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.)

"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.

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.

TINA FEY ANNOUNCES PREGNANCY ON "OPRAH"

Still from 30 Rock - Tina Fey & Oprah Winfrey

A surprised audience who attended the Taping of The Oprah Winfrey Show today learned that Tina Fey is expecting her second Child.  Yay!  Congratulations, Tina! 

This will be Fey's second Child as she has a five year-old Daughter Alice with Husband Jeff Richmond.  She currently is promoting her new Book, Bossypants, which is now in stores.  The Interview will air on Tuesday, April 12, 2011.

(Photo credit: NBC)

17TH ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

Still from The Fighter

Nominees for the Screen Actors Guild Awards have just been announced and perhaps this is a better indication of what's to come for the Oscars than the randomness of Monday's Golden Globe nominees.  Honouring the v. best performances in Television and Film, the SAGs will air Sunday, January 30, 2011 on TBS.

The Fighter ties The King's Speech in leading all nominees with four nods each. Surprisingly, The Social Network only earned two nominations this time - Oustanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture and Oustanding Performance by an Actor in Leading Role in a Motion Picture.

Both Robert Duvall for Get Low and Jeff Bridges for True Grit finally get some recognition this Awards season in the category of Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role alongside favourites Jesse Eisenberg for The Social Network, Colin Firth for The King's Speech and James Franco for 127 Hours.

JUDAH FRIEDLANDER OF "30 ROCK" IN TORONTO FOR "HOW TO BEAT UP ANYBODY"

Judah Friedlander & Mr. Will-W.

Okay, true story. I received a tip-off from a friend last night that 30 Rock's Judah Friedlander, known best for his role as Writer Frank Rossitano, had just arrived at his Hotel in Yorkville. Friedlander had been slated to do an Autograph Signing at Chapters Festival Walk in Toronto's Entertainment District today in addition to a round of Press which included appearances on Q Radio with Jian Ghomeshi, George Stromboulopoulous Tonight and CTV's eTalk with Ben Mulroney.  The Big Boys.

Being a huge fan of the NBC sitcom in which he stars, I played my cards safely, double-confirming that indeed he had checked-in. Let's face it, Time is valuable to all and I have lived my days of young Fandom, waiting about ad nauseum in front of Hotels in the freezing cold. "Can you please put me through to the room of Judah Friedlander?" I asked, clearing my voice of a combination nervous phlegm/residual Dairy from two Lattes earlier. "Please hold", the Receptionist chimed. This is the turning point of the Call which decides your fate for the next hour or sometimes few hours, depending how badly you want to meet that Celebrity. Within seconds, I was put through to the room of the scene-stealing, 20 year veteran Comedian who got his industry breakthrough as a Cameraman for Chris Rock's Who is Chris Rock?. "Hello?" he answered in surprise at receiving a call in his Hotel Room. Holy shit. Fuck. Jesus Christ. OMG. What the fuck? I hung up in a nervous fervour. Judah Friedlander was in town, indeed.  Yes he was.  Click.

But get this - my Cell Phone began ringing instantaneously and on my Call Display was the number of his Hotel. Shit. Shit. Christ. Fuck. OMG. What the fuck have I gotten myself into? While in an all-about debate to whether or not I should answer, I lost my golden opportunity to convince Friedlander that in fact I was not a crazy lunatic and that this somehow was a big misunderstanding - that I meant well.  So I let him go through to my Voice Mail. Oh God. I went to Starbucks and ordered another Latte, deciding to put in an hour or so of my time to see if he might happen to pop out for some of Yorkville's couture Cuisine. In what played out like a scene so outlandish - not unlike those of 30 Rock itself - this episode ended with my decision to call it a day and meet him at his Autograph Signing (today).

PRODUCT WATCH: JULIANNE MOORE FOR KIEHL'S

Uhh! I love you, Julianne Moore!  Kiehl's and Moore have collaborated together on designing a limited edition bottle of the skin care line's Acai Damage-Protecting Toning Mist, available now at $26 (US) a pop.  Moore, along with other notable figures like rapper/producer Pharrell Williams, are hoping to raise awareness for Rainforest Alliance and up to $200,000 in proceeds from this campaign will be going towards the cause.  The mist is 100% organic.

I am a huge fan of Kiehl's skin care products and swear by them.  I literally have seen my own skin transform to new levels of youthfulness since using their products ten years ago.  True, they are a bit pricier than your average Drug Store brands, but a little goes a long way.  You can't put a price on your face.

My daily regimen includes washing with their Foaming Non-Detergent Washable Cleanser ($12-$26) followed by their Ultra SPF 15 Facial Moisturizer ($19-$50) and Eye Alert ($21.50).  I exfoliate once or twice a week with their tingly Men's Facial Fuel ($25-$35). Occasionally also, I use their Rare Earth Clay Masque ($23) too just to purify and balance.