Entertainment category, Page 111
TV Q&A: Why do so many meteorologists rotate through WPXI’s morning newscasts?
Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen answers reader questions every Wednesday at TribLive.com in a column that also appears in the Sunday Tribune-Review. Q: Why does WPXI constantly rotate their morning weather people? They have three to four different weather people on the morning news each week. — Rob,...
Trafford’s Theatre Factory to debut play this weekend at Pittsburgh New Works FestivalVideo
When Josette Kurey realized she would be directing actors Ron and Mary Ferrara of Vandergrift as part the world premiere of a new play about a married Italian-American couple from Queens, N.Y., she knew things were on the right track. “They’re almost playing themselves, married Italian grandparents. It’s very funny,...
When it comes to the Hollywood strikes, it’s not just the entertainment industry that’s being hurt
LOS ANGELES — The company had struggled for years, tossed around by pandemic-induced production shutdowns that began in March 2020. Last year, though, business for Valentino’s Costume Group had finally picked back up. Hoping to capitalize on that good fortune, the shop moved in January to a North Hollywood space...
Pittsburgh Pop podcast: ‘Rustin’ trailer reveal, Damar Hamlin on ‘Secret Celebrity Renovation’
In this episode of the “Pittsburgh Pop” podcast, host Tim Benz and TV Talk columnist Rob Owen discuss Pittsburgh pop culture news of the moment, including the sale of AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh to the owner of the Penguins. Benz and Owen discuss this week’s feel-good episode of CBS’s “Secret Celebrity...
Saint Vincent professor wins award for film on Washington County park
A small plot of land in Washington County is in the spotlight, thanks to the work of Saint Vincent College faculty member David Safin. Safin, an associate professor of digital art and media and communications department chair, recently was awarded a Bronze Telly Award for his short film, “Up on...
Bob Barker, dapper ‘Price Is Right’ and ‘Truth or Consequences’ host and animal advocate, dies at 99
Bob Barker, the enduring, dapper game show host who became a household name over a half century of hosting “Truth or Consequences” and “The Price Is Right,” has died. He was 99. Barker — also a longtime animal rights activist — died Saturday morning at his home in Los Angeles,...
Review: Live, Fuel ignite 1990s modern-rock radio nostalgia at Pittsburgh show
If you closed your eyes Friday night, you might have been able to flash back to 1995 when Live’s “Lightning Crashes” ruled modern-rock radio. A much-revamped version of Live, with support from fellow Pennsylvania rockers Fuel, played Friday at Stage AE in Pittsburgh, with only original singer Ed Kowalczyk left...
Country singer Luke Bryan pays surprise visit to Wholey’s in Pittsburgh
Country singer Luke Bryan is well versed in songs about fishing, with tracks like “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day,” “Tackle Box” and “Buy Me a Boat” in his catalog. So it’s no surprise that the “American Idol” judge chose Luke Wholey’s Wild Alaskan Grille in Pittsburgh’s Strip District for...
Hall of Fame hardcore wrestler Terry Funk dies at 79: ‘Unbelievably Fearless’Video
The enduring memory of iconic pro wrestler Terry Funk is of him in a Tokyo ring screaming “forever” over and over, his face stained with blood, sweat and tears. It was Aug. 31, 1983 — nearly 40 years ago — and he was announcing his retirement from wrestling in Japan....
TV Talk: Channel 19 to rebrand as KDKA+, change call letters
Pittsburgh’s CBS-owned WPCW-TV, Channel 19, will become a fully independent station when it disaffiliates from The CW at the end of the day on Aug. 31. Channel 19 will also get new call letters and branding. As expected, WPCW will become WPKD-TV with KDKA+ as the channel’s colloquial name in...
Review: Sizable ensemble delivers on George Clinton’s vision in McKees Rocks show
One of the many distinctive aspects of George Clinton’s 1970s-era music was his ability to integrate complex arrangements featuring a multitude of voices with eminently danceable rhythms. To take it to the stage, so to speak, the venerable leader of multiple bands brings a contingent of more than a dozen...
‘Their Stories’ documentary to explore lives of Sewickley’s early Black residents
Filmmaker Rueben Brock was taken by surprise when asked to direct a documentary about the early Black residents of Sewickley. “I said, ‘Wait a minute, there’s a Black community in Sewickley?’” he recalled. Those first Black settlers were important to the success of the community, and it’s high time their...
TV Q&A: Will KDKA-TV’s Erica Mokay be back at the anchor desk?
Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen answers reader questions every Wednesday at TribLive.com in a column that also appears in the Sunday Tribune-Review. Q: I would like to know what will happen to Erica Mokay since Lindsay Ward is back from maternity leave on KDKA-TV’s morning newscasts. Erica Mokay...
TV Talk: Mt. Lebanon native’s ‘Star Wars’ series ‘Ahsoka’ premieresVideo
Created by Mt. Lebanon native Dave Filoni and essentially a live-action sequel to Filoni’s animated “Star Wars” series “Rebels,” the two-episode premiere of “Ahsoka,” streaming tonight at 9 p.m. on Disney+, gets off to a slow start. Set in the post-“Return of the Jedi” part of the “Star Wars” timeline,...
Pittsburgh Pop podcast: Talking Guns N’ Roses concert, ‘League of Their Own’ cancellation, ‘Winning Time’
In this episode of the “Pittsburgh Pop” podcast, host Tim Benz and TV Talk columnist Rob Owen discuss Pittsburgh pop culture news of the moment, including Friday night’s Guns N’ Roses concert at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park. Benz offers his reaction to season two of HBO’s “Winning Time,” which Owen warns...
Lana Del Rey coming to Star Lake for fall concertVideo
Singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey is headed to the Pittsburgh area for a fall concert. On Monday, Del Rey announced a 10-stop tour for the fall, which includes a Tuesday, Oct. 3 date at the Pavilion at Star Lake in Burgettstown. Tickets will be available during the general sale beginning Friday...
‘Blue Beetle’ unseats ‘Barbie’ atop box office, ending four-week reign
NEW YORK — The DC superhero film “Blue Beetle” led weekend ticket sales with a modest $25.4 million opening, according to studio estimates Sunday, dethroning “Barbie” from the top spot after a record-setting run that left movie theaters colored pink for a month. The “Barbie” phenomenon is far from over....
Elvis tribute acts carry on the musical legacy of ‘The King’Video
Jamie Harris of Monongahela already had a hobby to occupy his spare time — he was a competitive powerlifter. But when he tore his pectoral muscle off the bone in 2000, he had to reevaluate things. “I was a jail guard at the Shuman Detention Center at the time,” said...
Ron Cephas Jones, ‘This Is Us’ actor who won 2 Emmys, dies at 66
LOS ANGELES — Ron Cephas Jones, a veteran stage actor who won two Emmy Awards for his role as as a long-lost father who finds redemption on the NBC television drama series “This Is Us,” has died at age 66, a representative said Saturday. Jones’ manager, Dan Spilo, said in...
Photos: Country singer Luke Bryan lights it up at sold-out Star Lake show
Country music singer Luke Bryan brought his Country on Tour show to the sold-out Pavilion at Star Lake in Burgettstown on Saturday night. Famous for songs like “Drink a Beer,” “Do I,” “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day” and “Country Girl (Shake It For Me),” Bryan has also been an...
Britney Spears breaks silence on Sam Asghari divorce: ‘Couldn’t take the pain anymore’
Britney Spears has finally broken her silence on her split from Sam Asghari, who filed for divorce from the popstar earlier this week. The “Stronger” singer, 41, took to Instagram Friday with a suggestive dance video and a heartfelt caption to shed some light on the couple’s breakup. “As everyone...
Review: Guns N’ Roses rocks Pittsburgh despite Axl Rose’s vocal inconsistencies
After inspiring head-banging for so many years, Guns N’ Roses instead left some in the audience head-scratching on Friday night at PNC Park. The veteran hard rockers’ world tour hit Pittsburgh, and singer Axl Rose’s voice fluctuated throughout the night, rarely coming close to the dynamic singing captured in their...
Amazon Prime Video cancels its renewal of ‘A League of their Own’
Amazon’s Prime Video reversed course today and canceled its renewal of “A League of their Own,” which filmed its first season in Pittsburgh. Although a filming location for season two had not been announced, “League” was expected to return to Pittsburgh. Variety reported the nonrenewal, noting it was the second...
Westmoreland Museum event promotes public art participation
A new community art resource will be unveiled during Public Art Day, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg. The free event also will feature artist demonstrations, chalk art activities and information from local galleries. “The Community Art Exchange Station …...
‘Rock for Recovery’ aims to destigmatize addiction with day of music, local resources
Joey Pagano of Monongahela is a recovering drug addict who has been clean and sober since June 1, 2013. And while he knows how hard things used to be, it’s difficult to look back at the past decade with anything but gratitude. In that time, Pagano has maintained his sobriety,...
