June, 2012

Actor Dylan McDermott, best known for his work on the long-running ABC drama, “The Practice,” where he played a tough-talking Boston attorney, has found himself in the midst of his own real-life crime story. Just last week, police in Waterbury, Connecticut, reopened an investigation that has concluded that actor’s mother was killed in 1967 by her now-dead gangster boyfriend.

The investigation into the death of Diane McDermott was reopened last year after Dylan McDermott contacted them with questions. The actor was 5 years old when his mother was shot in February 1967. Her death was originally ruled an accident.

State medical examiner, H. Wayne Carver, reviewed McDermott’s autopsy and determined that the gun found near the body at the time of discovery was too small a caliber to have been the murder weapon. According to the official report, the wound also showed that the gun used had been pressed to the back of her head. This new analysis of the evidence enabled the investigators to draw a new conclusion.

In other news, McDermott was recently cast as a secret service agent in the upcoming action film Olympus Has Fallen, costarring Gerard Butler. The film will be directed by Antoine Fuqua. Variety reports that the story has been described as “Die Hard in the White House.” The film is expected to be released in the summer of 2014.

McDermott starred in the ABC legal drama, “The Practice,” from 1997 to 2004. The show took place in Boston, and was written by David E. Kelley, who was born in Maine, and attended Boston University Law School.

McDermott was born and raised in Waterbury, Connecticut.

Earlier this month, Herb Reed, the last surviving original member of The Platters, a 1950s vocal group, passed away. Reed’s life was celebrated at a nearly full house at the Regent Theater in Arlington. The service ran close to three hours, and was attended by two of the current four Platters, Billy Cox and Angela Allen, as well as Terry Stewart, the president of the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame, Jon Bowman (Bowzer of Sha-na-na). The service included eulogies and rousing gospels by the Berklee Reverence Gospel Choir, and the Rev. Regina Shearer of Rivier College in New Hampshire, who sang with the Platters in the early 90s.

Reed was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, and most recently resided in Arlington, Massachusetts. His declining health had forced him to take a step back from touring, after forming the most recent incarnation of the group, Herb Reed’s Platters. He died died on June 4, 2012 as a hospice in Boston due to complications from several ailments, including heart disease. Reed was 83.

The Platters are most remembered for hits like “Only You” and “The Great Pretender.” Reed was the only member of The Platters who sang on all of the more than 400 songs recorded by the original and subsequent incarnations of the group.

If you know NACHO, then you know every day is extreme with this guy. Reality sells and so does “Nacho Extreme”. Nacho got his 15 minutes on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” with the former Calvin Klein eight-pack, Mark Wahlberg who recently thanked Kimmel for dipping Nacho live.

Nacho confirmed the powers of his “lead” stomach on Kimmel that night by casually eating two wasabi balls and swigging back three cups of Tabasco! Now that’s some heartburn. Can you feel it Nacho? What a good vibration involving Nacho, Wahlberg,  Fuel TV, and celebrity guests.

This new reality series, “Nacho Extreme” is eating up his extremities. The craft was digested as a kid so we don’t suggest you cooking this up at home. As much as Nacho wanted to spill the beans with HEC and all his Nachettes. He could only confirm that, “Nacho Extreme” is gobbling up Boston right now and will be traveling across the coast.

This isn’t Nacho’s first BBQ either. “The professional movie industry eater” has sizzled on hot sets like The Fighter and spoiler alert, TED which premieres this weekend.  We can’t wait!

Next weekend, if you’re in the North Conway area, look for deets on Nach judging a RIB-OFF! We love reality and Nacho is so tasty! “God Bless”. We will layer you up with more Nachos soon. GO NACHO!

Here comes the Boom with “Hollywood Devens”! That’s right. After years of setbacks and rumors to boot, Massachusetts is banging out the state’s first film and television studio complex. Let’s start drilling with MJM Development because they have jolted us up!

MJM is specifically incorporated for the turn-key development of “Hollywood Devens”. The company represents a small group of private Massachusetts real estate developers and equity investors that have assembled a seasoned team that includes experienced Hollywood film industry consultants, studio operators, and designers with strong Massachusetts affiliations to make this groundbreaking studio a reality.

“This is going to be a world-class facility to help make Massachusetts a filming destination,” said Chris Byers, director of studio operations. “It will also be an economic engine for Massachusetts.”

