Will Ferrell, Gael Garcia Bernal, and Diego Luna lead the cast of the R-rated comedy film Casa de mi Padre. Directed by Matt Piedmont, the Pantelion Films release opens in theaters on March 16, 2012.
Will Ferrell stars as Armando, Gael Garcia Bernal plays Onza, and Diego Luna is Raul. The comedy also stars Pedro Armendariz, Jr as Miguel Ernesto, Genesis Rodriguez as Sonia, Efren Ramirez as Esteban, Adrian Martinez as Manuel, and Nick Offerman as DEA Agent Parker.
Official Synopsis: Armando Alvarez (Will Ferrell) has lived and worked on his father’s ranch in Mexico his entire life. As the ranch encounters financial difficulties, Armando’s younger brother Raul (Diego Luna), shows up with his new fiancée, Sonia (Genesis Rodriguez). It seems that Raul’s success as an international businessman means the ranch’s troubles are over as he pledges to settle all debts his father has incurred. But when Armando falls for Sonia, and Raul’s business dealings turn out to be less than legit, all hell breaks loose as they find themselves in a war with Mexico’s most feared drug lord, the mighty Onza (Gael García Bernal).
MELISSA GILBERT, SHERRI SHEPHERD, MARTINA NAVRATILOVA, MARIA MENOUNOS, GLADYS KNIGHT, JALEEL WHITE, DONALD DRIVER, ROSHON FEGAN, GAVIN DeGRAW, JACK WAGNER - (Photo: ABC/Rick Rowell)
Sports stars and a couple of singers are among the cast members of the 2012 season of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. Set to premiere on Monday, March 19th at 8pm ET/PT, the cast of this new season includes:
GAVIN DeGRAW
Gavin DeGraw is no stranger to the top of the charts. He first broke through with the 2003 release of his debut album, “Chariot,” which sold over a million copies, earned platinum certification and yielded three hit singles: “I Don’t Want to Be,” “Follow Through” and the title-track, “Chariot.” DeGraw’s self-titled second album debuted at No. 1 on the digital sales chart and at No. 7 on Billboard’s Top 200 album chart in 2008, earning him his first Top 10 album. It spawned the hit singles “In Love with a Girl,” which Billboard dubbed “a rocking homerun,” and the gold-certified “We Belong Together.”
In 2009 DeGraw released “Free” as a gift to his die-hard fans clamoring for recorded versions of his live favorites. He released his third studio album, “Sweeter,” in September of 2011. The album’s first single, “Not Over You,” co-written with OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder, was just certified platinum, is a huge hit and has been climbing the sales and radio charts since its June 2011 release. GAVIN DeGRAW partners with last season’s champ, KARINA SMIRNOFF, who returns for her 11th season.
DONALD DRIVER
Donald Driver has overcome a childhood of homelessness and overcome obstacles to become a Super Bowl champion and the All-Time Leading Receiver in Green Bay Packers history. After being selected in the last round of the NFL draft, he went on to hold the Packers’ all-time receiving records for yards and receptions, as well as a host of others. Driver faced struggles growing up that many could not imagine. Growing up homeless and living in a U-Haul truck for a period of time, he was inspired to become one of the most community-minded athletes of our generation.
He and his wife, Betina, created the Donald Driver Foundation in 2001 with a focus on homelessness, education and health & wellness initiatives. He has donated his time for hundreds of community appearances. Driver is most proud of his family, wife Betina and kids Cristian, Christina and Charity. His kids, and his commitment to education, drove him to write three children’s books revolving around the lovable character “Quickie.”
The books’ illustrations and stories are based on his family. He recently read his latest book, Quickie Wins a Championship, at the Library of Congress at an event that featured First Lady Michelle Obama. DONALD DRIVER joins PETA MURGATROYD, who is returning for her second season as a professional partner.
ROSHON FEGAN
Most widely recognized for his roles on Disney Channel, this musical artist, songwriter, producer and actor currently stars on the Disney Channel original series “Shake It Up!” as Ty Blue. Prior to this role, he appeared as Sander Loyer in the Disney Channel original movies “Camp Rock” and “Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam.” Fegan also performed songs on the “Camp Rock” soundtrack, as well as the DVD bonus track “Camp Rock.”
