Prepping for Miss USA 2009 with Hosts Billy Bush and Nadine Velazquez by Troy Rogers
When
Donald Trump took over the annual Miss USA pageant,
you knew it wouldn't be long before the competition
would be a larger than life show, complete with
Trump trademark style of "go big or go home."
And since the Miss USA 2009 will be crowned at
Theatre for the Performing Arts at Planet Hollywood
Casino in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 19, with
the broadcast airing on NBC from 7-9pm, the glitz
and glamour of the "Rat Pack's" old stomping grounds
is the perfect place to showcase the top beauties
from across the USA.
Marking the 58th Annual Miss USA Competition, Miss USA 2008, Crystle Stewart, will be on-hand to pass the crown over to one of 50 beautiful hopefuls at the end of the evening, which will launch the year-long reign of a new Miss USA who becomes a goodwill ambassador for not only the country but to raise awareness for such pressing issues as breast and ovarian cancers.
Hosting the 58th Annual Miss USA Competition is Access Hollywood's Billy Bush and My Name is Earl star, Nadine Velazquez, who we caught up with briefly on a recent conference call with a few more outlets to ask a few questions about what we can expect from Miss USA 2009 and what it's like to work with "The Donald."
THE DEADBOLT: What can we expect from this year’s pageant?
BILLY BUSH: Well, I loved the way it’s evolved over the last few years. Instead of hearing tracked music, frankly, while the evening gown competition and bathing suit competition is going, you’ve got live top 40 performances. The Veronicas and Kevin Rudolf are both top charting acts right now. [It was] the same thing at Miss Universe with Lady Gaga.
The Miss Universe Pageant ultimately launched Lady Gaga worldwide, in my opinion, with her performance in Vietnam and that’s what’s really exciting I think. It’s been updated and become pretty hip. I used to do it three years ago and that’s largely why I’m doing it again.
NADINE VELAZQUEZ: Yeah. I have to say to that I was a judge at the Miss Universe competition in Vietnam and I wasn’t too familiar with Lady Gaga, and then soon after I couldn’t stop hearing about the woman. And I actually thought when I’m watching her - I mean her performance was outstanding and that was a great contribution to the competition.
THE DEADBOLT: So how well of a fit do you think Miss USA is to Las Vegas?
BUSH: That’s a good question. [laughs] Go back to the Flamingo, go back to the strip in the old days, it was classic, old school, sexy Hollywood. It’s showgirls, it’s entertainment. I think the way that the show has been updated and made a little hipper, frankly, it belongs right in there.
A few years ago maybe, I don’t know. I don’t know if I would’ve answered that a few years ago and said the same thing. I think now that you got some hot acts and a little more edge to it then, yeah, the pageant belongs right there.
THE DEADBOLT: What do you think about Miss USA being a spokeswoman for breast cancer and ovarian cancer?
VELAZQUEZ: Well, I think that something like that makes sense, to be involved in women’s issues. And one of the things Miss USA and the organization always does is work with women’s causes and issues that can make a difference. So, thumbs up.
THE DEADBOLT: What’s it like working for Trump?
BUSH: Trump is the greatest. From my experience of the past doing it, "The Donald" swoops in moments before - maybe an hour before the show he swoops in to see all the girls, he says hello, they kiss the ring [laughs]. It’s quite a production. There’s security around and off he goes to his area. I remember in Baltimore, he pulled me aside one time and says, ‘Billy, how’s the talent?’ I said, ‘Donald, they’re very strong across the board, top to bottom.’ He goes, ‘Excellent.’ And off he goes to his seats. It’s fun.
Donald does things big and that’s why Miss America - I don’t even know if it’s on the map or how many people see it, or whatever happened to it, but Miss USA is really - It’s the only pageant, I think. I mean it’s the only pageant with real viewers and it’s just a testament to "The Donald" and how he does things. Big!
I agree, she needs to find another job. She cannot be a host. Too many typos coming out from that mouth and even her grammar need some tweaking. Get some training! I saw how Billy Bush was starting to get annoyed at her. Oh, by the way, she reminds me of Jessica Simpson, trying to act cool with the neck act that only a black woman could do!!! Hosting that pageant is for the one who has the ability, not just the looks alone. Get back to the judges chair, maybe you are better at it.
Vicki – Tampa, FL
April 19, 2009 - 19:54
Subject: Co-Host
VELAZQUEZ is a terrible co-host, needs to find another job.
When
Donald Trump took over the annual Miss USA pageant,
you knew it wouldn't be long before the competition
would be a larger than life show, complete with
Trump trademark style of "go big or go home."
And since the Miss USA 2009 will be crowned at
Theatre for the Performing Arts at Planet Hollywood
Casino in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 19, with
the broadcast airing on NBC from 7-9pm, the glitz
and glamour of the "Rat Pack's" old stomping grounds
is the perfect place to showcase the top beauties
from across the USA.
BILLY BUSH: Well, I loved the way it’s evolved over the last few years. Instead of hearing tracked music, frankly, while the evening gown competition and bathing suit competition is going, you’ve got live top 40 performances. The Veronicas and Kevin Rudolf are both top charting acts right now. [It was] the same thing at Miss Universe with Lady Gaga.
VELAZQUEZ: Well, I think that something like that makes sense, to be involved in women’s issues. And one of the things Miss USA and the organization always does is work with women’s causes and issues that can make a difference. So, thumbs up.