'BCN Rumble jumps ship to Harpers Ferry
Local rock station WBCN has been pitting rockers against popsters and glams versus punks in its annual Rock ' n Roll Rumble for 29 years -- nearly half of them at the Middle East nightclub in Cambridge. Now WBCN is moving the Rumble across the river to Harpers Ferry in Allston, a change whose seeds were planted six months ago when Shred -- 'BCN's local music director and longtime Rumble curator -- left his part-time job booking the upstairs room at the Middle East. While no one involved wants to rehash Shred's less-than-amicable departure , the Middle East's national booking agent Kevin Hoskins calls WBCN's decision to move the event "not entirely surprising. I understand it and I wish them well over at Harpers." Middle East co-owner Joseph Sater echoes the positive spin: "We loved it when they were here, and we'll love it when they're not. The Rumble is good for the whole scene, and they're welcome back anytime." WBCN has put on a handful of shows in recent months at Harpers Ferry, the site of the station's High School Battle of the Bands . When Harpers Ferry booking director Dan Millen expressed interest, WBCN jumped. "I appreciate the support from the Middle East over the years," says Shred, "but it's time to move the Rumble back into Boston." The competition will feature 24 bands competing over nine nights beginning April 1, and culminate with the finals on April 20. Past Rumble winners -- who walk away with cash, free studio time, much music-related booty, and a long-rumored career curse -- include 'Til Tuesday and the Dresden Dolls.
A generous send-off from DeGeneres
Chelmsford's Michael Santangelo joined the Army National Guard on his 18th birthday and is off to boot camp on Feb. 21. While his mom, Jackie Dougherty, couldn't stop him from going off to Iraq, she wrote to Ellen DeGeneres, telling the chat show host that her son had a bit of a crush on her and that she wanted to help make Santangelo's send-off more memorable. And yesterday, DeGeneres came through -- in a big way. Santangelo appeared on yesterday morning's show, with his mom and girlfriend, Stephanie, and DeGeneres gave the soon-to-be minted soldier a laptop computer with a built-in camera for his family so they can keep in touch, a seven-night Caribbean cruise to spend time with his family, and a T-shirt that reads "My Girlfriend Hosts The Ellen DeGeneres Show." DeGeneres, who joked that she loved a man in uniform, told Santangelo: "I'm for you, I'm happy I got to meet you, and I want to see you when you come back . You have to come visit us."Filmmaker wants this ‘Genius’ remembered
Filmmaker Llewellyn Smith says he doesn't see himself as a producer of pieces about science -- and that's a good thing. For "Forgotten Genius," a two-hour biography of Dr. Percy Julian that Smith directed and coproduced with writer Stephen Lyons, Smith says he tapped more of his documentary and history work. The screening of highlights of the "NOVA" piece that stars Tony Award- winning actor Ruben Santiago-Hudson as Julian will be held tonight at the Coolidge Corner Theatre and the full film will be broadcast on Feb. 8 on WGBH. "This is a story I didn't know. So I approach it as one of telling an important piece of history," said Smith, whose Vital Pictures is based in Boston. "And I hope it's one that more people want to know about. . . . Here is this man who gave up a brilliant career in research to become involved in civil rights."Oscar-winner Richard Dreyfuss, who is on a crusade to improve education in public schools, was at Bunker Hill Community College yesterday as part of the college's speaker series. . . . Just because Mark Wahlberg and Scarlett Johansson had lunch, it doesn't mean they're dating. After the pretty pair was photographed grabbing a bite to eat in Beverly Hills, celebrity websites breathlessly wondered if the Dorchester-bred actor was stepping out on his supermodel girlfriend Rhea Durham. But Johansson's rep insists that the funky lunch was merely a meeting to discuss a possible movie project. Wahlberg, whose performance in "The Departed" has earned him an Oscar nod, has two children with Durham, daughter Ella Rae, 3, and 10-month-old son, Michael. . . . What's Jonathan Papelbon doing hanging around with Sox-hater Spike Lee? The stud pitcher is working with the director on a commercial for New Era baseball caps. In the ad, taping in New York this week, Papelbon appears alongside Twins Johan Santana and Justin Morneau, Mets shortstop Jose Reyes, Detroit's Justin Verlander, Cards' shortstop David Eckstein, and Yankee Robinson Canó. . . . You won't want to miss a minute of the Oscar telecast Feb. 25. That's because Errol Morris has been asked to make a short film to kick off the broadcast. The Cambridge filmmaker did something of the sort in '02.
Joan Anderman of the Globe staff contributed. Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253. 
