orange county

Sept 2023: Vol 49, No 9

Did you grow up in a neighborhood where there was a “girl next door”? I did. She lived across the street and since I didn’t have a sister, she was one of the first female friends in my pre-teen youth. She was pretty, definitely not shy but very friendly, and liked to play baseball in the street with the rest of the boys.

The word “wholesome” comes to mind as the best way to describe my neighbor, and it also applies to one of the most distinguished actresses of our generation, Renee Zellweger

August 2023: Vol 49, No 8

This month we honor one of the most iconic American singer-songwriters in American pop culture, Paul Simon. Most of us who are of his ilk, late 70s to early 80s, can remember the late 1960s when Rock and Roll was at its worldwide peak of popularity.

Despite that drumbeating, guitar-strumming high-energy and dance-inducing energy, there was Simon, a product of the Folk music era who offered what critics dubbed as a “highbrow sensibility” to Rock music.

July 2023: Vol 49, No 7

As the news sinks in about therecent death of Tina Turner, it is only natural that our thoughts turn to her most iconic performance.

The song originally performed by the Creedence Clearwater Revival with lead singer and songwriter John Fogarty would propel Turner’s career into
blockbuster stardom and crown her the undisputed “Queen of Rock ’n Roll” by her fans worldwide, the media and the music industry.

June 2023: Vol 49, No 6

When I think of William H. Macy, my first thought turns to “Wild Hogs,” the 2007 blockbuster movie about middle-aged men reliving their youthful days by taking to the open road on their Harley-Davidson motorcycles from Cincinnati to California.

Not generally known for his comedic acting, Macy showed his funny side like never before, including his scenes in which he crashes on his bike while gawking at bikini-clad women at the beach. To this day, I can watch the movie over and over again whenever I need to laugh out loud and often.

May 2023: Vol 49, No 5

You’ve probably heard the old TV commercial line, “You’ve come a long way, baby.” All products aside, it certainly fits the profile of Brooke Shields, one of the most recognizable celebrities on the planet.

From child star to magazine cover girl to grown-up film and stage actress, Shields is closing in on her 56th birthday (May 31) and the release of her new
documentary, appropriately titled: “Pretty Baby: Brooke Shield.”

April 2023: Vol 49, No 4

His name is now synonymous with the adventurous assassin John Wick, who propelled his movie star status to new heights. At 58, and in the prime of his career, Keanu Reeves’ name is right up there with such male stars as Tom Cruise, Liam Neeson, and Clint Eastwood.

Reeves’ journey to stardom has been a long and twisting road across the globe, beginning with his birth in Beirut, Lebanon in September 1964. He was raised in Toronto by his English-born mother, a costume designer, and performer, and his father, a native Hawaiian of Chinese, English, Irish, and Portuguese descent.

March 2023: Vol 49, No 3

We all know Mariska Hargitay for her role as Olivia Benson in the long-running hit TV drama “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” But did you know that the successful actress and daughter of the late Jayne Mansfield and bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay is busy off-screen fighting against sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse?

Using her platform “to do something meaningful,” she founded the Joyful Heart Foundation, a support organization for survivors of these crimes inflicted on women. Since 2010, her foundation has sent thousands of women and children to therapeutic programs in New York, Los Angeles, and Hawaii.

January 2023: Vol 49, No 1

As we sat down to write this cover story, we heard the news: Celine Dion has been diagnosed with a brain disorder commonly known as “stiff person syndrome.”

According to medical experts, it is a very rare condition that affects about 1 million people
and has features similar to those found in stroke victims. The bad news: there is no known
cure. The good news is: The symptoms of muscle spasms, imbalance, and light sensitivity
can be treated successfully with the latest medications.

December 2022: Vol 48, No 12

We all know 53-year-old Matt Damon for his award-winning roles in “Good Will Hunting,” “Saving Private Ryan,” “Courage Under Fire,” “The Bourne Identity” and so many more.

What I found out about this very active movie star is a revealing peek into a man who demonstrates his true character in front of and behind the cameras.

November 2022: Vol 48, No 11

Can you believe it? Shania Twain, the undisputed “queen of country pop” and one of the best-selling music artists of all time, is 57!

Somehow, age is irrelevant in this cover tribute to a true songstress who continues to entertain audiences all over the world, in concerts, on vinyl, and in digital formats.