Photo Credit: Kirstin Knufmann

THE STAR SCOOOP:
Tell us about the awesome site you founded, TheStream.tv.

BRIAN GRAMO:
theStream.tv is live [and] interactive. You show up, and watch something that looks like television, but you’re very much a part of making it happen as it’s happening.

THE STAR SCOOOP:
What can people actually do that makes that interactive or involved?

BRIAN GRAMO:
What makes it truly interactive is that most of the shows utilize a role called the chat technician, or the IM Girl or the IM Boy. So while you have a host and co-host, you also have this person that is checking in with the chatroom and seeing the voice of the viewer throughout the show. So as the show is being streamed live, through this chatroom (we use Justin.TV to do this)…that chat tech is the voice of the viewers.

If the conversation in the chatroom starts to go one way, but the show is going another way, we constantly have the chance to check in and realign each other. Comments from the chatroom truly affect the show moving forward. That’s just the general interaction. A lot of the shows are geared toward actually playing with you – games that you can win something.

We have a show where me or a celebrity guest is drawing things on my iPad and people in the chatroom are guessing that and the more guesses you get correct, the better chance you have of winning what the prize is. We’ve given away XBox’s T-Shirts, video games, movies…

THE STAR SCOOOP:
You’ve been talking a lot about the people in the chatroom, the audience. Do you have a sense of who your prime audience is, and who this content most appeals to?

BRIAN GRAMO:
Sure. The majority of the people watching the stream — it’s certainly male skewed – [are] 18-34, people interested in gaming, technology and music. We do have a fair amount of music on the show. Going back to the interaction part, we were doing our music show and somebody asked for a band to play a song, and they were like, we can play that, we’ll just play that next.

That said, even though we’re male-skewed in 18 to 34, it’s an odd experience for me demographic-wise…it’s a place on the Internet where a 14 year old girl and a 60 year old guy can be in the same chatroom, and it’s actually not creepy. In any other situation, I’d be like, no this is not a good idea. I think that’s the most unique thing about it. I can’t think of another situation where there is an eclectic and diverse group of demographics can kind of be in the same chatroom, and it’s all good.

THE STAR SCOOOP:
What inspired you to found theStream.tv?

BRIAN GRAMO:
I was watching a lot of things online that were getting to this, I think. Some people had an online show, some people just doing music videos and answering instant messages, and I was just like, I think what would be cool is having a whole channel of interactive shows that all focus on a different topic.

We started it out of my bedroom, and people had so much fun doing it, the performers had fun doing it, and the viewers had fun watching, and we got more and more people, so that motivated us to start doing more shows.

Eventually I was doing four shows out of my bedroom…so I went to all the people we were doing shows with and I was like, hey guys, if we get a studio and I bring in like four more shows, I think we could bring in enough cash [and] we could pay the rent on this small studio…that was what we called the 2.0 Studio and that was like 300 square feet, but now we’re in the 4.0 studio. It’s like five years later and the 4.0 studio is 4000 square feet at the corner of Santa Monica and Vine…HD equipment, tons of lights…We’ve had 1500 episodes and guests from television, film and it has been really fun!

THE STAR SCOOOP:
What would you like people to know about theStream.tv if they’re going to take something away from reading this?

BRIAN GRAMO:
That’s it. Not a lot of people know about it, you know? What I’ve found is when people find it, they really like it. People find it and they like it and they realize it’s very honest in an age of prompter news shows and manipulated reality shows and talent shows that show you people that are not talented…I feel there’s a lack of honesty in television. When you watch, you really know it’s honest.

You’re really hanging out with a bunch of people that are making a show they’re passionate about. I think that’s why people really like it. We’re just there to have a good time, whether we’re playing music or we’re playing a game or we’re having a show. It’s a good time for someone that’s into the topic of that show. We just want more people to know about it!

THE STAR SCOOOP:
Where do you see theStream.tv in the larger picture of where we are today as a community in the online world?

BRIAN GRAMO:
I think what we’re doing for the community is providing all these talented people and all these up-and-coming artists in the Hollywood area the platform to be really creative and look really good and reach an unlimited amount of people. And people are using us for that. We’re letting people come in and do announcements for a contest or have a tournament and we are working with other people in the live streaming community.

In the end, I didn’t set out to make a show in particular, I set out to make a studio that will let artists have this sandbox to be creative and not worry about the production. I think a lot of times the production value is kind of what takes away from a project. So if you’re an artist and you’re up-and-coming in LA, we take you, and we know we’ve been an incubator for talent.

A lot of the talent we’ve brought on…have gone on to be on network television or to be in a movie or something. We’re giving these people the chance to just worry about being creative, just worry about being a performer…You’re watching great performers all the time.

Update:
They just launched a new show called ”Inside Horror”  and you can read more here:
http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/49667/new-genre-based-chat-show-inside-horror-debuts-january-10th-thestreamtv

THE STAR SCOOP:
Tell us about what motivated you to become a personal trainer?

MICHELLE BETTS:
I was motivated to become a personal trainer at the end of a very destructive, 8-year relationship. In order to heal the hurt in my heart, I turned to the gym.

I started going to the gym religiously, taking many of the classes and became friends with the instructors and staff. It made me feel and look good. I also began pursuing acting and that motivated me as well; I wanted to look and feel my best.

It turned into a way of life for me. I would run around Los Angeles in my gym clothes and would get asked constantly what I did to stay so fit, a big factor in my motivation, as well.
Probably the most influential factor, however, was Tony Robbins. I started one of his programs and it led me to finding the passion I had for fitness and personal training.

THE STAR SCOOP:
How has that decision shaped the person we see on “Tough Love: Miami”?

