The land behind the Hollywood Sign was in the process of being developed for luxury homes, but The Trust for Public Land wanted to stop it and needed to reach $12.5 million to do so. For the last year they have been trying to raise the money and with the deadline approaching on April 30th and almost $1 million short of the goal, it was looking like the land that was sold to a developer in 20002 from the Howard Hughes estate would remain in their ownership. That was until yesterday when the ultimate Playboy Hugh Hefner forked over the final $900,000 they needed to make the land that was originally bought for Ginger Rogers theirs. I wonder if thought he was buying the two biggest breasts every time he looked two O’s like that. Or that is what his many girlfriends say when they are in bed with him…O O. Or maybe because Holly Madison always gave him Wood and he wanted something that would remind him of it. Either way what he did was a great thing and I am glad that the land was saved from being developed because even though I have lived in LA since 2001, I still get a thrill every time I see that sign. It really is a true Hollywood landmark and needs it own land even if that word disappeared from the infamous sign decades ago.
Hugh Hefner was not the only Hollywood type to donate money to the cause, here is a list of the others The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, CBS Corporation, The Entertainment Industry Foundation, Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, the Lucasfilm Foundation, NBC Universal, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Steven Spielberg, Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and Time Warner Inc., and The Walt Disney Company Foundation. Other Hollywood contributors include Creative Artists Agency, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, and Norman Lear.
BTW here is a little Hollywood Sign trivia, this is not the first time Hugh Hefner saved Hollywood. Chris Baumgart, Chair of the Hollywood Sign Trust, said, “The Sign you see today exists because Hugh Hefner raised the money in 1978 to re-build it. Now, 32 years later, the Sign’s number 1 fan has come forward again with the closing gift to ‘Save the Peak’ and thus the view of Mt. Lee and the Hollywood Sign.” Hugh Hefner paid $27,777 in 1978 to convert the letter Y from wood into steel. Alice Cooper owns the second O in memory of Groucho Marx, how crazy is that?
Legendary producer Jerry Weintraub was on Jimmy Kimmel Live yesterday and he told him about how he got Elvis Presley on the road. I don’t know about you, but I love stories from old Hollywood so I had to share his with you. So sit back and enjoy a great tale about how things used to be done in the business.
After watching him tell that awesome story, I can’t wait to read all the other ones in his book When I Stop Talking, You’ll Know I’m Dead.
The Paley Center for Media has announced what TV shows will take part in PaleyFest09 and the list is amazing!!! I am seriously going to go to several of the panels like The Big Bang Theory, 90210, It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Pushing Daisies, Desperate Housewives and Swingtown! Seriously guys if you have never been to one of the PaleyFest seminars and you are in the LA area between April 10 to 23, 2009 you should so try to go one! They are absolutely awesome! And they are once again being held at the ArcLight which is a always a great place to go for something like this!!!
Here are the shows:
It’s Always Sunny in Philadephia
Friday, April 10 at 7:00 p.m.
In Person: Danny DeVito (“ Frank Reynoldsâ€Â), Glenn Howerton (“Dennis Reynoldsâ€Â/Executive Producer/Writer), Rob McElhenney (“Macâ€Â/Creator/Executive Producer/Writer/Director), Kaitlin Olson (“Sweet Dee â€Â). Additional panelists to be announced.
90210
Saturday, April 11 at 7:00 p.m.
In Person: Panelists from the cast and creative team to be announced.
True Blood
Monday, April 13 at 7:00 p.m.
In Person: Alan Ball (Creator/Executive Producer), Ryan Kwanten (“Jason Stackhouseâ€Â), Steven Moyer (“Bill Comptonâ€Â), Anna Paquin (“Sookie Stackhouseâ€Â), Sam Trammell (“Sam Merlotteâ€Â), Rutina Wessley (“Tara Thortonâ€Â). Additional panelists to be announced.
Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog
Tuesday, April 14 at 7:00 p.m.
In Person: Felicia Day (“Pennyâ€Â), Nathan Fillion (“Captain Hammerâ€Â), Jed Whedon (“Bad Horse Chorus #2/Dead Bowie â€Â/Composer/Writer), Joss Whedon (Creator/Executive Producer/Writer/Director), Zack Whedon (Executive Producer/Writer).
Dollhouse
Wednesday, April 15 at 7:00 p.m.
In Person: Joss Whedon (Creator/Executive Producer/Writer/Director), Eliza Dushku (“Echoâ€Â), Enver Gjoka (“Victorâ€Â), Fran Kranz (“Topherâ€Â), Dichen Lachman (“Sierraâ€Â), Harry Lennix (“Boydâ€Â), Tahmoh Penikett (“Paulâ€Â), Olivia Williams (“Adelleâ€Â).
