Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Ante Up for Africa
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Ante Up for Africa
There’s a huge resurgence of awareness among Hollywood celebrities regarding the deplorable conditions in Darfur and Sudan. And Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are doing something about it.
The “Good Will Hunting” buddies were spotted hamming it up on the red carpet at the Ante Up for Africa poker tournament at Las Vegas’ Rio Hotel and Casino last night (July 2).
Ante Up for Africa is a No Limit Texas Hold-Em tournament put on by the World Series of Poker. And all of the money raised will benefit survivors in Darfur and Sudan, and will also fund efforts to end the crisis in Africa.
Mr. Affleck looked to be having a wonderful time, sporting a green “Ante Up for Africa” button-up shirt and jeans, while his “Bourne Ultimatum” actor pal went for a black polo shirt and jeans.
Top Gear USA hosts named
Car enthusiasts, take note: The British series all about cars, Top Gear, is coming to America. That’s been previously announced, but today we can share the news that Adam Carolla, Tanner Foust and Eric Stromer will be teaming up to host the new NBC incarnation of Top Gear. It just so happens that I was watching Top Gear on BBC America yesterday and it’s a fun show; it’s not too techie-car show, it’s more about the chemistry among the three hosts and the fun, goofy challenges they do that involve cars.
Yesterday’s show, for instance, pitted a one host in a Mercedes Benz SUV driving from London the the airport versus one host on a super bicycle, another in a speed boat on the Thames, and The Stig — an anonymous test driver — making the trek via public transportation. It was pretty funny, especially since the car lost!
The US version will try for the same jovial quality as the U.K. show, no doubt, and having seen Adam Carolla and Eric Stromer on other TV shows, I don’t think that’ll be a problem. Carolla is a comic. He’s been on The Man Show and Crank Yankers, amongst other shows. Stromer has been a home-building expert (like Extreme Home Makeover’s Ty Pennington) on TLC’s Clean Sweep, and hosts the HGTV show Over Your Head. Tanner Foust has been chosen for his automobile expertise; he was a stunt driver in The Bourne Ultimatum, The Dukes of Hazzard and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.
It’ll be interesting to see if the American version employs a character like The Stig. It seems a very British comic device, at least that’s how it seemed in the episode I watched. (Knowing how dumb American TV execs can be, let’s hope The Stig doesn’t become a puppet or an animated character!). The format promises “epic races, outrageous stunts and challenges, unique celebrity guest participation and eccentric methods of testing cars.”
According to NBC, “This franchise is a proven winner worldwide and the hosting team of Adam, Tanner and Eric that we have brought together for the U.S. version offers a perfect match of humor, insider know-how and priceless track experience. We are going to create a high-powered show that, like the original, will keep viewers in every demographic clutching the edge of their seats.”
Top Gear has been an international success for over 30 years, but the question is this: will it work for American viewers? I guess that’ll depend a lot on how NBC programs and markets it. It can’t be worse than Celebrity Circus, right?
Top Gear Puts the Car in Carolla
From unicycle to four-wheeler, just like that.
Motormouth Adam Carolla has officially been named as the nation’s top gearhead, signing on to host NBC’s new version of the BBC’s popular car-centric series Top Gear, the Peacock announced today
Carolla accepted the gig after renowned car buff Jay Leno publicly demurred from the position back in April, writing in an op-ed piece in Britain’s Sunday Times that “it would be impossible to re-create or live up to the standards of the British show.”
Hosted by alpha male TV personality Jeremy Clarkson, the British incarnation has developed from a cult U.K. hit to a worldwide smash. It incorporates new-car reviews, epic, cross-continent races, antique and novelty cars assessments, crash footage and bizarre motor-centric challenges among its cast members, all of whom will turn up in the U.S. adaptation.
“This is fantastic newsbut how on earth you lot are going to do it on the wrong side of the road I’ve no idea,” said Clarkson, who will also serve as executive producer of the U.S. version.
Carolla, who first revealed he was up for the hosting gig in February on his syndicated morning radio show, will be the ringmaster, joined by champion rally and drift racer Tanner Foust and TV construction hunk Eric Stromer.
In addition to racing, Foust’s four-wheel credentials include working as a stunt driver on The Bourne Ultimatum, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift and The Dukes of Hazzard. Stromer, meanwhile, previously appeared as the requisite hammer-wielding housewife eye candy on TLC’s Clean Sweep before hosting his own HGTV show, Over Your Head. He is also a regular contributor to Carolla’s morning radio show, giving out construction advice on air.
Production on the pilot formally kicks off this week.
Sexiest Man Alive: Matt Damon
Sexiest Man Alive: Matt Damon
If there was any doubt that the “Ocean’s Eleven” franchise was chock full of hunky men, it’s all been put to rest. Matt Damon has been named People Magazine’s Sexiest man alive. And he’s thrilled to accept the title.
“You’ve given an aging suburban dad the ego-boost of a lifetime. My 9-year-old stepdaughter now thinks I’m cool – well, cooler,” Matt wrote in a letter to the magazine.
Two other “Ocean’s” stars nabbed the title before Damon - George Clooney and Brad Pitt. But Matt’s claiming it’s his machismo that helped him grab the 2007 title.
“They are taller than me, but I’m more macho. I pack more testosterone into my smaller frame,” he joked to press.
And Matt’s brother-from-another-mother Ben Affleck even had some fun-poking words for the Bourne Ultimatum star. “For a guy like Matt, 4’11″, 295 lbs., it’s a heck of an achievement… Congratulations, Matt! You did it!”