Issues

Few people can light up a room by merely entering it.

One of those people is Earvin “Magic” Johnson, former All-Everything basketball legend and highly successful American businessman.

Whenever we hear the name – Kathy Bates – most of us immediately identify her with the 1990 hit film, “Misery,” Stephen King’s thriller about a psychotic woman who tortures a novelist played by actor James Caan for killing off her favorite character.

The role catapulted the now 76-year-old actress into movie star status with an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, more Oscar nominations, and a host of iconic film appearances, mostly as a supporting actor.

“I can tell you the day The Beach Boys will no longer exist – never!” — Dennis Wilson

When Dennis Wilson answered a question about The Beach Boys’ never-ending existence, he also said: “We’ll be on stage in wheelchairs.”

She is, without question, one of the most acclaimed movie stars of our time. I am talking about Shirley MacLaine who just turned 90.

While her career is filled with movies, TV, and stage acting roles that can be labeled “clas- sics,” (we’ll get into those in a minute) her road to stardom is interesting from a personal perspective.

There has been a plethora of musicians who have molded the Rock ’n Roll and Folk Rock generation — iconic singers like Elvis Presley, Bob Dylon, Elton John, Joni Mitchell, and Bruce Springsteen – but so many others in that group also have played a role in what has been become known as the “Golden Age of Rock.”

It’s not every day that behind the-scenes TV writers, producers, and directors find themselves as front-of-the-camera stars.

But that is exactly what happened to Bob Odenkirk, 62, one of America’s major entertainers who is best known for his acting and producing roles in “Better Call Saul” and HBO’s sketch comedy series “Mr. Show with Bob and David.”

If you happened to watch the Grammy Awards last month, you witnessed music history as legendary singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell not only performed for the first time at the presentation but also won her 10th Grammy after getting nominated 18 times.

The win was in the best folk album category for “Joni Mitchell at Newport (Live).”

When comedians get up on stage in front of live audiences, on camera, or behind a microphone on the radio, their main job is to make us laugh. But what makes them funny? Where does the endless stream of jokes come from?

For some answers, we put our spotlight this month on one of the most iconic, unique, and influential humorists of our time, the one and only Mel Brooks who, at 97, is still keeping his loyal fans in stitches.

When talking about Cate Blanchett, “fail” is the last word that could be used to describe one of the most accomplished actresses of our generation. However, it did come up in an interview she gave to the film press several years ago when asked about her early career struggles. Those struggles were short-lived.

At age 55, her journey to stardom spans three decades, beginning in her native Australia where, during her teenage years, she discovered her passion for the performing arts while attending the University of Melbourne.