Mt. Lebanon Church Channels Hollywood With ‘Fault In Our Stars’ Screening

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Allegheny County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It was like Oscar night and prom rolled into one.

Thursday night, men and women of all ages gathered at the Galleria of Mt. Lebanon in anticipation of the night’s main event: a screening of the film “The Fault in Our Stars,” adapted from John Green’s best-selling teen novel. Wearing dresses and suits — or, for a fancy few, gowns and tuxedos — most of the filmgoers, more than 300, chose to go Hollywood.

But for many of these attendees, the film had added significance in their community. The evening, which began with a gala-style red carpet event before the screening, was organized and planned by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Mt. Lebanon — which was used as one of the film’s set locations. In the movie, main characters Hazel (Shailene Woodley) and Augustus (Ansel Elgort), two teens who meet during a cancer support group that is held within the walls of a church.

Lisa Brown, the church’s communications director and its children’s ministry director, said she fondly remembers when the film was being shot at the church in fall 2013. As the church is near the neighborhood schools, teenagers would arrive on set in order to meet Mr. Green and the film’s stars after classes ended, oftentimes dodging police officers. Ms. Brown said she wanted to capitalize on that excitement.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/2014/06/06/Church-channels-Hollywood-with-Fault-screening/stories/201406060103#ixzz33y9fXUKQ

Blockbuster Movie Could Make 2014 Pittsburgh’s Best Year For Film, TV Production

A blockbuster movie just approved for a multimillion-dollar Pennsylvania film tax credit could make 2014 Pittsburgh’s biggest year yet for film and TV production — as long as the project stays on track after losing its star.

Actor Will Smith backed out of the title role in “Brilliance” on Thursday as Legendary Pictures learned it had been awarded a $19.5 million tax credit by the Pennsylvania Film Office, putting the movie’s cost somewhere around $100 million.

“If the level of interest continues, this is setting up to be the biggest year we’ve ever had,” said Dawn Keezer, director of the Pittsburgh Film Office. She declined to comment on “Brilliance.”

Read more: http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/6202360-74/film-pittsburgh-tax#ixzz33J7wDHXV
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10 Reasons Why Pittsburgh Owned 2013

From a giant rubber duck to cutting-edge restaurants to a yarn-bombed bridge, our city had the world buzzing this year.

By anyone’s standards, 2012 was a landmark year for Pittsburgh, capped off by “The Dark Knight Rises” hitting theaters and unveiling the ’Burgh as the fabled Gotham, not to mention National Geographic imploring the world’s travelers to train new eyes on our formerly smoky city.

Little did we know, that was just the beginning. As we get ready to tuck this year away, let’s take a look back at how Pittsburgh owned 2013.

Brace yourself, Portland.

See the list here:  http://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/Best-of-the-Burgh-Blogs/Pitt-Girl/December-2013/10-Reasons-Why-Pittsburgh-Owned-2013/

Tinseltown: First Night Scranton Returns With Hollywood Theme

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Lackawanna County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Scranton will roll out the red carpet to welcome the new year.

First Night Scranton will once again keep the city’s downtown abuzz on New Year’s Eve with live music, family-friendly activities and fireworks, and this time it will do so with Hollywood-style flair.

“It’s our 15th anniversary, so I thought, well, you know what? We’ve got to do something big,” said Paige Balitski, one of the event organizers. “What’s bigger than Hollywood? It’s fun. You can play off of movie stars and films.”

The different activities taking place throughout the night will touch on the Hollywood theme, with musicians set to perform movie themes and love songs and other activities drawing inspiration from films. Costumed characters from popular movies will greet guests, for instance, Ms. Baltiski said.

Read more: http://thetimes-tribune.com/lifestyles/tinseltown-first-night-scranton-returns-with-hollywood-theme-1.1606227

‘Fast & Furious 6’ Fuels Record Weekend At Box-Office

The exhaust smoke hasn’t even cleared, and already Hollywood can brag about its biggest money-making Memorial Day Weekend ever.

Hollywood Reporter hit the accelerator with its gushing, declaring the expected four-day take of $316 million to be “absolutely monumental,” leaving previous late May holiday weekends choking in its dust.

“One of the biggest weekends of all-time!” writes Paul Dergarabedian.

