Seth MacFarlane will not be hosting next year’s Oscars. Taking to Twitter to announce the news on Monday, he wrote, “Traumatized critics exhale: I’m unable to do the Oscars again, tried to make it work schedule-wise, but I need sleep.”

I mean, it wasn’t critics who hated his hosting abilities. It was everyone.

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The year 2013 may very well be remembered as the year of the victory lap. From “Arrested Development” to the Postal Service and Neutral Milk Hotel, entertainment that was underappreciated during its time is returning to receive the love it should have initially received.

In some instances, the adulation is surprising. In other cases it’s inevitable. For Daft Punk it’s a little bit of both. The hype surrounding the dance and house duo from Paris and their brand new “Random Access Memories” is a surprise because their last official album, 2005’s “Human After All” was met with a resounding meh. But it’s inevitable, because since then, the music that they had been pioneering since the late ’90s has become wildly popular.

Did you see how we called Daft Punk a “dance and house” act in the above paragraph? That’s because when we popped “RAM” into our computers, that’s how Daft Punk registered the genre with iTunes. While they arguably play what is now called electronic dance music, or EDM, that genre name seemed to surface during their absence. In fact, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, one half of the helmeted duo, recently admitted to the British publication New Music Express that he had no idea what people were talking about when they mentioned EDM.

“I don’t know EDM artists or the albums,” he said. “At first I thought it was all just one guy, some DJ called EDM.”

But “Random Access Memories” will appeal to people who know all about EDM and to people who don’t know a thing about it. It’s a dance album with high profile guest stars — Pharrell Williams, Julian Casablancas and Nile Rogers, to name a few — who never steal the spotlight from their hosts. The interesting part about the album though, is that it flies in the face of what people might expect a Daft Punk album would sound like in 2013, because it almost sounds like what any album produced by Giorgio Moroder might sound like in 1979. In fact, the 73-year-old disco pioneer is also a guest star on the album, on a winking track titled, “Giorgio By Moroder.”

When the duo could so easily satisfy EDM-hungry fans, why would they play so far against form? Because playing against form is what made fans so excited for Daft Punk to return in the first place.

When Metro spoke with Thomas Mars of Phoenix earlier this month, we asked about the internet speculation that Daft Punk would join his band for a few songs at Coachella, as they had done a few years prior at Madison Square Garden. Phoenix tapped R. Kelly as their special guest instead.

Mars had a good reason for not calling his old friends to join them.

“You know what’s nice is that we decided to do Madison Square Garden,” he said, “because we thought, ‘How many chances were there that friends that grew up in the suburbs of Paris who were making music at the same time would be having success at the same time?’ and we had to do something together. But then once you do it, I think you have done it. What I love about their music is that they have such a strong concept. They always go in the direction, they always want to shape the future and we try to do the same thing, and try to go to places where we surprise ourselves, where you change the rules each time a bit. And so that would have been just some sort of disturbing victory lap, or an embarrassing victory lap.”

So while Daft Punk is doing a victory lap of sorts, they’re doing it on their own track.

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Twenty years ago, Zach Galifianakis moved to Los Angeles to test his luck as an actor. At the time, he befriended a Laundromat volunteer named Elizabeth “Mimi” Haist.

The two remained friends over the years, but after Galifianakis’ career skyrocketed after the first “Hangover” the two friends lost touch.

In the time they lost touch, Haist became homeless. When Galifianakis heard the news, he quickly found her a one-bedroom one-bath apartment to live in. He still pays her rent and utilities.

Their friendship goes beyond Galifianakis’ financial support. The comedian has made it a habit to take Haist, now 87, with him to red carpet event in Hollywood.

“If he’s in town, he takes me. Otherwise he lets me take a friend,” Haist told the New York Daily News. “I dress up nice and a friend helps me with my makeup. It’s fun, not something I’ve ever dreamed I’d experience. The limo takes me home afterwards.”

When out with the movie star, Haist likes to sip on lemon drop martinis with Grey Goose vodka.

Haist still works at Fox Laundry and will reportedly join Galifianakis at the premiere for “Hangover Part III” next week.

Follow Mary Ann Georgantopoulos on Twitter @marygeorgant

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‘The English Teacher’
Director: Craig Zisk
Stars: Julianne Moore, Michael Angarano
Rating:
2 (out of 5) Globes

Perhaps this wasn’t the intention of the filmmakers, but “The English Teacher” makes a strong case for not spending all your time reading and thinking life should be as dramatic as a good book. After all, that’s what’s Julianne Moore’s titular character does here.

Moore is all prim and pedantic as Linda, a studious spinster who teaches English at a small-town high school. She’s spent most of her life reading the classics instead of experiencing the world around her. One of her former students, a failed, ulcer-stricken playwright (Michael Angarano), returns to town and gives her his play to read. She feels this piece — a tear-jerking downer called “The Chrysalis” — is a masterpiece. She even stages an ambitious theatrical production featuring her school’s students, just so he won’t give up on writing to appease his father (Greg Kinnear).

As inspirational as this sounds, “Teacher” is basically in it for laughs. Directed by TV’s Craig Zisk (“Weeds,” “Parks and Recreation”), the movie plays more like a farcical version of “Notes From a Scandal,” especially once Moore and Angarano’s characters briefly get it on — on top of Moore’s classroom desk, no less. This sets off a chain of events in which secrets are revealed, lies are told and our poor, well-read protagonist has to redeem herself once she falls from grace.

“Teacher” is one of those indie comedies that’s supposedly hiding a dark, cynical streak under its sunny, sophisticated surroundings. Most of the broadly written, adult characters (Nathan Lane steals scenes, as always, as the drama teacher who directs the play) deceive one another to get what they want. Needless to say, they end up coming off even more juvenile and self-involved then the teenagers they’re supposed to educate.

And yet, it’s ultimately much too safe and sweet to pull out any truly uncomfortable stops. Even the fate of Moore’s character turns out more implausibly pleasant than you’d expect. Considering how teachers can get dismissed these days just by posting sexy photos of themselves on Facebook, she definitely gets off lightly.

As much as “The English Teacher” tells you to get your head out of the books and face reality (wasn’t that the same lesson Robin Williams gave Matt Damon in “Good Will Hunting”?) the movie is as flimsy, lightweight and improbable as the average pulp paperback – and even more flexible.

