On Our Way to the Oscars!
February 22nd, 2011 by Ken Johnson
Well, on Monday morning, we hit the skies flying to Las Vegas to prepare to cover the 2011 Oscars. It doesn’t seem possible that this will be our third year covering the Oscars. Again this year, I am permitted to cover the progress of the Red Carpet until Saturday night, but after that, I have to hang up my video camera. Tomorrow, we’ll post another video story with clips from the co-hosts of this year’s Oscar telecast, Anne Hathaway and James Franco. Tomorrow night, we’ll make our first visit to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the Shorts! screening and reception. Continue reading ‘On Our Way to the Oscars!’
An arctic-like wind wasn’t the only blast that hit the north coast of Ohio this past weekend. Rocktagon MMA was the architectural force behind another rocking and bone-crunching mixed martial arts event. The fight card featured twelve bouts of jarring MMA action, two of which were title fights. Read on to find out the results of the evening as well as our interview with the up and coming Dave Vandevelde. 
It’s about that time again, folks. Rocktagon and Cage Stars have another event tonight in Elyria, Ohio as heavy hitters Dave Vandevolde and Marcus Washington, among many others, take to the ring. In addition, the mult-talented rock band Jackie will be hammering it out prior to the gladiatorial festivities. Stay tuned to Why So Blu for the next few days (and always!) as we will have match results and an exclusive interivew with Jackie lead singer, Jackie LaPonza. In the mean time, check out the press release for tonight’s event:
For longer than I can remember, my senses have been bombarded by the annual holiday season advertisements and catchy seasonal tunes. One constant amidst this barrage of Christmas time cheer is the yearly return of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Before this past weekend, I had yet to add a TSO show to my concert-going repertoire. That all changed on the afternoon of November 28th as the lights went down at Quicken Loans Arena (affectionately known as ‘The Q’) and the multi-faceted production took the stage. Would this holiday-themed concert live up to its hype or fall short of expectations? 
Man…if I only lived in the Los Angeles area…I would be all over this! This email from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment just came across my desk today in regards to my favorite television show of all-time, 24. In the Ultimate 24 Fan Competition, you have the chance to become a real-life Jack Bauer and experience his longest day in the 24 Marathon Challenge for a chance to win $10,000. Full details of the contest can be found below. Are you ready to fill Jack’s shoes? Man up! 
We normally don’t post about local events like these, but since we are in the holiday spirit around here and I would do anything asked by my kind PR folks who arrange all our advance movie screenings, here we are. Warner Bros. Pictures and Cleveland Metroparks are teaming up for a YOGI BEAR Thanksgiving Holiday Food Drive to benefit The Cleveland Food Bank on Saturday, November 27th, 2010 at the Cleveland Metroparks Chalet. Check out below for all the details and how you can win two advance screening passes to see YOGI BEAR. 
The night of November 20th saw a fight card of twelve mixed martial art matches, pitting rookie against rookie as well as veteran against veteran. While evening mastermind, Lorenzo Gentile (pronounced jen-tilly), moved about with a look of determination tending to administrative duties, a crowd of 3,000 began to amass in a relatively short time. Boxing hall of famer Joe Gentile was also on hand for a meet-and-greet with fans as well as to oversee the evening’s event. Before the first bell rung at 7:00 pm, some of us Why So Blu staffers roamed the fighters’ gathering area in search of an interview. As Brian White pointed out, we were all a bit surprised as to how calm the athletes were before entering the cage. It was almost as if you were passing one of these guys on the street and it was no big deal. 
This Saturday, MMA and Why So Blu collide once again as the former Cage Stars brand, now under the Rocktagon, brings us another high octane fight card to the masses on November 20th. You may remember this past June when Why So Blu covered the arrival of UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, who flew all the way up from Brazil to make an appearance at a multi-bout event. Silva won’t be around this time, but it’s the sight of the sport that truly draws fans in anyway and there’ll be plenty of sport to be had. 
On Monday, November 1, 2010, 
It’s more often than not when people discard their dreams in pursuit of a more “normal” life…whatever that is. At the end of this week, one of our own staff here on Why So Blu will be taking another big step towards accomplishing his dream. It was 13 years ago on September 19th when WSB writer Gregg Senko interviewed the Lord of the Dance himself, Michael Flatley. Greatly inspired by both the show Lord of the Dance and his discussion with Flatley, Gregg made it a point to immediately seek out an Irish dance teacher the next day. 
Did reading Aaron’s (read it 
On Monday, November 1, 2010, director Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth, Hellboy) moderated a question and answer session with director Edgar Wright, actor Michael Cera, and comic author and illustrator Bryan Lee O’Malley about Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, which is to be released on Blu-Ray and DVD November 9, 2010.
“Shakira, Shakira.” It seems like those are the most commonly used words “kind” people harmoniously respond with whenever I ask them if they are a fan of Shakira or not. And you know what? I seemingly never grow tired of it. You see, like the Arabic meaning of Shakira’s name, I have a lot to be “thankful” for when it comes to the music and hip-shakin’ moves of my favorite Colombian export. 
On October 9, 2010, many celebrities gathered to be a part of the 2010 Hollywood Celebrity Sporting Clays Invitational to benefit the City of Hope Bone Marrow Donor Program. The event was hosted by tough guy character actor and president of Uncommon Dialogue Films – Patrick Kilpatrick, and held at Triple B Shotgun Sporting Park in El Monte, California. Many stars, as well as Olympic medalists, veterans, and other competitive shooters participated in the event that was both good sporting practice and a way to give for a good cause. 
