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Meet My Valentine

The new ION movie Meet My Valentine will debut on February 6 at 9 PM.

Tom (Scott Wolf from Perception and The Night Shift) pulls out all the stops to take care of the two women in his life: his 8-year-old daughter, Phoebe, and his wife, Valentine (Courtney Ford from Revenge), before confiding in her that he only has months to live. In tying up loose ends for his beloved spouse, Tom thinks of everything, even embarking upon an audition process to find his most worthy successor. Throughout the ordeal, Tom quickly realizes that he doesn’t know much about her anymore, but soon finds himself falling in love again with Valentine like it was the very first time.

You can find the trailer for Meet My Valentine at the bottom of this link.

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Based on information provided by the Box Office Mojo and some internet research, here are just some of the movies you can expect to see in the movie theatres in February:

Jupiter Ascending
Opens: February 6

Unknown to Earth’s residents, life on Earth and countless other planets has been seeded by families of alien royalty for the purpose of harvesting the evolved living creatures once they reach a Darwinian state of perfection to produce a type of youth serum that allows them to live forever. When the matriarch of the House of Abrasax, the most powerful of the alien dynasties, dies her children Balem (Eddie Redmayne), Kalique (Tuppence Middleton), and Titus (Douglas Booth) are at war over the heir. Eventually a new heir comes to their attention: Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis), an unsuspecting Earth-living, unlucky janitor. Jupiter encounters Caine Wise (Channing Tatum), a genetically engineered interplanetary warrior, who came to Earth to reveal that her genetic signature makes Jones royalty and heir to Earth. Meanwhile, he has to protect her from Balem, who put a bounty on her head and would rather harvest Earth than lose it to Jones. The cast also includes Sean Bean.

Seventh Son
Opens February 6

Based on the novel The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch, the story centers on Thomas Ward (Ben Barnes), a seventh son of a seventh son, and his adventures as the apprentice of the Spook. Centuries ago, a supernatural champion named Master Gregory (Jeff Bridges) defeated Mother Malkin (Julianne Moore), a malevolent witch. Now, she has escaped imprisonment and thirsts for vengeance, summoning her followers and preparing to unleash her wrath on humanity. Only one thing stands in her way: Master Gregory, who takes Tom as his new apprentice, but he has only until the next full moon to teach Tom what usually takes years: how to prevail against dark magic. The film also stars Alicia Vikander, Kit Harington, Olivia Williams, Antje Traue and Djimon Hounsou.

Fifty Shades of Grey
Opens: February 13

When Anastasia ‘Ana’ Steele (Dakota Johnson), a literature student, goes to interview the wealthy Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan), as a favor to her roommate Kate Kavanagh (Eloise Mumford), she encounters a handsome, brilliant and intimidating man. The innocent and naive Ana, startled to realize she wants him despite his enigmatic reserve and advice, finds herself desperate to get close to him. Not able to resist Ana’s beauty and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her too, but on his own terms. Ana hesitates as she discovers the singular tastes of Grey – despite the embellishments of success: his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving family – Grey is consumed by the need to control everything. As they get close, Steele starts to discover Grey’s secrets and explores her own desires. The cast includes Luke Grimes, Rita Ora, Max Martini, Dylan Neal, Callum Keith Rennie, Jennifer Ehle and Marcia Gay Harden.

Kingsman: The Secret Service
Opens: February 13

The film is based on the comic book by Mark Millar, depicting a veteran secret agent who leads a young protege into the world of espionage. The film stars Colin Firth, Michael Caine, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Strong, Mark Hamill, Jack Davenport and Taron Egerton.

The Last 5 Years
Opens: February 13

The film is based on the Jason Robert Brown musical set in New York, focusing on a struggling actress (Anna Kendrick) and a successful writer (Jeremy Jordan) who sing about their failed love affair.

McFarland, USA
Opens: February 20

Inspired by the 1987 true story, McFarland, USA follows coach Jim White (Kevin Costner) whose job-hopping leads him to a predominantly Latino high school where he struggles to find common ground until he notices his students’ exceptional running ability and forms a fledgling team of unlikely runners who bond to build not only a championship cross-country team but an enduring legacy as well. The film also stars Maria Bello and Morgan Saylor.

‘71
Opens: February 27

A young and disoriented British soldier (Jack O’Connell) is accidentally abandoned by his unit following a riot on the deadly streets of Belfast in 1971. Beaten by a mob, he is alternately helped by random kindness from various locals and pursued by killers from both the Provisional IRA and the British Army’s Military Reaction Force.

Focus
Opens: February 27

Nicky Spurgeon (Will Smith) is a seasoned con-man who becomes romantically involved with a young attractive woman (Margot Robbie); however, while introducing her to the tricks of his con man trade, she gets too close for comfort and he abruptly breaks it off. Three years later, the former flame—now an accomplished femme fatale—shows up in Buenos Aires as the opposing side of the same scam: a billionaire international race car owner. In the midst of Nicky’s latest, most dangerous scheme, she throws his plans for a loop and consummate the con man off his game. The cast includes Rodrigo Santoro, Gerald McRaney, BD Wong and Robert Taylor.

