With a catchy theme song and a charismatic star, "Bette" actually manages to rise above typical sitcom mediocrity. The premise of Bette Midler's star vehicle (basically she plays herself) seems very thin at first glance, but Midler's bawdy, slightly egotistical portrayal of her alter ego is actually pretty humorous.
In the new mockumentary "Best in Show," the dogs deliver, but you don't need to own a pedigree to appreciate Christopher Guest's dry sarcasm. The writer and director of "Waiting for Guffman" is back, and his new target is dog shows. With the same supporting cast as "Guffman," this film explores the world of dog showing and the idiosyncrasies of each breed as well as their owners.
The music force that is the Elephant Six Collective (E6) has been awfully quiet lately. Throughout the country, lovers of the quirky, retro-pop that is the specialty of the E6 collective have been going into withdrawal. They have been begging for the powerful punch of Beatles, Beach Boy and Zombies-influenced pop to get them through the long, cold weather. They need the quirky lyrics surrounded by the warm glow of the '60s and '70s. Elf Power's The Winter is Coming is just that fix.
Some movies are like cotton candy -- you don't expect any substance from them, but they're sweet and enjoyable nonetheless. Harold Ramis' remake of the 1967 film "Bedazzled" takes a plot that's been recycled for hundreds of years (since Goethe's "Faust," in case you were wondering) and makes it fun and playful. With two delectable stars in Brendan Fraser and Elizabeth Hurley, this is a film worth watching just for the eye candy, regardless of your preference.
The best show you are not watching is "Roswell." The supernaturally thrilling and addictive drama about alien teens and their human counterparts has suffered from poor ratings but has an extremely loyal following. Last year when the network was considering axing the show, fans of Roswell launched a full-force campaign and successfully brought the show back for a second season.
By far the worst show one of the Big Three Networks has put out in many years, the trouble with "Normal" is that it's just plain stupid. The new sitcom follows the adventures of four highly paranoid neighbors and their new shrink, Claire Garletti (Paget Brewster).
My boyfriend loves the Indianapolis Colts. In fact, he loves them so much I know that, when Sunday rolls around, I have to be quiet for the afternoon, or go over to his apartment later, because nothing keeps him from watching Marvin Harrison run for a touchdown.
"Welcome to New York" immediately catches attention by utilizing yet another catchy theme song ("New York, New York" from the musical On the Town). The show is built around the well-worn "country mouse goes to the city," as Indiana weatherman Jim Gaffigan (played by -- no joke -- Jim Gaffigan) moves to big, bad New York City.
"Dark Angel" is a post-apocalyptic actioneer created by genre maestro James Cameron. Jessica Alba (veteran of such crappy flicks as "Never Been Kissed" and "Idle Hands") stars as Max, a genetically engineered pickpocket who doles out many a beating to the various inhabitants of Seattle's criminal underbelly while avoiding the militaristic unit that birthed her.
The Legend of Drunken Master" is the latest re-release in a long string of Jackie Chan Hong Kong chopsocky flicks displaced upon American soil, and perhaps the best. Sporting fight sequences rivaled only by Bruce Lee's Kung Fu epic "Enter the Dragon" or Jet Li's "Fist of Legend," Chan's "Drunken Master" definitely earns its coveted spot amongst the very best martial arts flicks.
Ekoostik Hookah will bring its jams to the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave., at 9 p.m. today. Ekoostik Hookah, a sextet from Columbus, Ohio, is usually categorized as a jam band. But percussionist John Polansky, who joined the band about two years ago, said he finds it difficult to classify Hookah in any genre.
The Grateful Dead. Phish. The Allman Brothers. Such bands have gained cult followings by following their improvisational muses, taking their tunes wherever their fingers might lead. Straight from Athens, Ga., Widespread Panic is no exception.
The Health Professions and Prelaw Information Center was honored earlier this month in a contest by the National Academic Advising Association as one of four programs nationally that exemplify the innovation, creativity and commitment needed in advising programs.
For the past nine years, Tom Atkinson, who is also a university employee, has been building and organizing haunted houses to raise money for Bloomington's Crestmont Boys and Girls Club. This year Atkinson will be joining forces with the men of Delta Chi, who also put on a haunted house annually and donate their proceeds to Crestmont.
While registering for second semester classes, IU students can purchase yearbooks, Little 500 tickets and bus passes. Students can also donate money to the IU Student Association Rape Crisis Fund -- for now.
Appearing under the benefaction of the Departments of French, Italian and West European Studies, French ambassador Bujon de l'Estang will deliver a lecture detailing issues facing the French presidency and its role in the transitional European Union tonight.
IMU Late Night only on Fridays; Johnson Center wins award; School of Education to work with state schools, communitites
"The General" has retreated from Assembly Hall. So why do we have to keep beating his dead horse? A group of alumni are circulating an Internet petition, www.takebackiu.com, calling for the upper University administration to resign. Its targets are President Myles Brand, Vice President for Public Affairs and Government Relations Christopher Simpson, Athletics Director Clarence Doninger and the board of trustees. The group of alumni, Take Back IU, says it is concerned about a "significant decline" in IU's national academic ranking, "division and incivility" between faculty, administration and students and increasing secrecy in upper-level decisions.
Solutions by The State News