Times Square Gossip

Deborah Gibson Pop and Broadway Star Deborah “Debbie” Gibson brings her elite performing arts camp home to New York City. A two-day intensive will be held May 1 and May 2 at Ripley Grier Studios. A portion of the proceeds from "Deborah Gibson's Electric Youth" will benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA). "I have long been involved with BC/EFA since first starring on Broadway in Les Miz," said Camp Founder Deborah Gibson. "Now, more than ever, we cannot forget about educating kids in the arts as well as giving back to our community through charitable organizations. I saw this as a perfect opportunity to combine the two by teaching kids how to give back while giving them real deal arts training at the same time. I am both a New Yorker and a fan of the work Broadway Cares does on an ongoing basis so I am beyond excited about this collaboration!" The electric youth, ages 10 to 20, will have classes in voice, dance and pop performance. Gibson wi...

Sardi's Max Klimavicius With Deborah Gibson And David Salidor Our forever -American Idol Deborah Gibson was at Sardi’s this morning to shoot some footage for what’s reported to be an in-the-works reality show for her next year. Gibson’s original PR-man, David (The Pasha!) Salidor was interviewed by producer R. Greg Johnston, and then he and Gibson were shot discussing everything, from the night in 1988 when she guested onstage with Elton John and Billy Joel (she sang “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds”) that led to a solo guest spot with Joel the very next week at Nassau Coliseum singing to a show last year at B.B. King’s for the Rockers On Broadway, where she performed alongside Larry Gatlin, Micky Dolenz, Caroline Rhea, and the cast from Jersey Boys. Gibson also said she is back in the studio prepping some new tracks for early next year. Our Gibson-girl is also a welcome pleasure. Check out her site at www.Deborah-Gibson.com

Deborah Gibson Deborah Gibson is warning young up-and-coming singers to beware of sleazy older men inviting them to music industry parties in a bid to "corrupt" them. Deborah who is now, shot to international fame at the young age of 16 in the mid-1980s and is admitting she was "disturbed" by creepy older male fans who were obsessed with her clean-cut schoolgirl image. She tells Fox News, "It is very disheartening that there are so many older men that prey on young performers. The younger you are, the more innocent you are, the more wholesome your image is, the weirder the fans become in terms of older men wanting to corrupt little girls. Even the way the paparazzi stalk the younger artists is very different from following around adults, I find that very disturbing."Gibson also insists she also had to contend with sleazy music bosses who attempted to push her into a world of showbiz parties and drinking when she was still just a child, and her protective p...

**** TIMES SQUARE GOSSIP TALKS TO DEBORAH GIBSON ABOUT MICHAEL JACKSON **** Deborah Gibson With Michael Jackson We here at Times Square Gossip are big Deborah Gibson fans ... always have been! So, when we asked the original American idol what she thought of Michael’s passing, she gave us this reply: I have always been and will always be a fan of Michael Jackson. I remember asking my parents to buy me the red jacket with glove and sunglasses, which I still have today. He influenced my life, from his music to the way he danced and performed. Michael Jackson will always be the King of Pop. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. I met Michael and he told me he had just watched a Disney special I did. I was blown away by the thought of The one and only Michael Jackson sitting there watching me on TV. He then invited me to be in his "Liberian Girl" video. I actually was one of the few who got to sing a little snippet live over his vocal. To say it was an honor is an understa...

**** IT WAS A THRILLER TO MEET MICHAEL JACKSON **** David Salidor And Deborah Gibson It was 1988 and Long Island-born Debbie Gibson was the hottest thing since sliced bread. She broke onto the scene in 1986 via her song “Only In My Dreams’, and, by 1988 … was everywhere. We were in L.A. for numerous MTV events and media-ops, and the invitation came down to come see Michael Jackson at L.A.’s Forum. Deb was a huge fan, as was I, and was delighted when I was asked to join in. Quickly ushered into the backstage area … we were escorted in to meet Michael. In a huge room, brightly lit, there was The King Of Pop! He was genuinely delightful … honestly, all these years later I don’t recall what I expected, but he could not have been nicer. His personal photographer at the time, Harrison Funk, shot some photos … and, then we were gone. The one thing I’ll never forget is that as we were brought to a special VIP-area (were Tiffany, of all people, was sitting), Marlon Brando was wheeled in … ye...

