Now in its 20th year, Canada’s Walk of Fame honours excellence in multiple disciplines including Arts, Business and Science. Honourees are commemorated like in Hollywood with a star on the sidewalk in Toronto’s Entertainment District, immortalizing their contributions to their native Canada and abroad. Among those celebrated at this year’s Gala, held at Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, were:
Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir (Sports & Athletics)
Andrea Martin (Arts & Entertainment)
Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg (Arts & Entertainment)
Andy Kim (Arts & Entertainment)
Col. Chris Hadfield (Science & Technology)
Jimmy Pattison (Business & Entrepreneurship)
Leonard Cohen (Legend Inductee)
Jessie Reyez was named the 2018 Allan Slaight Honour Recipient, an award given to an up-and-coming force in the music industry. Past winners include the likes of The Weeknd and Shawn Mendes, who have gone on to achieve great success internationally.
Fans and Media filled the outdoor tented Red Carpet affair, followed by a taped ceremony, which is to be broadcast on CTV at a later date in December. Several familiar Canadian faces graced the event including the likes of Jully Black, Rush, The Tenors, Marilyn Denis, Brian Mulroney, Russell Peters, The Arkells’ Max Kerman, Stella Bowles, Kurt Browning and several more.
Tessa Virtue x Scott Moir
Seth Rogen x Evan Goldberg
Chris Hadfield
Stella Bowles
Andy Kim
Jimmy Pattison
Andrea Martin x Marilyn Denis
The Arkells’ Max Kerman
Jully Black
Wendy Crewson
Jeffrey Latimer (Canada’s Walk of Fame CEO) x Rush’s Geddy Lee
We had the pleasure of chatting with the likes of honourees Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen (starring in Disney‘s eagerly-awaited The Lion King), Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue on the carpet. We asked them about the importance of being recognized in their own homeland.
Goldberg x Rogen: “It’s much more valuable than rest of the world combined!”.
Virtue x Moir: “We love being back in Canada. It was important for us to train on Canadian soil in the leading-up to the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games games. It’s thrilling to be back here, it’s home. It means so much more to us to be given the magnitude of what it means to be Canadian and the support we’ve received over the years. We should be giving Canadians something in return. We keep getting these honours and I wish we could give Canadians a slight glimmer of what they’ve given us.”.
We ask what they’re most excited about at the 2018 Canada’s Walk of Fame Gala.
Goldberg x Rogen: “Seeing the little ‘maple leaf’ on the ground! We don’t often get awards because of some of the things we’ve made. We get to see a version of it (gesturing to the unveiling of the star). We get to touch it, lick it and all that! We’re just the story of every Canadian boy. It’s great!”.
Virtue x Moir: “The inductees are what I’m (Moir) most excited about. I can’t believe I’m up for the same type of award as Chris Hadfield. To be in the same room. I think that’s going to be a highlight.”.
See some highlights from the Gala:
More on Canada’s Walk of Fame here.
Photography taken on the NIKON D3400
Video recorded on the Samsung S7 Plus
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Julie Wright)
Call it a homecoming! The Cast and Crew behind LITTLE ITALY brought it all back home for a festive bash at Scotiabank Theatre tonight in Toronto! The Romantic-Comedy directed by Donald Petrie (Miss Congeniality, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days) took over the City last summer and Torontonians have been excited to see this pizza delivered!
Attending the event were Petrie himself and the Film’s stars, Emma Roberts, Hayden Christensen, Andrea Martin, Danny Aiello, Jane Seymour, Andrew Phung, Cristina Rosato, Vas Saranga, Linda Kash, Ava Preston and Nicky Cappella. Producer Vinay Virmani (also a Co-Writer) also was in attendance, as was 6Dad Norm Kelly, Olympian Donovan Bailey and Jaleel White, known best for his iconic role as Steve Urkel in ABC Series Family Matters.
Little Italy centers on a couple who must deal with their feuding, pizza restauranteur families. The Film was show and is set in Toronto.
Our Team had the pleasure of being a part of the fun and in ways it was like seeing a nephew or niece grow-up. We had the joy of visiting the set last summer and it was a blast. We even shared pizza with Roberts! More here.
We ask Director Donald Petrie what makes Little Italy‘s love story so great. He tells us, “This isn’t a singular love story. A lot of the audience are gonna look at the poster and go ‘I know the ending! These two get together!’. And they’re right, they do! But there are a lot of surprise love stories along the way that they don’t know. It’s all about the journey and that’s what makes Little Italy great”.
Emma Roberts
Hayden Christensen with Roberts and also his Nonna
Jane Seymour
Vinay Virmani
Nicky Romero x Ava Preston (they play the younger versions of Christensen x Roberts)
Danny Aiello
Amrit Kaur
Andrew Phung
eOne Films x Mr. Will are thrilled to give Readers a chance to win Advance Passes to see the delightful Romantic-Comedy, LITTLE ITALY, filmed right here in Toronto!
Screenings take place as follows:
Wednesday, August 22, 2018 7 PM – Toronto
Thursday, August 23, 2018 7 PM – Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Halifax and Victoria.
Please note: the Toronto screening is a World Premiere.
