RHONJ Kathy Wakile & Rosie Pierri To Appear at Posh Fashion Show: Tix Still Available

Posh Boutique is having a Fashion Show on May 1 at The Terrace in Paramus, NJ. This fashion show appears to be the third in a list of Fashion Shows headlined by cast members of the Real Housewives of New Jersey on Bravo held this spring in Northern NJ. This event is headlined by Kathy and Richie Wakile. Her sister Rosie Pierri is also slated to appear.

The Posh website promises a "night of fashion, shopping, dancing and a fabulous spring fashion show by Posh Boutique" It also states that there were be several vendor tables "from all over NJ for a little shopping therapy, raffles and a silent auction." Tickets are $100 and  include a hour cocktail  hour with open bar, a sit down dinner and the show. Music is by DJ Anthony D with MC Andrew Mendez.

To See the Article and Photos of this event click here:
http://www.suzeebehindthescenes.com/2014/05/posh-fashion-show-2014-hosted-by-rhonj.html

NBC Crisis Recap: Here We Come - Airdate 4-20-14

Dunn and Finley Courtesy NBC

There’s a lot going on in the episode  “Here He Comes,” which aired on April 20.  The FBI sets up a plan to lure the kidnappers with a CIA file.  Dunn receives a text,  “I know you’re Amber’s mom,” presumably from Gibson.  Kyle confides to Beth Ann that he is planning to set a fire.  Meg sends a message to Jonas Clarenbach through a beach home message board.  Gibson monitors the parent meeting at Ballard, including Dunn and Finley’s private discussion.  This allows them

NBC's Crisis Recap: Designated Allies - Episode Aired April 13th

The internal struggles of the kidnapped kids are coming into play, and we are learning more about the relationships of all these kids in  #CRISIS.

                                                                                                                            By Diane Hunstein

Photo courtesy NBC

This episode, Designated Allies, (original air date April 13), contains twists and suspense as we have come to expect each week.  Janice Gibson receives a call from her husband, although she is not aware of his identity.  He tells her to get CIA Director Widener to her house and poison him.  The first part is easy – Widener is Beth Ann’s godfather.  The second part – well, it’s hard to get one over on someone in his position.  He doesn’t drink the “poisoned” coffee (Janice is unaware that the poison is fake), and ends up comforting Janice as the two of them get friendly on the sofa.  This fits Gibson’s plan perfectly as it gives him

Hey 201'ers! Are You Really A Bergen County Person?

BC people go to the CITY for the holidays,
to see a show, to shop and to eat.

If you know what day there's no traffic on Route 17, how long it takes to get to most "shore points", and where the Forum Diner was there's a good chance you're from Bergen County. I've added a few more but check out the quiz on Buzzfeed, to see if you're a true 201'er.
http://mahwah.patch.com/groups/around-town/p/quiz-asks-how-bergen-county-are-you?ncid=newsltuspatc00000001&evar4=picks-3-post&newsRef=true

Now having lived here for decades, here's my my TOP TEN:

BC people shop at outlets, and we
will travel to get to them.

10. You know which RHONJ really live in Bergen County and which don't.
9. You know what the artwork looked like on the old Alexander's.
8. You know the backroads to Paramus Park and GSP.
7. You know where Bada Bing is.
6. You've practiced driving at the Lodi DMV.
5. You remember the photo kiosk outside the Bergen Mall.
4. You had a grill cheese at the Kresge counter in old GSP.
3. You know what Billy Joel song references our county capital.
2. You know that Korvette's was not a car place, but was THE BEST place for records

and the number one thing that guarantees you're from Bergen County...
You think everyone in Jersey has an accent but you! 

RHONJ Melissa Gorga Headlines 201 Magazine's Fashion Show: SpoilMePink is Charity Sponsor

Thanks for stopping for a pose Melissa Gorga!

I had not been to the Meadowlands Racetrack in years, actually I can’t even remember the last time that I went. However, now there seems to be a new reason to get to the Racetrack and that is to hang out at Victory Sports Bar and Grill, the new restaurant owned by Albie and Chris Manzo.

I had the opportunity to get to this new eatery and club because that’s where our local upscale magazine, 201, had it’s Style and Beauty Week Launch Party headlined by RHONJ Melissa Gorga.

