Groovy Gal: Bernadette Peters

I got to know actress Bernadette Peters in three different stages. The first one was from her television work, beginning with her 12 guest appearances on The Carol Burnett Show. I also liked her in two 1975 roles as Walter's young date on an episode of Maude and as a sexy college student on All in the Family. I enjoyed her as well on the short-lived Norman Lear sitcom, All's Fair (1976-77), in which she played the liberal photographer girlfriend of an older conservative political writer. She and her co-star, Richard Crenna, had great chemistry together, and she was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance.

The second stage was from Ms. Peters' film work, which included Mel Brooks' 1976 movie, Silent Movie (for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe), 1979's The Jerk and 1981's Pennies from Heaven (with her then boyfriend, Steve Martin), 1982's Annie, 1989's Slaves of New York, and 1991's Impromptu.

Then in 1991 after I discovered musical theater at the ripe old age of 27, I realized the talented lady had a stage career that I wasn't even aware of. I later saw her in The Goodbye Girl (1993) and Gypsy (2003), but my favorite musical performance of hers remains Mabel Normand in Jerry Herman's Mack & Mabel (1974), for which she was nominated for a Tony Award.

Today is Bernadette Peters' 61st birthday, and she's still as active as ever with recent appearances on TV's Grey's Anatomy and Ugly Betty. She can do it all--TV, movies, musicals--and I've enjoyed every stage of her groovy career.

Here are 10 Groovy Facts about Ms. Peters:

1) She was born Bernadette Lazzara to an Italian-American family in Queens, New York, and her mother started her in show business by putting her on the television show, Juvenile Jury, at the age of three-and-a-half.

2) In January 1958, at age nine, she obtained her Actors Equity Card in the name of Bernadette Peters (taken from her father's first name) to avoid ethnic stereotyping.

3) At age 13, Peters appeared as one of the "Hollywood Blondes" and was an understudy for "Dainty June" in the second national tour of Gypsy (the following year she played the role in summer stock).

4) She made her Broadway debut in the play, Johnny No-Trump, which opened and closed at the Cort Theatre on October 8, 1967. The show also starred James Broderick and Sada Thompson (who later acted together again on TV's Family).

5) Peters' performance as "Ruby" in the 1968 off-Broadway musical spoof, Dames at Sea, brought her critical acclaim and her first Drama Desk Award. She received her first Tony Award nomination as Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her role as "Hildy" in the 1971 revival of On the Town.

6) She won the Golden Globe Award as Best Motion Picture Actress in a Comedy or Musical for 1981's Pennies From Heaven. Her romantic relationship with co-star, Steve Martin, lasted four years (1977 to 1981).

7) Peters appeared on the cover and in a spread in the December 1981 issue of Playboy magazine, in which she posed in lingerie designed by Bob Mackie.

8) She has been nominated for the Tony Award seven times and won twice for Andrew Lloyd Webber's Song and Dance (1985) and the 1999 revival of Annie Get Your Gun.

9) In March 2005, she made a TV pilot with Christine Baranski called Adopted, but the ABC sitcom was not picked up. The two women played the adoptive and birth mothers of a writer. And in May 2006, she appeared as the sharp-tongued sister of Karen Walker on the TV series, Will & Grace.

10) In 1999 Peters and her friend, Mary Tyler Moore, founded "Broadway Barks", an annual animal charity event held in New York City to promote the adoption of shelter animals. To support this cause, Peters wrote a children's book, Broadway Barks, in 2008.

I leave you now with a quote from the lady herself:

"You gotta be original, because if you're like someone else, what do they need you for?"

Bernadette Peters is definitely an original--and a very groovy gal.

Bamber Bares for Bears

Jamie Bamber, the hunky British-born actor who plays Apollo on TV's Battlestar Galactica, has bared his skin for PETA's newest ad to help save Canadian black bears killed for their fur. I don't know that much about Mr. Bamber, but he sounds like a very nice guy supporting a worthy cause--and with an eye-catching photo like that staring me in the face, I just had to post it for all of my readers who love sci-fi, hairy chests and/or animals.

