It’s been a fun ride for Jesse McCartney—since starring in the hit TV show Summerland, Jesse has had several top-rated CDs, television cameos, and appearances in some major films. At age 20, Jesse is flying high!

Recently, Scholastic News Online caught up with the young actor. He told us all about what it was like to play the voices of everyone’s favorite singing chipmunks in Alvin and The Chipmunks and much, much more!

Q: When you were a little kid, did you watch the Alvin and the Chipmunks cartoon series?
Jesse: Every Saturday morning, and the reruns on Wednesdays. I was an avid fan.

Q: Why did you like it so much?
Jesse: Well, they were singers and I was always trying to find some excuse to sing when I was younger. I was always excited to see what they were going to sing next! It’s a multigenerational thing too. My parents were fans of the chipmunks. I guess it’s just one of those things that everybody loves.

Q: Did you have a favorite one of them?
Jesse: You know, as much as I loved all of them, I think everyone kind of had a certain thing for Alvin because he was kind of the star. He had the “A” on his shirt. He was kind of the instigator too, and the leader of the pack. I don’t know. He was my favorite.

Q: Was this the first time that you did a voiceover for a film?
Jesse: Oh no. I’ve done a lot of voiceovers prior to this. I just recently did Tinker Bell, which should be coming out very soon. I know they’re making a sequel. But I also just did Horton Hears a Who!, which is coming out in March with Jim Carrey and Steve Carell and Jonah Hill. I’ve done a bunch of voiceover work before. it’s a pretty fun gig!

Q: What about Theodore appealed to you—or annoyed you?
Jesse: He can definitely be annoying, but that’s his character. He’s the little pest of the three. He can be naïve at times and he’s constantly seeking Dave’s attention and Dave’s love. I think he wants to be a star like Alvin. But if he’s annoying, he’s annoying like any little brother is annoying.

Q: Do you like to read?
Jesse: I do a lot of reading. I read a lot of screenplays, and a lot of scripts and short stories.

Q: You’ve said that you like to read autobiographies and biographies. Is there any one autobiography or biography that has particularly impressed you?
Jesse: I love reading about Rosa Parks. I was very interested in her when I was younger and I’m still interested in her. I love reading about people and events from European history, like Napoleon. I’m a big history buff!

Q: Is there anything you’re reading right now?
Jesse: I haven’t read anything in about a month or two. I’ve just been in the studio writing nonstop. Sometimes, I write two or three songs a day!

Q: One last question. If you could make a flavor of ice cream, what would you put in it and what would you call it?
Jesse: Oh, man! I would put in Sour Patch Kids and I would call it Sweet ‘n’ Sour!

Scholastic.com

Article from: Saturday, October 20, 2007

Tonight, more than 7,000 fans will crowd the Oceanfront Arena in the Wildwoods Convention Center to hear Bobby Rydell, Little Anthony and the Imperials and The Cadillacs.

If you want to join them for the centerpiece of the annual Fabulous Fifties weekend, forget it. The simulcast version in the center’s Starlight Ballroom is also sold out.

The weekend is one of the highlights of the convention center’s growing schedule of events in the fifth year of operation for the 260,000-square-foot center over the beach. Since 2001 — the last year for the old center — the number of groups booking the center has grown more than threefold.

“We have also calculated, based on our number of attendees and the days that they are here for their event, that we generate one million dining opportunities in the community on a yearly basis,” said John Siciliano, executive director of the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority, which operates the center.

The convention center was designed to cater to small- to medium-sized events. Within that market, the center has carved a niche for youth and athletic events, religious gatherings and fraternal organizations such as firemen’s weekend, the Boardwalk Classic Car Show and the Irish Festival, in addition to trade shows, associations meetings, consumer shows and entertainment.

The center hosts several major cheerleading and dance competitions, band competitions, a large-scale high school basketball tournament and youth wrestling tournaments.

“One of the keys that we’ve seen is repeat business. You look at the fact people gave us a try, and stayed with us. That says a lot. When people come back and use the building again, we must be doing something right,” Siciliano said.

