Jack Osbourne And Katrina Weidman Plunge Into A New Season Of Petrifying Paranormal Activity When 'Portals To Hell' Returns On Friday, March 13

Paranormal investigators Jack Osbourne and Katrina Weidman descend into all-new eerie encounters in season two of Travel Channel’s hit series “Portals to Hell.”

Descend into all-new eerie encounters when Travel Channel's hit series, "Portals to Hell," returns for Season Two on Friday, March 13, with a special two-hour episode beginning at 9 p.m. ET/PT. 

Avid paranormal investigators Jack Osbourne and Katrina Weidman resume their chilling journey to historically haunted locations in the United States, confronting sinister stories of the supernatural as they seek concrete evidence that a spirit world exists. 

Eight additional hour-long episodes will move to their regular 10 p.m. ET/PT timeslot beginning Friday, March 20.

"This season is intense," said Weidman. "Jack and I purposefully explore locations that embody the darker side of the paranormal, as we try to understand why certain places evoke more sinister activity than others. It's exciting to see what new discoveries we can make in the paranormal field. Yet as we explore the unexplained, we can only presume to know what we're working with. At the end of the day we really don't – and that's the scary part."

The undaunted duo will face their most fearsome cases yet, as they uncover disturbing tales from bygone pasts and unnerving paranormal activity. Osbourne and Weidman filter through extensive research, utilize advanced scientific equipment and enlist a network of specialists, including psychic mediums, to try and exhume answers behind these terrifying hauntings.

"Katrina and I are breaking down walls – literally," said Osbourne. "We have unprecedented access to a number of locations and are also the first team to ever investigate some of them for TV. They're incredibly active sites for the paranormal, and we're going all in to try and capture substantial evidence."

Paranormal investigators and “Portals to Hell” hosts Jack Osbourne and Katrina Weidman.

In the special two-hour season premiere, Jack Osbourne and Katrina Weidman head to Paulding, Ohio, to investigate the Old Paulding Jail – an almost 150-year-old site rumored to be haunted by the spirits of former inmates, sheriffs and even the victim of a horrific, 60-year-old cold case crime. The pair find it hard to uncover the truth in a sea of rumors, cover-ups and theories of what happened to the young woman who was murdered. They call in a trusted psychic in their search for answers. Determined to find out more, Osbourne and Weidman break down the last remaining sealed jail cell in the basement … and are shocked to discover large bone fragments scattered within. Now, the possibility of not only contacting spirits, but also solving a town's most infamous murder is on the line. As the investigation deepens, Osbourne has a paranormal experience that will forever change him as an investigator and truth seeker.

Upcoming Episodes: 

“Thomas House Hotel” Location: Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee 

Katrina Weidman and Jack Osbourne travel to Tennessee to investigate a once-thriving natural springs resort where guests fell victim to the deadly waters. A recent flare-up of paranormal activity has them asking if a dark force has checked into the century-old hotel. 

“Fort William Henry” Location: Lake George, New York 

Jack Osbourne and Katrina Weidman investigate the site of one of the bloodiest massacres in Colonial America. The team embarks on a mission to find out if the paranormal activity is the echo of dead soldiers or something more sinister. 

“Iron Island” Location: Buffalo, New York 

In snowy Buffalo, New York, Jack Osbourne and Katrina Weidman investigate the Iron Island Museum, a century-old building that has undergone several evolutions as a church and funeral home, and is rumored to house not one, but two, portals.

“The Ohio State Reformatory” Location: Mansfield, Ohio 

Jack Osbourne and Katrina Weidman travel to the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio, an abandoned maximum-security prison notorious for its barbaric treatment of inmates and malevolent spirits haunting it, where they obtain exclusive access to paranormal hotspots never investigated before for television. 

“Haunted Hill House” Location: Mineral Wells, Texas 

Jack Osbourne and Katrina Weidman travel to Mineral Wells, Texas, to investigate for the first time for television, the Haunted Hill House, an infamous location that’s plagued by rumors of murder, prostitution and devil worship. The team uncovers the truth of this hellish home and discovers that the claims of demonic activity may not be that far-fetched.

“The Croke-Patterson Mansion” Location: Denver, Colorado 

The 130-year-old Croke-Patterson Mansion has haunted its previous owners with a string of bad luck and untimely deaths. In a TV exclusive, Jack Osbourne and Katrina Weidman encounter a mirrored portal and discover why this mansion holds the title, “The King of Haunted Houses.” 

“The Shanghai Tunnels” Location: Portland, Oregon 

Katrina Weidman and Jack Osbourne gain unprecedented access to the infamous Shanghai Tunnels of Portland, Oregon. They've been called on to determine if two newly restored tunnels are safe for public tours after a recent spike in violent paranormal activity. 

Video: Sneak Peek - Season Two Premiere

"Portals to Hell" is produced by Osbourne Media and Critical Content for Travel Channel. For Osbourne Media, the executive producers are Jack Osbourne and Peter Glowski. For Critical Content, the executive producers are Jenny Daly and Tom Forman. Elaine White executive produces the series for Osbourne Media and Critical Content. For Travel Channel, the executive producer is Vaibhav Bhatt, Julie Meisner Eagle is vice president of production and development, Matthew Butler is general manager and Henry Schleiff is group president of Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, American Heroes Channel and Destination America.

Jack Osbourne inside Ohio’s haunted Old Paulding Jail.

About Jack Osbourne:

Jack Osbourne is the president of Osbourne Media and is best known for MTV's reality show "The Osbournes," SyFy's "Haunted Highway," and A+E Network's "Ozzy & Jack's World Detour." 

He has not only starred in multiple series but also developed and produced original unscripted content, including NatGeo's Wild's "Alpha Dogs" and "Surviving the Apocalypse," along with various pilots and development projects for Bravo, CBS, A&E, MTV, WeTV and TRVL. 

Osbourne appears in and serves as Executive Producer of "Biography: The Nine Lives of Ozzy Osbourne," which will premiere at this year's SXSW festival. Osbourne is also an adventurer and paranormal investigator who has documented harrowing face-to-face encounters with the unexplainable in some of America's darkest and most remote regions. Most recently, he was featured on United Kingdom's live "Celebrity Haunted Mansion" alongside Jason Hawes ("Ghost Hunters," "Ghost Nation") and is currently filming season two of "Portals to Hell."

Katrina Weidman at Ohio’s haunted Old Paulding Jail.

About Katrina Weidman:

Katrina Weidman is a paranormal researcher and investigator, host and producer. 

She rose to national recognition in her role on A+E's "Paranormal State," working on hundreds of cases of unexplained supernatural phenomena and interviewing thousands of witnesses alongside world-renowned paranormal researchers. 

Weidman also served as co-host and producer of "Paranormal Lockdown" on TLC and Destination America, as well as Chiller's "Real Fear: The Truth Behind the Movies" (2012) and "The Truth Behind More Movies" (2013). 

She frequently gives talks and lectures at paranormal conferences and conventions around the world.

Video: Behind the Scenes - Making of Season Two

SOURCE: Travel Channel

MasterClass Announces Entertainment Icon RuPaul to Teach Self-Expression and Authenticity [Trailer Included]

In his MasterClass, RuPaul shares powerful lessons on the importance of knowing your value and being true to yourself (image courtesy of MasterClass)

MasterClass, the platform that makes it possible for anyone to learn from the best, today announced that RuPaul will teach a class on self-expression and authenticity. 

As one of the world's most recognized personalities, RuPaul is a cultural icon. In his MasterClass, he shares an intimate look into his journey to self-love and stardom. Through a series of candid lessons, RuPaul speaks his fearless truth and shares his experiences — teaching members how to identify strengths, cultivate a tribe, and tune into inner frequency to live their best, most authentic and powerful life.

"RuPaul is fearless — defying norms and breaking rules," said David Rogier, co-founder and CEO of MasterClass. "Ru's MasterClass teaches every single one of us how to celebrate who we are, how to persevere, how to take risks and how to own our fears. This class will change how you live your life."

Being credited for bringing drag into the spotlight and named "the world's most famous drag queen" by Fortune Magazine in 2019, RuPaul has taken the world by storm since becoming a popular fixture in New York City nightlife and releasing his debut single, "Supermodel (You Better Work)," in 1993. 

The actor, model, singer, songwriter and TV personality has paved his way into global superstardom using his mantra "love yourself." Throughout his 35-year career, RuPaul has released 14 studio albums and three books, hosted his own talk show, The RuPaul Show on VH1 for over 100 episodes and has made countless appearances in TV and films including To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything!, Julie Newmar and more. 

Since 2009, RuPaul has produced and hosted critically acclaimed RuPaul's Drag Race, winning six Primetime Emmy Awards and inspiring several spin-off series, including RuPaul's Drag U and RuPaul's Drag Race All-Stars. 

In 2017, RuPaul was named one of TIME's most influential people in the world.

In his MasterClass, RuPaul shares powerful lessons on the importance of knowing your value and being true to yourself (image courtesy of MasterClass)

"How can you love, if you can't love yourself?" said RuPaul. "My MasterClass will show you how to find the deepest level of yourself, own who you are and have the confidence to work the runway of life."

Delivered with his signature humor and larger-than-life personality, RuPaul's MasterClass is an intimate and candid look into his journey to self-love and self-betterment. 

As a prominent figure and supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, RuPaul has fought for equality and promotes the message of embracing and accepting one's uniqueness. He will show students of all ages, races, genders, and sexualities, how to tune into inner frequency by incorporating stillness, meditation and personal inventory. He'll also share personal secrets on owning a room and cultivating a tribe, and why it's important to identify mentors and pay it forward. In a deeply personal lesson, RuPaul shares past trauma in his own life and how it relates to his process of self-betterment, offering advice on how to deal with shame, trauma, and hard emotions. 

In his MasterClass, RuPaul shares powerful lessons on the importance of knowing your value and being true to yourself (image courtesy of MasterClass)

RuPaul will also sit down with long-time costume collaborator, Zaldy, to deconstruct previous runway looks the duo has created. In bonus lessons, RuPaul's makeup artist David Petruschin transforms into drag alter-ego Raven, and RuPaul shares insights and makeup lessons for all, from painting dramatic eyes to contouring. 

RuPaul's MasterClass - The Trailer:

RuPaul's MasterClass joins the 75+ classes taught by world-renowned instructors on culinary arts, photography, writing, performance, and much more. 

Each MasterClass has digestible video lessons sized to fit into any part of your day and cinematic visuals with close-up, hands-on demonstrations that make you feel one-on-one with the instructor. 

MasterClass's current roster of courses includes:

• Business: Howard Schultz (business leadership), Anna Wintour (creativity and leadership), Sara Blakely (self-made entrepreneurship), Bob Iger (strategy and leadership), Chris Voss (art of negotiation), Goodby and Silverstein (advertising and creativity)
• Culinary Arts: Gordon Ramsay (cooking), Alice Waters (home cooking), Thomas Keller (cooking techniques), Wolfgang Puck (cooking), Dominique Ansel (French pastry), James Suckling (wine appreciation), Aaron Franklin (Texas BBQ), Massimo Bottura (Italian cooking), Gabriela Cámara (Mexican cooking)
• Film and Television: Werner Herzog (filmmaking), Martin Scorsese (filmmaking), Ron Howard (directing), Spike Lee (filmmaking), Mira Nair (independent filmmaking), Jodie Foster (filmmaking), Ken Burns (documentary filmmaking), Helen Mirren (acting), Samuel L. Jackson (acting), Judd Apatow (comedy), Aaron Sorkin (screenwriting), Shonda Rhimes (writing for television), Natalie Portman (acting), David Lynch (creativity and filmmaking)
• Lifestyle: Bobbi Brown (makeup and beauty), RuPaul (self-expression and authenticity)
• Music and Entertainment: Steve Martin (comedy), Christina Aguilera (singing), Usher (performance), Reba McEntire (country music), Herbie Hancock (jazz), Deadmau5 (music production), Armin van Buuren (dance music), Hans Zimmer (film scoring), Tom Morello (electric guitar), Carlos Santana (art and soul of guitar), Timbaland (producing and beatmaking), Penn & Teller (magic), Itzhak Perlman (violin), Danny Elfman (music for film)
• Writing: James Patterson (writing), David Mamet (dramatic writing), Judy Blume (writing), Malcolm Gladwell (writing), R.L. Stine (writing for young audiences), Margaret Atwood (creative writing), Dan Brown (writing thrillers), Neil Gaiman (storytelling), Billy Collins (poetry), David Baldacci (writing thrillers), Joyce Carol Oates (short story writing), David Sedaris (storytelling and humor)
• Photography: Annie Leibovitz (photography), Jimmy Chin (adventure photography)
• Design and Fashion: Frank Gehry (architecture), Diane von Furstenberg (how to build a fashion brand), Marc Jacobs (fashion design)
• Sports and Games: Serena Williams (tennis), Stephen Curry (shooting, ball-handling, and scoring), Garry Kasparov (chess), Daniel Negreanu (poker), Phil Ivey (poker strategy), Simone Biles (gymnastics), Misty Copeland (ballet)
• Politics and Society: Jane Goodall (conservation), Bob Woodward (investigative journalism), Karl Rove and David Axelrod (political campaign strategy), Paul Krugman (economics and society), Doris Kearns Goodwin (U.S. presidential history and leadership)
• Science and Technology: Chris Hadfield (space exploration), Will Wright (game design), Neil deGrasse Tyson (scientific thinking and communication)

For more information, please visit www.masterclass.com.

SOURCE: MasterClass

Little Steven Marks 30th Anniversary Of Nelson Mandela's Historic Release From Prison By Announcing Remastered Vinyl Edition Of Landmark Protest Album 'Sun City'

Little Steven Marks 30th Anniversary Of Nelson Mandela's Historic Release From Prison By Announcing Remastered Vinyl Edition Of Landmark Protest Album 'Sun City' (image via Wikipedia)

Little Steven, aka Steven Van Zandt, is commemorating today's 30th anniversary of Nelson Mandela's historic release from a South African prison after 27 years in captivity with the announcement that his 1985 landmark protest album, Sun City, by Artists United Against Apartheid, the extraordinary supergroup brought together by Van Zandt, producer Arthur Baker and journalist Danny Schechter to fight racial injustice in South Africa, will be released on vinyl for the first time since its initial release 35 years ago. 

The long-out-of-print LP joins five additional classic albums from Van Zandt making all of Little Steven's records from his early career once again available on vinyl.

The upcoming releases, previously only available in last year's limited edition box set, RockNRoll Rebel – The Early Work, and now available individually, have all been remastered and include all of the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer's solo records between 1982 and 1999: Men Without Women (1982), Voice Of America (1983), Sun City (1985) Freedom – No Compromise (1987), Revolution (1989) and Born Again Savage (1999). 

Releasing March 13 via Wicked Cool/UMe, all albums will be available on both 180-gram black vinyl and as a special, limited edition version on 180-gram color swirl vinyl mirroring the psychedelic platters released in the box set. 

• The color vinyl variants can be purchased exclusive at uDiscover. 
• Click here to pre-order your copy 

Notably, Revolution will be making its individual US vinyl debut, having previously only seen vinyl release in Europe, while the 2LP Born Again Savage will be available individually on vinyl for the first time ever.

Little Steven announced the rerelease of his 1985 landmark protest album, 'Sun City,' by Artists United Against Apartheid, on vinyl on the 30th anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s historic release from a South African prison after 27 years in captivity.

Hailed by Rolling Stone as "one of the most fervent and forceful political statements to emerge from Eighties pop music," Sun City, celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, remains an undisputed milestone in music and cultural history. The project began with "Sun City," a song Van Zandt wrote to expose and oppose South Africa's apartheid system which included the forced relocation of its black population who were also stripped of their right to vote. The song, featuring the memorable chorus of "I ain't gonna play Sun City," was a declaration and boycott from a stunningly diverse group of artists that they would refuse to perform at Sun City, a resort located within the Bantustan of Bophuthatswana, one of many internationally unrecognized states created by the South African government to forcibly relocate its black population. 

To record the track, Van Zandt, co-producer Arthur Baker and journalist Danny Schechter brought together Artists United Against Apartheid – a still breathtaking cadre of international superstars that included Bruce Springsteen, Miles Davis, Pete Townshend, Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, Ringo Starr, Zak Starkey, Darlene Love, Run DMC, U2, George Clinton, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Rubén Blades, Peter Gabriel, David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Bobby Womack, Afrika Bambaataa, Kurtis Blow, DJ Kool Herc, Grandmaster Melle Mel, The Fat Boys, Herbie Hancock, Jackson Browne, Peter Wolf, Bonnie Raitt, Hall & Oates, Jimmy Cliff, Big Youth, Peter Garrett, Ron Carter, Ray Barretto, Gil Scott-Heron, Nona Hendryx, Pat Benatar, Clarence Clemons, Stiv Bators, Doug Wimbish, and Joey Ramone, to name but a few. 

Named as the top single of 1985 by The Village Voice's prestigious "Pazz & Jop" critics poll, "Sun City" was followed that same year by a full-length album that saw many of those same artists joining together for a number of additional exclusive tracks, including "Silver and Gold" (performed by Bono with Keith Richards and Ron Wood), "The Struggle Continues" (featuring Miles Davis, Stanley Jordan, Herbie Hancock, Sonny Okosuns, Ron Carter, Tony Williams, and Richard Scher), and "Let Me See Your I.D." (featuring Gil Scott-Heron, Miles Davis, Grandmaster Melle Mel, Peter Wolf, Sonny Okosuns, Malopoets, Duke Bootee, Ray Barretto, and Peter Garrett).

Sun City proved a critically acclaimed and globally important work for both its powerful social message – allowing Van Zandt, Baker, and others involved in the project to donate more than a half million dollars to causes supporting the anti-apartheid struggle – as well as its innovative, world-spanning musical approach, ultimately earning inclusion in Rolling Stone's "100 Best Albums of the Eighties," which noted "Sun City threw an effective political punch: Not only did it discourage musicians from playing the South African resort city, but it also helped spread the word about new sounds like rap." Van Zandt is donating all artist and publishing royalties from Sun City to the Rock and Roll Forever Foundation for the TeachRock.org music history curriculum.

"It took courage for artists to make the leap from social concerns to political action for a cause that was virtually unknown at the time," said Van Zandt. "Victories that clear cut are rare in the sphere of international liberation politics. Once in a lifetime if you're lucky."

The release of Little Steven's early catalog comes on the heels of the expansive box set, RockNRoll Rebel – The Early Work, released in December. Limited to just 1,000 copies, the comprehensive collection includes all six aforementioned albums across seven colored vinyl LPs housed in a bespoke slipcase. The multi-format set also boasts four CDs of rarities culled from Van Zandt's personal vault, allowing an in-depth look at his early solo career with 51 tracks spanning previously unreleased demos, B-sides, rehearsals, outtakes, radio spots, non-album singles, classic concert performances, and a number of never-before-heard studio gems, complete with corresponding liner notes from Van Zandt about each of the bonus tracks.

"It's been a blast going through the archives and finding all these hidden gems," says Van Zandt. "In addition to demos in various stages of completion, there are entire songs I'd completely forgotten about, and we found some really early things pre-Jukes like Southside Johnny and the Kid (The Kid being me!). I'm excited to have my stuff back on vinyl for the first time in decades!"

All six albums included in RockNRoll Rebel – The Early Work are also now available digitally as individual Deluxe Editions, expanded with the same rare and unreleased material from the era that make up the four discs of rarities in the physical collection. 

The Early Work, a special digital-only collection compiling 10 previously unreleased tracks of early rehearsals and live performances with Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes spanning 1973-77 and capped off with a 1995 live performance of The Temptations' "I Wish It Would Rain," is also now available. 

Also now available digitally is the rare 1985 three-song 12" EP, Let Me See Your I.D., featuring the Extended Mix, Street Mix and Beat and Scratch Mix of the landmark "Sun City" single. 

All albums can be streamed/downloaded below:

• Men Without Women
• Voice of America
• Freedom – No Compromise
• Revolution
• Born Again Savage
• Sun City
• The Early Work
• Let Me See Your I.D.

In addition, a limited edition standalone 144-page, 12" x 12" companion book is in the works featuring Van Zandt's in-depth liner notes for RockNRoll Rebel, alongside memories and stories about the making of each album, lyrics to every song, and hundreds of never-before-seen photos.

SOURCE: Wicked Cool/UMe

Miley Cyrus, Dennis Quaid and The Struts Join Robby Krieger To Celebrate The Doors' 50th Anniversary of 'Morrison Hotel' at The Sunset Marquis in West Hollywood

Mylie Cyrus and Andrew Watt (by Andrew Mason)

The Doors' iconic album, Morrison Hotel, was released exactly 50 years ago, today, on February 9th, 1970.

On the eve of the album's half-centennial anniversary, rock stars collided at West Hollywood's Sunset Marquis where music lovers and legends fêted the 50th anniversary of Morrison Hotel.

Hosted by industry trailblazers John Varvatos and Timothy White at the Sunset Marquis Hotel in West Hollywood and sponsored by Jack Daniels, the homecoming celebration paid homage to the record's release 50 years ago with a poolside performance helmed by The Doors' guitarist and co-founder, Robby Krieger.

Robby Krieger and Tangiers Blues Band – (a NYC group who have shared the stage with artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Vedder, Brandi Carlisle, and many more) – along with an impressive roster of acclaimed musicians lent their respective talents to some of The Doors' time-honored greatest hits.

Miley Cyrus and producer Andrew Watt covered "Back Door Man", The Struts' chilling take on "Riders on The Storm" and Dennis Quaid brought the house down with his version of "L.A. Woman". 

Other performers included, Big Machine Records/John Varvatos Records artist Badflower, Gary Clark, Jr., Nicole Atkins, Chris Voss (The Record Company), Slim Jim Phantom (The Stray Cats), The Eagles of Death Metal, guitarist Jimmy Vavino, Michael Bolton and Alex Greenwald (Phantom Planet).

Morrison Hotel Gallery also celebrated its 20-year anniversary with the opening of a new photography exhibit in the gallery located inside the hotel's lobby. On public view through February 23rd, the exhibition leans heavily on rare outtakes from photographer and co-founder of the gallery, Henry Diltz's impromptu Morrison Hotel session… that almost didn't happen.

 

The exhibit also features another 20+ fine art prints - a monumental glimpse inside The Doors' sensational career, spanning the gamut from iconic to never-before-seen.

As the story goes, photographer Henry Diltz arrived at the transient Morrison Hotel with The Doors only to be denied photographic permission by an unwitting desk clerk who, in stepping away for a few minutes, missed out on mischief that created one of the most prolific portraits in music history.

A half-century after the release of Morrison Hotel, phenomenal music remains the great unifier; transcending age, genre, race and language, fans were – and still are - delighted to witness the legendary and durational legacy of The Doors' Morrison Hotel.

About Morrison Hotel Gallery

With locations in NYC, Los Angeles and Maui, MHG is the world's leading brand in fine art music photography, representing over 125 of the world's finest music photographers and their archives. 

Their vast catalog of photography encompasses jazz, blues, and rock imagery spanning several generations through to today's contemporary music artists, and now includes iconic photographs in the world of celebrity and sports as well. 

MHG has a robust online presence, featuring over 100,000 images searchable by photographer, music artist, band or concert.

SOURCE: Morrison Hotel Gallery

It's "Groundhog Day" All Over Again as Jeep Brand Debuts Big Game Spot Starring Bill Murray as "Phil Connors" From Iconic 1993 Film [Video Included]

Bill Murray reprises “Groundhog Day” film role for Jeep brand’s Super Bowl Commercial

In its return to the Big Game, the Jeep brand debuted a 60-second commercial starring Bill Murray reprising his role as Phil Connors from the 1993 film "Groundhog Day." In the commercial, Phil Connors enlists the help of the Jeep Gladiator as his "getaway vehicle" after taking the groundhog, thus significantly altering his days for the better.

