GLAMOUR: Hannah Simone Rocks Studio189

Fresh off the news that Julianne Hough is your new Sandy in Grease: Live and Lea Michele is teaming up with Ryan Murphy for a new series, Fox threw a huge party at the Television Critics Association winter press tour to celebrate your favorite stars and returning favorites. It was there that I caught up with Mindy Kaling to talk about her new stunning hair color, plus scoop from favorites including Lamorne Morris, Hannah Simone, and Keith Urban.

 

 

I chatted with Keith Urban in a roped-off corner of the party, where he told me that if he could go back in time, he'd tell his younger self to do nothing differently. "I like where I am [now], and I don’t know whether it was because of or in spite of [my particular path]." So what advice would he give to younger artists just starting out in the music scene? "Listen to that inner voice and the people around you. Knowing the balance of those two things is huge."

As for what Keith and wife Nicole Kidman are listening to these days, it ranges from "Little Big Town's new record to a couple songs on Miranda [Lambert]'s album. My wife loves Jason Aldean, and I like him too. AndSturgill Simpson—he’s the best there is."

 

The talk of the party was Mindy Kaling's new blonder hair, and I went directly to the source to get the scoop! "I can't tell if fans will be like, 'Is she Caucasian now? We didn’t sign up for this!'" she joked to me. So what was the inspiration behind the change in color? "I have a photo of Rihanna that I saw where she had dark hair, but it was kind of blond, and I was like, 'I want to look like that!' So I said, 'What the hell?! This is why you have your own show, right? You can have blond hair!'"

Now, I know many of you are wondering whether Mindy will keep the lighter looks, but Mindy herself hasn't quite made up her mind. "Well, I just got it done today, so we'll see..."

As for what's coming up on The Mindy Project (I mean, I'm loving this Stanford story line, but how long can Mindy realistically be away from the practice?), I'll have lots more with Mindy coming shortly!

Also at the party, Hannah Simone showed off her Studio 189 NYC vegan leather clutch, thanks to friend and Studio 189 cofounder Rosario Dawson.

Becki Newton (of Ugly Betty fame) stars in the new Fox comedy Weird Loners and had a room full of journalists in stitches when she shared the story of how she met her husband, actor Chris Diamantopoulos: "We met on the New York City subway, and he invited me to his play." Well, she tried to play it cool, but she eventually went and found herself sitting front-row center and then next day brought him a lasagna. So much for playing it cool, right? But the rest, as they say, is history.

 

Kyra Sedgwick and hubby Kevin Bacon stayed close to each other all night. Sedgwick is currently starring as Deputy Chief Madeline Wuntch on Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

 

Funny dudes Lamorne Morris, Andy Samberg, and Terry Crews clearly had a good time at the soiree, which included a shrimp, sea bass, and filet station. (In other words, this was our kind of party!)

Photos: Frank Micelotta/FOX