Flipside 12-29

Page 22 Thursday, December 29, 2011 FLIPSIDE

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TThhee SSoouutthheerrnn IIlllliinnooiissaann (USPS 258-908) is publisheddaily at a yearly subscription rate of $178. It is publishedat 710 N. Illinois Ave., Carbondale, IL 62901. It is ownedby Lee Enterprises of Davenport, Iowa.

CONTACT US

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MOVIES ART MUSIC WINERIES THINGS TO DO BOOKS THEATER

AuditionsAuditions: For the

musical, Cats produced byArtstarts Company,5-9 p.m. Tuesday Jan. 3 andThursday, Jan. 5 and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday,Jan. 7, Marion Cultural andCivic Center; show dates,March 28-31 and April 1;618 922-1853.

Authors, BooksTouching Other Worlds:

By Chris Rainey, 6:30 p.m.Thursday, Dec. 29, GourmetCoffee Shop, located insidethe Rend Lake CollegeMarketPlace, PotomacBoulevard, Mount Vernon;author will discuss and readfrom his first book, acollection of poems; also,book signing; 201-482-0835.

Season of Change:Baseball, Coal Mining and aSmall Town’s Struggle toBeat the Odds by TobyBrooks; book recounts thestory of minor leaguebaseball in West Frankfortand its parallels to thehistory of the region’s coalmining industry; booksigning, 4-6 p.m. Friday,Dec. 30, BookwormBookstore, 618 E. WalnutSt., Eastgate ShoppingCenter, Carbondale; 618-457-2665.

New Year’s EventsNew Year’s Celebration:

8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31,Fort de Chartres StateHistoric Site, Prairie duRocher; traditional FrenchNew Year’s celebration;carols; refreshments;entertainment by The La Guiannee Singers; free.

Holiday Affair: 9 p.m.Saturday, Dec. 31, TheIcebox, 227 W. Main St.,Carbondale; entertainment,food, dancing; portion ofproceeds benefit ThelmaGibbs Walker ScholarshipFund; advance, $10; at thedoor, $15; 618-303-3860.

New Year’s Eve All NightGaming Event: 10 p.m.-6 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 31,C.E. Brehm Library, MountVernon; board games, cardgames, miniatures’ gameand role playing games;refreshments; adults only;reserve by calling 618-242-6322.

Holiday EventsHoliday Lights Fair:

Through Dec. 30, Du QuoinState Fairgrounds; drivethrough; holiday treedisplay; $8; 618-542-8338.

Fantasy of Lights: Dusk-11 p.m. through Dec. 31,Foundation Park, 1616 E.McCord, Centralia; drive-through lighted Christmasdisplay; Santa visits onFriday and Saturday nights;free; 618-532-3214

Candy Cane Lane:5-10 p.m. Monday throughThursday and 5-11 p.m.Fridays, Saturdays andSundays; through Dec. 31,downtown West Frankfort;Christmas lights anddisplays begin at MainStreet past the high school.

Coulterville HolidayLight Display: Through Jan. 1, Coulterville CityPark; also 400 Christmasfigurines; animateddisplays; walk-throughdisplay; www.coultervilleholidaylightdisplay.com.

Way of Lights ChristmasDisplay: 5 p.m. nightlythrough Jan. 1, The National Shrine of Our Ladyof the Snows, Belleville;camel and pony rides,petting zoo, rides on horse-drawn carriages, lasershow; 314-241-3400, ext.6293.

TheatreShakespeare’s The

Taming of the Shrew:7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13, theCarson Center, 100Kentucky Ave., Paducah;$18/$10; www.nationalplayers.org; 270-443-9932;www.thecarsoncenter.org.

CARBONDALE — Anewly published bookrecounts the story ofminor league baseballin West Frankfort andits parallels to thehistory of the region’scoal mining industry.

“Season of Change:Baseball, CoalMining and a SmallTown’s Struggle toBeat the Odds”chronicles The WestFrankfortCardinals,including anintimate depictionof the 1948 Class Dteam that won the 1948Illinois State Leaguechampionship. The teamplayed in West Frankfortfrom 1947-1950 as a farmteam of the St. LouisCardinals.

Author Toby Brooks,who served as an athletictrainer for the SouthernIllinois Miners, will signcopies of his new bookfrom 4 to 6 p.m. Friday atthe Bookworm, 618 E.Walnut, in Carbondale.

A native of Golconda,Brooks earned a degree inathletic training atSouthern IllinoisUniversity Carbondale.

Afterobtaining graduatedegrees, he is now anassistant professor atTexas Tech University. Hiswife Christi is a native ofWest Frankfort, and herparents still live there.

“Season of Change” isthe culmination of morethan four years ofextensive research and in-depth interviews with thepeople who helpedestablish the team andtheir descendants, as wellas current localtownspeople and areahistorians.

— Adam Testa

MARION — AndrewLloyd Webster’s famedmusical “CATS” is comingto the Marion Cultural andCivic Center this spring,and actors are beingsought for auditions.

Artstarts will be hostingauditions at the civiccenter from 5 to 9 p.m. onTuesday, Jan. 3, andThursday, Jan. 5, and from9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday,Jan. 7. Roles are availablefor actors of all ages.

Those interested in

auditioning for a dancerole should come preparedto learn a short dance, andthose looking to befeatured in a singing roleshould bring a preparedsolo and CD oraccompaniment.Auditions are open toresidents of the southern14 counties of Illinois.

The show runs March 28to April 1 at the civiccenter. For more infor-mation, call 618-922-1853.

— Adam Testa

Auditions for ‘CATS’ begin Tuesday

New books tells ups, downsof West Frankfort Cardinals

FLIPSIDE Thursday, December 29, 2011 Page 33

20% OFF All Coats

MOVIES ART MUSIC WINERIES PHOTOGRAPHY BOOKS THINGS TO DO FESTIVALS THEATER

PRAIRIE DU ROCHER— The annual New Year’scelebration started in 1722by some of the state’searliest settlers returnsSaturday at Fort deChartres State HistoricSite and in the nearbytown of Prairie du Rocher.

La Guiannee, thetraditional French NewYear’s celebration, beginsat 8 p.m. at Fort deChartres State HistoricSite. Traditional Frenchholiday carols will be sungand refreshments served.The La Guiannee singerswill perform at the fort aspart of their roving tour of

the Prairie du Rocher area.In a tradition dating

back to the early 1700s,the La Guiannee singerswill visit houses in theearly French town ofPrairie du Rocher and singfor the residents. As partof the tradition, theresidents providerefreshments for thesingers at each stop.

The New Year’scelebration is free andopen to the public. It isco-sponsored by Fort deChartres and the Prairiedu Rocher La GuianneeSociety.

— Adam Testa

THE SOUTHERN FILE PHOTODianna Mueller of Chester (center) leads La Guiannee Societyin a French song at Fort de Chartres. Residents of Prairie duRocher have gone door to door singing every New Year’s Evesince the town was founded in 1722.

La Guiannee returnsto Prairie du Rocher

‘The Taming of the Shrew’ coming to The Carson CenterPADUCAH — National

Players’ Tour 63 enchantsthe Carson Center at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13, withits new production ofShakespeare’s “TheTaming of the Shrew.”

One of the best-loved“battles of the sexes” isback, with a Wild Westflare! Cowboy boots,whips and lassos give abiting punch to thisclassic. Sparring loversKate and Petruchio dukeit out on the Westernfrontier. Will they ride offinto the sunset or dietryin’?

Founded in 1949,National Players isAmerica’s longest runningtouring company.Comprised of youngprofessional actors, eachyear the company travelsthroughout the countryperforming two plays inrepertory — oneShakespearean play andone dramatic classic.

Tickets are $18 foradults and $10 for

students 18 and youngerand may be purchased by

calling 270-450-4444 oronline at www.thecarson

center.org.— Adam Testa

PROVIDED‘The Taming of the Shrew’ will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13 at The Carson Center.


COMING ATTRACTIONSDec 31 - Big New Year’s Eve

Hors d’oeurves, The Kentucky Opry Stars, Slick Tire & the White Sidewalls, several guests including Doo Wop Group: Blend

Jan 21 - Big Talent Search - $3000 prize money www.oprytalentsearch.com

Feb 10 - Kentucky Opry presents:Winter Dance Party The Buddy Holly Story, The Big Bopper and Richie Valens

Carson Center (270) 450-4444

Feb 24 - The Gibson Brothers the Best of Bluegrass

www.kentuckyopry.comor

call 888-459-8704Open year ‘round

BELLEVILLE BELLEVILLE ANTIQUEANTIQUEFLEA FLEA

MARKETMARKETBELLE-CLAIR EXPOSITION CENTER

at the BELLE-CLAIR FAIRGROUNDSSATURDAY & SUNDAYJANUARY 21st & 22nd

9a.m. - 4p.m. Both Days• OVER 600 TABLES

• HUGE VARIETY OF EXHIBTORSFREE ADMISSION • FREE PARKING

Rt. 13 (Just off Rt. 159 & 13), Belleville, ILFor More Information call (618)233-0052

www.bcfairgrounds.netThird Full Weekend of Every Month!

MOVIES ART MUSIC WINERIES PHOTOGRAPHY BOOKS THINGS TO DO FESTIVALS THEATER

Yeiser Art Centerhosts New Year’sgallery reception

PADUCAH — A groupof regional artists willgather with the publicfor a special New Year’sEve exhibit andcelebration.

The Wastelanders,who are all eithernatives or long-timeresidents, will gather atthe Yeiser Art Centerfrom 6 to 9 p.m.Saturday for theopening reception of anew showcase, featuringworks by groupmembers E.J. Abell,David Brown, PaulaDanby, Mark Donham,Nancy Flowers, JuanitaGilliam, Kristi Hanson,Lanelle Mason andCharlie Robertson.

Two guest artists,Linda Little and NathanBrown, will also showworks. Pieces in thedisplay includepaintings, photography,mixed media, ceramics,assemblages andsculptures.

The exhibit will alsobe open to the publicfrom 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Jan. 6 and Jan. 7.

— Adam Testa

EventsHoliday Extravaganza:

Little Egypt Art Centre,601 Tower Square, Marion;features artwork,photographs, jewelry,Christmas décor and giftideas; through Jan. 15; 618-998-8530 orwww.littleegyptarts.com.

ExhibitsCheonae Kim: Giving

Back, Varsity Center for theArts, Varsity Gallery,Carbondale; through Dec. 31; 618-457-5100.

Maturity and Its Muse:Cedarhurst Center for theArts, Mount Vernon; artistsover the age of 70; MitchellMuseum Main Gallery;through Dec. 31;www.cedarhurst.org.

The History of JeffersonCounty: Highlights from theJefferson County HistoricalSociety and Village, MitchellMuseum’s Beal GrandCorridor Gallery,Cedarhurst, Mount Vernon;through Dec. 31;www.cedarhurst.org.

Marching to Appomattox:The Footrace that Ended the Civil War, The BeckFamily Center Gallery,Cedarhurst Center for theArts, Mount Vernon; originalpaintings by Ken Stark;through Dec. 31;

www.cedarhurst.org.Shrode Photography

Competition Exhibit: TheShrode Art CenterRegenhardt Gallery,Cedarhurst Center for theArts, Mount Vernon; throughDec. 31; www.cedarhurst.org.

Transformation: Paintingsby Linda Hostalek, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays,Central Showcase, offices ofRealty Central, MurdaleShopping Center,Carbondale; through Dec. 31.

Dr. Leo Gadzepko andJessica Edmond: Fern FairGallery, 8609 Giant CityRoad, Carbondale; throughend of December; 618-529-3376; www.fernfair.com.

Red Rock Landscapes:Tribeca Gallery, downtownPaducah; photographerLarry Heavrin; through Jan. 11; 270-898-6056 [email protected].

Skirting Convention:Illinois Women Artists,1840-1940: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.Tuesday through Saturdayand noon-5 p.m. Sunday,Lakeview Museum of Artsand Sciences, Peoria,through Jan. 16; Quincy ArtCenter, Quincy, Feb. 10through March 18. Exhibitionexamines a century ofwomen artists who defied

conventions by presentingworks by 72 women from allover Illinois including worksby Anna artist AmyKirkpatrick and SouthernIllinois artist Maude ParmleyCraig.

Cheonae Kim: GivingBack, Varsity Center for theArts, Varsity Gallery,Carbondale; through end ofJanuary; 618-457-5100.

Janet Bixler: Paintings,Harrisburg District Library;through Feb. 5; artwork forsale.

Creative Visions: Featuresthe work of ceramic artistGreg Gibbs, woodworker JoeLandon, sculptor DarrenMiller, glass artist MichelleRial, painter Nina Weiss andjewelry artist SandraWilcoxon, The SouthernIllinois Art and ArtisansCenter, Whittington; free;through March 15; 618-629-2220.

