Leonard Nimoy to lend voice to “Transformers: Dark of the Moon”
Leonard Nimoy (AP file photo)
Well, it was pretty much guaranteed that the upcoming movie “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” would be better than its odious predecessor, “Revenge of the Fallen.” After all, it couldn’t get much worse, right?
Now, improvement seems a sure bet: “Star Trek” legend Leonard Nimoy has joined the threequel as the voice of Sentinel Prime, according to EW.com.
Sentinel Prime is the predecessor of the heroic Optimus Prime. His wrecked body is seen in the teaser trailer, as the Apollo 11 astronauts find it crash-landed on the moon in 1969. After being brought to Earth, he takes the form of a fire engine in the movie’s huge climactic battle through Chicago.
According to EW.com, Nimoy has previous experience with Hasbro’s “robots in disguise”: He provided the voice of Galvatron in 1986′s animated “The Transformers: The Movie.”
The 3-D Transformers: Dark of the Moon opens in theaters July 1.
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Photo gallery: Carrie Underwood, The Who and Queen Latifah at Super Bowl XLIV
Checotah native Carrie Underwood belts out the National Anthem prior to Super Bowl XLIV Sunday in Miami, Fla. (Associated Press photos)
Unless you were an Indianapolis Colts fan with your heart set on a win, Sunday’s Super Bowl XLIV had quite a bit going for it.
The game was exciting and closer than the final score indicated, and it was hard not to root for the New Orleans Saints as they took home their first Super Bowl title. Many of the commercials were funny – I especially liked Denny’s screaming chickens for some reason I can’t quite identify – and the entertainers who performed at the event were pretty terrific.
Oklahoma native Carrie Underwood totally nailed her National Anthem performance, and Queen Latifah added a healthy helping of soul to the patriotic standard “America the Beautiful.” The Who didn’t have any new music to offer during halftime, but who could argue with their medley of such powerhouse hits.
According to a news release from CBS, the Saints 31-17 Super Bowl win over the Colts was watched by a Nielsen-estimated average of 106.5 million viewers, making it the most-watched program in television history, eclipsing the finale of M*A*S*H in 1983, which garnered 106 million viewers.
Here are some memorable Associated Press images of the Super Bowl XLIV entertainers.
Carrie Underwood performs the National Anthem in front of the color guard.
Carrie seemed to be channeling Elvis just a little in her snazzy white pantsuit.
Queen Latifah sings “America the Beautiful” prior to the big game.
The Who’s Roger Daltrey, left, and Pete Townshend perform the Super Bowl XLIV halftime show.
Roger Daltrey proved he is still in fine voice during the halftime show.
Saints quarterback Drew Brees celebrates the team’s big win.
Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey, who hails from Ada, kisses the Vince Lombardi Trophy after Super Bowl XLIV.
Colts QB Peyton Manning walks dejectedly off the field after a tough Super Bowl loss.
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Video: Carrie Underwood and Queen Latifah celebrate “Pants on the Ground” prior to Super Bowl performances
Country music superstar and Checotah native Carrie Underwood and multi-talented diva Queen Latifah talked about their upcoming pre-Super Bowl performances in a press conference earlier this week in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Underwood also addressed in the presser the “global importance” of “Pants on the Ground.” The rap has become a sensation since “General” Larry Platt was featured last month auditioning for “American Idol” with it. Platt didn’t make it through to the reality TV show’s next round, but his song encouraging youths to pull up their pants has become a pop-culture phenomenon.
Underwood and Latifah performed a quick chorus of the song after a reporter asked Underwood, the 2005 “American Idol” winner, about it. The country singer dubbed it “music with a message.”
The Oklahoma native will sing the National Anthem Sunday before the Super Bowl XLIV, while Latifah will belt out “America the Beautiful.”
The Super Bowl kick-off show will get started at 5 p.m. on CBS. The game is set to kick off at about 5:20 p.m.The Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints will face off in the game.
Check out the videos of Underwood and Latifah singing and addressing “Pants on the Ground,” along with Platt’s rendition of it, posted above.
And be sure to catch the pre-game performances and the Super Bowl Sunday night on CBS.
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2010 Oscar nominations list
“Inglourious Basterds”
The nominations for the 82nd Academy Awards were announced this morning. The Oscars will air March 7 on ABC.
