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Shea Conner - Entertainment Reporter

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St. Joseph native sheds pounds on TV
by Shea Conner
Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009

When the season premiere of “The Biggest Loser” airs at 7 p.m. tonight on NBC, viewers in St. Joseph might see a familiar face. Former resident Sean Algaier will compete in the reality weight-loss contest in which 16 overweight contestants shed pounds and resist tasty temptations for a chance to win $250,000. Mr. Algaier lived in St. Joseph from 1983 to 1997, when he graduated from Central High School and moved to attend York College of Nebraska. Mr. Algaier, 30, now resides in Tulsa, Okla., where he works as a youth pastor.

Coming and going
by Shea Conner
Friday, Sept. 11, 2009

For Jonathan Tyler, creating blues rock was just a natural progression. Growing up in his church in Dallas, Tyler was constantly around gospel music with blues roots. On the other hand, his father was a huge Southern rock fan.
“I think I was probably in the womb listening to Lynyrd Skynyrd,” Tyler laughs.

Great skate destinations
by Shea Conner
Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009

In many ways, skating rinks are like uncles. You probably haven’t visited one in a while, and you’re never quite positive when they’re available.
But when you do meet up, you realize they’re just as much fun as they were 20 years ago. And they’re always up for birthday parties and other family get-togethers.
This is a guide to some of the best skate centers in St. Joseph and surrounding areas. So next time you feel like getting the family off the couch and doing something active, try one of these locations.

Prairies and perceptions
by Shea Conner
Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009

The Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art will reveal two new exhibitions from 4 to 7 p.m. today: One from a large group of Midwestern artists and another from a rural Kansas painter.
The Midwest Paint Group’s “Works From Perception” features pieces from 10 different artists mainly from Missouri, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana. Six of the members studied at the Kansas City Art Institute, including Bob Brock, William Foust and Jeremy Long.

Entertainments briefs for Sept. 11, 2009
by Shea Conner
Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009

Entertainments briefs for Sept. 11, 2009

LED to confusion
by Shea Conner
Monday, Sept. 7, 2009

If you’ve been into the St. Joseph Best Buy store lately, you’ve probably noticed the beautiful TV on display near the entrance. Or you’ve noticed the crowd of salivating viewers in front of it.
That’s the Samsung UN 46B 6000 LED TV.

The family business
by Shea Conner
Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009

Many of us probably couldn’t bear to work with our mothers, our spouses or our siblings. But for a few, work is all in the family. In honor of Labor Day, here are a couple, three brothers and a mother and her son who have hit their stride
working together.

You’ll love them (yeah, yeah, yeah)
by Shea Conner
Friday, Sept. 4, 2009

Any person who believes The Beatles weren’t the most influential band in the world is a fool. Just take a look at 1964: The Tribute, a band that has been called the “best Beatles tribute on Earth” by Rolling Stone magazine. The tribute plays a yearly concert at world-renowned Carnegie Hall in New York and has sold out Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado. The band had its own special on PBS and has played on the CBS “Early Show.” In fact, 1964: The Tribute is one of the top 200 highest box office-grossing bands in America.

'Snug’ it out
by Shea Conner
Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009

This year will mark the seventh annual KC Irish Fest. Since 2003, the festival has become one of the fastest-growing in the country, and it’s now the third largest Irish festival in the United States. In fact, more than 94,000 people attended the event last year at Crown Center Square in the heart of Kansas City.

Entertainment briefs for Sept. 4, 2009
by Shea Conner
Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009

Entertainment briefs for Sept. 4, 2009

Southside Fall Festival names grand marshal
by Shea Conner
Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009

The committee of volunteers and ambassadors planning the 2009 Southside Fall Festival have named Linda Jo Hazelwood as the grand marshal.

A new attitude
by Shea Conner
Friday, Aug. 28, 2009

Weezer is considered a musical icon by many. Bands such as Manchester Orchestra and Brand New consider the L.A. alt-rock group a major influence. With that being said, Weezer doesn’t open for other acts too often.
But when the group’s friend, Tom DeLonge (Angels and Airwaves), decided to re-unite with his Blink-182 buddies for a summer tour, the geek rock gods couldn’t resist the the supporting offer.

