The Clinton Foundation Millennium Network held its inaugural Toronto Event this evening at The Berkeley Church and ringing-in the occasion was Honorary Ambassador Rachel McAdams and Special Musical Guest Tegan and Sara.  President Bill Clinton‘s Foundation since 2007 has encouraged the next generation to address global challenges like improving Global Health, strengthening Economies and promoting healthier Childhoods.

Speaking before  a sold-out Crowd, Clinton arrived at a hidden entrance at the Venue with a multi-SUV Barricade speaking for approximately 30 minutes tonight.  Tickets ranged from $150-$2500, the upper range allowing Fans of his an ultra-rare Photo Op with him.  McAdams went on stage at approximately 8:00 PM to speak briefly and Canadian Alternative Rock/Pop Sensations Tegan and Sara entertained the audience with a quick Set shortly after Clinton spoke.

With several members of the Secret Service present to ensure his safety, a fit and tanned-looking Clinton exited the Venue, throwing a quick wave to Fans and exchanging niceties with some of the Event’s Organizers.  McAdams also was super-kind to come out quickly to greet Fans after being spotted chatting with Clinton by the Exit.

See a Clip of Clinton greeting Fans below:

See our Snap with McAdams below, our second time meeting the talented Actress!

See a Clip of McAdams greeting Fans below:

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

City announced its eagerly-awaited new 2013 Fall and Mid-Season Lineup earlier today this morning on Breakfast Television and although the Starpower may not have been as stellar as previous Upfronts, the Station did introduce some promising welcome additions and the welcome return of some Favourites!

Unveiled earlier today were:

Package Deal – a Vancouver-filmed Sitcom about three dysfunctionally-close Brothers and the Woman who comes between them. The Series stars Randal Edwards, Julia Voth, Jay Malone and Harland Williams. The Series airs Mondays this Fall at 8:30 PM EST. Learn more here.  The Principal Cast of the Series came to introduce the Series earlier today and pictured below are Voth (L), Malone (Top R), Williams (Bottom R).

“Shakin’ it like we at a Strip Club.”.

Finally!  Some new Miley!  I’m one of the few Fans who actually like Miley Cyrus more for her Music than her Acting and I’m thrilled her new Track We Can’t Stop doesn’t disappoint.  A sparse mid-tempo Jam with Alternative R&B-leanings and produced by Mike Will Made It, Cyrus certainly is growing artistically and sounds more confident than ever before here, especially lyrically.  There is something remotely Rihanna-esque about the Track, don’t you think?

Listen to the Track below:

Canadian Megastar Avril Lavigne is back in town to promote her brand new Single, Here’s To Never Growing Up.  Lavigne beat her Fans to the punch, getting to her first appearance of the day before 7:00 AM. After a quick touch-up by her Make-up Artist upon existing her Suburban, she donned her famous Aviators looking Military-chic, to pose for some Photos.  Although quiet, she actually is really, really nice and after trying for the past 10 years, finally I got my Snap with her and even Billy was a part of the fun!

On the itinerary this morning were to back-to-back Interviews at KISS 92.5‘s The Roz & Mocha Show and 98.1 CHFI.   Catching wind of her appearance just in time, Fans arrived catching the Singer/Songwriter/Fashion Designer and Actress who not only has sold over 30 million Albums, but also 50 million Singles in her eleven-year Career.

Lavigne arrived this weekend from Los Angeles with soon-to-be Husband Chad Kroeger, Frontman of Nickelback and today she was sporting proudly her 14-carat Diamong Ring while doing Press.  Later today she will make a highly-publicized visit to MuchMusic‘s New.Music.Live, inviting Fans  on Twitter  to come down to see her at 6:00 PM, when she is expected to greet Fans by the window.

Here’s to Never Growing Up (co-written with Kroeger) continues to climb the charts and already is at number 17 on the Canadian Hot 100, while in the U.S. the Track is at number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100.  The Singer’s still-untitled fifth Studio Disc is due this September via Sony Music Canada and a second Single already has been slated, titled Rock and Roll. It is said that Lavigne was courting a famous Female Vocalist to collaborate on the Track.

Just last month, Lavigne was voted one of Canada’s 50 Most Beautiful People as per Hello! Canada. More on that here.

Lavigne also was just announced to perform at the 2013 MuchMusic Video Awards on Sunday, June 16, 2013 here in Toronto!

See Lavigne with Fans earlier outside KISS 92.5 Studios:

See our Snap below:

Not that it was a contest, especially with its eye-popping $98.5 million opening last weekend, but Fast and Furious 6 for a second week regins supreme at the Box Office in North America, earning $34.5 million from 3,686 theatres for Universal Pictures.

