Celebrity Teen Blog |

I had the great opportunity to interview Challen Cates who plays the mom, Mrs. Knight on Nickelodeon’s hit show, Big Time Rush.  We asked her about her experience on the show, working with the guys (and gals) as well as some personal, real life questions.  Here’s what she had to say:

CTB: How long have you been “in the business”?
CC: Hmmm I guess if you wanted to get technical… I would say since I was 8 years old, but my love of the business didn’t surface until I was in my early twenties. When I was a kid, I thought it was a good way to play hooky, plus it was a way to express myself. When I got a little bit older I realized, “Hey I actually like this, and surprise it’s a lot of fun!”

CTB: Is acting always what you wanted to do?  If you weren’t acting, what would you be doing?
CC: Definitely!!!  At first, I was afraid to tell my family because they thought I would be a successful businesswoman (little did they know!) . Luckily though, when I finally broke the news about my dreams they were completely supportive!
If I weren’t acting I would probably be in the fashion or jewelry business.

CTB: Is it hard to remember your lines?  What type of technique do you use to help you remember them?
CC: Good writing is easy to memorize but bad writing is really hard to memorize. It helps if I read my lines out loud with a friend, that’s what makes it stick for me. If there is a lot of dialogue I use this technique called, “Intention Work”, where you learn the lines by what you are intending to do to the other person. It also helps that my husband is also an actor and a great acting coach. You can check him out at: aaronmcpherson.com

CTB: How is it working with “the guys” on Big Time Rush?
CC: It is incredible fun to work with the cast of Big Time Rush. The boys are so great! They are really hilarious on set and off set with endless amount energy. They are also great with my real kids when they visit me on set.  And Ciara (Katie) she is such a living doll. I also have fun with Tanya (Kelly), Stephen (Gustavo ) and Dave Higgins (Bitters).

CTB: What is a normal day like on set?
CC: When I arrive on set I check in with our 2nd AD and then report to hair and makeup.  After makeup we do a rehearsal then the crew lights the scene and makes any needed set changes.   While the crew is setting up I get into wardrobe and then head back to set to shoot the scenes.  We have 2 sound stages that we go between.  One has the pool and the Palmwoods lobby.  The other is Rocque Records and The crib/our apartment.)  Mid day we break for lunch and sometime do a table read for next weeks episode.  Then it’s back to set to finish our day.

CTB: If you can share with us, what can we expect to see in the new (2nd) season of Big Time Rush?
CC: This 2nd season is going to be full of new surprises. The boys return from a concert tour to find things have changed a bit at the Palmwoods. You will see more relationships in this season, dating, breakups and makeups. For all the Big Time Rush Fans you will also see a lot more new songs coming out. The album will come out in October and we are all really excited about it.

And our more personal questions about you…

CTB: Do you have any charitable causes you support and why is it important to you?
CC: I am a supporter of an organization called Darkness to Light which seeks to protect children from sexual abuse.  I am a survivor a childhood sexual abuse so it is very important to me to help prevent and educate people about child sexual abuse.
For more information you can check out my website: challencates.com

CTB: Do you have any children or pets?
CC: I have two children.  My son is almost 5 and his name is Colton.  My daughter, Jasper will be 2 in September.   We also have 2 dogs.  A German Shepherd and a Golden Retriever.  Then newest addition to the family is a bearded dragon named Spike.

