Hollywood.GreekReporter.com » Anastasios Papapostolou

The Lead in Zalman King’s Final Film Reveals the Erotic Maestro’s Personality

Anastasios Papapostolou — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:49:31 +0000

Christos Vassilopoulos with Zalman King on the set of "Kamikaze Love"

Erotic cinema maestro Zalman King, known for “Nine 1/2 Weeks” and “Red Shoe Diaries”, had just completed his latest film a few months before his death. In his final movie, titled Kamikaze Love, the lead actor is Christos Vassilopoulos.

Vassilopoulos came to Hollywood a few years ago from his native Greece, and had the luck to work with Zalman King but also the misfortune to lose one of the best directors he ever worked with, just a few weeks after the completion of their collaboration on the film. King was impressed with Vassilopoulos’ work and there is a high chance the two would have worked together again.

The late director had written an e-mail to Christos a few weeks before his death:

“Your performance was everything I could have wished for. You are a serious talent. I’m writing some new stuff that I think you’ll like. Can’t wait to work with you again.”

Unfortunately this had to be the first and last movie they would ever shoot, but as Vassilopoulos says in an exclusive interview with the Greek Reporter, “Zalman will always stay in my heart, as he will also stay in every person’s heart who had ever met him.”

When did you first learn about this wonderful director and how?

I never knew who Zalman King was. But I knew as a young boy the super sexual 9 1/2 weeks, Wild Orchid and many more of Zalman’s films.Everybody, even my parents were talking about all these sexual scenes and I would dare to say, that a lot of us as teenagers fantasized with Zalman’s films. In my opinion, he changed the definition of sexuality, worldwide! Especially in the era of mid 80′s.

How did you meet Zalman King and how did he select you for his last film?

I had an audition for the film and I was going for a smaller part in the film. I had no idea how Zalman looked, much less who he really was. When I entered the production company, he approached me and asked me if I was there for the audition and I said yes. We had an amazing talk for 30 minutes and finally I asked him “what about the casting”? He replied “this is the casting my dear”. He talked to me about himself and what he had done so far, but I couldn’t understand what was going on in the room. He was a magician. His intense look and the style of a gentleman were combined in his personality. Zalman was the Poet of Eroticism! When we finished our conversation he told me that he would send me the script, and that he wanted a quick answer if I would like to be part of his movie. Two days later I got a callback. Three days after the callback, one of the producers, Shane Stanley, called me directly and told me that Zalman wanted to give me the lead in his film. I was so surprised that I answered to Shane “but the lead is an American guy” and Shane replied”but Zalman wants you”.

What is one thing that he taught you as a director, that you will always remember about him?

I asked Zalman once on the set, what he wanted to create through his films. Zalman said “I want to create idols. I want to create a hero that every woman will remember forever.” Zalman taught me to perform through my own personality. He picked me up for that role because he believed that I was the role. He showed me tricks on the set that nobody else had showed me till then, as far as how erotic cinema was performed, created, and executed. His way of dealing with actors on the set was like a second skin. Nobody on the set felt embarrassed or uncomfortable, even though we shot A LOT of sexual scenes.

He had been sick for some time now but he chose to shoot a movie. Did his sickness show on set?

Zalman never showed any kind of sickness on the set. He was always super energetic, full of passion about every scene we were about to shoot. Always on time, with a great sense of humor and really willing to do the best he could. I felt that for his age, he was amazingly energetic on the set. He was the KING of the shooting!

Did he talk about his health condition?

Never! He never mentioned anything about it, never complained. He was a proud man, he was a proud KING!

Since you are Greek, did he ever talk to you about Greece? Maybe he wanted to go, or had been and shared an experience?

We shared a joke when we disagreed for a couple of scenes. He always came to me and he was telling me “We are both Mediterranean darling, I am Jewish and you are Greek! We share the same temper”. He also mentioned that he would love to have a nice theatrical premiere in Greece for K-Love. He loved Greeks and Greek food.

What was the relationship he had with the actors?

Zalman treated his actors with respect, professionalism, and much love. I felt while working with him that I was a part of the family. The family he had created on the set. He always knew what he wanted on the set and he was always pushing for the best.

