Robots make comedy debut

Providing a catchy alternative to professional wrestling and other popular combat sports, Comedy Central added a new series to its lineup of sitcoms.“BattleBots,” an action-packed series consisting more of homegrown strength than loud, exaggerated wrestlers with colorful costumes and even more colorful names, brings reality-based fighting to a whole new level.The show, which consists of one-on-one battles between metallic robots built entirely by contestants, is proving to be hot after just a few episodes.“‘BattleBots’ is probably one of the most amazing shows I have ever seen,” Lyman Briggs freshman Manish Shah said.

Living the dream doesnt translate into selling out

Every underground act seems to hate pop music and everything it stands for. They hate “Total Request Live” and teeny bopper Britney Spears going diamond when most underground acts can’t even ship enough copies to go gold.Being a star doesn’t mean you don’t love music.

Mainstream art leaves audiences with few choices

Mainstream musicians have put the last nail in the coffin of big music, making it nothing but the same brand with a different label. To make it big, one must sell out.

Holy Toledo! City offers zoo and more

TOLEDO, Ohio - In 1835 Michigan lost a battle to Ohio.It wasn’t over football, basketball or any other sport.It was a fight to keep what would become known as The Glass City.

'Copa' takes stage at Wharton

Bright colors, swinging sounds, vibrant dancing and supreme singing are all key in a hit musical. “Copacabana” proved itself to be just that at its Wharton Center opener Tuesday night.

Girlfight packs a potent punch

When looking at a particular film, there are certain values to look for - certain virtues that can make or break the spirit of a movie.The acting, for example, can lift a film above all of its hurdles, despite how horrible or great the story is.

Coffee Talk

When Judy Wang was 21, she decided not to go to college. So her parents bought her a coffee shop to manage instead.“For the first two years, I worked really hard - I didn’t go out at all,” Wang, 25, says during a work break at 8:30 p.m.

Electronic music to hit Lansing

Scarce beats, a dearth of DJ scratching and a lack of the pulse-pounding electronic rush of techno will all end this weekend in Lansing. The Capitol Area Electronic Sound and Image Festival is coming to Lansing tonight and Saturday. The festival is free to the public and is the first electronic music festival in the Lansing area.

the Lowdown

MTV to hold Real World tryouts

This is the true story of an open casting call for the MTV series “The Real World.”Casting directors will hold open call auditions for “The Real World” and “Road Rules” from 10 a.m.

With birthday looming, its time to be a grown-up

In 10 days I will be 22.And it’s about time.I can’t wait to be done being 21 - to not feel like a kid going out on the town for the first time every time I get carded, to not have waitrons squint at me and say, “You’re only 21?” Twenty-one was an enjoyable year, sure, but I am ready to be done with trips to the bar.I was so excited to turn 21, if only so I could go to the bar with my boyfriend or have a glass of wine when I go out for dinner.

Fall features feel-good films

With the first batch of cinema greats (and not-so-greats) of the fall open and, in some cases, shut, the second batch is ready to roll out the red carpet and walk into the box office. As great movies such as Cameron Crowe’s “Almost Famous” and Christopher McQuarrie’s “The Way of The Gun” make room for the newer, younger squad of films, it’s time to preview what will be coming out soon. Opening this weekend “Remember the Titans” This movie practically is set to be one of the biggest feel-good films of the fall.

Sum 41 mixes comedy and song on inconsistent album

Sum 41 Half Hour of Power (Island Records) Sum 41 shows off a decent sense of humor on its new album, “Half Hour of Power.” Unfortunately, it’s supposed to be a band, not a stand-up comedy troupe. The album starts off with a satiric poke at Satanic-themed heavy metal with “Grab the Devil by the Horns and **** Him up the ***.” The band redoes a pack of familiar-sounding 1980s thrash metal riffs over a wordless minute, which, combined with the title, clearly skewers the excesses of the genre that spawned Metallica, Anthrax and Slayer. The rest of Sum 41’s album is not quite as clever.

King works on latest novel, film projects

His résumé reads like an American Film Institute Top 100 list, recording his work with unforgettable films such as “The Shawshank Redemption,” “Misery,” “Stand By Me” and “The Green Mile.” His movies have created genuine feeling in people for more than two decades, whether those emotions be extreme horror, deep sadness, divine absolution or even witty cheerfulness.

Despite likability, Virginwool has yet to make mainstream

Virginwool Open Heart Surgery (Breaking Records) Virginwool is a peculiar name for a band.

Camron raises the bar with S.D.E.

Cam’ron S.D.E. (Sports, Drugs & Entertainment) (Epic Records) Before rapper Mase found Christ, he found time to make the hit single “Horse & Carriage” with fellow Harlem World member Cam’ron.

Racy book shares too many sordid sex details

Run to the library, catch a better book and kiss this story line goodbye - “Run Catch Kiss” by Amy Sohn (Scribner Paperback Fiction, $12) falls far short of its potential. Just out of college, Ariel Steiner, 22, is an aspiring actress in New York City who becomes discouraged after being cast in “fat-girl” roles and after going on countless letdown auditions. The novel tells of a young woman with low self-esteem who essentially sells herself to the lowest bidder to make extra money.

Filmmakers try producing for the tube with falls latest sci-fi shows

Backed by successes on the silver screen, several filmmakers are trying their hand at television production with new shows starting on FOX this season.“Dark Angel,” produced by “Titanic” director James Cameron, and “Freakylinks,” supported by Gregg Hale, a producer of “The Blair Witch Project” and David S.

Forget almost, Crowes Famous is perfect film

It is truly amazing when a film captures the audience members’ collective heart; when every person sitting in the theater can’t help but feel all the trivial pains and pleasures put forth in the story. Unfortunately for audiences everywhere, this only occurs once in a great while. However, it did in many theaters this weekend when writer and director Cameron Crowe’s “Almost Famous” caught its first batches of well-deserved attention. The movie, Crowe’s first film since his double Academy Award-nominated “Jerry Maguire,” is set in one of rock ’n’ roll’s most cardinal eras, the 1970s - back when everything was on vinyl.

Copacabana portrays drama of life in show biz

Like many who go to the Big Apple to try to make it big in show business, Darcie Roberts got her break in New York.Tonight, Roberts plays a similar role as Lola Lamar, the leading lady in Barry Manilow’s “Copacabana,” who heads to New York to break into the business.The play is inspired by Manilow’s Grammy award-winning song “Copacabana.” “Copacabana” is the story of a small-town girl from Tulsa, Okla.