LOCAL LISTENING
Have you heard these albums from 2024?
Local listening
There is something a bit special about listening to albums by your friends and neighbors, people you may pass on the street or in the grocery store. So here, in no particular order, are some of the best and most interesting local albums I have come across this year:
Plurb, a band from Livingston, bring a big sound and a psychedelic groove that is hard to resist on the dance floor. Funk, jazz, reggae, blues and hip-hop meld, backed by robust rhythm and horn sections that weave seamlessly through the styles. Plurb showcases originals and covers by artists such as Sublime and Mac Miller on stage and in the seven-song album “Soundcheck,” released in November. The band, however, played their last shows in August, when they announced that two members were moving out of Montana.
Have you heard these albums from 2024?
There are many versions of Bozeman musician Peter King. He’s as comfortable in hillbilly and rock bands as he is delivering smooth soul attired in what seems the necessary crisp suit. In “Outlaw Blood,” released in February, King is at his most contemplative in mellow country compositions that focus on lyrics, backed at times by strings and steel guitar. Hear album opener “Heart Full of Pain” and “Get It Right This Time,” and you can imagine the man fingerpicking his guitar, singing about life’s miseries and hopes.
For a more rollicking country sound, turn to Belgrade musician Marcedes Carroll’s first full-length album “We Lost Track of the Stars.” The depth in her voice is reminiscent of some of the old country greats, and many of her songs incorporate a sound to match. These shine on “The Line” and “Right on Time.”
For a more modern country sound, try The Dead and Down. Swampy guitars and bluesy lyrics fill album “No Broken Bones,” released in January, which draws you in with elements woven into its
production, like static crackles and echoing microphones. It’s as interesting sonically as it is lyrically, thanks to frontman and songwriter Taylor Burlage. For something much harder, but bringing a similar energy to the stage, look to the driving punk rock of Bozeman’s Goners UK. “The Dead Wait” was released in May and is available to stream and on Bandcamp. Standouts are “Light ‘Em Up,” which features David Rodriguez of New York punk band The Casualties splitting vocal duties with Goners UK’s Rob Stotts, and “Pizza Drones” — though fans of more hardcore screaming may gravitate toward “Natural Causes” and “Ghetto Birds.”
RACHEL HERGETT for the Chronicle
PROVIDED IMAGE
Plurb’s Soundcheck EP
PROVIDED IMAGE
Peter King’s Outlaw Blood
PROVIDED IMAGE
Danny Bee’s Blubcakes and Barnacles
More ALBUMS | D13
Broadway’s Next Hit Musical
@ 7:30pm/$25
“At last! A musical of, for, and by the people.” -Time Out NY Warren Miller Performing Arts Center, 45465 Gallatin Road, Gallatin Gateway. info@warrenmiller pac.org, 406-995-6345
Winter Karaoke
@10pm Sing your favorite tunes with us at Winter Karaoke, Fridays at 10pm The Waypoint, 50 Ousel Falls Road, Big Sky. ben@thebigsky waypoint.com, 406-995-7827
Sat 12/28
Stephen Brown Album Release With Special Guests: Groovin Allstars
@ 7pm Stephen Brown former lead singer for Cure for the Common presents songs from his latest album as well as a selection of previously unreleased songs with support from the Groovin Allstars! Filling Station, 2005 North Rouse Avenue, Bozeman
Dueling Pianos with 406 Keys
@ 8pm Get ready for a night of non-stop sing-alongs and party anthems! Our dueling piano show is coming back to town and it’s going to be EPIC! 102 N Main St, 102 North Main Street, Livingston
The Glitch Mob
@ 8pm The ELM, 506 N 7th Ave, Bozeman
Dammit Lauren!
@ 8pm The Independent, 50 Ousel Falls Rd, Big Sky
The Glitch Mob
@ 8pm / $32-$55 The ELM, Bozeman
Meyer’d Down
@ 9pm Acoustic Pop & Folk Duo Murray Bar, 201 West Park Street, Livingston
Sun 12/29
NFL Sunday Ticket
@ 11am Join us for Thursday Night Football action all season long at the Waypoint! The Waypoint, 50 Ousel Falls Road, Big Sky. info@thebigskywaypoint.com, 406-995-7827
Dinner & a Movie
@ 4pm
DINNER AND A MOVIE SUNDAYS Come enjoy dinner at the Waypoint on Sundays and receive one movie
ticket and concession drink per entree ordered. The Waypoint, 50 Ousel Falls Road, Big Sky. ben@thebigskywaypoint.com, 406-995-7827
Songwriter’s Showcase
@7pm We’re teaming up with the YWMC to bring you a night of the Gallatin Valley’s best female singer song writers. Featuring Maren Stuben voll, Edis Kittrell, Ella Rae Cole, and Lena Marie Schiffer Bozeman Hot Springs, 81123 Gallatin Road, Bozeman. adam@bhsprings.com, 406-586-6492
Lena Marie Schiffer: Women’s Showcase @ Bozeman Hot Springs @ 7pm Bozeman Hot Springs Campground, 81123 Gallatin Rd, Bozeman
Mon 12/30
Monday Night Football
@ 6pm Join us for Monday Night Football action all season long at the Waypoint! The Waypoint, 50 Ousel Falls Road, Big Sky. info@the bigskywaypoint.com, 406-995-7827
Dead Sky - Grateful Dead Tribute
@ 8pm The ELM, 506 North 7th Avenue, Bozeman
Dead Sky @ 8pm / $20-$40 The ELM, Bozeman
Dead Sky - Bozeman, Montana: Dead Sky @ The ELM w/ North Fork Crossing
@ 8pm The ELM, 506 N 7th Ave, Bozeman
Tue 12/31
December 31st: New Years Eve Camp! (Pickup by 4pm)
@ 7:30am / Free Gallatin Valley YMCA, 3673 Love Lane, Bozeman. 406-994-9622
Uncle Lucius
@ 8pm The ELM, 506 North 7th Avenue, Bozeman
