O'Donnell announces first guest; singer said to hang in Big D this weekend

On Sept. 5, when Rosie O'Donnell joins the other cackling hens on "The View," she'll welcome North Texas-bred talent Jessica Simpson as her first guest, People magazine reports. Apparently, the lesbian talk-show host gave Simpson one of the biggest breaks back when O'Donnell was known as the Queen of Nice.

Jessica says she'll never forget Rosie's encouragement. Rosie apparently told Simpson backstage after her performance, "You're going to be a star."

Simpson also has a new album coming out, "A Public Affair," which hits stores Aug. 29.

The prolific FrontBurner blog, run by D Magazine, reports that Simpson is heading back to Big D this weekend and staying at Hotel ZaZa, according to an unnamed source. If that's indeed the case, then it looks like the reports that Simpson had purchased a residence at the W are false. Why stay at a hotel when you own a unit at one of the schmanciest digs in Dallas?


Hottie watch

He's vain and self-absorbed, but boy can he pick colors. Miami boy David Bromstad, 32, the hunky gay contestant on "Design Star," has been turning a lot of heads. On HGTV's "Project Runway" retread, Bromstad is one to watch as he and nine other finalists vie for hosting their own show on the domestic re-do network. You won't confuse Bromstad with any of the other contestants he's the one who usually has his shirt off. But he seems to have the chops to back up all that camera mugging: Bromstad, a formally trained artist, is a graduate of the Ringling School of Art and Design.

"Design Star" airs Thursdays at 7 p.m. and Saturdays at 5 p.m. on HGTV.



This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition, July 28, 2006.