Here’s a look at my top 5 daytime talk show stories of 2007.  Well, there were a lot more but it’s New Year’s Eve and I want to go celebrate!  Here are the ones that came to mind:

#5 – Oprah Becomes a YouTube Star!

The "Queen of All Media" has added one more notch to her belt – a YouTube channel.  We can all now go and subscribe to her videos (too bad they don’t allow sites to embed them!).  It’s great because she sometimes puts behind-the-scenes footage.  You should check it out!

#4 – Regis Philbin Has Heart Surgery

Live with Regis and Kelly host, Regis Philbin, underwent open-heart surgery, further fuelling the rumors that he will retire sometime in the near future.  He pulled through the procedure like a champ but he has taken a number of days off.  Will we see a new host in 2008?

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I know that I went out last night, scrambling to find last-minute goodies for my New Year’s celebration tonight.  Sure, it’s going to be casual and relaxed because I’m staying home but I still want to say goodbye to 2007 with some good food!  I wish I had seen this story from the Today show a day earlier.  Here are some last minute tips:

Party decor
Keep your color scheme simple. Buy all of your decorations and party supplies in only two colors. For example: Choose a black and silver theme. Your tablecloth(s) should be all black, your balloons all silver, your napkins, noisemakers, hats and New Year’s Eve décor all black and silver. Your cups and plastic ware should all be clear. This simple color scheme will make your inexpensive party supplies seem classy and rich.

Grocery stores, electronics stores and party-supply spots are all open today and most have Web sites and offer same-day delivery; call ahead to put your party supplies on hold.

Using lighting and disco balls is a fun way to dress up your party. Electronics stores carry strobe lights, par cans and disco balls, or they can be found online. Web sites such as  www.etronics.com are offering same-day delivery, so it’s not too late.

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Today show’s Giada De Laurentiis shared some great recipes that could be a nice last-minute addition to your New Year’s celebrations tonight.  I love orecchiete pasta (they are the ones that look like little ears) and prosciutto so this caught my eye (and my taste buds) instantly.

Here are the recipes:

Prosciutto Mozzarella Pinwheels (Serves 6-8)

Ingredients

• Flour, for dusting
• 1 pound purchased pizza dough
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 7 ounces prosciutto, thinly sliced
• 1 cup coarsely chopped baby spinach(about 1 1/2 ounces)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

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It’s the last day of 2007!!!  Here’s a look at what’s on today!

Technorati Tags: on,dr phil,ellen,ellen degeneres,martha,martha stewart,oprah winfrey,oprah,rachael ray,rachel ray,regis and kelly,kelly ripa,the view,tyra,tyra banks,tyra show,november,2007

Ellen Degeneres has had a tough time over the past couple of months and I was, actually, a bit worried about her show.  First, there was the on-air tears and public spat over a dog named, Iggy, whom she had given to her hairdresser’s children, only to have it taken back from the animal rescue agency because of breach of contract.  Then, she called Brad Womack, the star of this season’s installment of The Bachelor, a "jerk" on national television and was forced to apologize.  Finally, she crossed picket lines after the writers’ strike began and, although she explained herself, she was called a scab and a backstabber. 

After all of this, I was surprised to learn that Ellen has actually done better than normal and, on December 16th, her show reached a new high!  The Hollywood Reporter states that Ellen’s show is actually up 9 percent over last year while Oprah has hit a season low.

What do you think about this?

Live with Regis and Kelly is searching for America’s most beautiful baby!  If selected, your child will be featured on the cover of Parenting magazine and will receive $125,000 towards their college education!!!  That’s amazing!  In addition $100,000 will be divided between the 4 runner-ups and all semi-finalists will receive $1,000 in Walgreens gift cards!  Click Here for the Official Beautiful Baby Search Rules

Click here to enter on Live’s website!

OR enter by mail – Send your non-returnable baby photo to Live and remember to include your name, mailing address, email address, day & evening phone numbers, the date the photo was taken and the name(s) of anyone appearing in the photo. If Live chooses to show your photo on-air, they will need a completed ON-AIR PHOTO RELEASE from the owner and each person included in the photo.  Please mail your baby photo and ON-AIR PHOTO RELEASE to:

LIVE’S BEAUTIFUL BABY SEARCH
Ansonia Station
P.O. 234054
New York, NY 10023-9453

Do you want to see Live’s Beautiful Baby Gallery?  Click on the image below!

