Entertainment, Arts, Fashion & Technology
Monte Bubbles Network®: MBN®
To understand the internet you have to be open to change.
Content is King
Edited by William Hoehne & Joyce L. Chow
To come here you have to be able to read.
Monte says to ability to read is the most powerful weapon in the world
MBN®
www.montebubbles.com for more MBN® news
INTERNET ADVERTISING IS THE FUTURE
Banner ads and other advertisements can now be purchased thru eBay: Item number:
Monte Bubbles now Licensing her image for use.
First there was ABC,CBS,CNN,FOX and NBC and now there is MBN ® Now associate with Mounte Broadcasting Network
( MBN unofficially the sixth largest supplier
of NEWS by and American company
averaging 200 Pages of news a day. )
MBN® is the Avis of the news business. Because we are internet we have to try harder and do more on less.
MBN® is proud to announce Dear Monte: talktomontebubbles@montebubbles.net
SUNDAYS ARE NOW PICTURE DAY
International news from Asia and Latin news in English and Spanish here now along with NASA and Vatican news
More exciting changes coming each day
Research firm The NPD Group released early tracking data of the HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc launches at the DisplaySearch HDTV conference Aug. 15.
Sid Ganis Re-Elected President of Academy
“Oscar’s Docs” Returns with a Glimpse into the ’60s and ’70s
Academy and IRS Reach Gift Basket Accord
David Spade, Josh Blue, Kathy Griffin, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, Sarah Silverman, Bobby Collins and Flight of the Conchords Set To Take the Stage ... For Grand Opening of Comix Slated For September 14th
Classic Media Launches 'Return to the King of the Monsters (TM) Hometown' Sweepstakes Today to Celebrate the Release of 'Gojira' on DVD
Uncharted: The Jeep(R) Compass Music Tour to Feature Emerging Music Artists Playing Free Concerts Across the U.S.
Jamie Lee Curtis Lends Star Power to Fight Breast Cancer
Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles 'Ups the Ante' at Their 3rd Annual Poker Tournament With a Chance to Win a Seat at the World Poker Tour
Christina Aguilera and The All-American Rejects Set to Sizzle On Stage at 2006 MTV Video Music Awards
Yeah Yeah Yeahs Announce U.S. Show Your Bones Tour DatesZone 4 Play Announces the Founding of Gaming Ventures PLC as Part of the Spin-off Process of its Black Jack Tournament Technology Ford Foundation and Elton John AIDS Foundation Join Caribbean Broadcasters and the Kaiser Family Foundation to Advance the Caribbean Broadcast Media Partnership on HIV/AIDS, as Part of a Global Mobilization of Media
Exclusive Oscar(R), Emmy(R) Awards Updates From TheEnvelope.com
Johnny Depp and Tim Burton Set for DreamWorks and Warner Bros. Co-Production of 'Sweeney Todd'
'Idol' Rocker Chris Daughtry to Begin Recording Debut Album SOPHISTICATION AND HIGH FASHION HITS THE RUNWAY AS THE CW NETWORK REVEALS THE 13 FINALISTS IN THE RUNNING TO BECOME “AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL”
SMITH
SHARK
THE CW NETWORK EMBARKS ON NATIONAL “MALL DOMINATION” TOUR
JERICHO
THE CW IS LOOKING FOR THE NEXT PUSSYCAT DOLL
Online Research Doubles Globally, But Telephone Still Most Popular
Nation's largest wireless carrier to offer exclusive SEC mobile content
Success doesn't interest Kenny Rogers. Significance is the veteran entertainer's goal.
NEW ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Rhonda Towns
Ulead VideoStudio 10 Plus Wins PC Magazine Editor’s Choice Award
Specialty Electronics Increases Net Profits by 50% Year Over Year by Utilizing D-Tools System Integrator™ Software
Channel Access and Performance Technologies Announce Distribution Agreement
_________________________________________________________
Research firm The NPD Group released early tracking data of the HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc launches at the DisplaySearch HDTV conference Aug. 15.
Comparing both formats’ first six weeks of launch, HD DVD player sales, which began in April, outsold Blu-ray players, which launched in June, by 33%.
But Blu-ray’s first six weeks of launch, thanks to its higher-priced players, raked in 42% more revenue than HD DVD hardware did during its first six weeks out.
Blu-ray’s singular player on the market is a $999 model from Samsung.
The report also compared the two formats’ performance during a short time they have both been available, the six weeks ended July 29.
Based on that time frame, Blu-ray led the next-generation market with a 54% share of hardware units sold and a 69% revenue share, according to NPD data.
Blu-ray outsold HD DVD the first half of those six weeks, the beginning of its launch to market. But HD DVD outsold Blu-ray for the last three weeks.
The most broadly released HD DVD hardware product is the Toshiba $500 player, which has sold five times more units than the $799 “step-up” player, which has had a much more limited availability at retail, according to Toshiba.
For that six-week snapshot, high-definition disc players made up a scant 0.4% of overall hardware units sold and 3.6% of revenue. During that period, sales of standard-definition DVD players made up 86.2% of unit sales and 65.6% of revenue. DVD recorder sales made up 13.4% of units and 30.7% of revenue, according to NPD.
Sid Ganis Re-Elected President of Academy
Sid Ganis was re-elected president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Tuesday night (8/15) by the organization’s Board of Governors. This will be his second consecutive term in the office.
In addition, Robert Rehme, an Executives Branch governor and past Academy president, was re-elected first vice president; Music Branch governor Arthur Hamilton was re-elected to a vice president post; Sound Branch governor Donald C. Rogers was elected to a vice president post; Actors Branch governor Tom Hanks was elected treasurer and Actors Branch governor Kathy Bates was re-elected secretary.
Ganis is now in his 20th year as a governor representing the Public Relations Branch. He founded Out of the Blue…Entertainment, which is housed on the Sony lot, in 1996. The company’s “Akeelah and the Bee” was released earlier this year.
Prior to founding Out of the Blue, Ganis held various positions at Sony Pictures, including vice chairman of Columbia Pictures and president of worldwide marketing for Columbia/Tri-Star Motion Picture Companies. Before joining Sony, Ganis served for five years at Paramount Pictures as president of the motion picture group and before that was the studio’s president of worldwide marketing. Previously, Ganis was senior vice president of Lucasfilm, Ltd.
Academy board members serve three-year terms, while officers serve one-year terms, with a maximum of four consecutive terms in any one office.
# # #
“Oscar’s Docs” Returns with a Glimpse into the ’60s and ’70s
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will revisit 32 Academy Award-winning documentaries of the 1960s and 1970s in “Oscar’s Docs, Part Two: 1961–1976,” beginning Monday, September 18, at 7:30 p.m. at the Academy’s Linwood Dunn Theater. This second installment of the documentary series will showcase each year’s Oscar®-winning short subject and feature documentaries, presenting the best available prints, many of which have been newly struck or restored for the series. “Oscar’s Docs” will continue each Monday evening for 11 weeks, through November 27.
Midway through this installment are two nights at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater, where “Woodstock” (1970) will be screened in its entirety on Monday, October 23, followed by a cast and crew reunion and panel discussion on October 24.
The complete screening schedule is as follows:
September 18 | “Project Hope” (1961) |
September 25 | “Chagall” (1963) |
October 2 | “To Be Alive!” (1965) |
October 9 | “The Redwoods” (1967) |
October 16 | “Czechoslovakia 1968” (1969) |
October 23 | “Woodstock” (1970) |
October 24 | “Woodstock” Cast and Crew Reunion |
October 30 | “Sentinels of Silence” (1971) |
November 6 | “Marjoe” (1972) |
November 13 | “Don’t” (1974) |
November 20 | “The End of the Game” (1975) |
November 27 | “Number Our Days” (1976) |
Passes for “Oscar’s Docs, Part Two: 1961–1976” are available at a cost of $30 for the general public and $25 for Academy members and students with a valid ID. Pass holders from part one of the series may renew their passes at a $5 discount.
Tickets for each individual evening may be purchased at a cost of $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with a valid ID. They may be purchased by mail, in person at the Academy’s headquarters in Beverly Hills during regular business hours or depending on availability, on the night of the screening when the doors open at 6:30 p.m. The Academy’s Linwood Dunn Theatre is located at 1313 North Vine Street in Hollywood. The Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. For more information, call (310) 247-3600.
# # #
Academy and IRS Reach Gift Basket Accord
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Internal Revenue Service announced today that they had reached a mutually satisfactory agreement that will resolve outstanding tax responsibilities with respect to Academy Awards gift baskets.
The Academy had voluntarily approached the IRS shortly after this year’s awards presentations seeking to clarify the tax issues surrounding the gift baskets, as well as to ensure that any obligations for the prior years were met.
Under the closing agreement, the Academy and the IRS have settled the tax obligations with respect to gifts given through 2005. Recipients of this year’s gift basket will be issued appropriate informational tax forms by the Academy and will be responsible for satisfying their income tax obligations.
“We appreciate the Academy’s leadership on this issue,” IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson said. “The gift basket industry has exploded, and it’s important that the groups running these events keep in mind the tax consequences.”
“We are happy to have reached an agreement with the IRS which works to the benefit of the gift basket recipients and the Academy,” said Academy president Sid Ganis.
Ganis said that it was unclear as to when the practice of thanking Academy Award presenters and performers with baskets began, but that it was well established by the early 1970s. The major stars who present the awards on the show are not paid for that service, and the performers receive only the minimum union payment. Over time the “thank-you gifts” became more elaborate as hotels, resorts and high-end clothing lines vied to associate their services and products with Hollywood’s most famous names. In April, the Academy Board of Governors voted to discontinue the practice of thanking Academy Awards presenters and performers with gift baskets.
Publicity about the gift baskets led Everson to issue a press release three days prior to the 2006 Academy Awards broadcast which focused on gift baskets and pointed out that “movie stars face the same tax obligations as ordinary Americans.” “The Commissioner worked some movie titles into his reminder that gave it a humorous spin,” Ganis said, “but the basic message was clear: the contents of the baskets, however much we may have been inclined to view them as mannerly thank-yous, in fact constitute taxable income. And since we didn’t want any of our presenters to get hit retroactively for a gift we had given them, we asked the Service if there was a way for us to take on the tax obligations and they were very willing to work with us.”
# # #
David Spade, Josh Blue, Kathy Griffin, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, Sarah Silverman, Bobby Collins and Flight of the Conchords Set To Take the Stage ... For Grand Opening of Comix Slated For September 14th
Comix, Manhattan's most anticipated, live performance, multi-use comedy venue, announced today that it will open its doors Thursday, September 14, 2006. An exclusive, star-studded, red carpet is slated for the grand opening of Comix, featuring a line-up of the biggest names in comedy today.
Josh Blue, just crowned NBC's "Last Comic Standing," will make his New York City debut appearance alongside comedic fire-starters David Spade, Kathy Griffin, Sarah Silverman, the unpredictable Triumph the Insult Comic Dog and Flight of the Conchords for an unforgettable night of hilarity. Bobby Collins, co-owner of Comix and one of the most successful and requested stand- up comedians in the industry, will be the evening's Master of Ceremonies for the opening of this highly-anticipated venue.
Comix is ideally located in the Meatpacking District, undeniably the hottest neighborhood for Manhattan nightlife. Comix marks an unprecedented evolution in New York City's comedy scene, combining four bars, a full service kitchen, a downstairs lounge and a comedy theater with a showroom capacity of 320 seats. Additionally, the showroom at Comix is designed with full TV studio capabilities -- completely wired and ready to host live broadcasts and tapings.
Open seven days a week, Comix will not only showcase national headline comedians with a stand-up format, but will also be a showcase for burgeoning talent in the sketch, improv and alternative comedy arenas. For more information on Comix, please visit the website at http://www.comixny.com/.
