BELLO Entertainment
AUGUST 2015
NEUROSCIENCE OF NOSTALGIA Get to Know
MEG MYERS Remaking the 90s
Starring
JAMES MASLOW+
COAST CHRONICLES
BY SAM ZACHRICH
PATRICK FABIAN (Better call Saul) PETER PORTE (Baby Daddy)
#80
The Crystal
NOSTALGIA ISSUE
Letter from the Editor T h e re ’s a reason that many people consider August to be deep in the doldrums of Summer. Sure the days are long and the nights, steamy, but between the sweltering heat, the repeats on television, and the obvious winding down of the summer movie season, it can sometimes feel like a tedious timekiller between the far superior months of July and September. Here at BELLO however, we like to think of August as being more like a palate cleanser-- a refreshing transition between schoolyears and film cycles, between actual seasons, and the ones we watch on television. A time, much like New Years, during which we process the events of the previous months while simultaneously preparing for those yet to come.
TEE ORIGINAL PAPERBACKS
Which is exactly why we’re so proud to bring you our jam-packed August Nostalgia Issue, where we take a look at one of the most iconic comedies of all time on its 30th Anniversary (hint: you may want to cut yourself a piece of cheescake), salute a Saturday night staple for 90’s era teens and tweens, and examine the actual neuroscience behind nostalgia and why Hollywood depends on it so dearly. Of course, Autumn is coming, and even though we certainly appreciate the past, we’re always looking towards the future as well. Case in point, our profiles of smoking hot triple threat, James Maslow, and talented singer-songwriters, Meg Myers and Melanie Martinez. We hope you’re as excited to meet these fresh new faces as we were. Happy Reading! Sincerely, Brad Liberti Entertainmnet Editor BELLO Mag
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CONTENTS 80 Letter from the Editor Contents Intro Masthead Contributor’s Page
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PATRICK FABIAN
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PETER PORTE
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JAMES MASLOW
7 Nostalgia: How Hollywood Depends On It 8 Top 8 Picks 10 My First Time (At the Movies) 12 Bello Pages 14 A Salute to Snick 27 Get to Know: Meg Meyers 30 One ‘Sweet’ Block Party 32 Branding & Nostalgia
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34 The “Golden Girls’ Turns 30 36 The Crystal Coast Chronicles 39 The Modern Man 50 Remaking the 90s 52 Out On the Town 53 Brad’s Buzz 54 +Fashion List August 2015 - BELLO
PHOTOGRAPHER SAM ZACHRICH
STYLIST SONIA YOUNG
GROOMER MELISSA
INTRO In deciding the theme for this issue, we tossed around ideas with the interntion of making this August summer issue much more interesting than it has been in the past. Then, the decision was made... With many remakes, spinoffs, celebrations of shows since airing from their original air dates, we realize that entertainment has been stuck in a state of nostalgia, making this topic the perfect subject for us to interpret. Our editors and contributors from around the world have worked hard (through all the cocktails and summer heat) to bring you a very entertaining issue covered by the very talented James Maslow. In this issue, you will also find interviews with Melanie Martinez , Meg Myers and Patrick Fabian. Yes, we are very keen on keeping your summer fun and enjoyable. The team has also asked some of our former covers and spotlighted talent about their first time at the movies. You can join in on the fun and tell us about your first time at the movies by tagging @BELLOmag . Summer 2015 has been an amazing one as of yet. In hopes you are feeling that same energyas well, please flip through these pages and share them with all of your friends. Enjoy, Aleksandar Tomovic (editor in chief)
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PUBLISHER
IMAGE NATION STUDIO L.L.C. California, USA editorial@bellomag.com
ADVERTISING
advertising@bellomag.com
Aleksandar Tomovic (editor in chief) alek@bellomag.com
Nicole Walmsley (beauty editor) nicole@bellomag.com Stephane Marquet (creative director) steph@bellomag.com Leslie Alejandro (executive director) leslie@bellomag.com Annie Y. Miller (art and content director) annie@bellomag.com Warren Alfie Baker (fashion director) warren@bellomag.com Fabio Fernandez (fashion news director) fabio@bellomag.com Kimmy Erin Kertes (fashion editor) kimmy@bellomag.com Hiko Mitsuzuka (entertainment editor-at-large) hiko@bellomag.com Brad Liberti (entertainment editor) brad@bellomag.com Dio Anthony (young hollywood editor) dio@bellomag.com Dee Trillo (lifestyle and travel editor) dee@bellomag.com Morgan Stewart (lifestyle editor at large) boobsforloubs@bellomag.com Steven Carver (international editor) steven@bellomag.com Brent Lambert (design and technology editor) brent@bellomag.com Jon Norris (european editor) jon@bellomag.com Mark Norris (european editor) mark@bellomag.com Amanda Peixoto-Elkins (creative director, latin america) amanda@bellomag.com
COPY EDITOR
ASHLEY HERBINGER ashley@bellomag.com
LAYOUT
NEBOJSA DOLOVACKI
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
DEE TRILLO (Cover) STEVEN CARVER (Toronto) LUKE BARR (Lifestyle) BRENT LAMBERT (Auto and Tech) JON NORRIS (Beauty) MARK NORRIS (Lifestyle)
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS SAM ZACHRICH (Los Angeles) MAARTEEN DE BOER (Los Angeles)
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August 2015 - BELLO
Contributors and what’s on their mind, ...
HIKO MITSUZUKA: Proud Bello team member since 2012, Hiko is a pop culture pundit who resides in L.A. and obsesses over songs months before everyone else obsesses over them. He’s also a copywriter, film critic, travel journalist, and blogger at HotterInHollywood.com. When he’s not working on his upcoming book (How To NOT Stay Skinny), he’s quoting sitcom dialogue, binging on Netflix, or stalking people on Instagram. His weaknesses include chocolate chip cookies and movie theater popcorn. Tweet him @TheFirstEcho.
DEE TRILLO: LIFESTYLE AND TRAVEL EDITOR AT BELLO MAG. FASHION, BEAUTY AND TRAVEL EXPERT FOR ON-AIR, DIGITAL AND PRINT MEDIA. BILINGUAL STYLE AND TRAVEL BLOGGER AT WWW.HAUTEFRUGALISTA.COM @HAUTEFRUGALISTA Since starting her bilingual blog The Haute Frugalista 4 years ago, Dee, has been featured on TV and Print and Digital magazines for her expertise on fashion, beauty and lifestyle. In addition, she has been a brand ambassador for many brands including Covergirl, Express, Dove, and Macy’s, amongst others.
Dee has always had a passion for writing and creative content creation, and that’s one of the many reasons why she has become the Lifestyle and Travel Editor at BELLO Mag. Dee joined the BELLO Mag team in early 2014, and since then, has been contributing interesting and engaging travel editorials, compelling interviews with talent for main covers, and brought her Luxe on a Budget savvy-ness to fashion and beauty features. Maarten de Boer is a Scottish Born, Dutch national, living and working in sunny Los Angeles. Probably the tallest celebrity portrait photographer out there.
MAARTEN DE BOER:
(On shooting ‘Better Call Saul’ lead, Patrick Fabian)“This was the 2nd times I’ve had Patrick [Fabian] in front of my camera, but this shoot with Bello I was able to spend a little more time with this wonderful actor. We shot in my outdoor studio in LA. Partrick was funny, charming, and great to shoot. He has an authentic coolness that I feel like really comes through in the images… What can I say, he’s just an awesome guy!” (On shooting ‘Aquarius’ star, Emma Dumont) “We shot this job in my backyard studio on probably one of the hottest days of the month. It was a pleasure to work with Emma. She was incredible in front of the camera! Creating these images couldn’t have been easier with her! A wonderful subject who i was thrilled to learn has a passion for robots.” ENTERTAINMENT issue - BELLOmag.com
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ENTERTAINMENT
Nostalgia For Profit:
How Brands Use Nostalgic Psychology To Make You Spend More BY BRENT LAMBERT Corporations have known for decades how to manipulate the minds of the general public into buying more of their products. The makers of Tide detergent, for example, know that if your mom used Tide when you were a kid then there’s a very high likelihood you will do the same when you’re an adult. McDonald’s has made billions by maintaining a seamless Pavlovian connection between a client’s present-day experience versus that same client’s many childhood memories made underneath those iconic Golden Arches. And no company has mastered the psychology of nostalgic branding better than Coca-Cola, a company whose logo and product have remained virtually untouched for more than a century.
asked to think about an ordinary event. The authors concluded, “During times of recession, consumers are more reluctant to part with their money and nostalgia could be used to help stimulate a dwindling economy. We found that when people have higher levels of social connectedness and feel that their wants and needs can be achieved through the help of others, their ability to prioritize and keep control over their money becomes less pressing.”
According to a 2014 study published in the Journal of Consumer Research, nostalgia is great for a company’s bottom line. “We wondered why nostalgia is so commonplace in marketing,” write the study’s authors, Jannine D. Lasaleta (Grenoble École de Management), Constantine Sedikides (University of Southampton), and Kathleen D. Vohs (University of Minnesota). “One reason could be that feeling nostalgic weakens a person’s desire for money. In other words, someone might be more likely to buy something when they are feeling nostalgic.”
In a separate study, researchers Haian Xue (Aalto University School of Art and Design) and Pedro Carvalho de Almeida (Central Saint Martins College, University of the Arts London) examined the potential ways brand strategists can utilize the memories of consumers to maximize revenue. Together they developed a comprehensive “four-way” classification of the different types of nostalgia: 1) personal, 2) cultural, 3) interpersonal, 4) virtual nostalgia. “One of the essential things that designers think of at the early stage of design process is whom they are designing for. The target may differ from an individual customer to a mass market. Thus, the importance of the four types of nostalgia differs under different designing situations.”
