Archive for July, 2010

Rehearsals Are Now Underway For The Hollywood Production Of ‘Rent’

Viva La Vie Bohème!
Posted by: Trent on July 31, 2010| 14 Comments

Next weekend, for 3 nights only, Hollywood is gettin’ a special version of the Tony Award winning musical Rent in an all new production directed by actor and Rent alum Neil Patrick Harris. This new version of Rent stars Aaron Tveit (Next to Normal) and Skylar Astin (Spring Awakening) as Roger and Mark alongside Vanessa Hudgens (as Mimi), Nicole Scherzinger (as Maureen), Wanye Brady (as Tom Collins) and more! This production of Rent will play at the Hollywood Bowl and promises to be a very special one-of-a-kind production … which will debut next Friday night after only 1 week of rehearsals! Here is a photo from these Rent rehearsals and some deets about the show itself:

RENT, written by Jonathan Larson, will be performed at the Hollywood Bowl for three performances only, Friday and Saturday August 6 and 7 at 8:30pm, and Sunday August 8 at 7:30pm. Neil Patrick Harris will direct the production, with musical direction by Tim Weil and choreography by Jamal Sims. The cast includes Skylar Astin, Wayne Brady, Vanessa Hudgens, Telly Leung, Collins Pennie, Nicole Scherzinger, Tracie Thoms, and Aaron Tveit. Tickets are now on sale, and may be purchased online at HollywoodBowl.com, by phone at 323-850-2000, in person at the Hollywood Bowl box office, or by calling Ticketmaster at 800.745.3000, and at all Ticketmaster outlets. With a 12-year run on Broadway, a Tony Award for Best Musical, and a Pulitzer Prize, RENT is one of the most groundbreaking and popular shows of all time. This year the Hollywood Bowl’s annual fully staged musical brings to life “La Vie Bohème”, “Seasons of Love” and all the songs that made RENT such a hit … Neil Patrick Harris said, “I’m thrilled with the cast. With this gang, I’m hoping to provide an eclectic mix of experienced RENT performers, amazing new talent, and recognizable faces in unexpected roles. Of paramount importance to me, though, is honoring the piece as a whole – the music, the vibe, the creator – so that those who have never experienced RENT will be able to appreciate it alongside die-hard fans. We’ll only have one week of rehearsal, which I like to call ‘madness’, but as of now my hopes are very high.” Appearing in RENT at the Hollywood Bowl as Mimi is Vanessa Hudgens, best known for her breakout role in the High School Musical series as Gabriella Montez, for which she received numerous nominations and awards. Nicole Scherzinger, solo artist, lead singer of The Pussycat Dolls, and this season’s winner of Dancing With the Stars, will play Maureen. Emmy winner and Grammy nominee Wayne Brady plays Tom Collins. Aaron Tveit, from Broadway’s Pulitzer Prize winning Next to Normal and the upcoming feature film Howl plays Roger. Skylar Astin, who played Georg in Spring Awakening on Broadway, plays Mark. Collins Pennie who appeared in the films Fame and the upcoming Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming, plays Benny. Tracie Thoms, a regular on CBS’ Cold Case, will be Joanne, a role she played in the film and the final cast of RENT on Broadway. RENT alum Telly Leung will play the role of Angel. Gwen Stewart, the original Broadway vocalist of “Seasons of Love,” will join the production as well. The ensemble of RENT includes Yassmin Alers, Eric B. Anthony, King Aswad, Susan Beaubian, David Burtka, Kathy Deitch, Sam Given, Rachael Harris, Tricia Kelly, Ethan Le Phong, Kristolyn Lloyd, Zarah Mahler, Laura Mixon, Jason Paige, Miri Park, Gwen Stewart and Brandon Wardell. Gwen Stewart was the original Broadway vocalist of “Seasons of Love.”

Rent is absolutely one of my all-time favorite Broadway shows … and is the one I’ve seen the most times (30+ at last count). I am so excited to see this new production, even if I have some reservations about the casting.


