Ron Nasty performs for Lennon's 70th

Neil Innes, star of the award-winning musical bio The Seventh Python, joins fellow stars of the Fests for Beatles Fans in New York City Saturday night for a 70th birthday tribute to John Lennon, whom he parodied wickedly in The Rutles.

The October 9th benefit concert at the Society for Ethical Culture takes place six blocks from the Dakota building where John Lennon lived and was murdered on December 8, 1980. Proceeds go to Amnesty International.


Other performers include pals Innes made at various Beatle fan fests throughout the years, including Mark Hudson, Earl Slick and Glenn Burtnick (and compère Martin Lewis), and a number of performers with tenuous Lennon connections like Pete Seeger, Tom Paxton and Marshall Crenshaw. Headliners are The Quarrymen, which includes founding members of Lennon's original 1956 skiffle group that spawned the Beatles.

Click here for information and tickets.

Saturday night: Pacific Palisades Film Festival presents Chris Montez movie preview and performance

The seventh annual Pacific Palisades Film Festival got its seventh annual off to a star-studded start last night with a lifetime achievement award for acclaimed actress and former resident Frances Fisher, and moves forard tomorrow with a screening of the never-seen expanded preview of El Viaje Musical de Ezekiel Montanez: The Chris Montez Story along with a rare, intimate performance by Montez himself.

Bob Sharka kicks off the 7th annual Pacific Palisades Film Festival

Frances Fisher accepts her Lifetime Achievement Award


The opening night event took place outdoors at a bluffside mansion overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and featured tributes from Fisher's acting coaches and Actors Studio colleagues, including Renee Taylor. Festival founder Bob Sharka hosted and emceed the event, as he will the Montez evening which begins at 6:30 pm at another residence nearby.

Tickets for the outdoor screening, cocktail party and Chris Montez performance can be found at the Friends of Film website.


The film about the legendary, influential and many-faceted Mexican-American musician, rock legend and pop star from Hawthorne, California, has been in production over the past year by our pals at Frozen Pictures.

The film preview will be screened outdoors at a home on Toyopa Drive in The Palisades. The evening kicks off at 6:30 p.m.

Ticket information for the Saturday, May 15th event can be found at the Friends of Film website.


The Frozen team opened last year's Palisades film fest with their Neil Innes musical comedy, The Seventh Python, which is set to be released by The Little Film Company.

Preview of The Chris Montez Story gets outdoor screening at the Pacific Palisades Film Festival this Saturday, May 15th

A new, expanded, special preview of El Viaje Musical de Ezekiel Montanez: The Chris Montez Story, the nonfiction musical feature film from our pals at Frozen Pictures, will be featured Saturday night at the Pacific Palisades Film Festival off Sunset Boulevard.

Making the outdoor screening and cocktail party even more special and historic will be a special, intimate performance by Chris Montez.

The film about the legendary, influential and many-faceted Mexican-American musician from Hawthorne, California, has been in production over the past year, and in an unlikely turn of events, a preview section, devoted to Montez's time headlining the Beatles' first national tour of England amid the first rumblings Beatlemania, has proven to be a hit with screenings at The Fest for Beatles Fans in Chicago and New Jersey, and at the prestigious Paso Robles Digital Film Festival in California.


This latest preview contains fresh Montez performances as well as appearances by music legends including Tommy Roe, Andrew Loog Oldham (manager and producer of The Rolling Stones) and Herb Alpert (above).

The film preview will be screened outdoors at a home on Toyopa Drive in The Palisades. The evening kicks off at 6:30 p.m.

Ticket information for the Saturday, May 15th event can be found at the Friends of Film website.

The Frozen team opened last year's Palisades film fest with their Neil Innes musical comedy, The Seventh Python, which is set to be released by The Little Film Company.

The curse of The Knack

The curse of The Knack, of course, was that they wrote and played catchy, smutty pop tunes that took their first album to the top of the charts, but were almost universally hated by punk rockers and power poppers alike for their perceived arrogance and Beatles pretensions when they arrived in 1979 from the lame skinny tie LA "New Wave' scene with an obnoxious push from Capitol Records. Doug Fieger, who died of cancer today at 57, was in the end just another Beatles-obsessed rocker who wasn't half so bad sitting in with Art Fein on his Poker Parties and whose brother gained just as much prominence as the attorney for Doctor Kevorkian. Drummer Bruce Gary, who makes an unbilled cameo appearance in The Seventh Python, the Beatles-related Neil Innes film from our pals at Frozen Pictures, died of lymphoma three and half years ago, going to his grave complaining that he never got the credit or the royalties for the distinctive drumbeat he created for My Sharona, which topped the charts for six weeks in 1979.


