Ferrera, Efron receive Family Television Awards
Ferrera, Efron receive
Family Television Awards
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — America Ferrera has won another honor for her portrayal of the title character on ABC’s “Ugly Betty.” She won the best actress award at the ninth Family Television Awards for her role as the sartorially challenged Betty Suarez trying to make it in the tough New York fashion world. The series won best comedy. Ferrera, 23, has earned Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards for playing Betty. Zac Efron, 20, won the best actor award for his role as teen idol Troy Bolton in Disney’s “High School Musical 2,” which won the best movie musical award. Best new series went to ABC’s “Pushing Daisies.” The awards, presented Wednesday night, are given by the Family Friendly Programming Forum and recognize what it decides is outstanding programming for family viewing.
Jennifer Love Hewitt
gets engaged to actor
LOS ANGELES — Jennifer Love Hewitt is engaged to her boyfriend, Scottish actor Ross McCall. Hewitt, star of the CBS drama “Ghost Whisperer,” became engaged last week, her publicist, Sarah Fuller, told The Associated Press on Thursday. Fuller said she had no details on the couple’s wedding plans. The engagement was reported Wednesday on Us Weekly’s Web site. Hewitt, 28, also starred in the TV series “Party of Five” and “Time of Your Life.” Her film credits include “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and “The Tuxedo.” McCall has appeared in the TV miniseries “Band of Brothers,”
“CSI:NY” and “Ghost Whisperer.”
Alicia Keys in Tokyo
TOKYO — The Christmas season starts early in Tokyo, and Alicia Keys was there Thursday to help get it going. The 26-year-old singer appeared at a Tokyo office building to sing a few songs from her new album, “As I Am,” and wish a crowd of several hundred people a happy holiday season — with a three-story-tall Christmas tree behind her. “My new name is Alicia Trees,” she joked. “As I Am,” released Nov. 13, has risen to the top of the Japanese charts. Keys said the album’s success shows her music has universal appeal. “I want to reach all kinds of listeners. It means a lot to me that people from all places can appreciate the music,” she said. “I can’t wait to come back for a big tour.” Keys said she plans to spend the holidays back home in the United States. “Christmas is always special for me,” she said. “I like to have a big meal with my family.”
Don’t worry, celebrities,
it won’t be a tell-all book
LOS ANGELES — Veteran Hollywood agent Sam Haskell said Wednesday he had signed a book deal, but that former clients including Bill Cosby, Dolly Parton and Ray Romano need not worry about a juicy tell-all memoir. Haskell, who retired from the William Morris Agency three years ago at age 49, said his goal was to “share my journey and adventures and how I went through what they call the shark-filled waters” of the entertainment industry with his integrity intact. “I have a lot to say and a lot of examples that will be used, but it’s not the kind of thing someone would have to be afraid of,” Haskell said. The book, written with David Rensin and published by Ballantine Books, will be out in late 2008 or early 2009, Haskell said.
Today’s birthdays
Actor Efrem Zimbalist Jr. is 90. Actor Robert Guillaume is 80. TV personality and producer Dick Clark is 78. Radio talk show host G. Gordon Liddy is 77. Country singer-recording executive Jimmy Bowen is 70. Movie director Ridley Scott is 70. Singer Rob Grill (The Grassroots) is 64. Rock musician Roger Glover (Deep Purple) is 62. Playwright David Mamet is 60. Actor Mandy Patinkin is 55. Singer Billy Idol is 52. Comedian Colin Mochrie is 50. Former football and baseball player Bo Jackson is 45. Rapper Jalil (Whodini) is 44. Actor-director Ben Stiller is 42. Actress Sandra Oh is 37. Singer Clay Aiken is 29.