What is one thing that you remember from shooting with him?

I will remember a lot of things that Zalman said while working and sharing moments on the set. Once I asked him what was the biggest mistake he had made so far in his long career. “One of the biggest mistakes, not the biggest, but probably one of the biggest, was that I was casting for a movie 25 years ago and I had to pick between 2 actors at the final casting. The role was a teenage high school boy. One of the 2 actors was Brad Pitt. And I never picked him up. That was a terrible mistake.” Zalman, the Maestro of The Erotic Cinema,was so intelligent and so genuine ,that he could confess his mistakes through out the years. And that made him even more attractive and interesting.

Do you think that he expected that his end will come so soon?

As I said, never showed any fear or said anything.

How do you feel that you are the actor who starred in his last film ever?

I feel blessed that I had the opportunity to work with him before he departed our world. I feel that I had an amazing experience, with an incredible director! He will always be in my heart cause Zalman knew how to get your attention, he knew how to transform the sexual scenes into the most atmospheric scenes your eye could devour. All together wrapped with endless sensuality! Thank you King!

Hanks, Berry & Cruise to Present at the 84th Academy Awards

Anastasios Papapostolou — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:42:11 +0000

Tom Hanks

Two-time Academy Award®-winning actor Tom Hanks, Academy Award®-winning actress Halle Berry and three-time Academy Award®-nominated actor Tom Cruise will be among the presenters of the 84th Academy Awards ceremony, telecast producers Brian Grazer and Don Mischer announced.

Tom Hanks is also a governor of the Academy and has won consecutive Oscars® in 1993 and 1994 for his lead performances in “Philadelphia” and “Forrest Gump.” He was also nominated for his leading roles in “Big,” “Saving Private Ryan” and “Cast Away.” Hanks can currently be seen in the Best Picture-nominated “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close.” His other film credits include “Larry Crowne,” “Toy Story 3,” “Charlie Wilson’s War,” “The Da Vinci Code,” “The Terminal,” “Catch Me If You Can,” “Road to Perdition,” “Apollo 13″ and “A League of Their Own.”

Halle Berry won an Oscar® in 2001 for her lead performance in “Monster’s Ball.” She was recently seen in “New Year’s Eve” and will be seen next opposite Tom Hanks and Hugh Grant in “Cloud Atlas.” Berry’s other film credits include “Frankie & Alice,” “Things We Lost in the Fire,” “Die Another Day,” “Swordfish,” and the first three “X-Men” films.

Tom Cruise was nominated for his lead performances in “Born on the Fourth of July” and “Jerry Maguire.” He also was nominated for his supporting role in “Magnolia.” Cruise was recently seen in “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” and will be seen next in “Rock of Ages.” His other film credits include “Tropic Thunder,” “War of the Worlds,” “Collateral,” “Minority Report,” “A Few Good Men,” “Rain Man,” “The Color of Money” and “Top Gun.”

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.

Constantine Maroulis Lands ‘Jekyll & Hyde’ Lead

Anastasios Papapostolou — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:16:36 +0000

“American Idol” veteran Constantine Maroulis will star in the upcoming Broadway musical “Jekyll & Hyde.”

Maroulis — who placed sixth in the fourth season of the show — has landed the starring dual role in the upcoming production of “Jekyll & Hyde.” Maroulis will play both Dr. Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde in the musical based on the Robert Louis Stevenson story, which begins a 25-week national tour at the Civic Theatre in San Diego, Calif. on October 2 before beginning a limited Broadway run in Spring 2013.

The show, which bowed on Broadway in 1997 and played for four years, was written by Tony-nominated composer Frank Wildhorn, with a book by Oscar and Grammy winner Leslie Bricusse. Jeff Calhoun, whose credits include “High School Musical: On Tour!” and “Big River” on Broadway, will direct and choreograph the revival. Nederlander Presentations will produce.

Maroulis made his Broadway debut in “The Wedding Singer” and is currently in the title role of “Toxic Avenger” at the Alley Theatre in Houston. His debut album, “Constantine,” was released on his own label, Sixth Place Records.

