No surprises here!  As rumoured last week, Channing Tatum nabs the Title as People Magazine‘s 2012 Sexiest Man Alive.  Tatum, who turned-up temperatures earlier this year with his starring Role in Male Stripper Flick Magic Mike, has proven his promise as the new Hollywood Megastar with great success  in 2012  Smashes like The Vow, 21 Jump Street and Haywire.

Things definitely aren’t slowing-down anytime soon as Tatum is hard at work still. Out in 2013 are Psychological Thriller Side Effects in February, G.I. Joe: Retaliation in March, Save-the-President Blockbuster White House Down (filming in Montreal) in June and also True Events-inspired Foxcatcher to be released in the latter part of the year. At once, he is prepping for work on three separate Films, including a Sequel to 21 Jump Street. Pretty much everything Tatum‘s touched has turned to gold at the Box Office and we can expect his Reign to continue for a bit.  And oh yes, he is pretty sexy too, isn’t he?

I’ve met Tatum on a couple occasions and can say hands down – including this Interview – along with 2011  Winner Bradley Cooper, is one of the nicest Guys in the Business.  Cooper once again made the List this year, despite handing the Crown to Tatum.  Embarrassed, he admits to People, “My Friends are going to kill me. They’re going to own me over this.  I challenge you to say one thing nice about this.”.

Also on the List this year, representing individual American States are obvious choices: Ben Affleck, Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, Tom Brady, Jon Hamm, Ian Somerhalder, Paul Rudd, Dylan McDermott, Aaron Paul, Chris Hemsworth, Max Greenfield, Wes Bentley, Matt Bomer and many more.

Click here to read more about Tatum‘s newest and well-deserved Title  and Photos of other Contenders over at People.

(Photo credit: People Magazine)

Awesome Piece.  Err…  well, you know what I mean.  26-year-old American Adult Film Star James Deen is featured this month in INTERVIEW Magazine and he is interviewed by none other than Screenwriter Bret Easton Ellis, who wrote the game-changing and  AMERICAN PSYCHO which made a Star out of once-Child Actor Christian Bale.  Will this meaty Role (pardon the pun) do the same for Deen in making him a crossover Success?

Ellis and Deen collaborated on upcoming Film The Canyons, an upcoming Drama about Youth, Sex and Glamour in Los Angeles, 2012, starring Pap-Magnet Lindsay Lohan and also  controversial Director, Gus Van Sant.  The Flick, due sometime in 2013, has Deen – real name: Bryan Matthew Sevilla – starring as a wealthy 20-something with an overbearing Personality.

On the hoards of Paparazzi hanging-out around the Set of the Film to get Snaps of Lohan, Deen tells Ellis he wasn’t really much of a target, stating “I mean, Paparazzi can’t get a picture of me doing anything interesting. I’m untouchable. Here’s James Deen peeing in public, making out with a girl in a bar, drunk and puking. Yeah, I’m a Porn Star. What do you expect?”.

Click here to read more.

(Photo credit: Ross Simonini/INTERVIEW Magazine)

Yes, it’s really happening, Toronto!  Famed The Cheesecake Factory finally is coming north and Insiders  reveal to a reliable Source  that none other than über-glam Sherway Gardens in Etobicoke is being eyed as Home to the beloved American Eatery, which has a Legacy tracing back to the ’40s.  The Restaurant is primed as  one of several additions to the upscale Shopping Centre’s forthcoming Expansion plans.

Currently, Torontonians can get a taste of their delicious Entrées, Salads, Sandwiches and Desserts at Walden Galleria in Buffalo, New York.  Top-tier Grocer Pusateri’s in Yorkville also offer a few Selections of their Cakes and Cupcakes currently.

Click here to see the amazingness they have to offer on their Menu.

No word yet on the Opening Date, whether 100% it will indeed be Sherway Gardens, and to what extent the Menu here might mirror that of its American Counterpart, but it’s soon to be confirmed we’re hearing…

Say Cheese!

Check-out some excited Reader Reactions to the News:

(Photo credit: The Cheesecake Factory)

Legendary.  Robin Williams made several chilly Fans happy tonight arriving outside the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, stopping generously to take Photos and sign Autographs for Fans upon arrival less than an hour before Showtime.  Keeping the situation completely under control with his Handlers, the youthful-looking 61-year-old Oscar, Emmy, Golden Globe and GRAMMY Winner took his time showing his gratitude to Fans – a true Class Act.

Williams appeared tonight at An Evening of Sit Down with Robin Williams hosted by his Pal, Canadian Actor/Author/Director David Steinberg, entertaining a Crowd of devout Fans to raves on Twitter.

2013 looks to be a big year for the Veteran Entertainer, whom I’ve long adored since his Mork & Mindy Days, with four Films on-the-way including eagerly-awaited The Big Wedding in which he stars alongside Diane Keaton, Katherine Heigl, Amanda Seyfried, Ben Barnes, Susan Sarandon, Robert DeNiro and Topher Grace.  Williams also stars in The Angriest Man in Brooklyn opposite Mila Kunis, plus The Butler with a super All-Star Cast including Oprah Winfrey, John Cusack, Mariah Carey, Alex Pettyfer, James Marsden, Alan Rickman, Forest Whitaker and many more.

Watch a quick Clip I captured of Williams and his Toronto Fans:

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Only in Toronto would something like this happen!  Iconic Indo-Canadian Director Deepa Mehta was spotted earlier today of all places doing Groceries with her Husband Producer David Hamilton, at Whole Foods in Yorkville.  As I was grinding my Coffee Beans away, I looked-over to see the Toronto Native browsing some Treats and she was more than sweet herself to stop and snap a Photo together.

