Verizon continues to deliver the ultimate home-entertainment experience, with the introduction of even more innovative interactive features for FiOS TV subscribers in the company’s Baltimore, Hampton Roads, Richmond and D.C. markets.

New updates to FiOS TV’s Interactive Media Guide (IMG) include increased video-on-demand personalization; purchasing power via remote control for Showtime and ESPN programming; gaming widgets and new navigational shortcuts that make exploring the expansive world of FiOS TV faster and easier than ever before. FiOS TV customers now have immediate access to these enhancements.

“Because FiOS TV is such a content-rich service, we’re always finding new and better ways of making it quick and easy to find the entertainment you’re looking for and to discover new shows and features through our IMG,” said Mary Ellen Payne, Verizon’s senior vice president of marketing in the Potomac region. “Our latest enhancements put new tools in customers’ hands to help them better search and enjoy our industry-leading VOD service, evaluate and purchase premium channels, and more quickly access useful features like parental controls and in-depth show descriptions.

“FiOS TV subscribers know that we’ll keep taking their home entertainment where cable can’t go,” said Payne.

Among the new FiOS TV IMG features are:

* Recommendations For You — Subscribers can sign up to see personalized VOD recommendations that are based on movies they have viewed and ordered in the past from the FiOS TV VOD library.
* More Like This – Subscribers can click on a “More Like This” button when previewing a VOD title and see additional, similar titles based on actors and genres.
* On-Screen Premium Programming Purchasing –
o Using the FiOS TV remote, subscribers can quickly and easily purchase a weekly pass or full subscription to ESPN pay-per-view events, including ESPN College GameDay and NBA Full Court Pass.
* Quick Guide TV Options – A shortcut that makes it fast and easy to do the following:
o Set global parental controls or block specific channels.
o See a list of future times that a program will be shown again.
o Record a show.
o See recommendations for shows similar to the one that has been selected.
o Jump from a menu to live TV.
* Quick Guide DVR (Digital Video Recorder) Options – DVR shortcut providing subscribers with the following options: “play program from the beginning,” “select delete,” “save until I delete,” “initiate parental controls,” “select closed captions” and “help.”
* Full Screen Program Information – Provides customers a full-screen view of in- depth program descriptions, including cast, crew and plot synopses.
* Reversi Widget – One- or two-player game displayed on the TV. Using the arrow keys on the FiOS TV remote control, players move around the board to select an empty space to complete the move. The player who fills the Reversi board with the most pieces wins.
* Chinese Checkers Widget – Variation of traditional Chinese checkers, with the goal of having one marble left on the board. The player selects a marble using the arrow keys on the remote control and then jumps over another marble to an empty space, removing the jumped marble. A player’s score is calculated by the number of marbles left and total time spent playing the game.

FiOS TV offers a broad collection of programming, with more than 560 all-digital channels, up to 135 high-definition channels, as well as industry-leading VOD titles. FiOS provides next-generation interactive services including an advanced interactive media guide; social-networking, news and entertainment widgets; remote DVR management via broadband or cell phone; multi-room DVR; Internet videos on TV; streaming of personal videos, photos and music from home computers to the TV; and many others. The service now also offers a new Widget Bazaar applications marketplace that includes a selection of free interactive services, including widgets that let subscribers interact with Facebook and Twitter on their TVs.

HBO received 17 Golden Globe nominations, the most of any television network this year, for the upcoming 67th annual Golden Globe Awards, which were announced today in Los Angeles. “Big Love,” “Grey Gardens” and “Into the Storm” led all HBO programming with 3 nominations apiece. The Golden Globe Awards will be presented Jan. 17 in Los Angeles.

HBO’s Golden Globe nominations this year include:

3 nominations for “Big Love,” including Best Television Series – Drama, Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama (Bill Paxton) and Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Chloë Sevigny).

3 nominations for “Grey Gardens,” including Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television and 2 for Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Drew Barrymore, Jessica Lange).

3 nominations for “Into the Storm,” including Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television, Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Brendan Gleeson) and Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Janet McTeer).

2 nominations for “Entourage,” including Best Television Series – Comedy or Musical and Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Jeremy Piven).

