The State from Columbia, South Carolina • 23

The State COLUMBIA SOUTH CAROLINA THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2010 WWW.THESTATE.COM SECTION WARNER BROS. Samantha, Carrie, Miranda and Charlotte are back in 'Sex and the City 'SATC' 'Sex and the City 2' wanders too long in the desert he prototypical "Ugly was a American" loud, of the obnoxious 1960s Yankee tourist who sported a garish Hawaiian print shirt (or maybe day-glo Capri pants) and in a braying voice found foreign cultures patently inferior to what they enjoyed back home. There's a bit of that going on in "Sex and the City 2," in which New York gal pals Carrie, Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte descend on the Arab emirate of Abu Dhabi for an all-expensespaid vacation. REVIEW "Sex and the City 2" Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon Running time: 2 hours, 26 minutes Rated: for some strong sexual content and language Oh, these Americans are beautiful or at least as beautiful as a $10 million wardrobe budget can make them. But they're ugly in that they bring their cosmopolitan values and in-your-face sexuality to a Middle Eastern culture and, oblivious to local standards, feel it's their right to flaunt it all before the poor repressed heathens.

It's not the sexuality that's offensive. It's the arrogance. OK, perhaps I'm taking the latest from Michael Patrick King too TELEVISION Sports director Shields signing off after 30 years AT THESTATE.COM going change, Shields said, By OTIS R. TAYLOR JR. noting that prominent More photos of Bob Shields casters at local stations have on the WLTX set Wednesday.

layers rarely know been removed from their poP from when to their walk sport. away The the vice president of Life Ca- "I sitions. felt like this might be a same can't be said about Bob reers, a career management good time for me to make my Shields, the WLTX-19 sports firm. He said he's leaving be- move," he said. "Just to be director, who is walking away cause of personal and profes- sure.

We have seen it at other from sports. sional reasons. places. He's leaving the game of "I'm never home for family "I have no idea what their sports reporting how the dinners," said Shields, who future plans were for me as great running back Barry has two children, Gena, 10, far as long term." Sanders left the game of foot- and Kevin, 13. "We know Shields made it clear that ball: on his own terms.

Today what teenagers are capable he wasn't asked to leave. is his last day after almost 30 of. We went through it, and "It's not spin to say it is a veat the station. dad needs to be in the house." years Shields, 50, will become The TV industry is under- SEE SHIELDS PAGE D3 3-DAY WEEKEND PROVIDED PHOTO an original play about women aviators, will be staged at Longstreet Theatre Thursday through May 30. THURSDAY High-flying play at Longstreet "FLIGHT," an original play about women aviators, will be staged at Longstreet Theatre tonight through Sunday.

Robyn Hunt wrote the play which will be directed by Steven Pearson. Both are USC professors. There will be aerial work and a major set piece is the re-creation of a monoplane, the aircraft flown by the first aviators. Showtime: 8 p.m. each night.

Longstreet is at Greene and Sumter streets. $7 and $10; (803) 777-4288 SATURDAY Swimming pools opening The city of Columbia Parks and Recreation Department's summer swim season begins Saturday with the opening of the Maxcy Gregg and Greenview swimming pools. The Drew Splash Pad at the Drew Wellness Center will open Saturday as well. Operating hours: Greenview, 1 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m.

to 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday; Maxcy Gregg, 1 to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday; and the splash pad, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 6 p.m. Saturday.

The contact number for Greenview is (803) 735-1602; Maxcy Gregg, (803) 733-8447; and the wellness center, (803) 545-3200. SUNDAY Familyfest 2010 Familyfest 2010 will be held at 4 p.m. at Finlay Park. Performers include James Fortune Fiya, Ernest Pugh and Lisa Page. Several community choirs will also perform.

Finlay Park is at 930 Laurel St. Free; (803) 939-9530 INSIDE: Loquat bears way into senses, tastes of Midlands gardeners, Page D3. seriously. After all, it's supposed to be a lighthearted lark with some deeper moments, an excuse for the audience to revisit beloved characters and vicariously live a lifestyle of conspicuous consumption. And for the first hour or so it works.

Unfortunately, the film is two and a half hours long. We're re-introduced to the women and their men and learn that all four are undergoing various crises. SEE SATC PAGE D3 C. ALUKA Sports anchor and reporter Bob Shields talks with fellow anchor J.R. Berry about a surprise visit from USC head football coach Steve Spurrier..