Pets: The Best Pop Culture Diversion
This week Robin chats with Ross Mathews, the host of the hit E! Network talk show 'Hey Ross' about his three rescue pups and overall love of animals. Then, she’s joined by entertainment journalist Ashlan Cousteau who memorializes her dog Aurora, who passed away last year due to cancer, and discusses the importance of protecting our friends that live in the sea.
BIO:
Ross Mathews
Since 2001, Ross Mathews has traveled the world and established himself as one of the most in demandtelevision personalities and entertainment correspondents in the pop-culture arena today. Endearing and witty, undeniably funny and one of the hardest working people in show business, Mathews has won the hearts of millions of Americans since his television debut -- as a correspondent for “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” Mathews can currently be seen hosting the smash hit, talk show “Hello Ross,” for E!, season two premiered on February 21, 2014. “Hello Ross” is the weekly fan destination where the intersections of celebrity gossip and pop culture collide, giving a unique viewpoint into the latest Hollywood news. Mathews was also recently nominated for a 2014 People’s Choice Award, for “Favorite New Talk Show Host.”
In 2013, Mathews released his first book, Man Up: Tales of My Delusional Self-Confidence [Grand Central Publishing] which quickly became a national bestseller. With an introduction written by Gwyneth Paltrow, and afterword from Chelsea Handler, Man Up takes readers inside Mathews’ personal journey as a super fan, revealing the most embarrassing and hilarious moments of his small
town life and big city adventures, and how he managed to turn an obsession with pop culture into one on one interactions with celebrities like Paltrow, Tiffani-Amber Theissen, Madonna, and Michelle Kwan [to name a few] without ever having a single restraining order issued against him. In addition to Man Up and “Hello Ross,” Mathews can be seen as a regular panelist and occasional guest host on E!’s late-night talk show “Chelsea Lately,” and is a fixture on E! News and E! Network’s live red carpet awards show coverage.
In 2009 Mathews hosted and executive produced a daily web talk show for The Insider and CBS.com called “Inside Dish with Ross Mathews,” a show about covering Hollywood from the outside in. “Inside Dish” eventually became the official web show for CBS hits “Big Brother,” and the Emmy Award winning series “The Amazing Race.” In 2011, Mathews began a national college tour speaking
about his experiences climbing the Hollywood ladder and discussing his humorous take on pop culture. Many of his tour dates were documented on E! News’ political series “Pop & Politics.” It was also announced in summer 2011 that Mathews had signed a talent deal with the E! Network, to increase his presence at the network. Leading up to the 2012 Presidential Election, Mathews was the official political reporter for E! News. He covered both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, where he interviewed politicians including First Lady Michelle Obama, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and former Republican Presidential nominee John McCain.
Mathews’ impressive resume of programs he has appeared on over the past decade include: NBC’s “1 vs. 100” and “Phenomenon,” he has appeared as a guest co-host on ABC’s “The View,” he was a contestant on the fifth season of VH1’s hit series “Celebrity Fit Club,” he has appeared as a celebrity correspondent on “Extra” and “The Insider,” has recurred as ‘Chris’ on “Days of our Lives,” co-hosted The Game Show Network’s “Big Saturday Night,” appeared on the OWN Network’s “Ask Oprah’s All- Stars,” starred as himself in ABC Family’s holiday movie “Christmas Cupid,” and has made appearances on BRAVO’s “Interior Therapy,” ABC Family’s “Beverly Hills Nannies Reunion,” E!‘s
“Studio E!” and “After Lately,” and HGTV’s “House Hunters.”
Mathews currently lives in Los Angeles with his partner Salvador, and their two rescue dogs Louise and Mijo. When not working on his many projects, Mathews is a strong supporter of the Human Rights Campaign- speaking at many of their nationwide events and he received their Visibility Award in 2011.
Veteran entertainment journalist and adventure seeker Ashlan Gorse Cousteau has traveled the world to interview today’s biggest celebrities and cover a broad range of events and experiences from diving with great white sharks to working with youth saving the environment.
Ashlan is most known for her long time on E! Entertainment as a lead correspondent ad fill-in anchor for the network’s top-rated daily newsmagazine, “E! News.” In this role, she covered everything from breaking news and celebrity exclusives to award shows and premieres for six years. Gorse Cousteau also was the lead anchor on “E! News Now”, reaching 2 million viewers a day. Ashlan has extensive production experience as well having worked behind the scenes at broadcast giant NBC on high-profile shows including “The Today Show,” “Saturday Night Live,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien”, and “Access Hollywood.” Most recently, Ashlan joined husband Philippe Cousteau, Jr. as a team member of EarthEcho Expedition: Into the Dead Zone, an innovative new initiative designed to bring science education alive for 21st century learners.
Gorse Cousteau also served as West Coast Editor at Large with Life & Style Weekly. Specializing in pop culture and celebrity news, she became one of the Nation’s most sought after entertainment experts and on-air commentators. She regularly appeared on outlets such as NBC, CNN, CBS, The TV Guide Network, and Fox News and was a frequent guest on shows like “The Today Show,” “The Insider,” “The Early Show,” and more. Ashlan has also created alignments with many corporate partners including Wella Hair Care, Murad Skin Care and OralB among others.
Ashlan’s endeavors go far beyond the small screen. She is a major supporter of the Starlight Children’s Foundation, hosted the 2012 Inspiration Awards benefitting Susan G. Komen, hosted the 2012 Fashion for Paws Event to raise money for the Washington Humane Society, and was the Grand Marshal of the 2012 K9K Pet Cancer Awareness Walk. Gorse Cousteau has also worked with the Environmental Media Association, actively supports the ASPCA, and has put her modeling skills to good use through walking in shows for The Race to Erase MS and the Susan G. Komen / Diane Von Furstenberg Fashion for a Cure Show.
Ashlan earned a BA in Broadcast Journalism and a Minor in Music from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s prestigious School of Journalism. Ashlan and Philippe currently reside in West Hollywood.