For Chris Elliott comedy is really all in the family
Comedian/writer Chris Elliott’s cable special, “FDR: A One Man Show,” will premiere at 10:30 p.m. Saturday on Cinemax’s “Cinemax Comedy Experiment.”
Year: 1987
Alice Cooper tells virtues of shock rock
By Jae-Ha Kim Chicago Sun-Times December 18, 1987 Vincent Furnier — son of a Detroit preacher, husband for 11 years and father of two children – would never subject himself to the atrocities his rock […]
Funny and pretty mix for Jenny Jones
“Looking good is considered an asset in every aspect of show business except comedy,” Jenny Jones said, laughing. “But this is me, and I’m not about to gain weight and stop taking care of myself for the sake of my career.”
`Billionaire Boys Club’ hooks John Stockwell for mini-series
Actor John Stockwell said working on the mini-series “North and South” was one of the most frustrating experiences in his career. So when he was offered a starring role in the mini-series “Billionaire Boys Club,” he said he was hesitant about committing to another major television project. But after he read the script, he was hooked.
At age 30, Kay Lenz finally acts her age
Infatuation with Rod Stewart helped save Kay Lenz’s acting career two years ago. No, the two never were an item. But after Lenz appeared with the rock star in his No. 1 video for “Infatuation,” her acting career took off. Currently she co-stars as Karen Sheldon, Charles Bronson’s love interest in “Death Wish 4 – The Crackdown.” The action-thriller opens today in local theaters.
Tour unleashes a second Sexton
“I think I was very lucky because I knew what I wanted to do at a very young age,” Will Sexton said. “My mother was very encouraging about everything we chose to do. So when Charlie and I were 10 and 8, we’d be dragging our guitars to clubs with our mom. Some people thought that was kind of funny but we were dead serious about our music. Hard work pays off. So when people say, `You’re awfully young to have a record deal,’ I think, ‘Yeah, but I’ve been playing more than half my life.'”
Japan’s Kitaro will bring joyous music to Chicago
Kitaro, Japan’s best-known new-age musician, said his current American tour contrasts sharply with his first trip to the United States in 1969.
British actor wins fans on NBC soap
Charles Shaughnessy, rated as daytime’s favorite actor, appears on “Days of Our Lives” at noon weekdays on WMAQ-Channel 5.
Marlee Matlin
Blessed with a simple, heartbreaking beauty, Marlee Matlin carries her star status with self-effacing humor. A native of Chicago’s northwest suburbs, Matlin presently lives in New York. Having lost her hearing at the age of 18 months, she was recently back in town to attend the creative arts festival at the Center on Deafness in Des Plaines where she had been a student.
Tiffany (only 15 years old) grows into pop star role
At face value, pop singer Tiffany isn’t unlike her competition. Se’s pretty, talented, has business savvy and bills herself by her first name. But unlike the majority of female vocalists, she’s only 15.
Andy Taylor finds there is life after Duran Duran
Hundreds of thousands of girls worldwide know of Andy Taylor. Until recently, the diminutive British musician was best known as one of the pretty popsters in Duran Duran.
The new Duran Duran still attracts notoriety
“There haven’t been as many screamers at our shows as in the past,” said bassist John Taylor, one of the heartthrobs in the British pop band Duran Duran. “It’s really been kind of nice because not only do we have newer, older fans, but we still have a lot of our fans from seven years ago. It’s like we’ve grown up together.”
A stroke of genius: He’s young and hungry but the ideas come fast
Frank Lindner was too young to buy a copy of Playboy at most stores when he went to work as the magazine’s art historian. Before leaving his teens, he had worked his way into a job that sounds like every man’s fantasy come to life. Today, the 22-year-old bachelor is works as a free-lance art director and illustrator for the Limelight nightclub. His latest work – a series of sensual murals dubbed “Erotic Haze” – is on exhibit through October at the Limelight, 632 N. Dearborn.
Poplar Creek will open with `nice’ Howard Jones
If you want to get on the bad side of British pop star Howard Jones, call him an entertainer. “God, I hate that word,” Jones said. “It reminds me of one of those lounge lizards singing in Vegas.”
Bon Jovi plays fairy godmother to Cinderella
The story of Cinderella reads like a rock ‘n’ roll fairy tale. The band’s debut album, “Night Songs,” has sold more than a million copies, and the four hard rockers are on their second major tour in two years. The Philadelphia-based quartet will be the opening act for the immensely popular Bon Jovi in concerts starting at 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Rosemont Horizon.
Rockin’ Scots Hipsway will sway here
“Somebody was saying that I was too tall to be a rock singer,” Grahame “Skin” Skinner said. “Actually, I didn’t sing in most of the groups I was in before because I didn’t think I had a good voice. I played a little guitar — very little. The theory goes that a baritone doesn’t reach his potential until he’s 35, so I’ve still got several years to ago. Then I can make my comeback.”
Oingo Boingo — the group and music – defies pigeonhole
According to John Avila of the rock group Oingo Boingo, “Boi-ngo”– the title of their latest album – is Japanese slang for “big breasts.” “Don’t quote me on that, though,” Avila said, laughing. “I’m just the bassist, not the linguist. That’s not why we chose that name, though. It was just an interesting title that’s a play on the group’s name. It sounded like fun, and all of us agreed it was a catchy title, so we used it.”
The verdict is in: Judge Reinhold’s a star
If it weren’t for the makeup caked on his face, Judge Reinhold probably wouldn’t stand out from the crew members on the set of his latest movie, “Vice Versa.” Filmed in Chicago, “Vice Versa” marks Reinhold’s first starring role.
Ninja actor gets a kick from karate film work
Cannon Films is touting actor Michael Dudikoff as the next big action hero. Luckily for him, there’s not a lot he can’t do physically.A longtime fitness enthusiast, he’s adept at most sports – except karate. That may surprise fans who saw him play a martial arts expert in “American Ninja.”
Dudikoff’s latest film, “American Ninja 2: The Confrontation,” is now playing at local theaters. The sequel to the successful 1985 thriller marks Dudikoff’s return as stoic superhero Joe Armstrong.
Rank and File retools to rock
Back in 1982 when Chip and Tony Kinman were having critical success with their band Rank and File, the group was one of the forerunners in the return to rock’s country roots. They advertised themselves as being good ol’ boys from Austin, Texas, and Chip even spoke with a slight drawl.