Of the study’s six experiments, one study found consumers who were asked to think about the past were far more likely to pay extra money for products than consumers who were asked to think about the present or the future. Another study showed an increased willingness to give more money (but not time) to others after recalling, reflecting, or writing about a nostalgic past life event. Additionally, consumers asked to think about a nostalgic event were less willing to endure unpleasant sounds in exchange for a set amount of money than consumers who were
“Hence, when designing for mass production,” the authors write, “if designers go through the collective memories of the target group, especially based on age-related segmentation, and aim to evoke cultural or virtual nostalgia, it could help them identify the proper design elements more easily and precisely, and anticipate the users’ nostalgic responses to the design outcomes with much greater accuracy. Whereas the personal and interpersonal nostalgia may be more worth looking at, when designing for a single customer or a very small group
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of people who have certain strong inner bonding with each other (e.g. a couple or a family), because it is more likely to make the design outcome and experience more special and unique for the customer(s). In the other dimension of nostalgia, direct experience versus indirect experience, the direct memory or experience tends to be more vivid and richer than the indirect experience, therefore it is reasonable to consider direct types of nostalgia (i.e. personal and cultural nostalgia) are more valuable for the designer to explore than those indirect ones (i.e. interpersonal or virtual nostalgia) in most cases.” In his book The Hidden Persuaders, Vance Packard describes nostalgic “emotional branding” as the relationship between a symbol representing a promise, and the consumer who buys that promise. “The cosmetic manufacturers are not selling Lanolin, they are selling hope. We no longer buy oranges, we buy vitality. We do not buy just an auto, we buy prestige,” he writes. Our nostalgic memories are not set in stone either -- they are very much plastic, and it’s this neuroplasticity which adds an extra functional component to nostalgic branding. When we recall a long-term memory from the past and associate it with a product, we are recasting and reshaping that memory into something new, something more pleasing. Nostalgia, in effect, is very much an active process -- something demonstrated beautifully in the final episode of Mad Men, when Jon Hamm’s character is meditating outdoors with a group of hippies and the scene cuts to Coca-Cola’s iconic 1971 “Hilltop” commercial. In a matter of seconds, one of advertising’s most famous ads, and one of television’s greatest series, were both forever reshaped, recast, and bonded together in a doubly-meta branding moment that will be talked about for years to come. August 2015 - BELLO
ENTERTAINMENT
NOSTALGIA; How Hollywood Now Depends On It BY MARK NORRIS For more of my content, follow me on Twitter: @thenorristwins and Instagram: @mrmarknorris @the_norris_twins
THE SUCCESS OF MOVIE REBOOTS AND REMAKES HAS CATAPULTED AN EVER-GROWING TREND OF LOOKING BACK, RATHER THAN FORWARD, IN HOLLYWOOD. FROM UNIVERSAL PICTURES’ JURASSIC WORLD PHENOMENON, TO HBO’S UPCOMING WESTWORLD REBOOT, TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF TOP GUN 2 IN JUNE, WILL WE EVER SEE THE DAWN OF ORIGINAL CONTENT DOMINATING OUR MOVIE SCREENS AGAIN? And you didn’t realize your realities (online and off), are smothered in references to times before? We are all OBSESSED with reminiscing, reminding ourselves about good times past, or re-enacting distant memories that blossom in our minds. It makes us feel better. Provides a cushion of positivity. A virtual escape. For modern movie fans looking back through the years, it’s hard to beat the summer of 1984. Whether it was
Ghostbusters, or Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, the period between May and August of 1984 produced one iconic film a fortnight. Hollywood seems to have broken with the early trends of original screenplays, stories, and characters, to focus on inspirational concepts from the past, to re-ignite our passions for former flicks. UK blog Den of Greek state that there are 57 remakes in development in
2015, whereas IMDb published an astonishing list of 112 movies that are due to be rebooted, or remade, between the period 2014-2020. E! Online even published an article stating how 31 remakes currently in development in Hollywood, are totally unnecessary. There seems to be an avid group of displeased film gurus out there, albeit doing little to stop the nostalgic train of 20th century film making our screens, approaching the quarter period of the 21st century.
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happiness, energy, and a motivation for life. It’s used to give people confidence and comfort to take on new challenges.
DIGITAL INSECURITY There are a few social anthropologists that are leaning towards the notion that society as a whole, including Hollywood, are looking back to feel more secure in a world that is array with vicious bouts of hacking, identity theft, and technological advancements. Dr Routledge goes on, “Unpredictability lays the seed for an increased sense of nostalgia, because nostalgia transforms all the unpredictability into something more tolerable”.
TERMINATOR
Ready-made audiences are a major factor in the reasoning behind such developments in Hollywood, with the industry struggling to compete with inexpensive home streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime.
LOOKING BACK FEELS GOOD But at the end of the day, looking back feels good. It’s in our nature to look back at memories from the past, it not only evokes an earlier memory, but it can re-cast history into a more pleasing “remembered” version. Things like music, cars, and movies, stay with you for life. Moreover, nostalgia can make us feel like not so much time has past between now and then, making us feel younger, and that we still have a long way to go in our life, and importantly, time to get there!
In Hollywood, money will always be of more importance than art. In the 70’s, it used to cost around $10 million to make the average picture, now its upwards of $65 million for a romantic comedy. To make more money, sustainably, the industry will always turn to conservative methods of filmmaking, and try to appeal to a pre-sold audience. For all the trials and tribulations surrounding the world of remakes, reboots, and originality (or lack of) in Hollywood, maybe this period is giving people a dose of predictability they might actually need. It’s a funny thing. We as humans have to strike the right balance between
HBO’s UPCOMING REMAKE OF WESTWORLD looking back, and looking on, a sense of predictability and unpredictability that fuses the insecurities we have over our society as we see it now, and what the future holds, otherwise we end up catatonic, and sitting in a corner. So next time you’re at the movies, headed to your next fix of childhood superheroes, embrace it, think about how times have changed, and how times will change, be in the moment, and feel. For it may never ‘feel’ quite the same again.
From a marketing perspective, you want to find ways to connect with your audience, reverting back to familiarity and old times, creates this connection that is extremely difficult to get in other territories. Nostalgic cues can also be good for our health. Dr. Clay Routledge of North Dakota State University says he’s used “induced nostalgia” to develop 9
MAVERICK August 2015 - BELLO
ENTERTAINMENT
Top 8 Picks BY BRENT LAMBERT, BELLO MAG DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY CONTRIBUTOR
I’m loving California-based electro-pop artist DAY WAVE’s brand new debut EP, Headcase. Each time I listen to it I can’t help but reminisce about those good ol’ days back in high school when everybody really was a headcase. Stream it in full at www.Soundcloud.com/ DAY-WAVE (photo courtesy of DAY WAVE on Facebook).
There’s a fascinating new lighter-sized molecular scanner available called SCiO and it’s about to go big in a major way. What Shazam does for music, the SCiO scanner does for food, pharmaceuticals, leather, GMOs, and pretty much everything else that’s made of molecules -- which really is everything. You can order your own at www. ConsumerPhysics.com/MySCiO (photo courtesy of SCiO).
GEM CLUB is the Massachusetts-based trio who have mastered the art of chamber pop. They also happen to know a thing or two about how to make amazing music videos -- the newest of which is for their single “Braid” off their 2014 album In Roses. To see the surreal things that can happen when you mix monsters, a dead cat, and bloody passionate kisses visit www.IAMGEMCLUB.com.
Antonio Mora (also known as MYLOVT) is a Spanish designer and artist whose stunning photo collages are gaining some serious attention these days. His powerful collages are “images that open a crack in our collective memory allowing us to watch, though only it is an instant the hybrid beings who populate our deepest dreams.” You can see all of his work by visiting www.MYLOVT.com.
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My newest favorite dream home is the stunning Turner Residence located in Larkspur, California, about a 30-minute drive north of San Francisco. Designed by the brilliant team at Jensen Architects, you can see all the extraordinary photos and get insight into the design process by visiting www.JensenArchitects.com/case_studies/case-study/ turner-residence (photo by Mariko Reed).
If efficiency and camping are two of your favorite things, then your third favorite thing is the Buckshot Pro -- a speaker, flashlight, and power source all in one. To grab your own visit www.OutdoorTechnology. com/Shop/Buckshot-Pro (photo via Outdoor Technology).
Prepare yourself for a very special cosmic online adventure. Taking inspiration from the opening scene of Contact (1997), a team of web designers have built an interactive site which tracks how far the radio waves of many of Earth’s #1 pop hits have travelled since the moment they were each released. To take the fascinating voyage on your own visit www.LightYear.fm (photo via Lightyear.fm)
Back in 2013 South African painter Lorraine Loots gave herself a new personal project — paint one small quarter-size painting each day in one hour to help boost and maintain her creative abilities. She’s now a global phenomenon with 193,000 Instagram followers and her tiny paintings sell for $1,000 each. Visit www.LorraineLoots.com to see all of her work (Photo by Lorraine Loots) 11
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ENTERTAINMENT
MY FIRST TIME (At The Movies) BY MICHELLE GANEY & HIKO MITSUZUKA
FROM THE FANTASTICAL WORLDS OF CINDERELLA AND INSIDE OUT TO BELOVED SEQUELS (INSURGENT, MAGIC MIKE XXL) AND BLOCKBUSTER ADVENTURES (ANT-MAN, JURASSIC WORLD), 2015 IS BEING DOMINATED BY ACCLAIMED FILMS THAT WILL SURELY BE EMBEDDED IN THE MEMORIES OF A GENERATION. AND SINCE WE’RE ALL ABOUT NOSTALGIA THIS MONTH, WE ASKED SOME OF OUR PAST COVER STARS TO REVEAL AND SHARE THEIR VERY FIRST EXPERIENCE AT THE MOVIES...
LANA PARILLA: E.T.
