Disney Chanel and Disney Junior Stars to Appear at D23 Expo 2019

Disney Channel and Disney Junior Stars to Meet Fans Every Day At Disney's D23 Expo 2019 in Anaheim, August 23–25, 2019

Kermit the Frog Joins Q&A Session with Creators and Voices Behind Disney Television Animation’s Hit Series Amphibia and Big City Greens

Meet-and-Greets with Stars from DuckTales, Big Hero 6 The Series, ZOMBIES, Raven's Home, Sydney to the Max, Coop & Cami Ask the World, BUNK'D, and Just Roll With It

Plus Photo Opportunities with Popular Disney Junior Characters Fancy Nancy and Vampirina

Limited-Edition T-Shirts Featuring Classic Disney Channel Favorites Available for Purchase Exclusively for D23 Expo Attendees

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kids, tweens, and families can meet their favorite Disney Channel and Disney Junior stars during three fun-filled days at D23 Expo 2019, the ultimate Disney fan event, taking place FRIDAY, AUGUST 23 – SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2019, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. With special appearances scheduled daily, fans are invited to stop by the Walt Disney Television booth on the Expo show floor to meet and take pictures with some of their favorite stars from hit Disney Channel series and movies.

Popular Disney Junior characters Fancy Nancy and Vampirina will also be on hand to greet young fans over all three days. In addition, the schedule features a Q&A session, including a special appearance by the world's most famous amphibian, Kermit the Frog, as he joins the creators and voices behind Disney Television Animation’s hit series Amphibia and Big City Greens, taking place at Stage 28 on Saturday, August 24.

A limited-edition collection of T-shirts from classic Disney Channel favorites, including High School Musical, Hannah Montana, and Camp Rock, among others, will be available for purchase exclusively to D23 Expo attendees in the Walt Disney Television booth.

On FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, fans can meet the young stars of Raven’s Home and the cast of Disney Channel’s newest series Just Roll With It.

On SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, fans are invited to hop over to Stage 28 where Amphibia stars Disney Legend Bill Farmer, Amanda Leighton, and Justin Felbinger and series creator/executive producer Matt Braly will join Big City Greens cast members Marieve Herington and Bob Joles, and creators/executive producers Chris and Shane Houghton for a lively Q&A session featuring the one-and-only Kermit the Frog. Cast members from Disney's Emmy® Award-nominated DuckTales and hit Disney Channel series Sydney to the Max and Coop & Cami Ask the World will be on hand to meet fans and take pictures in the Walt Disney Television booth.

On SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, fans can meet the stars of Disney’s Emmy® Award-nominated Big Hero 6 The Series, based on Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Academy Award®-winning feature film, as well as cast members from the Disney Channel Original Movie ZOMBIES and fan-favorite Disney Channel series BUNK'D.

Following is the full schedule* of stars making special appearances in the Walt Disney Television booth throughout the weekend:

Friday, August 23
      
9 a.m. - Fancy Nancy character appearance
       
10 a.m. - Vampirina character appearance
       
12 p.m. - Just Roll With It stars Suzi Barrett, Tobie Windham, Ramon Reed, and Kaylin Hayman
       
3 p.m. - Raven's Home stars Navia Robinson, Issac Ryan Brown, Jason Maybaum, and Sky Katz

Saturday, August 24
       
9 a.m. - Vampirina character appearance
       
10 a.m. - Fancy Nancy character appearance
       
11 a.m. - Sydney to the Max stars Ruth Righi, Ava Kolker, Jackson Dollinger, and Christian J. Simon
       
12 p.m. - Coop & Cami Ask the World stars Dakota Lotus, Ruby Rose Turner, Olivia Sanabia, Albert Tsai, Paxton Booth, and Rebecca Metz
       
5 p.m. - DuckTales stars Bobby Moynihan and Toks Olagundoye

Sunday, August 25
       
9 a.m. - Big Hero 6 The Series stars Genesis Rodriguez and Brooks Whelan
       
10 a.m. - ZOMBIES stars Meg Donnelly, Kylee Russell, and Carla Jeffery
       
1 p.m. - BUNK'D stars Miranda May, Mallory James Mahoney, Raphael Alejandro, Will Buie Jr., Shelby Simmons, Scarlett Estevez, and Israel Johnson
       
3 p.m. - Vampirina character appearance
       
4 p.m. - Fancy Nancy character appearance

*Schedule subject to change.

Single-day tickets for Friday and Sunday of D23 Expo 2019 are available for $89 for one-day adult admission and $69 for children 3–9. Gold Members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club can purchase tickets for $77 for a one-day adult admission and $59 for children 3–9. Single-day Saturday tickets and three-day passes are sold out. For more information on tickets and D23 Expo 2019, visit D23Expo.com.


About D23 Expo 2019
D23 Expo—The Ultimate Disney Fan Event—brings together all the worlds of Disney under one roof for three packed days of presentations, pavilions, experiences, concerts, sneak peeks, shopping, and more. The event provides fans with unprecedented access to Disney films, television, games, theme parks, and celebrities. For the latest D23 Expo 2019 news, visit D23expo.com. Presentations, talent, and schedule subject to change. To join the D23 Expo conversation, be sure to follow DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, and use the hashtag #D23Expo.

About D23
The name “D23” pays homage to the exciting journey that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his first studio in Hollywood. D23 is the first official club for fans in Disney’s 90-plus-year history. It gives its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by placing them in the middle of the magic through its quarterly publication, Disney twenty-three; a rich website at D23.com with members-only content; member-exclusive discounts; and special events for D23 Members throughout the year.

