Show Biz
Reichel video nominated at New York film festival

WHEE, THE PEOPLE: Scott Sorensen, who directed Keali‘i Reichel’s "Kukahi ’99" video, has learned that the project, produced by Coco Palm Pictures, has been nominated in the New York Film and Video Festival’s category of Best Music Home Video in the World. An awards banquet is set this Friday in The Big Apple . . .

"Wheel of Fortune" host Pat Sajak and his family dined at Keo’s in Waikiki prior to the game show’s three-night taping last week . . .

I-94 morning drive co-host Rory Wild, a fan of the "Wheel," wound up being one of the 15 Hawai‘i contestants who qualified to buy vowels and shout out consonants in the tapings at the Hilton Hawaiian Village . . .

KHNL’s Guy Hagi, who is ascloseasthis with KGMB anchor Kim Gennaula, was supposed to emcee (with Gennaula) the Hawai‘i Hotel Association’s Na Po‘e Pa‘ahana Awards luncheon at the Pacific Beach Hotel recently, but duty called: He was summoned to cover the Eddie Aikau Surfing Competition on the North Shore.

Luckily, Sen. Bob Hogue, a former sports anchor on KHON, was one of the honored guests and leaped into the role as on-stage co-host . . .

ROCKET, MAN: Elton John didn’t disappoint his fans in his weekend concerts at Blaisdell Arena; vocal problems aside Friday night (due to same-day rehearsals), John nonetheless pumped out a solid concert with a powerful, full rock substance, unlike the contrasting three-show schedule a year ago, when he did his solo-piano gig. I preferred the "quiet" of the piano posture of last year, particularly since John did "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?," his "Lion King" anthem which was sorely missing this year.

But that’s a minor irritant; he was positively productive and giving — as feisty and frequent as New Year’s Eve rockets — and just as colorful, in his sequined fuchsia jacket (blue jumpsuit Saturday night) . . .

I have to wonder, though, about the fans. While most sit and watch, or stand and cheer at their seats, a goodly number cruise in the aisles, either for drinks or on bathroom runs. Since there was no intermission (stated up front), a trek to the potty is understandable. But food? Drinks? This is not a ho‘olaule‘a, gang; an act deserves uncompromising attention.

You wouldn’t scurry off to hoist one in the midst of a symphony concert nor hike away while watching "Miss Saigon," so why would you meander during John’s performance? Think about it ...

NAMES ’N’ PLACES: There have been a handful of staff changes at Clear Channel Hawai‘i. Chuck Cotton has succeeded Bob Longwell as interim market manager (Longwell has moved on to Australia, to become CEO of Clear Channel’s Australian Radio Network). As market manager, Cotton oversees all seven Clear Channel stations here (KSSK AM/FM, KHVH AM, KUCD FM, KDNN FM, KIKI AM/FM) . . .

And Ken Martin is program director of KUCD, succeeding Bill George, who has relocated to the Mainland . . . And Patrick Leonard is new KUCD local sales manager . . .

Melveen Leed showed up at Uluwehi Guerrero’s Windward Mall appearance last Friday night (tardy, of course). Look for her to perform at the Hickam base credit union dinner March 3 at the Sheraton Waikiki, with Nueva Vida providing dance music . . .

And that’s Show Biz . . .

Wayne Harada writes Show Biz every Wednesday and Friday.

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