A new season of Oprah's Master Class debuts with Academy Award-winning actress Jane Fonda. Other masters profiled this season will include three additional award-winning actors Goldie Hawn, Sidney Poitier and Morgan Freeman; media mogul philanthropist Ted Turner; acclaimed musicians Reba McEntire and Bon Jovi; and professional athletes Laird Hamilton and Grant Hill.
Bon Jovi performs at MGM Grand Garden Arena on March 6, 2010.
By Delen Goldberg (contact)
Thursday
22 December 2011
5:01 p.m.
The Fremont Street Experience is getting a new video show starring Jon Bon Jovi for the new year.
“Bon Jovi’s Cosmic Concert” will premiere at 10:45 p.m. New Year’s Eve on the Viva Vision screen, Fremont Street’s 90-by-1,500-foot LED canopy.
A digital spaceship will drop members of the band onto the jumbo overhead screen as three classic Bon Jovi songs play — “It’s My Life,” “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” and “Livin’ on a Prayer.” The canopy will flash images of the musicians performing as the music blares.
Bon Jovi himself selected the three featured songs, Fremont Street Experience officials said.
Starting Jan. 1, the show will become a regular part of the Fremont Street entertainment rotation. It will play nightly at 8 p.m., sandwiched between Don McLean’s “American Pie” and the Doors’ “Strange Days in Vegas.” Every hour nightly from 6 p.m. to midnight, the canopy displays a video show set to music from various bands.
New Year’s Eve will transform Fremont Street into “TributePalooza,” a 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. celebration featuring music from Steel Panther, Rock Sugar and 10 tribute bands. Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman will host a midnight countdown, followed by a fireworks show.
The Fremont Street Experience is typically free and open to all ages, but tickets for New Year’s Eve party will cost $30 and be restricted to people 21 or older.
Thanks Erin, I guess this means we're doing a trip to Fremont Street in March. Maybe Lauri will win more money at Mermaids. LOL
Earlier this week, you may have seen the online rumor -- clearly started by some evil, ungrateful little trolls -- that Jon Bon Jovi was dead. Before we knew it, the news had spread all over Twitter, and Bon Jovi fans the world over had commenced crying into their puffed up, acid-washed denim jackets. That was, of course, until the lovable frontman posted a festive photo of himself to prove he had not, in fact, been shot down in a blaze of glory. We have to say, we breathed a rather hefty sigh of relief. We're really glad Jon Bon Jovi is alive (and taking each day and night at a time... ahem.) Here are six reasons why:
1. Bon Jovi's music, goddamnit
Oh, it's never been cool to like Bon Jovi (except for about three days in 1987), but the truth of the matter is, The Jovi spreads joy wherever it goes. Think of the countless karaoke nights that would have been ruined by the lack of "Living on a Prayer"; consider how many cheesy marriage proposals would have gone awry without the aid of "I'll Be There For You"; and think of the parodies and hilarious mockery we'd have missed out on without the overly-dramatic video for "Wanted Dead or Alive." That's just not a world that we want to live in.
2. Bon Jovi makes old people feel like they're still rockin'
When you get to a certain age, it's an inevitability that you lose touch with "the kids." They listen to music you don't get, they wear clothes that make you roll your eyes, they say words you don't comprehend. But for old Bon Jovi fans, it's different. They still get to feel cool. They still get to go to those arenas and listen to all their old favorites because Bon Jovi still loves playing live. Jovi fans still get to feel like they're 15 years old and Slippery When Wet just came out, year upon year, because musically, what Bon Jovi does now is pretty much the same as what Bon Jovi has always done. It's like a time-machine for people who are aging -- which is practically a gift to medical science.
3. Bon Jovi makes people from New Jersey think it's cool to be from New Jersey
No one has done more to boost the egos of Garden State residents than Bon Jovi (except for maybe Bruce Springsteen). What would New Jersey have these days, without Bon Jovi (and The Boss)? A lack of dignity in the eyes of the rest of the world, that's what. Snooki? The Situation? Jerseylicious? Even the Sopranos! All of them are all about how uncool Jersey is. Without The Jovi and ol' Bruce, New Jersey would have an even worse image problem than it already does.
4. Jon Bon Jovi proves that not all rockers are man-whores
Sure, some foolish things took place in the '80s (see above), but you practically had to have a topless girl chained to you back then in order to sell records. Jon Bon Jovi, however, still came out of it all and married his high school sweetheart, Dorothea Hurley, with whom he's had four children. He told the UK's Daily Mail in 2007: "I've not been a saint. I've had my lapses, [but] I wouldn't trade her in for anything. The fact that she's independent and isn't needy or possessive helps and she is just a very strong woman." Aaaaw.
