Issue Date: October 5, 2008
Arsenio Hall debuts "The World's Funniest Moments," a show of funny home videos, Wednesday on MyNetworkTV. Hall, 53, says his idea of humor has evolved since he became a dad eight years ago: "I'm looking for sweet things that make you laugh, not violent or rude." His former nighttime talk show was the place for celebs to reach young people, and he'll be watching what happens on the late-night scene when Jay Leno leaves his "Tonight" chair to Conan O'Brien. "I would sell my child if I could get a show just one night [a week]." He says he'd be so busy he'd need good child care help. "Seriously, my son would have to go live with [buddy] Eddie Murphy."
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Diahann Carroll, 73, who has broken down racial barriers, also has married four times. And her new memoir, "The Legs Are the Last to Go," is about using life's lessons to age gracefully. "I'm examining areas I think were not as clearly defined [when I was younger]. Who are my friends? Why am I attracted to someone?" she tells us. "So much of my life was fixated on sexuality. That is going to be very much a part of my aging process." Because she mentions them, we ask how she keeps those legs lovely. "It's a bore," she says, but "I exercise almost constantly."
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How do producers match celebrities and professional dancers on "Dancing With the Stars?" Do they do a casting call for dancers?
Janice Schweizer, Bothell, Wash.
Exec producer Conrad Green says it's simple: "We know our dancers well, so we try to pick partnerships where we think their personalities will gel, and where their height, age and looks are compatible." Casting calls aren't needed, but some scouting is. "Between each season, our producers go to dance competitions and use our contacts in the ballroom world to find good new dancers to work with."
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What are Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie doing now that they're young adults? Are they close to Princes William and Harry, their cousins?
J. Moore, Maquoketa, Iowa
Bea, 20, has been called "the velvet rope princess" for her night-clubbing and celebrity friends. But the biggest name to her is boyfriend Dave Clark, 26, son of an American millionaire. (Wills set them up.) She's in college in London; Eugenie, 18, is taking a year off before college. The princes are in the military, so the girls don't see them much.
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What is the background of "Good Morning America's" Sam Champion?
Orlando Hodges, Detroit
"We were a military family, and we moved every couple of years," says Champion, 47, who worked in several markets before landing in NYC. He thought he'd be a foreign correspondent, but weather "was my first paying job in television, and I really fell for it."
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Ever cringed while watching a big star fall flat on a talk show? Ramey Warren has. So she became "the guest whisperer." Not only does she coach newbie stars, but Warren also dissects celebrity/host matchups and rates them with one to five whispers on the guest whisperer.com. Who gets top ratings? "Tom Hanks and George Clooney -- both are perfect." As are Jenny McCarthy and Kyra Sedgwick. "They are not afraid to say what is true. People can relate to them."
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Is NBC's "Lipstick Jungle" back for a full season?
Joni Snyder, Defiance, Ohio
Too early to tell. NBC ordered 13 episodes, so it should at least make it to midseason.
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BIRTHDAYS
October 5: Kate Winslet, 33; Steve Miller, 65
October 6: Rebecca Lobo, 35; Elisabeth Shue, 45
October 7: Rachel McAdams, 32; Simon Cowell, 49
October 8: Nick Cannon, 28; Matt Damon, 38
October 9: Tony Shalhoub, 55; Sharon Osbourne, 56
October 10: Mya, 30; Brett Favre, 39
October 11: Jane Krakowski, 40; Joan Cusack, 46
Contributing: Gayle Jo Carter, Brenda Duran, Lisa Gartner, kathy rowings, Jon Tollestrup
 Ask Lorrie Lynch a question about a celeb!
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