JUSTIN BALDONI: Jurassic Park Justin Baldoni by Jared Thomas Kocka
“The first movie I remember seeing was Jurassic Park. My dad took me. All I remember was thinking that I had the coolest dad in the world because he was taking me to see it, and a bunch of my friends’ parents wouldn’t let them go. When the lights turned off, everyone started clapping and screaming and getting excited like we were going on a massive ride. I’l never forget looking up at him with a huge smile and taking it all in. It was such a cool father-son moment.”
“I remember loving it so much, I dragged my family to see it with me five times! It’s still one of my favorite films to date! E.T. phone home!”
Lana Parilla by Josh Reed
CHAD MICHAEL MURRAY: 3 Ninjas
“I think it was The 3 Ninjas. Going to the movies with my family was always amazing. The popcorn smell will always bring back that nostalgia.”
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Chad Michael Murray by Amanda Elkins
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JENNETTE McCURDY: Toy Story Jennette McCurdy by Leslie Alejandro
ROBBIE AMELL: GoldenEye
“The first movie I vividly remember seeing in the theater was Toy Story. I was three years old. I peed four times before going into the theater because I didn’t want to have to pee during it and miss a second. I had a crush on Slinky the Dog. I, like every other child who saw the movie, went away believing all of my toys were real and subsequently did not want to get rid of any of them.”
“One of my first movie memories was my dad sneaking me into GoldenEye when I was 7. It was my first action movie in the theater, and I absolutely loved it!”
KEEGAN ALLEN: Jurassic Park
Mae Whitman by Ben Miller
“I remember seeing Jurassic Park with my parents. I had a full obsession with dinosaurs and was reverently awaiting a new Steven Spielberg movie. I saw it at the El Captain theatre on Hollywood Boulevard the night it came out. Most of my friends from school were there too, and it was before cell phones, so we all had to call the land phones at each other’s houses and coordinate with our parents to sit together. Everyone was talking about it at school for months...and even today, it’s still the best dinosaur movie of all time (in my own opinion). When I hear that John Williams score swell with the helicopter shot... I get a nostalgic coma.”
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MAE WHITMAN: The Truman Show
Keegan Alan
TRAVIS VAN WINKLE: Titanic?
Travis Van Winkle by Josh Reed
Robbie Amell by Yoni Goldberg
“I know I saw movies before this in the theater, but the first one I can remember is The Truman Show. I was so devastatingly invested, that when he sailed to the end of the world and his boat poked the backdrop, I had to run out of the theater because I was crying so hysterically. I’m still too scared to watch the ending!”
“The first movie I remember seeing in the theater was…Well, I know I must have seen a movie earlier than this one, but the experience that comes to mind was Titanic. It was this massive movie, and the story was rooted in our history, so I felt a connection to it. Of course, I had a big soda and extra large popcorn. But what I remember most about that day was being moved to tears a few times and hiding it from my mom and her friend because I didn’t want them to think I was a wuss. Never let go, Jack. Never let go!” August 2015 - BELLO
ENTERTAINMENT
The BELLO Pages:
Summer Reading Roundup BY HIKO MITSUZUKA (@TheFirstEcho)
THERE’S STILL PLENTY OF TIME TO SQUEEZE IN A COUPLE OF READS BY THE POOL. (SORRY BEACHES, WE PREFER TO AVOID GETTING ANY SAND STUCK BETWEEN PAGES.) THAT’S WHY WE WANT TO DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO A COUPLE OF TITLES THAT HAVE BEEN TITILLATING OUR BRAINS WHILE WE SWEAT OUT THE REST OF SUMMER.
LANDLINE
by Rainbow Rowell New York Times bestselling author Rowell (Fangirl) returns with this hilarious and emotional story (now in paperback) about a TV writer who discovers a strange and interesting way to save her marriage -- by communicating with her husband in the past. (It’s not quite time travel.) Is she supposed to fix her marriage before it starts, or is she better off being a single gal?
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ANGRY OPTIMIST: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JON STEWART by Lisa Rogak
For those already missing Jon Stewart as host of The Daily Show, there’s the Lisa Rogak-penned bio, which has been praised as “an inside look at the man who changed the face of comedy talk shows.” (Shelf Awareness). In the final (and foreboding) chapter, Rogak speculates that his departure would come sooner rather than later, and lo and behold, she was right! This book explores the lesser known side of the comedian -- his early days growing up in New Jersey, his struggles as a standup comedian, and the shortlived but acclaimed The Jon Stewart Show – and reveals how he transformed the Daily Show into one of the most influential news programs on TV. 14
I LIKE YOU JUST THE WAY I AM
CUTTING TEETH
L.A.-based actress Jenny Mollen may be married to Jason Biggs, but that doesn’t mean she’s some kind of entitled Hollywood wife. She’s more than tweets the eye (just ask her 156,000 followers), and with chapters like “All the Best Men Are Either Gay, Married, or Your Therapist,” you should be able to get a sense of this magnificently manic memoir.
Consider this the literary version of Thirtysomething - minus the bad, late-80s fashion and hair. Several couples spend a weekend at a summer beach house on Long Island, and what’s supposed to be a relaxing getaway becomes a ground zero for early mid-life angst. It’s like watching your favorite Hamptons episodes from The Real Housewives of New York City.
SICK IN THE HEAD: CONVERSATIONS ABOUT LIFE AND COMEDY
THOSE GIRLS
by Jenny Mollen
by Judd Apatow
The director of this summer’s Trainwreck has compiled all of his interviews with comedians and other famous names into one readable, anecdote-filled volume. It’s a definite treat for comedy nerds, an unofficial behind-the-scenes peek at the world of stand-ups and funnymen. 15
by Julia Fierro
by Chevy Stevens
What would summer be without a riveting tale of suspense? Three sisters share a dark secret. One of them goes missing. Need we say more? This is the kind of female-fronted thriller fans of Gone Girl may want to indulge in before the weather cools off.
August 2015 - BELLO
Good Guy ENTERTAINMENT
BY DIO ANTHONY
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y, Bad Guy SHIRT AVANT TOI JACKET BRIXTON PANTS LEVI’S SHOES BACCO BUCCI
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August 2015 - BELLO
SHIRT MATIERE FLANNEL 3RD & ARMY JACKET TOPMAN PANTS LEVI’S SHOES BACCO BUCCI
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ONE LOOK AT PATRICK FABIAN, AND HE LOOKS LIKE A WELL-AGING FOOTBALL STAR. TALL AND BLONDE, LIKE THE “NICE GUY” ON TV, AND CHARISMATIC AND CHARMING LIKE THE GUY NEXT DOOR. HE SEES HIMSELF AS ALL THOSE THINGS TOO, BUT DOESN’T MIND TURNING THE TABLES ONCE IN A WHILE. IT’S WHAT HE’S DONE ON HIS AMC EMMY-NOMINATED SERIES, BETTER CALL SAUL, PLAYING MAKE-BELIEVE ALONGSIDE BOB ODENKIRK AND MICHAEL MCKEAN TO NAME A FEW.
Fabian, plays the perfectly alliterated Howard Hamlim, partner and founder of Hamlin, Hamlin, & McGill, the fictional law-firm in the AMC drama. His character’s good looks, charm, and success make him an easy target for envy in the world of Better Call Saul, to Odenkirk’s Jimmy, he’s sometimes close to intolerable. “It’s funny talking about not knowing who you are,” says Fabian. “I see myself as the nice guy, or something like that. It turns out the camera sees me as the CEO with no heart. Or the guy who would take money from crippled children.” He’s right. His off-screen face is friendly, not to mention familiar. With well over 110 credits on the International Movie Database [imdb.com], and over two decades of work, the actor has more than likely guest-starred on not one, but two of your favorite shows. His favorite amongst his long line of guest-spots? Beloved sitcom Will & Grace. “Taping night on that show was the most fun I’ve ever had on stage!” he proudly recalls. “I never laughed as much as I did on Will & Grace, either. They were such constant professionals, with all of them working at just the top of their game. That audience just never stopped roaring. It was a real thrill.” 19
Right now, he’s trading laughs for glares, embarking on the second season of Saul, chatting with me from all the way in his Albuquerque, New Mexico dressing room. He assures me that even with the very good news of an Emmy-nom, the vibe onset the second time around has not changed a bit. To him, it’s been all about the work from day 1. That’s not surprising when you’re on a series that nabs 4 Emmy nominations in its first season. “Everybody cheered. Everybody was excited. We all patted ourselves [on] the back for a minute and then we got back to work,” he admits. “Because awards are great, there’s no doubt about it, to get nominated is a real thrill. Think of all the television that’s out there. But it was our commitment to the work that brought us back to begin with.” Despite the aroma of nomination going around, Fabian compares his time back in New Mexico to the feeling of a sophomore year in high-school. “You kind of know everybody. You forget somebody’s name, and there are some new faces. Today for instance, was a great day of work. I had some scenes with some really good people, and it really does feel like high school. I can’t
believe we’re already into season two.” What scene could [that] have been? We’ll have to wait and see when the show returns next spring. However, the Pittsburg, Pennsylvania native has his own ideas as to where he’d like to see his onscreen counterpart head in, moving forward. Towards the end of the season, there was a reveal that painted Fabian’s Howard in a brighter light than in the jerky, bad guy formula he was first introduced to fans as. To keep things spoiler free, I will not divulge any further, but it’s a change that, as an actor, has made Fabian’s job even more enjoyable. “I think it opens up a lot of avenues. Maybe he’s not as powerful as we thought he was,” suggests the 50-yearold as he goes on to add, “he’s certainly not as evil as we thought he was. And I think that lays groundwork for an explanation to find out who he is. Is he a hollow suit? Or is he playing a long game that we don’t even know of yet?” The final verdict on Howard’s intentions remains to be set in stone. If Better Call Saul’s creators manage to do half the work they did on its premiere season. Who’s to tell where the story will go. “I think like most actors. Playing the sheriff is cool, but playing the bad guy, that seems like a lot of fun.” August 2015 - BELLO
SHIRT TOPMAN JACKET COCKPIT PANTS LEVI’S
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It took me four and a half hours to go about 9 miles, and I learned a couple lessons. One, I’m not in as good a shape as I thought I was, and two, you really should take enough water if you’re going to go hiking.
