Entertainment Today is one of Los Angles’s premiere and oldest entertainment publications, serving the greater metropolitan Los Angeles area since 1967 http://www.entertainmenttoday.net Sun, 11 May 2008 21:21:41 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.entertainmenttoday.net/images/M_images/et.rss.logo.png http://www.entertainmenttoday.net Entertainment Today is one of Los Angles’s premiere and oldest entertainment publications, serving the greater metropolitan Los Angeles area since 1967 http://www.entertainmenttoday.net/content/view/597/27/ I have a friendly disagreement with a journalist-screenwriter friend of mine, Mike Tunison. He thinks the movie that changed his view of life, the universe and everything, to paraphrase Douglas Adams, was Star Wars. For me, it was Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. Film - Film-News Fri, 09 May 2008 01:23:15 +0100 http://www.entertainmenttoday.net/content/view/596/72/ “Mommie Dearest” was a story about classic movie queen Joan Crawford, who turned out to be the mother-from-hell, according to her daughter Christina. Although we’ve seen some recent examples of how motherhood doesn’t mix well with wild celebrity antics, let’s put the focus on the great moms we’ve seen in Hollywood. Fashion - Fashion-Review Fri, 09 May 2008 01:19:45 +0100 http://www.entertainmenttoday.net/content/view/595/50/ When you travel, you get more than just a vacation. You want great destinations that offer excitement and bargains. Plus great stories to tell about your trip. Big cities offer the best bargains, because there are more options available for budget-saving hotels and restaurants. And you can check with the local tourist information offices about tours around town that are offering discounts. News - News-Travel Fri, 09 May 2008 01:18:13 +0100 http://www.entertainmenttoday.net/content/view/594/28/ After spending a non-stop few days performing opposite Karen Kondazian in A Witch and a Bitch at the annual Tennessee Williams / New Orleans Literary Festival last month, where we reprised our roles as Flora Goforth and the Witch of Capri from last fall’s Fountain Theatre production of Tennessee’s The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore Theater - Theater-Review Thu, 08 May 2008 19:53:29 +0100 http://www.entertainmenttoday.net/content/view/592/30/ For the second year, the intrepid promoters of Coachella have leveraged their existing infrastructure for a follow-up weekend of country, western and Americana music. What was last year a two day event blossomed into a three day gathering when The Eagles signed on. Music - Music-Event Mon, 05 May 2008 03:04:04 +0100 http://www.entertainmenttoday.net/content/view/591/29/ In Burbank, the Hollywood Collectors and Celebrities Show drew thousands of folks young and old to see an impressive gathering of their favorite classic movie and television stars. Mature fans enjoyed reminiscing with their favorite stars from yesteryear. And youngsters loved seeing the actors from the popular TV Land and Nick at Nite shows. Television - TV-News Thu, 01 May 2008 05:25:00 +0100 http://www.entertainmenttoday.net/content/view/590/27/ I am sitting two feet away from Oscar-winning documentarian Errol Morris. He is screaming at me. And I couldn’t be more pleased. Morris’s latest documentary feature, Standard Operating Procedure (released by Sony Pictures Classics and Participant Media in Los Angeles on May 2) is not just about Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad and its administration by the U.S. military. With the same trademark élan evident in The Fog of War, his Academy Award- winning doc on former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara Film - Film-Interviews Thu, 01 May 2008 05:20:00 +0100 http://www.entertainmenttoday.net/content/view/589/30/ Another hot, dusty and wonderful three days in the desert. Your intrepid reporter compiled some notes along the way, which I have assembled in the cooler climes closer to the Ocean. But first, some random observations: Music - Music-Event Thu, 01 May 2008 05:15:00 +0100 http://www.entertainmenttoday.net/content/view/588/28/ Last week I began the saga of my third journey to perform at the annual Tennessee Williams / New Orleans Literary Festival, where Karen Kondazian and I had the honor of presenting our original A Witch and a Bitch, reprising our roles as dueling divas in scenes from last fall’s award-winning Fountain Theatre production of Tennessee’s The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore at Jackson Square’s historic Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre. Theater - Theater-Review Thu, 01 May 2008 05:10:00 +0100 http://www.entertainmenttoday.net/content/view/587/33/ Visting the country’s biggest book fair, the L.A. Times Festival of Books at UCLA, is like one’s attitude about reading books: You’ll never get to everything. Nevertheless, circumnavigating the booths, readings, panels and 140,000 or so bibliophiles who crowd the Westwood campus is both a challenge and an opportunity like no other in the US. Books - Book-Review Thu, 01 May 2008 05:05:00 +0100 http://www.entertainmenttoday.net/content/view/586/59/ A small Chinese family-style restaurant recently opened in West LA, and it had a big A in the window, so I went in for lunch. It was intimate, and charming without clutter, in addition, it had unbeatable prices. The tables are glass topped over beige linens, with dark wooden padded chairs, ceiling décor, and a huge entire wall to wall mirror Restaurant - Restaurant-Review Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 +0100 