Yearly Archives: 2011
Jack Goes Confidential: Stiller & Murphy Muddle Through ‘TOWER HEIST’ Script
Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy team with an all-star ensemble cast to serve up the new action comedy TOWER HEIST...
Stiller, plays the second in command at The Tower–filmed at Trump Tower—a luxury high rise in Manhattan where New York’s super rich reside and expect nothing short of excellence in every department.
Also residing in The Tower’s penthouse is wildly successful Wall Street trader and billionaire Alan Alda. He’s nice enough a guy. Very approachable by the staff, but as we soon learn, a Bernie Madoff kinda crook who swindled billions from investors.
Making matters even worse, Stiller had recently entrusted The Tower employees’ pension fund to Alda for management.
And it’s all gone!
But Stiller’s got a hunch that a fair reserve sum of money may still be hidden in the penthouse where Alda is being held under house arrest.
Time for Stiller to organize his troops to raid the place and hopefully get their money back.
Think of it as Robin Hood And His Merry Doormen.
Hearne: 38 The Spot Wants YOU To Be The Next Holly Starr
Who will be KC’s next "It Girl"?
For more than three years Holly Starr was Kansas City’s poster child for smoking hot babes. She ruled the nightlife and the media roosts, via her TV hottie gigs on 38 the Spot and was squired at one time by Chiefs quarterback Tyler Thigpen.
In short, Starr was the cure for the common Watson’s Girl.
Then last year Starr did the unthinkable and got married.
The 30-something hottie’s biological clock was ticking hard and she wanted children. To that end, Starr has a two month old daughter and is passing the Channel 38 baton to a playa-to-be-named-later.
But not much later.
38 the Spot is hard at it, searching for Starr’s replacement with it’s officlal "Drive Now Auto Credit Talent Search"
That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, the search for Holly Starr’s replacement is sponsored by a used car dealer.
Hearne: America’s Pub to Leave Manor Square in Westport, Looking for New Digs
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It’s all over but the shouting…
The end is near for America’s Pub as far as Westport’s Manor Square is concerned. Its lease is up at year’s end and will not br renewed, itsattorney says.
"It’s inconcievable to me as to why manor Square wouldn’t want to have a tenant paying a large amount of rent for space that’s third generation," says America’s Pub attorney Harris Wilder. "I mean, you’ve been to America’s Pub – that place needs a complete makeover."
Once-upon-a-time, America’s Pub was a white dude magnet that fit right in with Westport nightclubs like Kelly’s. Like its sister America’s Pub in St. Louis, which Guide to St. Louis describes as an "elegant pub (that’s) been rocking in the heart of St. Louis entertainment district at Westport plaza since 1996… (It’s) basically a sports bar with…a great sound system to play your favorite dance songs every night."
However America’s Pub here, like Stanford’s Club 504 before, morphed into a largely urban dance club, becoming the scape goat for Westport’s media hyped African American issues. Such as the Brian Euston killing last year that went down just outside America’s Pub at closing time.
Donnelly: Sporting Slaps Colorado Around (Again), Kansas City Celebrates
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Hey Kansas City, your team just advanced to the conference finals. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think KC has had a winner like this in, what, 10-plus years?
Bask in it. It’s been a while since we’ve had a true contender.
But last night, in the miserable cold and rain, KC soccer fans showed why they’re among the best in the MLS.
They braved the elements and filled sold-out LIVESTRONG Sporting Park with the song and energy to help propel Sporting Kansas City‘s boys in blue into the Eastern Conference finals. The design of the stadium – in which every seat is covered – provided some shelter from the storm, and the gutty performance of the team did the rest.
Hearne: Will Best Buy Be The Next Major Big Box Store To Bite The Dust?
The mission; break down the impending demise of Best Buy...
A month ago, I interviewed Lawrence audio/video icon John Kiefer of Kief’s about the sorry state of the area electronics biz and it’s uncertain future in the digital age. As a more-or-less regular guy type dude, it hasn’t been that long since stopping by a Best Buy to pick up a new Green Day or Arcade Fire CD was a normal occurence.
And holiday shopping trips were practically a must.
No mas.
Hearne: Plaza Academy Makes Bold Move into Heart of Westport Party Zone
One of Kansas City’s most jinxed joints is about to get a new lease on life…
The Plaza Academy, a school for troubled teens is relocating in the heart of Kansas City’s most historic party zone at 610 Westport Road. The move will place the grades 9 through 12 school smack between Kelly’s and the Beaumont Club.
Along a sidewalk that smells like vomit on any given Sunday.
Westport’s Bill Nigro sees it as as a welcome addition to the hood.
Starbeams: Chargers Out Suck Netflix, Dexter’s Oil Slick & KCPD at Arrowhead
The San Diego Chargers released an official statement about playing at Arrowhead. It said that thanks to the 76,000 fans, the Chargers had a worse fourth quarter than Netflix.
*******
Remember the BP oil spill in the Gulf? All the remaining oil has finally been contained in Dexter McCluster’s hair.
