It's a funny fall: Comedy stars like Kathy Griffin, Joel McHale and Robin Williams will all be headlining in Seattle soon, and the Seattle International Comedy Competition is in full swing at local comedy clubs.

Dustin Ronspies' Art of the Table serves contemporary American-style comfort food two ways: "Supper Club" Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights is like a private party, with a single seating for a four-course, prix fixe menu; and "Happy Mondays," featuring small plates.

Seattle indie band Head Like a Kite has been filming a new reality TV program, called "On the Brink," this week in six cities, with the final gig Saturday, Nov. 22, at Neumo's in Seattle.

Restaurant review: The culture — and food — of El Salvador thrives at Mi Chalateca Restaurant and Pupuseria in Federal Way.

Witness a star being born at Grant Barnhart's exhibition "Remember Me When" at OKOK Gallery.

Martin-Zambito Fine Arts pulls out a timely selection of American art and Northwest regionalism from the mid-20th century, including work by Spencer Moseley, Glen Alps, Paul Horiuchi and Ida York Abelman.

"A Christmas Tale": French director Arnaud Desplechin's film is a marvel of intimate character study, revealing a wealth of behavioral complexity among the members of a dysfunctional family gathering for Christmas. The outstanding ensemble cast includes Catherine Deneuve and Mathieu Amalric.

Theater review by Misha Berson: Seattle Repertory Theatre stages a terrific script by playwright Peter Sinn Nachtrieb, "Boom," which plays Nov. 13-Dec. 14 at the Rep in Seattle Center.

"Fuel," directed by Josh Tickell, is a dynamic and persuasive documentary about clean energy sources and America's doomed addiction to oil. It's a must-see, and not just for environmentalists.

"JCVD" is an unexpectedly ambitious vehicle for Jean-Claude Van Damme. He essentially plays a version of himself as JCVD, a washed-up action hero who returns to his native Belgium to revive his career — and suddenly finds himself in the middle of a real-life hostage crisis.

"Obscene": A fondly scruffy homage to Barney Rosset, the impish publisher of Grove Press who inspired profound cultural change with books such as "Lady Chatterley's Lover" and "Tropic of Cancer."

"White Jade and Other Stories," Washington State University writer-in-residence Alex Kuo's newest collection of short fiction, tells of the anger, humor, irony and confusion you feel when you come from two worlds, neither of which really accepts you.

Dates and times are subject to change. Events Live Music on the Market Stage Today-Sat Crossroads Bellevue live music; singer-songwriter...

"A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!" — with Stephen Colbert singing, dancing and musing about the true meaning of Christmas — airs Sunday on Comedy Central.

Danny Boyle, director of "Trainspotting," talks about Bollywood, Mumbai and his latest feature, "Slumdog Millionaire."

Seattle's Book-It Repertory Theatre presents a new adaptation of "My Ántonia," the classic Willa Cather novel of 19th-century immigrant life on the Nebraska prairie.

Danny Boyle's "Slumdog Millionaire" is the story of a young man's journey from rags to riches, by way of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire."

Country Village welcomes holiday shoppers Saturday, Nov. 22, to get a jump-start on their lists while enjoying the festive atmosphere of the village.

Catching the wave of a public fascination with vampires, HBO's "True Blood" has steadily increased in stature to become the cable network's...

In Silvio Soldini's well-acted "Days and Clouds," Margherita Buy and Antonio Alabanese play a couple hit by hard times.

Folk singer Joan Baez comes to Seattle's Moore Theatre on Nov. 28, the culmination of an international tour supporting her recent hit album, "Day After Tomorrow."

Nancy Kelly and Houston Person will perform and record a live CD at Bake's Place jazz house in Issaquah, Nov. 22-23, 2008.

The New Kids on the Block will perform Nov. 22 at the Tacoma Dome.

Spectrum Dance Theater's "A Chekhovian Resolution," by Donald Byrd in collaboration with Israeli dancemakers Nir Ben Gal and Liat Dror and Palestinian composer Wissam Murad, takes an abstract look at how space is divided in the Middle East.

A weekly listing of new DVDs.

Taj Mahal plays a long set at Jazz Alley, Nov. 21-30, supporting his latest album "Maestro" (Heads Up), which features guest appearances by Angelique Kidjo, Ben Harper, Ziggy Marley, Los Lobos and Jack Johnson.

