Rufus Wainwright's opera coming to Toronto

Toronto will host the North American debut of Rufus Wainwright's opera as part of the 2010 Luminato arts festival, organizers announced yesterday.

The Canadian singer-songwriter has been working on a French-language opera called Prima Donna.

"The further I venture through the world of opera, the more I realize how daring and risky one has to be in order to succeed in this fickle medium," he said in a statement. "From the composer to the producer and the hundreds of glorious people in between, there must be a steel rod of dedication linking all the elements."

"Thank you Toronto for having the guts to make it happen."

Wainwright was initially in talks with New York's Metropolitan Opera to stage his production's debut. But the two parted ways after the Met insisted on an English-language production and that it wouldn't premiere before 2014.

I've never been to the opera, and my French skills certainly aren't advanced, but I'm still a little intrigued by this project. Luckily I've got a couple years to get cultured and bilingual before Prima Donna's Toronto debut!

CBC cancellations and renewals

After announcing massive layoffs last week, CBC has revealed more details about what its future TV schedule will look like.

Sophomore comedy Sophie won't be getting a third season, having aired what turned out to be its series finale last week.

Critical darling Being Erica will return for a shorter second season. The Border, This Hour Has 22 Minutes and Little Mosque On The Prairie will also be back with shorter seasons, and the promise of more reruns.

Investigative shows like the Fifth Estate and Marketplace, meanwhile, will see reduced budgets.

For more CBC program changes, including CBC Radio reductions, click here and here.

Sighting!

Within a couple hours of being in New York City on Friday, Vanessa, Jackie, Iain and I spotted Michael Moore outside the NASDAQ building.

Obviously he's no Chace Crawford, but we were happy to have a celebrity sighting so early in our trip.

Moore was in the process of filming something (most logically the Untitled Michael Moore Project about the global financial crisis). He was surrounded by a group of onlookers, and we gladly joined the amateur paparazzi brigade.

Later in the weekend I saw a spectacular Brittany Snow lookalike working at Club Monaco, but decided the actress couldn't be that hard up for cash.

Stay tuned for more self-indulgent NYC posts. I had too much fun not to relive it in blog form!

Constant rotation: March 2009

1. Weighty Ghost, Wintersleep
2. The World Should Revolve Around Me, Little Jackie
3. The Fear, Lily Allen
4. That's Not My Name, the Ting Tings
5. Love Game, Lady GaGa

And of course . . .

All I Ever Wanted, Kelly Clarkson

1. My Life Would Suck Without You
2. I Do Not Hook Up
3. Cry
4. Don’t Let Me Stop You
5. All I Ever Wanted
6. Already Gone
7. If I Can’t Have You
8. Save You
9. Whyyawannabringmedown
10. Long Shot
11. Impossible
12. Ready
13. I Want You
14. If No One Will Listen
15. Tip Of My Tongue
16. The Day We Fell Apart

Quick hits, in case you missed it

• The Degrassi kids walk the Kids’ Choice Awards’ green carpet.



• Canadian actor Dustin Milligan will no longer be a series regular when 90210 returns for its second season next year. New showrunner Rebecca Rand Kirshner Sinclair also says to expect less screen time from the original show’s cast. Anyone else think reducing Shenae Grimes’ screen time is what this show really needs?



• Tuesday deliciousness: Ashton Kutcher takes it off for his new movie. When you don’t have to listen to him speak, he’s actually pretty hot. 



• Best Week Ever has tracked down the trashiest prom dress ever. That's some classless shit, yo!



• Kelly Clarkson is entertainer of the month.



• Friday Night Lights has officially been renewed by NBC and DirecTV for an additional two 13-episode seasons. Which means I’ll have even more episodes to fall behind on. 



• MTV has ordered four more seasons of the Real World, which will bring the reality show up to a whopping 26 seasons. Sadly, I'm already too old to be cast.  Feck.

Junos honour great Canadian music . . . and Nickelback

I know the Junos were two nights ago, so this is now incredibly old news. But I just got back from New York, so humour me as I roll my eyes at Nickelback’s three Juno wins.

In less mind-boggling Juno news, Alanis Morissette’s Flavours of Entanglement took home the well-deserved Best Pop Album award. Yay!

Sam Roberts picked up Artist of the Year and Rock Album of the Year for Love At The End Of The World; and the Stills won New Group of the Year and Alternative Album of the Year awards for Oceans Will Rise.

Other winners included City and Colour, Lights, Kardinal Offishall, Serena Ryder, Barenaked Ladies, and Divine Brown.

