Comedy, Review, Stages, Video

Review: Midwestern Sensibilities Drive Jim Gaffigan’s The Fun Tour

Full disclosure: I listen to standup to help me sleep. During these dystopian times, when I’m frequently unable to catch some ZZZs, I’ll play a comedy special on the bedroom […]

Karin McKie /
Stages, Theater, Video

Story Time: Frederick, the Story of a Field Mouse, Narrated by Michael Shannon for CCTv

Kids and their grownups alike will enjoy a charming video performance of Frederick, the story of an inventive field mouse, by Leo Lionni. It’s a virtual puppet show performed by […]

Nancy S Bishop /
Film & TV, Stages, Video

Review: Silk Road Rising’s Not Quite White Doc Newly Relevant During COVID-19 Crisis

Silk Road Rising, a Chicago theater company rooted in Asian, Middle Eastern and Muslim experiences, has re-released a 2012 film that is newly relevant during the coronavirus pandemic. Jamil Khoury, […]

Matthew Nerber /
Stages, Theater, Video

Review: Theater in the Time of COVID-19 with Teenage Dick

Britain’s National Theatre Live has been presenting recorded plays in movie theaters for the past few years so American audiences can watch theater from across the pond. Large opera companies have been broadcasting taped […]

Karin McKie /
Film, Film & TV, Interviews, Lit, Live lit events, Music, Reviews, Television, Video

Smells Like Heavy Metal Poisoning: An Interview with Cinéaste Mike McPadden

Mike “McBeardo” McPadden is truth in human packaging. A beard is indeed present, bristly, with streaks of grey—suggesting wisdom in matters strange and arcane. I’ve seen McPadden in action as […]

Dan Kelly /
Film, Film & TV, Music, Video

Review: In Springsteen On Broadway, the Boss Tells His Life Story in Words and Music

In early 1978, Bruce Springsteen embarked on the Darkness on the Edge of Town tour, in what would become a new benchmark for his brand of stadium epics. The Boss […]

Matthew Nerber /
Film & TV, Video

Review: Ghost Squad Comedy Pilot from Andy Kushnir, Carly Moseley Spoofs the Paranormal

ghost squad

Desperado Miller (Abby McEnany), the main character of Andy Kushnir and Carly Moseley’s spooky new comedy Ghost Squad, is an enthusiastic and self-appointed paranormal investigator. Her mother was (allegedly) murdered […]

Matthew Nerber /
Film & TV, Stages, Theater, Video

Watch 2666, Goodman Theatre’s Production of Roberto Bolaño Novel, Now Available for Free Streaming

Goodman Theatre’s 2016 production of Roberto Bolaño‘s masterpiece novel, 2666, has been filmed and is now streaming worldwide—you can view it free. The original 15-member all-Chicago cast plays 80 roles. […]

Nancy S Bishop /
Film & TV, Video

Five Interesting Chicago Cubs Celebration Videos

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By now you probably know that earlier this week, the Cubs won the World Series and were awarded their first championship in 108 years. Chicago immediately erupted and has been […]

Justin Freeman /
Film & TV, Video

Eight Great TV Commercials Featuring the Chicago Cubs

By now you’re probably aware that the Cubs are not only in the World Series, but they may actually win the damn thing. Tonight, the Chicago Cubs face the Cleveland […]

Justin Freeman /
Film & TV, Music, Video

Watch Chance the Rapper in Kit Kat’s Weird New Halloween Commercial

Seemingly out of nowhere, this week Kit Kat teased in a tweet that Chance the Rapper would be the star of their new Halloween television commercial. Yesterday, they made good […]

Justin Freeman /
Film & TV, Music, Reviews, Video

Towkio and Joey Purp Let Loose at a Basketball Game in New Video

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Towkio released his latest EP, Community Service 2, last month. One of the highlights of that album was his collaboration with comrade-in-arms, Joey Purp, on the single “Playin Fair.” In it, Towkio […]

Justin Freeman /