Jane_Yamamoto's Blog

On Sunday, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi hosted what was billed as a “celebrity-studded gala” to benefit the Yes on Proposition 2 campaign. The statewide ballot measure would prohibit the confinement of certain farm animals in a manner that does not allow them to turn around freely, lie down or fully extend their limbs.

It was held at a private Bel Air estate. On the red carpet, DeGeneres talked about her support for Prop 2, but also talked about her recent marriage to de Rossi. Ellen said they gave their pictures to People magazine…’gave’ not ‘sold’ she said. They did it not to share their personal lives but to represent love and put a face on same sex couples.

Some other sightings on the red carpet: Emily Deschanel, Constance Marie, Corey Feldman, James Cromwell, Olivia Wilde and Esai Morales.

I played golf Saturday and didn’t have to work afterward, so I ended up watching the USC-Ohio State game. Being a Bruin and not much of a football fan, I don’t usually watch the Trojans but I became intrigued from an entertainment standpoint.

Earlier in the week, I got a press release from someone listing all the celebrities who would be attending the game. You know what they say -- “everyone loves a winner”.

And that was clear by the list I saw. A-list celebs like Denzel Washington and Jamie Foxx, athletes like Ronnie Lott and Marcus Allen, and plenty of former Trojans and Buckeyes who are now professional athletes.

I used to work in Columbus, Ohio so I know how rabid Buckeye fans are. Here in L.A. it seems like more of a social gathering – a sort of place to be thing.

I’m not sure how many on the list went to the game, but I did see cutaways of Denzel Washington and Marcus Allen. Even Governor Schwarzenegger was there. It was sort of like a Laker game, with all the celebs there. Only in L.A.

Do you think there will be many celebrity requests for the next Bruins game, following that 59-0 loss to BYU? Ouch!

On Sunday I covered the 2008 Video Music Awards, which marked the 25th anniversary of the awards show that, when it started, was way ahead of it's time;however, the awards took a backseat to all the drama surrounding it. Britney's much hyped return (she didn't perform) was all the talk on the red carpet...and all the artists had plenty to say about her comeback.

Paramour's lead singer is a big Britney fan. Ne-yo was cheering her on and told me he wanted her to win. Britney ended up taking home the most VMA's.

The Britney factor took away the spotlight on what the show was about---Music Videos. So, it was interesting to find out some of the star's all time favorite music videos:
Jermaine Dupri's favorite is Run DMC's "Walk This Way"
Kid Rock also like early Run DMC
Ne-yo's favorite is Michael Jackson's "Thriller." He said he had all the moves down and even had a fake leather jacket.
Bret Ratner also picked "Thriller," saying it wasn't so much a music video as it was a movie!

So, what's your favorite music video of all-time?

 A new season of Prison Break is finally here! Michael Scoffield, Lincoln Burrows, Theodore Bagwell, Bellick and the rest of the gang return.  Scoffield and his brother are out of the Panamanian Prison and if you're a true fan of the show then you know Dr. Sara Tancredi is back!  Apparently, there are a few new characters that will be added to the show this season. I recently spoke to a few of the castmembers about  returning to Los Angeles to film the show. Jody Lyn O'Keefe is 'thrilled,' she told me when they were filming in Dallas she was always late because she would get lost driving to the location. She says most of the castmembers are from Los Angeles and they couldn't be more excited to be back home. Now with a new season, what storyline will keep you tuning in?

 

The 2008 Summer Games wrapped up Sunday night. I know I wrote about them last week, and some of you expressed your disdain for the Games, but for the first time in years I really enjoyed watching.
And I got to thinking? Who will be the biggest celebrity to come out of Beijing?
Will it be Michael Phelps, who dominated the first week by winning 8 gold medals? Since he won his 8th, Phelps has been everywhere – and some experts say he could make more than $50 million after his incredible performance.
What about gymnast Nastia Liukin, who won all-around gold in gymnastics? Or maybe Usain Bolt, who ran faster than anyone ever has?
Those are just a few. What do you think? Who will be the biggest celebrity to come out of Beijing?

