Make no mistake, Ariana Grande‘s days as a TV Star are long behind her. She is a bona fide Pop Star. Her latest Single, Problem (ft. Iggy Azalea) may have just seen a release but in no time it has catapulted to the top of the iTunes Chart in over 47 countries! The Track quickly has become one of the fastest #1-debuting Songs of all time.

The R&B-Dance Track, which could easily fit on a Jennifer Lopez Album (at her best), sounds just as ready to dominate the airwaves as it does our iPods.

Listen to the Track below:

We spotted Grande‘s Collaborator Iggy Azalea in Toronto just last weekend. Read about it here.

Of course, we had a way more positive experience meeting Grande here last August!  Read about that here!

Grande‘s second full-length Album is due Summer 2014 via Universal Music Canada!

Download Problem (ft. Iggy Azalea) here!

(Photo/video credit: Universal Music)

Now in its 24th year, the Inside Out Festival is set to take place in Toronto later this month. The Launch Party for the annual Fixture was held at The Burroughes Building tonight on Queen Street West, bringing together a Who’s-Who in the Toronto LGBT Community.  Inside Out is expected to draw 35k people out to its Screenings, Panels,  Installations, Artist Discussions and more and is known widely as one of the top five LGBT Film Festivals in the World.  Over 200 Movies and Videos are expected to be screened this year.

Receiving much attention is Director Ira Sach‘s Love is Strange, which stars a stellar Cast including John Lithgow, Alfred Molina, Marisa Tomei and more, centering around two Men who decide to tie the knot.  Things go awry when one of them loses his job when their marriage is uncovered and soon they lose their home, forcing them to live separately.  The Film has the distinction of being the Festival’s Centerpiece Gala.

Many will be thrilled that HBO‘s AIDS Drama A Normal Heart starring Matt Bomer, Taylor Kitsch, Jim Parsons, Mark Ruffalo, Alfred Molina and Julia Roberts.  Bomer, known best for his work on Series White Collar,  is confirmed to be in attendance to present the Film at the Festival.

The Way He  Looks from Brazil, earns the spot of Opening Night Gala.  The Award-winning Film from Director Daniel Ribeiro is about a blind Teen Boy struggling to break free from his protective Family and Friends.

Many eyes also will be on Yves Saint Laurent, the Biopic about the revered French Fashion Designer.  The Film was just added to Inside Out‘s Lineup.

Documentary The Dog offers insight on John Wojtowicz, who attempted to rob a Brooklyn bank in order to fund his Male Lover’s Sex Change,  is garnering a significant amount of buzz, as is Matthew Shepard is a Friend of Mine, exploring further the tragic death a Male Student attacked and tortured because he was gay.

Acclaimed Tom at the Farm by Auteur Filmmaker/Actor Xavier Dolan, a major presence at the Canadian Screen Awards earlier this year, also will be screened at the Inside Out Festival.

Inside Out runs between Thursday, May 22, 2014 through Sunday, June 1, 2014. Tickets are on sale Thursday, May 8, 2014.

More details here on how to get Tickets and the official Festival Schedule.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

If there was any doubt that once Hollywood’s Highest-Paid Actress Cameron Diaz was still bankable, let it be known that she was the Queen of the Box Office this weekend with Rom-Com, THE OTHER WOMAN, making a healthy $25 million in its debut! Next-up is the equally-intriguing SEX TAPE, starring her and Bad Teacher Co-Star Jason Segel, whom we also didn’t recognize in this new svelte incarnation of himself!

Official Synopsis:
When Jay (Jason Segel) and Annie (Cameron Diaz) first got together, their romantic connection was intense—but ten years and two kids later, the flame of their love needs a spark. To kick things up a notch, they decide—why not?—to make a video of themselves trying out every position in The Joy of Sex in one marathon three-hour session. It seems like a great idea until they discover that their most private video is no longer private. With their reputations on the line, they know they’re just one click away from being laid bare to the world… but as their race to reclaim their video leads to a night they’ll never forget, they’ll find that their video will expose even more than they bargained for.