Fans can join D23 at Gold Membership ($99.99), Gold Family Membership ($129.99), and General Membership (complimentary) levels at D23.com. To keep up with all the latest D23 news and events, follow DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

----------------------------

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 4, 2017

MARVEL COMICS

AUG170973    ALL NEW GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #11    $3.99
JUL178539    ASTONISHING X-MEN #2 2ND PTG DEODATO VAR    $3.99
AUG170982    ASTONISHING X-MEN #4    $3.99
AUG170838    AVENGERS #672 LEG    $3.99
AUG170957    BLACK BOLT #6    $3.99
JUL171197    COLOR YOUR OWN THOR TP    $9.99
APR171131    DEADPOOL WORLDS GREATEST HC VOL 02    $34.99
JUL171230    DOCTOR STRANGE EPIC COLLECTION AFTERLIFE TP    $39.99
JUL178540    GENERATIONS IRON MAN & IRONHEART #1 2ND PTG SKAN VAR    $4.99
AUG170970    HAWKEYE #11    $3.99
JUL171195    HULK PLANET HULK PROSE NOVEL HC    $24.99
APR171130    HULK WORLD WAR HULK OMNIBUS HC    $125.00
AUG170916    ICEMAN #6 LEG    $3.99
AUG170818    IRON FIST #73 LEG    $3.99
AUG170894    JESSICA JONES #13 LEG    $3.99
AUG170989    JOURNEY SW LAST JEDI CAPT PHASMA #3 (OF 4)    $3.99
JUN171042    MARVELS AGENTS SHIELD SEASON FOUR DECLASSIFIED SLIPCASE HC    $50.00
JUN171061    MARVELS THOR RAGNAROK PRELUDE TP    $15.99
APR171135    MUPPET BABIES OMNIBUS HC    $75.00
APR171136    MUPPET BABIES OMNIBUS HC KERMIT DM VAR ED    $75.00
AUG170980    OLD MAN LOGAN #29    $3.99
AUG170930    PUNISHER PLATOON #1 (OF 6)    $3.99
AUG170882    ROYALS #9 LEG    $3.99
JUL171211    ROYALS TP VOL 01 BEYOND INHUMAN    $17.99
APR171134    SHANG-CHI MASTER OF KUNG FU OMNIBUS HC VOL 04 DM WILSON VAR    $125.00
APR171133    SHANG-CHI MASTER OF KUNG FU OMNIBUS HC VOL 04 MACK ED    $125.00
AUG170944    SPIDER-MAN #21    $3.99
AUG170951    SPIDER-MAN DEADPOOL #22    $3.99
JUL178541    SPIDER-MEN II #2 (OF 5) 2ND PTG PICHELLI VAR    $3.99
AUG170798    SPIRITS OF VENGEANCE #1 (OF 5) LEG    $3.99
AUG170986    STAR WARS #37    $4.99
AUG170997    STAR WARS DARTH VADER #6    $3.99
APR171129    THOR BY WALTER SIMONSON OMNIBUS HC NEW PTG    $125.00
APR171132    THOR HEROES RETURN OMNIBUS HC VOL 01    $125.00
JUL171196    THOR VS HULK TP    $29.99
JUL171231    TOMB OF DRACULA COMPLETE COLLECTION TP VOL 01    $39.99
JUL178542    TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #20 2ND PTG ASRAR VAR    $3.99
AUG170887    VENOM #155 LEG    $3.99
AUG170947    VENOMVERSE #5 (OF 5)    $3.99
AUG170949    VENOMVERSE #5 (OF 5) CRAIN CONNECTING VAR    $3.99
AUG170950    VENOMVERSE #5 (OF 5) TORQUE POISON VAR    $3.99
JUL178543    WEAPON X #7 2ND PTG SKAN VAR    $3.99
JUL171232    WEREWOLF BY NIGHT COMPLETE COLLECTION TP VOL 01    $39.99
AUG170857    X-MEN GOLD #13 LEG    $3.99

Negromancer News Bits and Bites for April 1st to 4th, 2015 - Updated #6

NEWS:

From THR:  "The Muppet Show," which ran from 1976 to 1981 could be revived by ABC.

-------------------
From YahooCelebrity:  Chris Rock documents his experience with racial profiling and driving-while-black (DWB).

-------------------
From SlashFilm:  Clint Eastwood's name has come up in connection with the Leonardo DiCaprio-Jonah Hill "Richard Jewel" project.


COMICS: Books and Films:

From CBR:  First photos from "Deadpool" film.

-------------------
From ComicBookMovie:  A supposed look at Wolverine's costume in "X-Men: Age of Apocalypse."

--------------------
From CinemaBlend:  First trailer for "Batman Vs. Superman" to debut with Mad Max: Fury Road (May 15, 2015).

---------------------
From CinemaBlend: Brit actor, Ben Hardy, could be "Angel" in X-Men: Apocalypse.


STAR WARS:

From ScreenRant: New rumors about the villains in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.


TRAILERS AND PREVIEWS:

From YouTube:  Second "Poltergeist" trailer is up.

---------------------
From YouTube:  New trailer for Melissa McCarthy comedy, Spy.


REVIEWS:

From VillageVoice:  Stephanie Zacharek reviews "Furious 7."

---------------------
From VillageVoice:  Alan Scherstuhl reviews The Who documentary, "Lambert & Stamp."

