Going out

Don Rickles: The comedic cornerstone of the Dean Martin/Rat Pack era is at the Taft Theatre with quick insults, James Cagney impressions and stories from more than 40 years in show business. 8 p.m. today, Fifth and Sycamore streets, downtown, $35.50-$51.50. 562-4949.

Wine fest: The Cincinnati International Wine Festival has more than 150 wineries pouring 600 wines. 6:30-9 p.m. today-Saturday, Albert B. Sabin Convention Center, downtown. $60. 723-9463.

On TV

Top pick: Fox's John Doe (Dominic Purcell) finds it liberating when a lightning strike takes away his genius abilities - until he needs the extraordinary brain power to help to capture a serial killer (9 p.m., Channels 19, 45).

• Critic John Kiesewetter says Shannen Doherty returns to TV, hosting Scare Tactics (10 p.m., Sci Fi Channel), a practical joke reality series in which people are locked in a coffin and attacked by aliens.

Opening today

Critic's Pick: A Man Apart (R), Vin Diesel, Larenz Tate.

• What A Girl Wants (PG), Amanda Bynes, Colin Firth.

• Phone Booth (R) Colin Farrell, Forrest Whitaker.

• Bend It Like Beckham (PG-13) Parminder K. Nagra.

• Dysfunctional Family (R) Eddie Griffin.

• 'Til Human Voices Wake Us (R), Guy Pearce, Helena Bonham Carter.

New in E-games

Def Jam Vendetta: Electronic Arts teams with Def Jam Recordings for a street-fighting wrestling experience. Players can choose from more than 40 fighters to control or do battle with, as well as 12 Def Jam artists, including major names DMX, Ludacris and Method Man - the selection menus include 18 full recordings from the Def Jam catalog. There are hundreds of realistic moves, over-the-top finishing combinations and unlockables that players have come to expect. It's one of the best released for the consoles, says e-game dude Chris Ainsworth. (Electronic Arts; PS2 and Gamecube; $49.99; T for Teens).

Also new: The Sims (Maxis; Xbox and Gamecube; $49.99; T for Teens): The No. 1 PC game comes to the Xbox and Gamecube.

• Samurai Jack: Amulet of Time (Bam; Game Boy Advance; $29.99; T for Teens): Save the world with the Cartoon Network hero.

Planning ahead

24 hours out: Cincinnati Museum Center opens the blockbuster Liberty on the Border: A Civil War Exhibit, full of artifacts and photographs showing off the region's role in the Civil War. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Union Terminal, $4.75-$6.75. 287-7000.

48 hours out: Jazz great Wynton Marsalis is at Miami University with the world-famous Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Millett Hall, Oxford, $14-$28. (513) 529-3200.

Jim Knippenberg

E-mail jknippenberg@enquirer.com