A massive Storm on the East Coast couldn’t keep the Moviegoers home, with Identity Thief from Universal Pictures opening huge at the Box Office with $36 million from 3,141 theatres.  The Comedy starring Melissa McCarthy and Justin Bateman was panned widely by Critics (24% at Rotten Tomatoes), but Audiences responded fairly well, garnering a B CinemaScore.  If there was any doubt that McCarthy‘s Career is going strong, Bridesmaids which garnered her an Oscar Nomination last year, made only $26 million in its opening weekend.

Last week’s Champ Warm Bodies continues to perform solidly in second with $11.7 million this weekend for Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate Films/eOne Films, tallying-in at an impressive $36.8 million in two weeks.  The Zombie Rom-Com was made for $30 million.

Brilliant Psychological-Thriller, Side Effects, boasts an Oscar-worthy Cast including Rooney Mara, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jude Law and Channing Tatum, but could only muster a third place debut for Open Road Films/eOne Films with $9.4 million from 2,605 theatres.  Meanwhile, Critics loved what is being called Steven Soderbergh‘s final Film, giving it 85% on the Tomatometer, but Audiences didn’t respond quite as well with a B CinemaScore.  Perhaps it will fare better in its secondary run on DVD/Blu-ray/Video-on-Demand.

Silver Linings Playbook continues to receive a major Oscars Boost and it doesn’t hurt that Jennifer Lawrence is just about everywhere including the cover of Vanity Fair and a high-profile appearance on Saturday Night Live a couple weeks back.  The Best Picture Contender earns $6.4 million this weekend in fourth, almost on its way to that illusive $100-million mark for The Weinstein Co./eOne Films (Alliance Films).

Former Champ Mama in its fourth week of release earns $4.2 million in sixth spot, just ahead of Zero Dark Thirty in seventh with $3.9 million.  Argo now in its 18th week of release has a remarkable resurgence with $2.4 million earned this weekend in eighth, likely due to the exposure from Ben Affleck‘s recent Director’s Guild Award and the Ensemble’s Screen Actors Guild Awards victories. Top Gun‘s 3-D Re-Release by Paramount Pictures rounds out the Top Ten with $2 million, from 300 theatres.

You won’t believe your ears!  Céline Dion took part in CCTV‘s annual Chinese New Year Gala, which aired earlier today (tomorrow overseas).  The Canadian Diva paired with Chinese Singer Zuying Song for a Duet on  Jasmine Flower, where Dion‘s gratuitous  riffs and runs were heard on the traditional Classic.  To be honest, her pronunciation was actually pretty impressive!  And that Ladies and Gentlemen, is why she truly is an international Megastar.

Watch the Performance in full below:

And of course, no Céline Dion performance is complete without a rendition of her biggest Hit, My Heart Will Go On:

Dion‘ s next English Studio Album Water and a Flame, is slated for a release Fall 2013 via Sony Music and will be a part-Covers Album, with some new Songs.  It has been confirmed that a Duet with Stevie Wonder on his Classic Overjoyed will be included,  while Babyface and Ne-Yo also have signed-on to produce Tracks.  On-board again is iconic Ballad Writer Diane Warren who penned a Tune for her called Unfinished Songs.

Chinese New Year is on Sunday.  Have you read your Year of the Snake Forecast yet?

(Photo/video credit: CCTV)

With up to 25 cm of Snow expected to fall in Toronto by this evening, the journey to this Winter’s first major Snowstorm was a long haul, teasing us occasionally with some mild Spring-like Weather.  I was out and about snapping-up some of the delightful sights of the City as a little bit of Snowfall won’t stop me from enjoying a rare free Friday!

As is the case with Snow Storms, Commuters are smart to avoid the Traffic and slippery conditions. A normally bustling Yorkville was quiet today.

Some are taking today’s Storm into stride, making the best of it.  See this cute little greeting for those entering Manulife Centre:

Billy of course always is happy to be outside – rain or shine – and although he struggled a bit navigating through some snow piles, wouldn’t you agree the little Snowstache suits him just well?

Lady Gaga, who’s in-town till tomorrow for her Born this Way Ball at Air Canada Centre, normally draws a big crowd  outside her Hotel, but even her Monsters have enough sanity to put safety first. Many of them instead of have queued  under the  covered tunnel at Air Canada Centre‘s Bay Street entrance for days for a chance to get into her Fan Pit.  Some will even be lucky enough to meet her tonight following the Show!  Watch Video here at the Toronto Star.

