Entertainment
Here Is Your Chance To Be In Star Wars: Episode VII
Today in a special video message from the set of Star Wars: Episode VII, director J.J. Abrams announced the creation of Star Wars: Force for Change, a brand new Star Wars initiative from Disney and Lucasfilm in collaboration with Bad Robot dedicated to finding creative solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems. The first Star Wars: Force for Change campaign will raise funds and awareness for the United Nations Children’s Fund’s (UNICEF) Innovation Labs and its innovative programs that are benefitting the world’s most vulnerable children.
Disney has committed US $1 million to support the launch of Star Wars: Force for Change. Fans can now contribute directly at Omaze.com/StarWars for a chance to appear in Star Wars: Episode VII. For each $10 contribution made through the Omaze fundraising platform, eligible participants will be automatically entered for a chance to win this once-in-a-lifetime experience. The campaign runs from 12:01am PST on May 21stth until 11:59pm PST July 18th.
The Star Wars: Force for Change Grand Prize includes:
- Airfare and accommodations to London for one winner and a guest
- Behind-the-scenes access on the closed set of Star Wars: Episode VII as VIP guests of J.J. Abrams
- Winner will have the opportunity to meet members of the cast
- Winner and their guest will then be transformed by makeup and costume teams into a Star Wars character and filmed for a scene in Star Wars: Episode VII
By pledging support for Star Wars: Force for Change, fans are helping UNICEF create a brighter tomorrow for kids and families around the world. Through its global network of Innovation Labs, UNICEF helps create sustainable solutions to major issues facing children in the areas of nutrition, water, health, and education. The Star Wars: Force for Change campaign will help fund innovative, life-changing projects in communities around the globe.
Visit StarWars.com/ForceForChange to learn more about this new charitable initiative and the work of UNICEF’s Innovation Labs and programs, and be sure to enter through contribution or free entry for your chance to win at Omaze.com/StarWars.
May the Force be with you!
May 21st
Nobody Beats the Biz!
Growing up I was a big fan of Biz Markie. I think one of my first cassette singles was “Just a Friend.” As I got older I checked out his entire catalogue and loved all his music. Known for making music with his mouth, Biz mastered the art of beatboxing.
Biz is still in the entertainment business today. Whether performing his old school hits or spinning records at clubs, Biz Markie is doing what he loves. He can also be seen on the hit Nickelodeon show, “Yo Gabba Gabba!”
While on tour with the crew from “Yo Gabba Gabba!” a friend introduced him to a sugar free soda by the name of Zevia. Now Biz and Zevia teamed up to get the word out on this soda. He lost 140 pounds last year. He gave two reasons for that weight loss. One was that he started cooking healthy at home and two was him switching to Zevia.
Art Eddy: Let’s first talk about the new gig you got with Zevia, a Los Angeles maker of sugar-free soda. Tell us how you became the spokesperson for them.
Biz Markie: I was doing my show “Yo Gabba Gabba!” and we were on the road. DJ Lance Rock gave me a can of it. I really didn’t want a Pepsi or Coke. I wanted something different so when he gave me that I tried it. It was good. I have been hooked ever since. I have been trying all the flavors and five years later I was hooked.
AE: I see that you are on the cherry cola can. Are you on all of the cans? What flavors do they have?
BM: I am on just cherry cola. My favorite flavor is cherry cola and black cherry. Cherry cola is my favorite soda so I said I wanted to be on that one. There are like 15 different flavors. There is cream, orange, ginger ale, root beer, lime, and Dr. Zevia.
AE: I want to talk about your Rap career. When you were coming up as a rapper who influenced you?
BM: There not that many that influenced me. The first rappers like Busy Bee Starski, The L Brothers, and The Furious Four influenced me to make rap.
AE: I am guessing when you go out and perform “Just a Friend” is the song that everyone sings with you when you are on stage.
BM: “Just a Friend” is my biggest. They like all the other stuff. They like when I beat box, dance, and sing different records. It depends on the crown, but “Just a Friend” is usually the big one.
AE: Out of your many songs do you have a favorite one or favorite album? My favorite is “Nobody Beats the Biz.” That track was hot.
BM: That was one of my favorites too.
AE: How long did it take you to perfect the art of beatboxing?
BM: I have been doing that since 1977. I think I am one of the founding fathers just like Doug E. Fresh or The Fat Boys.
AE: How do feel Rap has evolved over time? Are you happy with it?
