TRACY MORGAN IN TORONTO FOR CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FEST

Tracy Morgan in Toronto - March 2012

Former Saturday Night Live Alumni and Star of 30 Rock, Tracy Morgan, flew into Toronto earlier this evening right in-time for his Sony Centre for the Performing Arts appearance, as part of the Canadian International Comedy Fest taking place in the City. Stunning the audience with his raunchy brand of Humour, Morgan performed for just-over an hour to a standing ovation.

Morgan was incredible to Fans who waited outside the Venue, stopping to take Photos with Fans and signing Autographs.  "Let's do it!", he declared to my Photo request, some snapped by his Wife, Sabina.

After heading out in his Suburban, Mr. & Mrs. Morgan were spotted having some post-show Cocktails at Fairmont Royal York Hotel's Epic, greeting Fans in the Hotel Lobby afterward.

In addition to his recurring role on 30 Rock as Tracy Jordan, Morgan also can be seen on Hidden Camera Reality Series Scare Tactics, where he will be returning for a fifth season this Fall as Host and Executive Producer.

I have an Signed Photo from Morgan to give away and to qualify, simply "like" Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven on Facebook and "like" this corresponding Post before May 1, 2012.  Good luck!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

JIMMY FALLON & MICHAEL BUBLÉ ON "SNL"

Michael Bublé & Jimmy Fallon on SNL

Jimmy Fallon returned to his Saturday Night Live roots last night and absolutely knocked it out of the Ballpark for that Christmas Episode, featuring Michael Bublé as Musical Guest. SNL Alumni Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Rachel Dratch and more popped by to show their support too! 

You must watch this mock Michael Bublé Christmas Duets Fauxmercial which will have you rolling on the floor with some pretty dead-on impressions of Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, M.I.A., Ke$ha, Russell Brand, Scotty McCreery, Sting, Kanye West and Thom Yorke. Amaze.  Bublé also is quite funny reacting to these little disastrous Duets.

This ridiculous War Horse Parody also cannot be missed where they make a complete mockery of the TONY Award-winning Play with Fallon playing the Horse, Joey.

JANE KRAKOWSKI IN TORONTO FOR BLACKCREEK MUSIC FESTIVAL

Jane Krakowski in Toronto - July 2011

Just three months after delivering her first Child Bennett, Jane Krakowski was fit and in fighting form for the BlackCreek Music Festival's presentation of The Very, Very Best of Broadway at Rexall Centre.  The Show assembled together some of the biggest names in Broadway to perform a selection of Classics.  

The Tony and SAG Award-winning Actress, best known for her hilarious work on NBC's 30 Rock as Jenna Maroney, wowed the Audience with a showstopping delivery of A Call from the Vatican, performed recently by Penélope Cruz in 2009's NINE.  One onlooker was in awe how high Krakowski's heels were.

Krakowski was shocked to arrive back at her Hotel to find Fans waiting for Autographs and walked over to greet them asking, "What, they can't let you guys come any closer?".  Not surprisingly she was personable and bubbly, not at all unlike her Stage and Television persona generously giving her time to them after a long day which saw her leaving for Rehearsals before noon and arriving back to her Hotel after midnight.

RIO - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from RIO

The Creator of Ice Age, Carlos Saldanha, has done it again - this time in 3-D with his latest Animated Feature, RIO. Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) is a rare Macaw Bird, who has been domesticated by his Owner Linda (Leslie Mann) in Minneapolis after she had found him in a box rolled-off a truck. Upon having it brought to her attention by Ornithologist Tulio (Rodrigo Santoro) that Blu's species is in danger of becoming extinct, he and Linda make their way to Rio de Janero, where he is to mate with beautiful and free-spirited Jewel (Anne Hathaway).

Before long, both Blu and Jewel are kidnapped by a team of greedy Poachers. They are terrorized by tyrannous Watch Bird Nigel (Jemaine Clement), but manage to escape. One catch though - Blu does not know how to fly and after having been captured, both he and Jewel are bound together by chains. Together they find themselves on the wildest adventure of their lives with the help of their Friends Rafael (George Lopez), Nico (Jamie Foxx) and Pedro (will.i.am) who protect them from the Poachers and Nigel. Will Blu and Jewel manage to stay free of their Captors? Will Linda and Blu ever unite again? And above all, will this species of Blue Macaw birds become extinct forever?

On the rare occasion, I take the time to review an Animated Feature as admittedly it isn't a favourite genre of mine. RIO however, truly exceeded my expectations through and through.  Visually, it is a spectacle with enough vivacity, depth and detailing to make any Brazilian proud to call this Film their own - even with all the Urban North American-isms found throughout its Script.  RIO's multi-layered story line is told clearly and the heart it possesses underneath it all is palpable. Its ambition to educate our Children on the dangers of Extinction is expressed and understood, while packaged in the universality of a Love Story between a Bird and his Owner, and also that Bird and another.

If there was any doubt of Blu's visceral appeal as a Hero, a Child attending my Screening in tears had cried out "Blu!!!!!" as the Macaw had to fight his biggest challenge yet against his Captors.  My general rule of thumb is that Children rarely lie and perhaps that Child's sentiments also could be felt throughout the Theatre, although suppressed by the inhibitions that come with Age.

WIN A "RIO" PRIZE PACK

From the creators of Ice Age comes an animated 3-D Musical about two almost-extinct Macaw Birds, Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) and Jewel (Anne Hathaway). The two are brought together in Rio de Janero but kidnapped soon after. After managing to escape from a pair of greedy Poachers who are looking to sell them off, the two Birds find themselves on the wildest adventure of their lives!

RIO features the voices of George Lopez, Leslie Mann, Jamie Foxx, Wanda Sykes, Tracy Morgan and Bebel Gilberto. Released through Fox, you won't want to miss RIO when it hits Theatres on April 15, 2011!