Sunrise Family Blogs
Nelson Aspen’s Hollywood Blog
Just About Recovered!
Posted: Apr 30, 2008 at 9.44am
Hey gang, I'm almost back on my normal sleep schedule after my whirlwind Irish adventure. But now it looks like I may be back on a plane again to hurry off for an exclusive, top secret assignment for SUNRISE...so stay tuned!
My life is so unpredictable these days that I've, sadly, decided against adopting a new puppy for the time being. Being a single guy, constantly on the move, I don'... Read more
Irish Planes, Trains & Autombiles
Posted: Apr 24, 2008 at 1.30pm
I had an amazing week in Ireland, seeing and experiencing so much that I'm still digesting it all...no time for jet lag! I contribute to their popular chat programme, THE AFTERNOON SHOW, so I was invited over to present some of the most memorable non-celebrity stories of my career.
Day 1. Arrived in amazing, chic Dublin after a wonderful Aer Lingus flight and hung out with my dear frien... Read more
A Poseidon Adventure
Posted: Apr 14, 2008 at 12.40pm
Hey, friends! It's been a busy week of my usual showbiz shenanigans, culminating in a weekend visit with dynamite Michelle Monaghan and a second chat with Dr. McDreamy, himself, Patrick Dempsey. He's a super charmer off screen as well as on, which probably comes as no surprise to you. I also got to channel David Beckham and treated myself not only to an extra long workout session with my fantab... Read more
THERE IS NOTHING LIKE A DAME....
Posted: Apr 03, 2008 at 1.35pm
.....especially when that Dame is none other than Kochie's favourite celebrity, Julie Andrews. And while I've always been her fan, now more than ever I have a sensational appreciation for this talented, elegant and gracious Star (note the capital "S")!! Getting the chance to have an exclusive half hour one-on-one with this legendary leading lady was reason enough to drop everything and jet off ... Read more
Spring Has Sprung
Posted: Mar 25, 2008 at 3.31pm
It is the beginning of the Spring season here in Hollywood and it has definitely sprung. I went for a sunrise trail run through the canyons over the weekend and all the hillsides are unusually green and the sky so clear and smog-free. When you see those picture-perfect Hollywood backdrops in photographs, these are definitely the kinds of days on which they were taken! For Easter dinner, I had a... Read more
Adam Sandler Won't Ruin My Easter!
Posted: Mar 17, 2008 at 2.36pm
I live in a charming little suburban enclave within the Los Angeles city limits. I just love my neighborhood because it's so close to everything exciting LA has to offer, yet still "off the beaten path" with lots of non-industry neighbors and charm. Bells chime from a nearby tower every afternoon at 3pm...the fragrance of blooming night jasmine assaults my nostrils each morning...and when I'm c... Read more
Rules of the Road...even for Pedestrians
Posted: Mar 10, 2008 at 10.31am
In the prying-paparazzi celebrity culture of Los Angeles, it is not uncommon to see stars flipping off fotogs with their middle finger. Avril Lavigne, Drew Barrymore and even Jodie Foster don't seem to be deemed unladylike when they feel that the cameras are too invasive...so out comes the third digit. Kirstie Allie has practically made it her signature gesture. And of course we see it from guy... Read more
Busy weekend
Posted: Mar 04, 2008 at 12.25pm
Whew! Busy weekend for me...and even though it was the occasuion of the Los Angeles Marathon, I didn't participate this year (still recovering from Bermuda and have #14 Palos Verdes coming up in May). Instead, I was attending movie screenings and doing a slew of celebrity interviews you will soon be seeing on Sunrise and Weekend Sunrise. A very diverse roster of talent, I might add...from accla... Read more
The Morning After
Posted: Feb 26, 2008 at 10.06am
That's not just the title of the Oscar winning Best Song of 1972 (from "The Poseidon Adventure"), it's the time of my writing this blog entry...THE MORNING AFTER the 80th Annual Academy Awards! And what an International night it was...The major acting honours went to Europeans, Best Film was uber Coen Brothers-Americana fare, a first gong for Austria...and Aussie Eva Orner collected the gold fo... Read more
Countdown to Oscar
Posted: Feb 20, 2008 at 12.27pm
Omigosh could this week be any busier!? All the pre-Oscar fervor seems especially frantic this year---I'm guessing because the 80th Annual Academy Awards are so hotly anticipated this year after the Writer's Strike. However with the cancellation of the traditional post-ceremony parties thrown by Vanity Fair and Entertainment Weekly, the after-show reportage burden will be considerably lightened... Read more
A Woody, Will & Wild Weekend!
Posted: Feb 11, 2008 at 12.59pm
Super busy weekend for me (Please someone, tell me what a day off is like!) conducting some pretty cool exclusive interviews for upcoming episodes of WEEKEND SUNRISE. From the new action movie VANTAGE POINT, I chatted with Dennis Quaid, LOST's Matthew Fox and last year's super-charming Best Actor Academy Award winner, Forest Whitaker (THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND). You'll be glad to know he is a w... Read more
How Far Should a Man Go?
