Who says playing with dolls is just for girls? Certainly not one of the most successful and widely-known performers in the world, Jeff Dunham. He's made a household name of himself by doing just that. Well, that and making those dolls say "politically incorrect, gratuitously insulting and ill tempered" things, according to Time Magazine.
Jeff has sold millions of DVDs and made countless television appearances on shows like Star Search, Late Show with David Letterman, Comedy Central Presents, The Tonight Show and Sonny With a Chance. Plus he has one of the most watched videos on YouTube featuring a character called Achmed the Dead Terrorist with over 120 million views. Not bad for a dummy!
Yeah...
Now Jeff is on tour with his whole arsenal of stuffed props. It's cleverly called the Identity Crisis Tour and is most likely coming to a town near you. That is if you live in Houston since he's playing the Reliant Stadium. Or Las Vegas where he's performing at The Colosseum at Caesar's Palace. Or if you live anywhere in Canada since he's playing the General Motors Centre in Oshawa, Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, John Labatt Centre in London, the Bell Centre in Montreal, the Brandt Centre in Regina and the MTS Centre in Winnipeg. He also plays a couple more venues south of the northern border. Seriously, though. Jeff and his troupe of artfully crafted puppets are hitting 45 North American venues large enough to hold Jeff, the dozens of his incredibly unique characters and millions of fans awaiting his - and his characters' - every word. Check Jeff Dunham's full tour schedule to see if he's playing with dolls anywhere near you.
45 shows that will be sold out long before he arrives in any of the cities. Not bad for a guy that started out at the age of eight playing with his Mortimer Snerd dummy in the mirror. Congrats to his parents for not subscribing to the widely-imposed gender roles and preventing this sort of talent from maturing.
And, for those that still thinks boys shouldn't play with dolls..."Silence! I kill you!" says Achmed.
I'm just going to get this out of the way, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1 is out. If you're one of those brave souls willing to attend an opening weekend screening, I wish you luck. Daniel Radcliffe puts on the glasses for the second to last time in the first part of the conclusion to one of the biggest franchises in movie history. It really is hard to believe that the first Harry Potter film came out back in 2001. Next year's Deathly Hallows Pt. 2 will officially mark an entire decade of Quidditch, Muggles, and Voldemort. This is definitely not the same Harry Potter from 2001 though, Deathly Hallows Pt. 1 has a markedly more mature tone to it than The Sorcerer's Stone did. There is no question that this is probably the must see movie of the season.
If Harry Potter just isn't your thing, don't worry there is another option this weekend. The Next Three Days is a new thriller starring Russell Crowe and Elizabeth Banks. Crowe plays a man who is pushed to the edge when his wife is arrested. The film also stars Liam Neeson and Olivia Wilde (whose career is really taking off). With such an impressive cast and a gripping plot, this is definitely a great alternative for people who aren't into wizards and magic. It's a little unusual for a film with such promise to open the same weekend as a juggernaut like Harry Potter, but it certainly provides a great alternative. If you like an edge of your seat thriller, then The Next Three Days is worth checking out. (An added bonus is you will probably avoid the huge lines for Harry Potter.)
I don't really think there is a question as to what movie will win the box office. When a movie has people camping out days in advance, you know it's going to do well. Don't forget to add your review to Eventful after the movie is over. We want to know, was it as good as you hoped it would be? Was it even better? Lastly, if you're stuck in long lines, and things start to get chaotic, just remember it's only a movie and everyone is there for a good time. Enjoy the show!
June 25, 2009 may have been the saddest day for pop music fans around the world. Michael Jackson was actually gone. Most didn't believe it. Certainly a person that had single-handedly shaped so much of what we know about pop culture wasn't allowed to moonwalk out of our lives so abruptly. But despite the skepticism, the fact remained. MJ had adorned his last single glove with sparkles. Shocked the audience with his last crotch grab. And the world of entertainment is worse off for it.
Yet somehow this pop magician continues to entertain us. There's the anticipated - and controversial - postmortem release of his final album, Michael. Earlier this week, the first track was already sent into the public: Hold My Hand. A duet the pop star sang with Akon. The song has already been celebrated by fans and critics. The album is set for a release date of December 14, 2010 and will feature other top music artists like Lenny Kravitz and 50 Cent.
