PERSONALITY CORNER

No strike-related episode: “We sort of felt like for people viewing at home, the real strike was a big enough pain.”

Tina Fey: The Nerd

30 Rock, Tina Fey’s Emmy-winning TV comedy (that is on Star World on Thursdays at 9 p.m.) about the behind-the-scenes doings at a network sketch comedy, has returned after the writers’ strike. Here’s what she had to say on the comeback
What you won’t see on 30 Rock
* No strike-related episode: “We sort of felt like for people viewing at home, the real strike was a big enough pain.”
* No steamy romance for Fey’s character, Liz Lemon: Fey hates doing episodes about Liz’s love life. But who would be her ideal leading man? Pause. “Pete Dinklage,” she says, talking about the well-known dwarf actor. “That guy is awesome.”
Don’t tell Fey …
She looks hot in her eyeglasses. “I am aware I look a little better in them than without them. But I’ll leave it at that.”
Who’s nerdier, Fey or Liz?
“I definitely am a nerd in life. I think Liz Lemon might be a bigger nerd than me. But thank God there is a Geek magazine, or what would I be on the cover of?”
(NYT)

The Nanny Diaries
What is it with leading men and their nannies? Rob Lowe is the latest actor to land in a drama starring his own family’s childcare. A look at some of the juiciest nursery-tale scandals, Hollywood style:
Robin Williams: Williams divorced his first wife in 1988 to marry the nanny. And guess what? He just announced that, 19 years later, he’s splitting from her.
Jude Law: He was engaged to actress Sienna Miller when his kids found out about him and their nanny, Daisy. And we all know kids can’t keep a secret.
Ethan Hawke: He says he began dating the nanny only after he split from Uma Thurman. Uh huh. Now they’re having a baby — will she dare hire her own nanny?
Rob Lowe: Former nanny Jessica Gibson sues the actor, claiming sexual harassment and assault. Lowe says he’s innocent and files a counter suit.
(Newsweek)

Taj Mahal: A monument to singing
Taj Mahal is everywhere: in addition to several appearances at UCLA Live’s 50th anniversary celebration of the Ash Grove, he’s also performing in a series of nationwide concerts commemorating Earth Day.
Though he has been celebrated for his blues liberally incorporating World Music stylings for four decades, he discusses how he was quickly disabused of his music-industry naivete when he first came to L.A. from his home in Massachusetts. “You know what I found out that people did that I was horrified at?” he asks. “You claim to be a guitar player, and you’re signing autographs and your picture’s in magazines, and you’re using studio musicians? I was blown away.”(NYT)