February 2007 Archives

February 28, 2007 9:21 PM

Hugh.jpgMollygood has a fun little piece about the real reason my boyfriend Hugh Grant and his girlfriend of 3 years, professional rich girl Jemima Khan, broke up.

According to a mysterious and anonymous source (is there any other kind for gossip?):

"In the final analysis they came from different worlds. To put it bluntly, Hugh was just too middle-class for the Goldsmiths, so he was always living on borrowed time. In fact, he did rather well to last as long as he did."

Hugh's greatest trespass?

"[Jemima's mother Lady Annabel Goldsmith] still jokes about the time when they spent one of their first evenings together back in 2004. Jemima was ready to introduce her mother to the new man in her life over a meal when Hugh breezed in with two plastic bags of curry from the local Indian restaurant, plonked them on the table and said: 'Tuck in, girls!'"

Ghastly. Seriously, Hugh Grant - call me. You + me + Taco Bell + a copy of "Armageddon" = an unforgettable life. Once you go loudmouth, redheaded American bitch, you never go back.

So I'm told.

Heather

February 28, 2007 8:20 PM

Okay, this is getting out of hand.

First Mary-Kate Olsen was given ample inches in the New York Times to sing the praises of her favorite Chanel purse. Now, the Washington Post has followed suit by allowing Angelina Jolie space to wax poetic about her superficial interests as well.

The similarities between the two pieces are uncanny, and frankly, disgusting. Check it:

Heather

February 28, 2007 11:46 AM

tempest.jpg"This is a most majestic vision," the character of Ferdinand says in Shakespeare's "The Tempest." The line is fitting for the new Artists' Repertory Theatre production that opened Friday and continues through March 10.

The atmosphere in the intimate space at the California Arts Academy Theater is thick, rich and magical: burlap-covered stairs dominated by the projection of a big, yellow moon; scraps of wood scattered about like detritus on a beach; throw pillows tossed on the periphery upon which audience members can sit. With mesmerizing songs by such groups as Dead Can Dance, original music by Austin Frost, a quartet of belly dancers and a smoky, seductive lighting design by Ben Holley, there's a sense of gritty sand and gauzy heat. On a limited budget, the production's design packs a powerful punch. The show feels like you walked into the tent of a desert harem.

Donald Munro

February 28, 2007 11:13 AM

Please join me in a round of applause for the CW. The network, a hybrid of the old UPN and WB Networks, launched in September. It is seen locally on KFRE, Channel 59. Since the launch, CW Executives have been trying to come up with a hit comedy to go along with such first-rate dramas as "The Gilmore Girls," "Veronica Mars" and "Smallville."

They have finally done it.

The funniest show on any networks this season is tonight's "America's Top Model." The eighth season opener will leave you in more stitches than a Paris fashion show.

Rick Bentley

February 28, 2007 10:00 AM

philstacy.jpgThe "American Idol" guys -- down to 10 -- took the stage again Monday night. Here to talk about whether they roared back or dished out another week of mediocrity is the Beehive's "Idol" panel, Mike Osegueda and Felicia Matlosz.

Mike says:
Overall, the guys were better this week than last. But that's not saying a whole heck of a lot. Sundance finally shined again. Chris stayed strong. And Sanjaya signed up for a plane ticket home.

Mike Oz

February 27, 2007 10:59 PM

If you've ever thought to yourself that Dwight Schrute from "The Office" deserves - nay, demands - his own theme song then by god today is your lucky day.

Heather

February 27, 2007 10:04 PM

monchichi.jpgPerpetual monchichi look-a-likes Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen were photographed this week in Paris wearing fur coats. By 'look-a-likes' I mean that they look like monchichis, not like each other, because of course they look alike - they're twins.

Anyway, I'm no big supporter of PETA or anything, but I think wearing fur is a little gratuitous and inappropriate. The Olsens should be educated.

Of course I'm not suggesting you go out and club and wear an Olsen twin because that would be hilarious. Wrong! I meant to say wrong. Totally appropriate. Inappropriate! That would be inappropriate.

Sorry. I'm a little flustered after reading a piece Mary-Kate wrote for the New York Times about her favorite purse. A sample: "I have a large, red quilted Chanel bag that I borrowed from my sister Ashley. I wore it to an event and never gave it back...I also have the smaller version in blue and in white, but the red is definitely my favorite."

Look for the Times to print Ashley's companion piece soon about what she did last summer, and how you can't see her when she closes her eyes.

Heather

February 27, 2007 9:43 PM

katherine-heigl.jpgKatherine Heigl wants more money to irritate the hell out of you every week.

According to People.com, Heigl, who plays Dr. Izzie Stevens on T.V.'s "Grey's Anatomy", walked out of contract negotiations because she doesn't feel she's being valued as much as co-stars Sandra Oh and Isaiah Washington who actually play interesting characters and not some vapid, selfish and probably insane fool who never deserved Denny to begin with and certainly didn't deserve his $8 million after she killed him, and who doesn't appreciate George, and treats him like her pet dog, and who deserves a giant bitch-slap from Dr. Callie O'Malley right in the middle of one of her faux-cheerleader "I'm allowed to tell you what I think no matter how hateful and ill-timed because I'm your best friend" speeches.

Neither Heigl nor ABC has issued a response to People's story.

Heather

February 27, 2007 8:51 PM

l_a2d679d8a9b3b06f02dfc63b244b4588.jpgClovis country singer Kristi Warner has made it to the field of 32 in CMT's Music City Madness online competition.

Last week, I wrote about Warner being selected as one of 64 finalists in the bracket-style competition, where one aspiring country artist wins a trip to CMT's Nashville studio to record an episode of Studio 330 Sessions.

She fended off Marna & Macy in the first round and now goes against Sgt. Iaian Thompson, who performs in military uniform, and might prove stiff competition should he get the patriotic vote. You can check out both competitors and vote here.

For more on Kristi Warner, check out her MySpace page or her album on CDBaby.com.

Mike Oz

February 27, 2007 3:58 PM

rickymartin.JPGI'm sure there are many jokes I could attempt, but I'll just give it to ya straight: Ricky Martin is coming to Fresno.

I'm not sure how to process this information. I don't know if people care anymore. Maybe they do. Maybe they laugh. Maybe they wonder if The Spice Girls are opening. I dunno.

So again, I'll just give it to you straight: He's performing April 18 at Save Mart Center. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. They cost $52.75, $74.75, $89.75 & $110.00.

Consult Ticketmaster, if you wish to proceed with this -- but this is not a journey we can take together, friends.

Mike Oz

February 27, 2007 3:08 PM

tuna.jpgYears ago, when I last saw "Greater Tuna," the oft-performed two man show lampooning life in small-town Texas, I remember it as sweet and quaint -- like an old-fashioned and slightly off-color joke that your grandfather might have gotten away with cracking even as you and your embarrassed cousins rolled their eyes.

This time around, in a production that opened last Thursday at the 2nd Space Theatre and continues through April 15, I got a slightly different impression. "Greater Tuna" seems a little sour. It's kind of mean, even. Though the broadly drawn stereotypical Texas characters are meant (I assume) to parody bigotry and intolerance, the play is neither sharp enough nor funny enough to really succeed as a social satire. Instead, the biggest laughs come from dead-dog jokes and watching men waddle around as elderly matrons.

What happened in between?

Donald Munro

February 27, 2007 11:45 AM

rogue2007.jpgDonald Munro and I started our Rogue Festival coverage, with a couple pieces in today's paper. I take a look at Kien Lim, a London-based singer/songwriter who has become a Rogue regular, while Donald dissects the nuts and bolts of this year's festival.

Here's a brief plea: If you haven't been to the Rogue Festival before, GO! You're missing out. It's one of the best things Fresno has going for it culturally. It's bustling with theater, music, visual art, dance, comedy, you name it. All from a grassroots level. Everything gets going on Thursday night, with a busy weekend to follow. After a couple days off, there's more Rogue running March 7-10.

Donald and I will be back later in the week with our Rogue picks for the weekend. In the meantime, heed this warning: Successfully navigating the Rogue takes a little leg-work and research. There's just so much going on, you need to be prepared. Here are some Rogue links to get you started:

Mike Oz

February 27, 2007 11:11 AM

The Fox Network is adding a game show to its lineup. "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" debuts at 9:30 tonight. Other episodes will be broadcast at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday and 9 p.m. Thursday.

On the show, hosted by Jeff Foxworthy, adults will have to answer typical questions that would be posed in 5th grade classes. It sounds simple. But, when was the last time you thought about the capital of Brazil or the number of pencils in a gross?

The following are a few ways to tell if you are smarter than a 5th grader.

Rick Bentley

February 26, 2007 5:38 PM

gosling.jpgA reader left this question and some assorted post-Oscar thoughts on my phone mail:

I don't remember "Half Nelson" coming through Fresno, and if it did, and it was that big of a deal, why didn't you put it in the headline? I'm really sad I missed that. I'm not a big fan of "Pan's Labyrinth," it was all right. Also, I'm one of those who walked out on "Babel." Excuse me, am I odd? of course I am.

FYI: "Half Nelson" came to Fresno courtesy of Fresno Filmworks. (Ryan Gosling got a best-actor nomination.) But it only played two screenings in November. Sometimes, with those smaller films, you have to act fast.

Another phone call, this one not so nice:

I think you are a racist human being. You never have nothing good to say about people of color.

Now that's a cheery way to start the morning. My supposed transgression from my Sunday column: I didn't pick Forest Whitaker for best actor.


Donald Munro

February 26, 2007 4:37 PM

betsy0627oe.jpgI caught Betsy Wolfe's buoyant concert with the Fresno Philharmonic Sunday -- and while The Bee's classical musical critic, George Warren, took exception to the orchestra playing Broadway tunes, I happily confess that I loved the performance.

Wolfe's voice was big and bountiful, just like a Broadway belter should be, and better yet, in the brief time she was on stage she was able to convey a strong sense of character, which is the No. 1 task of a musical-theater star. Her mumbled comic asides in Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick's "Vanilla Ice Cream," from "She Loves Me," were amusing. And her voice was strong and sure in a lively version of "I Dreamed a Dream" from "Les Miserables," which is one of those ballads that can get too slow and sugary if a singer isn't careful.

Donald Munro

February 26, 2007 4:11 PM

ratm.jpgTwo more California shows have been announced for reunited rockers Rage Against the Machine.

RATM will join the Wu-Tang Clan at this year's Rock The Bells hip-hop festival, which will take place Aug. 11 at the NOS Events Center in San Bernadino and at a venue to be announced Aug. 18 at San Francisco.

A complete lineup for the festival will be announced March 26 and tickets will go on sale March 31.

Early prediction: Da ruckus will be brought.

Mike Oz

February 26, 2007 3:42 PM

west%20bank.gifEver wonder why movie studios spend so much wooing Academy voters? Because if your film wins, it can be a big pay-off.

In a classic example of America's commodification-crazy, "let's transform artistic achivement into cold, hard cash" ethic of success, Amazon.com checked in literally hours after the awards were given with a sales update.

The big winner: "West Bank Story," winner of the live-action short film category, which moved from No. 19,152 to No. 92 on Amazon.com's Top Sellers list for DVDs.


Donald Munro

February 26, 2007 3:38 PM

LIF%20SPCL%20RIC%20FLAIR%20WWE.JPGI have a story in today's paper about Ric Flair, The Nature Boy, a wrestling icon, master of the figure-four leglock and noted rider of Space Mountain. You can download an MP3 of my interview with Flair here.

He's part of World Wrestling Entertainment's card tonight at the Save Mart Center. It's a sold-out show that will be broadcast live (for the East Coast, anyway -- it's delayed here) on the USA Network.

Rumor has it that Donald Trump will be in Fresno tonight for Raw, he's got an angle working with WWE chief Vince McMahon. So we'll see. I still have my finger crossed that K-Fed will show up.

[ MP3 Download: Ric Flair interview ]

Mike Oz

February 26, 2007 10:46 AM

NBC's new midseason drama "The Black Donnellys" is a great example of how network television is not on an even playing field with cable.

It is nothing for cable programming, either on premium or basic channels, to portray graphic violence, use profane language and even include nudity.

"The Black Donnellys," set to debut at 10 p.m. tonight on KSEE, Channel 24, comes across as handcuffed. The violence can only go so far. The language is adult but more PG-13 than R. Nudity is not a factor. These limitations might not matter with some shows. It is an important factor in this series that exists in the dark world of organized crime.

Rick Bentley

February 26, 2007 8:55 AM

thewho.JPGI didn't go to The Who concert last night. Like a lot of people, I was watching the Oscars. So let's hear some concert reviews.

Was it a good show? What did they play? How many people were there? Was the crowd into it? How did they compare to previous shows? To other legends who have come to Fresno? Was it worth the money?

Drop your thoughts below.

Mike Oz

February 25, 2007 8:04 PM

story6.oscars.red.carpet.jpgI'm sure there are other, more knowledgeable sources to go to when you want to read about Oscars fashion, but that is not going to deter me from throwing in my two cents. Your dress is ugly, and I need to tell you this (Anne Hathaway, I'm looking right at you).

Heather

February 25, 2007 3:00 PM

oscar.jpgWell, folks, it's a new gig for me this year: I'm writing an Oscar blog instead of an Oscar story. It will all be old news by the time the paper hits your doorstep tomorrow morning, right? Instead of spending Oscar night slaving down at the newspaper office -- with a big TV angled at my desk and an extremely rare can (for me) of Diet Pepsi sitting beside me to keep me perked up in the middle of the Short Film (Live Action) winner's acceptance speech -- I'm going to be at home, in my pajamas, curled up on my couch.

This means we get to experience this thing in real time, together. Isn't that special? This is all assuming, of course, that 1) you're able to watch TV and read a computer screen at the same time; 2) haven't been lured in by some other news organization's much fancier Oscar blog site; and 3) could possibly care what I have to say. But come on, this is what the sum total of billions of dollars spent on Internet infrastructure and years of high-tech research have made possible: I can blather LIVE about the Academy Awards. Sort of makes you all misty-eyed for the potential of humankind, eh?

Anyway, I'm here. And I'm blogging. Keep me company: Post a comment or send me an email.

Donald Munro

February 25, 2007 8:56 AM

In honor of my column today talking about who should win the Oscars tonight, I thought I'd repost this earlier entry. It gives you a chance to forget about predictions and tell me your favorites:

A decade ago, predicting the Oscar winners seemed little more than a genteel parlor game. Newspapers often ran reader contests. At Oscar parties, hosts handed out ballots. And the nation's movie writers would often try their hands at prognostication, spinning their "expertise" into pithy Sunday reader pieces that often included some not-so-educated guesses. It all had the lazy, comfy feel of empty but fun speculation.

Now the Oscar guessing game is big-time. Los Angeles magazine weighs in with a fascinating piece about some of the all-powerful bloggers who are affecting the way studios manage their Oscar campaigns. Sites such as Hollywood Elsewhere, the Hot Button and Oscarwatch jockey for "scoops" and influence. It's all devoted to one obsessive question: Who's going to win?

But even though I've been doing the Oscar-prediction game for years, I think there's a far more interesting question, however:

Who SHOULD win?

Donald Munro

February 24, 2007 9:02 AM

queen.jpgWill "The Queen" rule? Will "Letters from Iwo Jima" write home a winner? Will my colleague Will's sure-thing pick, "Little Miss Sunshine," show that a comedy can sway the Academy? (I'm starting to root against that flick just because Will is SO sure it's going to win ...)

You still have a chance today to vote in The Bee's online Oscar contest. Deadline is 11:59 p.m. Saturday night. And it's so easy. Back in the Dark Ages, you had to clip the coupon from the paper, find an envelope, affix a stamp, etc. Now you just click. Go ahead. Vote against Will's favorite pic.

Donald Munro

February 24, 2007 9:01 AM

baby.jpgThis week's gossip landscape was dominated by two babies going through some serious growing pains: namely, Dannielynn Hope Marshall Smith Stern/Birkhead/Anhalt/Bodyguard and Britney Spears.

But this week was also a big week for celebrity babies being born, celebrity babies allegedly being conceived, and celebrity babies simply growing up and enjoying the spotlight. Check out the following stories/links about these little bundles of joy to erase everything you read about Anna Nicole Smith or Britney Spears this week:

Heather

February 23, 2007 6:46 PM

Paris.jpgWhy does Paris Hilton always have that dead, glassy-eyed appearance?

Maybe it has something to do with this funny-looking cigarette she was photographed smoking in her car. Or maybe it has something to do with her being a soulless waste of human flesh. Could be either, really.

Oh look! Mischa Barton, whose 19-year old sister is currently in rehab for an addiction to prescription painkillers, is smoking one of those cigarettes in her car, too. I guess Mischa was so stressed out from her minor fender bender while driving Nicole Richie's car earlier in the week that she needed something to keep her calm in traffic.

Hm. You'd think Nicole "DUI" Richie would have explained to Mischa the consequences of driving while high. Looks like no one is going to tell Ashlee Simpson, either.

I guess in Hollywood it really is every skinny bitch for herself.

Heather

February 23, 2007 3:04 PM

jusgoodie.jpgThis might be a very good idea or a very bad one. Haven't decided yet. In the ol' MySpace age, every band and promoter has a show flier. Sticking them in MySpace bulletins and on message boards is the way to promote shows now. And since I generally have a file of these sort of things, I figured I'd put them up and let people check them out. Maybe they would catch some eyes.

Below you'll find a bunch, for stuff going on this weekend, next week and into the future. Obviously, this isn't everything, just what I have fliers for. If you have something you'd like to add, leave it below as a comment or e-mail it over.

Also weigh in: Is there any interest in me doing more of this?

Mike Oz

February 23, 2007 12:27 PM

1. My taxes
2. Clean my bathroom
3. Have Amy Krebs, "American Idol" reject, sing outside my window
4. My taxes
5. Watch "Me, Myself and Irene"

Donald Munro

February 23, 2007 11:14 AM

By now you should have your gown selected or your tuxedo cleaned and pressed. No? What are you waiting for? The 79th Annual Academy Awards will be presented Sunday night.

You don't have to be going to the awards to get dressed up. Slap on those fancy duds, grab yourself a bag of pork skins and plop down in front of the television. If you can get a crabby woman to ask you what you are wearing, try to sit through the whole show without a restroom break and then stand outside and wait for your car for two hours, it will seem like you are there.

Here's a few things to ponder during the commercials.

Rick Bentley

February 23, 2007 10:15 AM

paulkim.jpgAmy Krebs, Nicole Tranquillo, Paul Kim and Rudy Cardenas were first of the "American Idol" semi-finalists to get cast off, getting the boot on Thursday's episode.

Kim was a bit of surprise -- while the others were predictable. Below, the Beehive's "Idol" panel chimes in with its thoughts.

Felicia says:
I disagreed with 3 of the choices that "American Idol" voters cast on who got kicked off the show, but I'm not going to get riled up over it. For the most part, the really undeserving are winnowed out before the Final 12. So, I still have faith that America will get past Antonella Barba's pretty looks and boot her off.

Mike Oz

February 23, 2007 10:11 AM

Roy.pngWas anybody else totally traumatized by Roy's behavior on "The Office" last night?

I mean, I know he's the bad boyfriend archetype (a co-worker of mine says he remembers going to high school with at least a hundred Roys ), but I never expected such violence from Pam's ex-guy.

After his outburst in the bar, I was sure they'd end the episode on a lighter note, but they ended it with Roy threatening to kill Jim Halpert. I know Roy isn't going to kill Jim, but still. This is not "The Office" that leaves me with ha-ha tears running down my face every Thursday. Luckily, I was able to mine some laughs from the unintentionally funny "Grey's Anatomy" later.

I guess I should have seen this coming. After all, Roy (David Denman) used to be Skip the demon on "Angel". I suppose he always had the evil in him.

If you missed the episode, here is a recap.

Heather

February 22, 2007 5:53 PM

judge.jpgI have to admit, I haven't really been paying attention to the proceedings to determine the location of Anna Nicole Smith's final resting place. Why? Because I am bored with the whole affair and because I firmly believe everyone involved should take turns being publicly bitch-slapped by anyone willing to make the drive to Florida.

Today, however, it was strongly recommended that I watch video of Judge Larry Seidlin deliver his ruling. I was skeptical, but after seeing this video, dear reader, I pass along the same recommendation to you.

Heather

February 22, 2007 3:38 PM

sunshine.jpgWhen you walk into the beautiful Kodak Theater complex on Hollywood Boulevard, you are dwarfed by columns listing movie titles and their respective year of release. These otherwise random words and numbers represent the Academy Awards' best picture winners over the years. The Academy, which gives out the statues known as Oscars, honors the best achievements in film. The film to receive the best picture award of any given year is then immortalized - and rightly so. For the best picture winner is a piece of art meant to be seen as a reflection of life - exposing an aspect of society, or to convey the mood of the country or even the world.

We all know this, right? So why do movies like "Chocolat" get nominated? Or comedies like "Shakespeare in Love" or such musicals as "Chicago" win the award? Because some times, it's just about honoring the art. But ... in a year when great artistic achievements are chosen to be honored alongside films with emotional or societal depth, it's usually the films that balance both that are seen walking away with the final award of a given Oscar night - on their way to immortality.

Of course, that theory was thrown for a loop last year when "Crash" beat out "Brokeback Mountain" for best picture.

Will

February 22, 2007 2:25 PM

Few shows have launched with such force and died as quickly as "The O.C." It started fast. No sooner had the first episode aired Aug. 5, 2003, that the show spawned fan clubs, merchandise and even a reality series. The show's young cast graced magazine covers. Fox had a hit.

Tonight, after 92 shows, the series comes to an end. It heads to television history on a wave of apathy chiefly created by the move of the series to 9 p.m. Thursdays. "The O.C." got the living daylights slapped out of it by "CSI" and "Grey's Anatomy." Some loyal fans kept tuning in each week. There just wasn't enough.

In tribute to the nearly departed, let's all join together in a chorus of the show's theme by Phantom Planet. Ready. Go. "California! ..."

That's enough. It is more interesting to look at some final "O.C." facts and figures as provided by Fox.

Rick Bentley

February 22, 2007 1:57 PM

simpson-mayer.jpgEnough for John Mayer to go on tour, at least. Mayer announced his summer tour today, with a June 6 date at the Save Mart Center.

No word on when tickets will go on sale or any of that jazz.

Also no word on who will open, if Jessica will be there, if Heather will go or if Mayer's curly, vine-like hair will be long enough for audience members to swing from.

Mike Oz

February 22, 2007 10:06 AM

lakisha.jpgIt's the day of reckoning: Four "American Idol" wannabes are going home tonight. The Beehive's Idol panel of Felicia Matlosz and Mike Osegueda break down Wednesday's performances from the top 12 girls and pick who should be sent home this evening.

Felicia says:
Finally, it's game on at "American Idol." The ladies were much more entertaining and, for the most part, aggressive in their pursuit of the title. Here's how I saw it:

Best of show, superbly so: LaKisha Jones. She had the guts to tackle the demanding "Dreamgirls" whopper, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going." It took guts because the song is so associated with former A.I. contestant Jennifer Hudson, who probably wins an Oscar Sunday night for her role in the movie.

Mike Oz

February 22, 2007 8:24 AM

Britney.jpgTMZ.com is reporting that Britney Spears is back in rehab.

I know, right? Whatever.

The web site also says that the emergency custody hearing Kevin Federline requested for this morning has been called off "due to the new developments" (read: Britney's third half-assed attempt to get well). If recent history has taught us anything, he should just go ahead and reschedule the hearing for tomorrow morning.

TMZ claims that Britney showed up at Federline's house last night begging to see the kids, but that Feds wouldn't let her into the house. Hopefully K-Fed will pull a White Knight and get Britney to finally understand what "rock bottom" is.

***UPDATE***Regarding rock bottom: Maybe Britney should see these pictures of herself. Photogs caught pictures of Britney freaking out - repeatedly slamming an SUV parked outside K-Fed's house with an umbrella. Scary, scary stuff.

Heather

February 21, 2007 7:58 PM

Teen_KFed.jpgAssociated Press is reporting that Kevin Federline is scheduled to appear in a Los Angeles courthouse Thursday morning, according to a Superior Court spokesperson.

It's not known what K-Fed is planning to do in court, but I'm guessing it has something to do with the mother of his children losing her damn mind. According to USmagazine, K-Fed and his mom have been sharing parenting duties of Sean Preston and Jayden James with Lynne Spears since Britney embarked on Self-Destruction Tour 2007.

In a related yet totally unproven story, one of the rumors circulating about Britney's sudden decision to Kojak her own head have to do with a certain Mr. F threatening to have Brit's hair tested for drugs. True? Who knows? Funny? Yes. No, of course not. This is a person we're talking about, you know. Jerk.

Heather

February 21, 2007 2:38 PM

Back in November, few people had seen Forest Whitaker's work in the film "The Last King of Scotland." Those who were lucky enough to see his performance as Idi Amin, President of Uganda from 1971-1979, called it Oscar worthy.

The performance already has provided Whitaker with a Golden Globe in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama category. Sunday night's telecast of the Oscars will show whether all those Oscar predictions, including mine, were right.

Don't expect Whitaker to make any predictions. When asked about all the Oscar talk back in November, Whitaker just said, "That would be nice."

Rick Bentley

February 21, 2007 12:59 PM

clouded.jpgHere's a recap of my Fat Tuesday experience last night. Click on the pic of Clouded Vision to the right for more photos.

9:27 p.m.: Dang, there are a lot of people here just walking up and down the street. Lots of kids. Maybe it's just because I'm old enough to buy liquor, but I can't see the fascination with walking up and down Olive Avenue (or worse yet, just standing there watching people walk up and down Olive).

9:29: My buddy Erik says, "The last time I saw this many kids was at Grad Night."

Mike Oz

February 21, 2007 12:14 PM

mens-hats-header.jpgNicolas Cage. Prince.

Two men with much talent. Two men who have enjoyed tremendous commercial success. Two men who enjoy wearing hats.

Pop quiz: In a contest to determine who looks better in a hat, who would win? Nic, rocking the urban cowboy look as Grand Marshall of last weekend's Daytona 500, or Prince looking fly at the NBA All-Star Game with his ever-so-delicate fedora and lady fingernails?

Ahhh, trick question. There are no winners in a contest like this.

Heather

February 21, 2007 10:54 AM

blake.jpgFor the first time this season, America gets to decide the fate of the Idols-to-be. The top 12 guys performed on Tuesday night, with the girls going tonight. Come Thursday, four people are going home. Here to talk about the winners and losers among the guys is the Beehive's "Idol" panel -- Mike Osegueda and Felicia Matlosz.

Felicia says:
How was "American Idol" Tuesday night? Did you hear that huge groan from my house? Such torture. Most of the guys came out like melting jello -- Wobbly and weak, not to mention conservative and bland. OK, I realize it was the first live show, with viewers voting for the first time. And the guys knew that two of them are going home Thursday night.

Mike Oz

February 21, 2007 9:48 AM

Britney.jpgThis girl is killing me. No - wait. She's killing herself.

Britney Spears has again left rehab after staying a mere 24 hours. This is exactly what she did last week, and what she'll probably keep on doing until someone commits her to a psych ward instead.

In better news, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services has received numerous phone calls from concerned citizens who feel that Britney's abilities as a parent should be seriously evaluated. At least someone is looking out for those kids.

Heather

February 21, 2007 9:24 AM

My colleague Mike Oz just weighed in on Mardi Gras, and I want to, also, on this "morning after."

As a resident of the Tower, I'm always a little skittish about Mardi Gras. Not because of the noise, or the traffic, or the infernal chop-chop-chop of that annoying helicopter. What makes me nervous is the anticipation that something bad will happen -- and that the Tower will somehow get blamed.

Well, it did.

And it will.

I'm sure that in the coming weeks and months, there will be renewed calls for clamping down on Mardi Gras and other large gatherings in the Tower.

Donald Munro

February 21, 2007 8:38 AM

497-tower.standalone.prod_affiliate.8.jpgIf you haven't yet heard, there was pandemonium in the Tower District last night at the Mardi Gras celebrations. Three police officers were shot, as was an innocent bystander. Eventually, the alleged shooter was killed after leading Fresno police on a chase. Numerous streets were closed. Loads of people were pushed off the streets and into clubs or their homes. Everybody in the Tower was talking about it.

Now the question is, what lasting effect will this have on the already-scrutinized Fresno nightlife? Our Mardi Gras celebrations, always a touchy subject, will probably now be handcuffed, if not eliminated all together. We don't have to worry about that for another year -- but what's it going to be like in the Tower this weekend? And the next? Will it be Tower-Lite for a while?

It gets harder and harder to cry foul at the increased pressure police surrounding our nightlife when something like this happens.

Mike Oz

February 21, 2007 8:16 AM

lucky.jpgA Newbery Award-winning book for children has been banned in schools across the country for mentioning dog balls.

Seriously.

A number of close-minded and bored librarians have refused to buy the book The Higher Power of Lucky for their schools because of the following paragraph, which makes use of the word 'scrotum':

'Sammy told of the day when he had drunk half a gallon of rum listening to Johnny Cash all morning in his parked '62 Cadillac, then fallen out of the car when he saw a rattlesnake on the passenger seat biting his dog, Roy, on the scrotum. Scrotum sounded to Lucky like something green that comes up when you have the flu and cough too much. It sounded medical and secret, but also important.'


Heather

February 20, 2007 7:33 PM

l_a2d679d8a9b3b06f02dfc63b244b4588.jpgClovis country singer Kristi Warner is one of 64 finalists in CMT's Music City Madness video competition.

It's a bracket-style contest (set up much like the NCAA basketball tournament), with artists going head-to-head, trying to score the most online votes. The field of 64 will be thinned to 32, then 16, and so on, until one artist wins a trip to CMT's Nashville studio to record an episode of Studio 330 Sessions.

In the first round, which ends Feb. 26, Warner faces off with duo Marna & Macy. You can vote here.

For more on Kristi Warner, check out her MySpace page or her album on CDBaby.com.

Mike Oz

February 20, 2007 4:42 PM

brit.jpgBritney Spears checked herself into a rehab facility in an undisclosed location Tuesday.

Spears' manager Larry Rudolph confirmed the news to People magazine, asking that "the media respect her privacy as well as those of her family and friends at this time."

Yeah. That's totally going to happen.

***UPDATE*** See? Paparazzi have already found Britney at the Promises rehab facility in Malibu.

Heather

February 20, 2007 1:36 PM

norbit.jpgThe scene: A Saturday afternoon at Regal's Manchester theater, which is packed with moviegoers taking advantage of the twilight matinee. (Even when movie chain Regal gobbled up the theater from its previous owner, Signature, this popular pricing matinee was retained; it's the best deal in town.)

The shell-shocked audience member: a genteel, dignified older woman who has just emerged from one of the theaters. She looks like someone attached electrodes to her eyeballs and gave her a few volts.

The quote of the day: "I can't BELIEVE you took your granny to see that," she says, her eyes narrowing at a clump of sheepish teen-agers toddling after her like ducklings in a pond. That was disgusting!"

The movie: None other than "Norbit," of course.

The lesson: Grandparents might be harmed in the viewing of this godawful movie.

Donald Munro

February 20, 2007 1:28 PM

The big Hollywood film awards will be presented this weekend. By this time next week, the entertainment buzz will be how this actor deserved the award and that film was overlooked. Before all of the chatter starts, there is something about this year's awards that just has to be said.

Why wasn't Steve Martin nominated? Where is the justice? How can an actor reach such a monumental point in his career and be ignored?

Martin was the obvious choice to win the Worst Actor award at the "27th Annual Razzie Awards." But noooooooo, he was not even nominated.

Rick Bentley

February 20, 2007 10:15 AM

sofa.JPGAfter reading my Sunday column about the wonderful Magritte exhibition in Los Angeles, artist Marn Reich writes that I might enjoy her entry (pictured at right; you can click to make it bigger) in last month's Visalia Sofa Art Show.

Just as I played with Magritte's famous "This is not a pipe" painting in the lede to my column, Reich took up that theme with her sofa. It's just another example of the surrealist painter's whopping influence on artists and modern pop culture, which is one of the major themes of the exhibition.

Donald Munro

February 20, 2007 8:01 AM

21488.jpgIf you're sick of seeing footage of Anna Nicole Smith stoned out of her mind (does any other footage exist?), feel free to skip this post.

If you want to see a video of Smith, barely functioning, stumbling around with a painted clown face (really) and pushing a stroller with a doll in it while Howard K. Stern informs her that the footage he's capturing is going to be worth money, click here.

Clearly the woman was dead long before the body hit the floor.

Heather

February 19, 2007 4:44 PM

So the big news of the weekend may have been Britney's new haircut, but there are some (mildly) interesting things happening lately to stars who aren't exactly on the A list:

1. Actress Bridget Moynahan (that's Natasha, Mr. Big's wife on "Sex and the City", to you) has confirmed that she is 3 months pregnant. The father is New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. The same Tom Brady who split with Moynahan in December, and is now being seen all over the world with pretty much the hottest model ever, Gisele Bundchen.

Oh man - telling an ex who has traded you in for a supermodel that he's your baby daddy has to be the best revenge ever. Bridget's going to have the last laugh seeing Gisele flee for the hills because - let's face it - the chances of the Brazilian model sticking around to take care of baby poo are about as high as Brady leading the Pats to another Super Bowl. Wait - is that right? I know nothing about baseball.

Heather

February 19, 2007 4:31 PM

mardi.gifAhh, Mardi Gras -- when the rest of Fresno comes to the Tower District. When the streets pack, the events are plenty and the non-Tower regulars come out in full force, thinking it's their destination for New Orleans-style madness in Fresno.

It's pretty funny, actually. To see the kids in the Mac Dre T-shirts (and I really mean kids -- 17, 18 year olds) standing by the Tower Theatre yelling at each car that passes, as if that is somehow "partying." To see the Tower-ignorant drivers try to turn the wrong way down Wishon Avenue, not really aware it's a one-way street. To see the Tower stalwarts shaking their heads, wishing it was a regular night, without all the Johnny-Come-Mardi-Gras.

And that was just Sunday night. I can't wait to see what happens on Fat Tuesday. Below, check out what's happening in the Tower and other parts of Fresno for Fat Tuesday. I'll be in the Tower, people watching. So don't make bad turns down one-way streets!

Mike Oz

February 19, 2007 11:10 AM

britney-wig.jpgBritney Spears was spotted in West Hollywood Sunday night wearing a wig she got free with her Magic Hair Styler Barbie.

Sadly, I find myself unable to make a joke funnier than the one Britney has played on herself.

Heather

February 19, 2007 8:13 AM

_883689_mccain300.jpgNot after saying Roe v. Wade should be overturned. Heck, forget the liberals. This puts him out of the -- ahem -- mainstream, with 62 percent of the country saying it shouldn't be overturned.

This kinda makes his stance on the Iraq war seem less noble and more suicidal (politically anyway). It's too bad, really. The guy seemed like he would have been a good president.

Will

February 19, 2007 1:20 AM

1488279443_l.jpgIn today's paper, I previewed Tuesday's Taste of Chaos tour, which stops at Selland Arena. I talked to members of five of the bands, trying to pinpoint what chaos they bring to the tour. Below, chech out additional interviews with the Chaos band members:

NOTE: Language on the interviews is NSFW. To download, right click and save.

Mike Oz

February 18, 2007 10:39 AM

daniel_radcliffe110.jpgWhat, pray tell, is happening at Hogwarts lately?

A new publicity still for the play Equus, starring Harry Potter's Daniel Radcliffe, has made its way to the Internet. If you'll recall, stills were released in late January showing young Radcliffe in several provocative (read: half-naked) poses, including one in which he is trying to seduce a white horse. Seriously. What the hell is this play about?

The newest photo shows the 17-year old Radcliffe trying to... actually, I'm not sure what he is doing. He looks like he is trying to cast some sort of spell. With his bare ass. Best Week Ever's blog has drawn a happy little pair of blue panties on the lad, so you can view the photo without feeling like the giant perv you know you are.

And what does Ralph Fiennes, who plays Voldemort, think about the photos? Hard to say, as he is busy dealing with the fallout from banging a loud-mouthed stewardess flight attendant in an airplane bathroom on a flight to India last month.

Heather

February 17, 2007 12:22 PM

163506252_l.jpgWell, actually a barber did it. I was 7. And I had head lice. And it was pretty much the easiest way to get rid of those demons that were infesting my head and making me crazy.

Pretty much the same thing, eh Brit?

Mike Oz

February 17, 2007 9:32 AM

brit.jpgYesterday the gossip sites were alive with the sound of rehab, announcing that Britney Spears had spent one day in a facility in Antigua before checking out again and hopping a plane back to L.A.

Not content with letting that story be the freak show highlight of the weekend, Britney outdid herself Friday night by stopping at a hair parlor in Tarzana and shaving her head completely bald.

According to USmagazine.com:

"Britney came in and said she wanted them to shave her head." According to [a] source, when the hairdresser refused, "Britney grabbed the hair clipper and started doing it herself."

Oh, but our little Girl, Interrupted wasn't done yet.

Heather

February 16, 2007 4:33 PM

One interesting thing about my coverage of the L.A. Opera's production of "The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny": It stirred a lot of reader interest. Lars Maischak, PhD, a lecturer in American history at Fresno State, writes to tell me that my recall of the political situation in 1930s Germany wasn't all it should be:

You state that the opera "created big waves in Nazi Germany at its first performance". When this opera premiered, Germany was still a democratic country, with free elections and free speech; even if the federal executive had begun to become more authoritarian. Hitler only assumed the chancellorship in January 1933. After that point, artists like Brecht and Weill had to leave the country at the peril of losing their life. Works like this opera could no longer be performed under Nazi rule.

The Nazi Party was already growing stronger in 1931, when "Mahagonny" premiered, and its members attempted to prevent it from being performed, at all. They did not succeed, however. After they had assumed power, silencing all art that they deemed "un-German" was one of the first items on their agenda.

Thanks for the clarification.

Donald Munro

February 16, 2007 4:26 PM

richie-mug.jpgNicole Richie was officially charged with a misdemeanor for DUI today in Los Angeles. Richie was arrested in December when her car was spotted going the wrong way on the freeway. She admitted to police that she had taken Vicodin and smoked pot.

According to People.com:

"Because of a prior DUI conviction in June 2003, by California law, Richie faces mandatory jail time of 90 days up to one year if convicted of a second DUI."

Richie's attorney says that Nicole "intends to continue with her career and will deal with any other issues that need to be addressed." Namely, she will continue to be famous for being anorexic, a surprise benefit of the disease now being the ability to slide between the bars of most jail cells.

Heather

February 16, 2007 4:01 PM

britney8.jpgTMZ.com is reporting that Britney Spears checked into a rehab center in Antigua a couple of days ago, only to check out the very next day.

Wait- rehab? But Britney hasn't been caught using inflammatory language lately. What could have happened to make her contemplate rehab?

Nothing, apparently. Her publicist - wait a sec, she has a publicist? - denies the whole thing.

Well, that's a relief. How silly to think that someone as put-together as Britney Spears - a mother of two, may I remind you - needs to change her life in any way.

Heather

February 16, 2007 3:41 PM

paris.jpgWanna see video footage of Paris Hilton, in Vienna for some lame promotional event, getting pelted with Valtrex cigarettes and lipstick by a crowd of onlookers?

I knew that you did.

Heather

February 16, 2007 3:04 PM

potter.jpgA reader writes:

My husband and I have been wanting to go see the movie "Miss Potter" about Beatrix Potter. We saw it in the previews at Edwards Theater back in December, but we have not seen it listed in the movies that are playing in Fresno. Do you know when it will come to Fresno? Or maybe it is playing somewhere and I haven't noticed it? It looked like a wonderful movie! I'd love to see it. It opened in limited theaters a month or so ago.

Alas, this is one of the most common questions -- why hasn't [fill in the blank] opened here? -- that I get asked. And the news often isn't good.

Donald Munro

February 16, 2007 2:41 PM

MG07H.jpgThe Tower District does it best New Orleans imitation on Sunday, as it busts out its annual Mardi Gras parade along Olive Avenue.

Among the performers this year: MoFo Party Band, Sippy & Ol' Guzzler, Lonesome Jem & The Lunatics, Dead Hooker Society, Three Bags Full and Viper City Brass Band. It starts at 1 p.m. Cross your fingers for no rain. Both start at 2 p.m.

Afterward, there's a couple options to keep the party going: Three Guys Playin' the Blues perform at Sequoia Brewing Co. while Glen Delpit & The Subterraneans hits the recently renovated Club Fred stage.

For some Fat Tuesday options, check out my Music Roundup from today's paper. More weekend tidbits there or below:

Mike Oz

February 16, 2007 2:30 PM

breach.jpg
I'm not a loose movie critic. You can't get me drunk, wrangle a good grade out of me and then tiptoe out before breakfast. I'm not one of those critics who toss around phrases like "THE BEST MOVIE OF THE YEAR!!!!" or "A SURE OSCAR FAVORITE!!!"

But I have to say that I'm really enamored of "Breach," the new film directed by Billy Ray, that tells the real-life story of Robert Hanssen, the FBI turncoat, one of the most notorious spies in U.S. history.

Check out my review in today's Weekend section. Chris Cooper, who plays Hanssen, is superb. I'm not the greatest Oscar prognosticator, and I'm sure that "Breach's" February release is going to make it virtually impossible to be considered for next year's awards, but Cooper is definitely on my best-actor short list. Then, after "Breach," rent Ray's 2003 film "Shattered Glass," the story of yet another pariah, this one a disgraced journalist. It's another great movie.

Donald Munro

February 16, 2007 1:33 PM

RICKY%20MARTIN%20MTV.JPG... Ricky Martin!

At least he flipped the Prez the bird BEFORE the Dixie Chicks won all the Grammys. That way he doesn't look like he's totally desperate for attention or anything. He's just a tad desperate.

Livin La Vida Loca indeed, Ricky.

Mike Oz

February 16, 2007 9:44 AM

foxxgrammys.JPGThe Save Mart Center has announced the rescheduled Jamie Foxx concert date: April 13.

As for tickets, a press release from the arena says, "Tickets purchased for the original date of February 15, 2007 will be honored on the new date, April 13, 2007. Anyone who has a ticket for the February 15th date and cannot attend the April 13th show can receive a full refund at the original point of purchase."

Good news: The show is now on a Friday.

Bad news: It's Friday the 13th.

Mike Oz

February 15, 2007 6:25 PM

Hardaway42696.jpgNot a week since I wanted to know how many pro athletes are homophobes, and I got a sense of just how homophobic some of them really are. Former NBAer Tim Hardaway answered a hypothetical question about having a gay teammate by saying "I hate gay people." You gotta hear the audio of this.

In a swift act of punishment, NBA commissioner David Stern has barred Hardaway from this weekend's NBA All-Star activities, during which he was scheduled to represent the league in a couple of promotional events.

So now he's apologized. Which is the Isaiah Washington thing all over again. Sigh. Either say it and stand by it, or never open your mouth. The Dixie Chicks never apologized for calling out the president, and they just won a bunch of Grammys. What's Tim Hardaway gonna win? A membership offer to the Bigot of the Month club?

Will

February 15, 2007 2:58 PM

sharmay.jpgAudra McDonald isn't the only Fresno connection you can find in the glittering new production of Los Angeles Opera's "The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny." After reading my review of the production in today's paper, Annette Papagni called to remind me that Sharmay Musacchio, who plays one of the "maidens of Mahagonny," hails from Fresno as well.

Sharmay studied at the San Francisco Conservatory and has performed with such companies as Sarasota Opera, Portland Opera, the San Diego Chamber Orchestra and Fresno's own California Opera Association.

As a "maiden," she has a demanding role playing an Old West prostitute: often posing on stage in interesting (and provocative) positions and then required to hold them sometimes for minutes at a time. Add to that Kurt Weill's demanding score and the stylized-aloof Brechtian approach to acting that the production requires, and it's quite a workout.

Annette says she's planning to see "Mahagonny" on Saturday night.

Donald Munro

February 15, 2007 12:10 PM

aitop24.JPGThe drama was thick on last night's "American Idol." This year's crop of 24 was being selected. That meant either lots of celebration or lots of tears. Here's what The Beehive's Idol watchers have to say:

Felicia says:
Wednesday's segment of "American Idol" almost felt anti-climactic. To slash a field of 40 to 24 in less than an hour (anybody ever notice how many commercials Fox crams into an A.I. hour?), you have scant time for pleasantries and "better luck next times." Yeah, the producers try to build in drama, like keeping the 40 together in a "holding room" so they can count to 24 each time a contestant returns from the judges. But it feels perfunctory.

Mike Oz

February 15, 2007 11:38 AM

Las Vegas has promoted itself over the years with the slogan "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. That's not going to be the case anymore. Now what happens in Vegas will be available on the Internet and eventually through a new cable channel.

Starting Feb. 16, the V.tv Web site launches. And keeping with the always tasteful way Vegas works, the Web site will be hosted by The V Babes: three women who deliver news and entertaining information about Las Vegas in English, Spanish and Mandarin/Cantonese. That means it will no longer be necessary to make the trip to the Nevada city to keep up with what is happening with attractions such as Prince or "Nudes on Ice."

Rick Bentley

February 15, 2007 10:46 AM

foxxgrammys2.JPGNo Jamie Foxx tonight. Because of a "voice issue," his show at Save Mart Center has been postponed.

Do you buy it?

PRO: Foxx is a busy guy, performing and acting and all that. It could have very well taken a toll on his voice. Plus, he doesn't tour constantly like other acts and having a show like his, that's half-stand-up, half-singing, might be tough on him.

CON: Foxx's next two shows are in Las Vegas, where there's gonna be plenty of partying for NBA All-Star Weekend. He could have just wanted to get there early and live it up. Fresno? Vegas? You pick! Plus, you have to wonder how well ticket sales were doing. There have been a lot of ads for the show lately. Maybe the show promoter is hoping a couple more weeks can sell some more tickets.

UPDATE: I e-mailed the Gazette-Journal, the newspaper in Reno, asking if they knew of Foxx havng "a voice issue" and I got this response from a reporter there: "Foxx mentioned he was "under the weather" and that he was fighting a cold during his Valentine's Day performance at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno before a sold-out crowd."

Mike Oz

February 14, 2007 6:19 PM

90210.jpgSad Fact: Every day I rush home from work to catch the second of two episodes of "Beverly Hills, 90210" that Soapnet runs daily. Today was no different:

It's Season 4, and the episode is "Vital Signs". Brenda has the lead in the CU production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Dylan and Kelly are on the verge of breaking up (again). Brandon thinks he's lost his spot on the Task Force because of Chancellor Arnold's slutty daughter Claire.

Hapless Steve has just been through a rough time, having been accused of date rape (he was innocent, of course!) by Laura Kingman, who then - inexplicably - gets him to coach her for the role she eventually loses to Brenda in the school play. Laura accuses Brenda of sleeping with the director for the part, and Steve agrees. Of course, all of this support backfires on him anyway and Laura eventually has to drop out of school for being ca-razy. Steve, packing up Psycho Laura's belongings, tells Brandon that he has to ship her stuff to her home in - wait for it - FRESNO.

Ahhh... Fresno. Coming back from the past to make yet another awesome and image-enhancing appearance on the pop culture landscape.

Heather

February 14, 2007 12:36 PM

THE%20GAME.JPGThere hasn't really been a hip-hop show at Save Mart Center yet -- unless you count the Black Eyed Peas, which I don't -- but that's about to change.

E-40 and The Game (right) are headlining the West Coast Alliance tour, which will stop at Save Mart Center on March 15. Also performing are DJ Quik, Bone Thugs 'N' Harmony (who we'll just forget are from Cleveland for the sake of this show), their affiliate Big Sloan and L.A.'s Day Day King.

Tickets go on-sale at 10 a.m. Friday, costing $21.75, $56.75, $66.75, $91.75 and $101.75.

This sets up a big streak of music in March. My Chemical Romance performs March 14 at Selland Arena and Evanescence performs March 16 at Selland. Then on March 17, The Isley Brothers perform at Warnors Theatre.

Mike Oz

February 14, 2007 11:35 AM

googe.JPGI dig when Google does those creative, holiday-themed logos, but is something a little off about today's? Where's the L?

Is the strawberry stem supposed to the L? That's what someone told me. I'm not biting. Seems like a Goofle to me. You?

Mike Oz

February 14, 2007 11:22 AM

This year's selection of Valentine's cards included some based on the television shows "Grey's Anatomy," "Desperate Housewives" and "The Office."

It is logical to tie Valentine's Day to "Grey's Anatomy." The medical show is more about affairs of the heart than heart surgeries. And when it comes to "Desperate Housewives," the women of Wisteria Lane lead such an active life they probably need cases of cards.

You have to wonder just how romantic your true love will think you are when you hand him or her a card featuring the cast of "The Office."

It could have been worse.

Rick Bentley

February 14, 2007 11:04 AM

bayliebrown_cut.jpg"Idol" is in Hollywood. Finally. And the drama is just getting started. The Beehive's Felicia Matlosz and Mike Osegueda are here to break down last night's episode:

Felicia says:
"American Idol" labels this week's stretch of the show as "Hollywood Week" -- when those golden ticket holders finally begin serious auditions in La La Land -- but a more accurate phrase would be "Hell Week."

Tuesday's show, heavy on tears, at least depicted the immense pressure of show biz. Think about it. You, out of tens of thousands at the city auditions, won a golden ticket ... only to find out that the stress meter goes into hyperdrive in Hollywood. Now, you're under the spotlights on the Orpheum Theatre stage with no net. Look at what happened to the first group of six girls. I bet they thought they did just fine. Then they quickly found out fine isn't nearly good enough. The judges gave them a swift boot. Next group, please.

Mike Oz

February 14, 2007 8:48 AM

Browns.jpegWhitney Houston and Bobby Brown were photographed having dinner Sunday in Beverly Hills with their daughter Bobbi Christina.

You: But, Heather, I thought Whitney filed for divorce from that crazy Bobby Brown.

Me: She did. But apparently they're keeping it together for the crack children.

Heather

February 13, 2007 10:11 PM

growingpains-747272.jpegAre you smiling? 'Cuz I am! Those wonderful people at Nick@Nite have added "Growing Pains" to their roster of sitcoms from TV's yesteryear, billing it as the "most sitcomy sitcom ever."

And while that's cool -- it doesn't necessarily warrant the five minutes it's taking me to make this blog post and the 30 seconds it'll take you to skim it.

What does render this blog totally worthwhile is the fact that Nick@Nite is starting things off with MULTIPLE "Growing Pains" marathons -- every night until Sunday. We're talking 16-18 episodes per night, going 'til 5 a.m. That kinda thing.

I'm no math genius, but that's something like 150 episodes. Oh, don't pretend like you have something better to do. And before you try to argue with me ...

" ... don't waste another minute on your crying ..."

Mike Oz

February 13, 2007 7:04 PM

smith-inside-020907.jpgOkay, I'm as sick of writing about Anna Nicole Smith as you are of reading about her, but I would be remiss if I didn't mention these ridiculously odd tidbits about her life after death:

There's another man who is trying to claim paternity of Smith's 5-month old daughter, Dannielynn: Smith's former bodyguard Alexander Denk. This paternity thing is eerily reminiscent of the race for California Governor a few years ago. Remember that? Expect Gary Coleman and porn star Mary Carey to claim paternity soon. Bonus: If you scroll down a bit, you'll get to see an awesome and classy picture of Denk with his tongue in Smith's mouth. (Not safe for those with a gag reflex)

Oh yes, there's more.

Heather

February 13, 2007 2:35 PM

In a Best Bet in Sunday's paper, I spotlighted the opening of Bertolt Brecht's "The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny" at Los Angeles Opera. (Audra McDonald stars.) Seems I put an extra H in Mr. Brecht's first name. A reader writes:

Bertholt Brecht? Did your editors eff up? I know that spelling is the correct way you spell his middle name but the man's professional name is was and will always be Bertolt Brecht. Do all my theatre history books lie? I know I'm the only one who cares about stuff like this but please don't give the man the extra H.

Donald Munro

February 13, 2007 1:20 PM

policegrammys.JPGEverybody is talking about The Police reunion tour. (See what I did there, each word is a different link, backing up my statement that ... argh! nevermind).

So I decided to be the Fresno-centric one and ask the question: What about Fresno?

"There's nothing in the works right now," says Save Mart Center GM Steve Tadlock.

He explained that since it's still early in the planning phases of the tour, just how much Police work Sting & Co. will do depends on how well the first batch of shows go.

Mike Oz

February 13, 2007 12:54 PM

pan%27s.jpgSure, "Norbit" flattened the competition at the box office last weekend, which pretty much means either that 1) the average American moviegoer is about as sophisticated as a raisin; or 2) Eddie Murphy has a really big extended family. I suspect the former, and guess what? No surprise. Fat jokes will beat out Oscar nominees every time.

But the real story of the Top 10 movie chart continues to be the wild and eerie "Pan's Labyrinth," Guillermo del Toro's exhilarating exercise in the horrors of war. It ranked No. 7, and it's hanging in week after week. This is truly a word-of-mouth movie. People are seeing it more than once.

Donald Munro

February 13, 2007 11:59 AM

Check out my story about Jake Shimabukuro, which appeared in today's paper. He plays Wednesday night at Howie and Son's in Visalia. Tickets cost $5.

Mike Oz

February 13, 2007 9:40 AM

David%20Beckham.jpgThe Fresno Fuego - you know, Fresno's soccer team - have announced an exhibition match with the Los Angeles Galaxy Saturday, March 10 at Chukchansi Park. If that team name sounds familiar, it's because it is the team with which David Beckham signed a monster contract in January.

So is David Beckham coming to Fresno? Um, no. His stint with the Galaxy doesn't start until August, unfortunately. But the Fuego promise that there are plenty of other stars in the Galaxy worth checking out, like.... and......

You may be asking yourself why I am talking about soccer when it reads "Celeb Gossip" in bright pink letters under my name at the top of this page. The answer is: Because I totally support Fresno in all ways, including its sports teams.

And I needed an excuse to post this picture of David Beckham slaying the dragon as Prince Charming for a Disney promotion. Prince Charming! He's on a horse and everything!

Heather

February 12, 2007 6:35 PM

justin_cameron_split_004.jpgWell, well, well.

Justin Timberlake's video for "What Goes Around" is circulating on the Internet. You remember: this is the video that allegedly made Cameron Diaz lose her mind with jealousy over JT's chemistry with video co-star Scarlet Johansson.

So, was Cameron's ire justified? Damn right it was. If you can get past the fact that the "director's cut" of the video is 9 minutes long (the song is 7 and a half), and that the story being told is cheesy as hell, you will see that Justin and ScarJo have some heat. If I was Cameron, I'd still be bitch-slapping JT.

In case you don't know the story behind the song, it is supposed to be about Britney Spears cheating on Justin with mutual friend Wade Robson, and the lyrics even give a shout-out to our friend Kevin Federline: "I heard you found out/That he's doing to you/ What you did to me/Ain't that the way it goes."

Hmmm. So a song written about ole' Trainwreck Spears was responsible for breaking up Justin and Cameron. That seems about right. But judging by that scene of him and Scarlet in the swimming pool, something tells me he doesn't mind.

Heather

February 12, 2007 4:21 PM

mahagonny.gifSo on Sunday I'm at a gas station by Magic Mountain, filling up for the climb over the Grapevine, when I see a familiar face: Joel Abels. Turns out that we'd both been to Los Angeles for the same event: Audra McDonald's L.A. opera premiere in the searing "Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny," the Kurt Weill/Berthold Brecht lavish exercise in agitprop excess that puts a bunch of rich people in $220 seats and then lectures them on the hazards of capitalism. (It's sort of like watching "Rent" and then daintily stepping over the street person camped outside the theater after the show.)

Joel is a longtime childhood friend of Audra's who tries to make it to as many of her openings as he can. On Saturday, he went backstage right after the opera to say hello and hang out. And who should walk in? None other than Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson. (She and Audra are good pals.) Talk about the A list!

I thought Audra was superb and the opera -- while a bear of an intellectual exercise -- a fascinating event. My story/review, which is still balled up in my brain as a jumble of piercing words and images, is slated to run Thursday in the print edition.

Donald Munro

February 12, 2007 3:55 PM

ainadamar.jpgClovis High School grad Kelley O'Connor, who on Sunday won the Grammy for best opera recording for "Ainadamar," a new opera by Osvaldo Golijov. She shares the award with the album's conductor, producer and principal soloists.

Kelley, a Good Company Players alum, was on her way home to Fresno Monday for a couple of weeks of well-deserved R&R. I talked to her excited mother, Diane, who says that the Grammys were a full day for Kelley. The classical music awards weren't televised, although the awards ceremony looks the same with glitter, glamour and acceptance speeches. Kelley's awards started at 1:30 p.m.; less than an hour later, she phoned her mother with the good news. Afterward, the classical winners and nominees got to attend the televised ceremony.

Though Kelley got to hold a Grammy for press pictures, she doesn't yet have her own statuette. She'll get that mailed to her.

I plan to talk to Fresno's newest award-winner on Tuesday, and I'll post the interview online.

Donald Munro

February 12, 2007 2:45 PM

grammychicks.JPGSeventeen hours later, I still have a few Grammy thoughts:

  • Looking back, there wasn't anything about last night's show that really stands out to me a day later. I'm already tired of hearing about the Dixie Chicks. There wasn't really a stand-out performance. I liked Gnarls Barkley, but not enough that I'd go out of my way to watch it again. I guess learning that Fergie can't read was my favorite Grammy moment.

Mike Oz

February 12, 2007 11:00 AM

Remember when I made a big deal about John Mayer dating Jessica Simpson? Twice?

I take it all back. After seeing these pictures of the not-so-shy-anymore couple at a Grammys after-party, I've decided she can totally have him.

How can John Mayer not be cute? He sounds cute in his songs. Next you're going to tell me Justin did not actually bring sexy back.

I just don't know what to believe in anymore.

Heather

February 12, 2007 10:22 AM

On a recent episode of the CBS series "CSI: Miami," the sleuths were able to figure out where a person was by how his cell phone service was being blocked. It seems he was close to a movie theater complex that had a cell phone blocker.

This is not just creative writing. Such a gizmo does exist. And, there is talk of at least one local theater chain is considering installing such a device.

The blocker makes it impossible to make or receive cell phone calls inside the theater. The only kink is making sure doctors have a way of staying in touch with their offices.

This is such a great idea it is time to start a telethon to raise the money to buy such a device. The telethon can be called QUIET (Quit Using Infernal Electronics in Theaters).

Rick Bentley

February 11, 2007 10:10 PM

070211grammys.jpgSemi-live blogging (written live, posted after the fact) of Sunday night's Grammy awards:

8 p.m.: "Ladies and gentleman, we are The Police and we are back." With that Sting ushered in this year's Grammys. They performed "Roxanne" -- the obvious choice. The hair, the vest - is that Sting or Billy Idol? The Police were fine. I thought they would have done a medley, or at least another song, or something, anything more. But I'm sure they'll be better when they hit the road this summer. And they wouldn't want to give all that away for free now would they?

8:05 p.m. - Jamie Foxx is trying to be funny. Let's hope he's better Thursday at Save Mart Center.

Mike Oz

February 11, 2007 4:54 PM

grammy.JPGThe Grammys are about to start for me. (I'm catching the East Coast feed). So before we get started here are a few storylines to watch during tonight's show:

- The Police reunion: How will they sound?
- The Dixie Chicks: Will they find retribution from the Grammys?
- Mary J. Blige: She nabbed the most nominations. She's already the queen of hip-hop soul, but will she be the Grammy queen?
- Will people watch? The other networks didn't back down from the Grammys are showing first-run shows tonight. Do people still care about the Grammys.

If you missed it, here is a link to my prediction story from today's paper.

UPDATE: The winners so far -- mostly the non-televised stuff -- can be seen here.

Mike Oz

February 9, 2007 2:18 PM

nba.jpgWe know a good number are into drug use (the cheating and the recreational kind), gun ownership and running over their wives with SUVs (I'm looking at you, former Bulldog Michael Pittman -- Fresno State, not the gang).

But I think there should be a poll to see how many of them have a problem with dudes kissing other dudes. What with the Super Bowl players' reactions to the Snickers ad, and now a former NBA player coming out in a book, it's clear that homosexuality doesn't stop at the edge of the playground.

The poll wouldn't have to be anonymous, as these players seem unabashed by their bigotry. But with no real repercussions combined with corporate culpability of homophobia, it's not surprising more players are still in the closet.

Will

February 9, 2007 1:34 PM

This just in: Duh.

Will

February 9, 2007 12:58 PM

Country%20joe%20hiresblock.JPGFor sick. County Joe McDonald pulled out of tonight's show at Crossroads because he's sick.

"He called me this morning at about 9 a.m. and he sounded sick as a dog," says Crossroads owner Bob Pierce. "He said he hasn't canceled a show in 30 years."

Pierce says the show will be rescheduled for a later date and tickets will be refunded. He's currently scrambling to line up another show for tonight, which he says will be free.

Crossroads had Joe Louis Walker cancel a couple weeks back because he got sick on a cruise ship. So if you're keeping score at home, Crossroads and the Fresno Philharmonic are now tied 2-2 for recent, last-minute cancellations.

Mike Oz

February 9, 2007 12:42 PM

anna.jpgA press conference was just held in Florida by the Broward County medical examiner's office regarding the autopsy of Anna Nicole Smith.

Preliminary testing was unable to determine cause of death, and apparently none of the prescription drugs found in Smith's room were found in her system. According to the Associated Press:

The autopsy excluded any trauma as a cause of death, said Dr. Joshua Perper, who performed the autopsy.

It revealed only "subtle findings" in the heart and gastrointestinal tract, and blood in her stomach from being in shock before she died, said Perper, Broward County's medical examiner. "There were no findings that would indicate continuing drug abuse," Perper said. He called the process a "medical puzzle" and said it would take three to five weeks to conclude the investigation.

Also, according to the Seminole, Florida police chief, there were no illegal drugs found in Smith's room, and there is no evidence to suggest a crime was committed to cause Smith's death, but they're keeping the case opened.

Wow. Is it possible Anna Nicole Smith died from natural causes? Somehow that's even more tragic and shocking than the idea she might have OD'ed.

Heather

February 9, 2007 12:19 PM

In San Francisco, "Beach Blanket Babylon" is a theatrical institution. One of the fun things about this long-running revue is that it constantly changes. The newest version includes none other than Speaker of the House (and hometown girl) Nancy Pelosi:

Wearing leather pants and jacket, Pelosi roars onto the stage on a motorcycle singing new lyrics to the hit 60's tune "Leader of the Pack." Joining her as backup singers are Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer.

Check out these amusing lyrics. Nancy sings:

Donald Munro

February 9, 2007 11:57 AM

anne.JPGYou might know Sierra Art Trails as a wonderful fall event. But the organization, based at Stellar Gallery in Oakhurst, also sponsors monthly activities. Pastel artist Anne McClure will be on hand 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday Feb. 10 for "A Day With the Artist." (You can check out some of her work here.)

As an incentive, McClure will be raffling her painting "Secrets." Tickets are $1 (no limit), with proceeds going to the Yosemite Western Artists group, of which McClure is a member. Since her works can sell well into the thousands of dollars, this could be a good deal, indeed.

Stellar Gallery is at 40982 Highway 41 in Oakhurst.

Donald Munro

February 9, 2007 11:02 AM

It is not a matter of if there will be a movie made on the life of Anna Nicole Smith. It is just a matter of how soon it will be made.

In this world where people rise to celebrity status on nothing more than the power of the press, Smith was the poster child. Her accomplishments - posing in Playboy, marrying a billionaire, a reality show, a few TV and movie appearances - don't add up to the celebrity status she reached. Smith just happened to live and die in a time when a person can become famous for little or no reason at all.

Her fame was fueled by a fascination with how she lived her life both as a beauty and with emotional beasts.

Rick Bentley

February 9, 2007 10:50 AM

anna3.jpgFile this one under: What the hell?

Associated Press is reporting that Zsa Zsa Gabor's husband, Prince Frederick von Anhalt, claims to have had a decade-long affair with Anna Nicole Smith, and that the baby she had in September is his. If you're keeping track at home, this is the third guy to claim paternity of the child.

"If you go back from September, she wasn't with one of those guys, she was with me," von Anhalt told The Associated Press. He said he would file a lawsuit if Dannielynn is turned over to Stern or Birkhead.

Here's where the awesome comes in: von Anhalt, 59, and Ms. Gabor, 90, are still married, and have been for 20 years. Von Anhalt is Gabor's 8th husband.

According to von Anhalt, the affair with Smith began after they met in New York in the 1990s. Not wanting to divorce Gabor, von Anhalt decided to have papers drawn up to ADOPT ANNA NICOLE SMITH. Let me say that again. He wanted to ADOPT the woman he was sleeping with behind his wife's back.

Shockingly, Gabor wouldn't play along, so von Anhalt had to settle for - allegedly - impregnating her. So why come forward now? Why el$e? That tiny bundle of joy is worth millions of dollars now that Smith and Smith's son, Daniel, are both dead. Her marriage to Howard K. Stern is most likely not valid, so 5-month old Dannielynn is heir to the throne, so to speak.

If you thought Anna Nicole's life was fascinating in a really trashy way, her death is going to make all of that look like a PBS special.

Heather

February 9, 2007 9:02 AM

Anna2.jpgTo the surprise of probably no one, police have said that they found "a large number" of prescription drugs in the hotel room Anna Nicole Smith collapsed in yesterday afternoon.

An autopsy on Smith is happening right now in Florida. According to CNN.com: "There was no indication how long the autopsy would take, but the [Broward County medical examiner's] office said it would hold a news conference later Friday to discuss the preliminary results.

If the exam determines she died of natural causes, the results should be released soon. If not, it could take weeks for tests to determine what killed the 39-year-old reality TV star, Playboy playmate and former Guess model."

Heather

February 9, 2007 5:00 AM

gilbert.JPGGilbert Castellanos comes home tonight. The Fresno-bred trumpet player, educated at Roosevelt High School and Fresno City College before launching a successful jazz career, returns to his high school alma mater this evening.

Castellanos has played with Diana Krall, Michael Buble, Paul Anka, Luis Miguel and most recently Queen Latifah. He's a graduate of the Berklee College of Music and CalArts. He's a member of the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, the Anthony Wilson Nonet and head of his own quartet, which performs tonight.

The program begins at 6:30 p.m. at Roosevelt's auditorium, with a conversation-with-the-artist segment. At 7:30 p.m., Castellanos and his group will take the stage. Tickets cost $15, $ 12 for JazzFresno members or $ 7 for students. [ More info ]

Click here to listen to a telephone interview with Castellanos where he talks about his return to Fresno, how his Roosevelt education shaped his jazz career and how his music has taken off.

Mike Oz

February 8, 2007 3:22 PM

grammy.JPGMy look at this year's Grammys will be in Sunday's paper, but here on the Beehive, we can start playing Grammy prognosticators a little early.

I'm posting 20 categories below -- the 12 big ones that I looked at in my Sunday story, plus eight others just for fun.

My picks are bolded. Can you beat me in Grammy predications? It won't be hard. I'm not good at this. If you win, you win a big box of nothing, but the right to forever tease me. Good luck.

Mike Oz

February 8, 2007 2:52 PM

chicks.jpgSo I was skimming over the Grammy nominees to see if I care to tune in this weekend. And I was happy to see the Dixie Chicks (whose concert I saw, and friended on MySpace) get quite a few mentions, especially in the big categories of best album, song and record (still confused about the difference between record and song, though).

Anyway, the Chicks also scored a few country-category nominations. Being curious to see how good a shot they have, I checked out whether they won any CMA Awards (which took place in November; I don't listen to any other country). When I saw that they scored a big, fat zero, I looked at the nominations. And I was shocked.

Will

February 8, 2007 2:33 PM

For the three of you who enjoy my "mindless mental masturbation" here are a few things I have going on:

- Tonight, I'll be a part of Fresno County Library's Big Read -- a 24-hour read-a-thon at Joy Luck Restaurant. I'm one of about 75 people reading from The Joy Luck Club. My turn is at 7:40 p.m. I'm kinda sick -- so let's hope I don't sound too bad. You can come and make fun of me on the blog tomorrow if you want. Super late notice: Donald Munro is doing it at 3 p.m.

Mike Oz

February 8, 2007 2:09 PM

A few years ago I wrote a piece about up-and-coming opera singer Kelley O'Connor, a Clovis High School grad and former Good Company Players performer who got a big break when she was cast in "Ainadamar," a new opera by Osvaldo Golijov.

Now O'Connor is up for a Grammy Sunday night for best opera recording for "Ainadamar." In this category, the award goes to the conductor, album producer and principal soloists. As a singer, O'Connor is nominated along with Jessica Rivera and Dawn Upshaw. (Wow. Talk about good company.) She recorded the opera with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

More opera news: I'm heading down to Los Angeles Saturday to see Audra McDonald in "The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny" at LA Opera. McDonald shares the billing with Patti Lupone in a production directed by John Doyle, who put together the acclaimed revival of "Sweeney Todd" on Broadway. The opera plays through March 4; I'll have a story/review in the blog and in print next week.

Donald Munro

February 8, 2007 1:15 PM

anna.jpgDonald: She died? How old is she? I'm kinda surprised. What are the odds of a mother dying right after her son dies? Weird.

Mike: A bizarre story (and life), turns tragic. Honestly, I can't say I'm surprised, but it's still very sad.

Heather: Why did she have a private nurse with her, and why did the bodyguard administer CPR if there was an actual nurse present? And why was her baby conveniently not present? Fake suicide attempt gone wrong or foul play? Dunh dunh DUNH!

Jennifer: (initial reaction) All right, breaking news alert! (Immediate second reaction) Uh, this is news?

My friend Bryan: Tragically boring.

Me: Yeah, I care more about Barbaro.

Will

February 8, 2007 1:04 PM

Anna.jpgCNN.com is reporting that troubled star Anna Nicole Smith has died. Smith was taken to a Florida hospital where she died after being found unconscious in her hotel room.

So far, there is no word on what caused Smith's death.

Things had not been looking good for Smith lately. Her son, Daniel, died from a drug overdose 3 days after his mother gave birth to daughter, Dannielynn, in the Bahamas in September. Smith, who claimed friend Howard K. Stern was the father of her child, had been in a legal battle with former boyfriend Larry Birkhead over the paternity of the child.

Just this week, Smith had been named in a lawsuit against Trim-Spa, the diet pill company she acted as spokesperson for. The suit alleges that weight loss claims made by Smith, and by the company, were false or misleading.

It's always shocking when something like this happens to a celebrity, especially to one who was the butt of so many jokes as Anna Nicole Smith was. It will really be interesting to hear what an autopsy reveals about the death, as I can't help but immediately wonder if it was an accidental overdose or, judging from Smith's crazy behavior in the past, a cry for attention gone horribly wrong.

Heather

February 8, 2007 12:10 PM

ebony_jointer.jpgFinally. Finally the "American Idol" auditions are over.

Next week, it's off to Hollywood. Our own panel of "Idol" judges is happy about that. Before we get there, though, here's their recap from Wednesday's Best of the Rest show.

Felicia says:
The best part of American Idol's "Best of the Rest" episode Wednesday night was the last part -- previews of what happens when 172 fame-seekers land in Hollywood and find out what show business pressure is really all about. We got quick edit cuts of people crying ... and crying ... and crying.

Mike Oz

February 7, 2007 1:58 PM

Television's biggest tease returns tonight. The first of 16 original episodes of "Lost" can be seen starting at 10 p.m. on KFSN, Channel 30.

Please note this is a change from the show's previous 9 p.m. slot.

"Lost" has been one of my favorite shows since it launched in September 2004. The storyline about plane crash survivors trying to unravel the mysteries of the island that has become their home has been addictive.

But, all good things must come to an end. It is time for the producers to start at looking at moving toward a conclusion.

Rick Bentley

February 7, 2007 11:53 AM

baylie_brown.jpg"American Idol" was in San Antonio last night, for the last of the audition city shows. It's almost Hollywood time, which means things are about to get good. But last night, not so much.

So says The Beehive's "Idol" panel of Felicia Matlosz and Mike Osegueda, who are here to breakdown the latest batch of "Idol" wannabes.

Felicia says:
Thank goodness the American Idol audition city shows are over. Didn't it feel like Tuesday night's show was padded, as in p-a-d-d-e-d, for material?

Mike Oz

February 7, 2007 11:26 AM

The razor-sharp angle of a bent elbow. The quiver of a taut thigh. The almost impossible arc of a leg thrust so high it could be striving for the moon.

Fresno doesn't have its own professional modern dance company, but it has the next best thing: one that visits every year. That's the happy scenario with the esteemed Dallas Black Dance Theatre, which sold out its annual performance Tuesday at the Tower Theatre with a typical concert of high energy, sensual movement and sweaty physicality.

Donald Munro

February 7, 2007 11:01 AM

Since Fagan's closed and Grogg's opened, Irish pubs in Fresno have been a growing topic of conversation.

Intrepid Beehive drinkers reporters Mike Oz and H-Mac took to the bar stools, examining Fresno's two Irish pub options -- Moynihan's and Grogg's.

Mike Oz

February 6, 2007 5:21 PM

astronauts.jpgSurely by now, you've heard of this story. You know, the one about the female astronaut who wore a diaper during a quickie Texas-Florida road trip so she could confront another woman involved in an alleged romantic triangle -- and possibly kill her. I'm sure it's not as bizarre as it seems, and the details yet to emerge will either confirm my belief in America's Finest or get even weirder. While the charges of attempted murder are serious, the headlines I'm seeing, well, not so much.

I've already seen Lust in Space and Astronaughty. I'm trying to come up with one of my own, but I'm too busy racking my brain to see if this is the worst PR that NASA has had since Lance Bass wanted to go into space. Or was it when they opened their facilities to the producers of "Armageddon"?

Will

February 6, 2007 4:01 PM

kiss.jpgI thought it was funny. The extreme "manly" reaction of pulling out their chest hair after kissing showed how idiotic the men were to react that way. It's a humorous premise for a 30-second Super Bowl ad.

But, not everyone feels that way. According to TowelRoad.com, the main complaint centers around the extras -- including a more violent alternate ending and homophobic reactions to the initial kiss from actual players on the Colts and Bears -- provided by Snickers, which has since pulled all versions of the ad from its Web site.

Will

February 6, 2007 3:56 PM

I see most movies in the theater, not on DVD. So it's often a case of deja vu when people rent a title for the first time and want to talk about it. If it's a movie I like or have strong feelings about, it's a chance to relive the emotional crackle of a first-time viewing experience.

First I received a note from a reader who had finally stumbled upon the power of "Rent":

I had never seen "Rent" until this weekend; we watched the movie, which was really really good. ... Wow, can TV cops ever sing! I had heard Jesse [L. Martin], but Tracie Thoms, who is on "Cold Case," is awesome. Also, I want to sign up for this deal -- "How're we gonna pay LAST YEAR'S rent?" And THEN if you don't, they toss you out. I like that system.

A fairly typical first reaction, I'd say. But then this correspondent got hooked. And he taught me something about "Rent."

Donald Munro

February 6, 2007 2:59 PM

In my Sunday column, I tossed in one of my standard, boiler-plate lines about the advantages of living in Fresno (and, yes, there are some): "We live within easy driving distance of not one but two of the world's great cultural centers. How can you not take advantage?"

A reader writes:

Personal answer: Ka ching ka ching ka ching. Between the cost of gas, a hotel, eating out AND the event tickets, you tell me. Not to mention if you've got kids and have to spring for an overnight babysitter.That's why us "uncultured' folks don't take advantage.

Point taken. I agree that I'm biased toward the no-kids-disposable-income point of view. But, there are people with
families who choose to spend their leisure/vacation time/income going to the coast, the mountains, or to LA or SF to see a high-priced sporting event. I'm not saying this is necessarily wrong, but choices do get made.

Donald Munro

February 6, 2007 2:50 PM

LIF%20SPCL%20LAMB%20OF%20GOD.JPGIf you missed (or didn't care about) the My Chemical Romance question bonanza, here's your chance to submit some questions for other upcoming band interviews.

Coming up, I'll be talking to Lamb of God and Taste of Chaos bands Senses Fail, 30 Seconds to Mars, Chiodos, Saosin, Aiden and Evaline. Also, I might get a phone interview with Jamie Foxx this week.

So if you got a question for any of these bands, post it.

Mike Oz

February 6, 2007 1:44 PM

anne.jpgAnne Hathaway, star of The Princess Diaries and The Devil Wears Prada, has claimed in an interview with Britain's Tatler magazine that, as a teen, she suffered from anxiety and depression, but that she rejected medication, choosing to work through her troubles.

Work through her troubles, eh? Is that code for "got a job that pays millions of dollars and lets me make out with Jake Gyllenhaal"?

Heather

February 6, 2007 1:29 PM

The direct-to-video release "Cinderella III: A Twist in Time" hit stores today. It is the story of what would have happened if the glass slipper had fit one of Cinderella's stepsisters.

It is a solid production as far as direct-to-video efforts go.

The good thing is that Disney went with this sequel idea instead of some of the other possibilities that are just Goofy.

Rick Bentley

February 6, 2007 12:22 PM

LIF%20SPCL%20LOS%20ABANDONED.JPGWelcome to Week 2 of the Beehive concert calendar -- it's a look at what's going on music-wise this week and into the future. I added a section for stuff that's new to the calendar this week. I'll try to do that each time. If I missed something, post it below or shoot me an e-mail.

Two big shows worth highlighting this week:

- Country Joe McDonald: Woodstock flashback! Veteran singer/songwriter McDonald performs Friday at Crossroads. Tickets cost $12.

- Miho Hatori/Los Abandoned: Double the dopeness at The Cellar Door in Visalia on Saturday. There's Miho Hatori, a former member member of Cibo Matto, and Los Abandoned (right), an really rad bilingual new wave group out of Southern California. Tickets cost $5.

Mike Oz

February 6, 2007 8:01 AM

Kevin%20Federline%20-%20k-fed1.jpgNow, now. Don't get your hopes up.

This photo of Kevin Federline with his throat slashed isn't real. I mean, it's a real picture. But as far as I know, K-Fed's head is still attached to his body.

This is what the kids call art. And who do you have to thank for this image? Fashion photographer Steven Klein, who is one of five photographers exhibiting in the National Portrait Gallery's forthcoming "Face of Fashion" show.

First the self-mocking commercial and now faking his own death? Through art, of all things?

I tell you, he's doing it. He's winning me over. That Federline is a genius. Are you paying attention, Britney? Apparently not.

Heather

February 5, 2007 5:21 PM

rehab.jpgThis one is for all of you hard-working desk jockeys in desperate need of a mid-winter pick-me-up (You too, Paris Hilton!).

Where's the hot new vacation spot? Rehab*, of course! It's where you go when you want people to think you're cleaning up your act and making healthy life decisions, but what you really do is shop all day, drink lattes and wear funny hats, just like Lindsay Lohan is demonstrating in these awesome ads for the Wonderland rehab center in Los Angeles.

So put down that stale cup of coffee, stop searching the Internet for the next must-see viral hoax, and get thee to rehab stat! Hey - don't worry, you'll still get to party on the weekend with your friends!

*Endorsed by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.

Heather

February 5, 2007 5:20 PM

gwen.JPGYes, the worst kept concert secret EVAAR is now official. Gwen Stefani is coming to the Save Mart Center.

In case you missed it in her CD, or on her Web site, or on this blog, the official word came from Save Mart Center about 20 minutes ago. Gwen performs April 24, with Akon opening. Tickets go on-sale at 10 a.m. Saturday, costing $39.75, $49.75 and $69.75.

If this interests you, consult Ticketmaster.

Mike Oz

February 5, 2007 9:58 AM

Paris2.jpgLooks like GLAAD is mad. Again.

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation has turned its attention away from Isaiah Washington and has moved onto a bigger fish: 2005 Gay Pride Parade Grand Marshall Paris Hilton.

Heather

February 5, 2007 8:37 AM

David Spade returns to network television tonight. He is one of the stars of the new CBS comedy "Rules of Engagement." Please note that the use of the word "comedy" in discussing this program is being generous.

How does Spade keep getting work? Having watched him for years on "Saturday Night Live" and on such TV shows as "Just Shoot Me," it seems the only person who really thinks Spade is funny is Spade.

Rick Bentley

February 4, 2007 8:30 PM

Britney.jpgYou know that thing that we poor people do, where we buy a dress we can't afford, keep the tags on, and then return the dress the next day?

Britney Spears does that, too. Only she apparently got her dress at Target. And it's more like the shapewear one wears under a dress than an actual, universally-recognized dress. And, though clearly comfortable with the little bit of mommy weight she still seems to be carrying in the mid-section, she doesn't see the problem with wearing this clingy, unforgiving lycra wonder to a fashion show for the label Baby Phat.

So, to sum up: Britney Spears + clingy, tacky lingerie + tag sticking out + Baby Phat = a good time had by all.

Heather

February 4, 2007 7:21 PM

tony.jpgNot that I wanna hate on my boy Tony and his boss on one of the biggest night of their lives, but ...

That's the impression I got after hearing from both of them that it was The Man Upstairs who made it possible for the Colts to win a football game.

(Oh, and may I just be the first to say that if any news outlet leads with or alludes to "Peyton's place," or any variation thereof, I'm so gonna puke. Come on, headline writers, do me proud tomorrow.)

