12/7/15 O&A NYC Hollywood Monday: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Hollywood Mondays

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Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a Christmas television special produced in stop motion animation by Rankin/Bass Productions and distributed by DreamWorks Classics. It first aired Sunday, December 6, 1964, on the NBC television network in the United States. The special was based on the Johnny Marks song Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer which was itself based on the 1939 poem Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer written by Marks’ brother-in-law, Robert L. May.  Since 1972, the special has aired on CBS.  Continue reading

12/3/15 O&S NYC Throwback Thursday Holiday Greeting: Eartha Kitt- Santa Baby

THROWBACK HOLIDAY
Eartha Kitt

Eartha Mae Kitt was an actress, singer, cabaret star, dancer, stand-up comedienne, activist and voice artist.  Known for her highly distinctive singing style and her 1953 recordings of C’est Si Bon and the enduring Christmas novelty smash Santa Baby. Both songs became US Top 10 hits. Orson Welles once called her the most exciting woman in the world.
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11/13/15 O&A NYC SPOTLIGHT- The Moment That Launched A Career: Tyrese Singing On Bus in Coca-Cola Commercial 1994

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A bus pulls up to let on a kid with headphones singing the “Always Coca-Cola” jingle soulfully aloud to the passengers. It should be noted that this was the first appearance of 16-year-old Tyrese Gibson  Continue reading

9/16/15 O&A NYC Wildin Out Wednesday: Sylvester The Cat & Tweety Bird – Tweet And Lovely

wildin out wednesday

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Sylvester (who lives in an apartment building next to Tweety’s yard) Tweety Bird singing and looks through the window with his telescope. Tweety sees him, grabs a towel, exclaims “I taw I taw a peeking tom cat!”, and shuts the door after saying “That nasty old peeking tom cat!”.  Continue reading

7/6/15 O&A Hollywood Monday: Halle Berry- Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (excerpts)

Hollywood Mondays

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Introducing Dorothy Dandridge is the 1999 biography of Dorothy Dandridge follows her career through early days on the club circuit with her sister to her turn in movies, including becoming the first black actress to win a Best Actress Nomination in 1954 for “Carmen Jones”, to her death from prescription drugs, which remains debated whether it was suicide or accidental. In 2000 production won five Emmy Awards including Outstanding Art Direction, Cinematography, Costumes, Hairstyling and Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie—Halle Berry.  Continue reading

O&A July 4th Tribute: Whitney Houston- Star Spangle Banner

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Whitney Houston’s Super Bowl XXV rendition of the Star Spangle Banner in the annals of national anthems remains the standard. Her incredible voice and the bare minimum of extraneous notes came at a particularly patriotic time, just after the onset of the Persian Gulf War. Re-released as a single after the September 11th terrorist attacks, Houston donated all proceeds to charity. She ranks among the best of all-time because of the circumstances and … that voice..  Continue reading