This TV star, well over heartthrob age, is still quite the looker. He may play a somewhat questionable guy for America to see, but it’s hard to let go of his golden boy feel he seems to embody. Fabian’s commitment to hiking may be to blame for his build, although he’ll tell you otherwise. Taking full advantage of the terrain in and around Albuquerque, he makes time to explore the outdoors when outside of his Howard Hamlin suit. “Actually, when you called, I was on my iPad looking at trails,” he says on the other end of the phone. “I found one about an hour away from Albuquerque, which I plan to take on tomorrow. Or maybe I’ll go white water rafting in Santa Fe. It’s jus so beautiful out here, and as much as I love being outside in LA, New Mexico has this endless sky, and giant clouds. There’s also not as many cars, so the air is cleaner.” In the week prior to our conversation, Fabian tackled Sandia Peak, a 9,000-foot mountain also in Albuquerque. “It took me four and a half hours to go about 9 miles, and I learned a couple lessons. One, I’m not 21
in as good a shape as I thought I was, and two, you really should take enough water if you’re going to go hiking,” he confesses. He sounds like a complete outdoorsmen; not the type to take on the touristy hikes LA so shamelessly offers, but when asked, his answer surprises me. “When I’m at home, I have a four year old and a two year old, and they’re not hiking age yet. I mean, they are, for about fifteen yards. The decision is do you want to carry a child up Runyon Canyon? The answer is usually no.” His Daughters; Abbey Ray and Delilah Grace have quite a few years till they’re able to join their father on an out-ofstate hike. But not too long of a stretch to go when it comes to watching their father on kid-friendly programming (2005’s Twitches anyone?) One of the wonders of working for as many years as Fabian has is getting to do all types of stuff. “You know, I remember every credit, I remember all those jobs, and surprisingly it doesn’t feel like that long ago.”
Next, Fabian changes the pace again for his new independent film Driver X. The film, about a man who takes a job for an uber-esque company called “At Night” should be making its rounds around festivals next spring. “There’s a whole sort of reveal, of Los Angeles at night, and an unearthing of his dark desires and stuff like that,” he explains. “He’s a very different type of guy than Howard. The suits aren’t very nice on that project. That I can guarantee you.” In what seems to be standard Patrick Fabian fashion, he causes me to laugh out loud for the umpteenth time during our interview, as we discuss his taste for music. “ I suffer from being a white boy from the suburbs, so I love bands from the 80s. I love Rush and Springsteen. The obvious takes.” He hesitates for a second before continuing; “I also have a sweet spot for Katy Perry. There I said it! There’s no way around it. Someone caught me at a stoplight the other night singing along to Teenage Dream, and I just had to just own it.” August 2015 - BELLO
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SHIRT MATIERE VEST EVER PANTS LEVI’S SHOES BACCO BUCCI
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August 2015 - BELLO
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SHIRT TOPMAN JACKET COCKPIT
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Photography MAARTEN DE BOER www.maartendeboerphotography.com/ Photo Assistant NORA SCHNEIDER Words DIO ANTHONY Styling MERCEDES NATALIA @mercedesnatalia Instagram photos and video Groomer GRACE PHILLIPS www.gracephillipsmakeup.com ENTERTAINMENT issue - BELLOmag.com
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ENTERTAINMENT
For The
Memories
ADRIENNE MCILVAINE (@mizocty) takes a trip down memory lane and relives her Nickelodeon favorites from the 90s.
WOULD YOU CONSIDER A BIG ORANGE COUCH COOL? HIP? THE CUTTING EDGE OF YOUTH CULTURE? NOW IT SEEMS UTTERLY RIDICULOUS TO CONSIDER SUCH A THING BUT IN 1992, WHEN THE DAY-GLO FURNITURE IN QUESTION WAS THE MASCOT FOR SNICK, NICKELODEON’S SATURDAY NIGHT PROGRAMMING BLOCK, I DID. I had a Pavlovian response to the stop-motion animated sofa heralding the arrival of shows like Clarissa Explains It All, Roundhouse and Are You Afraid of The Dark?, strange, out-there and defiantly idiosyncratic TV that let me know it was okay--actually better-to be different from the cookie-cutter Long Island of my youth. With her heroic ability to simultaneously wear every pattern under the sun and still look casual enough to make a quick run to the grocery store, Clarissa Darling from Clarissa Explains It All was the cooler, wiser older sister I’d always wanted. You could trace my teenage wardrobe of 70s thrift shop buttondowns and enormous JNCOs (one pair were 40 inches wide on each leg) back to her, because she would have loved the idea of wearing pants so wide they looked like a skirt. My awkward pre-teen self craved her unshakable confidence and endless array of quippy one-liners, so I read and re-read “Clarissa’s All-In-One Perfect Complete Book of Everything Important” until the pages started to fall out. Things became easier as I got older, but back then Clarissa was just the outspoken, free-thinking role model I needed. 27
State troupe and alt-comedy gods David Cross and Bob Odenkirk.
Looking back, it’s clear that Roundhouse, which was co-created by former In Living Color writer Buddy Sheffield and annihilated the fourth wall by taping its comedy sketches, musical numbers, and dance sequences in front of a live audience, influenced my love and appreciation for genre-defying sketch series like The State and Mr. Show. Over its four seasons, the energetic cast crammed an hour’s worth of consumerist satire, social critique, family melodrama, and good old fashioned teen angst into 22 minutes, each frenetic episode so intricately plotted that repeat viewings were a must. It was the perfect gateway drug to the kind of free-associative, deftly written sketch comedy I’d later come to love from the maniacally unorthodox
I’ve always had a soft spot for the supernatural, the horrific, and the fantastic: I read IT twice when I was 13, was scared witless by Nightmare on Elm Street, and decorated my bedroom with a black light poster of The Twilight Zone. Which is why Are You Afraid of the Dark? captured my imagination with its darkly comic tales of paranormal hauntings and otherwordly phenomena, each one heralded by a magical flame and the intonation “I submit for your approval...” The show, and SNICK as a whole, never condescended to its young audience and inspired me to stay as weird and different as I wanted to be.
August 2015 - BELLO
ENTERTAINMENT
The Stage Is Set
With
Peter Porte BY STEVEN CARVER
WITH THE WORLD’S ETHNICITIES BECOMING HOMOGENIZED, APPEALING TO A LARGER DEMOGRAPHIC IS PARAMOUNT WHEN IT COMES TO BEING IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA. HAVING A LOOK THAT CAN’T BE DEFINED ALLOWS FOR A GREATER CONNECTION TO EVERYONE. PETER PORTE’S STRIKING GOOD LOOKS (COURTESY OF AN ITALIAN/ POLISH HERITAGE) AVOID TYPICAL TYPECASTING AND ALLOW HIM TO PARTAKE IN A RANGE OF PROJECTS. OF COURSE, IT ALSO HELPS THAT HE’S TALENTED, PROFESSIONAL, AND POSSESSES GOOD TIMING. In between modeling shoots (repped by the prestigious Wilhelmina agency in NYC), this graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts (degree in drama and journalism) has appeared in musicals (production of the crowd-pleaser, Mamma Mia), dramas (making a name for himself on The Young and the Restless), and comedies (Baby Daddy - his co-stars Jean-Luc Bilodeau, Chelsea Kane and Derek Theler have also graced the pages of Bello). To learn a little more about the working process of this multi-hyphenate, BELLO mag asked Porte a few questions on how he makes the transition between – photo shoot, TV and stage – sets. ** BELLO mag: What’s your preferred working medium - TV, modeling, live performance (i.e. plays) - and why? Peter Porte: I love live performance. It’s what made me want to be an actor in the first place. To me, there’s nothing more thrilling than having an audience to feed off of as you tell your story. The gratification is instant: you see ENTERTAINMENT issue - BELLOmag.com
them smile, you hear them cry. Then I discovered sitcoms. It’s the best of both worlds. It’s like putting on a new mini play every week.
BM: Is it more nerve-wracking to act on a soap (memorizing hundreds of pages!), or in front of a live audience?
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script, understanding what others think of him and what he thinks of himself, I’ll go out and experience something unique to the character. For instance, I recently played a freegan (i.e. a person who rejects consumerism and reclaims goods/eats food that has been discarded) squatter in Eve Ensler’s new play O.P.C, so I gave dumpster diving and sleeping outside a go.
BM: How do you balance working across several - similar, but different - mediums? Patience, a good schedule…?
PP: I’m currently performing in For the Record: Baz at the Montreal International Jazz Festival. I’d never been before and it’s an incredible city. Doing a Broadway national tour was a fantastic way of seeing the whole country, a new city every week. But my favorite is when work takes me to Europe. Most of my family is there and I don’t get back to see them often enough.
PP: I really love what I do and am very lucky and grateful I get to do it, so balancing them isn’t much of a struggle. At their core, they’re all the same. You’re telling a story, and if you’re successful, you’re influencing how others think and feel. As in all things there are peaks and valleys. When it’s busy, I rely on an incredible team to get me where I need to be, and when it’s slow, I try to be patient and work on becoming [a better performer]. I think it’s also very important to develop interests outside of what you do to maintain balance. I’m taking Spanish class and learning to play the ukulele. So far I’m pretty awful at both, but what can you do. Adios!
I’ve been dying to visit Peru. Land in Cusco, then hike the Inca trail to Machu
(Images courtesy of and reproduced with permission of @peteporte)
BM: Has there been a place you loved visiting/traveling to for a shoot? How about a place you want to visit? PP: It’s not just the memorization that’s challenging, it’s the outrageous situations you need to make believable. One day you’re killing your girlfriend and stealing a baby, the next day you’re a ghost or an evil twin. You get little to no rehearsal and rarely a second take; production moves insanely fast. Most TV shows have over a week to shoot one episode; soaps have less than a day! I believe if you can survive soap boot camp you can act in anything. I have incredible respect for anyone involved in the medium.
