Ex-QVC Host Lisa Mason’s Gino Has Stage 4 Cancer

Ex-QVC host Lisa Mason thanked well-wishers for their prayers and support for her and her husband Gino, who has cancer that spread to his brain.

“My husband has stage four esophageal cancer which has spread,” Mason posted on Facebook.

“Other than slight difficulty swallowing a few months back, no symptoms at all. I sincerely beg you…if you or someone you know has untreated acid reflux disease or has problems swallowing, please, please see a doctor. NOW,” she wrote.

“A simple endoscopy is all that’s needed,” she continued. “The tumor in his brain is gone…now we treat the esophagus. We have a long road. But we live by our faith and trust in The Lord. Thank you and love you all.”

Prayers again for Lisa and Gino.

Ex-QVC Host Lisa Mason’s Husband Recovering From Brain Cancer

A few months ago former QVC host Lisa Mason revealed on Facebook that her beloved husband was diagnosed with cancer.

On Saturday Mason posted an update on Gino, the Samoan-descent spouse she would always mention on on-air.

“He is the strongest man I know,” Mason wrote. “Brain surgery followed by excruciating brain radiation. Now chemo. He is my rock, my one true love. He is my husband. If The Lord took us both tonight, we would have maxed out on love.”

“We live a small, simple life by society’s standards,” Mason said. “But we are wealthy beyond belief in Faith, family and friends. Please continue to pray for my beloved as we start this next journey together. With sincere love and appreciation.”

Prayers to both them.

Ex-QVC Host Lisa Mason’s Husband Has The Cancer

Former QVC host Lisa Mason has clarified her disturbing Facebook post, which talked about a cancer diagnosis she and her husband Gino were facing.

Everyone, us included, wanted to know who has the cancer.

Well, Mason answered that question on FB, and posted the photo we are sharing here.

Lisa Mason and Gino

“Thank you all for your well wishes and prayers,” she posted. “We begin a very rough road of treatment. Although the diagnosis of cancer is his, the burden is ours together. With much love…. Gino and Lisa.”

Ex-QVC Host Lisa Mason’s Plea After Cancer Diagnosis

We slept late today, Saturday, and found this disturbing news when we checked Facebook. Former QVC host Lisa Mason is apparently up against a life-threatening situation: cancer.

Mason, who has been acting as the the rep for Supersmile (we think that’s what it was) on QVC, said that we won’t be seeing her on the home shopping network again.

Here is the rest of her FB post:

My life has taken an abrupt turn. Please, please pray for me and Gino. We are facing the fight of our lives with a sudden diagnosis of cancer.

I believe in the power of medicine and great doctors. But, I mostly believe in the power of our great and mighty Heavenly Father, whom Gino and I serve and trust. Please pray for Gino and Lisa and please pass this on. Much love to you always.

Mason and her husband Gino, who she would always mention on-air, live in Manhattan. When she left QVC, there was talk that she was going because of an illness she reportedly had, lupus.

Anyway, we loved her on QVC. She was a funny, warm sometimes racy Southern Belle of a host. Prayers to her and Gino.

Actress Tiffani Thiessen To Appear In QVC Cancer PSAs

Actress Tiffani Thiessen is appearing in both print and TV spots for QVC’s charitable event in conjunction with Cosmetic Executive, the home shopping network said Wednesday.

“QVC and CEW Present Beauty with Benefits” is a two-hour live charitable broadcast that will air April 17 at 8 p.m. QVC viewers will be able to shop a selection of products from 19 beauty brands including bareMinerals, Fresh and Philosophy.

Tiffani Thiessen

For this initiative, 80 percent of the purchase price of donated merchandise will benefit Cancer and Careers, a charitable program established by the Cosmetic Executive Women foundation.

“Cancer and Careers empowers, educates and provides essential tools to people with cancer so that they can thrive in the workplace,” according to QVC’s press release.

“Beauty with Benefits embodies QVC’s commitment to supporting the success and wellness of women through the power of relationships,” QVC CEO Claire Watts said in a canned statement. “We’re excited to bring the beauty industry together again for this charitable effort and to have Tiffani as our spokesperson to build greater awareness for Cancer and Careers.”

The event will focus on the philanthropic efforts of the beauty industry while providing viewers a special opportunity to support a great cause.

“Cancer in the workplace is so prevalent yet it’s an issue that rarely gets discussed,” Thiessen said in a statement. “I am excited to work with QVC and CEW to support such a worthy cause. I love that I get to use a fun thing like makeup to shed light on such a powerful message.”

In 2013, “QVC and CEW Present Beauty with Benefits” generated more than $984,000 to benefit Cancer and Careers. Sweet.

“We are so pleased to have Tiffani support Beauty with Benefits,” CEW President Carlotta Jacobson said in a statement. “We are confident that her positive energy will inspire people to get involved.”

