Category: People & Personalities
Honoring a comics legend!
Excelsior!
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Stan Lee Tribute Weekend honors the comics creator’s seven decades of bringing entertainment to the world
One lucky winner will win exclusive VIP Passes for Stan Lee Tribute Weekend May 6-8, 2010
On Thursday, May 6, the N9NE Group with Brenden Theatres and the Palms Casino Resort will present Iron Man 2 Launch Party at the MOON Nightclub. MOON opens to the public at 10:30 p.m. and will feature an “Iron Man” themed night with appearances by Stan Lee and other celebrity guests. General admission applies.
Stan Lee’s Brenden Celebrity Star presentation will take place on Friday, May 7, 2010, the opening day of the new Paramount Pictures “Iron Man 2” film starring Robert Downey, Jr. which Lee served as an executive producer. The ceremony to be hosted by Celebrity Journalist Robin Leach will take place in the Brenden Theaters at the Palms lobby at 7:30 p.m. The Brenden Celebrity Star presentation is co-sponsored by Derrick Taylor’s Comic Oasis.
The weekend wraps with an invited guest tribute reception and dinner May 8, 2010 hosted by the Walt Disney Company and featuring Stan Lee’s Time Jumper. Red carpet arrivals begin at 6:00 p.m. with celebrity appearances. Guests will also preview clips from Stan Lee’s documentary “With Great Power – The Stan Lee Story.” Celebrities from all of Lee’s films and creations have been invited to attend this special event.
To have a chance at winning the VIP passes, visit http://starsamongtheangelsonlineauction.afrogs.org/.
Farewell To The Captain
Captain Lou Albano
RIP 1933-2009
LordsofPain.com just reported that WWE Hall of Famer Captain Lou Albano (Louis Vincent Albano) has passed away. He was 76 years old.
Captain Lou enjoyed a 40+ year career in the pro wrestling business as a wrestler and manager. He was a one-on-a-kind personality and a longtime favorite of wrestling fans.
The “manager of champions” guided 15 different tag teams and 4 singles competitors to championship gold. Fans may remember that his association with Cyndi Lauper helped usher in The Rock & Wrestling Connection, which helped mainstream pro wrestling and helped lead to the first Wrestlemania.
I’d like to extend my deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Captain Lou Albano. He shall be missed.
Happy Birthday, Larry Fine!
Today would have been the 107th birthday to one of the alltime great movie funnymen, Larry Fine (Louis Feinberg) of The Three Stooges.
Thanks for all the laughter, Larry! You shall live forever in the hearts of your fans!
This should be good
The August 10, 2009 issue of Dave Metlzer’s The Wrestling Observer reports that none other than Rev Al Sharpton is scheduled to host a future episode of WWE RAW. That’s crackerjack booking from the House of McMahon for you.
Mr. Malden shall be deeply missed
RIP Karl Malden
1912-2009
USA Today reports…
Actor Karl Malden dies at 97
The family of Karl Malden says the actor who won an Oscar for his role in A Streetcar Named Desire has died at age 97.
Malden’s family informed the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences of his death on Wednesday. Malden served as the academy’s president from 1989-92.
He made his screen debut in the 1940 movie They Knew What They Wanted, and was praised for his role as Mitch in the 1951 classic A Streetcar Named Desire.
His greatest fame came as Detective Mike Stone in the 1970s TV series The Streets of San Francisco, in which he co-starred with Michael Douglas.
Malden also was a pitchman for American Express in a series of commercials airing over 21 years.
I expect nothing less from The God of Thunder!
Word is that KISS rocker Gene Simmons has been pressed for comments on the passing of Michael Jackson, but had remained silent since the King of Pop’s death this past Thursday.
Mr. Simmons evidently finally released a statement late on Sunday afternoon, via his Facebook page.
“[I've] gotten a lot of questions from media and from quite a lot of you [regarding] Michael Jackson.
“I have refused all media requests for interviews. There are enough people in the industry being quoted. Some altruistically, some for media coverage.
“Either way… When I was going out with Diana Ross in the early ’80s, I met Michael a few times through her. We spent social time together. Found him to be gentle, charming… obviously very talented. And that was that.
“The Michael of later years is someone I didn’t recognize… nor like very much.
“When there are children involved… when there are allegations (many) of child molestation… when there are admissions of inviting countless young boys to spend weekends and sometimes Michael’s bed with them (Michael’s quote), clothed or unclothed… makes no difference… when there are payoffs to the children making the accusations in the $20,000,000 range ($20 million dollars!!! — as reported by media) ….There’s more than doubt in my mind.
“This doesn’t take into consideration Michael’s children… none of whom are biologically his. All three of whom have had a ‘strange’ upbringing. But then we don’t know much, except a ‘father’ who thought nothing of dangling his young child over the balcony (head covered in a towel), so his fans could get a thrill.
“So what’s my comment regarding Michael’s passing? I hope he finds peace. I wish his family and friends all the best in these very sad times.
“But as regards media coverage: celebs can always get media coverage.
