Alice Munro, Miley Cyrus and Breaking Bad: A&E year in review

In 2013, stories about outrageous celebrity antics, shocking deaths, game-changers and creative excellence piqued our collective interest in arts and entertainment news. Here's a look at the top A&E stories of the past year.

Notorious

Famous figures behaving badly typically grab headlines, but this year there were several standouts. If "twerking" wasn't in your vocabulary before, former child star-turned-raunchy singer Miley Cyrus made sure you knew about it, most infamously with her tongue-wagging, bump-and-grind performance with Robin Thicke at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Another young star, Canadian Justin Bieber, couldn't shake the bad press from countless missteps — be it scuffles with paparazzi, several vehicular incidents and shirtless escapades to pet abandonment, graffiti tagging and alleged brothel visits — no matter how many good deeds he did, new songs he released or funny videos he filmed. Honorable mentions: Amanda Bynes, another child star who crashed and burned in 2013, and Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, now beloved fodder of late-night and talk show hosts.

In memorium

The passing of a beloved performer, artist or creator always casts a shadow over the entertainment world. Several shocking deaths – Paul Walker, Cory Monteith, James Gandofini – remained in our thoughts for a long while afterwards.

Even when a loss might have been somewhat anticipated for an veteran entertainer or arts figure, the death itself still left many stricken. Those who died in 2013 include: music icons Stompin' Tom Connors, Lou Reed, Rita MacNeil, George Jones and Mario Bernardi; bestselling writers Tom Clancy and Elmore Leonard; celebrated painter Alex Colville; performers Jean Stapleton, Jeanne Cooper, Annette Funicello and Peter O'Toole; and movie world legends Ray Harryhausen and Roger Ebert.

Game-changers and influencers

Sticking out, taking a stand and just being different: it's tough to do in our generally conformist mainstream entertainment culture, but 2013 saw several instances of influential or game-changing decisions. Digital content company Netflix gambled on the binge-watching phenomenon and won fans (see: House of Cards, Orange is the New Black and Arrested Development), kudos and deals for new projects.

Actress and tabloid favourite Angelina Jolie chose to come clean about highly personal health struggles (revealing her family history, cancer risk and preventative double mastectomy) and got people everywhere — in mainstream newsrooms and hospitals, at coffee shops and dinner tables — talking about women's health and genetic testing.

Eschewing the traditional music world model of building hype, endless promotions and carving up a new release through individual singles, singer Beyoncé Knowles dropped a fully realized album (complete with videos) as a holiday season bombshell, publicizing the stealthily produced, digital-first project through a single word shared on social media: "Surprise!"

Universal acclaim

In the highly subjective world of arts and entertainment, it's usually tough to get consensus on a person or project's greatness. There were a few instances, however, of widespread agreement, celebration and tributes: Alice Munro's Nobel literature win, the epic final season of Vince Gilligan's TV hit Breaking Bad, Steve McQueen's harrowing yet crucial must-see drama 12 Years a Slave and up-and-coming actress Tatiana Maslany's celebrated performances as multiple cloned characters on Orphan Black. Honorable mention: Canadian rapper Drake, whose 2013 included a Grammy win, hit singles, a No. 1 album, a raft of high-profile collaborations and a new sideline as Toronto Raptors booster.

Top-read CBCNews.ca/arts stories of 2013

1. Paul Walker dead: Fast and Furious star killed in car crash
2. Sopranos star James Gandolfini dies in Italy
3. Miley Cyrus grinds and bumps into celebrity adulthood
4. Glee star Cory Monteith found dead in Vancouver hotel
5. Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman dies of liver failure
6. Angelina Jolie has double mastectomy due to breast cancer risk
7. The Young and the Restless star Jeanne Cooper dies
8. Shirtless Justin Bieber startles Polish airport officials
9. Miley Cyrus raunch, 'N Sync reunion shine at MTV Awards
10. Stompin' Tom Connors dies at 77

22.19 | 0 komentar | Read More

J.K. Rowling creating Harry Potter prequel play

Prequel play will focus on early years as an orphan and outcast

The Associated Press Posted: Dec 20, 2013 9:50 AM ET Last Updated: Dec 20, 2013 9:52 AM ET

Harry Potter has travelled from page to screen — and now to stage.