MICHELLE BETTS:
Becoming a personal trainer definitely shaped me into the person you see on “Tough Love: Miami.” Before I became a trainer I was unhappy with where I was in life; I was bar-tending late nights, and it wasn’t making me happy.

As a personal trainer I started getting up early in the morning and was excited to train my clients. When a client sees and feels improvement it is such a gratifying feeling.

When you truly love what you do it shows, and I believe I have been perceived as the positive, nice girl on the show because of it.

Also, being a personal trainer I have to push my clients and be really tough on them, because of this I understood what the host, Steve Ward was doing. I didn’t fight him on things, I took his criticism and advice better than most, I just gave in to trusting him…….and I am very grateful for that.

THE STAR SCOOP:
What do you think viewers will take away from “Tough Love: Miami”?

MICHELLE BETTS:
I have had a really positive responses from fans. I think the show does so well because the viewers can relate to myself or one of my cast mates. The viewers have told me that they learn from our mistakes.

My fans have been amazing, telling me that I’m a role model and wishing me the best. That really makes me feel like it wasn’t just about me, yes I helped myself and my life has changed, but I’ve also helped many other people. It’s wonderful!

THE STAR SCOOP:
Everyone seems to make a new year’s resolution to get fit. Do you have a few tips for people to get started for 2012?

MICHELLE BETTS:
A few tips….well, I can go on and on, so I’ll make it short and sweet.

First, know what you want and why you want it. What is your fitness goal and why? You need to root of your problem, and then know the path to solve it.

Second, once you’ve identified what you want, make a plan and stick to it, but be realistic. Make little baby goals to reward yourself along the way. I tell everyone I know to schedule your exercise and fitness plan like it’s a job and stick to it. Once you start exercising and working out it gives you momentum to do more.

THE STAR SCOOP:
What about people who are already on the right path. What can they do to keep up the good work, or to mix it up a little so they aren’t bored with the same old workouts or food choices?

MICHELLE BETTS:
Another thing I tell my clients is do something you like that is fun. For example, would be take a dance class or join a sporting league. Make it something that you have fun and look forward to doing and do it with a friend.

Make it a weekly catch up session where you get some form of exercise or body movement in, and spend time with someone you love.

As far as food choices, change things up by eating fruits and veggies that are in season. The seasons change, use what’s in season to add variety to your meals.

THE STAR SCOOP:
Will you be opening a wellness center anytime or is this still hope for the future? Can you tell us more about this plan?

MICHELLE BETTS:
I am determined to open up a wellness center in the future. I would really like it to be for women who have been through some type of abuse. A center where you could go to feel good again.

Exercise is so good for your body and mind, it was my form of healing and I would love to give that back to other women. I believe that if you can, you should help, I would like to do
it in a large capacity.

THE STAR SCOOP:
Lastly, what would you like your readers to know about you?

MICHELLE BETTS:
Wow, that’s hard to answer. I am constantly trying to live my life by doing the “right” thing, morally and ethically. I don’t screw people over and I’m not a liar.

Sometimes I think life in LA would be easier if I gave in to that cut throat mentality. You know the saying “nice girls finish last”……I’m living proof that it’s wrong. On a side note, my favorite musician is Eminem….I LOVE his music! Thank you for the interview!

Check out http://www.michellebettsfitnessfanatic.blogspot.com and http://www.michellebetts.com!

Photo Credit: Kevin Thomas

THE STAR SCOOP:
Let’s talk “Shake It Up.” How exciting is it to have a second season?

ADAM IRIGOYEN:
First of all, “Shake It Up” has been such a success and we’re really blessed to have such a successful show, and we wouldn’t be such a success without the fans, and I just wanna start off by saying that. We’re so happy that we get to have a second season.

We just got finished filming our 23rd episode of the second season. It’s been so much fun! I wouldn’t take back any minute of it. It’s been such a great experience and I love it so much. And, I can’t wait for a season 3.

THE STAR SCOOP:
What do you think it is that made the show so successful so far?

ADAM IRIGOYEN:
I think it’s really because of the dance. There are a lot of dance reality shows out there…all that jazz. I think the fact that we put dance into a sitcom and it’s a really funny show, that all came together really nicely. People just fell in love with it.

THE STAR SCOOP:
What do you like about your character, Deuce?

ADAM IRIGOYEN:
Oh, man. When I read the script, I kind of fell in love. It was so perfect for me because Deuce has a big family, obviously, and I have such a huge family. And that kind of vibe or whatever, it’s a very New York vibe, and my dad is from New York.

The funny thing was is that the original role was for a young James Dean/Ferris Bueller type. And now they’ve gone in a different direction with it. The more the season goes along, the more into the character we get and we start figuring out what happens with this character, why he is the way he is and what makes him funny.

I just love playing him every week. It’s just so much fun.

THE STAR SCOOP:
Is there anything you can talk about with regard to Deuce and the second season?

ADAM IRIGOYEN:
Well, Deuce may or may not speak Spanish [laughs]. Let’s see…what else does Deuce do? Just so much…you get to experience some of Deuce’s fighting skills…I don’t know, you guys are going to have watch and find out.

THE STAR SCOOP:
Also, there’s this awesome music video that came out in October, and you’re doing some dancing. What was that like? Have you been a dance for a long time?

ADAM IRIGOYEN:
I actually had a year of dance experience before the show. I’ve been doing dance for a couple of years now, and it really is so much fun, because it’s a way to express yourself. That’s one of the reasons I love doing my music so much, is because I get to express myself when I write down these lyrics or when I sing the song.

I get to show people a side of me that I’ve never shown them before. I think that that same thing can be interpreted with dance.

