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Will More 'Boy Meets World' Stars Join 'Girl Meets World'?

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The "Girl Meets World" cast has found its lead with Rowan Blanchard, who will play Cory and Topanga's daughter. But the rest of the ensemble could include some very familiar faces to "Boy Meets World" fans.

Ben Savage and Danielle Fishel are reprising their "Boy Meets World" roles of Cory and Topanga, parents to 13-year-old Riley (Blanchard). Their friends and family from the original ABC series could also stop by. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, series creator Michael Jacobs said the cast has an open invite.

"We sat down with them and talked about what their roles on the show may be," Jacobs said in regards to the original "Boy Meets World" cast members. "Whoever wants to be part of this show will be and whoever wants to move on will. The most important thing is to see what the show is and then see what their part in it will be. Will Friedle said, 'I will be at every taping.' Everybody is quite attached to it. The bottom line is: Will Rider [Strong] or Will be a cast member? Will they put in appearances? Maybe, maybe not. We’ll see."

Strong, Shawn Hunter to "Boy Meets World" fans, said he wasn't part of the project in November.

Jacobs said he has been reading fan reactions on Twitter and Tumblr and taking stock in what "Boy Meets World" fans have been saying.

"If we do a redo of the original series, that’s no good," he said. "Nobody wants that. The world [my kids are] growing up in is a far tougher world; it’s not the same world Cory Matthews met. I certainly don’t know that it’s as kid-friendly. It’s far more complex than it used to be because of their immediate access technologically, about things they should and shouldn’t."

Click over to THR for more from Jacobs on "Girl Meets World."


A Love Story On And Off The Screen

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NEW YORK — Michael Emerson has played a serial killer, a mysterious, villainous Island leader and currently stars as a billionaire computer genius on "Person of Interest." But he says playing the romantic interest for his real life wife has been his most unsettling role.

Emerson plays the off-beat Harold Finch in "Person of Interest," which airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. Eastern. His wife Carrie Preston has a recurring role as Finch's former fiance, who believes he is dead.

The couple has acted together in a few independent films and Preston even played Emerson's mother in an episode of ABC's "Lost," but this was their first romantic pairing. This season even showed the characters' first kiss.

"Neither of us are the kind to get a lot romantic work in front of the camera so for us to get a big old languid first kiss with music underneath it and everything – that's a first in my career," he said.

Emerson said having his wife play his love interest can be tricky: "It's a little hard to turn off her wife-ness to me to make her just this other character."

Still, the Emmy-winning actor said he's happy to have his better half on set – even though he didn't help get her there. "Maybe Jonah (writer Jonathan Nolan) called me on the phone and said, `Would you have a problem if we asked your wife to play a character that we're working on?' And I said, `No.' That's how much I politicked to get her the part. I was completely unaware of it."

Preston, who also appears in "True Blood" and "The Good Wife," also found working with him a little strange but that nothing was more bizarre for them than watching the kiss on TV.

"We both sat and watched it together at home on the sofa and we got all kind of giggly and shy about it. It was like we didn't know how to look at each other," he said. "It's like, `Oh God, there we are. We're kissing.'"

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Online:

http://www.cbs.com/shows/person_of_interest/

Robert De Niro Hasn't Won An Oscar In A Long Time

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Robert De Niro is widely regarded as one of the best actors of his generation, so it may surprise you to learn how long he went without making a truly great movie. (Sure, we all laughed at “Meet the Parents” back in 2000, but "Meet the Parents" is no “The Deer Hunter.”) The Oscar nomination De Niro earned with his supporting role in last year's "Silver Linings Playbook" is his first since 1991, when he played that crazy guy who clings to the bottom of Nick Nolte's car in "Cape Fear." And he hasn't won an Academy Award since 1981, when he portrayed the tormented boxer Jake LaMotta in "Raging Bull."

If you want an idea of how long ago that was, here is a video of a young De Niro accepting his award from Sally Field:

If you want a few more ideas, keep reading.

On the day Robert De Niro won his last Oscar:

· The No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 was “Rapture” by Blondie.

· The No. 1 movie at the box office was "Omen III: The Final Conflict," starring Sam Neill.

· Joseph Gordon-Levitt was a little over one month old.

· Dan Rather had been the host of the "CBS Evening News" for three weeks.

· The most watched television show was “Dallas.” (In 2012, “Dallas” was revived featuring some members of the original cast.)

Since March 31, 1981, the day Robert De Niro won his last Oscar:

· The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has handed out 726 Oscars.

· De Niro has acted in 66 movies.

· Fellow 1981 Best Actor nominees Robert Duvall, John Hurt, Jack Lemmon and Peter O’Toole have won a combined total of one Oscar. (It was Duvall, for “Tender Mercies.”)

· Sally Field, who announced his win, won an Oscar for “Places in the Heart,” ON DATE TK, then suffered an even longer nomination drought than De Niro -- until scoring a nod this year for “Lincoln.”

· A space shuttle went into orbit for the first time (April 12, 1981).

· Lawrence Taylor was drafted with the second pick in the NFL draft by the New York Giants on April 28, 1981

· A few months after that, Tony Gwynn was drafted out of San Diego State University to play baseball for the San Diego Padres. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame six years ago.

· Natalie Portman was born June 9, 1981.

· MTV launched on August 1, 1981.

· De Niro became one of the last people to see John Belushi alive on March 5, 1982.

· Red Dawn, released in 1984, has since been remade as a blatant nostalgia-fest.

· Roberto Benigni has won an Oscar.

· Robert De Niro co-starred with Bullwinkle.

· De Niro's future “Silver Linings Playbook” co-star and fellow nominee Jennifer Lawrence was born August 15, 1990.

· Fellow Oscar nominee Quvenzhané Wallis was born on August 28, 2003.

Mike Ryan is senior writer for Huffington Post Entertainment. You can contact him directly on Twitter.

WATCH: When Adam Scott & Michael C. Hall Kissed ...

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Once upon a time, before Adam Scott was an actor-turned-caterer in "Party Down" or one half of TV's sweetest couple on "Parks and Rec," he was a serial TV guest star and recurred on "Six Feet Under" in 2002.

But it wasn't just any role. Scott played Ben Cooper, a love interest for Michael C. Hall's "Six Feet Under" character, David Fisher. Yep, Dexter Morgan and Ben Wyatt got it on.

Scott's other early TV work included "Veronica Mars," "Boy Meets World" and "Party of Five." Watch some of his "Six Feet Under" scenes below.

Jennifer Lawrence, Is That You?

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Jennifer Lawrence went incognito on a trip to Whole Foods in Studio City, Calif., on Jan. 29.

The 22-year-old, who just won a SAG Award for Best Actress for her role in "Silver Linings Playbook," dressed as if she was trying to hide as she made her way through the grocery store, picking up a bottle of Jim Beam Whiskey, some produce and Ruffles potato chips, according to photos obtained by X17online.com. Lawrence stayed undercover in a floppy purple hat, thick scarf and knee-length black sweater.

But who could really blame her? The "Hunger Games" star has been thrust into the spotlight during award season and even got Twitter in a frenzy on Sunday when her Dior Couture dress supposedly ripped as she accepted her SAG statue.

As it turned out, Lawrence didn't suffer a wardrobe malfunction after all. A spokesperson for Dior explained, "The dress is made of different levels of tulle and satin and that is what viewers saw when Jennifer lifted her dress slightly. It was not ripped and there was no malfunction -- it was the design of the gown."

Check out Jennifer's not-so-glamorous supermarket look below and see more photos at X17online.com:

jennifer lawrence outfit

'The Americans' Stars Keri Russell & Matthew Rhys Talk Spy Games, Sex & More

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FX's latest drama, "The Americans" (premieres tonight, Wed., Jan. 30 at 10 p.m. EST), stars Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys as Elizabeth and Phillip Jennings, Cold War-era Russian spies who have lived, worked and raised a family in America for 15 years as part of a covert mission to gather intel on the Reagan administration's plans against the Soviet Union.

The Jennings' lives are further complicated by the defection of another K.G.B. operative, which could jeopardize every undercover agent's identity; Phillip's growing affection for American culture; and the unnervingly curious FBI agent (Noah Emmerich), who has just become their neighbor.

HuffPost TV sat down with Russell and Rhys at the recent Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour to find out more about what motivates their compelling characters, whether Elizabeth and Phillip's marriage is really just a cover story, why Russell said yes to "The Americans" (since she said, "I always say no to everything"), what "honey trapping" is and much more.

Keri Russell

You haven't had a major dramatic TV role since "Felicity," so what was it about "The Americans" that lured you back to the small screen?
I thought the pilot script was just so interesting. It was so far from a procedural. And [originally,] I didn’t know that I wanted to do it. I always say no to everything. I never want to do anything. [Laughs.] But I just couldn’t stop thinking about it. I read it, and it was one of those things where I was riding my bike around Brooklyn or doing the dishes, and I kept trying to figure it out, because it’s so not clear. It’s still not clear to me. But there’s so many different levels to it.

First of all, being K.G.B. operatives, being a spy. That’s a huge amount of duplicitousness in how much of your life you’re really living, and then to have this arranged marriage at such a young age, especially for my character who had, I think, no sexual experience or boyfriends. She was very sheltered in that way, and then, to just be placed into this [marriage] and your whole existence is just for the cause ... [That] lends itself to a great sense of growth as she gets older, starting to want things for herself. So I thought that was interesting and then obviously ,the exciting fantasy element is the spy stuff.

In terms of research and figuring out Elizabeth's backstory, was that something you had some input in, or was it all on the page?
We had lots of discussions. We’re still having discussions. But I think the main thing that Joe Weisberg, the creator, kept impressing upon me was just that she is the absolutely committed one of the relationship [in terms of their mission]. Whereas Phillip, in a way, is the much more relatable character. You know, I relate much more to him. He’s feeling. He cares about the relationship more than he cares about the cause, and she just doesn’t. Even though it’s a harder person to root for, I think it can still be equally as interesting. And those people are fascinating people. Their values are so strong. They have such a sense of morals and back bone, and I think someone who is that “all or nothing” is a difficult sell to American culture, because we live in grays. I feel like we live in shades of gray and she does not. So it makes it interesting.

Sex plays a big part in the series. Both Elizabeth and Phillip are required to use their sexuality for the job, in some cases ...
I think, especially for women, it must be similar to [being] in the military ... I would love for it to just be clean and not different, but it is. I feel like there’s always something, there’s always that to sell or to give up. The sexuality and to be taken … that’s why women, I think, are more powerful in spy world. [But] men use sexuality all the time too. That’s one of my favorite parts about the research; the CIA actually calls using sexuality "honey traps." I love that. And they’re so successful, it’s unbelievable.

People ultimately just want attention and love. And actually, in my research I read this book on the making of a Mossad agent ... it’s used over and over again. So I find that fascinating, figuring out people’s minds [and what makes them crave intimacy]. But, bottom line, the most interesting thing to me about the show -- which I still fight for and hope that at its best, this is what it’s concentrating on -- is the metaphor on marriage that it is.

I know they’re fighting about American values and Russian values and all, but to me, it’s just a metaphor for marriage -- how much do you really know somebody? You can’t really 100 percent know the other person’s mind and heart and you will constantly battle. And then, in this specific complicated marriage, you’re allowed to go have sex with other people. [Laughs.] It’s part of your job and you have to do it well. And you have to pretend to enjoy it. I just think it’s interesting and to be set up with someone and then after all of these years, 15 years, finally start really falling in love with them ... I think hers is a much more emotional journey about self-acceptance. And I think also, it would make sense to be separated from your sexuality if you have to use it constantly. It’s a tool. And you’re good at it, and that’s what you do.

One of Elizabeth's main issues in the first episode seems to be about how their kids are being raised and how they're becoming ingrained with American values and American culture. How much of a struggle is that for her going forward?
Huge. As much as she’s not the best mom yet --- which I sort of love, because the TV is full of all these perfect moms -- I think the children are a huge struggle for her because she wants them to be happy, but she feels so strongly about these ideals. I think like anyone does who has kids. You know, you have this idea of all these things: They’re not going to watch TV and they’re not going to play video games, and they’re going to go hiking every weekend, and we’re going to give our time to this charity, and they’re going to serve the homeless food. And by Saturday you’re like, “Oh, you guys just want to play video games for four hours? OK, that’s fine.” It’s hard, you know? So I think amidst all of the spy drama, our real values and struggles are absolutely relatable. This is just the fantasy element of the metaphor.

As you said, Phillip is probably more relatable to viewers. He's very enamored of American culture and their ideals. Why is Elizabeth so opposed to it and so loyal to the motherland in comparison?
Well, there is clearly something from her early childhood -- I think she lost her father and has a very hero worship idea of what he did, and how he served the country. I was doing a little bit of reading about Putin’s childhood and different characters who were part of the KGB, and I think it’s hard for Americans to understand the way they grew up. It’s very different ... it was such a communal type of living. They didn’t have things. It was about taking care of each other, and because there weren’t things, your values and your passion and your intellect carried so much more weight. And I just think that’s a different thing for Americans ... we love things. And by the way, I love things; I’m not saying one’s right or wrong, but I think she comes more from that place of who you are as a person and what you believe and what you fight for. You take care of each other and you don’t play video games. [Laughs.]

Matthew Rhys

What attracted you to the role of Phillip? He's a deliciously complex character ...
A number of things, really. He’s a sort of gift of a part in that he's very sort of layered and multi-faceted. And when you meet him, he’s at this great turning point in his life where everything’s changing for him. You just get to do everything. You get to do the Kung Fu, and you get to do the emotional scenes, you get to do the disguises. It’s the full package for an actor. It’s a dream.

