Donloe's Lowdown

Friday, October 19, 2012

'Middle of Nowhere' Tops the Indie Box-Office

Below is a video recapping MIDDLE OF NOWHERE's landmark opening weekend last week. It features footage captured from all over the country as the film briskly made its way to the top of the indie box-office.

Today, MIDDLE OF NOWHERE expands from six screens to 22 screens in the 14 cities outlined below.

(l-r) ACTRESS EMAYATZY CORINEALDI and
WRITER/DIRECTOR/PRODUCER AVA DUVERNAY

Emayatzy Corinealdi, who plays Ruby in the film, was recently nominated for a Gotham Award for her BreakThrough Performance. The film was nominated for Best Picture.

Middle of Nowhere focuses on Ruby (Emayatzy Corinealdi), a medical student torn between staying loyal to her imprisoned husband and moving forward with her life with a new man she’s drawn to who offers new possibilities.

Ruby has been a medical student for four years. She is totally in love with her hubby, Derek, (Omar Hardwick), who is serving an eight-year prison sentence.

Her commitment to her husband gets rocked when she learns something about him during his parole hearing.

Cut to four years later, and Ruby, is still hoping beyond hope that her husband (Omari Hardwick) will get out early for good behavior. Her hopes are quickly dashed when she learns her husband was in a prison melee. Her mother, played by Lorraine Toussaint, is skeptical of the man she calls her son-in-law.

Ruby eventually meets Brian (David Oyelowo), a dashing and handsome bus driver. The two develop a relationship that sends Ruby into a tailspin. Does she stay with her husband or does she move her life forward with Brian.

Middle of Nowhere, A Kandoo Films, Forward Movement production, is produced by Howard Barish, Ana DuVernay and Paul Garnes. It’s directed, written and produced by Ava DuVernay. The film stars Emayatzy Corinealdi, David Oyelowo, Omari Hardwick, Lorraine Toussaint, Edwina Findley, Sharon Lawrence, Dondre Whitfield, Troy Curvey III and Maya Gilbert.

Middle of Nowhere is Rated R: Running time: 99 min.

MIDDLE OF NOWHERE | The Journey Continues

http://youtu.be/r4ni9OSNAq4

Ava DuVernay Is In The 'Middle of Nowhere'

-->

Emayatzy Corinealdi

With every new project, Ava DuVernay ups her game!

Her latest film, Middle of Nowhere shows her growth as a writer, director and producer. It’s evidenced by her win as the first African-American to win the Best Director award at Sundance in 2012. This is DuVernay’s second feature. The first was the drama, I Will Follow.

Omari Hardwick and Emayatzy Corinealdi

Ruby has been a medical student for four years. She is totally in love with her hubby, Derek, (Omar Hardwick), who is serving an eight-year prison sentence.

Her commitment to her husband gets rocked when she learns something about him during his parole hearing.

Cut to four years later, and Ruby, is still hoping beyond hope that her husband will get out early for good behavior. Her hopes are quickly dashed when she learns her husband was in a prison melee. Her mother, played by Lorraine Toussaint, is skeptical of the man she calls her son-in-law.

There are some good performances in this drama, most especially Toussaint, who is a scene-stealer. Oyelowo, who also stars in the Lee Daniels drama, The Paperboy, is excellent in his role as a man in love. Corinealdi is a breath of fresh air, while Hardwick holds his own.

There are no bells and whistles in this drama. DuVernay’s piece survives solely on character development and story.

It’s at slow journey, but the pay-off is worth the wait.

Ava DuVernay

Kudos to DuVernay and her cast!!!

Middle of Nowhere, A Kandoo Films, Forward Movement production, is produced by Howard Barish, Ana DuVernay and Paul Garnes. It’s directed and written by Ava DuVernay. The film stars Emayatzy Corinealdi, David Oyelowo, Omari Hardwick, Lorraine Toussaint, Edwina Findley, Sharon Lawrence, Dondre Whitfield, Troy Curvey III and Maya Gilbert.

Middle of Nowhere is Rated R: Running time: 99 min.

On the Donloe Scale: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no) N (needs work), L (likable), O (OK) and E (excellent/exquisite) – Middle of Nowhere gets an O (OK).

Thursday, October 18, 2012

The Antaeus Company Announces 2013 Season

North Hollywood, Calif. – October 18, 2012 – Antaeus co-artistic directors Bill Brochtrup, Rob Nagle and John Sloan have announced three classic plays for 2013 that include Mrs. Warren’s Profession by George Bernard Shaw, The Crucible by Arthur Miller and David Ives’ adaptation of Pierre Corneille’s The Liar.

“These three plays, which come from very different periods in history, all pose important questions for our lives today,” wrote Brochtrup, Nagle and Sloan in a joint statement. “They were all drawn from our pipeline of works in process, so they are, first and foremost, plays that sparked the interest of our actors. We hope audiences will enjoy watching the Antaeus ensemble tackle these terrific roles while being challenged by the brilliance of Shaw, Miller and Corneille via David Ives.”

