Image by Getty Images via @daylifefile under: to be assignedNobody's written the BIG piece yet on how the golden age of acting has led to a surfeit of character actors stealing scenes, and whole movies, from big stars. Viola Davis shows up in the middle of Doubt for a chat with Meryl Streep and haunts the rest of the movie. And this is a vehicle that pairs Streep with Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams. Now comes Archie Panjabi from The Good Wife, the comeback drama for Julianne Margulies featuring Sports Night's Josh Charles, and her bi-spy … [Read more...]

Mick Was Busy? … [Read more...]

Image via Wikipedia"It's been a longtime dream of mine, to play bluegrass in Salt Lake City," (Steve) Martin said as he took the stage. "Tonight, I feel I am one step closer to that goal."Related articles by ZemantaSteve Martin: 2010 Banjo Tour (jambase.com)Playing banjo calmed Steve Martin before Oscars (sfgate.com)How to understand late-period Steve Martin. (slate.com) … [Read more...]

from a PopMatters series on "What's the Write Word?": This whole business of "giving advice" to "young writers" smacks of old-school authoritarianism and I won't participate in that scam without some kind of "honorary degree." Music writing's a great racket--jump in, the water's warm! ID'ing yourself as a "writer" reminds me of how Ringo Starr spoke about his son Zak taking up the drums. "It chooses you," he said, proud father. That's the best logic I can give for dumping a surefire career as an academic piano teacher and plunging into the … [Read more...]