One of our All Access Magazine cover girls for this issue is TV Show Host Denise Ames and she’s come a long way since being voted our Miss All Access Magazine in 2006! Born and raised in San Diego, and now living in Los Angeles, she currently anchors the weekly TV series "FOCUS IN THE MIX with Denise Ames". The show features a news desk highlighting exciting entertainment and community segments along with in-depth on camera celebrity interviews. The program recently celebrated its 1-Year Anniversary and a lot has happened to Denise during that first year with even more in the works!
Using her ‘Girl Power’ Ames writes the news for “FOCUS IN THE MIX with Denise Ames”, books the celebrities, hosts the program and conducts the on camera guest interviews. The show recently moved to a bigger state-of-the-art soundstage in Burbank and now airs Friday nights at 7:30pm on new upgraded channels via Charter cable systems (Ch. 16 in Malibu/Beach Cities, up through Canoga Park and Chatsworth to the 118 freeway as well as Ch. 289 in Burbank, Glendale, Eagle Rock, La Crescenta and surrounding areas). The weekly series was recently picked up by Charter’s VIDEO ON DEMAND enabling a lot more viewers to see extensive interviews with L.A. GUNS, GRETCHEN BONADUCE, DAISY from Vh1’s ‘Rock of Love II’, ex-Ratt JUAN CROUCIER, ‘Dancing with the Stars’ LOUIS VAN AMSTEL, THE CURE, etc. They are available to watch for FREE on Channel 1, 980 or 999 (Community Interests) ‘Talk Shows’. Everyone who has Charter cable from San Bernardino to Long Beach to Malibu can watch!
Recent episodes filmed at Tropical Media Studios (the new facility) include DAVE WAKELING of THE ENGLISH BEAT and GENERAL PUBLIC, QUIET RIOT’s CARLOS CAVAZO, MIKE PETERS of THE ALARM and CY CURNIN from THE FIXX (pictured). SHERIFF LEE BACA, CLEOPATRA RECORDS CEO BRIAN PERERA, former child star PAUL PETERSEN (‘The Donna Reed Show’), radio personality RICHARD BLADE and more have also just made appearances on the program. ‘The Anna Nicole Smith Show’s’ BOBBY TRENDY and the uber popular rock star RUDY SARZO are among those next to appear on the half-hour TV show.
Of course none of this would be possible without the TV Show’s incredible sponsors including Colombo’s Italian Restaurant in Eagle Rock, Vendome Wine & Spirits in Toluca Lake, the band Feisty Piranhas, Kangen Water and celebrity photographer Barbra Porter. We here at All Access Magazine have also been a proud supporter since the beginning (!) of “FOCUS IN THE MIX with Denise Ames”. Ames’ goal is to anchor network news and take her TV show national.
All Access Magazine: What do you think about today’s ‘Girl’ in the working world?
Denise Ames: I think of myself as human first vs. female. Being a girl has never ever hindered me from doing anything. ‘But, I’m a female’ has never ever once even entered my mind, not once. Who cares? And thank goodness today’s society allows this kind of mindset. I would never have survived back in the days when a woman wearing the pants and working was frowned upon, etc. I’d have gone stir crazy! (Laughs)
AAM: How did you become a TV Host?
DA: After being fired from yet another boring-as-hell office job that I didn’t even want in the first place (and yes, I did the acting/modeling thing – see Coors poster pictured - for years) my parents sat me down and suggested, as they have for years, that I go into the news business because I have that type of ‘look’, a brain and I’m ridiculously nosey. With no other options on the horizon I started going through the phone book calling cable companies and asking to shadow writers in news rooms. Before I knew it I was writing for a few newspapers, performing remote reports for cable, writing news shows, recording PSA voice overs, and things just kept snowballing from there. To my sheer amazement I wound up flourishing more over these last few years then in my entire life. My parents were right all along, but I guess I just wasn’t ready to handle all the pressures that come from what I now do for a living.
AAM: Your life must be pretty exciting hanging with all those celebrities!
DA: Many of them are actual friends of mine which sometimes makes it difficult to be careful not to reveal anything too personal when I interview them professionally. And for the record, my days are usually far from glamorous; it’s called Show Business meaning about 10% show (the glam side) and 90% business (working my tail off behind the scenes), far from living a stellar existence 24/7 believe me!
AAM: Do you know personally know your gorgeous co-cover girl, Ms. Bonaduce?
DA: I found Gretchen on myspace a few years ago and invited her on my previous TV show. Not only did she say yes, but she also said that I was the first reporter to ever ask her for an interview on her own (without her now ex-husband Danny). As soon as we met in person at the studio we hit it off like sisters. I have never met anyone like her; she is just an absolute angel and I am so lucky to call her one of my dearest friends today. She has since been a frequent guest on “Focus in the Mix with Denise Ames” and every time she comes on, she’s a hit! Her most recent appearance, which includes a huge tribute to her fallen band member the late TRACI MICHAELZ (also the drummer for The Peppermint Creeps), is currently loaded on Charter’s Video On Demand for all to watch.
AAM: How do you choose your Celebrity Interviews?
DA: Like the show title says we ‘focus in the mix’, meaning a wide variety of well-known people that we believe the public is interested in hearing from is how we decide who to invite in for on-camera interviews. The studio also offers special five-minute segments for up and comers that are trying to get airtime in L.A. that they can then use on the web, in press kits, etc. as a terrific promotional tool at a very reasonable rate.
AAM: Where do you see yourself in three years?
DA: Syndicated World-Wide… how’s that?!
AAM: Are you still active in Animal Rights?
DA: After volunteering at the Wildlife Waystation in the Angeles National Forest for 4 ½ years I decided to purchase a home in order to rescue animals as many as I could on my own. I currently have four dogs and four cats living with me (pictured), many from ‘death row’ at animal shelters and the like. I also make a point to run PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) PSA’s during my TV show to discourage people from going to circuses where animals are used, dissecting in schools, the fur trade, abusing/neglecting animals, as well as to encourage spaying/neutering, treating animals like members of your family, reporting abuse and on. After I watched a documentary on just how beautiful cows, chickens, pigs, lambs, etc. are forced to live absolutely horrifying lives and extremely painful and agonizing deaths, I went vegetarian; it was the best decision I have ever made. That was 14 years ago and I’ve never had to go on a ‘diet’ ever since. I don’t wear fur or leather and am a proud member of PETA, ASCPA and HSUS (Humane Society of the United States).
AAM: Do you think it’s hard for a girl to be taken seriously should she choose to run her own company?
DA: It doesn’t matter if you are male or female; it takes guts to run you own company, period. The respect is embedded in that simple fact alone, I think.
AAM: You have been working hard at making a name for yourself; any pointers on achieving ‘Girl Power’ status?
DA: Many girls, including myself back in the day, tend to gravitate to a kind of ‘fake’ higher pitched voice thinking it makes them more attractive for opportunities in the spotlight. I found much more respect when I threw all that ‘cutesy’ stuff out the window, spoke in my normal ‘real’ voice and started really using my brain. I gained a lot more self esteem which triggered getting more regard from others when I made that switch. Many women in the entertainment business are liked because they are sexy; I’d rather be respected.
I also believe in paying attention to what makes you want to work 80+ hours a week tirelessly. That is a true sign that you are doing what you are supposed to be doing vs. ‘spinning your wheels’. Something Gene Simmons said years ago stuck with me: ‘If you want to get ahead you have to work six days a week.’ I usually work seven. (Laughs)
For more information visit Myspace.com/DeniseAmes.
