Friday, July 31, 2009



ONA SPA INTRODUCES FOUR NEW FACIALS

Celebrity favorite Ona Spa is known for their customized services and results-oriented treatments that combine up-to-the-minute technologies with centuries-old health and wellness traditions to relax your spirit, Ona Spa is the place to rejuvenate your body and reveal your most radiant, healthy self. Ona has recently added four new facials to their treatment menu.

The Environ Nourish Facial is designed to nourish, hydrate, and improve the texture and tone of your skin, This gentle facial infuses Environ's powerful formulation of vitamins and antioxidants into the skin. Relax and enjoy a comprehensive cleansing followed by the application of a hydrating algae mask. After several minutes the mask hardens into a putty-like substance which is peeled off in one clean swoop, leaving your skin looking and feeling brighter and rejuvenated! This facial even comes with a complimentary Environ vitamin therapy product for you to continue maintaining the health and radiance of your skin at home! 60 minutes, $150.

The Environ Focus Facial is the perfect treatment for the person on the go and is designed to address the most visible signs of the aging around the eyes and lips. Using Environ's Sonophoresis (low-frequency ultrasound) machine, vitamins, antioxidants and muscle-relaxing peptides are penetrated 4,000 times more deeply into the skin than with topical application alone. In just 30 minutes, your skin will be glowing, the fine lines and wrinkles around your eyes and lips will start around to diminish, and you will see improvement in the overall skin tone and clarity! 30 minutes, $50.

The Ona Teen is the one and only facial dedicated to the needs of teenage skin! A deep cleansing and purifying treatment followed by extended time for extractions for acne-prone skin, will leave the skin looking fresh and clean. By infusing skin with vitamins, anti-oxidants and colostrum under a soothing and hydrating algae mask, skin is cleaned, calmed, and clarified on the spot. The Ona Teen will ensure that you leave with cleaner, clearer, and brighter skin than you came with! 45 minutes, $75.

Ona knows men like to take care of their skin too, and the Ona Man is a deep cleansing facial that addresses the specific needs of male skin, such as razor burn and ingrown hairs. Exfoliation and deep pore cleansing are followed with a cooling, hydrating gel mask. Skin will feel smooth, soft, and super clean! 60 minutes, $95.


Thursday, July 30, 2009





Curations for the Summer Blues

Curations with Stefani Greenfield accessories can coordinate your summer wardrobe. Seen here are the Dramatic Disc Necklace in gold and the Apple Necklace in green. The earrings that coordinate with the Disc Necklace were listed as one of Harper’s Bazaar’s best bargains, at only $38. Found on HSN.com. Curations with Stefani Greenfield is also found on Facebook.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

























Walsh Wears It Well

Actress Kate Walsh arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of 'The Hangover' at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on June 2, 2009 in Hollywood, California. Walsh wore a Platinum and diamond fringe necklace, stud earrings and a ring. Platinum and diamond stud earrings are available in a variety of price points, including a pair from Kwiat for $725, seen here. (Photo by Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage)

Tuesday, July 28, 2009



Series Premiere: Lock N’ Load

Get hands-on with some of the world's fiercest firearms in the new series Lock N’ Load. Actor, sergeant, drill instructor, Vietnam veteran, and Mail Call host R. Lee Ermey takes viewers on a fascinating ride through the pathology of each featured weapon: where it came from, who thought of it, who improved it, its victories, its defeats, its impact on history and where it is now.

And Ermey doesn't start at the beginning. He delves back into the records of time to launch a "Connections-type" journey with that weapon's most modern iteration: for example, unleashing a maelstrom from a Metal Storm gun at one million rounds per minute, then weaving the machine gun's history across the hour, skipping through decades, centuries and milestones as required.

Ermey is hands-on. He's pulling the trigger or watching a weapon fire through each evolutionary step. He demonstrates improvements and changes in technology and thinking. Through CGI we get an even deeper understanding of the how the weapon has evolved throughout history, from its humble, often cumbersome and even awkward beginnings, to its sheer power and precision today.

The narration is filled with gee-whiz facts. Ermey also calls on experts to flesh out the story and highlight historical characters who exploited the weapon. Premieres Friday, July 31 at 9pm/1am ET/PT on History.

Monday, July 27, 2009


Scrubs' Chalke in Neil Lane


Actress Sarah Chalke arrives at Women In Film's 2009 Crystal and Lucy Awards at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza on June 12, 2009 in Century City, California. Chalke chose platinum jewelry by Neil Lane, platinum ball earrings with diamonds, and she also wore a bracelet. (Photo by Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage)

Friday, July 24, 2009



That’s Impossible: Eternal Life


Eternal life may now be possible. Some believe the first children who will live to the age of 1,000 have already been born. To find out how close humanity is to defeating death, That’s Impossible investigates plans to grow replacement body parts in labs, microscopic robots that could wipe out deadly diseases, and the possibility that aging itself can be reversed by taking a page out of one of history’s darkest legends.

