On Sunday, June 3 at 9pm Eastern, the 2012 Miss USA Pageant airs live from Las Vegas on NBC.  Returning as hosts will be Andy Cohen, Executive Vice President, Original Programming and Development for the Bravo cable network, and Giuliana Rancic, co-anchor of E! News.  The Miss USA pageant brings hopefuls from all over the country to vie for the title.  The winner of Miss USA will go on to represent the United States in the Miss Universe pageant.  The Miss Universe Organization owns and operates both pageants as well as the Miss Teen USA pageant.  The organization is owned jointly by NBC Universal and Donald Trump.

USTOWNHALL SPEAKS TO ANDY COHEN AND GIULIANA RANCIC OF THE MISS USA PAGEANT:

USTH: Do you know who the judges are for this year's pageant?

ANDY COHEN: There are a few judges that we can announce now: the former Bachelorette Ali Fedotowsky – she's the host of NBC's First Look and also Joe Jonas is going to be judge and Rob Kardashian and Giuliana's co-host on E! Fashion Police George Kotsiopoulos.

USTH: Andy, what do you feel about the semi-controversy a few years ago with Carrie Prejean [during the 2009 Miss USA pageant where Perez Hilton asked her about her views on same-sex marriage]? If you were a judge on that panel how would you have approached that whole situation? What do you feel about the question and the answer and the fallout?

ANDY COHEN: I thought the question was great. The answer was not something that I agreed with personally and I probably would have scored her low at the time.
But you know again I've never been a judge and so I don't have the specific criteria in my head of everything that the judges are looking for.
But you know, I think that it's a well-rounded person who speaks well and intelligently and inclusively of everyone and would be a great representative of the organization.
So, yes, I thought the question was within bound. I thought that there were some great questions last year [as well, when I hosted] and it's my favorite part of the pageant.

(l-r) Andy Cohen and Giuliana Rancic host the2012 Miss USA Pageant live from Las Vegas [Image credit: NBC]

USTH: Would you ever want to be a judge? Could you handle that pressure of having someone's dream in the palm of your hands?

ANDY COHEN: Giuliana already was a judge, right Giuliana?

GIULIANA RANCIC: Yes, I was. I was a judge about five years ago, and it was great. You know, I actually was in the Miss Maryland USA pageant a couple of times. I did not ever make it to the national level – so sad (laughs).
So, for me, I know how it feels to be on that stage and how nerve wrecking it is, so I took it very seriously.

USTH: Would either of you ever want to be a contestant on Celebrity Apprentice – Donald Trump's other show?
ANDY COHEN: I [have] too many balls in the air to even speculate at this moment. Bring me an offer, and we'll talk about it.

USTH: Okay, I like that. What about you, Giuliana?

GIULIANA RANCIC: You know, I actually met with them last season, but it was just not going to happen – it was a scheduling thing. But, I love the show. I've always been a fan of The Apprentice.
My husband [Bill Rancic] was the first Apprentice, so it's funny though because when I went to meet [the Celebrity Apprentice producers], my husband told me, "you realize if you do this show second place isn't good enough? You have to come in first place because I already won."
So, it was a lot of pressure. I don't know if I would do it, but it's such a great show, and it's a lot of fun to watch.

USTH: Listening to you both today, it is very apparent that you're both very goal oriented. Looking into the future, what are your unrealized goals? What is still on your wish lists of things you'd like to accomplish?

GIULIANA RANCIC: You know, one thing I would love to do is a talk show with my husband. I [mean] a daytime show, but more about relationships, not really a talk show or celebrity show interviewing celebrities.
So many people ask us about our marriage and our relationship and how we seem to have such a great relationship, and we really do.
So, I'd love to have couples come on who have issues and work them through their issues. My husband and I would love to do that.
I think that's definitely something in the future, not the near future but it's nice to dream about, and it's something that we can see ourselves doing somewhere in the future, but we have a long road ahead of us, so no rush.

ANDY COHEN: My goal is to get married. How's that?

GIULIANA RANCIC: Really?

ANDY COHEN: Fall in love and get married. Yes. I can do it in New York State now.

GIULIANA RANCIC: Andy, I feel like we might meet someone in Vegas who's going to fill those shoes. I don't know why.

ANDY COHEN: Really? You do?

GIULIANA RANCIC: I have a really good feeling about it. Yes, I don't know why.