Have you been watching the Olympics? I have, incessantly. Anyone who doesn’t think sports are entertainment hasn’t been watching these Summer Games. The ups and downs, the heavy drama, all on display as athletes try to fulfill their dreams while the entire world watches.
I know it’s on another network, but I find myself sitting in front of the t-v watching whenever I’m not working. And I finally realized my cable system has all the channels – even a couple dedicated solely to live soccer and basketball.
By now you probably know about Michael Phelps’ incredible run. I have to admit I was screaming at the screen the night Jason Lezak came back to win that relay race. Talk about exciting! Phelps' 8 gold medals in one Games will be tough to match.
But my favorite is gymnastics. I felt bad for Alicia Sacramone when she fell off the balance beam, but I think she handled it all very well. You could tell she felt like she let the whole team down.
Gotta run…the women’s 3-meter springboard is about to start.
JY

I was sad to hear that Bernie Mac passed away. At just 50 years old it seemed like his best years were still to come. I was fortunate enough to interview him a few times at several events. He was always entertaining, funny, and nice. He was one of those guys who always had a smile on his face and in turn put a smile on yours. He was truly one of the Kings of Comedy!

RIP Bernie Mac

The Teen Choice Awards will be handed out on Fox Monday night. They were handed out for real Sunday night (I hate tape delay but I’m sure there’s a million legitimate reasons why they do it that way).

It all starts on the Red Carpet…which in this case was an eco-friendly Blue Carpet made from recycled goods.

Most of the stars stopped to talk, and told me a few things you may not know:

The Jonas Brothers told me they’re big golfers when the cameras aren’t rolling,

David Cook, who was complaining about the heat, told me he hasn’t watched much TV since winning American Idol 2-months ago.

The first thing his buddy David Archuleta said to me was, “Hey, you got a haircut.” Thanks for noticing David!

Lauren Conrad said she’s a big David Beckham fan.

Selena Gomez is a big San Antonio Spurs fan.

Sophia Bush can’t get enough of “Deadliest Catch”, “Mythbusters” and “Intervention”.

Leighton Meester told me she watches Fox 11 News.

And Jerry O’Connell watches Good Day LA. Even though his publicist was trying to push him away, Jerry made a point to come over and tell us he and his wife Rebecca plan on possibly naming their twins Jillian and Dorothy. I think he was joking.

While we’re on the subject of publicists, Blake Lively tried to talk to us but her ‘handlers’ pulled her away. Ditto for Jordin Sparks, who is always so sweet. Her handlers just whisked her away as she tried to talk to us. 

To see who wins, you’ll have to tune in. I’ll have some backstage reaction on Monday night’s 10pm newscast.

Talk soon,

JY

One of the perks of my job is I often get assigned movie premieres. They’re always fun, glitzy affairs, and most of the stars are willing to talk because they want to get the word out about their new movie.
The only drawback – I never get to watch the premieres. Usually, we stalk the red carpet looking for sound bites from the stars of the movie. After we get enough, it’s off to the van to edit our piece while everyone else gets to watch the movie.
Sunday night I covered the world premiere of the latest “Mummy” flick. And let me tell you, I wanted to head right into that theater and watch. But there was work to be done and a deadline to meet, so I’ll have to catch it when it comes out on Friday.
It looks great, with plenty of action and cool effects. You just never know if the movie will live up to its hype. I think this one will.
Since I haven’t seen any of the new releases (not even Dark Knight!), let me know which ones you think are worth seeing.
Talk soon,
JY

Its called the Oscars for the world of Sports..The ESPY's were handed out at the Nokia Theatre.  The awards show is about recognizing the year's best sporting moments and individual achievement. On the arrival line lots of the hollywood stars didn't take the time to walk the red carpet but many of the high profile athletes enjoyed seeing some of their favorite players from other sports. Derek Fisher told me he is a sports junkie and recognized most of the athletes but he's still working on some of the faces from extreme sports.  Fred Couples said he's a big NY Yankee fan and was hoping to see A Rod (he was a no show).  After, a 2-hour show ..the awards were handed out and Tiger Woods was one of the big winners with 3 espy's (he didn't attend ..recovering from knee surgery). Even though some of the well known athletes didn't make it, the show had a few inspirational moments,  like when former Buffalo Bills player Kevin Everett was awarded for his Perseverance...after a spinal cord injury that could have paralyzed him but after rehabilitation he is walking again. Wow, that made it worth watching for me. I could have done without some of the skits. thoughts?
look foward to hearing from you.
JY

