Tom Cruise live at MuchMusic, Toronto - Where are all the TOP GUN fans?
(HoundsTV - Toronto) The media blitz behind the Tom Cruise starring / Bryan Singer directed Valkyrie hit Canada today.
Cruise landed by private jet in Toronto and first stopped for ...
Chuck Berry’s son explains why his dad is an “asshole” sometimes with fans who request autographs
We've had a ton of reaction to our HoundsTV video Ep.51 - the interview with AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson and his story about asking guitar legend Chuck Berry for an ...
The politics of the “money shot” - 90210 Diva Shenae Grimes and Jason Priestley NO PHOTOS TOGETHER on the 2008 Gemini Red Carpet
(Gemini Awards - Toronto) What happens when you put a little "Beverly Hills" into a Canadian Television awards show? You get drama.
When it was first announced that current and former ...
Operatic pop supergroup IL DIVO signs for Christmas #1 hit CD THE PROMISE in Toronto and announce 2009 Canadian tour dates
It's not just rock gods we cover here at HoundsTV. Sometimes there is a bit of "culture" to our autograph collecting. Operatic pop supergroup Il Divo breezed through ...
Twilight Robert Pattinson and cast arrive in Toronto for muchmusic appearance and sign autographs at airport
(HoundsTV - Toronto) Leave it to the autograph hounds to make sure they caught up with the Twilight cast Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart on their arrival to Toronto, Canada ...
AC/DC arrives in Toronto for sold-out Rogers Centre show - has dinner at Morton’s and autographs photos on smoke breaks
(Toronto, Nov 6-08) I am starting to realize Canada's strict no-smoking in public place laws are proving a bonus to autograph collectors.
George W. Bush is the greatest President ever! (at signing autographs, that is.) - Obama could end up being the worst for the hounds
Hounding The Presidents for autographs
With U.S. presidential fever in high gear HoundsTV.com decided to investigate the autograph signing practices of the last few U.S. Presidents - and the future one.
The gushing continues about how nice Tom Cruise was during his recent visit to Toronto, Canada to talk about his new movie Valkyrie and a lot more.
It was rare to see an A-list star take so much time talking with fans, signing autographs, and posing for photos. And all that “crowd time” certainly does present a challenge for security - namely one in particular, Cruise’s own private bodyguard. Never far from Tom’s side, Cruise’s personal bodyguard was seen - but rarely heard from in Toronto.
He seemed to know how to do his job very well - guarding Tom and making sure all is safe. But at the same time making it appear there isn’t a wall of intimidating security around Tom and fans get the opportunity to meet Cruise up-close.
(HoundsTV - Toronto) The media blitz behind the Tom Cruise starring / Bryan Singer directed Valkyrie hit Canada today.
Cruise landed by private jet in Toronto and first stopped for a chat with George Stroumboulopoulos on CBC’s The Hour. Immediately following that interview - Cruise was whisked by an entourage of three black SUV’s to the Queen street studios of Toronto’s MuchMusic.
The remarkable thing about the MuchMusic appearance was how few fans made the trek to Queen St. There was really only a few handfuls of people waiting outside the street-front studio where Cruise was appearing. Sure it was cold out - but that never stopped fans before. Quite a difference of maybe ten years ago when a live appearance of Cruise on Queen St. would attract hundreds, maybe even thousands of fans.
(HoundsTV - Toronto) TOM CRUISE touched down in Toronto and did a media blitzkrieg for his new WWII drama, VALKYRIE appearing live in front of three different Canadian television audiences all within about three hours. The autograph hounds were out in full force for this one and Mr. Cruise did not disappoint signing often coming in and exiting the studios. One pro collector remarked;
“I made 25 photos to try and get Tom to autograph. I never thought it possible - but within two hours all the photos were signed.”
Actually, it’s Tom Cruise playing a Nazi soldier in Valkyrie and the army of publicists I’m sure that will be escorting Mr. Cruise as they prepare a media blitzkrieg on Canada. Seems Tom is talking to lots of media over the couple of days he is expected in Toronto (perhaps a talk with HoundsTV to?)
We’ve had a ton of reaction to our HoundsTV video Ep.51 - the interview with AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson and his story about asking guitar legend Chuck Berry for an autograph in 1975. Johnson’s take on the experience and labeling of Berry an “asshole” has spread far and wide to news sites all over the web. I thought this comment left on the popular music news site - Blabbermouth.net from Charles Berry Jr. - Chuck’s son - trying to explain and defend his father’s reaction to fans asking for autographs was worth noting:
“Many of the guitarists and bands over the years have credited my father as an influence in their musical careers. I think that any comments to the contrary need no further discussion from me. It’s apparent to me many of the posters here are rather young an may have never even heard the name Chuck Berry. That’s understandable. It’s also understandable how opinions are made. One thing everyone must remember, all the people you idolize bleed and breathe just like you.
