Foo Fighters sell out Charlotte gig in seconds

There are a whole lot of disappointed and disgruntled Foo Fighters fans in and around Charlotte today. And a couple thousand elated ones.

Foo Fighters announced Monday a rare club show would take place during the week of the Democratic National Convention next month, and at 10 a.m. Tuesday, tickets went on sale for $63 apiece. By 10:01, they were gone. All of them.

The concert, a benefit for Rock The Vote, is set for 9 p.m. on Sept. 5 at The Fillmore Charlotte.

Foo Fighters were in Charlotte last November. At the time, they played uptown's Time Warner Cable Arena; close to 15,000 fans showed up to see the rock band's hotly anticipated Wasting Light World Tour. So it's no surprise Dave Grohl & Co. sold out the Fillmore -- which holds 2,000 folks -- in record time.

So it's now officially the hottest ticket in town ... but if you scored tickets, scalping them won't be easy: Tickets are non-transferrable and can only be picked up at will call on the night of the show. To get your tickets, you'll have to present a valid ID plus the credit card you used to buy them.

Among those who weren't fast enough Tuesday morning: The Observer's pop culture writer and the Observer's music writer (both of whom typically have access to review tickets). Even the director of marketing and promotions for the Fillmore had to "get in line" with everyone else -- and he ultimately came away empty-handed, too.

See an advance screening of 'Premium Rush'!

The Charlotte Observer is partnering with Columbia Pictures on the promotional screening of the upcoming action film "Premium Rush," starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt as one of New York City’s best bicycle messengers whose routine "premium rush" run turns into a life or death chase through the streets of Manhattan.

Here's the synopsis of the film from Columbia Pictures: "Dodging speeding cars, crazed cabbies and eight million cranky pedestrians is all in a day’s work for Wilee (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), the best of New York's agile and aggressive bicycle messengers. It takes a special breed to ride the fixie – super lightweight, single-gear bikes with no brakes and riders who are equal part skilled cyclists and nutcases who risk becoming a smear on the pavement every time they head into traffic. But a guy who’s used to putting his life on the line is about to get more than even he is used to when his last envelope of the day – a routine “premium rush” run – turns into a life or death chase through the streets of Manhattan."

"Premium Rush" also stars Michael Shannon, Dania Ramirez and Jamie Chung and will open in theaters nationwide on Friday, August 24, 2012. The trailer can be viewed on the film's official site: www.PremiumRush.com.

The Charlotte Observer has 80 pairs of passes for the promotional screening, which is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 23 at 7 p.m. E-mail CLT@charlotteobserver.com to claim a pair (first-come, first-served).

Target unveils $999 gold 'Hunger Games' pin

"The Hunger Games" lands on DVD and Blu-ray on Saturday, Aug. 18, but Target is banking on superfans being interested in far shinier objects than just the movie itself.

A special collection of keepsakes and an exclusive three-disc version of the film with never-before-seen video from the movie set will be introduced to coincide with the home-video release.

The keepsakes, available in very limited quantities exclusively on Target.com, include: 14-carat gold replicas of heroine Katniss Everdeen’s famed Mockingjay pin (the story’s symbol of rebellion), with 100 available at $999 each; leather replicas of Katniss’ hunting jacket, with 100 available at $349 each; and “The Hunger Games” lithographs autographed by 10 top cast members including Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson, with 100 available for $699 each. The premium items will be introduced one per day beginning on Aug. 18.

Meanwhile, Target’s deluxe edition of “The Hunger Games” on DVD and Blu-ray features a collectible case and 45 minutes of exclusive content, including personal video diaries filmed by seven of the movie’s key Tributes and interviews with the cast about the experience. The special DVD ($20.99) and Blu-ray ($25.99) are available for preorder now at Target.com/HungerGames.

Target is also offering an extensive assortment of additional merchandise inspired by “The Hunger Games” -- from backpacks and lunch boxes for the back-to-school season to jewelry, pillow cases and life-size cardboard cut-outs of movie characters Katniss, Peeta and Gale. The merchandise is available at Target stores and Target.com, ranging price from $6.99 to $37.99.

"The Hunger Games" was filmed in North Carolina in 2011, and grossed $683 million worldwide at the box office.

U.S. Olympic dream teamers are Charlotte-bound

This isn't new news, but it's news worth repeating given the fact that interest in gymnastics and U.S. stars like Gabby Douglas is at its zenith this week: Members of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team will headline an all-star cast during the Kellogg's Tour of Gymnastics Champions, set to swing into Charlotte's Time Warner Cable Arena on Friday, Oct. 26.

2012 Olympians currently scheduled to participate in the Kellogg’s Tour are: all-around gold medalist Gabby Douglas of Virginia Beach, Va.; all-around finalist Aly Raisman of Needham, Mass.; McKayla Maroney of Long Beach, Calif.; Jordyn Wieber of DeWitt, Mich.; and Kyla Ross of Aliso Viejo, Calif.

