Nyle & Peta For The Mirror Ball

Nyle, Never Fear Peta Is Here!

Although I do not watch Dancing With The Stars with rapt attention, I do follow it enough to be aware of what is happening on the celebrity dance off.

Well no real surprise America's Next Top Model winner Nyle DiMarco and his dance partner Peta Murgatroyd have made it to the finals and are competing against some other people that really don't stand a chance against them.

Yes, Nyle and Peta will win the Mirror Ball Trophy and deserve to. Some may think Nyle being deaf is getting him sympathy votes. While I agree his being deaf is part of the reason he will win, it is also part of the reason he should win.

Not only does Nyle not dance like someone who does not have the ability to hear, he dances like a pro. He has also performed dances that remind us of his disability as well, even brought us into his world with a dance to no music. Last night he danced blindfolded.

DiMarco is a superstar on the dance floor who could have been content to turn in functional performances and still have gotten this far. Instead he gives us excellence like no other while all the time reminding the audience where that desire to push and exceed boundaries comes from without any cloying sentimentality.

These two will, and deserve to win! To the other contestants in the finale? Enjoy the ride.

Go "Dancing" at:
https://www.facebook.com/dancingwiththestars/

Money Monster: Cannes, Cannes, Cannes

l-r Amal, George, Julia & Jodie
in Cannes

In case you have been distracted by other things the 2016 Cannes Film Festival has been happening and a movie with the title Money Monster played it and opened this past Friday.

No,I have yet to see it. Yes, it is on my list of films to do. Hey it stars George Clooney & Julia Roberts with Jodie Foster at the helm. Yeah, that puts it in "must see" territory for me.

So, I said to myself: Let's kick off the post Friday the 13th weekend with a really hot image of the trio and Clooney's catch of a wife Amal to start Monday the 16th off on a too cool note.

According to my favorite film buff Erik Rimmer: 

"Money Monster was a great film. I loved it. Tight direction and very suspenseful . Julia Roberts and George Clooney were fantastic." 

Bask, it's Monday. Enjoy your week!!!

Money Monster on IMDB: 
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2241351/?ref_=nv_sr_1

A Holiday Double Shot Of Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton
The Gift That Keeps On Giving

Didn't get enough of Dolly Parton last Christmas?

Well she is famous for things that come in pairs...

Coming off the phenomenal performance of last year’s holiday special and looking to recapture the enthusiasm of the nearly 16 million viewers who tuned in, NBC is announcing the sequel “Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love.”

“Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love” is the next chapter in the life of young Dolly Parton. The film delivers Christmas joy and peril as an unexpected blizzard threatens the Parton family, while at the same time Dolly’s father (and his kids) make sacrifices to raise enough money to finally buy his loving wife the wedding ring he could never afford to give her. Meanwhile, an important person in little Dolly’s life begins to see that her amazing voice and musical gift might just be made for something bigger than rural Tennessee.

The original cast will return for the sequel: Jennifer Nettles as Avie Lee Parton, Ricky Schroder as Robert Lee Parton, Gerald McRaney as Rev. Jake Owens and Alyvia Alyn Lind as young Dolly Parton. Other members of the cast, as well as a premiere date, will be announced in the coming months.

Stephen Herek, who directed the original film, is also back to direct the sequel.

“It’s no secret that everyone loves Dolly Parton and the response to our first movie was overwhelming, both in terms of the size of the audience and outpouring of love for a film with family values and faith,” said Robert Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment. “So it felt like a no-brainer to bring this talented cast back together and tell another compelling holiday story culled from Dolly’s own life growing up in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Her spirit and belief in God — and her music — will infuse this movie with the true spirit of Dolly Parton.”

“I was so overwhelmed and touched by how many people watched ‘Coat of Many Colors’ and their reaction to it,” Parton said. “The song ‘Coat of Many Colors,’ of course, has always been my favorite and has touched so many people through the years, especially me. It is a true story from a very special time in my childhood. I am so happy to share this story with the viewers and to say there is so much more to tell because mine truly has been a life of many colors. I hope the viewers will fall in love all over again.”

