Taylor Lautner appeared at the "Twilight Saga: New Moon" premiere in Knoxville on Tuesday, Nov. 17.
Taylor Lautner appeared at the "Twilight Saga: New Moon" premiere in Knoxville on Tuesday, Nov. 17.
OMG! It’s Miley!
OMG! It’s Taylor and Kristen!
OMG! This happened in Knoxville?
When reflecting on 2009, it’s pretty amazing how many big entertainment events were centered here.
The city was the backdrop for three movie premieres — well, actually two and a half. More on that half one later. On stage, heavyweight performers such as Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Cosby made their way to local audiences.
Plus red-hot teen stars such as Miley Cryus, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner visited here to promote the openings of their movies.
Yes, 2009 was definitely a year of OMG moments.
Here’s a look at a few of them:
“The Twilight Saga: New Moon” premiere (November). It was certainly the year’s hottest ticket. While not touted officially as a “premiere,” “New Moon” did get one of its first official showings at the Regal Cinemas Pinnacle 18 at Turkey Creek.
The event was a fundraiser for Variety — The Children’s Charity of Eastern Tennessee, which helps local children’s charities. Fans whose names were pulled from a drawing purchased $100 tickets for a chance to see “New Moon” stars Taylor Lautner and Kristen Stewart up close.
They also got a chance to see the movie before anyone else in the area. For the stars, it was a special night, too.
“No matter what I go on to do from now on, it will never be quite like all of this,” Stewart told the Insider.
What’s coming in 2010: Variety benefit organizers are already mulling next year’s event. They’re pledging that the 2010 benefit will be even bigger in terms of star power. Who could they have in mind? Maybe actors from the next “Harry Potter” flick?
“That Evening Sun” premiere (April). The locally produced and shot indie flick “That Evening Sun” had a screening for the cast, crew and a few select guests at the Regal Cinemas Riviera. Though star Hal Holbrook did not attend, stars Walton Goggins (“The Shield”) and Ray McKinnon (“Deadwood”) did. The screening was the beginning of a few prestigious film festival honors and appearances “Sun” snagged over the next few months.
What’s coming in 2010: After months of nailing out a deal for distribution, “Sun” will finally be making its way into theaters.
“Hannah Montana: The Movie” opening (April). On the first day that “Hannah Montana: The Movie” opened — and during the first showing of that day — Miley Cyrus, with dad Billy Ray Cyrus in tow, showed up to surprise an audience at Regal Cinemas Pinnacle 18 at Turkey Creek.
She was greeted with high-pitched screaming and general hysterics.
The starlet joked to the crowd, “On the way here, I was like, ‘Oh my God, we’re going to walk into an empty theater.’”
What’s coming in 2010: “Hannah Montana: The Movie” did respectable business at the box office. However, next on Cyrus’ agenda is a fourth season of “Hannah Montana” for the Disney Channel.
“Women Today Expo” (March). The annual celebration of women was especially star-studded this year. “Good Morning America” co-anchor Robin Roberts was there as well as professional volleyball player Gabrielle Reece.
The event was important enough to bring out Lady Vols head basketball coach Pat Summitt. She wanted to drop by to see Roberts and Reece, both of whom are old friends.
The three talked of old times, and Summitt was in fine form. She joked about how she was fretting over her son going out of the country for spring break.
She also deadpanned about how she told him to be on his best behavior — a command that made Roberts laugh out loud.
What’s coming in 2010: Plans are being formed now for next year’s show, with at least one major TV star already committed to being here. The celebrity lineup is also expanding a bit to include more actresses than in previous years.
© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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