Thursday, July 08, 2004

Nick and Jessica Sighting: On Monday July 5, 2004, Jessica Simpson and husband, former 98 Degrees band member, Nick Lachey, had dinner at SUSHISAMBA rio in Chicago. In honor of the holiday, the couple took five of their friends to eat at the River North hotspot. Their check was $373.50, and they generously tipped $100. Jessica wore a pair of blue jeans and a black tank top. She and Nick sat in elevated dining for privacy, and faced the wall versus dining room so they wouldn't be recognized.

The group ate 10 different kinds of sushi rolls, a few sides like peruvian corn and sweet plantains, a couple raw bar items, only a few samba cocktails, a few "little plates" as well, like the South American Beef Maki Roll and our Crab Cake. The table indulged in no desserts.

Get Struttin’ – The Stray Cats Are Back!: THE STRAY CATS ARE BACK!! After a 12-year hiatus from touring and recording together, THE STRAY CATS are making up for lost time with a month-long reunion tour of Europe during which every show will be recorded and released on CD.

Original members Brian Setzer, Lee Rocker, and Slim Jim Phantom kicked off the 17-show run at the 6,500-seat Zenith in Paris, France on Monday, July 5, 2004. As a lasting souvenir to Stray Cats fans around the world, Surfdog Records will be releasing a live CD of every single show, with the aim of having each recording hit European store shelves within a week of the performance. All 17 will be released in the United States in August (nine of the shows on August 10, 2004 and eight on August 24, 2004).

Additionally, the sold-out show at London¹s legendary Brixton Academy will be captured on a live DVD/CD release entitled ³RUMBLE IN BRIXTON² (the namesake from their hit song, ³Rumble In Brighton²) set for an October 26, 2004 street date.

Igniting the early-‘80s rockabilly revival, THE STRAY CATS scored several big hits (including ³Rock This Town,² ³Stray Cat Strut,² ³Runaway Boys,² ³Sexy + 17,² and ³I Won¹t Stand In Your Way²) around the world. Their in-your-face and over-the-top visual appeal with sky-high pompadours, tattoos, and flashy teddy-boy suits got the public¹s attention, but it¹s kick-ass musical chops and timeless songs that have kept them viable to this day. 25 years after the Stray Cats¹ debut, the 2004 European tour sees the band performing to even larger audiences than in the days when they were enjoying multi-platinum success.


TOUR SCHEDULE:
July 5 Paris, France Zenith
July 6 Brussels, Belgium Forest National
July 9 Helsinki, Finland The Ice Palace
July 10 Turku, Finland Ruis Rock Festival
July 12 Berlin, Germany Columbiahalle
July 13 Hamburg, Germany Stadtpark
July 14 Amsterdam, Holland Paradiso
July 16 Machester, England Apollo
July 17 London, England Brixton Academy
July 18 London, England Shepherd¹s Bush Empire
July 20 Munich, Germany Coliseum
July 22 Barcelona, Spain Razzmatazz
July 24 Gijon, Spain Crossroads Festival
July 26 Lyon, France Fourvieres Antique Theatre
July 27 Luzern, Switzerland Blue Balls Festival
July 29 Bonn, Germany Museum Platz
July 30 Amsterdam, Holland Paradiso

Christian Applegate’s Shoe Secret: Christina Applegate chose “Snicker” from luxury footwear collection Mang by George Mang to the New York City premiere of Anchorman-The Legend of Ron Burgundy on July 7, 2004. “Snicker” is a round toe gray suede shoe on a cylindrical matching matte heel, with gray capretto leather details. It was perfect with her full-skirted dress.

HELP THE MONOLATORS: From our dear friends:

Some of you might have seen that our first full-length album, "Rejection Set Me Free," is now available for sale on cdbaby.com (we're going to have an official cd release party later when we play our comeback show in August).

What we need now, to woo potential shoppers, is a bunch of (glowing, we hope) reviews to go along with the album. That's why we're asking you to go to cdbaby and write a short review. You do NOT have to buy a copy of the album to do this! You can listen to all of the songs online for free on our cdbaby page. If you're broke (like us) and can't buy a copy right now, that's okay--writing a nice review would actually be a bigger favor to us at the moment.

