Entertainment Today - Media Influence since 1967

Saturn Awards �09 Winners

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:19:28 +0100

At the 35th annual Saturn Awards ceremony, a well deserved Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Leonard Nimoy for his five decades in film and TV. The Star Trek icon delighted the crowd of industry giants and fans by ending his heartfelt acceptance speech by saying “Live long and prosper,” and giving his signatory split-finger hand gesture.

DVD Reviews � July 5th, 2009

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:17:32 +0100

Here’s the deal with Lost: It had better turn out well. This writer has been figuratively locked in a dark room for the majority of the last two weeks, reliving Lost: The Complete First Season and Lost: The Complete Second Season, and the results have been – well, they’ve been addicted. It’s been a while since I’ve stayed up too late soooo many times in a work week, because ifLost knows anything, it’s how to keep their viewers engaged. Every episode on these disc ends with a wonderful cliffhanger – it’s enough to keep you watching for hours and hours…

�A-List� Red Carpet & Gift Lounge

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 10:18:28 +0100

At Red Carpet events in Hollywood, watching celebrities grab the spotlight is fun. You can spot trends and take note of the latest must-haves thanks to these over-the-top occasions. Recently the Bravo Channel brought viewers an irreverent night of celebrating fashion, design, beauty and pop culture with its second annual A-List Awards.

Best of Palm Springs Short Film Fest �09

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 10:10:41 +0100

The 2009 version of the Palm Springs International ShortFest and Short Film Market is concluded and, as the largest festival of its kind in North America, press more easily can navigate the 315 films via not only the programs at the Camelot Theatres multiplex but their film library, abuzz each day with buyers, filmmakers and press.

The Procession of Mollusks

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 10:01:45 +0100

Eric E. Olson’s novel The Procession of Mollusks begins with a quote from Ween’s The Mollusk. For those not initiated into the mindmeld fuzz-pop euphoria of the legendary underground band, being on the wavelength with a great Ween album is like either being part of the best inside joke you’ve ever heard or realizing that the inside joke isn’t even a joke at all

Shangri-La is Really Cooking!

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 09:46:20 +0100

Hotel Shangri-La, Santa Monica’s iconic architectural gem, has opened its first restaurant, The Dining Room . Owned by veteran restaurateur and nightlife impresario, Marc Smith, who also designed the 71-room hotel, has put in their first restaurant, sort of American with a California fresh feel. This ocean front restaurant will be the place to be seen while enjoying the cuisine of one of the West coast’s top chefs.

Aberlin, Drums of Death, and FAR

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:50:38 +0100

Back in my touring days, bands and fans would always ask if I’ve heard of this band or that, most of the time I had no clue who these bands were they were speaking of. In time I began to notice that one particular band was mentioned more than any others – Anberlin. I decided to get their cd and pop it on my ipod while I was wandering around Reno, Nevada.

Hollywood Beat, June 18th

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:07:55 +0100

The name Mancini is synonymous with Music – and Ginny Mancini (widow of famed composer Henry Mancini) established the Society of Singers to assist singers in financial need. They also provide scholarships to aspiring performers in the music industry.

11th CineVegas Film Festival Quick Report

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 04:56:10 +0100

In Las Vegas, we just wrapped Dennis Hopper’s 11th Annual CineVegas Film Festival, the ultimate, the alternate and the best partying film festival in the world - the additional must-to-check annual event in Las Vegas for both filmmakers and party goers who likes independent films

DVD Reviews � June 13, 2009

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 14:24:38 +0100

When Peyton Place was first on the air, it was broadcast twice a week with no repeats (!), so it goes without saying that there’s a whole lotta Peyton Place for those who are interested. That being said, though, Peyton Place: Part One (2.5, Shout! Factory) is way more valuable as a cultural curio than it is as contemporary entertainment.

MTV Movie Awards Party by GBK

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:04:13 +0100

The 2009 MTV Movie Awards showed that hot-blooded Hollywood, and all the fans who voted, were over the moon for Twilight. The Gothic romance vampire saga won Best Movie, also Favorite Male Breakthrough Performance for Twilight heartthrob Robert Pattinson, and Female Performance for his leading lady Kristen Stewart. The sizzling duo also got the Best Kiss award. And the cinematic battle between Pattinson and Cam Gigandet was deemed the Favorite Fight scene.

A Skylit Drive, Adelphia

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:14:09 +0100

I first heard of A Skylit Drive when I was visiting my friends in Chiodos on their recent stint. I had a very surreal moment – we were all chatting and reminiscing when suddenly I saw my old friend Mikayla (MJ) from Australia. Turns out she’s a tour manager, and then suddenly I saw Michael whom I had met 4 years prior when I was back in the OC.

GSN�s First Game Show Awards

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:50:07 +0100

Celebrities love to play games. That’s why so many of them showed up to enjoy the very first Game Show Awards for GSN, the Game Show Network (premiered on June 6). Who had the endurance for the marathon two and a half hour telecast? A lot of famous game show hosts and players including Jeff Foxworthy and his pint-size troop of smarty-pants kids from Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader? Plus, Alex Trebek, Meatloaf, Brooke Burns, Alison Sweeney, Nicole Sullivan, Carnie Wilson, Richard Karn, Alfonso Ribeiro, Alan Thicke, Kate Flannery, George Wallace, Fred Roggin, Fred Willard, dynamo entertainer Charo and Jeopardy wiz Ken Jennings.

Hollywood Beat, June 5th

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 04:16:12 +0100

Despite her recent bout with Breast Cancer surgery, Christina Applegate has not let any grass grown between her feet. She graced the cover of People Magazine’s Most Beautiful People, and that wasn’t easy running against such forerunners as Cindy Crawford, Angelina Jolie and Michelle Obama!

Dining at The Century Plaza Hotel

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 03:58:25 +0100

Bravo for an evening of dining at the Century Plaza Hotel surrounded in lushly simple friendly décor, spaciously comfortable, with large booths and beautifully upholstered banquettes. The tables are smartly set with crisp linens and candlelight bouncing off pale green glass settings. Everything is part of an accompaniment to something else, such as plates that complement the foods, and waiters in black aprons, adding drama to the reddish tan and beige blended room.

June CD Review

Sat, 23 May 2009 14:49:47 +0100

Why are all the good bands nowadays from other countries? Maximo Park, Mew, the Sounds, and Disco Ensemble (…and Sonata Arctica) have been in regular rotation in my car and at home for months. I don’t think I’ve listened to a single recent release by a “local” band, aside from Swashbuckle but that’s for merely camp value.

Hollywood Beat, May 18th, 2009

Mon, 18 May 2009 06:21:23 +0100

Talent agent Hylda Queally sure has a lot of famous friends. When she was recently honored at the Oscar Wilde Awards at the Ebell Theatre, her clients, including Frieda Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire), French actress,Marion Cotillard, Rose Byrne (Damages) and Academy Award winning actress Kate Winslet were on hand to wish her well. Winslet was very excited about paying tribute to her agent for 16 years.

DVD REVIEWS - May 15, 2009

Fri, 15 May 2009 08:29:48 +0100

There’s a pedigree to The Paper Chase that sets it apart from typical TV dramas of its age, but in the land of boob tubes, savvy intelligence only gets you so far: The Paper Chase: Season One(2.5 , Shout! Factory) is one of those DVD box sets that is as noble as it is stuffy, as admirable as it is compromised. The tentpole of the series is John Houseman, who brings his background as a founding member of the Mercury Theatre to his performance as a curmudgeonly college professor with a heart of gold

Down the California Coast

Fri, 15 May 2009 07:45:04 +0100

California’s coast between San Francisco and Los Angeles is one of the most dramatic seaside drives on the continent. Business folks make the one hour flight, with hardly a glance at the ocean. Harried travelers blast up and down the state’s freeway spine, also known as the 5 and catch only a glimpse of the wonders closer to the coast. Our decision was to scoot up the 5 from Los Angeles and spend a week moseying south along the coast. Our daughters (ages 8 and 10) would be a barometer of coolness. Fortunately, we were seeing and doing cool things most of the trip.

