Show & Tell: Pillow Talk with Ashley Hamilton
by Tracy Phillips
Sep 17th, 2009 | 11:40 AM0 0
Lots of perks come with being the ‘Dancing’ queen, er, ‘expert’ for Fancast.
I’ve been twirled in the ballroom by Tony Dovolani. I got the infamous wink from Warren Sapp. And I’ve been charmed on many occasions by the Bad Boy of the Dance Floor.
Now I have a new coup to add to the list. I got a ‘Star’ in bed.
Okay, not really! But Ashley Hamilton did call me from bed. The 35-year-old actor/comedian/songwriter/celebrity son/starlet ex-husband can now add dancer to that string of identifiers.
Those of you who wonder what Ashley is doing ‘Dancing’ might just be surprised after getting to know the wickedly funny multi-hyphenate celeb. And when you have a dad as dapper as George Hamilton, how can some of that not rub off?
Before he stumbled out of bed for another grueling round of early morning rehearsals for Season 9 of ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ Hamilton gave me a ring and we talked ‘Dancing’ dreams and reality nightmares.
First observation: Sleepy celebs give funnier answers.
Why did you want to do ‘Dancing with the Stars’?
“Because it pays better than ‘Celebrity Rehab.’”
It’s cute that you’re paired with Edyta Sliwinska, who danced with your father George Hamilton in Season 2.
“Edyta’s pretty great…she drags me around the floor. And after about the first two hours I black out anyway, so I don’t know what we are rehearsing for at this point.”
Did your dad give you any advice?
“Just smile and drink a Red Bull and you’ll be fine.”
People.com DWTS Blog: Ashley Hamilton Reminded of Military School
Hello my friends,
I hope you all had a great week … we are only days away from the premiere of the show. I am extremely excited and nervous.
For the last month, I’ve been getting up early every day and studying some of the greats like Fred Astaire, Michael Jackson, and Steve-O.
At first I thought, how hard can this be? Edyta drags me around, the judges vote, I make a joke about how tan my dad is … and then I go back and cry in my dressing room. I have realized it is much more than that. Dancing is an expression of life, and I am living it to the fullest through this experience. It is challenging on all three levels, physically, mentally, and emotionally.
The true challenge lies in how fast we have to learn how to dance. It takes humongous discipline to stay out of your head and in your dance shoes … remembering it is a process that is one step at a time. Sometimes Edyta reminds me of that school teacher or parent who would make you sit there for hours and finish your project even though you didn’t think it was possible.
E! Online | Ashley Hamilton: I Want to Look as Good as Gilles
If there was ever a time for Ashley Hamilton to take on his dad, George Hamilton, in the tanning department, it’s right now.
The younger Hamilton, 34, says he’s more than willing to be spray-tanned for his stint competing in season nine of Dancing With the Stars.
“He was so tan, they had to untan him on the show,” Ashley cracks about his 70-year-old famous father, who competed on DWTS in season two. “But I’m sure by week one, I’ll be just as tan. I’ll finally get the family crest.”
DANCING WITH THE STARS - ASHLEY HAMILTON & EDYTA SLIWINSKA
In addition to his competitor Louie Vito, actor, comedian and singer Ashley Hamilton will be writing to PEOPLE.com as he competes against 15 other couples on the new season of Dancing with the Stars. Check back each week to keep up with hilarious Hamilton, whose partner Edyta Sliwinska danced with his dad George Hamilton on season 2 of the show, which returns Sept. 21 to ABC:
To the fans of DWTS, I was asked to write a blog for PEOPLE.com. I’m Ashley Hamilton. At this point you may be asking yourself, ‘Who is she?’ I’m not a she. Actually, I’m a he (some may beg to differ). It’s okay, I’m the only contestant whose partner is more famous than them.
These are the first weeks of rehearsal. If I danced any longer than I did today, I probably wouldn’t have the energy to pick up this pen and write this … Actually, I am on my Blackberry in my car in an alley — I know that sounds creepy — but I am about to get up on stage at The Laugh Factory.