LIT: Local novelist short-listed for Stephen Leacock Award
There seems to be a strange aversion to humorous novels in Canadian literature – according to Edmonton novelist Todd Babiak. So thank goodness for the Stephen Leacock Award, which has short-listed Babiak’s latest novel “Toby: A Man,” it was announced today. This is yet another feather in Todd’s cap. He’s competing against four other writers. […]
TRUE TALES OF THE ROAD: Mother Mother’s long journey
This isn’t easy. The best road stories can’t be told, and sometimes a great band simply won’t have any truly horrifying experiences to share. Too busy working on their music, eh? Mother Mother, playing a SOLD OUT show at Edmonton Event Centre tomorrow night (Thursday, March 31), is far more interesting for its music than […]
TRUE TALES OF THE ROAD: Alan Jackson Down Under
We asked Alan Jackson’s people to pass on our one-question interview to Alan Jackson so he could think about it: What’s your best road story? Well, he thought about it. His tour manager Morris called a few minutes before a scheduled phoner to advance Jackson’s concert at Rexall Place this Wednesday (March 30), “Alan says […]
Blood Cancer research benefit draws top local performers – unplugged
When Erin Land wanted to get local musicians to play a benefit for Blood Cancer – for free – she thought she’d get laughed at. Oh, foolish woman! They didn’t laugh. They jumped. Edmonton’s music scene is riddled with philanthropists eager to donate their talent for a worthy cause. Besides, a gig’s a gig. Any […]
GIGGLE CITY: Like Bear on Brown
Paul Brown is more than just a pitchman for a popular hair restorative treatment. He is more than just the drawling, deadpan host of The Paul Brown Show, heard every weekday morning on the Bear 100.3 radio station. He is an actual working comedian – one of many radio people who have managed to transfer […]
Edmonton Tonight – somewhere between Johnny Carson and Mel’s Rockpile
The latest theatrical attempt to create an Edmonton late-night talk show may soon have a home on the Internet. Tom Bernier, a local actor, musician and filmmaker who is the zany host of Edmonton Tonight – a live variety show happening at the Citadel’s Metro Cinema tonight at 10:30 – says things are “in the […]
FAMILY: 30th Kids Fest treats fans to $250,000 CirCo spectacular
Hey kids! Remember how your parents dragged you to Cirque du Soleil and you were bored out of your mind? They promised non-stop action and laughs and fun and pure entertainment, but then it turned out to be a bunch of old creepy clowns that stood around holding umbrellas and riding giant bicycles to the […]
SHOWBIZ: Chris Brown goes bonkers
Watching the clip of Chris Brown’s awkward interview on Good Morning America today (here), it’s obvious why interviewer Robin Roberts kept pressing him on the Rihanna thing. The prospect of talking about his new album F.A.M.E. was just so unbelievably, excruciatingly, mind-numbingly boring that she just snapped. She lost it. She started with a Rihanna […]
GIGGLE CITY: John Caponera lives the Good Life
When it comes to stand-up comedians trying to break into television, many are called, few are chosen. John Caponera had his big chance as the star NBC’s The Good Life, co-starring Drew Carey, which was cancelled after the 1994 season. Caponera has since been on Letterman, had parts in big-time television shows like ER and […]
GIGGLE CITY: Improvising with Stephanie Wolfe
Again we turn to the theatre community for funny people through which to explore the nature of comedy and comedians. Locals theatre buffs know Stephanie Wolfe as a veteran of Die-Nasty, the Live Improvised Soap Opera, which has run every Monday night at the Varscona Theatre for the last 20 years. It was invented in […]
TRUE TALES OF THE ROAD: Michael Rault conquers France
Quick! – the question is fired at Michael Rault – name one big French rock band! (Montreal doesn’t count.) Long pause … and nope, he can’t do it. No one can. Why? It is because the French cannot rock, no? Oh, come on, everybody knows. The French and their gentle, gender-sensitive language are better at […]
EXCLUSIVE: Edmontonian taught Lady Gaga’s violinist
Ever since Lady Gaga twatted Edmonton with a picture on Twitter showing Rexall’s big “This is Oil Country” sign with a piece of equipment strategically blocking the “O” in “Country,” we’ve been searching for a classier Edmonton-Gaga connection. Very funny, Gaga. But all is forgiven because you hired one of Edmonton’s worthy talents – virtuoso […]
