It's not too soon to start to look for markers that change is not only coming to Washington and politics but to the arts.

They say that artists and designers channel the zeitgeist better than the rest of us, that even if they are not actively talking with each other,...

There's been quite a lot written about the shameful passage of Proposition 8 in California, but it's now being reported that James Dobson's ministry, Focus on the Family, which spent well over half a million dollars fighting to take away the right of homosexuals to marry, is being forced...

Slumming at Borders this past week was a pretty rewarding experience for those of us who wandered around the music aisle. There under "S" appeared a new Random House-published book by singer-songwriter and vintage pop icon, Paul Simon, simply titled Lyrics. It is an assembly of just that, ranging from...

I've come to know at least a few of you out there digitally at Huffington Post, and that's a good thing for you. Trust me, as my lovely wife could confirm, I look a whole lot better when I'm not there. But it just struck me that this Wednesday night...

You wanna antagonize me
Antagonize me motherfucker
Get in the ring motherfucker
And I'll kick your bitchy little ass
Punk

I don't like you, I just hate you
I'm gonna kick your ass, oh yeah!
Oh yeah!
...

While most fans look forward with anticipation to the first pitch of the baseball season in April, there are some of us (not many, thank goodness) who enjoy what most folks consider baseball's "off-season." The first pitch of the free agency season was thrown out last Friday when the Yankees...

This past September 5th, Stand Up to Cancer launched in a powerful way. Thanks to a landmark broadcast on three major networks, the passion, support and dedication of leading doctors and scientists, and generous contributions from the entertainment community, corporate sponsors and the general public, we raised more than $100...

Come 11/23, we all finally get to hear Chinese Democracy. You know the new Guns N' Roses CD. The one we've been waiting to hear since the television premier of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. I want to know why anyone cares, especially self-respecting Guns N' Roses fans. Axl Rose has...

How do movies get made? I spoke with first-time producer/director Conrad Fink about his recent purchase of the option on a play called Tabletop. I did a documentary about Tabletop and its playwright, Rob Ackerman, a few years ago, and have watched it evolve ever since. A few years from...

The Guy Ritchie story is pretty familiar by now: he bursts onto the scene with Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, a thoroughly enjoyable Tarantino ripoff, follows up with Snatch (basically the same movie, with Brad Pitt), marries Madonna, his movie career falls off the deep end, and then the...

I was staring at the "biography" shelf in my home library when I realized: two people from these books went out on a date. They are Steve Martin (Born Standing Up) and Maureen McCormick (Here's the Story Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice). It shocked me that Steve...

"Top Chef" winner Stephanie Izard recently appeared on a talk show I host in Chicago at the Hideout called The Interview Show. Here is video of the interview. I hope you enjoy.

Next Interview Show is Dec. 5, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Hideout ....

The conventional wisdom in Hollywood -- no matter that it is whispered about only anonymously in most corners -- is that women equal bad box office. Last year a highly placed executive at a major studio reportedly even expressed this sentiment in public, saying he was no longer interested in...

Quantum Of Solace spoilers... (updated with minor plot correction)

For the record, I did see Quantum Of Solace yesterday. Quick verdict -- terrific acting, a fine, complicated storyline, and fantastically choreographed action with real stunts and real production values. Of course, thanks to the editing, which resembled Chris Nolan and...