Maroulis is no stranger to musical theater: the 36-year-old belter, known for his dark, untamed mane, received a best actor Tony Award nomination for his performance in “Rock of Ages” (he’ll also play a small role in the upcoming big-screen version, starring Tom Cruise), and has performed on stage presentations of “The Wedding Singer” and “Rent.”

(With information from Reuters)

“The Sting” Greek-American Actress Dimitra Arliss Dies in LA

Anastasios Papapostolou — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:42:56 +0000

Dimitra Arliss, the Greek-American actress who played a hired killer alongside Robert Redford and Paul Newman in the caper comedy “The Sting,” has died in Los Angeles.

Arliss was born in Lorain, Ohio, on October 23, 1932. Her acting career began at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. She first garnered attention after appearing in Arthur L. Kopit’s Broadway play Indians in the 1960s in which she played a Native American character who spoke with an Italian accent. She went on to appear in multiple stage, television and film productions including the 1973 classic The Sting.

Arliss died at the Motion Picture and Television Fund Hospital in Woodland Hills, California, aged 79, from complications of a stroke. She is survived by a sister.

Filmography

The Sting (1973)
Rich Man, Poor Man Book II (1976)
The Other Side of Midnight (1977)
A Perfect Couple (1979)
Xanadu (1980)
Firefox (1982)
Eleni (1985)
It’s My Party (1996)
Bless the Child (2000)

Gerard Butler Talks About Starring in “300″ Sequel and New Projects

Anastasios Papapostolou — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:04:47 +0000

Gerard Butler

Gerard Butler – in an exclusive interview with the Greek Reporter – talks about his upcoming projects, discusses the possibility of participating in the “300″ sequel and reveals his love for Greece. He tells us that although he hasn’t read the script yet he will have a meeting with the director of the “300: Battle of Artemisia” soon to discuss possible involvement in the film. Butler also reveals his love for Greece and says that the island of Santorini is his favorite Greek destination.

84th Academy Awards® Nominations; Payne Up for Another OSCAR

Anastasios Papapostolou — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:33:39 +0000

Alexander Payne with his Oscar Award for "Sideways" in 2005

Beverly Hills, CA – Nominations for the 84th Academy Awards were announced today (Tuesday, January 24) by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Tom Sherak and 2010 Oscar® nominee Jennifer Lawrence.

Sherak and Lawrence, who was nominated for an Academy Award® for her lead performance in “Winter’s Bone,” announced the nominees in 10 of the 24 Award categories at a 5:38 a.m. PT live news conference attended by more than 400 international media representatives.

Second Generation Greek-American director, Alexander Payne, is nominated in three categories in the upcoming Oscars with “The Descendants” for best picture, director and adapted screenplay. Payne won an Oscar for screenwriting for his film “Sideways” in 2005.

Academy members from each of the branches vote to determine the nominees in their respective categories – actors nominate actors, film editors nominate film editors, etc. In the Animated Feature Film and Foreign Language Film categories, nominations are selected by vote of multi-branch screening committees. All voting members are eligible to select the Best Picture nominees.

Nominations ballots were mailed to the 5,783 voting members in late December and were returned directly to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the international accounting firm, for tabulation.

Official screenings of all motion pictures with one or more nominations will begin for members this weekend at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater. Screenings also will be held at the Academy’s Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood and in London, New York and the San Francisco Bay Area.

All active and life members of the Academy are eligible to select the winners in all categories, although in five of them – Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film, Documentary Feature, Documentary Short Subject and Foreign Language Film – members can vote only if they have seen all of the nominated films in those categories.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, 2012, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network beginning at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.

Nominations list for the 84th Academy Awards

Performance by an actor in a leading role

* Demián Bichir in “A Better Life” (Summit Entertainment)
* George Clooney in “The Descendants” (Fox Searchlight)
* Jean Dujardin in “The Artist” (The Weinstein Company)
* Gary Oldman in “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” (Focus Features)
* Brad Pitt in “Moneyball” (Sony Pictures Releasing)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role

* Kenneth Branagh in “My Week with Marilyn” (The Weinstein Company)
* Jonah Hill in “Moneyball” (Sony Pictures Releasing)
* Nick Nolte in “Warrior” (Lionsgate)
* Christopher Plummer in “Beginners” (Focus Features)
* Max von Sydow in “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” (Warner Bros.)