Joe Gorga

This event was a great Girls Night Out, though that’s not to say that the few men I saw there did not enjoy it, but it was fantastically feminine. There was a fashion show, vendor tables with jewelry and handbags and other fun stuff, a medium, massages, and people walking around giving hand massages and free skin cream samples. There was also a fun free photo booth.

For the $75 general admission fee (with a 10% discount for three of more), you got unlimited cocktails - beer, wine or cosmos, which were very good but the wait was a bit long at the start of the event. There were also hors douvres being passed around, such as sausage in pastry, bruschetta, egg rolls, and more. They were all quite tasty but it was hard to get them as this was one hungry  bunch of gals and the plates went quickly. Each attendee also received a swag bag at the end of the night. It had lots of goodies in it including cookies, gift certificates, water bottles, a makeup mirror, and of course, a signed copy of Melissa’s new book, Love Italian Style.
Watch Melissa on my Youtube Channel at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh2wGn3r3kQ

Hallak Cleaners was an event sponsor

The VIP section cost more; it had tables to sit at, whereas general admission had barstools. The VIP section was billed as the place to be for individual photos with Melissa. And tons of fans got photos, Melissa and hubby Joe hung out in that area all night long. Not surprisingly Chris Manzo also came by for a visit. Even while Melissa was busy doing the fashion show and other things, Joe was happily posing for photos all night long and which the fans loved.

Melissa used that area as her main seating but she frequently left the area to graciously mingle with other guests and to let them pose for photos with her.

Melissa Gorga at the 201 Style and Beauty
Week Launch Party

Melissa walked the catwalk at the Fashion Show, which was emceed by Fashion Expert Heather Zwain of Bergen.com/201. The fashions were were pretty good, clothes one can really wear, and and a lot of the models were real people who weren’t a size 0 or 6 feet tall. There were also some easy-on-the-eye male models. Some of the models were breast cancer survivors. This was wonderful to see..One of the sponsors of the event was SpoilMePink.. They provide days of pampering to breast cancer survivors in the NJ/NY area. This is a young organization started by some fabulous women. For information on how you can help visit their website: www.SpoilMePink.org.

Chris and Albie Manzo's New Victory Sports Bar and Grill at the Meadowlands Racetrack: Eatery by Day, Nightclub After Hours Opens April 12th

The Manzo brothers have opened a new restaurant at the Meadowlands Racetrack in NJ on the heels of their announcement of a new reality show for the Manzo family. Will we see this restaurant in Manzo'd With Children? 

Host Chris Manzo

The old Giants Stadium, now called Metlife Stadium, got a recent multi-million dollar facelift and so did the Meadowlands Racetrack with its new building. Both were due for an update. I remember when the whole “sports complex” as it was known as was built. The whole area was just one big swamp, and it smelled when one drove by. It was the back road for us locals headed into NYC, so it was a well-traveled area.

The entire area has been built up since then, with several hotels and a few restaurants in the surrounding area, but it is still rather open and the reeds and grasses of the marshes still can be seen swaying in the breeze.

In the new building at the racetrack now is a new eatery, the Victory Sports Bar and Grill. Coming from a family of restauranteurs (they own the Brownstone in Paterson), it is no surprise that it is another venture of the Manzo family. After opening up little Town in Hoboken, The Victory Sports Bar and Grill is the second dining establishment for the Manzo brothers, Chris and Albie.

NJ's Kevin Jonas of Jonas Brother Fame Starts Construction Company

Kevin Jonas is now building houses.

Kevin Jonas of the musical Jonas Brothers has entered into the Jersey real estate business. According to Terrie O'Connor Realtors, the firm is now "representing Kevin Jonas of The Jonas Brothers and Married to Jonas and Bill Werner of Integrity Stairs of Wyckoff in their new partnership in the luxury home market.  Jonas and Werner together have created Jonas Werner Fine Custom Homes, LLC, a luxury home construction company for the most discerning clients. This partnership was born out of Kevin's unique and varied real estate experience and Bill's high end building expertise and respect in this industry.  They have just completed their latest project, a truly spectacular 15,000 square foot home in Morris County, NJ. Next stop for this dynamic and winning partnership is Bergen County, where they have begun a project in Franklin Lakes for a celebrity couple."

