Bryan Adams Receives Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

BRYAN ADAMS RECEIVES HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME STAR
Bryan Adams has received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The 51-year-old rocker's tribute was unveiled yesterday (March 21, 2011) in front of the Musician's Institute on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles.

The "Summer of '69" singer is thrilled to get the honor, and admitted he would often admire the Walk of Fame in his younger days but never dreamed that one day his own name would be on it.

At the ceremony, the Canadian star said: "I remember being in Hollywood at the age of 16 and marveling at the stars."

"The idea of being part of it never entered my mind. It was too far-fetched. Today, I'm humbled at the induction of my name. It's fantastic."

The Grammy Award-winning musician - who is expecting his first child with his partner, his personal assistant Alicia Grimaldi, in May - was watched by fellow Canadian and champion hockey player Wayne Gretzky as he was presented with the 2,435th star.

Wayne was delighted to see his friend receive the accolade but he was less than impressed with the rainy weather on the day.

The sportsman said: "This is typical. I've been to an outdoor concert of Bryan's where it was pouring rain and watched him perform his magic. [Bryan is] a very humble Canadian. I'm very proud to say he's Canadian."

However, the "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" hitmaker was prepared for the wet weather.

On Sunday (March 20, 2011), he tweeted: "Gonna bring my surf board to the ceremony tomorrow just in case the rain continues."

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Cash-strapped states rethink Hollywood tax breaks (AP)

By RUSS BYNUM and ERRIN HAINES, Associated Press Russ Bynum And Errin Haines, Associated Press – Sun Mar 6, 11:32 am ET

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Thanks to a tax break used to lure Disney filmmakers away from North Carolina to coastal Georgia, Harry Spirides figures his beachfront hotel raked in an extra $85,000 because Miley Cyrus spent a summer filming here.

The producers of Cyrus' film, "The Last Song," were brought in with an across-the-board tax credit of 20 percent when they rolled into Tybee Island in June 2009. Lawmakers in Georgia and other states, though, are worried that they can't afford to offer Hollywood those incentives any longer as they struggle to find enough money to pay for programs like Medicaid.

For Spirides, though, the economic benefit from the tax credit was clear: The crew rented a parking lot at Spirides' Ocean Plaza Beach Resort for $30,000 to set up makeup trailers and dining tents. Then there were hundreds of families working as extras on the film who would crash at the hotel after shooting until 2 a.m.

"The shooting of the movie definitely made it a lot better of a summer financially than it would have been," Spirides said. "It really, really helped when we were in the depths of the recession."

In January, though, a Georgia state council said those benefits are fleeting. It said even though the crews bring jobs — and lots of people who spend money locally on food and lodging — those benefits are lost when they pack up and leave after filming.

The council recommended ditching the film tax break, which meant $140.6 million in lost tax revenues last year. Film producers spent $617 million in Georgia last year.

An Associated Press survey found that from 2006 to 2008, states shelled out $1.8 billion in tax breaks and other advantages to the entertainment industry. The recession has officials in several states wondering if the incentives are worth the lost revenue.

Michigan's governor has proposed capping Hollywood tax credits at $25 million a year — a fraction of what the state spent in the past. New Mexico lawmakers are pushing to limit film subsidies to $45 million a year and spread out refunds to large film projects over two or three years.

Budget woes prompted New Jersey and Kentucky to place similar caps on film incentives last year. Connecticut, Iowa, Kansas and Wisconsin all slashed spending on their programs in 2009.

But not everybody is cutting back. A few states eager for jobs and spending are offering more money to lure Hollywood productions.

"It's a mixed conversation as to are we giving away money or are we trying to create jobs?" said Todd Haggerty, a tax policy analyst for the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Virginia adopted its first tax credits for the movie industry last year. North Carolina, which lost "The Last Song" in 2009 because Georgia offered a sweeter deal, bolstered its film incentives last year by $14 million.

The film industry is pushing to hold onto its tax credits. At the state capitol in Atlanta last week, several studio officials turned out at a hearing to tell Georgia lawmakers the tax breaks are vital to getting films produced in the state and have helped create jobs outside the movie business.

