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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Tuesday, December 17, 2002

SHOW BIZ
'Bounce' star spotted at dinner with local artist

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

SIGHT 'EMS: Owen Wilson, still filming "The Big Bounce" on the North Shore, dined with artist Christian Lassen, whose home and art will be seen in the Shangri-La Entertainment/Warner Bros. release next year. They were at Aaron's, atop the Ala Moana Hotel, a few nights back with two attractive companions. ...

On Maui, Sarento's on the Beach in Kihei has been peopled with notables. On three successive nights, Joe Montana, Magic Johnson and Prince were dining there, in groups of 10 to 12. ...

Cher has made good on her promise to vacation in Hawai'i (Maui's been her hangout) after her big concert tour. Shucks, no one could persuade her to do an add-on date at Aloha Stadium. ...

. . .

HOLIDAZE: To say that Emme Tomimbang, the TV producer-host, has a history with Johnny Fernandez, a member of the Society of Seven Las Vegas, is putting it mildly. When she invited the Waikiki group to be on her "Christmas Island Moments," she reminded him of the days she baby-sat him as a toddler "and even changed his diapers." The holiday special aired last week on KGMB-9 and will air again at 11:30 p.m. Christmas Eve, with Jimmy Borges, Iva Kinimaka, Dick Jensen, Nephi Hanneman, Robi Kahakalau, Pauline Wilson, Kapena, Keali'i Reichel and Na Leo Pilimehana guesting. ...

Storyteller Woody Fern shares two tales, "The First Official Christmas in Hawai'i" and "Oceanic Majesty's Goldfish," at noon Friday at Na Mea, the Hawaiian marketplace at Merchant Street and Fort Street Mall. ...

Randy Hongo is just back from a Big Apple visit and a reunion with son Andrew, who lives in Brooklyn. They saw shows together ("Flower Drum Song," "Urinetown," etc.) but dad particularly favored the Radio City Music Hall's Christmas spectacular (his first time), which indeed is memorable with the live nativity, ice skating and orchestra that comes out of the pit then glides back on stage. Only in New York. ...

Joe and Shirley Recca (he sings, she dances) will be guests in Kawai'ahao Church's "Unto Us a King Is Born" revue, at 7 p.m. Saturday. Numerous choirs and choruses will also be featured. ...

Augie Rey joins the slate at the Mai Tai Bar of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel on Christmas Eve and Day, playing from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. He and his band will be preceded by Keith and Carmen Haugen at 4:30 p.m. ...

Maui's got Melveen Leed for New Year's Eve this year. Da Tita stars in a Dec. 31 show at the Ka'anapali Beach Hotel, with illusionists Jody and Kathleen Baran sharing the bill. Call (808) 667-0128. ...

. . .

ITEMIZATIONS: While researching past Diamond Head Theatre productions of "The Sound of Music," now in production, artistic director John Rampage found a bit of interesting history. When DHT was known as Honolulu Community Theatre, it did the first-ever local production of "Music" in 1961, with Hedwig Trapp as tech adviser. She was living here, teaching music on the Windward side, and yes, it was her family's true history of escaping Austria to elude the Nazis that inspired Rodgers and Hammerstein. ...

San Diego punk band Lucky 7 opens for Pink tomorrow night at Blaisdell Arena. ...

A couple of little places are going to get cable TV exposure next year, with Dave Atell's Comedy Central Insomniac Show rolling footage here, there, everywhere: Like Hank Taufaasau's Hanks Place in Chinatown, and La Mariana Sailing Club on Sand Island Access Road. La Mariana also hosted Food Network's Rachel Ray on her "$40 a Day" segment. ...

And that's Show Biz ...

Wayne Harada's Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Thursdays, Reach him at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.