Our page on cdbaby is here:

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/monolators

www.themonolators.com

And You Thought It Was Vintage: Alexa Vega, star of “Sleepover”, was out the night before last in a Lynyrd Skynyrd “Tour ‘87” limited edition crew by TRUNK LTD. Uh, that would be the year BEFORE she was born, so she couldn’t have picked it up at her local arena. Check out http://www.trunkltd.com for cool clothes, like Vega’s “t.” They specialize in “moments in time” wear.



Been Missing that “90210” and “Melrose”? SOAPnet has acquired the exclusive broadcast rights to all seven seasons of Spelling Television's "Melrose Place" and all 10 seasons of Spelling Television's "Beverly Hills 90210" from Paramount Domestic Television, it was announced today by Deborah Blackwell, General Manager, SOAPnet.

"Melrose Place" will air weekdays on SOAPnet beginning September 13th at 6PM. The series starring Heather Locklear, Josie Bissett, Thomas Calabro, Doug Savant, Grant Show, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Jack Wagner and SOAPnet's own Lisa Rinna first aired on Fox from 1992-1999.

"Beverly Hills 90210", the long running teen drama featuring Jason Priestly, Tori Spelling, Jennie Garth, Ian Ziering, Gabrielle Carteris, Shannen Doherty, Luke Perry and Brian Austin Green is slated to begin airing weekdays in early 2005.

"We are thrilled to be the new residence for 'Melrose Place' and 'Beverly Hills 90210'. SOAPnet continues to add popular soaps our viewers want to see and real estate doesn't get any better than this," said Ms. Blackwell. "'Melrose' and '90210' from executive producer Aaron Spelling, were two of the highest rated primetime soaps of the '90s and their addition to our lineup continues to establish our brand and provide our viewers with a 24-hour soapy environment."

"Melrose Place" originally premiered in July 1992 and showcased the lives of a group of residents in an apartment complex in Los Angeles. Viewers were witness to all the scheming and scandals amongst this group of not-so-nice neighbors. These young singles also knew how to heat up the screen with their many romances.

"Beverly Hills 90210," which premiered in October 1990, features the lives and loves of a group of friends in Beverly Hills. The show touches base on a variety of growing pains including drug addictions, bitter break-ups, and divorce. This long-running series traces the lives of these close high school friends through college and into their adulthood.

SOAPnet, the new way to watch soaps, offers same day episodes of popular daytime dramas including "All My Children," "Days of our Lives," "One Life To Live" and "General Hospital" at night for convenient viewing. In addition, the network provides inside access to stars and storylines with original programs, including the Emmy-nominated one-hour talk show, "Soap Talk" and the entertainment magazine show "Soap Center." Wrapped in a 24-hour environment, SOAPnet also offers primetime classics including "Dynasty," "Dallas" and "Knots Landing," as well as former daytime series "Port Charles," "Ryan's Hope" and "Another World."

ToolBelt Diva: Norma Vally is not like other divas. For starters, she wears a toolbelt.

Yes, she is multi-faceted and confident, but Vally, the host of Discovery Home Channel’s new primetime series, TOOLBELT DIVA, is anything but temperamental. In fact, she is happy to share home improvement tips so do-it-yourselfers can have fun and take charge of their domains.

When TOOLBELT DIVA premieres on Discovery Home Channel on Friday, August 6, 2004 at 9 p.m.(ET/PT), Vally—a professional renovator—will help women (okay, and men, too) gain confidence with power tools and learn how to finish those challenging jobs around the house.

Vally, who holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Psychology, picked up her skills initially by working with her dad repairing leaky faucets, maintaining boilers and changing the oil in the family car. Later, with her cousin, a professional contractor in New York, Vally renovated houses and apartments, many of them suffering from serious old age. The challenges she encountered when working on wiring, demolition and sheetrocking in these old structures honed her ability to trouble shoot on the spot. Enter Norma as the TOOLBELT DIVA.

In each half-hour episode of this dynamic new series on Discovery Home Channel, Vally and a female homeowner will work together to tackle a variety of home improvement projects. From modernizing closets to revamping recreation rooms, Vally rolls up her shirtsleeves and gets her hands dirty helping these women finish their tough home improvement projects. Other projects include: building an outdoor fire pit, constructing a fenced play area for a family’s dog, and building a custom desk and shelves for a home office space.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Vally decided home improvement was her true calling after living in a house that’s almost a century old. “It’s a beauty but very demanding,” Vally said. “I’d take on small projects here and there. There was nobody in the house who knew how to fix things, so I figured why shouldn’t I do it?”