Opening the season in March, Robin Larsen directs Mrs. Warren’s Profession, George Bernard Shaw’s penetrating and entertaining look at mothers, daughters and the idea of a “woman's place.” Mrs. Warren has worked hard to provide a good life for her daughter. But when Vivie finds out the truth about her mother’s profession, sparks fly. Armed with wicked wit and astute insight, Shaw pits mother against daughter to expose the corruption and hypocrisy of Victorian society. (March 14-May 5, with previews beginning on March 7)

Next up, in June, Armin Shimerman and Geoffrey Wade co-direct The Crucible, Arthur Miller’s parable of mass hysteria that draws a chilling parallel between the Salem witch trials of 1692 and the McCarthyism which gripped America in the 1950s. In a frightening depiction of what can happen when fear clouds fact and reason is replaced by blame, the small community of Salem is stirred into madness by superstition, paranoia and malice. (June 13-August 4, with previews beginning on June 6)

October brings The Liar. Casey Stangl (Peace in Our Time) directs David Ives’ wicked “translaptation” (according to Ives, “a translation with a heavy dose of adaptation”) of Pierre Corneille's farce that asks whether truth really matters at all in an age obsessed by the surface of things. When the charming and handsome pathological liar Dorante enters Paris, he impresses everyone who hears his stories. But as his lies multiply, will Dorante be able to keep them straight and still manage to get the girl? (October 10-December 1, with previews beginning on October 3)

In addition, Antaeus will present its trademark ClassicsFest—staged readings of classics initiated by company members—in three four-week installments, as well as two scheduled productions by the A2 Ensemble, a subsidiary company of emerging professional actors that represents the next generation of The Antaeus Company.

Antaeus is a cooperative theater ensemble founded to empower the actor and to bring classical theater to Los Angeles. The company exists to create a family of artists and audiences and is dedicated to exploring stories with enduring themes. Taking their company name from the Titan who gained strength by touching the Earth, Antaeus members—many of whom are familiar to film and television audiences—gain creative strength by returning to the wellspring of their craft: live theater performances of great classical plays.

On any given day at Antaeus, ensemble members may get together at the theater or in someone's living room to read and explore a play. That exploration might last one evening, or continue over a period of weeks, or culminate in a ClassicsFest reading where audiences get to hear the play too. Mrs. Warren’s Profession, The Crucible and The Liar were all selected for full season production following ClassicsFest readings.

Unique among 99-seat theater companies in L.A., Antaeus is known for “partner casting.” In all Antaeus productions, two equally talented actors collaborate on every role, working together throughout the rehearsal process and enriching the creative experience. Audiences, who never see an understudy, frequently return to see the same play in the hands of an equally excellent but very different set of actors. Members of the company and its board span a wide range of age, ethnicity and experience; they have performed on Broadway, at major regional theaters across the country, in film and television, and on local stages, and are the recipients of multiple accolades including Tony, Los Angeles and New York Drama Critics Circle, Ovation, LA Weekly, and Back Stage Garland nominations and awards.

The company’s current production, You Can’t Take It With You, continues through December 9.

For more information about The Antaeus Company and the 2013 Season, call 818-506-5436 or visit online at www.antaeus.org.

Tyler Perry 'Cross-es' The Line In New Action Film

In Alex Cross, his last film, Tyler Perry goes from funnyman in a dress to believable action star.

Usually Perry, a bit of a control freak with his Tyler Perry brand, does everything from writing, directing, producing, hair and makeup and craft services (just kiddin).

However, this time he is strictly the star of the film. Perry is playing it straight and dramatic. He shakes off the popular Madea character that’s been his bread and butter. He’s now a leading man, playing homicide detective and psychologist, Alex Cross. The character has successfully been the centerpiece of James Patterson’s books. The role of Cross was previously played by Morgan Freeman.

TYLER PERRY IS "ALEX CROSS"

Perry, who originally said ‘no’ to the role, said what made him say ‘yes’ was the arc of the character. He liked the fact that he’d be playing a family man, husband, partner, psychologist and detective.

To get in shape for the role, which required a lot of physicality like running jumping and fighting, he lost more than 30 pounds off of his 6’5” frame.

“Tyler is physically perfect,” says Patterson. “And he’s going to blow people’s minds how good he is in a dramatic role because people have seen him do comedy and a little bit of drama but nothing like this.”

Anyone expecting Perry to suddenly whip out a dress or let go some of Madea’s witty ‘isms’, won’t get to see her.

Perry does a reasonable job in a role that is out of his comfort zone. It’s not a homerun, but it’s at least a standing double. In the film he shows a side that, heretofore, had not been seen by the entertainment mogul.

MATTHEW FOX STARS in "ALEX CROSS"

In Alex Cross, which is based on the novel “Cross,” by Patterson, Perry is hunting a madman MMA-fighting serial killer played by Matthew Fox, who is almost unrecognizable as a ripped, assassin. The two face off in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. The story takes Alex Cross back to show the origins of the character as a Detroit police department detective. His lifelong friend Tommy Kane (Edward Burns) is also his partner and the two also work with detective Monica Ashe (Nichols) who gets caught up in the chase for the serial killer nicknamed Picasso (Fox). Picasso is killing his way up the corporate ladder with the main man, Giles Mercier (Jean Reno), clearly in his sights as the ultimate target.

There are several twists and turns in this standard action thriller.

EDWARD BURNS in "ALEX CROSS"

Matthew Fox is believable in the role of Picasso, although I would have liked to know more about what made him such a psychopath. Cicely Tyson, who plays Cross’ mother and Carmen Ejogo, who plays his wife, Maria, give solid performances as does Edward Burns and Giancarlo Esposito.

