Was 28-year-old Haisong Jiang's controversial (yet romantic!) security-breach akin to Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman's kiss in Casablanca? That's what the NY Times is saying. The paper insists there are plenty of similarities, too many to ignore, noting that Jiang's 30 days in jail is just like Rick Blaine's outcome had he been apprehended by the Nazis and faced death before firing squad. Plus, they're both expatriates! Compare the Newark video with the Casablanca scene, and decide for yourself.
Did Newark's Kissing Bandit Channel Casablanca?
Pencil This In
THEATER: Described as Damn Yankees meets Ed Wood, the screwball musical LOST IN HOLLYWOODLAND is a goofy retelling of the Faust myth, with a lowly production assistant’s assistant standing in for the good doctor. (Naturally, a film producer serves as the devil.) The fun begins when the peon signs away his soul for fame and fortune. Having killed ‘em in Buffalo, the production now takes Manhattan via the New York Fringe Festival. - John Del Signore
The Cinecultist's Weekly DVD Pick: Slapstick City Edition
News Radio: Season Five: It really is wonderful that this trend of releasing every last television series EVER to DVD has caught on. Some of the more obscure show available for purchase may seem a bit ridiculous but for serious TV junkies, the spotty consistency of syndication isn't enough for revisiting your favorite programs. News Radio, which ran from '95 to '99, is one of those shows that's well worth a repeat viewing, and their releasing its fifth and final season this week on DVD.
Getting a Street Named After Jerry Orbach is Hard
There's Joey Ramone Place and Peter Jennings Way. But getting a street named after the city's arguably most famous TV detective who was also a Broadway legend is no easy task. The NY Times has the full story about the quest for Jerry Orbach's name to grace a street corner. Specifically the corner of West 53rd and 8th Avenue, where he and his wife Elaine Orbach lived.
Pencil This In: Early Edition
READINGS: An afternoon event for those of you who don't need to be sweltering in a thankless office - Erica Jong has a conversation with writer Ariel Levy and reads from her new autobiography, . The rain venue is across the street from the park at Coliseum Books. - Krissa Corbett Cavouras
The Cinecultist's Weekly Movie Picks: Neo-Noir Edition
This week the multiplexes seem practically flooded with new releases, in addition to the good things already out, so much so that Gothamist is starting to fall behind on our movie consumption. But never fear, we shall surely rally. Here's a few suggestions to guide your own weekend viewing.
The Cinecultist's Weekly Movie Picks: Feeling 'Breathless' Edition
Remakes and sequels and genre formula, oh my! February is a great month for releasing exactly what the studios think the people will pay to see and this week's release schedule is a textbook example of this development by marketing focus group strategy. Oh well, doesn't mean Gothamist is ready to give up on moviegoing quite yet. Here's a few suggestions to guide your weekend viewing.

