USTownhall RealStories presents DONALD TRUMP, TRACE ADKINS, & PENN JILLETTE of All-Star Celebrity Apprentice
Written by Scott Katz
Saturday, 18 May 2013 19:03
On Sunday, May 19, the sixth installment of The Celebrity Apprentice reaches its finale. After toiling away for weeks, the fourteen celebrities have been whittled down to the final two – country superstar Trace Adkins and magician/entertainer Penn Jillette.
In the final task, which began on the May 12 episode, Team Trace, led by Adkins, faces off against Team Penn, led by Jillette, in concoting a new flavor of ice cream for Walgreens Pharmacy's DeLish brand. Team Trace came up with "Maple Macadamia Mash-Up," while Team Penn created "Vanilla & Chocolate Magic Swirtle."
Additionally, each team must produce a promotional video and raise money for a launch event featuring its new flavor. Trace Adkins was joined by returning celebrities Lil Jon, Gary Busey, and Marilu Henner, while Penn Jillette had Lisa Rinna, La Toya Jackson, and Dennis Rodman assisting him.
Sunday's episode will show the conclusion of the task, which had been previously filmed, within a live setting where the final two will face Mr. Trump and await his decision on who performed the best and who will become the next Celebrity Apprentice.
USTownhall RealStories speaks with Donald Trump, Trace Adkins, and Penn Jillette of All-Star Celebrity Apprentice:
USTH: First of all, Mr. Trump, congratulations on Celebrity Apprentice being renewed for another season.
DONALD TRUMP: Thank you very much.
USTH: Well deserved; it's a great show.
DONALD TRUMP: Thanks a lot; I appreciate it.
USTH: As you look back on this past season, how happy are you with the way it all turned out? What are your thoughts about the way the whole season developed?
DONALD TRUMP: Well, you know, I'm very happy with the final two. I actually took a lot of heat, fellows, I will tell you this because so many people liked Lil Jon. I have this very large Twitter account with millions of people, and I will tell you I took heat. Penn and Trace, [the people] loved Lil Jon and they were very disappointed. Now, it also was that he happened to say something at his little interview. He said, "Please Tweet Mr. Trump and say, 'You made a mistake,'" so maybe that had to do with it. That could very well have had to do with it. But a lot of people really felt very strongly about him, and I think the two guys would say he was terrific.
PENN JILLETTE: Absolutely.
DONALD TRUMP: I really like who we ended up with. I really like the season. It was a very good season. Very competitive from a lot of standpoints because there were so many [other series] – the Sunday night hours are very, very tough. You have all of the finales. You have all of the major Country Music awards, and there were so many different competitive shows, and yet we still did well. You had the Bible I guess in cable; you had [Game of Thrones]; you had everything. I think Sunday night has become – Sunday night used to be an easy night. I think it's now maybe the most competitive night on television. And despite that we did very well. We almost always won the 10:00 hour and we're really happy about it. But I like the way the season came out.
USTH: My next question is for Penn and Trace. Do you consider yourselves to be competitive by nature, or is this something new that came out of you while playing this game?
PENN JILLETTE: It's very new for me. I've never played sports. I've never been a game player. I've always kind of been in my own little world. And I've never really focused on any sort of competition thing. And I actually enjoyed it. Maybe I've got to start playing chess or something.
DONALD TRUMP: Get yourself into sports; you'd be great at sports. You don't play – you've never played sports? I didn't know that. Wow.
PENN JILLETTE: I've never been a sports player, no.
DONALD TRUMP: With that size you would think you'd be good.
PENN JILLETTE: I've always been a bit of a bookworm, I'm afraid.
TRACE ADKINS: I, on the other hand, am an old jock and yes, the competitiveness started at a very early age with me and it continues on today, really. I mean, the business that I'm in, country music, is a competitive business. To be relevant in this business means to be competitive, and that's how I continue to be relevant because I continue to be competitive.