Here are the nominees in all 24 categories:
1. Best Picture: “Avatar,” “The Blind Side,” “District 9,” “An Education,” “The Hurt Locker,” “Inglourious Basterds,” “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire,” “A Serious Man,” “Up,” “Up in the Air.”
2. Actor: Jeff Bridges, “Crazy Heart”; George Clooney, “Up in the Air”; Colin Firth, “A Single Man”; Morgan Freeman, “Invictus”; Jeremy Renner, “The Hurt Locker.”
3. Actress: Sandra Bullock, “The Blind Side”; Helen Mirren, “The Last Station”; Carey Mulligan, “An Education”; Gabourey Sidibe, “Precious: Based on the Novel `Push’ by Sapphire”; Meryl Streep, “Julie & Julia.”
4. Supporting Actor: Matt Damon, “Invictus”; Woody Harrelson, “The Messenger”; Christopher Plummer, “The Last Station”; Stanley Tucci, “The Lovely Bones”; Christoph Waltz, “Inglourious Basterds.”
5. Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, “Nine”; Vera Farmiga, “Up in the Air”; Maggie Gyllenhaal, “Crazy Heart”; Anna Kendrick, “Up in the Air”; Mo’Nique, “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire.”
6. Directing: James Cameron, “Avatar”; Kathryn Bigelow, “The Hurt Locker”; Quentin Tarantino, “Inglourious Basterds”; Lee Daniels, “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”; Jason Reitman, “Up in the Air.”
7. Foreign Language Film: “Ajami,” Israel; “El Secreto de Sus Ojos,” Argentina; “The Milk of Sorrow,” Peru; “Un Prophete,” France; “The White Ribbon,” Germany.
8. Adapted Screenplay: Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, “District 9”; Nick Hornby, “An Education”; Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche, “In the Loop”; Geoffrey Fletcher, “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”; Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, “Up in the Air.”
9. Original Screenplay: Mark Boal, “The Hurt Locker”; Quentin Tarantino, “Inglourious Basterds”; Alessandro Camon and Oren Moverman, “The Messenger”; Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, “A Serious Man”; Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Tom McCarthy, “Up.”
10. Animated Feature Film: “Coraline”; “Fantastic Mr. Fox”; “The Princess and the Frog”; “The Secret of Kells”; “Up.”
11. Art Direction: “Avatar,” “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus,” “Nine,” “Sherlock Holmes,” “The Young Victoria.”
12. Cinematography: “Avatar,” “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” “The Hurt Locker,” “Inglourious Basterds,” “The White Ribbon.”
13. Sound Mixing: “Avatar,” “The Hurt Locker,” “Inglourious Basterds,” “Star Trek,” “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.”
14. Sound Editing: “Avatar,” “The Hurt Locker,” “Inglourious Basterds,” “Star Trek,” “Up.”
15. Original Score: “Avatar,” James Horner; “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” Alexandre Desplat; “The Hurt Locker,” Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders; “Sherlock Holmes,” Hans Zimmer; “Up,” Michael Giacchino.
16. Original Song: “Almost There” from “The Princess and the Frog,” Randy Newman; “Down in New Orleans” from “The Princess and the Frog,” Randy Newman; “Loin de Paname” from “Paris 36,” Reinhardt Wagner and Frank Thomas; “Take It All” from “Nine,” Maury Yeston; “The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)” from “Crazy Heart,” Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett.
17. Costume: “Bright Star,” “Coco Before Chanel,” “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus,” “Nine,” “The Young Victoria.”
18. Documentary Feature: “Burma VJ,” “The Cove,” “Food, Inc.” “The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers,” “Which Way Home.”
19. Documentary (short subject): “China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province,” “The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner,” “The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant,” “Music by Prudence,” “Rabbit a la Berlin.”
20. Film Editing: “Avatar,” “District 9,” “The Hurt Locker,” “Inglourious Basterds,” “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire.”
21. Makeup: “Il Divo,” “Star Trek,” “The Young Victoria.”
22. Animated Short Film: “French Roast,” “Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty,” “The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte),” “Logorama,” “A Matter of Loaf and Death.”