The Salvation
Opens: February 27

In 1870s America, a peaceful Danish settler kills his family’s murderers which unleashes the fury of a notorious gang leader. His cowardly fellow townspeople then betray him, forcing him to hunt down the outlaws alone. The film stars Mads Mikkelsen, Eva Green, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Michael Raymond-James and Jonathan Pryce.

Movies coming out in March will be posted at the end of February.

Enjoy!

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Much like the Faces of 2014, there are always entertainers of note to be on the look-out for in the new year or those who made great waves throughout the current year who will, undoubtedly, be big stars in the new year.

Here are my predictions for the faces of 2015 (in no particular order):

Luke Bracey and Liana Liberato

Luke Bracey and Liana Liberato

Luke Bracey and Liana Liberato – Luke is known for his work on the Australian soap opera Home and Away and small roles in the films Monte Carlo and G.I. Joe: Retaliation. Liana has appeared in TV shows like House, Cold Case, CSI: Miami and Sons of Anarchy as well as the films Trespass and Stuck in Love. But, this year they starred in the film The Best of Me, the latest Nicholas Sparks movie adaptation; and Luke appeared alongside Pierce Brosnan in The November Man while Liana also appeared in If I Stay. She will next be seen in the film Dear Eleanor alongside Jessica Alba, Josh Lucas and Isabelle Fuhrman while Luke will next be seen in American Dream with Nick Stahl and Michiel Huisman and the remake of Point Break.

Robin Lord Taylor

Robin Lord Taylor

Robin Lord Taylor – Robin’s first big break came via the film Accepted then he appeared in episodes of Life on Mars, Law & Order, Person of Interest, The Good Wife and The Walking Dead and he also appeared in the films Another Earth. But, it has been his role as Oswald Cobblepot (aka The Penguin) in the new FOX drama Gotham that has brought him accolades and attention.

Tobey Kebbell

Tobey Kebbell

Toby Kebbell – Toby has appeared in the box office films Alexander, Match Point, RocknRolla, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, War Horse and The Counselor. But it was his role in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes that put him in front of the public. And now, he has been cast as Dr. Doom in Fantastic Four reboot as well as appearing in the video game adaptation Warcraft and the upcoming Ben Hur remake.

Jenny Slate

Jenny Slate

Jenny Slate – This SNL alum has appeared in episodes of Bored to Death, Raising Hope, House of Lies, Parks and Recreation and the FX series Married, but it was her lead role in this year’s hit indie film Obvious Child that garnered her the most attention. She will soon be seen in the box office film The Longest Week alongside Jason Bateman, Olivia Wilde and Billy Crudup as well as the upcoming Digging for Fire that will star Anna Kendrick, Orlando Bloom, Sam Rockwell, Chris Messina and Jake Johnson.

Nolan Sotillo

Nolan Sotillo

Nolan Sotillo – Newcomer Nolan is one of the teen stars of the under-appreciated new FOX medical drama Red Band Society and he appeared in the box office film Prom. Nolan is also a singer-songwriter, who was part of a teen musical group called Invasion.

Matt Ryan

Matt Ryan

Matt Ryan – Matt stars as John Constantine in the NBC thriller series Constantine based on the DC Comics character, but he has appeared in episodes of The Tudors, Torchwood and the short-lived spin-off Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior. He has also appeared in the films Layer Cake, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Flypaper, Armistice and provided his voice to the video game Assassin’s Creed IV.

Keiynan Lonsdale

Keiynan Lonsdale

Keiynan Lonsdale – Keiynan is an Australian actor, singer and dancer who appeared in the Aussie series Dance Academy who has landed a role in the upcoming film Insurgent (the sequel to Divergent based on the book series by Veronica Roth). He will also appear in the upcoming film The Finest Hours that will also star Chris Pine, Eric Bana, Holliday Grainger, Ben Foster and Casey Affleck.

Camren Bicondova

Camren Bicondova

Camren Bicondova – Newcomer Camren is a teen model and dancer who landed a pivotal role on the FOX drama Gotham, playing Selina Kyle (aka the future Catwoman). She guest-starred in an episode of the Disney series Shake It Up and in the foreign dance film Battlefield America.

Jack O'Connell

Jack O’Connell

Jack O’Connell – British TV viewers will know Jack from the series Skins and he had a role in the box office film 300: Rise of an Empire, but his role in the acclaimed film ’71 and his upcoming role in the Angelina Jolie-directed film Unbroken that will put him on top of the heap. He will then be seen in next year’s Tulip Fever with Zach Galifianakis and Christoph Waltz and Section 6.

