ben.katner

No Sex on the Beach for Paradise Hottie

We know there's no IQ test to become a cast member of Fox's Paradise Hotel (airing Mondays and Wednesdays at 9 pm/ET), but hello? It seemed to us like Andon, the first stud muffin to be eliminated from the hot-to-trot race, was really asleep at the wheel. How could he possibly go two long weeks without scoring? "It was never really my intention to go there and hook up with anybody," the 26-year-old graphic designer tells TV Guide Online. "But if Fox says to you, 'Hey, we're going to pay you to go hang out with a bunch of really cool people in the most exotic resort known to man... ' What? You're gonna say no? No! Anybody would do it. "Plus, it's not like in the real world, where you could have sex with somebody, then never see them again," he continues. "You have to live with the person you hooked up with. So you can't just have random sex for sex's sake." To make matters worse, the tattooed not-so-bad boy spent his e

Mon, Jul 7, 2003

Pop Idol Goes from 'N Sync to 'N Gaged!

Relax, girls  pop heartthrob Justin Timberlake is still swingin' single. However, 'N Sync bandmate Joey Fatone has taken himself off the market. Last month on The Late Show, the Fame host revealed that he'd proposed to girlfriend Kelly on June 18 and (well, duh!) she said yes. But don't expect to read all about their engagement on TV Guide Online or anywhere else, for that matter. "I keep my [sweetheart] and my [2-year-old] daughter kind of out of the limelight," he notes. "[Interviewers] ask me questions, and I tell them how [my family is] doing and stuff  it's not a secret. But I just try to keep them out of the limelight as far as pictures and stuff." Fatone isn't pulling a Jacko, though; on the contrary, he's one of the more down-to-earth platinum-selling recording artists with whom you cou

Mon, Jul 7, 2003

Amanda Byram's Paradise Found

You might think it laughable that the randy roomies of Fox's hook-up-or-ship-out shagfest Paradise Hotel wail whenever a hottie's eliminated. However, saucy ringmaster Amanda Byram extends great empathy to passion's playthings. "If I was just watching at home, I'd be saying, 'For God's sake! You've only known each other for a couple of weeks!'" the Irishwoman admits to TV Guide Online. "But I'm in that house every day. I've actually been in the toilet when Toni threw up because she couldn't handle choosing [between two bunkmates]. "The [cohabitants] spend so much time with each other that it's almost like sensory deprivation," she adds. "I'm even getting so close to the crew that I haven't phoned my parents in weeks! They're calling me, going, 'Where the hell are you?' I'm like, 'Sorry. I'm getting along so well with the crew, they're my new family.'" Although the onetime host of England's The Big Breakfast morning show underst

Wed, Jul 2, 2003

Is 'N Sync Going (Gasp!) Folk?

We don't want to alarm any teenagers  or, for that matter, open-minded old farts like us  but when 'N Sync unveils its follow-up to 2001's Celebrity, the boy band may have said bye, bye, bye to the dirty pop that we've come to know and love. "I've been listening to a lot of different things lately  John Mayer and stuff like that," scruffy singer Joey Fatone tells TV Guide Online, hinting that the easy listening on his iPOD today could wind up on the group's record tomorrow. "But who knows what's going to happen in the next couple of months?" he continues. "Somebody might come out with a different album and change the whole [notion]." While the Fame host and his posse of pals have yet to settle on a sound for their upcoming platter, this he promises us: They at least have agreed on a timetable to begin getting into a groove. "We're starting in Septe

Mon, Jun 23, 2003

What Scares Shannen Doherty?

As host of Sci Fi's guiltiest pleasure, Scare Tactics (which returns with new episodes Friday at 10 ET), Shannen Doherty is an accomplice to all manner of terrifying pranks. So she can't be entirely surprised by our first question: What would really freak her out? "It would have to be something to do with water or sharks," she admits, perhaps foolishly, to TV Guide Online. "I'm petrified of sharks. Petrified. Like, I know I'm going to get eaten one day." Aha! Now we've given the altered-reality prankathon's producers the info they need to spook their star. Yet for some reason, the Beverly Hills, 90210 and Charmed actress isn't quaking in her boots. What gives? "I don't think they'd do that to me," she says. "If you pulled a prank on me with a shark, I'd probably have

