Showing posts with label Chicago. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chicago. Show all posts

February 20, 2013

The End of the Oscars...Literally

Producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan are known for their big musical productions of films like CHICAGO and, one of my favorites, HAIRSPRAY. This year they are also producing the Oscar telecast and promise to bring a musical touch to the proceedings, with performances by Adele, Shirley Bassey and even Barbra Streisand in her first song at the awards show since 1977. Today's Hollywood Reporter has news of another unusual touch they are adding to the show--an actual ending.

Usually, the telecast ends with the Best Picture statue being handed out as producers thank their wives, God and Harvey Weinstein. But this year they want to utilize their host Seth McFarlane's musical skills and do a big closing number after the big award. It seems they are taking a cue from the Tony broadcast which, in recent years, has ended with Neil Patrick Harris doing a memorable original song that recaps the evenings highs and lows. No words on whether that was the source of their inspiration but, clearly, as Broadway producers themselves, they are surely Tony watchers and attenders. Regardless, it will be a welcome addition to the ceremony instead of the usual rush to the local news.

October 16, 2009

The BUTT Blind Date

Butt Magazine is known for it's sexy photos and quirky Q/A's. Of course, the pix can be hot....like the spread of Jake from Scissor Sisters. But like Playboy of days gone by, you can honestly say you read it for the interviews. They are that good--both for the wide range of interviewees as well as the slightly oddball and intimate style of questioning.

Recently, the BUTT blog started a feature where the magazine's editors set two people up on blind dates. The first lucky couple met in Chicago last week and the results were posted in two separate Q/A's. It's a sweet and funny "he said-he said" account of the first date experience. And the guys' pix are cute too. :)