AOLR Weekly Wrap-Up #28

Let’s start with the latest updates for what’s going to be the best romantic comedy of 2010: The Back-up Plan (only 75 more days to go!):

• In addition to the French and Italian versions of The Back-up Plan trailer, there is now also a Russian version.
• Here’s an encouraging comment from a non-fan about The Back-up Plan trailer:
  

  I just received this in my mailbox and it literally had me laughing out loud that I just had to share it with [you]. Looks like a great movie to see on GNO….looking forward to it!

• If you’re watching the Super Bowl XLIV on February 7th, then you can expect to see a 30-second teaser for The Back-up Plan! There is no information on when it will be shown and CBS Films are not included in the ad line-up, but Staci Hayes (Creative Director at CBS Films) is the source of some tweets on this topic. Last year’s broadcast was the most watched in Super Bowl history, drawing over 98 million viewers in the US, so saying that this promotion is pretty big for Alex’s first major movie is somewhat of an understatement. You’ve just got to appreciate CBS’s easy access to multiple marketing platforms! Super Bowl 2010 will be broadcast live by CBS and you should be able to vote for this year’s favorite commercial at http://www.superbowl-ads.com after they have aired, where you can also watch previews.
• I’ve added the German movie poster and logo to The Back-up Plan gallery!

And the latest Hawaii Five-O information from the fandom:

• Unverified and to be taken with a grain of salt (and a large whiskey, straight up, to calm your nerves) until it’s confirmed or refuted by other sources is Alan Baltes’s post on his TV show auditions site, where the statement “CBS has officially greenlit the ‘Hawaii Five-O’ comeback for a full season” raises some eyebrows (as well as blood pressure levels) and Alex O’Loughlin is boldly included in the cast line-up as Steve McGarrett.
• Also interesting is Ed Bernero’s recent and lengthy interview with Nikki Finke at Deadline Hollywood. Bernero, who is the executive producer and showrunner for Criminal Minds, was involved in the previous Hawaii Five-O revival project and is a fan of the original series:

DH: I understand that you had planned to do a revisitation of Hawaii Five-0 for CBS?

EB: Yeah, it was for CBS, and there was a script written. They bought three things from me last year, CBS did — and I realized at some point that they were only going to make one, and realized I was in competition with myself, which I sort of learned a lesson from. They ordered a pilot of a thing called Washington Field, that was one of the three that I did. It was about the Washington field office of the FBI. And Hawaii Five-0 kind of went sideways. Now I think they’ve hired some movie writers to come in and do it as a show. It was never mine; I was kind of a hired gun. I kind of just hope they treat the property well – it was the ring tone on my phone before I did it. That’s my favorite show.

DH: What do you like about it? It’s such an old classic.

EB: I think I liked it because, for me, it made being cops cool. And also for me and my mother, we used to watch it, and it was almost like going to Hawaii each week. It was like a vacation, because we didn’t have anything growing up. We were pretty poor. I think it was just kind of fun to share with my single mother. And I loved Starsky & Hutch, too, I’ve always liked Starsky & Hutch.

DH: I remember sitting in cold Detroit watching Hawaii Five-0 and it was like my trip to the beach.

EB: I now love Hawaii, the island of Kauai is the place I’m going to retire, I love Hawaii.

DH: So this is a show you’ll definitely be watching.

A: I’ll be watching, and I wish them luck. I hope it goes well. I just hope they respect it. Too many times on remakes, they don’t respect the original material. The Starsky & Hutch movie was like that, I was pretty disappointed in that. They made Hutch a criminal, and Starsky gay. What?

On to some other topics:

• Donate Life Hollywood’s second annual film festival will take place on June 11-12. The DLH website has no details up yet, but the organization has announced in a recent press release that the Inspire Awards Dinner will take place at the Paley Center in Beverly Hills on June 12, where the best organ donation themed movie of all time will be honored. The four nominated films are Seven Pounds, Return to Me, John Q and Blood Work. For more updates, visit the Donate Life Organ & Tissue Donation blog!
• In celebration of Oscar night, the Pittsburgh Film Office is organizing its 10th annual fundraiser “Lights! Glamour! Action!” on March 7th at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture in Pittsburgh. Highlights of the glitzy event include the red carpet walk, a champagne reception, the live Oscar telecast, and a silent auction of approximately 175 memorabilia including an autographed photo donated by Alex O’Loughlin and a Three Rivers script signed by the cast.  Check out the PFO’s website for ticket and event information as well as an informative article by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

As always, a big thanks to the amazing fans at TRF and LLOL for their invaluable contribution to all wrap-ups!

Tags: hawaii five-o, alex o’lachlan, the back-up plan, cbs films, three rivers, alex o’loughlin, donate life, steve mcgarrett

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