I just love dancing every day. When a good song comes on, everybody just wants to go out there and groove, and I think that’s what dancing really is. It’s not about good choreography, it’s not about how good you move, it’s about how much fun you have while you groove.

THE STAR SCOOP:
You mentioned your music. You’ve got an upcoming music career. What are you hoping to do with music and where do you want that to take you?

ADAM IRIGOYEN:
My music means a lot to me. Like I was just saying, it’s a way to express myself, same with acting. That’s while I love this whole business. I get to express myself through acting, through dancing, through music. I love it so much.

There are some very dancy songs so far of what I’ve done. I also do pop, too, because that is what people love. I kind of got the idea of my sound from what people love and What I love and kind of just mixed it all together to make sure that not only I like my music but other people like it, too.

My music is so important to me because just everything I write down, there’s always some truth to it. I can’t wait to see where my music career goes and what happens.

THE STAR SCOOP:
You act. You do music. You dance. It seems like you’ve got the triple threat thing here going on! Is there anything that you’re not good at?

ADAM IRIGOYEN:
You make me sound amazing [laughs]! There’s a whole bunch of stuff I’m not good at. I mean, I can’t ice skate very well. I can’t skateboard. I can’t do any of that. I can play basketball, but I can’t play water polo. So [laughs], I’m just a normal kid.

THE STAR SCOOP:
A normal kid who recently crossed the 100,000 follower mark on Twitter. Congrats!

ADAM IRIGOYEN
Oh, thank you!

THE STAR SCOOP:
How much do you enjoy getting to interact with your fans?

ADAM IRIGOYEN:
I love Twitter. I’m on there all the time. I love talking to my fans, because, like I said in the beginning of this interview, the show wouldn’t be a success without the fans. I’m very appreciative for everything that our fans do. We have the best fans in the world.

THE STAR SCOOP:
Let’s talk about your new single, “Christmas Melody.”

SYESHA:
It definitely has that warm, Christmas feel. I have to admit, I have it on repeat [laughs]. It just brings a feeling of your childhood, the Christmas tree and presents under the Christmas tree and just being with family and friends.

THE STAR SCOOP:
It was written by Denise Rich and Neil Sedaka. How exciting it to have recorded a song written by them?

SYESHA:
Yes! To add to that, Jodi Marr was also a writer on it. It’s just an honor. I had a mutual friends who was friends with Denise Rich and they had the song, and once I heard it, I knew I had to record it.It just brought me to a familiar place, my childhood, and I just really, really wanted to put a Christmas song out for the fans. They’ve been waiting for a while for something.

THE STAR SCOOP:
Besides “Christmas Melody” of course, is there a Christmas song that you really love hearing or singing this time of year?

SYESHA:
I really love “Santa Baby” by Eartha Kitt…her version of it, I love it. That’s one of my favorites. And ”Baby It’s Cold Outside.” There’s a lot. There are so many good ones.

THE STAR SCOOP:
There has been a lot of buzz from your video of Beyonce’s “Love On Top” with you and your background vocalists. Why do you think it took off and got such a response?

SYESHA:
To be honest with you, I was sitting there like really, really trying to think about it. I couldn’t put my finger on it! I don’t know. Maybe it’s just because it was unplanned and it was in the raw. No one really prepared for it. I didn’t know someone was going to be recording.

I was just trying to rehearse the song because it was my first time actually singing it for a performance and I wasn’t gonna sing it. So that performance was me figuring out whether or not I wanted to sing it.

I had just met the background singers that night. I flew in to Chicago immediately to rehearsal, and I was rehearsing for like two hours with the band – I had never performed with the band before. I was trying to get everything right.

I was exhausted, and I was like, this song is really high. I really don’t think I want to sing it…because it’s too much to sing, vocally. But I think it was just the rawness of it. It was unplanned and sitting down, just rehearsing. I think people like to see things that aren’t always showy. It was kind of like behind-the-scenes. You got to see a side of me, a side of my voice, that most people haven’t heard.

THE STAR SCOOP:
Some of the comments say things like, Beyonce watch out! How does that make you feel?

SYESHA:
It’s just a really great feeling, a positive feeling, knowing that I have so much support. I really appreciate it. But at the same time, I don’t let it go to my head. Everyone is going to have their own opinion. I’m just thankful for the supporters, the new ones and the old ones.

Beyonce is an extremely talented woman, all around performer: actress, singer, dancer. People compare, but I’m Syesha. Beyonce is Beyonce, and I really admire her and I love what she does. But I’m not Beyonce [laughs].

THE STAR SCOOP:
Speaking of the old fans, a lot of people have been wondering what you have been up to since “American Idol.” Catch us up.

SYESHA:
After “American Idol,” I went on the Idol tour. And then after that, I started looking at acting projects and one came along, that was “Dreamgirls.” It was an international tour. We opened up at the legendary Apollo Theater for the 75th anniversary. So I was doing that for almost two years.

Then, toward the end of that tour, I filmed my first movie, called “Dreams.” You can go on dreamsthemovie.com or my fan site, which is teamsye.com and you can look at the extended trailer, and there is more information.

Since then, I have been doing a lot of shows, I’ve been reading scripts. Pilot season is coming up. There are a lot of acting jobs coming up. I’m also an actress, so I’m looking at projects for the future. I’m also recording and songwriting right now for my album.

THE STAR SCOOP:
When can we expect your album?

SYESHA:
I am an independent artist, so all the things I’ve been doing as far as performing, and marketing myself, it’s been all Syesha right now. This month, next month, I’m developing my team.

So, you’ll see and hear a lot more from in 2012. I just say 2012 is going to be a lot of music releases, acting projects. I can’t get a specific date because I’m in talks with a lot of different people right now. Great things are happening…but I don’t have a date yet.

