Category Archives: Life & Style

6 Jan 2011 02:06 Africa/Lagos

TV Land Celebrates Betty White‘s 89th Birthday With a Fan-Generated, Star-Studded Global Facebook Birthday Card

Tina Fey, Taylor Swift, Joel McHale, Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves, Wendie Malick and More Salute Comedy Icon With Digital Birthday Card Video Messages

PR Newswire

PASADENA, Calif., Jan. 5, 2011

PASADENA, Calif., Jan. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — TV Land celebrates Betty White’s 89th birthday by giving stars and fans the opportunity to honor everyone’s golden girl with birthday wishes and personal video messages via a birthday card that is on the “Hot in Cleveland” Facebook page. Join superstars Tina Fey, Joel McHale, Taylor Swift, Kathie Lee Gifford, Hoda Kotb, Kristin Chenoweth, Jessica Walter and more along with fans around the world in wishing the incomparable Betty White a happy birthday. Visitors are invited to “Like” the page and post their messages and video birthday well wishes alongside their favorite celebrities including Betty’s “Hot” co-stars Valerie Bertinelli, Wendie Malick and Jane Leeves. The birthday card will be presented to Ms. White at her TV Land birthday bash happening in New York City on January 18th, and a compilation of messages will be available for all to see on TVLand.com.

“From her Emmy® award-winning appearance on ‘Saturday Night Live’ to being honored as one of Barbara Walters’ ’10 Most Fascinating People of 2010,’ it really has been the year of Betty,” said Larry W. Jones, president of TV Land. “Betty is embraced by people of all ages and is truly America’s sweetheart. We wanted to create a space where fans could share their birthday wishes and express their gratitude for the 60 years of laughs and entertainment our beloved Betty has given…and continues to give us.”

White, who celebrates her 89th birthday on January 17th, is one of television’s most beloved and talented actresses with a career that has spanned over 60 years. The Emmy® Award winning actress is best known for her roles in the classic sitcom “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and the beloved series “The Golden Girls.” She has also guest-starred on a number of television programs including “Ally McBeal,” ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” “That 70s Show” and won an Emmy® in 1996 for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, appearing as herself on a memorable episode of “The John Laroquette Show.” White had a recurring role in ABC’s “Boston Legal” from 2005 to 2008 as the calculating, blackmailing gossip-monger Catherine Piper, a role she originally portrayed as a guest star on “The Practice” in 2004. Most recently, she appeared in the 2009 major motion picture, “The Proposal” with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. In January 2010, White was honored with the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award and in August, the actress was awarded an Emmy® for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy for her much-talked about stint hosting “Saturday Night Live.” White was also recently nominated for a Screen Actors Guild® Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series.

About “Hot in Cleveland”

The second season of “Hot in Cleveland” premieres January 19, 2011 at 10PM ET/PT on TV Land and revolves around three fabulous best friends from Los Angeles – novelist Melanie Moretti (Valerie Bertinelli), eye-brow archer to the stars Joy Scroggs (Jane Leeves) and former soap star Victoria Chase (Wendie Malick) – who find their lives changed forever when their plane, headed for Paris, makes an unexpected landing. When the friends discover that life is better for them since they are hot in Cleveland, they decide to stay. Starting over together, they rent a house that happens to come with a very opinionated caretaker (Betty White).

TV Land and all related logos and titles are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

About TV Land

TV Land is the programming destination featuring the best in entertainment on all platforms for consumers in their 40s and 50s. Consisting of original programming, classic and contemporary television series acquisitions, hit movies and a full-service Web site, TV Land is now seen in over 98 million U.S. homes.

About MTV Networks

MTV Networks, a division of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world’s leading creators of entertainment content, with brands that engage and connect diverse audiences across television, online, mobile, games, virtual worlds and consumer products. The company’s portfolio spans more than 150 television channels and 400 digital media properties worldwide, and includes MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, Harmonix, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Nick Jr., TeenNick, AddictingGames, Neopets, COMEDY CENTRAL, SPIKE, TV Land, Atom, GameTrailers and Xfire.

