From USA Today - August 28, 2006

TAXING TIMES FOR AWARDS SHOW ATTENDEES

by Donna Freydkin, William Keck and Bill Keveney,
USA TODAY LOS ANGELES

One of the hot topics in Hollywood right now, right up there with Mel Gibson and Tom Cruise, is taxes on the gift baskets distributed at awards shows, following a recent public reminder from the IRS.

Emmy host Conan O'Brien joked about the value of this year's Emmy gift basket being $51,000 including "a $50,000 gift certificate to the Olive Garden"

Several stars said they wouldn't accept, including 24's Gregory Itzin "I refused. I wanted to shortcut that whole problem. It's foolish. It's focused on us because we're so high-profile."

Stephen Collins (7th Heaven) chose not to take the gift bag this year because of the tax consequences. "Just my luck. I'm finally able to get one and this happens," he said. As for SNL's Tina Fey: "No, I am not going to take it. My accountants told me the taxes were too high, and I live in New York, so they have to send the stuff ” and a lot of stuff you don't get anyway."

But Jennifer Love Hewitt from Ghost Whisperer said she was "taking the gift bag. It is fine that we are paying taxes on them; we should pay taxes."

Jeremy Irons, supporting-actor Emmy winner for Elizabeth I, complained, "I haven't been given any luxurious swag!" He added: "We shouldn't pay taxes on anything, that's my standpoint. But if we have to pay taxes on gifts, so be it."

And Jeremy Piven, who took the supporting-actor Emmy for Entourage, said: "The goodie bags should be sent to New Orleans. Wouldn't that be great?" Piven, when asked about his emotions during his acceptance speech, broke down when talking about his father, Byrne Piven, who died in 2002. (He co-directed the Piven Theater Workshop in Evanston, Ill., with his wife, Joyce Hiller Piven.) "He's here and he's very proud," said Piven, who attended the show with his mother.

More backstage chatter from winners: Terence Winter, who won for his script for The Sopranos episode "Members Only," in which Uncle Junior shot Tony, also won two years ago for "Long Term Parking," in which Adriana got whacked. "As you can see there's a common theme to all my writing," Winter says. "Somebody gets shot or killed."

Tony Shalhoub, on his third win for Monk: "It feels like I'm in a dangerous area. You win one or two and you feel honored and respected. You win more and then you come close to feeling like you might be resented. I don't want that to happen."

Jon Cassar, who won for directing 24 ” which also took best drama and best actor ” stopped at the table with the statuettes and said, "I'll take that one, that one and one of those." He had praise for the show's actors: " Nothing bothers me more than when people say we're just an action show. Our show is a character show."

From The Australian - August 21, 2006

THERE'S NO USE LOSING SLEEP OVER SKIN-DEEP BEAUTY

by Louise Evans

HOLLYWOOD actor Sandra Bullock has confessed she uses haemorrhoid cream to prevent wrinkles. The 42-year-old star of Oscar-winning film Crash says putting pile cream under her eyes is one of her best beauty secrets.

Dumped English football star David Beckham swears eye cream applied before bedtime wards off crow's-feet.

Model Rachel Hunter reckons there's nothing like a slap in the face with a cold washcloth to keep you looking your best.

"Here's a great tip I learnt in Japan: I keep face cloths in the fridge so that they get ice cold: they really revitalise your face," saysHunter.

Famed American fashion designer and Cokehead Tom Ford says his glamour secret is "a cold can of Diet Coke on each eye while I lie in the bathtub".

Russian Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova states that her three unbreakable rules to looking her best are "plenty of sleep, lots of yoga and playing tennis in the freshair".

Even Australian pretty boy John Steffensen, the Commonwealth 400m champion, doesn't leave home without pawpaw lip gloss "to keep my lips soft for theladies".

Asking the bold and beautiful to share their beauty secrets is like asking a panel of Nobel prize winners their secret to being so clever.

It's a flawed exercise because beauty is largely genetic, not cosmetic. It's easy to stay beautiful if you already rate 10 out of 10 in the shagadelic stakes. Being able to afford your botox home-delivered and to have a plastic surgeon on speed dial merely maintains what nature has already generously provided.

When Madonna, who turned 48 last week, was asked by Vanity Fair magazine how she manages to look great, she replied: "I take care of myself, I don't abuse my energy and, fortunately, I have good Italian genes."

It's a bit more challenging for your average scar-faced Sam or jug-eared Jo. Most of us have more than a few genetic hurdles to clear: squinty eyes, freckles, thin lips, double chin. And that's just me.

Yet when you go to the dentist, doctor or accountant (yes, it's that time of year again) the reading table is piled with magazines offering beauty secrets from the beautifully perfect.

Former supermodel Cindy Crawford says she uses diluted milk to keep her flawless skin soft. "The lactic acid in milk is a known skin softener," says scientist Cindy. So I tried this but gave up because the cat kept licking my face while I was sleeping.

Actor Jennifer Love Hewitt recommends pouring coffee through your hair to make it shine. "You make a pot of coffee, let it cool - that's important - then you simply put it on your hair," says genius Jennifer. I tried but gave up because the caffeine fumes and the cat licking my face kept me awake.

One of Charlie's Angels, Cameron Diaz, swears water is her acne and wrinkle remedy.

"It helps prevent dehydration, which can lead to flaking skin and wrinkles. I have hyper-sensitive skin and it often breaks out in spots. I use special acne skincare treatments, but drinking two to three pints of water a day also helps tremendously," says clever Cameron. I tried this but gave up because the water made me pee like a horse all night, the caffeine fumes were also keeping me awake and the cat kept licking my face.

Jennifer Aniston, the ex-wife of Brad Pitt, reveals she scored a beauty secret from fellow Friends star Courteney Cox, who uses a matchstick to line her eyes. I tried this but couldn't sleep after poking my eye with the matchstick. I was also peeing like a horse, lying awake in a caffeine fog and the cat kept licking my face.

Welsh Oscar winner Catherine Zeta-Jones uses strawberries to keep her pearly whites looking brilliant.

"I brush my teeth with strawberries because I was told it is a natural teeth whitener, and it really works for me. And, anyway, strawberries taste better than most toothpastes," says clever Catherine.

I brushed morning and night with strawberries but the sugar content made my teeth ache, I was peeing like a horse, the caffeine fumes were keeping me awake and the cat kept licking my face. Now I'm at the dentist reading this stupid magazine about celebrity beauty secrets. It's easier just being ugly. And you get more sleep, too.

Photo by Catherine Garcia

BENJI FACTS

Given name: Benjiman Schwimmer

Born: Newport Beach, CA

Home: Redlands, CA

Parents: Laurie and Buddy Schwimmer, owners of 5-6-7-8 Dance Studio in Redlands, CA

Age: 22

Fun fact: Benji is fluent in Spanish.

For Redlands resident Benji Schwimmer, capturing the title of "America's Favorite Dancer" on the Fox reality show "So You Think You Can Dance" was once a far-fetched implausibility, but is now a tangible reality.

"I can't believe I'm here," Schwimmer said. "I'm just counting my blessings."

The precocious child who once pranced across the hardwood floor of his parents' small Redlands dance studio now struts under the bright lights of a Hollywood sound stage. The teenager whose peers once teased him incessantly now counts Jennifer Love Hewitt and Tobey McGuire as his biggest fans. The long-shot contestant judges once criticized for being too showy or moving perhaps too effeminately, has now emerged as a top contender in the competition.

After beating out thousands of hopefuls in a nationwide talent search earlier this year, Schwimmer was chosen as one of the top 20 dancers and has reversed everyone's opinion of him by making it into the final four.

