Entertainment category, Page 68
Pittsburgh Playwrights’ ‘Radio Golf’ is a triumph from start to finish
August Wilson is a titan of modern theater and his legacy stands especially tall here in Pittsburgh, his hometown and the setting for most of his 10-play Century Cycle. “Radio Golf” represents both the final decade of that century — it’s set in 1997 — and Wilson’s final play. The...
Bruce Springsteen leans into ‘Darkness’ during 2nd night in Pittsburgh
Going to see Bruce Springsteen is something that at least one member of my family has been doing for a literal half-century now. My father was going to see him in the early 1970s, before Max Weinberg took his well-known place behind the drums and more than a decade before...
Front Porch Theatricals’ ‘Bandstand’ is a swinging tribute to America’s veterans
Along with piping-hot swing music and dazzling choreography, the musical “Bandstand” offers an unflinching glimpse into the lives of United States military veterans coming home after World War II. Thanks to an incredible, multitalented cast and seamless direction, local company Front Porch Theatricals has crafted a production of which they...
Jack Russell, lead singer of band Great White who was onstage during horrific ’03 concert fire, dies
NEW YORK — Jack Russell, the lead singer of the bluesy ’80s metal band Great White whose hits included “Once Bitten Twice Shy” and “Rock Me” and was fronting his band the night 100 people died in a 2003 nightclub fire in Rhode Island, has died. He was 63. “Jack...
Father-and-son team of Eugene and Dan Levy to co-host the Emmys
NEW YORK — Eugene Levy and Dan Levy will make history at the Emmy Awards next month as the first ever father and son co-hosts. “We are thrilled to welcome two generations of comedy genius to the Emmy’s stage as hosts,” said Television Academy Chair Cris Abrego in a statement...
Willie Nelson, 91, announces 153rd album, ‘Last Leaf on the Tree’
NEW YORK — At 91 years old, Willie Nelson is proving he’s still going strong as the country music veteran announced Thursday the upcoming release of his 153rd album. Titled “Last Leaf on the Tree,” the opus — due out Nov. 1 — will feature covers of songs previously recorded...
Australian singer Angie McMahon discusses new ‘Light Sides’ EP, songwriting, vulnerability ahead of Pittsburgh showVideo
Australian singer/songwriter Angie McMahon has discovered joy in the little things of being on the road in the United States, whether it’s the novelty of the different snacks available at gas stations, good Mexican food or even experiencing snow here earlier this year. “It’s pretty special. And it’s just so...
Matthew Perry’s death leads to sweeping indictment of 5, including doctors and reputed dealers
LOS ANGELES — Nearly 10 months after the death of Matthew Perry, the long-simmering investigation into the ketamine that killed him came dramatically into public view with the announcement that five people had been charged with having roles in the overdose of the beloved “Friends” star. Here are key things...
TV Talk: HBO’s ‘Chimp Crazy’: A better, more entertaining ‘Tiger King’Video
Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen offers a viewing tip for the coming week. If you liked Netfllix’s “Tiger King,” odds are you’ll love HBO’s “Chimp Crazy” (10 p.m. Sundays, Aug. 18-Sept. 8) from the same director, Eric Goode. If, like me, you thought “Tiger King” was ultimately a...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Aug. 16-18
The school year is gearing up again, but weekends are still free! There are lots of options for a few hours of fun — with or without the kids — at one of these five events this weekend around Allegheny County. Movie Night on the Lawn: ‘The Sandlot’ The last...
Bruce Springsteen delivers nostalgic, high-energy concert at PPG Paints Arena
It might’ve seemed strange to the uninitiated to hear what sounded like booing from the crowd at Thursday night’s Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band concert at PPG Paints Arena. Of course, the audience wasn’t voicing their displeasure — they were just chanting “Bruce!” After a long wait —...
‘Hollywood Squares’ host and Broadway star Peter Marshall dies at 98
LOS ANGELES — Peter Marshall, the actor and singer turned game show host who played straight man to the stars for 16 years on “The Hollywood Squares,” has died. He was 98. He died Thursday of kidney failure at his home in the Encino neighborhood of Los Angeles, publicist Harlan...
70th Westmoreland Fair set to begin Friday
Aside from some bleating goats and snorting camels, the Westmoreland Fairgrounds were relatively quiet on a sun-drenched afternoon early this week. That will change Friday when the 70th edition of the Westmoreland Fair gets underway at the fairgrounds on Blue Ribbon Lane in Mt. Pleasant Township. Attendance at the annual...
