Articles : Entertainment

Hot New Toy for 2009

2009-01-19T10:49:00-07:00

Find out what girls are going gaga for this year. She is the hottest toy on the market right now and she doesn’t even talk. Girls from coast-to-coast are clamoring for the newest American Girl doll named Chrissa Maxwell. She is the seventh in a series of Girl of the Year contemporary characters whose interests and everyday problems mirror those of real American girls. Chrissa’s designers say she is spunky and sassy, and their substance behind her twinkling eyes. She was created to help real girls stick up for themselves. Chrissa is not about to let bullies get the best of her and she’s here to teach your daughter the same thing. In addition to Chrissa the doll, American Girl is also producing two tie-in books, Chrissa and Chrissa Stands Strong, both written by award-winning author Mary Casanova. The books focus on how ten-year-old Chrissa is force to deal with bullying after moving to a new city and starting at a new school. Each Chrissa book includes discussion questions designed to foster conversation between kids and parents. The paperbacks also provide tips on how girls can stand up for themselves. Chrissa made her debut at American Girl stores and on the company’s website just a few days ago and she is already selling up a storm. The reason: American Girl execs are only making Chrissa available for a limited time. The doll will only be sold for one year, and then she will be yanked from the shelves and a new doll will replace her.

Are You Ready for Digital TV?

2009-01-12T10:00:00-07:00

What you need to know before the digital switch takes place. In about a month TV as we know it will change forever. Are you ready? Some of you will barely notice the change, while others will be severely impacted. On February 17th, analog TV signals will be turned off and replaced by new digital ones. If you want to still be able to watch your favorite shows on your TV here’s what you need to know: If you have cable or satellite TV, you don’t have to worry. You won’t need to do a thing to receive your favorite programs. The new digital signal is fed via your video source so the transition will be seamless in your home. If you have a brand new TV, but do not have cable or satellite, then you are likely safe as well. Most new TVs have digital tuners built-in, so you shouldn’t have problems receiving a signal. Those of you who own older TVs, you will be out of luck come February 17th, unless you have a converter box. This means if you watch TV on a set that relies on an antenna you will need to purchase a special converter box, which will allow your TV to accommodate a digital signal.

How to Get Your Hands on a Piece of Entertainment History

2009-01-05T16:37:01-07:00

Learn how you can own a piece of the King of Pop’s wardrobe. He made wearing sequins on your hands cool. No easy task given that he is a man. Whatever you may think of Michael Jackson now, you have to admit that the legendary entertainer had many of us wrapped around his glitter-gloved fingers back in the 80s. Now that famous glove could be yours. According to Jackson’s camp, the sparkly glove, which inspired countless copycats after it was unveiled in the 1983 video for the singer’s hit “Billie Jean,” will be part of a five-day auction in just a few months. Julien’s Auctions will be hosting the bidding war on April 21st. Jackson is also reportedly unloading the golden gates that once led to his Neverland Ranch, along with more than 2,000 other personal items. According to event organizers, bids on the King of Pop’s possessions will be accepted in person and online. The sale will also be broadcast live on Auction Network.

Winter Family Fun on Broadway

2008-12-29T16:12:00-07:00

Tips on having fun on the Great White Way after the holiday tourists go home. Who says fun in the Big Apple dies once the holidays are over? After White Christmas this winter and before 9 to 5 next spring, Broadway’s Marquis Theatre will host the phenomenal Soul of Shaolin-- the very same Chinese martial arts extravaganza featured at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The show stars nearly three-dozen performers from China telling the tale of a boy named Hui Guang who is raised by monks and who becomes a master of Shaolin Kung Fu, a type of martial arts that celebrates not only the physical but also the spiritual. Soul of Shaolin is booked for a 24-performance engagement at the Marquis beginning January 13th and it’s run will coincide with the Chinese New Year, January 26th, which happens to be the Year of the Ox.

Celebrities Invading D.C.

2008-12-22T09:54:00-07:00

See why Hollywood stars are going east. In less than a month Washington, D.C. will go Hollywood. Dozens of A-list stars have announced their plans to be front and center during President-elect Barack Obama’s swearing-in ceremony on January 20th. Tickets to Obama’s inauguration ceremonies are harder to come by than 20-degree days in Hawaii. Aretha Franklin will sing, the Rev. Rick Warren will pray and more than 11,000 U.S. troops will be watching over the public as President-elect Obama makes history next month. According to reports, as many as 4 million visitors are expected to be on hand when Obama takes the noontime oath from Chief Justice John Roberts on the steps of the Capitol. The program is also slated to feature poet Elizabeth Alexander; the Rev. Joseph Lowery, a veteran civil rights leader; the U.S. Marine and Navy bands; and the San Francisco Boys Chorus and the San Francisco Girls Chorus. In addition, people who show up in person or who plan to watch the events unfold live on TV will be treated to original works by some of the world’s most gifted artists from a wide range of backgrounds and genres. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma, violinist Itzhak Perlman, pianist Gabriela Montero and clarinetist Anthony McGill will reportedly perform a new work composed by John Williams (of “Star Wars” and “Jaws” fame), who also provided music for Obama’s election night rally in Chicago’s Grant Park.

