Comedian Frank De Lima just launched his annual Student Enrichment Program — it began this past Friday at Holomua Elementary School — and his message will be “Get Smarter, Get Healthier, Get Kinder.” He’ll tour 120 schools this academic year.
And Bruno Mars, Cardi B, Auli‘i Cravalho and Nicky Jam will be along for the ride … via their hit tunes, anyway.
De Lima has completed writing lyrics to the new crop of parodies of pop hits to enrich his ongoing mission, established in 1980 and incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1995. The program provides guidance on issues confronting youths — from peer pressure to drug abuse, from nutrition to life choices — and utilizes De Lima’s comedic skills and musical parodies to relay the message.
So he’s assembled new lyrics to familiar tunes, including a trio of iconic Mars hits: “Just the Way You Are,” “24K Magic” and “That’s What I Like.” Utilizing tracks, he’s also given makeovers to the “Moana” hit tune, “How Far I’ll Go,” Cardi B’s “I Like It,” plus the 2018 FIFA World Cup Theme Song, “Live It Up,” by Nicky Jam featuring Will Smith and Era Istrefi.
“I will be picking and choosing what songs I will be doing for each visit,” he said, so the playlists will vary depending on the schools. The reimagined lyrics are linked to his smarter, healthier, kinder theme.
But longtime faves, like the “Peanut Butter and Jelly Song” and “Going on a Buta (Pig) Hunt” skit, will be rendered for youths from kindergarten through third grade.
Because De Lima won’t be seen or heard in public performances until the Christmas holiday season, Hawaii youths will be the first audiences to hear his latest parade of parodies. …
On a separate note, De Lima shared a tidbit about a baffling itch problem.
“One morning, I got up with welts on my head and left forehead. They were big-sized welts. I thought to myself, wow, the mosquito were bumboocha buggahs,” he said.
“The welts didn’t go away and itched every so often, so I thought maybe it was spider bite. I got my flashlight and searched for webs, and found none.”
He showed the welts to his two aides; both suggested bedbugs. “I said, no can; I would have red dots all over my body, not big head welts.”
“It was diagnosed as shingles,” said De Lima after a visit to an urgent care unit. Thus, the saga of the mega mosquito, the daddy long-legs spider and the bedbugs were crushed. A new parody, perhaps? …
ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE
Yep, the aforementioned Mars will do a third Aloha Stadium concert Nov. 8, preceding the pair of sold-out shows Nov. 10 and 11. The persistent buzz on No. 3 preceded the formal announcement last week, with tickets now on sale — if still available — only via Ticketmaster (no in-person buying at the box office).
Surely, Mars is a megastar who can fill the house again. But insiders hint the costly stage design that will be utilized costs $250,000 to rent and an additional $250,000 to ship (nine trailer-loads), so the maximum usage makes sense to amortize costs.
Next question: Could a fourth show be added, or perhaps, another major-name act tapped, to further justify the investment on that mammoth stage? Hmmm …
SAVING GRACE
Grace Park, formerly of CBS’ “Hawaii Five-0,” will be a regular on ABC’s Boston-set “A Million Little Things,” replacing Anne Son as lawyer Katherine, and joining James Roday (“Psych”), David Giuntoli (“Grimm”), Ron Livingston (“Office Space”) and Romany Malco (“Weeds”). It’s a Wednesday series, anchored in Vancouver (where she resides, so it must be a happy match), but a launch date for filming or airing has not been announced. …
And that’s “Show Biz.” …
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist. Reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com.