NBC Crisis Recap: Episode 3 Airdate 4-6-13 "What Was Done To You"

NBC's Crisis continues with the promo we've all seen.. the lady with the bombs on. One of the parents dies in this episode... but is it Marie Wirth? (Martha Byrne)

                                                                                                                    By Diane Hunstein 

The Kidnapped Kids  of Crisis                                          Photo NBC Facebook

Episode 4 begins with the news that Clark Froy did not survive the two gunshot wounds from the previous episode.  Gibson calls Congressman Langston Wirth and his wife, Marie (superbly played by the talented Martha Byrne).   They are home, looking frightened and stunned at the IED vest spread out in front of them.  Gibson tells them that their love for their daughter is stronger than their fear of what is to come.  FBI Director Olsen is addressing all of the Ballard parents.  He explains that the 
kidnappers are
using their kids as leverage and will

Will Ferrell's Funny or Die Spoofs Soap Stars

  Soap fans and romantic comedy fans may get a kick out of this:

http://www.funnyordie.com/articles/eadf841a41/funny-or-die-interview-as-the-world-turns-actress-martha-byrne-sex-with-will-ferrell-monica-lewinsky-and-pawn-shops

NBC Crisis Recap: Episode 2 Aired 3-30-14

This episode was filled with action, and we are learning more about Dermot Mulroney's motives.

                                                                                                             By Diane Hunstein
The third episode of Crisis starts off in FBI headquarters.  Dunn, Finley and Director Olsen determine that they need to question the most powerful parents of the students who were kidnapped.  Dunn and Finley go on their way to meet with the President and First Lady, while Gibson places a call to Chief of Staff Frank Beckwith.  He instructs Beckwith to call General Osborne and arrange a meeting, with the promise that

Emmy Winner Martha Byrne Takes on Two New Roles: NBC Crisis and Spokesperson for CASA for Children

Watch Martha Byrne on Crisis April 6^th, also appearing at Casino Night for Bergen CASA April 8^th. Tickets still available.

Martha Byrne is Spokesperson for Bergen CASA

If you’re a fan of TV, have watched NBC in the past month, or been on YouTube, you’ve probably seen the suspenseful promo for NBC’s newest crime thriller Crisis, starring Dermot Mulroney, Gillian Anderson, Rachel Taylor and Lance Gross.

In those intriguing commercials one may see a very compelling scene of a woman with a row of bombs strapped to her waist, standing in the lobby of the CIA, hysterical, about to push the button on the detonator in her right hand. She emits a terrifying, “Help me”. Here's the link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-AGf5RLR0M&feature=youtu.be

Will she activate the detonator?

The woman with the suicide vest is Emmy Winner Martha Byrne. Generations of viewers may recognize Martha for her role as Lily Walsh Snyder on As the World Turns for two decades. Since departing the show this Jersey Girl has continued to keep busy in the field of entertainment, producing her own web drama (Emmy-nominated Gotham, available on Vimeo), played the evil Andrea Floyd on General Hospital, wrote scripts for Bold and the Beautiful, starred in the yet to be released film, Preying for Mercy and built a talent agency in NJ. Performing being Martha’s first passion, she auditions as much as possible.  

C'Mon Get Happy: Pherrell Williams Happy Tune Makes Its Way To Northern NJ

Pherrell Williams certainly does have some magic in that hat of his. His song "Happy" is a global sensation, from Singapore to Budapest and beyond. The most recent count is over 153 million hits for the original song on Youtube, and 800 versions in 94 countries. But now you can make that 801 versions as Pherrell's happiness has spread to Northern NJ. Mahwah High School's Digital Media Class did their own version of Happy and posted it on their class channel, Thunderbird Television. Here it is:

It's time to get up and dance when you watch. This song is a breath of fresh air because of it's clean lyrics, perky, and easy-to-follow and easy-on-the-ear rhythms. Want to get even happier? Find a Happy version from all over the world using this Happy map: http://wearehappyfrom.com/map

Actress Martha Byrne Take on Two New Roles: NBC’s Crisis Role Coincides with New Role as CASA for Children Spokesperson

 Watch Martha Byrne on Crisis April 6^th, also appearing at Casino Night for Bergen CASA April 8^th. Tickets still available.

