>> Mel's blog | Simon's blog |  Beretts's blog |  Nat's blog |

++ UPDATED Tuesday 3 November 2009

I recently moved to New York City, now spending almost half my time there apart from my other home, in LA. I have had many questions about how this works so I have answered a few below...

How does LA differ from NYC?

If NYC is the "Big Apple," LA is the "Big Orange." Both fabulous, but as different as night and day. LA is much more spread out and you tend to be more isolated because you're always in your car.

Plus, EVERYONE works in the entertainment industry--for better or worse. There's a pervasive "what can you do for me" attitude.

NYC has a much more diverse population that is literally up against you! The cliche of being "the city that never sleeps" is 100% true. While LA is a showbiz town, NYC is more culturally assorted.

LA is glitzy and posh...NYC is more gritty and "tell it like it is." Both are fabulous! Essentially, all US Entertainment News is generated out of these two hubs, so I'm in a unique position to offer the best coverage possible to the Sunrise audience.

I grew up in NYC so it's an added bonus to be able to reconnect with old friends and acquaintances, as well as to be near my parents now that they're too old to make the trip out to California. I'm wracking up an awful lot of frequent flyer miles as you can imagine...and getting to be on a first name basis with the airline crews!

Is it really a daily occurrence to see someone famous?

I always tell would be star-spotters that the best way to succeed is just to go out on the town and let the celebrities run into YOU! That's true in LA...I bump into Halle Berry in the supermarket, Ludacris at the gym and Brad Pitt at a traffic light.

In NYC, the same rule applies...but it's even MORE prevalent, because the stars are out and about right alongside you. (That's my little slice of the Big Apple - above)

Taking a jog in Central Park, I run into Sting...pumping iron (considerably less!) next to The Rock at my gym...or running into Hugh Jackman on a street corner.

Does working for Sunrise get u recognised in the USA?

More and more often all the time. I've been having brekky with the Aussies 6 days a week for 6 years! It seems like everywhere I go I run into someone who says "G'day Nelson!" It's a wonderful feeling to be immediately identified as a "friend."

If you ever see me out and about, by all means come over and introduce yourself. Unlike Kochie, Mel and my other on-air mates, I don't get the daily opportunity to interact with our viewers which is why I love getting to meet them when I can...as well as staying in touch through my Twitter and Facebook pages.

Your best interview this year?

Gosh, it's an embarrassment of riches, really. I get to interview so many talented folks. But I had my second interview with the sublime Meryl Streep not too long ago and she really is spectacular. Warm and wonderful...completely down to earth, while still radiating that special something that makes her a "star."

What would you love to show us from NYC next?

I had a great time shooting the story on the Aussie dancer who is now appearing on Broadway in WEST SIDE STORY...and my whole backstage visit with Hugh Jackman for A STEADY RAIN.

After getting to do the Sunrise location shoots in Las Vegas, Hawaii and Disneyland, I'd really like to host my mates in Manhattan! Take Mel and Nat shopping on Fifth Avenue! Tour the NY Stock Exchange with Kochie! Race a 10k with Beretts in Central Park! And definitely bring Simon to a cabaret in the Theater District.

I have a very long To-Do List!

----

While I'm at it - here's a shot of me at a recent junket...

++ UPDATED Friday 30 October 2009

I work at least six days every week, with wacky hours that defy traditional sleep patterns.

And contrary to what some folks might think, Entertainment reporting is a lot of hard work...and rarely as glamorous as it appears.

I've often said that the reason those premiere carpets are red is to hide all the blood spilled!But last night was a showbiz experience that was pure pleasure: taking my best friend, Glenn, along with me to see the gripping new Broadway drama "A Steady Rain," starring Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman.

It's in previews right now and officially opens for a limited run at the end of September. I won't give away the plot...just in case you make it to Manhattan to see the show, but I will say that it's extremely intense and adult. Both actors rose to the occasion for an utterly compelling ninety minutes; just the two men on stage the whole time, no intermission...not even so much as a glass of water!

The audience rewarded them with thunderous applause and a standing ovation.Kochie’s blog

++ UPDATED 11.21am 7 July 2009

Oneof the hosts - okay, it was Kylie Gillies on TMS - told me this morningthat I look like Scotty from the show Brothers & Sisters.The actoris Luke Macfarlane.