Picchu. Oh, and Albuquerque for the International [hot air] Balloon Fiesta.
BM: Does prepping for a “character” on a photo shoot (diet, gym, sleep) differ from an one on TV/stage (read, read, read)? PP: I haven’t had the pleasure of playing many “character” roles in print. Mostly I smile or contemplatively glance out into the distance. Besides looking your best and doing a bit of research on the client, the brand, and their target audience, I just try to have an open mind and get the shot. Often you have no idea what you’ll be doing before arriving to set. “You will gallop over that hill half naked through the snow while kissing your Brazilian lover; make sure to be looking into the sunrise so the light catches your eyes” was recently expressed to me in broken English. The appropriate prepped response is “Sure… I can do that.” With acting, if I’m lucky, I’ll get to play someone very different from myself, and I’ll do everything I can to embody that character. Besides reading the 29
August 2015 - BELLO
ENTERTAINMENT
GET TO KNOW...
Meg Myers BY HIKO MITSUZUKA (@TheFirstEcho)
MEG MYERS IS ONE OF THOSE FEMALE ARTISTS WITH AN IRRESISTIBLE DARK EDGE AND A KNACK FOR CUTTING TO THE CORE OF AN EMOTION. THE NAMES PJ HARVEY, FIONA APPLE, AND SINEAD O’CONNOR HAVE BEEN TOSSED AROUND TO DESCRIBE SINGER-SONGWRITER’S ROUGH-AROUND-THE-EDGES SENSIBILITY AND SOUND. AND HAVING JUST RELEASED HER FULL-LENGTH DEBUT ALBUM ON JULY 31 -- ON THE HEELS OF THE SUCCESS OF THE SINGLE “SORRY” -- SHE’S READY TO EXPRESS HERSELF EVEN MORE AND TEACH US A FEW THINGS ON THE FRAGILITY OF LOVE.
What was the move from Tennessee to L.A. like for you? I moved from Florida to L.A. I was born in Tennessee but also lived in Toledo, Ohio for eight years and South Florida for eight years. The move was difficult. Still is, eight years later, since I don’t have any family out here, but I think it’s good for a young adult to move away for a little bit and discover themselves. I couch surfed for a couple years, waitressing and playing acoustic gigs and met Andy Rosen, my collaborator and producer four years ago and that’s when things really fell into place for me. Now I’m ready to move back to Tennessee! Who has been a musical inspiration for you? Sting, Enya, Dire Straits, Eric Clapton, Jewel, Tracy Chapman, Fleetwood Mac, Nirvana, Joan Osborn, Robert Plant, Johnny Cash, James Taylor, Michael ENTERTAINMENT issue - BELLOmag.com
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Jackson, Alice in Chains...to name a few.
it’s all fun and games! I have a lovehate relationship with the road.
How has the touring life been treating you? Is it as exhausting as we think it is?
Do you get to have any summer vacation this year? What’s a dream destination of yours?
It’s more exhausting than I could ever have imagined. The payoff, though, is when I see how much my music inspires and helps people through life. Thank you for even acknowledging how exhausting it is. Most people just think
No, unfortunately I don’t get many of those. Vacations? :) A dream destination is Alaska, Ireland, New Zealand, or somewhere in a jungle with gorillas! A real dream destination is just living in the middle of nowhere.
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We’re guessing there’s an interesting story behind the lyrics of “Sorry.” Care to share? “Sorry” is about love and how it can fall apart for no reason and you can still love that person so deeply. That can be a romantic relationship or friend or family. It’s really just about the fragility of love in general. Follow Meg on Twitter @megmyers August 2015 - BELLO
ENTERTAINMENT
ONE ‘SWEET’ BLOCK PARTY BELLO foodie MONA HOLMES (@cookthisgetlaid) parties with BANKS and chats with the founders of Sweetgreen during the unforgettable grand opening of one of L.A.’s most innovative restaurants. PHOTOS BY EMILY BERL
AT ANY RESTAURANT OPENING, EVERYONE ARRIVES READY TO EAT. COCKTAILS FLOW WHILE GUESTS MINGLE. AND WHILE PLEASANT, THESE EVENTS ARE ULTIMATELY PREDICTABLE AND FAIRLY. . . UNEVENTFUL. BUT THE SECOND I ARRIVED AT THE SWEETGREEN “BLOCK PARTY,” THE OFFICIAL OPENING FOR THE WEST HOLLYWOOD LOCATION, I KNEW THIS RESTAURANT WAS OFFERING AN EXCITING CONCEPT WITH EXQUISITE, UNPRETENTIOUS, HEALTHY FOOD. The evening felt like everyone -- actual neighbors, music aficionados, artists and musicians -- came together to hang out. By partnering with The FADER magazine, there was a strong musical element to Sweetgreen’s party. There were neighboring food businesses sharing their specialties. (Fōnuts, Belcampo Meat Company and Verve Coffee Roasters, to name a few.)
blending with guests while DJ Tamara Sky serenaded us as the sun went down. After being sufficiently fêted with fare made entirely from scratch, viewing the high-ceiling, open-space minimalist restaurant interior, we were shuttled to an outdoor stage to watch indie band Alvvays and EDM artist BANKS. I had to keep reminding myself, “Is this really a restaurant opening?”
Sweetgreen employees were more than serving food, they were warmly
I had many questions for one of Sweetgreen’s founders, Nick Jammet.
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He is clearly proud of their business model, a huge part of which is building a community they believe in. They source local and organic ingredients from farmers and partners they trust. In fact, every Sweetgreen partnership is based on such confidence. This began when the trio of founders, Nick, Jonathan Neman and Nathaniel Ru, attended Georgetown University and shortly thereafter conceptualized the establishment. With a menu that rotates five times a year, there’s always something new. In fact, each menu at their 30-plus locations is completely distinct and always fresh. “We’re excited to be in Cali,” says Nick. “When we open any location, it’s important for us to get to know that community. And we were especially excited about coming to L.A. because two of our founders are from there. Jonathan grew up only a few blocks away, so L.A. has a special place in our hearts. Plus, the bounty of our L.A. supply chain is huge! We’ve been going to the Santa Monica Farmers Market and buying stuff we don’t even really need just because it looks and tastes so good.” 32
We started to throw block parties behind one of our stores in Washington, D.C. The first one started with 20 people, then the next thing you know there were 700 and a proper stage. And the year after that we founded The Sweetlife Festival at the Merriweather Pavilion in Maryland. We know festivals are some of the best days of the year, but also often the unhealthiest. So we wanted to create an experience with good food and good talent.” The Sweetlife Festival now hosts over 25,000 annually. la.sweetgreen.com See, that’s what I mean. Not many restaurateurs are talking about getting to know communities and developing new ways of eating. These guys are interested in, according to Nick, “developing an emotional connection with the customer, which is more than just food.” It will be interesting to see how they do in L.A. where there’s no shortage of healthy, farm-to-table restaurants. But Nick is confident about Sweetgreen’s prospects. “We celebrate a lot of things you don’t usually see in fast or casual food. We offer meals that are affordable and healthy. And people’s tastes are changing. People want to know more: where it’s coming from and where it’s grown. And we celebrate that by taking ingredients that we smartly source and build a supply chain that’s unique to every city. We should celebrate that seasonal and local is the way mother nature intended.” All in their 20s, this group listens to their customers. “The kind of questions we heard when we opened seven years ago were completely different from the ones we hear now,” says Nick. Speaking of listening, tunes are a vital ingredient of the Sweetgreen brand. “Music is an important part of our culture. We saw that people have a strong connection with music, and wanted the same thing with our food. 33
August 2015 - BELLO
ENTERTAINMENT
‘THE GOLDEN GIRLS’ TURNS 30 (Break Out The Cheesecake) RANDY LESKO (@rmlesko) looks back at the timeless and seminal sitcom that continues to charm all generations.
PICTURE IT: MIAMI, 1985. FOUR WOMEN LIVING TOGETHER IN A HOUSE. THEY LAUGH, THEY CRY, THEY EAT CHEESECAKE. AND THEY GO ON TO MAKE TELEVISION HISTORY, CREATING A DYNAMIC THAT IS DUPLICATED (BUT NEVER REPLICATED) AND MANAGING TO AMASS A FAN BASE THAT SPANS GENERATIONS AND IDENTITIES ACROSS THE SPECTRUM. Next month marks the 30th anniversary of the broadcast premiere of The Golden Girls on September 14, 1985. And just two years after the series began, yours truly emerged into the world... but wouldn’t recognize the brilliance of this show until 2003 when my high school crush persuaded me to watch an episode. All it took was Rose Nylund (Betty White) screaming “Oh, blow it out your tubenburbles!” and I. Was. Hooked. Twelve years later, I have emerged as the Keeper of the Girls, loading up on as much knowledge, trivia, and quotes as humanly possible. The Golden Girls, the brainchild of Susan Harris, was a significant milestone in
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television entertainment. It presented older women in a humanly, sexual light for the first time on television. Often times subtle, slick innuendos opened way for brazen declarations of love and passion. More often than not, Blanche (Rue McClanahan) was the guilty party, but all of the girls had their fair share of lovers. No longer were older women seen as dirty and feeble on television; they now emerged raunchy and horny. Along with Will & Grace and All in the Family (which ultimately introduced Bea Arthur to the mainstream consciousness), GG earns the distinct honor of having a leading cast that all earned Emmys for their roles. While the women
would tell you that the writing deserves all the credit -- some belonging to Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry and Tom Whedon, the father of the cult-TV-producing machine Joss Whedon -- good writing does not make an acting Emmy alone. Each of the women had remarkable careers prior to the show. Betty White basically helped make television a thing, and Bea, Rue and Estelle Getty all had theatrical credits to their name prior to their emergence on television. But this endeavor would take each of them to stratospheric heights and solidify their legacies. It’s safe to say you’re a star when the casting call for a character bears your
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name, and that’s exactly how the role of Dorothy was described—a Bea Arthur type. Despite originally turning her nose up at the script, Rue McClanahan was responsible for getting Bea to change her tune. And that might not have been possible if Rue and Betty White didn’t have the idea of swapping roles, as Betty was originally thought of for Blanche and Rue for Rose. Bea’s assessment was that the show would be “Maude and Vivian meet Sue Ann Nivens,” referencing the roles the three had played on Maude and The Mary Tyler Moore Show, respectively. When Rue explained that she would be Blanche and Betty would be Rose, Bea reportedly became interested, and the rest is history. And history is still writing itself. Even though the show has been off of the air for 23 years, its impact still looms large. Shows like Sex and the City, Girls, and (unsurprisingly) Hot in Cleveland have all been compared to the juggernaut, and other shows like Looking pay homage through touching tributes. Younger fans find comfort in the grandmotherly qualities of the ladies while gay men aspire to be the perfect Dorothy/Blanche hybrid. And let’s not forget that Betty White, in her mid-90s, is working harder than a mid90s percentage of actors while showing minimal signs of slowing down. So this September, join me in raising a slice of cheesecake to the funniest female foursome and enjoy a nice, relaxing evening on the lanai.
