Person of Interest: Lone "Wolf and Cub"

Categories: Television

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Ebony and ivory/Live together in perfect harmony.
​Tension is growing between Reese and Finch, those partners in crimestopping. In the beginning, the ex-CIA operative's needling of his nerdy OCD boss seemed almost good-natured, but as Finch continues to deflect Reese's inquiries about The Machine, the latter has moved into full-scale investigation mode with the help of Det. Fusco. These efforts finally bear fruit this week, raising some interesting questions about both the past and current movitivations for the show's resident genius.

First, there's another Number of the Week. And is Reese still "hunted by the authorities," like they say in the intro? Now that Carter's been flipped, that just leaves Agent Snow and company, and we haven't seen them in weeks.

Maybe we'll find out Reese has a library book from 1979 he never returned.

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Don't Miss "Hate Expo" at Domy Books

Categories: Visual Arts

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Mushroom Necklace
​Dusty Peterman and William Keihn, the two artists that make up Mushroom Necklace, have no issues with telling their audience to take a long walk off a short pier, but with more colorful four-letter words. Don't take it personally, it matches the theme and feel of the artwork they produce. "Hate Expo," their latest collection of work, can be viewed at Domy Books through March 15.

"Hate Expo" feels like a play on words, as does most of the duo's pieces. The collection features silk-screened prints, many of which resemble music posters or promotional fliers, but they smack you in the face. One poster invites you to the "Drug Street Festival," where "no sandals are allowed," while another appears to be a flyer for the "Loser Bar," where "bad luck awaits you" and, not so subliminally, advises you to end it all.

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Vintage Neon: The Week in Photos

Categories: Photography
Vintage neon sign for Schill Steel Company, on 11th Street in Houston's Timbergrove area.
It's time again to check out the Houston Press Flickr Pool and see what kinds of art shots our talented photographers have added. We love street art, unique perspectives and beautiful photos of Houston's creative community. If you think you've got a good eye, drop your pictures in the pool and we'll post the most eye-catching pics. Be sure to enable the HTML code so we can grab it.

As always, for more information on a photographer or subject, just click the image.

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Project Runway All-Stars: The Copycat Challenge

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Photo by Lifetime.com
​This week on PRAS: The show suffers from a serious lack of Anthony; Mondo reveals a hate-crush on Kenley; the designers are paired up to create sportswear for a weekend getaway FACE-OFF challenge. This week's guest judge is Cynthia Rowley.

At the beginning of the episode designers choose a bag, and each bag contains a card with a season written on it. Two designers are randomly assigned one of four seasons, and the looks they create will compete directly with one another on the runway. This is a one-day challenge with a $200 budget. The pairings are:

  • Spring: Austin vs. Kara
  • Summer: Kenley vs. Mondo
  • Autumn: Mila vs. Rami
  • Winter: Jerell vs. Michael
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Sesame Street Live: Elmo Makes Music: Everything Old Is New...ish Again

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Photos by Pete Vonder Haar
​If Sesame Street's red, eternally three-year old Muppet seems less ubiquitous these days than he did during the "Tickle Me Elmo" hysteria of the late 90s, well, he's got a lot more competition. Sure, plenty of kids still want to be shown how to get, how to get to Sesame Street, but nowadays there are more distractions than ever. And Dora the Explorer, the Cyclopean yet quirky denizens of Yo Gabba Gabba!, and dozens of other shows on a half dozen networks are all vying for your child's delicious brains, er, attentions spans.

Elmo and the rest of his Sesame Street buddies are still big enough to play eight shows in Houston over four days, however, and not a lot of his contemporaries can draw those kind of crowds. But how does the Street That Henson Built hold up after 40+ years? I headed down to opening night at Reliant Arena last night - my two youngest in tow - to see for myself.

And maybe to score some merch. Because my house doesn't have enough Sesame Street crap in it already.

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G Gallery's "Escapism:" You Will Want to Follow the White Light

Categories: Visual Arts

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Disclaimer: Forgive us for this lowbrow reference used to describe an exceptionally superb collection of artwork.

