Last night, the 44th annual Country Music Association Awards happened, and while you can learn about the winners here, Entertainment Weekly offers a best and worst list for the broadcast itself.

Plus, an intriguing article in the New York Times discusses how last year’s CMA wins by Taylor Swift and Darius Rucker, as well as this year’s wins by Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert, signal “that Nashville (is) coming to terms with a new establishment.”

MOVIES

* Film producer Dino De Laurnetiis (“Serpico,” “Three Days of the Condor,” etc.) has died at age 91.

LOCAL PERFORMANCE

* Character actor and comedian Larry Miller (“Pretty Woman,” “Seinfeld”) will share his comedy and songs over drinks in Saugatuck.

* Want to run away and join the circus? You won’t have to run far, since the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus is coming to the Palace in Auburn Hills this weekend.

* Opera and classical music lovers in the area have a feast of good options coming up, as reported by the Detroit Free Press, including a production of Puccini’s “La Boheme.”

TELEVISION

* Looks like U-M grad Darren Criss made quite a splash with his debut on “Glee” Tuesday night. Talks are reportedly underway to keep Criss around on a more long term basis.

* Poor Kanye West. According to the singer’s Twitter feed, “The Today Show”’s Matt Lauer abused him terribly during a recent interview. Makes me want to make a video where I’m under a sheet with a flashlight, weeping, “Leave Kanye alone!”

* Love Cee-lo’s catchy-but-profane “F-you” single, but bummed that you can’t play it around the kids? Stephen Colbert suggested, on “The Colbert Report,” that the singer should replace the title phrase with "Fox News", and Cee-lo did - for one verse, at least. Check out the highlights below.

MUSIC

* The White Stripes are releasing an expensive, limited edition set that includes -among other things - a portable record player, an LP and a copy of the rare, red vinyl single, “Merry Christmas from the White Stripes.” Only 333 will be made, and it’s the perfect gift for the consummate White Stripes fan, provided you’re willing to part with $500 for it.

* In other music set news, the deluxe six-disc edition of Bruce Springsteen’s 1978 album “Darkness on the Edge of Town” will hit stores next week, but Rolling Stone’s site is offering the only opportunity to hear 15 of the tracks right now online.

* Chelsea High School’s show choir, Company C, is one of 10 finalists in Detroit Magic 105.1’s “Magic Glee Club” contest. They will perform one song to determine the winner. Hope it's not "Don't Stop Believin'."

* On the heels of The Weepies’ recent show at the Ark, a sweet little video by the band for “Be My Honeypie” has appeared online, featuring loving couples of various stripes.

THEATER

* “American Idol”’s Constantine Maroulis stars in the Tony Award-nominated stage musical “Rock of Ages,” a touring production now making a stop in Detroit. The Detroit Free Press ran a preview for the show, and here’s a mixed review of “Rock” from EncoreMichigan.com, written by, well, me.

* Kathie Lee Gifford, who wrote the lyrics for the upcoming workshop production of the new musical "It's a Wonderful Life" at Dexter's Encore Theatre, talked about her involvement with the show on "The Today Show" yesterday.

FESTIVALS

The schedule for Dexter’s upcoming “Home for the Holidays” festival has been announced.

ONLINE

The Onion’s Joe Biden spoofs have apparently become a bit of a sensation.

BOOKS

It’s time. The New York Times will now rank e-book bestsellers.

Renee Tellez contributed to this roundup. Jenn McKee is the entertainment digital journalist for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.