Happy Birthday, Jessica Alba
April 28, 2009 — Jessica Marie Alba,
who played Max Guevera on “Dark Angel” (2000-02 on Fox), turns 28 today.
She will be in Oklahoma this spring filming the movie “The Killer Inside Me” (scheduled for 2010 release).
Her first acting role was as Gail in the 1994 movie “Camp Nowhere.” She was 13.
Best wishes to Jessica and everybody who shares this special day with her.
–Penny TV
Pictured at right: Jessica Alba arrives at the African First Ladies’ Health Summit Gala on Tuesday April 21, 2009, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Katy Winn).
Oklahoman in contention for ‘WCG Ultimate Gamer’ title
Mark "Ice Ice Gamer" Smith (SCI FI Photo)
Mark “Ice Ice Gamer” Smith is among the final three gamers competing on the SCI FI Channel series “WCG Ultimate Gamer.”
Tune in Tuesday (April 28) to see if Smith wins the “Ultimate Gamer” title, which comes with $100,000 cash, a Samsung electronics package and a gig as VIP representative for World Cyber Games. SCI FI will air the first-season finale at 9 p.m.
Smith, who is described in a SCI FI press release as “the small-town sensation from Tahlequah,” was born in Oklahoma City, grew up in Altus and currently lives in Tahlequah. He makes custom jewelry and also enjoys hunting and fishing. But his passion is gaming.
The other two gamers who successfully navigated both real world and virtual world challenges to reach the finale, are Robert “The Dominator”Paz (”the gaming prodigy from Bronx, New York”) and Jamal “Sonic Boom” Nickens (”the trash-talking wonder from Twinsburg, Ohio”).
Their final challenge will involve three different games in three different genres: Shaun White Snowboarding, Soul Caliber IV and Gears of War 2.
–Penny TV
Happy Birthday, Doug Sheehan
April 27, 2009 — Douglas Stuart
Sheehan, who played Ben Gibson on “Knots Landing” (1983-87 on CBS), turns 60 today.
He played Mel Horoqitz on “Clueless” (1997-99 on ABC).
His first acting role was as Ben Anderson on a 1978 episode of “Charlie’s Angels” (episode titled “Angels Ahoy”). He was 29.
Best wishes to Doug and everybody who shares this special day with him.
–Penny TV
‘Greatest American Dog’ winners attending Oklahoma FFA Convention April 29
Travis Brorsen grew up on a farm in Perry. When he was in the eighth grade, he showed pigs at the fair.
Last summer, he showed TV viewers that he has the “Greatest American Dog.” Brorsen and his boxer, Presley, won the CBS competition series and $250,000 to boot.
And both will show what they know at the Oklahoma Future Farmers of America Convention April 29 at the Cox Convention Center. Brorsen will be a guest speaker at the event, and during the final session, he and Presley will be performing.
Before the “Greatest American Dog” came around, Brorsen was making a decent living as an actor in Los Angeles. He guest starred on such shows as “JAG,” “Desperate Housewives” and “Bones.”
His most recent projects include a pilot called “Adventures With Travis and Presley” and a film titled “iCrime.” He plays the lead in “iCrime,” an Internet thriller scheduled for an October release. He shares top billing with Presley in “Adventure,” in which they tell viewers about the best places to visit while traveling with a furry companion.
–Penny TV
Happy Birthday, Jordana Brewster
April 26, 2009 — Jordana Brewster,
who played Nikki Munson on “As the World Turns” (1995-2001 on CBS), turns 29 today.
She guest starred as Dr. Jill Roberts on four episodes of “Chuck” (7 p.m. Mondays on NBC).
Her first acting role was as Anita Santos on a 1995 episode of “All My Children.” She was 15.
Best wishes to Jordana and everybody who shares this special day with her.
–Penny TV
Matthew Price at The Oklahoman …
and on BBC America
Matthew Price, The Oklahoman
Matthew Price, BBC
The Oklahoman has a Matthew Price on staff. He is the Assistant Features Editor (and a great guy).
Turns out that BBC also has a Matthew Price on staff. He reports for “BBC World News America” (and he’s probably a great guy, too).
Price, the one with the British accent, was in Oklahoma on Friday for a special report that will air Monday on “BBC World News America” (the news show airs at 6 p.m. weekdays on BBC America).
He is travelling across the country to gauge the effects of the recession in different cities across the U.S.
Monday’s report from Oklahoma looks at the impact of stimulus spending on the economy (Price is looking at a roadworks project) and the new economy (wind power) versus the old economy (oil).
–Penny TV
Happy Birthday, Becky Wahlstrom
April 25, 2009 — Becky Wahlstrom,
who played Grace Polk on “Joan of Arcadia” (2003-05 on CBS), turns 34 today.
She guest starred in 2008 episodes of “Women’s Murder Club” and “Bones.”
Her first acting role was as Girl in the 1992 movie “Straight Talk.” She was 22.
Best wishes to Becky and everybody who shares this special day with her.
–Penny TV
Pictured at right: Becky Wahlstrom as Grace Polk on “Joan of Arcadia” (CBS Photo).
Telemundo celebrity coming back to Oklahoma City
Penelope Menchaca, who
hosts Telemundo’s Spanish-language dating game show “12 Corazones,” will be in Oklahoma City Saturday (April 25) to promote her show.
She will sign autographs at El Mariachi Supermarket, 3020 NW 16, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. During her appearance, El Mariachi will give away prizes, including televisions, stereos, refrigerators and air conditioners.
“12 Corazones,” which airs at 6 p.m. weekdays on Telemundo’s Oklahoma City affiliate KTUZ-30, revolves around 12 contestants and their Zodiac signs. The male contestants eliminate the female contestants and vice versa until there are three men and three women left. Menchaca then tries to match the remaining contestants.
This marks Menchaca’s third visit to Oklahoma City in three years. Last April when she was here, more than 5,000 fans greeted her.
–Penny TV
TV Preview Podcast: ‘Law & Order: Criminal Intent’
"Law & Order: Criminal Intent" cast members (USA Network Photo)
Each week, The Oklahoman TV Editor Penny Soldan hosts an audio podcast discussing an upcoming TV premiere.
This week’s premiere is Jeff Goldblum’s first appearance on “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” premiering at 8 p.m. Sunday, April 26.
To hear her discussion with Melissa Hayer, assistant news research editor for The Oklahoman, click here
Calling all aspiring young filmmakers;
Make a movie for Qubo’s ‘Zimmer Twins’
Ever dream of making a movie? Then
meet Edgar and Eva, the “Zimmer Twins.”
They are the animated characters featured in interactive cartoons that youngsters can create on www.qubo.com. And qubo, which airs family friendly programming on NBC, ION and Telemundo, is going to take the films made by youngsters and adapt them into a mini movie scheduled to air in summer.
But hurry. The deadline to submit a short animated film for consideration is April 30. Out of all those submitted, 15 will be selected to be professionally animated by converting them into high-resolution video with broadcast quality color, music, sound effects and actors recording the character voices.
All that is required is an imagination. The “Zimmer Twins” storytelling web application available on qubo.com makes it easy for anyone to make a movie. Not only does it include storytelling tools, pre-made animated clips and simple editing instructions, it is also designed around the basic elements of sentence structure and reinforces reading, grammar and writing techniques.
–Penny TV