Take Laurel Springs-based Cheer Tech, which sponsors some 20 cheerleading competitions in several states, including three a year at the Wildwoods Convention Center. A Nov. 4 competition will attract cheerleaders from all over New Jersey, and from portions of Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania.

“We get really good turnouts in Wildwood,” said Cheer Tech director Karen Drew. “The center is laid out great for competitions. Most of the kids bring their parents and siblings.”

The South Jersey Wrestling Association holds two competitions a year.

Local authority officials had high hopes for creating an entertainment hub at the convention center.

“We came in thinking we’d jump into the entertainment bandwagon and do well. But it hasn’t happened as quickly as we would have liked,” Siciliano said. “We wanted to establish it as a facility for people looking for entertainment. We wanted to get entertainers to look beyond Atlantic City, which we thought would be a lot easier than it was. It’s taken longer than expected.”

It’s a learning process in the art of competition. The center can create a 2,500- or 5,000-seat venue. Still, events such as the Fabulous Fifties have drawn well. So have Poison and Cinderella, and the Bacon Brothers in 2006. The center held a Summer of Love concert this year, and has brought in <b>Jesse McCartney</b> and other young teen-oriented acts. And on Dec. 1, Brenda Lee brings her Christmas show to town, part of a day-long holiday spectacular, bazaar and craft show.

Siciliano hopes to more fully develop the convention center niche and add a mid-week component within the next five years. If the stalled effort to bring in full-service, year-round hotels moves along, the center would develop more business meetings, corporate retreats and such. He points to places like Virginia Beach as an example of a resort able to tap that market all year. But the fact that the Wildwoods have lost as many as 3,000 rooms to condo development has been a bane to the convention center.

“Hotel rooms need to happen,” Siciliano said. “To ultimately be successful, we have to be able to do business outside Friday, Saturday and Sunday.”

courierpostonline.com

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton likes to call himself “The Queen of All Media.” But I like to call him a hypocrite and an all-around jack-ass. The only thing he’s right about is that his blog, perezhilton.com, is “Hollywood’s Most-Hated Web Site!”

Hilton’s over-the-top pink blog has become famous for its celebrity gossip and for Hilton’s snarky remarks, often scrawled across less-than-flattering images of celebrities.

I have no problem with criticizing celebrities or making fun of them, but I do have a problem with Hilton doing it. Why? First of all, Hilton makes fun of people because they’re fat or ugly or they took an unflattering picture. Has the man looked in a mirror lately? He’s both fat and ugly. He has absolutely no room to criticize someone for being slightly overweight when he is beyond “slightly overweight” himself. And someone whose hair color changes more frequently than Britney Spears’ shouldn’t be analyzing anyone’s fashion choices. It doesn’t make sense, and I don’t understand why so many people feel that he’s such a great source for Hollywood scoop.

My second complaint with Hilton’s site is that his mockery is practically begging his readers to adopt eating disorders or self-esteem issues. When he points out Jesse McCartney’s acne or Britney’s cellulite, he is fueling society’s obsession with superficial perfection. Britney is nowhere near fat, and saying she needs to lose weight is certainly not going to build a positive image of what you should look like. You might even say he fuels a society of negativity, too, because positive words are hard to come by on Hilton’s blog.

But wait! There’s more! Hilton is famous not only for his celebrity bashing, but also for his “outing” of celebrities. Remember when Lance Bass came out of the closet and announced he’s gay? Yeah, that’s been credited to Hilton’s blog. Hilton’s also trying to claim now that “Prison Break” hottie Wentworth Miller is gay. Look! He’s walking down the street with a gay guy! He’s gay! It’s ridiculous and completely unnecessary. Granted, Lance Bass was pretty much a sure bet, but that’s beyond the point.

Credit: dailyemerald.com

HOLLYWOOD, CA — (MARKET WIRE) — 09/13/07 — On November 18, 2007 some of television’s biggest teen stars will be descending on the City of El Cajon, California; a 20 minute drive from San Diego and only 90 minutes from Los Angeles, for the Mother Goose Parade.

