Entertainment

TV

Arrested Development

The Bluths are back! Fans of the beloved comedy have been waiting for more since the show was taken off the air in 2006. After months of recent speculation, brilliant creator Mitch Hurwitz and the equally imaginative writer Jim Vallely officially confirmed the rumors and announced that all ten of the original cast members are back on board. They’re working at writing ten new episodes as well as a feature film to follow them. Now all we have to do is wait it out until early 2013, when the new season is expected to air on Netflix.

Donít Trust the B**** in Apartment 23

This new comedy coming to ABC on April 11 seems like it has all the elements to work—love-to-hate characters, a relatable premise, and general dysfunction. The story revolves around the odd, unlikely relationship between Chloe (Krysten Ritter) and June (Dreama Walker), who find themselves stuck as roommates in New York City. After June’s big city dreams are crushed, the manipulative and sneaky Chloe finds out that perhaps June is not as naïve and stupid as she thought. June, on her part, tries to learn how to survive in the city by grace of Chloe and her group of oddball friends, one of whom is familiar face James van der Beek, who plays himself.

MUSIC

Neon Indian, April 12, The Crescent Ballroom

Neon Indian is an electronic group coming out of Texas and led by indie darling Alan Palomo. After countless rave reviews for his debut LP, Psychic Chasms, Palomo followed up with Era Extraña in September 2011. That collection saw even more commercial success than the first, and with spots at South by Southwest, Pitchfork, and Sasquatch!, Neon Indian is one of the hottest tickets in town.

Andrew Bird, April 18, Mesa Arts Center

American singer-songwriter Andrew Bird released his latest album called Break It Yourself on March 6 as the follow-up to his 2009 album, Noble Beast. Break It Yourself has got everything we know and love about Bird, from his deeply personal lyrical quandaries to his simple and beautiful melodies. If you buy a ticket to the show, you’ll get a free download of the new album.

Florence and the Machine, April 20, Comerica Theater

As soon as the incredibly catchy “Dog Days Are Over” hit the radio last year, America fell in love with the voice of fiery-haired songstress Florence Welch. The success of her first album, Lungs, was huge both in her native UK and across the pond, and now she’s looking to multiply it with her latest, Ceremonials.
We love everything about this lady.

Death Cab for Cutie, May 6, Mesa Arts Center

Death Cab for Cutie continues to be one of the only bands out there that can go platinum, get nominated for a Grammy, and still be considered indie. That’s because they’ve never really strayed too far from their Pacific Northwest college-town roots and have maintained what so many diehard fans love about them—Ben Gibbard’s poignant lyrics and vocals. Though their latest, Codes and Keys, may not be their most powerful work, the ingredients are still the same, and their live show is not to miss.

MOVIES

The Three Stooges, in theaters April 13

To take on a feature film version of the Three Stooges seems like one of the hardest projects conceivable in the realm of American comedy. Moe, Larry, and Curly are icons of a still-living generation, well-known and adored for their particular brand of slapstick humor. How the famous trio will be adapted to a 2012 audience is yet to be seen, but we think this film has as good a chance as any with Sean Hayes playing Larry, Chris Diamantopulous playing Moe, and Will Sasso playing Curly.

The Dictator, in theaters May 11

King of political incorrectness Sacha Baron Cohen has really outdone himself with this one. In his newest film, he plays a Middle Eastern dictator clinging to absolute power of the people he has oppressed for decades. It’s clear that former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi must have been an inspiration behind this character, which means that we can expect that the film will be a subject of controversy, considering the tensions in that region of the world. Politics aside, it’s safe to assume that Cohen will play the role impeccably and deliver plenty of laughs.

Men in Black III, in theaters May 25

Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones return for the third installment of the Men in Black series, the part-Fresh Prince, part-James Bond, and completely entertaining series that became an instant classic in 1997. The weird-looking aliens, signature matching black suits, and Agent J and Agent K’s constant bickering is what we love about this series. Here’s to hoping the third one does it justice!