Merv Griffin News

'We Will Always Love You: A GRAMMYSalute To Whitney Houston' is set to air this Friday, Nov. 16 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on the CBS Television Network (www.cbs.com). The special, which was taped last month at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE, features artists paying homage to the six-time GRAMMY winner with performances from four-time GRAMMY winner Yolanda Adams, five-time GRAMMY winner Celine Dion, GRAMMY and Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson, seven-time GRAMMY winner Usher, and 10-time GRAMMY winner CeCe Winans. Academy Award winner Halle Berry, actress Taraji P Henson, two-time GRAMMY winner LL COOL J and GRAMMY winner Britney Spears present a special collection of clips that celebrate Houston's life and artistry through performances and interviews. The show will be broadcast in HDTV and 5.1 surround sound.

Feinstein's at Loews Regency will continue its Fall 2012 season with the debut engagement of mother-son duo of world-class jazz pianist, Bill Charlap and Grammy Award-nominated vocalist Sandy Stewart. The pair will perform a collection of ballads from some of the most popular songwriters of the twentieth century such as George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Harold Arlen, Richard Rodgers and Irving Berlin. The show will run from November 19 to 24 at the Loews Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue at 61st Street).

Local singer Mara Getz will perform her latest one woman show A TRIBUTE TO MS. PEGGY LEE at The Arthur Newman Theatre at The Joslyn Center in Palm Desert today, October 28, 2012 at 2 pm.

For anyone who loves Hollywood memorabilia, is an entertainment junkie, and loves to eat and cook - they will treasure Frank DeCaro's The Dead Celebrity Cookbook: A Resurrection of Recipes from More Than 145 Stars of Stage and Screen (HCI Books). Frank compiled favorite recipes from some of Hollywood's biggest names; including Lucille Ball, Elizabeth Taylor, Sonny Bono, Liberace, Michael Jackson, John Denver, Frank Sinatra, Rock Hudson, Humphrey Bogart, and Peter Falk, just to name a few.

Local singer Mara Getz will perform her latest one woman show A TRIBUTE TO MS. PEGGY LEE at The Arthur Newman Theatre at The Joslyn Center in Palm Desert on Sunday, October 28, 2012 at 2 pm.

Four-time GRAMMY® Award winner Yolanda Adams and 10-time GRAMMY® Award winner CeCe Winans are the latest performers announced for WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU: A GRAMMY® SALUTE TO WHITNEY HOUSTON.

JazzTime Band plays Vicky's of Santa Fe (Highway 111 & Club Drive, Indian Wells) every Sunday 2-5PM starting today, October 7th.

Good Theater kicks off its 11th season with a special two performance event, An Evening With Broadway Star Florence Lacey tonight, October 6 at 7:30 and tomorrow, October 7 at 2:00. All tickets are $30 for these shows. For reservations, call Good Theater at 885-5883 or go to the Good Theater website at www.goodtheater.com.

JazzTime Band plays Vicky's of Santa Fe (Highway 111 & Club Drive, Indian Wells) every Sunday 2-5PM starting October 7th.

Good Theater kicks off its 11th season with a special two performance event, An Evening With Broadway Star Florence Lacey on October 6 at 7:30 and October 7 at 2:00. All tickets are $30 for these shows. For reservations, call Good Theater at 885-5883 or go to the Good Theater website at www.goodtheater.com.

THE WENDY WILLIAMS SHOW premiered its fourth season in national syndication yesterday, September 10 in high definition and from the first episode, viewers are going to see changes to the show that will make their favorite daytime star even more must-see than ever before.