Wes Chatham

Wes Chatham

Wes Chatham – Wes turned heads in his recurring role on the CBS series The Unit and appeared in the films W. and The Help; but it will be his role in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Parts 1 and 2 that will get him noticed. He will also appear in the film Broken Horses with Vincent D’Onofrio and Anton Yelchin and he will be seen in next year’s Syfy drama The Expanse.

Ryan Guzman

Ryan Guzman

Ryan Guzman – Ryan turned heads in several of the Step Up franchise films and his brief recurring role on Pretty Little Liars; but he will appear alongside Jennifer Lopez in the thriller The Boy Next Door and then in the live-film adaptation of Jem and the Holograms as well as That’s What I’m Talking About with Tyler Hoechlin and Zoey Deutch.

Grant Gustin

Grant Gustin

Grant Gustin – He may have made fans of Glee upset with his role of Sebastian Smythe in Glee as well as a recurring role on 90210, but it has been his role in this fall’s small-screen adaptation of The Flash that has put in on the map.

Gina Rodriguez

Gina Rodriguez

Gina Rodriguez – In her role of Jane Villanueva on the charming new CW series Jane the Virgin, Gina is being touted as one of the breakthrough faces of the fall TV season. But this isn’t her first time on the small screen, she has appeared in episodes of Law & Order, Army Wives, The Bold & the Beautiful and Longmire as well as the acclaimed indie film Filly Brown.

Lorenzo Richelmy

Lorenzo Richelmy

Lorenzo Richelmy – Lorenzo is an Italian actor who has appeared in TV and film in European productions, but who has made his American debut in the Netflix drama Marco Polo about the famed explorer’s adventures in 13th Century China.

Gal Gadot

Gal Gadot

Gal Gadot – Film goers may recognize Gal from her role in the Fast & Furious franchise or possible from the small screen in the extremely short-lived series The Beautiful Life, but it is her casting as Wonder Woman in the upcoming film Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice that will turn heads. She is also set to appear in the Wonder Woman stand-alone film (there is FINALLY going to be one!!) and the 2017 Justice League film.

Are there any actors or actresses who you think are the faces to watch in 2014? Please share.

TOMORROW: Closing Out 2014

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The following list highlights the actors and actresses on television and on the big screen who really caught viewers’ attention throughout this year. They appear in no particular order:

Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan

Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan

Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan – Relative newcomers Caitriona and Sam landed the lead roles in the highly anticipated Outlander series based on the international best-selling novel of the same name by Diana Gabaldon. Caitriona got her start as a runway model before landing small roles in the box office films Super 8 and Now You See Me as well as the online series H+. Meanwhile, Sam appeared in the Hallmark Channel movie A Princess for Christmas (with his naturally short blonde hair), the made-for-TV movie Any Human Heart and the British medical soap opera Doctors.

Adele Exarchopoulos

Adele Exarchopoulos

Adele Exarchopoulos – This French actress, who got her start at the tender age of 12, really burst onto the scene in the acclaimed foreign film Blue Is the Warmest Colour, which earned Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations as well as being heralded as the best film of 2013 by many critics. She will next be seen in the Sean Penn-directed film The Last Face that is set to star Charlize Theron, Javier Bardem and Jean Reno.

Lupita Nyong’o

Lupita Nyong’o

Lupita Nyong’o – Lupita, of course, won an Oscar this year for her first role (ever) in the acclaimed film 12 Years a Slave; and then starred alongside Liam Neeson in the film Non-Stop. Her voice will be featured in next year’s The Jungle Book and she also landed a role in the highly-coveted Star Wars: Episode VII film.

Margot Robbie

Margot Robbie

Margot Robbie – Margot was a huge star in her native Australia by starring in the soap opera Neighbours, but she was first noticed by an American audience in the short-lived drama Pan Am and then the film The Wolf of Wall Street. She has a lot of projects coming up including Suite Francaise with Michelle Williams, Focus with Will Smith, Z for Zachariah with Chris Pine and Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tarzan with Alexandar Skarsgard and Samuel L. Jackson, The Taliban Shuffle with Tina Fey and The Mountain Between Us with Charlie Hunnam.

Ansel Elgort

Ansel Elgort

Ansel Elgort – Newcomer Ansel seemed to be all over the place in 2014, appearing in the film adaptation of the Veronica Roth novel Divergent, the film adaptation of the John Green book The Fault in Our Stars and the Jason Reitman film Men, Women & Children. He will next be seen in the Divergent sequel Insurgent.

Michiel Huisman

Michiel Huisman

Michiel Huisman – Michiel seemed to be everywhere on TV between appearing in episodes of the ABC music-themed drama Nashville, taking over the role of Daario Naharis on Game of Thrones and showing up in the second season of the acclaimed BBC America drama Orphan Black. He has also been appearing in the latest Chanel No. 5 commercials. He will be seen in the films The Age of Adaline with Blake Lively and American Dream with Nick Stahl and Luke Bracey.

