Happy Birthday, Seth Meyers
Dec. 28, 2008 — Seth Adam Meyers, who is a Weekend Update Anchor on “Saturday Night Live” (10:30 p.m. Saturdays on NBC), turns 31 today.
He will play William in the upcoming movie “Spring Breakdown.”
His first role was as Doug on “Spin City” (2001 episode titled “Rain on My Charades”). He was 28.
Best wishes to Seth and everybody who shares this special day with him.
–Penny TV
Pictured at right: Seth Meyers arrives for the 12th annual Webby Awards ceremony Tuesday, June 10, 2008 in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow).
Meet the “Biggest Loser” contenders
It’s the biggest season ever on “The Biggest Loser,” with 11 couples weighing more than 3.5 tons combined.
Meet the people who make up the seventh edition of NBC’s popular weight-loss competition series premiering Jan. 6 (two-hour episode begins at 7 p.m.):
BEST FRIENDS:
◊Carla Triplett (assistant bank manager), 36, and Joelle Gwynn (non-profit founder), 41, Southfield, Mich.
◊Daniel Wright (student), 19, Willow Spring, NC, and David Lee (student), 23, Fuquay-Varina, NC.
COUSINS:
◊Sione Fa (landscape company owner), 28, Maricopa, Ariz., and Filipe Fa (lube technician), 26, Mesa, Ariz.
◊Blaine Cotter (college counselor), 27, Gilbert, Ariz., and Dane Patterson (real estate appraiser), 27, Mesa, Ariz.
ENGAGED COUPLE:
◊Damien Gurganious (industrial designer), 31, and Nicole Brewer (wardrobe stylist), 37, Brooklyn, NY.
FORMER MODELS:
◊Tara Costa (model/finance manager), 23, New York, NY, and her friend Laura Denoux (model/sales director), 24, Miami, Fla.
FATHER and SON:
◊Ron Morelli (retired food distributor, currently City Councilman), 54, and Mike Morelli (student), 18, South Lyon, Mich.
GRANDPARENTS:
◊Estella Hayes (retired nurse), 63, and her husband, Gerald “Jerry” Hayes (retired engineer), 63, Wheaton, Ill.
MOTHER and DAUGHTER:
◊Helen Phillips (retired retail manager), 47, Sterling Heights, Mich., and Shanon Thomas (massage therapist), 29, Centerline, Mich.
◊Cathy Skell (title sales closing agent at real estate firm), 48, Shiocton, Wisc., and Kristin Steede (business owner), 28, Greenville, Wisc.
SISTERS:
◊Amanda Kramer (cosmetologist), 30, Boise, Idaho, and Aubrey Cheney (information and education specialist), 28, Gooding, Idaho.
Returning as host is Alison Sweeney (”Days of Our Lives”), who is pictured above in an NBC Photo with the show’s trainers, Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels.
Meet the “Bachelor” contenders
“The Bachelor” is a dad. Four women vying for his affection are moms.
Meet the people who make up the 13th edition of ABC’s popular romance reality show premiering Jan. 5 (two-hour special episode begins at 7 p.m.):
♥Jason Mesnick, 32, a single dad (son, Tyler, age 3) and account executive in estate/legacy planning from Seattle (in last season’s finale of “The Bachelorette,” DeAnna Pappas rejected his proposal).
♥Ann, 24, a flight attendant from Phoenix, Ariz.
♥Dominique, 26, a medical sales representative from Mt. Carmel, Penn.
♥Emily, 23, a casino marketing representative from Seattle, Wash.
♥Erica, 25, an account executive from Monroe, Conn.
♥Jackie, 26, a wedding coordinator from Dallas.
♥Jillian, 29, an interior designer from Peace River, Alberta, Canada.
♥Julie, 26, a teacher from Columbus, Ohio.
♥Kari, 27, an advertising executive from Lee’s Summit, MO
♥Lauren, 27, a teacher from Malboro, N.J.
♥Lisa, 27, a public relations associate from Boise, Idaho.
♥Megan, 25, a single mom (son, Deacon, age one) and lacrosse coach from Sewickley, Penn.
♥Melissa, 25, a sales representative from Dallas.
♥Molly, 24, a department store buyer from Grand Rapids, Mich.
♥Naomi, 24, a flight attendant from Carlsbad, Calif.
♥Natalie, 27, a human resources associate from Morton, Ill.
