Bill Engvall stars in Hallmark Channel’s “Kiss at Pine Lake”

May 14, 2012 | By Karl Paloucek
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Hallmark Channel pulls off a bit of a “first” this month with one of its original films. Comedian Bill Engvall, who’s been doing standup routines about parenting for decades, steps into his first dramatic role in Kiss at Pine Lake. The film is about Luke (Barry Watson), a young philanthropist trying to save the summer camp of his youth, and Zoe (Mia Kirshner), the girl who haunts his camp memories, representing the development firm that’s trying to wheedle it away from him. Engvall’s role is of Zoe’s father, though they’re largely estranged since her parents’ divorce. It’s a small part [...]

Cast of “Desperate Housewives” share how they want series finale to end

May 10, 2012 | By Channel Guide Contributor
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The cast members of Desperate Housewives took time to share some of their favorite episodes, as well as how they want the series to end for their character in a recent interview conducted by Channel Guide Magazine contributor Jacqueline Cutler. After eight seasons, the series comes to its end in a two-hour finale on Sunday, May 13 at 9pm ET on ABC. Here’s what the ladies had to share. How would you like to see your character go out? Felicity Huffman: I would love internally for Lynette to go out having a sea change in how she holds relationships, starting [...]

Genie Francis is back for Hallmark’s “Notes From the Heart Healer”

May 10, 2012 | By Karl Paloucek
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One of Hallmark Channel’s more successful original movie franchises gets a third installment this month in Notes From the Heart Healer. Genie Francis returns as advice columnist Peyton MacGruder, who, while on a visit to a harbor town as part of a tour for her just-published book, has a baby left on her doorstep by a teen, Violet (Laci Mailey), who can no longer afford to take care of him. Obviously concerned for this abandoned young life, Peyton is forced to confront her own emotions, having been pressured to give up her own child under similar circumstances. Thrilled on one [...]

Eva Longoria wants Andy Warhol prints from “Desperate Housewives” set

May 10, 2012 | By Channel Guide Contributor
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Last month, veteran entertainment reporter Jacqueline Cutler tracked down the cast members of “Desperate Housewives” — well, all the gals but the difficult Teri Hatcher — to answer a few of our questions. Here’s what they shared on items from the set they would love to have. If you could take one item from the set, what would it be? Eva Longoria: I am trying to steal my Andy Warhol pictures of Gaby on the wall. Trying to figure out how to steal. I want the paintings on the wall. [pictured] Felicity Huffman: Eva’s Bentley. Marcia Cross: I just want [...]

CGM interviews “My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding” designer Sondra Celli!

May 8, 2012 | By Lori Acken
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Boston clothing designer Sondra Celli is catching her breath between prepping 30-plus blinged–out bikinis and an army of matching accessories for an upcoming gypsy luau and waiting for the UPS guy to arrive. “Thursdays are a little suicidal,” she chuckles. But it’s now 4pm and most of her loyal contingent of Traveller customers is in church, so I’m the only person calling. At least for the moment. As the longtime couturier of choice for America’s widespread gypsy and Traveller communities — and the unflappable star of TLC’s new Sunday night hit, My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding — Celli finds [...]

Comedian Ralph Harris hosts “My Momma Throws Down” on TV One

May 4, 2012 | By Lori Acken
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At long last, television is recognizing the ultimate in food service pros — moms! Tonight, TV One premieres its first-ever cooking competition series, My Momma Throws Down, from the makers of Iron Chef America and hosted by actor/comedian Ralph Harris (Last Comic Standing, Dreamgirls, On Our Own) — or as he introduces himself, “Carol’s oldest boy.” But this more than your average cooking show. Part culinary competition, part Family Feud update, part comedy contest and part mini-lesson on the rich history and traditions of African American cuisine, My Momma Throws Down has something for everyone. Just like a home-cooked meal. To start, each [...]

Interview with Victor Smalley of “Dance Moms: Miami”!

May 1, 2012 | By Lori Acken
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Like Abby Lee Miller and the Pittsburgh Dance Moms and dancers before them, Victor Smalley, his pal and business partner Angel Armas, and their talented troupe of Stars Dance Studio dancers have become overnight TV superstars via their Lifetime reality show Dance Moms: Miami. With their fans blowing up the Twitter-verse and mobbing them at airports and dance competitions across the country, Smalley and Co. are suddenly in demand around the clock. Still, he took a little time out to tell us about what makes his studio, his dancers and their show unique. CGM: What was your reaction when you were [...]

Nicole Kidman, Clive Owen and Philip Kaufman tell us about HBO’s “Hemingway & Gellhorn”

April 30, 2012 | By Lori Acken
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When iconic screenwriter/director Philip Kaufman set his sights on creating a film about the peerless war correspondent Martha Gellhorn and her tumultuous relationship with her second husband, writer Ernest Hemingway, he knew exactly who he wanted to embody his title characters. Problem was, his Gellhorn wasn’t available. Or so he was told. Still reeling from the death of his beloved wife and screenwriting partner Rose, Kaufman ventured out to the January 2010 groundbreaking ceremony for the Family Violence Prevention Fund’s International Conference Center in San Francisco — and came face-to-face with United Nations Development Fund for Women goodwill ambassador Nicole [...]

Cymphonique Miller has the latest on “How to Rock”

April 20, 2012 | By Karl Paloucek
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Make no mistake, those of you kids out there who dream of having your own Nickelodeon series — it’s a lot harder than it looks. And it’s a lot more work. Not only are there endless rehearsals of various sorts, but there are junkets to attend, press conferences of all sorts, and if you’re really unlucky, you get to sit in a room with your dad and a bunch of other grown-ups while talking to me about your show and whatever else Nickelodeon wants you to tell me. It’s not a life most parents would recommend for their children, but [...]

Kathy Griffin says celebs need not apply for a spot on her new Bravo talk show

April 18, 2012 | By Stacey Harrison
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Kathy Griffin stars in "Kathy," premiering April 19 on Bravo.

A Kathy Griffin talk show without celebrities? Sounds a bit like baking a pie and forgetting the crust, no? Well, the doyenne of the D-List — and frequent scourge of the A-List — isn’t completely shutting out famous faces from Kathy, her new Bravo gabfest that premieres April 19. Just don’t look for them sitting next to her. Hard as this is to imagine, Griffin told me she would feel encumbered with celebrities surrounding her, actually having to worry about hurting someone’s feelings or, God forbid, listening to someone promote their latest whatever. She favors having her friends and family [...]