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Thursday, March 19, 2015

"Empire" Creator Danny Strong -- Catfight Between Cookie and Olivia Pope ...

Empire Cast - No Apologies ft. Jussie Smollett, Yazz

Catfight Between Cookie and Olivia Pope? ... Interesting

3/19/2015 6:13 AM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

EXCLUSIVE

"Empire" creator Danny Strong seems fascinated by the prospect of a mashup between his show and "Scandal."

Strong was out Wednesday night celebrating the season finale of his EPICALLY popular show when we asked about the possibility of the two biggest shows on social media colliding.

He was hip to the idea -- and even threw out a few storylines -- but man did he clam up quick when we asked him about Oprah Winfrey possibly appearing next season. BUT, Lee Daniels just confirmed O will be on his show next season.

Source: http://www.tmz.com/2015/03/19/empire-danny-strong-scandal-video/

"Dancing With the Stars" 2015: Season 20 Celebrity Cast Announced

"Dancing With the Stars:" Rumer Willis Behind the Scenes

"Dancing With the Stars" fans, wait no more. The season 20 star-studded celebrity cast was revealed today on "Good Morning America" and the competition is shaping up to be one of the fiercest yet.

Television icon Suzanne Somers, music great Patti LaBelle, football star Michael Sam and Olympian Nastia Liukin are among the stars getting ready to rhumba and samba on the dance floor.

Nastia Liukin, an Olympic champion gymnast, is paired up with none other than beloved pro dancer Derek Hough, who is back this season in a shocking surprise. Hough, a five-time mirror ball champ and Emmy-winning choreographer, previously announced his "DWTS" departure to perform in the Radio City Spring Spectacular.

"This all happened literally two days ago," Hough said live on "GMA" from New York where he will practice with Liukin. "I had a little heartbreak not being able to a part of the 10th anniversary, the 20th season. It"s such a huge milestone for Dancing With the Stars. Its my family, so I wanted to be a part of it. ... Im so glad we made it happen. Lets make it the best season ever."

"Shark Tank" mogul Robert Herjavec, Hunger Games actress Willow Shields, artist-actress Rumer Willis, Party Rock Anthem singer Redfoo and R5 singer-songwriter Riker Lynch will also be vying for the trophy this season.

FULL LIST: Season 20 Pro Dancers Announced

PHOTOS: Get to Know the Season 20 "Dancing" Pros!

"Dancing With the Stars" 2014: Alfonso Ribeiro Wins in Season 19 Finals

One star name fans may not know yet is U.S. Army veteran Noah Galloway. The Iraq War veteran lost his left arm above the elbow and left leg above the knee in an IED attack and will bring his inspirational story of overcoming all the odds to the ballroom.

Another fresh face is Charlotte McKinney, the model who shot to fame in a racy Super Bowl ad for Carls Jr., and will give it a whirl in the ballroom.

Todd Wawrychuk/ABC

PHOTO: The star-studded celebrity cast for season 20 of "Dancing With the Stars" was revealed today on "Good Morning America."

Co-hosts Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews announced 11 celebrities who will be vying for the mirror ball trophy today on "Good Morning America" live from Los Angeles.

Another celebrity competitor will be named before the March 16th premiere and will be dancing with pro Whitney Carson, who won season 19 with her actor Alfonso Ribeiro.

The "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" star and reigning champ surprised the celebrity cast for the "GMA" announcement and shared his advice.

"The one thing I would say to everybody is simply that it is a marathon, not a sprint," Ribeiro said. "It"s not about winning week one, it"s about winning that final week. You"ve got to take it slow, pace yourself. Go hard, learn everything, and be the best you can be and give it 100 percent, but pace yourself."

See Photos and Learn More About the Season 20 Celebrity Cast!

The 10th anniversary season is being billed as the biggest ever. Producers will bring back Disney and Latin theme nights and introduce a new Spring Break special night. Another new element is the addition of all-access cameras in the rehearsal studios, which will be made available on a live stream.The mirrorball trophy has also gotten a makeover, changing from the traditional silver to gold for the anniversary season.

See the list of season 20 celebrities and their pro partners below:Noah Galloway with Sharna BurgessRobert Herjavec with Kym JohnsonPatti LaBelle with Artem ChigvintsevNastia Liukin with Derek HoughRiker Lynch with Allison HolkerCharlotte McKinney with Keo MotsepeRedFoo with Emma SlaterMichael Sam with Peta MurgatroydWillow Shields with Mark BallasSuzanne Somers with Tony DovolaniRumer Willis with Valentin Chmerkovskiy

"Dancing With the Stars" 2015: New Cast Answers Fan Questions

Which celebrity are you most excited to see hit the dance floor this season? Tell us what you think in the comments and watch the season premiere of "Dancing with the Stars" March 16 on ABC.

WATCH: "Dancing With the Stars" Pros Val Chmerkovskiy"s Audition Tape

PHOTOS: "DWTS" Pros as Kids: Can You Guess the "Dancing" Pro?

Watch the season 20 premiere of "Dancing With the Stars" on Monday, March 16, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

ABC

PHOTO: The season 20 premiere of "Dancing With the Stars" airs on Monday, March 16th at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/dancing-stars-2015-season-20-celebrity-cast-announced/story?id%3D29166872

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Savory Savoy Dish Adds Twist to Tradition

How to Make Corned Beef and Cabbage

Truth be told, I am not a corned beef and cabbage person but wanted to make something in commemoration of St. Patricks Day, so I decided on stuffed Savoy cabbage, a fitting and brilliantly green veggie with a savory and healthy farro and meat filling. I gave the dish a little Italianism too, adding tomato sauce and Im OK with that - because even though St. Patrick is an icon for the Irish, he may have really been born in Italy. Let"s just say he has dual sainthood.

Stuffed Baked Cabbage Leaves

Serves 4

cup farro1 head Savoy cabbage (about 2 1/4 pounds), washed1 small onion, minced1 large garlic clove, minced1 pound ground beef or half ground beef and half pork1 egg, slightly beaten cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese plus extra for sprinkling up minced fresh parsley teaspoon paprika1 teaspoons salt teaspoon ground black pepper2 tablespoons minced fresh sage pound prosciutto di Parma thinly sliced and cut in half crosswise

2 cups tomato sauce

Soak the farro in 1 cup water for a couple of hours or overnight. When ready to use drain off the water.Cook the farro in 1 1/2 cups of boiling water until it is tender. Drain and transfer it to medium size bowl.Core around the cabbage and remove 10 large leaves. Reserve the rest for another use such as soup.Fill a large soup pot with water and bring it to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon salt and the cabbage leaves. Cook for 2-3 minutes or just until the leaves wilt.Remove the leaves with a slotted spoon and let them cool.Meanwhile add the onion, ground meat, egg, grated cheese, parsley, paprika, salt, pepper and sage to the bowl with the farro. Combine all the ingredients just until mixed.Lay out each cabbage leaf on a cutting board and with a small knife remove the lower 1-inch or so tough part of the central vein of the cabbage leaves because it makes it easier to roll up the leaves into bundles.Place a couple of slices of the prosciutto on each leaf and top with a generous 1/3 cup of the meat mixture in the center and then roll the leaf up, folding in the sides, to form a bundle.After making all the bundles, spread a thin layer of tomato sauce in the base of a 9 x 13 x 2 inch casserole dish.Place the bundles seam side down in the casserole and top with the remaining tomato sauce. Sprinkle the tops with additional cheese.Cover with foil and bake for 35 minutes. Uncover and bake 5 minutes longer. Serve hot with some of the sauce.

Source: http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/food_dining/fork_lift/2015/03/savory_savoy_dish_adds_twist_to_tradition

Aaron Schock never sponsored one bill that became a law. He"s the reverse ...

Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL) Profiled on NBC"s Today Show

The collapse of Rep. Aaron Schock"s (R-Ill.) brief career in Congress prompted a perhaps-expected question. Since arriving on Capitol Hill, how effective had he been?

There are a number of ways to evaluate this, from his fundraising prowess (high) to his ability to steer his caucus (low). One of the most tangible metrics is how many bills he sponsored that turned into laws. The answer to that? Zero.

That"s not entirely uncommon. Many members of Congress have no sponsored bills that have become law; many have only one or two. Sponsorship isn"t everything, mind you. Members of the House and Senate can also co-sponsor legislation, which is used as a means of building support before passage. But sponsoring bills that become law is a standard metric of legislative success. A metric by which Schock didn"t fare well.

Some of his colleagues have had much better luck. Since 1973, the first year for which data on sponsorship is available through GovTrack, no member of Congress has seen more sponsored bills become law (through signature or overturned vetoes) than Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah).

Many of the members who are still in Congress with the most sponsored laws are ones that have been around for a while. That makes sense for two reasons. First, they have obviously had more sessions in which to introduce bills. And, second, Congress has been passing fewer bills of late, giving newer members fewer opportunities for success.

You can see that latter trend in the charts below, which show the sponsored bills that became law in each year for the ten most successful legislators since 1973. Notice that many of them are heavier on the left end -- that is, the earlier part -- of the graph.

Bills sponsored:112. Rank: 1

Bills sponsored:105. Rank: 2

Bills sponsored:90. Rank: 3

Bills sponsored:79. Rank: 4

Bills sponsored:77. Rank: 5

Bills sponsored:73. Rank: 6 (tie)

Bills sponsored:72. Rank: 9

Bills sponsored:67. Rank: 10

Again, sponsored bills are not necessarily tightly linked to political success. Near the bottom of the long list of those who"ve seen sponsored legislation become law is a one-time senator from the state of Illinois. Only two laws were sponsored by Barack Obama.

Philip Bump writes about politics for The Fix. He is based in New York City.

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/03/18/aaron-schock-never-had-legislation-become-law-since-1973-no-ones-done-that-more-than-orrin-hatch/

D-FW soul singer Luke Wade to join Patti LaBelle in special Selma-to ...

Patti LaBelle = Live! One Night Only 2000 1

Eyes will be on Alabama this weekend when big-name performers celebrate the marches 50 years ago that championed black Americans" voting rights.

In honor of those Selma to Montgomery marches, concerts have sprouted up in Selma and in Montgomery. Budding Fort Worth musician and formerThe Voicefinalist Luke Wade will be one of many star-studded performers at the events.

Wade will open for soul singer Patti LaBelle at a concert at Alabama State University in Montgomery on Saturday, March 7.

The same night and 50 miles away, a concert in Selma will feature Lady Gaga, R. Kelly and more. Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton are expected to be in attendance,according to TV station WSFA.

For Wade, being chosen to participate in the concert in Montgomery is an honor.

"Anytime I get an opportunity to share the stage with someone like [Patti LaBelle], it makes me feel like I"m part of music history," he says.

His soul sound will make him a fitting opening act. In his time onThe Voice, he regularly took mainstream songs and doused them with his unique brand of soul.His cover of Paul McCartney"s "Maybe I"m Amazed"is a good example, and he plans to perform that song during the March 7 gig, among othercovers and originals.

Find info about Wade and LaBelle"s March 7 concert in Montgomeryhere. Find info about Lady Gaga"s March 7 concert in Selmahere.

Wade will be back home in North Texas in late Aprilfor the Real. Texas. Festival.

Source: http://popcultureblog.dallasnews.com/2015/03/d-fw-soul-singer-luke-wade-to-join-patti-labelle-in-special-selma-to-montgomery-tribute.html/

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Jhonni Blaze Says Rich Dollaz & Moniece Slaughter Not An Official Couple ...

Jhonni Blaze on Drake: "I Should"ve Used Protection"

(Photo : VladTV)

Love and Hip Hop: New Yorkreality star, Jhonni Blazedownplays Moniece Slaughter"srelationship with her ex-boyfriend, Rich Dollaz"sand reveals that her manager doesn"t even claim the Love and Hip Hop: Hollywoodreality star as his girlfriend.

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In an interview with VladTv, Jhonni explained that Moniece attacked her and she simply defended herself through the social media beef, "My main focus is music and I think she thought she coupled talk to me any type of way and that"s why I retaliated and I think everybody knows that you could not outtalk me, you can"t outdo me in just about anything-unless you"re up there with the Beyoncesand the Nickis." She added, "She"s just irrelevant to me."

The source added. "If she wants the title of being his girlfriend then I just wanna see him also say that he"s with her because I was waiting at the door and I haven"t seen no answers."

MStars News previously reported:

AfterVlad TVposted a photo teasing an interview with the stripper on their Instagram page, Moniece commented, "Oh G*d," and shortly after Jhonni followed up commenting, "Why your b*m a*s have to be so extra like your roach find some antennas and move round b**ch @moniece_slaughter."

Jhonni added, "Go do something like buy a house and stop getting evicted @moniece_slaughter." She continued, "Like why so extra you don"t like me over a dude that"s not yours or mines like this termite b***h monistat slaughter.

Moniece admitted that she was evicted from her apartment, but says that her money wasn"t coming in as quickly as the stripper, "Yup evicted 3 years ago waiting to close escrow on my first house for me and my coach sorry that upsets you so much baby. My money may have been a little slower to come in but that"s the price I pay for having morals and true talent. I didn"t sell out by selling pu*** to make it come any faster. s**t lasts longer that way. Like my relationship and my artistry. Move that around baby. Don"t be bitter bitty be a witty bitty may help you get another shot at being an artist, landing another TV opportunity, and getting a man that will want you that you might actually be able to KEEP!"

Yikes!

Source: http://www.mstarz.com/articles/57032/20150312/jhonni-blaze-rich-dollaz-moniece-slaughter-official-couple-love-and-hip-hop-new-york-hollywood-video.htm

Women"s NCAA bracket 2015: UConn again leads the field

Filling Out My 2015 NCAA Tournament Bracket

The Huskies are trying to three-peat as national champs.

UConn is once again the heavy favorite heading into the women"s NCAA Tournament. The bracket was announced Monday night and the Huskies are the No. 1 overall seed at 32-1, with only a loss to Stanford on Nov. 17.

The Huskies have won the last two NCAA championships and have made seven straight Final Four appearances. UConn will playNo. 16 St. Francis in the opening round on March 21.

Notre Dame is the top seed in the Oklahoma City region, South Carolina sits on top of the Greensboro region and Maryland leads the Spokane region as the No. 1 seed. No. 11 Gonzaga will play in front of its home fans in Spokane.

The women"s bracket kicks off on Fri., March 20, and will conclude in Tampa Bay, with the Final Four starting on April 5 and the championship game being held on April 7.

You can find the full bracket at theNCAA"s official website. Here"s a look at the matchups in the Round of 64:

Albany

No. 1 Connecticut vs. No. 16 St. Francis

No. 2 Kentucky vs. No. 15 Tennessee State

No. 3 Louisville vs. No. 14 BYU

No. 4 California vs. No. 13 Wichita State

No. 5 Texas vs. No. 12 Western Kentucky

No. 6 South Florida vs. No. 11 LSU

No. 7 Dayton vs. No. 10 Iowa State

No. 8 Rutgers vs. No. 9 Seton Hall

Oklahoma City

No. 1 Notre Dame vs. No. 16 Montana

No. 2 Baylor vs. No. 15 Northwestern State

No. 3 Iowa vs. No. 14 American

No. 4 Stanford vs. No. 13 CSUN

No. 5 Oklahoma vs. No. 12 Quinnipiac

No. 6 Washington vs. No. 11 Miami (Fla.)

No. 7 Northwestern vs. No. 10 Arkansas

No. 8 Minnesota vs. No. 9 DePaul

Greensboro

No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 16 Savannah State

No. 2 Florida State vs. No. 15 Alabama State

No. 3 Arizona State vs. No. 14 Ohio

No. 4 North Carolina vs. No. 13 Liberty

No. 5 Ohio State vs. No. 12 James Madison

No. 6 Texas A&M vs. No. 11 UALR

No. 7 FGCU vs. No. 10 Oklahoma State

No. 8 Syracuse vs. No. 9 Nebraska

Spokane

No. 1 Maryland vs. No. 16 New Mexico State

No. 2 Tennessee vs. No. 15 Boise State

No. 3 Oregon State vs. No. 14 South Dakota State

No. 4 Duke vs. No. 13 Albany

No. 5 Mississippi State vs. No. 12 Tulane

No. 6 George Washington vs. No. 11 Gonzaga

No. 7 Chattanooga vs. No. 10 Pittsburgh

No. 8 Princeton vs. No. 9 Green Bay

SB Nation presents: Men"s NCAA Tournament explained in 2 minutes

Source: http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/2015/3/16/8227935/2015-ncaa-womens-bracket-uconn-south-carolina-notre-dame-maryland