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Following a spectacular penultimate production of “Chroma,” Boston Ballet closes a superb 2012-13 season with the classic George Balanchine piece “Coppélia.” The ballet, which only made its Boston debut in 2010, is performed by Mikko Nissinen’s dancers with admirable ease and familiarity.

“Coppélia” tells the story of a playful prank gone awry, leaving a man in heartache. Lovable and gullible Franz (Joseph Gatti) becomes infatuated with Coppélia, a life-sized doll created by town inventor Dr. Coppélius. The cast-aside object of his desire, the crafty Swanhilde (Kathleen Breen Combes,) then puts on Coppélia’s clothing and tricks the lovestruck young doctor into believing that a magic spell has brought his beloved doll to life. Meanwhile, Franz is too addled by both love and drink to realize what is happening.

It is a delight to watch Breen Combes dance. She possesses a natural proclivity for storytelling through dance, as is evident in the spunky, playful way she brings Swanhilde/Coppélia to life. This talent was first brought to the stage in her breakout role as one of the stepsisters in “Cinderella” (2008). Her energy is contagious. Every dancer brings 100 percent to the stage — from the rickety walk of Dr. Coppélius (Robert Kretz) to the mechanical movements of the other dolls in his attic. Not one performer misses a beat — and this includes the Boston Ballet students who feature in Act II — despite the considerable theatrics and tricky footwork this production demands.

This great ballet for children and adults alike — the storyline is easy to follow and the ballet is marked by a fair bit of humor — is sure to make it a Boston Ballet repertory favorite for years to come.

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The relationship between the flamboyant pianist Liberace and his young lover dazzled at the Cannes film festival Tuesday, throwing the spotlight on gay rights at the movie industry’s largest annual gathering.

Director Steven Soderbergh said he struggled five years ago to secure funding for “Behind the Candelabra” because some financiers thought the film would only appeal to a gay audience and, at a cost of $25 million, would be a financial risk.

Eventually he received financing from Time Warner’s HBO cable channel and made the film with Michael Douglas playing Liberace and Matt Damon as Scott Thorson, with whom the pianist had a secret five-year affair.

Soderbergh said it was a coincidence that the film was being released during a global debate on gay rights and same-sex marriage, but acknowledged that it was very timely.

France last month became the 14th country to legalize gay marriage, a move also taken in the United States by 12 states and Washington, D.C. Liberace, a huge celebrity during his lifetime, publicly denied his homosexuality at a time when being gay was widely considered taboo.

“In making the film, the socio-political aspect of it was not really in my mind but I was focused on … trying to make this relationship as believable and realistic as we could,” Soderbergh told a news conference, flanked by Douglas and Damon.

“When this issue comes up, of equal rights for gays, I am hoping 50 years from now we will look back on this and wonder why this was even a debate and why it took so long.”

Douglas and Damon said they were both keen to work with Soderbergh, who has announced his plan to retire from filmmaking after this movie.

They were both also impressed by the script based on Thorson’s autobiography, “Behind the Candelabra: My Life with Liberace,” that was released in 1988, a year after the entertainer’s death at age 67 from an AIDS-related disease.

‘Spectacular’

In the film, Thorson, a naive 18-year-old farm boy from Wisconsin, meets 58-year-old Liberace in Las Vegas in 1977 and moves in with him, joining his glamorous lifestyle of champagne, jewel-encrusted cars and spectacular wardrobe.

An unrecognizable Debbie Reynolds plays Liberace’s beloved mother Frances, with her trademark button nose hidden under a prosthetic one, while a taut-faced Rob Lowe is a plastic surgeon who operates on both Liberace and Thorson.

The relationship starts to unravel as Thorson becomes addicted to drugs, hawking jewelry given to him by his lover to fund his habit, and the sexually voracious Liberace’s interest moves on to other, younger men.

The two actors made light of their love scenes, with Douglas joking about asking Damon what flavor lip balm he preferred and Damon saying he could swap stories with Sharon Stone, Glenn Close and Demi Moore after sharing a bed with Douglas.

Douglas, whose performance as the primped, toupeed pianist was lauded by critics, said he met Liberace once, in a Rolls Royce convertible while in Palm Springs with his father, the movie star Kirk Douglas.

He became emotional, voice breaking and tears in his eyes, when asked how he became involved in the film.

“It was right after my cancer and this beautiful gift was handed to me and I am eternally grateful … to everybody for waiting for me,” said Douglas, who was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2010 and needed chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

“Behind the Candelabra” will premiere on HBO in the United States on May 26 and open in foreign theaters from June 7.

The film is one of 20 movies in the main competition at Cannes vying for the Palme d’Or award for best picture, which will be presented Sunday.

Soderbergh, 50, who won the Palme d’Or in 1989 with “Sex, Lies and Videotapes,” said this was his last movie for a while.

“I am absolutely taking a break. I don’t know how extended it is going to be, but I can’t say if this were the last movie I make that I would be unhappy,” he said. “It’s been a nice run.”

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It’s been four years since the first Hidden City Festival gave audiences a peek into some of the city’s abandoned and neglected gems. The festival situated art and performance pieces inside little known or rarely seen sites like the dilapidated Metropolitan Opera House and the dust-covered infirmary of the Disston Saw Works. Since then, Hidden City has continued that mission with tours, events, workshops and stories revealing these secret spaces on its website.

“Beyond the festival,” says founder Thaddeus Squire, “Hidden City has refined its focus on informing and engaging the people of Philadelphia and the surrounding area in a deeper exploration and a deeper love affair with the city — and hopefully also inspiring them to a bit of local action.”

The second Hidden City Festival opens Thursday, with 10 ambitious contemporary art projects at nine sites across the city. The Dufala Brothers will sculpt a “defunct infrastructure” out of industrial components in the boiler room of Globe Dye Works, while Ben Neiditz and Zach Webber are creating improvised structures from salvaged materials at the Revolutionary War-era Fort Mifflin. Ars Nova Workshop will host a Radical Jewish Music concert series at Shivtei Yeshuron-Ezras Israel, a storefront synagogue in South Philly.

“We asked for ideas that were informed by the past history of the sites,” says Hidden City creative director Lee Tusman. “We hoped that the artists’ projects would refer to that history in either in a practical or in a fantastical way, but that imagined a new use for the site based on knowing its history.”

In addition, each of the projects was designed to encourage participation, beginning with a crowdfunding platform that helped kick-start the projects, and Hidden City hopes will also ease future fundraising efforts for projects and preservation of the sites. The artworks themselves also each feature interactive components. Germantown residents will be encouraged to schedule meetings or events in Germantown City Hall, Jacob Wick’s re-envisioning of Germantown Town Hall. Visitors to Hawthorne Hall will be inducted into the Society of the Knights of Pythagoras, a secret society established by the Rabid Hands Art Collective.

“Philadelphia does a great job with its colonial and constitutional narrative,” Squire says, “but we’ve left the 19^th and early 20^th centuries pretty much in the closet. The festival expands that narrative to give people access to stories and histories that can change their view of what the city is about.”

If you go

Hidden City Festival 2013
May 23-June 30
$20-$70
267-428-0575
www.festival.hiddencityphila.org

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A monkey that belonged to popstar Justin Bieber has become German national property after the singer failed to provide authorities with the documents needed to reclaim the pet seized by customs officials.

Bieber had until Friday to hand in the necessary paperwork, which included health and species protection certificates after Mally, his capuchin monkey, was confiscated at Munich airport in March while the singer was on tour.

But Judith Brettmeister, spokeswoman for the shelter which has cared for Mally since then, said the 19-year-old Canadian singer had not been in touch or handed over any documents and would no longer be able to reclaim the animal.

“The monkey belongs to Germany now,” she said, adding that Germany’s Federal Office for Nature Conservation would now take the monkey away and place it in a group of monkeys, though she did not know where that would be.

“We hope that it will be as soon as possible because the monkey needs to be integrated soon — it is becoming really strange because it only knows people, so it has not learned any proper social behavior,” Brettmeister said, adding that the monkey was doing well otherwise.

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British singer George Michael remains in hospital under observation for head injuries five days after a car accident, his publicist said Tuesday.

“I can confirm that George remains in hospital but purely as a standard precaution for observation because he suffered some bumps and cuts to his head. But he’s making good progress, he’s fine and he’s really looking forward to getting home,” the spokeswoman said.

British media have reported that the 49-year-old former Wham! frontman fell out of a car he was traveling in on the M1 motorway just outside London during rush hour — the latest of a string of recent accidents and health scares.

The tabloid Sun newspaper interviewed a woman who said she had skidded to a halt after the singer fell out of the vehicle in front of her, and that she had used her car to shield him from other vehicles.

“There was a nasty cut on his forehead and the back of his head. There was blood all down his face and on his teeth,” the Sun reported driver Katherine Fox as saying.

Last year, the “Careless Whisper” singer cancelled a tour of Australia due to “major anxiety” brought on by a 2011 battle with severe pneumonia in Vienna, where he was treated in intensive care for a month.

Michael has sold an estimated 100 million records over his career, but in the past few years has hit the headlines for his personal life more often than for his music.

In 1998 he was arrested in California for “engaging in a lewd act” in a public toilet. He has also had a number of run-ins with British police for possession of narcotics, and served time in jail for driving under the influence of cannabis.

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Plenty of Hollywood stars probably have trouble remembering all the hundreds of reporters and fans and presidents they meet. Brad Pitt, however, thinks his poor memory might be an actual medical condition. He finds it nearly impossible to remember the faces of anyone he meets, he told Esquire.

For awhile, he tried being honest about his problem. “I took one year where I just said, This year, I’m just going to cop to it and say to people, ‘Okay, where did we meet?’ But it just got worse. People were more offended. Every now and then, someone will give me context, and I’ll say, ‘Thank you for helping me.’ But I piss more people off,” the star says.

Brad says he’s planning to get tested to find out if his forgetfulness is actually a mental condition called prosopagnosia, or face blindness. His guilt over not remembering people means he rarely goes out – you can’t forget someone you never meet. It’s sweet that he even feels bad about this. I’d consider it an honor to have Brad Pitt forget my face.

Pitt recently opened up about Angelina Jolie’s double mastectomy. He is incredibly glad that the procedure went well. “it’s such a wonderful relief to come through this and not have a spectre hanging over our heads. To know that that’s not going to be something that’s going to affect us.”

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Though she’s currently (finally) in rehab, Lindsay Lohan may soon be headed to court again. The apparel manufacturer that produced her line of leggings, 6126, is suing the star for, essentially, being Lindsay Lohan.

Clothing manufacturer DNAM is filed a $5 million lawsuit against Lohan in a California court on Friday, alleging that the actress’s permanent state of scandal hurt the brand’s sales, according to E! Online.

DNAM claims that, while leggings sales were initially strong, by spring of 2011 buyers were pulling back ”because they did not want to be associated with Lohan’s drug addled image.” They added that Lohan was unable to fulfill her PR responsibilities to repair the damage because she was in rehab at the time.

It wouldn’t be her lat stint in rehab. Lindsay Lohan entered a Southern California rehabilitation facility in early May as part of a court-ordered plea deal over a car crash last year, her lawyer said, but her last-minute switch of rehab centers left prosecutors fuming.

Lohan, 26, initially agreed to complete a 90-day stay in a locked rehab facility in the New York area, but instead caught prosecutors off guard by checking into a facility in Newport Beach, about 40 miles south of Los Angeles.

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“Mad Men” star January Jones has no apparent interest in dispelling rumors about who fathered her 20-month-old son Xander. Why? She thinks – quite reasonably, it must be admitted – that it is nobody’s dang business.

Jones, who stars as Betty Francis on “Mad Men,” told the New York Times, “That’s my son’s business. It’s not the public’s business.”

Maybe not, but the public really, really wants to know. Doesn’t that count for anything? Please? What if the public promises not to make fun of Mad Men’s Fat Betty anymore? No? Boo, January Jones.

Xander’s parentage isn’t the only unusual thing surrounding his birth – after he was born, January ate his placenta. As far as she’s concerned, that’s no odder than the rest of the birthing process. “I’m a mammal. I nursed. I did all kinds of weird stuff,” she says.

