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Rihanna was the host of the Pepsi Refresh Project Kickoff Party at LIV nightclub at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach on Friday night, celebrating a program that will award over million in grants to for help communities in education, health, and food & shelter. But with the Super Bowl XLIV in town, a slew of celebrities and NFL players were at the event, including Saints player Kyle Eckel and the aforementioned superstar host, who threw her support behind the New Orleans team. “You know they’re both really great teams, but I’m rooting for the Saints,” Rihanna said. “But who knows? We’ll see.” Along with hosting the event, Rihanna is also joining the philanthropical effort with the help of her Believe Foundation, which works to provide educational, financial, and medical support to children in need. She’s also worked closely with Hope For Haiti Now. |
Archive for February 7th, 2010
Rihanna, Joel Madden Throw Support Behind The New Orleans Saints At Super Bowl Pepsi Refresh Kickoff Party-
Taylor Lautner Toys With New Movie Roles-
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Actor Taylor Lautner’s latest role will be a bit of a stretch. Actually, it will be a total stretch. The “New Moon” 17-year-old recently signed a deal with Universal Pictures to play a live action version of the iconic toy Stretch Armstrong. Universal Pictures co-chairman Donna Langley originally made a statement about the casting move to “Access Hollywood.” “In the past two years, Taylor has emerged as a real star at the global box office,” Langley said. “He brings the perfect balance of energy and athleticism to the role of an unlikely super hero with a fantastic super power. We couldn’t be more pleased that he has agreed to be our Stretch.” |
Football Player Warren Sapp Arrested On Domestic Battery Charges-
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Former football player Warren Sapp was arrested on February 6 by Miami Beach police. The defensive tackle for the Super Bowl XXXVII-winning Tampa Bay Buccaneers was charged with a domestic battery misdemeanor. Sapp’s charge comes from an allegedly violent argument with his girlfriend of two years which began at 5 a.m. at Miami Beach’s Shore Club Hotel. The arrest report indicated that Sapp’s girlfriend had “a swollen right knee and bruises on the back of her neck.” The alleged victim said she had been sleeping in Sapp’s hotel room while he was in town for Super Bowl Sunday – for his position as an analyst for the NFL Network and on Showtime’s “Inside the NFL” – and the two were involved in an altercation, in which she claims he “grabbed her and began to choke her” before throwing her out of the room. Representatives of the NFL Network said in a statement that Sapp will not appear on the Network until they review the incident. |
Teutul Family Ending "American Chopper," Settling Legal Matters-
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The motor for the TLC series “American Chopper” will be going from idle to off within the week. One of the most popular shows on The Learning Channel, the reality show “Chopper” will air its final episode on February 11. The series, following the antics of the motorcycle-loving family the Teutuls, has aired for six seasons. Originally beginning on the Discovery Channel in 2003, moving to TLC in 2007, the series focuses on motor maestro and former marine Paul Teutul Sr. and his sons, Paul Jr. and Mikey, as they manage their Newburgh, N.Y., business, Orange County Choppers. |
Jennifer Aniston "Renovated" Brad Pitt Out Of Her Life-
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Amidst all of the Brangelina break-up rumors that have been dominating the front pages of gossip magazines and internet blogs for the past two weeks, Jennifer Aniston doesn’t seem fazed at all by the turmoil in her ex-husband’s love life. Instead, America’s sweetheart and favorite girl-next-door poses this month on the cover of Architectural Digest and explains how she “renovated” Brad Pitt out of her life. She tells the upscale design magazine that her Beverly Hills mansion is the perfect home, but it was one element that seemed the bother her – the “his” bathroom. And what did Aniston do to eliminate this problem? She converted the room into a spa. Aniston further explains that she is very proud of her home, which she’s christened “Ohana,” meaning “extended family” in Hawaiian culture, telling the magazine that entering her home each time feels like a “big hug.” The 40-year-old former “Friends” star spent two years renovating the Hollywood Hills mansion with local designer Stephen Shadley. |
The Cast Of "The Jersey Shore" In Miami For The Superbowl Festivities-
