Only in Jersey: 2/10/12

Happy Friday! Time for another edition of Only in Jersey!

If it’s filming in Jersey, takes place in Jersey, or is about celebs from Jersey, you will find it here.

Kevin Smith, center, shares his love of comic books in "Comic Book Men," which is filmed in Red Bank./Photo credit AMC

Red Bank will be front and center beginning at 10 p.m. Sunday when AMC premieres “Comic Book Men.”  The one-hour unscripted series follows employees and customers of film director Kevin Smith’s comic store, Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash. The network’s description – “as the team buys, sells and discovers the treasures of the comic collecting world, they share all the juicy details with Kevin through their outrageous podcast” – makes it sound like a comics-tailored version of “Pawn Stars.”

Read the rest of this entry »

“Twilight”: Paging Dr. Cullen, please

Add to FacebookAdd to DiggAdd to Del.icio.usAdd to StumbleuponAdd to RedditAdd to BlinklistAdd to TwitterAdd to TechnoratiAdd to Yahoo BuzzAdd to Newsvine

It was so nice of Quaker Bridge Mall to save Peter a spot...

If all doctors possessed the same bedside manner as Peter Facinelli, who plays vampire *dad* Dr. Carlisle Cullen in the “Twilight” films, methinks the world would be in fabulous shape.

Peter Facinelli waves to fans as he returns from a break Saturday at Quaker Bridge Mall in Lawrenceville, NJ./Photos by Ava Gacser

During a marathon 5-hour, charity-driven meet-and-greet session at Quaker Bridge Mall in Lawrenceville, NJ, on Saturday, Peter by turns displayed charm, kindness, patience and sheer fortitude. And even though he suffered a sore hand from signing so many autographs, Peter took only a short break and made sure he met every last fan.

Read the rest of this entry »

“Larry King Live” tackles Jersey girl Chelsea Handler

“Larry King Live” devoted an entire hour recently to Jersey girl Chelsea Handler, who was promoting her new book, “Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang.”

(Chelsea’s dressing down of Kate Gosselin, above, is just one of the reasons I like her.)

Not surprisingly, at least if you are familiar with the three-time author and host of E!’s late night talk show “Chelsea Lately,” her conversation with Larry turned to the Garden State and the plethora of television shows about it. Their discussion went something like this:

Larry: What do you make of this Jersey thing?

Chelsea: Well, I mean I’m from New Jersey so I’m proud to be from New Jersey. I’m from a nice part. But there are parts of New Jersey that look like the “Jersey Shore” and what’s depicted on this show. It can be pretty crazy. So when people from New Jersey get mad about the depiction, and they say “Oh, how can you say that?,” well, I’m from there and it is like that.

Larry: Do you think it’s because it’s between New York and Pennsylvania?

Chelsea: Yeah, somebody told me that the other day. It’s kinda like a middle child of those states. Maybe. I didn’t see all of New Jersey like that. But these reality shows are all ridiculous so why not get New Jersey in the mix?

Larry: Where are you from in New Jersey?

Chelsea: Livingston.

Larry: Oh ohhhh. That’s upper class.

Chelsea: Well, it was upper class. But my parents were just below middle class.

“Chelsea Lately” goes Johnny Weir and “Jerseylicious”

What things come immediately to mind when you think of New Jersey?

If it’s a lack of U-turns, then you have something in common with male figure skater/reality television star Johnny Weir. The Lyndhurst resident (who trains at an ice rink in Wayne) gracefully defended the Garden State during a conversation with Livingston native Chelsea Handler on her E! talk show “Chelsea Lately” Tuesday night.

Chelsea’s interview with Johnny veered onto the New Jersey Turnpike as he spoke about the rigors of practicing on ice for hours on end.

“On top of it, you have to live in New Jersey,” Chelsea pointed out.

“Well, you’re a Jersey girl, too,” Johnny replied with a laugh.

“And you know where I went when I was 19 years old?” Chelsea quipped. “Out of New Jersey!”

“I love New Jersey, though,” Johnny responded. “There’s something very special and aggressive and ‘no U-turning’ about it.”

“There’s something very special and aggressive and it’s called the ‘Jersey Shore,'” Chelsea shot back. “Have you ever met anybody from that show?”

“No,” said Johnny. “And I don’t really need to.”

This was the second time Chelsea has mentioned her home state within a week. She recently turned her critical eye toward the Style Network’s “Jerseylicious” about a “gross hair salon” in Green Brook. Take a look:

Vodpod videos no longer available.
“New Jersey, would you please stop embarrassing me?” Chelsea pleads. “I know you’re New York’s chunkier, sluttier younger sister, but pull yourself together, girl.”

My very own “Dog” day afternoon

Duane “Dog” Chapman was all about the Garden State yesterday.

Yes, Dog's tan is really as dark as person as it is in this picture./All photos by Ava Gacser

In addition to appearing on Livingston native Chelsea Handler’s late-night talk show, “Chelsea Lately” (check out the video below), the star of A&E’s series “Dog the Bounty Hunter” – along with his wife, Beth – stopped by Clifton to meet fans and sign copies of his new book, “Where Mercy is Shown, Mercy Is Given.”

I didn't realize at the time I took this picture of the arrival that I also managed to *capture* the Dog. Yay!

As you can imagine, it was pandemonium from the moment the pair walked into Barnes & Noble with an A&E cameraman in tow. Fans – who comprised wide array of ages – were told from the get-go that the event would be taped for possible use on the show. (I can only hope footage from yesterday will be shown!)

The line of fans waiting – which I heard was estimated at 500 – moved very quickly. Fans were told Dog could not pose for photos or personalize books. However, I found him more accommodating when it was my turn.

Two women directly in front of me moved aside and suddenly I was front and center. A security guard told me to go up to Dog, who was waiting, pen poised. I walked up to him, said hello and it was nice meeting him and extended my hand. He shook it.

Then he said (and I’m paraphrasing because I can’t remember it exactly), “Wow, you must be important if you got to cut the line. What’s your name?”

I told him, and he personalized my book.

And that was it; after a four-hour wait, it was over in a matter of seconds. But I don’t regret a minute of it.

After taking a few more photos of Dog, I moved over to greet Beth, who was chatting with fans and posing for photos.

I asked her to take a photo with me and she pleasantly complied. When I thanked her, she said, “It was my pleasure.”

It’s always nice to discover that people you admire on television are just as pleasant in person.

Here are two more photos I took of Dog:

Vodpod videos no longer available.
more about “Dailymotion – Chelsea Lately – Dog th…“, posted with vodpod

« Older entries