The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • 63

E2 LivingArts The Boston Globe WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2005 By Carol Beggy Mark Shanahan Author Van Allsburg hits the red carpet rs K. 'i. A 1 i 1 ft -it -tJrJ 'i i Em Best-selling children's book author Chris Van Allsburg had a red-carpet premiere last night of his latest work to be transformed into a big-budget movie. But don't accuse him of going Hollywood. Van Allsburg, the author of "Jumanji" and "The Polar Express," was in Rhode Island with his family, where they were organizing a special benefit screening of "Zathura." Billed as the story of two squabbling brothers who are pulled into an in-tergal actic adventure when their house is magically hurtled through space, the film opens in theaters Friday.

Van Allsburg said New Hampshire town Josh Meyers's premiere on the long-running Fox sitcom "That 70s Show" last week did not go unnoticed in his hometown of Bedford, N.H. A town that's quickly lining up to be the funniest place in New England, Bedford also counts among its natives Seth Meyers, Josh's brother, of "Saturday Night Live" fame, and comedianfilmmaker Sarah Silverman. "If you live in New Hampshire and have a drop of Jewish blood in you, you look pretty good in the comedy world," Josh said while Wallach shares his 'Anecdotage' USSI2 LEFT); PHOTOFESTFILM FORUM (TOP RIGHT); MERRICK In season two, 'Stacked' 2 MORTONCOLUMBIA PICTURES VIA VNU (ABOVE LEFT) msm the transition from book to movie was easier to envision with "Zathura" than with previous books. "In Tolar Express' it's about doubt Doubt is on every page," Van Allsburg said. "But with 'Zathura' there's genuine animosity between the brothers something that's easier to show." Last night's See-konk screening benefited four Rhode Island arts charities that work with young people.

"It's a real deprivation to not have arts in schools," he said. "Widow's Broom," another film based on a Van Allsburg's book, is in production with director Sam Weisman, who calls Newton home. is comedy central preparing for a rehearsal for the 12th episode of "That '70s Show." So is Bedford funnier than the rest of the state? "Yes, but don't tell Merrimack," he says. In tonight's episode, we'll see more of Meyers's character, Randy Pearson including his addition to the opening credits. (Original cast members Ashton Kutcher and Topher Grace are taking time off this season.) Randy is "likable and grounded," which makes Meyers happy: "I wouldn't want people hating my character." liquor store owner in his friend (and "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" costar) Clint Eastwood's Oscar-winning "Mystic River," filmed in Boston.

Wallach who will be 90 next month served as the narrator for Melrose native John Michael William's animated feature "The Easter Egg Adventure" and has three film projects in the works. Names can be reached at namesglobe.com or at 617-929-8253. II Divo at the Wang The- atre Feb. 2. Tickets on sale Monday at 10 a.m.

Sigur Ros at the Orpheum Theatre Feb. 7. Tickets I Si. pm. Team will be qivinq away 40 (Lai, ft .1,.

Actor Eli Wallach has strong opinions about the state of contemporary moviemaking. At a forum Monday night at Brandeis, Wallach recounted how he and his wife, actress Anne Jackson, were watching a movie in bed recently. It was so bad, Wallach said, "that we wanted to leave." At the Wal-tham university to talk about his autobiography, "The Good, the Bad, and Me: In My Anecdotage," Wallach was joined onstage by Jackson and filmmaker Errol Morris. Wallach did a cameo as a Concert update Cyndi Lauper with San- dra Bernhard and Jill Sobule at Lowell Memorial Auditorium Dec. 17.Tickets$25-$65,onsalenow.

To i.nr- Extreme partying Former Extreme and Van Halen singer Gary Cherone (above) will give a rare performance tomorrow night to mark the opening of Sanctum Sound's new state-of-the-art production and recording suites in the Leather District. The studios, which also boast a record label and offices in New York City, are run by Boston's Steve Catizone, who will use his opening-night party around the corner at News as a fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Others who are expected to drop by are car guy Ernie Boch Jr. and Aerosmith's Tom Hamilton. Good news at WBZ radio WBZ radio morning newsman Gary LaPierre will return to the air on Monday.

