Entertainment category, Page 199
Whoopi Goldberg regrets saying Holocaust not about race
NEW YORK — Whoopi Goldberg expressed regret Tuesday for saying on “The View” a day earlier that race was not a factor in the Holocaust, saying she was “deeply, deeply grateful” for getting an education on the topic. “The View” brought on Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League and...
Review: Unique narrator propels ‘What the Fireflies Knew’
“What the Fireflies Knew” by Kai Harris (Tiny Reparations Books) One of the joys of reviewing books is reading things you otherwise never would. So let me disclose up front that I chose this book because the title sounded cool. I didn’t know what it was about, didn’t know it...
On hold with Excela? A Pittsburgh man wrote that songVideo
Most telephone callers waiting on hold with the Excela health system are likely preoccupied with something other than the music they hear. Even so, they may find themselves lightly tapping their feet to the plaintive acoustic guitar and plucky overtones of “Excela Theme,” a song written specifically for the Westmoreland-based...
Why more musicians haven’t joined Neil Young’s Spotify boycott over Joe Rogan
For those following certain parts of Twitter during the last week, it would have been easy to come away with the impression that Spotify was facing a mass exodus of artists protesting covid-19 vaccine misinformation on Joe Rogan’s immensely popular podcast. When Neil Young pulled his music from the Swedish...
‘Maus’ ban makes Art Spiegelman’s Holocaust graphic novel an Amazon bestseller
Two editions of Art Spiegelman’s graphic novel “Maus,” about his parents’ experiences during the Holocaust, have become bestsellers after being banned by a Tennessee school board recently. “The Complete Maus” (1996) and “Maus I: A Survivor’s Tale: My Father Bleeds History” (1986) broke onto Amazon’s top 20 list over the...
Party at The Palace Theatre will celebrate winter wonderland
Guests once again will walk the red carpet as Party at The Palace returns live Feb. 26 to The Palace Theatre in Greensburg. After a digital event in 2021, the signature fundraiser of the Westmoreland Cultural Trust will sport a Winter Wonderland theme, which will be interpreted in a different...
Rihanna is pregnant, debuts bump on stroll with A$ap Rocky
NEW YORK — Rihanna and A$ap Rocky took an epic stroll over the weekend in snowy New York to reveal she’s pregnant with her first child. Despite the frigid temperatures, the 33-year-old “Diamonds” singer and fashion mogul showed off her bump in a long open pink coat and jeans as...
Tickets going fast for upcoming ‘Hamilton’ run in Pittsburgh
The hit musical “Hamilton” returns to Pittsburgh for performances Feb. 22 through March 13 at the Benedum Center in the downtown Cultural District. Prospective audience members who haven’t purchased tickets yet would be well advised to do so soon, said Marc Fleming, vice president of marketing, communications and Broadway programming...
Joe Rogan vows to ‘balance things out’ after Spotify misinformation controversy
Popular Spotify podcaster Joe Rogan on Sunday night responded to allegations of misinformation on his audio program, pledging to do a better job of balancing different perspectives and putting more time into researching topics. “I’m going to do my best, but my point of doing this is always just to...
Greensburg band to provide Groundhog Day music in Gobbler’s Knob
Greensburg’s Derek Woods Band will provide the musical backdrop for this year’s Groundhog Day festivities Feb. 2 at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney. And if the past is any indication, Woods and his band members had better start layering their clothes now. “The sets we played were limited to about 10...
Howard Hesseman, star of ‘WKRP in Cincinnati,’ dies at 81
NEW YORK — Howard Hesseman, who played the radio disc jockey Dr. Johnny Fever on the sitcom “WKRP in Cincinnati” and the actor-turned-history teacher Charlie Moore on “Head of the Class,” has died. He was 81. Hesseman died Saturday in Los Angeles due to complications from colon surgery, his manager...
Love of coffee and art yields creative exhibit in Freeport
Two friends from Freeport use their complementary knowledge and talents to open a coffee shop. Two friends from Sarver push each other to develop their individual artistic talents. One of the artists and one of the shop owners also are friends, and therein lies a tale. Freeport residents Virginia Lindsay...