Earlier this year Rumors swirled around Liam Hemsworth (who is currently engaged to Miley Cyrus) and January Jones getting “hot and heavy” at a pre-Oscar party at the Chateau Marmont.

“They went to a private house party, and right in the middle of the party, January was clinging to Liam, saying, ‘You’re so handsome,’” a guest revealed in Life & Style. “He kept saying, ‘We can’t do this here.’ Then they left holding hands and went out in the hallway and were making out. She was wasted. It wasn’t good.”

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After rumors earlier this week, it’s now confirmed that Kelly Rowland and Paulina Rubio will judge “The X Factor” next season. They’ll join Simon Cowell and Demi Lovato on the panel. “It’s taken more than a decade, but I’m delighted to finally be on a panel with three girls (I think!),” Cowell told Us Weekly. “Paulina and Kelly both have great taste and massive experience in the music industry and together with Demi, this is going to be a fun panel. It just feels like the time to do something different.”

Mexican singing star Rubio sounds like she’s not planning to take any lip from Cowell. “Simon, be careful what you wish for! Let’s see if you are ready to handle me. Empieza la fiesta, amigo!” she said.

Both Rowland and Rubio have previous singing judging experience: Rubio appeared on the Mexican show “La Voz,” and Rowland co-hosted the highest-rated season of the UK version of “The X Factor.” It should be fun to watch them on the American “X Factor” if only to see whether they can remember which show they’re on.

Rowland is also finally going public about how it feels to live in Beyonce’s shadow in her new song, “Dirty Laundry.”

The song is a raw, angry account of surviving an abusive relationship and watching Beyonce become a superstar and leave her behind.

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Is this the end for “Twilight” lovebirds Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart? Pattinson was spotted this morning moving out of the house he’d shared with Stewart, his girlfriend of almost four years. He took off with his truck piled high with suitcases and belongings, and his two dogs, Bear and Bernie, in the front seat.

No! Not the dogs!

According to the Daily News, Robert and Kristen’s relationship has been strained for some time, and they’ve been arguing about her moodiness and her cheating with director Rupert Sanders last year. Kristen is reportedly devastated by the breakup — although they’ve agreed to see other people, she doesn’t want to, and doesn’t want Rob seeing anyone else either.

News of the breakup leaked yesterday, but initial reports claimed it was just a time out, and that Rob and Kristen would continue to share a house “because of the dogs.”

They’ll be “back together in no time,” the source claimed. That, or they’ll bring their dogs to intensive family therapy.

Rob and Kristen recently celebrated Kristen’s 23rd birthday by crashing a record release party for Hanson at L.A. nightspot No Vacancy. The birthday girl arrived around 11 p.m. with Rob and about 10 friends in tow, though it was unclear if they knew ahead of time about the band’s party. “They weren’t overly affectionate or anything, but at points they were standing together as they talked to friends,” a source said.

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Amanda Seyfried and “Star Trek Into Darkness” star Chris Pine are set to co-star in an upcoming film adaptation of the young adult post-apocalyptic book “Z for Zachariah,” according to Variety. Seyfried will play a young woman who runs a farm, believing herself to be the last survivor of a nuclear apocalypse, until Pine’s character turns up. They’ll join Chewitel Ejiofor in the film, which is set to begin production later this summer.

Presumably this is one of those nuclear apocalypses that either kills you or turns you into an impossibly beautiful specimen of blondness. Hate those. But if two people had to repopulate the human race, at least Seyfried and Pine would make Humans 2.0 pleasingly shiny-haired and dimpled.

Hanging out in the future is nothing new for Pine, who plays Captain James T. Kirk in the sequel to J.J. Abrams’ highly acclaimed reboot of the famous franchise.

“It’s a lot of fun. I love Kirk,” said Pine at the Sydney premiere, reprising his role as the suave captain in the film.

“Kirk’s a man of passion who’s ruled by his heart. He’ll go from crying to laughing to yelling to loving, and I just love his passion.”

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CBS has decided not to air tonight’s season finale of “Mike & Molly,” because of a plotline that hits a little too close to home. The episode, titled “Windy City,” follows Mike (Billy Gardell) and Molly (Melissa McCarthy) confessing secrets to each other as a tornado bears down on Chicago.

According to Deadline, the brass at CBS decided that it would be insensitive to air the episode tonight, given Monday’s devastating tornado in Oklahoma. Instead, they will delay it until sometime later in the summer. Tonight’s episode will be a rerun instead.

CBS is not the only network to change its normal schedule because of the tornado: NBC has decided to replace a scheduled recap episode of “The Voice” with a one-hour live special from Oklahoma City, according to Deadline. The live results episode of “The Voice” will air at 9 p.m. as planned.

At least 91 people, including 20 children, were killed when a two-mile-wide tornado tore through an Oklahoma City suburb, trapping victims beneath the rubble as one elementary school took a direct hit and another was destroyed.

President Barack Obama declared a major disaster area in Oklahoma, ordering federal aid to supplement state and local efforts in Moore after the deadliest U.S. tornado since one killed 161 people in Joplin, Mo., two years ago.

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Doors founding member Ray Manzarek is dead at the age of 74. The keyboard player, who contributed greatly to the band’s signature sound on songs like “Light My Fire” and “Riders on the Storm” lost a battle to bile duct cancer in a clinic in Germany.

Ever since the death of Doors singer Jim Morrison in 1971, Manzarek was crucial to keeping alive the band’s legacy. He was opposed to Oliver Stone’s portrayal of the band in his 1991 film, saying, “That Oliver Stone thing did real damage to the guy I knew: Jim Morrison, the poet.” But during his life, Manzarek gladly shared his experiences in multiple projects commemorating the band.

We’d like to remember Manzarek with this poignant performance of “The End” from the band’s “Live at the Hollywood Bowl” performance.

The official statement, from the Doors Facebook page is below.

Ray Manzarek, Founding Member of The Doors, Passes Away at 74

Ray Manzarek, keyboardist and founding member of The Doors, passed away today at 12:31PM PT at the RoMed Clinic in Rosenheim, Germany after a lengthy battle with bile duct cancer. He was 74. At the time of his passing, he was surrounded by his wife Dorothy Manzarek, and his brothers Rick and James Manczarek.

