Everyone loves an underdog — and in terms of ratings, few can deny that The CW often seems like a scrappy featherweight trapped in the primetime ring with four heavy-hitters.

But when it comes to making a difference in the lives of fans and the public at large, (even those who are too impoverished to own a television), it seems as though the CW network might just be the undisputed heavyweight champion. (We’re done with the boxing metaphors now, we promise.)

Whether it’s raising money for the clean-up in the Gulf following BP’s catastrophic oil spill, finding homes for abandoned dogs, aiding in the rebuilding of New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina or helping orphans in Haiti, the passion and dedication of the CW’s stars is tireless and undeniably inspiring.

Over the weekend, TV Squad caught up with Sophia Bush of ‘One Tree Hill’ and ‘Supernatural’ star Misha Collins to discuss their latest charitable projects and give advice to anyone who wants to help change the world, one random act of kindness at a time.

Having been environmentally conscious for a number of years, Bush and her on/off-screen boyfriend Austin Nichols are helping to raise awareness of the shocking situation that has decimated an entire ecosystem on the Gulf coast — a situation that Bush insists has shown little sign of improvement, despite BP’s reassurances that the water is safe to swim and fish in.

“In order to be non-harmful, when you test water at a beach it should test less than five parts per million for oil,” Bush told us when we caught up with her via phone last week. “There are beaches in the Gulf right now that are testing as high as 229 parts per million. This is water that children are playing in, that families are swimming in. Young kids are building sandcastles on the beach, and they are sitting in water that is soaked not only with oil particles, but also with Corexit, a dispersant known to cause neurological damage and cancer — we watched them pour it into the Gulf for over a hundred days, and nobody did anything about it.”

Horrified by the morally and legally dubious activities they witnessed on their trip to the Gulf, Bush and Nichols began devoting their passion and time to raise money for Global Green, an organization that not only gives advice on how to make your life greener and cleaner, but also raises funds for humanitarian efforts such as the Gulf Coast clean-up, and the rebuilding of New Orleans post-Katrina.

Misha Collins gained fame two years ago when he joined the cast of the CW’s cult drama ‘Supernatural’ as the angel Castiel, a role that instantly brought him more attention — and Twitter followers — than he knew what to do with. So Collins did what any aspiring despot with designs on world domination would do; he harnessed the 70,000-plus fans that follow his satirical ramblings on Twitter and raised over 30,000 dollars for UNICEF’s disaster relief in Haiti in the space of about two weeks.

Earlier this month, Collins turned once more to his fans to explore further means of raising money and supporting those in need; thus, Random Acts was born. When we caught up with Collins at Creation Entertainment’s Salute to ‘Supernatural’ convention in Vancouver last weekend, he was gracious enough to explain his burgeoning organization from its genesis to its ultimate goals — watch what he had to say below:

The versatile actor has spoken of his tumultuous childhood before — Collins and his family spent many of his formative years bouncing from place to place, sometimes homeless and often forced to sleep in abandoned (and not so abandoned) office buildings when circumstances conspired against them. As a consequence, Collins seems all too cognizant of how great an impact a home, a pair of shoes, or even an act of goodwill as simple as handing a flower to a stranger, can have on someone less fortunate.

“I actually think that the most efficacious way of making a difference is to lead by example, and doing random acts of kindness is setting a very good example of how to behave in the world,” he reasoned. “While it seems small, it can ultimately be somewhat profound in various people’s lives. I know that when people have perpetrated such acts against me, that it has had a lasting effect on me, so I like to return the favor.”

Because of this, Collins — who is an avid runner — is preparing to run a marathon of his own design on Sept. 5, to raise money for three orphanages in Haiti, the relief effort for those affected by the recent flood in Pakistan, and to commit more random acts of kindness worldwide. Random Acts has already amassed over $11,000 so far, but you can still get involved. Previous acts have included buying shoes for a child in New Jersey whose father had just been laid off, providing new furniture and mattresses for the elderly, and donating a brand-new computer to a disadvantaged family.

“One of the criteria that we have is that [Random Acts recipients] are not going to be someone who’s a friend, or a friend of a friend of anybody working on it,” Collins clarified, when asked to describe the selection process.

“It’s got to be somebody that we don’t know, to avoid the appearance of impropriety or favoritism, nepotism … those are things that we do not like, although we practice them in our daily lives,” he joked, with his trademark sardonic wit. “In the future we’ll have people write in or tweet in with ideas of things that they want to do and then we’ll vet them and I’ll use dictatorial leadership and make the final selection at the end. That way, no-one can complain that the democratic process somehow failed them, because it won’t be democratic, it’ll be capricious and arbitrary, which is the way I like to keep it.”

Both Bush and Nichols are following in Collins’ footsteps, having independently planned to run their own marathon in Wilmington, NC. in November, along with many other members of the ‘One Tree Hill’ crew, to help fundraise for Global Green’s various projects in the Gulf.