Indeed, BoxOfficeMojo.com gives the previous champ as Dec 25-27, 2009 (led by Avatar), with a distant $259.9 million in total domestic ticket sales. Then again, add in the the $58.3 million from Monday, Dec. 28, 2009, and the comparable four-day total becomes an unsurpassed $318.2 million.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20130527_Fast_Furious_6_fuels_record_weekend_at_box-office.html#L7vC5qrcf6jQuktw.99

Beloved Actor Andy Griffith Dies In NC At Age 86

Andy Griffith, Tony Award-nominated and Emmy Award-nominated American actor, producer, writer, director and Grammy Award-winning southern gospel singer. Image taken as President George W. Bush presents him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 RALEIGH, NC. – It was all too easy to confuse Andy Griffith the actor with Sheriff Andy Taylor, his most famous character from “The Andy Griffith Show.”

After all, Griffith set his namesake show in a make-believe town based on his hometown of Mount Airy, N.C., and played his “aw, shucks” persona to such perfection that viewers easily believed the character and the man were one.

Griffith, 86, died Tuesday at his coastal home, Dare County Sheriff Doug Doughtie said in a statement.

“Mr. Griffith passed away this morning at his home peacefully and has been laid to rest on his beloved Roanoke Island,” Doughtie told The Associated Press, reading from a family statement.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=396967

“American Idol” Puts Adam Brock Of Washington, Pa., In Top 24

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Amid the glitz of Hollywood and Vegas, a creative arts director from “Little Washington” sung his way onto the main stage of “American Idol.”

Adam Brock, 27, was announced Thursday night as one of the 24 finalists in the venerable Fox talent competition. Live shows kickoff next week and viewers will have the chance to vote for their favorites, ultimately naming the 11th American Idol.

For Mr. Brock, who graduated from Trinity High School and Messiah College in Harrisburg, it had to have been a tough week. The latest selection process was completed last month but the bluesman, who calls himself “White Chocolate,” was forbidden to reveal the results.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12055/1212400-67-0.stm#ixzz1nPzv0MWX

Lancaster Catholic Graduate Not Idle On “Idol”

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Naomi Gillies knows more than she’s telling.

Gillies, a 22-year-old music student from Lancaster County, is an entry-level contestant in the 11th season of “American Idol.” And she knows what happens next.

“I grew up watching the show, and I was like, wow, I’m in this show,” she said Sunday during a telephone interview from Boston.

While she can say she passed the audition — which aired on “American Idol” last week — and appears in the “Hollywood Week” edition that airs this Wednesday on Fox, she can’t, according to a nondisclosure agreement with the network, say if she made it through grueling elimination rounds in Pasadena to appear in the semifinals.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/582114_Catholic-graduate-not-idle-in–Idol-.html#ixzz1ljF877iZ

Roseanne Barr Joins Race For The White House

Editor’s note:  Some people will do anything for attention!

Having just had her Lifetime show “Roseanne’s Nuts” canceled, actress Roseanne Barr has a little extra time on her hands. And to fill the void, she’s come up with a new plan – she’s running for president.

The actress announced on Thursday (Feb. 2) that she will seek the Green Party’s presidential nomination. Barr explains that she’s a big supporter of the party and is discontent with the existing political landscape.

“The Democrats and Republicans have proven that they are servants — bought and paid for by the 1% — who are not doing what’s in the best interest of the American people,” Barr says.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/entertainment/zap-roseanne-barr-joins-race-for-the-white-house-20120203,0,1356352.story

Hollywood’s War Of The Wages

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The second season of a Simon Cowell-free “American Idol” started this week. Cowell ditched the popular talent show last year to launch a U.S. version of his British music competition “The X Factor,” which he vowed would attract 20 million viewers. It fell short, topping out at 12 million. Now there’s word that the new “American Idol” judges, Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez, had been joking backstage that they would be “devastated” if they didn’t get 20 million viewers. (They did for the season premiere, but just barely.)

Lopez may be winning the ratings war, but Cowell is winning the war of the wages. The music executive earned $90 million last year thanks to “The X Factor,” which he owns a share of, and his record label, Syco. Lopez earned $25 million. Most of that came from “Idol” but she also has several movies coming out and a new clothing line.

Read more: http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=697139

Gunsmoke’s Marshall Dillon Dies At 88

James Arness, the actor who made a lasting impression on generations of television viewers portraying Marshall Dillon, died today at the age of 88.  Mr. Arness passed away at his Brentwood home.  Gunsmoke was one of the longest running shows on television (1955 – 1975).  Arness was a quiet man who shunned the Hollywood scene and was intensely private.

James Arness’ younger brother, actor Peter Graves, also rose to fame on the small screen as the star of Mission Impossible.  Peter Graves died March 14, 2010, four days before his 84th birthday.

Hollywood Legend Elizabeth Taylor Dies

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Elizabeth Taylor was as famous for her off-screen antics as she was for the movies she starred in.  Taylor, once one of Hollywood’s biggest stars and sex symbols, led a tumultuous life filled with many marriages, divorces and a myriad of health problems and surgeries which eventually left her wheelchair bound.

Taylor made over 50 movies and received countless awards and honors for her films and charity work.  She exemplified the golden age of Hollywood and was a bona fide movie star.  She lived her life in the public eye, which at times worked in her favor and other times made her the butt of jokes and the object of much ridicule and hate.  She was once even chastised by the Vatican for her off-screen escapades with Richard Burton.

Elizabeth Taylor died yesterday of congestive heart failure at the age of 79.  She is survived by four children, ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.  A private family funeral is planned for later this week.

American Idol Opens To Mixed Reviews

The first week of American Idol has come to a close.  The New Jersey and New Orleans auditions are behind us now. 

Personally, I was not going to watch any more but decided, to be fair, I should at least give the new panel a chance.  Never did much care for Randy.  Loved Paula and Simon.  Kara (disliked) and Ellen, who is funny and I enjoy her show, was not really suited for AI by her own admission.

When they announced Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez I was more than a little upset.  Based on who they could have considered I felt maybe this was not such a good idea.  Really wanted Harry Connick, Jr. but he evidently had too many commitments to be a judge.

I must say I was surprised by Steven Tyler.  I think he is funny, has a good eye for talent and is very respectful of the contestants, even the bad ones.  People seem to love him or hate him.  I did see more positive comments from people than negative ones. 

Jennifer Lopez needs to say no more.  Otherwise, I think she will be fine.  I am hoping she gets tougher as the season moves along.   I think people are more evenly divided on whether they like her or not than Steven Tyler.

Some good talent so far.  Looking forward to the rest of the auditions.  350 people made it to Hollywood from what I read.  Largest group ever.  In the end, they still have to get down to 20 (new this year) so as long as AI foots the bill, who cares.

Michael Douglas May Have Beaten The Odds!!

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Finally, some good news to report!  66-year-old actor Michael Douglas has announced that his tumor is gone.  Douglas has been battling throat cancer and had lost 32 pounds in the process.  His gaunt pictures have been seen on tabloid magazines and television.  Many have speculated the worst.

Douglas has started an exercise regimen and has gained 12 pounds back!  He is set to start filming in May or June.  The new film will be a biopic about flamboyant pianist Liberace and Douglas will play the title role.

We wish Michael Douglas a full recovery and many years of good health!

Hollywood Legend Tony Curtis Dies

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For those of you over 50, you will most likely remember Tony Curtis and his many movies.  He made 120 by all accounts.  Mr. Curtis was part of the golden age of Hollywood and was a contemporary of Bea Arthur, Walter Matthau, Harry Belafonte, Jack Lemon, Sidney Poitier and Marilyn Monroe to name a few. Mr. Curtis died at his Las Vegas home at the age of 85 from cardiac arrest. 

Here is a very fitting obituary found in the Pittsburg Post Gazette: 

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10274/1091731-60.stm 

Will 2010 Go Down In History As The Year Of Infidelity?

Geeze Louise.  Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, Larry King goes and screws up his marriage too!  Looks like Tiger, David and Jesse have another adultering amigo.  Is there something in the water these celebrities are drinking??  Viagra maybe? 

I know, the Tiger thing broke in December of 2009 but it has certainly been big news for all of 2010.  Lettermen is a carry-over as well.

And no pre-nup???  Stupid is as stupid does Larry.  Did you think the 8th time was the charm?  Bangs head on computer desk!

Sandra Bullock’s Philandering Husband

First of all, his name is Jesse James…is it just me or is that not the greatest omen?

Now, the object of Mr. James’ lust (Michelle McGee) has posed dressed in Nazi attire!  Really!  Now special!  First you ruin a marriage and then you glorify one of the darkest moments in the history of our planet.

These two losers deserve each other! 

Stay strong Sandra, better days are coming!

Jon And Kate – Two People I Hate

OMG and WTF is up with these two??  Can somebody make them go away and take Miley Cyrus along while you are at it!!!!  The three most annoying people on the friggin’ planet and possibly the entire galaxy. 

Throw in King Spencer Pratt and his lovely wife Heidi I love Jesus but pose for Playboy Montag and we can have a party.  I say put them all in the same rocket and aim it at the sun. 

Ryan Seacrest is right… I think we should not only tase Heidi but the whole damn lot of these celebutards.