Watch the Trailer below!

Sony Pictures release SEX TAPE on Friday, July 25, 2014.

(Photo/video credit: Sony Pictures)

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada and Mr. Will want Toronto Readers to enter for a chance to win Advance Screening Passes to see BLENDED, the awesome new Comedy starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore!  Even better, a Cast Member is expected to be in attendance!

The Screening is set to take place Wednesday, May 7, 2014,  7:00 PM at Cineplex Yonge & Dundas.

Official Synopsis:

BLENDED marks the third comedy collaboration between stars Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, following their successful onscreen pairings in the hit romantic comedies 50 First Dates and The Wedding Singer.  After a disastrous blind date, single parents Lauren (Barrymore) and Jim (Sandler) agree on only one thing: they never want to see each other again.  But when they each sign up separately for  a fabulous family vacation with their kids, they are all stuck sharing a suite at a luxurious African safari resort for  a week.

Watch the hilarity below:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook.  In the Comments section of this Post, tell me all about your absolute most disastrous date.  Don’t hold back, Wongsters!  In addition, you can increase your chances by sharing this Post on Facebook with your Friends or Re-Tweeting the below:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/blended @MRWILLW wants to enter to #win Advance Screening Passes in #Toronto to see #BLENDED! In theatres 5/23.

Official Artwork:

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release BLENDED on Friday, May 23, 2013.

“Like” Warner Bros. Pictures Canada on Facebook here!

The Cast of BLENDED and Mr. Will:

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros./Mr. Will Wong)

Now in its 140th edition, the First Saturday in May forever holds  deep significance in American Culture.  This of course is the day that the $2-million Kentucky Derby is raced at Churchill Downs.  If you’ve never watched a Horse Race before, this would be your perfect introduction to the Sport.  The Celebrities, the Fashion and the Sport all are married together in one glamorous Affair.  Celebrities like Jessica Simpson, Elizabeth Banks, Kim Kardashian, Diane Lane, Nicole Richie, Jenny McCarthy and many, many more are among the Exclusive to have partied with the Ponies on Derby Day!

This year, there are 23 Contenders for the Kentucky Derby, headed by West Coast-based Favourite California Chrome, who comes-off a big win in the Santa Anita Derby under the guidance of Jockey Victor Espinoza.  Although his Pedigree doesn’t suggest immediately that he’s mile-and-a-quarter (the distance of the Kentucky Derby) material – his Father Lucky Pulpit was at best a Sprinter and his Mom Love the Chase raced among lower-level competition – California Chrome has a devout following and rightfully as earned the Title as the Race Favourite. In a courageous ten-start Career, has seen the Winner’s Circle six times for Owners Steve Coburn and Martin Perry (whom both still work day jobs), with a total $1.13 million in earnings. Expect him to be  up-front early.

The Run for the Roses – as the Race affectionately is called with the Winner traditionally adorned in a blanket of roses – sees several other strong Contenders for those looking for a bit more value on their $2 bets.  In fact, Favourites more often lose than win the Race and in the last ten years, the Betting Public got it right three times with Smarty Jones, Big Brown and Orb all being victorious. Former Canadian Champion (and Woodbine-raced) Mine that Bird scored a gigantic upset in 2009, paying a monstrous $103.20 on a $2 investment.

Louisiana-based Vicar’s in Trouble comes into the Kentucky Derby as a major Contender with a win in late March’s Louisiana Derby.  He is ridden by Rosie Napravnik, who is looking to be the first-ever female Jockey to win this Race and it could well be her year as popular Owners Kenneth & Sarah Ramsey have given her a vote of confidence. In five starts only, he’s won three times and certainly is fresh with $788k in earnings.

Wicked Strong will be representing New York, arriving off a solid win in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct Racetrack early April.  He’s raced six times, winning twice and banking over $700k for Centennial Farms.  Indo-Jamaican Jockey Rajiv Maragh piloted him to his last big win and will be returning again in what could be his biggest race.

