Whinery: Three Strikes, They’re Out!

Posted on May 24, 2013 by David Scott Whinery Esquire

Obama-Teleprompter-malfunction“It’s not looking good for Obama, today his teleprompter took the Fifth” — Jay Leno…

Of all the scandals plaguing Obama the one that really ticks me off most is his war on the press.

I expect the IRS to do the kind of stuff they’re doing against Tea Party groups. Why not? Every President in the “Modern Era” has used the tax collectors as their own personal “Stasi.”

And the lies about Benghazi, I don’t even know that the Administration is lying. They may just be that incompetent where National Security matters are concerned. So I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt on that one.

However, Obama and his cronies criminalization of investigative journalism is an affront to everything this country stands for. Continue reading →

Posted in David Scott Whinery | 16 Comments

Sutherland: When Smart Critics Say Dumb Things

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Dwight D. Sutherland, Jr.

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Once more I’m in the unhappy position of writing harsh things about someone whose work otherwise has my unqualified admiration…

Readers may recall my earlier piece on Whitney Terrell’s ‘The King of Kings County,’ a brilliant novel of manners set in Kansas City’s upper crust.

This time I’m squaring off against a critic named William Deresiewicz who wrote an essay a year ago in The Nation on Kurt Vonnegut.  (The essays he penned on Joseph Conrad for The New Republic and on elite colleges for The American Scholar are so good I have shared them with many friends and acquaintances. Continue reading →

Posted in Dwight D. Sutherland, Jr. | 2 Comments

Jack Goes Confidential: ‘Fast & Furious 6′—Hot Cars, Hot Chicks, Hot Damn!

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Jack Poessiger

images-1I can’t believe they’re up to No. 6 already…

Who would’ve thought it possible when THE FAST AND FURIOUS kicked in some 12 years ago? If there’s ever been a film series that’s stuck to its formula of fast cars, leggy women and emotionless dialogue, then this is it. Continue reading →

Posted in Jack Poessiger | 3 Comments

Sounds Good: Drive By Truckers & Old 97s @ Crossroads KC, Ashes to immortality @ Jazzhaus

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Matthew Donnelly

With less than two weeks until Wakarusa kicks off down on scenic Mulberry Mountain in Arkansas, tickets are getting scarce.

Will they actually sell out?  No, I doubt it.  But many of the more desirable camping areas are at capacity, and the way it works at Waka is that you purchase your camping spot separately from your ticket.

My point is, get your tickets now!  Here are the bands I’m most excited to see:

Snoop Lion, Son Volt, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Allen Stone, Calexico, Dispatch, Bombino, Moon Taxi, Yonder Mountain String Band, to name but a few.

This is going to be a festival where I get to see lots of bands I’ve never seen before, which is always fun.  And I’ll be sending in tales from the road, so stay tuned.

Until then, here’s a couple things to keep you occupied… Continue reading →

Posted in Matthew_Donnelly | Leave a comment

Leftridge: TV Time: Arrested Development Returns, Monopolizes 3-Day-Weekend’s Plans

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Brandon Leftridge

ADcoverSeven years ago, I was delivering pizzas in the evening, driving a forklift after midnight, and spending my days sending emails to my editors at The Pitch Weekly politely inquiring about the status of my most recent check. (They weren’t BIG checks, mind you—I was but a humble calendar contributor for the most part—but it was MY money, damn it, and they were terrible about paying on time.) I was dating a patient girl who later became my wife and we lived in a crumby apartment in Lee’s Summit. Most of my television consisted of late night Quantum Leap marathons, aided by the interminable haze that can only come from a gigantic jug of Carlo Rossi Chablis.

Arrested Development wasn’t on my radar.

A friend turned me on though, after the original run ended. DVDs were procured, and I watched the full series in a very short period of time because I just couldn’t stop watching it. It was simply that good.

Unfortunately, my tale wasn’t an uncommon one (well, except for the whole journalist/heavy equipment operator drinking cheap wine and watching Quantum Leap at 3am). The multiple Emmy winning show—always lauded by critics and “those in the know,”—didn’t have the ratings necessary to carry it past a third season. The show was cancelled and smart TV fans everywhere were devastated. Continue reading →

Posted in Brandon Leftridge, Entertainment | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Hearne: Kiefs to Close CD Biz, Sell or Lease Shopping Center

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Hearne Christopher Jr.

Kiefs_Neon_Sign_2_t670The handwriting’s been on the wall for years…

After decades as a pioneer and force to be reckoned with in what’s now referred to as the “music software” biz, Kief’s Music is bowing out.

“I’m getting out of the CD business,” says owner John Kiefer. “I’ve kept the place open for the last two years losing money, but I can’t keep doing this.”

Frankly, who would?

