Times Square Gossip

Jason Aldean Outpacing the competition, Jason Aldean leads the way with four nominations for this year’s 2011 CMT MUSIC AWARDS, it was announced this morning live on the “Today” show by CMT’s Evan Farmer and hosts Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb. Following closely behind are Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift and Zac Brown Band with three nominations each. Also garnering three nominations, their first from CMT, are country music’s hottest breakthrough family band, The Band Perry, who performed on “Today” as part of the nominations event. Online voting is now open at CMT.com. Superstars Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Reba, Sheryl Crow and Sugarland are each nominated for two awards. With their first CMT nominations, Thompson Square and Aaron Lewis are each up for two awards as well. Also garnering nominations this year are non-country favorites such as Justin Bieber, whose duet with Rascal Flatts is up for COLLABORATIVE VIDE...

Jared Kushner With Jean Shafiroff And Ivanka Trump The radiant Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner, honorary co-chairs of the Connoisseur committee attended the gala benefit preview last night for the inaugural Spring Show NYC, at the Park Avenue Armory to benefit the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). Animal lover and art patron Jean Shafiroff share a photo moment with the happy couple. Photo By: Ann Watt/ Society-Photos

**** THE WEB GOSSIP **** Duran Duran DURAN DURAN --- We've always loved this visionary English-outfit; formed in Birmingham in 1978. They became one of the most successful bands of the 80's and the premiere band on the MTV-driven second British invasion here in the U.S. First viewed in the film, Listen To London, 1981,by an American audience, they quickly became favorites with the then-burgeoning teen set. Since the 1980's, they have placed 14 singles in the Top 10 of the U. K. singles Chart, and 21 here in the States. And, they have sold more than 100 million records; certainly a rather significant point. Initially, they were thought to be part of the burgeoning New Romantic scene, along with bands like Spandau Ballet and Bow Wow Wow, but they later were able to shed that image with sharp and elegant images that earned them the moniker the prettiest boys in rock. They brilliantly wove their musical imagery with fashion and took time and care with the production of their v...

Samantha Artese With Wynn Van Dusen, Keith Collins, Julia Weldon And Blanche Baker Recently we were able to visit the set of the latest film by Mattioli Productions, “The Coffee Klash” at The Cup in Wantagh, New York. We even got the opportunity to speak with the film’s director Jana Mattioli, who had nothing but praise to give the actors on set. From what we saw, she had every right to be proud of these standout performances! Mattioli could very well be considered the voice of the LGBT community in the independent film world. Her controversial courtroom drama exploring gay civil rights, “An Affirmative Act,” opened at theatres nationwide in April to much positive acclaim. Add to that her comedy, “Bidentity Crisis,” hitting festivals in June and it is obvious that this edgy lesbian filmmaker is definitely making her mark. The May 2011 issue of The Advocate has included Mattioli in their select list of “Forty People Under 40 to Look Out For”. In this unique coming out and coming of a...

Jason Schwartzman What to eat?” It is the question on everyone’s minds at least three times a day — more depending on your appetite — and now a new short film, “What to Eat,” narrated by Jason Schwartzman (star of “Rushmore,” “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” and the HBO series “Bored to Death”) and supported by top environmental organizations including the Sierra Club, Worldwatch Institute, Food and Water Watch, Brighter Green, and Farm Sanctuary, aims to show how eating less meat can help lessen the environmental impact of factory farming. By showing how our food choices have a more serious impact on our environment than the cars we drive, the light bulbs we use or the ways we recycle, the film makes the point that we can all take small steps for positive change. The engaging film, produced by Greener Media, puts the viewer in the place of the main character — a relatable family guy voiced by Schwartzman — and follows him through a typical day, beginning with an early morning alarm and t...

**** WALTER MCBRIDE ON BROADWAY **** Tyne Daly Tyne Daly attended the Outer Critics Circle announcement for the 2010-2011 Theater Season Nominees at the Algonquin in New York City. 2010-2011 Award Nominations OUTSTANDING NEW BROADWAY PLAY Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo Good People The Motherf**ker With the Hat War Horse OUTSTANDING NEW BROADWAY MUSICAL The Book of Mormon Priscilla Queen of the Desert Sister Act Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown OUTSTANDING NEW OFF-BROADWAY PLAY Blood From a Stone Kin Other Desert Cities The Other Place OUTSTANDING NEW OFF-BROADWAY MUSICAL Freckleface Strawberry In Transit The Kid Tomorrow Morning OUTSTANDING NEW SCORE (Broadway or Off-Broadway) The Book of Mormon Catch Me If You Can Sister Act Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A PLAY (Broadway or Off-Broadway) Born Yesterday The Importance of Being Earnest The Merchant of Venice The Normal Heart OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL (Broadway or Off-Broadway) Anything...

**** 3rd Annual Give Kids a Shot! National Meningitis Association Gala NMA Honors Front Line Fighters in the War Against Meningitis **** Justin Galloway With Alana Galloway, Sara Herbert-Galloway And Barry Klarberg Barry Klarberg Jean Shafiroff Henry Buhl With Chau-Giang 'Chosan' Thi Nguyen Brian Glazer With Sara Herbert-Galloway Alana Galloway With Sara Herbert-Galloway, Chau-Giang 'Chosan' Thi Nguyen And Jean Shafiroff Honoree Chau-Giang 'Chosan' Thi Nguyen Richard Thomas Errol Rappaport With Nick Springer And Ulrika 'Red' Nilsson Lucia Hwong Gordon Tia Walker Vera Wang The New York Athletic Club with its sweeping views of Central Park was the elegant setting for the 3rd Annual Give Kids a Shot!, National Meningitis Association Gala. Honorary Co Chairs Ambassador John L. Loeb and Para-Olympic Gold Medalist Nick Springer, a survivor himself of the dreaded disease joined by Gala Co-Chairs Gary Springer and Sara Herbert Galloway and NMA Board members Lyn...

**** ZARKANA CIRQUE DU SOLEIL’S MARVELOUS EXPLORATION OF THE TRULY BIZARRE AT RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL Written and Directed by François Girard PERFORMANCES BEGIN JUNE 9, 2011 **** Cirque du Soleil Cirque du Soleil is proud to announce that its major new acrobatic spectacle, Zarkana, will begin performances at the legendary Radio City Music Hall in New York City on June 9, 2011 for a limited engagement through September 4, 2011. Proudly presented by iShares, Zarkana is written and directed by acclaimed film and theatre director François Girard (The Red Violin, Silk). Zarkana is a fantastically bizarre world where we follow the adventures of Zark, a magician who has lost his love and, with her, his powers. As he cries and begs for her return he is plunged into a world inhabited by surreal creatures. The diverse cast of 71 international artists transports the audience into a fantastical and suspenseful world, blurring the boundaries between the real and imaginary. About The Show Title The na...

**** THE CHICAGO GOSSIP **** Kathy Posner The Fourth Amendment of the U. S. Constitution says, “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” So does the use of a GPS device without a warrant violate a person’s rights under this amendment? Currently different state and federal courts cannot agree on whether the use of GPS without a warrant violates the Fourth Amendment so the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has petitioned the Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari asking them to step in and rule. The 121 page filing can be summed up by the question as presented: Question Presented: “Whether the warrantless use of a tracking device on petitioner’s vehicle to monitor its movements on public s...