Journalist, Author & Syndicated Columnist
Chris Isaak has had hit singles (“Wicked Game,” “Baby Did a Bad, Bad Thing”), acted in feature films (“Silence of the Lambs,” “The Informers,” “From the Earth to the Moon”) and toured the world. Now add talk-show host to his resume, as he interviews other musicians on the Biography Channel’s series, “The Chris Isaak Hour.” Born and raised in the Bay Area, the 53-year-old entertainer lived briefly in Tokyo when he was a college student.
Like its predecessors in the “Bring It On” franchise, “Bring It On: Fight to the Finish” focuses on a perky cheerleader who’s taken out of her comfort zone and ends up excelling in her new environment.
“House” begins its fifth season on a somber note. With his girlfriend, Amber, dead, Dr. James Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard) finds his friendship with the cantankerous Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) to be more strained than ever and temporarily leaves the hospital where they work. He eventually returns, which is a good thing, because Wilson is the closest thing House has to a moral compass. The writers of this drama do an admirable job of inserting elements of well-placed comedy into the often-intense vignettes.
As a child, James Blake suffered from scoliosis. The budding tennis star had two choices: surgery, to correct the curvature of his spine, or a back brace. Because the former meant he would have to give up the sport, he opted for the brace — which he took off only for tennis practice. An economics student at Harvard, Blake dropped out after two years to play on the pro circuit. At 29, he is one of America’s best tennis players. He will compete in the U.S. Open, which runs Aug. 31 through Sept. 13. Blake — who has dabbled in modeling — also collaborated with his sponsor Fila on his new line of clothing, which he named after his late father: Thomas Reynolds. For more information on Blake and his line of athletic wear, visit www.fila.com.
Born in Melbourne, Australia, chef Curtis Stone, 33, has lived in Los Angeles for the past three years but says he’s a traveler at heart. The star of TLC’s “Take Home Chef,” Stone has a new book in stores called Relaxed Cooking with Curtis Stone: Recipes to Put You in My Favorite Mood (Clarkson Potter). Stone, 33, talks to us about his travels and why America offers so much for visitors to see.
Shep Murray saw a good chunk of the world early on in his life, thanks to his parents — both of whom were travel writers. Eleven years ago when he and his younger brother, Ian, founded Vineyard Vines — a line of clothing and accessories that evokes a crisp, preppy vibe — the siblings kept their travels in mind.
Best known for her series of “Shopaholic” books, including the bestselling “Confessions of a Shopaholic,” Sophie Kinsella is using technology to promote her latest novel, “Twenties Girl.” The avid traveler is staying put (temporarily) in England to participate in a series of Skype events with fans across the United States. This is a change of pace for the 39-year-old author and fashionista. Whether it’s taking a quick weekend trip to England’s Cornwall, vacationing in exotic Oman or enjoying a margarita at New York’s La Esquina, the former financial reporter is always up for a good trip.
Ever since her 1995 hit single “One of Us,” Joan Osborne has remained a strong presence in the music world, collaborating with members of the Grateful Dead, participating in the Lilith Fair concerts and appearing in the documentary “Standing in the Shadows of Motown.” The 47-year-old singer-songwriter is now playing dates nationwide to support her latest CD “Little Wild One.”
Madeleine Sophie Townley is known as Mrs. Wickham at her home in England, where she lives with her husband and their three sons. But to fans worldwide, she is known as Sophie Kinsella, author of the best-selling “Shopaholic” books. “Confessions of a Shopaholic” is the best known of that series, thanks in part to the recent film adaptation of the same name.
Juliette Lewis has a reputation for being somewhat of a wild child. But the 36-year-old actress-singer says she is mellower that people would think. “I would rather be on the road with my band or traveling than out partying,” says Lewis. The actress, who co-stars with Drew Barrymore in “Whip It!” and stars opposite Jennifer Aniston in next year’s “The Baster,” opens for the Pretenders on a U.S. tour kicking off on Aug. 5 (www.myspace.com/juliettelewis). Her new album “Terra Incognita” will be in stores on Sept. 9.
“Music is a byproduct of experience and if I have an experience, it’s usually musical,” says Cory Chisel, 27. “To me, traveling goes hand in hand with music. Travel is just an intriguing aspect of music itself, and I’m not just talking about the touring part. It’s hard to explain. I’ve been to so many places, but I think that if I wasn’t a musician, I might never have left my hometown.”
Jonathan Bennett remembers what it was like watching famous actors check into the hotel where he worked. “There were tons of them coming in and out for work or to just get in a short vacation,” says Bennett, 28. “There was this A-list actress who needed a hairdryer brought to her room. I about lost it when she opened the door.”
Actor Noah Bean has portrayed a police officer, a shoe clerk and a doctor, but the role of cowboy is the one he most identifies with and indulges in when he leaves his apartment in New York City for his favorite vacation destination — Big Sky, Mont. A graduate of Boston University, the 30-year-old Connecticut native has spent time backpacking through Europe. But while roles on shows such as “Lipstick Jungle,” “Medium” and “Damages” allow him to travel in luxury, Bean still prefers to travel light.
It has been more than two decades since the Indigo Girls made their music debut and the duo is still going strong. On their new double album “Poseidon and the Bitter Bug,” Emily Saliers and Amy Ray show off their rich harmonies. Their versatility shines through on the CDs — one is solely acoustic; the other features a full rock band.
Academy Award-winning actress Mary Steenburgen has a lot on her plate these days. Besides co-starring in Sandra Bullock’s romantic comedy “The Proposal,” which opens in theaters on June 19 — she’s the co-owner of the California home design store Rooms & Gardens (www.roomsandgardens.com) and the candle company Nell’s Compass (http://nellscompass.com/), which she owns with her daughter Lilly McDowell.
You’ve probably heard Lenka’s evocative music helping set the mood on such shows as “Grey’s Anatomy,” “90210” and “Ugly Betty.” Or maybe in a commercial for Old Navy. The Aussie actress, who was once in the same acting class as Cate Blanchett, is currently on a world tour to promote her self-titled album “Lenka.”
The story goes that actress and comedienne Judy Gold began her stand-up career on a dare. She was a student at Rutgers University, 6-foot-3 and funny. It seemed like a no brainer. More than two decades later, the 46-year-old entertainer is still going strong with her brand of sardonic, witty humor. An Emmy-winning writer and producer on “The Rosie O’Donnell Show,” Gold can next be seen in the “Stand-Up 360” comedy showcase, which is being released theatrically this summer across the country.
Once known as that other blonde girl who wasn’t Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera or Jessica Simpson, Mandy Moore has managed to grow up in public and carve out a strong career for herself without finding her face splashed in the tabloids. After releasing her debut album a decade ago, Moore won roles in such films as “Saved!” and “A Walk to Remember.” She hits the road this month to promote her latest album, “Amanda Leigh,” which will be in stores on May 26.
James Denton is best known for playing Mike Delfino on the ABC hit series “Desperate Housewives.” But some Chicago diners may remember him as the super friendly waiter who served them at Harry Caray’s or on the Odyssey dinner cruise. “I really enjoyed being a waiter and took the job seriously,” says Denton, 46. “I never looked at it as something I had to do ’cause I was an actor. It was a really interesting and fascinating job.” Born in Nashville, Denton honed his acting chops at Chicago’s Griffin Theatre and Strawdog Theatre.
The mark of a great sitcom is whether the jokes and tone stand up to time, despite any outdated hairstyles and fashion. “Designing Women” is a great sitcom.