Next up: “We are closing out our CDs and record albums,” Kiefer says. “We’re lowering all the prices and we have a large selection of 99 cents and up CDs and 51 cents and up LPs. We have thousands of both and they’re all used. We started changing the prices last week.”

Mr. K’s game plan: Continue reading →

Posted in Hearne_Christopher, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Hearne: Best Buy Death March Continues

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Hearne Christopher Jr.

23bits-bestbuy-articleInlineThe days when how things sounded mattered appear numbered…

What’s left of what once was once the “audio industry” is quaking in its boots and living on borrowed time. That in the wake of retailer Best Buy‘s latest financials. The country’s last surviving, large scale consumer electronics retailer reported a first quarter net loss of $81 million compared with a year-earlier profit of $158 million.

Can the company survive? Continue reading →

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | 7 Comments

Jack Goes Confidential: ‘The Hangover Part 3′ What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Jack Poessiger

The_Hangover_Part_3It seems like only yesterday…

In the spring of 2009 director Todd Phillips unleashed extended scenes of his upcoming summer comedy to an unsuspecting ShoWest (movie) convention audience. The film was called THE HANGOVER dealing with a wild bachelor party in Las Vegas that went terribly wrong. The footage became the buzz of the convention and probably the most anticipated comedy of the entire summer.

Its eventual opening didn’t disappoint.

THE HANGOVER with a total North American box office gross of $ 277.3 million would become the biggest R-rated domestic comedy of all time. Yes, it even outgrossed TED‘s $218.5 million in ticket sales.

Two years later Phillips followed up his blockbuster with the uh, cleverly titled THE HANGOVER PART 2.

Yet while the sequel was a commercial success, many moviegoers felt betrayed. Why? Continue reading →

Posted in Jack Poessiger | 7 Comments

Hearne: Star Comes Clean to News Staff That Features Head is O-U-T

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Hearne Christopher Jr.

Save_The_Last_Dance_mainHonesty’s the best policy, right?

So it is that shortly after KC Confidential broke the news about yearling features head honcho Laurie Mansfield being SoCal bound, Star editors decided to level with the newsroom.

“They rushed out an announcement after you posted your story,” says one newsie. “Guess you made it ‘sadly official.’ ”

For what it’s worth, here’s the company line: Continue reading →

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | 7 Comments

Leftridge: The Royals Playing Limbo: How Low Can They Go?

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Brandon Leftridge

RsfansWell, it was bound to happen, right?

The magic that kept the Royals in first place throughout most of April and a chunk of May has worn off, and we’re left with the sad truth: the unicorn we’d all admired is nothing more than a malnourished horse with a traffic cone taped to its head.

Gone are the comeback walk-offs, the tight-rope successes of an oft-shaky bullpen and the jaw dropping tenacity of a reassembled starting rotation. The offense—which had previously been SO DAMN GOOD at hitting with runners in scoring position—strands men like irresponsible Floridians ditch unwanted pet pythons.

People everywhere are shocked and appalled, because this is just what they expected. (Not that this makes a lick of sense; the thought processes of hardcore sports fans rarely do.)

It’s classic “Royaling.” Continue reading →

Posted in Brandon Leftridge, Sports | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

Hearne: Who Killed the American Heartland Theatre?

Posted on May 21, 2013 by admin
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Menopause the Musical

Let’s get real for a minute…

Understandably, theater critic Robert Trussell has been doing a bit of handwringing over the impending demise of the 26 year-old American Heartland Theatre in Crown Center. After all, losing a high profile, 400-plus capacity theater venue is news and I’m sure there will be more stories to come.

However, dollar signs aside, does American Heartland closing really matter on the city’s pop culture landscape? And why, after 26 years in which the for-profit company supposedly never made a dime, kill it off now? Twenty years ago would seem to have made more sense.

Let’s take a look… Continue reading →

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | 1 Comment

Starbeams: Keep KCI Crowd Stuck in the 1950s, Rockfest Therapy & Climate Change for Cavemen

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Kelly Urich

fred_wilma_baby_carA movement is afoot to keep KCI the way it is, instead of updating the airport to be post 911 friendly.  The group also wants the world to know that “THEY LIKE IKE.”

*******

The Royals are back below .500 and have lost 11 of their last 14 games.  The players say when they were in first place, they became distracted by all of the people in the stands.

Continue reading →

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Hearne: Star Features Head Laurie Mansfield Bailing for LA

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Hearne Christopher Jr.

04d1371750459ffc047215d0bea6776fLast one out, turn out the…

Once upon a time, something called “stability” existed within the ranks of the newsroom at the Kansas City Star.

No mas.

These days it’s every man, woman and child for him or herself, as a six year gallows march continues with news staffers locked in a quarterly ranks thinning vice, resulting in those who can find work outside the newspaper sending out resumes and job feelers lickety-split.