In L+7 results from Nielsen Media Research, the Dec. 10 telecast of “Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors” generated a 2.45 rating in adults 18-49 and 15.9 million viewers overall, making it the most-watched film on broadcast or cable in nearly seven years. The film’s increases from live plus same day to L+7 Nielsens are the largest L+7 time-shifted increase ever for a primetime movie on the broadcast networks.

“Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love” is written by Pamela K. Long. She executive produces with Sam Haskell and Dolly Parton. The film is a production of Magnolia Hill Entertainment and Dixie Pixie Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television.

To follow Dolly Parton online, go to:

www.dollypartonentertainment.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/DollyParton
Instagram: Instagram.com/DollyParton
Twitter: Twitter.com/DollyParton
Tumblr: OfficialDollyParton.tumblr.com
Google+: Plus.Google.com/+DollyParton

Go Indie, Or Go Home! "Southlander"

Are you a "Southlander" ?!?! Find out...

Chance (Rory Cochrane, CSI Miami), a hapless LA Musician, has found his ticket to fame, fortune and romance with the coveted keyboard, the 69' Moletron, which got him the gig and the girl (Beth Orton). But now the Moletron is missing, and Chance must reclaim it by working his way through The Southlander, the ultimate buy/sell classified paper for musicians in Southern California. 

Along the way, Chance and his pal Ross Angeles (Ross Harris, Airplane!) stumble upon the unstable defunct Funk star Motherchild (Lawrence Hilton Jacobs III, Welcome Back, Kotter) and his toadie (Richard Edson, Do the Right Thing), Beck's ramshackle recording trailer, a ruthless junkyard cowboy (Hank III) and his mechanical dinosaur (Robosaurus), an eccentric millionaire's Bacchanalian party, a clairvoyant goddess (Laura Prepon, That 70s Show), and intergalactic Jazz Egyptians (Billy Higgins).

With music performances by Beck, Beth Orton, Hank Williams III, Union 13, and Billy Higgins, plus cameos from Laura Prepon, Ione Sky and Elliott Smith, Southlander is a comically uncanny rock & roll party adventure by critically acclaimed director Steven Hanft. 

Hanft has directed over 70 music videos including Beck's "Loser" and "Where It's At" and more recently, projects for Ariel Pink, Carmen Electra, Prince Jazzbo, and Richie Ramone. Southlander, Hanft's second feature film, is based on true stories he heard of friends who used the SoCal paper to buy/sell/trade instruments. He also produced and starred in the Cannes Film Festival award winning short film "Sunglass Catch" rated by Business Insider as the 4th most important YouTube video ever.

Features include Deleted Scenes, Uncut Performances, Director's Commentary, Music Videos, Bonus Audio, Photo Gallery, and Theatrical Trailer.

Pre-order at the MVD Shop or on Amazon

FBF: Welcome To Camp Crystal Lake...

"Kill her, Mommy! Kill her! Don't let her get away, Mommy! Don't let her live!"

- Pamela Voorhees

Since I participated in Throwback Thursday yesterday, because, well it was Thursday, duh, I thought I would take the opportunity to engage in Flashback Friday, ya know, since it's Friday the 13th after all.

Think back to the year 1980 when the original Friday the 13th movie was released at the height of the slasher film craze. At what point was that in your life? Me? I was a Freshman in High School, be nice now. 

I was too young to get in to see it solo and no one would take me. So I had to wait for home video. What I do remember was it upped the ante in terms of graphic killings on screen. 

The story of  doomed counselors at the now legendary Camp Crystal Lake aka Camp Blood had critics recoiling and audiences shrieking!

Everyone in school who had been able to see it was a buzz about it describing the bloody deaths of the camp staff with a perverse glee.

When I finally got around to seeing it, the horror movie that raised the bar had been surpassed by others post it.

The original Friday the 13th is now considered a horror classic because of it's influence on the genre. Something I know at the time was never contemplated of happening.

It remains one of my favorites of a specific place and time in cinema, because, in case you haven't guessed it "Yes"I love a good scare...Boo! Happy Friday the 13th!

Check out the trailer for the original Friday the 13th after the jump!

The Original on IMDB: 
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080761/  

TBT: She's Sharon Stone, Bitch

Sharon Stone
The High School Years

It's Throwback Thursday peeps! Yay, Yahoo, Yippy Skippy and all that noise!!!