Uncle Lucius @ 8pm / $27-$50 The ELM, Bozeman
New Year’s Eve @ Livingston Bar & Grille
@ 9pm Join the Elana Hayden Quartet for live music at the fabulous Livingston Bar & Grille to ring in the new year! Livingston Bar & Grille, 130 North Main Street, Livingston
The Dead & Down: Western Disco NYE w/Desperate Electric
@ 9pm Rialto Bozeman, 10 W Main St., Bozeman
Devon Gilfillian
@ 9:30pm Big Sky Resort, 50 Big Sky Resort Rd, Big Sky
Wed 1/01
BINGO
@ 6:30pm Join us for the BIGGEST GAME in town. Full dinner menu available until 10 p.m. Come early to get a seat. The Office Liquor Store and Lounge, 128 South Main Street, Livingston
Thu 1/02
January 2nd: Winter Beach Party
@ 7:30am / Free Gallatin Valley YMCA, 3673 Love Lane, Bozeman. 406-994-9622
Peter King
@ 7pm Live music while you soak! Featuring the local country artist Peter King Bozeman Hot Springs, 81123 Gallatin Road, Bozeman. adam@bhsprings.com, 406-586-6492
Beginner Country Swing Dancing
@ 7pm / $20
Learn to country dance! Every event is more fun when you know how to dance! Prime Performance and Physio, 58 Silver Leaf Lane, Bozeman. mtcountrydance@gmail.com, 406-570-7422
Idaho Vandals at Montana State Bobcats Womens Basketball
@ 7pm Brick Breeden Fieldhouse, 1 Bobcat Circle, Bozeman
Calendar information is provided by event organizers. All events are subject to change or cancellation. This publication is not responsible for the accuracy of the information contained in this calendar.
Top 10 Bestsellers at Country Bookshelf
1) “The Serviceberry” by Robin Wall Kimmerer, $20
2) “Small Things Like These” by Claire Keegan, $20
3) “James” by Percival Everett, $28
4) “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” by Dr. Seuss, $16.99
5) “The Backyard Bird Chronicles” by Amy Tan, $35
6) “All Fours” by Miranda July, $29
7) “Revenge of the Tipping Point” by Malcolm Gladwell, $32
8) “Becoming Little Shell” by Chris La Tray, $28
9) “The Demon of Unrest” by Erik Larson, $35
10) “The God of the Woods” by Liz Moore, $30
Top 10 Bestsellers at Cactus Records
1) Billie Eilish “Hit Me Hard and Soft (Isolated Vocals)
2) Chappell Roan “Pink Pony Club (7” Single)”
3) Chappel Roan “Rise and Fall of a Midwest Farmer’s Daughter”
4) Tyler Childers “Purgatory”
5) Zach Bryan “The Great American Bar Scene”
6) Zach Bryan “American Heartbreak”
7) Grateful Dead “Veterans Memorial Coliseum, New Haven, CT 5/5/77”
8) Sabrina Carpenter “Short n’ Sweet”
9) Noah Kahan “Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever)”
10) Mac Miller “Swimming”
What’s Available NOW On
“Antwone Fisher”
(Available Now)
Inspired by a true story, this biographical drama follows Antwone Fisher (Derek Luke), a young navy man, who is forced to see a psychiatrist (Denzel Washington) after a violent outburst against a fellow crewman. During the course of Antwone’s treatment, a painful past is revealed and a new hope begins.
“Mr. Holland’s Opus” (Available Now)
A musician (Richard Dreyfuss) who dreams of composing one truly memorable piece of music finds his true passion after he reluctantly accepts a “day job” as a high school music teacher to support his family.
“The Muppets” (Available Now)
Walter (Peter Linz), the world’s biggest Muppet fan, is on vacation in Los Angeles with his brother Gary (Jason Segel) and Gary’s girlfriend, Mary (Amy Adams). They discover that greedy Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) plans to raze Muppet Studios and drill for oil on the spot. Desperate to save the Muppets’ former stomping grounds, the three friends join forces with Kermit (Steve Whitmire) to reunite Miss Piggy (Eric Jacobson), Fozzie (also Jacobson) and the rest of the gang to hold a telethon to raise the $10 million they need to save the studio.
in focus
“A Real Bug’s Life” - Season 2 (Disney+ — Jan. 15, Season Premiere) Inspired by the World of Disney and Pixar’s “A Bug’s Life” (1998), this Disney+ Original series from National Geographic takes viewers on another extraordinary adventure into the micro-bug world — where the forces of nature play out on a completely different scale and miniature creatures rely on amazing superpowers to make it through each day. Narrated by Awkwafina, new bug journeys await, full of more mind-blowing behaviors and larger-than-life characters.
“Moulin Rouge!” (Available Now)
A celebration of love and creative inspiration takes place in the infamous, gaudy and glamorous Parisian nightclub, at the cusp of the 20th century. A young poet (Ewan McGregor), who is plunged into the heady world of Moulin Rouge, begins a passionate affair with the club’s most notorious and beautiful star (Nicole Kidman).
CROSSWORD
Across 1. WWF foundation
4. ___ Ant (Hanna Barbera character)
8. Life lines?
movie review
BY JAY BOBBIN
12. Melber of MSNBC
13. Reply to the Little Red Hen
14. “Schitt’s Creek” family name
15. Craving
16. Christine Baranski series with “The”
18. Disney+ series about The Troubles
20. Sailors
21. Made fancy
25. Shrek’s girlfriend
27. Astronaut’s insignia
28. Words of commitment
29. Bring in
Action fans still have a need for ‘Speed’
Whatever you do, don’t go under 50 mph.
Many movie fans will recognize that immediately as one of the edicts of “Speed,” the 1994 action blockbuster that holds up extremely well. A current Hulu streaming run of the film is reaffirming that — and it also reaffirms the star power of Keanu Reeves, which got a considerable boost from the picture.
