When I was a kid I watched a lot of old shows from the 1930’s, at least the shows that starred cute, witty and comical kids. Television shows and picture shows from The Little Rascals shorts to Shirley Temple movies.
So it makes sense to me that seeing Paper Moon starring Tatum O’Neal would also be on my favorites list. Of course this was a movie made in 1973 set in the 30’s, but to my childhood moving watching self it didn’t much matter.

At a young age, I knew part of what made the performances special in Paper Moon was that the lead actors were a father/daughter team. I’d imagine how cool it would be to be an actress alongside my dad, walking the red carpet to the Oscars, schmoozing with all the Hollywood celebs. This was easy to imagine since I accompanied my dad on many of his dump truck driving projects. How different could it be I thought? We had so much fun together getting donuts at 4:00 am, then off to load asphalt into the back of his dump truck. Break time of 7-11 Slurpees with the other owner/operators.

Alright, so it’s a long way off from a dump truck to a limo taking you to an Academy Awards dinner but I could imagine. The main thing I imagined was that Tatum O’Neal and her father Ryan O’Neal had perfect lives. As time went by, I got older and started noticing more about them in the media. What I imagined didn’t match up with what the news and tabloids were saying.

Here it is 2011 and Tatum & Ryan O’Neal are back in the spotlight, this time together with a reality show on Oprah’s network. I love reality shows because I like to people watch. I admit it. I like seeing the depth of relationships, and even the surface level simplicity of what’s on the kitchen counter in a person’s house. Yes, I know. Reality TV is a bit like watching entertainment wrestling. It’s not real. It’s edited, put together. I think the fact that a story is being created out of reality is what I find interesting. When you stop and think about it that’s what telling a story is. It’s not always what really happened, it’s how we want the story to be told.

Many have read Tatum O’Neal’s story through her New York Times Bestseller A Paper Life and we’ve heard Ryan O’Neal’s through various interviews. With this new show, Ryan and Tatum: The O’Neals, we watch their story together, a story of reconciliation.

Are you tuning in to Ryan and Tatum: The O’Neal’s?

Set the DVR for Sunday nights on OWN, click here for times, videos and extras.

Check out this great clip from when Tatum O’Neal won her Oscar. She still holds the record for being the youngest actor to win one. I wonder how that must feel. Click here to see the video.

I’ve been keeping my eye on actress, and international model Jennifer Gimenez ever since my interview with her last year.

Jennifer Gimenez, Model Latina: Miami 2009

One of her recent projects, Model Latina: Miami will premiere this Sunday on SiTV.

I have to admit I like watching model reality contests. The glitz and glamour mixed with the fierceness of a competition is pure entertainment to me.

Jennifer is one of four celebrity judges for this season’s Model Latina in Miami. She joins reporter Ellie Rodriguez, actor/musician Jai Rodriguez, and celebrity stylist Jorge Ramon.

“Watch as 12 beautiful, diverse Latinas take over a Miami mansion and compete for a modeling contract, $10,000, and star status. Only one has the smarts, sophistication and style to be the next Model Latina.”—SiTV.com

PREMIERES SUNDAY 8/2 @ 9PM ET/PT

I might not be an official Latina but I grew up just miles from the border of Mexico so I think that makes me an honorary Latina at heart. Don’t forget my fiery passion or fondness for guacamole.

Check out this Model Latina: Miami photo shoot with one of the contestants named Lisa. This curvy Cubana tells us what it means to be a Latina.

Read my interview with Jennifer Gimenez by clicking here.

Jennifer Gimenez at IMDb.com click here.