Entertainment category, Page 348
Split Stage celebrates 50 years of The Who’s ‘Tommy’Video
Split Stage Productions co-founders Rob Jessup and Nate Newell are among the “Tommy” faithful who couldn’t let the 50th anniversary of British rock band The Who’s famous rock opera album go by without recognizing the band and its music. Worldwide celebrations have honored the half-century milestone of “Tommy,” which was...
Fox News parts ways with radio host Todd Starnes for controversial commentsVideo
Fox News announced Wednesday it will not renew the contract with radio host Todd Starnes because of controversy he created earlier this week. Starnes, who hosted “Starnes Country” on Fox Nation for more than a year and had a three-hour program on Fox News Radio, is no longer a network...
Phil Collins livens up PPG Paints Arena
British singer/musician Phil Collins has been entertaining and inspiring fans for 50 years. Those who have admired him over the years for his talent and endurance can take solace in the title of his current tour: “Phil Collins: Still Not Dead Yet, Live!” It’s not an extensive tour – only...
3 charged with providing drugs that killed Mac Miller
LOS ANGELES — Three men arrested during the investigation into rapper Mac Miller’s deadly overdose last year have now been charged with providing the drugs that killed him, U.S. prosecutors said Wednesday. A grand jury indictment that was unsealed in Los Angeles accuses the men of conspiring and distributing cocaine...
Placido Domingo resigns as general director of LA Opera
SAN FRANCISCO — Opera star Placido Domingo resigned Wednesday as general director of the Los Angeles Opera and withdrew from future performances at the company following multiple allegations of sexual harassment reported by The Associated Press. “I hold Los Angeles Opera very dearly to my heart and count my work...
Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love’s former house for sale in Seattle
The home where Kurt Cobain killed himself is on the market. Listed for $7.5 million, the Queen Anne-style home in the Denny Blaine neighborhood of Seattle, was the scene of the Nirvana singer’s death in 1994, reported SeattlePI. According to the listing by realtor Ewing & Clark, the home was...
69 years later, we still love Snoopy and the rest of the ‘Peanuts’ gangVideo
“Peanuts,” the comic strip full of relatable characters for most of us, turns 69 today. In nearly 70 years, multiple generations have come to love and continue to love the story of a boy, his dog Snoopy, his friends and a little bird called Woodstock. Everyone has a know-it-all like...
Amid hype and controversy, ‘Joker’ is expected to be a box-office heroVideo
After weeks of hype and controversy, Warner Bros.’ newest DC Comics movie, “Joker,” finally puts its cards on the box-office table this weekend. Writer-director Todd Phillips’ R-rated supervillain origin story, starring Joaquin Phoenix as the deranged clown of Gotham, is expected to gross about $80 million in domestic ticket sales...
KDKA’s Celina Pompeani, David Highfield featured on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’Video
It’s October and for many television anchors, it was a surprise. During “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Tuesday night, the late-night show’s namesake had a segment detailing the shock of many in the TV industry. “We were hit with something no one saw coming. Today (Tuesday), we learned that October is...
Garth Brooks to receive Gershwin Prize for Popular SongVideo
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Country music superstar Garth Brooks has more than just friends in low places. The Library of Congress said Wednesday the Grammy winner will receive the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in March 2020. Previous recipients include Tony Bennett, Paul Simon, Carole King and Willie...
Store-bought is fine: ‘Barefoot Contessa’ writing memoir
The next book by million-selling chef Ina Garten will be a little more personal. Celadon Books announced Wednesday that Garten is working on a memoir, not yet titled. It’s tentatively scheduled for 2022. Garten, longtime host of the Food Network’s “Barefoot Contessa,” has written such bestsellers as “Barefoot Contessa Parties!”...
Mail on Sunday says it will fight Meghan’s lawsuit, Harry speaks out
The Mail on Sunday newspaper says it will defend itself “vigorously” against a lawsuit brought by Prince Harry’s wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, over a story it published. The newspaper said Tuesday night it “stands by the story” in question, which concerns publication of a letter Meghan had written...
