WGN Morning News Blog

Here are the reviews of this week's new movies. let me know what you've seen that you love or hate.
Dean

HALLOWEEN - RATED R:

He’s back! We first met Michael Meyers nearly 20 years ago...and now, one of the most iconic horror film villains returns in "House of a Thousand Corpses" director, Rob Zombie's remake of "Halloween."

About half of the story offers a prequel like telling of how our masked, ginsu carrying friend got to be the way he is; and in fact, what the story is behind the mask.

The second half re-tells the story that we saw in the original film of the killer's return to his hometown where he murdered his family to find the sole survivor.

A bit more stylized than previous Halloween treats, the blood and guts are toned down a bit but still gut wrenching with one slashing after another in fairly predictable setups.

What’s crucially missing is the suspense and compassion that made the early Halloween movies among the greatest of all time.

It’s nostalgic to see an old friend but whatever new power we thought we find in "Halloween’s" remake is barely there. A Dean's List "C"

BALLS OF FURY – RATED PG-13
"Talladega Nights", "Blades of Glory" and "Dodgeball" all did great jobs at spoofing their sports. Now, the world of ping-pong get's its turn, only not anywhere as smart or funny.

For the first 10 minutes of "Balls of Fury", the silliness was bouncing back and forth like a wild game on your basement ping-pong table; and then, the balls fell flat.

Stage actor, Dan Fogler, a Jack Black-Sam Kinison wannabee, only without the passion, is a fallen-from-grace ping pong prodigy, recruited by the FBI to bring down an illegal underground ping pong network run by an evil fanatic overplayed by Christopher walken.

To get his game back, he's enlists help from a blind Chinese master and his beautiful niece, "Karate Kid" style.

Along the way, he encounters one odd character after another including Oak Park native, Thomas Lennon, Lt. Dangle from "Reno 911", as a German uber-opponent and Patton Oswalt, "Hammer", a neighborhood dweeb who's only in the movie for a minute.

I really wanted to like this movie. The PP sequences are cool but most of the laughs are in the trailer. The story is weak, the direction is all over the place and with a few exceptions, the potentially rich characters are poorly acted.

Don’t go in expecting much. Mostly fumbled and rarely hit out of the park, "Balls of Fury" turns out to have neither. A Dean's List "C-.”

DEATH SENTENCE –RATED R
I think we liked Kevin bacon better when he was "Footloose, footloose." Now, it's just his performance that's loose.

In "Death Sentence", he’s a mild mannered, all around family man whose life is shaken when a horrible act of violence befalls one of his kids as a street gang initiation. When the justice system fails him, he goes on a revenge rampage only there’s very little to explain the amazing transformation. I needed 6 degrees of explanation to make it more plausible.

Director James Wan of "Saw" fame notches up the violence but the holes in the story proclaim "Death sentence", a Dean's List "C-.”

Posted by Dean Richards at 9:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Here are the new DVD releases for the week of September 2, 2007.
I can't see everything so let me know what you've seen lately that would be a great pick for someone.

"Georgia Rule"
"Stephanie Daley"
"The Wind that Shakes the Barley"

"30 Rock: Season 1"
"The Office: Season 3"
"Desperate Housewives: Season 3"
"Prison Break: Season 2"
"Nip/Tuck: Season 4"
"The Black Donnellys: The Complete Series"
"Bosom Buddies: Season 2"
"I Dream of Jeannie: Season 4"
"It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Seasons 1-2"

"Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke: Collectors' Edition"
"Chill Out, Scooby-Doo"
"Rules of Engagement: Season 1"
"Spongebob Squarepants: Season 5, Vol. 1"
"Wind Chill"
"Delta Farce"

Posted by Dean Richards at 8:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

"The distinguished gentleman from Idaho has (his hands on) the floor!"

This might be the new way to announce foot-tapping Senator Larry Craig in Congress. Whether or not Senator Craig is actually guilty of what he's being accused, he's brought universal awareness to public restroom "recreation," and the mating ritual which occurs beforehand. Who knew tapping your feet in a stall was an invitation for some "lewd conduct?"

Just one more caveat of using a public men's room.

http://www.myspace.com/pattomasulo

Most of the problems I have with using them are matters of etiqutte, namely urinal etiquette. I have a handful of rules I follow, rules I wish everyone would follow.

1. If there is a row of empty urinals, pick one on the far left or the far right. Using one smack dab in the middle creates an uneven distribution of empty urinal buffer zones for the rest of us.

2. That being said, when I use the urinal on the far left or far right, why would you stroll up to the one directly next to me? You have 7 others to choose from!

3. Do not speak to a stranger at ANY TIME during your urinal stay.

4. There are 2 places where lines are unnecessary for people to know you're busy there- ATM's and urinals. I know you're waiting for me to finish. Feeling your breath on my neck isn't going to make me finish sooner.

Some would consider these rules basic common sense, but my experiences indicate that a number of men are not equipped with it. Perhaps it's time for a class, before today's urinal sidler become's tomorrow's stall foot-tapper.

Posted by Pat Tomasulo at 7:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

OK...

