“Star Wars: Skeleton Crew,” courtesy Disney. Excitement, eagerness and a little bit of fear; this is what the kids in “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew” feel when they accidentally blast off their planet on an old pirate starship. But this is also how composer Mick Giacchino felt when he was…

Dylan Conrique, courtesy. Even with the allure of Hollywood calling, Dylan Conrique feels more comfortable in tiny Loomis, east of Sacramento, with her family’s animals and her friends nearby. That’s why despite having 2022 single “Birthday Cake” being certified gold, working with iconic pop producer Max Martin on her…

Mckenna Grace, courtesy Gus Black. Two extended breaks—first the pandemic and then the SAG-AFTRA strike—allowed Emmy-nominated actress Mckenna Grace to pursue a “dream” career in music. The 17-year-old has starred alongside the likes of Paul Rudd and Finn Wolfhard (2021’s “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” in a role she’s about to reprise…

Insert Foot a fan of Danny Trejo Actor Danny Trejo has been sober for 55 years, as of last week. That’s a lot of sobriety. Especially to those of us who manage to stay straight for a year or two and wonder why we don’t get an anniversary parade. I…

Fran Drescher joins the picket line in support of the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strike at the Netflix Studios in Los Angeles on July 14, 2023. Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images. Not every week lends itself to a column. Sometimes I’m not doing anything of note, nothing in the news…

Tommy Howell, courtesy. If the name Tommy Howell doesn’t ring a bell, maybe his other name, C. Thomas Howell, does. Tommy Howell 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 23 Whisky a Go Go, Los Angeles Tickets: $25 and up. Buy Tommy Howell music on Amazon Music. As an actor, Howell has…

Travis Barker, Kourtney Kardashian and the Rainbow Bar & Grill in Los Angeles. Staff and Wikicommons composite. I was having dinner last weekend when I spotted my first Kardashian in the wild. To be fair, there’s lots of them, so the odds are pretty good you’ll see one on…

Lawrence, courtesy Ray Lego. SAN FRANCISCO — Access will only get you so far. Eventually, even if you have a head start to success, it still comes down to skill. Take New York soul pop band Lawrence. Clyde Lawrence, 24, wrote a key song for the 2000 film Miss…