Image details: Miley Cyrus and Vanessa Williams fliming Hannah Montana in Beverly Hills served by picapp.com

From the look of things, these are the scenes that set up the fact that Hannah lives a posh lifestyle in California – thus setting up the culture shock (for the audience) when she comes home to TN.  Think Sweet Home Alabama.

When I first saw these, I thought they were paparazzi photos of Vanessa and Miley actually shopping.

Williams looks wonderful as usual, but she’s GOT to be hot in that outfit.  Hasn’t it been quite warm in southern California lately?

Regardless, I’m really looking forward to this movie.  Not only is Vanessa Williams featured prominently in it, but the fact that I have kids a certain age means I’m required by federal law to take them to see it.  Or something.

More pics after the jump!

Image details: Miley Cyrus and Vanessa Williams fliming Hannah Montana in Beverly Hills served by picapp.com

Image details: Miley Cyrus and Vanessa Williams fliming Hannah Montana in Beverly Hills served by picapp.com

Image details: Miley Cyrus films scenes for ‘Hana Montana : The Movie in L.A served by picapp.com

Post from: Ugly Betty News

In 1984, Williams was crowned Miss America, only to lose the title when some very risque photographs of her showed up in Pentouse Magazine. Even in the 90’s, when she was in the middle of a comeback, the photos came back to haunt her.

“I was supposed to do one of the voices in The Lion King, ” Williams, 45, recalls outside her trailer at the Santa Monica Airport after rehearsing her hosting duties for the TV Land Awards, which were taped and will air at 9 p.m. Sunday.

“I had met with the directors, saw the boards and everything, and then was told through my agent that I would never be Disney material. That was 16, 17 years ago, so it’s interesting how far we get. Now I’m a Disney employee.”

It’s pretty interesting to note that one year later, Williams had one of her biggest hits with Colors of the Wind from the sountrack of Disney’s Pocohantas.

Now, of course, Williams is one of the stars of Disney-ABC’s Ugly Betty, and is currently filming that most Disney of projects, Hannah Montana: The Movie. Williams had was originally going to take her summer off to relax, but there was no turning down a film starring daughter Sasha’s favorite star, Miley Cyrus (a.k.a. Hannah Montana). Williams plays Hannah’s pushy publicist, Vita. (I love that name!)

What a difference a couple of decades make.

Vanessa’s 3 daughters have no interest in the Miss America pageant (even with Michael Urie hosting?), but they are quite excited about their mom being involved in the family-friendly TV Land Awards.

Williams will perform “I’m Flying” from Peter Pan, while introducing TV legends Beav (Jerry Mathers), Mary Ann (Dawn Wells) and Greg Brady (Barry Williams).

Everyone in the number will be airborne (including Williams), except 74-year-old “Partridge Family” mom Shirley Jones. “Just the thought cracks me up,” Williams says.

Here is something quite surprising: the move to New York has been frustrating for Vanessa. I would have thought the NY native would love it, but apparently, this past year, she had set up a permanent home in Los Angeles and enrolled 8-year-old Sasha in school.

Like I said, a roller coaster.

Source: USA Today
Image: Newscom

Post from: Ugly Betty News

Since I last told you about Vanessa Williams’ involvement in the Hannah Montana movie, we’ve learned a few more things. I know this because I live in Nashville, where the film is shooting, and you can’t turn around without seeing a news story about the film. It’s funny, part of the culture here is being nonchalant about spotting celebrities, because they are everywhere – and Nashville is much smaller than LA. I’ve run into country music up-and-comers at Walmart more than once.

But Miley Cyrus, Vanessa Williams, and Tyra Banks? Those are a different class of celebrity, and folks around here are going ga-ga. Click here to see a news video about some filming that took place in a local mall. I love the fact that Miley is going to fight Tyra Banks over a pair of shoes.

From the daily gossip dispatches that are coming from the local media, we’ve learned that Williams is playing Hannah Montana’s “pushy publicist”. That would probably mean that the role larger than we previousy guessed, certainly a supporting one. Williams has been involved in quite a few of the scenes filmed in the past couple of weeks. And being overly ambitious is a role tailor-made for Vanessa.

If Williams is going to be hanging out in my town for an extended period of time, I’m going to go into stalker mode to score an interview. I’ll let you know how it goes!

Image: Newscom

Post from: Ugly Betty News

If you’ve been reading here a while, you know that I live in Nashville, TN. Well, they happen to be filming the Hannah Montana Movie here, and Ms. Williams was spotted on the set last week. I need to get my camera and head out there more often.

It would make sense that Williams would have a role in the film. Miley Cyrus told Ryan Seacrest on one of the YouTube installments of the Miley And Mandy Show that the movie would have a whole lot of guest stars. There is a ready stable available from ABC/Disney, including Vanessa. And Williams’ daughter Sasha is at the age where seeing her mother in the Hannah Montana Movie would be quite impressive.

As far as other guest stars go, Country Weekly Magazine has reported that Dolly Parton, Heather Locklear, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson could make appearances in the film. Billy Ray Cyrus has also expressed a desire for Willie Nelson to appear.

Williams’ appearance is probably just a cameo, but wouldn’t it be awesome if she were the villian? She seems to have such a good time playing over-the-top Wilhelmina.

Anyway, Vanessa – next time you’re in town, look me up.

For full coverage of the Hannah Montana Movie (and all things Disney Channel), check out Disney Society.

More pics after the jump.

Images: Newscom

Post from: Ugly Betty News

America Ferrera will once again be appearing at Nickelodeon’s Kid Choice Awards this year. She was also at the 2007 installment.

She is a good fit for this show because she is intelligent, self-aware, involved in civic life, and comfortable in her own skin. She is definitely a role model for kids, espceially young girls.

I still think that Disney would be WAY ahead of the curve (pun intended) if they included Betty Suarez in their very popular “Princesses” franchise. Why not?

Anyway, I’m looking forward to seeing America in the 2008 Kid Choice Awards. My kids watch this show every year, and they love Betty, along with Miley Cyrus, who will be performing.

Post from: Ugly Betty News