US – Tuesday, February 9
The week's releases
Metro staff reviews the latest CDs, DVDs and books for your reading pleasure.
 
Stern: I’d do ‘Idol’ for $100M
Howard Stern took to his radio show yesterday to address the rumors that he’s a possible replacement for Simon Cowell for the next season of “American Idol.” To sum it up? He’s not going for it.
 
Dancing while the skinny lady sings
You’ve heard of the jukebox musical? David Parsons and singers AnnMarie Milazzo and Tyley Ross of the East Village Opera Co. offer a jukebox opera, playing nightly at the Joyce. Eleven Parsons dancers share the stage with Milazzo and Ross, who clutch microphones cranked to 11 and stroll through the action. On the recorded soundtrack, three drummers create a wall of sound so loud you — well, I — want to hide under the seat. Digital video of abstract patterns, natural landscapes and stunning architecture change for each song.
 
The facets of Anne Frank and her diary
Generations of schoolchildren have read and recognized their own experiences in the words of Anne Frank, finding surprising commonalities with this young girl despite the passage of generations and the unique horror of  her situation. But according to Francine Prose’s fascinating new account of the writing of Frank’s diary, our veneration of her outpourings has eclipsed a proper assessment of Anne Frank — conscientious author.

 
Channing Tatum on love and war
Channing Tatum has worked in his fair share of genres, from indie films (“A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints”) to dance flicks (“Step Up”) to blockbusters (“G.I. Joe”). In his latest, “Dear John,” the Alabama native takes on a heavy Nicholas Sparks love story about a soldier in love while at war. He talks with us about true love and blowing stuff up.
 
Published 21:01, October the 15th, 2009
 
Photo: GETTY IMAGES
 

Penn Badgley takes it off in ‘The Stepfather’

In a thriller, it’s usual to see scantily clad females take up much of the screen time.  The new movie “The Stepfather,” in theaters now, holds true to this generalization — star Amber Heard is constantly in a bikini. But don’t fret, ladies — there’s also something in it for you.

“If I had known how much I would have had my shirt off in this movie, I would have been at the gym for months,” laughs Penn Badgley, who stars in “The Stepfather” as Michael Harding, a teenager who uncovers the fact that his mother’s new, seemingly perfect fiance is actually a serial killer. And who, yes, is in most of the movie with his shirt off.

“It certainly didn’t register with me when I was reading the script, [or with] the director. When we were filming the last scene, he was talking to me while I was in a towel and he just looked me up and down and was like, ‘I had no idea how f—ing naked you would be in this movie.’”

Badgley on trying the film lead thing

“It was something that I had never done before — “it” being a couple things: a lead in a film, and a film, period,” Badgley says. “I thought of this as an exercise in making it real. I didn’t think [about doing] anything like ‘probing my worth’ as an actor. That’s not what it’s about. It’s about making [the character] real.”

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MMMpod
The February MMMpod features conversation from Ozzy Osbourne. Michael Emerson from "Lost" tells us about his days enjoying punk rock in Boston. We also dig up an old interview from the late great Howard Zinn. We have a song from Delta Spirit and The Soft Pack, who tell us where they got their name.

 
 
 
Metro Life Panel