Follow Me Down the Red Carpet for the Queen Of Katwe Premiere #QueenOfKatweEvent

Pixie dust has reached my inbox and next week I’ll be hopping off a plane at LAX with a dream and my cardigan.  Well, maybe not a cardigan, but YES!  I’m going to Los Angeles with 24 remarkable bloggers to walk the red carpet at the Queen Of Katwe premiere!  This is my fourth time attending such a grand event and I’m honored to have been asked!  Follow along on social media with the hashtags mentioned and experience the amazing adventure right there with us!

#QueenOfKatweEvent

Our adventures start Monday, September 19 when we arrive in LA and check into the “Hotel of the Stars,” Sheraton Universal Hotel and await old and new friends.  Then it’s off to Walt Disney Studios for a pre-screening reception wit the African-American Disney Resource Group for dinner and drinks.  On this first night we actually get to screen Queen Of Katwe for the first time.

“Queen Of Katwe” is based on the vibrant true story of a young girl from the streets of rural Uganda whose world rapidly changes when she is introduced to the game of chess, and, as a result of the support she receives from her family and community, is instilled with the confidence and determination she needs to pursue her dream of becoming an international chess champion.

Here’s the trailer for you to see, I’ve just noticed seeing it on television and it gives me the good chills every time!  Queen Of Katwe opens in select theaters on September 23rd; everywhere on September 30th!

#ABCTVEvent #OnceUponATime

Tuesday starts off an unforgettable day by first jumping in a van and heading to the ABC Building for an exciting Once Upon a Time event!  We will be getting a sneak preview of the Once Upon a Time Season 6 Premiere, “The Savior,” which will be followed by a Q&A with co-creators and executive producers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz!  This is unreal, my husband and I have always wanted to get into this program and I’m thinking now is better than never! The show is returning to ABC for its sixth season, Sunday, September 25 (8:00–9:00 p.m. EDT).

Welcome to Storybrooke, a small town in Maine that you won’t find on any map. This town is full of magic, populated by fairytale characters once cursed by the Evil Queen Regina to live in our world—deprived of their memories and happy endings. Until Emma Swan came to town and changed everything. With the help of her son, Henry, Emma embraced her true identity as the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming—the Savior destined to break the Curse. But even after returning everyone’s memories, Emma’s mission was far from over. With the Curse broken, Mr. Gold (aka Rumplestiltskin) was free to bring magic to Storybrooke. And magic ALWAYS comes with a price…

Once Upon a Time” stars Ginnifer Goodwin as Snow White/Mary Margaret, Jennifer Morrison as Emma Swan, Lana Parrilla as the Evil Queen/Regina, Josh Dallas as Prince Charming/David, Emilie de Ravin as Belle, Colin O’Donoghue as Hook, Jared S. Gilmore as Henry Mills, Rebecca Mader as the Wicked Witch/Zelena and Robert Carlyle as Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold.

#QueenOfKatweEvent

Press Day begins with lunch and I’m so thrilled to announce that we will be meeting the real life inspirations for the Queen Of Katwe, Phiona Mutesi and Robert Katende for a rare group interview!  It doesn’t stop there because then we’ll interview Madina Nalwanga (who plays Phiona), Martin Kabanza (Phiona’s brother Brian Mugabi in the movie), the Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o (Harriet Mutesi), Selma’s star David Oyelowo (Robert Katende), and movie director Mira Nair!  Following the interviews, we’re heading back to the hotel to spiffy up for the Red Carpet and the Queen Of Katwe premiere!  I may also need a glass of wine to relax and prepare me for the night.  I mean, how often do you get to walk down Hollywood Boulevard with dozens of celebrities then enter the El Capitan Theatre with them to watch the Queen Of Katwe?!  If that doesn’t knock your socks off, after the movie we will venture to the Hard Rock Cafe with those same celebrities and the cast for the premiere party.  Is this real life, or just fantasy?  Wow, just wow!

#ABCTVEvent #AmericanHousewife

The fun definitely doesn’t stop there.  Wednesday morning we are up bright and early and we’re on our way to visit the set of ABC’s new comedy American Housewife as well as some cool behind-the-scenes action!  Now, I just watched the screener of the first episode and I totally laughed to tears.  The one-liners, the parent-child relationship, this is my kind of comedy and if you love Modern Family, The Middle, and Black-ish as much as I do, then this is a perfect addition to your favorites!  I loved Diedrich Bader from the Drew Carey Show days and he is so funny in this, I’ve already set my DVR to record the series!  The show premieres Tuesday, October 11 at 8:30/7:30c. 

Katie Otto, a confident, unapologetic wife and mother of three, raises her flawed family in the wealthy town of Westport, Connecticut, filled with “perfect” mommies and their “perfect” offspring. Katie’s perfectly imperfect world is upended when her neighbor’s decision to move notches her up from her ideal social standing and sets her on a path to ensure that doesn’t happen, regardless of the consequences.  Watch the trailer:

#ABCTVEvent #TheMiddle

Speaking of The Middle, to round out our super exciting three days, we are going on set and behind-the-scenes of a show that we love to watch as a family!  I mean, I still have Sue’s graduation episode saved on my DVR as my oldest just graduated from high school.  It’s a combination of laughing to tears, and just plain tearing up at some of the reality of this great show!   The Middle premieres Tuesday, October 11 at 8/7c.

Two-time Emmy-winner Patricia Heaton stars in this warm and witty single-camera comedy about raising a family and lowering your expectations. Middle-aged, middle class and living in the middle of the country in Orson, Indiana, Frankie Heck is a harried wife and mother of three who uses her wry wit and sense of humor to get her family through each day intact. Frankie works as a dental assistant, and her unflappable husband, Mike, is manager at the local quarry and her sardonic partner in the daily grind that is raising their average – yes, most definitely average – family.

#ABCTVEvent #TheRealONeals

JUST ADDED to our itin!  We will be visiting the set of The Real O’Neal’s and getting a house tour!  The Real O’Neals will premiere October 11 at a new time, Tuesdays at 9:30/8:30c on ABC!

The O’Neal family continues its journey of self-discovery and growth, resulting from Kenny coming out and his parents, Eileen and Pat, getting divorced. After finally coming out, Kenny will discover that life outside the closet isn’t that easy. Luckily for him, his older brother, Jimmy, will always be there to offer his often-misguided advice. And finally, there’s Shannon, the youngest O’Neal, whose unique views on life make her wise beyond her years. Eileen and Pat will continue to deal with starting their separate lives while still living under the same roof. Through it all, Aunt Jodi will be there offering her unusual brand of support, as the O’Neals continue to explore new relationships, friendships and acceptance of one another in the next, messier chapter of their lives.

This trip is going to be epic and many thanks to Disney for hosting me on this all-expenses paid adventure.  Stay tuned to those great hashtags and follow along on my social media to feel like you’re right along side me!