What do you think? Do you see a resemblance? Seems like a good excuse for a poll...

VOTE HERE!

Meanwhile, here's a shot of me reporting on location from the mortuary where Michael Jackson is expected to be buried.  If you get up at 2.50am tomorrow to see the Memorial Service, I will be reporting live and we will have the team positioned all around LA to bring you full coverage.

++ UPDATED 9.47am 14 April

1. What signs were there that Mel's marriage may be threatened?
Melonce referred to her as his "Rock of Gibraltar...only prettier," but inrecent years they spent more and more time apart.  Now we know theirseperation was ever since the time of his last DUI arrest.  Pictures ofhim cavorting with younger women in bars and on beaches only added fuelto the fire of speculation about the state of their marriage.

2. How does his Catholicism affect this  as opposed to other celebrity splits?
Thereare other Hollywood Catholics, like Schwarzenegger and Martin Sheen,but you don't see them in divorce court.  I think the decision tolegally split is probably what is most shocking, especially the greatlengths Gibson has always gone to, to espouse his religious beliefs.

3. Any response yet from other Hollywood stars? Do you think they will be surprised?
Maritaldiscord isn't the shocker, but dissolving a 28 year Catholic marriage(and apparently without a pre-nup!) is definitely a surprise.

4. Phil Spector - Many people own guns, what meant Phil might use them against a loved one? motive?
Fordecades, everyone in Tinseltown has known about his penchant forgunplay.  In the classic "Napoleonic" fashion, he has threatened andintimidated colleagues, romantic partners and others he considered"underlings."  This is what has led many in the showbiz community tobelieve that justice has finally been served.  His years ofrecklessness culminated on that terrible night when a firearm went offand killed Lana Clarkson.  A good friend of mine, publicist EdwardLozzi, summed it up this way:  "After 6 long years of work and anxiety,knowing that Phil Spector murdered the lovely Lana Clarkson, we knowthe jury did the right thing---even with the 6 million in legal feesand paid fabricators used by Spector.   We are just plain HAPPY !!!!Good riddance!  Many of us who have been threatened by Phil Spector andhis minions can now rest easily."


 

++ UPDATED 12.31pm Feb 25

I'm delirious. I'mpunch drunk! I feel like one of Santa's elves the day after Christmas.

Least Pretentious Actress

Up there with NataliePortman, they could have called that segment Beauty and the Beast.

Natalie Portman was my#1 on the red carpet. Did you see her? SHE LOOKED FABULOUS.

My pet peeve with thered carpet was that with all these beautiful women, they're striking ridiculousposes and it's nothing less than Cirque de Soleil!

They arch their back,push out their lips...

They all seem to thinkthey are supermodels - like they're Ru Paul!

Angelina Jolie,Natalie Portman, they are so confident in their own skin, they don't have to sticktheir hip out. They can just be gorgeous. If they have a dress that flatterstheir figure, that just adds to it.

Natalie Portman, rightnow, is the least unpretentious actress we've got. It's a shame her body ofwork doesn't illustrate it. She's a Jodie Foster or a Meryl Streep. Or even SusanSarandon.

Most Conspicuous Absence

Another thing, wherethe bloody hell was Catherine Zeta-Jones? Michael Douglas was there so I guessshe may have been lurking in the shadows ...

With the song-and-dancetheme of her good mate Hugh Jackman as MC, her absence was conspicuous.

I saw a private cabaret showwith Hugh and Catherine Z-J in Hollywood a few months ago and it wasstupendous. And what was with Beyonce and the lip-syncing? 

Ridiculous!

Funniest Awards Presentation

In my opinion, Ben Stiller'sgag (impersonating Joaquin Phoenix) was hilarious - it just went on too long.C'mon. Of all shows, the Oscars is the one you would try and be tight for time.

Worst Dressed

Miley Cyus. The ironywas that she said "It's the first thing I saw and I knew it was the one!"

And Sarah JessicaParker. I thought maybe Matthew Broderick had lost a molar and she was goingto leave him a gift.  Did she not look like the Tooth Fairy!?