Tue, Jun 17, 2003

Sci-Fi Sexpot Just Wants to Have Fun

Traci Elizabeth Lords is ready to go on the record  literally. The Sci Fi Channel's unofficial poster girl is working on a follow-up to her 1995 techno platter, 1,000 Fires, she reveals to TV Guide Online. "I finally got out of my [exclusive deal with Radioactive, my old] label, so I'm a free agent now. I've got several record companies interested in putting this album out, but I'm not sure where I'm going with it yet." No matter: What's important, at least to us Lords lovers, is that at last new tracks are in the offing. "Music is absolutely happening at the moment," says the former First Wave leading lady and star of the recent Deathlands: Homeward Bound telepic. "I'll release at least the single this summer." Intrigued? So are we. Alas, the tight-lipped ex-Melrose Place and Profiler vixen refuses to name that tune! "I can't," she insists. "If I did, then I'd have to kill you." Blimey. Maybe just a hint, then? "

Mon, Jun 16, 2003

Fame Goes to 'N Sync Singer's Head

Were 'N Sync heartthrob Joey Fatone's career headed south, we could understand why he signed on to host NBC's Fame (Wednesdays at 8 pm/ET). But since he recently appeared in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, headlined Broadway's Rent and is about to begin work with Justin Timberlake and the boys on their band's fifth album, his emcee gig makes no sense to us. Isn't he just inviting wannabes to make him a has-been? "Oh, I don't think they'll ever take my job," he tells TV Guide Online with a laugh. "And I think it's nice to give other people the chance to perform. There's room for everyone [in the entertainment biz]. Besides, it's kind of interesting to see these young adults bust their butts doing all the stuff that me and the guys in the group do." Not that the 26-year-old Brooklyn native is at heart a sadist; he doesn't so

Fri, Jun 13, 2003

Will S.Do Take On J.Lo?

When you think of TV's great musicals, you probably think of Bette Midler in Gypsy or Brandy in Cinderella... highfalutin fare like that. But us? No way, man. We think of Shannen Doherty in 1997's rockin' revamp of All About Eve, Friends 'Til the End. Although NBC's story of sorority girls gone wild was never heralded as the classic that it was, it introduced to a small cult of us true film buffs the vocal talents of the former 90210 vixen (not to mention those of her rival, future Dark Angel co-star Jennifer Blanc). How good is the host of Sci Fi's Scare Tactics (Fridays at 10 pm/ET)? The movie made even her thi

Thu, Jun 12, 2003

Idol Scales Tip in Favor of Ruben

After 24 million votes were cast, an hour and 50 minutes of our lives were whiled away, more than 75 commercials were broadcast, and a truly disturbing dream sequence involving Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and whipped cream damn near put us off sex, Ruben Studdard was finally declared a superstar in last night's second-season finale of American Idol. But despite the close race  runner-up Clay Aiken garnered only 130,000 fewer call-ins  the contest's climax lacked both the emotional resonance and the suspense of the previous year's sing-off between Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini. The blame for the first shortcoming rests squarely on Studdard's broad shoulders. Visiting judge Gladys Knight hit the nail on the head when she dubbed him "the world's velvet teddy bear." She meant it as a compliment, of cou

Thu, May 22, 2003

A Cheers Reunion? We'll Drink to That!

Ever since last call on Cheers, we've longed to go back where everybody knows our name (or at least Norm's name). So it is with a great deal of excitement that TV Guide Online announces that soon we'll be able to do just that  by checking out the classic sitcom's first season on DVD (in stores today). What did you think we meant? A real reunion of the original cast? Don't make us laugh until we cry in our beer! "So many people ask [whether there's been talk of getting together again]," says Shelley Long, who played uppity waitress Diane Chambers from 1982-87. "But no, there hasn't. Everybody's pretty much doing their own thing. We check in with each other in various ways... [though] none of us have really spent much time with each other. "Most of us did NBC's 75th anniversary [special] last spring, and that was fun, but we didn't really have

Tue, May 20, 2003

Meet This American Dreamboat

When Will Estes stood us up for our interview last week, we were ready to write him off as just another Hollywood hunk who's more concerned with his little black book than his day planner. But after finally connecting with the 24-year-old former child star  and accepting his profuse apologies  we had to do some editing on our story. Turns out, the L.A. native is perfectly cast as American Dreams's J.J. Pryor, the endearingly earnest Vietnam-era teenager at the heart of this week's season finale (airing on NBC Sunday at 8 pm/ET). Read on, and see if you don't agree. TV Guide Online: So, Will, how much does it suck to be you? I mean, American Dreams just got renewed, but in tomorrow's episode, your character enlists in the Marines! You've got to be worried about job security 24-7! Will Estes: (Laughing) Exactly. [Executive producer Jonathan Prince] has a way to kill off all of us, I think. The dad could have a heart at

Sat, May 17, 2003

Traci Lords "Boared" to Death!