Deborah Gibson On Rita Deborah Gibson will make a special guest starring appearance in the Lifetime sitcom, "Rita Rocks" starring Nicole Sullivan, Tisha Campbell-Martin and Richard Ruccolo. In the upcoming episode "Old Friends," Gibson plays Rita's college friend Cindy, and former Bangles-cover band mate who returns years later to apologize for leaving the band the night of their most important gig. Sullivan stars as Rita Clemens, an over-worked wife and mother in the middle of a full-blown identity crisis. After being passed over for a promotion at work, Rita, at her wit's end, dusts off her old guitar and forms a garage band with her nosy postal carrier Patty(Campbell-Martin). The Rita Rocks episode "Old Friends" will premiere Monday, January 12th at 8:30 PM (ET/PT). Photo Courtesy Of: Lifetime Network

**** AMERICAN IDOL WITH THE ELECTRIC YOUTH **** VISIT THE ELECTRIC YOUTH WEBSITE **** Constantine Maroulis And Deborah Gibson Deborah Gibson With Constantine Maroulis And The Electric Youth NY's own DEBORAH GIBSON, who put her handprints into cement yesterday at PLANET HOLLYWOOD, wrapped up her 'Deborah Gibson Electric Youth' performing arts camp today at Ripley-Grier studios and was visited by 'ROCK OF AGES' CONSTANTINE MAROULIS. His play which officially moves to Broadway with an official opening on April 7 (at the Brooks Atkinson), has paired up with Gibson before at a Broadway Cares/Rockers on Broadway event in 2007 at BB King's. The play did a series of performances at the New World stages to much fanfare, for their inspired choices of music and the fact that you were able to bring your drinks to your seats and wave during power ballads; sort of a in-seat cocktail service. Maroulis greeted the kids at the camp and posed for pictures.Yesterday''s e...

DEBORAH GIBSON, who is here in a week for her performing arts camp ('Deborah Gibson's Electric Youth') in Lower Manhattan, filmed last week in L.A., an appearance on the Lifetime series, RITA ROCKS, starring NICOLE SULLIVAN (MAD TV); TISHA CAMPBELL-MARTIN; and, RICHARD RUCCOLO. Sullivan stars as 'Rita Clemens', an over-worked wife and mother in the middle of a full-blown identity crisis. After being passed over for a promotion at work, Rita, at her wit's end, dusts off her her old guitar and forms a garage band with her nosy postal carrier 'Patty', played by Campbell-Martin.Gibson plays Rita's college friend Cindy, and former Bangles-cover band mate who returns years later to apologize for leaving the band the night of their most important gig. Her appearance will air in early-January. Gibson will also put her handprints in cement at Planet Hollywood on Monday, December 29, and will be James Barbour's special guest during his December ...

Deborah Gibson The original American Idol-herself DEBORAH GIBSON landed in Manhattan yesterday for a whirlwind series of press-stops in advance of her NY-version of her 'DEBORAH GIBSON ELECTRIC YOUTH' performance camp next month in NYC. The L.A. version was earlier this year and was a critical success, with the like of HOWIE DOROUGH, from The Backstreet Boys, and talk-show wizard WAYNE BRADY on hand as celebrity guests. Says Gibson, "One day I woke up and decided to do something like this that would honor my many successes and pass the torch, so to speak, to identify the next generation of writing and performing stars." Now based in L.A., Gisbon said she's become acutely aware of the short life-span of many of the co-called new 'teen idols' and wanted to realistically seek out the new talents who would not only be able to create, but be able to generate and sustain a career. She's been a star since she was 16 and because of the care and at...

Deborah Gibson When teen-pop-star-cum-Broadway actress DEBORAH GIBSON set up her CAMP ELECTRIC YOUTH performing arts forum last year in L.A., all eyes were on what would happened. She sent out a call to all serious performers from around the world, ages, 10-20, and the worldwide response was quick and plentiful. The performing arts camp, as Gibson called it, are given the opportunity to learn songwriting, scene study, on-camera technique, vocal technique, dance, pop performance, music theory and more, from top industry experts. Gibson herself will chair a forum on songwriting. Gibson still holds the record for the youngest -performer ever to have written, recorded, performed, and produced a #1 pop record; "Foolish Beat." "It's a great and rewarding experience to share my knowledge and experience with the next generation of musical sensations." More than 120 kids from around the world attended the inaugural summer camp in L.A., Celebrity guests for that run inc...

