Entertainment category, Page 293
Singer, actor, ‘The Gambler’: Kenny Rogers dies at 81Video
Actor-singer Kenny Rogers, the smooth, Grammy-winning balladeer who spanned jazz, folk, country and pop with such hits as “Lucille,” “Lady” and “Islands in the Stream” and embraced his persona as “The Gambler” on record and on TV, died Friday night. He was 81. He died at home in Sandy Springs,...
Daring sleuth Miss Fisher is back in new Acorn TV movie
LOS ANGELES — The intrepid and daring Phryne Fisher, last seen in an internationally popular TV mystery series, is getting the welcome back she deserves in “Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears.” In the movie debuting Monday on the Acorn TV streaming service, star Essie Davis’ amateur sleuth plunges...
Happy birthday, Fred: Mister Rogers celebratedVideo
While much is going on in the world, one thing not to be forgotten is a birthday of someone special. Fred Rogers would have been 92 today. The “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” host and Latrobe native was celebrated by many today, with some choosing to offer a birthday message while others...
Placido Domingo resigns from opera union, donates $500,000
Superstar Plácido Domingo has resigned from the U.S. union that represents opera singers and will contribute $500,000 to sexual harassment eradication programs and a fund that helps opera employees in crisis, the union said Friday. The development came weeks after investigations by the American Guild of Musical Artists and Los...
The Grand Ole Opry to play on in an empty theater
The Grand Ole Opry, the longest running radio show in history, is playing on through the coronavirus outbreak by returning to its roots. The country music institution, which has been airing Saturday nights for 94 years, is set to broadcast live on television this week in front of an empty...
Quick flip as ‘Onward’ goes from movie theaters to homesVideo
Pixar’s “Onward” will go from the top movie at the box office straight to digital release, as Hollywood continued to shuffle its recent releases from theaters into the home due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Walt Disney Co. said Friday that “Onward” will be available for purchase on digital platforms...
Historian Niall Ferguson warns of contagion, online and offVideo
Historian Niall Ferguson has a knack for timing his TV projects. He debuted his examination of the global financial system in “The Ascent of Money” just as the 2008 economic crisis was hitting. Now he has returned with a series that helps us better understand the conronaviris. “Niall Ferguson’s Networld”...
Garth Brooks plans acoustic concert on Facebook LiveVideo
Country superstar Garth Brooks will do his part to keep fans entertained during coronavirus shutdowns with a live Facebook concert. The singer said on his “Inside Studio G” Facebook Live show that he’ll livestream an acoustic set at 6 p.m. March 23 CST, 7 p.m. here in southwestern Pa. Brooks...
Rosie O’Donnell revives talk show for one time only
Rosie O’Donnell is reviving her old daytime talk show for one time only — and her guest list is impressive. A who’s-who of Broadway and Hollywood — including Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker, Neil Patrick Harris, Morgan Freeman, Gloria Estefan and Barry Manilow — plan to join O’Donnell March...
Stuck-at-home cooks can channel Julia Child’s ‘The French Chef’Video
Cooks, or wannabe cooks, suddenly homebound due to the coronavirus pandemic can learn from the queen of television cooking. Julia Child’s cooking show, “The French Chef,” is still a fond memory for many who watched the live tapings. Child’s distinctive voice, easy-to-follow instructions and ability to laugh at her own...
Conan O’Brien to return to air, with an iPhone from home
NEW YORK — With iPhones and Skype, Conan O’Brien is going back on the air. The late-night host said he will resume putting out new episodes of TBS’ “Conan” on March 30. His staff will remain at home, and the show will be cobbled together with O’Brien on an iPhone...
Hallmark lightens virus mood with Christmas movie marathon
“Yes, we need a little Christmas/right this very minute.” So goes the Jerry Herman song from the musical “Mame.” And, boy, does that ring truer now than ever. Well, Hallmark heard the call and is delivering us from our coronavirus doldrums. Starting at noon Friday, the channel will air a...
Saint Vincent Summer Theatre cancels season
Saint Vincent College has canceled the 2020 season of Saint Vincent Summer Theatre, citing travel and other gathering restrictions associated with covid-19. Plans were for the season to open May 21 with “The Marvelous Wonderettes.” “This is certainly a difficult and unfortunate decision as Saint Vincent Summer Theatre has been...