Glazer: Hide the Children, The ‘Cat’ is Back, This Weekend @ Stanford’s
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Bobcat Goldthwait‘s starred in everything from "Happily Ever After" (with ex Nikki Cox)" to his memorable role in "BLOW" ("I can’t feel my face")…
He directs Jimmy Kimmel Live (has for years), was on the Chappelle show a ton, set the couch on fire on the Tonight Show (and was arrested) and even did Hollywood Squares and SCROGGED. But Goldthwait will always be best remembered for his four Police Academy films with Michael Winslow and crew.
And now the Bobcat at Stanford’s this Friday and Saturday Night.
Glazer: Scribe Salutes Chiefs & Eats Some Hat
In one of the biggest turn arounds in modern NFL history, the Kansas City Chiefs saved their season, their coach, their quarterback and gave their fans total joy…
From 0-3 to 4-3 and first place WOW.
Yes, my SURE bet looks to be in big trouble. This team may win more than 8 now. They believe in themselves. When nobody believed, nobody.
Yes, we’re in a weak division. Yes, Phillip Rivers gave the game to KC. What a moron. On the 15 yard line with one minute and change to play, hef umbles! What? Kick it dummy.
This team has more heart then maybe any Chiefs team in years.
They now have two great receivers and a very good one on this squad. This team now has more weapons than any team in our division. Its one issue is still the quarterback.
Matt THE FRANCHISE Cassel is still is below average.
Hearne: Gusto Lounge Turns Over Not-So-Seedy New Leaf In New Westport Home
Leave us not mince words….
The Gusto Lounge and its forbear, the Lava Room at 3810 Broadway in Midtown, were joints of highly questionable repute. Without a doubt the hood on Broadway – especially at night – can get a little seedy. A lot seedy at times.
Some of the online customer accolades over the years helped to tell the tale. Describing the Lava Room as "creeptastic," a place that "looks like the last stop before hitting rock bottom or a prep room for convicts."
After Gusto grabbed the Lava Room’s soiled baton two years back and reopened with a knock off Schlitz Beer logo, area hoodsters crossed their fingers, eyes and toes and hoped it might attract something approaching a kinder, gentler crowd.
Fat chance.
Leftridge: Chiefs Take First, as Told Through Tweets
I’m not gonna lie. I can’t lie. I turned this game off. With the score tied, and the Chargers within chip-shot range, with two minutes or so left, I turned the channel to Palladium, where they were showing “Lemmy”, a documentary about Motorhead’s mole-faced front man. I watched a few different people discuss their favorite Motorhead song—Dave Grohl cited the Ace of Spades, I believe, as did Ice-T—and turned it back, fully expecting to catch some sort of potentially newsworthy, icy handshake between Todd Haley and Norv Turner.
Instead, I saw Matt Cassel dropping back with the ball.
What the fuck? I
Glazer: King of Sting Movie Still on the Drawing Board
Many of you have asked for an update on the King of Sting movie..
I’ve been working towards the making of a film on my life since 1981. And if you’ve read my book, KING OF STING, you know the story. However, since most of you haven’t, I’ll fill you in on what’s going on today.
A quick history: In 1981 I wrote a treatment and query letter about my life and sent it to about 20 agents and book companies that I found in library. Good luck, right?
But I got lucky and had about four agents interested, including one from Hollywood. I also managed to get several articles written about me and my partner in crime Don Woodbeck. CBS had a movie division, and they bought our pitch in1982 for several hundred thousand dollars. We were on cloud nine. And Don and I lived on that money until his death in 1983.
Donnelly: Bunbury Too Physical & Fast For Colorado, KC Beats Defending Champs 2-0
Was it pretty? No.
In fact, at times last night’s Sporting Kansas City playoff game against the Colorado Rapids was downright u-g-l-y. But that was all part of the plan for Sporting Sunday when they took on the defending MLS Cup champs.
“The first half was very tentative on both parts,” said KC coach Peter Vermes after the game. “I don’t think we gave much away and neither did they. In the second half, we talked about getting after it a little bit more because we thought they would push the game, being at home.”
Star Search: Does The Sunday Star Pack Enough Punch?
In the achy breaky world of newspaper publishing Sunday is payday…
That’s the day that pays the bills. And in Kansas City, the Sunday Star is far and away the most important day of the week. Which explains why susbscribers have been inundated in recent months with pleadings and discount deals to buy extra copies. Get one for the wife and maybe one for the kids. That’s also why both Star Groupon deals have zeroed-in on discount deals to bump the Sunday circulation.
That’s also why the Star cut a deal a few years back with local rival the Indpendence Examiner.
"Receive a Sunday Kansas City Star with your Examiner home delivery subscription," reads the come-on at the Examiner‘s Web site. Subscribers to both the Olathe News and Lee’s Summit Journal get free Sunday Star’s as well.
How important is the Sunday Star?
Leftridge: Just in Time for Tonight’s 1st Place Arrowhead Showdown, a Chiefs Drinking Game
This is huge.
This is monumental.
