Author: Francine Brokaw

‘A Merry Scottish Christmas’ on Hallmark

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Lacey Chabert and Scott Wolf star in a new holiday film. A Merry Scottish Christmas is filled with family drama, bagpipes, and a lot of Scottish cheer. 

Dr. Lindsey Morgan (Chabert) and her brother Brad (Wolf) have been requested by their mother to spend the holiday in Scotland. These two have basically been estranged from each other. While Lindsey has her medical practice in Los Angeles Brad is an accountant in San Francisco. So, when Brad and his wife join together with Lindsey they are practically strangers. 

What the siblings soon discover is the castle in which they are residing for the holiday is actually their family heritage. Yep, if their mother had not bailed on her own family and heritage all those years ago, she would have been the Duchess of Glencrave. But she chose a different life and throughout all these years she never let her children know about their family history.

Now that they are all together in the family castle, things change. Being in Scotland is a breath of fresh air for the two siblings who have been stressed and overworked back in the states. Here in Scotland they learn to relax, enjoy the scenery, the people, the traditions, the dances, the booze, and even the bagpipes. 

With the Duke of Glencrave recently deceased, it is up to their mother to decide what to do with the residence and everything associated with Glencrave. After all, a lot of people in the town rely on Glencrave. But are Brad or Lindsey ready to pull the plug on their lives and move to Scotland to take over the family business – the one they just learned about? Another option would be to sell the property. Are they willing to do that? Anything can happen. 

It’s not an easy decision. The town and their family is steeped in tradition and the country. As they let go of their stresses and learn to relax as well as learn about the town and their heritage, things come into focus. They must both look seriously at their lives and decide what is best for each of them. 

The movie was actually filmed in overseas so viewers get to see the landscape and the countryside, not to mention a glorious castle.

A Very Scottish Christmas premieres November 18, 2023 on Hallmark Channel.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

‘A Paris Christmas Waltz’ on GAF

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Ooh la la. Jet off to Paris for a waltz under the Eiffel Tower with Matthew Morrison. How’s that for an image to remember? Well, that’s what happens in the new Great American Family holiday film A Paris Christmas Waltz.

Emma (Jen Lilley) is an upbeat woman filled with heart, charm, and a positive attitude. Leo (Morrison) has given up professional dance competitions to take over his friend Henry’s (Paul Freeman) Paris dance school after Henry falls ill. But there is something missing in Leo’s life. He is happy yet not fulfilled. So, Henry insists Leo finds a new partner to perform his own choreography program at the pro/am competition.

Well, Emma just happens to get the job. It’s not that she’s such a great dancer – yet – but it’s her attitude that captures the attention of Leo who decides together they will make a great pair – with a lot of practice. So off she goes to Paris to work with Leo and Henry and hopefully find a new direction in her life. 

Emma is definitely attracted to Leo but he never gets involved personally with his dance partners. There is a sweet chemistry between Emma and Leo, however, but when his old partner Giselle (Jade Ewen) comes on the scene, she throws a little salt into the mix causing Emma to closely examine her feelings for Leo.

In between practices, the pair discover what they have in common, or what they don’t have in common. How can they perform when they don’t know much about each other? On the other hand, how can they perform when one of them is frustrated about her feelings toward the other?

Leo’s mentor Henry gives him some great advice. He tells him not to look to the past but look towards his future,  and what – or who – that involves.

Great American Family’s A Paris Christmas Waltz is a nice combination of dance and romance. How would you like to spend your Christmas Eve waltzing under the Eiffel Tower? Check out this new film premiering November 19, 2023 and have a joyeux noel. 

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

‘A Heidelberg Holiday’ brings romance to Germany

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

On November 12, 2023 travel to Heidelberg, Germany for a holiday romance courtesy Hallmark Channel. A Heidelberg Holiday shows off the storybook city of Heidelberg along with a cute, albeit predictable, little boy meets girl story. And that’s just what we need for the holiday season.

Ginna Claire Mason stars as Heidi Heidelberg (yes, apparently that is a common name in Germany), a glass blower who has been submitting requests to the prestigious Heidelberg Christmas Market for years, and each year she gets rejected. However this year is different. 