The Legacy of KatherineKuh: Building theUniversity’s Art Collection,University Museum, SIU;Katherine Kuh, Chicago artconnoisseur, art critic forthe Saturday Review andgallery owner purchased artfor SIU including some ofthe major artists of the 20thcentury; through May 11;www.museum.siu.edu or618-453-5388.

From Humble

Beginnings: Lincoln’sIllinois 1830-1861: IllinoisState Museum at Rend Lakepresents Part II of anoriginal exhibition exploringaspects of the state thatLincoln called home, TheSouthern Illinois Art andArtisans Center,Whittington; through May13; 618-629-2220.

Ongoing art exhibit:Photographs of JuhreeVeach, mosaics from JanetAltoff and sculpture fromTom Horn, StarViewVineyards, 5100 Wing HillRoad, Cobden; 618-893-9463 or www.starviewvineyards.com.

Jo Loomis: WilliamsonCounty Pavilion, Marion;paintings of landscapes,seascapes, people, pets;618-889-5330 [email protected].

ReceptionNew Year’s Eve Art

Exhibition: The PaducahWastelanders’ reception and party, 6-9 p.m.Saturday, Dec. 31, The Yeiser Art Center,downtown Paducah;refreshments; exhibit alsoopen from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.Friday-Saturday, Jan. 6-7;free; 270-442-2453;[email protected];www.theyeiser.org.

ConcertsSouthern Illinois

New Year’s Eve With theSwamp Tigers: 7 p.m.Saturday, Dec. 31, VarsityCenter for the Arts, 418 S.Illinois Ave., Carbondale;rockabilly; $15; www.southernticketsonline.com.

IndianaLloyd Wood: New Year’s

Eve Show, 7-9 p.m. Saturday,Dec. 31, Boot City Opry,11800 S. Highway 41, TerreHaute; $11 www.bootcityopry.com or 812-299-8379.

KentuckyBig News Eve Show: With

Blend, Slick Tire and TheWhite Sidewalls, 7:30 p.m.Saturday, Dec. 31, KentuckyOpry, 88 Chilton Lane,Benton, Ky.; $32-$10; 888-459-8704.

SAVOR THE FLAVOROF SWEDEN

www.hedmanvineyards.com560 Chestnut St., Alto Pass • (618) 893-4923 or (618) 521-2506

Swedish Cuisine • Award Winning Wines • Scandinavian Gift Shop

New Year’s Eve Open ‘til 9:00PMSpecials on the menu. Reservations recommended

Thursday, January 12thWinter Dinner at 7:00PMFour course wine dinner. Reservations required.

Tuesday, February 14thValentine four course wine dinner at 7:00PMReservations required.

Book your private parties at Hedman’s


Cracklin’ Cranberry Now Available!

Only at Pheasant Hollow Winery

Get Your Christmas Shopping

Done Early!Tons of Gift Ideas

•Gift Baskets•Stocking Stuffers

Friend us on FacebookLocated at exit 77 along I-57 • 618-629-2302

www.pheasanthollowwinery.com

MOVIES ART MUSIC WINERIES COVER STORY

BY JAKE COYLETHE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK — Youmight say that Lady Gaga’syear really began in an egg.

That’s how she arrivedat the Grammys inFebruary, encased in alarge, translucent podcarried by scantily claddancers. When she“hatched” onstage, sheeffectively gave birth to“Born This Way,”performing theeponymous lead single ofher second studio albumand anthem to self-acceptance. In 2011, thealbum would carry heraround the world, whereshe rarely went unnoticed.

After a year ofextravagant globe-trottingand relentless advocacy oftolerance, Lady Gaga hasbeen voted Entertainer ofthe Year by members ofThe Associated Press.

There were 135 ballotssubmitted by U.S. newsorganizations that makeup the AP’s membership.Editors and broadcasterswere asked to cast theirballots for who had themost influence onentertainment and culturein 2011.

“I am humbled andhonored to be named‘Entertainer of The Year’by The Associated Press,”Lady Gaga said in astatement Monday signed“Mother Monster.”

“My deepest gratitude tothe broadcasters andjournalists who’vesupported me over theyears, and in turn, are nowsupporting the loves of mylife: my fans. Thank youfor believing in ‘Born This

Way.’ May you continue tobrave the dreams ofShowbiz.”

Lady Gaga narrowlyedged out the late Applefounder Steve Jobs bythree votes. Many othersreceived numerous votes,including Taylor Swift,Charlie Sheen, Adele andthe cast of “Harry Potter.”Previous winners of theAP Entertainer of the Yearinclude Betty White,Swift, Tina Fey andStephen Colbert.

But it was Lady Gagawhose eminence in 2011stood out most to voters.While accepting the bestpop vocal album Grammyfor her previous disc, “TheFame Monster,” earlier thisyear, she said stardom wasan adjustment for her.

“When I wrote ‘BornThis Way,’ I imagined(Whitney Houston) wassinging it because I wasn’tsecure enough in myself toimagine I was a superstar,”she said.

Lady Gaga voted APEntertainer of the Year

APLady Gaga accepts a Grammy award earlier this year.


CARBONDALEHHaannggaarr 99:: Back

Stabbath, BlackSabbath tribute,10 p.m.

TTrreess HHoommbbrreess:: TheScandal, 10 p.m.

INAIInnaa CCoommmmuunniittyy

BBuuiillddiinngg:: Friday NightJam Band,

6:30-9:30 p.m.THOMPSONVILLEOOlldd CCoouunnttrryy SSttoorree

DDaannccee BBaarrnn:: JeanitaSpillman & TheSentimental SwingBand, 7-10 p.m.

WHITTINGTONCCoorrnneerr DDaannccee HHaallll::Rebel Country Band,7:30-10:30 p.m.

CARBONDALEHHaannggaarr 99:: Reggae

Soiree, 10 p.m.TTrreess HHoommbbrreess::

Barnacle Billy and theZebra Mussels

MARIONHHiiddeeoouutt RReessttaauurraanntt::

Bob Pina, piano 5:30-9:30 p.m.

MMaarriioonn AAmmeerriiccaannLLeeggiioonn:: Danny andThe Dreamers, 8 p.m.-midnight.

MMaarriioonn EEaagglleess:: WhiteLightning, 7-11 p.m.