Martha Byrne is Spokesperson for Bergen CASA

If you’re a fan of TV, have watched NBC in the past month, or been on YouTube, you’ve probably seen the suspenseful promo for NBC’s newest crime thriller Crisis, starring Dermot Mulroney, Gillian Anderson, Rachel Taylor and Lance Gross.

In those intriguing commercials one may see a very compelling scene of a woman with a row of bombs strapped to her waist, standing in the lobby of the CIA, hysterical, about to push the button on the detonator in her right hand. She emits a terrifying, “Help me”. 

NBC Crisis Episode 1 Recap: If You Are Watching This, I am Dead - Airdate 3-23-14

If you missed the official first episode after the series premiere, here's the recap. The premise of the show is starting to unravel, but we still don't know the reasons for anything. Read on:

                                                                                                                       Recap by Diane Hunstein

(Finley) Lance Gross saved a student in the series premiere. Turns out
the boy is quite a know-it-all.

The show opens with Meg Fitch and her attorney at a table filled with piles of cash. Meg is complying with the demands of the hostage takers, with the hope that they return her daughter Amber.  Meg’s attorney advises her to disclose the deal to the FBI, but she does not agree.  Finley and Anton are debriefed by the FBI, and  Agent Dunn seems skeptical of Finley’s account of the abduction.  Gibson calls the Pakistani Ambassador, asking “what will you do

Recap of Series Premiere: NBC’s New Crime Thriller “Crisis” Puts You On the Edge of Your Seat

SuzeeBehindtheScenes will be following some new shows. The first of many recaps to come is NBC’s new show “Crisis”. Some have described it as 24-like, but will it have that staying power? The first episode had twists and turns, and left you dangling. Read on....

                                                                                                                                                                    Recap by: Diane Hunstein

Ready?  Breathe in. 

The show opens with a man in a field, activating a security override on a computer while an FBI agent comes running toward him.

The next scene jumps to earlier in the day, with parents dropping their teenagers off at Ballard High School in Washington D.C.  The students are boarding a bus for a weekend field trip in New York for

Cake Boss Opens New Bakery in Morristown NJ, Grand Opening March 20

Reality Star Baker and Entrepreneur Buddy Valastro is expanding once again. I've been to the Hoboken store, stood on line, and saw the show being taped there. It was a tourist attraction and worth the trip. I have not yet gotten to his Ridgewood location which opened about a year ago and now there's another to try, in Morristown. Here's the details on his new store:

http://longvalley.patch.com/groups/business-news/p/cake-boss-opens-new-bakery-in-morristown-this-week?ncid=newsltuspatc00000001&evar4=picks-2-post&newsRef=true

Di's Dish: The Lego Movie Builds "Block" Buster Momentum as Word Spreads It's Great Fun For the Whole Family

Di Reviews The Lego Movie. The Lego Movie has passed up 150 million domestically and over 200 million worldwide. The sequel has already been planned with a release date of May 26, 2017.

What do you get when you combine inventiveness, creativity, dry humor, a plot twist and a great message? You get the delightful Lego Movie.

Like many parents, I’ve spent countless hours over the years building and disassembling Lego sets with my kids. So I wondered…..was the movie going to be a venture into a nightmarish instruction booklet with robotic characters and a “let’s make it up as we go along” story line? Or was it going to be an assembly of familiar bricks and minifigures merging together to capture and retain the audiences’ attention? Unexpectedly, it was most definitely the latter.

I’m going to forego the usual retelling of the story. I decided to see it just as a child would – without any advance knowledge of what would be contained inside the one hour and forty minutes. And I’m glad that I did! It added an element of surprise to the viewing experience.

Event: Enjoy a Fashion Show With RHONJ's Melissa Gorga - 201's Style and Beauty Week Kicks off at The Manzo Brother's New Eatery The Victory Sports Bar and Grill

Update: For Post Event Story click here: http://www.suzeebehindthescenes.com/2014/04/rhonj-melissa-gorga-headlines-201.html


If you've never been to the Meadowlands Racetrack because you're not a betting person, here's betting you'll enjoy this event.

I first wondered why a fashion event was being held at a racetrack eatery when the I realized the new Victory Sports Bar and Club is owned by Albie and Chris Manzo. This must be their second eatery in addition to Little Town in Hoboken, NJ.

