Marilyn Monroe

Chicago got the "Seven Year Itch" a little early. After nearly two years of being stationed smack dab in the middle of Pioneer Court on the Magnificent Mile, the Forever Marilyn statue will be taken down May 7, according to the nonprofit group that owns it. Here are 10 reasons why we're ready to see it go: 1.    We don't have to feel sorry for her when her pedicure gets chipped. 2.    We may be able to walk across Pioneer Court without dodging her admirers. 3.    Tourists can go back to photographing their reflection in The Bean.

Chicago got the "Seven Year Itch" a little early. After nearly two years of being stationed smack dab in the middle of Pioneer Court on the Magnificent Mile, the Forever Marilyn statue will be taken down May 7, according to the nonprofit group that owns it. Here are 10 reasons why we're ready to see it go: 1.    We don't have to feel sorry for her when her pedicure gets chipped. 2.    We may be able to walk across Pioneer Court without dodging her admirers. 3.    Tourists can go back to photographing their reflection in The Bean.

April 30 was a sad day for tourists and people with giant woman fetishes everywhere. The city announced the giant, confusing, Marilyn Monroe statue, titled "Forever Marilyn" is not-so-forever--it's scheduled to be taken down May 7. The announcement robs Pioneer Court on Michigan Avenue of perhaps its strangest and most disturbing tourist attraction since, well--ever. Not sure what I mean? Let me explain. From an early age, men are taught a simple truth. It is never, ever, ever acceptable to look up a woman's skirt.

April 30 was a sad day for tourists and people with giant woman fetishes everywhere. The city announced the giant, confusing, Marilyn Monroe statue, titled "Forever Marilyn" is not-so-forever--it's scheduled to be taken down May 7. The announcement robs Pioneer Court on Michigan Avenue of perhaps its strangest and most disturbing tourist attraction since, well--ever. Not sure what I mean? Let me explain. From an early age, men are taught a simple truth. It is never, ever, ever acceptable to look up a woman's skirt.

***1/2 (out of four) Imagine skinny dipping with Marilyn Monroe. You'd probably have a silly, disbelieving grin on your face, too. The based-on-a-true-story heart of “My Week with Marilyn” echoes “Notting Hill”: Lowly production assistant Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne), still giddy to be working on his first movie, increasingly acquires the trust of the Hollywood icon (Michelle Williams) while she films “The Prince and the Showgirl” with Sir Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh)

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery? More like, try again, copycats. A controversial new ad campaign from the Benetton group was making the rounds online this week. It's on par with the fashion house's past attempts at using their ads to communicate a wider, more "wordly" message, and it is certainly hard to miss. The ad, which is a slideshow of various international politicians shown engaged in faux lip locks, has a message of "Unhate" attached. Scrolling through smooches between opposing political leaders is bound to attract attention the...

Darth Vader is getting the pop-art treatment tonight as students from a Lakeview school are attempting to set a Guinness World Record with more than 100 portraits of the "Star Wars" character. Students from Alphonsus Academy & Center of the Arts will display their Andy Warhol-inspired portraits at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Athenaeum Theatre in Lakeview (2936 N. Southport Ave.). While Warhol famously used screen prints for his portraits of Marilyn Monroe and other famous figures, the students used stencils and a variety of colors to depict Luke...

Darth Vader is getting the pop-art treatment tonight as students from a Lakeview school are attempting to set a Guinness World Record with more than 100 portraits of the " Star Wars " character. Students from Alphonsus Academy & Center of the Arts will display their Andy Warhol -inspired portraits at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Athenaeum Theatre in Lakeview (2936 N. Southport Ave.). While Warhol famously used screen prints for his portraits of Marilyn Monroe and other famous figures, the students used stencils and a variety of colors...

It's not Marilyn Monroe, but it has taken her place in Pioneer Court. On Monday, crews were setting up--and repairing--a giant tree on the Magnificent Mile plaza near the river, preparing to install the decoration for property management at 401 N. Michigan Ave. At more than 45 feet high, it's hard to miss. Here's some fast facts about the festive fir: Height: 47 feet Weight: 4,400 pounds Type: Con-color fir Where's it from? Armintrout's nursery in Allegan, Mich.

The Broadway-set "Smash" ( 8 p.m. CT Feb. 5, NBC; 2 stars out of 4 ) had one of the best pilots last year, grabbing my attention with its behind-the-scenes look at two actresses auditioning for the same role in a musical about Marilyn Monroe. It just as quickly lost me when all the sizzle of the premiere fizzled into boringly familiar, soapy subplots with cloying characters and some howler numbers. For its second act, new showrunner Joshua Safran has dumped many elements that failed in the up-and-mostly-down first season.

***1/2 (out of four) Imagine skinny dipping with Marilyn Monroe. You'd probably have a silly, disbelieving grin on your face, too. The based-on-a-true-story heart of “My Week with Marilyn” echoes “Notting Hill”: Lowly production assistant Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne), still giddy to be working on his first movie, increasingly acquires the trust of the Hollywood icon (Michelle Williams) while she films “The Prince and the Showgirl” with Sir Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh)

*** (out of four) No, Nicki Minaj still hasn't made an album that consistently brandishes her best asset. (Not that one, dude.) I'm fine with that. Of course, it would be great if Minaj uncorked the jaw-dropping skills flashed in guest spots on Kanye West's “Monster” for an entire record. In its most exhilarating moments, her flow sounds like a rap roller coaster with a mad scientist running the controls. Still, “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded” lands closer to the center of the target than its predecessor, “Pink Friday.” As if wanting to make sure people...

Everything about NBC's wildly ambitious "Smash" sings underdog:  Set in the rarified world of Broadway, it's a musical soap opera about the making of a musical about Marilyn Monroe. It uses mostly original songs as opposed to "Glee"-like covers, and is totally, completely and thankfully unapologetic about its celebration of the musical theater world. In other words, my family in Nebraska will never watch it. Like most risky shows on network TV, “Smash” ( 9 p.m. Feb. 6, NBC; 3.5 stars )