Category: Television

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VIDA NEW BALLET HAWAII LEADER

Richard Vida, a veteran Broadway luminary, has been named as the new executive director of Ballet Hawaii.

A frequent visitor to Hawaii who has lived on Oahu briefly, Vida previously taught tap dance and musical theater at Ballet Hawaii.

“We have known Richard for many years and could not be luckier that he agreed to join our team,” said Susie Schull of Ballet Hawaii. “His background on Broadway and the performing arts is vast and covers every type of dance.”

Vida and his husband Bob Billig have called New York City their home where both have been active for decades (Billig is a musical conductor), and they have traveled extensively and had relocated to Connecticut. 

Vida, pictured, has had a diverse career,  not just as an actor, singer and dancer in theater, on TV and in films, and boasts credentials a guest artist, teacher, producer, and director…

Show breezes

Several popular island performers will be on the Hawaii Theatre stage in the weeks ahead.

The Hawaii Symphony Orchestra’s Hapa Symphony series will feature these acts:

  • Singer Paula Fuga, pictured, appears at 7:30 p.m. March 9.
  • Singer Robert Cazimero performs at 7:30 pm. April 20.
  • Ukulele artist  Jake Shimabukuro performs at 7:30 pm. May 18.

Tickets are priced from $10:50 to $99, at hawaiitheatre.com or (808) 528-0506…

Michael Weatherly (DiNozzo) and Mark Harmon (Leroy Jethro Gibbs) on “NCIS.”

Will DiNozzo and ‘NCIS’ regulars return?

The internet is a-buzz with a possible return of Michael Weatherly, the beloved  Tony DiNozzo from the original “NCIS” universe, which made him a star and producing director-producer Mark Harmon a legend as Leroy Jethro Gibbs.

Ten years since Weatherly departed the CBS procedural, he’s ready to return to the franchise for his last hurrah. Performers including Harmon likely will also return to the show (he’s been off the show for a couple of seasons) and possibly Ziva, played by Cote de Paulo, who exited the same time Weatherly did, could return.

Weatherly may have been the one to trigger the rumors, after he posted on X/Twitter his notion to reprise DiNozzo.

“There will be more DiNozzo someday because he is the one character that felt unfinished,” he said on X.

The NCIS franchise continues to expand via a Leroy Jethro Gibbs prequel series, which will feature familiar faces and potentially a few more.

“NCIS” is in the midst of its 21st season now. So it makes sense that the alums return to the show now.

First, Weatherly’s DiNozzo had unbeatable chemistry with Gibbs, and was the favorite of the NCIS leader, to target DiNozzo, with a slap on the head.

Second, Weatherly also had sizzle with agent Ziva and their relationship was hugely popular with viewers.

Third, now is the time for NCIS characters from the past, returning to pay homage and respect to David McCallum, who played Donald “Ducky” Mallard. who died last September. He played the chief medical examiner and the current series plans a tribute to Ducky, and it’s a smart way – and a ratings boost – that past colleagues return to say goodbye.

Surely, even Abby Sciuto, the forensic scientist  enacted by Pauley Perrette, would be a likely returnee, too.

CBS has remained mum about the return of any ex-cast members– for the goodbye to Ducky or for a cameo in the last season for the franchise’s mother ship original. The time is right for that elusive reunion…

And that’s Show Biz…

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MARIOTA FINALLY AT SUPER BOWL

Reflections on last Sunday’s Super Bowl:
Marcus Mariota, homegrown football fave, finally made it to the Super Bowl. Well, sorta. The Philadelphia Eagles’ underutilized secondary QB was heard but not seen on the  Super Bowl telecast.

Mariota (pictured) narrated that splendid Lahaina Wildfire commercial, that reflected the Maui Strong message, depicting the horrors of that August day, when more than 100 perished and the historic harbor front town was reduced to a charcoal-gray ghost town. The commercial was a preview to the coin toss to begin the battle between the favored San Francisco 49ers and the underdog Kansas City Chiefs. A Lahainaluna football contingent were honored, including  four Luna team members, including players Morgan “Bula” Montgomery, Teva Loft, Kaulana Tihada and Kuola Watson who were joined by their coaches Dean Rickard and Garret Tihada and former head coach Bobby Watson…