5. 1980s Bon Jovi used to be a musical gateway drug
Transitioning from listening to the pop charts as a tween into having your life taken over by seriously heavy or experimental music as a teen doesn't always make sense. When it happens seemingly overnight, it can be awkward and can prompt mockery from peers. Green Day is the gateway band today to make that transition smoother, but in the late '80s, it was Bon Jovi's job. Bon Jovi took people away from Madonna and flung them in the direction of far heavier metal and beyond. Thanks, poodle people.
6. Uuuuum, the following video
Doesn't matter how many times you see it, this never stops being hilarious. So thank you, Jon and co -- this is the gift that just never stops giving:
OWN: OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK ADDS NEW ORIGINAL PRIMETIME SPECIALS TO ITS JANUARY LINEUP
"Oprah's Master Class" Returns as a Series of Specials Beginning Sunday, January 8 and the Special Event "Oprah and the Legendary Cast of 'Roots' 35 Years Later" will Air on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Monday, January 16
Los Angeles, CA - OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network announced today two new additions to its January primetime programming lineup: "Oprah's Master Class" returns as a series of specials beginning Sunday, January 8 (10-11 p.m. ET/PT) and an OWN special event, "Oprah and the Legendary Cast of 'Roots' 35 Years Later," will air on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Monday, January 16 (8-9 p.m. ET/PT).
"Oprah's Master Class" will debut with Academy Award-winning actress Jane Fonda (January 8). Other masters profiled this season will include three additional award-winning actors Goldie Hawn, Sidney Poitier and Morgan Freeman; media mogul philanthropist Ted Turner; acclaimed musicians Reba McEntire and Jon Bon Jovi; and professional athletes Laird Hamilton and Grant Hill.
There's more on a 35th anniversary of the movie Roots. But to me this was the only part that's interesting.
Jon Bon Jovi appears on stage and describes how he and his teenage children began getting multiple calls and text messages from friends saying they heard a rumor online that he was dead. Bon Jovi performed at The Hope Concert -- a semi-annual holiday show at the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank. (12/19/11) Andrew Mills/The Star-Ledger
Published: Tuesday, December 20, 2011, 12:34 AM Updated: Tuesday, December 20, 2011, 1:02 AM
By Tris McCall/The Star-Ledger
The wicked Twitterati had him in the grave earlier today. But on Monday night, Jon Bon Jovi disproved rumors of his death at the Hope Concert at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank. The rock star, who was the latest high-profile entertainer to be prematurely buried by pranksters on the Internet, looked and sounded fit as he sang a jazzy version of “The Letter” by the Box Tops, the J. Geils Band stomper “House Party” alongside Southside Johnny, and Bon Jovi hits “Wanted Dead or Alive,” “Who Says You Can’t Go Home,” and “Born to Follow.". Backed by longtime sideman Bobby Bandiera -- the evening’s musical director -- and the 14-piece Jersey Shore Rock-N-Soul Revue, Bon Jovi ended the two-hour benefit concert with a flourish.
Jon Bon Jovi returned for a holiday-themed encore set, pulling out his best Elvis impersonation for “Blue Christmas” and splitting microphone time with Nicole Atkins and Gary U.S. Bonds on a raucous rendition of “Run Run Rudolph.”
Atkins, Bonds, Southside Johnny, Brian Fallon of Gaslight Anthem, and Tim McLoone and the Shirleys all lent their strong voices to the Hope Concert cause -- raising money for the Cancer Institute of New Jersey. The benefit, which was the fifth in the series of occasional charity concerts at Count Basie Theatre, brought in $175,000 for the comprehensive cancer center. Unlike most all-star charity shows, the Hope Concert was well paced: No performer outstayed his or her welcome, and the musicians (mostly) resisted the temptation to extend their songs to absurd lengths. Bandiera had his Rock-N-Soul revue drilled, and he proved to be a generous, graceful master of ceremonies.
Like Scott Baio, who was victimized by a similar prank a few days ago, Jon Bon Jovi seemed unnerved by the barrage of Twitter rumors. He referred to the hoax several times, and even pantomimed taking phone calls from concerned friends checking to see if he was still alive. He even felt the need to rehash the old Mark Twain quip about how the reports of his death had been exaggerated.
At the last Hope Concert in 2008, Jon Bon Jovi shared the Count Basie stage with Bruce Springsteen. The Boss did not make a surprise appearance on Monday, but “Thunder Road” pumped over the theatre sound system after the show prompted a compensatory singalong.
Published: Monday, December 19, 2011, 6:05 PM Updated: Monday, December 19, 2011, 6:06 PM
By Amy Kuperinsky/The Star-Ledger
Tim Farrell
Jon Bon Jovi performs at a charity show for the Parker Family Clinic at Starland Ballroom.
Singer-songwriter. Philanthropist. Father. Dead?
Jon Bon Jovi trended worldwide on Twitter today when people thought he was dead. But he is not dead.
A poorly constructed, fake press release got retweeted a whole bunch of times and eventually, talk progressed from his appearance in an Advil commercial to his supposed demise.