Performance by an actress in a leading role

* Glenn Close in “Albert Nobbs” (Roadside Attractions)
* Viola Davis in “The Help” (Touchstone)
* Rooney Mara in “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (Sony Pictures Releasing)
* Meryl Streep in “The Iron Lady” (The Weinstein Company)
* Michelle Williams in “My Week with Marilyn” (The Weinstein Company)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role

* Bérénice Bejo in “The Artist” (The Weinstein Company)
* Jessica Chastain in “The Help” (Touchstone)
* Melissa McCarthy in “Bridesmaids” (Universal)
* Janet McTeer in “Albert Nobbs” (Roadside Attractions)
* Octavia Spencer in “The Help” (Touchstone)

Best animated feature film of the year

* “A Cat in Paris” (GKIDS) Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli
* “Chico & Rita” (GKIDS) Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal
* “Kung Fu Panda 2” (DreamWorks Animation, Distributed by Paramount) Jennifer Yuh Nelson
* “Puss in Boots” (DreamWorks Animation, Distributed by Paramount) Chris Miller
* “Rango” (Paramount) Gore Verbinski

Achievement in art direction

* “The Artist” (The Weinstein Company) Production Design: Laurence Bennett, Set Decoration: Robert Gould
* “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” (Warner Bros.) Production Design: Stuart Craig, Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan
* “Hugo” (Paramount) Production Design: Dante Ferretti, Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo
* “Midnight in Paris” (Sony Pictures Classics) Production Design: Anne Seibel, Set Decoration: Hélène Dubreuil
* “War Horse” (Touchstone) Production Design: Rick Carter, Set Decoration: Lee Sandales

Achievement in cinematography

* “The Artist” (The Weinstein Company) Guillaume Schiffman
* “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Jeff Cronenweth
* “Hugo” (Paramount) Robert Richardson
* “The Tree of Life” (Fox Searchlight) Emmanuel Lubezki
* “War Horse” (Touchstone) Janusz Kaminski

Achievement in costume design

* “Anonymous” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Lisy Christl
* “The Artist” (The Weinstein Company) Mark Bridges
* “Hugo” (Paramount) Sandy Powell
* “Jane Eyre” (Focus Features) Michael O’Connor
* “W.E.” (The Weinstein Company) Arianne Phillips

Achievement in directing

* “The Artist” (The Weinstein Company) Michel Hazanavicius
* “The Descendants” (Fox Searchlight) Alexander Payne
* “Hugo” (Paramount) Martin Scorsese
* “Midnight in Paris” (Sony Pictures Classics) Woody Allen
* “The Tree of Life” (Fox Searchlight) Terrence Malick

Best documentary feature

* “Hell and Back Again” (Docurama Films) A Roast Beef Limited Production, Danfung Dennis and Mike Lerner
* “If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front” (Oscilloscope Laboratories) A Marshall Curry Production, Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman
* “Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory” An @radical.media Production, Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky
* “Pina” (Sundance Selects) A Neue Road Movies Production, Wim Wenders and Gian-Piero Ringel
* “Undefeated” (The Weinstein Company) A Spitfire Pictures Production, TJ Martin, Dan Lindsay and Richard Middlemas

Best documentary short subject

* “The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement” A Purposeful Production, Robin Fryday and Gail Dolgin
* “God Is the Bigger Elvis” A Documentress Films Production, Rebecca Cammisa and Julie Anderson
* “Incident in New Baghdad” A Morninglight Films Production, James Spione
* “Saving Face” A Milkhaus/Jungefilm Production, Daniel Junge and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy
* “The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom” A Supply & Demand Integrated Production, Lucy Walker and Kira Carstensen

Achievement in film editing

* “The Artist” (The Weinstein Company) Anne-Sophie Bion and Michel Hazanavicius
* “The Descendants” (Fox Searchlight) Kevin Tent
* “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall
* “Hugo” (Paramount) Thelma Schoonmaker
* “Moneyball” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Christopher Tellefsen