I was shocked abouthow the journalists all ignored Matthew's presence, given the rumblings of marital discord. Thevery fact they came together was a statement and reporters missed it.

Biggest Disappointment

One of my disappointmentswas the media-created feud between Angleina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston.Especially the director's decision to do a closeup on Angelina's face when Jenwas on stage. That was tacky.

Best MC at an Awards Ceremony

Hugh Jackman workedharder, physically and mentally, than any Oscars host has ever worked. Ican only think of one person who could have matched him and that is CatherineZeta-Jones - because they both come from theatre. They're used to doing that eighttimes a week.

It was also great becausehe didn't make it all about him. He came out, didi his intro piece and then wedidn't see him for ages.

Next year  - he will be nominated for an Emmy as Best Host of a TVspecial. So he may not have won an Oscar, but he will win an Emmy fordoing theOscars.  He certainly will have earned it!

Most Icy Performance by a Prima Donna

Reese Witherspoon. Iwant to believe she is as cute and the "little sister" I want her to be.. but shealways strikes me as uptight. She's the opposite of Meryl Streep. She's justnot confident. She doesn't seem to embody the true confidence that you get fromreal superstardom.

I know she'll inviteme over for BBQ sometime and I'll bring presents for the kids, and we'll bebest friends.  The forecast?  A very cold day in Hell! :)

 ----------------

++ UPDATED 1.39pm Feb 15 

BRINGING YOU THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS!

Mynew book may be titled "Hollywood Insider: Exposed!" (I hope you'veread it, by the way...), but now I have a new surprise to unveil: anot-so-little project that's been in the planning stages for quite sometime. I can finally announce -- I'll be TV's only InternationalEntertainment Correspondent to be completely "bi-coastal!" Yep, I'll besplitting my life, and reportage, between the two giant hubs of showbiznews: Hollywood and New York City. As you may know, I "grew up" inManhattan as a young actor before making L.A. my home in 1990.

Butin recent years, so much of my work has been generated out of the BigApple that I've taken the leap to become a resident of BOTH sides ofthe USA. Not only will I get to be on the scene for all the mostimportant showbiz stories du jour, I'll be able to see my dear oldfolks more than once a year... and bring all the best bits the greatmetropolis has to offer directly to YOU!

Broadway...concerts..fashion...film...whenit comes to chasing the lifestyles of the rich & famous, they can'tescape me! From Central Park to Lincoln Center to SoHo and the GreatWhite Way, I'll be your man on the scene. (Mel: let's go shopping on5th Avenue! Kochie: do you fancy a tour of the NY Stock Exchange?Simon: how about crooning at the cabaret? Beretts: want to take in agame at Madison Square Garden or the new Yankee Stadium?)

Itmay be a little shoebox of an apartment (the French call it a "pied aterre"), but it will be my second home. So get ready to hear lots morefirst hand, exclusive entertainment news and schmooze. And I'll updateyou regularly here and on the Sunrise Family blog http://sunrisefamily.com.au/current/content/blogs/nelson/ as to how I'm acclimating to my new transcontinental life! Bring on those frequent flyer miles...

Any particular New York City sights/stories you're interested in? Let me know!

++ UPDATED 12.58pm January 27

Thereare So-ooo many Awards shows this time of years, but the SAGs are mypersonal faves!  TV & film come together in a relaxed atmospherethat's still swell-egant! 

It's always great to run into friends & colleagues on both sides of the velvet ropes.

See more of my shots in my flickr set.

Catch up with Nelson's latest SUNRISE reports in video: Nelson's Hollywood

or in my blog on Sunrise Family website.

++ UPDATED 28 December 2008

[IMG3L] If you're like me, every year seems to whiz by just a wee bit fasterthan the previous one.  Combine that fact with the "Groundhog's Day"routine of the mild Southern California climate, and the only markers Ihave to differentiate seasons are Awards shows and ratings periods! 

Butsince Father Time always beckons us to look back at the 12 monthsleading up to the arrival of Baby New Year, here are some of myMemorable 08 Moments...both Good and Bad. 

