Friday marks the final final deadline for the digital TV transition. As we reported in February, you know, before the original deadline, broadcast stations around the country would convert from analog to digital signals.

This transition includes all stations in the Birmingham market.

You the viewer have a few options:

• Watch cable.
• Watch satellite.
• Install a converter box.
• Read a book.

Don’t blame us when you wake up Saturday morning to watch informercials or fishing shows, only to find static clogging up your VHF and UHF tubes. Instead, check our easy guide to making the conversion to DTV. And welcome to the 21st century.

A few exclusive updates on the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival from tonight’s monthly Sidewalk Salon:

• As mentioned on our Twitter update, the July edition of the Scramble filmmaking competition has been canceled. Organizers said they wanted to concentrate on the main festival for Sept. 25-27. The July contest would have lasted 10 days, rather than the typical 48 hours. The next Scramble will take place Nov. 6-8, with screening date to be determined.

• No numbers available yet on this past weekend’s Birmingham Shout gay/lesbian film festival. Look for them on Wade on Birmingham later this week.

• Five of the six venues for Sidewalk 2009 have been locked in, says executive director Chloe Collins, all familiar sites to festivalgoers:

• Alabama Theatre
• Carver Theatre
• Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
• Alabama Power
• McWane Science Center

The sixth venue will be either the previously used Hill Arts Center (a k a the Alabama Showplace, next to the Alabama Theatre) or a new-to-Sidewalk venue, the Harambe Room at Wee Care Academy [map].

• Regions Bank will not repeat as title sponsor for the festival. Collins says organizers are not actively pursuing title sponsors, instead going after a wider group of smaller sponsors. However, she did not rule out the possibility of another title sponsor. The 2008 festival marked the first time any title sponsor was in place.

• Organizers have restructured membership packages into four levels (Limestone, Iron, Fire and Steel) with a separate one for students and military members (Coal).

• • •

More Sidewalk coverage.

So much good stuff happening in the Birmingham area at the tail end of May …

First, the Preserve Jazz Festival at Moss Rock Preserve in Hoover, one of our favorite music festivals in town put on by our friend, jazzman Eric Essix. The lineup includes Jazz Attack (with Rick Braun, Jonathan Butler and Richard Elliott), Tracy Hamlin and Essix.

Tickets are $33, $38 at the door. 3 p.m. Sunday.

Video: Rick Braun interview

• • •

The Birmingham Shout film festival kicks off tonight at WorkPlay in Lakeview with “Sissyboy.” The two-day event features gay and lesbian feature films, documentaries and shorts from the folks at Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival.

Tickets for tonight’s film are $20, $25 at the door ($15 for members and students). Tickets for Saturday are $20 in advance or $12 per film ($15 in advance for members and students, $7 per film). 8 tonight, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday.

Video: “Sissyboy” trailer

Also:

• Birmingham Weekly: “The 2009 Shout Out”

• • •

Go back in time with the Birmingham Urban League Young Professionals Throwback Prom. Bust out the big lapels and ruffles and dance to the tunes of DJ Brian B. It takes place at Highland Conference Center on Southside.

Tickets are $20, $25 at the door. 8 tonight.

Video: DJ Brian B cutting it up and scratching

Programming alert: Yours truly will be on tonight’s edition of “Tapestry,” the weekly arts and culture show on WBHM (90.3 FM).

It airs at 6:30 tonight, and repeats at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

Of course, if you don’t own a radio, you can hear the program online. Our post over at the Birmingham Blogging Academy site goes into more detail about the show, the other interviewees and the in-studio taping.

Share your favorite festivals; sponsor our exclusive guide

It’s almost time for Memorial Day, summer getaways and the Wade on Birmingham Ultimate Summer Movie Guide. This annual guide lists the films and film festivals around Birmingham, with options a’plenty for kids, adults, freeloaders, outdoor lovers and anyone looking for a good time at the cineplex or beyond.

We’ll have dates, prices, blurbs, trailers, links and anything else you need to know.

Film fans: If you have a festival or movie to share, please contact us with the details. We’d love to include your films in our lineup.

Sponsors: Our movie guide is the best resource around for families, film buffs and daters. Be seen by thousands of savvy citizens looking for a night out in front of the big screen. If you’re interested in sponsoring our guide, contact us right away.