http://www.entertainmenttoday.net/content/view/585/29/ It’s what Hollywood does best-- rises to the occasion, and uses star power to help people in need. Last year, Fox TV’s phenomenal talent show American Idol had the stars come out to benefit worthwhile charities to make the world a better place. And the recent Idol Gives Back did it again. The final figures have just come in, and $65 million have been raised to help children across the globe. Television - TV-News Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:13:40 +0100 http://www.entertainmenttoday.net/content/view/584/27/ There is something in the air and it’s more than Spring pollen. The film programming that has currently reared its head in the Los Angeles area seems more than usually compelling. One can begin with the always inventive and cutting edge American Cinematheque, programming at both the Egyptian Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard and the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica. Film - Film-Indies Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:08:09 +0100 http://www.entertainmenttoday.net/content/view/583/30/ Maybe it is global warming, maybe the Big Guy Upstairs flipped the switch, but the recent escalation of the mercury confirms that summer is fast approaching. And that means it is time to survey the LA music scene for the next several months. Here are the hot tips across a range of styles and venues, listed roughly chronologically. Music - Music-Event Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:54:41 +0100 http://www.entertainmenttoday.net/content/view/582/30/ For those of you that pay attention to these sorts of things, the UK band James broke up in 2002 after delivering, in the opinions of many fans, their best album, 2001’s “Pleased To Meet You.” Now, in the spirit of every other band in the world, James has gotten back together and delivered one hell of a good comeback album, rife with topical songs about war and lies and death and rebirth, as well as personal anthems that apply to daily life, including this reviewer’s. Music - Music-RecordReview Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:43:03 +0100 http://www.entertainmenttoday.net/content/view/581/51/ For this reinterpretation of the mythos and chameleon-esque public personae of Bob Dylan, director Todd Haynes was able to literally pick and choose his cast from the crème de la crème of Hollywoods old and new. Richard Gere shows up as a Billy the Kid-era Dylan; Christian Bale does an astonishing turn as both troubadour and born-again Dylan; and Hell, even Sonic Youth member Kim Gordon shows up in a cameo role. And don’t even get me started on Cate Blanchett’s legendary – and Oscar-nominated – appearance as Highway 61Dylan: It is truly and without hyperbole one of the greatest screen turns in modern times. And even that might be an understatement. DVD - DVD-Review Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:27:16 +0100 http://www.entertainmenttoday.net/content/view/580/28/ Having just returned from my third spring journey traveling to the incredible Crescent City to perform at and attend the annual Tennessee Williams / New Orleans Literary Festival, my head is full of dizzying pictures and my poor ol’ body is completely exhausted, sufficiently debauched, and probably about 20 lbs. heavier. Still, I’m artistically refreshed and ready to return again as soon as possible. Theater - Theater-Review Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:05:01 +0100 http://www.entertainmenttoday.net/content/view/579/59/ Flavor – As Good as it Gets. I know you will enjoy the natural charm, service, and delicious food at Flavor of India. Most seating is on their festively heated enclosed patio, which twinkles with itzy‑bitzy lights. One could think of it as romantic for dating, and along with a big A in the window, it's homey and warm with time‑honored paintings and conventional background music. For more intimacy, check out the elevated dining with lots of privacy, also window-curtained cozy room inside. Restaurant - Restaurant-Review Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:34:36 +0100 http://www.entertainmenttoday.net/content/view/578/59/ “Once upon a time,” a family of Bayou country kinfolks with a vision to open an eatery did so in1994 after finding a 600 square foot shack on Venice Blvd. They named it Uncle Darrow’s, and featured their Cajun/Creole family recipes covering many generations, luring the likes of Whoopi, Roseanne, Johnnie Cochran, and Quincy Jones. It has since been replaced with their newest one at 2560 S. Lincoln Blvd., Marina del Rey, a stones throw from Costco on Washington Blvd. Restaurant - Restaurant-Review Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:32:39 +0100 http://www.entertainmenttoday.net/content/view/577/59/ A spectacular 180-Degree view of the Pacific Ocean complemented by waterfalls and tropical plants creates a romantic Mediterranean-meets-Malibu atmosphere. It's true! It's all true! There just may be no more gorgeous setting for any restaurant in Southern California than Geoffrey's in Malibu. And there just may be no finer food served anywhere than there, as well. Jeff Peterson, its owner for almost the past decade, and Executive Chef Bijan Shokatfard have truly mastered the art of culinary excellence at prices a tad more expensive, but certainly not out of the realm of possibility. You will impress mightily anyone who has never basked in such glory while dining. I'd suggest you go in the late afternoon or early evening Restaurant - Restaurant-Review Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:24:21 +0100