Santa Maria Times from Santa Maria, California • 19

i Friday, September 2, 2005 TIMES NIELSEN RATINGS Emmylom Harris plans UCSB gig ASSOCIATED PRESS Chieftains, Johnny Cash, Linda Ronstadt Beck, Neil Young, Conner Oberts, Sheryl Crow and Bill Monroe. Harris' subsequent releases, including 1998's 1999's "Western Wall" (a collaboration with Linda Ronstadt) and 2000's Buddy Miller to accompany that 'Red Dirt Girl' STAFF REPORT USA, 3.5, 3.80 million homes. 5. "WWE Raw Zone" (Monday, 10 p.m.), Spike, 3.4, 3.69 million homes. 6.

"WWE Raw" (Monday, 9 p.m.), Spike, 3.1, 3.44 million homes. 7. NFL Pre-Season; Atlanta vs. Jacksonville (Thursday, 8 p.m.), ESPN, 2.9, 3.15 million homes. 8.

"Fox News Live" (Sunday, 6 p.m.), Fox News Channel, 2.8, 3.08 million homes. 9. Hurricane Katrina Coverage (Sunday, 5 p.m.), Fox News Channel, 2.8, 3 06 million homes. 10. "Real World XVI" '(Tuesday 10 p.m.), MTV, 2.8, 3,05 million homes.

Rankings for the top 15 pro-grams on basic cable networks, as compiled by Nielsen Media Research for the week of Aug. 22 through 28. Each ratings point represents 1,096,000 households. Day and start time (EDT) are in parentheses. 1.

"2005 Video Music Awards" (Sunday, 8 p.m.), MTV, 5.0, 5.48 million homes. 2. Sharpie 500 (Saturday, 7:25 p.m.), TNT, 3.9, 4.25 million homes. 3. "The Closer" (Monday, 9 p.m.), TNT, 3.6, 3.93 million homes.

4. "Monk" (Friday, 10 p.m.), Both critics and fans have noted Harris contribution to the bluegrass revival, folk music and the Americana movement Her 1995 "Wrecking Ball" was a watershed album, combining several "Red Dirt Girl," which showcased her song-writing talent Her most recent releases include 2003'S "Stumble into Grace," again featuring many songs she wrote herself, and Miller, who Harris calls "one of the best guitar players of all time." MiDer often records with his wife, singer-songwriter Julie Miller. The duo's "Buddy and Julie Miller" earned a Grammy nomination for best contemporary folk album of 2001. In addition to his solo career and work with Harris, Buddy Miller has written songs for the Dixie Chicks, Lee Ann Womack, Jim Lauderdale and Hank Williams HI. Miller's most recent CD is the spiritually inclined "Universal United House of Prayer." Concert tickets are $45 and $65 for the general public, and $25 for UCSB students, who must show valid ID at the time of ticket purchase and the evening of the show at the door.

For tickets or more information, call UCSB Arts Lectures at 893-3535 or the Arlington Ticket Agency at 9634408, or go online to www.artsandlectures Sings Like Hell and UCSB Arts Lectures present Emmylou Harris and Buddy Miller in concert at the Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St in Santa Barbara, at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept 27. Harris blends folk, country and pop into a music style all her own. The U-time Grammy-winner will be Joined by frequent associate, guitarist and singer Buddy Miller. Harris has been hailed as an influential figure in several American musical movements of the past three decades.

A supporter of roots music and an interpreter of songs in many genres, she also has been associated with a diverse array of collaborators, including Bob Dylan, The Contributed One of Harris's most recent releases include 2003's "Stumble into Grace." world-mu- sic elements with acoustic instruments, driving percussion and a folkroots flavor. The new style would evolve on a number of 2005's career retrospective "Heartaches and Highways." Harris' musical cohort on many of these recordings was been bothered by patrons who overstay their welcome at the drive-in, arguing or talking loudly well past the end of the second show. A few Rod Drive residents have called the police to wrap up the parties. The Buwaldas and other neighbors in the Rod Drive cul-de-sac are also affected by noise created by the Sunday DRIVE-IN: Continued from page CI venues offer with the resurgence. Gran disagrees.