For Schwimmer, who conveys a painful yet charming self-awareness, the realization of his transformation came much later. At the end of one performance, he gazed up into the balcony after striking his final pose and was shocked to see one of the very middle school classmates who had once belittled him in the audience. The acquaintance who once looked down upon him with a scowl now peered down at him with a proud grin and a "Benji Rules!" poster held high above his head.

Former bullies are not the only familiar faces Schwimmer recognizes in the crowd when he performs. He acknowledged the "cult following" of fans who will camp out in the studio to reserve their spots in the audience. Numerous Inland Empire residents have trekked to tapings of the show in support of Schwimmer, which further ignites the already zealous dancer for his performances. "It's so cool seeing all the signs in the audience," he said.

Schwimmer thrives on the opportunity to "represent the 909," especially Redlands which he considers his hometown, on the show. After being isolated in Los Angeles for weeks during the competition, he was both flattered and elated to hear of the viewing parties and vote-a-thons that have been held in his honor since the show's second-season debut. "That's awesome!" he said. "Redlands has always been appreciative of the arts."

Two people who have contributed to the performing arts realm in Redlands are Schwimmer's parents, Laurie and Buddy Schwimmer, owners of 5-6-7-8 Dance Studio in Redlands. Buddy, known on the dance circuit as the "King of Swing," has been training his son in the genre of West Coast Swing since he could walk. Under his parents' guidance, Schwimmer, along with his partner and cousin Heidi Groskreutz, has won many dance titles, most recently the 2005 U.S. Open Swing Dance Championship, continuing his reign as the "Prince of Swing."

Unfortunately the studio is undergoing renovations to repair the damage caused by a small fire last week. Schwimmer said he was "bummed" when he heard about the studio and if he wins the competition he plans to use part of the $100,000 prize to rebuild it. "I have to help. My parents gave me life. They made me a dancer," he said.

He will also use a portion of the money to aid others in need. "I would give some to my church, and to my charity," he said.

Schwimmer, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was inspired to found his charity, D.E.M.A.N.D. (Dancers Everywhere Making a Needed Difference), after completing his mission for the church in Oaxaca, Mexico. "I wanted to go back to Mexico after my mission," he said, "I wanted to get dancers together to make money, because we don't earn a lot as dancers, so we lead selfish lives."

The non-profit organization will benefit both orphans in southern Mexico and ailing and injured dancers. Upon the conclusion of the competition, Schwimmer said that D.E.M.A.N.D. will sponsor fundraisers in Redlands and all over the country, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to charity.

"After the show, it's on like Donkey Kong!" he said.

In addition to raising awareness for his charity, Schwimmer joins his castmates in the desire to raise awareness for dance, which his fellow contestant and companion Travis Wall deemed "the most under-appreciated art form." Wall reminisced about the era of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, and said he hopes the exposure of the show will make talented dancers "household names" once again.

Wall, who was also Schwimmer's roommate during the course of the show, said he hopes to continue working with him. "Me and Benji, we're basically the same person," he said, "He is my other half. I'll know him my whole life."

Donyelle Jones, Schwimmer's partner throughout the first half of the competition, also commented on her relationship with him. "Benji's amazing," she said. "To be honest, I don't think I could have made it this far without him."

The cool and collected hip-hop and jazz dancer recalled her first impression of Schwimmer after observing his off-the-wall antics and exuberant persona at a preliminary audition: "I remember thinking, RIf he were my partner, it would be sooo interesting.' "

Jones attributed the duo's success in the competition to their contrasting personalities. "We're opposite, but so much alike," she said. "I appreciate who he is and what he does. Sometimes I would have to calm him down, and sometimes he would have to make me lighten up. We balance each other."

Jones and Schwimmer's palpable connection onstage has sparked rumors of a romantic relationship offstage. Hollywood has even begun referring to the dynamic duo as "Benjelle." Both dancers, however, have denied the claims.

"Initially I thought people were crazy, but now it's funny," Jones said. "It's great that people can see our chemistry."