The 20-year-old Fegan recently released his first self-produced EP, “I Am Ro•Shon,” which contains two new tracks written and produced by Fegan himself, “Got Me Like” and “Top of the World” that fuses a unique universal sound of Hip-Hop, R&B, Pop, Funk and Electronic Dance music. He writes and produces all of his own music under his independently owned record label, 3inaRo Entertainment, where he serves as CEO. ROSHON FEGAN teams with CHELSIE HIGHTOWER, who is returning for her 6th season.
MELISSA GILBERT
A native of Los Angeles, Melissa Gilbert comes from a long line of entertainers including her grandfather, Harry Crane, creator and writer of “The Honeymooners,” and her father, respected comedian, actor, musician and dancer Paul Gilbert. At age 2, Gilbert made her on-air debut modeling baby clothes and appeared in more than 30 television commercials over the next seven years. At age 9, she joined the cast of “Little House on the Prairie,” continuing with the popular series for 10 years. She has since starred in hundreds of television movies, specials and series, including the Emmy Award-winning M.O.W. “The Miracle Worker.” In feature films Gilbert starred in “Sylvester” and did a cameo role playing herself in Griffin Dunne’s film, “Lisa Picard is Famous.”
On stage she made her Off Broadway debut in “A Shayna Maidel,” and later starred in “The Miracle Worker,” “The Glass Menagerie” and “Love Letters.” She made her directorial debut with the ABC after school special, “Me and My Hormones,” and produced the A&E documentary “Child Stars: Their Story.” Gilbert’s legacy came full circle when she starred as Ma in the national tour of “Little House on the Prairie the Musical.” In 2009 she shared her personal story in her New York Times bestselling memoir, Prairie Tale. Gilbert served two terms as the 23rd President of Screen Actors Guild, two terms as Vice President on the AFL-CIO executive council, as Vice President for the California Labor Federation, as a commissioner on the California Film Commission and as chair of the 2005 SAG Theatrical/Television Negotiating Committee.
An avid philanthropist, she is the President of the Board of Directors for the Children’s Hospice and Palliative Care Coalition, and recently became the first-ever national spokesperson for The Partnership at Drugfree.org. She is a devoted mother to four sons. MELISSA GILBERT partners with MAKSIM CHMERKOVSKIY, who returns for his 12th season.
KATHERINE JENKINS
Katherine Jenkins is the world’s most prolific classical crossover artist. The Welsh mezzo soprano has sold in excess of seven million albums since launching her career in 2004. An internationally recognized figure, at the age of only 31 Jenkins has become an ambassador and inspiration for millions of people around the world. When she was still only 23, she signed what was said to be the biggest ever UK classical recording deal; she has broken records, becoming the fastest selling mezzo soprano ever, has released eight studio albums, has won two Classical BRIT awards and broken countless records with her albums going platinum around the world.
She has performed with Placido Domingo and Andrea Bocelli, had lunch and performed for the Queen and other members of the Royal Family, as well as for prime ministers and dignitaries around the world. Having recently worked with internationally renowned producers including David Foster and John Shanks, Jenkins’ unique and timeless vocals have defined the genre. Known for her interpretations of popular songs, operatic arias and hymns, she is also known for her long-standing work with the British Forces Foundation for which she is a trustee, and has consequently made various trips to Iraq and Afghanistan to entertain the troops. This support for the troops has led her to being referred to as the Forces’ Sweetheart.
Cherished as one of Britain’s favorite singers, Jenkins has now become one of its greatest musical exports. KATHERINE JENKINS joins two-time champ MARK BALLAS, who is returning for his 10th season.
GLADYS KNIGHT
Eight-time Grammy winner Gladys Knight has enjoyed No. 1 hits in pop, R&B and Adult Contemporary, and has triumphed in film, television and live performance. The Georgia-born Knight began performing recitals at age 4 in the Mount Mariah Baptist Church. Three years later, in 1952, she won the grand prize on television’s “Ted Mack’s Amateur Hour,” and the following year she, along with her brother, Bubba, and her cousins, formed The Pips and had their first hit in 1961.