Because ladies—you’ve got style! 10 ‘GOLDEN’ GREATS: Our Favorite Episodes 1. “The Triangle” (Season 1) Dorothy’s boyfriend hits on Blanche, and Dorothy doesn’t believe her. Enter Rose who comes to save the day while Sophia cooks up a get-rich scheme. This episode lay the foundation for the show’s success. 2. “The Case of the Libertine Belle” (Season 7) - A murder mystery weekend during which Blanche becomes the primary suspect provides some of the best humor and one-liners of the entire series. The jokes could charm the morning dew right off the honeysuckle! 3. “Grab That Dough” (Season 3) - A last-minute decision to go on a game show leads to backstabbing and consolation prizes and treats us to the sight of Dorothy clawing at money in a wind machine. Best set-up: When the game show host gives Blanche her shot, “Finish this phrase: Better late than...” she finishes with a resounding “Pregnant!” 4. “Joust Between Friends” (Season 2) - Another Dorothy vs. Blanche plot, but this time it’s due to Dorothy getting all the attention in Blanche’s office. The joke is on Blanche (as usual) and their loyal friendship wins out in the end. 5. “Isn’t It Romantic” (Season 2) Addressing the lesbian undertones of
the show, the writers made Dorothy’s childhood friend fall in love with Rose, but not before Blanche thinks women who love each other are in fact called “Lebanese.” 6. “Goodbye, Mr. Gordon” (Season 7) - Dorothy’s high school teacher comes to town, and her schoolgirl crush still lingers while Rose books herself and Blanche on a morning talk show to discuss their apparent lesbian relationship. Hilarity ensues. 7. “Three On a Couch” (Season 3) This aforementioned “tubenburbles” episode holds a special place in my heart and shows that no matter what bothers you about your friends or loved ones, they will always be there for you. 8. “Sick and Tired (Parts 1 and 2)” (Season 5) - This PSA-esque episode includes an epic monologue from Arthur regarding sexism in medicine and an award-winning performance by McClanahan whose Blanche stays up 72 hours to write a book and become a great Southern novelist. #littleballsofsunshineinabag 9. “Journey to the Center of Attention” (Season 7) - In this Marc Cherry-penned episode, Dorothy steals the show (and the attention) at the Rusty Anchor with her singing talents. Naturally, Blanche is forced to compete with disastrous-but-hilarious results. 10. “Henny Penny-Straight, No Chaser” (Season 6) - The Chicken Little story is brought to life by the Girls after the first grade class comes down with the chicken pox, allowing the musical backgrounds of the ladies to shine through for a large part of the episode. Comedic gold.
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August 2015 - BELLO
ENTERTAINMENT
THE CRYSTAL COAST CHRONICLES:
4 Days of Bliss in North Carolina BY HIKO MITSUZUKA (@TheFirstEcho)
FIRST, A CONFESSION: IN THE PAST, THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA WAS ONLY A BLIP ON MY RADAR BECAUSE OF A CERTAIN TEEN SOAP THAT DOMINATED THE ZEITGEIST BACK IN THE LATE 90S.
Dawson’s Creek, the seminal WB serial that introduced the world to Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, James Van Der Beek and Joshua Jackson was famously shot in the Tar Heel State, inspiring countless fans to visit the locations where young love was once lost and found on the small screen. But earlier this summer, I got up-close and personal with the rest of NC’s scenic destinations. The Crystal Coast refers to the 85-milelong coastline that runs along the southern tip of the state. Isolated beaches, untamed wildlife, hospitable harbor towns, and breathtaking oceanscapes make up this magical region. If those New York snowbirds aren’t escaping to their second homes in Florida, they’re most likely taking up residence in one of the strip’s many coastal havens. And in addition to the natural beauty of the land, there’s plenty of opportunities to experience
Southern hospitality at its finest. Here’s what happened when I made -- and mostly ate -- my way along the Coast...
SATURDAY 11:30am – I arrive at “Seaside Seclusion,” the beach house where I will stay for the next three days in an eco-friendly residential community known as Pine Knoll Shores. I feel like the first roommate showing up on the first episode of The Real World. (“Seven strangers picked to live in a house…”) I drop my luggage, check out all of the rooms, and squeal with delight when I stumble upon the pool, the hot tub, and the epic ocean view from our third-floor patio. Thank you, Bluewater Vacation Rentals. 6:30pm – We’re taken to our first notable spot in Atlantic Beach, The Barnacle on Oceanna Pier, a local restaurant and watering hole located
over...the water. We’re given glasses of champagne and toast to a wonderful trip ahead of us. The champagne also comes with some nibblers: shrimp nachos and crabcakes. I inhale four or five pieces each before heading out to the pier to take in the gorgeous sunset. 8:00pm – For dinner, we have the honor of being the first to preview the menu at a new Italian seafood restaurant called Pescara. A charcuterie plate comes out first, and we all gush over the Buratta and prosciutto. (Think of Buratta as mozzarella’s hunkier, tastier, and more satisfying older brother.) The next appetizer consists of calamari that has been fried in rice flour and diced olives sitting in a pool of some kind of roasted pepper and almond puree that I want to bathe in. We then move on to a tasty kale salad with toasted almonds and roasted tomatoes. (Did I mention that each course also comes with its own wine pairing?) The main course is grilled veal chops covered in marinated mushrooms with a side of creamy truffle polenta that elicits an audible moan from my mouth. Everyone around me has a good laugh at my foodgasm, and I briefly take pride in being the comic relief at the table. 9:30pm – Dessert is two scoops of homemade pistachio and strawberry gelato. Once we’re done, Chef Andy Hopper comes out to a round of applause. We each shake hands with him and learn more about his days working at Chicago’s famous Spiaggia before he returned to his native state. One of my fellow travel writers, who shall remain nameless, pulls me aside to say she wouldn’t mind having the youthfully handsome Hopper for dessert.
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SUNDAY 8:30am – I pack my tote bag with a granola bar and apple in case I need the sustenance after our next activity: kayaking along the Croatan National Forest with some guides from Hot Wax Surf in Emerald Isle. 10:15am - Kayaking isn’t so easy as it looks. Especially if you don’t have the proper back support. I learn this the hard way. 12:00pm – We drive by a local fast food chain called Bojangles, and I am determined to try some of their fried offerings before I leave North Carolina. I’ve heard good things about their biscuits, and I might as well do as these Southerners do. 2:00pm - We board a 16-person Island Express Ferry and soar across Shackleford Banks. The only permanent residents on this 9-mile long island are Spanish Mustangs, locally known as “Banker ponies.” The majestic horses, survivors of Spanish galleon shipwrecks, have roamed freely across the miles of pristine beaches for more than 300 years. Needless to say, do not attempt to saddle them. 2:45pm – I have just climbed more than 200 steps to get to the top of the 163-foot tall Cape Lookout Lighthouse on Hawkers Island which is a part of the Southern Outer Banks. It’s the most cardio I have done in the past two
months, but the view up here is worth the breathlessness. When we make our way down, our private tour guide, a deep-voiced park ranger named Steve, walks us through an adjacent site known as Keeper’s Quarters, built in the mid-1800’s to warn passing ships of the dangerous coastal waters. Some of us stop, get caught in his crystal blue eyes, and listen to him go on and on about historic dates and the island’s storied past. 7:30pm – Dinner is at Front Street Grill at Stillwater and includes more fried calamari, garlic shrimp drowning in a pool of garlic butter, roasted pepper cheese curds with pita chips, and a parmesan-crusted filet of flounder with some green beans. For dessert we sample every sweet treat on the menu so that we get a well-balanced taste of everything. The flourless chocolate brownie topped with caramel ice cream is an immediate favorite.
