10:00 PM on USA Network you can catch him on the Season 9 premiere of Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

We were lucky enough to participate in an interview with “The Fly” star this week and, as always, he did not disappoint. Sure he talked about the new season and all the controversial series changes. But he also covered those internet death rumors, his favorite hobby (he’s a jazz pianist), some of his movie roles, and our personal favorite Goldblum career highlight, Tenspeed and Brownshoe.

Read what Goldblum had to say and watch our red carpet interview with Goldblum at last summer’s Oceana event where he talked about bee keeping and curling. Here are some of our random thoughts of Jeff Goldblum.

Betty White on Feminism

Legendary actress Betty White has enjoyed a career that is unparalleled in Hollywood. From her early days in radio to her first TV show in which she improvised for 33 1/2 hours a week to her domination as a game show guest to sitcoms like The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls White has worked consistently for over 70 years. And she’s not slowing down with last year’s Sandra Bullock rom-com The Proposal, her hysterical Super Bowl commercial for Snickers, and what is sure to be a classic Facebook campaign fueled hosting slot on Saturday Night Live on May 8.

So she must have faced a lot of sexism along the way, right? After all, she started as a wide-eyed young girl fresh out of high school and was working in the male dominated entertainment industry decades before Woman’s Lib was even a glimmer of a concept. Sure, Katherine Bigelow’s Oscar win for The Hurt Locker was way over due but we contend that Betty White’s the true feminist icon of the new (and old) millennium.

We've been editing clips of Betty White from an interview she did in 1997 for the Archive of American Television. See what Betty has to say in her own words – she is woman, hear her roar.

David Letterman’s Stupid Pet Tricks vs. Stupid Human Tricks

The Late Show with David Letterman is honoring March Madness by launching their own bracket tournament – Pets vs. Humans: The Ultimate Stupid Trick Tournament. The series’ producers scoured the almost 300 tricks that have appeared on the 17 seasons of the Late Show and narrowed it down to the “Stupid 16” – eight animal acts and eight human routines.

The daily contest is open to viewers who go online and choose a daily winner between rotating animal pairings and human head-to-head throwdowns, until one pet and one person remain.

It’s not to late to participate. By the end of today the “Excellent Eight” will be narrowed down to the “Favorite Four.” And between April 1 and 5, fans will vote on the final two.

Will the dog who plays dead beat the dude who does a human cannonball into a carton of milk? It’s in your hands. Make the right choice.

And to sweeten the pot, one lucky participating viewer will win a trip for two to the Big Apple to see the Late Show live and in person. You have until April 5 to enter so go register at CBS.com and get voting.

Doctor Who Wired Magazine Special Edition Giveaway

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS ENTERED. THE CONTEST IS NOW OVER. THE WINNER WAS TERRI FROM CLEARWATER, FLORIDA. CONGRATULATIONS, TERRY.

On April 17, 2010, a new era of the BAFTA-winning series, Doctor Who, premieres at 9:00 PM/8c on BBC AMERICA. In anticipation of the premiere, we are giving away a Special Edition of the April 2010 issue of Wired Magazine, featuring a Doctor Who themed 4-panel cover wrap, which highlights The Sonic Screwdriver as “Gadget of the Year.” This Special Edition is not available to Wired Magazine subscribers, or on newsstands, but you can win it here!

Simply send an email to popculturepassionistas@gmail.com with the subject DOCTOR WHO GIVEAWAY. The email must contain your full name and complete mailing address for prize delivery if you are declared the winner. Each email address can enter once per day. For complete rules see below. Note: The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

Look for the Doctor at the following media destinations, and good luck to all who enter!
· Official BBC America Doctor Who Website
· Official BBC America Facebook page
· Official BBC America Twitter