In 1962 the group was renamed Gladys Knight & The Pips. With Knight singing lead and The Pips providing lush harmonies and graceful choreography, the group went on to achieve icon status, recording some of the most memorable songs of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Top 20 hits like “Every Beat of My Heart,” “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” and “If I Were Your Woman” set the stage for an amazing run in the mid-1970s, while Top 10 gold-certified singles like “Neither One of Us (Wants to be the First to Say Goodbye),” “I’ve Got to Use My Imagination,” “Best Thing to Ever Happen to Me” and the No. 1 smash “Midnight Train to Georgia” establishing Gladys Knight & The Pips as the premiere pop/R&B vocal ensemble in the world.
All told, Knight has recorded more than 38 albums over the years, including four solo albums during the past decade. This spring she will release her newest album, featuring the hit “I Who Have Nothing.” Most recently Knight appeared in the Tyler Perry film, “I Can Do Bad All By Myself.” A longtime Las Vegas resident, Knight returned to the Strip this past year at the famed Tropicana Hotel for a special engagement that ran in the newly named Gladys Knight Theater, making her the first African-American performer to have a venue named after her in Las Vegas. GLADYS KNIGHT partners with TRISTAN MACMANUS, who returns as a professional partner for his second season.
WILLIAM LEVY
William Levy was born in Cuba and very early on knew he would go after his dreams, even if it meant leaving his beloved country and risking his life. By age 15, Levy was living in Miami, Florida, where he attended high school and learned to speak English. His incursion in acting was a supporting role on Telemundo’s “Los Teens,” a series about Hispanic teenagers growing up in the United States. Prior to “Los Teens,” Levy had appeared in two reality shows, also for Telemundo, and a music video. His modeling career also took off at this point and he was signed to one of the most prestigious national modeling agencies.
Levy’s big break came in 2007, when he was personally chosen by famed Televisa producer Carla Estrada to play the role of Vasco Darien in “Pasion,” an epic novela production set in Mexico’s colonial period. Levy gained instant recognition and his acting career skyrocketed as a consequence of the novela’s popularity. After “Pasion,” he traveled to Ecuador and participated in the film “Retazos de Vida.” Shortly thereafter he returned to Mexico for his first leading role in “Cuidado con el Angel,” a soap opera production that consolidated him as one of Mexico’s most sought after leading actors. He starred as Alejandro Lombardo on Univision’s “Sortilegio,” Mexico’s highest rated primetime production, and now stars in “Triunfo del Amor,” (Univision) the No. 1 rated telenovela on TV.
Levy enjoys playing all kinds of sports, but he considers himself an avid baseball fan. He currently resides between Los Angeles, Mexico City and Miami, FL. WILLIAM LEVY partners with two-time champ CHERYL BURKE, who returns for her 13th season.
MARIA MENOUNOS
Actress, author and the host of “EXTRA,” Maria Menounos’ story began cleaning Boston nightclubs alongside her Greek immigrant parents from age of 3, and not learning to speak English until she was 10. At 22 she became the youngest person to host “Entertainment Tonight,” and would later report for “Today,” “Dateline” and “Nightly News.” She has traveled to such places as El Salvador, South Africa and Afghanistan while reporting on earthquakes, the AIDS epidemic and the war.
Inspired by her world travels and the devastating effects of the AIDS crisis, she created the charity, Take Action Hollywood! In 2008 she conducted the only interview with the Obama family during the Presidential campaign. Menounos is the New York Times bestselling author of the self help book, The EveryGirl’s Guide to Life. She recently launched AfterBuzzTV.com, an online digital network dedicated to producing wrap-up shows for America’s favorite television series. She loves people, life and trying new things! MARIA MENOUNOS joins three-time champ DEREK HOUGH, who is returning for his 9th season.
MARTINA NAVRATILOVA
A champion both on and off the court, Martina Navratilova is an influential athlete and cultural figure. Born in Prague in 1956, Navratilova is the most dominant tennis player ever to set foot on the court. She is the only player in history to win Grand Slam titles in four different decades, including a curtain-closing U.S. Open victory in mixed-doubles at age 49. Her resume is highlighted by 59 Grand Slam titles, a record 9 Wimbledon singles championships, and an unrivaled 344 tournament victories.