MONDAY 10:00am - I get up-close and personal with a few lizards and sea creatures at North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. I make eye contact with a 4-foot-long alligator. For some reason, I call him Ralph and make a joke about his loneliness ever since his tankmate was turned into a Prada handbag. 11:45am – Bike tour time! Courtesy of the friendly (and knowledgable) 37
folks at Hungry Town Tours, Betsy and David Cartier. We head into the cozy, picturesque town of Beaufort where Mandy Moore’s A Walk To Remember was filmed. However, yours truly is looking for A Meal to Remember. The first stop on our culinary bike ride: The Fudge Factory for a little sample before we get our legs pumping. I watch a man handle a massive dark brown blob of fudge on a cold marble slab. He then takes what looks like a giant spatula and shapes it into a rectangular block while it hardens. “This guy has the best job in the world,” I mutter to myself. 12:00pm – Finz Grill is our next stop, a mere block away. We try a crab fritter appetizer with a Dijon remoulade while learning about the town’s historic maritime past. I finally give in to the ways of The South and order a sweet tea to wash it down. This sparks my appetite. I want more. 12:30pm – The main course waits for us at a cute and cozy bistro called Beaufort Grocery Company, owned by Charles Park, a gradute of the Culinary Institute of America, and his wife Wendy. We are seated at a large table, and the plates never stop coming: Broccoli and bacon salad. Potato salad. Black eyed pea salad. Fried squash blossoms stuffed with ricotta cheese. Ahi tuna wraps. A giant meat lovers panini. Cobb salad. And a plate of Buratta soaking in a brandy that is set aflame. My stomach becomes too full to try the remaining August 2015 - BELLO
platters that are served to us by Kyle, our tall, dark and handsome waiter who, in all seriousness, looks like he could be an underwear model. In other words, he would fit right in with the highly photogenic population of modelactors in L.A. 1:15pm – Feeling blimpier than an actual blimp, I pedal my way through more picturesque residential streets (American flags! Old ladies sitting in rocking chairs on porches!), receive a history lesson on Blackbeard’s House, and end up at The Spouter Inn for dessert. Everyone in the group orders something different so that we can all sample each other’s dishes. I order an apple cobbler topped with vanilla ice cream. I also order a coffee because I feel myself slipping into a food coma. Caffeine, STAT! 6:30pm – A sunset cruise on a Carolinastyle sport-fisher called Bill Collector, steered by Captain Stephen Draughon, takes us along the coast and past yachts and massive sailboats. We toast our last night in North Carolina with some champagne and a cheese platter. The golden and pink sky adds a nice touch to the occasion. 8:00pm – Our last dinner is at a local establishment called Tight Lines Pub and Brewing Company. (Earlier, I kept referring to this place as Tight Ends, which would be an entirely different kind of bar.) Once again, the appetizers are my downfall: bacon chili cheese fries, a cheesy artichoke dip with pita chips, and shrimp rolls. Luckily for us, what makes this meal most memorable is the appearance of Ranger Steve from
Hawkers Island and Waiter Kyle from Beaufort Grocer Company. It’s like a small reunion of warm faces, coming together to bid us adieu at the end of our culinary journey. I feel pressured to order one of the restaurant’s famous brews, but since I’m not much of a beer drink, I get a hard cider instead. Kyle sits across from me, and I learn about his brief dalliance in modeling when he lived in Huntington Beach, just outside of L.A. – just as I had imagined. Once my dinner arrives, a crab and shrimp gumbo loaded with sausage, I am too full to go any further. I must put a stop to this feeding frenzy…for now. By the end of the night, I ask for a doggy bag.
TUESDAY 9:00am – I wake up just in time to say farewell to some of my new friends before they take a shuttle to the airport. I head down to the beach to catch a few
rays so that this beached-whale of a body can become a tanned beachedwhale of a body. I want to soak up as much as I can before I’m whisked away to my real life. 12:30pm – I have an hour to kill at Charlotte International Airport, and – praise the fast food gods! – I discover a Bojangles in the terminal, not too far from my gate. I take this as a sign from the Universe and fill my time with a classic meal: Two fried chicken breasts, mashed potatoes with gravy, and naturally, a biscuit on which I drizzle some honey. It is expectedly delicious. 7:15pm (PST) – I’m back in L.A. I promise myself to hit the gym immediately. THE CRYSTAL COAST CHEAT SHEET Bluewater Vacation Rentals bluewaternc.com Pescara facebook.com/PescaraAB Hungry Town Tours hungrytowntours.com Hot Wax Surf hotwaxsurf.com North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores ncaquariums.com Beaufort Grocery Co. beaufortgrocery.com Tight Lines Pub & Brewing Co. tightlinesbrewing.com Front Street Grill at Stillwater frontstreetgrillatstillwater.com
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ENTERTAINMENT
The Modern Man What has changed? WRITER JON NORRIS IG NORRISJON
THE WORLD OF IDEOLOGIES HAVE PROGRESSED AND CHANGED SUBSTANTIALLY IN RECENT TIMES. IN YEARS GONE BY, BEING A MAN CONSISTED OF LEAVING SCHOOL, GETTING A JOB, FINDING A GIRL, MARRYING HER, HAVING KIDS, DRINKING HEAVILY, NEVER SPEAKING ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS AND DYING OF A HEART ATTACK AGE 56 OR 57, WITH MAYBE A COUPLE OF COVERED UP AFFAIR’S THROWN IN THE MIX TOO. Not too far then, from the self-loathing cheat, serial lady-killer, fraud, alcoholic, ad man we’ve followed so relentlessly on our screens over the past seven years, known as Don Draper. But since we are well and truly into the 21st Century, I wanted to briefly discuss what it means to be a man in 2015 and how the male identity has changed over the years. Society has its role to play in changing the face of men today, gender differences seem far less important in defining who we are as people with a recent study from Cassandra’s Trend School suggesting that 67% of us agree to this fact. We no longer define success in the same way, with women closing the pay gap and taking on more responsibility outside of the home, attributes that were once aligned closely with ‘the man of the house’, have become increasingly more accessible to women, and roles have changed substantially. The conventional characteristics of what men once stood for, traditional, stoic, strong and repressed are slowly being lost in favor of a new life change, seeing us all make different choices and have bigger aspirations to explore, discover and indulge in a lifestyle that was only fit for a king once upon a time. Is there an archetypal ideal that we’re supposed to emulate anymore? 39
Take a brief look at the prominent contemporary male figures that stand before us on our TV screens, social platforms and in Cinemas and you’ll find an array of mixed results. Christian Grey, the controlling billionaire that enjoys dubious amounts of consented rough sex; David Beckham, the impossibly perfect family man that cherishes a good selfie or the lad-eccentric Dapper Laughs whose website spurns for people to get in touch with ‘high quality content’ but then on the next page you see two articles titled ‘Girl Gives Guys A Snapchat Guide To Taking Dick Pics and Boyfriend Discovers Something Inside His Girlfriend’ – I mean come on, who are we kidding? Nowadays, us men pride ourselves on having uber cool content gushing from our twitter feeds, beards that you can hang washing from, and would never be seen missing Coachella, no – not even
for one day. Let’s blame it on the status driven world we live in today, where in an airport, people would think twice about posting photos that are tagged in with the ‘Cattle’, because it so happens that when sat squashed up against the glass with someone else’s Thomas Cook luggage on your lap, the Virgin Atlantic First Class lounge flashes up as a location you can tag yourself in instead, via Instagram. Or when you scroll down your Facebook page to find twenty uploaded photo’s of ‘Tonight – the best night ever’ which clearly means it probably isn’t, since you’ve spent the majority of it trying to get the right photo’s to post and tag yourself in just in the hope your ex will see what a wonderful time you are having only two days after you broke up, because obviously you don’t care about that, do you? That wouldn’t be cool. As the years have gone by, we find more choices available to a larger pool of people and more men encouraged to follow along, often putting looking good before feeling good in our lives. It’s difficult to decipher over an ideal stereotype today, but taking a bite of everything in moderation as Oscar Wilde once said, may well help us all stay cool, whilst staying connected to who we are, what we want and where that will eventually take us. August 2015 - BELLO
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COVER STORY
James Maslow
A Crush-Worthy Triple Threat BY DEE TRILLO, Lifestyle and Travel Editor| Dee@BelloMag.com| @HauteFrugalista PHOTOS BY SAM ZACHRICH
JAMES MASLOW HAS TAKEN US FROM A BIG TIME RUSH TO A TOTAL CRUSH! THE HEARTTHROB IS AS TALENTED AS HANDSOME, AND TO CELEBRATE HIS BIRTHDAY MONTH WE HAVE INVITED HIM TO SHARE WITH US THE SCOOP ON HIS NEW MUSIC, THE INTERESTING ACTING ROLES HE IS WORKING ON, AND WHERE WE CAN FIND HIM WHEN HE IS NOT WORKING OR JET-SETTING. The musician, actor, and all-around awesome performer has been in the spotlight since the sweet age of 17. Now, about to turn a quarter of a century, he is anything but stoppable. With a much anticipated new solo album, TV and movie roles, and a fan base loyal till the end, Maslow is making his goals a reality and inspiring millions of kids to do the same. His message of selflove, acceptance, and tolerance has resonated with a young audience that is constantly seeking to see themselves in those they admire. Using his massive social media platform to take a stand against bullying and speak about his own personal struggles, makes James Maslow one of the most approachable and likeable artists of his generation. Don’t be fooled by his charismatic personality and charming good looks; he is smart, driven, eloquent, and ready to surprise 41
the world with- as he says it- chapter two of his entertaining journey.
BM: What are some of your personal and professional goals for chapter two?
BELLO mag: Tell us about yourself and your journey into the entertainment industry.
JM: Chapter two. It’s just beginning. My goal has always been to release solo music, get back on tour, and film movies in between. Well, I’ve filmed a couple movies, I am finally about to release my first solo song (probably will have done so by the time this comes out) and I’ve committed to my first solo show in NYC this Halloween night. So... it’s happening!
James Maslow: I grew up in San Diego where I attended performing arts schools from the 8th grade on. I took a major risk at the age of 17 when I decided to graduate early from high school and move to LA. The idea was to postpone college for a short while and take a stab at the entertainment industry, but that “short while” has yet to end. I began working as an actor relatively quickly, and within a couple of years’ time I was under contract as a lead on Big Time Rush and as a singer on Sony Columbia. In my opinion, that was chapter one. Chapter two is just beginning.
BM: What came first in your life: music or TV? JM: I started singing in the San Diego Children’s Choir at the age of 6, so music was definitely first. BM: How did you fall in love with music? By playing an instrument? August 2015 - BELLO
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One of my favorite sayings is “A wise man spends his money on experiences.” I’m trying to live by this right now.
