Mostly Entertainment 

As a Neil Diamond fan, well, I couldn't be more thrilled to read that his latest album ended up at #1 on the charts this week. "Home Before Dark" is more acoustically driven than you might like, but damn, that dude has a way with words! Listen to the snippets on iTunes, and then buy the damn thing if you only like one song because the rest will grow on you.

May 14, 2008 7:59 PM

I've had some things that won't seem to go away, like a bottle of shampoo that always seems to be empty yet gives me just enough shampoo to wash my hair, but who would have thought that a light bulb would live longer than the time between The Chicago Cubs World Series wins? In Livermore, CA, there is a lightbulb that is 107 years old. It was first screwed in, in 1901. So many more Cubs fans have been screwed since then.

May 9, 2008 7:02 PM

The rumor-mill, at least one of the biggest in Hollywood (Nikki Finke), is stating that "Speed Racer" is going to have a hell of a time trying to beat the hero that has become "Iron Man." You know what also sucks for the "Speed Racer" box office? Since it's PG, well, those little squirts under 12 usually get a discount. Weekend box office is based on dollars "Speed Racer" has to double-up on the kids to get it, though a lot of parents are stating "Iron Man" isn't that bad for the 8+ crowd.

May 9, 2008 6:38 PM

Every headline about this story has to simply preface it with "Hulk Hogan's son" because other than family and friends, there probably isn't a soul who knows who Nick Bollea is. Sadly Nick recklessly drove, his friend is injured for life, so eight months really won't be Nick's sentence.

May 9, 2008 6:25 PM

I won't give it up right now, but damn, between the immunity idols and the immunity necklace, this might just be the best season for stupid people on "Survivor" ever. One person was smart, but the looks on the faces of everyone else told the story of tonight's episode. This is exactly why I love this show.

May 8, 2008 8:35 PM

When I was growing up I always heard Rule #1 in the drug trade was simply "Don't get high on your own supply." After reading a story about a bunch of students at San Diego State University getting arrested for their drug ring, including some members of fraternities (don't call them frats), Theta Chi and Phi Kappa Psi, I'm thinking Rule #2 should be "Never use text messaging to announce an inventory reduction sale."

May 6, 2008 6:30 PM

The Police, the band not law enforcement, announced they are splitting up, again, at the end of this year's tour, and intend to play their last concert in New York City some time in August, at somewhere to be determined. The will be the last time Sting, Stewart, and Andy play together, until, well, the next time.

May 6, 2008 6:10 PM

So it looks like Ryan Reynolds, also known in the movie world as "Van Wilder," popped the question to his girlfriend, the dream of every man, Scarlett Johansson, and wouldn't you know it, she is reported to have said "Yes." Dorky dudes all around the world are probably crying their eyes out because Van Wilder is cool, and most of us are stuck at being Taj.

May 5, 2008 8:13 PM

The numbers are in and it looks like "Iron Man" is a blockbuster smash! The numbers say it did over $100 million in the United States, did almost another $100 million outside of the United States, and everyone is loving Robert Downey Jr. who returns later this summer in "The Incredible Hulk," and also as a black man in "Tropic Thunder." This might be the summer of Mr. Downey Jr., and not in old ways we used to here about him.

May 4, 2008 7:26 PM

It's just another reason why I try not be a gambling man because prior to The Kentucky Derby I looked at the horses and said to myself, "Self, if I were betting man, who would I put the money on? I like the name "Big Truck" and "Z Fortune." Good enough for me!" I had the wrong "Big" as "Big Brown" won. The crappy part, "Eight Belles" had to be put down.

May 3, 2008 5:16 PM

So Ellen DeGeneres is coming to Chicago to tape her talk show on May 3rd, but why is it that when other talk-show folks come to town they camp out here for a week for at least a week of shows. I mean, it's nice she's visiting The Windy City, but come on, all she can pull off is one day of taping?

May 2, 2008 5:59 PM

In a story that just makes you want to say "Duh," the bosses at "American Idol" have no plan to get rid of Paula Abdul, even after her guffaw last week. Come on, like they could ever find someone like Paula to take her place. Right now, with the singers that are left, Paula is almost the only reason to keep watching.

May 2, 2008 5:43 PM

The first of the "Speed Racer" reviews are starting to trickle in, and it's not looking that great for Speed, Trixie, and Chim Chim. Being rated PG it will probably make a lot of money no matter any of the reviews because sometimes you just need a movie to take your kids to see.

May 2, 2008 5:35 PM

So last night on "American Idol" Paula Abdul somehow referenced a second song that wasn't sung yet, and it wasn't even a "Song, Sung, Blue" even though it was Neil Diamond night. And how do you get yourself out of an "American Idol" jam? Why you call Ryan Seacrest's radio show, of course, and for Paula, she says it was a mistake and she was confused. Is anyone surprised?

April 30, 2008 6:26 PM

I am still perplexed about this story about the inflatable pig Roger Waters "lost" during his concert at Coachella, especially since he also "lost" one during a show I saw back in 2006 in Tinley Park, IL. Sure, this one showed Roger was supporting Barack Obama, but the happy part of this story was that a $10,000 bounty was offered for the return of the pig, and a couple of neighbors found it in their yards, in La Quinta, CA. My question is how did the pig get shredded, and will Rush Limbaugh take credit for its shredding.

April 30, 2008 6:14 PM

Sure, David Blaine's dream might not have been as ambitious as someone like Martin Luther King, Jr., but when you have one, you might as well try to make it a reality. Martin Luther King, Jr. dreamt that his "four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."; David Blaine dreamt about holding his breath over 17 minutes. Blaine might try to shoot for a higher goal.

April 30, 2008 6:02 PM

The story states that the Reverend Al Sharpton is rallying people to close down New York City because three police officers were acquitted in shooting an "unarmed, innocent civilian" as the story also states. Dear Rev. Sharpton, maybe than riling up a neighborhood, head to the Police Academy, get in shape, and strap on a vest and a holster while looking for the bad guys, rather than getting on TV.

April 26, 2008 7:07 PM

As a movie reviewer on our sister site I do love the movie knowledge that Roger Ebert has that I, well, don't, and I always loved making my determination of ranking a movie before watching "Siskel and Ebert", and now "Ebert and Roper" to see how I compare, or reading Roger Ebert's review in The Chicago Sun Times. I was sort of sad to hear that Roger won't be making it to his own Ebertfest this year, thanks to a broken flipper, but his attitude, no matter how many things stand in his way, reminds me of my dad, always fighting. Get well, Roger.

April 23, 2008 7:58 PM

Jonathon Brandmeier, a.k.a. Johnny B., wrote a song called "The Moo-Moo Song," but if these charges stick, Robert Melia Jr. might have, well, there isn't anything funny about this story even though, at first, I wanted to make it so. I can't even go there. If true, well, this story is sicker than just trying to get it on with a cow.

April 23, 2008 7:42 PM

Like this comes as a shock to the rest of the real world, or anyone paying attention to celebrity relationships, but the reports are that Star Jones and Al Reynolds are getting divorced. The quote is "Several years ago I made an error in judgment by inviting the media into the most intimate area of my life.", but, duhh, you WANTED the media in your life back then. Now that it sucks, you want them to stay away. Good luck with that.

April 23, 2008 7:33 PM

Scott Weiland ditched Velvet Revolver and went back to Stone Temple Pilots, or the band ditched Scott, but that means Velvet Revolver needs a new lead singer. What better place than to find one than on the internet. Journey did it watching YouTube, why shouldn't Velvet Revolver just let people audition there? It looks like they might do just that.

April 19, 2008 7:21 PM

In more talking of worrying about the merger of satellite radio companies XM and Sirius, now comes word that music business promotion folks would rather have two companies to promote to. Umm, you are the same people who missed the boat on the internet download revolution, so why should anyone listen to you? Somehow satellite radio is relevant in getting new music played and two versions of satellite are better than thousands on normal radio. Go figure?