J.K. Rowling said Friday she is working on a play about the boy wizard's life before he attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Rowling's seven-book saga begins when Harry, an unloved orphan grudgingly raised by his aunt and uncle, receives a letter informing him he is a wizard.

Rowling said in a statement that the play will "explore the previously untold story of Harry's early years as an orphan and outcast. "

Rowling will be a co-producer on the show, along with veteran British theatre producers Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender. The statement said Rowling will collaborate with a writer but will not write the script herself.

"Over the years I have received countless approaches about turning Harry Potter into a theatrical production, but Sonia and Colin's vision was the only one that really made sense to me, and which had the sensitivity, intensity and intimacy I thought appropriate for bringing Harry's story to the stage.," Rowling said.

Writer and director have yet to be chosen. No opening date has been set for the show, which will be developed in Britain next year.

Rowling's Harry Potter novels have sold more than 450 million copies around the world and were adapted into eight Warner Bros. feature films.

22.19 | 0 komentar | Read More

No Duck Dynasty without patriarch Phil, say family and fans

Without patriarch Phil Robertson, Duck Dynasty cannot go forward, his family said late Thursday after his "indefinite" suspension from the A&E reality TV hit for anti-gay comments expressed in a magazine interview.

The Robertson family released a statement on the Duck Commander website Thursday evening in which they expressed thanks for prayers and support. The statement said though some of Robertson's comments were coarse, "his beliefs are grounded" in the Bible and he "is a Godly man."

"We are disappointed that Phil has been placed on hiatus for expressing his faith," the statement said. "We have had a successful working relationship with A&E but as a family, we cannot imagine the show going forward without our patriarch at the helm. We are in discussions with A&E to see what that means for the future of Duck Dynasty."

Decision ruffled fans' feathers

When the A&E network suspended Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson for disparaging gay people, it may have followed a time-honoured TV tradition of quickly silencing a star who, for better or worse, speaks his mind. But in doing so it also ruffled the feathers of possibly millions of fans of its most popular show.

Fourteen hours after it was learned that Robertson had been placed on indefinite "hiatus" for telling GQ magazine, among other things, that gays are headed to hell, more than a half-million people liked an impromptu Facebook page demanding the show be boycotted until he returns.

Phil Robertson, dubbed the Duck Commander, is seen holding the 1 millionth duck call assembled for 2013 at his company's warehouse in West Monroe, La. (Margaret Croft/The News-Star/Associated Press)

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who had her picture taken with Robertson just last month, complained that his free-speech rights were being trampled. Bobby Jindal, governor of the state of Louisiana, where the show is filmed, complained that Miley Cyrus got a pass for twerking on TV while Phil got shown the door.

T-shirts, of course, went on the market with the words "I Don't Give a Duck About A or E, Bring Back Phil."

"It's a show that is promoting clean living and good moral values, and that's something we need more of today," one of the program's many fans, Rick Peter of Vernon, B.C., told The Associated Press.

It's also a show that 67-year-old Robertson, who sports a beard that seemingly should qualify him for immediate membership in the rock group ZZ Top, is at the centre of.

When or if he'll return — or if he'll ever really go away, however — is an open question.

Duck Dynasty is on hiatus until Jan. 15, and a network spokesman said Thursday that nine of next season's 10 episodes have already been filmed. That means Robertson likely isn't needed in front of the camera before next March, by which time this whole crisis may have blown over.

And blow over it will, eventually, says veteran Hollywood crisis publicist Howard Bragman, who added that Robertson will likely return to the show as well, perhaps after making a heartfelt apology.

"There's too much money at stake," said Bragman, vice-president of reputation.com. "Although he plays kind of a hick on TV, I don't think he's dumb. I think he gets what's at stake here. And I hope people on his team, the network and his producers get the message that what he did was wrong."

Record-setting cable hit

Robertson and his extended family became wealthy manufacturing duck calls and were turned into TV and pop culture stars by Duck Dynasty, which has set cable ratings records for a non-fiction series.

Duck Dynasty is often the highest-rated cable show on television, and an episode last August that drew nearly 12 million viewers was the highest-rated of any show, cable or broadcast, that week.

Recently asked his definition of sinful behaviour by GQ, Robertson replied, "Start with homosexual behaviour and just go from there."

Then he continued, "Don't be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers — they won't inherit the kingdom of God. Don't deceive yourself. It's not right."

