What to do in Oklahoma on Nov. 8, 2009
Okemah-born singer-songwriter Woody Guthrie (The Oklahoman Archives photo)
Today’s featured event:
Hear a Tribute to Woody Guthrie at 7 tonight at the Blue Door, 2805 N McKinley.
For more information, go to www.bluedoorokc.com
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
-BAM
What to do in Oklahoma on Nov. 8, 2009
Okemah-born singer-songwriter Woody Guthrie (The Oklahoman Archives photo)
Today’s featured event:
Hear a Tribute to Woody Guthrie at 7 tonight at the Blue Door, 2805 N McKinley.
For more information, go to www.bluedoorokc.com
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
-BAM
Read more What to do in Oklahoma on Nov. 8, 2009 at BAM's Blog
3D’s Need to See: Heist Edition
My movie recommendation for you this week is the 2001 heist film titled, accurately enough, “Heist.” I’m a fan of heist films in general (you may notice me highlighting more of them in the coming weeks), and this one caught my eye because of its excellent cast, which includes Gene Hackman, Delroy Lindo, Danny DeVito, and Sam Rockwell.
The film revolves around a band of thieves, led by Hackman, who are forced by a gangster (played by DeVito) to perform a gold heist. Of course, if you know anything about heist films, you know that the plot is less important than how the heist is executed and the twists and turns that ensue.
It’s important to tell you that this film is written and directed by David Mamet. This is both a blessing and a curse. If you like Mamet and his trademark style of telling a story (not to mention his extremely distinctive dialogue), then you will like this movie a lot. If you aren’t the biggest Mamet fan, then this movie will start to irritate with its twists and turns.
For me, it was enough to see these great actors in a heist film. Also, I have a special liking for Ricky Jay (who makes one of his frequent appearances in Mamet’s films here) because of his expertise as a historian of magic and sleight of hand artist. So, if you like heist films and have never seen this one, why not give “Heist” a try?
—3D
Kris Allen new music video: Live Like We’re Dying
Mariah Carey New Year’s Eve concert
Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon arrived at the premiere of her new film titled "Precious." ((AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Unlike many celebrities, Mariah Carey won’t be ringing in the new year sipping on crystal or Belvedere vodka.
Instead, she will be performing a show for her fans. Carey will host a concert the night of New Year’s Eve at Madison Square Garden.
Carey made the announcement on her Web site. Tickets will go on sale Nov. 9 for members of her fan club and Nov. 14 for the general public.
Carey also recently completed filming a music video for her new song titled “H.A.T.U.” The song appears on her album “Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel.”
The Jackson family reality show
Members of the Jackson family are starring in a new reality show set to air next month on the A&E network.
The show, titled “The Jacksons: Family Dynasty,” will feature Jermaine, Jackie, Marlon and Tito Jackson.
Cameras will follow the brothers around while they prepare for a concert tour. It will also show the brothers are coping with Michael’s death, according to the Associated Press.
Six episodes will air beginning Dec. 13. No word on whether Janet or La Toya will make any appearances on the show.
Before anyone assumes the Jackson brothers are trying to profit from their brother’s deaths, keep in mind, the Jacksons agreed to participate in this reality show one month before Michael died.
A preview is posted in the clip below
Taylor Swift to host, perform on “Saturday Night Live” tonight
Taylor Swift (Associated Press photo)
Country music starlet Taylor Swift will host and perform tonight on ”Saturday Night Live.”
“I’ve been thinking about skit ideas for a long time,” Swift, 19, told the Associated Press last month. “There are definitely some hilarious things that have happened to me over the past couple of months that I think will be pretty substantial skits.”
The only question is who will play Kanye West, since it’s hard to imagine that the “Not Ready for Primetime Players” won’t want to spoof West’s buffoonery at this fall’s MTV Video Music Awards, when he memorably hijacked Swift’s acceptance speech.
“SNL” airs at 10:30 p.m. on NBC (KFOR-4 in Oklahoma City).
For more TV news, visit Penny Soldan’s always informative blog at http://blog.newsok.com/television.
-BAM
BAM’s college football favorites for Nov. 7, 2009
OSU quarterback Zac Robinson (Photo by Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman)
After a disappointing loss to Texas last week, my Oklahoma State Cowboys will take on Iowa State Cyclones at 2:30 p.m. today in Ames, Iowa. The game will air on ABC.
It’s been a tough week for the No. 19 Cowboys and their fans. After getting blown out last week by the Longhorns, the Cowboy Nation learned this week that All-American wide receive Dez Bryant’s final appeal for reinstatement this season has been denied. That means he most likely will enter the NFL draft. Who can blame him? He could come back and play for OSU next year, but why would he put himself under the fickle authority of the NCAA ever again?
