Category: Interviews

Nigella Lawson: Another British invasion

Jae-Ha Kim

Good English food was an oxymoron until the Brits invaded America. Again. While they’re barging through our kitchens this time, we’re not so hot to keep them out. It helps that the latest imports such as Jamie Oliver, that hottie on the Food Network’s “The Naked Chef,” are easy on the eye. These days foodies are raising eyebrows at the sexy star of “Nigella Bites,” the delectable Nigella Lawson. She’s slim with model good looks, and this recent widow is raising a family without complaint or a ladle out of place.

Five questions with Jamie Kennedy

Jae-Ha Kim

Jamie Kennedy is nowhere to be found. At first, you wonder whether he’s wandering around in disguise as a bellhop, waiting to fool you as he does on his TV series, “JKX: The Jamie Kennedy Experiment,” which airs at 7 p.m. Sundays on WGN-Channel 9. On this twisted homage to “Candid Camera,” Kennedy dresses up as different characters and fools people into thinking he’s some funky Valley Boy taking their daughter out on a blind date or an insensitive boss who makes his temp fire the entire staff.

Celebs put up their dukes – A-list stars and ‘bad girls’ alike are turning to the sweet science for fun, fitness and feeling of empowerment

Jae-Ha Kim

Meg Ryan and Russell Crowe are doing it. So are Tonya Harding and Barry Williams. And come to think of it, Danny Bonaduce and Long Island Lolita Amy Fisher are doing it, too. Hey now, get your minds out of the gutter. We’re talking about that other contact sport– boxing.

Speaking of Chicago with Alejandro Escovado

Jae-Ha Kim

Alejandro Escovedo refuses to be pegged. He is a rock ‘n’ roll veteran who began his career in the San Francisco punk band the Nuns, which opened for the Sex Pistols during their last concert in America. Escovedo went on to play lead guitar with the 80s cowpunk group Rank and File before fronting his own roots rock band, the True Believers.

Speaking of Chicago … with Vonda Shepard

Jae-Ha Kim

Even Vonda Shepard is sick of rehearsing the theme to “Ally McBeal.” “I’ve sung it and heard it so many times on the radio that I can’t believe anyone still wants to hear it,” the singer says, phoning from the Los Angeles set of the Fox series. “But once we start playing the opening chords and I see how excited the audience gets hearing it, then I start to get excited, too. It’s the song that put my name out there, so I’ll perform it as long as people want to hear it.”

Five Questions with … Jason Schwartzman

Jae-Ha Kim

The first time Jason Schwartzman was on David Letterman’s show, the young actor had a case of the nerves. “I walked out there and it was like being on a roller-coaster ride,” says Schwartzman, now 21. “He’s awesome! I love him. I want to campaign for him to be on Oprah. I don’t know why she won’t have him on. He’s great.” The feeling must be mutual. Schwartzman is scheduled to appear on Letterman’s gabfest twice this week. On Wednesday, his band, Phantom Planet, will perform a song from the new album “The Guest.” The following evening, Schwartzman returns solo to hype his latest film, “Slackers,” which opens Friday.

Speaking of Chicago … with SUPER DIAMOND

Jae-Ha Kim

The first time Randy Cordero–lead singer of the Neil Diamond tribute band Super Diamond–met Diamond, he wasn’t sure what to expect. “He was so nice to us,” says Cordero, phoning from his San Francisco home. “He came backstage before one of our shows last year in Hollywood. We talked for about half an hour. He thanked me for what we were doing. I thanked him for not suing us. He was really cool and down to earth–just an all around nice guy.”

Benjamin Bratt finds rhyme, reason in poet role

Jae-Ha Kim

Sitting in a suite at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Benjamin Bratt–who is polite, funny and easy on the eyes–isn’t oblivious to the effect he has on the women fluttering nearby. Dressed in grey trousers, a tight black pullover and black ankle boots, Bratt looks every bit the movie star he is about to become. His almond-shaped eyes are liquid and chocolate brown, and the few strands of grey hair flecking his sideburns are his only concession to age.

In town with Brian Lane Green

Jae-Ha Kim

Brian Lane Green is sitting at a coffee shop not far from his Gold Coast hotel. He is oblivious to the second looks he attracts from other patrons. He’s too busy digging into his bowl of soup. “When you run around on stage every day wearing a loincloth, you are very conscious of what you eat,” says Green with a laugh. “I have a tendency to be round. Luckily, my muscles have memory, so they pop out during the shows.”