Read + Write + Report
Home | Start a blog | About Orble | FAQ | Blogs | Writers | My Orble | Login

The HOT Report - by Craig Hill

More





New Format

January 20th 2010 09:04
New format coming soon
18
Vote
   


The Susan Boyle Sensation

April 22nd 2009 11:01
It looks like the Susan Boyle makeover has begun. In one recent report about the YouTube sensation from Scotland, Boyle is said to have visited with a hairdresser to help tame her curly flyaway locks.

Earlier today, she was photographed at her home in Blackburn wearing a lightweight leather jacket and a purple printed frock similar to an über-chic Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress.

Boyle is reportedly unhappy about how "frumpy" she looked on television during her multitude of television media appearances.

Susan Boyle


Shortly after Boyle became an insta-celeb following her performance on Britain's Got Talent, show judge Amanda Holden insisted there was no makeover being planned by the talent competition show. "We'll keep her as she is for now so she doesn't have the added pressure of worrying about what she looks like," Holden said Friday on the Today show. "She'll just be the down-to-earth girl whom we have all kind of fallen in love with."

Bushy eyebrows aside, Boyle is being credited with revitalizing interest in the Les Misérables musical. "I Dreamed a Dream" is one of the show's signature ballads. In the last week or so, the Les Mis soundtrack suddenly spiked into the Top 10 on iTunes and Top 25 at Amazon.com.

A production of the show opens on May 14 at the Arts Club Theatre Company in Vancouver. Ticket sales tripled there between last Tuesday and Friday, according to Arts Club executive director Howard Jang.

"We just had one of our best weeks ever," Jang told me earlier today. "We're getting calls from people saying, 'I just watched Susan Boyle, and she reminded me of how much I love the show.'"

Jang said he and his staff are trying to get Boyle to their opening night. "We've been working on that," he said. "We haven't had much luck. I guess she has a big entourage of people around her now."

Les Misérables is currently playing at the PCPA Theaterfest in Santa Maria, Calif. While ticket sales don't seem to have been affected, PCPA spokesperson Craig Shafer says they've noticed an increase in Internet traffic. "Our website went from about 2,000 page views a week to 4,300 the following week," Shafer said.

Google page impressions for an Internet ad for the PCPA production shot up from 7,000 to 50,000 in about a week. (A page impression is generated every time a user views a page displaying the ad).

Valerie Rachelle is in the production at the PCPA. "The first time I had to perform 'I Dreamed a Dream' after watching the YouTube video, I was thinking, 'Are people comparing me now to Susan Boyle? Are they thinking I do it better, or Susan does better?' " Rachelle said with a laugh. "But then I was like, 'Wait a minute. What am I thinking?' But it is nice that this has happened...It is such a great song."
51
Vote
   


several primates ( Monkeys) & Excellent quality bulldogs and several toy ,tiny & teacup size puppies.
I have raised puppies for over 10 years now.
Bulldog,Yorkies,maltese and chihuahua ,pom,shih tzu,etc puppies with baby faces
and short square bodies,waiting for their forever homes.
Raised around other pets and children.Each will remain
under 3lbs at maturity.Potty trained
100 % health guaranteed for a year.Pups have all shots,
and come with a clean health bill

email: tammy.young_1991@yahoo.ie
49
Vote
   


Lorne Michaels' Stalker

March 10th 2009 04:58
The case against the man accused of stalking Saturday Night Live mastermind, Lorne Michaels, was placed on hold at a hearing, and will be thrown out entirely if 32-year-old Evans Pidhajecky keeps out of trouble, and Michaels' eyeline, for the next six months.

"There was no crime," Pidhajecky's attorney, Jack Litman said. "He never stalked Lorne Michaels…He wrote him a letter or two…He never followed him ever, ever, ever."

The aspiring comic was expected to go on trial this morning on charges of stalking and resisting arrest after sending the SNL honcho letters, phone messages and paying multiple unsolicited visits to both his home and NBC 30 Rockefeller studios throughout 2007.

