Sunday, March 29, 2026

Take a peek behind the curtain and test drive the NEW StateNews.com today!

Features

FEATURES

Cruise, Kidman call it quits after 11 year marriage

LOS ANGELES - After 11 years of marriage, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman said Monday that they are separating because their work is keeping them apart.Pat Kingsley, a spokeswoman for the actors, said the decision was made regretfully.“Citing the difficulties inherent in divergent careers, which constantly keep them apart, they concluded that an amicable separation seems best for both of them at this time,” Kingsley said.The couple have two adopted children, Connor and Isabella.

FEATURES

London theater pays tribute to Shakespeare

LONDON - Shakespeare’s Globe is preparing a summer devoted entirely to its namesake, with “King Lear” kicking off a three-play repertory in May at London’s newest - and oldest - playhouse. This summer’s lineup starts May 12 with Julian Glover as Lear, Shakespeare’s most fearsome monarch. Joining “Lear” in repertory May 27 is “Macbeth” and then “Cymbeline” follows June 30. The 20-week season finishes Sept.

FEATURES

Horror film gives nothing new to U

Vince Estes
February 5, 2001

Just in time for the holiday comes “Valentine.” It’s a slasher film not unlike other seasonal horror favorites, namely “Halloween,” “Jack Frost” and “Uncle Sam.” And in the grand tradition, a killer dresses up as a beloved holiday icon and cuts women’s throats. Granted, the Cupid-masked slasher in “Valentine” doesn’t sport the cherub’s wings or a pot belly.

FEATURES

Dreams are like movies

Vince Estes
February 2, 2001

John Versical always has ideas floating around his head that would make good stories. And although he does entertain more serious fare, those ideas usually involve various household items violently attacking people. “I was originally going to do a cable access show about a guy who gets killed by inanimate objects, so we did one about a walkie-talkie,” the humanities senior said. Sitting alone in the empty offices of Our Small Planet Productions, 201-1/2 E.

FEATURES

Michigan college life displayed in new book

Leslie Escobar
February 2, 2001

Imagine that you are a senior in college, about to graduate with a degree in engineering, with the support of your family, friends and girlfriend.Then, you meet someone who convinces you to completely change everything about your life, right when all your work is about to pay off.This is Alex Kim’s dilemma in “Apple Pie,” a novel by David Mazzotta.Born in Grosse Pointe, Alex is the youngest son of Korean immigrants.

FEATURES

Fox refuses to promote female contraceptives

By DAVID BAUDERThe Associated Press NEW YORK - The Fox television network turned down a commercial for a female contraceptive product that its makers wanted to run during the racy hit reality series, “Temptation Island.” The show - which drew its biggest audience ever during its fourth airing Wednesday night - features four unmarried couples brought to a tropical island to test their relationships by dating attractive singles. One couple was removed from “Temptation Island” during Wednesday’s episode when it was revealed they had a child. A bargain-hunting advertising representative for the spermicide Encare said he made his request for ad time Monday, the same day The New York Times ran a story saying prices were being driven down because advertisers were reluctant to be on the show. The request was rejected, said Al Kestnbaum, president of Chestnut Communications in Greenwich, Conn. “I can’t believe that they have a show that glorifies promiscuity but won’t accept an ad for a female contraceptive product,” Kestnbaum said Thursday. Fox will accept contraceptive ads only if the product’s main stated purpose is disease protection, spokeswoman Julie Rothman said.

FEATURES

Landscapes grace Kresge

Juliana Keeping
February 1, 2001

Water, snow, wading cows and a lot of woodlands now grace the walls of Kresge Art Museum. They’re painted, of course, in landscape portraits of the 19th century, and will be there until March 18 in Kresge’s “Masterpieces of 19th-Century American Painting: From the Simple to the Sublime.” “I saw one museum patron laying on his back on the floor, looking at a painting,” Kresge curator April Kingsley said.

FEATURES

VH1 aims to please, not MTV

Leslie Escobar
February 1, 2001

Does anyone else think MTV really, really sucks?I have increasingly noticed the awards-show reruns, ’N Sync tributes and old “Road Rules” episodes are the only programs ever on anymore.I remember way back in the day, when I was in elementary and middle school, when actual music videos were still played.

FEATURES

Lopez tops film, music charts

NEW YORK - Jennifer Lopez is quickly becoming the queen of all media. Lopez’s romantic comedy, “The Wedding Planner,” debuted at the top of the box office this week, and now her new album, “J.

FEATURES

Lansing-based dance company comes to U

Juliana Keeping
February 1, 2001

MSU’s Fairchild Theater will host “25 Alive!,” a show by the Lansing-based professional modern dance company, Happendance, this Friday through Sunday.And its dancers say the show is more than just steps, turns and modern movement.“My favorite piece is ‘Shards,’” said Kelly Harris, a no-preference sophomore and member of Happendance since last year.

FEATURES

Puffy didnt possess gun, witness claims

NEW YORK - A former corrections officer who moonlighted as a bodyguard for Sean “Puffy” Combs testified Wednesday that he had never once seen the rap impresario carrying a weapon. Prosecution witness Leonard Curtis Howard said he would never have associated himself with Combs if the defendant had carried a firearm. “If he is going to carry an illegal firearm, there is no reason for me to be there,” Howard said under cross-examination.

FEATURES

New flick not so sweet

Vince Estes
January 31, 2001

Don’t get the wrong idea. Any movie with cheerleaders robbing a bank, persistent tampon jokes and a Conan O’Brien running gag is probably going to be bad. But “Sugar & Spice” is charming, in a charmless sort of way.