Vally previously was the construction expert on Discovery Channel’s daytime series, RALLY ROUND THE HOUSE, and is currently writing a book entitled, Chix Can Fix, a new “how-to” book that shows the funny side of home renovation and celebrates women’s endless capacity to fix things.

TOOLBELT DIVA is produced for Discovery Home Channel by Screaming Flea Productions. Liza Keckler is the producer. For Discovery Home Channel, Sue Norton is the executive producer.

Discovery Networks, U.S., a unit of Discovery Communications, Inc., operates and manages the Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, the Travel Channel, Discovery Health Channel, Discovery HD Theater, Discovery Kids Channel, Discovery Times Channel, The Science Channel, Discovery Wings Channel, Discovery Home Channel, Discovery en EspaƱol and FitTV. The unit also distributes BBC AMERICA.


Real Sports: A new episode of HBO’s “Real Sports” airs Tuesday, July 20, 2004:

REAL SPORTS examines the ongoing investigation into the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO), exploring what is potentially the biggest doping scandal in U.S. sports history. The BALCO Lab in Burlingame, Cal., was raided last September by the criminal division of the IRS and the San Mateo County Narcotics Task Force, amidst allegations that BALCO founder Victor Conte and his company were involved in the distribution of THG, a previously undetectable designer steroid. The subsequent investigation focused on several high-profile players from Major League Baseball and the NFL who were BALCO clients, and has most recently been shaking up the world of USA Track & Field, where several top athletes are under suspicion. In this report, Bernard Goldberg takes a closer look at Victor Conte, the man at the center of the storm.
Correspondent: Bernard Goldberg. Producer: Joe Perskie.
The Beast. Standing 6’4” and weighing 374 pounds, Bob “The Beast” Sapp is the biggest American import in Japan. The 30-year-old American is the most celebrated fighter in K-1, a martial arts league that combines karate, kickboxing and tae kwon do. Yet his road to stardom was anything but smooth. Following a decent football career at the University of Washington, he was drafted by Chicago in the third round of the 1997 NFL draft, only to be cut soon after. Sapp then had a disappointing tenure with the Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Ravens and Oakland Raiders, and by 2000 was out of football. Entering the world of K-1 in 2002, he found himself an instant attraction by virtue of his size, athleticism and unbridled ferocity. Today, “The Beast” has become a physical and cultural phenomenon.
Correspondent: Bryant Gumbel. Producer: Ezra Edelman.
Peter Westbrook. This summer the U.S. will send forth its best team of fencers in years to compete at the Athens Olympics. If the best of the bunch, 25-year-old Keeth Smart, brings home a medal, he will be the first American to do so since his teacher, Peter Westbrook, won bronze in 1984.
Both Smart and Westbrook are African-American, excelling in a sport that has long been associated with white, upper-class Europeans. In fact, four of the 12 fencers on the U.S. Olympic team are black, and they are all students of Westbrook, who for years has been developing world-class talent from the roughest, most deprived neighborhoods of New York City. James Brown, in collaboration with Sports Illustrated, visits the Peter Westbrook Foundation to profile an extraordinary coach and mentor, who is opening up a brand new world to at-risk youths.
Correspondent: James Brown. Producer: Beein Gim.
Miracle League. REAL SPORTS revisits one of its most popular and inspiring segments, a look at the Miracle League, which allows disabled youths to play on specially built baseball diamonds. Originally seen in July 2001, the report sparked national interest in the concept and led to the development of similar leagues around the country. The idea started in 1998 in Conyers, Ga., when Gary Garner, a 43-year-old electrical contractor, wanted to make it possible for his daughter, who suffers from muscular dystrophy, to play ball. At the time of HBO’s first visit, approximately 120 players from around Atlanta were suiting up. Today, the Miracle League is a national organization, with more than 70 leagues and 10,000 disabled participants. Correspondent Frank Deford takes a look back at the genesis of this amazing league and visits one of the newest fields, in Moody, Ala.
Correspondent: Frank Deford. Producers: Michael Sullivan.
In April, REAL SPORTS was awarded two more Sports Emmys® -- the Outstanding Sports Journalism Award for Bryant Gumbel’s report on the imprisonment of high school football star Marcus Dixon, and the Outstanding Long Feature Award for Gumbel’s profile of racecar driver Alex Zanardi. To date, REAL SPORTS has won a total of 13 Sports Emmys®.