Manzarek is best known for his work with The Doors who formed in 1965 when Manzarek had a chance encounter on Venice Beach with poet Jim Morrison. The Doors went on to become one of the most controversial rock acts of the 1960s, selling more than 100-million albums worldwide, and receiving 19 Gold, 14 Platinum and five multi-Platinum albums in the U.S. alone. “L.A.Woman,” “Break On Through to the Other Side,” “The End,” “Hello, I Love You,” and “Light My Fire” were just some of the band’s iconic and ground-breaking songs. After Morrison’s death in 1971, Manzarek went on to become a best-selling author, and a Grammy-nominated recording artist in his own right. In 2002, he revitalized his touring career with Doors’ guitarist and long-time collaborator, Robby Krieger.

“I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of my friend and bandmate Ray Manzarek today,” said Krieger. “I’m just glad to have been able to have played Doors songs with him for the last decade. Ray was a huge part of my life and I will always miss him.”

Manzarek is survived by his wife Dorothy, brothers Rick and James Manczarek, son Pablo Manzarek, Pablo’s wife Sharmin and their three children Noah, Apollo and Camille. Funeral arrangements are pending. The family asks that their privacy be respected at this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, please make a memoriam donation in Ray Manzarek’s name at www.standup2cancer.org

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If you’ve been to the Reading Terminal Market recently, chances are you’ve noticed Meltkraft, slinger of specialty grilled cheese sandwiches. Yes, this is that place that sells the grilled cheese with brisket and mac ‘n’ cheese between the bread. Chef Rebecca Foxman is the one responsible for the recipes — everything from the crazy concoctions to the mellow flavor combos. We spoke with her about the shop, the market, and where she finds comfort food.

You guys have been open since January. How’s the first year going so far?
Great, better than expected! It’s been a lot of fun getting to know the area and the crowd, the regulars. We’ve been accepted pretty quickly and we’re excited.

What’s it like to have a spot in Reading Terminal Market compared to one that stands alone?
Being here is different because the traffic that comes through is extremely heavy at times. Having an open stand is different than a storefront and door. There are a lot of people walking by, and they can see everything that we sell, and I like that aspect.

Have you become buddies with other business owners in the market?
Oh yeah. Everyone here helps each other. If we run out of something or we need some last-minute produce, there’s a place to get it. And we’ll return the favor and help restaurants in the building. The Amish and Mennonite communities are wonderful, too.

What is your most popular menu item?
The Valley Thunder grilled cheese. By far, that one sells the most.

Grilled cheese is a great comfort food. Where do you go in Philly when you’re craving comfort?
I’m a huge fan of authentic Asian food. I go to Rangoon a lot, and I enjoy Banana Leaf. I like Jewish concept food a lot, too. I love things that are spicy, heavy and fishy. For drinks I like the bloody mary at Oyster House. Or I’ll go to Monk’s or Percy Street Barbecue for beer — they have an unbelievable can beer list. But really, I just love a good bloody mary.

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Can women really have it all? Is it truly possible to strike the perfect balance between career and family in the modern world? “Rapture, Blister, Burn” suggests a surprising — and perhaps unpopular — answer to those enduring questions: maybe not.

This Huntington Theatre presented play is all about the women. Catherine is a successful academic with a lonely personal life. Catherine’s college friend Gwen, on the opposite end of the spectrum, spent her post-grad time getting married and popping out a couple of kids. Both 40-something women are experiencing the female version of a mid-life crisis and regretting their life choices.

“This play is about how our expectations — things that seem good on paper — turn out differently in real life,” says Kate Shindle, who plays Catherine. “A lot of people say this is a play about feminism, but it’s not really. That just happens to be the context for telling this story.”

The four lead female characters — Catherine, Gwen, Catherine’s mother and Gwen’s 21-year-old babysitter — represent three generations and three varying perspectives on gender roles. Shindle empathizes with her own character most.

“She’s very similar to me, in many ways,” she says. “She thinks things through before feeling them. She could give you a long talk about how relationships between men and women play out and why, but she doesn’t know as much as she thinks she does.”

Despite all the discussion on feminist theory, Shindle says this show is a comedy, not an education.

“It sounds heavy, but it’s pretty funny,” she explains. Both Catherine and Gwen go to ludicrous lengths to try to undo their life decisions. “It all leads to some pretty ridiculous comedic situations.

Still, the play doesn’t completely shy away from the topic — or from getting a little spicy. “This show is a little bit raunchy,” says Shindle. “There’s a lot of talk about pornography and whether it’s anti-feminism or empowering.”

If you go

“Rapture, Blister, Burn”

May 24 through June 22

Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA

527 Tremont St., Boston

$15-$80, 617-266-0800

huntingtontheatre.org

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Prince has signed a new deal with Kobalt Music Group to market and distribute his future work without giving up control over his rights, the company said on Monday.

The singer/songwriter, who is famed for changing his name to an unpronounceable symbol in a wrangle over musical rights, will release his own work as well as a slate of new music by other artists that he produces, Kobalt said.

The announcement came just hours after the 54-year-old Prince was given a Billboard Icon Award (lifetime achievement) and rocked the Billboard Music Awards ceremony with a version of his “Let’s Go Crazy” dressed in electric green trousers and sporting an Afro hair style.

Kobalt, which is also a global independent music publishing company, launched an artist and label services division in 2012, allowing artists to maintain ownership of their work and control over when, how and where they will release their music.

Traditional labels often take ownership or part-ownership of the artist’s material and often dictate how it is used, an increasingly important sticking point in an industry where digital music can be instantly available.

“This new venture gives Prince the flexibility and freedom he’s always sought in a label partner,” Kobalt President Richard Sanders said in a statement.

The Grammy award-winning singer will also provide artist development and recording services for newly signed artists that Kobalt will market and distribute.

Kobalt was set up in 2000 by Swedish businessman Willard Ahdritz and its publishing roster includes former Beatle Paul McCartney, Icelandic singer Bjork and Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder.

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Disney said on Monday it will produce a new “Star Wars” animated series to air on television in autumn 2014, giving fans of the science-fiction franchise fresh stories before the next live-action film hits theaters in 2015.

