Frances O'Connor, celebrity of the day

It's a busy day here on the celebrity beat. Kathy told you about yakking with the adorable Queer Eye guys. I want them to come and make me over.  But I just got off the phone with Frances O'Connor, who is filming Cashmere Mafia, the ABC show that will premiere on Nov. 27. It's from the creator of Sex and the City and it's styled by Patricia Field, who did all the costumes on SATC, so it will be compared to SATC no matter that it is different in some fundamental ways. O'Connor, who plays an investment banker, moved from London to NYC to be in the show that she hopes will go for at least a full season. She's having fun living in New York, with her boyfriend, a Scot actor, and their son. "It's great to have the opportunity to come and live in New York. Who wouldn't jump at it?" she says in her Nicole Kidman-like Australian accent. You won't hear that in the show, though. She's learning to speak American.

(photo by Craig Sjodin/ABC)

Just got off the phone with Jai, Ted and Kyan from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. (Carson was also supposed to be on the call, but he was "running on gay standard time," as Ted put it, so he didn't make it.) The guys are back for their fourth and final season, which starts Oct. 2 on Bravo with a "straight guy pageant" featuring some of their favorite made-over men competing to win in areas like "presence and poise" and "artistic expression." The call was a lot of fun right from the beginning, when Ted joked that if we were wondering where they've all been, "Carson has been going through an extensive rehab process, which I think ends today, and Thom was in Asia looking for a baby to adopt." I asked them what guilty pleasures they indulge in or fashion crimes they make, and Kyan revealed that he "loves to not shave, go camping and get dirty." He then admitted that he went with a friend to get a pedicure yesterday and got talked into getting orange polish with rhinestones on his toes. Ted quipped that he has "lots of pleasures, but I don't feel guilty about any of them," and he said some of his culinary treats include potato chips and beer (me too, Ted, me too).

(photo by Matthias Clamer/NBC)

Thank you, The Office gods, for answering my prayers and giving me everything I could have wanted. Jim and Pam together? Check. (How much do I love PB&J?) Michael and Jan in domestic are-we-sure-this-is-bliss? Check. (Her accusing Pam of peeping on Michael was just absurd.) More Dwangela wackiness? Check. (Dwight on Angela's dearly departed cat, Sprinkles: "She’s in a better place. Actually, the place that she’s in is the freezer. Because of the odor.") Great lines from every single supporting character? Check. (My personal favorite was the IT guy's: "If you're going to reduce my identity to a religion, then I'm Sikh. But I also like hip-hop and NPR.'') Overall, I thought it was a great entree back into the Office's world, and it set up the rest of the season nicely. The Jim/Pam lovefest bodes well for the long-term plot, in my opinion. Last season seemed to lack a lot of the easy, feel-good humor that their flirting/pranking brings, so hopefully we'll see a return to that. There's so much more I can say about the show, but I'll turn it over to you. What did you think about the camera crew intervening and showing Jim and Pam their footage of them kissing? How much did you love Ryan channeling Jan on speakerphone -- but how much did you hate his new corporate attitude and attire? Do you think Kelly will ever recover from her heartbreak? How much longer can Jan's "boob enhancements" distract Michael from her ever-growing craziness? And will you be purchasing a "Michael Scott's Dunder Mifflin Scranton Meredith Palmer Memorial Celebrity Rabies Awareness Pro-Am Fun Run Race for the Cure" t-shirt or a "Support the Rabid" wristband?

(photo courtesy nbc.com)

Over coffee … This morning I am dragging because I was foolish enough to try to watch every fresh show last night. I started with Ugly Betty — hilarious with a fat Amanda — then watched CSI because my husband couldn't wait to find out whether Jorja Fox was being written out of the show or not (apparently not). Then we went to Grey's Anatomy. I miss Burke. I hated the are-they-together-or-not thing with Meredith and Derek. Then I watched the hour-long truly hilarious premiere of The Office. Of course, our Office expert here is Kathy Rowings, and she was SO looking forward to it, so she'll give us her whole take in a bit. I couldn't make it through Without a Trace without falling asleep, so it got saved for the weekend. Yes, it took three TiVos to make that all happen — but, hey, I'm up to date with the water-cooler talk today. Are you?

Ben Stiller told Ellen DeGeneres that his friend Owen Wilson is doing "really well." Whatever that means.

Farrah Fawcett's cancer has returned, and she's seeking alternative therapy in Germany.

Melissa Joan Hart is pregnant with baby No. 2. Did you know that she's the eldest of seven? I can remember calling her mom to set up interviews when Melissa was starring in Clarissa Explains It All.

Sad news for Dylan McDermott and his wife of 12 years, sometime actress Shiva Rose. They have separated. Faithful watchers of The Practice will remember that she guest-starred during McDermott's heyday. His new ABC show, Big Shots, premiered this week. Let's just say it's not The Practice.

Kate Walsh's new Private Practice was No. 1 in total viewers Wednesday, but Bionic Woman had a very strong showing, winning the 18-to-49 age group. That's good news for Shonda Rhimes, who created the Grey's Anatomy spinoff, but I still say it needs sharper writing and faster pacing.

Forget L.A., let's go to Rome! Sixteen films will premiere at the film festival there, with Tom Cruise and Robert Redford expected to show.

Well this is disheartening: O.J. Simpson's book on how he MAY have killed his wife and her friend Ron Goldman is outselling Bill Clinton's book on giving back.

First, Brad Pitt was at The Washington Post. Then, Bono was at the Philadelphia Daily News and Inquirer. I'm sure when our time comes, our visitor will be George Clooney.

Joey Fatone may be the one good friend Britney Spears has. He thinks she needs time away from scrutiny and invited her to visit him in Orlando.

Pregnant Nicole Richie has signed up for a mandatory anti-drinking program. Let's hope it takes.

(photo © 2007 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc./Sam Jones)

It's no secret that my No. 1 celebrity crush is John Krasinski, but that's not the only reason he's our celebrity of the day. For one, The Office premieres tonight. I'm not just hyping it because we get to see him shirtless (which you can see a preview of below): The Emmy-winning comedy is pretty much beloved by critics everywhere, and this season looks like it could be the best one yet. Then there are his movies: You'll be able to see him next in Leatherheads, with Renee Zellweger and George Clooney, and he's writing, directing and acting in an adaptation of David Foster Wallace's Brief Interviews with Hideous Men. He's said he's not trying to be a triple threat a la Zach Braff, but he seems to be well on his way. And if all of that's not enough, he's also gracing the cover of Entertainment Weekly (with some of the other Office staffers) next week.

(photo courtesy nbcumv.com)

I wonder what Coldplay's Chris Martin got his lovely wife, Gwyneth Paltrow, for her birthday today. It's a milestone — 35. She shares her day with Meat Loaf, who turns 60!, and Shaun Cassidy, who turns 49.

