Canada's Walk of Fame develops cachet as stars appear for 2004 inductions
TORONTO (CP) - They cried "Mario! Mario! Mario!"
And they sang "Born to Be Wild!"
But mostly and loudly they chanted "Jim, we love you!"
A thousand screaming fans outside Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall on Wednesday night belied the ongoing concern that there's no star system in Canada.
They waited for hours in bleachers alongside the red carpet for the official arrivals of this year's inductees into Canada's Walk of Fame, an event that included the official unveiling of the latest sidewalk plaques as well as a gala variety show telecast live on TV.
Jim Carrey's limousine was the last to arrive and he didn't disappoint, dashing along a fenceline shaking hands and signing autographs for the delirious hometown fans.
"When I come back here, I always get that same feeling, that feeling of lightness and the feeling of home and I'm so glad to finally get a chance to say to the Canadian people how much they mean to me and how wonderful the whole trip has been," he said to the crowd. "I couldn't have done it without you."
And naturally Carrey didn't just unveil his plaque. He yanked the cover off with the flourish of a matador and then sat atop it, his legs spread apart while his family flanked him for the photographers.
"It's the whole DNA strain!" he shouted with a laugh.
NHL superstar Mario Lemieux had his own cheering section, many sporting Pittsburgh Penguins jerseys.
"Obviously it's a great honour," Lemieux said. "I had a chance to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame a few years ago but this is very special."
The arrival of rocker and founder of Steppenwolf, John Kay, was greeted by an impromptu version of Born to be Wild, a rock anthem made legend by the band. Dressed in black and accompanied by his official presenter, old friend Peter Fonda, Kay injected politics into the affair when he told reporters that if the governing Liberals have dropped the ball, Canadian voters shouldn't punish them by voting them out of office.
"Don't shoot yourself in the foot by electing those who do not represent your views. Re-elect the ones who theoretically do represent your views and then hold THEIR feet to the fire."
Kay said in his world travels he's found Canadians are viewed as peacemakers and the nation as one with enlightened leadership.
"And when you have a somewhat belligerent neighbour next to you, that's not always easy."
He added that regime change may be at hand soon in the U.S., though.
Fonda said his mother was Canadian and wondered jokingly if he could have a piece of one of the Walk of Fame stars because he wanted to be a part of Canada.
Actor and social activist Shirley Douglas said it was important that events like the Walk of Fame encourage Canadian talent.
"I would say to any young actor tonight 'If you see me, believe me you can do the same thing. All you have to do is believe that you want to do it and if you truly want to do it, it will happen.
"Work at it and you'll get here."'
Actor-director Helen Shaver said she was proud of such an incredible honour.
"I remember when we used to say there are no stars in Canada, and here we are and there are so many stars that we have to scatter them on the sidewalk. It's fabulous!"
The other living inductees included jazz performer Diana Krall who, like Fonda, wore faded jeans on the bottom half of formal attire, and director Denys Arcand.
And there were posthumous inductions for four pioneers of Hollywood who had Canadian roots: studio bosses Jack Warner and Louis B. Mayer, producer Mack Sennett and silent screen star Mary Pickford.
Filmmaker Norman Jewison was on hand to help with the tribute to the so-called Canadian Connection. He said it's a much bigger event than the debut year in 1998 when he got his star.
"There was 30 people, a cop and my sister, that's who was here," he quipped. "We're growing up and we're starting to embrace success which is what we should do."
In an unusual and even daring move, unpredictable shock comic and MTV personality Tom Green served as emcee for the gala. The list of presenters included directors Jewison and David Cronenberg, film producer Robert Lantos and actors Peter Fonda and Fiona Reid.
Rohm Closing 'Law & Order' Case
NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - Elisabeth Rohm is expected to end her record-setting stint on NBC's veteran crime drama "Law & Order" sometime next season to pursue other acting opportunities.
Rohm, who plays Assistant District Attorney Serena Southerlyn, is locked for the first 13 episodes of the show's 15th season this fall. Beyond that, there is a possibility for her to do a few more episodes before she departs.
"Lis has done a terrific job as ADA Serena Southerlyn and she has been a consummate professional," "Law & Order" creator/executive producer Dick Wolf said in a statement. "We knew she had other career interests and opportunities and she graciously agreed to stay through the transition with Dennis (Farina), for at least 13 episodes of the new season."
Last month, Farina was tapped to join the cast of the Emmy-winning series as Detective Joe Fontana. He will replace longtime star Jerry Orbach, who is expected to join the cast of the upcoming fourth "Law & Order" series, "Trial by Jury."
Rohm, the fifth actor to play the role of the ADA, has made her character the longest-running ADA on the show, having replaced Angie Harmon in 2001 to work alongside Executive ADA Jack McCoy, played by Sam Waterston since 1994.
"Sam Waterston has been a great teacher and friend who has taught me about taking risks, and it is time to put that knowledge into action. It is because of 'Law & Order' that I have so many opportunities come my way," Rohm said.
Rohm, who is shooting "Miss Congeniality II," already has several television projects in the works. Before "Law & Order," she starred in the soap "One Life To Live."
Beastie Boys End Six-Year Lull with No. 1 Album
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Proving they can still party for their right to fight, the Beastie Boys returned in style from a six-year recording lull to top the U.S. pop album charts with their latest release, "To the 5 Boroughs."
The Beasties' toast to their native New York sold 360,000 copies for the week ended June 20, about half the first-week tally of the veteran rap trio's last offering, "Hello Nasty," but enough to clinch the fourth No. 1 album of their career, Nielsen SoundScan reported on Wednesday.
By comparison, "Hello Nasty" opened at No. 1 in July 1998 with 682,000 copies sold its first week and remained on top for three weeks, going on to sell 3.8 million units to date.
Still, "5 Boroughs" (Capitol Records) got a stronger start than the Beasties' 1994 release "Ill Communication," which opened at No. 1 with 220,000 copies sold.
The band also went to No. 1 for seven weeks with its 1986 debut album, "Licensed to Ill," which produced the band's massive cross-over hit "Fight for Your Right (To Party)" and preceded the May 1991 launch of the SoundScan sales system for calculating chart rankings.
The Beasties' 1989 album, "Paul's Boutique," peaked at No. 14, and 1992's "Check Your Head" at No. 10.
The group's sixth album finds bandmates Mike D, MCA and Ad-Rock (aka Mike Diamond, Adam Yauch and Adam Horovitz) all approaching their 40s as they continue to present their familiar brand of old-school rap spiced with punk.
Last week's chart-topper, Velvet Revolver's "Contraband" (RCA Records), the first album by a rock band to top the Billboard 200 since Metallica's "St. Anger" a year ago, slipped to No. 3 with sales of 122,700 copies, a 52 percent slide from its opening number.
"Contraband," the debut album from the supergroup featuring former Guns N' Roses musicians and Stone Temple Pilots vocalist Scott Weiland, has sold nearly 380,000 copies to date.
Usher's "Confessions," which has spent a total of nine weeks at the top, held steady at No. 2 after a mere 1 percent drop from the previous week to sales of 169,000 copies. Its cumulative total rose to 4.3 million copies.
Gretchen Wilson remained at No. 4 for a second week with "Here for the Party," and Avril Lavigne dropping two spots to No. 5 with "Under My Skin."
Rounding out the top 10 were Prince's "Musicology," Hoobastank's "The Reason," D12's "D12 World," Los Lonely Boys' self-titled release and Celine Dion's latest set, "A New Day: Live in Las Vegas."
Josh Gracin, the active-duty Marine who finished fourth on the second season of Fox Television's "American Idol," entered the pop chart at No. 11 and the country chart at No. 2 with his self-titled debut album, selling 57,000 copies its first week.