A lunch to remember
by Shea Conner
Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009

First Presbyterian Church of St. Joseph will kick off the 11th year of First Thursday Noon Concert Series on Thursday, Sept. 3. Director Jerry L. Anderson says the series is an outlet in which the Missouri Western music faculty and alumni can perform. It also provides those folks who don’t like to attend night concerts an opportunity to listen to live music.

Entertainment briefs for Aug. 28, 2009
by Shea Conner
Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009

Entertainment briefs for Aug. 28, 2009

Backyard bonanza
by Shea Conner
Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009

The summer humidity is fading away and fall’s cool winds are approaching, which means it’s the best time of year to play outdoor games. But there are far more than the typical croquet and lawn darts. Whether you’re hanging out with the guys or with the kids, there are backyard games for any occasion.

Trails West! off on a good note
by Shea Conner
Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009

The opening night of Trails West! had all the familiar scenes, from children and adults enjoying funnel cakes to fine arts vendors discussing their works with onlookers.
The hoards of roaming teenagers and college students, however, were mostly missing Friday evening. They planted their keesters at the City Stage, where three relatively young musical acts entertained audiences of nearly 200 and several passers-by who stopped in their tracks to take a listen.
“I think there’s quite a large music scene (in which) young people are becoming more involved, so it’s a big positive to get them to come out here,” said Hannah De Priest, 18, who watched all three shows with three of her friends.

Meet your headliners!
by Shea Conner
Friday, Aug. 21, 2009

Trails West! features a renowned guitarist, two rising acts and an ‘80s icon

Trails West! schedule of events
by Shea Conner
Friday, Aug. 21, 2009

Schedule of events for the Main, City and Family Stages at Trails West!

Review: 'Inglourious Basterds'
by Shea Conner
Friday, Aug. 21, 2009

Let’s crunch some numbers. The “Inglourious Basterds” marketing campaign is aimed at movie-goers who want to see Nazis get their big, fascist sauerkraut-loving asses kicked. That’s probably about 95 percent of the American movie audience (subtracting critics).

Entertainment briefs for Aug. 21, 2009
by Shea Conner
Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009

Entertainment briefs for Aug. 21, 2009

They feel so alive
by Shea Conner
Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009

Rusty Crewse promises the KISS Alive tribute band will adhere to fire codes when they play at Room 107 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22. Still, there’s quite a bit they can get away with.

Fair Fare
by Shea Conner
Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009

If you’ve encountered a group of 9-year-old boys at a buffet, then you’re familiar with the sight. The kids swarm the soda dispenser and wildly mix Coke, Dr. Pepper, Mello Yello, pink lemonade and Barq’s Root Beer to each make their own legendary “suicide” drink. Occasionally, the drinks are pleasantly tasty. But most of the time, well, let’s just say there’s a reason it’s called a “suicide.”

The mystery of Marshall Mathers
by Shea Conner
Friday, Aug. 14, 2009

St. Joseph is a city that takes pride in its famous and historic figures. It’s a city that boasts the birth of the Pony Express and the death of Jesse James. It’s a place Walter Cronkite and Jane Wyman once called home. Coleman Hawkins has been immortalized with a bronze statue on Felix Street. Heck, some football fans would even argue that Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder is the most notable person from our fair town.
Um, what about Eminem?

Entertainment briefs for Aug. 14, 2009
by Shea Conner
Friday, Aug. 14, 2009

Entertainment briefs for Aug. 14, 2009

Misery business
by Shea Conner
Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009

Los Angeles rockers Smile Empty Soul appeared to be destined for greatness in 2003. Behind the success of the smash hit “Bottom of a Bottle” and tours with some of the early decade’s biggest rock bands, the group’s second album, “Anxiety,” was one of the most anticipated hard rock releases of 2005.
Then, it happened.

