Cut to the Chase: 6 Things You Ought to Know

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Writing about entertainment comes with a certain degree of assumption. Although I know many people either (1) don’t have an interest or (2) have no idea what I discuss, I know I tend to leave out this group of people.

Maybe this will help. I’ve compiled a short list of completely random entertainment facts that just help you see that celebs are real people, too:

  1. First, did you know that CBS3 anchorman Larry Mendte got his start as a stand-up comic? It didn’t last long, as he traveled from New York City to San Diego to Chicago before ending up as co-host of the entertainment show Access Hollywood. After a few years at NBC 10 here in Philly, he “made the switch” to CBS.
  2. Meanwhile, CBS3 meteorologist Kathy Orr made her television debut in the late 1980s on the MTV game show, Remote Control. Thankfully, she’s come a long way from that.
  3. What about game show favorite Chuck Woolery? It’s not that well known of a fact that the GSN host was part of a duet in the late 1960s, The Avant Garde. Their one big hit was a song called “Naturally Stoned.” Later, GSN tried their hand at reality with a TV show of the same name, chronicling the glorious life of Chuck. After six or eight odd episodes, GSN realized people really didn’t care. But you can. Below is “Naturally Stoned.”
    http://blogs.temple-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/Avant%20Garde%20-%20Naturally%20Stoned.mp3
  4. Oprah Winfrey began as a television reporter and anchor in Nashville and Baltimore. A station manager at one of the stations strongly urged her to used an alias because the name “Oprah” was too odd. That station manager is probably working at a Burger King now.
  5. More than 12,000 television and movie writers from the Writers Guild of America are picketing right now because a new contract could not be drawn up. That means your favorite late night talk shows (my choice being David Letterman) will be in reruns, “until further notice.” TV scripts are leading into early next year, and movie scripts should be alright for a while. In other words, don’t look for anymore Hillary Clinton pantsuit jokes “until further notice.”
  6. And finally for this installment, Katie Holmes is a trained athlete. She competed the New York Marathon this past weekend, entering the race under an alias. When the results were reported, however, her real name was used. Hubby Tom Cruise and daughter Suri were waiting at the finish line. She had her chance to escape down an NYC alley, and she didn’t. Strange.

Share your strange celeb facts by commenting. And enjoy “Naturally Stoned.” My life would be completely different without having found it.