April 19, 2008 7:06 PM

I try to be creative at times, even crossing over some lines, but I found the headline for this story from a more legitimate site almost disturbing, especially since it relates to Sandra Bullock and husband Jesse James getting in a car accident, by someone facing drunk-driving charges.

April 19, 2008 6:54 PM

There is now an experimental surgery removing a bad appendix by shoving surgical tools through the mouth, to the stomach, cutting a slit in there and pulling the removed appendix back through the mouth. They are calling this surgery "Cakehole surgery," but shouldn't it really be called "Piehole surgery?"

April 16, 2008 7:28 PM

I was a fan of the "The X-Files" TV show, I think I liked the movie (it came out 10 years ago, and sorry, those years are buried deep in my memory), and now a new movie is coming out simply titled "The X-Files: I Want to Believe." I'm a self-professed Gillian Anderson stalker, so I'll see it, but I want to believe this movie will be good.

April 16, 2008 7:20 PM

Sometimes there's nothing like a wedding to bring joy to our hearts, and what better hope for all of you 35 year old dudes out there knowing that a lady of the stature of Ivana Trump, 59 years young, might be interested in you, and marry you, especially if you happen to be a 35 year old model/actor named Rossano Rubicondi. I hope he was in a lot of Italian films because his IMDB profile sure doesn't scream "actor," and he doesn't even seem to have a Wikipedia page, yet.

April 13, 2008 6:34 PM

If anyone had a chance to overtake Trevor Immelman you would have to bet it would be Tiger Woods, but in uncharacteristic fashion, Tiger missed putts I think I might have been able to make, though thinking about it, probably not combined with the pressure of a come-from-behind win for The Masters. Tiger Woods showed he can sometimes be just a man, on the golf course, like the rest of us.

April 13, 2008 6:17 PM

You would think that I, the media guru that I am, would have already busted open the wallet and gotten a 60" high-def plasma TV, but alas, I'm still stuck in the stone age. That might have to change, this summer, as it has been announced "Survivor," for its Fall season, will be shot in high definition, and knowing Mark Burnett, and God I hope I know Mark Burnett, the Fall season should have the hottest women ever for a reality TV show.

April 13, 2008 6:07 PM

Mom got me hooked on Andrea Simakis' quick take, from the Cleveland Plain Dealer, on who gets booted from "American Idol," and Andrea is now in mourning that Michael Johns is gone. Hopefully she can get to afternoon, and I miss her RSS feed because it was easier to find her that way. But if you want a witty look at who is sent home, check her out rather than my analytical look if Kristy Lee Cook had a nip-slip on our entertainmentavenue.com site.

April 11, 2008 6:54 PM

Okay, Craig Ferguson isn't really king, but he did beat Conan O'Brien during a recent rating's contest. Conan is supposed to take over for Jay Leno, David Letterman couldn't beat Jay Leno during the writer's strike, and somehow people are now watching a dude with a Scottish accent. What the hell is going on with the world, or at least with "later than most human beings are awake" TV?

April 11, 2008 6:44 PM

Though not a bit on The Howard Stern Show, so stated Gary Dell'Abate on the air, Artie Lange quit during today's show, and with the show reportedly going on vacation hiatus next week, it could be some time before fans know if the Cuddly Muffin will be back.

April 10, 2008 2:49 PM

So you want to be a news reporter! Great pay, great hours, and lots of human interest stories to keep your days filled with glee! Not. Before you dream of getting that job as a news reporter, vaulting you into an anchor spot, safe in the studio, there are many things you might have to deal with. Happy stomping grapes!

April 9, 2008 7:05 PM

It has been announced that Mike Myers will be hosting the MTV Movie Awards, which are supposed to air on June 1st. Mike Myers' new movie, "The Love Guru," opens on June 20th. Coincidence? I think not. My guess is get ready for a bunch of "Love Guru" plugs during the show, and him somehow trying to immerse himself into the "Best Kiss" award.

April 9, 2008 6:45 PM

Sure, people have their differences with China, and now that the Beijing Olympics are about to become a reality, it seems people remember it is there. Boycotts are being called for, people are trying to put out the torch, but where was all of this opposition when China was applying for the games? Free Tibet! There, now I'm a part of it.

April 9, 2008 6:32 PM

Maybe it will apply, maybe it won't, and I wish I had high-powered lawyers to tell me how this might effect my website, but I'm thinking a site like Mr. Skin, at www.mrskin.com, might have a few more issues if the United State's Fair Use laws are made more restrictive. I'll let his lawyers do the legwork.

April 8, 2008 5:14 PM

I've never been pregnant, thank God, but Fergie told Ryan Seacrest she isn't either. She does a cartwheel for "Idol Gives Back," but I didn't know being pregnant meant you can't do a cartwheel. What, it just makes your fetus dizzy?

April 8, 2008 5:03 PM

So a manager and conductor are stating in a book that Luciano Pavarotti lip-synched his final performance. All I know is who really gives a crap, and other than trying to promote your book, wouldn't it have been a better story to just let people wonder for all of time if the performance was real? Lots of performers lip-synch our National Anthem at football games, and it's not the weather or maybe cancer, it's because they usually suck. Luciano rarely, if ever, sucked at singing.

April 7, 2008 6:47 PM

Count on physicists to reduce God to a particle, but Peter Higgs, one of the science guys that builds his thoughts on science, thinks we are close to finding the God Particle, something that gives matter its mass. The crappy part for the United States is the US is cutting the funding to find God, but that's another story for another post, as long as finding God doesn't destroy us all.

April 7, 2008 6:34 PM

A movie release date moved from June to October makes sense, especially if it is a Tom Cruise film where you might be hoping to get an Academy Award nomination. But when your movie, "Valkyrie," gets bumped, again, now to President's Day Weekend, in February, after the award season, so it can hopefully make more, or at least some money, umm, that's not a good sign.

April 7, 2008 6:24 PM

It's easy to blast the efforts of "American Idol" with their upcoming "Idol Gives Back" show, and I suppose it is hard to audit some $76 million worth of donations and where they went. Maybe, to avoid news stories, they should stick to the singing competition and leave the fund raising side to institutions that have a track-record of making us wonder where the money went. Then we only have to wonder where the singers come from.

April 6, 2008 8:07 PM

George Clooney makes a period piece about the beginnings of football ("Leatherheads"), and Will Smith made a period piece about the end of civilization ("I Am Legend.") It looks like we want to see how the world ends rather than how football started. George, if you want to make blockbusters, I guess you should stick to Las Vegas.

April 6, 2008 8:01 PM

Some movie actors pass with a simple "R.I.P.," and then there are movie icons. I've always seen Charlton Heston as a movie icon, even though my rememberings of many of his roles were after "his prime." You know what, he never had a prime, he was Charlton Heston, and from being Moses to being in a "Wayne's World" movie, from hating damn, dirty apes to talking about the end of the world, he was Charlton Heston. Other folks get the moniker of a single name, he gets the moniker of being Charlton Heston.

April 6, 2008 7:41 PM

Maybe if he didn't die on a toilet bowl Elvis wouldn't be in this predicament, but Mariah Carey now has more #1 singles than The King. Yup, Mariah has a new single, "Touch My Body," which is #1 on the Billboard charts, but does, or will, Mariah ever have a "Suspicious Minds" or "In the Ghetto" for dudes in a bar to butcher when it plays on the jukebox? I think not!

April 2, 2008 8:01 PM

So Hillary Clinton, in an "April Foolish" joke, challenged Barack Obama to a bowling match. Sure, Senator Obama didn't bowl too well in his last outing, but if he wants some help I can coach him because at the start it's all about something he is already good at - shaking hands, but he's got to lose that shirt and tie and put on some polyester. And from my experience, usually, if you're bowling at 3 AM, you'd better have someone there to drive you home.

April 1, 2008 5:39 PM