Of course, this isopen to debate...my choices are totally subjective.  I also have twodemo reels posted on YouTube, chronicling much of my showbiz reportagefrom the year past if you'd like to take a look:

 (Part II)

Biggest Story of the Year: The Death of Heath Ledger
Most Shocking Murder: Jennifer Hudson family slayings
Best (Male) Celeb Interview of the Year: Tom Cruise
Best (Female) Celeb Interview of the Year: Dame Julie Andrews
Most Disappointing Interview of the Year: Reese Witherspoon
Favorite Movies: Role Models, Appaloosa, Tropic Thunder, Revolutionary Road
Favorite TV Show: Mad Men
Most Overexposed: All the US Presidential/Vice-Presidential Candidates & Amy Winehouse (tie)
Best Couple: Ellen DeGeneres & Portia DeRossi
Biggest Breakup: Madonna & Guy Ritchie
Most Unexpected Celebrity Arrest: Christian Bale/Assault
Favorite CD: Seal's "Soul"
Biggest Baby Story: Sunday Rose Kidman Urban and Max & Emme Lopez Anthony (tie)
Most Surprising Baby Story: Maddie, daughter of teen Jamie Lynn Spears
Worst Baby Name: Bronx Mowgli Simpson Wentz
Best Comeback: Britney Spears & Mickey Rourke (tie)

Thanks for watching (and reading) this year everyone! Nelson.

++ UPDATED December 24 2008 - Christmas blog

Lookslike instead of a white Christmas, Hollywood is in store for a WETone.  And while Team Brangelina will be at an undisclosed location (I'mguessing France) and Paris Hilton wings her way Down Under for alucrative New Year's Eve gig, the rest of Tinseltown will be makingmerry in the City of Angels. 

My little niece Merryn helped metrim the tree and my trainer Mario came along to help us sing carolsand celebrate with a Oaxacan feast, so that was pretty much my holidaythis year I'm afraid.  I'm not going to be able to make it back to theEast Coast to see my family, but will make up for it in few months whenmy mom celebrates her milestone 80th birthday. 

And while itmay pale in comparison to Paris' plans, I'll be having a "stay-cation"and gearing up for my annual New Years Eve party.  I bake loaves andloaves of bread and whip up a cauldron of my famous Turkey Chili, thenwelcome friends in to hang out around the fire and countdown to the NewYear.  Much champagne shall be imbibed! 

Whatever your holidayplans are, please know that I'm sending you all my very best wishes fora happy & peaceful time.  I have much to be grateful for thisyear...much of it Aussie-oriented thanks to the friendships of my on& off camera Sunrise Family mates.  I look forward to making morehappy memories together in 2009!

++ UPDATED 14 December 2008

A NOTE FROM NEW YORK: Hey,gang, I'm back in the Big Apple for some powerhouse interviews with afew celebs you might have heard of before (Do the names Tom Cruise or Scarlett Johanssen ring a bell!?) but wanted to share a funny story with you about an encounter I had last night.

Ipride myself on never getting tongue tied around celebrities.  If Idid, I wouldn't be much of an interviewer, would I!?  But there are afew certain stars who get my goosebump factor going and I find it bestto usually acknowledge it right away and then get on to business.  Matt Damon, Catherine Zeta Jones and Brenden Fraser certainly have all fallen into that category for me.  And of course, one of my all time favourites: Viggo Mortensen. You've seen me interview him for APPALOOSA and EASTERN PROMISES,chatting easily about our mutual salad days working on soap operas andhis always daring screen work.

Butlast night I went out for a drink with some of my mates from Telefilm,the company that so brilliantly coordinates many of the big motionpicture press tours.  I suggested we meet at "The Library," one of mytop picks for Manhattan hang-outs at the Loews Regency Hotel.  Starsightings are so common there, they are almost taken for granted.  Butwhen Viggo walked in with a buddy and sat down at the table next to us,I had to take the opportunity to say hello and remind him of all ourmutual "degrees of seperation."

But when I opened my mouth tospeak, all my years of education, elocution, word play and wit seemedto lodge in the back of my throat.  He is such a professional hero ofmine (a true multilingual, multifaceted Renaissance man), all I coulddo was stammer some greetings which he patiently endured before hecould turn his attention back to his dinner.  He graciously extendedhis appreciation and holiday wishes before I slinked back to my seatand quickly ordered a giant Chardonnay!