For a full list, click here.

And for more Juno coverage, click here.

Gossip Girl line of the week

"Friends? Makes total sense. There's no spark between you two, there never was. you're like a green twig and a soggy match. A rusty hammer and an icy nail." -- Chuck, on Blair and Nate

Tyra Banks is GLAAD-approved

"I didn't understand why they empathized with me so much...As I got older I understood that hate and discrimination and inequality was the same. And that the issues that I was going through as a black woman were some of the issues that they had gone through as gays and lesbians and transgenders and bisexuals. And I want to thank all of those people whose shoulders I cried on, all of the people who embraced me...I have had a lot of success as a model, but I know I would not have had that success were it not for the gay community." -- Tyra Banks, accepting GLAAD's Excellence in Media Award in New York this weekend

Video here.

Beyonce takes on Alanis Morissette

Beyonce kicked off a Canadian mini-tour in Edmonton last week, and paid tribute to two of Canada's top singers in the process.

Beyonce flailed about trying her best at Alanis Morissette's classic You Outta Know (and creatively avoided the word "fuck" in the process).

She later slowed things down for her interpretation of Sarah McLachlan's Angel.

I've got to give it to Beyonce. There's no denying she's got a great voice, and it's fun hearing her take on classic Alanis and Sarah in the process.

Still, nothing beats the original.

Monday deliciousness

What would we do without "sexiest" editions of magazines?

TV Guide got some of TV's hottest men to strip down for their latest Sexiest TV Star edition, including my faves David Boreanaz and George Eads, above.

Below, Ryan Kwanten, Christian de la Fuente, Brody Jenner and Bailey Chase also show us what they've got.

Happy Monday!

Be right back . . .

I'm heading out to get lost in New York this weekend like Kevin McCallister, but will return Tuesday raring to get back to blog updates.

In the meantime, don't forget that tomorrow is Earth Hour -- so turn your lights off at 8:30 p.m. if you want to pretend to be all environmentally-conscious and shit.

Suzie McNeil, Crash Parallel, The Matt York Band, Karl Wolf, and Samba Squad will perform an Earth Hour concert at Toronto's Nathan Phillips Square.

That lineup's not quite as impressive as last year, when Nelly Furtado was on hand in Toronto to turn off the lights.

But maybe all the big names will already be in Vancouver for Juno weekend. Russell Peters will host Sunday's live Juno telecast on CTV, which will feature performances by Sam Roberts, City & Colour and Sarah McLachlan.

Mike's Bloggity Blog will be on the red carpet and in the press room, so check in there for your Juno Awards fix!

Hot mess of the week

I used to think 90210’s Ryan Eggold was hot.

But he has proven time and time again that he just doesn’t understand the responsibility that comes with being a TV star. You have to at least try to look good at public events!

Eggold showed up to TV Guide’s Sexiest Stars party Tuesday night wearing an old white T, jeans, and most offensively – flip flops!

You’re walking a red carpet, dear, not the boardwalk at the beach. Photographers will take your photo, allowing cranky bitches like me to criticize you. THINK ABOUT YOUR FASHION CHOICES!

Besides the fashion faux-pas, what is with that crusty wet mop of hair on his head?

Completely inappropriate and unappealing? I think so.

Oh Ryan Eggold. You hot mess.

Look of the week: Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon is one hot mama, spreading her legs in a short and shimmery Rodarte number.

Last weekend Witherspoon walked the red carpet at the premeire of her new animated feature Monsters. vs. Aliens.

Can we focus for a second on those yellow and grey Balenciaga heels? Fierce!

[photos via Bricks and Stones Gossip]

Could anything be less appealing?

Avril Lavigne was in London this week promoting her new fragrance Black Star.

“I wanted to make sure the fragrance was really me — me in a bottle,” she said.

Um, does anyone else find the thought of Avril Lavigne in a bottle completely unappealing?

I mean, girl can sing a catchy tune, but she looks like she smells like old fish.

Am I wrong?

CP24 launches morning show

Well, it’s not all bad news in Canadian broadcasting today.

CTV announced today the launch of CP24 Breakfast, a new morning show that will premiere tomorrow on the news station.

Former MuchMusic VJ Matte Babel will cohost the three and a half hour show with Melissa Grelo and lead anchor Ann Rohmer.

As if to say “Hey look! We’re the voice of the people!” the full cast took to the Bay-Yorkville subway station to take their promo photos. Appropriate, I guess, because a subway ride is about all anyone can afford in Yorkville.

CTV also announced today the launch of CP24 Radio 1050, going live tomorrow morning and offering 24-hour news content.