QVC, Cosmetic Executive Women Launching Charitable Cancer Beauty Initiative

QVC is partnering with Cosmetic Executive Women Thursday with a program whose net proceeds will benefit Cancer and Careers, a program of the CEW Foundation that supports men and women balancing work and cancer, the home shopping network said Monday.

The two-hour broadcast, “QVC and CEW Present Beauty with Benefits,” will feature more than 15 prestige beauty brands across categories and price points. It will air at 9 p.m. Thursday.

The event aims to will highlight the philanthropic efforts of the beauty industry while giving viewers a chance to support a worthy cause through a multiplatform shopping experience.

“From color cosmetics and fragrance to skin and hair care products, various products from select brands such as bareMinerals, tarte, StriVectin and Mally Beauty will be offered,” QVC said in its press release.

Laura Geller with fellow QVC vendor Suze Orman

As added incentives, QVC is offering a gift with purchase that consists of beauty samples from participating brands, and shipping and handling will be offered at no charge.

“Beauty with Benefits reflects QVC’s ongoing commitment to support the success and wellness of women through the power of relationships,” QVC U.S. CEO Claire Watts said in a canned statement. “We’re thrilled to bring the beauty industry together to give consumers the opportunity to shop for a cause on April 25, while increasing awareness of the resources provided by Cancer and Careers.”

Throughout the evening, viewers will be informed of the impact each purchase can make in the lives of men and women affected by cancer. Unique content created for the show is scheduled to include inspiring segments featuring those who benefited from Cancer and Careers along with an interview with CEW President Carlotta Jacobson.

Plus, industry experts and QVC regulars, including Laura Geller, founder of Laura Geller Beauty and Chaz Dean, creator of WEN Hair and Body Care, will share beauty tips guaranteed to make everyone look and feel good.

“I am so pleased to see CEW and QVC coming together for the first ever Beauty with Benefits show,” Geller said in her canned statement. “As a longtime supporter of Cancer and Careers, I have always believed that if beauty companies could join efforts to give back, we could make a significant impact. It not only feels good to educate women on how they can look better, but it feels even more empowering when you know you are personally helping to make a difference.”

To build further awareness for Cancer and Careers and the broadcast, QVC will optimize its social media efforts through an Instagram campaign.

For the first 500 photos tagged with the hashtag #beautywithbenefits, QVC will make a donation to Cancer and Careers. QVC plans to promote the event through additional platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google+.

Additionally, actress Regina King (love her in “Southland”) is supporting the initiative as the “QVC and CEW Present Beauty with Benefits” PSA spokesperson.

Jewelry Designer Nolan Miller Returns To QVC After Two-Year Absence Due To Battle With Cancer

Clothing and jewelry designer Nolan Miller, suffering from cancer, has been absent from QVC for two years. Yes, his jewelry has still been sold on the home shopping channel, but his business partner, Mark Zunino, would present it.

Well, Miller will finally be back on QVC this Fourth of July weekend, QVC host Mary Beth Roe says on her Facebook page.

“I hope everyone is looking forward to the holiday weekend coming up!” Roe writes. “We are so blessed to live in a country with the freedoms we have, so celebrate! I’m celebrating the fact that Nolan Miller is coming to West Chester, PA, for his shows on Sun. at 7pm and Monday at 4pm. He hasn’t been able to make the trip east for almost 2 years! Join us to see him ‘live’ in the studio! 18th anniversary for him on the Q!”

The last time we saw a photo of Miller, he was looking gaunt and sickly. We hope he’s conquered his cancer.

ShopNBC Says Actress Suzanne Somers Has Been A Hit On The Network, Drawing New Customers

Suzanne Somers

ShopNBC claims that its new vendor, actress/entrepreneur Suzanne Somers, has been a huge success on the network.

In one of home shopping’s hottest stories this year, Somers left HSN after more than a dozen years there and joined ShopNBC to sell apparel, beauty jewelry and nutritional items.

“We’re very pleased with the sales results of Suzanne and the products that Suzanne has brought to us,” ShopNBC CEO Keith Stewart said during a third-quarter conferece call Wednesday.

She has even succeeded in bringing in new eyeballs to ShopNBC.

“In fact, she has a very high new-customer count for the sector where she operates, primarily beauty and fitness and apparel,” Stewart said. “Most recently in her last visit, 32 percent of her orders came from new customers. For someone that has been in the industry for so long, that’s an amazing statistic in itself.”

Shortly after debuting on ShopNBC in September, best-selling author Somers became the center of a storm of controversy over her new book on alternative treatments for cancer, “Knockout: Interviews With Doctors Who Are Curing Cancer, And How To Prevent Getting It In The First Place.”

But there was apparently no blow-back on ShopNBC, which believes Somers will draw an audience.

