Whether you’ve seen the “Treadmill video,” checked out their latest single, “This Too Shall Pass” (over six-million YouTube views!), heard that they’ve left EMI Music, or maybe read Damien Kulash’s New York Times Op-ed, pop-rockers OK Go are currently being very Googled and/or Youtubed. Recently, I had a chance to ask bassist and vocalist Tim Nordwind a few questions about leaving the big, bad record label, fighting the good fight for bloggers who love their embed codes, and how the heck they come up with their video concepts!

Tim, thanks for being with us. So, now that you’re no longer with EMI, do you feel a huge burden lifted off your shoulders or what?

Tim Nordwind:

Ah, it’s interesting to not have your own independent label, you know? It’s been a day since we left our label so it’s a little bit hard to discuss how things are going. But this marks an extremely exciting time in our career, and really, the sky’s the limit at this point. It’s incredibly exciting, it’s incredibly liberating, and it kind of really couldn’t have happened at a better time. There’s a lot of exciting things happening in our world and it’s sort of great to see our new music video doing so well, and we’re about to do our North American tour. Also, we’re making another video at the end of March, so it’s exciting. It marks a new era for us and I’m looking forward to seeing what the future has in store for us.

I read the New York Magazine article where you said that you guys choose the song after settling on the concept for each video. Why is that?

TN:

Well, there’s no set rule, but it certainly has worked out like that, where we’ll have a concept that we really like a lot, and usually what we’ll end up doing is sitting down and sometimes we’ll do, say like, tests of the visual concepts and play all the songs to the tests and see what sort of interacts with the visual the best. It’s interesting how audio affects the visual and how the visual affects the audio. We’ll often find that sometimes the visual makes the fast song seem slow, strangely, or sometimes the visual makes a love song seem almost angry — it’s hard to know why. But then usually what ends up happening is that there will be one song that works very well with the visual and it sort of makes both the visual part and the audio part seem almost three-dimensional in a way. Like, “Whoa! The whole thing just pops!” and you’re like, “Yes! That’s it!” and all of the sudden you’re getting a burst of emotion, and that’s generally when we say, “Okay, that’s got to be in a song because it’s making us feel some kind of intense emotion,” whether it’s happiness or sadness, or whatever it is; if it’s making us feel something, then we generally try to go with it. But again, there are no real rules to it. I don’t know if someday we’ll write a song that will make us think of a visual or something like that, but that’s sort of how it’s worked so far.

We embed videos all the time on our online magazine blog and it’s incredibly annoying when you see that “Embedding Disabled,” text in the code section. Do you think all labels will follow suit to release the embed codes for the rest of their artists?

TN:

I mean, sure, yeah, I think labels should list the embedding codes and let their fans share everything with everyone; it just seems to make sense. It’s like, why do you want to censor where people can see your fans’ videos? I understand why they do it, but they certainly don’t make money selling records anymore, and some bands get millions and millions of hits on their videos, so of course they want to try to monetize that. And that makes sense to me, but I think what’s more important, especially from a band’s perspective, is that as many people hear your music and see your videos, you know? Unfortunately, what bands want and what labels want are sometimes different because the bands just often wants the exposure so that more people want to license their songs and come see them play live, and get a t-shirt or what not, but the labels don’t profit off any of that; they only profit off of you know, the sale of the song, the sale of the record, or the sale of the things they have the rights to, and so, generally the labels want slightly different things than the bands do a lot of the times. And of course, bands would love to sell millions and millions of records, but in this day and age where no one does that, or practically no one does that, you know, you start getting bigger and bigger discussions about what the bands want and what the labels want.

Yeah, definitely. It’s tough because everything’s digital these days too.

TN:

Well, that’s exactly it. But all in all, having the ability to embed videos is HUGE, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s necessary. That’s how people pass things around and share things with their friends, and so, if you don’t have that ability, it makes it really difficult.

You recently released a statement that you and EMI have officially parted ways, so does this mean more State Farm sponsored music videos?

TN:

I don’t know, I mean, we would certainly be willing to discuss that. They were really great sponsors in the sense that, they let us do whatever it is that we wanted to do, and they are sponsors and we did something creative, and they let us make a really great rock video. If they wanted to do more, we probably would be very interested in working with them again. It was a great way to get our video made; I think we’d certainly be open to doing that or working with other sponsors, or however it shakes down. It definitely was a good experience; it just kind of let us do our thing, and that was great.

What do you think it means that you were able to secure financing for your videos without the help of a big name record label?

TN:

We were just glad it [financing] came from somewhere, as far as getting sponsors for the video. It felt like this is how things are going in the modern age, and that this might be the way videos are getting made in the future, through sponsors instead of labels and things like that. And if that’s the case, for the most part, I feel alright about it. I’m sure there are some sponsors we’d rather not work with; I’m sure there’s some people’s money we wouldn’t take, just out of principle, but not because of business practices. State Farm seemed like an easy one, a no brainer; we were totally fine with the business practices and they seemed very excited about having us make this music video so it worked out well. I think it just sort of felt like, “Wow, this is how videos will be made in the future.”

You guys are visual artists and musicians, and props to you for always have control of publishing, merchandising, touring, and so on. Do you think that the changing music industry landscape will not only allow for more musicians and artists to allow their work to be seen but also financially support themselves? How so?

TN:

I mean, it’s strange. I think because of the internet, it’s now easier to find every single garage band in every single little town across America because people can have their own websites, put things on their MySpace, etc. In that respect, I feel like music is healthier than ever in the sense that you never have play a show ever and people will know who you are, and that’s great. I don’t think that speaks very much on people being able to make a career out of music or support themselves with it, but it does sort of speak to the fact that it is easier than ever to be creative and share things with people. I don’t know how every single music video is going to be made in the future; I can say that working with a sponsor was a great way to get this past video done, and I can see it working for future videos for us and working for other bands as well. But it’s hard to know. I don’t know what the labels are going to do in this new era of music distribution, so I really can’t tell you how it’s going to work, but I can suggest that the way we seemed to make our last video worked really well. I’d be happy to try to work more videos in that way.

What is the strangest video concept that you haven’t considered yet?

TN:

We actually have a fairly long list of video concepts that are kind of in the making at this point. We’re making another video at the end of March and then another one probably in the beginning of June. I can’t really give you specifics, but I can tell you they all sort of explore different aspects of choreography for the most part. This last video we did was sort of exploring choreography in specifics and I think we will continue to explore different aspects of choreography and sort of stretch the meaning of choreography. But I can assure you we actually have a decent list of videos that are coming up in the next year.

Cool, awesome! Alright, well that’s all the questions I have. Thank you for speaking with us today!

TN:

Thanks a lot!

And for your viewing and listening pleasure, please find below their video for “This Too Shall Pass.”

Special thanks to Allie Wester/Helen Wei of Fanscape!