USTH: On the first interview that we did before the season began, I asked Brett Michaels and LaToya Jackson to describe their charities and why it was important to them. You both have done a little bit of that on the show already, but I feel you can never talk about your charities too much. So I'd like to give you the opportunity once again to each of you to talk about your charity. What's the name of it, and why is it important to you?
TRACE ADKINS: Okay, I will just say at this point though you watch Sunday night because they give us ample opportunity to talk a lot about our charities. They spent a lot of time interviewing us and interviewing the people that we are representing. And so Sunday night, they go into our charities in great depth. So, that will all be on there Sunday night. But I'll just tell you quickly that the American Red Cross showed up at my office in June, 2011 when we had a house fire. Our house was a total loss, and right on the heels of the firefighters was the American Red Cross. And I was embarrassed at that time to learn that they respond to over 70,000 house fires a year in this country. I didn't know that. I thought the Red Cross was just the huge natural disaster response team, and I was embarrassed to learn that they – somewhere in this country right now, there's a Red Cross volunteer that's helping somebody. And, I just felt like I owed them something for being at my house when I wasn't there. I was in Alaska, so I play [Celebrity Apprentice] for the American Red Cross.
PENN JILLETTE: And I play for Opportunity Village, which is now a local charity in Las Vegas. [Penn and Teller] do a lot of stuff with charity in Vegas. The reason I chose Opportunity Village is I'm hoping that the idea will spread. It is for people with intellectual disabilities, and it is the idea of not warehousing these people or keeping them separate from us, but rather training them to have skills and [integrate] into the workplace and just not be part of an intellectual apartheid. And I'm hoping that that idea has been successful. One of the things that's wonderful about being on Celebrity Apprentice besides the fact that it helps Penn and Teller, a bigger fact is people from all over the country have called Opportunity Village and talked about starting them in other cities. And I need to add because –Mr. Trump cannot hear this enough – that it was Elvis Presley's favorite charity. Every scarf that he would wear in Vegas and wipe his brow and kiss and throw into the audience was made by the clients in Opportunity Village. And I will also say that they do a lot of stuff for Mr. Trump. At some of his hotels and properties, they do some packaging for him there. So, it's a wonderful charity to move people with intellectual disabilities into the mainstream and let them be part of us and let us love them and appreciate them.
USTH: That sounds great. Finally, as you guys look back on this past season, what are the feelings that you are left with, and are you surprised about anything that you learned about yourself?
PENN JILLETTE: Yes, I'm a little surprised that I believe I'm a little less of a creep than I thought. I've always seen myself as much more of an outsider, and I think Celebrity Apprentice let me deal with people that I normally wouldn't deal with and understand that I can get along a little better with them. That meant a lot to me. Also, after talking about the charity, this seems a little crass, but as well as we were doing in Vegas before [Celebrity Apprentice], we're doing much, much better now, [it] is the biggest bump we've ever seen.
TRACE ADKINS: Wow.
USTH: And Trace?
TRACE ADKINS: I'm not really surprised, but I have to say from day one when I showed up and I got to peruse the cast, I thought if I was going to win this thing that Penn was going to be the man I was going to have to beat. And that's why I chose him first when I was given the opportunity to choose my team. I picked him, and then I was going to pick Omarosa and use her to dispatch Penn. But Brett picked her, and I knew immediately he'd made a mistake, and she cut his throat the first week. Anyway what have I learned about myself? That I have more patience and tolerance than I thought I did.
USTH: Our thanks to Donald Trump, Trace Adkins, and Penn Jillette for taking the time to speak with us. The finale to All-Star Celebrity Apprentice airs live on Sunday, May 19 at 9pm Eastern on NBC.
USTownhall RealStories presents DAVID GIUNTOLI of GRIMM
Written by Scott Katz
Tuesday, 30 April 2013 13:40
NBC has given its cult favorite series Grimm two votes of confidence recently. On April 26, it was announced that Grimm has already been renewed for a third season, and beginning tonight, Grimm moves from its traditional Friday night timeslot to a prime spot on Tuesday nights after ratings juggernaut The Voice. We spoke to Grimm's star David Giuntoli about the series and what we can expect for the remaining episodes of the season. Grimm's second season finale will air on May 21.
USTownhall RealStories speaks with David Giuntoli of Grimm:
USTH: Can you tell us, in broad strokes, about some of the plot lines for the remainder of this season?
DAVID GIUNTOLI: Absolutely. Nick and Juliette start patching things up. And it's looking very hopeful for us come the end of the season. Two: a level 10 – as I like to call it – Wesen comes to Portland who is pulling the strings controlling a lot of other types of Wesen. We can call them the undead. And he has an army of people under his control that wreak havoc. And this is a longer story arc. We'll be visited by an actor named Reg E. Cathey. He's a wonderful actor who's just been in House of Cards, and he's been in everything. And he's great. And he plays this kind of powerful Wesen that we will be introduced to in the next couple of episodes. The Royals get closer and closer to me. They come to Portland, and they want the key. And I learn much more about why it is they want the key. The Captain and I start working together. Let's see... Zombies are entering Portland. And also as far as Adalind goes – the Adalind storyline is insane. And that's all I'll say about that.
USTH: Looking to season three, what would you like to see happen with your character in both his professional and personal lives?
DAVID GIUNTOLI: Well, I'd like to see some resolve – some real closure – to the Juliette storyline. I love working with Bitsie Tulloch [who portrays Juliette Silverton], and it'd be nice to be just a couple again. I want to get Sergeant Wu into the fray of the knowing. That would be really fun to work with him in the way that now Russell, Hank, and I can work together and Bree and Silas and the Captain. I would love to get Sergeant Wu into the fray.
USTH: Now that you've completed two seasons, what has this whole experience meant for you as an actor?
DAVID GIUNTOLI: I look back at the beginning of season one, and I'm like, "Who is that kid, that supple little kid?" It has been just an absolute gift to me and a blessing. And I've learned so much. I feel like I get paid to learn every day. And I've become very good friends with a lot of my cast. And, you know, we live in Portland together. And they're my group now. It's been so lovely. And there's the producers and the writers and my bosses are also giving. They leave us alone. They give support. You never feel criticized. It's a very healthy place to be. So I'm very grateful.
USTH: You're on Tuesday nights for the rest of the season. Do you know if you're going to be on Tuesday nights in season three?
DAVID GIUNTOLI: I don't know if we'll be on Tuesday nights in season three. I guess we'll all kind of figure that out together based upon how we fit on Tuesday night for the rest of the season. I'd be really –I have had that thought myself. I do not know the answer.
USTH: Regarding working with Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. Can you tell us a little bit about what it's like to have her on the show? And who is on your personal wish list for potential guest stars in the future that you would like to work with?
DAVID GIUNTOLI: Oh gosh. I can't say that just because there's so many. I wouldn't want to offend the people, you know? Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio was wonderful to work with. And the episodes that she's been in have been so work intensive, and she has such a wonderful work ethic. And she's so fury, and working with her I get caught watching her all of the time and almost forget that I'm in the scene. Because she's so captivating and compelling and beautiful and just makes wonderful choices. And, you know, that's what I think about her. I've really enjoyed the guest actors we've had thus far. And anybody's who's decided to come who can swing it we'll love to have.
USTH: Is there like a specific type of actor that you think fits well into the Grimm family?
DAVID GIUNTOLI: Sure, character actors.
USTH: Does it help to be a theater actor?