Bamber isn't the only celebrity to lend his support to PETA's campaign--Twiggy, Bea Arthur, Morrissey, Jeff Beck and Hayley Mills have also become involved. If you would like to sign a petition to stop the killing of black bears, please click here.

Mid-Season Report Card: The Good, the Bad and the Betty, Part 2

Back in September I reviewed the third season premiere of Ugly Betty, and it wasn't pretty. After waiting all summer to learn if our heroine had chosen Henry or Gio, both characters were written out within the first minute of the episode as Ms. Suarez decided she didn't want either guy. Not a good start to the season--and, unfortunately, things have gone downhill ever since.

The Good: However, there have been a few highlights during Betty's current season--and my favorite has been the addition of 40-year-old Australian actor, Grant Bowler, as Connor Owens, the new CFO of Meade Publications. I could watch this gorgeous guy act in anything. And I've liked his romance with Wilhelmina (they have great chemistry). As for Betty's new love interest and neighbor, Jesse (played by another pretty face, singer Val Emmich), it took me awhile to warm up to him since I was still bitter over Henry and Gio's sudden departure. But I eventually grew to like the fella. I also enjoyed Betty and Amanda becoming roommates, which provided many laughs. And it's nice to see actress Lauren Vélez again as Elena, the nurse/girlfriend of Betty's father. I always liked her as Dr. Gloria Nathan on HBO's Oz, and she and actor Tony Plana are great together. It's also about time that Papa Suarez got some action on the show. Finally, it's always good to see Bernadette Peters, even though she doesn't have much to do as magazine editor Jodie Papadakis (who would make a great nemesis for Wilhemina).

The Bad: Despite all of the good things above, the following bad stuff has made for a rather grim third season as the writers of the series have pretty much destroyed everything I liked about it. As of last night's episode, Connor is now a bad guy who's embezzled from Meade and flown off into the sunset, which means I won't be seeing much more of the handsome Mr. Bowler. I'm not happy about this. And just as I started liking Jesse, Betty moved back home, ending any potential romance with him and ending her roomie situation with the wacky Amanda. Again, I'm not happy.

What else? The sexy Eddie Cibrian was playing Hilda's love interest, Coach Diaz, which was very exciting until he got replaced in her life by former Karate Kid star, Ralph Macchio. I don't see this as a fair exchange. Mr. Macchio is an okay actor, but he can't hold a candle to the delicious dimples of the hunky Mr. Cibrian. Meanwhile, Rebecca Romijn's Alexis got written out of the show, and I miss that lovely transsexual. However, I don't miss her annoying French son, DJ.

And why the hell did the writers end Mark's relationship with the adorable Cliff? Bring back actor David Blue, dammit! Also, I've not been a fan of Daniel's relationship with the boring Molly, but did they really have to give the poor girl cancer? And I suspect that they're going to kill her off. Lately Ugly Betty has reminded me of a depressing episode of Brothers & Sisters (another show that has hit some potholes this season)--but without the delightful Sally Field (and without her, Brothers would be almost unwatchable). I have more bad news to report: Ashley Jensen, whom I adore as Christina, is leaving the show of her own accord, which doesn't please me. She's probably bored to death, since the writers haven't given her anything to do this season except give birth to Wilhemina's baby--which brings us to the fabulous Vanessa Williams. She's still terrific as Ms. Slater, but I really wasn't expecting her to become a doting mother. A softer, loving Willy isn't as much fun to watch.

So who's to blame for all of these unfortunate changes to my beloved Betty? I hold ABC responsible, since during last year's writers' strike, they fired two of the show's executive producers, Marco Pennette and James Hayman, as well as a few other writers. And I think a lot of Betty's sassy fun went with them. Whomever is writing the show now needs to get kicked to the curb ASAP as far as I'm concerned. ABC is replacing Ugly Betty after its March 19 episode with Samantha Who? and Megan Mullally's new sitcom, and Betty's last five episodes of the season might not be seen until June, which is not a good sign. However, it has been reported that Betty will live to see a fourth season, but at the moment it might be kinder to pull the plug and put the poor girl out of her--and our--misery. I give the show a D for its dreary and depressing third season so far.