Shoshana Bean joins the cast of 'A Magical Night On Broadway' at The Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa in Rancho Mirage tonight, September 8 at 8:00 pm. 'A Magical Night On Broadway" is a fully-staged and costumed tribute to the American musical theatre starring stage, film and television personality JoAnne Worley and featuring music from some of Broadway's most celebrated musicals including "Chicago," "Wicked," "Hairspray," "A Chorus Line," "The Lion King" and more. Joining Worley are Bean and Broadway and television star Rex Smith, Tony-nominated actress Jonelle Allen, Terron Brooks and Carol Channing's American Glee Club - a young song and dance group representing America's public schools, along with a few surprise guests. The show is directed by David Green with musical direction by Stephen Smith.

Today we are focusing a super-special spotlight on one of the Fall's most intriguing musical entries trying out in New York, the York Theatre Company's lab mounting of the new Paul Jabara jukebox musical LAST DANCE, by talking to the show's lead, recognizable TV and film star Rob Morrow, and the show's lead producer, noted comedic shepherd and filmmaker Robert D. Wachs, whom filled me in on all aspects of the show in a comprehensive chat late last week just prior to this week's start of rehearsals. In this all-encompassing conversation, Morrow, Wachs and I discuss the genesis of the new disco-themed musical celebrating the life and career of Jabara, the accomplished Emmy, Grammy and Academy Award-winning composer of Broadway shows (RACHAEL LILY ROSENBLOOM… AND DON'T YOU EVER FORGET IT), movie songs ("Last Dance" from THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY; the titular "The Main Event") and numerous pop/rock/disco hits, such as "It's Raining Men" by The Weather Girls, Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer's epic disco duet "Enough Is Enough (No More Tears)" and his many solo hits, as well as the finer points of the story, concept, casting and the ultimate goals of the new Philip William McKinley-directed production, which features a book by Shaun McKenna. Additionally, Morrow and Wachs each generously share showbiz tales from their storied careers involving such big names as Eddie Murphy, Michael Bennett, Jonathan Larson, Tony Scott and many more and both copiously convey their infectious enthusiasm for the forthcoming fully-produced lab presentation of the new musical that will play for five performances beginning September 20 as they prepare for its first viewing before a paying audience. All of that and much, much more awaits!

Shoshana Bean joins the cast of 'A Magical Night On Broadway' at The Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa in Rancho Mirage on Saturday, September 8 at 8:00 pm. 'A Magical Night On Broadway" is a fully-staged and costumed tribute to the American musical theatre starring stage, film and television personality JoAnne Worley and featuring music from some of Broadway's most celebrated musicals including "Chicago," "Wicked," "Hairspray," "A Chorus Line," "The Lion King" and more. Joining Worley are Bean and Broadway and television star Rex Smith, Tony-nominated actress Jonelle Allen, Terron Brooks and Carol Channing's American Glee Club - a young song and dance group representing America's public schools, along with a few surprise guests. The show is directed by David Green with musical direction by Stephen Smith.

Good Theater, the professional company in residence at the St. Lawrence Arts Center, is gearing up for its 11th season of plays and musicals. Artistic Director Brian P. Allen calls this, “a season of firsts with two Maine premieres, a New England premiere and an East Coast premiere. Plus we've added a very special kick off event with a major Broadway star.'

Renowned Las Vegas entertainers The Scintas return to the Suncoast Showroom, tonight, July 21 and tomorrow night, July 22.

Renowned Las Vegas entertainers The Scintas return to the Suncoast Showroom, July 21 and 22.

According to the New York Times, orchestrator, composer, pianist, conductor and musical director Mort Lindsey passed away from complications from a broken hip on May 4. He was 89 years old. Lindsey is survived by sons Trevor and David, daughters Bonney Dunn, Deborah Morris and Judy Grant, and sister Janet.

PromaxBDA announced today that renowned actress and comedienne Betty White will be the recipient of its PromaxBDA Lifetime Achievement Award at The Conference 2012, June 12-14 in Los Angeles.

The Laugh Factory Las Vegas at the New Tropicana Las Vegas has announced this week's comedy lineup: Gerry Bednob, Bob Golub and Ace Guillen will take the stage May 7-13.