I consoled myself withthe great advice I got many years ago from an acting teacher of mine:"Don't beat yourself up over being nervous.  It is only an indicationof how much you CARE."  A good reminder the next time you start tobreak out in a sweat or your knees start knocking.  Everybody gets starstruck some time...yep, even a "showbiz insider!"

++ UPDATED 8.48am December 2

Your Showbiz Guy Never Sleeps & Now I'm in the "City that Never Sleeps!"

It's always a treat to return to Manhattan for work assignments.  The
Big Apple (pop. 8,008,278) is where I lived for 10 very formative years
before I hit Hollywood and is still very much my "second home." 

Even as a kid, I'd take the train into the city for auditions, classes and Broadway shows. 

Every neighborhood, whether preserved or gentrified, eems to have happy ghosts from my past. 

Mylongest & closest friendships are all based here...and nearly halfof all showbiz stories these days seem to be generated out of theglamorous Metropolis...home
of Carrie Bradshaw, Ugly Betty and Spiderman.

I'mlucky that my work gets to take me "home" often enough to stay in touchwith old cronies, keep up with the latest trends, go for runs throughCentral Park and nosh on the best bagels in the world!

Of course, I love LA, but NYC will always be special.  "Showbiz"
encompassesall corners of the world nowadays, so I'm lucky that I can so easilyvacillate between both US coasts to bring you the very best coverage ofwhat American has to offer the entertainment industry.

Movies, theater, fashion, music,

dance, art.  Stick with me as I log my
frequent flyer miles to cover it all. 

And by all means, let me know our story ideas and suggestions for reporting not only from Tinseltown, but from New York, too!

Fave Restaurants: Cafe Luxembourg, Vice Versa, Arriba Arriba!

Fave Gym: Equinox Columbus Circle

Fave Department Stores: Bloomingdales & Barneys

Fave Picnic Spot: Riverside Park

Best Views: My best friend's living room and The Rainbow Room

Best Brekky: The Library at Loews Regency

Fave Broadway Theater: The Music Box on West 45 Street 

++ UPDATED 8.05am November 20

MOTHER NATURE DOESN'T DISCRIMINATE

Mercifully,the California wildfires seem to be under control for the time being. Of course, the financial toll is in the billions, the lost land in thethousands of acres and the personal loss incalculable.  Celebrityhomeowners in the affected areas (Rob Lowe, Ellen Degeneres,Christopher Lloyd, etc) get the most press attention but there are farmore "average" citizens affected. 

Australians certainly knowthe wrath of Mother Nature from their own natural disasters, mostrecently the one-two meteorological punch of drought and thentorrential rains.  No matter how many "states of emergency" ourpolitical leaders declare, the forces of nature will always have thetrump card. 

That's nothing new...look at Noah.

So, whatcan we do other than help reduce our carbon footprint throughconservation and prepare our homes as best we can for unforeseenincidents?  I suppose the answer lies in making contributions todisaster relief organizations whenever possible. 

Of course,economic times are tough and there are always more worthy charitiesthan we can ever be able to support... But if you can ever manage tosend some spare dough to Unicef, give a pint of blood to the Red Cross,donate that garage full of old junk to the Salvation Army or justvolunteer to help out first-responder organizations, then you WILL bemaking a difference in the overall picture. 

My sister's cardgroup donates their monthly winnings to a local charity.  All myrunning endeavours are geared to charitable causes.  Rather than have ayard sale, my neighbours unload their unwanted items at the Good WillThrift Shoppe. 

Why not make a date to do something like that with family or friends this weekend?

Read More from Nelson at NelsonAspen.com

++ UPDATED  12.25pm October 29

[IMG1L] The big news story this week is, of course, the tragic tripleshooting deaths in the family of Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson. 

Ihad the pleasure of interviewing Jennifer just last month (which youwill soon be seeing on Sunrise) and I can tell you from the severalhours I spent in her company that she is a very down-to-earth younglady. 

She's remarkably patient and obviously loves to sing:she'll belt out a few bars at a moment's notice...that magnificentinstrument, her voice, is as powerful in person as you'd imagine it tobe. 