What did you look to in terms of research when you first got the job?
The motivator for [his choices in the premiere] for me was his family -- up until we get to the point where he realizes there’s an expiry date on the life they’re living and it will probably come to an end in a very horrific way. That means his kids will be in a home or they’ll be in prison or dead. And I think he wants that [future] to change, so that motivator was the family. The other thing I researched was what Russia was like for him growing up, which was an incredibly hard place at that time, coming out of the Second World War. So I did a lot of research on that, and then just a lot of your standard Cold War documentaries, spy documentaries, a lot of those and internet reading.

What is it about US culture and our way of life that attracts him so much, in comparison to Elizabeth who is very committed to Russia?
I think it goes hand in hand with two things: One, there’s the life he led prior to that, the hardships he had. But also the opportunities he sees his children having ... It’s the life they will lead, that he didn’t have that he wants them to have. And the luxurious trappings of that; nice cars and shoes and things ... why not adhere to the dream?

... I think that’s what we’re still discovering throughout the season as to why she’s such a hard line. I can only speak from Phil’s motivation, and I think it comes from his children -- that he’s just at this point now where he wants his kids to be safe and grow up happy. And it could be any country, really. It just happens to be America, which helps [the mission].

We see Phil doing some pretty questionable things without really second-guessing his decisions. Is there an element of his job that he sees as a release, some kind of escapism that appeals to him?
Yeah. Then there’s no query or doubt about what he’s doing. I think that strength of conviction aids him in a way. And you know there’s an element to it I think he finds possibly fun as well.

But then there are other, darker parts of his job that he might end up thinking twice about. How much do some of his missions weigh on him?
I think that plays into what I was touching on, that it’s a time of transition in his life. Maybe a few years ago, if he had to kill a kid for the motherland, he would’ve done it. [But now] those kinds of operations begin to play on his conscience. And as a result of that, everything feeding into each other, he sort of goes, “I can’t do this anymore.”

He's clearly more committed to the relationship with Elizabeth than she is. Does that make it particularly hard for him to seduce other people when missions call for it?
Right -- that was one element of the research where ... it’s called honey trapping, and I was like, “That didn’t happen.” The research is like it happened all the time. A lot ... When we find him, things are changing for him and having lived out this arranged marriage for 15 years ... His emotions are becoming real for her, and he finds the honey trapping difficult. You know, I think any man who has real feelings for his wife would. So yes, it becomes increasingly harder for him.

"The Americans" premieres Wednesday, Janary 30 at 10 p.m. EST on FX.

Will you watch "The Americans"? Weigh in below!

WATCH: Frank Sinatra 'Used To Throw Spaghetti At Me'

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Music legend Frank Sinatra was known for having a temper, but what did spaghetti ever do to him?

Golden Globe-winning actress and singer Pia Zadora spoke to HuffPost Live Wednesday about her relationship with Sinatra, whom she opened for during some of his shows in Las Vegas. Reflecting on their time together, Zadora admitted that there were times when Sinatra got so worked up that he threw pasta, "sauce and everything, even parmesan," at those around him.

"He was very volatile and very artistic and had a temper," Zadora said, noting that she was always smart enough not to throw any spaghetti back at the beloved singer.

Zadora told HuffPost Live's Jacob Soboroff that Sinatra first discovered her during a performance in Florida. His people called her up inviting her to join his Vegas set and soon he became her mentor.

"Every night before the show, he'd take my hands in his, look me in the eyes and give me a three-word pep talk: 'Don't screw up,'" Zadora said. "He was a taskmaster."

Zadora said overall she was excited and thrilled for the opportunity to work with Sinatra, who instructed her to turn every song into its own monologue.

Watch the Full Interview on HuffPost Live.

'Supernatural' Spoilers: What's Next For Sam And Dean?

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Spoiler Alert: Do not read on if you haven't seen "Supernatural" Season 8, Episode 12, titled "As Time Goes By."

The latest episode of "Supernatural" set up some intriguing possibilities in terms of storylines, and earlier this week, executive producer Robert Singer spoke to a group of journalists about what Henry Winchester's Men of Letters group could add to the show's mythology from this point on.

Read on for highlights from Singer's Q&A with reporters to learn more about the fates of Castiel (Misha Collins), Benny (Ty Olsson) and Amelia (Liane Balaban), as well as a potential return for Jeffrey Dean Morgan and whether the creative team feel confident about a Season 9 renewal.

Note: The questions below are from multiple outlets. Some answers have been edited and condensed for grammar.

Q: Should we assume that at the end of the episode [Sam and Dean] will immediately go off and put the box in the hiding place and we’re not going to pick up with that the next episode?
Singer: The reveal of that place, which I believe is in the next episode, it’s a really stunning set. It’s full of mysteries, it’ll become kind of a home base for the boys. We’re really excited about it. After eight years of never having a home base, this will be home base for quite some time. I think you guys will really dig the set. It’s really cool.

What kind of storylines does that open up?
Well, these Men of Letters, which is a brand new concept for us, really -- if you took dad’s journal and you multiplied that times 100 [that's what this home base is like] ... it’s got every source of information that would be interesting to the boys. Of course when they get in there, Sam is totally immersed in the place and Dean’s just happy to have his own room. He’s put posters up. He says to Sam, “If you want to do this geek stuff, that’s fine with me. But I’m just digging this.”

Can you talk about the differences between Henry and his son, John?
Well, John was a product of the fact that he didn’t have a father growing up, as the first of many a bad luck for him. So, he sort of held a grudge against his father because he thought his father deserted them. Now we know different and in retrospect, it makes you sort of wonder what Dad would have been like, which I think the boys say at the end of the episode. We wanted to do it because we had spent time with the other side of the family and just to bring things full circle. Also, I don’t know if you guys remember the Cupid episode where they said this was ordained, that these two people should get together, and now we know who the grandfather on that side was and why John became who he was in terms of his relationship with his father. It was supposed to be something different. [He] was supposed to be a Man of Letters but became a hunter through necessity.

Were there challenges in going back into the Winchester mythology that you weren’t expecting? Did it open up a lot of new doors?
Well, look, we make this stuff up as we go along ... [Laughs.] But we try to use what we’ve done before and be able to spin out from there and tell interesting stories and get into backstory like this. Up until the time Adam [Glass] came up with the notion, we hadn’t really explored that side of the family, Grandpa Winchester. But we thought that the idea of it, of harkening back to what Cupid said and how this was all ordained and was top priority [for heaven], it just was a nice closing of that circle for us and also gives us this new home base that’s sort of chalk full of information and will certainly lead to other stories. So, you’ll see that open up next week and it’s cool.

How much of that idea for [hiding] the box [and walking away] might be foreshadowing for the tablets? Are we supposed to think maybe they’re better off not finding and decoding all of these tables?
You guys are always so ahead of us. [Laughs.] This all plays into the tablet business. Again, if Crowley got his hands on the angel tablet and could somehow decipher it, that would be kind of a bad thing. The information that’s contained in this Men of Letters bunker, if it fell into the wrong hands, would be quite a powerful weapon against the boys, so it has to remain a secret and guarded closely. As we go down the line into the rest of this year and hopefully next year, those sort of dramatic turns will take place because this is an important place.