More layoffs coming to CBC

Unfortunately the CBC layoffs haven’t stopped at Steven and Chris.

CBC executives told staff this morning they will be laying off 800 staff members in an attempt to balance its budget by saving $171 million.

"These are tough times for the public broadcaster," CBC president Hubert Lacroix said. "The changes are significant and it will take time to talk them through.”

At least half the cuts will be made in English-language departments, while television will see more cuts than radio.

In addition, senior managers' take-home pay will be cut by 20 per cent, through reduced bonuses, and corporate salaries will be rolled back by 5 per cent.

Lacroix maintains CBC television will continue to have 80 per cent Canadian content in primetime, and that radio will continue to be commercial-free and retain “major market” morning and afternoon shows.

So what will be cut? The broadcaster will be “scaling back” regional radio and television programming, current affairs drama, music and special event shows. News will be reduced, and more shows will be repeated throughout the day.

Managers will deliver more specific news to effected areas tomorrow.

Layoffs will occur through the summer.

WWIB: bowtie edition

If you’ve been watching the Real World: Brooklyn, you know that pale Mormon Chet (right) thinks he’s God’s gift to fashion.

A few weeks ago producers dedicated like 11 minutes of time to a segment in which Chet debated whether he should wear a bowtie or a V-neck to an audition.

It was painful to watch. I mean, sure I have no problem giving people my opinions on their fashion choices. But to watch pale Chet debate his decision, poll the roommates and call his mom to get her take was just excruciating.

In the end, he went with the bowtie, which he paired with a vest and ridiculous thick-framed glasses. Of course, he looked like a ridiculous insecure hipster in the process.

On this week’s Gossip Girl, however, I was excited to see that the bowtie can still indeed be pulled off properly – when you’re Chuck Bass, that is. Honestly, what can’t he pull off?

Perhaps Chet needs to take a trip to the Upper East Side to find out how to look more suave and less Orville Redenbacher.

Spring Awakening brings youthful jolt to Toronto stage

I’m not going to lie. I was a little bit nervous about seeing the Toronto production of Spring Awakening with my mother last Thursday night.

I knew there was sexual content, but that in itself didn’t deter me. It was this page on Spring Awakening’s website that got me a little nervous. This page on which parents express what a great conversation-starter the play is to discuss important issues with their adolescent.

If my mom tried to have the sex talk with me at the age of 24, I think I might’ve shit.

Thankfully the elderly couples seated in front of us were the only ones who squirmed at the little bit of T and little bit of A that graced the stage.

Both my mom and I agreed, Spring Awakening is one quality production.

The musical is based on the controversial 1891 German play of the same title by Frank Wedekind. Set in 1890s Germany, it tells the stories of a group of angst-ridden teens exploring their sexuality and daring to break free from the repressive shackles of their parents and teachers.

Led by the smart and rebellious Melchior, the characters deal with sex, suicide, abortion, masturbation, and homosexuality. Yay!

The result is like an entire season of Degrassi crammed into a two-hour stage production, with music written by Duncan Shiek.

I was thoroughly impressed with how effortlessly this young cast pulled off their roles. This wasn’t like that Jerry Springer bullshit. These kids are talented! When they sang, I listened. When they danced, I wanted to join them. When they emoted, I felt it.

Matt Doyle stepped into the lead role of Melchior at the last minute, after Kyle Riabko abandoned ship one week before the curtain rose to shoot an ABC pilot. Doyle had understudied the role of Melchior in the Broadway production, and joined the Toronto run to save the day.

(Bonus trivia fact: Doyle also plays Jonathan, Eric’s boyfriend on Gossip Girl! He's also dreamy, and 21, so I'm allowed to say that).

The rest of the young cast also brings varied stage and screen credits. Perhaps most notable to Canadians is the casting of 2006 Canadian Idol contestant Steffi D in the role of Ilse.

Essential among this cast of young'uns were Angela Reed and Henry Stram, who played "adult women" and "adult men," respectively. Taking on a number of parental and disciplinarian roles throughout the play, they provided occasional comic relief while serving as antagonistic forces spurring the adolescents' action along.

The music and choreography largely served as the characters' inner monologues throughout the show, without feeling overwrought or excessive. The female cast floated across the stage gracefully, while the male cast exuded energy in their movement. My favourite bits of choreography saw the cast contorting their arms around their bodies to reflect their emotion, sensuality, and inner turmoil

Naturally, my favourite song was Totally Fucked, a number in act two through which the cast expresses what we all feel every once in a while.

And therein lies the accessible appeal of Spring Awakening. As my mom pointed out on the subway post-show, even adolescents singing and dancing in 1890s Germany face the same issues as teens today.

Thankfully she arrived at her TTC stop before we could really get into the sex talk.

Spring Awakening is playing at Toronto's Canon theatre through April 19. Run -- don't walk! -- to see it.

Hilary Duff, Zac Efron try to grow up

Two former Disney stars are trying their damnedest to distance themselves from the kiddie fare that made them famous.

After shooting a guest starring role on Ghost Whisperer, Hilary Duff is currently filming a one-off spot on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

The Duffster plays a rebellious young mother who is suspected of murdering her baby. Because nothing screams "Hey guys, stop referring to me as Lizzie McGuire!" like baby killing.

Meanwhile, in addition to sexy, sexy photoshoots, Zac Efron is trying to prove he's a man by hanging up his dancing shoes.

In development since last July, Efron has dropped out of a planned Footloose remake.

"Footloose is a project we've longed to see re-booted for a new generation," Paramount said in a statement. "While Zac is no longer attached, we remain excited and committed to the collective brain trust of Kenny Ortega, Neil Meron and Craig Zaden, who will reinvigorate the franchise. Their fresh take on the film will undoubtedly be filled with the same kind of breakout performances that we've come to expect from them."

Translation: which one of the Jonas Brothers can we wrap into this to ensure we've got the tweenie bopper market on board?!

[photos via Gossip Girls]

Chelsea Lately renewed

E! has renewed Chelsea Lately for an additional three seasons, keeping Chelsea Handler's late night talk show on the air through 2012.

This mean's I'll continue to be tired at my day job, after spending my weeknights up until 12:30 a.m. watching Chelsea.

Maybe over the next three years Chelsea will even become so popular she'll be able to draw b-list guests to her show!

In addition to the renewal, Handler will produce shows for other Comcast networks (G4, Style, FearNet) through her production company, Borderline Amazing.

On sale now: Follow That Bird

A little piece of my childhood has been rereleased on DVD today, with the 25th anniversary edition of Sesame Street Presents Follow That Bird .

Released to theatres in 1985, Follow That Bird was the first full-length Sesame Street movie.

It sees Big Bird venture beyond the confines of the Street after a social worker sends him to live with his own kind – a family of dodo birds.

After deciding he doesn’t belong there, Big Bird leaves the dodo family but doesn’t quite know his way home. While the rest of his Sesame Street family search for him, Big Bird has his own misadventures in his attempt to make it back to his nest.

At one point Big Bird is captured by the Sleaze Brothers, who want to put him on display in their Sleaze Brothers Funfair. After being caged, the Sleaze Brothers paint Big Bird blue, forcing him to sing I’m So Blue for onlookers.

This scene broke my damn heart as a little boy, and it certainly still does today.

Other classic tunes from the movie include the Grouch Anthem, One Little Star, Ain’t No Road Too Long and Easy Goin’ Day.

Look out for John Candy, Chevy Chase, Sandra Bernhard, Dave Thomas and Waylon Jennings, who make appearances in the film.

Gossip Girl line of the week

Chuck: Yale, the only thing she wanted more than me. That would be painful.
Serena: Chuck, she's embarrassed, so we've gotta give her time to lick her wounds.
Chuck: Maybe I could lick them for her.

Matthew Good says Junos are bad

The Juno Awards are taking place this Sunday in Vancouver. But don't expect Matthew Good to take part in any festivities.

"When it's actually a television broadcast that celebrates actual Canadian music, rather than who's doing well internationally and has been in car commercials and iPod commercials . . . I'll go," the three-time Juno Award winner tells CP.

"When it actually promotes Canadian music at root levels, and it isn't kind of this weekend when the Canadian music industry pretends that it's this independent industry and not just marketing warehouses for the United States, then sure, I'll be a part of it."

This year's top Juno nominee is the ridiculous Nickelback. Sam Roberts, Hedley and City & Colour are also up for multiple awards.

Why hello there, Matthew Fox

Because staring at good-looking men in suits never gets old, enjoy these new deeelicious photos of Matthew Fox.

Justin Stephens shot the Lost star in various states of formal dress, for a spread that currently appears in Access DirecTV magazine.

But just because Fox is a major hottie and successful TV star, doesn't mean there isn't more he'd like to accomplish.

"We have a tendency to get locked in on a certain thing in our lives and give up on our dreams of all the things we can do," he says. "I want to be open to the adventure, to the surprises, and spontaneity of life, be open to who I might become."

Honey, as long as you continue to look good doing it, you keep following whatever dreams you care to!


[photos by Justin Stephens]

Truly the happiest place on earth

What's more fun than a day spent at Disney World?

A day spent at Disney World with Tina Fey and John Stamos!

The 30 Rock star and ER star just so happened to be at the Magic Kingdom with their respective families over the weekend, and gathered Belle, Cinderella and Snow White together for this photo op.

Despite the fact that Stamos insisted on wearing a stupid unnecessary hat, I can't think of a better way to spend a day than with a funny woman and a hot man.

Margaret Cho, Chace Crawford and I would tear that Magic Kingdom up!

Marry me, Neil Patrick Harris

Neil Patrick Harris is rocking the pages of GQ like its his job!

The How I Met Your Mother star is tailored to perfection, modeling six different suits for the men's mag.

A funny man with a sense of style? Sign me up!



[photos via ONTD]

A definite indication I'm too celebrity-obsessed

So I put a call-out on my Twitter page today for suggestions of what to do when I'm in New York City this weekend.

My friend suggested visiting the Rose Centre for Earth and Space, and provided a link to its website, which looks like this. . .



Immediately upon viewing the page my heart got all aflutter.

What great timing that I'd be able to visit the new Hayden Panettiere! . . .



Wait a minute, I then thought, reality slowly setting in. What does Heroes hottie Hayden Panettiere really have to do with space and stuff?

The answer, sadly, is nothing. . .


Contrary to popular belief, Hayden Panettiere is not the same thing as Hayden Planetarium.

Hayden Planetarium can be mistaken for Hayden Panettiere, however, when one carelessly skims the Rose Centre for Earth and Space website.

Monday deliciousness

Dave Annable loses his shirt -- and shorts! -- while filming a scene for a new movie called You May Not Kiss The Bride in Oahu, Hawaii.

The Brothers and Sisters actor costars with former American Idol contestant Katharine McPhee.

Davey Boy donned some flesh-coloured briefs to shoot the scene in which he loses his shorts in the water.

That McPhee must have had one great view!

[photos via Socialite Life]

Executives to see cuts at CBC

The CBC is planning to freeze executive salaries next year and cut executive bonuses by half in order to cut costs.

In a memo circulated to staff this week, CBC president and CEO Hubert Lacroix also promised there would be no more advertising on radio and no increase in U.S. programming.

If only CTV were as committed to Canadian programming, MuchMusic might not have become the burial ground for MTV reality show reruns.

A voluntary retirement incentive package will also soon be offered at CBC.

Lacroix did note that to put these measures in place, the government will first have to authorize the sale of enough assets to prevent deeper cuts.

Brothers and Sisters has a conscience

Brothers and Sisters is being honoured by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for its 2007 episode "Prior Commitments" in which Kevin (Matthew Rhys) and Scotty (Luke MacFarlane) get married.

Brothers and Sisters is among eight programs that are being honoured as examples of television with a conscience, that touch on subjects including tolerance, adoption, gun control, the environment and questions of faith.

Other honourees include Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and the multi-network fundraiser Stand Up To Cancer.

The honours will be given out at an April 30 ceremony.

And because a little Scotty and Kevin can brighten anyone's day, check out their wedding ceremony, above!

Critics like One Week too

A couple weeks ago the marketing geniuses behind Canadian road trip movie One Week whipped up a print ad that quoted the praise of YouTube users who had yet to actually see the movie.

Well, looks like they want back to the drawing board to craft this one-page ad in the current issue of Eye Weekly. It actually quotes real movie critics from real publications like the Montreal Gazette and the National Post.

How novel!

Sorry Puttydutty123, Aidanchick and Pod552, it's back to obscurity for you.

Paul Rudd's a little gay

"I always thought I'd be a really good gay guy. I love American Idol. I watch Antiques Roadshow like crazy. Guys like Oscar Wilde, Stephen Fry, Elton John — they're all very bright, with a razor-sharp wit. David Sedaris — who's funnier than David Sedaris? The Saturday Night Live that I hosted was such a gay-heavy show. But it didn't even cross my mind until after. The family that kept kissing each other — I didn't even think of that as being gay.

"I remember doing interviews for The Object of My Affection, and people would say, ''What was it like to kiss a guy?'' Like it was such a shocking thing. I said, ''How many times does anyone ask, 'You had to shoot somebody. Was that weird?''' I love gay guys. I feel pretty gay. I'm certainly not the most macho guy in the room." -- Paul Rudd tells EW.com.