Anna Kendrick Wearing The Technicolor Yawn
By Dolce & Gabbana
Yep it's that time of year where celebrities really let us know they are truly like us by wearing fugly ass Christmas Sweaters. Well Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect, Pitch Perfect 2) this hybrid sweater dress that you are sporting by Dolce & Gabbana really takes a piece of cake of the highest order. Both Dolce and Gabbanna should get a spanking from Santa Claus for this inexplicable design! Don't get me wrong, I love me some Kendrick! She is talented not to mention having a rapier wit on Twitter, and everywhere else she opens her mouth. Like the gem below for example:
But, Queen, please. What the Hello were you thinking by wearing this?! Were you in on the joke? Or did you think it was truly a lovely creation? Since this is the season of giving, my gift to Anna is forgiveness for wearing something that would get a pass if her Grandmother had knitted it. Keep Calm & Kendrick On! Anna on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnaKendrick47
For those of you who may not have heard of them, of which I am sure there are few, acappella super group Pentatonix has a new album coming out September 23rd, titled aptly enough PTX Volume 3.
With 6 million subscribers on YouTube and over 525 million views. 1.5 million Facebook followers and another 350 thousand who hang on their every Tweet PTX has taken over the world!
Here to talk all things Pentatonix is one fifth of the gang with the killer vocal abilities Mr. Scott Hoying! MS: Hey Scott! SH: Hey Michael how are you?! MS: Good, how were the Streamy Awards last night? SH: It was really fun! It was crazy! MS: Well you guys won, correct? SH: We did, we won in one category and lost in another. MS: You guys have an album coming out on September 23rd. SH: I can't believe it's already September, it's coming out this month. Everything keeps going and going and going. MS: Time flies. You have been traveling all over the world. Where is the last place you guys were at? SH: We were just in South East Asia and Australia. I just woke my roommate up because I was screaming into the phone. (laughs) It was so, so cool to be in those places. MS: So how does it feel to be worldwide?
SH: It's really surreal. It's something I've dreamed about my whole life. I've always wanted to go to Australia, my Dad lived there for seven years, and I've always wanted to go to Japan. It's really cool that we've had the opportunity to go there because of something that we love to do. I know it sounds cliche, but it really is a dream come true!
Mitch & Scott: Beyonce Says We''re "Flawless"
MS: People always say that, but it really isn't a cliche. It's a fair comment. SH: Completely. MS: By the way I know someone you know from Texas, Zachary Webber, I did a play with him. SH: Oh my God, yeah. MS: Yeah, when we were rehearsing I said something about PTX off hand and he said he went to school with you. SH: He's great Zach is so talented.
The Gangs All Here: PTX
MS: La La Latch is your latest single/video, I noticed all of the parts are balanced between the five of you in it. SH: It's so funny when we release a video, like, Mitch has a solo, or I have a solo, people say: when does someone else get to sing? With La La Latch, it's like, everyone is getting an opportunity to sing here. It's always really fun having a balance, the song is more dynamic and exciting when there is multiple people carrying it. MS: This is probably old news to you, but since I have not asked it, how was it having Beyonce calling Mitch and yourself "Flawless" on your mash-up of her songs? SH: Oh my gosh! It was really exciting! We were in the studio recording our cover of Happy and Kirstie wrote to Mitch: Did you see that Beyonce put on her Facebook page that you and Scott are "Flawless?" We were just beside ourselves, we were freaking out! We were already hyper in the recording srudio so that just added to it! It's on my Twitter bio since then: Beyonce called me "Flawless."
MS: I'd put it on there too! So who are some of your favorite divas? SH: Well, obviously, Beyonce is number one. I am also a really big fan of Ariana Grande. I'm not sure if anyone really considers her a pop queen because she is so young, but I am obsessed with her, I think she is going to be huge. I also love Rhiannaanything that's R&B/ Pop is my jones.
Scott & Shay Mitchell
MS: I saw a photo of you and Shay Mitchell online from one of my favorite TV showsPretty Little Liars are you a fan?