Best foreign language film of the year

* “Bullhead” A Savage Film Production, Belgium
* “Footnote” (Sony Pictures Classics) A Footnote Limited Partnership Production, Israel
* “In Darkness” (Sony Pictures Classics) A Studio Filmowe Zebra Production, Poland
* “Monsieur Lazhar” (Music Box Films) A micro_scope Production, Canada
* “A Separation” (Sony Pictures Classics) A Dreamlab Films Production, Iran

Achievement in makeup

* “Albert Nobbs” (Roadside Attractions) Martial Corneville, Lynn Johnston and Matthew W. Mungle
* “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” (Warner Bros.) Nick Dudman, Amanda Knight and Lisa Tomblin
* “The Iron Lady” (The Weinstein Company) Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)

* “The Adventures of Tintin” (Paramount) John Williams
* “The Artist” (The Weinstein Company) Ludovic Bource
* “Hugo” (Paramount) Howard Shore
* “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” (Focus Features) Alberto Iglesias
* “War Horse” (Touchstone) John Williams

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)

* “Man or Muppet” from “The Muppets” (Walt Disney) Music and Lyric by Bret McKenzie
* “Real in Rio” from “Rio” (20th Century Fox) Music by Sergio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown, Lyric by Siedah Garrett

Best motion picture of the year

* “The Artist” (The Weinstein Company) A La Petite Reine/Studio 37/La Classe Américaine/JD Prod/France3 Cinéma/Jouror Productions/uFilm Production, Thomas Langmann, Producer
* “The Descendants” (Fox Searchlight) An Ad Hominem Enterprises Production, Jim Burke, Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, Producers
* “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” (Warner Bros.) A Warner Bros. Pictures Production, Scott Rudin, Producer
* “The Help” (Touchstone) A DreamWorks Pictures Production, Brunson Green, Chris Columbus and Michael Barnathan, Producers
* “Hugo” (Paramount) A Paramount Pictures and GK Films Production, Graham King and Martin Scorsese, Producers
* “Midnight in Paris” (Sony Pictures Classics) A Pontchartrain Production, Letty Aronson and Stephen Tenenbaum, Producers
* “Moneyball” (Sony Pictures Releasing) A Columbia Pictures Production, Michael De Luca, Rachael Horovitz and Brad Pitt, Producers
* “The Tree of Life” (Fox Searchlight) A River Road Entertainment Production, Nominees to be determined
* “War Horse” (Touchstone) A DreamWorks Pictures Production, Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, Producers

Best animated short film

* “Dimanche/Sunday” (National Film Board of Canada) A National Film Board of Canada Production, Patrick Doyon
* “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore” A Moonbot Studios LA Production, William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg
* “La Luna” (Walt Disney) A Pixar Animation Studios Production, Enrico Casarosa
* “A Morning Stroll” (Studio AKA) A Studio AKA Production, Grant Orchard and Sue Goffe
* “Wild Life” (National Film Board of Canada) A National Film Board of Canada Production, Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby

Best live action short film

* “Pentecost” (Network Ireland Television) An EMU Production, Peter McDonald and Eimear O’Kane
* “Raju” A Hamburg Media School/Filmwerkstatt Production, Max Zähle and Stefan Gieren
* “The Shore” An All Ashore Production, Terry George and Oorlagh George
* “Time Freak” A Team Toad Production, Andrew Bowler and Gigi Causey
* “Tuba Atlantic” (Norsk Filminstitutt) A Norwegian Film School/Den Norske Filmskolen Production, Hallvar Witzø

Achievement in sound editing

* “Drive” (FilmDistrict) Lon Bender and Victor Ray Ennis
* “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Ren Klyce
* “Hugo” (Paramount) Philip Stockton and Eugene Gearty
* “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” (Paramount) Ethan Van der Ryn and Erik Aadahl
* “War Horse” (Touchstone) Richard Hymns and Gary Rydstrom

Achievement in sound mixing

* “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (Sony Pictures Releasing) David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce and Bo Persson
* “Hugo” (Paramount) Tom Fleischman and John Midgley
* “Moneyball” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Deb Adair, Ron Bochar, Dave Giammarco and Ed Novick
* “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” (Paramount) Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers, Jeffrey J. Haboush and Peter J. Devlin
* “War Horse” (Touchstone) Gary Rydstrom, Andy Nelson, Tom Johnson and Stuart Wilson