"It's over," he said, explaining that real estate is in too high demand for other development purposes, and too expensive for morning flea A wonderful season finale for 'Comeback' IMiiieillje would-be drive-in owners to keep. The Hi-Way's high real estate value is evident from the numerous homes that now border the theater's parking lot. Several of the nearby homeowners are less than charmed by the mystique of the drive-in. market, and by patrons who park in their neighborhood to walk in to the market, rather than pay the $2 to get in. Still, the Buwaldas ap- predate Gran's efforts to keep his neighbors happy, and they worry about what might take the place of the drive-in if Gran ever decides to 11 The Hi-Way Drive-In Movie The-: ater is at 3085 Santa Maria Way, 1 mile south of Kmart.

Double fea-: tures are shown every day, year- round. The cost is $6 per person, with kids ages 4 to 1 1 costing $1 Call 937-9715 or 937-351 5 for times and the movie schedule, which changes weekly. A few tips for drive-in audience members: Turn down your lights as you drive through the lot espe-: cially if you decide to leave be- tween shows; and don't forget blankets, as temperatures can drop dramatically after dark, Scripps Howard News Service BY TERRY MORROW SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE The season finale of "The Comeback" (10:30 p.m Sunday on HBO) is wonderfully layered, witty, ironic and even sad. Youll cringe, laugh out loud and maybe even throw up a little. What's not to like about that combination in 30 minutes? In the finale, which could serve as the series ender if HBO doesn't wise up, Valerie Cherish (Lisa Kudrow) gets to see the first episode of her reality show and is not pleased with the results.

She feels betrayed and embarrassed by how the editing has portrayed And for once, she's not going to smile and say it's OK, which is her standard response when she's pushed into a corner. The result is an examination of fame and personal insecurities. The last episode is a grand payoff for a series that has not gotten the due it deserves. If you followed the show early on and left it then you've missed the heart of a gem. "The Comeback" is the summer's best new comedy, but wasn't instantly of many real-life characters in Tinsel Town, where ambition often clouds judgment and being passive-aggressive is a high art.

Valerie is no longer the hollow woman whose ego is bigger than her heart She has emerged as a woman who wants to overcome a brokenness she's carried since childhood. Her anger often comes back to haunt her, much as Larry David's whining is his undoing on "Curb Your Enthusiasm." Kudrow is delivering Emmy-worthy performances, and Michael Patrick King is guiding "The Comeback" with the same passion that made "Sex and the City" more than just sex. "The Comeback" has always maintained an interesting subtext about fame and the quest for it Valerie's deep desire to reclaim the popularity of her 1990s sitcom heyday makes her equally the villain and the heroine of this piece. That character tightrope makes "The Comeback" one of the most fascinating shows of the year. Television like this doesn't come around often.

Grab it while you can. Lisa Kudrow stars in "The Comeback." sell the land. "We could be hearing building trucks at 5 a.m.," said Lynn Buwalda. Not likely anytime soon. Santa Maria's Hi-Way Drive-ln, at least for now, is here to stay, offering Central Coast residents a unique experience complete with a taste of an era past Now if the theater's loyal patrons could just tune it down on their way out Emily Welly can be reached at 739-2220 or ewellysantamaria times.com.

"Mr. Gran's been a good neighbor, I'll say that," said Wayne Buwalda, who lives on Rod Drive, next to the drive-in parking lot and adjacent to the alleyway that serves as its exit. Most of the movie screen is blocked from view by trees, but a comer of it is visible from the Buwalda's living room Noise is the biggest prob- i lem, and cars exiting through that alleyway gunning their motors and blasting their stereos cause the most, said Lynn Buwalda. Local neighbors have also As the season progressed, Valerie has grown more likable and humane. She still may be the woman who ignores her hair-and-makeup man's health problems or his need for a bite of food, but she's never been totally heartless.