The bond between Schwimmer and his cousin Heidi Groskreutz was also evident onstage when the two paired up a few weeks ago. Both dancers commented on the advantage of having both a built-in support system and a trusted dance partner during the competition. "It's so neat that my cousin made it," Schwimmer said.

Groskreutz agreed: "It's been cool for us." Groskreutz, an international Latin dance, ballroom and swing specialist, added, "There is no substitute for time. We've danced together for 16 years. I know how his body works and I can almost read his mind, and vice versa. We can for cover each other."

Throughout the competition, Schwimmer has been able to both bring out the best in his partners and showcase his individual talent. Undoubtedly, Schwimmer now creates a buzz wherever he goes, whether it be winning over the judges, captivating American audiences, or motivating aspiring dancers in his hometown.

"Benji is simply an inspiration: an inspiration to laugh, an inspiration to dance, an inspiration to live your dreams," said Kelsi Mathey, a junior at Redlands High School and a dancer at 5-6-7-8 for four years.

"Benji is not only dedicated to his craft, but also to his family and his community," said Jacqueline Henley, Schwimmer's former hip-hop student, "His passion in all facets of life shows through in his dancing. His genuineness is undeniable both onstage and off."

Schwimmer must wait until next week to find out the results of the competition, but regardless of the outcome, he still considers himself a winner: "I don't believe in losing - making it this far is winning in itself."

Information Box:

Tune in Wednesday, Aug. 16, at 9 p.m. for the result show on Fox to find out who will be "America's Favorite Dancer."

Staff Writers Catherine Garcia, Marissa Klein and Alexandra Hollander contributed to this story.

This has nothing to do with Love, but his band was named "LOVE"

From Reuters - August 4, 2006

ARTHUR LEE DIES

by Dean Goodman

LOS ANGELES, CA - Arthur Lee, the eccentric singer/guitarist with influential 1960s rock band Love, has died in a Memphis hospital after a battle with leukemia, his manager said on Friday. He was 61.

"His death comes as a shock to me because Arthur had the uncanny ability to bounce back from everything, and leukemia was no exception," Mark Linn said in an email to Reuters. "He was confident that he would be back on stage by the fall."

Lee died on Thursday at about 5 p.m. EDT at Methodist University Hospital with his wife Diane at his side, Linn added.

Lee, a Memphis native who referred to himself as "the first so-called black hippie," formed Love in Los Angeles in 1965, emerging from the same scene as groups like the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, the Doors and the Mamas and Papas.

The first multiracial rock band of the psychedelic era, Love recorded three groundbreaking albums fusing traditional folk rock and blues with symphonic suites and early punk.

Bands as diverse as Led Zeppelin, Echo and the Bunnymen, and Siouxsie and the Banshees cited Love as an influence.

The band's self-titled debut yielded the hit single "My Little Red Book," written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach. The 1967 follow-up, "Da Capo," was one of the first rock albums to feature a song, "Revelation," that took up an entire side.

A third release, 1968's "Forever Changes," which boasted adventurous horn and string arrangements, is considered Love's bold response to the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's" album. Rolling Stone magazine ranked it at No. 40 on its list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

But Love, which rarely left Los Angeles, lost momentum as Lee hired new musicians and pursued a solo career. Various reunions amounted to little, and Lee's eccentricities landed him in a California prison for six years during the 1990s for firing a pistol into the air.

After his release in late 2001, Lee assembled a new version of Love and toured Europe and North America, often playing "Forever Changes" in its entirety.

Lee was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia this year. In May, facing certain death after three rounds of chemotherapy failed, he became the first adult in Tennessee to undergo a bone marrow transplant using stem cells from an umbilical cord, according to The (Memphis) Commercial Appeal. Doctors said the procedure lifted his chances of survival only moderately, the newspaper said.

Several benefit concerts were held in Britain and the United States to help Lee with his medical bills. Former Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant headlined a benefit in New York in June.