Celebrate America with “America’s Heart and Soul”

Posted on July 3, 2012 at 3:43 pm

If you want to watch a movie that will remind you of what we love most about the wonderful country we celebrate this week, try America’s Heart and Soul.  If Norman Rockwell made a movie, this would be it. If “America the Beautiful” was a movie, this would be it. If America had a home move, this would be it. And if we ever needed a reminder of of what can be proud of, what we aspire to, what we stand for — this is it.  Plus, it is a lot of fun and that rare treat, a movie for the whole family.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_mObBtTv7Q
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A Capitol Fourth: Tomorrow on PBS

Posted on July 3, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Tomorrow at 8 Eastern time, PBS will broadcast the annual Capitol Fourth concert, hosted by Tom Bergeron, of the hit TV series “Dancing With the Stars.” Performers include “American Idol” winner Phillip Phillips, acclaimed Broadway and television star Megan Hilty of NBC’s “Smash;” two-time Tony Award winner Matthew Broderick performing songs from the hit Broadway musical Nice Work If You Can Get It” with four-time Tony nominee Kelli O’Hara; singer-songwriter and winner of “The Voice,” Javier Colon; country music star Josh Turner; R&B superstars Kool & The Gang; renowned tenor Russell Watson; actress and singer Amber Riley from “Glee”; the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly; eight-time Olympic medalist Apolo Anton Ohno will host a tribute to Team USA, honoring the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams, featuring five-time Academy Award-winner John Williams conducting his “Olympic Fanfare.”

In celebration of America’s 236th birthday, the show will be capped off with a rousing rendition of Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” complete with live cannon fire provided by The United States Army Presidential Salute Battery, an audience favorite and now an “A Capitol Fourth” tradition. Also participating in the event will be The Choral Arts Society of Washington, along with The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, The U.S. Army Ceremonial Band, the Quantico Marine Corps Band, members of the Armed Forces carrying the state and territorial flags and the Joint Armed Forces Color Guard provided by the Military District of Washington, D.C.

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Tribute: Andy Griffith

Posted on July 3, 2012 at 11:02 am

Andy Griffith, beloved star of the long-running television series about the small-town sheriff and single father, died today at age 86.  Griffith first became known for his gentle, countrified story-telling and singing and then had a brief but notable film career with the service comedy No Time for Sergeants and the searing and still very timely media expose A Face in the Crowd. His brilliant performance as the megalomanic radio star brought him critical acclaim, but he said the experience of working with director Elia Kazan was so stressful he never wanted to take on such a role again.

The Andy Griffith Show was the perfect match of performer and role, inspired by Griffith’s own experiences growing up in Mout Airy, North Carolina, which has a popular “Mayberry Days” festival for fans of the show.  He played Andy Taylor, whose homespun wisdom and small-town humor made the show one of the most successful in television history, and still popular in reruns.  Here he explains the story of Romeo and Juliet to his son, Opie (Ron Howard).

He returned to the small screen as a crusading lawyer in Matlock and had a memorable role opposite Keri Russell in Waitress.

May his memory be a blessing.

 

 

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