Invisibility...time travel...teleportation...mind control...200 year life spans: As strange as it seems, history's most impossible inventions and craziest theories might soon be possible or provable. What used to be science fiction will become history-making fact. The new History Channel series That’s Impossible evaluates the evidence behind mysterious stories from history - Buddhist monks allegedly disappearing, or the United States Navy attempting to teleport a ship - and uncovers the cutting edge technologies and theories that are making the impossible possible. Will science fiction soon become history-making fact? Find out in That’s Impossible. Premieres Tuesday, July 28 at 10pm/2am ET/PT on History.

Thursday, July 23, 2009


Special Presentation:

Sex In The Ancient World: Pompeii
Sex In The Ancient World: Egypt


Discover the sex life of the ancients, from the princes and queens of Egypt to the gladiators and courtesans of Rome. Using archaeological discoveries, ancient text books, early artifacts and forensic historical research, Sex In The Ancient World offers a revealing look at both the sexual divides that characterized ancient Egyptian and Roman cultures and the powerful people.

Sex In The Ancient World: Pompeii: The oldest known brothel in the world is discovered in Pompeii. A startling system is revealed that includes widespread prostitution and sexual slavery. Experts piece together the elaborate system and show how the sex trade helped reinforce class and power in Ancient Rome.

Sex In The Ancient World: Egypt: A graphic 3,000-year-old papyrus is discovered that seems pornographic. Is it a message to the Gods, part of a fertility ritual, or simply evidence of erotica? Experts decode the evidence to reveal its true meaning, shedding a new light on the everyday lives of Ancient Egyptians. Premieres Monday, July 27; Pompeii at 9 pm/1 am ET/PT; Egypt at 10 pm/2 am

Wednesday, July 22, 2009


Premiere: Pawning History

A new reality series featuring three generations of the Harrison family who run a Vegas pawn shop.

It’s one of the oldest forms of banking, and until the 1950’s, it was the leading form of consumer credit in the U.S. Now, the fascinating world and history of the pawn shop is revealed in the new character-driven series, Pawning History, formerly called Pawn Stars. The 13 episode long series centers on the only family-owned pawn shop in Las Vegas, where three generations of men — grandfather, father and son — entertainingly clash while running the business together, using their sharp-eyed skills to carefully assess the value of items their colorful customers bring in, objects ranging from the obscure to the truly historic. Premieres Sunday, July 26 at 10 pm/ 2 am & 10:30 pm /2:30 am ET/PT on History.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009


Shady Lindsay

As everyone knows, celebrities have to go out wearing sunshades so they won’t be recognized. Lindsay Lohan is no exception. She wore the “Whisper” sunglasses in black and crystal by Sama Eyewear available at ‘Destination Sama’ in West Hollywood. These sunglasses are part of the Sama Eyewear Incognito Spring/Summer 2009 Collection.

Monday, July 20, 2009

















Foxy Fox in KaufmanFranco


Megan Fox wearing a black v-neck stretch high twist jersey gown by KaufmanFranco to the premiere of ‘Transformers; Revenge of the Fallen’ held at Odeon Leicester Square in London England on June 15, 2009. The gown is part of the Fall/Winter 2008 Collection. (photo: wireimage)

Friday, July 17, 2009


WE ARE COMING

-BBC AMERICA’s political sci-fi thriller Torchwood: Children of Earth-

BBC AMERICA’s top-rated series, Torchwood, returns for an epic television event over five consecutive nights with the U.S. premiere of Torchwood: Children of Earth. Created by Russell T Davies (Doctor Who, Queer as Folk), the series which will launch BBC AMERICA HD, has the Torchwood team facing their fiercest threat to date - one which throws the future of Torchwood and the entire human race spiraling into danger. Torchwood: Children of Earth premieres on Monday, July 20, 9:00 - 10:15 p.m. ET/PT. A new episode premieres each night from Monday, July 20 through Friday, July 24, 9:00 - 10:15 p.m. ET/PT. The previous night’s episode will encore at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Creator, lead writer and executive producer Russell T Davies on the concept of Torchwood: Children of Earth: “I wanted to tell a story in which civilization snaps, in which we turn on ourselves, in which nothing is safe. Plenty of people live like that, on this planet. In this story, it’s Britain’s turn.”

An ordinary day becomes a world of terror, as every child in the world stops. Stops playing. Stops laughing. Stops everything. Then, as one, they begin to speak with the same voice, announcing to the governments of Earth: “We are coming.”

As Torchwood investigates, a trap closes around Captain Jack (John Barrowman) and sins of the past return as long-forgotten events from 1965 threaten to reveal an awful truth.

Torchwood is forced underground, as the government takes swift and brutal action. With members of the team being hunted down, Britain risks becoming a rogue state, with the mysterious and powerful 456 drawing ever closer.

Captain Jack, Gwen (Eve Myles) and Ianto (Gareth David-Lloyd) are helpless, as events escalate until humankind faces the end of civilization itself. As they battle against the odds, do they stand a chance of saving humankind?

Special guests are Peter Capaldi (In The Loop, The Thick Of It, Skins), as Mr. Frobisher – a government official hiding a terrible secret, Paul Coply (Coronation Street, The Bill) as Clem – a survivor still haunted by his past, and Liz May Brice (Bad Girls, The Bill) as Johnson – the cynical covert government agent determined to expose Torchwood. The new season promises to be Torchwood's most disturbing and intense adventure to date.