The Alex Cross film series started with the movie, Along Came A Spider and Kiss the Girls.

Alex Cross is a bit predictable, but it’s still entertaining.

TYLER PERRY

Alex Cross directed by Rob Cohen, stars Tyler Perry, Matthew Fox, Edward Burns, Rachel Nichols, Cicely Tyson, Carmen Ejogo, Giancarlo Esposito, John C. McGinley and Jean Reno.

On the Donloe Scale D (don’t bother), O (oh, no) N (needs work), L (likeable), O (OK), E (excellent), Alex Cross gets an L-O (Likeable-OK)

Alex Cross (Summit) is Rated PG-13 for violence including disturbing images, sexual content, language, drug references and nudity. Running time: 102 minutes.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

NCBW Sponsors Health Event For Teens 14-17

National Congress of Black Women, Inc., Los Angeles Chapter

Partnering 4 A Healthy Community

With Support from Kaiser Permanente

TEENS LEARN HOW TO BE A CERTIFIED HEALTH AMBASSADOR

The National Congress of Black Women, Inc, Los Angeles Chapter with support from Kaiser Permanente is sponsoring a health event on Saturday, October 20, 2012 for teens age 14-17.

Teens will learn how to be certified ambassadors of healthy lifestyle choices, interesting food facts, leadership tips and more. Also, there will be fun activities, good food, special gifts and great networking.

The health event will be held at Kaiser Permanente, Medical Office Building, 1550 West
Manchester Ave, L.A. from 9:30am to 12:30pm. Some of this year's participates El Nido,
Alliance Health Services Academy High School, Delta Sigma Theta (local chapters), Young
Black Scholars, NAACP Youth Group, Watts Counseling Center, Concerned Black Men
of LA, Ward AME and more.

Hallmark Channel Delivers 'The Heart of Christmas' With 12 New Movies and Five Specials

HALLMARK CHANNEL UNVEILS ITS MOST
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE OF THE YEAR:

12 NEW MOVIES OF CHRISTMAS, FIVE ORIGINAL SPECIALS,

1100-PLUS HOURS OF HOLIDAY, MORE CHRISTMAS THAN ANY OTHER NETWORK

The Most Dominant Holiday Line-Up in Television Begins November 3

Hallmark Channel, the industry’s undisputed leader in original movies and specials for holiday, unveils its most anticipated schedule of the year – a wall-to-wall holiday line up, anchored by the 12 New Movies of Christmas, five Hallmark Channel Original Specials, and holiday-themed episodes of the network’s successful new lifestyle series, “Marie” and “Home & Family.” With more than 1100 hours of holiday programming, Hallmark Channel delivers “The Heart of Christmas,” the most dominant holiday programming lineup in all of television.
The 12 New Movies of Christmas begin November 3 (8 p.m. ET/PT, 7C) and “The Heart of Christmas” campaign features a new movie each weekend.

‘CHRISTMAS SONG’
Hallmark Channel Original Movie World Premiere
Saturday, November 3 (8p.m. ET/PT, 7C)
Starring: Natasha Henstridge, Gabriel Hogan
In the holiday season production “Christmas Song” – a Hallmark Channel Original Movie World Premiere, Saturday, November 3 (8p.m. ET/PT 7C) – a Christmas carol competition has much more than the quality of the yuletide music at stake. It promises to determine and alter the very direction of several lives. The film stars Natasha Henstridge (“The Whole Nine Yards,” “The Secret Circle”) and Gabriel Hogan (“Heartland”) as our music teacher protagonists, Diana Deason and Ken Stoddard. Each has been responsible for award-winning choral groups in the past, but now that each of their New York City high schools have merged into a single institution, called Carter-Cresswell Academy, suddenly two’s a crowd as Diana and Ken are pitted against one another to decide which of them will get the single music department director position. So now they’re forced to enter dueling Christmas song competitions, but against this pressurized backdrop of angst, love is in the air. That’s the beauty of “Christmas Song.” When it seems odds are stacked highest, people do the extraordinary and humanity wins the day. And that, holiday film fans, is what the Christmas spirit is all about. It is where the people who really love Christmas movies gather to celebrate the magic that the yuletide brings.

‘LOVE AT THE THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE’
Hallmark Channel Original Movie World Premiere
Sunday, November 4 (8p.m. ET/PT, 7C)
Starring: Autumn Reeser, Antonio Cupo, Ben Cotton
You would think that nothing much could really go wrong at a Thanksgiving Day Parade. You know, heck, a couple of marching bands, a few horses, some floats, a couple of people stuffed into turkey outfits. What’s there to worry about? Well, it turns out there’s much more to these celebrations than meets the eye. This is what we learn from “Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade,” a brand new Hallmark Channel Original Movie World Premiere that unveils on Sunday, November 4 (8p.m. ET/PT, 7C). Autumn Reeser (“No Ordinary Family”) stars as Emily Jones, a Chicago native who has dedicated much of her life to coordinating the Windy City’s annual Thanksgiving Day parade. This year promises to be no different…or, well, maybe a little bit different. Emily’s expecting her longtime, long-distance boyfriend Brian (Ben Cotton, “Hellcats”) to propose marriage. Things are going along just fine until a former arch-enemy of hers named Henry Williams (Antonio Cupo, “Bomb Girls”) enters the picture. Henry has been hired by the parade director as a development consultant to assess how to make the parade more profitable. But you know how it is with those consultant types. They think they know it all. Emily has already pegged him to be your basic privileged playboy, and she’s convinced that Henry sees the parade as just another number on an excel sheet. She can’t believe she has to work with this guy. But then a trauma occurs that radically alters Emily’s perspective, and with it comes the realization that she might be falling for him.

