Happy Birthday Robin Williams

Today dear readers, I’m giving all of you who read this one chore to do today. However you watch movies, whether it’s on your phone, by popping in a DVD, viewing digital files on a laptop or tablet or browsing sites like YouTube or Vimeo, go find a Robin Williams movie, a classic TV show, or some comedic interview clips, watch them and laugh. LAUGH! Enjoy the incredible legacy that this amazing man left for the world to enjoy. Robin Williams would have been 65 today. It’s been almost two years since he passed away on August 11, 2014. The world is a less funny place without him and 2016 has certainly been an incredibly difficult year so far.

What are some of your favorite Robin Williams movies? Or TV shows? What is that one movie you can always watch and know it will make you laugh? For me, it has to be Mrs. Doubtfire. I couldn’t even tell you how many times I’ve watched this movie over the years but it will always make me laugh and always be among my favorites. So do yourself one favor today, stop and laugh. Let Robin Williams help you achieve that goal today. Happy Birthday Robin Williams! We all miss you. #RobinWilliams

 

Robert Downey Jr., Gene Simmons, Sean Penn and Jodie Foster Join Forces for Charity

The spirit of holiday giving is going full swing in Hollywood. Golden Globe winner & Academy Award nominee Robert Downey Jr., GRAMMY winner Gene Simmons of KISS,  along with Academy Award winners Sean Penn, Mel Gibson, and Jodie Foster join forces to support Mending Kids International next Saturday, December 1st as they take part in the Four Kings & An Ace poker tournament at the London Hotel in West Hollywood, CA.

A limited number of tickets to play poker with the celebrity guests as well as spectator tickets are still available. Event tickets can be purchased here. The tournament will take place inside the Gordon Ramsay restaurant at the London West Hollywood.

The evening proceeds benefit children worldwide who are in need of life-changing surgical care. Over the years, thousands of children have received corrective, transformational surgeries that have given them a chance at longer, healthier and happier lives. Most of the surgeries performed are to correct congenital heart defects, orthopedic abnormalities, severe scoliosis, and significant cranial facial deformities.

Robert Downey Jr has just wrapped filming on MARVEL’s Iron Man 3, due in theaters May 2013 while Sean Penn stars in the upcoming Gangster Squad, due in theaters January 11, 2013.

Sponsors of the evening include Variety, the London West Hollywood, Morgan’s Jeweler’s, Gibson’s ICON films and more.

Prince to Perform on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

 

Fans of the little purple one, his royal highness, man of many monikers, Prince, will be performing an outdoor concert for Jimmy Kimmel Live! on October 23, 2012. Tickets are FREE, if you hurry over to 1iota to sign up. Must be 16 years of age or older to attend. These tickets will go ultra fast (if not gone already!) so get over there and request yours before they are gone!

Fans of the Little Red Corvette and 1999 singer are likely to be treated to the singer’s latest track, RNR Affair, which debuted last month during his residency at the United Center in Chicago.

For those who can’t make the live performance, check out television network ABC’s website where highlights from the show will be posted shortly after airing.

Prince is known for being anti-digital but you can find a vast collection of his work available for purchase on iTunes

 

Donald Glover: From Coachella to 30 Rock’s Live Episode

Donald Glover will return to 30 Rock for the show’s live broadcast on Thursday, April 26th at 8:30 pm.  Glover worked as a writer on the show from 2006 through 2009.  He, along with other 30 Rock writers, won the 2008 Writers Guild of America Award for Best Comedy.  Although he would make occasional cameo appearances while writing for the show, he is scheduled to appear this week as a younger Tracy Jordan, the character portrayed by Tracy Morgan.

This marks the second live episode of 30 Rock.  The first, directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller (who will also be behind the camera this Thursday), aired on October 14th, 2010.  The first live episode featured surprise appearances by Matt Damon, Mad Men’s Jon Hamm, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, currently starring on HBO’s Veep, as Tina Fey’s character Liz Lemon during the shows trademark swoosh back segues.  Fey, who is also the creator of the show, has already promised that there will be more surprise cameos this week.

Instead of merely rebroadcasting the show for the West Coast, the cast are planning to film two separate episodes for the East and West Coasts, with those in the Central time zone viewing the East Coast broadcast.  The first live episode was filmed twice for each coast as well.

Glover recently appeared both weekends on the main stage at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival performing under the name Childish Gambino:

Before flying to New York for the 30 Rock taping, he also performed a secret show in Los Angeles on Monday, April 23rd.  He can also be seen earlier in NBC’s Thursday line-up as Troy Barnes on the cult favorite Community at 8:00 pm:

 

Glee’s Tribute to Whitney Houston to Air April 24th

by Jade Robledo

Although co-creator Ryan Murphy once proclaimed that there would no longer be episodes of Glee dedicated to one artist, next Tuesday, April 24^th, brings an hour tribute to Whitney Houston.  The show’s Amber Riley (Mercedes) covered Houston’s biggest hit “I Will Always Love You” on their Valentine’s Day episode earlier this year.  As the show was scheduled to air three days after Houston’s death from accidental drowning on February 11^th, they were able to add a title card to the end credits reading:

Whitney Houston
1963 – 2012
We Will Always Love You

However, it was decided that this was not enough of a tribute to the singer / actress.  Thus, soon after her death it was announced that they would be filming an episode as tribute to her contributions to music.

The episode, titled “Dance With Somebody” will include the cast performing Houston’s hits “Saving All My Love For You,” “So Emotional,” “I Have Nothing,” “My Love Is Your Love” and the track that inspired the title of the episode, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me).”  A video of Amber Riley, accompanied by Lea Michele (Rachel), Chris Colfer (Kurt) and Naya Rivera (Santana) performing an a cappella version of “How Will I Know” has been released:

Whitney Houston’s own a cappella version of the song can be heard here:

Glee airs Tuesdays on Fox, check your local listings for the time.

Dick Clark, “America’s Oldest Teenager,” Dies at Age 82

Dick Clark, Craig Sjodin / ABC

Dick Clark, known primarily as the longtime host of “American Bandstand” as well as his “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” programs has died at the age of 82 following a massive heart attack.

Born in New York in 1929, Clark began his long career in the entertainment industry by working in the mailroom of a radio station WRUN in New York while still in high school.  He soon moved up to the microphone, filling in for people when needed.  He continued to work in radio as a disc jockey in the student run radio station while enrolled at Syracuse University.  Upon graduation he went back to WRUN, but soon left for a spot in Philadelphia at WFIL.

It was while he lived in Philadelphia that he began hosting the then local afternoon “Bandstand” dance show for teenagers.  Within five years, the local program became renamed by ABC as “American Bandstand” when it became a national show.  The program consisted of teenagers dancing to the big hits of the day, as well as appearances by people as varied as Elvis Presley to ABBA, from the Bee Gees to Aerosmith.  The popularity of the show and its host cannot be overlooked when observing popular culture in America.

In 1963 Clark moved the show to Hollywood, and began his own production company, Dick Clark Productions.  This company went on to produce shows such as Pyramid (the game show that he also hosted), So You Think You Can Dance and TV Bloopers & Practical Jokes.  Dick Clark Productions is also the company behind such annual shows as the American Music Awards, the Academy of Country Music Awards, and the Golden Globes.

Although Clark stopped hosting American Bandstand in 1989, he was still welcomed into homes on December 31^st as he hosted his “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” specials from Time Square in New York beginning.  He began hosting the show in 1974, and continued until December 31^st, 2004.  On December 6^th of that year he was reportedly hospitalized following a minor stroke.  Regis Philbin stepped in since Clark’s health prevented him from hosting as he had planned.  In 2005 Clark was again hosting, however he was joined by a co-host, television personality Ryan Seacrest.  Although Seacrest handled most of the hosting duties, Clark still conducted the traditional New Year’s Eve countdown.  In 2009 the broadcast was renamed Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Even with Ryan Seacrest to reflect Seacrest’s increased hosting responsibilities.

Seacrest released a statement today stating:  “I am deeply saddened by the loss of my dear friend Dick Clark.  He has truly been one of the greatest influences in my life.  I idolized him from the start, and I was graced early on in my career with his generous advice and counsel.  When I joined his show in 2006, it as a dream come true to work with him every New Year’s Eve for the last 6 years.  He was smart, charming, funny and always a true gentleman.  I learned a great deal from him, and I’ll always be indebted to him for his faith and support of me.  He was a remarkable host and businessman and left a rich legacy to television audiences around the world.  We will all miss him.”

Clark is survived by his third wife, and three children from his previous marriages.

Tom & Jerry Cartoon Capers on DVD

Tom & Jerry DVD image courtesy of Warner Bros.

So tell me, did you watch Tom & Jerry growing up? I know it was on all the time in our household and I love that Tom & Jerry Fur Flying Adventures Volume 2 is out now on DVD for another generation to enjoy! It’s hard to believe that Hanna Barbera created this zany cartoon more than 70 years ago! Amazingly, every decade since Tom & Jerry’s inception in the 1940’s have seen the comic duo re-emerge as a top cartoon in that decade from Saturday morning cartoons to movie shorts, they are always there.  

In case you aren’t overly familiar with the cat & mouse team (perhaps you’ve just returned from say, Mars?) here is a little bit more info about them and what to expect on this fun-filled DVD from Warner Bros. I love how Spike the dog always steps in to help Jerry and how the lady of the house usually catches Tom in the act of some wrongdoing and yells out “Thomas!”.