Unlike other, larger (and undoubtedly influential) organizations such as the Red Cross, who are often forced to divert much of the money they receive in donations to organizational “overhead” costs like paying for staff, offices and administrative work, Global Green and Random Acts are dedicated to ensuring that 100 percent of proceeds go directly where they are donated, to the people on the ground who need them the most.

“I don’t think it’s so much a CW thing,” Bush mused, when asked to try and explain why so many passionate, well-informed actors on her network seem so dedicated to making their voices heard. “I would imagine that it’s because we’re young and active members of the community, we’re very in tune with what’s going on in the world.”

Bush, Collins and Nichols aren’t the only CW stars dedicated to improving the fortunes of others; Collins’ ‘Supernatural’ castmate Jared Padalecki has long been an advocate of animal rights through his support of A Dog’s Life Rescue, a non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing and sheltering abused or abandoned animals in Los Angeles.

Ian Somerhalder, star of CW’s top-rated drama ‘The Vampire Diaries,’ has a number of charitable efforts close to his heart. In addition to his support of the no-kill animal shelter St. Tammany Humane Society in hometown Covington, La., Somerhalder has also been an integral voice in the outcry against BP following the oil spill that devestated the Gulf coast.

“It’s time to change, and I think this disaster is the game changer,” Somerhalder told Zap2it in one of many interviews he gave to spotlight the continuing crisis. “It feels like this is one of those catastrophic events that truly changes the way that we think.”

Social media has certainly helped Bush, Collins and Somerhalder get in touch with the vibrant, creative minds already present amongst their fanbase, and it seems to have galvanized both the stars and audience members into taking a leap of faith with each other.

“That’s the most amazing thing about being young and inspired — you can likewise inspire other people,” Bush pointed out. “Maybe that’s the reason why there’s so many of us on this network of young people who are getting active; because we realize that we can. It’s scary, but we’ll make a difference. We just will.”

To donate money to Misha Collins’ marathon for Random Acts on Sept. 5, or to learn more about the random acts themselves, visit the Random Acts website and the Random Acts YouTube page.

To donate money to Sophia Bush’s marathon for Global Green or to learn more about her work for the Gulf, visit her Crowd Rise fundraising page, and check out her inspiring blog.

You can follow Collins and Bush on Twitter (@MishaCollins and @SophiaBush) to stay updated on their latest fundraising efforts. We’ll have more from our interview with Sophia Bush on TV Squad tomorrow — have the CW stars inspired you to get involved?

source: tvsquad

“One Tree Hill’s” Haley (Bethany Joy Galeotti) enjoyed a very pregnant senior year of high school, so you’d think that her second time with a bun in the oven would be a piece of cake — you know, now that she doesn’t also have to worry about college applications.

These photos from the Sept 14 premiere may imply otherwise — Haley has a throw pillow shoved up her shirt, and she doesn’t look too pleased as she looks at her future in the mirror. Her son Jamie (Jackson Brundage) looks on, and while Haley may not be looking forward to the impending weight gain, we’re sure Jamie can’t wait to have a sibling. Having no one to hang out with but a bunny and your parents’ high school friends has to get old.

Meanwhile, Brooke (Sophia Bush) and Julian (Austin Nichols) are looking cozy… but not particularly cheerful. Chin up, Brooke! Look at the size of that ring on your finger. Is it possible that the happy couple has learned the not-so-happy news about Clay (Robert Buckley) and Quinn (Shantel VanSanten)? The duo were gunned down by a psycho in the Season 7 finale, and we haven’t seen any new footage or photos of them since.

Let us know your thoughts, Tree Hill fans! What do you hope to see happen in Season 8? Are you looking forward to Nathan (James Lafferty) and Haley expanding their family? Do you think Dan and Rachel will ever return? Will the ever-lovelorn Brooke make it down the aisle?

source: zap2it

Austin Nichols and Sophia Bush teamed up with Veritas to create a fashion forward shirt that served a purpose, too – $15 from every shirt purchase will go toward Gulf Coast cleanup efforts!

Sophia and Austin headed down to Louisiana earlier this summer with Global Green USA, and she’s raising funds for the victims of the spill by running a half marathon this November!

FYI: “Servo Aequora,” or “Protect the Waters,” is printed on the shirt, as is an ancient map of North America, where the waters were once pure.

Pick up your own shirt over at LiveVeritas.com!

source: justjared

The 28-year-old actress sported a cute tank in support of the movement, which finds help for people struggling with depression, addictoin, self injury and suicide.

“Thanks for the tee’s!” Sophia tweeted to TWLOHA. “So happy to support you guys in your awesomeness!”

You can pick up a tank just like Sophia’s here!

source: justjared

We already know that The CW’s stars like Ian Somerhalder, Sophia Bush, and Austin Nichols are devoted to restoring the Gulf Coast after the devastating Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster.

