Fan Fare
Entertainment behind the scenes
Summer ’09: A Hollywood Requiem
Every year in Hollywood when the long, hot days of summer set in, some story comes along to shake
up the media, and reporters seem to bite into it like a dog with a bone. Absent anything else going on in town, that story is becomes the tale of Hollywood’s summer.
So far, early in this summer of 2009, the story has been celebrity deaths. When Karl Malden died yesterday, he was added to a growing list of celebrities who either died after long illnesses or suddenly, topped off by the King of Pop himself Michael Jackson.
When Jackson died last week, fans across the world went into shock and are still waiting news of an official funeral or public memorial.
Also catching fans by surprise was the strange demise of “Kung Fu” actor David Carradine, who was found in the closet of his Bangkok hotel on June 4. A pathologist who oversaw a private autopsy told
Family, friends gather to mourn Farrah Fawcett
(Writing and Reporting by Laura Isensee)
Family members and friends gathered to mourn 1970s TV star Farrah Fawcett, who died last week after a long battle with cancer. You can read about the memorial service here.
Reporters were not allowed Los Angeles’ Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels to witness Fawcett’s memorial, but we were outside to catch the casket being brought into the church, and we talked to a couple of fans outside. Click below to watch.
“SYTYCD” pays tribute to Michael Jackson; Asuka, Jonathan go home
Thursday’s elimination show of “So You Think You Can Dance” began on a somber note as executive producer Nigel Lythgoe paid tribute to Ed McMahon, Farrah FawcettandMichael Jackson, all of whom passed away this week.
Nigel paid special recognition to the enormous contribution Jackson made to music and dance.
“We will not see his like again. He changed the face of music and dance in the world — not just in this country.”
He called Jackson’s 1991 “Black or White” music video — which incorporated a number of international dance styles — an inspiration for the show.
“This is a life to celebrate. This is a life that remains inspirational for anybody who listens to music, anybody who wants to dance,” Nigel said, noting that many dancers auditioning for the show over the years cited Jackson as the reason why they started dancing. (Last week, contestant Jason Glover was shown doing an impressive Jackson impression when he was four years old.)
Of Jackson’s iconic 1982 “Thriller” video, directed by John Landis, Nigel said, “After this, there was nothing ever again that would be the same.”
THE SHOW MUST GO ON
After the tribute, the voting results were unveiled. It was not a good night for ballroom dancers as Asuka KondohandJonathan Platero were the unlucky ones sent home by judges Nigel, Mary Murphy and guest Toni Basil.
Asuka, who performed a Mandy Moore thrash-jazz routine with partnerVitolio Jeune, was the first to go home in an unanimous decision. The judges called her a beautiful and “exciting performer,” but it wasn’t good enough. “You give a little something of yourself with everything that you do, but we do feel that you are not growing in the competition,” Nigel said.
The boyish Jonathan was the third male to leave the show. Despite an “outstanding” solo, the judges said his hip-hop performance (choreographed by Dave Scott) was “like a Sunday school picnic outing” despite its “gangsta” theme. “I don’t believe you’ve brought the dancing that is required to be America’s best dancer,” Nigel concluded.
The four contestants who escaped the chopping block were Jonathan’s partner, Karla Garcia (despite what the judges called a “desperate” solo), Vitolio, and Caitlin Kinney and Jason, who performed a paso doble by choreographer Jean Marc Genereaux.
Randi Evans and Evan Kasprzak lived up to the personality and originality of Mia Michael’s charming “butt” routine.
And speaking of butts, Phillip Chbeeb ripped his pants during his Tyce Diorio jazz number with Jeanine Mason, sending Mary into hysterics. Nigel felt Phillip still needed to grow, despite his popularity with voters: “I need more than your ass sticking out of your trousers.”
The only couple to make it onto Mary’s “hot tomale train” this week was Kupono Aweau and his new partner Kayla Radomski with their performance of a waltz by Genereaux. “I never yell for a Viennese waltz,” said Mary, who preceded to give her signature scream. But Nigel, in a particularly crusty and critical mood on Wednesday, said they weren’t going to make anyone stand up and cheer, even though it was beautifully danced. Voters disagreed.
With seven couples left, dancers will face increasing pressure to exceed expectations every week. Who will survive the heat and who will wilt under the glare of the spotlight?
Thursday’s elimination show of “So You Think You Can Dance” began on a somber note as executive producer Nigel Lythgoe paid tribute toEd McMahon, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson, all of whom passed away this week.
Nigel paid special recognition to the enormous contribution Jackson made to music and dance.
“We will not see his like again. He changed the face of music and dance in the world — not just in this country.”
He called Jackson’s 1991 “Black or White” music video — which incorporated a number of international dance styles — an inspiration for the show.
“This is a life to celebrate. This is a life that remains inspirational for anybody who listens to music, anybody who wants to dance,” Nigel said, noting that many dancers auditioning for the show over the years cited Jackson as the reason why they started dancing. (Last week, contestant Jason Glover was shown doing an impressive Jackson impression when he was four years old.)
Of Jackson’s iconic 1982 “Thriller” video, directed by John Landis, Nigel said, “After this, there was nothing ever again that would be the same.”
THE SHOW MUST GO ON
After the tribute, the voting results were unveiled. It was not a good night for ballroom dancers as Asuka Kondoh andJonathan Platero were the unlucky ones sent home by judges Nigel, Mary Murphy and guest Toni Basil.
Asuka, who performed a Mandy Moore thrash-jazz routine with partner Vitolio Jeune, was the first to go home in an unanimous decision. The judges called her a beautiful and “exciting performer,” but it wasn’t good enough. “You give a little something of yourself with everything that you do, but we do feel that you are not growing in the competition,” Nigel said.
The boyish Jonathan was the third male to leave the show. Despite an “outstanding” solo, the judges said his hip-hop performance (choreographed by Dave Scott) was “like a Sunday school picnic outing” despite its “gangsta” theme. “I don’t believe you’ve brought the dancing that is required to be America’s best dancer,” Nigel concluded.
The four contestants who escaped the chopping block were Jonathan’s partner, Karla Garcia (despite what the judges called a “desperate” solo), Vitolio, and Caitlin Kinney and Jason, who performed a paso doble by choreographer Jean Marc Genereaux.
Randi Evans and Evan Kasprzak lived up to the personality and originality of Mia Michael’s charming “butt” routine.
And speaking of butts, Phillip Chbeeb ripped his pants during his Tyce Diorio jazz number with Jeanine Mason, sending Mary into hysterics. Nigel felt Phillip still needed to grow, despite his popularity with voters: “I need more than your ass sticking out of your trousers.”
The only couple to make it onto Mary’s “hot tomale train” this week was Kupono Aweau and his new partner Kayla Radomski with their performance of a waltz by Genereaux. “I never yell for a Viennese waltz,” said Mary, who preceded to give her signature scream. But Nigel, in a particularly crusty and critical mood on Wednesday, said they weren’t going to make anyone stand up and cheer, even though it was beautifully danced. Voters disagreed.
With seven couples left, dancers will face increasing pressure to exceed expectations every week. Who will survive the heat and who will wilt under the glare of the spotlight?
Michael Jackson overshadows Farrah Fawcett on a sad day
Farrah Fawcett had about four hours of headlines to herself on Thursday before Michael Jackson kicked her off the metaphorical front page. And both overshadowed Ed McMahon, who died on Tuesday.
They say celebrity deaths come in threes, but rarely do they come in such close proximity. The cancer-related deaths of former “Tonight Show” sidekick McMahon and former “Charlie’s Angel” Fawcett came as little shock, but Jackson’s was perhaps the most stunning celebrity exit since his friend Princess Diana died in a car crash in 1997.
UPDATE – Farrah Fawcett cancer special a ratings hit for NBC
Farrah Fawcett’s farewell message to the American public drew 8.9 million TV viewers on Friday, according to NBC, and a flood of comments on this site, many of them from well-wishers asking where they could send messages of support to the actress.
For all those who asked and any others, we came up with an email address where such messages can be sent and hopefully passed onto Fawcett.
