TV BLEND

Elton John, Helen Mirren In For First SNL Hosting Gigs

http://www.cinemablend.com/television/Elton-John-Helen-Mirren-First-SNL-Hosting-Gigs-30843.html

Stick around Hollywood long enough, and you’re bound to get a Saturday Night Live offer sooner or later. That’s the case with aging beauty Helen Mirren. She’s been working steadily since the early 1970s but somehow has avoided the quintessential sketch comedy show until now. I suspect it may have to do with her perception as a serious actress, but anyone who’s watched her closely over the years knows all that talent is underscored by wonderful timing and a wry smile. Those attributes will serve her well.

According to Deadline, Mirren’s turn will come on April 9th alongside musical guest the Foo Fighters. Expect for lead singer Dave Grohl to be in at least one sketch. He always seems to pop up when least expected, but his inherent calm, goofy demeanor always brings out a few laughs.

In addition to Helen Mirren, SNL has also booked legendary singer Elton John to host on April 2nd. I’m a little less confident about how he’ll do, but his status and cult personality should provide plenty of fodder for comedy. Plus, he’s been around the show before as a musical guest.

Elton John concert ticket glitch under review

Company examining slowdown over sales for Elton John show.

http://www.news-leader.com/article/20110322/NEWS01/103220340/1007/Elton-John-concert-ticket-glitch-under-review

Tickets.com, the third-party vendor for MissouriStateTIX.com, is looking into what caused a glitch that slowed and, for a while, paralyzed online ticket sales Saturday for the April 16 Elton John show.
"We are still in the process with this company to discover what was the problem," said Randy Blackwood, executive director of athletics and entertainment facilities for Missouri State University.
The problem frustrated online ticket buyers, who had found themselves unable to finalize transactions to purchase tickets.
The glitch was not a common problem for MSU's online ticketing site, but demand for tickets exceeded the norm, Blackwood said.
"There was a tremendous load put on the system," he said, noting the popularity of Elton John. "Because a lot of people wanted to purchase tickets."
Asked when he expected a report on the investigation from Tickets.com, Blackwood said: "I want it sooner than later, but I also want it to be thorough."
MSU has a multiyear contract with Tickets.com to handle the university's online ticket sales, Blackwood said.
Blackwood said the problem was cleared up between noon and 1 p.m. Saturday.
Tickets went on sale at 10 a.m. and sold out shortly after noon.
"There was more window sales percentage-wise than we had expected," Blackwood said.
He did not give break-down numbers.
More than 9,000 tickets were put on sale.
There was a limited presale, and some tickets could be released later for general purchase, but Blackwood said he expects "a very small number of tickets" to become available.

Elton John, Leon Russell Announce First-ever 'Make Your Own Video' Contest

http://tunes.broadwayworld.com/article/Elton_John_Leon_Russell_Announce_Firstever_Make_Your_Own_Video_Contest_20110322


Music legends Elton John and Leon Russell, along with their record label Decca, are partnering with VEVO for the leading music video and entertainment platform's first-ever "Make Your Own Music Video" contest. Launched March 17th, participants are encouraged to submit their own music videos created for Elton and Leon's latest single, "Hey Ahab," from their critically acclaimed Decca album, The Union. The contest will be promoted across VEVO and their associated YouTube channels as well as their social media properties, with a personally recorded message by Elton John himself about the contest.

Creative fans are encouraged to utilize assets provided by VEVO and Decca for inclusion in their music video submissions, including a live performance clip of "Hey Ahab" filmed at New York City's Beacon Theatre; the CD launch concert broadcast on Fuse in October 2010. There are also hi-resolution photos of the iconic artists and the full watermarked audio track of the song available to all participants. Submissions must be entered by May 1st, at which time Elton and Leon will personally select the winning clip. The favorite selected clip will premiere as the official music video for "Hey Ahab" on VEVO, with an additional grand prize of $5,000 also going to the winner.
For more information about the contest, please visit: www.vevo.com/go/heyahab
To view a promotional clip on the contest, click here:http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1744960/%2BSPEK/PROJECTS/elton/031511/VEVO_ELTON_LEON_
About The Union:
Produced by Oscar and multiple-Grammy winning producer T Bone Burnett, The Union was recorded live in the studio with Elton John and Leon Russell on dueling pianos, and includes guest vocals by icons Neil Young and BrIan Wilson, along with legendary R&B organist Booker T. Jones, steel guitarist Robert Randolph and a 10-piece gospel choir. The duo will be the featured musical guest performers on Saturday Night Live on April 2nd, with Elton doing double duty as host as well. The world premiere of Cameron Crowe's documentary film The Union will open the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival on April 20th.

About VEVO:
VEVO is the leading premium music video and entertainment service with two billion worldwide streams and over 60 million unique visitors in the U.S. and Canada each month. VEVO's programming is made available across the VEVO platform, which includes VEVO.com (the service's marquee destination site), VEVO Mobile (iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Android), VEVO connected devices (Google TV, Boxee) and a VEVO-branded embedded player. VEVO also syndicates its programming to additional internet destination sites, including AOL, BET, CBS Interactive Music Group (including Last.fm), Univision and, through a special partnership, VEVO on YouTube, expanding the platform's reach across the worldwide web.

Read more: http://tunes.broadwayworld.com/article/Elton_John_Leon_Russell_Announce_Firstever_Make_Your_Own_Video_Contest_20110322#ixzz1HMVrZ1SQ





March 9, 2011

I Was There, Reno, Nevada, USA
http://www.eltonjohn.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110309&contentid=16875042

Elton and the band at Reno Events Center, February 19, 2011

By the Editor/eltonjohn.com

"On Friday, the 19th of February, my husband and I headed to Reno. What should have been a three-hour trip turned into a six-hour drive through a winter wonderland. Heading to see Elton, with no ticket in hand, you might think I was a little crazy! But Saturday morning I got my ticket, sect. 2 row 1. Whoohoo! I could not wait till 8:00pm.
"The lights went down around 8:10, and the band filtered on stage. Soon the familiar strains of Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding were pouring through the Reno Events Center. Right on cue, the spotlight hits stage right, and up walks Elton! The roars get louder and Elton salutes the crowd, dressed lavishly in a purple shirt and his suit with the mermaid on the back. He had arrived and was ready to rock the house! Elton and the band played the familiar set list, to the delight of serious and casual fans alike. Elton apologized after Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting that he had bronchitis, but he was going to try and give us the best show ever. And he kept that promise! Elton and the band put on a flawless performance, and I was there to experience it.
"They played six of the new songs off The Union, which went over real well with the audience, Hey Ahab and Monkey Suit rocked live, they had the female back-up singers along with them, adding their flourishes to the songs as only they can. It sounded like they'd been playing those songs for years...delivered perfectly!
"Before playing You're Never Too Old, Elton announced that he and David had brought Zachary with them tonight. It was his "first" time out of Los Angeles, "first" time in an airplane, and his "first" concert, (only the start of many for their little baby Zachary, I'm sure). They wrapped up the concert with Your Song and Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me and with that and Elton's goodbyes, the band leaves the stage, and we are left with only the memories and the tunes going through our heads. Thank you Elton and The Band....you did it again!"

Pam from California, USA