Look To The Stars News: Jesse Spencer

Band From TV To Launch New Epilepsy Site At Charity Gig

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Band From TV – the celebrity charity music group made up of stars from some of today’s most popular TV shows – is to play a special gig next month to launch a charity website set up by its founding member.

Talk About It was created by Heroes star Greg Grunberg to raise awareness of epilepsy and help educate people the world and end stigmas about seizure disorders. The site features many of his Heroes co-stars and celebrity friends, such as Zachary Quinto, Chris Pine, and John Mayer. Grunberg is a longtime supporter of epilepsy causes, an issue that he has been involved with since his son, Jake, was diagnosed with the condition. He is the official spokesperson for the Epilepsy Foundation and Epilepsy Advocate.

Grunberg started the Band From TV – which includes members such as Hugh Laurie, Teri Hatcher, Bonnie Somerville, Hayden Panettiere, Adrian Pasdar, James Denton, Jesse Spencer, and Bob Guiney – after getting a few celebrities to play together at the House Of Blues for charity. The success of that event has led to a number of gigs in the US which have, according to Hugh Laurie, “raised a gargantuan sum of money for charity.” These charities include such as Save the Children, The Art of Elysium, the Child Abuse Prevention Program and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence through the Band From TV Global Charity Trust. Band From TV recently released their first CD, Hoggin’ All The Covers, which has become a huge hit at Amazon.com and can be ordered here. Look To The Stars was lucky enough to interview Greg just before Christmas, and the video of our chat can be viewed here.

To celebrate the launch of Talk About It, Band From TV – along with special celebrity guests including Scott Grimes from ER and many others – are performing one night only on October 25 at The Canyon Club in Agoura. Come with your family and friends and be ready to rock out to your favorite cover tunes being performed by some of your favorite TV actors.

THIS SHOW WILL SELL OUT!! Tickets may be purchased by visiting Ticketmaster or by calling The Canyon Club Box Office at (818) 879-5016.

Stars To Attend Change The World Awards This Weekend

Fri, 29 May 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The Hollywood Note Foundation will hold its annual Change The World Awards this Sunday, May 31.

The award ceremony – hosted by Scott Baio and his wife Rene – will attract a large number of stars who will be recognized for their personal efforts to make the world a better place. Recipients will include Band From TV – featuring Greg Grunberg, Bob Guiney, Bonnie Somerville, Hugh Laurie, James Denton, Jesse Spencer and Teri Hatcher – who will recieve the Humanitarian Award of Inspiration. Also being honored are Ed Begley Jr., who will be presented with the Humanitarian Lifetime Achievement Award, Bart Simpson’s voice Nancy Cartwright – who will receive the Change The World Public Service Award – and many others, including Aimee Teegarden, Kevin Sorbo, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jeremy Sumpter, and Michael Bernard Beckwith.

Beneficiaries of the event will include Stand Up To Cancer, Happy House, Save The Ta-Tas, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children), Coalition for Clean Air, the Ready or Not Foundation, and the Agape Foundation.

The ceremony – which will be held at the Beverly Hills Hotel – will feature performances by Rachael Lampa, Daniel Nahmod and Kute Blackson.

Find out more at the official Change The World Awards website.

Band From TV To Play Concert For Charity In Miami

Thu, 14 May 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The All-Star Band From TV is to play a special Concert For Charity event in Miami on Saturday, May 16.

The band – made up of television stars such as Greg Grunberg, Bob Guiney, Bonnie Somerville, Hugh Laurie, James Denton, Jesse Spencer and Teri Hatcher – recently scored the number 1 slot on Amazon with their CD/DVD package, Hoggin’ All the Covers. Proceeds from every show the band plays goes to charities such as Save the Children, The Art of Elysium, the Child Abuse Prevention Program and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence – through the Band From TV Global Charity Trust.

The Concert For Charity will take place at the Shore Club Hotel in Miami Beach and will also feature a special appearance by Melora Hardin, who spoke to Look To The Stars about charity last year.

General admission tickets to the event cost $50. $175 VIP admission includes a pre-party with the band and a preferred viewing area. The event is for ages 21 and over. Click here for tickets.

To watch a video of the Band From TV at the recent Heroes For Autism event, click here.

Attend The Change The World Awards For A Special Price

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The Hollywood Note Foundation is to hold its annual star-studded Change The World Awards on May 31, and now Look To The Stars readers can purchase tickets for a reduced price.