"Bolt" Colin Covert, Star Tribune (Minneapolis) May I gush? "Bolt" is a jolt of joy, a computer-animated delight that is delirious with...

Tickets on sale this week.

Zeitgeist films, Jimmy Stewart and "The Wizard of Oz" alight on Seattle-area screens this week.

Henry Rollins, the hard-core punk-rocker turned spoken-word performer, has a gig at Seattle's Moore Theatre at 8 p.m. Nov. 26.

Celebrity gossip, famous birthdays and other tidbits, compiled from Seattle Times news services.

Erwilian, which makes acoustic music with dulcimers, dobros, didgeridoos and other instruments, appears in concert at Renton Civic Theatre, Nov. 21-22.

When the last new Guns N' Roses album came out, there were no iPods or digital downloads. There was no "American Idol." No music blogs. No MySpace.

Ashlee Simpson-Wentz and Pete Wentz are the proud parents of a baby boy, and they're celebrating with some Bronx cheer.

The BBC's governing body ruled Friday that the broadcaster acted appropriately when it suspended its star disc jockey and accepted the resignation of a fellow performer for leaving lewd messages on an actor's phone about his granddaughter.

A Malaysian technology conglomerate pledged Friday to repay $900,000 to Hollywood star Bruce Willis, but denied any wrongdoing after he took legal action to demand a refund of his investment.

One of New York City's most famous food critics is out of a job.

Former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson is going back to the small screen after his foray into Republican presidential politics over the last year.

Top-selling Japanese music producer Tetsuya Komuro was formally charged with fraud Friday in a scandal that has tarnished the image of a star whose songs once dominated Japan's pop music scene.

The show-business marriage that began in a Scottish castle came to an end in a drab London courtroom Friday as Madonna and Guy Ritchie were granted a preliminary decree of divorce.

Michael Jackson's former personal assistant told a British court Friday that a Bahraini sheik who is now suing the singer was a generous friend, eager to give Jackson money and other gifts.

The last time they shared a Lincoln Center stage, violinist Gil Shaham wielded the big smiles as Gustavo Dudamel made his conducting debut with the New York Philharmonic.

Sometimes it pays to have your heart broken.

The "Today" show's Ann Curry didn't make it to the top of Africa's Mount Kilimanjaro.

HARDCOVER FICTION

Britney Spears is craving more freedom - and less of the "control" that's stabilized her personal life and reinvigorated her career over the last several months.

Tom Turkey, meet Uno the beagle.

Dr Pepper is making good on its promise of free soda now that the release of Guns N' Roses' "Chinese Democracy" is a reality.

The permanently suit-clad Stephen Colbert has traded in his pinstripes for a cardigan sweater, red turtleneck and furry boots.

Faith Hill finally has that Christmas gift she's always wanted.

Hugh Jackman says wife Deborra-Lee Furness teased him after finding out he'd been named People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive."

Jennifer Garner has won a restraining order from a man she says has been stalking her for years. An attorney for Garner appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom Thursday morning and won three years of protection for Garner, husband Ben Affleck and their daughter, Violet.

Germany's highest civil court has dealt electronic band Kraftwerk a blow in ruling that sampling music does not in principle violate copyright.

A 300-year-old painting by Italian master Sebastiano Ricci failed to sell at auction, the auction house said Thursday.

The country's largest trade publisher, Random House Inc., has frozen the pensions of its current employees and eliminated them for future hires, the latest cuts in an industry hit by declining sales and anticipating, at best, a difficult 2009.

Paris Hilton and her boyfriend of nine months, Benji Madden, have broken up.

Actress Winona Ryder was briefly hospitalized after falling ill on a flight to London's Heathrow Airport Wednesday, her publicist said.

HARDCOVER FICTION

A case against Rod Stewart's son over a brawl at a Hollywood nightclub has been resolved.

Rapper 50 Cent is facing a challenge to his street cred - from Taco Bell.

Movies are increasingly creeping online, as video sites like YouTube and Hulu are adding feature films to their extensive libraries.

Friction keeps obstructing "The View." While she never mentioned Rosie O'Donnell by name, it was clear who Barbara Walters was referring to when she opened Thursday's show by complaining about "some people who have done this show" who criticize the daytime gabfest after leaving.

Julianne Hough says she's not returning to "Dancing With the Stars" next season.

Rankings for the top 15 programs on cable networks as compiled by Nielsen Media Research for the week of Nov. 10-16. Day and start time (EST) are in parentheses: