EVERYTHING ENTERTAINMENT

Arts, Music, Movie Reviews, Celebrity News & Events from Cleveland, OH

Another week tailor-made for literary lovers begins this Friday, Oct. 10, with David Sedaris at Playhouse Square, riding the aclaim for his latest compilation of humor, "When You are Engulfed in Flames."

Quirky, gifted Susan Orlean, best known for "The Orchid Thief," will trot out her first picture book, "Lazy Little Loafers" Monday, Oct. 13. In between, two local book stores celebrate the gritty work of Los Angeles poet and novelist Charles Bukowski. Readers can volunteer to participate.

Details of the week ahead in books:

Continue reading "David Sedaris and Susan Orlean lead a splendid week of author visits to Cleveland" »

There's a catfight brewin' on Facebook. Lindsay Lohan and former Sister of the Missing Underpants Paris Hilton are hissing, spitting and clawing at each other on the social networking site. Lohan lashed out at Hilton for starting a group called "Firecrotch," referring to Lohan's red hair. Hilton claims Lohan started it. They both need to be spanked and sat in separate corners until they can play nice.

Click "continue reading" to find out why Tina Fey is laughing all the way to the bank, why Devo's playing Akron, and why Drew Barrymore is loving the single life.

Continue reading "Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton in an online spat; Victoria Beckham goes to extremes for good skin: The Morning After" »

Cable channel AMC will honor Cleveland Heights native Paul Newman and the 35th anniversary of "The Sting" with two showings of the film, at 8 and 10:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13. Co-starring Robert Redford and released in 1973, "The Sting" won seven Academy Awards, including best picture. Newman, who grew up in Shaker Heights and attended Kenyon College, died Friday, Sept. 26, at 83.

His 1961 classic, "The Hustler," will air at 1:15 a.m. and 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, on AMC.

The AMC airings of "The Sting" and "The Hustler" follow the previously announced 24-hour Turner Classics Movie tribute that begins at 6 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 12. "The Sting" and "The Hustler" are two titles not included in the 11-film schedule of Newman films on TCM:

Continue reading "AMC will honor Newman with 'The Sting,' 'The Hustler'" »

Keeping your audience in the dark usually isn't a good thing. The Cleveland Chamber Symphony begged to differ Sunday at the end of their opening concert of the season at Baldwin-Wallace College's Gamble Auditorium.

The lights went out. The ensemble's music director, Steven Smith, began conducting with a flashlight. Stray musical sounds arrived from every corner of the auditorium. Then bouncing orbs, silly string and ping-pong balls descended on the listeners, as if the place had erupted into New Year's Eve jubilation.

The piece was Donald Erb's "Souvenir," an experimental score from 1970 in which the irreverent side of the late Cleveland composer is in full bloom. No two performances of the work can be the same, since the musicians essentially are left to their own devices and an anything-goes atmosphere prevails (especially when the real fun begins).

Continue reading "Ensemble pays tribute to late composer Erb" »

The world is hopping on the Schadenfreude Express following OJ Simpson's conviction Saturday on 12 counts, including kidnapping, armed robbery and burglary. "OJ FOUND GUILTY! GUILTY! GUILTY!" cried the New York Daily News headline. "JUICETICE" blared the New York Post. Fred Goldman, father of murder victim Ron Goldman, did not hold back in his joy, hoping "this SOB" would be imprisoned for the rest of his life. Goldman's lawyers are pouncing to claim every cent Simpson has, including possible salary for prison jobs, to satisfy the civil judgment the family has against Simpson. The jury, angry at whispers of racism, said Simpson's own recorded words did him in.

Click "continue reading" to find out how Anne Hathaway turned her troubles into comedy, why Tyler Perry has reason to celebrate and why Kim Kardashian may be coming back to "Dancing With the Stars."

