They’ve got us all talking! Selena Gomez after a few blissful days in Toronto which included renting out a VIP Theatre to watch a Movie, Ripley’s Aquarium, grub at The Diner (Thompson Hotel) and shopping in Yorkville with boyfriend, Toronto’s pride and joy The Weeknd, quietly left the City this evening with her bodyguard by her side. Checking-in quietly at the Toronto Pearson International Airport – she flies first-class of course – she quietly queued the Nexus line.
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Yes, you’ve seen the Movies in time for Awards Season, but what about the great songs featured in them? Up for Best Original Song at next months’ Academy Awards are these five finalists. Spanning from the institution of James Bond to a much-talked-about BDSM Romance to a gripping Documentary about College Rape, these songs are a cross-section of the diverse Films we saw in 2015.
WRITING’S ON THE WALL (SPECTRE) – SAM SMITH
TIL IT HAPPENS TO YOU (THE HUNTING GROUND) – LADY GAGA
EARNED IT (FIFTY SHADES OF GREY) – THE WEEKND
MANTA RAY (RACING EXTINCTION) – J. RALPH + ANTONY
SIMPLE SONG #3 (YOUTH) – SUMI JO
The 88th ACADEMY AWARDS air 7 PM Sunday, February 28, 2016 on ABC.
(Photo credit: Sony Music/Universal Music/Milan Records/Rumor Mill Records)
Now in its 25th year, the MuchMusic Video Awards have been an annual “Look-Forward-To” for Toronto Music Fans for as long as I can remember. Although focus in recent years to adapt to a changing economic climate, has turned towards Young Adult TV Programming versus its traditional format of Music Videos mostly, MuchMusic still manages to pull together a Who’s-Who every year. Okay, we admit the huge marquee names haven’t been there in recent years like Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Rihanna or Miley Cyrus, but few are complaining about this year’s Host, Ed Sheeran, due to fly-in tomorrow to fulfill his duties, all while balancing his x Tour.
Arriving in the City today were a mix of Presenters, who will grace the open Queen Street stage including Bella Thorne, Gregg Sulkin, Hailee Steinfeld, Debbie Ryan, Tyler Posey and Supermodel Gigi Hadid. Although many were looking forward to seeing her present, Ashley Benson, Star of Pretty Little Liars and Pixels, had to cancel. Thorne and Sulkin have been said to be dating in recent months and just may be seen tomorrow on the Carpet debuting as a Couple. Meanwhile Hadid, who has been tired to Joe Jonas after being spotted together here a couple weeks back, flew solo. Her sister Bella already is in the City with her Scarborough-native Boyfriend, The Weeknd, who will be appearing on tomorrow’s broadcast.
Thorne and Hadid created the greatest fandemonium, with Fans circling them for a shot at a Selfie and most would succeed, some even scoring multiples.. with tongues sticking out, peace signs, duckyface. You get the picture…
See our Snaps:
Gigi Hadid:
Debbie Ryan:
Hailee Steinfeld:
Bella Thorne:
Gregg Sulkin:
Tyler Posey:
The 2015 MuchMusic Video Awards air on MuchMusic at 9 PM EST. More here.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
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)
Certainly one of the sexiest Tracks of 2014, Scarborough’s The Weeknd and Ariana Grande team-up on the bouncy LOVE ME HARDER, from the latter’s latest Disc My Everything. The Video for the Track, directed by Hannah Lux Davis, was just released and it’s cinematic and mysterious just like it sounds. Grande might drop a few jaws with the racy movements!
The Song is co-written by Max Martin, Savan Kotecha, Peter Svensson, Ali Payami, Ahmad Balshe and The Weeknd.
Watch the Video below:
Official Artwork:
Download LOVE ME HARDER on iTunes here.
(Photo/video credit: Universal Music)
The stars shined bright tonight on the yellow carpet at Sony Centre for the Performing Arts as the 2014 Canada’s Walk of Fame Tribute Show commenced on a chillier-than-average October day. The annual Fixture which originated in 1998 honouring individuals who have contributed greatly to the Canadian Cultural landscape, saw representatives from multiple disciplines recognized with an equally star-studded list of Presenters. Their achievements are commemorated via a star plaque situated between John to Simcoe Streets in Toronto, in and around the Entertainment District.