SOURCE TV Land
NOTE TO EDITORS: Please log onto www.tvlandpress.com for up-to-the-minute information, press releases and photos.

CONTACT: Vanessa Reyes Smith, Vanessa.reyes@tvland.com, +1-310-752-8081, or Mitchell Squires, Mitchell.squires@tvland.com, +1-212-846-7356

Web Site: http://www.TVLand.com

Roberto “Bobby” Alfonso Farrell (October 6, 1949 – December 30, 2010)

BONEY M DADDY COOL por ROBINSONLP no Videolog.tv.

Millions of the fans of the famous 1970s disco group Boney M are mourning the unfortunate loss of Bobby Farrell, the only male singer and lead dancer who died on December 30 while on tour in St. Petersburg, Russia. The 61-year-old native of Aruba died of heart disease.

Bobby was a spectacular performer known for his glittering showmanship on stage in his choreography of the blend of disco and Calypso music that was the signature of Boney M.
An Associated Press report said, Farrell was found dead of unknown causes in his hotel room after he failed to answer a wake-up call.

His rendering of the group’s chart topping hit single “Daddy Cool” was electrifying. But his charisma and showmanship did not stop his exit from the group in 1981, and the split of the original lineup in 1986.

The Original Line Up of Boney M

1 Dec 2010 14:30 Africa/Lagos

Netflix and FilmDistrict Announce Agreement to Stream First-Run Theatrical Films to Netflix Members

First Movies to be Included Under the Deal in 2011 are the Crime Drama ‘Drive’ and the Sci-Fi Adventure ‘Lockout’

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Dec. 1, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) and FilmDistrict, a multi-faceted acquisition, distribution, production, and financing company, today announced a multi-year agreement through which first-run, theatrically-released films distributed by FilmDistrict will be licensed to Netflix for streaming over the Internet in the “pay TV window” a few months after their release on DVD.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101014/SF81638LOGO)

Under the deal, major motion pictures that traditionally would have been licensed to premium cable channels will flow instead from FilmDistrict to Netflix for streaming to its members, beginning in 2011.

Among the first films to be covered under the deal are “Drive,” director Nicolas Winding Refn’s adaptation of the James Sallis’ crime tale starring the Academy Award®-nominated duo Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan, and the sci-fi action adventure film “Lockout,” starring Guy Pearce and Maggie Grace, produced and co-written by Luc Besson, and co-directed by James Mather and Stephen St. Leger.

Broadening the variety and timeliness of content available for Netflix members to watch instantly is among the company’s highest priorities as it rapidly transforms itself into a service focused on streaming movies and TV shows over the Internet.

FilmDistrict was created earlier this year by Oscar®-winning producer Graham King and his business partners Tim Headington and Peter Schlessel, who became FilmDistrict’s CEO. Recently, film industry veterans Bob Berney and Adrian Alperovich joined FilmDistrict as president of film distribution and president of acquisitions and operations, respectively.

Said Ted Sarandos, chief content officer for Netflix: “Netflix has a long and successful history working with Peter Schlessel and Bob Berney, and I have long admired Graham King’s amazing production success with movies like ‘The Departed’ and ‘Blood Diamond,’ which are among the most watched and highly rated movies of all time by Netflix members. We are thrilled to be in business with these proven tastemakers and entertainment business leaders.”

“We are very excited about this new relationship with Netflix,” said Mr. Alperovich. “The innovative and flexible entrepreneurial spirit they have demonstrated makes them a perfect partner for us as we build FilmDistrict into a strong independent distributor.”

“Netflix has strategically developed a bold business model and they love movies,” added Mr. Berney. “They have cultivated a loyal audience that gives FilmDistrict great opportunities for growth.”

About Netflix

With more than 16 million members in the United States and Canada, Netflix, Inc. [Nasdaq: NFLX] is the world’s leading Internet subscription service for enjoying movies and TV shows. For $7.99 a month, Netflix members can instantly watch unlimited movies and TV episodes streamed over the Internet to PCs, Macs and TVs. Among the large and expanding base of devices streaming from Netflix are Microsoft’s Xbox 360, Nintendo’s Wii and Sony’s PS3 consoles; an array of Blu-ray disc players, Internet-connected TVs, home theater systems, digital video recorders and Internet video players; Apple’s iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, as well as Apple TV and Google TV. In all, more than 200 devices that stream from Netflix are available in the U.S. and a growing number are available in Canada. For more information, visit www.netflix.com.