Fans of  ’80s Sitcom Who’s The Boss won’t want to overlook Danza, named after Actor Tony Danza.  The Son of Street Boss thundered through the rail to win the Arkansas Derby mid-April at Oaklawn Park, beating a much-buzzed Rideoncurlin.  He’s likely to be ridden by Joe Bravo and is trained by four-time-consecutive Eclipse Award-winning Trainer, Todd Pletcher.  In only four starts, he’s grossed over $600k in earnings.

Hoppertunity not only has perhaps one of the catchiest names in the Field, but the well-travelled Son of Any Given Saturday appears also to be peaking at the right time, losing narrowly the Race Favourite California Chrome in the Santa Anita Derby.  Jockey Mike Smith certainly is no stranger to winning when the glory is on-the-line, notably five American Classic Races (including the Kentucky Derby in 2005), and 20 Breeders’ Cup Races. More famously, he piloted one of the greatest Female Racehorses of all time, Zenyatta to a Breeders’ Cup Classic Win in 2009.

Canada has one hope with We Miss Artie, born in Ontario and eligible for July’s Queen’s Plate at Woodbine Racetrack, entering off a heart-stopping win in the Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park late March.  Leading Rider Javier Castellano will be handling him for the Kentucky Derby; he is owned too by Kenneth & Sarah Ramsey.  

Meet the Contenders here at the official Kentucky Derby Website!

And let’s not forget the Ladies!  The 140th edition of the Kentucky Oaks, the Sister Race to the Kentucky Derby, will be raced this Friday with Untapable coming-in off two amazing wins, crushing her Competition by a combined 16-plus lengths.  Napravnik will be piloting her in the Race, which also contains California’s Star Filly Fashion Plate who reigned supreme earlier this month in the Santa Anita Oaks under Hall-of-Fame Jockey Gary Stevens. Canada’s reigning Champion 2-year-old Filly, Ria Antonia, also will make her presence felt, seeing the benefits of having Smith aboard. Pop Culture Fanatics will find something to root for too perhaps with the well-travelled Fiftyshadesofgold.

Meet the Kentucky Oaks Contenders here!

Throwing a Kentucky Derby Party at home?  It certainly wouldn’t be complete without a refreshing Mint Julep.

Learn how to make one right here!

The Kentucky Derby airs on NBC this Saturday, May 2, 2014 at 7:00 PM EST.

Figure Skaters Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski have been named this year’s Fashion Correspondents!

(Photo credit: Associated Press/Early Times)

Who said Rom-Coms were dead?  The Other Woman takes the top of the Box Office this weekend across North America, earning $24.7 million from 3,204 theatres in its debut for 20th Century Fox. Starring Leslie Mann, Kate Upton and Cameron Diaz, the Comedy centers around three Women who are all involved with the same Man. Audiences gave it a solid B+ Cinemascore, while Critics gave it a 25% on the Tomatometer only.

Former Champ Captain America: The Winter Soldier in its fourth week slips to second with $15.9 million, making it surpass $223 million in earnings, breaking the Record for highest-grossing April release of all time.

Heaven is Real continues to be highly bankable for Sony Pictures, in third this weekend with $13.9 million in its second week out.  It just broke the $50-million mark in North America.

Rio 2 finds itself in fourth for 20th Century Fox also, with $12.7 million, just ahead of VVS Films/Relativity Media‘s Brick Mansions which opens in fifth spot with $9.6 million.  The Montreal-made Film is one of Paul Walker‘s final Films, getting a 28% rating on the Tomatometer and a B+ CinemaScore.

The Quiet Ones opens in eighth spot for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films with a 39% on the Tomatometer and a C+ CinemaScore.  The Horror stars Sam Claflin and Jared Harris.

A Haunted House 2 rounds-out the Top Ten with $2.8 million for Open Road Films/VVS Films in its second week out.