Achievement in visual effects

* “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” (Warner Bros.) Tim Burke, David Vickery, Greg Butler and John Richardson
* “Hugo” (Paramount) Rob Legato, Joss Williams, Ben Grossman and Alex Henning
* “Real Steel” (Touchstone) Erik Nash, John Rosengrant, Dan Taylor and Swen Gillberg
* “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” (20th Century Fox) Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, R. Christopher White and Daniel Barrett
* “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” (Paramount) Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, Matthew Butler and John Frazier

Adapted screenplay

* “The Descendants” (Fox Searchlight) Screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
* “Hugo” (Paramount) Screenplay by John Logan
* “The Ides of March” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Screenplay by George Clooney & Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon
* “Moneyball” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Screenplay by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin Story by Stan Chervin
* “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” (Focus Features) Screenplay by Bridget O’Connor & Peter Straughan

Original screenplay

* “The Artist” (The Weinstein Company) Written by Michel Hazanavicius
* “Bridesmaids” (Universal) Written by Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig
* “Margin Call” (Roadside Attractions) Written by J.C. Chandor
* “Midnight in Paris” (Sony Pictures Classics) Written by Woody Allen
* “A Separation” (Sony Pictures Classics) Written by Asghar Farhadi

Betty White’s 90th Birthday Gets Naughty

Anastasios Papapostolou — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:34:22 +0000

Betty White, the America’s cool grandmother, turns 90 today Tuesday (Jan. 17). To celebrate the big day, NBC threw an all-star party for the actress.

“Betty White’s 90th Birthday: A Tribute to America’s Golden Girl” featured a number of A-Listers honoring White, a multi-time Emmy winner. Some of the attendees included Ellen DeGeneres, Morgan Freeman, Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan and William Shatner.

Some of Betty’s most memorable co-stars, from the ladies of Hot in Cleveland to the legendary Mary Tyler Moore, paid tribute to the eternal Golden Girl with jokes, stories, and of course, musical numbers!

Zachary Levi who kissed Betty White at her party tweeted about it.

“Soooooo, I may have just made out with Betty White. This is not a joke.”

Levi also told her he wants to marry her, shows her a ring and a prenup, and says he needs an answer soon so he can find a backup girl, namely Carol Burnett.

And then she lays a big ol smooch on him. “Forget about those other girls,” she says.

Watch the video:

It’s been quite a ride for White recently. Her series “Hot in Cleveland” just got picked up for a fourth season. And if that wasn’t enough, her role as Elka Ostrovsky earned her an Emmy nomination in 2011 and a Screen Actor Guild nomination in 2012. She also just published the book “Betty & Friends: My Life at the Zoo.”

Hollywood Stars Talk Greece and Send Love to the Crisis-hit Country from the Golden Globes

Anastasios Papapostolou — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 02:53:43 +0000

Photo Credit: Gianfilippo De Rossi

(Watch Video) – Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, George Clooney, Steven Spielberg, Gerard Butler, Sofia Vergara, Christopher Plummer, Alexander Payne and Maria Menounos talk about their trips to Greece and send their love to the crisis-hit country from the Red Carpet of the 69th Golden Globe Awards.

Golden Globes Red Carpet: Jolie, Clooney, Pitt, Payne and More Stars talk to Greek Reporter’s Camera

Anastasios Papapostolou — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:40:07 +0000

Watch the video from the star-studded Golden Globe Awards that took place on Sunday January 15th at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA. Greek Reporter scored interviews with Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Alexander Payne, George Clooney, Morgan Freeman, Gerard Butler, Sofia Vergara, Steven Spielberg, Christopher Plummer, Michael Fassbender and Maria Menounos on the Red Carpet.

SEE THE GOLDEN GLOBE WINNERS

Alexander Payne, George Clooney Win 69th Golden Globe Awards with “The Descendants”

Anastasios Papapostolou — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 06:43:29 +0000

Greek-American director, Alexander Payne, at the 69th Golden Globe Awards

Ricky Gervais giddily piled on the humiliation as the 69th annual Golden Globes went down at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills California. Alexander Payne’s “the Descendants” won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Drama while George Clooney, the star of the film, won a Golden Globe for Best Perfomance by an actor in a motion picture. Alexander Payne is a second generation Greek-American from Omaha, Nebraska. Payne, answering Greek Reporter’s question about how his heritage might have shaped his movies stated that “sometimes it gives me a different perspective and my source of humor may be my Greek heritage.”