Holiday Light Fest

2008-12-15T18:34:01-07:00

A new way to find the best holiday light displays in the country. Regardless of where you live in the world you are likely familiar with the tradition of stringing holiday lights around one’s home to make the season a bit brighter. A few strands of icicle lights is one thing, but what about those die-hard holiday decorators who spend days, weeks, even months festooning their houses and yards with millions of colored lights, plywood holiday characters, and massive blow-up Christmas trees, Santas, Rudolphs and snowmen? While you might not be motivated to make your home a beacon of Christmas lights for Santa, there are hundreds of homeowners who make lightfests an annual tradition. And this year you can locate those homes much quicker thanks to the website TackyLightTour.com. The site is an online community for people who pull out all the stops when it comes to holiday lights. The creator of the website says he got the idea for the site when he found himself spending hours planning the annual family car trip to the best Christmas lights in Richmond, Virginia. The process involved plotting addresses from his local newspaper on maps, then determining the best route to take throughout the city. Tiring of all the work Matt Burgess came up with a better way using free online mapping services.

It’s a Holiday Hollywood Baby Boom!

2008-12-09T21:50:00-07:00

See who’s adding to the family in Tinseltown. Just in time for the holidays several celebrities are getting the world’s greatest gifts—healthy babies. Actress Amy Jo Johnson, who played Keri Russell’s best friend on the series “Felicity,” just gave birth to her first child, a daughter. According to news reports, Francesca Christine was born at 9:09 pm on December 1st, weighing 7 lbs., 1 oz. Dad is Johnson’s fiancé Olivier Giner. The 38-year-old new mom currently stars as Jules Callaghan on the CBS’s “Flashpoint.” Actor Jonny Lee Miller of TV’s “Eli Stone” and his wife, actress Michele Hicks will also have a new addition to celebrate the holidays with this year. Miller’s rep just announced that his client is the proud dad of a new son. Buster Timothy Miller was born December 3rd in Los Angeles, weighing in at 9 lbs. In other celebrity baby news, shortly after the new year rolls around two-time Olympic gold medal beach volleyball champ Kerri Walsh will be joining the ranks of motherhood. The star athlete is pregnant with her first child, according to reports. Walsh and her husband, fellow beach volleyball player Casey Jennings, have been married since 2005. The baby will be their first child. The couple says they believe they conceived during their last days in Beijing following the Summer Olympics Closing Ceremony.

Winter Fun on the Great White Way

2008-10-29T01:25:01-07:00

Warm up to a red-hot show on Broadway this winter. Broadway is getting a taste of Disney this winter when a few of your favorite big screen stories come alive on the stage. Watch as Mary Poppins and The Little Mermaid join perennial hit The Lion King heat up Broadway during the bitterly cold winter months. The popular shows are just part of an all-star line up being offered on New York’s Great White Way this season. Mary Poppins. There’s just something about this Mary that is so magical it defies explanation. See how the original Super Nanny gets it right every time. The Lion King. The stage version of the Disney animated hit has won a jungle full of awards and the crowds keep coming back for more. See for yourself what all the roaring is about. The Little Mermaid. Disney’s popular animated film about a sea-maiden who longs to live on land comes to the stage in this upbeat show with tons of singing and dancing. A Man for All Seasons. Award-winning actor Frank Langella stars as Sir Thomas More in this revival of Robert Bolt’s play about a raucous battle between More and King Henry VIII. A Tale of Two Cities. A musical version of Charles Dickens’ historical novel about the French Revolution. Chicago. Broadway’s longest running musical revival is still playing and still attracting big crowds.

Family-Friendly Entertainment Options in New York City

2008-10-28T01:35:00-07:00

Escape the winter blues by attending one of these hit Broadway shows. Things are heating up on Broadway this winter. New York’s Great White Way is sizzling with big name stars singing and dancing their hearts out and you can get a front row seat to all the action if you plan ahead. Tickets are still available for the following Broadway shows: All My Sons. John Lithgow, Dianne Wiest, Patrick Wilson and Katie Holmes star in this revival of Arthur Miller’s play about life, love, and morality. South Pacific. Kelli O’Hara plays nurse Nellie Forbush and Paulo Szot is French plantation owner Emile de Becque in this revival of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic based on one of the short stories in James A. Michener’s Tales of the South Pacific. To Be or Not to Be. This critically-acclaimed stage adaptation of the 1942 film comedy about the challenges facing a theater troupe in Warsaw trying to open a play as the Nazis invade Poland, is currently one of the most popular shows on Broadway. The 39 Steps. In this stage adaptation of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 movie thriller about a man on the run, audience members witness the amazing feat of four actors portraying more than 150 roles. The Phantom of the Opera. If you only have time to see one show while you are in the Big Apple this is it. The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical about a deformed composer who haunts the Paris Opera House is as lavish a show, as you’ll ever see. Along with its slew of Tony awards it is also the longest-running show in Broadway history.

How Video Game Challenged Are You?

2008-10-26T08:29:00-07:00

Why you should play video games with your kids. Would you know the toggle from the touch pad if your child invited you to play his video game? Studies show that parents rarely, if ever, play video games with their kids. Most simply fork over the money to buy the games without having knowledge of the themes, characters or ratings of the games their kids play. If you are one of these moms or dads, experts have two words for you: Get involved. Child psychologists say children are much more apt to follow their parents guidelines and advice when it comes to video games if they show them that they are interested in the popular form of entertainment. Other tips from the experts include: Helping your children pick out video games. This is especially important if you have young children. Parents should look for games that are void of violence and don’t promote stereotyping. Never purchase or rent a video game without first checking the rating on the game. If you have older children, who go shopping for video games without you, be sure to discuss the types of games you are comfortable with them playing.