I have chose this topic because I have seen some really different things this summer… like I went to the store and out of no were these people just come in with their bathing suits on and it was very odd, they were barefoot too.  Also, we went to the bank and just these teenagers were sitting at the side of the bank and it was weird because around the bank was like the mall and McDonald’s and just normal places me and my friends would hang out.  But what got me thinking was that why would they choose the bank when funner things were right next door!?! So yeah that’s basically that’s all the strange things I have seen… comment and tell me some weird things that you have seen this summer! (:

So by now school has either already been starting or some will wait 30 days like me! I am a nerd (not in a complete weird way, but in the way that I like school.) So obviously I am going crazy by the second! But I already got all of my school supplies and I am ready to start 7th grade! I know what your thinking ‘Why would you like school it is so boring’ but the reason I like school is because it seems I see my friends more during school than in summer, because everyone is so busy during summer and leaving town and all. But with school everyone is making plans with you because they can’t wait for the weekend! But for me the only downside is, is that I have to wake up at 6 in the morning and be ready in probably 30 minutes. So it’s kind of difficult considering I love accessorizing and doing my hair and makeup, and of course, I have to eat all in 30 minutes! Wow, I didn’t know how rushing my mornings were until now! But it is all worth it in the end! (:

Sweety High, a social word for Girls (& Fan-pires alike), and celebrityteenblog.com want to hear why you think you are the ultimate Twihard!

Do you practice your “Mrs. Edward Cullen” signature on your math book? Constantly trying to get Bellas look from the movie? …We want to hear it all!!!

Enter the contest and tell us why you deserve to wear the Ultimate Twihard Title and you and 5 of your girlfriends will be entered to win an Eclipse Dinner & a movie date on us! 3 runner ups will also receive 1 movie ticket to a theater nearest them.

All entries must received by 11:59 p.m. on July 13th, 2010.

I guess the safest place for him to meet his fans is behind a fence! Justin Bieber was spotted outside the Verizon Theater on July 5, 2010 in Grand Prairie, Texas greeting his fans in the scorching heat!

Source: (Photo by brandonp32 / Meet The Famous) Photo via Newscom

“Sweety High, a social world for girls, and the people at Celebrity Teen Blog want to know what’s playing in those headphones of yours.

Are you obsessed with Katy Perry’s California Gurl? Are you dying to listen to the New Miley Cyrus CD? Can’t get enough of Somebody to Love?

We want to hear the top 5 songs on your summer playlist, and why they made the cut. You will then be entered to win an I-pod shuffle on us along with a gift certificate to buy your play list. Awesome right? The most creative/unique explanations will be entered to win 1 of 5 i-pod shuffles + a $10.00 gift card to iTunes.

All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. PST on July 8th 2010.”
Visit Sweety High to enter!

It looks like Justin Bieber has another love besides Kim Kardashian. While in the Bahamas Justin enjoyed some quality time with his ex-girlfriend and first love, Caitlin Beadles, Life & Style has learned. Although any meeting between Justin and Caitlin would be kept top secret, all the signs point to a reunion between them. On June 6, Caitlin posted on Twitter: “Bahamas here I come! Gonna be an awesome week!” Then on June 14, Caitlin posted another message: “What happens in the Bahamas stays in the Bahamas!”

The two met before Justin became famous, and while they broke up when his career started to take off, it’s clear he still thinks the world of Caitlin. Justin flew to see Caitlin as soon as he heard she’d been involved in a serious boating accident in August 2009. He then serenaded her onstage during a concert near Atlanta on Dec. 17 after she recovered.

When Justin tweeted, “Back in Canda!” on June 19th, Caitlin posted a message of her own: “I hate when you have to leave. It’s like half of me is gone. I miss you already!” The two have consistently stayed in touch despite Justin’s busy schedule.

For more on Justin’s secret reunion with his ex, pick up this week’s issue of Life & Style, on newsstands now.

Island Def Jam’s Burnham, whose instantly catchy pop rock single “Catch Me
If You Can” impacts radio June 28th, has been confirmed as the opening act
on the second leg of Justin Bieber’s “My World” North American tour! The
newly added 35 dates run from September 14th to December 23rd, 2010.

Due out in the fall, the debut album from Burnham – a trio of brothers ages
14 through 18 – was produced by a diverse, A-list crew, including Ryan
Tedder (OneRepublic), Benji Madden (Good Charlotte), Brian Kennedy
(Rihanna), Espionage (Espen Lind and Amund Bjorklund). For a first taste
of the up and coming pop sensation, check out Burnham’s new video for
“Catch Me If You Can” now!

Here is a little more about Burnham:
Alex, Andre and Forrest Burnham have been performing together for seven
years, which is pretty remarkable because the three brothers from Vermont
are, respectively, just 18, 16 and 14.

Early on, Burnham took over their family living room and converted it into
a jam space where they honed their skills playing for four to five hours a
day. “When we plug in and start playing, we lose all sense of time.”

After almost five years of performing live, a friend hooked them up with NY
based producers, Andy Marvel and Freddy Shehadi, who set-up several
showcases with various major record labels. Apparently, the record execs
saw what everyone else was seeing; a young band oozing with talent and a
front man with an unmistakable and powerful voice. With two major record
deals on the table, the boys did one final showcase in New York for Island
Def Jam chairman and CEO Antonio “L.A.” Reid. The veteran record exec
wouldn’t let the band leave the room until he signed them, not even after
youngest member Forrest beat him at pool. “I happened to be on my game
that day both vocally and with a pool cue,” says Forrest with a smirk.
High-spirited and confident, Forrest fronts the band as vocalist, with
older siblings Alex on guitar and Andre playing bass and keyboards.

The three brothers got the performing gene from their mom, a UCLA music
major who studied opera, and their love of rock from their dad, who shared
his record collection with his boys on a nightly basis.

Burnham has crafted a debut album filled with catchy rock/pop anthems. It
features songs like Tedder’s “Catch Me If You Can,” the
Espionage-produced “Look Like Her” (“I have been waiting all my
life/for someone to come and put things right”), “Thank You,” a
collaboration with producer/songwriter Kennedy, and the power ballad by
Burnham that helped get them signed, “Slow Dance.”

Their Island Def Jam debut album represents their first time co-writing
with such established producers as OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder, Brian
Kennedy (Chris Brown, Rihanna, Backstreet Boys, Jesse McCartney), the
N.Y.-based Norwegian production team Espionage of Espen Lind and Amund
Bjorklund (Train’s “Hey, Soul Sister” and Beyonce’s
“Irreplaceable”), and James Bourne of Busted (“Year 3000”).

“We started writing our own songs about three years ago,” says Andre.
“But collaborating with these great producers has allowed us to take our
song writing skills to another level.”

With the release of their debut album, Burnham is ready to take the next
step. It certainly won’t be the last.

CONNECT with Burnham
www.twitter.com/burnham
www.facebook.com/burnhammusic
www.myspace.com/burnham

CTB: How did you get started in the music career?
AD: I always had a dream to be a singer, just had a lot of luck and supportive parents.

CTB: Did you always want to be a singer?
AD: Yes, I went back and forth between singing and acting and love them both.

CTB: Who or what inspired you to do what you do?
AD: Miley Cyrus and Lady Gaga are huge inspirations.

CTB: What would be a normal day at a recording studio?
AD: A normal day for me at the studio is getting up at about 6 am warming up, getting there at 8, going over the track a couple of times then recording of about and 1 and a half until the song is finished.

CTB: What is your favorite singer or band and why?
AD: Fav singers are Miley and Lady Gaga because they are so creative and talented.
To see more of Alexandra, visit her MySpace page!

Thank you for your time to answer all of these questions! (:

I had the wonderful opportunity to interview Ada-Nicole Sanger as she prepares to kick off the new film from Sony Pictures.  It’s a comedy called “Grown-Ups” that stars Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, and Rob Schneider.  Ada-Nicole plays Donna Lamonsoff, on-screen daughter to Kevin James.  With a cast like this, you bet it’s going to be a funny one and I can’t wait to see it this summer!  Here’s what Ada-Nicole had to share with me…

CTB: Tell us what you can about the movie Grown-Ups.
ANS: Basically its about friends from high school that used to be on a basketball team but then their basketball coach dies so they get together and they bring their families along for a fourth of july weekend and so they get to meet everyone and have lots of fun.