Brian Johnson certainly has the right to make whatever comments he wants. The best thing for him is to never be in a position where his actions maybe taken out of context.
As some of the posters from Saint Louis and around the world have stated, autographs are given frequently. Not only today but also 30 years ago. I’m a witness to this. There’s always a matter of how someone is approached too. Someone demanding something from a person is a far cry from being polite and understanding if a person is exhausted.
I wish nothing but the best to AC/DC and Brian Johnson. May they continue to have success in this business.” - Charles Berry Jr. - St. Louis, Mo
Canadian rocker Bryan Adams who calls Chelsea, London home had an interesting experience with a mother-son autograph collecting team this past week. After the duo approached Adams in a restaurant and requested an autograph they continued to follow him to other London spots over the next few days. Bryan eventually called police when they just would not go away.
I usually hate to talk about “crazy” fans in relation to autographs (kinda gives all of us a bad rap) but I can certainly remember asking Adams for autographs a few times over the years. He doesn’t seem to mind signing autographs for the crazy fans - but he will give us professional collectors fits with his usual insistence on personalizing everything before he gives up his messy scribble.
(Gemini Awards - Toronto) What happens when you put a little “Beverly Hills” into a Canadian Television awards show? You get drama.
When it was first announced that current and former Beverly Hills 90210 actors Shenae Grimes and Jason Priestley were both set to appear at this years Canadian Gemini Awards - any media that cared knew getting them to pose together would be the “money shot” on the night.
This one just didn’t make sense to us. Would Shenae really care about posing with Jason? The last thing this girl seems to be is publicity shy. Priestley is even going to be directing her in an upcoming 90210 episode and its generally not considered a very smart thing to be dissing your director BEFORE he actually directs you.
This drama had publicity people working their bullshit written all over it. HoundsTV spoke to a few people on the red carpet at the Geminis and we hear the story went down much more like this:
The entourage around Grimes wanted the Shenae/Jason money shot reserved for a few select photographers in the backstage area (and usually, its the semi-connected, self-important annoying photographers.)
Its no real big secret the “money shot” on the night would be the photo of Jason and Shenae together. If there was any chance of having the U.S. media picking up on a little known Canadian awards show - it would be with these shots - the whole “past and present of 90210″ spin on things.
No, this story was never about any diva-like behaviour. This story was always about celebrity photographer connections, publicity, and Hollywood control.
It’s not just rock gods we cover here at HoundsTV. Sometimes there is a bit of “culture” to our autograph collecting. Operatic pop supergroup Il Divobreezed through Toronto on a worldwide tour to promote their new CD, The Promise. They appeared in front of excited fans at Indigo Books & Music on the same day their record reached #1 in many countries. It was a rare opportunity to meet the guys up close.
video: (Toronto, July-03) Brian Johnson talks about his experience asking legend Chuck Berry for an autograph in 1975. According to Johnson, the encounter with Berry did not go well. Grab the YouTube embed here.
AC/DC is top of the news these days with a sold-out world tour and new record BLACK ICE doing big business. We hear the group continues to be very cool with fans and sign lots of autographs for collectors.
The last time the group was in Toronto playing to a record size crowd - fans and collectors were swarming the hotel looking for any sightings of the group. Lead singer Brian Johnson thrilled the crowd when he spent time with fans and told the story of Johnson himself asking guitar legend Chuck Berry for an autograph - and the surprise reaction Berry gave the future AC/DC frontman. It obviously still bugs Johnson to this day. But it didn’t stop Brian’s first group Geordie and eventually AC/DC from still making many great Chuck Berry-inspired-chord rock and roll songs.
HTV is gonna change up the news shootin today...about to dive into GAZA conflict @ Dundas sq. Go2009/01/03
The DICEMAN cometh...I be headin out to shoot Andrew Dice Clay @ Massey Hall Go2008/12/27
Just finished a chicken wing lunch with the Hounds...the opinions are in - BEST & WORST 2008 signers list coming soon. Go2008/12/19
The TC nice show continues..he is signing and petting dog on exit from MTV Go2008/12/08
Its been an early christmas for hounds with cruise so far. Signing away at muchmusic just now Go2008/12/08
This Weeks HoundsTV Episode
HoundsTV.com
HoundsTV will continue to feature the latest in celebrity autograph news and video. HoundsTV.com is back with a fresh look and a new documentary cut of HOUNDS: What is the Price of Fame? - edited just for the web.
