Go Back To SCTV's Early Years With The Next DVD Release From Shout!
After last September's release of SCTV Network 90 - Volume 4 ("Season 5"), fans of the show have been wondering when Shout! Factory will next release more SCTV goodness. Well, we've gotten word that Shout! will release SCTV - The Best of the Early Years on October 24th, at a cost of $39.95 SRP.
This will be the first, original version of Second City TV with the earliest appearances of the show's cast (outside of their appearances on the upcoming Best of the David Steinberg Show DVD!). We'll have more details for you, plus cover art, as soon as Shout! gets this release more firmed up and finalized. Stay tuned!
Canada's stars glow brightly on the Walk of Fame
It was cold and wet in downtown Toronto Saturday but some of Canada's most famous stars were shining as they were inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame.
Actress Pamela Anderson, David Letterman sidekick Paul Shaffer, humourist Eugene Levy and others joined the list of Canada's most famous stars and had their names engraved in a Toronto sidewalk.
"It feels pretty damn good, actually," said Levy, who was born in Hamilton, Ont. "It's a kick. I was kind of blasé up to today, trying to play it down, but it was pretty exciting."
Levy is being recognized for his work on the SCTV comedy series as well as the American Pie movies and other comedies such as A Mighty Wind and Best in Show.
The entertainers braved the wind and wet of a Toronto spring day and attended a gala at the downtown Hummingbird Centre.
The presenters included such as notables as Dan Aykroyd, actress Jennifer Coolidge and Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo, who joined wrestler Trish Stratus on the stage.
The first honoree to arrive, Ottawa-raised actor Brendan Fraser, saluted two Mounties and mugged for the cameras on his way down the carpet.
Fraser, the star of The Mummy, George of the Jungle as well as Gods and Monsters, said his great-grandfather was a member of the RCMP, adding that the Mounties had shown him the proper way to salute.
"It's slow up, quick down," he told Canadian Press.
Fraser was born in Indiana, the son of a Canadian foreign service officer.
Game show host Alex Trebek, who was also inducted, offered a diplomatic "no comment" when asked who's funnier, Canadians or Americans.
About 100 fans, many wearing rain ponchos and toting umbrellas in the cold rain, turned out to see the inductees arrive in their limousines. They screamed Anderson's name as the British Columbia native, clad in a silky black dress, headed into the Hummingbird Centre.
Calgary singer Jann Arden was also honoured, as was Robert Goulet, who was born in America but spent his youth in Edmonton.
Goulet began his career as a radio announcer on CKUA in Edmonton, and achieved fame when he was cast in the musical Camelot as Lancelot opposite Richard Burton and Julie Andrews.
He went on to star in musicals, movies, TV shows, and has 15 albums to his name.
The awards weren't limited to entertainers. Olympian skier Nancy Greene Raine came from her home in Whistler, B.C., to welcome the members of the Crazy Canucks ski team, Dave Irwin, Ken Read, and Steve Podborski, who amazed the world with their skiing prowess in 1975. Fellow skier Dave Murray died in 1990 after a lengthy bout with cancer.
The show has come a long way from its humble beginnings in 1998, when the first dozen celebrities were inducted. They included famed figure skater Barbara Ann Scott, impressionist Rich Little, director Norman Jewison and ballerina Karen Kain, comedian John Candy and Canada's most famous pianist, Glenn Gould.
Shaffer, keyboardist and leader of late-night talk show host David Letterman's house band, appeared on stage Saturday with Dan Aykroyd, who walked the red carpet sporting sunglasses in the rain.
The Walk of Fame was founded by Toronto businessman Peter Soumalias, who has said this year's honorees were chosen from over 100,000 submissions received from around the world.
To qualify, a candidate must have been born or spent his or her formative years in Canada, and have been successful for a minimum of 10 years.
Previous recipients include Alanis Morissette, Paul Anka, Jim Carrey, Shania Twain, Wayne Gretzky and Michael J. Fox.
More X-Men Movies?
20th Century Fox is making plans for more mutant movies, after discovering X-Marks the spot at the box-office. According to USA Today, the studio has announced ideas for two more X-Men spin-offs, in addition to their previously planned Wolverine and Magneto films. Fox says they're interested in making a feature based on X-Men's Emma Frost, a character that's proven to be popular in Marvel comics but not yet seen on screen. Another film could focus on the younger set, as Fox's production president Hutch Parker says, "We've also talked about doing something on the kids in (Professor X's) school, focusing on their lives, and less of a global adventure for the team." The movie based on X-Men villain Magneto will apparently look back to the character's younger years but could also see Ian McKellen reprising his role, as producer Lauren Shuler Donner says, "What's a Magneto movie without Ian?" As for Hugh Jackman's solo spin, production on Wolverine has been penned-in to start filming next year.
Nelly Furtado gets "Loose" with new sound, look
NEW YORK (Billboard) - Chalk it up to a corporate merger, limited promotion or maybe just a record that was too different from her first -- whatever the reason, Nelly Furtado's last record tanked.