Traci Elizabeth Lords, a party dress and a crossbow  that's really all we needed to hear to know that we'd be tuning in to Sci Fi's adaptation of James Axler's post-apocalyptic best-seller, Deathlands: Homeward Bound (Saturday at 9 pm/ET). But the actress, a veteran of such far-out fare as Blade and The Tommyknockers, offers TV Guide Online a few other compelling reasons to watch. For instance: 1. Her character, the deliciously avaricious Lady Rachel Cawdor, is more than just another wicked witch. "She's not really bad, she's just drawn that way," snickers the blonde bombshell, who also played villainesses on Profiler and Melrose Place. "She really believes that she is the ultimate queen of the deathlands and that her husband [and stepson] Harvey is a nitwit. She's got a bit of a Napoleon complex, I think, and she's sure that Harve

Sat, May 17, 2003

Mad TV's Stephnie: Weir and Wonderful

If there is a funnier woman on the tube than Mad TV star Stephnie Weir, we haven't seen her (and trust us  we watch everything!). In three years, the skitcom scene-stealer has built up a dazzling repertoire of freaks and geeks that can break your heart even as they make you bust a gut. So couch potatoes who don't yet know that her shtick's a treat should  no, must  make it a priority to catch the season finale Saturday at 11 pm/ET on Fox. At the very least, her dead-on Anna Nicole Smith impression will spare you the horror of checking out the merry widow's actual E! reality series. In the meantime, you can give yourself the giggles by listening in as TV Guide Online tries to interview the soft-spoken Texan without begging her to talk like harebrained towhead Dot or master thespian Dorothy Lanier. TV Guide Online: Stephnie, you crack me the hell up. Where did you get your wacky sense of humor? Were you dropped on your hea

Sat, May 17, 2003

Dreams Come True

If there were any relation between ratings and quality, American Dreams would be the No. 1 show on TV. But hey, we're not complaining; at least NBC has renewed the soul-stirring '60s-set dramedy for a second season. "We're the little engine that could," executive producer Jonathan Prince tells TV Guide Online. "It's hard to call yourself a hit on the network that gives us Friends and ER ... but I feel really good about what we've done, especially up against The Simpsons and such tough competition." Prince's boss, NBC prez Jeff Zucker, seconds that emotion. "He said, 'I'm going to make Sundays work,'" reveals Prince. Heaven knows he and his Dreams team are trying. For this week's season finale (airing at 8 pm/ET), they've recruited Destiny's Child vocali

Mon, May 12, 2003

The Bachelor's Near Mrs.

Even before she made him eat codfish, viewers of ABC's The Bachelor (Wednesdays at 9 pm/ET) knew that it was only a matter of time before superfine Firestone wine heir Andrew pruned thorny Jersey girl Cristina from his garden of sweeties. However, frisky frontrunner Kirsten need not sign up for classes in cork-sniffing and posey-arranging just yet; her victory is anything but a foregone conclusion. In fact, a quick review of her behavior thus far, as well the attractive attributes of her romantic rivals, reveals that her handsome playboy may well leave her singing "You Don't Bring Me Flowers." Check it out. &#151Ben Katner Kirsten: Let's all agree on one point right off the bat, shall we? This chick is hot. Really, really hot. And she's not just another pretty face, either. She's got one helluva set of curves on 'er, too. Erstwhile Joe Millionaire Evan would probably go so far as to say that she's got a "

Tue, May 6, 2003

Cheers Stars Dating!

Pull up a barstool and make yourself comfortable  the cast of Cheers is finally reuniting! Well, at least two of the classic sitcom's co-stars are. In tonight's episode of ABC's 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter (airing at 8 ET), barmaid Diane and mailman Cliff  aka Shelley Long and John Ratzenberger  drop in as the Hennessys' neighbors, Mary Ellen and Fred Doyle. "Johnny was absolutely on his game, as he always is," an enthusiastic Long informs TV Guide Online. "This is a terrific character for him. Very different. And I got to do something new, too. There are bits and pieces of Mary Ellen that I don't think will be familiar to people who know my work. I'm also looking a

Tue, May 6, 2003

Is Angel Livin' on a Prayer?

