POP-Corn: David Archuleta Sings for Charity
Tasty tidbits on your celebrity faves!
David Archuleta at the Holiday of Hope tree lighting. (Photo: Gerri Miller)
"It's always nice to come out for good causes," says David Archuleta, who performed songs from his debut album at the Holiday of Hope tree lighting event in Hollywood to benefit One Heartland, a charity that helps children affected by HIV/AIDS.
The American Idol runner-up has been traveling to sing at radio station–sponsored holiday concerts but will spend Christmas with his family and friends before touring in 2009. The busy high school senior keeps up with his schoolwork with online study and a tutor. "It's like balancing a full-time job with school," he says.
Also on hand were good friends Robbie Amell and Jonathan Bennett and brothers Chris and Kyle Massey, who are also planning to go the online route for college. They're heading home to Atlanta for Christmas to spend time with family and friends, many of whom are off at college right now. They recently recorded a song called "Christmas Celebration" for a TV special.
ADAM SANDLER TELLS BEDTIME STORIES
Raining gumballs and a huge-eyed hamster aren't nearly the strangest things in the hilarious comedy Bedtime Stories. Adam Sandler tells his niece and nephew some pretty wild tales set in medieval times, ancient Greece, the Old West, and outer space—which start to come true in real life! Working with a broken foot for two months of the shoot didn't stop Adam, who had a great time telling and acting out the tales in the kid-friendly flick.
His favorite book as a boy was The Little Engine That Could, and he often makes up stories for his daughter Sadie. "She gives me a subject, and we go from there," he says. "Every subject she brings up has to do with food!" Catch Bedtime Stories in theaters December 25.
MARLEY IN MULTIPLE
You don't have to own a dog to love Marley, the badly behaved but adorable pooch that a family loves despite his faults in Marley & Me, opening December 25. Since Marley ages 14 years in the movie, 22 dogs of all ages played him. But one named Clyde got the most screen time with stars Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston. Clyde's trainer encouraged him to be mischievous, and he always got it right on the first take. "He was so easy to work with," says Aniston, who has two dogs of her own and almost adopted the cute puppy from the movie poster. Can't blame her!
WHAT TO WATCH
* Miley Cyrus will perform "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," the Jonas Brothers will sing "Joyful Kings," and Corbin Bleu, David Cook, and Billy Ray Cyrus will also perform on the Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade on ABC (10 a.m. ET, 9 a.m. elsewhere). The Jonas boys will join Taylor Swift, Kellie Pickler, Jesse McCartney, and host Ryan Seacrest for New Year's Rockin' Eve on ABC, beginning at 10 p.m. on December 31. That night, David Cook will ring in the New Year on Fox's New Year's Eve Live, starting at 11 p.m.
* Tune into Camp Rock on Disney Channel December 19 at 8 p.m. for the world premiere of Demi Lovato's music video for "La La Land," a song she wrote with the Jonas Brothers. The video features Demi and co-stars from her series Sonny With a Chance, which will premiere in February on Disney Channel.
* Movie fans have lots of holiday flicks to choose from: Johnny Depp stars in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory December 22 at 8:30 p.m. on ABC, which will air How the Grinch Stole Christmas December 22 at 8 p.m.; The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe December 24 at 8 p.m.; and The Sound of Music December 28 at 7 p.m. CBS runs the Will Ferrell favorite Elf December 20 at 8 p.m. Felicity: An American Girl Adventure and Samantha: An American Girl Holiday will air on Hallmark Channel December 25 at 8 and 10 a.m.
* The Nickelodeon documentary Degrassi in Ecuador follows the cast of Degrassi: The Next Generation as they help out an impoverished community. It premieres December 19 at 9 p.m. on The N.
* Carrie Underwood will perform at the People's Choice Awards, hosted by Queen Latifah on CBS January 7 at 9 p.m.
* The professional dancing competition Superstars of Dance kicks off with a two-hour premiere January 4 at 9 p.m., and the new hidden camera, outrageous-task contest Game Show in My Head debuts on CBS January 3 at 8 p.m. The hospital sitcom Scrubs returns January 6 at 9 p.m. with back-to-back episodes and a new network: ABC.
Gerri Miller is a contributing writer for Scholastic News Online.
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