And, believe it or not, now he's about to go on tour. Well, sort of... Jamie King and Chantal Tremblay - two of the brightest minds in the Cirque du Soleil camp - have put together a show of all shows. Ready for this? Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour! It's billed as "A riveting fusion of visuals, dance, music and fantasy that immerses audiences in Michael’s creative world and literally turns his signature moves upside down." The show is perfect for those that have followed MJ's career from the get-go or those that have just recently discovered his talent. The show is based on MJ's love of music and dance combined with the inspiring acrobatics of the best Cirque performers on the planet. No corners were cut in the writing of the show. No costs were minimized when it came to the designing of the spectacular. It's truly a show worthy of the King of Pop's prolific reputation.
Even though the actual performances don't start until October of 2011, it's not too early to secure your tickets. Because you'd better believe that each show is going to sell out - even though only the largest and most up-to-date venues have been selected to hold the shows. And, as of now, only North American tour dates have been released. The troupe will be performing in Canada first. The Bell Center in Montreal, Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Air Canada Center in Toronto, MTS Centre in Winnipeg and any other Canadian venue large enough to try to hold Michael's living reputation. In the US, the Key Arena in Seattle, Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Oracle Arena in San Francisco, American Airlines Arena in Miami and dozens of others. Though, for the millions of fans outside of North America, worry not. More and more tour dates will continue to be announced until every person that has ever tried to balance on their tip toes MJ-style will have a chance to see it. Keep checking back to the Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour schedule for new dates.
It's rare when a single person can unite so many people regardless of their musical tastes, their countries of origin, their political beliefs, their general differences. But somehow Michael did it through his spirit, passion and heart of an artistic genius. This show is no replacement for him, but it's definitely going to help us celebrate his life even after his passing.
Bruno Mars doo-wops on tour with some class-act hooligans
"It's better if you don't understand; just listen and have a good time," Says Bruno Mars - the man with the perpetual smile - on his music. Although, it'd be difficult not to understand his message with songs like "Just The Way You Are" and "Grenade." The man is singing about love and love lost. And, doing a proper job of it. Although, some that know him better than just by his falsetto voice say there's more to it. His co-producer was quoted as saying, "What people don't know is there's a darker underbelly to Bruno Mars." This may be evident from some of his other music such as "Liquor Store Blues" featuring Damian Marley.
He's currently on tour promoting his debut album doo - wops & hooligans. Earlier in the fall, he was opening for Maroon 5 when they played venues like the Santa Barbara Bowl, The Greek Theatre and the Arco Arena - mainly West Coast US stuff. But, then he split off and co-headlined a European tour with Travie McCoy where they performed in hot spots like Berlin's Magnet Club, Amsterdam's Melkweg and Stockholm's Göta Källare.
It may seem that Mars came out of nowhere co-writing, producing and performing on B.o.B's #1 "Nothin' On You" followed by Travie McCoy's increasingly popular "Billionaire." But, Bruno Mars will happily explain that his career today took a lifetime to build. Coming from a musical family in Hawaii, he's been all too familiar since just a boy with the thrill of applause and the heartache of criticism. But, he endured and went on to produce, write and perform some of the biggest R&B hits of today.
All there's left for Bruno to do is perform for his perpetually growing audience. Which might have something to do with his perpetual smile.
The Smashing Pumpkins tour, near releasing Vol II of their latest allbum
Has anybody else noticed this resurgence of 90s alternative rock bands lately? Soundgarden is on tour playing both new and old music. So is Stone Temple Pilots - including front-man Scott Weiland. And now The Smashing Pumpkins are on a North and South American tour supporting a crazy sort of album release. Although, this is no real surprise considering the band's inventive past.