SH: .I've met her and a coupleof the other cast members and they're so so so sweet, but I have only seen bits and pieces of the show; I sadly never watch TV.
MS: You guys are going to be on Good Morning America on September 25th, is this your first time on it? SH: It will be our first time. We always get nervous when we are going to perform on live TV. MS: The audience you guys attract is a very wide demographic. SH: Yeah, we really attract a wide demographic of people, we attract older people who love the we are acapella. We have younger people who love our social media personalities. We also have choir nerds & music nerds who want to see something different. It's really cool and it's really fun! MS: I am a fan of your original song Run To You, anymore coming up? SH: There are a few, we do have one on the Christmas album. MS: What's it about, specifically, besides Christmas? (laughs) SH: It's about Santa and the song is really classic sounding. We all sing it together there is not really a soloist on it. It has a nostalgic feeling, from the time of my childhood. It's so cute. MS: Any parting words? SH: I am obsessed with our fans for always supporting us and I hope that they enjoy our new albums coming out this year. Go PTX at:
OK, it time for something silly, it's time for Midnight Red. Yes, they are a boy band and Yes I have a soft spot for Colton Rudloff one fifth of the band as I have interviewed him for Chorus and Verse and he has made an appearance on "Entertain Me" as well:
MIDNIGHT RΞD have reason to be ‘thankful’ this Holiday Season,. In celebration of Christmas, Joey, Thomas, Anthony, Eric and Colton are sending a Christmas and Holiday greeting to all their fans with the release of their latest music video “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays."
The song originally recorded by NSYNC, is destined to become a Midnight Red fan favorite as the boys are often referred by fans as NSYNC2.0. Filmed in a home setting, the five boys spread holiday cheer with friends, family, and a visit from Santa Claus and one of his elves. But is it a dream? Waking up in their footed pajamas, what did Santa bring them or did Santa come at all? Cut to the video and find out....Happy Monday!
Classically-trained, Broadway veteran, Natalie Toro brings her infectious energy,and powerhouse vocals, coupled with luscious tones to melt any heart with the, release of "Just In Time For Christmas"....
Yep this pretty much sums it up, this was my first encounter with the force of nature known as Natalie Toro and I must say, not only do I love her voice, I personally think she is da bomb!
The following is when Michael met Natalie, grab some Eggnog and raise a glass, Cheers!
NT: Hi Michael, it's Natalie Toro, how are you?
MS: Hey, want to hear something funny? I found out at the very last minute that you were on the web series "Child of the 70's" and I was watching an episode you are in, I know Michael Vaccaro (Actor/Creator/Writer of the show), I did a short film with him.
NT: Oh my God how funny! Did you see the Christmas dinner scene?
MS: Yes!
NT: We had the best time shooting that, Oh My God, it was during the summer, and here we are trying to get in the Christmas spirit in the middle of August in New York. (laughs) I've known Michael all my life.
MS: I watched the video for song "Just In Time For Christmas" five times before you called, very nice. Was that shot in August too? (laughs)
"Just In Time For Christmas"
NT: No, it wasn't shot in August, but it was very funny shooting it in Central Park with a hidden camera. People thought I was insane! (laughs) I had the little ear plug in my ear and my iPod in my pocket and I was singing to Jesus, yep it was just me in the middle of Central Park singing acapella while the video was being shot! (laughs)
MS: The video came out really great - hard to believe you shot it guerrilla style.
NT: You want to know something really funny, when you see the unedited footage before the song got put it in, I am underneath the big theater in Central Park, you know that dome theater? I'm wailing, the acoustics there are incredible! There were people watching and shooting video footage of this crazy lady in a coat, me, just singing at the top of her lungs to no music and you can hear this saxophone player playing "New York, New York" in the background, I was crying I was laughing so hard trying to focus on what I was doing!
MS: Vocally you are really simple, clean and direct, I love that!
NT: Thank you. I really tried to focus on getting away from my "Broadway Voice" on this album. I really wanted to find out who Natalie was, with the help of my producer, Dawn Makay she really worked with me, I mean I've always had a pure clean sound, but Broadway has a standard of what to do in a show, like using vibrato, also I tend to over pronounce everything because of the theater. With this album I really felt like a recording artist, I chewed up the mic I was very up close. A lot of my pure sounds were even more pure when I didn't add a vibrato.