In true Bi-Polar form surely enough, we’re expecting Rain and temperatures of up to 5°C on Monday.  Only in Toronto.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

It was a fun week on Global Television‘s The Morning Show (National Edition) as Star of NBC‘s Deception, Katherine LaNasa, flew-in from Los Angeles, finger-in-cast to Co-Host the popular program.  Accompanying her was Husband and Melrose Place Star Grant Show, who joined as Co-Host mid-week, taking-in some fun this week which included scantily-clad Models, Cocktails, Bedazzling and Grilling – yes, Grilling amidst the massive Snowstorm our City is facing.  Yes, it was the Shows in the Snow.

Today marked the final day the Couple would be appearing after a week-long visit which also included them taping a Segment for Entertainment Tonight Canada also at The Cupcake Shoppe, airing on Valentine’s Day. LaNasa said on The Morning Show, “I actually don’t mind the snow – we rarely get to see it!”, hinting that gladly she’d on for another week if she could.

Show who married LaNasa last Summer, yesterday helped bedazzle a Lucky Clover on LaNasa‘s middle finger, which currently is in a cast still after an injury filming the Season Finale of Deception.  He revealed that they went on their first date on St. Patrick’s Day at a Bar named The Happy Ending, clarifying “there was no ‘happy ending’ that night”.  He also mentioned that currently he’s working on Lifetime Series Maids, from Creator Marc Cherry, who brought us the amazing Desperate Housewives.  The Series is about four sexy Latina Maids with dreams of their own, while they work for the Rich and Famous in Beverly Hills.   Newly-launched Station Lifetime Canada, which also is owned by Shaw Media (coincidentally also the owner of Global Television which airs Deception in Canada) is expected to air the Series later this year.

The amazing LaNasa was sweet enough to arrange a Photo Op together with her Husband for Billy and me  following her Taping today, pulling us in from the Snow and wouldn’t you say it turned-out just beautifully? Glittery snow, smiling faces, squinty eyes and a Dog in Faux Fur!

Deception airs Monday nights on Global at 9:00 PM EST.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Although he’s still a fresh face, Singer Dash has some big plans ahead after just being signed by Epic Records (Sony Music) by L.A. Reid and Tricky Stewart. Making the most out of his first-ever Toronto visit, he went straight off the plane at Toronto Island Airport, straight to City, performing this morning on Breakfast Television, before heading straight over to Global‘s The Morning Show (National Edition) where I was lucky enough to get a Snap with him and a Handshake.  “I’ve only been here a few hours and I’m loving it”, he says about Toronto.

Complete with a huge Entourage, the Brooklyn-based Singer will be doing a couple performances during his stay including stops at Brampton’s Throne Entertainment, Toronto’s ARIA Night Club and Niagara Falls’ Club Seven these next couple days.  He also will be appearing on CP24 Breakfast tomorrow morning.

Although he was heard on Jersey Shore Star DJ Pauly D‘s Track Night of My Life, Dash still is on the verge of releasing his first Single. The road to success has been long in-the-making for him, after having faced several setbacks including a near-fatal Car Crash when he was just 16, leaving him in a Coma.

Read more about DASH here.

This is the last time I try to do Hand Signs while wearing Mittens. LOL

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/Dashdoesit.com)

 A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III centers around a Graphic Designer whose life falls apart after his Girlfriend breaks-up with him.  The Comedy stars Charlie Sheen, Katheryn Winnick, Jason Schwartzmann, Aubrey Plaza, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Bill Murray and Dermot Mulroney.

Video Service Corp. and Mr. Will Wong want to give ten Readers a chance to see the Movie before everybody else.  The Screening takes place Monday, February 11, 2013 at 7:30 PM, Cineplex Yonge & Dundas.

Watch the Trailer in full below:

Also, stream the entire Soundtrack right here at Rolling Stone, including a Duet with Winnick and Sheen!

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook before February 8, 2013.  You should also be following on Twitter here.  As an added bonus, I will be randomly drawing one Winner who’ll win a Signed Photo from Katheryn Winnick!  Good luck.

Video Service Corp. releases A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III on February 15, 2013.

Remember to “like” Video Service Corp. on Facebook right here!

(Photo/video credit: Video Service Corp.)

