Thursday, February 16, 2006

Swing Into Summer With More Rockford!

The Rockford Files - Season 2 is coming to DVD on June 13th. SRP is $39.98 for a 3-DVD set with 22 episodes from 1975-76 presented in the original full screen video. James Garner starred in this Stephen J. Cannell series, and the second season had gobs of guest stars like Ken Swofford, Linda Evans, Gerald McRaney, Joe E. Tata, Robert Hays, Dana Elcar, Noble Willingham, Bruce Kirby, Stefanie Powers, Joan Van Ark, Charles Napier, Stacy Keach Sr., Isaac Hayes, Dick Butkus, Rob Reiner, John Saxon, Michael Ansara, William Daniels, Ron Silver, Louis Gossett Jr., Jayne Kennedy, Veronica Hamel and Gordon Jump.

Quintana's Litigious Past Under Fire

Quintana's Litigious Past Under Fire

HOLLYWOOD - Paris Hilton is not the first celebrity Brian Quintana has accused of harassment, in the 1990s he hit Hart To Hart star Stefanie Powers will similar legal action--but he denies making a habit of lawsuits.

The celebrity socialite was slapped with a restraining order at Los Angeles Superior Court last week, after complaints from promoter Quintana that she'd branded him a "lazy Mexican" and was ruining his business.

In 1995 Quintana sought a similar judgment against Powers when he worked for a charity linked to the flame-haired actress, insisting she would get him drunk and force him to get into bed with her.

Just as Quintana claimed Hilton made threatening calls warning him to stay away from her boyfriend Stavros Niarchos, the party organizer said he began to receive threats from Powers' entourage.

He told tabloid the Globe in 1995, "The calls said, 'Watch your back.' He warned, 'You should be--you're a dead man. You sure messed with the wrong woman.'"

Quintana is adamant he takes no pleasure from filing lawsuits against celebrities. He tells the New York Daily News, "That's ridiculous. It advances my business in no way, and it actually hurts it.

"Look at how litigious Paris is and how many criminal investigations there are involving her. You know, this is the MO (modus operandi) of numerous celebrities who think they're above the law and the little guys who should just go away."

Quintana's case against Powers was dropped when Powers submitted legal documents proving she was overseas for most of the period Quintana claimed the abuse took place.

Friday, February 10, 2006

Stars and Industry Professionals Confess Their Love of Musicals, in a Valentine's Day Extravaganza

BroadwayWorld.com, the Premiere Theatre Site on the Net, Boasts Over 175 Stars and Pros -- Choosing Their Most Memorable or Favorite Romantic Love Songs From a Broadway Show...in an Expanded and Updated Version of Last Year's Top-Rated Feature

NEW YORK, NY -- 02/10/2006 -- The list includes: Patti LuPone, Angela Lansbury, Amy Irving, John Lithgow, Colm Wilkinson, Bruce Vilanch, Nathan Lane, Michael Crawford, Elaine Stritch, Tovah Feldfush, Carol Channing, Charles Busch, Anthony Rapp, Faith Prince, Sam Harris, Jerry Herman, Jane Monheit, Marc Shaiman, Star Jones Reynolds, Cherry Jones, Jonathan Pryce, Lea Salonga, Michael McKean, Jim Steinman, Maureen McGovern, Robert Goulet, Deborah Gibson, Nancy Anderson, James Barbour, Bryan Batt, Hinton Battle, Laura Bell Bundy, Laura Benanti, Stephanie J. Block, Jason Robert Brown, Georgia Stitt, Kerry Butler, Liz Caplan, Jim Caruso, Kristy Cates, Kim Cea, Donna Lynne Champlin, Jen Colella, Douglas Cohen, Carole Cook, Gavin Creel, Michael Dale, Tyne Daly, Jason Danieley, Ryan Duncan, Daisy Eagan, John Treacy Egan, Susan Egan, Melissa Errico, Nanette Fabray, Tovah Feldshuh, Peter Filichia, Adam Fleming, Barrett Foa, Hunter Foster, Jen Cody, Sutton Foster, Alison Fraser, David Friedman, Jenn Gambatese, Jordan Gelber, Mandy Gonzalez, Amanda Green, Jenna Leigh Green, Larry Grossman, Jessica Grove, Ann Harada, John Hill, Damon Intrabartolo, Richard Jay-Alexander, Cheyenne Jackson, Michael John LaChiusa, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Sharon Lawrence, Margo Lion, Brian Lowdermilk, Jeff Marx, Deven May, Jeff McCarthy, Jamie McGonnigal, Rita McKenzie, Matthew Morrison, Michael Musto, Scott Nevins, Larry O'Keefe, Billy Porter, Stefanie Powers, Michael Riedel, Robert Jess Roth, Anne Runolfsson, Seth Rudetsky, John Selya, Douglas Sills, Matthew Stocke, Brooke Tansley, Marty Thomas, Tom Viola, JoAnne Worley, Karen Ziemba, Lucie Arnaz, Kelli O'Hara, Sally Mayes, Cady Huffman, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Michelle Federer, Don Pippin, Julia Murney, John McDaniel, Bobby Lopez, Stephen Flaherty, Michael Kosarin, Karen Mason, John Lloyd Young, Tyler Maynard, Jason Graae, John Bolton, Jeffry Denman, Jay Landers, Bernie Telsey, Gregory Jbara, Euan Morton, Daniel Reichard, Jed Bernstein, Jill Paice, Gary Beach, Sara Ramirez, Jennifer Hope Wills, Glen Roven, Jamie deRoy, Larry Blank, Jill Eikenberry, Michael Tucker, Liz Callaway, Gabriel Barre, Jennifer Rae Beck, Andrew Lippa, Leah Hocking, John Carrafa, Jessica-Snow Wilson, Richie Ridge, Kevin Stites, Matthew Sklar, Thommie Walsh, Rick McKay, Andrea Burns, Angus McIndoe, Chuck Cooper, Brooks Ashmanskas, David Zippel, Craig Zadan, Darren Holden, Natalie Toro, Scott Wittman, Brad Oscar, Brent Barrett, Kris Stewart, Manoel Felciano, Phyllis Newman, Clarke Peters, Mylinda Hull, Mark Sendroff, Mark O'Donnell, Bryn Dowling, Ute Lemper, Natascia Diaz, Rob Bartlett, Thomas Meehan, Andrea McArdle and Michael Cerveris.