It was Summer twenty-eleven when this project gave us a summer buzz but was similar to the infamous Plymouth Rock and Southfield Studio that have dehydrated us with promises of a studio complex. However Holly-Devens has hydrated us back up. Lots of gossip that the project would start this year and well, it has, this week! Break a leg!

By Summer twenty-thirteen, if the studio project runs smoothly, Massachusetts will have a studio to call its home.  The first phase includes four sound stages, at 18,000 square feet each, office space and a commute from Boston! It’s pretty priceless, yet the tag says $30 million and it’s almost a 60 mile rondevu for us extras.  I wouldn’t change the GPS for a second! It’s the destination that counts.  The Director, Michael Meyers says the facility will employ 300 to 400 people within a year and a half. Works for us!

“The reason this one is going to work out is we’ve worked very closely with the developer,” said George A. Ramirez, MassDevelopment’s executive vice president of Devens Operations. He said MassDevelopment spent 18 months negotiating and discussing details of the project with Mr. Meyers and his team.

Once a base that soiled live bombs, rockets and torpedoes, the former Army base, Devens is now a hot spot for fueling the local economy. It’s hard to predict the future of Holly-Devens that will be constructed on the 15-acre site binged on Jackson Road. We hope the project will continue to hammer it up and will provide the walls of endless possibilities that will bedazzle the future productions here in the Bay State.

Tell us what you think of “Hollywood Devens”?

It’s definitely his prerogative, so Bobby Brown, the ex-husband of Whitney Houston, and former Roxbury native, made headlines last week by marrying his music manager, Alicia Etheridge. Etheridge and Brown have been together since 2007, and got engaged in May of 2010, have one child together, Cassius, who was born on May 30, 2009.

The nuptials took place in Honolulu, Hawaii, just one day after Brown performed with his band, New Edition, on the big island last weekend. The 43 year old R&B star included some of his older children, Landon, 23, La’Princia, 22, and Bobby Jr., 19, as well as Cassius, 3, in the ceremony. Bobbi Kristina, his only child with Whitney Houston, was not present, as rumor has it she and her father are not presently on speaking terms.

The groom went casual in a crimson suit and Adidas sneakers that matched Cassius, who was the ring bearer. Brown was married to Whitney Houston for 14 tumultuous years and divorced in 2007. Houston passed away earlier this year from an accidental drowning. This is Brown’s second marriage and Etheridge’s first.

It is assumed that Brown both did not seek permission and made his own decision in regards to the matter.

Summertime and the livin’s easy. TED’s on the big screen with Mark Wahlberg. And all the people in the dance will agree that

Lucky’s Lounge is well qualified to represent the rated R flick this Friday Night, June 22^nd.

Don’t look for a sign. Holding is down the stairs. Let’s spin it out on this set Friday night from 6-9pm for free swag and complimentary screening passes for next week’s premiere of Ted!

Wahlberg, Mila Kunis and Ted, Seth MacFarlane, were all spotted at the Lounge enjoying some cocktails last summer when filming buzzed through Boston. Ted lit up at the Pubic Garden, Mass Ave, the Minibar on Huntington Ave, and even featured Norah Jones at the Hatch Shell. The flick hired hundreds of Boston extras and even more extra concert goers. This sparks Connecticut native Seth MacFarlane’s first motion picture debut. Go Seth!

It goes something like this. Wahlberg and Mila got this relationship but must deal with Wahlberg’s beloved teddy bear that came to life as the result of a childhood wish. Ted refuses to leave Wahlberg’s side ever since. Can you blame him?

No question Ted has Summer-time heat oozing from it. Boston is jonesing for the premiere June 29th. So join the wild night with Ted at Lucky’s Lounge for some free swag and passes. Don’t forget to like Ted on FB. Plus create a photo using “My Wild Night with Ted” app on FB and send it to [email protected] for additional chances to win. Time to roll the dice. See you at Lucky’s!

Medford maiden Maria Menounos celebrated her 34^th birthday over the weekend, and the brunette beauty didn’t hold back! The Hawaiian luau themed event had the lovely miss sporting a teeny weeny yellow bikini and flower print shorts, while also wearing a lei and even a giant live snake around her neck at times throughout the raucous evening. Some of the famous faces who came out to celebrate the “Extra” host included Donald Trump, Michael Chiklis, and Nia Vardalos. Actor Mel Gibson took the birthday girl for a spin around the dance floor, as did her former “Dancing with the Stars” partner Derek Hough.

The party was held outdoors at her place in Encino and featured fire dancers, hula girls, and even exotic animals, which included monkeys. Her actual birthday was June 8th.

