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Robert Irvine's Back in a New Season of Dinner: Impossible

YumSugar — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:00:00 -0700

In 2008, Food Network chef and host Robert Irvine sure had a roller coaster of a year. And his ride's not over quite yet: He's back and ready to return to the set of Dinner: Impossible.

According to the network, in the newest season of D:I, which premieres April 8, Irvine faces some of his most unique predicaments thus far. Now, more so than ever, he'll be forced to think creatively under great pressures and time limits. In the first challenge, Irvine must act under severe outdoor conditions to put together an extreme menu for athletes at the Winter X Games. In another challenge, the chef visits Yahoo's headquarters and faces a curve ball to cook with top-searched ingredients.

I think Food Network made the right decision in bringing back Irvine, and I'm pumped to see the ex-military chef bust his chops again in a new season of the show. Will you be tuning in?

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Biggest Headline of 2008: The Fall and Return of Robert Irvine

YumSugar — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:30:00 -0800

For Food Network star Robert Irvine, 2008 was dicier and more stressful than completing any challenge on Dinner: Impossible.

In February, news surfaced that the show's host had embellished his résumé. Many of Irvine's claims - that he was a KCVO Knight, awarded a castle by the Queen of England, attended the University of Leeds, and helped make the wedding cake for Prince Charles and Princess Diana - turned out to be made up.

The news, once it broke, seemed to be career suicide for Robert Irvine.

Food Network immediately distanced itself from Irvine, failing to renew his contract and replacing him as the host of the show with Next Iron Chef winner Michael Symon.

Last month, Food Network announced the near-impossible: It would be bringing the fallen Irvine back to host the show again. Many of you were excited about the turn of events, as you love Chef Symon but thought he was better suited for Iron Chefdom, anyway. New episodes with Irvine will debut in March 2009. Will you tune in to watch him again?

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Robert Irvine to Return to Dinner: Impossible

YumSugar — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 03:00:50 -0800

Last February, everyone was shocked to find out that Robert Irvine, the star of the Food Network show Dinner: Impossible, lied on his résumé. Although most of you said the incident didn't change your feelings about him, Irvine still got the boot from the Food Network and was subsequently replaced by Iron Chef Michael Symon.

Today I'm excited to have heard news of what I thought to be near-impossible: Irvine will be returning to host the show again. In a written statement, the Food Network announced it would shoot six new episodes with Irvine this month.

Our audience has continued to demonstrate its interest in and support for Robert . . . He has taken responsibility and made a conscious effort to clear the air, rebuild the relationship with Food Network and apologize for the earlier inaccuracies.

New episodes of the show, which challenges Irvine to prepare meals under strained situations, will debut in March 2009. I'm personally excited to hear this news, because we are big fans of Robert Irvine at my house. Do you feel the same way? Do you think that Irvine was a more compelling host than his replacement, Michael Symon?

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Michael Symon Takes on the Impossible

YumSugar — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:03:18 -0700

Remember when Robert Irvine was fired from his job at Food Network, and how many of you lamented the fact because you really enjoy Dinner: Impossible. Well quit your crying the show's not going anywhere. Food Network has said that they've been hoping to replace Irvine, and it appears they finally have.

Last year's Next Iron Chef winner, Michael Symon, will take over the Impossible reigns. The show's format won't be changing, Symon won't know where he's headed and he won't know his mission until he gets there. However, fans of the show will now be thrilled - or disappointed, depending on which camp you're in - to hear that the show will now be 60 minutes instead of 30. I personally think this is a great call, 30 minutes always seemed too heavily edited.

In addition to starring in this show - which officially begins in September, with one episode airing in July - Symon will also appear on Iron Chef America. And, if that wasn't enough, he's still got his restaurants Lola and Lolita in Cleveland, as well as a new restaurant opening in Detroit.

So tell me, are you planning on checking out the all-new Dinner: Impossible?

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Robert Irvine Hopes to Have Another TV Show

YumSugar — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:31:51 -0700

Remember when Robert Irvine got canned from Food Network, and how it was a bit shocking? Especially because it was hard to believe someone could embellish his resumé so much and get away with it for so long? Well, in the current issue of US Weekly, Robert Irvine has finally decided to say something. When asked about it, Irvine said:

I'm human and I do make mistakes. It's liberating having this behind me.