The story of the crime that cost the lives of her mother,brother and nephew continues to develop with every passing hour, butwould it be so if not for her celebrity status? 

Chicago,Illinois, is considered by many to be the crime capital of the USA ,with a murder rate higher than New York City or Los Angeles (which bothhave bigger populations). 

Presidential frontrunner BarackObama is the senator of Illinois and it is worrisome that he has beenunable to curb the level of violence there, particularly when it comesto guns. 

How does this bode for an Obama Administration, if it comes to pass? 

Itstill mystifies me why Americans are so in love with their weapons andconsider it a fundamental right "to bear arms."  I'm sure our colonialfounding fathers never envisioned a society where firearms were usedand abused the way they are today. 

Of course, this is theenvironment in which Hudson and other city dwellers live...where guns& gangs are an unfortunate fact of life. 

The fame factorfor her obviously contributed greatly to the speed with which progresswas made in the case.  Hundreds of other crime victims don't get thesame opportunity for quick justice, retribution or global sympathy. 

Perhapswe can all take a moment when next we hear the latest information aboutthe Hudson story to pay some attention to the non-headline grabbingvictims of crime closer to home in our own communities.

Nelson

++ UPDATED 10.34 October 13

Can'tthank you guys enough for all the love you've shown me the lastfortnight during my book tour Down Under.  From Sydney to Erina,Melbourne to the Gold Coast, Brisbane to Bulimba...meeting and greetingthe hundreds & hundreds of extended members of my Sunrise familyhas been an experience I shall never forgot. 

I'm one lucky blokeand every bit of it is warmly felt with deep appreciation.  My onlyregret is that I didn't get to more parts of your beautifulhomeland...but that's a cool bonus: there is always much more todiscover & look forward to with every visit.

I hope youenjoy the book, HOLLYWOOD INSIDER: EXPOSED, and I await to yourreviews!  Meantime, I shall take home to Hollywood all the gladtidings, tight embraces and happy memories of this special visit.

I'll be back in the chair as usual on Monday morning...so see y'all then!!!

"Doing my best blue-steel!"

++ UPDATED 7.44am October 9

Thanksto everybody who came out to the Seven Store yesterday to say G'Day,take some happy snaps and pick up a copy of my new book. 

Meland I also got to visit the amazing Children's Cancer Institute to meetsome of the medical staff and stupendous kids...and even tour theirresearch lab.  Then it was off to Woolongong and ended the day back inSydney for a dinner and Q&A at the Rotary Club. 

I met hundreds of my Aussie friends in a single day.  How lucky am I!? 

Andwhat a relief that I survived the singing segment on Sunrise!  Crooningon live TV is way out of my comfort zone, but so much fun...so thankheavens my mate Simon was there to help steady my nerves. 

Ha ha, Kochie thinks we need to take our act on the road.  Whaddya think?

++ UPDATED 12.13pm October 7

Here are my dates and appearances for the coming week I am spending in Oz promoting my new book, HOLLYWOOD INSIDER: EXPOSED! Hope to see you there!

And for all you who love video-blogs, here's one of my first morning in Australia. 

Itinvolved two TV appearances (Sunrise and The Morning Show) plus a voiceover in the sound booth, then off to get fitted for a NEW IDEA photoshoot with Barbra Northwood.

++ UPDATED 10.24am September 10

And now---drum roll, please---the big news that (at least some of) you have been waiting for: my secret surprise! 

Iwanted to wait untilall the details were finalized and now I'm excitedto announce that my new book, HOLLYWOOD INSIDER: EXPOSED!, will bereleased in Australianext month. 

A real labour of love...tonsof never-before-revealedinside scoop, personal stories andphotographs.  And the best part is:I'm coming Down Under for awhirlwind series of personal appearancesand book siginings. 

I'malso excited to reunite withmy Sunrise family and co-host this year'sCCIA charity ball with my"satellite sister," Melissa Doyle. 

So please check the schedule andsee if there's a convenient date & time for you to come out and say"G'day!"  

Isn't it time we finally meet IN PERSON!? 

