Celebrity Spotlight- Regis

I'm sorry about all of the spotlights lately. I love celebs, what can I say!

Okay, so we all remember the last episode of our favorite tv shows. Like sobbing on the couch with Krysta at the end of Dawson's Creek, or saying goodbye to all of our favorite friends on Friends. Or wishing Rory well as she boarded the Obama journalist bus and settling for Luke and Lorelai finally reuniting with a kiss. Can we get a movie to continue the Gilmore storyline?

Anyways, as you probably know, and if you don't, I can't believe you're even reading this, Friday was Regis Philbin's last day on Live! with Regis and Kelly. Although this wasn't the last episode of Live, the show is ending as we know it.

And I know it so well! I cannot remember a time when Live was not on tv. Growing up I associated watching Live with summer vacations, Christmas breaks, and random days off from school. In high school I loved that I could get a question right on my Latin vocab test simply by remembering that Regis meant "of the king."

And Regis truly is the king of tv! He has logged more hours in front of a tv camera than anyone else. Ever. Regis is charming and well dressed and sings and tells the best stories. He's like a member of the Rat Pack who somehow found his way into daytime tv. Reeg is a New York man about town. His tales of benefits and performances and fine dining put my 27 yr old social life to shame. I used to think being a talk show would be the greatest job in the world. I still think that's true, but not everyone can do it. Regis is talk show perfection.

A few years ago, I finally got a DVR and got to record Live while I was at work! I look forward to watching the show at lunch or after work each day. Regardless of the celebrity guests, my absolute favorite part of every show is the first 15 minutes-the unscripted "host chat" that is Reeg's signature style. Coming from a celeb fanatic that's a huge compliment!

Last December I went to NYC and got to be in the audience of Live. It was not only one of my favorite parts of the trip but one of my favorites all-time memories! After the show Gelman announced that Regis would be signing copies of his Christmas CD in the lobby. My aunt and mom bought copies and lined up to meet Regis while my cousin and I planned to take their pics. "Are you sure you don't want to get a cd?" my mom asked. "Well, I guess so . . ." I shrugged. So I took my place in line.

I watched as my mom and aunt shook Regis' hand and calmly made small talk while he signed their cd and posed for a picture. All of a sudden, it was my turn. As I walked toward him, all 27 years of tv viewing flashed before my eyes. "Regis, I'm SUCH a big fan!" I blurted out, my eyes filling with tears. " I've been watching you my whole life!!!" My cousin looked on, frozen with embarrassment and ready to take our picture. "Well, that's so nice" said Regis, not at all freaked out by a girl suddenly acting like a teenybopper in his presence. "Thanks for watching all of those years." Regis, always a gentleman.

With Regis leaving Live, it doesn't quite feel like we're losing a tv show to watch. It feels like we're losing an old friend. In typical Philbin fashion, Regis has not only displayed mock outrage, but referred to himself in the third person when people suggest he is retiring. "Regis isn't retiring! He's moving on!" he's hilariously shouted from the cohost desk. Well, best of luck Regis . . . but please don't move too far away.

Celebrity Spotlight- Justin Timberlake

If I could continue with my list of life rules, I would require every girl to have a teen celebrity crush.

This is crucial for several reasons. First, its an important lesson in unrequited love. Let's say, hypothetically of course, that you fall in love with Leonardo DiCaprio at the age of 12. You decorate your algebra notebook with pics of Leo. You obsessivley watch reruns of Growing Pains on the Disney Channel hoping to catch the episodes with Baby Leo. And, unless you're Blake Lively, you never ended up with Jack Dawson. But you survived! So who cares if a totally regular guy doesnt like you?

Most importantly, if you have a teenybopper crush you will never become one of those crabby old women who says things like "I just don't know what the kids these days see in that Elvis/David Cassidy/Justin Bieber character." You might not love the Biebs but you remember what it was like to feel so completely infatuated with someone who would never be yours. That seems mighty heartbreaking, but I promise its important.

weirdly similar, no?

So for me, that person was . . . still is, Justin Timberlake. Although I was an avid watcher of the Mickey Mouse Club, I didn't really fall for Justin until NSYNC had a concert special on the Disney Channel the summer after I was in 7th grade. I remember Justin wore baby blue warmup pants and had his platinum blond curls and I LOVED him. I taped the concert (on a VHS!) and then added to this tape for every NYSYNC tv appearance. By the end of the summer I had about 3 video tapes filled with TRL interviews and cheesy music videos. And I watched it. Every day. "Oh Lindsey what did do this summer?" "Oh you know . . . tried to learn how to put on eyeshadow, snuck moments of MTV when my mom wasn't looking and watched 6 hours NSYNC everyday."