Synopsis:
15 years ago, best friends SAL and VINCE, makers of Little Italy’s most storied pizza, had an ugly spat and set up rival pizzerias. Today, their “Pizza Wars” rage on. Sal and Vince divide their time between sabotaging each other’s business and trading insults at the local bar. But not everyone wants war. Sal’s daughter NIKKI (Emma Roberts) (25), and Vince‘s son LEO (Hayden Christensen) (26), have fallen in love. So have Sal’s mother FRANCA (Andrea Martin) and Vince’s father CARLO (Danny Aiello). When Franca and Carlo announce their wedding, Nikki and Leo‘s secret also spills out into the open. Sal and Vince can take it no more. They lay a wager-“Team Sal” will face “Team Vince” in a pizza cookout where the loser leaves Little Italy for good. Sal and Vince succeed in pitting their children against each other. Tempers are raging hotter than wood fired pizza ovens. Little Italy is now a war zone. Who will the winner be? Team Sal or Team Vince? And what of the two couples? Will their love become the victim, or emerge victorious in this ridiculously epic food feud?
See the Trailer:
Artwork:
To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate for us there your City. Also you may click “share” from there for an extra chance. Re-Tweet this Tweet from @mrwillw for an extra chance!
eOne Films release LITTLE ITALY Friday, August 24, 2018.🍕
(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)
We’ve waited so long for this and are so stoked finally to see the official Trailer for Toronto-shot and set LITTLE ITALY!
Synopsis:
A young couple must navigate a blossoming romance, amidst a war between their families’ competing pizza restaurants.
LITTLE ITALY stars Danny Aiello, Andrea Martin, Jane Seymour, Alyssa Milano, Hayden Christensen and Emma Roberts! Pauline Dhillon and Ajay Virmani produce the Romantic-Comedy.
See the Trailer:
Official Artwork:
We were invited to the set last spring and want to remind you of this delicious tidbit! 🍕
eOne Films release LITTLE ITALY on Friday, August 24, 2018.
(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)
SCTV forever has left a legacy behind on Television, becoming a blueprint for Sketch Comedy during its run from 1976 to 1984. The Series made household names of Martin Short, Andrea Martin, Rick Moranis, John Candy, Dave Thomas, Joe Flaherty, Catherine O’Hara and Eugene Levy, launching long and lasting careers.
In celebration of the iconic Series, Netflix is producing an upcoming as-yet-untitled Special commemorating SCTV. To make it just right, Academy Award-winning Director Martin Scorsese has been enlisted to take the reins and Funnyman Jimmy Kimmel took a quick break from his busy schedule to come to Toronto to moderate the Special, which was taped over three hours at historic Elgin Theatre.
While we often see some of the Cast on Red Carpets locally, having them reunite together on-stage is something remarkable and rare. Preparations began last Friday as the Production Crew began set-up for the Special with finishing touches and rehearsals being done Saturday and early this morning.
We still are pinching our self that we got Selfies with Scorsese and Kimmel. We’ve been lucky in the past to cross paths with some of the Cast prior, several who stayed late to celebrate at the venue.
See our Snaps:
We can’t wait to see this Special having grown-up giggling at some of the outlandish humour for which SCTV came to be known and loved!
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Many of us grew-up to the quirkly laughs of SCTV and in celebration of the legendary Comedy Sketch Series, Netflix will present an as-yet untiled Special to be directed by Martin Scorcese!
The Special reunites Joe Flaherty, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short and Dave Thomas in front of a live audience for An Afternoon with SCTV, moderated by Jimmy Kimmel. It will record Sunday, May 13, 2018 at Elgin Theatre, 3 PM.
UPDATE 5.10.18: Rick Moranis is confirmed to be in the Special now too!
A stream date has yet to be set, but we’re so incredibly-ready!
(Photo credit: Cara Howe/Netflix Canada)
It’s been 14 long years and we’ve missed the Portokalos Family! It don’t matter if you’re Chinese, Italian, Iranian, German, Irish, Indian or Scottish. We all loved My Big Fat Greek Wedding and we can’t wait to catch-up with one of our favourite on-screen families of all time. Universal Pictures Canada + Mr. Will want to take Readers in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg to see MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 2 on Monday, March 21, 2016!
Synopsis:
Gold Circle Entertainment and HBO present a Playtone production of My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, the long-awaited follow-up to the highest-grossing romantic comedy of all time. Written by Academy Award® nominee Nia Vardalos, who stars alongside the entire returning cast of favorites, the film reveals a Portokalos family secret that will bring the beloved characters back together for an even bigger and Greeker wedding.
Kirk Jones (Nanny McPhee, Waking Ned Devine) directs the next chapter of the film that will be once again produced by Rita Wilson and Playtone partners Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman. Paul Brooks and Steve Shareshian return to executive produce alongside Vardalos and Scott Niemeyer. Universal Pictures will distribute the comedy domestically and in select international territories.
MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 2 stars Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Lainie Kazan, Gia Carides, Joey Fatone, Elena Kampouris, Alex Wolff, Louis Mandylor, Bess Meisler, Bruce Gray, Fiona Reid, Ian Gomez, Jayne Eastwood, Mark Margolis, Andrea Martin and Michael Constantine.
See the Trailer:
Artwork:
To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate your City. Please also in the comments there, tell me me about a time that your family just get a little too close to your business.
You also may click “share” from there for an extra chance or Tweet out the below:
http://www.mrwillwong.com/mybigfatgreekwedding2 @MRWILLW wants us to #win Advance Passes to see #MyBigFatGreekWedding2! Out 3/25.
G’luck.
Mr. Will + The Cast of My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2
Universal Pictures Canada release MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 2 Friday, March 25, 2016.
(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)
For advertising opportunites please contact mrwill@mrwillwong.com