Behind the Scenes Look: A Visit to Yankees Spring Training 2014- Exclusive Video of CC Hitting Grounders to His Son and Mark Teixeria doing BP at George M. Steinbrenner Stadium

Mark Teixeira warms up for the 2014 season at Steinbrenner Stadium

It was the first day for Pitchers and Catchers to report to Yankees Spring Training in Tampa, Florida. I had gone to dinner with my brother-in-law, Jack Curry of the YES Network, the night before, and he invited us to stop by the next day, prefacing it with,  "Even though there won't be much going on".

I had never been to spring training, but the first thing that impressed me was the size of George M. Steinbrenner Stadium and the grounds. The stadium itself, according to Jack, held ten thousand. It also just got a new scoreboard which was quite impressive-looking. There was a field to the right of the stadium and another on the left, closer to the

Buccaneers football stadium down the road which was clearly noticeable amidst the tall palms. The grounds were well maintained, with flowers and plantings using Zeriscape landscaping which was proudly noted on a sign. There were rows of tall palm trees adorning the stadium. There was a pond with a water feature with lots of ducks on it.

When we entered the grounds it looked like the crowd of about a hundred or so was walking from the stadium on the right, where it looked like some team members were just doing some exercises, to the main stadium. Jack had texted us that he was in the dugout on the main field behind the first base line, so we went in and he came out at sat with us.  Jack said that there will be twice the crowd there when Jeter comes, saying "he's like a magnet".

View: Paterson Plank Road Was No Super Bowl Boulevard

Photo: Eileen Hillock

NJ was very excited to have the Super Bowl in our own backyard. Yes, it should have been billed as a NJ Super Bowl because that’s where it was, but we live in the shadow of the greatest city on earth, and everyone around here takes advantage of that, so as a Northern New Jerseyan it didn’t bother me that we shared the title with New York.

Jersey City Fashion Week Holds Super Bowl Festivities

Emerging Designers Score a Fashion Touchdown and Make a Statement

The 2014 Jersey City Fashion Week Presents “Where Fashion Touches Down” Football Fashion Week - A Pre-Super Bowl XLVIII Fashion Event!

Proceeds Benefit DLJ Give To Live Foundation

Michael Strahan Presented with Pat Summerall Award at NYC St. Jude's Benefit

Michael Strahan, Marlo Thomas and Phil Donohue

Amidst the flurry of Super Bowl XLVIII events the week leading up up to the NY/NJ Bowl was the annual Legends for Charity Dinner benefiting St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at the Grand Hyatt/NFL Headquarters in New York City.

It certainly was worth the Battle of the Boulevard to get to Park Avenue for this event, which this year presented Former NYGiant, NFL on Fox Sunday Analyst and Live with Kelly and Michael co-host Michael Strahan with the Pat Summerall Award. Over 600 people attended with over 400K raised.

Athletes and Celebs Helped Support the Kids

Kelly Ripa and Man of the Hour Michael Strahan                      Photo by Eileen Hillock

NJ's Martha Byrne Joins the Cast of new NBC Crime Thriller CRISIS

Los Angeles: Two-time Emmy winning actress Martha Byrne, best known for her work on the popular former long-running daytime drama, As the World Turns, will be returning to television as she joins the cast of the new NBC crime thriller, Crisis, set to air March 16,2004 in the Sunday at 10pm time slot after the Sochi Olympics.

Crisis is a powerful crime thriller set in Washington DC, which centers around a school bus carrying some the the nation's most important people's children that is ambushed on a secluded rural road, igniting a national crisis. Just how far the parents will go to rescue their kids plays out in this edge-of-

Dance Aunt: Review of a Meet and Greet with Dance Moms Cast Members Chloe and Christie

I have two sons. My sister has two girls. She gets to experience the thrill of 3 hour baseball games through me and I get to go to dance recitals.

   

Christie and Daughter Chloe

Throughout the past summer, every time I was with my 12 year-old niece Amber, I would hear about Dance Moms. I wouldn’t just hear about the people on the show or how great it was but the geographic location of the girls in the show as well. Thank you Twitter. For instance, we went to see the Radio City Christmas Show in November. Did you know that two of the dancers were in  NYC the day before?  Very important information for a tween Dance Mom fan whose eyes were the on the lookout for them amidst the hundreds of people on the sidewalks of NYC perchance they hadn’t left yet.