Although his suspension won quick praise from gay rights groups, it offended people like Peter, who says conservative views like his are often overlooked by Hollywood and the news media.

"I think we're getting a little bit tired of that pro-gay sentiment that's out there in the media and it's time to fight back," he said.

Randy Schmidt of Illinois agreed, saying that while gay people can be happy that some states have granted them the right to marry, "I find it unnecessary to flaunt it all over the media."

No choice but to suspend: veteran publicist

Ultimately, it doesn't matter what conservative fans may think, said another veteran crisis publicist, Michael Levine. A&E had no choice but to suspend Robertson, he said. If the network didn't, it would have had to deal with complaints from gay rights groups that would have made advertisers skittish and damaged the Duck Dynasty brand.

"The advertisers, the brand, people would stop buying Duck Dynasty merchandise," he said. "At a certain point the brand just becomes radioactive."

This isn't the first time, of course, that someone has been taken off a popular show for remarks or behaviour away from the cameras.

Isiah Washington was fired from Grey's Anatomy in 2007 for referring to one of his show's gay actors with a pejorative.

More recently, Charlie Sheen's erratic behaviour got him tossed from Two And a Half Men, even though the show was a hit and he was the star.

But the interesting thing about this controversy, said Bragman, who himself is gay, is that it seems to be occurring during a time when American culture is undergoing a profound shift in its feelings toward gay rights.

"The tide has turned in that there's an inevitability to gay marriage and gay rights in this country," he said, noting that New Mexico's highest court coincidentally upheld same-sex marriage rights on Thursday, the day after A&E's announcement.

"This is taking place during an interesting cultural touchstone moment," he added.

22.19 | 0 komentar | Read More

Jingle Bell Rocks digs into underground Christmas music

Video

CBC News Posted: Dec 20, 2013 4:27 PM ET Last Updated: Dec 20, 2013 4:27 PM ET

Beyond holiday carolling classics like Deck the Halls or Santa Claus is Coming to Town lies a fascinating world of underground Christmas music.  

In the new documentary Jingle Bell Rocks, filmmaker Mitchell Kezin explores the world of alternative Christmas music, the artists behind these seasonal tracks and the devoted fans willing to search far and wide for weird, wild and choice recordings.

Both obscure artists as well as internationally known acts such as The Flaming Lips and Run DMC have put out cool, "underground" Christmas songs over the years. Kezin, who has collected these rare tracks for 30 years, anticipates sharing his latest finds with friends and family each holiday season.

"It becomes something that everyone looks forward to and it's become a ritual and tradition that I share with a lot of collectors... in my little sphere," he told CBC's Zulekha Nathoo.

Watch the attached video for more on Jingle Bell Rocks.

Stay Connected with CBC News

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22.19 | 0 komentar | Read More

Alice Munro, Miley Cyrus and Breaking Bad: A&E year in review

In 2013, stories about outrageous celebrity antics, shocking deaths, game-changers and creative excellence piqued our collective interest in arts and entertainment news. Here's a look at the top A&E stories of the past year.

Notorious

Famous figures behaving badly typically grab headlines, but this year there were several standouts. If "twerking" wasn't in your vocabulary before, former child star-turned-raunchy singer Miley Cyrus made sure you knew about it, most infamously with her tongue-wagging, bump-and-grind performance with Robin Thicke at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Another young star, Canadian Justin Bieber, couldn't shake the bad press from countless missteps — be it scuffles with paparazzi, several vehicular incidents and shirtless escapades to pet abandonment, graffiti tagging and alleged brothel visits — no matter how many good deeds he did, new songs he released or funny videos he filmed. Honorable mentions: Amanda Bynes, another child star who crashed and burned in 2013, and Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, now beloved fodder of late-night and talk show hosts.

In memorium

The passing of a beloved performer, artist or creator always casts a shadow over the entertainment world. Several shocking deaths – Paul Walker, Cory Monteith, James Gandofini – remained in our thoughts for a long while afterwards.

Even when a loss might have been somewhat anticipated for an veteran entertainer or arts figure, the death itself still left many stricken. Those who died in 2013 include: music icons Stompin' Tom Connors, Lou Reed, Rita MacNeil, George Jones and Mario Bernardi; bestselling writers Tom Clancy and Elmore Leonard; celebrated painter Alex Colville; performers Jean Stapleton, Jeanne Cooper, Annette Funicello and Peter O'Toole; and movie world legends Ray Harryhausen and Roger Ebert.