Over coffee … this morning I'm recovering from the sensory overload I suffered at the preview last night of the fabulous new Bloomingdale's in my neighborhood. Don't get me wrong, I love Bloomies and couldn't be happier now that I have one a mile away. … I'm also smiling this morning at Jessica Seinfeld's quotes in the New York Post. She says Jerry is "heaven and earth" to her. Aww. She was just as gushy when I talked to her a couple of weeks ago about her new cookbook, full of sneaky ways to feed healthy stuff to youngsters. She adores her husband, but she's a woman with lots of interests of her own, and their adoration is a two-way street. … Brittany Snow, the talented young actress of American Dreams and Hairspray, admits to having dealt with an eating disorder that began in her teens when she was on Guiding Light. … Lindsay Lohan's mother, who seems to be in e-mail touch daily with Access Hollywood, says Lindsay won't be out of rehab this weekend. Do they have rehab for addiction to the spotlight? … Katie Couric says her daughters prefer Gossip Girl to the news ("as do I," says Kathy). … Here's who is NOT dating in Hollywood. Milo Ventimiglia and Hayden Panettiere of Heroes: Denial does not come from them but from co-star James Kyson Lee. Other co-stars also have said it ain't so. Heath Ledger and Helena Christensen: In this case, she denies it. … Candice Bergen is the latest to be part of the Sex and the City movie. Does this mean Carrie gets a real job at Bergen's magazine? … Robert Redford will direct a movie from the Richard A. Clarke book Against All Enemies. I read that book — about the Bush administration's handling of al-Qaeda before and after 9/11 — and it's hard to picture it as a movie. In Redford's hands, it will no doubt be compelling. … Not so compelling, last night's premiere of Grey's Anatomy spinoff Private Practice. The writing needs sharpening and pacing, the characters need better definition. Let's hope it improves, or Addison may have to move back to Seattle soon. … Wes Anderson, director of Owen Wilson's The Darjeeling Limited, says Wilson doesn't want him to hold up the film's release. They did, however, push back some promotion of it, and Wilson won't be among the stars available to talk to the press.

You probably know Kate Walsh for any number of reasons: She's been all over the magazines, thanks to her wedding earlier this month to Alex Young, a movie executive, just seven months after she met him, and she starred in a little show you may have heard of called Grey's Anatomy, from which she scored her own spinoff, Private Practice, which premieres tonight. No matter what you know her from, I bet you didn't know she's not really a redhead. (She's a natural blonde.) And I was surprised to learn that she's the basis for one of the main characters in The Sweetest Thing, which was written by her best friend.

(© 2007 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc./Eric Ogden)

As Lorrie promised earlier, here's a bit more info about Olivia Newton-John's upcoming album. It's a Christmas CD called "Christmas Wish," with 22 tracks (12 songs, 10 musical interludes), including duets with Barry Manilow and Jon Secada. Speaking of Secada, we also just got a copy of his forthcoming Christmas CD. That's titled "A Christmas Fiesta" and features traditional holiday songs like "Jingle Bells" re-arranged with a Latin flair. It's really quite catchy. And sure, it's only August, but it's never too early to get excited for Christmas! (Just ask my mom, who still has to wrap presents immediately, because she knows that if she doesn't I'll go looking in her closet for them -- even at age 25.) You can order Olivia's CD online at her website now, or buy it at Target starting Nov. 6. Jon's hits stores Oct. 23.

It's a big night for fall TV premieres, with Private Practice, Dirty Sexy Money, Bionic Woman and Life all beginning their runs tonight. Whew. But it's the returning shows that are drawing viewers, even if the new shows are getting all the attention. Heroes and Dancing with the Stars were Monday's biggest draws, according to early estimates, despite Chuck, The Big Bang Theory and Journeyman joining the schedule that night -- and K-Ville being in its second week. And at a not-too-impressive No. 15, Back to You was the highest-ranking new show the week before. What do you think? Are you watching any of the new shows? Are you like me and DVRing the new shows so you can watch your old favorites? Do you think the newbies will gain viewers as the season progresses?

(photo by Carol Kaelson/ABC)

Queer Eye for the Straight Guy

Just got off the phone with Jai, Ted and Kyan from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. (Carson was also supposed to be on the call, but he was "running on gay standard time," as Ted put it, so he didn't make it.) The guys are back for their fourth and final season, which starts Oct. 2 on Bravo with a "straight guy pageant" featuring some of their favorite made-over men competing to win in areas like "presence and poise" and "artistic expression." The call was a lot of fun right from the beginning, when Ted joked that if we were wondering where they've all been, "Carson has been going through an extensive rehab process, which I think ends today, and Thom was in Asia looking for a baby to adopt." I asked them what guilty pleasures they indulge in or fashion crimes they make, and Kyan revealed that he "loves to not shave, go camping and get dirty." He then admitted that he went with a friend to get a pedicure yesterday and got talked into getting orange polish with rhinestones on his toes. Ted quipped that he has "lots of pleasures, but I don't feel guilty about any of them," and he said some of his culinary treats include potato chips and beer (me too, Ted, me too).

(photo by Matthias Clamer/NBC)

Thank you, The Office gods, for answering my prayers and giving me everything I could have wanted. Jim and Pam together? Check. (How much do I love PB&J?) Michael and Jan in domestic are-we-sure-this-is-bliss? Check. (Her accusing Pam of peeping on Michael was just absurd.) More Dwangela wackiness? Check. (Dwight on Angela's dearly departed cat, Sprinkles: "She’s in a better place. Actually, the place that she’s in is the freezer. Because of the odor.") Great lines from every single supporting character? Check. (My personal favorite was the IT guy's: "If you're going to reduce my identity to a religion, then I'm Sikh. But I also like hip-hop and NPR.'') Overall, I thought it was a great entree back into the Office's world, and it set up the rest of the season nicely. The Jim/Pam lovefest bodes well for the long-term plot, in my opinion. Last season seemed to lack a lot of the easy, feel-good humor that their flirting/pranking brings, so hopefully we'll see a return to that. There's so much more I can say about the show, but I'll turn it over to you. What did you think about the camera crew intervening and showing Jim and Pam their footage of them kissing? How much did you love Ryan channeling Jan on speakerphone -- but how much did you hate his new corporate attitude and attire? Do you think Kelly will ever recover from her heartbreak? How much longer can Jan's "boob enhancements" distract Michael from her ever-growing craziness? And will you be purchasing a "Michael Scott's Dunder Mifflin Scranton Meredith Palmer Memorial Celebrity Rabies Awareness Pro-Am Fun Run Race for the Cure" t-shirt or a "Support the Rabid" wristband?

