Valparaiso's TV talk show claim-to-fame Michael Essany is back in the celebrity biz again.

The Web site iFollo.com announced last week the launch of a new "fan-driven online community" that bills itself as "providing a place for people to contribute stories, pictures and videos about their personal encounters with celebrities past or present, famous teams or groups."

iFollo also describes itself as "the only interactive celebrity site that bases all of its content on real encounters with celebrities from real people."

"iFollo places the power of the media, paparazzi and publicists in the hands of real people - they are the news source," said Colin House, CEO of iFollo, based in Park City, Utah.

"Although there are millions of fan sites, discussion boards, and blogs available, none offer unfiltered and unique content which is created and controlled by people on the street."

Joining iFollo as both a contributing writer and Head of Entertainment Business Development is our own, Michael Essany, formerly of E! Entertainment Television and host of "The Michael Essany Show."

House says Essany is the perfect person to join the venture because he's "no stranger to celebrity encounters."

Essany describes iFollo as "the anti-TMZ."

"There are two sides to every celebrity reputation - sometimes good, sometimes bad," Essany said. "I believe iFollo will expose the human side of celebrity and filter the rumors and innuendo to reveal celebrities as real people in real encounters with other real people."

Essany said he's learned in recent years that star encounters abound all around.

"From Northwest Indiana to Hollywood, Calif.," he said. "It's astonishing how many regular folks have had personal, moving encounters with celebrities. iFollo will provide an outlet for the fascinating, inspiring stories just waiting to be told."

He said iFollo satisfies the public's craving to know about, and connect with, celebrities in sports, politics, fashion, music and entertainment. He said the site also "offers a broad and more balanced view of what celebrities are really like versus one-sided, sensational headlines and incriminating photos.

"This is because information comes from real stories told by everyday people," he said. "Fans read about, watch and see their favorite celebrities in settings other than the red carpet."

To participate, users upload photos and video along with their celebrity stories and rate celebrities by looks, smarts, arrogance and more.

On iFollo, people also have the ability to personalize and follow only the celebrities they care about, including local celebrities, without being bombarded by media.

"Ratings and user-generated content ensure that iFollo remains grounded in its roots of real people telling the story. Responsible celebrities embrace iFollo's unique content with less gossip, fewer scandals and less hype," House said.

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Borders Southlake Mall publicist Jeanne Luers just sent the following local author event reminders.

From 2 to 4 p.m. Dec.13, Mary Lou Carney, of Chesterton, will be signing her new children's book "The Truly Terribly Horrible Sweater ... that Grandma Knit" ( 2009 HarperCollins $16.99). She co-authored this book with best-selling author Debbie Macomber.

And from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec.19, Carson Cunningham, an Andrean graduate who also played basketball at Purdue and is now professor at Depaul University, will be signing "American Hoops: U.S. Men's Olympic Basketball from Berlin to Beijing" (2009 University of Nebraska Press $40). For more information, call (219) 795-1925.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at philip.potempa@nwi.com or 219.852.4327.

Today's Celebrity Birthdays

Actor Robert Vaughn ("The Man from U.N.C.L.E.") is 77. Actor Michael Callan is 74. Comedian-director Terry Gilliam (Monty Python) is 69. Actor Tom Conti and singer Jesse Colin Young (The Youngbloods) are 68. Tennis player Billie Jean King and drummer Floyd Sneed, of Three Dog Night, are 66. Guitarist-actor Little Steven (The E Street Band, "The Sopranos") and bassist Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads are 59. Actor Richard Kind ("Spin City," "Mad About You") is 53. Actress Jamie Lee Curtis and singer Jason Ringenberg of Jason and the Scorchers are 51. Actress Mariel Hemingway is 48. Actor Stephen Geoffreys is 45. Drummer Chris Fryar of Zac Brown Band is 39. Actress Scarlett Johannson is 25.