The Flip Side

Renee Zellweger and George Clooney

George Clooney and Renee Zellweger were on their Whistle-stop premiere tour.  They are shown here in Duluth Minnesota to promote “Leatherheads”.  This is truly the classiest premiere I’ve seen in a long time.  It promotes the movie and shows real style.

John Krasinski and George Clooney

More premieres should occur in places that are not Hollywood. 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - For one night, Maysville will be Hollywood along the Ohio River , thanks to George Clooney.

The 46-year-old actor-director will visit the northern Kentucky town Monday night for a special screening of his new movie, “Leatherheads,” his father, Nick Clooney, said Tuesday.

“The whole town is abuzz,” said Maysville Mayor David Cartmell.

Clooney, who won an Oscar for his role in “Syriana,” grew up in the town of Augusta , about 16 miles west of Maysville.

The setting has special significance for the Clooney family. In 1953, “The Stars Are Singing,” starring Rosemary Clooney, George Clooney’s aunt, premiered in Maysville.

“He knows all about that, and he is very interested in kind of connecting the dots as far as family history,” Nick Clooney said. “He thinks that would be kind of cool for the family, and one hopes for the town, too.”

Nick and Rosemary Clooney were born in Maysville. George Clooney was born in Lexington , and the family moved several times before settling in Augusta .

“Leatherheads,” which also stars Renee Zellweger, is a romantic comedy set in the world of 1920s professional football. The film will be in theaters April 4.

“Next week, we’ll be Hollywood on the Ohio ,” he said.

George Clooney

Not only does he talk the talk, he walks the walk…

ROME (AP) — George Clooney’s humanitarian organization has donated $500,000 to a U.N. food aid agency to help it continue flights in Sudan’s troubled Darfur region, the agency said Thursday.

The Rome-based World Food Program said that the money came from Not On Our Watch, founded by Clooney and other stars — including Brad Pitt and Matt Damon — to press concerns about Darfur. The group has raised more than $9.3 million for the region.

Earlier this week, the World Food Program warned that lack of funds this year would force a halt to the flights ferrying urgently needed supplies in the region at the end of March.

“This is a critical time for the program. Without immediate additional funding, humanitarian aid in the region will be crippled,” Clooney was quoted as saying in a U.N. statement.

Over the past year, the World Food Program has been feeding between 2 and 3.2 million people in Darfur. The number of people in need could double with the May-October rainy season, the agency said.

“This contribution will make a difference to the millions of vulnerable women and children trapped there, and we hope it will inspire other donations,” WFP’s Executive Director Josette Sheeran said.

No, not the Farscape type of Peacekeeper, the U.N. type.  I think he’s done plenty for Darfur to get that title.  Let’s hope he continues to do his thing.

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon named actor George Clooney, who has campaigned for refugees in Darfur, as a U.N. “messenger of peace” on Friday to promote the world body’s peacekeeping efforts.

Clooney is the ninth U.N. messenger — people chosen from the fields of art, music, literature and sports who have agreed to help focus attention on the United Nations’ work.
U.N. spokeswoman Michele Montas said Clooney would have a special emphasis on peacekeeping. She said he had been “recognized for focusing public attention on crucial international political and social issues.”

Clooney, who is currently in Sudan , will receive his designation on January 31 at U.N. headquarters.

With fellow actors Don Cheadle and Brad Pitt, Clooney, 46, has used his celebrity status to raise money for refugees through their “Not On Our Watch” charity and draw attention to the crisis in Darfur in western Sudan .
The United Nations is trying to deploy a peacekeeping force in Darfur , where international experts say some 200,000 people have been killed and more than 2 million driven from their homes in fighting between Sudan ’s government and Darfur rebels.

Don Cheadle

Don Cheadle has been nominated in the lead actor category for the Spirit Award for his portrayal of  disk jockey, ‘Petey’ Greene, in “Talk to Me”.  I’ve got my fingers crossed for him.  He will also receive a 2007 Peace Summit Award (along with George Clooney) for his humanitarian work in Darfur.  This award will be presented by The World Summit of Nobel Peace Prize Laureates in Rome this December.  What an outstanding man!

Partners Don Cheadle and George Clooney Fighting the Good Fight

Mario Testino

Mario is known as the photographer who can make even the most stoic celebrity smile.  He works primarily in fashion photography but his work with celebs is fantastic.  Here are a few samples.  He has a new portrait book out called “Let Me In”.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (is this not the best photo you’ve ever seen of these two?)

In the light of George Clooney & Sarah Larson’s recent motorcycle crash and because today I read an article by “Sandy” at Mental Floss about celebs in motorcycle accidents I thought I would share their stories.  While I realize that it is a morbid topic, I couldn’t help but marvel at the recoveries of some of these people.  In fact, there were a few I hadn’t even known had been in accidents.  So while you’re reading and gasping at the horrific details, be sure to note how some of these brave people have gone on and done wonderful things.  As always, I like to focus on the positive and though I’m chickenshit, myself, when it comes to riding a beast as pictured above, I would love to have the courage to do so.  I’m strictly a “hang onto to the driver for dear life” kind of girl.  I’m thrilled to hear that George and Sarah are just fine.

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/8265#more-8265

Don Cheadle

“Not On Our Watch” is a book written by Don Cheadle and human rights activist John Prendergast about the crisis in Darfur .  I say crisis because there is so much going wrong in Darfur right now that you have to encompass everything from violence, disease, shelter issues, traumatized children, rape, and a host of resulting secondary problems.  I find the efforts of Mr. Cheadle and Mr. Prendergast admirable and have to include Don’s “Oceans” co-stars in his efforts to aid Darfur (George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Jerry Weintraub).  I would go into the many films Don’s been in and is currently working on, but frankly I don’t think he needs that at all.  What he does need (and deserves for all of the wonderful work he’s done for us) is to do what you can for the people of Darfur .  This kind of thing should not happen in our modern and integrated world.   And let me tell you people, this is no small thing.  These people are being obliterated.  Time to step up to the plate and do what’s right.

For more information on the crisis and what you can do to help go to:  http://www.savedarfur.org/content?splash=yes