2 nominations for “Hung,” including Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical (Thomas Jane) and Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Jane Adams).

2 nominations for “Taking Chance,” including Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television and Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Kevin Bacon).

2 nominations for “True Blood,” including Best Television Series – Drama and Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama (Anna Paquin).

Scooby-Doo and the teen gang of mystery-solvers invoked supernatural delivery and ratings strength Sunday night when Cartoon Network premiered the original live-action movie special Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins (7 p.m., ET/PT), setting all-new records as the most-watched telecast in Cartoon Network history, according to preliminary overnight data from Nielsen Media Research. The live-action and CG-animated film delivered 6,107,000 with viewers age 2+ and became the #1 telecast in network history with kids 2-11 (7.4 / 3,032,000), kids 6-11 (9.3 / 2,296,000), kids 9-14 (7.5 / 1,831,000), boys 2-11 (9.4 / 1,978,000) and boy 6-11 (12.2 / 1,538,000).

A co-production of Warner Premiere and Cartoon Network, Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins reveals the never-before-told story of how the Mystery Inc. gang first joined forces to solve a suspicious haunting at Coolsville High. Teachers and students alike accuse Fred, Velma, Daphne and Shaggy of playing a spooky prank. Suddenly, the school athlete, the science fair-winning brainiac, the drama beauty and the school misfit must band together to clear their names. With Shaggy’s newly adopted dog Scooby-Doo tagging along, the mismatched quartet soon discovers they have more in common than they originally thought. Warner Home Video will release Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins on DVD and Blu-Rayâ„¢ Hi-Def Combo Pack on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

The live-action cast features Robbie Amell (Life With Derek, True Jackson) as Fred, along with Kate Melton as Daphne, Hayley Kiyoko as Velma and Nick Palatas as Shaggy. Frank Welker, a member of the original Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! voice-cast, provides the voice of Scooby-Doo. Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins is directed by Brian Levant (Snow Dogs, The Flintstones), produced by Brian Gilbert (Wrong Turn) and written by Daniel and Steven Altiere (Dr. Dolittle: A Tinsel Town Tail, Gym Teacher: The Movie).

Cartoon Network, currently seen in more than 97 million U.S. homes and 166 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s ad-supported cable service now available in HD offering the best in original, acquired and classic entertainment for youth and families. Nightly from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (ET, PT), Cartoon Network shares its channel space with Adult Swim, a late-night destination showcasing original and acquired animation for young adults 18-34. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

Direct TV is the latest in television viewing. It has various components. One of the important components is the DirectTV Satellite Dish.

There are various types of Direct T V Satellite Dish’s. Broadly there is standard dish and then third party dish.

The standard ones are Phase I, Phase II, Phase II Plus, Phase III, AT9 MPEG-4 Compatible Ku/Ka Band and International Satellite Dish. They differ either in the amount of LNB’s they hold and what degrees they can receive the signals.

Third party Satellite Dishes means that the other manufacturers dish and not the OEM.

A fight rages on between the cable and the Direct TV . Cable TV has been there for ages and it has gone analog to digital. But is it worth?

Direct T V or Satellite Directv and cable TV deliver great quality. So, delivery wise its not an issue.

If you look at the price, can see the difference. You should look into the subscription costs, the installation cost, the converter box prices, the DVR prices etc.

According to the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Cable/Satellite Satisfaction Study,SM most consumers value the option of bundling their voice, data and cable TV services into one bill from one provider. As per then the benefits to Bundling Services include;

• Simplicity of dealing with a single provider
• Receiving a competitive or discounted price for using additional services
• Receiving a single bill
• Convenience of service experience

Providing fans around the world with behind-the-scenes access to many of today’s popular, international professional racing circuits and successful race teams, ExxonMobil today announced the launch of a new, weekly 30-minute television series devoted to motorsports, “Mobil 1 The Grid.” The show will debut on SPEED at 1:00 a.m. ET on Friday, March 27.

Developed in partnership with Sunset & Vine, a leading global sports television distribution and production company, “Mobil 1 The Grid” will offer exclusive, in-depth features, personality profiles and the latest news from leading motorsports circuits around the globe, including American LeMans Series (ALMS), Mobil 1 Porsche SuperCup, Indy Racing League (IRL), NASCAR and Formula One (F1).