Then there was actor Jason Momoa (pictured), the Hawaii native, in a T-Mobile clip, even singing and doing a backflip, in the commercial featuring  Zach Braff and Donald Faison, who shelved their usual “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning” vocalizing. In a comedic set-up, Braff and Faison knock on a door with a plate of wings, and Momoa informs them that the party had been cancelled due to the cable being out. Then, Braff and Faison broke out in song and dance moves, convincing Momoa to switch to T-Mobile 5g home internet while chirping ”What a Feeling” from the 1983 film “Flashdance.” “Aquaman” joins in only to get doused with water…in a splashdance of sorts…

With CBS  airing the Super Bowl, it was no surprise to see quick images of “NCIS: Hawaii” co-stars Vanessa Lachey and LL Cool J together…

Of course, Dwayne Johnson, an island native, got camera time, too, but why not? He’s The Rock…

But there was no sign of local boy Bruno Mars, who has a residency at the MGM Resort, but then again, he was busy during the weekend, hosting and opening The Pinky Ring, his new ritzy lounge/bar at the Bellagio resort on the Las Vegas Strip, where the likes of Lady Gaga and Blake Shelton popped in during Super Bowl weekend…

Nyle Hallman dies at 95

Sorry to report the death, on Feb. 14, of Nyle Hallman, widow of Roy Hallman  who were co- founders of the Honolulu Boy Choir. She was 95. She also was the  longtime accompanist for the choir and the veteran  organist of the Central Union Church.

Daughter Kathy Hallman confirmed the death at the family home.

Blake M. Nuibe, who has served as executive director of the world-famous Honolulu Boy Choir, said he and boy choir ohana members Kay Hirasuna, Glenn Seo and Philip Fujimoto, recently gifted Nyle with a Hawaiian floral arrangement to celebrate the new year and to wish her well.

 “I conversed with Nyle on Jan. 18 and again on Feb.9,” said Nuibe. “Both times, her mind was sharp, and her spirits were high, but knew her health was flailing.  Kathy is heartbroken but very grateful for Nyle’s long. amazing life.”

Nyle and Roy (who died April 20, 2007, at age 82) had a successful and prolific life with the Boy Choir, which they co-founded in 1974, inspired by the Vienna Boy Choir. They enlisted boys 7 to 14 — with or without experience, many with higher-pitched voices due to their young ages – to sing, focus, and to be attentive while standing on risers, unified in voice, and mentored by the Hallmans. The choir toured globally, were fixtures on not only on the concert stage, but in recordings and TV, and for many years did Christmas season concerts, notably featuring their version of “Numbah One Day of Christmas,” at the Monarch Room of the fabled Royal Hawaiian Hotel.

Nyle was a masterful musician, who played harp as well as organ, and has been the organist at Central Union and principal harpist with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra.

Funeral services are pending…

Streetlighters have weekend shows

Streetlight Cadence will do shows on Maui and the Big Island this weekend.

The agenda, part of the group’s ongoing Brighter Than Ever Tour, includes these shows:

–Friday (Feb. 16), at 7:30 p.m., at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center’s McCoy Studio Theatre. (tickets).

–Saturday (Feb. 17), at 7 p.m., at Kahilu Theatre in Waimea, on the Big Island. Tickets: $40, $70. (tickets)

–Sunday, at 2 p.m., at Hungry Ear Records in Kakaako. Free, with a meet-and-greet after the show. please RSVP here

Broadway grosses, for week ending Feb. 11

“Hamilton” again is the No. 1 draw on Broadway, a skosh ahead of “The King.”

Here’s the top 10:

1—”Hamilton,”$1,565 million.

2—”The Lion King,” $1,504 million.

3—”Merrily We Roll Along,” $1,494 million.

4—” Wicked,” $1,303 million.

5—”Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” $1,260 million.

6—”Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” $1,205 million,

7–“MJ The Musical,” $1,163 million.

8—” Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” $949,121,

9–“ Aladdin,” $923,150,

10—”& Juliet,” $897,506.

The complete list, courtesy The Broadway Guild:

And that’s Show Biz. …

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‘WHEEL OF FORTUNE’ FILMING PROMOS

Ryan Seacrest, incoming “Wheel of Fortune” host, has been in Waikiki with letter-turner Vanna White, to tape promos for the next season of the syndicated game show.

Seacrest, who still hosts ABC’s “American Idol,” is succeeding Pat Sajak, the original “Wheel” host, who announced his retirement last year and will exit in June 2024. Thus, Seacrest will make his debut later this summer.

