JERRY SEINFELD HEADLINES "LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE" GALA

Jerry Seinfeld at Laughter is the Best Medicine Gala - April 2012

Laughter really can cure all. Toronto's v. own Will Arnett returned home tonight for a cause close to heart. Allstream Centre (Exhibition Place) was the venue of choice for an über-glamorous Black Tie Affair titled Laughter is the Best Medicine. The Evening was hosted by the Up All Night Star, who also was accompanied by his talented Wife - Parks & Recreation Star Amy Poehler (whom we met late 2010), while Comedian Derek Edwards warmed-up the Audience. 

Arnett's Father Jim, served on the Board for the Toronto East General Hospital between 2002 to 2009, serving as Chairman between 2006 to 2008. $3 million in proceeds raised from the $1k-per-head Gala will go to support the Hospital's $211-million-dollar Capital Redevelopment Project. The Project will see the establishment of a new Ken and Marilyn Thomson Patient Care Centre, enhancing access to critical Inpatient and Outpatient services for more than 500k in the Greater Toronto Area. The Gala honoured Arnett as the Hospital's first-ever Honourary Doctor.

With over 1,500 Attendees in-house, Guests were treated to a Surprise Performance with legendary Comedy King Jerry Seinfeld headlining the Event, which had him billed mysteriously as "one of the World's most well-known TV Personalities". Seinfeld pleased the Crowd with his signature and v. familiar brand of Humour with Twitter Reviews ranging from "amazing" to "killing it" to "tearing it up".

Seinfeld will be returning to Toronto soon again with two Shows scheduled at Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, May 4-5, 2012.  Click here for more details.

See a brief Clip of Seinfeld expressing his thoughts on Toronto:

ESTELLE HARRIS IN TORONTO

Estelle Harris in Toronto - March 2012

The brilliant and charismatic Estelle Harris made a rare visit to Toronto today and among her stop-offs this morning were visits to Global Television's The Morning Show and also CityTV's Breakfast Television. Braving the cold, the Actress/Comedienne best known for her work as Estelle Costanza on long-lived series Seinfeld, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and also voice work in Toy Story 2 & 3, was rushed in and out quickly, getting into her Escalate with the help of a Handler.

Harris was seen most recently on the NBC Series Are You There, Chelsea? based on Comedienne Chelsea Handler's Book of the same name.  The Series airs Wednesday nights at 9:00 PM EST on Global Television.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

2012 SUPER BOWL TV SPOTS PREVIEW

Jerry Seinfeld's 2012 Acura NSX Super Bowl TV Spot

I know little about Football, but I know always to be excited for those Super Bowl Commercials which surface right around now.  Many already have surfaced online, although surely many participating companies have a few more over-the-top tricks up their sleeves for Sunday night. Already, there are a number of standouts already this year including Jerry Seinfeld's TV Spot for Acura NSX which sees him try to bribe his way up the Waiting List; Jay Leno even pops by right at the end!

Coincidentally, another Funnyman Will Arnett - who along with Seinfeld will be coming to Toronto in April for Toronto East General Hospital - brings out a few laughs in an Ad for online streaming website, Hulu too.  Matthew Broderick surely will bring-out a few smiles in reprising his famed Ferris Bueller role, taking a day off in his Honda CRV - the Ad even has him singing in Chinese!

Without any shortage of Star Power, H&M also unveils their David Beckham Bodywear Collection TV Spot, although I'm uncertain whether or not stores will sell-out by the time it airs this Sunday since it is to be released this Thursday.  Supermodel Adriana Lima also will be appearing in an Ad for Teleflora, although this has yet to surface online.

See some of this year's awesome Super Bowl TV Spots below:

WILL ARNETT & JERRY SEINFELD TEAM-UP FOR TORONTO EAST GENERAL HOSPITAL

Jerry Seinfeld & Will Arnett

How awesome is this? Toronto's v. own Will Arnett will be flying-in to host Laughter is the Best Medicine, a $1000-per-head Black Tie Affair in support of Toronto East General Hospital. Proceeds from the Event will be going towards the Ken and Marilyn Thomson Patient Care Centre, which will provide greater access to critical inpatient and outpatient care for up to half a billion people in the GTA. His Father, Jim Arnett, also severed on the Board of the Hospital from 2002 through 2009. The question on all of our minds however, is whether or not the Up All Night star will be bringing his lovely Mrs., Amy Poehler!

If that already weren't major enough, another NBC star - the one and only Jerry Seinfeld - will be providing the Entertainment at this first-ever Comedy Gala, among a line-up of other famous Comedians.

Laughter is the Best Medicine takes place Thursday, April 12, 2012 at Allstream Centre, located at the Canadian National Exhibition.

(Photo credit: NBC)

"LIVE! WITH REGIS & KELLY" TO BE RE-BRANDED "LIVE! WITH KELLY"

Kelly Ripa & Nick Lachey as Kim Kardashian & Kris Humphries

How perfect was her timing?  Kelly Ripa had it down-pat when she decided to dress-up as Kim Kardashian on yesterdays taping of Live! with Regis & Kelly.  Guest Co-host Nick Lachey standing on stilts, was dressed as Kris Humphries, all falling on the day that the World was made aware of the just-married Couple's impending Divorce.