The answer to the most asked question I have received this week is "Where's Larry?".

The answer is "He is at Square Dance Camp.".

Most people don't know is that Larry is an avid square dancer.

Even the boss here at WGN has no idea.

Ever since 8th grade gym class he has loved square dancing.

He met his wife at the Square Dancelapooza convention in Fargo 1996.

They were in the middle of a Salamander Left when they hooked arms and they haven't let go since.

Larry loves it so much he tried to get them to incorporate into an exercise class at The East Bank Club.

He figured if they're already doing Jazzercise and Hip Hop Abs...why not the Squared Squats?

He loves to wear the flannel shirt, bandana around the neck and the old 10 gallon hat.

So, next time you see him...give him a do-si-do.

He'll be back next week.

Lord willing.

Posted by Paul Konrad at 8:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Just announced this morning is the 2008 Broadway In Chicago series for next season. BIC is the companies that brings the big, Broadway shows to Chicago. This coming season has quite a few shows that were HUGE in New York that are making their Chicago premiere.

MY FAIR LADY

January 22 – February 3, 2008

Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St.

Lerner & Loewe’s legendary musical premieres in the United States direct from its 50th Anniversary London production and U.K. national tour. Starring are acclaimed British theatre actors Christopher Cazenove and Lisa O’Hare who earned rave reviews for their dynamic performances as Professor Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle, and featured as Mrs. Higgins will be acclaimed theatre and film star Marni Nixon (singing voice of Eliza Doolittle in “My Fair Lady” feature film). Based on the Cameron Mackintosh/National Theatre of Great Britain’s award-winning London sensation, and hailed as “the revival against which all others will be measured” this glorious, new production features one of Broadway’s most beloved scores including The Rain in Spain, I Could Have Danced All Night and Get Me to the Church on Time.

THE DROWSY CHAPERONE

April 1 – 13, 2008

Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St.

Get ready to be transported to a magical, wonderful world! A world where the critics are in awe, the audiences are in heaven and the neighborhood is buzzing with excitement. Welcome to THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, the new musical comedy that is swooping into town with tons of laughs and the most 2006 Tony Awards of any musical on Broadway! It all begins when a die hard musical fan plays his favorite cast album, a 1928 smash hit called “The Drowsy Chaperone,” and the show magically bursts to life. We are instantly immersed in the glamorous, hilarious tale of a celebrity bride and her uproarious wedding day, complete with thrills and surprises that take both the cast (literally) and the audience (metaphorically) soaring into the rafters.

SWEENEY TODD

April 23 – May 4, 2008

Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St.

Innovative, intimate and ingenious, this revolutionary new production of SWEENEY TODD “is an event theatergoers will be talking about for years,” claims The Wall Street Journal. The legendary demon barber, hell-bent on revenge, takes up with his enterprising neighbor in a delicious plot to slice their way through London’s upper crust. Justice will be served – along with lush melody, audacious humor and bloody good thrills. Directed by Tony Award-winner, John Doyle, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler, this dazzling reinvention of a magnificent musical thriller is set to stun theatergoers as never before.

AVENUE Q

May 21 – June 7, 2008 (additional week added!)

Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St.

Broadway's smash hit and 2004 Tony Award-winner for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book will make its Chicago premiere this spring. A hilarious show full of heart and hum-able tunes, AVENUE Q is about trying to make it in NYC with big dreams and a tiny bank account. Called “one of the funniest shows you're ever likely to see” by Entertainment Weekly, AVENUE Q features a cast of people and puppets who tell the story in a smart, risqué and downright entertaining way. The New Yorker calls it “SUBVERSIVE and UPROARIOUS!”

DIRTY DANCING – The Classic Story On Stage

Limited Engagement Begins September 2, 2008

Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St.

The U.S. Premiere! “That was the summer of 1963, when everybody called me Baby and it didn’t occur to me to mind...” A movie seen by millions, with an unforgettable soundtrack and a story which touched the heart of a generation is now a record breaking stage show – DIRTY DANCING - The Classic Story On Stage. “The biggest live theatre sensation of all time,” declares the UK Observer. Exploding with heart-pounding music, pure dance energy and breath-taking emotion, this timeless story of first love “will give keen pleasure to DIRTY DANCING addicts and to newcomers alike” (Independent - UK). This acclaimed production experiences all the excitement and romance as never before with brand new scenes written especially for the stage. Now with more Baby and Johnny, more sensational dancing and even more classic songs – you're sure to have ‘the time of your life!’

The line-up will also feature the opportunity for priority purchase of the following 2008 off-season specials:

RENT

February 12 – 17, 2008, Off-Season Special

Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St.

RENT is more than a show, it's a phenomenon. A theatrical experience that transformed how a generation feels about musicals, changed Broadway forever, and inspired a major motion picture. Whether it's your 1st time or your 100th time, it's time you checked out RENT. The winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize, RENT is about being young, learning to survive, falling in love, finding your voice and living for today. RENT has made a lasting mark on Broadway with songs that rock and a story that really resonates and now the smash-hit sensation of RENT is returning to Chicago.

