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In a sense, the Feb. 20, 2003 fire at the Station nightclub in West Warwick, R.I., that killed 100 and injured 200 was the equivalent of 9/11 for the live entertanment business in the United States: though something that horrifying could have happened at any time, until it did, inertia …

Thorough bio of Beyonce in light of her Grammy success as both recipient (five awards) and performer (opening uptempo blast with Prince, dramatic solo performance of ballad “Dangerously In Love”): “‘It girl’ is overused,” Essence Magazine arts and entertainment editor Cori Murray says. “But she has it: vocal talent, a …

Mattel has announced the breakup of Barbie and Ken after 43 years of very public courtship, which for plastic people isn’t all that long. Apparently Ken wouldn’t commit: The couple’s “business manager,” Russell Arons, vice president of marketing at Mattel, said that Barbie and Ken “feel it’s time to spend …

It’s Valentine’s Day and I’m on my way out to perform obligatory rituals bespeaking my devotion to those females in my immediate love-sphere. Not that I mind, mind you. I say “I love you” pretty much every day (I’d say every day, but I’m hesitant to say “every” anything): at …

I have honestly never heard of the “Baftas” (British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards), the British Oscars. I mean, I knew the British must have an Oscars, but I didn’t know what they were called, nor have I ever taken note of them. But I am trying to …

As I mentioned the other day in response to an article by Reason’s Jesse Walker, I think it’s right and appropriate that we have broadcast content rules, and believe it’s the FCC’s job to develop and enforce them. Jesse’s key philosophical statement is this: Now as far as I’m concerned …

Conan O’Brien impugns the dignity of French-Canadians: Ottawa and the province of Ontario paid $760,000 to help O’Brien — who appears on the NBC television network — bring his show to Toronto for a week to boost the city’s profile after a deadly SARS outbreak last year. But the federal …

MTV executive says that Janet changed TV forever, in particular no more “live” live TV: Viewer outrage over singer Janet Jackson’s breast-baring Super Bowl stunt is forcing the U.S. television industry to change its live programming, music channel MTV said Friday. “The artist sometimes can be unpredictable, which is difficult …

I love the ambiguity of the ending of The Graduate: Dustin Hoffman stops Katherine Ross’s wedding, “rescues” her and they escape on a bus. But instead of unbridled joy and the prospect of a “happily ever after,” once the bus takes off and they are on their way Hoffman and …

The wheels of justice may turn slowly, but at least they turn. The Enron indictments and convictions should make those who doubt the fairness of our economic system feel a little better. While the insiders doubtless get away with a lot, there IS a line that can’t be crossed with …