inmate profile: Carmen Electra

Up next in Commited's spotlighting of the cast for 2 Headed Shark Attack, the lovely and talented Carmen Electra, who plays "Dr. Anne Babish" in the film.

I feel stupid explaining who Carmen Electra is, because everyone in the world knows who Carmen Electra is; it's like trying to explain the sky, or water, to people who already know what it is. But in case this is your first day on the internet, welcome, and here you go:

Carmen Electra is an entertainment icon and possibly the greatest thing Prince has ever done. He discovered her fronting an L.A. rap group, signed her and took her on tour during his NPG phase (if you gotta ask, you don't deserve to know). From there, Carmen leapt onto television screens worldwide in a little show you might have heard of called Baywatch. Yeah, that one. 

From there girlfriend pretty much just blew up and became an instant fixture in the global cultural consciousness. Movies, TV, hosting gigs, workout videos, calenders, a Playboy photo-shoot - Carmen Electra has done it all and keeps rocking out. Dig a list of her accomplishments: Good Burger, Singled Out, Scary Movie, The Simpsons, King of the Hill, Starsky and Hutch, Monk, Dirty Love, American Dad, Tripping the Rift, Date Movie, Epic Movie, Disaster Movie, Reno 911 and now the crown jewel of her filmography, 2 Headed Shark Attack.

Be sure to check her out in all her beautiful, shapely glory on January 31st, when 2 Headed Shark Attack swims onto DVD (oh yeah I did.).

inmate profile: Taryn Manning

Continuing to spotlight the cast and crew of The Asylum's next release, Zombie Apocalypse, premiering THIS SATURDAY NIGHT ON SYFY @ 9PM, we turn now to the lovely and talented Taryn Manning.

Hailing from the painted terrain of Tuscon, Arizona, Ms. Manning quickly took to the screen, landing her first role at only 16 in the star-launching Nickelodeon series "All That." But it was her turn in 2001's Kirsten-Dunst vehicle Crazy/Beautiful - in which Ms. Manning was first able to showcase her saucy/sultry/sassy side - that the world really took note. 

From there she went on to appear in a spate of films, including the Britney-Spears-starring Crossroads, 8 Mile with Eminem, White Oleander, Cold Mountain, Hustle & Flow, The Breed, and most recently, multiple-episode arcs of television shows "Sons of Anarchy" (one of my favorite programs) and "Hawaii Five-0." 

In addition to her accomplishments on screen, Ms. Manning is also a singer-songwriter - both with her borther Kellin in Boomkat and on her own as a solo artist - and a fashion designer - she co-owns a label called Born Uniqorn, which she also designs for. She was also the cover girl for this year's Playboy Sex & Music issue back in April. Busy lady.

In Zombie Apocalypse, she plays "Ramona," another of the survivors fighting their way across an undead-plagued Los Angeles towards a supposed-sanctuary on Catalina Island. Find out if she brings her usual moxie to the role THIS SATURDAY NIGHT @ 9PM ON SYFY when Zombie Apocalypse makes its world premiere.

inmate profile: Julie McCullough

Continuing COMMITTED's spotlight on the creative forces behind the next Asylum flick, 2012 Ice Age, out the 28th of this month, it's now time to move from behind the camera to in front of it, and where better to start than with the film's female lead, the lovely and vivacious Julie McCullough.

Ms. McCullough, born in Hawaii, first came to the attention of our cultural consciousness in the mid-80's via four issues of the World's Preeminent Gentleman's Magazine, Playboy, of which she was the February 1986 Playmate of the Month. From there, Ms. McCullough spring-boarded into acting, appearing in such American classics as "Max Headroom," "Golden Girls," and the Roger Corman-backed Big Bad Mama II alongside Angie Dickenson. This work lead in 1989 a coveted role on one of the most popular sitcoms of its day, "Growing Pains." This is where 12-year-old me comes into the picture. I was, admittedly, a HUGE "Growing Pains" fan, and thought Kirk Cameron was the coolest dude ever (which he most assuredly turned out NOT to be), therefore making Ms. McCullough the most beautiful woman in the world for eight episodes of my life. It was a magical fall.

After "GP," (which only lasted a season and a half after she left, not even DiCaprio could save it; just sayin') Ms. McCullough went on to work regularly in television and film. One project of note: 1988's remake of The Blob with Kevin Dillon, Shawnee Smith and Donovan's son Donovan. Also involved with The Blob? 2012 Ice Age director Trey Stokes, who worked on that film as the "blob movement designer." Coincidence? 


I'll admit that the majority of my exposure to Ms. McCullough's work has been more light-hearted, comedic fare, so I for one am very excited to see her in the decidedly dramatic 2012 Ice Age. If her brief appearances in the trailer are any indication, she's got the chops. Find out June 28th when the film drops on DVD.