PPiipp’’ss:: King Juba, 9p.m.-1 a.m.

PINCKNEYVILLEKKCC HHaallll: Jackson

Junction, 8 p.m.-

midnightSHAWNEETOWNSSttaann’’ss PPllaaccee:: Roger

Black and The HonkyTonk Cowboys, 8 p.m.-midnight

STEELEVILLEAAmmeerriiccaann LLeeggiioonn:

Country Aces,8 -12:30 p.m.

THOMPSONVILLELLiioonn’’ss CCaavvee:: Swing “N”

Country Band,7-9:30 p.m.

OOlldd CCoouunnttrryy SSttoorreeDDaannccee BBaarrnn:: Lil’ Boot& Classic Country,7-10 p.m.

ZEIGLERZZeeiigglleerr EEaagglleess: The Wait

Band, 9 p.m.-1 a.m.

MARIONHHiiddeeoouutt RReessttaauurraanntt:: Bob Pina,

piano 5:30-8:30 p.m.THOMPSONVILLELLiioonn’’ss CCaavvee:: Mike’s Band,

7-10 p.m.WEST FRANKFORTCCoollyyeerr’’ss:: Righteous Rebel

Band, 7-11 p.m.WWBB RRaanncchh BBaarrnn:: WB Ranch

Band, 6:30-9:30 p.m.

BENTONDuncan Dance Barn:: Spring

Pond Opry Band,6:30-9:30 p.m.

CARBONDALETTrreess HHoommbbrreess:: Aaron Kamm

and The One Drops, 10 p.m.WHITE ASHSSccaarrlleetttt’’ss MMuussiicc BBaarrnn:: Country

Music Band, 7-10 p.m.

FRIDAY

DIRECTIONS & DIGITS

2200’’ss HHiiddeeoouutt RReessttaauurraanntt:: 2602 WandaDrive, Marion 618-997-8325

AAnnnnaa VVFFWW:: 70 VFW Lane, Anna 618-833-5182

CCaarrbboonnddaallee EEaagglleess:: 1206 W. Linden,Carbondale 618-529-9345

CCoolloonnii’’ss BBaarr && GGrriillll:: 3 Park Plaza, Herrin618-988-5341

CCoorrnneerr DDaannccee HHaallll:: 200 Franklin St.,Whittington 618-303-5266

CCoouulltteerrvviillllee VVFFWW:: 511 VFW St.,Coulterville 618-758-9009

DDiivveerr DDoowwnn:: 199 E. Main St., Golconda618-683-3483

DDuunnccaann DDaannccee BBaarrnn:: 13545 Spring PondRoad, Benton 618-435-6161

EEnnrriiccoo’’ss:: 208 S. Main St., Royalton 618-984-2071

HHaannggaarr 99:: 511 S. Illinois Ave.,Carbondale; 618-549-0511.

HHuurrlleeyy’’ss:: 1504 W. Broadway Boulevard,Johnston City

JJoohhnn BBrroowwnn’’ss oonn tthhee SSqquuaarree:: 1000Tower Square, Marion 618-997-2909

KKeeyy WWeesstt:: 1108 W. Main, Carbondale618-351-5998

KKiipp && TTrraaccii’’ss CCoolloonniiaall CClluubb:: 1602 OldCreal Springs Road, Marion 618-997-6989

LLiinneemmeenn’’ss LLoouunnggee:: 100 E. Broadway,Johnston City

LLiioonn’’ss CCaavvee:: South Street,Thompsonville 618-218-4888

MMaacckk’’ss LLaakkee ooff EEggyypptt MMaarriinnaa:: 12024Laguna Drive, Lake of Egypt 618-

MMaaddddiiee’’ss PPuubb aanndd GGrruubb:: 14960 Illinois37, Johnston City 618-983-8107

MMaarriioonn AAmmeerriiccaann LLeeggiioonn:: LongstreetRoad, Marion 618-997-6168

MMaarriioonn EEaagglleess:: Rural Route 3, Marion618-993-6300

MMaarriioonn EEllkkss:: .204 S. Market St., Marion618-993-3151

MMaarriioonn YYoouutthh CCeenntteerr:: 211 E. BoulevardSt., Marion 618-922-7853

MMoolllliiee’’ss:: 107 E. Union St., Marion 618-997-3424

MMuurrpphhyyssbboorroo EEllkkss LLooddggee:: 1809Shomaker Drive Murphysboro 618-684-4541.

MMuurrpphhyyssbboorroo MMoooossee LLooddggee:: 9663 OldIllinois 13; Murphysboro 618-684-3232

OOlldd CCoouunnttrryy SSttoorree DDaannccee BBaarrnn:: MainStreet, Thompsonville 618-218-4676

PPaarrkk PPllaazzaa PPuubb:: 3 Park Plaza, Herrin,618-988-1556

PPeerrffeecctt SShhoott BBaarr && BBiilllliiaarrddss:: 3029 S.Park Ave., Herrin, 618-942-4655

PPiinncchh PPeennnnyy PPuubb//CCooppppeerr DDrraaggoonn:: 700 E.Grand, Carbondale 618-549-3348

PPiipp’’ss:: 307 S. Boyton St., MarionPPKK’’ss:: 308 S. Illinois Ave., Carbondale

618-529-1124PPyyrraammiidd AAccrreess MMaarriinnaa:: 12171 Marina

Road, Marion 618-964-1184SSccaarrlleetttt’’ss MMuussiicc BBaarrnn:: 207 Potter St.,

White Ash 618-997-4979SSttaann’’ss PPllaaccee:: Shawneetown 618-269-

3083SStteeeellhhoorrssee SSaalloooonn aanndd CCaammppggrroouunndd::

202 Dewmaine Lane, Carterville 618-985-6713

TTrraacckkssiiddee DDaannccee BBaarrnn:: 104 Rock St.,Spillertown 618-993-3035

TTrreess HHoommbbrreess:: 119 N. Washington St.,Carbondale 618-457-3308

WWBB RRaanncchh BBaarrnn:: 1586 Pershing Road,West Frankfort 618-937-3718

WWiitt aanndd WWiissddoomm NNuuttrriittiioonnaall SSiittee: 225 E.Poplar St., West Frankfort 618-937-3070

XXrroossssrrooaaddss:: 101 Rushing Drive, Herrin618-993-8393

ZZeeiigglleerr EEaagglleess: 114 N. Main St., Zeigler618-596-5651

WEEK OF DEC. 29-JAN. 4

WHITTINGTONCCoorrnneerr DDaannccee HHaallll:: As TimeGoes By Band, 2-5 p.m.