23. Live Action Short Film: “The Door,” “Instead of Abracadabra,” “Kavi,” “Miracle Fish,” “The New Tenants.”
24. Visual Effects: “Avatar,” “District 9,” “Star Trek.”
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“Inglourious Basterds” wins top film prize at the SAG Awards
From left, Christoph Waltz, B.J. Novak, Omar Doom, Eli Roth, and Diane Kruger, cast members from ” Inglourious Basterds,” pose together backstage after winning the award for best cast ensemble at the 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards Saturday in Los Angeles.(Associated Press photo)
Screen Actors Guild presented its coveted Actor statuette for the outstanding motion picture and primetime television performances of 2009 Saturday at the 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in televised ceremonies attended by film and television’s leading actors at the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center.
Ballots to choose the recipients were sent to the nearly 100,000 active members of Screen Actors Guild nationwide.
Sandra Bullock presented Betty White with Screen Actors Guild’s highest honor, the 46th Annual Life Achievement Award, following a filmed tribute.
Honored with individual awards were Jeff Bridges, Sandra Bullock, Mo’Nique and Christoph Waltz for performances in motion pictures and Kevin Bacon, Alec Baldwin, Drew Barrymore, Tina Fey, Michael C. Hall, and Julianna Margulies for performances in television.
Screen Actors Guild also gave awards for the outstanding performances by a motion picture cast and by television comedy and drama ensembles. The Actor for a motion picture cast performance went this year to “Inglourious Basterds,” while the Actors for television comedy and drama ensemble performances went this year to “Glee” and “Mad Men.” Screen Actors Guild’s honors for outstanding performances by a stunt ensemble in film and television were awarded to “Star Trek” and “24.”
Read the complete list of SAG winners after the break. (more…)
What to do in Oklahoma on Jan. 19, 2010
Above: Choctaw “Star Trek” collector James “Butch” Roberts shows some of the memorabilia he is displaying at the Choctaw Library. Below: “Star Trek” nesting dolls are among the items on view at the Choctaw Library through Jan. 30 (Photos by John Clanton/The Oklahoman)
Today’s featured event:
CHOCTAW – View the extensive personal collection of “Star Trek” memorabilia owned by James “Butch” Roberts of Choctaw from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at the Choctaw Library, 2525 Muzzy.
The exhibit is on display during library hours through Jan. 30.
For more information, call 390-8418 or go to www.metrolibrary.org.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
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Patrick Stewart earns knighthood
Patrick Stewart (Associated Press photo)
Actor Patrick Stewart, best known for playing Capt. Jean-Luc Picard on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and Professor X in the “X-Men” films, has become Sir Patrick in Queen Elizabeth II’s New Year honors list, according to the Associated Press.
“This is an honor that embraces those actors, directors and creative teams who have in these recent years helped fill my life with inspiration, companionship and sheer fun,” said 69-year-old Stewart, who recently returned to the British stage.
A separate honors list in New Zealand bestowed a knighthood on “Lord of the Rings” filmmaker Peter Jackson.
Jackson, 53, was knighted in New Zealand, his native land and the filming location for the acclaimed trilogy. The New Zealand award is approved by the queen, the country’s head of state.
Jackson is currently is working on the two-movie prequel “The Hobbit,” also based on a book by J.R.R. Tolkien, with Mexican director Guillermo del Toro.
Queen Elizabeth II’s New Year honors list also includes a knighthood for theater and film director Nicholas Hytner. Hytner, 53, was honored for his work as artistic director of the National Theatre, where his hit productions have included Alan Bennett’s “The History Boys” and “War Horse.”
He also stirred controversy by putting on “Jerry Springer: The Opera,” a production that attracted protests from some Christian groups.
Erich Reich, a refugee from Nazi-occupied Europe who organized last year’s 70th anniversary of the “Kindertransport,” which brought 10,000 children to wartime Britain, received a knighthood, too.
Reich, 74, was chairman of the Kindertransport Group of the Association of Jewish Refugees. He also has been credited with inspiring more than 42,000 people in several countries to raise about 60 million pounds (nearly $100 million) for charities.
In Britain, lesser honors went to Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi of the rock group Status Quo, according to the AP. They were named Officers of the Order of the British Empire, or OBE, in recognition of a four-decade, three-chord career that has seen them score 64 British hit singles, including “Rockin’ All Over the World.”
