Category Archives: Hearne_Christopher

Hearne: Flaming Out with Honest Abe & Double Oh Seven

Better late than never, right? Look, I totally get that the moviegoers of America pronounced me dead wrong when I told you last summer “Ted” was a snooze. Maybe I was having an off day. I’m going to try it … Continue reading

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | 9 Comments

Hearne: Alamo Mainstreet Back in Action, Better Than Ever

They said it couldn’t be done… No way could tiny Austin, Texas exhibitor the Alamo Drafthouse take out all the front rows, add service aisles between every row of seats in the three downstairs auditoriums of the former AMC Mainstreet … Continue reading

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | 7 Comments

Hearne: KSHB’s Lezak Teases Winter ‘Cast Due Monday

“The drought has continued through fall and there is no true end in sight right now,” says KSHB TV weather wonk Gary Lezak. “The weather pattern sets up according to my ‘Lezak’s Recurring Cycle,’ or LRC. “This weather pattern is … Continue reading

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | 18 Comments

Hearne: The Skinny on The Star’s Crowd Count Policy & How Steve Everly Effed Up

Here we go again… It’s that time of year, Thanksgiving. And you know what that means. The Plaza Lighting Ceremony – broadcast live this year on KSHB TV – will bring hundreds of thousands of people to the Country Club … Continue reading

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | 13 Comments

Hearne: Save Your Money, ‘Lincoln’ Sucks – Check Out ‘FDR’ Instead

Think of it as a house divided… In one corner we have KC Confidential movie maven Jack Poessiger. In the other, Fox 4 movie guy Shawn Edwards. And smack in the middle, director Steven Spielberg‘s new movie Lincoln. To Jack’s … Continue reading

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | 21 Comments

Do It: Atticus Finch Thursday, Tap Dogs (Sans ‘Simulated Pee’) Through Sunday

Looking for a last minute head rush before Thanksgiving hits? You’ve come to the right place. Let’s mix it up a bit with some one night stand movie action. To Kill a Mockingbird be specific. Don’t rub your eyes, I … Continue reading

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Hearne: Star Hits Subscribers for Additional Subscription Fees, Special Editions

Well, the Kansas City Star finally came clean with subscribers… In a letter dated Wednesday November 7th, Chris Christian told with readers they will be automatically charged an additional 69 cents per week for the newspaper’s new E-Star online content. … Continue reading

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | 8 Comments

Hearne: Armstrong Finally Quits Livestrong, Ball in Sporting’s Court

Like I told you last summer, Lance Armstrong had to go, now he finally has… There’s no way Sporting Kansas City – having foolishly embraced the seven time Tour de France winner in the middle of his high profile fall … Continue reading

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | 4 Comments

Hearne: No Way Marty Schottenheimer Returns to ‘Scene of the Crime’

Hate to be a party pooper but… Here’s why – in my humble opinion – Marty Schottenheimer would have a very hard time returning to Kansas City. The rumor and fervent hope being that Schottenheimer might replace Kansas City Chiefs … Continue reading

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | 10 Comments

Hearne: Will Prairie Village Go Dark This Holiday Season Along With Father Christmas?

It’s official, or all but official… For the first time in 48 years, longtime Prairie Village Christmas display maestro Mike Babick will not be decorating his home at 7611 Falmouth. Not unless he gets a last minute stay of execution … Continue reading

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Hearne: Star Columnist Puts Sporting KC on Hot Seat Over Lance Armstrong Ties

What did I tell you two years back about Sam Mellinger? The then green in the gills Kansas City Star sports scribe was facing a daunting challenge. To fill the oversize shoes worn so long by ousted sports shit-stirrer Jason … Continue reading

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Hearne: KC Confidential to Unleash New Look, Website

It takes a while to get it back together after moving three times in four months… More than I anticipated, frankly. In addition to the geography part of the equation – behind the scenes – KC Confidential has also moved … Continue reading

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | 21 Comments

Hearne: Alamo Drafthouse Downtown Poised to Reopen November 15th

Remember the Alamo? Seems like only yesterday Kansas City was abuzz with talk of how this sexy new operator out of Austin would revolutionize the moviegoing experience here. That after an ugly divorce between locally based (and now Chinese owned) … Continue reading

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Hearne: Lefsetz Fires Back at Critics of ‘Where Are They Now’ Column

Not to leave you guys hanging… Re the “Where are they now” column by entertainment lawyer and pop culture cop Bob Lefsetz, here are his retorts to the presumably many critiques of hiss disses on The Boss, Jim McMahon, Mellencamp … Continue reading

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Hearne: Jimmy C Springs Back to Life with Bad News About Star

Just as everything green is about to die… New York hanging by a thread, the fate of the presidency suspended precipitously and KC Confidential about to get a serious facelift. Hope is fading and more than five months have passed … Continue reading

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Do It: Marilyn Maye @ Quality Hill Playhouse, Il Trovatore @ Kauffman, Primus 3D @ Uptown & Colin Kane @ Stanford’s

Looking for an escape from the dreariness of superstorms cable coverage, really ball football and way too many sleazy political ads? Take a number. Let’s see what we can do about it.  You know, entertainment-wise. The grains of Father Time … Continue reading

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | 9 Comments

Hearne: Memories & The Unravelling of CPA Turned Restaurateur Rod Anderson

Looking back on it, the timing was a little funny… Six months before Hereford House main man Rod Anderson torched the iconic downtown steakhouse I bumped into him somewhere and dropped in an innocuous item about him combating the recession … Continue reading

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Hearne: Star Movie Dude Jon Niccum Inks Deal for ‘Worst Gig’ Book

From worst to first… That’s movie and entertainment writer Jon Niccum‘s new found claim to fame. Niccum, as you may know, is the dude who essentially took Robert Butler‘s place reviewing movies for the Kansas City Star. He’s also the … Continue reading

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | 2 Comments

Hearne: What ‘The Boss,’ Sarah Palin, Charlie Sheen, Macaulay Culkin & Paula Abdul Have in Common

Let’s have a little fun, shall we? Check out entertainment industry lawyer and blogger Bob Lefsetz sobering takes on some of your favorite music and entertainment industry icons: On Charlie Sheen If you’re on TV as an end unto itself, … Continue reading

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | 26 Comments

Hearne: WaterFire Organizers Sucker Star into Reporting Inflated Crowd Count

Let’s talk about, oh, investigative journalism for a minute… Specifically WaterFire, of KC’s most over-hyped non-event, event. Think of it as an outdoor, New Age send-up featuring “55 floating braziers” in Brush Creek with a mix of performances by local … Continue reading

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | 18 Comments