Instead, thanks to a last-minute deal, Criminal Court Judge Robert Mandelbaum ordered the wannabe funnyman to undergo therapy twice a week for six months and ordered him to stay away from Michaels. If he succeeds, and also manages not to get arrested or in any further trouble in the meantime, the case will be dismissed on Sept. 8.

Per the criminal complaint, Pidhajecky alleged that he was attempting to contact Michaels after coming to the conclusion that the producer had somehow overheard his comic gems and used them without permission as fodder for SNL skits. It's a different story than his original assertion, made back in 2008, that Michaels had stolen his comedic material by reading his thoughts.

Lorne Michaels




43
Vote
   


Britney Spears Clown Care Donation

March 9th 2009 12:08
Britney Spears knows everybody loves a circus.

The 27-year-old popstar, who's currently on her Circus world tour, is donating $100,000 to the Miami Children's Hospital's Big Apple Circus Clown Care program.

The mother of two made a surprise, 30-minute visit with 40 sick children at the hospital on Saturday before her show at the American Airlines Arena. Spears posed for photos with the kids and signed autographs.

The Clown Care program provides young patients with treatment and laughs from clowns with medical training.

Britney's tour, her first in five years, rolls into Tampa, Florida, tonight.

Britney Spears


61
Vote
   


Monkees Peter Tork Battles Cancer

March 7th 2009 11:17
Peter Tork isn't monkeying around with his health.

The erstwhile Monkee has been diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma, a rare form of head and neck cancer, and underwent surgery to remove the growth on his tongue on Wednesday.

"It's a bad news, good news situation," the "I'm a Believer" artist said. "It's so rare a combination that there isn't a lot of experience among the medical community about this particular combination.

Peter Tork


"On the other hand, the type of cancer it is, nevermind the location, is somewhat well known, and the prognosis, I'm told, is good."

Even better news is that a biopsy has shown that the slow-growing cancer has thankfully not spread beyond its initial site.

Once Tork has recovered from the surgery, he is expected to begin a round of radiation treatment.

22
Vote
   


Robin Williams Heart Surgery

March 6th 2009 10:59
Robin Williams is taking a time-out for "a little tune-up."

The madcap Oscar winner announced today that he is postponing the remaining dates of his one-man show, Weapons of Self-Destruction, to undergo heart surgery.

The 57-year-old Williams announced Tuesday he was scuttling two shows in Florida this week after experiencing shortness of breath. Following a check-up, Williams discovered he needed a procedure to replace an aortic valve.

In a statement, Williams expresses optimism that he will be able to resume his show in the fall.

Robin Williams


“I’m so touched by everyone’s support and well wishes,” said Williams. “This tour has been amazing fun and I can’t wait to get back out on the road after a little tune-up.”

Previously purchased tickets will be honored at the rescheduled dates or ticketholders can opt for refunds.

Williams has been on the sold-out 80-city tour since September. Tickets for the Broadway leg of this road trip sold out so quickly that another three dates were tacked on in April to meet demand.

22
Vote
   


It's the news fans have been waiting for. Michael Jackson is looking to mount a thriller of a comeback, nearly four years since he was acquitted of child-molestation charges.

The erstwhile King of Pop is aiming to reclaim his throne, announcing today at a press conference he plans to play 10 concerts in London's O2 Arena, his first string of shows in more than a decade.

"I love you very much," a fit-looking Jackson told thousands of screaming devotees. "This is it.

Michael Jackson


"I just want to say that these will be my final show performances in London. This will be it. When I say this is it, it really means this is it," Jackson added. "I'll be performing the songs my fans want to hear...this is the final curtain call. I'll see you in July."

The megastar was stuck in traffic and late to his own press conference. But when he did finally show up, fans were treated to a short film on his storied career and past live performances.

"I love you. I really do so much. From the bottom of my heart. This is it. See you in July," said the icon.

He then raised his fist in the air, struck a series of poses, and left the stage.

News of Jackson's long-awaited return was the topic of conversation earlier this morning, when the show's promoters, AEG Live, addressed questions at the Billboard Music & Money Symposium in New York City.