Posted: Feb 04, 2008 at 9.33am
The Beckhams are both sporting new tattoos in their ever-evolving quest to turn their sculpted bodies into canvases for the art work of their personal tattooist, Lou Malloy. Posh just added an etching of some sort alongside the roman numerals she has on her right arm to commemmorate the date of her first "passionate night" with David. So romantic. (He, incidentally, has a "VII" on his arm in ho... Read more
A Week of Extremes
Posted: Jan 30, 2008 at 9.26am
When I wrote last week's blog, I was fully expecting to run the Bermuda Marathon and follow it up with some overdue rest & relaxation, catching up with friends, in the Atlantic Ocean paradise. I did liaise with Mother & Dad, along with my best friend Glenn, right on schedule and the race was a grueling but great experience. I finished in 4:17:51, 33rd out of 79 entrants. Heat, hills, hu... Read more
See Ya Next Week
Posted: Jan 21, 2008 at 9.54am
Well, I'm off to run Marathon #13 in beautiful Bermuda, where the weather forecast is WET, WET and more WET! The silver lining will be that my parents are going to be coming along and we'll all get to celebrate my dad's 83rd birthday together. My best friend, Glenn, is also going to fly in from New York City and run the half-marathon portion of the race with me. It should be a very special occa... Read more
Goodbye, Johnny
Posted: Jan 14, 2008 at 3.31pm
Really sad news for fans of Hollywood worldwide: the passing of our Honorary Mayor, Johnny Grant. He passed away at the age of 84 in his apartment at the famous Roosevelt Hotel, apparently of natural causes. There was no better, more enthusiastic ambassador for Tinseltown and its ongoing revitalization than Mr. Grant who just appeared last week at the dedication of Elizabeth Montgomery's star o... Read more
Welcome 2008
Posted: Jan 07, 2008 at 10.13am
"8" has always been my lucky number, so I'm very excited for a great '08! I kicked it off with my traditional New Year's Eve party and it was the best celebration, ever! About 40 of my loveliest friends, old and new, joined me for a cozy night of chili, homebaked bread and as many laughs as popped champagne corks! We had a blast!
I thought I'd give you an advanced peek at my Annual Runn... Read more
Bye Bye, 2007!
Posted: Dec 29, 2007 at 4.55pm
Personally, I had an amazing 2007. Life just keeps getting better all the time. Of course there were some sad times (losing my sweet Grandmother) and scary moments (Air Canada losing all my videotaped interviews from the Toronto Film Festival!), but all in all it was a very exciting and successful year for me both personally and professionally. I'm especially delighted that this Sunri... Read more
Happy Holidays, Friends!
Posted: Dec 24, 2007 at 11.26am
This is just a quick holiday wish to say thank you to all the SUNRISE FAMILY members for another wonderful year of love & laughter across the miles. I wish you all the very Merriest of Christmas weeks and look forward to a great '08 filled with more fun mornings together and a bounty of blessings.
I had the great honour to meet 53 young Aussie aspiring actors who are, as I write this... Read more
ALMOST SANTA TIME!
Posted: Dec 17, 2007 at 2.05pm
Sorry I missed you on SUNRISE today, folks...I was on assignment, spending the day with GREY'S ANATOMY hottie Katherine Heigl and her hunky big-screen co-star ED BURNS. They're coming out in a new romantic comedy, 27 DRESSES, and I'll have all the inside scoop coming up for you soon on WEEKEND SUNRISE so stay tuned. It's a happy coincidence that "Katie" (as I can call her now!) is planning a Ch... Read more
TV's SEXIEST WOMEN
Posted: Dec 10, 2007 at 9.19am
You may have seen that AOL came out with the results of their poll on "TV's Sexiest Women Ever." Pamela Anderson (Baywatch), Farrah Fawcett (Charlie's Angels), Lynda Carter (Wonder Woman), Heather Locklear (Dynasty, Melrose Place, TJ Hooker), Eva Longoria (Desperate Housewives), Diana Rigg (The Avengers), Barbara Eden (I Dream of Jeannie), Katherine Heigl (Grey's Anatomy), Catherine Bach (The D... Read more
Healthy Holidays
Posted: Dec 03, 2007 at 9.19am
Next week will mark the finale of my 6-month "mid-life makeover" and, while I don't think the "Before" and "After" photos will prove necessarily dramatic, I'm confident that the results/improvements will be significant. Next week, I'll get my body fat percentage taken but I did go in for a routine check up over the weekend and had all the other numbers calculated: cholesterol, blood pressure, B... Read more
What's in a Name?
Posted: Nov 26, 2007 at 2.20pm
"Nelson" is an old English name which, not surprisingly, means "Son of Neil or Nell." It came about in my family tree courtesy of my Great Grandmother, Ellen. Her nickname was "Nell," so when she gave birth to my grandfather, he was named "Horace Nelson Aspen." When my dad was born, he was named "Nelson Page Aspen." (Page was the surname of my father's godfather) So I am Nelson Page Aspen, Jr. ... Read more
Weekend Warrior!
Posted: Nov 19, 2007 at 9.46am
Hi, gang...just a quick one to let you know I'm back from Marathon #12: The Catalina Eco-Marathon. I'm just glad I survived! That was the most difficult physical challenge I have ever faced, bar none! Miraculously, I finished 6th in my division at 4:41:30 and a real highlight for me was getting to run several miles with my running idol and buddy, "Ultra Marathon Man" Dean Karnazes. TIME Magazin... Read more
The Blog Heard 'Round the World!
