Move over McKinley High, there’s a new musical show in town and NBC’s Smash lived up to its much-hyper premiere. It’s loud, full of drama, full of beautiful eye candy and has the makings for a much longer-lived and interesting series than Glee.

Man, Glenn Close feels like a woman, but she sure doesn’t look like one in her new gender-bending movie. In Albert Nobbs, the actress – known notably to gay audiences for her role in the 1995 film Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story, as a real-life lesbian soldier – drops her voice a few notches, wears a top hat and wraps her torso in a girdle, all to keep her job while living in late-19th-century Ireland.

From beat-driven and catchy tunes, to honest and soul-baring love songs, few artists have the same brutal individuality as Mat Kearney. His third album, Young Love, blends some of the best aspects of an indie sound with more pop, radio-ready hits. Kearney spoke with QSaltLake about his inspirations for writing, his previous visits to Utah and a music video he’s shooting in Salt Lake. He’ll be at In The Venue on Feb. 13, 8 p.m. Tickets are available through SmithsTix.com for $18.

In a familiar, but stunning and beautifully-spun story, An American Fraud: One Lawyer’s case against Mormonism is part memoir and part sharp, well-researched criticism of the LDS Church. Author Kay Burningham opens the book with her personal journey and documents the mistreatment, sexism and misogynistic management she faced being raised Mormon and living the standards of the Church.

Nothing can stand in the way of the almighty Meryl Streep — except on this particular afternoon. At a New York City hotel, in front of a room full of journalists from mainstream press, she braces herself for what could be the ultimate career challenge. The mission? Answer a “gay” question.

My lesbian friends, Chelle and Donna, recently acquired a cute-ass dachshund puppy; they named her Frankie (lesbians are so incredibly creative). Frankie is around 13 weeks old now, and she has a great personality and healthy stool — hey, that’s important for pups!

The Wanted, a five-member British boy band, are in concert Thursday, Feb. 2, 7 p.m., at In The Venue at Club Sound. QSaltLake held a ticket giveaway on Facebook for several pairs of tickets to the show. The winners are listed below and their tickets will be held at the venue under their names the day of the show. Congratulations t0 our winners, enjoy the show!!

BEST PICTURE: The Artist, The Descendants, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, The Help, Hugo, Midnight in Paris,Moneyball, The Tree of Life, War Horse.