It’s been a good few weeks for Hawaii’s superstar, Bruno Mars. On his 30th birthday on Oct. 8, he learned he will co-produce a Bronx-based sitcom, still unnamed, about a boisterous musical family that takes in a 10-year-old nephew. The pilot, destined for NBC, is being penned by Prentice Penny ("Brooklyn Nine-Nine," "Happy Endings"). The show likely will incorporate Mars’ cache of hit songs.
His co-exec producer is Brian Grazer, co-founder of Imagine Entertainment and producer of such films as "A Beautiful Mind," "Frost/ Nixon" and "Apollo 13," who happens to own a home at Sunset Beach on Oahu. Mars, a Grammy Award winner, was nominated last week for two awards in the Nov. 22 American Music Awards on ABC hosted by Jennifer Lopez. Mars and his "Uptown Funk" collaborator, Mark Ronson, are up for song of the year and collaboration of the year.
While the funky song was a chart topper for a couple of months earlier this year, it has tough best-song competition, including Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth for "See You Again," Ed Sheeran for "Thinking Out Loud," Taylor Swift for "Blank Space" and The Weeknd for "Can’t Feel My Face."
The collaboration contenders, besides Mars/Ronson and Khalifa/Puth, include Swift featuring Kendrick Lamar on "Bad Blood," Rihanna and Kanye West featuring Paul McCartney for "FourFiveSeconds" and Skrillex and Diplo featuring Justin Bieber on "Where Are U Now." …
WHEE, THE PEOPLE: Nice surprise at the Sarah Noyles-Alex Kawakami wedding reception Oct. 10 at the Waialae Country Club: The bride and 350 invitees were enchanted when the groom — who is a singer-composer-musician and a part of the ManoaDNA music group with brother Nick and dad Lloyd Kawakami — unveiled a new composition, "Smile." The first-dance ballad by Alex (aka Alx, when he’s a solo entertainer in Los Angeles) is a sweet love letter likely to get a lot of smileage. Kawakami has been receiving good vibes on the song, so a commercial release is imminent. The bridal party was one of the largest assembled in recent times: 11 pairs of gal pals and dudes, plus flower girl and ring bearer, with vows recited at La Pietra. …
TUBE TALK: Look for former Honolulan Anthony Ruivivar on an upcoming episode of CBS’ "NCIS: Los Angeles." And he’s supposed to be on FX’s "American Horror Story: Hotel" this month, too. …
John Wray, longtime TV director at KGMB and KITV, retired in 2012 and settled in Waimea. But the director often is tapped for his TV filming savvy; he’s been helping Hawaii Public Television’s Leslie Wilcox with "Hiki No" projects at two Big Island schools. …
CALENDAR CUES: "Makaha Kalikimaka," a Makaha Sons holiday dinner show, is slated for 7 p.m. Dec. 20 at the Pacific Beach Hotel. Jerome Koko and his bandsmen, guitarist Mark Yim and bassist Kimo Artis, will serenade. Doors open at 5 p.m., followed by a prime rib buffet at 5:30 p.m. Golden Table seats are $100, general seating $70 ($50 for children ages 3 to 10). Reservations: 542-8289. …
Augie T is marking his 25th anniversary as a stand-up comic with a justlaunched "More Haole Than You Think" tour of all the islands, which kicked off last Friday with a show in Waimea on the Big Island. Next up: Friday at the Maui Beach Hotel in Kahului; Oct. 30 at the Lana’i Community Center; Nov. 6 at the Courtyard by Marriott at Coconut Beach, Kauai; and Nov. 13 at Hawaii Theatre. Honolulu tickets start at $25, with $45 VIP seats, including an Augie DVD and CD and a meetand-greet. Call 528-0506. … 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.