‘THE WISHING TREE’
Hallmark Channel Original Movie World Premiere
Saturday, November 10 (8p.m. ET/PT, 7C)
Starring: Jason Gedrick, Erica Cerra, Richard Harmon, Emmalyn Estrada, Amitai Marmorstein
If you are of a certain age, you may recall a seminal John Hughes film from 1985 entitled “The Breakfast Club” that told the story of a handful of mismatched high school kids who had to serve detention together and wound up getting more than they bargained for. There is more than a little bit of that same magical allure going on in “The Wishing Tree,” a Hallmark Channel Original Movie World Premiere, Saturday, November 10 (8p.m. ET/PT, 7C). It stars the charismatic Jason Gedrick (“Dexter,” “Necessary Roughness”) as Evan Farnsworth, a popular professor at a prestigious boarding school in Maine who was tragically widowed two years before. During the Christmas break, he agrees to stay with the students left behind by their vacationing parents. Here is where “The Breakfast Club” connection comes in. The kids include brainy student Juliet (singer Emmalyn Estrada), nerdy outcast Albert (Amitai Marmorstein, “50/50”) and a privileged delinquent named Drew (Richard Harmon, “The Killing”). It’s the troublemaking Drew who makes a mess of things here early on when he takes his anger at his parents’ ditching him for a European ski vacation by vandalizing an innocent tree. And it isn’t just any tree but the neighboring town’s special Wishing Tree, one decorated with handwritten notes bearing the townspeople’s greatest holiday wishes. Drew is forced to spend a night in jail for his transgression. But Farnsworth, like a good educator should, helps the kid learn from his mistake and turn things around. But hold the happy ending, because Drew’s icy mother returns home to demand the professor’s firing. Thankfully, his dedicated students rally to his defense and an attractive young teacher (Erica Cerra, “Eureka”) enters the picture with love on her mind.

‘MATCHMAKER SANTA’
Hallmark Channel Original Movie World Premiere
Saturday, November 17 (8p.m. ET/PT, 7C)
Starring: Lacey Chabert, Florence Henderson, John Ratzenberger, Adam Mayfield, Donovan Scott, Thad Luckinbill
Santa Claus can work in mysterious ways. Not only does he deliver toys to all the world’s children on Christmas Eve, which keeps him busy enough; he also sometimes needs to play cupid to make sure that certain romances happen. We learn all of this and plenty more in “Matchmaker Santa,” a Hallmark Channel Original Movie World Premiere on Saturday, November 17 (8p.m. ET/PT, 7C). It stars Lacey Chabert (“Mean Girls,” “Party of Five”) as a bakery owner named Melanie Hogan, who is using her lovebird parents as her role models in crafting her own romantic tale for the holidays. Things seem to be moving along just fine on the Prince Charming front as Melanie is dating a very hunky CEO named Justin (Thad Luckinbill, “Keeping Up With the Randalls”). And engagement appears to be just around the corner when Justin invites her to stay at his opulent upstate lake house and meet his mom. What Melanie doesn’t know is that Justin is merely using her as arm candy to impress his corporate cohorts. Meanwhile, Justin’s assistant Dean (Adam Mayfield, “All My Children”) harbors a secret crush on Melanie, and that’s when magic intervenes in the form of a mysterious mall Santa (Donovan Scott, “Police Academy”) who looks so much like the real St. Nick that, well, maybe he is. And he’s determined to make Melanie’s lifelong Christmas wish come true. We’re rooting for the right guy to win this lady’s heart in “Matchmaker Santa.” We’re also treated to terrific supporting work from TV legends John Ratzenberger (“Cheers”) and Florence Henderson (“The Brady Bunch”), who lend enchantment to a film that verifies something we all have long known: love is way better at holiday time.

IT’S CHRISTMAS, CAROL!’
Hallmark Channel Original Movie World Premiere
Sunday, November 18 (8p.m. ET/PT, 7C)
Starring: Carrie Fisher, Emmanuelle Vaugier, Carson Kressley
Charles Dickens lives! Well, sort of, anyway. The legendary spirit of his timeless classic is alive and well this Christmas with the premiere of “It’s Christmas, Carol!,” a Hallmark Channel Original Movie World Premiere that weaves a fresh spin on the Dickens tale A Christmas Carol, Sunday, November 18 (8p.m. ET/PT, 7C). Emmanuelle Vaugier (“Two and a Half Men”) heads a charming cast that also includes two-time Emmy® nominee Carrie Fisher (“30 Rock,” “Wishful Drinking”) and Emmy® winner Carson Kressley (“Queer Eye for the Straight Guy”). Vaugier is Carol Huffman, a ruthless Chicago book publisher and not what anyone would call a nice woman. Her staff can’t stand the sight of this workaholic Scrooge. In fact, Fred (Kressley), one of her employees, is trying to rally the staff to revolt. Against this backdrop of seasonal gloom, Carol is shocked to run into her old boyfriend from 15 years before, Ben (Tygh Runyan, “SGU Stargate Universe”), a decent guy who craved a life rather than simply a career. Their meeting ends with Carol storming off in a huff. But as she’s trying to re-gather her wits, she suddenly finds herself staring at the ghost of the publishing house’s beloved and very much deceased founder, Eve (Fisher). Now, she can’t get away, because Ghost Eve is determined to take Carol on a little journey back through her past, as well as her present and future. Don’t you just hate when that happens? Well, Carol hates it, too, particularly when she can’t defend all of the misery she’s left in her wake. The good news is that after hanging with the ghost, Carol emerges determined to make amends beginning Christmas morning. Might she wind up happier? Could she find true love? Why, you bet your Bob Cratchit!

‘NAUGHTY OR NICE’
Hallmark Channel Original Movie World Premiere
Saturday, November 24 (8p.m. ET/PT, 7C)
Starring: Hilarie Burton, Matt Dallas, Meredith Baxter, Michael Gross
This Hallmark Channel Original Movie World Premiere, serves as a yuletide cautionary tale about being nice during Christmas, because if you’re naughty, the odds are somebody is going to know and there will be consequences. In “Naughty or Nice” – which premieres on Saturday, November 24 (8p.m. ET/PT, 7C) – we discover that it isn’t always Santa Claus who “sees you when you’re sleeping,” “knows when you’re awake” and “knows when you’ve been bad or good,” as the song goes. Hilarie Burton (“One Tree Hill,” “Secret Life of Bees”) portrays Krissy Kringle, a beautiful young woman who nonetheless rejects everything positive about the holiday season. As if the name she got saddled with wasn’t bad enough, things really start falling apart as Christmas approaches. First, she gets fired from her high-powered advertising job, then her attorney boyfriend Lance (Matt Dallas, “Kyle XY”) starts pestering her about marriage and on top of all of this, she lives on Candy Cane Lane! The final straw is her part-time job wrapping presents and playing Santa’s elf at the mall. One day, as she’s cursing the fates, Krissy gets mistakenly delivered a crusty old book titled Naughty or Nice that’s filled with blank pages. She doesn’t think anything of it, until she recites someone’s name to the book and it suddenly springs to life, exposing the naughty deeds of those around her. Now, no one can hide their misdeeds from Krissy. But it turns out having this power isn’t so nice. It takes a lot of trial and error for her to ultimately discover the power of love, humility, and the wonder of Christmas. Beloved TV veterans Meredith Baxter and Michael Gross of “Family Ties” co-star.

‘HITCHED FOR THE HOLIDAYS’
Hallmark Channel Original Movie World Premiere
Sunday, November 25 (8p.m. ET/PT, 7C)
Starring: Joey Lawrence, Emily Hampshire, Marilu Henner
Christmas. Hanukkah. The celebrations are as different as night and…well, eight nights. Generally, if you celebrate one, you probably don’t celebrate the other. But what if you’re a Catholic guy and your girlfriend is Jewish? Or, taking it even a step farther, what if you’re Catholic, your gal is Jewish, and you’re only pretending to be in a relationship for the sake of your families? That is the premise of “Hitched for the Holidays,” a Hallmark Channel Original Movie World Premiere on Sunday, November 25 (8p.m. ET/PT, 7C). The film stars Joey Lawrence (“Melissa and Joey”) as a commitment-phobe named Joey Marino. Joey breaks up with his girlfriend just before Thanksgiving, and now his opinionated Italian family is giving him endless grief about his inability to stay in a relationship. Then his grandmother (Paula Shaw) shares her dying wish: that he find love and happiness, and fast! Inspired, he goes online and locates Julie (Emily Hampshire), another single New Yorker with a meddling Jewish mama (the great Marilu Henner of “Taxi” fame) who has pressured her to find a guy – any guy. The opposite of a love match is instantly forged. Rob and Julie agree to pose as a couple during the holidays to get their families off their backs. The problem is, they each also have to pretend to be the other’s religion and comfortable with the other’s holiday traditions. Whoops. This charade is tougher to pull off than either of them anticipated. Oh yeah, there is also one more thing neither Rob nor Julie planned on: they’re falling for each other for real. These fake relationships can be so problematical. “Hitched for the Holidays” turns into a fun holiday film that pertinently illustrates how underneath it all, no matter what we celebrate, we’re really the same.