Phyllida Lloyd, who directed “Mamma Mia!” — the most financially successful British film of all time — was named Commander of the Order of the British Empire, or CBE.
CBEs also went to artist Maggi Hambling and Olivier Award-winning actress Margaret Tyzack.
There also were honors for Formula I racing champion Jensen Button, who received an MBE; children’s author Dick King-Smith (OBE), who wrote the book which became the film “Babe”; and opera star Sarah Connolly (CBE).
Most of the honors reward achievements by people out of the limelight, from civil servants to charity workers.
In descending order, the honors are knighthoods, CBE, OBE and MBE. They are bestowed by the queen, but recipients are selected by committees of civil servants from nominations made by the government and the public.
Knights are addressed as “sir” or “dame.” Recipients of CBEs, OBEs and MBEs have no title but can put the letters after their names, according to the AP.
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Lyle Lovett, William Shatner to compete in Oklahoma City charity event Celebrity Slide
Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Lyle Lovett will compete for the second year in the 4R Performance Horses Celebrity Slide, a charity reining horse event in Oklahoma City. (Associated Press photo)
A version of this story appears in Wednesday’s Life section of The Oklahoman.
Celebrities sliding into horse event
Stars hope to rein in bucks for Make-A-Wish Foundation
Singer-songwriter Lyle Lovett and actor William Shatner will be among the stars who will show off their horsemanship skills Friday in Oklahoma City.
The 4R Performance Horses Celebrity Slide, hosted by the Oklahoma City-based Reining Horse Sports Foundation and benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oklahoma, will bring together 10 famous riders and 11 youngsters at 6 p.m. Friday at State Fair Arena. The event sponsor is 4R Performance Horses, a Texas reining horse ranch.
“I think we have a really good lineup, very interesting, some very recognizable names,” said Lisa Liebl, Celebrity Slide producer.
The other celebrities who will compete are TLC’s “Trading Spaces” star Christi Proctor (pictured left), internationally known jeweler David Yurman, Tulsa TV anchor Kristin Dickerson, Marine Sgt. Danny New and professional bullriders Mike Lee, J.W. Hart, Cody Lambert and Adriano Moraes.
The reining contest will have the celebrities competing to see who can best guide an elite equine through a precise pattern of spins, tempo changes and sliding stops. The charity event takes place during the National Reining Horse Association Futurity.
Each celebrity is assigned a coach to train them in reining and an honorary coach, an Oklahoma youngster from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Shatner (pictured right) will have 
two honorary coaches.
The children get to spend time with the celebrities and pick the music for their reining performance, with the selections ranging from Joan Jett to “Hannah Montana” hits.
The Celebrity Slide requires a big commitment from the big-name participants, who all have some horseback riding experience.
“A lot of them will travel to the ranches of their trainer so that they can practice on their particular horse that they will be competing on,” Liebl said. “It takes a lot of planning, time, effort. … They don’t just show up and get on a horse.”
In its third year, the Celebrity Slide is drawing a wider variety of star participants. In its first year, all the competitors were pro cowboys; last year, Lovett and Oklahoma City news anchor Robin Marsh joined the field. Lovett won the contest and has helped spread the word about the event, Liebl said.
“It is a fun event and it is to raise money for a very worthy cause, but they also are very competitive and they’re coming ready to rein because they all want to win,” she said. “And they all want to win for their kid, so that gives them extra motivation.”
The event is the largest single fundraiser for the state’s Make-A-Wish chapter, she said. Last year, it raised $16,000.
Lovett not only is returning to defend his title, the Grammy winner also will be continuing his friendship with his Make-A-Wish honorary coach, Asha Gasper, and her family. Lovett and the Moore 9-year-old, who was diagnosed at age 6 with a brain tumor, were randomly paired at last year’s event.
“She had never heard of him. I had to tell her who he was. But they just clicked. She just fell in love with him. He’s so nice,” said Andrea Gasper, Asha’s mother.
Lovett has sent many text messages and e-mails, called last Christmas and shipped Asha CDs of his entire catalog. He requested Asha for his team again this year.
“He’s a very genuine person. … He’s definitely gone above and beyond,” Gasper said. “It’s a great event.”
GOING ON
4R Performance Horses Celebrity Slide
When: 6 p.m. Friday.
Where: State Fair Arena, NW 10 and May.