“High School Musical” mega star Corbin Bleu will kick off the parade as the Grand Marshal, alongside Honorary Grand Marshal, “Chips” icon, Erik Estrada.

The entertainment will kick off at 11:00am on Main Street, with a pre-show rock concert by Richie Kotzen. Regarded as one of the top 50 guitarists in the world, Kotzen’s career includes fronting the world renowned rock groups “Poison” and “Mr. Big.” Last year as a solo artist, Kotzen was the opening act for the legendary Rolling Stones “A Bigger Band Tour” in Japan. His new album is currently soaring to the top of the international charts.

Rolling into the pre-show, “American Idol” stunner Katherine McPhee, top pop singer Jesse McCartney, and MySpace.com celebrity chanteuses’ Chantelle Paige and Monet will each take the mic with live performances.

On the floats, the spectators will be able to see more of their favorite stars including Nickelodeon’s Drake Bell of the “Drake & Josh” show; Disney’s “Cory In The House” and “That’s So Raven” star Kyle Massey; Emily Osment of Disney’s “Hannah Montana,” Devon Werkheiser of Nickelodeon’s “Ned’s Declassified Survival Guide” and Ricky Ullman of Nickelodeon’s “Phil of the Future.”

“Parades are an essential part of American tradition, and we want to bring it back to the kids, making it fun and entertaining for them,” said El Cajon Council Member Jillian Hanson-Cox, President of the Mother Goose Parade Association. “We are hoping this social togetherness that is designed for all ages, races, and ethnicities is going to be our biggest year yet. This year we are proud to present our family-oriented theme, California Dreaming, that will guarantee to put smiles on kids faces.”

The Mother Goose Parade (www.MotherGooseParade.org), in its 61st year, which is known to be the second largest parade in California, is an integral part of El Cajon and the City’s history. Over the years the parade has touted some of entertainment’s biggest stars as its Grand Marshall, including Disney’s Mickey Mouse, Warner Brother’s Bugs Bunny, and Fox’s Bart Simpson!

“Grey’s Anatomy” star Ellen Pompeo and her fiance, Chris Ivery, dined at II Sole Monday night with … Heavy D?! The diddly, diddly dee?! The trio was spotted getting into their vehicle as they exited the restaurant — who knew Heavy D was still alive?!

Leaving the gym was Kimberly Stewart, who was obviously not in the mood for obvious questions. Also out in L.A.: Jesse McCartney, 20, and Evan Ross, 19 — who had no problem getting into trendy Hollywood lounge, Hyde. Who needs IDs when you’re rich … b**ch?! Jenna Jameson and BF Tito Ortiz were fishing at Koi, where Jenna showed some PG-rated lovin’ to photogs. And Criss Angel is magically ridiculous looking exiting Les Deux on Sunday.

To view the video visit tmz.com

Is teen heartthrob Jesse McCartney taken? It sure looks that way. After the Aaron Carter look-alike broke up with longtime girlfriend and David Cassidy offspring Katie Cassidy, he headed off to Europe for the summer. While vacationing in Italy, he told me at last night’s grand opening of the Beach on Sunset, Jesse met a new gal. “She doesn’t even speak English!” he said. Despite the language barrier, the Italian lovely and the blond singer and sometime actor have been carrying on via text messaging since his return to the States, and Jesse says he’s “all about it.” Sorry, girls.

Jesse was on hand to perform at the debut of the new West Hollywood nightlife venue. Prior to the show, his nonteenager fans took over the large restaurant and club, filling their bellies with the free appetizers and oversize Trago tequila drinks—one girl had to enlist the help of her friends to carry her cocktail!

Sticking to regular-size refreshments were Brody Jenner (sans his Hills girls, who were scheduled to attend but never made it), Desperate Housewives’ Shawn Pyfrom, Queer Eye’s Jai Rodriguez and Sara Ramirez, who established a no-photo policy because she had been shooting all day and was not “camera ready.” She still looked pretty to me, but stars have a thing about pictures with no makeup. Even Jesse got a little touch-up before he walked the carpet. Wonder how his new Italian sweetheart feels about man makeup?