The award ceremony – hosted by Scott Baio and his wife Rene – will attract a large number of stars who will be recognized for their personal efforts to make the world a better place. Recipients will include Band From TV – featuring Greg Grunberg, Bob Guiney, Bonnie Somerville, Hugh Laurie, James Denton, Jesse Spencer and Teri Hatcher – who will recieve the Humanitarian Award of Inspiration. Also being honored are Ed Begley Jr., who will be presented with the Humanitarian Lifetime Achievement Award, Bart Simpson’s voice Nancy Cartwright – who will receive the Change The World Public Service Award – and many others, including Aimee Teegarden, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jeremy Sumpter, and Michael Bernard Beckwith.

The ceremony – which will be held at the Beverly Hills Hotel – will feature performances by Rachael Lampa, Daniel Nahmod and Kute Blackson.

Individual tickets usually cost $500, but as a special offer, Look To The Stars can now offer you tickets for $350. To purchase the tickets, go to the Change The World website and enter the online registration code NOTE 0531 when you make your purchase.

Heroes Come To The Rescue For Autism

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Fans of NBC’s Heroes will be excited to learn about an event to take place in April featuring the cast from the hit show, live music from Band From TV, and a silent auction – all to benefit children with autism.

Heroes For Autism will take place on April 19 at the Avalon Hollywood, and will kick off with a VIP cocktail reception and silent auction featuring art work designed and created by the cast and crew of Heroes. Guests will then enjoy a concert performance by the ‘Band From TV’ – featuring Greg Grunberg, Adrian Pasdar, James Denton, Jesse Spencer, and Bob Guiney – and a special performance by the show’s music composers Wendy & Lisa. Wendy & Lisa will perform their music from the series, as well as music from their newly-released CD, ‘White Flags of Winter Chimneys.’

General admission to the event is $70, although $200 will buy you a VIP ticket that includes entry to the cocktail reception and early bids on auction items. All proceeds from the evening will go to Autism Speaks, an organization that funds global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism. Autism Speaks also raises public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society, and brings hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder.

There will be over 80 pieces of art from 22 artists up for auction – including works from Hayden Panettiere and Milo Ventimiglia – featuring a range of mediums, including photography, painting, drawing, and animation. The auction will continue until 8:30 p.m. and at 9:30 p.m. the winners will be announced.

For tickets or to learn more about the event, visit the Heroes For Autism website.

Chat With Greg Grunberg For The Epilepsy Foundation

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Heroes’ Greg Grunberg is to auction a one-on-one video chat to benefit the Epilepsy Foundation.

The auction, which can be accessed at humanety.com, opens this Thrusday, March 26, and runs until April 5. The prize is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to participate in a personal 30-minute video conversation with Grunberg at a later date.

Grunberg is a longtime supporter of epilepsy causes, an issue that he has been involved with since his son, Jake, was diagnosed with the condition. He is the official spokesperson for the Epilepsy Foundation and EpilepsyAdvocate.com, and recently created TalkAboutIt.org, a website that helps remove stigmas about epilepsy and provides a forum for information about the affliction. He also founded Band From TV – with fellow actors Hugh Laurie, James Denton, Adrian Pasdar, Jesse Spencer and Bob Guiney – to raise money for different charities.

“When I heard about Humanety, I jumped at the chance to raise money and awareness about a cause I feel so passionately about. I love talking with my fans, and nothing is off limits: Heroes, Alias, Felicity, Yowza!!, my best friend JJ and his new Star Trek movie and, of course, epilepsy. Let’s talk about it,” said Grunberg.

“Humanety is a new way to help support and promote a wide variety of vital charities,” said Michael Campbell, CEO of Humanety. “By conducting these meetings over the Internet, we are able to connect celebrities to their fans anywhere around the world. We are honored to work with Greg to help him promote the cause of the Epilepsy Foundation and hopefully raise significant donations in the process.”

The Epilepsy Foundation of America is the national voluntary agency solely dedicated to the welfare of the more than 3 million people with epilepsy in the U.S. and their families. The organization works to ensure that people with seizures are able to participate in all life experiences; to improve how people with epilepsy are perceived, accepted and valued in society; and to promote research for a cure.

Grunberg is also due take part in the National Walk For Epilepsy in Washington DC next week. The Walk is a fundraising event that will cover a route of 2 miles. The goal of the Walk is to raise more than $1.5 million for epilepsy services, education, advocacy and research. The event is designed to bring the epilepsy community together to demonstrate camaraderie, strength and success.

Richard Branson Attends Bush Fire Relief Celebrity Soccer Match

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Without A Trace star Anthony LaPaglia was the mastermind behind a celebrity soccer match held last week to raise money for victims of the horrific Australian bush fires.

Held at the Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles, the match attracted celebrity players such as House star Jesse Spencer, Simon Baker, Stephen Moyer, Vinnie Jones, Gracie Otto, Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones, Melbourne rock star Toby Rand, Love My Way star Damon Herriman and The Bachelor reality television show host Chris Harrison.

“Anthony rang me and said we’ve got to raise some money for these people and I said sure, I’ll see you there,” said Vinnie Jones. “The fires were so heart-wrenching. This was the least we could do get people involved and raise awareness.”

Hundreds of spectators attended the game, including Virgin chief Sir Richard Branson, who has donated over $500,000 to victims of the fires that have claimed over 200 lives and left thousands homeless.

“Australia has been a second home for years and these particular fires have been absolutely devastating; they’ve ruined lots of peoples lives,” he said. “Virgin is in a position where we can do something about it, and a lot of people just can’t afford to help at the moment so its good to mix business with charity and pleasure.”

Also in attendance were True Blood star Anna Paquin, LaPaglia’s wife Gia Carides and Without a Trace’s Poppy Montgomery.

LaPaglia was inspired to organize the match through the Hollywood United soccer team he plays for because he was born in Australia and wanted to do something for his country.

“When we started to see all of the images coming through from the Victorian fires, I just thought this is what were here for, this is what we do,” he said. “It was terrible to see entire towns wiped out and to see images of cars burnt to a crisp trying to get out just horrifying images. Without hesitation, people – world-class soccer players and celebrities not just from Australia but from America and Britain too – put up their hands to use their profile to help.”

Stars Sign Posters For Charity Foundation

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Now is the time to deck your walls with a selection of movie posters signed by your favorite stars in a new charity auction being run by ClothesOffOurBack.org.

Going under the hammer are a Brokeback Mountain poster signed by the late Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams, a Big Love poster and DVD set signed by Bill Paxton, a Philadelphia poster signed by Denzel Washington, and SAG Conversation Series posters signed by stars such as Kirk Douglas, Julia Louis Dreyfus, Greg Grunberg, Neil Patrick Harris, Holly Hunter, Rob Schneider, Kyra Sedgwick, Tom Selleck, Forest Whitaker, Rainn Wilson, Jenna Fischer, Ben Affleck, Matthew Perry, Amanda Peet, Tim Robbins, Ali Larter, Jesse Spencer and many more.

Proceeds from the auction will go to the Screen Actor’s Guild Foundation, an organization that offers substantive services to Guild members in its mission to assist, educate and inspire actors in their professional endeavors and to give back to the communities in which they live. Founded in 1985, the non-profit SAG Foundation is governed independently of the Guild and funded through the generosity of grants, donations, volunteering and fundraising efforts.

The auction runs until March 23 and can be accessed here.

Hugh Laurie To Be Honored For Charity Work

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

House star Hugh Laurie will be honored with a special humanitarian award by the Venice Family Clinic later tonight, February 23.

Along with House creator David Shore, Laurie will be honored for his charity work. Also being honored at the event is the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

Founded in 1983, Silver Circle is Venice Family Clinic’s premier giving group, raising more than one million dollars annually to provide free, quality health care to people in need. The Venice Family Clinic, the nation’s largest free clinic, provides free, quality health care to people in need. Last year, with the support of Silver Circle donors and more than 1,500 volunteers—including nearly 500 physicians—the Clinic served over 23,500 children and adults in approximately 100,000 primary care, specialty care, mental health and dental visits. Silver Circle is Venice Family Clinic’s premier annual support group, raising approximately $1,000,000 per year.

Laurie was busy with his charity pursuits over the weekend: on Sunday he performed with the Band From TV at the West Coast Premiere of NASCAR, the Auto Club 500. The band – made up of television stars such as Greg Grunberg, Bob Guiney, Bonnie Somerville, James Denton, Jesse Spencer and Teri Hatcher – recently scored the number 1 slot on Amazon with their CD/DVD package, Hoggin’ All the Covers. Proceeds from every show the band plays goes to charities such as Save the Children, The Art of Elysium, the Child Abuse Prevention Program and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence – through the Band From TV Global Charity Trust.

The Venice Family Clinic event will be held at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills. More info can be found here.

Band From TV To Receive Special Charity Award

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Band From TV – the star-studded band made up of celebrities from shows such as Desperate Housewives and Heroes – is to receive a special accolade at the Hollywood Note Foundation’s annual Change The World Awards in May.