DAVID GIUNTOLI: You don't have to be like a theater actor per se. I mean, most actors have done some theater. I love the local guys getting some jobs – guys and girls getting some jobs because these are people who have dedicated to theater and they live in Portland. So there're not a ton of gigs that show up there. So I love when we get a really great new talent. But also it's fun to expose viewers to people who you have not seen much. We had an actor named Brian Finney who is a very well respected actor in Los Angeles. He works with the Robbins Theater – the Actors' Gang. And he played the Ziegevolk in the episode where he was a lawyer who charmed the jury. And, it was great getting to have him. So, you know, that's the type of actor.
USTH: As far as you personally are concerned, what do you like to do during your down time? Are you an actor who seeks other projects like theater or movies? Or do you just like to take it easy until the season begins again?
DAVID GIUNTOLI: I like to seek other jobs that I think will push me and do something that I'm not currently doing.
USTH: Okay, do you have anything in the pipeline that you want to talk about?
DAVID GIUNTOLI: I do, but I can't talk about it because it's not a solidified yes. But I appreciate the question.
Our thanks to David Giuntoli for speaking with us today. Grimm now airs on Tuesday nights at 10pm on NBC for the remainder of the season.
USTownhall RealStories presents BRYAN FULLER of HANNIBAL
Written by Scott Katz
Monday, 01 April 2013 12:48
On Thursday, April 4, one of the most anticipated new television series of the year premieres on NBC. Hannibal brings the iconic Dr. Hannibal Lecter to the small screen and into your living rooms as the cannibalistic serial killer serves up weekly helpings of his own peculiar brand of justice.
Mads Mikkelsen sinks his teeth into the title role, while Hugh Dancy functions as his bromantic foil, the troubled and tortured Will Graham, Special Agent for the FBI. Rounding out the talented cast is veteran actor Laurence Fishburne as Graham's boss, Special Agent Jack Crawford.
Hannibal introduces us to these characters at a time that is years before the events of Thomas Harris' seminal novel, Red Dragon. In the premiere of the series' first season of 13 episodes, Jack Crawford seeks Hannibal Lecter's help in assisting Will Graham in profiling the most dangerous serial killers stalking society. Over the course of the first season, the relationship between Lecter and Graham is explored with an ever-present undercurrent of tension. Will Graham discover that his partner is a serial killer more dangerous and cunning than any he has ever encounted? What will happen to him if he does?
We spoke with Bryan Fuller, the creator and Executive Producer of Hannibal about the series, its storylines, and the actors who make up the cast. How are Hannibal and Will Graham similar? What drives Hannibal to do the monstrous things that he does? Does Hannibal see himself as a villain? Will characters from Bryan Fuller's previous series such as Pushing Dasies, Wonderfalls and Dead Like Me appear? How far do the depictions of gore and violence go? Which of the four Hannibal novels will be used to form the basis of the series' stories? What was it like working with Hugh Dancy, Mads Mikkelsen, and Laurence Fishburne? The answers to all that and more are in the podcast below.
BRYAN FULLER - ENTIRE HANNIBAL INTERVIEW (1 hr.)
Click on the triangular "Play" button to listen to the podcast.
You can pause and resume at any time as long as this page is not refreshed.
BRYAN FULLER - HANNIBAL INTERVIEW EXCERPTS:
Bryan shares his feellings about the upcoming premiere night (2:46)
What makes Hugh Dancy & Mads Mikkelsen the perfect choices for the roles of Will Graham and Hannibal Lecter? (4:46)
How are Will Graham & Hannibal Lecter similar? (2:47)
How far do the depictions of violence and cannibalism go? (2:48)
What motivates Hannibal Lecter? Can his actions be explained? (3:48)
How long can this series run? Where do the books fall in the timeline of this series? (4:31)
Bryan shares what Laurence Fishburne told him about this summer's Man of Steel film. (1:18)
Our thanks to Bryan Fuller for speaking with us today. Hannibal airs Thursday nights at 10pm on NBC beginning April 4.