(The new members of The Smashing Pumpkins: from left, Mike Byrne, Nicole Fiorentino, Jeff Schroeder and Billy Corgan)
They're currently touring the globe spreading the word about their eighth and most recent studio album called Teargarden by Kaleidyscope. Perhaps using the term "album" might be a bit wrong, though. It's composed of 44 individual songs that have been released one at a time for the duration of several years. As of November 2010, six songs have been released to the public. Until recently, the music was only available by digital download, to boot. However the idea behind this album's concept - based on tarot cards - is that each time a fourth song is released, there will be a physical EP released with those four songs. Once all 11 four-song sets have been created, there are plans to release the entire album in its entirety with special packaging and new / exclusive content. The first four-song set was released in May of 2010. Volume II is due to be released in a few days: November 23, 2010.
Since it's looking like this album is going to be years in the making - Billy Corgan was quoted as saying, "I don't think I'm going to make albums in the old-fashioned way, meaning 12-15 songs, etc. in one small package. My desire at this point would be to release one song at a time, over a period of 2-3 years" - The Pumpkins aren't touring as aggressively as a band normally would to promote their new music. They're currently in S.A. where they'll put on a show at the Luna Park Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Then it's the Planeta Terra Festival in São Paulo, Brazil. Then Movistar Arena in Santiago, Chile. Eventually, they climb up the continent and make their way to North America where they already have shows scheduled in Houston's Verizon Wireless Theater, San Jose's HP Pavillion and San Diego's Viejas Arena. Check back frequently to see what changes have been made to The Smashing Pumpkins upcoming tour schedule.
For fans of the 90s rock movement... For fans of new rock music... For fans of creativity in music making... It looks like we'll all have The Smashing Pumpkins to celebrate at least for a few more years to come.
Rascal Flatt's announce their Nothing Like This Tour...redux
So, for those of you that didn't have a chance to see Rascal Flatts while they were on tour in 2010, worry not. It turns out that the guys had so much fun promoting their most recent studio effort, Nothing Like This, that they don't want to stop playing their new tunes for the fans.
And - amazingly enough - they managed to pile on another 21 stops to the tour and not duplicate a single venue. It looks as though their tour management has as much talent as the artists themselves. This tour will take them from the Sioux Falls Arena in Sioux Falls, SD to the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, OK. Of course there are stops in between like when they perform for their Omaha fans at the Qwest Center or regale their Louisiana contingency by playing the New Orleans Arena or get rowdy with their youngster fans at the University of Illinois - Assembly Hall. And there are another 16 stops on the Rascal Flatts upcoming tour schedule that aren't even mentioned. These guys seem to genuinely like the road - which is a rare trait among many of the modern music acts that have reached the level of success as these five-time platinum album creators.
Luke Bryan and Chris Young - two talented and successful country music artists in their own right - are filling out the Nothing Like This 2011 Tour as opening acts.
So, if you have a hankering for some good ol' country and want to see a band that many music critics are calling the band that has most helped country music evolve through the past ten years to become as widely accepted and appreciated as it is today, 2011 might just be your lucky year. Or if you just want to hear their award winning music, Nothing Like This will be available in record stores starting tomorrow, November 16.
Spaceships, trains and television shows… oh my. Quite the variety of movies hitting the multiplex's this weekend. First up is the new drama/action/thriller Unstoppable. The movie stars Denzel Washington and Chris Pine as two train conductors who must stop a runaway train. Unstoppable is directed by Tony Scott, a director who has proved he knows a thing or two about making action packed movies. This also marks the fourth time Washington has paired up with Scott in the last six years. When an actor works with a director so many times, it's usually a good thing (see DiCaprio and Scorcese). If you're looking for a good edge of your seat movie this weekend, Unstoppable should do the trick.
If you prefer your action a little more out of this world, then be sure to check out Skyline. This isn't your typical Hollywood blockbuster, the movie was financed entirely without the help of any major studio. You might recognize most of the cast from television, Eric Balfour (24), Donald Faison (Scrubs) and David Zayas (Dexter). As District 9 proved last year, sci-fi movies can definitely get by on smaller budgets and without big name talent like Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt. If you like rooting for the small guy, or want to check out something that isn't the product of one of the big studios, then give Skyline a chance.