So when I asked my niece what she wanted for Christmas, she politely and very neatly wrote down for me on the paper that I handed her the name of  the website where I could go to purchase tickets for a Meet and Greet for the dancers on the show. Then she listed all the people she would like to see. It took up most of the space on the piece of paper.

Luckily some of the cast was in the area, over the border in New York, and I was able to purchase tickets and surprise her on Christmas that we would be going to see Christie and Chloe. I asked her if she like those girls and how good they were. Having never seen Dance Moms, (but having watched many a Little League World Series), she politely told me that Christie was the mom. Then she went on to explain who the best dancers were and who got solos and all this other stuff that I know not what she spoke..

Almost TMI on Chloe from Dance Moms

Are you a Dance Moms fanatic? Want to know more about the life of Chloe, her dreams, her life, what she wants to do when she grows up? Then read on...

                                                                                                                       By Suzanne Ordas Curry

I recently took my over-the-top Dance Moms fan niece Amber who is a dancer herself to a Meet and Greet with Chloe and Christie. This was my first foray into the world of the reality show Dance Moms as well as real Dance moms. The event was perfect for a young girl, tween or teen. Chloe spent almost an hour going around the room and answering everyone’s questions until pretty much there was nothing left to ask. Never TMI to my niece, though.

If you love the show and Chloe, here’s a sample of some of the information you would walk away with if you went to a Meet and Greet.

Q:  What are your favorite subjects?

A:  Home Economics, Language Arts and Math. I like to read.

      (Note: Chloe is starting a book club.)

Live's Michael Strahan to be Honored at Legends for Charity Event in NYC January 30: Marlo Thomas, Rich Eisen, Erin Andrews, Antonio Pierce, Jesse Armstead Among Many Notables Slated to Attend

The 9^th annual Pat Summerall Award will be presented to New York Football Giants Super Bowl Champion Michael Strahan on Thursday, January 30, 2014, at the Legends for Charity^® Dinner in New York City. The dinner will be held at the NFL Headquarters Hotel, The Grand Hyatt beginning at 5pm, and once again benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital^®. Tickets are available.

Former NY Giant and Live's Michael Strahan

As a player, Strahan recorded 141.5 sacks over 15 seasons, was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team (2000s), and won Super Bowl XLII with the Giants. Strahan has found success away from the field as one of America’s most recognizable broadcast personalities, serving as an analyst for FOX NFL Sunday and as co-host

INTERVIEW: A Behind the Scenes Look at the Soap That Goes Behind the Scenes of a Soap, "Tainted Dreams"

Behind the Scenes: What happened to Austin?

Soap opera actors, producers and directors have been at the forefront of the movement and transition towards online programming. Securing investors, casting, lower-budget shooting and building audiences have become the new way of production. This new method breeds creativity and innovation because old boundaries are removed. The next challenge is finding the right platform, possibly sponsors, and an audience amidst the clutter of internet, streaming and traditional TV programming.

By Suzanne Ordas Curry

The latest entry into this genre is Tainted Dreams, a soap within a soap, produced by Emmy-award winning director/producer Sonia Blangiardo, who worked on As The World Turns, All My Children and One Life To Live. Tainted Dreams is the story of  the behind the scenes shenanigans behind a fictional soap, Painted Dreams. For all you soap fans, here's some trivia: Painted Dreams was actually the first daytime radio soap opera program, having been broadcast out of Chicago in 1930.

The cast is tremendous with a line-up of names any fan of daytime will recognize. I got a little melancholy just thinking about all these great dramas that are no more.

RHONJ Dina Manzo, Producer Sonia Blangiardo and Anthony Wilkinson

The cast includes: Alicia Minshew (All My Children), Austin Peck (As the World Turns, Days of Our Lives, One Life to Live), Collen Zenk (As The World Turns),  Terri Ivens (All My Children), Kelley Menighan Hensley (As The World Turns),  Grant Alexsander (Guiding Light), Walt Whiley (All My Children), Natalia Livingston (General Hospital), Marnie Schulenburg (As The World Turns), Michael Lowry (One Live To Live and All My Children), Bobbie Eakes (All My Children, Bold and The Beautiful),  James DePaiva (One Life to Live), Nathan Purdee (One Life To Live),  Larkin Malloy (The Edge of Knight and All My Children), Illen Kristen (One Life to Live and Ryan's Hope) Tonja Walker (One Life To Live). 