Brian O'Leary, a tax attorney for NBC Universal, hinted that other states would be happy to snatch film projects away from Georgia if its cash incentives get scrapped.

"The debate that's currently under way is going to create a chill on this industry," he said.

Alan Essig, executive director of the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, said lawmakers shouldn't accept that testimony as fact.

"If the film industry is correct, for sure we should do it. But I think we need an impartial look at it to see if it's actually creating jobs and growing the economy," Essig said.

Savannah, for instance, had long been a Hollywood favorite, with "Forrest Gump" and "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" both filming there in the 1990s. After "The Gift" was shot there in 2000, it was nine years before another Hollywood hit filmed there because other states offered better incentives, said Jay Self, Savannah's film commissioner whose job is to woo Hollywood to Georgia's oldest city.

Georgia adopted its current tax break package in 2008, and studios quickly returned to the Georgia coast. The following year, Cyrus and "The Last Song" set up shop in the area. Robert Redford also picked Savannah to direct his Civil Car historical thriller "The Conspirator," set for release next month.

Self said both projects combined brought more than $9 million in spending to Savannah and nearby Tybee Island. And those aren't the only two. The upcoming "X-Men: First Class" shot scenes on location at Jekyll Island last fall. A film titled simply "Savannah," starring Jim Caviezel, is now shooting in the city.

"This business doesn't just benefit farmers, it doesn't just benefit people in one certain area," Self said. "There are people in every trade from animal handlers to electricians, carpenters and makeup artists. They hire all kinds of people."

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Not All Hollywood Marriages Go Bad: Success Stories in the Land of Splitsville

Mar 6th 2011 12:00PMEmail This
In the land of 10-minute marriages, there have been some successful and long term unions along the way. It's relatively hard to live happily ever after in tinsel town, but a few have managed to beat the odds. Let's take a look at some happily married Hollywood marriages that have endured beyond the quarter-century mark.

One of the rock-steadiest couples around is Jay Leno and his wife of 31 years, Mavis. They met in 1976 when she was in the audience at one of his stand-up gigs. Legend has it that after Leno finished his set, he dashed over to the ladies room where he anticipated Mavis would be waiting in line. Bingo. Leno spoke to PopEater about the secrets to his happy marriage and put it in poignant terms.

"I enjoy being in the room with my wife," he tells us. "When she's reading and I'm fixing the car, just knowing that she's right over there, I like that, I like that feeling, I'm comfortable with that. I know so many men and women, you know, they take the long way home subconsciously, they stop off and they have a drink. Do you know what that means? It means you don't want to go home. I like to go home, and when you don't want to go home, that's a bad sign. That's really the trick."
MORE SOLID COUPLES

Martin Sheen and Janet Templeton (1961) 50 Years
Martin Sheen has seen trouble in paradise brewing for his son Charlie for a while now and has to deal with his coping skills, but his wife of nearly 50 years has stood by his side through thick and thin. No marriage stands the course of time without a few bumps in the road. (Sheen suffered a heart attack when he was 39 and almost died, and suffered through his own bouts of alcohol abuse as a young man that he got through when he rejoined his faith.). Sheen and his wife Janet should write a "marriage for dummies" book to help the rest of us learn how to ride out the rough spots unscathed. On December 23, they will celebrate their Golden Anniversary -- their 50th. Any couple who celebrates that milestone deserves a gold medal. Congratulations, Martin and Janet!

Ron and Cheryl Howard (1975) 36 Years
Director Ron Howard has grown up before our very eyes, first as the adorable Opie on 'The Andy Griffith Show,' and then as teenager Richie Cunningham on 'Happy Days.' Howard married his high school sweetheart Cheryl Alley when he was only 21. They have three daughters (actress Bryce Dallas, 29; twins Jocelyn Carlyle and Paige Carlyle, 25; and son Reed Cross, 23). Great trivia: His daughters' middle names indicate where they were conceived (Dallas, Texas and the Hotel Carlyle in New York City). Howard said that his son Reed Cross was named after a London street because "Volvo isn't a very good middle name." Can you say "sense of humor" boys and girls?

