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Thursday, August 5, 2010 – Daily News – 5A Pastimes In the annals of motor- sports this weekend’s “24 Hours of LeMons” car race, featuring theme- based, $500 cars on the three-mile, 15-turn Thun- derhill Raceway Park road course, is a must see event. The race starts close to 130 vehicles ranging from real sports cars to pick-up trucks, vans and utility vehicles at 9 a.m. Satur- day with the goal of com- pleting the most laps before the event ends at 4 p.m. Sunday. The action takes a break Saturday night, resuming at 9 a.m. Sunday. Teams of drivers will vie for first place and the $1,500 in nickels that it pays. There is an award for best overall theme, which may be even more coveted than the win. “These teams have unlimited latitude to use their imagination and resources to display out- rageous and, often-times, politically incorrect themes to add to the fun of the event,” said creator Jay Lamm. “Last time we were here we had a Tiger Woods theme car that had Mrs. Woods standing over a prone Tiger Woods flail- the spirit of a low cost event. They destroy the team’s car by smashing it with an excavator. The prize for this honor is $500 in nickels and a crushed car. Those seeking to wit- ness this debacle of auto- motive racing can get tickets at the gate either day including a full- access pit pass for $20. A two-day ticket can be obtained Saturday for $30. Thunderhill Park is in ing a nine iron. It was hilarious unless you were Tiger Woods,” Cars are seen with can- nons, sails, Batman and Superman heroes plus every other imagined crazy presentation. One vehicle is planning to have Barbie’s dream car in action when the green flag waives Saturday. Despite the general disregard for the purest elements of automobile racing, when the check- ered flag falls, it comes down to the fastest car, the best drivers and the team’s ability to survive that determines the win- ner. With 130 cars on the track, survival is the name Lots of options for Katie Couric at CNN if that's what she wants Los Angeles Times (MCT) moved. Although she still has almost a year to go on her contract, speculation is starting to heat up on whether Katie Couric will remain with CBS as anchor of its evening news- cast or move elsewhere in 2011. There has always been talk that Couric was a likely replacement for Larry King at CNN once he stepped down from his hourlong chat show. However, with British talk-show host Piers Morgan expected to take that job, that window may be closing on Couric, according to a report in the New York Times. Couric But just because King's 9 p.m. ET show may go to someone else doesn't mean that there aren't other openings for Couric at the cable news channel if that's what she wants. CNN is strug- gling in just about every evening hour and would gladly plug Couric in anywhere to try to stop the bleeding. Even if Couric had her heart set on CNN's 9 p.m. slot, odds are the network would find a way to make that hap- pen. It's not as though Morgan is some estab- lished brand that can't be BOOK BARN Used Books Tues-Fri 10-5 Sat 10-2 THANK YOU RED BLUFF We are now celebrating our 16th Anniversary 619 Oak St., Red Bluff (530) 528-2665 The real question is whether Couric would want to go to CNN. Although she has not had the smoothest of rides since lea ving NBC's "Today" show to take over as anchor of the "CBS Ev ening News," she still gets a bigger audi- ence than most cable news pro- grams. It remains to be seen if she would view moving to cable as a step backward. If Couric does want off CBS' signature news- cast, her broadcast options are pretty limit- ed. Both ABC and NBC are set with their anchors — Diane Sawyer and Brian Williams, respectively — and a return to morn- ing, while easily doable on CBS, would also seem unlikely at NBC or ABC. That leaves syndica- tion. In terms of a pay- day, an afternoon talk show featuring Couric would likely be an easy sell to television sta- tions. The risk is to Couric's image. She has always walked a fine line between serious newscaster and celebrity figure. A daytime talk show may lower her stature as a journalist, and you can't put a price tag on that. Jack the Ribber Come by for the Best Lunch in town • Ribs •Tri-Tip • Pulled Pork • Specials Tues.-Sat. 6am-8pm Sun. 10am-3pm Closed Monday 1150 Monroe St. 527-6108 of the game,” said track President David Vodden. For one team, the abil- ity to survive will be determined by the Peo- ple’s Choice Award. A panel of drivers selects one car and team based on their assessment of that team’s not keeping within Willows just seven miles west of Interstate 5 on highway 162. It offers all spectator amenities, including parking, food service, restrooms, first aid and hill-side viewing. For information about the event call 934-5588 or visit www.thunderhill.com. Arts & entertainment 24 Hours of LeMons in Willows Montana Morrison Parents guide to new movies The Orlando Sentinel (MCT) THE OTHER GUYS Rating: PG-13 for crude and sexual content, language, violence and some drug material What it's about: Mismatched cops try to bust a Wall Street evil-doer, and win the respect of their fellow cops. The kid factor: It stars the ever-juvenile Will Ferrell, has lots of action and occasional naughty language. Lessons: Do not judge a cop by his desk, job title or car. Violence: Gunplay, car chases, slapstick Language: The odd comic blast of profanity Sex: Talked about in the crudest, PG-13 manner Drugs: Alcohol is consumed, a coke bust goes wrong. Parents' advisory: Ferrell makes comedies for the inner- teenage boy in us all; suitable for 13 and up. DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS Rating: PG-13 for sequences of crude and sexual con- tent, some partial nudity and language What it's about: An ambitious guy must lure an unsus- pecting dope to dinner where rich Wall Street-types can mock him. The kid factor: The comedy is broad and daft, with exceptionally goofy characters fleshing out most scenes. Lessons: The real "schmucks" are those who think mocking others is funny. Violence: Not really Language: A little profanity, here and there Sex: Talked about and pursued, comically Drugs: Wine, liquor Parents' advisory: The message in-between the laughs — that even those we mock have a story, and that those who mock can be clueless themselves — may resonate with teens; OK for 13 and up. Pop culture Q&A: Rory Cochrane quit the TV grind Akron Beacon Journal (MCT) Q: When "CSI: Miami" started years ago, there was a young actor named Rory Cochrane who played Tim Speedle. He left to do movies. I saw him in one with Keanu Reeves — then nothing. Is he doing any- thing now? A: An interest in other roles and weariness with TV work prompted Cochrane to leave the series after two seasons. He told the Web site CSI Files at the time: "I felt (the show) was never-end- ing and the grind was a lot. It's nice being on a hit show and the viewers are very supportive, but I couldn't really take it any- more." But he still had a contractual commitment to the show and was brought back for an episode during its sixth season. He has also been in the movies "A Scanner Dark- ly" (the Keanu Reeves movie you mentioned), "Public Enemies" and "Right at Your Door." He is in "Passion Play," an upcoming movie with Bill Murray, Mickey Rourke and Megan Fox. He played a Russian spy in "The Company," a TNT miniseries about the CIA, and was on 24 for part of a season. Q: On "America's Got Talent" this season, there was a 24-year-old opera singer by the name of Carlos who was eliminat- ed from the finals by the judges. That was a shock to me! Did any opera group pick him up? Has he been selected by any talent agent? He was real- ly a STAR. Some of my friends and I would love Crafter’s Boutique 40 Crafters in 1 Shop! Mon.-Fri. 10:30 to 5:30 Sat. 11-3 Come & Shop Or Rent a Space to Sell Your Crafts Gifts for family & friends Plenty of parking on Pine Street 650 Main St., Red Bluff 530 528-2723 to know what has become of him. A: That was Carlos Aponte, a singer from Puerto Rico. I have not seen anything about his plans, but his prospects look good. A YouTube video of his appearance has been viewed more than 800,000 times, and numerous blogs have talked him up. Q: I am trying to find the name of an old black- and-white vampire movie. The only info I can give you is at the end a young man and a young lady get into a horse-drawn sleigh and there is snow every- where. And I believe an old man waves goodbye to them. That's all I can remember. A: Well, it wasn't in black-and-white, but this sure sounds like "The Fearless Vampire Killers, or Pardon Me But Your Teeth are in My Neck," a 1967 movie by director Roman Polanski. The movie, which Polanski wanted to call "Dance of the Vampires," was heavi- ly edited before its the- atrical release in the U.S. But it has been more recently visible in Polans- ki's original version, including on DVD. Q: Can you please tell me if "The Tudors" will be on again? Really a good show. The actors did a fine job. I think it was on Showtime. A: The final episode of the series about Henry VIII aired in June. Three seasons are also on DVD. The fourth and final one is available for preorder on Amazon.com, but I have not yet seen a release date. Q: I recall years ago, seeing a PBS show called "Mother-in-Law," starring Diana Rigg. At the time, I was remiss and did not tape it. Unfortunately, I have never been able to obtain a copy of it. I had just about given up, when I saw your column recent- ly, and thought: "Why not give it a try, and contact Rich and see if he can help." A: I suspect you are remembering "Mother Love," a delightfully nasty miniseries starring Rigg as a woman whose need to control her son leads to some extreme behavior. It aired on pub- lic television in 1989, and the cast also included "NCIS's" David McCal- lum as Rigg's ex-hus- band. Unfortunately, as far as I can tell, it has not found its way to home video. ___ Do you have a question or comment about movies, TV and other popular culture? Write to rheldenfels@thebeaconj ournal.com or the Akron Beacon Journal, 44 E. Exchange St., Akron, OH 44309. Please mark the note for Mailbag and do not phone in questions. The Montana Morrison Gallery will be hosting an Artists Reception 5-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 6. This will be the closing reception for the "Faces" show, and the gal- ley will then be closed until Sept. 1. The Community is asked to join the gallery in a moment of silence at 2:05 p.m. today in remembrance of Montana's life.