Suburbarazzi

While we’re still on the topic of Oscar, remember that Best Picture winner back in ‘06, “Crash”? Well, get ready for Crash, the TV show, brought to you by the good folks at Starz.  What’s next, “The Departed: Special Victims Unit” on USA? “The Brokeback Apprentice” on NBC? (oh wait, didn’t SNL already do that?)

Perhaps even surprising than the concept of the show is that the original film’s director, Paul Haggis, and one of its stars, Don Cheadle, will be co-producing the 13-installment series. Expected to start in August, it will continue with the themes of racism, from right where the big-screen version left off. “It will present an opportunity to delve into many subjects, not just race relations in LA,” says Cheadle.

No word yet on who will play the Matt Dillon character (or any of the others), but I’m ready to start campaigning for his brother, Kevin, to get the gig. Better yet, have it be a spinoff for Dillons’ Johnny Drama character.

Just imagine the possibilities. You could even have the big brother-little brother thing Kevin Dillon and Adrian Grenier have going taken to a whole new postmodern level, with Matt playing Grenier in a biopic about Vincent Chase’s life. All set in the Dillons’ hometown of Mamaroneck. How meta!

”’Crash’ TV series on way to Starz” [Digital Spy]

(Dillon brothers: AP photos) 

Download:

This week’s quiz:

Bill Murray, once a fixture of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, missed the tournament a couple weeks ago. Murray is the undisputed best celebrity golfer in our region, with a handicap of 7.2. But can you guess which fellow local star is close on his heels, with a handicap of 7.3?

• Kevin Dillon (Mamaroneck)
• Al Pacino (Sneden’s Landing)
• Dick Clark (Mount Vernon)
• Joe Torre (Harrison)

The answer is at the end of the clip and after the break.

(more…)

This Friday at 7:30 p.m. EST, Ted Mann and I will join TV reporter Karen DePodwin for a live RNN segment about Sunday’s Academy Awards. I’ll be wearing my tux for only the third time since my senior year in college, so the comedic value of that alone might be worth the tune-in. Here’s a preview of one of the topics slated for discussion.

Stars with a connection to the Lower Hudson Valley have done very well for themselves at the Oscars over the years, and 2008 is no exception.

Eight-time Oscar-winner Alan Menken, a New Rochelle native and North Salem resident, has been nominated three times for his songs from the Disney movie “Enchanted.” He took home his first two trophies for Best Song and Best Score for “The Little Mermaid,â€? and his most recent ones were in the same categories for songs from “Pocahontas.â€? In total, he’s been nominated for a whopping 18 Oscars, but hasn’t won one since 1996.

First-time nominee and sentimental favorite Ruby Dee, a New Rochelle resident, is nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her part in “American Gangster,” starring Mount Vernon native Denzel Washington and former Nyack dweller Russell Crowe—both of whom are Oscar-winners themselves.

LoHud also has at least two representatives in the Best Documentary/Short Subject category, including Ossining High School alumnus Francisco Bello (for “Salim Baba”) and former Croton-on-Hudson resident Cynthia Wade (for “Freeheld”).

After the break, check out a list of some other prominent current and former residents of the Lower Hudson Valley who have won or have been nominated for an Oscar in the last 30 years. (more…)

Palisades native and “Heroes” hottie Hayden Panettiere was Ms. Golden Globe today, given the honors of doling out the nominations alongside “Smokin’ Aces’’ star Ryan Reynolds and director Quentin Tarantino. Sadly, her show was totally shut out of every category. Ouch!

Fortunately, plenty of other LoHudders fared better.

Here’s a quick scorecard of which of the nominations have strong ties to the Lower Hudson Valley. In other words, all things being equal, these are the guys and gals to root for:

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

• AMERICAN GANGSTER: Stars Mount Vernon native Denzel Washington and filmed while Russell Crowe was living in Nyack

• THE GREAT DEBATERS: Directed by and starring Denzel

• MICHAEL CLAYTON: Stars Mamaroneck native (and former Winged Foot caddy) Michael O’Keefe, aka Noonan from “Caddyshack,” in a supporting role; features an early scene with George Clooney in Westchester, trying to put out a legal fire for an executive who has just gotten into a car accident.

ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

• ANGELINA JOLIE – A MIGHTY HEART: Raised in Sneden’s Landing

The rest of the nominations are after the break …

(more…)

One of the things that’s always perplexed me about Matt Dillon is how, after getting nominated for an Oscar in “Crash,” he managed to blow the best hand in his career by going on to star in “You, Me, and Dupree” and “Factotum.” Now, at last, it appears that the Mamaroneck native is finally cashing in in his cache with a few quality parts.

The first is “Cadillac Records,” where he’ll play Leonard Chess, the legendary founder of the South Side Chicago blues label Chess Records. Filming will begin on the film in January in Jersey. If you’re wondering why it isn’t called, say, “Chess Records,” one of the things that made Chess famous was how he would sell records for his up-and-coming artists (among the folks he discovered: Muddy Waters, Etta James, Chuck Berry) out of the back of his Cadillac. [Hollywood Reporter]

After that, he’s signed on to do two crime dramas, “Armored” and “Bone Deep.” In the first, he’ll play one of two armored car guards plotting to steal $10 mil out of his own truck. And in the second, he’ll play an L.A. Detective who intercepts a a group of bank robbers in the middle of a $20 million heist. [Hollywood Reporter]

Most exciting of all is “Nothing But the Truth,” the movie that Dillon is currently filming with Kate Beckinsale right now in Memphis. The plot on IMDB says it’s about “a female reporter [who] faces a possible jail sentence for outing a CIA agent and refusing to reveal her source,” which of course sounds a whole lot like the Judith Miller-Valerie Plame affair. In the credits, though, it isn’t stated which role Dillon plays. Call me crazy, but I’d love to see him take on the Karl Rove part. Nobody can play sleazy quite like Dillon. [MSNBC]

(Dillon receiving the Donosti Award in recognition of his cinematic career at the San Sebastian film festival in September: AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

Say wha?! Tom Cruise in Westchester? Believe it, man.

As Kevin Canfield reported on LoHud last week, Cruise is coming to screen his new wartime suspense tale “Lions for Lambs” at the Pelham Picture House at 7 p.m. How on earth did that come to pass? Well, as with the recent visits from Sean Penn (screening “Into the Wild”) and Richard Gere (“The Hunting Party”), we have Rolling Stone film critic Peter Travers to thank. As a member of the Picture House’s film advisory board, the Mamaroneck resident has been corralling movie star after movie star to make the trek up the Hutch for special advance screenings and Q&A sessions.

Still no word on whether Katie will be there—and we’ve already been told that interviews with Cruise are a no-go—but I’m planning to attend the event tonight and will share all the details tomorrow.

Got any questions you’d love to hear Cruise answer? Post ‘em here and I’ll do my best to wave my arms uncontrollably during the Q&A and be your mouthpiece.

(AP Photo) 

“New Amsterdam” has become the lastest casualty in the increasingly fickle world of Fox television programming. Helmed (in part) by Bedford director Lasse Hallstrom and Mamaroneck’s Leslie Holleran, the show is about a cop cursed with the gift of immortality (think “Highlander” meets “NYPD Blue”) and it was slated to be a mid-season replacement. But Variety reports today that this plan has been shelved due to the popularity of Gordon Ramsay’s “Kitchen Nightmares.”

And while this may sound like bad news for the Hudson Valley, there actually is a silver lining in Ramsay’s conquest of the Fox network. Tonight on the show he’ll be going to town on Tuckahoe’s Olde Stone Mill. In case you missed the promo on last week’s episode, it looks to be one of his testiest restaurant makeovers so far.

In other words, bad news for Hallstrom and Co. means good news for Westchester diners.

“Fox gives ‘Kitchen’ another order” [Variety]

Download:

This week’s quiz:

Which Lower Hudson Valley native has been signed on to headline the “300� spoof “301�?
• Mamaroneck native Kevin Dillon
• Rye native Jason Bateman
• Former Sneden’s Landing resident Angelina Jolie
• Peekskill-born Paul Reubens (a.k.a. Pee Wee Herman)

The answer is at the end of the clip and after the break.