LaPierre underwent heart bypass surgery in late September. WBZs program director, Peter Casey, said last night that he told LaPierre to visit the station when he felt up to it and a return date would be set then. LaPierre did that the other day and also did a quick interview. The Monday return date was set. Co-anchor of The WBZ Morning News," LaPierre joined the radio station as a general assignment reporter 41 years ago.

ogles openly I I 1 CARIN bAtHfUX ings hopefuls since "Arrested Development" and "Kitchen Confidential" have failed to catch on. It has been given a little more direction and clarity of vision (directly onto Anderson's upper torso), although it's still fully awful. OK, there is a putative plot. Anderson's Skyler is a recovering bimbo who works among the intellectuals of Stacked Books. She's trying to change from party girl into a woman of substance, but her three co-workers, including the two brothers who own the store, persist in viewing her as vacuous.

They see her as a sex object, especially Stuart (Brian Scola-ro), who is so smitten with her he continually makes a fool of himself. After one embarrassing moment with Skyler, he says, "How am I going to look her in the eye?" "Shouldn't be a problem," brother Gavin (Elon Gold) snaps back. "It's not where you usually look." The oddest thing about "Stacked" is Anderson herself, who doesn't quite know how to play comedy. When she delivers her punch lines, she accompanies them with nonsensical facial and body tics as if to signal that they're funny. While history has given us dumb blondes who seem a beat behind everyone, Anderson appears to be in a bit of a hurry, as if she isn't sure how to appear natural at the snappy sitcom pace.

Watch her try to "accidentally" fumble her blueberry muffin tonight; it doesn't even qualify as amateurish. But then her acting skills are beside the point on "Stacked," where it's either the jiggle factor or bust. Matthew Gilbert can be reached at srilbertdi elobe.com. Pamela Anderson (left) and guest Jenny McCarthy in "Stacked," now in its sophomore and sophomoric season. By Matthew Gilbert GLOBE STAFF There's never any question what "Stacked" is really about.

And we're not talking books, or a Television deck of cards' or icievoiuii the odds against Review winning a bet. This Fox sitcom is a bright prime-time tribute to Pamela Anderson's bosom, plain and simple. It's the same bosom we've seen on countless glossy magazine covers and in one grainy sex tape costarring Tommy Lee, and it's the same bosom that has provided Howard Stern with hours of verbal adoration. "Stacked," which returns for its second season tonight at 8:30 on Channel 25, is so openly mono-man iacal" about its star's mam-maries, it's fairly awesome. Next week, for example, Anderson and guest Jenny McCarthy spend a few long minutes tactilely assessing each other's breasts.

There's nothing covert about the intention of the scene, as the blond bombshells stand center stage, titillatingly grabbing at each other with open admiration. It's a bold silicone-on-silicone extravaganza, with no pretenses to look like anything else. When "Stacked" premiered late last season, it was a slapdash affair. The script was a chaotic se- A DTIVATI I -The Hew York Times THE SISTERS ROSENSWEIG by Wendy Wasserstein Directed by Nicholas Martin One hilarious and touchiny weekend in the lives of tnreejewisn-Hmencan sisters. JjTjT TONIGHT 6 THURS.

at 7:30 pm; FRI. at pm B.U. Theatre 264 Huntington Ave "WARM, MIKE LOVETT aOP $35, on sale Friday at 10 a.m. Martina McBride at the Tsongas Arena Feb. 12.

Tickets 19. STCVE MORSE pairs ana tne Oy' CjjJjJ supplies last. Limit 4 tickets per family. Stacked Starring: Pamela Anderson, ElonGold, Christopher Lloyd, Marissa Jaret Winokur On: Fox, Channel 25 Time: Tonight, lies of unrelated clunkers, and for a few weeks, it had the distinction of being the worst sitcom on TV. Of course, it went on to become a small hit for Fox, and it returns tonight as one of the network's rat- i TV HERE'S HOW: Join Warner Bros.

Pictures and The Boston Globe for a Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire celebration! Come to the AMC Fenway Theater in Boston on Thursday, FUNNY, 6 HOPEFUL!" Prwiiente loumat Nov. 10 from 6 7:30 The Boston Globe GO! or tiCKets to an aavance screening ot Marry Koner j5r 5 by Stephen Belber nirortail hil 1 1C3 PptPrCflrl TODAY at 2 8 7:30 pm IS MORE PERFORMANCES! Pavilion at the BCA S27 Tremont St. Goblet of Fire plus loads of other great prizes. HURRY, TICKETS ARE LIMITED. I die Boston 05lobc The Pulse of Boston No purchase necessary.

A limited number of single admission tickets are available, while ONLY 1 ll Ml Vlr Calderwood.