‘A BRIDE FOR CHRISTMAS’
Hallmark Channel Original Movie World Premiere
Saturday, December 1 (8p.m. ET/PT, 7C)
Starring: Arielle Kebbel, Andrew Walker, Sage Brocklebank
If we have learned nothing else from reality television, it’s that seemingly sane people will commit to marry without any greater motivation than the fact it seems kind of like a good idea at the time. What this Hallmark Channel Original Movie World Premiere tells us, however, is that some people will try to get married as part of a bet between friends. “A Bride for Christmas” – premiering Saturday, December 1 (8p.m. ET/PT, 7C). It stars Arielle Kebbel (“90210,” “Life Unexpected”) as Jessie Patterson, a gorgeous interior designer who seems to have some trouble saying the word “No.” It has gotten her engaged three times to the wrong men and forced Jessie to break their hearts. As the movie opens, Jessie is doing what she does best – calling off a wedding at the last minute – to Mike (Sage Brocklebank, “Psych”). But since she’s a sensitive soul, Jessie is devastated by all the pain she’s caused and vows to swear off of men forever rather than inflict further harm. Enter stockbroker Aiden O’Brien (Andrew Walker, “Against the Wall”), a charming ladies’ man who has some major issues with commitment. That is, until Aiden wagers with his friend Matt during a poker game that he can convince a lady to say “Yes” to a marriage proposal by Christmas – a mere four weeks away. If he wins, he gets the corner office. If not, Aiden is pushed to take a tiny cubicle. Soon enough, Aiden is moving in on Jessie for the phony proposal. But he soon realizes the damage he can inflict on Jessie and he calls off the bet, but not before the two of them have fallen in love for real. Just as they’re planning a real wedding, however, Mike returns to break the news of the original bet. But you know how true love is. It finds a way to blossom, particularly before Christmas.

‘THE CHRISTMAS HEART’
Hallmark Channel Original Movie World Premiere
Sunday, December 2 (8p.m. ET/PT, 7C)
Starring: Teri Polo, Tess Harper, Paul Essiembre
“The Christmas Heart” really is quite the family affair, in every way. The Hallmark Channel Original Movie premieres on Sunday, December 2 (8p.m. ET/PT, 7C). But before we get into what it’s about and who stars in it, consider that the film is executive produced by Emmy^® winner Patricia Heaton and is written by her brother, Michael Heaton, a columnist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper. “The Christmas Heart” stars Teri Polo (“Meet the Parents”), Paul Essiembre (“Rescue Heroes”) and Tess Harper (“No Country for Old Men”) in the heart-tugging tale of a neighborhood that bands together to save the life of a special teenage boy in dire need of a heart transplant. A tight-knit group of neighbors have had a 40-year tradition on their street of lighting luminaries at Christmastime. They decide to cancel it for the first time in honor of Matt Norman (Ty Wood, “The Haunting in Connecticut”), the teen whose heart is failing. When he’s hospitalized, his parents Ann (Polo) and Mike (Essiembre) are left only to pray for a miracle. The first step in that Christmas wonder happens when a donor heart is found. It’s on Christmas Eve that a Life Flight packs the heart in ice and begins the journey to Matt’s beside. But a winter storm moves in, making a frantic life-and-death mission that much more perilous. So what happens? The neighborhood decides to light the luminaries after all, providing a miraculous beacon in honor of Matt that helps guide the plane through the nasty weather. Thus, in “The Christmas Heart” we have a film that represents the best of what makes holiday films so special, supplying the kind of joyous ending that makes us all want to stand up and cheer.

‘COME DANCE WITH ME’
Hallmark Channel Original Movie World Premiere
Saturday, December 8 (8p.m. ET/PT. 7C)
Starring: Andrew McCarthy, Stephanie Mills, Michelle Nolden
Can dancing really be the secret to finding happiness? Can the waltz trump workaholism in terms of tapping inner peace? This is at the crux of “Come Dance With Me,” a Hallmark Channel Original Movie World Premiere, Saturday, December 8 (8p.m. ET/PT, 7C), the film stars longtime star and Brat Pack legend Andrew McCarthy (“White Collar”) as Jack, your basic financial executive on the rise who is dating, Demi Clayton (Stephanie Mills, “Urban Legend”), the daughter of Drew Clayton (Chris Gillett, “Suits”) the president of the brokerage firm where he’s climbing the corporate ladder. Of course, Demi’s mom Clarisse (Jane Moffat, “The Kennedy’s”) agrees that Jack is way too far below her daughter on the eligibility scale, but she can’t really do much to change the situation. And in fact, Jack is plotting to propose marriage, which could wind up a major disaster in every way. So just to be sure that he’s up to Demi’s high standards, Jack signs up for dance lessons, since dancing well is, you know, one sure way to prove that you’re sophisticated. But then fate begins to intervene in advance of Drew Clayton’s annual Christmas Dance event. The dance instructor, Christine (Michelle Nolden, “Numb3rs”) turns out to be a better fit for Jack than Demi. So now, suddenly, Jack will need to reevaluate what’s really important to him: marrying high up the social scale, or being happy. We have confidence that Jack is going to do the right thing before it’s too late in “Come Dance With Me,” because it’s the Christmas season, and true love happens when you least expect it.