THE STAR SCOOP:
What would you like to say to all of your fans?

SYESHA:
That I thank them so much for their support and their patience, and for showing me their love with all their RT’s and their tweets and their Facebook messages. It has just been such a great feeling to know that I have their support. I do this because of them. I do this for them.

When I was younger, I always wanted to touch people’s hearts and change people’s lives for the better through my music, and finally in 2012, I know that all of this feedback…every single year, every single charity show and every single concert and tweet and YouTube video, I’m finally seeing everything manifest.

Syesha on Facebook
Follow Syesha on Twitter!
Syesha’s Website

Photo credit: Michael Scott Slosar

THE STAR SCOOP:
Your album is called “Memories Of A Beautiful Disaster.” You’ve previously talked about how this title relates to your life. As a whole, how personal do you feel the album is?

JAMES DURBIN:
I think upon more recent discovery listening back to it and really getting there, figuring out my own descriptions for each song, it’s extremely personal. Pretty much every [song], with the exception of two or three songs, is all about my life. I think the exceptions would be “May,” “Stand Up,” and “Everything Burns.” Other than that, everything is pretty personal.

THE STAR SCOOP:
Were there any challenges you faced in making it so personal?

JAMES DURBIN:
Not so much. I’m generally a very open person and I wear my heart on my sleeve most of the time, so it was pretty easy, letting myself go in the recording studio, and really letting the emotion out when I was writing songs.

THE STAR SCOOP:
You mentioned the song, “May.” It’s a beautiful track. You previously said it was more of a storytelling song, with you telling a story as if it happened to you and that you were really emotional when you were recording it. What was it that made you so emotional recording that song?

JAMES DURBIN:
I think listening to the song, just listening to it period, I got very emotional. You really listen to the lyrics and you really take those words to heart. You gotta know in your heart that this has happened to people.

And then having to get into the studio, we actually had to record the song in excess of like 15 times. Sometimes it was too emotional, and other times you just couldn’t tell one word from the other and just hear the crying and hear the sobbing.

I was able to take emotions from other points in my life just being a young dad and losing my own dad at such a young age. Things that were weighing on my heart for a long time, I was able to put those feelings of loss and of love into the song, into the recording of it, and I think it turned out great.

THE STAR SCOOP:
What can you tell us about the lead singles “Love Me Bad” and “Stand Up”?

JAMES DURBIN:
“Love Me Bad” was written by an amazing writer named Marti Frederiksen. Marti is one of the biggest, most-recognized songwriters there is today in rock and pop and has written a lot of Aerosmith, as well as Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, Kelly Clarkson, Pink, the list goes on and on.

He was one of the only songwriters I’ve really, really known about. He presented that song to me and I really like it. It’s a love song, a classic Marti Frederiksen, classic power-rock ballad. I really love the music of the 80s and I thought it brings a little bit of that essence into it.

The other single is “Stand Up.” I was approached by the NFL to sing the song for their game day volume 2 soundtrack, which is kind of like music, from the NFL for the NFL, by the NFL. I got the song out there and put it out independently on that and it got such good reactions by my fans and so many new fans that they decided to put it on “Memories of a Beautiful Disaster.” It is continuing to get so much support.

I shot a bunch of videos for every one of the 32 football teams. The video plays in all the stadiums. It’s really cool that I was fortunate and still am very fortunate to be a part of [it]. It’s definitely a super fun song to pump your fist to, get your fist in the air and on your feet. It’s a song that says, you know what, stand up, trying to have a good time.

THE STAR SCOOP:
What message do you want fans and listeners to take away from your album?

JAMES DURBIN:
I think for the album, I want people to take away basically what the album’s title is, “Memories of a Beautiful Disaster.” It’s about appreciating times and moments of your life that maybe, at this point or time that they happen, they really get you down, they really get you in a bad place mentally…but you have to have hope and know that it’s happening for a reason. You may not know that reason now.

Everything that’s happened in my life makes me who I am today and I would never want to change that because I’m different. I’m special. I’m one of a kind and each and every one of my fans out there are one of a kind in their own right, respectfully. They all have their own things, their own characteristics that make them stand out and make them special. I don’t want them to change, so they shouldn’t want to change either.

THE STAR SCOOP:
Can we expect you to go on tour in support of this album, and is there a venue you’ve always wanted to play?

JAMES DURBIN:
We are currently figuring out the logistics and plans for the tour. We’re trying to get something early 2012, hopefully mid-February. Let’s see…I think the places I’ve always dreamed about playing the most have been in Europe, actually. And those are Download Fest and The Rock am Ring Festival.

I watched videos from artists that are performing at those festivals and those venues. It’s just a huge outdoor festival with a sea of hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people. You look out in the crowd and you can’t see where the people end. I just love that.

I watch videos of Thirty Seconds to Mars and Jared Leto tells the crowd to jump up and down and it literally looks like a sea of people. You watch the ocean and it just waves, it just moves and the people are moving like waves and it’s a beautiful sight, and I would love to see that firsthand.

THE STAR SCOOP:
The fans want to know if they will be able to do any meet and greets with you during the tour.

JAMES DURBIN:
Absolutely. I owe everything to my fans. It if wasn’t for my fans, I wouldn’t be here. “American Idol” is this huge opportunity for you as an artist to grow as an artist, but if you don’t embrace your fans, all you have then is music and music doesn’t go anywhere if not for fans.

You can have the greatest record in the world and no one will ever know it if you don’t care for your fans. There will definitely be meet and greets at every single show if we’re fortunate enough to have them. You know, it’s all for the fans.