And like the tough guy he comes across as, Irvine is going to pick up where he left off and try new things. He's grateful for his fans and hopes to have another TV show in the future. He may also do more charity work for the military.

So what do you folks think? Would you watch another Robert Irvine TV show? Or is he over in your book?

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Without a Job, Dinner Is Really Going to Be Impossible

YumSugar — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:25:51 -0800

This just in! The folks at TMZ are reporting that Robert Irvine's contract with Food Network has not been renewed and that they will be looking for a new host for Dinner Impossible.

Most of you thought he shouldn't have embellished his résumé, and it seems that the powers that be at Food Network agree. Irvine has apologized by saying:

I was wrong to exaggerate in statements related to my experiences regarding the Royal Family.

However, it seems to be too little, too late.

So what do you think, do you think his résumé embellishment is enough reason for him to get canned from his job?

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Exclusive: Chris and Ola Share Strictly Backstage Secrets!

PopSugarUK — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:37:20 -0700

I'm loving this series of Strictly Come Dancing so I was very excited to have the opportunity to put some questions to Chris Hollins and his professional dance partner Ola Jordan. From their favourite routine to the most challenging dance, who they want to see win, and which judge they'd most like to have dinner with, the couple gave me all the gossip from backstage. For more Strictly fun play my faceoff game, and check out Chris and Ola's secrets below.

What's been your favourite dance and why?
Chris: It's got to be the rumba. it was my second ever dance and from the moment I started it I hated it, I didn't want to ever do it and gradually, slowly but surely I got into the mood of this romantic dance. And from the very first time that all our colleagues saw us do it we knew it was quite special. And then we got 30 points. Sadly never been near it since. Was it yours as well?
Ola: Yes, it would definitely be the rumba. I think we felt comfortable in the rumba and we had quite a lot of training before that dance.
Which dance has been the most challenging for you so far?
Chris: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8. Quickstep! The problem with fast music is that you've got more steps to learn.
Ola: And it's not even just that, there's a lot of kicks and movement and you've got to stay in a posture. It's just a difficult dance and I don't think it was Chris' dance.
Chris: The difficulty is if you forget something then it's practically impossible to get back into it. It's not like the rumba which is 1,2,3,4. If you miss something in the Quickstep it could be 16 steps before you can catch it up. I forgot 3 bits which is 3x16. That's quite a lot of steps. 48!

To find out which judge Chris wants to have dinner with, which couple he wants to see win the show, and to watch Chris and Ola's jive from Saturday, just read more.

If you don't win which couple would you like to see win?
Chris: Gosh that's a good questions isn't it. [To Ola] Shall we go for James? We'll go for James and Zoe. He's got to have some consolation for losing his wife.
Which judge would you most like to have dinner with?
Chris: Well, I'm going to look funny if I go to dinner with Bruno, Len or Craig but I would love to go for dinner with Len because I think he's got so many funny stories to tell. Yes, I'd go for Len as I think he's a real smoothy and I think he'd have a lot of funny stories.
What's the most fun aspect of Strictly and what's the most challenging?
Chris: I think the best thing about Strictly for me is the training with Ola. We have fun and you're doing something totally out of your comfort zone. Really enjoying just getting it. The worst thing about Strictly is having to perform it for me because you get everything right and then on Saturday you've got to show everyone what you've learnt and I find that really really tricky. Not the first week but since then I've found it really tricky not to panic. Most challenging is having to put it all together on Saturday night when you're nervous.

Thanks for sharing all the goss with us Chris and Ola, and good luck for Saturday!

To get more Strictly news visit the website and follow on Twitter.