(more…)

Or maybe the question should be, who isn’t up for a spoof of “300” starring none other than Johnny Drama?

The project, titled “National Lampoon’s 301: The Legend of Awesomest Maximus Wallace Leonidas,” is set to star Mamaroneck’s own Kevin Dillon, according to Ain’t it Cool News. It’ll be a parody of flicks like “Braveheart,” “Troy,” “300,” and “Gladiator.”

He might not have been able to conquer his supporting actor competition at the Emmys—and I was starting to get a little nervous about the lack of new IMBD movie credits after “Poseidon”—but hey, who’s shouting “VICTORY!” now?

(AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) 

Many fans are still reeling from the team’s spectacular collapse. And, as this NY Post story explains, one of them is Mamaroneck native Matt Dillon, who was at the dreadful 8-1 loss to the Marlins on Sunday. Here’s how the paper summed up Dillon’s reaction:

Actor and Mamaroneck native Matt Dillon sat stunned in his front-row Shea seat behind home plate after the final out.

He leaned forward, putting his hands into the backstop netting for several minutes before his buddies convinced him it was time to go home.

“This is what it means to be a diehard, a truly diehard fan,” said an ashen-faced Dillon, his right hand over his broken heart.

“I’m still a Mets fan – of course I am. I’m a diehard, diehard fan.”

Matt, I feel your pain. But Phillies fans, don’t go blowing this all out of proportion. Yes, Philadelphia Weekly, I’m talking to you. While Dillon was clearly distressed, this does not mean “the Phillies made Matt Dillon cry.” The only thing that can make Matty cry, as we all know, is global warming.

(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Late last week, Ted Mann and I made our picks for who, among our Lower Hudson Valley celebrities, would and should win Emmys. Now it’s time for our scorecard, granting a point for correct guesses as well as Lower Hudson Valley victories.

•SERIES (DRAMA): “The Sopranos” (parts filmed in LoHud; starred Sneden’s Landing homeowner Lorraine Bracco, Purchase College grad Edie Falco and Mount Vernon- and Brewster-raised Michael Imperioli.)

Ted and I thought “The Sopranos” would and should win. And with Bracco also sharing in this victory, everyone gets a point. Ted 1, Chris 1, Lower Hudson Valley 1.

•SERIES (COMEDY): “30 Rock”

While both Ted and I wanted “30 Rock” to win, I thought “Ugly Betty” would take the trophy, while Ted picked “The Office” to claim it. Unlike “Entourage,” which stars Mamaroneck native Kevin Dillon and “Ugly Betty,” which stars Chappaqua resident Vanessa Williams, “30 Rock” has no obvious connection to the Lower Hudson Valley, but we’re all winners in another sense because “30 Rock” is a fantastic show. Let’s hope it’s not doomed with the “Arrested Development” Emmy curse. Ted 1, Chris 1, Lower Hudson Valley, 1.

(more…)

Earlier this week, Ted Mann and I chatted with RNN’s Stacy-Ann Gooden about a few of the Emmy nominees with connections to the Lower Hudson Valley. Given time constraints, we only had so much time to debate a few of the candidates, but thanks to the good ol’-fashioned(?) blog, we can offer our takes on which LoHud celebs we think, and hope, will win at Sunday’s ceremony.

Keep in mind that a couple of celebs with a local connection already had their fates decided at “ceremonies held earlier.” North Salem resident Stanley Tucci won Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his appearance on “Monk.” (My gripe: Why wasn’t Paul Reubens’ hilarious performance as Gerhardt on “30 Rock” even nominated?) And while Suffern native Tim Daly didn’t win Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama for his appearance on “The Sopranos,” the winner in that category—John Goodman—appeared on “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” created by Scarsdale native Aaron Sorkin.

Ted found legit connections to the Lower Hudson Valley in eight major categories. We’ll give you a couple of teasers before the break. Check out the rest of our predictions and rooting interests after the break.

