The Waukegan News Sun :: Entertainment ::

What will Leno do after O'Brien takes over?

BY JAMES HIBBERD AND PAUL J. GOUGH — Sat, 5 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Don't pity Jay Leno. ''The Tonight Show'' host is losing his home of 17 years, but Leno finds himself in an enviable position. Still packing the ratings punch that delivers the lion's share of NBC's estimated $300 million in annual late-night revenue, Leno has a line of suitors hoping to land his services. And he won't come cheap: NBC pays him $27 million per year.

Larry Harmon, longtime Bozo the Clown, dead at 83

BY JOHN ROGERS The Associated Press — Fri, 4 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Larry Harmon, who turned the character Bozo the Clown into a show business staple that delighted children for more than a half-century, died Thursday of congestive heart failure. He was 83. Although not the original Bozo, Harmon portrayed the popular clown in countless appearances and, as an entrepreneur, he licensed the character to others, including WGN in Chicago.

Just how close 'friends' are Madonna and A-Rod?

BY JAKE COYLE The Associated Press — Fri, 4 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

A-Rod and the Material Girl? That's a lot of hits. Reports that Yankees superstar Alex Rodriguez and Madonna have become close just as their marriages are disintegrating have both the celebrity gossip industry and the sporting world � each a chatty bunch � buzzing with questions about the two "friends."

Rush Limbaugh sets new multi-million dollar deal

BY DAVID BAUDER The Associated Press — Thu, 3 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Approaching his 20th anniversary as talk radio's most dominant force, Rush Limbaugh has signed a lucrative new deal with Premiere Radio Networks that will keep him on the air until 2016. Premiere wouldn't disclose details on Wednesday, but Limbaugh told The New York Times that he would be getting a nine-figure signing bonus and would make about $38 million a year.

Doctor: Birth of Jolie twins may be weeks away

BY COLLEEN BARRY — Wed, 2 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Angelina Jolie's doctor says her twins may take a few more weeks to arrive. Dr. Michel Sussmann spoke at a brief news conference Wednesday in Nice, where Jolie is hospitalized. Asked when the 33-year-old actress is expected to have her twins, he replied: "I can't give you a date. Let's say the birth will happen in the weeks to come."

LeBron James helping kids save planet

BY TOM WITHERS The Associated Press — Tue, 1 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

SpongeBob SquarePants won't help LeBron James win any NBA titles, but the Cavaliers' superstar has paired up with Nickelodeon, the home of SpongeBob and his ocean-dwelling cartoon chums, to raise awareness about the environment.

Stevie Wonder gives Taste-y performance

BY BOBBY REED — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

Saturday afternoon Stevie Wonder returned to Taste of Chicago with a concert that was generous, adventurous, populist, humorous and amorous. "A lot has happened over the past 20 years, but I'm still looking good," Wonder quipped during his introductory comments, alluding to his 1988 appearance at the free Grant Park festival.

Local fireworks shows aim for the sky

BY DAN MORAN dmoran@scn1.com — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

Skyrockets in flight might have meant "Afternoon Delight" to the Starland Vocal Band, but to most Americans, they mean one thing: Independence Day. True, fireworks are used as a garnish for many summertime events, but no Fourth of July is complete without the rockets' red glare at twilights' last gleaming. Here are five locations to see exactly that in Lake County.

Mr. Big out, Goldblum in for 'Criminal Intent'

BY LYNN ELBER — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

Mr. Big is out, and Mr. Goldblum is in. Jeff Goldblum will be joining "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" while Chris Noth � Mr. Big in the "Sex and the City" TV show and movie � is leaving after three seasons, a series spokeswoman said Thursday.

Robot romance 'Wall-e' has heart of gold

BY CHRISTY LEMIRE — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

Within the rumbling, stumbling hunk of junk that is WALL-E beats the sweetest, warmest heart � a robotic representation of humanity's highest potential. And within the sci-fi adventure "WALL-E" lies an artistic truth: that Pixar's track record remains impeccable.

Here & Now

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

Antioch

New book coming from 'Marley & Me' author

The Associated Press — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

"Marley & Me" author John Grogan is working on a prequel to the million-selling memoir about his dog. According to the publisher for the new book, William Morrow, "The Longest Trip Home" to be released in October "is the powerful, often hilarious story of a son in the making, and of growing up in a loving, but comically old-school Catholic family."

Don Imus: Race comment was misunderstood

BY SAMANTHA GROSS — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

Months after returning to the radio with a pledge to mend the wounds caused by his comments about a women's basketball team, Don Imus is once again defending on-air remarks regarding race. During an on-air conversation Monday about the arrests of suspended Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam Jones, Imus asked, "What color is he?"

George Carlin mourned as counterculture hero

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

A publicist for George Carlin says the legendary comedian has died of heart failure at a hospital in Santa Monica, Calif. Jeff Abraham says Mr. Carlin went into St. John's Health Center on Sunday afternoon, complaining of chest pain. He died at 7:55 p.m., Chicago time. He was 71.

Common's invincible summer gets hotter

BY CINDY PEARLMAN — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

He's a wanted man, that Common. The rapper-turned-actor is one Chicago guy whose participation is desired at every turn. Movies? He's got that down with a choice role opposite Angelina Jolie in "Wanted" (opening Friday), in which he plays a tough-guy assassin. Music? Just pop in his new CD "Invincible Summer" to get in the seasonal mood. Good deeds? You can't get much better than starting a foundation that will cater to the youth of the world.

Martha Stewart banned from Britain

BY VANESSA GERA The Associated Press — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

Martha Stewart has been banned from Britain � but she got a warm welcome Friday in Poland, her grandparents' homeland. The lifestyle guru was planning to visit Britain in the coming days for business engagements, but the Daily Telegraph and other British newspapers reported Friday that she was denied permission to enter because of her 2004 conviction for obstructing justice.

Waukegan actor joins Steppenwolf Theatre

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

At the age of 22, Waukegan native Jon Michael Hill is the youngest ensemble member performing with the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago. He is featured in the world premier of "Superior Donuts," written by Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy Letts, which opened at the theatre this week.

Nostalgia Days schedule

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

ZION -- Here are the highlights of the final two days and nights of the 22nd annual Nostalgia Days:

Former Fox news anchor Jacobson arrested for DUI

STNG Wire and Sun-Times — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

Former Fox news anchor and Chicago Journalism Hall of Fame member Walter Jacobson struck a parked car before he was arrested on drunken driving charges Wednesday night in Lincoln Park, police said.

They pull their punches

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

If you're going to pull someone's hair on stage, you've got to make it look real. In the first in a series of workshops for children at the PM&L Theatre in Antioch, children learned how to do stage combat. Isabella McBride, a 6-year-old from Antioch, learned how to make it look like she's pulling her 10-year-old brother Dylan around the stage by his ear.

Andre Braugher returns to familiar 'Hamlet'

BY MARK KENNEDY — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

If not for a twist of fate many years ago, Andre Braugher would likely be an engineer right now. A very intense engineer, but an engineer nonetheless. It didn't happen only due to a chance encounter he had with Shakespeare while as an undergraduate at Stanford University.

Cyrus: surprised by Vanity Fair photo

The Associated Press — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

NEW YORK (AP) -- Billy Ray Cyrus says he wasn't around when Annie Leibovitz photographed his 15-year-old daughter, Miley, wrapped in a sheet with her back exposed, for the June issue of Vanity Fair magazine.

'Big Bird' Caroll Spinney loves every feather

BY ELLEN SIMON — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

On the street, Caroll Spinney is a 74-year-old of modest proportions. On the job, transformed into Big Bird, he stands 8 feet 2 inches tall and is 6 years old. Being Big Bird is sweaty, physical work. But Spinney, who has worked on Sesame Street for nearly four decades playing both Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, has no wish to be anywhere else.

Leapin' Lipizzans

BY DAN MORAN dmoran@scn1.com — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

A milestone will be in sight this week when the Tempel Lipizzans step off for another season of public performances on Wadsworth Road. Come August, it will have been 50 years since the late Tempel Smith established what would become the largest privately owned herd of the brilliant white horses in the world.

Genesee events

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

genesee theatre Lisa Lampanelli : 8 p.m. June 28. $36.75.

R. Kelly acquitted of all child pornography charges

The Associated Press — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

A Chicago jury has acquitted R&B superstar R. Kelly on all counts at his child pornography trial. The jury had informed the judge that it reached a verdict after less than a day of deliberations.

NBC's Russert dead of heart attack

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

Tim Russert, who pointedly but politely questioned hundreds of the powerful and influential as moderator of NBC's "Meet the Press," died Friday of an apparent heart attack.

Marvel hopes to turn green to gold with new 'Hulk'

BY DAVID GERMAIN The Associated Press — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

Now producing its own film adaptations for all but a few previously licensed superheroes, Marvel Studios unveils "The Incredible Hulk" on the heels of blockbuster "Iron Man," whose 2010 sequel will be followed by an ambitious Marvel lineup.

Inside 'Swingtown': The Me Again Decade

BY DERRIK J. LANG — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

Grant Show is proud of his mustache. When asked about the authenticity of his facial hair, the former "Melrose Place" heart throb is quick to boast that it's 100 percent real. Show sprouted the whiskers and a shaggy hairdo for his role as randy pilot Tom Decker, one half of a pair of suburban swingers, on the new CBS series "Swingtown."

'Medieval' paparazzi laws could benefit Brangelina

BY ANGELA DOLAND The Associated Press — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

Perhaps Brangelina chose southern France for its blue skies, vineyards and the availability of an estate with a moat. But there's another reason the world's most famous expecting couple was smart to come here: French law is tough on paparazzi, especially when it comes to snapping photos of children.

Morissette reflects on breakup with new CD

BY RYAN PEARSON The Associated Press — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

Alanis Morissette was so happy for a while. And there was no new music. Then early last year, the 34-year-old singer-songwriter split with her actor fiance Ryan Reynolds after a 4 1/2-year relationship. And lo, the product of that broken relationship lands on store shelves this week in the form of "Flavors of Entanglement."

Still the King of Romance

BY DAN MORAN dmoran@scn1.com — Sat, 7 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

No one is immune to the travel delays that are plaguing the airline industry. Not even Engelbert Humperdinck. "I just got back earlier this morning from our last show," the British singer said in his liquid-smooth voice, on the phone from California around noon on a recent weekday. "It took me all night to get home (from) Biloxi, Miss."