China’s Huading Awards in Los Angeles Draws Johnny Depp, Bryce Dallas Howard

Johnny Depp, Mel Gibson, Wiz Khalifa, Bryce Dallas Howard, Hilary Swank and Sylvester Stallone are among the Hollywood stars set to take part in Los Angeles’ latest addition to awards season.

The actors are set to attend China’s Huading Awards, to be held at L.A.’s Ace Hotel on Thursday. But before awards analysts start wondering whether they have to factor an odd-ball variable into their Oscars prediction formulas, it’s worth noting the Chinese award show’s unique history and content.

Mel Gibson

The Huading Awards dishes out honors to talent from all fields of entertainment, from stage theater to film, pop music to TV, and even traditional Chinese opera. The film categories, crucially, hand out honors to movies from the year prior, so titles like The Martian, Fast & Furious 7 and Avengers: Age of Ultron are among the nominees in the show’s best global picture category this year (nominations tend to have a populist bent). No word if Robert Downey Jr or any of the other Avengers are slated to attend at press time.

The Huading Awards were founded in 2007 by Chinese entertainment company Tianxia Yingcai Cultural Media. Nominees are selected by committee and the winners are chosen by popular vote over the award show’s website and other Chinese internet portals.

Unlike other awards ceremonies, the location of the Huading Awards is not fixed; previous editions have been held in Macau, Hong Kong and Mainland China. The awards honor stars from around the world and previous winners include Nicolas Cage, Nicole Kidman, Jeremy Irons, Quentin Tarantino, Halle Berry and Chris Hemsworth.

 

Johnny Depp and Chester Bennington to Support Rhonda’s Kiss in Los Angeles

Image courtesy of Rhonda’s Kiss

On Thursday, November 3rd, the historic El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles will host the 2nd annual Rhonda’s Kiss benefit show. Actor Johnny Depp will be presented with the Healing and Hope Award.

The Hellcat Saints (featuring Jane’s Addictions Dave Navarro, Juliette Lewis and Mark McGrath from Sugar Ray) with special guest singer, Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington will kick off the night followed by headliners Weezer.

Proceeds from Rhonda’s Kiss Los Angeles to benefit the Cedars-Sinai Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute and further the mission of Rhonda’s Kiss, supporting programs to aid cancer patients in need, and helping those who receive a cancer diagnosis make ends meet during treatment. Rhonda’s Kiss is a 501 (c)(3). To date, the charity has donated more than $750,000 to hospitals to support cancer programs and patients.

The event will also auction off Rhonda’s Kiss honoree, Johnny Depp’s signature Duesenberg Guitar, designed with Johnny’s tattoo art. You can check Rhonda’s Kiss for any last-minute tickets that may open up for the show or if you simply wish to give to a great charity supporting cancer patients in their time of need please click here to support them.

Rolling Stones to Offer a Few More $85 Seats

After whipping Los Angeles into a frenzy over the weekend by playing a “surprise” club show at the Echoplex on Saturday, today the Rolling Stones announced that a small number of the hard to come by $85 tickets may become available for some venues after production sets up the show. If you are interested in trying to obtain these tickets, which are only available in pairs and must be picked up in person with a valid I.D., register here to be notified if any become available.

For those of us who couldn’t get into Saturday’s show, take a look at Getty Images Photographer Kevin Mazur’s coverage of the rare club gig here. Celebrity guests in attendance included Johnny Depp, No Doubt’s Gwen Stefani, Bruce Willis, Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen and star of the CBS hit show, NCIS, actor Mark Harmon.

The Stones kick off their 50 & Counting Tour this Friday, May 3rd at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Saturday night’s setlist included the following songs. I’m sure fans of the band can expect to hear these along with many other great songs rotated into the set as the tour gets under way. The only special guest the band have confirmed to date is guitarist Mick Taylor.

You Got Me Rocking
Respectable
She’s So Cold
Live With Me
Street Fighting Man
That’s How Strong My Love Is
Little Queenie
Just My Imagination
Miss You
Love In Vain (with Mick Taylor)
Midnight Rambler (with Mick Taylor)
Start Me Up

ENCORE
Brown Sugar
Jumpin’ Jack Flash

Grrr! is available now via the Rolling Stones store in a variety of formats including the standard, deluxe and super deluxe editions, t-shirts and digitally via iTunes for those who need immediate “Satisfaction”. Check for concert tickets for your city here