Month: January 2024

Kevin,,,

That’s the name of the new documentary on Netflix. It tells the story of how the song We Are The World happened on a late night in 1985. Lionel Richie hosted the American Music Awards that night and after the show he and 45 other pop stars headed over to a secret recording session down the street. It was the only night they could do it because everybody was already in town, except Bruce Springsteen who played the last show of his tour and jumped on a plane from Philly to L.A.

Lionel and Michael Jackson wrote the song that week and with the help of a handful of people and Quincy Jones producing, somehow, they did it. They got everybody in a room in a big circle. Everybody looking at each other. Many had never met. Figured out the best key they sang in and who to pair them up with for the lines. It must have been like herding cats.

The artists checked their egos and settled in to do whatever they had to. The cause was righteous. People were starving to death in Africa and they believed they could help. It had already been a long night at the AMA’s so most everybody was a little tired, but ready to roll.

Michael Jackson was the first in the studio practicing his solo. The artists started filing in one by one. Springsteen, Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, Tina Turner, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Steve Perry, Kenny Rogers, Kenny Logins, Diana Ross, Dione Warwick, Willie Nelson, Cyndi Lauper, Ray Charles, Hall and Oates, and many others to help sing the chorus. Even Dan Aykroyd was there. It was like a crazy dream.

Prince didn’t make it that night so Huey Lewis was asked to sing his line. Imagine trying to pull something like this off today. It just couldn’t be done. But it happened on that night in 1985 and you can watch it all unfold on the Netflix documentary “The Greatest Night in Pop.”

Blog by: Chris Louzader

I had one of the best movie going experiences over the weekend! I had the chance to take my 9-year old niece (who loves movies) to the 85th Anniversary of THE WIZARD OF OZ. I’d never seen it on the big screen and when I heard it would be showing, I asked none other than my favorite 9 year old, Monroe!

The experience was so much more than going to the movie itself, however, THE WIZARD OF OZ does happen to be a 1939 classic that transcends time. Our drive to the theatre was full of chit chat and current events. We arrived and walked into the theatre overwhelmed by the smell of popcorn, yep we had to order. I don’t love a lot of butter on my order … but, Monroe said the funniest thing … “GO BUTTER OR GO HOME!” So, we got some butter. Of course the proverbial selfie photo took place, I mean, if it’s not on social, it didn’t happen right? LOL! We settled into our seats with the buttered popcorn, a big Coke Zero and a mutant sized Icee. We whispered a couple of facts about the movie to each other. I’ve seen THE WIZARD OF OZ likely over 100 times, Monroe maybe 8 times, but we saw new things and pointed them out to each other. Monroe asked great questions about the color vs. black and white AND excellent questions about the cast of the film. The experience didn’t stop there. On the ride home we rocked out doing our best versions of Taylor Swift, Monroe nailed it and I wasn’t half bad.

So, going to “see a movie” is so much more! Memories are made!

Kevin Howard…

Well, here we are again. The Chiefs are in the AFC Championship with another shot at another Superbowl. This team has been so fun to watch. What a run! I grew up Dolphins fan and when your team has had as long of a dry spell as they have, it sure has made it easy to jump on the Chiefs bandwagon. Not to mention the fact that Springfield is a great Chiefs town. My son, Sam, and I will be watching and cheering for Kansas City. We’ll be eating BBQ meatballs and some chips and dip. I Love playoff football. Go Chiefs!

Blog by: Chris Louzader

THE BEEKEEPER = Jason Statham is a man on a brutal campaign for vengeance takes on national stakes after he is revealed to be a former operative of a powerful and clandestine organization known as “Beekeepers”.  I NEVER EVER get tired of watching Statham just kick butt ALL over the place.  This is just a fun escape popcorn flick.  I LOVE that kind of flick! Do you?

REWIND REVIEW – WORTH A WATCH (if you haven’t seen) … a rewatch if you have!  2003’s ITALIAN JOB = This is the movie that REALLY introduced me to Jason Statham and it’s SO GREAT!  After being betrayed and left for dead in Italy a man and his team plan and elaborate gold heist against their former ally.  Statham was Handsome Rob … Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Donald Sutherland, and Edward Norton star.

Kevin Howard…

Things were a little slippery this morning because of the ice on the roads. Luckily it’s warming up so it’ll be a short term thing but just the thought of ice gives me a little PTSD from that ice storm we had back in ’07. Remember that one? Two weeks, no power. People were selling generators at high prices and it was difficult to find fuel in many cases. When I finally got out to the grocery store it was cash only. The ATM’s weren’t working and I didn’t have any cash. It was mayhem I tell you. That’s how I remember it anyway.

After a couple of days with no power and a toddler we decided to get a hotel room. It may have been the last room in Springfield. My wife, Kelly was pregnant with our daughter and she was pretty sick, plus we had our three dogs with us in the room. It didn’t smell too good. Luckily after a few days there we stayed at Kelly’s Dad’s house until our power finally came back on. That part was actually fun. The only casualties in our house were two fish who managed to jump out of the fish tank, but still froze.

I know in the grand scheme of things that wasn’t too tough. Could have been worse for sure, but I still get anxious when they say ice is coming. Luckily, the road crews and utility workers learned quite bit from the ’07 storms. This morning was a piece of cake compared to that one. I’m ready for Spring already though. What about you?

