Far too much dancing, not nearly enough prancing.
Cirque du Soleil has brought its artsy acrobatics for a two-night performance at the BJCC Arena, but with a heavier emphasis on music and choreography. Is its road show “Delirium” an arena event or Cirque lite?
“American Idol” singers provided a 21st-century fix, but the future’s not so bright for our 10 finalists, as performance after performance fell flat. Could Birmingham’s Taylor Hicks avoid trouble?
Recap after the jump …
Updated with multimedia, elimination.
Cooperation is the watchword.
At least, it is for 2006. I haven’t seen so much intergovernmental cooperation in as long as I can remember. Granted, it’s not exactly hugs and rainbows, but it’s a start.
What’s particularly striking about this quiet revolution is the young professionals movement. Not content to let the oldsters continue to run Birmingham into the ground, YPs (preferable to yuppies or some other media-friendly term) are beginning to organize, speak out, actually assert themselves and participate in the ongoing experiment of democracy.
(Hell, even MTV Spring Break 2006 is more about altruism then alcoholism, volunteerism over hedonism. Sad sad sad.)
Birmingham doesn’t stand at a crossroads — it’s been roadkill for a while. But YPs could breathe new life into old ways of governance and getting things done.
“His name was Barry, he was a show guy, with 11 singers on the air and a ’50s theme, beware …”
Birmingham’s Taylor Hicks took on a Buddy Holly classic, with middling results during rehearsal. Could Barry Manilow save the day? It’s back to the ’50s for “American Idol.”
Updated with multimedia, elimination.
Recap after the jump …
Weekend multimedia roundup:
Fellow RLCer and neighbor Duane Pontius talks with WBHM (90.3 FM) about his work on a research team that may have found life on one of Saturn’s moons. He’s an assistant professor of physics at Birmingham-Southern College. (related story)
It’s Alabama (10) vs. UCLA (2) in round 2 of the NCAA men’s tournament. Tipoff is at 7 tonight on CBS 42. And as predicted, I’m dead last in the contest pool.
Muscle Shoals native and country singer/guitarist Gary Nichols has his debut single, “I Can’t Love You Anymore,” on iTunes, a free download (through Monday). You can check out “HomeGrown,” “Unbroken Ground” and “Southern Girls” at his MySpace page.
The good folks at Scripps Howard News Service have picked up this profile on Taylor Hicks for the news wire. (Thanks, Karen!) Meet Brad Hicks, Taylor’s father and best friend. And learn what Taylor has in common with “American Idol” winner Ruben Studdard.
Look for it in print and online in your favorite news sites, such as the Knoxville (Tenn.) News Sentinel, the Albuquerque (N.M.) Tribune, the Abilene (Texas) Reporter-News, ABC 15 (Phoenix), the (Wichita Falls, TX) Times Record News, the Corpus Christi (Texas) Caller-Times, the Decatur Daily and the (Fort Wayne, Ind.) Journal Gazette.
And be sure to kindly ask your local newspaper and TV station to run the story from the Scripps Howard News Service.
The 12 “American Idol” hopefuls sang the praises and phrases of Stevie Wonder live. And Birmingham’s Taylor Hicks brought the house down. How did he stack up against the other finalists?
Recap after the jump …
Updated with video, elimination.
Drive out to the country, and you’ll find … a whole lot of nothing. Long winding roads, open fields, dense forests, an occasional farmhouse.
And churches.
Unlike citified America, where some McMansions of God dot the thoroughfares alongside strip malls and car dealerships, country churches are often the hub of rural life. It’s not that they depend on God more, just the connection among worshippers disconnected by distance.
It took arsonists only a couple of thrill-seeking evenings to torch those “networking hubs.” Federal agents arrested three Birmingham college students this week for the crime.
Perhaps saddest of all isn’t the loss of these buildings, but the loss of lives. Yes, no one was killed in the fires, but if found guilty, these typical suburban brats didn’t just incinerate churches, but their chance to better themselves.
Taylor Hicks not only sang a scorcher live tonight, but also danced … sorta. At least his “American Idol” missteps were from the ankles down and looks golden for the Top 12.
Recap after the jump …
Updated with video, eliminations.
My first film, “The Last Fish,” premiered Friday night at the Carver Theatre. As you may know,
I spent 36 hours making it for the latest Sidewalk Scramble competition.
Did it win? Nope.
That’s OK. I’m still proud of my effort. And it did make festival history (watch the movie for a hint).
Check it out, then see what the jurors had to say after the jump.
“Fishkind is doomed, thanks to aliens, but who’s next?”
I made a movie. My first, actually.
They gave me 48 hours. I needed only 36.
The world premiere of “The Last Fish” is at 8 tonight at the Carver Theatre. This short film and a couple dozen other entries are products of the latest Sidewalk Scramble, a semi-annual competition among local directors, actors and crews.
My one-man film will make festival history.
But before you see the final product tonight, let’s go behind the scenes of my first (and likely last) foray into filmmaking.
Taylor Hicks kicked off tonight’s competition. But will the judges’ reviews get him kicked off this week?
Recap after the jump …
Updated with video, eliminations.
The soul man is on a roll, man.
Birmingham native Taylor Hicks is adjusting to life on and off camera after surviving the first round of competition last week on the reality TV competition “American Idol.” Even so, the pressure is growing as he prepares to out-sing the 19 other contestants.
Hicks filled us in by phone this afternoon from Hollywood inbetween rehearsals and interviews before Wednesday night’s 10-man competition.
It’s the classic sports movie: Jocks fight against incredible odds. Coach yells a lot. Tragedy strikes when least expected. A climactic battle takes place between bitter rival teams. And the jocks get the girls.
Except it’s a documentary. About rugby players. In wheelchairs.
Welcome to "Murderball." It’s out on DVD, but you can catch it tonight on TV before it competes in one last showdown, the Academy Awards.
Saving the best for last, Taylor Hicks sang last against middling competition in tonight’s “American Idol.” Shouldn’t be hard for him to nab one of the six men’s spots, given the weaknesses among the group.
Recap after the jump …
Updated with video, eliminations.
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