CTB: What was it like working with Adam Sandler and Kevin James?
ANS: They were hilarious and it was so much fun.  They were both really funny and really experienced and I learned a lot from them.  They are really great actors and they are both really really nice.  We were laughing every five minutes, more like every two seconds.  It was definitely fun working with them.

CTB: When will the move be out?
ANS: It will be coming out June 25th, I can’t wait.

CTB: Have you always wanted to act?
ANS: Pretty much, I’d have to say yes, ever since I was five.  I really got introduced to acting my watching those old movies with Jean Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Bing Crosby.  They just inspired me.  Ever since I could talk I could sing, ever since I could walk, I could dance.  I just love the whole feel of it, its a great experience, I love doing it so I gave it a try and followed my dreams and I am doing something that I love and get to be in a movie with one of my idols.

CTB: How did you get started in the biz?
ANS: I started dancing.  Cause I started dancing when I was three in a dance school then I moved on to singing, which was next door.  I entered a contest and a talent scout discovered me.  I took some acting classes, worked really hard and basically got my dream role.

CTB: Are you working on any other projects or movies?
ANS: Not currently but I am looking a lot, you know there is always something around the corner that you don’t see and then it pops up on you and you get really excited for it.

CTB: Was Grown-Ups the first movie you’ve acted in?
ANS: Yes, but I was on an episode of Brain Surge.  Its a Nikelodeon game show so it was a lot of fun.  It was a game of wits not acting but it was still a lot of fun.

CTB: Who would you love to work with at some point in your career?
ANS: I would have to say Amy Adams or definitely Drew Barrymore, I love her.  Ashton Kutcher, or Will Smith, I love him he is so versatile, same with Amy Adams, they are just like chameleons, ya know.  Ann Hathaway, she’s really great too.

CTB: Do you like comedy or more serious acting?
ANS: I like serious pieces but I have to say comedy would be my favorite.

CTB: What or who inspires you?
ANS: Actually Adam Sandler and Rob Schneider are my inspirations because they are so funny and they are such great friends and they really get along and it just seems like it’s they are at home doing that and it comes to them so naturally and it’s easy for them and once I tried it I thought it would be easy, they make it look so easy.

CTB: Now for some fun questions, can you describe your bedroom?
ANS: It is an oriental theme in Florida, asian fans, chop sticks comono’s and it purple and then the one out here in California is typical tween bedroom with posters all over my walls and we are renting so we can’t paint the walls, but if I could paint them it would be yellow or light blue.  I love tropical stuff being from Florida.

CTB: What is on your iPod?
ANS: I just got my iPod last month and I am really excited about that! WOO!!!  I have a lot of Floridian music, kind of tropical like Jimmy Buffet,  cool sounding carribean music and I love Jason Mroz, James Blunt, Daniel Powter, Beyonce, Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga.

CTB: Are you like the rest of the tweens and teens that have Bieber fever?
ANS: He’s really nice.  I actually saw him at the Kids Choice Awards this year and he was really good.  I don’t think I have exactly have “Bieber fever” cause I am a fan of all types of music but he is good.

CTB: Are you on Facebook and Twitter?
ANS: I don’t really do all of that.  I do Skype sometimes but mostly I text, call and mail stuff.

CTB: Anything else that you would like to share with us?
ANS: I like to design clothes and I’m actually designing a dress for my premiere.  I’m not actually making it, I’m having someone help me make it, but I’m designing it.  The line isn’t coming out yet, I am still working on it.  The premiere hasn’t been announced yet, not sure when it will be but I am looking forward to it.

Thank you so much for taking the time to participate in this interview.  It was a pleasure talking to you and I am looking forward to seeing you in Grown-Ups and many other films in the years to come!