Death has struck The Knack twice now, taking two rockers too young. Now there are two original members of The Knack still alive.

Just as there are two surviving Beatles.

The Seventh Python a hit in UK premiere!

The Seventh Python, the acclaimed, award-winning film about the acclaimed Bonzo Dog Band, Monty Python, Rutles and solo legend Neil Innes from our pals at Frozen Pictures, had its United Kingdom premiere over the weekend at the 2010 Slapstick Festival in Bristol.

"I really enjoyed it," reports one festivalgoer on the Neil Innes fansite. "A great representation of all things Innes! Fantastic, and great work with the animation! I hope this gets a DVD release, so I can get the chance to watch it again. Loads of laugh out loud moments lapped up by a very receptive crowd... Great closing credits as well, although the waffle recipe went a little to quickly for me to write it all down!"


The Saturday night screening at the Arnolfini Arts Centre in Bristol Harbor also featured a Neil Innes Q&A and performance. The Frozen filmmakers, director Burt Kearns and producer Brett Hudson, are on location shooting their latest project on iconic pop star Chris Montez and were unable to attend the historic event at the festival that made worldwide headlines with its award the previous evening to Monty Python star Michael Palin-- who also stars in The Seventh Python.


Our pals at Frozen Pictures tell us they've signed a distribution deal that could put The Seventh Python in theatres and home distribution in 2010.


And if you hear that The Seventh Python is showing at a film festival near you, let us know-- we'll pass on the word!

John Cleese! Seventy today!

An eventful year for comedy genius John Cleese (right) has gotten even more lively as he turns seventy years old today. Cleese is also marking the fortieth anniversary of Monty Python's Flying Circus, featured in a monster documentary package, performing his solo show "divorce tour" and awaiting the release of The Seventh Python, the Neil Innes biopic from our pals at Frozen Pictures, in which he plays a starring role.


We are particularly glad he did not follow through on his recent Twitter suggestion:


Happy birthday to John Cleese-- and bookmark his Cleeseblog!

The Winnick Ticket: Vanity Fair's starlet of the month is Olga from Cloud 9!

The latest issue of Vanity Fair is notable and collectable because of the dual Farrah/Jacko cover and the sad article on Ryan O'Neal, but there's an even more noteworthy feature on page 257. The Vanities section opens, as it does, with a glam portrait of the Hollywood starlet of the moment, and this moment belongs to Katheryn Winnick.

Katheryn in Cold Souls:
Katheryn in Cloud 9:

Canadian Katheryn's feature is billed as The Winnick Ticket because of her breakthrough role in the new Paul Giamatti movie, Cold Souls, in which she plays a Russian actress.

A Russian actress?

We know where she got her practice! You might recognize Katheryn from her role as Ivana Trump in the TV movie or her outstanding roles on the Law & Order franchises, but her real breakthrough Russian-accent role was in Cloud 9, the classic 2006 sports comedy written and produced by Brett Hudson and Burt Kearns, our Golden Ace Award-winning (The Seventh Python) pals at Frozen Pictures, along with their, pal two-time Academy Award®-winning producer (The Godfather, Million Dollar Baby) Albert S. Ruddy, and starring Burt Reynolds.


In Cloud 9, Katheryn played a Russian stripper turned beach volleyball star named Olga. Here's a Hollywood fun fact: The role was originally written as Inga, a Swede, but Katheryn's take was so strong she beat out the Amazonian stunner Victoria Silvstedt and made the role her own (she even inspired a drinking game). After the filming, the producers predicted she'd be the new Sharon Stone. Who'd expect she'd turn out to be the next Meryl Streep? But it's evident that Emmys® and Oscars® await Katheryn Winnick!


This is just another amazing one-degree of separation for Cloud 9, which has proven to be one of the most influential and memorable sexy comedies in years!

Beatles Fan Fest goes wild for Chris Montez

There were cheers, laughs and even gasps as the preview of the new film, El Viaje Musical de Ezekiel Montanez: The Chris Montez Story, was unspooled this afternoon at the Fest for Beatles Fans in Chicago.


