Monday, January 27, 2014

Not Just for your Eyes Only: CBS' "Intelligence" Deserves a Strong Second Look

“Houston, we don’t have a problem anymore.” Patience is a virtue. CBS executives must have a lot of it, but as it turns out, they were right.

                                                 Photo by Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images

This is the review of Episode 4 of "Intelligence," which turned me around completely. I am now very enthusiastic about this show. Click here to read the story on examiner.com

Sunday, January 26, 2014

The Best Part of the 2014 56th Grammy Awards -- Paul and Ringo


The Beatles reunion that was long anticipated and hoped for, but never confirmed until the night of the show, during the telecast of the 56th Annual Grammy Awards was Ringo Starr joining his old bandmate Sir Paul McCartney to perform Paul's composition "Queenie Eye." The rest of the Grammys was somewhat of a hot mess, with mash-ups between the no-class-ic-Robin Thicke and the truly classic rock band, Chicago. Nevertheless, the only redeeming feature of the night was The Beatles. It sounds like something an old-timer would say, but 50 years from now, no one will know or care who half of "this year's" winner are, what they've been doing or where they'll end up. The Beatles, Chicago, and bands of true class and character...are always worth seeing again. Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus, and even dear young Taylor Swift, well, you'll just have to wait until 2064 to see who had staying power and who was a flash in the pan. Bruno Mars is the only guy who's got a flying chance of staying interesting to this year's teenagers and young (and mature) adults in the decades ahead. 

Click here to read the whole story on examiner.com.




Photos by Kevork Djansezian, Getty Images, Los Angeles California, Staples Center, Jan. 26, 2014

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Rico Rodriguez of "Modern Family" Included in Acting Ensemble That Garners 4th SAG Award

About six years ago, actor Rico Rodriguez and his sister, actress Raini Rodriguez were just going to elementary school and life as any other youngsters. But Raini wanted to act and she signed up with talent scout Nikki Pederson, for training to enter an IMTA talent competition. Raini succeeded in her first competition and came to the attention of Los Angeles Agent/Manager Susan Osser. Osser told me three years ago that Raini and her whole family, including a very quiet younger brother, came to meet at her office. Osser spotted something special in young Rico as well, and immediately created "Team Rodriguez" around which to immerse and educate the children in acting classes in preparation for being sent out on interviews. About 1200 days later, Raini has debuted in "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" and had a great role in the Disney movie, "Prom" and a regular role on Disney's "Austin and Allie." Rico is in his fourth year with "Modern Family," playing Manny Delgado, son of Sofia Vergara's "Gloria Pritchett" and stepson to Ed O'Neill's "Jay Pritchett.
To learn more about Rico, read the examiner.com story here.

 Photo by Kevork Djansezian, Getty Images, Screen Actors Guild Awards, Jan. 18, 2014.

Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images, Los Angeles, Jan. 18, 2014.