From Jacqueline Laurita's Hometown Newspaper: House is Up for Sale and will she return to RHONJ?

From the Wyckoff/Franklin Lakes PATCH:
Jaqueline and Chris Laurita are planning to stay in Franklin Lakes, according to reports.

Posted by Jessica Mazzola (Editor) , January 14, 2014 at 06:17 PM

Comment  Recommend  

Real Housewives of New Jerseystars Jaqueline and Chris Laurita have officially put their Franklin Lakes home on the market, and they are asking $2.85 million for it, according to multiple reports and the home’s online real estate listing.

Goodbye to Two Sitcom TV Legends, The Partridge Family's Reuben Kincaid and Gilligan Island's "Professor"

                                                                                                                By Suzanne Ordas Curry
Growing up in the 70's, I tell my kids, there really wasn't a whole lot on TV to watch. I don't think they can even fathom the fact that we had about 7 channels to watch. And we had to change those channels by hand. On the East Coast in the NY area, this was CBS, NBC, ABC, a local channel on 5, 9 and 11 and fuzzy PBS on 13 and maybe something else fuzzy if one played with the channel dial a bit. UHF, VHF? It was just fun trying to find something else.

Gilligan's Island was a staple. Every girl my age wanted to be like Ginger or Maryann. And we pined for The Professor. Not so much because he was so handsome- but he was- but maybe because the only other males on that show were Gilligan, the Skipper and Mr. Howell. 

The Professor died yesterday at age 89. Think of the song. So now's it just ".......and Maryann". There were two versions of the theme song and he didn't even make the cut in one of them.

He was just too darn smart. He would invent things and make contraptions out of  things that clearly could not be found on the island, but he would give some kind of explanation so we all thought it was possible. Just  he couldn't figure out how to build a boat. Better not to think while watching that show.

Jersey Boy & NBC News Anchor Brian Williams Talks About Life with Jersey’s Jack Curry of the YES Network on JCTV

Daughter Allison of HBO's Girls and Son Doug Following in his TV Footsteps

NBC Nightly News Anchor Brian Williams is by far one of the most recognizable news anchors in the country. Not many people know that this hard-working, personable and intelligent guy is from Jersey. He was born in Ridgewood, NJ, moved to Elmira NY and then finished high school down the shore, in Middletown. When Brian did his Superstorm Sandy report in 2013, you could tell that the shore was in his heart.

Brian was a volunteer firefighter when he lived in Middletown, NJ. His first job was at a Perkin’s Pancake House as a busboy. He started his news career at a local station in Pittsburgh PA.

INTERVIEW: Brazilian Beauty & PopStar Natalia Damini - Exclusive First American Interview for First Album "Beautiful" Includes Song with Nicki Manaj and Paul Walker Tribute

"Gracias! Gracias!” exclaimed the young Natalia Damini as she ran out of her local video store, clutching her very own copy of  Dirty Dancing. “No one else but you rents it, and you’ve rented it so often, you can just have it,” the store owner said. "That movie was my inspiration,” stated Natalia. “I love the dancing and the music. I would practice the choreography, and of course, I wanted to marry Patrick Swayze.”  Flash forward a decade or so and Natalia is doing her own dirty dancing, up on stage to her own songs, performing over 80 concerts a year.  She is about to release her first album, Beautiful in January 2014. A recognized music artist in Brazil  she’s teamed up for a single on the album with one of America’ hottest artists,  #Nicki Manaj entitled Hot Fire. Other collaborations include those with Gucci Mane and Shop Boys. It’s also got a song on it, Letter on a Bullet Train, dedicated to actor #Paul Walker (video below). Her latest EP release from the album, Bad Girl, debuted at #32 on the Itunes Pop Music

Rosie O'Donnell Makes NJ Her Home - as seen on NorthJersey.com

Loved her show years ago; it always put a smile on my face.. She paved the way for so many other talk show hosts, especially female ones. She's also got a great foundation for children to learn and participate in the arts. Read about Rosie's Theater Kids on her website, www.rosie.com.