Finally for those not really looking for action, you can check out Morning Glory. With an impressive cast of Rachel McAdams, Diane Keaton and Harrison Ford there is a lot to like about this movie right off the bat. McAdams stars as a plucky television producer charged with reviving a morning news program with sagging ratings. In doing so, she has to deal with the temperamental hosts who don't get along (Keaton and Ford) all while trying to balance her personal life. It's hard to not like any movie that feature McAdams and the same can certainly be said for Diane Keaton. For the guys out there worried that this might be too chick-flicky, at least it's got Han Solo himself, who despite Indiana Jones 4 is still as awesome as ever.
So there you have it, plenty to choose from when you get to the theater. As for which movie tops the box office this weekend, it's almost impossible to vote against Denzel Washington. I don't see anything stopping Unstoppable from winning the weekend, and don't let anything stop you from writing a review on Eventful. You never know, it might get featured in our weekly Reel Buzz email. So go get your Shalit on!
We thought we'd take this edition of popular venues across the pond to the foggy town of London...where the name "Big Ben" actually refers to the 13 ton bell at the top of the clock tower and not the tower itself - which is known as St. Stephen’s Tower.
Here are some other London venues with famous names. And rightly so!
Remember, this is only the first edition of our London venues entry. Keep posted for the next. In the meantime, let us know if you've visited any of these and how your stay fared.
As we begin to get closer to the holidays more and more big blockbusters get released. This week certainly provides a variety of choices for cinema goers. First up is the new animated feature Megamind. In this comedy featuring the voice talents of Will Ferrell and Tina Fey as the leads, the villain Megamind finds himself unexpectedly in the role of hero. This looks like a pretty solid cast, also featuring Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill and David Cross. Every now and again its fun to root for the bad guy, especially when they are voiced by the oddball Ferrell. Given the track record of those involved, this should be high on laughs and a genuinely good time. After two weeks of horror films this could certainly be a much needed change of pace.
If you prefer your comedy to be a little more adult, then Due Date is what the doctor ordered. Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis star is this throwback to 80's buddy comedies. RDJ stars as a man trying to make it home in time for the birth of his baby but due to unforeseen circumstances is forced to travel cross country with eccentric Galifianakis. This movie might draw some comparisons to Planes, Trains, and Automobiles - the Steve Martin-John Candy classic - but that's definitely not a bad thing. The movie is directed by Todd Philipps whose previous film, The Hangover, was quite the success. If you've been dying for a classic odd couple type comedy, then Due Date is the way to go this weekend.
With two big comedies this weekend, it looks like you can't go wrong no matter what you choose. The question is, which of the two will claim the top spot at the box office. Last summer Phillips proved that R-rated comedies could indeed obtain commercial success, but can he repeat that success with Due Date? I'm going to take the safe pick here and go with Megamind. Today's animated features always bring a little something for everybody and it hard to top that kind of universal appeal. Don't forget to write your review on Eventful after the movie, that is if you can stop laughing long enough to do so.
The price for a marriage license in Las Vegas: $35. The price to file for a divorce in Las Vegas: $450.
The price for checking out these insanely fun venues: Whatever the cover charge might be on that particular day.
Here's our Vegas top venues:
1. House of Blues - Las Vegas: House of Blues...in Vegas. Yeah, that's happening. So are live events like Charlie Murphy's stand-up and Passion Pit's concerts.
2. Hard Rock Hotel: The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel is Las Vegas’ first ever rock venue. Which is why performers like Sheryl Crow and the Black Crows line up for a chance at the stage.
3. Rain Nightclub: With Multiple levels and environments comprising 25,000 square feet, extraordinary design / special effects and a variety of luxurious private areas, Rain represents the ultimate contemporary nightclub and concert venue. The venue is always happening with special events like World Extreme Cagefighting and concerts by the likes of A Perfect Circle.
4. MGM Grand Garden Arena: Home to concerts, championship boxing and premier sporting and special events. Here's where you can be entranced by a Cirque DuSoleil show or bewildered by David Copperfield.
5. The Venetian: Believe it or not, you can experience the romance of Italy in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip. You can also get colorful as an audience member of the Blue Man Group or theatrical with The Phantom.
6. UNLV Thomas and Mack Center: A university arena that hosts a variety of athletic events such as UNLV Rebels Men's Basketball home games and the National Finals Rodeo.
7. Las Vegas Convention Center: One of the most modern and functional facilities in the world - a 3.2 million square foot facility located within a short distance of more than 100,000 guest rooms. It's also host to some of the most popular gatherings such as the Motor Trend International Auto Show and the ICEE International Conference on Consumer Electronics.
8. Caesar's Palace: The grandest of Las Vegas Hotels, Caesars Palace, is famous worldwide for its magnificent beauty and impeccable service. It's also known for its top-notch entertainment such as Diana Ross.
But, in a land of over 1,700 licensed gambling locations, there are surely some hot spots missing from our list. If you know of any secret Vegas gems, let us know!
Who can believe that Bob Dylan is 69 1/2-years-old? Of course, we all know that he was the voice of a folk generation during the 60's & 70's protests. And he no longer has the fresh face of a young, rebel leader. But when it comes to such musical icons such as Dylan, we're forced to ask: Are they even allowed to age? What happens if we need them again?
Well, Bob assures us that he'll still be around. For better or worse. With new and old. Like just last year, he released his 33rd album full of new songs called Together Through Life which he wrote with Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter. The album debuted at number one in several countries including the US and the UK which only further demonstrates the staying power of this prolific musician. That sums up the new. For the old, a couple album sets have recently been released: The Witmark Demos: 1962-1964 and The Original Mono Recordings, two sets that have been long sought after by Bob Dylan collectors and fans worldwide. Listening through these two sets, one can actually track how Dylan matured from a singer / songwriter to a man that basically created a whole new style of music to never be successfully duplicated. The music helps true fans of his words understand how these song ideas grew into timeless masterpieces.
And, as if re-releasing this music into the public wasn't enough, B.D. is touring to flaunt how he can still walk the walk. Not only that, he's proving that he's still in touch with the Now by focusing the tour on university stadiums across the US. He's been on the road since early October and has already played venues like Halton Arena and UNC, Littlejohn Coliseum at Clemson University and Chaifetz Arena in Saint Louis University. Still ahead on the tour is Bryce Jordan Center at Penn State University, Bringhamton University Events Center and the Tsongas Center at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. Tickets are not lasting, either. College kids know their music.
For a guy that can order from the back page of a Denny's menu, Bob Dylan is setting the pace for all artists on the touring racket. What's more, his words matter to all those that listen to them - both young and old.
In January 2011, American Idol will start it's 10th season. Wow. That means that nine people's lives have dramatically changed due - in part, at least - to the show's efforts. One of those is Fantasia Barrino.
She was A.I.'s third grand prize winner. And, earned the title by belting out such memorable R&B / Motown mega-hits as "Summertime," "Chain of Fools" and "I Heard It Through The Grapevine." But, as soon as she finished bowing to the show's audience, she began bowing to her own legion of followers. She released the hit single "I believe" in 2004 which won Billboard's awards for the Top Selling Single Of The Year and the Top Selling R&B/Hip-Hop Single Of The Year. The tune was included in her first album entitled Free Yourself. In 2006, the popular hit "Free Yourself" earned her Grammy nominations for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song for. The album itself was also up for Best R&B Album Of The Year. The same year, she received a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance for her polished recording of "Summertime."
In 2006, she released her self-titled album which was also of equal success to her first. But, what surprised her fans even more was that she accepted the lead role of Celie in the Broadway musical production of The Color Purple. And she killed it. Long-time Broadway critic Clive Barnes of the New York Post went on to say "...There is some elemental quality to Fantasia that is either greatness or something close to it." Then she beat out the stiff competition for the Theatre World Award for Outstanding Broadway Debut Performance.
In August 2010, her fans were overly thrilled when she released her third album aptly named Back To Me - apt because she's been very vocal about her belief that life and music can never be separated. By titling the album this way, she was making her current goals, both creative and personal, crystal clear. Fantasia is music.
Helping to make the tour a success are her openers Eric Benet and Kandi.
Fans of R&B, fans of Motown, fans of soul, fans of passionate music one and all will walk away from Fantasia's concert understanding how she won the competitive American Idol contest. Though, they may also wonder why such a talented musician needed the show to get a start in the first place. Regardless, she's here and she's making it.
