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Y’all ready to redneckon-ice?

Georgia’s most famous 7-year-old, beauty queen turned reality show star Alana Thompson and her family visited a Conyers ice rink recently. TMZ, which has kept up with the young star of TLC’s “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo,” a breakout star of “Toddlers and Tiaras,” dutifully documented the outing. Click here to see photos.

It sounds like TLC was there to record the fun for a future episode, seeing how winter is not mud-bogging or four-wheeling season.

New episodes of “Honey Boo Boo,” a runaway hit that rivaled last year’s political conventions in terms of viewership, start Sunday. You can either tune into Georgia Public Broadcasting this Sunday at 9 p.m. for the season premiere of “Downton Abbey,” or TLC to catch up with Mama, Sugar Bear an’nem.

Me? I’ve already seen the “Dowton Abbey” season opener..

Continue reading Honey Boo Boo hits Conyers ice rink »

I didn’t send Christmas cards this year but if I had I would have sent these.

Here’s the link to where you can order these awesome things if you want to get a jump on 2013.

Anyway, Merry Christmas and I’ll see ya in 2013. If you have breaking Honey Boo Boo questions or other matters that can’t wait follow me on Twitter. I am sure to be checking my account often during my holiday travels.

Peace on Earth,

JB

Continue reading Merry Christmas! »

Honey Boo Boo and her mom, June, on their front porch

Barbara Walters is finna redneckonize!

The venerable journalist has named Honey Boo Boo to her 2012 list of “most fascinating people,” Us Magazine reports.

Alana Thompson joins a roster including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and filmmaker-actor Ben Affleck. Here’s the entire list.

“It’s a love story,” Walters told Us Magazine, referring to the bond between the 7-year-old and her mother, June Shannon. “The relationship between Alana and her mother, that’s the story, the two of them. It’s very touching.”

The family burst onto the national scene as a TLC show, “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo,” a spinoff of “Toddlers and Tiaras.” Episodes of “Honey Boo Boo” rivaled the political conventions in terms of viewership this summer.

“Honey Boo Boo is not an obnoxious little girl,” Walters said.

Indeed not! We met Alana and her family during a trek down to McIntyre this summer. They’re nice folks – and …

Continue reading Honey Boo Boo named one of Barbara Walters’ “most fascinating people” »

Jimmy Kimmel cuts up with Channel 2 anchors Justin Farmer and Jovita Moore. AJC Staff Photo by Curtis Compton

Jimmy Kimmel visited the WSB headquarters in Atlanta on Monday to celebrate superb ratings and an upcoming new time slot.

The show grew its overall audience by 3 percent in total viewers during the 2011-12 broadcast season, its most-watched in five years, according to an announcement from Anne Sweeney, co-chair of Disney Media Networks and president of Disney/ABC Television Group. It was the only late-night broadcast talk show to grow year over year in total viewers, the announcement reported.

Beginning Jan. 8, “Jimmy Kimmel Live” moves to 11:35 p.m. weeknights, following Channel 2 Action News Nightbeat with Jovita Moore and Justin Farmer at 11 p.m.

Jimmy Kimmel meets and greets. AJC Staff Photo by Curtis Compton

“As strong as the ratings are nationwide, the strongest ratings for Jimmy Kimmel are right here in Atlanta,” said Tim McVay, vice president and general …

Continue reading Jimmy Kimmel visits WSB to tout ratings, new time slot »

Jeff Foxworthy. Honey Boo Boo. If they haven’t already traced their family trees and figured out they’re cousins somehow, it’s just a matter of time, right?

But the comedian famous for his “You might be a redneck…” routines hasn’t yet had time to redneckonize.

“I’ve been so  busy,” he told us during a phone interview the other day. One of our first questions, naturally, was about Alana Thompson, the 7-year-old star of TLC’s “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.” He understands its appeal even if he hasn’t had a chance to tune in.

“I used to tell people, you need to go to the fair every year,” Foxworthy said. “You think your family’s crazy. You leave there and go, we’re ok!”

Foxworthy appeared Saturday night at the fourth annual Hearts and Hands Gala, benefiting the the Atlanta Ronald McDonald Houses, where families of children undergoing medical treatment at Atlanta hospitals can stay. The charity’s next fundraiser is Brookhaven Dines In, a series of dinners in private homes coming up …

Continue reading Interview: Jeff Foxworthy on charity, comedy and Honey Boo Boo »

The Biermanns and baby with Vikki Locke and Jessica Forkel at B 98.5!