THE STAR SCOOP:
We can tell how important your fans are to you and how much they mean to you. What would you like to say directly to those fans who are reading this?

JAMES DURBIN:
I’d have to say first and foremost, thank you. I’m nothing but a singer without my fans. My fans have given me the opportunity to be a rockstar, to live my dream of being a performer and being a working musician, and be able to support myself and support my family doing what I love.

It’s all thanks to the fans that “Memories of a Beautiful Disaster” debuted in the top ten on the Billboard rock charts and it’s been steady on the iTunes rock chart. It’s unbelievable to look at that and then to go out on the road and do meet and greets and do these little shows and meet the fans and meet who is buying this record and who voted for me on “American Idol,” shake their hand and thank them for everything. It’s all for the fans.

THE STAR SCOOP:
Do you have any charities or causes that are close to your heart?

JAMES DURBIN:
I think one would be TSA, Tourette Syndrome Association. They really do what needs to be done for Tourette’s.

I’m really thankful and really grateful for my mom and for everything that she did to bring awareness of it in my school, with my teachers. That’s what the Tourette Syndrome Association is doing. They be the bigger man or woman, so to speak in letting the schools know and getting the information out there that needs to be out there so that more and more people know what Tourette’s is and that they’re aware of it. I think it’s just great what they’re doing.

THE STAR SCOOP:
Obviously as an artist you’ve been inspired by other musicians. How does it feel to know that now, with this release, you’re potentially inspiring a new young listener to embark on a musical career path?

JAMES DURBIN:
I’m really happy. I had so many inspirations growing up to be a singer and to sing rock and to do what I love and sing the kind of music that gets my heart pounding. And I know that I’m inspiring kids and young adults and people of all ages, really to go for it.

I heard a great story from a friend who met a woman that was playing guitar outside of a store and they were going to give her some money. She was playing for money somewhere, and they asked her who is your inspiration musically. And I’ll never forget what they said before they gave her the money. She said that “my inspiration musically would have to be James Durbin.”

This older woman, probably in her 60s or so and I guess she just had this great voice. [It] turns out she was a musician back in the day and sang all over San Francisco in the Bay area and such, and she gave up on music. And it wasn’t until seeing me on TV that she went for it.

It doesn’t matter how young or how old you are, if you have a dream, you can take that dream and you can follow it and you can take it to amazing places that you never thought were possible. All you have to do is believe in yourself and believe in the chance and believe in the opportunity that it could happen. I think that’s the greatest thing that you can do is believe, and put that energy out there, and have faith in it.

THE STAR SCOOP:
Lastly, we have to ask, as a rock singer, what song do you think is the greatest rock song of all time?

JAMES DURBIN:
Oh man. I don’t know! That’s too hard to answer. I can never pick what’s the greatest or what’s my favorite of all time. I can’t listen to one song too many times. I gotta put other great songs in between. I’d have to say front-runners: “Stairway to Heaven,” “Back In Black,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Dream On.” I think those are my four front-runners. Zeppelin, AC/DC, Queen and Aerosmith. I’m just gonna leave it at that.

Well, maybe some Beatles, I don’t know. This is where it gets complicating…I think the Beatles were the greatest ever, but I don’t know what song of theirs, if any would be the greatest rock song ever.

THE STAR SCOOP:
Tell us what you’ve got going on right now, what you’re looking forward to for next year.

ENISHA BREWSTER:
There are so many amazing projects that are in the works it seems like. There are so many things to look forward to. It should be really cool to see how things fall out. I’m excited about the coming year.

THE STAR SCOOP:
It will be hard to top this year, which you closed up with the film, “Footloose.”

ENISHA BREWSTER:
I was on top of the world when I finished shooting, and then to have it have some reputable success in the box office was really wonderful, wonderful icing on the cake. It was such an amazing project to be a part of. I was thrilled.

In fact, it was my brithday weekend, opening weekend, so I had a great time! And I had just recently moved to LA at that point, so I felt like it was a wonderful welcome to LA.

THE STAR SCOOP:
You’re working on independent film, “Little Red Wagon.” Tell us more about that.

ENISHA BREWSTER:
It’s a story about this young kid who decides to not just be involved in his regular day-to-day life but get behind a really wonderful cause. I think that people are going to be excited and inspired to see a film like this. It’s one of those heartwarming stories.

I play the Marching Woman. She decides to come and join the fight and help out. I hope it gets a wide range of viewers and audiences. Whenever you have such a great cast and young leads like that [Daveigh Chase, Chandler Canterbury] it lends itself to having a wide range of audience.

THE STAR SCOOP:
We’re also really curious about your film, “The Ghost Club.”

ENISHA BREWSTER:
It kind of falls into the same genre as your “Paranormal Activity.” Way back, we had the “The Blair Witch Project” which really changed the way thriller films were shot and it how it has interacted with the audience. This film speaks to that genre. It was a lot of fun.

We shot it all at night, obviously, so long, long nights. The cast [William Forsythe, Alexandra Chen] was fun. It was crazy. We were in this historical [building] that is known to have some spooky, haunted hallways. There was plenty to give me chills. They did an amazing job with the makeup, especially.

My character, Caitlin, she’s what they call a sensitive. She’s sensitive to her surroundings, and she’s on the team because she senses when ghosts are present. They’re trying to debunk the whole theory of there being ghosts at all. I don’t want to give too much of it away.

THE STAR SCOOP:
So have you started thinking about your new years resolutions or goals?

ENISHA BREWSTER:
I think every year is a new opportunity to really get focused on your craft and yourself as an artist and really establish your place in the career that you want to be. I’m always looking for opportunities to step it up and realize more and more what my goals are. On a personal level, I have a lot of expectations for myself. I’m working on being balanced…personal things like that. Career goals are wonderful, but I think having personal goals is really what keeps be grounded.

