Item World: Local news and views 11/4

'Ghost' writer

Here are three names I.W. never thought would be mentioned in the same sentence: Paul Westerberg, Glen Campbell and Ellen DeGeneres. Westerberg, who has been out of the public eye for five years, makes a surprising yet typically coy cameo in the video for the title track of Campbell's new album, "Ghost on the Canvas." The video actually starts off as a a homage to the Replacements' classic "Bastards of Young" clip, with Westerberg playing the part of the dude loafing on the couch, staring at the stereo speaker. He reappears throughout the video, too. The Minneapolis music hero's involvement makes sense because he wrote "Ghost" for Campbell. Here's where things really get six-degrees odd: The video, co-directed by ex-Minneapolitan Kii Arens -- late of the band Flipp and now a L.A. graphic artist -- made its debut Tuesday on DeGeneres' website, preceding an appearance by Campbell on "Ellen." Campbell, who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's, will be honored at the Country Music Awards on Wednesday in a tribute segment featuring Brad Paisley, Keith Urban and Vince Gill. Apparently, Westerberg wasn't invited to that one. --CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER

Time is money

Morris Day and Jimmy Jam understand what fans might be thinking. In August, folks got to see Morris Day & the Time for free at the Minnesota State Fair. On Saturday at the State Theatre, it'll cost from $53.50 to $83.50 to see the Original 7ven, which is Day and the Time's 1981 lineup. "A lot of it is educating the public that it is the original members," Jam told I.W. "I'm not assuming that means a lot to everybody. A lot of people might be like: 'I don't care who's playing "The Bird" as long as I hear Morris Day up there.'" Day is concerned about paying his bills with income from both groups (he's got six kids, ages 4 to 34). "Even though the tickets were free [at the fair], I still got paid the money I like to get," he said. --JON BREAM

Why so blue?

Not sure if it was S.A.D., book-tour exhaustion or what, but novelist Colson Whitehead stressed his downbeat, pessimistic (and funny) side Wednesday night at Talking Volumes. Though admitting that "part of me is optimistic," Whitehead told the Fitzgerald Theater audience that "another part of me despises all humanity and wishes I were alone, walking the streets of a deserted New York" like the zombies that populate his new novel, "Zone One." He described his writing life as: "Tweet, couch, depressive stupor, idea, computer, couch, depressive stupor." Whitehead's mood should get a lift Sunday when his book appears (No. 16) on the New York Times fiction bestseller list. --CLAUDE PECK

'Stuck' no longer

What would Dillinger do?

Don't think of the Twin Cities as an adventure destination? Think again. "Off Limits," a Travel Channel series hosted by Don Wildman, will wrap up its season with an episode exploring the old gangster hangouts, monster mills and subterranean breweries of the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. The episode airs at 7 p.m. Nov. 17. That's fine, but if Wildman wants a real adventure, he should try navigating downtown St. Paul. --NEAL JUSTIN

Brave New building

There is no going back now. The Brave New Workshop officially opens its downtown Minneapolis theater tonight. "Skyway to the Manger Zone" kicks off the comedy troupe's residency in a buffed-up, tricked-out upstairs-downstairs funhouse at 824 Hennepin Av. S. Owner John Sweeney told I.W. that the company spent $750,000 on paint, carpet, lights, fiber optics, chairs, tables and bars. The downstairs mixes talk-show glitz with blue-light-lounge leather. The shows are upstairs, and the beer stations are everywhere. Citing what founder Dudley Riggs has always preached about making improv comedy work, Sweeney said, "You take what you have, expand it, make it better and give it away." --GRAYDON ROYCE

Ice balls cometh

Prince o' Canada