When we first wrote about singer-composer Bruno Mars months ago and revealed that he was part Pinoy, a number of movie buffs told us that they were pleasantly surprised. Indeed, Bruno?s current popularity on the global music scene is a big psychic boost, despite the momentary glitch of his recent run-in with the law over drug charges?which he seems to have survived with his popularity relatively unscathed.

Fact is, Bruno keeps going from strength to strength. The latest feather in his cap is his feat at the Grammys, where he?s clinched an impressive seven nominations.

He has two nominations for Record of the Year, for ?Nothin? On You? and ?Forget You.? He and his cocreators have also been cited for Best Rap Song collaboration, and his interpretation of ?Just The Way You Are? has gotten him a citation for Best Pop Vocal Performance.

Some weeks ago, Bruno was the featured artist in a mini-concert on the ?Today? show?a signal honor and recognition of his current popularity.

Bruno has written hit songs not only for himself, but also for Flo Rida and Sugababes. Only 25 years old, the Filipino-Puerto Rican sensation is clearly headed for even headier stellar destinations all the way up to stratospheric and even ?Martian? heights!

Local TV-film comers

On the local entertainment scene, one of the hot, young comers to watch is Solenn Heusaff. The singer, VJ and model is bent on making waves as an actress as well, and was effectively launched on ?Survivor Philippines-Celebrity Edition,? where she ended up among the Top Three ?survivors.? It also hasn?t hurt her fledgling career that, this early, she?s being linked to Richard Gutierrez.

Competing in the ?Survivor? challenge was an exceedingly gruelling way to launch her career, but now that the ordeal is finally over, Solenn can console herself with the realization that it has made her more popular.

Now, the big question is, does she have what it takes to fascinate and delight viewers for the long term, instead of just being local show biz?s flavor of the month or year?

?Celebrity Survivor? grand champion Akihiro Sato?s career is similarly on the upswing after his victory, but his prospects are being limited, we trust temporarily, by his ?language problem.? That may be the most difficult challenge for him to surmount, but deal with it he must, or else his career could end up going nowhere, fast.

A third local comer, Alodia Gosiengfiao, now cohosts a ?prank? show with Luis Manzano?a good break, especially for one so new.
Before ?going TV,? Alodia was a Cosplay sensation with a fan base not just here but also in other Asian countries?thanks to her gamin, kewpie-doll, Asian looks and projection.