ANDY COHEN: I don't know. Vegas seems like a part-time lover place.

GIULIANA RANCIC: No, no. Not necessarily someone who lives there or someone we don't know someone who's kind of part of all this. I don't know I'm feeling good about Vegas. I'm getting good vibes.

ANDY COHEN: Okay, great!

Our thanks to Andy Cohen and Giuliana Rancic for taking the time to speak with us today.  The 2012 Miss USA Pageant airs Sunday, June 3 9pm Eastern live from Las Vegas on NBC.

One of the few bright spots on NBC's 2011-2012 primetime television schedule as far as genre televsion fans were concerned was Grimm, which stars David Giuntoli and Russell Hornsby as homicide detectives Nick Burkhardt and Hank Griffin who work for the Portland Police Department trying to solve murders with a decidedly supernatural bent to them.  NBC has announced that the series will return for a second season, and we talked with them recently as NBC gets set to broadcast the first season finale.  Also, the network has announced that the show will temporarily move to Tuesdays with reruns of Season 1, which will begin on May 29 following America's Got Talent.

USTOWNHALL SPEAKS TO DAVID GIUNTOLI AND RUSSELL HORNSBY OF GRIMM:

USTH: The first season finale will be airing soon, so let's have you reflect on this past year and how it's been for each of you in terms of your personal career and how the show has been going for you and the fan reaction and the network support.

DAVID GIUNTOLI: Appreciate it, absolutely. From a standpoint of an actor, I've grown leaps and bounds. I've learned so much. You really get thrown into it, and you don't stop running until 22 episodes are done and 9 months has passed.
And I've been very fortunate to get to work alongside guys who are youthful veterans of the entertainment industry like Russell Hornsby and Silas Weir Mitchell. These guys have really been great and gracious and have taught me a lot just so I kind of lock it in every day.
And the fans have been unbelievable. I've had fans in the past, but genre TV fans are passionate fans. They're completely active. They watch the episode, and then next thing, they're writing fan-fiction or creating more scenarios and asking questions, and they really hold you accountable. And the whole experience has been wonderful.

RUSSELL HORNSBY: Well, for me this experience has been rather surreal. I guess I don't consider myself a veteran of television. This is like the first time I've been on a show that people actually watch [David laughs] and so, just sort of getting used to the hubbub and fanfare and being the first time recognized. It has been crazy.
And so I really thought that I had sort of made it five years ago, and I realized, "Oh, no, I didn't." The work schedule has been very intense like I've never experienced – just all the hours that we've had to put in, being on location, being in Portland and shooting outside in the rain and at night.
I've just learned to appreciate this whole experience and as an actor learning just new things about myself – as an actor and as a performer, all the stuff that I can handle. I never thought I could up to this point.
And again, the fans have been crazy. I mean in a good way. Genre fans are nuts about their shows that they've loved and they follow them. And they're very interactive and very smart.
So, I'm just really curious to see what the next season is going to bring as far as the show's concerned, but also from a fan perspective.

(l-r) David Giuntoli (as Nick Burnhardt), Russell Hornsby (as Hank Griffin) on NBC's Grimm [Image credit: NBC]

DAVID GIUNTOLI: I'm excited for Nick to become more of a badass, so to speak. Throughout the Season 1, he's [gone] from [being] a very passive observer of what was taking place to a real kind of go-getter where he tried to work the politics of what Wesen [pronounced "Vessin," the series' mythological creatures] were against him and who was for him and who was going after his loved ones, who was his friend. And I think that certain events will make him a little more aggressive.

RUSSELL HORNSBY: My hope is that Hank sort of finds out what's behind door number one. And, if that's the case, then just sort of seeing an opportunity for the relationship to develop, I think, between the three of them – Nick, Monroe and Hank, as they try to solve these crimes together. And I guess the drama that could possibly ensue between the three of them.
You know, I did a little joke today that there's a chance for a nice love triangle, you know. And, Monroe might settle for fighting for the affections of Miss Burkhardt. So it'll be fun.

USTH: In the season finale, there is a new character introduced called "The Woman in Black,"  who will be played by Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio.  I know you can't reveal any spoilers to the episode, but will the character continue on into next season or will she appear in just this one episode?

DAVID GIUNTOLI: I don't have a definitive answer to that, but I would imagine that yes, she would continue on to next season.

