Go see "Annie"!

I read the reviews by the reviewmeisters.
They panned Annie.
I almost didn't want to go see it.
I'm glad I did.

The movie is positive. It's uplifting. It's fun. The acting is good. The music is great. There's really nothing negative I can say about it. Sorry to those who make a living reviewing movies, you got this one wrong (dang, you need to take a dose of something to counter your cynical minds).

It has GREAT messages:
- you can be anything, background doesn't matter
- work hard and you can achieve
- hard knocks happen but your attitude will help you triumph
- redemption for any and all

I could probably list some more but those are the ones that shouted out at me as I thought about Annie afterwards. I thoroughly enjoyed getting a dose of positive in the guise of entertaining theater.

The music is fun, catchy, sing-able and yes, good. Sure, the words are a bit different but so is the movie. It's very loosely based on Annie. I think it kept the main themes but with a modern twist.

Sure, it's different. But go out and read the first comic strip then watch all the subsequent cartoons, movies, spin-offs, remakes. Think Annie has changed? What creation from the 1930s hasn't been changed to fit the times? 

They dissed Cameron Diaz (Miss Hannigan) for overacting. Did they SEE Carol Burnett in the 1982 remake? Kathy Bates in the 1999 version?

They didn't like the music? the singing? We left the theater and went straight to the store to find the CD. We bought the last one. I don't know if that means they're selling like crazy or the stores just didn't stock them!

I hope every parent takes their children, all ages, to see the movie. I have seen most of the other versions, if not all. I like the fact that they modernized this one.

(I'm going to come back & add some more later, breakfast calls).

Silver Stars™ Talent Competition to Offer Seniors Chance to Shine

RJ Note: With all the wonderful talent found in our area, shouldn't there be some of our locals in this competition? Should I start the list off? Let's see, there's---

(BUSINESS WIRE)--HealthSpring is inviting musicians, singers and dancers age 60 and up to compete for the top prize of $5,000 in a new talent contest called Silver Stars.

“We know there are so many talented seniors in this community, and we want to give them a chance to really show what they can do,” HealthSpring of Tennessee President Shawn Morris said. “Seniors represent a huge pool of talent that has been ignored by TV talent shows that all focus on a much younger demographic. We feel this is the perfect opportunity to harness all that untapped energy and talent with our own competition. Silver Stars fits perfectly with HealthSpring’s mission to help seniors stay healthy and active.”

Silver Stars is open to singers, musicians and dancers age 60 or older. Solos, duos and groups are welcome.

The ten finalists will record a professionally-produced compilation CD and go on to compete for the top prize of $5,000 dollars in cash at the Ryman Auditorium on Sat., Oct. 4, 2008. The finalists will perform in front of fans, family and friends and will receive a DVD of their performances. A total of $7,500 in prize money will be award to first-, second- and third-place winners. The panel of finalist celebrity judges includes News Channel 4 anchor Demetria Kalodimos, 103WKDF morning personality Rick Marino, Bluebird Café founder Amy Kurland and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Brenda Lee. Nashville Mayor Karl Dean will open the event with a welcoming address.

Auditions will be held Sat., Aug. 23, 2008, from noon to 6 p.m. CDT at Cadillac Ranch, located at 305 Broadway in downtown Nashville. Participants should arrive by 10 a.m. for pre-registration.

The first 100 audition registrants will perform for a panel of local celebrity judges, including Sirius Satellite Radio personality and “Unofficial Mayor of Music Row” Charlie Monk, 103WKDF air personality Sweet Becca, Tennessean music journalist Nicole Keiper, hit songwriter and Jon Bon Jovi collaborator Billy Falcon and USA Today music journalist Brian Mansfield.

Seniors interested in participating in Silver Stars can register online at www.hssilverstars.com. On-site registration will also be available on the day of auditions.

For more information, visit www.hssilverstars.com or call Billy Block at 615-665-8772.