Nostalgic Sesame Street DVD set coming in October
For the first time ever, Sesame Workshop is planning to release Classic Sesame Street on DVD. Sesame Workshop has not yet announced if the set will contain complete episodes or skit compilations.
In September, Sesame Workshop stated that they were considering the possibility of releasing "classic" Sesame Street material on DVD, but not to expect anything anytime soon. This is due to the necessary development time, many legalities and several other organizational issues that would need to be addressed first.
There is now light at the end of the tunnel. Recently we received the following response from Sesame Workshop on the issue:
We are planning to release a "Sesame Street Nostalgia Box Set", however this is something that will not happen until October '06.
In the meantime, we released a boxed set of The Electric Company in February '06, and there are plans for a second volume of The Electric Company as well.
So, now it is official. The first DVD box set of "classic" Sesame Street material should be released (if all goes as planned) in October 2006.
There are no further details on the set available at this time, but we'll be sure to keep you all updated as more information is revealed on this exciting upcoming release.
Bob Seger unveils 'Promise' for new album
Bob Seger will release his first studio album in 11 years Sept. 12, when Capitol Records ships the singer's "Face the Promise" to stores.
The interval between "Face the Promise" and Seger's last full-length album, 1995's "It's a Mystery," is the longest in the 61-year-old singer's career. The new album's initial single is titled "Wait For Me."
"It's a pretty high-energy rock record," Seger recently told USA Today. "I would say it's more rock 'n' roll than usual. I wrote a lot of songs, a lot of songs. I probably recorded about 30, but the best songs happened to be more rock-leaning"
Seger--a 2004 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee--began his recording career almost 40 years ago, when he released "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man" with his then-current band, The Bob Seger System. Seger went on to record more than a dozen albums, most with his longtime backing band, The Silver Bullet Band, and notch lifetime album sales of nearly 50 million.
Seger's 1994 "Greatest Hits" compilation has sold more than 7 million copies to date, and has remained on the Billboard Pop Catalog charts for an unbroken 600-week run.
Dixie Chicks vow to continue tour
Despite rumors to the contrary, the Dixie Chicks will go ahead with plans for their upcoming summer tour, according to a message posted on the band's website.
Earlier media reports had indicated the trio might be forced to cancel or postpone most or all of its summer dates owing to tepid ticket sales in many markets. While the bulk of the itinerary remains in place for the moment, public ticket sales for several dates have been at least temporarily halted, while some appearances have been pulled from the schedule for the time being.
Ticket sales have been halted--at least for now--for the band's scheduled dates in Memphis, Indianapolis, Houston and Oklahoma City. Fresno, CA, TV station KFSN is reporting that the September Dixie Chicks concert in that city has been postponed.
As of press time, tickets were still scheduled to go on the market Saturday (6/10) for planned Dixie Chicks gigs in Columbus, OH; Sacramento, CA; Austin, TX; and Calgary, Alberta.
A swarm of rumors began to swell around the often-controversial country act earlier this week, when Billboard.com reported that early sales figures for advance and pre-sale tickets for many of the tour dates were lagging far behind expectations. Initial ticket counts for the 20-plus arena shows that went on sale last weekend were averaging 5,000-6,000 per show in major markets and less in secondaries, the site reported, citing industry sources.
"The tour is not being postponed or canceled at all," the group's publicist, Kathy Best, told the Los Angeles Times this week. "There is a reshuffling of dates and as soon as rerouting is confirmed, we will be able to announce the changes. There will be some cancellations due to rerouting and additional dates being added."
Best didn't immediately return a phone call and email from LiveDaily this morning.
A message posted Friday (6/9) on the Dixie Chicks' website stated the group's intention to go forward with its summer tour plans, but it did leave the door open to some changes.
"Any reports being made about the cancellation of our upcoming Accidents And Accusations tour are completely false," the band's statement began.
"We have known since March 2003 that our path in this business would have obstacles at every pass. We have enjoyed meeting each one head-on and we will continue to do so. Dixie Chicks fans are as active and dedicated as they come. This time around we are willingly feeling our way through uncharted territory. Things don't come as easy as they might have come in the past, and it makes each accomplishment more exciting and appreciated."
The band infamously courted controversy in 2003 when Chicks' singer Natalie Maines told an audience in London that she was "ashamed" that President George W. Bush was a fellow Texan. The incident incurred the wrath of conservatives and has made the group a lightning rod for criticism ever since.
In contrast to the reported lagging ticket sales, the band's latest album, "Taking the Long Way," is showing healthy sales numbers, selling 526,000 copies its first week of release, according to Nielsen Soundscan, the third largest sales week of any artist this year. The album is currently No. 1 on this week's Billboard 200 chart.
Early ticket sales for this tour are in marked contrast to the Chicks' last proper outing in 2003 when a national on-sale moved some 867,000 tickets the first weekend, and second shows were added in several markets. The Chicks ended up with the top-grossing country tour of 2003 at $62 million.
July 2006
21 - Detroit, MI - Joe Louis Arena
22 - Pittsburgh, PA - Mellon Arena
23 - Columbus, OH - Value City Arena
25 - Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Center
28 - Albany, NY - Pepsi Arena
29 - Boston, MA - Banknorth Garden
August 2006
1 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
4 - Washington, DC - Verizon Center
13 - Milwaukee, WI - Bradley Center
15 - Chicago, IL - United Center
18 - Minneapolis, MN - Target Center
20 - Kansas City, MO - Kemper Arena
22- St. Louis, MO - Savvis Center
23 - Indianapolis, IN - Conseco Fieldhouse
24 - Des Moines, IA - Wells Fargo Arena
26 - Fargo, ND - Fargodome
September 2006
3 - Glendale, AZ - Glendale Arena
8 - Sacramento, CA - ARCO Arena
9 - Oakland, CA - Oakland Arena
14 - Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center
16 - Las Vegas, NV - Mandalay Bay
23 - Omaha, NE - Qwest Center
24 - Denver, CO - Pepsi Center
26 - Oklahoma City, OK - Ford Center
27 - Memphis, TN - FedEx Forum
29 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
30 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
October 2006
1 - Austin, TX - Frank Erwin Center
3 - Nashville, TN - Gaylord Entertainment Center
5 - Tampa, FL - St. Pete Times Forum
6 - Jacksonville, FL - Veterans Memorial Arena
7 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - BankAtlantic Center
17 - Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
20 - Knoxville, TN - Thompson-Boling Arena
22 - Greensboro, NC - Greensboro Coliseum
27 - Ottawa, Ontario - Scotiabank Place
28 - Toronto, Ontario - Air Canada Centre
November 2006
4 - Edmonton, Alberta - Rexall Place
5 - Calgary, Alberta - Saddledome
8 - Vancouver, British Columbia - GM Place
9 - Portland, OR - Rose Garden
11 - Tacoma, WA - Tacoma Dome
Jar Jar Binks Returns for 'Fanboys'
Sam Huntington talks about his upcoming 'Star Wars'-based comedy
Jar Jar Binks, cinema's most maligned Gungan, makes a triumphant return in "Fanboys," warns Sam Huntington, who stars in the upcoming Weinstein Co. comedy.
"Jar Jar appears in the movie in a very very funny way that I can't reveal to you, because it's absolutely hysterical," Huntington warns. "It's one of my favorite moments in the whole movie."
Huntington, talking to reporters about his role as eager-beaver photographer Jimmy Olsen in the upcoming "Superman Returns," is part of a "Fanboys" ensemble that includes Dan Fogler, Kristen Bell, Jay Baruchel and Chris Marquette. Directed by Kyle Newman, "Fanboys" focuses on a group of lifelong friends who embark on a roadtrip from Ohio to the Skywalker Ranch in Northern California. Their goal in the not-so-distant period piece? To steal a copy of "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace" so that a dying friend can see it before its worldwide release.
"It's really, really funny and it's very very emotionally powerful, believe it or not, because they're fulfilling the wish of their dying friend," Huntington explains. "And I know that sounds very cliched, but it's actually very tastefully done."
Huntington is probably best known from roles in "Detroit Rock City" and several TV appearances, but by the time "Fanboys" hits theaters (some time early next year, likely), he'll be wildly recognized for his turn as Superman's favorite shutterbug in Bryan Singer's big budget Warner Bros. film. While he plays support to the likes of newcomer-in-tights Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth and Kevin Spacey (whose Trigger Street shingle is producing "Fanboys") in "Superman," the upcoming comedy will give him more of a lead role.
"I play a guy who basically has been segregated from his fanboy friends," says Huntington. "They've all continued on after college to be remain fanboys and I've kind of gone the corporate road and work for my day at a car dealership and inherit it at the beginning of the movie and then it just kind of goes on after that."
He adds, "Yeah. That's right. I rediscover my inner fanboy."
So Huntington can tell us that Jar Jar -- last seen in the background of two shots in "Revenge of the Sith" - is back in all his floppy-eared glory, but will there be any other cameos from within the "Star Wars" universe? And, equally importantly, will the Dark Lord of the Skywalker Ranch, George Lucas, make an appearance?
"Needless to say, we kiss his ass for an hour-and-a-half, he kind of had to sign off it on it, you know," Huntington laughs. "The extent of his... I should keep that kind of a mystery, the extent of his involvement. It's very cool. It's going to be a fun, fun movie."
Before "Fanboys" opens, real life fanboys (and girls) can see "Superman Returns" when it opens wide on Wednesday, June 28
'History Boys,' 'Jersey Boys' top Tonys
NEW YORK - The "Boys" took home the top 2006 Tonys Sunday night. "Jersey Boys," the fast-moving musical biography of pop icons Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, won best musical, while "The History Boys," Alan Bennett's wise, witty and warmhearted dissection of British education, was named best play.
"The History Boys" received six Tonys, more than any other production, also collecting prizes for actor, Richard Griffiths; director, Nicholas Hytner; featured actress, Frances de la Tour; and two design prizes, sets and lighting.
"You are insanely talented people," said Julia Roberts before giving the best-actor prize to Griffiths for his portrayal of an unorthodox yet beloved teacher in "The History Boys."
In his Broadway debut, John Lloyd Young, who plays Valli in "Jersey Boys," took the top actor-musical award and dedicated the prize to his father. After the show, Young said winning the Tony was "a very personal thing for me. ... To have been an usher a year and a half ago and now to be starring in a Broadway show and holding this — this is a triumph for everyone in my life."
Christian Hoff, who plays tough, wise-guy Tommy DeVito in the show won the featured actor-musical prize.
While the race between "Jersey Boys" and "The Drowsy Chaperone" was the evening's most competitive contest, there were a few surprises. LaChanze won in the actress-musical category for her portrayal of the courageous Celie in "The Color Purple." It was the only award the musical based on Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel received despite 11 nominations.
While "Jersey Boys," picked up the top musical prize and received four Tonys, its main competitor, "The Drowsy Chaperone," the Canadian-born musical that affectionately celebrates Broadway's past, won more awards — five — including best book and score.
"Thank you, America," exulted "Drowsy" star Bob Martin, who co-wrote the book with Don McKellar.
The Canadian winners said they were proud that the show originated in Toronto.
"It's the longest-running show in Canadian history — 12 performances — we celebrated that," Martin said with a laugh.
Their Canadian cohorts, Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, received the prize for music and lyrics. And an exuberant Beth Leavel, who portrays the show's inebriated title character, scooped up the featured-actress musical prizes. It also won two musical-design awards — for sets and costumes.
"The Pajama Game" edged out "Sweeney Todd" for the musical revival prize and took the choreography award, which went to its director Kathleen Marshall. "Sweeney Todd" managed two awards, one for its director, John Doyle, who developed the concept for the show — having the actors play the show's instruments. The revival also grabbed an award for its new, spare orchestrations.
Cynthia Nixon playing a distraught mother who loses a young son in an auto accident, won the best actress-play prize for her performance in "Rabbit Hole."
Ian McDiarmid who plays Ralph Fiennes' fey, funny manager in "Faith Healer," yelped out a "fantastic" as he ended his speech thanking voters for his featured-actor prize.
The Lincoln Center Theater production of Clifford Odets' stirring 1935 drama "Awake and Sing!" received the prize for play-revival as well as a costume design prize.
No single host shepherded the presenters and winners through the telecast, although a parade of stars including Julia Roberts and Oprah Winfrey (a producer of the Tony-nominated "Color Purple") were on hand to entice viewers to the CBS telecast.
"Jersey Boys," "The Drowsy Chaperone" and "The History Boys" are among the shows doing potent business at the box office, underscoring the fact that the 2005-2006 season has been a good year on Broadway.
For the first time, Broadway attendance topped the 12 million mark, jumping past the 11.9 million reached in the season before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Grosses have been robust, too, with the season total climbing to $861.6 million, a 12 percent hike from the $768.5 million of the year before.
Those money figures were helped by the appearance of big names on Broadway, most prominently Roberts. The Hollywood star may not have won over the critics for her performance in Richard Greenberg's "Three Days of Rain," but her marquee value was undeniable, pretty much selling out the play's three-month run.
Tony winners were chosen by 754 theater professionals including actors, producers, writers, stagehands and theater owners. The Antoinette Perry — or Tony — Awards were founded in 1947 by the American Theatre Wing and are administered by the Wing and the League of American Theatres and Producers.