In all honesty, I’m not entirely convinced that Vanessa Hudgens can bring Mimi to life on stage … but I trust NPH‘s decision to cast her. I’m very curious to see how the whole show comes across, to be honest. I’m pretty sure that we will be going to the opening night performance on Friday … and I’m really excited. Here’s hoping this new production of Rent will do my fave show justice … or else ;)

[Photo credit: Ed Krieger; Source]

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Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi Gets Her Own Mugshot

Snookered
Posted by: Trent on July 31, 2010| 1 Comment

First comes the arrest, then comes the mugshot. Nicole Snooki Polizzi has joined the ranks of the famed Hollywood “It” Girls now that she has her very own mugshot:

TMZ has obtained Snooki’s mug shot — taken moments after the Seaside Heights PD arrested the “Jersey Shore” star for disorderly conduct Friday afternoon. Snooki — aka Nicole Polizzi — was in held in custody for several hours … before she was released on her own recognizance. As we previously reported, Snooki had been partying on the boardwalk earlier in the day with a beer bong … and at one point, she fell off of a bicycle. Sources tell us Snooki went out to dinner with one of her cast members after the incident last night.

Meh, all in a day’s work. Snooki‘s finally made it, y’all. She’s a star now.

[Source]

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BFFs, BBQ & ‘Batman Returns’

The TV Guide
Posted by: Trent on July 31, 2010| 2 Comments

Last night David and I met up with Darion and Peter for dinner at The Smokin’ Joint for some BBQ and we pretty much ate our faces off … it was very fun. After dinner, Darion gave me a belated birthday present that I fell in love with at first sight:


Darion found me a blue trackjacket with my fave Transformers character on the back … Soundwave! Last night was really cold here in LA so I was doubly happy to have this fun new jacket.

Before bed, I managed to watch Batman Returns because as I mentioned yesterday, I’ve been on a bit of a Batman kick lately:


I have to say, I think Batman Returns is my fave Batman movie of all. The story is very cool and the villains are among my fave of Batman‘s Gallery of Rogues. I always loved the fact that Max Shreck is the most evil character in the film … you feel sympathy for The Penguin and Catwoman, Shreck is just evil. I also love how Siouxsie and the Banshees co-wrote the Batman Returns theme song Face to Face with composer Danny Elfman:


There is not a single thing I don’t love about this movie. Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman really makes the film … it’s a shame that she didn’t get a film of her own. While I don’t hate the Halle Berry film Catwoman as much as pretty much everyone else on Earth, I think a film starring Pfeiffer would’ve been far superior. Ah well … I guess it was never meant to be.

Tonight, David and I will be hanging out with Rob and Tam and then we’re supposed to hit up a midnight pool party in the Hills … we’ll have to wait and see how any of that actually turns out. Hope you’re having a fab weekend :)

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Les News, 073110

Chelsea's about to get hitched, J. Lo not on 'AI' just yet, T.I. got hitched
Posted by: Trent on July 31, 2010| 3 Comments
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PITNB Readers, 073110

A Birth, A 'Pink' Cupcake and A Snooki Mugshot
Posted by: Trent on July 31, 2010| Leave a comment

Here is this week’s photos sent in by Pink is the new Blog readers — Melissa from Dallas, TX sends in an amazing photo of her sister Angie and her newborn baby girl Dahlia Elena (8 lbs, 19 ½ inches long) who was born on July 12 … which is also my birthday ;) — Syrina, who hails from the Netherlands, sends in a great photo with her friend Janneke on a recent trip to Mauritius, Africa. The ladies were celebrating their birthdays on holiday together … Janneke‘s birthday was July 6 and Syrina‘s birthday also shares my birthday on July 12 :) — Erika, who I got to meet at Starbucks earlier this week, sends in a fun photo of a Pink is the new Blog cupcake that her mother made expressly for my blog! You can find other delicious cupcake creations at LittleSugarCupcakes.webs.com — Richard from Oklahoma City, OK sends in a photo from his recent family trip to Colorado — Vanessa sends in a fabulously timed photo from her friend’s recent Jersey Shore-themed party where she showed up as Snooki‘s mugshot … which is hilarious considering that the real life Snooki got arrested in Seaside Heights, NJ yesterday:


Much love and many thanks to you all for taking the time to send in your fab photos. Much love goes out to the birthday girls Dahlia, Syrina and Janneke! Love, Love, Love goes out to YOU all for continuing to send in your amazing photos. Please keep ‘em comign! I need more, more, more :) xoxo

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Lindsay Lohan Channels Her Inner Linda Lovelace

Also channels her inner Marilyn Monroe
Posted by: Trent on July 31, 2010| 7 Comments

Photographer Tyler Shields has released new images of Hollywood starlet Lindsay Lohan, the artist currently known as Inmate #2409752 serving part of a 90-day jail sentence at the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood, CA, in costume as 70′s porn star Linda Lovelace. As you may know, Lohan is scheduled to portray Lovelace in an upcoming biopic called Inferno and these photos are the latest attempt to remind us that L. Lo still has a career in showbusiness:

Lindsay Lohan revealed her darker side recently during a photo shoot for her upcoming porn star biopic “Inferno” — and she did it all wearing nothing but your grandma’s underwear. The photos were taken by well-known photog Tyler Shields … but they’re for promotional purposes only. The film — in which Lindsay plays porn legend Linda Lovelace — hasn’t even been shot yet.

See, not even a stint in jail can derail Lindsay Lohan‘s film career … in fact, her current legal woes appear to be the best thing to happen to hear career in ages. Not only is Lindsay due to appear in Inferno but she has also filmed scenes for a new film called Undercover Comedy 2010. As you may recall, yesterday we got our first look at Lindsay in this new Comedy film — which is being made by and stars Vince Offer Schlomi … better known to the world as The ShamWow! Guy. After the jump, check out a couple more photos of Lohan as Lovelace, a few screencaps of Lohan in Underground Comedy 2010 and watch the video trailer for the film … More »

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Jennifer Aniston On Her Way To ‘Cougar Town’?

Former 'Friends' may reunite on the small screen
Posted by: Trent on July 31, 2010| Leave a comment

Yesterday we learned that Courteney Cox-Arquette‘s hit ABC comedy Cougar Town will be keeping it’s name for the second season and beyond despite the fact that the name no longer seems to fit the sitcom any longer. Today we learn a bit of new information about the show that has nothing to do with the title and everything to do with a report from Entertainment Weekly that Jennifer Aniston is close to signing a deal that will bring her on the show in a guest spot:

Courteney Cox is cooking up something bigger than a title change to lure viewers to the undiscovered gem that is her ABC comedy Cougar Town: Jennifer Aniston! After a year’s worth of will-she-or-won’t-she speculation, Aniston is nearing a deal to reunite with her former Friends costar (and real-life BFF) in an early episode of the show’s second season (premiering on Sept. 22), sources confirm to me exclusively. ABC declined to comment, while Cougar Town executive producer Bill Lawrence would only say, “I would love for it to happen but there’s nothing to talk about yet.”

As you may recall, Arquette‘s other female Friends co-star Lisa Kudrow made a guest appearance on Cougar Town last season so it makes sense that Aniston would be stopping by as well. Courteney and Jennifer previously worked together on the short-lived FX series Dirt and it was rumored that Aniston would be making a cameo in Arquette‘s upcoming new film Scream 4. The universe just wants these real-life BFFs to work together again … I’d bet very good money that Jen will be showing up on Cougar Town this coming season … and I can’t wait! I wonder how long until the male Friends alums start showing up on the show as well. HMMM.