THE SPARROW

Starts September 26, 2007, Off-Season Special

Apollo Theater, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave.

Created by the award-winning team at The House Theatre of Chicago, THE SPARROW – one of the most original and acclaimed new works to emerge from the local theatre scene in decades – returns by popular demand in a new production at the Apollo Theater. The play, intertwined with music and dance, tells the story of Emily Book, a small town girl returning home ten years after a tragic accident claimed the lives of her entire class. As the town struggles to accept the strange girl who reminds them of what they lost, Emily attempts to hide special powers that make her different. Following record-breaking runs at both The Viaduct and Steppenwolf, audiences have a new opportunity to see THE SPARROW, a show that continues to soar beyond all expectations.

2008 Walgreens Broadway In Chicago Season Series ticket holders will receive a multitude of special benefits, including savings up to 25%, priority seating at each venue, ticket exchange privileges, pre-paid and discounted parking, access to gift cards to give tickets as gifts, as well as the first opportunity to purchase additional tickets to future Broadway In Chicago productions, including those not currently listed in the Season Series. Season ticket packages, which range in price from $93- $435.50, go on sale Friday, October 12 at 10:00 a.m., and are available by calling Season Ticket Services toll free at (877) 890-0174 or by visiting www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

The 2008 Walgreens Broadway In Chicago Season Series subscribers not only have the opportunity of purchasing tickets before the general public to off-season specials – RENT and THE SPARROW – but have an exciting new benefit from American Express. Any season package purchased with an American Express card will be automatically upgraded to include a ticket to THE SPARROW for each package purchased at no additional charge.

Group tickets are currently available for all of the season shows. Groups of 20 or more may receive a discount on most shows by calling (312) 977-1710. Single tickets to each individual production will go on sale at future dates to be announced. Broadway In Chicago gift certificates, which can be redeemed for any production or for season ticket packages, can be obtained at Broadway In Chicago box offices, www.BroadwayInChicago.com or by calling Ticketmaster at (312) 902-1400.

Posted by Dean Richards at 8:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

In their pursuit of liberty and happiness, the Founding Fathers knew what they were doing.

Their blueprint for freedom was built on a foundation of a free press.

Thomas Jefferson said, "Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter."

But I doubt Jefferson ever envisioned the printing press churning out headlines like "SUICIDAL TWIN GETS CONFUSED — KILLS BROTHER BY MISTAKE."

You know the Weekly World News, that supermarket tabloid you were too embarrassed to buy — in fact, too embarrassed even to get caught sneaking a peak at while you stood in check-out line. The newspaper is printing its last paper a week from today.

Not to worry, freedom remains in tact. It is not such a sad day for journalism, but maybe for a few journalists.

Joe Berger worked as a journalist in Washington, covering Capitol Hill and the White House, for six years but quit his prestigious and influential job to cover news of the weird for Weekly World News in 1981.

"Washington is an exciting, heady place for a reporter, but there are only so many Senate toxic-waste hearings and White House press briefings you can take before it all begins to seem like a bad re-run," Berger said in an e-mail. "So when Weekly World News offered me a chance to move to Florida, shed my coat and tie, go to work in blue jeans and tennis shoes and write about haunted toilets and gay space aliens, it was too good a chance to pass up."

Berger told me the man who hired him had been an editor at the New York Times and had joined WWN for the same reason, because it’s fun working with creative people and having a few laughs at work.

Here is my official list of best WWN headlines that did not include aliens, presidents or Big Foot:

"DENVER LITTLE LEAGUE COACH RECRUITS FOREST ANIMALS TO BEAT ARCH RIVALS"

"AMERICA’S FIRST SUPERHERO: PILGRIM ACQUIRED INCREDIBLE POWERS FROM SMOKING TOBACCO AND DRINKING COFFEE"

"COWARDLY MATADOR ONLY FIGHTS RABBITS."

I always wondered how they came up with this stuff. I imagined writers sitting around pulling out words from a big hat: "LOCH-NESS," "MARRIES," "FARAH FAWCETT."

Actually, as someone who scans news wires and Web sites for hours, I notice the real world is sometimes not that different from the one those WWN writers fantasize about.

Three of the following headlines were in the news on the day I was writing this column; one was made up by the Weekly World News. Can you guess which one is vintage WWN?

a) "NORWEGIAN MOOSE CONTRIBUTE TO GLOBAL WARMING"

b) "FORENSIC EXPERT TESTS HUBBY’S PANTS"

c) "STUDENTS PLAY FRISBEE WITH LAND MINE"

d) "THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING DRAG QUEEN"

The WWN headline is ... D.

It just goes to show you that truth is often stranger than fiction.

But it is a complicated and serious world, and weeding through pages of documents, chasing politicians through marble halls can get to be a drag after awhile.

"Many days we laughed so hard we ached, and nobody in his right mind would want to leave a job like that," said Berger, who left the WWN in 2001. "It was worlds away from the urban renewal meetings and lame press conferences suffered by mainstream journalists."

"My fondest memories are of helping to report some of the great news stories of our time," he said, "including the saga of Bat Boy, the tale of the confused space alien who tried to mate with a Weed Eater, and the story of a preacher whose electronic penile implant caused him to get an erection every time the neighbor lady used a remote control to open her garage door."

They laughed writing it. We laughed reading it. Even if we were too embarrassed to admit it.

Posted by Admin at 7:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Easy now, I'm not about to examine the media's treatment of Michael Vick, nor whether or not he's been judged fairly by society (what does this look like, a "Today Show" blog?).

Rather, I'm here to make fun of Stephon Marbury for suggesting those things.

Actually, I have no problem with him saying Vick's been mistreated, just the asinine (and at the same time hilarious) logic of his argument. I suppose there are some similarities between dog fighting and deer hunting. For instance, the ecological and safety benefits of both- one prevents a 12-point buck from slamming through your windshield, the other prevents a steamer being left on your front lawn.

Marbury says dog fighting is a sport, it's just kept behind closed doors. "Behind closed doors" is one way of referring to it. The isolated backwoods of rural Southern states is another. What I believe the King of $15 Sneakers means is that dog fighting is simply a sport that's disapproved of in some circles, kind of like mixed martial arts was a few years back.

So maybe all dog fighting needs is an aggressive marketing campaign and some rule changes? Perhaps neck bites, head butts and lockjaw are allowed, but groin bites and humping are outlawed?

Oh, and weight classes!

Hey, it worked for MMA.

Posted by Pat Tomasulo at 7:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Rabbi Shmuley returns to WGN Morning News Thursday at 7:40am. He gives excellent advice. Send us your relationship questions whether they are related to romance or family issues. Leave a first name, and where you live.
You can leave it on this posting or email me at feedback@wgntv.com
Thanks

Larry

Posted by Larry Potash at 10:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Well, thanks to everyone who has posted on my blog with great middle name ideas for my unborn son, Maxwell ??? Warner.
Man, there are some great ideas on there.
Some I really like, too!
Keep 'em coming, because I have 5 weeks to go until he gets here.
I guess it will be a game time decision!!!!!!!!!

As for that other kid of mine, big sister Zoe, we crossed a huge milestone August 20th.
My baby is now a kindergartner.
She's growing so fast.
She looked so cute in her uniform and was too excited about school.
She came home the first day promising not to go to the principal's office ever.
She said "Mommy, that's not good".
Smart girl.
Hopefully, Max learns that same lesson.

That’s the latest in my world,

Val

Posted by Valerie Warner at 8:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBacks (0)

Rating - 3 stars
www.simpsonizeme.com

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Rating - 2 stars
www.aol.com

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Rating - 2 stars
www.spinner.com

Posted by Admin at 7:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Like the wrapper on a can of creamed corn, TV personalities are the identifying label on the product being made inside a TV station. You used to identify WGN with certain colorful characters: Ray Rayner, Garfield Goose, and Bozo. Rayner died a few years ago, Garfield Goose is in museum storage, and Bozo was forced into retirement from computer-generated kids shows on the cartoon network.

This leaves the well-coifed newscasters to be the face of a local TV station. There is no question that the most valuable is Tom Skilling, who celebrates his 29th anniversary with WGN this week. When my colleagues and I used to ride in the WGN parade float with Bozo, we’d be invisible. Now, we’re still invisible; only it’s Tom Skilling everyone wants to smell and squeeze. Wherever I go, everyone wants to know about Tom Skilling. What’s he really like?

I’ll get to his dark dirty secrets in a moment, but first, let me say (and I would say this to Tom right before he’d go on the air just to needle him) : 'What difference does all this weather information really make?' Skilling will note that there’s a relationship between El Nino, Nixon’s sale of grain to Russia, and the anchovy harvest in Peru. (I’m not making that up.)

However, I just think about Jason Bourne driving cars off roofs, stabbing villains with pens, and saving the world from evil bureaucrats -- and your biggest concern is if Saturday turns out to be eight degrees cooler than predicted, and you forgot a sweater. So what?

We’ve all bought into it -- bold colors fly across the screen like you are watching some chase scene in a Disney animation -- it’s just Skilling’s graphics -- everything from barometric pressure in Kankakee, to the average windspeed of the Chinook winds in October, to the 100 year history of precipitation on a given day at Palwaukee Airport. The staff once counted 40 elements (graphics satellite loops) in his weathercast. It is without a doubt, the most comprehensive weather report in the country.

I have seen him do weather hundreds of times and I still don’t understand half of it; especially why he gives the weather in Alaska, which is a pogo stick hop from RUSSIA. However, it’s still entertaining, like when he once referred to a weather system as a “panhandle hooker.” Now that is art.

Part of the appeal, is Skilling’s passion. He is as friendly off screen, as he is on screen. But don’t think this is some PR snow job. Here are the dark secrets of Tom Skilling:

* Tom worked with a puppet in Milwaukee called “Albert the Alley Cat,” which was inflicted upon him by management. They had promised to phase him out, but it wasn’t a moment too soon for a young Tom Skilling.

