Posts Tagged ‘Leonard Nimoy’

Sunday night, the 63rd Emmy Awards were presented by first time host Jane Lynch of Fox’s “Glee.” While New England was well-represented throughout the show, the big winners of the evening was ABC’s “Modern Family,” winning a total of five awards, including the first four awards of the evening.

Massachusetts men, Steve Carrell and John Krasinski were both spotted on the red carpet, speaking individually to E’s Ryan Seacrest. Krasinski remarked on how he had not seen Carrell since he left, and how he was enjoying working with James Spader, a new addition to “The Office” family. Carrell likewise said how he was looking forward to catching up with his former cast.

Boston’s own Leonard Nimoy helped open the show, appearing as the ‘President of Television’ in the opening gag/musical number with Jane Lynch about the world of TV. The skit featured Lynch making her way through an apartment building where all of the current TV shows “live.” At one point, Lynch happened upon the “Mad Men” set, and sang to the characters about how women “in the future” can marry other women. Lynch married her partner in Sunderland, Massachusetts, in 2010. Many television stars made appearances throughout the skit; even the “Can you hear me now?” guy from the infamous Verizon commercials, Paul Marcarelli, a native of North Haven, Connecticut, made a brief cameo.

As for the awards, Matt LeBlanc, a Newton native, lost to Jim Parsons from “Big Bang Theory” for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy and “Downton Abby (Masterpiece)” beat “The Kennedys” for Outstanding Miniseries or Movie. Barry Pepper, who played Robert F. Kennedy in the controversial miniseries “The Kennedys,” won the best supporting actor award.

Burlington’s Amy Poehler, along with winner Melissa McCarthy helped present the award for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie, or Dramatic Special and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie. Poehler was up against McCarty earlier in the evening for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy. The funny lady nominees each scrambled to the stage as their names were called and assembled in a row, pageant-like, and stood holding hands, before McCarthy was announced as the winner, and presented with her trophy, along with a tiara and bouquet of roses.

Mark Wahlberg was spotted in the audience when Lynch introduced the cast of “Entourage,” who presented the award for Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie, or Dramatic Special. Actor Jeremy Piven even joked about his former boss, remarking about how “HBO, also known as the Mark Wahlberg Channel.” Wahlberg served as executive producer of the show up until its last season earlier this year.

Also appearing during the telecast, Connecticut’s Michael Bolton reprised his role as Captain Jack Sparrow from his wildly popular viral digital video with the SNL guys who make up the  Lonely Island music group.

Actress Jill Clayburgh, who died in early November of last year, appeared in the annual “In Memoriam” reel; she was a native of Connecticut.

During the commercial breaks, advertisements for the partially made in Boston movie, Moneyball and Footloose, starring Stoughton’s Kenny Wormald, aired.

Spock is back in town! “Star Trek” alum and Boston native, Leonard Nimoy will be speaking at Boston University this Monday evening at the Metcalf Ballroom. The Emmy-nominated actor will lecture on his career in Hollywood as an actor and director, as well as his success as a poet and photographer.

Nimoy, now 80-years old, announced his retirement from the entertainment industry last year, after a 60-year career.  He was born in Boston to Yiddish immigrant parents and attended Boston College before studying photography at UCLA.  Nimoy has remained a staple in the Boston community throughout the years.  He lent his voice to the Museum of Science’s Mugar Omni Theatre and in 2009 Boston declared November 14 “Leonard Nimoy Day.”

There is limited free seating at the lecture for BU students, but tickets can be purchased by the general public for $25 by calling (617) 353-3697.

Boston is a city rich with history. With everything from its architecture to its food to its parks dating back sometimes over a hundred years, learning more about the origins of Boston landmarks can provide us with a depth of knowledge. Here at HEC, we like to learn more about our film and television roots, and the Somerville Theatre is an excellent example of a great piece of cultural history in Boston.

The Somerville Theatre first opened its doors on May 11, 1914. Built by Joseph Hobbs and designed by Funk and Wilcox of Boston, the building was part of a complex that included a basement cafe, bowling alley, billiards hall, storefronts, and retail space. The stage itself housed everything from vaudeville to opera to motions pictures–which was a relatively new, untested form of entertainment at the time.

In the 20s, Busby Berkeley, future film director and choreographer of such classic 1930s musicals as 42nd Street, had a hand in many stage shows at the theatre during that time, including ones featuring actor Ray Bolger who later became known as the Scarecrow in the immortal MGM film, “The Wizard of Oz” . Berkeley is credited with choreographing the Scarecrow’s dance in the 1939 film.

Starting in the Depression, and lasting all the way until the 70s, the Somerville Theatre became known as a successful, second-run, neighborhood theatre, featuring fresh popcorn and weekly prize nights.

In the 80s, the theatre was leased to Garen Daly, who turned the theatre back into a repertory house, running double features and offering independent and off-beat fare.  Daly also brought back live performances to the stage for the first time since the 30s.

In 1996, renovations began to modernize the space and to make it more profitable. This included gutting the bowling alleys in the basement and a portion of the first floor retail space to create modern bathrooms and two new cinemas. Two new screens were added in the former ballroom space on the second floor. The theatre lobby was expanded, and new seats were added in what was formerly the orchestra portion of the original auditorium, and a bright stylish marquee was added to the facade.

In 2008, the world-famous, critically-acclaimed and much-loved Museum of Bad Art opened in the theatre’s basement, and in 2009, Irish super-group U2 chose the Somerville Theatre to perform in concert. A number of other famous names have also appeared on the stage in recent years, including poet Maya Angelou, singer Joan Baez, actor Kevin Spacey, Norah Jones, Adele, Nelly Furtado, Kevin Kline, Ben Kingsley, and Boston’s own Leonard Nimoy.

The theatre has most recently featured its annual holiday-themed burlesque show, The Slutcracker, and is home to the annual Independent Film Festival of Boston.

★ A sexual harassment lawsuit is being brought against Casey Affleck (above), brother of Ben.

★ Pics of the “Biggest Loser” casting call at the Boston Seaport Hotel, courtesy of the Boston Globe.

★ Dave Foley, comic actor, writer, director and producer, appears at local Massachusetts bar.

★ Bostonian Vulcan Leonard Nimoy makes his mark as a photographer too.

★ Concord, MA’s Steve Carell’s movies disappoint at the box office.

★ Brookline’s Conan O’Brien sells spacious New York City apartment.

★ Newton’s Matt LeBlanc to star in a new Showtime show, after admitting he dyed his hair throughout “Friends”.

★ ”American Idol” contestant Ayla Brown sings at the Pan Mass Challenge in Massachusetts.

★ Burlington, MA Amy Poehler has her second son with Will Arnett.

★ Star of the movie Shazaam, basketballer Shaquille O’Neal signs with the Celtics.

★ Newburyport bakery prepares to audition for the Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars”.

★ Dorchester’s own Mark Wahlberg gets a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and appears at the Hingham Shipyard for another Wahlberg brother’s new restaurant opening; check out our story and footage in yesterday’s story below!

Legendary actor, and son of Boston, Leonard Nimoy recently announced his official retirement from the entertainment industry last week. The 79 year-old that is most famous for his starring role in the original 1960s “Star Trek” series as the half-alien, half-human Spock has been appearing in film and TV professionally for 60 years. His most recent role has been as Dr. William Bell in the set-in-Boston television drama “Fringe”.  Watch Nimoy and legendary costar, William Shatner (above) take shots at each other and reminisce at a conference last year.

Nimoy was born Boston in 1931 and raised in a tenement by his Jewish Ukrainian parents. His father owned a barber shop in town for many years, which even featured a special “Spock” style cut when Nimoy’s character on “Star Trek” hit its peak popularity. Before leaving the area to move to LA, he attended Boston College, where he received a MA in Education. Proving his heart has never left his hometown, the actor lent his recognizable voice to the Museum of Science by recording the introduction at the Mugar Omni Theater. In 2009, the city of Boston proclaimed November 14 “Leonard Nimoy Day” in honor of the beloved actor.

