Suzie Plakson

Suzie Plakson

Suzie was born in Buffalo, New York, and was raised in Kingston, Pennsylvania. Suzie Plakson is the only actress to appear as four different aliens in three different Star Trek series.

She began acting in high school, majored in Interpretation (an English-based theater major) at Northwestern University, transferred to the prestigious theater department at NYU and hit the streets of New York City to begin her acting career. She returned to finish college decades later at Antioch University in Marina Del Rey.

Suzie was in an eclectic blend of productions in NYC, ranging from "The Importance of Being Earnest," to an original rock musical, to improvisational comedy. After landing a four-character gig in the revival tour of "Stop The World I Want To Get Off", playing opposite Anthony Newley, she landed a development deal at Paramount Studios, and thus began the Hollywood chapter of her career.

She was a regular on Love and War, had recurring roles on such series as Mad About You, Everybody Loves Raymond and How I Met Your Mother, and did many and various guest spots on shows including Family Ties, Judging Amy, Beauty and the Beast and Murphy Brown. Her unmistakable voice can be heard in episodes of Family Guy, Futurama and the puppet series Dinosaurs.

Suzie first Star Trek role was in the second season of TNG: Lt. Selar, the Vulcan Doctor in "The Schizoid Man". She was cast later that same season as K'Ehleyr, Worf's half-Klingon mate in "The Emissary" and returned in the fourth-season episode "Reunion." In the Voyager episode "The Q and the Grey" she was the Female Q, and she played Tarah, an Andorian in the Enterprise episode "Cease Fire."

Suzie's motion picture appearances include roles in "Red Eye," "Disclosure," "Wag the Dog" and "My Stepmother is an Alien." She's written and performed a solo show, in which she played Eve, and has just completed a CD of country-flavored music, called "Good Luck Charm" which is available on her Web site.

The statuesque redhead is a fan favorite, frequently appearing at Star Trek and Sci-Fi conventions around the world.

Star Trek is the eleventh feature film based on Star Trek. It is slated for release in both conventional and IMAX theaters on 8 May 2009, following a limited number of advance screenings starting at 7pm the night before. The film was directed by J.J. Abrams and is being produced by Abrams and Damon Lindelof. It was written by Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, who will also serve as executive producers, along with Bryan Burk and Jeffrey Chernov.

Abrams' production company, Bad Robot, is co-producing the film with Paramount Pictures, while Spyglass Entertainment is co-financing. This makes it the first film in the Star Trek franchise to have a production partner, let alone two. It is also the first official Star Trek production in nearly twenty years not to be overseen by Rick Berman.

Jay Leno Hospitalized

Jay Leno Hospitalized
Jay Leno checked into a hospital with an undisclosed illness Thursday and canceled the taping of the ``Tonight'' show, but was doing well and planned to return next week, his publicist and NBC said. Leno left his office at NBC's studios about midday and checked himself into a hospital for observation, said his publicist, Dick Guttman.

He would not identify what ailed Leno, but characterized it as ``mild'' and said the comedian continued to work Thursday, making phone calls and writing jokes. ``Jay Leno is doing just fine,'' read a statement from NBC spokeswoman Tracy St. Pierre. ``He was kidding around with the hospital staff and running his monologue jokes by the doctors and the nurses. He's expected back to work on Monday.'' A woman who answered the news and communications line at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, which is near the Burbank studio where Leno tapes ``Tonight,'' said they had no patient by the name of Jay Leno, and referred inquiries to NBC.Scheduled guests on Thursday's show were Ryan Reynolds, Jules Sylvester and the swing band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Instead, NBC planned to air a rerun. It was an unusual lapse for the famously intrepid performer, who routinely fills off-days from his TV show with live appearances on the comedy circuit. Leno, who turns 59 on Tuesday, will leave the ``Tonight'' show May 29 after 17 years.

But he will continue on NBC, with a Monday-through-Friday program at 10 p.m., starting in the fall. The top-rated late-night host's move to prime time created a stir in the industry, taking the time slot usually reserved by broadcast networks for dramas such as ``ER.''
And Leno has continued to make news, scoring a coup by booking President Barack Obama as a guest and performing free comedy concerts in the recession-wracked Detroit area.

Jay Leno is best known as the man who replaced Johnny Carson at the helm of The Tonight Show in 1992. Leno was born James Douglas Muir Leno to parents of Italian and Scottish heritage (Leno is particularly fond of discussing the Italian part) in New Rochelle, NY, but was raised in Andover, MA. During the year in which he was establishing his standup career, Leno was performing 300 nights throughout North America.

