Does Television's Gay Influx Promote Stereotypes?

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:12:50 GMT

Gays on TV once helped promote tolerance. Now they may be hurting it.

Joe Papp: The Man Behind Shakespeare in the Park

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:29:18 GMT

If you want to understand Joe Papp, don't think of his story as a showbiz fable, though it's certainly one of those: the poor Brooklyn, N.Y., kid who built a theatrical empire is one of the most captivating characters in our cultural history. To appreciate him properly, think of him as a kind of frontiersman. As the founding producer of the New York Shakespeare Festival and the Public Theater, he took American drama to places it hadn't been before: seeking out new voices, changing the look and sound of Shakespeare, and, above all, serving up plays in Central Park for free. This took vision, tenacity, and—rare for his line of work—moments of real physical courage. "I've had more knives pointed at me than you can imagine," he said. That's not a metaphor.

Bluegrass and Old-time Music Legend Ralph Stanley: The Last Hillbilly

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:17:04 GMT

The world that Stanley evokes is fast fading. It's neither an insult nor a joke to call him the Last Hillbilly. He doesn't mind the word, he says, although now he's proud to be called Dr. Stanley, in acknowledgement of the honorary degree he received from Lincoln Memorial University in 1976. In his singing, songwriting, and playing, you hear the sounds of a world gone by, and you hear it plainly in the wistful tone of this account. "We were the last generation from these mountains to live from the earth," he says. "It was a hard life and there was a lot of suffering. But the music we made couldn't have come from any other place or time. The suffering was part of what made the music strong, and I reckon that's why it's lasted … What's real doesn't die."

Wes Anderson's 'Mr. Fox' Is Fantastic

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:09:34 GMT

Fantastic Mr. FoxMr. FoxThe Royal Tenenbaums.

Hollywood Discovers Korea's Talented Actors

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:52:13 GMT

Next up: Jeong Ji Hoon, a.k.a. Rain, a pop superstar in much of Asia but still little-known on the global stage. On Nov. 25, Joel Silver and the Wachowski brothers will release their latest big-budget martial-arts thriller, ]]>Ninja Assassin

Wanda Sykes and Late Night TV's New Color Barrier

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:02:44 GMT

African-Americans have done well breaking into late night. What they've failed in is being funny.

Calista Flockhart on Ally McBeal and Harrison Ford

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:38:39 GMT

It's been 12 years since Calista Flockhart started dancing with an imaginary baby, and now, Ally McBeal is finally back—on DVD. Flockhart spoke to Ramin Setoodeh.

Review: The New 'Twilight' Album

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:20:30 GMT

Thanks to the 'Twilight' sequel, the sun has set on a hip band.

Is MTV's Alexa Chung the New Carson Daly?

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:55:03 GMT

The music video channel is experiencing some serious growing pains, and it hopes Alexa Chung will be its new Carson Daly. That might be part of the problem.

A Q&A With Carey Mulligan

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:49:43 GMT

Mulligan plays Jenny, a '60s British teenager who grows up fast, in ]]>An Education

Exclusive: A Talk With the 'Wild Things' Creators

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:52:41 GMT

Let the wild rumpus start!

Supreme Court May Rule on Redskins' Name

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:49:45 GMT

A lawsuit challenges the Washington Redskins' trademark on their name, saying its offensive nature means it should be revoked.

Israeli Filmmakers Tackle the Mideast Conflict

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 20:53:12 GMT

A young Arab gasps for breath as he tears down the street, his feet pounding rhythmically on the asphalt. Omar, who comes from the downtrodden Jaffa neighborhood of Ajami, has just witnessed a killing and he is running for his life. It's early morning, and the streets around Tel Aviv's Court of Justice are deserted. It's an apt metaphor; there is no justice here, only a panicked teenager fleeing his own destiny. In his head, Omar hears the soothing voice of his younger brother, telling him to close his eyes and relax. His breath catches as he turns the corner and trips, falling hard on the pavement. "On the count of three you'll open your eyes," his brother's voice promises, "and find yourself in another place." But in the Middle East, there is no escape from the realities of hatred, violence, and oppression. Omar, who has been involved in a drug deal gone wrong, arrives at the getaway van, only to find it's locked and he's trapped. "One…two…three. Open your eyes!" his brother's voice says. On this somber note, ]]>Ajami

Madeleine Albright on the Pins She Wore

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:14:20 GMT

Former secretary of state Madeleine Albright tells NEWSWEEK about the pins she wore for diplomacy, and the stories behind them.

How Obama Made Earth, Wind & Fire Cool Again

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:12:06 GMT

Some 40 years later, the funk band is still selling out stadiums. Thank you, Mr. President.

Fall TV Preview: Which Shows Are Right for You?

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:59:50 GMT

Matchmaker, matchmaker, what should I watch? We're so glad you asked, because we've figured out which fall TV show is your new soulmate.

Mark Mulcahy: A Musical Lifeboat

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:13:28 GMT

Mark and Melissa met in 1994, when she saw him performing at the Bay State Hotel in Northampton, Mass. "It was really simple. She said something to me and I looked at her," he says. "We just were very much together after that." It's possible Mulcahy wouldn't have a solo career without her. At the time, his indie band, Miracle Legion, had broken up. Melissa pushed him to start a record label—Mezzotint was born in their apartment, and Mulcahy still uses it. In his 1997 solo debut, ]]>Fathering

Chris Rock Talks 'Good Hair'

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:24:18 GMT

Long before Michelle Obama moved to the White House, Chris Rock began directing a documentary called Good Hair, about the African-American hair-care industry. He spoke to Allison Samuels.

The Emmy Roundtable

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 15:33:52 GMT

Five Emmy-nominated comic actors talk about what makes funny people funny, whether TV has gotten too raunchy, how the Web has changed comedy, and more.

Who Has Won All Four Entertainment Awards?