Journalist, Author & Syndicated Columnist
If you’re lucky enough to have tickets for the Rolling Stones concerts Tuesday and Wednesday at the United Center, chances are you’re going to be too busy gawking at Mick Jagger and Keith Richards to notice the fella walking around the arena with his handheld computer.
You know Jeremy Piven. Or at least you think you do. Chances are you attended Evanston Township High School with him, or were in acting classes with him at his parents’ Piven Theatre Workshop, or knew someone who knew someone who did.
Before she helped Mary Tyler Moore turn the world on with her smile, Valerie Harper was a pretty New York dancer trying her hand at comedy at Chicago’s Second City. “Making a crowd laugh is one of the most difficult things to do, but it’s also one of the most enjoyable,” says Harper. “I learned early on that you can only force a laugh so much. You have to really mean it.”
Robby Takac isn’t the type of guy to be late for an interview. But on this day, his road manager calls to say he’ll be delayed. It’s not that he’s sleeping off a hangover or is out wandering somewhere and can’t be found. Rather, he’s out shopping. For luggage.
When you think of George Winston, you don’t necessarily think of the Doors as a major influence. But the band was such an inspiration to the Grammy Award-winning pianist that he recorded “Night Divides the Day–The Music of the Doors.”
It is nearing lunchtime on the set of “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers”–which opens Wednesday–but there still are a few more shots to complete before they will be dismissed. A beam of light radiates above the actors, making them appear even more angelic than they will be on screen. With their flaxen, waist-length hair, these elves are the gorgeous supermodels of the movie. Even the horses know it.
Step aside, divas. Mariah Carey is back. Big time. The figures are still being tallied, but it’s a strong bet that her new disc, “Charmbracelet,” will be the top debut on the next Billboard album chart. Estimates of first-week sales range from 200,000 to 270,000–about double what Carey managed with last year’s much-maligned soundtrack to her movie flop “Glitter.”
Inspired by the Christmas productions at New York’s Radio City Music Hall, country superstar Martina McBride has decided to undertake her own holiday tour. McBride’s first annual “The Joy of Christmas” tour reaches the UIC Pavilion on Sunday.
Maybe it was jet lag that made him do it, but Tim McGraw actually said something Tuesday in Chicago that drew boos from diehard fans. During a break from his nine-song set at a private listening party at Isaac Hayes’ downtown club, McGraw friskily said, “I’m a Packers fan.”
Jakob Dylan doesn’t like to analyze his music. Truth be told, he doesn’t particularly like listening to it, either. “I don’t listen to any of our records because I don’t want that influence of what we’ve already done hanging over us,” says Dylan, 32. “If I’m critical of the past, then I become a critic just like everyone else.”
By Jae-Ha Kim Chicago Sun-Times November 22, 2002 At its prime in the 1990s, Primus was headlining at Lollapalooza and touring with U2. These days, Les Claypool, Primus’ frontman before the members went their separate […]
The beginning of the end for the late, great television show “Politically Incorrect” came shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Viggo Mortensen has 30 minutes left before he has to return to the set to reshoot a scene for “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers,” which will be in theaters next month. Dressed in character as Aragorn, he is muddied, tired and looking forward to digging into the food he’s carrying on a tray. But first, he searches the make-shift cafeteria for his son Henry. As he walks past the cast and crew, bystanders aren’t sure whether to look away or bow to the oddly regal actor.
With “Justified,” Justin Timberlake has declared his independence. From ‘N Sync, the boy band that made him famous. From his female counterpart Britney Spears. And from critics who gleefully depicted him as a bubble-headed, curly-haired playboy.
Phoning from Canada, Wynonna Judd has her hands full. Sure, there are the back-to-back concerts she has to perform. But she’s also getting her
children’s lesson plans ready for the day. “I teach,” says Judd, 38. “I homeschool. When I’m in the studio recording, I have a nanny/tutor to teach my kids.”
Donna McKechnie still is one singular sensation. The Tony Award-winning actress/singer/dancer made a name for herself as Cassie in the original Broadway cast of “A Chorus Line” in 1976. But it’s her storytelling ability that’s winning her kudos in her latest production, “An Evening With Donna McKechnie–My Musical Comedy Life!” The show is running through this weekend at the Metropolis Performing Arts Center in Arlington Heights.
When Shane Williams occasionally sang on the television series “Early Edition,” her performance was good enough that many viewers wondered who was dubbing her singing voice.
“How Sweet It Is” is Joan Osborne’s answer to the events of Sept. 11, 2001. The singer-songwriter was in Los Angeles working on an album when she heard about the attacks on the World Trade Center back home in New York City.
Sure, the kids competing on “American Idol” looked gracious and chummy on TV last summer. But on tour, there has to be some backstabbing and bickering backstage, right?
Not if you believe the contestants, now on a national tour that’ll bring them to the Allstate Arena on Wednesday.
A few performers probably could boast a Tony Award, a best-selling book and a successful film career. But Savion Glover has a leg up on the competition. The renowned tap dancer also had a stint on “Sesame Street.”