“This was the day of weather gimmicks,” Skilling said. “People would knit [the puppet] outfits and while I was talking about dew points he would promote church bazaars and read the weather statistics.”

* Beneath the aw shucks Midwestern demeanor, he can be wickedly funny with his dark sense of humor.

* Despite his attention to detail, his office looks like Fred Sanford’s living room, with week-old tuna sandwiches, a giant pencil, and printouts of the dew point history for Minooka. He is a pack rat.

* Everyone at WGN knows that whenever Tom goes on his vacation, there is some kind of weather crisis: blizzard, thunderstorms, heatwave. I don’t have the records to prove it, but you can bet Tom Skilling does.

As local programming has become extinct, local newscasters have become more valuable to their managers. I am not sure if anyone cares about the accumulative snowfall for Februarys since the Bay of Pigs invasion, but one thing is clear -- he is the guy you want to invite into your living room for a cup of coffee -- and in this media saturated culture-- that’s worth a million.

Posted by Larry Potash at 5:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

This is what I don't get. I waited 5 years to start a family. I pursued my career, traveled with my husband, had myself some fun. My choice. Meanwhile, most of my girlfriends got married and had children, most of them right away. Their choice. Granted, I was never first choice to baby sit and I'm sure I must have made a face once in a while when their children screamed uncontrollably in public places or hid behind their mother's skirt when I tried to be sweet Auntie Ana. But I was never, ever unsympathetic to the plight of the new mom. I never left them with a crying baby at home and rubbed in their faces that I was going to a quiet dinner with my husband. I was always helpful, changed diapers, and fed babies. I'm even the godmother to four girls.

So I'm having a hard time understanding why some girlfriends of mine have this vengeful attitude towards my impending motherhood. Lately, when venting about their own children, I get a comment like : "Just wait until you can't take a nap in the middle of the day and get your nails done, EVER."
If I say that we are going out on certain weekend, I get the: "Ha, that's going to end. Once the baby is born, it's over".
One mother of two, who I call my sister from another mother since we are so close, went as far as telling me "I can't wait until you call me all miserable because Amelia doesn't let you sleep. I'm going to laugh out loud while my two kids are asleep and yours is not."

Why the hate, why the venom. I know it will be hard but aren't girlfriends supposed to tell you it's the best thing you've ever done in your life. Something more along the lines of, "your child's face will make it all better". I already wake up at three in the morning having anxiety attacks about feeding her the right way, loving her the right way so she doesn't hate me at 13.

It's like some women are happy that I will be as miserable as they once were or are. Like they've been waiting for 5 years, watching me enjoy childless life, knowing it eventually had to end and they would be there welcoming me to the hellish club.

I'm not a confrontational person so I have hinted to my "spiteful" girlfriends that I need love and support, not more horror mommy stories. It took a couple of emails and a sweet warning from my husband for those girls to get it. Now even the worst of them all has apologized and her message of motherhood is back to a positive one.

I've found very supportive women throughout my pregnancy but boy can we girls be spiteful when we want to. Even so, I would never, ever give up my girlfriends because no matter what, I know they have my back and always mean well, even when they sound doown right mean.

Posted by Ana Belaval at 1:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBacks (0)

Rating - 3 stars
www.ew.com

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• Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film...
• Avatar, The Last Airbender: Book 2 Earth, Volume 4
• Back To School
• Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds: Live At Radio City
• Doctor Strange
• Dynasty: The Second Season
• Elvis: The Miniseries
• Fracture
• The Fugitive: Season 1, Volume 1
• Hamlet
• Inland Empire
• Labyrinth
• The Lookout
• Masters of Horror: Valerie on the Stairs
• Masters of Horror: We All Scream for Ice Cream
• South Park: The Complete Tenth Season
• Taxi Driver
• Vacancy
• Wild Hogs

Posted by Dean Richards at 8:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

STARDUST
"Star dust" is one of those rare films that does everything right.

A clever story of a star that falls from the sky; a star in the form of a beautiful young woman played by Clair Danes, with special powers that everyone wants.

An evil, decrepit witch, deliciously played by Michelle Pfeiffer, wants her to regain her beauty and eternal life.

A dying king played by Peter O'Toole, instructs his idiot, slacker sons to capture the star. Whichever of them does, will become the next ruler.

At the same time, a smitten young man played by British actor, Charlie Cox, promises a girl who barely notices him that he'll capture the star to prove his love for her.

The quests begin combining into a touching love story, with exciting action, loads of laughs, and an amazing fantasy with brilliant effects.

Add in, one great supporting performance after another, but none better than Robert DeNiro, somewhat spoofing himself as a swashbuckling pirate of a flying ship with a hilarious, flamboyant private life.

"Stardust" is pure creativity. A great story...amazing film making...a Dean's List "A."

RUSH HOUR 3
The Chris Tucker one-liners are there. Jackie Chan stumbling through the script is there. It’s the third and hopefully final installment in their "Rush Hour" series.

