Producers Chuck & Ava Fries with Congressman Henry Waxman, and former Senator Christopher Dodd at American Spirit Awards

By Marci Weiner

Beverly Hills, CA(Hollywood Today)5/11/13/–It was like a scene from Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous starring Robin Leach himself, at Sur Restaurant, the most happening eatery in our town.    Lisa Vanderpump, owner, and star of the current reality series – Housewives of Beverly Hills was on hand to welcome the “Original Beverly Hills Housewife”, Grace Robbins, who was the wife of the world’s best selling-author Harold Robbins.  Gorgeous Grace was launching her new tome: Cinderella and the Carpetbagger, where she turns her wild jet setting life into a brand new memoir. [Read more →]

Natalie Cole on the red carpet @ NARM 2013 Awards

Music Biz 2013 ends on a High Note

By Valerie Milano
Hollywood, CA (Hollywood Today) 5/11/2013 – “People are now not purchasing just an mp3, their purchasing an experience, so we try and give them that every time we show up.” – Shimon of the rock band Sick Puppies speaking with Hollywood Today. This past week the National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM) held their annual conference Music Biz at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza. The fire began with a slow kindle on Monday as music industry professionals from around the globe arrived and checked in for the four-day schedule of events. Guests had the opportunity to attend more than 40 panel discussions and meetings that covered a range of topics relevant to music distribution; specifically, those that relate to the ever-changing platforms for digital media and the “new” fan who wants much more than an artists sound. “We’re in an era and an age where the fans wanna feel like they can reach out and touch you; they want a response back on Twitter.” – Neo Soul Artist Raheem DeVaughn speaking with Hollywood Today. [Read more →]

Luhrmann on the set

With the help of Booking.com

By Valerie Milano

Los Angeles, CA (Hollywood Today) 5/8/13 – F. Scott Fitzgerald’s literary classic The Great Gatsby is being brought to the big screen through the eyes of director Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge, Romeo + Juliet).  The story takes place in the early 1920’s—a time of unprecedented prosperity, jazz music, flappers, and bootlegging.  The feature film, coming to theatres May 10^th, is sure to take audiences back in time to this colorful and exciting era.  Another way to experience the Roaring Twenties is to visit these Art Deco and Gatsby-inspired hotels; a list compiled by Booking.com, the world’s largest hotel accommodation website. [Read more →]

Courtesy of Rahoul Ghose/PBS
During PBS’ CONSTITUTION USA with Peter Sagal session at the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour in Pasadena, Calif. on Monday, January 14, 2013, executive producer Catherine Allan, director Stephen Ives, featured scholar Dr. Richard Beeman and series host Peter Sagal discuss where the U.S. Constitution lives, how it works.

– An enlightening road trip to knowledge

By Valerie Milano

Pasadena, CA (Hollywood Today) 5/8/13 – “On the matter of the Constitution, Americans have always vaguely revered the Constitution, but never in my life have I seen Americans so passionately interested in the Constitution, and, of course, also passionately divided over what the Constitution means. That’s the good news. The bad news is that Americans continue to be amazingly ignorant of the Constitution”, stated Dr. Richard Beeman, history professor at the University of Pennsylvania and a featured scholar in many episodes of the new show Constitution USA, during a recent interview with Hollywood Today and other reporters.

Most history lessons can be incredible boring, but what if the topic is imperative to our general governmental knowledge? What if what most people believe about our nations owner’s manual isn’t accurate? How does a filmmaker get people’s attention in order to teach them the information in an entertaining way? He does what any creative filmmaker does, he thinks outside of the box. In Constitution USA, Peter Segal (Wait, Wait … Don’t Tell Me) takes us on a cross-country constitutional journey to learn the rights and the wrongs of our nation’s most misinterpreted document.

To get idea of why Constitution USA came into existence Dr. Beeman explains, “in a recent poll, 50 percent of Americans cannot name the three branches of government. A poll done 10 years earlier, I don’t know whether this would be the case among [today’s] teenagers, was that about 70 percent of teenagers could name more of The Three Stooges than they could of the three branches of government. So I think we really are in a situation where Americans are passionately interested in the Constitution but really need to know more about how it works.” [Read more →]

Adam Carolla and wife Lynette Celebrate Launch of MANGRIA  Cinco de Mayo celebration benefit for  Children’s Hospital

Adam Carrolla

By Cheri Fox

Los Angeles, CA(Hollywood Today)5/7/13/–In celebration of Spring and Cinco de Mayo Adam Carolla and wife Lynette celebrate the debut of Mangria a new refreshing magic sangria  white peach and pear drink in a bottle, it  was featured in a variety of specialty presentations along the  trendy tastes from the areas hottest food trucks. Guests were feasting on delicious fare from Ragin Cajun, Me So Hungry, and The Wein.  Blues Traveler’s John Popper and Chan Kinchla along with Fitz and the Tantrums were performing during the day’s festivities. All proceeds from the event  benefit Children’s hospital  Los Angeles charities [Read more →]