What did I do on my summer vacation? Well, as Denise Richards would say: it's complicated. But here goes: It was supposed to be a fun-filled week's vacation on a little island in the south of Italy called Salina. One of my best friends from college and her husband own a hotel on the island, which is part of the Aeolian Islands, often frequented by stars like Sting and Bono.

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Just back from a whirlwind trip to the south of France... the annual, and oh-so-sophisticated Cannes Film Festival, with the likes of Angelina and Brad (darn, I left just before they bought their new rockin' 70 mill chateau)... and, by the way, Angelina looks even more luminous up-close (if that's possible) now that she's a couple of months away from having their twins. What's she craving?? Hamburgers... in a town overwrought with crepes and baguettes.

But the moment I want to tell you about, which you could have NEVER seen on camera, was at a hotel called the Martinez on Le Croisette, and I was on my way up to the 7th floor to interview Cate Blanchett. Standing at the elevator in a very busy lobby, who should come walking right toward me, about to step into the same elevator?? Noneotherthan Sean Penn, this years Cannes Jury president, and Robin Wright Penn.

I hadn't seen Sean since the Palm Springs Film Festival, when he and I had a 'moment' off-camera at a party. It had just been announced that he and Robin were splitting, and I had a very nice conversation with him about his privacy, respect, the media, etc. Very enlightening to hear his perspective, and honestly, he's a very disarming and genuine man.

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Cannes is still going crazy for Brangelina -- and "Extra's" Jerry Penacoli, who has been chilling on the Bud Light yacht, landed the first one-on-one interview with the stunning mom-to-be-and-be in the beautiful south of France!

Angie is delivering "Kung Fu Panda" this summer, starring as the tigress -- a role that has literally left a mark on the Oscar-winning actress. She's dishing about why she picked the part -- and how it relates to the real-life interests of sons Maddox and Pax!

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As I sit in London's Heathrow airport awaiting my flight to Nice, France, I wanted to catch you up on my latest red carpet romp: with Sarah Jessica, Kim, Kristen and, well, I'd like to say Cynthia, but she was rather missing-in-action on the carpet of her own world premiere. Oh, Ms. Nixon, if you please, was quite present (and when you spend a few days in England, you find yourself using the word 'quite' quite a bit), but for some strange reason, decided to diss most of the world press who attended.

Now, mind you, I was quite (there I go again) happy seeing the other young ladies, whom I've known for a long time, thanks to not just their HBO series which (finally) spawned this reunion movie, but because of their various movies they've made in the past.

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Well, it's now 5:10 pm in the air somewhere between Portland and Los Angeles. What a whirlwind, and I mean whirlwind morning with Hillary, compounded by not only the encounter itself, but having to 'turn it around' as they say in industry-speak for today's show.

Got my 4 hours sleep, and I'm feeling it right about now, but I was running on pure adrenaline when I awoke this morning. I was going to interview the former First Lady, now Senator Hillary Clinton, and, I've got to tell you, I was a little nervous about it. I can pretty much talk to anyone, but to be sitting in front of a woman who has worked so hard to secure the Democratic nomination for President of the United States, and probably won't get it, was having an effect on me.

I was wondering if she would show any signs of depletion, of sadness, really...

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So, I"m on my way to Portland to sit down exclusively with Hillary Clinton. I've never met the woman who would be President (but might have to settle for Vice President), but I've met her husband when he was President, years ago in Santa Monica at an appearance he was making. I remember him grasping my right hand, with both of his, and looking straight in my eyes, sincerely exclaiming "how's it going, man?" Within the scope of moments within ones life, it was certainly one that is memorable. I mean, how many times can you say you've shaken hands with a President of the United States? (Right up there, well, maybe a bit higher up there is when I shook hands with the Pope during an audience at the Vatican in Rome).

So in preparing for my interview with Hillary, I was asking myself: What do you really want to ask a woman who's been asked, more than likely, every question that's known to man, and then some? Of course, with someone like Hillary, she's very prepared to answer any and all questions, but keep in mind, this is an entertainment show. So, I have to not only ask the pertinent campaign-related questions ( i.e. Some are speculating that you're hanging on in order to negotiate a position on the Democratic ticket, are you willing to consider that at this point?) but I also have to ask the pop culture questions about, for example, the Barbara Walters feud with Star Jones (pertinent, at least, because Hillary is friends with Star and attended her wedding).

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It had been awhile since I had interviewed Jennifer Love Hewitt. But on this day, I'm invited to the set of her TV show "Ghost Whisperer" to get reacquainted. The occasion: the filming of their season finale, and more importantly, Love was inviting a couple of young women from a group called "Step Up" -- an organization which helps disadvantaged young people find their way. These young girls on-set this day were interested in film and television, and had, in fact, made their own "movie."

I drive to Universal Studios where the show is filmed, and as I walk to Stage 19 from the parking garage, I run into Marg Helgenberger from "CSI." It had been awhile since I had seen her, as well. She greets me warmly, and we have a brief chat about the upcoming writer "crossover" between her show and "Two and a Half Men" (see previous 'The Power of Relationships' blog for more on that). She was worried about it at first, but after getting into the first day of shooting the script, she and the rest of the cast had a blast.

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Hey there,

So if you've ever wondered what a 'day in the life of' an entertainment reporter guy is REALLY like, read on... We have busy days and eventful days, but yesterday (Wed. April 16) was chock full of both 'busy' and 'eventful'.

7:30 AM: The day started by battling an hour and a half of LA traffic to get to the set of "Boston Legal" -- now, the show rarely shoots on-location, and this day their location was north of Los Angeles in horse country: the beautiful Ventura Farms -- a gorgeous location where (and the more mature will remember this show) "The Big Valley" was shot... the newbies will be interested in knowing it's where "Heroes" shoots alot. But, I digress...

9:00 AM Shooting on the set... There's an upcoming storyline between William Shatner's character and a horse farmer (played by Broadway star Christine Ebersol), and it was a cool opportunity to capture Shatner on horseback, and interview him -- and, trust me, he's always in rare form.

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