Cary Grant

When an interviewer once told him, “Everybody would like to be Cary Grant,” Grant is said to have replied, “So would I.” An oldie, but goodie.
Photo via Wikipedia Commons

Jay Sean

This British singer-songwriter, rapper, producer, and all-around performer broke records when his American single “Down,” topped the Billboard Hot 100 making him the first solo artist of South Asian origin to top the Hot 100. Sean then followed this up with the ubiquitous “Do You Remember?” which entered the top 10 on the Hot 100 chart. Did I mention that he’s quite easy on the eyes?
Photo via JaySean.com

George Clooney

Twice named People’s “Sexiest Man Alive,” Clooney is coolness personified. He has the swagger, seduction, and style that remind us of the old Rat Pack days with Sinatra and Dean Martin. And proving that he’s not just a pretty face, he’s also received an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Ryan Bingham, a man who longs to feel, as well as directing another critical favorite, “Good Night and Good Luck.” Oh, and did I mention that he heralded the “Hope for Haiti” marathon and gathered his A-list friends to raise money for one of the most devastating tragedies in recent history? Sigh.

Jang Dong Gun

The Brad Pitt of Asia, Jang has starred in the highest grossing Korean film of all time, “Friend,” as well as in “Taegukg: The Brotherhood of War,” a poignant and jarring film about the Korean War which earned him worldwide critical acclaim. Most recently, he starred in “The Warrior Way,” alongside Kate Bosworth and Geoffrey Rush.
Photo via Source

Jacques d’Azur

Okay, he might be more French Riviera than Hollywood, but how could we overlook the guy rumored to be the real-life inspiration behind James Bond?
Photo via Flickr

Anthony Mackie

Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Mackie studied drama at the North Carolina School of the Arts as well as studying at the prestigious Julliard School. Soon after, Mackie booked roles in “8 Mile,” “She Hate Me,” “Half Nelson,” and “Million Dollar Baby,” and was recently nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for his role in 2009’s Academy Award winning film, “The Hurt Locker.” Did I mention that the man has got some serious style?
Photo via Starpulse

Robert Pattinson

The smoldering intensity of Robert Pattinson’s Edward Cullen has millions of teenage girls worldwide swooning at his presence. The less emotion he shows, the more Kristen Stewart’s Bella Swan and the legions of his fans seem to fall ever more under his pale spell. Here’s looking at Eclipse!
Photo via Entertainment Weekly

“I went from thinking that people are generally good, that people have good hearts and come from a good place to realizing that’s not necessarily true. I saw an ugly side of the world. I don’t know if that crisis measures up to some of the ones that others have been through, but I’ll never be quite the same.”

I got a chance to ask Marianne a few questions about her sophomore album, “Cathartic,” her thoughts on American Idol, and how she’s using social media to get her music out there for all her fans to enjoy.
Marianne, great to have you with us. So tell us about the day you decided to be a singer/songwriter.
I think I was about 14, and I had always loved singing…but I wanted to take it a step further and really write my own music and play an instrument. So, I started taking steps toward that.

What were your musical influences growing up? How have they had an effect on your sound?
Growing up, I listened to my parent’s music really which included artists like The Eagles, The Beatles, Van Morrison, Stevie Wonder, Carole King, and Linda Ronstadt and many others.They have definitely had an influence on my sound.  I still prefer that kind of classic, great singer/songwriter sound that I really emulate and admire.

In your sophomore album, “Cathartic,” I really like the vibe of “Meant to Be An Angel,” and wanted to know what inspired you to write those lyrics?
Thank you! “Meant to Be an Angel” is a very special song to me. I wrote it in, what was for me, up to this point in my life, my darkest hour. Lyrically, it examines the emotion and the question “do I have what it takes?” just to keep going. I felt at that time that I wasn’t cut out to make it in this world. It is the result of a loss of innocence, and a change of world-view for me. I wasn’t sure that in light of what I had learned, I could keep going. But, I want people to also feel a sense of hope, because I made it through that time.

You can definitely hear that in that song.  So, what is your songwriting process like?
It varies. Usually I will start with they lyrics. Something inspires me and I just go with it. Sometimes it feels like it just flows through me and I’m not responsible for the outcome. But then there are times that I will just get a melody in my head or a chord progression, and that is the start of it. For me, the smallest thing can lead to a song, a good example of this is my song “Cathartic”.

You’re a true artist.  Well, what do you think of American Idol? Are you a fan of the show? What are your thoughts on the changing landscape of the music industry?
In my opinion, American Idol is not about artists and music, it is about advertising and ratings. Through the rubble, they do find some great singers, but it’s not really about the art of music. No offense to the winners or competitors, because many of them are talented singers and performers, but I see it more as a glorified karaoke competition.

As far as the changing landscape of the music industry, I believe with all things, the pendulum continues to swing all the way to one side and then the other. We are now living in a digital age of pitch correction and lip syncing. I have never and will continue not to buy into it, and it makes me sad to see all the soul go out of music, but there are plenty of great artists out there that are the real deal and I believe the trend is going to head back toward an authentic artist. And with the major labels losing money and going under, the machine that has become the music industry will have to change with that. I am hopeful that the pendulum is about to swing.

You have a huge online presence. Do you enjoy being so accessible to your fans online? Or are you an uber private person?
I do really enjoy being accessible to fans! I am pretty outgoing and in general I am interested in people, and connecting with them. As a songwriter, it is my hope to reach people, so I enjoy that.

Very cool.  Who would you love to collaborate with in terms of other artists, songwriters or producers?
I had a chance to work with so many great artists on this record, it was more than I really had hoped for, but if I had to name one or two, I would love to work with Carole King or Brandi Carlile. They are two amazing female artists I really look up to and would love to write with them. It would be a great honor.

Top 5 songs in your ipod?
Aimee Mann- Freeway
Jay Buchanan- Internal Dialogue
Brandi Carlile- Wasted
Whiskeytown- Don’t Wanna Know Why
Acceptance- Take Cover

Last meal on earth?
Spaghetti! with garlic bread!

Favorite drink?
Starbucks black iced tea

We’re an online women’s magazine filled with opinionated writing. What inspirational words would you have to give to our readers about following their passions/goals in life?
I love that you ladies are just that I am a fellow opinionated woman, passed down from my mother. As far as anyone pursuing a passion, I would just advise that it is a long road, filled with difficulty; but if it is what you love, nothing in this world can be more rewarding and fulfilling. Give it all you have, have faith, and don’t let others discourage you.

Check out Marianne’s latest single, “Meant to Be An Angel.”

Photo Courtesy of Mike Houser

Holly W. “I follow twirlit on twitter..her5boys480″

Congrats Holly! And for the rest of you…stay tuned for our next Twirlit Giveaway Wednesday!

I was unable to sit through an entire episode of last week’s Season 2 premier, which featured new mother Jenelle Evan, a 16-year-old from Oak Island, North Carolina, who is a proclaimed “Beach bunny,” and leaves most of the baby-raising to her mother, Barbara. I’m not judging the girl, but it was just hard to watch a new, young mom says thinks like, “Just because I have a baby doesn’t mean I have to stop going out.” Shudder.

In tonight’s episode, we meet Valerie, a 15-year-old girl from rural Pennsylvania who was adopted into a loving family of 11 kids. And in order to get attention, Valerie decided to stay out all hours of the night, party with the wrong crowd, and yes, having unprotected sex with her beatboxing boyfriend, Matt.

Judging by her easygoing nature and her desire to actually care for her baby, Valerie looks to be the “Maci” of this season. The only thing is that I really hope she doesn’t drop out of school but actually finishes and receives her high school diploma. Check out the video below of “Valerie vs. Homeschool.”

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS CLOSED
Yes, ladies and gents. It’s Wednesday. Humpday. And if you’re a regular reader of our fab site, you probably know that this is also the day that we like to give away free stuff — every week! Beauty products, cosmetics, the latest fashions, and even granola bars.

So this week, we’ll being giving away a $50 Sephora giftcard, the leading beauty and cosmetics retail chain in Europe and the United States. And you know, they’re in just about every single shopping center that you visit. So whether you’re in need of Murad moisturizer or just some Nars blush, we know that an extra $50 will come in handy.

Here are a few ways to enter:

The more times you enter, the more chances you have to win! Just remember to leave a comment for each contest entry you complete. (Ex. “I tweeted this” and then add the link of your tweet.)

Note: Please use a valid email address. Contest open to North American and Canadian residents only.

The winner will be chosen randomly. Giveaway ends Wednesday, March 10, 2010. The winner will be reached by email, and announced on the blog on that same day.

I had a chance to chat with the uber-intelligent (The girl was a valedictorian!) Brooklyn Sudano about how she stays grounded in Hollywood, our mutual love of Kid Cudi, and her advice to anyone out there with a dream.

Brooklyn, great to have you with us. BTW, I loved “My Wife and Kids.” It was one of my favorite sitcoms in recent years. Do you think that working on a sitcom at a young age really helped hone your comedic acting chops?
Definitely.  It was a fun show to be a part of. You know, “My Wife and Kids,” was my big break and I was just thrown into it. The Wayans family and Tisha Campbell-Martin were comedians who live and breathe comedy. It was a great learning experience and you had to be on your A game on set. Tisha is such a professional and she really was a great example.  She always came prepared to work and is amazing at what she does. Working with Damon, Tisha, and everyone…I learned a lot.

Very cool. So, what was it like growing up as the daughter of an icon like Donna Summers? You don’t seem so affected by Hollywood’s bad side.
I mean, obviously growing up in a family with parents in the spotlight, people will focus on the negative aspects. They think we should all be on drugs, write tell all books. I was really lucky because my parents were really great and were supportive of me and my sisters. I think they really imparted to myself and my sisters that it is to really important to learn your craft and be an artist. Not just singing, acting, writing, painting, exploring all those sides of creativity.  They gave us the environment to experiment with those things which was cool for being a creative person…they supported you. Not a 9 to 5.  They completely understood that I wanted to go to this field and I actually grew up on a farm in Thousand Oaks so I had a fairly normal upbringing.  We did fun stuff with traveling, glamorous stuff with my mom, but I know what celebrity/fame means.  I act because I love it.

Love how grounded you are.  And the choreographed sequences in “Turn the Beat Around,” are fun to watch.  How long have you been dancing for?
I danced on and off my whole life. I’m an actor who dances and moves well.   I had an amazing support system with Trey Armstrong, the choreographer on the film.  A lot of the other dancers have been on “So You think You Can Dance Canada,” so I was dealing with pros and had some catch-up to do. The best part was probably that I got to play the choreographer so I got to boss people around which was definitely fun.

Haha.  You also got to work with Jason DeRulo on the film and its his first professional acting gig. What was that like? Were you giving him pointers and letting him know if he did something wrong? BTW, that “Whatcha Say,” song is still in my head.
I had that song in my head for a month.  We were on set when the song was really just breaking, I mean, really just about to super duper launch. He was really deserves all the success.  I mean he’s talented, writing, dancing for a really long time. He’s only 19, but a super professional and fun! As for me giving him pointers, no, from actor to actor, you respect each other’s space and just be available. I leave all directions to the producers and pay attention to what I need to be doing. It was Jason’s film/acting debut, but he was really good. He was a pro.

Let’s talk about your character Malika who is an overly ambitious choreographer.  How did you prepare for the role?
Malika was definitely playing a different side of myself. The villain…how fun is that!  Ultimate mean girl. Malika is a real person.  A lot of times when people are mean, condescending, arrogant, they’re just masking insecurity. A little bit misunderstood. I tried to make a reason for why she was that way. Sometimes when you’re at the top, you’re lonely. Its lonely at the stop and sometimes you don’t know how to connect with people anymore. I tried to approach it from an personal level and make her real.

So, what’s next for you? Any current/future projects that you’re working on?
Yeah, its pilot season right now so that’s always crazy.  I finished a couple indie films including “Five Star Day,” which is actually starring Julianna Guill who was in the other MTV original movie, “My Super Psycho Sweet 16.” It also stars Cam Gigandet, Jena Malone and hopefully that hits theatres soon. Also “Five hours South,” a dance movie that’s set in Italy which combines all different styles of dance and sort of brings the world together through dance. We’re wrapping filming now.

Nice. So Brooklyn, what are the top 5 songs in your ipod right now?
- Lady Gaga “Bad romance”
- Kid Cudi
- Kanye West (808 Heartbreak)
- Adele (Hometown Glory)
- Johnny Swim I’ve been listening to their EP. “Away I Go,” is my favorite track.

Guilty pleasure food?
French fries..every single day! In an ideal setting, I’d get French fries from Mcdonald’s with sweet and sour sauce. If I don’t have the sauce..it ruins my experience.

Beauty Secret?
You can’t go wrong with eyelash curlers/mascara and just Kiehls lip balm.

Dream actors/directors that you’d like to work with?
Love Cate Blanchett! She plays cool, interesting characters, strong women and makes them real. Even when doing the Malika character, I wanted her to be multi-layered, not just a strong mean girl. For different reasons, I’d love to work with the JJ Abrams of the world, who do crazy fun star trek movies, TV series. I would love to be on Mad men…writing is amazing. I think it’s just really well done, writing, character, set, clothing. I’d like to guest star on that show!

Maybe one of the producers will read this article. So, we’re an online women’s magazine… any words of inspiration of empowerment you’d like to give to any of those who are reading this interview?
I think ultimately, you have to find what brings you joy. I’m lucky that I get to do what I love for work and that pays my bills. Sometimes the process is hard, lots of disappointment, rejection in the process. I like to paint and have to paint a little bit each day. Its about finding the joy and you have to feed your soul. Women, we’re nurturers and multi-taskers. My 2 best friends are young moms, they work, they need two incomes. Women really give a lot but at the same time, in order to give well, you have to feed your soul. Give yourself joy. I’d just say that. Pray, draw, find the things that feed your soul, even if you do it for 10-15 minutes, it’ll give you that extra oomph to get through the day!!

Brooklyn, thank you for your time. Can’t wait to see what you do next!

Check out Brooklyn in “Turn the Beat Around,” on Friday Feb 26th at 10 PM on MTV.

So what did I do?

Well, I called Bank of America and spoke to a customer service representative who was probably one of the most unhelpful people ever. She was very rude and told me that there was nothing that she could do and that she could not reverse any of the fees even though I explained my dire situation. Needless to say, I never got ANY fees reversed and it still makes me cringe to this day when I think of all money wasted on stupid, random Bank of America fees. Well, not every single customer account representative is cold and heartless. Case in point: Jackie Ramos, a former Bank of America customer service representative, who uploaded a video of herself to youtube, explaining that because of her desire to help customers and not merely turn away their requests, she ended up getting fired.

Ramos worked at BOA from May 2009-November 2009, and was a top performer in her department for denying as many requests as she could. She was recently interviewed on “The Daily Show,” after her youtube video got a bunch of hits. Ramos had a few memorable quotes including,

“Customer assistance is a euphemism for the collections department.”
“There was something inherently evil about my job.”
“There was a saying in my department. You’re only as good as your last payment.”
“Senior citizens and college students were specifically targeted so BOA could continue to make money off of them.” (They should add recent college grads to this list)
“All the people I’ve had to deny programs to, they kept me up at night. All the people that I’ve pissed off with the $15 convenience fee, all the people who were dying, lost a child, lost a job and sat on the phone crying asking if we can just give them a little bit of help, they could make their ends meet. It kept me up at night….So I stopped denying people.”

Check out the video below:

Go Jackie for speaking out about this!

With her hair pulled back into a bun, electric blue eyes and wearing a sleek peach H&M dress, Alexis Bledel has grown up quite a bit since her days as bookish Rory Gilmore of Stars Hollow.  And in the new film, “The Good Guy,” she’s definitely ready to show the world that she’s no longer a Co-ed. Twirlit got a chance to sit down with Alexis Bledel and writer/director Julio DePeitro to ask them about life, love, and uh…is it possible to find love in the Big City?

Alexis, great to meet a fellow NYU-er.   So what attracted to you to the script for “The Good Guy?”
ALEXIS: I thought it was a modern love story and it just felt more realistic than any other romantic scripts. The things she wants…aren’t hard to imagine. She wants someone to spend time with, someone she cares about, she wants to meet a great guy, she wants to enjoy her work. The things that everyone wants..it was relatable in that way. The thing that’s so special about it is that it’s so romantic.

Were you nervous to see if there would be chemistry between you and Scott’s character, as well as Bryan Greenberg’s character?
ALEXIS: Um..I joined the project pretty last minute and in that case you hope for the best. (laughs) I was excited to work with both of them and that helps usually.
JULIO: At some level, you’re crossing your fingers, but I obviously knew their work very well.  If it didn’t work we would’ve had a problem, but luckily it worked out really well.

Julio, you have a background in Finance so you knew these characters firsthand. Do you think that characters like Tommy and Cash best represent most of the guys who work in Finance?

JULIO: I think it’s a very fair portrayal of not just finance guys, but the way that people behave in relationships in big cities where there is anonymity. You can get away with a lot more. I think that you can say that there are lots of guys that are Wall Street types and you can find those same guys in LA. This movie is definitely set in the backdrop of Wall street, but its not specific to them. I think it is a fair portrayal because some of the guys… they come off as really great guys, but these are the people who’ve perfected their pitch whether its trading millions of dollars of stock or meeting someone at a bar. But then you dig deeper and you realize its more of a facade and the other character, fish out of water, may not be quite as compelling at first, but then those guys ultimately have more substance.

So true.  Alexis, this role showcases you more as a grown-up which I’m sure you’re happy about.  But what is your dream role that might break you out of Rory Gilmore (in the minds of Gilmore fans)?
ALEXIS: Well, that’s what I liked about the script.  My characters in this is more of an adult, so I guess I consciously look for that.  That’s what I try to do…find variety in the roles I do.  Other than that, its nothing I really worry about. I just try to find work that’s interesting.

Any plans to do psychological thrillers?
ALEXIS: I would love to do psychological thrillers. And I love period pieces.

Would you do another series?
ALEXIS: I don’t know. I’m not looking for it right now, but there are a lot of great roles on TV.  Cable.

What about the vibe on set? Favorite NYC spots to shoot? I would call it pretty relaxed, efficient. Julio did a lot of prep work beforehand with what was important to him in the scene, and that allowed us the freedom to work on our scenes. It was ideal.  The Cloister’s was my favorite and we shot in Sheep’s Meadow in Central Park. That was definitely one of my favorite shoot days.

Love Cloister’s.  Would you say that “The Good Guy,” is optimistic about modern love in the big City?
ALEXIS: I think, to me, this story is a bit of a cautionary tale.  I think it’s possible to meet someone you connect with, but its hard in big cities, like NYC where you meet new people everyday. I haven’t really dated in New York in my 20’s..I’m sure its more difficult because you’re not sure what people are looking for half the time.  So, I don’t know.  Its tricky, but I’m not sure its easier in a small town.
JULIO: You know, I definitely think its a cautionary tale.  If you’re overly naiive, then there’s a lot of pitfalls out there.  But ultimately, Beth stays true to her principles and I think in this movie, everyone gets what they deserve.  Scott’s character, Tommy, is destined to turn into Andrew McCarthy’s character, this unhappy womanizer that for some reason wants to date women 20 years younger.  He’s never going to be happy. And Daniel, as the other guy, he’s not going to really get sucked in. I don’t want to think of it as depressing. It’s hopeful, but realistic.

“The Good Guy,” opens in theatres February 19, 2010.

Photo via Roadside Attractions

You may remember our “Fall Skincare Tips with Dr. Murad” video interview where the ever knowledgeable Dr. Murad, the world-renowned dermatologist, pharmacist and Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCLA, and CEO of Murad Skincare Inc, informed us of ways we can combat skin aging and why you should EAT your water.  Well, we were lucky enough to sit down with both Dr. Murad and Joan Lunden, the infamous media personality, former Good Morning America anchor, host of Lifetime’s “Health Corner,” and DIRECTV’s “Hometown Heroes,” creator of Camp Reveille, a women’s wellness retreat, and the face of Murad’s Resurgence skincare line, about Murad’s Inclusive Health Philosophy and how to create the best you ever!

When Aysha and I walked into the pristine offices of Murad’s Inclusive Spa and Health center, complete with friendly, knowledgeable employees, pastel-hued paintings from Dr. Murad himself, and huge displays of all of their most popular skincare products, I immediately felt at peace.  We live in a stressful world filled with work issues, relationships, and the daily grind, so when you get the opportunity to take a few hours away from it all, its definitely a blessing.

As we toured the spa center, Dr. Murad was youthfully effervescent in showing us the various spa facilities including personalized consultations for facials, hair and body, and even nail care.  I asked him what his goal was in creating this spa health center, especially when he’s already achieved so much worldwide success with the Murad skincare line.  Smiling, Dr. Murad turned to me and simply answered,
“We talked about passion before and my passion isn’t only to have a large company, but to make a difference in the lives of everyone I touch. I want to make a difference and when people leave here (the Murad Inclusive Health Center), I want them to feel as though they were helped to become the best version of themselves because when you look better, you feel better. Finding ways to include the overall health of everybody, that’s what I want to do.

Love it.  So, Dr. Murad, tell us more about the Cellular water principle, which you’ve stated as the foundation of the Murad philosophy.
Regardless of what happens to you when you age, you lose water. With every decade of life, the water content in your cells decreases. Pollution, sun, sickness, dehydration, stress, all these things age you. Regardless of what causes disease or illness, the final common pathway is water loss. The Water Principle is a revolutionary approach to attracting water into cells and keeping it there. For example, if you look at a cancer cell under a microscope, you’ll see that it has less water than a healthy cell.  So, what is the answer? You must try to hydrate every cell in your body. And how is this done? Through nutrition, raw fruits and vegetables, minimizing free radicals, topical skincare, and reducing stress.

Well, what about the 8 glasses of water a day theory that we see in fitness magazines?  Is it a complete myth?
Eat your water through raw fruits and vegetables.  It’s much more effective.  If you’re drinking all that water, it’s going to go right through you. If you drink too much water, it can actually be harmful to you.  Why? Because you actually delete too many electrolytes and you become less healthy. Get yourselves as healthy as possible by eating raw fruits and vegetables, not by drinking massive amounts of water.

Thank you for clearing that up.  So, for someone who has never heard of Dr. Murad’s Inclusive Health Philosophy, what exactly is it?
The Inclusive Health Philosophy looks at the whole person and addresses that person’s entire health needs instead of only the specific problem. We focus on making the whole body healthy and looking at the whole person, which includes their nutrition, external skincare, stress reduction, etc…

And how do you keep yourself looking so youthful?
On any given day, I really try to eat based on the “pitcher of life,” food pyramid, raw fruits and vegetables, vitamins, topical skincare. If there’s one thing I try to do everyday, its ignoring the pettiness and I like to look at the positive rather than the negative. It works for me.

The best anti-aging regimen? And what is the best way to take care of your skin in harsh climate like the Southern California sun? Smile.  Very simple, but if you just put on a smile everyday, you will look beautiful.   As for sun skincare, know that only 20% of skin is the epidermis. 80% is the Dermis, which is improved by what you eat, raw fruits and veggies, antioxidants, and also topical sunscreen.   Apply sunscreens every 3 hours to your skin, but even then, if you put a vitamin C on your skin like those from our Essential-C brand, and then the sunscreen, you’ll get everything you need.

We wanted to spend more time with him, but Dr. Murad had to pick up his granddaughter. (Priorities!) Next up, Twirlit sat down with Joan Lunden, the current face of Murad’s Resurgence line that focuses on restoring firmness, hydration, and reducing wrinkles. We also asked her about how she stays looking so great, why she’s so invested in health knowledge, and advice to today’s working woman.

Joan, so great to meet with you and thanks for being with us. So, considering that you’re the current face of the Resurgence line, let’s start with skincare talk. With all your on-camera experience including a grueling work schedule, 3 AM call times, traveling to exotic locales, how did you manage take care of your skin?
Well, I grew up in California, would vacation in Hawaii and definitely spent a lot of time in the sun. It was also back in a time when there weren’t people telling us not to get sun damage. Instead, we would use baby oil, olive oil, whatever would make you get tanner. (laughs) Then I burned. Now, I’m educated so I know about skincare and that most of the skin damage is done before the age of 18.  So with that and 20 years of stage makeup on GMA. I will say one thing, I was diligent my entire life about taking off my makeup every night and moisturizing before bed. The most damaging thing for me was lack of sleep. Lack of sleep and the stress with a demanding job like being a GMA anchor, and being a mom, those factors were probably more damaging to my skin than just applying heavy stage makeup everyday.

When did you start focusing on overall health?
I made up my mind that I had to start investing in my health while doing an interview with a rep from the American Heart Association. The rep was listing all these factors of heart disease, aging, etc… and I was doing all the “Don’t do this” factors. I thought, “I don’t want to be standing on the sidelines 40 years from now? I want to be in the race.” So I changed my life, learned how to cook healthy, got a personal trainer, and put playfulness back into my life. I rediscovered my joy.  Very much of being healthy is attitude and choice.  I have women say to me, “I can’t do that.” WRONG. You can decide to change your life tomorrow and you’ve got to put yourself back to your to-do list.

Women will find a hundred ways not to take time for themselves. I think women age faster, suffer from chronic stress, disease and obesity because we usually put ourselves last. When I give speeches, I remind women that we have it in our power to change that. You have to put yourself into the mix.

You look amazing and glowy in your 50’s. You have 7 kids. 2 sets of twins, 3 in their 20’s? What is your secret?
Thank you. The secret, in general, I agree with Dr. Murad about smilng more, finding joy, staying engaged in life, and having a positive attitude. In terms of skin health, its not just topical solutions but its internal health. Things like what you’re eating, taking the right supplements, etc… have a huge impact on skin health. That’s how you address your cell health and people don’t realize that it goes a lot deeper. I will tell you this, something I noticed is that once I started using Murad 3 years ago, I’ve gotten so many compliments on my skin.

I get sent a ton of products, but I did some research on Dr. Murad and found out that he was a pioneer for skin health, is a pharmacist, dermatologist, and trusted that this guy knew what he was talking about. I decided to try it and then I saw results. After using the products for 2 years, I hear compliments everywhere I go. People say to me, “You have the most unbelievable skin. You have great skin.”  Whenever you sign on to do something, you want to 100% believe it, so I’m happy that this worked out. Plus, we all love compliments.

So true. You obviously use the aspects of Inclusive health. Tell us the specifics of how you incorporate those aspects into your own life.
We all want to look the best we can look. I’m not trying to look 20 again, but I want to look the best I can be right now. We all need to take i8ownership of our health.  We’re now told we’re living til 90 or older, so you might as well look great!

Agreed. And we’re going through a rough time right now in this country with the state of the workplace, the dismal Economy, changing work environment etc… What words of wisdom can you give to young women out there who are still trying to find their passion, the right job, or maybe even considering a different field?
A couple of things.  Opportunities are seldom labeled and you have to go find them.  People have a tendency to say, “Oh I couldn’t do that?” Well, who says you can’t do that?  Maybe you can, but you have to be open for opportunities. I have a motto which is “Just say yes, and then figure out how to do it.” Always say yes. You can’t sit around and wait for new things to come around.  When I first started, I knew that the news industry was looking for more women on TV and I called up a local news director and went in and interviewed him. I asked him, “What does this industry have to offer a bright, young woman like me?”  I made that happen. They weren’t going to come to discover me. I went it and made it happen.

I always say that if you want to get into any game, you have to put yourself on the playing field.  Take an internship for less money, get out on the playing field because you learn the nuances and channels of getting into it and who you need to talk to.  And then you have to persevere. I’ve interviewed many many people, people who’ve founded huge multi-billion dollar companies… the guy who founded Starbucks, Fed-Ex. They will all tell you that other people told them no. They almost had to have an unrealistic, suspended belief that they could achieve this end thing in order to hang in and stay in the game.  The guy who started Fed-Ex said he asked 97 banks to do his idea. They all said, no, but the 98th bank said yes! You just have to find out what your passion is.

So true.

Special thanks to Dr. Murad, Joan Lunden, and Paul Williams.

(Photos Via: Aysha Manori)

Got anything to do tomorrow night? How about a free screening of the dramedy “The Good Guy,” starring Alexis Bledel as brainy Manhattanite Beth, who wants it all: a good job, good friends, and a good guy to share the city with. Easy, right? Ha. As the movie starts, Beth falls hard for Tommy (Scott Porter), a sexy, young Wall Street hot-shot. But just as everything seems to be falling into place, complications arise in the form of Tommy’s sensitive and handsome co-worker Daniel (Bryan Greenberg). Beth soon learns that the game of love in the big city is a lot like Wall Street: high risk, high reward and everybody has an angle.

If you’d like to check out a free screening of “The Good Guy,” send an e-mail to the RSVP e-mails below, in your area. Make sure to arrive early! Seating is first-come, first-serve. RSVP’ing does not guarantee you a seat. The theater will not be responsible for overbooking.

NEW YORK
Thursday, February 18 at 7 p.m.
AMC Empire
234 West 42nd Street
New York, NY 10036
To RSVP for this screening, email:
RSVP_GoodGuyNY@roadsideattractions.com
Make sure to include your full name and if you will be bringing a guest or not.

LOS ANGELES
Thursday, February 18 at 7:30 p.m.
AMC Century 15
10250 Santa Monica Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90067
To RSVP for this screening, email:
RSVP_GoodGuyLA@roadsideattractions.com
Make sure to include your full name and if you will be bringing a guest or not.

ORANGE COUNTY
Thursday, February 18 at 7 p.m.
Regal University Town Center
4245 Campus Drive
Irvine, CA 92612
To RSVP for this screening, email:
RSVP_GoodGuyOC@roadsideattractions.com
Make sure to include your full name and if you will be bringing a guest or not.

Thank you for entering our latest Twirlit Giveaway Wednesday where we teamed up with Atari Inc. to give away their BRAND NEW video game based on the mega-hit “Project Runway” TV show. The game hits stores on March 2, 2010, during Season 7 of the ever popular fashion reality show. The Project Runway video game will be released exclusively for the Wii™ system and is being developed by Tornado Studios. So what’s the objective of the game? Well, it will put players in the role of aspiring fashion designer. Similar to the show, players will be presented with a range of theme challenges as they create designs and adorn models with hair, make-up and accessories. Players can then become the model and strut their creations down the runway using the Wii Balance Board™ accessory.

AND WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, THE WINNERS ARE:

3rd Prize – $25 Bluefly.com gift card.
Shellie, “I LOVE Santino!! Very talented and opinionated. Great Tim impressions too.”

Congratulations to the winners and we’ll be in contact with you to send you your prizes! For everyone who entered, thank you and stay tuned for our next Twirlit Giveaway Wednesday!

Well, how about a customized men’s dress shirt for the man in your life? Granted, my recent boyfriend was more of a t-shirt, jeans, and cool sneakers type of fellow, but whenever he dressed up in a fresh, crisp dress shirt, I absolutely loved it. He wore dress shirts on special occasions and always complained about their boring nature and how he wasn’t a “Finance” guy which is why he should never have to wear them. Enter Blank Label, a new Boston-based company, who is looking to change the way people shop by offering customized dress shirts online, whether you’re looking for a simple design or want to go all out with pink cuffs, blue buttons, and even labeled collars.

I was contacted by Danny Wong, Blank Label’s co-founder, to review a shirt, but hesitated at first.  I mean, I knew my guy would NOT be down for another dress shirt, but thought I’d try it out because this site promised something a little different.  And… I was pleasantly surprised, as their brand new customization application allows you to get really specific with the type of shirt that any guy would like.

Fabric- They have everything from Masculine Poplin Gray to Partier’s Dark Purple (interesting name)

Style- You can choose between various types of Collars, Cuffs, Plackets, Shoulders, and Pockets.  You can even have your guy’s name written inside his collar which is weird, but can be cute.

Individualize- Whether you want snaps, colored buttons, or the standard… you have the option of making it completely your own.

Sizing- They promise that they’ll NEVER run out of your size.

I ended up choosing the Masculine Poplin Gray, Narrow collar type, French cuffs, French plackets, Black buttons, and though I thought the labeling was cute, I knew my guy wouldn’t appreciate it.  Well, it took less than 3 weeks for me to receive the dress shirt (they promise this on their site), and I was really impressed with the quality of the product considering that Blank-label is still in beta.

Shirts start at $45; most dress shirts with a few design add-ons cost $60-85.  For more information about ordering these shirts, check out their site.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

Do you love to watch the latest fashions from Lifetime’s “Project Runway”? Do you also love to spend hours on your Nintendo Wii? Well for this week’s Twirlit Giveaway Wednesday, we’re teaming up with Atari Inc. to give away their BRAND NEW video game based on the mega-hit “Project Runway” TV program. The game hits stores on March 2, 2010, during Season 7 of the ever popular fashion reality show.

The Project Runway video game will be released exclusively for the Wii™ system and is being developed by Tornado Studios. So what’s the objective of the game? Well, it will put players in the role of aspiring fashion designer. Similar to the show, players will be presented with a range of theme challenges as they create designs and adorn models with hair, make-up, and accessories. Players can then become the model and strut their creations down the runway using the Wii Balance Board™ accessory. Capturing the true essence of “Project Runway,” the title will feature the show’s key talent, Tim Gunn, Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, and Michael Kors, as well as the top eight contestants from Season 6, including reigning winner Irina Shabayeva. In addition to the core reality show competition, the “Project Runway” video game for Wii will include a variety of fun, family-friendly game features inspired by the content from the show.

These include:

· An interactive garment studio· A fashion career mode · Hair and make-up studios · A Wii Balance Board-compatible catwalk game · A feature where the player can take part in high-profile fashion shoots and take on the role of a fashion photographer.

So. What exactly are we giving away?

1st Prize – 1 Project Runway game and a $50 Bluefly.com gift card.

2nd Prize - $50 Bluefly.com gift card.

3rd Prize - $25 Bluefly.com gift card.

Here are a few ways to enter:

The more times you enter, the more chances you have to win! Just remember to leave a comment for each contest entry you complete. (Ex. “I tweeted this” and then add the link of your tweet.)

Note: Please use a valid e-mail address. Contest open to North American and Canadian residents only.

All 3 winners will be chosen randomly. Giveaway ends Wednesday, February 17, 2010. Winners will be reached by email, and announced on the blog on that same day.

Good luck!

Thank you for all to all of you for entering the Twirlit/Sony Pictures Home Entertainment GIrls Night In DVD Giveaway!!

And who will take home all of the following DVD’s?

Sleepless in Seattle

Jerry Maguire

Click

Memoirs of a Geisha

The House Bunny

Made of Honor

Catch and Release

The Other Boleyn Girl

Marie Antoinette

Closer

And the randomly chosen winner of all these fabulous DVD’s is…
May Schultz- “I’m 82 years old so I can remember WAY BACK!! And i remember the FIRST “Little Women” movie. It must have been good for me to remember THAT long ago.”

We’ll be in contact with you to send you your DVD prize pack. Congrats and thank you again to everyone who entered this giveaway!

Sincerely,
The Twirlit Team

I remember the first time that I had a Denny’s Grand Slam breakfast and thinking that this was a huge meal. Granted I was 11 years old, but still! And today, Tuesday February 9, 2010, you can get at FREE Grand Slam breakfast at Denny’s which consists of the following:
- 2 pancakes
- 2 eggs
- 2 sausage
- 2 bacon strips

You may have seen the original promotion for this FREE breakfast during the Super Bowl this past weekend, and thought to yourself, “Does this mean that people will be waiting outside for hours for this free meal?” The answer is probably yes, but if you happen to be near a Denny’s restaurant, you should try to take advantage. The promotion runs today from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., while supplies last.

During last year’s promotion, the restaurant chain had 2 million visitors during 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. throughout its 1,541 locations and this year they expect roughly the same number of patrons.

Bon appetit.

Twirlit stopped by the Warner Bros. soundstage where filming for this highly anticipated dance reality show takes place, and we saw the Southern moves from Xtreme Motion, Swagger Crew, Royal Flush, and Jungle Boogie.(Click through to check out these pics shot by Aysha M)

I talked to the Atlanta crew “Royal Flush” about how they persevered after failing four times to make it to the Hollywood auditions for the show. And I have to say, I loved their enthusiasm and positive energy. Check out the video, and to catch more of these amazing dance moves, watch the show on Thursdays at 10pm ET/PT on MTV.

Behind The Scenes: MTV’s “America’s Best Dance Crew” from twirlittv on Vimeo.

What if you had the chance to fulfill your lifelong dream of having the ULTIMATE DREAM JOB? The NFL teamed up with Monster.com for their very popular “NFL Director of Fandemonium,” position that will allow one VERY lucky football fan to do the following:
- Get a $100,000 signing bonus, as well as take part in the behind-the-scenes action at several marquee NFL events during the 2010 – Announce a pick at the 2010 NFL Draft in April 2010
- Act as backstage talent wrangler at the 2010 NFL Kickoff concert (September 2010)
- Participate in on-field introductions at the 2010 International Series Game (October 2010)
- NFL Thanksgiving: Serve as an on-field broadcast liaison for the NFL Network 2010 Thanksgiving Game (November 2010)
- NFL Super Bowl: Join the coin toss ceremony at Super Bowl XLV (February 2011)
- NFL Pro Bowl: Select a play from the sidelines during the 2010 Pro Bowl (January/February 2011)
- Publish blog posts on NFL.com and meet with top NFL executives

Right now, the contestants have been whittled down to two lucky candidates: Amanda Cameron of San Diego, CA and Ralph Lanier Jr. of Miami, FLA. Who would YOU choose to be 2010’s NFL Director of Fandemonium?

I was lucky enough to speak with actor/NFL Fandemonium spokesperson Scott Caan who you may have seen in a wide variety of roles from “Varsity Blues,” to “Entourage,” about this very cool job initiative.

Scott, what’s up.  You’ve had a quite the career in Film/TV and I most recently loved your a-holeness as Scott Lavin on HBO’s “Entourage.”  He’s one of my favorite characters. Any plans to go back to the show?
Yes, I am doing the entire next season.  So you will be seeing more of Lavin.

I’m excited. So, to our readers who aren’t die hard NFL fans, how would you describe the NFL Director of Fandemonium 101 Training camp?
It was a two-day long event that had folks competing in challenges specifically designed to test the finalist’s NFL passion and motivation –I was very impressed by everyone’s knowledge of football. They all had an incredible passion and understanding of the game.

How did you get involved as a spokesperson for this initiative?
I have always been a big fan of football so when Monster approached me I was immediately excited about the idea and opportunity to be part of someone landing their dream job.

What do you think is the best job ever? How does Monster.com help someone find that out?
I’d say the best job is being a professional athlete. Monster.com probably can’t help you do that, but they can help you find the next best thing.  Monster.com is in the business of helping people find jobs and this promotion is really designed to get the word out that there are jobs available right on Monster.com.

Why is being an NFL director of Fandemonium one of the best jobs ever?
It gives a die hard NFL fan the chance to be a part of the game and truly get an insiders perspective. They are being given the ability to participate in the game and access to the league and the players.

Last year’s winner, Onyx Herrera, has gotten to announce the pick at the 2009 NFL draft and hung out with NFL players and Grammy artists. What are some of the perks of being a winner this year for this contest?
This year’s winner will also be announcing the pick at the 2010 NFL draft and hanging out with the players. Some extra perks are: selecting a play from the sidelines during the 2010 pro bowl, they’ll be joining the coin toss ceremony at the Super Bowl. A lot of really great opportunities.

Do you think that being a female entering this “NFL Director of Fandemonium,” contest is a disadvantage?
It shouldn’t be.  I found myself very impressed with most of the female contestants.

How obsessed are you with football? The NFL?  If so, did you play in high school?
I played baseball in high school but football was almost my favorite sport to watch and be a fan of.

Indianapolis Colts or New Orleans Saints?  What’s your prediction on Super Bowl XLIV?
The Saints. I’ve always been a fan of Reggie Bush. I say Saints by 6 points.

We’re a women’s magazine, so tell us…what do you wish women would know about men?
Women can always outsmart men if they just let us feel like were driving, like we have some control.

Good point. So, during the Super Bowl, is it best that women don’t speak with the men in their life unless they know something about the game of football?
No, incorrect. I feel generally men like woman to enjoy watching the game. Personally, I’d rather they get involved.

Some upcoming projects that you’re working on and any last words?
I am adapting a book on Jim Brown, the football player. I am currently trying to make a movie out of it. Also, I have a film coming out in April that I wrote, produced, and starred in called Mercy. As for last words, don’t forget to vote at nfl.monster.com, voting ends on Feb 5.!

Thanks Scott and VOTING ENDS TOMORROW FEBRUARY 5, 2010!

And the 10 winners of the calendars are:

1) Kelly Ann T – “I love October. It is so pretty and not too hot or cold.”
2) Vicky H. – “I gotta go with my birth month as well: August. The weather is still fairly hot, with a hint of cool Fall wind.”
3) Valerie – “December- Holidays, Family”
4) Joseph Stowell – ” I would have to say April. Spring is upon us, the weather has started to warm but not become unbearable, and the rainy season hasn’t yet started. http://twitter.com/stowelljg/status/83457240355)
5) Marianna – “March- because that’s when my birthday is! Lol”
6) Molly K – “My favorite month is September. I love the fall and the change of colors.”
7) Amy D – “June.beginning of summer.thanks”
Angela Winesburg – “love June the best because of the weather, thanks!”
9) Kaitlin – “I like June the best. There’s just something magical about the summer months. And I really love warm, summer nights.”
10) Naazie – “July or August. I love the sunshine!”

We’ll be in contact with you all to send you the calendars. As for the rest? Stay tuned for our next Twirlit Giveaway on Wednesday!

You may love to discuss the latest art house flick amongst your group of friends, or perhaps quote lines from Tarantino’s “Reservoir Dogs” while hanging with the boys. But let’s be real here, there are just those nights when you want to curl up in front of the TV with a bag of pretzels, elastic-waist sweatpants and ice cream. Okay, if I’m being good, that would be low-fat frozen yogurt.

This means that I’m in the mood for a movie that will automatically make me:
A) Want a boyfriend/man who understands, preferably the perfect made-up kind with no flaws that only exists in commercial chick flicks.
B) Cry (tears of joy or sadness).
C) Escape reality.

And so, we’re teaming up with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment to give ONE LUCKY TWIRLIT READER a huge package of free chick flicks, in honor of their second Girls Night In promotion featuring branded environmentally friendly pink shrink wrap and priced at $14.95. Each DVD will also contain a free movie ticket to Nicholas Spark’s “Dear John” which opens February 5 in theaters everywhere.

And here are the DVDs that we’re giving away!

Sleepless in Seattle

Jerry Maguire

Click

Memoirs of a Geisha

The House Bunny

Made of Honor

Catch and Release

The Other Boleyn Girl

Marie Antoinette

Closer

All you need to do to enter is leave a comment stating,

“What is your favorite chick flick of all time?”

Note: Please use a valid e-mail address. Contest Open to North American residents only.

One winner will be chosen randomly. Giveaway ends Tuesday, February 9, 2010. Winners will be reached by email, and announced on the blog on February 9, 2010.

MTV’s “My Life as Liz” starts off with the voice-over of angst-ridden Texas teenager Liz Lee saying “MTV made me do this.”  Well, I’m sure that they didn’t force her to have her own show, but the concept of this show is refreshingly interesting. Granted, I graduated high school a while ago, but those pesky feelings of being an unpopular outsider haven’t exactly left me. I got a chance to speak with Liz Lee about our mutual distaste for Abercrombie &Fitch, the joy of not caring what people think and is this Cory Cooper person really a mean b*&*h?

How did this show come about? It’s an interesting hybrid of scripted and reality.  What’s it like to star in “My Life as Liz”?
It started off in my broadcast journalism class. MTV was looking for a cast to do a spin-off of “The Paper,” so they had a posting up to answer questions on video.  I just decided to do this, answer questions, and sent my tape in thinking nothing was going to happen.  Then MTV came down, did an extended casting and then everything changed completely.  That’s how the show got started.

So the concept of the show is that you used to be a popular girl and then senior year, everything changed? Why leave the hot clique? Most kids wait their whole lives to be popular.
So did I. I felt like I was on cloud nine to sit at the table with these popular girls. Um … I didn’t really have fun with them.  I couldn’t be myself around them. One day Cory Cooper (the most popular girl in school) turned on me and she openly admits to wanting to destroy my life and be mean to me. It all started in 9th grade and me and Cory never got along. She doesn’t put it on for the cameras, she’s really that mean. She sort of just dethroned me. I just didn’t want to deal with it, and I made friends with the nerds. I decided I didn’t have to be popular and decided to just be me.

Is this really a reality show? How active are the producers in getting this show together?
The show is based on real events and relationships. Me, Troy and Miles, we are close. Me and Cory really do hate each other. People have said that we were actors.  One lady said we were all actors and that the kids were always really nice.  I was an outcast and it wasn’t like MTV came in and treated me differently. They didn’t try to be famous.

Interesting.  So, is there diversity in your town? I mean, I watched a couple episodes and I don’t see any at all.
It’s a white-bread town in Texas. There are rednecks, hillbillies and there are like five African-American students that graduated.  I just never saw them around. There are some Mexicans and its not a really diverse town. In a bubble — it’s so weird to live in Manhattan now. We have BBQ, we have fried chicken, and then to come here … restaurants and stuff.

There was a recent report that young people spend 7.5 hours per day online or using their phone, etc., how many hours are you online? Facebook? Twitter? Do you and your friends watch TV and movies online or on TV?
Umm, we’re pretty active online. We all have internet phones. Most of the time I think we twitter a lot because of the show! We can reach a bunch of people at once.  Its a really awesome tool to keep in contact with the fans.

I love your character’s openness.  Is it strange to be so open? Do you think that being a teenage girl is harder than ever with Facebook and every random blog where people can anonymously post rude things?
I try not to read too much of it.  You know, it’s pretty crazy what people can say about you online. They can say some hurtful things. Me and Sully always say…haters gonna hate. We just live by that and accept it.

You’re pretty self-aware for a teenage girl. Any plans to pursue acting or the world of entertainment in the future?
I don’t know about acting.  It’s not really a goal of mine. I don’t know how to play anyone else. If there are roles for nerdy chicks with Star Wars and sneakers though, I’d be good at that.

This show is really angsty.  Are you the new Angela from “My So-Called Life”? Do you like being the poster-child for that angry outsider girl?
I love Juno and Daria and almost feel honored. It’s the weirdest thing ever. Crazy, not sure if I’ll ever be used to that.

Tell us something no one knows about you. A weird quirk? Style? Abercrombie to Urban Outfitters?
Pretty much all out there.  A&F, I bought it because it was cool. Just a bunch of tans, grays and it was boring.  After I dropped out of the popular crowd, there was no reason to keep buying from there.  Everyone dresses like that at my high school.

Abercrombie sucks. So, Hills or Jersey Shore?
Jersey Shore. Snookie is the most entertaining!

Got any advice for any outcast, angsty teenager out there who doesn’t fit in at school?
Stick it through. Nerds get the last laugh because I feel, like my parents always said, “Don’t be mean to the nerds because they’ll be the boss one day.” We’re the silent majority. Once you get out of high school, it’s such a big world. High school is such a small fishbowl. They have so much to look forward to!

Ain’t that the truth.  Thanks for talking to us, Liz.  And if you’d like to channel your inner geek girl, check out “My Life as Liz,” on MTV every Monday night or at MTV.com.

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS CLOSED

It’s Twirlit Giveaway Wednesday, and this week we’re giving away the “Men on a Mission” calendars that have not only caused massive controversy because of the tongue-in-cheek nature of the muscled calendars, but have also shed more light on the political actions of the Mormon church. The creator of the controversial “Men on a Mission” calendar, Chad Hardy, said that his goal for creating the calendar was “to be a powerful progressive step in building a dialogue that encourages people across every belief system and walk of life to defy stereotypes, step out of judgment and embrace tolerance over fear.”

Instead, Hardy got excommunicated from the Mormon church. He also lost his BA degree in Communications Studies at the Mormon-owned Brigham Young University.

We’re giving away 10 “Men on a Mission” calendars here at Twirlit because of the following two reasons:
1) We like to look at hot guys
2) We promote freedom of expression

Here are a few ways to enter:

The more times you enter, the more chances you have to win! Just remember to leave a comment for each contest entry you complete. (Ex. “I tweeted this” and then add the link of your tweet)

Note: Please use a valid e-mail address. Contest Open to North American residents only.

All ten winners will be chosen randomly. Giveaway ends Wednesday, February 3, 2010. Winners will be reached by email, and announced on the blog on February 3, 2010.

Check out the second installment of Twirlit’s exclusive interview with the cast about how serious they are on set and what else is in store for “Greek” fans this season. Missed the first interview? CLICK HERE.

Twirlit.com Interviews The Cast of “Greek” Part 2 from twirlittv on Vimeo.

What do you think? Who else should be on this list?

And though it fills me with dread that he’s leaving NBC’s “The Tonight Show,” it warms my heart that such high-tech animation shows my beloved Conando morphing into the Incredible Hulk as he fights for late night dominance. If you haven’t seen the video yet, check it out. (Note: This is an actual video from a Hong Kong newscast)