BUDWEISER DOES IT AGAIN! With the Super Bowl coming this weekend, we know one thing is for sure every year – Budweiser will unleash an emotional fury that will have us weeping allover our Keyboards. This latest Super Bowl TV Spot features their trademark Clydesdale horses, but focuses on an adorable little Labrador who gets lost and goes on an adventure, when ultimately he encounters a scary wolf in the woods. You simply won’t believe what happens next… The pairing of a softened version of 500 Miles covered by Sleeping At Last... OMG. I can’t continue typing… I am a mess. And you will be too!
Watch it for yourself:
We absolutely can’t wait to see Katy Perry‘s Halftime Performance! Here’s a Teaser:
We were asked recently by Woodbine Entertainment along with fellow members of the Horse Racing World what our Picks. More on that here.
NBC airs the Super Bowl XLIX at 6:30 PM EST.
(Photo/video credit: Budweiser)
Let’s be real. We can never have enough Celeb Selfies! 2014 was a year I’ll never forget and will forever go down as one of our most star-studded yet! Our travels brought us to L.A. and New York, but our most exciting adventures took place here in our Hometown of Toronto! Let’s take a walk down our star-studded memory lane to some of our fave Celeb moments of 2014!
Who were you most excited to see? The red-hot Benedict Cumberbatch? The private Usher? The iconic Tom Cruise? The adorable Anna Kendrick? “It Boy” Ansel Elgort? How about “It Girl” Shailene Woodley? The incredibly-tough Reese Witherspoon? The irresistible Tom Hardy?!
Also, we want to share with you some of our fave of the several thousand Celeb Snaps we took in 2014! Chances are if there was a major Star in-town this year, we at some point snapped them!
2014 will go down as one of the strongest years for Cinema in recent memory, but which Movies rocked our World? And which Singles ruled our iPod? You’re about to find out!
Re-live some of our Fave Celeb Selfies of 2014 (click HD for better quality):
TOP PHOTOS:
Tinashe, Tattoo Rock Parlour
Rachel McAdams at Canada’s Walk of Fame
Ryan Reynolds + Peter Fonda at Canada’s Walk of Fame
Tove Lo, The Phoenix
Robert Pattinson at the NKPR IT Lounge, TIFF ’14
Channing Tatum, TIFF ’14
Steve Carell, TIFF ’14
Denzel Washington, TIFF ’14
Felicity Jones, TIFF ’14
Kevin Costner, TIFF ’14
Adam Sandler, TIFF ’14
Robert Downey Jr., TIFF ’14
Tom Hardy, TIFF ’14
Ian Somerhalder, Fan Expo 2014
Elijah Wood, Fan Expo 2014
Norman Reedus, Fan Expo 2014
Shawn Mendes, Universal Music Canada
One Direction, Where We Are Tour
5 Seconds of Summer, Summer 2014
Daniel Radcliffe + Zoe Kazan, The F Word Toronto Premiere
Katy Perry, Prismatic World Tour
Lady Gaga, Artrave Tour
Charlie Sheen, Joe Carter Classic Afterparty
Gordon Lightfoot, SOCAN Awards
Missy Peregrym + Charlotte Sullivan, Shaw Media Upfronts
Charlie Barnett + Jesse Lee Soffer, Shaw Media Upfronts
Stephen Amell, Bell Media Upfronts
Kirsten Vangsness, Bell Media Upfronts
Elizabeth Henstridge, Bell Media Upfronts
Katie Holmes, Met Gala, NYC
Blake + Ryan, Met Gala, NYC
Hugh Jackman, Met Gala, NYC
Lily Aldridge + Kate Upton, Met Gala, NYC
Dakota Johnson (50 Shades of Grey), Met Gala, NYC
Marion Cotillard, Met Gala, NYC
Joshua Jackson + Diane Kruger, Met Gala, NYC
Zac Efron, NYC
Iggy Azalea, The New Classic Tour
Cher, D2K Tour
Miley Cyrus, Bangerz Tour
Katheryn Winnick, Canadian Screen Awards
Martin Short, Canadian Screen Awards
Shay Mitchell, Canadian Screen Awards
Maria Bello, David Cronenberg + Viggo Mortensen, Canadian Screen Awards
Laura Vandervoort + Olivier Trevena, Canada’s Stars of the Awards Season Gala, L.A.