Benefiting: Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oklahoma.
Tickets: $8.
VIP reception: 8 p.m. Friday at Cox Pavilion at State Fair Park. Tickets are $100; the event includes food, an auction and live music.
Information: 946-7400 or www.nrha.com.
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New releases for Nov. 17, 2009: “Star Trek,” American Idols and Coolio’s cookbook
J.J. Abrams’ hit reboot “Star Trek” warps onto DVD and Blu-ray today, just in time for Christmas shopping.
In honor of its 70th anniversary, the film classic “Gone with the Wind” gets an “Ultimate Collector’s Edition” release on DVD and Blu-ray.
Several recording artists are releasing CDs today, again to coincide with the holiday gift-buying season. Among those releases are the self-titled first album from 2009 “American Idol” winner Kris Allen and an expanded re-release of runner-up Adam Lambert’s pre-”Idol” debut record. (Lambert will put out his new album “For Your Entertainment” on Monday.)
In books, most everyone knows that politician Sarah Palin is releasing this week her memoir “Going Rogue.” But did you know that Coolio has a new cookbook out this week? In “Cookin’ With Coolio,” the rapper guides people through his own brand of cuisine: Ghetto Gourmet.
Here is a list of the new CDs, DVDs and books from Amazon.com, VideoETA.com and BarnesandNoble.com:
CDs
Kris Allen, “Kris Allen.”
Adam Lambert, “Take One.”
John Mayer, “Battle Studies.”
Leona Lewis, “ECHO.”
Paul McCartney, “Good Evening New York City” (CD/DVD set).
Janet Jackson, “Number Ones.”
Casting Crowns, “Until The Whole World Hears.”
The Doors, “Live in New York” (Box set).
Rush, “Working Men” (Live).
DVDs
Andy Barker, P.I.: The Complete Series
Bruno
Dane Cook: Isolated Incident
Franklyn
Gone With The Wind
How to Be
Is Anybody There?
It’s A Very Sunny Christmas
My Sister’s Keeper
The Open Road
Star Trek
Thirst
Wild Child
Books
“Going Rogue” by Sarah Palin.
“Art of Living” by Barbel Miebach.
“Cookin’ with Coolio: 5 Star Meals at a 1 Star Price” by Coolio.
“Crocodile Tears” by Anthony Horowitz.
“How to Be Famous: Our Guide to Looking the Part, Playing the Press, and Becoming a Tabloid Fixture” by Heidi Montag.
“I, Alex Cross” by James Patterson.
“The Original of Laura” by Vladimir Nabokov.
“Shadowland (The Immortals Series No. 3)” by Alyson Noel.
“Too Much Happiness” by Alice Munro.
“The Wrecker” by Clive Cussler.
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Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Kings of Leon nominated for People’s Choice Awards
Carrie Underwood (Associated Press photos)
Rascal Flatts
Kings of Leon
The nominations for the People’s Choice Awards 2010 were announced today at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., by Kris Allen (“American Idol”), Cat Deeley (“So You Think You Can Dance”), Johnny Galecki (“The Big Bang Theory”), Jeff Probst (“Survivor”) and Sofia Vergara (“Modern Family”).
For the first time, fans voted at www.peopleschoice.com and cast more than 16 million votes to determine the nominees in categories such as favorite movie, favorite breakout artist and favorite TV obsession.
Among the Oklahoma stars nominated: Checotah native Carrie Underwood for favorite female artist and favorite country artist; Rascal Flatts, which includes Joe Don Rooney of Picher, for favorite country artist; and Kings of Leon, which includes two Oklahoma City-born members, for favorite rock bands.
Among the multiple nominees are “Star Trek,” “Twilight” and Taylor Swift.
Winners will be revealed during the live broadcast of the People’s Choice Awards 2010 Jan. 6 from its new home, the Nokia Theater, L.A. Live on the CBS Television Network. Queen Latifah will host the People’s Choice Awards 2010, the only major awards show that honors fan favorites in movies, music and television.
Voting begins today at www.peopleschoice.com and www.myspace.com/peopleschoiceawards for all 35 categories and will end on Dec. 8, except for favorite new TV drama and favorite new TV comedy, which will remain open for voting until the night of show.
A complete list of the People’s Choice Awards 2010 nominees follows the break.