Kathryn Alexandre

Kathryn Alexandre

Kathryn Alexandre – No one knows her “real” face, but everyone who has watched just one episode of Orphan Black knows Kathryn’s work. She is the 24-year-old actress who plays alongside Tatiana Maslany as her clone double. She wears the wigs and costumes and plays out the roles of the clones just as well as Tatiana; and deserves to be praised for what she does. Also, viewers who watched closely to the October 16 episode of Reign would have seen Kathryn as Lady Barnard.

Charlotte Le Bon and Manish Dayal

Charlotte Le Bon and Manish Dayal

Charlotte Le Bon and Manish Dayal – Charlotte and Manish appeared in the acclaimed independent film The Hundred-Foot Journey that starred Helen Mirren. Charlotte appeared in the box office movie Yves Saint Laurent and will next be seen The Walk with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ben Kingsley and James Badge Dale as well as the upcoming film Bastille Day with Idris Elba and Richard Madden. Meanwhile, Manish appeared in episodes of 90210, Rubicon and Switched at Birth.

Brenton Thwaites

Brenton Thwaites

Brenton Thwaites – The Australian actor appeared in a number of films throughout the year, including The Signal with Laurence Fishburne and Olivia Cooke, Maleficient with Angelina Jolie, The Giver with Jeff Bridges and Meryl Streep and Son of a Gun with Ewan McGregor and Alicia Vikander. He will next be seen in Gods of Egypt with Gerard Butler, Rufus Sewell, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Geoffrey Rush.

Jacqueline Toboni

Jacqueline Toboni

Jacqueline Toboni – Virtually fresh out of college with a degree in theatre, Jacqueline landed a recurring role in the NBC fairytale drama Grimm, appearing as Theresa Rubel – aka Trubel – a new “Grimm” who arrives in Portland not knowing or really understanding her gift until she meets Detective Nick Burkhardt.

Nicola Peltz

Nicola Peltz

Nicola Peltz – Back in 2010, Nicola starred in the much-maligned film The Last Airbender, but three years later she landed a role in the FX drama Bates Motel and then she landed a role in the latest Transformers franchise film alongside Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci and Kelsey Grammer.

Jamie Blackley

Jamie Blackley

Jamie Blackley – Two years ago, Jamie starred in Snow White and the Huntsman, but it was his roles in this year’s The Fifth Estate alongside Benedict Cumberbatch, Peter Capaldi, Dan Stevens and David Thewlis as well as his lead role in the film adaptation of If I Stay with Chloe Grace Moretz, that got him noticed. He will next be seen in the as-yet untitled Woody Allen film that will star Emma Stone, Joaquin Phoenix and Parker Posey.

Alex Saxon

Alex Saxon

Alex Saxon – Alex is a relative newcomer, who landed a recurring role on the ABC Family drama The Fosters; a role that became a fan favorite. And then not that much later he landed a recurring role on the MTV family drama Finding Carter where his character, once again, became a fan favorite.

Arden Cho

Arden Cho

Arden Cho – Arden joined the cast of the MTV thriller Teen Wolf during the latter half of the third season and became a series regular for the show’s fourth season that aired this summer, playing Kira Yukimura. Previously, she appeared in episodes of Castle, Pretty Little Liars, Rizzoli & Isles and CSI: NY. She will next be seen alongside Giancarlo Esposito in the film Stuck.

Who are some of the new faces from this year who caught your attention either on television or in film? Please share.

TOMORROW: New Faces of 2015

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Based on information provided by the Box Office Mojo and some internet research, here are just some of the movies you can expect to see in the movie theatres in January:

Taken 3
Opens: January 9

Ex-covert operative Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) and his ex-wife, Lenore (Famke Janssen), are enjoying a reconciliation when Lenore is brutally murdered. Bryan is framed for the crime and flees, with the CIA, FBI and police all in hot pursuit. For the last time, he channels his rage and particular set of skills into hunting down Lenore’s real killers, taking his revenge and protecting the one important thing left in his life: his daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace).

Blackhat
Opens: January 16

American and Chinese agencies work together to stop a conspiracy involving a cyber-criminal. With the help of Nicholas Hathaway (Chris Hemsworth), the authorities pursue the mysterious suspect as the dangerous search leads them from Chicago to Hong Kong. The cast includes Viola Davis, Manny Montana (Graceland), William Mapother (Lost), Holt McCallany (Blue Bloods and Lights Out) and Jason Butler Harner (The Blacklist and Homeland).

Paddington
Opens: January 16

A young bear originally from Peru with a passion for all things British travels to London in search of a home. Finding himself lost and alone at Paddington station, he begins to realize that city life is not all he had imagined. This is until he meets the kindly Brown family, who read the label around his neck—”Please look after this bear”—and offer him a temporary haven. The cast includes Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Peter Capaldi, Nicole Kidman, Michael Gambon, Imelda Staunton and Ben Whishaw as the voice of Paddington.