Leading into the Torchwood: Children of Earth U.S. premiere, Torchwood: Inside the Hub, an exclusive BBC AMERICA original, premieres Monday, July 20, 8:00 p.m. ET/PT. The program features everything there is to know about Captain Jack Harkness, Gwen Cooper and the rest of the Torchwood team and gives a sneak peek at what Torchwood: Children of Earth has in store.

Torchwood week continues as the hit series returns to Comic-Con with a screening of the finale on Saturday, July 25, 7:30 p.m. PT and a panel featuring John Barrowman, Russell T Davies, executive producer Julie Gardner and director Euros Lyn, Sunday, July 26, 2:15-3:45 p.m. PT.

Torchwood: Children of Earth hits stores on Blu-ray and DVD July 28, 2009 - just four days after its dramatic finale on BBC AMERICA.

TORCHWOOD: CHILDREN OF EARTH CREDITS

Captain Jack Harkness John Barrowman (Doctor Who, De-Lovely)

Gwen Cooper Eve Myles (Little Dorrit, Merlin)

Ianto Jones Gareth David-Lloyd (Doctor Who)

Rhys Kai Owen (Rocket Man)

Also starring

Mr. Frobisher Peter Capaldi (In The Loop, Skins, The Thick of It)

Clem Paul Coply (Coronation Street, The Bill)

Bridget Spears Susan Brown (Coronation Street, Wire in the Blood)

Lois Habiba Cush Jumbo

Johnson Liz May Brice (Bad Girls, Hustle, The Bill)

Mr. Dekker Ian Gelder (Robin Hood, Silent Witness)

Prime Minister Brian Green Nicholas Farrell (Persuasion, Bloody Sunday)

Alice Carter Lucy Cohu (Becoming Jane)

Creator and Lead Writer

(episode 1, 3 & 5) Russell T Davies (Doctor Who, Queer as Folk)

Writers

(episodes 2 & 4) John Fay (Mobile, Clocking Off, Coronation Street)

(episode 3) James Moran (Doctor Who, MI-5, Primeval)

Director Euros Lyn (Doctor Who)

Producer Peter Bennett (Doctor Who)

Executive Producers Russell T Davies

Julie Gardner (Doctor Who, Life on Mars)

Torchwood – Children of Earth is a BBC Wales for BBC Drama production.

ABOUT TORCHWOOD

· Torchwood is separate from the Government, outside the Police, beyond the United Nations. More secret than MI5 or MI6, not even the Government is supposed to know about them.

· The Torchwood hub is situated deep beneath the Cardiff Millennium Center.

· Torchwood was formed in 1879 by the Royal decree of Queen Victoria as a result of her experiences in Doctor Who: Series 2: Tooth & Claw.

· Torchwood is an anagram of Doctor Who. When the first season of the new Doctor Who (2005) was being made, television pirates were desperate to acquire the preview tapes. One of the people in the office had the idea of labeling the tapes with the anagram ‘Torchwood’ rather than Doctor Who, as a security measure to disguise the tapes when they were delivered from Cardiff to London. Writer Russell T Davies liked this idea so much that it later inspired him to use it as a title when creating this spin-off series.

· John Barrowman first appeared as Captain Jack Harness in Episode 9 (The Empty Child) of the first season of Doctor Who. He also appeared in The Doctor Dances, Boom Town, Bad Wolf and The Parting of the Ways in the same season, and again in the episodes Army of Ghosts and Doomsday in the second season.

· The part of Gwen in Torchwood was written specially for Eve Myles. She first appeared as Gwyneth in Episode 3 (The Unquiet Dead) of the first season of Doctor Who.

· Gareth David-Lloyd’s character, Ianto Jones, began as the team’s assistant who always sports a fine tailored suit while ensuring the rest of the team has everything it needs. Ianto has now grown to be an integral part of the team, especially after the loss of Tosh (Naoko Mori) and Owen (Burn Gorman) in season two.

TORCHWOOD: CHILDREN OF EARTH - INTERVIEWS

CREATOR AND LEAD WRITER RUSSELL T DAVIES

Do people need to know the back story to Torchwood to be able to enjoy this new series?

“No, not at all - there are fleeting references to the past, but from the moment it starts, we’re telling a brand new story. It’s been deliberately written so that no one will be lost - and at the same time, the faithful viewer will discover so much more about the members of the Torchwood team. There are plenty of rewards for the long-term fan.”

How did you come up with the concept for this new series?

“It was a story I’d had in mind for ages - I’m just glad the BBC gave me a canvas big enough to tell the tale! But underneath the sci-fi and the aliens, there’s something very relevant to the world, I hope. The way we sit in the west, and watch footage of atrocities in different countries, and imagine it’s all so far away, and so impossible here. Which is a nice, comfy lie we tell ourselves. That was the heart of it. I wanted to tell a story in which civilization snaps, in which we turn on ourselves, in which nothing is safe. Plenty of people live like that, on this planet. In this story, it’s Britain’s turn.”