“Speed” can actually be deemed three movies in one, starting with the set-up that sees police partners Jack and Harry (played by Reeves and a wonderfully sardonic Jeff Daniels) foil an extortion plot
by the story’s villain (Dennis Hopper, doing everything but twirl a mustache in the part, but that’s what it calls for).
That lays the groundwork for the second and main portion of the story, set largely aboard a Los Angeles transit bus that the bad guy has rigged with a bomb.
Jack is informed that once activated, the explosive will detonate if the speed of the bus drops below 50 mph.
Desperate to save the initially unaware people on board, Jack manages to get on the vehicle, which ends up being commandeered by a plucky passenger (Sandra Bullock,
30. Source
32. Driving hazard
34. 1942 Preakness winner
36. Catty remark
37. Kermit The Frog hosts it
42. 1970s-80s sitcom with Ron Howard
45. Draft letters?
46. Sunburn soother
47. Run away
48. Make it
49. “Here’s the summary” , online
50. Class
51. Loop loopers
Down
1. Giant great
2. Side squared, for a square
3. Student at Acme Looniversity
4. Wool source
5. Sweetie
6. Alternatively, online
7. Calf-length skirt
8. Ancestry
9. Slough
10. “Black-___”
11. ___ Offensive
17. Located: Abbr.
19. Palindromic girl’s name
22. UFC’s president
23. End ___
24. Dome
25. World soccer org.
26. “American ___”
31. Fiddle (with)
32. Prepare (for)
33. ___ Pollos Hermanos
35. Accept
36. Mobster Lansky
38. Many email attachments
39. ___ Alto
40. October’s birthstone
41. Tail motions
42. It may be tipped
43. “Agatha ___ Along”
44. Pea jacket?
Solution on page 16
in a star-making role after several years of TV and movie work) while the police try to figure out how to resolve the situation without alerting the taunting enemy.
The plot’s devices for diverting the bus and keeping it moving at a safe speed are quite clever, and one of the best involves an unfinished highway that actually was in that condition at the time of filming. Mid-’90s technology is also used neatly to trick the embittered ex-cop played by Hopper, who’s secretly using the surveillance camera mounted in the bus to monitor what’s happening.
Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock in “Speed”
What’s Available NOW On
“On Call” - Season 1 (Jan. 9)
This adrenalized and visceral police drama follows a rookie (Brandon Larracuente) and veteran officer (Troian Bellisario) duo as they go on patrol in Long Beach, California. Shot with a mixture of hand-held cameras, bodycam and dash-cam footage to create a cinema verité effect, the innovative series explores the morality of protecting and serving a community. Additional cast includes Lori Loughlin, Rich Ting and Eriq La Salle.
in focus
“Unstoppable” (Prime Video — Jan. 16, Movie Premiere)
This film tells the inspiring true story of Anthony Robles (Jharrel Jerome), who was born with one leg but whose indomitable spirit and unbreakable resolve empowered him to defy the odds and pursue his dreams. With the unwavering love and support of his devoted mother, Judy (Jennifer Lopez), and the encouragement of his coaches, Anthony fights through adversity to earn a spot on the Arizona State Wrestling team. But, it will demand everything he has, physically and mentally, to achieve his ultimate quest to become an NCAA Champion.
“LOL: Last One Laughing
Quebec” - Season 3 (Jan. 10)
Hosted by Patrick Huard, this new season continues to test each comedian’s ability to make their opponents laugh, while trying not to laugh themselves, in hopes of taking home the $100,000 grand prize. The full lineup of comedians includes Jean-Michel Anctil, Réal Béland, Anne-Élisabeth Bossé, Jo Cormier, Korine Coté, Mona de Grenoble (Alexandre Aussant), Maude Landry, Mélanie Maynard, Dominic Paquet and Erich Preach.
“Knives Out” (Available Now)
When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Det. Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is mysteriously enlisted to investigate. Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, Katherine Langford, Jaeden Martell and Riki Lindhome also star.
“The Bikeriders” (Available Now)
After a chance encounter, headstrong Kathy (Jodie Comer) is drawn to Benny (Austin Butler), a member of the Midwestern motorcycle club the Vandals. As the club transforms into a dangerous underworld of violence, Benny must choose between Kathy and his loyalty to the club.
Solution on page 16
BETH BOYSON
Library columnist
Dear Reader, this will be the final This Just in @ Your Library column. The time has come for me to retire from Bozeman Public Library.
It has been a wonderful 30 years of Library work here in beautiful Southwest Montana, especially writing this column. Thank you for the kind words regarding it. In the future, my byline may appear in other Arts & Culture articles in the Chronicle. Till then, here is to new adventures in 2025. Happy reading.
BOOKS FOR THE ADULTS IN THE ROOM
How to Retire: 20 Lessons
Located in Historic Downtown Bozeman
This Just In @ Your Library
for a Happy, Successful, and Wealthy Retirement by Christine Benz. Nonfiction. There’s lots of quantifiable information out there on how to retire. Let’s try a light, conversational tone about how to adjust to the sea change that is leaving the workforce. Topics include the personal experience, the pursuit of happiness, the changing relationships, and of course, the financial implications.
Queen Macbeth by Val McDermid. Fiction. The author is famous for fabulous
mysteries. In this book she gives us an interesting look at Shakespeare’s fictional Lady Macbeth. Medieval Scotland is a harsh place as Lady Macbeth, aka as Queen Macbeth, tells us her story in the first person. It’s a suspenseful plot, a complex set of relationships among many thieves, and a character study, all in one novel.
John Lewis: A Life by David Greenberg. Biography. Maybe you have already read Mr. Lewis’s graphic memoir, March. There is so much for the reader
there. This book adds many layers to that autobiography. There are many more friends and colleagues speaking in depth, and also the view of history from John Lewis, as he experienced it. The 1970s are actually made interesting, which is no easy feat.
BOOKS FOR THE KIDDOS
A Sky Full of Song by Susan Lynn Meyer. Juvenile Fiction. A young family moves from Ukraine to the prairies of North Dakota. Set in 1905, readers will enjoy the simple life they live (many middle school novels are set in big cities). There is a conflict between the sisters: one embraces American, the other misses Ukraine terribly.
The Wolf Effect: A
Wilderness Revival Story by Rosanne Parry and Jennifer Themes. Juvenile Nonfiction. Very beautifully crafted combination of storytelling and science picture book that shows the importance of the wolf species, especially as they relate to Lamar Valley in Yellowstone National Park. Wolves can be interesting! Once Upon a Friend words by Dan Gemeinhart; illustrations by ShinYeon Moon. Picture Book. This is an imaginative ode to the beloved fictional characters who we never leave behind and who never leave us. It’s an interesting concept that kids will understand: we change as we grow, and things we loved as kids change, too.
What’s Available NOW On
“American Primeval” (Jan. 9) America, 1857. Peace is the shrinking minority and very few possess grace — even fewer know compassion. There is no safe haven in these brutal lands, and only one goal matters: survival. A fictionalized dramatization of the birth of the American West, this six-episode series stars Taylor Kitsch, Betty Gilpin, Dane DeHaan, Saura Lightfoot-Leon, Derek Hinkey, Joe Tippett, Jai Courtney, Preston Mota, Shawnee Pourier and Shea Whigham.
“The Upshaws” - Season 6 (Jan. 9)
Bennie Upshaw (Mike Epps), the head of a Black working class family in Indianapolis, is a charming, well-intentioned mechanic and lifelong mess just trying his best to step up and care for his family. In this upcoming part, the Upshaws continue to ride life’s ups and downs, including new jobs, bigger dreams, health struggles and some major life surprises but still hanging on with the love that comes with family.
“Sakomoto Days” (Jan. 11)
Legendary ex-hitman Taro Sakamoto (Tomokazu Sugita), has built a peaceful life with his family. When the looming threat of assassins threatens his quiet existence, Taro dusts off his old skills and bands together with his comrades to take the group out.
“Don’t Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever” (Available Now)
How far would you go to live forever — or even just slow down the aging process? This startling documentary by Chris Smith is told through intimate access to Bryan Johnson, a man who has dedicated his life to defy aging. It dives into the controversial wellness practices one man is using to maintain youth and vitality, and the effect this journey has on himself and those around him.
Library/from D7
The Boldest White: A Story of Hijab and Community by Ibtihaj Muhammad and S.K. Ali; art by Hatem Aly. Early Reader. Ibtihaj Muhammad is a female Olympic medalist in fencing and this book will interest curious kids who want to know more about it. There is
also a very sweet look into the daily life of a Muslim family.
FOR THE TEENS AND TWEENS
Thief of the Heights by Son M. and Robin Yao. Young Adult Graphic Novel. Three teens try to change their world for the better. The authors create a detailed dystopian world for them to live in, or try to
live in. Those visuals build the story. There is a great friendship and connection among the trio, and an ensemble of likable fringe characters. Draw Down the Moon by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast. Young Adult Fiction. This mother and daughter writing team don’t recommend pulling the moon out of orbit. That would be very bad. Instead, the
main character goes to Academia de la Luna, a school for children with special powers drawn from the moon, to learn more about this ancient gift.
Just WRITE: Here’s How by Walter Dean Myers. Young Adult Nonfiction. Mr. Myers is a proven success at writing. He is the author of 100plus successful and popular books for young readers. That
is the primary audience for this book, but, it also works for old readers, like ... me! Great for teens, teachers, and anyone who wants to explore how to get unstuck.
Beth Boyson is a Programming Librarian and Cataloger at Bozeman Public Library. She can be reached through the Library website at www.bozemanlibrary.org.
The solution to the question is found within the answers in the puzzle. In order to discover this hidden solution, unscramble the letters noted with asterisks within the puzzle.
Across 1. Go for the gold?
4. Father
8. Cotillion star, informally
11. Yellowfin tuna
12. Foreboding
13. Psychoanalysis subject
14. One gifted at playing with pawns and queens
17. Bunk
18. Bother
19. Chick’s sound
21. Reverse
24. Else
25. Lumberjack’s tool
26. Do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ___, do
27. The, in France
28. E-mail command
30. Matching
32. Lord’s Prayer start
34. Catch on
35. Fashion material spotted like a certain feline
41. Gothic author Radcliffe
42. It may be grand
43. Kind of flour
44. Misery
45. Provocative
46. Lion’s home Down
1. Lobbying grp.
2. “What a relief!”
3. Girl from uncle?
4. Publicize
5. Concert box
6. Price word
7. Soon
8. Vouchsafe
9. Grade A item
10. “Whew!”
15. Absorbed
16. Helen of Troy, to Zeus
19. Cookers
Who’s the daddy?: Two-part documentary shines a light on tumultuous ‘Jerry Springer Show’
so we decided early on that I wouldn’t know what was going on, I’d just be handed a card with the names of the guests. That’s why every segment, my first question was, ‘What’s going on?’”
20. Buffalo’s county
22. Bunuel collaborator
23. Big bovines
29. Not a soul
31. Kooky
33. Clip
34. Peppy
35. Kind of partner
36. Roxy Music co-founder
37. Heater
38. Grooved on
39. TV’s “Science Guy”
40. It’s an honor
If you ever stayed home sick from school in the ‘90s, you’ve probably heard the phrase: “Take care of yourself and each other.” Host Jerry Springer said it often — but how genuine was it, really? The two-part docuseries “Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action” premieres Tuesday, Jan. 7, on Netflix. Known for its abundance of melodrama, “The Jerry Springer Show” released 3,891 episodes across 27 seasons (airing from 1991-2018), all led by the eponymous, late Jerry Springer — whose resume includes gigs as the mayor of Cincinnati, a local news anchor and the producer and host of his own shows, including “Judge Jerry.” With countless controversial episodes, such as “High Class Hookers Tell All,” “I
Married a Horse” and “Black Supremacists vs. White Supremacists,” Springer’s series brought chaos to televisions across America, showcasing love triangles, secret siblings and countless outbursts from guests. While Springer died from pancreatic cancer in 2023, he often spoke of his own show — despite frequent claims he never revisited old episodes. Just four years before his death, he spoke with Deadline, saying: “‘The Jerry Springer Show’ never raised my blood pressure because it was obviously a circus. I never went home [with stress]. I knew it would be crazy, but I never knew what the subjects were. I didn’t produce the show, and because I’m not an actor, I wanted my responses to be legitimate,
Now, seven years after the show’s conclusion, those who worked on set alongside Springer are ready to share what it was like to be a part of the iconic talk show.
