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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, January 12, 2006

SHOW BIZ
'Aladdin' tryouts an open-sesame for two here

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Columnist

Sam Pablo

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John Bryan

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Freddie Prinze Jr.

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Traci Toguchi

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NAMES 'N' PLACES: Sam Pablo, who has been doing the Polynesian show aboard Norwegian Cruise Line's Wind ship, has been signed to play the title character in "Aladdin" at Disney's California Adventure. He got the part after Disney auditions here last year. Pablo, who also was Gary in Lisa Matsumoto's "Harry and Gary" musical last year, leaves Sunday for his new adventure. He is the nephew of longtime Don Ho show regular Angel Pablo. ...

John Bryan is also heading for the Mainland. He was the piano accompanist at those "Aladdin" tryouts here. He renewed acquaintance with Daniel Solis, talent casting director for Disney Entertainment Productions, who was impressed with Bryan's talent and recommended him to colleagues at Universal Studios. So happens there was an open slot for the Blues Brothers show at Universal, so Bryan is heading that-a-way this month. ...

SIGHT 'EMS: That coosome twosome dining at Kona's Huggo's restaurant was none other than Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar. They opted for the signature macadamia-nut-crusted mahi and steamed clams. Prinze, writing and producing his ABC series "Freddie," plays a Chicago chef on the show. Gellar, of "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer" fame, is in pre-production for two films. ...

Joe Walsh and Glenn Frey of The Eagles found their way to Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar Kapalua after the Mercedes Championship on Maui and treated late-night diners to karaoke singing. ...

That earringed dude, who wasn't shaking his booty at Fook Yuen, was disco fave KC, of KC and the Sunshine Band. He was having a blast, though, amid a party of 12 with hosts Tony and Karen Ruivivar. Society of Seven leader Tony Ruivivar has embarked on a four- to five-month tour, which includes Hawai'i but also ventures to such places as Seattle and Guam before returning to Las Vegas. ...

Actors Dennis Hopper and Greg Kinnear dined at David Paul's Lahaina Grill last week. Friends and family joined them at The Chef's Table. ...

Playwright Lisa Matsumoto discovered Chef Mavro recently. And Hitomi Kuroki, a Japanese actress, loved the food so much during a magazine photo shoot at the restaurant that she returned for dinner with her crew of 10. ...

SHORTS OF SORTS: Eddie Sherman, retired three-dot columnist, was feted last Sunday at a Ruth's Chris Steak House luncheon, where Shawna Masuda sang a parody of "Memory" (with accompaniment by keyboarder Don Conover). A total of 82 people attended, one for each year of Sherman's life, and the $2,000 raised from $25 luncheon fees was donated (by restaurateur Randy Schoch, who was unable to attend) to Sherman's favorite charity, the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific. Lanai of Island 98.5 radio emceed and folks like Don Ho, Dick Jensen, Doug Mossman, Glenn Cannon, Jack Cione, Don Stroud, Edgy Lee and Shari Lynn attended. Sherman is devoting his time to a deep-sea water company, for which he's handling p.r. and marketing, and to the Pearl Harbor Visitors Center, where wife Patty works. ...

TELEVIEWS: TV producer Seth Feldman is lingering in Portland, where Meredith Corp., which owns the Fox affiliate, KPTV, tapped him to develop a lifestyle magazine show, "More," to explore wellness and health issues. He hired Traci Toguchi, local singer and a former Miss Hawai'i, to write and perform the show's title tune. ...

And did you catch former University of Hawai'i volleyball All-American Jason Olive in a recent "CSI: Miami"? Since leaving the Isles, Olive also has appeared on "All My Children." ...

Sue Levine is out as news director at KHNL 8 TV. Rich Meiers has stepped in as acting news director. ...

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.