Comedian, Singer, Writer, Actor and Entrepreneur Dan Aykroyd truly is a National Treasure, so who more fitting to present a Diamond Jubilee Medal tonight at Roy Thomson Hall than him?  The Funnyman earlier taped an Interview at CBC for George Stromboulopoulos Tonight, only to be joined by that popular TV Personality at the Gala, which honoured Members of the Order of Canada who reside in Ontario.  The Medals recognize outstanding contributions and achievements from all sectors of Society. Other Presenters tonight included Jian Ghomeshi, Tom Cochrane,  Craig Kielburger, Peter Mansbridge, David Mirvish and Brian Williams.

All dappered-up, Aykroyd was awesome enough to stop for a quick Snap and other Fans-in-waiting had nothing but praise for him being a great sport. Noticing my Camera Strap in the way, he did a quick adjustment to ensure we got a winning Shot!

The Primetime EMMY Winner and Oscar-nominated Actor is attached to the long-overdue Ghostbusters III (Ivan Reitman rumoured to direct) and this year will be featured in Dorothy of Oz which features the Voice Work of Hugh Dancy, Lea Michele, Patrick Stewart, Kelsey Grammer, Meg Hilty, Jim Belushi and Martin Short. The Actor was last seen in 2012’s Box Office Hit The Campaign and coincidentally, we spotted his Co-Star Katherine LaNasa here the other day!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/Crystal Head Vodka)

Is Pinkberry finally coming to Toronto? It would appear we’re one step closer.  The wildly-popular Frozen Yogurt Chain which has taken the U.S. by storm since first arriving in California back in 2005, made its Canadian debut in Vancouver back in July 2011.  But how is it possible that Pinkberry Canada can exist in Canada without a Toronto presence at all we wonder?

I took to Twitter to dig for details just when we Torontonians can expect some of that tangy deliciousness.  They replied, “We are working hard. There are some ducks to get in a row first but we want to be there!”.  Somewhat reassuring, yes?  I mean, how else can we lure Pinkberry Addicts Reese Witherspoon, Kim Kardashian and Lindsay Lohan to Toronto?

In the meantime, we can still get our Fro-Yo Fix with more than acceptable substitutions like the outstanding Menchie’s and some recent Competitors in the landscape like Yogurty’s, Yoco and the evolving Yogen Früz.

(Photo credit: Pinkberry)

Dream come true! Mariah Carey has announced that she has recorded the Theme Song to Disney‘s upcoming Blockbuster Oz The Great and Powerful.  The Song titled Almost Home, is a Collaboration between Carey, Justin Gray, Lindsey Ray, Simone Porter and Norwegian Mega-Producers Stargate, who are responsible for some of Rihanna and Ne-Yo‘s biggest Hits.

On Almost Home, Carey says  “It’s a feel-good record, evoking the feeling of reaching your home and being with people that you love.”

Iconic Photographer David LaChapelle will be directing the Video of the Song after collaborating together for 2011’s Loverboy Video.  He is calling this new Video, “A Duet between Mariah and the Movie”.  That quote pretty much just made me die.

Almost Home will be released on February 19, 2013, making these next 13 days the longest ever.  Cannot wait!

Oz the Great and Powerful hits theatres March 8, 2013.  Missed its Super Bowl TV Spot? See it here.

(Photo credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

For fun, Canada’s favourite Coffee & Doughnut Chain Tim Hortons took Actor Jason Priestley‘s idea of cramming a Timbit (Donut Hole) within a Doughnut so much, that they created a Creation  in his honour, The Priestley.  Essentially, they take a Chocolate Timbit and bake it inside a Strawberry Vanilla Doughnut, as the jelly filling enrobes the Timbit after hearing about his idea originally on Twitter.

Priestley, who soon will be in Toronto for David Mamet‘s political Play Race between April and May, was ecstatic upon receiving the Tweet from Tim Hortons, replying “Thank you Tim Hortons!!! This is the proudest day of my life!!! A doughnut named after me at Timmie‘s?? #bestdayever”.

Now, if the Marketing Department truly were savvy, they’d start approaching other notable Canadian Celebrities for Doughnut of the Month-type Collaborations.  Could you imagine a crunchy Potato Chip-topped Doughnut by Celine Dion?  Shania‘s favourite fruits-filled Donut?  Genius!

(Photo credit: @TimHortons)