Author Archives: Hearne Christopher Jr.

The Grinch is back… This time out courtesy of Kansas City-based – but now Chinese-owned – AMC Theatres.  However, instead of Christmas, AMC’s Grinch is going after Independence Day. Is nothing sacred? Guess not. “AMC’s request for proposals to move … Continue reading →

The headline in today’s Lawrence Journal World that went missing in the Star: “Self: KU still won’t play MU” “As long as the Big 12/SEC Challenge goes on in men’s basketball, Kansas will not be facing the Missouri Tigers,” the … Continue reading →

Will they ever learn? Time and again, the mainstream media falls prey to some of the dumbest hoaxes in the business and political universes. I’m talking about those commissioned feasibility studies paid for by vested interests and used to con … Continue reading →

As drunken expeditions go, this year’s Crawl for Cancer was a humdinger… A record setter, in fact. After years of going down in Westport, this year’s for profit “charity” event scooted down to the Power & Light District, who swiped … Continue reading →

Ah the power of suggestion… A couple weeks back movie man Jack Poessiger read somewhere that Star Magazine was going away. Something about getting folded into the Kansas City Star’s mundane millennial mind-number Ink. Next thing Man Jack knew, the … Continue reading →

It’s always a hoot getting different people’s takes on the news media… Having spent years conning, kissing up to – and at times – dodging reporters, then running and gunning at the Pitch and later playing hide-and-seek with editors at … Continue reading →

Ever see one of those tee shirts that read, U.S. Olympic Drinking Team? I always figured they were little more than crass college kid magnets, but saw enough of them around that somebody must have liked ’em. Kinda like some … Continue reading →

A moment of silence please for the ladies room at Halls Plaza… That’s right, while upscale, elite shoppers are bemoaning the pending passing of Kansas City’s finest department store, women from all walks of life are dreading the loss of … Continue reading →

This just in… The bad news beat goes on at the Kansas City Star. Publisher Mi-Ai Parrish emailed staffers today that they would get a second week of unpaid vacation this year. “While we have had many signs of recovery, … Continue reading →

It must be maddening for you people… Do you mind if I call you “you people?” Of course you do. Chances are you won’t like the rest of what I’ve got to say much either, but here goes. Do sports … Continue reading →

About last night’s gargantuan Tony Awards ceremony in New York… As I mentioned yesterday, one of the Kansas City Star‘s three front page feature stories Sunday implied that Kansas City was in for a big night on Broadway. “Spotlight is … Continue reading →

There’s a reason the Kansas City Star promotes its Sunday edition as a coupon cornucopia… Starting with the fact that it’s a no brainer. Smart businesses market to their strengths and clearly the Star views the vast tonnage of grocery … Continue reading →

About fleeing-the-scene media blogger John Landsberg… First a quick reminder, I too will miss his “reporting” on the comings and goings of local television newsies. Landsberg’s takes may have been fuddy-duddy at times (and they were), but Bottom Line did … Continue reading →

There are benefits to driving hundreds of miles into the desert… Besides of course, the roadside marvels, gourmet dining, etc. For one, I got to check out a local alt weekly, The Santa Fe Reporter. Funny thing. In a town … Continue reading →

Inquiring minds want to know… What was it that caused KCTV to bid an un-fond adieu to “Better Kansas City” co-host Kelly Jones while retaining her on air partner Lisa Holbrook? While the comments section is more often than not … Continue reading →

This just in… When’s the last time you had – you know – heavy duty romance at the movies? Never? Well, here’s your chance. The days when drive-in movie theaters were called “passion pits,” owing to the conveniences afforded by … Continue reading →

Maybe now she’ll date the Scribe… I don’t watch much local television news. Never did really… I’ve spent far more time reporting on and writing about local TV news personalities than basking in their tube time. Stories that ranged from … Continue reading →

About the closing of the Halls Plaza retail store this summer… This is no minor bump in the road, ladies and gentlemen. The shuttering of one of Kansas City’s most prestigious retail operations by arguably it’s most prestigious, locally headquartered … Continue reading →

Here’s one that kinda slipped between the news cracks recently… That Wichita is considering fines of up to $1,000 a month on residents and businesses that use too much water. We don’t hear too much about water shortages in these … Continue reading →

Six down, sixty some to go… The reapportioning of the rock festival formerly known as Kanrocksas continues. This time out Live Nation will present headliners Imagine Dragons, Capital Cities, twentyonepilots, Family of the Year and Churchill at Starlight on Friday … Continue reading →