The Waynies, a recap of winners and sinners of the entertainment scene of the just-ended year, is a "Show Biz" tradition. Drumroll, please. …
Winners:
Brightest Star: Bruno Mars, who was all over the map, picking up a Grammy (best male pop vocalist) for "Just the Way You Are" and an American Music Award (favorite male artist). He was on the charts ("Grenade," "The Lazy Song" plus collaborations like Bad Meets Evil‘s "Lighters"), and found his way to No. 1 with his composition "It Will Rain," the end-titles tune on the "Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part I" soundtrack. He even managed to slip into town during the holidays to visit his four sisters and mother and grace the dance floor at The Standard at Waterfront Plaza. His pre-Christmas appearance, complete with fedora, charmed fans. …
Male Singer: Kuana Torres Kahele, whose "Kaunaloa" solo CD was a breakout hit apart from his Na Palapalai legacy. Personal and precise, his Hawaiiana connected with fans and hurled the disc onto Billboard’s World Chart.
Female Singer: Raiatea Helm, whose "Sea of Love" CD embraced old-style vibes with new-style verve and bridged the generation gap. And she demonstrated new appreciation for R. Alex Anderson‘s "The Cockeyed Mayor of Kaunakakai." …
Made-in-Hawaii Film: "The Descendants." With the box-office appeal of George Clooney (in his most defined role ever), this was the most satisfying and spectacular film ever done here, directed and co-written by Alexander Payne (based on Kaui Hart Hemmings‘ novel). Now awaiting the call from Oscar. …
Hawaiian Album: "The Descendants" soundtrack. It’s No. 1 on the Billboard World Chart, with reason: It speaks of, sounds like, moves with the laid-back pace of island life. It avoids the hokey and serves up sentimentality and melancholy, performed by deceased masters Gabby Pahinui and Lena Machado, along with current wizards Keola Beamer and Jeff Peterson. Super, smart, sensational — somebody did their homework. …
Tube Titan: Howard Dicus of Hawaii News Now knows his biz; his business coverage on "Sunrise," coupled with Skype feeds at 5 p.m., provide unbeatable analysis and perspective, making stats comprehensible for viewers. Further, he does cartoons, writes a blog, and answers viewer queries. Best dude on TV! …
Taking a Gamble: Singer Melveen Leed did what many locals do — visit Las Vegas— but she returned with a new husband, Miguel Reyes (she calls him Mike or Michael). …
New Kid on the Block: Disney’s Aulani resort at Ko Olina, steeped with island elements hither and yon, is reason enough for a staycation. But watching house guests trek over to Paradise Cove’s luau next door must be impetus for Disney brass to fill a void and add its own on-site extravaganza — and soon. …
Losers:
A Whammy from Grammy: The Grammys eliminated the Hawaiian category, sending local island music into a tailspin. Starting this year, Hawaiian is part of a new regional roots category enabling nominees George Kahumoku Jr. and producer Daniel Ho, previous winners, an outside chance of bringing home the bacon.
Not So High "Five-0": Despite a loyal fan base, CBS’ "Hawaii Five-0" is struggling to beef up its sophomore-season ratings. It commonly draws fewer viewers than ABC’s "Castle" on Mondays, though its 18-to-49 key demographics are steady. But scripts cluttered with secondary characters detract; even a shirtless Alex O’Loughlin can’t up the Nielsen numbers. …
Flying Coach: With a losing season, University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors coach Greg McMackin resigned, making way for a new norm in football salary wisdom — half McMackin’s million-dollar-plus salary — in successor Norm Chow. Now everyone’s hoping for a first-class performance at coach-price affordability. …
And that’s "Show Biz." …
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist; reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com; read his Show and Tell Hawaii blog at www.staradvertiser.com.
