The Simpsons Area Complete at Universal Orlando

Walking into Universal Orlando's new themed area is a bit surreal. First, you hear familiar music. Then you spot the sign: "Greetings from SPRINGFIELD U.S.A."



And then you get a faint whiff of doughnuts.



The hometown from the animated TV series "The Simpsons" has been brought to life in a theme park.



The full Springfield experience opened to the public in the park in August. Universal has slowly been adding to the area for years, building it around "The Simpsons" ride that opened in 2008. With a new ride — the Kang and Kodos Twirl 'n' Hurl — and a food court that includes Moe's Tavern, the show's beloved watering hole, the area is now complete. Other attractions found in both the show and the park include the Krustyland carnival area and the Kwik-E-Mart, a convenience store on TV and a gift shop at Universal.



Park designers worked with the show's creators and writers to build a richly detailed environment where visitors can spend hours eating and snapping selfies in front of a statue of Chief Wiggum and his police car.



The goal: to make people feel like they were stepping into the cartoon.



"We call it 'authentic fiction,'" said Ric Florell, Universal's senior vice president and general manager of resort revenue operations.



While most of the details in Springfield mirror the TV show, there are a few tweaked concepts.



Take the Twirl 'n' Hurl, for instance. It's based on the two aliens on the show, and riders experience a spinning saucer movement while different Simpsons characters crack jokes. It's a pretty calm ride, appropriate for all but the smallest of children.



"There's been no actual hurling, yet," laughed Mike West, executive producer at Universal Creative.



There's also a new kiosk where visitors can have their photo taken on a replica of the Simpsons' family sofa.



And while the bold colors, funny signs in the queue of the Twirl 'n' Hurl, and brash Krusty the Clown character



In this Sept. 5, 2013 photo, guests snap photos at the entrance to Moe's Tavern in "The Simpson's" themed Springfield USA at Universal Orlando in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)meet-and-greets are fun, the most impressive part is the food. Universal executives said that food is almost another character in the show, and it was a natural to showcase that while telling the Simpsons story in the park.



"There's a lot of food in the TV episodes," said Florell. "We had to decide, what's iconic?"



Steven Jayson, executive chef at Universal Parks and Resorts, said that it took the better part of a year to create 28 new dishes for the area. All of the menu items can only be found in Springfield, and everything is made from scratch in Universal's kitchens, he added.



Not unexpectedly, given Homer Simpson's diet on the show, health consciousness hasn't exactly arrived in Springfield (although there is a nod to Lisa Simpson's love of salads in "Lisa's Teahouse of Horror," a self-serve area where folks can grab hummus, greens and pretzels). The food is mostly concentrated in one building, called Fast Food Boulevard, and the mall-like storefronts are based on restaurants from the show.



There's the Krusty Burger, named after the cigar-smoking clown. It's a basic burger, save for the "special sauce" and gooey cheese. For a larger burger, there's the Clogger Burger, which involves two patties and bacon. Or a self-explanatory Chicken and Waffle Sandwich.



Bumblebee Man's Taco Truck is new, and sells an unexpected option: Korean beef tacos.



All of the food is either named after something on the show or something that Bart Simpson could conceivably say in a snarky tone: Chicken Thumbs. Heat Lamp Dog. Meat Liker's Pizza.



One of Homer Simpson's favorite things — doughnuts — are available in two sizes: regular and huge. A kiosk called Lard Lad Donuts (and several other places within Springfield) sells the supersize, pink-frosted doughnuts in boxes. People sometimes use them as birthday cakes, Universal executives say.



Visitors of all ages can quaff a non-alcoholic treat called a Flaming Moe, which is a citrus-vanilla tasting concoction that bubbles and smokes.



But one of the most popular offerings is the beer.



Duff Beer, the mainstay of Homer Simpson's diet, can be found at two locations in the middle of Springfield. One is the Duff Gardens outdoor bar, which overlooks a lagoon and what will eventually be Diagon Alley, part of an upcoming Harry Potter expansion.



The other is Moe's Tavern, a popular spot for photos.



There are three kinds of Duff Beer — Duff, Duff Light and Duff Dry (which is a dark beer) — all brewed locally.



On a recent day, visitors were lined up at Moe's Tavern and Duff Gardens at 11 a.m., waiting for both to open so they could taste the suds.



As Homer once said on the show, "Ah, good ol' trustworthy beer. My love for you will never die."

Danny Tenaglia And R3hab Team Up With Ono To Reinvent 'Walking On Thin Ice'

Following a decade of dancefloor domination as her alter-ego ONO, Yoko Onocomes full circle with the release of brand new remixes of her landmark 1981 classic "WALKING ON THIN ICE" from Grammy-nominated house musiclegend DANNY TENAGLIA and Dutch EDM heavyweight R3HAB.