During a recent visit to G Gallery in the Heights, we were reminded earlier today of the movie Joe Versus the Volcano starring Tom Hanks as the down-trodden Joe, who slaves away in a dreadful job that makes him want to die. His work environment is depressing to say the least; the hum of the fluorescent lights drone into Joe's skull and the aura they emit is painfully blinding. Joe needs to escape. He does so via a one-way ticket into a volcano, as a human sacrifice. Despite this atrocious way to go, Joe's life becomes filled with light and joy; he is free.

Currently on display at G Gallery is a collection of work by San Antonio-based artist Jerry Cabrera, entitled "Escapism." The work is instantly grabbing, yet it's difficult to describe what is so attractive about it. Lengthwise panes of canvas are painted in crescendoing hues, some monochromatic, others complements on the color wheel. Reds turn into oranges turn into yellows. Where the colors meet in the center is a bright, white strip of paint, piercing enough to appear glowing. It's the white light that you follow to heaven, or to freedom.


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Reviews For The Easily Distracted:
The Vow

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Title: The Vow

How Many Ass Shots Can We Look Forward To? One from Channing Tatum, but it's fairly extended. None from Rachel McAdams.

None?! Nope. Frankly, it's a national outrage.

Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: Two strips of bacon out of five.

Brief Plot Synopsis: After a serious car accident, a young woman wakes to discover she has no recollection of her husband or their five-year marriage.

Tagline: "Inspired by true events."

Better Tagline: "Channing Tatum wears a hat!"

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Confessions of a Mormon Boy: A Complex, Compelling One-Man Show at Theater LaB Houston

Categories: Stage

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The setup:

The struggle of a devout Mormon youth to overcome homosexual drives, his entry into the fleshpots of Manhattan and the lure of drugs, and the ultimate resolution of his personal odyssey is recounted in a complex and compelling one-man performance by Steven Fales.

The execution:

The one-week only show enters Houston for its premiere performance here, trailing clouds of glory, with multiple awards and nominations. Playwright and performer Steven Fales has been honing this work both across the country and internationally for a decade, resulting in a polished, amusing and powerful evening of theater.

The intimate space of Theatre LaB is perfect for this intimate comedic drama, and the lighting that underlines and accentuates shifting moods or scenes is so effective it is almost another character on stage. But there are many characters on stage here, though just one performer, as Fales portrays his interactions with church elders and others in a prolonged and intense attempt to overcome his attraction to men, including missionary work in Portugal, several tries at reparative therapy, as well as marrying and fathering two children.

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Top 5 Farts in Video Game History with Video Evidence of He Who Dealt It

Categories: Gaming

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16th Century German peasants fart at the Pope while he holds a burning Bible
​Everyone farts, even that virginal cheerleader you had the crush on in high school began her day with a triumphant blast of her trumpet. It's a fact of life as stinky and socially irrelevant as the Facts of Life, and to us modern hep cats we can't see anyone making a big deal out of it.

But (ha ha) farts have had an uphill climb to gain mainstream acceptance. George Carlin famously added the term to his trademark list of dirty words that you were not allowed to say on television, and for a long time he was right. There was little flatulence heard or discussed on network television. In 1957 an episode of Leave it to Beaver involved a heavy round of propriety discussion over just showing a toilet tank, so it's understandable that society has taken a while to just enjoy a good fart. Nowadays farts are on rise,a nd even video games have gotten in on the act.

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100 Creatives 2012: J.J. Johnston

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J.J. Johnston has come a long way since he first saw his best friend in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" in the seventh grade. Nothing like that would appeal to him now, but back then, Johnston thought it was incredible. Twenty years later, he remains in the art world, but instead is focused on his position as founder and Executive Artistic Director at the Classical Theatre Company. CTC is currently in its fourth season and, being the only theater company that produces year round classical drama, is getting ready for some even bigger changes under the leadership of Johnston.​

A fan of clarity and crispness in his work and performances, Johnston takes the company's slogan ("Boldly Re-Envisioning Classical Drama") to heart. He adds unique flairs to his productions, such as sprinkles of political or social commentary to make them even more relevant and poignant. The company and Johnston's personal goal is not to recreate something that most people already know, but instead is to bring forth a never-before-seen quality to the plays while also creating a connection between the actors and the audience.

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