Heidi takes off to the city where her grandmother grew up with hopes of selling her handmade ornaments and learning about her family’s roots in Germany. She stays in the cottage of a nice family who just happen to have a son about her age who is also an artist. Lukas (Frederic Brossier) is a woodworker so the two have something in common. Plus Lukas is polite and helpful, offering to aid Heidi in setting up her booth at the market and showing her around the city.

Besides touring the city, selling her ornaments in the market, and completely enjoying herself while realizing her dream, Heidi and the other members of her host family connect and trade stories about their own holiday traditions. Heidi learns how they celebrate Christmas in Germany and they learn how her family does it in America.

Ok, so yes, this is a Hallmark Original Movie so you know there is a happy ending, but along the way there are some ups and downs when it comes to Heidi’s dream of selling all of her ornaments. Nevertheless, Lukas cheers her up every time she has a setback.

The locations are amazing and viewers see a kind of storybook city that rarely gets attention in the movies. This one does it well and by the time the credits roll viewers will have felt as though they were on a tour of the city while learning about the traditions and especially the food (don’t forget the chocolate) of the area.

A Heidelberg Holiday premieres Sunday, November 12, 2023 on Hallmark Channel.


About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

‘A Dash of Christmas’ premieres on GAF

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

 


Take one pinch of salt, add a cup of sugar, and a dash of nutmeg. Well, that’s not exactly the right recipe, but A Dash of Christmas is a fun and delicious new holiday movie on Great American Family’s Great American Christmas.

Laura Osnes stars as Megan and Christopher Russell is Aaron in this fun new Christmas movie. Megan returns to her hometown for the holidays after leaving her job. It’s there she accidentally meets Aaron, the owner of Home Town Bakery. 

Megan is up for a new job and with Aaron’s help she just might get it. But it will take a lot of work. Or, I should say, a lot of baking. Megan is a tech wiz and a publicity expert, but her cooking and baking skills leave a lot to the imagination. So she enrolls in Aaron’s baking class. If she can hone her cooking/baking skills, she just might nail this new job.

Together they work on getting Megan’s baking skills up to par while Megan works on helping Aaron’s bakery spruce up for the season. While they are both doing this, you guessed it, they fall in love. After all, this is a homey holiday film from Great American Family and what else would you expect except a fun-filled – and in this case mouth watering – story with some cute characters and an ending that will leave viewers happy and ready for the holiday.

Enjoy A Dash of Christmas when it premieres November 4, 2023 on Great American Family. It is a nice way to start the season. Grab a cup of hot chocolate and don’t forget to add the mini-marshmallows. Cuddle up and have some holiday cookies handy. This is a delicious way to spend the evening. Just don’t mix up the salt with the sugar. 

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

Alaska Airlines commemorates Disneyland’s Toontown with new plane

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


Why fly on an ordinary plane when you can enjoy the fun of your favorite Disney pals? Alaska Airlines, noted for some fun and colorful planes in their fleet, has just announced the newest addition that honors Disney and Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland Resort.

Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Daisy adorn the outside of this aircraft with Chip ’n’ Dale on the doors and winglets. It took artists over 400 hours to hand paint the exterior of this plane with the bright colors that make it unique from all others. 

The plane is named “Mickey’s Toontown Express” and will fly to/from Orange County’s John Wayne airport as well as other locations in the Alaska Airlines list of destinations. Imagine looking up and seeing Goofy flying by.

When passengers look out the window they get a cute view of Chip or Dale sitting on a winglet. And on the front of the exterior of the plane has a Mickey-shaped balloon and the invitation “Follow us to Disneyland Resort.” To say this is a festive way to start a Disneyland vacation is an understatement.

“It’s heartening how much our Disneyland Resort-themed airplanes spark joy in our guests — young and young at heart. What makes this even more special is the return of Mickey Mouse on an Alaska Airlines plane since he made his debut on our fleet eight years ago,” said Sangita Woerner, Alaska’s senior vice-president of marketing and guest experience. “Alaska’s long-standing relationship with the Disneyland Resort has helped to create unforgettable experiences for our guests and employees. As a family-friendly airline, it speaks to the care we strive to show everyday with these special touches.”

