Arts News

Comedian Maz Jobrani Plays Not My Job
Born in Iran and raised in the U.S., Maz Jobrani is one of the founding members of the Axis of Evil group -- a stand-up tour featuring Middle-Eastern comics. He answers three questions about baseball players who have injured themselves in stupid ways.
Handy Tomato Recipes From A Celebrity Chef
Scott Conant, renowned chef and host of the Food Network series 24 Hour Restaurant Battle, shares some of his favorite tomato recipes with guest host Jacki Lyden.
Actors Retreat To Shakespearean Haven
Deep in Wisconsin is a midsummer night's dream. The home of late theater legends now welcomes actors to refresh their art under the guidance of today's biggest Shakespearean stars. Guest host Jacki Lyden visits Ten Chimneys to watch the Bard reborn.
'Trek In The Park': Drama In The Final Frontier
Shakespeare in the Park is a common summer event, lending outdoor picnics a touch of classic drama. In Portland, Ore., a local theater company has taken the concept from Elizabethan England to the 23rd century. Atomic Arts is midway through its second year of Trek in the Park, faithfully re-enacting episodes of the original Star Trek for an outdoor audience.
Holly Golightly: Breaking Rules In A Little Black Dress
In 1961, the character Audrey Hepburn brought to life in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's captured the imagination of an America on the cusp of a sexual revolution. Writer Sam Wasson shows how Hollywood made a hit out of a story about a call girl.
'Ripe': One Man's Quest For The Perfect Tomato
Once upon a time, tomatoes were considered poisonous, even dangerous. But gradually, the plump produce made its way into our homes and onto our plates. Arthur Allen tells the story of the tomato's redemption, popularization and eventual modification in his book, Ripe: The Search For The Perfect Tomato.
The Nolan Brothers: More Hype Than Talent?
Guest blogger Jimi Izrael assesses the careers of Hollywood film making duo the Nolan brothers, one of whom is the mastermind behind the latest box office smash Inception.
'Golden Mean': Everyday Liveliness In Ancient Greece
Alan Cheuse reviews the prize-winning book "The Golden Mean" by Annabel Lyon. The historical novel tells a story of the Greek philosopher Aristotle teaching Alexander the Great. Cheuse teaches writing at George Mason University in Virginia.
Across Montana On Horseback, Poet Hands Out Poetry
Instead of talking to schoolchildren or promoting poetry through local libraries, Montana's poet laureate Henry Real Bird decided to carry out his duty the true Montana way. The cowboy and member of the Crow nation is on a 500-mile horseback trip, halfway across the state, handing out books to get people to "move along in thought."
A 'Dinner' Invitation You Can Safely Decline
On paper, Dinner for Schmucks seems to have it all: a star-studded cast that includes reliable funnymen like Steve Carell and Paul Rudd, a veteran comedy director (Jay Roach) at the helm, and a premise lifted from a great French farce. But in reality, Schmucks is much less than the sum of its parts.
DeGeneres Leaving 'Idol,' Says It Was Bad Fit
The comedian-talk show host said she realized that while she "loved discovering, supporting and nurturing young talent, it was hard for me to judge people and sometimes hurt their feelings." Her departure leaves two vacancies on Fox's hit show.
Seafaring 'Charlie St. Cloud' Keeps To The Shallows
Charlie St. Cloud purports to grapple with matters of life and death. But this ode to "moving on" from grief packs so little genuine emotion that it will touch only the most susceptible of viewers -- that is, the teenage girls who will flock to see heartthrob Zac Efron cry while not wearing a shirt.
'Dry Land': Where PTSD Prevails (And Formula Fails)
Ryan Piers Williams directs a drama about an Iraq veteran (Ryan O'Nan) who struggles to reconnect after returning to his Texas hometown. America Ferrera, Melissa Leo and Wilmer Valderrama also star -- but critic Scott Tobias says the screenplay lets them down.
'Get Low': Greeting Death With A Deadpan Smirk
Bill Murray and Robert Duvall go head to head in this high-concept comedy about an aging man who throws a funeral party -- for himself. Critic Ella Taylor says that the veteran leads are perfectly cast as a pair of terse and cranky Southerners and commends the film for its sepia-tinged cinematography. (Recommended)
Hugh Hefner: A Radical, And Not Just In The Bedroom
Most of us hear "Hef" and think of an overdressed, oversexed octogenarian with oodles of cash and even more Viagra. A new documentary sets out to change all that -- and critic Jeannette Catsoulis argues that it's a great success, revealing a committed social reformer -- the "libertarian inside the libertine."