THE STAR SCOOP:
Do you have a Facebook or Twitter you want to let us know about?

ENISHA BREWSTER:
I have both! Facebook.com/enishabrewster and twitter.com/enishabrewster

THE STAR SCOOP:
We would love to know more about your new show, “For Better or Worse.”

KENT FAULCON:
It’s a spin-off of Tyler Perry’s film “Why Did I Get Married” and the sequel, “Why Did I Get Married 2.” And it’s following the two characters from that movie, Angela and Marcus, played by Tasha Smith and Michael Jai White into their normal everyday world.

It’s basically their friends – you know, Michael has two college buddies, myself, I play a character, Richard, and our other partner-in-crime is Jason Olive, and he plays Joseph on the show. We’re all former athletes. Michael Jai’s character is a football player. I’m an ex major league baseball player and Jason’s character is an ex tennis pro and we come together and we have this TV studio and TV show kind of like an ESPN sports center kind of thing.

It’s our own business venture and the show revolves around our relationships with the women in our lives. Our couples are all at different stages of relationships. I’m dating Keisha, played by Kiki Haynes, who, it turns out, is Michael Jai’s character’s ex. And they actually have a child together. He and I kind of have some friction…I’m breaking the homie code of, how can you be dating my ex, and I didn’t know it was your ex, what do you want me to do? Leave her now? So that’s kind of complicated our relationship.

Jason’s character has been living with Leslie, and they’ve been together for years, so there’s some pressure there to try to get married, but he’s kind of happy with the way things are. Then you have Mike and Tasha’s characters, and they’ve been married a long time. They’ve had their ups and downs. So it’s exploring relationships, and those different stages and how things can go well and how they can go not so well.

THE STAR SCOOP:
Who do you think the primary target audience for the show is? Who will it appeal to?

KENT FAULCON:
One thing I think that Tyler [Perry] has done so cleverly, is, by basing these characters at different stages in their relationships, he’s broadened that target. I definitely think people in their early 20s, starting out in their relationships and maybe getting a little serious, or those couples just married, or [those who have been together] a number of years and have gotten comfortable and maybe are becoming a little complacent with one another. Those types of people will really gravitate to this show.

He’s making it a real dramedy. This show is real different from “House of Payne” or “Meet The Browns.” There’s no laugh track. There’s no live audience. It’s very cinematic in how it’s shot. Although some of it is really quite funny. We go dark, emotional places with this show. He married those elements really well.

If you’re familiar with the film, “Why Did I Get Married,” I think it strikes that tone quite well in the sense that those movies were about grown ups dealing with really grown situations. While there were humorous moments, it was still a lot about the heart and how we treat one another and how we either appreciate a good partner or not appreciate them. I think he has carried that over into the series as well. People will be really struck by the subtlety of the show.

THE STAR SCOOP:
Does Tyler Perry himself live up to all the hype?

KENT FAULCON:
He truly is a force of nature. I’ve said it before that I’ve never worked with anyone with his sense of trust, his creative intuitive side, the way he does. When he’s inspired to do something, he will just move on it and won’t have any second thoughts. He will take the scenes we think are going one direction, and he will be inspired to go, no, let’s do it this way, and it will be a 90 degree turn but you go with it. I’ve worked with him now long enough now that I trust him explicitly, and as an actor, it’s a great challenge to go, oh, I thought we were going this way, let’s see if I can make it work this way. I really appreciate the challenge of that. I dig it.

THE STAR SCOOP:
When can people check out “For Better or Worse”?

KENT FAULCON:
On TBS, Friday nights at 10pm. The numbers came back [when we premiered] through the roof. Everyone was really excited…If this show can provide some kind of example…we are doing something above and beyond entertain.

THE STAR SCOOP:
Do you have any other projects coming up?

KENT FAULCON:
This is primary. I did a guest-thing on a pilot and actually, this week, I’m shooting a guest-star role on “Harry’s Law” with Kathy Bates on NBC, which is great.

She’s just phenomenal. We did a film together called “Dragonfly” years ago. She was just outstanding then. Just such a pro, and to sit there and watch the confidence and the ease, and the belief in the words…she’s just a real joy to watch. I’m not working with her in this episode, but we were at the table read, and it was a real pleasure.

A film that I directed came out on DVD last year, and every now and then I get the itch to jump back into the director’s chair, but right now the focus is to see how far we can take this show.

THE STAR SCOOP:
Tell us about working on “General Hospital” as Maxie.

JEN LILLEY:
It has been a lot of fun. It’s been a lot of work, but it’s been good training grounds. Everyone in the cast is really amazing.

THE STAR SCOOP:
You’ve been playing Maxie Jones. What do you like about the character and how has the role helped you as an actor?

JEN LILLEY:
As an actor, it has helped me a lot, just in the amount of work that we have to put into it, just memorizing thirty to forty pages a day. It has been pretty insane! Having one, maybe two takes is also very challenging. I think that’s a good practice for anybody. That has definitely helped me grow as an actor and as far as being diligent and really working on my craft and making sure I do everything with professionalism.

As far as Maxie, what I particularly like about her is just being able to find her vulnerable side and kind of exploring how she deals with her emotions. Her back story is pretty insane. I know she’s lost both of her parents and her sister, and she had a transplant, and she was kidnapped and she’s had all this sort of stuff going on. I think that she puts on a persona of having it all together and just being kind of shallow and being into fashion. But I think deep down, she’s just putting on a mask. It has been interesting for me, trying to figure out who is behind the mask and how does she show that at times and how does she cover that up. I’ve had a lot of fun with it.

THE STAR SCOOP:
For people who are fans of the character, what should they expect going forward?

JEN LILLEY:
I don’t know what is going to go on with her romantically. I think ultimately she’ll be with Spinelli. I don’t know what the writer has planned, but I’m hoping to see a little bit of a softer side coming out of Maxie in some episodes, and her fierceness in others.  I think fans would enjoy watching her juggle between the two.

THE STAR SCOOP:
You have quite a few films in the works. Tell us about “The Artist.”

JEN LILLEY:
It’s interesting because it’s a silent film. I have an affection for the time period and I have always loved it, but even to go into the premiere, I remember thinking, I love this movie, I love the script, I love silent film, but oh my gosh, it’s going to be 90 minutes of silence. I don’t know how this is really going to go over with the audience. And everyone’s response has just been amazing.

I think everywhere in the world, to some degree, people are hurting financially, and things aren’t as comfortable as they used to be. It deals with a man’s transition between what everybody is feeling…going from being super successful to having to downsize, to going bankrupt, and just seeing his struggle and seeing him work through it.

There are no special effects. The audience is really connecting with the characters. It will make you laugh and it will make you cry and then it will make you laugh and cry again. Overall, it’s super uplifting, and I think it’s what people need right now, very cathartic. Everyone can relate to the characters.

It’s so exciting…It’s coming out Black Friday, which is always a fun holiday time. They are doing it in LA and New York on Black Friday, and then the top 10 artistic cities after that, and the top 20 artistic cities after that, and they are distributing it over time. People will just have to be on the lookout. How cool is it to be able to say that you saw a silent film, in the theaters, in 2011? I hope that people will go see it!

THE STAR SCOOP:
You’re also involved in some different charities. Will you talk about the ones closest to your heart?

JEN LILLEY:
I’m really into Charity:Water and Generosity Water…100 percent of the donations go towards building water projects. There are something like 6.7 billion people in the world, and one out of six of us don’t have clean drinking water. The statistic is 80 percent of most illnesses are water-borne, and it’s from unclean drinking water.

With Charity:Water, they keep the lights on and pay their employees from a separate fund.  They’ll have different designers who will come in and design jewelry or a dress, etc. and say,  “Everyone who buys this dress, the proceeds of it will go to Charity Water.”  I think it’s maybe $5000 to build a well, and every donation helps. My understanding is that one well can provide a whole community with clean drinking water for 200 years or something insane. So it’s really cheap, and I know $20 will give one person clean drinking water for 20 years. It’s a really cool charity.

THE STAR SCOOP:
Lastly, what would you like to say to your fans who are reading this?

JEN LILLEY:
I would love to tell my fans just thank you for supporting me and being my fans. I know it’s extremely difficult, especially with “General Hospital” to deal with a replacement. Kirsten’s such a great actress and she’s so beautiful and she’s talented.

I know that if someone other than Michael C. Hall wasn’t Dexter, I would be super upset. I’d be like, that’s not Dexter! So I’ve just been tremendously grateful for everyone who has been supportive and kind to me. They can follow me on Twitter and I love talking to them, and I appreciate them! And follow your dreams. I never thought I would be an actor.

THE STAR SCOOP:
We are so excited to learn about the projects you are working on now. What do you have coming up?

ROBERT DAVI:
Well, my CD, produced by Phil Ramone, was just released- Davi Sings Sinatra- On the Road To Romance and it went to # 6 on the Billboard charts traditional jazz category. I will be playing the Venetian in Las Vegas 23rd 24th and 25th of February. I am really excited about that — a terrific place, the site where the Sands used to be – Sinatra played on that ground. I will be doing a date in LA on January 21st and we are setting up a tour of the states and Europe.

Sold my screenplay” The Voice” to Mark Canton -a vehicle for myself that is be musically based. I will be starting a film in a few weeks called “The Iceman” directed by Ariel Vromen with a Great cast- Michael Shannon, Ray Liotta, Chris Evans, Stephen Dorff, Maggie Gyllenhaal and some other terrific talent.

Also probably the most heartwarming thing is I did a new Holiday single called Mistletoe and Holly and all of my proceeds are being donated to the Salvation Army. The download will start Dec13th for 99 cents — so please spread the word –we can all help a lot of needy people and also get something in return along with the tremendous satisfaction of giving. Many people are in a very difficult way right now so please let’s help –the Salvation Army help them –it is a fantastic Charity– and you get a brand new Holiday tune!

THE STAR SCOOP:
You recently had a concert at the Grove. What was that like for you?

ROBERT DAVI:
It is like being at a Piazza in Italy and to sing there was heartwarming. Seeing people from 10 to 80 from all over the world enjoying the music , inspiring. I loved it but I just love singing –to communicate through music — just thrilling.

THE STAR SCOOP:
Tell us more about your album and music.

ROBERT DAVI:
The Great American Songbook is what I call the Shakespeare of America, the Golden Age of American music…it is a music that helped my parents and Grandparents and I am sure many of yours reading this, get through a lot of tough times –it is a music that transcends age, race and nationality and made the world fall in love with our country.

It is filled with hope and optimism. We are facing difficult times and I felt a strong need to try and do what I can to remind and reawaken the Spirit that makes our country GREAT. The CD is called Davi Sings Sinatra- On The Road To Romance -and it is a tribute to Sinatra not only because he gave me my first job in film and became a friend but also because his contribution to this music, to the immigrant population and America is quite staggering.