“Real Housewives of Atlanta” cast member Kim Zolciak stopped by the B 98.5 FM studio this morning along with hubby Kroy Biermann and their new baby, Kash.

The little guy is 6 weeks old and his brother KJ is 15 months old. Kim has two daughters too. Morning Show host Vikki Locke asked her, “are you done (having children)?”

Kroy joked that they’re almost ready to field their own football team.

“We’re halfway there,” he said as he fed cute little Kash his bottle.

“You never know, I’m very blessed,” Kim added. “Two boys and two girls, it doesn’t get any better than that. Who knows, there might be one more.”

Vikki Locke and Jessica Forkel have a 6-week-old co-host this morning. Little Kash Biermann is here with his parents Kim and Kroy!

Kim says she will indeed star on the next season of “Housewives,” but despite Vikki’s best efforts she couldn’t seem to get Kim to comment on whether she’ll star in her own …

Continue reading Kim Zolciak, Kroy Biermann and baby Kash at B 98.5! »

We took this photo of Honey Boo Boo and her mom when we went down to visit. Sort of looks like she has her giant inflatable hammer in a wrestling choke hold, doesn't it?

Honey Boo Boo is taking her show on the road. The 7-year-old star of TLC’s “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” plans a public appearance next weekend at a Global Championship Wrestling match in Alabama.

Alana Thompson, as Honey Boo Boo is also known, will be on hand for the “Fall Brawl” at the Pell City, Ala. Civic Center on Sept. 29, according to the Talladega Daily Home.

A photo and autograph session with the breakout star of TLC’s “Toddlers and Tiaras” starts before the match, according to the GCW web site. You’ll need a ticket to get in – they’re $10. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. (Remember Alabama’s in the Central time zone, if you plan to drive over from Atlanta).

Evidently a wrestler known as “The New Sensation Steve Stiles” is also from McIntyre, so having Honey Boo Boo there was a natural …

Continue reading Honey Boo Boo plans public appearance »

Honey Boo Boo and her mom

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has weighed in (pardon the pun) on reality show star Honey Boo Boo, regarding her family’s dietary choices.

“Locals are cringing with concern that the nation might view this family as an accurate portrayal of our state,” Dr. Stephanie Walsh, medical director of child wellness at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, wrote in a recent opinion piece that was published in the AJC. “However, based on the children and families we see at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, the truth is that Honey Boo Boo and her family’s health habits may be more of the norm in Georgia than everyone would like to believe.”

Here is a link to Walsh’s piece.

A recent “Honey Boo Boo” episode showed the family of 7-year-old beauty queen Alana Thompson, the breakout star of “Toddlers and Tiaras,” enjoying a dinner of “sketti,” which is a concoction involving butter, ketchup and pasta. In previous episodes of the TLC show, family members graze on …

Continue reading Children’s Healthcare weighs in on Honey Boo Boo »

Hello again from Honey Boo Boo Country.

I stopped by the McIntyre, Ga. beauty queen’s home the other day to visit. Today I’m driving sort of near there en route home from the beach. We just passed through East Dublin, home of the “Redneck Games” featured on a past Honey Boo episode.

Anyway, I’ll be discussing the young reality star at about 3:40 pm today on HLN. Tune in and *redneckonize* y’all!

By the way I’m riding not driving. You shouldn’t text and drive. You surely shouldn’t blog and drive!

Continue reading Talking Honey Boo Boo on HLN »

Honey Boo Boo (Alana Thompson) and her family, including mom June Shannon and dad Mike "Sugar Bear" Thompson, along with sister Anna and Anna's month-old baby, Kaitlyn

Honey Boo Boo is our new BFF.

We trekked down to the Middle Georgia town of McIntyre in search of Alana Thompson and her family this week. They could not have been nicer.

“It’s been a blast,” said her dad Mike “Sugar Bear” Thompson, referring to the TLC show, airing at 10 p.m. Wednesdays, that has catapulted the family from their tiny town into the national spotlight. (Here’s my colleague Rodney Ho’s latest recap).

“Honestly, it’s still surreal to me,” said Alana’s mom June Shannon. Even though they had gotten somewhat used to life in front of the cameras from the TLC show “Toddlers and Tiaras,” from whence “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” sprang, she didn’t immediately jump at the opportunity.

Honey Boo Boo says the best thing about pageants is getting to dress up.

“It took us a couple of months,” June said. “I was …

Continue reading My day with Honey Boo Boo »