79 Songs Compete for 5 "Original Song" 87th Oscar Nominations

79 ORIGINAL SONGS VIE FOR 2014 OSCAR

The original songs, along with the motion picture in which each song is featured, are listed below in alphabetical order by film title and song title:

"It's On Again" from "The Amazing Spider-Man 2"
"Opportunity" from "Annie"
"Lost Stars" from "Begin Again"
"Grateful" from "Beyond the Lights"
"Big Eyes" from "Big Eyes"
"Immortals" from "Big Hero 6"
"The Apology Song" from "The Book of Life"
"I Love You Too Much" from "The Book of Life"
"The Boxtrolls Song" from "The Boxtrolls"
"Quattro Sabatino" from "The Boxtrolls"
"Ryan's Song" from "Boyhood"
"Split The Difference" from "Boyhood"
"No Fate Awaits Me" from "The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them"
"Brave Souls" from "Dolphin Tale 2"
"You Got Me" from "Dolphin Tale 2"
"All Our Endless Love" from "Endless Love"
"Let Me In" from "The Fault in Our Stars"
"Not About Angels" from "The Fault in Our Stars"
"Until The End" from "Garnet's Gold"
"It Just Takes A Moment" from "Girl on a Bicycle"
"Last Stop Paris" from "Girl on a Bicycle"
"Ordinary Human" from "The Giver"
"I'm Not Gonna Miss You" from "Glen Campbell...I'll Be Me"
"Find A Way" from "The Good Lie"
"Color The World" from "The Hero of Color City"
"The Last Goodbye" from "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies"
"Chariots" from "The Hornet's Nest"
"Follow Me" from "The Hornet's Nest"
"Something To Shoot For" from "Hot Guys with Guns"
"For The Dancing And The Dreaming" from "How to Train Your Dragon 2"
"Afreen" from "The Hundred-Foot Journey"
"Yellow Flicker Beat" from "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1"
"Heart Like Yours" from "If I Stay"
"I Never Wanted To Go" from "If I Stay"
"Mind" from "If I Stay"
"Everything Is Awesome" from "The Lego Movie"
"Call Me When You Find Yourself" from "Life Inside Out"
"Coming Back To You" from "Life of an Actress The Musical"
"The Life Of An Actress" from "Life of an Actress The Musical"
"Sister Rust" from "Lucy"
"You Fooled Me" from "Merchants of Doubt"
"Million Dollar Dream" from "Million Dollar Arm"
"Spreading The Word/Makhna" from "Million Dollar Arm"
"We Could Be Kings" from "Million Dollar Arm"
"A Million Ways To Die" from "A Million Ways to Die in the West"
"Way Back When" from "Mr. Peabody & Sherman"
"America For Me" from "A Most Violent Year"
"I'll Get You What You Want (Cockatoo In Malibu)" from "Muppets Most Wanted"
"Something So Right" from "Muppets Most Wanted"
"We're Doing A Sequel" from "Muppets Most Wanted"
"Mercy Is" from "Noah"
"Seeds" from "Occupy the Farm"
"Grant My Freedom" from "The One I Wrote for You"
"The One I Wrote For You" from "The One I Wrote for You"
"Hal" from "Only Lovers Left Alive"
"Shine" from "Paddington"
"Still I Fly" from "Planes: Fire & Rescue"
"Batucada Familia" from "Rio 2"
"Beautiful Creatures" from "Rio 2"
"Poisonous Love" from "Rio 2"
"What Is Love" from "Rio 2"
"Over Your Shoulder" from "Rudderless"
"Sing Along" from "Rudderless"
"Stay With You" from "Rudderless"
"Everyone Hides" from "St. Vincent"
"Why Why Why" from "St. Vincent"
"Glory" from "Selma"
"The Morning" from "A Small Section of the World"
"Special" from "Special"
"Gimme Some" from "#Stuck"
"The Only Thing" from "Third Person"
"Battle Cry" from "Transformers: Age of Extinction"
"Miracles" from "Unbroken"
"Summer Nights" from "Under the Electric Sky"
"We Will Not Go" from "Virunga"
"Heavenly Father" from "Wish I Was Here"
"So Now What" from "Wish I Was Here"
"Long Braid" from "Work Weather Wife"
"Moon" from "Work Weather Wife"

During the nominations process, all voting members of the Music Branch will receive a Reminder List of works submitted in the category and a DVD copy of the song clips.  Members will be asked to watch the clips and then vote in the order of their preference for not more than five achievements in the category.  The five achievements receiving the highest number of votes will become the nominations for final voting for the award.  A maximum of two songs may be nominated from any one film.

To be eligible, a song must consist of words and music, both of which are original and written specifically for the film.  A clearly audible, intelligible, substantive rendition of both lyric and melody must be used in the body of the film or as the first music cue in the end credits.

The 87th Academy Awards® nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 15, 2015, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

The Oscars will be held on Sunday, February 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network.  The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

---------------------------

18th Satellite Awards Nominations - Television and New Media Categories

by Amos Semien

The 18th Satellite Awards ceremony will be held Sunday, February 23, 2014.  Nominations were announced Monday, December 2, 2013.

18th Satellite Awards nominations (for the year 2013):

TELEVISION CATEGORIES:

Television.Miniseries / Motion Picture Made for Television:
Dancing on the Edge - Starz
Parade’s End - HBO
Generation War - Film GmbH, teamWorx Television, ZDF
The White Queen - Starz
Burton and Taylor - BBC America
Mob City - TNT
Top of the Lake - Sundance Channel
Behind the Candelabra - HBO
Phil Spector - HBO
The Big C: Hereafter - Showtime

Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television:
Holliday Grainger  Bonnie & Clyde  Lifetime
Jessica Lange  American Horror Story: Coven  FX
Helen Mirren  Phil Spector  HBO
Rebecca Hall  Parade’s End  HBO
Laura Linney  The Big C: Hereafter  Showtime
Elisabeth Moss  Top of the Lake  Sundance Channel
Helena Bonham Carter  Burton and Taylor  BBC America
Melissa Leo  Call Me Crazy: A Five Film  Lifetime

Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television:
Matt Damon  Behind the Candelabra  HBO
Benedict Cumberbatch  Parade’s End  HBO
Matthew Goode  Dancing on the Edge  Starz
Chiwetel Ejiofor  Dancing on the Edge  Starz
Peter Mullan  Top of the Lake  Sundance Channel
Al Pacino  Phil Spector  HBO
Dominic West  Burton and Taylor  BBC America
Michael Douglas  Behind the Candelabra  HBO

Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television:
Anna Gunn  Breaking Bad  AMC
Emilia Clarke  Game Of Thrones  HBO
Uzo Aduba  Orange is the New Black  Netflix
Merritt Wever  Nurse Jackie  Showtime
Margo Martindale  The Americans  FX
Laura Prepon  Orange is the New Black  Netflix
Judy Parfitt  Call the Midwife  BBC, PBS
Kathy Bates  American Horror Story: Coven  FX

Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television:
Aaron Paul  Breaking Bad  AMC
James Wolk  Mad Men  AMC
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau  Game Of Thrones  HBO
Peter Sarsgaard  The Killing  AMC
Jon Voight  Ray Donovan  Showtime
William Hurt  Bonnie & Clyde  Lifetime
Jimmy Smits  Sons of Anarchy  FX
Corey Stoll  House of Cards  Netflix

Television Series, Drama:
Last Tango in Halifax  BBC, PBS
Mad Men  AMC
The Americans  FX
Masters of Sex  Showtime
Homeland  Showtime
Downton Abbey  PBS
The Good Wife  CBS
House of Cards  Netflix
Breaking Bad  AMC
Rectify  Sundance Channel

Television Series or Miniseries, Genre:
American Horror Story: Coven - FX
Arrow - CW
The Walking Dead - AMC
Once Upon A Time - ABC
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - ABC
Grimm - NBC
Game Of Thrones - HBO
Orphan Black - BBC America
The Returned - Sundance Channel
Supernatural - CW

Actress in a Series, Drama:
Keri Russell  The Americans  FX
Vera Farmiga  Bates Motel  A&E
Anne Reid  Last Tango in Halifax  BBC, PBS
Olivia Colman  Broadchurch  BBC America
Robin Wright  House of Cards  Netflix
Lizzy Caplan  Masters of Sex  Showtime
Tatiana Maslany  Orphan Black  BBC America
Abigail Spencer  Rectify  Sundance Channel

Actor in a Series, Drama
Jon Hamm  Mad Men  AMC
Aden Young  Rectify  Sundance Channel
Michael Sheen  Masters of Sex  Showtime
Jeff Daniels  The Newsroom  HBO
Derek Jacobi  Last Tango in Halifax  BBC, PBS
Kevin Spacey  House of Cards  Netflix
Bryan Cranston  Breaking Bad  AMC
Freddie Highmore  Bates Motel  A&E

Television Series, Comedy or Musical
A Young Doctor’s Notebook  Ovation TV
Modern Family  ABC
Brooklyn Nine-Nine  Fox
Enlightened  HBO
Veep  HBO
Alpha House  Amazon Studios
The Wrong Mans  BBC, Hulu
The Big Bang Theory  CBS
Orange is the New Black  Netflix

Actress in a Series, Comedy or Musical
Lena Dunham  Girls  HBO
Julia Louis-Dreyfus  Veep  HBO
Laura Dern  Enlightened  HBO
Amy Poehler  Parks And Recreation  NBC
Zooey Deschanel  New Girl  Fox
Taylor Schilling  Orange is the New Black  Netflix
Edie Falco  Nurse Jackie  Showtime
Jessica Walter  Arrested Development  Netflix

Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical
Jake Johnson  New Girl  Fox
Jim Parsons  The Big Bang Theory  CBS
James Corden  The Wrong Mans  BBC, Hulu
Don Cheadle  House Of Lies  Showtime
Andre Braugher  Brooklyn Nine-Nine  Fox
John Goodman  Alpha House  Amazon Studios
Mathew Baynton  The Wrong Mans  BBC, Hulu

Original Short-Format Program
#JustSaying, #SamoKažem  Tuna Fish Studio
EastSiders  Logo TV
High Maintenance  Jankyclown Productions
Burning Love  Abominable Pictures, Paramount Insurge, Red Hour Films, Yahoo!
Ask A Slave  AzieDee Productions
Little Horribles  Barnacle Studios
Blue  Wigs
Ghost Ghirls  Electric Dynamite, Shine America, Yahoo!

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD:

Best Ensemble, Television:
Orange is the New Black

NEW MEDIA CATEGORIES: DVD/BLU-RAY

Best Overall Blu-Ray
Les Misérables  Universal
Star Trek: Into Darkness  Paramount Home Entertainment
The Wizard of Oz: 75th Anniversary Collector’s Edition  MGM
Waiting for Lightning  First Run Features
Breaking Bad: The Complete Series  Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
JFK 50th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition  Warner Bros.
To Be or Not To Be  United Artists
Love Actually 10th Anniversary Edition  Universal
The Talented Mr. Ripley  Miramax
Argo  Warner Bros.

Youth Blu-Ray
Planes  Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Monsters University Collector’s Edition  Walt Disney Home Entertainment
The Smurfs 2  Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
The Croods  20th Century Fox
Rise Of The Guardians  DreamWorks Video
The Muppet Movie  Henson Associates

VIDEO GAME CATEGORIES:

Outstanding Action / Adventure Video Game
Grand Theft Auto V  Rockstar North
Beyond: Two Souls  Quantic Dream
Crysis 3  Crytek Frankfurt / UK
Battlefield 4  EA Digital Illusions CE
BioShock Infinite  Irrational Games

Outstanding Mobile Game
XCOM: Enemy Unknown for iOS  Firaxis Games
Warhammer Quest  Rodeo Games
The Room  Fireproof Games Studios
Ridiculous Fishing  Vlambeer
Badland  Frogmind

Outstanding Role Playing Game
Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch  Level 5, Studio Ghibli
Tales of Xillia  Namco Tales Studio
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn  Square Enix Product
Sacred 3  Keen Games
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim  Bethesda Studios

Outstanding Sports / Racing Game
NBA 2K14 - Visual Concepts
Grid 2 - Codemasters Southam
Forza Motorsport 5 - Turn 10 Studios
FIFA 14 - Electronic Arts
Need for Speed Rivals - Electronic Arts, Ghost Games


END

2013 Grammy Nominations in the Top Catagories - A List

The Grammy Awards (or Grammys) are given out by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States. The Grammy is an accolade that recognizes outstanding achievement in the music industry. It is the music industry equivalent to the Academy Awards for film, the Emmy Awards for television, and the Tony Award for stage.