Rolling Stones to rock Regina?
The Rolling Stones may play a concert at Regina's Taylor Field on the Thanksgiving weekend, a report says.
"It seems almost a certainty," writer Gerry Krochak reported in the Regina Leader-Post on the weekend.
Krochak, a musical columnist for the Leader-Post, said there have been persistent rumours about a show that may be set for Oct. 7 or 8.
He said unnamed organizers from Regina and band officials "are working very hard to make this happen."
If the show is confirmed, there will be an official announcement in July, Krochak said.
The band is preparing for a European summer tour. Citing multiple sources, Krochak said there would then be three or four dates in Canada.
Other possible sites that have been touted include Vancouver, Halifax and Windsor, Ont.
Krochak said that although Regina is a small city and the stadium wil be packed if 45,000 fans turned up, the Stones concert held a hugely successful concert in another smaller city — Moncton, N.B. — in September 2005.
The group has never played in Saskatchewan and a Regina concert would draw fans from Alberta, Manitoba and the northern United States.
'Cars' roars up box office in $62.8M debut
LOS ANGELES - The animated comedy "Cars" raced to first place at the weekend box office with a $62.8 million debut, maintaining the Disney-Pixar cartoon brand's undefeated record with a seventh straight hit.
If the numbers hold when final figures come out Monday, "Cars" would have the third-best opening in the Disney-Pixar cartoon series, just ahead of "Monsters, Inc." but behind "The Incredibles" and "Finding Nemo," which both debuted at about $70 million.
Still, it was the first time since the partnership began with 1995's "Toy Story" that a Disney-Pixar film did not gross more than its predecessor over opening weekend.
"I look at $62 million as being an accomplishment of great proportion," said Chuck Viane, Disney's head of distribution. "I think to use the baseball analogy, a home run is a home run in anybody's ballpark, whether it's 398 feet or 460 feet. This is a home run."
The movie features the voices of Owen Wilson and Paul Newman in a story of a hotshot race car that gets a lesson on the value of slowing down when he's sidetracked in a sleepy burgh.
The weekend's other new wide release, 20th Century Fox's horror remake "The Omen," was No. 4 with $15.45 million. Starring Julia Stiles and Liev Schreiber in the tale of a demon child, "The Omen" has grossed $35.7 million since opening on Tuesday to take advantage of the date — 6-6-06 — a play on the number signifying the anti-Christ.
In narrower release, Robert Altman's "A Prairie Home Companion" premiered solidly at No. 7 with $4.7 million. Playing in 760 cinemas, the film averaged $6,147 a theater, compared to $15,759 in 3,985 theaters for "Cars" and $5,674 in 2,723 cinemas for "The Omen."
Released by Picturehouse, "A Prairie Home Companion" features Garrison Keillor in a fictionalized behind-the-scenes portrait of his venerable radio program. The ensemble cast includes Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Lindsay Lohan, Tommy Lee Jones, Lily Tomlin, Woody Harrelson, John C. Reilly and Virginia Madsen.
The top-12 movies took in $148.8 million, up 8 percent from the same weekend last year, when "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" debuted with $50.2 million.
"Cars" was the first movie directed by Pixar creative mastermind John Lasseter since 1999's "Toy Story 2." Lasseter also directed the original "Toy Story" and "A Bug's Life."
The six prior Disney-Pixar films all opened at No. 1 and have grossed a total of $3.2 billion worldwide.
"They are the closest thing to a sure thing in Hollywood," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations. "They are money in the bank."
The previous weekend's top movie, Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn's romantic comedy "The Break-Up," slipped to second place with $20.5 million. The Universal Pictures' film raised its 10-day total to $74.1 million.
"X-Men: The Last Stand," from 20th Century Fox, became the year's first movie to top $200 million domestically. The superhero saga was No. 3 with $15.55 million, lifting its three-week total to $201.7 million.
Close behind "X-Men" is Sony's "The Da Vinci Code," which came in sixth with $10.3 million, bringing its domestic haul to $189 million. Worldwide, "The Da Vinci Code" has taken in $642 million.
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. "Cars," $62.8 million.
2. "The Break-Up," $20.5 million.
3. "X-Men: The Last Stand," $15.55 million.
4. "The Omen," $15.45 million.
5. "Over the Hedge," $10.301 million
6. "The Da Vinci Code," $10.3 million.
7. "A Prairie Home Companion," $4.7 million.
8. "Mission: Impossible III," $3 million.
9. "RV," $2 million.
10. "Poseidon," $1.8 million.