Arts

About 7.6 million people tuned in to the season five premiere of “Jersey Shore” on Jan. 5.

That means 33 percent of all 18 to 49-year-olds in the United States watched Paul “Pauly D” Delvecchio learn a tough lesson about the seriousness of exfoliation combined with over tanning, which he described with the utmost medical wisdom as “burning his face off.”

The Tyler Civic Theatre aims to serve as a community outlet for diversity during the holiday season with two events from its December lineup.

Scheduled a day apart from one another, the Chanukah-Klezmer Concert and the Tyler Community Band Christmas Concert provide audiences an opportunity to experience both a Jewish holiday celebration as well as traditional Christmas festivities.

Those wishing to get into the holiday spirit will be provided a charitable opportunity to do so later this month. The 2nd Annual Habitat for Humanity Heroes & Hope Benefit Concert will be held at 7 p.m. on Nov. 17 at First Presbyterian Church of Tyler.

Proceeds from the concert, coordinated by non-profit organization affiliate Habitat for Humanity of Smith County, will be used to provide low-income families a chance at homeownership.

When Café Tazza opened nearly four years ago, general manager Octavio Tellez decided not only to provide Tyler with an authentic Italian bistro experience, but also an outlet for East Texas artists to display their creativity.

When Ryan Adams sings the lines, “Last time I was here, it was raining/It ain’t raining anymore” in the opening track of “Ashes & Fire,” he could be referencing his previous and critically underwhelming 2007 solo release, “Easy Tiger.”

However, if there was indeed a rain cloud hanging over his latter solo efforts, the release of Ashes & Fire brings us a more relaxed Adams that seems to believe it has dissipated.

Before I begin this review, I must tell you what this movie is not.

This is not a shoot’em up action flick as the trailer may lead you to believe, but rather an art-house film in disguise.

It is similar to last year’s “The American,” when some moviegoers felt they were victims of false advertising.

If you want to see that shoot’em up film, spend your $8.50 on “Killer Elite,” as I am sure you will not be disappointed by the body count.

By America’s standards, I have horrible taste in television.

The nation’s top five favorite TV shows are “Dancing with the Stars,” “Modern family,” “X Factor,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “New Girl,” according to this week’s TV Guide’s Most Popular TV Shows.

It wasn’t until the 30s on TV Guide’s list that my favorite show popped up. While I understand the addictiveness of “X Factor” (despite being almost exactly the same as “American Idol”), I think there are a few shows on TV right now that America is neglecting.

Over the past month, I have watched Netflix executives show they have forgotten the very simple rule of satisfying their customers: don’t make them mad.

Previously, it was the decision to axe the unlimited instant streaming/1 DVD rental plan in favor of separate plans that, when combined, increase the prices by 60 percent.

Today, however, it is Qwikster that has sent the Internet aflame with fresh hate, derogatory comments and outbursts of whining, the likes of which have not been witnessed since the cancelation of Joss Whedon’s Firefly.

Rise Against has returned to the alternative scene with their sixth studio album, “Endgame.” This album is a follow up to their commercially successful album, “Appeal to Reason,” which peaked at number three on the Billboard Top 200. “Endgame” debuted on the chart at number two and sold 85,000 copies it’s first week.

The album features 12 tracks that invite us to rethink the way we view everything from homophobia to the treatment of mankind in general.

“Endgame” is an evolution of the band’s musical diversity.