Most artists would love to sell 400,000 copies of a record in the United States, as Furtado did on her second release, "Folklore" (DreamWorks), which hit stores in November 2003. But it was a disappointment compared with the sales of her 2000 debut, "Whoa Nelly!" (DreamWorks), which moved 2.4 million copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and featured the hit song "I'm Like a Bird."
In part, the success of "Folklore" was affected by something beyond Furtado's control -- the sale of DreamWorks Records to Universal Music Group and subsequent merger. After the process was complete, she found herself on the Geffen Records roster -- a label very enthusiastic about her new record, "Loose," due June 20.
The first single in the United States, the urban-based "Promiscuous," produced by hip-hop uber-producer Timbaland, is making an impact on radio, retail and the digital world.
For the week ending May 25, the single's third week on radio, it charted in eight of the top 10 mainstream top 40 markets and at No. 9 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Pop 100 Airplay charts. At Apple's iTunes Music Store, "Promiscuous" is the most downloaded song at press time.
"She's one of those artists that bridges the gaps between urban and rock music; she's very pop-oriented, yet has a rhythmic feel," says Tracy Austin, program director of KRBE Houston, which is spinning "Promiscuous." "And we ran out of Gwen Stefani to play, and I think this will pick up where that left off."
SOME FANS NOT AMUSED
"Promiscuous" and its video feature Furtado with a "new" urban sound and sexier image, something that isn't sitting well with all her fans. Much has been written, especially in the blogosphere, about Furtado selling out to a more accessible sound, while the video has been criticized for hitting the lowest common denominator.
"The video is indicative of the vibe we wanted to create with the song. It's a club track, and we took the opportunity to make a club video," says Chris Smith, Furtado's manager.
The sound on "Loose" was a direction Furtado says she long planned. "I knew this record would have to explore my urban sound a little more because I had been promising the fans that for a long time."
According to the artist and her manager, Furtado's urban sound was strongly supported from the highest levels at her record-label group: Interscope Geffen A&M chairman Jimmy Iovine. In recent years, Interscope has been most successful with such urban artists as Eminem and 50 Cent and artists with an urban influence, like Gwen Stefani.
"Jimmy originally suggested me and Timbaland should work together," Furtado says. "He really pushed me and helped push my boundaries."
The sound of "Loose" took direction after Furtado took Iovine's suggestion and met with Timbaland in Miami last year during a recording session that was expected to produce two songs. But drawing inspiration from the collaboration with Timbaland, the city and the other artists recording at the Hit Factory studio, Furtado emerged with 10 tracks, which make up the bulk of the new record.
"When you're recording at the Hit Factory in Miami, it's extremely exhilarating," Furtado says. "(Timbaland's) in one studio, Scott Storch in another, Cash Money and Lil Wayne upstairs. It was really stimulating."
'Break-Up' earns $38.1M to top box office
LOS ANGELES - Supported by real-life romantic splits and hookups, Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn's "The Break-Up" pulled an upset over the mutant world of the "X-Men."
"The Break-Up" debuted more strongly than expected with $38.1 million to take over as the No. 1 weekend movie from "X-Men: The Last Stand," which slipped to second place with $34.35 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.
Aniston's split from Brad Pitt last year and her reported romance that began with Vaughn while filming "The Break-Up" helped keep the movie in the public eye.
"They're always in the press," said Nikki Rocco, head of distribution for Universal, which released "The Break-Up." "Every time you turn around, somebody's talking about Jennifer, or Jennifer and Brad, or Jennifer and Vince. It's not why we made the movie, though."
"The Break-Up" pulled in about $10 million more than Rocco had expected.
After putting in a record four-day debut of $122.9 million over Memorial Day weekend, 20th Century Fox's third "X-Men" movie tumbled. The movie's domestic gross dropped a steep 67 percent from its Friday-Sunday haul the first weekend.
Still, "X-Men" raised its total to a whopping $175.7 million in just 10 days, a mark it took "X2: X-Men United" 18 days to reach. Bruce Snyder, head of distribution for Fox, said the film should top out at $240 million to $250 million, beating the $157 million take for the first "X-Men" and the $215 million return for "X2."
The huge decline in the second weekend was typical given how many people saw the movie over the holiday weekend, Snyder said.
"I'm not shocked at that drop," Snyder said.
DreamWorks Animation's cartoon comedy "Over the Hedge" held up well, placing third with $20.6 million for a three-week total of $112.4 million.
Sony's "The Da Vinci Code" was No. 4 with $19.3 million, lifting its three-week domestic gross to $172.7 million. Worldwide, the Tom Hanks film adapted from Dan Brown's best-seller has grossed $581 million and should hit at least $750 million globally, said Rory Bruer, Sony head of distribution.
In its second weekend, the Al Gore documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" went into wider release and broke into the top 10 with $1.33 million, even though it was playing in just 77 theaters.
Released by Paramount Classics, the film averaged an impressive $17,292 a theater, compared to $12,410 in 3,070 cinemas for "The Break-Up."
Chronicling the former vice president's campaign to educate people about the perils of global warming, "An Inconvenient Truth" expands to more theaters over the next two weekends.
"It's breakups and global warming that I think really are interesting people now," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations.
Overall business rose slightly, with the top 12 movies taking in $128.9 million, up 1.6 percent from the same weekend last year.
After an 8 percent drop in movie attendance last year, Hollywood is positioned for a solid summer. Attendance is running about 1 percent ahead of last year's, with what looks like a solid crop of blockbusters still to come, including this Friday's animated comedy "Cars," from Disney and Pixar, and the Warner Bros. adventure "Superman Returns" on June 30.
Here are the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. Final figures will be released Monday.
1. "The Break-Up," $38.1 million.
2. "X-Men: The Last Stand," $34.35 million.
3. "Over the Hedge," $20.6 million.
4. "The Da Vinci Code," $19.3 million.
5. "Mission: Impossible III," $4.67 million.
6. "Poseidon," $3.4 million.
7. "RV," $3.3 million.
8. "See No Evil," $2 million.
9. "An Inconvenient Truth," $1.33 million.
10. "Just My Luck," $825,000.
MTV Movie Awards celebrate fun of films
CULVER CITY, Calif. - Jessica Alba played starring roles in "King Kong," "Mission Impossible: III" and "The Da Vinci Code." At least she did on Saturday, when she parodied the three blockbusters as the host of the 2006 MTV Movie Awards, known for taking a lighthearted look at the industry it honors.
This is the awards show where a teen-is-king attitude reigns, where stars step out in jeans and use the f-word in acceptance speeches.
"It's not even like an awards show," said actor Zach Braff. "It feels like a birthday party."
The unconventional ceremony, held on a soundstage at Sony Studios, celebrates the fun of films with prizes recognizing the best on-screen hero, villain, kiss and fight, as well as sexy, funny and frightened performances. The awards are based on fan votes.
Last summer's "Wedding Crashers" was the night's big winner, collecting three trophies, including the coveted Golden Popcorn for best movie.
The film also earned breakthrough performance honors for Isla Fisher and best on-screen team award for Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson.
"For most people, playing a bipolar nymphomaniac would have been a challenge," Fisher said with a grin. "But I just played myself."
Vaughn, accepting his award by video, said that working with Wilson made him "feel like a jockey on the back of a great horse."
"I thought we had a shot at best on-screen kiss," Wilson quipped.
Jake Gyllenhaal, who beat out Oscar-winner Reese Witherspoon for best performance, teamed with "Brokeback Mountain" co-star Heath Ledger for best kiss.
"This is a real honor, not just for me and Heath but for all of you, that you picked this movie and this kiss over all the other ones," Gyllenhaal said.
Alba took home her own Golden Popcorn trophy for her sexy striptease performance in "Sin City."
"Thank you to all the perverts who voted for me," she said. "Thank you to the fans. I do movies for you. Practice safe sex and drive hybrids if you can."
Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx, the team soon to be seen in the big-screen rendition of "Miami Vice," presented the prize for best fight with a serving of silliness. Foxx beat-boxed on the microphone and threatened to "fight someone tonight" before announcing the winners: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt for their fiery feud in "Mr. & Mrs. Smith."
"Angelina and Brad are stuck in traffic," Farrell said. "They're doing their thing and we all wish them a big congratulations."
Jolie recently gave birth to the couple's daughter in Africa.
Christian Bale won best hero for his role in "Batman Begins" and thanked his wife, whom he called "my own personal Wonder Woman." Hayden Christensen was named best villain for his turn as Darth Vader in "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith." He thanked George Lucas "for giving me the chance to play such a cool character."
Rapper LL Cool J presented Spike Lee with the Silver Bucket of Excellence for "Do the Right Thing," his 1989 film examining racial tensions. The prize honors a movie from the past that has present-day resonance.
"The sad thing is that the issues that we tried to address with `Do the Right Thing' are still with us today, so how much progress have we made?" Lee asked as he accepted his award.
Will Ferrell and a nearly unrecognizable John C. Reilly came to the show as the rebel racecar drivers they play in the forthcoming "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby." The pair didn't win anything, but gave a thank-you speech anyway. They presented the best comedic performance prize to Steve Carell for "The 40-Year-Old Virgin."
Later, Ferrell honored fellow funnyman Jim Carrey with the MTV Generation Award for his diverse body of work.
"This man's versatility makes Thomas Jefferson look like a big fat idiot," Ferrell said.
Wearing an all-white suit, Carrey took the stage with a cadre of winged angels and performed a spontaneous hip-shaking jig.
The show also featured musical performances by soul duo Gnarls Barkley, rockers AFI and Christina Aguilera, who performed "Ain't No Other Man."
The show is scheduled to air at 8:30 p.m. June 8 on MTV.