There are currently 81 categories, up from 78 at the 54th Grammy Awards. The three new categories are “Best Classical Compendium,” “Best Latin Jazz Album,” and “Best Urban Contemporary Album.”

The 55th Grammy Awards will be held on Sunday, February 10, 2013, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The show will be broadcast on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT and will be hosted for the second time by LL Cool J. Nominations were announced on December 5, 2012

Nominees in top categories for the 55th annual Grammy Awards:

Record of the Year:
"Lonely Boy," The Black Keys
"Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)," Kelly Clarkson
"We Are Young," fun. featuring Janelle Monae
"Somebody That I Used To Know," Gotye Featuring Kimbra
"Thinkin Bout You," Frank Ocean
"We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," Taylor Swift.

Album of the Year:
"El Camino," The Black Keys
"Some Nights," fun.
"Babel," Mumford & Sons
"Channel Orange," Frank Ocean
"Blunderbuss," Jack White.

Song of the Year:
"The A Team," Ed Sheeran, songwriter (performed by Ed Sheeran)
"Adorn," Miguel Pimentel, songwriter (Miguel)
"Call Me Maybe" Tavish Crowe, Carly Rae Jepsen & Josh Ramsay, songwriters (Carly Rae Jepsen)
"Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)," Jorgen Elofsson, David Gamson, Greg Kurstin & Ali Tamposi, songwriters (Kelly Clarkson)
"We Are Young," Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost & Nate Ruess, songwriters (fun. featuring Janelle Monáe).

New Artist:
Alabama Shakes
fun.
Hunter Hayes
The Lumineers
Frank Ocean

Pop Vocal Album:
"Stronger," Kelly Clarkson
"Ceremonials," Florence & The Machine
"Some Nights," fun.
"Overexposed," Maroon 5
"The Truth About Love," Pink

Rock Album:
"El Camino," The Black Keys
"Mylo Xyloto," Coldplay
"The 2nd Law," Muse
"Wrecking Ball," Bruce Springsteen
"Blunderbuss," Jack White

R&B Album:
"Black Radio," Robert Glasper Experiment
"Back To Love," Anthony Hamilton
"Write Me Back," R. Kelly
"Beautiful Surprise," Tamia
"Open Invitation," Tyrese

Rap Album:
"Take Care," Drake
"Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album, Pt. 1," Lupe Fiasco
"Life Is Good," Nas
"Undun," The Roots
"God Forgives, I Don't," Rick Ross
"Based on a T.R.U. Story," Chainz

Country Album:
"Uncaged," Zac Brown Band
"Hunter Hayes," Hunter Hayes
"Living For A Song: A Tribute To Hank Cochran," Jamey Johnson
"Four The Record," Miranda Lambert
"The Time Jumpers," The Time Jumpers

Latin Pop, Rock or Urban Album:
"Campo," Campo;
"Dejenme Llorar," Carla Morrison
"Imaginaries," Quetzal
"Electro-Jarocho," Sistema Bomb
"La Bala," Ana Tijoux

Jazz Vocal Album:
"Soul Shadows," Denise Donatelli
"1619 Broadway: The Brill Building Project," Kurt Elling
"Live," Al Jarreau (And The Metropole Orkest)
"The Book Of Chet," Luciana Souza
"Radio Music Society," Esperanza Spalding

A top category that does not get enough attention, as far as I’m concerned:
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical:
1. Dan Auerbach
2. Jeff Bhasker
3. Diplo
4. Markus Dravs
5. Salaam Remi

Of concern to movie fans are the film music and soundtrack categories:

Music for Visual Media

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media (best movie soundtrack)
1. The Descendants – Various Artists
2. Marley – Bob Marley & The Wailers
3. Midnight In Paris – Various Artists
4. The Muppets – Various Artists
5. Rock Of Ages – Various Artists

Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media (best original music-score for a film)
1. The Adventures Of Tintin - The Secret Of The Unicorn – John Williams, composer
2. The Artist – Ludovic Bource, composer
3. The Dark Knight Rises – Hans Zimmer, composer
4. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, composers
5. Hugo – Howard Shore, composer
6. Journey – Austin Wintory, composer

Best Song Written for Visual Media (best song for film or television)
"Abraham's Daughter" (from The Hunger Games)
T Bone Burnett, Win Butler & Régine Chassagne, songwriters (performed by Arcade Fire)

"Learn Me Right" (from Brave)
Mumford & Sons, songwriters (performed by Birdy & Mumford & Sons)

"Let Me Be Your Star" (from Smash)
Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman, songwriters (performed by Katharine McPhee & Megan Hilty"

"Man or Muppet" (from The Muppets)
Bret McKenzie, songwriter (performed by Jason Segel & Walter)

"Safe & Sound" (from The Hunger Games)
T Bone Burnett, Taylor Swift, John Paul White & Joy Williams, songwriters (performed Taylor Swift Featuring The Civil Wars)

Nominees in the three new categories for the 55th Grammys:

Best Classical Compendium
1. Partch: Bitter Music - Partch, ensemble; John Schneider, producer
2. Penderecki: Fonogrammi; Horn Concerto; Partita; The Awakening Of Jacob; Anaklasis - Antoni Wit, conductor; Aleksandra Nagórko & Andrzej Sasin, producers
3. Une Fête Baroque - Emmanuelle Haïm, conductor; Daniel Zalay, producer

Best Latin Jazz Album
1. Flamenco Sketches – Chano Domínguez
2. ¡Ritmo! – The Clare Fischer Latin Jazz Big Band
3. Multiverse – Bobby Sanabria Big Band
4. Duos III – Luciana Souza
5. New Cuban Express – Manuel Valera New Cuban Express

Best Urban Contemporary Album
1. Fortune – Chris Brown
2. Kaleidoscope Dream – Miguel
3. Channel Orange – Frank Ocean

"The Muppets" is Muppet-ational

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 25 (of 2012) by Leroy Douresseaux


The Muppets (2011)
Running time: 103 minutes (l hour, 43 minutes)
MPAA – PG for some mild rude humor
DIRECTOR: James Bobin
WRITERS: Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller
PRODUCERS: David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Don Burgess
EDITOR: James Thomas
COMPOSER: Christophe Beck
Academy Award winner

FANTASY/COMEDY/FAMILY/MUSICAL

Starring: Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, Rashida Jones, and Jack Black and The Muppets: (voices) Peter Linz, Steve Whitmire, Eric Jacobson, Dave Goelz, Bill Barretta, David Rudman, Matt Vogel, Tyler Bunch, and Alice Dinnean with Emily Blunt, Whoopi Goldberg, and Zach Galifianakis

The Muppets is a 2011 live-action, musical comedy and fantasy film from Walt Disney Pictures. This Oscar-winning film stars The Muppets, the puppet characters created by the late Jim Henson, specifically the characters that appeared on the television series, “The Muppets” (1976-81). This film finds The Muppets reuniting to save their old theatre from a crooked oil tycoon.

Walter (voice of Peter Linz) is a man born as a Muppet. He lives in Smalltown (presumably a small town in the American Midwest) with his brother, Gary (Jason Segel). Gary has planned a vacation to Los Angeles with his girlfriend, Mary (Amy Adams), for their tenth anniversary, and he invites Walter along, so that he can tour the Muppet Studios.

Once in L.A., the trio finds the studio lot abandoned and Muppet Theatre decrepit. Walter happens to overhear Tex Richman (Chris Cooper), a greedy oil tycoon, plotting to seize control of Muppet Theatre, which he also plans to destroy. Walter, Gary, and Mary travel to the mansion of Kermit the Frog (Steve Whitmore), and convince him to reunite The Muppets. Kermit wants to put on a telethon to raise the ten million dollars needed to save Muppet Theatre, but The Muppets have not performed together in years and are scattered around the country. Even if Kermit reunites his friends, no television network thinks that The Muppets are still popular or relevant enough to give them the television time they will need to raise so much money.

With the release of The Muppets last year, I got a chance to rediscover my love for these characters. I watched the first television series, The Muppet Show, during its original run and later, in syndication for several years. I must say that I’m pleased with this new movie, which was critically well-received and performed well at the box office. For the most part, these are still The Muppets that I knew and loved and still love.

The new songs are better than I thought they would be. The beguiling, Elton John-esque “Man or Muppet” (written by Bret McKenzie) won a best original song Oscar, but I prefer two other McKenzie-penned songs. “Life’s a Happy Song” and “Me Party” (co-written by Paul Roemen) are the kind of catchy tunes that can stand on their own as lively jingles outside The Muppets (or even be used in another movie).

Early in the film, I found the characters played by Jason Segel and Amy Adams intolerable and intrusive. I was only a little more tolerant of nouveau-faux Muppet, Walter. As Segel’s Gary and Adams’ Mary recede more into the background and take their place as supporting characters, they grew on me… a little. Besides, I find it hard not to like Amy Adams. Truthfully, Gary, Mary, and Walter seem like minor gateway characters that create the contrivances which in turn bring The Muppets back into the picture. By the end of the movie, I liked that the new characters were part of the film.

Of course, the best thing in The Muppets are The Muppets. Whenever they’re singing and dancing and squabbling and trying to keep their stuff together, The Muppets have their mojo, and their mojo is back. By the end of The Muppets, I was sad because I wanted the movie to be longer.

8 of 10
A

NOTES:
2012 Academy Awards: 1 win: “Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song” (Bret McKenzie for the song "Man or Muppet")

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Disney's Oscar-Winning "The Muppets" Now on DVD and Blu-ray

The Biggest Muppet Adventure Ever Comes Home!

Disney's The Muppets

The Must-Own Movie For The Entire Family Debuts on Blu-ray ™ Combo Pack, Digital and On-Demand March 20, 2012

Debut Release Offers Fans the Full Movie Soundtrack with DVD Release and as part of a ‘Wocka-Wocka’ Pack for the Ultimate Muppets Experience!

One of the year’s best-loved family comedies and among the best reviewed films of 2011, Disney’s “The Muppets,” starring Jason Segel, Academy Award®-nominee Amy Adams, and favorite celebrity couple Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy -- debuts March 20 on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD, Digital Download and On-Demand formats. A must-own movie the entire family can enjoy, Disney’s “The Muppets” in-home release includes the DVD and music soundtrack packaged together and also offered as the ultimate Muppets experience, a ‘Wocka-Wocka Value Pack,’ which contains the movie on Blu-ray high definition, DVD and Digital Copy (three discs), plus a download card which allows fans to own all the songs from the film’s hugely popular soundtrack.