Heavy metal babies
by Shea Conner
Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009

Five musicians got together to form Seasons After in Wichita, Kan., in late 2006. They quickly earned a reputation as a sound metal band with killer hooks and landed gigs at the Warped Tour in Kansas City in 2007 and 2008. At the beginning of the year, the band was signed to DBM Records. But the group is still getting acclimated to the speedy success.

In need of rescue
by Shea Conner
Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009

Surely, almost none of you reading this remember when Facebook was “The Facebook,” a basic social network of only college students. But I do.

Bang for your buck
by Shea Conner
Friday, Aug. 7, 2009

The 2008 Missouri State Fair ended just before the economy collapsed. Now, more than ever, the fair commissioners are focused on making a day in Sedalia easier on visitors’ wallets.
So the staff brought back $1 day, when fair admission is $1 and several vendors sell items for a buck, on Aug. 13 and $2 Day on Aug. 20. But Tammie Nichols, the Missouri State Fair marketing director, knew it was going to take more than low admission prices to woo not only the penny-pinchers, but new audiences.

Entertainment briefs for Aug. 7, 2009
by Shea Conner
Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009

Entertainment briefs for Aug. 7, 2009

Home sweet home
by Shea Conner
Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009

A road trip with sightseeing in Philadelphia and Washington D.C. and a day at Cedar Point amusement park in Ohio would be a vacation for most, but they’re merely stops on a meaningful venture for the New Generation Singers.

In good company
by Shea Conner
Friday, July 31, 2009

Many are calling Glasvegas “the next big thing” in Europe. The Scottish alternative rockers have already drawn lofty comparisons to Muse and Oasis.
That’s saying a lot considering Oasis is almost as big as the freakin’ Beatles across the pond.

Boo-hoo... No ‘Aliens’ review
by Shea Conner
Thursday, July 30, 2009

For those of you looking for a review of “Aliens in the Attic,” I regret to inform you there isn’t one. Fox did not screen the film for critics. What’s more troubling is that the studio has not given a reason why. That’s usually a bad sign.

Free films and a forum
by Shea Conner
Thursday, July 30, 2009

The summer blockbuster season is nearing its end. It won’t be long before the big, shiny robots and hormonal teenage wizards we’ve grown to love will abandon the theaters for the DVD shelves, while being replaced by lacking romantic comedies and more Tyler Perry flicks. Blah!
Spare yourselves the fall fare and nearly $10 movie ticket prices and try out a film at East Hills Library.

Seth, skaters and Stormtroopers
by Shea Conner
Wednesday, July 29, 2009

There aren’t too many Emmy nominees that are going out and punching pro wrestlers like Cody Rhodes in the throat while simultaneously promoting their claymation show that has conquered the nerd universe and gained serious award recognition with its comic sci-fi comedy content and numerous celebrity cameos. In fact, there is only one.
“Robot Chicken” creator Seth Green (of “Austin Powers” and “Family Guy” fame among many productions) has been all over the tube publicizing the new “Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II” DVD. That included being the celebrity guest host of “WWE Monday Night Raw,” a night that the longtime pro wrestling fan called the greatest in his life.

Entertainment briefs for the week of July 31, 2009
by Shea Conner
Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Entertainment briefs for the week of July 31, 2009

Historic horror with a mob mentality
by Shea Conner
Friday, July 24, 2009

While reading a collection of old ‘50s crime comics and horror comics, Big Atom Productions writer and director Tim Friend had an epiphany. Albeit, an odd epiphany.
“It occurred to me that I hadn’t ever seen gangsters and monsters together in a horror movie,” Tim recalls. “I jokingly tossed out the title ‘Bonnie and Clyde vs. Dracula’ to (my wife) Jenn, and the idea just stuck.”

Entertainment briefs for July 24, 2009
by Shea Conner
Friday, July 24, 2009

Entertainment briefs for July 24, 2009

From Broadway to Edmond
by Shea Conner
Thursday, July 23, 2009

Creative Arts Production (CAP) is celebrating its 30th anniversary this summer. In honor of the children’s theatre workshop’s celebration, CAP will present “Oliver!” at the Missouri Theater at 7 p.m. on Aug. 1 and at 2 p.m. on Aug. 2.