But wait, I'm not finished yet. I was all set to give up on Betty after last night's horrible show until I read today that one of my favorite actresses, the marvelous Christine Baranski, is joining the series for at least three episodes as the high society mother of Betty's new love interest, Matt. Now this is very good news--and it will keep me watching (at least temporarily). I've not warmed up yet to actor Daniel Eric Gold as Matt. He's okay, but he doesn't do that much for me unlike Betty's previous three guys. Maybe he'll grow on me--and having Ms. Baranski as his mother certainly helps me like him better. And I was also pleased to learn that Mark will be getting a new boyfriend in the near future--but I'm still hoping Cliff will return one of these days. Betty's writers also better start featuring Amanda more because Becki Newton's comedic talents have been sadly ignored for most of this season. The show is supposed to be like a Spanish telenovela with outrageous storylines and melodramatic cliffhangers, but instead this year too many episodes have ended with sappy, sweet moments that haven't made me want to tune in again next week. But for Christine Baranski, I'm willing to give Betty one more chance to improve. Here's hoping the girl will get her groove back.

Dish of the Day #95: Vote for your Favorite

Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning today you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week in the sidebar poll. Also, if you're on Facebook, you can now send your favorite Dish of the Day to all your friends (here's the link).

So what did I learn from last week's poll? That you prefer a wet man in the water rather than a dry one on the sand. With a very impressive 42.7% of the 117 votes cast, Dish #90 was the big winner. In second place was #87 with 19.7%, and #86 came in third with 16.2%. Bringing up the rear were #89 (12%) and #88 (9.4%).

Online Surveys & Market Research

Let's Get 'Lost': Dead and Alive

Am I the only who's sick and tired of those Castle previews on ABC? Yes, Nathan Fillion is a cutie, but his new show looks like a tedious bore that we've all seen before. The actor deserves much better.

Now that I've vented, let's move on to a much happier subject: the current season of Lost, which is almost always fascinating and never predictable. Last night's episode was Locke-centric as the bald man took center stage, and we learned how he ended up committing suicide. Turns out he didn't--he was strangled to death by that rotten bastard, Ben, who then made it look like Locke hung himself.

But let's back up a bit: after John Locke turned the wheel at the bottom of the well, he ended up in the Tunisian desert, which--according to Charles Widmore (Penny's rich and powerful father)--is the exit from the island. Interesting, huh? I was also surprised to see Widmore pay a visit to John, who was recovering from his broken leg that he suffered in his fall down the well, but this bald man (played by the wonderful Alan Dale, who is so good in the role) gave us some important information:

We already knew that a 17-year-old Widmore met Locke on the island years ago, but it turns out he was the leader of the Others and protected the island for three decades until he was exiled by Ben. Now he wants to help John bring back his "friends" to the place they all escaped from. He also mentioned that there's a war coming and that the wrong side will win without John's presence. Got that? There was a lot to digest in last night's show.

So then Locke went off to find his pals, who refused to return with him to the island. And after he learned that the love of his life, Helen, had died from a brain aneurysm and he was involved in a car accident (the man has suffered so many injuries on the show it's almost funny), John finally decided to call it a day and kill himself since he was a total failure in life. But just as he put the noose around his neck, who comes a-knockin' at his door but Mr. Benjamin Linus himself, interrupting the suicide attempt. Ben then informed a confused Locke that Charles Widmore was a dangerous, bad guy, but after Locke mentioned the name of Eloise Harking, Ben suddenly flipped out and murdered him.

We then jumped ahead to John back on the island, where he was discovered at the beginning of the episode by the other survivors from last week's plane crash. A friendly lady named Alanna informed him that the pilot and another woman took one of the small boats they found and ran off together (I'm sure we'll eventually learn what this little mystery is all about). Locke also became chummy with Caesar, the man who was seated near Hurley on the plane, and he learned that his friends all disappeared from the aircraft before the crash. Ben, however, wasn't so lucky--he was badly hurt--and now John, who's still alive and well on the island as opposed to being dead in a coffin in the "real world", has discovered the man who killed him.

