LA Weekly

FRIDAY, December 7

Harry Shearer (do we really have to explain who he is?) and his lovely wife, Judith Owen (ditto), invite one and all to Judith Owen and Harry Shearer’s Holiday Sing-A-Long. And if this doesn’t jingle your bells or at least deck your halls, then nothing will. Joining the couple will be “Weird Al” Yankovic, Julia Fordham, the Bobs and more proclaiming their mirth-right to sing Christmas carols. This is the show that Harry and Judith have been doing in some form since it began in their living room, and now their version of “Christmas With the Devil” has become as iconic as Bing Crosby and “White Christmas.” The Steve Allen Theater, 4773 Hollywood Blvd., Hlywd.; Fri.-Sat., Dec. 7-8, 8 p.m.; $25. (800) 595-4TIX or www.steveallentheater.com.


SATURDAY, December 8

Who wrote, “She gave me a smile I could feel in my hip pocket”? If you said Raymond Chandler, then you already have your ticket to In a Lonely Place: Raymond Chandler’s Los Angeles. It’s another Esotouric Bus Adventure, and it takes you on a five-hour bus trip to such Chandler haunts as the Hotel Van Nuys, Union Station, Musso & Frank and, if you’re lucky, “down a rabbit hole of isolation, depression and drink.” Meet at Lincoln Heights/Cypress Gold Line Metro Station, 370 W. Avenue 26, L.A.; Sat., Dec. 8, 1-5 p.m.; $55. amscray@gmail.com or www.esotouric.com.


SUNDAY, December 9

The people behind the Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event — you can just call them STAGE — present Hope for the Holidays. Hoofing and belting and yukking it up for AIDS Project L.A. will be Betty Garrett, Bonnie Franklin, Sally Struthers, Rip Taylor, Bruce Vilanch, Patrick Cassidy and Ian Abercrombie. Dinner and cocktails complete the soiree. The Key Club, 9039 Sunset Blvd., W. Hlywd.; Sun., Dec. 9, 8 p.m.; $35 (standing room) & $150, VIP packages available. (866) 679-0958.


MONDAY, December 10

Be the first on your block to see Tim Burton’s Sweeney Todd, starring Johnny Depp as a murderous barber. Producer Richard Zanuck (Jaws, The Sting) will also speak. Part of the Reel Talk With Stephen Farber series. Wadsworth Theatre, on the Veterans Administration grounds, 11301 Wilshire Blvd., W.L.A.; Mon., Dec. 10, 7 p.m.; $20. (310) 479-3003.


TUESDAY, December 11

Christmas shopping tip: Everyone likes the Squirrel Nut Zippers — especially if they don’t know they do yet. Old-timey jazz, klezmer, polka, Tin Pan Alley, good-time music makes a great gift. Give someone their CD — or, better yet, take them to this show and it’s a guaranteed winner. The band is back after a bit of a touring hiatus, but their retro-everything musical stew never goes out of style. El Rey, 5515 Wilshire Blvd., L.A.; Tues., Dec. 11, 8 p.m.; $22.50. (213) 480-3232.


WEDNESDAY, December 12

Okay, I give up: High School Musical is great, important, fun, harmless and charming, and it makes kids eat their vegetables and finish their homework. In my day, we had David Cassidy, who, come to think of it, looks a lot like that other blue-eyed, brown-haired pretty boy. Guess every generation needs one. So, kids, get your parents to take you to the stage version of High School Musical. Kodak Theatre, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hlywd.; opens Wed., Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m.; perfs Tues.-Fri., 7:30 p.m.; Sat., 2 & 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 1 & 6:30 p.m.; matinee Thurs., Dec. 13, 2 p.m.; $23-$73. (213) 480-2332.


THURSDAY, December 13

When tee-vee’s Scrubs is good, it’s really, really good .?.?. but when it’s bad you know that star Zach Braff is somehow behind those horrid, whiny alt-rock songs that play under his so-earnest-it-hurts voice-overs. Love the janitor, though. And Elliot. And Dr. Cox. And Turk. And all those bit-parters are hilarious. Basically the show would be a whole lot better without that Braff dweeb. Anyway, the series is ending its seven-season run, and you can raise a surgical mask and say goodbye at Scrubs: The Farewell Tour with a screening of an episode followed by discussion and Q&A with cast and creative team. ThePaley Center for Media, 465 N. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills; Thurs., Dec. 13, 7 p.m.; $25. (310) 786-1000.