(photo courtesy nbc.com)

Over coffee … This morning I am dragging because I was foolish enough to try to watch every fresh show last night. I started with Ugly Betty — hilarious with a fat Amanda — then watched CSI because my husband couldn't wait to find out whether Jorja Fox was being written out of the show or not (apparently not). Then we went to Grey's Anatomy. I miss Burke. I hated the are-they-together-or-not thing with Meredith and Derek. Then I watched the hour-long truly hilarious premiere of The Office. Of course, our Office expert here is Kathy Rowings, and she was SO looking forward to it, so she'll give us her whole take in a bit. I couldn't make it through Without a Trace without falling asleep, so it got saved for the weekend. Yes, it took three TiVos to make that all happen — but, hey, I'm up to date with the water-cooler talk today. Are you?

Ben Stiller told Ellen DeGeneres that his friend Owen Wilson is doing "really well." Whatever that means.

Farrah Fawcett's cancer has returned, and she's seeking alternative therapy in Germany.

Melissa Joan Hart is pregnant with baby No. 2. Did you know that she's the eldest of seven? I can remember calling her mom to set up interviews when Melissa was starring in Clarissa Explains It All.

Sad news for Dylan McDermott and his wife of 12 years, sometime actress Shiva Rose. They have separated. Faithful watchers of The Practice will remember that she guest-starred during McDermott's heyday. His new ABC show, Big Shots, premiered this week. Let's just say it's not The Practice.

Kate Walsh's new Private Practice was No. 1 in total viewers Wednesday, but Bionic Woman had a very strong showing, winning the 18-to-49 age group. That's good news for Shonda Rhimes, who created the Grey's Anatomy spinoff, but I still say it needs sharper writing and faster pacing.

Forget L.A., let's go to Rome! Sixteen films will premiere at the film festival there, with Tom Cruise and Robert Redford expected to show.

Well this is disheartening: O.J. Simpson's book on how he MAY have killed his wife and her friend Ron Goldman is outselling Bill Clinton's book on giving back.

First, Brad Pitt was at The Washington Post. Then, Bono was at the Philadelphia Daily News and Inquirer. I'm sure when our time comes, our visitor will be George Clooney.

Joey Fatone may be the one good friend Britney Spears has. He thinks she needs time away from scrutiny and invited her to visit him in Orlando.

Pregnant Nicole Richie has signed up for a mandatory anti-drinking program. Let's hope it takes.

(photo © 2007 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc./Sam Jones)

It's no secret that my No. 1 celebrity crush is John Krasinski, but that's not the only reason he's our celebrity of the day. For one, The Office premieres tonight. I'm not just hyping it because we get to see him shirtless (which you can see a preview of below): The Emmy-winning comedy is pretty much beloved by critics everywhere, and this season looks like it could be the best one yet. Then there are his movies: You'll be able to see him next in Leatherheads, with Renee Zellweger and George Clooney, and he's writing, directing and acting in an adaptation of David Foster Wallace's Brief Interviews with Hideous Men. He's said he's not trying to be a triple threat a la Zach Braff, but he seems to be well on his way. And if all of that's not enough, he's also gracing the cover of Entertainment Weekly (with some of the other Office staffers) next week.

(photo courtesy nbcumv.com)

I wonder what Coldplay's Chris Martin got his lovely wife, Gwyneth Paltrow, for her birthday today. It's a milestone — 35. She shares her day with Meat Loaf, who turns 60!, and Shaun Cassidy, who turns 49.

Over coffee … this morning I'm recovering from the sensory overload I suffered at the preview last night of the fabulous new Bloomingdale's in my neighborhood. Don't get me wrong, I love Bloomies and couldn't be happier now that I have one a mile away. … I'm also smiling this morning at Jessica Seinfeld's quotes in the New York Post. She says Jerry is "heaven and earth" to her. Aww. She was just as gushy when I talked to her a couple of weeks ago about her new cookbook, full of sneaky ways to feed healthy stuff to youngsters. She adores her husband, but she's a woman with lots of interests of her own, and their adoration is a two-way street. … Brittany Snow, the talented young actress of American Dreams and Hairspray, admits to having dealt with an eating disorder that began in her teens when she was on Guiding Light. … Lindsay Lohan's mother, who seems to be in e-mail touch daily with Access Hollywood, says Lindsay won't be out of rehab this weekend. Do they have rehab for addiction to the spotlight? … Katie Couric says her daughters prefer Gossip Girl to the news ("as do I," says Kathy). … Here's who is NOT dating in Hollywood. Milo Ventimiglia and Hayden Panettiere of Heroes: Denial does not come from them but from co-star James Kyson Lee. Other co-stars also have said it ain't so. Heath Ledger and Helena Christensen: In this case, she denies it. … Candice Bergen is the latest to be part of the Sex and the City movie. Does this mean Carrie gets a real job at Bergen's magazine? … Robert Redford will direct a movie from the Richard A. Clarke book Against All Enemies. I read that book — about the Bush administration's handling of al-Qaeda before and after 9/11 — and it's hard to picture it as a movie. In Redford's hands, it will no doubt be compelling. … Not so compelling, last night's premiere of Grey's Anatomy spinoff Private Practice. The writing needs sharpening and pacing, the characters need better definition. Let's hope it improves, or Addison may have to move back to Seattle soon. … Wes Anderson, director of Owen Wilson's The Darjeeling Limited, says Wilson doesn't want him to hold up the film's release. They did, however, push back some promotion of it, and Wilson won't be among the stars available to talk to the press.

You probably know Kate Walsh for any number of reasons: She's been all over the magazines, thanks to her wedding earlier this month to Alex Young, a movie executive, just seven months after she met him, and she starred in a little show you may have heard of called Grey's Anatomy, from which she scored her own spinoff, Private Practice, which premieres tonight. No matter what you know her from, I bet you didn't know she's not really a redhead. (She's a natural blonde.) And I was surprised to learn that she's the basis for one of the main characters in The Sweetest Thing, which was written by her best friend.

(© 2007 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc./Eric Ogden)

As Lorrie promised earlier, here's a bit more info about Olivia Newton-John's upcoming album. It's a Christmas CD called "Christmas Wish," with 22 tracks (12 songs, 10 musical interludes), including duets with Barry Manilow and Jon Secada. Speaking of Secada, we also just got a copy of his forthcoming Christmas CD. That's titled "A Christmas Fiesta" and features traditional holiday songs like "Jingle Bells" re-arranged with a Latin flair. It's really quite catchy. And sure, it's only August, but it's never too early to get excited for Christmas! (Just ask my mom, who still has to wrap presents immediately, because she knows that if she doesn't I'll go looking in her closet for them -- even at age 25.) You can order Olivia's CD online at her website now, or buy it at Target starting Nov. 6. Jon's hits stores Oct. 23.

It's a big night for fall TV premieres, with Private Practice, Dirty Sexy Money, Bionic Woman and Life all beginning their runs tonight. Whew. But it's the returning shows that are drawing viewers, even if the new shows are getting all the attention. Heroes and Dancing with the Stars were Monday's biggest draws, according to early estimates, despite Chuck, The Big Bang Theory and Journeyman joining the schedule that night -- and K-Ville being in its second week. And at a not-too-impressive No. 15, Back to You was the highest-ranking new show the week before. What do you think? Are you watching any of the new shows? Are you like me and DVRing the new shows so you can watch your old favorites? Do you think the newbies will gain viewers as the season progresses?