[Source]

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Sarah Michelle Gellar Is All Smiles With Daughter Charlotte Grace

Brunch with Baby
Posted by: Trent on July 31, 2010| 4 Comments

Here are a few absolutely adorable photos of happy mom Sarah Michelle Gellar out and about on a brunch date with her babygirl Charlotte Grace in Brentwood, CA earlier this week … as you can see from these photos, SMG still really seems to be loving every single second of motherhood … and with a cutie like Charlotte, who could blame her?


It’s crazy to think that Charlotte Grace is about to turn 1 in just about a month and a half! It seems just just yesterday that we heard about the darling little girl’s birth and here she is, already nearing her 1st birthday. She is just the cutest little thing … and SMG looks happier than I’ve ever seen her. SMG may always be Buffy the Vampire Slayer to me but it looks like she’s finally found her true calling in life. She looks like a fantastically happy mother … I wonder if she and hubby Freddie Prinze, Jr. are thinking about expanding their family. Wouldn’t it be great if Charlotte had a baby brother to play with?

[Source]

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Liz Phair Explains Her New Album ‘Funstyle’

"This is my journey. Ill keep sending you postcards."
Posted by: Trent on July 31, 2010| 1 Comment

On July 4, Independence Day here in the US, rocker Liz Phair released a new album of songs titled Funstyle on her official website without any pomp or circumstance … the songs just popped up on her site for download. Almost as soon as the songs became available, fans began to discuss the newly released songs, critics pounced upon the album (some critics actually got what Liz was trying to convey with the album) and everyone was left wondering what the hell is going on with Liz Phair. Liz has since updated her official website with a message to fans that kind of explains what the release of Funstyle means. Here is that explanation in full:

How To Like It.

You were never supposed to hear these songs. These songs lost me my management, my record deal and a lot of nights of sleep. Yes, I rapped one of them. Im as surprised as you are. But here is the thing you need to know about these songs and the ones coming next: These are all me. Love them, or hate them, but dont mistake them for anything other than an entirely personal, un-tethered-from-the-machine, free for all view of the world, refracted through my own crazy lens. This is my journey. Ill keep sending you postcards.

-Liz

Wow. To be honest, I didn’t know what to make of the album after the first listen … I wasn’t sure if it was meant to be taken as a joke, a serious album or something in between. I had guessed that this collection of songs were outtakes that Liz put together to poke fun at her critics but to learn that these songs lost her management and record deal is very telling. It sounds like Liz was hoping her new record deal with ATO Records would afford her the freedom to write and record whatever she liked … and when she turned in these songs for release, she found that not to be the case. In all honesty, the more I listen to the album the more I see the old Liz Phair expressing herself … while the songs may be very different in tone and subject matter, they sound like they were made in much the same way as Liz‘s first collection of songs (the now legendary Girlysound songs). I am most encouraged by her promise of the songs “coming next” as well as the promise on her website of “TOUR DATES COMING SOON!!!” I’m all for more music and a tour … oh yes, sir, I am.

Additionally, Liz gave an interview to Ken Lee who runs the fantastic Liz Phair fan site Mesmerizing and talked at length about her new music and what’s to come next. After the jump, check out a few excerpts from that interview … More »

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Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi Gets Released From Jail

On the loose again
Posted by: Trent on July 31, 2010| 2 Comments

Yesterday afternoon we learned the shocking news that Jersey Shore castmember Nicole Snooki Polizzi was arrested in Seaside Heights, NJ while she and fellow castmates were filming new scenes for the upcoming 3rd season of their show. At the time it was reported that Snooki got busted for “disorderly conduct” but no further information was released by the authorities. Upon her arrest, Snooki‘s BFFs and fellow JS castmates Jenni JWoww Farley and Vinny Guadagnino made their way to the police station where Snooki was being held … but they were brutally rebuffed and sent away Snooki-less:


Tho after a few hours in custody and after a bit of processing, Snooki was released back into the wild a free woman. After the jump, check out a couple photos of Snooki being released from jail after her run-in with the law yesterday afternoon … More »

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