Vanna White and Ryan Seacrest, on location in Waikiki

Seacrest and White  have been seen in tourist mode, donning swimwear and goggles and flipper diving gear for knee-deep waves in waters off Waikiki. The duo, wearing appropriate island wear,  also trekked in the shopping mall at the Hilton Hawaiian Village…  

Cataluna’s ‘Kimo’ premieres Feb. 23

Lee Cataluna’s “Kimo the Waiter,” a glimpse of exclusion, inclusion, diversity, and accessibility within the community of television and film work, will make its world premiere at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23 at Paliku Theatre on the Windward Community College.

The production is a partnership of WCC and the Hawaii Conservatory of Performing Arts (HCPA), where Cataluna is HCPA’s Established Island Artist.

The comedy explores the plight and frustration of Kimo, a dude that loves to act who tracks and attends auditions for roles, but he’s either too brown or not brown enough, or perhaps not enough, period. How many times can an actor play “the waiter”? He’s good, but clearly lives with rejection.

Set in 1980s Honolulu, “Kimo the Waiter” tracks the elusive dream of an actor whose dream world is never within his reach.

Alakaʻi Cunningham and Kirstyn Trombetta in “Kimo the Waiter.”

“’Kimo the Waiter’ is a hilarious and moving look into the world of an actor. Cataluna shows the frustrations and raucous truths of what actors experience,” said director  Taurie Kinoshita.

 Set in the Hawaii of the 1980s, “Kimo” features Alakaʻi Cunningham as Kimo. The cast also includes Stuart Featheran, Kirstyn Trombetta, Maya Leslie-Berengue, and Kealaulapoiunalani Faifili.

The family-friendly comedy, which runs approximately 90 minutes, should relate to constant auditioners who’ve experienced rejection.

Tickets: $15 to $25, available at palikutheatre.com or call (808) 235-7315.

And that’s Show Biz…

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AGENT HANNA HEADING HERE

“NCIS: Hawaii” will welcome a new field agent, when the delayed CBS season of the popular island-filmed procedural premieres Feb. 12.

“Hawaii” will bid aloha – in this case, welcome not goodbye – to NCIS Senior Field Agent Sam Hanna, played by LL Cool J, who has joined the Hawaii cast, following his 14-season tour in sister show “NCIS: Los Angeles,” which shut down at the conclusion of the last season.

It’ll be  a recurring role for the Cool one, who is lending his presence and savvy during the third season of the Hawaii franchise, led by Vanessa Lachey as Special Agent Jane Tennant. Lachey also was happy for Hanna’s joining her here. “This is an amazing opportunity to continue evolving the NCIS franchise,” Lacey told  TVLine and the Cool/Hanna presence.

For Cool, it’s a continuation of the earlier crossover specials with “Hawaii” and “L.A.”

All in the ohana: LL Cool J joins Vanessa Lachey in “NCIS: Hawaii.,”

As the NCIS franchise’s key figures, Cool will bring add vigor and variety when he joins the team here  as a regular to the Pearl Harbor office’s efforts to stop Naval injustice. 

Noah Mills, who plays Jesse Boone on the “Hawaii” team, has expressed support of Agent Hanna on the island show. In an earlier “Entertainment Tonight,” after the SAG-AFTRA strike was settled, he said, “Are you kidding me? I’m so excited I got to work with him on the NCIS crossover ‘The Mothership.’ He’s so cool and just has such a strong presence and is an experienced actor. I mean, he was telling me stories, that guy was going to Studio 54, when he was 16 in New York. He’s done it all. We got a heavyweight coming. So, it’s gonna be great.” 

Cool posted on X, formerly Twitter, “Couldn’t keep Sam Hanna off the case for too long!!”

“NCIS,” the original flagship of the franchise, will also premiere Feb. 12 at 7 p.m., preceding the Hawaii show at 8 p.m. — a great lead-in for the local hit. …

Two musicals open this weekend

Diamond Head Theatre’s production of Lerner and Loewe’s “My Fair Lady” premieres tomorrow night (Dec. 1), for a run though Dec. 30. This includes extension dates, beyond the earlier Dec. 17 closing.

Bryce Chaddick is directing. Anna Young is cast as Eliza Doolittle, and Garrett Hols and David Young are double-cast as Henry Higgins. (David is the spouse of Anna). Eli Foster will portray Colonel Pickering.

Tickets: www.diamondheadtheatre.com …

Mo‘olele Studio’s “The Year Christmas Was Almost Cancelled,” a holiday original by Kyle Kakuno (script) and Roslyn Catracchia (music), opens tomorrow night (Dec. 1) for a Dec. 1 to 23 residency at Mamiya Theatre, on the Saint Louis School/Chaminade University campus.

