Johnson's 'Surreal'
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ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2021 NEWS/FEATURES 13 People & Places V Day Bleak Valentine’s Day Lovers fi nd hope in roses and vaccines NEW YORK, Feb 14, (AP): The notecards poking from bouquets rushing out of a Chicago fl orist all carry similar messages: “looking forward to celebrat- ing in person.” “The notes aren’t sad,” said Kate Prince, a co-own- er of Flora Chicago on the city’s North Side. “They’re hopeful.” On this Valentine’s Day, Americans are searching for ways to celebrate love amid so much heartache and isolation as the coronavirus pandemic stretches past its year anniversary. Some are clinging to hope, seen in the most vulnerable and frontline workers getting vaccinated, in loosening restrictions on restaurants in the hardest hit places, in case numbers starting to wane. But the death toll is still climbing toward a half-million dead in the United States and many remain shut- tered in their homes. Prince said fl orists are scrambling to keep up with the onslaught of orders from people trying to send their love from a safe distance. “We are crushed,” she said. Phones are ringing off the hook at restaurants in cities that have loosened restrictions Fortuna on indoor dining just in time for Valentine’s Day, one of the busiest days of the year for many eateries that have been devastated by shutdowns designed to slow the spread of the virus. In Chicago, the mayor loosened up indoor dining restrictions this week. After limiting restaurants to 25% capacity and 25 people per room, restaurants now must remain at 25% but they can serve as many as 50 per room. The Darling restaurant is fully booked for this weekend and has been for weeks. Sophie Huterstein, the restaurant’s owner, said COVID-19 has allowed the 2-year-old eatery to ac- complish the impossible: make people happy to agree to a 4 p.m. reservation. This image released by NBC shows Dwayne Johnson in ‘Young Rock,’ premiering on Feb 16. (AP) “People are being very fl exible,” she said. They are also this Valentine’s Day willing to do something else over a weekend where the high tem- perature will reach the teens and the low will plummet Television well below zero. “We have 14 greenhouses and people are coming out in full ski gear,” she said. Capacity In New York City, the America Bar restaurant in Actor brings his colorful early life to small screen the West Village is also fully booked for Valentine’s Day with a long waiting list and high demand for the newly allowed 25% capacity for indoor tables, said David Rabin, a partner in the eatery. More seats, along Johnson’s ‘surreal’ look in ‘Young Rock’ with the governor’s decision to allow closing times to move from 10 pm to 11 pm, has allowed him to give LOS ANGELES, Feb 14, (AP): When executive producer for “Young Rock” a straight line to the top for him,” more shifts to his workers. Dwayne Johnson sold the idea for a along with Johnson. “He’s collabora- Khan said. “He’s been knocked down “For us, it’s a welcome gift,” he said. “It’s been great.” TV comedy about his colorful and tive, funny and willing to take chances. a lot and he’s had to pivot off what T Bar NYC Steak and Lounge on the Upper East Side challenging early life to NBC a year So much of comedy is trust ... and I he thought was his dream and fi nd a is also fully booked. Owner Tony Fortuna says some of ago, he was delighted to tell his par- trust him completely.” new dream, a new path. Being able to his customers won’t dine indoors and he understands, but ents that a version of their family was Bradley Constant, who plays the explore those kinds of moments in a for those that have been clamoring to get back to restau- bound for the small screen. teenage Johnson yearning for girls, comedy are really important.” rant dining, 25% is a good start. It gives people a glim- Days later, his father was felled by cool threads and a car, took on his fi rst Johnson proved “down for it all. It mer of normalcy at a heartbreaking time. a blood clot-caused heart attack at age major role with guidance from him. was just about him wanting to portray “It gets everybody motivated, we see a little bit of 75. His loss inevitably altered “Young “He reassured me just to be myself. the people who affected his life in a hope,” he said. “It’s all about perception: you see peo- Rock,” said Johnson, who plays him- He’s a very