1. SERIES (DRAMA)
•”Boston Legal”
•“Grey’s Anatomy” (stars Katherine Heigl from nearby New Canaan)
•“Heroes” (stars Palisades native Hayden Panettiere)
•”House”
•“The Sopranos” (parts filmed in LoHud; starred Sneden’s Landing homeowner Lorraine Bracco)

CHRIS: Thinks “The Sopranos” will win and wants “The Sopranos” to win.
TED: Thinks “The Sopranos” will win and wants “The Sopranos” to win.

2. SERIES (COMEDY)
•“Entourage” (stars Mamaroneck’s Kevin Dillon)
•”The Office”
•”30 Rock”
•”Two and a Half Men”
•“Ugly Betty” (stars Chappaqua’s Vanessa Williams)

CHRIS: Thinks “Ugly Betty” will win but wants “30 Rock” to win.
TED: Thinks “The Office” will win but wants “30 Rock” to win.

(more…)

If you’ve ever been curious about how much it costs to book Johnny Drama to do his “Victory!” shtick, now you know. This $15,000 appearance fee for the Mamaroneck native was reported on Defamer, which saw it in an e-mail newsletter from Esterman Entertainment. That would be the same agency that also reps Kevin Federline and just about every American Idol reject from Season One onwards. Sounds like a Dillon brother is a step up.

The site also says that Dillon’s Entourage co-stars, Jeremy Piven and Jerry Ferrara, are also “connected to Esterman in some way or another,” though no word yet on whether they command the same kind of fees. Still, if you’re looking for a celebrity to add to your foursome, you really can’t beat Dillon—who is a regular at Winged Foot and reportedly has a 7.3 handicap. Then again, if you’re shelling out $15k, you probably don’t want to be losing in the first place.

Lots of celebrity sightings today in the LoHud. In addition to Timothy Hutton, Judge Judy was also spotted earlier today by intrepid InTown Editor Jeanne Muchnick during an event at Bonnie Briar Country Club. Here’s Jeanne’s report:

Who Knew Judge Judy was so tiny? Or so short? Her red heels and red jacket screamed “power,� but the girls she was standing next to—eight Mamaroneck High School students—towered over her. It was all part of a photo opp at Bonnie Briar Country Club to kick-off the first-ever mentoring program, funded by Judge Judy and administered by the Westchester County Office for Women. Eight mentors (Myself included!) and their protégées – juniors and seniors at the high school, met for the first time. The girls will start working their four-hour shifts next week; the program itself runs for 25 weeks and was the brainchild of Judge Judy’s daughter, Nicole Sheindlin, a Larchmont resident.

But what I liked the best about the luncheon (besides the decadent cannolis and the fact that I got to meet my mentee – shout-out to Sheri Abramowitz!) was Judge Judy’s advice to the students: “You only get one chance for a first impression,� she warned. In other words, no face piercings, bare midriffs or tattoos in places you can’t see. If I had the choice between hiring a girl with piercings and tattoos, or someone who looked clean, I’d go with the girl without—despite the fact that the girl with the piercings might be a qualified candidate. Some people might tell you that’s not ‘p.c.’,� she said. “But ‘p.c.’ has never been my thing.�

To that, I say you go girl.

(Photo courtesy WestchesterGov.com)

Yes, that’s right, Vince’s older bro is officially middle aged. Just one month younger than Jeremy Piven, actually.

After having an early birthday last Friday, the Mamaroneck native celebrated the real thing on Sunday at The Hard Rock Hotel and Casin. The Kevin Dillon birthday extravaganza was held at the resort’s Rehab Pool.

Check out photos of Dillon showing off his cake to throngs of fans here. There’s also a great pic on TMZ of one of the b-day’s more bizarre guests—Chuck Liddell, the UFC superstar who squared off against Dillon’s “Entourage” alter ego earlier this season. And as if that weren’t weird enough, there’s also one truly disturbing snapshot of Dillon celebrating with Perez Hilton, who appears to be trying to bring back the Max Hedroom look.

(AP Photo/Gus Ruelas)