Posted: Nov 12, 2007 at 9.23am
Wow...last week's blog made headlines literally around the world in mere hours! From THE NEW YORK POST to the AP news wires, my Monaghan scoop got attention in all corners of the globe where people are interested in showbiz news. Remember that, next time you Blog. You never know who's paying attention. In this case, I was very flattered. If you missed my update on the Monaghan mystery reported ... Read more
A Monaghan Mystery
Posted: Nov 05, 2007 at 10.37am
It's been a tough week in Tinseltown...aside from saying my farewells to my grandmother and keeping a busy interview & broadcast schedule, the impending Writers Strike looms large over the entire TV and film industry. I remember the one back in the 1980s, when I was working on a TV sitcom called "The Dictator" starring Christopher Lloyd. The network had huge hopes for it and we'd only shot ... Read more
Memories of "Mom Mom"
Posted: Oct 30, 2007 at 9.21am
Over the weekend, my last surviving grandparent...my "Mom Mom" passed away at the age of 99 and I've lost another touchstone of my youth. As recently as 2 weeks ago, our frequent telephone calls kept me always reminded of so many special, nostalgic moments. How she taught me to play gin rummy without ever once "letting me" win...singing old songs from her childhood during World War I...reminisc... Read more
MALIBU FIRES
Posted: Oct 22, 2007 at 9.49am
Very terrifying here to deal with the Malibu fires...literally thousands of homes and businesses threatened with destruction and hundreds of heroic firefighters battling the blaze. The story is developing, but as I write this today it is all anyone can think about. Especially frustrating is that no one can get in to check on friends or loved ones...it's only One-Way traffic OUT of the community... Read more
BLOG ACTION DAY
Posted: Oct 15, 2007 at 9.25am
Thanks to my "Eco-Warrioress" friend in the UK, Alexandra Boyd, I was alerted to the fact that October 15 is "Blog Action Day" and all of us who expound on the internet are urged to turn our chat on this day to environmental issues. Maybe you saw my interview with the always-wonderful Leonardo DiCaprio for his excellent new documentary, THE ELEVENTH HOUR, on "Weekend Sunrise." But did you know ... Read more
Mileage Milestone!
Posted: Oct 08, 2007 at 10.11am
As I type this, I'm collapsed in my chair and stuffing grapes in my mouth between typing sentences. Just got back from a 20 mile training run, pretty much convinced that people are right when they say I'm a crazy man for running so much but what can I say...I love it! When I'm out on the road, or even on the treadmill at the gym, I'm away from the phone...computer...celebrities (unless Billy Ba... Read more
A Change of Seasons for Sports and Movies
Posted: Oct 02, 2007 at 9.31am
As Australia welcomes Spring, here in Hollywood we're moving cheerfully into Autumn. There's a little extra nip in the air, but otherwise it doesn't mean too much weather-wise. It does, however, bring the seasonal change of pro-sports and a plethora of award-worthy films & performance as we unofficially enter the beginning of all things Oscar!
Baseball, once dubbed "America's favour... Read more
A MAN OF HIS WORD
Posted: Sep 24, 2007 at 10.21am
As you read in my blog last week, I'm excited to be supporting Senator John Edwards' campaign for the US Presidency and the Dentons sent me a couple more pics from their fab bash, so I wanted to share them with you. I'm also thrilled that I'm going to be joining forces with the Senator's office and talented "X-MEN" director Brett Ratner (he's also Executive Producer of one of my favourite shows... Read more
Politicking in Tinseltown
Posted: Sep 17, 2007 at 9.27am
It's easy for celebs with huge public platforms like Oprah Winfrey and George Clooney to endorse politicians. But what about the regular working folks in Hollywood? There are plenty of fans of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama... I suppose there are even some Hollywood admirers of Mormon Mitt Romney (though I haven't met any, yet! Mister Mitt looks like he walked straight out of Central Casting ... Read more
BACK FROM TORONTO
Posted: Sep 11, 2007 at 9.27am
What a weekend I had at the Toronto International Film Festival. It was just a 72 hour whirlwind of screenings and interviews, but with powerhouse names like Brad Pitt, Jodie Foster, Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts, Casey Affleck and Terrence Howard, no complaints here! There was no time to rendezvous with old friends or go for a long run to explore the beautiful Canadian city, but the star power ... Read more
WE’RE HAVING A HEAT WAVE!
Posted: Sep 03, 2007 at 10.27am
It's absolutely miserable here in Hollywood this Labor Day holiday long weekend. 46 degrees Celsius...it sounds even worse when you say 115 Farenheit! There's no escaping it and everyone's either cranky, lethargic or both. Rolling blackouts and power outages have the Electrical companies on high-alert and, of course our drought has dramatically increased the risk of wildfires. Overheated cars h... Read more
COMPETITIVE JUICES
Posted: Aug 27, 2007 at 9.37am
Unless it's a heated game of Scrabble, I'm not a very competitive person. Well, not against other people. With MYSELF, however, I am often merciless. My most obsessive compulsive tendencies are all exhibited in my fitness journals, with all the minute details of my workouts, races, weigh-ins and body compositions (857 miles YTD, 146 lbs., 63% water composition/14% body fat). So this weekend, wh... Read more
Family Ties
Posted: Aug 20, 2007 at 10.48am
(sniff sniff) I'm a little bit sad today because I just came from putting my wonderful mother on a plane back to Philadelphia. We had the most wonderful visit and our times together are as precious as they are all too rare. I made sure we hit all her favourite LA destinations and we covered a lot of ground! Shopping in Beverly Hills at Sak's Fifth Avenue (we missed you, Mel & Nat!) and Nike... Read more
MEMORIES OF MERV
Posted: Aug 13, 2007 at 9.23am
It's a very sad day in Hollywood and everywhere else in the world where TV fans reside. 82 year old television icon and mogul Merv Griffin passed away from prostate cancer. Any of us who "talk on TV" owe him a huge debt of gratitude for his ground-breaking, memorable 20+ years hosting his own chat/variety show. I grew up watching him every weekday afternoon when I'd come home from school. Rosie... Read more
INK’ING THE DEAL
Posted: Aug 07, 2007 at 9.33am
I hope you got to catch Tuesday's segment on my newest tattoo...which I've dubbed "The Flash Sunrise." It's fun when I get to share some of my off-set time with you on camera, as well as on this blog and the new Yahoo site: http://au.blogs.yahoo.com/nelson-aspen
The talented artist who inked me, Graham Chaffee, joked "An hour of disco... Read more
THE SAN FRANCISCO MARATHON
Posted: Jul 31, 2007 at 11.18am
I arrived back in Los Angeles this morning (after a brush at the airport with THE SOPRANO's Emmy winning star, James Gandolfini. Who knew he'd opt for a black chinese silk chemise? Mafia-chic!) after running yesterday's San Francisco Marathon. It wasn't a personal record time, but given the incredibly challenging terrain across 26.2 of the hilly metropolis, I'm proud of my performance and espec... Read more
The Countdown Is On!