Pop star Deborah Gibson has dismissed speculation she’s had cosmetic surgery, insisting her nose changes appearance depending on the direction she’s facing.The former superstar singer claims her nose looks radically different if photographed from various angles, which is the reason some tabloids have reported she’s had plastic surgery.Gibson says, "If I turn to the right, it has a slope. If I turn to the left, it looks more like a hook. But, I’m comfortable in my own nose." She adds, "I’m petrified of surgery. In L.A., everyone’s got the same nose. I love that I don’t look like every other girl." Editors Note: I think plastic surgery is something your mother Diane should look at very close !

Darlene Love and Deborah Gibson The other night at BB King's in Manhattan, the ROCKERS ON BROADWAY group celebrated the music of MOTOWN. Rockers, led by JERSEY BOY's DONNIE KEHR, had as performers, MICKY DOLENZ; DEBORAH GIBSON; LARRY GATLIN; CHRISTINE EBERSOLE; DAPHNE RUBIN VEGA; LALA BROOKS; DARLENE LOVE; and, the event was hosted by TV's CAROLYN RHEA. Dolenz performed "When A Man Loves A Woman" and "Ease On Down The Road"; Gibson performed FREDA PAYNE's "Band Of Gold"; Kehr sang "For Once In my Life"; the wonderful KATE TAYLOR sang "How Sweet It Is"; VEGA performed a soul-stirring "Midnight Train To Georgian"; and, EBERSOLE stole the show with a breath-taking "Ain't No Mountain High Enough."Honored also, were the songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland ... who came onstage, with the original Mr. Motown himself BERRY GORDY, Dolenz, who is on his way back to California for a performance at ne...

Deborah Gibson at BB King's Before I talk about Deborah Gibson's sold out concert at BB King's, I want to say something about Deborah's mother Diana. Keep in mind I think the world of Deborah, but I will not put up with what happened. I was invited to photograph Deborah by her publicist David Salidor. I arrived at BB King's with a smile on and a good heart. Salidor told me to go right up to the stage and take a few photographs. I am in front of the stage, taking pictures and all of a sudden this nut of a woman starts yanking at the cameras around my neck. She then grabs me by the wrist so hard, I couldn't break lose. Shes yelling I can't take pictures. I said I was with Deborah's publicist and had permission. She yelled I didn't have her permission. Shes pulling me threw the crowd, has bouncers on my tail when I finally break loose and run to Deborah's publicist. I was furious. I started yelling at Salidor asking who that woman was and he said t...

Deborah Gibson TIMES SQUARE GOSSIP spent a few minutes on the phone with the LA-based singer/songwriter Deborah Gibson, who was just in N.Y. last week, with FRANKIE AVALON, tub-thumping a new authorized DVD/CD package of DICK CLARK'S AMERICAN BANDSTAND. Gibson, who was born in Brooklyn ... turns 37 Friday, August 31. Happy Birthday! TSG: You were just in N. Y. for the American Bandstand project ... how did that go? You were also at the opening of GREASE with Jonathan Knight ... what did you think? DG: The N. Y. trip was great! What could be better than hanging out with Frankie Avalon talking about Dick Clark? GREASE was great. That show will never die. It was great that 14 of the 16 cast members were making their Broadway debut. I said to Laura Sandy, 'Welcome to Broadway' and she looked like she was going to cry from excitement! TSG: You appeared on Bandstand ... what are your memories of that? Dick Clark must have been terrific, right? DG: Yes... when Dick Clark is about...

Original Teen idol DEBORAH GIBSON joined THE SINGING BEE's JOEY FATONE last night in Orlando, Florida, for his annual Fatone Family Foundation event, at the Howl At the Moon club. Also, present were JOEY LAWRENCE; New Kids On The Block brothers JORDAN and JONATHAN KNIGHT, who re-united for the first time in several years with another NKOTB JOEY McINTYRE,Gibson sang "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" joined by McIntyre. She also hula-hooped atop the piano when the club's sound system went in-operative for several minutes, and auctioned off her PLAYBOY magazine from two years back. She also performed her #1 pop hit "Lost In Your Eyes."Gibson will be in NY on August 19, where she will appear at the opening of the GREASE-revival; with Jonathan Knight. She played 'Sandy' in the early-90s Robert Stigwood-revival and also essayed 'Rizzo' making her one of the few actors to have portrayed both. Photo By: Dawn Lewis Photography

