Vedera, the pop/rock band from Kansas City, Missouri, rocked the studio today with their songs "Satisfy" and "A World Apart" from their recently released EP Stages.

The band has traveled with the likes of The Wallflowers, Jason Mraz and the Fray, and boast a large (and growing) fan base. The quartet is made up of Kristen May (vocals, guitar, keys), Jason Douglas (bass), Brian Little (guitars), and Drew Little (drums). Singer Kristen May comes from a family of musicians and the music in the house when she was growing up have become some of her strongest influences. Joni Mitchel, Carole King, Jim Croce, Soundgarden, Nirvana and Stone Temple Pilots are just a few.

To get a taste of Vedera, check out their Myspace page

Suki sat down with the talented Craig Robinson, one of the stars of NBC's The Office, to talk about his latest stand up gig at Comix. He also stuck around to do weather!

Known for his role as Daryl Phylbin in the popular TV show, Robinson has also appeared in movies such as: Knocked Up Club, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Pineapple Express and Zack and Miri Make a Porno. Before breaking into comedy and acting, Robinson was a K-8 teacher in Chicago, Illinois, the city he grew up in.

You can find out more about Robinson’s upcoming gig at the Comix homepage

The Office airs Wednesdays at 9pm on NBC.

Tamsen welcomed "Project Runway" winner, Irina Shabayeva, to the studio today to talk about what went down behind the scenes in the run-up to her victory in season six.

Shabayeva was the lucky winner of a fashion spread in Marie Claire, a trip to paris and $100,000. This was her second win, which she cemented with a flowing striped dress and a romantic blouse and skirt set.

When asked where she gets her inspiration from, Shabayeva said, "Everywhere, I take it from just walking around, meeting other women and talking to women."

To find out more about Project Runway and its latest winner, Irina Shabayeva, visit the Project Runway website.

Actor Vincent D'Onofrio stopped by the studio today to talk about his role in the gripping new film Staten Island.

D'Onofrio stars alongside Ethan Hawke and Seymour Cassel in this New York tale about three men trying to make it big. When the three cross paths with a blue-collar worker named Sully Haverson (Hawke), things take a turn for the worse. The story catches fire when Haverson decides to crack the safe of Parmie Tarzo (D'Onofrio), a smalltime mob boss, in the hopes that he will be able to provide a better future for his child.

D'Onofrio is a native New Yorker who was born in Brooklyn. D'Onofrio both acts and directs, but he first attracted attention with his role as Private Leonard 'Gomer Pyle' Lawrence in the acclaimed Full Metal Jacket, and more recently as Detective Robert Goren in Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

Staten Island will be released in theaters nationwide this December. For more information, visit www.statenislandthemovie.com.

The newly crowned America's Next Top Model, Nicole Fox, sat down to talk about her becoming the first ever petite model to win the competition.

The 18-year-old from Louisville, Colorado told Tamsen that she has watched the show many times before but never thought that a girl next door such as herself would ever win.

Fox said she would not have entered the contest if the show's 13th season wasn't slated for petite models.

"You can audition at 5'7"," she said, "but I would never stand a chance against those tall girls."

For more on America's Next Top Model, visit www.cwtv.com.

Tamsen sat down with Joe Cada who at age 21 years, 11 months, and 21 days, became the youngest world poker champion in the 40-year history of the World Series Of Poker.

Cada eclipsed Peter Eastgate's record by 340 days. Eastgate was age 22 years, 10 months, and 28 days when he won the WSOP last year. This was the first year Cada that was eligible to play in the WSOP Main Event because of his young age. Cada collected first-place prize money totaling $8,547,042.

For more information, visit www.wsop.com.

Actress Sofia Vergara stopped by the studio to talk about her starring role as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett in the smash hit ABC comedy Modern Family.

Filmed in mockumentary-style, on the show, Gloria (Vergara) is the younger wife of Jay (Ed O'Neill). They're newlyweds of 6 months and she has a young son from a previous marriage, Manny. She’s a very supportive mother that encourages her son to be different. She has a very thick Colombian accent and is proud of her heritage.

In a recent interview she said "I go out to a mall or restaurant and when somebody hears me they'll go, “Oh my God, it's your real accent, and I tell them yeah, I guess I'm not that good an actress.” Yet, she admits at times her comical character forces her to emphasize certain pronunciations. "I do make the accent a little stronger.”

Born and raised in Barranquilla, Colombia, Vergara has been easing into the America market from the South American market. She’s well-known for her modeling work, and her first notable American acting gig in the movie Chasing Papi.

Modern Family airs Wednesdays at 9pm. For more information, visit abc.go.com.

Written by LaTeisha Clay

Actor Billy Burke stopped by the studio to talk about his role as dad Charlie Swan in the new movie Twilight: New Moon.

Returning for the second movie in the series, Charlie (Burke) is Bella's (Kristen Stewart) devoted father who does the best he can to protect her from the supernatural love triangle that she is entwined in.

Burke is a native of Washington and his acting credits include Monk, Ladder 49, 24 and My Boys.

Twilight: New Moon opens in theaters on Friday, November 20. For more information, visit www.newmoonthemovie.com.

Actor Zach Braff stopped by the studio to talk about his role as Dr. John "J.D." Dorian on the popular ABC comedy series Scrubs. He also stepped into PIX Kitchen with high school friend Chef Laurence Edelman. The old friends are partnering and opening new restaurant Mermaid Oyster Bar and showing us how to make Chef Edelman's signature dish -- Rock Shrimp & Crab Spaghetti Fra Diavalo.

Mermaid Oyster Bar is located at 79 Macdougal Street, near W. Houston Street in the Grenwich Village. For more information, visit www.themermaidnyc.com/oyster or call (212) 260-0100.

The one-hour season premiere of Scrubs is on Tuesday, December 1 at 9pm on ABC. For more information, visit abc.go.com.

Actress Lily Collins stopped by the studio to talk about her role as Collins Tuohy in the new film Blind Side.

The Blind Side depicts the remarkable true story of Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), a homeless African-American youngster from a broken home, taken in by the Touhys, a well-to-do white family who help him fulfill his potential. At the same time, Oher's presence in the Touhys' lives leads them to some insightful self-discoveries of their own.

Living in his new environment, the teen faces a completely different set of challenges to overcome. As a football player and student, Oher works hard and, with the help of his coaches and adopted family (lily plays his new sister,) becomes an All-American offensive left tackle. In the latest chapter of his inspiring story, Oher was a First Round draft pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, selected by the Baltimore Ravens. The Touhys were there to share the moment with him. Collins plays Leigh Anne Touhy's (Sandra Bullock) daughter and this is her first major motion picture.

Collins an English actress and is currently shooting Priest in Los Angeles with Paul Bettany and played Phoebe Abrams in 90210. She is singer Phil Collins daughter, a writer and a correspondent for Nickelodeon.

Blind Side opens in theaters on Friday, November 20. For more information, visit www.TheBlindSideMovie.com.

Alan Thicke stopped by to talk about his new book How To Raise Kids Who Won't Hate You and today's release of his film The Goods on DVD.

"It’s a question parents have asked since the beginning of time: Is it possible to raise a child that doesn’t blame you for everything? According to actor, author, and real-life father of three Alan Thicke, the answer is a resounding “Maybe!” With chapters like “Honey, I Screwed Up the Kids!,” “Why Does Daddy Throw Like a Girl?,” and “When Grownups Go Bad,” How to Raise Kids Who Won't Hate You takes the reader on a wild yet informative ride through the perils of parenthood.

"Thicke tackles everything from homework to the prom, fist fights to unrequited love, dead pets to peer pressure, with humor and grace, and with the insight gleaned by one who has been there, done that — and survived. In a bonus chapter, Thicke covers a topic close to home: how to raise an international pop music über-sensation. This entertaining yet thoughtful guide offers a fresh look at a serious subject," says Amazon.

The book How To Raise Kids Who Won't Hate You: Bringing Up Rockstars and Other Forms of Children and the DVD The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard are available in stores now. For more information, visit www.alanthicke.com.

A celebration of 50 storied years as told by the man who shaped them, Once Before I Go is a rare opportunity to experience an iconic career through the entertainer’s own lens. No other performer has seen 50 years from center stage in the ever-changing city of Las Vegas and it’s likely none other ever will. From a shy 15-year-old just off the bus, to his place as one of America’s most celebrated entertainment icons, Once Before I Go is the story of Wayne Newton told by the man who is living it.

Having performed live to more than 40 million people, Newton, known as Mr. Las Vegas, has epitomized the talent, glamour and energy that is Las Vegas. From the tale behind his signature tuxedo to his storied history with Elvis, the Rat Pack and many others, Once Before I Go is his unique life story, 50 years in the making.

They survived elimination to cook another day on the Food Network's The Next Iron Chef and now finalists Jehangir Mehta and Jose Garces are showing us what they're made of in a PIX cook-off. It's Team Mehta-Krishnan vs. Team Garces-Muller with Donatella Arpaia as judge. Their secret ingredient is corn. Check out Jehanjir's recipe for Chili Corn and Jose's recipe for Corn Humitas with Mushroom and Sweet Corn Cream Sauce with Benton’s Bacon after the jump.

The Next Iron Chef airs Sundays at 9pm on the Food Network. For more information, visit www.foodnetwork.com.

Actor Michael Urie stopped by to talk about his role as Marc St. James in the hit ABC series Ugly Betty.

Now in its fourth season, ABC says in tonight's episode "Backseat Betty," "Marc encourages Justin to befriend the cheerleaders at school; Bennett and Natalie lure Daniel deeper into the Community of the Phoenix; Wilhelmina tries to find money for Nico's blackmail payment."

Urie is a native of Texas and graduated from the Julliard in 2003. He lent his voice to last year's Beverly Hills Chihuahua and was also in Tangled Web and WTC View.

Ugly Betty airs Fridays at 9pm on ABC. For more information, visit abc.go.com.

The View host Sherri Shepherd stopped by to talk about her new book Permission Slips and her Lifetime show Sherri.

Permission Slips "comically chronicles her struggles to keep up with the many roles-professional, wife, mother, daughter, and friend-that women must play in today's world. Sherri urges women to pursue their most important dreams and to never give up, but also let's readers know that it's okay to give themselves 'permission slips' when things don't always work out the way they want them to. As her many fans know, Sherri is never hesitant to speak from the heart, and her bubbly personality shines through in this delightful autobiography," says Amazon.

Lifetime says, "Sherri centers around a newly single mom, paralegal and part-time comedienne/actress who tries to get back into the dating scene and move on with her life after divorcing her cheating husband. Sherri finds solace and support among her girlfriends at the office while juggling her hectic life."

Permission Slips: Every Woman's Guide to Giving Herself a Break is available in stores now. You can meet her in person at her book signing on Saturday, November 14 at 4pm at the Hue-Man Bookstore (2319 Frederick Douglass Boulevard in Manhattan).

Sherri airs Tuedays at 10pm on Lifetime. The View airs weekdays at 11am on ABC.

Steven Ward and his mom JoAnn stopped by to talk about the new season of the VH1 show Tough Love and their new book Crash Course in Love.

Tough Love showcases Ward's brutally honest approach to matchmaking -- something he learned from mother. Together, they are one of the most successful matchmaking teams in the country. "Steven has the balls to tell women not what they want to hear, but what they need to hear to find love," says VH1.

In Crash Course in Love, the Wards "share all of their frank, no-nonsense dating and relationship lessons in this handy guide to love. Whether you're trying to find Mr. Right or want to keep him around now that you've snagged him, their innovative and brutally honest advice will help you break bad habits, take a fresh approach to dating, and transform your love life," says Amazon.

The second season premiere of VH1's Tough Love airs Sunday, November 15 at 9pm. Crash Course in Love is available in bookstores now.

Actress Emmy Rossum stopped by the studio to talk about her role as Alexa in the new movie Dare, which follows three teenagers through their last semester of high school.

"When a pompous actor tells good girl Alexa (Rossum) that she hasn't lived, she embarks on a bold journey that takes her to mysterious bad boy Johnny (Zach Gilford). Envious, her shy best friend Ben (Ashley Springer) also dares to pursue Johnny, complicating Alexa's romance and pushing the boundaries among the three friends," says Dare's official website.

Rossum is a native New Yorker whose acting credits include films like Mystic River, The Day After Tomorrow, Phantom Of The Opera and Dragonball Evolution.

Dare is in theaters Friday, November 13. For more information, visit www.darethemovie.com.

R&B superstar Ray J seems to have it all -- multi-platinum albums, celebrity friends,and an acting resume that could rival a soccer mom's grocery list. Despite these perfections, he still hasn't found the one woman to take his breath away.

After choosing Cocktail in the premiere season of For the Love of Ray J the crooner soon realized his soul mate was still out there. This year, 18 lucky women will once again be pitted against one another for the chance to tame the heart of R&B's most notorious ladies' man. Through a series of fierce competitions, romantic one-on-ones, and heart-wrenching eliminations, the megastar will decide who is truly there for the love of Ray J.

Ray J is the younger brother of singer Brandy. Ray J is also a singer, whose 2005 album Raydiation sold 400,000 copies.

For the Love of Ray J 2 airs Mondays at 9pm on VH1. For more information, visit www.vh1realityworld.com.

Rock band Carolina Liar stopped by to perform their two hit songs "I'm Not Over" and "Show Me What I'm Looking For" from their debut album Coming to Terms.

Although Carolina Liar is based out of Los Angeles, most of the bandmembers hail from Sweden. Wolf, their lead vocalist, is a native of South Carolina.

Carolina Liar has performances tonight, Friday and Saturday at the Beacon Theatre. They're opening up for One Republic and Rob Thomas.

Coming to Terms is available in stores now. For more inforamtion, visit www.carolinaliar.com.

Legendary comic Paul Mooney stopped by to talk about his new memoir Black Is The New White and his performances at Carolines this weekend.

Featuring a foreword by fellow comedian Dave Chappelle, "Black Is the New White is an unapologetically candid memoir from a talent whose influence has ranged far wider than his fame -- mostly by his own design. As head writer for The Richard Pryor Show, he helped tear down racial barriers and change the course of comedy. He helped Robin Williams and Sandra Bernhard break into show business. He paved the way for superstars like Eddie Murphy. And at every turn he's shunned the easy set-up and punch line in favor of comedy that's indisputably real and raw, reflecting the reality of race issues in America even when it's generated outrage," says Amazon. Black Is The New White is available in bookstores now.

You can catch Mooney at Caroline's this weekend from November 12 to November 15. Caroline's On Broadway is located at 1626 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. For ticket and show information, call (212) 757-4100 or visit www.carolines.com.

Stylist for Sex & The City, UglyBetty, Confessions of a Shopaholic and The Devil Wears Prada, Patricia Field is the woman who made shoes the ultimate accessory for women.

She's teamed up with Bailey's for the Baileys Pop-Up Holiday Shoe Shop in Manhattan, which will be stocked with women's shoes (in a variety of sizes) from designers such as Casadei, Sergio Rossi, and L.A.M.B. Every pair of shoes is just $75, with all proceeds going directly to Clothes Off Our Back.

Visit www.clothesoffourback.org to view and bid on one-of-a-kind Baileys-inspired women's shoes from some of the best designers in the business: Alejandro Ingelmo, Farylrobin, Rafe, Shree Moni and Vanessa Noel. The auction runs November 11 to December 2.

Baileys Pop-Up Holiday Shoe Shop in NYC
When: November 11-13 from 11am-7pm
Where: 421 W. Broadway (between Prince and Spring)
*Must be 21 to enter the store

Jeff Foxworthy stopped by to talk about hosting popular quiz show Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? and his bestselling kids books.

An atypical game show, Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? measures adults' lack of knowledge -- as revealed by how much they've forgotten since grammar school. On the show, adult contestants find themselves revisiting the classroom, tackling subjects they've already been taught -- from art to geography and math to social studies.

Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? airs weekdays at 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on PIX.

TAKE THE QUIZ: CLICK HERE TO SEE IF YOU'RE SMARTER THAN A 5th GRADER.

Actress Debi Mazar stopped by to talk about her recent participation on ABC's Dancing with the Stars and bipolar depression.

Mazar is a Queens native whose acting credits include Entourage, Ugly Betty, All Of Us and That's Life.

For more on Astra Zeneca, visit www.FacingBipolar.com.

Professional tennis player Serena Williams stopped by the studio to talk to us about her new Pomegranate Lip Balmer and book On The Line.

Developed in partnership with Mission Skincare, Williams was able to develop her own signature lip moisturizer Pomegranate Lip Balmer. Loaded with a variety of vitamins and antioxidants, the lip balmer meets the needs of active women everywhere by keeping their lips healthy, moistureized and protected agains the sun's rays. Serena Williams' Pomegranate Lip Balmer SPF 15 is available at CVS and online retailers.

Williams is a recipient of this year's Women of the Year Glamour Award. Off the court, fashion and acting are Williams' passions. She was selected as one of People Magazine's "25 Most Intriguing People," honored as one of Essence Magazine's "50 Most Inspiring African-Americans," and featured amongst 10 individuals named "Fashion Trendsetters" by Vogue Magazine on a VH1/Vogue Television Special.

Actor Zach Roerig stopped by the studio to talk about his role as Matt Donovan in the CW series Vampire Diaries.

Based on the popular book series of the same name by L.J. Smith, The Vampire Diaries is set in the small town of Mystic Falls, Virginia at the start of the new school year. The show centers on Elena (Nina Dobrev), a 17-year-old high school student who has lost her parents in a fatal car accident. Ever the popular one, Elena struggles with grief as she tries to help herself and her younger brother Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) move on with their lives. She is also recovering from a break-up with Matt (Roerig).

Elena and her friends become fascinated with mysterious new kid Stefan (Paul Wesley) who has recently enrolled in their high school. Trying to live among humans, Stefan, a centuries-old vampire, is immediately drawn to Elena. But trouble begins when Stefan's brother Damon (Ian Somerhalder), the embodiment of vampire violence and brutality, tracks him down.

Elmo and neighbor Chris stopped by PIX studio to talk about the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street and how they kicked off the new season with special guest First Lady Michelle Obama.

"Everybody knows Elmo, the fire-engine red dynamo with the positive attitude and infectious giggle. The outgoing, curious little monster is a perennial optimist who’s full of wonder as he discovers the world. With his childlike innocence, Elmo can turn almost anything into a game and invite his friends to join him in the imaginative fun," says Sesame Street.

Chris (Chris Knowlings) is Gordon's and Susan's nephew. He works in Hooper's Store with Alan and has lived on Sesame Street since 2006. Knowings is a Bronx native whose acting career began on a whim at age 13 when a teacher encouraged him to audition for Spike Lee’s film Crooklyn. His other acting credits include several commercials and radio ads and TV shows Taina, New York Undercover, Law & Order, and 100 Centre Street.

The 40th season premiere of Sesame Street was today, November 10. Sesame Street airs weekdays at 7am on PBS. For more information, visit www.sesamestreet.org.

Jeff Leatham star of the new TLC show Flowers Uncut stopped by to talk about the show and share some easy flower tips.

Leatham says:
• Keep arrangements simple, chic and monochromatic
• Change water in vase every two days
• Mix expensive flowers with inexpensive flowers, like roses and carnations

He also played judge and picked the best floral arrangement among our three floral design teams: Steve and John, Linda and Jill, and Suki and Tamsen.

Flowers Uncut centers on Leatham, "a former male model who grew up in the States and has been dubbed "The Rock n' Roll Florist" for his style and pizzazz. Jeff will show the audience why he has earned his reputation as "the best florist in the world" by using an empty space as his canvas, and utilizing flowers as his paint to transform the otherwise ordinary area into an extraordinary experience. Utilizing a bold and innovative vision and approach to flowers as a work of art, Jeff's mantra consists of three things: 'Keep it clean, keep it simple and keep it chic.' And in doing just that, we will watch the end result: a jaw-dropping display of floral majesty that keeps his million dollar clients begging him for more," says TLC.

Flowers Uncut airs Wednesdays at 10pm on TLC. For more information, visit tlc.discovery.com/tv/flowers-uncut/flowers-uncut.html.

Actress Dana Delany stopped by to talk about her role as Katherine Mayfair in Desperate Housewives and tonight's Scleroderma Research Foundation event "Cool Comedy Hot Cuisine."

Delany will participate in their annual event tonight at Caroline's Comedy Club. In 1996, Delany stared in the ABC movie For Hope, which was about scleroderma and directed by Bob Saget, whose sister Gay died from the disease. Saget will host "Cool Comedy Hot Cuisine."

The Scleroderma Research Foundation seeks to find a cure for scleroderma, a life-threatening and degenerative illness, by funding and facilitating the most promising, highest quality research and by placing the disease and the need for a cure in the public eye. It was founded by scleroderma patient Sharon Monsky in 1987, who lost her battle in 2002.

Scleroderma is typically described as a rheumatic disease of the connective tissues. It is a chronic, degenerative disorder accompanied by widespread vascular deterioration and tissue loss. Scleroderma can be disfiguring, debilitating, and deadly. In the most serious cases, the disease causes severe damage and severe complications for the body’s digestive, respiratory, and circulatory systems.

For more on The Scleroderma Research Foundation, visit www.srfcure.org.

Desperate Housewives airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on ABC.

Bronx native Miss J. Alexander stopped by to talk about his new book Follow The Model and his role as a judge on America's Next Top Model.

"As witheringly funny in print as he is in person, Miss J recounts a remarkable life and career that began with creating couture knockoffs on his grandmother's sewing machine and took a brief detour while he considered becoming an accountant (yes, really). But it was a public casting call for a Jean Paul Gaultier runway show that led him to take his first impeccably clad step on the catwalk and confirmed his conviction that he belonged in the world of high fashion.

"In Follow the Model, he reveals his secrets to succeeding at what you love most, shares life lessons and colorful (to say the least) anecdotes, provides a multitude of invaluable grooming and style tips, dishes on the celebrities he's worked with so intimately, and offers a glimpse into the world of America's Next Top Model," says publisher Simon Spotlight Entertainment.

He led the charge through rock and heavy metal, gracing the world's largest stages for nearly four decades. As the front man for the legendary Judas Priest, rocker Rob Halford has played for millions of fans all over the world.

His music continued with revolutionary acts Halford and Fight and now this metal god has a new gig as fashion designer.

Today's featured items are available from Metal God Apparel in stores and online at www.metalgodapparel.com. For more on Halford and his newest album Winter Songs, visit www.halfordmusic.com.

Actors Bill Pullman and Julia Stiles stopped by the studio to talk about their roles as John and Carol in Pulitzer Prize winner David Mamet’s two-character play "Oleanna."

This first-time Broadway production centers on a power struggle between John, a college professor, and Carol, one of his female students, who accuses him of sexual exploitation. The claim ruins his chances of being accorded tenure. As their serene campus transforms into a battleground for justice. The play's title was taken from a folk song which refers to a 19th-century escapist vision of utopia. "Oleanna" marks Stiles' roadway debut.

Actor Jim Caviezel stopped by the studio to talk about his role as Six in the new AMC mini-series The Prisoner, in which he co-stars with Ian McKellen.

According to AMC, the series focuses on "a man known as Six (Caviezel) [who] finds himself trapped in a bizarre place called the "The Village" led by a man known as Two (Ian McKellen). Two holds the secrets of escape, and Six must defeat him -- or else stay in The Village forever."

A Washington native, Caviezel is best known for his role as Jesus in the film The Passion Of The Christ. His other acting credits include Pay It Forward, Déjà Vu, The Thin Red Line and The Count of Monte Cristo.

The Prisoner airs over three days starting on Sunday, November 15 at 8pm on AMC. For more information, visit www.amctv.com.

The World Series of Poker Champion Jamie Gold was in the PIX studios.

In 2006, he beat over 8,000 other card players and became The World Series of Poker champ. He played 15 hours per day for 10 days. Gold won $12 million. Not only was his prize the largest in the history of all sporting events, it was more than winning the Indy 500, Wimbledon, PGA Masters and Kentucky Derby combined.

The "Poker Philanthropist" is co-hosting "Monte Carlo In New York", the Third Annual Poker, Fashion and Sports Gala for Sunflower Children on Friday night. To date, he has raised more than $100 million dollars for charity.

Actors Craig Horner and Bridget Regan stopped by to talk about the second season premiere of Legend of the Seeker.

The sci-fi/fantasy series is set in th age of swords and dragons. The new season finds the heroes Richard Cypher (Horner) and Kahlan Amnell (Regan) riding high from a victorious battle against evil. But they soon learn that their battle has created a crack into the underworld. Mayhem and darkness plague their world as Cara and thought-to-be-dead evil ruler Darken Rahl make surprising returns.

The second season is loosely based on author Terry Goodkind's book the Stone of Tears, which is second in his The Sword of Truth series.

Catch the season premiere of Legend of the Seeker on Saturday, November 7 at 5pm and an encore presentation on Sunday, November 8 at 4pm on PIX. For more information, visit www.dadt.com/lots.

Actress Lea Thompson stopped by the studio to talk about her role as Susan Frost in the new movie Splinterheads.

"Justin Frost (Thomas Middleditch) is a 20-something slacker whose "thing" is that he has no "thing" at all. When a small-time carnival rolls into town, he meets Galaxy (Rachael Taylor), a gorgeous con artist, or "splinterhead," who has more “things” going for her than anyone he has ever met. While dealing with a romance between his mom (Thompson) and the local cop (Christopher McDonald), Justin romances Galaxy, joining her on a geocaching adventure that is part treasure hunt and part hike, and figures out what his “thing” really is," says the movie's official website.

Best known for her title role in Caroline in the City, Thompson is a Minnesota native whose other acting credits include For The People, Ed, Jane Doe and Spy School.

You can meet Thompson and the cast of Splinterheads in a Q&A on Saturday, November 7 following the 2:20pm screening at the Regal Union Square. The cast will also be handing out 2,000 clown noses for a huge group photo in Union Square.

Splinterheads is in theaters on November 6. For more information, visit splinterheadsthemovie.com.

Soap opera star Cameron Mathison stopped by to talk about the 40th anniversary of All My Children and his involvement as the star of a new Cheer soap campaign Brighten Bay.

Mathison plays Ryan Lavery on the ABC soap opera. Ryan often finds himself playing the "white knight [and is] willing to put himself on the line for someone else while being man enough to admit his own mistakes," says ABC.

The Cheer Brighten Bay campaign seeks to help bring balance to women's lives and give them something to brighten their day. For more on the campaign and their "Sparkle Like A Star" sweepstakes, visit www.cheer.com or www.brightenbay.com.

All My Children airs weekdays at 1pm on ABC. For more information, visit abc.go.com.

Gretchen Rossi of The Real Housewives of Orange County stopped by to talk about the new season of the show, which premieres Thursday, November 5.

Rossi is the 30-year-old California housewife who was a real estate agent and sold muti-million dollar homes. During this job, she met her husband Jeff, 53, who eventually lost his battle with cancer. On the show, she has an ongoing feud with fellow housewife Tamra Barney.

The season premiere of The Real Housewives of Orange County airs Thursday, November 5 at 10pm on Bravo. For more on the show, visit www.bravotv.com. For more on Rossi, visit http://www.gretchenrossi.com.

Written by Lateisha Clay

Broadcaster/journalist and host of Inside Edition Deborah Norville stopped by the studio to talk about respect at home, school and in the workplace from her new book The Power of Respect.

"In The Power of Respect , Norville details the specific dollar savings in business and dramatic improvements in student test scores that are directly attributable to respect. [...] Respect tips, sprinkled throughout the text, and Respect Reminders, at the end of each chapter, add to the clarity of the message and help reinforce the personal benefits. Start practicing this most overlooked ingredient of success and find out what it means for you!" says publisher Thomas Nelson.

Norville is a Georgia native who has hosted NBC's Today, served as a fill-in anchor on the NBC Nightly News and the weekend CBS Evening News. She was also part of CBS News magazine programs and hosted her own radio show.

The Power of Respect: Benefit from the Most Forgotten Element of Success is available in stores now. For more information, visit www.dnorville.com.

You can catch Inside Edition airs weekdays at 6pm on PIX, right before the PIX News at 6:30pm. For more information, visit www.insideedition.com.

Former Full House star Jodie Sweetin stopped by to talk about her new memoir unSweetined.

"Jodie Sweetin grew up in front of America, melting our hearts and making us laugh for eight years as the cherub-faced middle child on Full House. Her ups and downs seemed not so different from our own, but more than a decade after the popular television show ended, the star we knew as goody-two-shoes Stephanie Tanner publicly revealed her shocking recovery from methamphetamine addiction. Even then, Jodie still kept a painful secret -- one that could not be solved in thirty minutes with a hug, a stern talking-to, or a bowl of ice cream around the family table. The harrowing battle she swore she had won was really just beginning," says Simon and Schuster.

unSweetined is available in stores now. For more information, visit books.simonandschuster.com.

Food Network star Guy Fieri stopped by the studio to talk about his new book More Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and play video game Food Network: Cook or Be Cooked for Nintendo Wii.

"Fieri strikes again with More Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, giving you a road map to road food that's earned its culinary citizenship in "Flavortown." He brings us…more!—more recipes, photos, memorabilia, and irrepressible enthusiasm for iconic American eateries that cater to popular tastes," says HarperCollins.

Food Network: Cook or Be Cooked lets you "learn as you play through fun and delicious recipe challenges that range from breakfast to family meals and even dinner parties. Cook in multi-player mode or on your own. Next Food Network Star Judge Susie Fogelson and Food Network Kitchens Chef Mory Thomas will help you hone your cooking skills by offering tips, instruction and feedback on your final dishes," says Nintendo. Food Network: Cook or Be Cooked offers over 30 real recipes and was manufactured by NAMCO BANDAI Games and developed by Red Fly Studio.

More Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: A Drop-Top Culinary Cruise Through America's Finest and Funkiest Joints is available in bookstores today. For more information, visit www.harpercollins.com.

Food Network: Cook or Be Cooked is available in stores today. For more information, visit www.cookorbecooked.com.

You can meet Fieri in person tonight, November 3 at 7pm for a book signing. He'll be at Borders Columbus Circle (10 Columbus Circle, New York, NY‎). For more on Fieri, visit www.guyfieri.com.

Best known as Stanford Blatch from Sex and the City, actor Willie Garson stopped by to talk about his role as Mozzie in the new USA Network series White Collar.

"White Collar is about the unlikely partnership of a con artist and an FBI agent who have been playing cat and mouse for years. Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer), a charming criminal mastermind, is finally caught by his nemesis, FBI Agent Peter Burke (Tim DeKay.)

"When Neal escapes from a maximum-security prison to find his long-lost love, Peter nabs him once again. Rather than returning to jail, Neal suggests an alternate plan: He'll provide his criminal expertise to assist the Feds in catching other elusive criminals in exchange for his eventual freedom. Initially wary, Peter quickly finds that Neal provides insight and intuition that can't be found on the right side of the law," says the USA Network. Garson's charctaer Mozzie is one of Neal's close friends and is on the pulse of the criminal underworld.

White Collar airs Fridays at 10pm. For more information, visit www.usanetwork.com.

Beer is one of the world's oldest, most popular drinks and perhaps no one knows it better than America's favorite bar fly actor George Wendt, who's better known to fans as Norm Peterson, the man everyone wants to share a beer with on Cheers. Our Tamsen Fadal pulled up a barstool to talk to him about his new book Drinking with George.

"Through personal stories and fascinating facts, Wendt delivers an ode to beer and all its irresistible peculiarities. In between spinning hilarious and frank tales of his own imbibing adventures -- from taking a first sip of his grandfather's Bud as a child in Chicago to a beer-fueled impromptu performance with Woody Harrelson and the U.S. Women's Synchronized Swimming Team -- he leaves no stone unturned in his quest to reveal and relish every detail about his favorite beverage," says Simon & Schuster.

Drinking with George is available in bookstores now. For more information, visit books.simonandschuster.com. You can follow Wendt on Twitter at twitter.com/GeorgeWendt.

Actress Roxy Olin stopped by the studio to talk about her role in MTV's The City and on ABC's Brothers and Sisters.

Olin is Whitney Port's best friend, co-worker and roomates on The City. She reprised her role on the ABC series as Michelle — the former ex of the now-openly gay Chad Barry (Chad Barry).

The City airs Tuesdays at 10:30pm on MTV. Brothers and Sisters airs Sundays at 10pm on ABC.

Actor Anthony Edwards stopped by the studio to talk about running in this weekend's ING NYC Marathon, his charity Shoe4Africa and new film Motherhood, which is in theaters now.

The premier event of New York Road Runners, the ING New York City Marathon is one of the world's great road races, drawing more than 100,000 applicants annually.

The race attracts many world-class professional athletes, not only for the more than $600,000 in prize money, but also for the chance to excel in the media capital of the world before two million cheering spectators and 315 million worldwide television viewers. As any one of the more than 700,000 past participants will attest, crossing the finish line in Central Park is one of the great thrills of a lifetime.

Shoe4Africa's mission is to create empowerment through sports and education, implement health initiatives, promote AIDS awareness and to erect the Shoes4Africa Children's Hospital. For more information, visit www.shoe4africa.org.

Actor Robert Englund (better known as Freddy Krueger of the Nightmare on Elm Street movies) stopped by the studio to talk about his new original web series Fear Clinic.

"The spine-tingling action of Fear Clinic unfolds over five webisodes. Each will spotlight Dr. Andover's (Englund) eerily extreme methods to help a patient at the clinic conquer their greatest fears: from hydrophobia (fear of water), scotophopia (fear of the dark), and entomophobia (fear of insects), to claustrophobia (fear of small spaces) and misophobia (fear of being contained with germs or dirt)," syas FearNet.com.

Watch Fear Clinic on www.fearnet.com.

Crystal Harris and the Shannon twins (Kristina and Karissa) stopped by to talk about what it's like to be one of Hef's girls in the E! series the Girls Next Door.

The Girls Next Door airs Sundays at 10pm on E!. For more information, visit www.eonline.com.

For the second year in a row, Chiller Theatre is back on PIX with the presentation of the 1964 classic The Evil of Frankenstein airing from 8pm to 10 pm on Saturday, October 31. Chiller Theatre will be hosted by Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, and will feature the original Chiller Theatre opens: "The Six-Fingered Hand" and the "Monster Montage."

The 1964 campy chiller The Evil of Frankenstein — from Hammer Film Productions, one of the most famous names in horror— Peter Cushing stars as Baron Frankenstein who resurrects his monster only to have him come under the spell of Zoltan, a svengali-like carnival hypnotist who mesmerizes the creature into doing his evil bidding.

Chiller Theatre originally aired on WPIX from 1961-1978 and again from 1980-1982. After PIX resurrected Chiller Theatre in 2008 (with a broadcast of Tarantula hosted by Zacherley), the station received hundreds of requests from viewers demanding the return of Chiller Theatre to the air.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HALLOWEEN TIPS

Parody singer Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic stopped by the studio to talk about his new two-disc compilation album The Essential Weird Al Yankovic .

Yankovic's humor lies in his ability to create unexpected lyrics to the tune of contemporary chart toppers. between an artist's image and the topic of the song. With songs from all of Al's previous studio albums, this double CD set features 38 tracks (over 2 ½ hours of music)and includes such favorites as White & Nerdy," "The Saga Begins," "Eat It," "Like A Surgeon" and "Amish Paradise."

A California native, this singer-songwriter is also a music producer, actor and comedian. He hot his big break in 1979 when his first-aired song parody "My Bologna" (a riff off of "My Sharona" by The Knack) sold 12 million albums, more than any other comedy act in history. His works have earned him three Grammy Awards among nine nominations, four gold records, and six platinum records in the United States.

The Essential Weird Al Yankovic is available in stores now. For more information, visit www.weirdal.com.

Written by LaTeisha Clay

Former pro-wrestler Hulk Hogan stopped by to talk about his new book My Life Outside The Ring.

Hogan's book follows the success of this wrestling celebrity and the "darkness" of his life within the past two years. He has been through a divorce, contemplated suicide and watched his son become the victim of a car accident debacle. He sheds light on what the public didn't see during these important personal events.

Hogan says about his family's reality show Hogan Knows Best, "In public, we were all having the time of our lives, but that public image simply just covered the problems that were growing behind the scenes."

Critics agree that My Life Outside The Ring takes an honest look at the phases in Hogan's career. The autobiography is available in bookstores now. For more information, visit www.hulkhogan.com.

Written by Lateisha Clay

Actor Michael McKeon stopped by the studio to talk about his role as Arthur Przybyszewski on the new Broadway show "Superior Donuts."

The play centers on Arthur (McKeon), who owns a dilapidated donut shop in Chicago. "France Wicks (Jon Michael Hill), a black teenager who is his only employee, wants to change the shop for the better. This comedy-drama, set in the heart of one of Chicago’s most diverse communities, explores the challenges of embracing the past and the redemptive power of friendship," says the plays official site.

McKeon is no stranger to Broadway and has appeared in "Harold Pinter’s The Homecoming," "The Pajama Game," "Hairspray" and "Accomplice." His TV credits include Laverne & Shirley, Saturday Night Live, Friends, The X Files, The Simpsons, Law & Order, Smallville, Alias and Boston Legal. His film credits include This Is Spinal Tap (which he also co-wrote), Clue, Coneheads, A Mighty Wind and Whatever Works.

"Superior Donuts" is playing at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue). For more tickets and showtimes, visit www.donutsonbroadway.com or call (212) 239-6200.

Actor Matt Bomer stopped by the studio to talk about his starring role on the new USA Network drama series White Collar.

Bomer plays Neal Caffrey, a cunning con man who takes a job as an FBI consultant to avoid going back to jail. He escapes from a maximum security prison only to be caught again by FBI Agent Peter Burke (Tim DeKay). But this brilliant criminal mind doesn't stay behind bars for too long. Neal proposes a deal: he’ll help Peter catch other criminals if he becomes part of a work-release program. With criminals running amok, Peter reluctantly agree.

Bomer is a Texas native who received his BFA from Carnegie Mellon University. He moved to New York to pursue his acting career and worked on stage until landing TV roles. His acting credits include Chuck, Traveler, Tru Calling, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning and Flightplan. Bomer curently resides in Los Angeles.

White Collar airs Fridays at 10pm. For more information, visit www.usanetwork.com.

Written by LaTeisha Clay

Our Tamsen Fadal talks to the film’s director Kenny Ortega and choreographers about the Michael Jackson tribute film This Is It, which begins its two-week limited engagement in theaters today.

The movie is a a compilation of interviews, rehearsals and backstage footage of Michael Jackson as he prepared for his series of sold-out summer shows in London's
O2 Arena. The film chronicles April 2009 to Jackson's sudden death in June 2009.

This Is It is in theaters today. For more information, visit www.thisisit-movie.com.

Actress Christina Hendricks stopped by the studio to talk about season three of Mad Men and her role as Joan Holloway.

The series is set in the 1960s New York "follows the lives of the ruthlessly competitive men and women of Madison Avenue advertising, an ego-driven world where key players make an art of the sell. [...] The series also depicts authentically the roles of men and women in this era while exploring the true human nature beneath the guise of 1960s traditional family values," states AMC.

Hendricks was born in Knoxville, Tennessee and raised in Twin Falls, Idaho. She recently got married to native New Yorker actor Geoffrey Arend in New York City. Hendricks' other acting credits include Beggars and Choosers, ER, Kevin Hill, Jake In Progress and Life.

Mad Men airs Sundays at 10pm on AMC. For more information, visit www.amctv.com.

Jessica Carlson, the up-and-coming teen actress from the new movie Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant, stopped by to talk about the film and her role as Rebecca.

The movie centers on "a young boy named Darren Shan [who] meets a mysterious man at a freak show who turns out to be a vampire. After a series of events Darren must leave his normal life and go on the road with the Cirque Du Freak and become a vampire," says IMDB. Carlson plays the teenage Monkey Girl in the Cirque du Freak. Carlson's co-stars include John C. Reilly, Ken Watanabe, Salma Hayek and Orlando Jones.

Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant is in theaters now. For more information, visit www.thevampiresassistant.net.

Multi-platinum R&B singer Brian McKnight Live stopped by the studio to talk about his new album Evolution of a Man. He also performed his his hit singles "Anytime" and "Back at One" into commercial break and his new song "What I've Been Waiting For" at the end of our show.

"The long-awaited release of Evolution Of A Man comes with many exciting built-in platforms including Brian's new late night television show, The Brian McKnight Show [on the CW]. This new album includes collaborations with Stevie Wonder and Jill Scott," says Amazon.

Evolution of a Man is in stores tomorrow. For more information, visit www.brian-mcknight.com.

Actor Willem Dafoe stopped by the studio to talk about his roles in the new movie Antichrist and in the new play "Idiot Savant."

Antichrist centers on "A couple lose [who] their young son when he falls out the window while they have sex in the other room. The mother's grief consigns her to hospital, but her therapist husband brings her home intent on treating her depression himself. To confront her fears they go to stay at their remote cabin in the woods, 'Eden', where something untold happened the previous summer. Told in four chapters with a prologue and epilogue, the film details acts of lustful cruelty as the man and woman unfold the darker side of nature outside and within," says Fandango.

Created by avant-garde genius Richard Foreman, "Idiot Savant" is a "philosophical comedy, in the great tradition of Ionesco and Preston Sturges. From precise existential and metaphysical acrobatics, to a ridiculous game of inter-species golf with Giant Duck, "Idiot Savant" is a fresh, bracing and hilarious exploration of the boundaries of the legitimate," says Public Theater.

Antichrist is playing in theaters now. For more information, visit www.antichristthemovie.com.

"Idiot Savant" is playing at the The Public Theater (425 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10003) now thru December 13. For tickets ans show times, visit www.publictheater.org.

Clarence Clemons, side man and saxophone player for the E Street Band for the past 40 years, stopped by the studio to talk about his new biography Big Man: Real Life & Tall Tales.

For the first time ever comes Clemons' never-before-told adventures with Bruce Springsteen, the band, and an incredible cast of other famous characters recounted by himself and his best friend, television writer/producer Don Reo.

Here are just a few things you'll get from reading it:
• The truth behind the final hours of making Born To Run
• The real story of how the E-Street Band got its name
• What happened when Clarence and Ringo Starr were sitting in a hotel room and Clarence got the call that Bruce was breaking up the band
• How Bruce and Clarence met that dark, stormy night at the Student Prince
• The E-Street band's show at Sing-Sing prison where all of their equipment blows out right as they take the stage
• The secret that Robert De Niro told Clarence and Bruce they had to keep for 25 years

Big Man: Real Life & Tall Tales is available in stores now. You can meet Clemons in person at these signing:

- 10/23, 7PM Borders in Bridgewater, NY
- 10/24, 1PM Borders in Ridgewood, NJ
- 10/27, Barnes and Noble in Princeton, NJ

Actor Rich Sommer stopped by the studio to talk about season three of Mad Men.

The series is set in the 1960s New York "follows the lives of the ruthlessly competitive men and women of Madison Avenue advertising, an ego-driven world where key players make an art of the sell. [...] The series also depicts authentically the roles of men and women in this era while exploring the true human nature beneath the guise of 1960s traditional family values," states AMC.

Mad Men airs Sundays at 10pm on AMC. For more information, visit www.amctv.com.

Starting this fall, Kim Coles will host BET's ground-breaking new game show called Pay It Off, which gives the contestants a chance to change their lives and pay off their mounting debt. She stopped by the studio to talk about the show and making history as the first African-American female game show host on primetime television.

Coles gained fame as a cast member of the sketch-comedy series In Living Color and for her role as Synclaire James on the sitcom Living Single. Her other acting credits include Frasier, Six Feet Under and The Geena Davis Show.
She has served as a co-host on The View and was co-host of In The Loop With iVillage. Recently, Coles joined Celebrity Fit Club to help manage her weight and lost nearly 24 lbs. She is also a published author with her single life guide book I'm Free But It Will Cost You.

Pay It Off airs Fridays at 10pm on BET. For more information, visit www.bet.com.

Written by LaTeisha Clay

Actor Richard Belzer stopped by to talk about his new book I Am Not Psychic and his role as Det. John Munch in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

"Comedy legend Johnny Leland has called in his chips. He's organizing a charity telethon and needs TV cop Richard Belzer to cohost. Not one to let down an old friend -- much less the guy who gave him his start in stand-up comedy -- The Belz gets ready to head out to Las Vegas for the headlining event when he receives a mysterious phone call." says Simon and Schuster. A turn of events forces The Blez to use his TV cop know how and celebrity status to help solve a series of murders.

I Am Not Psychic: A Novel is available in bookstores now. You can meet Belzer in person at his book signing at Barnes & Noble - Lincoln Triangle in Manhattan.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit airs Wednesdays at 9pm. For more infomation, visit www.nbc.com.

Brooklyn's own actor/comedian Tracy Morgan stopped by the studio to talk about his new book I Am The New Black, his role as Tracy Jordan on NBC's 30 Rock and upcoming performance at Carnegie Hall.

"With brutal honesty and his trademark take-no-prisoners humor, Tracy tells the story of his rise to fame, with all its highs and its many lows--from the very public battles with alcohol and diabetes that threatened his career and his life to the private and poignant end of his twenty-year marriage. In his singularly warped and brilliant way he muses on family, love, sex, race, politics, ambition, and what it takes to bring the funny," says Random House.

Morgan, of Saturday Night Live fame, is scheduled to perform stand-up at Carnegie Hall on Saturday, November 6 at 8pm. For more information and tickets, visit www.carnegiehall.org.

30 Rock airs Thursday nights at 9:30pm on NBC. Morgan is also host of Scare Tactics, which airs at Tuesday nights at 9pm on the Syfy Network.

You can catch Morgan next in the upcoming movies A Couple of Dicks, where he stars opposite Bruce Willis, and Death at a Funeral, where he stars opposite Chris Rock.

I Am The New Black is available in stores now. Click here for a list of Morgan's local book signings.

Actors Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet stopped by the studio to talk about starring in the new ABC comedy Modern Family.

The mockumentary-style series is about a quirky, dysfunctional family and follows the respective families of Jay Pritchett (Ed O'Neill), his daughter Claire Dunphy (Julie Bowen) and his son Mitchell Pritchett (Ferguson). While, Claire is a homemaker mom in a traditional family, Jay is married to a much younger woman and raising a pre-teen stepson, and Mitchell and his boyfriend Cameron Tucker (Stonestreet) have adopted a Vietnamese baby.

You can catch Modern Family Wednesdays at 9pm on ABC. For more information on the cast and show, visit abc.go.com.

Written by LaTeisha Clay

Duff Goldman of Baltimore's Charm City Cakes and and the Food Netowork's Ace of Cakes stopped by the studio to talk about Ace of Cakes: Inside the World of Charm City Cakes. He also served as judge in cake decorating contest. (Find out who he picked as the winner after the jump).

The book "reveals the inspiration behind some of the most outrageous and extraordinary, gravity and reality-defying confectionary creations in the world. An eye-popping collection of photos, illustrations, stories, reflections, collages, and memorabilia celebrating the eccentric Baltimore bakery where everything takes off, Ace of Cakes is a truly delectable volume that shows the magic that can happen when creativity is king and “no limits” is the mantra," according to publisher HarperCollins.

Ace of Cakes: Inside the World of Charm City Cakes is available in stores now. For more information, visit www.harpercollins.com. Ace of Cakes airs Thursdays at 10pm and 10:30pm on the Food Network.

Actress Gina Gershon stopped by to talk about her role as Rose Alvarez in the Broadway revival of "Bye Bye Birdie."

Set in 1960, "Bye Bye Birdie" centers on rock and roll superstar Conrad Birdie and the complications that arise when his agent stages a publicity stunt on The Ed Sullivan Show in which he will kiss one lucky girl from Sweet Apple, Ohio before being drafted into the army. Gershon's co-stars include John Stamos, Bill Irwin, Jayne Houdyshell, Dee Hoty and Nolan Gerard Funk.

"Bye Bye Birdie" is playing at the Henry Miller's Theatre (124 West 43rd Street, between Broadway and 6th Avenue). For tickets and showtimes, visit www.byebyebirdieonbroadway.com.

Actor James Tupper stopped by the studio to talk about his role as Dr. Chris Sands in the new NBC series Mercy .

Mercy centers on Nurse Veronica Callahan (Taylor Schilling), who recently returned to Mercy Hospital from a tour in Iraq, and knows more about medicine than all of the residents combined. Together with fellow nurses Sonia (Jaime Lee Kirchner) and Chloe (Michelle Trachtenberg), she navigates the daily traumas and social landmines of life and love both inside the hospital and out in the real world.

Born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada, Tupper is best known for his recent role as Jack Slattery on the hit TV series Men In Trees, where he starred alongside actress wife Anne Heche. His other acting credits include Samantha Who?, Me and Orson Welles and Pictures of Hollis Woods.

Mercy airs Wednesdays at 8pm on NBC. For more information, visit www.nbc.com/mercy.

Actress Tanedra Howard stopped by the studio to chat with us about beating out nine other contestants to become the season one winner of VH1 Scream Queens and her breakout role in the most recent installment of the multi-million dollar horror movie series Saw VI.

In a recent interview, Howard said, “To me it did seem like I was a fly in milk and that I had to prove myself twice as much, but I realized that they put me on the show because I was talented, not because they needed a black girl. I’ve been saying that a lot but that is so true.”

Her tears at the sound of victory wasn’t just for thrill of the win, it was an outline of her life’s desires. The producer of the show says "she was raw and emotional, but ultimately, she was talented. And that is what won out in the end.”

Saw VI hits theaters on Friday, October 23. For more information, visit www.Saw6Film.com. For more on Howard, visit www.myspace.com/ilovetanedra.

Written by LaTeisha Clay

Actress Jessica Szohr stops by to talk about her role as Vanessa on the CW hit series Gossip Girl.

Season 3 of Gossip Girl finds the cast all grown up and living the college life. Even though high school is behind them, Serena (Blake Lively), Chuck (Ed Westwick), Blair (Leighton Meester), and the rest of the Upper East Siders still have their fair share of love, scandals and secrets that await them.

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Szohr started out as a model for Kohl's department store when she was 16. Her acting credits include What About Brian and the upcoming movie Piranha 3-D alongside Jerry O'Connell and Elizabeth Shue.

Catch Gossip Girl Mondays at 9pm on WPIX. For more information on the cast and show visit cwtv.com.

Written by Erica Gugliemella

Actor Adam Rodriguez stopped by to talk about his role of Erik Delko on the CBS series CSI: Miami.

The show focuses on a South Florida forensic team that uses state of the art science mixed with old fashion police work to solve crime. The team is lead by former homicide detective Horatio Caine (David Causo) who is followed by ballistic specialist Calleigh Duquesne (Emily Procter), underwater recovery expert (Rodriguez), trace specialist Ryan Wolfe (Jonathan Togo), coronor Alexx Woods (Khandi Alexander), and DNA specialist Natalia Boa Vista (Eva La Rue).

A New York City native, Adam started acting after his dreams of playing baseball were put aside due to a sports injury back in high school. His other acting credits include Roswell, Brooklyn South and Felicity.

You can catch CSI:Miami Mondays at 10pm on CBS. For more information on the cast and show visit cbs.com.

Written by Erica Gugliemella

Actor Thomas Jane stopped by the studio to talk about his role as Ray Drecker in the HBO series Hung.

"Desperate times call for desperate measures and Ray Drecker's situation couldn't be much tougher. The former high school sports legend turned middle-aged high school basketball coach is divorced and struggling to provide for his kids when his already run-down house catches fire. Looking to take on a second job, Ray decides to exploit his best asset in a last-ditch attempt to change his fortunes," says HBO. The series also stars Jane Adams, Anne Heche and Eddie Jemison.

Jane is a Baltimore native whose acting credits include Punisher, Dreamcatcher and The Mist.

Hung airs Sundays at 10:30pm. For more information, visit www.hbo.com/hung.

Actress/singer Raven Symone stopped by to talk about the Black Girls Rock Awards and how she feels to have successfully made it through the acting industry as a three-year-old child star to a young starlet. She also played "Guess That Childstar" with Suki and Tamsen.

Black Girls Rock's mission is to promote the arts and to encourage positive life-changing activity, critical thinking, and dialogue about the images of women in our present day culture. Black Girls Rock! seeks to build the self-esteem and self-worth of young women of color by changing their outlook on life, broadening their horizons, and helping them to empower themselves.

For more information, visit www.blackgirlsrockinc.com.

Whether it's the Olympics or the WNBA, on the court, Los Angeles Sparks Center Lisa Leslie is in the center of it all. She spoke to us about her perspective for this season, women athletes and her career.

Leslie also talked about her dream of being a weather forecaster and her involvement in spreading awareness about liver cancer.

For more information, visit www.lisaleslie9.com.

He put the sex in "Sex And The City: The Movie", then brought it to the ballroom and didn't stop there.

Now the French-born Gilles Marini is steaming things up with "Brothers And Sisters."

Ivanka Trump was here live. She was here to talk about her new book "The Trump Card: Playing to Win in Work and Life" She also played a round a golf with our Emily Frances.

Trump is a businesswoman, socialite and heiress. She is the daughter of Ivana and real estate titan Donald Trump. She serves as the Executive Vice President of Development & Acquisitions at the The Trump Organization.

Reed Timmer, the star of the hit show "Storm Chasers" was here live.

He is hot, smart and has some crazy weather predictions for our area this winter.

For more than a decade, Kevin and Micheal Bacon have been entertaining sold out crowds with their original songs and high energy performances.

Now with their sixth album "New Years Day", the Bacon Brothers have built up an impressive following that cannot be denied.

Christine Lahti was live in our studios.

She has a four arc episode as an assistant district attorney with a dark side on the hit series "Law and Order: SVU."

Brazilian Beauty Alessandra Ambrosio stopped by our studios.

She's the face of the new Victoria's Secret Beauty Velvet Collection.

Kailey Cuoco stopped by the PIX studios to play some table tennis.

On the hit comedy "The Big Bang Theory", Cuoco plays Penny---the cute down to earth girl who lives next door to two lovable nerd.

Penn Badgley plays the smart and sexy Dan Humphrey on the CW hit series "Gossip Girl", but he's taking on a new role in the movie "The Stepfather."

Penn Bagley sat down with Emily talk about his new role.

In "The Stepfather", Badgley plays Micheal, who just came home from military school. He finds his mother in love and living with her new boyfriend, David. Although everyone in the family thinks David is a family man, Micheal grows suspicious of him. As time passes, he begins putting the puzzle together and learns the truth about the man who is about to become his stepfather.

Joe Buck stopped by to ask everyone to "Hit It Here."

For several years Joe Buck has been the voice of Major League Baseball on FOX. Now, he has his own sports talk show on HBO----"Joe Buck Live". Buck is teaming up with "Stand Up To Cancer" to take a stand against the disease with his latest promotion "Hit It Here."

Wrestler Mick Foley took a break from "Total Nonstop Action" to visit us at our studios.

The King of Hardcore is participating in TNA's "Bound For Glory", one of the biggest wrestling events of the year. The pay-per view event has Mick facing off with Abyss in a "Monster's Ball," the most hardcore match where no rules apply and any weapon can be used in any location at the arena.

She made being "Clueless" popular in the 90's but today Alicia Silverstone is making vegan diets popular.

The animal lover stopped by the PIX Studio to talk about her new book, "The Kind Diet." and share some of her favorite recipes.

Silverstone does not eat any animal products, including meat, milk and honey. She says a vegan diet can benefit your body and health.

"The Kind Diet" is available now.

Dylan Walsh stopped by The PIX Morning News to tell us about his new thriller flick "The Stepfather".

He plays the dysfunctional doctor and protective dad Sean McNamara in the FX series "Nip/Tuck". But in his new movie, "The Stepfather", it's the family that needs protection from dad!

George Takei, of Star Trek fame, and his partner Brad Altman stopped by to talk about being first same-sex celebrity couple on GSN's hit game show The Newlywed Game, hosted by Carnie Wilson.

The Newlywed Game puts just-married couples in a tell-all competition for the chance to add a dowry of prizes to their wedded bliss. The show exposes "the funny nuances and personality quirks that arise when three couples face off in a series of loaded questions ranging from pop culture to makin' whoopie," says GSN.

The Newlywed Game airs weekdays at 6pm on GSN. For more informaition, visit www.gsn.com.

Mark Dacascos, host of Food Network's Iron Chef America, stopped by the studio to talk about hosting the New York City Wine and Food Festival this weekend. He was also accompanied by Lacey Schwimmer, his dance partner on Dancing With The Stars.

Dancing with the Stars pits 16 celebrity-professional dancer pairs against each other in the ultimate dance showdown. The pairs are given scores by the judges and the viewers at home have a say too. The combined score from the judges and viewers determines who stays and who goes each week.

Dancing With The Stars airs Mondays at 8pm on ABC. For more information, visit abc.go.com.

The Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival is the only festival in New York to bring together both legendary culinary icons from around the globe and America's most beloved television chefs. The New York City festival is hosted by and benefits the hunger relief organizations Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength. 100 percent of the net proceeds from the festival directly benefit these community based initiatives.

The Food Network New York City Wine and Food Festival is from October 8 to October 11. For more on the information and to purchase tickets, visit www.nycwineandfoodfestival.com.

We spoke to the stars of the hilarious new movie Couples Retreat starring Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Kristen Bell and Kristin Davis.

The comedy is "centered around four couples who settle into a tropical-island resort for a vacation. While one of the couples is there to work on their marriage, the others fail to realize that participation in the resort's therapy sessions is not optional," according to IMDB.

Couples Retreat hits theaters on October 9. For more information, visit www.couplesretreatmovie.com.

Our Tamsen Fadal got the chance to spend a little one-on-one time with renown Chef Mario Batali -- as he took time out of the kitchen to give his first local TV interview to talk about how he's giving back to the youth of america.

The Mario Batali Foundation celebrated "Magic, Martinis and Mario" last night -- an event promoting the education and empowerment of children all over.

In addition to his 15 restaurants, TV shows and books, Batali, who currently resides in New York City, is adding actor to his resume this year. Aside from his hectic schedule, Batali says he's finally realized how to balance it all.

And Chef Mario Batali's next adventure? The New York City Wine and Food Festival, which kicks off tonight and runs through Sunday, October 11.

For more information and tickets to the New York Wine and Food Festival -- and how to meet Batali at the event -- log onto www.nycwineandfoodfestival.com.

Actress Michelle Monaghan stopped by the studio to discuss her leading role as Diane Ford in a new movie drama Trucker.

The film was written and directed by James Mottern, who said in an interview, “I wanted the script to fit Michelle Monaghan, she gave an unforgettable performance [as lead actress throughout the movie]." She plays Diane, a vigorous and successful independent truck driver, who lives a care-free life of long-haul trucking, one night stands and all-night drinking until her estranged 11-year-old son (Jimmy Bennett) shows up at her door.

Monaghan is no stranger to the small and big screen, with roles in Boston Public, Hack, Law & Order and Young Americans. She’s also known for her co-starring roles in Mission: Impossible III, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Gone Baby Gone, Made of Honor and Eagle Eye.

Trucker will be released in select theaters on Friday, October 9. For more information, visit www.truckermovie.net.

Written by LaTeisha Clay

Actress Bai Ling stopped by the studio to talk about her role as Esther in the new drama movie A Beautiful Life.

"Maggie (Angela Sarafyan) is a teenage runaway fleeing her family; David (Jesse Garcia) is a teenage illegal immigrant. When their paths cross, both are alone in the City of Angels; a place where some come to dream and others to hide. Soon the two form unlikely alliances with a Chinese stripper named Esther (Bai Ling) and Susan (Debi Mazar), a local librarian.

"But when Maggie seeks out her mother's (Dana Delany) help, the truth catches up to her and she has to decide to either face her past or keep running. A Beautiful Life reminds us that each life is not just the singular story of one person. Rather, it is the story of all the lives that intersect with and enrich it," says Fandango.

Ling is a Chinese actress, whose performing career began when she enlisted in the Chinese People's Liberation Army at age 14 where she spent three years in a performance troop entertaining soldiers stationed in Tibet. Since moving to the US in 1991, she has starred in Wild Wild West, Man About Town, The Hustle, The Gene Generation and Shanghai Baby.

A Beautiful Life is in theaters now.

The epitome of girl power, Salt-N-Pepa made their mark in the music industry by making it okay for us to talk about sex. Now, the duo want you to join their "Circle of Sisters" for two days of enlightenment and entertainment.

For only $10 you could be there to experience the largest lifestyle expo in New York. Enjoy two full days of informative seminars, concerts by today’s hottest artists, cooking tips from the industries top chefs and much, much more and it's at a price you can't beat.

Aside from their music career, many remember Cheryl "Salt" Wray and Sandi "Pepa" Denton from VH1's The Salt-N-Pepa Show as they tried to re-kindle their friendship.

The Circle of Sisters is on Saturday, October 10 from 10am to 10pm and Sunday, October 11 11am to 8pm at the Jacob Javitz Center. You can catch Salt-N-Pepa perform at the Circle of Sisters event this Saturday. For tickets and event information, visit www.circleofsisters.com.

After his on-air admission to having sex with staffers, the fallout from the David Letterman scandal continues to grow. One of the questions being raised is whether or not the late-night talk show host is guilty of sexual harrassment?

Street Court's Judge Michael "Mazz" Mazzariello stopped by the studio to give us his expert opinion on the issue and why you shouldn't be afraid to report sexual harrassment. Judge Mazz also spoke about what he thinks will happen to the alleged extortionist.

Street Court airs weekdays at 1pm on WPIX. For more information, visit www.streetcourttv.com.

Former Saturday Night Live member Ana Gasteyer stopped by the studio to talk about her role as Kitty Dean in the new off-Broadway play "The Royal Family."

Broadway.com says, "'The Royal Family' follows the Cavendishes, a famous family of stage stars, as they go about the drama of the day: choosing scripts, dashing off to a performance and stealing kisses with handsome beaus. But what’s this business about the younger Miss Cavendish wanting to quit the stage for domestic bliss? Never, darling!"

Gasteyer got her start in comedy at Los Angeles' famed improv group The Groundlings. She appeared on the TV shows Seinfeld, Party of Five, Hope & Gloria and NYPD Blue before landing a gig at Saturday Night Live, where she was a castmember for six seasons.

"The Royal Family" opens tomorrow, October 8 at the Samuel J Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street). For more tickets and showtimes, visit www.Broadway.com/The_Royal_Family.

Actress Jane Leeves stopped by the studio to talk about starring in "An Evening Without Monty Python."

Hot off the heels of its Los Angeles run, "An Evening Without Monty Python" takes classic skits from the famous comedy troupe and perform them live on stage. The show also stars Jeff B. Davis, Rick Holmes, Jim Piddock and Alan Tudyk and is directed by Python legend Eric Idle.

Best known for her role as Daphne Moon on the hit TV series Frasier, Leeves
is an English actress whose acting credits include Misconceptions, Twenty Good Years, The Starter Wife and Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties.

You can catch "An Evening Without Monty Python" at the Town Hall (123 W 43rd Street) from October 6 to October 10. For more information, visit www.aneveningwithout.com

Actor/comedian David Alan Grier stopped by the studio to talk about his new book Barack Like Me: The Chocolate Covered Truth.

"From growing up in Detroit, where he marched as a ten-year-old with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., to attending the inauguration of President Barack Obama, where he narrowly avoided the Purple Tunnel of Doom but still saw nothing, David Alan Grier examines how he -- and America -- have changed for the better and the funnier," says publisher Simon & Schuster.

Grier, a Michigan native, got his big break when he landed a role on the hit 1990s sketch comedy series In Living Color. His co-stars included Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Lopez. He is currently the host of Chocolate News, one of Comedy Central's satirical news and sketch comedy program.

Barack Like Me: The Chocolate Covered Truth is available in stores today. You can meet Grier in person tonight at 7pm at the Barnes & Noble on Warren Street. For more information, visit simonandschuster.com.

Five-time MLB All-Star and hometown hero, New York Mets Centerfielder Carlos Beltran stopped by PIX Kitchen to show us how to make his signature dessert Tres Leche, which is being offered at Sofrito for the month of October.

Twenty percent of the proceeds are going to support the Carlos Beltran Foundation, which is raising money to build the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy in Puerto Rico. Beltran was joined by Sofrito Restaurant owner JR Morales and Chef Ricardo Cardona.

Bletrain is also autographing one baseball and wants to give it to one lucky PIX viewer! All you have to do is wait for the on-air cue and be is the 11th caller to (866) 414-2911. Good luck! Click here to read the official baseball giveaway contest rules.

For more information on Sofrito and the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy, visit www.sofritony.com and www.carlosbeltran15.com.

Entourage star Adrian Grenier and filmmaker Ari Gold stopped the studio to talk about their new film Adventures of Power.

Adventures of Power, which was written, directed and also stars Gold, is an epic comedy about a mine-worker named Power whose love of drums and lack of musical skill has turned him into the ridiculed "air drummer" of his small town.

But when Power's union-leader father calls a strike at the mine, Power discovers an underground subculture of air-drummers who just might hold the key to changing the world. Power's journey across America brings him face-to-face with his town's greatest enemy, and allows him to discover the beat within his own heart.

For more information on Adventures of Power, visit www.adventuresofpower.com.

Written by Femi Redwood

Socialite Olivia Palermo stopped by the studio to talk about the new season of the MTV reality show The City.

"Not long after she got a promotion at Diane von Furstenberg, she connected with her old friend Joe Zee to score a job at ELLE Magazine in the accessories department. Olivia was thrilled to leverage her social status and relationships for the position, but nothing could have prepared her for ELLE's Director of PR, Erin Kaplan.

"She's got Joe Zee's vote of confidence, but under Erin's whip-smart, discerning eye, Olivia will have to prove that her verve for fashion goes deeper than loving to shop," says MTV. The season will follow her journey throught the cut-throat environment of ELLE.

The City air Tuesdays at 10:30pm on MTV. For more information, visit www.mtv.com.

Known for being very outspoken, Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich joined us in the PIX studio to show us how he's using his voice in a different way.

Gingrich and his wife, Callista Gingrich, teamed up for a brand new documentary Rediscovering God In America II: Our Heritage. Gingrich says the film focuses on religion and the role it played in early America.

Rediscovering God In America II: Our Heritage is available on DVD. For more information, visit www.rediscoveringourheritage.com.

Written by Femi Redwood

Lorenzo and Shayne Lamas joined us in the studio to talk about their new E! series Leave It To Lamas, which premieres October 11.

The show stars Shayne Lamas---you might remember her as the winner on last year's The Bachelor--- and follows her as she balances her acting career, love life and a crazy blended family that only Hollywood can create.

Shayne is the daughter of Falcon Crest and Renegade actor Lorenzo Lamas. He also stars in the series along with Shayne's mother and Lorenzo's ex-wife Michele Smith, brother AJ Lamas and half-sister Dakota Pike.

For more on Leave It To Lamas, visit www.eonline.com.

Written by Femi Redwood

Actor Dominic Cooper stopped by the studio to talk about his role as Danny in the new indie film An Education.

Set in early 1960s London, An Education is a coming-of-age movie about Jenny, a suburban girl on the cusp of her 17th birthday, who meets a 30-something man who introduces her to the world of chich dinners, art auctions, smoke clubs and foreign trips. But just as her parents' life-long dream of sending Jenny to Oxford University seems within reach, it seems she may be wooed away from her education into a life of adventure. Cooper's co-stars include Peter Sarsgaard, Rosamund Pike, Carey Mulligan and Emma Thompson.

Of Mamma Mia fame, Cooper is a British actor who is also known for his roles in The History Boys, Sense and Sensibility and Dutchess.

For more on An Education, visit www.sonyclassics.com/aneducation.

Actor Jordan Belfi stopped by the studio to talk about his role as Adam Davies in the TV series Entourage and his role as Victor Welch in the movie Surrogates.

Belfi shared some spoliers and his prediction for the next season of Entourage. The comedy series takes a look at the day-to-day life of Vincent (Vince) Chase, a hot young actor in modern-day Hollywood, and his entourage. He's brought with him from their hometown in Queens, NY: manager Eric, half-brother Drama, and friend Turtle. The series draws on the experiences of industry insiders to illustrate both the heady excesses of today's celebrity lifestyle, as well as the difficulty of finding love and success in the fast track of show biz.

"In the near future, humans live in isolation and only interact through robotic bodies that serve as surrogates. When several humans are murdered when their surrogates are destroyed, a cop (Bruce Willis) investigates the crimes through his own surrogate. After a near fatal encounter, the cop's surrogate is destroyed and forces him to bring his human form out of isolation and unravel a conspiracy behind the crimes," IMDB says about Surrogates.

Belfi is a Los Angeles native, who was a film major at Wesleyan University. His other acting credits include CSI: Miami, Moonlight and Smallville.

Entourage airs Sundays at 10:30pm on HBO. Surrogates is in theaters now. For more information, visit ChooseYourSurrogate.com.

Actor Malcolm Jamal Warner stopped by to talk about his role as Kevin in the new Lifetime show Sherri.

According to Lifetime, "Sherri centers around a newly single mom, paralegal and part-time comedienne/actress who tries to get back into the dating scene and move on with her life after divorcing her cheating husband. Sherri finds solace and support among her girlfriends at the office while juggling her hectic life."

Warner is an Emmy-nominated actor who is best known for his role as Theo Huxtable on The Crosby Show. He later starred in Malcolm & Eddie, A Different World, Fame and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Warner was also the voice of The Producer in the animated PBS series The Magic School Bus. This Jersey boy currently splits his time between Los Angeles and New York.

The season premiere of Sherri is today, Monday, October 5 at 7pm on Lifetime. For more information, visit MyLifeTime.com.

Mafia princess Victoria Gotti stopped by the studio to chat about her new, explosive memoir This Family Of Mine.

In addition to telling-all about John Gotti, Sr.'s rise and eventual fall as the head of the powerful Gambino crime family, the book describes what it was like "growing up Gotti," and includes first-hand accounts and contributions from the entire family.

Gotti is determined to set the record straight about her infamous family and put to rest all of the sensational rumors and half truths that have plagued the Gotti family for years.

For more on This Family Of Mine and Gotti, visit simonandschuster.com.

Actress Amy Brenneman stopped by to talk about her role as Psychiatrist Violet Turner in ABC’S Private Practice.

A spin-off of ABC's Grey's Anatomy, yesterday's season premiere of Private Practice found Addison (Kate Walsh) and Naomi (Audra McDonald) fighting to save Violet's life after a violent attack leaves her severely injured and her baby missing.

Brenneman, a Connecticut native, is best known for her role as Judge Amy Gray in Judging Amy and Janice Licalsi in NYPD Blue. She is a co-founder of Cornerstone Theater Company, which customizes theater classics to their audience. Brenneman's acting credits include 88 Minutes, Nine Lives and The Jane Austen Book Club.

Private Practice airs Thursdays at 10pm on ABC. For more information, visit abc.go.com.

The new season of The Next Iron Chef kicks off this week! On it, 10 world-class chefs will battle it out for a place in kitchen stadium. But, before they do that, they're going to have to make it through the gaunlet in PIX Kitchen!

Each day this week we're featuring a local chef from the show, and today we have Seamus Mullen, executive chef and partner of Boqueria Flatiron and Boqueria Soho. His "secret ingredient" today is shrimp and Mullen's showing us how to make Montado de Gambas (Garlic Shrimp on Toast with herbs) and Ensalada de Gambas (Salad of Sweet Shrimp, Avocado, Fennel and Citrus).

Mullen was raised on an organic farm in Northeastern Vermont. His love for Spanish cuisine began when his high school language teacher encouraged him to study abroad for a year. Later in his life, he returned to Spain to work at Mugaritz, Abac and Alkimia. Upon returning to New York, Mullen worked as executive sous chef at New York City's Brasserie 8 ½, alongside executive chef Julian Alonzo. He later opened Spanish tapas restaurant Boqueria and Boqueria SoHo with Yann de Rochefort.

The Next Iron Chef premieres October 4 at 9pm on the Food Network. For more information, visit www.foodnetwork.com.

Actress Ming Na stopped by the studio to talk about her role as Camile Wray in the new Syfy series Stargate Universe.

"A group of soldiers, scientists and civilians, fleeing an attack, find themselves stranded far from Earth on a mammoth Ancient ship known as the Destiny. They must live in the limbo of time and space, cling to the notion of hope, locked on an unknown course in search of home. Now the group's fates lie at the mercy of the ship as they face the challenges of meeting the most basic needs of food, water and air. Through the danger and adventures, some will be revealed as heroes, some will be shown as villains...and some won't make it out at all," says SyFy of the new series.

Fans will remember the actress, whose full name is Ming-Na Wen, as Dr. Jing-Mei Chen on ER. The Queens-raised girl lent her voice as the title character to Disney's 1998 animated movie Mulan. She also voice acted in The Spawn, The Batman, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, Robot Chicken and Kingdom Hearts II. Ming-Na's TV and film credits include Push, Private Practice, Two and A Half Men and Vanished.

The two-hour premiere of Stargate Universe is tonight, Friday October 2 at 9pm on the Syfy Channel. For more information, visit www.syfy.com/universe.

Actress Emma Stone stopped by the studio to talk about her role as Wichita in the new movie Zombieland.

The post-apocalyptic zombie comedy is about a lone band of survivors fighting the living dead while they cross the nation. America has been struck by a zombie plague and the group stop by an abandoned amusement park, where they believe they will be safe. Stone's co-stars include Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg and Abigail Breslin.

A native of Scottsdale, Arizona, Stone got her big break as Violet Trimble on the TV series Drive, which lead to her role as Jules in the smash hit Superbad. Her other acting credits include The Rocker, The House Bunny and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past.

Zombieland opens October 2. For more information, visit www.zombieland.com.

The new season of The Next Iron Chef kicks off this week! On it, 10 world-class chefs will battle it out for a place in kitchen stadium. But, before they do that, they're going to have to make it through the gaunlet in PIX Kitchen!

Each day this week we're featuring a local chef from the show, and today we have Brad Farmerie, executive chef of Double Crown, Madam Geneva, PUBLIC and The Monday Room. His "secret ingredient" today is eggs and Farmiere showed us how to make Turkish Eggs.

Farmerie comes from a food-loving family in Pittsburgh. During college, he took a year off from studying to explore the cuisines and wines of Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and the Antipodes. One year turned to seven and in 2003, Farmerie returned to the US to head New York City's PUBLIC and in 2006 The Monday Room. In 2008, to took the reigns as executive chef of the two-in-one project, Double Crown and Madam Geneva, which takes as its inspiration the unique cuisine that emerged when the British colonized the countries of South Asia and the Far East.

The Next Iron Chef premieres October 4 at 9pm on the Food Network. For more information, visit www.foodnetwork.com.

Chef Sandra Lee stopped by the studio to talk about the Food Network New York City Wine and Food Festival.

The Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival is the only festival in New York to bring together both legendary culinary icons from around the globe and America's most beloved television chefs. The New York City festival is hosted by and benefits the hunger relief organizations Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength. 100 percent of the net proceeds from the festival directly benefit these community based initiatives.

Lee is a host and chef for the Food Network. She is famous for her 70/30 Semi-Homemade philosophy, which combines 70% ready-made products with 30% fresh and creative touches. Lee is also editor-in-chief of Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade magazine and the national spokesperson for Share Our Strength.

The Food Network New York City Wine and Food Festival is from October 8 to October 11. For more on the information, visit www.nycwineandfoodfestival.com.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE "NYC Wine and Food Festival Sweepstakes"

Actress Kayla Ewell stopped by the studio to talk about her role as Vicki Donovan in the new CW series Vampire Diaries.

Based on the popular book series of the same name by L.J. Smith, The Vampire Diaries is set in the small town of Mystic Falls, Virginia at the start of the new school year. The show centers on Elena (Nina Dobrev), a 17-year-old high school student who has lost her parents in a fatal car accident. Ever the popular one, Elena struggles with grief as she tries to help herself and her younger brother Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) move on with their lives.

Elena and her friends become fascinated with mysterious new kid Stefan (Paul Wesley) who has recently enrolled in their high school. Trying to live among humans, Stefan, a centuries-old vampire, is immediately drawn to Elena. But trouble begins when Stefan's brother Damon (Ian Somerhalder), the embodiment of vampire violence and brutality, tracks him down.

Ewell's fans will remember the California native as Caitlin Ramirez on the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful. Her other acting credits include roles on Entourage, Veronica Mars, The O.C., Boston Public and Freaks and Geeks. Ewell currently resides in Los Angeles and in Atlanta, Georgia, where The Vampire Diaries is filmed.

The Vampire Diaries airs Thursdays at 8pm on WPIX. For more information, visit www.cwtv.com.

Actor Joseph Fiennes stopped by the studio to talk about his starring role as FBI Special Agent Mark Benford in the new ABC sci-fi thriller FlashForward.

The sci-fi series begins with a global blackout -- everyone in the world falls unconscious for 2 minutes, 17 seconds. They all get a glimpse of the their future six months from now. FBI agent Mark Benford (Fiennes) crawls from the wreckage of his overturned car to find all of Los Angeles in chaos. Now, the question is if what they saw is set in stone or if they can change their fate. Fiennes' co-stars include John Cho, Sonya Walger and Jack Davenport.

An English actor, Fiennes' full name is Joseph Alberic Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes. He began his career on the stage and later transitioned into film. His film credits include Shakespeare In Love, Luther, unning With Scissors, The Escapist and The Red Baron. His brother is actor Ralph Fiennes.

FlashForward airs Thursdays at 8pm on ABC. For more information, visit abc.go.com.

Actor Richard Kind stopped by the studio to talk about his role as Arthur in the new movie A Serious Man.

Directed by the Coen Brothers, A Serious Man is a black comedy set in 1967 and centered on Larry Gopnik, a Midwestern physics professor who watches his life unravel when his wife prepares to leave him for one of his colleagues because he can't get his inept, unemployable brother Arthur to move out of the house. The movie also stars Michael Stuhlbarg, Sari Lennick and Fred Melamed.

Kind is a Jersey boy who is fondly remembered for his role as Mark in Mad About You and Paul in the Spin City. His other acting credits include Scrubs, Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Producers. Kind has also lent his voice to the animated series Kim Possible, Chowder and The Penguins of Madagascar.

A Serious Man opens in theaters October 2.

The new season of The Next Iron Chef kicks off this week! On it, 10 world-class chefs will battle it out for a place in kitchen stadium. But, before they do that, they're going to have to make it through the gaunlet in PIX Kitchen!

Each day this week we're featuring a local chef from the show, and today we have Executive Chef Amanda Freitag, of The Harrison. Her "secret ingredient" is bacon and she's making Bacon Wrapped NY Trout with Brussel Sprouts and Mustard Sauce.

Since her arrival in 2007, The Harrison has received numerous accolades from local and national media, including a two-star review from The New York Times, as well as features in Time Out New York, New York Magazine and Forbes Life. Freitag recently battled Bobby Flay on Iron Chef America and is a recurring judge on Chopped.

The Next Iron Chef premieres October 4 at 9pm on the Food Network. For more information, visit www.foodnetwork.com.

Fitness guru Jack Lalanne stops by to talk about his new book Live Young Forever: 12 Steps to Optimal Health, Fitness and Longevity.The 95-year-old fitness pioneer shared his secrets to living a long, happy and healthy life in his book.

Lalanne says the key to living a happy life is more than just exercising and eating healthy. He also says that being in a steady relationship is important. He says when two people get together in love and seek a common goal, anything is possible!

Jack is also working to bring awareness to ovarian cancer. He brought along a teal-colored “Jack LaLanne Power Juicer” by Tristar. (Teal ribbons signify support for ovarian cancer awareness.) Tristar has teamed up with the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance to bring awareness to the disease. For more info, log onto www.powerjuicer.com or www.ovariancancer.org. For Jack’s juice recipes log onto powerjuicer.com.

Jack Lalanne is often referred to as the "Godfather of Fitness." He gained fame as a successful bodybuilder. Lalanne was inducted in the National Fitness Hall of Fame in 2005, and the California Hall of Fame in 2008. He continues to work out every morning for two hours.

For more information on Lalanne and his new book, visit www.JackLalanne.com.

Actress Michelle Trachtenberg stopped by to talk about her role as Georgina Sparks in the hit CW show Gossip Girl and her role as Chloe Payne in the new NBC series Mercy .

Season 3 of Gossip Girl finds the cast all grown up and living the college life. Even though high school is behind them, Serena (Blake Lively), Chuck (Ed Westwick), Blair (Leighton Meester), and the rest of the Upper East Siders still have their fair share of love, scandals and secrets that await them. Georgina stirs up trouble as she attends NYU with Blair, Dan (Penn Badgley) and Vanessa (Jessica Szohr). Trachtenberg's recurring role as Georgina began during the second season of Gossip Girl.

Mercy centers on Nurse Veronica Callahan (Taylor Schilling), who recently returned to Mercy Hospital from a tour in Iraq, and knows more about medicine than all of the residents combined. Together with fellow nurses Sonia (Jaime Lee Kirchner) and Chloe (Trachtenberg), she navigates the daily traumas and social landmines of life and love both inside the hospital and out in the real world.

Trachtenberg's breakout role came in the form of Dawn Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer for the show's final three seasons. Her other acting credits include the comedy Young Americans, where she co-stared alongside Topher Grace and Anna Faris, and 17 Again, where she co-starred with Zac Efron and Luke Perry.

Gossip Girl airs Mondays at 9pm on WPIX. For more information on the cast and show, visit www.cwtv.com. Mercy airs Wednesdays at 8pm on NBC. For more information, visit www.nbc.com/mercy.

Actress Abigail Breslin stopped by the studio to talk about her role as Little Rock in the new movie Zombieland.

The post-apocalyptic zombie comedy is about a lone band of survivors fighting the living dead while they cross the nation. America has been struck by a zombie plague and the group stops at an abandoned amusement park, where they believe they will be safe. Breslin's co-stars include Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg and Emma Stone.

Breslin is a native New Yorker who began her acting career at age 3 in commericials. She got her big break in 2002's Signs. From there, the 13-year-old's acting career skyrocketed with prominent roles in Raising Helen, Little Miss Sunshine, No Reservations, Nim's Island and Kit Kittredge: An American Girl. Most recently, Breslin appeared in My Sister's Keeper. Her older brother Spencer is also an actor.

Zombieland opens October 2. For more information, visit www.zombieland.com.

The new season of The Next Iron Chef kicks off this week! On it, 10 world-class chefs will battle it out for a place in kitchen stadium. But, before they do that, they're going to have to make it through the gaunlet in PIX Kitchen!

Each day this week we're featuring a local chef from the show, and today we have Jehangir Mehta, executive chef and owner of Graffiti in Manhattan. His "secret ingredient" today is coriander and Mehta's showing us how to make Coriander Shrimp with Mung Bean Salad.

A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Mehta's influences include Persian and Indian fare. " Mehta has been a pastry chef in some of the finest restaurants in New York City, including Jean Georges, Union Pacific, Virot, Compass, Aix, and Sapa. [...] New York Observer quotes, "One of the most daring and original Pastry Chefs, I have come across in New York. His creations are unexpected but with coherence and personality," according to the Food Network.

The Next Iron Chef premieres October 4 at 9pm on the Food Network. For more information, visit www.foodnetwork.com.

Olympic Gold medalist Usain Bolt, who broke his own world record recently in the 100 meter with a mind-boggling 9.58 performance, stopped by the studio to discuss the sport of track and field. Bolt's new record is 0.11 seconds faster than the mark he set last year at the Beijing Olympics.

Bolt, 23, is a Jamaican sprinter who has earned the nickname "Lightning Bolt" and has been called "the world's fastest man" due to his incredible speed on the track. While in high school, Bolt's cricket coach and other former Olympians encouraged him to focus his athletic attention to track and field.

For more on Bolt, visit www.usainbolt.com.

We spoke to actor/rapper LL Cool J about his role as Sam Hanna in the new spin-off series NCIS: Los Angeles.

The spin-off drama follows Sam and Special Agent "G" Callen (Chris O'Donnell) through the "high stakes world of the Office of Special Projects (OSP), a division of NCIS that is charged with apprehending dangerous and elusive criminals that pose a threat to the nation's security. By assuming false identities and utilizing the most advanced technology, this team of highly trained agents goes deep undercover, putting their lives on the line in the field to bring down their targets," according to CBS.

Born James Todd Smith, LL Cool J hails from Long Island. His stage name stands for "Ladies Love Cool James." He is a two-time Grammy Award-winner and NAACP Image Award winner and first broke out onto the music scene in 1984 as the flagship artist for Def Jam Records. He has 10 consecutive platinum-plus selling albums, and 2004’s "The Definition" and 2006’s "Todd Smith" both went Gold. LL transitioned into acting three years ago on with a role on House.

NCIS: Los Angeles airs Tuesdays at 9pm on CBS. For more information, visit cbs.com/ncisla.

Gossip Girl's Kelly Rutherford stopped by the studio to discuss the new season of the show, her role as Lily van der Woodsen and her partnership with (RED)/Bugaboo Strollers.

Season 3 of Gossip Girl finds the cast all grown up and living the college life. Even though high school is behind them, Serena (Blake Lively), Chuck (Ed Westwick), Blair (Leighton Meester), and the rest of the Upper East Siders still have their fair share of love, scandals and secrets that await them.

On October 1, Bugaboo is partnering with (RED) to contribute 1% of their total revenue to the Global Fund to help fund AIDS programs in Africa. Bugaboo is the first company which is turning the entire company (RED). In just three years, (RED) has generated over $135 million to fund AIDS programs in Africa with a focus on women and children. This money has supported programs that have reached more than 4 million people in four countries, this includes reaching more than 70,000 HIV+ pregnant women with treatment to help ensure their babies are born free of the disease.

Bugaboo's partnership with (RED) seeks to enable the Global Fund to extend its contribution to HIV/AIDS programs in Africa, with a particular emphasis on helping women and children. (RED) is a very simple way to help fight AIDS in Africa. Buy any (PRODUCT)RED branded product from any of the partners and money goes straight to the Global Fund.

The new season of The Next Iron Chef kicks off this week! On it, 10 world-class chefs will battle it out for a place in kitchen stadium. But, before they do that, they're going to have to make it through the gaunlet in PIX Kitchen!

Each day this week we're featuring a local chef from the show, and starting things off is Chef Nate Appleman, co-owner of Pulino's Bar and Pizzeria in Bowery. He's making Leg of Lamb Speidino with Chickpeas, Wild Arugula and Lemon. His "secret ingredient" today is black olives.

"A graduate from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, the native of Greenville, Ohio has worked across the country, honing his skills at restaurants including Maisonette in Cincinnati, Brasa in Seattle, Campton Place in San Francisco, The Dining Room at The Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco, and Tra Vigne in St. Helena, California," says the Food Network.

The Next Iron Chef premieres October 4 at 9pm on the Food Network. For more information, visit www.foodnetwork.com.

Actor Derek Luke stopped by the studio to talk about his role as Cameron Boone on NBC's new medical drama Trauma.

From executive producer Peter Berg (NBC's Friday Night Lights), Trauma focuses on the lives of the San Francisco City Hospital trauma team members Reuben "Rabbit" Palchuk (Cliff Curtis), Cameron Boone (Derek Luke), Nancy Carnahan (Anastasia Griffith), Marisa Benez (Aimee Garcia), Tyler Briggs (Kevin Rankin), Glenn Morris (Taylor Kinney) and Dr. Joe Saviano (Jamey Sheridan) as they battle through the extremes to save the lives of others and give meaning to their own. According to NBC, the show is "an intense, action-packed look at one of the most dangerous medical professions in the world: first responder paramedics."

Born and raised in Jersey City, Luke currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife Sophia. Most famous for his lead performance in Denzel Washington's Antwone Fisher, his other acting credits include Friday Night Lights, Glory Road and Definetly, Maybe.

Catch the season premiere of Trauma on Saturday, September 28 at 9pm on NBC. For more information of the cast and show, visit www.nbc.com.

Written by Erica Gugliemella

Socialite Whitney Port stopped by to talk about the new season of MTV reality show The City.

"After growing up in Los Angeles, she wasn't totally ready for the pace and cutthroat way of life in New York. Her boyfriend Jay had a partying lifestyle that tore their relationship apart, and Whitney could never quite keep up with her very competitive co-worker, Olivia Palermo. But Whitney knows what knocks you down makes you stronger, and she's determined not to quit.

"Now Whitney is taking a chance on her dream of becoming a designer, under the critical eye of Kelly Cutrone. Kelly has agreed to mentor Whitney while she continues to work part-time for People's Revolution," says MTV.

The City premieres on Tuesday, September 29 at 10:30pm on MTV. For more information, visit www.mtv.com.

Actress Penelope Ann Miller stopped by the studio to talk about her role as Jeanette in the new film Free Style.

Free Style centers on Cale Bryant (Corbin Bleu), a young man determined to win a coveted spot on the Grand National motocross racing team. With the support of his loving mother (Miller), precocious little sister (Madison Pettis) and new girlfriend (Sandra Echeverria), Cale proves against all odds that he has the heart, the willpower and the courage never to give up on his dream.

Miller is a Los Angeles native whose older sister is model Marisa Miller. Her acting credits include A Minute with Stan Hooper, The Closer and Vanished.

Free Style hits theaters on October 9. For more information, visit www.freestylemovie.com.

PIX's Andrew Ramos spoke to singer Brian McKnight abot making the big switch from singer to TV host with his new variety show on the CW called The Brian McKnight Show.

McKnight has earned himself a spot in contemporary music history. He has released 11 albums to date, seven of them have gone platinum, with several going two or three times platinum, and he has sold over 20 million albums worldwide. McKnight was recently on Celebrity Apprentice and he's currently working on a new album. And if he wasn't busy enough, McKnight also has an LA radio show that recently went into syndication.

Catch the series premiere of The Brian McKnight Show tomorrow, Saturday at 11pm on WPIX. For more on McKnight, visit www.brian-mcknight.com.

Actress Julianne Nicholson stopped by the studio to talk about starring in the new dark comedy film Brief Interviews Of Hideous Men.

Based on the book of the same name by David Foster Wallace, Nicholson stars as graduate student Sara Quinn, who studies men's psyches and their rleationships with women for her thesis paper. 'The men's twisted and revealing stories are juxtaposed against the backdrop of her own experience. As she begins to listen closely to the men around her, she must ultimately reconcile herself to the darkness that lies below the surface of human interactions," says Apple. The movie was adapted and directed by The Office's John Krasinski. Nicholson's co-stars include Will Arnett, Christopher Meloni, Chris Messina and Bobby Cannavale.

A Massachusetts native, Nicholson began her career first in modeling. She later attended Hunter College and pursued an acting career while in New York City. Fans know her as Detective Megan Wheeler on Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Her previous acting credits include The Others, Ally McBeal and Conviction.

Brief Interviews Of Hideous Men hits theaters tomorrow, September 25.

Actor/singer Corbin Bleu of High School Musical fame stopped by the studio to talk about his role as Issac in the new CW show The Beautiful Life and his new film Free Style.

The Beautiful Life centers on small town girl Raina (Sara Paxton) who makes a big debut when A-list model Sonja Stone (Mischa Barton) fails to fit into a designer's closing dress during a fashion show. She's living the glamorous and sexy life of high fashion models in New York City when she meets midwesterner Chris Andrews (Ben Hollingsworth), who is discovered by a talent agent while on a family trip to the Big Apple. Raina helps Chris cope with the fast-paced city as more fashion drama unfolds. Issac is one of veteran male models who lives in the same dorm as Chris and Raina. The series also stars Ashley Madekwe, Elle Macpherson and Nico Tortorella.

Free Style centers on Bleu's character Cale Bryant, a young man determined to win a coveted spot on the Grand National motocross racing team. With the support of his loving mother (Penelope Ann Miller), precocious little sister (Madison Pettis) and new girlfriend (Sandra Echeverria), Cale proves against all odds that he has the heart, the willpower and the courage never to give up on his dream.

Special thanks to Toys 'R Us for letting us play with these Fast Lane Radio Control Suzuki's. The Beautiful Life airs Wednesdays at 9pm on WPIX. For more information, visit www.cwtv.com. Free Style hits theaters on October 9. For more information, visit www.freestylemovie.com.

Actor/rapper/producer Nick Cannon stopped by the studio to talk about hosting NBC's America's Got Talent , his directorial debut in the movie School Girls and AXE body wash.

Cannon is a representative for AXE body wash and spoke about results from a recent study that reveals the top U.S. cities for guys to show their softer side.

A native of San Diego, Cannon got his big break in the Nickelodeon show All That. The network later gave him his own show --The Nick Cannon Show -- in 2002. He later starrred in Drumline, Love Don't Cost a Thing, Roll Bounce and Underclassman. In 2003, he got his feet wet in the music industry and released his self-titled debut album. Cannon is married to singer Mariah Carey.

To learn about auditions for America's Got Talent, visit nbc.com. For more on Cannon, visit www.nickcannon.com.

Actress Taylor Schilling stopped by the studio to talk about her starring role as Nurse Veronica Callahan on the new one-hour NBC medical drama Mercy.

The series centers on Veronica, who recently returned to Mercy Hospital from a tour in Iraq, and knows more about medicine than all of the residents combined. Together with fellow nurses Sonia (Jaime Lee Kirchner ) and Chloe (Michelle Trachtenberg), she navigates the daily traumas and social landmines of life and love both inside the hospital and out in the real world.

A Boston native, Schilling graduated with a BA from Fordham University Lincoln Center and is a recipient of the Emerson College Playwright's Festival Outstanding Performance Award. She got her big break when she co-starred alongside Meryl Streep as Jackie in the First Independent Pictures film Dark Matter.

Mercy makes it series premiere on tonight, September 23 at 8pm. For more information, visit www.nbc.com/mercy.

Actor/comedian Aziz Ansari stopped by the studio to talk about the second season premiere of the hit NBC comedy Parks and Recreation.

The comedy series explores "the mundane but necessary ways that people interact with their government, and ask why it's frequently so complicated -- as everyone knows from standing in line at the DMV, applying for home construction permits, or trying to get the city to fix a pothole," according to NBC. Ansari plays Tom Haverford, Leslie Knope's (Amy Poehler) colleague, who cheerfully exploits his government position for personal gain.

Born in South Carolina, but based in California, Ansari stars in MTV's sketch comedy series Human Giant and has appeared in the films The Rocker and School for Scoundrels. He bagan his stand-up career while he was a student at NYU. His film credits include Judd Apatow's Superbad, Pinapple Express and Funny People.

Parks and Recreation premieres on Thursday, September 24 at 8:30pm on NBC. For more information, visit www.nbc.com.

Actress Busy Philipps stopped by to talk about starring opposite Courtney Cox in the new ABC sitcom Cougar Town.

Cougar Town follows the life of Jules Cobb (Cox), a recent divorcée in her 40s. Jules has a successful business, great friends and a wonderful son. But Jules is moving on from her divorce and putting herself back on the market and discovers the only way to find yourself, is to let yourself go. Philipps plays Jules' wild and single assistant Laurie Keller.

Phillips is a Illinois-born, Arizona-raised actress, who moved to Los Angeles when she was 18 to pursue a career in acting. Her breakout role came in the '90s when she played rebel teen Kim Kelly in the critically praised series Freaks and Geeks. Her other acting credits include Undeclared, Dawson's Creek, White Chicks, ER, Made of Honor, He’s Just Not That Into You and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

The season premiere of Cougar Town airs Wednesday, September 23 at 9:30pm. For more information, visit www.abc.com.

Stephanie Pratt stopped by the studio to talk about the new season of MTV's The Hills.

"Heidi and Spencer's wedding brought everyone together -- and now that Kristin Cavallari is back on the scene, she's not going anywhere. She has L.A. nearly conquered, but she has to yet find the one person to share it with, and when she crosses paths with Justin-Bobby, sparks fly. Audrina seems to have moved on from Justin, with a new man in her life, but that doesn't mean she's ready to see him with another girl, especially not Lauren's old rival Kristin.

"Meanwhile, Brody is still with his Playmate girlfriend Jayde, but with his ex-girlfriend Kristin back on the scene, how long can that last? Heidi and Spencer are moving to suburbia and a life of wedded bliss, but they'll quickly discover that married life isn't as perfect as their storybook wedding," says MTV. Stephanie is Spencer's sister and is also featured in the new season.

The Hills premieres on Tuesday, September 29 at 10pm on MTV. For more information, visit www.mtv.com.

On the field, this former NFL linebacker intimidated opposing teams thoughout his spectacular football career. Off the field, New York Giants Super Bowl Champion Carl Banks has a new challenge to tackle -- autism.

Banks is hosting the Carl Banks-Mariner's Bank Golf Invitational, a celebrity golf tournament aiming to raise money and awareness for the Bergen Community College Center Autism Initiative. Some of the famous faces coming out to play in the event are Lawrence Taylor (NY Giants Super Bowl Champion, Dancing With The Stars), Richard Kind (actor: Spin City & Mad About You), Steven Schirripa (actor: Sopranos), Montell Williams (TV personality) and Jim Brown (NFL Legend).

Banks is a native of Flint, Michigan and played for the New York Giants from 1984 to 1992, where he was part of the Giants teams that won Super Bowls XXI and XXV. He later played for the Washington Redskins and Cleveland Browns. Currently, Banks is part-owner, along with fellow ex-Giants Joe Morris and Harry Carson, of Arena Football League's New Jersey Red Dogs. He is also a football analyst for the New York Giants, Sirius NFL Radio and WFAN.

The Carl Banks-Mariner's Bank Golf Invitational takes place this morning, September 22 at 10:30am. For more on how to get involved, visit www.marinersbanknj.com.

Actor Boris Kodjoe stopped by the studio to talk about his role as Anthony Stone in the new movie Surrogates.

"In the near future, humans live in isolation and only interact through robotic bodies that serve as surrogates. When several humans are murdered when their surrogates are destroyed, a cop (Bruce Willis) investigates the crimes through his own surrogate. After a near fatal encounter, the cop's surrogate is destroyed and forces him to bring his human form out of isolation and unravel a conspiracy behind the crimes," IMDB says about the movie.

Kodjoe was born in Austria and is best known for his role as courier-turned-sports agent Damon Carter on the Showtime television drama series Soul Food. He was named as one of the "50 Most Beautiful People in the World" by People Magazine in 2002. His wife Nicole Parker, was his Soul Food: The Series co-star.

Surrogates opens in theaters on Friday, September 25. For more information, visit ChooseYourSurrogate.com. For more on Kodjoe, visit www.boris-world.com or www.sophiesvoicefoundation.org.

Multi-platinum recording artist Sean Kingston stopped by the studio to talk about tomorrow's release of his sophomore album Tomorrow. He'll perform his hit singles "Fire Burning" and "Face Drop."

Kingston, born Kisean Jamal Anderson, is a native of Miami. The Jamaican-American rapper singer broke onto the music scene with his self-titled debut album. His singles include "Beautiful Girls," "Me Love," and "Take You There." His second album is decribed as having a theme of self-reflection of Kingston's experience with his new-found fame and evolution as an artist. Through all the changes, the album mirrors Kingston's positive and hopeful outlook of what the future has to bring.

Tomorrow is available in stores tomorrow, Spetember 22. For more information about Kingston and his tour dates, visit www.seankingston.com.

Judge Michael "Mazz" Mazzariello stopped by the studio to talk about laying down the law in his new show Street Court, which makes it series premiere today on PIX.

Breaking the court show out of the courtroom, the series follows Judge Mazz, tough-talking former Brooklyn D.A., across America as he holds court where it really belongs: at the scene of the dispute. Offering a fresh twist on one of the most popular program formats on television, Street Court advances the courtroom genre by pairing the authority and tradition of the judge role with the authenticity and drama of real locations.

As a seasoned litigator with 20 years of experience, Brooklyn boy Mazzariello has served the judicial system from all angles. He has worked as both a New York City prosecutor and criminal defense attorney; and he has also mediated and investigated thousands of cases involving matters of family, community, and workplace. Mazzariello served as Chief Prosecutor for the New York City Board of Education under the Guiliani administration. He also founded East New York Legal Services, a walk-in nonprofit law firm created to provide legal aide to New York City’s most disenfranchised communities.

Street Court makes it series premiere today, September 21 at 1pm on WPIX. For more information, visit www.streetcourttv.com.

Actor Masi Oka stopped by the studio to talk about the two-hour season premiere of the popular NBC sci-fi show Heroes. Oka plays Hiro Nakamura, a computer programmer who can bend the rules of the space-time continuum, allowing him to teleport, time travel and and manipulate the speed of time.

The Japanese-born New Yorker has also appeared in other TV shows like Robot Chicken, Reno 911!, Scrubs and the movie Balls of Fury.

Not only does Oka have a penchant for acting, he first started in the film industry as a digital effects artist for George Lucas' Industrial Light & Magic. He has worked on special effects major blockbuster films such as Pirates of the Carribbean: Dead Man's Chest, War of The Worlds, and the Star Wars prequel trilogy.

The special two-hour season premiere of Heroes is tonight, September 21 at 8pm. For more information, visit www.nbc.com/Heroes.

Actress/comedienne Mo’Nique stopped by to talk about her dramatic role as Mary in the movie Precious and her new late-night talk show The Mo’Nique Show on BET.

Based on the novel Push by Sapphire, Precious is about teenage Harlemite Clareece "Precious" Jones. Abused by her mother and raped by her father, she grows up poor, angry, illiterate, fat, unloved and generally unnoticed. And just as she is about to give birth to her second child, Precious is accepted into an alternative school where a teacher helps her find a new path in her life.

Hailing from Maryland, Mo'Nique (whose real name is Monique Imes) is best known for her role as Nicole "Nikki" Parker on the TV series The Parkers. Her other acting credits include Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins, Beerfest and Soul Plane. She is the hostess and executive producer of Mo'Nique's Fat Chance, a beauty pageant for plus-sized women, on the Oxygen Network.

Precious hits limited theaters on November 6. For more information, visit www.oprah.com.

You can catch the The Queen of Comedy's in The Mo’Nique Show when it premieres on October 5 at 10pm, as part of BET’s new fall lineup. For more on Mo'Nique, visit www.1monique.com.

Actor Asher Book stopped by to talk about starring as Marco in the new movie Fame.

An updated version of the 1980 musical of the same name, Fame centers on teenagers attending New York City High School for the Performing Arts (whose nickname is "The Fame School" and is today known as Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School). The school is a hotspot for young talent and its specialized training often leads its current students and alumni to fame. Book plays high school student Marco. His co-stars include Kelsey Grammer and Megan Mullally.

Some notable real-life LaGuardia High School alumni include Jennifer Aniston, Adrien Brody, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Wesley Snipes, Marlon Wayans and Asher Book himself.

A native of Arlington, Virginia, Book is the lead singer of band V Factory, whose debut album is set to hit stores soon. Book's voice can be heard on the Fame soundtrack in the songs "Ordinary People," "Try," "Someone to Watch Over Me" and "Hold Your Dream." His other acting credits includ Eight One Eight, Medium, Come Away Home and Zoey 101.

Fame hits theaters on Friday, September 25. For more information, visit generationfame.com. For more on Book, visit www.asherbook.com.

Emily Frances sat down with the sexy actress Megan Fox and talks about a sex scene with her male co-star Adam Brody and a girl-on-girl kiss with Amanda Seyfried in the new movie Jennifer's Body.

"Jennifer Check (Fox) is the sexy, popular captain of the high school cheerleading squad. All of the girls want to be friends with her, and all of the boys want to have sex with her. Jennifer's friend since childhood, Anita "Needy" Lesnicky (Seyfried), is a nerdy, substantially less popular, "plain jane" student. Jennifer ends up as the sacrifice in a Satanic ritual, held by a rock band, hoping that the sacrifice will increase their chances of getting a record deal.

"The ritual goes horribly wrong, causing Jennifer to get possessed by a demon and start feeding off of the boys in her high school; First seducing them to get close, and then consuming them in a manner similar to that of a Succubus. It becomes Needy's goal to stop Jennifer from killing more of her classmates," says IMDB.

Jennifer's Body today, September 18. For more information, visit JennifersBody.com.

Actor Doug Savant stopped by to talk about his role as Tom Scavo in the popular ABC series Desperate Housewives.

Desperate Housewives is a dark comedy that focuses on the lives of four suburban housewives and their not-so picture perfect lives. In the show, Savant plays Tom, who is married to Lynette (Felicity Huffman) and is the father of four: Parker, Penny, Porter and Preston. He's also a member of the garage band Blue Odyssey.

A California native, Savant is best remembered for his role as Matt Fielding in the hit '90s series Melrose Place. His other acting credits include 24, NCIS, NYPD Blue, JAG and According To Jim. He is married to fellow Melrose Place co-star Laura Leighton, who is currently reprising her role as Syndey Andrews in the revival of the series.

Desperate Housewives makes it season premiere on Sunday, September 27 at 9pm on ABC. For more information, visit abc.go.com/shows/desperate-housewives.

Comedian Jeff Ross stopped by the show to talk about his new book I Only Roast the Ones I Love: Busting Balls Without Burning Bridges.

I Only Roast the Ones I Love "shares the irreverent secrets every successful roastmaster should know, such as: if a roastmaster is going to dish it out, he better be able to take it, and how to use your roasting skills to meet members of the opposite sex. Ross also reveals some tips for toasting your friends and family as well as his secrets for writing roast jokes," according to Amazon.

This Jersey boy served as Roastmaster General for the New York Friars Club. The club was in charge of the roasts of Pamela Anderson, Flava Flav and Bob Saget. Ross' acting credits include CSI, Six Feet Under and Weeds.

I Only Roast the Ones I Love: Busting Balls Without Burning Bridges is available in bookstores now. You can meet Ross in person at his reading and book signing tonight at 7:30pm at the Free Library of Philadelphia. For more on Ross and his book, visit www.myspace.com/jeffreyrosslive.

The Soup host Joel McHale stopped by the studio to talk about starring in the new NBC comedy Community.

Community is billed as "a smart comedy series about a band of misfits who attend Greendale Community College. At the center of the group is Jeff Winger (McHale), a fast-talkin' lawyer whose degree has been revoked. With some help from his fellow classmates, Winger forms a study group who eventually learn more about themselves than their course work," according to NBC. His co-stars include Chevy Chase, Ken Jeong, Donald Glover, Alison Brie, Danny Pudi, Yvette Nicole Brown and Gillian Jacobs.

McHale was born in Rome, Italy and raised in Seattle, Washington. After moving to Los Angeles, McHale soon found himself on the TV shows Will & Grace and Oliver Beene. His film credits include Spider Man 2, The Onion Movie and Lords Of Dogtown.

You can also catch McHale in the new movie The Informant!, in which he co-stars alongside Matt Damon, Melanie Lynskey and Scott Bakula. The Informant! hits theaters on Friday, September 18. For more information, visit theinformantmovie.warnerbros.com.

Community makes it series premiere tonight, September 17 at 9:30pm. For more information, visit nbc.com/community-show. For more on McHale, visit www.joelmchaleonline.com.

The NASCAR driver No. 83 Brian Vickers stopped by the studio to talk about qualifying for the Chase for the Sprint Cup and what he and his team are going to do to secure the title. Vicker brought the trophy with him and talked about how much it's really worth.

Vickers' interest in racing began at age 8 and now, at 23 years of age, he is one of the hottest up-and-coming drivers in motorsports. Driving for Red Bull Racing, Vickers set a"first-year performance benchmark for the all-new team and manufacturer partner Toyota, earning their first Top 10 finish in his 1st-ever start for RBR, their first Top 5 later that season and leading the most laps of any Toyota team during the 2007 season," according to his website.

During 2002 Busch Series season, he qualified for Charlotte's May race on a Friday, hurried home to participate in Trinity High School graduation ceremonies, then returned to Charlotte in time to race Saturday afternoon. Earlier in the 2002 season, Vickers, who had a 4.43 GPA, missed his high school prom because he was racing at Bristol.

The first race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup is this Sunday in New Hampshire. For more information on the Chase For The Sprint Cup, visit www.nascar.com/series/cup. For more on Vickers, visit www.brianvickers.com.

Comedienne Lisa Lampanelli stopped by the studio to talk about her memoir Chocolate, Please.

"In her jaw-droppingly hilarious and politically incorrect memoir, Lisa reveals all—including the dysfunctional childhood that made her the insult comic she is today, the subject for which she's best known (black men, black men, and more black men), and her hilarious struggles with her addiction to food and hot guys," says publisher HarperCollins.

Otherwise known as the Queen of Mean, Lampanelli's fame skyrocketed after showcasing her signature insult comedy at the roasts of Jeff Foxworthy, Pamela Anderson, William Shatner and Flavor Flav. She soon served as roastmistress for fellow comedian Larry the Cable Guy and debuted her HBO special Long Live the Queen earlier this year. She is a regular guest on The Tonight Show and The Howard Stern Show.

Chocolate, Please is available in bookstores today. You can meet her in person at a book signing tonight, September 15 at 7pm at the Barnes & Noble in TriBeca (97 Warren Street, New York, NY 10007).

For more on Lampanelli and her book, visit www.insultcomic.com or www.myspace.com/lisalampanelli.

One of the newer faces to the CW family, actress Sara Paxton stopped by the studio to talk about her leading role as model Raina Mayer on the new show The Beautiful Life.

Paxton plays a small town girl Raina who makes a big debut when A-list model Sonja Stone (Mischa Barton) fails to fit into a designer's closing dress during a fashion show. She's living the glamorous and sexy life of high fashion models in New York City when she meets midwesterner Chris Andrews (Ben Hollingsworth), who is discovered by a talent agent while on a family trip to the Big Apple. Raina helps Chris cope with the fast-paced city as more fashion drama unfolds. The series also stars Corbin Bleu, Ashley Madekwe, Elle Macpherson and Nico Tortorella.

A native of Los Angeles, Paxton started her career at age 6 in commericals. She's a familiar face to the network as she was a regular on Greetings from Tucson and Summerland, opposite 90210's Lori Loughlin, Her other acting credits include movie Aquamarine, opposite Emma Roberts and JoJo, and the TV series Malcolm in the Middle, Will & Grace, CSI and CSI: Miami. Paxton currently resides in New York City, where The Beautiful Life is filmed.

The series premiere of The Beautiful Life airs tonight, Wednesday, September 16 at 9pm. For more information, visit www.cwtv.com.

Emily Frances sat down with the stars of the new movie The Informant!.

The Informant! focuses on Mark Whitacre (Matt Damon), a businessman-turned-haphazard-goverment-informant. When the federal government decides to go after an agri-business giant with a price-fixing accusation after receiving incriminating evidence submitted by Mark, the company's vice president, they turn the whistleblower into an informant. The problem: Mark is a terrible and completely conspicuous undercover operative.

Melanie Lynskey stopped by yesterday to talk about her role as Mark's wife Ginger. Other stars in the movie include Scott Bakula and Joel McHale.

Damon also spoke to Emily about One x One, a charity he founded that is partnered with carefully selected local organizations to improve a child's overall well-being in five catergories: water, hunger, healthcare, education and play. For more information, visit www.onexone.org.

em>The Informant! hits theaters on Friday, September 18. For more information, visit theinformantmovie.warnerbros.com.

Fresh off the release of her newest single "Feels Just Like A Love Song," country singer Sara Evans stopped by the studio to talk about Libby's jingle recording contest and to show us how to make her signature Country Corn Casserole.

Evans partnered with Libby’s Vegetables to help designate September as Get Back to the Table Month – a celebration of the many social and economic benefits of family dinnertime. The campaign kicked off on September 1 with Evans’ modern country version of the iconic Libby's jingle: "When it says Libby’s, Libby’s, Libby’s on the label, label, label."

Also launching on GetBacktotheTable.com is a nationwide contest that will give one lucky family the chance to have dinner with Evans backstage at one of her concerts. Parents can submit their stories and creative tips for getting their families together at dinnertime throughout the fall. The most creative tips will be posted online to be shared with families across the country once the contest ends on December 15.

Evans will also be hosting a recipe cook off event at the South Street Seaport this afternoon.
For more on Get Back to the Table Month and to listen to Evans' version of the Libby’s jingle, visit GetBacktotheTable.com. For more on Evans, visit www.saraevans.com.

Two and Half Men actress Melanie Lynskey stopped by the studio to talk about her role as Ginger Whitacre in the new movie The Informant!

The Informant! is about Mark Whitacre (Matt Damon), a businessman-turned-haphazard-goverment-informant. When the federal government decides to go after an agri-business giant with a price-fixing accusation after receiving incriminating evidence submitted by Mark, the company's vice president, they turn the whistleblower into an informant. The problem: Mark is a terrible and completely conspicuous undercover operative. Lynskey plays Mark's wife Ginger. Her other co-stars include Scott Bakula and Joel McHale.

Lynskey is a native of New Zealand and made her mark in the acting industry at age 16 when she played a teenage murderess in Peter Jackson's Academy Award-nominated Heavenly Creatures, opposite Hollywood heavyweight Kate Winslet. Soon afterwards, she starred alongside Drew Barrymore in the film Ever After. Lynskey's other acting credits include Coyote Ugly, Stephen King's "Rose Red," Sweet Home Alabama and Comanche Moon.

The Informant! hits theaters on Friday, September 18. For more information, visit theinformantmovie.warnerbros.com. Two and a Half Men airs Monday to Friday at 7pm and 11pm, and Saturdays at 6pm on PIX.

Days of Our Lives actress Alison Sweeney stopped by the studio to talk about the new season of The Biggest Loser.

Hit reality show The Biggest Loser returns for an eighth season with the theme of second chances. NBC says, "Their individual stories are compelling, from a firefighter (Allen Smith) whose health and job are at risk because of his weight to a military wife and mother of four (Tracey Yukich) who has always put others first. Viewers will also meet a remarkable woman (Abby Rike) who endured the worst tragedy imaginable – losing her husband and two children in a deadly car crash – and who now gets a second chance to restart her life." Trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels return to the show to help 16 contestants transform themselves and get a new lease on life.

A Los Angeles native, Sweeney made her TV debut at age 4 in a Kodak commercial. She has played Days Of Our Lives character Samantha "Sami" Gene Brady since 1993. Before that, she played Christy McCray on the late 1980s show A Brand New Life. She is a mom of two young children -- Benjamin Edward and Megan Hope Sanov.

The Biggest Loser makes its season premiere tonight, September 15 at 8pm on NBC. For more information, visit nbc.com/The_Biggest_Loser. You can catch Sweeney weekdays on Days of Our Lives at 1pm on NBC. For more on Sweeney, visit www.alisonsweeney.com.

PIX's Andrew Ramos went behind-the-scenes of the much-anticipated, much-talked about new CW show The Beautiful Life and spent the day with lead actors Sara Paxton (Raina Mayer) and Ben Hollingsworth (Chris Andrews), and familiar face Corbin Bleu (Isaac Taylor), who's fresh out of the High School Musical circuit. Andrew found out from the stars that living the beautiful life is not so easy.

Be sure to tune in tomorrow when star Sara Paxton stops by the PIX Morning News to talk about the show's series premiere, which airs Wednesday, September 16 at 9pm on PIX. For more on The Beautiful Life, visit www.cwtv.com.

Actor Thomas Calabro stopped by the studio to talk about reprising his role as Dr. Michael Mancini on the new CW show Melrose Place.

Set in an apartment complex on Melrose Place, the show focuses on the 20-something tenants and their intertwining lives. The series opens with Syndey's (Laura Leighton) murder and a series of flashbacks. Violet (Ashlee Simpson-Wentz) screams as she discovers Sydney's bloody body floating in the pool. Although the police immediately suspect David (Shaun Sipos) is the murderer, they soon discover that all the tenants had a reason to want Sydney dead.

A native New Yorker hailing from Brooklyn, Mancini is the only cast member of the original Melrose Place series to stay with the show throughout its run. Since the series, he has appeared in The Perfect Husband, Nip/Tuck, Cold Case and Without A Trace.

Melrose Place airs Tuesdays at 9pm on WPIX. For more information, visit www.cwtv.com. For more on Calabro, visit www.thomascalabro.com.

Actress JoAnna Garcia stopped by the studio to talk about her role as Bree Buckley on the new third season of Gossip Girl.

In the new season, we find Chuck and Blair adjusting to life as a couple; Serena returning from Europe with secrets and a complicated relationship; and Rufus, Jenny and Dan try to adjust to the van der Woodsens' glamorous lifestyle. Bree's (Garcia) family despises the Archibalds, but she and Archibald progeny Nate have developed a sort of Romeo and Juliet relationship over the summer.

Garcia is set to unveil the "I Rock Inspiration" Network at the Gen Art Fresh Faces in Fashion show tomorrow night – the premiere fashion event for the best emerging designers – tomorrow, September 15.

Prior to starring on CW's Privileged as Megan Smith, Garcia was known for her role as Cheyenne Hart-Montgomery on the CW sitcom Reba. A Tampa, Florida native, Garcia has also appeared in films like American Pie 2 and Not Anothter Teen Movie, and television shows including Dawson's Creek and Freaks and Geeks.

The season premiere of Gossip Girl is tonight, September 14 at 9pm on PIX. For more information, visit www.cwtv.com. For more on I Rock Inspiration, visit genart.org/irockinspiration.

Broadcaster/journalist Deborah Norville stopped by the studio to talk about Inside Edition and it's new home on PIX.

Inside Edition goes into its 22nd season as "television’s longest-running, top-rated and most-honored syndicated newsmagazine, building upon a successful season in which the show made headlines, received industry accolades and, once again, ranked in the top-10 first-run syndicated programs, a distinction it’s held for the past 20 years.

"Anchored by veteran newswoman Deborah Norville since 1995, and backed by a dedicated staff of correspondents and producers, the daily newsmagazine has built its enduring success by presenting a compelling mix of hard-hitting investigations, exclusive newsmaker interviews and human-interest stories, as well as celebrity and pop culture features," says Inside Edition's official site.

Norville is a Georgia native who has hosted NBC's Today, served as a fill-in anchor on the NBC Nightly News and the weekend CBS Evening News. She was also part of CBS News magazine programs and hosted her own radio show.

Inside Edition airs weekdays at 6pm on PIX, right before our new 6:30pm news broadcast. For more information, visit www.insideedition.com. For more on Norville, visit www.dnorville.com.

Our producer Ojinika Obiekwe got a behind-the-scenes tour of The Steve Wilkos Show as it gets a whole new look and set location in Stamford, Connecticut this season.

She learned about Wilkos, a former cop turned talked show host and how working for Jerry Springer changed his life. Ojinika also spoke to executive producer Rachelle Wilkos, and fans Rob Fleming and Lisa Wilson.

Wilkos was formerly Springer's director of security. He got his foot in the door on The Jerry Springer Show with his own segment Steve To The Rescue, which would air periodically when Springer took breaks from the show. In his own show, Wilkos' signature move is being confrontational with the wrongdoer in order for him to realize his error.

The new season of The Steve Wilkos Show airs today at noon on PIX.

For more information, visit www.stevewilkos.com.

Actor George Hamilton stopped by the studio to talk about the film My One And Only.

Renée Zellweger stars a self-absorbed woman, who leaves her philandering band leader husband and takes her two teen-aged sons across the country, searching for a new husband who's a wealthy socialite capable of supporting her and her family. In their sometimes comedic, sometimes poignant cross-country adventure, they find new levels of self-reliance as they pull together as a family and overcome the unexpected pitfalls of the road. The comedy is based on a childhood recollection of Hamilton's.

My One And Only is in theaters now. For more information, visit www.myoneandonly.com.

Actress Rutina Wesley stopped by the studio to talk about the second season of True Blood and her role as Tara Thornton.

The show is based on the book series The Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris and centers on the co-existence between humans and vampires in the small town of Bon Temps. Tara is a bartender and has a bad relationship with her alcoholic mother. She has held several jobs that she's either quit or been fired from.

Wesley is a native of Las Vegas and is a Julliard graduate. She's appeared in the plays "The Vertical Hour" and "Darfur," and has appeared in Numb3rs and How She Move.

True Blood airs Sundays at 9pm on HBO. For more information, visit www.HBO.com/TrueBlood.

Singer/songwriter Howie Day stopped by to talk about his latest album Sound The Alarm. He also performed his single "Be There" and new song "Collide."

Day's third album comes six years after the release of his sophomore album Stop All the World Now. Day, a native of Maine, says, "'This new album represents the end of one era and the start of another. 'It's about tipping your hat to the past, living in the here and now, and looking optimistically toward the future.''

Sound The Alarm is available in stores now. For more information, visit www.howieday.com.

Author, columnist and screenwriter Candace Bushnell stopped by to talk about penning the new web series The Broadroom.

The Broadroom is a four webisode comedic series that More Magazine focuses on five women -- Natasha, Roan, Julie, Lucy and Brittney -- in the workforce and addresses everything from breast feeding, to relationships, to male bosses. The series stars actresses Jennie Garth, Jennifer Esposito, Talia Balsam, Mary McCann and Lauren Devereux.

Bushnell is the creator of Sex and the City and Lipstick Jungle. She is currently writing two young adult books for HarperCollins about the high school years of Sex and the City character Carrie Bradshaw.

The Broadroom premieres tonight, September 10. To watch it, visit www.thebroadroomonline.com. For more on Bushnell, visit www.candacebushnell.com.

Actor Ian Somerholder stopped by the studio to talk about his role as Damon Salvatore in the new CW series Vampire Diaries.

Based on the popular book series of the same name by L.J. Smith, The Vampire Diaries is set in the small town of Mystic Falls, Virginia at the start of the new school year. The show centers on Elena (Nina Dobrev), a 17-year-old high school student who has lost her parents in a fatal car accident. Ever the popular one, Elena struggles with grief as she tries to help herself and her younger brother Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) move on with their lives.

Elena and her friends become fascinated with mysterious new kid Stefan (Paul Wesley) who has recently enrolled in their high school. Trying to live among humans, Stefan, a centuries-old vampire, is immediately drawn to Elena. But trouble begins when Stefan's brother Damon (Somerhalder), the embodiment of vampire violence and brutality, tracks him down.

Fans will remember Somerhalder as Boone Carlyle on J.J. Abrams' critically acclaimed ABC drama Lost. This Louisiana native began his career as a child model and has since modeled for Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabanna, Gucci, Versace and Guess. During his teenage years, he began taking acting classes and and has appeared in Smallville, Tell Me You Love Me, Pulse, Marco Polo and The Tournament.

The Vampire Diaries series premiere is tonight, Thursday, September 10 at 8pm. For more information, visit www.cwtv.com.

Actor Orlando Jones stopped by the studio to talk about hosting the ABC series Crash Course and his role as Ben Nickerson in the new film Beyond A Reasonable Doubt.

Crash Course is a reality series that pits five teams against each other as they test their driving skills -- and their relationships -- in a chaotic extreme driving course.

The Beyond A Reasonable Doubt is a remake of 1956 film of the same name. C.J. Nicholas (Jesse Metcalfe), a rookie journalist begins investigating high-profile lawyer Martin Hunter (Douglas), who is notorious for his impeccable record of putting criminals behind bars. C.J. frames himself for a murder he didn't commit in order to illustrate the dangers of circumstantial evidence and expose an overzealous district attorney who has manipulated evidence in the past to gain convictions. Everything goes as planned until his friend, the one person who can exonerate him, is killed.

A native of South Carolina, Jones got his big break in the drama Liberty Heights. His other acting creidts include House of D, Bedazzled, Office Space and The Replacements. He co-created and lends his voice to the MTV2 animated series The Adventures of Chico & Guapo. You can catch him next in the movie Cirque de Freak.

Crash Course airs Wednesdays at 9pm on ABC. For more information, visit abc.go.com. Beyond A Reasonable Doubt hits theaters Friday, September 11.

Grammy Award-winning reggae superstar Sean Paul stopped by to talk about his new album Imperial Blaze. He performed his singles "So Fine" and "Temperature."

The Jamaican dancehall sensation splashed on the U.S. music scene with his breakout hit song “Gimme The Light” in 2002. He went on to release the ground breaking grammy award winning multi-platinum album Dutty Rock. He later released the platinum album The Trinity in 2005 which hailed the hit single “We Be Burnin.” Sean Paul is looking to continue to burn up the music charts with his fourth album Imperial Blaze.

Sean Paul was born in St. Andrews, Jamaica. Paul has a multi-ethnic heritage, his parents come from Portuguese, African and Chinese lineage. As a teen Sean Paul was a skilled athlete who excelled in swimming and water polo. He played for the Jamaican mens national water polo team from ages 13 to 21. He later gave up the sport to focus on his music career.

Imperial Blaze is now in stores and online. For more information, visit www.allseanpaul.com.

Written by Pierre Bonny

Actress Laura Leighton stopped by the studio to talk about reprising her role as Sydney Andrews in the new CW show Melrose Place.

Set in an apartment complex on Melrose Place, the show focuses on the 20-something tenants and their intertwining lives. The series opens with Syndey's murder and a series of flashbacks. Violet (Ashlee Simpson-Wentz) screams as she discovers Sydney's bloody body floating in the pool. Although the police immediately suspect David (Shaun Sipos) is the murderer, they soon discover that all the tenants had a reason to want Sydney dead.

This Iowa native is famous for her role as Sydney in the original '90s series Melrose Place. Her role was intended to only be two episodes, but as fans know, she became a regular character and a source of drama on the show. Her other acting credits include Eyes, Boston Legal, Tru Calling and Beverly Hills, 90210.

Melrose Place made its series premiere yesterday. You can catch new episodes Tuesdays at 9pm on WPIX. For more information, visit www.cwtv.com.

He may be a hunk, but actor Jesse Metcalfe is not just a pretty face! His latest role establishes Metcalfe's diverse acting chops and proves he can hold his own against Hollywood heavyweight Michael Douglas in the new film Beyond A Reasonable Doubt.

The movie is a remake of 1956 film of the same name. Metcalfe plays C.J. Nicholas, a rookie journalist who begins investigating high-profile lawyer Martin Hunter, who is notorious for his impeccable record of putting criminals behind bars. C.J. frames himself for a murder he didn't commit in order to illustrate the dangers of circumstantial evidence and expose an overzealous district attorney who has manipulated evidence in the past to gain convictions. Everything goes as planned until his friend, the one person who can exonerate him, is killed.

This California native got his big break when he landed the role of Miguel Lopez-Fitzgerald on the short-lived soap opera Passions. Soon afterwards, fans saw him as heartthrob gardener John Rowland in the ABC series Desperate Housewives. Rumor has it that he may be returning to the show's sixth season. His other acting credits include Smallville, Loaded and John Tucker Must Die.

Beyond A Reasonable Doubt hits theaters Friday, September 11.

Celebrity Make-Up Artist Jay Manuel stopped by the studio to talk about the new season of America's Next Top Model, which premieres tonight.

America's Next Top Model: Cycle 13 participants are exclusively made up of aspiring models under 5'7". So many model wannabes showed up to the New York audition that it caused a riot and stampede! To meet this season's girls, click here. Manuel is a judge for the show and also participates in making over the models.

Manuel is the former personal make-up artist to Tyra Banks, host of America's Next Top Model. This Canadian is also host and executive producer of Canada's Next Top Model. Manuel's cosmetics line "Manuel Override" can be found at QVC.

America's Next Top Model premieres tonight, Wednesday, September 9 at 8pm on WPIX. For more information, visit .www.wpix.com

Model Crystal Renn stopped by to talk about her new book Hungry.

The book chronicles Renn's journey in the modeling industry. In her career, as she famously began as a model who dropped 70 pounds to become an 85-pound teenage model. While struggling to maintain a size zero figure, Renn learned to love her body, regain her natural size 12 body and become one of the industry's most sought after plus-size model. In this testament to the power of authenticity, Renn illustrates the ways in which the fashion industry is slowly changing and exposes the cold truths about size and sizeism.

Hungry is available in stores now. For more information, visit books.simonandschuster.com.

Oscar Award-nominated actress Taraji P. Henson stopped by to talk about starring as April in the new movie I Can Do Bad All By Myself.

"When Madea catches 16-year-old Jennifer and her two younger brothers looting her home, she decides to take matters into her own hands and delivers the young delinquents to the only relative they have: their aunt April. A heavy-drinking nightclub singer who lives off of Raymond, her married boyfriend, April wants nothing to do with the kids.

"But her attitude begins to change when Sandino, a handsome Mexican immigrant looking for work, moves into April's basement room. Making amends for his own troubled past, Sandino challenges April to open her heart. And April soon realizes she must make the biggest choice of her life: between her old ways with Raymond and the new possibilities of family, faith and even true love," says Lionsgate.

Henson was nominated for an Oscar for her star-turning role as Queenie. The film garnered three Academy Awards, including Best Art Direction, Best Visual Effects, and Best Makeup. Henson is also acclaimed for her roles as Yvette in Baby Boy and Shug in Hustle and Flow.

I Can Do Bad All By Myself premieres on Friday, September 11. For more information, visit www.icandobadmovie.com.

Actress AnnaLynne McCord talked with us about the second season premiere of 90210 and her role as Naomi Clark.

"A lot has changed in Beverly Hills over the past summer. Some friendships have solidified, while others have been destroyed in the aftershocks of the earthquake that was prom night. Some romances have bloomed, while others have wilted or died on the vine. Some characters have struggled in an effort to be understood, while others have done everything within their power to conceal who they are...and the horrible things they have done.

"Season two of 90210 focuses on our group as they begin their all-important Junior year. They'll go through all the ordinary teenage struggles and triumphs - crushes, sexual discovery, academic pressure, evolving friendships, shunning and isolation, love and relationships, family issues, SATs, STDs, a desire to fit in, a desire to stand out, fear and humiliation, joy and exultation - but they'll do so in the extraordinary world of LA. In this world of movie stars and overnight success, glamour and glitz, surfing and sunshine, the American dream is large in the Hills, yet failure could come around any corner of the Boulevard of Broken Dreams," according to the CW.

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, McCord has recently starred in the 2007 horror film remake Day of the Dead, and the 2008 horror film Slaughter. She has also made appearances on Close to Home, The O.C., Ugly Betty, Greek, and Cold Case.

The season premiere of 90210 airs tonight, Sepetmber 8 at 8pm.

Actress/singer Ashlee Simpson-Wentz stopped by the studio to talk about her role as Violet Foster in the much-anticipated CW show Melrose Place.

Set in an apartment complex in Melrose, the show focuses on the 20-something tenants and their intertwining lives. In the series opens with a murder with Violet (Simpson-Wentz) discovering the bloody body floating in the pool. Although the police immediately suspect David (Shaun Sipos) is the murderer, they soon discover that all the tenants had a reason to what that person dead. Violet, a seemingly naïve young woman who hides a dark side, is a small town girl who just moved to Melrose.

Simpson-Wentz is a Texas native who debuted onto the music scene in July 2004 with her album Autobiography, which was soon followed up by her sophomore album I Am Me. Her acting credits include Malcolm In The Middle, 7th Heaven, Saved By The Bell and the movie Undiscovered. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, musician Pete Wentz, and son Bronx Mowgli Wentz.

Melrose Place makes its series premiere on Tuesday, September 8 at 9pm. For more information, visit www.cwtv.com.

Disney Live! Rockin' Road Show is on tour and Tigger, Mickey and Minnie are stopping by to talk about the show. Tigger and Tigger Dancers also performed "Bounce Everybody Bounce." Chris Chatman of Disney told us how your we can catch our favorite Disney characters on tour in our area this weekend.