Tickets are on sale through timewarnercablearena.com, ticketmaster.com, the arena box office, all Ticketmaster outlets (including select Wal-Mart stores) or charge by phone at 800-745-3000. Gym clubs and groups of 10 or more should call 704-688-9047 to reserve their seats.

Below is the complete list of athletes scheduled to perform during the Kellogg’s Tour of Champions. Due to athletes’ schedules and personal commitments, the cast will vary from stop to stop. The cast of gymnastics champions will be joined by local gymnasts at each tour stop.


Women’s Artistic Gymnasts

• Rebecca Bross – Plano, TX/WOGA. 2010 World Championships Team silver medalist; six-time World medalist

• Gabby Douglas – Virginia Beach, VA/Chow’s Gymnastics. 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials champion and 2011 World Championships Team gold medalist

• Brenna Dowell – Odessa, MO/ Great American Gymnastics Express. 2010 Pan Am Championships team gold medalist

• Sarah Finnegan – St. Louis, MO/ Great American Gymnastics Express. 2012 U.S. Olympic Team replacement athlete; 2010 Pan Am Championships team gold medalist

• Anna Li – Aurora, IL/Legacy Elite Gymnastics. 2012 U.S. Olympic Team replacement athlete; 2012 U.S. uneven bars bronze medalist

• Nastia Liukin – Parker, TX/WOGA Gymnastics. 2008 Olympic all-around champion; five-time Olympic medalist

• McKayla Maroney – Long Beach, CA/All Olympia. 2012 U.S. Olympic Team member; 2011 World vault and team gold medalist

• Chellsie Memmel – West Allis, WI/M&M Gymnastics. 2008 Olympic Team silver medalist; World gold medalist in all-around, team (twice), uneven bars

• Elizabeth Price – Coopersburg, PA/ Parkettes National Gymnastics Center. 2012 U.S. Olympic Team replacement athlete; 2011 City of Jesolo Trophy team gold medalist

• Aly Raisman – Needham, MA/Brestyan’s Gymnastics. 2012 U.S. Olympic Team member; 2011 World floor floor bronze medalist and team gold medalist

• Kyla Ross – Aliso Viejo, CA/ Gym-Max. 2012 U.S. Olympic Team member; 2012 Kellogg’s Pacific Rim team gold medalist

• Alicia Sacramone – Winchester, MA/Brestyan’s American Gymnastics. 2011 World team gold medalist; 2008 Olympic team silver medalist; 10 career World medals

• Sabrina Vega – Carmel, NY/Dynamic Gymnastics. 2011 World Championships team gold medalist

• Jordyn Wieber – DeWitt, MI/Twistars USA. 2012 U.S. Olympic Team member; 2011 World all-around and team gold medalist, balance beam bronze medalist

Men's Artistic Gymnasts

• Chris Brooks – Houston, TX/Team Hilton HHonors (Cypress Academy of Gymnastics). 2012 U.S. Olympic Team replacement athlete; 2012 Kellogg’s Pacific Rim Championships all-around and team gold medalist

• Alex Buscaglia – Stanford, CA/Stanford University. 2010 Pan Am Championships Team gold medalist

• Jake Dalton – Reno, NV/University of Oklahoma. 2012 U.S. Olympic Team member; 2011 World Championships team bronze medalist

• Jonathan Horton – Houston, TX/Team Hilton HHonors (Cypress Academy of Gymnastics). 2012 U.S. Olympic Team member; 2010 World all-around bronze medalist; 2008 Olympic team bronze medalist and horizontal bar silver medalist

• Glen Ishino - Santa Ana, CA/University of California-Berkeley. 2010 Pan Am Games team gold medalist

• Steven Legendre – Port Jefferson, NY/Team Hilton HHonors (University of Oklahoma). 2012 U.S. Olympic Team replacement athlete; 2011 World Championships team bronze

• Alex Naddour – Gilbert, AZ/Team Hilton HHonors (USA Youth Fitness Center). 2012 U.S. Olympic Team replacement athlete; 2011 World Championships Team bronze medalist

• John Orozco – Bronx, NY/Team Hilton HHonors (U.S. Olympic Training Center). 2012 U.S. Olympic Team member; 2012 U.S. all-around champion; 2011 World Championships team bronze

• Paul Ruggeri - Manlius, NY/University of Illinois. 2011 Pan Am Games team bronze medalist and high bar champion

• Brandon Wynn - Voorhees, NJ/Team Hilton HHonors (Ohio State University). 2011 Pan Am Games team bronze medalist and still rings gold medalist

'Bachelorette': Goodbye Charlotte, hello narcissism

Boy, it’s a good thing ABC moved production of “The Bachelorette” to Charlotte this season. The flight to Bermuda is a lot shorter from CLT than it is from LAX.