‘HELP FOR THE HOLIDAYS’
Hallmark Channel Original Movie World Premiere
Sunday, December 9 (8p.m. ET/PT, 7C)
Starring: Summer Glau, Eva La Rue, Izabela Vidovic, Mason Cook, Dan Gauthier, John Brotherton
You know, it’s hard out there for an elf. First of all, you live up in the North Pole, where there’s really nothing much to do. No malls. A crummy dating scene. And good luck trying to find a decent restaurant. Now imagine that this elf is young and beautiful, and she’s stuck making toys all day long – and all night long, too. This is the premise that launches “Help for the Holidays,” a charming Hallmark Channel Original Movie World Premiere on Sunday, December 9 (8p.m. ET/PT, 7C). The film stars Summer Glau (“Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”) as Santa’s elf Christine, a young lass busily making toys and getting bored to tears up in the Pole. Christine is convinced that this is pretty much as good as it’s going to get when Santa receives an emergency wish from a little boy in Los Angeles. It seems that the boy is desperate for a genuine family Christmas with his too-busy clan, and it’s Christine who gets dispatched to L.A. to help make it happen. She interviews to be the nanny for kids Ally (Izabela Vidovic, “Christmas Angel”) and Will (Mason Cook,” Spy Kids: All the Time in the World”), who are too often left unsupervised and dismissed as an afterthought by their parents Sara (Eva La Rue of “CSI: Miami”) and Scott (Dan Gauthier of “One Life to Live”). Mom and Dad, you see, run a mega-successful holiday store, and as a result their kids too often get left without a real Christmas to call their own. After Christine becomes the nanny, everything falls into place nicely. The kids are happy with their new elf-turned-caregiver. And Christine even appears to be falling for their hunky uncle Dave (John Brotherton, “Jane by Design”). But then Sara starts feeling insecure about how much Christine has become entrenched in their lives and wants to send her packing back to the north. Oh no! Well, don’t worry. We’re hoping all will still end well in ‘Help for the Holidays,” because elves, after all, deserve happiness, too.

‘BABY’S FIRST CHRISTMAS’
Hallmark Channel Original Movie World Premiere
Saturday, December 15 (8p.m. ET/PT, 7C)
Starring: Casper Van Dien, Rachel Wilson
Even lawyers deserve to have a Merry Christmas. We never really think about that fact, but perhaps we should. And fortunately, there is a new holiday movie that’s come along to help us all out with that process. “Baby’s First Christmas” is the title, and it’s a Hallmark Channel Original Movie World Premiere that lands in America’s living rooms on Saturday, December 15 (8p.m. ET/PT, 7C). The film stars Casper Van Dien (“Silver”) and Rachel Wilson (“Saw III”) as Kyle Lockwood and Jenna Ford, respectively. Now Kyle and Jenna are a couple of lawyers, and they work at a prestigious law firm together. But the similarities pretty much end there. Kyle is on the conservative side and likes his designer duds and fancy labels. Jenna is more the liberal type consumed with issues like global warming. Not surprisingly, they pretty much can’t stand the sight of one another. But they have no choice but to log a lot of time in each other’s company when their siblings fall in love and have a baby. It doesn’t make Kyle and Jenna like each other any more than they did before. But they’re kind of stuck. And it’s magnified when they learn that the lovebird siblings are having financial problems as the holidays approach. The sibs enter a “Christmas Baby Contest” radio promotion that, if they win, would net them $25,000. The money would save their house, their Christmas, and their future. Now Kyle and Jenna need to help make sure that happens. And in the meantime, against all odds, feelings start to develop between these polar opposites. Talk about your Christmas miracles. There are a lot of things at stake as “Baby’s First Christmas” winds to a chaotic peak that you won’t want to miss.

‘TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA: THE GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS EVE’
Hallmark Channel Premiere
Monday, November 12 (7p.m. ET/PT, 6C)
If you’ve never seen this annual Christmas extravaganza, well, you’re in for a treat. The Hallmark Channel Premiere of “Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Past” premieres on Monday, November 27, at (7p.m. ET/PT, 6C), and it’s a unique fantasy trip through the magic of Christmas. Narrated by the great award-winning actor Ossie Davis, the 1999 production focuses on the journey of a runaway little girl returning to her family. Before going back home, she enters a dilapidated theater for shelter and encounters an old caretaker who guides her on the adventure of a lifetime. The magical story features appearances by a Grammy® award nominee Jewel and Tony award winner Michael Crawford and was filmed entirely on location at the historic Loews Jersey Theatre in Jersey City, NJ. It features magnificent orchestral performances of “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “Good King Joy,” “Christmas Canon,” “Promises to Keep,” “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” (featuring Jewel), “This Christmas Day” and “O Holy Night” (featuring Crawford). Don’t miss this magical yuletide piece.

‘JINGLE AND BELL’S CHRISTMAS STAR’
Hallmark Channel Original Animated Special
Friday, November 23 (7p.m. ET/PT, 6C)
There aren’t a lot of new animated Christmas stories to be seen on television these days. And that makes “Jingle and Bell’s Christmas Star” special in more ways than one. A Hallmark Channel Original Animated Special premiering on Friday, November 23 (7p.m. ET/PT, 6C), this is a sequel to the critically acclaimed success “Jingle All the Way” a year ago. It introduced audiences to Jingle the Husky Pup, an adorable, sweet and sensitive little doggy. Now Jingle is back for more in an all-new holiday adventure that’s part of Hallmark Channel’s eagerly-anticipated “Countdown to Christmas” collection of holiday-themed programming. In the latest tale, Jingle and his good buddy Andrew have some new friends. A little girl named Sofia who has her own Husky Pup, Bell, have moved from Palm City to Pineville just before the Christmas holiday. As you might imagine, Sofia isn’t happy about this at all, since it’s taken her away from her friends and the only world she’s ever known. Now it’s up to Jingle and Andrew to save the season for one special child and help them to discover that Christmas is about the people you’re with rather than the place you happen to call home. What’s particularly cool about ”Jingle and Bell’s Christmas Star” is the synergy that’s led to the show’s creation. It marks the second time that Hallmark Channel has brought a Hallmark Cards product to life in a full-length entertainment production as part of an ongoing, significant partnership from retail, digital and social media. It allows kids to experience the evolution of an animated project in a variety of family-friendly ways. Plus, the animation style maximizes the adorableness factor of these sweet pups and children. The special is a super fun way for young kids to embrace the Christmas spirit.