The show premiered last season, and appears to becoming an annual holiday attraction. A pre-show as well post-performance program are part of the agenda, so go early and stay a bit later after exiting.

Many of the original cast are back.

Tickets: https://www.simpletix.com/e/the-year-christmas-was-almost-canceled-pre-tickets-151195#smtx-click …

‘Lion’ gross nearly $3 million

Five Broadway musicals have a lot to be thankful for – like grosses topping $2 million — becoming members of the $2 million club as leaders on the Great White Way. Apparently, the Thanksgiving holiday must’ve included a dessert of a hit show, if the Broadway League rundown is an indication.

The champion – Disney’s “The Lion King” – nearly topped $3 million, in figures for the week ending Nov. 26. The Top 10:

1 – “The Lion King,” $2,912 million.

2 – “Wicked,” $2,753 million,

3 —  “Hamilton,” $2,293 million.

4—“ Merrily We Roll Along,” $2,046 million.

5—“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” $2,027 million.

6 – “MJ The Musical,” $1,384 million.

7 – “Aladdin,” $1,881 million.

8—“ Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” $1,284 million,

9—“ Back To The Future: The Musical,” $1,814 million.

10—”Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” $1,807 million.

The full list:

And that’s Show Biz …

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SYDNEY NEXT DESTINATION FOR ‘NCIS’

Just when you thought that “NCIS: Hawai‘i’” was the last in the tireless franchise on CBS, along comes “NCIS: Sydney,” debuting Nov. 10  in Aussieland and Nov. 13 in the U.S. both on CBS and on Paramount+, the network’s streaming channel.

The Sydney project’s first season will be comprised of eight episodes

Did we really need another spinoff, while the flagship original (21 seasons and counting) and the last newbie, “NCIS: Hawai‘i” (this would be its third season) are sidelined and off-air because of the devastating Hollywood writers-actors strike?

Seems  the labor issues in America don’t affect the first international spinoff of “NCIS,” with Down Under actors and producers involved in the venture, taking advantage of one of the most popular trademark shows in the galaxy of procedurals.

Mavournee Hazel, William McInnes, Tuuli Narkle, Todd Lasance, Olivia Swann, and Sean Sagar on the set of ‘NCIS: Sydney.’

According to online resources, the Sydney “NCIS” cast will star Olivia Swann (DC’s “Legends of Tomorrow”) as NCIS Special Agent Michelle Mackey; Todd Lasance (“Spartacus: War of the Damned” ) as her 2IC AFP counterpart, Sergeant Jim “JD” Dempsey; Sean Sagar (“The Covenant”) as NCIS Special Agent DeShawn Jackson; and Tuuli Narkle (“Mystery Road: Origin”) as AFP liaison officer.

“‘NCIS’” is one of the most popular series in the world and we’re thrilled to expand this franchise with a uniquely Australian twist,” said Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment, in a statement to Entertainment Weekly.

“With the addition of  “‘NCIS: Sydney,’” our studio and network footprint continues to grow in this fascinating world that has been a proven winner with viewers on both linear and streaming platforms. Featuring the stunning backdrop of Australia, the new series will incorporate the high-stakes intrigue, humor and camaraderie that have kept fans captivated by the NCIS teams for over two decades.”

Crime has no borders, so the  franchise is going global, launching the fifth “NCIS” team and the first with international roots. The catalogue includes “NCIS,” “NCIS: Los Angeles,” “NCIS: New Orleans” and “NCIS: Hawai‘i” and only the flagship show starring the original Special Agent Mark Harmon (not very visisble in the recent episodes) and the newest, starring Vanessa Lachey (the first woman Special Agent, anchored in Honolulu), still airing in the U.S., though disrupted by the Hollywood strike. …

Broadway grosses, week ending Sept. 10

Let the lion roar again.

“The Lion King” again rules over Broadway, topping the Great White Way’s Top 10 list.

Here are the leaders:

  • “The Lion King,” $1.850 million.
  • “Hamilton,” $1.746 million.
  • “Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” $1.593 million.”
  • “MJ. the Musical,” $1.515 million.
  • “Wicked,” $1.487 million.
  • “Aladdin.” $1.219 million.
  • “Moulin Rouge,” $1.204 million.
  • “Back to the Future: The Musical,” $1.079 million.
  • “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” $1.056 million.
  • “A Beautiful Noise: the Neil Diamond Musical,” $1.008 million.

The full list, courtesy The Broadway League:

And that’s Show Biz. …