Its been nearly a week since the Idol Summer Tour made its stop at Staples Center. I did a story on the Ten O'Clock News July 7th but didn't have time to get in all the backstage stuff. So, here goes. Brooke White told me she has a fear of heights and is struggling making her way down the stairs in her heels during one of the songs. (if you went to the concert, then you know what i'm talking about) David Archeluta says he not only 'sleep talks' but 'sleep sings' and Castro's fans who call themselves dread heads wanted to know what kind of cologne he wears? his answer: NONE. David Cook said he learned he snores and Michael Johns says he admits he is always in charge of the t-v remote when they are on the tour bus.
They are on a 72-day tour, doing 53 performances and stopping in 49 cities. On monday, they will be in West Valley City, UT. If you still need more Idol...a New Season of Auditions are just starting to kick off. yoohoooo
JY

Are you craving your Idol? Still have the season finale on your DVR?

Well, American Idol is back…sort of. This year’s American Idol Live tour stops off at Staples Center Monday night. 2008 winner David Cook and the rest of the top 10 kicked off their summer tour last week in Glendale, Arizona, beginning a 49-city, 72-day odyssey across America.

I’ll be covering their Staples stop, so tune in Monday night to the Fox-11 10 O’clock News for all the backstage reaction. I’ll try and take some pictures and post them Tuesday.

 

Talk soon,

JY

 

 

The LA Film Festival closing ceremony was at the Billy Wilder Theater in the Hammer Museum on Sunday night. They handed out awards in several categories, including best narrative short and best documentary feature. But the award that got the most attention on the red carpet was  the Spirit of Independence award…not to be confused with the

Spirit Awards celebrating the best in Indie films handed out annually the day before the Oscars. Although, it was given by Film Independent (the same organization that is behind the Spirit Awards)

They gave this year’s award to actor Don Cheadle for his commitment to artistic Independence. Actress Taraji Henson told me “Don is one of the best actors of our time; he is a chameleon with every character he takes on.”

Director Paul Hagis described Cheadle as a man of integrity with a quiet intensity. When I told Cheadle about that comment he laughed and said “I paid him to say that.”

Cheadle was just joking and seemed genuinely overwhelmed with the kind words. When I asked him how he picks his roles he told me he has to take a lot into consideration but beyond the character, and project, his biggest concern is how long it will take him away from his family.

A family man…you gotta love that.

Talk soon,

JY

Tonight I met a group of young dancers who can perform jazz, ballet, tap and hip hop.     

500 young girls, ranging in ages between 5 and 18 years old, getting ready for their annual showcase performance in Orange this weekend.

The kids are from the South County Classical Ballet Studio, and they’re excited not only for their show but for two of their dance teachers, Stephen ‘Twitch’ Boss and Katee Shean. Stephen and Katee are among the 16 dancers remaining on Fox’s show “So You Think You Can Dance”.

10-year old Jenna Brooks watches the show every week. However, she’s too young to stay up and watch so her parents have to record it for her. Jenna, along with the other young dancers who take classes from Stephen, say he is a great hip hop teacher and they’re amazed to see all the different styles of dance he’s performing on the show.

Stacy Hagen, the owner of the dance studio, told me she’s so proud of Stephen and Katee and says it’s an inspiration for the young girls to show them how hard work and dedication pays off.

Jenna says she has mixed emotions. She’s sad Stephen won’t be at their annual showcase performance this weekend, but she’s happy he’s doing so well on the show and believes he has what it takes to win it.

Thursday night, two more dancers get voted off. Jenna hopes her dance teachers aren’t among them.

I know a lot of people say golf is boring…even though I play golf I can understand how some might see it as an uneventful sport. But, on Sunday afternoon I was working with engineer Ed Almonte, who doesn’t follow golf. But there he was, glued to the television on our dinner break watching. OK, It wasn’t just another tournament…it was the U-S Open. It came down to the 72nd hole and Tiger sunk a clutch putt to force a sudden death playoff.

On Monday, it was Tiger Woods vs. Rocco Mediate and even if you don’t follow golf it was entertaining. After 18 holes they were still tied… but in the end Tiger won the 14th major of his career.

It was probably the two most entertaining days of golf I’ve ever seen. Mediate never backed down, erasing a 3-shot lead on the back-9 on Monday to give himself a chance to win. He even had a putt to win it all, and even though he pulled it a tad, it wasn’t short.

If you saw it, you know what I’m talking about. If you didn’t watch and think golf is boring, maybe give it a try next time. You may be surprised.

Hit ‘em straight!

JY