“Star Wars Rebels,” based on George Lucas’ multibillion-dollar film franchise, will be set in the two decades between the events of the third and fourth films, where the Empire becomes a dominant force in the galaxy, Disney said.

“I think ‘Star Wars Rebels’ will capture the look, feel and fun that both kids and their parents love about ‘Star Wars,’” Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm, said in a statement.

The animated series, which will premiere on the Disney Channel and will be shown across Disney XD channels around the world, will come before a new “Star Wars” film in 2015.

“Star Wars: Episode VII,” to be directed by J.J. Abrams, is the first of three new “Star Wars” films announced by Disney in October 2012, when it purchased George Lucas’ Lucasfilm company for $4.05 billion.

“Star Wars” has become a cultural phenomenon since the first film was released in 1977, making characters such as Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Darth Vader, and phrases like “May the Force be with you,” part of popular culture.

Anticipation is building among the vast “Star Wars” community for the new film, which will be filmed in Britain. The six-film franchise has grossed more than $4.4 billion at the worldwide box office.

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“So You Think You Can Dance” may be in its 10th season, but judge Mary Murphy is having no less fun in her job. The bubbly ballroom pro chatted with us about season 10 while en route to the airport for a TV appearance, her chatter infused with a hint of southern twang and that signature gregarious laughter of hers.

The show is almost 10 years old — how does that make you feel?
It went by in a snap. I’m very grateful and really proud of the show, and all the dancers that come back. I would say a good half of [this year’s contestants] are probably 18 — people that we’ve never seen before, and they’ve just been waiting for the day [they can audition]. So many of them say, “I started when I was 9, dreaming about the day I’d be on ‘So You Think You Can Dance.’” It’s starting to be like a rite of passage for some dancers, because they are very marketable after this and our past dancers have been very successful.

Do you stay in touch with any former contestants?
We certainly do. One of our guest judges this year is gonna be tWitch, who was one of our past contestants, and he’s engaged to Allison Holker, who was another one of our contestants. I think they’re really our first wedding, even though they weren’t on the same year — they met each other and did a lot of gigs together and fell in love and it’s just really the coolest thing. I think one of our executive producers is even gonna be marrying them! [Laughs] Kathryn McCormick, of course she got the lead role in the last “Step Up” movie, Alex Wong and Jess LeProtto, Neil [Haskell] too, they were all on Broadway. Danny Tidwell was on Broadway and of course Mark [Kanemura] is traveling with Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Eliana just talked to me like 3 weeks ago — she was our prima ballerina last year that won  — and now she said “You’re not gonna believe what I’m doing — I’m traveling with Taylor Swift!” To have another career after she’s had a career is just so interesting, and they’re just so excited that other doors have now opened up for them. And Chehon [Wespi-Tschopp]  just did a movie with Witney [Carson], and of course Kherington [Payne] was the star of “Fame”  — so all the kids are doing really well they all seem to come back to see the show, or come to the auditions where they auditioned.

You’re like the mama bear of the group, holding everyone together. It’s amazing that you can keep everyone’s names straight after 10 years of contestants!
Well, I’ve been pretty good. I think the only hard year was the year that we did a double season, where we did auditions right after the season and I was also auditioning the Canadian show, so there was three sets of contestants and I think I do remember calling somebody by the wrong name. [Laughs]

Are you sending any contestants on the hot tamale train this season?
Oh, for sure. I certainly put a couple contestants on that train during the auditions, which is rare. And for the very first time I even [used] a cuss word — and I very rarely cuss in my life. I take that out of my vocabulary, mainly because you’re on live TV and you never want to let anything slip — it doesn’t go down well with the network. And it never sounds right and I don’t like it: I don’t like when it other people do it, and I don’t let the dancers around me do it either. I do sound so much like a mother, don’t I? [Laughs] And there was a spectacular kid this season doing animation and something came flying out of my mouth, and it just caught me so off-guard.

How do you keep the show fresh and exciting after 10 years?
Well, as far as any new format twists, they haven’t developed anything or let us know of anything that might change. I do know that they do plan on keeping the two winners this season and that was new last year. We have more new guest judges which is always fun. Minnie Driver is a new judge this season — she studied dance and royal ballet in England. Most of the people that we usually ask to guest judge, I think there’s only maybe that doesn’t really dance and that’s mark Diana stone she was from the new girl, but she was very good on performance tips and things like that. And Jason Derulo was a guest judge and Wayne Brady — he was a lot of fun. He does music in his dances and his videos and he also danced on Broadway, believe it or not, in “Chicago.” So I think people start getting kinda keyholed into one thing and then you find out a little bit more of how they got started. But a lot of these people have dance in their background and they love, love, love the show. You know that they’re huge fans when they sit there and they go over the different seasons and who their favorite dancers and what their favorite dance was that they have memories of a specific dance. It’s cool when you meet somebody like that and they’re so invested in the show. They care about the kids and they also know as far as auditioning all the time how tough that life is as well. So they’re very caring on what they say to the contestants and I’ve really appreciated that from the guest judges we’ve had so far.

And no season would be complete without the opinions of your co-judge, Nigel Lythgoe. What’s your relationship like off-set?
Me and Nigel went to England and met Prince Charles this year at Buckingham Palace, it was the coolest thing. It was really surreal for me. This woman I know invited me then I asked her if I could invite Nigel. Nigel’s a hard person to get something for and I know he’s really involved with England still — their soccer teams and the BAFTA and everything else — that I just felt really good about saying to him, “Would you like to go to Buckingham Palace and meet Prince Charles?” So it was one small thing that I could give back because I am so grateful to him and the other producers that chose me and had faith in me.

Yes, you were gone for a season while you underwent treatment for thyroid cancer.
Yeah, but everything’s worked out now and I’m very healthy. So everything’s worked out for the best.

What’s your biggest piece of advice for dancers?
I think it’s really important about doing your homework on who you choose to represent you. I think as far as dancing goes, most of them they get lost into accepting one initial manager. They really need to go around, they need to do their homework, they need to get references, they need to talk with other people. That’s the person that is going to be guiding your career. Obviously all of them are fantastic dancers, but you have to be careful in Hollywood.