And is it also pure coincidence that Jessica Simpson, former-Wife of Lachey, confirmed her Pregnancy (Father: Eric Johnson) to the World via Twitter yesterday too?

With TV Icon Regis Philbin set to make his Departure from the long-running Show (began in 1983) on Friday, November 18, 2011 in what will be an emotional moment, it also was just announced that it will be re-branded as Live! with Kelly.  A  permanent a new Co-host is still being sought to fill Philbin's shoes. 

The first Celebrity Guest Co-host confirmed for November 21-23, 2011 is Jerry Seinfeld, a good Friend of Ripa's.

(Photo credit: ABC)

"SEINFELD" STAR JASON ALEXANDER IN TORONTO FOR UNITED JEWISH APPEAL

Jason Alexander & Mr. Will-W.

Looking noticeably slimmer and trimmer Seinfeld star Jason Alexander - yes, George Costanza - flew into Toronto from Florida earlier today for an appearance at the United Jewish Appeal's Campaign 2012 Gala at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts.  The Funnyman, all Suited-up and holding a gifted Toronto Maple Leafs Jersey, had earlier performed to do an hour-long Set before an Audience which was quick to purchase the available upper-tier seats.

Alexander has lent his name to the OneVoice initiative in recent years, which seeks to help reach a mutual Peace Agreement between Israelis and Palestinians; him being a fitting face for the occasion this evening.

My Good Friend @PlanetMaurie at KISS 92.5 asked Alexander what he was doing earlier today when 5.9 magnitude Earthquake shook the City, to which he replied, "I was in the air!".   You can catch a Clip Maurie got of the moment soon over here.

JUDD APATOW'S ALL-STAR MOCK PSA FOR THE AMERICAN JEWISH WORLD SERVICE

Director/Screenwriter Judd Apatow's been everywhere this past week promoting his new book I Found This Funny: My Favourite Pieces of Humor and Some That May Not Be That Funny At All, including an appearance alongside Robin Williams and Kylie Minogue on Jay Leno last week.

The Director of The 40 Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up recently brought together a slew of stars for this mock Public Service Announcement for the American Jewish World Service, a non-profit organization which educates the American-Jewish community on Global Justice.  This Clip, produced for website Funny or Die is absolutely hilarious and here we see Jewish stars like Sarah Silverman and Jerry Seinfeld, to clearly non-Jewish celebrities like Don Johnson to Triumph the Insult Comic Dog to Lindsay Lohan, voicing their thoughts on AJWS.  Lohan even pokes fun at her own financial debt.  

*sigh* Once upon a time when times were better, before Emma Stone came along....

MADONNA ON THE MARRIAGE REF

There she goes again, being all in-your-face.  Madonna appeared on Jerry Seinfeld's new hit show The Marriage Ref on NBC tonight and I must say once again, the show was beyond entertaining.  The Queen of Pop joined the celebrity panel alongside Larry David (Arrested Development, Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Ricky Gervais (The Invention of Lying, The Office - UK) and there was a whole lotta arguing with Madonna taking a feminist stance on pretty much everything.  

The panel got to judge amusing couples' conflicts tonight including a wife who treated her lizard better than her jealous husband, which Madonna had no issue with, and also a couple burdened by the husband's overbearing mother.  In tonight's episode, the audience got to see the mother belittle her son, a 46 year-old man, for not having sex more often with his wife.  What gets me is that the man is a Psychotherapist!

I am in love with this show and for me it's honestly more about seeing the celebrity panel bicker than the actual couples' drama.  Oddly though, the couples only win a Royal Caribbean Cruise for their embarrassment, so clearly the budget is going all into the celebrity guest appearances.  Congratulations NBC, you've just made television exciting again for me!

And while we're on the topic of Madonna, Oscar-nominated actress Maggie Gyllenhaal appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show today and confessed her adoration for her since the age of seven.  Gyllenhaal revealed that she attended Madonna's Oscar Party and got to dance full-on with her for a  minute, but couldn't keep up with her.  Before long, she noticed Madonna dancing with her husband, Peter Sarsgaard, who in her words was "controlling it" with his neck tie.  Good times.

THE MARRIAGE REF - A RATINGS HIT

NBC's The Marriage Ref was previewed last night as a 30-minute teaser after the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony and it was a certified ratings hit, beating out its timeslot competition at 10:30 PM EST.  

The reality show produced by Jerry Seinfeld, brings real couples with humorous domestic dilemmas aboard, while a celebrity panel of judges come together to help resolve their disputes.  Appearing on last night's episode were Alec Baldwin, Eva Longoria-Parker and Jerry Seinfeld, while comedian Tom Papa hosted.  Coming soon are Sarah Silverman, Madonna, Tina Fey and many others. 

Featured last night on the show were a couple quarreling over whether or not the husband could keep his Taxidermied dog Fonzie around the house, which his wife was terribly against.  Another couple was debating whether or not to install a Stripper Pole in their bedroom.  The husband was all for it, the wife... not so much!

The full first episode of The Marriage Ref premieres this Thursday, March 4, 2010 on NBC at 10 PM EST.  Quite possibly the most brilliant hour of television ever.  Aside from Glee, of course.