(photo by Carol Kaelson/ABC)

The Office: Fun running back into my heart

Thank you, The Office gods, for answering my prayers and giving me everything I could have wanted. Jim and Pam together? Check. (How much do I love PB&J?) Michael and Jan in domestic are-we-sure-this-is-bliss? Check. (Her accusing Pam of peeping on Michael was just absurd.) More Dwangela wackiness? Check. (Dwight on Angela's dearly departed cat, Sprinkles: "She’s in a better place. Actually, the place that she’s in is the freezer. Because of the odor.") Great lines from every single supporting character? Check. (My personal favorite was the IT guy's: "If you're going to reduce my identity to a religion, then I'm Sikh. But I also like hip-hop and NPR.'') Overall, I thought it was a great entree back into the Office's world, and it set up the rest of the season nicely. The Jim/Pam lovefest bodes well for the long-term plot, in my opinion. Last season seemed to lack a lot of the easy, feel-good humor that their flirting/pranking brings, so hopefully we'll see a return to that. There's so much more I can say about the show, but I'll turn it over to you. What did you think about the camera crew intervening and showing Jim and Pam their footage of them kissing? How much did you love Ryan channeling Jan on speakerphone -- but how much did you hate his new corporate attitude and attire? Do you think Kelly will ever recover from her heartbreak? How much longer can Jan's "boob enhancements" distract Michael from her ever-growing craziness? And will you be purchasing a "Michael Scott's Dunder Mifflin Scranton Meredith Palmer Memorial Celebrity Rabies Awareness Pro-Am Fun Run Race for the Cure" t-shirt or a "Support the Rabid" wristband?

(photo courtesy nbc.com)

Over coffee … This morning I am dragging because I was foolish enough to try to watch every fresh show last night. I started with Ugly Betty — hilarious with a fat Amanda — then watched CSI because my husband couldn't wait to find out whether Jorja Fox was being written out of the show or not (apparently not). Then we went to Grey's Anatomy. I miss Burke. I hated the are-they-together-or-not thing with Meredith and Derek. Then I watched the hour-long truly hilarious premiere of The Office. Of course, our Office expert here is Kathy Rowings, and she was SO looking forward to it, so she'll give us her whole take in a bit. I couldn't make it through Without a Trace without falling asleep, so it got saved for the weekend. Yes, it took three TiVos to make that all happen — but, hey, I'm up to date with the water-cooler talk today. Are you?

Ben Stiller told Ellen DeGeneres that his friend Owen Wilson is doing "really well." Whatever that means.

Farrah Fawcett's cancer has returned, and she's seeking alternative therapy in Germany.

Melissa Joan Hart is pregnant with baby No. 2. Did you know that she's the eldest of seven? I can remember calling her mom to set up interviews when Melissa was starring in Clarissa Explains It All.

Sad news for Dylan McDermott and his wife of 12 years, sometime actress Shiva Rose. They have separated. Faithful watchers of The Practice will remember that she guest-starred during McDermott's heyday. His new ABC show, Big Shots, premiered this week. Let's just say it's not The Practice.

Kate Walsh's new Private Practice was No. 1 in total viewers Wednesday, but Bionic Woman had a very strong showing, winning the 18-to-49 age group. That's good news for Shonda Rhimes, who created the Grey's Anatomy spinoff, but I still say it needs sharper writing and faster pacing.

Forget L.A., let's go to Rome! Sixteen films will premiere at the film festival there, with Tom Cruise and Robert Redford expected to show.

Well this is disheartening: O.J. Simpson's book on how he MAY have killed his wife and her friend Ron Goldman is outselling Bill Clinton's book on giving back.

First, Brad Pitt was at The Washington Post. Then, Bono was at the Philadelphia Daily News and Inquirer. I'm sure when our time comes, our visitor will be George Clooney.

Joey Fatone may be the one good friend Britney Spears has. He thinks she needs time away from scrutiny and invited her to visit him in Orlando.

Pregnant Nicole Richie has signed up for a mandatory anti-drinking program. Let's hope it takes.

(photo © 2007 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc./Sam Jones)

It's no secret that my No. 1 celebrity crush is John Krasinski, but that's not the only reason he's our celebrity of the day. For one, The Office premieres tonight. I'm not just hyping it because we get to see him shirtless (which you can see a preview of below): The Emmy-winning comedy is pretty much beloved by critics everywhere, and this season looks like it could be the best one yet. Then there are his movies: You'll be able to see him next in Leatherheads, with Renee Zellweger and George Clooney, and he's writing, directing and acting in an adaptation of David Foster Wallace's Brief Interviews with Hideous Men. He's said he's not trying to be a triple threat a la Zach Braff, but he seems to be well on his way. And if all of that's not enough, he's also gracing the cover of Entertainment Weekly (with some of the other Office staffers) next week.

(photo courtesy nbcumv.com)

I wonder what Coldplay's Chris Martin got his lovely wife, Gwyneth Paltrow, for her birthday today. It's a milestone — 35. She shares her day with Meat Loaf, who turns 60!, and Shaun Cassidy, who turns 49.

Over coffee … this morning I'm recovering from the sensory overload I suffered at the preview last night of the fabulous new Bloomingdale's in my neighborhood. Don't get me wrong, I love Bloomies and couldn't be happier now that I have one a mile away. … I'm also smiling this morning at Jessica Seinfeld's quotes in the New York Post. She says Jerry is "heaven and earth" to her. Aww. She was just as gushy when I talked to her a couple of weeks ago about her new cookbook, full of sneaky ways to feed healthy stuff to youngsters. She adores her husband, but she's a woman with lots of interests of her own, and their adoration is a two-way street. … Brittany Snow, the talented young actress of American Dreams and Hairspray, admits to having dealt with an eating disorder that began in her teens when she was on Guiding Light. … Lindsay Lohan's mother, who seems to be in e-mail touch daily with Access Hollywood, says Lindsay won't be out of rehab this weekend. Do they have rehab for addiction to the spotlight? … Katie Couric says her daughters prefer Gossip Girl to the news ("as do I," says Kathy). … Here's who is NOT dating in Hollywood. Milo Ventimiglia and Hayden Panettiere of Heroes: Denial does not come from them but from co-star James Kyson Lee. Other co-stars also have said it ain't so. Heath Ledger and Helena Christensen: In this case, she denies it. … Candice Bergen is the latest to be part of the Sex and the City movie. Does this mean Carrie gets a real job at Bergen's magazine? … Robert Redford will direct a movie from the Richard A. Clarke book Against All Enemies. I read that book — about the Bush administration's handling of al-Qaeda before and after 9/11 — and it's hard to picture it as a movie. In Redford's hands, it will no doubt be compelling. … Not so compelling, last night's premiere of Grey's Anatomy spinoff Private Practice. The writing needs sharpening and pacing, the characters need better definition. Let's hope it improves, or Addison may have to move back to Seattle soon. … Wes Anderson, director of Owen Wilson's The Darjeeling Limited, says Wilson doesn't want him to hold up the film's release. They did, however, push back some promotion of it, and Wilson won't be among the stars available to talk to the press.