♥Nicole, 25, a menswear buyer from Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
♥Nikki, 29, an administrative assistant from Blue Island, Ill.
♥Raquel, 27, a medical student from Recife, Brazil.
♥Renee, 36, a jewelry designer from Los Angeles, Calif.
♥Shannon, 29, a dental hygienist from Marshall, Mo.
♥Sharon, 32, a teacher from Batavia, N.Y.
♥Shelby, 23, an account executive from Stockton, Calif.
♥Stacia, 24, a single mom (daughter, Grace, age three; son, Triston, age five) and a charity accountant from Orem, Utah.
♥Stephanie, 34, a single mom (daughter, Sophia, age four) and a medical marketing representative from Huntsville, Ala.
♥Treasure, 28, a single mom (daughter, Isabella, age six) and a nurse practitioner from Salt Lake City, Utah.
Returning as host is Chris Harrison, an Oklahoma City University graduate who worked at KWTV NEWS 9 from 1993-99.
Happy Birthday, Masi Oka
Dec. 27, 2008 — Masayori Oka, who plays Hiro Nakamura on “Heroes” (8 p.m. Mondays on NBC), turns 34 today.
He played Franklin on five episodes of “Scrubs” (2002-04).
His first role was as Nien-Jen on “Dharma & Greg” (2001 episode titled “The End of Innocence: Part 2). He was 27.
Best wishes to Masi and everybody who shares this special day with him.
–Penny TV
Pictured at right: Masi Oka of “Heros,” waves to photographers at the XBOX 360 Madden NFL ‘08 VIP Premiere, Thursday, June 28, 2007, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/XBOX 360, Rene Macura).
“Aerial America” to offer bird’s eye view of all 50 states
The Smithsonian Channel is giving viewers something to look forward to in 2009. It’s a new series titled “Aerial America” that will profile the USA in 50 hour-long high definition programs.
Working with the Smithsonian Channel on the project will be Skyworks, one of the world’s top high definition aerial filming specialists.
The crew will criss-cross the nation in a Smithsonian Channel-branded helicopter equipped with a gyro-stabilized Cineflex HD camera system. They will spend about six months airborne and cover approximately 60,000 miles — a distance comparable to two-and-a-half trips around the planet.
Plans include watching bears catch salmon in Alaska’s rivers, following Bonnie and Clyde’s escape route through the Ozarks of Arkansas and finding the original London Bridge that is now on a lake in Arizona.
No word yet on what Oklahoma’s highlights will be. But this much is certain: the series, which is scheduled to premiere in summer 2009 on Smithsonian Channel, should be spectacular.
–Penny TV
Happy Birthday, Jared Leto
Dec. 26, 2008 — Jared Joseph Leto, who played Jordan Catalano on “My So-Called Life” (1994-95 on ABC), turns 37 today.
His latest role is as Nemo Nobody in the upcoming movie “Mr. Nobody” (now in post-production).
His first role was as Dexter on the short-lived TV series “Camp Wilder” (1992). He was 21.
Best wishes to Jared and everybody who shares this special day with him.
–Penny TV
Pictured at right: Jared Leto arrives at the Hollywood Life 6th Annual Breakthrough of the Year Awards in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2006. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles).
Travel Channel song list includes a few featuring Oklahoma
Travel Channel’s online travel site, World Hum, has compiled a list of the top 40 travel songs.
One mentions Oklahoma in the lyrics while another was written by an Oklahoman. And both made the Top 10.
“This Land Is Your Land” is No. 8. Woody Guthrie from Okemah (pictured at right in AP Photo) wrote the song that was released in 1940.
The 1946 song “(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66″ by Nat King Cole is No. 7. The lyrics were written by Bobby Troup and include the lines “Oklahoma City is mighty purdy” and “You’ll like the aroma of Tulsa, Oklahoma.”
No 1 on the list, which was compiled by more than 40 of World Hum’s contributors, is 1980’s “On the Road Again” by Willie Nelson.
Earning eight points (but not cracking the top 40) was “Ramblin’ Boy” by Tom Paxton. It includes the line “In Tulsa town we chanced to stray” and represents Tulsa on the interactive map featured at www.worldhum.com/features/lists/world-hum-top-40-travel-songs-of-all-time-20081208/.
–Penny TV
World Hum’s Top 40 Travel Songs of All Time.