As Netflix describes: “The jaw-dropping series tells the story of the show as it’s never been told before, with extraordinary firsthand testimony and revelations from show insiders who lay bare the dark truths behind its entertaining facade. The show’s producers and ex-guests paint a murkier picture of the destruction it caused, raising renewed questions about who was responsible and how far things should go in the name of entertainment.”
From director Luke Sewell (“Trust No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King”), “Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action” makes its debut Tuesday, Jan. 7, on Netflix.
A scene from “Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action”
What’s Available NOW On
“Goosebumps: The Vanishing”Season 2 (Jan. 10)
Fraternal twins Devin (Sam McCarthy) and Cece (Jayden Bartels) are adjusting to life with their recently divorced dad, Anthony (David Schwimmer). When the duo discovers a threat stirring, they quickly realize that dark secrets are among them, triggering a chain of events that unravel a profound mystery. As they delve into the unknown, Devin, Cece and their friends — Alex (Francesca Noel), CJ (Elijah M. Cooper) and Frankie (Galilea La Salvia) — find themselves entangled in the chilling tale of four teenagers who mysteriously vanished in 1994.
celebrityfacts
“Mulan” (Available Now)
To save her father from death in the army, a young maiden named Mulan (MingNa Wen) secretly goes in his place and becomes one of China’s greatest heroines in the process. Eddie Murphey, B.D. Wong and Miguel Ferrer also voice star.
“Beauty and the Beast: Sing-Along Version” (Available Now)
In the sing-along version of this animated Disney classic, Belle (Paige O’Hara) offers to take the place of her ill merchant father (Rex Everhart) as the prisoner of a fearsome beast (Robby Benson) who lives in a remote castle. With help from the castle’s enchanted staff, Belle learns to appreciate the beast for who he is, breaking a curse that has plagued the castle for years.
“Frozen” (Available Now)
After a tumultuous childhood where young royal sisters Anna (Kristen Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel) are torn apart by a fear of her sister’s icy magical powers, events culminate in Elsa’s powers trapping the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter. Teaming up with a rugged mountain man named Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), his loyal reindeer Sven and an oddball snowman named Olaf (Josh Gad), Anna sets out to save her sister — and their kingdom.
Denis Leary of “Going Dutch” on Fox: He began his career as a stand-up comedian, then gravitated toward acting by appearing in such movies as “The Sandlot” (1991) and “Demolition Man” (1993).
Colin Firth of “Lockerbie: A Search for Truth” on Peacock: Featured in all of the “Bridget Jones” movies to date, he’s slated to be seen again — though reportedly briefly – in the new “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy,” which Peacock is slated to begin streaming on Feb. 13.
Cher, seen recently on The 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on ABC, Hulu and Disney+: She made her movie debut – along with then-husband Sonny Bono – in the teen-oriented 1956 film “Wild on the Beach,” in which they played themselves and sang the tune “It’s Gonna Rain.”
Fit for TV
Brody Jenner in “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test”
Questions:
trivia quiz
BY STAFF WRITERS
1) True or false: “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test,” which returns for a third season on Jan. 8, is based on a British series.
2) Who was the host of the first and longest-running (19591985) nationally syndicated fitness show?
3) In which year did “The Biggest Loser” premiere on NBC?
4) From 1992 to 1997, MTV aired a dance music show that also spun off a few home workout videos — name the show.
5) Which YouTube comedy-fitness series follows Kevin Hart and his famous friends as they try different workouts?
6) Name the host of “Strong” (or “S.T.R.O.N.G.”), the Sylvester Stallone-produced reality series that ran for one season on NBC.
7) How many celebrities competed in each season of “Celebrity Fit Club”?
8) Which Daytime Emmy-winning talk show was hosted by Richard Simmons?
9) Which wedding-themed weight loss show aired for one season (2011) on The CW?
10) Which weight-loss show was a spin-off of ABC’s “Extreme Makeover” franchise?
Richard Dreyfuss ce l e b rity q&a
OF THE EDUCATION OF MAX BICKFORD ON CBS
Q: I enjoy seeing Richard Dreyfuss on Turner Classic Movies, which has shown him in “The Goodbye Girl” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” lately. Was he ever in a weekly series?
A: Oscar winner Richard Dreyfuss did quite a bit of TV work early in his career, with guest roles on “Bewitched,” “The Big Valley,” “That Girl,” “The Mod Squad” and “Gunsmoke” among his credits before his movie career really took off with “American Graffiti” in 1973. However, some people may know him for the single line he delivers in the 1967 classic “The Graduate,” in reference to Dustin Hoffman’s Benjamin Braddock: “Should I call the cops?”
Though he did the occasional TV movie afterward — including ABC’s “Victory at Entebbe” (1976), HBO’s “Lansky” (1999) and a CBS version of “Fail Safe” (2000) — it wasn’t until the 2001-02 television year that Dreyfuss became a full-fledged series star. In the CBS drama “The Education of Max Bickford,” Dreyfuss played a professor at an all-women’s college in Massachusetts where his daughter (portrayed by Katee Sackhoff) was a student. The cast also included Marcia Gay Harden, Regina Taylor, Helen Shaver and David McCallum.
