Going out

Matrix mania: The Matrix Reloaded hits some movie screens at 10 p.m. today. Theaters are: AMC 20 at Newport on the Levee ($8.50, 859-261-8100, www.moviewatcher.com), Great Escape 14 in Wilder ($7.75, 859-442-0000, http://greatescape.hollywood.com) , and Great Escape Princess in Oxford (513-523-2188, $6), and six National Amusement locations ($8.25-$9, depending on theater; www.nationalamusements.com).

Read Margaret A. McGurk's review of the movie Thursday in Tempo.

Les Claypool: The famously versatile bassist brings his Flying Frog Brigade to Bogart's for an evening of fun and funky rock-blues-soul jamming. 8 p.m. today, 2621 Vine St., Corryville, $16-$18. 562-4949.

Theater: Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati has late-night drama in the form of an intern-produced Last Call, a collection of short works about love, romance and heartache. 10 p.m. today-Friday, 2 and 10 p.m. Saturday, 1127 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, $10. 421-3555.

On TV

Top pick: In a one-hour American Idol (8:30-9:30 p.m., Channels 19, 45), Clay Aiken, Kimberley Locke and Ruben Studdard find out which one of them won't be around for the finals next Tuesday-Wednesday.

The goods

Have a seat: And not just any seat - one designed by one of the six Friends. La-Z-Boy and In Style magazine, asked the six stars to create a custom recliner for auction on eBay to benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. And so they did: Jennifer Aniston offers a curvy and contemporary club-style recliner; Courteney Cox came up with an Eames-like lounger in leather and wood; Lisa Kudrow did a rocker-recliner with an argyle pattern; Matt LeBlanc's is a plush recliner with a deep seat and black leather cover; Matthew Perry's is Indigo blue velvet in a contemporary style; and David Schwimmer's is a quirky beach ball-like job with matching ottoman. Place bids through May 22 at www.ebay.com/celebrityrecliners.

Planning ahead

24 hours out: Southern female folkie Michelle Malone does an acoustic evening with local favorite Katie Reider. 9 p.m. Thursday, BarrelHouse Brewing Company, 22 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine, $10. 421-2337.

72 hours till Saturday: The Beach Waterpark turns on the tap for a preview weekend. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Waterpark Drive, Mason, $9.50-$25.95. 398-7946.

Jim Knippenberg

E-mail jknippenberg@enquirer.com