Watch Greek Reporter’s Exclusive interviews from the Red Carpet

Another Greek-American, Tina Fey, was nominated once more for ‘Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series-comedy’ for her role in 30 Rock but lost to Laura Dern. In the best comedy or musical category, one of the nominees is “50/50″, a comedy which includes two Greek actors in its cast: Peter Kelamis and Marie Avgeropoulos. Finally “Enlightened”, in which Greek-American actor Jason Mantzoukas plays Omar, was nominated in the category Best Television Series – Comedy Or Musical but lost to “Modern family.”

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

THE DESCENDANTS

Ad Hominem Enterprises; Fox Searchlight Pictures

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

MERYL STREEP The Iron Lady

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

GEORGE CLOONEY The Descendants

BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

THE ARTIST

a La Petite Reine – Studio 37 – La Classe Americaine – JD Prod- France3 Cinema -

Jouror Production-uFilms coproduction; The Weinstein Company

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR

MUSICAL

MICHELLE WILLIAMS My Week with Marilyn

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR

MUSICAL

JEAN DUJARDIN The Artist

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN

Paramount Pictures/Columbia Pictures/ Hemisphere Capital/Amblin

Entertainment/Wingnut Films Production/ Kennedy/Marshall Production A Steven

Spielberg Film; Paramount Pictures and Columbia Pictures

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

A SEPARATION (Jodaeiye Nader az Simin) – IRAN

Asghar Farhadi; Sony Pictures Classics

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION

PICTURE

OCTAVIA SPENCER The Help

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION

PICTURE

CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER Beginners

BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE

MARTIN SCORSESE Hugo

BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE

WOODY ALLEN Midnight in Paris

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE

LUDOVIC BOURCE The Artist

BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE

“MASTERPIECE” W.E.

Music & Lyrics by: Madonna, Julie Frost, and Jimmy Harry

HOMELAND

SHOWTIME Presents, Teakwood Lane Productions, Cherry Pie Productions, Keshet,

Fox 21; Showtime

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

CLAIRE DANES Homeland

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

KELSEY GRAMMER Boss

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

MODERN FAMILY

Levitan-Lloyd Productions in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television;

ABC

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR

MUSICAL

LAURA DERN Enlightened

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR

MUSICAL

MATT LEBLANC Episodes

BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

DOWNTON ABBEY (MASTERPIECE)

A Carnival/Masterpiece Co-production; PBS

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE

MADE FOR TELEVISION

KATE WINSLET Mildred Pierce

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE

MADE FOR TELEVISION

IDRIS ELBA Luther

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES,

MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

JESSICA LANGE American Horror Story

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES,

MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

PETER DINKLAGE Game of Thrones

WINNERS BY MOTION PICTURE

AND TELEVISION SERIES OR PROGRAM

MOTION PICTURE

The Artist 3

The Descendants 2

A Separation (Jodaeiye Nader az Simin) 1

The Adventures of Tintin 1

Beginners 1

The Help 1

Hugo 1

The Iron Lady 1

Midnight in Paris 1

My Week with Marilyn 1

W.E. 1

TELEVISION SERIES OR PROGRAM

Homeland 2

American Horror Story 1

Boss 1

Downton Abbey (Masterpiece) 1

Enlightened 1

Episodes 1

Game of Thrones 1

Luther 1

Mildred Pierce 1

Modern Family 1

WINNERS BY MOTION PICTURE

DISTRIBUTOR AND TELEVISION NETWORK

MOTION PICTURE DISTRIBUTOR

The Weinstein Company 6

Fox Searchlight Pictures 2

Paramount Pictures 2

Sony Pictures Classics 2

Columbia Pictures 1

Focus Features 1

Touchstone Pictures 1

TELEVISION NETWORK

HBO 3

Showtime 3

ABC 1

BBC America 1

FX 1

PBS 1

Starz 1