Reuters - Kenny Chesney does his heroes George Strait and Jimmy Buffett proud on his latest set, which has a free-and-easy feel befitting its island inspiration.
AP - Some nightmares are even more vivid on stage. There's an immediacy to the horror that goes beyond terror and into shock.
Reuters - The big-screen adaptation of Jeanne Duprau's children's book "City of Ember" stalls at the intersection of fantasy and science fiction.
Reuters - The proverb says you should keep your friends close and your enemies closer. But what about when friend and enemy is one and the same -- and both happen to be you?
Reuters - It takes Christina Applegate approximately 45 seconds in the second-season premiere of ABC's "Samantha Who?" to dispel any lingering discomfort the audience might have with the star's summertime diagnosis of breast cancer and subsequent double mastectomy.
Reuters - You don't really need 11 hours -- merely two -- to discern that the new Jerry Bruckheimer procedural "Eleventh Hour" is pretty standard stuff, kind of like "CSI" meets "House."
Reuters - "Testees" is one of those noble single-camera comedy experiments that FX attempts every once in a while, and it proves to be a mixed bag.
Reuters - Imagine Disney tackling the issue of gay identity in a movie geared for youngsters, and you have some idea of the benign blandness of "Breakfast With Scot."
AP - "The Ayatollah Begs to Differ — The Paradox of Modern Iran" (Doubleday. 273 pages. $24.95), by Hooman Majd: Should Iranian diplomats pursue their duties in neatly creased trousers, as their Western counterparts tend to do?
Reuters - If you ever wondered why Hollywood is identified with dirty dealing, hypocrisy, moral bankruptcy, overindulged children and a ceaseless preoccupation with status, check out "The Starter Wife," which is being restarted on USA Network.
AP - Bob Dylan, "Tell Tale Signs: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 8" (Columbia)
AP - A feeling of intimacy settled over New York's City Center as choreographer Christopher Wheeldon presented the second season of his fledgling venture, "Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company," over five days last week.
Reuters - In theory, a hit format overseas should have an edge over an untested format developed at home. If Latin Americans love "Ugly Betty" and Brits adore "The Office," then American viewers will enjoy U.S. versions, right?
AP - Maybe it's true that "fall season" is an outdated concept in a world where TV series are introduced year-round. But if there were a Fall TV Season '08, the harvest would include only three more notable new shows.
AP - For a self-effacing, portly little plumber, Mario may be the most ambitious guy in video games. It's not enough that he has the most recognizable face in the industry; his parents at Nintendo have promoted him everywhere, from T-shirts and lunchboxes to cartoons and cell-phone ringtones. He's probably more familiar to kids of a certain generation than Mickey Mouse.
AP - "A Man for All Seasons," Robert Bolt's historical drama of moral courage, is one of those plays that comes with impeccable, gold-plated credentials. A London and Broadway success in the early 1960s. Oscar-annointed as best picture for its movie version.
AP - "Mr. Playboy: Hugh Hefner and the American Dream" (Wiley, 544 pages, $29.95), by Steven Watts: In 1953, Hugh Hefner was a young man in Chicago with an unimpressive resume and big plans. He would start a men's magazine geared toward young urbanites such as himself with lifestyle tips and racy pictures.
AP - In the world of sports video games, not much can really change year to year. The game at its core is the same, but it's what video-game developers add that makes it worth spending the cash.
Reuters - The Madonna concert ended nearly 12 hours ago, and this reviewer is still tired. And that's just from watching.
AP - Michelle Williams "Unexpected" (Columbia Records)
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