Look To The Stars News: Harry Shearer

Elizabeth Taylor, Selena Gomez Honored at WIN Awards

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 15:01:00 +0000

Tuesday night saw Dame Elizabeth Taylor and Suzanne Roberts among the honorees at the Women’s Image Network’s WIN Awards, along with thirteen other outstanding film and television nominees.

The nominee list included films and shows such as Temple Grandin, Glee, Made In Dagenham, Capturing Mary, Secretariat, You Don’t Know Jack, and actresses Diane Lane, Sally Hawkins, Hope Davis, Jennifer Aniston, Dame Maggie Smith, Jane Lynch, Susan Sarandon, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sasha Alexander and Selena Gomez.

The annual award ceremony, which took place this year in Santa Monica, strives to foster positive public opinion on the value of women who are committed to promoting gender equality, creativity and leadership. Men are also included in the nomination category.

Sandra Bullock Fronts Celebrity Charity PSA For Gulf Relief

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:30:00 +0000

A host of celebrities are encouraging Americans to Be The One to restore the Gulf.

In the face of the Gulf oil spill and in response to ongoing coastal restoration needs, the Women of the Storm, a non-partisan, grassroots organization formed in New Orleans and South Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, announce today the launch of a campaign to Restore the Gulf.

A grassroots initiative to secure long-term funding to restore and protect the Gulf Coast and area wetlands, Restore the Gulf features the viral distribution of a celebrity-studded video, “Be the One,” designed to capture signatures to an online petition in support of this cause.

Michael McKean Wins $1 Million For Charity In Jeopardy Final

Mon, 10 May 2010 12:30:00 +0000

Actor Michael McKean (“Laverne and Shirley” and star of Broadway’s “Superior Donuts”) prevailed as champion of the Jeopardy! Million Dollar Celebrity Invitational Tournament during the weekend — winning $1 million for his charity the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF). This is the biggest amount ever awarded to charity in “Jeopardy!” history. It is also the largest single donation ever received by the IMF.

Myeloma is the second most common blood cancer after lymphomas, affecting an estimated 750,000 people worldwide. McKean became passionate for the cause when his friend, musician Lee Grayson, passed away from myeloma eight years ago. Regarding today’s victory, McKean said, “If some breakthroughs can be made or more research can be done due to this win, it would be incredible. There are so many amazing people at IMF who do great work.”

According to Susie Novis, president and co-founder of the IMF, McKean’s donation will be used for a special fund in honor of McKean and Grayson. “The money will fund research to find a cure and to help patients and their families through education,” Novis said. “His win has shown us how empowering being informed can be — it can change the lives of people all over the world!”

Celebrities Play Jeopardy For Charity

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 13:00:00 +0000

The Jeopardy! Million Dollar Celebrity Charity Invitational is well under way, and will be taping its semi-final and final rounds this weekend in Los Angeles.

The competition started last September, with contestants such as Dana Delany, Doug Savant, Hill Harper, David Duchovny, Anderson Cooper and a host of other famous faces playing the game show for charities such as UNICEF, the American Cancer Society, the Scleroderma Research Foundation, the Michael J. Fox Foundation and more.

The first round of semi-finals are due to air on May 3, with the final line-up consisting of Jane Curtin (UNICEF), Pat Sajak (Veitnam Veterans of America), Harry Shearer (Common Ground Foundation), Michael McKean (International Myeloma Foundation), Isaac Mizrahi (Good Shepherd Services), Charles Shaughnessy (1736 Family Crisis Center), Neil Patrick Harris (Food on Foot), Jane Kaczmarek (Clothes Off Our Back) and Cheech Marin (the Hispanic Scholarship Fund).

Paul Weller And KT Tunstall To Headline Haiti Charity Concert

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Paul Weller and KT Tunstall will headline a special gig in London to benefit Haiti earthquake victims later this month.

The singers will join Reverend and the Makers, The Magic Numbers, The Futureheads and others at the show, to take place at the Camden Roundhouse on February 25. Hosts will include Harry Shearer, Philip Schofield and others, and all proceeds from the show will go to ActionAid and Doctors Without Borders.

For tickets and more information, visit the official site.

Spinal Tap Help Hospitals and Classrooms Go To 11

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:00:00 +0000

Legendary semi-fictional rockers Spinal Tap have recently been supporting a non-profit in Los Angeles that is bringing music tuition to under-served children in the area.

Working with local schools and hospitals, the Hollywood Rock Academy Foundation teaches children who would otherwise not have access to music instruction how to read music, and how to write, record and perform their own original music.

Comic actors Michael McKean, Christopher Guest and Harry Shearer have performed in Spinal Tap since inventing the band (“one of England’s loudest bands”) for a 1978 TV comedy special, and the band gave a trademark tongue-in-cheek heavy metal performance at a fundraiser for the Foundation in mid-October.

What Book Got The Stars Hooked?

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:30:00 +0000

Before they were famous, they were reading under the covers with flashlights like the rest of us, and now, stars are sharing their love of reading with us through the What Got You Hooked? campaign.

What Book Got You Hooked is an initiative of First Book, a charity whose mission is to give children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books. The online campaign highlights the importance of books in the lives of children – especially for those in need.

From now through September 15, visitors to the First Book Web site are asked to share their memory of the first book that made reading fun, then help get more children hooked by voting for the state to receive a special donation of 50,000 new books for children in need. Oklahoma was last year’s campaign winner with over 34,000 votes in its favor. Visitors are also invited to make a $10 donation, to help provide four brand new books for a child in need.

Live Earth Offers An Evening With Spinal Tap

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 07:44:28 +0000

A dinner with a difference is for sale on Ebay. The organisers of Live Earth are auctioning a special meal with members of rock group Spinal Tap, as part of their lead-up to the Live Earth concerts on July 7.

The spoof heavy metal band has reformed to perform their new single, “Warmer Than Hell”, at the Live Earth event in London, and one lucky bidder and their guest will have the chance to accompany band members Nigel Tufnel, David St Hubbins, and Derek Smalls (the alter egos of comedians Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer) to an evening of culinary delights, fine wine… and interesting conversation.

Also attending the dinner will be film director Rob Reiner, creator of the 1984 “mockumentary” This Is Spinal Tap.

Spinal Tap Reunite for Live Earth

Fri, 04 May 2007 21:33:04 +0000

Spinal Tap will reunite onstage this July at the Live Earth event in Wembley Stadium, London.

The legendary spoof heavy metal band, led by comedians Harry Shearer, Christopher Guest and Michael McKean, gained a following through their ‘mockumentary’ This is Spinal Tap, and have teamed up once again with director Rob Reiner to support the music extravaganza by creating a Live Earth-related short film.

The short film features characters Nigel Tufnel, David St. Hubbins and Derek Smalls talking about their “charity” work, such as raising funds to help underprivileged ferrets, as well as updating fans on the career paths the musicians have taken.