Are there actually other members there?
No. They’re all gone. The Men of Letters are all gone, the last surviving one was the old guy in the home. He’s no more. A bit of a spoiler alert, when they go in there it’s pristine. It’s been hermetically sealed and everything was just as it was. I mean it’s perfectly neat. The only sign that somebody had to get out of there in a hurry was a chess game that was uncompleted and an ash tray full of cigarettes.

Henry talks a lot about their legacy and their lineage, does this get Sam and Dean thinking about their blood line? Like what happens after they die and there’s no one to carry on all of this?
That’s interesting. I don’t think the boys think that far, to having children of their own. Maybe Sam thought of that earlier in the year before he tragically had to leave Amelia. It may come into play down the line somehow. I don’t think a full-time domestic Sam or a domestic Dean is something that the audience is particularly interested in.

Will we see characters that we saw a lot the first part of the season like Benny, Kevin? Could they be popping back up?
Kevin will be back, Benny will be back. Castiel is back. Maybe Amelia, maybe not. But I think pretty much every season we like to bring the season full circle and get a lot of questions answered of that season but then pose new questions for whatever the next season is going to be. So, I think all these people we introduced will have a payoff. One of my first bosses in the business said don’t introduce a character that you don’t pay off. That’s something I kind of live by.

Do you feel fairly confident that there will be another season?
I’ve been around this long enough to know you never feel confident about anything. I remember years ago I did a show and the head of an unnamed network said there’s not a stick big enough to keep this show off the air. Then they flew to New York for the meetings and somewhere over Denver through 33 thousand they found a stick because it didn’t get on. I think we’ve done really well this year. I think creatively it’s been good. I think by and large the network is happy with our numbers. So, if I were a betting man I would bet that we would be back.

We started off last week with the brothers kind of in this shaky truce. Have we completely moved past that [fight] or is that still in the back of their minds?
I don’t think it’s shaky. I think ... what happens in subsequent episodes is it’s another kind of conflict between them but it’s not necessarily the conflict of "do I want to do this?" or "what’s my plan beyond closing the gates of the Hell?" or any of that. It’s a new conflict. I won’t tell you any more than that but as always, there’s always something going on between them.

I’m going to ask about Dean’s hostility toward Henry. Of course, that’s because he left his family, or at least Dean thought he did. Is there anything in the back of his mind about just how bad things turned out with his grandfather on the other side of the family? His hesitancy to trust someone like that again?
No. I don’t think he relates those two things at all. I think this was strictly familial. Dean had probably a more complicated relationship than Sam did with John. It was pretty clear to Sam early on thought "I want to get out of this, I want to go to college." That didn’t quite work out but I think he had a clearer mindset. Dean, I think, was more conflicted about his dad. It’s been pretty consistent throughout the show that Dean is always in defense of dad and John made the ultimate sacrifice for Dean. I think he takes this stuff just a little more personally than Sam does. That’s kind of what you’ll see in this last episode that’s reflected there.

Did you guys ever think about keeping Henry alive just even if you sent him back just so he could come back or was it always decided that he would perish in the end?
No. I think we wanted to close it and I think it was kind of a nice, bittersweet moment. They got to make a connection with a grandfather they never knew. One of the themes I think that we’ve always played is that people they get close to, it doesn’t work out so well for them, and they’re kind of traditional loners and what they have is each other. I think we wanted to keep it that way. That was always the plan with Samuel as well, that that would not be something that would go on for a long time.

Now that you opened the Winchester can of worms, are there any plans to bring in that side of the family further like you did before with the Campbells?
Not at the moment. But pretty much every year we kind of block out, in very general terms at the beginning of the season, the theme of the season and what we want it to be. Sometimes early on we don’t exactly know where it ends, we just know where we’re going but not how we finish it. That would be a discussion for next year that comes up in the room. I mean basically what’s always happened, whether Eric was there or Sera was there and now Jeremy, is basically the two of us sit in a room for about a week and just kind of throw all kinds of stuff around and then come up with a very loose structure. Then we bring all the rest of the writers in and start filling in the pieces. But we always feel that we want to, like I said, bring that season’s story to a close but open up a new doorway for next year.

The information that they have in the room is obviously going to be pretty valuable. Are they going to share it with other hunters like Garth?
I think that’s probably on a need-to-know basis. I don’t think they’re going to have a hunter convention in there and welcome everybody in and have at it. That’s really not their style. I would be surprised if Garth didn’t show up and probably break an expensive globe.

What can you tease about Castiel’s return?
He’s really crucial to the tablet stories. He’s going through sort of a trial of his own that’s personal. Naomi is very unhappy with him, Crowley is very unhappy with him. He’s a confused angel right now.

The show just confirmed the angel tablet [two weeks ago]. Can we expect more tablets to be brought up?
Not this year. I mean we have the demon tablet, the angel tablet and then the leviathan tablet. That’s about all the tablets we could handle.

Do the guys have any serious questions about actually keeping a home base? I imagine it’s really great to have one solid set but considering [what they're facing] on a weekly basis, is there any concern like "we’re hiding from something super, super dangerous and we’re stating exactly where that is"?
Well, they’re not saying it. They’ll go to great pains to keep that hidden. You know, also it’s kind of impenetrable. We’ve had places before -- we had Rufus’ cabin -- they need a place not just for us to be able to have a set to shoot on, but I think the boys actually need a place where they can decompress, have their bromance moments. The other sets we’ve had, they’re not the biggest. When you see this set, you realize they have lots of room to move around and there’s lots of really cool things in there. So Adam [Glass] came up with this idea and we really latched onto it immediately. It’s a very expensive set, so we’re going to be using it.

Speaking of permanency, the women on the show don’t last. Do you feel like you’re getting closer to finding the type of girl that could maybe last?
Felicia [Day] is going to be coming back in an episode. We love Felicia. I don’t think there’s ever going to be a third wheel. I don’t think we’re going to have Catwoman. It’s been sort of the feedback that we get that that’s not something that the fanbase particularly likes. We keep trying. I personally really thought the Amelia character was great. I thought it opened up a side of Sam that was really interesting. I thought Liane did a terrific job. I don’t think it’s ever going to be a three-hander. Listen, part of the appeal is they're the last men standing. That’s who they are.

Is there anything you can say about Felicia’s episode?
The one that will be coming out? We know she’s going to be in it, we’re just breaking the story now. I know that she basically brings them a case, but beyond that I can’t tell you a whole lot.

You said we’re going to see Benny again. Can you tell us anything about the issues that he was having the last time we saw him?
Well, he was really fighting the good fight of trying to not give in to his blood-lust. I think Dean having to basically cut the tie was a hard thing for him. So, we will explore that idea of what he’s been going through in a while. But we didn’t feel that and never felt that that story was totally ended. You know, it’s probably not great drama to end the whole arc on a phone call. [Laughs.]

But are we completely done with the flashbacks for both Dean and Sam?
Yeah.