Posted: Jul 25, 2007 at 9.30am
Yep...my eleventh marathon is coming up next weekend in San Francisco, whoo-hoo! My training's been going even better than I expected and, though I am not anticipating a new Personal Record for this notoriously hilly course, I'm certainly looking forward to an enjoyable run through the beautiful city by the bay! A real highlight will be going across the famous Golden Gate Bridge. The weather fo... Read more
BIG APPLE & BIG ORANGE WEEKENDS
Posted: Jul 18, 2007 at 9.29am
I can't wait for you to see the "No Reservations" story I filmed this past weekend for WEEKEND SUNRISE. Not only did I get to interview the cast and Aussie director, but also the chef who trained them...on location at the world renowned French Culinary Institute. C'est Magnifique! You know by now what a foodie I am and I don't know what (or whom!) was most scrumptious: the cuisine or Catherine ... Read more
METHOD ACTING
Posted: Jul 11, 2007 at 9.17am
I came across a funny quote from popular film actor Aaron Eckhart, uttered when he discussed preparing for an "agonizing" scene he filmed for "Thank You For Smoking." When asked why he attached a wooden clothespin to his genitals to help him experience the pain his character was in, he replied "I'm an actor. That's what I do." Yeooww! I've heard of suffering for your art, but that seems a littl... Read more
If The Jacket Fits...Wear It!
Posted: Jul 06, 2007 at 3.55pm
As most of you know who send me email and letters, I try to be prompt with my correspondence. Schedules don't always permit me to write lengthy replies, which is why I welcome this Blog as a way to keep you up to date with some of the "newsier" aspects of my life. Not too much to report this week...we had our big summer Independence Day holiday so it's been pretty quiet. Good thing I have enoug... Read more
Happy New (Fiscal) Year!
Posted: Jul 02, 2007 at 9.00am
It's still July 1 as I write this and I'm enjoying stretching out my birthday festivites as long as possible. That's one of the nicest things about the Aussie time change: I get two days to celebrate! The sizzling summer heat has kicked in here and I've had a weekend full of Dodgers Baseball, Frozen Margaritas and a lot of laughs with friends. I'm a lucky guy! But it's back on my fitness regime... Read more
HAPPY BLOG-IVERSARY!
Posted: Jun 25, 2007 at 9.32am
With this entry, my Sunrise Family Blog officially turns ONE! Just like Shiloh-Jolie Pitt, Violet Affleck and Suri Cruise, I think it's an adorable Hollywood 1 year old! It's been fun sharing a little of my off-camera life with you, especially being so far away from Martin Place where I could meet-and-greet, in person.
Even so, I've gotten to be penpals with a lot of great Family folks ... Read more
Sixty Blogs and Counting!
Posted: Jun 18, 2007 at 9.42am
Looking at my calendar, I realized we are coming up on the One-Year Anniversary of Keith Urban & Nicole Kidman's memorable wedding. What an exciting week that was and a reminder that an entire year has slipped by without visiting my beloved Land Down Under! I have no idea when/how to rectify that, but hopefully it won't be another twelve months before I get back for some Aussie hospitality.... Read more
Celebrity Traffic Jam & The Paris Hilton Workout
Posted: Jun 12, 2007 at 11.39am
Yesterday I was leaving the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, where I'd been doing an interview with Julia Roberts' adorable niece, Emma, who is starring the fun new family film, "Nancy Drew." I was in a rush (as usual) because I had to get to the studio for my live crosses to SUNRISE and I was stunned by the gridlock awaiting me at the Valet Parking Service. Two enormous black UTEs with tin... Read more
Dog Days of Hollywood
Posted: Jun 07, 2007 at 10.22am
Wow, I'm only midway through my week and already I feel like I've run a marathon. And no, I don't mean from my new workouts with the dynamic Charlayne (2 pounds lost already and aching triceps and glutes!), but from covering all of the Paris Hilton drama. Not only did I manage to get a good sunburn while down at the Women's Detention Center where she is being housed, but I got to spend time wit... Read more
Lotsa Links!
Posted: May 31, 2007 at 3.16pm
Hey, gang...I wanted to dash off this entry before the weekend to link you up with some interesting stuff I have going on here in Hollywood.
As I've been telling you, June 1 marks the beginning of my new fitness odyssey as I start my new training regimen with Equinox fitness pro Charlayne Hoover. She & I met this week to do my Body Assessment (and take some "Before" pictures that wi... Read more
The Sunrise Family is Everywhere!
Posted: May 28, 2007 at 2.00pm
Last week started out to be a lot of fun with an exclusive set visit I got to make for an upcoming WEEKEND SUNRISE segment (You'll just have to wait for more info, but I'll give you a hint: "behind the scenes on set with arguably the FUNNIEST man in showbiz today!"). But then I had to suffer through some pretty brutal oral surgery that put me off my feet for a couple days. I've been very spoile... Read more
Guess Which Celebrity is a SUNRISE fan?
Posted: May 21, 2007 at 1.16pm
Whew! I'm glad our pal Sonia is handling things in Cannes because Hollywood already has its hands full with the slew of seasonal blockbusters that are opening in rapid succession; most notably the three trilogies---Spiderman III, Shrek III and the third installment of Pirates of the Caribbean. I hope you've been tuning in to my Weekend Sunrise reports for all the star-studded chats. I think my ... Read more
There's No Biz Like Show Biz!
