There’s plenty to see in this run up to the Oscar qualifying season. Both good and bad. Here's how to zig and zag through it all. You’ve lived a good life. Made a few bucks. Are on a few boards, because you gave some of those bucks to the opera, maybe a cancer fund, the art museum. You look good in a tux. Woman you came with fills out a dress, and it costs some money for hair like that. Not to mention the ear rings. So, when the Ape Man crashes the gala patron event at the museum and hops up on

As the debate around Immigration continues to dominate headlines around the country and as the Trump administration continues to roll out stricter policies around the issue, Ellis Island, known as the gateway to America, is celebrating immigrants and their families at the annual Family Heritage awards where this years honorees include an NBA basketball legend, a prominent philanthropic family, and a television news anchor. Basketball hall of famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and social activist ,

Theater critic Michael Bourne talks about some works with Irish connections. The Irish Repertory Theatre presents the Brian Friel play The Home Place, meanwhile New York cabby John McDonaugh talks about 35 years of “driving New York crazy”. For almost 30 years, The Irish Repertory Theatre has been presenting classic and new Irish plays. They renovated the theatre on 22nd Street last year, and WBGO theater critic Michael Bourne reviews these two shows opening the new season. Click above to hear

The art scene in Newark continues to grow. One of the exhibits featured in the city’s annual festival will be up through November. The 16th annual Open Doors Citywide Arts Festival is Newark’s biggest celebration of the arts. Sponsored by Newark Arts, the festival was designed for the public to discover artist studios, galleries, and pop-up events in the downtown area. Lauren Craig, Marketing Manager for Newark Arts council believes Open Doors offers something for everyone. "The great thing

Bloomfield College's Assistant Professor of Creative Writing/English Jonterri Gadson will be attending the New York Television Festival's Scripts Competition as an Official Artist. Gadson's half-hour pilot comedy script was named an Official Selection of the festival that runs from October 23rd to October 28th in Manhattan. Jonterri Gadson’s debut poetry collection, Blues Triumphant, was published in 2016. She is also the author of two chapbooks. Gadson co-directed Writing from the Margins at

The Broadway season is underway, but theater critic Michael Bourne is looking back -- way back -- You can listen to Michael Bourne's review by clicking the link above.

Democrat Phil Murphy says he’d never be in position to run for New Jersey governor if he never knew Barack Obama. “He’s always had our backs and New Jersey will always have his back,” Murphy said. Obama kept his focus mostly on the New Jersey Governor’s race. “Phil has spent his life creating jobs and growing opportunity. He knows what it means to serve. And he wants to put that vision, that experience, that leadership to work serving all of the people in New Jersey. With good jobs that pay good

We’ll be discussing local control of Newark Public Schools during our live broadcast of Newark Today Thursday October 19 at 8PM. We invite the community to be a part of the audience at Express Newark in the downtown district’s historic Hahne’s building. Your host, NJTV’s Michael Hill will be joined by city Mayor Ras Baraka and a panel of guests. Doors open tonight at 7:15. Newark Today live October 19 at 8PM on WBGO and wbgo.org Now that Newark Public Schools are in position to regain control of

What a treat for you this Saturday at the WBGO Kids Jazz Concert at Newark Symphony Hall. Not only will the one-hour event be hosted by WBGO's Gary Walker, but it will feature the work of jazz and blues pianist, composer, singer producer and educator Eli Yamin. Yamin remembers when he was a teen he worked for WBGO and couldn't resist playing the piano in the station's performance studio. That same piano is still there today. Yamin will be joined by many terrific performers including singer and

The 1982 motion picture Blade Runner opened to mixed reviews but eventually came to be considered a science fiction masterpiece. It is now included in the Library Of Congress' National Film Registry. A sequel, Blade Runner 2049 , opened in movie theaters Friday. WBGO 's Jon Kalish reports on how the screenwriter Hampton Fancher helped craft both films. Click above to hear Jon's feature.