WHAT: Comix Grand Opening - By Invitation Only WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday, September 14, 2006 WHERE: Comix -353 West 14th Street @ Ninth Avenue - New York City
Source: Comix
Classic Media Launches 'Return to the King of the Monsters (TM) Hometown' Sweepstakes Today to Celebrate the Release of 'Gojira' on DVD
Godzilla wants to show you his hometown! To celebrate the US release of "Gojira", the original 1954, uncut Japanese Godzilla movie, Classic Media kicks off the Return to the King of the Monsters(TM) Hometown Sweepstakes.
Starting today, Godzilla fans can log onto www.godzillaondvd.com to enter to win one of more than 250 monstrous prizes.
One grand prize-winner will receive an 8-day/7-night vacation to Tokyo, Japan for two, including travel and first-class accommodations. Classic Media will also give away one SONY PSP per day for the duration of the sweepstakes, running from August 16 - September 16, 2006. Additional prizes include 50 "Gojira/Godzilla: King of the Monsters" DVD sets and 200 limited-edition "Gojira" DVD movie posters.
For "Return to the King of the Monsters Hometown" sweepstakes details, rules and regulations -- please log onto www.godzillaondvd.com. This promotion is produced by T.E.A.M. Group, Florham Park, N.J.
About "Gojira:"
"Gojira" is the original, unedited Japanese version of Godzilla: King of the Monsters. On September 5th, Classic Media will release "Gojira" on DVD, for the first time ever in the U.S., as part of a 2-disc set that will also include the Americanized Godzilla starring Raymond Burr. "Gojira" will include 40 minutes of footage that was edited out to allow for the addition of Burr as an American reporter and will be available for $21.98 SRP.
About Classic Media:
Classic Media owns and manages some of the world's most recognizable family properties across all media including feature film, television, home video and consumer products. The company's extensive library features a diverse collection of popular animated and live-action characters such as: Casper the Friendly Ghost, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, The Lone Ranger, Lassie, Underdog and Rocky & Bullwinkle.
Uncharted: The Jeep(R) Compass Music Tour to Feature Emerging Music Artists Playing Free Concerts Across the U.S.
The Jeep(R) brand announced today that eight emerging artists will tour the country performing 320 free concerts in an Uncharted: The Jeep Compass Music Tour launching the all-new 2007 Jeep Compass.
The tour kicks off Thursday, Aug. 24 with a free concert in New York City's Central Park featuring headliner G. Love & Special Sauce and the eight emerging artists.
"The Jeep Compass music tour kick-off concert and subsequent grassroots concerts are a great opportunity to expose a wide audience to some new, really talented artists," said G. Love. "We are excited to be part of the New York event and look forward to making some great music."
Following the Central Park kick-off event, Uncharted: The Jeep Compass Music Tour hits the road, with the emerging artists touring eight regions of the country and performing at stops -- some planned and some spontaneous -- in their designated region. The performance stops will be at traditional concert venues and public locations that are popular with music-oriented audiences. During each performance, the artists will incorporate the all-new Jeep Compass with its flip-down rear lift gate speakers.
"The artists in Uncharted: The Jeep Compass Music Tour were selected for their 'true-to-themselves' sound. Similar to the Jeep brand, they are authentic and original," said Jay Kuhnie, Director - Jeep Communications. "Through this concert series, we want to reach a new audience who are not traditional Jeep buyers, but a much younger group that makes music a part of its lifestyle. G. Love is an excellent choice to kick off the concert series with his unique sound and popularity with the people we want to reach."
Fans can track the tour and listen to the artists on the Jeep Compass Uncharted MySpace page (http://www.myspace.com/jeep ). The MySpace page will include a tour schedule of performance dates and locations, downloadable videos and pictures from performances, and an interactive chat with other fans.
The 2007 Jeep Compass expands the Jeep brand into a new territory with an all-new modern-styled compact Jeep that delivers fun and utility, while Uncharted: The Jeep Compass Music Tour is an opportunity for emerging artists to expose their music to a wider audience.
"The Jeep brand has a history of supporting emerging artists at owner events such as Camp Jeep(R), so the music tour is a natural extension for us," said Kuhnie. "It is mutually beneficial. It gives the emerging artists a chance to increase their audience base and gives us the opportunity to showcase the unique features of our newest Jeep vehicle in less traditional settings."
Uncharted: The Jeep Compass Music Tour
The Thursday, Aug. 24 kick-off concert, featuring headliner G. Love & Special Sauce and eight emerging artists, begins at 6:30 p.m. at Rumsey Playfield in New York's Central Park. G. Love, whose style is described as blues infused hip-hop, will perform a 75-minute set during the Central Park concert that will include new tracks from his just-released CD "Lemonade" and other favorites. The emerging artists, including Dave Berkeley, SONiA and AM, will each perform a short set prior to G. Love. Additionally, other artists will perform using the Jeep Compass with its unique flip-down rear lift gate speakers as their stage.
Following are the eight emerging artists and their tour cities for the Uncharted: The Jeep Compass Music Tour, which begins on Aug. 26 at locations across the country. For a more detailed concert schedule, visit http://www.myspace.com/jeep . All performances are free of charge.
Artist Region Markets AM West
Portland, Ore.; San Francisco; Aug. 26 - Sept. 24
Los Angeles; Pasadena, Calif.; Berkeley, Calif.; Santa Monica,
Calif.; San Diego; Escondido, Calif.;
Phoenix; Tempe, Ariz.; Tucson, Ariz.
Creede Williams Southwest Albuquerque, N.M.; Austin,
Aug. 26 - Sept. 22 Texas; Dallas; Baton Rouge, La.;
New Orleans; Memphis, Tenn.
SONiA Mid-Atlantic Philadelphia; College Park,
Aug. 26 - Sept. 24 Md.; Washington, D.C.;
Annapolis, Md.; Landover, Md.;
Upper Marlboro, Md.; Largo,
Md.; Reholboth Beach, Del.;
Dewey Beach, Del.; Baltimore;
Charlottesville, Va.; Norfolk, Va.; Pittsburgh
Eric Hutchinson Great Lakes Cleveland; Indianapolis;
Aug. 26 - Sept. 24 Cincinnati; Columbus, Ohio;
Detroit; Auburn Hills, Mich.;
Ypsilanti, Mich.; Royal Oak,
Mich.; East Lansing, Mich.; Ann Arbor, Mich.
Mike Himebaugh Midwest Minneapolis, Minn.;
Madison, of the Hello Aug. 26 - Sept. 24
Wis.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Chicago;
Dave Band Normal, Ill.; Champaign, Ill.;
St. Louis John Pringle Southeast
Miami; Miami Beach, Fla.;
Aug. 26 - Sept. 24 Tampa, Fla.; Orlando, Fla.;
Gainesville, Fla.;
Jacksonville, Fla.; Atlanta;
Athens, Ga.; Chapel Hill, N.C.;
Durham, N.C.; Charlotte, N.C.
Christopher Jak Rocky Mountains
Park City, Utah; Denver; Aug. 26 - Sept.
Boulder, Colo.; Fort Collins, Colo.; Lawrence, Kan.;
Manhattan, Kan.; Kansas City, Kan.;
Omaha, Neb.; Lincoln, Neb.
David Berkeley Northeast Belmar, N.J.; Seaside Heights,
Aug. 26 - Sept. 24 N.J.; Wildwood, N.J.; Avalon, N.J.;
Ocean City, N.J.; Sea Isle, N.J.; Syracuse, N.Y.;
Hampton Beach, N.H.; Chestnut Hill, N.H.; Boston; New York
Brookville, N.Y. About the Jeep Brand
The Jeep brand's 65-year history of legendary capability has made it synonymous with freedom, adventure, mastery and authenticity. In 2006, the Jeep brand continues to deliver on its promise to provide rugged, versatile, innovative four-wheel drive vehicles with the recently introduced Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Wrangler 4-door Unlimited, Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot.
This expansion of the Jeep brand grows its showroom from three to seven sport utility vehicles following last year's introduction of the Jeep Commander. The other two Jeep vehicles are the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Liberty.
2007 Jeep Compass
The all-new 2007 Jeep Compass combines the packaging and functionality of a sport-utility vehicle (SUV) with the performance, handling, fuel economy and price of a compact car or small pickup. With a starting U.S. MSRP of $15,985 (including destination charges), Compass is the Jeep brand's first front- wheel-drive-based product with a fully independent suspension for comfortable on-road ride and handling and fun-to-drive characteristics. Jeep Compass will be available in both front- and four-wheel drive, and will deliver best-in- class 4x4 fuel economy for the compact SUV segment.
Source: Chrysler Group
Jamie Lee Curtis Lends Star Power to Fight Breast Cancer
Actress and children's author Jamie Lee Curtis, known around the globe for her roles in such blockbuster films as "A Fish Called Wanda," "Trading Places," and "Freaky Friday," is now putting her efforts behind fighting breast cancer.
Curtis is scheduled to appear in both the print and television public service announcements supporting the 13th annual QVC Presents "FFANY Shoes on Sale" breast cancer fundraiser, airing live on QVC(R) Wednesday, October 18, 2006 from 7 PM - 10 PM (ET). Additionally, Curtis serves as a spokesperson for the John Wayne Cancer Institute, one of the several beneficiaries of the televised event.
The philanthropic gala once again joins the world's largest electronic retailer QVC with the Fashion Footwear Association of New York (FFANY). During the event, leading shoe designers are slated to offer more than 100,000 pairs of shoes at half the manufacturer's suggested retail price, with all net proceeds from the program going to leading breast cancer research and education institutions. Since its inception, QVC Presents "FFANY Shoes on Sale" has sold over one million pairs of shoes and donated more than $22 million to the cause.
"QVC and FFANY are dedicated to putting an end to breast cancer, and doing it in a way that allows everyone to participate," said Curtis. "Just by buying a pair of shoes, you're helping such institutions as the John Wayne Cancer Institute come one 'step' closer to a cure."
"Jamie Lee is known to be an advocate for very worthy causes, so we're thrilled that she shares our passion for eradicating this disease," said Darlene Daggett, QVC president of U.S. Commerce. "Her support will go a long way in bringing attention to this event and its most important purpose."
"Everyone knows Jamie Lee Curtis for her significant body of film work and support of charitable causes," said Joe Moore, FFANY president and CEO. "FFANY is thrilled that she is lending her support in raising awareness for our event and the fight against breast cancer."
In addition to the Joyce Eisenberg Keefer Breast Center at John Wayne Cancer Institute, QVC Presents "FFANY Shoes on Sale" 2006 beneficiaries include: the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania; the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center's Breast Oncology Program; the Gillette Center for Women's Cancers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; the Breast Cancer Research Foundation; and the Siteman Cancer Center at Washington University.
About QVC
QVC, Inc., a $6.5 billion company, is an e-commerce leader, marketing a wide variety of brand name products in such categories as home furnishings, licensed products, fashion, beauty, electronics and fine jewelry. QVC, which celebrates its 20th birthday this year, reaches over 160 million homes worldwide. Other divisions/subsidiaries include QVC.com, QVC @, QVC Local and QVC ProductWorks. The QVC Studio Tour is located at the company's world headquarters in West Chester, Pa. QVC is a subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation.
About the Fashion Footwear Charitable Foundation
The Fashion Footwear Charitable Foundation was created to support ongoing research and education programs in the fight against breast cancer and is supported by members of the Fashion Footwear Association of New York (FFANY). Donated footwear is sold on live television on QVC(R) during the Fashion Footwear Charitable Foundation's annual charity benefit, QVC Presents "FFANY Shoes on Sale." Net proceeds are distributed to leading breast cancer research and education institutions across the United States, including beneficiaries for the 2006 event: The Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania; the Breast Cancer Research Foundation; The Gillette Center for Women's Cancers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; The Joyce Eisenberg Keefer Breast Center at John Wayne Cancer Institute; The University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center's Breast Oncology Program; and Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. The Fashion Footwear Charitable Foundation makes its home at 1414 6th Avenue, Suite 203, New York, NY 10019.