It’s been almost a year since the Chiefs have hosted such an important game at Arrowhead. Can you believe it? One whole year? It feels like eons ago. Take yourself back … where were you? What were you doing? Were you wearing something totally unfashionable? Were you drunk? Yeah, you were probably drunk.
Let’s set the mood. It was a frigid January day. The murderously stabby Baltimore Ravens were in town. Kansas City was a 4-seed, hosting their first playoff game since failing to punt in 2003’s debacle against the Indianapolis Colts. The surprise AFC West Champions were riding the wave of an efficient Matt Cassel and an epic running game. Expectations were astronomical.
And then, like an octogenarian who indulges in too much delicious Christmas goose, Todd Haley’s squad shat all over themselves. I needn’t remind you of what happened, but I will: Cassel sucked, the defense bended AND broke, and when all was said and done, the Ravens walked out of Kansas City victorious.
But this time, it’s different.
Leftridge: The Gruesome Tragedy of Marty Bergen
“…Mrs. Bergen was lying on the bed, with her hands raised as if in supplication or trying to ward off a blow. The little boy was lying on the floor with a large wound in the head. Mrs. Bergen’s skull was terribly crushed, having evidently been struck more than one blow by the infuriated husband. The appearance of the little girl also showed that a number of savage blows had been rained upon the top and side of her head. Bergen’s throat…”
From the New York Times, Saturday, Jan. 20th, 1900.
Superstition and sports are like peas and carrots, and nowhere is that more prevalent than in baseball. From the starting pitcher leaping over the baseline to the designated hitter not changing his socks after busting a slump. Wade Boggs ate chicken before every game. Jason Giambi wore a gold thong.
Superstition also breeds ghosts—or perhaps it’s the other way around? Therefore, it’s understandable that ghosts and baseball make terrific bedfellows. Tales have been told about the haunted Detroit row house of America’s Original Asshole, Ty Cobb. Additionally, Cobb is said to haunt Comerica Park, a rather puzzling occurrence since he died some 38 years before it was built. Babe Ruth’s portly ghost can be found at old Yankees Stadium, new Yankees Stadium, Fenway Park and a former bordello in Marlborough, MA. Busy apparition.
But this isn’t a story about ghosts, per se, but about the violence that breeds them. Murder and madness are more frightening than any campfire tale because they’re real, tangible acts of desperation, not some unseen terror peeking out from a closet door left slightly ajar.
This is the tale of Marty Bergen, one of the craziest, scariest, most unpredictable men to ever play professional baseball.
Hearne: Happy Halloween, Kansas City’s Drought May Be About To End
For most Kansas Citians, it’s been a storybook fall….
Beautiful weather, blue skies, bone dry outdoor festivals, flawless fall football foilage and no dashing in and out of rainstorms. It would have been the perfect year for public television station KCPT to ressurect its drenched-to-death, black tie TV Dinner fundraiser at Liberty Memorial. Oh well, too late now.
For locals without yards to water and outdoor plants to try and keep alive, it was the best of the best.
That said, in real life, it’s been one of the worst falls in Kansas City ever.
TODAY: THE OFFICIAL KC CONFIDENTIAL HELP WANTED ADS; READ EM & WEEP
That’s right, all caps, all of the time…
It’s that time again. When the call goes out across the heartland for writers. People with a penchant for being a part of something – arguably – kinda special.
Look, I don’t have to waste anybody’s time belaboring the many flaws here at KC Confidential. That’s why we have a comments section. So what if we can’t spell, type or proofread, etc. You know, at time. Hey, we try. And remember, our motley crew isn’t exactly in it for the big bucks.
To a man (and that includes women), pretty much everybody here is first and foremost out to inform and/or entertain. Sure, they could just blog away on their own. But with more than a quarter million unique visitors each month – and growing – it’s more fun locking horns with a larger audience.
In spite of the heat we take.
Which I don’t mind telling you, has cost us a few writers. So thanks for that.
Now on to who and what we’re looking for as we approach our third anniversary this February…
New Jack City: Paul McCartney; ‘Got to Get Jew Into My Mind’—Oy Vey!
It’s not often that I find Jay Leno‘s tired schtick on THE TONIGHT SHOW funny.
But the other night, he had an infomercial like perody commercial that cracked me up. Here’s the premise.
Paul McCartney‘s recent marriage to Nancy Shevell is causing all kinds of speculation that he may soon be converting to Judaism. And as a token of his love for Nancy—and the faith— may soon release a special tribute re-mix album of past hits.
Here’s what to look for on the new ‘RABBI ROAD’ CD!
Glazer: Time to Give Credit to the Greatest President in Our Lifetimes
It’s happened…
We’ve lived to see one of the greatest presidents in United States history and his name is Barack Obama. There’s no longer any doubt. Warm up Mount Rushmore.
Why, you ask?
Well, he ended the war in Iraq. On his watch, we killed a monster named Bin Laden and another one named Qaddafi as well. The nation was on the brink of a true depression and this president – under heavy fire – stopped that nightmare and reversed the direction of the economy. We’re still not all of the way back, but as of yesterday the stock market was stable and up over 12,000 again. Yes, and climbing.
This president is brilliant.
