UNFORGETTABLE
It’s one of Hollywood’s most successful annual fundraisers and this year, the Entertainment Industry Foundation Woman’s Cancer Research Fund gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel did not disappoint. The starry event, now in its 15th year, raised a whopping $2 million for the cause.
Malibu regulars Steven Spielberg, wife Kate Capshaw and Rita Wilson are all longtime supporters. They joined co-founders Kelly Chapman Meyer, Anne Douglas, Quinn Ezralow, Marion Laurie and Jaime Tisch. Legendary Kirk Douglas was also in the crowd, along with funnyman Martin Short, “Friends” star Lisa Kudrow, “Laugh-In” producer George Schlatter, do-gooders Laurie David and Barbara Davis, and supermodel Amber Valletta.
Melissa Peterman kept the mood light as the evening’s emcee. “All I Wanna Do” songbird Sheryl Crow accepted the 2012 “Courage Award” for her inspiring battle against breast cancer. The Nat King Cole Award was presented to Glamour magazine editor-in-chief Cindi Leive for her many charitable works and contributions.
There was lots of A-list hobnobbing, a gourmet dinner, and it can’t be a bad bash when superstar Rihanna takes the stage. The red-hot Grammy award-winning artist rounded out the evening with a five song set. It included her hits “Only Girl,” “What’s My Name,” a cover of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song,” “Umbrella” and “We Found Love.”
No wonder they call it “An Unforgettable Evening.”
JOBS, JOBS, JOBS
That may be the theme of the upcoming presidential election, but it’s also a primary focus of Hollywood these days. No, don’t look for lots of movie fare on the current state of U.S. jobs. We’re talking about the late Apple guru Steve Jobs.
The computer tycoon and marketing whiz died last year from cancer.
Aaron Sorkin, the acclaimed screen writer and Oscar-winner for “The Social Network,” has signed up to bring the fascinating life of the tech icon to the silver screen. The film will reunite him with his “Social Network” producer Scott Rudin.
The movie “Steve Jobs” will be based on the best selling bio written by former Time Magazine managing editor Walter Isaacson. If you haven’t read it, do so. It’s a riveting page-turner about a true genius who could also be a true jerk.
The fascinating figure is also the subject of another film titled “Jobs.” That film stars “Two and a Half Men” star Ashton Kutcher in the title role.
As I mentioned in a previous column, there’s no telling what kind of performance Ashton will put out, but with his thin, lanky six-foot something frame, he sure looks the part.