Comedian Chelsea Handler dishes on dishing the stars

Saturday, May 3rd, 2008 in Extras, General

Author, talk show host and stand-up comic Chelsea Handler spoke to Mercury News arts, entertainment and style reporter Mark de la Viña about covering celebrities — and how she is not above such scrutiny.

 
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Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock trades burgers for terrorists with “Where in the World Is Osama bin Laden?”

Thursday, April 17th, 2008 in Extras

Oscar-nominated director Morgan Spurlock, who broke out in 2004 with “Super Size Me,” his movie about chowing exclusively on McDonald’s fast food for 30 days, talked to Mercury News arts + entertainment reporter Mark de la Viña about his new film, “Where in the World Is Osama bin Laden?”

Jason Segel shows off his comedic talents, among other things, in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”

Friday, April 11th, 2008 in Extras

Actor and screenwriter Jason Segel could become the next member of the Judd Apatow (”Knocked Up”) mafia to break out. The “Freaks and Geeks” alum talked to Mercury News arts and entertainment reporter Mark de la Viña about the comedy and how he handled some seriously disquieting, full-frontal nude scenes.

 
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A salute to Gene Wilder

Friday, March 14th, 2008 in Extras, General

Actor Gene Wilder, star of “Young Frankenstein,” is the subject of an SF Sketchfest tribute this week at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco. He spoke to arts and entertainment writer Mark de la Viña about his movies, his new career as a novelist and the enduring popularity of the comedy classic.

 
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The not-so-conventional ways of Built to Spill singer-guitarist Doug Martsch

Wednesday, February 20th, 2008 in Extras, General

Doug Martsch, singer, guitarist and chief songwriter for the rock group Built to Spill, talks to Mercury News reporter Mark de la Viña about the band’s unconventional approach to its music.

 
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The dead walk again in George Romero’s latest zombie film, “Diary of the Dead”

Monday, February 11th, 2008 in Extras, General

Horror film icon and “Night of the Living Dead” director George Romero talks to arts and entertainment reporter Mark de la Viña about “Diary of the Dead,” the rampant sadism in contemporary fright flicks and his professional start working on “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood” in the mid-’60s.

 
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Sketches of comedy: Dave Foley of the Kids in the Hall

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008 in Extras, General

Dave Foley, a founding member of the Kids in the Hall, talks to Mercury News reporter Mark de la Viña about the beloved sketch comedy group and its upcoming appearances at SF Sketchfest.

 
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Former Raiderette Anjelah Johnson nails a career in comedy

Wednesday, December 19th, 2007 in Extras, General

Comedian Anjelah Johnson became an Internet phenom on the strength of her YouTube video about a visit to a nail salon. The San Jose native, now a cast member of Fox’s “MADtv,” talks to Mercury News reporter Mark de la Viña about her post-cheerleading life as a stand-up performer.

 
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“Walk Hard” star John C. Reilly finally lands the lead

Tuesday, December 18th, 2007 in Extras, General

The Oscar-nominated John C. Reilly stars in his own comedy, “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.” The acclaimed character actor talks to Mercury News reporter Mark de la Viña about the mock biographical film, how the role gave him a taste of the rock-star lifestyle and how he enlisted Jack White of the White Stripes to play Elvis in the comedy.

 
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Dane Cook: Wired for laughs

Thursday, November 29th, 2007 in Extras, General

Comedian Dane Cook talks to Mercury News reporter Mark de la Vina about how the Internet helped him become one of the hottest stand-up performers — someone greatly resented by many comic peers.

 
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