Q: When you were a teenager,
who was your celebrity idol?
A: I didn’t really look up to
movie or music stars. I admired
athletes and wanted to be like
Michael Jordan—the one who
could always be counted on to win
the game for the team at the last minute.
Q: You’ve met everybody from Ashley
Tisdale to Selena Gomez. What’s the
funniest encounter you’ve had with
a celebrity?
A: The first time I was going to
interview Justin Bieber, I took it
upon myself to create a rap to
incorporate into his single
“One Time.” We listened to it
together on-air and he couldn’t
stop laughing.
Q: Which current CD
should parents add to their
must-own list?
A: The soundtrack to Camp Rock 2:
The Final Jam. There are slow songs,
up-tempo pop tunes, romantic music, even
hip-hop—something for everybody.
Teen Beat
Miley, Justin and
Miranda rule teen talk—
but how much do you really
know about the latest icons?
FC chats with Radio Disney DJ
and dad of three Ernest
“Ernie D.” Martinez, who interviews
up-and-coming artists
and actors weekday
afternoons.
Q: What music are your kids listening to right now?
A: My 4-year-old is a bit young, and my 10-year-old
daughter, Katie, considers herself a tomboy, though I still
catch her watching Demi Lovato music videos. Abby, 15,
loves the new group Allstar Weekend, whose debut album
came out in June.
Q: How do you keep up with teens’ pop cultural interests?
A: It’s really hard. I get a lot of tips about what’s going to
be popular from my kids. And I find new talent to feature
on my shows through Radio Disney’s N.B. T. (Next Big
Thing) program, which spotlights young, unsigned artists.
Hear Ernie D.’s programs online at radiodisney.com. Or log
on to find Radio Disney on an AM station near you.
The Great White Way isn’t the only place to catch Broadway hits. Tony
Award–winning shows like Hair, Shrek the Musical and In the Heights are
touring the country now. Find one near you at broadwayacrossamerica.com.
Waiting for “Superman” From Davis Guggenheim, the Academy Award–winning director of An Inconvenient Truth, comes an in-depth look at America’s ailing public schools. Following five families as they pursue a better education for their kids, this documentary brings to life the stark statistics behind the broken system. (September 24) » Log on to
waitingforsuperman.com and pledge to see the film. Your click makes a difference, since sponsors will contribute to academic initiatives based on participation. For example, First Book will give 250,000 books to schools nationwide after 50,000 pledges are made. —Megan Bingham
percent of
college
admissions
o;cers
have received
a Facebook
or MySpace
friend request
from an applicant.
(Source: Kaplan, September 2009)
71
[ FC STAT ]