Continue reading "OJ Simpson facing prison after conviction; Howard Stern ties the knot: The Morning After" »

1. Election Mania!

Good morning, and welcome to Pop 10's Special Election Coverage 2008, or: They can run, and you cannot hide. Tonight, two electile functions vie for your attention. First up, at the Cleveland Public Library at 6 p.m., hear New York Times columnist Frank Rich and Democratic political strategist Donna Brazile discuss "Politics and Propaganda: Designing the President." WCPN's Dan Moulthrop moderates. Free, but reservations are necessary. 216-621-5330.

2. Dueling Pundits

So many pundits, so little time. Also at 6 tonight, at the Town Hall Lecture series
at the Ohio Theater, you can see Weekly Standard editor and New York Times columnist William Kristol and Newsweek columnist Eleanor Clift face off on the 2008 election. Tickets, 216-241-1919.

Continue reading "A plethora of pundits, David Sedaris, Robin Williams and more: It's Pop 10" »

More than 70 years after his untimely death, George Gershwin continues to work his inimitable musical magic. The only American to approach this composer's achievement is Leonard Bernstein, who also made exceptional contributions as conductor and educator (those absorbing Young People's Concerts).

But Gershwin exceeded Bernstein along the Great White Way, turning out score after score - most with his lyricist-brother, Ira - filled with songs that became American classics. A cavalcade of those creations can be heard in "Gershwin and Gershwin," a delectable cabaret show that the effervescent husband-and-wife team of Mark Flanders and Joan Ellison are performing with pianist Jennifer Heemstra this month at Stages, the restaurant at the Cleveland Play House.

Continue reading "A Gershwin show to treasure" »

Art doesn't have to be pretty. It can (and must) tell us things we don't want hear or see, haunt our consciences and provide glimpses into the darkness of life.

The bleak eloquence of Doug Varone's "Alchemy" affords yet another viewpoint amid the despair: the ability of human beings never to give up hope. The theme is encapsulated in this significant new work, whose world premiere Doug Varone and Dancers gave Saturday at E.J. Thomas Hall in Akron.

The piece was commissioned by Thomas Hall and the University of Akron, where Varone and his New York-based company spent last week in residence. Their program Saturday was the season-opening event for DanceCleveland, which helped make the collaboration possible.

Continue reading "Varone's "Alchemy" works its anguished magic" »

Break Up the Concrete
The Pretenders
Shangri-La Music
Akron's preeminent vegetarian restaurateur is back in the music business -- and as always, the great Pretender is following her heart. Backed by a new cast of musicians, Chrissie Hynde gets back to basics with exhilarating results, whether she's belting out a rockabilly rave-up ("Boots of Chinese Plastic") or reminiscing "under the buckeye trees" (via the top-tapping "The Last Ride"). And don't miss her off-the-cuff take on "Rosalee," a bluesy gem by Bob Kidney of 15 60 75 The Numbers Band. In stores Tuesday, Oct. 7. Grade: A-

Continue reading "Chrissie Hynde shines anew on latest Pretenders album, plus reviews of the latest releases from T.I., Robin Thicke and James Taylor" »

Lego Batman: The Videogame

Lego Batman: The Videogame
Xbox 360, E (Everyone), Warner Bros. Interactive

Bruce Wayne, better known as the Dark Knight, the Caped Crusader or simply Batman takes his turn in the wacky world of Lego action games. We've seen what the Lego treatment entails and it's usually entertaining. The Star Wars franchise and the Indiana Jones franchise, which already got the Lego treatment, have more focused stories. With Batman, the question is which iteration of the character would be the major influence -- the comics, the 60's TV show, or the big screen adaptations from the past 20 years.

"Lego Batman" does a nice job of representing all of these aspects in a family friendly manner.

The creators took a slightly different approach from previous Lego adventures in deciding how users can play. Instead of breaking the game up according to the movies, they chose to allow users to play as heroes - Batman, Robin and Batgirl - or as one of the many villains - Joker , The Riddler, Mr. Freeze, and Poison Ivy, for example.

Continue reading "Video game reviews: 'Lego Batman: The Videogame,' 'Armored Core for Answer,' 'Buzz: Master Quiz,' 'Crysis: Warhead' and 'Baja: Edge of Control'" »