Never to be outdone, Now You See Me, the Magic-themed Action-Thriller exceeds expectations, earning a smart $28.1 million from 2,925 theatres, landing it in second spot for Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate Films/eOne Films.  Made for $75 million, the Film stars Mark Ruffalo, Jesse Eisenberg, Mélanie Laurent, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine. Although Critics weren’t wowed, tallying-in at 45% on the Tomatometer, Audiences responded with a resounding “yes” and an A- CinemaScore.

Will Smith and his Son Jaden team together on Sci-Fi/Adventure, After Earth, debuting in third with $27 million from 3,401 theatres.  This proves a bit troublesome for Sony Pictures which invested $130 million in production costs on the Film.  Critics panned it, giving it a 12% rating at Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences thought likewise, although they were far more forgiving with a B CinemaScore.

In the fourth spot this weekend we have a rare two-way tie between Epic, the latest Animated Feature from 20th Century Fox, which in its second week brings-in with $16.4 million alongside Star Trek Into Darkness.  To date, the latter has grossed $181 in North America for Paramount Pictures. The Hangover Part III slips to fifth spot this weekend, earning $15.9 million and a two-week cumulative domestic total of $87.4 million.

Rounding-out the Top Ten this weekend is Mud from Roadside Attractions/eOne Films, earning $1.2 million from only 580 theatres in its sixth week. To date, the Drama starring Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon, has grossed $16.9 million.  It has earned some super reviews – an almost unheard of 99% on the Tomatometer.

With a lack of Marquee Features to film in Toronto this Summer, David Cronenberg‘s long-gestating project, Maps to the Stars is confirmed to film in Toronto between Monday, July 8 through Monday, August 12, 2013.  Co-produced by Entertainment One and Prospero Pictures, the Film as of last week had inked multiple distribution deals in Cannes and is said to be on the verge of closing even more deals in several other markets soon including Mexico, Hong Kong,  India and Brazil.

The dark Drama based upon the Novel Dead Stars by Bruce Wagner, who also helms the Script, is said to be a scathing attack on Hollywood Celebrity Culture and the pursuit of Fame.  Its most recognizable face, Robert Pattinson stars as Jerome and as announced prior, Julianne Moore and John Cusack star also as Havana and Sanford respectively. Moore was in the City just last Summer filming the Carrie Remake and we look forward to seeing her around again!

Recent additions to the Cast include Mia Wasikowska, Olivia Williams and Newcomer Evan Bird in the shocking role of a drug-addicted Child Actor.  Toronto’s own Sarah Gadon, who has starred in Cronenberg‘s last two Films A Dangerous Method and Cosmopolis (opposite Pattinson), reunites with him a third time here.

More to come…

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

OMG. This is insanely cute. Sophia Grace, whom we’ve come to love through her and her Cousin Rosie‘s fame on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, finally has released her debut Single after several performances on that Daytime Staple.  I normally roll my eyes when I hear about a Child trying to break into Showbiz, but legit, this Girl really is talented.  A Natural.

“Nicki is my Princess, Ellen is my Queen”, proclaims the adorable Sophia. Talk about Friends in high places. What.  She’s just eight-years-old. EIGHT!

Girls Just Gotta Have Fun actually has a pretty edgy Beat and solid Production; them Lyrics are actually pretty solid.  And Sophia‘s vocals sound amazing!   This is just awesome.

Watch the Video below:

Download Girls Just Gotta Have Fun on iTunes here.

(Photo/video credit: SGE Records)

With a few action-packed Vacation Days scheduled earlier this week, what better way to have enjoyed it than to Test-Drive a 2013 Honda Accord Sedan Sport? Being a Commuter for the most part, I miss the convenience of being able to drive up north to see my Family, so the sleek and luxurious Vehicle more than ably served as my Chariot. In a gorgeous Obsidian Blue Pearl, eyes would migrate towards it as I navigated through miles of traffic lights on Yonge Street  from Downtown to Uptown Toronto. One female Onlooker asks me, “What colour is that? I’ve never seen anything that beautiful!”.

Looks aside though, this certainly is the smoothest Vehicle I’ve ever driven. Navigating Speed Bumps was painless, unlike some previous vehicles I’ve driven. Being just the perfect size, I was able to negotiate turns in those pesky tight-cornered Indoor Parking Lots Downtown with ease. The Car was efficient on gas, certainly tallying-in my share of kilometres over the span of five days. I was able to fill the Vehicle on approximately $50.00, which is rather reasonable.