Posted: May 14, 2007 at 9.36am
I hope all you moms had a great Mother's Day weekend. Since my own mom couldn't make the trip out to Los Angeles to celebrate(her birthday, too), I had a dinner party in her honour and everybody got to blow out the candles on the birthday cake and make a wish FOR HER! It was a nice way to commemmorate her special day even if she couldn't be with us in person. I guess Candy Spelling was feeling ... Read more
MOMS ROCK!
Posted: May 09, 2007 at 9.50am
I must say it's nice to write up this Blog and take a break from the intense week of Celebrity Legal news! Paris Hilton, Alec Baldwin, The Hoff, George Michael, Richard Gere, Busta Rhymes, the list goes on and on. Certainly makes the Osbornes look squeaky clean, eh? Speaking of squeaky clean, I had the great pleasure of interviewing cast members of SHREK THE THIRD which you'll be seeing soon on... Read more
Stars of the Silver Screen
Posted: May 04, 2007 at 10.15am
I recently had my photos updated (look for them to be uploaded onto my personal site www.nelsonaspen.com sometime very soon), as I try to do annually. I've been working with the very talented Michael Higgins for many years and he always makes me relaxed and at ease, without feeling like I'm imitating Zoolander! After loving the cinematography of last year's THE GOOD GERMAN with George Clooney a... Read more
Weekend on the Run
Posted: Apr 30, 2007 at 10.01am
Another gorgeous LA weekend, so I made the most of it puttering around the house and prettying things up for my Mother's annual visit coming up in a coupla weeks. New towels for the guest bathroom... freshening up the flower beds in the garden and ordering a "Chocolate Champagne" cake from Neiman Marcus to help us celebrate her birthday & Mother's Day. Even my Springer Spaniel, Lois, will get g... Read more
The Week That Was
Posted: Apr 23, 2007 at 1.20pm
Whirlwind week for me in addition to the usual daily showbiz reports, weekend celebrity interviews and, of course, running. The biggest event was the Victoria Racing Club's black-tie celebration of the Melbourne Cup arriving in Beverly Hills. I met so many great Aussies, not only from VRC, but also the dynamic duo of the Brothers Verrall, who supplied the lovely lamb (Don't tell vigilant vegeta... Read more
First Time In First Place!
Posted: Apr 17, 2007 at 12.10pm
The older a runner gets, the less likely he is to achieve a new "Personal Record" aka "PR" time when racing. Coaches and experts advise athletes in the "Masters" (over 40) divisions to focus on their rankings within individual Age/Gender categories as opposed to the Overall results in a given event. I've gotten to experience personal victories in both ways recently and it is SWEET! First a new ... Read more
Don't Stare at a Lady's Bump!
Posted: Apr 10, 2007 at 9.39am
Hooray for Camp Kidman for blasting the latest round of pregnancy rumours! When I debunked last week's media reports about her "baby bump" and called for an end to the incessant speculation about celebrity pregnancies, I got a big batch of appreciative emails for my coverage and it certainly makes me proud that I stick to my guns when it comes to that kind of reportage. While I do believe tha... Read more
Is There ReHab for Running Addicts?
Posted: Apr 04, 2007 at 9.53am
Okay, if you want to look up "Obsessive Compulsive" in the dictionary, prepare yourself to see a picture of ME beside the definition! Only 9 days after achieving a Personal Best at the DC National Marathon, I couldn't help myself: I registered to run the San Francisco Marathon in July! As you may have seen my mate Simon reporting recently on SUNRISE, the City by the Bay is one of America's most... Read more
Hail, Hollywood!
Posted: Apr 02, 2007 at 10.15am
Did you catch my WEEKEND SUNRISE story on the new blockbuster, "300?" How lucky that I had my toga dry-cleaned for the occasion (now that's a sentence I can honestly say I've never used before!). Of course, it was tempting to wear it into the luncheonette where I order my daily "Caesar Salad Wrap," but I resisted. However, I haven't been resisting the celebrities to bring you...don't miss a wee... Read more
4:03:47!
Posted: Mar 27, 2007 at 9.56am
My diligent workouts with my trainer April, your well wishes and a dose of good fortune resulted in a new Personal Best for my tenth marathon: the 2nd Annual Wirefly National in Washington, DC. My sister, Lee, and her family live nearby and one of my nieces (Page Ann) is also a recreational runner, so the Aspens decided to have an impromptu family reunion. Everyone converged from as far as Bost... Read more
Good Monday Morning to You...
Posted: Mar 19, 2007 at 9.32am
Howdy, y'all...how was your weekend? I sure was jealous of all the Sydney-siders getting to celebrate the anniverary of the beautiful Harbour Bridge. Getting a private guided climb on my first visit Down Under is one of my fondest memories. I love the whole Harbour area and often fantasize about having my own little pied-a-terre there..so scenic, romantic and cosmopolitan!
I had a very ... Read more
Masters of Our Universe!
Posted: Mar 12, 2007 at 9.42am
Two weeks to go before my next race, The 2nd Annual National Marathon in our US capital city of Washington, DC. Early this morning, I hit the streets for one of my final training runs. I jogged past The Good Will Thrift Store, where lots of second-hand donated items are available to purchase and benefit charity. A few blocks later, I tooled past the car lot where Pre-Owned Mercedes Benzes are s... Read more
Happy Birthday, Pisces!
Posted: Mar 05, 2007 at 11.13am
As a Cancerian, I get along great with Pisceans...so it's no coincidence that three of my closest friends are celebrating birthdays this week. Since I share so much with you about my life in Hollywood, I thought you might like to get to know my great Pisces pals!
Marcia McCabe was the 1970/80s heroine of my grandmother's favourite soap opera, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW. She played Sunny Adamso... Read more
One For the History Books
Posted: Feb 27, 2007 at 9.17am
Well, another Awards season is officially behind us and I don't have to put on a tuxedo again anytime in the near future (whew!). The 79th Annual Academy Awards will certainly go down in history as the most diverse year on record for recognized film work and I think that's very encouraging!
As great as it was to be out and about and see so many famous faces, old friends and respected co... Read more
Wild Week In Showbiz
Posted: Feb 25, 2007 at 2.47pm
As if it weren't enough to have the excitement and busy-ness of the week leading up to the Academy Awards, two major Entertainment stories dominated the international headlines...continuing to prove that no matter what else is going on in the world, people still want to be informed when it comes to showbiz scandals. I'm referring of course to the Anna Nicole Smith court case for the custody of ... Read more
Dancing with the Stars
Posted: Feb 19, 2007 at 1.39pm
Not much new to report this week, I've just been so bloody busy with all-things Oscar! I did get to film 3 episodes of a new UK series called "Exposed," chatting about the lives and careers of three of our favourite female film stars: Catherine Zeta Jones, Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman. There's a rumour going around that both Nic and Charlize Theron are being discussed as possible casting cho... Read more
Movies and Margaritas
Posted: Feb 12, 2007 at 10.48am
Baftas! Grammys! Are you loving it, or suffering from a big fat case of "Awards Fatigue Syndrome?" Well, I'm pumped up about the Academy Awards, now less than two weeks away...so that's where all my energy is going to be focused. Have you checked out my special Oscars blog at www.yahoo7.com.au/oscars ? It's got lots of up to date info and inter... Read more
Secrets of the Super Bowl
Posted: Feb 06, 2007 at 2.43pm
The biggest event on the American sporting calendar, The Super Bowl, is always a great excuse to (over) indulge in pizza and beer. If you're not into the game itself, there's plenty of other entertainment...from the memorable and expensively produced commercials (my pal Marc McClure shone as a "broken heart" in a $5 million pharmaceutical ad) to the Pre-Game and Halftime entertainment. Prince d... Read more
The Loss of Another Mentor
Posted: Feb 01, 2007 at 12.13pm
Arguably the best thing about my show business career is the opportunity to get to know some of my great mentors from the world of entertainment. So it's especially sad to report when these groundbreakers pass away. In the field of Interviewing, no one was greater than Steve Allen (1921-2000), whom I got to interview myself many times during the late 1990s. He, in fact, created the genre of TV ... Read more
Red Carpet #2: The SAG Awards
Posted: Jan 30, 2007 at 9.23am
I had a blast at his weekend's Screen Actors Guild Awards! Maybe because as a voting member, I felt like I got to participate in the process although I confess that some of the winners took me by surprise. But my ballot was only one of 120,000! There sure is a frenetic and festive energy out there on the red carpet...competing with your fellow journalist colleagues to snare the biggest stars fo... Read more
Another Whirlwind Weekend!
Posted: Jan 23, 2007 at 12.11pm
Boy, did I cram a lot into my 48 hours in New York City! Two good runs...dinner out with my best friends Glenn, Mary Kay & Marie...a trip to see my pal Luke Yankee in his one man show, "Diva Dish," and a great, sit-down excluslive with superstars Hugh Grant & Drew Barrymore which you will see soon on WEEKEND SUNRISE. Remember what a knockout Drew was at the Golden Globes? She looked jus... Read more
I'll Miss You Monday!
Posted: Jan 19, 2007 at 9.40am
Hey, friends...just to let you know I won't be on Monday's SUNRISE 'cause I'll be in Manhattan on a secret assignment for one of my upcoming WEEKEND SUNRISE movie packages. I'll give you a clue though about who I'm interviewing: one of film's most enduring hearthrobs and also one of the cutest and brightest leading ladies in the biz. Care to venture any guesses!?
Speaking of guesses, ha... Read more
What A Weekend!
Posted: Jan 15, 2007 at 1.04pm
Juggling so many different activities may be exhausting at times, but often things come together to make for some really incredible moments that certainly deserve to be recorded in diary or blog form. That was the case for me yesterday.
My buddy Rob, whom I've drafted into running 10ks with me, came along for a charity race in the L.A. suburb of Paramount. We've been having a record-bre... Read more
Ready, Set, Go!
Posted: Jan 10, 2007 at 1.58pm
Today I pick up my credentials for Red Carpet access to the Golden Globe Awards, which are next week. It's the real kickoff for the oh-so busy Awards season. After that event will come the Screen Actors Guild Awards (haven't even gotten my ballot in the mail yet!) and then the Granddaddy of 'em all: the Oscars! I hope my tux still fits after all the holiday feasting. The next 6 weeks will be a ... Read more
Kicking Off 2007
Posted: Jan 03, 2007 at 12.22pm
Well, enough with the lists for the old year...now the new one has been rung in throughout every time zone, we can settle in and buckle up for Awards season. I haven't even gotten around to renting my tuxedo yet. I will say that I hope we'll be seeing less of Lindsay, Britney and Paris and maybe more of Brandon Routh, Joseph Cross, Emily Blunt and Emmy Rossum.
Did you make any resolutio... Read more
New Year's News
Posted: Dec 27, 2006 at 2.15pm
As you may have heard me chatting about on SUNRISE, rumour has it that Scary Spice Mel B has enlisted the aid of a voodoo witch to help her woo back Eddie Murphy. Ewan MacGregor is going a slightly more traditional route to cope with his problems: I hear he's using a hypnotherapist to help him kick his cigarette smoking habit. This morning, I revealed MY resolution to Kochie & Nat: to use m... Read more
Uncle Nelson... Again!
Posted: Dec 19, 2006 at 9.59am
I'm starting to understand how Santa Claus feels trying to keep track of all the boys and girls. My gorgeous niece, Molly Kate, gave birth this week to a beautiful little boy and, I'm ashamed to say...I've simply lost count of how many times this makes me an Uncle! I first became one when I was only 5 years old (not surprisingly, none of my classmates believed me) and my brothers & sisters ... Read more
Yummy Mummies!