BM: Well we are older now. I am 50 years old. I understand the evolution. I just think that they should just put more elements in Hip-Hop. It shouldn’t just be Rap. It should have deejays, graffiti, and beat boxing. It should be everything. It shouldn’t just be about making records. There should be a lot more clubs out there. There should be more activities in Hip-Hop where we are teaching kids about Hip-Hop.
I think there is too much negativity. When I talk about negativity I mean that there is too much glamorizing strip clubs, smoking, and drinking. It should be more of a skill than just glamorizing fornication. It should just be different. We didn’t do that. Little kids are looking at this. Children are our future.
AE: Now people can put up a video of them rapping or dancing for the whole world to see on YouTube. What would your career have been like if you had YouTube when you were coming up in the Rap game?
BM: If I had YouTube, Facebook, and all of that social media I might be like Bill Gates right now. It would be crazy. You got to think of the stuff I did. Imagine me making a video of “Picking Boogers.” Imagine me making a video of “Nobody Beats the Biz” or the Biz Dance. The Biz Dance was hot without a video.
AE: You also DJ events and clubs. What type of equipment do you use? Is it all digital or do you stick to the old school method of vinyl?
BM: I use vinyl. Even if I use Serato I use vinyl. I DJ on anything. It don’t matter. I will use CD’s. It is not what you use, but what comes out of your mind when you throw a record on. Serato and CDJ’s are the best things that ever came out. You can carry your whole library from your house in a laptop or a hard drive. With that said I do like to have records. I like to be hands on because it feels like I am really scratching and everything.
May 5th
Corona Gets You Ready For The Main Event
Cinco de Mayo is swiftly approaching. The day of celebrating Mexican culture and heritage is the busiest holiday of the year for Corona Extra. Once again, the iconic brand, that has become synonymous with the holiday, is primed to make Cinco the official fiesta to kick off to summer by tapping your passion for boxing through the Corona Extra Boxing program and partnership with Golden Boy Promotions.
In 2014, Corona Extra will engage boxing fans leading up to the Unified Welterweight World Championship fight between Floyd “Money” Mayweather and Marcos “El Chino” Maidana on Saturday, May 3 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. In addition, the brand has launched the “Corona Extra Boxing Sweepstakes” –providing fans the opportunity, through May 5, to win a trip for two to a future world championship fight.
Go to CoronaExtraUSA.com for exclusive content for boxing fans including fight information, rankings, photos, videos, and the opportunity to enter the “Corona Extra Boxing Sweepstakes.
Apr 30th
Oreos Just Got Better With Snack Hacks
Keep your bag of chips clipped because food innovator Michael Voltaggio’s Fanatic Hack re-writes the playbook on how to serve a winning game time snack.
Oreo Fanatic Hack
36 Oreo cookies
1 Cup all-purpose flour
½ Cup water
¼ Cup powdered sugar
Prep: Heat oven to 325 degrees
1. Blend cookies, flour and water in food processor until ball of dough is formed
2. Divide ball of dough into two pieces. Roll each ball until paper-thin between two sheets of parchment paper
3. Place on cookie sheets, remove top piece of parchment paper and score dough using pizza cutter. Bake in oven for approx. 10-15 minutes.
4. Remove, and break apart. Garnish with powdered sugar.
Oreo Shandy
Makes 40 oz. total. 4 servings, 8 oz. each.
9 Oreo cookies
1 Cup water
1 Cup sugar
2 Cans or bottles of light beer (24 oz.)
1. Place 5 Lemon Oreo cookies in a pot with sugar and water. Cook until the sugar is dissolved and cookies are tender
2. Blend the Lemon Oreo mixture/syrup until smooth
3. Strain Lemon Oreo syrup through a sieve or fine mesh strainer
4. Fill 4 glasses halfway with Lemon Oreo syrup over ice and top with beer.
Garnish each glass with remaining Oreo cookies.
Apr 14th
H.O.R.S.E on a Horse
Following in the footsteps of its Super Bowl commercial with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bud Light recently asked people if they were “Up For Whatever.” Those who said yes ended up having some truly unusual experiences – including playing H.O.R.S.E against former college and pro basketball star Rick Fox while riding actual horses – and captured it all on video.
This latest installment in Bud Light’s “Up for Whatever” video series, shot in Dallas, is now online to get fans pumped up for this weekend’s games. If you want to see everything else that happened to Bud Light fans that day, check out the video below.