6 new paperbacks to pick up, including a biography of Fred Rogers
These paperback roundups have a tendency to be fiction-focused — in my own reading, I’m always drawn toward novels — but in honor of the new season, let’s mix things up a bit. Here are six nonfiction books, freshly out in paperback, all of which look like they’d be splendid...
Animator Ron Campbell brings 1960s-era pop culture to PittsburghVideo
Growing up in Australia, in those dark, pre-television days, Ron Campbell spent many a weekend with pals in movie theaters. He had no inkling at the time that a light was about to dawn on his future career. Campbell became known worldwide for his animation on The Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine,”...
Baldwin native will perform with Navy jazz ensemble in HempfieldVideo
As part of the Navy’s signature outreach program, Baldwin native Shawn Purcell will have a chance to perform in the Pittsburgh area for the second time as a member of the U.S. Navy Band Commodores Jazz Ensemble. The group will play an Oct. 23 concert at Hempfield Area High School....
Tyler Perry believes his studio rivals Hollywood’s best
Tyler Perry remembered shedding tears when he saw an Atlanta highway exit bearing the name of his television and film studio for the first time. The actor-director-writer believes he might have the same emotions during the grand opening of his massive state-of-the-art Tyler Perry Studios on Saturday night. He’s planning...
Stage Right! clinches world record for fastest production
Greensburg’s Stage Right! theater company set a new Guinness World Record for fastest theatrical production. The company, which also operates a school for the performing arts, received an email Friday confirming that it successfully set a new world record by staging a production of “Children of Eden” — from auditions...
Tiffany Haddish host of ‘Kids Say the Darndest Things’ revivalVideo
It was an idea that started way back in the Dark Ages of radio, but a good idea never falters. That’s proven once again as ABC revives the comedy series “Kids Say the Darndest Things,” premiering Sunday. The format was simple: Encourage youngsters (around 4 to 8) to talk about...
Disney reveals first new ‘Frozen 2’ song — ‘Into the Unknown’Video
Parents, get your ears ready for a possible onslaught. In a new 60-second preview released Monday, Disney revealed the first new song from its upcoming “Frozen 2.” In the clip, the song “Into the Unknown” is sung by Elsa, aka Idina Menzel — the voice that parents have heard singing...
WQED reaps Emmy, documentary, community service awards
Pittsburgh PBS station WQED will have to find a little extra shelf space, following its 14 Mid-Atlantic Emmy wins during the 37th annual award ceremony, held Sept. 28 at Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh. WQED was proud to receive 14 Emmy Awards at the 2019 @EmmyMidAtlantic, held last night in #Pittsburgh for...
Saint Vincent concert series guest adds storytelling to music
Pianist, composer and storyteller Jeanne Cotter will perform Oct. 19 as part of the Saint Vincent College Concert Series. The performance will begin at 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center in the Robert S. Carey Student Center on the Unity campus. Cotter, a singer-songwriter and liturgical composer, has performed...
Christian band MercyMe set for Pittsburgh stop on 25th anniversary tourVideo
MercyMe’s current tour may be billed as a 25th anniversary outing, but the popular Christian rock-pop band isn’t being all that nostalgic when it comes to the choice of songs in the set list. “We actually had that discussion early on about kind of how much looking back we wanted...
‘Abominable’ No. 1 with $20.9M; Zellweger’s ‘Judy’ sings out
NEW YORK — The DreamWorks animated adventure “Abominable” topped the box office with $20.9 million in ticket sales over the weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday, while the Renee Zellweger-led Judy Garland tale “Judy” got off to a strong start. “Abominable,” the weekend’s sole new wide release, is a co-production...
Artist Kehinde Wiley unveils bold sculpture in Times Square
NEW YORK — Perpetually crowded Times Square has a new statue for pedestrians to navigate — but it’s unlike any other. Artist Kehinde Wiley unveiled his biggest work ever Friday, a massive bronze statue of a young African American man in urban streetwear sitting astride a galloping horse. Called “Rumors...
Oprah Winfrey shocks fundraisers with $1M donation for students
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Oprah Winfrey shocked attendees at a North Carolina fundraiser by announcing a donation of more than $1 million toward the United Negro College Fund. The Charlotte Observer reports that former talk-show host and OWN television network chief made the surprise announcement Saturday while speaking at Charlotte’s 17th...
