The sprawling South by Southwest festivals are in full swing in Austin this week, with the music portion of events kicking off today. Can't be there? Do what I'm doing and listen online, courtesy of the newly supercool NPR Music. NPR is webcasting four concert programs from SXSW starting tonight. Tonight's lineup includes performances by Jonathan Rice and REM, while Thursday's all-day broadcast Read more

After seeing the just-announced lineup of films showing at the South by Southwest festival this year, I'm salivating. There are some movies premiering at SXSW that I've been patiently awaiting for what feels like forever, like Run, Fat Boy, Run with Simon Pegg and Hank Azaria. Then there are others that I'd just love to see before they are actually released, like Forgetting Sarah Marshall (later Read more

Fox has announced the schedule for the first weeks of American Idol, with the auditions starting Jan. 15 and the first live show airing Feb. 21; details are at The Futon Critic. Rainn Wilson will host the Independent Spirit Awards in February, Variety reports. According to Zap2It, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (formerly Eko on Lost) has been cast in the live-action G.I. Joe movie. Lou Reed will be Read more