Do you guys consider the Amelia arc pretty wrapped up now? You said she might come back down the line but in terms of that storyline being finished?
We think she’s a really valuable character. We liked her a lot and certainly it creates a good complication in Sam’s life. Again, we’re just kind of doing the end of the season now in the room. I know that we’ve talked about bringing her back. We don’t have anything specific.

Are you planning on ending the season on a cliffhanger?
I’m sure we will. It’s worked for seven years. [Laughs.] I always think about what you guys want to know. There’s an old show business saying, leave them wanting more. I think for pretty much eight plus seasons now we’ve done that. So, I suspect there’ll be some hanging chad, yeah.

Can you just tell us a little bit about what you think about Dean's feelings about time travel?
Time travel sucks, man ... He loves it when he’s a cowboy or he gets to work with Eliot Ness. I think he was talking specifically about "do I really need this guy popping out of my closet and bringing up the whole dad thing and now I’ve got to have a mixed emotion about this guy?" The guy was not the nicest guy to them. It was almost like he was tolerating them. Then when he wants to go back, which could basically, possibly cancel their existence, Dean thought that time travel was not so much fun.

This new set, where are Sam and Dean going to hide the car?
That’s a good question because we don’t have a Batcave but I’ll bring that up. That’s a good question.

Sam has kind of been wavering all season long about whether this was something he wanted to do. But he kind of said at the end of the episode that now he understands he sees why it’s all necessary and mythically destined. Would you say that this episode solidifies why he feels that what they’re doing is necessary?
Well, when we get into this whole idea of closing the gates of hell, that becomes a real raison d'etre for Sam. I think ... it’s really revenge motivated. It’s about everything that ... it’s what killed their mom, killed all their friends, all that. I think Sam would say that there’s a certain amount of closure if they could actually pull this off. I think still, he in the back of his mind thinks there’s a normal life out there for him. In a way, Dean’s onboard with that. He’d like to see [Sam] happy but they have this one thing to do. Now, television being television, they’ll have something else "one thing to do" down the line.

I think it’s a good separation of character for the two of them that one has one set of dreams and actually allows himself to dream while the other one is much more fatalistic and sort of accepts that. I would hope whenever we bring the curtain down that Dean would find some peace, and probably if I have anything to say about it he will.

But Dean’s still very committed to hunting?
Yeah. He would like to finish this particular job and then he would go off and do what he does, [find something else to hunt].

Mythology-wise this episode really changed what we knew about the Winchesters. I think it’s safe to say your fans are very protective of the mythology. Was there anything you wanted to avoid?
No, not really. I mean we really go where the story takes us. We’re not afraid to try new things. We honor the mythology, we don’t make arbitrary left turns just for the sake of "that would be a good story beat," but it’s ever evolving. We always feel that and are really trying to keep the stories fresh. So new things happen and we embrace them. That’s why I think we end up doing "LARP and the Real Girl" and living in cartoons and all that. We’re not afraid to really bend any sort of reality. If it works in our reality then it works. We’ve done some crazy stuff. In this episode, I’m always the jaundiced eye in the room when these things come up. I’m like the official "Supernatural" bullshit meter. But Jeremy and Guy say, “Oh no, this’ll be good.” I go, “Really?” Then I see "LARP and the Real Girl" and I go, “Wow. That’s really a good episode.” I’m the oldest whore on the block but I’m learning day by day as well.

[It seems like] you wanted Henry to be a good guy. I mean you could have gone back and told a story of how he went out for milk and ran off with another woman ...
Yeah. That felt really right to us. Again, this idea of them meeting their grandfather and understanding all this knowledge that they’ve carried all their lives [about John], that his dad left him and sort of became then this guy that he was, was all untrue. Then the idea if you could actually speak to John and say "this is what happened ... All that anger you carried: not real." I mean that has a certain amount of pathos to it.

In addition to everything else we do, I think one of the reasons we’ve lasted as long as we have is because we tell these personal stories. Really, whatever the plot of the week is, ultimately it comes down to "how are the brothers feeling about it, how does it affect their relationship, what’s underneath the surface of the story?" The subtext and the character developments are always ... I mean, after we get the basic "let’s tell a story about ..." we go "what’s the emotional story here?" We thought this was a good emotional story.

A minute ago, you were talking about Sam kind of adding to the geeky aspects of his legacy and obviously he's getting involved in the trials and everything. Where does that leave Dean?
Well, if you boil it down simply you’d say Sam is more the brains and Dean is more the brawn. I can’t remember which episode ... where Sam makes a speech and he says, “You’re the greatest hunter I’ve ever seen. You’re better than Dad.” That’s Dean. He’s probably much more internal than Sam in a way. I think that when they get into these emotional areas the catalyst is more Sam. So, those are the characters we developed. Dean loves the information if he can act on it. “Oh great, what do we need?” “You need the cimetar from the 13th century to chop the guy’s head off.” “Great. Let’s go find it and do it.” That’s Dean.

The guys have said some crappy things to each other and they’ve had this friction that’s been boiling over all season. From your perspective in the writers’ room, has that all been resolved now? Are they going to have a big emotional talk again?
I think you can count on a big emotional talk, yeah. [Laughs.] Yeah, without giving it away, for kind of a different reason, for something that they didn’t see coming ... Starting next week, that thing will carry through to the end of the year.

Can we assume Grandma was just a normal person or does she have some kind of secret story too?
Wow. I don’t know. Maybe in year 10 we’ll meet Grandma.

The more you tap into the Winchester history, are there ever still temptations to find a way to bring back Jeffrey Dean Morgan? I know he’s obviously busy with "Magic City."
You know, we’ve talked about that on occasion but since he’s really sort of not available and God knows he had a great sendoff. It doesn’t get a whole lot talk in the room, no.

"Supernatural" airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. EST on The CW.

What do you think of Robert Singer's teases for Season 8? Are you looking forward to seeing Benny and Castiel again? Weigh in below!


17 Great Musical Siblings From Tegan And Sara To Beyonce And Solange

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Talent runs in the family. Or at least that’s what we can take away from the barrage of musical siblings who’ve honed long, memorable, and – at the very least – interesting careers.

Consider Noel and Liam Gallagher, whose antics are now what makes them famous, or Beyoncé and Solange, who are not only beloved by presidents, but by anyone with an appreciation for confidence. (B is even a good lip-syncer!) And then there are all the family bands from the Beach Boys to the Allman Brothers to Hanson.

So in celebration of talented musical families, we’ve rounded up the crème de la crème of musical siblings just in time for Tegan and Sara’s latest record. (Oh, and sorry K-Ci and Jo Jo, maybe you’ll make the cut next year.)

To read the list click to launch the gallery below:

Last Surviving Member Of The Andrews Sisters Dies

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LOS ANGELES — Patty Andrews, the last surviving member of the singing Andrews Sisters trio whose hits such as the rollicking "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B" and the poignant "I Can Dream, Can't I?" captured the home-front spirit of World War II, died Wednesday. She was 94.

Andrews died of natural causes at her home in the Los Angeles suburb of Northridge, said family spokesman Alan Eichler in a statement.

Patty was the Andrews in the middle, the lead singer and chief clown, whose raucous jitterbugging delighted American servicemen abroad and audiences at home.

She could also deliver sentimental ballads like "I'll Be with You in Apple Blossom Time" with a sincerity that caused hardened GIs far from home to weep.

"When I was a kid, I only had two records and one of them was the Andrews Sisters. They were remarkable. Their sound, so pure," said Bette Midler, who had a hit cover of "Bugle Boy" in 1973. "Everything they did for our nation was more than we could have asked for. This is the last of the trio, and I hope the trumpets ushering (Patty) into heaven with her sisters are playing "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy."

From the late 1930s through the 1940s, the Andrews Sisters produced one hit record after another, beginning with "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen" in 1937 and continuing with "Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar," `'Rum and Coca-Cola" and more. They recorded more than 400 songs and sold over 80 million records, several of them going gold.

Other sisters, notably the Boswells, had become famous as singing acts, but mostly they huddled before a microphone in close harmony. The Andrews Sisters – LaVerne, Maxene and Patty – added a new dimension. During breaks in their singing, they cavorted about the stage in rhythm to the music.

Their voices combined with perfect synergy. As Patty remarked in 1971: "There were just three girls in the family. LaVerne had a very low voice. Maxene's was kind of high, and I was between. It was like God had given us voices to fit our parts."

Kathy Daris of the singing Lennon Sisters recalled on Facebook late Wednesday that the Andrews Sisters "were the first singing sister act that we tried to copy. We loved their rendition of songs, their high spirit, their fabulous harmony."

The Andrews Sisters' rise coincided with the advent of swing music, and their style fit perfectly into the new craze. They aimed at reproducing the sound of three harmonizing trumpets.

"I was listening to Benny Goodman and to all the bands," Patty once remarked. "I was into the feel, so that would go into my own musical ability. I was into swing. I loved the brass section."

Unlike other singing acts, the sisters recorded with popular bands of the `40s, fitting neatly into the styles of Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Jimmy Dorsey, Bob Crosby, Woody Herman, Guy Lombardo, Desi Arnaz and Russ Morgan. They sang dozens of songs on records with Bing Crosby, including the million-seller "Don't Fence Me In." They also recorded with Dick Haymes, Carmen Miranda, Danny Kaye, Al Jolson, Jimmy Durante and Red Foley.

The Andrews' popularity led to a contract with Universal Pictures, where they made a dozen low-budget musical comedies between 1940 and 1944. In 1947, they appeared in "The Road to Rio" with Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour.

The trio continued until LaVerne's death in 1967. By that time the close harmony had turned to discord, and the sisters had been openly feuding.

Midler's cover of "Bugle Boy" revived interest in the trio. The two survivors joined in 1974 for a Broadway show, "Over Here!" It ran for more than a year, but disputes with the producers led to the cancellation of the national tour of the show, and the sisters did not perform together again.

Patty continued on her own, finding success in Las Vegas and on TV variety shows. Her sister also toured solo until her death in 1995.

Her father, Peter Andrews, was a Greek immigrant who anglicized his name of Andreus when he arrived in America; his wife, Olga, was a Norwegian with a love of music. LaVerne was born in 1911, Maxine (later Maxene) in 1916, Patricia (later Patty, sometimes Patti) in 1918.

All three sisters were born and raised in the Minneapolis area, spending summers in Mound, Minn., on the western shores of Lake Minnetonka, about 20 miles west of Minneapolis.

Listening to the Boswell Sisters on radio, LaVerne played the piano and taught her sisters to sing in harmony; neither Maxene nor Patty ever learned to read music. All three studied singers at the vaudeville house near their father's restaurant. As their skills developed, they moved from amateur shows to vaudeville and singing with bands.

After Peter Andrews moved the family to New York in 1937, his wife, Olga, sought singing dates for the girls. They were often turned down with comments such as: "They sing too loud and they move too much." Olga persisted, and the sisters sang on radio with a hotel band at $15 a week. The broadcasts landed them a contract with Decca Records.

They recorded a few songs, and then came "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen," an old Yiddish song for which Sammy Cahn and Saul Kaplan wrote English lyrics. (The title means, "To Me You Are Beautiful.") It was a smash hit, and the Andrews Sisters were launched into the bigtime.

Their only disappointment was the movies. Universal was a penny-pinching studio that ground out product to fit the lower half of a double bill. The sisters were seldom involved in the plots, being used for musical interludes in film with titles such as "Private Buckaroo," `'Swingtime Johnny" and "Moonlight and Cactus."

Their only hit was "Buck Privates," which made stars of Abbott and Costello and included the trio's blockbuster "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy from Company B."

In 1947, Patty married Martin Melcher, an agent who represented the sisters as well as Doris Day, then at the beginning of her film career. Patty divorced Melcher in 1949 and soon he became Day's husband, manager and producer.

Patty married Walter Weschler, pianist for the sisters, in 1952. He became their manager and demanded more pay for himself and for Patty. The two other sisters rebelled, and their differences with Patty became public. Lawsuits were filed between the two camps.

"We had been together nearly all our lives," Patty explained in 1971. "Then in one year our dream world ended. Our mother died and then our father. All three of us were upset, and we were at each other's throats all the time."

Patty Andrews is survived by her foster daughter, Pam DuBois, a niece and several cousins. Weschler died in 2010.

A memorial service is planned in Los Angeles, with the date to be determined.

'Arrow': Pain Is The Game As Oliver Faces Count Vertigo

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Oliver Queen faced a new villain on "Arrow," and the villain survived! Not all of his comic book foes have been so fortunate, though it's possible that Count Vertigo may wish he was dead. The Count was the man behind the Vertigo drug hitting the streets of Starling City.

After infiltrating his drug ring, Oliver came face to face with The Count, played with reckless abandon by Seth Gabel ("Fringe"). The police intervened, though, and Oliver wound up with a vial full of The Count's special "pain" toxin. The pain was so agonizing that a man earlier in the episode committed suicide after only a few minutes of enduring it.

The toxin continued to affect Oliver throughout the episode, but he nevertheless tracked The Count down, and got the drop on him. Rather than take him out, he instead injected him with his own "pain" toxins. So while The Count lives to breathe another day, he may wish he was dead. And in police custody, he won't find an easy out, either.

The comic book adventures continue every Wednesday on The CW's "Arrow" at 8 p.m. EST.

TV Replay scours the vast television landscape to find the most interesting, amusing, and, on a good day, amazing moments, and delivers them right to your browser.

'Chicago Fire': Severide Must Decide Between Renee And Surgery

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Oh no, it was just false hope! Things were looking good for Severide and Renee (Sarah Shahi) on "Chicago Fire." He was sidelined from the job for a while and had decided to move to Madrid with her. But apparently that wasn't to be. Instead, he made the call this week to stay in Chicago and get an experimental surgery for his back.

Can't have one of television's hottest firefighters off the job for that long, can we?