With Dreyfuss also among the show’s producers, “The Education of Max Bickford” lasted just one season. While it underwent some changes along the way, particularly with the membership of its creative team, it has a certain place in television history as one of the first series filmed in high definition ... something that has become common for programs since, especially as TV sets have adapted increasingly to that technology.
Dreyfuss later appeared in the miniseries “Tin Man” (2007) and “Coma” (2012). He also was a cast regular in “Your Family or Mine,” a 2015 TBS sitcom in which he played the father of the husband (Kyle Howard) in a couple that traveled regularly between their families located on opposite coasts. Kat Foster played the wife, and JoBeth Williams appeared as Dreyfuss’s spouse.
celebrity q&a
Solution on page 16
BY ADAM THOMLISON
Cassandra Peterson
OF ELVIRA: MISTRESS OF THE DARK ON NBCUNIVERSAL
Q: Has Elvira always been portrayed by the same person or is it a role passed to other actresses throughout the years? And is the original actress still working?
A: The one and only, original Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, is still going strong.
The character is a creation of actress Cassandra Peterson, debuting in 1981 as host of the B-movie film series “Elvira’s Movie Macabre” on local L.A. station KHJ-TV.
It’s understandable to think the actress may have changed, partly because there’s a lot of makeup involved in the costume that could potentially hide face changes, but also because Peterson has aged incredibly well — supernaturally, even.
But it’s always been her, and continues to be today, more than 40 years on.
It was, for example, Peterson in the plunging black gown and white makeup doing a series of shorts on Netflix called “Netflix and Chills With Dr. Elvira” in 2021. And, it was her Valley girl voice appearing as Elvira in a series of Scooby-Doo cartoons in the late 2010s. Plus, folks in California may have seen Peterson as Elvira reviving her popular Halloween show this past October at the Knott’s Berry Farm amusement park in Buena Park.
To have that kind of longevity, a star has to change with the times, and Elvira has. That includes feuding with other celebrities in the tabloids, which is seemingly a crucial part of being an entertainer today. She had a minor fracas in the headlines back in October when, during her Knott’s Berry Farm show, she claimed that pop star Ariana Grande refused to take a backstage photo with her. (Apologies were made and everyone seems to have moved on.)
“Extreme Weight Loss”
Teri Garr meets ‘Young Frankenstein’ again
One of the late Teri Garr’s most remembered and acclaimed performances is in one of Mel Brooks’s best-reviewed films, and “Young Frankenstein” will be presented as part of a Turner Classic Movies tribute to Garr on Thursday, Jan. 9. The 1974 satire succeeds largely because of its authentic look, which director and co-writer Brooks achieved by using many props from the 1931 “Frankenstein” movie — and by emulating the stark black-and-white visuals of that picture.
Gene Wilder, the script’s other writer with Brooks, plays the grandson of the infamous Dr. Victor Frankenstein, the scientist who assembled and gave life to a synthetic man, as does the younger Frankenstein here, with Peter Boyle portraying the resulting creature (and performing “Puttin’ on the Ritz” with Wilder in one of the picture’s most memorable scenes). Garr co-stars as Inga, Frankenstein’s assistant who doesn’t mind a literal “roll in the hay”; Cloris Leachman appears as the horse-scaring Frau Blucher in a cast that also includes Marty Feldman, Madeline Kahn and an atypical Gene Hackman.
Puzzle Solutions
more retro rewinds
“Doctor Dolittle” (Hulu, streaming) — Fanciful by nature, the saga of a doctor who communicates with his animal patients was played a bit straighter in the original 1967 movie version that starred Rex Harrison, while this 1998 remake goes more for laughs ... not a surprise, since it casts Eddie Murphy in the title role. The doctor’s practice is being eyed for purchase by a conglomerate, and his unique ability poses some complications as that potential deal progresses. Albert Brooks, Norm Macdonald, Ellen DeGeneres, Chris Rock and Garry Shandling supply the voices of some of the animals; Hulu is also offering the 2001 sequel “Dr. Dolittle 2.”
“Toy Story 3” (ABC, Sunday, Jan. 5): Buzz Lightyear and Woody, respectively voiced by Tim Allen and Tom Hanks, are back in this 2010 entry in the animated Disney-Pixar franchise. With their owner Andy now older and off to college, the toys accidentally get donated to a daycare center where Barbie (voice by Jodi Benson) meets Ken (voice by Michael Keaton), among other highlights of the adventure ... which turns quite emotional, something that may surprise older viewers. Joan Cusack and Don Rickles are among other “Toy Story” vocal regulars returning here.
Jim Parsons celebrity update
OF THE BIG BANG THEORY ON CBS
Q: Why haven’t I seen Jim Parsons much since “The Big Bang Theory” ended? It seems like everyone else on the cast got big new roles, why not him?
A: Stars who play exaggerated, iconic characters generally have a harder time finding their next big thing after their shows end. They also often take breaks from the screen, sometimes returning to the work they did before to rediscover their love of showbiz.
Jim Parsons, best known for playing the outrageously nerdy Sheldon Cooper in “The Big Bang Theory,” has followed this pattern to the letter.
BY ADAM THOMLISON
Though he did a few small screen roles prior to breaking out in CBS’s mega-hit sitcom “The Big Bang Theory” in 2007, he was mostly a stage actor. And he’s returned to the stage now. He recently appeared in a Broadway revival of the classic play “Our Town.” And, he earned a Tony Award nomination earlier in 2024 for his role in another Broadway show, “Mother Play.” Of course, his shift from “Big Bang” to Broadway wasn’t direct. He took a few new screen roles immediately after his sitcom ended, most notably in the Netflix movie “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile,” a biography of serial killer Ted Bundy (played in the film by Zac Efron, “The Iron Claw,” 2023).
