Spend a lot of time with a guy over five years, and you get to know him pretty well. In the time Carrie Underwood has spent co-hosting the Country Music Association Awards with Brad Paisley, she’s learned there’s nothing fake about the man with the white hat.
Mr. Paisley’s not projecting the family first, fun-loving, good-guy persona that’s made him one of country music’s most popular stars. That’s who he is, and he’s found an uncommon balance Miss Underwood really didn’t believe existed in show business.
“He’s not a different person in front of the camera and a whole different person away from the cameras,” Miss Underwood said in a recent interview. “He is the way you think he is. It’s really great to see how somebody has balanced family life and doing this, you know, being in our crazy world. Because a few years ago I was wondering how on earth anybody could make that work. And seeing him and [wife] Kimberly [Williams-Paisley] – she’s superbusy, too – being able to juggle that is very encouraging.”
That doesn’t mean Miss Underwood’s ready to start a family just yet.
She and husband Mike Fisher, a star player for the NHL’s Nashville Predators, are at the peak of their respective careers. The former “American Idol” winner’s latest album, “Blown Away,” was a multiweek No. 1 on the country albums chart. She’s in the midst of an arena tour and also is up for female vocalist of the year at Thursday night’s awards, airing live on ABC at 8 p.m. EDT from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
Children are in the plan “eventually,” though.
“It’s so funny, I still think of myself I guess being much younger than I actually am,” Miss Underwood said. “I’m like, I’m too young to have kids when I’m 29 years old, so I’m really not. My mom had a couple in her early 20s, and a lot of people do. I don’t know, I guess it’s a sign of my immaturity in that area. I’ve only been married two years. I really want to enjoy that and really figure that out a little better before we start throwing so much responsibility into that.”
’Jersey Shore’ cast sends support to Sandy victims
The town that for millions made “Jersey Shore” synonymous with Snooki and fist-pumping was among the hardest hit by superstorm Sandy – and its famous summer residents sent their prayers to those affected.
“Sandy destroyed Seaside – our second home,” Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi told MTV News in a statement. “It’s devastating to see our boardwalk and favorite spots ruined. My prayers go out to everyone affected by the storm.”
Jenni “JWoww” Farley appeared on the “Tonight Show With Jay Leno” and he asked about the house she owns with her fiance, Roger, in Toms River.
“Fixable, I want to say. It’s really, it like hurts the heart a lot. It’s really kind of devastating,” she said. “But as long as like my dogs, Roger’s safe, my friends are safe, we’re just all without power.”
Vinny Guadagnino told MTV that Seaside Heights had become his second home, while Paul “Pauly D” DelVecchio sent thanks to the “heroes” who were working to help. Sammi Giancola called the impact “devastating.”
Mr. Guadagnino tweeted that Staten Island, N.Y., where he lives, “looks like war zone” and posted a picture of a downed tree.
He, Miss Farley and Mr. DelVecchio asked their Twitter followers to donate $10 to the American Red Cross by texting REDCROSS to 90999. Miss Polizzi also said she would donate but was more true to form: “Ugh trying to change my son’s diaper while holding a flash light is not easy,” she wrote from East Hanover, using the hashtag “nopower.”
’Community’ return date, NBC midseason lineup set
NBC has scheduled a return date for “Community” as part of its midseason schedule.
After yanking the series from its planned return on Oct. 19, the network has scheduled the Joel McHale comedy for 8 p.m. on Feb. 7, returning the series to its former Thursday time slot, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
With second-year comedy “Up All Night” going on an extended hiatus from December to April or May to shift from a single-camera comedy to a multicamera format, “Parks and Recreation” will move up an hour to 8:30 p.m. starting Jan. 17.
After originally slotting “Community’s” fourth season for Fridays, NBC pulled the cult favorite and sophomore comedy “Whitney” from its schedule in October. “Whitney” since has been scheduled to take over the time slot of canceled freshman entry “Animal Practice” at 8 p.m. Thursdays starting Nov. 7.
Meanwhile, “Smash” will return at 9 p.m. on Feb. 5, with rookie drama “Deception” (formerly titled “Infamous”) set for Jan. 7, the Josh Gad comedy “1600 Penn” bowing Jan. 10, Eva Longoria’s unscripted series “Ready for Love” premiering March 31 and “The Voice’s” fourth cycle kicking off March 25-26.
TV chef Emeril talks boudin, beer and New Orleans
Emeril Lagasse has a new cookbook and new season of TV’s “Top Chef” premiering in a week, but what really got the chef talking was boudin and beer.
Mr. Lagasse said Wednesday that chefs from across the country are heading to New Orleans this week to serve up some of their favorite dishes using or inspired by boudin – a pork and rice sausage combo common in Louisiana cuisine.
“It’s a staple in what we do in Louisiana, but lots of cultures have their own versions of boudin,” Mr. Lagasse told The Associated Press.
Chefs from San Francisco and elsewhere will join two dozen from New Orleans for Mr. Lagasse’s “Boudin and Beer” street party at The Foundry, where on Friday they’ll dish out their fare among live music and Louisiana-brewed Abita beer.
The Foundry is the site of a former brewery dating back to the 1850s.
The event kicks off a two-day celebration of Louisiana food and culture benefitting the Emeril Lagasse Foundation, a charity the chef established in 2002 to support children’s education programs in culinary arts and nutrition.
The celebration continues Saturday with a gala, wine auction and five-course dinner prepared by chefs Mario Batali, Marc Forgione, Tyler Florence and others.
“New Orleans is one of the greatest food cities in the country, if not the world,” said Mr. Lagasse, who has lived there 30 years. “I fell in love with the city, the food, the culture. It’s why I’m still here.”
Mr. Lagasse has three restaurants in New Orleans and nine in other U.S. cities. He’s returning as a celebrity judge for the 10th season of Bravo’s “Top Chef,” which premieres Nov. 7.
Compiled from wire reports.
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