Apr 4th
Go Drink Yourself
Imagine sipping your next drink from an outrageous, humongous mug shaped in the form of your head. If you’re creative enough with SoCo inspired drinks, you might just be doing that soon. Southern Comfort has premiered a new site for the drink brand, which serves as a platform for drinkers to show the brand how they like their Comfort.
You can create drinks and share, get recipes, and learn about history. Pick the right container for your drinks, fill it up, and name it. Enter your creation into the contest, “Go Drink Yourself,” for a chance to win a hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind mug with your face on it.
The site itself also reflects the brand’s “Whatever’s Comfortable” — even the 404 page.
What drink will you make?
Apr 4th
Mountain Dew and Legendary Filmmaker Robert Rodriguez Collaborate
Mountain Dew® today announced the launch of Green Label Studios: Open Call – a first-of-its-kind nationwide content project inviting content creators of all genres to submit their best work for the chance to win the gig of a lifetime: a $250,000 production grant to create content for Green-Label.com, a digital hub created by Mountain Dew and Complex Media that covers the voices and stories of today’s youth culture. The winner also receives an opportunity to be mentored by acclaimed film director and founder of El Rey Network, Robert Rodriguez, and Roberto Orci, executive producer and writer of Matador, a new original action series set to air on Rodriguez’s new cable channel.
Starting today through April 25, professional and aspiring content creators across all genres can submit their work at www.Green-Label.com showing how they “Do the DEW.” Entries should showcase the filmmakers’ unique take on their world, what they are passionate about and how they celebrate those passions.
All video entries will be judged by the Mountain Dew and Green-Label.com editorial teams, with 10 lucky finalists each receiving a $10,000 production grant to create a special piece of content for DEW. Finalists will present their work to an esteemed Green Label Studios panel at an exclusive DEW event this summer in New York City. In the end, one filmmaker will receive the top honors — a $250,000 production grant to create content for Green-Label.com and the chance to be mentored by Rodriguez and Orci.
“I believe that each of us has a story to tell – and that inspiration and the ability to tell those stories creatively can spark in anyone, at any time,” said Robert Rodriquez at a Green Label Studios event at SXSW. “I’m excited to partner with DEW to give professional and aspiring storytellers and creators a creative outlet to share with us their stories.”
Green Label Studios is the next step in the evolution of Mountain DEW’s legacy Green Label programs, which have always been about the discovery and expression of all things emerging youth culture – including music, art, style and action sports. Since launching in April 2013, Green-Label.com has exceeded expectations, with nearly 2.4 million unique page views in February 2014, with visitors spending nearly four minutes on the site each session.
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Mar 12th
Actor Brad Sherwood Talks TV Special & “Whose Line is it Anyway?”
Fans of Brad Sherwood know him from his work on the hilarious improv comedy show “Whose Line is it Anyway?” He and his colleague from that show, Colin Mochrie have a comedy two man tour group called “An Evening with Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood.” Not only do these guys travel around the country to make audiences laugh, but they have traveled the world as well.
Brad and Colin have a TV special called “Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood: Two Man Group.” I was able to talk with Brad about the TV special, improv, auditions, and traveling the world.
Art Eddy: You have a TV special called “Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood: Two Man Group,” airing Friday, March 14th. Tell us a bit about the show.
Brad Sherwood: It is our show that is similar to the one that Colin and I do when we are on the road. It is a lot of 
improv. I think that people will enjoy the show.
AE: I am a big fan of the work that you and Colin do. I know you guys did some traveling around world for your show. What country surprised you the most with their interaction or response to the show?
BS: We did a tour of Australia recently, which was great. A couple years ago we went to India. We were even amazed that they wanted us to come to the country. They had watched “Whose Line” from the original British version years ago. So that was a regular piece of entertainment that they had. So when we got there they were excited and looking forward to it and got all of our ridiculous jokes.
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AE: That is great to hear. When you guys do travel to different countries do you do any research about what type of comedy that country likes? Were you a bit nervous on how they might take the show?
BS: I think that what we got going for us is that our comedy tends to be situational, goofy, and character driven as opposed to cultural, political, or things dealing with pop culture. Sure we make a few pop culture references.
I think that is why we are so popular internationally. Not only can you turn on the show right in the middle of it and feel like you didn’t miss anything, but you don’t have to be up on American culture to get the show. That is why it transferred so well from England to the United States. It is just smart people being goofy.
AE: What got you into comedy and improv? Did you like doing stand-up at all?
BS: I am a fan of watching stand-up. I am just not a fan of doing it myself. I tried it a couple times and it was completely terrifying for me. It is just a scary monster of just throwing myself in front of an audience thinking that I had something prewritten that was going to make them laugh. That was too much pressure for me.
I have all the respect in the world for great stand-up. For example people like Louis C.K., Brian Regan, and (Jerry) Seinfeld. Those guys are just constantly funny and consistent. I saw stand-up when I was in college. I thought it was great. When I moved out to L.A. and got involved with an improv group. It felt like the heavens opened up for me and said, ‘This is what you were meant to do.’ I just kept doing and have not stopped since. I have been doing it for about 30 years.
AE: Well I can say for a lot of people that we are glad you choose to go the improv route. What is it about improv that you find the most challenging and also most rewarding?
BS: I really like doing the musical improv just because to me it is the hardest form of improv. I get to work at the top of my game. It really makes my brain work the fastest. I have to try and sing in tune. I have to make things rhyme. It has to make sense and it has to be about what the topic is. If you are spoofing a certain type of band or act then it has to sound like them. To me it is like the Sunday version of the New York Times crossword puzzle.
AE: You are great on the show “Whose Line is It Anyway?” How did you first get involved in that show? Did you have to audition for it?
BS: I did have to audition. It was very much like “A Chorus Line.” They just started with a bunch of people. By the end of the day there was nobody left. I was working with Second City out in Los Angeles and Ryan (Stiles) was working there as well. He told me that the producers for “Whose Line” were coming to see people. He had been the show for a couple of seasons at that point. So I went to the audition and got on the show and been doing it ever since.
AE: Who did you look up to in the comedy field growing up?
BS: For me it was the guys from “Monty Python.” I loved those guys. I was a little kid watching “The Carol Burnett Show” because it was funny and had sketch comedy. So guys like Tim Conway. The early days of “Saturday Night Live.” I really liked a lot sketch.
Really improv is basically sketch without a script because you are doing scenes. You are making them funny, but you don’t have a script. So our show is like an evening of “SNL.” And just like “SNL” sketches our scenes don’t have any endings as well.
AE: Is there anything else that you are looking to tackle in the entertainment industry? Are there any new projects on the horizon? 
BS: I don’t know. The entertainment business is like an evil pack of wolves. I like where I am kind of on the periphery doing my own thing. I get to perform all around the country. No one is in control of what we are doing. It is just us on stage. Both Colin and I love to perform live on stage and make people laugh.
There are other things that I would do, but right now I am really doing my favorite job of all time. It is live comedy performances and it being improv. I will ride this pony until it dies.
Mar 12th
Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Mtn Dew Kickstart in Vegas
Mtn Dew Kickstart and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. recently helped racing fans kick start Las Vegas race weekend. Hundreds of fans gathered on the plaza outside Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip on Wed., March 5 where they were surprised by a visit from Dale Jr. who pumped them up for the big race on Sunday where he’ll debut, for the first time ever, his Mtn Dew Kickstart paint scheme and firesuit.
As an added bonus, Dale Jr. personally invited fans to join him at the “Kickstart Your Night” party held at Koi Restaurant & Lounge. Inside the party fans mixed and mingled with Dale Jr. to rev up their Las Vegas race weekend experience.
Mtn Dew Kickstart recently launched two new refreshing flavors – Black Cherry and Limeade – to get DEW Nation ready for whatever the night will bring.
Mar 7th
Clive Standen Interview
Clive Standen and his fellow actors on the hit History Channel series “Vikings” are now into their second season. Fans are loving the series and if you have seen the show you know why. Clive plays the role of Rollo Lothbrok, who is the main character’s brother. Rollo is based on the historical figure, who was the great-great-great-grandfather of William the Conquerer.
I was able to talk with Clive about the success of “Vikings,” fans obsession with the crew’s hair extensions, fight choreography, and more.
Art Eddy: Season 2 is now here for “Vikings.” I loved Season 1. You guys got a lot fans of the show. As an actor do you feel more pressure to live up to the hype for this season?
Clive Standen: Oh definitely. The pressure really came from Season 1. We didn’t know if anyone was going to watch it. As soon as we got picked up for Season 2 some of that pressure was taken away. The reason is that you have that faith underneath you. You are riding into battle so to speak. You have a responsibility to get it right. You have to be thankful for the fans because they are the ones that made another season come about.