Posted: Dec 15, 2006 at 11.36am
I'm still gobsmacked from meeting the goddess-like Angelina Jolie last week in New York City. I had a star-studded weekend of interviews you'll be seeing soon on WEEKEND SUNRISE (Matthew McConaughey, Matt Damon, Robert DeNiro and Matthew Fox, just to drop a few names!), but Ms. Jolie certainly exceeded my expectations for beauty, poise, brains and friendliness. With apologies to Hillary Clinton... Read more
BBBBbbbrrrrr in the Big Apple!
Posted: Dec 11, 2006 at 11.34am
Hey, gang! I'm off to Manhattan on assignment but will be back in my usual time slot on Wednesday morning. I can't yet reveal the MEGA-STARS I've gone to interview, but trust me to be working on an all new SUNRISE celebrity exclusive for you. It will be nice to spend a little time in NYC, my old home town...and hopefully squeeze in meeting some old mates for a coffee or cocktail break. That cit... Read more
Running "Under the Tuscan Sun!"
Posted: Dec 03, 2006 at 11.50am
I'm still smiling ear to ear after my incredible trip to Florence last week. I was there for several weeks in my youth, doing the usual tourist things, but this journey was much more significant and memorable in many ways. First off, I'd spent months training for the Firenze Marathon...not only running hundreds of prepartory miles, but fundraising for AIDS Project Los Angeles, which does such... Read more
A Quick Update
Posted: Dec 01, 2006 at 10.18am
Hey, friends! I am back from my fantastic Florentine adventure in Italy--had a great marathon, saw old friends and made many new ones. And the most amazing food vacation I've ever had! I will tell you all about it in next week's Blog entry. Just wanted to let you know that I'm back in Hollywood safe and sound (and a good half-stone heavier!) and will see you as usual on SUNRISE. Va bene!!
... Read moreHangin' With Leo
Posted: Nov 20, 2006 at 11.50am
Over the weekend, I got to do some exciting, exclusive interviews you will be seeing only on SUNRISE. One of the most interesting for me was with mega-star Leonardo DiCaprio...ostensibly to discuss his powerful new film, BLOOD DIAMOND. But you know me...I can't help but chat off-topic because I'm always wayyy too curious about all the things we DON'T get to read in the magazines! About a decade... Read more
Happy Mo-Vember!
Posted: Nov 14, 2006 at 10.01am
The week certainly whizzed by and I'm not sure I have any exciting personal developments to report from my little corner of LA-la land. I did some great celebrity interviews which you'll be seeing soon on SUNRISE, but I don't want to give anything away yet. You'll just have to tune in and see them. In fact, with all the end-of-the-year Oscar contenders hitting theatres, you can be sure I'll be ... Read more
Pushing The Season
Posted: Nov 06, 2006 at 11.02am
Well, the highlight of my week was certainly the Halloween holiday and my traditional Trick or Treat dinner party. A few friends of mine came over for dinner and we handed out candy to all the neighborhood ghosts, goblins, fairies, ninjas and cowboys. I stopped counting at 60! Thank goodness I had a massive backup supply of sweeties...a basket of which is still calling to my sweet tooth from th... Read more
Just In Time For Halloween!
Posted: Oct 30, 2006 at 11.46am
I grew up addicted to TV sitcoms, especially ones that revolved around big, eccentric families. As the youngest of five kids, I could always imagine myself as one of the Bradys, the Partridges or even the Munsters! And of course, I really loved "The Addams Family." Ironically, I was a chubby dead ringer (no pun intended) for Pugsley. So it was a surreal and personally exciting moment for me thi... Read more
A Table Full Of Guinea Pigs
Posted: Oct 23, 2006 at 10.19am
Alas, I got word that my "Flash" Halloween costume isn't available in time for next week's spooky holiday, so I'll have to come up with a Plan B. Any suggestions?
Speaking of "Flash," my friend and I took his dog (named "Flash!") and mine for a long walk around the nearby Silver Lake Reservoir this morning. It was like a mini vacation and far enough that my Springer Spaniel's seemingly b... Read more
Simple Pleasures
Posted: Oct 16, 2006 at 1.09pm
I get so caught up in my work and various extracurricular activities that it's a real treat when I find myself with some spare time to do...nothing! That was the case this weekend when I was supposed to meet my buddy Marc McClure for a morning of golf and an afternoon of tennis. I was intending to be very sporty but Mother Nature had other plans and decided to dump a rare rainstorm on L.A., com... Read more
Foreign Relations
Posted: Oct 10, 2006 at 10.51am
As I write this, the world is waiting to see what the reaction to North Korea's reported nuclear testing will be. When I lived in Manhattan, my window (I only had one, it was a tiny studio apartment!) looked out on the United Nations building and I thought it was a most beautiful symbol of governmental unity. Like at the Olympics, I still get a thrill by seeing the flags of many nations waving ... Read more
Meryl Streep Exposed
Posted: Oct 02, 2006 at 9.47am
I got a lot of nice feedback on my exclusive WEEKEND SUNRISE interview with Meryl Streep and her co-stars from "The Devil Wears Prada." It was impossible not to feel immediately at ease with the screen legend especially after the introduction you didn't get to see! As I waited outside the suite before meeting La Streep, I could see a TV monitor of her and there was a bit of frenzy over the fact... Read more
Cabaret Closing Night
Posted: Sep 25, 2006 at 9.50am
After months of writing and rehearsing, I finally mounted my new cabaret show here in Hollywood and Friday was closing night of this current engagement. It was NOT an anticlimax! Some of my Seven News colleagues turned up, as well as a few old friends going all the way back to my days in Manhattan and the extremely leggy and luscious Alexandra Paul (Baywatch/Melrose Place). She wouldn't dish on... Read more
Good For Clooney, By George!