The Big Bang Theory
Thursday, April 16 at 7:00 p.m.
In Person: Kaley Cuoko (“Pennyâ€Â), Johnny Galecki (Leonard), Jim Parsons (“Sheldonâ€Â). Additional panelists to be announced.
The Mentalist
Friday, April 17 at 7:00 p.m.
In Person: Simon Baker (“Patrick Janeâ€Â), Bruno Heller (Creator /Executive Producer) Tim Kang (“Kimball Choâ€Â), Chris Long (Coexecutive Producer/Director), Amanda Righetti (“Grace Van Peltâ€Â), Robin Tunney (“Teresa Lisbonâ€Â), Owain Yeoman (“Wayne Rigsbyâ€Â). Additional panelists to be announced.
Desperate Housewives
Saturday, April 18 at 7:00 p.m.
In Person: Panelists from the cast and creative team to be announced.
PaleyFest09 Special Matinee Screening Event: Pushing Daisies’ Last Unaired Episodes
Sunday, April 19 at 1:00 p.m.
Introduction by Bryan Fuller (Creator/Executive Producer).
Battlestar Galactica/Caprica
Evening Sponsor: Microsoft Zune
Monday, April 20 at 7:00 p.m.
In Person: David Eick (Executive Producer), Ronald D. Moore (Executive Producer). Additional panelists to be announced.
The Hills
Tuesday, April 21 at 7:00 p.m.
In Person: Tony DiSanto (Executive Producer), Adam DiVello (Creator/Executive Producer), Liz Gateley (Executive Producer), Heidi Montag, Audrina Patridge, Spencer Pratt. Additional panelists to be announced.
Big Love
Wednesday, April 22 at 7:00 p.m.
In Person: Ginnifer Goodwin (“Margene Heffmanâ€Â), Bill Paxton (“Bill Henricksonâ€Â), Chloe Sevigny (“Nicolette Grantâ€Â), Harry Dean Stanton (“Roman Grantâ€Â), Jeanne Tripplehorn (“Barbara Dutton Henricksonâ€Â). Additional panelists to be announced.
Fringe
Thursday, April 23 at 7:00 p.m.
In Person: Joshua Jackson (“Peter Bishopâ€Â), John Noble (“Dr. Walter Bishopâ€Â), Lance Reddick (“Homeland Security Agent Phillip Broylesâ€Â), Anna Torv (“Special Agent Olivia Dunhamâ€Â). Additional panelists to be announced.
Swingtown Celebration
Evening Sponsor: Netflix, Inc.
*Friday, April 24 at 6:00 p.m. at The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills *
Festival Closing Reception & Panel Discussion
In Person: Mike Kelley (Creator/Executive Producer), Alan Poul (Executive Producer). Additional panelists to be announced.
Out of all the conspiracy theories in the world, I never thought that Sonny Bono's untimely death would be one of them. An ex-FBI private investigator think he was beaten death before he hit a tree while skiing according to AdelaideNow.
"It's nonsense for anyone to now try to suggest that Bono died after crashing into a tree. There's zero evidence in this autopsy report… to show such an accident happened. Instead, there's powerful proof he was assassinated.
"This was an evil plot that was carried out to almost perfection by ruthless assassins," Mr Gunderson told the paper.
The former agent, who has been researching Bono's accident for the past decade, said top officials linked to an international drug and weapons ring feared the singer-turned-politician was about to expose their crimes – so they had him killed on the slopes.
Bono, an experienced skiier, was ambushed on the slopes by hired hitmen, who beat him to death and then staged a tree collision, Mr Gunderson said.
He called for authorities to dig up Bono's remains and open a homicide investigation.
His claims have reportedly been backed by top forensics experts who fear Nevada authorities were too quick to call the death a skiing accident.
Investigator Bob Fletcher had also confessed he sent evidence of a 10-year study that linked top US government officials to arms and weapons dealers to Bono less than a month before his death, the Globe reported.
"(Bono) was going to make it his No.1 priority… There's no doubt in my mind Sonny was murdered by someone who needed him silenced," Mr Fletcher told the paper
Wow, this guy needs a life. What is the point of bringing this all up again because you know it is going to be proven that Sonny Bono's unfortunate death was due to accidentally hitting a tree.
Look at the way Kirk Douglas, 92, stops and signs autographs, poses for pictures with fans and for the paparazzi and then waves goodbye as his drives away! Maybe if more of young Hollywood followed his example the paparazzi would treat them with the same respect that they paid to Kirk Douglas who earned the respect he gets by his actions.