You probably know Kate Walsh for any number of reasons: She's been all over the magazines, thanks to her wedding earlier this month to Alex Young, a movie executive, just seven months after she met him, and she starred in a little show you may have heard of called Grey's Anatomy, from which she scored her own spinoff, Private Practice, which premieres tonight. No matter what you know her from, I bet you didn't know she's not really a redhead. (She's a natural blonde.) And I was surprised to learn that she's the basis for one of the main characters in The Sweetest Thing, which was written by her best friend.

(© 2007 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc./Eric Ogden)

As Lorrie promised earlier, here's a bit more info about Olivia Newton-John's upcoming album. It's a Christmas CD called "Christmas Wish," with 22 tracks (12 songs, 10 musical interludes), including duets with Barry Manilow and Jon Secada. Speaking of Secada, we also just got a copy of his forthcoming Christmas CD. That's titled "A Christmas Fiesta" and features traditional holiday songs like "Jingle Bells" re-arranged with a Latin flair. It's really quite catchy. And sure, it's only August, but it's never too early to get excited for Christmas! (Just ask my mom, who still has to wrap presents immediately, because she knows that if she doesn't I'll go looking in her closet for them -- even at age 25.) You can order Olivia's CD online at her website now, or buy it at Target starting Nov. 6. Jon's hits stores Oct. 23.

It's a big night for fall TV premieres, with Private Practice, Dirty Sexy Money, Bionic Woman and Life all beginning their runs tonight. Whew. But it's the returning shows that are drawing viewers, even if the new shows are getting all the attention. Heroes and Dancing with the Stars were Monday's biggest draws, according to early estimates, despite Chuck, The Big Bang Theory and Journeyman joining the schedule that night -- and K-Ville being in its second week. And at a not-too-impressive No. 15, Back to You was the highest-ranking new show the week before. What do you think? Are you watching any of the new shows? Are you like me and DVRing the new shows so you can watch your old favorites? Do you think the newbies will gain viewers as the season progresses?

(photo by Carol Kaelson/ABC)

Ben Stiller on Owen Wilson, and more

Over coffee … This morning I am dragging because I was foolish enough to try to watch every fresh show last night. I started with Ugly Betty — hilarious with a fat Amanda — then watched CSI because my husband couldn't wait to find out whether Jorja Fox was being written out of the show or not (apparently not). Then we went to Grey's Anatomy. I miss Burke. I hated the are-they-together-or-not thing with Meredith and Derek. Then I watched the hour-long truly hilarious premiere of The Office. Of course, our Office expert here is Kathy Rowings, and she was SO looking forward to it, so she'll give us her whole take in a bit. I couldn't make it through Without a Trace without falling asleep, so it got saved for the weekend. Yes, it took three TiVos to make that all happen — but, hey, I'm up to date with the water-cooler talk today. Are you?

Ben Stiller told Ellen DeGeneres that his friend Owen Wilson is doing "really well." Whatever that means.

Farrah Fawcett's cancer has returned, and she's seeking alternative therapy in Germany.

Melissa Joan Hart is pregnant with baby No. 2. Did you know that she's the eldest of seven? I can remember calling her mom to set up interviews when Melissa was starring in Clarissa Explains It All.

Sad news for Dylan McDermott and his wife of 12 years, sometime actress Shiva Rose. They have separated. Faithful watchers of The Practice will remember that she guest-starred during McDermott's heyday. His new ABC show, Big Shots, premiered this week. Let's just say it's not The Practice.

Kate Walsh's new Private Practice was No. 1 in total viewers Wednesday, but Bionic Woman had a very strong showing, winning the 18-to-49 age group. That's good news for Shonda Rhimes, who created the Grey's Anatomy spinoff, but I still say it needs sharper writing and faster pacing.

Forget L.A., let's go to Rome! Sixteen films will premiere at the film festival there, with Tom Cruise and Robert Redford expected to show.

Well this is disheartening: O.J. Simpson's book on how he MAY have killed his wife and her friend Ron Goldman is outselling Bill Clinton's book on giving back.

First, Brad Pitt was at The Washington Post. Then, Bono was at the Philadelphia Daily News and Inquirer. I'm sure when our time comes, our visitor will be George Clooney.

Joey Fatone may be the one good friend Britney Spears has. He thinks she needs time away from scrutiny and invited her to visit him in Orlando.

Pregnant Nicole Richie has signed up for a mandatory anti-drinking program. Let's hope it takes.

(photo © 2007 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc./Sam Jones)

It's no secret that my No. 1 celebrity crush is John Krasinski, but that's not the only reason he's our celebrity of the day. For one, The Office premieres tonight. I'm not just hyping it because we get to see him shirtless (which you can see a preview of below): The Emmy-winning comedy is pretty much beloved by critics everywhere, and this season looks like it could be the best one yet. Then there are his movies: You'll be able to see him next in Leatherheads, with Renee Zellweger and George Clooney, and he's writing, directing and acting in an adaptation of David Foster Wallace's Brief Interviews with Hideous Men. He's said he's not trying to be a triple threat a la Zach Braff, but he seems to be well on his way. And if all of that's not enough, he's also gracing the cover of Entertainment Weekly (with some of the other Office staffers) next week.

(photo courtesy nbcumv.com)

I wonder what Coldplay's Chris Martin got his lovely wife, Gwyneth Paltrow, for her birthday today. It's a milestone — 35. She shares her day with Meat Loaf, who turns 60!, and Shaun Cassidy, who turns 49.

Over coffee … this morning I'm recovering from the sensory overload I suffered at the preview last night of the fabulous new Bloomingdale's in my neighborhood. Don't get me wrong, I love Bloomies and couldn't be happier now that I have one a mile away. … I'm also smiling this morning at Jessica Seinfeld's quotes in the New York Post. She says Jerry is "heaven and earth" to her. Aww. She was just as gushy when I talked to her a couple of weeks ago about her new cookbook, full of sneaky ways to feed healthy stuff to youngsters. She adores her husband, but she's a woman with lots of interests of her own, and their adoration is a two-way street. … Brittany Snow, the talented young actress of American Dreams and Hairspray, admits to having dealt with an eating disorder that began in her teens when she was on Guiding Light. … Lindsay Lohan's mother, who seems to be in e-mail touch daily with Access Hollywood, says Lindsay won't be out of rehab this weekend. Do they have rehab for addiction to the spotlight? … Katie Couric says her daughters prefer Gossip Girl to the news ("as do I," says Kathy). … Here's who is NOT dating in Hollywood. Milo Ventimiglia and Hayden Panettiere of Heroes: Denial does not come from them but from co-star James Kyson Lee. Other co-stars also have said it ain't so. Heath Ledger and Helena Christensen: In this case, she denies it. … Candice Bergen is the latest to be part of the Sex and the City movie. Does this mean Carrie gets a real job at Bergen's magazine? … Robert Redford will direct a movie from the Richard A. Clarke book Against All Enemies. I read that book — about the Bush administration's handling of al-Qaeda before and after 9/11 — and it's hard to picture it as a movie. In Redford's hands, it will no doubt be compelling. … Not so compelling, last night's premiere of Grey's Anatomy spinoff Private Practice. The writing needs sharpening and pacing, the characters need better definition. Let's hope it improves, or Addison may have to move back to Seattle soon. … Wes Anderson, director of Owen Wilson's The Darjeeling Limited, says Wilson doesn't want him to hold up the film's release. They did, however, push back some promotion of it, and Wilson won't be among the stars available to talk to the press.