Game-changers and influencers

Sticking out, taking a stand and just being different: it's tough to do in our generally conformist mainstream entertainment culture, but 2013 saw several instances of influential or game-changing decisions. Digital content company Netflix gambled on the binge-watching phenomenon and won fans (see: House of Cards, Orange is the New Black and Arrested Development), kudos and deals for new projects.

Actress and tabloid favourite Angelina Jolie chose to come clean about highly personal health struggles (revealing her family history, cancer risk and preventative double mastectomy) and got people everywhere — in mainstream newsrooms and hospitals, at coffee shops and dinner tables — talking about women's health and genetic testing.

Eschewing the traditional music world model of building hype, endless promotions and carving up a new release through individual singles, singer Beyoncé Knowles dropped a fully realized album (complete with videos) as a holiday season bombshell, publicizing the stealthily produced, digital-first project through a single word shared on social media: "Surprise!"

Universal acclaim

In the highly subjective world of arts and entertainment, it's usually tough to get consensus on a person or project's greatness. There were a few instances, however, of widespread agreement, celebration and tributes: Alice Munro's Nobel literature win, the epic final season of Vince Gilligan's TV hit Breaking Bad, Steve McQueen's harrowing yet crucial must-see drama 12 Years a Slave and up-and-coming actress Tatiana Maslany's celebrated performances as multiple cloned characters on Orphan Black. Honorable mention: Canadian rapper Drake, whose 2013 included a Grammy win, hit singles, a No. 1 album, a raft of high-profile collaborations and a new sideline as Toronto Raptors booster.

Top-read CBCNews.ca/arts stories of 2013

1. Paul Walker dead: Fast and Furious star killed in car crash
2. Sopranos star James Gandolfini dies in Italy
3. Miley Cyrus grinds and bumps into celebrity adulthood
4. Glee star Cory Monteith found dead in Vancouver hotel
5. Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman dies of liver failure
6. Angelina Jolie has double mastectomy due to breast cancer risk
7. The Young and the Restless star Jeanne Cooper dies
8. Shirtless Justin Bieber startles Polish airport officials
9. Miley Cyrus raunch, 'N Sync reunion shine at MTV Awards
10. Stompin' Tom Connors dies at 77

22.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

J.K. Rowling creating Harry Potter prequel play

Prequel play will focus on early years as an orphan and outcast

The Associated Press Posted: Dec 20, 2013 9:50 AM ET Last Updated: Dec 20, 2013 9:52 AM ET

Harry Potter has travelled from page to screen — and now to stage.

J.K. Rowling said Friday she is working on a play about the boy wizard's life before he attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Rowling's seven-book saga begins when Harry, an unloved orphan grudgingly raised by his aunt and uncle, receives a letter informing him he is a wizard.

Rowling said in a statement that the play will "explore the previously untold story of Harry's early years as an orphan and outcast. "

Rowling will be a co-producer on the show, along with veteran British theatre producers Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender. The statement said Rowling will collaborate with a writer but will not write the script herself.

"Over the years I have received countless approaches about turning Harry Potter into a theatrical production, but Sonia and Colin's vision was the only one that really made sense to me, and which had the sensitivity, intensity and intimacy I thought appropriate for bringing Harry's story to the stage.," Rowling said.

Writer and director have yet to be chosen. No opening date has been set for the show, which will be developed in Britain next year.

Rowling's Harry Potter novels have sold more than 450 million copies around the world and were adapted into eight Warner Bros. feature films.

22.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

No Duck Dynasty without patriarch Phil, say family and fans

Without patriarch Phil Robertson, Duck Dynasty cannot go forward, his family said late Thursday after his "indefinite" suspension from the A&E reality TV hit for anti-gay comments expressed in a magazine interview.

The Robertson family released a statement on the Duck Commander website Thursday evening in which they expressed thanks for prayers and support. The statement said though some of Robertson's comments were coarse, "his beliefs are grounded" in the Bible and he "is a Godly man."

"We are disappointed that Phil has been placed on hiatus for expressing his faith," the statement said. "We have had a successful working relationship with A&E but as a family, we cannot imagine the show going forward without our patriarch at the helm. We are in discussions with A&E to see what that means for the future of Duck Dynasty."

