Entertainment category, Page 3
Monroeville man will march in Tournament of Roses Parade with a band of, well, band directors
Michael Buckstein might be an assistant band director at the University of Pittsburgh, but it has still been a while since he practiced his heel-toe marching step. He’s been brushing up lately, though, after being chosen to perform with the Band Directors’ Marching Band at the annual Tournament of Roses...
Year in Review: The best of Pittsburgh theater in 2025
Despite funding struggles and numerous other challenges, including the construction in the Cultural District, Pittsburgh’s theater companies and arts organizations staged a stunning slate of productions in 2025. While we didn’t get to all of them, here are some highlights to remember. The Top 5 Shows City Theatre’s “The Real...
TV Q&A: Is there a way to improve over the air reception of local stations?
Q: I recently cut cable and WTAE is not available over-the-air where I live. I have been told that it was never reliably available in the South Hills! Is that true and is there a way to get WTAE broadcasts south of the city? — Jason, Scott Township Rob: Pittsburgh’s...
Tired of Mariah Carey? Here are some holiday tunes you don’t hear too oftenVideo
It may seem difficult to imagine, but once upon a time, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas (Is You)” didn’t get played three times per hour on every single radio station that broadcasts holiday tunes. Having recently acquired my father’s vintage Marantz record player and hi-fi speaker system, I’ve...
August Wilson Center raising funds with seat-naming opportunity
Theater-goers have a chance to make a visible investment in the August Wilson African American Cultural Center in Downtown Pittsburgh through new seat-naming opportunities. The initiative is a legacy-giving chance to support the center, which is among the nation’s largest Black multidisciplinary arts facilities. “A seat dedication is both deeply...
TV Talk: ‘Yellowstone’ spin-off, ‘Scrubs’ revival on tap for midseason
Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen offers viewing tips for broadcast network shows at midseason. The broadcast networks didn’t debut many new scripted series in the fall, saving these expensive-to-produce programs for a slightly more robust midseason rollout. Here’s what to expect for the second half of the 2025-26...
Singer-songwriter Chris Rea, known for ‘Driving Home for Christmas,’ dies at 74
LONDON — Chris Rea, the singer and songwriter best known for the hit “Driving Home for Christmas,” has died at 74, his family said Monday. Rea died in the hospital following a short illness, according to a statement from his family to Britain’s Press Association news agency. Rea found fame...
TV Talk: Bari Weiss’ decision to pull ’60 Minutes’ report draws criticism from some at CBS News
Three hours before Sunday’s “60 Minutes” broadcast, CBS took the rare, last-minute step of removing a segment on Venezuelan men deported by the Trump administration to what was described as a “brutal” El Salvadoran prison, leading to criticism from “60 Minutes” journalists. “Our story was screened five times and cleared...
Pittsburgh local music spotlight: Boy Wonders
The sophomore album from Pittsburgh jangle pop band Boy Wonders feels “more mature” than their debut, according to singer/guitarist Derek January. “(It) really sees us digging into ‘60s pop more — there’s jangly 12-string guitars all over the place, lots of group harmonies,” he said. “Some of that post-punk feel...
Year in review: The top Pittsburgh concerts in 2025Video
There was no shortage of huge shows in the Pittsburgh region in 2025, from stadium shows to Rock & Roll Hall of Famers and beyond. TribLive covered more than 70 shows in 2025, so here’s a look back at our writers’ top shows of the year, notable moments and more:...
TV Talk: ‘Bridgerton’ returns, new ‘Game of Thrones’ series debuts in JanuaryVideo
Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen offers viewing tips for the coming months. There will be no shortage of scripted streaming and cable series in 2026 as platforms and networks debut everything from a new “Star Trek” show to the long-awaited adaptation of author Patricia Cornwell’s Dr. Kay Scarpetta...
Actor James Ransone, known for his role in ‘The Wire,’ dead at 46
LOS ANGELES — James Ransone, the actor who played Ziggy Sobotka in the HBO series “The Wire” and appeared in many other TV shows and movies, has died. He was 46. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office said in online records that Ransone died by suicide on Friday. Ransone’s...
‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ launches with $88M domestically, $345M worldwideVideo
NEW YORK — “Avatar: Fire and Ash” opened with $345 million in worldwide sales, according to studio estimates Sunday, notching the second-best global debut of the year and potentially putting James Cameron on course to set yet more blockbuster records. Sixteen years into the “Avatar” saga, Pandora is still abundant...
Trailer for Jimmy Stewart biopic teases Indiana County native’s career, WWII service
The first look at a movie about the life of Indiana County native Jimmy Stewart has been released. The 75-second teaser for “Jimmy” gives viewers a quick glimpse of how the film, starring KJ Apa in the title role, will delve into Stewart’s illustrious movie career and service during World...
Trisha Yearwood melds country and Christmas spirit with PSO at Heinz Hall
We’re on the one-week countdown to Christmas, and yet, it can still be a struggle to get into the holiday spirit for some. Clearly, country superstar Trisha Yearwood sensed the need for a boost in all things merry and bright — with her “Christmastime with Trisha Yearwood: 12 Days of...
Romanian court sentences Wiz Khalifa to 9 months for drug possession
BUCHAREST, Romania — American rapper Wiz Khalifa was sentenced by a court in Romania on Thursday to nine months in jail for drug possession, more than a year after he took part in a music festival in the Eastern European country. Khalifa was stopped by Romanian police in July 2024...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Dec. 19-21
The holidays are officially underway — Christmas is just days away, Hanukkah is lighting up the nights and the winter solstice is Sunday. Incorporate these events into your holidays for a little extra fun this weekend. Trans-Siberian Orchestra For almost three decades, progressive rock band Trans-Siberian Orchestra has been turning...
TV Talk: ‘Pluribus,’ ‘The Pitt,’ ‘Andor’ among 2025 TV’s best scripted shows
As broadcast channels move into reruns for the holidays, it’s an ideal time to catch up on the best scripted series of the year: 1. “Pluribus” (Apple TV): Writer Vince Gilligan (“Breaking Bad”) re-teams with “Better Call Saul” star Rhea Seehorn for this unique, often darkly comic story of an...
The Mattress Factory museum names Anthony Elms as artistic director
Installation-focused North Side contemporary art museum The Mattress Factory will be turning 50 in 2027, and it’s keeping up with the times with a new artistic director who will join the museum in February. Detroit native Anthony Elms will take the reins of all artistic programs early next year. With...
The Oscars will move to YouTube in 2029, leaving longtime home of ABC
In a seismic shift for one of television’s marquee events, the Academy Awards will depart ABC and begin streaming on YouTube beginning in 2029, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Wednesday. ABC will continue to broadcast the annual ceremony through 2028. That year will mark the 100th...
Faith-based entertainment sees a revival in Hollywood. Defining what it is can be a challenge
LOS ANGELES — At the movies this fall, Josh O’Connor plays a hot priest with a complicated past, Keanu Reeves is an angel who lost his wings, and Elizabeth Olsen has a romantic dilemma in the afterlife. Hollywood, it seems, has found God. But it’s not just starry big-budget Netflix...
‘Buck Rogers’ star Gil Gerard dies at 82
Actor Gil Gerard, best known for playing the title character in the popular TV series “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century,” has died. He was 82. Gerard died on Tuesday of “a rare and viciously aggressive form of cancer,” according to a Facebook post from his wife, Janet Gerard. “From...
Warner Bros. asks investors to reject takeover bid from Paramount Skydance
NEW YORK — Warner Bros. is telling shareholders to reject a takeover bid from Paramount Skydance, saying that a rival bid from Netflix will be better for customers. “We strongly believe that Netflix and Warner Bros. joining forces will offer consumers more choice and value, allow the creative community to...
Girl group Danity Kane bare their souls amid poppy hit songs at Jergel’s
For many of us in our 30s and 40s, you need to say no more than “this pop group was formed on a 2000s MTV reality show” and we’re there. That would explain the sold-out crowd Tuesday night at Jergel’s Rhythm Grille in Warrendale. Unfortunately, sometimes nostalgia has a darker...
TV Q&A: Where did KDKA’s Erica Mokay go?
Q: What’s up with Erica Mokay on KDKA-TV, who’s been missing from KDKA+ morning news with John Shumway? She has been off, then came back for a few days, and now she’s off again. Has she been sick? — Nancy, via Facebook Rob: It’s December, a time when TV news...
