Recently, The Wrap wrote a really insightful article about celebrities coming out publicly with ease, yet there are certain industries where it is still taboo to be out of the closet, namely big movie stars.  It seems so easy to be Neil Patrick Harris, Matt Bomer, and Anderson Cooper, all big television personalities, who came out in their own way whether it was a press release, a significant other's acknowledgment in a speech, or a letter to the editor of an online publication.  The news made the headlines for a day, and then we all moved on.  Living in Hollywood, I hear the rumors all of the time from the stars hiding behind the religion of Scientology, to the actor in two huge summer action films, to the Academy Award nominated actor who almost came out, but chickened out at the last minute. (Google “Toothy Tile” for a hint.) Are the rumors true?  I certainly don't hang out in celebrities' bedrooms, but with certain stars, where there is smoke, there is fire.

If telling the public has been so easy for television stars, why is it so difficult for big box office stars?  Here are some of the reasons:

After last week's tragedy in Aurora, Colorado, it was only a matter of time before we heard pundits hop on CNN and MSNBC and tout the "Violence and Hollywood" angle as a possible motive.  A secondary thread to this is "Violence and Video Games," and that is also another factor in this case.  Many folks want to take a look at MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) ratings, because PG-13 films have the same amount of violence, suggestive scenes, and language that a Rated R film did ten years ago.  Has violence in Hollywood movies escalated?  Sure.  I would hardly argue with that statement, as torture porn movies like Saw came in vogue and sophomoric sex humor encouraged by the success of the Judd Apatow movies grew.  I think we have become accustomed to tolerating more in our PG-13 movies as trends and social mores have changed.

In the last few years, our country has endured a rough economy, layoffs, and a weak real estate market, but not in Hollywood. When a female star's career is waning, there is one key thing she can do to revive interest in her cooling career: get pregnant.  A baby bump has become a hot commodity in Hollywood and here are the ways a star can make money from having a baby:

Yesterday, I finally hit Cars Land at California Adventure to see what all of the hype was about.  The rumors that it's crowded are true, but here are three tips to take with you the next time you visit the park.  I also included some fun photos from the day.  I will be doing a few Disney posts throughout the year as I put my new Annual Pass to good use.

When you are given the assignment of interviewing Matthew McConaughey and Channing Tatum for Steven Soderbergh’s Magic Mike, honestly, it’s not a tough assignment.  The actors play male strippers and wear very little clothing in this often dark portrayal of a lifestyle that may seem cheesy onstage, but it is fraught with its own demons.  You can tell the guys had a lot of fun on set and during their requisite “Stripper Camp” before filming began, because Tatum swears that the moves from Magic Mike are responsible for McConaughey’s recent nuptials.  

Take a look at the iVillage interview here:

Magic Mike opens in theatres today, June 29th, nationwide.  

To check out more of my iVillage interviews with Reese Witherspoon, Julia Roberts, and Chris Hemsworth, click here.

Kristyn Burtt is a TV Host, Entertainment Reporter, and Former Couch Potato turned Mouse Potato living in Los Angeles.  For more Hollywood scoop, follow her on Twitter, Facebook, and on her site, Red Carpet Closet. 

When I attended the D23 conference last August, the trailer for Disney•Pixar's Brave struck me as a strong departure from their typical animated fare. We don't have a male lead or a helpless princess or a film with a built-in merchandising empire.  Instead, we have a strong, stubborn, independent, and fierce gal by the name of Merida.  She wants to live life on her own terms, but she is going to learn the hard way how to get there.  It is a gorgeous film, but I am not sure it is for everyone.  Here are my three reasons to see Brave:

It was hard not to act like a giddy fan when I was offered the opportunity to interview some of the cast of Rock of Ages.  I am a huge musical theatre geek, and this movie was my Avengers, Hunger Games, and Prometheus all rolled into one film.  Yep, this was my summer movie.  Rock of Ages, helmed by director Adam Shankman, follows the tale of a small town girl . . . oh, you know how the song goes.  It takes you back to a time in Los Angeles when the Sunset Strip was the hub of music, but changes were brewing with the emergence of synthesized music and the rebirth of boy bands.  While rock never dies, it is fun to take a step back in time when hair bands ruled the airwaves.  

I always love demystifying Hollywood, whether it is from the "days of yore" (Guess which show that quote is from!) or taking current accepted practices in the entertainment industry and revealing the truth. Today's edition of Hollywood secrets is telling you the truth about reality shows...they aren't real.  Here are three things to think about:

When you interview someone, you never know how circumstances will change over the course of several months.  When I interviewed Dan Harmon at Paley Fest 2012 back in March, the big news was about the return of Community to the NBC lineup after an unplanned hiatus. Well, several events, including a public spat with Chevy Chase, lead to his dismissal from the show last week.  Watch my interview with Dan before he was let go from the show:

Did you see Dark Shadows last weekend?  I’m sure the answer is “no” for many of you, given the fact that The Avengers slayed the competition by over $70 million at the box office.  While I wasn’t familiar with the original gothic soap series, I am quite a fan of any Tim Burton/Johnny Depp collaboration.  Joining them for the ride was the usual cast of Burton characters like Helena Bohnam Carter (a quirky favorite of mine), composer Danny Elfman, and costume designer Colleen Atwood.  How could you miss?  Well, they did.

Here are my top 3 thoughts about the film: