Entertainment category, Page 349
Wiggles sing, dance their way into little tykes’ heartsVideo
Like many children born “Down Under,” Emma Watkins recalls watching “The Wiggles” as a child. “I was quite enamored by the Irish dancing and costumes and curly hair. I have curly hair,” Watkins says in a telephone interview. She’s now one of the Australian foursome — and its first and...
Manfred Honeck, PSO release new Anton Bruckner recording
People sometimes wonder what music means, especially when there are no lyrics and the title is generic. Manfred Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra provide a compelling answer for Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 9 with their new recording, which is being released today on the Reference Recordings label. Bruckner was...
Latrobe’s Great American Banana Split Celebration promises a sweet weekend
A classic ice cream dessert that’s been making people smile since 1904 is once again deserving of an annual summertime salute. Latrobe serves up its 115th Great American Banana Split Celebration Aug. 23-25. The party takes place in downtown Latrobe, where the banana split was first invented by David Strickler,...
Spider-Man to leave Marvel CU after Sony, Disney talks fall apart
Spider-Man appears to have taken his last swing through Walt Disney Co.’s Marvel Cinematic Universe. Kevin Feige, the president of Disney-owned Marvel Studios, will no longer produce the “Spider-Man” movies released by rival studio Sony Pictures after the two companies failed to come to a new agreement, according to three...
Fort Ligonier bakes up historical happy hour
Fort Ligonier will light a fire under its upcoming History Happy Hour. One of its reproduction historical field ovens will be lit for the event from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Aug. 23. Patrons can line up for Connections Café’s crusty artisan pizzas as they pop out of the clay oven. Joe Golden...
ZZ Top, WDVE team up for Pittsburgh concert ticket offerVideo
Rock and Roll Hall of Famers ZZ Top and Pittsburgh rock station WDVE are celebrating their 50th anniversaries by offering two pavilion seats for $50 (plus applicable fees) for the band’s Sept. 11 concert at KeyBank Pavilion in Burgettstown. The special tickets are available in limited quantities, while supplies last,...
Comedian Bill Bellamy discusses his legacy ahead of Pittsburgh Improv showsVideo
Comedian Bill Bellamy has contributed to the popular culture with stand-up routines and numerous roles in movies and on television. But will he be best remembered for coining one of the most ubiquitous phrases in the urban slang lexicon? Bellamy, who will perform five shows Aug. 23-25 at the Pittsburgh...
Beo String Quartet closes WSO summer chamber music series
The Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra and Latrobe Presbyterian Church present the Summer Chamber Music Series finale in the historic Unity Chapel in Latrobe, 114 Chapel Lane. The concert at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 22 features Beo String Quartet. Now in its fourth season, the quartet is comprised of violinists Jason Neukom and...
‘Golden Girls’ — as puppets — coming to Pittsburgh’s Byham TheaterVideo
Those four pals from Miami are back — well, sort of. A live stage version of the ’80s sitcom “The Golden Girls” is headed to Pittsburgh’s Byham Theater — only with puppets. The show, “That Golden Girls Show! A Puppet Parody,” debuted off-Broadway in 2016 with puppeteers (in full view...
25th Bond movie gets a title: ‘No Time to Die’
The 25th James Bond movie has a title: “No Time to Die.” Producers announced the moniker Tuesday for the film that has long been referred to simply as “Bond 25.” “No Time to Die” returns Daniel Craig to the role of 007. Lea Seydoux, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw and Ralph...
Forget Pittsburgh. Actress Cate Blanchett toured Seattle before becoming movie’s ‘Bernadette’
SEATTLE — Where did she go, that Bernadette? All over Seattle, apparently. The Phinney Ridge Farmer’s Market. The top of the Space Needle. Buca di Beppo. Wherever actress Cate Blanchett needed to go to better understand the rant-ridden mind of Bernadette Fox, the title character of “Where’d You Go, Bernadette,”...
Lil Nas X had historic run, but now Billie Eilish is No. 1
Step aside, Lil Nas X. There’s a new sheriff in town, and her name is Billie Eilish. Billboard announced on Monday that the rising pop star’s summer smash “Bad Guy” has hit No. 1 on the Hot 100 chart, ending “Old Town Road’s” unprecedented 19-week ride at the top. After...
Hoda Kotb announces Sept. 3 return to ‘Today’
Speculation has been rampant for months about the return — or lack thereof — of Hoda Kotb to NBC’s “Today.” The journalist adopted her second daughter, Hope, in April. She announced on the show this morning that she will indeed be back to Rockefeller Center — on Sept. 3. During...
Status hearing set for civil lawsuit against Jussie Smollett
A hearing is set in the city of Chicago’s effort to recover costs from actor Jussie Smollett after police said his claims of a racist and anti-gay attack were phony and staged. The status hearing Tuesday is the first since the lawsuit was moved to federal court from state court...
Free admission on Museum Day, thanks to Smithsonian magazine
Smithsonian magazine is holding its 15th annual Museum Day, granting visitors free admission for two by visiting its website. This year’s date is Sept. 21. Several regional museums are participating, including the Senator John Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, Old Economy Village in Ambridge, Lawrence County Historical Society in New...
Brad Paisley out; Reba, Dolly, Carrie Underwood to host CMAs
Carrie Underwood, who has hosted the Country Music Association Awards since 2008 with Brad Paisley, is losing her partner-in-crime. But she won’t be on her own: The CMAs announced Monday that “special guest hosts” Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire will join Underwood during the Nov. 13 event. The organization says...
The Westmoreland to host rock ’n’ roll listening session
The sounds that shaped rock ’n’ roll culture will be the focus of a listening session from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 21 in The Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg. The conversation will be led by Nwaka Onwusa, director of curatorial affairs at the Rock and Roll Hall...
Kiefer Sutherland slips on bus, cancels European dates
Kiefer Sutherland had to cancel three performances in Denmark and Sweden after slipping on the stairs in a bus and injuring his ribs. The actor-turned-singer was on his way to a show in Denmark when the accident happened, according to Billboard. Sutherland posted a note to social media Thursday apologizing...
‘Mr. Mom’ turns 36. Now how old do you feel?
“220, 221. Whatever it takes.” Some classic movie lines will live forever. If you don’t know what movie that line is from, then you obviously don’t know that Aug. 19 is the anniversary of the wide release of “Mr. Mom,” the 1983 comedy that basically launched Pittsburgh native Michael Keaton...
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson announces wedding on Instagram
NEW YORK — With a simple “We do,” Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson announced his wedding to his longtime girlfriend on Instagram. A photo of the movie star and Lauren Hashian was posted on the social media site. Both were wearing white, and they were standing overlooking the ocean. The post...
Ligonier museum prepares for day of free family fun
The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley will again host a free Family Fun Day at the One Boucher Lane site. The program is set from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 7. According to site coordinator Kristin Miller, activities for all ages will include silk marbling, storytelling, necklace making,...
Kings Island amusement park in Ohio to debut new steel roller coasterVideo
MASON, Ohio — A new steel roller coaster is set to debut at one of Ohio’s largest amusement parks next year. “Orion” will open at Kings Island in Mason in the spring of 2020. Kings Island officials say it will be the tallest and fastest coaster at the Cincinnati-area amusement...
Iron Maiden gives bucket-list show at sold-out PPG Paints Arena
There was a flamethrower. There was an airplane. There was a sword fight. But more importantly, there was an iconic band making their way back after 9 years. Saturday night was Iron Maiden’s return to Pittsburgh, having last played the area in July 2010. In front of a sold-out crowd,...
Charles Santore, illustrator of children’s books, dies at 84
PHILADELPHIA — Charles Santore, an illustrator known for his richly detailed and whimsical interpretations of classic children’s books has died, his daughter said Friday. Christina Santore said her father died Sunday after a brief illness in Philadelphia, where he was born, raised and worked. He was 84. He spent over...
‘Easy Rider’ star and writer Peter Fonda dies at age 79
LOS ANGELES — Actor Peter Fonda, the son of a Hollywood legend who became a movie star in his own right after both writing and starring in the counter-culture classic “Easy Rider,” has died. His family said in a statement that Fonda died Friday morning at his home in Los...