“But what about the children who spent nights with Michael in his bed? (He has admitted on camera he has done it many times, and would continue to do it.) They need a voice. And they should have a chance to have their say. With lie detectors attached. Maybe then, away from rich celebrities, tricky lawyers and L.A. court systems that can’t seem to convict anyone…. maybe then, we’ll find out the truth about child molestation charges leveled at Michael Jackson from children (that’s plural, not singular).
“My comment? I recognize and respect his talent, but the rest is very tainted. And I want to hear the truth, once and for all.”
Gene Simmons: calling it like it is.
Fearful Symmetry
Charles Foster Kane reaches dizzying heights in life quickly, while still in youth, but then starts on a downward trajectory in life where he grows stranger, more alone, and sequesters himself in a large mansion (Xanadu) until his death, when among his final thoughts is a longing for the simpler pleasures of a time when he was a child.
Michael Jackson reaches dizzying heights in life quickly, while still in youth, but then starts on a downward trajectory in life where he grows stranger, more alone, and sequesters himself in a large mansion (Neverland) until his death, but all along he conveys a longing for the simpler pleasures of a childhood he never had.
Hmmm……….
Millions of fans feel the loss
RIP Michael Jackson
1958-2009
Rolling Stone reports…
Michael Jackson (1958-2009)
by David Browne
Michael Jackson, one of the most talented and eccentric performers in pop history, died of apparent cardiac arrest at the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles at 2:26 p.m. PT today, June 25th. According to reports, he collapsed in his Los Angeles-area home and paramedics arriving on the scene found the superstar with no pulse; he was immediately rushed to the hospital. Although confusion about his status lingered (a spokesman for Sony Music, Jackson’s one-time home, said he was just hearing “rumors” at 3:20 p.m. PT), Jackson was reportedly in a coma, and his death was confirmed just before 3:30 p.m. PT.
Jackson’s health, which has been the source of speculation for nearly two decades, had recently returned to the headlines. Next month, Jackson was set to start a series of 50 sold-out concerts at London’s O2 arena, but the singer postponed the first four shows of the “This Is It!” run in May and had reportedly not shown up for some rehearsals.
Over the course of a career that started 40 years ago, with the Jackson 5′s first hit, 1969′s “I Want You Back,” Jackson was a towering and constantly enigmatic presence in pop music — a giant on the level of Presley, Sinatra and Dylan. He set an almost impossibly high standard in pop music on numerous levels: as a record maker (the silky funk and R&B on albums like Thriller and Off the Wall), dancer (his Moonwalk remains one of the most imitated steps), fashion icon (sequined gloves), video auteur (lavish clips for “Beat It” and “Thriller”
and record seller (1982′s Thriller was the Number One selling album of all time until it was recently deposed by the Eagles’ Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975). His singing and music took in gospel, hard rock, funk, and middle-of-the-road balladry, and his vision of himself as an all-around entertainer propelled him to heights rarely seen in pop history.
Remembering a True 1970s Star
RIP Farrah Fawcett
1947-2009
Yahoo News reports…
‘Charlie’s Angel’ Farrah Fawcett dies at 62
A winsome smile, tousled hair and unfettered sensuality were Farrah Fawcett‘s trademarks as a sex symbol and 1970s TV star in “Charlie’s Angels.”
But as her life drew to a close, she captivated the public in a far different way: as a cancer patient who fought for, then surrendered, her treasured privacy to document her struggle with the disease and inspire others.
Fawcett, 62, died Thursday morning at St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, nearly three years after being diagnosed with anal cancer. Ryan O’Neal, the longtime companion who returned to her side when she became ill, was with her.
“After a long and brave battle with cancer, our beloved Farrah has passed away,” O’Neal said. “Although this is an extremely difficult time for her family and friends, we take comfort in the beautiful times that we shared with Farrah over the years and the knowledge that her life brought joy to so many people around the world.”
In the end, Fawcett sought to offer more than that, re-emerging in the spotlight with a new gravitas.
In “Farrah’s Story,” which aired last month, she made public her painful treatments and dispiriting setbacks — from shaving her golden locks before chemotherapy could claim them to undergoing experimental treatments in Germany.
Remembering The Tonight Show Legend
RIP Ed McMahon
1923-2009
The Los Angeles Democrat-Herald reports…
‘Tonight’ sidekick Ed McMahon dies in LA at 86
Ed McMahon, the loyal “Tonight Show’’ sidekick who bolstered boss Johnny Carson with guffaws and a resounding “H-e-e-e-e-e-ere’s Johnny!’’ for 30 years, died early Tuesday. He was 86.
McMahon died shortly after midnight at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center surrounded by his wife, Pam, and other family members, said his publicist, Howard Bragman.
Bragman didn’t give a cause of death, saying only that McMahon had a “multitude of health problems the last few months.’’
McMahon broke his neck in a fall in March 2007, and battled a series of financial problems as his injuries prevented him from working.
Doc Severinson, “Tonight’’ bandleader during the Carson era, said McMahon was a man “full of life and joy and celebration.’’
“He will be sorely missed. He was one of the greats in show business, but most of all he was a gentleman. I miss my friend,’’ Severinson said in a statement.
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