Alaska Airlines offers priority boarding for families with children under two and they do not charge extra for family seating. They also offer coloring books and Kids’ Choice Picnic Pack and Jam Sandwiches for premium and main cabin passengers. Mickey’s Toontown Express also has activity  books and snack packs featuring Mickey and his friends (while supplies last).

“Our relationship with Alaska Airlines is more than 25 years strong and truly celebrates the magic of Disney,” said Sybil Crum, vice president of marketing and commercial strategy at Disneyland Resort. “The plane’s artwork marks Alaska Airlines’ eighth transformation of an aircraft featuring Disney artistry and exhibits the excitement and playfulness of the re-imagined Mickey’s Toontown. We’re so delighted for the opportunity to create even more memorable experiences for our guests together.”

In the past, Alaska Airlines has decorated planes with Star Wars and Toy Story. Now Mickey’s Toontown Express adds a new level of fun to flying, and we all know how stressful flying can be. 

The next time you look up into the sky you might just see Mickey’s Toontown Express winging its way to Disneyland. 

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

Bring Home ‘The Red Shoes: Next Step’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

In 1948 Hans Christian Anderson’s movie The Red Shoes was the impetus for many young people to become dancers. It was even referenced in the 1985 movie A Chorus Line. Now, a modern film takes on the mantle of a story about the love of ballet and personal drama. The Red Shoes: Next Step is a film that, although contains a lot of emotional drama, is filled with plenty of wonderful ballet sequences.

Samantha Cavanaugh (Juliet Doherty) and her sister Annie (Daniele Clements) live for ballet. They are in the prestigious Harlow Ballet School. One day, while in the wings preparing for her big scene in “The Red Shoes” ballet, Sam is video chatting with Annie when tragedy strikes. 

A year after the tragedy, Sam has given up dancing and is mired in grief for her sister. She has left the ballet academy and is living a scattered life. When she is tasked with community service cleaning up at the academy, Sam’s grief returns. After all, this is where she and Annie lived and loved ballet. 

Little by little Sam’s love of ballet returns but she is torn between dancing and the thought that being a ballerina again would be a betrayal of her sister. Annie was a fabulous dancer and Sam does not feel she can measure up to the legacy of that. But Miss Harlow (Carolyn Bock) knows how good she is and once she gets Sam back into her toe shoes, things start to take off.

But will Sam stay with ballet or will the demons of her past keep her from fulfilling her dreams? Can she return to her former self – a girl who loves to dance, is a beautiful dancer, and yet lost the sister she loved with all her heart?

The story is filled with emotions as this young woman struggles to overcome her grief as well as regain her self confidence. It is the entire ballet academy who helps her through this trauma, but it is still up to Sam to reach down inside and become the dancer she was meant to be.

While the story is predictable, the dancing is wonderful and watching the students practice and dance is something that will ignite a spark for some viewers who love ballet and want to study the art. We cannot all be great dancers, but we can appreciate the effort and accomplishments of those who are. And, we can all imagine ourselves in ballet slippers or toe shoes leaping through the air, twirling, and enjoying being great dancers – even if it only in our minds.

The Red Shoes: Next Step is not rated.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

Bring home ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

The third installment in this franchise brings together the Portokalis family for a reunion in Greece. Where else? The story was written by Mia Vardalos who also directed the film. The Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Code Collector’s Edition includes several bonus features for the enjoyment of the viewers. My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 is a journey for the cast and fans that brings everything – and everyone – together one last time.

Vardalos always wanted to make a third film in the series to wrap up the story of this large Greek family. She 

originally envisioned it as bringing the family patriarch Gus (Michael Constantine) back to his homeland for a reunion. Unfortunately, Constantine passed away before this story got underway, as did Vardalos’ own father. So she decided to write a tribute to them by way of this storyline.

 

In the film Gus has passed away and Toula (Vardalos) brings the whole family to Greece to fulfill his wish of passing along his diary to his old friends in Greece. But once they all arrive in Greece, the next step is finding the three friends who have all moved away from their tiny village. 

Throughout the story the family goes through one whacky adventure after another. And, besides this being a way to say “good bye” to Constantine, it is also a reunion for the cast. So, this is a reunion of the Portokalos family as well as the cast of the two previous films who welcome a few new members to the family while in Greece.

As John Corbett, who plays Ian Miller, says, he thought bringing  this whacky family to Greece was a great idea. And once everyone was aware of the project, they were all on board. And yes, everyone is as whacky as ever.

This is also an homage to the country as the show was filmed on location in Greece. The bonuses show the fun and all the laughing that took place while making this movie. There is a nice behind-the-scenes featurette as well as a look at how Vardalos took on the responsibility of directing her story. It was a tough task and she knew exactly how she wanted everything done. Deleted scenes and a gag reel make up more of the bonus features.

So, join Toula, Ian, Paris, Nick, Maria, Aunt Voula, Nikki, Angelo, Aunt Frieda and the rest of the family and their friends on this Greek adventure.

While it is not as funny as the original movie (few sequels live up to that), there are some cute and funny moments and cute banter among the cast.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 is rated PG-13 for suggestive material and some nudity.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

Bring home ‘Barbie’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

 

She’s all dolled up and ready to come home (no pun intended). The Barbie movie took the country by storm and is now available on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K with plenty of extra features.

Pink is the color of the day, or should I say the color of the movie? The film stars Margot Robbie as one of the Barbies and Ryan Gosling as one of the Kens. There are several themes running through the film as well as some cute gags and laughs. But the main topic is about just being yourself and the best you you can be.

There is Barbieland and the real world. In Barbieland everyone is happy and gets along, day after day. Robbie is “Stereotypical Barbie” and Gosling is “Beach Ken.” One day Stereotypical Barbie (from now on referred to as simply Barbie) begins to have thoughts of death and sad things. Then her feet go flat. She starts to get cellulite. What in the world is happening? 

Barbie visits “Weird Barbie” (Kate McKinnon) who informs her that she must go to the real world and find the human who has been playing with her. This will set things straight and everything will be back to normal. So, with Ken tagging along, they set out for the real world where they discover things are not what they thought. The real world is filled with strange things and not everyone is happy. And, oh no, to their surprise, women are not in charge. Perhaps this is why the real world is out of whack.

Well, Ken learns about real world men while Barbie tries to figure out what to do. Ken returns to Barbieland and turns it upside down, changing the Barbies into Stepford wives. But is everyone happy?

It turns out Gloria (America Ferrea), an employee at Mattel,  has been sketching different ideas for Barbie. This caused a rift in the Barbieworld.

To make a long story short, Gloria and Barbie return to Barbieland to set things straight. And, as it happens, everyone realizes that they are who they are and can be who they want. That was why Barbie was created in the first place.

All these decades girls have been able to imagine being doctors, lawyers, and anything else by playing with their Barbie dolls. Through Barbie and Ken they have stretched their imaginations, expanded their worlds, and gained confidence in themselves. Those were the purposes of all the Barbie dolls. Yes, she is pretty and has some amazing clothes, but she is also a successful woman in her own right.

With that, this movie is why people have taken it to heart. It is a story that everyone can appreciate. It is a story about being who you are and working to be your best at whatever you decide to do.

Helen Mirren supplies the voice of the Narrator in this imaginative and uplifting film. Rhea Pearlman is Ruth, the inventor of the Barbie doll. And Will Ferrell is the CEO of Mattel. 

It’s cute, colorful, and a story that has absolutely engaged viewers of all ages. And this Halloween there will be lots of Barbie and Ken’s trick-or-treating. 

Bonus features the Blu-ray and 4K discs include a look at all the costumes created for this film, Robbie becoming Barbie, a featurette on Weird Barbie, and a look at the story and sets. Six featurettes add to the story but most importantly are the memories viewers will have about their own playtime with their Barbie dolls. 

So, how many Barbies did you have? What car did you have? Did you have Barbie’s Beach House or Dream house? Did you cut your Barbie’s hair? All these memories will come rushing back as you watch this film.

This is definitely an unconventional movie but even though the premise is a little whacky, it has garnered a lot of praise from reviewers and especially audiences.

Barbie is rated PG-13 for suggestive references and brief language. 

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

The Adventureland Treehouse opens for guests in Disneyland

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Inspired by the 1960 Disney’s Swiss Family Robinson movie, the treehouse in Disneyland has been a popular attraction for guests since it opened in 1962. The treehouse has gone through many renovations throughout the years. In March 1999 it closed then reopened later that year as Tarzan’s Treehouse, based on the Disney 1999 animated film. Then in September 2021 it closed all together. Now it has been reimagined for a new generation of guests.

This treehouse gives viewers a fresh storyline about a different family living in the house, not the Robinsons.  This new treehouse includes the mother’s music room,  a nature room for the young son and the teenage daughter, an aspiring astronomer, has a loft from which she can watch the stars. This treehouse is a tribute to the original attraction but with a new story about a different family living in this new abode.

On the bottom floor, for those who do not want to venture up the tree, there is a kitchen and dining room. Also on the main, or bottom floor, is an art studio with plenty of the father’s sketches and paintings.

Located at the base of the Jungle River, home of the Jungle Cruise, this treehouse is just one more way to experience nature and the wild, Disney style. The entrance is next to the giant waterwheel and a wood rope stairway lets guests visit the upstairs area where they can walk through the different areas.

The Adventureland Treehouse reopens for guests November 10, 2023.  Who’s up for a little adventure?

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

Bring home ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Tom Cruise brings viewers another high-impact Mission: Impossible film with Dead Reckoning Part One. Yes, viewers will have to wait until next year for Part Two, but in the meantime this action film will fulfill the desire for an exciting and adventurous story. 

The story revolves around a special Russian submarine with an advanced AI that has turned into a sentient entity, hereby known as the “Entity.” On board the sub is a key but this Entity has managed to destroy the sub along with its secrets. Now Ethan Hunt (Cruise) is sent around the world to find one part of the two-part key. Whichever country or whomever has the entire key will have access to the greatest power in the world.

This is truly a high-impact film as Hunt is joined by Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg), Luther Stickwell (Ving Rhames), and at first unwittingly Grace (Hayley Atwell), along with several others as they are all on their missions to locate the missing key. That’s the premise of the story, so once the two-part key is located the next phase of the story is locating the sub that holds the information of the Entity, and that will happen when part two comes out to audiences next year.

In the meantime, watching this high-impact film on 4K-Ultra HD (+ Digital Code) is the best way to experience all the drama and technical stunts involved in making this movie. Included in this pack is a Blu-ray disc filled with bonus features that show viewers how the locations were selected and how the super intriguing and dangerous scenes were filmed. Christopher McQuarrie (director and a writer on the film) discusses how they wanted to make this a global movie.

Abu Dhabi was selected in part because of the modern airport, which is described as the “biggest set” they have ever worked on. It is an amazing building and the cast and crew took up almost every inch of that place, along with hundreds of extras. They also shot in the sand dunes of the desert where they built a fake town for one of the scenes. The United States military cooperated in the making of the film and supplied special aircraft for the shoot.

Rome was the location for a spectacular chase scene, which is described as “challenging” to shoot due to the cobblestone streets that wind around. Nevertheless, viewers get a sense of the Eternal City.

Next they went to Venice and the night scene was brightly lit with colorful lights and images, creating a magical canvas.

Norway was the location where Cruise (and filmmakers) undertook the spectacular motorcycle jump off a cliff. This jump turned into a base jump for Hunt and this dangerous stunt was well prepared. The U.K. served as the location for another dangerous stunt. This was for the “speed flying” scene where Cruise (and filmmakers) were wafting through the air, around trees, etc. 

Finally, because they had to completely destroy a beautiful train, they had to build it themselves. After all, who would want a movie to destroy a glamorous train and have it fall off a cliff? So, yes, they built a working train for this film and ultimately destroyed it. 

As viewers watch the bonuses they will see how intricate every scene was to complete and how much effort went into this movie. Stay tuned. Part two is just around the corner.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is available October 31, 2023 on 4K- Ultra HD + Digital Code, Blu-ray, and DVD. It is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some language and suggestive material.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.