Alto Vineyards: Illinois 127, Alto Pass,www.AltoVineyards.net or 618-893-4898

Blue Sky Vineyard: 3150 S. Rocky Comfort Road,Makanda; 618-995-9463 or www.blueskyvineyard.com

The Bluffs Vineyard and Winery: 140 Buttermilk HillRoad, Ava; 618-763-4447 or www.thebluffswinery.com.

Honker Hill Winery: 4861 Spillway Road, Carbondale:618-549-5517

Lincoln Heritage Winery: 772 Kaolin Road, Cobden;618-833-3783

Rustle Hill Winery: US 51, Cobden; 618-893-2700 orwww.rustlehillwinery.com

StarView Vineyards: 5100 Wing Hill Road, Cobden; 618893-9463 or starviewvineyards.com

Von Jakob Orchard: 230 Illinois 127, Alto Pass; 618-893-4600 or www.vonjakobvineyard.com

Walker’s Bluff: North on Reed Station Road, Carterville;618-985-8463 or www.walkersbluff.com

MARIONMMaarriioonn YYoouutthh CCeenntteerr:: Ragtag

Band, 7-10 p.m.

KKaarraaookkee aanndd DDJJ lliissttss aarree oonnlliinnee aatt

wwwwww..fflliippssiiddeeoonnlliinnee..ccoomm..

CCRRAAVVIINNGG KKAARRAAOOKKEE??

SATURDAY

Wineries

Dan Barron:2-5:30 p.m. Saturday,Blue Sky Vineyard

Bill Harper:2-5:30 p.m. Sunday,Blue Sky Vineyard

Dirt Water Fox: 2-5 p.m. Saturday, VonJakob Orchard

Nyte Flyte: 2-5 p.m.Sunday, Von Jakob Orchard

Howlin’ at the Moon:4-8 p.m. Saturday, The

Bluffs Vineyard and WineryLarry Dillard/Blues

Therapy: 3-7 p.m. Sunday,The Bluffs Vineyard andWinery

The Natives: 5-9 p.m.Friday, Rustle Hill Winery

Ivas John: 5-8 p.m.Saturday, Rustle Hill Winery

Fertile Soil: 8 p.m.-midnight, Saturday, TheBluffs

WANT TO BELISTED?

Call 618-351-5089 or email

[email protected].

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

TONIGHT


Country music starsmade headlines for alltypes of reasons this

year, from getting marriedto winding up in jail for adomestic dispute orkidnapping their ownchild. This wide range ofbehavior touches allpoints of the emotionalspectrum and givessongwriters endless fuelfor new material.

Nearly lost in all thereality television-typehoopla is the fact 2011 wasan amazing year forTaylor Swift and JasonAldean.

The 22-year-old Swiftcaptured 11 majorindustry awards,including Entertainer ofthe Year honors from boththe Country MusicAssociation and Academyof Country Music. Shewas present on theBillboard singles chartwith hits “Mean” and“Sparks Fly.” Her “SpeakNow” album has soldmore than 3.8 millioncopies in the UnitedStates. Worldwide, shehas sold more than 20million copies of her threealbums.

Swift has accomplishedlofty feats by targetingjust a tiny portion of thetotal country music fandemographic, femalesages five to 25. She knowsher market and caters to itwith powerhouseautobiographical tunesshe writes showcasing theperils of being a teenagefemale, from gettingdumped by a boyfriend to

being the ugly ducklingturning into a beautifulswan.

Aldean had a breakoutyear with three monsterhits, singles “My KindaParty” and “Dirt RoadAnthem,” plus “Don’t YouWanna Stay,” a duet withKelly Clarkson. The 34-year-old Georgia nativebattled in the brutalmusical trenches inNashville for a decadebefore releasing his majorlabel debut album in2005. He has touredrelentlessly for the pastsix year to reach the top ofthe musical mountain.

All the hard work paidoff in 2011. The fruits ofhis labor were firstnoticed when he wonAlbum of the Year fromthe CMA for “My KindaParty.” However, thecrowning night wasearlier this month whenhe collected six AmericanCountry Music awards,including Artist of theYear, Touring Artist of theYear, Male Single of theYear (“My Kinda Party”)and Album of the Year(“My Kinda Party”).

For country music fans,the royal wedding wasn’tPrince William andCatherine Middletonexchanging vows in aLondon cathedral inApril. No, it happened afew weeks later whenBlake Shelton andMiranda Lambert gothitched on a Texas ranch.The menu includedvenison harvested by thebride.

The union turns Blakeand Miranda into MusicCity’s most powerfulcouple, with far lessdrama (so far) than GeorgeJones and the late TammyWynette.

Lambert had a greatyear, winning Top FemaleVocalist from the ACMand Female Vocalist of theYear from the CMA. Shetopped the charts withsingle “Heart Like Mine,”and also unveiled a petproject— The PistolAnnies — a trio withsinger/songwritingbuddies Ashley Monroeand Angaleena Presley.

A large crowd gatheredat the Show Me Center inCape Girardeau earlier

this year for Lambert’sRevolution ContinuesTour was stunned whenshe unexpectedly broughtThe Pistol Annies on stagefor a five-song set, whichincluded “Heel on Heels.”

Shelton had anothergreat year, too. He wasnamed Male Vocalist ofthe Year by the CMA andFavorite Male CountryArtist by the AmericanMusic Awards. His hitsfor the year included“Honey Bee” and “GodGave Me You.” However,his biggest impact mayhave been as a coach onthe NBC series “TheVoice,” where hiscontestant placed second.Shelton will return to theshow in 2012.

Those were the topthree stories for 2011, butthere was much moretabloid fodder.

Mindy McCready, whohasn’t had a hit since1997 and is pregnant withtwins, kidnapped herfive-year old son from hislegal guardian in Floridaand fled to Arkansas,where she ended up injail. A judge is trying to

sort out this mess. By theway, the legal guardian inFlorida is McCready’smother.

Rodney Adkins, whoprophetically broke ontothe national scene in2006 with his single “IfYou’re Going ThroughHell,” is going throughhell. He was arrested inNovember for allegedlytrying to smother his wifewith a pillow and wastaken to jail. He claims itwas only a verbal disputeand filed for divorce. Thecouple will be in court inJanuary.