If you've seen the first two, you’ve seen "Rush Hour 3."
There’s not much new. This time, a Chinese official is assassinated that pairs up the cross-cultural odd couple in Paris to fight off the bad guys and make fun of the French.

To me, the jokes are tired and the stunts, while impressive for a 53 year old Jackie Chan, are very "been there-kicked that."

The best part of "Rush Hour 3" is the Eiffel tower fight scenes at the end of the film. They are thrilling and also the only part of the film that isn’t warmed over.

I think this one is best seen on DVD...a dean's list "c plus."

DADDY DAY CAMP
Ok, I don't know who did it but will whoever stole Cuba Gooding Jr.’s taste and good sense please return it to him immediately.

I don't know how many more exceptionally bad films his career can take.

In "Daddy Day Camp", he’s taken over the reins that Eddie Murphy apparently didn't want to touch as a guy who mastered the day care empire and is now taking over a dilapidated day camp with his inept, chubby pal played by Paul Rae, because apparently, Jeff Garlin also didn't want anything to do with this.

Of course, everything goes wrong with an obnoxious group of misfits coupled with the full compliment of body function and flatulence jokes as the core of the humor.

Fred Savage, Kevin of "Wonder Year" fame, makes his big screen directorial debut with this mess. He’s a nice guy getting his feet wet with movie directing but even Martin Scorcese couldn't have saved this.

Even I could have found a better use for this script.... in the outhouse or in a bonfire. A Dean's List "D-.”

Posted by Dean Richards at 10:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It's not an all-star break but it is an All Star Weekend in Chicago . Some of the best-of-the-best NBA superstars will be converging on the city this month as the highly-anticipated Chicagoland All-Star Classic basketball game returns for its 6th anniversary year.

A virtual Who's Who of the basketball worlds' elite current and past performers, such as greats Antoine Walker, Corey Maggette, Michael Finley, Dwayne Wade, Antoine Walker, Juwan Howard, Quinton Richardson, Shawn Marion, Bobby Simmons, Nazr Muhammad, Sam Cassell, Steve Francis, Josh Smith, Stephon Marbury have participated and are invited again this year.

The 2006 classic tips-off at 4:00 p.m. Sunday, August 12th at the United Center , 1901 W. Madison St . And, best of all, it's all for charity with hosts The Support Group and Antoine Walker's 8 Foundation the beneficiaries.

With the recent shooting of school age children the event this year will hold a special "Silence the Violence" Teen Summit on Friday, August 10 @ 9:00am - 1:00pm at Julian High School . Other highlights not to be missed are performances by the new ABA Chicago Rockets Cheerleaders, local mascots "Benny the Bull" and "Chicago Sky," plus several Chicago-area acrobatic teams and dance troupes.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Shannon Brown (a Maywood native) stopped by to talk about the game.

For more information, log onto:
http://www.thesupportgroup.org

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Rating - 3 stars
www.mangedukebab.com

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Jewish history has a long line of distinguished people: Moses, Albert Einstein; and Elvis?
Thursday marks the 30th anniversary of Elvis’s death and people are still exploring his influence and trying to emulating his talent.

According to Max Wallace and Jonathan Goldstein, the authors of “Schmelvis: In Search of Elvis Presley’s Jewish Roots,” Elvis grew up in a Jewish area of Memphis. He lived downstairs from a Rabbi, Alfred Fruchter. As a teenager, Elvis would often visit, and served as the “Shabbos Goy” who turned on lights, and other tasks that Jews were prohibited from doing on the Sabbath. The Presley’s would join them once a month for Sabbath dinner and he enjoyed Matzoh Ball soup. He even started carrying a yarmulke in his pocket.

“I remember when he cut his first record for his mother's birthday,” said the Rabbi’s widow. “When he got home with it, they couldn't play it because they were too poor to afford a record player. So my husband lent him ours. He was so thankful. They would play that first song over and over again. That's what started his career, you know, that recording."

This may be the environmental influence on Elvis’ “Jewishness” but there is more to the story. According to the book, Elvis Presley's maternal great-great-great-grandmother Nancy Burdine was Jewish, and probably came from a family that immigrated from Lithuania, probably around the time of the American Revolution.

The story of Elvis’ Jewish lineage was also reported in the 1985 biography, “Elvis and Gladys.” Elvis added a Jewish Star of David to his mom’s headstone, about ten years after she died. Throughout 1977 Elvis wore a "Chai" necklace. The "Chai" symbol is the Hebrew word for "Life." Maybe that was his problem---Elvis was bigger than life, and perhaps his addiction to pain-killers, women, and peanut-butter and banana sandwiches was rooted in something missing: a connection to something bigger than Elvis’ fame and fortune.

Wallace says Elvis’ dad, along with his manager Col. Tom Parker, encouraged Elvis to downplay his Jewish ancestry for fear of anti-Semitism in the south Elvis’ hairdresser and spiritual adviser, Larry Geller, reportedly told Wallace that if Elvis had understood that having a Jewish great-great-grandmother made him Jewish, “He would have become a full-fledged practicing Jew.”

