Israel apologizes for turning the legendary band away
By Matthew B. Zeidman
JERUSALEM (Hollywood Today) 8/28/08 – Could you imagine being the guy that turned down the Beatles playing in your town? Yet for Israeli Beatles fans, it’s better late than never. Forty-three years after an alleged fight between concert promoters kept the Fab Four from visiting the Middle Eastern nation, former band member Paul McCartney has accepted an invitation from Israel’s London embassy to make up for his band’s missed gig.
“Paul McCartney holds true the key principals of friendship—loyalty and respect—and the ‘Friendship First’ concert is an opportunity for people to celebrate these values whilst having a memorable night of fun and rock n’ roll,” read a statement released on McCartney’s Web site Wednesday.
McCartney, as well as the other surviving Beatles member, Ringo Starr, were sent an invitation earlier in the year by Ron Prosor, Israel’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, asking them to perform and lamenting that his country “missed a chance to learn from the most influential musicians of the decade.” Starr has not yet responded to the letter.
Though it was commonly believed government censorship kept away the wildly popular foursome, Israeli newspaper Haaretz ran a story Monday, claiming a promoter who had turned down the Beatles in 1962 became jealous when a second businessman booked the band in 1965 and manipulated government officials into withholding funds necessary to finalize the show.
“He said it is a lousy group and will corrupt the spirit of the wonderful, brilliant, pure Israeli youngsters,” Yossi Sarid, son of an Education and Culture Ministry official involved in the decades-old scandal, told the newspaper. “He exploited their ignorance.”
According to McCartney’s Web site, he and his other musical group, Wings, were scheduled to perform in Israel in the late 1970s, but were forced to cancel because of an unspecified problem with the venue.
As for the guy that turned down a Beatles concert? His ticket stubs would be worth more now on eBay than he makes at the kibbutz he may have been banished to.
Russian President Medvedev defies West in statement
By Matthew B. Zeidman
MOSCOW (Hollywood Today) 8/27/08 – In Russia’s starkest anti-Western statement in its 17 years as a democratic nation, President Dmitry Medvedev recognized the sovereignty of the breakaway Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia Tuesday and declared his country undaunted by the possible return of the Cold War’s infamous Iron Curtain.
“Abkhazia and South Ossetia are a part of the internationally recognized borders of Georgia, and it’s going to remain so,” U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced in response to Medvedev’s statement, which included the Russian leader’s boast, “We are not afraid of anything, including the prospect of a cold war,” as well as the promise that Russia would shore up its military in response to U.S. missile defense systems recently installed in Europe.
Russia drew widespread international condemnation on Aug. 8, following the invasion of its former Soviet satellite in response to Georgia’s military action against South Ossetian rebels. After weeks of fighting and partial occupation, Russia finally agreed to largely remove its military presence from non-contested Georgian soil on Aug. 23, moving the bulk of its forces back into Abkhazia and South Ossetia over the several days that followed.
Despite elephant-laden commercials, Spears will not perform
By Matthew B. Zeidman
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 8/26/08 – Fans of Britney Spears hoping for a triumphant retort to last year’s heavily criticized performance of “Gimme More” at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) will be disappointed. Despite a series of commercials recently aired on the network featuring Spears, host Russell Brand and a performing elephant, a representative for the pop star has made it clear Spears will neither dance nor sing at this year’s show.
“Britney Spears will not be performing at the VMAs this year,” the entertainer’s manager, Larry Rudolph, said in a statement released to “American Idol” star and radio host Ryan Seacrest, claiming a repeat appearance was never her intention. “I’m telling you officially and unequivocally.”
Rudolph, who was credited with discovering Spears and had worked for her twice before, resumed his professional relationship with the “Crossroads” actress earlier this year. The two parted ways approximately three years ago, reunited in 2006 and split again several months later when Spears publicly accused him of forcing her to go to rehab.
Dancing With The Stars Dream Boat Helio Castroneves Races To Wine Country Victory
By David Mirsky
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 8/26/08 — Team Penske driver, and 2 time Indianapolis 500 winner, Helio Castroneves has broken his non-winning streak of 29 races by taking today’s checkered flag at the Peak Anti-freeze Indy Car Grand Prix at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California. It’s really amazing that a driver of Helio’s stature hasn’t won a race in 29 starts. What are the odds of that, especially when driving for Roger Penske’s team, one of the premiere teams in the Indy Car League. Ryan Briscoe, Helio’s team mate at Penske finished in 2nd, with Andretti / Green racing’s Tony Kanaan coming in 3rd. Current point leader, Scott Dixon could only Read the rest of this Hollywood Today story »
Barack Obama compared to Mahatma Gandhi and John Lennon by Madonna
By Matthew B. Zeidman
CARDIFF, Wales (Hollywood Today) 8/25/08 – Saturday was the first performance of Madonna’s highly anticipated “Sticky and Sweet” tour, and the Michigan-born entertainer wasted no time in stirring up controversy. According to the Associated Press, a video montage was played during the show, preceding a photograph of Republican presidential candidate John McCain with images of destruction, global warming, Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler and anti-Western president of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe.