Although I didn’t get a chance to  preview it properly, I am a bit obsessed with Honda‘s Eco Assist™ feature, giving Drivers the option of blue and green Coaching Bars on either side of the Speedometer, helping them go farther on their tank of gas.  Brilliant.

The ultimate Litmus Test however came this past Tuesday night as we experienced the most horrific Rainshower in the wee hours of the morning, resulting in a full-on flooding of the Don Valley Parkway the next day. I made it home safe and sound with the Vehicle’s masterful traction, without a slip or a hiccup, me fully in control of the slippery, wet road.

Let us also talk about some of the more fun features! With a USB Port, those of us with iPods, Phones and MP3-playing Devices can connect our devices to the Car’s amazing six-speaker sound system and enjoy our own customized Playlists – not to mention keeping our devices charged as they play!

The handy Rear-View Camera on the Dashboard is a great asset when driving in reverse mode and also doing dreaded Parallel Parking. In all, the 2013 Honda Accord Sedan Sport is a dream and definitely a Car I’d consider driving on the long-term.

More details and pricing here!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Battle Los Angeles, Crazy.Stupid.Love, The Dark Knight Rises and Oz The Great and Powerful. At age 13, Joey King already has built a Résumé which  several Actors and Actresses might never achieve in a lifetime.  Born and raised in Los Angeles, King appears on the verge of Superstardom and a quick perusal of what’s coming next gives us every reason to be excited.

Taking  time to chat with us in advance of Oz The Great and Powerful‘s DVD release, I learned that acting is actually something that King always has wanted for herself since the age of four, first getting her start in Commercials. Older Sisters Haley and Kelli, whom she looks-up to greatly, may have paved the way for her with their own respective acting careers, but she makes it clear from the get-go that she is in charge of her own path. “People ask me all the time, ‘Were you forced into acting?” she admits. “I’m like, no. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and I hope I get to do it for the rest of my life.”.

On how she became involved with one of 2013’s largest grossing Blockbusters landing the coveted Role of vulnerable and sweet China Girl, she recalls, “I went straight to the Screen Test, which is the final stage of the auditioning process.  I was so excited I got to meet Sam Raimi, to audition and do my lines for him.”.  She actually was immersed in work when she found out she had been cast in Oz The Great and Powerful. “I was in India filming The Dark Knight Rises and my Sister was Video Chatting with me and told me that I got the Role. It was so unforgettable!  Breathtaking.”.

King has nothing but fun memories of working with the Film’s brilliant Ensemble Cast, getting up-close and personal. “Whether it be Zach Braff, James Franco and I playing pranks on each other, to Michelle Williams asking me when I got a Cell Phone so she’d know when to do so with Matilda (Williams‘ Daughter with the late Heath Ledger),  everyone was so sweet. I had the best time filming it!”.

Although a Sequel to Oz The Great and Powerful still has yet to be confirmed, 2013 will see not one, but two more important releases from this remarkable young Talent.  “I’ve got White House Down with Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx coming out”, she tells me.  The Montreal-filmed Action-Thriller is about a Capitol Policeman who must rescue his Daughter and save the President with the arrival of a group of Paramilitary Invaders.  “I love Montreal, it’s beautiful there.  I love the cold!”, she tells me about her experience filming in our native Canada.

In addition to being a Fan-of and Friends with Taylor Swift, having starred in her Video for Mean, King reveals to me whom she’d love most to work with in the future. “Jennifer Lawrence, Jessica Chastain is up there and Jason Bateman for sure. I love him! “.  Diplomatically, she tells me there are many more with so much amazing Talent in the Hollywood Pool and surely it won’t be long before she gets her wish.

King also particularly is excited for upcoming Horror, The Conjuring, due this July. “I play one of five Sisters and my name’s Christine. Our Family lives in this house and something’s sketchy about it”, she explains. “I saw the Film recently and oh my God, it’s so scary! I think everyone will really enjoy it and it will blow their socks off!”.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada releases Oz The Great and Powerful on DVD and Blu-ray Combo Pack on Tuesday, June 11, 2013.  Click here to pre-order your copy.

Follow Joey King on Twitter here.

Enjoy the Audio from our Chat below:

(Photo credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada | Video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

This definitely is something special. The final Trailer for Monsters University, the long-awaited Follow-up – make that Prequel – to 2001’s Monsters Inc., has arrived.  Here we get a close look at how the Friendship between Mike (Billy Crystal) and Sulley (John Goodman) developed and we even see them when they weren’t necessarily the best of Friends.  We also get a sense of their own roads to fulfilling their destinies as Scarers.

Watch the Trailer below:

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada releases Monsters University on Friday, June 21, 2013.

(Photo/video credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada)