Is Pepsi courting Bruno Mars for a post-Super Bowl relationship following his halftime show and soft-drink commercial last month?
Apparently so. Mars, the Hawaii-born superstar, has not yet signed on to extend the Pepsi pipeline to fame and fortune, according to online buzz. But he’s in good company. Remember last year, when Beyoncé was the face and voice of Pepsi, thanks to her halftime concert — despite the unexpected blackout?
Mars’ star has bounced several notches up the ladder after the game and the Pepsi commercial with his "Locked Out of Heaven" song. Now, Microsoft, LG Electronics, Beats and others are seeking his services. So far, nothing’s signed.
Stars such as Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera have recorded Pepsi commercials. …
Wire services and entertainment websites have picked up on what is being touted as "The Bruno Mars Act," which would allow Hawaii residents to get first dibs for big concerts here. This is in response to the swarm of online sales from mainland sources (42 percent of 17,000 available seats were snapped up by folks outside of Hawaii) for Mars’ April 18, 19 and 21 concerts at Blaisdell Arena.
While 58 percent of buyers with island ZIP codes bought online, only 6 percent of the tickets were sold to those actually lined up at the box office — meaning scores were disappointed.
The measure, introduced by Senate President Donna Mercado Kim, is well-intentioned, giving local ticket sales a 48-hour head start before opening on sites like Ticketmaster to prevent the kind of online scalping now underway. Prices have escalated to as much as $11,000, which is absurd.
Methinks the Mars situation is one-of-a-kind phenom, a local-bred superstar playing his hometown arena. In contrast, legendary pop-folk icon Bob Dylan returns for concerts April 26 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center and April 29 at Blaisdell Arena, with seats priced from $59 to $129. They went on sale Saturday for Honolulu fans and MACC members (public sales for the Maui show start March 1). While he’s a huge name, Dylan won’t fuel the same kind of buying frenzy. …
DIVINE INTERVENTION: Hawaii’s Bette Midler will give her first-ever performance at the Academy Awards, to be held March 2 and televised by ABC. What she’ll do has not been revealed; she is a veteran of the musical stage and cinema and was an Oscar nominee for her first film role, "The Rose." Her one-woman Broadway show, "I’ll Eat You Last," which played New York and Los Angeles last year, was snubbed by the Tony Awards.
The Divine Miss M joins a talent roster that includes recent Grammy winner Pharrell Williams, an Oscar nominee who will sing his "Happy" song from "Despicable Me 2," and Idina Menzel, a Tony winner as Elphaba in "Wicked," who’ll do her hit vocal from Disney’s "Frozen." Ellen DeGeneres will host the Oscarcast. …
JIM DANDY: James Nakamoto, known as "Mr. Nak" to his legion of former actors, students and colleagues, will be remembered in "Celebrating Mr. Nak" at 7 p.m. March 29 at the James Nakamoto Stage at McKinley High School. He died Oct. 9 at age 81 and advised his alumni actors he didn’t want a traditional service, but preferred a show. So a variety show will recall his contributions to the performing arts community.
Nakamoto was the drama kingpin at McKinley, circa 1960s till his retirement in 1989, directing both student and faculty-staff productions. After McKinley, he did considerable work with Kumu Kahua Theatre, notably on Edward Sakamoto scripts with local roots and themes. He once directed Jason Scott Lee in "Stew Rice"; his McKinley alumni include William Hao and the late James Grant Benton.
Through his mentorship and inspiration, Mr. Nak changed lives — and now his former student actors want to bid him a fond farewell.
Donation checks, which will fund the return of theater to McKinley, may be sent to McKinley High School, Attention: Matthew Kim, 1039 S. King St., Honolulu HI 96814. Earmark "Account 536" on the memo line. …
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.
