Dr. Billy Taylor (pictured with his trio) is a walking history of jazz. He began playing professionally in 1944, and in that capacity he has composed over 350 songs, performed with legends such as Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and led his own trio for decades. The numerous awards Taylor garnered as a performer and educator include 23 honorary doctoral degrees, two Peabody Awards, an Emmy, a Grammy, and the National Medal of the…

“A reality show about fashion?? That sounds horrible!” Tim Gunn shared his famous last words with a packed auditorium last night at the Corcoran, a nostalgic homecoming for this former student and administrator of the school. I’ve yet to meet a Project Runway fan who doesn’t adore Gunn and his witty mentoring of the show’s designers, and his lecture did not disappoint. Though some listeners may have been slightly disheartened to hear very few words…

Confession time. We haven’t yet watched the second to last episode of the West Wing. Give us a break, it’s May sweeps and our DVR is a cruel and demanding mistress right now. Through chatter around the Internet though, we’ve been able to cull some facts and plot points. Boiled down, it seems like CJ and Danny will be living happily ever after (which is awesome, cause CJ and Danny are awesome together) and Will…

It’s time again to indulge in our (possibly unhealthy) love for reality TV. In addition to the many fictional portrayals of the city ready to hit prime time this fall, a local family from Woodbridge, VA will be competing in the Emmy winning CBS series, The Amazing Race, the Family Edition. Last season featured a retired Easton, Maryland couple, Meredith & Gretchen, who did the region proud by being only slightly whiny and performing reasonably…

Bright and early this morning the 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards nominations were announced. Like the red-headed stepchild of the Oscars, the Emmys are a chance for Hollywood’s lesser starlets and stars to participate in their own self congratulatory fest. ABC’s campy but fun Desperate Housewives leads this year with 15 nominations. Viewers can look forward to a three way cat-fight between housewives Marcia Cross, Teri Hatcher, and Felicity Huffman for Best Actress in a…

With season eight of CBS’s Emmy winning reality TV hit, “The Amazing Race,” reportedly in production, the show’s producers are hosting an open casting call at Jack Taylor’s Alexandria Toyota (3750 Jefferson Davis Highway) for the ninth season on July 10 at noon. The show’s website contains the application form and a lengthy list of procedures and requirements for potential contestants. Teams of two (or, in the case of the upcoming eighth season, four) race…

We’re a little late on this on, but we thought it was better late than never. Media darling (or maybe just darling in general) Jon Stewart of the Emmy winning Daily Show was a recent guest on The O’Reilly Factor, with Bill O’Reilly. The Daily Show has built up quite a respectable reputation over the years and attracts more then its fair share of Congressmen, Senators, and know-it-all political pundits. O’Reilly was respectful enough (or…

(By DCist contributor Hemal Jhaveri) DCist got an invite in the mail a few weeks ago to attend a big shindig being held on Sept. 21 for the AT Children’s Project, a nonprofit dedicated to, according to their web site, “finding a cure for ataxia-telangiectasia, a rare genetic disease that causes progressive loss of motor control, cancer and immune system problems” in kids. Now, we’re all for charitable works, but we’re on a budget here…

From DCist contributor Rebecca Walters: DCist knows that there are many Daily Show addicts out there who are already aware of tonight’s guest, but those who only tune in for a Jon Stewart diversion for time to time might want to catch this evening’s show. John Kerry is set to chat with Mr. Stewart this evening at 11 p.m. on Comedy Central (for all our non Eastern-time readers, please check your local listings for air…