Journalist, Author & Syndicated Columnist
Where would Sheldon Cooper and Amy Farrah Fowler — aka Shamie — go for their honeymoon? I asked Mayim Bialik, the actress who plays one-half of the geeky dream team on “The Big Bang Theory”: “Probably Stockholm, home of the Nobel Prize, maybe, or somewhere with lots of trains, since Sheldon loves trains.”
Marti Frederiksen has written songs with an array of artists, including Carrie Underwood, Gavin Rossdale and Buckcherry. But it’s his long-time collaborations with Steven Tyler that stand out. On Aerosmith’s latest album, “Music From Another Dimension,” Frederiksen wrote “Can’t Stop Loving You” with Tyler, who sings duet on the song with Underwood. “It’s really amazing to think about some of these amazing artists I’ve worked with,” says Frederiksen, 50. “Each of them has such a distinct style and I got to be a part of that.”
Born in San Diego, Calif., actor Bobby Lee’s career started after he dropped out of college. He got a job doing whatever needed to be done at the Comedy Store, before he worked up the nerve to try his hand at doing stand-up. Many television viewers remember Lee from his days on Fox’s MADtv.” He may currently be seen in the Blu-ray release of “The Dictator,” which is being promoted as ‘“banned and unrated,’ the version you couldn’t see in theaters.” Lee also is one of the co-stars of the NBC series “Animal Practice.” To stay in touch with the comedian, you may follow him on Twitter @bobbyleelive.
Singer-actress Ashley Brown originated the title role of “Mary Poppins” on Broadway. She reprised the role in the national tour, receiving the 2010 Garland Award for that performance. Her television special “Ashley Brown in Concert: Call Me Irresponsible” also won a 2011 Telly Award. Brown is currently performing in Kern and Hammerstein’s musical “Show Boat” at the Lyric Opera of Chicago and “Speak Low,” her CD of American standards, is available now.
“There were people who had been there for 30 years and I asked myself, ‘Is this something that makes me happy?’” says Loni Love. “I wanted to be laid off and save someone else’s job. I had been doing stand-up all along, and now I was free to do it full time. Being good to yourself and not getting too caught up in life goes along with traveling and taking vacations in my view. You need a good balance to keep you happy.”
Born in Puerto Limon, Costa Rica, to Chinese parents, Harry Shum Jr. was once best known for his dancing in films such as “You Got Served,” “Stomp the Yard” and the “Step Up” films. But, today, “gleeks” worldwide know him as dreamy high school student Mike Chang on Fox TV’s hit show “Glee.”
On NBC’s conspiracy-laden series “The Event,” Lisa Vidal plays first lady Christina Martinez. “It’s definitely a fun role and I have a lot of respect for her,” the 45-year-old actress says of her character. “She is a strong woman who deals with complicated issues much better than I ever could!”
Troy Polamalu will be easy to spot when the Pittsburgh Steelers play the Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 6. The Steelers’ 29-year-old strong safety will be the one with the long mane of thick, wavy black hair cascading out of his helmet. He’s the only player in NFL history to have his hair insured by Lloyd’s of London (Head & Shoulders shampoo took out a $1 million policy for their spokesman).
Marissa Jaret Winokur won a Tony Award for her role in the Broadway musical “Hairspray,” competed on “Dancing with the Stars” and currently is a co-host on the CBS day-time chat show “The Talk.” “Life is good,” says the 36-year-old actress who beat cervical cancer a few years ago. “I am so busy working and being a mom that it’s all I can do to get a shower in every now and again. But I’ll take it. The good, bad — everything.”
Guitar legend Joe Satriani and his wife, Rubina, are big fans of traveling, whether it’s a quick flight to Vancouver or an exotic vacation on Tioman Island. Though he enjoys the peace and tranquility of villas that offer little distraction by way of phones and televisions, he also admits he’s partial to having access to the Internet, especially when he’s on tour.