Pop Confidential

Today's episode of the Pop Confidential podcast will be quite the treat for anyone who is still enamored by the glam days of Studio 54 and Andy Warhol's Factory experience. Hosts Jamey Giddens and Luke Kerr welcome the world's first black supermodel, Beverly Johnson, who shot to fame in the 1970's— the same decade that saw her pal, Robert DuPont and his twin brother Richard, take the 54 club scene by storm. Johnson and DuPont graciously agreed to give the PC guys their very first interview together, promoting their upcoming OWN docusoap Beverly's Full House!

The beauty mogul and her partner-in-fab dish about what it was like to put the lives of their immediate families and friends on camera. Should we expect drama between Johnson and her daughter, plus-size model Anansa Sims (Who will also be appearing in Beverly's Full House, alongside her ex-NFL player hubby David Patterson and baby daughter Ava)? How about when Robert's twin brother Richard shows up for an episode or two? Let's just say, a botox party can spark a sibling rivalry quicker than a sacrifice on the outskirts of the Garden of Eden!

Johnson also talks about her ever-growing line of beauty and hair care products, wigs and extensions, sold at her website, BeverlyJohnson.com and at department store chain Target. What does Johnson think of the whole debate over black women and their hair, as explored in movies like Chris Rock's Good Hair? You'll want to tune in as Johnson takes it all the way back to the Mother Land in support of a sistah's proud right to weave her 'do!

What do DuPont and Johnson make of today's celeb culture, where all it takes to become famous is to get pregnant, or party on the Jersey Shore? Does that fit into Warhol's "15 Minutes of Fame" theory?

Would either Johnson and/or the DuPont twins ever write a pair of tell-alls about the scandalous Studio 54 days —tomes filled with dishy details about their exploits with the likes of Warhol, Halston, Salvador Dali and more? You'll have to download the podcast to find out!

Beverly's Full House premieres March 31 at 10/9C on OWN. Check your local listings!

From the moment she crooned onto the scene in the early 80's, the world knew it had found a superstar in Whitney Houston. On today's Pop Confidential, Jamey Giddens, Luke Kerr, Jillian Bowe, Regan Cellura and Melodie Aikels look back on the life and legacy of Whitney Elizabeth Houston, the world's most-awarded musical act of all time.

The PC gang charts the early success of Houston's self-titled debut album Whitney Houston, released on Valentine's Day in 1985, producing such unforgettable jams as "You Give Good Love," "Saving All My Love For You," "How Will I Know" and "The Greatest Love of All."

Then they reflect on Houston's second record, 1987's pop-heavy Whitney, which yielded a whopping four Number One hit singles on the Billboard Hot 100 charts ("I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)," "Didn't We Almost Have It All," "So Emotional" and "Where Do Broken Hearts Go?," making Houston the first female singer to achieve such a feat.

Next they discuss Houston's third album, the R&B-tinged I'm Your Baby Tonight from 1990, produced by uber producers L.A. Reid and Babyface. While this record didn't have the crossover appeal of Whitney, Houston's third effort produced several notable songs the gang fondly remembers, including the title track “I’m Your Baby Tonight” and Jamey's favorite kiss-off song "My Name Is Not Susan."

It was Houston's next musical collection, coupled with her big screen debut, which cemented her status as a pop culture deity. In 1992, the diva starred opposite Kevin Costner in the interracial romantic thriller The Bodyguard. It was for that hit film's soundtrack Houston recorded what would become her most popular track of all time. Her sultry version of country music legend Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" became the best-selling single by a female artist of all time.

In addition to "I Will Always Love You," cuts like "Run to You," "I Have Nothing," "Queen of the Night" and Houston's remake of Chaka Khan's "I'm Every Woman," helped The Bodyguard soundtrack become the best-selling movie soundtrack of all time. Tune in to hear Mel, Jillian and the rest of the PC gang recall what The Bodyguard phenomenon was like for them.

After the twin successes of The Bodyguard and its soundtrack, Houston continued to release music in conjunction with her work as an actress for years to come. In 1995, she starred alongside Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine and Lela Rochon in the film adaptation of Terry McMillan's New York Times’ Best-Selling novel Waiting to Exhale and performed the title track “Exhale (Shoop Shoop)” for the ultimate chick flick’s soundtrack. Tune in to hear PC’s Regan speak about how Exhale’s message of women being sick and tired of their guys’ b.s. transcended color barriers.