So I thought for it I would honor one of my favorite actresses by posting her High School yearbook photo: Sharon Stone.

As you can see Sharon has always been a beauty. Not only that, she has brains, a wicked sense of humor, not to mention some razor sharp basic instincts.

What's not to love about her?

Apparently she has problems with men approaching her for dates, I guess straight guys find her intimidating. 

So, she joined forces with funnyman James Corden for a rap video that brilliantly roasts her image, yet provides proof that Sharon has still got it at age 58!

Madonna could take some lessons from Stone on how to remain hot & sexy while aging gracefully.

Check out the video after the jump!

Sharon on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/sharonstone

We Are Part Of A "Rhythm Planet"

Angel City Chorale
Photo: Danny Moloshok

"People of the world today, Are we looking for a better way of life

We are a part of the rhythm nation" - Rhythm Nation, Janet Jackson

Angel City Chorale (ACC), the acclaimed Los Angeles choir led by Artistic Director Sue Fink, will present Rhythm Planet, the first weekend in June, featuring the music of two-time Grammy-winning composer Christopher Tin and other world beats. A stunning musical journey that traverses the globe, Rhythm Planet celebrates both our diversity the humanity that unites us all. ACC’s 150+ voices, its orchestra, and a rhythm section playing percussion instruments from around the world will combine to create an exhilarating and joyous celebration of Earth's rich cultures and beauty. A concert highlight will include 

ACC’s version of Toto’s “Africa,” (almost 3 million YouTube views). Special guest Tin will also conduct a portion of the concert with Fi nk. The family-friendly Rhythm Planet world music concerts will take place at Wilshire United Methodist Church in Los Angeles over two very special nights on Saturday, June 4, and Sunday, June 5, 2016. The performances start at 7:00pm and include a 15-minute intermission; a dessert reception follows each performance. For additional information on ACC, please visit http://angelcitychorale.org/concerts-events/rhythm-planet-concert.

Tickets for ACC’s annual spring concerts are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. Children’s tickets (ages 5-12) are $22 and seniors are $27 (both in advance and at the door). Preferred front-of-house seating may be reserved online for $50 in advance and $55 at the door; children’s preferred tickets are $42/$47; and seniors’ preferred seats are $47/52. VIP tickets (all categories) are $75. Advance tickets are available via the ACC website or by calling 310-943-9231. Online ticket sales close at 10:00pm on the day prior to each show. Same day tickets may be purchased at the door. Wilshire United Methodist Church is located at 4350 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010 (between Highland Ave. and Wilton Pl.; map). Free parking is available in the venue’s small parking lot and on neighborhood streets. Early arrival is strongly encouraged.

“At our spring concerts this year, we will create a cinematic soundtrack that scales Earth's mountains, traverses her rivers, revels in her dawns and sunsets, and reaches to the stars,” says ACC’s Fink.

Rhythm Planet –

Rhythm Planet will take audiences on a stunning musical journey that traverses the globe. Featuring the music of Christopher Tin and other world beats, ACC’s 150-member choir and 34-piece orchestra will present a vibrant celebration of cultural diversity as well as the common ground that unites humanity. Selections from Tin’s world-bending masterpieces, Calling All Dawns and The Drop That Contained the Sea will be featured. The Drop That Contained the Sea depicts global visions of water, from the snows of Mongolia to the rains of Africa. Calling All Dawns celebrates the circle of life in 12 languages.

Pieces by Aaron Copland, Moses Hogan and Ēriks Ešenvalds will also be performed. In an unforgettable moment in store for audiences, a field of sonic stars will surround concert guests as percussion from crystal glasses unites with the majesty of human voices joined in harmony.  

Links –

• Angel City Chorale - http://www.angelcitychorale.org

• Tickets - http://angelcitychorale.org/concerts-events/rhythm-planet-concert

• Angel City Chorale on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/AngelCityChorale

• Rhythm Planet FB Event Page - https://www.facebook.com/events/796527613817032

• Angel City Chorale on YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/user/AngelCityChorale

• Angel City Chorale on Twitter - https://twitter.com/AngelCityChoral

• Angel City Chorale on SoundCloud - https://soundcloud.com/angelcitychorale