Posted: Sep 19, 2006 at 11.30am
I broadcast my Irish television show this morning and a lot of the discussion was about George Clooney urging the United Nations to send peacekeepers to Darfur at the risk of the Sudanese region experiencing "the first genocide of the 21st Century." Say what you will about liberal Hollywood, it's a refreshing change to see a celebrity who stands up for his humanitarian beliefs as opposed to cav... Read more
I DREAM OF JEANNIE (still!)
Posted: Sep 11, 2006 at 5.30pm
Omigosh I still haven't caught my breath from the weekend. Where does the time go!? The big event, at long last, was the opening of my cabaret show, "Wake Up with Nelson! Confessions of a Morning TV Personality". There were plenty of nail-biting moments while we worked out last minute technical issues, but when the curtain went up and the band started playing my opening number, "Good Morning," ... Read more
What you see is what you get
Posted: Sep 05, 2006 at 10.33am
I hope all you Aussie Dads out there had a great Father's Day on Sunday. I was actually on assignment for SUNRISE that day doing something I'm sure a lot of them would have enjoyed: spending a sunny afternoon poolside interviewing sultry Eva Longoria. You'll just have to stay tuned to find out more specifics, but I couldn't resist mentioning it since no one was presenting me with a homemade bre... Read more
Another Emmy Night Behind Us
Posted: Aug 29, 2006 at 1.35pm
How'd you like the Emmys? It was almost impossible to predict the winners this year, but the festive atmosphere in TV-Land always makes for a memorable weekend and, as a nostalgia fan, I loved seeing the original CHARLIE'S ANGELS reunited! I don't know when Jaclyn Smith started drinking from the fountain of youth, but she sure stole the show as far as I'm concerned. And, I admit I'm biased, but... Read more
Tinseltown Tour
Posted: Aug 22, 2006 at 10.39am
Be sure to tune in to Seven's GREAT OUTDOORS program next Monday, August 28 at 7:30pm. I take presenter Laura Csortan on a showbiz scavenger hunt around Tinseltown and you'll get a chance to see me "at home" in some of my very favourite local hang outs.
Speaking of "home," I don't normally follow astrology, but I can't help but wonder if the planets aren't in some bizzaro alignment (Mer... Read more
Community Service
Posted: Aug 15, 2006 at 9.26am
Poor George O'Dowd a.k.a. "Boy George!" All he wants to do is to be left alone to pick up trash! That's his community service sentence for filing a false police report back in March. As the paparazzi swooped down to photograph him in his orange vest and sunglasses, stabbing at debris in the gutter, he sniped back with retorts like, "You think you're better than me?" and "This is supposed to be ... Read more
Hairy in Hollywood
Posted: Aug 08, 2006 at 10.30am
Maybe it's because I get such a kick out of Hollywood's obsession with grooming habits that I love to share with you the inanity of it all. Whether it's for work (Ewan MacGregor shaving multiple times a day to protect his male co-star from the wrath of his razor burn in gay love scenes, or Toni Colette's insistence that she have armpit hair to accurately portray a strung-out junkie) or personal... Read more
Showbiz Role Models
Posted: Aug 01, 2006 at 10.21am
Another week brings, of course, more sordid stories of stars' scandals but the two biggest ones grabbing headlines are shocking even by Hollywood standards. Mel Gibson's arrest and the allegations of his hateful remarks have stunned and divided the showbiz community at a time when the conflict between Israel and Lebanon already has tensions high. An immediate and well-worded apology from the co... Read more
Heat wave
Posted: Jul 25, 2006 at 10.14am
It's been a sweltering week here in Tinseltown, just one of many places in the USA enduring a brutal, record-setting heat wave. Well, it makes for interesting paparazzi shots of celebrities in their bathing suits or perspiring through their designer duds. It sure made my weekend race a challenge: a 10k in the nearby OC city of Cypress. I'm now part of Snickers Marathon Team, so I wanted to perf... Read more
Friends from Afar
Posted: Jul 18, 2006 at 11.05am
Did you ever stub your toe getting out of bed and say, "Arghh&**!# It's going to be one of THOSE days!" Well, I was having a day like that this past week when it seemed like nothing would go right--one obstacle after the next. I just kept plowing through thinking, "This day has got to get better sooner or later!" I had an appointment in Beverly Hills and I waited 45 minutes before I realize... Read more
Charity Fundraiser
Posted: Jul 11, 2006 at 11.00am
As many of you know, I wrote a book, "Let's Dish Up A Dinner Party!" so I feel pretty confident about my event planning skills. However, I have to crow about the weekend bash I had chez moi as a charity fundraiser for my upcoming marathon in historic Florence, Italy. In the spirit of that country (and a good omen for the Azzuri, who became the World Cup champs the following morning), I made it ... Read more
My birthday
Posted: Jul 04, 2006 at 9.31am
Well, I'm just about recovered from all the birthday festivities. Not only is July 1 my birthday, but with the Aussie time change and the US national holiday on July 4, I really got to stretch out the celebration. Lucky me! Since it isn't a "milestone" year (29 never is, no matter how many times I celebrate it...), I had lots of nice dinners at some of my favorite places including the Beverly H... Read more
A second home…
Posted: Jun 27, 2006 at 1.26pm
It was such a fast and frenzied trip to Sydney that I don’t think I even had time to get jet lagged! What a treat not only to cover the story of the year —Nicole & Keith’s wedding— but to hang out with my Sunrise buddies in person for a change.
Mel’s lamb roast… Nat’s lemon meringue pie… the duet with Simon (eek! I was nervous!... Read more