The bubbly host also recently made headlines for her appearance on the Howard Stern Sirius Radio show, where she opened up about her past experiences with sexual abuse. As a teenager, Menounos said she was assaulted by a doctor. She went to the doctor for a throat issue and was told to change into a hospital gown, who then molested Menounos while her boyfriend sat outside in the waiting room. Menounos now says she brings her boyfriend of fourteen years, Kevin Undergaro, with her to the examination room every time.

Alright, listen up Hollywood East! Love Guide! Parker Posey is back in Boston after she hatched an excellence award in acting at the Provincetown International Film Fest this past weekend. The indie chick will now lay her egg at a screening of her new movie, The Love Guide. Let’s beak it out!

The flick that shot at the Weir River Farm in Hingham follows a chicken farmer who agrees to be on a reality show to save the

family farm. Posey co-stars as Angelica Lovecraft, the host of the reality show called “Cut the Crap” that documents local actress Christy Scott Cashman who not only wrote the indie but stars as Millie Bartlett. A chicken farmer who will cook up anything to save her farm. “The experience changes both women as they discover the true meaning of success,” Cashman said.

Christy and her husband Jay Cashman will host the Boston Premiere of, The Love Guide, this Tuesday June 19^th to benefit Friends of Boston’s Homeless and The Farm at Boston’s Long Island Shelter.

This special eve will include cocktails at the Revere Hotel located in the Theater District, and a viewing of the film starring Parker Posey, who will mosey along as well. Dinner and a shindig after the screening at the home of the Cashman’s featuring special live music by James Montgomery and Ronan Tynan. Limited tickets are available for $150 per person.

The Love Guide will be ‘sunny side up’ nationally tomorrow through Netflix and other video outlets. Tell us on HEC FB if you will watch these chicks cross the road?

The Boston food scene continues to garner a bit of spotlight as the newest season of “The Great Food Truck Race” stopped through town on Friday afternoon, with the two finalist teams competing in a challenge downtown. Nonna’s Kitchenette from Parsippany, NJ and Seoul Sausage Company from Los Angeles arrived in Boston around lunch time, with Seoul grabbing a spot in front of Johnny Cupcakes at 279 Newbury Street and Nonna’s truck not too far at Copley Square. Later that evening the trucks competed in a lobster themed food challenge before departing Beantown and moving their way even further up the east coast to Portland, Maine. Ironically, the town recently banned food trucks, but the show was granted a special permit in order to allow the trucks to do business for the purposes of the show, which may have even further fueled the desire of the massive crowds that lined up to try the goods at each truck.

Seoul Sausage Co. serves up Korean-inspired street food, and is operated by brothers Yong and Ted Kim and chef Chris Oh, who all hail from Los Angeles. Nonna’s Kitchenette serves up Italian fast food and is run by Jaclyn Kolsby, Jessica Stambach and Lisa Nativo.

The third season of “The Great Food Truck Race” began filming seven weeks ago in Long Beach, California, and had the competing trucks traversing the states, with one truck being eliminated at each major city visited. The winners receive $50,000 and a specialized food truck, which is worth another $50,000.

Last season of the “The Great Food Truck Race,” Boston’s own gourmet grilled cheese chefs, Roxy’s competed on the Food Network show, making it to third place before being eliminated in Atlanta, Georgia.

Long before he had his Funky Bunch or pictures of him in his skivvies on billboards, and eons before his Oscar nominations, Mark Wahlberg was just a troubled kid growing up on the mean streets of Dorchester. What he learned during those formative years no doubt helped him develop as an actor and a successful businessman, who can now even add a happening burger joint to his list of accomplishments over the course of his 41 years. Pretty impressive for a guy who doesn’t even have a high school diploma. That’s right, Marky Mark recently admitted on an appearance on “The Late Show with David Letterman” that he never actually completed ninth grade, and will be going back to school to receive his diploma via an online program.

Wahlberg told Letterman, “It’s an actual diploma. I’ve got to take up all the courses that I missed, and I’m a little nervous. … They’re going to give me whatever credits I already have, which is probably like one or two. But I’m going to make it happen.”

His latest movie, Ted, which was filmed in Boston last summer, will be in theaters on June 29^th. The film also costars the voice talents of Seth MacFarlane, a Connecticut native, and also marks his directorial debut. It was also recently announced that Wahlberg is in negotiations to co-star with Bill Paxton in Universal’s “2 Guns” also starring Denzel Washington.