Monthly Archives: June 2009
While many bands of its era have come and gone, Cheap Trick has stuck around like no other. One of the early purveyors of power pop in the 1970s, the group struck pop-music gold multiple times with hits such as … Continue reading
Happy 30th birthday to The Office star Mindy Kaling. She has also written several episodes of the series, and Kaling recently signed a deal with NBC to develop her own comedy while maintaining her Office duties next season. Another NBC … Continue reading
I caught up today with Neil Bush, the chairman of the board of the Points of Light Institute and the son of former president George H.W. Bush. He told me that he deeply admires the personal commitment to service that … Continue reading
Among the Hollywood types here in San Francisco for the National Conference on Volunteering and Service is actress Kerry Washington, who could not talk more passionately about her work with L’Oreal Paris’ charitable arm and the inspiration the president and … Continue reading
With rare exception, the sequel is never as good as the original. It's certainly true for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, according to our Brian Truitt. He attended a packed screening in Washington, D.C., last night and was hoping that … Continue reading
It's a bumper crop of musical birthdays, starting with Duffy. The Welsh soul singer turns 25 today, and has won global acclaim for her Dusty Springfield-esque pipes. Her debut Rockferry won a Grammy last year for Best Pop Vocal Album. … Continue reading
Michelle Obama told volunteers at the National Conference on Volunteering and Service Monday she was speaking to "my people" and, believe me, they knew it. She would probably have been a hit had she simply stood on stage in her … Continue reading
Matthew McConaughey and his "lady" — as he called girlfriend Camila Alves — are expecting their second baby. McConaughey is in San Francisco at the National Convention on Volunteering and Service on behalf of the Entertainment Industry Foundation and was … Continue reading
I'm inside a chilly, dark convention hall where in about 90 minutes Michelle Obama will address this national gathering on volunteering and service. The lines to get in are outside and around the block, there are Secret Service agents everywhere … Continue reading
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, this week's biggest new opening (and possibly the event movie of the summer), hits theaters on Wednesday, so we're making it Transformers Week on the blog, with interviews featuring both cast and creators. (Plus, our … Continue reading
It’s a gorgeous summer morning here in San Francisco as about 4,500 people from around the country — many of them people who have participated in USA WEEKEND’s Make A Difference Day each October — converge on the Moscone Center … Continue reading
The Slumdog Millionaire-esque story of Rinku Singh (at left) and Dinesh Patel got a lot of attention in the spring when the movie was raking in awards and ticket sales. But these two Indian-born men who won a baseball game … Continue reading
First lady Michelle Obama is all the buzz here in San Francisco but she isn't the only celebrity talking about service and good works here today. Among the other high profile speakers conference goers will hear from are Maria Shriver … Continue reading
Monday morning greetings from San Francisco, the site of the 2009 National Conference on Volunteering & Service from which I'll be blogging much of this week. The conference opens today with first lady Michelle Obama, who will launch the president's … Continue reading
Meryl Streep, arguably the best actress of our generation, celebrates turning 60 today. On the heels of her critically acclaimed (and Oscar-nominated) role in Doubt, Streep will portray Julia Child in the August release Julie & Julia, directed by Nora … Continue reading
Olivia Wilde, featured on our special summer movie preview page, sheds her serious side as the bisexual and terminally ill "Thirteen" on Fox’s House to play the princess of Sodom in the Biblical comedy Year One, opening today. Our Jon … Continue reading
Lindsay Lohan is always news, but read my Who's News column in the magazine this weekend to get Lilo's latest professional doings. Also this week we talk to:• Thea Andrews, the Entertainment Tonight reporter who can't think of any other … Continue reading
Paula Abdul, '90s pop singer turned American Idol judge, celebrates her 47th birthday today. After sitting in the judge’s chair for so long, Abdul is working on music of her own. She recently took the stage on American Idol, performing … Continue reading
If audiences find The Proposal half as funny as reporters found the film's recent press junket in Los Angeles, they will be rolling in the aisles. The romantic comedy, which stars Sandra Bullock as a harridan boss and Ryan Reynolds … Continue reading
Woody Allen’s offshore period is over, says our L.A. writer Bart Mills. No more loving shots of Scarlett Johansson in Spain or England. Drama is out and comedy is back in Allen’s roll-over-and-beat-the-ground-with-your-fists funny Whatever Works opening tomorrow (for a … Continue reading