“As the world’s leading synthetic motor oil, the Mobil 1 brand has long enjoyed a major presence in the world of motorsports and has been the lubricant of choice for many successful racing teams around the globe,” said Lawrence Kearns, Global Automotive Marketing Manager, ExxonMobil Lubricants & Petroleum Specialties Company.

“Now, through ‘Mobil 1 The Grid,’ racing fans in the US can get up-close, behind-the-scenes access to a wide range of motorsports circuits, seeing how drivers prepare for races, and how their engineering teams conduct extensive research to incorporate advanced automotive technologies that will maximize engine performance.

“We look forward to the launch of ‘Mobil 1 The Grid’ on March 27 on SPEED and are excited to help bring fans closer to the action by leveraging the Mobil 1 brand’s extensive involvement in the world of motorsports.”

Along with the Mobil 1 brand’s status as the “Official Motor Oil of NASCAR,” the brand has also had long-time associations with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes’ F1 team and Penske Racing’s IRL and NASCAR teams.

Last year, Mobil 1 motor oil helped Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, 23, become the youngest-ever F1 champion. Mobil 1 branded motor oils are the only lubricants used in the Mercedes-Benz engine of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-22, driven by Lewis Hamilton.

Future episodes of “Mobil 1 The Grid” will run on SPEED at these times: Saturday, March 28, 12:30 a.m.; Friday, April 3, 12:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m.; Saturday, April 4, 1:00 a.m.; Friday, April 10, 4:00 a.m.; Sunday, April 12, 10:30 a.m.; and Friday, April 17, 1:00 a.m.

Nominations were announced today for the 44th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS a star-studded event produced for television by dick clark productions broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 5 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.

Nominees were announced at a press conference this morning at the Country Music Hall of Fame(R) and Museum in Nashville. Country Super Stars Julianne Hough, Kellie Pickler, LeAnn Rimes and Jessica Simpson read the nominations live during CBS’ The Early Show broadcast.

For the first time ever, the three newcomer categories for the Annual Academy of Country Music Awards — Top New Female Vocalist, Top New Male Vocalist and Top New Vocal Duo or Group – will be opened up to interactive fan voting on GACTV.com, beginning Friday, February 13. The winners will then move on to compete in a new category, Top New Artist. For the second year, fans will also select the winner of the Academy’s most prestigious honor, Entertainer of the Year. Online voting will be available at www.voteACM.com, and this year fans will also be able to text their votes for Entertainer of the Year during the broadcast. The winners of each category will be announced live during the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.

This morning Brad Paisley led with six nominations, including Entertainer of the Year and Top Male Vocalist. In addition, Paisley was nominated for Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year for “Waitin’ on a Woman,” and Vocal Event of the Year for “Start a Band” with Keith Urban. Paisley is the reigning Top Male Vocalist.

Heidi Newfield is nominated for five awards, including Top Female Vocalist. She is also nominated for Single Record of the Year and is nominated as an artist and composer for Song of the Year for “Johnny & June,” for which she is also nominated for Video of the Year.

Kenny Chesney is nominated for four awards, including Entertainer of the Year, Top Male Vocalist and as an artist and producer for Vocal Event of the Year for “Down the Road” with Mac McAnally. If Chesney wins Entertainer of the Year, it will be his fifth consecutive win, which will tie Alabama for the most consecutive wins in this category.

Jamey Johnson received four nominations, including Top New Male Vocalist, Single Record of the Year and as an artist and composer for Song of the Year for “In Color.” This is the first time Johnson has been nominated as an artist. He previously won an Academy of Country Music Award in 2006 for Song of the Year for “Give It Away,” which was recorded by George Strait.

George Strait received four nominations, including Entertainer of the Year, Top Male Vocalist and Song of the Year for “I Saw God Today.” He is also nominated for Video of the Year for “Troubadour.” If Strait wins Entertainer of the Year, it will be his second win in that category, previously winning the award in 1989. Strait has also been named the Academy of Country Music’s Artist of the Decade and will be honored in a television special to air later in the year on CBS.