Matthew Perry’s assistant among 5 people, including 2 doctors, charged in ‘Friends’ star’s death
LOS ANGELES — Five people including his personal assistant and two doctors have been charged in connection with Matthew Perry’s death in what prosecutors called a “broad underground criminal network” dedicated to getting the “Friends” star the powerful surgical anesthetic that killed him. The doctors preyed on Perry’s history of...
Interview: Fantastic Cat’s Anthony D’Amato talks ‘indie supergroup,’ switching instruments, Adam DuritzVideo
The indie folk/rock band Fantastic Cat definitely doesn’t take itself too seriously. From their truth-stretching band bio to the cheeky slogan on their top-selling T-shirt to the giant cat heads appearing on their album covers, the self-dubbed “supergroup” started as a fun little project and has grown into something more....
TV Talk: WTAE’s Ashley Liotus achieves goal of full-time sports reportingVideo
Ashley Liotus was a freelance reporter off and on at WTAE beginning in 2022, but in July she joined Channel 4 full-time, anchoring weekends and reporting/fill-in anchoring weekdays. Liotus, 33, grew up in the South Hills and graduated from Baldwin High School in 2009. She graduated from Penn State in...
Acting powerhouse Gena Rowlands dies at 94
Gena Rowlands, hailed as one of the greatest actors to ever practice the craft and a guiding light in independent cinema as a star in groundbreaking movies by her director husband, John Cassavetes, and who later charmed audiences in her son’s tear-jerker “The Notebook,” has died. She was 94. Rowlands’...
Cookie creator Wally Amos dies at 88; he lost Famous Amos but found other success
HONOLULU — Wallace “Wally” Amos, the creator of the cookie empire that took his name and made it famous and who went on to become a children’s literacy advocate, has died. He was 88. Amos created the Famous Amos cookie empire and eventually lost ownership of the company — as...
Singer Merce Lemon shares new video, talks about balance, new album, Pittsburgh as a home baseVideo
If all goes right, Pittsburgh musician Merce Lemon may be making a splash nationally when her new album, “Watch Me Drive Them Dogs Wild,” drops in September. Lemon made a different kind of splash recently when she dropped her phone into the Allegheny River near Aspinwall, where she was working...
Pittsburgh native, comedian who appeared on ‘Seinfeld,’ has diedVideo
Mitzi McCall was born in Pittsburgh in 1930, and she died in Los Angeles last week. She lived one heck of a life in the nearly 94 years in between those dates, making a name for herself as a comedian and actress. McCall, 93, worked alongside her husband, Charlie Brill,...
Pittsburgh fans relive decades of Bruce Springsteen shows
Local fans of rock legend Bruce Springsteen have been waiting a long time for his return to Pittsburgh — not just because The Boss hasn’t been here since 2016, but because this week’s two upcoming shows were supposed to happen almost a year ago. Originally slated for Sept. 12 and...
TV Q&A: What went wrong with ‘The Bear’ this season?
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: Just wondering what your reaction is to the current “The Bear” season? After last year’s great series, I find this season to be boring and...
Doobie Brothers’ Pat Simmons talks about band’s longevity, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame validationVideo
When guitarist Pat Simmons stops to ponder his 50-plus years with The Doobie Brothers, it can get a little surreal to him. The band celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020 (with a tour pushed back to 2021-22 because of the covid pandemic), and Simmons still isn’t quite sure how to...
Disco-era icon sues former producer for $2 million
Disco singer Gloria Gaynor, best known for the anthem “I Will Survive,” is suing her former producer for $2 million. According to court documents, Gaynor says she’s owed that amount from Joel Diamond because he has licensed her copyrights for years without properly paying her, the New York Post said....
TV Talk: Pittsburgh native Jeff Goldblum hosts ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’; Mass. woman helms a ‘Neighborhood’ reboot
Pittsburgh native Jeff Goldblum will guest host ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (11:35 p.m., WTAE-TV) Monday-Thursday this week. Goldblum’s guests tonight will be Mark Wahlberg, Rob Delaney and musical guest Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge. On Tuesday Goldblum will welcome John Cena and Omar Sy. Goldblum will also perform with...
