Assorted ramblings from the world of entertainment:
- The band Red Wanting Blue will make its national television debut Wednesday on ''The Late Show with David Letterman.''
Red Wanting Blue is from Columbus, but the band has played at least four shows in Youngstown in the last 18 months - and several others in the surrounding area - and has a loyal area following. Most recently, the band headlined the Baehltoberfest at Bojangles in New Waterford. Before that concert, lead singer Scott Terry said he wasn't allowed to say publicly what the band will perform, but the show specifically requested one of the tracks from its latest release, ''From the Vanishing Point.''
This week RWB released its performance last month at New York's City Winery as a free digital download (although folks are welcome to leave a tip). The 19-song set includes many set list staples (''Pour It Out,'' ''Where You Wanna Go,'' ''White Snow,'' ''Walkin' Shoes,'' ''Finger in the Air,'' ''Audition'') and the first public performance of a new song called ''Step Right Up.''
Download information can be found on the band's website, www.redwantingblue.com.
Letterman starts at 11:35 p.m. on CBS. Expect RWB's appearance in the final 5-10 minutes of the hour-long show.
- Aspiring singers will get their chance to ''Sparkle'' this weekend for their own shot at a national television appearance.
The Sparkle Singing Challenge is being conducted in several cities nationwide to promote the Jordin Sparks-Whitney Houston movie ''Sparkle,'' which opens nationwide on Aug. 17.
The Cleveland area event is at noon Saturday at Richmond Town Center Mall in Richmond Heights. Amateur singers ages 13 to 40 will be asked to sing a 60-second capella version of one of two songs from the movie, ''Celebrate'' or ''Something He Can Feel.''
The Cleveland winner will receive $500 cash and a chance to compete for the national grand prize, which includes a trip to New York, a recording session with the producing / writing team Punch Monkeys and an appearance on BET's ''106 & Park.''
Registration starts at 11 a.m. Saturday, and only the first 75 people to register will get to perform. Information on the contest and the music and lyrics can be found at www.myspace.com/sparkle.
- Granted, there is no shortage of things happening in Warren / Howland tonight - Sean Jones performing with the Top Notes at the Warren Community Amphitheatre, football great Paul Warfield's lecture at Packard Music Hall and photographer Mike McCartney's talk at the Butler Institute of American Art Trumbull Brunch.
But arguably the greatest movie musical ever made is making a one-night return to movie theaters. Turner Classic Movies is commemorating the 60th anniversary of ''Singin' in the Rain'' with a screening of the Gene Kelly / Donald O'Connor / Debbie Reynolds classic, followed by some exclusive behind-the-scenes extras. TCM host Robert Osborne will introduce the film and interview Reynolds in an event that can be seen in several hundred theaters nationwide.
Locally, it will be screened at 7 p.m. today at Cinemark Tinseltown in Boardman.
Andy Gray is the entertainment writer for the Tribune Chronicle. Write to him at grayareas@tribtoday.com.