Carrie Underwood is nominated for three awards, including Entertainer of Year. If Underwood wins Entertainer of the Year, she will be only the 7th female to take the award; previous winners include Loretta Lynn in 1975, Reba McEntire in 1994 and most recently the Dixie Chicks in 2000. Underwood is also nominated for Top Female Vocalist, and her video “Just a Dream” is nominated for Video of the Year. If she wins Top Female Vocalist, it will be the third consecutive year she has won the category.

Keith Urban received three nominations, including Entertainer of the Year, Top Male Vocalist and Vocal Event of the Year for his duet with Brad Paisley for “Start a Band.” Urban is a five-time ACM award winner, including Top Male Vocalist in 2004 and 2005, Album of the Year in 2004 and Top New Male Artist in 2000. If he wins Entertainer of the Year, he will be eligible for the Triple Crown Award, the Academy’s recognition of those who have taken Top New Artist, Top Artist and Entertainer of the Year awards.

Trace Adkins, Brooks & Dunn, Little Big Town, James Otto, Jake Owen, Taylor Swift and Sugarland are each nominated for two awards. Adkins is nominated for Single Record of the Year and Song of the Year for “You’re Gonna Miss This.” Brooks & Dunn are nominated for Top Vocal Duo and Vocal Event of the Year. If they win Top Vocal Duo, it will be their 16th straight win in the category. Little Big Town received two nominations for Top Vocal Group and Vocal Event of the Year. James Otto — a first-time nominee — is nominated for Top New Male Vocalist and as a producer for Song of the Year for “In Color.” Jake Owen is nominated for Top New Male Vocalist and Vocal Event of the Year, and was previously nominated for Top New Male Vocalist in 2007. Swift is nominated in two categories including Top Female Vocalist, and her video “Love Story” is nominated for Video of the Year. She won Top New Female Vocalist last year. Sugarland is nominated for Top Vocal Duo and Vocal Event of the Year. Last year they won Single Record of the Year for “Stay.”

Members of the Academy of Country Music select the nominees and winners of the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, and select the final top five nominees of the Entertainer of the Year category and the top three nominees in newcomer categories, Top New Female Vocalist, Top New Male Vocalist and Top New Vocal Duo or Group. Presenters and performers who will appear at the ceremony will be announced at a later date. As previously announced, Reba McEntire will return for an unprecedented 11th time to host this year’s show.

Following is the list of final nominees; Nominees for Album of the Year will be announced in March. Winners in each of the following categories, except where noted, will be presented with an ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARD during the television broadcast:

Entertainer of the Year
— Kenny Chesney
— Brad Paisley
— George Strait
— Keith Urban
— Carrie Underwood

Top Male Vocalist
— Kenny Chesney
— Toby Keith
— Brad Paisley
— George Strait
— Keith Urban

Top Female Vocalist
— Miranda Lambert
— Heidi Newfield
— Taylor Swift
— Carrie Underwood
— Lee Ann Womack

Top Vocal Group
— Lady Antebellum
— Little Big Town
— Rascal Flatts
— Randy Rogers Band
— The Lost Trailers

Top Vocal Duo
— Big & Rich
— Brooks & Dunn
— Joey & Rory
— Montgomery Gentry
— Sugarland

Top New Male Vocalist**
— Jamey Johnson
— James Otto
— Jake Owen

Top New Female Vocalist**
— Sarah Buxton
— Julianne Hough
— Ashton Shepherd

Top New Vocal Duo or Group**
— Eli Young Band
— The Lost Trailers
— Zac Brown Band

Single Record of the Year [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]

— Gunpowder & Lead
Miranda Lambert, Produced by Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke
Columbia

— In Color
Jamey Johnson, Produced by The Ken Hardley Playboys
Mercury

— Johnny & June
Heidi Newfield, Produced by Tony Brown
Asylum-Curb

— Waitin’ On A Woman
Brad Paisley, Produced by Frank Rogers
Arista Nashville

— You’re Gonna Miss This
Trace Adkins, Produced by Frank Rogers
Capitol Nashville

Song of the Year [Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]

— I Saw God Today
George Strait
Composers: Rodney Clawson, Monty Criswell, Wade Kirby
Publishers: Big Red Toe Music (BMI), Blind Mule Music (BMI),
Extremely Loud Music (BMI), Steel Wheels Music (BMI)

