Star Gazing

HOLLYWOOD—The best of 2017, in the music industry, the top songs were: Hands down, the most played and played song of the year goes to "Despacito." A lot of people loved Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber's hit bilingual single. Drake's "Passionfruit" was another hit. Another year, another great album. Taylor Swift, "New Year's Day," one word, evocative....

HOLLYWOOD—The 51st Annual CMA Awards show took place on Wednesday, November 8, airing on ABC with country superstars Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood presiding over the evening and returning as hosts for the 10th consecutive year. Song of the Year went to Taylor Swift, who was not present to accept the award for "Better Man." Swift is a once-in-a-lifetime...

HOLLYWOOD—Why is it that we are attracted to films about lawyers? We've seen everything from "My Cousin Vinny" to "A Few Good Men" to romantic comedies like "Adam's Ribs." Nevertheless, we tend to only see stories about lawyers who litigate cases. In fiction, we rarely encounter a tax lawyer or solicitor who drafts wills and trusts. Almost everyone is...

HOLLYWOOD—Celebrities and pop stars are stepping up to the plate to help in the relief efforts of the devastated Puerto Rico. Rapper Pitbull who was born in Miami and is of Cuban decent, has been praised after sending his private plane to hurricane-hit Puerto Rico to transport cancer patients to the United States mainland. His good deed, was discovered after...

HOLLYWOOD—This is the summer of the blockbusters. However, blockbusters, aren't for everybody. This summer, you have "Transformers: The Last Knight, "Spider-Man: Homecoming" and "War for the Planet of the Apes." You'll also have the animated sequel "Cars 3," animated threequel "Despicable Me 3," and Christopher Nolan's war epic "Dunkirk." But what if you don't really care for blockbusters. Not...

HOLLYWOOD—It's time to gather your friends and break out the drinks because on Sunday, February 12, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, the music world will be on fire with the 59th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony. Well, after a five-year stint, Grammy host, rapper and actor LL Cool J has been replaced by James Corden, the host of "The Late...

HOLLYWOOD—One of the saddest endings to 2016 was the death of Miss Debbie Reynolds. I was in total disbelief and shock. I spoke to Miss Reynolds a few years ago on the phone, and she was one of the most heart-warming, humble, down to earth person I ever spoke to. Miss Reynolds grief for her daughter, Carrie Fisher leads...

HOLLYWOOD—As the famous New Year's Eve ball descends, an estimated 1 million people will be in Times Square, millions nationwide and over a billion watching throughout the world are united in bidding farewell to 2016. In just a few days everyone will countdown, 10, 9, 8, 7,6,5, 4,3, 2,1...Happy New Year 2017! What a year it has been. A year...

HOLLYWOOD—Hollywood folks used to call Toronto Film Festival "Hollywood North" because of all the films being shown there. The Toronto International Film Festival, which is referred to as TIFF, is a major public film festival held every September in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The festival was founded back in 1976, and has grown to become one of the most prestigious and...