Not limiting the Welsh audience to her opinion on only one White House hopeful, Madonna played a more favorable montage later on, AP reported, this time following pictures of John Lennon, Al Gore and Mahatma Gandhi with McCain’s Democratic rival, Barack Obama.
Madonna hasn’t been afraid to step on toes before, having received heavy criticism during 2006’s Confessions tour from various Christian leaders for performing the song “Live to Tell” while suspended from a cross. Also during that tour, Madonna substituted curse-laden lyrics during her performance of “I Love New York” to insult President Bush.
“This car is not for everyone, which makes it just right for you”
By Karen Ostlund
HOLLYWOOD CA (Hollywood Today) 22/08/08 Ford Flex Manejalo was on everyone’s lips yesterday at LA Center Studios.
This was the first Los Angeles Launch of Ford Flex 2009, but when does the car come out?
“2009 model of Ford Flex is actually already out on the market since a few weeks and doing well” a sales representative is convincing me.
The first impression that comes in mind when you see this new six seater is a “stretch jeep with lower roof”.
Estilo,Vida,Vision Y Pasion Gala, translated style-life-vision and passion was an exclusive preview and testdrive for the Hispanic media market and the evening got support from David Banner, Billboards near.One recording artist and Vida Guerra.
This is one of the first Latin events that will follow with a Latin film festival Read the rest of this Hollywood Today story »
Sunday Drivers: Edwards Edges Past Busch At Bristol
By David Mirsky
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 8/24/08 — Valencia, Spain was the site of Formula 1’s latest addition to their yearly racing schedule where a fan packed crowd watched Ferrari’s Felipe Massa win the inaugural race from pole position. The brand new street track was fast and smooth with 25 high speed turns, and nothing short of demanding because of the summer heat and quick pace. Although the track was green and new, every driver seemed to like this new venue even though nearly ever turn was a blind turn with speeds of just under 200 mph.
Valencia, situated on Spain’s Mediterranean coast, had been given a make over in the past couple of years, turning this port – resort city into a world class destination for the European Grand Prix. A clean race start saw Massa beat point’s leader, Lewis Hamilton to the first corner, who started to pull away immediately by nearly a ½ second per lap. The first lap saw Spain’s two time World Champion, Fernando Alonso get re-ended by William’s driver, Kazuki Nakajima, tearing the rear wing from the car, ending Alonso’s day. Needless to say, the local Spaniards were disappointed. It was a great race to watch, not because there was all sorts of passing, but because Read the rest of this Hollywood Today story »
Bunny does $15m, Tropic Thunder still takes No. 1 with 16 million
By Keith Williams
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 8/24/08 — With the no.1 position just about in its paws, The House Bunny got knobbled at the last second by Tropic Thunder elbowing it aside to retain the top slot for a second weekend.
Death Race, the weekend’s expected winner got left behind in third.
Opening in 2714 colleges, House Bunny took an estimated $15.1 million, but the real
triumph must be reserved for star Anna Faris, a superb comedienne whose innate sense of timing rescued many a Scary Movie from oblivion. Excellent as a straight actress too in Brokeback Mountain, it’s great to see her finally recognised as a draw in her own right, though whether she continues in crappy comedies or branches out into more demanding roles depends on how good her management is. Tropic Thunder exploded $16.1 million to beat it into second place, pushing Death Race into third, with $12.2 million in 2532 prisons. Of The Rocker, there was no sign of it at all in the nation’s top ten.
More The Longest Yard on wheels than a “re-imagining” of Roger Corman’s 70’s cult classic Death Race 2000, Death Race (2008), the Jason Statham starrer resulted in average returns for both him and writer/director Paul W. S. Anderson. Both have done better in the past, with Statham’s Transporter 2 opening at Read the rest of this Hollywood Today story »
Cyrus will sell tickets to celebration honoring young volunteers
By Matthew B. Zeidman
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 8/24/08 – Though teen idol Miley Cyrus’ 16th birthday doesn’t come until nearly Thanksgiving, she’s decided to celebrate well before Halloween with a commemoration of her nascence at none other than Disneyland. In a move that surely has scalpers salivating and Disney shoring up its Web servers, a limited number of $250 tickets to the Oct. 5 event will go on sale Saturday, allowing entry even to those without connections to the “Hannah Montana” actress.