In 2003, MIND TRAIN and TWISTED RECORDS took this song to the top of the Billboard Club chart kicking off ONO'S streak of 10 #1 BILLBOARD HOT DANCE CLUB PLAY chart-topping club hits, including "HOLD ME", "TALKING TO THE UNIVERSE", "MOVE ON FAST", "I'M NOT GETTING ENOUGH", "NO NO NO" and "EVERYMAN / EVERYWOMAN".



Ten years on, ONO revisits "WALKING ON THIN ICE" and teams up with DANNY TENAGLIA and R3HAB to reinvent the timeless anthem giving it a modern retrofit melding the classic with the contemporary - old school and new school - with blistering results.



TENAGLIA, whose studio output since the start of the 21st century has been greatly limited, dusted off his studio chops to deliver an incendiary rework of the classic cut. His first remix in nearly a decade, Danny comes out swinging with an epic masterpiece with all the hallmarks of his best work. In an era of A.D.D., Danny reminds us of the glory of a mind-twisting, continually unfolding 10+ minute journey into sound.



R3HAB has firmly established himself in the Dutch dance scene alongside Chuckie and Afrojack. With his crisp, high-octane productions, R3HAB's become one of the most highly sought-after EDM A-listers with a discography that includes remixes for artists like LADY GAGA, MADONNA, LMFAO, JENNIFER LOPEZ, CALVIN HARRIS, KASKADE, FAR EAST MOVEMENT, PITBULL, DAVID GUETTA, and KATY PERRY.



Originally recorded during the 'Double Fantasy' recording sessions with John Lennon, "WALKING ON THIN ICE" would be the last recording by John and Yoko -- recorded on that fateful night of December 8, 1980. Released in the early months of 1981, the pioneering electronic-injected dance / post-disco / nu-wave hybrid would become ONO's definitive masterstroke and, easily one of her most accessible, best-known and well-regarded works, brilliantly capturing the kinetic pulse, tension, gritty nihilism and urban cool that defined the times then, and, in an acknowledgement to its timeless insights, continues to define them now.



The slightest of glances at today's world makes it clear that we're WALKING ON THIN ICE 2013. TENAGLIA and R3HAB get it, and nailed it.

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Props From Blockbuster Films Scheduled For Auction

Rare Hollywood memorabilia including props from blockbusters Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Mission: Impossible III are to go up for auction next month.



Bosses at Premier Props are opening up their vaults for a high-profile sale, which will include the enormous truck featured in Sacha Baron Cohen's comedy Bruno, Lori Petty's goggles from Tank Girl, and Larry Hagman's personal mobile dressing room from the set of Dallas.



Ryan Gosling's motorcycle from The Place Beyond The Pines, a throne from 1956 epic The Ten Commandments, and costumes from Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal's new crime drama Prisoners are also on sale, along with stunt guns used in Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible sequel.



The auction will feature more than 1,000 movie props and outfits and will take place in El Segundo, California on September 28.

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Bob Mackie Reunites With Cher For Her 'Farewell' Concerts

Bob Mackie can't wait to dress ''crazy goddess'' Cher for her farewell tour.



The fashion designer is responsible for some of the 67-year-old singer's  most recognisable looks over the years and is excited about creating the costumes for her mammoth 2014 tour, which is widely expected to be her last.



Bob told WWD: ''When you change that many times, you don't wear any one thing for very long - and it's not a big dancing operation. It's not like dressing a regular person - it's like dressing a crazy goddess.



''Sometimes she's an Egyptian goddess and sometimes she's a biker chic goddess.''



The esteemed designer - who has also dressed musical legends Diana Ross, Whitney Houston and Tina Turner - is planning to create around 20 show-stopping looks for the tour, but refused to give any more details away.



Nicknamed the 'sultan of sequins', Bob has been nominated for nine Emmy Awards and three Academy Awards for his designs. He first struck up a friendship with Cher in the 60s when she approached him to praise one of his designs.



Asked whether the superstar - who previously embarked upon a three-year long 'Farewell Tour' which ended in 2005 - would definitely be ending her career this time, Bob quipped: ''I am not going to comment on that one. I don't think that anyone should ever have to say that this is the final anything. That's just up to what happens with life.''

Exclusive Interview: Remembering Star Trek Icon DeForest Kelley With Author Kristine M. Smith

   There aren't many 60's Star Trek The Original Series fans who don't already know author Kristine M. Smith. For those who don't, Smith has an enduring, unusual Star Trek connection. Kristine first met DeForest Kelley (Doctor McCoy) in 1968 just before her senior year in high school began. Smith and a classmate drove to Wenatchee, Washington simply to watch the actor pass by in the Apple Blossom Festival Parade but ended up parking (fatefully) near the Kelley's hotel. As she explains it: "I spotted the white car with his name and Star Trek on it and figured if we loitered shamelessly,  maybe we would actually have a chance to meet him, not just watch him go by!"