Source: QVC, Inc.
Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles 'Ups the Ante' at Their 3rd Annual Poker Tournament With a Chance to Win a Seat at the World Poker Tour
Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles (JBBBSLA), a premier non-profit mentoring agency in Southern California, serving over 1,800 children annually, is set to host "A Full House" for their 3rd Annual Poker Tournament on September 7, 2006 at The Hollywood Park Casino. This year's event will include dinner and lessons from 6:30pm to 7:30pm, followed by a No-Limit Texas Hold'em Tournament, where players will have an opportunity to "ante up" for a chance to win $5,000 cash, or a $10,000 buy-in at the World Poker Tour.
"The poker tournament is an opportunity to give back to the mentors, board members and friends of the agency that are supportive of our programs throughout the year," said Margy Feldman, JBBBSLA CEO. "While this is a fun way to raise money for the underprivileged children we serve, it is also a great opportunity for the players to network and make friends with a diverse group of like-minded Los Angelenos. With this year's exciting grand prize, players just may have a chance to talk cards with a future poker champion!"
Participants can "buy in" for $200 with a chance to increase their winnings 50-fold, by winning the first place prize of a $10,000 buy-in at the World Poker Tour(R) or $5,000 cash. The top ten finishers will also receive cash prizes, including the chance to win a car in the "royal flush giveaway." For more information or registration, call Rebecca Rauh at (323) 761-8675.
About Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles
Founded in 1915, Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles specializes in mentoring children through its core matching program, Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters; its residential summer camp, Camp Max Straus, where almost 1,000 underserved, inner-city children have the opportunity to go to camp; its scholarship programs; and its free weekend mentoring programs for children, Sports and Arts Buddies. The organization specializes in mentoring children through its extensive network of volunteers and staff. Approximately 1,800 children benefit from the organization's programs and services annually. For more information, visit www.jbbbsla.org, or call, 323-761-8675.
Source: Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles
Christina Aguilera and The All-American Rejects Set to Sizzle On Stage at 2006 MTV Video Music Awards
2006 VMAs to Include Appearances By Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Simpson, Chris Brown, Fall Out Boy, Rihanna, Jared Leto, Busta Rhymes, Shaun White, Ne-Yo, Missy Elliott, Cast of Jackass Number 2, Amy Lee of Evanescence, Lil Jon, and Nick Lachey
MTV: Music Television today announced that Christina Aguilera and The All-American Rejects have been added to the performers line-up for the "2006 MTV Video Music Awards" airing live from New York's Radio City Music Hall on Thursday, August 31st at 8:00pm ET/PT. It was previously announced that Beyonce, Panic! at the Disco, T.I., The Killers, Ludacris with Pharrell, The Raconteurs, and Justin Timberlake are confirmed to perform at the star studded awards show.
Star studded show will also include appearances by Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Simpson, Chris Brown, Fall Out Boy, Rihanna, Jared Leto, Busta Rhymes, Shaun White, Ne-Yo, Missy Elliott, Cast of Jackass, Amy Lee of Evanescence, Lil Jon, and Nick Lachey. More performers and presenters will be announced shortly.
The 2006 VMAs will be a multi-platform, multi-screen experience. For the first time ever in awards show history, MTV will expose fans to the insanity on and off the stage. While the VMAs are airing live on MTV, Overdrive, the network's broadband channel, will air "VMA Live: Backstage Uncensored", an unprecedented live view of the ALL the action behind the scenes and backstage viewers have never gotten to see. In addition to the television and broadband experiences, MTV Mobile on all wireless carriers will also offer updates and recaps of the VMAs within minutes. Also, prior to the show, viewers will have access to all nominated videos on MTV Overdrive (www.vma.mtv.com).
Salli Frattini and Dave Sirulnick are the Executive Producers for the "2006 MTV Video Music Awards." Ian Stewart and Summer Strauch are Producers. Hamish Hamilton is Producer/Director. Kathy Flynn is Event Producer.
The "2006 MTV Video Music Awards" will be available to a potential viewing audience of more than 1.3 billion people via MTV's global network of 50 channels reaching 481.5 million households around the world as well as through syndication. Its convergent and original online programming will reach the entire interactive community, via MTV's 44 Web sites around the world.
The official sponsors of the "2006 MTV Video Music Awards" are Acuvue, Chevrolet, Dodge, Herbal Essences, JCPenney, Pepsi, Taco Bell and Virgin Mobile USA.
MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:VIA.B) , is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 100 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services - MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 95 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.
Source: MTV
Yeah Yeah Yeahs Announce U.S. Show Your Bones Tour Dates
As ripped-fishnet-clad Karen O impersonators, sculpted hair-gelled Nick Zinners, and bespectacled, head boppin' Brian Chases proved in their brilliant homemade "Cheated Hearts" video homages, it ain't easy nailing the rush of brutal energy and microphone eating that is the Yeah Yeah Yeahs live experience.And after an August spent blowing away (and spraying various liquids on) audiences at the biggest European fests (Reading, Leeds, Pukkelpop) the real deals will be returning to the U.S. for 13 more of their skeleton-shaking gigs.
Come check out the song that inspired fans to strip, dress in drag, cram themselves into bathtubs, and throw Yeah Yeah Yeahs gang signs, plus a wicked awesome banner, and the rest of the band's live wire of a second full-length LP, Show Your Bones.
9/28 La Jolla, CA @ RIMAC Arena, UCSD 9/30 Mountain View, CA @ Download Festival, Shoreline Amphitheatre 10/1 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium 10/2 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium 10/4 Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre 10/6 Dallas, TX @ Gypsy Ballroom 10/7 Austin, TX @ Stubbs BBQ 10/8 Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live 10/9 Tulsa, OK @ Cain's Ballroom 10/12 Pompano, FL @ Cinema 10/13 Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock Live 10/14 Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle 10/16 Nashville, TN @ War Memorial Auditorium
Zone 4 Play Announces the Founding of Gaming Ventures PLC as Part of the Spin-off Process of its Black Jack Tournament Technology
Zone 4 Play, Inc. (OTCBB: ZFPI), a leading developer of interactive gaming technology, announced today that it has founded Gaming Ventures PLC - a wholly owned subsidiary incorporated in the Isle of Man, in order to further enhance, market and operate its newly-developed multiplayer Black Jack tournaments gaming technology, enabling Internet users to participate in multiplayer Black Jack competitions where permitted by law.
Gaming Ventures purchased the Black Jack gaming technology from Zone4Play based on a valuation made by an independent appraiser. On August 4, 2006, Gaming Ventures filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission. To complete the spin-off, Zone4Play plans to set a record date for a dividend of the shares of Gaming Ventures to Zone4Play's shareholders as of such record date, on a one-to-one pro rata basis.
Gaming Ventures will have two main business models: one, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Get21 Ltd ("Get21"), to market the multiplayer Black Jack tournaments gaming directly to consumers and the second, through it's wholly owned subsidiary, RNG Gaming Ltd, to further develop and license the Black Jack gaming technology to third parties based on a license fee and revenue share basis.
Get21 is expected to launch a Black Jack tournament service to non-US customers in mid September. Get21 will seek to outsource to a third party the part of operation that will include payment processing, customer support and fraud and collusion prevention, while it retains and focuses on player acquisition.
"We believe that the Black Jack tournaments gaming technology is a valuable asset and that the founding of Gaming Ventures is the preferred way to pursue this business opportunity for the benefit of our shareholders", said Shimon Citron, CEO of Zone4Play.
About Zone4Play
Zone4Play, a leading developer of interactive software and technology for the betting and gaming industry, delivers cross-platform solutions that are built for mass participation gaming. Zone 4 Play is a software and technology provider to UK bookmakers, online gaming operators, betting exchanges and to US cable, satellite and hospitality service providers, delivering online solutions, mobile solutions, interactive TV solutions and participating SMS-TV solutions. Zone4Play works with industry giants such as British Telecom, Coral Eurobet, Betfair, Channel 5 (UK), cablevision and Lodgenet .For more information visit http://www.Zone4Play.com, the content of which is not part of this press release.
Safe Harbor
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and federal securities laws. For example, when we say that the our board of directors plans to set a record date for a dividend of the shares of Gaming Ventures to our shareholders, that Get21 is expected to launch a Black Jack tournament service to non-US customers in mid September, that the management team will enable a rapid and robust expansion of services, that Get21 will seek to outsource to a third party part of its operations or that we believe that the founding of Gaming Ventures will benefit of our shareholders, we are using a forward looking statement. These forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of the management of Zone4Play only, and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or achievements of Zone4Play, including revenues, income and expenses, to differ materially from those described in or implied by these forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: changes in technology and market requirements; decline in demand for Zone4Play's or Gaming Ventures' products; inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and applications; loss of market share and pressure on pricing resulting from competition, strength and growth of the gaming industry, gaming regulatory environment, and other factors over which Zone4Play may have little or no control. Except as otherwise required by law, Zone4Play undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. For a more detailed description of the risk and uncertainties affecting Zone4Play, reference is made to Zone4Play's reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Ford Foundation and Elton John AIDS Foundation Join Caribbean Broadcasters and the Kaiser Family Foundation to Advance the Caribbean Broadcast Media Partnership on HIV/AIDS, as Part of a Global Mobilization of Media
Today, the Ford Foundation and Elton John AIDS Foundation announced they would be joining the Kaiser Family Foundation in together providing one million USD to support the operations of the Caribbean Broadcast Media Partnership on HIV/AIDS, the region's first media-led initiative on HIV/AIDS. Kaiser, which helped initiate and create the Partnership, will also provide ongoing operational and public health expertise. The Partnership -- which responds to U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan's call-to-action to media under the Global Media AIDS Initiative (GMAI) -- promotes collaboration and leverages resources among media in the region with the goal of expanding AIDS programming.
The Caribbean region has the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the world outside sub-Saharan Africa. According to the latest UNAIDS statistics, AIDS is now the leading cause of death among adults in the region ages 15-44 years. Stigma and homophobia have been identified as major contributors to the spread of HIV/AIDS in the region.
"We know that the media is our most powerful tool to get out information and change attitudes," said Sir Elton John, founder of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. "I am delighted that my Foundation, in conjunction with our partners Kaiser and Ford, will work directly with Caribbean broadcasters to help educate their audiences, promote tolerance, and change the public dialogue about this epidemic."
"Media is a central part of Caribbean communication and culture. It is well-placed to bring HIV/AIDS concern and awareness into the households, hearts and actions of our families and communities," said Dr. Jacob A. Gayle, Deputy Vice President for the Global HIV/AIDS Initiative at the Ford Foundation.
The Caribbean Partnership includes more than 30 television and radio companies representing 22 countries from across the region as well as the U.S. who have committed to making HIV/AIDS a core business priority and integrating HIV-content across all program genres, including news, public affairs and entertainment. Led by a seven-member steering committee made up of broadcast executives and chaired by Dr. Allyson Leacock, General Manager of the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), the Partnership has made a minimum commitment of 30 seconds of airtime per hour (12 minutes per day) for HIV/AIDS messages and mapped out a strategy for the first-year that includes:
-- A pan-Caribbean public service campaign; -- Original HIV-themed entertainment programming, such as soap operas; -- Programming workshops for writers, producers and on-air talent; -- Journalist trainings and briefings; and -- Complementary information resources.
"Media-based public education campaigns are a powerful force to motivate social change and deliver life-saving information to young people," said Matt James, Senior Vice President, Kaiser Family Foundation. "The generous support of the Ford Foundation and the Elton John AIDS Foundation are essential to helping the Caribbean Broadcast Media Partnership develop programming that will both entertain, inform and potentially save lives."
"Caribbean broadcasters have made an unprecedented commitment to collaborate and dedicate resources to the fight against HIV/AIDS," said Dr. Allyson Leacock. "Together with our partners at Kaiser, Ford, and the Elton John AIDS Foundation, we have an unique opportunity to leverage the communication power of our media platforms to raise awareness, fight stigma and intolerance, and support people already living with this disease."
