This weekend, I participated in the 31st annual College Television Awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Foundation. College students from around the country were nominated for their digital, video and film works and presented with 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes. The work is impressive and I’m proud to say our own former AccessHollywood.com intern Sophie Schillaci was among the nominees!
“Dancing with the Stars” host Tom Bergeron hosted the festivities (for the fourth year in a row) and celebrities from around the TV dial were gracious enough to present at the ceremony. I chatted with them to get some scoop for today’s Dish.
Sheldon’s Love Match?
“The Big Bang Theory’s” Jim Parsons was on hand to present an award for comedy. Jim recently finished taping the show’s Season 3 finale and spilled the beans on his potential new love interest played by Mayim Bialik (that’s Blossom to all you 80’s sitcom fans!) . Mayim’s character is said to be as nerdy as Sheldon and the two supposedly meet on eHarmony. “He may or may not have found his match in some form,” Jim revealed.
As for whether or not there is any actual “love” going on remains to be seen. “I feel as probably confused as you do about hearing it and I have already taped the episode! I still can’t tell you exactly what the hell happened,” Jim joked to me backstage.
I pondered if any kissing might be involved. “Was their kissing? We are [in] Season 3. You are talking Season 10 — ‘a special episode,’” he revealed. “No. I’m telling you and I don’t think I’m ruining anything. I, as the actor, am not exactly sure what happened and it’s taped it’s done. You know, it’s in the can.”
There have been questions raised by the show’s cult like fan base over whether Sheldon might be gay or straight. “Not only do you not know what sexuality [Sheldon is] for sure, but does he ever have the need to express his sexuality? I swear I don’t think you have that answered yet,” Jim laughed.
Tom’s Take On Kate
Prior to hosting the event, Tom Bergeron told me he didn’t expect any of the students to come to him for advice. Tom joked, “If you have seen some of the work that these kids are putting together, I would be more apt to ask them advice, I think!”
The one person he has no advice for is Kate Gosselin whose train wreck dancing seems to keep the viewers tuning in to “DWTS.” He was, however, quick to defend her over tabloid reports that she is a diva backstage. “It’s interesting too because backstage she is so charming. She is very quick to laugh. She has a very self-deprecating sense of humor – a real sparkle in her eyes. I think she just gets nervous on the stage. I kind of admire the fact that despite all that, she is out there giving it her best.”
He agrees with me that her two left feet are a ratings draw though. “There is a certain draw to watching somebody get out there and give it their best shot. It’s what kept Jerry Springer on for so long and Cloris [Leachman] and people like that. It’s not just dance ability or lack of ability, a lot of it is the heart you bring to it.”
Ty Talks Fatherhood
“Modern Family’s” Ty Burrell (aka Phil Dunphy) presented the comedy award alongside Jim. He started acting in his twenties and finally in his forties had a breakout role with the ABC show. He had this advice to the students at the event: “Work really hard and then get lucky,” he said. “I was just telling my mom today. We were looking out over the LA skyline. I honestly thought that I would be pouring pumped cheese at 7-Eleven. I had no idea that I would, you know, be able to get any steady work as an actor. I’m definitely feeling very lucky and I totally encourage people to stick with it.”
In an upcoming episode of “Modern Family,” the entire clan heads to Hawaii, something “The Brady Bunch” famously did for an episode. Ty told me that was not lost on the producers, saying, “Look very closely in the episode. We give a very quick, subtle homage to The Brady Bunch.”
In other big news, Ty and his wife just adopted a 9-week old baby girl they named Francis. “We are just very, very excited to have a beautiful, beautiful daughter,” he told me. “It’s been three weeks and she is sleeping through the night. In the last few days she has been sleeping eight hours a night. So it’s been amazing and she is just an incredible, incredible little creature.”
“SYTYCD” Judge Returns
“So You Think You Can Dance” producer/judge Nigel Lythgoe received an award for his philanthropy at the ceremony. He was thrilled to be part of such an inspiring night. “Number one, it’s great to recognize people this early in their careers and give them a boost ‘cause we all need that little bit of a kick to get us started.”
Fellow judge Adam Shankman was there to support his friend and confirmed to me that he will return as judge for the entire season of “So You Think You Can Dance” in May.
He said he is looking forward to all the changes Nigel made, which include the return of past contestants as all-star dancers. “I’m stoked about it,” he said. “I think having the all-stars on is going to make everybody change their game. I think it’s going to be really cool that audiences get to know the contestants a little bit better because they are only focusing on one person.”
Read about the “SYTYCD” changes HERE
Tonight, I will be with the cast of “Glee” as they celebrate the return of the show tomorrow night. All the scoop from that in tomorrow’s Dish. Plus, my exclusive with Betty White and Valerie Bertinelli. Why is Betty terrified to do “Saturday Night Live”?
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