Jack Black: In His Case, Maybe it is a Matter of Rocket Science

Jack Black: In His Case, Maybe it is a Matter of Rocket Science by Roxanne McDonald

“I really wish that we had secret headquarters where there was a batcave in the Hollywood Hills mountain, like inside the Hollywood sign, where we would drive in and talk about domination of world comedy. We’d have superpowers and drive out in our super-comedy mobiles. But it doesn’t exist.” Jack Black, on the subject of the Frat Pack, quoted in Sports Illustrated and on The Frat Pack Tribute

What? That’s the look on any one of Jack Black’s character’s face. It’s not the “What?� of the gypsy thug in his “take a picture it lasts longer� mode. It’s not the “Wha?� of a Vinnie Barbarino. It’s more of a combined self-effacing and scampish “What? What did I do?� look.

Maybe he always had the look and just uses it to enhance his funny. Maybe he cultivated it hanging with (as a member of) the Frat Pack–with Steve Carell, Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson—or working his comic-rock shtick with the other half of Tenacio D, Kyle Gass. Maybe he learned it growing up in a household (for the first ten years of his life, anyway) with rocket scientists for parents. After all, it does take some smarts to deliver quality comedy.

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Hell Hath no Fury Like an Ignorant Scorned

Hell Hath no Fury Like an Ignorant Scorned by Roxanne McDonald

You’ve heard it a hundred times—less informed auditioners, as they are stomping their rejected way out the door, challenge Simon’s credibility, authority, and veracity, asking what he knows about music or what makes a good singer.

Little do they know, obviously, that he not only knows good music but knows what makes for good sales.

You might have seen the “60 Minutes� piece on Cowell. You might have seen, a couple of years back, the full docu-bio on Cowell. But if not, you might be interested to know the remarkable industry experience and approach Simon brings to what he has been doing for all of his adult life:

Born in Brighton, England on October 7, 1959 to property developer/music industry properties exec Eric and socialite Julie Dalgleish Cowell

Raised in Elstree, Hertfordshire

At one point, lives next door to the head of MGM Studios in England, and (tells ExtraTV, years later) admired the man, wishing to do what he does.

Quits school at 17

Works several odd jobs, but not getting on with bosses or peers, takes a job his dad gets for him—in the mail room of EMI Music Publishing

Gets assistant to artist and repertoire (A&R) executive position

Makes record producer post by early 20s

Leaves to establish independent music company, E&S Music

With the closing (folding) of E&S, returns to work at EMI

At 25, begins to connect with people like Pete Waterman, producer and founder of Stock Aitken Waterman. Waterman will become his most revered mentor.

At 26, leaves EMI, forms second independent label, Fanfare Records, with former co-worker Iain Burton

Girlfriend Sinitta Malone a recording artist success (and Cowell’s girlfriend) for Fanfare, until the company folds and caves to bankruptcy

Deep in debt, Cowell has no choice but to move back home (read more…)

Paris Hilton: Is She the New Madonna?

Paris Hilton: Is She the New Madonna?

The answer is no. But more importantly, you may ask, who is Paris Hilton? Well, she is the grand daughter of Conrad Hilton of the Hilton Hotel fame. She first saw public notoriety when a stolen sex video of her hit the internet a few years ago and she gained a reputation as ” Paris the heiress.” The word Paris Hilton is now the most searched name on the internet next to Britney Spears, Pamela Anderson, Angela Jolie, and you get the idea. (read more…)

Chris Daughtry Follows up with Rocking Success

Chris Daughtry Follows up with Rocking Success by Roxanne McDonald

Like his predecessor, Bo Bice, Daughtry makes American Idol rock with pride.

Bo Bice was the first to change the setting, the scenery, the premise of American Idol—choosing Southern, Hard, and other Rock genres that were popular but a far cry of a c-note from Pop.

Constantine Margoulis did the same, for as long as he was an Idol contender.

And while Daughtry didn’t get the bragging rights to breaking Rock into the number one show in America or for changing up the stand-in-front-of-the-audience and sing format—by leaping onto the platform between the judges table and the audience…the equally dignified and similarly talented singer has made a name for himself in the music industry, regardless of not winning the bouquet of roses and the crown. (read more…)

Toni Collette Best Kept Secret until Recently

Toni Collette Best Kept Secret until Recently by Roxanne McDonald

From Muriel’s Wedding to an Oscar nomination for The Sixth Sense, actress Toni Collette finally gets some much-deserved recognition.

In America, anyway. In Australia she has been appreciated for years. The brilliant actress with a versatility that rivals Streep’s was nominated for her role as in The Sixth Sense, but Toni Collete has made a solid name for herself long before this March of 2007.

With three films in her portfolio, in 1994 she made herself the butt of laughs (respectable laughs, but raucous laughs, nonetheless) as the quirky outcast who does a rites of passage turnabout in Muriel’s Wedding—for which she won the Australian Film Institute’s esteemed award of Australian Best Actress in a Lead Role.

With equally talented Rachel Griffiths, Collette played a poignant Julie in Cosi, in 1996, and made her way to Hollywood, where she would move audiences over and again, from roles such as the stalwart Lynne Sear in The Sixth Sense (1999) to the beneficent Kathy Graham in Tsunami: The Aftermath (2006). (read more…)

Alfred Hitchcock: The Mind behind the Best of Psychological Suspense

Alfred Hitchcock: The Mind behind the Best of Psychological Suspense by Roxanne McDonald

“Television has done much for psychiatry by spreading information about it, as well as contributing to the need for it.â€? Alfred Hitchcock (1899 – 1980)

The psychologically thrilling and macabre storylines, use of light (and shadow), and interstice sarcasm of Alfred Hitchcock movies and shows are as well known and as thoroughly discussed by film aficionados as is Hitchcock’s life. But for less TV- and movie- savvy folks, some Hitchcock information might be interesting… so rather than go into who the master of mental manipulation was from birth to death, I would like to share with you the coolest of trivia as I know (or remember) it:

–When Hitchcock was a kid, he stole a candy bar (or did some other minor infraction, I can’t recall exact details). To exact the most effective discipline, his mother/father wrote a note to the chief of police, handed it to Alfie, and sent the boy downtown to the local PD. Alfie gave the note to the officer, who, following its directions, placed little Alfie in a cell, locked it, and walked away—leaving the kid incarcerated and terrified (for a short? period). When he returned to let Alfred out, he commented, “This is what we do to naughty boys.â€?

This experience translated to a terrible fear of police, which Hitch highlighted in all of his depictions of cops—from camera angles that made arresting officer look huge to the use of the standard issue sunglasses which instill fear in the offender…and the audience.

–Hitchcock was intrigued with numbers, especially the number seven. He included the number seven in his movies…or used numbers which added up to or reduced to seven. (read more…)