Todd Philips and Joaquin Phoenix Director and Actor Formed a Unique Union in Making Joker an Award-Oriented Hit by Brad Balfour Attending a Joker screening a second time – thanks to Deadline‘s Awardsline screening series – not only provided further insight but also a chance to hear director Todd Phillips explain himself, just as he … Continue reading
by Brad Balfour Thanks to director Dexter Fletcher, Elton John’s successes and travails are transformed into the mega-pop star’s redemption song through the film Rocketman. Born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on March 25th, 1947, Elton went from being a shy child prodigy to outrageous stardom and survived. This English singer / songwriter / pianist / composer … Continue reading
Chrissy Metz Breakthrough Faithfully Makes Actress a Film Star and Garners Her an Oscar Nom for Its Featured Song by Brad Balfour It used to be that faith-based films were low-budget productions, cheaply made with cheesy storytelling and wooden acting – more about propagandizing than worthy narrative. Nowadays, they’re labelled as contemporary Christian and as … Continue reading
Gilbert O’Sullivan It Wasn’t Out of the Question by Jay S. Jacobs For years, if American fans wanted to see 1970s sensation Gilbert O’Sullivan in concert, they would have to fly to Europe or Asia or something. You see, O’Sullivan, who was the best selling solo artist of 1972 – beating out the likes of … Continue reading
Tony Smith Veteran New Yorker Preserves the Disco Experience as Sirius Radio’s Master DJ by Brad Balfour To fully appreciate DJ and music master Tony Smith, it’s good to know that when Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer of Sirius XM Radio, had his own special birthday party, it was Tony to whom he … Continue reading
Trans-Siberian Orchestra It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like TSO Tour Season by Jay S. Jacobs There is a nip in the air, it’s getting dark earlier, the leaves are falling from the trees. You know what that means – it’s almost time for the annual Trans-Siberian Orchestra winter tour. A spectacle of sights, sounds, … Continue reading
Tricia Helfer Confessions of a Scream Queen by Jay S. Jacobs The last time we spoke with Tricia Helfer, about a decade ago, she was working on Burn Notice, Inseparable and in the early phases of Battlestar: Galactica – The Plan. At the time I wondered when she had time for sleep. That kind of … Continue reading
Mutlu Worth Some Good Trouble by Jay S. Jacobs “Let’s get it on, it’s time to get down.” Those are the only lyrics in the classic Philly soul instrumental “The Sound of Philadelphia” by iconic studio musicians MFSB (though the actual words were a guest shot by the vocal group The Three Degrees.) Mutlu Onaral … Continue reading
Alaena One of Life’s Unguilty Pleasures By Jay S. Jacobs Singer and songwriter Alaena (born Alana Potocnik) has learned a lot about the world as a woman in rock over the past decade or so. Previously best known for playing in the death metal band Winds of Plague, Alaena decided a couple of years ago … Continue reading
Dan Blank Taking Podcasts for the Long Haul with Carrier by Jay S. Jacobs It’s late at night. A truck is driving across the highways and byways of this land. The driver is trying to stay awake, wishing that they were home. The truck is making some weird noises. The trucker decides to listen to … Continue reading
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