Stealing the show
by Shea Conner
Friday, July 17, 2009

Ask casual American metal fans about Trivium, and they’ll probably tell you they’ve heard the name but don’t know much about the band. Ask British fans, and they’ll probably tell you Trivium is one of the best metal groups in the world today.

Overcoming it all
by Shea Conner
Friday, July 17, 2009

After the phenomenal success of the 2005 multi-platinum debut album “How to Save a Life,” guitarist Dave Welsh admits that he and the rest of the members of The Fray feared the “sophomore slump” when they returned to the studio to record their self-titled follow-up.

Fringe benefits
by Shea Conner
Thursday, July 16, 2009

In 1947, eight groups of artists were not invited to participate in the Edinburgh Festival of the Arts in Edinburgh, Scotland. Feeling dejected, the groups built makeshift theaters on the outskirts (or “fringe”) of Edinburgh and soon after gained a loyal following that dwarfed that of the established festival’s.
In the same spirit, the KC Fringe Festival will inject Kansas City with uncensored, empowering “fringe” art from July 19-26. Fringe art encompasses a number of different styles including dance, improv, theater, spoken word, burlesque, puppetry and music performances as well as film, fashion and visual art presentations.

Rock for a good cause
by Shea Conner
Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Two benefits this weekend will honor those who have recently passed away.

Pop, paint, percussion, pencils and performances
by Shea Conner
Wednesday, July 15, 2009

There aren’t too many people who can say they learned hip-hop dance moves, made a basket, played African drums, sang like a pop star, designed jewelry and developed their acting skills in one day. But for students entering grades 3-10 in the next school year, Artscape makes that a possibility.

Entertainment briefs for July 17
by Shea Conner
Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Entertainment briefs for July 17

Review: 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'
by Shea Conner
Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Finally, the “Harry Potter” cast is given the opportunity to truly act. And it pays off in a film full of sadness, fear, darkness and raging teenage hormones. For this reason, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” is one of the best of the franchise, matched maybe only by the exciting, action-filled “Goblet of Fire.”

Identifying with Anatevka
by Shea Conner
Friday, July 10, 2009

If you ask the any of the cast members of Robidoux Resident Theatre’s upcoming production of “Fiddler on the Roof” why they wanted to be a part of the musical, you would get a knee-jerk answer.
“It’s one of those icons. I mean, everyone knows ‘Fiddler on the Roof,’” says Chuck Hazelwood, who stars as Tevye in the show.

Fist-pumping metal for friends
by Shea Conner
Friday, July 10, 2009

Rendezvous owner Jimmy Green remembers when he heard the news that Rusty Larabee had died. A few guys who were in local bands were talking about it in his bar. Then the group began talking about Larabee’s family and it spawned an idea.

Entertainment briefs for July 10, 2009
by Shea Conner
Friday, July 10, 2009

Entertainment briefs for July 10, 2009

Priceless picnics
by Shea Conner
Thursday, July 9, 2009

Sometimes summer days don’t have much to offer. There’s nothing on TV except judge shows. It’s too hot and muggy to enjoy a game of tennis or baseball without soaking your shirt with sweat. And, let’s face it, going to the pool can get old quickly.
A picnic can be the perfect reprieve for summer boredom, whether it’s with the kids, with a special someone or with just a book.

‘S’ for slightly better
by Shea Conner
Monday, July 6, 2009

One year ago, Apple revealed the iPhone 3G and promised many improvements from the original model. The 3G introduced GPS, but didn’t have a camcorder or the ability to copy and paste. Needless to say, those who wanted a do-it-all phone were a little disappointed.
Just weeks ago, Apple released the iPhone 3G S (the ‘S’ stands for ‘Speed’). The new offerings of the 3G S outweigh its shortcomings, but many gadget-lovers and on-the-go iPhone 3G owners are questioning whether they should pony up the dough to upgrade.