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Other News We Heard Last Week
Tuesday, May 30
Local banjo player aids The Boss\’ detour from Thunder Road
Other News We Heard Last Week – Special holiday Edition – 4 Days
Thursday, May 25
Slowhand to warm The John
The first guy to be inducted three times into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Eric Clapton will join the roster of MOR artists slated to kick off the inaugural season of UVA\’s 16,000-seat John Paul Jones Arena. UVA today announced that Clapton will perform at The John on October 12, with tickets going on sale August 26. Other previously announced music acts include Dave Matthews Band and James Taylor.
Geek heaven
For a change, this year\’s edition of the greatest games marketing exercise on earthâalso known as E3, the Electronic Entertainment Expoâreally could prove to be four days that changed the (gaming) world. The industry-rattling shockwaves from Los Angeles were so seismic, they rattled my windows (and made my bank account tremble in fear). Wondering what you\’ll be blowing your birthday cash on this year? Here are the hopeful contenders:
Plan It Now – special listings
The Yard Dogs Vaudeville and Burlesque Show is coming to Starr Hill on May 31. Last year’s show was a complete sell-out, so don’t say we didn’t warn you. 977-0017. www.starrhill.com
Other news we heard last week
Wednesday, May 17 –
Hatcher stays, Dempsey moves: Bonus for Gray TV?
ABC has some of TV’s biggest hits on the airâ”Desperate Housewives,” “Grey’s Anatomy”âbut despite that success the network felt compelled to tinker with its lineup, according to today’s Wall Street Journal. The change, if it works to stem declining viewership for some of the big programs, could be good news for Gray TV, which moved into the Charlottesville media market 19 months ago, bringing local ABC, CBS and Fox affiliates to the spectrum in an uphill battle to win viewers from the Richmond affiliates. “Desperate Housewives” will remain in ABC’s Sunday 9pm slot, but “Grey’s Anatomy” will move to Thursday 9pm. Replacing it on Sundays: “Brothers & Sisters,” starring Calista “Ally McBeal” Flockhart.
Shorter film reviews
Akeelah and the Bee (PG, 112 minutes) In case you hadn’t noticed, Hollywood is in the midst of a red-hot spelling bee craze. In the wake of Spellbound and… um, Bee Season, comes this drama about an 11-year-old girl from South Los Angeles who tries to make it to the National Spelling Bee. The story is, as expected, cute and inspirational. It’s also predictable, emotionally simplified and filled with clichés. Think The Karate Kid with a little girl taking over for Ralph Macchio, Laurence Fishburn doing the Mr. Miyagi thing, and words instead of crane kicks to the head. (Devin O’Leary) Playing at Regal Downtown Mall 6
Other News We Heard Last Week
Friday, May 12
Daughtry’s “American Idol” dis breaks our collective heart
The Style Section of The Washington Post today can’t say enough about how the American public failed to do its duty and vote to keep rocker Chris Daughtry on the show. Both Robin Givhan’s Pulitzer Prize-winning fashion column and Lisa de Moraes’ TV column chronicle the exit of the Fluvanna native, who was widely favored to win the wildly popular karaoke competition.
“Daughtry glared. He glowered. He did the rock-star growl during which he looked to be at risk of popping his jugular,” wrote Givhan. “He wore cool shades. Oh sure, he was cocky. But he should have been. He was the best. America, have you no soul?”
Reports that Daughtry has been offered the job of lead singer for has-been ’90s rock band Fuel came as little consolation to his idolizing fans.