There are nerves and trepidation obviously, but a lot of it has been okay lets knuckle down and make this story explode. Judging by the first episode this season anyway people will hopefully agree with me and say it is bigger than the first.
AE: Speaking of fans. I see that you do some interaction with fans on Twitter. Do you like having social media as a way to chat with your fans?
CS: I do, but sometimes it can be your worst enemy. (Both laugh.) You can sometimes hear just as many bad comments 
as good comments. You can’t please everyone, but it is nice to have that sort of feedback. With social media these days it is good in a sense that you can switch things up a bit if you can get a handle on what people think of it. Producers of the show I am sure listen to everyone’s comments on Twitter. We give people a show that they want to watch. So I think it is a good tool to have.
AE: I want to know who is talking bad about the show. (Both laugh.)
CS: It is not necessarily who is talking bad about the show. Some people aren’t a fan of Rollo. I think that sometimes is a good thing. When people say, ‘Rollo is such a whatever,’ I tend to favor those comments. That is what people should be thinking. Hopefully by the end of this season people will feel sorry for Rollo. I think he is going to surprise some people.
AE: Rollo is based on a real historical figure so how much research did you do for the character of Rollo?
CS: I never stop researching any role that I take on. Even if it is not a historical role I try to do everything I can. I need to immerse myself in that world. I like to lose myself. I am still doing that now. Michael (Hirst) can write anything. This world is so unworldly. It is so visceral and fantastical that anything can feasibly happen. Any of these sagas Michael can latch onto and say this is the way we are going to go with an episode.
I want to feel like I am at least ahead of the game. I want to know what I am doing here. I want to be in that world instead of something hitting me from left field. So I am always researching Rollo. What is different from Rangar and Rollo is that Ragnar was a real Viking. He really did live it. A lot of what is documented of him is in the sagas. Some of those are fantastical. They are almost like Arthurian legends.
For Rollo in history books a lot of what happens with him is in France. It is all there. There is so much documented there. He is the great, great, great, great grandfather of William the Conqueror. There is a lineage there that I can draw
off of.
AE: Your fighting scenes are intense on the show. I take it your background as a Muay Thai boxer and fencing has helped you out with those scenes.
CS: Definitely, but the people that should be given credit for that is Franklin Henson and Richard Ryan. They are our stunt coordinators. They have worked on films like “Troy” and the modern “Sherlock Holmes” movie with Robert Downey Jr.
We all sat down and talked about things. There are a lot of things on TV and film where the battle scenes look like they are too choreographed. They are almost like a dance. It works for “Lord of the Rings.” He can spin around and do all sorts of things because he is an elf. It is fantasy.
We want to bring the audience into the shield. We want to bring them right into the action. We want to make the audience feel like these characters can die at any minute. It has to be brutal. It is a land of kill or be killed. These characters might not come out of it alive. They are not superheroes. Lagertha (Lothbrok) is not “Xena: Warrior Princess.” She is going to get smacked in the face. If she is going to take on these guys she is going to go down fighting. You got to feel that.
We work on the choreography. We work tirelessly with Richard to kind of choreograph the scenes. When it comes to the day the weather in Ireland is always changing to say the least. What you learn in the comfort of a studio you suddenly are out on the landscape and it is pouring and the mud is up to your shins. You are slipping and sliding. That choreography that you learned on your feet now might be done on your knees. You just carry on. You do not want to be that guy that puts his hand up when there is a 100 stuntmen running around behind you and say, ‘Hey can we do that again?’ You just adapt and overcome.
AE: I have been checking out the press for this season. It seems like a lot of people are infatuated about you and your fellow actor’s hair extensions. Did you ever think that would be a topic of conversation for the show?
CS: I know exactly, but it is also a thing where you are an actor. I am filming a movie called “Everest” at the moment. It is set in 1996. We are all mountain climbers and I had to get my hair cut short for the role.
Sometimes people are like, ‘Whoa.’ “Vikings” is six months of my year and I got the other six months of the year to fill up my calendar. I can’t go around looking like a Hell’s Angel all year. I have to adapt to the character I am playing. The only way around that is to keep my hair long enough to be able to have hair extensions. Otherwise I have become easily typecast as either a Hell’s Angel, a Viking, or an 80’s rock star.
I do understand the questions though. Some people might not understand that some of this stuff is not real. We finished filming this in November of last year. It is very weird when you see a guy and he has long hair and then the next moment he has short hair and then back to having long hair. I understand why it doesn’t add up.
Mar 6th