Disney’s “The Muppets” Blu-ray Combo Pack, with its flawless picture and pitch perfect sound, comes with a fantastic slate of bonus content including the laugh out loud “The Longest Blooper Reel Ever Made (In Muppet History––We Think).” The exciting release also includes the hilarious featurette “A Little Screen Test on the Way to the Read Through,” which follows Jason Segel, Kermit, The Great Gonzo, Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy and others as they get ready for the first day of production, and much more fun.

“Blu-ray is a great way to bring the Muppets into your home without having to worry about cleaning up after us,” said Kermit the Frog, commenting on the announcement. “And the behind-the-scenes extras are a revealing tell-all look at what it took to bring our movie to the big screen. It’s a must-see for fans of bloopers, flubs and slip-ups – which pretty much describes our act.”

Miss Piggy is equally thrilled at the movie’s Blu-ray release, “Now you can watch moi whenever you want! Ooh! Lucky vous!”

Additional fun-filled features on Disney’s “The Muppets” Blu-ray include a groundbreaking industry first -- ‘Disney Intermission,’ a hilarious all-new feature that allows viewers to press Pause on their remote control and watch as the Muppets take over the screen and entertain until the movie resumes playing. The release also includes “Explaining Evil: The Full Tex Richman Song,” an extended version of the rollicking rap song by villain Tex Richman (Academy Award® winner Chris Cooper) who provides the hilarious backstory of why he hates the Muppets. Audio commentaries with screenwriter and star Jason Segel, director James Bobin and screenwriter Nicholas Stoller are also included.

With the Muppet’s signature irreverent comedy, songs and dancing, Muppet fans of all ages will cheer as the gang reunites to put on a benefit show to save the crumbling Muppet Studios from being razed by nefarious oil baron Tex Richman. New fans and long-time devotees will find the rainbow connection when they bring Disney’s “The Muppets” into their very own homes.

Release Formats & Suggested Retail Pricing:
3-Disc Blu-ray with Soundtrack (‘Wocka-Wocka Value Pack’) = $49.99 U.S./$56.99 Canada
2-Disc Blu-ray = $39.99 U.S./$46.99 Canada
1-Disc DVD with Soundtrack = $34.99/$41.99 Canada
1-Disc DVD = $29.99 U.S./$35.99 Canada
High Definition Digital = $39.99 U.S./$44.99 Canada
Standard Definition Digital = $29.99 U.S./$35.99 Canada
On-Demand = check with your television provider or favorite digital retailer for pricing

"Man or Muppet" Wins Best Original Song Oscar

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song

WINNER - The Muppets: Bret McKenzie ("Man or Muppet")

Nominee:
Rio: Sergio Mendes, Carlinhos Brown, Siedah Garrett ("Real in Rio")

2012 Academy Award Nominations: Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song Nominees:

The Muppets (2011): Bret McKenzie ("Man or Muppet")

Rio (2011): Sergio Mendes, Carlinhos Brown, Siedah Garrett ("Real in Rio")

Phoenix Film Critics Shine on "The Artist"

Phoenix Film Critics Society 2011 Awards:

BEST PICTURE
"The Artist"

TOP TEN FILMS OF 2011 (in alphabetical order)
"The Artist"
"The Descendants"
"Drive"
"The Help"
"Hugo"
"Midnight in Paris"
"Moneyball"
"My Week With Marilyn"
"Super 8"
"The Tree of Life"

BEST DIRECTOR
Michel Hazanavicius, "The Artist"

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Jean Dujardin, “The Artist”

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Elizabeth Olsen, "Martha Marcy May Marlene"

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Albert Brooks, "Drive"

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Berenice Bejo, "The Artist"

BEST ENSEMBLE ACTING
"Super 8"

BEST SCREENPLAY - ORIGINAL
"The Artist"

BEST SCREENPLAY - ADAPTATION
"The Help"

BEST LIVE ACTION FAMILY FILM (Rated G or PG)
"The Muppets"

THE OVERLOOKED FILM OF THE YEAR
"A Better Life"

BEST ANIMATED FILM
"Rango"

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
"The Skin I Live In"

BEST DOCUMENTARY
"Page One: Inside the New York Times"

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
Life's a Happy Song, "The Muppets"

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
"The Artist"

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
"Tree of Life"

BEST FILM EDITING
"The Artist"

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
"Hugo"

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
"The Artist"

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
"Hugo"

BEST STUNTS
"Drive"

BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE ON CAMERA
Thomas Horn, "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close"

BREAKTROUGH PERFORMANCE BEHIND THE CAMERA
Michael Hazanavicius, "The Artist"

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A YOUTH IN A LEAD OR SUPPORTING ROLE – MALE
Thomas Horn, "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close"

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A YOUTH IN A LEAD OR SUPPORTING ROLE – FEMALE
Saoirse Ronan, "Hanna"

Houston Film Critics Declare "The Descendants" the Best

The Houston Film Critics Society was founded in 2007. It is a not-for-profit organization of 26 print, broadcast and Internet film critics based in the Greater Metropolitan Houston area.

The HFCS awards gala will be January 7, 2012 at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston's Brown Auditorium.

