Entertainment Quickies

Chevaughn, ZJ Wah Wa have US 'Come My Way'

Singer Chevaughn and ZJ Wah Wa of Zip Fm and Darkcide International recently collaborated on a single called Come My Way. It adopts the characteristics of a smooth ballad with that nostalgic reggae feel, as Chevaughn and Wah Wa encourage the ladies to 'come their way'.

In only its second week of release the song, which is produced by Notice Production, continues to steadily gain momentum and has already found its way on to several popular radio station across Europe. Last week, it premiered on HOT 97 Boston, one of the premium stations in the United States for urban music.

Meanwhile, Chevaughn's new singles, Summer Break, featuring Bugle, Razz and Biggy from the DASECA camp, and Life continue to hold steady on a number of music and video charts across the Caribbean diaspora. Chevaughn is currently on the Minnesota leg of his North American tour with Jimmy Cliff. Chevaughn is due to return to the island in mid-August before heading off to Europe for a stint with royalty Rita Marley.

No more drama for Stallone

The 64-year-old actor Sylvester Stallone - famous for his roles in action movies Rambo and Rocky - doesn't believe his fans would enjoy watching him get to grips with more serious plot lines.

He said: "I've done my mind movies and I don't think people are really too interested in seeing me do that anymore. I think I'm past my prime for doing dramatic films; it's almost like a pathetic cry out to be recognised as a serious actor.

"I did my little moment. I'm very proud of the drama in Rocky Balboa and Copland, but I would much rather just direct dramas than act in them."

Despite his long career in action movies, the Expendables actor insists he never wanted to be singled out as for his physical prowess.

He explained: "I never set out to be an action actor; I was an ensemble actor. Rocky was an ensemble piece. Paradise Alley was an ensemble movie. Then along came First Blood and that was the beginning of something unusual. Once all the dialogue was cut out it was a completely visual film."

Nesbeth anticipates Calgary Int'l Reggae Fest

Nesbeth is preparing for his debut performance at the Calgary International Reggae Festival in Canada, working alongside internationally acclaimed reggae stalwarts Beres Hammond, Kenyatta Hill of Culture and Inner Circle band.

Promoter Leo Cripps has been working closely with Nesbeth's team to ensure he makes an indelible mark in Calgary as well as at the event. On his arrival, Nesbeth is expected to do several interviews, including a live television performance/interview on City TV channel 8 in Calgary, backed by the Ultimate Crew Band from Toronto. Ultimate Crew is an amalgamation of musicians from some of Toronto's top bands, first formed in for the 2004 staging of the festival. they have been the house band since.

Lady Gaga's new music flow unstoppable

Lady Gaga, the Alejandro singer, admits that despite previous claims her third LP was complete she has had flashes of inspiration since and has not been able to finish it.

She said: "I know I told everyone my album was done, but I can't stop writing. I might have to put out two records. I never stop writing. I'm always in the studio and always writing."

The 24-year-old New Yorker also claims she will not be reinventing herself in the future, but will continue to evolve as a person.

She told Ryan Seacrest on his KIIS FM radio show: "Well, I do think I will be ... I am Gaga. It's kind of like if your parents have nicknames for you. My nickname is Gaga. But I am ever reinventing.

"I am ever changing. I don't know. I don't reinvent from album to album, I reinvent from day to day, to song to song, from video to video. It's quite chaotic! But my fans understand that because they relate to that chaos in themselves."

'Never Say Never' video gets 'techno-colour' treatment

Ace reggae artiste Jah Cure and Rickman 'Jamplified' Warren of Jamplified records last week teamed up to shoot the video for the single Never Say Never, which was released in February of this year on the Stonehenge Riddim.

Warren decided that instead of being traditional and doing a video for the reggae version of the song, he would do a video in techno or, as he puts it, in 'Techno-Colour'. Warren believes that this video will only help to bring new audiences to reggae music: "We chose to do the video for the techno remix of Never Say Never instead of the original reggae version because we wanted to reach new listeners who don't normally listen to reggae and might have otherwise never heard of Jah Cure or Jamplified."

He continued: "Techno music is a new, different, unexplored market for Jamaican talent and we like to break boundaries and try new things. People aren't expecting to hear a reggae artist on a track like that, and we like to step away from what people are accustomed to and try to broaden our listeners' horizons."

Jah Cure is very happy with the filming of a video for the techno version of the song. He says: "Never Say Never is one of those songs that can break barriers. I think the video will appeal to my immense European audience and will win me some new fans. The shoot was fun with many people turning out to give their support. Big up Gyptian, Wayne Marshall and the many others who came out."

Never Say Never in 'Techno-Colour' was shot in Kingston at Victoria House by video director Asha, who is credited with directing Jah Cure's first video for the song Sticky and recently directed Jah Cure's Unconditional Love in Havana, Cuba, and also You'll Never Find. The video was shot in front of both a green and a black screen and features several scenes which will appeal to techno ravers.

With post-editing now under way, fans can expect to see the release of the video for Never Say Never in a few weeks.

O! US$315m a year!

Oprah Winfrey gets paid US$315 million-a-year for her talk show. The TV star - whose series The Oprah Winfrey Show will end after 25 seasons in September 2011 - topped a list of the highest paid talk-show hosts in the United States, with her staggering wage more than the combined total of the next four top earners, Judge Judy Sheindlin and David Letterman, who earn US$45 million and US$28 million, respectively, Tonight Show star Jay Leno on US$25 million and Conan O'Brien, who gets paid US$10 million for his self-titled programme.

Charlie Sheen was the highest paid comedy actor, receiving US$1.25 million per episode of Two and a Half Men - more than double the US$550,000 paid to his co-star Jon Cryer, who was second on the list.

House actor Hugh Laurie was named the top-earning actor in a drama by TV Guide magazine, taking home a minimum of US$400,000 per episode, while American Idol host Ryan Seacrest was the top earning reality TV star, with a salary of US$15 million, and Matt Lauer from Today earned US$16 million, making him the highest-earning news presenter.

Despite the huge pay cheques, Hollywood insiders insist that salaries have dropped in recent years.

Delus' 'My Reality' on iTunes

Singjay Delus is currently in high spirits from the popularity of his current single Another Gal. He has one more thing to celebrate, as his EP My Reality was released on iTunes. The EP, which features singles Mek Badmind Sorry, True Love, Sticky A Road and What's Your Purpose, became available for purchase Tuesday.

The EP was released as a result of Delus' recent distribution deal with Zojak World Wide LLC. Delus is busy preparing for his two-week tour in Japan with brother, Konshens and promoting his single Another Gal.