Stories written by Andrew Timms
Posted by Andrew Timms
Entertainment
Saturday, July 16th, 2011
Campbell Shined In Debut
On stage Glen Campbell was hunched over his electric blue guitar and he plucked some strings then made a sour face. “Dadgum it,” Campbell said.
He fiddled for a few more minutes longer behind the stage Friday night while at the IP Casino until he finally found a perfect D chord.
“There it is,” Campbell said, before he turned on his heels and marched right into the spotlight. He began with “Gentle on my Mind” and — without even having to clear his throat — he nailed it.
“That first one is a doozey, ain’t it?” Campbell said to the crowd.
What the crowd heard was classic Glen Campbell. Alzheimer’s disease has changed many things in this Country Music Hall of Famer’s world, be he still has the capability of resonating in our memories with his blue G&L Comanche on “”By the Time I Get to Phoenix” or the Hamer 12-string on “Southern Nights” is nearly untouched.
In one of the night’s finest moments, Campbell had the crowd on their feet by nailing the fragile runs in the center of his legendary “Wichita Lineman.”
This was Campbell’s first performance after he announced that he has Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s is a degenerative brain disorder which gradually robs Campbell of his abilities and memories and this first concert was triumphant. Both his road crew and his family worried that Campbell might be rusty since he’s had such a long layoff after his last performance. With the exception of a few flubbed lyrics, which he quickly was able to correct thanks to helping teleprompters, Campbell along with his band ran through a 22 song set mixed together with self-deprecating jokes.
“I tell you I’m happy to be here,” he said. “At my age I’m happy to be anywhere. It seems like I’ve been doing this since Hitler was a corporal.”
His band includes four of his own children and other close friends. Campbell played some of the crowd’s favorites like “Galveston and “Rhinestone Cowboy”, finishing the evening with two songs from a new album, “Ghost on the Canvas” which will be out August 30th through Surfdog Records.
His new album is loaded with guest appearances and song contributors like Jakob Dylan, Pal Westerberg, Keith Urban, Brian Setzer, Rick Nielson, Billy Corgan and Dick Dale and will be Campbell’s last studio album. Campbell has plans for a goodbye tour too. Friday’s show was just a one-off or an excuse to gather family around him and have some fun.
“When I get tired of playing golf I do one of these,” Campbell joked in an interview earlier in the day.
appraisals, attorney, and such. Ideally, you want to avoid paying for points (which can also be called loan origination fees) and you certainly do not want to have any prepayment penalties.
4. Before applying, be sure to think about who you will want to put on the mortgage. Most lenders use the lower of the two credit scores instead of an average as is commonly thought. In some cases, just put the husband on the mortgage if your nonexistent credit will hinder you on the application.
Hopefully, these wise notes about the buying process might be able to help you. Happy house hunting!
Posted by Andrew Timms
Entertainment
Thursday, July 14th, 2011
2011 Teen Choice Awards
In the only award show that could pit Oscar winner “Black Swan” against “The Roommate,” this year’s Teen Choice Awards are both announced and were predictable. While the categories run the gamut from across sixty-six different categories, from movies to television and from sports and fashion, the big face-offs will be between the teen sensations Harry Potter and Twilight. Both film series are coming to their conclusion this year, leaving only one more year for them to compete for the Teen Choice Awards.
“Twilight Saga: Eclipse” received twelve nominations, including actor and actress nominations for Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner and Kristen Stewart, as well as the LipLock nods for Stewart’s kisses with both leading males. They’ll be up against a smooch between “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1″ stars Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, who are coincidentally both up for lead actor awards as well. The awards are decided by voting online, so the show with the most powerful fan-base will prevail.
On the TV front, “Vampire Diaries” and “Gossip Girl” are each up for various awards, with “Glee” leading the pack with nine nominations, including actor Chris Colfer picking up both a Scene Stealer and Fashion Icon nomination.
The music category features the usual suspects — Lady Gaga, , Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber included. In the less traditional categories, Justin Bieber and Ashton Kutcher are up for “Best Twit” against a fictional character — Springfield’s Homer Simpson could take home the crown.
The awards will air live on Fox Sunday, Aug. 7.
Posted by Andrew Timms
Entertainment
Thursday, July 14th, 2011
Spinoff for Lea Michele
Just as “Glee” fans began to consider a life without Kurt Hummel and Rachel Berry, they may not end up having to say goodbye after all.