I’d argue the point that you have to be part of some magical mysterious bloodline of antiquity to be Jewish. Judaism is a belief. If you believe, climb aboard. It’s not a country club where you can just gain admittance by knowing someone, or having some royal pedigree, or wearing a necklace with Jewish symbols. The concept of Tikkun Alum (“repair the world”) requires that you do something.

So what if Elvis had taken his “Jewishness” more seriously? We can only imagine how it might’ve impacted his life. Picture a jumpsuit with the rhinestones replaced by Stars of David. It’s JELVIS—The Jewish Elvis impersonator, featuring hits like “Don’t Step on My Blue Suede Yarmulke.”

Had Willard Morgan been accepted to Northwestern’s school of drama, he says he might’ve been playing O’Neill at the Goodman, instead of a Jewish Elvis at parties. Morgan says he’s not sure what it matters how Jewish Elvis was, but his music was definitely spiritual.

“My inspiration for the event and for doing an Elvis impersonation is that Elvis and his
music truly unite the world. In today's world, beyond religion and politics, there's only ...
Rock n Roll,” Morgan said. I believe there is 'divinity' in all of us. And it can be found in emulating a hero or high being, whomever it may be. For some , it's Jesus, Buddhah, Jehovah, or Allah. I'm really more of a Buddhist in the
sense that I think we can all experience a bit of grace within, in my case and for many millions, the grace of Elvis. His spirit is
a true 'uniter of people'. With either a snarling lip, a swiveling hip, a karate kick and 'thankyouveramuch' we're all Elvi.

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Barry Bonds might be the most polarizing record-holder in all of sports. Yet, my attitude towards him is complete indifference- I honestly, truly could not care less about this new record. I have my opinions on how Bonds reached 756, but these will not change the fact that he did, so why bother sharing them?

I do, however, have strong, overwhelming feelings on the record finally being achieved. They're best summed up in one word:

HALLELUJAH!!!!

No longer will I wake up every morning, turn on ESPNNEWS, and look to bottom right of the screen for: "BONDS HITS 756. YOU NOW HAVE TRIPLE THE AMOUNT OF WORK TO DO."

We'll also finally get a break from those grotesque side-by-side comparisons of Bonds' head in 1993 and now; we'll no longer require NORAD to track Bud Selig's whereabouts; and I won't have to see one more 20/20 special with a guy who once lifted weights with Bonds.

Overkill doesn't begin to describe the coverage of this guy. One more week of waiting would have elevated this story to Anna Nicole Smith heights. But at least in this story, the supporting characters are much more compelling than Howard K. Stern and Larry Birkhead.

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Rating - 3 stars
http://soapbox.msn.com

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Rating - 3 stars
www.funmansion.com

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One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is meeting fans of the show. It feels good to have people come up to me and say how much they enjoy my work. Of course, it feels less good when I'm on my phone, having a heated argument with my health insurance provider. Or, when I'm running to catch the one functioning elevator in my building. Or, when I'm trying to convince the traffic cop that I am indeed parked legally.

Not that I would ever brush someone off. Just understand that I might not have a witty remark after learning about a $400 hospital co-pay.

It's a funny thing when people recognize you. Most of the time they know that they know you from somewhere, even if they don't really know who you are, like the man who told me yesterday: "Rob Elgas (Ch. 5), I love your work!"

Then there are those who know who I am, but are hesitant to introduce themselves. Often, they'll whisper to a friend: "That's the sports guy from WGN." But I tend not to introduce myself, because I don't want to come off as a pompous jackass: "Yes, I AM Pat Tomasulo."

Plus, what if the one time I introduce myself to someone I think knows who I am, they really DON'T know who I am?

"Hi. Yes, I'm him. Pat Tomasulo, nice to meet you?"

"Who? I thought you looked like a guy I went to camp with. Did you spend any summers in Lake Geneva?"

I think most viewers I've met on the street would tell you I'm very much like the guy you see on TV, but much more handsome, more carved out of stone by the hand of God, and what the hell- WAY TALLER.

**Footnotes**

Special thanks to professional trumpet player Stephen Orejudos, who booked a separate gig in the 5 minutes he and I worked together. To contact Stephen, visit his website:

http://www.chicagotrumpet.com

Also, thanks to my good friends Gator, Alex and Juan- two of whom were the menacing-looking men in the front seat of that lowrider. Turns out they only look scary- 2 of them work in law enforcement, and one is a claims adjuster for an insurance company! They run car clubs as a hobby, and often use the profits for fund-raisers. Visit their website at:

http://www.chicagolowridercouncil.com

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Barry Bonds is just a couple of swings away from achieving the most cherished record in baseball and simultaneously triggering its greatest controversy in decades. Should their be an asterisk next to Bonds' home run record? This debate, unlike most about sports statistics, is not just about the fodder for future trivia games. Baseball has endured as the American pastime because it has been fairly consistent. Even with futuristic video games, i-pods, and MTV-style editing, this game of 18 men patiently trying to hit a ball for three hours is still thriving in the 21st century.

So how should we approach this landmark event? I spoke with Ken Burns, the man who produced the critically acclaimed 18 ½ hour baseball documentary more than a decade ago. His new World War II documentary airs September 23rd, and then he’ll start working on his “Tenth Inning,” an update on baseball since he ended production on his nine-part documentary in 1992.

Burns says he hopes by looking at the past, we can learn more about the future, and understand complicated issues. Whether alcohol or gambling---sports has always struggled with scandal. Burns hopes to put it all in perspective.

Larry: You say we shouldn’t be so quick to judge Bonds---why?

Ken: We have to be careful to place all our puritan outrage in Bonds corner. Something’s been going on---his body has changed; there are investigations swirling. But I know he’s not the only one. Pitchers may be doing it. I don’t mean to excuse it. If one person isn’t doing it—then it’s unfair to them.

Larry:But isn’t it about breaking the rules?

Ken: This game is about deception. A curve ball and change-up are deceptive. We allow the stealing of bases and signs. It’s symptomatic of our self-involved age that someone would take hormones to enhance their phsyique.

Larry: So that’s not cheating?

Ken: Michael Jordan---the greatest basketball player ever----couldn’t hit two bucks in baseball and that ought to be a cautionary tale. You still have to see it and hit it---so I’m still petty impressed.

Larry: So how should Bonds be judged in baseball history?

Ken: My solution is Barry Bonds stop today and retire today. It would be good for Aaron, good for (baseball commissioner) Selig’s ulcer, and good for the fans. Bonds will go from a goat to greatest of all time for giving up his position. Of course, he’d never do that.

He should go into Hall of Fame without any of this around him. But it should serve as a cautionary tale for those faced with that question to cheat or not to cheat.

Larry: Do you think part of this Aaron-Bonds controversy is that Aaron was a good guy and Bonds has a reputation of being a jerk?

Ken: I think a lot about that. We’re always looking to simplify complex human affairs. It’s easy to make Hank into a god on a pedestal and we’re reminded of the “less than stellar” personality that Bonds has. I talked to people who said he was a jerk when his dad brought him around [as a kid.].

We don’t pay these guys to be sterling examples---that’s the old “field of dreams.” It’s always been a business and complicated and interesting characters. Half the Hall of Fame would disappear if you applied sanctimonious standards to great players of the past.

Larry: Why is any of this even important?

Ken: We need these anchors. It’s the strap in the subway that keeps you standing up. We live in such a changing life and we have this game that’s accompanied the history of our country. A .300 hitter means the same to my daughter as it does to me…there’s that continuity.

Burns says America is more sentimental about Baseball. Our experience is more personal. Stories about other sports always start with a famous plays, like a Montana touchdown or last-second Michael Jordan shot. But, baseball always begins with a story about seeing your first ball game with Dad, or simply playing catch with him.

It is part of our national consciousness. In a time when we have everything from poker on ESPN to professional rock paper scissor tournaments, baseball is still setting attendance records. While Willie Mays’ over-the-shoulder basket catch in the World Series had been held up as the pinnacle of web gems for decades, you can now see five such catches a night on Sportscenter. The players keep getting better---and hitting a baseball is still one of the hardest things to do in sports.

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Rating - 4 stars
www.startribune.com

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For all of you who sympathized or gave me suggestions, I'm glad to let you know I found a maternity bathing suit that suits me fine. My beautiful belly looks nice and well covered. I had to keep searching because if you watched today, I was on a charter boat out on the lake and every time I'm near a body of water, I end up soaked. Besides, with this heat, the swimming pool is calling my name.

So thanks for the support and suggestions. And no, I'm not planning to wear it on the air. I'm all for dressing up in costumes when the story calls for it but bathing suits...no way.

Adios.

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Look, I know she likes to blame "hormones", but pregnancy, in my opinion, is no excuse for the reckless and tasteless behavior being exhibited of late by one Valerie Warner.

Every time I turn around, she's elbowing me out of the way to get closer to her favorite guy.

But, in her defense, there's others around here who can't resist. See below.

Posted by Robin Baumgarten at 9:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

So, here's the latest with the pregnancy.
Two weeks ago, my doctor took some measurements and Max is weighing in at 3lbs 8ozs.
That was at 29 weeks.
Grant it, she said the ultrasound machine can be off a pound or so.
But I am here to tell you, Max feels every bit of almost 4lbs on my bladder.
Now, at 31 weeks, I had an elective 3d/4d ultrasound done and one look at his little fat cheeks and I think my doctor's estimate on his weight is probably dead on.

By the way, getting a 3d/4d ultrasound was such a fun experience.
If you can, I highly recommend getting one.
Not every doctor's office does it, so I had mine done at a facility that specializes in doing them.
My whole family went and we had so much fun checking out who little Max looks like.
The verdict is.....JUST LIKE ZOE, my 4 year old, who by the way looks just like my husband.
Great!
That means two kids and not one who looks like me.
I will say...Max and Zoe have my thighs (not necessarily a good thing, but at least it's something).

Until next time,

Val

P.S. We still haven't decided on a middle name....keep 'em coming!

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Rating - 3 stars
www.stereogum.com

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