The next year, Houston—by this point one of Hollywood’s highest paid actresses—starred opposite Denzel Washington in The Preacher’s Wife, a remake of the classic film The Bishop’s Wife. The accompanying soundtrack became the best-selling gospel CD of all-time, and even made a fan of our generally pop culture-challenged Luke, who at the time was tucked away at boarding school, rocking out to Houston’s soul-stirring jams. You’ll want to download this podcast to hear Jillian, Jamey, Regan and Mel’s stunned reactions to that particular revelation!

Continuing on with the highly-successful music/acting combo that had been serving her in good stead since The Bodyguard, in 1997 Houston starred as the Fairy Godmother to her protégé Brandy Norwood in a Magical World of Disney remake of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella. The TV musical, which Houston also produced with Debra Martin Chase (whom she would go on to produce the mega hit Princess Diaries films and a Sparkle remake with), was watched by over 60 million people and was the Number One show on television the week it premiered.

The year 1998 saw Houston’s career reach its peak as the urban My Love is You Love, arguably Houston’s last great CD, dropped, as did her duet with Mariah Carey for the Oscar-winning “When You Believe” from the Prince of Egypt soundtrack.

After reminiscing about the amazing accomplishments Houston achieved in her legendary career, the gang takes a look back at the men in her life, from Philadelphia Eagles player Randall Cunningham, who was rumored to have inspired one of Houston’s best love ballads, “Didn’t We Almost Have It All,” to Eddie Murphy and Brandy’s little brother Ray-J and of course, to Bobby Brown — the R&B bad boy she married, and the father of their now 18-year-old daughter Bobbi Kristina.

What drew the seemingly classy singer to the troubled New Edition front man and soloist? Was Brown responsible for Houston’s history of substance abuse, or were they both culpable for how co-dependent and ugly their showbiz romance became?

What will come of Houston’s long-awaited comeback, that was to include a new CD and her return to the big screen in Sparkle and the Exhale sequel Getting to Happy? The PC’ers talk about all of that and so much more in one of the hardest podcasts they’ve ever had to tape.

You love her as Veronica, the feisty, sexy next door neighbor and best friend to those incorrigible Gallagher's on Showtime's hit dramedy Shameless. The outrageous Shanola Hampton joins Jamey Giddens and Luke Kerr on this episode of the Pop Confidential Podcast!

Tune in to hear the striking, mocha-hued, dreadlocked thespian reveal how she managed to nab the scene-stealing role of V, which is played by a white actress in the original U.K. version of Shameless. Does she think it's getting better for actresses of color in Hollyweird?

Listen as Hampton shares a laugh-out-loud story about what happened when a fan recognized her as the uninhibited Veronica, and decided to admonish her about her character's onscreen sexual antics with hubby Kev played by Steve Howey! Speaking of Howey, you'll want to hear this funny lady talk about the first time they worked together—on the WB series Reba—and what special memento they brought to their Shameless set from the hit sitcom. How did Howey feel about having Hampton wielding gardening shears at his junk in a recent episode of Shameless? Only one way to find out, and that's to tune in!

How does Hampton feel about playing essentially the moral center and voice of reason for Fiona and her wild siblings? Are she and Fiona's portrayer Emmy Rossum and the rest of the Shameless cast, as close offscreen as they are on? You'll have to download the interview to find out all of this and much more!

We've been following him since her covered soaps for TV Guide. Now one of the magazine's senior writers, Damian Holbrook, is back to talk all things boob tube with the Pop Confidential gang!

During the zany hour, Holbrook dishes the latest dirt from the Winter TCA press tour, proving PC's Jamey Giddens, Luke Kerr, Jillian Bowe, Regan Cellura and Melodie Aikels with more tea than Queen Elizabeth could drink, about such shows as Once Upon a Time, GCB, Grimm and of course the gang's guiltiest pleasure — Revenge!

Who does Holbrook think died that night on the beach in the Hamptons? You'll have to download the eppy to find out!

Holbrook also breaks down what went wrong with Are You There, Chelsea? How could a series based on such a hilarious book by funny lady Chelsea Handler have turned out so badly?

Speaking of things that turned out badly, Holbrook gives insider deets on how the amount of rape jokes that made their way into the scripts of the CBS sitcom Two Broke Girls landed the sitcom in hot water!

What did Holbrook think of little Lily's cursing fit on Modern Family? How is he coping with the approaching end of his beloved One Tree Hill? Does he believe Smash can save NBC? Considering he's seen the first four episodes of the musical soap, you'll wanna hear what he has to say about it and so much more!

On today’s Pop Confidential podcast Jamey Giddens, Luke Kerr, Jillian Bowe and Melodie Aikels dish all the latest pop culture headlines, including:

Beyonce gives birth to a baby girl. Katy Perry and Russell Brand get a divorce. Chaz Bono is saving up to for a surgery.