Gene Wilder and Teri Garr in “Young Frankenstein”
Though slightly more produced than previous release, “Girly,” the Love Darts’ “Neon Girls” still retains the crunchy sound that, if you close your eyes, will take you to the nearest dive bar, amps screaming and Jimi Kehoe rolling on the peanut-shell covered floor. Turn it up, tune into the lyrics and rock on.
“On ‘You Are Here,’ I tried to capture the vibe of the cabin I’ve been living in,” Jonathan Kennedy, a writer in his own right, stated in an announcement on his Instagram. “There’s crickets, rain, trains, water, fire, wind, and a dog featured throughout its six tracks.” While grounded in acoustic guitar, The Jonathan Kennedy Connection’s EP infuses electronic instrumentation to expand upon what one may think sonically encapsulates a cabin.
The Americana-tinged rock sound of King Ropes also leaves space reminiscent of the landscapes around us, evoking memory with droning guitars. “We’re from and of and about the West and the Western experience,” songwriter Dave Hollier states in album notes for “Idaho,” his sixth King Ropes record. “I feel akin to bands like Modest Mouse and Built to Spill, Queens of the Stoneage, not necessarily
UK’s “The Dead Wait”
PROVIDED IMAGE
Hawthorne’s “Tales from Late Nights and Long Drives.” PROVIDED
sonically, but those bands are from weird middle-of-nowhere-in-the-West places and represent that experience in some way.”
Livingston’s Danny Bee never fails to amuse, adding humor through his lyrics and the various ways he manipulates his voice to deliver them on “Blubcakes and Barnacles.” “Your kiss is like a hypnotist that put me under a spell, but I’m higher than a tire fire
burning out of control and all the way to hell,” he sings in “Waiting for My Baby’s Touch,” underscored by rhythm guitar and a ratatat on snare.
songwriter Mike Beck returns with a self-titled album. MST’s piano-heavy “If I Learned Something Someday” features Alyssa Mandich, a welcome female vocalist to the scene. There’s the rocking “Fire Printing” from Ron Sanchez’ long-running psychedelic rock experiment Donovan’s Brain and my friend and up-and coming country goddess Madeline Hawthorne’s “Tales from Late Nights and Long Drives.”
Dead,” combining a voice that seems made for country, with guitar and unexpected synthesizers. And let’s not forget the hip hop scene and Atryp’s lyrical showcase “No Place Like Home.”
I created a Spotify playlist of the albums I could find on the streaming service, but some remain elusive. Songwriter and guitarist of Growling Old Men, John Lowell has a new album that is only on CD available in his website. Another album to look out for that is not available to stream and that I have not found beyond KGLT’s library is from the voice of the Montana Medicine Show Derek Strahn and Montana State University guitar professor Michael Videon.
Rachel Hergett is the arts and entertainment editor. She can be reached at rhergett@dailychronicle.com or 582-2603. Follow her on Twitter @hergett. PROVIDED
I’m running out of space here, but there is an immense variety of local talent and each deserves a mention. Hot Milk and the Flower Pallets, “Singularis” offers instrumental psychedelic and progressive rock that has been blared through my speakers often. Masterful horseman and
North Fork Crossing’s self-titled album brings hard-driving exploratory bluegrass that appeals to a wide variety of listeners. Jacob Rountree’s EP “Truth or Dare” is a wonderful showcase of his ever-smooth voice and evolving songwriting. Jamgrass band Kitchen Dwellers were inspired by Dante’s “Inferno” for their masterful “Seven Devils.” Buffalo Burrows’ creates his own style in “All The Cowboys are
Some honorable mentions from farther afield in Montana include Billings musician Stephen Brown’s soul-filled funk EP “These Things Will Always Be the Same,” “With a Lean,” from Butte country singer Sean Eamon, acoustic folk trio The State Champions’ “Independent Record,” folky and experimental “The End of May” from Missoula’s Nathan Bendickson and power disco duo Desperate Electric’s “Don’t Fall In Love.” Happy listening and happy New Year!
Find All the Ingredients For this Recipe at
playerprofile
Rack of Lamb
BY ROBERTO JOZEF
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup bread crumbs
2 Tbsp. minced garlic
Doncic, Irving look for first win against James, Davis in Dallas
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh rosemary
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 (approx. 7 bone) rack of lamb, trimmed and frenched (Ask our meat specialist for help in getting your ribs prepared like this)
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
DIRECTIONS:
In what promises to be yet another exciting Western Conference showdown, the NBA regular season continues as the Dallas Mavericks host the Los Angeles Lakers Tuesday, Jan. 7, at American Airlines Center in Dallas. All the action broadcasts live on TNT. The Mavericks have had a fantastic start to their 2024-25 season, sitting fourth place in the Western Conference (at press time) and firing on all cylinders, holding a 48.7 field goal percentage as a team. However, the Mavericks have yet to win against the Lakers this season, with Anthony Davis and LeBron James coming up big in both losses.
The Mavericks are led by Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, who are both having impressive seasons so far. While Doncic has averaged 28.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game, Irving, having truly found his role in Dallas, has proven to be a phenomenal, lethal and dynamic second option with an average of 24.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game. Against the Lakers, Irving will need to continue looking to exploit mismatches against the Lakers perimeter defense, especially in late-game situations.
Move the oven rack to the center and preheat to 450 degrees. Combine bread crumbs, garlic, rosemary, 1 tsp. salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper in a small bowl. Add 2 Tbsp. olive oil to help moisten the mixture and set to the side.
Next, season your rack of lamb with another teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of pepper. Heat 2 Tbsp. olive oil in a large and heavy oven-proof skillet over high heat. Once oil is hot, sear each side of the rack of lamb for 1-2 minutes. Let lamb rest. Brush lamb with mustard and then cover with the bread crumb mixture. To prevent the exposed bones from burning, wrap each one individually with tin foil. Bone-side down, lay prepared lamb in the same skillet. Allow to roast in the oven for 12-18 minutes for medium. Add more time to reach additional doneness. For safety, lamb should reach at minimum an internal temperature of 130 degrees.