Iconic lensman ‘Teenie’ Harris focus of Pittsburgh Black History Month show
The man behind the camera will be in focus as the City of Pittsburgh celebrates Black History Month by showcasing the life and works of iconic photographer Charles “Teenie” Harris. An online photo gallery and monthlong display in the City-County Building lobby, entitled “Teenie Harris: The Man Behind the Lens,”...
Free JazzLive gigs returning to Pittsburgh Cultural District
Jazz is on its way back to the Backstage Bar at Theatre Square in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District, with the return of BNY Mellon Presents JazzLive. A winter installment of the year-round series kicks off with a performance from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday by Roger Humphries + RH Factor. It will run...
‘Peacemaker’ puts John Cena film character in topical light
NEW YORK — In last year’s “The Suicide Squad,” John Cena’s Peacemaker is a jingoistic, bigoted superhero. Transferring the DC Comics character to a TV series spinoff gave writer-director James Gunn a forum to hold the flawed character to the light in these days of political divide. Cena, one of...
‘Tiger King’ Joe Exotic resentenced to 21 years in prison
OKLAHOMA CITY — A federal judge resentenced “Tiger King” Joe Exotic to 21 years in prison on Friday, reducing his punishment by just a year after an appeals court ordered a new sentence. Joe Exotic — whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage — was convicted in a murder-for-hire case involving...
WWE star Becky Lynch balances motherhood, beatdowns nearing Royal Rumble
Becky Lynch may have met her match for her toughest foe yet. Bianca Belair and Liv Morgan? Nah, defeated and dumped down the depth chart. Ric Flair? Not quite, largely because it’s a one-sided, old man yelling-at-the-clouds rivalry on the Nature Boy’s part. OK, Ronda Rousey? Hey, if the former...
‘Book of Boba Fett’ writes a great chapter, but it’s someone else’s story
NOTE: Spoilers ahead through Wednesday’s episode of “Book of Boba Fett” and the first two seasons of “The Mandalorian” on Disney+. Let’s be clear: I love “The Mandalorian.” It’s a great series, and I can’t wait for the third season. So I was a bit surprised when this week’s episode...
Westmoreland Museum exhibition delves into African American dream
Postponement of his exhibition at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art turned out to be a good thing for artist Stephen Towns. It gave him time to create new works reflecting a shift in attitude. Originally scheduled to open in January 2021, “Stephen Towns: Declaration & Resistance” will make its...
TV Talk: Pittsburgh native directs HBO special on Steelers great Terry BradshawVideo
Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen offers a viewing tip for this week. Part stand-up comedy, part concert film, part biography, the new 75-minute HBO special “Terry Bradshaw: Going Deep” aims to give viewers new insights on the Hall of Fame Steelers quarterback. “I’m not looking to push anybody...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: Jan. 28-30
Art-making opportunity Community members are invited to participate in MadLab work sessions planned for noon to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Feb. 19 at Your Are Here gallery, 406 Clay Ave., Jeannette. MadLab is an art project that creates benches and mosaic planters made of recycled materials to be placed...
Saint Vincent College exhibits explore art, spirituality, stereotypes
Part of the mission of the Verostko Center for the Arts at Saint Vincent College is to feature work that exists at the nexus of art and spirituality, according to curator Andrew Julo. Two new exhibits, “People of the Book & the Storyboard” and “The Hoods Series,” explore that connection...
‘Book of Boba Fett’ is the ‘Star Wars’ universe fans deserve
A long time ago, in a Gilpin Township home far, far away, I discovered the “extended Star Wars universe” after being enthralled by the original film trilogy. It came in the form of “Tales from Jabba’s Palace,” an anthology of stories that delved into the lives of the weird creatures,...
Amy Schneider’s 40-game ‘Jeopardy!’ winning streak ends with loss to librarianVideo
LOS ANGELES — One word made all the difference Wednesday on “Jeopardy!” Champion Amy Schneider’s dazzling streak on the quiz show is over, snapped by a Chicago librarian after 40 consecutive wins and nearly $1.4 million in prize money. Schneider’s success put her in the ranks of Ken Jennings, who’s...
Spotify says it will grant Neil Young’s request to remove music
NEW YORK — Neil Young’s music will be removed from Spotify at his request, following the veteran rock star’s protest over the streaming service airing a popular podcast that featured a figure criticized for spreading covid misinformation. Spotify, in a statement on Wednesday, said that it regretted Young’s decision, “but...
