Fan Fare
Entertainment behind the scenes
Katy Perry is feeling blue as “The Smurfs” starts production in NY
Singer Katy Perry is turning blue as she continues to expand her entertainment career: she’s taking on the voice of a Smurf in a movie of the well-loved blue characters that has started production in New York.
Perry will play Smurfette in the hybrid live-action and animated 3D film while Anton Yelchin plays Clumsy Smurf, Jonathan Winters is Papa Smurf, Alan Cumming is Gutsy Smurf, SNL’s Fred Armisen will voice Brainy Smurf and George Lopez plays Grouchy Smurf. The evil wizard Gargamel will be played Hank Azaria who chases the blue Smurfs out of their village and their magical world – into Central Park. Neil Patrick Harris and Jayma Mays play an expectant couple whose lives are turned upside down when the Smurfs pop up.
Director Raja Gosnell, whose credits include ”Scooby-Doo,” “Home Alone 3,” and ”Beverly Hills Chihuahua,” will be joined by producer Jordan Kerner in the Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures movie that is expected to be released in August 2011.
Perez Hilton’s first all-star tour boasts international flavor
Disappointed that Ozzy Osbourne pulled the plug on his annual hard-rock festival Ozzfest this year? Maybe a new package tour organized by gossip columnist Perez Hilton will help fill the vacuum. Or not.
The so-called “queen of all media” says he has lined up “the hottest acts on the planet — from all over the world!” to tour North America, beginning Sept. 10 in Atlanta, Ga.
“Perez Hilton Presents…” — with an initial lineup featuring Norwegian rock musician Ida Maria, New Zealand singer/songwriter Ladyhawke and the British pair of electropop artist Frankmusik and singer/songwriter Julian Perretta, runs through Oct. 3 in Los Angeles, he revealed on his blog Tuesday.
Paula Abdul, hard to replace on “Idol”?
The Fox TV network and the producers of “American Idol” are scrambling to find a replacement for Paula Abdul . The network has talked about British celebrity Victoria Beckham and pop star Katy Perry as guest judges. But can anyone fill in for the “Straight Up” singer and former Laker Girl on a permanent basis?
As Time magazine critic James Poniewozik told Reuters, “The reason that people sometimes make fun of Paula is the reason that people watch Paula.”