The Lakers, meanwhile, started the season on fire, winning 10 of their first 14 games, with Davis and James leading the charge all year. But in recent weeks, the Lakers have dropped to eighth in the Western Conference (at press time) with the team continuing to struggle defensively, allowing 115.8 points per game. In their previous matchup against the Mavericks, James and Davis combined for 60 points. This is the kind of energy they will need to bring again against a high-offensive team, boasting Doncic and Irving, and a team offense that sits fifth in the NBA.
Full name: Kyrie Andrew Irving
Birthdate: March 23, 1992 (32)
Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia
Height/weight: 6-2/195 pounds
Team(s): Dallas Mavericks (2023-present), Brooklyn Nets (20232019), Boston Celtics (2019-2017), Cleveland Cavaliers (2017-2011)
Remove lamb from the skillet and allow it to rest for 5-7 minutes, allowing the juices to settle into the meat. Serve immediately.
Solution on page 16
in focus
“Severance” - Season 2 (Apple TV+ — Jan. 17, Season Premiere)
Mark Scout (Adam Scott) leads a team at Lumon Industries, whose employees have undergone a severance procedure, which surgically divides their memories between their work and personal lives. This daring experiment in “work-life balance” is called into question as Mark finds himself at the center of an unraveling mystery that will force him to confront the true nature of his work … and of himself. In season two, Mark and his friends learn the dire consequences of trifling with the severance barrier, leading them further down a path of woe.
celebrityscoop
BY JAY BOBBIN
Weekday mornings won’t be the same on NBC, simply for the fact that Hoda Kotb will no longer be there. Though the network has indicated that the energetic and sunny personality may return for special assignments from time to time, she’ll end her run as a co-host of “Today” on Friday, Jan. 10. She’ll be succeeded as Savannah Guthrie’s on-air partner by current “Today” news anchor Craig Melvin,
quiz
BY ALEX HENDRY
NBA: First Overall Draft Picks
Questions: Answers:
1) A French (basketball) revolution! In consecutive NBA drafts, the first overall pick was a player from the French professional league. Victor Wembanyama was first — who followed him in 2024?
2) Nicknamed “The Admiral,” who is the only United States Naval Academy alumnus to be drafted first overall?
3) Basketball is a global game, but it wasn’t until 2006 that a player from Europe was drafted first overall. Who made history as the first European-born player to be taken at the top of the draft?
4) Who was the first player in NBA history to be drafted first overall directly out of high school?
5) Trusting “The Process” — the Philadelphia 76ers had the first overall draft pick in consecutive years (2016-2017). Who did they select with both picks?
6) Hello, goodbye! Who was drafted first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers, only to later be traded to Minnesota before playing a game?
7) Excluding the stint in New Orleans, who is the only player to be selected first overall by the Charlotte Hornets franchise?
8) Injuries disrupted a promising basketball career — drafted ahead of Kevin Durant — but who did the Portland Trail Blazers select with the top pick in 2007?
9) Hakeem Olajuwon made history in 1984 as the first Nigerian-born player to be drafted with the first pick. The Los Angeles Clippers would try to repeat history in 1998 when they selected who?
10) Who was the first player in NBA history to be drafted first overall and also be later selected for an NBA All-Star team?
and her imminent departure means that Jenna Bush Hager will also have someone else sitting beside her as the fourth hour of “Today” is retitled “Today With Jenna & Friends,” beginning Jan. 13.
Before she started her morning duties, Kotb was a “Dateline NBC” correspondent who contributed to the various platforms of NBC News. She initially joined the “Today” franchise when she was named the first host of the program’s fourth weekday hour when it began in the fall of 2007, with Kathie Lee Gifford joining her as a co-host several months later. (Hager would succeed Gifford in 2019.)
In November 2017, Kotb stepped in on extremely short notice to join Guthrie on “Today” when then-co-host Matt Lauer was terminated over allegations of misconduct. Kotb continued in that role for the rest of that year, also maintaining her fourth-hour “Today” duties. That arrangement was made permanent — at least at that time — at the start of 2018.
A single parent of two adopted daughters, Kotb announced last September that she would be leaving “Today,” explaining that upon marking her 60th birthday, she felt it was time to “try something new.” That might be with NBC News, which has said she will continue with the division in an as yet “unspecified” job. Whatever the future may hold, she has made history by teaming with Guthrie as the first regularly scheduled two-woman anchor team in
10) Ray Felix (drafted in 1953, All-Star in 1954)
9) Michael Olowokandi
8) Greg Oden
7) Larry Johnson (1991)
6) Andrew Wiggins (2014)
5) Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz
4) Kwame Brown (2001)
3) Andrea Bargnani
2) David Robinson (1987)
1) Zaccharie Risacher
network-broadcast morning TV, something that genuinely brought a new day to “Today.”
Birthdate: Aug. 9, 1964
Birthplace: Norman, Okla.
Current residence: New York
Marital status: Divorced; she has two adopted daughters
Other television credits include: “Dateline NBC,” “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Girls5eva,” “Valerie’s Home Cooking,” “Sharknado 5: Global Swarming,” “Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!” “Nashville,” “Younger,” “Lip Sync Battle,” “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “30 Rock,” “Lipstick Jungle,” “Your Total Health”
Movie credits include: “Marry Me”
Her previous employment includes: WWL-TV, New Orleans, La.; WINK-TV, Fort Myers, Fla.; WQAD-TV, Moline, Ill.; WXVT-TV, Greenville, Miss.; CBS News
Books she has written include: “You Are My Happy,” “I’ve Loved You Since Forever,” “Where We Belong; Ten Years Later,” “Six People Who Faced Adversity and Transformed Their Lives,” “Hoda: How I Survived War Zones, Bad Hair, Cancer and Kathie Lee,” “I Really Needed This Today” Her honors include: A Daytime Emmy (shared with Gifford), a Peabody Award, an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award, an Edward R. Murrow Award, three Gracie Awards, a Matrix Award