Posted on: Tuesday, December 7, 2004
SHOWBIZ
'Idol' Velasco to perform in Philippines
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor
WHEE, THE PEOPLE: Camile Velasco, the Ha'iku, Maui-based "American Idol" Top 10 finisher, will perform in the Philippines — in the company of a Philippines superstar, Martin Nievera. Velasco will join the former Honolulu resident, who remains a luminary on the Philippines show-biz scene, in a Christmas concert themed "All You Need Is Love." It's set for Friday in Pasay City. ... Nievera also is performing yuletide shows Dec. 17 and 19 at the Marriott Burlingame in San Francisco (Velasco isn't on that bill), should you be heading thataway. ...
TYPE CASTING?: Maybe this is the way to spend quality time together. Ray Bumatai, who just turned in his "The King and I" duds (he was the King) at Army Community Theatre, will play Chet Pazinski, and off-stage wife Karen Brilliande Bumatai is taking on the role of the wife, Ellen Pazinski, in Tom Dudzick's irreverent comedy, "Over the Tavern," starting Jan. 12 at Manoa Valley Theatre. It's rare to find both Bumatais on the same stage. Linda Johnson will guest-direct, and the MVT cast also includes Tucker Haworth, Cole Gindhart, Duncan Dalzell, Ann Marcell Knox and April Vogel. ... Meanwhile, the other performing Bumatai — comedian Andy Bumatai, Ray's brother — has been making news, too. He and Rodney Villanueva helped bring laughter to the Hawai'i Meals on Wheels volunteers (marking their silver anniversary last weekend at Shanghai Bistro). Andy also earned laurels of sorts: The "Ohana Road" TV show he hosts with Dale Payson and Anita Hall (produced by Bill Maloney) has received the Gold Medallion for Best Automotive Entertainment TV Show at the International Automotive Media Awards ceremony last month in New York. ...
NAME-DROPPING: Actor George Hamilton was in Hale'iwa the other day, and obliged to be in a photo at Matsumoto Shave Ice, where Norman Nakamoto asked him to pose, if it wasn't too much trouble, with his hanai grandson from Rarotonga, Fili Maoate. "Not at all," said the genial celebrity, flashing a genuine smile from that famously bronzed face, and putting his arm around a happy Fili. ... Enjoying the spectacularly decorated Old Wailuku Inn at Ulupono for a low-key couple of Maui days were Al Yankovic, wife Suzanne, and their 22-month-old daughter, Nina. He may be "Weird Al" (thanks to his musical parodies and videos) but he's a "very nice, normal guy" in real life, says innkeeper Janice Fairbanks. ...
The Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold III, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, blessed the aforementioned Old Wailuku Inn when he stayed there with wife Phoebe on an overnight visit, according to innkeeper Tom Fairbanks. Hawai'i's Right. Rev. Richard S.O. Chang and wife, Delia, also guested at the inn. ...
Just out: Pali's second CD, "In Harmony." And there's harmonic participation from Auntie Genoa Keawe, Jay Kauka, Jay Kauka II, John Keawe and Damien Freitas. ...
OUT TODAY: Raiatea Helm's new CD, titled "Sweet & Lovely," and containing duets with Keali'i Reichel and Auntie Genoa Keawe. Auntie does get around, doesn't she? ... ALSO DUE TODAY: "Augie T Live at the Hawai'i Theatre," the DVD that capsulizes the power and prowess of the deejay-comedian. ... After the launch of his new CD "Sweet Surprise," Cecilio Rodriguez surprised the guests at Hula Grill Waikiki with a 90-minute jam in the Plantation Bar. ...
HERE 'N' THERE: Hula dancer Kanoe Miller is off to Nagoya, Japan, with the Hiram Olsen Trio (Hiram Olsen, Casey Olsen and Dennis Keohokalole). Mission: to help their Japanese kumu hula Ipolei Mariko Kubouchi celebrate the 10th anniversary of her hula halau. Several others are also there. Miller returns to her hula spot — the Halekulani hotel's House without a Key — on Monday ...
Those in the know about wine are finding their way to D.K. Kodama's restaurants, where Hawai'i's master sommelier Chuck Furuya "works the floor." Furuya reports that Richard Betts, fellow sommelier and cellar master of the Inn at Little Nell in Aspen, Colo., stopped by Vino Italian Tapas and Wine Bar at Restaurant Row. California wine star Brian Talley of Talley Vineyards and Sara Floyd, another sommelier and former cellar master of San Francisco's Postrio restaurant, enjoyed the food next door at Hiroshi Eurasian Tapas. ...
And that's Show Biz. ...
Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Thursdays. Reach Wayne Harada at 525-8067, wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, or fax 525-8055.
