GALLERY LINKS:
- VIEW: 8.01 – Asleep at Heaven’s Gate
- VIEW: Veritas
- VIEW: Twitter > Sophia

“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

So … running. When I think about running my brain turns into an athletic commercial. I see feet pounding the pavement in high tech sneakers. Dry fit gear comes to mind immediately. Vibrant colors, taut muscles, and music with great bass. I see beads of sweat forming along the runner’s brow. I envision fists pumping, chests heaving, and the sound of an elevated heart beat.

I do not, however, see my face on the athlete in my imagined montage. I don’t see myself running anywhere. Don’t get me wrong, I have always fantasized that one day I would wake up changed. That I would sit up and suddenly think, ecstatically, “I want to go for a run!” There are people like that in the world, so it’s reasonable to think that I could somehow morph into one, but surprise, surprise I have not had that moment upon waking up. Ever. My thought process when my eyes open goes something like this. “I want a latte … with whole milk … and some Agave nectar! Mm-hmm. Oh! And I want to make a scallion, kale, feta, and egg frittata for breakfast. Yup. Heaven.” That may or may not be due to the Italian blood in my veins. Thus I think the next piece of information I am going to share with you might shock you all a little bit.

I am going to run a half marathon this November. Yup. Me. The asthmatic with a years-old knee injury, who hasn’t run a mile since Junior High. No seriously. Since Junior High, as in since I was 13 years old. For the record I am now 28, but thanks to the genes of my kick ass parents (I love you Mom and Dad!) I still get carded when I buy beer for BBQs at the grocery store. Yay for me!

Why would I do this to myself, you ask? Or is that me asking? I’ve been asking myself that question a lot since last Tuesday when I decided to do this. The ‘why’ is the Gulf. And it’s also you guys, really. I got the idea from the King of Crowdrise himself, Edward Norton, who ran the New York City marathon last year to raise money for the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, a charity that stole my heart many years ago and still has a firm grip on it. Now, I make no claim to be anywhere near as tough as Ed, but I am determined. And in bouncing creative fundraising ideas off of some pals at work in North Carolina, I mentioned Ed’s marathon, and my friend Jane said, “Well, you know there’s a half marathon here in November.” I promptly laughed in her face.

But then I stopped laughing and started to wonder. Could I run 13 miles? Would I make it? Would my lungs make it!? Would I be able to do this? I started to feel crazy and I started to feel scared. I mean, what if I told everyone I would run this race, and then I didn’t make it? What if I had to walk the end? What if I came in last? And then I told myself to go ahead and just shut up. “You wanna run scared?” I asked myself. “Well then you are RUNNING. THIS. RACE!” I strongly believe in doing things that scare you. I like to take jobs that I’m not sure I can pull off. I like to set goals for myself in order to beat them. And I like to confront my fears. Otherwise they take over your life. I confronted my fears about opening up to all of you, and look what’s happened! You have moved me with your love. You have shown me that none of us is alone. You all have proven to me that we can stand united, and we can change the world. All of our Little Voices have begun to add up, and we are making noise! People are taking notice. And people are changing their worlds. So with each and every one of you in mind, last Wednesday July 28th, I got on the treadmill and I ran a mile. And the next day I ran two miles. And on Friday I went to a spin class – no one warned me how hard that would be! –and on Sunday I ran three miles.

Now, these numbers may not seem like a feat to a lot of you. I’m sure many of you could run three miles with your eyes closed. But it is a feat for me. My whole life I have struggled with my ability to breathe. An asthma attack is terrifying. When your airways close and you cannot breathe, the panic that ensues is unlike any I have ever experienced. And when you’ve been debilitated by such attacks since childhood, you begin to avoid activities that trigger them. Don’t get me wrong, I have been blessed to have periods of extreme fitness in my life, where I have worked with wonderful trainers who have whipped my body into fighting shape — Hello, I wanted to do all my own stunts in The Hitcher! –but I have only ever done that for work. And I have never done it running. Because running scares me. Honestly. I have avoided it at all costs. I have substituted other things for it when I am on fitness kicks, and I have hidden my fear of it from many people. But I refuse to be scared anymore. Each and every one of you that has joined me in this movement, each of you that has reached out to me, has confronted some sort of fear. And we are winning. We are creating change. So I am determined to win. Not the race of course! But I am determined to win this battle with my own fear. I throw myself out of airplanes for fun, for goodness sakes! I should be able to pound the pavement! No matter how long it ends up taking me, I will run 13 miles come November.

So it begins. Week 2 of training has begun. And our group is growing. As of today we have about 12 runners, and as each day passes more and more people are joining up to run for the cause. We are all reaching out to our friends and our loved ones to sponsor us, and hopefully we will be able to raise some more funds for the people of the Gulf Coast. They need all the help they can get. So I am running. For the Gulf. For all of you. Because when my lungs start hurting, and when my legs start screaming “this running business is BULL, Sophia!” I think of all of YOU. I think of the letters I have read on Crowdrise detailing the way you are all newly inspired, and changing the way you interact with the planet. I think of Matt Petersen, head of Global Green, and my green warrior and inspiration. I think of my parents, who, my entire life, have told me that there is nothing I cannot achieve. I think of Beth Galante, of Global Green New Orleans, who stood next to us spouting legal intricacies, refusing to back down when we were threatened with arrest on the beaches of Grand Isle. I think of Elyssa G., a new friend from Crowdrise, who is starting to change her world at 16 years old, and who I know will do great things in life. I think of Heather, and each and every one of you, who made me that incredible video, saying something as simple as “thank you,” that made me weep with gratitude (see video below). I think of all of the love and appreciated and motivation that I am filled with each and every day when we trade letters, and facts, and tips for saving the world online! I think of you guys, and I know that I can do this. I can challenge myself for others when I am having a hard time challenging myself alone.

So over the next few weeks, expect a lot of information about our team and our training. I am going to work on video blogs for all of you, so you can meet the team members and our sponsors, you can see our runs, track our progress, and maybe even run with us, wherever you are! Imagine it. Hundreds, or even thousands of us, running all over the country, maybe all over the world! That would certainly show the powers that be that we will not back down. We will not be quiet. We will make our Little Voices heard!

Look out for my Run For the Gulf project on my Crowdrise page. It’s going to be awesome! And root for us guys. We’re going to need it!

Love, love, love, always.

Sophia

PS. I am so amazed at how many of you have rallied behind this challenge in just a day! Whether you are in Wilmington in November, or anywhere else in the world, we would love to have your support. However, the momma bear in me must ask all of you to please get the okay to run from your doctors! It is a serious undertaking, and I would be devastated if anyone injured themselves, especially in the name of such a great cause! So check in with a doctor, or a trainer, and once you’re cleared, please stick to a responsible and gradual training schedule. Hopefully a few months from now we’ll all be ready to hit it and do some good! I am so excited. Thank you all.

source: official blog

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