For more information on Disney Live! Rockin Road Show, visit disney.go.com/disneylive. For tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Actor Hugh Dillon, star of the CBS show Flashpoint, stopped by to talk about his new show Durham County, which premieres on September 7.

"After his partner is murdered, Detective Mike Sweeney moves his family back to the small town where he grew up. But beneath the rural calm of Durham County lurk secrets so dark that even those who carry them can no longer see the light of truth, and Sweeney is no exception.

"Before long, Mike must come face to face with his past when he discovers that Ray Prager, a friend from his teenage years, is his new neighbor. A deadly rivalry plays out in a psychological game of murder and revenge, drawing the members of both families ever deeper into a deadly web of desire and violence," says ION Television of the show.

Durham County's series premiere is Labor Day, Monday, September 7 at 10pm. For more information, visit www.iontelevision.com.

Flashpoint airs Fridays at 9pm on CBS. For more information, visit www.cbs.com/primetime/flashpoint. For more on Dillon, visit www.hughdillon.com.

Actor Daren Kagasoff stopped by to talk about his role as Randy Underwood on the ABC Family show The Secret Life of the American Teenager and the show's finale.

The show centers on Amy (Shailene Woodley), a teenage french horn player, who becomes pregnant after a special night at band camp with drummer Ricky (Kagasoff). Now she's a mom and she has a boyfriend and his name's not Ricky -- it's Ben (Ken Baumann)! But now that the baby's born Ben's no happy about all the time Amy is spending with Ricky.

A California native, Kagasoff is the middle of three children in his family. Soon after taking acting classes, he was handpicked for his role on The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Kagasoff recently won a Teen Choice Award for Choice Summer Male Actor.

The season finale of The Secret Life of the American Teenager airs September 7. For more information, visit abcfamily.go.com.

Author Tucker Max stopped by to talk about the upcoming film I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell , which is based on his New York Times Bestseller of the same name. Max co-wrote and produced the movie.

The book is a compilation of essays and short stories that were written for Tucker's hugely successful website, www.tuckermax.com, and chronicles his adventures in drinking and women. It's highly inappropriate and very funny!

I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell the movie is set to premiere in theaters on September 25. I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell the book is available in stores now. For more information, visit www.ihopetheyservebeerinhell.com.

St. Pauli Girl 2009 Katarina Van Derham stopped by the studio to talk German beer and tell us where PIX viewers can meet her while she’s in town.

Van Derham, an actress and model, was named St. Pauli Girl 2009 in the first ever selected via an online fan vote on Maxim.com

Standing at 5'6", Van Derham is a native of Slovakia and is fluent in five languages: English, Slovak, Czech, Russian and Polish. She trained in Krav Maga, a military self-defense technique and enjoys kick-boxing, wrestling, playing basketball, volleyball and table tennis.

Van Derham has modeled for brands including Ed Hardy, AT&T, Dodge and Rockstar Energy Drinks, and has graced the pages of magazines like Iron Man, Max Muscle, Muscle & Fitness, Best Body, Double XL and British Maxim.

She is set to appear in an upcoming episode of Entourage and will be a contestant on Slovakia’s Dancing With the Stars. Her other acting credits include Monk, CSI, Cellular and 15 Minutes. Van Derham currently resides in Los Angeles.

You can meet Van Derham in person tomight, September 2 from 6pm to 9pm at Kennedy's (327 West 57th Street). She will be giving away copies of her St. Pauli GIrl poster and signing authographs. For more on St. Pauli Girl, vwww.stpauligirl.com. isit For more on Katarina Van Derham, visit www.katarinamodel.com.

Grammy Award-nominated recording artist Trey Songz stopped by the studio to talk about the release of his third album Ready . He performed his single "I Need A Girl."

Born Tremaine Aldon Neverson, Trey was discovered at a talent show by a record producer, which lead to a contract with Atlantic Records. Soon afterwards, Trey debuted onto the music scene with his freshman album I Gotta Make It under the stage name Prince of Virginia, a homage to his home state. He soon dropped the name and in 2007 released his sophomore album Trey Day.

Ready is available today in stores. For more information on Trey Songz and his new album, visit www.treysongz.com.

Model/actress Amber Valletta stopped by to discuss his role in the new film Gamer.

Gamer stars Gerard Butler as Kable, an unwilling participant in an online game in which participants can control human beings as players. The sci-fi action film also stars Logan Lerman, Ludacris and John Leguizamo.

Valletta is a native of Phoenix, Arizona. When she was young, her family moved to Oklahoma and got her start in modeling at age 15 when her mother enrolled with the Linda Layman Agency. She has been a model for Louis Vuitton, Calvin Klein and Versace. Her other acting credits include Hitch, Transporter 2, Duplex and Raising Helen.

The Gamer hits theaters on September 4. For more information, visit gamerthemovie.com.

Actor/singer/dancer Aubrey O'Day stopped by the studio to talk about her role as Peep Diva in Peepshow, an all-female revue in Las Vegas' Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.

Peepshow currently stars Holly Madison (The Girls Next Door), and is directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell. O'Day will be with the cast from September thru late December. "Accompanied by a red-hot live band and 25 sizzling dancers and performers from the worlds of pop music, film, television and Broadway [...] Peepshow combines sexy striptease, playful storytelling and celebrity star power," says Planet Hollywood.

The last time she was here, O'Day was talking about posing for Playboy. O'Day was allegedly kicked out of Danity Kane--the product of Diddy's MTV show, Making the Band because of the drama she stirred up.

O'Day developed a passion for entertaining at age five, after performing on stage for the first time. O'Day pursued her love of performing through various leads in musical productions, including Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz," Carmen in "Fame," Sandy in "Grease," Liesl in "The Sound of Music," Tzeitel in "Fiddler on the Roof," and Mimi in "Rent."

For more on O'Day, visit www.AubreyODay.com.

Dancers Anya Garnis and Pasha Kovalev of So You Think You Can Dance fame stopped by the studio to talk about and perform excerpts from the Broadway feature "Burn The Floor."

"Burn The Floor" is all about a mix of Latin and ballroom dance with a sexy 21st century edge and features a cast of award-winning international dancers. Originally meant to only be a 12-week limited engagement, the show has extended its run into next year due to popularity.

"Burn The Floor" began as a special performance at Sir Elton John's 50th birthday celebration in 1997. "It takes audiences on a journey through the passionate drama of dance. The elegance of the Viennese Waltz, the exuberance of Jive, the intensity of the Paso Doble—audiences experience them all, as well as the Tango, Samba, Mambo, Quickstep and Swing," according to its website.

"Burn The Floor" is playing at the Longacre Theatre now through January 3, 2010. For tickets and show information, visit www.burnthefloor.com.

Actor Paul Wesley stopped by the studio to talk about his starring role as Stefan Salvatore in the new CW series Vampire Diaries.

Based on the popular book series of the same name by L.J. Smith, The Vampire Diaries is set in the small town of Mystic Falls, Virginia at the start of the new school year. The show centers on Elena, a 17-year-old high school student who has lost her parents in a fatal car accident. Ever the popular one, Elena struggles with grief as she tries to help herself and her younger brother Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) move on with their lives.

Elena and her friends become fascinated with mysterious new kid Stefan (Wesley) who has recently enrolled in their high school. Trying to live among humans, Stefan, a centuries-old vampire, is immediately drawn to Elena. But trouble begins when Stefan's brother Damon (Ian Somerhalder), the embodiment of vampire violence and brutality, tracks him down.

The role as Stefan seems to be made for Wesley. Little known fact: Wesley naturally has fangs. Check out the picture after the jump to see his pearly whites.

This Jersey boy hails from New Brunswick and has starred in the four-part miniseries Fallen, based on the book series by Tom Sniegoski. Wesley's film credits include Killer Movie, Peaceful Warrior and Roll Bounce. His other TV credits include 24, Everwood, American Dreams, 8 Simple Rules, Law & Order: SVU, and Cold Case. Wesley currently resides in in Atlanta, Georgia, where The Vampire Diaries is shot, and Los Angeles, California.

The Vampire Diaries series premiere is Thursday, September 10 at 8pm. For more information, visit www.cwtv.com.

Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez of Venezuela stopped by the studio to talk about her big win and new title.

Miss Universe 2008, also from Venezuela, Dayana Mendoza passed down the crown to this 18-year-old last weekend at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas. Fernandez beat out fellow First Runner-Up Miss Dominican Republic Ada Aimee De La Cruz and Second Runner-Up Miss Kosovo Gona Dragusha.

Among other prizes, Fernandez won a New York City apartment for the year of her reign including living expenses and professional representation by the Miss Universe Organization to further her personal and professional goals and a two-year scholarship from the New York Film Academy worth more than $100,000 dollars to its acting or film-making programs.

For more on the Miss Universe competition, visit www.missuniverse.com.

Actress Brooke Elliott stopped by to talk about her starring role in the new Lifetime series Drop Dead Diva.

The comedic drama centers on beautiful, but superficial model Deb, who dies in a car accident. But when faced with the pearly gates of Heaven, she convinces the gatekeeper to return her to her body. The only problem: she's returned to the wrong body. Deb becomes recently deceased lawyer Jane (Elliot). Now living her life as Jane, Deb is forced to come to terms with her new plus-sized body and change her self-centered ways.

Elliott is a Minnesota native who has had extensive voice training for nearly 20 years. She earned a BFA in musical theater performance from Wester Michigan University. Soon afterwards, she made her way to the Great White Way and appeared in "The Pirate Queen" and "Taboo." Elliott was also part of the national tour for "Wicked" and "Beauty and the Beast." her other acting credits include What Women Want, Liar's Club and Law & Order: Trial By Jury.

Drop Dead Diva airs Sundays at 9pm, with an encore presentation Mondays at 9pm on Lifetime. For more information, visit www.mylifetime.com.

Singer Tina Parol stopped by the studio to perform her singles "Hold Onto Your Heart" and "Who's Got Your Money?".

When she was 11, Parol wrote her first song "Gypsy Woman." When she grew up, she studied record engineering at New York University. Among her major influences are The Police, Blondie, Queen and The Clash. Not surprisingly, Parol says music is her biggest passion in life. When she's with her friends, she says they don't call her Tina -- they call her Miss Rainbowbrite because of her colorful clothing selection. She cites Debbie Harry as her biggest fashion inspiration and Vivienne Westwood as her favorite designer.

For more information on Parol, visit www.tinaparol.com and www.myspace.com/tinaparol.

Actor and stand-up comedian Tommy Davidson stopped by to talk about his role as Cream Corn in the new movie Black Dynamite and his upcoming performances at Caroline's.

The comedy is set in the 1970s and is about African-American action legend Black Dynamite. "The Man killed his brother, pumped heroin into local orphanages, and flooded the ghetto with adulterated malt liquor. Black Dynamite was the one hero willing to fight The Man all the way from the blood-soaked city streets to the hallowed halls of the Honky House," according to IMDB.

Davidson is a native of Washington, D.C. is perhaps best remembered as one of the original castmembers of the hit '90s sketch comedy series In Living Color. His film credits include Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, Booty Call and Juwanna Mann.

Black Dynamite prremieres on Friday, September 4 in theaters. For more information, visit www.blackdynamitemovie.com. You can catch Davidson at Caroline's tonight, August 27 thru Sunday, August 30. Caroline's On Broadway is located at 1626 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. For ticket and show information, call (212) 757-4100 or visit www.carolines.com.

Actress Julie Benz stopped by to talk about her role as Rita Bennett in the hit Showtime series Dexter.

The series is set in Miami where Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) is a blood spatter analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department. But he's not the typical criminologist -- he's also a serial killer. Rita is Dexter's wife. Dexter is based on the book Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay.

Benz's movie credits include Rambo, As Good As It Gets, George of the Jungle 2, Jawbreaker and indie flick Kill Your Darlings. Her TV credits include her long-time role as Darla on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, King of Queens, Supernatural and CSI: Miami.

The fourth season of Dexter premieres on Sunday, September 27. For more information, visit sho.com/site/dexter.

Actress Lori Loughlin stopped by to talk about her role on the hit CW series 90210 and her work as the national spokesperson for the Voices of Meningitis.

Voices of Meningitis is a multifaceted campaign designed to help school nurses inform families that, although rare, meningococcal disease is very serious and can potentially cause death or disability of an otherwise healthy pre-teen and teen in just a single day.

Loughlin was born in Queens and was raised on Long Island in Hauppauge. She is, perhaps, best known as for her role as her role as Aunt Becky on the ABC family series Full House. Loughlin also co-created, produced and starred in the television drama series Summerland. She currently stars as mother and photographer Debbie Wilson on 90210.

The second season of 90210 is on September 9 at 8pm on WPIX. For more information, visit www.wpix.com.

For more on the Voices of Meningitis, visit www.voicesofmeningitis.org.

Written by Pierre Bonny

The Wiggles stopped by to perform and talk about their new CD and DVD Hot Potatoes!: The Best of The Wiggles. They performed their hit songs "Follow The Leader" and "Getting Strong."

The Wiggles are a childrens musical group formed in Sydney, Australia in 1991. The group members consist of Anthony Field, Murray Cook, Sam Moran, Jeff Fatt and Phillip Wilcher. The Wiggles, who are known as "the world's biggest preschool band" are celebrating their 18th year together.

The Wiggles have created a catalogue of music, television, video and film that have proven to be modern classics.The group has achieved worldwide success with their children's albums, videos, television series, and concert appearances. They have also earned several gold, platinum, and multi-platinum awards for their CD and DVD sales.

The Wiggles will be appearing at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, NY today and Saturday, August 21. Hot Potatoes! The Best of The Wiggles is available online. For more information on the Wiggles go to wiggletime.com.

Written by Pierre Bonny

Comedian JB Smoove stopped by to talk about starring in the new season of the hit HBO comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm and his upcoming stand up comedy appearances at The Stress Factory Comedy Club.

Curb Your Enthusiasm centers on Larry David when he's at home, at work and around town, as he gets into predicaments with fictional and real-life personalities. The show's actors are given a rough outline and she show is mainly improvised. Curb Your Enthusiasm's season premiere is September 20 at 9pm on HBO.

Funnyman J.B. Smoove was born in Plymouth, North Carolina and raised in Mount Vernon, New York. J.B. whose real name is Jerry Brooks began using his stage name when he performed as a hip-hop dancer. He later transitioned into stand up comedy by honing his craft at several NYC comedy clubs. He then moved on to acting by landing small roles in films which allowed him to star along comedic veterans such as Chris Rock in Pootie Tang and Adam Sandler in Mr. Deeds.

J.B. is best known for his role as the hilarious Leon Black in the hit comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm. He had reoccurring roles on the hit CW show Everybody Hates Chris. He also worked as a writer on Saturday Night Live, where he received the 2007 Writers Guild of America award for Best Comedy/Variety Series (Including Talk).

You can catch J.B. Smoove at the Stress Factory Comedy Club in New Brunswick, N.J. tonight and on Saturday, August 22. For ticket and show information on go to www.stressfactory.com

Written by Pierre Bonny

Jeff Lewis and Jenni Pulos stopped by to talk about the Bravo original series Flipping Out.

Flipping Out is a reality TV series, which centers on Lewis, a real estate investor. The series also features his entourage that includes his Chief Executive Assistant Jenni, other assistants and helpers, and the houses that he works to buy and sell for profit.

Flipping Out is in it's third season on Bravo and airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. For more information, visit www.bravotv.com/flipping-out.

Written by Pierre Bonny

Fashion expert Tim Gunn stopped by to talk his role as a judge and mentor on the Lifetime Television series Project Runway.

Project Runway focuses on fashion design and is hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum. The contestants compete with each other to create the best clothes and are usually given little materials and a short amount of time. Their designs are judged and one or more designers are eliminated each week.

Gunn was born and raised in Washington, D.C. and serves as chief creative officer at Liz Claiborne, Inc, where he is responsible for attracting, retaining and developing creative talent for Liz Claiborne, Inc. Prior to working for Liz Claiborne, Gunn served as the chairman of fashion design at Parsons the New School for Design. Gunn has lectured widely on fashion and lifestyle design. His interviews have appeared in a wide range of publications which include Newsweek, The New York Times, People and Entertainment Weekly.

Project Runway premieres on Lifetime tonight, August 20 at 10 p.m. For more information, visit www.mylifetime.com.

Written by Pierre Bonny

Actor Zach Gilford stopped by to talk about his role as Adam Davies in the new film Post Grad.

Post Grad is the story of a woman who is forced to move back home with her family after graduating from college and not being able to find a job. Frustrated and confused about how her life is supposed to turn out, she soon realizes that her longtime platonic best friend is the only person who understands her and her crazy life. Gilford's co-stars include Alexis Bledel (Gilmore Girls) and Michael Keaton.

Gilford, an Illinoisan attended Northwestern University, where he appeared in stage productions of "Equus" and "The Laramie Project." After graduating he was cast in the role of Matt Saracen on the popular TV series Friday Night Lights. He also made appearances on the TV shows Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Grey’s Anatomy.

Post Grad opens in theaters this Friday. For more information, visit www.postgradmovie.com.

Written by Pierre Bonny

Tony-nominated actor Jonathan Groff stopped by to talk about his new film Taking Woodstock.

Taking Woodstock is the story of a man working at his parents' motel in the Catskills who unintentionally sets in motion the generation-defining Woodstock concert in the summer of 1969. Groff plays Michael Lang in the Ang Lee-directed movie.

Groff starred in the Broadway production of "Spring Awakening." He received rave reviews in the musical for playing the role of Melchor Gabor, and received a Tony Award nomination for his performance. He also appeared in the 2005 Broadway musical, "In My Life."

Taking Woodstock opens in theaters on August 28th. For more information, visit FilminFocus.com/TakingWoodstock.

Written by Pierre Bonny

Host Kelly Choi stopped by the studio to talk about the Bravo series Top Chef Masters.

According to Bravo, "Top Chef Masters will pit 24 world-renowned chefs against each other and see how well they fare in the tried and true format of Top Chef. [...] The winning chef will receive $100,000 for the charity of their choice."

Choi is an Emmy-nominated TV personality, who began her career as a Ford model. She was the producer and host of NYC-TV's weekly series Eat Out NY. In the series, she selects a restaurant, visits its kitchen and learns how to prepare a dish with the chef. She was also the host of the nationally syndicated and Emmy Award-winning series Secrets of New York, which explotred little-known facts and mysteries of Manhattan. This food journalist graduated from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism with a Masters degree in magazine writing, and just published her first book The 20 Most Delicious Dishes in New York.

Top Chef Masters airs Wednesdays at 10pm on Bravo. For more information, visit www.bravotv.com/top-chef-masters.

Philologist and internet sensation Marina Orlova stopped by to talk about her new book Hot For Words.

Hot For Words explores the origins of English words. Some of her entries focus on common everyday words while others address lengthy and rarely used tongue-twisters. In her Hot For Words book, Orlova takes you on a journey through the origins and meanings of words and phrases. Combining fascinating philology and etymology with provocative, full-colored photos of the alluring author, Hot For Words makes intelligence sexy and lots of fun!

Russian-born Orlova has two college degrees in philology which she uses to specialize in word origins. The sexy philologist became an internet celebrity after hosting the widely popular Youtube show HotForWords. She has also created the website HotForWords.com.

Hot For Words is available in bookstores now. You can meet Orlova tonight at 7pm during her book signing Borders Columbus Circle (10 Columbus Circle). For more information on Hot For Words, visit www.hotforwords.com.

Written by Pierre Bonny

Actress Jill Flint stopped by to talk about her role in the USA Network original series Royal Pains.

Royal Pains is a comedy series about a young doctor who, after being wrongly accused for a patient's death, moves to the Hamptons and becomes the “concierge doctor” to the rich and famous. Flint plays Jill Casey, a beautiful and savvy administrator at the local Hampton's hospital who maneuvers around local bureaucracies to get her job done.

Flint has appeared in several feature films, most recently in Cadillac Records with Adrien Brody and Beyonce Knowles and The Women, starring Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, and Eva Mendes. Her other film credits include What Just Happened, On Broadway and Garden State. Flint also appeared in a recurring role on the hit CW series Gossip Girl.

Royal Pains appears on the USA Network Thursdays at 10 p.m.

Written by Pierre Bonny

Actress Diane Kruger stopped by to talk about her role in the new film Inglourious Basterds.

Set in France during World War II, Inglourious Basterds is the story of group of Jewish-American soldiers known as "The Basterds" who are chosen to spread fear throughout the Third Reich by scalping and killing Nazis. The Basterds soon find a French-Jewish teenage girl who runs a movie theater in Paris which is targeted by the soldiers. In Inglourious Basterds Kruger stars as Bridget von Hammersmark, a popular film star in Nazi Germany who also happens to be a spy for the Allies.

Kruger was born in Algermissen, Germany and studied ballet with the Royal Ballet in London before suffering a career ending injury at 18. She then returned to Germany and went on to become a successful model.

She decided to pursue acting and made small appearances in a handful of French films. She made her first US film appearance in the 2002 made for TV- movie The Piano Player which she starred alongside Dennis Hopper and Christopher Lambert. In 2004, Kruger starred with Nicolas Cage in the hit film National Treasure and also starred in the 2007 sequel National Treasure: Book of Secrets.

Inglourious Basterds opens in theaters this Friday.

Written by Pierre Bonny

Rob and Sherie Zombie stopped by to talk about the horror film Halloween 2 which was directed by Rob and stars Sheri.

In Halloween 2, Michael Myers has returned home to sleepy Haddonfield, Illinois to take care of some unfinished family business. Myers is back and as dangerous as ever as he continues his murdering 'Halloween' rampage until he gets his sister Laurie Strode all to himself.

Film director and musician Rob Zombie hails from Massachuesetts. He formed the group White Zombie after moving to New York City in 1985. The group found success with their 1992 debut, La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Vol. 1. He later went solo and made his solo debut with the album Hellbilly Deluxe. House of 1000 Corpses was Rob Zombie's directorial debut and his first horror film. Zombie wrote the screenplay and directed the 2003 film.

San Jose native Sherri Moon Zombie was a dancer and model before she met her husband. She appeared in eleven of Zombie's solo music videos. She also appeared in the December 2005 issue of Playboy.

Halloween 2 opens in theaters on Friday, August 28.

Written by Pierre Bonny

Authoress, comedienne and host Joan Rivers stopped by the studio to talk about her new TV series How'd You Get So Rich?.

The show follows Rivers as she explores the lifestyles of the fabulously rich (and lucky) who made their millions not on Wall Street, but by creating products like Billy Bob Teeth and Butt Paste. According to TV Land, "Rivers -- no slouch in the indulgence department -- leaves no stone unturned in getting to the story behind the moneybags who walk, or rather drive their Ferraris, among us. In this funny and engaging series she searches the country to find out how wealthy people got that way and, more importantly, how they spend their money. It's an escapist fantasy and an inspirational tale for these tough times." How'd You Get So Rich? premiered on August 5.

A native New Yorker hailing from Brooklyn, Rivers is known as a raunchy, politically incorrect stand-up comedienne. She often pokes fun at herself during her acts. Rivers has hosted several TV shows, acted on the big and small screen and recently performed an autobiographical play on London's West End. Outside of comedy, Rivers is on the board of God's Love We Deliver, is the national chairwoman of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and gives lectures around the world on suicide prevention and survival.

How'd You Get So Rich? airs Wednesdays at 10pm on TV Land. For more information, visit www.tvland.com.

Rivers will be performing stand up at the Venetian in Las Vegas from August 27-29 and September 3-5. For more information visit www.venetian.com. For more on Rivers, visit www.joanrivers.com.

Actor Bryan Batt stopped by talk about his role on the new season of the AMC series Mad Men.

Set in 1960s New York, Mad Men follows the lives of the ruthlessly competitive men and women of Madison Avenue advertising, an ego-driven world where key players make an art of the sell. Batt stars Salvatore Romano, a closeted homosexual art director.

Batt, a native of New Orleans, has appeared in many Broadway and off-Broadway theatre productions including "Sunset Blvd," "Beauty and the Beast," and "Forbidden Broadway." He has also made appearances in the TV shows Rescue Me and Law and Order: Criminal Intent. Batt is also a successful designer, who co-owns Hazelnut, a design and gift store in New Orleans.

The third season of Mad Men premieres on Sunday, August 16 at 10pm on AMC. For more information, visit www.amctv.com/originals/madmen. For more on Batt, visit www.bryanbatt.com.

Written by Pierre Bonny

Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian stopped by to tell us about their new reality show, Kourtney & Khloe Take Miami.

Following Keeping Up With the Kardashians, the sisters have decided to move to Miami, Florida to open a Dash store on the east coast. The series will also follow their newly adjusted life in South Florida, including Khloe's new stint as a radio DJ at Top 40 Mainstream station WHYI. Members of the Kardashian family are expected to make cameos during the series' tenure.The series will follow the socialites as they make their way through South Beach's sizzling scene.

Khloe is the youngest of the Kardashian sisters and is thoroughly eager to make a name for herself in the limelight. She is determined to establish herself through her radio show, Khloe After Dark.

After years of an on-again, off-again relationship with her boyfriend, Scott, Kourtney is finally out on her own, living the single life. She has recently turned 30 and is looking for purpose in her life--which includes finding a new man.

Will Khloe find success in showbusiness? And will the new chapter in Kourtney's life be laden with romance and adventure? Find out: Kourtney & Khloe Take Miami premieres this Sunday at 10 pm on E!

He was the featured bachelor on the 9th season of the popular dating reality show The Bachelor--Prince Lorenzo Borghese is still looking for his princess, and he is doing so on the new web reality series America's Next Princess.

Borghese stopped by to talk about the series. The show promises that this time around in his search for love, there will be more reality, more drama, and more love. The series promises to be a treat for those who are animal lovers, looking for love, or just love great entertainment and offers a unique "reveal" as an ending.

A successful businessman, philanthropist, and avid dog-lover, Prince Lorenzo Borghese is actively involved in charitable work with the ASPCA and North Shore Animal League. He is a member of the House of Borghese and is also a cosmetics entrepreneur. Borghese was born in Milan and moved to Connecticut at the age of five. He later received his MBA from Fordham University in New York City.

America's Next Princess will coincide with the launch of Royal Pet Club, an online shopping destination for his Royal Treatment pet products.

America's Next Princess launches Monday at 8 p.m. To find out more about the series, visit: www.americasnextprincess.com.

Jimmy Page and Jack White spoke with Emily about their upcoming film, It Might Get Loud.

Billed as "a documentary about the electric guitar from the point of view of three rock legends," the film was conceived by producer Thomas Tull and directed by An Inconvenient Truth's David Guggenheim. The Edge stars alongside Page and White. Filmed through the eyes of these three rock'n roll virtuosos from three different generations, audiences will discover how a furniture upholsterer from Detroit, a studio painter and musician from London and a 17-year-old Dublin schoolboy each utilized the electric guitar to launch them into the arena of superstardom.

In the documentary, each rocker describes his own musical rebellion. They also play on the same stage together, share their influences, swap stories, and teach each other songs. The interviews are joined by visual treats, which take us to places where famous songs were written, and pivotal moments in rock history took place.

Jimmy Page is the founding member of Led Zeppelin, and helped define their signature hard-rock guitar sound. Jack White formed The White Stripes in 1997 with his sister, Meg. Since then, they have garnered five Grammys. White went on to form The Raconteurs, his second band, whose debut album Broken Boy Soldiers debuted at number 7 on the Billboard charts. The Edge is the guitarist of the renowned Irish rock band U2, and has been described as one of the most influential guitar players of his generation. His minimalistic style is a signature for U2's music.

It Might Get Loud opens in New York and Los Angeles Theaters today.

Actress Chelsea Hobbs stopped by to talk about her starring role in the ABC Family original series Make It or Break It.

In Make It or Break It, Hobbs stars as Emily Kmetko whose aspirations to become an Olympic gymnast move closer to reality when she is awarded a scholarship to The Rock training center in Colorado. Kmetko is the new girl on the team and she faces many adversities on the road to achieve her dream of Olympic gold.

The Canadian actress appeared in over 40 commercials as a child. She made her television debut on kids improvisational TV series No Adults Aloud. Hobbs starred alongside Heath Ledger in the film Lords of Dogtown. She had a recurring role on The L Word and had roles in the Lifetime movies The Party Never Stops: Diary of a Binge Drinker and Confessions of a Go-Go Girl. Notably, she also starred in the Lifetime movie Beach Girls , alongside Rob Lowe and Julia Ormond, which broke the network's ratings records.

Make It or Break It airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on ABC Family. For more information, visit abcfamily.go.com.

Written by Pierre Bonny

Actor Antonio Sabato, Jr. has melted countless hearts on and off the screen with his famous good looks, but true love has always proved elusive. He stopped by the studio to talk about his hope to find the woman of his dreams, in his new dating reality series on VH1 My Antonio.

The former Calvin Klein model is searching for his perfect woman: someone with the class, beauty, intelligence and thirst for adventure to match his jet-setting lifestyle. The setting takes place in Hawaii and its no hold bar type of survivor competitions to win over Antonio's heart.

Sabato is a former Calvin Klein model turned actor, but that transition for him was easy because his father, Antonio Sabato, Sr., is a seasoned Italian actor.

Sabato is also a huge fan of DC Comics superhero Batman. Aside from collecting Batman memoribilia, Sabato has a custom-made Batman motorbike and a tattoo of the caped crusader's symbol on his lower back. Even his production company -- NAMTAB Productions -- reflects his love for Gotham's dark knight. (It's "Batman" spelled backwards.)

My Antonio premieres on Sunday, August 16 at 10pm on VH1. For more information, visit www.vh1.com.

The Time Travelers Wife is a romantic film based on a book of the same name by Audrey Niffenegger. The film centers on Henry DeTamble (Eric Bana), who has a genetic disorder which causes him to involuntarily travel through time and about his wife Clare Abshire (Rachel McAdams), who has to cope with the man that she loves being frequently separated from her. Actor Ron Livingston, who plays Gomez, stopped by the studio yesterday to talk about about the film.

The Time Traveler's Wife opens in theaters on Friday, August 14. For more information, visit www.thetimetravelerswifemovie.com.

Written by Pierre Bonny

Actress Sally Pressman stopped by to talk about the new season of Army Wives on Lifetime.

Army Wives follows the lives of four army wives, their families and an army husband whose wife is in the army. Pressman plays Roxy LeBranc, a young mother of two boys who marries a military man after a short courtship. Though Roxy and her sons now have a better life than before, she now has to adapt to army life, which includes the system of rank that applies both to soldiers and their families.

Pressman is a native New Yorker and is a former member of the Manhattan Ballet Company. She attended Yale University where received a B.A. in theatre studies. She previously appeared in the independent film The Dread and the TV show Shark.

Army Wives airs on Lifetime on Sundays at 10pm. For more information, visit www.mylifetime.com/on-tv/shows/army-wives.

Written by Pierre Bonny

Actor Ron Livingston stopped by to talk about his role in the new romance film The Time Travelers Wife.

The Time Travelers Wife is a romantic film about a man who has a genetic disorder which causes him to involuntarily travel through time and about his wife, who has to cope with the man that she loves being frequently separated from her.

Livingston was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and received a B.A. in Theatre Studies and English Literature from Yale University, where he was classmates with fellow actors Paul Giamatti and Edward Norton.

His first big movie break came in 1996 when he costarred with Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau in the cult comedy classic Swingers. In 1999, he landed the lead role in another cult comedy classic, Office Space, where he starred opposite Jennifer Aniston. In 2002, he played novelist Jack Berger, boyfriend of Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) in the HBO hit series Sex and the City.

The Time Traveler's Wife opens in theaters on Friday, August 14. For more information, visit www.thetimetravelerswifemovie.com.

Written by Pierre Bonny

Actors Lauren Collins and Adamo Ruggiero stopped by to talk about their roles in the original television movie Degrassi Goes Hollywood.

In The N's first-ever original two-hour movie, Degrassi Goes Hollywood follows the high school students as they travel to Los Angeles to audition (and hopefully get) roles in a musical directed by actor Jason Mewes.

Collins was born in Toronto and stars as the troubled diva Paige Michalchuk on Degrassi: The Next Generation. She has appeared in several television films including Virtual Mom and What Girls Learn.

Ruggiero was born in Mississauga, Ontario and has been acting since the age of eight. He has appeared in many plays including "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Bye-Bye Birdie." In Degrassi: The Next Generation Ruggiero stars as Marco Del Rossi a gay teenager who struggles with coming to terms with his sexuality.

Degrassi Goes Hollywood premieres on Friday, August 14 at 8 p.m. on The N. For more information, visit www.the-n.com.

Written by Pierre Bonny

Actress Jordana Spiro stopped by to talk about her role as Ivy Selleck in the new comedy flick The Goods: Live Hard. Sell Hard.

Produced by Funny Or Die duo Will Farrell and Adam Mackay, the comedy centers on used-car liquidator Don Ready (Jeremy Piven), whose marketing expertise is called upon when he is hired by a failing auto dealership to turn their Fourth of July sale into a majorly profitable event. Spiro's co-stars include Jeremy Piven, Ed Helms, Rob Riggle and Ken Jeong.

Spiro is the lead actress of the TBS sitcom My Boys and plays PJ Franklin, a tomboy sports writer in Chicago. This native New Yorker got her big break in NBC's 1998 Saturday morning comedy One World. She also starred alongside Annette O'Toole (Smallville) in the 2000's USA Network series The Huntress. She also co-starred alongside Lucy Liu, Jimmy Fallon, Tom Arnold and Sharon Stone in The Year of Getting to Know Us. She's also had guest appearances on Cold Case, Out of Practice and CSI: New York.

The Goods: Live Hard. Sell Hard premieres on Friday, August 14. For more information, visit www.livehardsellhard.com.

Grammy Award winning singer Ashanti stopped by to talk about the unveiling of the "BE AMAZING" billboard in Times Square.

She said the billboard is part of a new advocacy campaign from Boys & Girls Clubs of America's to encourage today's youth to BE GREAT. Ashanti joins some 25 prominent alumni, including Denzel Washington, Shaquille O'Neal and Mario Lopez, in BGCA's campaign to increase public awareness about the serious issues facing today's young people, and issue a call-to-action, urging every American to help young people BE GREAT.

This 28-year-old is from Glen Cove, Long Island and had her big break in 2002 with her self-titled debut album. Ashanti's early Billboard Top 100 songs include "Foolish" and "Always On Time." She also had roles in the movies John Tucker Must Die (2006) and Resident Evil: Extinction (2007).

You can see Ashanti and her fellow alumni today, August 11 at 11am at Duffy Square (Broadway & 47th Street). For more information on the Be Great America program, visit www.begreatamerica.org.

Victoria's Secret Angel and model Marisa Miller stopped by the studio to discuss the launch of Body by Victoria and talk about the Love Your Body by Victoria Contest.

Whether its a swimsuit or lingerie, she can work it something fierce. Miller is all about staying fit, being confident and loving her body. It's the same message in a new campaign Victoria's Secret is launching to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Body by Victoria Collection.

A California native, Miller was first discovered by two Italian modeling agents as she was walking down the street with her mother. Miller soon obtained a modeling contract with Harley Davidson and landed in the pages of Sports Illustrated, Vogue, Maxim and Perfect 10. In 2007, she became a Victoria's Secret Angel. When she's not modeling, Miller is an ambassador for American Cancer Society.

You can meet Miller and her fellow angels Alessandra Ambrosio, Emanuela de Paula and Lindsay Ellingson in person as they celebrate the all-new Body by Victoria line and officially kick off the Love Your Body by Victoria Contest today, August 11 at Victoria's Secret Herald Square from 3pm to 5pm.

For more information, visit www.victoriassecret.com.

You know him as money-conscious dad Julius on Everybody Hates Chris . Now actor Terry Crews stopped by to discuss his role in the new film Gamer.

Gamer stars Gerard Butler as Kable, an unwilling participant in an online game in which participants can control human beings as players. The sci-fi action film also stars Logan Lerman, Ludacris and John Leguizamo.

A native of Flint, Michigan, Crews attended Western Michigan University where he majored in art. He also played for the WMU football team where he earned all-conference honors as a defensive end. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 1991. He went on to play six seasons in the NFL which included stints with the Green Bay Packers, San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, and the Washington Redskins.

After retiring from professional football, Crews pursued an acting career, playing the muscular tough guy role in movies such as Malibu’s Most Wanted and The Longest Yard. He also played Damon in Friday After Next, which also starred Ice Cube and Mike Epps.

The Gamer hits theaters on September 4. For more information, visit gamerthemovie.com. Everybody Hates Chris airs Fridays at 9pm on WPIX, home of the CW.

Written by Pierre Bonny

Screenwriter, director and comedian Bobcat Goldthwait stopped by to talk about his new film The World's Greatest Dad, which he wrote and directed.

The World's Greatest Dad stars Robin Williams as Lance Clayton, a man who dreamed of being a rich and famous writer, but has only managed to make it as a high school poetry teacher. Following a freak accident, Lance is suddenly faced with the possibility of all the fame, fortune and popularity he ever dreamed of, if he can only live with the knowledge of how he got there.

Goldthwait was born in Syracuse, NY. He is best known for his high pitch voice which he used during comedy routines. He started out as a comedian at the early age of 15. He made his acting debut in Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985). He later returned to star in the next two films in the series. He went on to star in a handful of films including Burglar (1987) and Scrooged (1988).

Goldthwait wrote and directed his first film Shakes the Clown in 1991. He went on to write and direct Windy City Heat and Let Sleeping Dogs Lie. He has also directed for many television shows including Chappelle's Show, The Man Show and Crank Yankers.

World's Greatest Dad debuts in theaters on Friday, August 21. For more on the movie, visit www.worldsgreatestdadfilm.com. For more on Goldthwait, visit www.bobcatswebsite.com.

Written by Pierre Bonny

Screenwriter, producer, and director Judd Apatow stopped by to talk about his new movie Funny People.

Funny People stars Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and wife Leslie Mann in the story of a famous comedian (Sandler) who has a near-death experience and what he does when gets a second chance at life.

In 2005, Apatow became the hottest director to hit Hollywood when he made his directorial debut with the huge comedy hit The 40-Year-Old Virgin. The film not only put him on the map, it ushered in a new era of R-rated comedies with heart. In 2007, his sophomore movie – the fertile funny film Knocked Up – was another huge hit which was universally hailed the “comedy of the summer."

Apatow started off as a radio show host while still in high school. After graduation Judd began a career as a stand-up comedian, appearing as a regular on Fox's Comic Strip Live. He then moved on work on writing and producing. He was a writer and producer on The Ben Stiller Show and The Larry Sanders Show.
Funny People is in theaters now. For more information, visit www.funnypeoplemovie.com.

Written by Pierre Bonny

The Next Food Network Star winner Melissa d'Arabian stopped by to talk about her new show Ten Dollar Dinners with Melissa d'Arabian. She also shared with us her recipes for Salmon Cakes, Fennel and Cabbage Slaw and Perfect Crispy Potatoes.

Ten Dollar Dinners with Melissa d'Arabian is a new show on the Food Network where she promises she can teach viewers how to feed their families for $10.

D'Arabian, a mother of four from Keller, Texas, won the title of the "Next Food Network Star" in this years season finale. D'Arabian was announced as the winner of the reality cooking show after her pilot episode, titled the "Kitchen Survival Guide," was the most well-received by judges.

Ten Dollar Dinners with Melissa d'Arabian premieres Sunday, August 9 at 12:30pm. For more information, visit www.foodnetwork.com.

Written by Pierre Bonny

Comedian Reverend Bob Levy stopped by to talk about his show on Sirius satellite radio Miserable Men and his upcoming stand-up performances at the Prime Time Comedy Club.

The "Reverend" Bob Levy is stand-up comedian and radio personality who is best known as the host of the comedy roasts and as a frequent guest on the Howard Stern Show. Before his career as a comedian, Levy worked as a landscaper, a painter and a wrestler. Levy was given the title “Reverend” by a former writer for the Howard Stern Show Jackie Martling. Levy has said Martling gave him the name because “he wanted to call me the opposite of what I was doing onstage".

You can listen to Rev. Bob Levy on Miserable Men on Sirius Radio and catch him in person at Prime Time Comedy Club in Sayreville, NJ this weekend. For more on Prime Time Comedy, visit www.primetimecomedyonline.com. For more on Levy, visit www.revboblevy.com.

Written by Pierre Bonny

Singer and actor Rick Springfield stopped by to discuss his new album My Precious Little One: Lullabies for a New Generation. He performed songs "Don't Keep The Sandman Waiting" and "Love Somebody."

Springfield was born in Sydney, Australia. He developed his love for music in high school, where he began playing the guitar and also formed a band. In 1971 he scored the major Australian hit "Speak to the Sky." A year later Springfield left Sydney and moved to Los Angeles where he released the album hit album Beginnings.

In the mid-1970s Springfield temporarily left music for acting and appeared in several popular television shows such as Wonder Woman, The Incredible Hulk and The Six-Million Dollar Man. He later went on to star as Dr. Noah Drake on the popular daytime drama General Hospital.

Springfield returned to music in the 1980s where he released the album Working Class Dog’s, that yielded the classic tune "Jessie's Girl." which earned him a Grammy Award and became known as an popular anthem of the 1980s.

My Precious Little One: Lullabies for a New Generation is available now online and in stores. For more information, visit www.rickspringfield.com.

Written by Pierre Bonny

Actor and comedian Chris Kattan stopped by to talk about his starring role in the IFC three-night mini-series Bollywood Hero.

In Bollywood Hero, Kattan stars as himself in an otherwise fictional comedy. In the series, Kattan is tired of being rejected as leading-man material in Hollywood and subsequently burns his bridges in Hollywood and travels to India in search of a starring role in a Bollywood film.

Kattan got his start with the famed Los Angeles comedy institution The Groundlings. It was there that he proved his talent for both physical and dialogue-driven comedy. He later joined the comedic cast of Saturday Night Live, where he starred as such laughable characters as the male exotic dancer Mango and Mr. Peepers, the apple-spewing monkey man.

Though many of Kattan's recurring roles were memorable it was his teaming up with Will Ferrell as the two nightclub-hopping, head-bopping Butabi brothers that garnered the most laughs and notoriety. The comedy skit eventually made it to the big screen in 1998's A Night at the Roxbury. Kattan also went on to star in films such as Corky Romano, Undercover Brother and Monkeybone.

Bollywood Hero airs beginning tonight, Thursday, August 6 to Sunday, August 8 at 10 pm on IFC. For more information, visit www.ifc.com/bollywood-hero.

Written by Pierre Bonny

90210 actress Jennie Garth and Charles F. MacCormack, CEO of Save The Children, stopped by the studio to talk about how you can help needy children just by shopping at T.J. Maxx.

Save the Children provides aid and the basic necessities kids need to ensure success at school and through life. This year, MacCormack recruited Garth to bring attention to the cause and show consumers how they can help provide basics to needy children with a $0.99 purchase.

Beginning today, August 6, all T.J. Maxx stores will carry limited edition reusable shopping bags, designed with Save the Children original children's artwork, for each $0.99 bag purchased, the retailer will donate one basic item such as: socks, underwear and backpacks to Save the Children's U.S. programs.

Garth will host a Manhattan event today and purchase the ceremonial the first shopping and toss the donated basics into a giant six-foot shopping bag.

She also spoke about the new season of 90210. Rumors say that Kelly's (Garth) guidance counselor role will reportedly come into play as she is rumored to be the first person to uncover Annie Wilson's (Shenae Grimes) alleged hit-and-run in the season finale. Garth's husband is Peter Facinelli, who plays vampire Dr. Carlisle Cullen of the Twilight movie series, whith whom she shares three daughters ages 12, 6 and 3.

For more on Save The Children, visit www.savethechildren.org.

Pro-football Hall of Famer and NFL studio analyst Howie Long stopped by to talk about his work on FOX NFL Sunday and how you can save money at the pump by using the ExxonMobil MasterCard from Citi.

Long has spent more than a decade analyzing pro football for Fox NFL Sunday. In 1997, he received the Emmy for his work as Outstanding Sports Perso