Off the court Navratilova has been a lifelong champion for individual freedom and a pioneer for human rights. At age 18 she left communist Czechoslovakia and sought political asylum and freedom in the United States. After receiving her U.S. citizenship in 1981, she publicly acknowledged that she is gay — at a time when such announcements came at great personal cost to public figures. In 2010 Navratilova was diagnosed with breast cancer. She approached breast cancer like her tennis training, subsequently becoming cancer free and a champion for breast cancer awareness. She is currently the Fitness Ambassador for AARP, inspiring its 39 million members to follow her example by redefining what it means to be 50+.
Navratilova is an accomplished author and speaker and is an on-air commentator for the Tennis Channel. MARTINA NAVRATILOVA teams with TONY DOVOLANI, who returns for a 13th season.
SHERRI SHEPHERD
Sherri Shepherd is an actress, comedienne and co-host of ABC’s hugely popular daytime talk show, “The View.” Whether she’s on stage or screen, this Daytime Emmy® Award winner’s magnetic personality and hilarious sense of humor never fails to delight audiences. She has appeared in such popular television shows as “30 Rock,” “Less than Perfect” and “Everybody Loves Raymond,” and in films including “Precious,” “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” and most recently “One for the Money.”
She is the author of a humorous autobiography, Permission Slips: Every Woman’s Guide to Giving Yourself a Break (Grand Central Publishing). SHERRI SHEPHERD partners with VAL CHMERKOVSKIY, who is returning for his second season as a professional partner.
JACK WAGNER
An actor of daytime and primetime television and the stage, Jack Wagner is one of the most popular stars in the history of soaps. Wagner studied theater in college, graduating from The University of Arizona with a BFA in drama. He has starred in multiple television series, over a dozen of television movies, and has appeared in over 40 theatrical productions around the world. In 1983 Wagner landed the starring role of rocker Frisco Jones on ABC’s daytime series, “General Hospital.” He recorded several songs for the show, eventually signing with Quincy Jones’ record label, Qwest, where he recorded his first hit single, “All I Need.” The single was No. 2 on Pop charts and No. 1 on Adult Contemporary charts.
In 1987 Wagner returned to his theatrical roots, touring nationally as Tony in “West Side Story” and as Danny Zucko in “Grease.” In the early ‘90s he moved to primetime television, joining the hit series “Melrose Place,” where he spent the next five seasons both acting and directing. In 2000 he took the role of a lifetime in the Broadway musical “Jekyll and Hyde.” Most recently Wagner joined the company of “The Bold and the Beautiful.” In his spare time he enjoys playing golf and participating in celebrity golf tournaments around the country. He is the National Celebrity Ambassador of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which benefits from The Jack Wagner Celebrity Golf Classic, his annual golf tournament. JACK WAGNER joins ANNA TREBUNSKAYA, who returns for her 9th season.
JALEEL WHITE
Jaleel White has brought laughter to millions of people around the world as a multi-talented actor who has also become an emerging screenwriter. White is best known for his portrayal of Steve Urkel/Stefan Urquelle on ABC’s long-running series, “Family Matters.” The series is one of 22 shows in television history to reach 200 episodes. While attending UCLA’s School of Film and Television, White occupied a dual role as star and producer of the UPN series, “Grown-Ups.”
Upon graduating from UCLA, he worked as a WGA writer for such notable companies as Imagine Entertainment and Disney Channel Television. He has also resumed acting, playing guest starring roles in “Boston Legal,” “House,” “NCIS” and Dreamworks’ ”Dreamgirls.” Last year White played a role in the feature film “Judy Moody and the Not So Bummer Summer,” voiced the role of Sonic the Hedgehog, and wrote, produced and starred in his own web series, “Fake It ‘Til You Make It.”
White currently plays recurring roles on USA Network’s cable smash, “Psych,” and the Nickelodeon series “Problem Solverz.” Coming up he will host the new SyFy game show, “Total Blackout,” and will begin production on a film which he co-wrote, “Parkin’ Lot Pimpin.” JALEEL WHITE teams with two-time champ KYM JOHNSON, who returns for her 11th season.