Decision ruffled fans' feathers

When the A&E network suspended Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson for disparaging gay people, it may have followed a time-honoured TV tradition of quickly silencing a star who, for better or worse, speaks his mind. But in doing so it also ruffled the feathers of possibly millions of fans of its most popular show.

Fourteen hours after it was learned that Robertson had been placed on indefinite "hiatus" for telling GQ magazine, among other things, that gays are headed to hell, more than a half-million people liked an impromptu Facebook page demanding the show be boycotted until he returns.

Phil Robertson, dubbed the Duck Commander, is seen holding the 1 millionth duck call assembled for 2013 at his company's warehouse in West Monroe, La. (Margaret Croft/The News-Star/Associated Press)

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who had her picture taken with Robertson just last month, complained that his free-speech rights were being trampled. Bobby Jindal, governor of the state of Louisiana, where the show is filmed, complained that Miley Cyrus got a pass for twerking on TV while Phil got shown the door.

T-shirts, of course, went on the market with the words "I Don't Give a Duck About A or E, Bring Back Phil."

"It's a show that is promoting clean living and good moral values, and that's something we need more of today," one of the program's many fans, Rick Peter of Vernon, B.C., told The Associated Press.

It's also a show that 67-year-old Robertson, who sports a beard that seemingly should qualify him for immediate membership in the rock group ZZ Top, is at the centre of.

When or if he'll return — or if he'll ever really go away, however — is an open question.

Duck Dynasty is on hiatus until Jan. 15, and a network spokesman said Thursday that nine of next season's 10 episodes have already been filmed. That means Robertson likely isn't needed in front of the camera before next March, by which time this whole crisis may have blown over.

And blow over it will, eventually, says veteran Hollywood crisis publicist Howard Bragman, who added that Robertson will likely return to the show as well, perhaps after making a heartfelt apology.

"There's too much money at stake," said Bragman, vice-president of reputation.com. "Although he plays kind of a hick on TV, I don't think he's dumb. I think he gets what's at stake here. And I hope people on his team, the network and his producers get the message that what he did was wrong."

Record-setting cable hit

Robertson and his extended family became wealthy manufacturing duck calls and were turned into TV and pop culture stars by Duck Dynasty, which has set cable ratings records for a non-fiction series.

Duck Dynasty is often the highest-rated cable show on television, and an episode last August that drew nearly 12 million viewers was the highest-rated of any show, cable or broadcast, that week.

Recently asked his definition of sinful behaviour by GQ, Robertson replied, "Start with homosexual behaviour and just go from there."

Then he continued, "Don't be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers — they won't inherit the kingdom of God. Don't deceive yourself. It's not right."

Although his suspension won quick praise from gay rights groups, it offended people like Peter, who says conservative views like his are often overlooked by Hollywood and the news media.

"I think we're getting a little bit tired of that pro-gay sentiment that's out there in the media and it's time to fight back," he said.

Randy Schmidt of Illinois agreed, saying that while gay people can be happy that some states have granted them the right to marry, "I find it unnecessary to flaunt it all over the media."

No choice but to suspend: veteran publicist

Ultimately, it doesn't matter what conservative fans may think, said another veteran crisis publicist, Michael Levine. A&E had no choice but to suspend Robertson, he said. If the network didn't, it would have had to deal with complaints from gay rights groups that would have made advertisers skittish and damaged the Duck Dynasty brand.

"The advertisers, the brand, people would stop buying Duck Dynasty merchandise," he said. "At a certain point the brand just becomes radioactive."

This isn't the first time, of course, that someone has been taken off a popular show for remarks or behaviour away from the cameras.

Isiah Washington was fired from Grey's Anatomy in 2007 for referring to one of his show's gay actors with a pejorative.

More recently, Charlie Sheen's erratic behaviour got him tossed from Two And a Half Men, even though the show was a hit and he was the star.

But the interesting thing about this controversy, said Bragman, who himself is gay, is that it seems to be occurring during a time when American culture is undergoing a profound shift in its feelings toward gay rights.

"The tide has turned in that there's an inevitability to gay marriage and gay rights in this country," he said, noting that New Mexico's highest court coincidentally upheld same-sex marriage rights on Thursday, the day after A&E's announcement.