Perhaps it was inevitable, but it was fun to speculate how "Chicago Fire" would handle its star being in Spain. TV Fanatic said the decision wasn't shocking for that very reason. The star of the show needs to be in Chicago.

"If you would've come with me to Madrid," Renee said to him. "The sky would’ve been the limit for us."

Alas, it was't meant to be. That doesn't mean Renee couldn't drop by the firehouse the next time she's stateside, though.

"Chicago Fire" continues on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. EST on NBC.

TV Replay scours the vast television landscape to find the most interesting, amusing, and, on a good day, amazing moments, and delivers them right to your browser.

'SVU': Nia Vardalos Says Barba Should Be Shot

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Nia Vardalos made a guest appearance on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" as a very aggressive defense attorney squaring off against Assistant District Attorney Barba. She made it her mission to turn the jury against Barba, but did she take it too far?

At one point she said, "What am I thinking right now? That I wish I’d had a second cup of coffee before court this morning? Or that Mr. Barba’s prosecution is so wrong, that he should be taken out and shot?"

Even the judge thought that last line was a bit much, warning Vardalos' character to watch herself.

The ploy didn't work either, as her client turned out to be guilty. But Vardalos had a lot of fun playing the character. And, of course, she explained to The Deadbolt that this character -- like all her others -- was inspired by one of her 28 cousins. This one is a former prosecutor from Cook County, Illinois.

Justice always gets its man, or woman, on "Law & Order: SVU" every Wednesday at 9 p.m. EST on NBC.

TV Replay scours the vast television landscape to find the most interesting, amusing, and, on a good day, amazing moments, and delivers them right to your browser.

China Anne McClain: '10 African-Americans Who Inspire Me' By China Anne McClain

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Hello everyone! In honor of Black History Month, I'm excited to give you a list of the 10 most influential African-Americans in my life (in no particular order):

1. My Mom
As soon as I heard "influential African-Americans," the first people I thought about were my amazing parents! Let's start with my Mom. She is always so loving and supportive of me. She has always been the one who listens to my problems and gives me the best advice on how to fix them. Mom is so understanding and always tries her best to make me happy. She is also hilarious and that helps me with my comedic acting! She has influenced me positively in many ways, but the thing that I will always remember is how she and my dad taught me to ALWAYS be humble and remain a good person.

2. My Dad
Now for my Dad! He has influenced me so much by following his dreams. He has been a music producer since before I was born and he loves it! Seeing him do something he loves made me want to do it also. He has also taught me very important things like how to control my singing voice and is always very patient with me until I get it right. He and my Mom have always pushed me to do my best and that's what has gotten me where I am today! I love them very much and could not have asked for better parents.

3. Michael Jackson.
Michael Jackson has influenced me to be a passionate performer. When he was on stage performing, you could tell that he loved it and was really having fun. Every single time I watch videos of Michael performing, I feel like I am on stage with him! I always think about how blessed I am to have the opportunity to perform and entertain people like Michael Jackson did. His amazing work will always inspire me.

4. Hattie McDaniel
Hattie McDaniel was the definition of multi-talented. She was a singer, songwriter, and an incredible actress! Mrs. McDaniel would go on to become the first African-American woman to receive an Academy Award. Sadly, she was not allowed to sit with the rest of the cast of Gone With the Wind or with the rest of the nights attendees because of segregation. She and her escort had to sit at a table separated from everyone else. This shows how far we still needed to go as a country dealing with racism in 1940; but still, what a great honor. All of Hattie McDaniel's talent and hard work has influenced me to try new things!

5. Beyoncé
Beyoncé has taught me how to be confident on stage! She always has so much attitude! My sisters and I always watch her tours and performances together to try and learn how she manages to pull her audience in, whether it's 10 or 10,000 people! Every time my sisters and I go over our shows and rehearse we think about how Beyoncé practiced everyday and how the hard work paid off for her!

6. Martin Luther King
I respect Martin Luther King so much for spending his life standing up for African-American's rights. Because of his charisma, determination and faith in GOD, he has touched the hearts of people everywhere, of all races. It's because of people like him that I get to act, sing, and do what I love everyday. His words and what he believed in will live forever. He has taught me that I can really inspire people with my voice, and that's how I want to spend a big part of my career.

7. Barack Obama
Barack Obama is such an amazing president. When he sees that there is a serious problem in the United States that needs attention, he deals with it right away. He is responsible and very productive. That's what he has taught me and I'm pretty sure many other people as well! If you see a problem that needs attention, big or small, take initiative and fix it. There's no need to wait!

8. Michelle Obama
What an amazing person to represent us as females, and in my case, as an African-American female, Our First Lady of the United States. Bold, beautiful, black, mothering, compassionate, brilliant, humble, strong, supportive, innovative and so many other things. This is the type of person I want to see staring back at me when I look in the mirror.

9. Gabby Douglas
Gabby is someone I've recently become friends with and I feel strongly about putting her on my list. Her awesomeness and determination in the 2012 Olympics was inspiring to children AND adults all over the world! Even though she is young herself, she gives African-American girls someone to look up to and teaches us that dreams really do come true!

10. Oprah Winfrey
What Oprah Winfrey has done for women and little girls all over the world is completely mind-blowing! She changes people's lives everyday with nothing but her voice. She gives very wise advice that I live by everyday; not to mention all the charity work she has done with young African-American girls! She is so caring and is really an inspiration to me.

BONUSES:

Tyler Perry
Mr. Perry has been a big influence in my life because his decision to cast me in "House of Payne" has really impacted my career positively. He also put my sisters and me in our first movie together! He has also impacted many other people with the amazing messages involved in his plays and movies.

Sierra & Lauryn McClain
My sisters are my inspirations because they are both so talented and are really good people. They have taught me most of what I know on the guitar and have helped me strengthen parts of my voice that were once weak. They inspire me with their confidence and determination in practicing their art. They are also very honest with me about everything and always encourage me to do the right things and make the right decisions.

Tell me: Who are your inspirations? Sound off in the comments or tweet me @RealChinaAnne!


Watch China in a brand new special Black History Month episode of "A.N.T. Farm" premiering Friday Feb 1st at 8PM ET/PT on Disney Channel.

Click through the slideshow below for a sneak peek!

WATCH: Robin Roberts Takes Big Step

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Robin Roberts returned home to the Gulf Coast this week to attend a family Super Bowl party.

Roberts, who was an ESPN host before leaving the sports world to co-host "Good Morning America," traveled to New Orleans with colleagues Sam Champion and Josh Elliott.

She was welcomed off the plane by students from her alma mater, Southeastern Louisiana University. "What is New Orleans for you?" Robins was asked.

"It's the culture; it's the food; it's the people. It's home,'" she said. She thanked Champion and Elliott for the ride home, and said she was leaving them in great hands. Celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse rolled up in a convertible to take Elliott and Champion for a ride.

Roberts has not been home since she underwent a bone marrow transplant in September. She has remained off the air since taking medical leave at the end of the summer, but is slowly and cautiously planning her return to the ABC morning show. She was in the studio last week doing "test runs," which included getting back on her former schedule. "I have to get back on 'GMA' time ... That's one thing I have not missed is that alarm clock," she said when she announced her return.