Torchwood: Children of Earth feels very epic. Did you enjoy writing the one storyline over five episodes?

“I loved it, because it was a huge challenge. Lots of thrillers are written by just one writer, but we had three, across five episodes. Which meant a lot of emailing and late-night phone calls. But we really worked as a team, all locked in one room to thrash out the storyline and create the characters, and that’s my favorite way of working. We also had the Producer and Director inside the Writer’s Room, right from the very start, which is a very unusual way of working in this country, but with huge results - it meant we were all focused, we all knew the tone and the ambition of the piece, and we all aimed in the same direction.”

The children of Earth are key to this storyline. Do you think using children is scarier than the actual alien?

“They just touch a nerve. A threat to our children gets a primal reaction out of all of us. But beyond that, I think we can be scared of our kids, too. That they can seem unknowable, unreachable - that’s why a gang of young hoodies can seem more unnerving than an adult gang of thugs.”

The 456 is Torchwood’s most fierce threat to date. How do you think the team deal with the situation?

“This whole story tears Torchwood down, and then watches them rebuild, but always questioning them, asking what sort of heroes they are, how far will they go? And what’s the difference between a freedom fighter and a terrorist? At the same time, we get to know Jack, Gwen and Ianto more intimately than we ever have before - exploring their families, their history, their hopes and loves. And their failings, too. As the alien threat gets bigger, so Torchwood’s humanity is exposed, and threatened, and celebrated too. And their lives are on the line, none of them is safe!”

The 456, tell us more about it.

“The size of this story, and the scale of it - spread across more than 40 years of history - means that we needed something bigger, a threat with real intelligence, a race with different protocols and standards. Some of my favorite material comes from Episode Three, where we have to see the government engage in genuine diplomatic relations with an alien species. You watch those scenes thinking, ‘That’s what it would really be like.’”

There are some fantastic guest stars in this series. What do you think they add to the series?

“Just pure class! It’s a joy, an absolute joy, to work with actors of this caliber. Writing’s easy, compared to the task of standing there, saying this stuff, in a whacking great close up. But we’ve got great new talent, like Cush Jumbo as Lois - the innocent secretary who discovers state secrets on her computer - and wonderful stars such as Peter Capaldi, who makes his character of John Frobisher so detailed and so nuanced, and so heartbreaking in the end. Add to that, Susan Brown as Bridget Spears - keep an eye on her, she’s a slow burn - and Nicholas Farrell as the most clever and manipulative Prime Minister you could imagine. And then Liz May Brice as a truly ruthless assassin! We’ve also got Paul Copley as Clem, a character holding so many secrets from the past - Paul’s simply astonishing to work with. And then the greatest enigma of the whole series is Lucy Cohu, playing Alice, who’s no less than Captain Jack’s daughter… What a mix! Best cast I could have imagined!”

The relationship between Capt Jack and Ianto has developed. Was that something you’d be planning for a while?

“Not planning, as such, it just grew naturally out of the scripts and performances from John and Gareth. And it’s such a rich area - the sheer will-they-or-won’t-they tension of two men getting closer. But again, you can come to Torchwood as a new viewer and follow their relationship from the start, you won’t get lost. And it’s honestly a pleasure to write for two such fine actors, they make the whole process a delight.”

You re-create scenes of devastation in the middle of Cardiff Bay. Did you watch the filming of that?

“Oh I stay away from filming, it terrifies me. Far too much like hard work. But I did pop down to the Bay, to see some of the devastation - and as ever, a lot of it is plain old camera trickery. By choosing the right angles, and by adding beautiful FX shots, we were able to make the damage look a lot worse than it is. You can go down to Cardiff Bay today, and it isn’t even scratched.”

JOHN BARROWMAN PLAYS CAPTAIN JACK HARKNESS

As the future of the human race hangs in the balance, Torchwood faces death and destruction and battles to protect the human race. After the potentially apocalyptic encounter, will Torchwood and the human race ever be the same again?

“Anybody who loves science fiction or a good drama will fall in love with Torchwood. It’s action packed, it’s sexy, it’s exciting, it’s an emotional roller-coaster and you just want to sit back and get ready for the ride of your life,” says John.

Torchwood is a team of people who are fighting for the best interest of humanity; they are no strangers to the daily threat alien forces pose to the safety of the Earth. But this time, they must fight with every ounce of instinct and energy they have to survive.

Of the new format to this year’s series, John Barrowman says:

“It’s changed in the respect that in series one we were crawling, series two we were walking and now series three we’re running.”

“We know what Torchwood is and we know what it’s about - it’s full of drama and action.”

“This storyline is one of the darker Torchwood storylines. Every time you turn a corner you don’t know what’s going to happen. And when you watch episode one you’re going to want to see two, and when you’ve seen two you’ll want to see three. You’re just going to want more and more and more.”

“You’ll learn a lot about the characters in ways that you’re never known them before.”

“If you like relationships then you’re going to see the difference in Jack and Ianto’s relationship and Gwen and Rhys’ - but you’re also going to see the similarities.”