1) On the Road Again, Willie Nelson (60 points)
2) City of New Orleans, Arlo Guthrie (57)
3) Graceland, Paul Simon (46)
4) America, Simon & Garfunkel (44)
5) I’ve Been Everywhere, Hank Snow/Johnny Cash (42)
6) Born to Run, Bruce Springsteen (42)
7) (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66, Nat King Cole (33)
This Land is Your Land, Woody Guthrie (32)
9) Me and Bobby McGee, Roger Miller, Janis Joplin (28)
10) Southern Cross, Crosby, Stills and Nash/Jimmy Buffet (27)
11) Road to Nowhere, Talking Heads (27)
12) Runnin’ Down a Dream, Tom Petty (26)
13) Tangled Up In Blue, Bob Dylan (25)
14) King of the Road, Roger Miller (25)
15) Roam, B-52s (21)
16) Long May You Run, Neil Young (21)
17) Born to be Wild, Steppenwolf (20)
18) Proud Mary, Ike and Tina Turner/Creedence Clearwater Revival (18)
19) Back in the USSR, The Beatles (18)
20) Like A Rolling Stone, Bob Dylan (17)
21) When I Paint My Masterpiece, Bob Dylan/The Band (17)
22) Thunder Road, Bruce Springsteen (15)
23) Midnight Train to Georgia, Gladys Knight & the Pips (15)
24) Leaving on a Jet Plane, Peter, Paul, & Mary/John Denver (14)
25) Ol’ 55, Tom Waits (14)
26) Wagon Wheel, Bob Dylan/Old Crow Medicine Show (14)
27) Africa, Toto (13)
28) Truckin’, Grateful Dead (13)
29) Travelin’ Prayer, Billy Joel/Dolly Parton (13)
30) Take Me Home, Country Roads, John Denver (12)
31) American Girl, Tom Petty (12)
32) The Long and Winding Road, The Beatles (12)
33) Radar Love, Golden Earring (12)
34) California, Joni Mitchell (12)
35) Ramble On, Led Zeppelin (11)
36) Katmandu, Bob Seger (11)
37) Where the Streets Have No Name, U2 (11)
38) Sweet Home Alabama, Lynyrd Skynyrd (11)
39) Roadrunner, The Modern Lovers (11)
40) Ramblin’ Man, The Allman Brothers Band (11)
Happy Birthday, Gary Sandy
Dec. 25, 2008 — Gary Sandy, who played Andy Travis on “WKRP in Cincinnati” (1978-82 on CBS), turns 63 today.
He placed Terrence Kelley on five episodes of “The Young and the Restless” (2001 on CBS).
His first TV apperance was as Michael Thayer on “Another World” (1969). He was 24.
Best wishes to Gary and everybody who shares this special day with him.
–Penny TV
Pictured at right: Gary Sandy with Loni Anderson and Jan Smithers on “WKRP in Cincinnati.”
Nickelodeon to launch green-themed online game
Nickelodeon wants to do its part to ignite environmental change. Now it’s up to youngsters to do their part.
Children can go online to www.nick.com/biggreenhelp and check out “The Big Green Help Global Challenge.” This multiplayer online game asks participants to virtually pledge volunteer hours that they can also put into action in their homes, communities and schools.
In the “Global Challenge” game, players have to “green” the last three pollution-free cities on the play. There are four Nicktoon characters from which to pick — SpongeBob SquarePants, Back at the Barnyard’s Otis, The Fairly OddParent’s Timmy Turner and Avatar’s Aang. Team up with up to three other players to defeat monsters like the Carbon Creeper, Waste Whirlwind or Guzzlor and move through nine game levels.
Players will get tips about how to lower their carbon footprint throughout the game.
–Penny TV
Happy Birthday, Ryan Seacrest
Dec. 24, 2008 — Ryan John Seacrest, who hosts “American Idol” (Season 8 returns Jan. 13 and 14 with a special two-night, four-hour premiere), turns 34 today.
He will co-host “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest” (10:35 p.m. Dec. 31 on ABC).
His first TV apperance was a host for 1994’s “Gladiators 2000.” He was 20.
Best wishes to Ryan and everybody who shares this special day with him.
–Penny TV
Pictured at right: Ryan Seacrest attends the Victoria’s Secret “What Is Sexy?” Super Bowl party at Taste Ultra Lounge, Saturday, Feb.2, 2008 in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini).