You probably know Kate Walsh for any number of reasons: She's been all over the magazines, thanks to her wedding earlier this month to Alex Young, a movie executive, just seven months after she met him, and she starred in a little show you may have heard of called Grey's Anatomy, from which she scored her own spinoff, Private Practice, which premieres tonight. No matter what you know her from, I bet you didn't know she's not really a redhead. (She's a natural blonde.) And I was surprised to learn that she's the basis for one of the main characters in The Sweetest Thing, which was written by her best friend.

(© 2007 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc./Eric Ogden)

As Lorrie promised earlier, here's a bit more info about Olivia Newton-John's upcoming album. It's a Christmas CD called "Christmas Wish," with 22 tracks (12 songs, 10 musical interludes), including duets with Barry Manilow and Jon Secada. Speaking of Secada, we also just got a copy of his forthcoming Christmas CD. That's titled "A Christmas Fiesta" and features traditional holiday songs like "Jingle Bells" re-arranged with a Latin flair. It's really quite catchy. And sure, it's only August, but it's never too early to get excited for Christmas! (Just ask my mom, who still has to wrap presents immediately, because she knows that if she doesn't I'll go looking in her closet for them -- even at age 25.) You can order Olivia's CD online at her website now, or buy it at Target starting Nov. 6. Jon's hits stores Oct. 23.

It's a big night for fall TV premieres, with Private Practice, Dirty Sexy Money, Bionic Woman and Life all beginning their runs tonight. Whew. But it's the returning shows that are drawing viewers, even if the new shows are getting all the attention. Heroes and Dancing with the Stars were Monday's biggest draws, according to early estimates, despite Chuck, The Big Bang Theory and Journeyman joining the schedule that night -- and K-Ville being in its second week. And at a not-too-impressive No. 15, Back to You was the highest-ranking new show the week before. What do you think? Are you watching any of the new shows? Are you like me and DVRing the new shows so you can watch your old favorites? Do you think the newbies will gain viewers as the season progresses?

(photo by Carol Kaelson/ABC)

John Krasinski is our celeb of the day

It's no secret that my No. 1 celebrity crush is John Krasinski, but that's not the only reason he's our celebrity of the day. For one, The Office premieres tonight. I'm not just hyping it because we get to see him shirtless (which you can see a preview of below): The Emmy-winning comedy is pretty much beloved by critics everywhere, and this season looks like it could be the best one yet. Then there are his movies: You'll be able to see him next in Leatherheads, with Renee Zellweger and George Clooney, and he's writing, directing and acting in an adaptation of David Foster Wallace's Brief Interviews with Hideous Men. He's said he's not trying to be a triple threat a la Zach Braff, but he seems to be well on his way. And if all of that's not enough, he's also gracing the cover of Entertainment Weekly (with some of the other Office staffers) next week.

(photo courtesy nbcumv.com)

I wonder what Coldplay's Chris Martin got his lovely wife, Gwyneth Paltrow, for her birthday today. It's a milestone — 35. She shares her day with Meat Loaf, who turns 60!, and Shaun Cassidy, who turns 49.

Over coffee … this morning I'm recovering from the sensory overload I suffered at the preview last night of the fabulous new Bloomingdale's in my neighborhood. Don't get me wrong, I love Bloomies and couldn't be happier now that I have one a mile away. … I'm also smiling this morning at Jessica Seinfeld's quotes in the New York Post. She says Jerry is "heaven and earth" to her. Aww. She was just as gushy when I talked to her a couple of weeks ago about her new cookbook, full of sneaky ways to feed healthy stuff to youngsters. She adores her husband, but she's a woman with lots of interests of her own, and their adoration is a two-way street. … Brittany Snow, the talented young actress of American Dreams and Hairspray, admits to having dealt with an eating disorder that began in her teens when she was on Guiding Light. … Lindsay Lohan's mother, who seems to be in e-mail touch daily with Access Hollywood, says Lindsay won't be out of rehab this weekend. Do they have rehab for addiction to the spotlight? … Katie Couric says her daughters prefer Gossip Girl to the news ("as do I," says Kathy). … Here's who is NOT dating in Hollywood. Milo Ventimiglia and Hayden Panettiere of Heroes: Denial does not come from them but from co-star James Kyson Lee. Other co-stars also have said it ain't so. Heath Ledger and Helena Christensen: In this case, she denies it. … Candice Bergen is the latest to be part of the Sex and the City movie. Does this mean Carrie gets a real job at Bergen's magazine? … Robert Redford will direct a movie from the Richard A. Clarke book Against All Enemies. I read that book — about the Bush administration's handling of al-Qaeda before and after 9/11 — and it's hard to picture it as a movie. In Redford's hands, it will no doubt be compelling. … Not so compelling, last night's premiere of Grey's Anatomy spinoff Private Practice. The writing needs sharpening and pacing, the characters need better definition. Let's hope it improves, or Addison may have to move back to Seattle soon. … Wes Anderson, director of Owen Wilson's The Darjeeling Limited, says Wilson doesn't want him to hold up the film's release. They did, however, push back some promotion of it, and Wilson won't be among the stars available to talk to the press.

You probably know Kate Walsh for any number of reasons: She's been all over the magazines, thanks to her wedding earlier this month to Alex Young, a movie executive, just seven months after she met him, and she starred in a little show you may have heard of called Grey's Anatomy, from which she scored her own spinoff, Private Practice, which premieres tonight. No matter what you know her from, I bet you didn't know she's not really a redhead. (She's a natural blonde.) And I was surprised to learn that she's the basis for one of the main characters in The Sweetest Thing, which was written by her best friend.

