Chicago Public Radio to host poetry reading
The "Chicago Public Radio Presents" series plays host to a "UniVerse of Poetry" reading and taping at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, at the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts, 777 N. Green St., Chicago. Fady Joudah of Palestine, Ilya Kaminsky of Ukraine, Kwame Dawes of Jamaica and Ghana, and Ofelia Zepeda of the Tohono O'odham Nation are among the poets reading their work to be taped for later broadcast on WBEZ 91.5-FM. A wine and cheese reception follows. Tickets cost $15, $12 for CPR and Victory Gardens Theater subscribers, $10 for students.
A new 'Twist'
PBS' "Masterpiece Classic" launches a "Tales of Charles Dickens" series with a new production of "Oliver Twist," airing in two parts starting at 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, on WTTW Channel 11.
From the 'Down' side
I'll be writing at length about it in Friday's Sports section, but permit me to briefly plug Danny McBride's wicked baseball satire "Eastbound & Down," debuting at 9:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, on HBO. McBride plays Kenny Powers, a former star pitcher still insisting on a life of privilege. HBO also premieres Alexandra Pelosi's new documentary, "Right America, Feeling Wronged - Some Voices From the Campaign Trial," in which she interviews John McCain supporters about their thoughts on Barack Obama, at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 16.
'Hanger' on
The run-of-the-mill Sylvester Stallone action flick gets a much-appreciated jolt of intelligence from Janine Turner of "Northern Exposure" in "Cliffhanger." John Lithgow chews all the great-outdoors scenery as the villain trying to regain some stolen money. It's at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, on FX.