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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, June 5, 2007

SHOW BIZ
Guitarist Kimura a new fan of TV's 'Bachelor'

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Columnist

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NAMES 'N' FACES: You never know who'll show up at Hy's Steak House, as resident entertainer Audy Kimura discovered recently. The other night, Pearl Harbor's Navy Lt. Andy Baldwin, the latest guy to propose on ABC's "The Bachelor," had dinner with Hollywood celebrity reporter John Luciano. The naval doctor and the guitarist had a lot to chat about: Baldwin's specialty is diving medicine, Kimura is an avid free-diver. "You could not find anyone finer than Lt. Andy Baldwin to represent Hawai¨i and the U.S. military," said Kimura, who marks his 20th anniversary at Hy's this month. "He is the real deal and as nice a guy as you could imagine." Kimura and Baldwin plan to get together again after Baldwin's fiancee, Tessa Horst, relocates here.

Other Hy's sightings: Actor James Woods (CBS's "Shark"), who complimented the staff on the cuisine and thanked Kimura for the music, all-star Yankee pitcher Roger Clemens and basketball legend Magic Johnson.

ITEMIZATIONS: Makaha Son John Koko and his wife Tonia are proud grandparents of Paiea Koko, born last Thursday and weighing 11 pounds and measuring 22 inches. The parents are Misty and John Koko Jr. "The baby looks like grandpa John Koko - lots of hair," said the father. The baby's name means "hard-shelled crab."

TV producer Seth Feldman, formerly of Honolulu, has moved to New York City "trying to keep my Island business afloat." His series, "Better," is going national. The show, a product of Better Homes and Gardens, was originally created for Portland, Ore., and Las Vegas, but this fall will roll out to 10 markets, including Phoenix, Kansas City, Mo., and Hartford, Conn., with negotiations on for Honolulu. The theme music is by Traci Toguchi.

Designer Anne Namba said she was "tired of the penguin look," referring to black-and-white formal attire, so she created the spectacular colorful attire for "Iggy & Friends," the recent concert at Doris Duke Theatre featuring violinist Iggy Jang, Sebastien Lipman (Jang's pal from his days in Grenoble, France) and a cast of fellow musicians.

Maggie Q won an Asian Excellence Award as outstanding supporting actress for her role in "MI: III/Mission Impossible 3."

Kailuan Denise Nolan Cascino, is a co-producer of "Shrek the Third" and was involved in the first two installments, too - as a senior production manager on 2004's "Shrek 2" and as a layout production supervisor for the original 2001 "Shrek." Earlier, Cascino, a '97 Maryknoll grad, was a layout production supervisor for 1998's "Antz." Her parents are Mr. and Mrs. John Nolan.

It's been a busy season for the Weir family; daughter Channing just closed in "Seussical" at Kapolei, son Ian was in the Hawai¨i Theatre's production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Now dad Russell has retired as a lieutenant colonel in the Army (ceremonies were last Friday at Camp Smith, followed by a party at ¨Aiea's Dixie Grill), so the clan will move to St. Petersburg, Fla.

STAGE SHORTS: Diamond Head Theatre's elite donors, such as Carolyn Berry, and veterans, like actor Howard Bishop ("Full Monty") and actress Mariko Lyons ("Anything Goes"), experienced a night of murder, mystery and mayhem last week when "Without a Hitch," directed by DHT box office manager Melanie Garcia, was staged. The players included Elitei Tatafu, Jacin Harter, Tricia Marciel, Tony Young, Lisa Konove, Ahnya Chang and Mathias Maas.

DHT's production of "Gigi" drew a savvy viewer at the post-show "talk back" session, when folks can ask the cast and creators anything and everything. One distinguished woman turned out to have been with MGM's wardrobe department when the studio filmed "Gigi" in 1958. She had high compliments for designer Karen Wolfe, saying the finery was as impressive as the Cecil Beaton originals.

And that's Show Biz.

Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Thursdays. Reach Wayne Harada at 525-8067, wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com or fax 525-8055.