Entertainment

This image released by GKIDS shows Himi, voiced by Karen Fukuhara in English and AIMYON in Japanese, left and Mahito Maki, voiced by Luca Padovan in English and Soma Santoki in Japanese, in a scene from Hayao Miyazaki’s “The Boy And The Heron.” (Studio Ghibli/GKIDS via AP)

Miyazaki’s ‘The Boy and the Heron’ is No. 1 at the box office

Top spot a first for the Japanese anime master

This image released by GKIDS shows Himi, voiced by Karen Fukuhara in English and AIMYON in Japanese, left and Mahito Maki, voiced by Luca Padovan in English and Soma Santoki in Japanese, in a scene from Hayao Miyazaki’s “The Boy And The Heron.” (Studio Ghibli/GKIDS via AP)
Bass player Sean Drabitt has performed in over 40 countries. (Courtesy Sean Drabitt)

Jazz maestro’s Victoria homecoming brings Charlie Brown Christmas to life

Bassist Sean Drabitt returns to Victoria every year to uphold his Christmas tradition

Bass player Sean Drabitt has performed in over 40 countries. (Courtesy Sean Drabitt)
This image released by A24 Films shows Hong Chau in a scene from “Showing Up.” (Allyson Riggs/A24 via AP)

What’s streaming now: Nicki Minaj’s birthday, Julia Roberts is in trouble

New this week for your entertainment pleasure

This image released by A24 Films shows Hong Chau in a scene from “Showing Up.” (Allyson Riggs/A24 via AP)
The poster for ‘Two Truths and an AI’ was created by Vancouver Island University theatre professor Leon Potter using an AI image generator tool. (Submitted image)

Vancouver Island University challenges audiences to spot the AI play

‘Two Truths and an AI’ will run Dec. 6-8 at the Nanaimo campus

The poster for ‘Two Truths and an AI’ was created by Vancouver Island University theatre professor Leon Potter using an AI image generator tool. (Submitted image)
FILE - Writer Norman Lear, 97, participates in Jane Fonda’s Fire Drill Fridays rally, calling for action to address climate change at Los Angeles City Hall Friday, Feb. 7, 2020. Lear, the writer, director and producer who revolutionized prime time television with such topical hits as “All in the Family” and “Maude” and propelled political and social turmoil into the once-insulated world of sitcoms, has died, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023.. He was 101. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

All in the Family producer Norman Lear dead at 101

TV showrunner and liberal activist responsible for series of groundbreaking TV shows

FILE - Writer Norman Lear, 97, participates in Jane Fonda’s Fire Drill Fridays rally, calling for action to address climate change at Los Angeles City Hall Friday, Feb. 7, 2020. Lear, the writer, director and producer who revolutionized prime time television with such topical hits as “All in the Family” and “Maude” and propelled political and social turmoil into the once-insulated world of sitcoms, has died, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023.. He was 101. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)
A 2022 performance of Stars on Ice. (Courtesy Stars on Ice)

Stars on Ice Tour glides into Victoria at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre

The tour brings the best of current, future and past figure skating champions

A 2022 performance of Stars on Ice. (Courtesy Stars on Ice)
Gene Simmons, left, Tommy Thayer, and Paul Stanley of KISS perform during the final night of the "Kiss Farewell Tour" on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Long Kiss goodbye ends with a promise for digital avatar future

Iconic rock band announces avatar plan at end of farewell tour to a cool reception

Gene Simmons, left, Tommy Thayer, and Paul Stanley of KISS perform during the final night of the "Kiss Farewell Tour" on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria presents In the Flesh: The Nude in Art, Past and Present. (AGGV)

Check out ‘In the Flesh’ at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria

The exhibition premiers Dec. 9

  • Dec 4, 2023
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria presents In the Flesh: The Nude in Art, Past and Present. (AGGV)
Musician Avril Lavigne signs her star at Canada’s Walk of Fame’s 25th Anniversary gala in Toronto, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey

Avril Lavigne, Rick Mercer honoured at Canada’s Walk of Fame anniversary gala

Walk of Fame honours notable Canadians in fields spanning from entertainment to humanitarianism

Musician Avril Lavigne signs her star at Canada’s Walk of Fame’s 25th Anniversary gala in Toronto, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey
The sensational sextet known as Festive Brass will be hitting town soon. (Submitted photo)

Festive Brass group presents fun Christmas concerts in Greater Victoria

One show in Sidney, one in Victoria

  • Dec 3, 2023
The sensational sextet known as Festive Brass will be hitting town soon. (Submitted photo)
Celebrated musician Chad Allan, who carved a place in Canadian rock music history as co-founder of iconic bands the Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive, has died. He was 80. (The Guess Who/Facebook)

Chad Allan, founding member of Guess Who and BTO, dead at 80

Allan had suffered a number of strokes since 2017

Celebrated musician Chad Allan, who carved a place in Canadian rock music history as co-founder of iconic bands the Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive, has died. He was 80. (The Guess Who/Facebook)
Rick Mercer arrives on the red carpet for the 2021 Scotiabank Giller Prize, in Toronto, Monday, Nov. 8, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Avril Lavigne, Rick Mercer among honourees at Canada’s Walk of Fame gala