Ellen Wong, Canada’s Stars of the Awards Season Gala, L.A.
TOP FILMS:
1. WHIPLASH
2. GONE GIRL
3. NIGHTCRAWLER
4. WILD
5. BIRDMAN
6. THE IMITATION GAME
7. FOXCATCHER
8. THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING
9. THE FAULT IN OUR STARS
10. THE LEGO MOVIE
Perhaps under-seen, WHIPLASH is the one Film you absolutely must see this year. J.K. Simmons and Miles Teller will shatter your World with their performances! You’ll leave shaken and sobered.
TOP SINGLES
1. ALL ABOUT THAT BASS – Meghan Trainor
2. BLANK SPACE – Taylor Swift
3. WEST COAST – Lana Del Rey
4. BOOM CLAP – Charli XCX
5. POMPEII – Bastille
6. STAY WITH ME – Sam Smith
7. SHE LOOKS SO PERFECT – 5 Seconds of Summer
8. COUNTING STARS – OneRepublic
9. SHAKE IT OFF – Taylor Swift
10. SAY SOMETHING – A Great Big World ft. Christina Aguilera
2014 was all about that bass for us. Meghan Trainor blew our mind with her positive message about body image. We’re sold and extremely excited for her 2015 full-length Debut.
Won’t you join us as we embark on more exciting adventures in Entertainment 2015? Also stay tuned for an upcoming Post where our Contributors Jonathan Godfrey, Justin Waldman, David Baldwin and George Kozera share their fave Films of 2014 too!
Happy Holidays, Willionaire$!
Photos Post-TIFF ’14 taken on Nikon D3300. Photos pre-TIFF ’14 taken on Olympus E-PL5/Samsung S4.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
California Gurl herself Katy Perry is currently in Toronto for a five-day-long visit which includes three shows at the Air Canada Centre as part of her Prismatic World Tour. The Tour marks her third self-headlining Tour, running through North America, South America and Europe till March 2015.
The Top-Earning Woman in Music, according to Forbes Magazine, was spotted low-key and casual along Bloor Street shopping at Holt Renfrew Thursday on a day off and has been vocal about her love for Toronto having visited on many occasions including a near-week-long stay back in 2010 promoting her second Disc, Teenage Dream around the MuchMusic Video Awards. We were there! We’ve loved her from the start!
Perry zipped through a 22-song Hit-packed Set tonight to a full house, putting on a colourful display with themes ranging from Egyptian-inspired to full-on neon mode. Often bordering on strange and playful with cat-inspired video montages and giant champagne bottles and tacos floating in the air, the 29-year-old Singer/Songwriter kept those KatyCats of hers on their feet much of the night.
From Roar all the way through the Finale, Firework, energy was high with Perry fully committed to making it an intimate affair for her Toronto Fans. Costumes were artful and imaginative, her thematically-correct Dress for the latter Number being a highlight of the night. Earlier in the evening, they were handed 3-D prism glasses to watch the Show with, which added to the festivity!
One lucky Fan, a ten-year-old Girl named Bella was brought on-stage and given a Pizza which Perry unfortunately could not eat as she has a gluten allergy. Later in the Show, she serenaded a Fan named Meagan, singing her Hit Birthday to her as Dancers crowded around a throne which both she and her lucky Guest sat on through the Number.
See a Montage of Highlights captured from tonight:
Perry performs Saturday, July 19th and Monday, July 21st also at Air Canada Centre.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong | Audio content: EMI Music/Universal Music)
The 56th annual GRAMMY Awards took place tonight at Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles – Music’s Biggest Night! The Stars came out in droves and in what was an odd, exciting Red Carpet, we saw an assortment of Helmets and Hats donned on some of the biggest names in Music including the likes of Madonna, Daft Punk, Yoko Ono and Pharrell, who lit Twitter afire with his exaggerated RCMP-like Hat. The Fashion Entrepreneur, Producer and Singer/Songwriter not only won in the Category of Best Producer (Non-Classical), but won coveted Record of the Year and also Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with his Daft Punk Collaboration, Get Lucky.
