Publishers Weekly Show daily #1 (considered "The Bible of the Book World" as is Billboard to the Music world) printed the article below, the opening day of BEA 2000. Thanks to MarketAbility
Cher and Cher Alike
What's the bond that connects Cher, Tina Turner, Madonna and the Pope? No, They are not planning a quartet with the fewest names among them- at least not in the way you might think. Instead think "celebrity impersonators."
All four real-life notables are represented by look-alikes at BEA this year, and these imposters are among the 101 different impersonators whose visages look out from the pages of Made You Look: Who Do You Look Like? by Denise Bella Vlasis. Published by the newly created Thrillennium Books (SP116), the book is by the Madonna impersonator herself, while the publisher, Hollie Vest, portrays Tina Turner.
How in the world does one become a celebrity impersonator? "I was a performer , a dancer with a scholarship, looking for work," says Vlasis, who stumbled upon her calling in 1984. "MTV was the new hot thing, and when i'd go out on interviews, people kept saying, 'You know who you remind me of?'" It was Madonna, of course, whose Like a Virgin was the hot video of the moment.
The public is fascinated by celebrities, says Vlasis, because they seem to live glamorous lives that the rest of us can only glimpse.
Made You Look was one of the most talked about and exciting book events at Book Expo America 2000 held in Chicago, June 2,3 & 4
The book cover was brought to life right before everyone's eyes. Throughout the three day BEA event, Gene Greytak as Pope John Paul II, Sandra Wood as Cher, the Publisher - Hollie Vest as Tina, and the Author - Denise Bella Vlasis as Madonna, were asked to strike a pose for the cameras by BEA attendees.
People lined up for the author signing on Saturday, June 3, at the distributors booth at BEA. Rumor has it, Bella and her sidekicks signed more books than the real Julie Andrews. Fact or fiction?
Did you see the April 4, 2000 of the National Examiner? Made You Look was featured in a "Famous Faces and Famous Farces" quiz. The Made You Look celebrity look-alike impersonators featured in this issue were as follows: Michael Clayton as Robin Williams, Gene Greytak as Pope John Paul II, Sandra Wood as Cher, the Publisher - Hollie Vest as Tina, and the Author - Denise Bella Vlasis as Madonna.
Philly After Midnight, the top entetainment program in Philliphida, did a feature segment on Gene Greytak as Pope John Paul II, Sandra Wood as Cher, the Publisher - Hollie Vest as Tina, and the Author - Denise Bella Vlasis as Madonna, and the book, Made You Look on Febauray 24, 2000
Bella was featured on the syndicated game show "To Tell the Truth", which aired September 18, 2000 on K-CAL Channel 9 in LA. Bella managed to fool 2 of the panelist. YOU GO GIRL!
(Thanks to MarketAbility)
October 13, 2000 -Book Promotion at the Cutting Room, Manhatten, New York.
The Made You Look representives that attended were the Pope - Gene Greytak, Whoppi - Bettina Williams, Robert DeNiro - Joe Manuella, Joe Pecsi - Mario Occichone, Cher - Devon Cass, and Tina Turner - Hollie Vest, the Publisher.
October 21-22, 2000-New Orleans Book Promotion featured live performances by Heidi Thompson as Cher, and the Publisher-Hollie Vest as Tina Turner in the French Quarter at Tower Records and the 735 Burbon Street Nightclub. New Orleans News ABC Channel 26 Featured the Tower Record's performance and promotion in their "New Orleans In-A-Minute" section
October 31, 2000-New York Book Promotion on Fox and Friends, morning news featured The Made You Look representives: Marcel Foresteri - Regis Philbin, Joe Manuella - Robert DeNiro, Mario Occichone - Joe Pecsi, and Hollie Vest - Tina Turner, the Publisher. (Thanks to MarketAbility)
October Issue Las Vegan Magazine- Reviewed Made You Look and featured web site.
November 2000, The national magazine, "Women's Own" is running a nationwide Look-Alike contest in conjunction with Thrillennium Books. Photographs and excerpts from Made You Look are featured in this issues. (Thanks to MarketAbility)