The Jonas Brothers New Series

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 01:48:20 +0100

Music sensations the Jonas Brothers have a new series (May 2 premier) on the Disney Channel. Simply called JONAS, it’s a super-charming comedy that has Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas playing the fictional Lucas Brothers who are rock and roll superstars trying to deal with the pressure of the business.

Everybody Loves Lawry�s

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:51:56 +0100

Lawry’s Carvery will be opening in Downtown Los Angeles’s Live sports and entertainment complex. Before or after a game, concert or movie, treat yourself to their delicious hand-carved sandwiches, hearty platter meals, salads and soup. You can enjoy your meal or snack in the dining room or on the siewalk patio, (perfect for people watching). Like the original Lawry’s Carvery in Costa Mesa, also South Coast Plaza and Lawry’s Carvery at Westfield Century City, the newest member is a quick casual restaurant inspired by the popular Ale Sandwich bars at the Tam O’Shanter and Lawry’s The Prime Rib in Chicago, Dallas and Las Vegas.

Coachella 2009 Complete Review

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:24:58 +0100

The economy has worked its Darwinian effect on the global festival scene. Gatherings across Europe and the US are being postponed, cancelled or reconfigured. The invisible hand of the marketplace has seemingly touched Coachella in only subtle ways. As the lead festival of the season, Coachella is a bellwether. Layaway plans let attendees smooth payments over time (while garnering steady interest for Goldenvoice, the festival's promoter).

Spring Film Round-up

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:59:15 +0100

Brad brings you hi spring film reviews of Throw Down Your Heart, Adoration, Sleep Dealer, and Hunger

Celebrities & Stouffers help feed families

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:45:39 +0100

Celebrities appeared at the world famous Magic Castle in Hollywood for a special event that was trying to make hunger disappear. Melanie Segal’s Celebrity Gift Lounge was presented by Stouffers, the delicious food company, which pledged to “Feed LA for the Day” by donating funds to pay for about 70,000 meals for needy families through the LA Food Bank.

PRINCE: Around L.A. in a Day

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:16:50 +0100

The prodigy from Minnesota is known for his cleverness, both onstage and off. In terms of tweaking the standard process of the record business, he may be more King than Prince. After Warner Music launched and sustained his meteoric career, Prince went about with ‘slave’ on his cheek in protest. He tried to change his name to get out of his recording contract (even though part of his deal made him a VP of the company).

DVD REVIEWS - APR 22, 2009

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:24:19 +0100

t still slays me that a show like South Park that goes out of its way to have low-to-the-ground animation looks so damned great – especially on this South Park: The Complete Twelfth SeasonBlu-ray Disc box set (Paramount).

Deer Valley - Consistently Satisfying Skiing

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 17:10:40 +0100

Having lived in Southern California for three decades, I am nearly a native. And I have been a fan of California skiing for all those years. Whether Tahoe or Mammoth or Big Bear, I figured California skiing can’t be beat. But I have strayed recently, and I am becoming a fan of skiing in Utah. And lately, Deer Valley has me hooked.

Fun at Buca di Beppo

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 16:52:09 +0100

Buca di Beppo opened its doors in Santa Monica nine years ago and the crowds came. Although it's furnished like a one‑of‑a‑kind restaurant, Buca is a collection of neighborhood places that have created an atmosphere of shark‑frenzy. It’s tongue‑in‑cheek humor and portions of food that could feed the entire old neighborhood in the Southern part of Italy.

Spinal Tap: Unwigged and Unplugged

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:30:05 +0100

Twenty five years after their iconic spoof set the standard for rockumentaries AND mockumentaries, the trio known as Spinal Tap is making the circuit in a less hirsute and less bombastic manner. They will open for themselves, as The Folksmen, pulling songs from A Mighty Wind, another superb mockumentary.

RAIN: A Tribute to the Beatles

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 05:15:15 +0100

“Dad, what are The Beatles?” How do you capture all the nuances of that answer? First, always first, is the music. After the CDs, a viable place to start is a decent tribute band. I have yet to do the research, but it is a safe bet that The Beatles have left in their wake more tribute bands than any other. RAIN ranks right up there.

