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Meryl Streep speaks out at the 2017 Golden Globes Award ceremony

Twitter Chatter: Meryl Streep takes down Trump at 2017 Golden Globes

By Fronnie Lewis on Monday, January 9, 2017

Three time Oscar-winning actress, Meryl Streep, stole the show at the 2017 Golden Globes Awards ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills last night. The live broadcast had some notable moments from host Jimmy Fallon’s jokes and banter, to the diversity of the nominees and winners. However, it was Streep’s passionate speech about the low standards and divisive politics of President-Elect, Donald Trump,which really got people talking. Streep’s comments came during her acceptance speech for the Cecil B. DeMille Award, given out by the Hollywood Foreign... Read More →

Tags: Donald Trump, Golden Globes, Hollywood, Twitter Chatter, winners

Garry Marshall photo

Celebrities react to death of Garry Marshall

By Fronnie Lewis on Wednesday, July 20, 2016

A lot of folks are going on social media today to react to the death of Hollywood giant, Garry Marshall. The writer, director, producer, and actor passed away late yesterday at a hospital in Burbank. Marshall was 81. He’s being remembered today for his huge body of work; from television series like “Happy Days,” “The Odd Couple,” “Laverne and Shirley,” to movie hits “Pretty Woman” (1990) and “The Princess Diaries”(2001). More on Marshall’s career on Variety and CNN. Some of the reaction to Marshall’s death on... Read More →

Tags: actor, Burbank, director, Garry Marshall, Hollywood, producer, writer

Photo: FLLewis / Media City G -- Hillary Clinton at Democratic presidential debate in Flint, Michigan March 6, 2016

Hillary Clinton campaign raffling off night with the Clooneys

By Fronnie Lewis on Friday, March 18, 2016

Democratic presidential front-runner, Hillary Clinton, is adding more Hollywood star power to her campaign. The Wrap says Clinton has more Hollywood endorsements “than all the other candidates combined.” Now Tinseltown heavyweight and a long time Democrat, George Clooney, along with his high-powered lawyer wife Amal Clooney, are on board to host fundraisers and a raffle for the former Secretary of State. The Clinton campaign sent out a tweet today about the raffle, which offers winners the opportunity to meet the candidate and the Clooneys... Read More →

Tags: Amal Clooney, Campaign 2016, fundraisers, George Clooney, Hillary Clinton, Hollywood, Los Angeles, raffles, San Francisco

Oscar Sunday: Awards, Chris Rock, and diversity controversy

By Fronnie Lewis on Sunday, February 28, 2016

The curtain will go up in a few hours on the 88th Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Host Chris Rock is expected to, ah, rock the house — and he will have plenty of material with the controversy about the lack of diversity in Hollywood hanging over the glam event. Here’s more on the controversy from ABC News and why it matters on Hollywood’s biggest night. The list of nominees here. More on the Oscars on the Hollywood Reporter. Plenty of Oscar... Read More →

Tags: Academy Awards, controversies, diversity, Hollywood

Copycat Killers TV series graphic

“Copycat Killers” TV series premieres this Saturday

By Fronnie Lewis on Thursday, February 25, 2016

A new TV series debuting this Saturday takes a look at the dark side of Hollywood films. Frequently motion pictures are inspired by reality, however, in some strange and terrifying cases killers imitate or copy what they’ve seen on the big screen. “Copycat Killers” is a behind the scenes look at headline grabbing murder cases and the dramatic hunt for the perpetrators. “Copycat Killers” contains interviews; from law enforcement investigators to family members of victims to experts, in a variety of fields, including Russell... Read More →

Tags: films, Hollywood, Russell Williams, television

Pay Day : Who makes big bucks in Hollywood?

By Fronnie Lewis on Thursday, October 1, 2015

Actors and studio heads aren’t the only ones with hefty pay checks in Hollywood. A unit publicist hired by a studio earns about $2,750 a week , makeup artist on a film $60 an hour, first assistant directors get paid about $8,000 a week, and even a studio tour guide can earn $20-26 an hour, according to a post about Hollywood salaries on the Hollywood Reporter website. You don’t have to be a superstar to make money in Hollywood — just got to know where... Read More →

Tags: Burbank, Hollywood, salaries

Tom Cruise estate in Hollywood Hills

Around the Southland: Tom Cruise sells hilltop estate

By Fronnie Lewis on Sunday, September 27, 2015

Big property deal for superstar, Tom Cruise. After months on the market, recently the “Mission Impossible” actor sold his Hollywood Hills estate for $11.4 million, according to the Trulia celebrity blog. The 2.5 acre “European-style” compound in Laurel Canyon has stunning views and two homes connected by stone driveways, walking paths, and lush landscaping. Cruise bought the homes separately about 10 years ago. One has seven bedrooms and seven and a half baths, the other three bedrooms and... Read More →

Tags: actors, Around the Southland, Hollywood

Photo courtesy Dr. Lucy Jones

Quake expert Dr. Lucy Jones reviews “San Andreas” movie

By Fronnie Lewis on Wednesday, May 27, 2015

The earthquake disaster film, “San Andreas,” opens this Friday and is expected to rake in at least $40 million at the box office. A premiere for the movie was held last night in Hollywood. Among the stars, U.S. Geological Survey seismologist and the number one go-to-earthquake expert in the Southland, Dr. Lucy Jones. After the event, Dr. Jones posted a critique of the film in the form of tweets on her Twitter account. Here are some of of those tweets. My first experience of a red carpet at... Read More →

Tags: Dr. Lucy Jones, earthquakes, Hollywood, movies, premieres, tweets, Twitter

Prince on Arsenio Hall March 6, 2014

Prince playing not so secret concerts in Hollywood

By Fronnie Lewis on Friday, March 7, 2014

Prince rocked the “Arsenio Hall Show” on Wednesday, March 6, and now he’s apparently planning to do the same for the Hollywood Palladium for the next couple of nights. The Wrap says tickets for tonight’s show went on sale Wednesday and tickets for Saturday’s performance today. It’s not unusual for Prince to pop in and play unannounced at venues in the Southland. The shows are sellouts. Tickets reportedly are already being scalped on Craigslist for the upcoming Prince shows. More here.

Tags: Hollywood, music, Prince, The Wrap

Oscars big night clip art

Oscar ballot deadline today

By Fronnie Lewis on Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Oscar’s big night of glitz and glamour is less than a week away. Today is the deadline for members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to cast their ballots in the race for Oscar. The balloting, both paper and online, officially opened on Friday, February 14. All ballots must be in by 5 p.m. Pacific Time today. Then the accounting firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers will go to work counting the ballots and determining the winners. Not all of the nominees will take home a gold... Read More →

Tags: Academy Awards, ballots, goody bags, Hollywood, Oscars

Photo courtesy http://www.pinkspage.com/us/photos

Pink to perform at the Oscars 2014

By Fronnie Lewis on Friday, February 21, 2014

Pink has been added to the roster of performers for the 86th Academy Awards ceremony set for a week from this Sunday. This Oscars broadcast is apparently putting a heavy emphasis on entertainment with Bette Midler, U2, and Pharrell Williams already signed on to appear. “We are very excited to welcome Pink to the Oscar stage for the very first time,” said show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron in a statement. “She is regarded as one of the greatest voices in pop music and one of the... Read More →

Tags: Academy Awards, awards, entertainers, Hollywood, Oscars, singers

hollywood_sign_lights

Final Oscar voting officially begins today — did some vote sooner?

By Fronnie Lewis on Friday, February 14, 2014

Hollywood is getting ready for its biggest awards affair — the Academy Awards. Officially, the final voting for the 86th Academy Awards began today for online as well as paper balloting. Some voters may have been able to jump the gun. Some members of the Motion Picture Academy Arts and Sciences reportedly got their ballots in the mail earlier in the week, according to Deadline. It may not matter when voters got their ballots, but when they return them. All votes must be... Read More →

Tags: Academy Awards, awards, Hollywood, Oscars, voting

Earthquake graphic

Earthquake shakes up the Southland today

By Fronnie Lewis on Saturday, February 8, 2014

Did you feel it? The Southland got hit with an earthquake this morning at 10:13 a.m. Apparently it was center four miles south-southwest of Glendale and two miles east-southeast of Hollywood, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. They say it measured 3.0. Here in Burbank, the shaker felt like a quick, sharp jolt. So far no reports of damage from the minor quake.

Tags: Burbank, earthquakes, Glendale, Hollywood, Southland

hollywood_sign_lights1

Script sales and deals: Popular toys to get Hollywood treatment

By Fronnie Lewis on Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Toys are still hot properties in Tinseltown. The offsprings of some notorious monsters are about to get the glitter and glam treatment from the creators of the hit TV shows, “Gossip Girl” and “The O.C.” Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage have signed on to write and produce a Universal project based on the popular Mattel toyline, Monster High, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The toyline focuses on the teenaged children of the Wolfman, Dracula, and Frankenstein; and the trials and tribulations they face in high school. Introduced in 2010... Read More →

Tags: deals, Hollywood, screenplays, toys

hollywood_sign_lights

Who’s the highest paid actress in Hollywood?

By Fronnie Lewis on Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Hollywood is a tough town, but you can make your mark and pulled in some big bucks. It’s still a struggle for women in Tinseltown, but some of the actresses are now taking home some pretty hefty paychecks. Topping the list, Angelina Jolie who earned a reported $33 million between June of 2012 and June of 2013. Another veteran, Jennifer Aniston, made the top five, too. More here.