Will Locke seek revenge on Ben? And who's really the bad guy here? Widmore or Ben? Or are they both evil? Ben definitely is, since I can't really excuse his murderous behavior. An hour of Lost just flies by way, doesn't it? But that's the sign of a damn good show in my book.

Help keep the boys kissing in Chicago

And the girls, too (lesbians deserve love as well).

Unfortunately, the rest of this post is not as amusing as I'm sad to report that About Face Theatre, one of Chicago's leading LGBTQ institutions and the original home of the Pulitzer and Tony-winning play, I Am My Own Wife, is in danger of closing. I've been a fan of this theater company for a long time, and I've seen many of their wonderful shows, including stage adaptations of Michael Cunningham's 1990 novel, A Home at the End of the World, and Andrew Holleran's 1978 novel, Dancer from the Dance, as well as Douglas Carter Beane's Tony-nominated play, The Little Dog Laughed. What has always impressed me the most about About Face is their excellent production values--the lighting, the costumes, the sets--all of them top-notch. They know how to give their audiences an entertaining evening of first-rate theater. It would be so devastating for Chicago--and especially the city's gay community--to lose one of the few high-profile theaters making new work by and about the LGBTQ experience.

To confront this immediate crisis, About Face has launched a national "Face The Future" campaign to save the organization and ensure its future. Their Board of Directors is asking for immediate financial contributions in order to keep its doors open, staff paid, and the youth theatre program intact. They hope to raise $300,000 to solve this immediate crisis and build a foundation for ongoing financial health.

Donations can be made at www.aboutfacetheatre.com, by calling (773) 784-8565, or by mailing a check to the theatre at 1222 W. Wilson, 2nd Floor West, Chicago, IL 60640.

Dish of the Day #94

Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning on Friday you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week. If you haven't voted for last week's Dish yet, choose your man in the sidebar poll.

Nip/Tuck Me: Love of Chair (and Couch)

Never would I have imagined back when I was watching "Love of Chair", a recurring sketch on the children's program, The Electric Company, that almost 40 years later someone would actually love a piece of furniture on television. And I mean LOVE as in making love to an attractive couch. Of course, something this sordid and bizarre would be a storyline on Nip/Tuck, which has no sexual inhibitions whatsoever. The more kinky the better--not that there's anything wrong with a furniture fetish--especially when actor Richard Burgi (best known as Susan's ex-husband, Karl, on Desperate Housewives), is the one having these lustful feelings for a sofa. I thought he was very funny on last night's episode as a plastic surgeon Christian hired as his replacement at McNamara/Troy. However, after witnessing the man humping a couch, Dr. Troy had second thoughts and told him to get out. I guess it's okay in Christian's world to have sex with lots of women, but when it comes to inanimate objects without a pulse, that's stepping over the line even for him. I enjoyed Burgi's performance very much as he licked a table after polishing it and bared his fine ass on more than one occasion.

As for the regular Nip/Tuck cast, the wonderful Roma Maffia got a chance to really shine as Liz tangled with her disapproving mother and got a breast reduction in order to fit into her wedding dress. The wedding shower scene where she told off dear ol' Mom in front of all her lesbian guests was fabulous. In fact, I pretty much loved everything about this episode except for Teddy, whom I'm still hoping will be gone after next week's season finale. The final show of the year looks quite interesting with Kimber causing trouble, Christian searching for immortality, and a few vampires making an appearance. Nip/Tuck usually signs off with a big bang, so here's hoping the show lives up to my expectations.

Dish of the Day #93

Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning on Friday you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week. If you haven't voted for last week's Dish yet, choose your man in the sidebar poll.

35 Groovy Tunes

Having enjoyed compiling my recent list of 20 Groovy Albums (which I've since updated), I thought it would be fun to make a list of influential songs. So here are 35 groovy tunes that have changed my life, shaped my world and made me who I am today (I decided to add 15 slots after I came up with over 80 potential songs and found it impossible to limit my list to only 20):

"Beyond the Sea" by Bobby Darin (1959): As much as I like his "Mack the Knife", this one's my favorite. It never fails to put me in a groovy mood.

