SHOW BIZ
Abdul extends Hawai'i trip, idles in Waikiki
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
IDOL TALK: Paula Abdul was the lone "American Idol" judge to extend her visit here, staying on till Tuesday; the others left on red-eye flights Sunday. When Abdul dined at Keo's in Waikiki, she created quite a stir (and sent the waiters singing and dancing in the kitchen); she recognized her photo on Keo Sananikone's Wall of Fame and knew precisely when that picture was taken by the hat she was wearing. ...
Abdul was delighted by a 6-year-old keiki from Howard and Olana Ai's Halau Hula Olana when she arrived here. The child not only was adorable in dance, she had fashion-savvy, asking Abdul about her pedicure: "Are those Louis Vuitton?" ...
Nigel Lythgoe, the original Mr. Nasty who is one of the executive producers of "Idol," is on Maui with wife Bonnie. They were big fans of Spa Halekulani while here. And Lythgoe and fellow producer Ken Warwick loved chef Yves Garnier's cuisine at La Mer, where they dined three consecutive nights.
Supervising producer David Goffin says some finalists may be called for live auditions the week of Oct. 19 in L.A.; and, if a Hawai'i singer makes it to the elite Top 12, he and Fox will return in February to do background stories on the potential idol. ...
Liquid Planet Studios, a local production company owned by Ted Jung Jr. and Ruben Carillo, provided all equipment and production needs for "Idol" filming, enabling 40 to work as assistants to the visiting crew, in addition to 15 other videographer types.
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WEEKEND WRAP: Augie Colon, percussionist and bird-caller with Martin Denny for years, was teary-eyed when he reunited with the fragile but facile pianist on Denny's signature "Quiet Village" in the final moments of the "Primitiva" tribute organized by Don Tiki Saturday at the Hawai'i Theatre. Emotional and tense moments, too, when Colon walked on stage and was joined by son Lopaka Colon ("That's my daddy," said the proud son); and when Denny was wheelchaired to an electric keyboard (a grand piano would've been so much nicer) and shuffled onto the seat. Two standing ovations and a hana hou followed, with Denny showing the breadth of his exotica elan on "Village." Overall, it was a mammoth endeavor (involving guest artists such as Ho'okena, Buddy and Sammi Fo, Teresa Bright) and a luminous, historical moment — and likely Denny's last hurrah, because arthritis and a heart condition have forced him to reduce his pace. Still, he savors his routines: an appearance with Del Courtney's big-band bash the first Sunday of each month at the Elks Club and a Wednesday lunch ritual with Courtney and Art Todd. ...
And it's difficult to list the highlight of Tony Conjugacion's "Kamau Pono VI" at the Hawai'i — certainly, the Jerry Santos-Peter Rockford Espiritu collaboration in the opening set is Right Up There. But it was reverent to hear Manu Boyd sing for his dancing kumu hula, Robert Cazimero, or simply nostalgic to connect with the vocals of veteran Bill Kaiwa, relative newcomers Keawe Lopes and Darren Benitez, and the enduring O'Brian Eselu, augmented with the hula of George Holokai, Kau'i Kamana'o, Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett and Michael Kekaimoku Yoshikawa. Conjugacion's script, delivered by The Honolulu Skylark, was wordy but chock full of admirable nuggets; clearly, his versatility (hula soloist, rock belter, director) merits applause. ...
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THIS 'N' DATA: To clarify, magician John Hirokawa will receive the Merlin Award tomorrow at the Magic of Polynesia Showroom in the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel; he will not perform at the special invitational luncheon. ...
And that's Show Biz. ...
Wayne Harada's Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Reach him at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.
