honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, August 30, 2007

SHOW BIZ
TV tribute to Don Ho features lots of big names

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Columnist

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser
spacer spacer

THAT'S SHOW BIZ: Production has begun on a Don Ho TV special, set to air sometime in December on KGMB-9. Producer-director Phil Arnone is arranging interviews and scoping vintage material and sources for the tribute, which will be written by Robert Pennybacker. "It's my 11th longform documentary since returning to Honolulu," said Arnone, a freelancer. He is a former KGMB staffer and a groundbreaking producer of classics such as "All in the 'Ohana" and "Hawaiian Moving Company." ...

Arnone will chat with folks such as Haumea Hebenstreit Ho, Don's widow; daughter Hoku Ho; son Dwight Ho; older sister Doris Ho; and folks who've had longstanding links with Ho's life, from his Air Force days to Waikiki origins, from Cha Thompson to Dennis Graue, from Adrienne Sweeney to Linda Coble, from John DeFries to Gene Ball, from Ed Brown to Lou Robin. There's still some discussion on what the show will be called. ...

FRIENDS 4 EVER: Those "Friends" stars, Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox Arquette, are pictured in a recent People magazine, frolicking on Kaua'i. Aniston is shown surf paddling; Courtney and her husband, David Arquette, are surfing off the Garden Island. There's buzz, too, that Aniston has been shopping for a home on Maui. ...

A bunch of "Lost" folks dined at Aaron's atop the Ala Moana, before taking in Gwen Stefani and Hoku Ho at the Blaisdell Arena Friday night. On Saturday night, after the final show, members of Stefani's band, as well as Hoku (who was Stefani's opening act), husband Jeremy Clement and his parents, came in for a late dinner and cocktails, reflecting on Uncle Don (as in Ho), Hoku's late entertainer father. ...

WHEE, THE PEOPLE: Glenn Mayeda Jr.'s group Pilioha soon will be seen on Hawaiian Airlines' in-flight screens. The act filmed three tunes for the Hawai'i-to-the-Mainland flight. Pilioha was the house band at a post-Grammy celebration, sponsored by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement at the Hawai'i Convention Center, and nominees performed — with Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom earning a standing ovation. Pilioha also attended a Kailua birthday party for Ledward Ka'apana, where folks like Cyril Pahinui, Eddie Kamae and Mike Ka'awa performed, along with the birthday boy. ...

Brandy Lee, the "Le Bizarre" drag-show star, did a Tina Turner turn with the Derek Daniels dancers at the Arcadia's "School Daze" cast party a few nights back, and show director Jack Cione said the folks enjoyed her prowess in dance and voice. ...

Pianist Kit Samson has modified his performing gigs, appearing from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Sundays at the Veranda at the Kahala Resort; from 7 to 10 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays at the Pakele Lounge of the Ala Moana hotel; and from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the Waikiki Yacht Club. Once a month, he works in a Kahala Nui show, and books private functions Thursdays through Saturdays, generally in the company of Rocky Holmes (reeds) and John Kolivas (bass). ...

Local stand-up Stan Egi has credits as an actor, so it's not surprising that he'll talk story about his experiences with Sean Connery and Glenn Close on Andy Bumatai's "NightTime" at 9:35 p.m. tomorrow on K5. Egi does a show (with Shawn Felipe) at 8 p.m. Sept. 15 at The ARTS at Marks Garage; it'll be a blend of comedy and drama, so he's calling it dramedy. ...

GOIN' TUBULAR: ABC's "Lost" has found new cast members this season, including Ken Leung, from HBO's "The Sopranos" and "X-Men: The Last Stand." ...

OTHER GUEST STARS: Rebecca Mader, from "Justice" ... Jeremy Davis, from "Band of Brothers" ... Lance Reddick, from "The Wire."

"Lost: The Complete Third Season" DVD collection is due for release Dec. 11 — in time for Christmas giving. The fourth season of "Lost" won't launch till February. ...

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.