C-U Blogfidential

Article in Bloomington (IL) daily The Pantagraph about the producers of the WILL-TV program, PRAIRIE FIRE, filming scenes in Funks Grove, Illinois, for an upcoming episode depicting the early life of Abraham Lincoln.

Articles in Champaign daily The News-Gazette about the discussion of an independent recommendation to establish a fifth local public-access channel that would be jointly operated by Champaign and Urbana. Also, your editor bitches about something he already bitched about earlier this year.

Article in Champaign newspaper The Daily Illini about the debut of JEAN SHORTS, a half-hour comedy directed by University of Illinois students Sam Copeland and Roshan Murthy.

Former C-U artistic troublemaker Hart D. Fisher swears that his C-U horror movie, THE GARBAGE MAN, is thisclose to terrorizing a video store near you … and hopefully not just ones in C-U.

Article in Champaign daily The News-Gazette about Paxton, IL, residents bemoaning the destruction of the Paxton Majestic Theatre in the downtown area, completely gutted by a fire on Tuesday.

Article in Champaign daily The News-Gazette about the taping of a segment for NBC’s The Today Show in Champaign-Urbana featuring University of Illinois men’s basketball coach Bruce Weber, freshman walk-on player Jeff Jordan, and his father Michael Jordan. Also, your editor bitches (for the first time in a while) about a usual suspect.

Article in Champaign daily The News-Gazette about the sale of the Twin Cinemas in Villa Grove to Bill and Tana Hayes, who have rechristened the theater Gemini Cinemas.

Article in Champaign newspaper The Daily Illini about the six-part, student-made serial ONE FINE DAY!, the first episode of which will debut October 4, 2007, on YouTube.com.

Article in Urbana newspaper The Public i about the case brought against the Champaign School District by the late Vashti Cromwell McCollum, challenging the presence of sectarian religious classes in public schools. Also, your editor explains its inclusion here.

Article in Champaign daily The News-Gazette about the production of a video by Australian filmmaker Christopher Faull, featuring students from Franklin Middle School in Champaign. Plus, your editor bitches about the usual.

An Associated Press story in The Los Angeles Times reports that Roger Ebert’s signature “thumbs up/thumbs down” coda has become a sticking point in the film critic’s contract negotiations with his television producer, Disney-ABC Domestic Television. Also, your editor wonders out loud, “If Hef gets a biopic, why not Ebert?”

Article in Champaign daily The News-Gazette about Mike and Gail Hanafin, owners of the Princess Theatre in LeRoy, IL, taking over management duties after allowing former operator Ben Slotky to back out of his lease agreement. Plus, your editor ruminates about the failure of the Castle Theatre in Bloomington under Slotky’s ownership.

Article in Champaign daily The News-Gazette about Illinois State Police arresting Michigan resident Paul J. Adams III near Watseka, IL, on charges involving speeding, possession of marijuana, and “unlawful use of unidentified audiovisual recordings.”

Article in Champaign newspaper The Daily Illini previewing the impending production of the “80’s throwback action movie about a homeless vigilante/superhero,” THE TRANSIENT, produced by Chris Lukeman and Anne Shivers. Plus, C-U Blogfidential brings you exclusive set photos of the Transient and Steve in action!

Article in Bloomington (IL) daily The Pantagraph about the reopening of the Majestic Theatre in Streator, IL, on its 100th anniversary. Also, your editor bitches about old business.