Davy Jones, who was part of the ’60s rock group The Monkees and starred in the group’s groundbreaking television show, passed away earlier today at the age of 66. The cause of death is being reported as a heart attack.
Jones, who achieved teen heartthrob status during The Monkees’ chart reign, sang lead on the group’s hits “Daydream Believer,” “A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You,” and “Valleri.” Although the group officially split in 1971, massive exposure on MTV in the mid-’80s led to a Monkees resurgence, including reunion tours, new music, and a 1997 TV special. The group most recently toured last year to mark its 45th anniversary.
Last year, we spoke to Jones, who told us he still looks back fondly upon his days a a Monkee. (Click on the media player to hear Davy Jones.).
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Although “The Monkees” didn’t premiere on TV until September 1966, American audiences first saw him two years earlier, when he appeared on “The Ed Sullivan Show” with the Broadway cast of “Oliver.” Most people don’t remember his appearance, though, because that just happened to be the night of The Beatles’s historic performance. Jones recalled that historic night. (Click on the media player to hear Davy Jones.)
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Although “The Monkees” was only on television for two seasons, its impact was enough to cement the quartet’s place in pop culture forever. Jones made a particularly memorable guest appearance on “The Brady Bunch,” a cameo that was reprised for “The Brady Bunch Movie” in 1995. The group’s music has endured, and the TV series’ influence can still be seen in some shows today. Jones spoke about the group’s legacy meant to him. (Click on the meda player to hear Davy Jones.)
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Jones is survived by his wife Jessica and four daughters.
Tonight the ladies take a “leap” on to the Idol stage in effort to impress, gain your vote, and make the final cut on American Idol. Who’s going to rock it? Who’s going to steal your heart? Tune in tonight to find out!
The 12 female semi-finalists scheduled to perform Tonight, (Wednesday) Feb. 29 include the following:
So who will rise to the top tonight and win your vote? Watch American Idol tonight at 8/7central on FOX, vote for your favorites, and then tune in tomorrow night to see who makes the cut!
BURBANK, Calif. (February 28, 2012) — Production has commenced on location in New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado on Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ epic adventure “The Lone Ranger.” The film reunites the filmmaking team of the first three “Pirates of the Caribbean” blockbusters—producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski—with Johnny Depp, who created Captain Jack Sparrow in his iconic, Academy Award®-nominated performance and contributed the voice of the title character of Verbinski’s Academy Award-winning “Rango.”
Depp plays spirit warrior Tonto in “The Lone Ranger,” with Armie Hammer (“The Social Network,” “J. Edgar”) starring in the title role. Depp and Hammer are joined by a prestigious international cast which includes Tom Wilkinson, two-time Academy Award nominee (“Michael Clayton,” “In the Bedroom”) and Golden Globe® and Emmy® winner (“John Adams”); William Fichtner (Jerry Bruckheimer’s productions of “Armageddon,” “Pearl Harbor” and “Black Hawk Down”); Emmy Award-winner Barry Pepper (TV’s “The Kennedys,” “True Grit,” “Saving Private Ryan”); James Badge Dale (“The Grey,” TV’s “The Pacific” and “Rubicon”); Ruth Wilson (television’s “Jane Eyre” and “Luther”); and two-time Academy Award nominee and six-time Golden Globe nominee Helena Bonham Carter (“The King’s Speech,” “Alice in Wonderland”). The film is slated to open on May 31, 2013.
“The Lone Ranger” is a thrilling adventure infused with action and humor, in which the famed masked hero is brought to life through new eyes. Native American spirit warrior Tonto (Johnny Depp) recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid (Armie Hammer), a man of the law, into a legend of justice—taking the audience on a runaway train of epic surprises and humorous friction as the two unlikely heroes must learn to work together and fight against greed and corruption.
“The Lone Ranger” is written by Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio of “Pirates of the Caribbean,” Eric Aronson and Justin Haythe. The executive producers are Mike Stenson, Chad Oman, Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Eric Ellenbogen and Eric McLeod.
Jerry Bruckheimer and Gore Verbinski are joined by a remarkable team of behind-the-scenes artists, including director of photography Bojan Bazelli (Verbinski’s “The Ring,” “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”); visual consultant Mark “Crash” McCreery (production designer of Verbinski’s “Rango); costume designer Penny Rose (“Pirates of the Caribbean” films); film editor James Haygood (“Panic Room,” “Fight Club”); visual effects supervisor Tim Alexander (“Rango,” three “Harry Potter” films); Academy Award®-winning special effects supervisor John Frazier, a 10-time nominee whose previous collaborations with Jerry Bruckheimer have included “Armageddon,” “Pearl Harbor” and, with Verbinski as well, “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”; and stunt coordinator Tommy Harper (“Iron Man,” “Iron Man 2”).
Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Gore Verbinski has enjoyed tremendous box office success as the innovative director of both character-driven franchises and thoughtful genre-bending fare. Most recently, Verbinski released his first animated film, the smash hit “Rango,” starring Johnny Depp. Grossing over $240 million worldwide, the film won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film, as well as BAFTA and Annie awards, and received Golden Globe® and PGA nominations. Verbinski previously helmed the hit franchise “Pirates of the Caribbean,” directing the first three films starring Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley. The films have collectively grossed nearly $3 billion worldwide since release. He made his directorial debut with “Mouse Hunt,” starring Nathan Lane, followed by the road movie “The Mexican,” starring Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt and James Gandolfini. He also directed the smash horror film “The Ring,” starring Naomi Watts.
