Posted on: Wednesday, October 30, 2002
THE LEFT LANE
'American Idol' makes changes
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"American Idol," summer's television sensation, is prepping for 2003's second installment with acid-tongued British record producer Simon Cowell, singer-dancer Paula Abdul and industry veteran Randy Jackson back as judges. Los Angeles-based radio disc jockey Ryan Seacrest returns as host.
However, a few tweaks were revealed as the three judges and Seacrest took time out from judging talent during auditions in Detroit. Original co-host Brian Dunkleman won't be back, Seacrest said. And the show's producers have added a fourth judge, rapper and radio personality Angie Martinez (pictured with Seacrest above).
Cowell didn't mince words when asked about the auditions: "Some of the stuff I heard out there simply can't be described as singing," he said.
Big Island food party
It's all happening on the Big Island this week: the Big Island Festival kicks off today and continues through Sunday with dinners and food events, a golf tournament, spa happenings, farm tours, culinary seminars, and appearances by luminaries from Andre Soltner to Iron Chef Masaharu MorimotoSingle-day passes can be purchased online at the festival Web site, www.bigislandfestival.com, or by calling (808) 934-9044.
Day passes, $55, include entry to the Festival Pavilion and Grand Tasting at Waikoloa Resort (music, product show, seminars, tastings) and Food & Wine Magazine Best New Chefs cooking demonstrations daily. Evening events are not included.
A three-day $200 kama'aina pass also includes Sunday morning's Big Island Cook-Off with Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto. The updated schedule is online.
Hair makes the man
Q. Why don't we ever see Steve Van Zandt's real hair? He wears a bandanna playing with Bruce Springsteen, and his 'do on "The Sopranos" can't be real.
A. Of course that slick "Sopranos" pompadour isn't the actor's actual mane. It's a wig. Credit Van Zandt's lush locks as "Sopranos" sidekick Silvio Dante to his concept of the character. "Silvio is a throwback to the '40s and '50s. He lives in the past, so I wanted him to look like that," Van Zandt has said. "The character is the hair, as far as I'm concerned. When I look in the mirror, I have to see this guy. I can't see me. To me, the hair — that's half the acting." State of the arts
The Governor's Statewide Conference on the State of the Arts will accept walkup registrations for the Friday and Saturday event. "Hawai'i, The State of the Arts, The Universal Value of Culture and the Arts to Hawai'i and Hawai'i to the World" is the first such statewide conference in more than 30 years.
Speakers includes Graham Nash (of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young), who is a fine-arts printer, UH President Evan Dobelle and kumu hula Pualani Kanahele.
Registration, $100, includes a preview reception of the Hawai'i State Art Museum. Information: 956-8204.
— Advertiser staff and news services