Houston Film Critics Society 2011 nominees and winners (in bold):

Best Picture
"The Artist"
"The Descendants" WINNER
"Drive"
"Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close"
"The Help"
"Midnight in Paris"
"The Tree of Life"
"War Horse"
"Win Win"

Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius, "The Artist"
Alexander Payne, "The Descendants"
Nicolas Winding Refn, "Drive" WINNER
Woody Allen, "Midnight in Paris"
Terrence Malick, "The Tree of Life"

Best Actor
George Clooney, "The Descendants"
Jean Dujardin, "The Artist"
Michael Fassbender, "Shame" WINNER
Brad Pitt, "Moneyball"
Michael Shannon, "Take Shelter"

Best Actress
Viola Davis, "The Help"
Elizabeth Olsen, "Martha Marcy May Marlene"
Meryl Streep, "The Iron Lady"
Tilda Swinton, "We Need to Talk About Kevin" WINNER
Michelle Williams, "My Week with Marilyn"

Best Supporting Actor
Albert Brooks, "Drive" WINNER
Armie Hammer, "J. Edgar"
Christopher Plummer, "Beginners"
Andy Serkis, "Rise of the Planet of the Apes"
Alex Shaffer, "Win Win"

Best Supporting Actress
Jessica Chastain, "The Help"
Melissa McCarthy, "Bridesmaids"
Janet McTeer, "Albert Nobbs"
Octavia Spencer, "The Help"
Shailene Woodley, "The Descendants" WINNER

Best Screenplay
"The Artist"
"The Descendants" WINNER
"50/50"
"Midnight in Paris"
"Win Win"

Best Cinematography
"The Artist"
"Drive"
"Hugo"
"The Tree of Life" WINNER
"War Horse"

Best Score
"The Adventures of Tintin"
"The Artist" WINNER
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2"
"Shame"
"War Horse"

Best Song
"Lay Your Head Down" from "Albert Nobbs"
"Star Spangled Man" from "Captain America: The First Avenger"
"The Living Proof" from "The Help"
"Life's a Happy Song" from "The Muppets" WINNER
"Think You can Wait" from "Win Win"

Best Animated Film
"The Adventures of Tintin"
"Happy Feet Two"
"Kung Fu Panda"
"Puss in Boots"
"Rango" WINNER
"Winnie the Pooh"

Best Foreign Film
"The Artist"
"Elite Squad: The Enemy Within"
"I Saw the Devil" WINNER
"The Skin I Live In"
"13 Assassins"

Best Documentary
"Buck"
"Cave of Forgotten Dreams"
"The Elephant in the Room"
"Project Nim" WINNER
"Undefeated"

Worst Film of the Year
"Jack and Jill"
"Red Riding Hood"
"The Sitter"
"The Smurfs"
"The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 1"
"Your Highness" WINNER/LOSER

Technical Achievement: Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Humanitarian Honor: Joanne Herring

Lifetime Achievement: Jeff Bridges

Review: "The Muppet Movie" Still Moves Me

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 96 (of 2011) by Leroy Douresseaux

The Muppet Movie (1979)
Running time: 95 minutes (1 hour, 35 minutes)
MPAA – G
DIRECTOR: James Frawley
WRITERS: Jack Burns and Jerry Juhl
PRODUCER: Jim Henson
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Isidore Mankofsky
EDITOR: Chris Greenbury
COMPOSER: Paul Williams
SONGS: Paul Williams and Kenny Ascher
Academy Award nominee

FANTASY/COMEDY/ADVENTURE/FAMILY

Starring: The Muppets, (voices) Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz; Charles Durning, Austin Pendleton, Edgar Bergen, Mel Brooks, Dom DeLuise, Elliot Gould, Madeline Kahn, Steve Martin, Cloris Leachman, Richard Pryor, Bob Hope, James Coburn, Milton Berle, and Orson Welles

The Muppet Movie is a 1979 live-action, comic fantasy film and musical. This Oscar-nominated film stars The Muppets, the puppet characters created by the late Jim Henson, specifically the characters that appeared on the television series, “The Muppets” (1976-81). A film-within-in-a-film, The Muppet Movie tells the story of how The Muppets came together, or, as Kermit the Frog says, “It’s sort of approximately how it happened.”

The film begins with Kermit the Frog (Jim Henson) relaxing in a Florida swamp on a sunny afternoon, when a Hollywood agent tells him that he should pursue a career in Hollywood. Inspired by the idea of “making millions of people happy,” Kermit begins a cross-country journey, at first by bicycle. After an accident, Kermit teams up with Fozzie Bear (Frank Oz) and resumes the trip in Fozzie’s Studebaker. Along the way, they pick up fellow travelers like The Great Gonzo (Dave Goelz) and his mate, Camilla the Chicken (Jerry Nelson), and of course, Miss Piggy (Frank Oz).

Meanwhile, the villainous Doc Hopper (Charles Durning) and his assistant, Max (Austin Pendleton), pursue them. The Colonel Sanders-like Hopper is the owner of a “French-fried frog legs” fast food franchise, and he wants Kermit to be the new spokesman for the franchise. After Kermit says no, Hopper chases him, making offers that become increasingly threatening.

Prior to this recent viewing, I had not seen The Muppet Movie since the early 1980s (I think), but I remember liking it. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about it now, but it turns out that I still love the movie. Is the reason nostalgia? No, The Muppet Movie is simply an excellent film. As a film musical, it has terrific songs from Paul Williams and Kenny Ascher, and three of them (“Rainbow Connection,” “Movin’ Right Along,” and “Can You Picture That?”) are great.

As a comedy, it is sharp and smart, surprisingly so for a film that is aimed at children, although “The Muppet Show,” was meant to appeal to both children and adults. There is sly innuendo, clever word play, and snappy dialogue. The film even offers satire, such as its skewering of the desire to be famous for entertaining.

And hell, ya’ll, it’s the Muppets. What could be unlikable about them? I look forward to my next viewing of The Muppet Movie, and I want to encourage you, dear readers, to see it if you haven’t already or to just see it again.

8 of 10
A

NOTES:
1980 Academy Awards: 2 nominations: “Best Music, Original Song” (Paul Williams and Kenny Ascher for the song "The Rainbow Connection") and “Best Music, Original Song Score and Its Adaptation or Best Adaptation Score” (Paul Williams and Kenny Ascher)

1980 Golden Globes: 1 nomination: “Best Original Song - Motion Picture” (Paul Williams and Kenny Ascher for the song "Rainbow Connection")

2009 National Film Preservation Board, USA: “National Film Registry”

Monday, November 21, 2011

-------------------