Verbinski is also a successful award-winning commercial director, having been honored with four Clio Awards and a Cannes Silver Lion Award for his work on an assortment of memorable advertising spots. In addition, he directed music videos for bands including Bad Religion and Crystal Method.
First in partnership with Don Simpson, and then as the chief of Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Bruckheimer has produced an unprecedented string of worldwide smashes, impacting not only the industry, but mass culture as well. Bruckheimer’s films include (producing with Don Simpson) “Top Gun,” “Beverly Hills Cop,” “Beverly Hills Cop 2,” “American Gigolo,” “Flashdance,” “Bad Boys,” “Dangerous Minds,” “Crimson Tide,” “The Rock,” and (producing solo) “Con Air,” “Armageddon,” “Enemy of the State,” “Gone in 60 Seconds,” “Coyote Ugly,” “Remember the Titans,” “Pearl Harbor,” “Black Hawk Down,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,” “Bad Boys II,” “Veronica Guerin,” “King Arthur,” “National Treasure,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End,” “National Treasure: Book of Secrets” and the 2011 blockbuster “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.”
On television, Bruckheimer had an unprecedented 10 television series airing in the 2005-6 season, a record in the medium for an individual producer. JBTV’s series include “C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation” and its spinoffs “C.S.I.: Miami,” “C.S.I.: NY” and “Without a Trace,” “Cold Case” and the eight-time Emmy® Award-winner “The Amazing Race.”
Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Television have been honored with 41 Academy Award® nominations, six wins, eight GRAMMY® Award nominations, five wins, 23 Golden Globe® nominations, four wins, 105 Emmy® Award nominations, 21 wins, 30 People’s Choice nominations, 15 wins, numerous MTV Awards, including one for Best Picture of the Decade for “Beverly Hills Cop.”
“The Lone Ranger” will film exteriors and studio work in New Mexico, followed by locations in Arizona, Utah and Colorado.
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is one of the most recognized people in the world. Johnson has become one of the biggest movie stars in the world, but he continues to be remembered for wrestling in the WWE. Johnson remembers what it was like before gaining fame and told us that every day he is thankful for what he has, which took hard work and a bit of luck to get to where he is today. (Click on the audio player to hear Dwayne Johnson)
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Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson currently stars in Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, which is still in the top five at the box office.
Tonight is the night, when the Top 13 guys take the stage in an effort to gain your vote, and make the cut. Of course, no show would be fun without a dramatic twist, so Idol is promising that one of these four contestants – Jermaine Jones, Johnny Keyser, Richie Law and David Leathers – will get a second chance and join the group tonight for a chance to perform LIVE for the first time on the American Idol stage.
The 12 male semi-finalists scheduled to perform Tonight, (Tuesday) Feb. 28 include the following:
One additional contestant will be selected as number 13…Will it be Jermaine Jones, Johnny Keyser, Richie Law, or David Leathers? Tune in to American Idol tonight at 8/7central on FOX to watch and find out!
Katherine McPhee became a star after she was a contestant on season five of American Idol. McPhee finished in second place next to Taylor Hicks. Since then, McPhee has gone on to do movies and currently stars in the NBC musical drama, Smash.
While American Idol was a great and grueling experience for McPhee, she told us that starring on Smash is more grueling, and that she has to pace herself while being on a television series.
“Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax” features the voices of stars like Taylor Swift, Danny DeVito, Ed Helms, Betty White, and Zac Efron, to name a few. It’s the first time Efron’s done an animated film, and in this video, he gives us a little insight into the movie and his character. So take a look and let us know if you’re excited about seeing the movie, which opens this Friday.
Wiz Khalifa’s hit single featuring Snoop Dogg & Bruno Mars, “Young, Wild & Free,” is skyrocketing up the charts. Not too long ago, Wiz Khalifa stopped by the Fox All Access studio and part 2 of his interview is finally here! We love Wiz…what you see is definitely what you get. He is quite humble, he talks about how he likes to take care of those he’s known and loved all his life. He shares fan interaction stories and tells us the weirdest part of the body he’s ever signed an autograph. He talks about his love for Amber Rose and lists 3 of her most endearing qualities. If you don’t know Wiz…now you know!
As you’ve no doubt heard, the “House” crew will hang up its scrubs this May and call it a day after eight seasons. Hugh Laurie, who stars in the Fox medical drama, was a well-known comic actor in the UK, but he was a relative unknown in the USA, where audiences had only seen him in a handful of supporting roles. In fact, when Laurie went in to audition, executive producer Bryan Singer had never heard of him. However, Laurie thinks that lack of awareness worked to his advantage, because it allowed viewers to buy into the character, rather than the actor playing him. (Click on the audio player to hear Hugh Laurie)
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Meryl Streep is one of the best actresses that the big screen has ever seen. Tonight, Streep won her third Academy Award for best actress, for her role as former British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, in The Iron Lady. Streep, who previously won Oscars for her powerful performances in Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) and Sophie’s Choice (1982), told us after winning the Oscar that she was surprised to hear her named called. (Click on the audio player to hear Meryl Streep)
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We have spoken to Meryl Streep several times over the years, and she is a class act both on and off screen.
Davy Jones, who was part of the ’60s rock group The Monkees and starred in the group’s groundbreaking television show, passed away earlier today at the age of 66. The cause of death is being reported as a heart attack.