“The characters have evolved in ways because we’re learning new things about them. It makes it really interesting for us to play as actors and for the audience every episode will bring a new revelation.”

The new show format is also something John thinks will prove entertaining to the audience.

“I think the one storyline works perfectly for this series. It’s epic, it is pacy.”

The series will reveal that one of the Torchwood team is hiding a dark secret - a potential catalyst for even more action-packed drama.

“One of the team is hiding a secret that will be a revelation to a lot of people - not only to the viewers watching but to the team itself. It will be very uncomfortable for the characters. And people watching it will question why they did it. Will they be able to understand why they did it?

“But as in all things with science fiction, as a series, we can touch on subjects that are not touched upon in a number of other dramas.”

The new threat faced by the team takes on a sinister theme, using the children of Earth as a conduit.

“Anything that involves children doing stuff they are not supposed to be doing is creepy,” says John.

“I let my parents watch episode one and two with me. I watched their reaction. Normally they would get up during a show and have a drink or go to the bathroom. But they didn’t move. My mom and dad - who are my biggest critics - were glued to the screen. We finished watching it and the following morning my dad turned to me and said “When are we watching three?” If they don’t like something I do then they will say it. They absolutely loved this.”

EVE MYLES plays GWEN COOPER

Eve Myles landed her dream role in 2006, when she was given the part of feisty Gwen Cooper in Torchwood, which Russell T Davies created especially for her.

“I was so excited when I got the scripts. It’s a five hour psychological action- packed thriller. With a movie, you’re looking at maybe 90 minutes of action - but with this new series of Torchwood, we’ve got five hours. It’s an event. It’s not just the third series where everybody is used to what Torchwood is - this series will actually terrify people,” says Eve.

“The pace increases from the word go. The first episode is an establisher and by the second episode you don’t know what the hell has hit you. The third, the fourth and the fifth go at such a pace.”

For Eve, the new series and the single storyline across all five episodes felt like the right evolution for Torchwood.

“We’ve tipped the series on its head and given people a whole new format. It’s a completely different style of Torchwood, and is exactly what we should have done. It feels brand new all over again. It’s exciting and it’s positive.”

Of Gwen’s role in the team she says:

“Gwen is still the heart and emotion of Torchwood but also realizes the responsibility she has as a member of the team. Everybody’s got to lose something to gain something, and as harsh as Gwen comes across sometimes, if she wasn’t, people would die.”

“She’s got a huge responsibility on her shoulders. A few years ago she was working as a young police woman in Cardiff. A couple of years later here she is saving the world with Captain Jack. One way or another something’s got to give.”

Viewers will see Gwen forge a close relationship with Clem played by Paul Copley - the survivor of a horrific ordeal who is still haunted by his past. The scenes she filmed with him proved to be a major highlight for the actress.

“He’s absolutely fantastic. I was completely overwhelmed - he’s so right for the character. Gwen inevitably becomes his guardian because that’s what Gwen does - she’s Torchwood’s social worker. She’s a social worker that can run and fight and stand in her own corner and win.”

“With Clem she has this incredible desire to protect him. She’s his protector and he’s the key to what’s going on.”

In contrast to the tender moments of some of the scenes she filmed, there was still plenty of high octane action for Eve - a self confessed adrenalin junkie. Of the action-packed scenes she says:

“It’s the best part of the job for me. It’s the only job where you can really push yourself.”

“We’ve got the most amazing team - you know you’re in safe hands. You go through things a thousand times before it ever happens. In rehearsals you don’t have the pyrotechnics, you don’t have the explosions - so when you actually do the take you get the realness of it – it’s all genuine. It’s real shock, fear - every kind of emotion you can think of that would come if you really were caught up in that. I’m an adrenalin junkie so it’s the perfect job for me.”

But for Eve, the adrenalin fuelled action is on the back burner as she is five months pregnant. Having just completed filming for the new BBC ONE drama Framed, in which she stars opposite Trevor Eve, she is now taking time out to concentrate on her pregnancy.

“I’m not working now until the baby is born. I’ve worked continuously recently but now it’s my time to concentrate on the baby.”

GARETH DAVID-LLOYD plays IANTO JONES

In Torchwood: Children of Earth the quiet coffee maker finds himself out of his comfort zone. But it doesn’t take him long to find his stride and soon is right at the heart of the action.

“I absolutely loved filming this series. There are so many scenes that are memorable. But the one that does come to mind is crawling through the wreckage after a huge explosion. We filmed it in a quarry and used real pyrotechnics. It was really hot and I had to climb up the side of this quarry. It was the first time in my career I felt like a proper action hero.”

“It’s one big adrenalin rush after another. I enjoyed it more than ever as I had the chance to be a bigger part of the action,” says Gareth David-Lloyd who plays Ianto.”

“I found the five-episode storyline effective. There’s one emotional journey throughout. I think people will be more scared by this new series. There’s a real seriousness to what’s going on.”

Although the format of the series has changed, the impact and effect of Torchwood remains the same:

“There’s just as much human drama as there is sci-fi in this series.”

“I can’t wait to see the entire series. It has this race against time element to it. As each episode goes by the pace increases and it gets faster and faster - like a roller coaster - and it’s a real adrenalin ride.”