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Once you’ve thought you couldn’t get enough of them or if you really are tired of seeing their orange-tinted faces just about everywhere on television these days, the guidos and guidettes are still riding strong on their extended 15-minutes of fame. Even though they have nothing to do with football, Snooki and the gang from “The Jersey Shore” are in Miami this weekend and are slated to appear at Superbowl XLIV Sunday at the Sun Life Stadium. Snooki, The Situation and Pauly D are most likely the squeeze in some “GTL” time in between the football festivities and nightclubs of SoFlo. According to US Magazine, Pauly D flew to Miami courtesy of Reebok, and The Situation is scheduled to shoot a commercial for the athletic shoe company alongside Peyton Manning, Floyd Mayweather and Chuck Liddell. And if that’s not enough of Snooki and the gang for you, the cast will also be appearing on the “Ellen DeGeneres Show” on Monday and will sit down with the ladies of “The View” on Feb. 23. |
Jamie Lynn Spears Breaks Up With Her Baby Daddy Casey Aldridge-
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They said it was love that was sure to last forever. Britney Spears’s little sister, Jamie Lynn, has called it quits with the father of her baby daughter, Casey Aldridge. The former star of Nickelodeon’s “Zoey 101,” first shocked the entertainment world two years ago by announcing her pregnancy at the age of 16. It looks like things weren’t so great in paradise as the former couple, who were once rumored to be engaged, have confirmed their split to several magazines. The reason for their split is unknown, but inside sources say that Jamie Lynn has moved on with a 28-year-old local businessman, James Watson. According to Star Magazine, the source says, “They started dating last December. I don’t think James cares at all about who she is; they really seem to like each other.” The source continues to say that Spears and Aldridge had only stayed together for “appearance’s sake.” |
Oh, Dear! “John” Sends “Avatar” Into Second Place
Yes, this is your number one movie.
Numbers:
1. Dear John $32,400,000
2. Avatar $23,600,000
3. From Paris with Love $8,120,000
4. Edge of Darkness $7,005,000
5. Tooth Fairy $6,500,000
I didn’t see this coming. Even the makers of “Dear John” didn’t see it–according to The Hollywood Reporter, the weepie love story earned $10 million more than projected. The awfully reviewed movie didn’t get its first place finish just by luck, though–with the Super Bowl this weekend, Sony Screen Gems figured that there were probably a lot of girls’ nights out planned, and this movie would be a perfect antidote to all the analysis about how Dwight Freeney’s ankle was progressing (if that last phrase meant nothing to you, then you might have gone to see “Dear John”). Unsurprisingly, 81% of the film’s audience was female; a little more surprisingly, 64% was under 21. This is the result, I think, of several factors: one is that “Dear John” was a trailer in heavy rotation during the “New Moon” theatrical run; I think Amanda Seyfried is an actress teens genuinely like (they probably don’t mind Channing Tatum shirtless either); Nicholas Sparks has achieved a solid brand name as a reliable purveyor of icky melodramatic love stories; and I suspect that there may have been a good number of mother-daughter trips to this movie. Finally, I think “Avatar” was due; something was going to catch up with it, whether it was this week or next.
It was nothing short of a disastrous opening for this other week’s new release, “From Paris with Love.” The film had an estimated $52 million budget and earned only $8.1 million. Wow. The producers of “Paris” are blaming the Super Bowl, which is odd because the game isn’t until Sunday night, so I’m not sure how you can blame it for a poor showing on Friday and Saturday. They also called the snowstorm that pummeled the southern part of the east coast of the US a major factor as well, but again, that’s a pretty small segment of the country. In other words, the spin factor is in super high gear wiht this bust. “Paris’s” director Pierre Morel was super hot this time last year for making the low-cost, high-grossing “Taken.” This will surely cool some of that hotness. Mr. Morel better not be too demanding during the planning of his upcoming ”Dune” adaptation.
Since we have a long weekend in the US next week, there are several high-profile new releases, namely “Valentine’s Day,” “The Wolfman,” and “Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.” I don’t know enough about “Percy Jackson” other than it has a built in audience from its base as a kids’ book. “The Wolfman” and “Valentine’s Day” both look just awful, but hey, if “Dear John” could suck in people, then maybe one of those movies will find its way to success as well. We can all dream.
“The First Avenger: Captain America” Updates!
What not to wear.