Still Alice
Opens: January 16

Dr. Alice Howland (Julianne Moore) learns that she is suffering from early onset Alzheimer’s disease. She struggles to manage her life while dealing with the illness and her job, marriage and children. The film also stars Alec Baldwin, Kristen Stewart, Kate Bosworth and Hunter Parrish.

The Boy Next Door
Opens: January 23

A vulnerable and recently separated school teacher (Jennifer Lopez has a steamy night with the high school-aged boy next door, Noah (Ryan Guzman), who is a friend with her son and a new student in her class (awkward alert!). When she tries to cut things off, Noah doesn’t take no for an answer. The cast includes Kristin Chenoweth, John Corbett, Hill Harper, Bailey Chase (Longmire) and Travis Schuldt.

Mortdecai
Opens: January 23

Juggling some angry Russians, the British MI5, his impossibly leggy wife and an international terrorist, debonair art dealer and part time rogue Charlie Mortdecai (Johnny Depp) must traverse the globe armed only with his good looks and special charm in a race to recover a stolen painting rumored to contain the code to a lost bank account filled with Nazi gold. The film also stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Ewan McGregor, Paul Bettany, Olivia Munn, Jeff Goldblum, Aubrey Plaza and Oliver Platt.

Strange Magic
Opens: January 23

This 3D computer animated film is a fairy tale of goblins, fairies and imps meeting for the first time and the consequent confusions and conflicts the culture clash causes. The voices will be provided by Alan Cumming, Evan Rachel Wood, Kristin Chenoweth, Maya Rudolph, Sam Palladio (Nashville), Alfred Molina and Peter Stormare (The Blacklist).

Black or White
Opens: January 30

Elliot Anderson (Kevin Costner) is widowed after the car crash death of his wife. Elliot has raised his granddaughter Eloise since his daughter died in childbirth. As he struggles with his grief, Elliot’s world is turned upside-down when the child’s African American grandmother Rowena (Octavia Spencer) demands that Eloise be brought under the care of her father Reggie, a drug addict who Elliot blames for the negligence that led to the death of his own daughter. Elliot finds himself deeply entrenched in a custody battle and will stop at nothing to keep his granddaughter from coming under the watch of his reckless son-in-law. The film also stars Gillian Jacobs, Jennifer Ehle and Mpho Koaho (Falling Skies).

Max
Opens: January 30

A dog that helped soldiers in Afghanistan returns to the U.S. and is adopted by his handler’s family after suffering a traumatic experience. The cast includes Lauren Graham, Robbie Amell (The Tomorrow People and The Flash), Thomas Haden Church, Luke Kleintank (Pretty Little Liars and Bones) and Jay Hernandez.

Project Almanac
Opens: January 30

The film will be presented in found-footage style, centering on the creation of a time machine. A group of friends discover plans to build a time machine and then build one themselves. They use the time machine initially to undo past mistakes, and eventually their goals turn towards their own gain and pleasure but soon realize that changing the past has dire consequences in the future. The film also stars Jonny Weston, Sofia Black D’Elia, Amy Landecker, Ginny Gardner, Sam Lerner and Allen Evangelista.

Movies coming out in February will be posted at the end of January.

Enjoy!

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The following industry personalities (listed in alphabetical order) passed away in 2014 and heartfelt condolences are extended to their families, friends and fans:

Maya Angelou (Renowned Poet, Author and Civil Rights Activist)
Lord Richard Attenborough (English actor)
James Avery (Actor, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)

Lauren Bacall (Film Legend)
Skye McCole Bartusiak, (21-Year Old Actress, The Patriot)
Polly Bergen (Legendary screen and stage Actress)
Norman Bridwell (Creator of Clifford the Big Red Dog Books
Shirley Temple Black (Legendary Actress and Humanitarian)
James Brady (White House Press Secretary)
David Brenner (Legendary Comedian)
Richard Bull (Actor, Little House on the Prairie)

Sid Caesar (TV Pioneer and Legendary Comedian)
Mary Grace Canfield (Veteran Character Actress, Green Acres)
Bob Casale (Original member of the band Devo)
Joe Cocker (Singer)

Ann B. Davis (TV legend, The Brady Bunch)
Oscar de la Renta (Legendary Fashion Designer)
Ruby Dee (Oscar-Nominated Actress)
Hal Douglas (Iconic Narrator of Movie Trailers)
Ruth Robinson Duccini (last surviving female Munchkin from classic Wizard of Oz film)

Eileen Ford (Modeling Agency Founder)

James Garner (Legendary Actor)
Gerry Goffin (Lyricist and former husband to singer-songwriter Carole King)
Michael Gottlieb (Writer-Director, Mannequin [film])

Charlie Haden (Legendary Jazz Bassist)
Robert Halmi, Sr. (Legendary Producer)
Bob Hastings (Actor, McHale’s Navy)
Philip Seymour Hoffman (Legendary Actor)
Jan Hooks (Saturday Night Live Alum)
Bob Hoskins (British Actor, Who Framed Roger Rabbit)