As the series has developed, so has the character of Ianto Jones:

“I think Ianto has changed quite a lot since the series first began because of everything that’s happened to him. He lost everything he loved at one point, and then realized that all that was left for him was Torchwood and Jack - they had to replace the hole in his life. He’s learnt to be less guarded and be more like himself - a bit more content with himself as a person.”

The relationship between Captain Jack and Ianto also undergoes a transformation, with the two growing ever closer.

“It was nice to film those elements of the series. As it panned out across previous series, the relationship between Jack and Ianto has been quite organic. So it was nice that we get to the stage in series three where they are going through all the usual couple difficulties. I think the way it’s been done is extremely real.”

The alien threat facing the future of humanity, the 456, is nothing the team has ever encountered before. And hidden beneath the reality of the situation is the fact that one of the team is hiding a dark secret.

“I think every character goes through the process of thinking about giving up. We’re lucky they don’t all think about giving up at the same time. The good thing about the team is that they’ve got each other to pull them out of the darkness.”

KAI OWEN PLAYS RHYS WILLIAMS

In Torchwood: Children of Earth Rhys Williams, played by Kai Owen, finds himself well and truly thrown in at the deep end, on the run with wife Gwen, as government hit squads hunt them down.

Rhys is the ordinary guy in the street. He’s the normal person’s eyes and ears, and says what he thinks about the situations Torchwood finds themselves in, bringing the reality back to them. It makes Torchwood real.

“It’s fast moving - it’s non-stop, no holds barred from the get go and it gets faster and faster, building to a massive climax.

“It’s got a lot of heart, it’s sexy, it’s classy. And even though it’s a bit extraordinary at times it’s very real. I think it has something for everybody,” he says of Torchwood.

“It’s very different to the previous series. I loved the story arc. We were very used to there being different stories spread across thirteen episodes - with the only constant being the characters. I was very excited about the scripts for this new series - even more so as Russell had written some of them.”

“Every episode gets better and better. The story is so strong that people who watch the first episode will have to watch the other four.”

Over the years, Rhys has become fully aware of the dangerous underworld that Torchwood inhabits. But sometimes, as Kai admits, Rhys would probably rather not actually be so involved:

“I think he’d rather not get involved if he had the choice to be honest. He doesn’t run away from it - he’s seen so many things. He’s very brave and fully aware of what Gwen does and what she comes across. He also knows that she’s absolutely fantastic at her job. Rhys wants Gwen safe. If he was sitting at home knowing that the government wanted to wipe Torchwood out, then he’d want to be with Gwen.”

“I think he’s happy to be more involved in this series because he knows he can keep an eye on her. But he wants to go home to his mom really and have a cup of tea.”

Being surrounded by so many out of the ordinary events, Rhys has naturally become more aware of what’s going on around him. In this new series, his instincts kick in and he starts to put the pieces of the puzzle together at an early stage:

“He’s very aware of the weird happenings and what’s going on around him. When Gwen phones him he knows something is up with the kids and that this is a job for ‘my Gwen’. He’s a lot more interested in it now. And he comes up with his own theories about what’s going on with the children.”

Thursday, July 16, 2009


Dashing Danes Sparkles

Actress Claire Danes attends the 2009 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center on June 15, 2009 in New York City. Danes wore platinum jewelry by Tiffany & Co., a pair of Platinum and diamond earrings and several bracelets (total $264,000). (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage)

Wednesday, July 15, 2009


Mark Your Calendars!

Dr. Who, Torchwood Stars to Attend Comic-Con

David Tennant And Russell T Davies Attending Comic-Con 2009
BBC hosts Doctor Who talent for their first ever appearance at Comic-Con -


In support of BBC AMERICA’s U.S. premiere of four Doctor Who Specials, the Doctor himself, David Tennant, will appear alongside writer/executive producer Russell T Davies at this year’s Comic-Con in San Diego. They will take part in a Doctor Who panel along with executive producer Julie Gardner and director Euros Lyn, Sunday July 26, 10:00-11:00am PT.



David will travel to Comic-Con, fresh from the Doctor Who set, having shot his final scenes as the tenth Time Lord. He and fellow panelists will discuss the latest incarnation of television’s longest running science fiction series and take questions from the floor. There will also be exclusive sneak peeks from the upcoming specials.



Fans can visit the BBC AMERICA booth (#3629) to capture their own photograph alongside part of the Doctor Who set - as well as purchase exclusive merchandise including David Tennant figures.



Fans of BBC AMERICA’s highest rated show ever, Torchwood, which will have just completed the five-part special, Children of Earth, will get to chat with the stars and makers of the show first-hand. Just 48 hours after the last episode, the show makes a return visit to Comic-Con with a panel featuring star John Barrowman, writer/executive producer Russell T Davies, executive producer Julie Gardner and director Euros Lyn, Sunday July 26, 2:15-3:45pm PT.



