Maybe it鈥檚 because I鈥檓 old enough to remember watching 鈥淐olumbo鈥 with my parents, but I welcome the return of “Poker Face,” Rian Johnson鈥檚 delightful聽鈥 dare I say cosy?聽鈥斅燾omedy-mystery series (Citytv+, CBC Gem). With her weathered-cherub voice and ginger Troll mane, Natasha Lyonne remains a hoot as Charlie Cale, the human lie detector, and the twisty episodes so far satisfy. Season 2鈥檚 opener features an Emmy-worthy turn by Cynthia Erivo as multiple siblings who think they’re entitled to an inheritance from their horrible mother. The show promises even more high-profile guest stars. I can’t wait.聽鈥擠oug Brod
Comedy: Katherine Ryan
As Canadians are wont to do, comedian Katherine Ryan made her name by leaving her home country. The 41-year-old Sarnia native honed her standup act in England and appeared in TV series there, both as a host and an actor, before creating her London-set, semi-autobiographical Netflix comedy 鈥淭he Duchess.鈥 Now Ryan, who expertly taps her life with her Canadian husband and three British-born kids for laughs, is back in 海角社区官网for two shows at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre (190 Princes鈥 Blvd.) on Saturday. Limited tickets were still available at press time.聽鈥擠ebra Yeo
Concert: ‘Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert’
Hearing John Williams’s iconic score for “Star Wars” performed live by a full symphony orchestra is an otherworldly experience 鈥 and a must for any fan of the film saga. From next Thursday to Sunday, 海角社区官网audiences will have that opportunity when the 海角社区官网Symphony Orchestra presents four screenings of “The Empire Strikes Back” (the series’ fifth 鈥 and best 鈥 episode) in concert at Roy Thomson Hall (60 Simcoe St.). Australian composer and conductor Nicholas Buc will lead the TSO in his debut with the orchestra. 鈥擩oshua Chong
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Album: billy woods, ‘Golliwog’
In 2023, billy woods established himself as one of underground hip hop鈥檚 most compelling storytellers with 鈥淢补辫蝉,鈥 a remarkably original (and occasionally hilarious) concept album that offered a glimpse into the chaotic misadventures of a middle-aged rapper on tour. On his new album, 鈥淕olliwog,鈥 woods takes a left turn into horrorcore, weaving dense lyricism into a sinister tapestry of sound聽鈥 woozy string samples, staggering beats, occasional screams of terror聽鈥 assembled by an all-star roster of producers. 鈥The English language is violence, I hotwired it / I got a hold of the master’s tools and got dialed in,” woods raps on opener 鈥淛umpscare,鈥 setting the stage for a brilliant and bleak journey into the heart of darkness, and an exploration of the revolutionary, post-colonial school of thought that might offer an escape route.聽鈥擱ichie Assaly
On “Golliwog,” rapper billy woods dips into horrorcore.聽
Alexander Richter
Doug Brod is a Toronto-based author and team editor for the
Star. Follow him on X:
Joshua Chong is a Toronto-based arts critic and culture reporter
for the Star. Follow him on X: .
RA
Richie Assaly is a culture reporter for the Star, with an
interest in music, pop culture and food reporting. He is also a
juror for Polaris Music Prize.
Debra Yeo is a deputy editor and a contributor to the Star鈥檚
Culture section. She is based in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter:
.
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