TOM CRUISE & KATIE HOLMES SPLIT

Katie Holmes in Toronto - August 2010

It's over.  Katie Holmes has filed for Divorce from Tom Cruise requesting full custody of their six-year-old Daughter, Suri.  The Couple whom married in Italy back in 2006 and have become a regular Tabloid Staple and Paparazzi Target for quite some time now.  Irreconcilable Differences are cited for the reason behind their Split, but anyone who has paid attention to the Couple can see that they both have handled the Spotlight quite different. Cruise although private, embraces his Fame whereas Katie still tends to shy away from hers. Perhaps this is one of their "Irreconcilable Differences"?

Cruise for one has continued to see his Profile rise after a string of negative Press tied to his Scientology beliefes. He has a string of six projects - including another Box Office Monster in Mission Impossible 5 - seeing a projected release in the next year or two, where as Katie has taken her role as a Mother first and foremost with two Projects on-the-go in the next year ahead.  Will we be seeing a resurgence in her Career post-Divorce a la Nicole Kidman perhaps?

If anyone knows a thing about creative insipration from Heartbreak, it's Adele who just announced today that she's expecting...

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from Don't be Afraid of the Dark

Guillermo del Toro rarely places his name on anything sub-par and Don't be Afraid of the Dark is no exception to the rule. The acclaimed Writer/Director produces and writes this Remake of the 1973 TV Movie of the same title, with Troy Nixey directing and surprisingly it exceeds expectations. 

Centering around a young Girl named Sally (Bailee Madison) who is forced to move into her Father Alex's (Guy Pearce) new Home along with his new Girlfriend Kim (Katie Holmes), her childlike curiosity drives her to uncover a secret Basement which he prior did not know about. From there, the Story veers a little more towards the mythological, with age-old foreign Creatures lurking about the House eager to prey on Sally in this twisted, yet oddly at-times comical take on the Tooth Fairy.  After physically encountering these Creatures, Sally's Father writes off her fears simply as being irrational and imagined, but will it be too late by the time he sees the truth?

One of the biggest revelations in Don't be Afraid of the Dark, in addition to its crafty Storytelling, is a breakthrough performance from young talent Madison who actually bears a striking resemblance to Holmes.  This Horror Flick although at points a little bloody, rarely relies on the grotesque to get a scream from of its audience. Instead, it keeps us on-edge just enough with creepy vocalizations and use of light, unveiling the Creatures only late.  Alliance Films releases the entertaining Don't be Afraid of the Dark nationwide on August 26, 2011.  Grade: A-

"DEGRASSI" RECEIVES FIRST PRIMETIME EMMY NOMINATION

Clare Edwards, Sav Bhandari & Holly Sinclair from Degrassi

Congratulations to the Cast and Crew of Degrassi, who received their first-ever Emmy Award nomination earlier today for Outstanding Children's Program. Seeing the complex and sophisticated ideas which have evolved out of The Kids of Degrassi Street - which I watched  religiously growing up - brings me a sense of pride and joy as a Torontonian.  

Despite negative reviews, Toronto-filmed Mini-series The Kennedys also received a handful of nominations!  No love for Katie Holmes though.

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....

KATIE HOLMES & TOM CRUISE FURIOUS AT ANNE HATHAWAY?

Anne Hathaway at TIFF 2008

The Daily Mail is reporting that Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise are boycotting the Oscars this year as word is that the Couple are displeased with Co-Host Anne Hathaway's recent parody of Holmes on a skit called The Miley Cyrus Show.  Hathaway hosted SNL on November 20, 2010.  Although Cruise's Publicist has confirmed this isn't true, do you  recall Holmes nor Cruise having any real reason to be at the Oscars anyway this year?  Neither has starred in any films in-contention for Awards this season.

After her appearance Hathaway clarified to Access Hollywood, "I was a teenager when Dawson's Creek was airing, and I was a pretty avid fan, so it just sort of came from that. It wasn't really Katie Holmes; it was more Joey Potter.".  So there.  Is any additional apology or explanation required, really?

If this is rumour is true, Holmes' lack of a thick skin makes me wonder how she's made it this far in Show Business being offended so easily. To be parodied by Anne Hathaway in my books, is an honour. And if anything, the one who looks worst out of this ordeal is what's depicted as an attention-seeking Miley Cyrus!

Let's relive that moment on SNL again below:

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.

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?

KATIE HOLMES LOVES THE RED VELVET CUPCAKES

Yet another reason why Katie Holmes and me totally need to hang out while she's in-town. We both love Red Velvet Cupcakes!  BFFs Forevz.  ♥

People Magazine reports that Katie Holmes shipped in two dozens of Isabelle's Curly Cakes from Todd English's Food Hall in New York's Plaza Hotel, for Cast Mates and Crew of The Kennedys. The mini-series has just reached the half-way mark according to Director Jon Cassar on Twitter, although unfortunately most of it has been outside the city.

Click here to get the full recipe for the Izzy's Curly Cakes'  Red Velvet Cupcakes by 16 year-old Isabelle English, daughter of Todd.

Honestly Katie, Toronto's got lots of great Cupcakes you need to check out too, i.e. Yonge x Eglinton's The Little Cupcake Shoppe and Pusateri's in Yorkville.  Drop me a line, I'll show you!  We can take the Subway together.  Don't forget Tom and Suri!  How fun.  Yayyyy.

WELCOME BACK, TOM CRUISE

Welcome back, Tom Cruise. Is it finally safe to say that the world has forgiven him for that Oprah freak show and gotten over the fact he's just simply into Scientology?  You'd swear the man was a Serial Rapist the way he's been treated. Well I'm ready for him and actually quite excited to see this new action comedy Knight & Day with Cameron Diaz from Fox.

With the MTV Movie Awards just around the corner on June 6, 2010, Cruise reprises his role as Les Grossman, potty-mouthed Hollywood Mogul in Tropic Thunder for a series of promo spots for the show. He recorded one where he visits the set of Risky Business with an older incarnation of himself in Chinos, not approving of them. Also check out this amusing clip of him having a Business Meeting on the importance of maintaining an image, with Twilight's Robert Pattinson. By the end of it Grossman (Cruise) convinces Pattinson to wash his hair in dirt. Love it.

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)