What would you tell yourself 10 years ago, just starting out on “SYTYCD”?
I’d like to even take it back further than that. If I could talk to myself and all the other dancers, it’s about nutrition. Most of us dancers are skinny, and I used to be no exception. I was so skinny. I ate like a football player, and I ate fast food twice a day, I ate dessert — I was dancing 8 to 10 hours a day, it didn’t matter. But I think we relate being skinny as being in good health, and what kids need to understand in the dance industry right now, what you do to the body right now you’ll pay for later. … Nobody, as a dancer, ever talked to us about nutrition. Nobody talks about it because we’re so engrossed in getting ahead and dance practicing and not eating. If you eat properly your muscles will respond better and recover faster. If you keep yourself hydrated, your muscles will recover and respond better. So I think that’s my biggest note to myself, I feel like that’s part of my mission now.

Joel McHale often teases you on “The Soup.” Does that ever get to you?
I have to say, years and years ago, the first time he did it it really hurt my feelings. It made me cry. And the next time, he brought me down [to the show], and everybody from the set was running over to me, talking about the contestants and this that and the other. And he was in makeup and I said, “You know you made me cry a couple weeks ago.” And he said, “What? Mary, don’t you know I love you and I respect you?” He said, “I love what you guys do on that show, I love your enthusiasm. Don’t take it that way. That’s why I brought you here today, because we love you.” And so then I was always looking forward to it, and then I just started getting bummed when he wasn’t showing me. (Laughs)

“So You Think You Can Dance” airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on Fox. Follow Meredith Engel on Twitter @MeredithAtMetro.

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On the surface, the two red carpets couldn’t seem more different. But in actuality, they have a lot in common, like a plethora of wacky, attention-grabby outfits. We look at the best and the worst.

The post The Word, May 20: Cannes vs. the Billboard Music Awards appeared first on Metro.us.

The men of “Heroes” are not as young as they’d like to be.
Credit: Mark Garvin

At 26, M. Craig Getting is at the other end of the age spectrum from the characters he’s directing in “Heroes.” Tom Stoppard’s adaptation of Gérald Sibleyras’ play “Le Vent Des Peupliers,” which will close Lantern Theater Company’s season, is the comic tale of three World War I veterans plotting to escape from their retirement home. But Getting felt that he could relate to these characters on a different level.

“These men who served in World War I were younger than I am now when they served,” Getting says, “and it changed their lives forever. They never lost sight of who they were at that time, so my way into the play has been to bring my age to the table as something that these men would love to tap into. I’ve also had the luxury of working with some really talented older actors, so I knew right away that my job was not to bring my own experience to the table as much as help them mine their experiences.”

A King of Prussia native, Getting studied theater at Kenyon College in Ohio before returning to the region, where he’s worked at the Lantern in several capacities, from sound to set construction. His first directing opportunity was the Lantern’s 2011 production of Martin McDonough’s “A Skull in Connemara.”

He’ll direct Peter DeLaurier, Mal Whyte and Dan Kern in the wistful story, as the three aging vets aim to reach a stand of poplar trees they can glimpse from the home’s neglected terrace. “They’re in the twilight of their lives and trying to escape,” Getting says. “Trying to escape the mundane existence of a veteran’s home, and also trying to escape the unstoppable march of time.”

Despite that poignant story, Getting is quick to point out that Sibleyras’ writing and Stoppard’s wry adaptation make it far less heavy than one might expect. “If you think of it as a play about World War I veterans in an old folks’ home, you start to lose sight of the fact that it’s actually a really witty play. A lot of the comedy comes from the discrepancy between how old the men actually are and how young they would like to be.”

“Heroes”

Through June 9

St. Stephens Theater

10^th and Ludlow Sts.

$20-$38, 215-829-0395

www.lanterntheater.org

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Is happiness something that happens to you, or something that you make happen for yourself? If you ask “Glee’s” Jenna Ushkowitz that question, she’ll tell you it’s the latter.

In fact, she’s written the book on finding your own glee through the power of self-affirmation and positive thinking. “Choosing Glee: 10 Rules to Finding Inspiration, Happiness, and the Real You” is part memoir, part self-help tome, and all motivational. Written through anecdotal vignettes, personal photos, lists and charts, “Choosing Glee” is Ushkowitz’ way of giving back to the world, putting out positivity as a means of reaping more good vibes. “I like to think that positivity is a choice, and you wake up and make a conscious decision,” says the 27-year-old actress. And though she admits, “I’ve never been through any really dark times where I hit rock bottom,” she seems to know what she’s talking about.

So, what’s this book really about?

It’s 10 rules that I live by, to success, to where I’ve gotten, where I am. I just wanted to share that with my fans and readers. You know, to tell them that it’s something you can choose to believe in every day. It’s like your mantra. You know, there are like people who feel that they’re the victim and it’s always happening to them? You can turn that around, and change your outlook on life, and it really makes life a little bit brighter.

Have you always thought this way?

Yeah, I think I’ve always been this way. You could say I was born this way, but I also think I owe it to my parents teaching me to have a good head on my shoulders, and rely on my support system, and always stay true to who you are.

But what about somebody who wasn’t born that way?

Well, again, it’s making it a choice. You make it a choice, and every day you wake up and make it your mantra and say today I’m going to make the best of every situation and look at every situation with the glass half full. And then, after awhile, it sort of becomes subconscious and it becomes a way of life. It’s a lifestyle change, it’s like a diet. People always say, oh, I’m going to diet for this amount of time — well, it’s actually a lifestyle change you need to make.

Can you think of a recent situation where you had to make that choice?

Sure, I mean there was a time in the industry where I did a pilot — my belief is that everything happens for a reason — so I was doing this pilot and it got picked up, and I was all excited, and then I got this phone call that they actually weren’t going to pick me up, that they were going to recast me. And the first thing I thought was, ‘Oh, well, I’m not a good actor; I’m fat, I’m ugly, they hate me!’ (laughs) And then you turn around and say, you know what? It wasn’t me, it wasn’t meant to be, and actually it turned out that the reason was that I was a little too young. But you still believe, Oh, they’re lying,’ so I went to my friends and we vegged out and did our thing, it’s like a breakup. But then you get over it. And I then went on to book “Spring Awakening,” and then “Glee,” and wouldn’t have finished college. So you have to look at it like, well, I wouldn’t have been able to experience those things.

