Going out

Comedy: Australian-American comedian Jim Short begins four wacky nights at Go Bananas Comedy Club. 8:30 p.m. today, 8410 Market Place Lane, Montgomery, $5, $2 students. 984-9288.

CCM studio: The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music opens a workshop production of William Finn's musical comedy A New Brain based on the unlikely - not to mention unmusical - real real-life experience with a brain seizure. 8 p.m. today, Cohen Family Studio Theater, UC, free (standby seating available 30 minutes prior to curtain). 556-4183.

Classical music: The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Paavo Jarvi perform works by Dukas and Prokofiev, then romp through Ravel's Bolero. 7:30 p.m. today, Music Hall, $12.50-$52.50. 381-3300.

On TV

Top pick: While Arsenio Hall hands out four $100,000 checks to Star Search winners (8 p.m., Channels 12, 7), the Friends hook up Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) with a pitiful blind date (Jon Lovitz).

Critic John Kiesewetter also says ABC airs the British Living with Michael Jackson documentary (8-10 p.m., Channels 9, 2) instead of NTSB: The Crash of Flight 323, with Cincinnati native Jeffrey Sams, pulled after the Columbia explosion.

On CD

Out today: Rapper 50 Cent's highly anticipated Get Rich or Die Tryin' will be released today, five days ahead of schedule because his label, Shady Records, feared bootlegging. It includes classic beats from Dr. Dre and guest raps from Eminem and of course 50's nasty humor. ($18.98).

Planning ahead

24 hours out: Poet and essayist Nikki Giovanni makes her only regional stop at Books & Co. to sign and discuss her new Quilting the Black-Eyed Pea. 7-8:30 p.m. Friday, 350 E. Stroop Road, Kettering. (800) 777-4881.

48 hours out: The Beatles tribute band Eight Days A Week plays Fab Four hits at the 20th Century, 9 p.m. Saturday, 3021 Madison Road, Oakley, $10-$15. 351-7222.

72 hours 'til Sunday: Area confectioners stir, cook, bubble, boil and sell their most decadent concoctions for United Cerebral Palsy's Chocolate Sunday. Noon-4 p.m., Eastgate Mall, I-275 and U.S. 32. 221-4606.

Jim Knippenberg

E-mail jknippenberg@enquirer.com