[Eric Deggans | Times]

Syesha Mercado spends a day soaking up the publicity in the bay area.

Here's Syesha!

It's easy to love Syesha Mercado during her daylong publicity tour in the bay area Friday. Playful. Humble. Where's the diva we see on American Idol?

Syesha's Trop stop: What would Simon, Paula and Randy say?
Guitar hero: Tampa company makes their instruments
Evil Jason: He swears he didn't sandbag it

Best bets

Weekend: Concert picks
Weekend: Planner
Fri: Martini Madness
Fri: Pops at Lowry Park
Sat. Ultimate music showcase
Sun: Be-nice-to-Mom events
Sun: 98 Rockfest

You dirty dogs!

This is more than you want to know but ... Britney and K-Fed have steamy phone-sex at least once a week!

Movies

No, Speed Racer, no!

It's like cinema as spinner art, but the whirling, pretty pictures turn into one big, annoying blur.

Weekend concerts

Here comes trouble

Prepare for the apocalypse. Bad-boy Kid Rock heads the 98 Rock Fest Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.

Saturday: tbt* Ultimate Local Music Showcase
More concert picks

Comedy shows

Wanna go bananas?

Nick Swardson, Reno 911's gay prostitute on skates, glides into the TBPAC on Friday to show off his comedy licks.

Side Splitters: James Johann
Ybor's Improv: Sebastian Maniscalco
Next week: Larry the Cable Guy

Sean Daly
Times Pop Music Critic

Steve Persall
Times Film Critic

Eric Deggans
Times TV/Media Critic

John Fleming
Times Performing Arts Critic

Lennie Bennett
Times Art Critic

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