USTownhall RealStories presents DONALD TRUMP, BRET MICHAELS, LA TOYA JACKSON of All-Star Celebrity Apprentice
Written by Scott Katz
Tuesday, 26 February 2013 00:00
Donald Trump's hit reality competition series returns for an all-new season. The Celebrity Apprentice airs is sixth season (thirteenth overall for The Apprentice franchise) beginning Sunday, March 3. This latest edition is an All-Star version with fourteen celebrities who have all appeared on previous installments of the series.
The participating celebrities are as follows: from Celebrity Apprentice 1: Trace Adkins, Stephen Baldwin, Marilu Henner, and Omarosa; from Celebrity Apprentice 2: Claudia Jordan, Brande Roderick, and Dennis Rodman; from Celebrity Apprentice 3: winner Bret Michaels; from Celebrity Apprentice 4: Gary Busey, La Toya Jackson, Lil Jon, and Lisa Rinna; from Celebrity Apprentice 5: Penn Jillette and Dee Snider. Past winners Piers Morgan, Arsenio Hall, John Rich, and Joan Rivers will appear as judges in the boardroom alongside Mr. Trump and one of his children.
USTownhall RealStories speaks with Donald Trump, Bret Michaels, and La Toya Jackson of All-Star Celebrity Apprentice:
USTH: Mr. Trump since this is an all star version of the show and everybody has been on it before, in your estimation did everybody perform better than they did the first time? And if you had to award a prize or a ribbon for most improved celebrity from the first time to this time who would it be?
DONALD TRUMP: Well I would say, I can't give names obviously, Scott, because it would be inappropriate, but a number of people really were different and performed better. Some didn't perform as well, I would say, but a number of people really performed better than they did in the first show. And some are just smart people that, you know, they do well including the two people that you're talking to. I mean, they're very smart people, and they do well. You know, I said great things about Bret, [but] I always say people don't get La Toya. She is sharp and tough as can be. She dealt with Omarosa so incredibly. I mean, what she had to go through -- that was not easy. I have great respect for La Toya Jackson. So yes, I think everybody really performed very well to be honest with you.
LA TOYA JACKSON: Thank you Mr. Trump.
USTH: And also Mr. Trump, how is this season divided? Was it male celebrities versus female celebrities or is it a mix?
DONALD TRUMP: Generally, we find that male versus female is the best and that's generally what we do. And we do a lot of that here. It just seems to work the best. I mean, there's no great secret. We could come up with 15 different formulas, but generally speaking, we find that's the best way of going about it. People like it. We don't want to change a formula that works too much.
USTH: That's good business. I agree with you there.
DONALD TRUMP: Yes, it doesn't get any better than male versus female.
USTH: It's time tested.
DONALD TRUMP: Yes it's time tested.
[Note that when the series premiered, the initial teams were not male vs. female, but rather a mix of celebrities chosen by either Trace Adkins or Bret Michaels. Notice the wiggle room in Mr. Trump's answer above. It remains to be seen whether there will be opportunities this season for the men and the women to compete against each other.]
USTH: Onto the two celebrities -- since you are playing for charity, I'd like to give you the opportunity to promote your charity a little bit and tell us what is the name of your charity, what does it do, and why is that charity important to you personally. We'll start with La Toya.
LA TOYA JACKSON: Well, my charity that I was playing for was National Network to End Domestic Violence. As you all know, domestic violence occurs all over the world, and as we're speaking now, there are women, and, of course men, that are just going through abuse at this very single moment. And they have no shelter, they feel that they have no lobby, they have nowhere to go. So, I'm here to let them know that we are doing something about it and there are shelters; there is an 800 number that's right there for you to call and get help. This charity that I'm playing for, National Network to End Domestic Violence, was actually formed by the people themselves. So, they went out, and they got together and said we need a charity; we need a place to stay, something to do and have people come and donate for us. So, I thought that was very commendable of these little kids and women who were basically really suffering to get together and do something and say this is what our charity is going to be about, and this is what it is. And it needs awareness. And people are just watching and just donating, and I'm so happy. You can never, ever, ever have enough. And I truly believe that no one charity is better than the other, but just bringing awareness to it is what I'm here for, and I am very proud and pleased to be happy working with Mr. Trump to bring that awareness to it.