As part of the same panel, Sunday July 26, 2:15-3:45pm PT, catch the talent from BBC AMERICA’s most buzzed about new sci fi drama, Being Human. Creator and writer, Toby Whithouse, plus lead actors Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow and Aidan Turner, talk about the inspiration for the show and what it’s like to play three twenty-somethings with secret double-lives – as a werewolf, a vampire and a ghost. All four panelists will be signing exclusively at the BBC AMERICA booth, Saturday July 25, 3:00-4:00pm PT.



Cult comedy favorite and BAFTA-nominated, The Mighty Boosh, comes to Comic-Con for the first time to celebrate the airing of all three seasons on Adult Swim, and the BBC’s DVD release, just two days before the convention begins. Inspired by the Perrier Comedy Award-winning live comedy show, creators-stars Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding, along with actors Michael Fielding, Rich Fulcher and Dave Brown, will be on stage to discuss the magical, bizarre and exciting world of The Boosh, Friday, July 24, 4:45-5:45pm. The hit UK comedy series follows crazy zookeepers Howard Moon and Vince Noir and was described by The San Jose Mercury News as “an acid-trip fantasy-comedy [that] is seriously deranged and seriously funny.”



Fans can also catch exclusive BBC AMERICA screenings during the convention with back to back episodes of Doctor Who and Torchwood. Key talent from both shows introduce the last episode of the five part series Torchwood: Children of Earth and a U.S. premiere viewing of Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead, the first of four specials starring David Tennant.



Underground Toys (#3949) will be selling their entire Doctor Who and Torchwood lines of toys and novelty items. In addition, this year they will once again introduce new limited edition Comic-Con action figures that have never been seen before.



BBC AMERICA Comic-Con Panel and Signing Schedule



Friday, July 24

4:45-5:45pm The Mighty Boosh: creators-stars Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding along with actors Michael Fielding, Rich Fulcher and Dave Brown will be on stage to discuss the magical, bizarre and exciting world of The Boosh, currently airing on Adult Swim and released on DVD by the BBC two days before the convention begins. The San Jose Mercury News describes the show as “an acid-trip fantasy-comedy [that] is seriously deranged and seriously funny.” Room 6A



3:30-4:30pm The Mighty Boosh signing in the Autograph Area.



Saturday, July 25

3:00-4:00pm Being Human: creator Toby Whithouse and actors Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow and Aidan Turner signing at the BBC AMERICA booth (#3629).



7:30-10:00pm Torchwood/Doctor Who: Key talent from both shows introduce the last episode of the five part series Torchwood: Children of Earth and an advance viewing of Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead, the first of four specials starring David Tennant. Room 6A



Sunday, July 26

10:00-11:00am Doctor Who: actor David Tennant, writer/executive producer Russell T Davies, director Euros Lyn and executive producer Julie Gardner discuss their creative process and experiences working on BBC AMERICA’s Doctor Who with exclusive clips and a Q&A session. Ballroom 20



2:15-3:45pm Being Human/Torchwood: Being Human creator Toby Whithouse and cast members Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow and Aidan Turner, are on stage to give an inside look at BBC AMERICA’s U.S. premiere sci-fi drama about the lives of three twenty-somethings and their secret double-lives – as a werewolf, a vampire and a ghost. Following that actor John Barrowman, creator/writer/executive producer Russell T Davies, executive producer Julie Gardner and director Euros Lyn talk about the making of the epic five-night television event Torchwood: Children of Earth as well as take questions from the fans. Room 6BCF

Tuesday, July 14, 2009


Intervention: Real Estate Style

Just when you thought there simply couldn't be another version of how to sell your house...HGTV introduces a new reality series, Real Estate Intervention.

In this current real estate market, pricing is everything. And the best way to really find out how much your house is worth is to check out the competition. Real Estate Intervention takes motivated sellers on a tour of three other listings in the same area and same price range. They'll get to see firsthand who their competition is and whether they've priced their house right. Does the competition have better closets? Granite counters? A bigger backyard? Which home is the best value for the dollar? This show helps sellers determine the best way to get top dollar — and in the end we'll see which home sells first.


This "no-nonsense" real estate program will tell it like it is -- with a straight-talkin' expert, DC & Baltimore area real estate expert Mike Aubrey -- who admits he's about as "soft as an eight-pound sledge hammer."

"But if you can handle the truth, you can handle me." Aubrey knows his stuff and he doesn't sugarcoat it, using a kind of "tough love," wake-up call approach that should get the job done.
Some listen, some don't. Airs Thursdays at 10:30 p.m. PT/ET and 9:30 p.m. C on HGTV.

Monday, July 13, 2009



LOTR: On Stage

INSIDE “Lord of the Rings on Stage”

INSIDE follows the team of more than 120 cast, crew and creatives as they puzzle over how to make Middle Earth — a fictional world of kingdoms, mountain ranges and enchanted forests — come alive on a London stage. From the complex revolving stage to actors walking on stilts, the cast and crew have a huge number of risky elements to contend with to make the show work. With just hours to go until audiences come for the first time, the ambitious set keeps breaking down. And where is the leading lady? Airs 31 July 2009 at 10 p.m. on PBS stations. See local listings.