I firmly believe that NYSNC was the best boy band ever. I saw them on every tour and screamed and cried and screamed some more. They were cute but they were also really talented! They sang AND could do back handsprings. I still know the dance moves.

It came as no surprise when Justin embarked on his solo career. I enjoyed the 7-11 t-shirt, new beats, and thinly-veiled Brit smackdown of his first album, Justified. In fact, the Justified/Stripped tour was the last time I saw JT in concert. Christina was still all dirrrty and Justin was loving that he could sing and dance without tripping over Lance Bass. Cameron Diaz was in the audience in Tampa and he pointed at her in the front row before he closed the show. I was insanely jealous.

When FutureSex/LoveSounds came out I was all "umm... what is this? why is he bringing sexy back?" Then I listened to the whole album. I am no film critic and I am certainly not a music critic but I think this is one of the greatest pop albums ever. And you have to listen to it from start to finish. It's sexy and fun and heartbreaking and desperate all at the same time. The music makes me want to dance AND cry.

I've always know that Justin was a great entertainer. And now that he's acting I am really enjoying it. But like any true JT fan, I think its time for new music! I love watching Justin perform and I am dying to see him in concert again. Just watch this clip. Specifically from to 1:40 to 2:05. Yes.

Obviously I think Justin is really talented. He also has great style. He loves his mom and he's a southern boy who's had the same best friend since he was kid.


But you know what I love the most? He seems to really enjoy being an entertainer AND a celebrity. As a a celeb obsessed person, there's nothing I hate more than stars who seemed totally burdened by being famous. But not Justin! He always gives great interviews, has a blast as the SNL host, accepts dates to military balls and is one of the best talk show guests. . . ever?

A few years ago, the pop critic from my hometown caused some controversy by calling Justin "the next Frank Sinatra." Now I love me some Frank, but I don't think we can label Justin's influence on the entertainment industry by comparing him to anyone. From boy band leader, to pop music star, to clothing designer, to leading man- I think Justin continually proves he is the next Justin Timberlake. And I can't wait to see what happens next.


P.S. One time I met Justin. He talked to me. It was the worst day of my life. I'll tell you about it later.

Celebrity Spotlight- Taylor Swift

"I'm in love, I'm in love and I don't care who knows it!!!"- Buddy the Elf

That's how I felt when I first discovered Taylor Swift. I was in Austin, TX for work and my mom had made me a copy of her first album. The first song I heard was " Picture to Burn" and . . . let's just say I could relate at the time. Later that fall, she came out with a Christmas album! For Target! Taylor, Target, and Christmas music! Has there ever been a more perfect combination? Anyways, I eagerly anticipated the release of Fearless and Speak Now, and each cd spent at least 3 months on continuous repeat in my car. So what is so wonderful about T Swift?

Well, I obviously love her music. I've always been a fan of pop and country and Taylor is the greatest combination since Shania Twain. Except she's even better! Sorry, Shania, you still look great though! When I listen to a Taylor Swift song I am instantly transported to a time in my life where I felt EXACTLY like that. Maybe it seems weird that an (almost) 27 year old and an 11 year old could both say " Taylor Swift really gets me." But maybe that's what makes her so great.

I love how Taylor writes songs about her life and cleverly calls out boys who treated her wrong or charmingly hints at a current crush. Can you imagine having the platform of a Grammy winning album to tell your teenage ex boyfriend what you really think? All I ever did was post cryptic song lyrics in my AIM profile and wonder if people could figure out what I meant. "What? Oh that's just a Yellowcard song I really like . . . no special meaning, or anything."

Taylor is also friends with pretty much every celebrity I am obsessed with. Emma Stone? BFFs!

Reese Witherspoon? Oh you know, they just grab lunch and talk about how Jake couldn't committ.

What's that Taylor Lautner? Bella put you in the friend zone and now Swifty did too? Oh well, at least you get front row tix to her concerts.

Now Taylor is on a tour (which I missed when she cancelled her Charlotte, NC show due to bronchisits!!!!!) and is pulling out surprise guests at every stop!


T.I.! Nicki Minaj! The Biebs! Kenny Chesney! Tim McGraw! Taylor is literally the most popular girl in school!

Oh and did I mention her clothes? I like to say that some of what I wear is celebrity/movie insprired. I think its actually entirely T. Swift inspired. Taylor can be casual, bohemian, or up the glam with her hundreds of sparkly dresses. And as I mention time and time again, I love when a girl rocks her natural blonde curls! Here's a few times where I pretended to be Taylor.

And to all of those Taylor haters out there? She was the youngest person to ever win a Grammy for album of the year! An album she wrote! Fearless was the best selling album of 2008 AND 2009! She's friends with T.I.! So you're clearly in the minority. Anyways, she'll probably write a song about you.

And I know I'll love it!