USTH: Okay, and Bret?
BRET MICHAELS: Yes my charity is simply called Life Rocks Foundation, and I've had it for a really long time and, being a lifelong diabetic myself, obviously a big part of it goes to diabetes. A big huge part of it which works also with ETF is St. Jude's and childhood cancer and in Wounded Warriors and pet adoption. It's got a variety of different things that we work. But it's called Life Rocks Foundation Faces and Places and you just go to bretmichaels.com and you see the thousands of faces and the money, every penny, has been donated over the years.
USTH: Well that's really great. Let me ask another question for Bret and La Toya. Since you had met a bunch of new celebrities this time, is there anyone that you were sort of intrigued to meet before you met them, and is there anyone you bonded with during the show and kept in touch with after the show? And we'll start with Bret this time.
BRET MICHAELS: Yes, you know what, when I went in there I was very excited and, you know, extremely passionate -- my passion is both my blessing and my curse. But I went in there and everyone was in there, La Toya was great, she's -- honestly she's fantastic. She is a unique person because she has a heart of gold and fiercely competitive. We kind of share that same thing. You've got a good heart but you also want to be very competitive. But everyone on the show, you know, I've known Trace for a while. Penn -- all these people, very, very competitive people. And, you know, each of them brought a different winning quality to the table. And I've got to be honest with you, very, very, very dramatic season.
USTH: Okay. And for La Toya, what about you? Any celebrity that you were happy to meet and maybe kept in touch with afterwards?
LA TOYA JACKSON: Yes, I have to say that I was really, really thrilled and I do mean thrilled, and I'm not saying this Bret because you're on the phone. I just -- he's a big rock star. And I thought he had already won, and he's wonderful, and I just could not wait to meet him. And I never really expressed that to you because like Bret said, once you get there you get in work mode immediately because you know that competition is there. But I was truly looking forward to meeting him and he's such a wonderful person. And I will always, always adore Bret as well as Penn Jillette who is such a sweetheart, isn't he guys?
BRET MICHAELS: He's great.
LA TOYA JACKSON: Yes he really is.
BRET MICHAELS: Very intelligent and pretty to the point.
LA TOYA JACKSON: Yes, but he has a heart of gold as well just like you Bret.
BRET MICHAELS: Thank you.
USTH: Our thanks to Donald Trump, Bret Michaels, and La Toya Jackson for taking the time to speak with us. All-Star Celebrity Apprentice airs Sunday nights on NBC at 9pm Eastern beginning March 3, 2013 in two-hour installments. Beginning March 31, the show becomes an hour version airing at 10pm for a few weeks before returning to its two hour format.
USTownhall RealStories presents JOHN CENA & SHEAMUS of WWE'S TRIBUTE TO THE TROOPS
Written by Scott Katz
Saturday, 15 December 2012 15:29
On Wednesday, December 19, the WWE will air the 10th anniversary edition of its annual special, WWE's Tribute to the Troops, on the USA cable network from 9-11pm Eastern. A one-hour version will air a few days later on Saturday, December 22 at 10pm on NBC. This event has some of the biggest names from the WWE putting on a special exhibition for the American troops and their families as a way of honoring them for their service in Iraq and Afghanistan. This year, the show will take place in the Scopes arena in Norfolk, Virginia, and in addition to WWE stars such as John Cena, Sheamus, The Miz, Big Show, and Dolph Ziggler, the Muppets and musical guests Kid Rock and Flo Rida will appear.
USTOWNHALL SPEAKS TO JOHN CENA AND SHEAMUS OF WWE'S TRIBUTE TO THE TROOPS:
USTH: John, on a personal level, what does it mean for you to be able to perform at this event, and do you consider yourself a very patriotic person?
