Joshua Alston

Back when I lived in Atlanta, I spent my Sunday mornings with Ike Newkirk, host of "Open Line," one of the few liberal talk-radio shows on southern airwaves.

There's no polite way to describe Craig Brewer's "Black Snake Moan," so let's get it over with. Samuel L. Jackson stars as Lazarus, an old black bluesman who tries to cure Rae (Christina Ricci) of nymphomania by tethering her to his radiator with a steel chain.

Choosing between black, white and green teas has always been a bit confusing--but now you'll be seeing red. Red tea, that is. The South African import is gaining popularity in the United States, thanks to new launches from Snapple and Honest Tea (which debuts its blend this spring).

Which sounds cooler: "pass the popcorn" or "pass the pterodactyl egg"? If your kids are begging you to take them to the hit family film "Night at the Museum," you can do them one better--an after-dark museum adventure of their own.

During the making of "Stomp the Yard," the new movie set in the world of black fraternities and their traditional style of step-dancing, producer Will Packer made authenticity his top priority. "I was on the set every day screaming about how everything had to be real," Packer says. "I went and put up all my old pictures, paddles and paraphernalia so that everybody could get a feel for this." As a 13-year member of Alpha Phi Alpha, Packer wanted to share his passion for the country's oldest...

Dexter Morgan is a natural-born lady-killer. He's suave and sun-kissed, charming, gainfully employed, great with kids and sweet to his girlfriend. All things considered, Dexter would make a perfect standing lunch date, at least for anyone who considers a congenital desire to commit murder an acceptable character trait.That's the premise of Showtime's new dramatic series "Dexter." Michael C.

Looking for the 1986 debut of reggae band African Head Charge on Apple's iTunes? You'd sooner find Microsoft Office. To that end, avid record collector Keith Abrahamsson has launched Anthology Recordings (anthologyrecordings.com), the first digital reissue label, as a marketplace for obscure sounds.

In November 1978, 913 people died in a shocking mass murder-suicide, and 28 years later, the Jonestown Massacre still remains the most chilling example of faith turned against the faithful.

It's probably silly to walk into Kevin Clash's office expecting to see anything other than a grown-up's office—a desk, a phone, a computer and an ergonomic chair.

Beyoncé, 'B'Day' Every day is a "B'Day" for the diva (far right), whose new CD celebrates young womanhood and all its drama. The single "Deja Vu" reruns her unshakable bootyliciousformula.

'Justice' The trend this season is to make dramas more serialized, like "24," but don't tell Jerry Bruckheimer. The super producer's latest crime procedural explores the behind-the-scenes machinations of a team of lawyers who handle high-profile cases.

'Treasures: The Arts in Latin America, 1492-1820' The period between the landing of Columbus and Simón Bolívar's fight for independence is a big chunk of time--which produced a big lode of art.

Hanks dons another creative hat to produce the animated feature "The Ant Bully." He spoke with Nicki Gostin.My son brought a book called "The Ant Bully" home from the school library, and as we were reading it I thought, "This would make a wonderful movie." So the next day I optioned it.

This week Rufus Wainwright re-creates Judy Garland's legendary 1961 Carnegie Hall concert--right in Carnegie Hall. He talked with NEWSWEEK's Nicki Gostin.Rufus Wainwright: About five years ago they reissued the album.