The No. 24 University of Oklahoma Sooners will travel to Nebraska to play longtime rivals the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The game will kick off at 7 tonight and air on ABC.
The No. 1 University of Florida Gators, the McDonnell family’s traditional favorite team, will try to stay undefeated today as they take on Vanderbilt at home in the Swamp. The game will kick off at 6:15 p.m. and air on ESPN2.
Good luck to all my favorite teams.
Celebrity Birthdays (Nov. 7 and Nov. 8)
Celebrity Birthdays (Nov. 7)
Jon Peter Lewis – 30 (American Idol contestant)
Jason London – 37 (7th Heaven actor)
Jeremy London – 37 (7th Heaven actor)
Joni Mitchell – 66 (singer)
Billy Graham – 91 (televangelist)
Nov. 8
Jack Osbourne – 24 (reality star/Ozzy Osbourne’s son)
Tara Reid – 34 (actress)
Courtney Thorne-Smith – 42 (Melrose Place actress)
Leif Garrett – 48 (singer)
Alfre Woodard – 57 (actress)
Mary Hart – 59 (Entertainment Tonight hostess)(in photo above)
Bonnie Raitt – 60 (singer)
Morley Safer – 78 (CBS reporter)
“Twilight Saga: New Moon” actress Rachelle Lefevre campaigning for animal adoption
Rachelle Lefevre (Associated Press photo)
“The Twilight Saga: New Moon” actress Rachelle Lefevre and her friend, Johnny, a rescue dog, will be urging people to “Adopt Don’t’ Shop” in a series of public service announcements for Best Friends Animal Society debuting Dec. 1 in New York’s Times Square on the jumbo video billboard, Geoffrey Tron.
Lefevre, who plays vampire villainess in the movie “Twilight,” as well as its soon-to-be-released sequel, “New Moon,” is the star of 30-second and 60-second spots that will be distributed to television and radio stations across the country. She will also serve as national spokesperson for Best Friends’ “Puppies Aren’t Products” campaign, which draws attention to the fact that pet shops around the country are selling puppies that come from large commercial breeding operations known as “puppy mills” with deplorable conditions.
“I’m delighted to help speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves,” Lefevre said in a news release. ”Ever since I rescued my own dog I have wanted to encourage people to do the same. Working with Best Friends is the perfect way to do this and I’m excited and proud to be working with an organization so dedicated to animal kindness.”
The PSAs will be distributed to about 1,400 television and cable stations, plus another 1,250 radio stations. Best Friends Animal Society is known for its leading initiatives and community programs in animal welfare, as well as operating the largest companion animal sanctuary in the United States.
“Puppy mills are directly linked to pet overpopulation in the United States, which contributes to the fact that approximately 4,000 dogs are put down in shelters every day,” Lefevre said in the release. “We hope that our message of ‘adopt don’t shop’ resonates with the general public so we can bring that number down substantially.”
The goal of the “Puppies Aren’t Products” campaign is to reduce the number of homeless animals by fighting against puppy mills and irresponsible breeding.
“We are so fortunate to have Rachelle giving a voice to the animals as our national spokesperson,” said Vicki Kilmer-Rinker, director of marketing for Best Friends Animal Society, in the release. “Our goal is to increase awareness of where pet store puppies come from, especially as we approach the holiday season when so many families think about adding a family pet.”
Lefevre, who has a wide range of credits in movies and television, moved to Los Angeles when she landed the female lead in the Fox comedy series “Life on a Stick.” She went on to appear in multiple episodes of acclaimed series “Boston Legal” and “Swingtown.” On the big screen, she appeared in a diverse range of roles including opposite Stephen Dillane in the Holocaust era drama “Fugitive Pieces” based on the international best-selling novel by Anne Michaels and comedy “The Pool Boys” opposite Tom Arnold and Matthew Lillard.
Lefevre will be seen next in “Casino Jack,” opposite Kevin Spacey and “Barney’s Version” opposite Paul Giamatti. But she will not reprise her role as Victoria in the third “Twilight” film “Eclipse”; Summit Entertainment created a bit of a furor earlier this fall when it replaced Lefevre with Bryce Dallas Howard due to scheduling conflicts
In addition to working with Best Friends Animal Society, Lefevre is involved with the literacy organization “School on Wheels” and is an “Ambassador for the Cure” with The Susan G. Komen Foundation.
I’m just returning from Los Angeles, where I participated in interviews with many of the cast and crew of “New Moon,” though Lefevre wasn’t among them for obvious reasons. Look for several posts from those interviews as Nov. 20, the opening date for “New Moon,” draws nearer.
-BAM