French Electronica Duo Daft Punk made only their second-ever televised Performance tonight – a momentous Occasion with Stevie Wonder joining them and Pharrell. What made the Night extra-special however was their huge Wins for coveted Top Honour of Album of the Year, Best Electronic/Dance Album and Best Engineered Album with their 2013 Disc, Random Access Memories. In total, they won five GRAMMYs night individually and in collaboration.
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis who debuted only last year, too were the Kings of the GRAMMYs this year, sweeping the most important Rap/Hip-Hop Categories including Best Rap Album, Best Rap Song (Thrift Shop), Best Rap Performance (Thrift Shop) and Best New Artist. In addition, the Duo stole the Show tonight partnering-up with Queen Latifah and Pop Legend Madonna for a much-talked-about Performance of Same Love, which saw 33 Couples of all Orientations being wed at the Event as Queen Latifah officiated the Ceremony. Madonna then joined on-stage in a white Suit and Cowboy Hat singing the Hook to her Hit Open Your Heart.
Watch the Performance below:
Although surprisingly she wasn’t nominated for Best New Artist, shy 17-year-old New Zealand Sensation Lorde more than made-up for that with a huge win for Best Solo Pop Performance with her Hit Royals. The Track also won coveted Song of the Year and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a huge sales boost next week for her 2013 Debut, Pure Heroine. In a succinct pair of Speeches where she seemed genuinely shocked to win, she thanked her fellow Nominees Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, Sara Bareilles and Justin Timberlake for being inspirations in her own Music. She also accepted with her Co-Writer/Producer Joel Little, letting him do most of the talking.
Katy Perry turned several heads tonight in her Valentino Dress which was adorned with Musical Notes, in addition leaving an impression with her eerie and theatrical Performance of latest Single, Dark Horse.
Taylor Swift undisputedly had the best Red Carpet Look tonight, wearing well an elegant chain-linked Gucci Dress. She performed her Track All Too Well, complete with head-thrashing, finished with a mood-appropriate pensive smirk versus her usual enthusiastic show of gratitude post-Performance. Although she wasn’t a Winner tonight, she was up in for prestigious Album of the Year with her Disc Red, released in October 2012.
Watch Swift perform All Too Well:
Canada also fared well this year at the GRAMMYs, with our own Michael Buble nabbing his fourth GRAMMY with his Disc To Be Loved in the Category of Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. Jennifer Gasoi won Best Children‘s Album with her Throw a Penny in the Wishing Well.
Happy Valentine’s Day, indeed! Katy Perry covers the February 2014 issue of GQ. Although I’m not sure how Feminists will view it, one things for sure. Heterosexual Men everywhere will be mesmerized! Perry is smoking hot in this brand new Photoshoot for the Men’s Magazine, shot in Los Angeles.
Everything from Bikini Tops to straddling an Extinguisher to her Sheer Blouses is hot! hot! hot! about this Photoshoot!
Perry chats with the Magazine’s Amy Wallace as she preps for her Geisha-inspired American Music Awards Performance at Nokia Theatre recently. Click here to read the Interview.
What happened to her alleged “Dark Phase” and all that self-reflection she did during her hiatus?
Watch a Behind-the-Scenes Video:
See the Cover:
(Photo/video credit: GQ)
58 Categories, many, many Winners! The 40th annual People’s Choice Awards were held tonight at Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles and walking away the night’s big Winner was America’s Sweetheart Sandra Bullock, taking home four Awards as decided by the General Public. The Actress had a super year at the Box Office with two major Hits Gravity and The Heat, both which won Favorite Dramatic Movie and Favourite Comedic Movie respectively. The former earned Bullock a People’s Choice Award in the Category of Favorite Movie Duo along with her Co-Star George Clooney, in addition to wins for Favorite Actress, Favorite Dramatic Actress and Favorite Comedic Actress.
2 Broke Girls Stars Beth Behrs and Kat Dennings hosted the Evening, which saw performances from the likes of Brad Paisley, One Republic and Sara Bareilles and although the two Actresses were nominated for Favourite TV Gal Pals, they lost-out to Rachel & Santana (Lea Michele and Naya Rivera) from Glee.
Toronto was well-represented with Kristin Kreuk winning Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actress for her work in Beauty and the Beast. Meanwhile, the Series which is filmed in the City and also Toronto-filmed Reign won Favorite New TV Drama.
Winners tonight were as follows:
Favorite Streaming Series
Orange Is the New Black
Favorite Cable TV Drama
The Walking Dead
Favorite TV Gal Pals
Rachel & Santana (Glee)
Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actor
Ian Somerhalder
Favorite Movie Actress
Sandra Bullock
Favorite Comedic Movie Actress
Sandra Bullock
Favorite Dramatic Movie Actress
Sandra Bullock
Favorite Album
The 20/20 Experience (Justin Timberlake)
Favorite Male Artist
Justin Timberlake
Favorite R&B Artist
Justin Timberlake
Favorite Daytime TV Host(s)
Ellen DeGeneres
Favorite New Talk Show Host
Queen Latifah
Favorite Comedic Movie Actor
Adam Sandler
Favorite Dramatic TV Actor
Josh Charles
Favorite Competition TV Show
The Voice
Favorite Network TV Drama
The Good Wife
Favorite Comedic Movie
The Heat
Favorite Cable TV Actress
Lucy Hale
Favorite On-Screen Chemistry
Damon & Elena (The Vampire Diaries)
Favorite Pop Artist
Britney Spears
Favorite Comedic TV Actress
Kaley Cuoco
Favorite Comedic TV Actor
Chris Colfer
Favorite Action Movie
Iron Man 3
Favorite Action Movie Star
Robert Downey Jr.
Favorite Actress in a New TV Series
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Favorite Movie
Iron Man 3
Favorite Late Night Talk Show Host
Stephen Colbert
Favorite Movie Actor
Johnny Depp
Favorite Movie Duo
Sandra Bullock & George Clooney (Gravity)
Favorite Dramatic Movie
Gravity
Favorite Dramatic Movie Actor
Leonardo DiCaprio
Favorite Family Movie
Despicable Me 2
Favorite Horror Movie
Carrie
Favorite Thriller Movie
Now You See Me
Favorite Network TV Comedy
The Big Bang Theory
Favorite Dramatic TV Actress
Stana Katic
Favorite Actor in a New TV Series
Joseph Morgan
Favorite TV Crime Drama
Castle
Favorite Cable TV Comedy
Psych
Favorite Premium Cable TV Show
Homeland
Favorite TV Anti-Hero
Rick Grimes (The Walking Dead)
Favorite TV Bromance
Sam, Dean & Castiel (Supernatural)
Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Show
Beauty and the Beast
Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actress
Kristin Kreuk
Favorite TV Movie/Miniseries
American Horror Story
Favorite Series We Miss Most
Breaking Bad
Favorite New TV Comedy
Super Fun Night
Favorite New TV Drama
Reign
Favorite Female Artist
Demi Lovato
Favorite Breakout Artist
Ariana Grande
Favorite Country Artist
Taylor Swift
Favorite Country Music Icon
Tim McGraw
Favorite Hip-Hop Artist
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Favorite Band
One Direction
Favorite Alternative Band
Fall Out Boy
Favorite Song
Roar (Katy Perry)
Favorite Music Video
Roar (Katy Perry)
Favorite Music Fan Following
Lovatics
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
And the Grammy Race is in full swing. I admit Sara Bareilles totally has been off my radar for a bit. In fact, I had no clue she had a new Album out last year after having followedher Career closely when she first surfaced on the Pop Scene in 2007 with her Smash Hit Love Song. Read my Interview with Bareilles from back in 2010.
Although much has been said about the striking similarities between Katy Perry‘s Billboard Hot 100-topping Hit Roar and Bareilles’ Brave – the latter released her Track first in April 2013 – both Californian Artists did a fine job crafting inspiring pieces of Pop Perfection. Both respectively are being recognized for their work with Grammy Nominations… in the same Category.