Will

February 4, 2007 3:28 PM

garmin.jpgThe following is a live account of today's Super Bowl commercials. Commentators include me, and the people watching the game at my house: Carrie, Sarah, Bryan and Amanda.

1st quarter, 12:48. Colts 0, Bears 7.

Bud Light: Rock paper scissors with a twist. Grade: B

Doritos: Clutsy Boy meets clutsy girl. Grade: A

Blockbuster: Rabbit, guinea pig and mouse try to access the Internet. My friend Sarah says it's cruel to animals. Grade: B, for cleverness; D, for animal cruelty

Katie Couric/CBS promo: Booo Katie. Get off my TV.

Will

February 4, 2007 9:19 AM

anderson%20cooper.jpgI couldn't give a crap about whatever bad blood exists between cable news networks, but this is mildly interesting.

A publication called T.V. Week printed a two-page ad for Fox News in which the network calls its competition, represented in the ad as a silver-haired man who looks suspiciously like CNN's Anderson Cooper, the "Paris Hilton of Television News." I don't know what that means, but any time you invoke the Hilton name, you must be talking about herpes you're probably not being complimentary.

The ad goes on to label the Cooper lookalike "style over substance," "endless hype" and a "media darling," and it ends with the claim "He still gets beat EVERY NIGHT BY ... Greta Van Susteren." And, of course, smiling at us from the (appropriately enough) right side of the ad is Greta Van Susteren.

Heather

February 4, 2007 8:09 AM

Colts and Bears, yada yada yada. The best part about Super Bowl Sunday is staying farther away from the game than an auditor at a Fresno State budget meeting.

I love this day: the half-empty malls; the terrified arts groups that do anything not to schedule a performance; the peculiar way the traffic thins out mid-afternoon; the slim lines at the movie theaters. I wake up and think: Today the rest of the country is doing one thing, and I get to do another. There's a sly camaraderie between me and those other sturdy citizens who have decided to resist the magnet draw of popular culture; whether we're taking a walk on a half-deserted street or settling into a comfy-cozy (and roomy) coffee shop, we sometimes lock eyes and exchange a look as if to say, "Super what?" It's like five bonus hours everyone else doesn't have. I love it.

Oh, and let me know tomorrow who wins.

Donald Munro

February 3, 2007 3:35 PM

Last week was a big week for celebrity breakups. Since it might be hard to remember which couples are no more, I've put together this helpful list of suddenly-single people, complete with information on why you should know their names, and what the likelihood is that you could hook up if you ever met them in a bar:

Heather

February 3, 2007 1:47 PM

Talk about a string of bad luck for the Fresno Phil. Lang Lang, the world-class soloist scheduled to play Monday, has to bow out because he's sick. The Philharmonic reports:

For the second consecutive week the Fresno Philharmonic will dip into its Rolodex of artist substitutions to replace an indisposed guest soloist. Late Friday afternoon word was received from New York that Lang Lang, scheduled to appear with the Philharmonic on Monday evening, February 5, in a special Philharmonic performance, had come down with the flu in Shanghai, China, which forced him to cancel the end of his China tour and his appearance in Fresno.
Having just replaced indisposed violinist Nadja Sonnenberg with James Buswell last weekend, into the next breech this Monday steps pianist Sergei Babayan, who like Buswell, is another "Fresno Favorite," well-known here for his previous appearances with the Philharmonic and on the Philip Lorenz Memorial Keyboard Concerts at Fresno State. Critics have raved about Babayan's playing, calling him one of "an elite breed of new pianists" with "an extraordinary technique," and have praised his "elegant playing that is irreproachable on every level." Mr. Babayan's career was launched in 1990 with a First Prize at the Cleveland International Piano Competition, and followed that with several other consecutive First Prizes at other competitions.
This is a real blow.

Donald Munro

February 2, 2007 5:20 PM

Mike Oz

February 2, 2007 2:15 PM

Vince Cosentino from Vindawop Productions has been recording performances from Sweets Cafe's Thursday open mic night hosted by Roger Perry.

There's a treasure chest of them on YouTube worth checking out. Especially if you want to watch/hear local singer/songwriters. Videos of local artists such as David Trent, Pieter Moerdyk and The Neptunes are up there.

More on Sweets Cafe here. Also, check out its February calendar.

Mike Oz

February 2, 2007 11:53 AM

manning.jpgCongrats to Heather for being the only one of us to correctly pick the NFL's conference champions, aka the teams playing in Sunday's Super Bowl. She wins a Chalupa.

So because it was so much fun -- and ultimately meaningless -- we decided to do it again. Your Beehive bloggers are giving their Super Bowl picks. But if you're interested in some real prognostication, check out a simulated Madden NFL 07 version of the game.

Will

February 2, 2007 11:52 AM

It is nice that the Fresno Falcons have been willing to be involved in various charities. That shows a commitment to the community other than asking for a few bucks for a ticket.

Their latest cause shows a little lack of thought.

Money will be raised during Saturdays game against the Stockton Thunder at the Save Mart Center for the Mary-Kate and Ashley Charitable Foundation. Does it really matter how much money you make by auctioning pink jerseys when it is going to millionaire twins?

Rick Bentley

February 2, 2007 10:34 AM

Dempsey.jpgMcDreamy is a McDaddy.

"Grey's Anatomy's" Patrick Dempsey and his wife, Jillian, welcomed twin boys Darby Galen and Sullivan Patrick Thursday in Los Angeles. People.com has the exclusive, plus a bunch of sappy quotes from Dempsey about how fatherhood has changed him for the better, blah, blah, blah.

Darby Galen and Sullivan Patrick? Dempsey seems to be taking the "Mc" in McDreamy a little too far, but whatever. I'd still hit that. But only if McSteamy (possibly Not Safe For Work) was tired out. Whoop! Where my girls at?!

No? Inappropriate? I'm telling you, in my old age it's getting harder and harder to see that line that shouldn't be crossed.

Heather

February 2, 2007 10:12 AM

In my column today, I tossed out some ideas of ways, if I could, I would change or add to the local music scene. I'm not gonna recap it here. You got a computer and eyes -- click the link and read it.

Done? OK. Cool. So let's hear yours. What ideas do you have that could improve our music scene? Who knows -- maybe somebody has the juice to make some of these happen.

Below are some responses to the column, too. More than anything, it seems today's piece jogged people's minds about Fresno's music history.

Mike Oz

February 2, 2007 7:56 AM

Harry%20Potter.jpgJuly 21, 2007. Mark it down.

This is the day you're going to find me at Barnes and Noble, at midnight, beating down any faux-bespectacled, nerdy little kid that gets in between me and my copy of the seventh and final installment of the Harry Potter series: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Forget the naked horsie pictures, the under-aged drinking photos. The books are what it's all about, people, and I am psyched.

Ha. I'm giddy. Is anyone else giddy? 170 169 days!

Heather

February 1, 2007 9:42 PM

mj2002.jpgOh, okay. This is weird. Remember Michael Jackson? I know, right? Ew.

Anyway, remember when he had two kids with his employee Debbie Rowe, and we never really saw the kids, and then one day MJ was dangling a random third kid over the side of a balcony with a blanket over its head and then everyone started calling the kid "Blanket" because they didn't know his name? Well, those lucky childrens is all growed up, and they're not as hideous as you might have imagined.

TMZ.com has photographic evidence that the kids are kind of cute (most of them), relatively normal (again, most) and, uhhhh, white (all of them).

I have to be honest. The third kid, Blanket, kind of freaks me out. His real name is Prince Michael II, and judging by his stringy, long black hair and pale white skin, I'm pretty sure he's Samara from The Ring movies. I know it's wrong to make fun of a child, and I am sorry.

...seven days....

Dude. I am so creeped out right now.

Heather

February 1, 2007 8:22 PM

A couple of days ago I wrote a blog post about British actress Sienna Miller and her unfortunate sartorial choice for the after-party following the premiere of her new film Factory Girl. Think yeti sweater, granny panties, tights.

Today I received from a Beehive reader this link to a NY Daily News story in which a reporter puts on the granny panty outfit and walks the streets of New York. "I see [this] as the editorial direction the Beehive must take immediately," the reader said.

I love Beehive readers. I respect Beehive readers. I respect Beehive readers so much I am going to make this pledge to you today:

Under no circumstance will you, the loyal Beehive reader, see me on the streets of Fresno wearing a yeti sweater. You will never, and I mean ever, see my muffin top and thunder thighs trying to peek out from under a pair of panties reserved for the over-60 set. And if I am wearing tights, it is because I have suddenly developed the power to leap tall buildings in a single bound.

The NY Daily News article is as lame as you're imagining, minus the reporter's parting advice to Sienna Miller, which I suggest you write in your diary tonight, and always take to heart: "Put on some damn pants."

Heather

February 1, 2007 5:50 PM

federline.JPGSurely today you have seen and laughed on and on about the letter that Taco Bell's president sent to Kevin Federline offering him a job for an hour.

Read the letter here or below.

Great marketing ploy by Taco Bell, great career opportunity for K-Fed and great entertainment for us. Success all around.

Now comes the fun part. Following Taco Bell's format, write your own letter of job offering to K-Fed. Check out ours below and try to out-funny us.

Mike Oz

February 1, 2007 4:37 PM

Dear God, please let me wake up with the use of my eyes tomorrow. I think they may have forever been destroyed by the hideousness of what I have just viewed.

Damn you, Fergie. Damn you!

Why are you wearing those red pants? Why are you touching the no-no area? Why do you look like 50 Cent? Why, oh why, do people like your music? I feel like London Bridge just fell on my head.

Mike Oz

February 1, 2007 2:17 PM

biden.jpgSo Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) started his presidential campaign with a gaffe (at least it was his own). He called Barack Obama "clean," of all things. Of course, he bookended that word with references to him being the first black candidate to have ever bathed.

He clarified, and Obama is cool. But this wouldn't be that bad if it was the first time, when he said only Indians work at 7/11 ... or the second, when he bragged that Delaware was a slave state.

At a running time of less than 24 hours, this has got to easily be the shortest presidential candidacy in history.

Will

February 1, 2007 11:57 AM

sherman.jpg"American Idol" came to us from only a few hours down the freeway last night, giving us a peek into the Los Angeles auditions.

Since we're close to home, lots of people want to talk "Idol" on the Beehive today. We have our usuals, Felicia Matlosz and Mike Oz, but also the Beehive's Will Albritton and Fresno singer Robert Barron-Gushel, who tried out for "Idol" in L.A. this year and was one step away from Simon, Randy and Paula.

Felicia says:
"American Idol" can thank 64-year-old Sherman Pore for its one moment of authentic, touching humanity.

Mike Oz

February 1, 2007 11:54 AM

brandy.jpgRegarding this whole Brandy killing someone with her car thing, thus prompting a possible misdemeanor charge against her, and now a civil rights group saying the police are being unfair, I have something to say:

SHE KILLED SOMEBODY (allegedly). And now she MIGHT be charged with a MISDEMEANOR. With a MAXIMUM fine of a thousand bucks and a possible jail sentence of UP TO a year. Now, getting in an auto accident is traumatic enough, much less having it be the cause of someone else's death. But IF it's her fault (pending investigation, of course), then maybe she SHOULD be put in jail. And pay a fine. Oh, and not to mention -- get charged with AT LEAST a misdemeanor. In my opinion, race doesn't play a role in this one.

Will

February 1, 2007 9:42 AM

"The Queen" has been getting bashed on this blog in recent days. Here's a different point of view from a loyal subject:

Although your review of Stephen Frears's fascinating and intelligent film The Queen was written months ago, I only came across it today and I feel compelled to write to you and tell you how much I loved it (the review, I mean, although obviously I also loved the film). I had seen Helen Mirren only in Calendar Girls and Teaching Mrs. Tingle prior to seeing this movie, and although I enjoyed her performances in both, those movies don't showcase what she is truly capable of, as this film does.
Are we in for a "Queen" sweep or a royal backlash?

Donald Munro



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