ROSIE O'DONNELL TO GUEST ON ABC'S THE VIEW

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THE GLORIOUS CORNER

Story By: G. H. HARDING

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Mostly Moptop

50 YEARS AGO TODAY --- The Dix Hills Center for the Performing Arts will present Long Island’s premier Beatles band, Mostly Moptop, live on the 50th anniversary weekend of the legendary band’s American television debut on The Ed Sullivan Show. Mostly Moptop plays regularly at DHPAC, and contributes their shared Beatles expertise to The John Lennon Center for Music & Technology at Five Towns College.

The show, Saturday night on February 8th at 7:30 p.m., is entitled The Fab ’64 Show, and will focus primarily on the group’s breakthrough music from the classic 1964 albums Meet the Beatles, A Hard Day’s Night, and Beatles for Sale.

Mostly Moptop has been playing Beatles music as well as other covers from the '60s through the late 70's since 1995. They have performed with the Beatles Magical Orchestra conducted by noted American composer David Amram. They have played successful shows in many NY-area venues, and are known for wowing audiences with their faithful renditions of Beatles favorites as well as solo material recorded separately by John, Paul, George, and Ringo starting in 1970.

Anthony Pomes—the John of the group—feels that the importance of the Beatles’ arrival to America a half-century later expands beyond just the music. “Our country was still reeling from the trauma of JFK’s assassination a few months earlier [in November 1963]. America needed to find its joy again. That’s what the Beatles brought back to us all those years ago—and that’s what we plan to give to each and every person who is with us at this very special show.”

EVANS A GO GO --- Iconic Hollywood producer and former studio head Robert Evans is working on a TV series about Hollywood in the 1970's. The vision of the series is much darker than the contemporary inside Hollywood depicted in HBO’s Entourage. Set in the 70's with a creative tone similar to Casino, it involves the last days before studios were taken over by conglomerates, when they were run by wily entrepreneurs, and where there was a mob influence, drugs, sex, excess, casting couches, and some of the best movies made in the 20th century. The protagonist is an outsider who against the odds rises to become a king in Hollywood in a tale of power, legacy, and the American dream.

The series isn't based on Evans — real anecdotes will be used in a fictitious storyline — but everyone who either read or, better yet, heard him read the audio of The Kid Stays In The Picture knows that Evans started as an actor and rose to the top of Paramount Pictures when that studio was nearly out on its feet. He, with a scrappy team of execs, saved the studio by making classics including The Godfather, Love Story, Rosemary’s Baby, Harold And Maude, The Odd Couple, The Conversation, Serpico and others.

Evans has plenty of stories to tell about that era; hell, he was right there. This will be a good one for sure.

HELLO ROSIE --- When Rosie O'Donnell left Barbara Walters’ The View - following the 2006-2007 season, she said she would return for guest spots. And sure enough, seven years later, she will. ABC said Monday that O'Donnell will be a guest on Feb. 7. It will mark her first appearance since she wrapped up a controversial year of hosting the popular daytime talk show.

Among other things, the outspoken O'Donnell engaged in a verbal battle with Donald Trump, leaving Walters - a friend of both - caught awkwardly in the middle.

O'Donnell left the show when she said she and the network couldn't agree on a new contract. O'Donnell wanted to sign for one year, while the network wanted three.

Walters praised O'Donnell when she left and reiterated that praise Monday, saying in a statement, "I have great affection for Rosie and we have remained in contact through the years. I am happy to welcome her back to the program. She is always a lively and engaging guest and a part of the show's successful history." She was also a lightning rod for controversy, whether with Walters or Elisabeth Hasselback – now, decamped at Fox.

For me, after a recent viewing of the show, her blistering personality should be a great infusion for a show that has, perhaps, gone on far too long. The phrase long-winded comes to mind.

It'll be interesting to see her duel with Goldberg; who can more than hold her own.

O'Donnell, who has done a number of other projects in the intervening years, currently has a regular role on ABC Family's hit drama "The Fosters."

MORE RINGO --- Ringo Starr seems to have found a sweet spot in his current All-Star Band. Now on its twelfth version, this will be the third year with the current roster of stars which includes Todd Rundgren, Steve Lukather (Toto), Gregg Rolie (Santana and Journey), Richard Page (Mr. Mister), Mark Rivera and Gregg Bissonette. The majority of his previous bands only lasted one year except the 4th which was together in 1997 and 1998 and the eleventh (2010 and 2011).

Starr confirmed his feelings for the current lineup saying "I love playing with this band and I can't wait to get back out and play with them again."

The new tour starts on June 6 in Ontario and runs through July 19 in L. A.

CLOSING NOTES --- Author Elliot Tiber, who wrote Taking Woodstock which was turned into the 2009 Ang Lee film, releases After Woodstock in April - 45 years after the ground-breaking concert. Tiber’s vibrant writing and amusing anecdotes convinced Lee to make the film, and although I wasn't the blockbuster many thought it could be, it remains a vital, funny and captivating film. If you haven't seen it, you should. Demetri Martin starred as the young Tiber and gave a mesmerizing performance …

West 57th Street nutritionist Sophia Aslanis says Super Bowl Sunday is the “Biggest eating day after Thanksgiving is Super Bowl Day.” So beware and be forewarned …

American Idol judge Keith Urban and Grammy winner Gary Clark, Jr. took to the 2014 Grammy's stage for an electric performance of Urban’s “Cop Car.”

Urban looked laid back as always in a v-neck T-shirt, his sharp new haircut making him look more like a country-rock blend than ever. It was a cool deal, pairing up a country superstar and musician/actor who has been described as being the future of Texas blues.

Urban brilliantly showed off his guitar abilities during the performance with a truly rocking solo, and he grinned from ear to ear while playing. Clark took over with an equally impressive, completely blazing guitar moment. Both artists took it in to play together, and Urban slugged Clark so hard on the shoulder at the end that it almost knocked him over! …

Yoko Ono rocking out to Paul McCartney’s “Queenie Eye,” with Ringo on drums! At first blush, it looked great; then, it seemed like Ms. Ono was on another planet. Son Sean, standing next to her, was dressed like his father in his “Imagine” video from Ascot. Don't believe me? …. Check it out on YouTube.

I don't really understand all the noise about Beyonce’s performance of “Drunk In Love”; it was the opening number and yes, perhaps a tad suggestive, but she showed why she’s the top act these days on the charts and in concert …

And, what was Taylor Swift’s hair doing during her performance of “All Too Well” – rumored to be about ex-Jake Gyllenhaal. Interesting she didn't come away a winner. Has Swift’s expiration date come due? …

Also, Katy Perry … burned at the stake? What was that performance of "Dark Horse" all about?

PR-pasha David Salidor thought on The Grammy's, "It's worth noting how many of the newer artists thanked their team! Manager, agent, press agent ... it takes a village. Cyndi Lauper even tweeted she forgot to thank her PR-person. They're all important." ...

And, tonight is the record release launch of the year’s most over rated artist so far? Based on a classic … this version is a cheap ply. Guess who, don't sue ...