Bareilles just appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show yesterday, performing her Best Pop Solo Performance-nominated Song. In addition, she also is up for Album of the Year for her The Blessed Unrest.
Watch her awesome Performance below:
Download The Blessed Unrest on iTunes here.
(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros. Television)
Ahh, Romance. The long-awaited Video for Who You Love finally gets a releases and the gorgeous Clip directed by Sophie Muller surfaces right in-time for the Holidays! In addition to see various Lovers getting up-close and personal, we see real-life Lovers John Mayer and Katy Perry who co-write the Track together, getting awful intimate.
Watch the Video below:
Official Single Artwork:
Download Who You Love on iTunes here.
(Photo/video credit: Sony Music)
It was a memorable year indeed! Join me as I recall some of 2013’s brightest moments in Celebrity, Film and Music with a Toronto twist! As a true Connoisseur of Pop Culture, I certainly was spoiled with several delights this year on all three fronts. Toronto witnessed what could well be the strongest years this City ever has seen in terms of Star Power. Also, as an experienced Digital Photographer of sorts, I am sharing some of my favourite Snaps taken around the City this year too. If you’re a #NOFILTER kinda Guy or Gal, I apologize! A few of them are Horse-related, spending many of my weekends at scenic Woodbine Racetrack, my fave Place since Childhood to escape and recharge from the City. Come Wongsters, let us walk down this luminous Memory Lane together!
TOP TEN SONGS OF 2013
2013 was solid for Pop Music and I was thrilled to hear a return to great, strong melodies. What a year it was for Miley Cyrus who not only wowed us with We Can’t Stop, but slayed us hard with Wrecking Ball! Coming in like a Wrecking Ball she managed to turn all eyes her way in a year which saw Albums released from some Marquee names like Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Rihanna and more. Lana Del Rey put us in a state of euphoria this Spring with her chilling Ballad for The Great Gatsby, Young & Beautiful. Flawless and timeless. Mariah Carey and Miguel provided much of the Soundtrack for my early Summer with their gorgeous Collabo #Beautiful, while Robin Thicke undisputedly had the Song of Summer 2013 with Blurred Lines. His Album of the same name easily is my favourite Disc of 2013.
1. Miley Cyrus – Wrecking Ball
2. Lana Del Rey – Young & Beautitul
3. Mariah Carey ft. Miguel – #Beautiful
4. Justin Timberlake – Mirrors
5. Miley Cyrus – We Can’t Stop
6. Robin Thicke ft. Pharrell & T.I. – Blurred Lines
7. Capital Cities – Safe and Sound
8. Katy Perry – Roar
9. Icona Pop – I Love It
10. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – Same Love
Miley Cyrus – Wrecking Ball
TOP TEN FILMS OF 2013
I don’t recall a year in recent memory where the Films were quite as strong as this year. It is as if Filmmakers have studied critiques, knew precisely what to avoid and owned it. Time after time I’d make it out to the morning Media Screenings and just when I thought I’d seen my favourite Film of 2013, another would come along and usurp the throne. In all, AIDS Drama Dallas Buyers Club would leave the strongest imprint with Jared Leto touching the core of my soul with his phenomenal performance. 12 Years a Slave left me shaken and speechless and made it really tough to decide a Fave. Saving Mr. Banks truly affected and inspired me, moving me to tears and I could never forget Cate Blanchett‘s empathic portrayal of a Woman battling her own demons in Woody Allen‘s Blue Jasmine. And yes, I really loved Spring Breakers. James Franco is just on another level.
1. Dallas Buyers Club
2. 12 Years a Slave
3. American Hustle
4. Blue Jasmine
5. Saving Mr. Banks
6. Gravity
7. 42
8. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
9. Enough Said
10. Spring Breakers
Watch the Trailer for Dallas Buyers Club below:
TOP CELEBRITY MOMENTS
It was a good bloody amazing year. My experience in New York City seeing the Met Gala is unforgettable, as a revolving door of Celebrities came my direction. I didn’t even know which way to go or who to ask first for a Photo! TIFF ’13 brought me several amazing memories finally getting to meeting one of my favourite Actresses, Nicole Kidman – not to mention getting to meeting personal Heroes Seth McFarlane, Jim Carrey, Mike Myers, Baz Luhrmann and several more throughout the year. My ultimate Highlight however was finally after 15 tries, getting my Lady Gaga moment in November!