I’m not sure how I feel about this bit of news as a True Blood fan (first hooked on the Charlaine Harris books, then the HBO series). It was just announced Alan Ball will be leaving the series as showrunner after this season (#5).
I haven’t always agreed with the storylines because I’d hoped the show would remain more faithful to the source material than it has (Bill as Eric’s superior? Never!), but Ball’s guiding hand has at least kept the series faithful in tone to Harris’ novels. It’ll be interesting to see, if HBO renews it for season 6, what direction the series will go in 2013.
Statement from HBO:
“When we extended our overall deal with Alan Ball in July 2011, we always intended that if we proceeded to True Blood’s sixth season that Alan would take a supervisory role on the series and not be the day-to-day showrunner. If we proceed to season six, the show will remain in the very capable hands of the talented team of writers and producers who have been with the show for a number of years. This is the best possible world for both HBO and Alan Ball. Alan will remain available as executive producer to consult and advise on True Blood and he will be free to develop new shows for both HBO and Cinemax.
Banshee, on which Alan serves as executive producer, is the first in-house series for Cinemax and is expected to begin production this spring.”
Statement from Alan Ball:
“True Blood has been, and will continue to be, a highlight of not only my career but my life. Because of the fantastic cast, writers, producers and crew, with whom I have been lucky enough to work these past five years, I know I could step back and the show will continue to thrive as I look forward to new and exciting ventures.”
Young combat photographers shooting in Mexico, Brazil, Uganda and Libya will be the subjects of the limited documentary series Witness on HBO. Michael Mann (Public Enemies) and documentary director David Frankham are teaming up to produce the series which shot the first episode in Juarez, Mexico. Production is underway on three additional episodes.
“David Frankham and I share an admiration for combat photography that captures the universal – and sometimes the indescribable – in a single frame in the midst of chaos and danger,” stated Mann.
“Witness will not provide a historical context. The direction Michael and I took in creating Witness was to immerse the audience via intimacy with the photographer into the intensity of a situation as it’s developing, as they risk their lives to capture one piece of the truth,” said Frankham.
The Story: By following these photojournalists’ immersions, their relations with the people on the ground and their closeness in battle, Witness will show audiences why, when everyone else seeks cover, the war photographer stands.
Check out the new TV spot for the action thriller Safe starring Jason Statham, Catherine Chan, James Hong, Reggie Lee, and Robert John Burke, and directed by Boaz Yakin.
Safe hits theaters on April 27, 2012.
The Plot:
A second-rate cage fighter on the mixed martial arts circuit, Luke Wright lives a numbing life of routine beatings and chump change…until the day he blows a rigged fight. Wanting to make an example of him, the Russian Mafia murders his family and banishes him from his life forever, leaving Luke to wander the streets of New York destitute, haunted by guilt, and tormented by the knowledge that he will always be watched, and anyone he develops a relationship with will also be killed.
But when he witnesses a frightened twelve-year-old Chinese girl, Mei, being pursued by the same gangsters who killed his wife, Luke impulsively jumps to action…and straight into the heart of a deadly high-stakes war. Mei, he discovers, is no ordinary girl but an orphaned math prodigy forced to work for the Triads as a “counter.” He discovers she holds in her memory a priceless numerical code that the Triads, the Russian mob, and a corrupt faction of the NYPD will kill for.
Realizing he’s the only person Mei can trust, Luke tears a swath through the city’s brutal underworld to save an innocent girl’s life…and perhaps even redeem his own.
There’s a campaign going on on Change.org urging the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) to lower the rating of the documentary film Bully from an R to a PG-13. An R rating effectively keeps the film out of middle and high schools, and that’s the audience that should be seeing Bully.
75,000+ people have signed the petition launched by Michigan high school student Katy Butler asking the MPAA to review their rating of the film. Butler was bullied in middle school and knows firsthand the importance of getting an anti-bullying message across to teenagers.
“I can’t believe the MPAA is blocking American teenagers from seeing a movie that could literally save thousands of lives,” stated Butler, a junior at Greenhills High School, in the press release. “I’m speaking out for all those students who suffer every day because of bullying. The MPAA needs to give Bully a PG-13 so the students being bullied, and the bullies themselves, can see this film and schools can show it as well.”