JM: According to my parents, I always sang when I was a child. So they figured they would get me out of the house and into a choir so I’d stop annoying the family. I didn’t start playing any instruments until years later. BM: How has it been the experience of doing TV since [you were] very young? JM: I feel lucky that I had a relatively normal childhood before I started working on TV. Yes, 17 is still young to start a full time job, but I’ve always been told I’m “old for my age” so at that age I was ready to get to work. BM: What can we expect from your upcoming album in terms of music and genre? JM: My solo music reflects the music that I personally listen to. It’s influenced by electronic, soul and pop. BM: Are you writing the lyrics or collaborating with any musicians? JM: So far I’ve written on every song, but I’m bringing in other great songwriters and artists to collaborate with me. BM: Who are some of your music icons and who are you collaborating with on your upcoming music? JM: I’ve always looked up to Jared Leto and Justin Timberlake because they have successfully bridged the gap between being great musicians and great actors. However, I’ve always been 43
attracted to EDM so my new music is reflecting a little bit of that world. In fact, I’m partnering with a couple awesome DJs in creating this album.
BM: Anti-bullying and self-esteem are one of the topics you talk about with your fans, tell us more about why this cause is important to you?
BM: Are you doing any tours any time soon, and if so, which places are you visiting?
JM: I was bullied for being chubby when I was younger, so this is something that hits close to home. It’s nice to be able to stand up for those who can’t now, and encourage others to do the same.
JM: Well I need to release music before I tour, but as soon as that happens I hope to go everywhere! I miss touring! BM: The role on Seeds of Yesterday was very different than anything you’ve done before, what attracted you to that character and story? JM: Just that. The role of Bart was 180 degrees away from what most people had seen me to before and so I jumped at the opportunity to stretch my abilities as an actor. BM: Are there any TV or movie roles you’re currently working on? JM: At the moment I’m traveling and finishing my music. But I have a movie called Wild For The Night coming out soon and am currently working towards starting another big acting project. BM: You have traveled so much in the past few years, what have been some of your favorite spots? JM: I’m currently traveling Israel and this is a beautiful country. I’ve also had fun in Germany, Brazil and Mexico to name a few favorites.
BM: What are some sports or activities you enjoy on your downtime? JM: Anything and everything outdoors. I love surfing and climbing and snowboarding. Anything that’s active and takes some skill. BM: What are some of the life lessons you have learned that have shaped your life? JM: One of my favorite sayings is “A wise man spends his money on experiences.” I’m trying to live by this right now. Travel, eat good food, and share amazing experiences with friends and family. This is more important than anything material. BM: What’s your favorite social media outlet and why? JM: I use quite a few social platforms, but right now I’m digging Instagram. And Snapchat...but I’m going to give IG the win this week. Easy to scroll through pictures and quickly get a grasp on what your friends are up to. August 2015 - BELLO
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TRUNKS LACOSTE
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Photographer SAM ZACHRICH samanthazachrich.com @sam_zachrich Stylist SONIA YOUNG www.soniayoungstyle.com @soniamichelle Groomer MELISSA http://melissadezarate.com/ @melissaadelaide 49
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ENTERTAINMENT
REMAKING THE 90s:
Revisiting and Ranking the Best & Worst BY ADRIENNE MCILVAINE (@mizocty)
SINCE IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY OTHER DAY BRINGS NEWS OF A FRESH REBOOT OR REMAKE, NOW’S A GOOD TIME TO TAKE STOCK OF THE FIRST WAVE OF FILM AND TV REMAKES OF 90S HITS AND SCOPE OUT THE LATEST NEWS ON SOME UPCOMING REINTERPRETATIONS OF CLINTON-ERA CLASSICS.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Total Recall
Scream
Godzilla
90210
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The 2014 remake of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles replaced the charming practical effects of the 1990 live-action film with cheap CGI that turned the pizza-loving peacekeepers into steroid abusers. Add in a lifeless script and phoned-in performances from Megan Fox and Will Arnett and it’s game over for Splinter and the gang.
Starring Colin Farrell as a factory worker who discovers his life is a lie, this 2012 remake of Paul Verhoeven’s Total Recall lacks the satirical humor and outrageous world-building of the 1990 original. Plus, they don’t even go to Mars.
When Kevin Williams’ horror-cliche-subverting slasher flick debuted in 1996, no one had seen anything like it. And that’s the problem with this MTV adaptation--it’s old news. From its cast of unknowns to its try-hard scripts, this Scream feels more like a whisper.
After Roland Emmerich’s disastrous 1998 film, expectations ran high for Gareth Edwards’ 2014 remake. Thankfully Edwards and a talented cast that included Bryan Cranston and Ken Watanabe resurrected the atomicage beast with a compelling script and astonishing action sequences.
Developed in 2008 by Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas, this remake of Beverly Hills, 90210 really hit its trashy stride in seasons three and four before being cancelled by The CW in 2013. Though it always suffered in comparison, it hit a sweet spot for sunny L.A. angst.
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Melrose Place
The CW’s attempt to reinvent creator Darren Star’s Melrose Place debuted in 2009 and was unceremoniously cancelled the following year. Not even the improbable return of the long-dead Sydney Andrews could save the show from a mess of stereotypical characters and lifeless plotlines.
AND COMING SOON...
Point Break
Independence Day: Resurgence IT
The Craft
The Crow
Kindergarten Cop
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It’s still unclear why Hollywood is remaking the cult classic 1991 film, which starred Keanu Reeves as a hotshot FBI agent after Patrick Swayze’s bank-robbing surfer. But it’s unlikely they’d give a future Razzie-winner a prime Christmas Day release so get those wetsuits ready.
20 years later, the aliens are back next summer, and a new generation is ready for another epic close encounter. But where’d Will Smith go? Thankfully we still have Jeff Goldblum reprising his role as nerdy hero David.
Now that True Detective’s Cary Fukunaga is out of the upcoming remake of IT, based on the 1990 TV miniseries of Stephen King’s epic horror novel, rumors are swirling over who’ll take the reigns. And good luck finding someone more terrifying than Tim Curry to play Pennywise the Clown.
Sony recently announced it had signed up-and-coming horror director Leigh Janiak to remake the cult 1996 supernatural thriller about a group of Catholic school girls who turn a flirtation with dark magic into an all-out war. This could be great but only if it has an update on the institutionalized Nancy.
A remake of Alex Proyas’ 1994 gothic action film has been trapped in development hell since 2008, with multiple directors and actors reportedly coming and going from the story of a resurrected rocker out to avenge his fiancee’s death. Prognosis: negative.
Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as an undercover cop tracking down a criminal’s ex-wife and her little boy, Ivan Reitman’s 1990 Cop is the latest remake from Universal. So far, word has it the straight-to-DVD feature will swap a lost flash drive for the ex-wife and saddles the future Not Arnold with an Indian partner. Send this one to detention.
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ENTERTAINMENT
Out On The Town BY HIKO MITSUZUKA (@TheFirstEcho)
INDEPENDENCE DAZE - Bello celebrated the 4th of July surrounded by some hotness at The Standard, Hollywood on the sizzling Sunset Strip. Hosted by Gildas & André Saraiva, Kitsuné America 4 proved to be one of the hottest pool parties in town with performances by PHASES, Lonely Boy, RICOSHËI & Dutch Party. CELEBRATING EQUALITY THROUGH FILM - Outfest, Los Angeles’s longrunning LGBT film festival, had a little more to celebrate during it’s 33rd annual festivities. Just days after the
A-Trak fans at the Renaissance Long Beach Hotel
United States Supreme Court declared same-sex marriages legal throughout the country, the organization honored writer-director-actor John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Inch) with its Lifetime Achievement Award during the Opening Night Gala and later premiered Tig, Netflix’s stirring documentary about comedian Tig Notaro’s emotional journey through heartbreak and health scares.
Photo credit: Albert Domasin
ON THE RIGHT A-TRAK - The Canadian DJ (a.k.a. Alain Macklovitch) took over the Renaissance Long Beach Hotel with a special set to celebrate the hotel chain’s partnership with AEG and Billboard to bring artists closer to guests through their new initiative, Navigator Live, an AXS TV series that “enables guests and viewers to explore different cities through the eyes of touring musicians – the ultimate modern business traveler.” VIP guests enjoyed A-Trak’s roof-blasting performance along with a french fry and pie bar and hosted bars.
Outfest Opening Night
A NIGHT WITH NICK JONAS - Fans of the Starz drama Kingdom filled up the Harmony Gold Theater in Los Angeles to get up close and personal with star Nick Jonas and showrunner Byron Balasco during a special event hosted by Outfest. The two offered a sneak peek at Season 2 and discussed Nick’s MMA-fighting character, whom we last saw arrange a hookup...on Grindr! ENTERTAINMENT issue - BELLOmag.com
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ENTERTAINMENT
BRAD’S BUZZ
BY BRAD LIBERTI, ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR twitter and instagram @bjl233
1. Ricki and The Flash It’s hard to tell from the trailer whether this one is better suited for the multiplex, or for Lifetime, but with director, Ted Demme, and the one and only Meryl Streep involved, I’d bet on the former.
2. American Ultra What can I say? I’m a sucker for a stoner comedy. And KStew looks hot on the movie poster.
3. Grandma Paul Weitz crafts yet another delicately nuanced, fiercely funny tale about the perils of interpersonal relationships with an awards caliber performance from Lily Tomlin.
4. Show Me A Hero David Simon leaves Baltimore and heads to NYC (this time with Oscar Winning director, Paul Haggis) to examine corruption and collusion in NYC as seen through the eyes of a Yonkers Bureaucrat played by the imitable Oscar Isaac.
Nobody mashes high-octane vocals with early 90’s exuberance quite like Brit soul singer du jour Jess Glynn. And her latest effort – singing the instantly catchy hook on Tiny Tempa’s chart-topping UK smash - proves it yet again.
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photo courtesy of julesfashion.com
5. “Not Letting Go” - Tinie Tempah feat. Jess Glynn
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