After what seemed to amount to a couple of nights in Emily Maynard’s hometown, where producers agreed to set up shop to accommodate their new star’s desire to minimize disruption in her 6-year-old daughter’s life, host Chris Harrison gleefully tells the 13 remaining bachelors at the beginning of Monday night’s episode: “Pack your bags because you’ll be leaving this mansion forever!”

 “Emily has already left Charlotte,” he says, and is playing croquet, flying kites and spinning around on a hilltop in paradise with Ricki, having what appears to be much more fun than she’s had with any of her suitors.

This week involves three dates:

• A one-on-one date with Doug in which they go boutique shopping, sample cakes, try perfumes, making us wonder whether he is the perfect boyfriend or a gigantic sycophant. At dinner, he tells Emily his greatest flaws are that he spends too much time with his son and won’t wash her car very often, so we are leaning heavily toward the latter. He gets a rose anyway.

• A group date involving Arie, Jef, Kalon and Ryan, who narrowly defeat Charlie, Chris, Sean and Travis in a urinating contest disguised as a sailboat race. Arie gets to make out on the beach with her, Jef doesn’t, Kalon must have articulated nothing of interest at all in Bermuda because he gets almost zero screen time, Ryan gets his share of screen time and then some while babbling platitudes about depth and good timing and communication skills (in speeches that lead us to believe he has none of the above). Emily gives Jef the rose, perhaps to keep Arie from getting too big a head.

• A two-on-one date involving a guy whose nickname is “Wolf” and a kid named Nate. Neither do much that’s memorable beyond turning their noses up at quinoa, then Emily flips a mental coin and sends Nate on his way.

The biggest trend emerging is that apparently crying is a bad omen. Charlie cries in the van on the way back to the hotel after his team’s loss (my mind reels as it tries to comprehend why); he does not get a rose and is sent home. Nate cries while telling Emily about his awesome brother (why his bro is awesome isn’t clear); he does not get a rose and is sent home. Michael cries after he is eliminated, although maybe it’s just because his ponytail is too tight.

Meanwhile, Chris – who has a superiority complex because he’s the most mature 25-year-old on the planet – gets annoyed at Doug. Doug – who has a superiority complex because he’s the only dad in the group – gets annoyed with Arie. Arie – who has a superiority complex because he’s fairly level-headed and most of the other guys are toolbags – gets annoyed at Ryan. And Ryan … well, Ryan has a superiority complex, too. Titanic-sized one. But see, he's just doing his due diligence. As he does his due diligence, Ryan says things like “I personally feel like God has blessed me in a lot of ways. I’m romantic, I’m athletic and a charming guy, all those things.”

And “I guess guys do see me at the head of the pack, a guy they have to beat out. Sometimes actually I feel sorry for them.” And “I’m a good catch, and I think that other guys see that.”

Next week, the group heads to London, where Emily gets angry at someone and tells them to “Get the ---- out.” Please, please, PLEASE let it be Ryan.

Hey, ladies: Want to be on 'The Bachelor'?

To all the women out there who have been watching Emily Maynard this season on "The Bachelorette" and longing to follow in her footsteps (i.e. look for love under the watchful eye of millions of Americans): Time to show casting directors for the series what you've got.

From 5-9 p.m. Thursday, the Suite nightclub in uptown's EpiCentre (210 E. Trade St.) will host open casting calls for the upcoming season of "The Bachelor" on ABC.

All applicants must be 21 years or older, and cannot be involved in a committed intimate relationship. Duh.

To get a jump start on the casting process, click here. Otherwise, just show up looking your best. Or -- if this season of "The Bachelorette" provides any insight -- maybe bring an ostrich egg. Or dress up as an old man. You never know what ABC (or the guy of your dreams) will fall for...

Justin Bieber tickets on sale Saturday

It seems too early to be making plans for 2013 already, but if you're a Justin Bieber fan, and you're hoping to see him perform in Charlotte next January, this is the weekend to start making your plans.

Tickets for Bieber's "Believe Tour" -- which stops at Time Warner Cable Arena on Jan. 22 -- go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday through timewarnercablearena.com, ticketmaster.com, the arena box office, all Ticketmaster outlets (including select Wal-Mart stores), and charge by phone at 800-745-3000.

A few things to note about the show:

Carly Rae Jepsen is scheduled to open. She's got the biggest hit of the spring to her credit right now -- "Call Me Maybe." Once it gets stuck in your head, you can't get it out of there for days.

It's a school night (Jan. 22 is a Tuesday), so kids, plan to be up past your regular bedtime.

Also, tickets are $82.15 for upper level seats and $99.05 for lower level and floor seats, if you're wondering how significantly his concert is going to break your piggy bank. 

If you are a truly hardcore Bieber fan (and most are -- people either love him or hate him), you can go for the Justin Bieber VIP Meet & Greet Experience. Cost is $425, includes a premium reserved seat, exclusive Bieber merchandise, a souvenir program or photobook, the meet and greet, a photo opportunity with Justin, and an autographed vinyl copy of his new album. Not his phone number, though. Sorry, girls.