Official Giveaway Rules
1. Program Description/Eligibility: No purchase necessary. This promotion is open to Pop Culture Passionistas readers who are legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia. The promotion begins on April 2, 2010, and ends on April 15, 2010 ("Entry Period"). Only one prize will be awarded.
2. How to Enter: Send an email with the subject DOCTOR WHO GIVEAWAY to popculturepassionistas@gmail.com. The email must contain your full name and complete mailing address for prize delivery if you are declared the winner. You can enter once per day. On April 16, 2010 one winner will be selected in a random drawing from eligible entries received to win a Special Edition of the April 2010 issue of Wired Magazine. Random drawings will be from among all entries received during the entry period. No responsibility is assumed by Pop Culture Passionistas for lost, late, or misdirected entries or any computer, online, or technical malfunctions that may occur. Odds of winning a prize depend on the number of eligible entries received.
3. General Conditions: Entrants agree to abide by the terms of these official rules and by the decisions of Pop Culture Passionistas, which are final and binding on all matters pertaining to this giveaway. This giveaway is governed by the laws of the United States. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply. Return of any prize/prize notification as undeliverable may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner. Entrants further grant to Pop Culture Passionistas the right to use and publish their proper name and state online, in print, and in any other media in connection with the contest. Acceptance of a prize constitutes permission for Pop Culture Passionistas to use winners' name and likeness for advertising and promotional purposes without additional compensation unless prohibited by law. By entering, participants release and hold harmless Pop Culture Passionistas, their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees, and agents from any and all liability or any injuries, loss, or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with this contest or any prize won.
4. Internet: If for any reason the Internet portion of the program is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of Pop Culture Passionistas that corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this contest, Pop Culture Passionistas reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process, and to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the giveaway. Pop Culture Passionistas assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications-line failure, theft, or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries. Pop Culture Passionistas is not responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any computer online systems, servers or providers, computer equipment, or software, or for failure of any e-mail or entry to be received by Pop Culture Passionistas on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any Web site, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to participant's or any other person's computer related to or resulting from participation or downloading any materials in this giveaway.
5. Winner Notification: Winner will be notified by email and announced on the Pop Culture Passionistas website on April 16, 2010.

5 Things You Didn't Know about John Cusack

The new John Cusack movie Hot Tub Time Machine comes out today. It remains to be seen if this time travel film will go down in history with classics like Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure and Back to the Future or into the recyling bin with clunkers like Somewhere in Time and Kate & Leopold. But, one thing is for sure, you can count on John Cusack being great.

Although we're doubtful Hot Tub Time Machine will be his Academy vehicle, we are firm believers that Cusack is completely underrated. He's been in some of our favorite films from the ’80s classic Say Anything... to the recent tearjerker Martian Child.

And unlike some of his acting peers, Cusack has managed to avoid the media spotlight and keep his private life to himself. But we did dig up a few things you may not know about John Cusack.

Inspirational Pop Culture Moments of the Week

This week we scoured the globe to find the most uplifting examples of celebrity altruists. We joined a Hollywood heavy hitter during his effort to aid Haiti, a British chef in his quest to transform Middle America, an L.A. talk show host in a Southern cultural battle, a Tinseltown movie star at a factory press conference in Ohio, and a big Apple singer-songwriter on Capitol Hill. See how these five celebrities worked to change the world in this week's Most Inspirational Pop Culture Moments.

Sean Penn Doing Relief Work in Haiti

Actor Sean Penn didn't just donate money to the people of Haiti and get on with his life. Instead Penn has relocated to the island, has spent most of the past few months there, and oftentimes lives in the tents among the victims of the January earthquake. Penn has been in the Caribbean nation doing everything he can to aid the people displaced by the disaster.

Penn and a U.S. businesswoman started an organization called Jenkins-Penn Haitian Relief Organization (JP HERO). They have taken over management of a camp that has treated over 55,000 patients and serves 2,000 meals a day to people living in the tent city.

He says the biggest concern right now is moving over 45,000 people living in the "Sean Penn Camp" as it is now known, before the hurricane season starts and their makeshift homes are washed away in floods.

Penn is working so exhaustively that when Katia Riddle of NPR asked him what he'll take away from the experience, he acknowledged that he has not had time for that to even sink in saying, "That's something to be digested later."

View the rest at Beliefnet's Idol Chatter.

Schoolhouse Rock's "I'm Just a (Big Effen) Bill"

We will admit that while we did pretty well in school as kids, a lot of the knowledge that has stuck with us through the years should be credited to the Saturday morning cartoon short film series, Schoolhouse Rock! We know what an interjection is (it "shows excitement! Hallelujah!"), we are able to skate a figure eight (which turned on its side is infinity), and we can recite the Preamble to the Constitution (as long as we can hum the melody in our heads).

Another SR favorite that pretty much covers our understanding of the legislative process is I'm Just a Bill. So, we were glad to see "Bill" surface this week although this incarnation is not quiet so kid friendly. This Monday, when the health care legislation became law, Vice President Joe Biden made a statement not intended for public ears that is now almost more historic than the legal reforms he was excited about — add your interjection here, "Wow!"

His latest gaffe made headlines worldwide and wound up on Jimmy Fallon's desk. The Late Night host resurrected "Bill" but updated it Biden-style. Not sure they'll be running this version on Saturday mornings anytime soon.

Facebook Campaign: My Sister Will Name Her Baby Megatron

As you know, we support many Facebook campaigns. We’re all for Betty White hosting SNL. We love the idea of the 1985 NBC classic Thursday line-up coming back to TV for one night. And we wish that Mad Men would surprise us in Season 4 by bringing Sal back.

But some Facebook movements are a little bit beyond our comprehension. Take for example the “My sister says she will name her baby Megatron” campaign. The creator of the group proclaims that his sister has, in fact, agreed to name her impending heir – a son luckily – Megatron after the Transformers character, if he gets one million fans by the due date.

Here’s the rub. There are now several Megatron baby name sites.

“MY SISTER SAID IF I GET ONE MILLION FANS SHE WILL NAME HER BABY MEGATRON,” which started in late February, sites a due date of August 9th and already has 1,588,000 vans – sorry baby boy Megatron. This appears to be the original, and we would assume legitimate, Megatron site.

Then there’s “MY SISTER SAYS IF I CAN GET 1 MILLION FANS SHE WILL NAME HER BABY MEGATRON,” which started on March 15 only has 256,098 with a deadline of April 16th. The Facebook group names are set apart by the simple addition of the word “can” in this second entry.

There are others but their followings are small.

 

So is the first Megatron site for real and the others just imposters? We’ll have to get back to you on that one but if you have any info, we’re dying to know.

 

And if the Megatron phenomenon appeals to you, maybe you’ll be inspired to start a Facebook group of your own. There’s variety in the Megatron craze including:

IF 100,000 PEOPLE JOIN I WILL LEGALLY CHANGE MY NAME TO MEGATRON – currently with 21,279 members.

If this group gets 10,000 Meg will change her name to MEGatron LEGALLY – luckily for Meg this group is only at 2,012 members.

Who knows, if they’re all successful, maybe Megatron will beat out Aidan as the most popular baby name of 2010.

 

Robert Culp Dies at 79

The obituaries are pouring in for actor Robert Culp, who died yesterday after taking a fall near his Los Angeles home at age 79.

They all seem to be focusing on his role of Kelly Robinson on I Spy. We can get behind that, after all the secret agent series in which he co-starred with Bill Cosby was groundbreaking and, frankly, really funny. Sure, people are talking about his sexual revolution masterpiece Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice about two free love embracing couples in the ‘60s. Lots are mentioning his most recent role as Ray Barone’s father-in-law on Everybody Loves Raymond.

But, as far as we’re concerned, not enough are focusing on what we believe to be Culp’s greatest role – that of FBI Agent Bill Maxwell on The Greatest American Hero. It was Culp that grounded the fish-out-of-water tale of a schoolteacher turned bumbling superhero. The seasoned actor brought a certain bravado to the wacky show that made the whole thing seem maybe just a smidge believable. And, his chemistry with William Katt, who played the incapable crusader Ralph Hinkley, was second only to that which he shared with Cosby.

We’re not underestimating the importance of the relationship between Culp and Cosby. Clearly I Spy was a revolutionary show. They teamed up again for Culp’s feature directorial debut, an unsuccessful crime thriller called Hickey & Boggs. And off screen the two civil rights activists traveled to Memphis, Tennessee to support striking garbage workers after Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination.