Have Oprah Winfrey’s fans grown tired of hearing about presidential candidate, Barack Obama?  They are if you believe some of the comments that have been left on Oprah.com.

One posting on her site, Oprah.com, accused the talk diva of being a traitor. Another poster told Winfrey to “stop pushing Obama down our throats.”  Another said: “Do you really know Barack Hussein Obama? Scary & something we have to take into consideration!”

“First of all I want to say that I am a HUGE Oprah fan,” one poster wrote. “I love what she stands for. She is a strong woman changing the world. However, I have been extremely disappointed with her recent touring with Barack Obama. It is a manipulation and an abuse of her power and influence on the American culture.

“Let the American people form their own opinion, Oprah.”

I personally think that Oprah, just like any other citizen, has the right to campaign for and support whomever she wants.  I don’t feel threatened by her involvement with Barack Obama and I hope that everyone who feels passionately about something should get involved.  This is what she feels is the right thing to do.  I’m not sure what the furor is about.  Well, at least now her boyfriend, Stedman Graham, isn’t the only person who doesn’t like how much time she’s spending with Obama.

I want to hear from you.  What do you think of the situation?

source

Today show’s resident chef, Giada De Laurentiis, is expecting her first baby.  Of course, people assume that her baby will be proficient in the culinary arts as well even if she’s not so sure.  Here’s what she has to say to Redbook.

"I hope I can pass on the love of food to my child the way my family did to me," De Laurentiis, 37, tells Redbook" for its January issue. "We spent a lot of warm, loving times in the kitchen.
"But watch, I will probably end up with a child who not only doesn’t care about food, but doesn’t ever want to set foot in a kitchen!" she says.

Does the foodie and her husband have a nickname for their growing fetus?

"We call the baby ‘the lemon,’ " De Laurentiis says. "It started off as ‘the lima bean,’ but now we’ve moved to ‘the lemon,’ and pretty soon, it’ll probably be ‘the melon.’ "

via Celebrity Tots

American Idol’s Ryan Seacrest will be co-hosting "Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve" and Good Morning America gave us a sneak peek at the infamous countdown ball and some other planned festivities! 

Miley Cyrus will start the partying with a concert in Times Square. "You couldn’t get a ticket to see her," said Seacrest. "The tickets were going for thousands of dollars."  He also said that they scheduled her part of the show earlier so that younger viewers could catch a glimpse of their favorite star before bedtime (how sweet!).  (click on the link to see a video of the 2008 Times Square Ball)

Teen sensations The Jonas Brothers and country music breakout star Carrie Underwood will also be performing.

Seacrest first met Underwood on the set of "American Idol" and knew then that she was headed to greatness. "I have to give credit to the judges. They said this girl will be a superstar. She’s won so many awards and she’s broken records in the country chart," said Seacrest.

"I have a special place in my ‘Idol’ heart for Carrie," Seacrest told ABCNEWS.com.

The celebration will broadcast from both coasts with the Hollywood party hosted by Fergie, who will also be performing along with Akon, Natasha Bedingfield, Sean Kingston, Plain White T’s, Taylor Swift and will.i.am.

Ryan also recounted how, as a child, he wished he was like Dick Clark – "When I was a kid I used to watch him [Clark] and see all the action here in Times Square, a million people gathered, the ball dropping, a tradition."

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There are so many stories involving tragedy everyday.  This story of survival was so refreshing and miraculous that I actually started crying for this family. 

Max Zilvitis was entombed by an avalanche on Sunday and when the 11-year-old boy was finally found, his body had turned blue, he had stopped breathing and he had no pulse.  After 30 minutes under the snow, the boy was revived.  How?  Here’s the story from Good Morning America.

"I remember I was going down a run called North Face and I got stuck in a little bit of powder at the bottom of the run, and then I heard my dad shout ‘avalanche’ and then I looked and there was an avalanche and it hit me and then I remember being under the snow for a little bit, but then I lost consciousness and then I woke up in the hospital," said Max.

Miraculous Rescue

"I remember the snow building up across my legs and building up my lower back and I think I was buried up about to my waist. I don’t really remember getting out, I just remember wanting to find Max," said Brain. As soon as he got out, he immediately called 911 to get help for his son.

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