So you’re obviously a big believer in karma.

Oh yeah, 100 percent. Everything happens for a reason and I believe in karma. I believe that what you give to the world — the energy that you give to the world — is what you get back. And it will come back to you if you’re not good to it. (laughs)

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It’s been three years since her brief romance with Joe Jonas, but Demi Lovato is still thinking about it.

“We were in a relationship and we broke up, and at one point I was really mad at him,” she tells ABC’s Nightline. “When you go through heartbreaks and things like that, you always have in mind somebody. It’s like when you hear a song on the radio that reminds you of somebody, you’re going to be reminded. But keeping that in mind… it’s a delicate balance.”

Things between the former “Camp Rock” co-stars are much better now, too: “We have a great friendship,” she says. “And we may not be as close as we used to be, but that’s OK.”

Lovato, along with her co-host Cowell, are reportedly going to be joined by Mexican singer Paulina Rubio and former Destiny’s Child member Kelly Rowland to round out the judging panel for “The X Factor,” according to E! Online.

Both Rowland and Rubio have previous singing judging experience: Rubio appeared on the Mexican show “La Voz,” and Rowland co-hosted the highest-rated season of the UK version of “The X Factor.” It should be fun to watch them on the American “X Factor” if only to see whether they can remember which show they’re on.

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NBC is looking to smooth things over with Ann Curry, the “Today” co-host who was dumped from the show last summer, in the hopes that she can score the first sit-down interview with Angelina Jolie following the actress’ revelation that she underwent a double mastectomy, according to Radar Online.

Curry was unceremoniously replaced as co-host of “Today” in 2012. It was far from smooth transfer: On her last day on set, Curry actually cried when she announced she was leaving the show; she then visibly flinched when Matt Lauer tried to comfort her. The entire watching world cringed simultaneously — and her loyal audience left in droves, thus knocking “Today” off its throne as the No. 1 morning program by “Good Morning America,” a title “Today” had held for 15 years.

“Angelina made it known after Ann was demoted from ‘Today’ that the only journalist to interview her from the Peacock network would be Curry,” a source says. “Ann would be prominently featured in all of the promotions and publicity if Angelina agreed to do it.”

Looks like it’s time for the network brass to make nice with Curry.

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Benicio del Toro is the star of Arnaud Desplechin’s “Jimmy P. (Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian),” part of the official selection at the Cannes Film Festival. He talks to Metro about his (inevitable) bond with co-star Mathieu Amalric and shares his thoughts on the Palme D’Or.

On playing a real life character
“Even though Jimmy Picard really did exist, it doesn’t change my interpretation of the character. The most important thing was to portray him as a human being, not as an Indian. I based myself on Georges Devreux’s book, “Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian,” as well as Arnaud Desplechin’s script. I then worked on Jimmy’s accent, before finding in him something that touched me on a more intimate level. It all gets a little too personal from here…”

On working with director Arnaud Desplechin
“I was aware of some of his work. But I liked the way Arnaud spoke to me about the project. I could see his passion for it. When he asked me to be in “Jimmy P.” he made me read the script and then gave me some of his movies to watch. I appreciated the fact that he was trying to make me step into his world. I opened myself up to him completely, as Jimmy does with George in the movie.”

On his friendship with Mathieu Amalric
“We met in Cannes several years ago. I love and respect a lot of his work. You can’t force the chemistry between two actors. You either have it or you don’t.”

On winning an award
“I’m lucky because I have already been to Cannes several times and been involved in the official competition (he won the Best Actor award in 2008 for Steven Soderbergh’s “Che.”) The excitement is the same each time. It would be amazing for the movie to win an award. As for me…”

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Arrivals and show highlights from the 2013 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas.

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Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift won the big prizes Sunday at the Billboard Music Awards, which also honored legendary performers Madonna and Prince.

Bieber, who was named top male artist, also performed during the event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. He also took home Billboard’s first Milestone Award, chosen by fans, for musical innovation and ingenuity.

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  PHOTOS: 2013 Billboard Music Awards

“I’m 19 years old. I think I’m doing a pretty good job, Bieber said. “It should really be about the music. This is not a gimmick. I’m an artist and I should be taken seriously. And all this other bull should not be spoken of.”

The teen heartthrob did not elaborate, but in recent months he has been involved in several high-profile incidents ranging from driving offenses to reports of hard partying and drugs being found on his tour bus in Sweden.

Swift won the top award of the night, artist of the year. She thanked her fans by telling them: “You are the longest and best relationship I’ve ever had.”

Pop diva Madonna was named top touring artist for her MDNA Tour, 2012′s highest-grossing concert series.

Madonna strode onstage to accept the accolade from will.i.am wearing black fishnet stockings, garters and a padlock choker.

The MDNA tour grossed more than $305 million from 88 sold-out shows and attracted an audience of 2.2 million people. Madonna acknowledged her fans, saying: “A showgirl needs her fans. Thank you for supporting me for three decades.”

She also thanked her four children for being “incredibly supportive.”

The Billboard Music Awards, hosted by “30 Rock” star Tracy Morgan, opened with Bruno Mars performing “Treasure.”

Early awards went to Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, who won top rap song for “Thrift Shop,” and Nicki Minaj, who took home the top rap artist honor.

Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” was named top digital song, while Swift took home the top Billboard 200 album award for “Red.”

French producer and DJ David Guetta was named top electric dance music artist.

Among musical highlights, Bieber performed “Take You,” which was chosen by his fans via Twitter, before pairing up with will.i.am for “#ThatPOWER.”

Other musical pairings included Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull singing “#LiveItUp,” Minaj and Lil Wayne’s “High School,” and Christina Aguilera and Pitbull singing “Feel This Moment.”

Selena Gomez, Chris Brown, Icona Pop, South Korean pop sensation Psy and Swift, who was nominated for 11 Billboard awards and received eight, performed as well.

In an apparently unscripted moment, Miguel, performing “Adorn,” leapt from the stage and landed feet-first atop two young women. No mention was made on the broadcast as to whether they were injured.

The show ended with the Icon Award for Prince, in recognition of his unique career and accomplishments in the music industry. Prince performed a medley to close the show, but did not deliver an acceptance speech.

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