Yesterday, The Hollywood Reporter broke news that the stars Lea Michele (who plays Rachel), Chris Colfer (who plays Kurt) and Corey Monteith (playing Finn) will be graduating from the hit musical show at the end of the third season. And while that news has some fans bummed, a new report states that creator Ryan Murphy has bigger plans for the first two stars.
RumorFix.com says that Michele and Colfer are geared to star in a spinoff show which places their characters in New York, a thread that began pulling near the end of last season. In New York for Nationals, their characters snuck on the stage of “Wicked” and sang one of the musical’s songs. The characters decide that, after their graduation, they’ll move out to the city.
While he did not announce the news himself, Murphy said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that he has been planning to focus on that storyline during the upcoming third season.
“I’m much more interested in Lea’s character — not so much on her relationship with Finn, but more on what her dreams are beyond high school and how she plans on getting them,” Murphy said.
Back in June, Murphy started the ball rolling on breaking the news of the upcoming graduation by telling Ryan Seacrest, “The thing that I wanted to do and the cast wanted to do, we didn’t want to have a show where they were in high school for 8 years. We eally wanted it to be true to that experience. We thought it would be really cool if we were true to the timeline.”
Monteith is looking at other opportunities.
Posted by Andrew Timms
Breaking News
Wednesday, July 13th, 2011
Threaten To Quit Netflix
Is Redbox in the game to pick up lots of frustrated Netflix customers? The reason for the frustration is that Netflix recently announced that it would no longer be offering the combined DVD and streaming video plan, instead separating the services into two different offers. The costs for both would be $16 a month if you want both services.
One frustrated customer says they have been a Netflix customer since 200 and just recently downgraded from three DVDs per month to one with unlimited streaming to only be hit in the face with this news.
Netflix customers are used to only paying $9.99 a month for both unlimited DVDs and unlimited streaming. Now they will be two distinct plans with unlimited streaming and no DVDs for $7.99 per month and unlimited DVDs with just one out at a time and no streaming for only $7.99 per month.
If you add the two prices together you will get $15.98 so round it up and you have your new price. You don’t have to do anything if you want to keep both streaming and unlimited DVD services. The new pricing structure begins 9/1/2011.
Many former Netflix fans raised cane on Facebook about the new proposal with approximately 9,000 going on their page to voice their heated disapproval. Some of them complained of Netflix’s greed and threatened to leave Netflix for Redbox. Some other users suggested using services such as Hulu Plus, Crackle and even Blockbuster.
More than 4,300 have commented on the Netflix blog, and again, reaction seems to be against Netflix, for the most part.
We’ve reached to Redbox to see if they’ve gotten any boost from the Netflix move, and Netflix to see if they’ve received cancellations and if they have any intention to restore the plans in light of such a negative reaction. Subscribers also complained about not being able to reach customer service. We tried too, and weren’t able to get through, due to technical problems on their end.
This is not the first time users have shown their frustration and severe disappointment with Netflix. In January, Netflix removed the ability to add DVDs from the streaming sites on to game consoles and boxes.
Posted by Andrew Timms
Entertainment
Monday, July 11th, 2011
Kasey Chambers 'Little Bird'
Having a weakness for songs which put an aching weakness on display, her girlish voice comes from Australian country rocker Kasey Chambers who sometimes seems a little fragile.
Her history lends a punch to the title cut of her new CD. Chambers sings of a “little bird” that tells her that her man might come back “if I shut my mouth and don’t make a scene” or repress her own individuality in another way.
She ends up with: “I don’t want you that bad.” It’s a great statement of power and a terrific song to go along with it. The flip side is that it takes the wind out of low self-worth songs like “Invisible Girl,” where’s she’s just another nowhere girl obsessed with love.
Chambers appears very similar to a junior version of Lucinda Williams in her “Car Wheels on a Gravel Road” era. This is not meant to weaken her as Lucinda sets pretty high standards. Chambers’ band crackles while moving easily between crunching electric guitars and mandolins. Chambers also writes solid songs and is deserving of a bigger following here.
We like Chambers the best as she displays what’s unique about her. In this case, it’s “Nullarbor (The Biggest Backyard),” where she sings of her eccentric childhood while growing up in an Australian backwoods area.
Posted by Andrew Timms
World News
Sunday, July 10th, 2011
Royals Visit Los Angeles
The British royal newlyweds saw a different side of Los Angeles on Sunday when they toured downtown’s skid row and also an arts center for unfortunately poor children.