The executive producers of REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL are Ross Greenburg and Rick Bernstein; Kirby Bradley is senior producer.

Mini Dress Tops: Empire waist blouse/dresses that skim the top of the hip and worn over jeans are popular with celebs these days. Gwyneth Paltrow, Eva Amurri and Garcelle Beauvais were out at events last night sporting the look.

Sally Beauty Supports Breast Cancer Research: Sally Beauty is launching two new products to help champion the fight against Breast Cancer. Last year they presented Hope Lipgloss, a shimmery pink shade. This year, they’re releasing Sally Girl Faith, a clear roll-on strawberry flavored lipgloss and Sally Girl Faith Nail Color in a shimmery pink shade. Both will be in Sally Beauty Supply Stores nationwide starting in September. The lipgloss retails for $4.99 and the Nail Color for .99. Ten percent from each sale will benefit the City of Hope and its breast cancer research programs. See www.cityofhope.org and www.sallybeauty.com

Roxy Surf Camp: Date Location
July 9 Santa Monica, CA
July 12 Ventura, CA
July 14 Pismo Beach, CA
July 15 Santa Cruz, CA
Aug 30-Sept 3 Newport Beach, CA



Summer’s here and what better way to spend it than in the water? RSVP today for your special lesson at the Roxy surf camp nearest you!

Each Roxy surf camp will include learning the basics of surfing, ocean safety, lunch, and a Roxy goodie bag. Wetsuits and surfboards will be provided.

For more information and to RSVP, contact Brianne Sheldon at 310.664.0600 x14 or brianne@mmlpr.com.

Music Showcase: RES invites you to our monthly series showcasing brand new music videos, short films and motion graphics.

This month, Geoff McFetridge shares a retrospective of his video work including his music videos for the Avalanches, Simian, Plaid and his quirky spots for Jinro, X-Games, Burton and HP.

New short films from Suk & Koch, Brett Simon and Cheryl Dunn who will present the world premiere of Come Mute.

Also screening: breaking new music videos for Placebo, Mr. Lif, Armand Van Helden, Supergrass, Los Amigos Invisibles, Colder and Floria Sigismondi¹s latest for the Cure, among others.

After the screening there’s a roof-top after-party at HKM featuring special guest DJs plus complimentary drinks courtesy Red Stripe and Izze.

See breaking new work on the big screen, hear from special guests in attendance and have a drink following the screening.

Tuesday July 13th, 8:00 p.m.
Egyptian Theatre
6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood
$10

Validated parking at Prestige Parking on Las Palmas north of Hollywood Blvd.
BUY TICKETS NOW:
http://www.ticketweb.com/user/?region=socal&query=detail&event=523684&interface=resfestla
INFO AND PROGRAM LIST:
http://www.res.com/events
Info: 310-826-1298 | events@res.com

Travis Tritt Doin’s: Travis Tritt Goes Wild On Simple Life 2 And Evil In 2001 Maniacs

Singer-songwriter Travis Tritt is hitting the screens on television and in film.

On the small screen, Tritt’s latest hit single, “The Girl’s Gone Wild,” caught the attention of the ultimate wild girls, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie. On their FOX reality show “Simple Life 2,” the two girls head cross-country in a pink pick up that tows an Airstream trailer. This week’s episode finds the girls in Louisiana and features Tritt’s song to help narrate Paris and Nicole providing their expert guidance to a 13-year-old girl who is looking for her first date. Epsiode 5 premiered on Wednesday, July 7th and an encore will be broadcast on Sunday, July 11th at 9/8c. Check local listings for channels and addition airings.

On the big screen, Tritt returns to acting with a role in the new Tim Sullivan (Detroit Rock City) film, “2001 Maniacs,” a horror film about travelers who end up as the main course in a strange little town.

“I play a pretty evil gas station attendant that goes around warning all these teenagers about the impending doom they’re about to get into,” Travis explains. “It was a lot of fun and they filmed in South Georgia.”

A re-make of the infamous 1964 B-movie “Two Thousand Maniacs!” written and directed by the godfather of gore, Herschell Gordon Lewis, the new version is scheduled for release next year.

Tritt’s ninth and most recent release, “My Honky Tonk History,” is set for release on August 17th. It features a song co-written by Sony label mate Gretchen Wilson and a duet with John Mellencamp. The first single, “The Girl’s Gone Wild,” is currently climbing up the charts.