The awards will celebrate Hollywood for its impact on philanthropy, and will recognize celebrity individuals for their personal efforts to make the world a better place.

Band From TV – which features stars such as Greg Grunberg, Bob Guiney, Bonnie Somerville, Hugh Laurie, James Denton, Jesse Spencer and Teri Hatcher – raises money through gigs and album sales for a range of charities such as Save the Children, The Art of Elysium, the Child Abuse Prevention Program and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence through the Band From TV Global Charity Trust. They have been spotlighted by the Hollywood Note Foundation to receive the Humanitarian Award of Inspiration at the award ceremony.

Also to receive awards at the event will be Ed Begley Jr., who will be presented with the Humanitarian Lifetime Achievement Award, Bart Simpson’s voice Nancy Cartwright – who will receive the Change The World Public Service Award – and many others, including Aimee Teegarden, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jeremy Sumpter, and Michael Bernard Beckwith.

The ceremony – which will be held at the Beverly Hills Hotel – will feature performances by Rachael Lampa, Daniel Nahmod and Kute Blackson.

More information can be found at the Change The World Awards website. To read an exclusive report about the Change The World Awards Announcement event by Look To The Stars Celebrity Ambassador Rachel Zeskind, click here.

Band From TV To Rock NASCAR

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Fans of Heroes and Desperate Housewives will want to get to the West Coast Premiere of NASCAR, the Auto Club 500 on Sunday, February 22, 2009 at 11am PDT for a special performance by Band From TV.

“We are so excited to feature Band From TV at our Opportunity, California FanZone Stage,” said Auto Club Speedway president Gillian Zucker. “Not only will Southern Californians experience the thrill of a live NASCAR race, but also a full weekend of live entertainment including a musical performance from Hollywood celebrities- an experience you can only get here at Auto Club Speedway!”

More information about the event can be found here.

Win An Autographed Band From TV CD/DVD

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Fans of great music and television’s hottest stars should aim to stay home in front of the TV this Friday, as Band From TV make an appearance on Jay Leno’s Tonight Show. And Look To The Stars is giving you the chance to win an autographed copy of the group’s brand new CD/DVD, Hoggin All The Covers.

The all-star cover band donates all of its proceeds to charities – including Save the Children, The Art of Elysium, the Child Abuse Prevention Program and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence – through the Band From TV Global Charity Trust.

House star Hugh Laurie – who plays keyboards in the band – will take on vocal duties during their performance on The Tonight Show this Friday, January 16.

Greg Grunberg of Heroes fame will also be on the show. Grunberg started the band after being getting a few celebrities to play together at the House Of Blues for charity. The success of that event has led to a number of gigs in the US which have, according to Hugh Laurie, “raised a gargantuan sum of money for charity.”

Grunberg’s excitement about the project is clear in our recent exclusive interview with him.

“My oldest son has epilepsy,” said Grunberg. “And I saw this band as a wonderful vehicle to help raise money for the [”Pediatric Epilepsy Project":http://www.looktothestars.org/charity/398-pediatric-epilepsy-project]. Having band mates who also happen to be in some of the most popular shows on television creates an amazing opportunity to really reach out to our fans to help support these wonderful causes."

Hoggin’ All The Covers

The Hoggin’ All The Covers DVD/CD set features 13 tracks – including “Piece of My Heart,” “Mustang Sally” and “The Letter” – recorded at a gig in LA, and the DVD includes footage of rehearsals, exclusive interviews and information on the charities that will benefit from sales. It is currently available on Amazon.com and Amazon.de, and will soon be available on Amazon.co.uk.

Even better, we have a signed copy to give away in a free prize draw.

How to enter

To enter our draw, just guess what song Hugh is going to sing on the show. We’ve included a hint below in case you’re not feeling lucky today!

Drop us a line at contests@looktothestars.org before the show airs on NBC on Friday at 11:35pm telling us your name, address, and the answer to the question. All correct answers will go into the random draw.

Hint: the song was originally recorded by Billy Preston for his 1973 album, Music Is My Life_. It then spent a week at #1 on the Billboard Charts during July of that year. Still too hard? It’s also Track 3 on the Hoggin’ All The Covers CDcode=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=B001IDZGCU.

Featured Videos: Jesse Spencer and James Denton

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Look To The Stars’ reporter Michelle Vink asked Jesse Spencer from House and Desperate Housewives’s James Denton about why they donate their time to play in the Band From TV. Watch the exclusive videos!

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