You can use MC's expression language to edit tags in-line. So, for example, I usually want my TV Show video files named like this:
3e02 for episode 2 in Season 3 of a particular show. This is easy to accomplish quickly. Make sure they are showing in the list in the right order, select them all, and hit F2 (to edit the name field). Then type this:
=[Season]ePadNumber(Counter(),2)
So long as the [Season] field has already been filled out, it will result in the files all being renamed properly. Then, if you want to go add the actual episode titles, you can pull up the EpGuide for that season and append them one at a time.
This flexible system, plus the Find and Replace and Move/Copy fields tools can do just about any massaging you need to in a simple manner. Another example I hit a lot is more like what you described. The files might come in with the [Name] field like this:
Pink Floyd - One of These Days
Pink Floyd - A Pillow of Winds
...etc
If the text you need to remove is all the same, it is easy. Just use the Find and Replace tool. Search on only the [Name] field, search for "Pink Floyd - " (without the quotes), and leave the replace box empty. More complex procedures can be accomplished using the Expression language (the RemoveLeft() and RemoveRight() expressions can be particularly handy).