MS: Great! For me personally I think a lot of artists over sing things just to show off.
Natalie & Frosty
NT: Also when you realize if you can't control your vibrato, and this is something I learned from Dawn, when someone has vibrato on every syllable of every word, it really takes you out of the song. It's not all about balls to the wall, it's about finding those moments, it's about what you are singing and the intimacy of it.
MS: "Just In Time For Christmas" is a great example of that.
NT: It's like a grand Disney song.
MS: That's a great way of putting it.
NT: Yeah, I hope Disney can hear it, hey I want that somewhere in a Disney movie! We even have a New Age song on the album "The Christmas Song" with an American Indian flute, so we really worked on that vocal purity and clarity, I mean if I am going to have an American Indian flute playing with me on a Christmas song I better have that same purity and clarity of what that flute represents. It's haunting and at the same time it's meditative, I mean you can't be meditative with someone's vibrato going "Ah ah ah ah ah" that's not meditative, that's like "go get a gun and kill me." (laughs)
MS: I agree, that's why I hate House Music.
NT: House Music is what you dance to when you are having a cocktail.
MS: Not even then I can't be near it.
NT: Yeah, I know I hate it too. (laughs) Hey Michael it might be our age! (laughs)
MS: All of your tracks on "Just In Time For Christmas" are clearly a labor of love for you, but is there any track in particular that resonates more than the others?
NT: My absolute favorite Christmas song is "Ave Maria/O'Holy Night" my idea for intertwining them is they are meeting on the same premise. "Ave Maria" is a prayer about the Holy Mother and her Child, and "O'Holy Night" is about the birth of the Child and I thought Oh My God, it made complete sense to put them together.
MS: Any new videos beside "Just In Time For Christmas" coming from the album?
NT: Yes, the video for "Baby It's Cold Outside" a duet I did with Ryan Kelly was just released.
"Where The Bears Are" is what they like to call in biz speak an Internet Phenom. IP for short. The season two premiere is coming at you, well, really soon - this Monday June 10th 2013!
Can I get a collective Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! In the house we have none other than Ben Zook aka "Nelson" and producer extraordinaire of the series. Oh and FYI I make an appearance on the the show this season. It's time to Zook out, with Ben!
MS: So Ben season deux of "Where The Bears Are" is coming up this Monday?
BZ: Monday, yes!
MS: It's also another murder mystery.
BZ: Yes, it's another murder mystery this season, yes the Bears find themselves involved in yet another murder. This one involves a friend of Reggie's who he went to college with, who is a politician, and he ends up getting shot. So The Bears have to figure out who shot him.
MS: Ahhhhhhhh, there's a formula here, do you think lightning will strike the second time?
BZ: I hope so! We realized, we have to have another murder. That's what drives the show really, a murder, looking around for clues, stumbling onto things and one clue leads to the next situation. The formula worked last season so we thought we should stick with it, that's what we know, zany comedy! (laughs)
Margaret Cho & The Bears
MS: You have someone I know, and obviously you know on the show this season, Margaret Cho.
BZ: I've known Margaret for years. We've known each other from playing clubs, gigs and stuff. She actually did an independent feature we were in together back in the 90's called "Can't Stop Dancing" which is about a bunch of lame Theme Park Dancers who move out to Hollywood to make it big. It didn't get distribution and is a cult thing. She and I were both in the dance troupe, so we wore spandex and stuff, and we've been friends ever since. She wanted to do the show last season, but ended up booking a movie, this season she was able to do it.
MS: It has something to do with dildos.
BZ: S&M, bondage, pretty raunchy. Well, this whole season is a lot raunchier than last season.
MS: It's funny when I did the photo blog from the set at The Faultline, Joe (Dietl, The Director & Ben's partner) thanked me for not giving anything away. I really could not tell what was going on anyway.
BZ: Yeah, I don't think anyone could really pick up much of what was happening. I don't even think we knew what was actually happening. (laughs)
MS: Only new character additions, that's what I could have figured out.
