I forgot to mention that on Sunday, I thought I spotted Daniel Dae Kim (aka Jin from Lost) outside of the Ward Avenue Sports Authority. I can't be 100% certain because I was passing by in a truck and he was walking toward the entrance. However, after looking a numerous pix of him online I'm about 90% sure it was him.
All I could see was a profile view of his face and that he was wearing a blue t-shirt. Couldn't see below about chest level. He was alone and headed toward the sporting goods giant. You know how people sometimes say stars look better or worse in person? Kim looked the same as he does on the show. I gotta admit though that I only watched a couple episodes back in season one. I didn't follow it much after that.
Man, that's such a loss. He had a huge impact on kids growing up in the '80s. While I was probably a little too young to fully enjoy The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, Ferris Bueller's Day Off and all the other great teen flicks when they were first released, I've been able to watch a lot of them over the years.
In each film, Hughes was able to capture the teen experience with honesty and was never patronizing about it. People, teens especially, could relate to the hurdles his characters faced because they had lived through them too. Hughes never diminished the significance of getting to first base or waiting around for a boy to call. These were, and still are, stressful times that everyone experiences growing up, and I don't think anyone has been able to capture this feeling or time of life as well as he did.
I signed up my Movie Addicts Club blog on Twitter so click HERE to check it out or follow me. I'm not really sure how to use this thing though.
The concept is pretty simple - update it with asinine or mundane movie-related stuff. But who the hell really wants to know that? Completely puzzling, but I suppose people do want to know because I've already got some followers. However, most of 'em are probably spam accounts, judging from the nicknames they're using.
I'm following some big-name movie stars, and when I have time I'll try to track down some more. It's hard to tell whether they're real or not though. Some of the accounts are "verified" so I take it that it's the actual actor or actress. The others aren't verified so it could be some 12-year-old kid in Overland Park, Kansas for all I know.
Ah well, such is life. I'll play ball with this for a bit and see if anything comes of it.
Farrah Fawcett died today at the age of 62. While it isn't too shocking, especially with all the media coverage about her battle with cancer, it is still equally upsetting. In her interviews with the press, she was always very upbeat and positive that she'd beat the disease. I, like everyone else, was pulling for her. There was just a story the other day that said she was to wed Ryan O'Neal. I was really hoping that things were going to be okay for her and that it'd lift her spirits even more. Unfortunately, it seems that it was a dying wish that will never be fulfilled.
Who would've thought that the man who played an ascetic monk on the boob tube would die because of a mishap during some kinky S&M sex? You think I kid, but it could be true.
Apparently after more investigating and an autopsy, Bangkok officials think this may be the cause of death for David Carradine, especially since there was no suicide note. Family members and friends all deny that he would committ suicide. No comments on whether or not they think he'd participate in some Thai S&M during his time off the movie set. Interesting, no?
While this is a little shocking (the dude was in his 70s for crying out loud), I find it funny in an almost absurdly morbid way. I'm not laughing about the fact that this guy died. I'm giggling over the way he might've died. Who would've predicted this would be the way they'd go out of this world? Geez, what a way to go. And most mothers are worried that you're wearing clean underwear. How about NO underwear, Ma? How 'bout that?
You can look at it as the absolute best way to go (while doing the deed). Or you can look at it as the most embarrassing position to be caught in. This got me on the train to morbidville and I started pondering how I'd like to die if I got to choose. Here's what I came up with:
1. Kick the bucket in the middle of an ice cream eating contest with a gigantic glop of ice cream in my hand and my face planted in a 21 scoop sundae. Sounds heavenly to me.
2. Dying peacefully in my sleep sounds like a nice way to go. However, I'm afraid I'd start to attract the extended family of roaches who live in my building and that they'd start nibbling on me before my stink alerted the neighbors. Guess there goes the open casket route.
3. Just so my name would live on, I'd like to go in some exciting/devastating/awe-inspiring manner. I'm not really sure how though. Croaking while doing some kind of Evil Knievel-like move involving a lot of rings of fire atop a moving airplane while riding a motorcycle blindfolded sounds kick ass.
4. Being the last person alive aboard a spaceship looking back at the dead earth while hurtling uncontrollably toward the sun sounds like a poetic demise.
5. Turning into a popsicle in the vast lands of Antarctica while exploring icy caverns in the name of science makes my death sound noble and gives me a chance to get jump started once technology figures out how to unfreeze me and jolt me back to life.
So how would you like to take your last curtain call if you had the choice?
Wow, just got online and the first thing I saw was a story reporting the apparent suicide of Kung Fu star David Carradine. He was found hanged in his Bangkok hotel room.
It seems his career was going well and that he was in Thailand for a new movie. According to imdb.com, he had six movies in post-production and one in pre-production. He also had an illustrious acting career and had been in a ton of movies. This is an unfortunate tragedy.
Growing up I loved watching Kung Fu: The Legend Continues. Carradine had a kind of calmness surrounding himself as Kwai Chang Caine. Very zen-like. I loved his relationship with his tv son Peter, played by Chris Potter. Their fighting styles, one ancient and one contemporary, complemented each other well. It was a great show.
Just a quickie - Saw Steve Uyehara in my neighborhood again on Saturday afternoon. This time I was driving home on Wilder and he was walking on the sidewalk. Must've been visiting Makiki Shopping Village because it looked like he had a plate lunch in hand.
I've been slacking on my celeb updates . . . and yes, I consider newscasters celebs, especially in Hawaii. I mean, c'mon! They are on TV, right? Not many of us can claim that. So here's a brief update on the celeb's I've seen in the last three to four months.
Jai Cunningham
I saw Jai sometime in January. I was sitting at the Ala Moana Zippy's killing time because I was having my watch battery replaced at Sears. When I looked up Jai Cunningham walked in. It was a Saturday around lunchtime so I figured he was working across the street and came in to get a bite. I'm not sure what his plate lunch of choice was as I couldn't see his order from where I was, but I'm sure he and the rest of the KHON crew frequent Zippy's quite a bit. I looked around to see if anyone else noticed him, but no one seemed to even care. Perhaps they frequent Zippy's as well and are used to it? Or maybe it's just that they don't consider reporters to be anything more than reporters?
Initial impressions of the real-life Jai: 1) To be honest, he looked older in person. This could be due to the copious amounts of makeup and floodlights they use to make everyone TV-ready on set. 2) Seemed to be very nice. He waited patiently like everyone else for the Zippy's lady to call his number. 3) He wore a suit on a Saturday afternoon like it was a T&C shirt and surf shorts. Despite being way overdressed for Zippy's, apparently he's comfy in his own skin.
Steve Uyehara
I haven't seen too much of Steve since he transferred over the the KGMB morning broadcast. (I don't usually get up early enough to catch any station's morning news.) But the other day at the Beretania Foodland, I knew instantly that it was him. He was several lines down from the one I was standing in. I should've gotten into his line just to get a look up close. However, the lines were long and there were a couple of people behind me already. It'd look too obvious if I left my spot just to get back into another line. From my position, I had to peek around a pillar to see him, but he was dressed very casually in a gray sweatshirt. I'm not sure if he had shorts or long pants on. I couldn't see what was in his shopping basket either.
Initial impressions of the real-life Steve: 1) Taller than I expected, although how can you really tell when most newscasters are sitting down right? 2) Looked pretty much the same as he does on TV - not fatter or skinnier. 3) Guess he lives in the area if he's shopping at Foodland or could it have been the sales that lured him over? Nah, guys probably don't look for sales. They just buy what they need.
Daniel Bess
Caption: He enters around 1:36.
Ok, I didn't really see Daniel in real life, but I did just watch him on an episode of "Numb3rs." He played the son of a man on death row. I'm glad he's still acting over there in Hollywood. I hadn't seen him in any TV shows for a while and wondered what he was up to. It's always good when local boys (and girls) make it big.
Initial impressions of the on-screen Daniel: 1) I think he did a good job with what he had to work with for the character. There was a great close-up shot of him, so hopefully his acting and looks will bring other job opportunities. 2) A little Googling brought me to his MySpace page, although I've got no way to really verify that it's the "real" him, of course. 3) More digging uncovered his music on CD Baby. His voice reminds me of Bob Dylan - sorta blues-driven with a touch of country. And as you know, country is my new nirvana.
The 2008 elections are turning into a doozy, aren't they? Locally and nationally, you must pick a side or get out of the way. You're either for rail or against rail. You're either for the war or against the war. You're either for the first black president or for the first female vice president. Pick a side people, pick a side.
Celebrities are getting into the whole politcal scene as well. Have you seen how involved Oprah is? Hollywood is not backing away from politics. In fact, it's stepping up to the plate and showing up at rallies and fundraisers, benefit concerts and conventions. Celebrities, even faux celebrity D-listers, are speaking out on behalf of their favorite candidate. They're encouraging Americans to take a stand.
So whether you're a Republican, Democrat or Independent, Hollywood is asking for your vote.
Wow, two stars in a weekend. Devastating! First Bernie Mac, then Isaac Hayes. Apparently his family found him collapsed near a treadmill . . . perhaps a heart attack? It's just horrible that people trying to live a healthy lifestyle can fall victim to the same health issues that they are trying to avoid. It's such a tragedy.
Just got online and a head line caught my eye: "Actor and comedian Bernie Mac dies at age 50." Wow, how can this be? Known for his distinctive laugh and booming voice, Mac was just starting to make it big. He'd done some films and had a sitcom. His career was only just beginning. It's shocking to hear the news that he's passed.
While I enjoyed him in Oceans Eleven and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, I loved him on The Original Kings of Comedy. I think this is where he really shined and where he really belonged. I for one am really going to miss his raucous brand of humor. RIP Bernie.
Today I saw Kala'i Miller at Jamba Juice on Ward. The place is always packed in the mornings so I didn't think anything of it. Then, I heard a voice that sounded familiar. I turned to my right and there he was, like an angel sent down from heaven. Well, not really. But he was sitting on my right talking to another guy. I was 98% sure it was him, and my suspicions were confirmed when a guy walked in and said, "Eh Kala'i, long time no see."
Wow, a real live, walking-talking celeb! My friend Lan (and probably Joc for that matter although I know she has a distinct dislike for the guy) would trip! Anyway, I looked around to see if anyone else in the place was trying to surpress a giddy giggle and a not-so-subtle smile. Nope. Nada. I'm not sure if it was because people hadn't had their Strawberry Toppers to wake them up yet or if it was because it's been almost 10 years since Baywatch Hawaii and no one gives a damn about him anymore. I mean, at least Jason Momoa is on some Sci-Fi channel series right?
Initial impressions of the real-life Kala'i: 1) Shorter than I thought he'd be 2) Very tan - none of that spray-on stuff for this guy 3) Spoke and acted like every other local guy 4) Apparently his real name/alter ego is "Dan" because that's what the girls behind the counter called out for his order.
Media Savvy Lady MSNBC.com is touting Jessica Alba's wedding as one of the best PR strategies in her career. By getting married to her boyfriend Cash Warren on the heels of the Ashlee Simpson/Pete Wentz nuptuals (May 19 to Ashlee's May 17), Alba was able to avoid much of the hoopla that normally surrounds Hollywood weddings. As usual, she does everything with such class.
Perlman Less than a Gem Guess the Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync were right to quit their manager, Lou Perlman. More sleezy than a greasy Antonio Banderas, Perlman bilked individual investors and banks out of $300 million. I guess he had to move on to bigger fish once his boys left him.
Another Nanny Debacle? Dylan McDermott has filed for divorce from his wife of 12 years. Think it might be a Rob Lowe nanny debacle? He does have two children . . . .
Free Katie! Free Katie! Oh, sorry. Guess I'm fighting a losing battle on this one huh? It does not appear likely that Katie Homes will ever be released from the mighty grasp of Tom Cruise. But, he did let his girl go for a brief minute to perform in Arthur Miller's "All My Sons" on Broadway. Good thing she's a actress and has a good imagination. She can pretend she's a free woman.
Actress Turned Singer? Scarlett Johansson is the latest celeb to try her had at singing. Her debut album, "Anywhere I Lay My Head," seems to have bombed with the critics. Pesonally, I've gotta agree it sucks as well. Her voice seems overly synthesized . . . to cover a no-talent, wannabe singer's voice perhaps? Listen for yourself and you be the judge.
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