Tags: actresses, Burbank news, Hollywood

Donate to a good cause and get your script read by a Hollywood insider

By Fronnie Lewis on Friday, May 17, 2013

A great campaign with heart and a rare chance for talented screenwriters — some of them right here in the Media City. I’m talking about a twofer Hollywood style. Here’s how it works. Make a contribution to the American Heart Association and get your script read by Daniel Vang — a manager at one of Tinseltown’s top production and management firms, Benderspink. Screenwriter, Joe Nienalt, is helping out in the campaign to raise money for a Heart Walk coming up this October. Past campaigns have opened some important... Read More →

Tags: American Heart Association, Benderspink, Hollywood, management firms, screenwriters

piano brown upright clipart

Casablanca piano sells for just over $600, 000

By Fronnie Lewis on Sunday, December 16, 2012

Sam’s piano in the movie classic “Casablanca” sold for $602, 500 last Friday according to Reuters. The 58-key upright hit the auction block for between $800, 000 and $1.2 million. The selling price fell short of Sotheby’s estimate, but still a huge gain over the previous purchase, which was $154, 000 back in 1988. The reason: this piano has been touched by Hollywood movie making magic. In the Academy Award winning romance drama, Dooley Williams (Sam) plays “As Time Goes By” on an upright... Read More →

Tags: Academy Awards, actors, actresses, auctions, films, Hollywood, movies

Daily Variety header

Hollywood trade paper Daily Variety sold

By Fronnie Lewis on Tuesday, October 9, 2012

The oldest of Hollywood’s trade papers, Daily Variety, has a new owner today. The 107-year-old Variety was very slow to move into the digital age. For that reason, and poor management, it has been struggling for years and bleeding a lot of red ink. In its glory days of the 1990s, when circulation and advertisement were robust, the publication took in as much as $90 million a year, according to The Wrap. Now annual revenues are reported to be in the neighborhood... Read More →

Tags: blogs, Daily Variety, Deadline.com, Entertainment, Hollywood, Internet, Penske Media, The Wrap, websites

Photo: Courtesy www.oscars.com -- Octavia Davis accepted the Oscar for best supporting actress and gave a heartfelt emotional speech at the 84th Academy Awards ceremony in Hollywood February 26, 2012

Oscars shine brightest for “The Artist”

By Fronnie Lewis on Monday, February 27, 2012

As expected “The Artist” collected the major prize of best picture last night at the 84th Academy Awards ceremony in Hollywood. However, one of the best moments of the night occurred when Octavia Spencer won the best supporting actress Oscar for her work as a feisty maid in “The Help.” Octavia Spencer received her golden statuette from last year’s best supporting actor, Christian Bale, and she joked about it. “Oh, thank you! Thank you, Academy, for putting me with the hottest guy in the room. “I have to thank my... Read More →

Tags: Academy Awards, actors, actresses, Hollywood, Oscars

Awards catch-up: WGA, NAACP, SAG, and DGA

By Fronnie Lewis on Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Last Sunday, February 19, the Writers Guild of America West and East announced the winners of the 2012 Writers Guild Awards for outstanding achievement in writing for screen, television, radio, news, promotional, videogame, and new media writing. Simultaneous ceremonies were held at Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles and the B.B. King Blues Club in New York City. SCREEN WINNERS ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY Midnight in Paris, Written by Woody Allen; Sony Pictures Classics ADAPTED SCREENPLAY The Descendants, Screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash; Based on the... Read More →

Tags: actors, actresses, awards, directors, Directors Guild of America, Hollywood, NAACP Image Awards, Screen Actors Guild

Hollywood clip art

Talk of the Town: Oscar drama

By Fronnie Lewis on Wednesday, November 9, 2011

The Oscar telecast is the biggest event in Hollywood. The 84th Academy Awards ceremony is not until next February, but there is already plenty of real life drama surrounding it. The spark in a firestorm of controversy was lit over the weekend by movie director Brett Ratner who made an anti-gay slur and resigned on Monday as the producer of the upcoming Oscar broadcast because of it. The Los Angeles Times website has the back story on that here. Ratner decision to step aside prompted actor/comedian Eddie Murphy to bow... Read More →

Tags: Academy Awards, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, awards, controversies, films, Hollywood, movies, Oscar, Talk of the Town

movie poster for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- Part 2"

Entertainment bits

By Fronnie Lewis on Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Final Harry Potter movie breaking records The end is near for the zillions of Harry Potter movie fans. The eighth and final installment in the Potter film series opens tomorrow at midnight. All ready, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2” is breaking records for movie screens and ticket sales. Nikki Finke has the scoop over on deadline.com Jaycee Dugard’s book sells 175,000 copies 1st day The 18-year kidnap ordeal of Jaycee Dugard has really grabbed public interest. Dugard’s interview with... Read More →

Tags: books, box office, freeways, Hollywood, movies, television, theaters

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