Now, the network they call home will help to make some noise when The CW airs “The Gulf is Back,” a concert special featuring some of our favorite stars along with real life stories from locals devastated by the catastrophe.

The concert will feature “American Idol” alums Taylor Hicks, Bo Bice, and Ace Young, along with Lonestar, Brian McKnight, Drake Bell, Rickey Skaggs, Terri Clark, and Kyle and Chris Massey. Hosted by David Hasselhoff, who was recently roasted on Comedy Central, the event will also feature appearances by B.B. King, Shannon Elizabeth, and Dean Cain.

Though the spill still poses a major threat to wildlife and demands urgent attention, it’s important to support the beautiful coastline with continued tourism. According to The CW, the one-hour special “focuses on the resiliency of the residents of the Gulf Coast region and how they are bouncing back from the worst oil spill in the nation’s history while working tirelessly to restore their communities and lives.”

The special airs at 8 p.m. on August 27 on The CW.

source: zap2it

CW won’t hold court for critics until tomorrow, but I talked with CW president Dawn Ostroff tonight about her thoughts on locally filmed drama “One Tree Hill” and the chances of it continuing beyond eight seasons.

Ostroff echoed a refrain I’ve heard from her from years: Never say never, and don’t underestimate “OTH” showrunner Mark Schwahn.

Me: “Is this the final season for “One Tree Hill”?”

Ostroff: “I have to be honest. Mark Schwahn is amazing. He has pulled rabbits out of the hat over and over and over again. The viewers are still there and passionate for us. And it’s not just what they watch on air. They’re streaming it (online). They’re DVRing it… It becomes a matter of, will he be able to do enough this season to keep the viewers real excited about it. If he does, and if they are, we’re happy picking it up again… We’d be game if it is still working.”

So there you go. Do with that what you will.

Many of the locals close to the show have hinted that this season would be its final year, pointing to expiring contracts for much of the original cast and crew. But we’ve heard that before. Could this show survive without Sophia Bush? Without James Lafferty? Without Bethany Joy Galeotti? We may yet find out.

Of course, “One Tree Hill” is also returning to Tuesdays this fall, airing at 8 p.m. on The CW. Ostroff said part of the reason she moved “90210″ out of that slot was because it faced tough competition from the likes of “NCIS,” “The Biggest Loser” and “American Idol.” But she thinks “One Tree Hill” can handle it.

The fact that fans always find it and support it no matter where it is on the schedule makes “OTH” a versatile piece of their lineup, she said. “I swear we’ve had that show in 20 time periods,” Ostroff said.

Plus, it’s a good fit with returning drama “Life Unexpected,” which follows it at 9 p.m. “There’s a lot of similarity,” Ostroff said. “They’re both shows with a lot of heart.”

As for how successful she thought the last season was story-wise, coping with the loss of Hilarie Burton and Chad Micael Murray, she doesn’t think Schwahn has any regrets.

“I think he was very happy with the changes he made. I think he liked what he wound up doing.”

source: starnewsonline

Sophia Bush has slammed clothing store Urban Outfitters over an offensive t-shirt.

The One Tree Hill actress slammed the company on her blog last week after they began selling a shirt which reads “Eat Less”, which she believes promotes anorexia.

“I have been a supporter of your store for many years, but now I’m through,” she wrote in the open letter.

“I am fortunate enough to star on a wonderful TV show called One Tree Hill. I play a fashion designer named Brooke Davis, who started a campaign on the show called “Zero Is Not A Size” and the outpouring of love and gratitude that came my way from girls and women ALL OVER THE WORLD (sic) who have body image issues brought me to tears.”

She continued: “To promote starvation? To promote anorexia, which leads to heart disease, bone density loss, and a slew of other health problems, not least of all psychological issues that NEVER go away? Shame on you. I will no longer be shopping at your stores. And I will encourage the tens of thousands of female supporters I have to do the same. I have fought to boycott BP. I never imagined I would also be boycotting affordable fashion.”

Bush then called upon Urban Outfitters to make right on the issue by apologizing and donating funds to eating disorder charities.

“You should issue a public apology, and make a hefty donation to a women’s organisation that supports those stricken with eating disorders. I am sickened that anyone, on any board, in your gigantic company would have voted ‘yes’ on such a thing, let alone enough of you to manufacture an item with such a hurtful message. It’s like handing a suicidal person a loaded gun. You should know better,” she said.

“I sincerely hope that next time you decide that making fun of serious issues is comedic, or ‘snarky in a cool way’, that you re-think your decision.”

Bush previously visited the Gulf Coast in order to survey the damage of the BP oil spill.

source: digitalspy

Rebecca in New York: Hey, what’s with Sophia Bush hinting that she and Austin Nichols will get married on One Tree Hill? Is there a wedding or not?! Also, will Peyton and Lucas ever come back?
I’m hearing there’s no wedding yet in the works. Probably some day, but I’m told there are no current plans right now.

source: eonline