Friday, July 10, 2009


Lindsay Lohan went for the gold in a beautiful gold leather strapless mini dress by Ina Soltani. Soltani is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. Soltani launched her own label inspired by the dramatic narratives of her homeland (Sarajevo, Bosnia) and its artisan traditions and is based in Los Angeles.

Lindsay Lohan went for the gold in a beautiful gold leather strapless mini dress by Ina Soltani at the Transformers 2 premiere. Ina Soltani is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. Soltani launched her own label inspired by the dramatic narratives of her homeland (Sarajevo, Bosnia) and its artisan traditions and is based in Los Angeles.








Handbag Holder: Must Have


Ever since our salad days of ritural Sunday church-going, we have been fans of the handbag holder, attaching it to the pew in front of us and admiring both it and our pocketbook.

The days of church attendance have long gone by the wayside for us, but we are still using handbag holders. We were just introduced to Pavina Hangbag purse holders, which currently come in six very pretty styles. We don’t have one ourselves so we cannot speak to the quality per se, but they are guaranteed. Their website boasts “Keep your Pavina handbag holder for 30 days and should you decide to return it, we will refund the purchase price of the holder no questions asked.”

We like this because we were given a gorgeous handbag holder – a very pricey one at that and it broke the very first time we used it! Check out Pavina at www.marlobrands.com/

Thursday, July 09, 2009

Wednesday, July 08, 2009


Kaplan Gives Back

Stuart H. Kaplan, M.D. began his practice over 25 years ago, and started helped those in need by volunteering his time and medical services. As a practicing dermatologist in Beverly Hills, and as the creator of kaplanMD Skincare, Dr. Kaplan donates a portion of all online sales of kaplanMD Skincare to three charities close to his heart:

Skin Cancer Research – As a dermatologist who specializes in both medical and cosmetic dermatology, Dr. Kaplan has affected thousands of lives by advocating sun protection and early detection of skin cancer. He also performs Mohs Surgery to remove cancerous lesions from the skin. However, as skin cancer cases continue to rise in the U.S., partnering with national and local skin cancer research groups will help educate a much broader audience.

Breast Cancer Research – Dr. Kaplan’s sister was diagnosed with breast cancer several years ago. With advances made possible by continued research, Dr. Kaplan’s sister has now completed her courses of treatment. These advances are made possible by generous donations and grants, to which Dr. Kaplan will also now contribute.

Children of the Night – Dr. Kaplan has worked with Children of the Night for more than 15 years. This organization is dedicated to rehabilitating and educating underage girls arrested for prostitution. Many of these young girls are tattooed against their will, often with markings showing that they are “owned” by others. Dr. Kaplan performs laser tattoo removal on these girls free of charge, giving them a fresh start on many levels.

The kaplanMD Skincare line is also available in spas and boutiques throughout the US. Dr. Kaplan will be partnering with these retail locations to donate a portion of profits to a charity of the retailer’s choice.

kaplanMD Skincare is the first ‘complete balanced diet for the skin.’ When Dr. Kaplan saw his patients bring in bags of products, and were baffled about which ones to use and in which order, Dr. Kaplan created a simple, all-in-one skincare line that delivered the benefits of a dozen products in just 1 application. As a result, every kaplanMD product contains no less than 10 active ingredients, at their highest concentrations, to treat all three types of skin aging, caused by time, environment, and natural hormonal progression.

The kaplanMD skincare line includes Cleansing Lotion, Revitalizing Toner, Day Cream SPF 15, Replenishing Night Cream, Perfecting Serum, Intensive Eye Cream, LIP 20 Moisture Therapy + SPF (available in 5 sheer colors), and the newest addition, Cell Renewing Microfoliant.

In keeping with this new direction, in addition to donating a portion of the sales from kaplanMD to charity, the prices will also be lowered on all kaplanMD products to help make them available to a larger audience. Retail prices will be: Cleansing Lotion, $55; Revitalizing Toner, $40; Day Cream SPF 15, $125; Replenishing Night Cream, $145; Perfecting Serum, $185; Intensive Eye Cream, $95; Cell Renewing Microfoliant, $55; LIP 20, $30; Collection Set, $325; and Travel Set, $75.

Additional information on kaplanMD Skincare, Dr. Stuart Kaplan, and store availability can be found online at www.kaplanmd.com.

Tuesday, July 07, 2009


Need a Hot Locale in NYC?

Edison Ballroom – Edison Ballroom is a premiere food and entertainment destination that is quickly becoming one of the most sought after venues in Manhattan. With its Art Deco décor, 17,000 square foot space and 1,000 person capacity, Edison Ballroom is equipped for live performances, catering events, fashion shows, and charity events, as well as an array of other public and private events. Edison Ballroom originally opened in the 1930’s in the Hotel Edison as a dining and dancing venue with classic Art Deco design. In 1991, the venue was transformed into The Supper Club hosting corporate and charitable events and served as location for intimate concerts and cabaret performances. Following extensive renovations, the venue reopened in 2007 as the Edison Ballroom. Executive Chef Mina Newman creates signature world class menus for each event. Since this time, it has hosted countless high-profile events, trade and fashion shows, movie and theater openings and live performances. www.edisonballroom.com