P.D. James (Legendary British Authoress)
Jimi Jamison (Survivor Lead Singer)
Michael Johns (American Idol Contestant/Australian Singer-Songwriter)
Russell Johnson (The Professor on Gilligan’s Island)
Sarah Jones (Camera Operator [killed in tragic train/filming accident])

Casey Kasem (Radio Personality)
Daniel Keyes (Author, “Flowers for Algernon”)
Richard Kiel (James Bond Villain)

Jim Lange (TV Host, The Dating Game)
Glen A. Larson (Series Creator, Battlestar Galactica and Magnum PI)
Stephen Lee (Seinfeld Actor)
Cynthia Lynn (Actress, Hogan’s Heroes)

Sheila MacRae (Actress, The Honeymooers)
Dave Madden (Actor, The Partridge Family)
Lee Marshall (Voice of Tony the Tiger)
Arlene Martel (Actress, Star Trek)
Frank Marth (Actor, The Honeymooners)
Paul Mazursky (Director, Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice)
Denny Miller (Athlete-Actor, Tarzan on Big Screen)
Mary Ann Mobley (Miss America 1959, TV & Film Actress)

Mike Nichols (Legendary Director of The Graduate)

Kate O’Mara (British Actress, Dynasty)

Don Pardo (Legendary Announcer for Saturday Night Live)
Gerard Parkes (Fraggle Rock Actor)
Elizabeth Pena (Actress, Matador)
John Pinette (Stand-Up Comedian and Actor, The Punisher)

Harold Ramis (Actor, Ghostbusters and Stripes)
Tommy Ramone (Founding Member of The Ramones)
James Rebhorn (Actor, Homeland)
Mary Rodgers (Author, “Freaky Friday”)
Mickey Rooney (Film Legend)
Jimmy Ruffin (Motown Singer)

James Shigeta (Actor, Die Hard and Midway)
Dick Smith (Legendary Hollywood Makeup Artist)
Marcia Strassman (Actress, Welcome Back Kotter)
Elaine Stritch (Emmy and Tony-winning Actress)
Carol Ann Susi (Actress, The Big Bang Theory)

Meshach Taylor (Actor, Designing Women)

Garrick Utley (Veteran TV Journalist)

Jerry Vale (1950’s Singer “You Don’t Know Me”)

Ralph Waite (Actor, The Waltons and NCIS)
Eli Wallach (Legendary Actor)
Ken Weatherwax (Pugsley on the original classic Addams Family)
Robin Williams (Legendary Actor-Comedian)

Louis “Louie” Zamperini (World War II Hero and Olympic Medalist)
Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. (Actor, 77 Sunset Strip)

NOTE: This list, in no way, covers all the industry talent who passed away this year. Again, condolences are extended to one and all.

Out of respect, please take a moment of silence.

TOMORROW: Ratings

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Every year there are lots of awards shows, some important, some just fun and numerous just silly or nonsensical, but the following list is just some of the top winners over the course of the year:

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS (January)

Favorite Dramatic TV Actress – Stana Katic (Castle)
Favorite Network TV Drama – The Good Wife
Favorite Cable TV Actress – Lucy Hale (Pretty Little Liars)
Favorite New TV Drama – Reign
Favorite TV Crime Drama – Castle
Favorite Cable TV Comedy – Psych
Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actress – Kristin Kreuk (Beauty and the Beast)
Favorite TV Bromance – Sean, Dean and Castiel (Supernatural)

GOLDEN GLOBES (January)

Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama – Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)
Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama – Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)
Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical – Amy Adams (American Hustle)
Best Supporting Actress, Motion Picture – Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle)
Best Supporting Actor, Motion Picture – Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)
Best Motion Picture, Drama – 12 Years a Slave
Best Animated Feature Film – Frozen

CRITICS’ CHOICE MOVIE AWARDS (January)

Best Picture – 12 Years a Slave
Best Supporting Actress – Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave)
Best Foreign Language Film – Blue Is the Warmest Color
Best Action Movie – Lone Survivor
Best Actress in an Action Movie – Sandra Bullock (Gravity)
Best Sci-Fi/Horror Movie – Gravity
Best Costume Design – Catherine Martin (The Great Gatsby)
Best Song – “Let It Go” by Robert Lopez, and Kristen Anderson-Lopez (Frozen)
Joel Siegel Award – Forest Whitaker

SAG AWARDS (January)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries – Helen Mirren (Phil Spector)
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries – Michael Douglas (Behind the Candelabra)
Lifetime Achievement Award: Rita Moreno
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series – Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey)

GRAMMY AWARDS (January)

Best New Artist – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Best Pop Solo Performance – “Royals” by Lorde
Best Country Album – Same Trailer Different Park by Kacey Musgraves
Song of the Year – “Royals” by Lorde
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album – To Be Loved by Michael Bublé
Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media – “Skyfall” by Thomas Newman
Best Country Solo Performance – “Wagon Wheel” by Darius Rucker
Best Rock Performance “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons

NAACP IMAGE AWARDS (February)

Drama Series – Scandal (ABC)
Drama Actress – Kerry Washington (Scandal)
Drama Actor – LL Cool J (NCIS: Los Angeles)
Drama, Supporting Actress – Taraji P. Henson (Person of Interest)
Drama, Support Actor – Joe Morton (Scandal)
Outstanding TV Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special – Being Mary Jane (BET)
Outstanding Actress in a TV Movie, Mini Series or Dramatic Special – Gabrielle Union (Being Mary Jane)
Outstanding Actor in a TV Movie, Mini Series or Dramatic Special – Idris Elba (Luther)

OSCARS (March)

Best Supporting Actor – Jared Leto (Dallas Buyer’s Club)
Animated Feature Film – Frozen
Best Supporting Actress – Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave)
Best Actor – Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)
Best Picture – 12 Years a Slave
Best Original Song – “Let It Go,” Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez (Frozen)
Best Adapted Screenplay: John Ridley, 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress – Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)

RAZZI AWARDS (March)

Worst Picture – Movie 43
Worst Actor – Jaden Smith (After Earth)
Worst Supporting Actor – Will Smith (After Earth)

ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS (April)

Entertainer of the Year – George Strait
Album of the Year – Same Trailer Different Park by Kacey Musgraves
Vocal Group of the Year – The Band Perry
Female Vocalist of the Year – Miranda Lambert
Male Vocalist of the Year – Jason Aldean
New Artist of the Year – Justin Moore
Vocal Duo of the Year – Florida Georgia Line

MTV MOVIE AWARDS (April)

Movie of the Year – The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Best Male Performance – Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire)
Best Female Performance – Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire)
Best Villain – Mila Kunis (Oz the Great and Powerful)
Best Hero – Henry Cavill (Man of Steel)
Favorite Character – Tris, “Divergent” (Shailene Woodley)

BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS (May)

Top New Artist – Lorde
Top Duo/Group – Imagine Dragons
Top Touring Artist – Bon Jovi
Top Country Artist – Luke Bryan
Top Rock Album – Night Visions by Imagine Dragons
Top Country Song – “Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line Featuring Nelly
Top Rock Song – “Royals” by Lorde

CMT MUSIC AWARDS (June)

Group Video of the Year – “Done” by The Band Perry
Breakthrough Video of the Year – “Wasting All These Tears” by Cassadee Pope
Male Video of the Year – “Doin’ What She Likes” by Blake Shelton
Video of the Year – “See You Again” by Carrie Underwood

TONY AWARDS (June)

Actor in a Featured Role in a Play – Mark Rylance (Twelfth Night)
Actor in a Leading Role in a Play – Bryan Cranston (All the Way)
Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical – Neil Patrick Harris (Hedwig and the Angry Inch)
Actress in a Featured Role in a Play – Sophie Okonedo (A Raisin in the Sun)
Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical – Lena Hall (Hedwig and the Angry Inch)
Actress in a Leading Role in a Play – Audra McDonald (Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill)

CRITICS’ CHOICE TV AWARDS (June)

Best Drama Series – Breaking Bad
Best Actor in a Drama Series – Matthew McConaughey (True Detective)
Best Actress in a Drama Series – Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black)
Best Comedy Series – Orange Is The New Black
Best Movie – The Normal Heart
Best Mini-Series – Fargo
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Bellamy Young (Scandal)

TELEVISION CRITICS ASSOCIATION (July)

Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming – The Fosters
Outstanding Achievement in Drama – The Good wife
Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Mini-Series and Specials – True Detective

TEEN CHOICE AWARDS (August)

Choice Movie: Action/Adventure – Divergent
Choice Movie Actor: Action/Adventure – Theo James (Divergent)
Choice Movie Actress: Action/Adventure – Shailene Woodley (Divergent)
Choice Movie: Sci-Fi/Fantasy – The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Choice Movie Actor: Sci-Fi/Fantasy – Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire)
Choice Movie Actress: Sci-Fi/Fantasy – Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and X-Men: Days of Future Past)
Choice Movie: Drama – The Fault in Our Stars
Choice Movie Actor Drama – Ansel Elgort (The Fault in Our Stars)
Choice TV Show Drama – Pretty Little Liars
Choice TV Actor Drama – Ian Harding (Pretty Little Liars)
Choice TV Actress: Drama – Lucy Hale (Pretty Little Liars)
Choice TV Villain – Dylan O’Brien (Teen Wolf)
Choice TV Male Scene Stealer – Tyler Hoechlin (Teen Wolf)

EMMY AWARDS (August)

Best Comedy – Modern Family
Best Drama – Breaking Bad
Best Miniseries – Fargo
Best Television Movie – The Normal Heart
Lead Actor Drama – Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)
Lead Actress Drama – Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)
Supporting Actor Drama – Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad)
Supporting Actress Drama – Anna Gunn (Breaking Bad)
Actor, Miniseries/Movie – Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock)
Supporting Actor Miniseries/Movie – Martin Freeman (Sherlock)