English-born Actor Dominic Purcell known best stateside for his starring role in acclaimed Series Prison Break, made his way into Toronto yesterday for a two-day Press Blitz to promote his latest Film, A Fighting Man by Director Damian Lee. The Sudbury-filmed Boxing Drama centers around two Men who enter the Ring for a fight of their lives, starring also Famke Janssen, James Caan, Adam Beach and Louis Gossett Jr.

While he conducted most of his Interviews out of a Downtown Boxing Ring, he did make a visit to Global Television‘s The Morning Show (National Edition) to talk about the Film. Watch the Interview here!

Although the timing didn’t quite line-up for a golden Photo Op with Purcell, we need snap a Candid of him while he head to an Appearance earlier:

See the Trailer for A FIGHTING MAN below:

levelFILM release A FIGHTING MAN (now in theatres) in select Canadian Cities including Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa and Regina.  It sees a DVD/Video-on-Demand release on Tuesday, June 17, 2014.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/levelFILM)

23-year-old Australian Model/Rapper Iggy Azalea (Amethyst Amelia Kelly) made her long-awaited Toronto debut tonight at Danforth Music Hall in the City’s Greektown District. The blonde beauty originally was to perform at The Hoxton last Fall before that Show was cancelled ultimately.

With recent Personnel changes, Azalea now is signed to the Def Jam Music Group and just released her new Disc, The New Classic last Tuesday. Before an at-capacity crowd she played some of her more familiar tracks like new Single Fancy and Work, which had the crowd cheering in her Encore.

Afterward, she met with a group of Contest Winners before quietly heading-out to Dinner in Yorkville for some Italian with Hometown Hero Drake and his Entourage. Unfortunately, she declined greeting some eager Fans, claiming she had to head to Detroit next in the wee hours of the morning, leaving them disappointed. Above this, she had also cancelled a slew of Interviews with Local Media earlier in the day which has some speculating about some personal issues.

We managed to catch one Snap of Azalea boarding her Tour Bus after her late night Dinner below:

Check-out Azalea‘s Video for Fancy below:

The New Classic is now in stores via Universal Music Canada. DOWNLOAD here.

Now in its 155th year, North America’s most historic Horse Race The Queen’s Plate, will be taking place sooner thank you think at Woodbine Racetrack!

Bringing together Canada’s finest three-year-old Horses, the prestigious $1-million Race in previous years has brought-out The Royals including Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth II!

Mark your Calendars Toronto and bring-on your fanciest hat as the Hats & Horseshoes Party takes place near Woodbine Racetrack’s scenic Walking Ring once again this year. Not only can you be a part of history, but you also can be part of the Party, testing your luck on an exciting afternoon Card of Races Sunday, July 5, 2014!

There will be a variety of Live Entertainment and scintillating Food Trucks on-hand also to make the Day extra amazing!

Be a part of the fun by pre-ordering your Tickets here beginning Thursday, May 1, 2014. Tickets almost always sell-out quickly!

I’ll definitely be there this year, so I’ll see you there, Wongsters and some of you may have the chance to be a part of my ultra-exclusive FLARE Lounge Party!

If you’ve never been to the Races, this is the year to experience breathtaking Woodbine Racetrack for once and for all!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/Woodbine Entertainment)

Now celebrating its tenth year on-air, the new Season of OUT THERE WITH MELISSA DIMARCO premieres this weekend!  Melissa is a dear Friend of ours and her quirky sense of humour, magnetic personality and sharp sense as an Interviewer have made for a successful, lasting Career in a Business which often sees quick highs and lows for many.

The Season Premiere is a star-studded one and this Season the Series features Interviews with the likes of Julia Roberts, Bradley Cooper, George Clooney and many, many more!  The Series is based off of real-life experiences for Melissa and has built a loyal following both north and south of the Border.

OUT THERE WITH MELISSA DIMARCO premieres Saturday, April 26, 2014 at  7:00 PM EST on Biography and 7:30 PM EST on CITY. Don’t forget to tune-in!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)