Pictures © BBC

Michelle Gives Vogue Her First Post-Heath Interview

PopSugar — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:14:59 -0700

Michelle Williams graces the cover of Vogue's October issue, opening up about Heath Ledger for her first magazine interview since his death. The actress looks gorgeous as she promotes her pushed-back Shutter Island and provides us an in-depth look at how she and Matilda are dealing with their life after Heath's passing. She reveals she is no longer dating Spike Jonze, but sounds like she's staying strong as a single parent. Here's more:

On dealing with Heath's death: "I have been severely accident-prone over the past 12 months. I fell downstairs, broke a toe, put my fingers in a blender - seriously distracted. [I would often] cry, nap, sit and stare, try to figure out what to make [Matilda] for dinner, talk to friends on the phone. I was holding it together by a string and a paper clip in the Fall and Winter. I didn’t know if I could keep it all together."
On grieving with Matilda: "I just don’t see the upside to this. You console yourself by saying it’s all a deepening process. But it’s weird. After the first year, the pain is less intense; it’s less immediate. But the magical thinking goes away, too. And that’s a whole new reckoning. But every time I really miss him and wonder where he’s gone, I just look at her."
On splitting with Spike Jonze: "The timing was impossible. I thought falling in love again was the only thing that was going to save me from the pain. This erroneous idea: it just makes things more complicated."

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To read what Michelle had to say about her break up with Heath and her future just read more.

On before Heath died: "Brokeback Mountain was an unrepeatable moment in time, a very charmed time in my life. I was in love; I was in a movie I was proud to be a part of, and with a beautiful brand-new baby. Everything was good in that moment. [After we split I started filming a movie in Sweden because] I just didn’t want to be at home. Geography is a great solution for heartbreak."
On waiting so long before she started to do interviews: "I didn’t know what my boundaries were for a long time, which made interviews feel very unsafe. I can talk about grief, because that’s mine; about single parenting; about trying to balance work and kids. But what I don’t have to talk about is what happened between Heath and me in our relationship."
On dating while having a daughter: "I obviously don’t know how to [date with a child, but] I’m falling more and more in love with her and I think she deserves the bulk of my attention. We’re lucky. I can work. She can go to a good school. There’s a lot there for her. And she can know her dad in so many ways, and so many of his friends who will be able to tell her so many stories. His friends, his family - they were a big part of his life, and they will be a big part of her life."
On her future: "I feel hopeful and grateful. For a while I thought we had lost everything. It makes you want to love better and live better and treat people better.There is a great Gloria Steinem quote - and I’m paraphrasing - ‘Become the man you want to marry.’ I’ve taken that on. What qualities do I find attractive, and can I find them in myself? What am I missing? Can I be that for myself?"

Sam Sifton Is New York Times's Next Food Critic

YumSugar — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:00:22 -0700

When Frank Bruni announced he'd be stepping down as the New York Times's restaurant critic, readers were left with a pressing question: Who will step up to the dinner plate? The food world waited collectively with bated breath until the answer was announced today: Sam Sifton, the paper's current Culture editor, will begin reviewing in October.

The blogosphere wasted no time compiling critical stats on Sifton, and Gawker has already come up with a slew of potential dining guises for him. One thing's for sure: The role of restaurant critic is evolving. Even execs at the Times admit critics don't wield the power that they used to, and with photos of him already abundant on the web, dining incognito will be virtually impossible.

Sifton may be new to the position, but he's no novice - in fact, he was rumored to have turned down the job once before. In addition to being the culture editor at the Times, he's contributed to the $25 and Under column, reviewed restaurants before Bruni's arrival, and even served as Dining editor. In last month's New York Times Magazine, he detailed making meatloaf for Nora Ephron. What do you think of the news? At a time when media is evolving so rapidly, does the role of restaurant critic still have a place in the food world?

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Johnny Depp's Movies Are None of His Business

PopSugar — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:30:00 -0700

Johnny Depp looked hot as ever on his way into The Late Show yesterday to promote Public Enemies and was later swarmed by fans after his dinner in NYC. The actor had Dave cracking up during his interview as he joked about fearing for the boys who want to date his daughter, Lily-Rose. He also revealed he never watches his own movies, because once he's done acting it's "none of his business." Johnny talked about his island, barracudas, and how he hopes to never become a golfer. There aren't many actors with the charm and heart of Johnny anymore, which makes him all but impossible to resist. Check out the video below.

To see more photos, plus the video of Johnny's interview, just read more.

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