SOURCE Netflix, Inc.

CONTACT: Steve Swasey of Netflix, +1-408-540-3947, sswasey@netflix.com; or Liz Berger of FilmDistrict, +1-646-380-4494, lberger@filmdistrict.com
Web Site: http://www.netflix.com

Are you still flipped over your first love?
No one forgets his or her first love as Rod Stewart said that the first cut is the deepest. Rob Reiner’s FLIPPED brings back sweet memories of the ecstatic experience of one’s first love as two eighth graders start to have feelings for each other despite being total opposites.

Flipped features a fun-loving story adapted from Wendelin Van Draanen’s bestselling novel Flipped, and stars the up and coming young actress Madeline Carroll (Swing Vote) as well as John Mahoney (Frasier). Flipped is a movie that everyone can relate to as it explores the innocence and simplicity of first love.

The movie has been highly rated earning 7 stars on IMDb.

Flipped is hitting shelves from November 23rd and the most recommended family movie to enjoy for the Thanksgiving holidays and the Christmas.

Nigeria’s Uti was chosen by Africa as the winner of M-Net’s Big Brother All Stars during Sunday night’s spectacular live Finale Show (17 October at 19:00 CAT on DStv Channel 198) after 91 gruelling days. He beat Zimbabwe ’s Munya by 8 countries to 7 to scoop the massive US$200 000 prize, outlasting the 13 other All Star Housemates over three months.

When the evening began, there were 5 housemates in with a chance of claiming the continent’s biggest reality show prize – Lerato, Munya, Mwisho, Sheila and Uti but they were evicted one-by-one, leaving Uti alone in the House.

Presenter IK kicked off the show by joining the remaining Housemates in the lounge and quizzing them about their feelings about having made it this far in the game.

Nigeria’s Maye Hunta then took to the stage and blew the continent away with a high-energy performance of the official Big Brother All Stars Anthem, African Star.

IK then brought the 9 previously evicted housemates up on stage one by one, sharing a quick joke with each. He quizzed Yacob about how life had been outside the house, since he had asked to leave. “Freedom!” exclaimed the Ethiopian. ”You can do whatever you want, go wherever you want. The support and the love you get from the people!”

IK then asked Meryl to make a choice. “You didn’t win the money, but you got yourself a man. If you had to choose, US$200 00 or the man – what would it be? Be honest!” “As much as I love paper, I love my man!” she replied.

Then it was time to get down to business as the Alexander Forbes representative delivered the verified results to the stage, to evict the first Housemate of the evening. “Welcome to All Stars News – Big Brother has decided to give US$200 000 to charity, and all housemates will be evicted,” joked IK as he took viewers inside the House. “The first Housemate of our final 5 leaving the All Stars house is…Sheila, you’ve been evicted,” he said. “See you just now,” said the Kenyan as she departed for the final time.

She joined IK on stage and he quizzed her about how it felt to have stayed in the game for so long.

“I must say, it was hectic, especially in the last week, because you get closer to the money and as you can see I’m out here, but we had so much fun! I’m going to savour every one of the 91 days,” she told him.

“What are you going to do next?” he asked. “A lot! A whole lot. Travelling to most of the countries and having a lot of fun,” the Kenyan replied before joining the other 9 evicted Housemates.

Wasting no time, IK immediately set about evicting another Housemate. “The second Housemate leaving the Big Brother All Stars House tonight is… Mwisho you’ve been evicted!” He said goodbye to Munya, Lerato and Uti and joined IK on stage.

“We’re curious about your plans – forgive me, we’re going to pry a bit here. Is she (Meryl) going to move to your country or are you going to move to her country?” asked IK of the newly-engaged Tanzanian. “We’re gonna be the continent!” said Mwisho, glancing over at a teary Meryl.

