New Backstreet Boys Album Is Underway

@KevinRichardson And so it begins... pic.twitter.com/41WYmgeu

And so begins "4 weeks of solid work in the studio...The next @backstreetboys record is underway." via @Nick Carter.

Raise your hand if you are excited about this one?

I AM!

The announcement that Richardson would be on the next album was made in late April while BSB was on tour with NKOTB, and now it is happening!

If you find yourself distraught because Howie and Brian are absent from this photo, don't panic, because I can confirm that all five men are reuniting. Howie tweeted on Saturday
"On a plane headed to London where I will be catching up with my 4 other brothers from other mothers know as the BSB Crew. See you tomorrow!"

So rest assured, all 5 men are reuniting in London to record the groups eighth album.

Let the awesome love ballads and pop tunes commence.

Michael C Hall and an evening of Dexter music

On June 10, Angel and I got all fancy and headed to a concert at the Largo to see the fabulous composer, Daniel Licht. Licht is currently the composer for the showtime series, Dexter, though his resume is quite extensive. I have been a fan of Dexter for several years now, and for any of you who have not seen it I strongly encourage you to check it out. Well, after being a fan of the show for a couple years it wasn't until last summer at
San Diego Comic-Con, that I learned who about Daniel Licht. I was fortunate enough to find myself in a panel concerning musical composition in TV series, and was immediately impressed with Licht.

The panel featured Licht as well as the crew from Avatar: The Last Airbender/The Legend of Korra and Falling Skies.

Until that moment, I never thought about how the music in a series is made, or inspired, or really what the music represents. I absolutely love movie soundtracks. I love how a well placed song has the ability to bring you back to a particular scene and draws out in you the emotions the characters are feeling. However, I never really considered this in a series.

One thing that caught my attention about Daniel Licht while he was discussing Dexter compositions was his mention of tools like saws and knives that he utilizes as instruments. Everyday equipment that Dexter uses becomes a potential instrument. Additionally, he also made reference to instruments a particular indigenous tribe allowed him to use that are actually made of human bones. Needless to say, I was really impressed. So when I found out he was performing at the Largo and tickets were only $30, I jumped at the opportunity to hear him live. The promise of Michael C. Hall being there to introduce the show was an added bonus.

The show was so great. Michael C. Hall was adorable when he came out and introduced Mr. Licht and credited him for the success of the show. Oh my gosh, I was like 5 feet from him, I totally would have jumped up and grabbed him if I didn't think that was totally inappropriate.

Licht had a full orchestra on stage with him as they went through a large collection of Dexter pieces, including the blood theme. Licht was amazing, jumping around one piece to the next, shuffling through instruments, swapping a pair of scissors for a piano and knives for glasses filled with water. He blew me away. One of the most mind blowing moments was when he played the xylophone with a couple of bows. I never knew you could play the xylophone with bows. The players in his orchestra were also insanely talented. I would like to purchase the recording of the show and listen to it over and over again, reliving the live moment through sound.

Grant it my musical exposure is limited, but I'd say the show is a close second to the Sufjan Stevens show I caught at Zellerbach in 2007. Oh my gosh, live orchestras are so amazing!!!

The other highlight was meeting him after the show and talking to him a bit about his music.

Of course, the music immediately conjured up scenes from the show and I am now giddy with excitement at the thought of what the next season will bring when it premieres in September.

Sister, Sister Reunion

Oh heeeeyyyyy!

via @TiaMowry

Tia and Tamara Mowry recently met up with Sister, Sister co-star Marques Houston at the first birthday party of Cree Cree.

Doesn't seeing the three together bring back happy memories of The WB? Also, doesn't it make you smile when you see that Marques grew out of that kind of awkward Roger stage and is looking mighty fine today?

This begs the question, will we ever see a Sister, Sister reunion? I suppose watching Tia and Tamara's reality show is kind of like watching a reunion, but seeing more of the costars in a sit-com scripted (not reality show scripted) environment would be fun in that "re-living my 90's glory days" sort of way. I miss my 90s glory days.

Bonnie Wright and Jamie Campbell Bower call off engagement

Great news for Harry Potter, Ginny Weasley is back on the market!

Bonnie Wright, who portrayed the youngest Weasley in the Harry Potter franchise, has called off her engagement to Jamie Campbell Bower, whom she met on the set of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I.

The couple announced their engagement in April 2011 but never set a date. Bower and Wright have both kept busy schedules since the engagement and it appears that might be the reason for the split. The two English actors have been playing the long distance game with Wright in America filming Shakespeare's Daughter, meanwhile Bower in England where he is preparing for his third franchise, The Mortal Instruments.

Let's not forget that Bower plays a Volturi in the Twilight Saga, so this Twilight/Harry Potter relationship was probably doomed from the start. Sparkly vampires and badass wizards are like water and oil, they don't mix.

It is always sad to see a couple fizzle out, especially when the couple looked so happy walking the red carpet together last year! Alas, young love is a fickle thing. With both of them pursuing the crazy life of an actor, it is no surprise that they are calling it quits.

Bonnie doesn't look to beat up over the split, last week she appeared relaxed and full of life on the New England set of Shakespeare's Daughter.

Photo from @NancyHemingway1

Wright also recently graduated from London College of Communication and in May she made a directorial debut in Cannes with an 11-minute short titled, Separate We Come, Separate We Go. Needless to say, Wright has probably had very little time to plan a wedding, let alone be in a relationship.

And, on the bright side, now we can continue to pretend that she and Daniel RadcliffeHarry Potter will live happily ever after together.

Pixar's, Brave

After some initial hesitation, I saw Brave last weekend with some friends. The result? I surprisingly enjoyed it.

Generally speaking, if I hear Pixar associated with a movie, I love it without question. Pixar has not failed me yet, I even admit that I loved Cars 2 despite it's relatively poor reviews. However, I was a little skeptical about Pixar taking on a "princess" movie when, to me, that signals the ultimate Disney sell-out.

Now, I mean no Disney bashing in this remark because I love Disney movies (and tv shows for that matter), but I fully expect Disney creations to be some updated version of a story that has already been told. Disney excelled in the 90's at taking an unoriginal idea (Beauty and the Beast, Pocahontas, Hunchback of Notre Dame,...) and turning it into a favorite movie among kids. I love that, I wish Disney still had that talent.

On the other hand, with Pixar, I expect originality and tears. With Brave, I ultimately walked out having enjoyed a sufficient amount of both those ingredients. The story was very similar to other princess stories: a young princess is forced to do something she doesn't want to do and seeks to prove to her mother/father/family that she doesn't have to conform to these archaic rules because she should be free to follow her heart. Ugh, being a princess can be so difficult.

However, the film still carried the charm and warmth that only Pixar can produce. I laughed, I cried. The characters were fun, the accents were endearing, the animation fabulous.

Merida, the princess of the story, is a loud, rambunctious, tom-boy of a princess who would rather gallop through the forest on her horse, shooting arrows, than be confined to a castle learning proper etiquette. She is a fun character, full of life, and her main of red curly hair is captivating. I found myself distracted by her hair more than once during the film. It is just...so...pretty.

When I think about the qualities I loved in 90's princesses
-brave (Mulan)
-independent (Belle, Jasmine)
-love for learning (Belle)
-selfless (Mulan, Belle)

I see that Merida only exhibits the first two, although by the end of the story I think she learns to embody the last. On the other hand, when I think of the qualities I despised about earlier Disney princess:
-helplessness (Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Cinderella)

I am glad that Merida does not embody those older traits. I love those earlier films, but let's face it, the movies reflect women of a different generation.

Merida is a girl who isn't going to let anyone tell her what she can't do or who she has to be. She is going to make mistakes, but she is also going to do everything she can to try and make things right.

side observation: the Scottish theme resulted in many animated butts being shown. I think there was more nudity than all other Pixar films combined.

Zaboo'd at Thrilling Adventure Hour. The Guild Season 6!?

Another Thrilling Adventure Hour has come and gone. Jon and Paula went with me to the June showing, it was their first time! They really enjoyed the show and suggested a return trip, so clearly I'm not overselling this thing. Why haven't you all come with me yet?

June saw a very dramatic cliff-hanger in Sparks Nevada: Marshal on Mars, when the very inebriated Croach the Tracker (Mark Gagliardi) was shot and (please don't let it be) killed? Nooo!!!!! No show in July means I have to wait until August to find out the fate of the little blue Martian, Croach.

The notable guest star for the evening was George Wendt who played a former Marshal on Mars threatening the life of Sparks and Croach. Busy Phillips returned as The Red Plains Rider, the red plains rider! *insert theme music* Whenever the Red Plains Rider returns, there is always a glimmer of hope that a Cactoid Jim (Nathan Fillion) story-line might be soon to follow.

Jon was bummed that he didn't get to see any Firefly or Chuck guests, so I keep reminding him he should come to more if he wants to increase his chances. He knows I am right, but still blames me as though I have some input in who makes the line-up. Brothers, blaming you for things you have no control over since the day you were born.

We did see Sandeep Parikh from The Guild at the show, so we were only 2-degrees of separation from Nathan! Parikh was there enjoying the show with a lady friend and, while she was in the bathroom, I took it upon myself to approach him for a picture. He was in the middle of texting someone but was nice enough to pose for a picture and let me ask him questions about The Guild. The news is that he is tight-lipped on details and wouldn't spill a word! *le sigh* At least I tried.

In the meantime, I shall enjoy the newest music video from The Guild and Jed Whedon. Check out I'm the One That's Cool

Kevin Richardson to reunite with the Backstreet Boys for a new album

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AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

My life is feeling complete today. The Backstreet Boys announced last month at a show in London that the now 4-man boy band is soon to reunite with former-fifth member, Kevin Richardson! Richardson joined the guys late, last year as a guest in the Bahamas on the BSB cruise, and it looks like he will be joining this year's cruise as a member. Actually, I don't know if there is a cruise this year (though, why wouldn't there be?) and I have absolutely no clue if Richardson will join said, hypothetical cruise, but he is returning to the group after a 5+ year absence, so let's just imagine everything is possible.

I'm very ashamed that it took me a week to uncover this news. School and work are interfering with my celeb life. I was so caught up in the excitement of AJ announcing he'll be a father soon, that I missed the additional great news to come out of London.

The Backstreet Boys announced that, not only will they be returning to the O2 Arena later this year, but that Richardson will be joining them! Can we please pretend it is 1997 again?

The video of the announcement can be seen on the official Backstreet Boys website.