He made his television debut on the Merv Griffin Show and his acting debut in Silver Bears (1977). That year he appeared in the cast of the short-lived Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. Show, a musical variety summer replacement series. By the early '80s, Leno had left behind any notion of becoming an actor because his comedy career was in high gear. His subsequent film appearances have been as himself or as a parody of himself (The Flintstones, 1994). Leno made his first appearance on The Tonight Show on March 2, 1977. Though he can be sharp and is an astute political commentator, there is something nice and comforting about the soft-eyed, lantern-jawed funnyman that appeals to vast middle-American audiences, the same sort who regularly tuned in to Carson. It is small wonder that Leno became Carson's sole guest host by 1987.

Leno hosted his first show as Carson's successor on May 25, 1992, with comedian Billy Crystal as his first guest. There was much furor surrounding the selection of Leno as many believed fellow late night gab-meister David Letterman would inherit the throne. Since taking the Tonight Show's reigns, Leno has attempted to inject the show with a slightly hipper edge by featuring more radical musical acts and affecting a more casual look. It's a tough balancing act, for he must do so without alienating his older, more conservative fan base. Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

American Idol: Adam Lambert sings ‘If I Can’t Have You’

American Idol: Adam Lambert sings ‘If I Can’t Have You’

As usual Adam Lambert did not disappoint the judges of American Idol. And his soulful rendition of If I Can’t Have You captivated the fans of the popular Fox signing competition.

It didn’t give me goosebumps like some of his other performances, but it was really worth watching. I’ve never heard someone sing the Yvonne Elliman classic that way before.

Randy said that at this point the contestants should be showing their range - he’s been doing it all along - he’s ready. According to Kara, Adam’s performance was brilliant and inspiring. Paula said he took a disco song and didn’t make it cliché. For Simon, his vocals “were immaculate.”

If I Can’t Have You was written by the Bee Gees for the soundtrack of Saturday Night Fever, The song was a big hit, rising to #1 in 1977 and its success has resulted in Elliman being remembered as a disco artist.

Disco Week on American Idol Top 7 April 21, 2009 gave us another signature performance from the American Idol frontrunner, Adam Lambert If I Can’t Have You video which we can watch as we see the star power of the Season 8 favorite.

Bee Gees If I Can’t Have You lyrics and song were written by the members of the group, Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb. As sung by Yvonne Elliman, the song was immortalized in the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, and as such takes its place among iconic hits of the disco era. The song was covered by Kim Wilde in 1993.

"If I Can't Have You" is a disco song written by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees. The song was intended to be included in the follow-up album to Children of the World (1976), but was given to singer Yvonne Elliman when the Bee Gees became involved in the production of the movie Saturday Night Fever (1977) in which the song, and also in the subsequent soundtrack, appeared. Elliman's version became an international smash hit, and reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and #4 in the UK. The song, as sung by the Bee Gees, was released as the B-side to the single "Stayin' Alive" in 1978 and also appeared in the 2001 compilation Bee Gees Their Greatest Hits: The Record.

A remixed version of The Bee Gees recording was released on the remastered version of Bee Gees Greatest in 2007 and marked the return of The Bee Gees to the US Hot Dance Tracks charts after 28 years.

Beautiful.... Just beautiful. Good job Adam! So inspirational. So original. Michael Orland helped Adam with the arrangement. Go Glambert!

Miss USA 2009- Kristen Dalton of North Carolina

Kristen Dalton-Miss USA 2009

Miss USA

State: North Carolina

Hometown: Wilmington

Age: 22

Miss North Carolina USA Kristen Dalton was crowned Miss USA 2009 on Sunday, beating out 50 other beauty queens in the live pageant televised from Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.


The 22-year-old aspiring motivational speaker and entertainer from Wilmington edged out first runner-up Miss California USA Carrie Prejean, of San Diego, and second runner-up Miss Arizona USA Alicia-Monique Blanco, of Phoenix.

"It feels really natural," Dalton said of her win. "I've worked to be here and this has been my lifelong dream and it's finally here. And whoever knew you could win in a turquoise gown?"
For 51 young women from across America, beauty comes to (figurative) blows Sunday as they compete for the Miss USA crown.

Contestants from all 50 states and the District of Columbia competed in the pageant, aired live on NBC. Contestants were judged by their performance in swimsuit and evening gown modeling contests and the ir responses to a question asked onstage; unlike the rival Miss America pageant, Miss USA contestants do not perform a talent.

The top 15 contestants worked the stage in white string bikinis designed by pop star Jessica Simpson's swimwear line. Rocker Kevin Rudolf performed his song "Let it Rock," followed by The Veronicas, who performed their single "Untouched" as the top 10 beauties showed off their choice of glittering evening gowns.

The contest, which is owned by NBC and reality TV mogul Donald Trump, will be hosted by "Access Hollywood" co-anchor Billy Bush and Nadine Velazquez of the NBC sitcom "My Name is Earl." This year's judges include "Saturday Night Live" cast member Kenan Thompson, "Dancing with the Stars" winner Kelly Monaco and gossip blogger Perez Hilton.

Organizers said Sunday's show kicks off "Green Week" at NBC. As part of the environmental awareness campaign, the Miss USA crown was designed by a jeweler

that specializes in conflict-free and eco-friendly jewels. The crown from Diamond Nexus Labs of Franklin, Wis., is worth $202,000.

Padma Lakshmi likes to sleep in the nude

'Top Chef' beauty Padma Lakshmi has revealed that she likes to sleep in the nude.

The Indian American, who has stripped down to her birthday suit for revealed in an accompanying magazine interview that she's very confident about her body and likes to sleep in the buff when she's on her own.

"I tend to sleep in the nude. I'm an innately tactile person and a very sensual-leaning woman. You have to use the word 'leaning' or it sounds like I'm boasting! When I'm in my own private space, I do spend time with very little on," she told Allure.



When asked how did she prepare for the shoot, the beauty said:

"I exercised a little bit extra, but I actually think I look better when I have a little bit of weight on-my breasts are fuller, and I'm curvier than when I'm at my thinnest."





The Top Chef host, 38 added that : "I like the way I look. I think I look better now than I did in my 20s, because I'm more confident about my body-and I don't want to look like anyone but myself."

Padma was born in Kerala, but moved to Chennai, Tamil Nadu before spending most of her adolescent life in the United States. Lakshmi was named number 66 on AskMen.com's "The Top Most Desirable Women of 2008" list.

Lakshmi along with E! talk show host Chelsea Handler, "Dollhouse" star Eliza Dushku and Lynn Collins stripped down to their skin for the May issue of Allure.The magazine's Naked Truth feature is available on newsstands April 21.

Dara Torres Embodies Ageless Fitness

Dara Torres Embodies Ageless Fitness

Dara Torres was the first U.S. swimmer to compete in four Olympic Games and then went on to make the games a fifth time in 2008. She won a total of 3 silver medals at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. Dara Torres inspired people around the world when she became the oldest swimmer to win an Olympic medal in August 2008. Now, in “Age Is Just a Number,” the 41-year-old mom describes the hurdles she overcame on the road to Beijing, including failed marriages, infertility and her father’s terminal illness. An excerpt.

Outside of swimming, Dara has made a name for herself as a TV commentator and a print model and was the first athlete to appear in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue in 1994. She was a feature correspondent for Good Morning America, worked on-air for ESPN, TNT and Fox News Channel including stints on NHL Cool Shots and Fox Sports Sunday.

Dara also has joined the "Got Milk" campaign to promote the connection between drinking milk after exercise with maintaining healthy muscles and bones. Here is an excerpt from her Muscle and Bone Workout tips.Dara talks frankly about diving back in for this comeback; about being an older athlete in a younger athletes’ game; about competition, doubt, and belief; about working through pain and uncertainty; and finally, about seizing the moment and, most important, never giving up. A truly self-made legend, the story of this five-time Olympian will resonate with women of all ages, and with anyone daring to entertain a seemingly impossible dream. Additionally, the high-quality protein in milk helps build and maintain muscle mass and the calcium and vitamin D in milk helps keep bones sturdy and strong. Women tend to lose muscle mass and bone density as they age. Daily exercise, along with adequate amounts of protein, calcium and vitamin D, can help.

Dara blasts her music and hits the stair climber for a bone-building workout. Or, on a nice summer day, you may find Dara and her daughter playing in the park -- fitting in playtime and exercise all in one. If you don’t have access to a gym or a stair climber, running, aerobics, dancing and even brisk walking can give your bones a boost. You can also use the stairs in your house for an at-home stair climb or walk the stairs instead of the elevator at work. Find what works best for you and stick to it. Enlist a buddy or find activities to do with your kids to help you stay motivated.

In her new book, Age Is Just a Number, Dara reveals how the dream of an Olympic comeback first c ame to her --during her first, hard-won pregnancy. In the book, Dara recounts how she returned to serious training while still nursing her infant daughter and coping with her father's long battle with cancer.