Launched in May, the Partnership was the outcome of a regional media leaders summit on HIV/AIDS, organized by the CBC, Caribbean Broadcasting Union and Kaiser, in support of the GMAI. Conceived by Kaiser and UNAIDS, the GMAI was launched in January 2004 at special meeting of many of the world's top media leaders at the United Nation's headquarters in New York. It seeks to mobilize the media industry globally to fight HIV/AIDS. To date, Kaiser has helped to create and is actively involved in media partnerships to address HIV/AIDS in Africa, India, Russia, and the U.S.
Today's announcement was made at news conference at the XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto by Dr. Allyson Leacock of the CBC, Dr. Jacob A. Gayle of the Ford Foundation, Scott Campbell, Executive Director, Elton John AIDS Foundation, and Matt James of Kaiser, who were joined by Sir George Alleyne, the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Latin American and the Caribbean.
Ford's contribution to the Caribbean Partnership is part of a larger commitment to working on global media initiatives with Kaiser, including programs in Africa and elsewhere in the world.
About the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation
The Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) is a leading state-owned media organization operating for the past 43 years in Barbados. The CBC operates 3 radio stations (98.1 FM The One, 100.7 FM Quality; and 900 AM / 94.7 FM Caribbean's Best Connection); one free-to-air television station (CBC Channel 8); one subscription television service (MultiChoice TV); and, a web portal ( www.cbc.bb ). The CBC's programming represents a mix of international and 80% local and regional content. Current affairs and news programming includes Mornin' Barbados, Chat Room, Head On, Line & Length, Another Accent, Book Talk, and The People's Business. The CBC is poised to embrace the challenges of operating in a multi-platform.
About the Elton John AIDS Foundation
Since its establishment in 1992 by Founder and Chairman Sir Elton John, the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) has raised over $100 million to support HIV/AIDS prevention and service programs in 55 countries around the globe. Today, EJAF is one of the world's leading nonprofit HIV/AIDS organizations. EJAF focuses on supporting community-based prevention education programs, harm reduction programs, and direct services to persons living with HIV/AIDS, especially populations with special needs. These efforts include HIV/AIDS-related physical and mental health services, HIV testing and counseling, street outreach and education, food distribution, assisted living services, social service coordination, and community volunteer recruitment and support.
About the Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is an independent, nonprofit grant-making organization. For more than half a century it has been a resource for innovative people and institutions worldwide, guided by its goals of strengthening democratic values, reducing poverty and injustice, promoting international cooperation and advancing human achievement. With headquarters in New York, the foundation has offices in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and Russia.
About the Kaiser Family Foundation
The Kaiser Family Foundation is a U.S.-based non-profit, private operating foundation dedicated to providing information and analysis on health issues to policymakers, the media, and the general public. It is not associated with Kaiser Permanente or Kaiser Industries. Information on HIV/AIDS and Kaiser's public education partnerships with entertainment media is available at www.kff.org . A daily news summary report on developments in HIV/AIDS is available on www.kaisernetwork.org , Kaiser's free health information service. Kaiser also operates www.globalhealthfacts.org and www.globalhealthreporting.org , where the latest information on HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria can be found.
Source: Kaiser Family Foundation
Exclusive Oscar(R), Emmy(R) Awards Updates From TheEnvelope.com
Oscars Update
Best-supporting actress contender Jennifer Hudson, "Dreamgirls"
TheEnvelope.com, the Los Angeles Times' leading year-round entertainment awards website, today reported that DreamWorks/Paramount has pushed "Dreamgirls" Jennifer Hudson down to the best supporting actress race at the Oscars, where she may now be the frontrunner to win that category. Hudson's equivalent in the Broadway musical won the lead actress Tony Award in 1982.
TheEnvelope.com also has posted an exclusive interview with Hudson in which she reveals what happened during the secret filming of the most anticipated scene in the most eagerly awaited film of the year. "Dreamgirls" director Bill Condon had been trying to keep secret details about the scene.
Emmys Update
Conan O'Brien talks about ABC and the Emmys telecast
Conan O'Brien, who hosts the Aug. 27 Emmycast, takes a stab at ABC for trying to make the Emmycast walk the TV ratings plank by airing "Pirates of the Caribbean" during the ceremony's 8 p.m. PT/ET time slot. He also admits the Emmycast will get "the lowest ratings ever."
Traditionally, TV networks don't counter-program during the Emmycast.
In an exclusive interview with Tom O'Neil, O'Brien states that ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson wants to hurt the Emmy broadcast because the network's "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives" didn't reap top nominations. McPherson blames the new voting process, even though some Emmy experts believe the fault is really all ABC's for submitting poor episode samples to the judging panels. Some industry sentiment already is turning against McPherson's ploy.
About the Los Angeles Times
The Pulitzer Prize-winning Los Angeles Times is the largest metropolitan daily newspaper in the country, with a daily readership of nearly 2.2 million and about 3.3 million on Sunday. With its media businesses and affiliates -- including latimes.com, TheEnvelope.com, Times Community Newspapers, Recycler Classifieds, Hoy, and California Community News -- the Los Angeles Times reaches approximately 7.6 million or 58 percent of all adults in the Southern California marketplace every week.
The Los Angeles Times, which this year marks its 125th anniversary covering Southern California, is part of Tribune Company (NYSE:TRB) , one of the country's leading media companies with businesses in publishing, the Internet and broadcasting. Additional information about the Los Angeles Times is available at www.latimes.com/mediacenter.
Johnny Depp and Tim Burton Set for DreamWorks and Warner Bros. Co-Production of 'Sweeney Todd'
DreamWorks Studios announced today that Johnny Depp has been set to star and Tim Burton to direct "Sweeney Todd," the award-winning Stephen Sondheim musical thriller.The co-production with Warner Bros. will star Johnny Depp as the titular Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Depp is currently starring in the record-breaking blockbuster, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest."
"Sweeney Todd" marks the 6th collaboration between the actor and director. The previous Burton-Depp films have been "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "Corpse Bride," "Ed Wood," "Edward Scissorhands" and "Sleepy Hollow."
Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald will partner with Richard Zanuck and John Logan to produce the screenplay adaptation which was written by Logan. Production is planned to begin early next year for a late 2007 release. Paramount will distribute for DreamWorks domestically and Warner Bros. internationally.
The Broadway production of "Sweeney Todd," with Sondheim's music and lyrics and a book by Hugh Wheeler based on the play by Christopher Bond, opened in 1979 and won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Its mix of the comic, the dramatic and the macabre held together by Sondheim's movie-like score has had hundreds of productions throughout the world. A highly acclaimed revival is now playing in New York.
The story of "Sweeney Todd" is of a wrongfully imprisoned barber in Victorian England who sets out to seek revenge on the judge who imprisoned him. The plot is foreshadowed in the first lines of the opening number: "Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd./His skin was pale and his eye was odd./He shaved the faces of gentlemen/Who never thereafter were heard of again."
Sondheim is known in the theater for the lyrics to "West Side Story" and "Gypsy," the music and lyrics for "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," "Company," "Follies," "A Little Night Music" and the Pulitzer Prize-winning "Sunday in the Park With George," among others, as well as the film scores of "Stavisky" and "Reds" (the latter co-written with Dave Grusin) and the Academy Award(R)-winning Best Original Song "Sooner or Later" from the Warren Beatty movie "Dick Tracy."
Former DreamWorks co-heads Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald have produced or executive produced a wide range of critically and commercially successful films, including the Oscar-winning "Gladiator," the "Men In Black" and "Ring" series, as well as "Catch Me If You Can," "Minority Report," and "The Terminal," the latter all directed by Steven Spielberg.
"Sweeney Todd" will mark Richard Zanuck's third collaboration with DreamWorks, having produced "Deep Impact" and "Road to Perdition" for the studio. The film will also mark Zanuck's reunion with Johnny Depp and Tim Burton with whom he produced last year's international hit "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." Among his many films, Zanuck won a Best Picture Oscar as a producer for "Driving Miss Daisy" and has received the Academy's Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award for consistently producing high quality motion pictures.
Tim Burton is also developing the Paramount production of "Ripley's Believe It Or Not."
Producer/Writer John Logan's most recent screenplays were "The Aviator" and "The Last Samurai," and he was nominated for an Oscar for his work on DreamWorks' "Gladiator."
Source: DreamWorks Studios
'Idol' Rocker Chris Daughtry to Begin Recording Debut Album
Chris Daughtry, whose sturdy rock presence and distinctive vocal style won the hearts and minds of "American Idol Season 5" fans across the globe, has begun working on his much anticipated debut album. Expected to hit stores on November 21, the new disc, released by 19 Recordings/RCA Records, is purportedly drenched with the same cutting-edge attitude and startling rock immediacy that made Daughtry a household name. Noted rock producer Howard Benson (All American Rejects, Papa Roach, My Chemical Romance, Hoobastank) will helm the CD, with Daughtry writing his own songs, as well as being joined by a slew of high profile artists in fertile writing sessions for the album, including Brad Arnold (Three Doors Down), Carl Bell (Fuel), Mitch Allan (SR-71), and Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20), among others. The popular vocalist is also putting together a band, to be called Daughtry, with a brand new website in the works http://www.daughtryofficial.com/.
It was Daughtry's stirring live versions of Fuel's "Hemorrhage In My Hands," and Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead Or Alive," that were cited as highlights of the show's past season, with the latter song, culled from the American Idol Season 5 compilation, scoring big on Billboard's singles and digital chart. The multi-talented singer/songwriter promises to mine the rock vein even more on his debut release. "I'm writing on my own, as well as getting together with some great artists and songwriters who I've always respected and who have expressed an interest in collaborating with me," says the North Carolina native. "It's been thrilling to approach this album as a new canvas, with the experience of the show and such an incredible year to draw on."
Daughtry's reign as one of American Idol's most popular non-winners (his controversial 4th place finish in season 5 was one of the most hotly contested 'Idol' votes in the show's history) has not waned. He's fast become the most acclaimed figure on the current "American Idols Live! Tour 2006", drawing raves from E!Online: 'Chris Daughtry has received near-universal praise. One of the trek's biggest attractions ... ', as well as EW.com: 'Daughtry may be poised for the biggest post-Idol career ... '. The hectic grind of the season 5 juggernaut, scheduled to run through September, has left little room for R&R for the tireless singer, as he fills his off-days with both writing and pre-production sessions.
With full-blown recording sessions lined up for the end of August, Daughtry has had to put his combustible talent into overdrive: "It's been crazy but rewarding," says the charismatic artist. The first single, still under-wraps by the record label, is slated to hit radio in late September.
19 ENTERTAINMENT
The 19 Group of Companies was founded by Simon Fuller in 1985 and has achieved over 40 No. 1 singles and 15 No. 1 albums. Fuller also has an impressive tally of over 60 Top-40 albums and 170 Top-40 singles in the UK alone. Fuller created and managed the Spice Girls, who became a global phenomenon under his guidance, selling over 38 million albums. In 1998, Fuller's 19 launched S Club 7, which has sold 10 million CDs worldwide, while its three television series to date have consistently topped children's viewing figures, reaching 104 countries.
In 2001, Simon Fuller's 19TV created and produced the television phenomenon "Pop Idol" and in 2002, AMERICAN IDOL. "Pop Idol" launched the singing careers of Will Young and Gareth Gates in the UK, while AMERICAN IDOL did the same for Carrie Underwood, Fantasia, Kelly Clarkson and Ruben Studdard in the United States.