She's the woman who sings the disco anthem "I Will Survive" by screaming it then says politely into the microphone that she's thirsty because "'Angry' hurts my throat" Valerie is Hollywood, the sum But that's the way any sturdy character study ought to be constructed. There's so much more to "The Comeback" than the pathetic neediness of its central character, a middle-aged and washed-up sitcom actress whose last-ditch effort to be noticed again results in a reality show. The series has turned out to be an engaging look at the addictive-ness of celebrity at the expense of dignity, wrapped up in the jolt of unscripted television. BARRY: AC AU, eye and say, "Oh YEAH? Why don't you big jerks LET GO! HE DONT PUT MY HE AD IN THE TOILET! HEY!" And tell them that goes double for your Uncle Dave. coupon" through September 30, 2005 Fry I Tuesday Friday Nights I I Buy one Fish Fry for $6.99 and I your second Fish Fry is only (J) I with the Purchase of2 Beverage I Includes Fsh, Fries Cole Slaw I (hand dipped cod in our tpeail baiter, cooked to order) I No substitutions olease.

I 4 PM-tM Closing don't understand mathematics, it's OK you don't need it" This is a bad mentality, young people. There's nothing "nerdy" about mathematics. Contrary to their image as a bunch of outof-it huge-butted Far-Side-professor dweebs who spend all day staring at incomprehensible symbols on a blackboard while piles of dandruff form around their ankles, today's top mathematicians are in fact a group of exciting, dynamic and glamorous individuals who are working to solve some of the most fascinating and challenging problems facing the human race today see, at $2.98 apiece, witha $6 million federal grant we could WHOA! That's 2,013,422.82 POCKET So come on, young people! Get in on the action! Work hard in math this year, and remember this: If some muscle-bound Neanderthal bullies corner you in the bathroom and call you a "nerd," you just look them straight in the I 726S. Broadwav I i I i I' -I' ')( i fV 1 4 I iiji MADIA I MAHIA WTiW-SANIA Continuedfrom page CI able to keep the class attention riveted on him from the moment the bell rang until the moment several minutes later, when a large girls' gym class walked past the classroom windows, every single day, causing the heads of us male students to rotate 90 mathematical degrees in unison, like elves in a motorized Christmas yard display. But during those brief periods when we were facing Mr.

Solin, we received a solid foundation in mathematics, learning many important mathematical concepts mat we still use in our professional lives as employees of top U.S. corporations. A good example is the mathematical concept of "9," which we use almost daily to obtain an outside line on our corporate telephones so that we can order Chinese food, place bets, call (900) BOSOMS, and perform all of the other vital employee functions that make our economy what it is today. You young people deserve to have the same advantages, which is why I was so pleased to note in the Associated Press story that some university professors have received a $6 million federal grant to develop new ways to teach math to high-school students. The professors know this will be a challenge.

One of them is quoted as saying: "There is a mentality in this country that mathematics is something a few nerds out there do and if you I ILCXr Santa Maria Inn) 1 I NEW HEATED PATIO DININGI I gotf on Wants or Willi other oilers Ofc ifiiuUou to buowi A prt of our A Great Place To Caff Home iWiZwUvJutli Services toA Suiuwy Morning; Cojjte FtUowsnif 9am BiBfc Discovery (all ages) 9 JOam Feflbwsfuf iA Song I I Tan ErJIbwsfup 1130am yjy Sunday Evening 5pm Special Ministry to All CHRISTIAN EAMTLT Wdnaday Evenina QfllRCH family Bifite Study tniTtentdSowsfuf. 324 N. Sliev RcC Memory 6 JOpm Women's Bi6fc Study Santa Maria Autumn Ministries, Second Sat of th Month Pfi. 925-2116 Nurxiy always available r- coupon i $4.00 ExpirM 101505 Santa Maria Beauty Colleg 1778 S. Broadway e'-V Santa Maria CO 928-1848 285 South St, St.

I San Luia Obispo I AMIISICALTRIPITETO FilANK SINATRA Uvi 2 i. i tinptt Itfi CIM on ci? 2-17 Ik'tiienTrieitre Fesnvil Trmttf I 543-3305 I I 7U COUPON 4 ton pit at lit i. A A. JL.