Let's Get Gastronomical, Taylor Hicks

There's Something About Taylor Hicks

Hey Hicks fans. It's time to get your grub on with your favorite former "Idol"...

Yummy!

Though American Idol came to an end Thursday night, Tayolr Hicks' television career is going full steam ahead. He has recently been announced as the host of State Plate, a new food and travel series on INSP, to premiere this fall.

State Plate will celebrate the unique food traditions of all 50 states. “In each episode we dig into the distinctive foods of a particular state,” said Doug Butts, SVP of Programming at INSP. “Unlike most food shows, we won’t be touring restaurants; this is about the food itself, how it is grown and the people who bring it to our dinner tables. What emerges is the trivia and unknown stories behind our states’ most emblematic foods.” Taylor Hicks is no stranger to great cuisine, as the singer is a partner in Saw's Juke Joint in Birmingham, Ala.

“Taylor’s wide popularity, experience as a restaurateur, and down-home charm make him an ideal host for a traveling food series.” Butts said. “In each episode of State Plate, he travels to a particular state, where he will ‘assemble’ a plate filled with the food most associated with that state. He’ll sample everything from crab cakes in Maryland and peaches in Georgia; to chili in Texas and potatoes in Idaho. As he makes his way from coast to coast, Taylor will visit farms, ranches, markets, festivals, and other diverse and unusual locales. In the process, viewers share in the journey as he uncovers the rich details behind each state’s unique food traditions. It’s a heaping helping of America’s most beloved cuisine, rich in history, folklore, and flavor.”

“State Plate has tested very well, and audiences agree that this series complements and enhances INSP’s family-oriented schedule,” Butts said. “We are thrilled that viewers will be taking this journey with such a beloved personality as Taylor Hicks.

State Plate is produced by RIVR Media.

As the nation said a fond farewell to FOX-TV's American Idol, Hicks returned to the show that made him a star, one last time.

Taylor was among those that performed on the series' final episode.

"I'm so grateful for the platform that American Idol gave me as a performer and a recording artist," said Hicks. 

Taylor also has a fast-filling slate of tour dates woven into his taping schedule, stretching well into the fall. His 2016 tour includes more stops next week in his hometown of Birmingham, continuing on through Georgia, Tennessee, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, and more!

TAYLOR HICKS ON TOUR:
Apr. 14 Cox Capital Theatre / Macon, Ga.
Apr. 15 Lyric Theatre / Birmingham, Ala.
Apr. 16 Franklin Theatre / Franklin, Tenn.
Apr. 17 Lyric Theatre / Birmingham, Ala.
Apr. 21 StageOne - Fairfield Theatre / Fairfield, Conn.
Apr. 22 World Cafe Live / Wilmington, Delaware
Apr. 23 Avalon Theatre / Easton, MD
Apr. 24 New Hope Winery / New Hope, Pa.
May 04 Dick Clark's American Bandstand Theatre / Branson, Missouri
May 26 The Tobin Center / San Antonio, Texas
Jun. 04 PRIVATE / Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Jun. 11 Flat Rock Summer Blast / Flat Rock, Mich.
Jun. 16 Daryl’s House / Pawling, N.Y.
Jun. 17 Flying Monkey Performance Center / Plymouth, N.H.
Jun. 24 Center for the Arts / Natick, Mass.
Jun. 25 Opera House / Boothbay Harbor, Maine
Jul. 08 Downtown Rutland / Rutland, VT
Jul. 09 Katherine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center / Old Saybrook, CT
Oct. 29 Halloran Centre at the Orpheum / Memphis, Tenn.
Nov. 26 Island View Casino / Gulfport, Miss.
Dec. 01 Black Oak Casino / Tuolumne City, Calif.
Dec. 04 Cache Creek Casino Resort / Brooks, Calif.


For more 411 visit TaylorHicks.com and follow him onTwitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Bruce Springsteen Is Boss

Taking A Stand
Bruce Srpingsteen

Bruce Springsteen used to be called "The Boss," at the height of his career. Well he may no longer be "The Boss" but he still is "Boss" meaning, an excellent and outstanding person. 

He is so "Boss" he cancelled his plans to play his scheduled gigs in Greensboro, North Carolina days ahead of time. Here is the reason he gave:

"As you, my fans, know I'm scheduled to play in Greensboro, North Carolina this Sunday. As we also know, North Carolina has just passed HB2, which the media are referring to as the ‘bathroom' law. HB2—known officially as the Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act—dictates which bathrooms transgender people are permitted to use. Just as important, the law also attacks the rights of LGBT citizens to sue when their human rights are violated in the workplace. No other group of North Carolinians faces such a burden."

Expanding on his initial statement he also said:  

"It's an attempt by people who cannot stand the progress our country has made in recognizing the human rights of all of our citizens to overturn that progress. Right now, there are many groups, businesses, and individuals in North Carolina working to oppose and overcome these negative developments. Taking all of this into account, I feel that this is a time for me and the band to show solidarity for those freedom fighters."

Not only did I grow up with Bruce's music, my sister Sue Waters is a huge Springsteen fan, and rightfully so. 

Born In the USA!!!

Stand Up With Bruce at: 
brucespringsteen.net/

A Quickie With Ted Casablanca

It's My Gallery & I'll Do What I Want To
Ted Casablanca 

Once upon a time there was a gossip named Ted Casablanca real name, Bruce Bibby. He worked at E! as a correspondent and online columnist. Well Teddy moved on from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood to Hollywood lite in Palm Springs, CA - where he opened an art gallery called the Ted Casablanca Gallery, naturally. From gossip to art, how does that shift happen? 

Here to answer that in a quickie 10 is Mr. Casablanca, Bibby, Casablanca - my sister, my daughter, oh fuck it! Here is Ted Casablanca! 

MS: Ted Casablanca    

TC:  Yep, he's a fag. A big one.                                                                                 

MS: Bruce Bibby

TC: He's a fag, too, just not as averse to vaginal exploration as Ted is.

MS: Art

TC: My first love and talent, before film and writing.

MS: Valley of the Dolls

TC: Trashy but truthful.

MS: Gossip 

TC: Truthful but trashy.                              

Is This Art?
Teddy C. Nude

MS: Palm Springs

TC: Rebirth.

MS: Unicorns

TC: Who gives a fuck.

MS: Monica Orozco

TC: Genius in the making.

MS: Relationship Status

TC: Happy at last. Not what I was expecting.

MS: Have you ever danced with the Devil in the pale moonlight?

TC: Yes. But luckily I don't see Kris Jenner much anymore.

Visit Ted's Gallery at:
http://tedcasablanca.com/  
https://www.facebook.com/tedcasablancagallery/

Bye, Bye, Bye: American Idol

Wow it's the end of an era. Fifteen Seasons on the air and now it's over. I remember when American Idol was pretty much a social experiment and no one knew whether it would work or not. In the interest of full disclosure I stopped watching after the season Adam Lambert was on.

However it is no secret to most I am buddies with James Durbin who will be appearing on tonight's series finale, among others including the original Idol herself, Ms. Kelly Clarkson.

This factoid did not escape the most Dedicated Durbinator, Marissa Erickson who friended me on Facebook and followed me on Twitter when she saw my coverage of James.

Well she sent me some images from a live chat she participated in on Facebook during the rehearsals involving James for his performance to the final countdown to tonight's AI farewell.

She wrote this to me in a message:

"Today a live chat on face book from idol and James Durbin"

So here are images from Marissa's live chat enjoy tonight's final American Idol show!!!

Downtime With
James Durbin

Keep up with James at:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/durbinrock

Facebook: http://facebook.com/durbinrock

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/durbinrock/

Hump Day Inspiration: Amy Schumer

Don't Funk With Me!
Amy Schumer

Yeah this week has been a tough one, for me at least. Maybe not all of you, but I bet three quarters of you feel the way I do.

It's times like these great heaven knows, that I wished we had? Some wisdom perhaps? Levity? How about both?!

Here are ten great quotes from one Ms. Amy Schumer to get you over the mid-week blahs!

1)  “I’m probably like 160 pounds right now and can catch a dick whenever I want.” 

2) “I get labeled a sex comic. But if a guy got up onstage and pulled his dick out, everybody would say: ‘He's a thinker.’”

3) "That’s the Hollywood secret: Don’t put food in your dumb mouth!"

4) “Make sure he knows that you’re entitled to an orgasm. I like to say it. I’ll be like, ‘Hey, there are two people here.’ I’ll be like, ‘Oh my God, have you met my clit?’”

5) “We have to be a role model for these little girls, because who do they have? All they have really is the Kardashians ... And like, we used to have Khloé. Khloé was ours, right? Whenever there’s a group of women, you identify with one of them … Khloé, she lost half her body weight. She lost a Kendall! We have nothing. I want good role models.”

6) “The other day I was having some wine and some weed and an Ambien. Or, as I like to call it, ‘Tucking myself in.'”

7) “Beautiful, gross, strong, thin, fat, pretty, ugly, sexy, disgusting, flawless, woman. Thank you Annie Leibovitz!”

8) "I'm, like, newly famous, and it turns out it's not fun. Did you guys know that?"

9) “Just as good as the male comics: We put on our pants one leg at a time, just like them. And then we bleed in those pants."

10) “Please, please, take some photos. Isn’t that salad great? I’m wearing the shortest dress, you’re probably getting a photo of my clitoris right now.”

Amy is here for you on Instagram: 
https://www.instagram.com/amyschumer/?hl=en

These "Sick Puppies" Don't Need A Vet

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Party Like A Lesbian With Lady Gaga

The Ladies Who Party
Lady Gaga & Friends

Lady Gaga took some time off from Taylor Kinney to indulge her sapphic side. She is an admitted bi-sexual after all and headed West to Palm Springs, CA for the Club Skirts pool party during Dinah Shore Weekend. I am sure about half of the women attending do not even know who Dinah Shore was at this point and juncture, but hey, any excuse to party, riiiiiiiiiight?! 

Gaga hung out and mingled where the girls are and paid a visit to Lindsay Lohan's ex Samantha Ronson who was the pool party DJ. From the photo above it's looks like a good time! I'm thinking I should attend next year...oh right no men allowed. Does this mean you have to check any strap-on's at the door too?

Happy Monday and have a terrific week!

PS Why the Fuck was sapphic spell checked and there was no word suggestions to replace it, that were remotely like it? Fuck never gets flagged as misspelled anymore and sapphic does? Just sayin'...

Go Gaga at: 
http://www.ladygaga.com/