— In Color
Jamey Johnson
Composers: Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller, James Otto
Publishers: Big Gassed Hitties (BMI), Eldorotto Music Publishing
(BMI), EMI Blackwood Music, Inc., Lucky Thumb Music (BMI),
New Song of Sea Gayle (BMI), Noah’s Little Boat Music
(BMI)

— Johnny & June
Heidi Newfield
Composers: Deanna Bryant, Heidi Newfield, Stephony Smith
Publishers: Amylase Music (ASCAP), Big Hit Makers Music (BMI), Rainy
Graham Publishing LLC (BMI), Souljet Music Tell Texas Tune
III (ASCAP)

— Waitin’ On A Woman
Brad Paisley
Composers: Don Sampson, Wynn Varble
Publishers: EMI April Music, Inc. (ASCAP), Sea Gayle Music LLC
(ASCAP), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI)

— You’re Gonna Miss This
Trace Adkins
Composers: Ashley Gorley and Lee Thomas Miller
Publishers: EMI Blackwood Music, Inc. (BMI), Music of Windswept
(ASCAP), Noah’s Little Boat Music (BMI), Song of
Combustion (ASCAP), Songs of Sea Gayle (BMI)

Video of the Year [Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]

— Johnny & June – Heidi Newfield
Producer: Karen Martin
Director: Eric Welch

— Just A Dream – Carrie Underwood
Producer: Randy Brewer
Director: Roman White

— Love Story – Taylor Swift
Producer: Trent Hardville
Director: Trey Fanjoy

— Troubadour – George Strait
Producer: Dominic Cancilla
Director: Trey Fanjoy

— Waitin’ On A Woman – Brad Paisley
Producer: Mark Kalbfeld, Jim Shea
Director: Jim Shea, Peter Tilden

Vocal Event of the Year [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]

— Another Try – Josh Turner Featuring Trisha Yearwood
Produced by: Frank Rogers
MCA Nashville

— Cowgirls Don’t Cry – Brooks & Dunn Featuring Reba McEntire
Produced by: Kix Brooks, Tony Brown, Ronnie Dunn,
Arista Nashville

— Down The Road – Kenny Chesney With Mac McAnally
Produced by: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney
Blue Chair/BNA

— Life In A Northern Town – Sugarland Featuring Little Big Town & Jake
Owen
Mercury

— Start A Band – Brad Paisley Duet With Keith Urban
Produced by: Frank Rogers
Arista Nashville

** Fan voting for Top New Male Vocalist, Top New Female Vocalist and Top New Vocal Duo or Group will begin at GACTV.com on Friday, February 13, and will close on Thursday, March 5. The winner in each of the three categories will be announced March 9, and will move on to compete in a brand new Academy of Country Music Awards category, Top New Artist.

The 44th Academy of Country Music Awards is dedicated to honoring and showcasing the biggest names and emerging talent in the country music industry. The show is produced for television by dick clark productions and will be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, April 5, 2009 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network. Orly Adelson and R.A. Clark are executive producers, Barry Adelman is producer and Bob Bardo is executive in charge of production.

In his brand new television series, Love, Marriage and Stinking Thinking, marriage expert Mark Gungor exposes the true source of marriage problems—the flawed notions that shape our expectations of marriage and our spouses. Beginning in February the show airs on Trinity Broadcasting Network 9:30 PM PST/12:30 AM EST and 4:00 PM PST/7:00 PM EST on Thursday nights and airs twice a week on Sky Angel on Tuesday and Thursdays at 6:00 PM Central.

In today’s cultural landscape, the broken home is quickly becoming the rule rather than the exception. Though there is no shortage of pop psychologists urging men to “get in touch with their feelings” and women to “spice up their lovemaking,” the efforts of marriage therapists have barely made a dent in the rising divorce rate. The reason for this, Gungor claims, is that popular thinking focuses on the symptoms of marriage problems rather than addressing the root cause. Mark Gungor is a pastor, author and one of the most highly sought speakers on marriage and family in the country today. Each year thousands of couples attend his Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage seminars that have inspired a bestselling DVD series and the book with the same title.