President of Inner-City Arts, Cynthia Harnisch took the Prince and Duchess through a tour of the gritty neighborhood which is near San Pedro and 6th streets. They had already heard about the influx of single moms in the neighborhood as well as the homelessness and the challenges of poverty that these residents face.
The royal motorcade made u of black Range Rovers past a few dozen fans who were gathered outside as they arrived at the Inner City Arts campus around 11:30 AM.
About six dozen third, fourth and fifth graders held up welcome banners painted with butterflies, ladybugs and flowers while a police helicopter circled overhead for security.
The Prince and Duchess shook hands with everyone and chatted with them for a few minutes before going inside the nonprofit organization’s campus to tour the art studios and black box theater and to see student’s dance performances.
There was even a small energetic crowd of a few dozen fans who were staked out on skid row anticipating the arrival of the royal couple.
Some royalty of sorts were among the people there including: Arianna Menon, the self-proclaimed Duchess of Silver Lake was there wearing her black pillbox hat.
Menon, 35, came with her friends and husband to see the royal newlyweds, who, she said, brought the British royal family into the 21st century. “They brought a breath of fresh air to the monarchy,” Menon said. “They’re not like the other royals: standoffish.”
In Los Angeles coming across celebrities isn’t out of the ordinary, but for some the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge represent a different category.
“I can’t think of any other celebrities I’d come out at 9 a.m. for,” added Andreas Tompros, 33, of Los Feliz and a Canadian who had grown up with a portrait of William’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, in his home.
“We see celebrities all the time,” added his wife, Shannon Tompros, 37, “but we never get to see royalty.”
The royal appearance drew less enthusiasm for some residents of skid row.
“It’s a dog-and-pony show,” commented Victor Green, 53, who sat on cardboard in a patch of shade on 7th Street close to Central Avenue. “What’s the big idea? … It’s not going to change anything.”
His companion, Tina Green, 4O, totally disagreed. “I think it’s a special idea,” Green said. “They live in a castle; they live in a better place. If they are coming to see this, it’s nice …. I thank them for their support.”
Posted by Andrew Timms
Entertainment
Friday, July 8th, 2011
4th July Fireworks Fake
Monday night’s display of Fourth of July fireworks was spectacular. CBS viewers watched as fireworks were ignited behind Quincy Market, Fenway Park’s home plate and the State house among other beloved Boston landmarks. The show could have put Washington’s fireworks show to shame. One problem: the fireworks display was fake.
As of yesterday viewers started pointing out to the Boston Globe that the CBS broadcast display had views that were geographically impossible because the fireworks were launched from a barge in the Charles River in directions away from these landmarks.
The Boston-based executive producer of the show for nine years now, confirmed Thursday that the footage had been altered, but for the first time ever. Mugar says that the network’s actions were okay because the show was entertaining and not news.
“Absolutely, we’re proud to show scenes from our city,’’ Mugar spoke to the Globe. “It’s often only shown in film or in sporting matches. We were able to highlight great places in Boston, historical places with direct ties to the Fourth. So we think it was a good thing.’’
Mugar says the footage of the landmarks was shot weeks ago and is no different than the producer of Boston Legal using scenes of Boston but shot in Hollywood.
As we prepared for the show Boston camera crews shot footage of some of these landmarks.
“And we did it all with the intention of superimposing the fireworks over the images,” Mugar insisted to the Globe. “The technical process is called matting.’’
Boston natives are not very pleased with Mugar’s explanation.
Almost 80 percent of the people who read the Globe’s story said it was disturbing to them that CBS would fake portions of their show.
T.J. Jeffers, a Boston resident who was wearing a Celtics T-shirt and Red Sox cap, told the Globe, “It’s one of the biggest times of year here. …The fireworks, the crowds. It takes you back to your childhood. … But I’m shocked they changed stuff on TV, because they didn’t need to. The fireworks don’t need dressing up. They’re fireworks.’
Posted by Andrew Timms
Entertainment
Monday, July 4th, 2011
Entertainment and Recreation Center
A large portion of the Arvada Marketplace East shopping center has recently been leased to the Big Time Trampoline Fun Center. The center will include play structures, obstacle courses, 50-foot trampolines, basketball and dodge ball courts as well as a climbing wall.
The Arvada Marketplace East shopping center is located at W. 52nd Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard in Arvada.
The new fun center will have a dance hall and an arcade, as per the NewMark Merrill Mountain States, which bought the shopping center in 2010.
“This is a big chunk of the center,” said NewMark spokesman David Reid. “They have all kinds of plans for it. Big Time is a new firm. This is their first store.”
Allen Ginsborg, principal and managing director of NewMark Merrill, said adding the Big Time is a “major milestone” in the redevelopment and repositioning of Arvada Marketplace East.
“We are pleased to bring this exciting, new retail concept to Arvada. With Sam’s Club, Costco, Home Depot and Lowe’s all within a quarter mile, this is a prime location for many types of retailers,” added Ginsborg.
Owner of Big Time, Kelle Hickam, said at a time when so many people are turning to tweeting and texting as outlets, Big Time will offer families the chance to come and play together.
“We want families to have fun together in a safe environment and at an affordable price,” Hickam added.
Reid said the official grand opening of Big Time is expected to happen sometime next month.
NewMark Merrill said the rate of vacancies at the Arvada Marketplace East dropped from 56 percent when it purchased the property in 2010 to only 38 percent currently.
NewMark Merrill has a collection of 2 million square feet of retail space. Among NewMark Merrill’ current projects are Arvada Marketplace East, the Fort Collins Marketplace, the
Broomfield Plaza, Waneka Marketplace in Lafayette, and Citadel Crossing in Colorado Springs.
Posted by Andrew Timms
Entertainment
Wednesday, June 29th, 2011
Transformers - Dark Side of the Moon
Traveling around the world promoting Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon, cast members have lots of interesting things to tell the media and the public. Last night at a New York premiere Andrea Mandell of USA TODAY learned a lot from the stars, including:
1. Be nice to your director and it will pay off. The director of Hangover 2 recommended Ken Jeong to Michael Bay for his part. Jeong told Mandell, “I never expected to be in a movie like this, I’m a comedian. It really is a dream come true.”
2. Tyrese Gibson can lighten up a party. For example: when in Moscow filming Tyrese says, “we got to the rooftop for the after-party and the DJ was horrible,” the star told Mandell. “I said, ‘Look man, I got it from here.’” He jumped behind the DJ booth and simply took over. “I had to do a little face-lift on the situation,” Tyrese said, grinning.
3. Entourage is really just like Hollywood. Patrick Dempsey says, “I met Michael Bay at a Ferrari event in Beverly Hills and that sort of started a dialogue,” said Dempsey, while smudging icing off his lapel which was left by his kids. One thing that Mandell did not learn – if Dempsey is really done with Grey’s Anatomy after next season. “I really, honestly don’t know,” Dempsey said, shrugging. “I don’t think anyone does.”
4. Director Michael Bay really does have new tricks to watch for. Next, “I’m going to do a small movie, a fun, character piece,” he told us. As for the possibility of a Transformers 4, with Shia LaBeouf not in the picture, Bay speculates “it would have to be rebooted with a different cast.”
5. Shia LaBeouf is ready to make a new move. He’s planning to go in a totally different direction next. He will be playing a Depression-era bootlegger in The Wettest County in the World. “It’s the best movie I’ve ever made,” LaBeouf told Mandell.
Posted by Andrew Timms
Entertainment
Sunday, June 26th, 2011
Jennifer Aniston Unto Others
So many felt sorry for Jennifer Aniston back in 2005 when they heard about how she had been wronged by her then husband Brad Pitt and his unfaithfulness with Angelina Jolie. This had all happened during his filming of Mr. & Mrs. Smith. So many women could relate to her story and the too familiar dilemma of a husband being lured away and being totally blindsided with no notice.
Of course this was back in 2005. If you look at what is happening now in Jennifer Aniston’s life, could Heidi Bivens accuse her of the same actions Brad Pitt took toward Aniston back in 2005? I would say she could.
Literally just weeks ago, Heide and Justin Theroux, (currently Aniston’s beau) were living together in an apartment in NYC. She has of course since left the apartment recently. Page Six was told by an inside source
“(Bivens) was completely blindsided. She and Justin had been together for years, they had a home. Then he met Jennifer and everything changed. At first he claimed he and Jen were friends.”
How many times do you actually see situations just like this and the couple are truly “just friends”. Come on folks, maybe if he were gay but judging by the way the couple looks together, uh, let’s just say I don’t think he is.
How many times do you also see this happen among the celebrities of Hollywood? It seems to be almost daily these days. One of the most notable ones as of lately has been LeAnn Rimes and actor Eddie Cibrian. They hooked up while doing Northern Lights.
You would think after having her heart broken back in 2005, Aniston would remember what it was like and not rub it in the face of Heidi. But she does not seem to care what Heidi thinks as pictures of the couple can be found all over the Internet, tabloids and entertainment shows.