Source: 19 Recordings/RCA Records
SOPHISTICATION AND HIGH FASHION HITS THE RUNWAY AS THE CW NETWORK REVEALS THE 13 FINALISTS IN THE RUNNING TO BECOME “AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL”
The competition gets fierce and feisty for the seventh cycle of the hit dramality “America’s Next Top Model,” now on The CW, as the 13 finalists fight to make their dreams of becoming a top model a reality. This season, an incredible transformation takes place as the finalists face tougher challenges and live the high life participating in glamorous photo shoots all while living under one roof in a posh Los Angeles mansion. See the dramality unfold in the two-hour, seventh-cycle premiere of “America’s Next Top Model” on Wednesday, September 20 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on The CW.
“America’s Next Top Model” participants are:
Name: A.J.
Occupation: Student
Age: 20
Hometown: Sacramento, Calif.
Name: Amanda
Occupation: Bookstore Sales Associate
Age: 18
Hometown: Anaheim, Calif.
Name: Anchal
Occupation: Sales Clerk
Age: 19
Hometown: Homestead, Fla.
Name: Brooke
Occupation: Student
Age: 18
Hometown: Keller, Texas
Name: CariDee
Occupation: Photographer
Age: 21
Hometown: Fargo, N.D.
Name: Christian
Occupation: Bank Teller
Age: 19
Hometown: Columbia, S.C.
Name: Eugena
Occupation: Customer Service Representative
Age: 21
Hometown: Palmdale, Calif.
Name: Jaeda
Occupation: Student
Age: 18
Hometown: Parkersburg, Iowa
Name: Megg
Occupation: Retail Clerk
Age: 18
Hometown: Los Angeles
Name: Megan
Occupation: Bartender
Age: 23
Hometown: San Francisco
Name: Melrose
Occupation: Fashion Designer
Age: 23
Hometown: San Francisco
Name: Michelle
Occupation: Student
Age: 18
Hometown: Anaheim, Calif.
Name: Monique
Occupation: Marketing Representative
Age: 19
Hometown: Chicago
During this cycle, the 13 participants live together and ferociously vie for the grand prize, competing in a highly accelerated modeling boot camp. The participants abilities are tested each week as they strive to master the runway, fashion photo shoots, perfect publicity skills and learn the business aspects of becoming a supermodel, all under 24-hour-a-day surveillance of the “America’s Next Top Model” cameras. Throughout the series, supermodel Tyra Banks, art director of photo shoots Jay Manuel, and runway guru J. Alexander mentor the participants. The new grand prize package for “America’s Next Top Model” will be announced at a later date.
Banks leads the panel of “America’s Next Top Model” judges, comprised of leading fashion industry experts, including supermodel Twiggy, photographer Nigel Barker and runway expert J. Alexander, who closely evaluate the progress of the models to narrow the field each week. In addition, special guest judges appear to critique within his or her area of expertise.
“America’s Next Top Model” is produced by 10 by 10 Entertainment, in association with Bankable Productions. Tyra Banks is the creator and executive producer along with Ken Mok ("Making the Band") and Anthony Dominici ("The Amazing Race").
SMITH
SMITH stars Emmy Award winner Ray Liotta as a criminal mastermind in a drama about a close-knit crew of career criminals who plot and execute intricate and ingenious high-stakes robberies across the country. Though Bobby Stevens appears to be a regular family man with a nine-to-five job, he's actually an expert thief who is seeking just two or three more big jobs so he can finally leave the business for a comfortable, lawful lifestyle with his wife, Hope, and their two children. While they never discuss Bobby's illegal pursuits, Hope is growing weary of turning a blind eye. Bobby's second family, his core band of partners, each bring their own areas of expertise to pulling off the biggest and most sophisticated armed robberies. Joe is in charge of all things transportation oriented; Jeff, who is the most reckless of the bunch, is responsible for the firepower; Tom is on parole after being busted during a previous job, and his sometime lover, Annie, is a beautiful master of disguise who can manipulate any situation with her looks. FBI Agent Dodd has been following the robberies for some time, and remains determined to catch the team, but is most interested in capturing "Smith," the crew's mysterious leader and the brains behind the entire operation. It remains to be seen whether Bobby will be able to extricate himself in time from the scores that give him such a rush, or if his retirement will be a forced one -- behind bars.
Premieres on the CBS Television Network in the fall
ON AIR: Tuesdays (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT)
ORIGINATION: Los Angeles (film)
STARRING: Ray Liotta Bobby Stevens
Virginia Madsen Hope Stevens
Simon Baker Jeff
Jonny Lee Miller Tom
Amy Smart Annie
Franky G. Joe
Chris Bauer Agent Dodd
Shohreh Aghdashloo Charlie
PRODUCED BY: John Wells Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television Productions, Inc.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: John Wells, Brooke Kennedy and Christopher Chulack
CREATED BY: John Wells
RAY LIOTTA
(Bobby Stevens in SMITH)Ray Liotta has starred opposite the biggest names in Hollywood throughout his award-winning career. In November 2004, Liotta garnered an Emmy Award for his performance in "ER."
The New Jersey-native began acting while a student at the University of Miami. Liotta credits working on the stage and in musicals with helping to shape him as a performer. He began his career in New York on the daytime series "Another World," where he spent three years before moving to Los Angeles.
Liotta recently completed production on the following films: "Slow Burn," which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival; "Even Money," which co-stars Danny DeVito and Kim Basinger; "Smokin Aces," in which he stars opposite Ryan Reynolds and Andy Garcia, and in the comedy "Comeback Season." Liotta also recently completed production on the fantasy film, "In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale."
A Golden Globe-nominated performance in Jonathan Demme's edgy "Something Wild," began the ascent for Liotta. Shortly after, the actor starred in "Dominick and Eugene" before landing the role of the soul-searching ghost, Shoeless Joe Jackson, in the Academy Award-nominated "Field of Dreams."
The film that brought Liotta his most widespread acclaim was Martin Scorcese's "Goodfellas," in which he starred alongside Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci as the tortured half-Sicilian/half-Irish Henry Hill. Liotta's widely applauded performance helped garner the film an Academy Award Best Picture nomination and established him as a star.
Liotta's additional film credits include "Corrina, Corrina," "Heartbreakers," "Hannibal," "Unlawful Entry," "No Escape," "Blow," "John Q," "Copland" and "Identity." Liotta also added the title of producer to his distinguished resume for the 2002 film "Narc," which premiered at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival, and was later released by Paramount. Liotta was nominated for an IFP Award for Best Actor for his performance.
Liotta has also received acclaim for his work in other mediums. His portrayal of Frank Sinatra in HBO's "The Rat Pack" garnered a Screen Actors Guild nomination. He has also appeared as himself in the comedy "Just Shoot Me." In the video game world, he voiced the main character, Tommy Vercetti, in "Grand Theft Auto."
Liotta made his Broadway debut in the Spring of 2004 opposite Frank Langella, in Stephen Belber's "Match," for which he received a Distinguished Performance honor at the 70th Annual Drama League Awards.
Liotta lives in Los Angeles. His birth date is Dec. 18.
VIRGINIA MADSEN
(Hope Stevens in SMITH)Virginia Madsen is an Academy Award and Golden Globe nominated actress for her work in the award winning film "Sideways."
Madsen got her first break after famed director David Lynch spotted a Polaroid of her on his desk and cast her in his film "Dune." Since that point, Madsen has starred in a multitude of films. Recently she starred opposite Harrison Ford in the action thriller "Firewall" and alongside Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline in "A Prairie Home Companion." She will also be seen in the upcoming films "The Number 23" with Jim Carrey, "The Astronaut Farmer," starring opposite Billy Bob Thornton and in "The Ripple Effect."
Additional film credits include Francis Ford Coppola's "The Rainmaker," "Ghosts of Mississippi," "The Hot Spot" and the cult classic "Candyman." Madsen's versatility was seen in the independent film, "Almost Salinas," opposite John Mahoney and in "American Gun," opposite James Coburn.
Madsen grew up just north of Chicago. Her father was a fireman and her mother was an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker. As a child, she adored watching old black & white and silent films. Upon entering high school, Virginia turned to the drama department as an outlet to express herself and her drive and focus soon paid off.
Virginia and her son live in Los Angeles. Her birth date is Sept. 11.
JONNY LEE MILLER
(Tom in SMITH)
Jonny Lee Miller is a British actor who rose to prominence as "Sick Boy" in Danny Boyle's widely acclaimed film "Trainspotting." Miller has gone on to star in such films as "Plunkett & Macleane," "Mansfield Park" and "Afterglow."
Recently, Miller starred in Woody Allen's "Melinda and Melinda" and "Aeon Flux" opposite Charlize Theron. Miller will next be seen as the lead in Douglas Mackinnon's film "The Flying Scotsman."
Miller has also received widespread praise for his stage work with credits including "Feston," "The Play What I Wrote," "Democracy" and "Beautiful Thing." Additionally, Miller is on stage in a revival of Frank McGuinness' play "Someone Who'll Watch Over Me."
"Smith" marks Miller's first time as a regular on network television. His birth date is Nov. 15.
SIMON BAKER
(Jeff in SMITH)
A Golden Globe nominated actor, Australian-born Simon Baker has an impressive background that spans both the stage and screen.
Baker's feature film credits include "Land of the Dead," "The Ring 2," the Academy Award-winning "LA Confidential," "Affair of the Necklace," "Red Planet," "Sunset Strip," "Judas Kiss," "Restaurant," "Love from Ground Zero" and "Ride With the Devil," which screened at the 1999 Deauville Film Festival and was also a gala presentation at the 1999 Toronto Film Festival.
Baker most recently starred in the romantic comedy "Something New" and "The Devil Wears Prada." He is currently shooting "Sex and Death 101."
Baker starred in "The Guardian" from 2001-2004 on the Network, in which he portrayed a hardened corporate lawyer who was sentenced to work as a legal child advocate after being found guilty of drug possession. In the first season, Baker was recognized by the Hollywood Foreign Press with a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Drama Series.
Baker lives in Los Angeles. His birth date is July 30.
AMY SMART
(Annie in SMITH)
Amy Smart's feature film credits include "Just Friends," "The Butterfly Effect," "Blind Horizon," "Starsky & Hutch," "Project Greenlight's Battle of Shaker Heights," "Rat Race," "Roadtrip," "Scotland, PA," "Outside Providence," "Varsity Blues," "Starf*cker," "Starship Troopers" and "The Last Time I Committed Suicide."
Smart recently wrapped production on the thriller "Crank," and she can also be seen in the upcoming independent film "Peaceful Warrior."
Smart's television credits include "Felicity" and the mini-series "The '70s."
Smart also participates in various non-profit organizations such as Heal the Bay and the Environmental Media Association.
She currently resides in Los Angeles. Her birth date is March 26.
FRANKY G
(Joe in SMITH)
Franky G has made his mark in Hollywood in a short period of time starring in such projects as "Saw II" and "Jonny Zero." Growing up in Flushing, Queens, Franky dreamed of becoming an actor. A talented athlete and student, he was awarded the opportunity to play football at A&M College. When a knee injury ended his athletic career, Franky took a shot at acting, appearing in such Off Broadway productions as "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" and "Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie." Franky was relentless in pursuing his acting career and his determination soon paid off.
After waiting all day at a casting call for the film "Manito," Franky was offered the role of Junior on the spot. Five months later, he found himself on his first plane ride headed for the Sundance Film Festival, where "Manito" went on to win the Special Jury Prize for "Best Ensemble Cast."
Shortly after the festival, Franky was cast in the feature film "Confidence" starring opposite Dustin Hoffman, Ed Burns, Andy Garcia, and Rachel Weisz. Franky's other credits include "The Italian Job" and "Wonderland."
Franky lives in New York. His birth date is Oct. 30.
JOHN WELLS
(Executive Producer/Creator, SMITH)
)
John Wells is a multi-talented producer, writer and director whose projects have amassed worldwide acclaim, garnering accolades for both stage and screen.
Wells has been behind some of the most critically acclaimed series on television. He serves as executive producer on "ER," which is heading into its 12th season and has earned an astounding 108 Emmy nominations, including 23 wins. This unprecedented achievement makes "ER" the most nominated drama series in history.
