The annual “Hollywood Christmas Celebration at The Grove” was held Sunday, November 13, 2011, bringing the spirit of the holiday season to Los Angeles.
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| Gavin DeGraw Continue reading |
SPOTTED: Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Immortals) at The Grove for an interview with Mario Lopez of Extra.
SPOTTED: Ricki Lake took a much-needed break from Dancing with the Stars rehearsals recently to chat with Mario Lopez of Extra at The Grove. Ricki showed up without DWTS partner Derek Hough but was in great spirits showing off her slimmed down body and bruises – Hey, sometimes, you just can’t have one without the other!
What’s the grueling DWTS schedule been like for the 43-year old mother of two? “It’s like giving birth,” she says. Since her interview with Extra, Ricki has been been suffering from sharp chest pains for more than a week caused by an inflamed nerve. It’s so bad that her doctor tells her this kind of situation would require a two-week rest period for a professional athlete.
But that advice won’t stop this determined dancer in chase of the mirrorball trophy. “I’m OK,” she tells The Hollywood Reporter after this week’s competition show. “I’m in pain, but I’m a workhorse.”
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| Ricki leaving The Grove hand in hand with a young man |
SPOTTED: Makism Chmerkovskiy and his Dancing with the Stars partner, Hope Solo at The Grove in Los Angeles November 3, 2011 for an interview with Mario Lopez of Extra.
Maks talked about his superstitions when it comes to dancing: He wears two pairs of socks at each performance: An athletic pair underneath his dress socks. As for his developing feud with Derek Hough, Maks said he has no problems with Derek and has no idea what is going on, he just gets texts from his friends telling him of stories they read in the media.
Update: Click here to see a funny photo Maks Twitted about his “fight” with Derek!
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| Maks fixing his hair after dancing….cute! |
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| Maks and Hope playing keep away with the fake mirrorball trophy |
SPOTTED: J.R. Martinez and Karina Smirnoff of Dancing with the Stars at an interview with Extra at The Grove with Mario Lopez.
J.R. also covers this week’s People mag with the headline, “Triumph After Tragedy.”
The 28 year-old Iraq war hero was involved in a 2003 explosion after his Humvee hit a land mine. He suffered burns covering 40 percent of his body and underwent surgeries and a grueling 34-month treatment. Yet, despite all of his struggles, J.R. tells People, “I’m being blessed in so many ways, and it’s because of the energy I’m putting out in the world.”
The former All My Children star says if it weren’t for the accident, his “life would not be what it is today: full of joy, happiness and positivity.”
“When you show people who you really are and you’re genuine, you don’t have to force positivity. I’m not your typical person walking down the street. I’m cool with being different.”
And those are the reasons why America has fallen in love with J.R.
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| Karina and J.R. brought gifts for Mario’s baby Gia |
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| Old pals, ex’s, and DWTS partners Mario and Karina catching up after the interview |
SPOTTED: Bethenny Frankel drinking some Skinnygirl White Cranberry Cosmos with good friend Mario Lopez at The Grove during an interview with Extra.
Hilary Duff chose The Ellen DeGeneres Show to announce the sex of her unborn child, on an episode which will air Monday.
SPOTTED: Demi Lovato at The Grove in Los Angeles on October 11, 2011 for an interview with Extra‘s Mario Lopez.
Demi, who is happy and healthy for the first time in a long time, is ready to get back on stage when her Unbroken tour takes off November 16, 2011 in Detroit. Her new tune, Skyscraper, is a “song about rising above your problems and …is supposed to inspire people,” Lovato said.
Lovato, who publicly battled bulimia and was involved in cutting herself, recently finished a three-month-long stint at a treatment facility. She said sharing her past ordeals is not only therapeutic for her, but it also lets her inspire people in similar situations to get help. “When you go through something like this,” Lovato said, “you really find out who your true friends are and [Kim Kardashian and Selena Gomez] were really there for me.”
Happy birthday to Mario Lopez of Extra who turned 38 on October 10, 2011.
Mario’s girlfriend, Courtney Mazza, and the couple’s daughter, Gia, came to the set of Extra at The Grove to help our fave Libra celebrate!
SPOTTED: Kelly Osbourne at The Grove for an interview with Mario Lopez of Extra September 30, 2011.