USTH: Our thanks to Nick Giuntoli and Russell Hornsby for speaking with us today.  The season finale to Grimm will air on Friday, May 18 at 9pm Eastern. 

Also, remember that beginning Tuesday, May 29, NBC will be airing reruns of the entire first season following America's Got Talent in an effort to attract a wider audience heading into Season 2.

On Sunday, December 4, we spoke to Nicolina Royale, one of the contestants on the new Lifetime Television cable series Project Accessory.  Nicolina was eliminated after the third episode, which aired on November 10, but not before she became a fan favorite among the viewers of the series.

Just 30 years old, Nicolina has made a transformative journey throughout her life from her beginnings as a high school student instrumental in helping to pass anti-hazing laws in Minnesota to striking out on her own in Hollywood and starting her own accessory design business.  Nicolina's story is both touching and inspirational, and her never-say-die attitude and strong work ethic are always evident when speaking with her.

Ms. Royale's most recent accomplishment was being chosen as one of the twelve finalists, among thousands of people who auditioned, to appear on the inaugural season of Project Accessory, a spinoff of the successful reality competition, Project Runway.

On the series, contestants are given challenges to make accessories – whether it be a hat, shoes, a handbag or jewelry – in a set amount of time with a given set of materials.  Their creations are then shown to a judging panel which includes Kenneth Cole, Ariel Foxman, and celebrity judges ranging from Debra Messing to Kelly Osbourne.  Each episode at least one contestant is eliminated.

Now that Nicolina has returned home to California, she was free to stop by our show and chat with us about all the behind-the-scenes events and what her experiences were like as a contestant on reality television.

What was her audition process like?  What was it like shooting the series in New York City?  Was she surprised to be eliminated so early in the competition?  Which contestants did she make friends with and which ones drove her crazy?  What would she change about the show's format if she could?  Who would she like to see in the finale?  In contrast, who does she feel does not deserve to be there?  What advice would she give to an aspiring designer just starting out?  Did she feel that the way she was edited for the series was an accurate portrayal of who she is as a person?

Always fun, effervescent, and outspoken, Nicolina dishes about all of that and so much more in our exclusive longform interview that clocks in at just over an hour.  So, sit back, relax, and enjoy Ms. Royale at her most "ah-may-zing."

To learn more about Nicolina Royale and her line of affordable, chic accessories with a rock-and-roll edge, please visit http://www.nicolinaroyale.com.  You can also follow her on Twitter at @nicolinaroyale.

Click on the "play" button below to listen to the interview... 

NBC's new reality singing competition, The Voice, is an American version of the hit Dutch television series, The Voice of Holland.  Carson Daly serves as host and four celebrity judges – Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green, and Blake Shelton each pick eight contestants, based solely on vocal talent, to be on their team in the first of three stages in the competition.  After this initial "blind audition" phase has been completed, contestants sing against others in their teams in the "battle" phase.  Those making it through advance to the "live performance" phase and will sing in front of America for the grand prize – $100,000 and a recording contract.  Perhaps the most high-profile contestant of this initial season of the series is Frenchie Davis, who was dismissed in the early rounds of American Idol Season 2 after pictures she had modeled for years earlier came to the attention of the public.  Since then, Ms. Davis has found success on Broadway, but is back on the national scene on this inaugural season of The Voice.

MAY 9:  

USTOWNHALL SPEAKS TO JAVIER COLON, NAKIA, TYLER ROBINSON, BEVERLY McCLELLAN OF THE VOICE:

USTH: Javier, you were one of the two contestants in that first round who was selected by all four judges just like Jeff Jenkins was. Just like Jeff, you selected Adam Levine as your coach.  What made you select Adam?

JAVIER COLON: You know, I honestly would have been absolutely just ecstatic to have just one person turn around and then stay in the competition.

But the fact that all four turned around was just awesome. I was very flattered. And the reason that I picked Adam was because the way the competition is set up, your coaches are the ones that keep you in the competition or they send you home for these first rounds.

So, if I was lucky enough to have my choice between several judges or coaches, I wanted to make sure that I picked somebody that I thought was enthusiastic and just really adamant about having me on their team.

And Adam was almost distracting me during the song because he was just so animated and so into the performance which really, really meant a lot to me and which is one of the main reasons that I chose him.

USTH: Nakia, you were one of two people that selected a song to sing that was one of the judges' own songs.