“The best part of the party is we’re going to recognize some really cool kids from Youth Service America who are giving back to their community,” Cyrus said in a statement released Thursday. “That’s so awesome, because I think it’s really important for kids like us to volunteer.”
According to Cyrus, she will treat partygoers to a live performance, in addition to rides, friends and fireworks. “I only turn 16 once,” the currently 15-year-old pied piperess wrote in justification of the opulent gathering-to-be.
Meanwhile, fellow Disney fan magnet Demi Lovato spent the first part of her sweet 16 more quietly Wednesday, taking the time to do a little bit of shopping in Atlanta. Best friend Selena Gomez revealed the “Camp Rock” star’s plans to YouTube viewers, who also received a pre-birthday and post-birthday video message from Lovato, herself, the latter thanking fans for singing “Happy Birthday” to her twice at her performance with the Jonas Brothers later that day.
BEIJING (Hollywood Today) 8/23/08– The United States men’s volleyball team came to Beijing relatively unnoticed in their sport. Unlike their counterparts on the beach, early predictions didn’t have the men’s indoor team as medal favorites.
While the U.S. women’s and men’s beach volleyball teams came to these Olympics highly touted (the women as defending gold medalist), the men’s indoor team showed up with less clout as they finished out of the medals after losing to Russia in the bronze medal game in 2004.
The odds against the men looked bad. Stacked with veterans, eight of the 12 players were 30 or older. The team had not won a medal at the games since 1992, when they took bronze in Barcelona. And then tragedy struck when coach Hugh McCutcheon’s father-in-law was fatally stabbed while sightseeing in Beijing, shaking the close-knit American volleyball community.
McCutcheon took a leave from the team in the opening rounds to attend to his family. Despite his personal tragedy, he came back his team to see them through their Olympic experience. Upon his return, the team got new life, inspired by their coach’s resolve.
In a rematch of their consolation game in 2004, the United States took on Russia in the semifinals on Friday, winning 25-22, 25-21, 25-27, 22-25, 15-13. The U.S. team had not beaten Russia in a match in 15 years, since a victory at Read the rest of this Hollywood Today story »
Famous TV pitchman will vacate home shortly after selling to new buyer
By Matthew B. Zeidman
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Today) 8/23/08 – Earlier in the month, it seemed Ed McMahon had a friend in Donald Trump, when the real estate mogul offered to help the well known pitchman avert foreclosure by paying off the debt on his Beverly Hills mansion and leasing it back to him. However, the Associated Press reported that McMahon, a fixture on “The Tonight Show” during the Johnny Carson era, has decided to turn down Trump’s offer and sell to an unnamed party.
“If another buyer should emerge who will create the benefit Mr. Trump sought for Ed McMahon, then he is clearly pleased,” Michael Cohen, special counsel to Trump, told the AP, reiterating that his employer was not motivated by profit, but rather benevolent concern for an American icon, in offering to help McMahon.
In an interview with Newsday, Cohen also reported that unlike Trump’s offer, which is commonly referred to in the industry as a leaseback arrangement, the new buyer expected McMahon to leave his property within six months of the sale closing. Neither McMahon nor his representatives have commented on his preference for the new deal.
WASHINGTON, DC (Hollywood Today) 08/22/08 - - “I’m not the guy,” Delaware Senator Joseph Biden, 65, told reporters outside his home this past Tuesday. Yet he is – the newly announced running mate of Barack Obama.
As for secrecy in Washington politics, it’s status quo. While most Americans are sound asleep on the East Coast tonight they are unaware that by the time they wake up, a convoy of secret service personnel was dispatched towards the Delaware home of Joe Biden and family. As for Barack Obama, he and his family by order of President Bush were given secret service protection almost immediately into the Democrat’s presidential campaign. The act was an unprecedented move so early for a presidential candidate, who was at the time, competing amongst seven other contestants. One of them – Joe Biden.
For many Americans, Biden’s partnership with Obama may come as a surprise; given Biden’s often extreme liberal beliefs. On the other hand, Obama’s choice may be the exact ticket Democrats have been demanding from their own party. Biden as a choice appears to keep Obama to the left of center for the Democrats.
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