One flustered feline + one resourceful rodent = 14 wild and wacky cartoons! Tom – the eternally crabby cat – and Jerry – the hopelessly adorable mouse – find themselves in a fracas once, twice and many times again in this latest bunch of 14 fast and funny cartoons! This time around the dizzy duo takes their tiffs to the beach (Surf-Bored Cat), to the Alps (The A-Tom-inable-Snowman) and to the orchestra (Tom and Jerry in the Hollywood Bowl). In Top with Pops Spike the dog pounces into the fray and Jerry learns a mouse’s best friend is a dog! Even vampire hunter Van Helsing gets in the middle of the cat/mouse combat in Monster Con. Your hunt stops here: this new collection of animated antics will delightfully drop you into the middle of non-stop family fun!

As a parent, one of the best things about having kids is that you still get to watch cartoons on a regular basis! I love this DVD compilation because it contains 14 different episodes so if the kids really want to watch some Tom & Jerry, they can pop it in and watch an episode or two without taking over the TV for the time it takes to watch an entire movie. I’m really enjoying the resurgence of cartoons that I enjoyed on Saturday mornings long past and hope you will enjoy this fun DVD with your family too.

Win a Trip to see Duran Duran in Austin, TX at SXSW

by Cindy Robinson

Southwest Airlines, Urban Outfitters and Thrillist have teamed up to offer a lucky winner and their guest a VIP trip to Austin, TX and two badges to South by Southwest (SXSW) 2011 Music & Film Festival to see the best new bands out there along with guest appearances and concerts by Ozomatli, the Strokes, possibly Snow Patrol and Duran Duran.

Duran Duran's Nick Rhodes

Duran Duran are currently doing promotional appearances around the globe to promote their latest album, All You Need Is Now, which is currently available in a 9 song EP on iTunes with a physical CD Deluxe Edition due out in the USA on March 22nd. The band will embark on a world tour in March including a stop at SXSW on March 16 to headline the Time Out showcase at Stubb’s  and give a Featured Interview at the Austin Convention Center on March 17.

The band has also scheduled a stop in Los Angeles to visit the Tonight Show with Jay Leno on March 22nd. Limited tickets are available now for the TV show taping via the Tonight Show’s site.

Go to Thrillist’s contest page to sign up now! The winner will receive a VIP Trip to Austin during the SXSW Festival , March 14th-19th, featuring:

• $500 Urban Outfitters Shopping Spree
• (2) Roundtrip Tickets to Austin on Southwest Airlines
• (2) Music Festival Badges
• (5) Nights Deluxe Hotel Accommodations
• VIP Access to Thrillist Austin’s Party @ Antone’s
• Guaranteed Access to UO’s “Live in Austin 2011” Performances
• Dinners at Thrillist-curated Restaurants
• Lifetime Subscription to Grooveshark Anywhere

NBC and Chipotle Team Up for FREE Food

Image via Wikipedia

Television network NBC, their new show America’s Next Great Restaurant and burrito giant, Chipotle, have teamed up to offer viewers a great coupon for a buy one, get one free item at a Chipotle Mexican Grill location near you. Please go to America’s Next Great Restaurant Facebook page, ‘like’ them and then go to the Chipotle tab and watch the video.

Once the video completes, you will be able to print out your Chipotle coupon so be sure to have your printer connected and loaded with paper. The offer is limited to one per person and creates a unique code on the coupon so you can only use it once.

INXS & Train Wrap Up A Day On The Green Concert Series

INXS, Train & the Models courtesy of INXS.com

by Cindy Robinson

INXS & Train are currently wrapping up their A Day On The Green summer concert tour of Australia which has become the most successful run of this concert series so far.

Original INXS members Kirk Pengilly, Garry Beers and brothers Tim, Jon & Andrew Farriss are currently promoting their latest offering, Original Sin, which features their own songs completely reworked and sung by a host of different international singers, including RockStar: INXS winner, J.D. Fortune, Train’s Pat Monahan and Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty.

INXS back with singer J.D. Fortune and Train are at the end of a 2 week concert run across Australia with Pat Monahan joining INXS on stage during their song, Beautiful Girl. The band with guest Pat Monahan recently stopped by the Sunrise Entertainment morning show in Australia to perform a moving rendition of Beautiful Girl live on TV.

INXS have a handful of international tour dates on their roster. Let’s hope we see more dates from this great live band as the northern hemisphere moves forward into their summer concert series.

• February 12 2011, All Saints Estate, Rutherglen, VIC, Australia             
• February 16 2011, Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina
• February 18 2011, Movistar Arena, Santiago de Chile, Chile
• February 20 2011, Iquique Summer Festival, Tierra de Campeones, Iquique, Chile
• March 02 2011, Sound Academy, Toronto, ON, Canada
• March 12 2011, Enlighten Festival, Commonwealth Place, Canberra, Australia

Train also have a long list of international tour dates ahead of them including stops in New Zealand, Mexico, Dubai, dates throughout South America and the USA. Full tour informati0n can be found on Train’s website.

INXS and Train have all signed a Fender electric guitar which is currently up for auction on eBay. It comes with a road case and a photograph of all the artists with the guitar to aid victims of the Australian floods. The auction runs through February 17th and can be viewed on eBay with full information also available on the INXS site.