Smith met DeForest Kelley and his wife Carolyn that day then went home and wrote an essay about her experience. Her high school English teacher was so impressed with the essay that she insisted Smith send it to Mr. Kelley, which she did (hesitantly but obediently). Little did she know that her story would be published in a national celebrity magazine and that it would open the door to a 30-year plus association with the Kelleys—with Smith eventually serving as DeForest's personal assistant and caregiver at the end of his life.



As an author Smith has penned seven books including two on Kelley: DeForest Kelley: A Harvest of Memories (Sept. 2001)which explored her friendship with the couple and how it changed her life. The book also recounts the actor's final weeks (Cancer claimed him on June 11, 1999). Smith has recently revised and enhanced the book with scores of never-before seen and rarely-before-seen photos, now titled DeForest Kelley Up Close and Personal: A Harvest of Memories from the Fan who Knew Him Best. Her other Kelley tome is an eBook: DeForest Kelley: Actor Healer, Friend, a recounting of the many ways in which Kelley touched the lives of other fans around the world.



Smith was voted into the 2012-2013 edition of "50 Great Writers You Should be Reading". In this exclusive interview, The Mac Wire catches up with the author  about her time with the Kelleys, her updated book, and various other writing projects.

From what I read you have been writing self-help and animal books most recently. How did it come about that you wrote the first book on DeForest?



De launched my writing career. He submitted my first national article for publication when I was 18. And he gave me permission to write a book about him so I wanted my first book to be about how he "raised" me from a timid, uncertain writer to a more confident, robust individual and human. The funny thing is that I probably never would have written it had not De's biographer, Terry Rioux, asked me a question I couldn't answer! She asked me, "How did you go from being a fan on the outmost reaches of fandom to being at his bedside when he died?" I told her, "That's something you would have had to ask De. I honestly have no idea how that happened." She refused the response. She said, "You know the answer. You just have to connect the dots." That's when I remembered that I had been writing journals all my life, and had documented every interaction we ever had--in person, by mail, and on the phone. So I dove into my past and connected the dots! And wow...there were so many incidents and anecdotes that I had entirely forgotten about! It's SO important to keep journals. One day you'll be able to look back over your life and see how far you've come!"




How different is this revised edition?

 I'm a better writer than I was twelve years ago (since I've been a professional copywriter since January 2007) so I've gone carefully through and enhanced the original manuscript to make it more succinct, concise and compelling. My publisher (who is also an author) has gone through it, too. It's a faster read and the end times (De's hospital days) are truncated considerably. The fans who bought the first version and loved it will love it even more for the following reasons:

The enhancement version has lots of additional photos of the notes, letters and other artifacts that are in my Kelley archives. So this new edition will feel almost like sitting on a couch beside me as we go through my many memories of De. There will also be a bibliography with links to places online where people can see De and/or me in action at conventions, during interviews, and the like. 

Why do it now? My publisher wanted to get this ready in advance of the 15th anniversary of De's passing (June 11, 2014) and Star Trek's 50th anniversary (Sept 8, 2016), so that's why we're doing it now.



 How did working with DeForest Kelley change your life?

    I didn't work with De until he fell ill and was confined to a hospital the last few months of his life. He kept his illness a secret from me for as long as he could because I was going through my mother's terminal illness up until five months before he finally let me know his status. I'm sure he did that to protect me from feeling torn between two very great needs; he didn't want to burden me further. In fact, all through mom's illness, De sent mom notes, cards and candy to help keep her spirits up, even though I soon learned that he was facing the same fate!



I can't even imagine how tough that must have been for you. First your mom and then De.

   What I learned from working with De and mom those last few months was that terminally ill people want to live until they die; some want to talk about their eventual demise, others don't. They remain the fun, delightful, thoughtful people they always were. At least, this was my experience with these two individuals. Everyone is different, I'm sure, depending on how willing they are to 'own' their fates and gracefully (or not so gracefully) embrace it without undue fear or angst.



I never realized how loved he was by Star Trek fans. I never met him. I was fortunate enough to interview Leonard (Nimoy) and Bill (Shatner) years ago. That was fun. The one thing I remember reading about DeForest was that the was close to his mother and always held hands with his wife. I thought how sweet is that! For our younger readers who may not know DeForest Kelley, what kind of person was he?