“We created this show with several purposes in mind,” Gungor states. “The first, obviously, is to share the truth about why marriages fail—and how we can keep that from happening. We live in such an over-romanticized culture. By the time people get married, their ideas of what marriage should be like bear little resemblance to reality. As a pastor, I see this all the time. This show is about busting the most common myths—the stinking thinking—that people believe and replacing them with the truths that can save a marriage.” This show offers viewers an all-around entertaining, uplifting, good time with sensational blues recording artist Jimmie Bratcher leading the show’s house band.

An opening monologue by Gungor sets up a myth-busting topic for the day. Segments showcase the remarkable insight and charmingly witty delivery that have made Gungor’s seminars so irresistible to couples—particularly to men. Gungor is joined by actress and co-host Nancy Stafford, who engages him in a lively discussion from a woman’s perspective. Stafford’s impressive credentials include a five-year stint as Andy Griffith’s law partner on Matlock, three years on the Emmy-winning St. Elsewhere, and appearances on Judging Amy and ER. Stafford is a published author who has been married for nearly twenty years to a California pastor.

Examples of the “stinking thinking” Gungor and Stafford dismantle include:

· It’s impossible to make women happy

· It’s important to find your soul mate

· Whatever you do, don’t marry too young

· He shouldn’t be so interested in sex

· If you’re unhappy, divorce the bum

· If he really loved me, he’d know what I want

The program will begin airing soon on additional networks. Viewers will be hooked from the first monolog and intrigued with Gungor and Stafford’s pithy interaction as they laugh their way to a better marriage.

Luminary drummer and hip-hop producer Karriem Riggins will be in good company, performing with Herbie Hancock, Elton John, and Diana Krall on Sundance’s new series “Spectacle: Elvis Costello With….” Riggins was called upon to play drums on two of the season’s episodes, first with Herbie Hancock (airing February 4th 9:00 p.m. EST), and second with Diana Krall, with whom he tours, on an episode also featuring Elton John (airing February 18th 9:00 p.m. EST).

A virtuoso, Riggins has taken love and molded it into life through his talents and passion. He moved from Detroit to New York City at 19 where he played with, and was mentored by jazz great Betty Carter.

From there his career-to-date has been spent playing with legends of Jazz and the most influential voices of Hip-Hop. From recording with Oscar Peterson and Ray Brown to touring with Kanye West, Common, and more, he has spread across the gamut between genres. He has produced songs for Erykah Badu, The Roots, and Talib Kweli and played drums behind Bobby Hutchinson, Donald Byrd, and now Herbie Hancock.

Riggins currently lives in Los Angeles, and is working on his first self-titled album, showcasing his unique range as a producer, drummer, and emcee. His collaboration with Los Angeles native multi-instrumentalist Madlib entitled The Supreme Team is slated for a 2009 release on Stones Throw Records.

“Spectacle: Elvis Costello With…” showcases performances by legendary music acts of the past 40 years, as well as discourse on topics between music and life; from one-on-one interviews to themed panel discussions. Spectacle, about halfway through its first season, has thus-far featured President Bill Clinton, Tony Bennett, The Police, and Norah Jones among other sonic dignitaries.

WELLINGTON novice actress Katie Montgomerie has landed a plum role on an upcoming television series, Paradise Café.

Katie, 18, leaves for Rarotonga next month to play Rose, a sea ghost, in the series.

Taking drama at college spurred the Keri Keri acting newbie to move to Wellington this year and she is auditioning for a spot at the city’s Toi Whakaari drama school.

Katie has auditioned for countless roles (including one in TV earthquake docu-drama Aftershock) and is thrilled her hard work has finally paid off.

“I went in determined to get the role, and I’ve finally done it.”

The programme is being co-produced by New Zealand’s Gibson Group and the UK Initial company.

The six-week shoot is being filmed at Avalon Studios in Wellington as well as on location in Rarotonga.

The series will premier next year on BBC television in the UK and New Zealand’s TV2.

(Picture:Katie Montgomerie (right) and co-star Bea Joblin in a publicity picture for the Wellington production of the play Swansong.)
By Sinead Ogilvie