The spot opens as the clock turns 6:00 a.m. "I Got You Babe" by Sonny & Cher starts playing, replicating the scene from the film. Phil Connors himself suddenly sits upright in bed. Twenty-seven years later, he's stuck in Punxsutawney once again. The Jeep brand worked closely with Sony Pictures to ensure authenticity with the original film, which is now available to buy on disc and digital.

"In my wildest dreams, any advertiser's dream, really, could you dare to believe that Bill Murray would agree to be in your Super Bowl commercial, and on top of that, ask him to relive his iconic role in 'Groundhog Day'?," said Olivier Francois, Chief Marketing Officer, FCA. "How do you even have that make sense and not be forced? Magic first happened when I had the incredible luck to meet Bill in person a few years ago, and I knew then that he was perfect for Jeep. Because like Jeep, Bill is a free spirit, he intentionally seeks out ways to find adventure and live an extraordinary life."

Francois continued, "When we learned that Groundhog Day fell on Super Bowl Sunday for the second time in 54 years, we couldn't help but take that chance. The stars magically aligned. Bill agreed to do the first national broadcast commercial in which he's ever appeared, and not only that, relive his role as Phil Connors for our Jeep Gladiator. But this time, in our spot, the hero makes a different choice by choosing a different pick-up truck – the Jeep Gladiator – and it changes everything for him."

Bill Murray reprises “Groundhog Day” film role for Jeep brand’s Super Bowl Commercial

"This is my first commercial. I'm glad I did it with you (Jeep)," said Bill Murray. "And I'm glad that this is my last commercial, as well."

Locations featured in the commercial include the original bed-and-breakfast where Bill Murray's character Phil Connors wakes up every morning; the Town Square where the Groundhog Day Festival takes place in the original movie; and the restaurant in Woodstock where Bill Murray's character toasts to "world peace" in the original movie. 

• Additional facts about the film set can be found here.

The brand also licensed the iconic Sonny & Cher song "I've Got You Babe" from Warner Music for use in the commercial.

Consumers will soon be able to pair a Jeep Gladiator and the all-new Jeep e-Bike powered by QuietKat (as seen in the commercial) to continue their own adventure, beginning early this summer. For more information, visit jeepe-bike.com. The Groundhog fun continues with a custom collection of merchandise inspired by the commercial on jeep.com/gear. 

The Video:

The Jeep brand commercial was created in partnership with Chicago-based agency Highdive, the Jeep Brand Agency of Record and 2019 Ad Age Small Agency of the Year (Midwest, Gold).

About Poppy the Groundhog Featured in the Commercial:

Poppy (now 10 months old) was rescued at 4 weeks old, and a birth defect prevented her from returning to the wild. She is currently in the care of a licensed wildlife rehabilitator in Pennsylvania and is a beloved member of the caretaker's family. Poppy is a state- and USDA-licensed educational animal. Now thriving, Poppy has become an educational "ambassador" for all wildlife. 

• Additional information on "Poppy" can be found here.

About Groundhog Day:

In the original 1993 film, Bill Murray is at his wry, wisecracking best in this riotous romantic comedy about a weatherman caught in a personal time warp on the worst day of his life. Teamed with a relentlessly cheerful producer (Andie MacDowell) and a smart-aleck cameraman (Chris Elliott), TV weatherman Phil Connors (Bill Murray) is sent to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to cover the annual Groundhog Day festivities. 

After a surprise blizzard traps him in small-town hell, things get even worse; Phil wakes the next morning to find it's GROUNDHOG DAY all over again… and again…and again.

SOURCE: FCA

All-New Toyota Highlander Goes Wherever It's Needed in 2020 Big Game Ad [Video Included]

Toyota’s Big Game ad, “Heroes,” features Actress Cobie Smulders and the all-new 2020 Highlander.

From aliens and adventure to wild west outlaws, Toyota brings the adventure to this year's Big Game to spotlight the all-new 2020 Toyota Highlander. In the spot, titled "Heroes", actress Cobie Smulders is behind the wheel of the powerful SUV in the role of action hero and mother, as she rescues a cast of characters in familiar movie moments.

From aliens and adventure to wild west outlaws, Toyota brings the action to this year’s Big Game with the spot “Heroes.”

"This commercial truly highlights the all-new Highlander's incredible array of features, even greater capabilities and spacious interior," said Ed Laukes, group vice president, Toyota Marketing, Toyota Motor North America. "The spot's message of 'go wherever they need you' speaks to the adventurous spirit of Highlander and its ability to help drivers tap into their inner hero."

The spot, which will appear in the first ad break of the fourth quarter, features the Highlander Platinum grade. The ad kicks off the "GO HIGHLANDER" campaign for the fourth-generation Highlander, the best-selling retail model in the midsize SUV segment since 2016.

Actress Cobie Smulders on-set during Toyota’s shoot for the 2020 Big Game ad, “Heroes.”

"When Toyota approached me, I felt very flattered getting to play the hero in my first-ever Big Game commercial," said actress Cobie Smulders. "I'm a mom, and I love that I'm playing a mom in this ad. When I think of heroes, I think of women and moms - the toughest people out there - and to be able to represent that is a wonderful thing."

The Video:

"The spot was created by Toyota's agency of record, Saatchi & Saatchi. A high-intensity movie trailer music piece, which was uniquely composed for the spot, carries the viewer through each twist and turn of the Highlander's exciting journey."

• Click here to view behind-the-scenes on set with Cobie Smulders.

SOURCE: Toyota

"The Age of A.I." - YouTube Originals New Learning Series Hosted By Robert Downey Jr. - Releases New Episodes Weekly

"The Age of A.I." - YouTube Originals New Learning Series Hosted By Robert Downey Jr. - Releases New Episodes Weekly (Screengrab)

"The Age of A.I." takes a deep dive into the fascinating world of the most transformational technology in the history of humankind. Robert Downey Jr. brings his irreverent enthusiasm and curiosity to the screen as the series takes an immersive look at artificial intelligence and its potential to change the world.

"The Age of A.I." was produced by Vancouver-based Network Entertainment and was filmed in eight countries on six continents. Over 150 Canadians worked on the series in various roles, spanning executive producers to post-production, and two of the stories were based in Canada: one in Vancouver at Sanctuary AI, and the other at Waterloo RoboHub at the University of Waterloo in Ontario.

How is artificial intelligence reshaping our world? 
Can machine learning enhance the human experience? 
Can artificial intelligence help level the playing field for people with disabilities? 
Can the state of the world be saved with an algorithm? 
Will a robot take my job?

These are just a few of the questions explored as "The Age of A.I." examines the technology that will impact our world for years to come. In each episode, viewers will meet the people on the front lines of A.I. – the scientists, innovators, and dreamers who are shaping the future and the real people whose lives may be forever changed as technology races to tackle some of the world's greatest challenges.

"The Age of A.I." - YouTube Originals New Learning Series Hosted By Robert Downey Jr. - Releases New Episodes Weekly (Screengrab)

The series is produced by Network Entertainment with Team Downey in association with Sonar Entertainment. Sean Foley, Yon Motskin, Emily Ford, Cory Lanier, Tom Lesinski, Paul Gertz, and Derik Murray serve as executive producers alongside Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey. 

Will.i.am is a consulting producer with Evan Moore serving as a co-producer on the series. Susanne Daniels is Global Head of Original Content for YouTube. Nadine Zylstra, Head of Learning for YouTube Originals along with Ian Roth and Laurel Stier on the Learning Development team will oversee the project for the global platform.

"The Age of A.I." - YouTube Originals New Learning Series Hosted By Robert Downey Jr.

"The Age of A.I." joins a growing slate of YouTube Originals focused on learning. Other projects include the platform's monthly book club, "BookTube" featuring prominent authors like Malcolm Gladwell; "Could You Survive the Movies?" hosted by Vsauce3's Jake Roper; "Mind Field: What is the Scariest Thing?" with Vsauce creator Michael Stevens; "Glad You Asked" from Vox Media Studios, and Retro Tech with Marques Brownlee. Upcoming Originals include "Creators for Change with Michelle Obama: Girls' Education" premiering this year.

• Watch The Series On YouTube.com/Learning

About Team Downey:

Team Downey is an entertainment company founded by Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey that produces film, television and digital properties. 

A two-time Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner, Downey Jr. is perhaps best known for his performance in the title role of the blockbuster franchise "Iron Man." Prior to joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he made his mark in Hollywood with his Academy Award-nominated performances in "Chaplin" and "Tropic Thunder," for which he also earned a Golden Globe. 

Susan Downey is a prolific film producer who has collaborated with many of the industry's most renowned talents on a diverse list of films. She produced the psychological drama "The Brave One," the horror thrillers "Gothika," "House of Wax" and "Orphan" and executive produced the post-apocalyptic drama "The Book of Eli," "Iron Man 2" and the hit comedy "Due Date," among others. 

Together, the pair have collaborated on numerous notable projects including the successful action adventure franchise "Sherlock Holmes," which garnered over $1 billion at the worldwide box office, the cult classic "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" and "The Judge," earning Robert Duvall an Academy Award nomination, among other accolades. 

Team Downey recently produced the family adventure film "Dolittle" for Universal, which was released on January 17, 2020. "Dolittle" features an all-star cast with Downey Jr. in the title role. 

Team Downey is in various stages of development on several other anticipated feature projects including "A Head Full of Ghosts" with Osgood Perkins attached to write and direct and an untitled feature based on Gimlet Media's "Reply All" podcast episode "Man of the People," with Richard Linklater writing and directing. 

On the television side, Team Downey most recently signed a one-year, first-look deal with HBO. Under the new deal, the company will create and develop new projects, further expanding their partnership with the premium cable network as they are currently producing "Perry Mason." The series, which is set to premiere this summer 2020, stars Matthew Rhys in the title role, with episodes directed by Tim Van Patten and Denize Gamze Ergüven, and written by Rolin Jones and Ron Fitzgerald. 

Additionally, Team Downey is also prepping the series Sweet Tooth for Warner Bros. Television and YouTube Originals recently premiered the first four episodes of its docuseries "The Age of A.I." The final four episodes of the critically-acclaimed series were released on January 15.

SOURCE: Network Media Group Inc.

Doritos Brings The Chill To Super Bowl LIV In A 'Cool Ranch' Western Showdown Headlined By Lil Nas X, Sam Elliott & Billy Ray Cyrus [Teaser Videos Included]

Doritos Brings The Chill To Super Bowl LIV In A 'Cool Ranch' Western Showdown Headlined By Lil Nas X, Sam Elliott & Billy Ray Cyrus

When a snack as iconic as Doritos Cool Ranch gets the Super Bowl advertising treatment for the first time ever, it only makes sense to enlist the help of a few entertainment icons to take the spot to another level of cool. 

Following years of Super Bowl ad success with music superstars, Doritos is bringing the country's favorite country-meets-rap musical duo — Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus — together for another head-turning collaboration alongside critically acclaimed movie legend, Sam Elliott. The campaign fits directly into Doritos' newly revamped mantra and tagline, Another Level.

Fans were able to get a first glimpse of the commercial in a teaser video Doritos dropped last week that brought them straight to the scene of a country Western town named "The Cool Ranch." Known from a wide array of work — including many Western films — Sam Elliott recited the lyrics to "Old Town Road," leaving fans guessing what comes next. 

Today, Doritos is dropping a new teaser titled "Bassquake" on its social channels that helps fans start to put the pieces together. We see Lil Nas X riding his stallion into town on a saddle customized to blast tunes from its speakers, so fans know that something big is coming their way to celebrate the launch of the new Doritos Cool Ranch. What will go down in the wild wild west? Time will only tell.

"Fans have come to expect Doritos to show up big with our Super Bowl advertising, and since we're making Doritos Cool Ranch even cooler this year, we knew we had to enlist the help of a few of the coolest and most popular voices of the past year," said Rachel Ferdinando, SVP and Chief Marketing Officer, Frito-Lay North America. "Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus are as iconic of a duo as it gets to help us introduce the new power punch to one of our most beloved flavors — Cool Ranch. Pair them with legendary actor Sam Elliott and you get pure country ranch magic in a commercial that's bound to get our fans amped on game day."

Doritos Brings The Chill To Super Bowl LIV In A 'Cool Ranch' Western Showdown Headlined By Lil Nas X, Sam Elliott & Billy Ray Cyrus

A Decorated Super Bowl History

Doritos has become a recognized staple of Super Bowl advertising with some of the most memorable commercials over the past decade and a half. 

More recently, the brand has tapped the world's biggest names in music and entertainment to star in its TV spots, bringing fans never-before-seen music collaborations that have helped catapult Doritos to the top of most Super Bowl ad rankings — from its #Spitfire lip-sync rap battle campaign in Super Bowl LII with MTN DEW, to last year's #NowItsHot campaign that saw iconic music hits remixed with a Flamin' Hot twist. And of course, the Crash the Super Bowl era saw countless consumer-created Doritos ads rank No. 1 on numerous polls.

Doritos Brings The Chill To Super Bowl LIV In A 'Cool Ranch' Western Showdown Headlined By Lil Nas X, Sam Elliott & Billy Ray Cyrus

About Lil Nas X & Old Town Road

In the span of just one year, 20-year-old Lil Nas X has gone from an aspiring artist crashing with siblings in Atlanta to one of the biggest stars in music today. Born Montero Lamar Hill, Lil Nas X created his genre-shattering song "Old Town Road" in December 2018, bringing to life a song that would forever change the music industry and touch lives across the globe. 

Fueled by a remix with Billy Ray Cyrus and many viral moments in culture throughout the year, the song rose to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 2019 and held the spot for 19 consecutive weeks, becoming the longest-running song to stay top the chart in its history. 

"Old Town Road" has been recognized with a CMA Award, an American Music Award, a Teen Choice Award, 2 BET Hip-Hop Awards, 2 MTV Video Music Awards, the Smithsonian American Ingenuity Award for Youth, and an Apple Music Award. The Diamond-certified track has accumulated 3.1 Billion global streams and over 800 Million video views to date, while also landing on various 'Best Songs of the Year' lists from Billboard, PAPER, TIME, LA Times, Complex, Vice and more.

In June 2019, he also released his debut EP called 7. The eclectic collection featured 8 new tracks that ranged from mainstream rap and pop styles to alternative rock. The song "Rodeo" included a cameo from Cardi B, while second single "Panini" went on to hit #1 at Rhythm radio and received a remix from DaBaby. To cap his banner year, Lil Nas X was nominated for six Grammy Awards including Best New Artist, Record of the Year and Album of the Year, and is currently at work on his debut album via Columbia Records.

SOURCE: Frito-Lay