Entertainment picks: A fugitive among the freaks

TV

I'm not one to enthuse over period drama - or anything concerning bearded women for that matter - but Carnivale could be worth the exception. Set in 1934 during the drought that reduced vast areas of American farmland to dust, it's the story of a young fugitive whisked away by the freaks and outcasts who make up a travelling carnival.

American critics say the HBO series has a gothic, David Lynch quality - slow, weird and kinky, in other words - so it won't matter that TV One has scheduled it in the convenient Friday timeslot of 11.25pm. You'll probably need to tape it and replay it a few times to understand what's going on anyway.

Somewhat less challenging: Superstar Treasure Island, (Sunday, TV2, 7.30pm), the reality show that just won't go away. Yet again we get to watch as people like Michael Laws, Erica Takacs and Brent Todd traipse around a stinky tropical island in their smalls, limbo under tree branches and stand on one leg in the ocean.

What I don't get is how these former contestants from the Treasure Island franchise, including a handful from Aussie and Ireland, are now "superstars"? But hey, go our team.

Movies

White boy meets black girl, white boy proposes to black girl, white boy meets black girl's parents ... It's hardly original but it's the premise of Guess Who, a remake of the 1967 Sidney Poitier, Katharine Hepburn drama with a race switch. Ashton Kutcher plays the white boy and Bernie Mac plays the black dad.

Also opening this week is Nicole Kidman's latest film, The Interpreter, a smart thriller in which she plays a United Nations interpreter who overhears an assassination plot. Directed by veteran Hollywood director Sydney Pollack, it's the first film allowed inside the UN HQ. Sean Penn plays the American Secret Service agent assigned to suss out if her story is true. It's a thinking person's thriller. Which begs the question, do you need to be a thinking person to be thrilled? Both open on Thursday. Theatre

Being Beethoven begins at the Herald Theatre on Wednesday. The one-man play about the famous deaf composer is set on the evening of the inaugural performance of his Ninth Symphony in 1824.

It explores two aspects of his life - his composing, in which he was an undisputed genius, and the tragedy of his eventual hearing loss. The play does not cover Ludwig's posthumous success as the composer of annoying ringtones.

Music

It's a decade since Straitjacket Fits performed in public but the songs have remained timeless. Whether you prefer Melt to Blow or you're still lamenting the absence of Andrew Brough, it should be a great three nights of rock'n'roll.

As such, tickets to their reunion gigs at Studio this week are as sought-after as Jen Aniston's mid-90s haircut. Friday's show has sold out, Saturday's is going fast and there's now an extra gig on Thursday.

The quintessential Flying Nun band were inspired to reunite after playing at a friend's birthday party this year. Supporting them on Thursday is local band Die! Die! Die! (returning from Chicago) and on Friday, Cassette (returning from Melbourne.) Limited door sales each night.

Just as Shayne Carter will be mid-She Speeds, American big-wig DJ/producers/remixers Erick Morillo and Roger Sanchez will be working the turntables at Found At Thirst final at the St James on Friday.

This year the competition is open to DJs who've already paid their dues, but the hope is they'll find an emerging talent to share the stage and represent New Zealand at the Asia Pacific finals in Tokyo next month. Or someone who can make them some moolah.

Art

Illicit, the rock stars of the art and fashion scene, have renovated their dingy K Rd basement and turned it into a gallery. On Friday night they launched its first exhibition, Cross St Orphanage, a collection of typically outrageous, low-brow works from here and abroad that apparently have little to do with parentless kids.

Among the works featured: the girly yet sinister work of Misery, the detailed deconstructionist work of Aaron Beck and the bold humour of Australia's Team Kitten. The exhibition runs until April 29.

Artist Lani Tupu has spent more time across the ditch of late than in his native New Zealand, working as an actor on Aussie TV dramas such as Stingers, Police Rescue and Water Rats.

But he never forgot about the trips he made between Wellington and Raglan by rail and car. His works, which explore the contrast between light and dark observed in the weather, are on display at the Reef Gallery, 84-84 Symonds Street, from Tuesday.

Social circuit

There's a ballroom dancing phenomenon threatening to invade the country once TV One launches its reality show, Dancing With the Stars. Basically it involves the following celebs - Nicky Watson, Norm Hewitt, Tim Shadbolt, Bernice Mene, Ewen Gilmour, Shane Cortese, Georgina Beyer and Theresa Healy - risking embarrassment and broken bones live on television each week.

We'll be doing the same at the launch party. The dress code says "glamorous" but judging by the mirror ball on the invitation, gold lame, tassels and feathers are okay too.