“33 years later, Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall return to Zamunda in ‘Coming 2 America’ - WWSB” plus 3 more |
- 33 years later, Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall return to Zamunda in ‘Coming 2 America’ - WWSB
- Matthew McConaughey and Beyoncé Did More for Texas Than Ted Cruz - Texas Monthly
- Kate Hudson Recounts Being Interviewed by Beyoncé on the Golden Globes Red Carpet 20 Years Ago - PEOPLE
- Why Whitney Houston Was Replaced by Beyonce in This Movie - HITC - Football, Gaming, Movies, TV, Music
| 33 years later, Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall return to Zamunda in ‘Coming 2 America’ - WWSB Posted: 05 Mar 2021 10:17 AM PST  "One day in the dressing room, Dave is like, 'I heard ya'll are doing 'Coming to America 2.' I said, 'Yeah, man.' He said, 'I want to be in that,'" recalls Hall. (A scheduling conflict interfered and the versatile Hall, who has four roles in the movie, ended up playing the witch doctor part Chappelle might have.) |
| Matthew McConaughey and Beyoncé Did More for Texas Than Ted Cruz - Texas Monthly Posted: 26 Feb 2021 09:50 AM PST Hollywood has surely never seemed so far from Texans' minds as in the last two weeks. Not only did the most brutal winter storm we've seen in generations sweep away any idle thoughts of movie stars sunning themselves along the Pacific coastline, it replaced them with curdled resentment as we warmed ourselves with propane grills and burning hatred toward our local utility companies. For the millions who lost power, it also completely shut off our screens, with movies, TV, and celebrity gossip becoming distant concerns as we spent our dwindling batteries on futilely refreshing outage maps. Painfully aware of this shift in priorities, several Texas celebrities set aside their own privileged lives and stepped up to help. For most of them, simply not being Ted Cruz might have sufficed. But the bare minimum has never been good enough for Beyoncé. Instead, the Houston star set up a financial assistance program through her BeyGOOD foundation, joining with Adidas and the nonprofit Bread of Life to offer up to $1,000 in individual disaster relief payments. Naturally, the response was overwhelming, drawing more than 130,000 applications in the first 24 hours, forcing the program to shut down until all of those initial submissions can be reviewed. In the meantime, BeyGOOD continues to work on the ground in Houston, distributing water and hot meals to thousands in need. (Meanwhile, Cruz made sure to pose for photos while handing out water bottles, before heading to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) to complain about "cancel culture.") Like Beyoncé—and Cruz—Sandra Bullock no longer spends much time in Texas, having left her adopted Austin home for New Orleans some years ago. Yet she continues to give back to her erstwhile state nevertheless. Bullock, who memorably contributed $1 million to Hurricane Harvey relief in 2017, recently donated $250,000 to the Central Texas Food Bank on behalf of her Ocean's 8 castmates, in a clever scheme to assist people in need and make Ted Cruz look like a feckless weasel. And although Kacey Musgraves has similarly left Austin for Nashville, the East Texas country star combined good deeds with dunking on Cruz by selling a "Cruzin' for a Bruzin'" T-shirt, raising thousands for the Texas Red Cross and other local charities in the process. So in a way, maybe Ted Cruz helped after all.
Still, whether it's the collapse of our energy grid or our entire social order, there's no celebrity Texans have come to rely on in a crisis quite like Matthew McConaughey. This week in McConaughey was an unusual one marked by solemn duty and humble servitude, as the Austin actor continued to plant the seeds under his gubernatorial grow-light by "sending prayers of resilience and the humanity of the helping hand out to all Texans that are struggling with the freeze," while offering his slightly more tangible assistance to Meals On Wheels, the Austin Boys and Girls Clubs, and the Austin Urban League. McConaughey also released one of his ever-soothing video chats—set, statesmanlike, against a somber black curtain and an American flag—to announce an upcoming "virtual benefit" he's putting together that will aid relief and rebuilding efforts. He also pledged that Matthew McConaughey will continue to be a daily voice of authority and assurance on how our state can "get back to livin'." Overall, it's a clip and message that would prove highly effective in any future campaign for governor—or hell, senator.
George W. Bush, Pete Buttigieg, and Chance the Rapper Added to SXSWWhile the effects of the storm will likely linger for months, in many ways it already feels like a fading nightmare, receding in sunnier temps behind more pressing, familiar anxieties. Offering some sign that things are slowly returning to our rather skewed sense of normal, this week South by Southwest released the full and final lineup for its 2021 virtual edition, running entirely online from March 16 through March 20. In addition to the previously announced keynote from Wille Nelson, hosted by Texas Monthly's own Andy Langer, this year will feature newly added speakers like former President George W. Bush, filmmaker Ava DuVernay, and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, along with a conversation between Chance the Rapper and Saturday Night Live's Kenan Thompson, a discussion on creating socially distanced TV with the cast of The Daily Show, and—in what would be the fest's most dystopian panel in any non-pandemic year—a talk with Fleetwood Mac co-founder Mick Fleetwood about how to go viral on TikTok. Registration for SXSW is still open, and although paying $249 to stream panel sessions, films, and music performances from your couch is decidedly "not the same," it's arguably more than worth it when you consider that: a) for once, you're guaranteed entry to everything; b) you don't have to wait in any lines or spend $30 in pedicab fees desperately crisscrossing downtown Austin just to catch it all; and c) if you ever get bored, you can always just click over to something else, instead of trying to slink out of a conference room while hoping Pete Buttigieg doesn't notice. Travis Scott Singlehandedly Saves MagazinesHouston rapper Travis Scott made his own contribution to Texas relief efforts, in typically surreal Travis Scott fashion, by donating a rare custom action figure of himself to a charity auction for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Houston/Galveston. Still, Scott was slightly more focused this week on aiding another foundering institution: print media. In Los Angeles, he hosted a pop-up to promote his recent takeover of i-D magazine. The new Scott-directed "Utopia Issue"—which features cover photos of the rapper taken by Spike Jonze, along with a conversation between Scott and Austin filmmaker Robert Rodriguez—launched this week with a splashy event at a faux newsstand erected in West Hollywood, where hundreds of fans swarmed the streets and tied up traffic, just to catch a glimpse of him while he signed autographs and waved from a sunroof. The unauthorized event drew the ire of the city, as TMZ reports that L.A. officials are now investigating Scott and potentially getting ready to levy fines if the city determines he broke COVID regulations. Something tells us he can afford it. Taylor Kitsch Takes Another Run at TV StardomFriday Night Lights alum Taylor Kitsch has been an Austin resident for years now, a quiet retreat from Hollywood life that's been made all the more manageable by the fact that, sadly, Kitsch still hasn't blossomed into the kind of marquee name he probably should have been. But this week brings news of another gig with the potential to change all that (again): Variety reports that Kitsch has signed on to star opposite Chris Pratt in the Amazon series The Terminal List, an adaptation of Jack Carr's bestselling novel of the same name. Pratt will play a former Navy SEAL who returns from a covert mission gone awry, only to discover a vast conspiracy that may be working against him. Kitsch will play Pratt's best friend, a fellow SEAL who will help Pratt's character get revenge using his intelligence savvy and, hopefully, his way with disarmingly soulful insights. Megan Thee Stallion Rings in "Mean Girl Winter"In a week in which so many Texas celebrities were seen giving back, the muted response from those who didn't has, unfortunately, been all the more noticeable. For example, Houston's own "H-Town Hottie," Megan Thee Stallion, spent the days surrounding the storm being markedly quiet about the plight of her home state, causing some to lash out in misdirected anger. But although, sure, it might have been nice for Megan to offer some assistance, or even just pay some empathetic lip service in an Instagram video, the fact remains that we didn't elect her to anything. Megan's sole responsibility is providing "Hot Girl Summer" vibes, as valuable a resource as any in the wintry blight. Unlike certain politicians, it's actually fine if Megan just wants to jet off to Cancun right now—or, more pertinently, star in this Mean Girls spoof for Coach.
The New York Fashion Week campaign sees Megan doing her best Regina George, vamping and twerking on the football field while various movie-versions-of-teens gush things about her like, "I heard her favorite movie is an anime based on her own life, and it won Best Picture." The ad is silly and completely inconsequential, a charitable gift of amusement and distraction in trying times, and it offers the comfort that, no matter how bad things get, Megan Thee Stallion will always persevere. Maybe that doesn't seem like much, but it's a sentiment we could all draw inspiration from right now—and if your name's not Ted Cruz, that's really all we expect. |
| Posted: 28 Feb 2021 05:51 PM PST  this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. |
| Posted: 11 Feb 2021 12:00 AM PST On the anniversary of Whitney Houston's death, we reflect on her link to the movie musical Dreamgirls. Whitney Houston is an icon of the music industry. With over 170 million records sold in her time and countless singers inspired by her, Whitney Houston cemented her legendary status in her all-too-brief time on Earth. This was ratified by her posthumous induction to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in November 2020 – Whitney coveted a spot on the list, telling Pat Houston, her sister-in-law and manager, "I've got to get the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame" in 2009.  Alongside her chart-topping success was a less celebrated acting career. While "I Will Always Love You" became one of Whitney's biggest singles, her performance in The Bodyguard (in which the song featured) was slated. Whitney Houston even earned a Razzie nomination for Worst Actress in the 1992 flick. Following on from The Bodyguard, Whitney Houston found her feet in The Preacher's Wife (1996) and Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (1997). Whitney had long been interested in switching her status from music to movie star. This was a classic trajectory for singers of the time, in the wake of Elvis' success in the film industry. Think Dolly Parton in 9 to 5 (1980), Madonna in Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), even David Bowie took a punt with the likes of Labyrinth (1986). In this wave, it was rumoured that Whitney Houston would take on the role of Deena Jones in the screen adaptation of Dreamgirls. The original musical hit Broadway in 1981. It was an instant success, earning thirteen Tony Award nominations, winning six. Just two years after its debut, Dreamgirls was touring the United States, followed by an international tour in 1985. In the forty years since its release, Dreamgirls has been staged in productions all over the world and found chart success thanks to the film's original soundtrack. Henry Krieger and Tom Eyen were responsible for the Broadway musical's score – Krieger would go on to co-write "Listen" for the 2006 movie. The rights to adapt Dreamgirls for the big screen were retained by David Geffen, one of the stage musical's original backers. In 1987, Geffen began talks with Disney lyricist Howard Ashman (The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast) about adapting the musical for screen. They discussed having Whitney Houston take on the lead role of Deena Jones given her rising success in the music industry. But this production hit a bump in the road when Whitney Houston reportedly declared that she wanted to sing both Deena and Effie's musical numbers. Effie's big number in the show is "And I Am Telling You," which Whitney has sung on numerous occasions. For Whitney to sing both Deena and Effie's songs, the entire Dreamgirls story would have to be rewritten. Geffen put the movie to one side following this issue and the death of Howard Ashman in 1991. It wasn't until renewed interest in musicals in the early 2000s that Geffen decided to go ahead with a Dreamgirls production.  After Chicago won Best Picture at the 2003 Oscars, a wave of movie musicals hit the silver screen. From Rent, The Producers and Walk the Line (all 2005) to Hairspray and Sweeney Todd (both 2007), the 2000s saw renewed interest in the movie musical. This proved the perfect climate in which to finally bring Dreamgirls to the big screen. David Geffen even hired Chicago's screenwriter Bill Condon to direct the movie. In the three decades that the movie adaptation was in the works, a number of singers were considered for Deena Jones. Most notably, Lauryn Hill was up for the role in 1998 while it was under Warner Brothers and director Joel Schumacher's wing. This project was ditched after Warner Bros' Frankie Lymon biopic flopped in the cinemas. In the DreamWorks 2006 production, both Beyoncé Knowles and Alicia Keys were up for the role of Deena. But it was Beyoncé who impressed David Geffen and Bill Condon in her screen test. Geffen and Condon offered her the part the same day that they saw her tape. It's hard to imagine the Dreamgirls film without Beyoncé Knowles. When the movie was released, it became one of the biggest hits of the year, raking in five Golden Globe and six Oscar nominations (including wins for Jennifer Hudson in both ceremonies). A large part of the movie's success can be accredited to its all-star cast. With global superstar Beyoncé accompanied by Jennifer Hudson, Eddie Murphy, Jamie Foxx and Anika Noni Rose, it's not hard to see why. With massive numbers such as "And I Am Telling You," "One Night Only" and "I Am Changing," the movie's cast needed the musical chops to pull it off. Beyoncé, with her buttery vocal runs and soaring vibrato, proved just the voice to take on Deena Jones.  Whitney Houston's influence on Beyoncé cannot be understated. Reflecting on Whitney after her death in 2012, Beyoncé said: "I, like every singer, always wanted to be just like her." In 2006, when the Dreamgirls film was released, Beyoncé was vocally similar to Whitney Houston. At this point in time, she was firmly a soprano and relied heavily on runs and her high belt, much like Whitney. Over time, Beyoncé's range has dropped and her stylistic choices are different to that of the '00s. This vocal change has been subject to much analysis. With this in mind, it becomes clearer that Whitney would've nailed the role of Deena Jones in Dreamgirls if the film had gone ahead in 1987. Beyoncé was in her mid-20s when she took on the role of Deena. When the original adaptation of the musical was pitched in the late-1980s, Whitney Houston would've been of a similar age. Vocally, Whitney was in her prime to take on such an iconic character. While we may never see the dream of Whitney Houston as Deena Jones actualised, her love of Dreamgirls gave fans plenty of opportunities to see her perform the material. Whitney performed Effie's number "I Am Changing" at Arista's 10th Anniversary in 1984. In 1988, Whitney performed "Family" with her brother Gary and mother Cissy at a concert in New York City. Lastly, at the 1994 American Music Awards, Whitney performed a medley of songs including "And I Am Telling You". Although Whitney Houston never landed a role in Dreamgirls, in many ways, she embodies what the musical is all about: passion, determination and stardom. Whitney, without a doubt, is one of music's 'Dreams'. In other news, Xico's Journey: Voice cast and Netflix release time explained |
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