What was your strategy in selecting a Cee Lo Green song? Were you hoping he was going to pick you, and did you ever consider that choosing a judge's song could derail your chances of getting picked?

NAKIA: Well, I chose "Forget You" first and foremost because "Forget You" is an instantly recognizable, wildly accessible song all over the world.

Anybody who hears those first four bars of dah, dah, dah – you know what song it is. So, my thinking was that sure it's great that Cee Lo's in the audience, but at the same time the American audience, the people watching at home will recognize that song and connect with that song thereby connecting with me because what happens if no one does turnaround?

I still needed the opportunity to connect with America in that one moment. I knew choosing it was a risk because Cee Lo was in the audience.

But having Cee Lo turn around, I mean that in itself was hugely validating for me as an artist for him to say, "You know what? You sang my song, and I think that you did a great job, and I think I could do something more with you."

So to me, it was not only a risk but at the same time it was also a chance for me to connect with the viewing public at home.

USTH: Tyler, what has your coach Blake Shelton taught you, or what have you learned from Blake?

USTH: Beverly, how has Christina Aguilera been as a coach for you, and what have you learned from her?

BEVERLY McCLELLAN: Well I've been learning from [her] since she was a young child – started way before this competition. She has been singing it dirty for quite some time. And I'm just honored to be on her team and singing it dirty for her now. So you know that feels good. That feels great.

And more than anything, she encourages me to bring it and also gives me advice on how to do that. She is awesome. That's all I can say. They all are, but I'm so excited to be on Team Christina for sure.

USTH: The Voice is obviously structured very differently from a lot of other singing competitions like American Idol. What is it like for you guys to have to compete against other more directly? You're pitted against each other within your own teams.

Would you have preferred something more straightforward where you're singing for America's vote every week like American Idol?

How are you adjusting to the format of The Voice? Are you able to maintain friendships with each other even though you're very much in direct competition with each other for a spot in the finals?

NAKIA: That's a great question. And I think that one of the main things that I'm taking away from this experience is the cherished and treasured friendships that I've made with the other artists on the show.

And I think I can speak for everybody when I say that without exception that all of us have a deep love for each other and that we really and truly came out of the blind auditions with some serious friendships.

Even the people that went home we had bonded with. So that was very tough. But when you get to see the battle round, I think that it becomes a lot more tough for us to watch each other go through that process because we have formed those relationships and we have bonded so much.

And it definitely becomes harder because you don't want to see someone go home. But at the same time you want to do well and you want to succeed.

So, you have to put that aside for that time while you're performing and really turn on your game, you know?

USTH: Javier, how do you feel about this format versus a more straightforward format like American Idol?

JAVIER COLON: You know what? It makes it difficult like Nakia said because you make some really strong  friendships just being on the show.

It makes it hard when you have to go into a battle round knowing that one of you is going to advance and one of you is going to go home. It's a very difficult situation.

But, after the battle round obviously it goes to live shows where it does get to that point where basically America will be choosing who they like and so forth.

So, I think it's kind of the best of both worlds. I mean, it's really exciting TV to watch, for sure.

The tension is high and the emotions are just running rampant. So, it's going to be exciting to watch, for sure.

USTH: Tyler, as Javier said, it's exciting TV. But, is it difficult for you to compete against someone that you have a friendship with and have to knock them out of the game?

TYLER ROBINSON: Absolutely. It was definitely something that was hard to do because we did become such good friends. We were stuck in a hotel with these people for five weeks and we're sort of forced to become friends with them.

And it was all good. And then you get put up against someone, and you just have to put your differences aside and be like, "You know what? This is a competition."

And in the end, we're all there for one thing. And so, you both sing your heart out and it's crazy to see it – how a lot of these battles go down.

It's very exciting. And I think the format is wonderful and so exciting and new. And I think it's just a great idea.

USTH: Beverly, as everyone has said, it's difficult. Were you aware of this format before you signed up to do the show? And was the reality more difficult than you perhaps first thought it would be?

BEVERLY McCLELLAN: Well, you know, it sounded like a pretty easy idea from home. And then you get there, and you meet all of these wonderful artists and, you know, now artists-slash-friends. 

But like you said, you make really good friends and you've met some wonderful artists. And, it's a hard thing to do, yes. That is the reality of the show – not versus any other – but I'm just saying as far as me personally living it, I have a newfound respect for reality TV.