Wells also served as executive producer for "The West Wing," which recently completed its seventh and final season and won four Best Drama Emmys.
Wells and his team of producers have received five Peabody Awards, nine People's Choice Awards, three Producer's Guild Awards, four Humanitas Prizes and two Golden Globe Awards, among other honors.
In addition to "ER" and "The West Wing," Wells also served as a writer and executive producer on the award-winning drama "Third Watch." Prior to his work on these programs, Wells served as a director and writer on the Emmy Award-winning drama "China Beach."
Most recently, Wells was awarded the 2005 David Suskind Achievement Award in Television from the Producers Guild of America.
Wells' recent motion picture credits include Carroll Ballard's acclaimed drama "Duma," a children's film starring Hope Davis and Campbell Scott; "White Oleander" and "The Good Thief." Wells also served as a producer on "Doom," based upon the popular video game.
In an arrangement unique to the business, John Wells Productions also funds Killer Films, the independent operation of Christine Vachon, Pam Koffler and Katie Roumel. For Killer Films, Wells executive produced "Far From Heaven," "One Hour Photo," "The Company," "A Home at the End of the World," "A Dirty Shame," "The Notorious Bettie Page," "Mrs. Harris" and the forthcoming "I'm Not There: Suppositions on a Film Concerning Dylan." Also due this Fall: "Savage Grace," starring Julianne Moore and Clive Owen, and "Infamous," starring Toby Jones, Daniel Craig, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sigourney Weaver, and Sandra Bullock.
Wells' award-winning stage work includes productions of "Judgment," "Balm in Gilead," "Battery" and "She Also Dances."
Born in Alexandria, Va., and raised in Denver, Wells graduated from Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh with a bachelor of fine arts and later earned a masters degree in film and television at the University of Southern California. He is the immediate past president of the Writers Guild of America.
Wells lives in Los Angeles.
SHARK
SHARK is a drama that follows the professional and personal life of Sebastian Stark, a charismatic, supremely self-confident defense attorney who, after a shocking outcome in one of his cases and a personal epiphany, brings his cutthroat tactics to the prosecutor's office. As the head of the Los Angeles District Attorney's High Profile Crime Unit, Stark is forced to work for his former nemesis, Jessica Devlin, the ambitious and accomplished D.A. who despises his ruthless strategies. Devlin teams him with a group of young prosecutors who are about to have the learning experience of a lifetime because, though Stark is seeking to redeem himself, he has no intention of changing his underhanded approach to cases just because he’s now working for the “good guys.” His young team includes Casey Woodland, a privileged hunk who is arrogant about his abilities as a young attorney; Raina Troy, a smart, tough new addition to the office; Martin Allende, an intellectual from South Central L.A.; and the high-powered Madeleine Poe, who joins the team in order to learn from the best. It's an eye-opening experience for this rookie group of lawyers who begin to use Stark’s infamous brass knuckle tactics in their cases. With his 16-year-old daughter, Julie, rooting for him at home, this legal shark must now prove that he can play, and win, on the other side of the law.
Credits and Contacts
Premieres in the fall on the CBS Television Network
ON AIR: Thursdays (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT)
ORIGINATION: Los Angeles (film)
STARRING: James Woods………………………...........Sebastian Stark
Jeri Ryan……………………………………Jessica Devlin
Sam Page………………………………...Casey Woodland
Sophina Brown………………………………...Raina Troy
Alexis Cruz………………………………...Martin Allende
Sarah Carter………………………………..Madeleine Poe
Danielle Panabaker……………………………..Julie Stark
PRODUCED BY: Imagine Television, in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Brian Grazer, David Nevins, Ian Biederman, Ed Redlich and Rod Holcomb
CREATED BY: Ian Biederman
THE CW NETWORK EMBARKS ON NATIONAL “MALL DOMINATION” TOUR
THE CW STARS AND THE INNOVATIVE, INTERACTIVE “CW LOUNGE” TRAVEL TO TWELVE MALLS IN MAJOR MARKETS
THE CW’S MASSIVE ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN TO FLOOD
35 WESTFIELD MALLS THROUGHOUT THE U.S.
FROM AUGUST THROUGH THE CW’S FALL LAUNCH
The CW, America’s new fifth broadcast network, will embark on a national “Mall Domination” tour, an extensive promotional initiative featuring the interactive CW Lounge, appearances by CW stars and a massive advertising campaign blanketing numerous malls in major markets around the country, raising awareness and generating buzz for the Network’s debut this fall.
Each week beginning on August 12, The CW Lounge, an innovative, multi-media interactive experience, will travel to eleven Westfield Malls around the county, as well as the Grove in Los Angeles, introducing consumers to The CW shows and brand identity. Stars from The CW’s hit series will visit each location, meeting their fans in The CW Lounge and signing autographs.
Inside the Lounge, consumers can create their own customized t-shirts emblazoned with the network slogan “Free to Be,” filling in the blank to express exactly what they’re “Free to Be.” Photographers will be on hand at each CW Lounge location to take pictures of consumers and their friends, which could also appear in CW promotional spots that will air on the network.
In addition, each CW Lounge will be outfitted with laptops, where consumers can log on to www.cwtv.com and join the CW Lab Online Community, as well as plasma screen TVs, which will air footage from up-coming CW series.
The dates and locations where the The CW Lounge and stars will appear are:New York: Westfield Sunrise/ Massapequa, NY (August 12-13): James Lafferty (“One Tree Hill”) and Bethany Joy Galeotti (“One Tree Hill”) to appear on August 13.
San Diego: Westfield UTC: (August 12-13): Jason Dohring (“Veronica Mars”), Percy Daggs III (“Veronica Mars”) and Tia Mowry (“The Game”) to appear on August 13.
New Jersey: Westfield Garden State Plaza/ Paramus, NJ (August 18-19): Lee Norris (“One Tree Hill”) and Danneel Harris (“One Tree Hill”) to appear on August 19.
Los Angeles: Westfield Century City/ Los Angeles, CA (August 19-20): Hilarie Burton (“One Tree Hill”), Jason Dohring (“Veronica Mars”) and Matt Czuchry (“Gilmore Girls”) scheduled to appear on August 19.
Los Angeles: : Hilarie Burton (“One Tree Hill”), Jason Dohring (“Veronica Mars”) and Matt Czuchry (“Gilmore Girls”) scheduled to appear on .Washington DC: Westfield Wheaton/ Wheaton, MD (August 26-27)*
Santa Ana, CA: Westfield Main Place, Santa Ana, CA (August 26-27)*
Los Angeles: The Grove (August 30)* – in conjunction with “The CW Presents: Summer at the Grove,” the five-week concert series, which concludes on this night with a free performance by multi-platinum recording artist Jewel.
St. Louis: Westfield Chesterfield, Chesterfield, MO (September 2-3)*
San Jose: Westfield Valley Fair (September 2-3)*
Chicago: Westfield Old Orchard/ Skokie, IL (September 9-10)*
Seattle: Westfield South Center (September 9-10)*
*CW talent attending these locations to be announced.
Additionally, The CW will have a massive, on-going advertising presence in 35 Westfield Malls, including the eleven malls that will feature The CW Lounge, beginning in August and running through The CW’s launch this September. The CW will make its debut on Wednesday, Sept. 20, with the seventh cycle premiere of “America’s Next Top Model.”
JERICHO
JERICHO is a drama about what happens when a nuclear mushroom cloud suddenly appears on the horizon, plunging the residents of a small, peaceful Kansas town into chaos, leaving them completely isolated and wondering if they're the only Americans left alive. Fear of the unknown propels Jericho into social, psychological and physical mayhem when all communication and power is shut down. The town starts to come apart at the seams as terror, anger and confusion bring out the very worst in some residents. Jake Green, the prodigal son of the town's mayor, becomes a reluctant hero when a school bus crashes as a result of the explosion. Mayor Johnston Green is conflicted with the return of his estranged son, but is called to action when the town begins to riot. Johnston’s wife, Gail, is the strong, savvy first lady of the town who runs interference between her husband and her favorite son. Attempting to usurp the mayor’s power is Johnston’s political adversary Gray Anderson, who is not above putting his personal agenda before the welfare of the very community he wants to lead. Though the cloud appears in the distance, it affects all the residents in Jericho, including Dale Turner, the 16-year-old trailer park kid everybody picks on who finds himself in a position that could change his status; Robert Hawkins, a mysterious stranger who seems to be a jack-of-all-trades as he steps in to help restore order; Heather Lisinski, a pretty, young school teacher on the bus with her students returning from a class trip when the glare from the explosion causes a terrible accident; Emily Sullivan, Jake's high school sweetheart who lives outside of town and innocently goes about her business unaware of the catastrophe, Bonnie Richmond, a pretty 17-year-old who is hearing impaired; and Bonnie’s older brother Stanley, Jake’s best friend from childhood and an avid car lover who works on the family farm. In this time of crisis, as sensible people become paranoid, personal agendas take over and well-kept secrets threaten to be revealed, some people will find an inner strength they never knew they had and the most unlikely heroes will emerge.
Credits and Contacts
Premieres on the CBS Television Network in the fall
ON AIR: Wednesday (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT)
ORIGINATION: Los Angeles (film)
STARRING: Skeet Ulrich Jake Green
Gerald McRaney Johnston Green
Ashley Scott Emily Sullivan
Pamela Reed Gail Green
Kenneth Mitchell Eric Green
Lennie James Robert Hawkins
Sprague Grayden Heather Lisinksi
Michael Gaston Gray Anderson
Erik Knudsen Dale Turner
Brad Beyer Stanley
Shoshannah Stern Bonnie
PRODUCED BY: CBS Paramount Network Television
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Jon Turteltaub, Stephen Chbosky and Carol Barbee
CREATED BY: Jonathan A. Steinberg & Josh Schaer and Stephen Chbosky
THE CW IS LOOKING FOR THE NEXT PUSSYCAT DOLL
NATIONWIDE CASTING STARTS IMMEDIATELY ON THE CW’S
FIRST NEW REALITY SHOW
EIGHT EPISODES OF SERIES ORDERED FOR 2006-07 SEASON
(Burbank, CA) August 2, 2006 - In its first series pick-up announcement since the May Upfront, The CW Network will welcome performing and recording artists The Pussycat Dolls in a new eight-episode reality series chronicling the group’s search for a new member, tentatively titled “The Search for the Next Pussycat Doll.” The announcement was made today by Dawn Ostroff, President, Entertainment, The CW.
“At its core, this show goes beyond just finding a new Pussycat Doll; it’s about female empowerment, self-discovery and personal transformation,” said Ostroff. “The CW’s adult 18-34-year-old viewers recognize that fame and fortune are within their reach and this series gives one lucky young woman her big break to join one of today’s most popular musical groups, The Pussycat Dolls.”
“The Search for the Next Pussycat Doll” (working title) features a group of diverse young women from all walks of life, who will learn to express their femininity with both confidence and poise through performance, and discover that in every woman there’s a Pussycat Doll.
Under the guidance of The Pussycat Dolls creator and founder Robin Antin, these young hopefuls will live together and have their singing ability, dance moves and sheer self-confidence put to the test, as they vie for the opportunity to join the chart-topping singing sensation The Pussycat Dolls, as the group expands from six members to seven. Additionally, certain elements of the series will be broadcast live.
Slated to air during the 2006-07 broadcast season, the nationwide talent hunt begins immediately for the select group of women, who will appear on the series and be transformed from wannabes into world-class performers. Video submissions can be sent to Pussycat Doll Casting, 2801 Ocean Park Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405. Cities and dates for local open casting calls will be announced shortly. Additional questions can be directed to pcdcasting@gmail.com.
The winner will join The Pussycat Dolls, which includes Ashley Roberts, Melody Thornton, Kimberly Wyatt, Nicole Scherzinger, Carmit Bachar and Jessica Sutta, who will also appear in the series. Multi-platinum recording artists The Pussycat Dolls have become a global phenomenon, as their debut album, “PCD,” has sold almost 5 million copies worldwide and remained among the Top 50 albums for 45 weeks. Singles from PCD, which include “Don’t Cha,” “Stickwitu,” and their latest “Buttons,” have hit #1 in eight countries and broken into the Top 10 in 14 countries.
“The Search for the Next Pussycat Doll” (working title) is executive produced by Ken Mok (“America’s Next Top Model”), Robin Antin (The Pussycat Dolls), Steven Antin (“Young Americans”), Jimmy Iovine (Interscope A&M Records) and McG (“Supernatural,” “The OC”). The new series is from Warner Horizon Television, 10 by 10 Entertainment, Pussycat Dolls, LLC, Interscope A&M Records and Wonderland Sound and Vision.
Online Research Doubles Globally, But Telephone Still Most Popular
The Global Market Research Report, conducted every year by ESOMAR, available in September 2006, reveals that the Market Research industry remains healthy with longer term compound annual growth rates of 4-6%. Top line results indicate that global market research turnover tops $23 billion in 2005 with a growth rate of 4.3%. Europe maintains its leading role with 45% of the global market, and the use of online studies grows by 80%.
In fact, the Report demonstrates that online research is now playing a key role in market research around the world, representing 20% of expenditure on data collection methods. This figure nearly has nearly doubled from 2004 to 2005 (11% in 2004).
At the same time face-to-face interviews have dramatically decreased, now representing 21% of data collection compared to 31% in 2004. Telephone interviews are currently the most popular data collection method, representing 22% (relatively stable compared to 2004 with a 2 point decrease). The quantitative/qualitative ratio remains constant with 2004 with roughly an 80/20 split.
Véronique Jeannin, ESOMAR Director General, says "We expect the Industry's healthy growth rate to continue in the near-term… the industry faces challenges of downward pressure on prices (however) as companies pass on savings to clients from conducting online research, which are likely to be offset by demand for results from more sophisticated online research tools."
The fastest growing markets (real growth) include:
- Latvia (34%)
- China (25%)
- Thailand (23%)
- Bulgaria (22%)
- Malaysia (20%)
The results also show that in growth measurement among the largest markets:
- France grew the fastest at 3.2%
- Germany (2.8%)
- USA (2.1%)
- Japan (2%)
- UK remains stable with 0.7% real growth
Cingular To Become Exclusive Telecommunications Sponsor of the Southeastern ConferenceNation's largest wireless carrier to offer exclusive SEC mobile content |
Cingular Wireless will become the exclusive telecommunications sponsor of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) as part of a multi-year deal with HOST Communications. This agreement will be considered a landmark sponsorship of one of the premiere collegiate athletic conferences by the largest wireless carrier in the country.
As part of the relationship, Cingular will provide exclusive video content from key SEC events, which may include game highlights and press conferences, through its Cingular Video wireless service. In addition, Cingular will become the exclusive presenting sponsor of SECsports.com, the official athletic Web site of the conference. The portal has been re-branded as "SECsports.com powered by Cingular," and Cingular will present all SEC Video on Demand content available on the site.
Through HOST, which manages the corporate sponsorship program for the SEC, Cingular is poised to deliver up-to-the-minute SEC sports scores and highlights, features, news and information to its wireless customers.
"The Southeastern Conference and its member institutions are grateful for Cingular's vision and commitment to the conference's intercollegiate athletics programs through this significant initiative," said SEC Commissioner Mike Slive. "The SEC is excited about Cingular's sponsorship as we work together to showcase the student-athletes in the Southeastern Conference."
"Cingular's sponsorship with the Southeastern Conference will be another example of our commitment to college athletics," said Steve Sitton, President, Southeast Region for Cingular Wireless, which also is an NCAA Corporate Champion. "Cingular is dedicated and eager to assist the SEC in its efforts to provide quality and beneficial opportunities to student-athletes on and off the field. And, through the SEC video content available on a wireless phone, SEC fans can stay close to the action no matter where they are."
"We are delighted Cingular has decided to become a corporate sponsor in the telecommunications category for the SEC," added Tom Stultz, president and chief executive officer of HOST. "We look forward to welcoming them to the family and helping them to provide added value to their customers through coverage of SEC sports."
Through this deal, Cingular will be gaining branding presence during key SEC Championship competitions and other SEC events, including football and basketball. Financial terms of the sponsorship were not disclosed.
About Cingular
Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving 57.3 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture between AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) and BellSouth Corporation (NYSE: BLS), has the largest digital voice and data network in the nation - the ALLOVER" network - and the largest mobile-to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier. Cingular is a leader in third generation wireless technology. Its 3G network is the first widely available service in the world to use HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) technology. Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover®, the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Details of the company are available at http://www.cingular.com/.
About the SEC
The Southeastern Conference was formed in 1933 and consists of 12 member institutions: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Tennessee and Vanderbilt. The league currently sanctions championship play in nine men's sports and 11 women's sports. Its headquarters has been located in Birmingham, Ala., since 1948. For more on the conference, visit http://www.secsports.com/.
About HOST
In addition to its relationship with NCAA Football, Host Communications, Inc. also has marketing agreements with seven universities as well as the Southeastern Conference. The Lexington, Ky.-based company also manages five associations, more than 30 Web sites and has a printing and publishing division that produces more than 700 publications annually including all of the NCAA championship game-day programs. Additional information may be found online at http://www.hostcommunications.com/.
HOST is a subsidiary of Triple Crown Media, Inc. TCMI owns and operates five daily newspapers with a total daily circulation of approximately 120,000 and owns and operates GrayLink, a wireless communications company based in Tallahassee. TCMI is a public company traded on NASDAQ and based in Lexington, Ky. Additional information can be found online at http://www.triplecrownmedia.com/.
SOURCE: Cingular Wireless
Success doesn't interest Kenny Rogers. Significance is the veteran entertainer's goal.
By Crystal Caviness
Kenny Rogers; Capitol Records Nashville; Photographer: Melanie Dunea
"Success is how much you take in. Significance is how much you give back," Rogers said. "I don't want to be a star again. . I want to be significant." Few careers reach the level of success that Rogers' has. The stats are staggering: 65 albums; worldwide sales in excess of 105 million; 22 No. 1 hits; accolades from music industry organizations, including five CMA Awards, three GRAMMYs and 18 American Music Awards. The Recording Industry Association of America ranks Rogers as the eighth best-selling male artist of all time, with 20 Platinum albums. Laying aside the need to keep topping the charts and winning awards, Rogers now finds significance in simple gestures, such as letters from listeners who have been touched by his music."I just want to have a body of work that represents my interest and I want people to be moved by my music," Rogers said. Water & Bridges is the most recent addition to Rogers' body of work, a collection of 11 new songs released earlier this year in March by the music maker's former label home, Capitol Records Nashville. "We were fortunate and thrilled that (Capitol Records Nashville President and CEO) Mike Dungan literally called out of the clear blue sky," Rogers said. "He said 'You've been such an important part of our history, we'd love to have you as a part of our future.'" Rogers' history with Capitol began in 1975 when he signed with United Artists, which became Liberty Records (and later Capitol). The singer's tenure with Capitol included a time in Rogers' career when he sold more than 1 million albums every month for 26 consecutive months, according to information from the label. During this hit-making time, every single Rogers released went to the top of the charts, including "Lady," "She Believes in Me," "Coward of the Country," "Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer" and "Through the Years." Prior to returning to Capitol in 2006 to make Water & Bridges, Rogers had been recording for his own independent label, Dreamcatcher Entertainment, where he returned to the top of the charts in 1999 with "The Greatest," followed by the No. 1 single "Buy Me a Rose." Rogers credits his longevity in the music business with his ability to work with cutting-edge producers, including Lionel Richie, who produced "Through the Years" and "Lady," and Barry Gibb, who produced "Islands in the Stream." "What I did was I sang the way I always sang but I wrapped another sound around me," Rogers said. Dungan employed the same concept when he paired Rogers with top Country Music producer Dann Huff (Faith Hill, Keith Urban). The result, Rogers said, is an album of music that sounds "real organic." "Dann puts a little edge on everything. He comes from such a rock 'n' roll place. What he does that's interesting is he uses band musicians, not studio musicians, because they play with more dynamics. You can hear that on the new album. It was such a great experience," Rogers said. Huff also pressed Rogers into unfamiliar vocal territory. "Dann took me out of my comfort zone when I was singing," Rogers said, adding that the producer encouraged the singer to change his phrasing. "On a couple of the songs, the phrasing was turned around on the beat and not natural for Kenny to sing," Huff said, adding that Rogers broke the song down line by line in order to get it right. "That's frustrating when you're used to doing things quickly because you've been doing this professionally for so long, like Kenny has," Huff said. "Kenny has a real pro work ethic. It forces you to let go of your natural instincts and the result is something more special." While Huff pushed Rogers into some varied vocal styles, the producer's goal was to maintain Rogers' signature voice. "I didn't want him sounding like anybody but himself. To me, the record was more about subject matter than anything," Huff said. To that end, Huff brought a number of songs to the table that other artists had passed on because of controversial subject matter.
"I felt with Kenny, with his legendary status, that he had the platform to sing some of these songs," Huff said.
"Water & Bridges," a song about choices made in youth and their long term effects, in this case a young couple's decision about an abortion, was among the songs Rogers not only recorded, but decided should be the title track. "'Water & Bridges' is the cornerstone. It sets the tone for the rest of the music," Rogers said.
Huff's goal, he stated, was to get down to the basics with Rogers. "When I took on the project, my idea was to get Kenny Rogers in an old pair of jeans and a flannel shirt and let him go there, out of the Armani suits he's known for," Huff said. "Not on every song, but on some of them. On 'Someone Somewhere Tonight' and 'Water & Bridges' we had those moments. That was my wish. My dream came true on those two songs especially." The album also features a couple of guest vocalists, Don Henley singing a duet on "Calling Me" and new Country artist Sara Buxton in a cameo performance on "Someone Somewhere Tonight."
Though Rogers possesses a signature voice, the musician believes his greatest strengths lie in his ability to pick great songs and in entertaining.
"I've always felt I could pick hit songs, and performing is where I get my validation. I love being on stage." Though he loves touring, Rogers finds himself on stage less and less these days. European fans had the chance to see Rogers this summer when the entertainer performed during a six-day tour of England and also in Ireland as part of the International Country Music Festival. Spending less time on the road is Rogers' choice. He's having more fun at home, where he is dad to 2-year-old twin sons, and older children through previous marriages. The babies, Rogers said, have changed his career.
"I used to pick up my hat and go whenever I could, but that's the one thing that's changed in my life," he said. "There are very few things that fill the void of music, but those two boys do. It's harder to be away from them."
On the Web: www.kennyrogers.com
NEW ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Rhonda Towns
By Peter Cronin
Rhonda Towns; Dawn Records; Photographer: Scott Foust
When you listen to Rhonda Towns sing a Country song, you are hearing the gospel truth. That's because, for this Phoenix, Ariz.,-based preacher's daughter, Country and gospel music have gone naturally together.
"If you listen to old hymns and gospel songs and then you listen to an authentic Country song, you realize how closely they are related," Towns said. "A good old Country Music song just takes you back to church."
Growing up in church, Towns was singing in the choir from the time she could walk. Whether it was her choir singing, public speaking, cheerleading or her daily performances at the front of the school bus, it was clear to everyone in her community where this girl was headed.
When she came under the spell of singers including Patsy Cline, Vince Gill, Loretta Lynn and Reba McEntire, Towns fell headlong into Country Music. As a college student, she pursued vocal training and joined the gospel choir. Towns also found time to enter the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity's Miss Black Culture Pageant and, between her natural beauty and her pure-Country voice, she walked away the winner.
After college, Towns spent time working as a model, appearing on runways and in television commercials and print ads. She made her professional debut as a Country singer on Ed McMahon's "Star Search" and emerged as a Champion Female Country Artist. These days, Towns divides her time between Phoenix and Nashville, where she has appeared on shows for the Black Country Music Association and signed autographs at the BCMA's booth at the CMA Music Festival in Nashville.
Working with veteran producers Harold Shedd (Alabama, Shania Twain), Norro Wilson (Kenny Chesney, George Jones) and the late Jim Cotton, Towns recorded I Wanna Be Loved by You, her debut album, which was released on Dawn Records on April 25. The album's title song and leadoff single was written by Music Row veterans Bernie Nelson and Shane Teeters.
IN HER OWN WORDS:
Who is your musical hero?
"Reba McEntire."
What do you sing in the shower?"'The Lord's Prayer.'"
What actress would portray you in a biopic about your life?
"Halle Berry."
What word or phrase do you find yourself saying over and over again?
"No Pain, No Gain."
If you wrote an autobiography, what would the title be?"Rhonda Towns, Finally Fulfilled." When they look back on your life in 50 years, what do you hope people say about you?
"Rhonda Towns is true to Country Music and her beliefs."
On the web: www.rhondatowns.com
Ulead VideoStudio 10 Plus Wins PC Magazine Editor’s Choice Award
Ulead® Systems Inc. (TSE:2487), a subsidiary of InterVideo® Inc. (NASDAQ: IVII), has announced that Ulead VideoStudio® 10 Plus, its recently released, consumer-level video editing software, has received PC Magazine's coveted Editor's Choice in the US. The editors' lauded the package's novice-friendly features for transferring video from DV camcorders to DVD, innovative and stylish DVD menu templates, speedy rendering and support for editing high-definition video. In addition to this newest award, VideoStudio 10 has gained honors in Europe and Asia with Editor's Choice Awards from Computer Bild in Germany, PC Pro, PC Plus and PC Utilities in the UK and PC World in Australia.
"We are extremely gratified by the unprecedented level of recognition our latest release of VideoStudio has received," said Eldon C. M. Liu, president of Ulead. "In 2004, VideoStudio received 7 Editor's Choice Awards, including PC Magazine Editor's Choice. VideoStudio 10 has now surpassed that mark with over a dozen awards from leading publications worldwide."
About Ulead VideoStudio
VideoStudio 10 and VideoStudio 10 Plus are consumer software packages offering easy video editing & DVD authoring. VideoStudio 10 gives users affordable and easy-to-use editing and authoring tools for making great home movies. VideoStudio 10 Plus which adds unique and powerful features including multiple overlay tracks, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, iPod® and/PSP® support, is the category's only complete solution for capturing, editing, authoring and playback of high-definition video.
About Ulead Systems
Ulead Systems, Inc. (TSE:2487), a subsidiary of InterVideo, Inc. (NASDAQ: IVII) is a 17-year industry leader in video, image and DVD software. As more people use digital technologies at home, school and the workplace, Ulead software empowers users of all levels with the tools to easily and affordably personalize, manage and share digital content. Ulead is a member of the DVD Forum, participates in DVD Forum Working Groups and is a general member of the HD DVD promotion group. Ulead is also a Contributor member of the Blu-ray Disc Association and serves on the BDA TEG. For more information on the company, its products and services, please visit Ulead's Web site at http://www.ulead.com.
About InterVideo, Inc.
InterVideo is a leading provider of integrated digital and high-definition multimedia and audio/video content solutions in the PC, CE and wireless industries. The company's broad suite of integrated multimedia software products are designed to enhance the consumer's entertainment experience, whether the content is delivered to a home system, HDTV set, wireless system, mobile or personal multimedia device. InterVideo's unique iMobi™ multimedia codec technologies are widely used by smart phones, GPS units and portable entertainment device OEMs and ODMs to enhance music and video enjoyment…any place, any time. The firm's worldwide headquarters is at 46430 Fremont Blvd, Fremont, CA, 510-651-0888, InterVideo also has major offices in Taiwan, Japan, Mainland China and around the globe. For more information, visit http://www.intervideo.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Except for the historical statements contained herein, the foregoing release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding InterVideo/Ulead products. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially due to several factors, including but not limited to the ability to forecast customer behavior and recognize or respond to emerging trends, changing preferences or competitive factors, the market acceptance of our new products and product enhancements, the resolution of any notices of claims regarding alleged infringement of third parties' intellectual property rights, the ability to maintain or expand our relationship with PC OEMS and other risks and uncertainties. Please consult the various reports and documents filed by InterVideo with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to InterVideo's Form 10-Q for other risk factors that could cause actual results to differ. All forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and InterVideo disclaims any responsibility to update or revise any forward-looking statement provided in this news release.
InterVideo is a registered trademark of InterVideo, Inc. Ulead is a registered trademark of Ulead Systems. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.
D-Tools, Inc., the worldwide leader in system integration software, today announced that Specialty Electronics has increased revenues by 50% year over year while utilizing D-Tools System Integrator. Specialty Electronics is based out of Naples, FL, and they specialize in high quality custom installation of high end audio/video systems, for both the residential and commercial market.
Upon their inception, Specialty Electronics was looking to replace their existing software with a business solution that would link directly with QuickBooks. Mitch Faden, VP of Operations for Specialty Electronics, visited EHX Expo where a D-Tools presentation caught his attention. He swiftly incorporated D-Tools System Integrator into the Specialty Electronics business process and immediately saw positive results.
“We wanted a program that would help us easily create proposals but would link to the other documentation as well. We needed a stronger technique to run our business, and our primary focus is on creating proposals and documenting our projects, so D-Tools was a perfect fit for us,” said Faden. Before the addition of D-Tools, Specialty Electronics was utilizing Microsoft Word to create proposals and did not have a solid process. “We got into D-Tools about a month after we started the business, so it’s been a big part of our success from the start,” said Faden.
D-Tools has helped Specialty Electronics track labor and materials because everything is included in the proposal, leaving little room for error. They can now accurately charge their customers the correct price and deliver exactly what is promised. “D-Tools software allows us to accurately track all of the elements of the project including materials, work orders, and labor, so it really helps us catch any potential errors and ensure that we can account for intangibles,” said Faden.
Specialty Electronics has been able to customize the software to better fit the way the company operates, and to reflect its company brand identity, giving proposals a distinctive appearance. “D-Tools is very adaptable and we’ve created a great business process around it. We knew that when we started the company that D-Tools needed to be our business process,” said Faden.
Specialty Electronics has experienced an increase in revenues by 50% every year since they have been in business, with D-Tools playing a major role. Another key factor is their consistent customer satisfaction. “Proposals go over very well to our customers because they are easy to understand and they look professional. Our close ratio is in the 90 percent range,” said Faden, “D-Tools has helped us win more business because when our clients are looking at us compared to other companies not using the software, we look like we can get the job done at a higher quality.”
Time and cost has also been reduced significantly. “The database saves time and money, because there is no searching, and you don’t have to call every vendor, said Faden. “Time has dropped significantly as we mastered the software, and we are consistently getting better and better as we learn new shortcuts, which have helped us cut our production time in half.”
Proposals can also be produced and completed much quicker with the use of D-Tools. “We can write a proposal, interview the potential client in the morning, tweak it throughout the day after talking to client, and have it all done and ready to go by the end of the same day,” said Faden.
“It’s been great working with the D-Tools team. The technical team is very responsive, and the training has been very effective. The thing I like about the company is that they listen and actually apply my suggestions – things that I’ve mentioned to the team actually make it into the next versions. That doesn’t normally happen with other companies.”
About Specialty Electronics
Specialty Electronics is located at 2700 Immokalee Road # 6, Naples Florida, 33912. Our phone number is 239-593-7330. Please visit our website at specialtyelectronics.biz. We have been in business since 2003.
About D-Tools, Inc.
D-Tools is a worldwide leader in easy-to-use, highly accurate system design software. The company, founded in 1998 and based in Concord, California, offers a wide range of products and services created to simplify the complicated design, engineering, documentation and estimating processes that accompany residential and commercial installation projects of any size. Over 2,000 leading companies use D-Tools software to reduce time and costs and streamline the system integration process. D-Tools is the recipient of the Consumer Electronics Association’s Mark of Excellence Award (2004, 2005, 2006), National Systems Contractors Association and Sound and Video Contractor’s Innovations in Technology for Business Productivity Award (2004, 2005) and CE Pro’s High Impact Award for Design Software.
Channel Access and Performance Technologies Announce Distribution Agreement
Channel Access and Performance Technologies (NASDAQ: PTIX), a leading developer of communications platforms and systems, are pleased to announce they have entered into a distribution agreement. With this arrangement, Channel Access adds Performance Technologies' full line of CompactPCI® and AdvancedTCA® platforms and solutions to the company's growing portfolio of embedded computing and converged communications building blocks.
The Performance Technologies products are a natural fit with other open standard communications products sold by Channel Access. As a distributor of Performance Technologies' products, Channel Access will provide its customers with a wider set of products with short lead time sales and excellent support services. Moreover, Channel Access will further penetrate the market for Performance Technologies' products by bringing a new prospective customer base to Performance Technologies.
"We see enormous synergies between Channel Access and Performance Technologies combined customer bases and product offering," commented Tim Resker, vice president of sales for Channel Access. "Adding the Performance Technologies products to our portfolio will bring great value to the Channel Access customer base."
"Channel Access has a strong reputation of providing its customers with a wide variety of open standards-based communications products, and we are pleased to add our solutions to their portfolio," said Mike Tortorello, vice president of worldwide sales for Performance Technologies. "This agreement allows us to leverage the superior service and delivery of system components offered by Channel Access, giving us the opportunity to reach a greater number of customers and expand our leadership position in the embedded platform industry."
Performance Technologies' complete line of CompactPCI and AdvancedTCA solutions includes fully-managed, application-ready platforms, integrated slot functionality and enabling software and high availability middleware for equipment manufacturers and system integrators. All Performance Technologies products are integrated by design, offering customers the most unified and complete solutions set with increased content and a high level of interoperability for systems development.
Additional information on Performance Technologies' full line of embedded platforms and solutions is available at http://www.pt.com.
About Channel Access
Channel Access is an authorized distributor and reseller of embedded computing and telecommunications products. The mission of Channel Access is to provide its customers with superior service and delivery for system components. By offering a full line of embedded computing and telecommunications products along with optional system integration services, Channel Access has become a strategic supply chain partner for industry leading system vendors. Visit http://www.channelaccess.com for more information.
About Performance Technologies
Performance Technologies (NASDAQ: PTIX) develops platforms and systems for the world's evolving communications infrastructure. Our broad customer base includes global technology companies in the telecommunications, defense and homeland security, and commercial markets. Serving the industry for 25 years, our complete line of embedded and system-level products enables equipment manufacturers and service providers to offer highly available and fully-managed systems with time-to-market, performance and cost advantages.
Performance Technologies is headquartered in Rochester, New York. Additional engineering facilities are located in San Diego and San Luis Obispo, California; and Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. For more information, visit http://www.pt.com.
Forward Looking Statements
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for certain forward-looking statements. This press release contains forward-looking statements, which reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and financial performance, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is subject to the safe harbor provisions of those Sections. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties and the Company's actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other factors, general business and economic conditions, rapid technological changes accompanied by frequent new product introductions, competitive pressures, dependence on key customers, the attainment of design wins, fluctuations in quarterly and annual results, the reliance on a limited number of third party suppliers, limitations of the Company's manufacturing arrangements, the protection of the Company's proprietary technology, the dependence on key personnel, potential delays associated with the purchase and implementation of an enterprise-wide software system and potential impairments of investments. These statements should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements, the Notes thereto and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of the Company as of December 31, 2005, as reported in its Annual Report on Form 10-K, and other documents as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