It was a bounce-backyear for superstar ShaniaTwain. She released abook, was inducted intothe Canada Music Hall ofFame and signed alucrative two-yearcontract to appear atCaesar’s Palace in LasVegas. She divorcedhusband/producer Robert“Mutt” Lange a few yearsago, after he was caughthaving an affair with herbest friend, Marie-AnneThiebaud. This year,Twain married Swissbusiness executive

Frederic Thiebaud, theex-husband of Twain’sformer best friend.

Additional countrymusic stars walking downthe aisle in 2011 wereRandy Houser, KellyPickler, LeAnn Rimes,Sunny Sweeney, JessicaAndrews and JenniferNettles.

Nettles, lead singer forSugarland, was about totake the stage in August atthe Indiana State Fairwhen 60-miles-per-hourwinds blew down theenormous stage lightingsystem, which collapsedinto the crowd, killingseven and injuring 44.

The Band Perry wasthe featured act atHerrinFesta Italiana thisyear and it proved to be anoutstanding selection bythe entertainmentcommittee. The groupwent on to win Single ofthe Year and Song of theYear from the CMA foract-breaking tune “If IDie Young” and also tookhome the prestigiousHorizon Award.

CCOOUUNNTTRRYY SSCCEENNEEVince Hoffard

Looking back on a wild and wacky year in country music

PROVIDEDTaylor Swift (from left), JasonAldean, Mirand Lambert andBlake Shelton were just someof the country stars to makethe headlines in 2011.

SEE HOFFARD / PAGE 9

MOVIES ART MUSIC WINERIES COVER STORY BOOKS THINGS TO DO FESTIVALS THEATER


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BY GLENN GAMBOAMCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE NEWS

Yes, 2011 was anotherchallenging year.

Like last year, it was hardinside the music industryand out, as economicuncertainty and culturaluneasiness had nearlyeveryone on edge. But thisyear, there was a difference.There were glimmers ofhope — on several fronts.

The debut from TheThrone, the collaborationbetween Jay-Z and KanyeWest, became the firstmajor release in recentyears to drop withoutleaking to the Internet first,proving that bootleggersand hackers don’t alwayswin. Lady Gaga — with amajor assist from

Amazon.com — offered adifferent strategy atcombating illegaldownloading. In the weekof the release of her highlyanticipated “Born ThisWay” album, the companyput it on sale for 99 cents,essentially eliminating anyreason for even the curiousnot to buy it. (The move,designed to help raiseAmazon’s profile as amusic download seller andcloud service provider,ended up pushing sales ofthe album over the 1 millionmark in its first week.)

In another sign of theshifting times, two artistson independent labelsscored No. 1 albums, Cakeand Mac Miller, whose“Blue Slide Park” becameonly the second

independently distributedalbum ever to top theBillboard charts. This year’sGrammys also reflectedindie labels’ growingpower, as Arcade Fire, onNorth Carolina-based indieMerge Records, won theprized album of the yearaward for “The Suburbs,”beating out major-labelsuperstars Eminem, KatyPerry and Lady Gaga. Jazzsinger Esperanza Spalding,from the tiny label HeadsUp International, wasnamed best new artist, overteenage sensation JustinBieber and hip-hoppowerhouse Drake.

More important,musicians seemed to befinding new copingmechanisms and sharingthem with their fans. While

the charts were still packedwith club anthemsdesigned to help peopledance away their worries,more of them have had adistinct message of hope.Sure, LMFAO’s “Party RockAnthem” and BritneySpears’ “Til the World

Ends” dominated theairwaves with mindlessescapism, but so didesteem-building hits fromLady Gaga (“Born ThisWay”) and Katy Perry(“Firework”) — both part ofthe year’s “It Gets Better”theme that everyone from

Demi Lovato(“Skyscraper”) to LilWayne (“How to Love”)tapped into for at leastsome part of the year. Ifonly Amy Winehouse couldsomehow have challenged

The year in music:The Throne was king

APThe Throne, a collaboration between Jay-Z and Kanye West, made waves this year.

SEE MUSIC / PAGE 9

FROM PAGE 8

her struggles in a similarway, we could havecelebrated another greatalbum rather thanmourning her death fromalcohol poisoning in July.

Even Adele movedtoward empowermentwith her breakup album“21,” the year’s biggestseller, going from thebluesy lament “Rolling inthe Deep” to the taking-the-high-road ballad“Someone Like You.”

And, as usual, Jay-Zoffered another blueprintfor success — putting egosaside and working withsomeone else. What acrazy idea!

In many ways, Rihanna’scurrent smash “We FoundLove” summarizes the yearin music nicely with itsmantra-refrain:

We found love in a hope-less place.

And we should feel luckybecause we did.

1. The Throne, “Watch theThrone:” Hip-hop royaltyJay-Z and Kanye West joinforces to inspire each otherto even higher artisticheights. Not only did theirrhymes rise to thechallenge (especially in“Murder to Excellence”)

but their already-intricatedeliveries improved, asthey bob and weave witheach other and the musicon “Otis” and “(Expletive)in Paris.”

2. Twilight Singers,“Dynamite Steps:” GregDulli drops anotherstunning soundtrack to thedark, art-house thrillerplaying in his mind. “SheWas Stolen” is a sweet-sounding lover’s lament/revenge fantasy. “On theCorner” conjures all sortsof seductive danger, while“Waves” is a return to hisharder-edged, grungierdays with the AfghanWhigs.

3. Joseph Arthur, “TheGraduation Ceremony:” Hemay not get the hype, butArthur builds acousticatmospherics as beautifulas Bon Iver and melodiesas memorable as a slew ofnext-Dylan singer-songwriters. Add thelovely “Out on a Limb”and the poignant “Face inthe Crowd,” as well as hisode to our sharedhomeland “Midwest,” tohis impressive catalog.

4. Bon Iver, “Bon Iver:”Justin Vernon writes songswith the meticulousmastery of a painter,knowing exactly what

words would make hisangelic voice sound evenbetter and whatinstrumentation makes hispoint even stronger. Andyes, “Holocene” doesdeserve its song of the yearGrammy nomination.

5. Rihanna, “Talk ThatTalk:” What makes RiRi’sstate-of-the-art dancepop better than the rest isher ability to soak inmusical trends and culturaltrends and sweat it out asher own thudding angst(“Where Have You Been?”)and aching triumph (“WeFound Love”).

