Every year, Hollywood comes together for What a Pair!, an evening of dance, song, laughs and celebration to support Cedars-Sinai. The 2013 festivities will take place April 13 at the Broad Stage and Performing Arts Center in Santa Monica. The evening kicks off with a VIP cast party, where you’ll be able to meet some of the celebrity “pairings” who’ll bring you a heartwarming, comical and entertaining performance.
You never know who might just pop up. Previous pairings have included everyone from local Rita Wilson to Jessica Biel, as well as Jane Lynch, Jason Alexander and Jamie Lee Curtis.
Giuliana and Bill Rancic will serve as this year’s honorary co-chairs. Proceeds from What A Pair! benefit the breast cancer research and education program at the Cedars-Sinai Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute. The event has raised more than $2 million since 2002.
Erasing the stigma
Locals will also be turning out in force for the 17th annual Erasing the Stigma Leadership Awards. The gala takes place on April 18 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel and will spotlight the singers and song makers whose work has eased the pain of those suffering from mental illness or addiction.
This year’s honorees include 27-times Grammy Award-winning producer Quincy Jones, as well as Jeff Greenberg and Michael Angelakos.
Marvelous Mel
Well…raise my rent! We’d like to extend a laurel…and hearty handshake to Malibu’s Mel Brooks, who has been named the recipient of the 41st Lifetime Achievement Award by the American Film Institute.
The comic genius, who made us roar with films like “Blazing Saddles,” “Young Frankenstein,” “The Producers” and “Spaceballs,” will be honored June 6, and expect Lili Von Shtupp and a who’s who of Hollywood to turn out.
Brooks is one of the few who has hit a grand slam in the entertainment sweepstakes. He’s received an Oscar, an Emmy, a Grammy and a Tony award. He started out doing stand-up in the Catskills before going on to become a writer in the 1950s comedy series “Your Show of Shows.”
The laughs continued when he teamed up with Carl Reiner for “The 2000 Year Old Man” and later with Buck Henry for the classic 1960s spy spoof “Get Smart.”
“Mel Brooks is America’s reigning king of comedy,” said Howard Stringer, chairman of AFI’s board of trustees. “And he taught us long ago, it’s good to be king.”
So don’t just sit there lollygaggin’ around like it was 120 degrees….grab your stinking badges, Gucci saddle, “wed wose,” 10-gallon hat and hit the trail to honor one of the greatest funnymen ever.