Category: Films

“You Had Me at Aloha,” a rom-com filmed in Hawaii, will premiere June 5 on the Hallmark Channels.

It features Hallmark regulars Pascale Hutton as Paige and Kavan Smith as Ben in a familiar template of the collision of romantic and occupational friction before a happy ending.

When a popular travel show host resigns, the network taps Paige (Hutton) as the replacement host for the coming season in Hawaii. But she doesn’t know that the network also hired Ben (Smith)  who becomes a thorn in the picture. The two co-hosts clash with each other over opposing ideas but eventually learn – in Hallmark tradition – that co-existence in side-by-side jobs can wind up happily.

Other actors include Jennifer Asplund as Millie, Valen Ahlo as Luis, Sebastian Siegal as Todd, and Marysa Carr as Leimomi.

The production is directed by John Putch with screenplay by Rick Garman, and the Hawaii landscapes – the falls at Waimea, the tropical turf of Kualoa Ranch, the frolicking beach moments, the charm of a farmer’s market and the resort glamor of the Kahala resort – are visual postcards that will connect with viewers.

In online promos, Sutton rightfully opines, “Hawai’i is the most beautiful place on Earth.”

Looks like a hot summer run for Hallmark fans. …

Knock, knock, who’s there?

Who knew there’d be a portentous reality in “Leave the Door Open,” the hit song by Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, DBA as Silk Sonic.

The door was ajar, indeed, for the tune to rebound to  sneak into the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Top 100 this week, after earlier slipping to No.2. It previously was perched at No. 1 for the first time on April 17.

It’s not that common for a song to reign atop the charts, then zoom back up a month later.

Good job, dudes! Silky sonics work! …

Name dropping

Henry Kapono and the Honolulu Jazz Quartet will prevail at “A Tribute to Jimmy Borges,” at 6p.m. May 27 at Blue Note Hawaii at the Outrigger Waikiki. Tickets: $35 at bluenotehawaii.com.  Live screen option $20 at bluenotehawaii.com …

And Johnny Helm & Friends take the spotlight at 6 and 8:30 p.m. May 28 at Blue Note Hawaii. Also featuring Nic Kalei and John Cruz. Tickets: $30 premium, $20 loge, at bluenotehawaii.com …

And that’s “Show Biz.” …

‘NCIS: Hawai‘i’ lands Monday slot

According to CBS, the “NCIS: Hawai‘i” spinoff will be screened at 9 p.m. Mondays, piggybacking with the mothership show, “NCIS” (starring Mark Harmon), this fall.

That’s an indication that someone at the network – perhaps Harmon himself – wanted to kokua the newbie production, which likely will follow the lead-in Harmon show, which has been a Tuesday staple for years—as well as being the No. 1 procedural and a ratings blockbuster for most of its livelihood on CBS …

And that’s “Show Biz.” …

Noah Mills, last seen in Disney+’s “Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” is joining the cast of CBS’
“NCIS: Hawai‘i,” the fourth series in the NCIS franchise.

He is the fourth Mainland actor signed to series and will portray Jesse, who is an expert interrogator seeking a new life in the Islands, with creds as homicide investigator in a big city. Jesse supposed has worked with Jane Tennant, played by Vanessa Lachey, and will assume the role of lieutenant-in-command and occasional confidant.

According to Variety, Jesse favors old-fashioned police investigation, is devoted to hiking the island trails, and is a family man who runs 4-H camping trips for his kid.

His acting profile includes “The Enemy Within,” “The Baker and the Beauty,” “The Brave,” and “2 Broke Girls,” but given the popularity of the NCIS brand, this might become his breakout hit.

Mills also has worked as a model, with Giorgio Armani, Tom Ford and Dolce and Gabanna. So brings good looks to the table.

No start-of-filming date yet, nor a decision on when and where the show ends up on CBS. …

The Hawai‘i series will supposedly be anchored at or near Pearl Harbor, as the NCIS crews investigate crimes involving military personnel and misdoings that threaten national security.

Lachey as Tennant will be first female to lead an NCIS team. The island show will be introduced, likely this fall, as the New Orleans program disappears. The mothership show, plus the Los Angeles spin-off, return this fall.

Willis, Travolta, find ‘Paradise’ on Maui

Production is under way on Maui for “Paradise City,” a drama reuniting Bruce Willis and John Travolta for the first time in 27, according to Deadline.

Chuck Russell is directing drama about Ryan Swan (Willis), a renegade bounty hunter, who combs through the Hawaiian crime community in search of  the unnamed honcho  (Travolta),

who killed his father.

Thai actress and model Praya Lundbert has the female lead, but here character has not been identified.

The buzz on the project is that Hawai‘i plays a major role, in a “Miami Vice” like drama with bounty hunters instead of cops.

Willis has been box office gold, grossing $9.4 billion worldwide via such features as “Death Wish,” the “Die Hard” franchise, “Cosmic Sin,” “Moonlighting,” and Gasoline Alley.”

Travolta’s worldwide gross of $3.8 billion includes “Saturday Night Fever,” “Grease,” “Urban Cowboy,” and “Hairspray.”

A release date has not yet been announced.

And that’s “Show Biz.” …

Daniel Dae Kim, 52, has emerged as one of show business’ most active players, at unimaginable tiers both on screen and off.

We locals best know him from his role as Jin-Soo Kwon in ABC’s “Lost” and more recently as Chin Ho Kelly in CBS’ “Hawaii Five-0.” Both were filmed in Hawaii, establishing Kim as a powerhouse figure, and giving him island roots in the process.

Since then, he’s been all over the map –a man of all reasons.

I saw him several years ago, portraying the King of Siam, in Lincoln Theatre’s award-winning Broadway musical, the beloved “King and I.” He also did a stint in London.

After “Five-0,” he distinguished himself as a TV producer-actor via his 3AD production company, tapping a Korean drama and retrofitting the storyline to America in ABC’s “The Good Doctor,” still on the air.

He’s been a TV figure for an incredible 35 years now, a rarity among Asian Americans in an industry favoring mostly white, and more recently black, thanks to the Black Lives Matter movement.

Of Korean descent, he’s become perhaps the most visible face and voice of the current Asian American hate front, speaking with clarity and earnest about the hate crimes that have targeted innocent Asians in racially motivated physical attacks.

No wonder he’s been tagged as The Diplomat, in an April interview in New York magazine’s The Culture Pages, where he discussed his zeal to combat inequities in salaries. Perhaps the most successful alumni of the “Five-0” cast, he (joined by colleague Grace Park, who played Kono Kalakaua) walked away from the show in protest of paychecks smaller than their two other white leads, Alex McLoughlin and Scott Caan, in a situation where the four actors were, in reality, an ensemble.

As a producer, Kim is quoted, “Now, whenever I develop a show, I specify right off the top what ethnicity the lead is,” making salaries tantamount to intention.

He will have the lead role of Matthew Ryker in National Geographic Channel’s “The Hot Zone: Anthrax.”

His credits are vast and varied. He played Ben Daimio in “Hellboy,” has a recurring role in NBC’s “New Amsterdam” as Dr. Cassian Shin.

He was heard but not seen in the animated “She-Ra and the Princess of Power” and “Raya and the Last Dragon.” And he’s been filming episodes—not yet released — of the animated “Pantheon,” portraying David. Gamers may know him from a series of video games.

And that’s “Show Biz.” …