Blog by: Chris Louzader

Donald E. Louzader … I call him Big Don, the greatest Father In Law in the world! Well, he just hit a milestone birthday — the big 9-0! Don is still at the top of his game. He exercises, works his mind, and has a wonderful circle of friends. He is a faithful man with the patience of a saint. Don is a very, very proud Korean War Veteran. Don is also a very proud dad to the one and only Don Louzader. If I could grow up to be HALF as cool as Big Don Louzader, that is something to strive for on a daily basis. The man, the myth, the legend … THE CLASS ACT … Mr. 90 himself, DONALD E. LOUZADER!

Blog by Chris Louzader

Hot of the Critics Choice Awards 2024 … the big question is any great stories? As I was going through my photos I felt I MUST share these. Apparently everyone and everything is hilarious! Mark Ruffalo (POOR THINGS) was incredible, like a long lost friend. I asked him where he’d been all my life as he was walking by and he didn’t skip a beat and said he was looking for me – hilarious! Will Ferrell, so many people were clamoring around him, I don’t even KNOW what I said to make him laugh, but, hilarious! Brendan Fraser, I was congratulating him on winning the Oscar after he’d left our show last year and he said The Critics Choice was responsible, apparently hilarious! Lewis Pullman (LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY) and I were talking about how he’d dead on the show and how wild that is, I guess hilarious! And, finally Melora Hardin (Jan Levinson, THE OFFICE) wanted to take the selfie of us so she could be vain … truly hilarious! All of these moments are surreal and memories for a life time. I have stories for days, this likely won’t be the last :-)!

Blog by Chris Louzader

I get a lot of questions on how do I “get to go to an awards show,”  let’s get into it.  Nearly 15 years ago, I applied to be a member of the (then called) Broadcast Film Critics Association and I was accepted (with some criteria that had to be followed – lol).  Now called the Critics’ Choice Association.  Throughout the year, there are so many opportunities to support film through promotional pieces, virtual press conferences, interviews, movie screeners sent to my home.  And, of course, our big daddy event, The Annual Critics Choice Awards.  This year is the 29^th and I’ve been to nearly half of them!

The process of being passionate about movies, watching them on big screen or screener/link, nominating films-actors-actresses-directors-writers-editors-technical departments is an extreme thrill!  Then, VOTING on our awards and attending the show is an HONOR!

Some surreal stories?  Yes!

-Walking to the bathroom and hearing Meryl Streep and Oprah Winfrey chatting behind me while they’re walking to THE SAME BATHROOM!

-Being bumped into a table while mingling and the person you bump into is Sandra Bullock

-Talking to Tom Hanks and him being THE GUY you want him to be

-Bryan Cranston AND William H. Macy conversations that were incredible

-Interviewing on the red carpet and one of the most successful song writers takes all the time in the world to talk to you, Dianne Warren … and a few years later, I go to tour her studio and interview her in Hollywood!

-Nearly sitting on Ryan Reynolds lap and he could not have been more friendly

-Hanging at the After Party with the entire cast of THIS IS US

-Chatting backstage with Katie Couric and seeing her THE NEXT day on Rodeo Drive and she remembered me and chatted again!

-Running into John Krasinski at the event bar, a delight (yep, Jim Halpert)

-Helping with photos and videos back stage and DeNiro, Pacino, and Harvey Keitel ARE INCHES AWAY from me!

-Talking with Will Smith TWO SHORT weeks before “THE SLAP!”

-And, there was nothing like seeing the smiling face of Henry Winkler come toward me to shake my hand and be nothing short of an angel!

I love movies! I love awards season and bringing attention to all kinds of film and mostly, I am truly honored to be a voting member of the Critics’ Choice Association!  Hooray for Hollywood!

Kevin Howard…

Arctic weather has arrived and it’s too dang cold to go outside so I came up with a few ideas for fun indoors. As for me, most likely, I’ll be doing what I always do on the weekends. Butt on couch. TV on. Snacks in hand. Sounds like a plan to me, but here are some other things to do.

Have a movie marathon. Pick a franchise and go with it.

Binge watch a new TV show.

Try cooking something new. I found a recipe for loaded baked potato soup. Might give it a try.

Clean the house. Never mind. Who am I kidding.

Break out the karaoke machine. My wife loves this. Luckily I have ear plugs.

Play Video games. My son is already doing this as I speak.

Go bowling. I wonder if I can still pull off my 120 average.

Build an indoor fort. This would be fun with little kids and kids at heart.

Last but not least…plan your summer vacation. There’s always something to look forward to when things warm up!

Blog by Chris Louzader

On a recent vacation I spent one day getting really intimate with my couch!  I watched three movies, an entire 8-part Apple TV+ series, and several episodes of THE OFFICE!  It was absolute bliss.  I’d like to preface, I did at least brush my teeth that day, otherwise, not much else ha.  It was quite a violent interruption when Mother Nature made me actually get up.  I switched sides of the couch so the cushions wouldn’t get “smashed in” for life and I laid on both sides to keep my body from going numb.

I decided I want much more of this in my life.  Don’t you think it’s GOOD to be sloth once in a while?  Is once a month too much to ask?  I know I want much more slothing in my life.  What about you?