genuine, normal guy who’s real way,” she said, adding that what’s ple going out and moving around it makes everybody In this Nov 26, 2017 fi le photo, Jay-Z self iin the series debuting 8 p.m. EST lived an incredible life, of course,” said depicted in the series happened or was performs on the 4:44 Tour at Barclays feel in a different mood.” Tuesday. A trio of actors portray John- Constant, who saw the family’s fi nan- inspired by events. In Portland, a couple married 55 years has special Center in New York. Jay-Z made this son’s younger iterations. cial diffi culties as a way to help ground year’s list of nominees to the Rock In refl ecting on the past, Dwayne Valentine’s Day plans. “I get emotional when I talk about him in the role. Johnson said, he’s come to realize the Gil and Mercy Galicia have barely left their home and Roll Hall of Fame. The class of this, when I talk about my dad and 2021 will be announced in May. (AP) “Young Rock” is structured around challenges proved the impetus for real in almost a year since lockdowns began, said their think about it,” Johnson said, pausing Johnson’s depiction as a 2032 presi- growth. daughter, Cris Charbonneau. They had seen their to compose himself. “I had a complex dential candidate — a less time-certain “It became an anchoring factor in close-knit family, three children and six grandchildren relationship with my dad, and he was a move the political independent has my struggle and my determination to, spread across the country. complex man.” considered. Is he preparing America Like many seniors, the year has been especially quite frankly, not be a victim when, The series intended to include the el- for his next chapter? again, we were evicted (from housing) hard on them. They immigrated from the Philippines der Johnson’s highs and lows, but after “I think the people will prepare me. in the 1960s and have lived in their home on a half- when I was 13 or 14,” he said. As he his death his son decided to lean more I can say that,” he replied with a laugh. worked with Khan to fi nd the right ap- acre plot for more than 40 years. fully into his “really uncanny ability to Mercy, 80, is a cancer survivor and has been diag- make anyone feel good.” Flashbacks proach to the show, “I did know in my nosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. Gil, 88, used to With a smile, he recited dad Rocky In the debut episode, he’s inter- heart the most important thing was to go on daily walks at the mall to stay active, but he Johnson’s buoyant greetings, includ- viewed by Randall Park, also playing be authentic and to be OK with ripping hasn’t for a year. He is fearful that the isolation has ing a favorite: “‘Have you been work- himself but as an actor-turned-TV some stories open and ripping some set them back, and he doesn’t know how much longer ing out?’” journalist. Park starred in “Fresh Off past open.” they can manage living on their own. Dwayne Johnson, billed in his daz- the Boat,” which Khan created and That includes his own missteps, “We’re losing years, COVID has stolen this time Scott Stalmaster zling wrestling days as The Rock, like- produced. which Johnson has said included ar- that’s so precious,” Charbonneau said. ly got a share of his skill and ambition As Johnson recalls the past, there rests for fi ghting and theft before he They don’t have a computer. When the vaccine be- from his Nova Scotia-born father, who are fl ashbacks to scenes of him as a was 17. came available, Gil called everywhere and couldn’t held National Wrestling Alliance titles child, played by Adrian Groulx; a high While it’s “extremely surreal” to get through. Charbonneau was on a video call with Variety and was among the fi rst Black champi- schooler (Constant); and young adult, watch his early years unfold in the se- them Thursday and saw a tweet from a local news sta- ons in World Wrestling Entertainment played by Australian actor Uli Latuke- ries, he’s savoring the perspective that tion that the grocery store near their home had opened history. fu. Joseph Lee Anderson and Stacey only time can bring. LOS ANGELES: Lynn Stalmaster, the Even when things were tough, John- appointments online. Oscar-winning casting director whose eye But he may also owe his dad for the Leilua co-star as parents Rocky and She was scrambling to get two appointments. She for talent helped launch the careers of John charm and unforced warmth that make Ata Johnson.