‘THE HOLLYWOOD CHRISTMAS PARADE’
Hallmark Channel Original Special
Monday, December 10 (6p.m. ET/PT, 5C)
This annual holiday event dates back to 1928. In the beginning, the Hollywood Christmas Parade was called the Santa Claus Lane Parade and inspired crooner Gene Autry to co-write the tune Here Comes Santa Claus. (“…right down Santa Claus Lane”). Since renamed, the grandeur of the mega-parade hasn’t changed one bit from the beginning. More than a million people annually line up through Hollywood to catch a look at the dazzling procession of stars, marching bands, open-air antique cars, live cartoon characters, equestrian groups, and more. The great thing about this parade is that you never really know who is going to show up. Over the years, it has included everyone from Bing Crosby and Bob Hope to Jimmy Stewart, Sammy Davis Jr., Zsa Zsa Gabor, Betty White, Will Smith, Dick Van Dyke, Natalie Wood, and even Kathy Griffin. So pull up a comfy chair and share in the magic of a dazzling Tinseltown tradition.

‘COUNTDOWN TO THE 124TH TOURNAMENT OF ROSES PARADE’
Hallmark Channel Original Special
Tuesday, January 1 (from 7a.m.-8a.m. PT; 10a.m.-11a.m. ET)
Hallmark Channel’s coverage of the festivities begins bright and early on the with a peek behind the scenes at the preparations for the parade, with more than 900 volunteers laboring for a combined 80,000 hours to make it all happen. The numbers utilized for the parade are downright astonishing, featuring more than 500,000 roses and more than 600 tons of steel. There will be 45 floats, 23 marching bands, and 20 equestrian units. This year’s parade Grand Marshal is Dr. Jane Goodall, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace. Let the grandeur begin!

‘THE 124TH TOURNAMENT OF ROSES PARADE’
Hallmark Channel Original Special
Tuesday, January 1 (from 8a.m.-10a.m. PT; 11a.m.-1p.m. ET)
When you talk about history and tradition, there is no more American event more traditional and historic than the Tournament of Roses Parade. It originally began way back on Jan. 1, 1890. It’s been eye-popping a New Year’s Day celebration ever since, capturing the excitement and spectacle of breathtaking flower-covered floats, marching bands, and equestrians as they entertain millions of spectators around the world from humble little Pasadena, CA.

Hallmark Channel, owned and operated by Crown Media Holdings, Inc., is a 24-hour basic cable network that provides a diverse slate of high-quality entertainment programming available in high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD) to a national audience of nearly 87 million subscribers. Hallmark Channel is the nation’s leading destination for quality family programming with an ambitious slate of original TV movies and specials, as well as some of television’s most beloved sitcoms and series, including The Golden Girls, Frasier, Little House on the Prairie, and The Waltons. The channel is also home to a diverse range of lifestyle programming, including the newly-launched Home & Family, a daily two-hour live show shot in a fully functional house located on the Universal Studios lot and Marie, a one-hour talk show hosted by iconic entertainer, Marie Osmond. Hallmark Channel's sibling network, Hallmark Movie Channel, also available in HD and SD, focuses on family-friendly movies with a mix of classic theatrical films, presentations from the acclaimed Hallmark Hall of Fame library, original Hallmark Channel movies, and special events.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Jeff Goldblum Stars In 'Seminar' At The Ahmanson

“Seminar,” the sexy, smart new comedy starring Academy Award and Emmy Award-nominee Jeff Goldblum opens October 17 at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre. Directed by Obie Award-winner Sam Gold, “Seminar” is by Pulitzer Prize finalist and “Smash” creator Theresa Rebeck. Performances continue through November 18, 2012. (“Seminar” began previews October 10.)

In “Seminar,” four aspiring young writers played by Aya Cash, Jennifer Ikeda, Greg Keller and Lucas Near-Verbrugghe sign up for private writing classes taught by an international literary figure played by Goldblum. Under his recklessly brilliant and unorthodox instruction, some thrive and others flounder, alliances are made and broken, sex is used as a weapon and hearts are unmoored. The wordplay is not the only thing that turns vicious as innocence collides with experience in this provocative new comedy.

The production of “Seminar” at the Ahmanson features the complete Broadway design team: set and costume design by Tony Award-nominee and two-time Obie Award-winner David Zinn, lighting design by Drama Desk Award-nominee Ben Stanton and original music and sound design by two-time Drama Desk Award-winner John Gromada.

“Seminar” is produced by Jeffrey Finn, Jill Furman, John N. Hart Jr., Patrick Milling Smith, Roy Furman, David Ian, David Mirvish, Amy Nauiokas and James Spry.

For tickets and information, please go to CenterTheatreGroup.org, the Center Theatre Group box office located at the Ahmanson Theatre or call (213) 972-4400.