Brett Hudson and Burt Kearns of Frozen Pictures took the stage in the Grand Ballroom of the O'Hare Hyatt Regency Hotel to introduce the work-in-progress about the influential singer and musician who headlined a UK tour in 1963 with the Beatles as his opening act. Co-headliner Tommy Roe was another fan favorite as he and Montez revealed behind-the-scenes nuggets, breaking news and making history with untold stories (hence the gasps) before hundreds of Beatles fans.

Director Kearns and producer Hudson introduce the film
(Fellow producer and Director of Photography Joachim Blunck remained in LA)

"This was the audience we were most nervous about," said the film’s director Kearns after the credits rolled. "They know the history. They know the Beatles story. If we could tell them something new, we we were on the right track."

"And we did," added Hudson, who produced with Kearns. "It went over really well."

Hudson and Kearns, who've brought the Frozen Pictures flick The Seventh Python to two past Beatle fan fests, say the final work will encompass all of Montez' career and influence. They hope to bring it to a Beatle fest in the Spring.

Before the 34-minute preview was shown, fans were stunned by the trailer for an upcoming Frozen Pictures production, Apple Pie Heroes, which chronicles a reunion of The Hudson Brothers.

The Fest for Beatles Fans hosts a second screening of both works tomorrow at 1:30, followed by a Q&A with our pals from Frozen Pictures.

The Seventh Python movie and two-thirds of The Hudson Brothers combine for a historic evening at The Comedy Shrine

The Comedy Shrine in Naperville, Illinois was the center of the show business universe last night with a screening of The Seventh Python and a performance by its producer Brett Hudson and brother Mark Hudson in a special evening outside Chicago.

Frozen Pictures' acclaimed, award-winning film about Monty Python cohort Neil Innes made its fourth Chicago area appearance at the legendary comedy club and museum, while the Hudson brothers took time from their fan-flocked weekend at the Fest for Beatles Fans at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare.

The crowd of comedy and music fans gave a rousing reception to both segments of the evening. A delay in getting the Hudsons from the Beatlefest to the club was covered by a raffle and a Q&A by Seventh director Burt Kearns that began to reach its stretching point around the time he played the audience music from his iPhone to explain Frozen Pictures' new film about Chris Montez (which will be previewed at noon today at The Fest for Beatles Fans).


It was generally agreed that the Hudsons were hilarious, working off Mark Hudson's solo show material that was highlighted by his story of a Hudson Brothers song about Joni Mitchell whose trajectory to hit status was derailed by the line, "Joni, I want you to blow me..." The fact that the next phrase was "blow me a kiss..." didn't matter.


The Comedy Shrine, with its extensive comedy collection (just about every inch of the 4800 square-foot place is filled with comedy memorabilia), is one of the most unique attractions in all of America. Located in an upscale minimall in downtown Naperville, the pop culture treasure is the brainchild and labour of love of veteran comedian and Emmy winner Dave Sinker, a longtime friend of the Hudsons.

Dave Sinker in his Comedy Shrine

More on The Comedy Shrine to come...

Chris Montez movie gets Saturday preview at Chicago Beatlefest; "surprises" promised

Our pals at Frozen Pictures tell us they've just left the F&F Digital Post facilities in Los Angeles with copies of their special Beatlecentric preview of their new nonfiction film project, El Viaje Musical de Ezekiel Montanez: The Chris Montez Story.

Next stop is Chicago for special screenings of the half-hour teaser of a musical documentary about the Mexican-American rock and pop legend. The film is the first in-depth look at Montez's career, which has spanned almost fifty years, developing alongside artists like Ritchie Valens, The Beach Boys, Sam Cooke, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Beatles and Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass, with an influence that extends from punk rock to roots rock to lounge and easy listening.

WATCH TABLOIDBABY.COM THIS WEEKEND
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FROM THE CHICAGO FEST FOR BEATLES FANS

The big screening will take place at 11 am Saturday morning in the Grand Ballroom of the Chicago's O'Hare Hyatt Regency Hotel, as the "Early Bird Special" before doors open for the latest Fest for Beatles Fans. Screenings of Frozen Pictures' Neil Innes film, The Seventh Python, drew upwards of a thousand people and standing ovations at past Beatlefests. The film will also be screened Sunday afternoon, followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers.


"We've got all kinds of surprises in store," says Burt Kearns, who directed along with Brett Hudson. "Beatles fans will be arguing on the way out the door-- and they'll have a lot more to look forward to."

The Chris Montez project, described by Hudson as "an only-in-American tale," was produced by Hudson, Kearns and Joachim Blunck, who's also Director of Photography. Filming continues after the crew returns from Chicago, where they're also showing The Seventh Python Friday night at the nearby Comedy Shrine club (see the ad at right).

