SHOW BIZ
Ex-Hawai'i resident gains role on sci-fi series
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
SHOW BITS: Branscombe Richmond, a former Hawai'i resident, will co-star in a new Sci-Fi Channel series, "Tremors," beginning in January. The series stars Michael Gross, who was in the movie versions of "Tremors" (the original with Kevin Bacon and two sequels). Richmond, who portrays a character called Harlow the Rancher, said the series is being done in Baja California at the 20th Century Fox studio where "Titanic" was filmed. ...
Film producer Chris Lee is back at his Kahala home after speaking at the Vancouver Film Festival. He caught up with Kelly Hu, the island actress who is starring as Lady Deathstrike in "X-Men II," in which she gets to kick butt. Hu and Lee were invited to a dinner at Sir Ian McKellen's home (he's the evil Magneto in the movie). The cast, of course, is topped by Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry and Patrick Stewart. Lee, by the way, will be a key player in the University of Hawai'i's planned Cinematic and Digital Arts Program. ...
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SIGHT 'EMS: Dining at Don Ho's Island Grill: Norm Compton Sua, who is The Rock's double in the "Helldorado" film (which will have another title by its 2003 release date) now before the cameras. Sua is the cousin of the restaurant's manager, Adam Suapaia. ...
Actor John O'Hurley, Elaine's globe-trotting boss on "Seinfeld," recently wrapped a shoot at the Kapalua Bay Hotel & Ocean Villas on Maui for PGA Tour Productions' "Get Golf" series, which will air Oct. 20 on USA. The tongue-in-cheek show will feature O'Hurley starting a round of golf, looking for a lost ball, parasailing, kayaking, snorkeling — in full golf attire — winding up with an oceanside sunset massage. ...
Nick Cannon, whose comedy show airs on Nickelodeon, just finished a weeklong taping on and around O'ahu and centered at the Aston Waikiki Sunset. Cannon will be seen in Universal's "Drum Line," too. ...
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TRAVEL LOG: Singer Pauline Wilson will join Bobby Caldwell and Phil Perry in a concert Oct. 19 at the Aranita Coliseum in Manila. She recently toured Japan. ...
It's a busy time for dancer-choreographer Peter Rockford Espiritu, pillar of the Tau Dance Theatre. He's off to Japan for the world premiere of two ballets he helped mount in June, but will be back in town to join Makana and Willie K in Makana's Nov. 8-9 concert at the Hawai'i Theatre. Espiritu joined 'ukulele wizard Jake Shimabukuro in Saturday's Alliance Awards program at the Hawai'i Theatre; this, after returning from a trek to Bali, where he was part of the Tirta Gangga Art Event hosted by Emerald Star and produced by islander Dr. Daniel Susott, who divides time between here and the Water Palace of Tirta Gangga in East Bali. Other islanders who were Bali-highed: Victoria Holt Takamine, Eunice DeMello and Lauren Gallindo. ...
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RANDOM NOTES: Where does a championship marathoner eat after the race? If it's Maui Marathon women's overall winner Akiko Sekiya (and six members of her family), it's Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar in Kapalua. ...
Kawika Regidor leads two lives. He's a rising star on the local music scene, thanks to his aptly titled "The First Time" CD debut. But he's also a University of Hawai'i education major, now working as teaching assistant at Kaimuki High School. When introduced as "Mr. Regidor," some students giggled because they know him as Kawika. And since he's on the cover of the September/October Sassy magazine, more students are learning about his dual roles. ...
And that's Show Biz ...
Wayne Harada's Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Thursdays. Reach him by e-mailing wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, phoning 525-8067 or faxing 525-8055.