CMA AWARDS (October)

Single of the Year – Automatic by Miranda Lambert
Song of the Year – Follow Your Arrow by Kacey Musgraves
Vocal Duo of the Year – Florida Georgia Line
Album of the Year – Platinum by Miranda Lambert
Vocal Group of the Year – Little Big Town
Male Vocalist of the Year – Blake Shelton
Female Vocalist of the Year – Miranda Lambert
Entertainer of the Year – Luke Bryan

AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS (November)

Favorite Alternative Rock Artist – Imagine Dragons
Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist – Sam Smith
Favorite Country Female Artist – Carrie Underwood
Favorite Country Band, Duo or Group – Florida Georgia Line
Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist – John Legend
Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist – Katy Perry
Top Soundtrack – Frozen

Let’s send out a hearty congratulations to all of these winners (and the countless others who won awards) over the course of 2014. Are any of your favorites included above? Was there an actress, actor or entertainer who you thought should have received some type of award for their work in television, movies or music who isn’t listed above? Please share your thoughts.

TOMORROW: Condolences

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For a number of years, I thoroughly enjoyed going to see as many box office movies as I could; but over the last couple of years, I have severely reduced how many movies I see at the Cineplex each year. The main reasons are cost and the proliferation of people who simply cannot leave their cell phones in the car.

Despite those deterrents, I still like to go to the movies and among the 2014 films that I enjoyed most include the following: Veronica Mars, Belle, The Grand Seduction, X-Men: Days of Future PastDivergent, Big Hero 6 and Guardians of the Galaxy.

I doubt that readers are really that concerned about what movies I enjoyed seeing this year and would rather know what were the top 25 movies for this year based on their overall gross. Here is the list based on the box office results for the entire year up through December 15:

1. Guardians of the Galaxy – 332 million
2. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 – 280 million
3. Captain America: The Winter Soldier – 260 million
4. The LEGO Movie – 258 million
5. Transformers: Age of Extinction – 245 million
6. Maleficent – 241 million
7. X-Men: Days of Future Past – 234 million
8. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes – 209 million
9. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 – 203 million
10. Godzilla – 201 million
11. 22 Jump Street – 192 million
12. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – 191 million
13. Big Hero 6 – 186 million
14. How to Train Your Dragon 2 – 177 million
15. Interstellar – 168 million
16. Gone Girl – 165 million
17. Divergent – 151 million
18. Neighbors – 150 million
19. Ride Along – 135 million
20. Rio 2 – 132 million
21. Lucy – 127 million
22. The Fault in Our Stars – 125 million
23. Mr. Peabody & Sherman – 112 million
24. 300: Rise of An Empire – 107 million
25. The Maze Runner – 102 million

I also compiled a list of the movies that were either a disappointment at the box office or simply had horrible-looking trailers (they appear in alphabetical order):

22 Jump Street
A Haunted House 2
A Million Ways to Die in the West
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Annabelle
As Above So Below
Bad Words
Blended
Cuban Fury
Deliver Us From Evil
Devil’s Due
Dumb and Dumber To
Filth
Horns
Horrible Bosses 2
Let’s Be Cops
Mom’s Night Out
Neighbors
Oculus
Ouija
Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones
Ride-Along
Sex Tape
Tammy
The Interview
The Other Woman
The Purge: Anarchy
The Pyramid
The Quite Ones
Think Like a Man Too
Walk of Shame

What movies did you most enjoy seeing this year? Which movies were disappointments to you? Please share your thoughts and comments.

TOMORROW: Awards

PS: Merry Christmas!!!

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Back to Christmas

The new holiday ION movie Back to Christmas will debut on December 20 at 9 PM.

Saddened about spending another Christmas alone, Ali meets Ginny, a quirky and spunky woman, at a diner on Christmas Eve. Ali tells Ginny that she was to be married on New Year’s Eve last year, but over the course of the holidays she and her fiancé unexpectedly split. When Ali explains that she would do everything differently if she could go back in time, Ginny tells her that “sometimes people do get second chances.” The following morning, Ali wakes up to find herself transported back to that Christmas before her planned wedding. While she sets out to avoid the mistakes of her past, she learns that changing the course of history is no easy task.

The cast includes Kelly Overton and Michael Muhney.

Click “Watch Preview” for Back to Christmas here.

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The Christmas Parade

The new Hallmark Channel holiday movie The Christmas Parade will debut on December 14 at 8 PM.

A popular network morning host finds herself humiliated on the air by her fiancé and disappears to a small town. While there, she helps a budding artist save a community art center for the town’s kids, by helping them with their float for the annual Christmas Parade.

The film stars AnnaLynne McCord (90210), Jefferson Brown (Rookie Blue) and Drew Scott (Property Brothers).

Here is a trailer for The Christmas Parade.

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