YouTube discovery coming for concert

Curtain-raisers:

• The TV newcaster-lovers are now living happily ever after in a posh condo unit they have recently moved into. He is separated from his wife and so is she (from her artist-husband). They are open with their relationship, so it’s safe to say that they, including their “exes,” are into a live-and-let-live kind of set-up. The female newscaster needs some TLC (Tender Loving Care) after the harrowing experience she has gone through. Yes, indeed, love is more comfortable the second time you fall.

• Meanwhile, a younger pair (an actor and his real girlfriend) are enjoying their own kind of togetherness in a southern city where the actor is shooting a movie with his screen sweetheart. The real girlfriend knows the place very well because she comes from there. A Funfare DPA reported that the real sweethearts checked into a classy beach club and took the “Sensual Room” and then, added the DPA, “nag-order ng maraming beer.” The actor’s screen sweetheart and the movie’s other stars were billeted in another resort.

• During Roselle Monteverde’s birthday bash at the function room of the Imperial Palace Suites Tuesday night, a TV executive and a talent manager tried to avoid crossing each other’s paths. Reason: The talent manager came with his new recruit (since last January) who used to be one of the TV exec’s precious talent. The guy appeared so ill-at-ease that he didn’t bother to say “Hi!” to the TV exec, not even for, ehem, old times sake. How could he when his new “boss” was clinging to his arm as if afraid that somebody would grab him (the guy) away from him (the “boss”)?

* * *

United we stand, divided we...what will happen?

More than a month after their beloved manager Douglas Quijano passed away, his talents have been slowly but carefully choosing new managers despite their initial plan to stay together under one manager.

Wendell Ramos is now managed by Wyngard Tracy, Gelli de Belen by Backroom and Anjo Yllana by Malou Choa-Fagar. Richard Gomez and wife Lucy Torres said that they will look for a manager after July 24 when they observe the 40th day after Douglas’ death.

Jomari Yllana has decided to put up his own talent management company and manage himself (and the children of some of Douglas’ talents, perhaps including Richard and Lucy’s daughter Juliana, and Nadia Montenegro’s daughter Alynna Asistio).

Jomari has partnered with Singson brothers Ronald and Ryan in producing concerts, the first one having been that of American Idols David Cook and David Archuleta.

Jomari’s next project is Marie Digby Live in Manila slated at the NBC Tent in The Fort, 8 p.m. on Aug. 1 (a Saturday, which happens to be the birthday of Ethel Ramos, dean of movie journalists). Take note: Tickets are available at all Ticketnet outlets (call 911-5555).

Just who is Marie Digby?

She’s a YouTube discovery just like Charice, Arnel Pineda, Panic at the Disco and Moymoy Palaboy.

Now, if you have heard a cover of Rihanna’s Umbrella, chances are that you listened to Marie’s interpretation of the “it” song of summer 2007. Marie (pronounced Mar-ee-AY), 26, a singer-songwriter living in L.A. posted a YouTube video of her acoustic version of Umbrella on May 31, 2007 and, in a jiffy, she racked up more than 500,000 views — and counting! — that landed her a national TV appearance on Last Call with Carson Daly and placement on the season premiere of The Hills. Marie didn’t stop there. With the release of her new Hollywood Records four-song digital EP (Extended Play), Marie instantly vaulted to the forefront of emerging young singer/songwriters.

“I never expected my version to be such a hit,” Marie was quoted as saying. “When I put up those YouTube videos I had no idea of how people would react to them. What’s working for me is the stance I put on my songs. People feel like they know me,” added Marie whose father is Japanese and mother is Irish-American. (She was a freshman at the University of California, Berkeley, who dropped out to pursue her dream of being a musician.)

It turned out that 20 minutes after first learning Rihanna’s hit single, Marie propped her MacBook in her living room, filmed herself performing the song and put it on the Web. That’s what Moymoy Palaboy also did, remember? The rest, as the cliché goes, is history.

The good news is that Marie and her producer Mike Daly have just recorded her cover of Umbrella and that of Linkin Park’s What I’ve Done, together with two of Marie’s originals (Stupid For You and Unfold, which is the title track of her upcoming debut CD).

Who will be RP’s bet in Mr. World tilt?

The Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc. is still in the process of choosing the Mr. Philippines-World who will compete with 80 other candidates from the same number of countries in the 2009 Mr. World contest to be held in Seoul on Oct. 3. The contestants are expected to arrive in Seoul on Sept. 18.

Mr. World is not just about good looks and a well-toned physique; it is the search for the world’s most desirable man.

Over the two-week competition, the candidates will take part in a series of events that test their strength, stamina, mental agility and determination to succeed in the face of adversity.

Only the very best will make it to Live Stage Final where they will then be judged on their style, performance and star quality. The winner will take home a cash prize of $50,000 and the opportunity of lucrative contracts.

Events that this year’s contestants will participate in will include the Extreme Sports Challenge, where their stamina and physical endurance will be pushed to the limit as they have to conquer a well-known Korean landmark and the Korean Cooking Challenge, where the men will try their hand at cooking local delicacies.

The two-hour live TV broadcast will showcase the beautiful country of Korea, to over 100 countries, highlighting its spectacular scenery, fascinating history and diverse culture.

Reigning Mr. World Juan Garcia Postigo of Spain will be traveling to Seoul for this year’s competition. Since winning, he has gone on to have a hugely successful career TV and modeling career.

Julia Morley, chairman of the Miss World Organization who will chair the panel of judges, commented, “Mr. World is a unique competition. The contestants are all competing against each other, but underlying this is an atmosphere of sportsmanship, unity and friendship which is what makes the competition such a wonderful experience for all those involved.”

Whoever he is, the RP bet is up for tough competition, so all we can say to him is, good luck.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected] or at [email protected])