(© 2007 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc./Eric Ogden)

As Lorrie promised earlier, here's a bit more info about Olivia Newton-John's upcoming album. It's a Christmas CD called "Christmas Wish," with 22 tracks (12 songs, 10 musical interludes), including duets with Barry Manilow and Jon Secada. Speaking of Secada, we also just got a copy of his forthcoming Christmas CD. That's titled "A Christmas Fiesta" and features traditional holiday songs like "Jingle Bells" re-arranged with a Latin flair. It's really quite catchy. And sure, it's only August, but it's never too early to get excited for Christmas! (Just ask my mom, who still has to wrap presents immediately, because she knows that if she doesn't I'll go looking in her closet for them -- even at age 25.) You can order Olivia's CD online at her website now, or buy it at Target starting Nov. 6. Jon's hits stores Oct. 23.

It's a big night for fall TV premieres, with Private Practice, Dirty Sexy Money, Bionic Woman and Life all beginning their runs tonight. Whew. But it's the returning shows that are drawing viewers, even if the new shows are getting all the attention. Heroes and Dancing with the Stars were Monday's biggest draws, according to early estimates, despite Chuck, The Big Bang Theory and Journeyman joining the schedule that night -- and K-Ville being in its second week. And at a not-too-impressive No. 15, Back to You was the highest-ranking new show the week before. What do you think? Are you watching any of the new shows? Are you like me and DVRing the new shows so you can watch your old favorites? Do you think the newbies will gain viewers as the season progresses?

(photo by Carol Kaelson/ABC)

Gwyneth Paltrow's big day

I wonder what Coldplay's Chris Martin got his lovely wife, Gwyneth Paltrow, for her birthday today. It's a milestone — 35. She shares her day with Meat Loaf, who turns 60!, and Shaun Cassidy, who turns 49.

Over coffee … this morning I'm recovering from the sensory overload I suffered at the preview last night of the fabulous new Bloomingdale's in my neighborhood. Don't get me wrong, I love Bloomies and couldn't be happier now that I have one a mile away. … I'm also smiling this morning at Jessica Seinfeld's quotes in the New York Post. She says Jerry is "heaven and earth" to her. Aww. She was just as gushy when I talked to her a couple of weeks ago about her new cookbook, full of sneaky ways to feed healthy stuff to youngsters. She adores her husband, but she's a woman with lots of interests of her own, and their adoration is a two-way street. … Brittany Snow, the talented young actress of American Dreams and Hairspray, admits to having dealt with an eating disorder that began in her teens when she was on Guiding Light. … Lindsay Lohan's mother, who seems to be in e-mail touch daily with Access Hollywood, says Lindsay won't be out of rehab this weekend. Do they have rehab for addiction to the spotlight? … Katie Couric says her daughters prefer Gossip Girl to the news ("as do I," says Kathy). … Here's who is NOT dating in Hollywood. Milo Ventimiglia and Hayden Panettiere of Heroes: Denial does not come from them but from co-star James Kyson Lee. Other co-stars also have said it ain't so. Heath Ledger and Helena Christensen: In this case, she denies it. … Candice Bergen is the latest to be part of the Sex and the City movie. Does this mean Carrie gets a real job at Bergen's magazine? … Robert Redford will direct a movie from the Richard A. Clarke book Against All Enemies. I read that book — about the Bush administration's handling of al-Qaeda before and after 9/11 — and it's hard to picture it as a movie. In Redford's hands, it will no doubt be compelling. … Not so compelling, last night's premiere of Grey's Anatomy spinoff Private Practice. The writing needs sharpening and pacing, the characters need better definition. Let's hope it improves, or Addison may have to move back to Seattle soon. … Wes Anderson, director of Owen Wilson's The Darjeeling Limited, says Wilson doesn't want him to hold up the film's release. They did, however, push back some promotion of it, and Wilson won't be among the stars available to talk to the press.

You probably know Kate Walsh for any number of reasons: She's been all over the magazines, thanks to her wedding earlier this month to Alex Young, a movie executive, just seven months after she met him, and she starred in a little show you may have heard of called Grey's Anatomy, from which she scored her own spinoff, Private Practice, which premieres tonight. No matter what you know her from, I bet you didn't know she's not really a redhead. (She's a natural blonde.) And I was surprised to learn that she's the basis for one of the main characters in The Sweetest Thing, which was written by her best friend.

(© 2007 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc./Eric Ogden)

As Lorrie promised earlier, here's a bit more info about Olivia Newton-John's upcoming album. It's a Christmas CD called "Christmas Wish," with 22 tracks (12 songs, 10 musical interludes), including duets with Barry Manilow and Jon Secada. Speaking of Secada, we also just got a copy of his forthcoming Christmas CD. That's titled "A Christmas Fiesta" and features traditional holiday songs like "Jingle Bells" re-arranged with a Latin flair. It's really quite catchy. And sure, it's only August, but it's never too early to get excited for Christmas! (Just ask my mom, who still has to wrap presents immediately, because she knows that if she doesn't I'll go looking in her closet for them -- even at age 25.) You can order Olivia's CD online at her website now, or buy it at Target starting Nov. 6. Jon's hits stores Oct. 23.

It's a big night for fall TV premieres, with Private Practice, Dirty Sexy Money, Bionic Woman and Life all beginning their runs tonight. Whew. But it's the returning shows that are drawing viewers, even if the new shows are getting all the attention. Heroes and Dancing with the Stars were Monday's biggest draws, according to early estimates, despite Chuck, The Big Bang Theory and Journeyman joining the schedule that night -- and K-Ville being in its second week. And at a not-too-impressive No. 15, Back to You was the highest-ranking new show the week before. What do you think? Are you watching any of the new shows? Are you like me and DVRing the new shows so you can watch your old favorites? Do you think the newbies will gain viewers as the season progresses?

(photo by Carol Kaelson/ABC)

Jessica and Jerry Seinfeld, mutual adoration

Over coffee … this morning I'm recovering from the sensory overload I suffered at the preview last night of the fabulous new Bloomingdale's in my neighborhood. Don't get me wrong, I love Bloomies and couldn't be happier now that I have one a mile away. … I'm also smiling this morning at Jessica Seinfeld's quotes in the New York Post. She says Jerry is "heaven and earth" to her. Aww. She was just as gushy when I talked to her a couple of weeks ago about her new cookbook, full of sneaky ways to feed healthy stuff to youngsters. She adores her husband, but she's a woman with lots of interests of her own, and their adoration is a two-way street. … Brittany Snow, the talented young actress of American Dreams and Hairspray, admits to having dealt with an eating disorder that began in her teens when she was on Guiding Light. … Lindsay Lohan's mother, who seems to be in e-mail touch daily with Access Hollywood, says Lindsay won't be out of rehab this weekend. Do they have rehab for addiction to the spotlight? … Katie Couric says her daughters prefer Gossip Girl to the news ("as do I," says Kathy). … Here's who is NOT dating in Hollywood. Milo Ventimiglia and Hayden Panettiere of Heroes: Denial does not come from them but from co-star James Kyson Lee. Other co-stars also have said it ain't so. Heath Ledger and Helena Christensen: In this case, she denies it. … Candice Bergen is the latest to be part of the Sex and the City movie. Does this mean Carrie gets a real job at Bergen's magazine? … Robert Redford will direct a movie from the Richard A. Clarke book Against All Enemies. I read that book — about the Bush administration's handling of al-Qaeda before and after 9/11 — and it's hard to picture it as a movie. In Redford's hands, it will no doubt be compelling. … Not so compelling, last night's premiere of Grey's Anatomy spinoff Private Practice. The writing needs sharpening and pacing, the characters need better definition. Let's hope it improves, or Addison may have to move back to Seattle soon. … Wes Anderson, director of Owen Wilson's The Darjeeling Limited, says Wilson doesn't want him to hold up the film's release. They did, however, push back some promotion of it, and Wilson won't be among the stars available to talk to the press.