Although the WB already has picked up many of its hits for next season, cult fave Angel is not among them. Nonetheless, David Boreanaz, who plays the toothsome hero of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer spinoff, remains hopeful that good news is forthcoming. "I'm optimistic," he tells TV Guide Online, noting, "We didn't get an early renewal last year, either. You just kind of have to wait it out." No doubt the actor's confidence is fueled by his knowledge of the plot twists that the season finale holds in store. In the next-to-last episode, cult leader Jasmine's apocalyptic plot was thwarted. (Was there ever any doubt?) Then, "the last episode is the beginning of what's to come, and that's really exciting. If the show ends, it would leave open so many doors. It wouldn't be like, 'Okay. No

Mon, May 5, 2003

Heather Donahue Files Suit

The Hollywood parody New Suit (opening Friday) is highly unlikely to make movie-goers forget how much they loved  and loved to hate  Heather Donahue as The Blair Witch Project's other scary villainess. But that's just fine with the level-headed up-and-comer. She never aspired to be a sensation, never mind an overnight one. "I want the same career I've always wanted, which is sort of long, slow and respected, at least by myself," she tells TV Guide Online. "That's how I always imagined things going  working my way up, getting a part here and a part there, then gradually just being a working actor. I love making my living as an actor  to me, that's a minor miracle. "In fact, the whole Blair Witch experience came as a huge, not-entirely-pleasant shock," she adds, noting that after the pi

Fri, May 2, 2003

Meet Jaws' Granddaddy, Meg!

Since Steve Alten reacquired the rights to his engrossing bestseller Meg, about a prehistoric predator that makes Jaws' Great White look like a guppy, showbiz sharks have been circling. However, it's not only the scribe's screenplay adaptation that's sparked the feeding frenzy. It's also the fact that his book and its follow-up, The Trench, have made "finatics" of the hard-to-hook adolescent demographic. "For a while, nothing was happening," the author tells TV Guide Online. "But recently, some developments have been spurred on because it seems that teens love Meg  so much so that high school teachers were using the book as part of their curriculum. I didn't know this until English teachers started e-mailing me that the book was a huge hit in their classes. "So, essentially, we have a growing army of kids who are wanting to see a movie [adaptation]. I wasn't aiming to do that, but it just worked out," he continues, amazed. "No

Mon, Apr 28, 2003

Eloise Star a Real Dr. Dolittle

Don't misunderstand Sofia Vassilieva. The 10-year-old is pleased as punch that, come Sunday evening at 7 ET, avid readers like herself will be glued to their TVs to watch her play the title role in ABC's Wonderful World of Disney adaptation of Eloise at the Plaza, Kay Thompson's beloved book about a matchmaking moppet and her lovelorn nanny (Julie Andrews). But right now, the proud owner of one dog, one cat, "approximately" 27 snails and two worms has a slightly more pressing concern. "I don't know where my slug is at the moment," she informs TV Guide Online, covering her worry with an infectious laugh. "I had a slug this morning. I think he's somewhere around my backyard." Ah, such is the life of this rising starlet, a prodigious linguist (she's fluent in both French and Russian) who is quick to reveal that adventure follows her almost as closely as it does Eloise. Even activities that might make us yawn can make her gasp and

Fri, Apr 25, 2003

Will Hollywood Hijack a Hairspray Star?

If you've caught the exuberant Broadway adaptation of Hairspray, you'll know what we mean when we say that Kerry Butler damn near steals the show. As heroine Tracy Turnblad's dim-witted but bright-eyed best friend Penny Pingleton, the Brooklyn native pulls no punch lines and turns even secondary stage business into physical comedy of the first order. What's more, Penny's climactic transformation from lovelorn square to lustful "checkerboard chick" takes away theater-goers' breath along with the powerhouse singer's own. So what the heck is the veteran leading lady from Beauty and the Beast and Les Miserables doing in a supporting role? "I actually prefer being in the ensemble," she tells TV Guide Online. "It makes life easier. When you're the lead, you have to be perfect. With Penny, I can do whatever I want, and [the audience] won't care  unless it's really bad!" The ingenue doesn't even mind that Penny shuffles along with two lef

Thu, Apr 24, 2003

Read It Here First: Idol Victor Revealed!

Now that viewers have whittled down American Idol 2's dirty dozen wannabe pop stars to six fab finalists, the time is nigh to predict a winner. But before you place a wager in your office pool, be sure to consider the helpful handicapping that your friends at TV Guide Online have done on your behalf. It just might save you a bundle, which you can then share with, well...Joshua Gracin: Provided that producers don't have a second disco night on tap, the all-American Marine could easily sail away with the coveted recording contract. He's got the look (regardless of what flabby judge Simon Cowell says) and the voice, and thank God, he's a country boy. Sure, his aw-shucks appeal probably doesn't have Garth Brooks shakin' in his Stetson. But you know Bryan White's starting to sweat. Trenyce: The artist formerly known as Lashundra blew us away in the semis, and has nearly blown her shot every other week since. What's the proble

Thu, Apr 17, 2003