Dan Aykroyd and Donna Dixon (1983) 28 Years
Dan Akyroyd, who was one of the original cast members of 'Saturday Night Live,' has not let success go to his head. He has managed to keep the home fires burning with his second wife, actress Donna Dixon. He married the beautiful actress (with whom he starred in movies 'Doctor Detroit,' 'Spies Like Us' and 'The Couch Trip') after his first marriage to Maureen Lewis ended in divorce in 1974. They have welcomed three daughters along the way. Strange bedfellows obviously haven't been a problem in their marriage. So, Donna, if you have " an invisible man sleeping in your bed, who you gonna call?" (Ghostbusters!)

Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman (1982) 29 Years
Danny DeVito (aka Louie De Palma on 'Taxi') and Rhea Perlman (aka Carla Tortelli on 'Cheers') met while filming the sitcom 'Taxi' in 1978.' They married on January 28, 1982 and have had three children, a son and two daughters. When someone once asked DeVito what's the secret to their successful marriage, he reportedly replied, "Love. Love. I mean, really. You know what? Who knows. The secret to success is to try to never figure that out."

Mickey Rooney and Jan (1978) 33 Years
It's hard to believe Mickey Rooney turns 91 in September. This Hollywood legend will celebrate 33 years of marriage this year with his eighth wife, Jan Chamberlin. Rooney, whose first marriage to the voluptuous actress Ava Gardner ended after only a year, once joked (after several failed marriages) that his marriage contract reads: 'To Whom it May Concern.'

Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne (1982) 28 Years
Rock star Ozzy Osbourne, who has been married twice (he was first married to Thelma Riley; they had two children together) married second wife Sharon Arden in Maui, Hawaii on July 4, 1982 and has three children with her: Aimee, Kelly and Jack. Sharon has admitted that she has no regrets about taking her husband away from his first wife "because it turned out so well." All's well that ends well? Summon the Batmobile.

Ed O'Neill and Catherine (1986) 25 Years
Ed O'Neill's sexy 'Modern Family' TV wife Sofia Vergara may keep him happy on set, but his real life wife of 25 years – actress Catherine Rusoff (who appeared in two episodes of 'Married... with Children') – must be doing something right at home while keeping his former alter ego 'Al Bundy' in check. Even though they reportedly separated for four years, they hung tight, reconciled, and have two daughters together.

Henry Winkler and Stacey (1978) 33 Years
Henry Winkler, who is best known for his role as Fonzie on the 1970s sitcom 'Happy Days,' has been married to Stacey Weitzman since May 5, 1978. They have two children and Winkler has a stepson from Stacey's first marriage to attorney Howard Weitzman. The "Fonz" may have had a way of snapping his fingers to make the ladies come running back in the day, but we're betting he doesn't try that at home. He's earned the reputation of being the nicest guy in Hollywood. He's currently appearing on USA's 'Royal Pains.'

Bette Midler and Martin von Haselberg (1984) 27 Years
Bette Midler has delighted audiences for over 45 years as a singer, comedian, actress and author. She waited till the ripe "old" age of 39 to walk down the aisle with Martin von Haselberg, approximately six weeks after meeting him. Together they have one daughter Sophie, 24. Obviously what has kept their love light on for 27 years is their ability to compromise. Midler once joked, "I married a German. Every night I dress up as Poland, and he invades me." Devine! We love it!

Jeff Foxworthy and Pamela Gregg (1985) 26 Years
Jeff Foxworthy may be the most well-known, self-acclaimed redneck on the planet, but his wife Pamela (whom he calls Gregg) must enjoy roughing it. We're guessing she keeps her husband's Redneck Dictionary on her night stand for reference so she can communicate with him. In the meantime, Foxworthy must "listen" a lot. He once joked, "If you break into my house, I will shoot you. My wife will shoot you and then spend thirty minutes telling you why she shot you."

Andy Griffith and Cindi Knight (1983) 28 Years
Actor and comedian Andy Griffith met his third wife Cindi when she was a dancer in The Lost Colony Theater in Manteo, N.C. They were married in April 1983 when he was 56 and she was 27." It was a very slow romance to develop, over years of time ... Andy is a fine man," Cindi once told The Virginian-Pilot. Cindi – who Andy refers to as "the light of my life" – and Andy are currently enjoying retirement on their waterfront estate in N.C.

Jeff Bridges and Susan Geston (1977) 34 Years
Actor Jeff Bridges met Susan on the movie set of 'Rancho Deluxe." The movie was filmed on a ranch where Geston was employed as a waitress. Bridges' fear of marriage surfaced during an interview with Reader's Digest in 2006: "I don't know how it is for women or for other guys, but when I was young and in my 20s, I had a fear of marriage. I thought it was a giant step toward death. So I did everything in my power to resist it - the idea was frightening to me, man. Then I met Susan Geston in 1974 while I was shooting the film 'Rancho Deluxe' in Montana, up in Paradise Valley at Chico Hot Springs, and I thought,' Now, this is interesting.'" After dating, breaking up and making up, the two lovebirds married on June 5, 1977.

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Hollywood rarely crowns British monarchy at Oscars (AP)

LOS ANGELES – It may seem as though Academy Awards voters would be a bunch of fawning monarchists, considering how often the ceremony has been a love fest for all things English. But British kings and queens generally wind up losers at the Oscars.

If "The King's Speech," a saga about Queen Elizabeth II's dad, makes good on its status as best-picture favorite on Sunday, it would become the first film with a British monarch as its central figure to win the top prize in the 83-year history of the Oscars.

Two films with a British king or queen as a supporting player — 1966's "A Man for All Seasons" and 1998's "Shakespeare in Love" — did win best picture. Yet past contenders with a monarch in a lead role have always lost: 1933's "The Private Life of Henry VIII," 1946's "Henry V," 1964's "Becket," 1968's "The Lion in Winter," 1969's "Anne of the Thousand Days," 1998's "Elizabeth" (which lost to "Shakespeare in Love") and 2006's "The Queen."

Actors as British monarchs have fared a bit better, with lead-acting wins by Charles Laughton in the title role of "The Private Life of Henry VIII"; Katharine Hepburn as Henry II's captive queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, in "The Lion in Winter"; and Helen Mirren as Elizabeth II in "The Queen." Judi Dench won a supporting Oscar as Elizabeth I in "Shakespeare in Love."

Best-actor front-runner Colin Firth as the current queen's father, George VI, is expected to join the winner's list Sunday, though Helena Bonham Carter as his wife, the future Queen Mother Elizabeth, is a longshot for supporting actress.

Losers far outnumber winners: 13 of the 17 actors nominated for playing a British king or queen have lost (there would be one more loser if we throw in Vanessa Redgrave as best actress in 1971's "Mary, Queen of Scots," whose title character schemed but failed to take the English crown from Elizabeth I).

Two actors lost twice for playing the same monarch — Peter O'Toole as Henry II in "Becket" and "The Lion in Winter" and Cate Blanchett as Elizabeth I in "Elizabeth" and its 2007 sequel, "Elizabeth: The Golden Age."

Laurence Olivier lost twice for playing two different kings in Shakespeare adaptations, 1946's "Henry V" and 1956's "Richard III." Kenneth Branagh also lost for his 1989 version of "Henry V."

Henry VIII has gone one-for-three at the Oscars. After Laughton's win, two other actors lost for playing the same role — Robert Shaw as supporting actor in "A Man for All Seasons" and Richard Burton as best actor for "Anne of the Thousand Days" (the latter film also was a best-actress loser for Genevieve Bujold in the title role, as one of Henry VIII's queens, Anne Boleyn).

Before their wins, both Dench and Mirren lost at the Oscars for other roles as British queens. Mirren lost the supporting-actress race as Queen Charlotte in 1994's "The Madness of King George," for which Nigel Hawthorne also lost for best actor in the title role. Dench lost for best actress as Queen Victoria in 1997's "Mrs. Brown."

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