"The man is very sane, the man is very focused, the man is very healthy," AEG President and CEO Tim Leiweke told Billboard. "I think he has been dragged through the mud."

Various reports had initially claimed Jackson might play up to 30 shows.

The Moonwalker is expected to kick off the run on July 8.

Leiweke said he was awed by Jackson's production budget and dispelled any doubts that the 50-year-old singer might be in too fragile of health to make good on his commitment.

"Despite everything you read about him, he was fine," commented the executive. "The man took a physical for us to go do these concerts.

Negotiations weren't so easy however and took two years and three rejected offers before they could finally get Jackson to agree to terms, Leiweke said.

Jackson's last concert was 2001's solo 20th anniversary show at Madison Square Garden. Before that, he hadn't hit the road since his 1996-97 HIStory World Tour.

It's not known how much the Gloved One will earn for the performances, but insiders say it could be close to $1 million a show.

No doubt, the O2 gigs will go a long way toward easing Jackson's financial woes, including hefty a legal tab stemming from an endless string of lawsuits filed against him.

23
Vote
   


Bruce Willis To Countersue

March 2nd 2009 13:36
To put it in Bruce Willis terms, the last boy scout thinks a lawsuit filed against him for "walking off the set" of a movie he was supposed to direct is just a bunch of pulp fiction and he wants it to die hard.

The A-lister is looking to get medieval on film company Foresight Unlimited for alleging he breached his contract when he left the production of Three Stories About Joan on September 29 just as shooting was getting underway. Instead, Willis claims it was Foresight that violated the terms of the agreement and he now plans to file his own lawsuit.

"It is nothing more than a ridiculous legal maneuver to deflect attention from the production companies' substantial liability, since they materially breached their contract with Bruce Willis," the actor's publicist, Samantha Mast, said.

Calling the suit "frivolous and without merit," the rep says that Foresight and two other companies, Signature Entertainment Group and Three Stories Productions, did not pay members of the cast and crew. She also accuses them of failing to deposit Willis' fee in escrow as agreed upon.

Bruce Willis


"After Mr Willis threatened to sue the production companies, they responded with this baseless lawsuit," Mast adds. "Mr Willis now intends to proceed with his multimillion-dollar affirmative claims, and is confident that he will prevail."

The 54-year-old actor was due to be paid $196,404 for helming the indie flick starring Owen Wilson and Camilla Belle. But according to the complaint filed Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court, he "abruptly and without notice terminated his services as director for personal reasons and walked off the set."

Foresight is seeking more than $4 million in damages. No word yet when Willis will file his countersuit.

31
Vote
   


Ed McMahon Intensive Care

February 28th 2009 10:21
Ed McMahon is in intensive care at a Los Angeles hospital.

The 85-year-old former Johnny Carson sidekick has been hospitalized for several weeks with pneumonia, as well as other unspecified ailments, rep Howard Bragman said. The TV icon's family is said to be at his side.

McMahon has had his share of troubles in recent months, including bank debts, a home foreclosure, a process server-biting dog and a broken neck, which he blames for his financial woes.

Ed McMahon


69
Vote
   


More Posts
1 Posts
1 Posts
7 Posts
256 Posts dating from January 2006
Email Subscription
Receive e-mail notifications of new posts on this blog:

KC Hill's Blogs

9139 Vote(s)
102 Comment(s)
145 Post(s)
15574 Vote(s)
119 Comment(s)
230 Post(s)
450 Vote(s)
6 Comment(s)
7 Post(s)
234 Vote(s)
46 Comment(s)
26 Post(s)
25689 Vote(s)
351 Comment(s)
387 Post(s)
2274 Vote(s)
14 Comment(s)
24 Post(s)
Moderated by KC Hill
Copyright © 2006 2007 2008 On Topic Media PTY LTD. All Rights Reserved. Design by Vimu.com.
On Topic Media ZPages: Sydney |  Melbourne |  Brisbane |  London |  Birmingham |  Leeds     [ Advertise ] [ Contact Us ] [ Privacy Policy ]