Welcome to NJ and hope to see you 'round town Rosie.

Rosie O'Donnell buys Saddle River home - NorthJersey.com

INTERVIEW: Lauralee Bell of The Young and the Restless on the Making of www.MiPromise.com - A Dramatic New Series About Texting and Driving

"If I Save One Life It Will All Be Worth It" - Lauralee Bell Martin

                                                                                                                                                                                                 By Suzee

My son just turned 17 and got his license on his birthday. Here in NJ, the anxious kids get their permits as soon after they turn 16 when their parents realize the inevitable has approached, they shortly thereafter learn how to drive, they log in the required hours with a certified instructor, and the piece de resistance is being able to schedule their lesson for first thing in the morning the day of their birthday. That day the kids don’t care how early they have to wake up to get to the DMV. Then they proudly drive to school that day. So on this date of my son’s 17^th birthday, he took the car to school after his successful driving test in the wee hours of the morning. 

Riley's first day with her new car

School lets out at 2:19 and he should have been home by 2:40 the latest. Time passed and I kept looking at the time. It was 3:00. I called him on his cell and he did not answer. That made my nervous but then again I always tell my kids (my older son already drives) not to pick up a phone while they driving, even on Bluetooth. I tell them to pull over safely and answer if they think it’s important.

A few minutes later after convincing myself he was alright, he walked through the door. I ran to the door and gave him a big hug, then delivered the warning. “First thing you do is tell me where you are going and when you will be home!” He answered, “Tommy (his BFF) wanted to go cruising so we cruised around for a few minutes.”  I replied, “That is fine but next time you have to tell me”.

  

In another household across the country, the same scenario played out in Riley’s house in California when she got her license on birthday (where the driving age is 16). Riley got a car for her birthday, and after the celebration, she took it out for a ride. This was every teen’s dream, freedom.

Riley was having a great week. Besides getting the freedom she yearned for, she was having some good luck with a boy she liked, Robbie. It was possible that he could become her boyfriend. So as she was out enjoying her first ride alone, Robbie was on her mind. Then, Robbie was on the phone. She knew this, because, like every teenager, the cell phone was in full view as she drove. She saw who the text was from. She knew she shouldn’t answer it. Her brain was telling her it could wait, but that teenage heart and that must-reply-instantaneously belief of the teen won out and she texted back.

Then the screen went blank. And her world was never the same.

What is www.MiPromise.com by Lauralee Bell?

A Short Series of Videos on the Dangers of Texting and Driving Sure to Entertain and Educate

Lauralee Bell, award-winning actress, writer and producer, best known for her role as Christina Blair on The Young and The Restless has turned a tragic event in her life and a realization of  21^st century life into a message for hope and change.

The site, www.MiPromise.com, contains a series of 6 videos that depict a fatal event in the life of a teenage girl full of hopes and promises.

Laurlee Bell plays the mother. Cassidy Ann Shaffer (Kimmy from Disney’s Austin and Ally) plays the daughter Riley, who makes the fatal mistake of responding to a text from the boy of her dreams the first day she gets her license.

Also in the cast is: Brayden Shaffer (the brother), Peter Weber (the handsome beau), James Liebman (dad),  Howard Dell ( the doctor)  Sabrina Bell (friend) and Haley Ogas (friend).

Michael Strahan is 2014 Honoree for St. Jude's Legends for Charity Dinner

Michael Strahan

A great event for a great cause. To be held at the Grand Hyatt on January 30, 2014 proceeds go to help St. Jude's Hospital. Michael Strahan will be honored, so expect a room full of sports figures as well as soap and other celebrities. For tickets go to www.legendsforcharity.com. Tickets are $500 each. 

Gotham The Series Now Available on Vimeo on Demand

Martha Byrne's award-winning series about a couple re-uniting after many years, shot in NJ and New York is now available on demand.

http://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/martha-byrnes-gotham-vimeo-demand

Keep On Dancing: Dance With Me USA hosts grand opening of new Fort Lee studio | Bergen.com

Keep On Dancing: Dance With Me USA hosts grand opening of new Fort Lee studio | Bergen.com