“We also anecdotally believe that Suzanne brings tremendous viewership opportunities,” Stewart said. “That’s how we pull in new customers. When you see Suzanne on the air, you stop. You want to listen to her. She’s a very, very bright woman. So we’re pleased to have Suzanne aboard.”

When investor asked if ShopNBC had offered any special incentives or stock to Somers to get her to come over.

Stewart told him that there were no special deals, that ShopNBC buys products from vendors like Somers and then sells them online and on the air.

“It’s really the long-term potential that all these new vendors see at ShopNBC,” Stewart said. “They know how big this industry is and how fast it is growing…“The economics are no different than any other vendor.”

The CEO added that talent like Somers are “are smart, smart people,”

According to Stewart, “It’s really the long-term potential that all these new vendors see at ShopNBC. They know how big this industry is and how fast it is growing.”

He added that has a great team in place at ShopNBC to lure celebs like Somers, people who were with him “in another life,” namely at QVC.

The investor remained perplexed about why Somers would join a smaller shopping network than HSN, but it’s no secret.

HSN’s new management, led by CEO Mindy Grossman, is looking to add new vendors to the No. 2 home shopping channel to attract younger, hipper customers. Somers did not fit into that new strategy. And HSN had been whittling down the kinds of products that Somers was selling, like her Somersize line.

ShopNBC’s Suzanne Somers To Appear On ‘The Wendy Williams Show’ To Promote Her Controversial Cancer Book ‘Knockout’: P.S. Wendy’s Our Homegirl, As In Montclair

This should make for interesting TV: ShopNBC actress/author Suzanne Somers will be appearing on “The Wendy Williams Show” today, Wednesday.

The blonde Somers will be plugging her controversial new book about alternative treatments for cancer, “Knockout: Interviews With Doctors Who Are Curing Cancer And How To Prevent Getting It In The First Place.”

Williams’ syndicated show airs at different times of the day across the country, so we can’t help you on that one. In New York City it’s on two of Rupert Murdoch’s TV stations. It runs at 10 a.m. on WNYW and at 10 p.m. on WWOR.

But you can check the show’s Web site to see when and where it airs in your town.

Williams, by the way, lives in our hometown, Montclair, N.J. In fact, we saw her once in the Social Security Office on Bloomfield Avenue. She was tall, flamboyant and had big hair (a wig?), pretty much the way she is on TV.

Actress Fran Drescher, who yesterday launched a skincare line called FranBrand on HSN, appeared Willlams’ show Monday.

It looks like you can catch a video of Williams’ shows, in case you miss Somers today and missed Drescher earlier in the week, on the show’s site.

Can Actress Fran Drescher Get Us A Young Boyfriend, Like Her’s? We’re Buying Her HSN Skincare Products To Find Out

Fran Drescher

After enduring days of annoying promos, HSN viewers got to see actress Fran Drescher debut Tuesday morning with her FranBrand line of skincare products. And we have to say, we were impressed.

“This is my maiden voyage on HSN,” said Drescher, who has gained weight since “The Nanny,” but looks gorgeous.

“People are always complimenting me on how beautiful my skin is,” the comedic actress said, attributing her glow to her own skincare products.

But most importantly, cancer survivor and rape victim Drescher said she started the line because she became concerned about what she was putting on her skin after her “darkest hours,” when she was ill with uterine cancer.

She called FranBrand “a beautiful, natural extension of my advocacy,” with natural ingredients and eco-friendly glass packaging.

The beauty industry is self-regulating, which Drescher called “the fox guarding the henhouse.”

Drescher is also putting her money where her mouth is: 2 percent of the FranBrand sales will go to the Cancer Schmancer Movement, the actress’s nonprofit organization dedicating to ensuring that women’s cancer is diagnosed in Stage 1.

The FranBrand product jars also each have a “Franism” on them such as, “When you look for the good in others, you discover the best in yourself.”

The show kicked off with a description of Drescher’s work as a public-policy advocate for women’s issues, and HSN showed photos of Drescher with President Obama and Hillary Clinton.

But here’s what may get us to try FranBrand: Drescher keep making reference to her boyfriend, who uses some of her products.

Descher, 52, also said that her boyfriend is nine years younger than her, and that when they wake up together in the morning, he doesn’t think he’s in bed with an old woman, or words to that effect.

Hey, if FranBrand will get us a young boyfriend, we’re placing our order now.

Queens-bred Drescher even brough her small brown dog Esther to the show. We’re not sure of the breed, we think she may be a Pomeranian. The dog is in the promo, which is on HSN.com. If we are wrong about the breed, let us know.

At one point, Drescher said, “June 21st was the day I was cured of my cancer.” Mazel Tov, Fran.

And for those who want more information, here is Drescher’s Web site.