"The Housewife" as Potential Show Biz...

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 05:32:28 +0100

If you pay attention to the house music before the beginning of the musical comedy, It’s the Housewives, you will clearly hear a polished parody of Pete Townshend of The Who’s rock opera, Tommy. The music is played by Laurence Juber and his wife, Hope, updates the lyrics to fit the domestic frivolity about to come. Townshend had poor Tommy lose the power of speech and hearing after his father killed his mother, prompting a psychiatrist to sing, “He seems to be completely unreceptive/The tests I gave him show no sense at all

Picnic

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 03:51:09 +0100

It’s a hot and sweltering day in 1953 Kansas and the whole town is looking forward to the annual Labor Day picnic. Kids racing to the lake, swinging back and forth on a tire while the adults try to find comfortable places to sit and eat all that delicious barbeque and potato salad and drink as much icy lemonade without getting sick from too much enjoyment. It’s a typical day until drifter Hal Carter (Allen Cutler) comes blowing in from God knows where and without meaning too, disrupts the lives of the women in town, which affects their life.

A Little More Wokcano Please

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 03:29:33 +0100

The food is great tasting Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Thai, along with fun cocktails! This place is intimately boutique and really takes you to another land through their décor. I enjoyed dining under a grassy roofed thatch hut while sitting in the banquette section. There are ceiling lights reflecting on interesting art, and the walls of brown are combined with straw-grass, matching padded dark woods. The most unusual chandeliers hang over the beautiful display of sushi.

DVD Reviews, March 16

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 20:14:57 +0100

The film may have been released before the early-90s renaissance of Disney animation, but the new Oliver Company: 20th Anniversary Edition (Buena Vista) is nevertheless a fine DVD package. It may pale in comparison to the company’s new advents on Blu-ray Disc (if you haven’t purchased your Sleeping BeautyBD yet, it’s time)

New Tanzore & Gaylord Indian Restaurant

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:54:39 +0100

Tanzore, formally the Gaylord Indian Restaurant, brings fine dining to a new level. It's been recommended by the Michelin Guide, and rated Extraordinary to Perfection by Zagat, also wins Architectural Award for best restaurant design, and Best new restaurant by City search. Then there's Angelino Magazine naming them one of the best 50 Restaurats in LA. This is Fine Indian Dining at a New Level.

Sundance 2009 � Complete Film Coverage

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 10:19:57 +0100

The big news at Sundance was the economy. Buyers were cautious with their wallets, and many films are still awaiting a sale. But as always, there were myriad gems being screened and at least one well-named stinker.

Minsky�s � World Premiere

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 10:05:54 +0100

The opening number of a musical literally sets the stage for the rest of the production. The ideal opening number is a snapshot that grabs you, previews what is to come and leaves you hungry for more. One of the best opening numbers in musical theatre is Kiss Me Kate’s Another Op'nin', Another Show.

2009 Palm Springs Int'l Film Festival

Sat, 07 Feb 2009 04:39:42 +0100

One wonders how much bigger the Palm Springs International Film Festival can get. Unlike our economy, it seems to grow and prosper every year, and the 2009 version sported 208 films from 73 countries and set, once again, records for attendance and box office. Among the Oscar-winning and –nominated celebrities who were honored at the Gala were director Ron Howard and Sean Penn, an odds-on favorite for the lead role he played in Milk.

Orbit In, Palm Springs

Sat, 07 Feb 2009 04:29:02 +0100

When Kevin Miller and Jinny Park first stayed at the Orbit In, the first of various mid-century modern properties in Palm Springs, they saw a shooting star flame across the desert’s night sky. They made wishes, individually, and did not tell each other what their wishes were.

DVD REVIEW - Feb 7, 2009

Sat, 07 Feb 2009 01:24:05 +0100

This round of catalog Blu-ray Disc releases from Paramount are fairly disappointing, and not just because this writer doesn’t necessarily think any of them are decidedly grand films. In fact, I have no problem saying that the worst flicks in this bunch (the odious and so-dumb-it-hurts Event Horizon and the sweet but misguided Last Holiday) looks and sounds the best.