"THE HELP" AND "MODERN FAMILY" LEAD SAG AWARD NOMINATIONS

Still from The Help

Nominees for the 18th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards were announced earlier today from West Hollywood's SilverScreen Theater. The Awards honour Actors versus the actual Film or Television Program.

The Help leads all Film nominees with a total four nominations. Viola Davis gets a nod for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role, while her Co-stars Octavia Spencer and Jessica Chastain are up for Female Actor in a Supporting Role. The talented Cast together are nominated also for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture.

ABC's Modern Family also received a total four nominations in the Television categories with both Ty Burrell and Eric Stonestreet both up for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series. Sofia Vergara is nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor and the Cast also are up for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.

ENTER TO WIN 1 OF 5 "I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT" PRIZE PACKS

I Don't Know How She Does It Poster

SJP Fans, I’ve got a little something for you! I Don’t Know How She Does It is the story of Kate Reddy (Sarah Jessica Parker) who after excelling at her Boston-based job, finds herself spread thinly as she is called-upon to travel to New York as part of her assignment. She must juggle the demands of being a Mom and Wife to Richard (Greg Kinnear), while also finding herself tempted by her handsome new Associate, Jack (Pierce Brosnan).

I’m giving away five I Don’t Know How She Does It Prize Packs which include a copy of the Novel by Allison Pearson, Post-it Notes and a Nail File! Yes, a Nail File!!!

To qualify for the win, you must “like” Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven  and leave a comment under this Post with the name of the fiery Red-headed Actress who plays Kate’s best Friend, Allison. Your deadline is September 23, 2011 – Canadian Readers only. Good luck, Mavenati!

I Don’t Know How She Does It is released through Alliance Films in Canada on September 16, 2011.

Watch the Trailer in full below:

"I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT" TRAILER STARRING SARAH JESSICA PARKER

Still from I Don't Know How She Does It

 "I have two choices - the Man's excuse, bad Traffic, down Power Lines, faulty Carburetor... or Mammogram.". - Sarah Jessica Parker as Kate Reddy on excuses for being late for work

Out-of-nowhere comes this absolutely charming Rom-Com from Director Douglas McGrath about surviving in the world of Business as a Mother and Wife, starring Sarah Jessica Parker. I Don't Know How She Does It features a super-talented Cast including: Christina Hendricks, Seth Meyers, Pierce Brosnan, Kelsey Grammer, Jessica Szohr, Jane Curtin and Greg Kinnear.

Alliance Films releases I Don't Know How She Does It on September 16, 2011 - coinciding right during TIFF 2011.  Knowing how awesome present Alliance Films are during the Festival circuit, could this mean we'll be seeing this as a Gala?  One to keep an eye on!

Watch the Trailer in full below:

FIRST "THE KENNEDYS" BILLBOARD SURFACES

Billboard of The Kennedys

Only a few blocks away from where Filming took place in Chestnut Park this past Summer, this new Promotional Billboard for The History Channel Canada's The Kennedys has just surfaced.  I caught this last night on a walk at Church x Bloor.

The Mini-series starring Greg Kinnear and Katie Holmes as John F. Kennedy and Jackie Onassis,  despite being dropped from The History Channel U.S.' line-up, will air in these parts April 10, 2011, just one day after its Finale airs on ReelzChannel in the U.S.

Click here to get up-to-speed on the Saga of the Mini-series.  We've been there through it all - the laughter, the tears, the heartbreak....

HISTORY TELEVISON CANCELS PLANS TO AIR "THE KENNEDYS"

Katie Holmes in The Kennedys

In a complete and utter shocker, History Television's highly publicized Mini-Series The Kennedys, slated originally for a March 2011 release, has been yanked from its U.S. release schedule according to Variety.   

Joel Surnow, one of the major forces behind The Kennedys, is known for his Conservative leanings and it is said that the series takes somewhat of a critical look at John F. Kennedy's proudly Liberal beliefs.  History Television is owned by Disney-ABC, Hearst and Universal and insiders are saying that it is because of this bit of conflict that the network was pressured to halt its plans for the series.  The Hollywood Reporter eludes to the series not being historically correct enough for History Television's standards.

Filmed in and around the Toronto area this past Summer, The Kennedys stars Greg Kinnear and Katie Holmes.  Jon Cassar, known most for his work on the long-running series 24, helmed the project.  There is talk now of the series now being shopped around to other networks.   Regardless, there are still plans to air the series in Canada beginning March 6, 2011 and overseas also.

GREG KINNEAR - COOL AND CASUAL IN TORONTO

Greg Kinnear & Mr. Will-W.

At last!  I've finally gotten a chance to meet the one and only Greg Kinnear. Oscar nominated actor.  Father of Miley Cyrus.  Smoothie Maker.  John F. Kennedy.  Chameleon.