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Reynolds, MacLaine, Lansbury on stage at gala

A record number of 1,650 guests, including emcee Debbie Reynolds and celebrity presenters Shirley MacLaine and Angela Lansbury, turned out for the Desert AIDS Project's 12th annual Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards Saturday at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

Jazz and Broadway singing stars Ann Hampton Callaway and her sister Liz Callaway were flown in from New York at the last minute to perform their classy show, "Sibling Revelry."

They provided seamless companionship to the already star-studded roster of HIV/AIDS supporters.

It was MacLaine's second appearance in Palm Springs in 40 years after breaking the drought as an honoree at last month's Palm Springs International Film Festival. Besides coming from her home near Santa Fe, N.M., to support a good cause, she said she was well treated on her last visit.

"I've had contour wraps and massages in places I didn't know I had," MacLaine said.

A simple and elegant cabaret themed room of black, white and red décor provided a sense of intimacy. A sea of black and white tuxes and flashy ball gowns lent a touch of New York to the highly-anticipated annual event that raises money for people in the Coachella Valley living with HIV/AIDS.

"The best part of this evening is the fact that every penny, for everything from staples to stamps, was underwritten by generous people," said co-chair Bill Jones, owner of Carousel Catering. "We will raise an unprecedented $700,000 tonight, all going directly to DAP client services. We live in a community that has the most incredibly generous people I have ever seen in my life. They give of themselves and their money and their time unlike I have ever seen. Without them, this evening would never happen."

These underwriters include Wells Fargo, Earl Greenburg and David Peet, Private Bank of North America, Harold Matzner, Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Tom Bombardier and John Fowler, Walgreens, John Bowab, Tim Hanlon and Anthony Klatt, Jim and Jackie Lee Houston, Bill Jones, Bob Jones of Davey's Hideaway, Virginia Milanovich, Joseph Roman and Mark Wilson, and Union Bank of California.

Co-chair Tim Hanlon, who is the president of Wells Fargo Foundation, said "We at Wells Fargo wanted to cement our relationship with DAP and build on our already successful partnership with the organization that houses the Wells Fargo HIV Health Center."

The fundraising didn't stop. At two points in the evening, surprises were announced. Susan Unger, a DAP board member, announced the inception of DAP's 100 Women donor club, which is made up of women leaders across the valley that include Peggy Cravens, Dr. Wendy Roberts, Edra Blixseth and Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia. A check was presented to roaring applause as members of the 100 Women Founders Circle stood throughout the room.

Reynolds set the jovial tone for the evening when she appeared to welcome guests while they dined on bleu cheese salad wedges. As she introduced co-chairs Bill Jones and Hanlon, photos of the two men flashed on the screen, only Hanlon's was a photo of his drag queen alter ego Summer. "Oops," said the voice of god from the wings.

This set the tone for the night, which was all about a diverse community of gay and straight gathering together in hopes to combat the chronic disease of HIV/AIDS with humor, dedication and companionship.

Lansbury presented the Arts & Activism Award to Tom Viola of New York's Broadway Cares. Russ Russell, DAP board president, gave the award to Partners For Life honoree Dr. Burt Fogelman who volunteers daily at the organization.

Bill Jones introduced the Warner Engdahl Community Service Award to Marv and Carol Sholl, saying, "Marv is the kindest, gentlest man I know married to the classiest broad I have ever met in my life."

The Sholls, whose son Barry died from complications from HIV/AIDS, have been involved with DAP as volunteers and donors for more than a decade.

A dinner of Asian braised short ribs was followed by a performance by Erasure. At a VIP cocktail party the night before the Chase at the Palm Springs Art Museum, Erasure lead singer Andy Bell mentioned that he had watched AIDS devastate his close community of friends, and that he was thrilled to be in Palm Springs donating his time for the organization's efforts.

"Andy and Paul (Hickey) and Vince came all the way from London for free to be here tonight," said Bill Jones.

The band performed their best-loved hits "Chains of Love," "Savannah Song" and "Respect" to a cheering crowd.

MacLaine then took the stage to award Dr. Mathilde Krim with the Science and Medicine Award. Krim is a founder of amFAR, the American Foundation for AIDS Research.

The Callaway Sisters topped off the gala with a performance as guests mingled and drank coffee before heading home.

Also in attendance were Michael Childers, Mayor Ron Oden, EQCA Executive Director Geoffrey Kors, Patrick Mundt and Mike Hutchison of Contempo Homes, Denise Brown, Jaime Kabler, Arlene Rosenthal, comedian Bruce Vilanch, actors Stefanie Powers and Tippi Hedren and Palm Springs Art Museum Executive Director Janice Lyle.