6. Foo Fighters, “WastingLight:” “Arlandria” forwhen you want to rock.“White Limo” for whenyou want to scream.

7. Patrick Stump, “SoulPunk:” The former Fall OutBoy front man recastshimself as Prince circa1982 with spectacularresults.

8. Lucinda Williams,“Blessed:” Married blisshasn’t spoiled her keen,detailed observations(“Don’t Know How You’reLiving”) or blunted heroutspoken views(“Soldier’s Song”).

9. Adele, “21:” Yeah, itgets a little sappy in themiddle, but “Rolling in the

Deep” couldn’t be a morestylish kiss-off, and thesoul-clap sass of “RumorHas It” will get youthrough — if you can putthe tissues away and take“Someone Like You” offrepeat.

10. Taking Back Sunday,“Taking Back Sunday:” Thereunited “Tell All YourFriends”-era lineupdelivers the band’s hardestanthem “El Paso” and itscatchiest single “Faith(When I Let You Down)”within the album’s firstseven minutes beforeheading off in variousinteresting directions.

New on DVDFinal Destination 5:

Survivors of a suspension-bridge collapse learnthere’s no way you cancheat Death. StarringEmma Bell and DavidKoechner. Directed bySteven Quale. Rated R.

Apollo 18: Decades-oldfound footage fromNASA’s abandoned Apollo18 mission, where twoAmerican astronauts weresent on a secretexpedition, reveals thereason the U.S. has neverreturned to the moon.Starring Warren Christieand Ryan Robbins.Directed by GonzaloLópez-Gallego. Rated PG-13.

Hostel, Part III: Whileattending a bachelor partyin Las Vegas, four friendsare enticed by two sexyescorts to join them at aprivate party way off theStrip. Once there, they arehorrified to findthemselves the subjects ofa perverse game of torture.Starring ThomasKretschmann, ZulayHenao, Sarah Habel, KipPardue and KellyThiebaud. Directed byScott Spiegel. Rated R.

The First Grader: Thetrue story of an 84 year-old Kenyan villager andex-Mau Mau freedom

fighter who fights for hisright to go to school forthe first time to get theeducation he could neverafford. Starring NaomieHarris, Tony Kgoroge,Sam Feuer, Oliver Litondoand Nick Reding. Directedby Justin Chadwick. RatedPG-13.

A Good Old FashionedOrgy: A group of 30-year-olds who have beenfriends since high schoolattempt to throw an end-of-summer orgy. StarringJason Sudeikis, LeslieBibb, Tyler Labine, LakeBell and Michelle Borth.Directed by Alex Gregoryand Peter Huyck. Notrated.


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HOFFARD: Wrapping up a wild, wacky year in country music FROM PAGE 7

Chris Young took hiscareer to a new level in2011 with his fourthstraight No. 1 single,“Tomorrow.” Young andLambert were the twobiggest stars discoveredon the now defunct“Nashville Star,” anationally televisedtalent search.

For this year,“Nashville Star” wasreplaced by “AmericanIdol,” as winner Scotty

McCreery and runner-upLauren Alaina havesuccessfully entered thecountry music marketwith hits “I Love YourThis Big” and “Like MyMother Does.”

It was a bad year forHank Williams Jr., whoduring a drunkeninterview comparedPresident Obama toHitler and as a result waskicked off ESPN, and asad year for GlenCampbell, whoannounced he was in the

early stages ofAlzheimer’s and wouldgive a farewell tour.

Southern Illinois losta musical icon with thedeath of 85-year-oldFranklin County residentBilly Grammer. One of thegreatest guitarist thatever lived, he was a long-time member of theGrand Ole Opry and roseto fame with hissignature tune “GottaTravel On.” The countrymusic community alsomourned the loss of Mel

McDaniel, CharlieLouvin, Ferlin Huskeyand Billy Jo Spears.

Enshrined into theCountry Music Hall ofFame during 2011 wereReba McEntire, JeanShepard and BobbyBraddock.

My one wish is thatTanya Tucker will join thisthreesome in 2012.

VINCE HOFFARD can bereached at 618-658-9095or [email protected].

MUSIC: The Throne took over as king on the scene in 2011


BY ROGER MOOREMCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE NEWS

This year at the movies —who knew?

Who knew MartinScorsese could pull off aFrench period piece for kids(“Hugo”)? Who knewRoland Emmerich could tryhis hand at somethingShakespearean(“Anonymous”) and notmake a fool of himself?

Who knew Woody Allenhad another funny moviein him (“Midnight inParis”)? Who suspectedPedro Almodovar didn’t(“The Skin I Live In”)?

We had a winter andspring marked by epic fails(“Red Riding Hood,”

“Sucker Punch,”“Beastly”), a summer ofsurprisingly pleasantcomic-book fare (“Thor,”“Captain America”), and afall full of entertaininggenre pieces (“FrightNight,” “Drive,” “Warrior”)that nobody saw. And we’reinto an awards’ season of“Yeah, is that it?” titles.

So, no, 2011 wasn’t thebest year for film. So manydocumentaries, not one ofthem a dazzler. So muchchatter about a “Tree ofLife” that wilted longbefore the leaves fell thisfall.

But in a year full of filmicsurprises, there weremovies that stuck withyou, that have resonance

for our times and stayingpower in our memory. Andyes, they come fromsurprising quarters.

The year’s best“Everything Must Go:”

Will Ferrell brought hisusual bag of tricks, and aload of bitter pathos to thissimple story of a guy wholoses his job, his wife, hishome and any shot atsobriety in the same day.It’s an amazing high-wirewalk for Ferrell and aterrific film, neither ofwhich got their duebecause of the “Oh, it’sWill Ferrell,” attitude fromcritics and audiences.

“Take Shelter:” The great

ones keep you guessing,and Michael Shannon,perhaps the finestcharacter actor to comealong since Michael Caine,does that in spades withthis religious allegoryabout a faithless manwhose hallucinationsconvince him there’s areckoning on its way, andhe’d better get that stormshelter ready. A trulyhaunting film.

“Hanna:” Whiplash-fastaction, stunning long-takecombat scenes and ariveting set ofperformances inform thisteen-raised-to-be-an-assassin thriller, one of thebest action films in ages.Saoirse Ronan dazzles, EricBana finally has a hitworthy of his screenpresence and that darnedCate Blanchett gives usnightmares as the boss youwish you hadn’t crossed.