The latest local casualty of the uncertain times in print journalism:

Features head Laurie Mansfield. Continue reading →

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | 8 Comments

Hearne: ‘The People Have Spoken,” Kanrocksas

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Hearne Christopher Jr.
Pennywise @ KROQ Red Bull Soundstage (4/5/2012)

Imagine Dragons

Turnabout is fair play…

After months of insisting otherwise, the powers that be at the music fest known as Kanrocksas have done an about face and  made single day tickets available to the two day fest on June 28th and 29th at the Kansas Speedway.

The $64 million question being why? Continue reading →

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | 7 Comments

New Jack City: Jack Lays Into ‘Twin Peaks,’ Swears Off Hooters

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Jack Poessiger

britsspearesesMy buddies called the other day and said, we’re taking you to lunch…
“Where to?” I asked.  “You’ll find out,” they hedged.

Would it going to be some new frufru eatery, I wondered.

“Don’t worry, ride with us, you’ll like it,” they promised.

So far—so good—or was it? Continue reading →

Posted in Jack Poessiger | 12 Comments

Donnelly: Terrible Offside Call Steals Goal & Win From Sporting

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Matthew Donnelly

Opara is at the top of the screen, on the 6 yard line when Peterson plays the ball through.

Sporting Kansas City should’ve walked out of abysmal RFK stadium with the full three points instead of splitting two with DC United.

KC created far better, and far more chances than the home squad, but got screwed by one of the worst offside calls I’ve ever seen.  And that’s not hyperbole.

As Sporting’s attack built down the left flank, center back Matt Besler made an overlapping run, almost to the end line.  He cut a ball back to somewhere around the penalty spot finding Jacob Peterson, who one-timed a low ball toward the far post.  Ike Opara reacted first and stepped to the ball, tapping a side-footer into the back of the net.   Continue reading →

Posted in Sporting_Kansas_City | 4 Comments

Mermaid: Whatever You Do, Don’t Let Your Boyfriend Loose @ Twin Peaks!

Posted on May 19, 2013 by admin

537703_440579289353698_1060464784_nI had no intention of making this my comeback story but…

This Hooter’s upgrade was soo hot I just had to do it. Everyone in town is talking about it – the place is on fire! The first time I drove by and saw the sign, “EATS-DRINKS-SCENIC VIEWS,” I thought, “What is that all about?”

Then I saw the sign, TWIN PEAKS.  Yep, this is the place all my male friends have been raving about for weeks. I pictured it as an out of the way place like in old Paola, but it’s right on 119th street right off Blackbob in Olathe.

As a woman I wasn’t sure what to expect or how I would react. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 42 Comments

Katie: Rock 98.9 Rockmaster & Rockettes

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Katie Grogan

IMG_8413What’s that expression?

Oh and one more thing…a photo of Rock 98.9 FM Godfather Johnny Dare lording over RockFest 2013.

(With a bonus late added shot that most of you probably missed last time.)

Enjoy. Continue reading →

Posted in Katie | 5 Comments

Hearne: Stanford’s Looking @ Second Location in Uptown ‘Conspiracy Room’

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Hearne Christopher Jr.

king-tutDon’t look now but comedy could be returning to Midtown…

Stanford’s is looking at opening a second comedy club in the Uptown Theater‘s Conspiracy Room.

“I’ve always thought that it was a cool room and I still do,” says Stanford’s Craig Glazer. “I think it can work.”

For two years Stanford’s has been checking out locations in KCMO, the most recent being the Beaumont Club in Westport. Continue reading →

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | 17 Comments

Paul Wilson: Why We’ll Never Be Visited by Intelligent Life

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Paul Wilson

bea-arthur-nakedAmerican values with a side of humor…

You can’t make this crap up, who would believe it?

A Manhattan Mom hires a handicapped person to be their “tour guide”, as people in wheel chairs can take up to six guests with them, skip the lines and “fast pass” to the head of the pack. You can hire your own “cripple” for $130 an hour, $1,040 for the day from Dream Tours Florida.

“My daughter waited one minute to get on ‘It’s a Small World’ — the other kids had to wait 2 1/2 hours. You can’t go to Disney without a tour concierge. This is how the one percent does Disney.”

I can imagine another quote from this Mother of the Year candidate; “Kids, don’t touch the cripple. Don’t talk to him and don’t look him in the eye. He’s not our friend, he’s just like your nanny except he can get us to the front of the line!”

***

A nude painting of Golden Girls Bea Arthur sold for $1.9 MILLION dollars at Christie’s this week. It sold to a phone bidder. Clearly the buyer didn’t want anyone to know who he was; how could you ever live that down? Arthur never sat for the painting; the artist worked off of a picture of her fully clothed and his imagination of what her 44 longs looked like.

*** Continue reading →

Posted in Paul Wilson | 13 Comments