We’re just saying that his Greatest American Hero work should not be overlooked. In 2007, Robert Culp sat down for a three-hour interview for the Archive of American Television. You can watch the full interview at emmyTVlegends.org and hear his own thoughts on his hit TV shows and his career in Holywood.

Parenthood Producer, Ron Howard, and his Burbank Roots

In 1958 Rance Howard and his wife, Jean Speegle Howard, moved their family to Burbank, California, so they could pursue acting. Rance, Jean, and son Clint all worked steadily, but it was the oldest son Ron that went on to become a Hollywood success story. He has not only appeared in successful movies and TV series, but has directed Academy Award winning films and performances. Most recently Ron has brought one of our favorite new shows to the small screen — an updated version of his 1989 film Parenthood.

The news NBC series starring Peter Krause, Lauren Graham, and Craig T. Nelson, which debuted March 2^nd to rave reviews, tells the story of a suburban family like any other. They gather for meals, they play softball, they fight, they love, and they struggle with life. Sounds like it could have been Ron's upbringing in suburban Burbank.

Howard began his acting career playing boys from two other small towns — first Opie Talyor on The Andy Griffith Show and then Winthrop Peroo in The Music Man (remember the kid with the lisp who played the trumpet?). But when he wasn't working, Ronny played baseball and basketball, often at the Verdugo Recreation Center. In fact, his schedule on The Andy Griffith Show was arranged so he never missed little league and at 15 he took nine months off to play basketball. He also coached his younger brother Clint's baseball team.

In an interview with the Archive of America Television, Howard describes Burbank as "an industrial town… with a small town neighborhood feel."

While attending Burbank's John Burroughs High School, he met his future wife, Cheryl Alley. In an article for In Style magazine he said that he would sneak out to see Cheryl by telling his parents he had joined the cross-country team. Sounds like an episode of Parenthood.

Cheryl and Ron married in 1975 at the Magnolia Park United Methodist Church in Burbank with Happy Days co-stars Don Most, Anson Williams, and Tom Bosley at his side. He wore a pale blue tuxedo... how '70s. They have been married for 35 years defying the Hollywood odds.

Of course, Howard has gone on to become one of the most successful movie directors in history with a resume that includes films like A Beautiful Mind, Cocoon, Splash, Apollo 13, The DaVinci Code, and Frost/Nixon, but he has managed to stay grounded thanks to those small town roots.

Take a Burbank tour of Ron Howard's youth:

Verdugo Recreation Center—3201 W Verdugo Ave, Burbank, CA 91505

John Burroughs High School—1920 Clark Avenue, Burbank, CA 91506

Magnolia Park United Methodist Church—2828 West Magnolia Boulevard, Burbank, CA 91505

Surprising Words of Wisdom from Miley Cyrus on American Idol

Michael Becker/FOX

Our favorite segment on The Soup lately has been "Surprising Words of Wisdom from..." And since Miley Cyrus was the guest mentor on American Idol last night, we thought we'd take a cue from Joel McHale and see what gems Hannah Montana had for the top eleven contestants during Billboard No. 1 Hits Week.

While we always thought you needed to be out of your teens to qualify as someone else's mentor, there's no denying the success achieved by the 17-year-old Cyrus. Love her or hate her, she has sold 15 million records and is the youngest-ever multi platinum recording artist to have four number one albums in three years.

And even though Miley herself questions her longevity in the music biz — she told the girls on The View that she was going to concentrate on her movie career for now — she did have some surprising words of wisdom for the Idols. Here are the gems:

To Katie Stevens: "Remember who you are as a musician and what you love about music. Edge it up and show what you are as an artist."

To Crystal Bowersox: "There were times when she sang those high notes and she got almost Gospel. I really love that sound I think it's beautiful, but I think she could... almost showcase that a little bit more."

To Casey James: "Try to make eye contact with the first few people that are in the front row. It makes the song so personal. You have no idea how much that means to people."

To Siobhan Magnus: "Your voice has such a swagger to it and I think if you bring the swag that you have in your voice to the stage you're good to go. I like that you're so different and you're so who you are and your voice says that."