DEBORAH GIBSON flew into NYC yesterday to appear at a launch party for a new heart-healthy drink PROMISE ACTIV at Lotus Space. Broadway's KRISTIN CHENOWETH hosted, and ALLY SHEEDY; MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ; JANE KRAKOWSKI; MARIO CANTONE; and, TED LANGE, from TV's THE LOVE BOAT, also appeared. Gibson also revealed that she is close to signing to do a series of shows in Las Vegas. She also surprised the staff at OK MAGAZINE showing up to congratulate them for her interviews in the current issue, an issue that has become the magazine's biggest selling issue this year. She jumped on a plane back to LA at 5AM this morning.

Deborah Gibson and Jai Rodriquez at Aids Walk Hollywood DEBORAH GIBSON joined JAI RODRIGUEZ at this weekend's AIDS WALK in West Hollywood, California. Over 250,000 persons attended. Gibson, still is retaining the record as the youngest, performer, ever to have written, produced and performed, a #1 pop record, is in the studio prepping a new record for release later this year. Sources that have heard early demos of the songs, peg them as a strong return to form for the singer/songwriter. Gibson also taped a series of infomercials (in L. A.) last week with none other than FRANKIE AVALON, for a series of CDs containing some of the best music from DICK CLARK'S AMERICAN BANDSTAND. The multi-CD series should be ready for release later this year via Time-Life. Lastly, look for Gibson to attend the final performance of Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST on July 29 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater; she essayed 'Belle' for almost 2 years. DONNY OSMOND will reprise his role as Gaston...

Deborah Gibson (center) with Beauty And The Beast cast Original 'American Idol' DEBORAH GIBSON joined in today's 13th Anniversary celebration at the Lunt Fontanne Theatre for Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST'S 13th Anniversary. The Disney show will close after 13 years on July 29, and today's event featured many of the performers from the show over the years, including Gibson; GARY BEACH, ANDREA McARDLE, director ROBERT JESS ROTH, lyricist ALAN MENKEN, and LINDA WOOLVERTON. A reception followed at Sardi's where a caricature of the Beast was unveiled. Julianne Cho from The Mayor's Office brought an official proclamation declaring today, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST day.

David Salidor with Deborah Gibson recently Gotham-based praiser DAVID SALIDOR (who counts MICKY DOLENZ, MARK BEGO, DEBORAH GIBSON, LEXY, among others, as his clients), and, who's company the dis COMPANY, celebrates its 24th anniversary next year ... has a secret ... he's launching his own record/entertainment label in 2 months. It's been a life-long goal, he says, and he's certainly learned from the best. "I've been very fortunate in working with the likes of MADONNA and RUN DMC, and great labels like PROFILE, COLUMBIA and WARNERS, and though the business is very different than it was even 5 years ago, many of the things one has to do to launch an artist and labels remain the same." Salidor says that his label will take full advantage of such online services, like a YouTube. "Five years ago, options like that and TMZ weren't even available, and now, they're playing a significant role in establishing the identities of new artists and music. S...

Famed Writer Mark Bego With Deborah Gibson 80s-music icon DEBORAH GIBSON wowed the SRO-crowd at Manhattan's Culture Club last night, with a performance that included all of her hits, as well as a new track entitled "Famous" that had the crowd totally in sync with her. 'Interestingly enough, Gibson's "Electric Youth" drew the most applause and had the crowd singing along. Talk about your iconic-80s-song! The song is the name of a play, based on Gibson's music, that is opening in Masy at The Starlight Theatre in Orlando. She performs this Monday night at BROADWAY FOR MEDICINE, alongside BETTY BUCKLEY, JOHN McDANIEL (Rosie O'Donnell show); MALCOLM GETS; ANDREA McARDLE; HUGH PANARO (Lestat); and, LISA VROMAN (Phantom Of The Opera). Celebrity-author MARK BEGO, who's new bio BILLY JOEL: THE BIOGRAPHY (Thunder's Mouth Press) is out in June, and who wrote Gibson's biography BETWEEN THE LINES, attended the show.