“You’re one of those who made it to the end of the game without anyone discovering your secret, so you don’t leave empty handed. Are you ready to tell your housemates your secret?” asked IK. “I’ve forgotten it!” said the distracted Tanzanian, anxious to get across to his bride-to-be. Eventually IK had to reveal Mwisho’s secret for him. “His secret was he was two-timing, dating two popular Tanzanian women at the same time. Your girl’s waiting – why don’t you go hug her!”

Superstar Nigerian rapper MI took to the stage next to perform “Anotyi” before IK reminded viewers of some of the highlights which had taken place in the House – with so much money up for grabs and a group of competitive contestants, things were bound to get hairy from time to time!

Next up – another eviction…

After accepting the envelope from the Alexander Forbes representative, it was time to go back into the House. “Lerato, how do you feel right now?” asked IK “I’m shaken up IK, it’s a very scary position. My heart is beating at super speed – I’m a little nauseous,” she said.

“Munya how do you feel?” he asked. “My man, inside I’m going like this (shaking) all the time, it’s nerve-wracking, my man,” said the Zimbabwean. “Uti?” asked IK. “So many, things, I’m just thinking,” he told his fellow Nigerian.

“It’s time to tell you what the people have decided. The third Housemate leaving the final five on Big Brother All Stars is… My girl Lerato, you have been evicted,” he told them.

As the South African emerged on stage, he asked her about her relationship with Yacob. “I didn’t ask you this the last time because we weren’t sure about this, but let me jump right into your business Lerato. In the Barn you and a certain someone had fights and interesting conversations and happenings. One minute you were fighting, the next… What’s going on between you and Yacob?” “I see him over there and he’s looking mighty mighty mighty fine,” she said. “How good is the friendship? Anything like the Mwisho and Meryl thing?” asked IK.

“No, no, no, we’re very good friends, nothing but love. Love all the time,” the South African assured him. “Now that you’re out of the House, do you think there’s anything you would have changed or are you just happy with how you played the game?” “No there’s nothing I could have done differently,” she said. “I had nothing but fun, firstly to make it to the Top 3 is insane, to be the first South African to make it that far. To be the last woman!”

While the continent digested the news that Uti and Munya were just one step away from the US$200 000 grand prize, three quickfire performances brought the audience to fever pitch – first, Kenyan star Wyre took to the stage and performed his smash hit “She Said That”, before Nigeria’s 2Face performed “Implication” and DJ Black Coffee and Tumelo rocked the stage with “Release Your Soul”.

With the continent waiting with bated breath, IK took viewers into the house to reveal the winner of Big Brother All Stars. “This season has been just about the closest season ever – and the biggest season ever. Just last week alone, we had more votes than we’ve ever had on the show before. Last year was around 700 000, this year, over a million people have voted. People must really love you guys in the house!” he told Uti and Munya.

“The margin between the winner and the first runner up was so slim. In the end, it was 8 countries to 7 countries, but alas there can be only one.

The winner of Big Brother All Stars, with 8 countries behind him, is…Uti you’re the winner, Munya you’ve been evicted!” Uti leapt from the couch while Munya sat stunned with his hands behind his head, before congratulating his Housemate.

When he emerged on stage to a raucous reception, IK tackled him on the method behind his longevity in the House: “Dude, you are a survivor. If there was ever a story of survival, it’s definitely yours. You were up just about every week for eviction! What was your strategy?”

“My strategy was just to do better than I did the last time and I succeeded in that, and I’m really happy,” said the Zimbabwean.

“I know this is not the last we’ll be seeing of you – what are you going to be doing next?” asked IK. “I’ve just shot my movie, so I’m trying to get my movie onto the big screen so that people can see more of me. I belong on TV, I live here, you know?” said Munya with that ever-present smile.

Then it was Uti’s turn to emerge…

Dancing his way through the fireworks in the garden and jiving onto stage, he was greeted by a wall of sound as the continent paid tribute to the ultimate All Star. He wasn’t going to get off without revealing his secret, though, as every evicted Housemate has to let the other Housemates know their secret.