BZ: I believe you actually end up being seen on camera.
MS: Well there is one good scene where somebody cruised me and I cruised them back so maybe that's the scene that's in there.
BZ: Hmmmmmmmm, I think it might be....
MS: I saw that Cyril, the killer from last season returns for season deux.
BZ: Well Cyril does show up in the Christmas episode we shot for DVD as Santa Claus. So this season we sort of find out why he ended up at the Christmas Party, and what's going on with him. We're not really sure, is he, or isn't he out of prison, what's going on? Is he a figment of Nelson's imagination? So it's sort of a Mind Fuck, as to what the Hell is going on with Cyril. It's part of the mystery this season.
MS: From the looks of it, it seems like Nelson and "Hot Toddy" are having an open relationship.
BZ: You know what? In season two....I can't really reveal much. Our relationship definitely goes to a different level.
MS: Well I thought last season was really funny and I'm looking forward to the premiere of this one.
BZ: Well Thank You. We had a blast doing both seasons, and we're thrilled that people like the show.
MS: You also have Rick Copp on board who was one of the writer's of "The Golden Girls"
BZ: He wrote for the show at the age of twenty-four. He started writing for them in the sixth or seventh season.
MS: Isn't it weird that silly faux nude of Bea Arthur sold for 1.9 Million?
There are always a handful of TV shows I can never get enough of and, yeah I think you have guessed one of them already.
I just love, love and, yes, love "Pretty Little Liars"...!! So well written, plotted and acted, with clever references, verbally and visually to the master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock. The people behind this show know their stuff!
So, as a fan, I thought I would bring you my 10 favorite quotes from this season of "PLL" ....
Here is my number 1 favorite and the rest follow in no particular order, let's rock this!
1) Hanna - "There's a downside to being too smart" 2) Spencer: Why do you even bother coming to church?
Ali: I like to cover my bets.
3) Mona: And who's looking cray-cray now, Spencer?
4) Spencer: Is she "Saint Ali" now? Are her bones holy relics or something?
Aria & Spencer, Chillin'
5) Aria: I wake up every morning with the intention of telling him, and then I go to sleep every night feeling guilty that I didn't.
Hanna: At least you have your afternoons free.
6) Aria: "Unable are the loved to die for love is immortality."
Hanna: That's creepy.
Aria: It's Emily Dickinson.
Hanna: I don't care if it's Santa Claus, considered me creeped.
7) Mona: Fear cuts deeper than a sword.
8) Hanna: I always hated biology. I mean who cares how a cell divides, it just does.
Look it's Mona aka Satan in Disguise
9) Andrew Campbell: Put on your Hastings face and spank her tomorrow night like I know you can. 10) Aria: Playing dress up for your man on Halloween is one thing. You do it any other night, you end up on an afternoon talk show.
Can't wait for the Season 4 premiere on June 11th!
It's Christmas Eve time for a song for the Holiday Season. Oh Holy Night Batman! On this evening before the day, comes Apollo Run with their cover of Mariah Carey's "Oh Santa" !
Since I am not familiar with the original version (I am an AMCAAC's type of guy) Translation: Avoid Mariah Carey At All Costs. This is quite "entertain"ing and you can see the fun poked at Ms. Carey in it. Hey "Entertain Me" is the name of the blog and that's what I aim to do.
Here at "Entertain Me" we like to celebrate the Holidays some....OK, a lot, so in the tradition of the seasonal posts, Sandy Zacky's "White Christmas," Mike Clifford's "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" & 10 Silly Holiday Questions: Winter Wonderette's ..."Entertain Me" is happy to lay another Holiday celebration on you, oh yeah!
That's right, it's time to "Have Yourself A "Meaty" Little Christmas" with Mr. Meatballs....Woot!
Well here is a blast from the season 1 past, a warm Holiday treat titled: "Tiny Tim Needs Help".
It has everything you love about the season, Wheel Chairs, Charles Dickens References, Santa, Hanukkah & most importantly, MEATBALLS...stick a fork in em, and you're done...!