Kevin Bacon uses ‘six degrees’ to encourage social distancing to fight coronavirus
Actor Kevin Bacon is using his infamous “six degrees” fame to encourage people to stay home and keep themselves apart from crowds to help fight the spread of the coronavirus. The premise of six degrees of separation is that we are all linked by six or fewer people. The “Six...
‘Mamma Mia’ comes to Jeannette High School stageVideo
Editor’s note: Due to the coronovirus pandemic, high school musicals have been postponed. It looks fun — Jeannette seniors Jada Bass, Kiara Frederick and Jenna Painter sing and dance together on stage to ABBA’s hit “Dancing Queen.” But perfecting the steps and lines has taken months for the trio who...
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s ‘Here + Now’ includes a world premiere
Editor’s note: This event has been canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. Most productions by Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre are full-length shows with a story told by one choreographer and one composer. Ideally, the experience has a coherence, whatever internal variety there is, that spans the whole evening. But the company...
Harry and Meghan urge ’empathy and kindness’ against virus
From finding ways to help others cope to sheltering in place to canceling events, here’s a look at some of the ways the entertainment industry is reacting to the spread of the coronavirus, which most people recover from but can cause severe illness in the elderly and those with preexisting...
Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra plays on — onlineVideo
In an effort to provide music to its fans while on hiatus due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra is introducing its new WSO to Go series. The orchestra website notes the series will “keep the music playing wherever we can.” ”We will be sharing videos from our...
Pittsburgh Symphony reschedules ‘Bugs Bunny,’ cancels other dates
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra has announced new dates for its previously postponed PNC Pops “Bugs Bunny at the Symphony” concerts, and has issued a new list of cancellations. The “Bugs Bunny” series has been moved to June 30-July 2 in Pittsburgh’s Heinz Hall. Information for current ticket-holders includes: March 20 tickets...
Latrobe Art Center seeks homemade art-making video tutorialsVideo
Latrobe Art Center wants to keep teaching and sharing art during its coronavirus-related closure. The center is asking anyone who would like to participate to share an art-making video tutorial via its social media accounts with the hashtag #HomeStudioLAC. The center is hoping to be able to share “a series...
With venues closed, bands turn to live streams to connect with fans
At their live shows, the Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers’ earning potential is typically limited by the size of the venue they’re playing. On the evening of March 14, the Stragglers live-streamed two sets of bluegrass from a band member’s living room that garnered about 20,000 views — and by inserting PayPal...
Bonnaroo postponed until the fall
Bonnaroo won’t be happening in June. The Manchester, Tenn., music and arts festival announced Wednesday that the annual event, originally set to take place June 11 to June 14, would be moved to the fall. Bonnaroo will be rescheduled to Sept 24-27, 2020. Updates to come. Can’t wait to see...
Lyle Waggoner, foil on ‘Carol Burnett Show,’ dies at 84Video
LOS ANGELES — Lyle Waggoner, who used his good looks to comic effect on “The Carol Burnett Show,” partnered with a superhero on “Wonder Woman” and was the first centerfold for Playgirl magazine, died Tuesday. He was 84. Waggoner, who was battling cancer, died peacefully Tuesday at his Los Angeles-area...
Judge hands major win to Katy Perry in ‘Dark Horse’ disputeVideo
A federal judge in Los Angeles handed a major victory to Katy Perry on Tuesday, overturning a jury’s verdict that found the pop superstar and her collaborators copied her 2013 hit “Dark Horse” from a 2009 Christian rap song. U.S. District Judge Christina A. Snyder said in her decision that...
Rolling Stones postpone Pittsburgh show, ‘No Filter’ tour
The Rolling Stones won’t be playing Pittsburgh, for now. AEG Presents/ Concerts West announced Tuesday that the Rolling Stones “No Filter” tour is being postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Stones were set to play Heinz Field on June 23. pic.twitter.com/d6lbhVdXzK— The Rolling Stones (@RollingStones) March 17, 2020 “We’re...