“Midnight in Paris:” It’snot up there with WoodyAllen’s Holy Trinity ofgreat comedies, but thisperiod piece fantasy isfunnier and wittier thanany three other romanticcomedies to come downthe 2011 pike. That Allenwas able to turn OwenWilson into a credible well-read leading man, at homein the company ofHemingway, Dali andGertrude Stein, may be thegreatest feat of his career.

“The Ides of March:” The

best of the two goodGeorge Clooney movies ofthe fall, this politicalthriller has plenty of twistsand turns, the least-fussyRyan Gosling performanceever, and edge. “TheDescendants” is the onegetting all the awards buzz,but “Ides” is the lesspredictable tale, onewithout the plot-deviceteenage boy idiot savant.

“The Help:” The onlineOscar pundits are workedinto quite a lather over this,but if there aren’t Oscarnominations for ViolaDavis, Octavia Spencer,and either Jessica Chastainor Bryce Dallas Howard,Hollywood will havemissed the boat.

“Soul Surfer:” Anunderstated, uplifting andbeautifully-acted faith-based film built on ahorrific moment ofviolence (the shark that bitoff young surfer BethanyHamilton’s arm), thissleeper hit from the springattracted superb actors(Helen Hunt, Anna SophiaRobb, Dennis Quaid) for areason.

“Insidious:” First andforemost, a horror moviehas got to scare you, getthose hairs on the back ofyour neck standing atattention. This ghost storyis a serious return to formfor the guys who launchedthe “Saw” franchise, agenre-transcending fright

that drew A-listers PatrickWilson and Rose Byrnebrilliantly playing parentswhose comatose kid isbeing possessed bysomething in their newhome.

The worst“Snow Flower and the

Secret Fan:” It’s not “JoyLuck Club,” though that’swhat they were aiming for.

“Sucker Punch:” A violentcomic-bookish PG-13fantasy set in an asylumwhose inmates imaginethemselves as hooker-heroines in a dreamscapebrothel, this may be theworst idea for a movieanybody ever had.

“The Twilight Saga:Breaking Dawn — Part 1:”The first “Twilight” moviewhose director treated thewhole overheated heavy-breathing fest as a joke. BillCondon was laughing atyou, Twi-hards.

“Jack and Jill:” AdamSandler dons a dress, doesan overweight yenta shtickand manages to beoffensive without being theleast bit funny.

“The Undefeated:” It tookan awful lot of creativeediting to make Sarah Palinlook like a media victimand a smart, crediblecrusader for the commonman and woman. “AtlasShrugged” was just as bad,but at least it wasn’t a lie.


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Theaters brought us some good,bad and ugly in theaters this year

STUDIO‘Soul Surfer’ makes the list as one of the year’s best movies.

BY DAVID HILTBRANDMCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE NEWS

2011 has left us as numbas a “Hoarders” marathon.Oprah, Larry King, MaryHart, Andy Rooney andRegis all turned in theircue cards. It’s like TV’sMount Rushmorecrumbling to the ground.

And what did we get inreturn? Chaz Bono. Surelythe TV gods are mockingus.

Even the fictionalpersonas we got attachedto were torn from us toosoon, like Ned Stark on“Game of Thrones” andJimmy Darmody on“Boardwalk Empire.”

Actually, HBO set upincest subplots on bothseries and THEN killed offour favorite characters.Yikes!

You know we pay a stifftariff for your programs,HBO. Don’t give us reasonto rethink that decision.

At least, we got somespectacle this year withtwo majestic, highly ratedroyal weddings. You mayquestion how muchgenuine romance wasinvolved in either union,but you can’t deny that,commercially, the Windsorand Kardashian dynastiesmade out like bandits.

Certainly, we can allcelebrate the fact that apair of ruthless despotswere deposed in 2011:Moammar Gadhafi andKate Gosselin.

On the other hand,smarm-marm Ann Curryassumed the “Today” showthrone. On a related note,Dunkin’ Donuts barelyavoided bankruptcy as all

of America began sleepingin.

Snooki, DJ Pauly D, theSituation and the rest ofthe “Jersey Shore” crewflew to Florence, Italy,setting off brief but intensecelebration as peoplemistakenly assumed thatTeam GTL had beendeported.

Remarkably, being inItaly had no effect on thegang’s lifestyle. They didwhat they always do: wakeup at the crack of noon,snipe at each other, go outto brunch (with cocktails)as soon as their hair gel set,snipe, preen, go clubbing,drunkenly fight with eachother, collapse, repeat.

As for Florence’s trove ofhistory and art, the GardenState All-Stars waited untilthe last afternoon of theirvisit to sample it.

Seeing Michelangelo’smasterful sculpture“David,” JWoww said shewasn’t too impressed withhis package but she mightthrow him a mercy smush.

USA! USA! USA!Several hit shows tried to

soldier on with varyingsuccess after their starsdeparted. “The Office” and“Two and a Half Men” aresuffering, but “AmericanIdol” has thrived.

The replacement judgeswho saved “Idol,” StevenTyler and Jennifer Lopez,took advantage of theirraised profiles in differentways.

Tyler wrote a memoir,“Does the Noise in MyHead Bother You?” andreunited with his bandAerosmith for a tourduring which he fell in ashower, blackening his

eyes and knocking out hisfront teeth.

J.Lo divorced hercadaverous husband andhijacked the AmericanMusic Awards by using herstage time as a blatantcommercial for Fiat cars.

Meanwhile, SimonCowell, the manresponsible for turning“Idol” into TV’s top-ratedinstrument of torture, hadgone on to start anotherprimetime singingcompetition, “The XFactor.

But this one was totallydifferent from “Idol.”

How, you might ask?Well, for one thing, thetalent wasn’t as good.

And “The X Factor” ismore soap opera than voicecontest. The singersapparently want to bejudged not on merit but ontheir hard-luck stories:

“I just want to buy mymomma some teeth. Topand bottom!”

“If I win I’m getting myfamily indoor plumbing.”

Rescuing your folks is alot of pressure to put on a13-year-old. No wonderRachel Crow bawled hereyes out when she goteliminated. That was thebiggest meltdown we’veseen on TV since JimmySwaggart begged ourforgiveness.

Yeah, quite a year. Can’tlook back. Don’t want tolook ahead. In the very firstweek of the new year, ABCgives us “Work It,” whichmay be the worst sitcomI’ve seen in a decade.

I give it two episodes.Then again, as you know by now, I’m anoptimist.



Television had more lows than highs in 2011

APMTV’ s ‘Jersey Shore’ did well in the ratings but not with the critics.

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