Although I had a chance to visit the set of The Kennedys a couple weeks ago, I didn't want to intrude him as he was hard at work that day.  After being missing-in-action from Yorkville for a bit, it appears his children are back to school after visiting this Summer, and he's on his own again.  But he won't be Homesick for long as he'll be wrapping up filming of in his own words "that Kennedys thing" in a couple weeks.

I did get to chat with Kinnear for a bit as he headed out for Lunch and he was rather impressed at my photo taking skills.  "Wow, you're good.  That was really quick!", after boasting to him that I've mastered "One-Hander" Self-Portraits, which drew a chuckle from him.  Kinnear graciously personalized a photo for me, which I've already had framed too!

KATIE HOLMES - THE BELLE OF THE BALL ON THE SET OF THE KENNEDYS IN TORONTO

Goodness.  That Katie Holmes sure is gorgeous here, isn't she?  Although I struggled not to take photographs at the urging of some of the Crew members of The Kennedys, I just couldn't help but snap a couple photos here of Holmes looking a Vision of Exquisiteness on her way out to a short break on-set.  

I witnessed things getting very ugly between Paparazzi and some Crew members as things got a little out-of-hand with name calling and threats of Police intervention.  Inasmuch as I respect all the hard work that goes into a Production and orchestrating Publicity, what we need to remember is that once something is in the Public Eye (i.e. filming out on a street), there is only so much that can be done in terms of drawing boundaries as to what is Public from Private.

Regardless of how some Publicists may feel about the matter, exposure - especially when it isn't negative - can only be a beneficial thing.  You'd be hard-pressed to find anybody with a reasonable knowledge of Pop Culture in Toronto, who is ignorant of the fact that Katie Holmes is in-town filming The History Channel mini-series The Kennedys.  A couple months ago that number would have been significantly less.  She's v. much here whether you care or not and you're probably going to at least be curious of just how good it will be when it surfaces March 2011.  I for one, am excited.

KATIE HOLMES AND GREG KINNEAR ON THE TORONTO SET OF THE KENNEDYS - POLLING STATION ELECTION SCENE

It was 1960 all over again as The Kennedys continued its twelfth week of shooting in and around Toronto.  And as luck would have it, filming was taking place less than ten minutes from my place just outside The Village at Church x Wellesley. Today a re-creation of John F. and Jacqueline Kennedy's visit to a Polling Station prior to his eventual Election was being filmed.

Amidst a sea of impeccably period-dressed Background Actors - some Paparazzi, some Voters - one could find Greg Kinnear looking remarkably in-character in Sunglasses.  By his side was Katie Holmes in a purple coat, signature Jackie O., as multiple takes were done of them entering the venue.

Despite Kinnear looking v. handsome, all eyes and cameras were on Holmes who did not have daughter Suri in tow for much of the morning shoot.  According to Cassar, he is now wrapping the outdoor shoots on location now downtown and moving production to a studio (inaccessible to the public), modeled after the White House for the next 17 days.

I got even more gorgeous shots of Holmes later in the day, but you'll have to check back in a bit for those.  Trust me, your jaws will drop.

For now, enjoy some of these gems from the set this morning:

GREG KINNEAR ON THE SET OF THE KENNEDYS IN TORONTO

Hallelujah!  The History Channel mini-series The Kennedys, based of course on one of America's favourite families, has been filming in and around Greater Toronto for the past two months and it has finally set-up shop in Toronto.  Believe me, I've been waiting for this moment for a long time.

The series, directed by Canadian Jon Cassar, who most notably brought us Kiefer Sutherland's career-resurrecting 24, can be expected to surface some time next year; it only recently reached the half-way point in production.  

Most of the buzz surrounding the series has centered around the woman playing Jackie Onassis - Katie Holmes, who has sparked some fierce competition among Paparazzi to get that elusive photo of her and daughter Suri together, on and off set.  And if they're lucky, throw in a photo with or of husband Tom Cruise too, as he's been seen in an around town between breaks in his schedule.

For me today's filming location was very close to home, just minutes from where I normally walk my dog Billy, and I clued into this after reading Cassar's Tweet this morning: "We are on location today just a 10 minute walk from where I'm living.  That never happens."  I can assume too that Cassar is living very close to me also right now also perhaps?

THE KENNEDYS STARRING KATIE HOLMES FILMS IN TORONTO

Yes, that’s two Dawson’s Creek alumni to be filming in Toronto this summer. Katie Holmes has just signed on to play Jackie O. in upcoming History Channel mini-series The Kennedys alongside super-talented I-don't-need-an-SUV-I-can-take-a-cab-around-Toronto-thank you Greg Kinnear.

They will be here from June to September in tandem with filming for Sarah Polley’s new film Take This Waltz which stars former Dawson’s Creek star Michelle Williams. The public’s fascination with Jackie O. will once again be very prevalent as Rachel Weisz, as announced recently, will also be playing Jackie O. in feature film biopic which will start filming after completion of Jim Sheridan’s Dream House which is still ongoing in Toronto. I’ll definitely be dropping by the set of The Kennedys to bring you the scoop. Stay posted…  (Photo credit: Glamour Magazine)