Sooooo…are you a Captain America fan? Are you anxiously awaiting the release of Marvel’s “The First Avenger: Captain America” on July 22, 2011? Yes you are–I know you’re out there. Well, then, just for you, Captain America fans, we have this info from director Joe Johnston, who spoke with SuperheroHype about the film, specifically about why the movie is going to be set mostly during World War II:
“Virtually the entire story except the bookends are in World War II because we all recognize we have one chance to tell the origin story of how he became Captain America, you can’t tell a modern story and then go back and tell the origin story. If you’re going to do it, let’s do it. Let’s do it first. Everyone wanted to tell an origin story. There was a version where it was a modern story and it didn’t work.”
Well, I always associate Captain America with World War II, so this makes sense to me. Then again, I’m not aware of the modern incarnation of the character and what he’s been up to. Oh, speaking of the character, no casting news yet. Whoever gets the part, though, will face off against villain Red Skull. Hopefully they’ll be smart enough to stick with the one villain plan. As for casting the title role, the producers are hoping to figure that out by the end of this month. Supposedly they’re aiming for an American actor and an “unknown.”
But what will that actor wear? The LA Times found out about the Captain America costune from Joe Johnston, who is out doing publicity for “The Wolfman,” but seems to be talking a lot about other things. Anyway, the costume:
“The costume is a flag, but the way we’re getting around that is we have Steve Rogers forced into the USO circuit,” Johnston said. “After he’s made into this super-soldier, they decide they can’t send him into combat and risk him getting killed. He’s the only one and they can’t make more. So they say, ‘You’re going to be in this USO show’ and they give him a flag suit. He can’t wait to get out of it.”
He added that “When he does go AWOL, he covers up the suit but then, after a few things happen, he realizes that this uniform allows him to lead. By then, he’s become a star in the public mind and a symbol. The guys get behind him because he embodies something special.”
Which leads to a new costume: “In the first USO sequences, the frustrated patriot will be wearing a version that is closer to the classic Jack Kirby-designed costume, but then later as the super-soldier hits the war zone he will be wearing a sturdier, more muted version that he makes himself that is more like battle togs. The stripes across his mid-section, for instance, will be straps, not colored fabric.”
( Thanks also to ComingSoon for picking out this info from the LA Times interview.)
It’s tough to look good in a flag, so yes, they have to make it look a little less like a figure skating costume and more like something a “super soldier” would wear. Apparently they wanted to make sure they got the original, iconic costume in there and thought the USO idea, where the character could look more like, well, a comic book character, would be the best solution. It’s not bad. It might annoy some hard working USO folk, though, who won’t be thrilled with the image of their group as a cartoonish version of patriotism. Well, you’re always going to annoy someone, I suppose.
Johnston says the role will go to someone about 22-23 years old; although most soldiers are in the nineteen to twenty year old range, they wanted to skew a little older, in order to give something of a “big brother” feel to the character. Supposedly they’re testing five or six actors who range in age from 23 to 32. Johnston also said that they want someone who can be both the “98 pound weakling” version of Rogers, as well as the buff superhero. Hmmm…
“Up” Wins Annie Award
No shot at a Best Picture Oscar, but an Annie Award and a chance to shake William Shatner’s hand.
The 37th Annual Annie Awards, given to animated films and television shows, were handed out Saturday night. “Up,” form Pixar, won best animated feature, and picked up another award for its director, Pete Doctor. Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog” won three awards. I’d love to tell you what they are, but they aren’t specified in the Annies’s official press release and they’re not on the organization’s web site yet. Guess the Annie after party must have been tremendous. The Hollywood Reporter says “Coraline” also won three awards, but again, those animated animators don’t see to have gotten up yet in order to update their website.
So what does this mean for “Up,” which seems like a mortal lock for the best animated feature Oscar, and is also in the general best picture pool of ten? Well, last year it was kind of a scandal when “Kung Fu Panda” won the Best Feature Annie instead of “Wall*E,” but then “Wall*E” went on to win the animated Oscar anyway. Obviously we don’t have that problem this year, since “Up” managed to nab the Annie instead of, say, “Ice Age 3.” It’s pretty safe to say that “Up” is going to win the best animated feature Oscar, but doesn’t have a chance to win Best Picture. Though I know people who will say that the first five minutes of “Up” are better than the entire length of most movies.
William Shatner hosted the Annies. How’d that come together? I don’t particularly associate Shatner with animated films. Instead, I’m picturing the person who’s producing the Annies calling around town to different agents and hearing something like, “Well, I can’t get you Samuel L. Jackson, but William Shatner’s available…” “Done!”