And get ready for another great summer of popcorn, candy, excitement and cinematic community.

Reality show champion discusses winning strategy and losing weight

survivor.wadeonbirmingham.com

[Share on Facebook | Twitter]

On the surface, J.T. appears to be a simple cattle rancher from south Alabama, but in “reality,” he’s a savvy competitor who earned respect among players he bested.

Samson native James Thomas Jr. spent 39 days competing on “Survivor: Tocatins – The Brazilian Highlands,” the CBS reality show. Sunday night, he not only won the $1 million prize by earning all seven jury votes, but also picked up an extra $100,000 prize just for being a fan favorite.

He was one of two Alabamians competing this season: Auburn middle school principal Debra Beebe finished in sixth place. (Alabama on ‘Survivor’: The Debra Beebe interview)

As such an obvious threat — physically dominant, socially smooth, skilled in survival — how did he outlast 15 other contestants? And what does he plan to do with all that money?

In a conference call earlier today, Thomas, along with runner-up Stephen Fishbach of New York, discussed their winning alliance and unlikely friendship.

(more…)

Cattle rancher James Thomas Jr. takes home $1 million in finale

survivor.wadeonbirmingham.com

James Thomas Jr., better known as J.T., won “Survivor: Tocantins – The Brazilian Highlands” earlier tonight during a live broadcast. Thomas (pictured above right) beat Stephen Fishbach (above left) of New York with a unanimous 7-0 vote among the jury of players.

In addition to winning the reality competition, the 24-year-old cattle rancher from Samson, Ala., also won an additional $100,000 in the fan favorite vote, earning a total $1.1 million for his 39 days in Brazil.

(Alabama on ‘Survivor’: Finale live blog)

Thomas and Fishbach formed an alliance early in the game, and Thomas said during the live show that he planned on using the money to go into business with Fishbach.

Meanwhile, Auburn middle school principal Debra Beebe finished in sixth place. She was part of the jury that picked Thomas as the winner.

Our interview with James ‘J.T.’ Thomas Jr.

• • •

Back up for grabs … more “Survivor: Tocantins” at survivor.wadeonbirmingham.com.

‘Survivor: Tocantins,’ episode 14 recap

Welcome to the Wade on Birmingham
‘Survivor: Tocantins’ finale Live Blog!

survivor.wadeonbirmingham.com

[Share on Facebook | Twitter]

Sign in, join the conversation, and leave comments below.

• Or if you want to e-mail us, send it to wade [AT] wadeonbirmingham.com.
• Or @ reply us on Twitter at @WadeOnTweets.

Our full live blog with special co-host Jen Barnett, after the jump … (more…)

‘Survivor: Tocantins,’ episode 13 recap

survivor.wadeonbirmingham.com

[Share on Facebook | Twitter]

More than a month in the wilds of Brazil, our fearless five players — Coach, J.T., Taj, Stephen and Erinn — are so very close to the end. “Survivor: Tocantins” still has a few surprises 33 days in:

• Jalapao, once outnumbered, has outlasted Timbira since the merge.
• Coach is still here?!
• Taj and Stephen managed to dump their cross-tribal alliance and stay relatively clean.
• J.T. and Stephen have run the show, and no one seems to mind.

So what’s left? Well, after the ouster of Auburn’s Debra Beebe during the previous episode, it’s up to James Thomas Jr. of Mobile to push through to the Final Four.

Can Coach survive on his own? Will Erinn talk her way out of the Final Four? Will the Hidden Immunity Idol ever make an appearance at Tribal Council? Find out, after the jump …

(more…)

‘Survivor: Tocantins,’ episode 13 preview

survivor.wadeonbirmingham.com

VIDEO: You Ask They Tell: Debbie

And like that, she’s gone. We’re still not quite over Debra Beebe‘s departure from “Survivor: Tocantins.”

(Recap to follow tonight’s show.)

The Auburn middle school principal finished in sixth place during last week’s episode. Tonight, she’ll join the jury to help crown the winner.

Still in the running is our other Alabama player, James Thomas Jr., the cattle rancher from Samson. He and four other contestants will battle it out for a spot in the Final Four.

Speaking of which, the season concludes Sunday with the three-hour extravaganza. And because we are stupid crazy thorough, we’re planning on a special live blog here on Wade on Birmingham starting at 7 p.m. CDT. That’s right …

Sunday: season finale live blog*

*assuming J.T. isn’t booted tonight.

Catch up:

• Previous recap from us,
• And one from Jeff.

And more about Debbie:

• Our interview: Alabama on ‘Survivor’: The Debra Beebe interview
• Birmingham News: “I sure as heck was out there for a million dollars. I wasn’t out there for my integrity.”
• Auburn Villager: “I’d like to get the Fan Favorite Best Player Award. That would be the ultimate win.”
• Opelika-Auburn News: “I know I’ll be a better leader as a principal for having had this experience.”
• Entertainment Tonight: “For two days, everybody on the tribe was talking about voting Coach out, and I had finally come around to that idea that we needed to do that.“
• TV Guide: “I lost probably about 15 pounds and I usually weigh around a hundred.”
  

We’ll see you back here tonight after the episode.

Bonus videos, after the jump …

(more…)

Auburn school principal finishes in sixth place on ‘Survivor: Tocantins’

survivor.wadeonbirmingham.com

[Share on Facebook | Twitter]

Debra “Debbie” Beebe had wanted to be on “Survivor” since applying for the second season in 2000. Instead, she wound up in Brazil in the 18th season of “Survivor: Tocatins – The Brazilian Highlands.”

Her tribe had the advantage going into the merge. She aligned with power players since Day 3. So where did it go wrong for Beebe, the middle school principal from Auburn?

(Alabama’s other player, James Thomas Jr. of Mobile, remains in the game.)

She played a strong social game, despite the lack of camera time, and she started to emerge as a physical threat. But in Thursday’s episode, she had to settle for sixth place.

In a conference call earlier today, Beebe discussed the high points, the low points, her allies and what’s next.

(more…)

‘Survivor: Tocantins,’ episode 12 recap

survivor.wadeonbirmingham.com

[Share on Facebook | Twitter]

It’s a mad scramble with only six players left on “Survivor.” But with J.T. and Stephen firmly in control, is it really anybody’s game? Or theirs to lose?

Plus, special guest star Eddie George! (ooh, ahh)

Can James Thomas Jr. of Samson trust Stephen? Can Debra Beebe of Auburn trust anybody?

Who buys big at the auction? And who’s being sold down the river? Find out, after the jump …

(more…)

‘Survivor: Tocantins,’ episode 12 preview

survivor.wadeonbirmingham.com

VIDEO: Teaser for tonight’s episode

A quickie look at tonight’s “Survivor: Tocantins” above. Recap to follow the show.

What kind of auction will they have? An extreme auction! Because you can’t spell “auction” without “action.”

Is James Thomas Jr. of Mobile headed to the final two with Stephen? Has Debra Beebe of Auburn run out of hiding places?

Catch up:

• Previous recap from us,
• And one from Jeff.

We’ll see you back here tonight after the episode.

Bonus videos, after the jump …

(more…)

‘Survivor: Tocantins,’ episode 11 recap

survivor.wadeonbirmingham.com

[Share on Facebook | Twitter]

“Our happy little family is not such a little happy family anymore.”

That’s how Debbie describes the Forza tribe during Tribal Council. The soap opera of “Survivor” just heaped on the drama tonight, with crying, scheming and fighting galore.

Is James Thomas Jr. of Mobile eating his way to victory? Can Debra Beebe of Auburn stomach the drama?

Who’s lying, who’s crying, and which two women are at war? Find out, after the jump …

(more…)

‘Survivor: Tocantins,’ episode 11 preview

survivor.wadeonbirmingham.com

VIDEO: Teaser for tonight’s episode

A quickie look at tonight’s “Survivor: Tocantins” above. Recap to follow the show.

Tyson is gone! Coach is scrambling! Debbie is scrambling!

Is James Thomas Jr. of Samson running the show? Is Debra Beebe of Auburn suddenly in danger of being voted out?

Catch up:

• Previous recap from us,
• And one from Jeff.

Plus, host Jeff Probst handicaps our Alabama contestants:

• On Debbie: “She’s very likable … She would be a dangerous person to let go all the way to the end.”
• On J.T.: “J.T. has a tougher job ahead of him because he’s such a physical threat. If everybody wakes up soon, they’re going to get rid of J.T., because he could win his way to the end.”

We’ll see you back here tonight after the episode.

Bonus videos, after the jump …

(more…)