He was one of the first important artist’s to come out against -Anti- Semitism and Racial Bigotry! I could write a book on this but let me just say that right now we are in a divided nation and we must take pause and realise that more brings us together than we may know — this music is one way for uniting us — the title DSS- On the Road to Romance, refers to albeit a lyric to one of the songs “Nice and Easy.”

I want to slow us all down and reflect, besides the romantic journey between 2 people, I wanted us to have romance –this GREAT nation of ours. We are fraying at the edges culturally and a sense of romance must be brought back! I chose songs that reflect the elation of seduction and falling in love to the depth of being in love and then the heartbreak and despair of loss of love and the rediscovery and renewal –the CD has this theme. Then I wanted to pick songs that had a certain significance in Sinatra’s career and life while echoing what the country and world is going through.

Let’s just reflect for a second…in 1957 the song that won the Oscar was “All the Way” written by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen. A few years ago the song that won the Oscar was “It’s hard out there for a Pimp” and while that very may well be –it reflects a loss of romance we have toward women, for each other, and America.

While a lot of music is of the moment, this canon of work is timeless — it comes from the struggle of Black Jazz and Jump Blues artists along with the Irish, German, Scottish Italian and a major contribution by the sons and daughters of Jewish Immigrants, so this amalgam, this combination of people that created the American songbook is what leads to its lasting Universality. So please, I invite you to come on this road with me.

THE STAR SCOOP:
You’ve been working in this industry consistently for so long. Who, that you have worked with in your career, taught you the most, and what did you learn?

ROBERT DAVI:
I have worked with so many terrific people and some not so terrific. You can learn from everyone . Also, I can give you pages of anecdotal stories of what I have picked up along the way from friends and fellow artists, but I would say the most influential was Stella Adler, much of what she taught me still echoes after all these years and still provides inspiration. To share what I learned we do not have enough space but I will say one thing she used to say: “Don’t try and figure out who you are. Know what you can DO and do IT LIKE HERCULES.”

THE STAR SCOOP:
What advice do you have for aspiring actors/artists who hope to have as incredible a career as you have presently?

ROBERT DAVI:
PREPARE, PREPARE, PREPARE. Never stop working on yourself and the craft. Find out who the best is and learn from them. You must have a fire in the belly that consumes all else and NEVER NEVER lose touch with your sense of  compassion. Then GIVE. GIVE TO THE WORLD.

THE STAR SCOOP:
What are your goals as 2012 approaches?

ROBERT DAVI:
Since the CD was released just a month ago I am in full throttle getting the word out, rehearsing for my upcoming dates, getting ready to film “The Iceman,” getting ready for the holidays and making sure we raise as much money for the Salvation Army as possible so they can help the needy.

THE STAR SCOOP:
And lastly, what would you like to say to all of your fans?

ROBERT DAVI:
Have a Happy and Blessed Christmas, Hanukkah and Holiday Season! I appreciate all your support throughout the years.  And if they haven’t checked out the CD please go to DaviSingsSinatra.com.

And hey, come see my show at The Venetian: Feb 23rd 24th and 25th. If you you can order tickets through the Venetian…I look forward to seeing you on the road and come say hi after the show, I would love to meet you.

Warm thanks and God Bless. Don’t forget– Mistletoe and Holly! Download and all the proceeds go to the Salvation Army, to help a lot of people in need!

THE STAR SCOOP:
Tell us about your film “The Greening of Whitney Brown” and your character, Alicia.

ANNA COLWELL:
The movie is about a girl who is very well-off, her family is very well-off and she squeals and pretty much gets everything that she wants. And then her father loses his job, so they have to move to the country and the adjustment doesn’t go so well for her. It’s about her learning and growing up and learning to be more selfless instead of selfish.

I play Alicia, her nanny that they have when they have money.

It’s a really great movie. I think it’s good for kids that might be going through something similar with their family and the economy the way that it is. I think it’s a great family film.

THE STAR SCOOP:
In February, you have “Journey 2″ coming out, and you play Jessica.

ANNA COLWELL:
We were on location, in a neighborhood. It was very cold, but it was a lot of fun. It was just a regular audition process, but it was a unique experience, because it’s a 3D movie. It was just really interesting to see how different the shoot [is]. We had a lot of fun. We shot until early in the morning and it was really, really cold but you wouldn’t have known it. We had a really good time!

Jessica, you’ll see her at the beginning, and she’s a police officer, which is definitely a departure for me and not normally the type of roles that I play. But she has a previous friendship with Dwayne Johnson’s character[Hank].

THE STAR SCOOP:
Who will “Journey 2″ appeal to?

ANNA COLWELL:
You’ve got Michael Caine, so we can’t go wrong! That’s going to appeal to a lot of people. And then Josh [Hutcherson] and Vanessa [Hudgens] will definitely appeal to a younger crowd. I think it’s going to be really adventurous. I think it will be, again, another great family movie. It’s got the adventure, and the sets were amazing, and I think it will be cool.

THE STAR SCOOP:
Do you see yourself, in 2012, doing more movies or doing TV?

ANNA COLWELL:
It really depends on what’s coming up. Next week I start shooting a mini-series that I’ll be shooting off and on until Christmas. I think I’ve always seen myself as more of a film actor, because I get a little anxious when I’m doing the same thing a lot, if that makes sense. I like to change it up. I like new people.

I just shot “One Tree Hill” a couple weeks ago, and the crew, the cast and everyone was so great, and just so warm that I could also see myself being in a situation like that.

THE STAR SCOOP:
Is there a Twitter or Facebook where fans can keep up with you?

ANNA COLWELL:
Sure! My Twitter handle is twitter.com/realannacolwell because there are fake AnnA colwell’s…no I’m just kidding [laughs] and then I have a Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Anna-Colwell/177333948963187.