Among those honoured this year were the likes of Actor Ryan Reynolds, Actress Rachel McAdams, Olympian and Hockey Icon Hayley Wickenheiser, Philanthropist Louise Arbour, Musician Jeff Healey and iconic Rock Outfit, The Band. Their Peers including Jian Ghomeshi, Wendy Crewson, Tom Cochrane, Jay Baruchel, Clara Hughes, Peter Fonda and more were on-hand to introduce each of this year’s Star Recipients.
Director and Film/Television Star Jason Priestley filled Host’s duties more than ably with his quick wit, poking fun at everything from the traffic in Toronto to the perception that all Canadian Actors hang with one another while in Hollywood. We had the pleasure of chatting with Priestley on who his Canadian Heroes are and why it is he chose to be involved with Canada’s Walk of Fame. On his Idol, he says “It was The Relic on The Beachcombers back in the day. That’s how long ago I left Canada.”. He adds, “I left Canada in the mid-80s but I’m so thankful every day I grew up here. I want to Theatre School here and Canada’s been extremely important to me as an Artist and a Man. That’s why it’s important for me to be here recognizing these great Entertainers and Political Figures.”.
We spoke quickly to Ryan Reynolds who arrived sans pregnant Wife Blake Lively and he reveals to us his greatest Canadian Heroes. “Michael J. Fox for starters, Atom Egoyan (whom he collaborated with on 2014’s The Captive), Gordon Lightfoot… I loved Barenaked Ladies growing-up” says the Vancouver-born Honouree. “There’s no shortage of Canadian Heroes, I could definitely do this all day!”. Reynolds upon receiving his Star, spoke to some of the highs and lows he’s faced in his Career, telling the Audience “My ability to laugh at myself has saved my life. Canada’s greatest export in fact is sarcasm.”. He proceeded to thank his Mother Tammy who was in-attendance and Lively, whom he describes as “An Alien. Like MacGyver-meets-Brigitte Bardot!“.
Prized Hockey Olympian Hayley Wickenheiser had full control of the stage today, speaking eloquently about her success and how our national treasure of a sport, Hockey, has afforded her many privileges in life. She brought along a ten-year-old Cancer-surviving Hockey Player named Grace whom had her leg amputated, lauding her courage to continue fighting in the name of the Sport. Wickenheiser also thanked her Son Noah on-stage, whom she admits isn’t a Hockey Fan. She went-on to thank him for his understanding in all her travels away from home, drawing emotional reactions from some of the Audience members.
McAdams certainly was the Belle of the Ball, looking one-part Classic Hollywood Starlet and one-part Grecian Goddess in a dual-tone flowy number. Despite being rushed-in and unable to accommodate many Media interviews, she made a strong impression, tearfully receiving her Star on the Walk of Fame. The Actress, in-town currently filming the Drama Spotlight, admits “As much as I love adventure, there is nothing more nourishing to my soul than coming home.”. McAdams went-on to credit York University for giving her a foundation and skills which she still draws-upon still to this day as one of Hollywood’s top Actresses.
Musical Tributes also were given to Inductees Jeff Healey and The Band, with JUNO Winner Sean Jones and The Treasures (ft. Tom Cochrane and more) putting on a dazzling display for the Audience respectively. Scarborough’s The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye) was named Recipient of the Allan Slaight Award, honouring one young Canadian for making a positive impact. His latest Disc KISS LAND debuted atop the iTunes Album Chart and in three short years, he has seen his star rise on the international front.
Global Television airs the 2014 CANADA’S WALK OF FAME TRIBUTE SHOW on Friday, December 19, 2014 at 8:00 PM EST.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Carly Rae Jepsen was the big Winner at tonight’s JUNO Awards in Regina. The 28 year-old-Singer/Songwriter swept in three major categories for which she was nominated, including: Album of the Year (Kiss), Single of the Year (Call Me Maybe) and also Pop Album of the Year (Kiss). The Awards were hosted by Crooner Michael Bublé.
Beliebers, as much as they have supported Jepsen after their Idol helped expose her internationally, would not be shut-out however with Justin Bieber was named Winner of the Fan Choice Award.
Canadian Icon Leonard Cohen also took him some prestigious honours this year, including Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year – the latter repeating his feat in 1994, winning the same Award.
Toronto-based Rapper The Weeknd was rewarded handsomely for his work on Disc Trilogy, winning Breakthrough Artist of the Year and R&B/Soul Record of the Year.
Mariana’s Trench (fronted by Josh Ramsay who penned Call Me Maybe) was awarded Group of the Year, while Mumford & Sons won International Album of the Year with their Disc, Babel.
Click here for a full list of Winners.
(Photo credit: CTV)
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