Donald Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice announces its new cast. Chelsea Handler gets a new studio. Kathy Griffin gets a talk show on Bravo. Tyler has a meltdown on Revenge. Damon and Elena kiss on The Vampire Diaries. Is The Secret Circle better than TVD? Teddy finds out her husband died on Grey’s Anatomy. Shameless returns tonight for its second season. House of Lies premieres on Showtime. Which midseason series are the PC gang looking forward to most?

The Devil Inside scares its ways to the top of the Box Office.

Selena Gomez is putting her music on hold to focus on movies. Jason Derulo cancels UK tour after fracturing his neck.

All this and much more on today’s Pop Confidential podcast.

On today’s Pop Confidential podcast Jillian Bowe joins Larry Flick and Keith Price in studio. During her visit they discuss the rapidly nearing end of One Life to Live, the state of General Hospital, Revenge, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Love & Hip Hop and Mob Wives. They are then joined by stars of VH1’s Mob Wives who share behind-the-scenes dish about its juicy second season. If you’re addicted to Mob Wives like Jillian Bowe is, this is a podcast you won’t want to miss.

Visit Sirius/XM for more on The Morning Jolt With Larry Flick and follow Larry Flick and Keith Price on Twitter.

On today’s Pop Confidential podcast Jamey Giddens, Luke Kerr, Jillian Bowe, Regan Cellura and Melodie Aikels wrap up the year by revealing their Best and Worst of 2011. From which singers rocked their iPods, to the broadcast and cable series that had them glued to our TVs and which movies had them lined up at the theater, they cover it all. Also, find out which singers, TV shows and movies disappointed them and earned a spot on their worst lists.

Oh, and Jamey even sings a special Kardashian Christmas Carol for all of his Twitter followers and Facebook friends.

He's been called the literary love-child of Sidney Sheldon and Jackie Collins. On today's episode of Pop Confidential, Jamey Giddens and Luke Kerr welcome author JJ Salem, whose steamy new novel The Strip drops Nov. 8 from St. Martin's Press. The Strip, a companion novel to Salem's USA Today Best Sellling novel Tan Lines, brings back troubled rock goddess Billie Shelton, who has been reformed at the hands of a controlling husband and now sells out casino showrooms in Las Vegas. Billie's best friend is Kristen Fox, a popular chick lit novelist, who has a series on HBO based on one of her raunchy reads. Then there's the two womens' therapist, Jennifer Payne, a marriage and family counseling expert, trapped in her own loveless marriage. When high-priced male gigolo Cam Lawford enters their orbit, these three women find their lives forever altered.

When Salem isn't dishing his new novel, he's talking with the PC guys about the recent TV development boom for classic pot boiler novels, with ABC planning an adaptation of Judith Krantz's Scruples and NBC rebooting The Valley of The Dolls. Could Salem possibly be working on a primetime sudser of his own? You'll have to download the interview to find out.

The talented writer also dishes about the current crop of primetime soaps he's enjoying, from ABC's Revenge to The CW's Ringer. He also shares his love for classic primetime soaps like Dallas, Dynasty Falcon Crest and Knots Landing, all of which he writes about on his own fun blog Bonkbuster Diaries. Any fan of glossy soaps and/or raunchy beach reads should get a kick out of this interview!

On today’s Pop Confidential podcast Jamey Giddens, Luke Kerr, Jillian Bowe and Regan Cellura count down their Top 5 Favorite Scary movies. Whether classic horror films or little known favorites, these are the movies that scared us silly.

The Pop Confidential podcast has gone country! On this Music Row gossip-packed eppy, Jamey Giddens and Luke Kerr welcome former country music publicist-turned-author John Schlimm, who penned the scandalous roman a clef Twang, the book that's had all of Nashville— not to mention Page Six — buzzing for months. How closely do Twang's characters, like battling sister act Salome and Willa Field, resemble Schlimm's former client, real-life country music legend Naomi Judd and her daughter Wynonna? The PC boys find out.

What about the steamy tome's starcrossed, country music Barbie and Ken, Thad Evans and Hope Tanner? Are they fictional stand-ins for Tim and Faith or maybe Blake and Miranda? Tune in to hear what Schlimm has to say. Then the veteran of the Nashville music scene weighs in on several of the genre's current crop of young superstars. What does he think of acts like Taylor Swift and The Band Perry? Download the episode to find out. Then be sure to head on over to Amazon and download your copy of Twang!