If you’re going to crib from the holy trinity—Cher, Bette Midler and Madonna—at least do it well. Lady Gaga has that in her favor. At last night’s sold-out Landmark Theater show of more than 3,500 rabid fans, the girl from Yonkers, N.Y., formerly known as Stefani Germanotta captivated with a barely more-than-an-hour show while wearing outfits that were barely there as well.

It’s a good week to welcome some newcomers to the restaurant landscape. Now serving are:  Bouchon, at 1209 E. Cary St. in Shockoe Slip. The French bistro takes over Pomegranate’s old spot and offers a menu heavy on Provencal-inspired seafood. The Web site, http://www.bistrobouchon.com, is under construction. For details, call (804) 225-9116.

The Beat on break Melissa Ruggieri’s The Beat column will return next week.

You won’t need to travel to Williamsburg this weekend to absorb some of Virginia’s richest history.  Publick Days at Henricus Historical Park in Chesterfield County will help you re-create life in 1611 Colonial Virginia with two days of presentations, demonstrations, historical interpretations and, most intriguing to history buffs, a chance to tour the Godspeed.

One thing about Margaret Cho: She isn’t the quiet type.  The multi-hyphenate performer—comedian, actress and singer—has always been outspoken about politics (she’s an avowed liberal), sexuality (she’s bi) and social issues.  So it was amusing, in a way, that the voluble Cho, 40, has been silenced the past few weeks since developing nodes on her vocal cords.

One of Richmond’s most-anticipated annual events—Restaurant Week—is set for Oct. 26-Nov. 1.  If you don’t know the deal, 23 dining spots will offer a three-course prix-fixe meal for $25.09 per person. The Central Virginia Foodbank and Meals on Wheels will receive $2.09 from each dinner.

MELISSA RUGGIERITimes-Dispatch columnist     An anti-gay reggae singer performing in Richmond the same day as the Gay Pride Festival.  Can you get more ironic?  And now the performance has been moved to a new venue that, in its previous incarnation, became the target of a thorny argument with the NAACP.

Kanye West should be done with his apology tour in time for his 30-date Fame Kills outing with Lady Gaga. Dates are penciled in for Dec. 13 at the Norfolk Scope and Dec. 30 at the Verizon Center in D.C. Miss Gaga has a sold-out gig Sept. 28 at the Landmark Theater.  . . .  A comprehensive look at Neil Diamond, “Neil Diamond is Forever: The Illustrated Story of the Man and his Music,“ written by Minneapolis Star Tribune pop-music writer Jon Bream, arrives in stores Oct. 15.  . . .  Janet Jackson has a new song on her Web site, http://www.janetjackson.com. “Make Me,“ posted immediately after Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards appearance, gives a nod to brother Michael’s “Don’t Stop Til’ You Get Enough.“  . . .  Tina Turner’s return to touring last year will be available for public consumption Oct. 20 when “Tina Live,“ filmed in Holland, bows.

Let us all pause for a moment and hoist our lighters. No, not our cell phones. That’s so cold and impersonal and . . . 2009. Instead, let’s relish the guilty pleasure rock brought to the Richmond Coliseum last night by Journey and Night Ranger. Between them, the bands churned out about 30 hits in the ‘70s and ‘80s—and Journey is still romping around adult contemporary radio with new singer Arnel Pineda and topping the iTunes charts with its rediscovered “Don’t Stop Believin’.“

In 1966, Cecily Tyson became the first female African-American contract player in daytime TV.
Also in 1966, the man who would lend his molasses pipes and embody Darth Vader, James Earl Jones, became the voice of reason on “Guiding Light” as Dr. Jim Frazier.
Billy Dee Williams stepped in to play Dr. Jim Frazier in 1966 when Jones left the role.

The show has some Richmond connections. In the early ‘00s, Monacan High School graduate Richard J. Mensing Jr. was named vice president of daytime programs for CBS Entertainment and specifically monitored “Guiding Light” and “As the World Turns.“ (Barbara Bloom now holds the position.)
On a June weekend in 2006, stars from “GL”—including Kim Zimmer (Reva Shayne Lewis), Robert Newman (Josh Lewis) and Bradley Cole (Jeffrey O’Neill)—appeared at Kings Dominion for CBS’ “Superstar Weekend.“

In five days, the light goes out. After 72 years—beginning on radio—the soap opera that Guinness World Records christened the longest-running drama in TV/radio history will leave its melodramatic plot lines (Teen drinking! Cancer! AIDS! Cloning?) in the CBS vaults, another victim of the shrinking ratings that are decimating the soaps industry.

Jack Blades wants fans to bring their “singing voices” to the Richmond Coliseum on Tuesday. The bassist/singer for Night Ranger said his band’s current joint tour with Journey is so packed with hits, it will be impossible for concertgoers to resist singing along.

I will miss “Guiding Light” when it’s gone—not just for the good-looking men on the show who brought me so much pleasure, but also for the way it brought me and my sister a little closer when we watched it together.—Leigh Giza, Midlothia

. . . I started watching “Guiding Light” as a freshman in college (in 1982) . . . I graduated college, got married and started a job in 1986. I taped “Guiding Light” and watched it at night. My husband became hooked, too, as we watched it together while eating dinner. We have performed this ritual of eating dinner and watching “Guiding Light” together for the past 23 years! . . . As silly as it may sound, it will be a void in our lives as we’ve grown to love the characters on the show. Although they are actors, it’s like losing old friends.

Tonight, defending Super Bowl champs the Pittsburgh Steelers will take on the Tennessee Titans for the kickoff of football season—and some sports-themed deals.  T.G.I. Friday’s will host the “Largest Kickoff Party in the U.S.A.“ and offer bar guests six free buffalo wings at football-watching parties tonight, Sunday and Monday.