"This is taking place during an interesting cultural touchstone moment," he added.

22.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

Jingle Bell Rocks digs into underground Christmas music

Video

CBC News Posted: Dec 20, 2013 4:27 PM ET Last Updated: Dec 20, 2013 4:27 PM ET

Beyond holiday carolling classics like Deck the Halls or Santa Claus is Coming to Town lies a fascinating world of underground Christmas music.  

In the new documentary Jingle Bell Rocks, filmmaker Mitchell Kezin explores the world of alternative Christmas music, the artists behind these seasonal tracks and the devoted fans willing to search far and wide for weird, wild and choice recordings.

Both obscure artists as well as internationally known acts such as The Flaming Lips and Run DMC have put out cool, "underground" Christmas songs over the years. Kezin, who has collected these rare tracks for 30 years, anticipates sharing his latest finds with friends and family each holiday season.

"It becomes something that everyone looks forward to and it's become a ritual and tradition that I share with a lot of collectors... in my little sphere," he told CBC's Zulekha Nathoo.

Watch the attached video for more on Jingle Bell Rocks.

22.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

FILM REVIEW: American Hustle

Dec 20, 2013 | 7:08Film Top 10 films of 2013 Video

Film Top 10 films of 2013 Dec 20, 2013 | 7:08Eli Glasner counts down his list of the year's must-watch films

Dec 20, 2013 | 2:24Arts FILM REVIEW: American Hustle Video

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Dec 19, 2013 | 2:03Arts Picasso won in charity raffle Video

Arts Picasso won in charity raffle Dec 19, 2013 | 2:03A U.S. man who paid 100 euros for a charity raffle ticket has won a Pablo Picasso painting worth $1M

Dec 19, 2013 | 2:37Entertainment Duck Dynasty star suspended Video

Entertainment Duck Dynasty star suspended Dec 19, 2013 | 2:37Patriarch Phil Robertson on indefinite 'hiatus' from hit TV show over anti-gay remarks

Dec 18, 2013 | 2:17Arts Beatles bootlegs get temporary release Video

Arts Beatles bootlegs get temporary release Dec 18, 2013 | 2:17Beatles rarities briefly released worldwide to protect copyright

Dec 18, 2013 | 4:51Music John Oates on Hall of Fame induction Video

Music John Oates on Hall of Fame induction Dec 18, 2013 | 4:51Rock and soul duo Hall & Oates to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Dec 17, 2013 | 3:44Health Why we trust celebs' medical advice Video

Health Why we trust celebs' medical advice Dec 17, 2013 | 3:44Researchers at McMaster University says we're hard-wired to listen to celebrities for medical advice more than actual experts in the field

Dec 18, 2013 | 5:17Arts Will Ferrell on Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues Video

Arts Will Ferrell on Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues Dec 18, 2013 | 5:17Comedy favourite on who inspired Ron Burgundy, why a sequel and getting into the mindset of his kooky characters

Dec 17, 2013 | 3:24The National Rare Beatles tracks temporarily on sale Video

The National Rare Beatles tracks temporarily on sale Dec 17, 2013 | 3:24Dozens of tracks were temporarily released for sale on Tuesday in a bid to protect the rare tracks from falling into the public domain next year

Dec 17, 2013 | 3:53Music Kiss inducted into Hall of Fame Video

Music Kiss inducted into Hall of Fame Dec 17, 2013 | 3:53Lead singer Paul Stanley on Kiss's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Dec 17, 2013 | 3:53Arts RAW: What's behind the brief Beatles release Video

Arts RAW: What's behind the brief Beatles release Dec 17, 2013 | 3:53Media lawyer David B. Zitzerman explains the reasoning behind today's brief, strategic release of rare Beatles tracks

Dec 17, 2013 | 2:56Music Target won't sell Beyoncé's album Video

Music Target won't sell Beyoncé's album Dec 17, 2013 | 2:56Retailer argues digital-first release could affect physical album sales

Dec 16, 2013 | 1:56Arts Stealth Beyoncé release a marketing hit Video

Arts Stealth Beyoncé release a marketing hit Dec 16, 2013 | 1:56Pop singer's bombshell release of complete new album a sales success

Dec 16, 2013 | 2:30Music Beyoncé's surprise soars Video

Music Beyoncé's surprise soars Dec 16, 2013 | 2:30Stealth album release from pop singer is a bombshell

Dec 15, 2013 | 3:12Arts Peter O'Toole dies at 81 Video

Arts Peter O'Toole dies at 81 Dec 15, 2013 | 3:12'Lawrence of Arabia' actor received 8 oscar nominations

22.19 | 0 komentar | Read More

Alice Munro, Miley Cyrus and Breaking Bad: A&E year in review

In 2013, stories about outrageous celebrity antics, shocking deaths, game-changers and creative excellence piqued our collective interest in arts and entertainment news. Here's a look at the top A&E stories of the past year.

Notorious

Famous figures behaving badly typically grab headlines, but this year there were several standouts. If "twerking" wasn't in your vocabulary before, former child star-turned-raunchy singer Miley Cyrus made sure you knew about it, most infamously with her tongue-wagging, bump-and-grind performance with Robin Thicke at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Another young star, Canadian Justin Bieber, couldn't shake the bad press from countless missteps — be it scuffles with paparazzi, several vehicular incidents and shirtless escapades to pet abandonment, graffiti tagging and alleged brothel visits — no matter how many good deeds he did, new songs he released or funny videos he filmed. Honorable mentions: Amanda Bynes, another child star who crashed and burned in 2013, and Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, now beloved fodder of late-night and talk show hosts.

In memorium

The passing of a beloved performer, artist or creator always casts a shadow over the entertainment world. Several shocking deaths – Paul Walker, Cory Monteith, James Gandofini – remained in our thoughts for a long while afterwards. Even when a loss might have been somewhat anticipated for an veteran entertainer or arts figure, the death itself still left many stricken. Those who died in 2013 include: music icons Stompin' Tom Connors, Lou Reed, Rita MacNeil, George Jones and Mario Bernardi; bestselling writers Tom Clancy and Elmore Leonard; celebrated painter Alex Colville; performers Jean Stapleton, Jeanne Cooper, Annette Funicello and Peter O'Toole; and movie world legends Ray Harryhausen and Roger Ebert.

Game-changers and influencers

Sticking out, taking a stand and just being different: it's tough to do in our generally conformist mainstream entertainment culture, but 2013 saw several instances of influential or game-changing decisions. Digital content company Netflix gambled on the binge-watching phenomenon and won fans (see: House of Cards, Orange is the New Black and Arrested Development), kudos and deals for new projects.

Actress and tabloid favourite Angelina Jolie chose to come clean about highly personal health struggles (revealing her family history, cancer risk and preventative double mastectomy) and got people everywhere — in mainstream newsrooms and hospitals, at coffee shops and dinner tables — talking about women's health and genetic testing.

Eschewing the traditional music world model of building hype, endless promotions and carving up a new release through individual singles, singer Beyoncé Knowles dropped a fully realized album (complete with videos) as a holiday season bombshell, publicizing the stealthily produced, digital-first project through a single word shared on social media: "Surprise!"

Universal acclaim

In the highly subjective world of arts and entertainment, it's usually tough to get consensus on a person or project's greatness. There were a few instances, however, of widespread agreement, celebration and tributes: Alice Munro's Nobel literature win, the epic final season of Vince Gilligan's TV hit Breaking Bad, Steve McQueen's harrowing yet crucial must-see drama 12 Years a Slave and up-and-coming actress Tatiana Maslany's celebrated performances as multiple cloned characters on Orphan Black. Honorable mention: Canadian rapper Drake, whose 2013 included a Grammy win, hit singles, a No. 1 album, a raft of high-profile collaborations and a new sideline as Toronto Raptors booster.

Top-read CBCNews.ca/arts stories of 2013

1. Paul Walker dead: Fast and Furious star killed in car crash
2. Sopranos star James Gandolfini dies in Italy
3. Miley Cyrus grinds and bumps into celebrity adulthood
4. Glee star Cory Monteith found dead in Vancouver hotel
5. Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman dies of liver failure
6. Angelina Jolie has double mastectomy due to breast cancer risk
7. The Young and the Restless star Jeanne Cooper dies
8. Shirtless Justin Bieber startles Polish airport officials
9. Miley Cyrus raunch, 'N Sync reunion shine at MTV Awards
10. Stompin' Tom Connors dies at 77

22.19 | 0 komentar | Read More