The Weinstein Company had plans to screen the film in middle and high schools but now can not because of the restrictive rating. Co-chair of The Weinstein Company Harvey Weinstein called the rating “an injustice” and has threatened to leave the MPAA because of their decision.
Bully was directed by Lee Hirsch and is set for a theatrical release on March 30, 2012.
The CW’s The Carrie Diaries, the prequel to Sex and the City, has found its Carrie Bradshaw. The teen version of the character brought to life for six seasons on HBO by Sarah Jessica Parker will be played by AnnaSophia Robb, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Robb’s film credits include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Bridge to Terabithia, Race to Witch Mountain, and Soul Surfer.
The series is set before Sex and the City and is based on Candace Bushnell’s books, The Carrie Diaries, and Summer and the City: A Carrie Diaries Novel. Miguel Arteta (Youth in Revolt) is attached to direct the pilot with Sex and City writer Amy B Harris handling the script and on board as showrunner.
“The Carrie Diaries is the coming-of-age story of one of the most iconic characters of our generation. Before Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw was a small town girl who knew she wanted more. She’s ready for real life to start, but first she must navigate her senior year of high school. Up until now, Carrie and her friends have been inseparable. Then Sebastian Kydd comes into the picture, and a friend’s betrayal makes her question everything.
With an unforgettable cast of characters, The Carrie Diaries is the story of how a regular girl learns to think for herself, and evolves into a sharp, insightful writer. Readers will learn about her family background, how she found her writing voice, and the indelible impression her early friendships and relationships left on her. Through adventures both audacious and poignant, we’ll see what brings Carrie to her beloved New York City, where her new life begins.”
Big Time Rush’s “Big Time Summer Tour” will get underway on July 5th in Columbus, Ohio, and on select dates Cody Simpson and X-Factor finalist Rachel Crow will be the group’s opening acts. The Nickelodeon stars will be performing songs off Elevate including “Music Sounds Better With U,” “All Over Again,” and “Elevate” during the 50-city tour.
Tickets go on sale on March 10th at 10 a.m. at ticketmaster.com.
“We can’t wait to hit the road again!” stated Big Time Rush in the press release announcing the tour. “The Better With U tour has been amazing and we’re incredibly grateful to our fans who have supported us and made our first headlining tour a success.”
Big Time Summer Tour Dates
July 5 Columbus Nationwide Arena
July 6 Milwaukee Summerfest
July 7 St. Louis Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
July 8 Cincinnati Riverbend Music Center
July 10 Atlanta Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood
July 11 Birmingham Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
July 14 Dallas Gexa Energy Pavilion
July 15 Tulsa, OK BOK Center
July 17 Phoenix Ashley Furniture Home Store Pavilion
July 19 Irvine, CA Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
July 20 San Diego Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
July 21 Las Vegas Mandalay Bay Events Center
July 22 Mountainview, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre
July 23 Paso Robles, CA California Mid-State Fair
July 25 Salt Lake City USANA Amphitheatre
July 27 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center
July 28 Minneapolis Target Center
July 29 Indianapolis Klipsch Music Center
July 31 Detroit DTE Energy Music Theatre
Aug 1 Cleveland Blossom Music Center
Aug 3 Louisville KFC Yum! Center
Aug 4 Chicago First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
Aug 5 Pittsburgh First Niagara Pavilion
Aug 7 Bethel, NY Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
Aug 9 Buffalo, NY Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
Aug 10 Philadelphia Susquehanna Bank Center
Aug 11 Hershey, PA Hershey Park Pavilion
Aug 12 Boston Comcast Center
Aug 14 Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Springs Performing Arts Center
Aug 16 Des Moines, IA Iowa State Fair
Aug 17 Wantagh, NY Nikon at Jones Beach
Aug 18 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
Aug 19 Washington, DC Jiffy Lube Live
Aug 21 Virginia Beach, VA Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach
Aug 22 Raleigh, NC Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek
Aug 24 Miami Cruzan Amphitheatre
Aug 25 Tampa 1-800-Ask-Gary Amphitheatre
Aug 26 Puerto Rico Coliseo de Puerto Rico
Aug 29 Charlotte, NC Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Aug 31 Bangor, ME Bangor Waterfront Pavilion
Sep 1 Manchester, NH Verizon Wireless Arena
Sep 2 Hartford, CT Comcast Theatre
Sep 4 Montreal Bell Centre
Sep 5 London, ON John Labatt Centre
Sep 7 Ottowa, ON Scotiabank Place
Sep 8 Toronto, ON Molson Amphitheatre
Sep 10 Winnipeg MTS Center
Sep 12 Regina, SK Brandt Centre
Sep 13 Edmonton Rexall Place
Sep 14 Calgary Scotiabank Saddledome
Sep 16 Vancouver, BC Rogers Arena
Sep 18 Portland Rose Garden Arena
More on Big Time Rush [Courtesy of Nickelodeon]:
Big Time Rush – Kendall Schmidt, James Maslow, Carlos Pena Jr. and Logan Henderson – recently released their second album, Elevate. The highly anticipated follow-up to the group’s Gold-certified debut BTR, Elevate features tracks including “Music Sounds Better With U (featuring Mann),” “Show Me” and “All Over Again,” plus brand-new music that will debut on upcoming episodes of the TV series. And on March 6th, Big Time Rush will release the soundtrack for their movie, Big Time Movie, exclusively on iTunes. The soundtrack features covers of beloved Beatles songs including “Help,” “Revolution” and “Hard Day’s Night.” Big Time Movie will premiere on Saturday, March 10th at 8pm, only on Nickelodeon.
Now in its second season, Big Time Rush – which follows four best friends from Minnesota who trade in their hockey sticks for music superstardom in Los Angeles — averages 3.6 million total viewers (+2%, over season one). The launch of the hit series on Nickelodeon drew 6.8 million viewers, making it the most watched live-action series premiere in the network’s history.
Madonna’s following up “Give Me All Your Luvin” single with “Girl Gone Wild,” another dance track that seems like something she would have released a couple of decades ago. Both tracks will be on her upcoming album MDNA dropping on March 26, 2012.
Chicago and The Doobie Brothers are co-headlining a 21 date 2012 summer tour that gets underway on July 11th in Tuscon, Arizona. According to Chicago, the two rock groups will each perform their own sets and then will join together for a “grand finale encore, playing each other’s songs at the end of each of these summer shows.”
Tickets go on sale March 2nd at Ticketmaster.com and LiveNation.com.
For the third year in a row, Chicago will once again let a winning bidder come on stage at each concert and sing their hit, “If You Leave Me Now.” The once-in-a-lifetime “Sing With Chicago” opportunity is a way to raise funds for the American Cancer Society, with $130,000 raised thus far to fight breast cancer. Money raised last year and this year will be donated in honor of Chicago’s friend Paqui Kelly, the wife of Notre Dame’s head football coach Brian Kelly, who is a breast cancer survivor.
Per the group: “Fans in every market will be able to bid on a package that includes a meet and greet with the band, two premium tickets and a chance to sing onstage in concert with the band. Previous year’s winners were so moved by the experience that they launched the Facebook group, ‘I Sang With Chicago,’ where they shared stories about their experiences and videos of themselves onstage singing with the band. Each winner has an incredible story to tell.”
Chicago & Doobie Brothers’ Tour Dates
July 11 Tucson, AZ Anselmo Valencia Amphitheatre
July 13 Lake Tahoe, CA Harvey’s Lake Tahoe
July 14 Concord, CA Sleep Train Pavilion at Concord
July 15 Los Angeles, CA Gibson Amphitheatre
July 17 Denver, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre
July 20 Kansas City, MO Starlight Theatre
July 21 Dallas, TX Gexa Energy Pavilion
July 22 Houston, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
July 24 Atlanta, GA Chastain Park Amphitheatre
July 26 Raleigh, NC Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek
July 29 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center
August 1 Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
August 2 Pittsburgh, PA First Niagara Pavilion
August 4 Atlantic City, NJ Borgata Resort Spa & Casino
August 16 Boston, MA Comcast Center
August 18 Wantagh, NY Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
August 19 Holmdel, NJ P.N.C. Bank Arts Center
August 21 Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center
August 23 Virginia Beach, VA Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach
August 24 Scranton, PA Toyota Pavilion