Roberts said she plans to return in February but did not share a specific date. "I should be back sometime in February. Now I have a date in mind that's very personal and very important to me but I will ultimately listen to, of course, what my doctors say and, course, we have to remember we're in the height of flu season. There's a lot of factors still," she said.


What Made Kelly Clarkson 'Stronger'

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NEW YORK — Kelly Clarkson says she's extremely happy she's nominated for three Grammy Awards, but there's something else the pop singer is more thrilled about: her recent engagement.

"I couldn't even find someone to go on a date with that I enjoyed their company. Like, it was just rough," she said in a recent interview.

"You don't see it coming. And it sounds cheesy and it sounds like a movie, but it is that though. One day you'll meet them and everything will change."

Clarkson, who calls Nashville, Tenn., her home, is celebrating her one-year anniversary with fiance Brandon Blackstock. (The couple, who have been dating for a year, became engaged in December.) The 30-year-old says she's still surprised she's become that "cheesy" girl and that she wasn't sure she would find true love.

"I always made fun of those people that were like, `Oh, I met the one. He's amazing,' and I'm like, `Oh my god, go write a song,'" said Clarkson, the first "American Idol," laughing. "He's like my best friend, and he's someone I want to hang out with all the time."

Blackstock, who manages country star Blake Shelton, will be by Clarkson's side when she attends the Grammys, to be presented Feb. 10 in Los Angeles. Her No. 1 hit, "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)," is nominated for record of the year and best pop solo performance.

"I knew from the moment I heard it that it was going to be huge," she said of her feel-good anthem, which is also up for song of the year (awarded to the writers of the song, which doesn't include Clarkson). "I've heard everything from `I got out of an abusive relationship' to `I'm surviving cancer' ... and I think everyone in the world needs that type of song – something that makes you feel empowered."

Her fifth album, "Stronger," is nominated for best pop vocal album. She said she's starting to record her next album and the sound could be a reflection of her relationship with Blackstock.

"I am totally writing cheesy songs," she said. "Maybe he'll piss me off and I'll write a record about that."

She's also busy planning her wedding.

"I don't understand why we aren't eloping," she said. "It's a lot of details and I'm not that girl. I've never been that girl that's like, `Oh my god, my wedding dress. Blah, blah, blah.'"

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Online:

http://www.kellyclarkson.com/us

http://www.grammys.com

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Follow Mesfin Fekadu on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MusicMesfin

Whose Fresh New Ink?

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Miley Cyrus showed off the fresh ink she got from celebrity tattoo artist Kat von D Thursday in a photo posted to her Twitter page. "ratta tat tat," the 20-year-old singer wrote, sharing a picture of her tattoo -- a pair of arrows crossed over each other on her elbow.

The cross-hatched arrows are a symbol of friendship, according to Kat von D, who also shared with her fans a close-up of her latest work. "Loved tatooing @MileyCyrus yesterday! Simple symbols of friendship make beautiful tattoos," she wrote on her Instagram page.

Cyrus -- who has matching tattoos with fiancé Liam Hemsworth -- told Harper's Bazaar magazine in 2010 that the pain from getting inked was relative to its significance. "It really doesn't hurt if you're thinking about the meaning," she said. "I could never get a meaningless tattoo, but I think that if you're doing something that's important, that's significant in your life, it takes some of the pain away."

miley cyrus

miley cyrus new tattoo

New Shawn Hunter & New Minkus Added To 'Girl Meets World'

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Make way for the modern day Sean Hunter!

Only days after Rowan Blanchard won the role of Corey and Topanga's daughter Riley, EW is reporting that Riley's best friend will be played by Sabrina Carpenter on "Girl Meets World."

The 13-year-old actress, who is best known for her singing career -- she's signed to Hollywood Records -- will play the rebellious Maya Fox.

Additionally, the series is still looking for young actors and actresses to play the roles of Elliot Matthews, Corey and Topanga's son, a new kid from Texas named Tristan Friar, and a Minkus-like student named Shamus Farkle, described as a "future world ruler."

"Girl Meets World" is set premiere during Disney's 2013-2014 schedule. In the meantime, check out Sabrina Carpenter covering Sinead O'Conner's "Nothing Compares To You."

Brenna Weingus: 'American Idol' Ends Auditions With Steve Tyler In Drag

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"American Idol" visited Oklahoma City in their final round of auditions for the twelfth season. The city found an interesting assortment of talent, outlandish characters, and one too many attempts at banter from the judges. So what were the highlights?

Karl Skinner nervously kicked off the night and was able to win the judges over with his guitar and an original song. Though his voice wasn't the best, his personality pushed him through to the next round.

Nate Tao, who grew up with two deaf parents, said his parents were initially unsure of his choice to pursue music because they had no idea if he had any talent. Nate did them proud with his rendition of "For Once in My Life" by Stevie Wonder, earning him a golden ticket to Hollywood.

Things got interesting when Halie Hilburn took to the stage with Oscar ... her puppet. The judges were impressed with her voice and passed her through, but they told the ventriloquist it might be time to ditch Oscar and go it alone.

Halie's ventriloquism act was nothing compared to the insanely confident and ridiculous Zoanette Johnson. As soon as Zoanette took to the stage, it was evident it would be an interesting performance, but whether she was good or bad was up for debate. Zoanette belted out the National Anthem at full volume, forgot the words one to two times, and managed to fit in a quick bout of tears. But somehow Zoanette ended up with a ticket to Hollywood. It's hard to say why exactly Zoanette got passed through, but Nicki seemed convinced that she will be the next big superstar. We'll see how that goes.

"American Idol" airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8 p.m. EST on Fox.



Anastacia Freeman, on the other hand, was not able to impress the judges. Though she claimed to be sent to the "Idol" auditions by God, her tone-deaf version of "Unbreak My Heart" could not be saved.

Tonight's inspirational story came in the form of Kayden Stephenson, a 16-year old boy living with Cystic Fibrosis. Kayden chose a Stevie Wonder number and charmed the judges with his positivity and sweet voice.

The evening ended with a surprise appearance from former judge Steven Tyler dressed in full drag. Tyler claimed to just be stopping in to say hi, but let's be real, he obviously came by to keep the divas of the season in check.

Wolfgang Puck Sued For Clumsy Waitress

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TMZ reports that a diner named Tamara Mason-Williams is suing Wolfgang Puck after getting a side of concussion with her dinner at the chef's Washington, DC restaurant The Source.

Mason-Williams was allegedly sitting at a table in the Asian-fusion eatery when a waitress in the restaurant accidentally clonked her over the head with a heavy metal pitcher, giving her a concussion. She blames Puck for failing to adequately train his staff, and is now suing, according to TMZ, for unspecified damages to compensate for "lost income and medical expenses."

Puck, who owns more restaurants than any other celebrity chef, is no stranger to lawsuits involving his employees. But most of the others ones in recent years have been filed by employees, many of whom accused him of discrimination, not customers.

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