JOHN CENA: I absolutely do. This is the proudest day on our touring schedule, I've often said that, a lot of the Superstars have said that. Almost so much so that it becomes cliché – it is not. This is a very proud day for me, especially. I take great pride in being able to be put front and center in front of the people that I admire most, and that's the people that defend our freedom. I adopt a lot of my creed – my personality – from military Code of Conduct. Simple words like "hustle," "loyalty," "respect" are easily translated to honor code and country. It really is an extra special day for me. I'm glad we continued our relationship. I'm glad the folks at the Naval Station in Norfolk and bases around the country and abroad have opened their arms to give us not only a place to entertain, but the hospitality that they've given us over the years. Like I said, we do in excess of 300 shows a year, and this is the proudest day on our calendar.
USTH: This next question is for both of you, but we'll start with Sheamus. Can you just tell us a little bit about your participation in the show in terms of matches? Is it going to be one-on-one or tag team?
SHEAMUS: Along with all the live acts we actually have – Kid Rock is there, Flo Rida and the Muppets – it's to show a kickoff for the tag match with myself and Randy Orton taking on The Big Show and Dolph Ziggler. The show itself as well was packed to the brim. It was exciting, and we want to make sure that all the Naval Officers, Marines, everyone in the arena, everyone from Norfolk got the best show they possibly could get and that's what we did – went out there and gave them everything we had, as much as they deserve.
JOHN CENA: I'll be competing in a match, and the great thing about our Tribute to the Troops show – there is an extended form on USA or its abbreviated form on NBC– it's a great watch. It's not something that you necessarily have to be up-to-date on all the WWE storylines or all the plots. It really is just a general entertaining program, which is why we have a guest host and the Muppets – that's why we have musical guests. I myself am in a singles match against our current United States Champion Antonio Cesaro, but it's one show that for the holiday season you can truly sit down, watch, and enjoy. You don't have to know who's bad, who's good, who's a champion, who's not. You can really just take in the show for what it is, and it's an entertaining hour or two hours on either NBC or USA, but I'll be doing what I do best. I'll be in the ring doing what I do.
Above: John Cena with American military personnel
[Image credit: NBC, WWE]
Above: Sheamus [Image credit: NBC, WWE]
USTH: Sheamus, do you have any favorite moments from taping this show this past Sunday [December 9]?
SHEAMUS: I think my favorite part of the show – obviously, I don't want too give to much away because of the show itself – but getting to interact with everybody in the Norfolk Scope arena. I think the most important thing is recognizing all of them. I'll be honest with you, they were probably the best crowd I've ever been in front of and the Officers and the Marines were just off the charts – they were an absolute pleasure to perform in front of. The interaction and the energy of the fans and the crowd I think makes our job that much easier and that much better. I think they were the stars tonight, too, because they were into every single minute of it, and they were an absolute joy to perform in front of, and if we could do that every week, that would be awesome.
USTH: John, what are the feelings that you take away from actually meeting the soldiers and their families. You said before that it was sort of backwards that they were happy to meet you. Is it a humbling experience for you?
JOHN CENA: It truly is, and the great thing is you get to meet some of these soldiers and families who can follow you throughout your appearance scheduled over the course of three days. So, you truly get to talk to these families more than we would when we were in the deployed areas where we were in Fort operating bases literally spanning across the war zone. So, in the past few years [that the show has been filmed in the United States], you get to know some of these folks, and you do see them at the arena, and there is that personal connection that you very rarely get. It's like seeing a friend or a family member in the audience. You really pay them a little extra attention – certainly go above and beyond, obviously – for the group you perform in front of. It's a really good feeling being able to socialize with these people for three days and then perform in front of them and let them enjoy what you do best.
Above: The Miz, Kermit the Frog, and Miss Piggy
[Image credit: NBC, WWE]
Above: Kid Rock perfoms [Image credit: NBC, WWE]
Above: Flo Rida perfoms {Image credit: NBC, WWE]
USTH: Sheamus, what was it like for you to come to America in the first place? Was it always your dream to wrestle here in America? What is it like for you to live your dream as a wrestler?
SHEAMUS: From a very early age, I was infatuated by WWE and in ways I was infatuated by America, too. I guess a lot of the American cultures were very apparent in Ireland. Like going to movies, watching American films, and I had a lot of relatives over here in America as well – in Chicago and Florida. But, it was always my dream to come to this country, and I always knew from an early age what I wanted to do. I was enthralled with WWE ever since I was seven or eight years old and I never lost sight of that. I was always very determined to follow that dream, and it took a lot longer than I thought it would. But, as I said, I finally made it here five years ago. WWE gave me an opportunity, and I jumped on that opportunity, and for me it's been an incredible journey. I've traveled the whole world. I've entertained and performed in front of fans worldwide. In the last five years, the United States has become my home, and I'm very proud to go home back to Ireland after everything I have achieved, but this country has given me an opportunity to pursue my dream. Back in Ireland, I always remembered hearing that [America is] the land of opportunity, and that's exactly what it has been for me. It's just been incredible, and getting to meet all the soldiers and the Officers in the Air Force and the people who protect the country where I live – an opportunity to thank them for helping me and letting me live my dream here without any fear is a fantastic opportunity for me. And it's just to say thank you to all of them because sometimes there's even some heroes [that] don't get the thank you that they deserve, or sometimes it's just nice to hear the word "thank you." It's not a very common word, but to say the "thank you" to them is just for me a great opportunity, and for the WWE, it's a great opportunity because they keep us safe, and they let all of us live our dreams and live our lives without fear.
USTH: Our thanks to John Cena and Sheamus from the WWE for speaking with us today. WWE's Tribute to the Troops airs on NBC on Saturday, December 22 at 10pm Eastern time. An expanded, two-hour version airs a few days earlier on the USA cable network on Wednesday, December 19 at 9pm Eastern time.
Television 
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NBC has given its cult favorite series Grimm two votes of confidence recently. On April 26, it was announced that Grimm has already been renewed for a third season, and beginning tonight, Grimm moves from its traditional Friday night timeslot to a prime spot on Tuesday nights after ratings juggernaut The Voice. We spoke to Grimm's star David Giuntoli about the series and what we can expect for the remaining episodes of the season. Grimm's second season finale will air on May 21.
USTH: Regarding working with Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. Can you tell us a little bit about what it's like to have her on the show? And who is on your personal wish list for potential guest stars in the future that you would like to work with?
On Thursday, April 4, one of the most anticipated new television series of the year premieres on NBC. Hannibal brings the iconic Dr. Hannibal Lecter to the small screen and into your living rooms as the cannibalistic serial killer serves up weekly helpings of his own peculiar brand of justice.
Donald Trump's hit reality competition series returns for an all-new season. The Celebrity Apprentice airs is sixth season (thirteenth overall for The Apprentice franchise) beginning Sunday, March 3. This latest edition is an All-Star version with fourteen celebrities who have all appeared on previous installments of the series.
On Wednesday, December 19, the WWE will air the 10th anniversary edition of its annual special, WWE's Tribute to the Troops, on the USA cable network from 9-11pm Eastern. A one-hour version will air a few days later on Saturday, December 22 at 10pm on NBC. This event has some of the biggest names from the WWE putting on a special exhibition for the American troops and their families as a way of honoring them for their service in Iraq and Afghanistan. This year, the show will take place in the Scopes arena in Norfolk, Virginia, and in addition to WWE stars such as John Cena, Sheamus, The Miz, Big Show, and Dolph Ziggler, the Muppets and musical guests Kid Rock and Flo Rida will appear.