MAY 3:

USTOWNHALL SPEAKS TO FRENCHIE DAVIS, JEFF JENKINS, KELSEY REY, & PATRICK THOMAS OF THE VOICE: 

USTH: My first question is for Jeff Jenkins. You were one of the two people that were selected by all four judges. What made you decide on Adam Levine as your coach, and how has it been working with him?

JEFF JENKINS: A big thing my mom always taught me was to follow your gut. When listening to all of the coaches talk to me and say why I should be on their team, he really stood out. He spoke after every other coach spoke and said that he could take me to that next level. And that's what The Voice is about is going to that next level.

And, I'm really happy with my decision. He's an awesome coach. He really, really knows exactly what he's talking about. He pinpoints all your problem areas and knows how to tell you how to fix those. And he's really cool. And he adds a new side to what I know about the music.

USTH: Frenchie, it's been about eight years since you were dismissed from American Idol in season 2. I'm just wondering...

FRENCHIE DAVIS: Almost nine. Yes, I'll be 32 on Saturday and I was 23 when I did Idol so it's been a little minute.

USTH: Well, happy birthday.

FRENCHIE DAVIS: Thank you.

USTH: And my question for you though is in all these almost nine years that have elapsed, what in your personal life or in your personal upbringing got you through those tough times? And what have you learned about yourself over the years that has helped you in The Voice?

FRENCHIE DAVIS: I've learned that I'm a lot stronger than I gave myself credit for. And, I have just used this time to grow. What's gotten me through the tough times? I would have to say faith and just [that] I am one of those people that – I truly believe that there's good out there. I believe that there's good out there for all of us. You just have to go out there and grab it.

And there was a part of my life when I had allowed what happened with me on Idol to kind of scare the hell out of me. And there was a part of me that had been afraid to really take a chance and take a – you know, Broadway was safe for me. There was a part of me that was afraid to take that leap of faith, take that chance and really put myself out there again.

And I'm telling you ending up on the cover of the National Enquirer for being fat is the best thing that could have ever happened to me because it made me have an epiphany that being afraid of putting myself out there isn't protecting me from the scrutiny. So I might as well go balls to the wall for my dream because they're going to come for me anyway.

USTH: That is true. Well, good for you. Do you keep in touch with any of the other American Idols from your season – season 2?

FRENCHIE DAVIS: I do. And, you know, it was so amazing watching Ruben Stoddard and Kimberley Locke tweeting the other night rooting for me. Ruben is like my brother. Kimberley and I – we still perform together every now and then because we both have a huge following in the gay community, and the gay boys will revolt if we don't sing together.

And I'm still friends with Trenyce, and Clay has been an amazing support. He's come to see me in almost every Broadway show I've been in. And I went to go see him when he was in Spamalot in Broadway. What's been the highlight of this experience has been the wonderful friendships that I've built because I made lifelong friends when I did Idol and I was only on Idol for like two minutes.

USTH: Kelsey, if you should, down the road, make your own record, what type of music do you think is your particular style, and what type of record would you like to make?

KELSEY REY: It might come to surprise everybody that I – yes, I do love pop music, and I do think that I fit in with the pop genre. But I like pop with flair – like I like soul music, and I like blues. Like I really like to sing from the heart. And I like big band stuff. I would like to eventually someday have a band behind me. And I would love to have an all-girl band, which is kind of crazy but I think that would be really cool.

I really like big band stuff. And I think that's another reason why I chose Cee Lo.

USTH: And for Patrick, what are some of the artists that you grew up with that have been an influence on your career?

PATRICK THOMAS: You know, country was kind of a recent thing for me. I didn't really start singing country until I was about 16. For me, in middle school, I was listening to Josh Groban. And when I was singing even at a younger age – at 8, 9, 10, it was Robert Goulet. It was Broadway artists. It was Bing Crosby. I was singing "Would you Like Sing on Star." And so, I've had a very wide array of influences.

My parents were both Broadway performers, so I had that background always. But country was the most commercial for me, and I learned to love it. I needed a place to play at 16, and my dad suggested country.

And at first, I hated it, but I started watching CMT television every morning and I fell in love with "Amazed" by Lonestar. I fell in love with Clay Walker – with Blake Shelton. And it became the only thing I listened to on the radio. I still have a lot of different genres that I love, but country is not definitely how I identify myself.

USTH: Our thanks to the cast of The Voice for speaking with us today.  The Voice airs Tuesday nights on NBC.