The Buzz

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Eric Braeden aka tycoon Victor Newman on the top-rated Young and the Restless.

RANDALL KING / MOVIES

Triumph of the No-Names

The most recognizable cast member of A Serious Man is TV sitcom vet Richard Kind as the brother of beleaguered hero Larry Gopnik. But if they are largely unknowns, they come off as as worth knowing, starting with New York stage actor Michael Stuhlbarg (who plays Larry), Fred Melamed as Larry's passive-aggressive best friend Sy Abelman, and Amy Landecker as Larry's nude-sunbathing neighbour, the scariest movie temptress since Sharon Stone crossed her legs.

ROB WILLIAMS / MUSIC

Have Yourself a Metal Little Christmas

'Tis the season for weird holiday albums. Hot on the heels of the Bob Dylan Christmas album, along comes word that Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford is screaming for Santa on a collection of Christmas songs on Halford III: Winter Songs, set for release Nov. 3. The album features three original compositions and his versions of We Three Kings, O Holy Night and Oh Come All Ye Faithful, among others. Download the free single, Christmas for Everyone, at his website metalgodshop.com.

BRAD OSWALD / TV

Eric Braeden as Victor Newman

After nearly 30 years as Genoa City's most powerful and perenially renuptialized tycoon, Victor is on his way out -- the result of a contract-dispute impasse between actor Braeden and Sony TV, which produces the series. Victor's final overwrought farewell airs Friday (4:30 p.m.) on Global and Monday (11 a.m.) on CBS.

KEVIN PROKOSH / THEATRE

Undercover Work

An antidote for Strong Poison, the Manitoba Theatre Centre season-opener, is the bracing character work of Winnipeg actress Stefanie Wiens, who steals the scene in which mousy spinster secretary turned gumshoe Miss Murchison demonstrates a hidden talent for wall-climbing in sensible shoes. The Dorothy L. Sayers whodunit continues to Nov. 14. Call the MTC box office at 942-6537.

MORLEY WALKER / BOOKS

Eat your heart out, Margaret Atwood

Novelist John Irving upped the book promotion ante when he appeared Wednesday night on movie screens across North America in a live closed-circuit interview with the New York Times Book Review editor. Stephen King will do the same next month.

CAROLIN VESELY / LIVING IT UP

It'll be a scream

Drop in to the Double Spurs Ranch in Dugald (29145 Prairie Grove Rd.) and find out how those hapless victims in your favourite horror flicks really felt. The 32,000 square-foot Halloween haunted house will feature props, costumes and scenes from The Exorcist, Dark Angel, The Fog, etc., plus an execution chamber and a graveyard. Open 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. through Saturday. (The first hour is for kiddies and fraidy cats.) Tickets are $10 with a non-perishable food item for Winnipeg Harvest.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 29, 2009 E2