The actor also recently made headlines for visiting the small farming town of Vulcan, Calgary, in Canada. The tiny community happens to share the name of the planet Nimoy’s Spock character came from.

Anyone in the Boston area the beginning of this month most assuredly noticed a flurry of activity. The annual convergence of college students meant that close to 250,000 temporary townies of the academic sort moved in to local dorms and apartment complexes, no doubt eager for the school-year to begin. With the almost 50 colleges and universities located within a 10-mile radius of Boston, its not hard to believe that numerous celebrities of television and movies have at one time made a similar trek.

Boston College: The private Jesuit liberal arts school can claim movie actor Chris O’Donnell as an alum, as well as numerous television personalities, among them, Massachusetts natives Leonard Nimoy and Amy Poehler, as well as Rhode Island born Elisabeth Hasselbeck.

The polarizing conservative cohost on “The View”. The Fine Arts major captained the softball team for 2 seasons while also studying industrial design. Her athletic affiliations also aided her dating life; BC is where she met her football-playing husband Tim.

Harvard University: The Ivy League school has seen its fair share of star students. Tommy Lee Jones, Jack Lemmon, John Lithgow, Mira Sorvino, Wallace Shawn, and Conan O’Brien are just some of the super-smart celebrities who have at one time called Cambridge home. Most recently, Ashley Judd enrolled at the Crimson college, perhaps inspired by her Where the Heart Is co-star, Natalie Portman, who graduated in 2003.

Boston University: The fourth-largest private university in the country has more celebrity alumni than any other in the area. Movie stars like Geena Davis, Olympia Dukakis, Faye Dunaway, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Mariel Hemmingway are all on BU’s annual fundraising call-list. TV stars like Jason Alexander, Rosie O’Donnell, and radio shock-jock Howard Stern also walked its hallowed halls.

David E. Kelley, the Maine born and Belmont, MA raised writer and TV producer no doubt used his Juris Doctor from the BU School of Law, in addition to his experiences around Beantown for inspiration for his numerous successful Boston-based shows; “The Practice”, “Ally McBeal”, “Boston Public”, and “Boston Legal”.

The fall television season is upon us, as both new shows and old favorites will soon be taking to the airwaves across the networks. While many of these shows are shot in California or Canada, nevertheless, New England is well-represented in a variety of ways. Whether it’s stars who originate from the area, or the shows themselves being set here, let’s check out where we can find Hollywood East on the fall 2009 line-up.

New Shows:

“Eastwick” on ABC, Wednesdays at 10 starting September 23, is inspired by the 1987 movie starring Jack Nicholson, Cher, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Susan Sarandon. This incarnation of the John Updike novel follows the story of 3 women (including Rebecca Romijn) whose everyday lives get thrown for a loop when a mysterious man arrives at their small, fictional New England town.

Connecticut born Seth MacFarlane’s “Family Guy” spinoff, “The Cleveland Show” is set to premiere September 27 on Fox. The animated comedy will air Sunday nights, along with MacFarlane’s other long-running series–”American Dad!” and “Family Guy”.

Old Favorites:

AMC’s surprise hit, “Mad Men” got a head start, with its season 3 premiere episode airing on August 16. Boston native, and recent Improper Bostonian cover model, John Slattery, will reprise his role as advertising executive Roger Sterling.

Everett’s Ellen Pompeo will be appearing less towards the start of the perpetual favorite “Grey’s Anatomy” with her real-life pregnancy pulling her away from an otherwise heavy workload. The season 6 premiere airs Thursday, September 24, and also stars Maine native Patrick Dempsey.

The second season of Fox’s “Fringe” coincides with production being moved to Vancouver, Canada, despite the fact that the series is set in Boston. Beantown’s own Leonard Nimoy will make several appearances throughout the season of the sci-fi show.

Fox’s other eccentric enterprise, “Dollhouse”, starring Watertown, MA’s Eliza Dushku will be returning for a second season after an uncertain beginning. The first episode will air September 25, as it returns to 9 PM time-slot on Friday nights.