++ UPDATED 12 August 11.43pm

NelsonAspen, Sunrise Hollywood Correspondent & Multi-Marathoner respondsto the questions of why don't more people take up running, with itsobvious benefits and new evidence it can prolong life.

Mymomwas fond of saying "You never see a jogger smiling."  She has apoint,but not everything worth doing has to be as rip-roaring a goodtime asthe BENEFITS you'll reap from doing it.  In the beginning, Ifoundjogging a chore.  Until I started to improve.  I was a latebloomer, soI was well into my 30s before I took it up.  I began to seenot onlyrapid, dramatic improvements in my performance (no morejogging for me,baby...I'm a RUNNER!), but in my physicalfitness...immune system (Ihaven't had so much as a cold inyears!)...weight, body fat &cholesterol numbers...I'm happier,more vigorous, think moreclearly...even my skin is better thanks torunning.  You can bet I'msmiling NOW!

Some tips for how to enjoy your runs more while waiting to get bitten by "the bug":

• Run with ipod full of your favorite, motivational tunes
• Makeadate with a friend to go for a run.  You're less likely to blow itoff,if you have a commitment to do it with someone else.
• Run with an avid enthusiast who can share his/her passion with you.
• Pick a super scenic location to enjoy (I love Sydney's Botanical Gardens).
• Startoutslowly on a treadmill at the gym and keep track of your progress. Whenyou reach milestones, reward yourself with some new workout gearor aSpa Treatment.
• Incorporate running into other activities you enjoy, like tennis, rugby or even a game of Tag with the kids.
• Consult a doctor before beginning any new exercise regiment.
• Visithttp://www.nelsonaspen.com/and see how running has impacted MY life.  Whileyou're there, why notmake a donation to my Marathon Charity, St. JudeChildren's Hospital!? www.stjudeheroes.org/users/naspen

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++ UPDATED 22 July 12.05pm

Asan ardent comic book fan (with an admitted bias to the DC ComicsUniverse as opposed to Marvel), I knew that sooner or later we'd seeBatman kick Spiderman's webbed butt!!

But why this particular DARK KNIGHT (Watch my interviewwith the film's stars) installment of the Caped Crusader's franchisehas struck such a chord with the movie going public is simple: it's notonly meets the high expectations the pre-release hype generated, itEXCEEDS them.

Isn't it refreshing (and hopefully, an example tostudios in search of blockbusters) when the QUALITY of the art matchesthe QUANTITY of the box office!?

I don'tbelieve in "outing" celebrities and I'm often asked if it is wrong toout someone if it is the truth. I'vealways thought "outing" is an unnecessary invasion of privacy.

"Who knows what personal reasons someone has for keeping their sexualityto themselves?"

WhileI think it's hypocritical for a person to LIE about theirsexuality, Idisagree with bloggers or tabloids who feel it's okay to blithelyexposethat info--and especially to revel in it.

Fortunately,modern times are making"coming out" more acceptable, but it's still atremendouslysignificant, personal and often difficult process for aperson...and it shouldbe at a time of THEIR choosing, alone.

Thereareenough interesting, offbeat, entertaining things to talk about inthe world ofshowbiz without going into someone's bedroom.

Observerswonder why some gay or lesbian actors feel they need to hide theirsexuality. For better or worse, imageis everything in Hollywood.

An openlygay person is much more likely to be relegated to playing less-glam,lower-paying supporting/character roles. Years ago, a star's homosexaulity was an "industry secret" toprotect their Leading Man status (Rock Hudson, Tab Hunter, Sal Mineo, RobertReed, Dick Sargent, Anthony Perkins, etc).

Fortunately,"outed" stars like Neil Patrick Harris and TR Knight havebeen ableto rebound from the initial shockwave, but they might not havebeen able to hadit happened at an earlier, less successful stage oftheir careers. Rupert Everett, Ellen DeGeneres and IanMcKellan can be openly, proudly gay...but you don't see them playing romanticroles, either.

Maybe thatwill change.

I hopeso.

But in themeantime, aren't there sufficient forces trying to screw up the lives ofstars? Why add "outing" to themix!? Politiciansare elected, publicservants, so I can understand that their lives are"open books," butwhy does being an actor mean you should be deprived ofa private life?