As seen top to bottom, left to right in the above Collage are:
Supermodel Cara Delevingne, Shoe Visionary Christian Louboutin, Actress Mia Wasikowska, Actor Jesse Eisenberg, Actor Kit Harington, Astronaut Chris Hadfield, Singer/Songwriter Lorde, Singer/Songwriter Robin Thicke, Television Personality/Actress Kelly Ripa, Domestic Goddess Martha Stewart.
Director Baz Luhrmann, Actress Emma Thompson, Singer/Actress Ariana Grande, Actress Léa Seydoux, Actress Adèle Exarchopoulos, Actress Toni Collette, Singer/Songwriter Lady Gaga, Singer Kylie Minogue, Actress Nicole Kidman, Actress/Singer Selena Gomez.
Writer/Actor Mike Myers, Comedian, Writer/Actor Seth MacFarlane, Writer/Actor Seth Meyers, Writer/Actor Jim Carrey, Actress Dakota Fanning, Actress Taylor Schilling, Singer/Songwriter/Fashion Mogul Pharrell, Television Personality/Actress Rosie O’Donnell, Kentucky Derby-winning Jockey Joel Rosario, Breeders Cup Classic-winning Jockey/Actor Gary Stevens.
Spice Girl/Actress Mel B., Actor Armie Hammer, Actress Kerry Washington, Actor Sam Rockwell, Actor Nicholas Hoult, Actor Tom Hiddleston, Actor Adam Driver, Actor Josh Brolin, Actor Daniel Radcliffe, Actress Dakota Fanning, Actor Sam Claflin, Actress Jena Malone.
TOP SNAPS
And now the ten best Photos of 2013 snapped through my lenses (Samsung Galaxy S2, Samsung Galaxy S4 and Olympus E-PL5):
I truly am blessed and can’t wait to see what 2014 has in store for us here in this sight-filled City of Tastemakers!
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Nominations were announced tonight in Los Angeles at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live for the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards, rung-in with a Concert from several potential Nominees.
Leading the way was Hip-Hop Impresario and Multimedia Mogul Jay-Z with an impressive nine nominations, while four Artists tie in second spot with seven nominations apiece – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Pharrell, Justin Timberlake and Kendrick Lamar. Toronto’s Drake has us well-represented, nabbing a total five nominations.
Missing surprisingly in the category of Best New Artist is New Zealand Teen Sensation Lorde, whom howmever is recognized in some of the more major categories. After several comparisons between Sara Bareilles’ Brave and Katy Perry‘s Roar, many eyes will be on the Best Pop Solo Performance category as both are pitted against one another for Pop Music Glory.
See Perry‘s Toronto-recorded performance Roar acoustically at the Nominations Concert:
Nominees are as follows in some of the Evening’s most-watched categories:
Best New Artist
James Blake
Kendrick Lamar
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Kacey Musgraves
Ed Sheeran
Album Of The Year
The Blessed Unrest — Sara Bareilles
Random Access Memories — Daft Punk
Good Kid, M.A.A.D City — Kendrick Lamar
The Heist — Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Red — Taylor Swift
Song of the Year
Just Give Me A Reason — Pink Featuring Nate Ruess
Locked Out Of Heaven — Bruno Mars
Roar — Katy Perry
Royals — Lorde
Same Love — Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Mary Lambert
Record Of The Year
Get Lucky — Daft Punk & Pharrell Williams
Radioactive — Imagine Dragons
Royals — Lorde
Locked Out Of Heaven — Bruno Mars
Blurred Lines — Robin Thicke Featuring T.I. & Pharrell Williams
View a complete list of Nominees here.
The 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards air Sunday, January 26, 2014 on CBS at 8:00 PM EST.
(Photo credit: Universal Music)
For advertising opportunites please contact mrwill@mrwillwong.com