Mehta, best-known for her Elements Trilogy: Fire, Earth and Water, just made a splash at TIFF 2012 with her latest Film, Midnight’s Children – currently playing in Toronto at Varsity Cinemas.  “How could you not have seen it yet?”, she asks me teasingly.  I promise soon, Deepa!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Just bringing your attention to a great cause locally.  MUSED 3 is a Cabaret-Style Fundraiser featuring local Talent (Singers, Dancers, Comedians), in support of the Christie-Ossington Neighbourhood Centre‘s Nook Children’s Program.  The Program which launched in 1996, targets needs related to Education, Literacy, Settlement, Health, Social Isolation, Poverty and Employment for Children 6-12 years old and their Families. Previous Events held were in support of Japanese Earthquake & Tsunami Relief and also, the 519 Church Street Community Centre.

The Event takes place at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre (Yonge x Alexander) on Saturday, December 15, 2012 at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $20 at the door, or $15 in Advance. Get your Tickets here and learn more via Twitter here!

Elegance.  With all eyes on the return of the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, many are more so curious about the Arrival of its Culinary Centerpiece, Café Boulud, the just-launched Toronto Chapter from Michelin-starred Chef, Daniel Boulud.  Reuniting with my lovely  Friends Tina and Moulann, the Setting was just perfect for an intimate Affair.  Romantically-lit, with walls adorned brightly with colurful splashes of Pop Art galore, it leaves an impression not soon to be forgotten.

Desserts were on the Agenda tonight and the three of us gathered a cross-section of Staff-recommended Selections.  I tried the Chocolate Mousse Cake (divided perfectly into three sections) and dressed with a side of Pear Sorbet, Nashi Pear Cubes and Pomegranate – a delight to every bite. My Friend Tina had no complaints about her Hazelnut Gianduja Gâteau, complete with Crystallized Violet (think: the easily breakable Sugar Glass used in Cinema with crushed Flower Petals) and Blood Orange-Vodka Sorbet.  Moulann (and the rest of us!) are obsessed completely with the Grapefruit Givré – the Fruit filled with Sorbet and topped with Sesame Halva (a classy Cousin to Candy Floss).  Coffee was rich and bold and you know you’re in fine Company when the the Canister contains Sugar in lump format.

Café Boulud is exactly what has been missing in a somewhat trying-of-late Yorkville, and although it may not look so, it is completely accessible.  Most Desserts here  range in-and-around the $10 mark.  International Flare, Toronto Budget.

Click here for more.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

I’m completely obsessed!  For fun, I was browsing through the Google play Store for Karaoke Applications on my Android and came across the amazing RedKaraoke! With over 45k songs in their updated Library, you can now sing and record yourself (Video/Audio) singing along to your favourite Songs on your Phone or Tablet!

The Experience is interactive and you can share your singing with the rest of the World.  Although the Sound Quality isn’t the best and obvious challenges of balancing levels of the Backing Music with your Voice with the tiny Microphone on your Cell Phone, still this is tons of fun and you must try it!

Download the Application for your Phone or Tablet here.

For fun I sang Muse’s Madness – one of my fave current Songs and you can check it out in full below.  Again, pardon the volume levels!

Although it is no real surprise, Skyfall, the latest in the James Bond Franchise, opens in with some spectacular numbers this weekend. Opening in 3,505 theatres, the Action-Thriller earns $87 million in its North American debut after pulling-in amazing numbers overseas where it opened prior, already earning $321 million in those territories. This qualifies as the highest opening for the Franchise in  Daniel Craig‘s time in the iconic Role, besting Quantum of Solace which opened in North America with $67 million back in January 2009.

Last week’s Champ Wreck-it Ralph still is going strong and Families are responding in droves, earning $33 million in its second weekend of release.  In just two weeks, the Animated Feature from Disney has grossed over $90 million already.

Trailing in a distant third is Paramount Pictures’ Flight starring Denzel Washington, with $15.1 million from 2,047 theatres in its second weekend, just ahead of the amazing Argo in fourth with $6.7 million, now earning over $85 million in its domestic Run for Warner Bros.

The remainder of the Top Ten is rounded out by some Veterans, including Taken 2 in its fifth week taking-in $4 million, edging Pitch Perfect in sixth spot with $2.4 million. Former number one Film Hotel Transylvania, slips to tenths pot with $2.1 million. Sony Pictures just announced a Sequel is on-the-way for the Monster Smash.

Bubbling-under is Disney‘s Lincoln which earned a stellar $900k this weekend from just 11 theatres across North America, where screenings were sold-out almost completely.  The Film is showing exclusively in Toronto at Varsity Cinemas and will continue to expand in coming weeks. Lots of Oscar buzz for Daniel Day-Lewis here; expect this one to be a Player in coming weeks.

The Stars came-out in droves to support the American Film Institute Fest Premiere of LINCOLN last night in Los Angeles at the Grauman Chinese Theatre.  Seldom-seen Star Daniel Day-Lewis came-out looking as dapper as ever and Sally Field looked incredible in a sheer lace Number in red!  Both posed alongside Director Steven Spielberg for an unforgettable Photo Op!  Joseph Gordon-Levitt also came-out as did Gulliver McGrath – both play the Sons of Abraham and Mary Lincoln in the Film.

Disney‘s biggest shot at the Oscars is out in theatres today in Toronto and if you’re thinking of heading-out to see it, here’s my Review. Some superb performances throughout!

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