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CHRIS FARLEY pretty much lived himself to death.
Everything about the onetime “Saturday Night Live” regular was outsized: his talent, his spirit, his physical bulk, his appetites.
When he died in 1997, the comparisons to “SNL” legend John Be lushi, who died in 1982, were inevitable. The extent to which Farley patterned himself after Belushi is a matter of debate and discussion in “The Chris Farley Show,” an oral biography by Farley’s older brother, Tom Jr., and Tanner Colby due May 6.
But this much is true: Both were larger-than-life entertainers who came to “SNL” from Chicago’s Second City comedy troupe; both were 33 when they died of overdoses; and Farley, a native of Madison, Wis., died in Chicago, Belushi’s hometown.
Tomorrow night, Farley’s brand of comedy will again be on display when NBC airs highlights of his “Saturday Night Live” sketches, particularly his breakout Chippen dales sketch with guest host Patrick Swayze; Matt Foley, the crazed, thrice-divorced motiva tional speaker; and the eponymous fan-boy host of “The Chris Farley Show.”
Let’s stop here for a question.
Who played Jack Ruby in Oliver Stone’s “JFK”?
If that seems to come out of nowhere, or somewhere close to it, there’s really a purpose. The answer is Brian Doyle-Murray, an erstwhile “SNL” featured player and staff writer who had followed his more famous brother, Bill, to the show.
Similarly, Jim Belushi joined “SNL” several years after his big brother’s death. And Peter Ayk royd followed in the footsteps of older brother Dan.
So would it be a huge surprise if Chris Farley’s younger brothers, John and Kevin, wound up on “SNL”? Both are actors who had small roles in Chris’ films, “Tommy Boy,” “Black Sheep,” “Beverly Hills Ninja” and “Almost Heroes,” as well as films starring Chris’ “SNL” mates Adam Sandler, David Spade and Chris Kattan.

nj.com

ATTLEBORO - You may not know his name, but chances are you’ve encountered Viktor Schreckengost’s work. Children played with his pedal cars in the 1940s. He pioneered a design for bicycle headlamps that changed the way flashlights were made. He masterminded the first modern mass-produced dinnerware for American Limoges.
ATTLEBORO - You may not know his name, but chances are you’ve encountered Viktor Schreckengost’s work. Children played with his pedal cars in the 1940s. He pioneered a design for bicycle headlamps that changed the way flashlights were made. He masterminded the first modern mass-produced dinnerware for American Limoges.
Schreckengost, a dean of 20th-century American industrial design, died in January at 101. “Viktor Schreckengost Legacy Exhibition,” organized at the Attleboro Arts Museum by Charles S. Tramontana, a former student who has had a notable career designing crystal and fine china, celebrates Schreckengost’s remarkable range of talents, from watercolor painting to ceramics.
Schreckengost taught for 70 years at the Cleveland Institute of Art, and the show includes work by some of his most successful students, including designers of cellphones, coffee makers, toys, dishes, and automobiles (a 1965 Ford Mustang designed by Schreckengost protégé Joe Oros is on view). It’s a joy to see the teacher’s influence ripple outward.
In Schreckengost’s case, that influence was both aesthetic and practical. He taught teamwork, problem solving, and the business of design. Designing dinnerware was a standard assignment: Yes, it had to look good, but it also had to be practical. Attleboro Arts Museum executive director Mim Brooks Fawcett reports that one of Schreckengost’s catch phrases was “But can it hold a cheese sandwich?”
This show has heart, thanks to the warm testaments of Schreckengost’s students and the fact that some of Schreckengost’s most endearing products are on view. The pedal cars, manufactured from stamped steel, are icons of mid-20th-century childhood. One, a little fire engine that first hit stores in 1949, has a big grille and hood, a seat, and not much more. Schreckengost, we learn from wall text, concluded that if the front grille looked authentic enough, the rest could be improvised according to the needs of the design.

boston.com

Through the week.Architecture. If the Museum of Contemporary Art/Denver is David Adjaye’s first major public building to be completed in the United States, it is hardly the first such project in his career. The fast-rising London architect is showcased in “David Adjaye: Making Public Buildings,” an internationally touring show that runs through May 25 at the Museum of Contemporary Art/Denver, 1485 Delgany St. The show was organized by the Whitechapel Gallery in London and has been shown at the Netherlands Architecture Institute and The Studio Museum in Harlem. $10, $5 seniors and students. 303-298-7554 or mcadenver.org.
Today.Photography. China has become a focal point for contemporary art of all kinds, and photography is no exception. A new exhibition, “Body Art: New Photography from China,” explores the work of six of the country’s most prominent artists working in the medium — Huang Yan, Li Wei, Cang Xin, Liu Ren, Ma Yanling and Wu Yuren. The show, organized in conjunction with the Asian Art Coordinating Council, opens today at the Foothills Art Center, 809 15th St., in Golden, with a public reception from 5:30 to 8 p.m. $3, $2 seniors and free for students. 303-279-3922 or foothillsartcenter.org.
Through the week.Photography. In conjunction with the national conference of the Society for Photographic Education taking place this weekend in Denver, more than 50 photo exhibitions are taking place around the metro area. Among them is “Out of Place,” a selection of photo-based works by 11 international artists. It runs through April 26 at the Robischon Gallery, 1740 Wazee St. Free. 303-298-7788 or robischongallery.com.
Through the week.Comedy classic. If a colleague stops you in the hall to recount the dialogue of “The Princess Bride,” you’d be a dope not to celebrate the film’s run this weekend. Long before Amy Adams enchanted, Robin Wright was fracturing fairy tales. Ages before Puss in Boots purred in “Shrek,” Mandy Patinkin declared in a deliciously silly accent, “Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” Friday and Saturday, midnight, Esquire Theatre, East Sixth Avenue and Downing Street. $7. 303-352-1992.

denverpost.com

Leslie Larch and Kirk Francis on the set of “Eight
Below” in Vancouver, BC. Sue Frause photo.
Since I was in Kirkenes, Norway when Kirk Francis received his Oscar for The Bourne Ultimatum : Best Achievement in Sound Mixing, I wasn’t able to watch the Oscars.
They were being rebroadcast on the BBC at some point, but I was on a ship and the highlights seemed to be CNN and anything to do with Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and annoying reruns of Larry King interviewing Janet Jackson.
I had the foresight to ask Farmer Bob to record the show while I was gone, so last night I spent the evening with Oscar.
Fortunately, I was able to see the last of the five nominated Best Picture films on the flight home from Amsterdam to Seattle: Juno. A sweet movie but not the best of the bunch. I picked No Country For Old Men and was ready to throw Peeps at the TV if Atonement won.
There’s more than one Whidbey connection. Oscar is 80 years old, the same age as our decaying Steel Electric class ferries. Oscar looks better.
Jon Stewart is one clever guy and seems to be getting better looking with age. Some choice lines of the evening: “Oscar is 80 this year, which automatically makes him the front runner for the Republican nomination” and “Normally, when you see a black man or a woman as president, an asteroid is about to hit the Statue of Liberty.”
George Clooney is one handsome guy and seems to be getting more clever with age. I love the fact that Rosemary Clooney was his aunt.
I don’t understand all the buzz about actress Catherine Heigl — and why was she so nervous? Doesn’t she get paid to read lines?
I wanted Hal Holbrook to win Best Supporting Actor for Into the Wild. He looked disappointed when Javier Bardim’s name was called.

blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com

Hyundai has announced pricing for the refreshed 2009 Sonata, which features an all-new interior, enhanced suspensions and revised powertrains delivering more horsepower and improved fuel economy. The 2009 Sonata is just now reaching Hyundai dealerships.
“You’d expect these changes and new content would lead to new price points for the Sonata,” said John Krafcik, vice president of Hyundai Motor America. “But that’s not Hyundai’s business model. With a starting price of $18,795, including delivery, the 2009 Sonata is very well-equipped to compete with the best midsize sedans on quality, craftsmanship, capability and value.” That price is for the base-model GLS with the manual transmission and four-cylinder engine. The top-of-the-line Sonata, the Limited V-6 with an automatic transmission, starts at $26,345.
The new, second-generation 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine delivers more horsepower and quicker acceleration than last year; horsepower is now 175, and fuel economy is EPA-rated at 22 miles per gallon city, 32 mpg highway. The Sonata’s 3.3-liter V-6 engine now pumps out 249 horsepower, 15 more than last year. A variable intake system is added for 2009, which further broadens its power curve, improving off-the-line acceleration and passing performance. New mileage figures for V-6-powered Sonatas are 19 mpg city, 29 mpg highway. All V-6-powered Sonatas use the five-speed automatic transmission, which features an overdrive lock-up torque converter for improved highway fuel economy. The automatic transmission has a new reducing valve and solenoid valve for smoother shift quality while the manual transmission has been refined for more precise shifts.
Inside, Hyundai designers have revamped the cockpit, including a new center console and instrument panel, which borrows design cues and materials from the premium Hyundai Veracruz. Outside, there are new bumpers, lamps, wheels and grille, and there are new chrome bodyside and bumper moldings to match the chrome grille and chrome-accented exterior door handles on Limited models.
Not all dealers opt for GT-R
Just 60 percent of Nissan’s dealers have opted to sell its expensive new GT-R supercar, but Nissan says that’s actually more than it expected, according to Automotive News. Al Castignetti, Nissan Division general manager, says 692 of Nissan’s approximately 1,100 dealers have agreed to sell the GT-R, which goes on sale in June. The agreement requires the dealer to acquire various service tools and specially train at least one technician. The company estimates the agreement could cost dealers $20,000 or more. Nissan had expected about 600 of its retailers to take on the car, Castignetti said.
Speaking to dealers at the brand’s make meeting last week, he said that information was mailed last week to instruct them on how to begin taking pre-orders for the GT-R. The imported sports car will carry a sticker price of about $70,000 — twice that of Nissan’s current sports car, the 350Z.
Nissan is forecasting only about 1,500 annual U.S. sales of the GT-R. Globally, Nissan has production to sell only 12,000 a year. But the GT-R is envisioned as a halo product to enhance the brand’s sporty image. The car carries a 480-horsepower, twin-turbo, six-cylinder engine, and marketers hope to position the Japanese-designed model against the
area, says that many U.S. dealers have not even seen the GT-R. At a dealer meeting in Las Vegas in May, Castignetti says, Nissan plans to present its upcoming products, including the GT-R and a new-generation Maxima.
Economist predicts slow sales year
Carmakers will sell about 15.7 million vehicles in the U.S. this year, the fewest since 1998, an auto industry economist said, according to Bloomberg News.
, chief economist for the National Automobile Dealers Association, said in a speech in San Francisco at the group’s convention that, “Energy costs of gasoline, home heating and cooling will continue to drain money from consumer budgets and slow down consumer spending.”
Americans bought 16.1 million cars and light trucks last year, the least since 1998. Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn has said U.S. sales might be as low as 15.5 million vehicles this year. Sales in the U.S. peaked in 2000 at 17.4 million vehicles.
“Short-term interest rates are falling, but credit problems and unemployment will persist in 2008,” Taylor said. “So the economy is a mixed picture. Dropping gasoline prices would assist light vehicle sales but are not assured in a volatile energy market.”
Auto dealers are among retailers suffering from a slump in housing and employment. Cars and light trucks sold last month at a 15.2 million annual pace, down 6.7 percent from December, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Cars.com picks favorites
Dozens of cars have been driven, votes have been tallied and the winners of the 2008 Cars.com Lifestyle Awards have been determined: Family Car of the Year is the 2008 Mazda CX-9; Work Car of the Year is the 2008
Developed to recognize the vehicles that are best suited for the lifestyle needs of today’s car buyers, the awards highlight the top choices from Cars.com’s Lifestyle Buying Guide. The guide features picks from Cars.com’s editors based on their experiences in test drives and their evaluation of criteria most important to shoppers in each lifestyle category.
New TSX en route
Acura plans to unveil a new version of its TSX sports sedan next month at the
International Auto Show, says The Associated Press. The 2009 TSX, which will go on sale in the spring, is the second generation of the luxury brand’s entry-level sedan. The company said the new version will have improved performance, styling, technology and safety features.
“The TSX is a significant step in the advancement of our sedan lineup and the continued enhancement of the Acura brand,” Dick Colliver, Acura’s executive vice president for sales, said in a statement.
The company did not announce the price or details of the new features. The current model starts at $28,190.
Acura, the luxury brand of Honda Motor Co., is hoping the new TSX can help revive sagging sales. It sold 33,037 TSX models in the U.S. last year, down 13.1 percent from 2006. Acura sales dropped 10.5 percent from the previous year.
Local racing roundup
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orlandosentinel.com

Going toe-to-toe(-to-toe) with former Giants running back Ottis Anderson and Jets tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Harrington whips up a batch of his baby back ribs and creamy corn potato mash. Delish!
Now, all kidding aside, If anyone decides to give these recipes a shot, let us know how it goes. Maybe Joey’s a better chef than quarterback.
Hey Zaroo, that was an epic fail at humor, and horrible writing in general. EPIC FAIL.
Pretty sad that when it comes to football in Detroit, we have to still endure local writers going after Joey Harrington because it’s more newsworthy than anything the Lions can provide.
I still say Joey was put in the line of fire way too early, and never had an offensive line worth spit. Another notable QB in the same draft, David Carr had the same problem in Texas. He is still a good backup to have available.
Hello Lions management, if you don’t think OL is important, review last nights Super Bowl…how did Brady look? Let’s draft another receiver !!

blog.mlive.com