   De was gentle, fun, sassy, funny, astute, quiet, low-key, laid-back and utterly, utterly charming... by nature, not by artifice. He was a good-hearted prankster—none of his pranks were mean-spirited; all were meant to bring a smile. Hey, I wrote a whole book about this! You'll be able to hold it in your hands soon. When you do, you'll get to meet and know the DeForest Kelley I knew—and you will never, ever be the same, any more than I will for having known him.




I was pretty touched when I read how at one point you became the Kelley's fulltime caretaker. I can't even imagine how hard that must have been. I remember when he passed away; I was very sad and said a prayer. What life lessons have you learned from that experience?

  Working with De also changed my life because I finally understood, to the bone, that he really did trust me; you don't invite known people into your life, home and hospital in your final weeks and months unless you feel awfully confident they will be able to handle what's coming and keep you comfortable and as upbeat as possible during the process. Being able to help him was more blessing to me than it was to him, I firmly believe, because I finally understood that the Kelley's had real affection for me and weren't just being kind to a fan all those years. (I'm not one to accept affection or love without question. It takes some doing for me to "get it." But that's a topic for another book, lol!)

  We all have an expiration date. Remember it but don't dwell on it. Life gets more precious the less you realize you have of it. Don't dwell on the end--dwell on what you can do today to bless, love and care for loved ones. If someone needs your help at the end of their lives, give it, no matter how scared or unsettled you feel about doing it. The experience will bless you far more than you will bless them. You'll come to understand and embrace the 'final frontier' in ways that are no longer theoretical but practical and truly of immense service. You bet it's sad and it's scary, because it's so real, but it's something we all will face unless we're hit by a Mack Truck or die in our sleep without any warning. It's only as scary as you make it out to be. It can be utterly transformative to embrace the inevitable.

Live 'til you die, no matter what your prognosis or diagnosis. Have fun. 

Tell our readers a little bit about the other books you have written and a wild cat you once owned. Wow! How did that come about? Sounds like another really interesting story!

Mary Anne, you’re killing me!  I’ve written a book about a wild cat I once owned! If I could tell only ‘a little bit’ about each of these subjects, they would have been essays or articles, not entire books! LOL!



The titles are:



Floating Around Hollywood and Other Totally-True Tales of Triumph, a book of humor (and some poignancy later on) about being a floating secretary in Tinsel Town and some other live stories. Endorsed by DeForest Kelley, AC Lyles, Clyde Phillips and other Tinsel Town luminaries



Let No Day Dawn that the Animals Cannot Share, a book of prose and poetry (mostly poetry) about the animals, tame and wild, that I have known, loved and advocated for. Foreword by DeForest Kelley



Purposeful Christianity, Sharing the Verve and Value of the Prince of Peace, my personal testimonial and lots of stuff I’ve learned about life and ‘loving your neighbor as yourself’ across the years



Settle for Best: Satisfy the Winner You Were Born to Be, a book loosely based on Napoleon Hill’s seminal ‘Think and Grow Rich,’ this is a motivational self-help book of insights and encouragement for entrepreneurs, unemployed folks who can’t find work no matter how hard they’ve been trying (hint: hire yourself!), and for people whose career ladders are leaning against the wrong walls. This title reached #1 for three days when it debuted at Amazon. (Publisher: Futureword Publishing.)



Serval Son: You are responsible for all you tame, a book about what it’s like to own—and be owned by—a wild cat for seventeen years. Foreword by Tippi Hedren. This title reached #2 and #4 in two niche categories (Nature/Fauna and Animal Rights/Welfare) when it debuted at Amazon.



The Enduring Legacy of DeForest Kelley: Actor, Healer, Friend, an eBook in which I compiled and edited the stories of other fans whose lives De touched and blessed in some way. I wrote intros for each of the sections. Available at Payloadz.com.



Any ideas what your next book will be? 

I have several ideas and am waiting to find out which one of them grabs me by the scruff of my neck and insists on taking the stage…so stay tuned!



To purchase DeForest Kelley Up Close and Personal: A  Harvest of Memories, visit Futureword Publishing. The book is available in softbound editions (full color or black and white inside, buyer's choice).  You can also visit  the author's official site here for more info.

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Photos of Marilyn Monroe's Last Sitting For Sale

A rare portfolio of photographs from Marilyn Monroe's last sitting is up for grabs to the highest bidder.

Freeman's auction house in Philadelphia says the limited-edition portfolio of 10 photos goes on the block Sept. 10. The photos were made from fashion photographer Bert Stern's original negatives from his June 1962 assignment for Vogue.

Monroe died six weeks later.

The head of the century-old auction house's photography division says the photos will be on view starting Sept. 6. The auction house estimates the portfolio could fetch $10,000 to $15,000.

Stern took more than 2,500 photos of the Hollywood icon over three days at Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles. The 20-by-20-inch portfolio photos are from the first day.