The 25th anniversary broadcast of Canada’s Walk of Fame will air on Dec. 16

Rick Mercer arrives on the red carpet for the 2021 Scotiabank Giller Prize, in Toronto, Monday, Nov. 8, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
FILE - Former Pogues member Shane MacGowan performs on stage with his group The Popes, at the 10th annual Fleadh, in Finsbury Park, north London, July 10, 1999. Macgowan, the singer-songwriter and frontman of The Pogues, best known for their ballad “Fairytale of New York,” has died. He was 65. His family said in a statement that “it is with the deepest sorrow and heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our most beautiful, darling and dearly beloved Shane Macgowan.” The singer died peacefully early Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023 with his family by his side, the statement added. (Michael Walter/PA via AP, File)

Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan, laureate of booze and beauty, dead at age 65

Singer’s songwriting and persona made him an iconic figure in contemporary Irish culture

FILE - Former Pogues member Shane MacGowan performs on stage with his group The Popes, at the 10th annual Fleadh, in Finsbury Park, north London, July 10, 1999. Macgowan, the singer-songwriter and frontman of The Pogues, best known for their ballad “Fairytale of New York,” has died. He was 65. His family said in a statement that “it is with the deepest sorrow and heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our most beautiful, darling and dearly beloved Shane Macgowan.” The singer died peacefully early Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023 with his family by his side, the statement added. (Michael Walter/PA via AP, File)
Canadian country singer Brett Kissel played at the Kelowna Community Theatre on. Nov. 24, 2023. (Facebook/Brett Kissel)

‘It hurts from smiling’: Country singer shouts out Kelowna crowd

Brett Kissel played at Kelowna Community Theatre on Nov. 24

  • Nov 29, 2023
Canadian country singer Brett Kissel played at the Kelowna Community Theatre on. Nov. 24, 2023. (Facebook/Brett Kissel)
FILE - Taylor Swift performs during “The Eras Tour” in Nashville, Tenn., May 5, 2023. According to Spotify Wrapped, Swift was 2023’s most-streamed artist globally, raking in more than 26.1 billion global streams since Jan. 1, 2023. That means the pop powerhouse has dethroned Puerto Rican reggaetón star Bad Bunny, who held the coveted title for three years in a row: 2020, 2021, and 2022. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)

Taylor Swift elbows Bad Bunny off podium as Spotify’s most-streamed artist

Miley Cyrus’ ‘Flowers’ is Spotify’s most-streamed song of the year with 1.6 million streams globally.

FILE - Taylor Swift performs during “The Eras Tour” in Nashville, Tenn., May 5, 2023. According to Spotify Wrapped, Swift was 2023’s most-streamed artist globally, raking in more than 26.1 billion global streams since Jan. 1, 2023. That means the pop powerhouse has dethroned Puerto Rican reggaetón star Bad Bunny, who held the coveted title for three years in a row: 2020, 2021, and 2022. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)
Bella White’s Burn Me Once is featured on the Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes soundtrack. (Bella White/Facebook)

Island country songwriter Bella White on new Hunger Games soundtrack

Burn Me Once is on the album featuring Olivia Rodrigo, Rachel Zegler and Sierra Ferrell

Bella White’s Burn Me Once is featured on the Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes soundtrack. (Bella White/Facebook)
Damon Calderwood will play Canadian First World War fighter pilot Billy Bishop in ‘Billy Bishop Goes to War,’ staged at Vancouver Island University’s Malaspina Theatre Dec. 1-3. (Submitted photo)

Musical about a Canadian First World War fighter pilot flying into Nanaimo

‘Billy Bishop Goes to War’ to be staged at the Malaspina Theatre, Dec. 1-3

Damon Calderwood will play Canadian First World War fighter pilot Billy Bishop in ‘Billy Bishop Goes to War,’ staged at Vancouver Island University’s Malaspina Theatre Dec. 1-3. (Submitted photo)
(Instagram @parishilton)

Paris Hilton announces the arrival of a baby daughter, London

Paris Hilton had a Thanksgiving surprise to share: a daughter named London.…

(Instagram @parishilton)
Playland’s new ThunderVolt roller coaster is shown in drone video. (Source: PNE)

B.C. set to plug in newest roller coaster: Playland’s $16M ThunderVolt

Italian-made machine given name that suggests ‘electrifying speed’, will start to roll in 2024

Playland’s new ThunderVolt roller coaster is shown in drone video. (Source: PNE)
Nigel Edwards and Dr. Prean Armogam talk about the short documentary “Son of a Farmer” that screened at the Gate House Theatre in Port McNeill. (Tyson Whitney - North Island Gazette)

Short documentary showcases North Island doctor’s inspiring life story

The documentary was filmed by Nigel Edwards and produced by Winbox Media

Nigel Edwards and Dr. Prean Armogam talk about the short documentary “Son of a Farmer” that screened at the Gate House Theatre in Port McNeill. (Tyson Whitney - North Island Gazette)