You probably know Kate Walsh for any number of reasons: She's been all over the magazines, thanks to her wedding earlier this month to Alex Young, a movie executive, just seven months after she met him, and she starred in a little show you may have heard of called Grey's Anatomy, from which she scored her own spinoff, Private Practice, which premieres tonight. No matter what you know her from, I bet you didn't know she's not really a redhead. (She's a natural blonde.) And I was surprised to learn that she's the basis for one of the main characters in The Sweetest Thing, which was written by her best friend.

(© 2007 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc./Eric Ogden)

As Lorrie promised earlier, here's a bit more info about Olivia Newton-John's upcoming album. It's a Christmas CD called "Christmas Wish," with 22 tracks (12 songs, 10 musical interludes), including duets with Barry Manilow and Jon Secada. Speaking of Secada, we also just got a copy of his forthcoming Christmas CD. That's titled "A Christmas Fiesta" and features traditional holiday songs like "Jingle Bells" re-arranged with a Latin flair. It's really quite catchy. And sure, it's only August, but it's never too early to get excited for Christmas! (Just ask my mom, who still has to wrap presents immediately, because she knows that if she doesn't I'll go looking in her closet for them -- even at age 25.) You can order Olivia's CD online at her website now, or buy it at Target starting Nov. 6. Jon's hits stores Oct. 23.

It's a big night for fall TV premieres, with Private Practice, Dirty Sexy Money, Bionic Woman and Life all beginning their runs tonight. Whew. But it's the returning shows that are drawing viewers, even if the new shows are getting all the attention. Heroes and Dancing with the Stars were Monday's biggest draws, according to early estimates, despite Chuck, The Big Bang Theory and Journeyman joining the schedule that night -- and K-Ville being in its second week. And at a not-too-impressive No. 15, Back to You was the highest-ranking new show the week before. What do you think? Are you watching any of the new shows? Are you like me and DVRing the new shows so you can watch your old favorites? Do you think the newbies will gain viewers as the season progresses?

(photo by Carol Kaelson/ABC)

Kate Walsh is our celeb of the day

You probably know Kate Walsh for any number of reasons: She's been all over the magazines, thanks to her wedding earlier this month to Alex Young, a movie executive, just seven months after she met him, and she starred in a little show you may have heard of called Grey's Anatomy, from which she scored her own spinoff, Private Practice, which premieres tonight. No matter what you know her from, I bet you didn't know she's not really a redhead. (She's a natural blonde.) And I was surprised to learn that she's the basis for one of the main characters in The Sweetest Thing, which was written by her best friend.

(© 2007 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc./Eric Ogden)

As Lorrie promised earlier, here's a bit more info about Olivia Newton-John's upcoming album. It's a Christmas CD called "Christmas Wish," with 22 tracks (12 songs, 10 musical interludes), including duets with Barry Manilow and Jon Secada. Speaking of Secada, we also just got a copy of his forthcoming Christmas CD. That's titled "A Christmas Fiesta" and features traditional holiday songs like "Jingle Bells" re-arranged with a Latin flair. It's really quite catchy. And sure, it's only August, but it's never too early to get excited for Christmas! (Just ask my mom, who still has to wrap presents immediately, because she knows that if she doesn't I'll go looking in her closet for them -- even at age 25.) You can order Olivia's CD online at her website now, or buy it at Target starting Nov. 6. Jon's hits stores Oct. 23.

It's a big night for fall TV premieres, with Private Practice, Dirty Sexy Money, Bionic Woman and Life all beginning their runs tonight. Whew. But it's the returning shows that are drawing viewers, even if the new shows are getting all the attention. Heroes and Dancing with the Stars were Monday's biggest draws, according to early estimates, despite Chuck, The Big Bang Theory and Journeyman joining the schedule that night -- and K-Ville being in its second week. And at a not-too-impressive No. 15, Back to You was the highest-ranking new show the week before. What do you think? Are you watching any of the new shows? Are you like me and DVRing the new shows so you can watch your old favorites? Do you think the newbies will gain viewers as the season progresses?

(photo by Carol Kaelson/ABC)

Olivia Newton-John's Christmas CD

As Lorrie promised earlier, here's a bit more info about Olivia Newton-John's upcoming album. It's a Christmas CD called "Christmas Wish," with 22 tracks (12 songs, 10 musical interludes), including duets with Barry Manilow and Jon Secada. Speaking of Secada, we also just got a copy of his forthcoming Christmas CD. That's titled "A Christmas Fiesta" and features traditional holiday songs like "Jingle Bells" re-arranged with a Latin flair. It's really quite catchy. And sure, it's only August, but it's never too early to get excited for Christmas! (Just ask my mom, who still has to wrap presents immediately, because she knows that if she doesn't I'll go looking in her closet for them -- even at age 25.) You can order Olivia's CD online at her website now, or buy it at Target starting Nov. 6. Jon's hits stores Oct. 23.

It's a big night for fall TV premieres, with Private Practice, Dirty Sexy Money, Bionic Woman and Life all beginning their runs tonight. Whew. But it's the returning shows that are drawing viewers, even if the new shows are getting all the attention. Heroes and Dancing with the Stars were Monday's biggest draws, according to early estimates, despite Chuck, The Big Bang Theory and Journeyman joining the schedule that night -- and K-Ville being in its second week. And at a not-too-impressive No. 15, Back to You was the highest-ranking new show the week before. What do you think? Are you watching any of the new shows? Are you like me and DVRing the new shows so you can watch your old favorites? Do you think the newbies will gain viewers as the season progresses?

(photo by Carol Kaelson/ABC)

Viewers like veteran shows

It's a big night for fall TV premieres, with Private Practice, Dirty Sexy Money, Bionic Woman and Life all beginning their runs tonight. Whew. But it's the returning shows that are drawing viewers, even if the new shows are getting all the attention. Heroes and Dancing with the Stars were Monday's biggest draws, according to early estimates, despite Chuck, The Big Bang Theory and Journeyman joining the schedule that night -- and K-Ville being in its second week. And at a not-too-impressive No. 15, Back to You was the highest-ranking new show the week before. What do you think? Are you watching any of the new shows? Are you like me and DVRing the new shows so you can watch your old favorites? Do you think the newbies will gain viewers as the season progresses?

(photo by Carol Kaelson/ABC)