“You managed to keep your secret til the very end, so you keep your US$1000 as well – tell us what it was,” said IK. “My secret is, when I was a teenager, I had a teenage crush on Britney Spears,” he revealed.

“Being the winner of Big Brother All Stars and having kept your secret, you leave with US$201 000, which probably makes you the richest guy in this room!” said IK. “I’m going to ask you to shut down the Big Brother House. Count down from 10 to 0…”

As Uti counted, the lights in the house switched off and the cameras faded to grey, signalling the end of the continent’s popular show and hailing the latest Big Brother winner.

For the final time, viewers stood a chance of winning one of 4 great prizes – just for voting for their favourite. The winners this week were: US$ 1000 – Anne Nwokoro (Nigeria), HD PVR Decoder – Tebogo Mangabi (Botswana), Nokia C3 Handset – Lijeng Ranwoe (Lesotho), Nokia N8 Handset – Keamogetswe Pitoli (Botswana).

Ends.

Some Like It Hot tells the story of two struggling musicians, Joe and Jerry (Curtis and Lemmon), who are on the run from a Chicago gang after witnessing the Saint Valentine’s Day massacre of 1929. Spats Columbo (Raft), the gangster in charge, orders the execution of Jerry and Joe. They escape in the confusion and decide to leave town, but the only out-of-town job they can find is in an all-girl band. The two disguise themselves as women and call themselves Josephine and Geraldine (later Jerry changes it to Daphne). They join the band and go to Florida by train. Joe and Jerry both fall for “Sugar Kane” Kowalczyk (Monroe), the band’s sexy Polish-American vocalist and ukulele player, and fight for her affection while maintaining their disguises.

Director: Billy Wilder
Writer: Billy Wilder
Studio: MGM
Cast: Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon

Release: March 29, 1959.

The Unforgettable Tony Curtis

Tony Curtis (June 3, 1925 – September 29, 2010)

Most people in Nigeria knew Tony Curtis from the two romantic adventurers of 1970s British TV series “The Persuaders” he played alongside Roger Moore of the James Bond 007 fame. And I also remember him in the 1958 classic film “The Defiant Ones” as a bigoted escaped convict chained to Sidney Poitier the most celebrated African American actor and that got him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. Acting with the legendary Hollywood sex symbol Marilyn Monroe made Tony Curtis one of the most sought after male sex symbols in Hollywood.

Curtis was born Bernard Schwartz in the Bronx, New York, to Hungarian Jewish immigrants from Mátészalka, Hungary. He joined the US Navy during World War 2 and served aboard USS Proteus.

His film career took off in 1949 when he acted the role of a rumba dancer in “Criss Cross”.
Curtis acted over 108 films and many TV roles. He was one of the shining icons of the silver screen in the Golden Age of Hollywood with Kirk Douglas, Paul Newman and Steve McQueen among other stars.

Curtis died of cardiac arrest on Thursday September 29, 2010, at his Home in Henderson, Nevada.

The Daily Mirror of UK called Tony Curtis the Elvis of Tinsel Town who brought “grease and danger of the new music to Hollywood” and “getting the girls to swoon and the boys to spend hours in front of the mirror, trying to get that peacock’s plume just so.”

“Yet Tony Curtis was always cool. Not just when he was a post-war sex symbol but even in middle age and beyond.
He had been there, done that, slept with Marilyn Monroe and got the T-shirt. He made it all look easy, and fun. Perhaps that is why the critics detested him.
Although he made some of the greatest films in history he made film seem like entertainment, rather than an art form. If there were agonies in him, and if he was riddled with self-doubt, he hid it well.
He was better than he was given credit for, and he was perhaps better than he knew. But he always seemed pleased – with life, with himself, with whatever phenomenal beauty happened to be hanging on his arms. He always looked as though he knew he could have got stuck in the Bronx for 85 years.
~ Daily Mirror, October 1, 2010.

“My father leaves behind a legacy of great performances in movies and in his paintings and assemblages. He leaves behind children and their families who loved him and respected him and a wife and in-laws who were devoted to him. He also leaves behind fans all over the world. He will be greatly missed.”
~ Jamie Lee Curtis, the daughter