Reactions ranged from shock and appreciation for Bon Jovi's work to statements like "Jon Bon Jovi can only be killed by silver bullets" (that one from @Beez_).
No official statement has been issued yet to confirm the death is just a rumor, though a rep is reported to have cleared up the matter, but But Bon Jovi would probably say he's far from suffering. Free of pain, even.
"Pain doesn't have much of a place in my life," he says in the Advil commercial. "I check the schedule and it's not on it."
As for the commercial in which he calls himself a father, philanthropist and singer-songwriter, here it is.
In case you were interested this is the page that started the rumor! <--click the link, this page didn't start that rumor. I wouldn't play with other peoples emotions, nor my own considering I cried for a week when Jon got married (but I was only 13, I've matured, somewhat...)
Rockstar Jon Bon Jovi (John Francis Bongiovi, Jr) was pronounced dead today after paramedics found him in a coma at his Empress Hotel, city and law enforcement of Asbury Park, NJ sources told The Times after World Christmas Tour concert on
The Bamboozle Festival,North Beach Asbury Park.
New Jersey Fire Department-First Aid Captain Douglas Gray told The Times that paramedics responded to a 911 call from the home. When they arrived, Bon Jovi was not breathing.
Ok, people believed that? The World Christmas Tour takes place on December 25th, features Santa, his elves and assorted reindeer. Jon Bon Jovi is not featured, although if he came down my chimney I wouldn't call the cops.
New Jersey Fire Dept First Aid??? WTF? I know NJ is small, but it's a big enough place to necessitate boroughs having their own ambulance companies. Even in my hometown of ToxicWasteburbia, I mean Ringwood, NJ had our own Ambulance Corp, and THREE fire departments. My families house was protected by the Erskine Lakes Fire Dept, their motto, honest to whatever is "We've Never Lost a Foundation" which is comforting until you realize most of the houses have concrete foundations....
But I digress. Jon I am happy you're alive and I hope tonight you play Sleep When I'm Dead and laugh this off. Cause you know you're famous when you have a celebrity death hoax.
Bob Bandiera brings his all-star jinglebell-jam rock spectacular back to the Basie on Monday night with Hope Concert V.
In an interview we did with Bob Bandiera a couple of seasons back, the veteran musical go-to guy fessed up to the effect that “I’ve got about 95 guitars. My wife is not happy about it — she allotted me two rooms for my music. But you know it’s fun to have that arsenal.”
What the Hardest Working Man in the Shore Music Business also appears to have is a “little black book” of friends that must rival the Oxford Unabridged for sheer heft — that, or a Rolodex the size of the “Big Wheel” from The Price Is Right.
On Monday night, December 19, a few of those friends — otherwise known as “almost every significant artist on the Jersey Shore” — will meet up with Bobby B in Red Bank town to take part in a little fundraiser show by the name of Hope Concert V, a local tradition that makes a much anticipated (and very much SOLD OUT) return to the boards of the Count Basie Theatre.
Going up at 8pm, the Yuletide rock show marks the first Hope Concert since 2008 — a particularly memorable edition (well documented in cellphone-footage snippets like this) that found bandleader Bandiera wrangling a merry crew that included Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Southside Johnny Lyon (helpfully introduced as “The Grinch” by The Boss), Nicole Atkins, Gary U.S. Bonds and pretty much anyone with the power to tear a full house of people away from home, hearth, holiday shopping and football.
One of many recurring high-profile events in the “Santa Basie” month of December, the all-star jinglebell jam took a hiatus after Hope Concert IV (a benefit dedicated to Red Bank’s Parker Family Health Center). In the ensuing interlude, Bandiera stepped up his activity as touring guitarist for Bon Jovi — this when not serving as Southside’s lieutenant in the Asbury Jukes, planning the latest in his Basie-based series of Jersey Shore Rock ‘N Soul themed concerts, hopping the goodwill train of Holiday Express, and simply flying solo (or as part of an allstar “supergroup”) at one of Tim McLoone’s Monmouth County establishments.
For the fifth edition of this increasingly buzzworthy endeavor, Bandiera (can we call him “Bob Hope?”) will be raising funds for The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, the sole National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in the Garden State, and a New Brunswick facility that’s described in the event’s promo materials as “dedicated to improving the prevention, detection, treatment, and care of patients with cancer, through the transformation of laboratory discoveries into clinical practice, and by offering its patients access to the latest cancer research studies and experimental therapies.”
Bandiera, who was honored by the Monmouth County Arts Council in 2009, has said for his part that “Hey, at the end of the day I’m playing music in the spirit of fun.” For the audience members who paid up to $500 a head (for a VIP ticket that includes a pre-show meet-and-greet with the musicians), the chance to make a welcome contribution — and to take part in an event “we’ll tell our grandchildren about” — should help keep the Hope Concert springing eternal, here in the town Where Christmas Music Lives.