Friday's special The Seventh Python movie and music event is a 'best bet' for Chicago

Chris Montez movie-in-the-making gets a sneak preview August 15th at the Chicago Fest for Beatles Fans

Lucky participants at the Chicago Fest for Beatles Fans are about to become a very select film audience on the morning of Saturday, August 15th, when they get the first sneak preview of El Viaje Musical de Ezekiel Montanez: The Chris Montez Story.

And of course, it's a got a Beatles twist.

Tommy Roe and Chris Montez, who headlined a UK tour in 1963.
The Beatles were their opening act.

We've been hearing about the Chris Montez film bio project since last summer, when it was announced by our pals at Frozen Pictures. While the guys have spent the past twelve months running their Neil Innes biopic, The Seventh Python, through film festivals and special screenings around the country and the world, they've also been shooting the definitive work about the influential and diverse rock and pop musician who went to school with the Beach Boys, launched the lounge movement, and is hailed as the successor to the first Mexican-American rock star, Ritchie Valens.

Chris Montez at the site of the Wilson brothers' childhood home
(a California Registered Historical Landmark),
where he'd jam with the future Beach Boys

We caught up with them earlier this month at the Grammy Museum, where Chris was participating in a tribute to Ritchie Valens, and their crew has been filming around Chris' hometown, Hawthorne, California.

In March 1963, Chris headlined a tour of England with Tommy Roe. The opening act was a group called The Beatles. That month will be the focus of the preview shown in the ballroom of The Hyatt Regency O'Hare on Saturday morning, August 15th.

"We're looking forward to the fans at the Beatles Fest," says director Burt Kearns. "We got a great reception when we screened The Seventh Python and now we're able to give a little back with some Beatles history. Chris' Beatles tour took place at the cusp of Beatlemania. Their first album was released midway through, the fans were wild-- the audience will be very surprised at the revelations."

"Including the truth about Chris' fist fight with John Lennon. It's been forty-seven years, and no one's gotten the story right until now," says producer Brett Hudson, who will also be performing at the Fest with Mark Hudson-- another third of The Hudson Brothers.

The Seventh Python-- the hit of last year's Chicago Beatles Fest-- won't be forgotten. The film is being screened at the world-renowned Comedy Shrine club in neighboring Naperville on Friday, August 14th.

The Seventh Python returns to Chicago!

Friday, August 14th, The Comedy Shrine
22 E. Chicago Avenue Naperville, Illinois 630.355.2844

So what is it with The Seventh Python and Chicago? The veddy-Anglocentric award-winning nonfiction feature about the veddy-British musical satirist, rock 'n' roll legend and Monty Python compatriot Neil Innes from our pals at Frozen Pictures returns to the Chicago area on Friday, August 14th, with a one-night-only screening and (two-thirds) Hudson Brothers performance at The Comedy Shrine.

The announcement is great news for comedy and Monty Python fans... but begs the question why, after entertaining audiences and winning standing ovations around the world-- from Perth, Australia to the New Jersey Meadowlands-- The Seventh Python keeps returning to the City of Big Shoulders in the American Heartland?

Since the film's premiere at the American Cinematheque's Mods & Rockers Film Festival in Hollywood, it's played at:

The Chicago Fest for Beatles Fans...

The Chicago International Movies & Music Festival...

The Wilmette Theatre...

and now..

The Comedy Shrine
22 E. Chicago Avenue
Naperville, Illinois
630.355.2844

So what's the secret to Chicago?


"The secret to Chicago is-- there is no secret," says Seventh Python director Burt Kearns. "Chicago is a comedy capital. They've got The Second City there, but also universities, where some of the finest comics and comedy writers were schooled. There are a lot of comedy legends in and around Chicago."

One of those legends is Dave Sinker. The longtime Hudson buddy, Emmy-winning writer and Second City veteran runs The Comedy Shrine, and came up with the idea of bringing back The Seventh Python for a return engagement.

The Friday evening show on Chicago Avenue in Naperville is set to begin with a screening of the hilarious film starring John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, Aimee Mann, Matt Groening and many others, followed by a special performance by Brett and Mark Hudson (they'll arrive after they appear at The Fest for Beatles Fans at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare). Brett produced the film. Mark, the noted music producer and performer, was music supervisor.

Click here for tickets. Arrive early so you'll have some time to check out the extensive comedy memorabilia collection. They don't call it The Comedy Shrine for nothing.