"Take Five" by the Dave Brubeck Quartet (1959): This song made me love jazz. It also makes me want to have a cocktail and blow a smoke ring whenever I hear it.

"I'm Old Fashioned" by Eileen Farrell (1960): I first heard this song during the opening credits of the 2001 film, Friends & Family, and it just struck my fancy.

"Moon River" by Henry Mancini (1961): Reminds me of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's. It's an unusual song that makes me both sad and happy at the same time.

"Chicago" by Judy Garland (1961): No one sings this song as well as she does.

"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" by Andy Williams (1963): My favorite holiday tune--and I've always liked Andy Williams.

"Downtown" by Petula Clark (1964): It's Petula and this is her best song.

"Walk on By" by Dionne Warwick (1964): It's Dionne and Burt Bacharach, a groovy combination.

"(Theme From) The Monkees" by The Monkees (1966): Apparently this song was my very first musical influence since I enjoyed dancing to this whenever their 1966-68 TV show came on.

"Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)" by Frank Sinatra (from 1966's Sinatra at the Sands) and Julie London (1963): I couldn't choose between these two versions--they're both great.

"Pet Sounds" by The Beach Boys (1966): From the first moment I heard this instrumental song from their wonderful album of the same name, I was thoroughly enchanted by it.

"Windy" by The Association (1967): This song is one of my earliest childhood memories, and I named my cat after it, thinking they were singing "Wendy". I still like the tune today.

"The Look of Love" by Dusty Springfield (1967): A dreamy, romantic tune that also reminds me of Peter Sellers being seduced by Ursula Andress in the film, Casino Royale.

"It's Getting Harder All the Time" by The Mindbenders (1967): Sidney Poitier dances with Judy Geeson to this song near the end of the film, To Sir, with Love. It's one of my favorite movie scenes.

"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (1967): My favorite duet. It's an absolute joy to listen to.

"Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond (1969): This song reminds me of my grandparents, my grandfather's big car, and eating at Bonanza. My grandfather had an 8-track tape of Neil Diamond's greatest hits, which he could play in his car (so cool).

"Let Us Pray" by Elvis Presley (1969): The King sings this at the end of the film, Change of Habit, as Mary Tyler Moore in her nun's habit enters the church and realizes that she's in love with Elvis more than God (at least this is how I interpret the ending).

"Leaving on a Jet Plane" by Peter, Paul & Mary (1969): If you're in the mood for a good cry, listen to this beautiful song.

"Make Your Own Kind of Music" by Mama Cass (1969): Ever since I saw the film, Beautiful Thing, this song makes me want to tell everyone, "I'm here, I'm queer, get used to it." And you gotta love Mama Cass.

"You Can't Always Get What You Want" by The Rolling Stones (1969): This song played during my favorite scene in the film, The Big Chill, and I've loved it ever since.

"Love Is All Around" by Sonny Curtis (1970): My favorite television theme song from The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

"We've Only Just Begun" by the Carpenters (1970): My favorite Carpenters' song. It's a gorgeous melody.

"The Ladies Who Lunch" by Elaine Stritch (1970): I bought my first original cast recording at the age of 27--Company--and instantly fell in love with Sondheim and Ms. Stritch.

"Out in the Country" by Three Dog Night (1970): This song always puts me in a groovy mood.

"Moondance" by Van Morrison (1970): I loved this song so much I named one of my plays after it.

"American Pie" by Don McLean (1971): It's one of the greatest songs ever. It takes me back to a college party when everyone started singing along to this song.

"Saturday in the Park" by Chicago (1972): One of the most joyful tunes I've ever heard. It will instantly put you in a good mood.

"Love Will Keep Us Together" by Captain & Tennille (1975): This tune makes me feel 11 again and watching the duo perform on "American Bandstand".

"Paradise by the Dashboard Light" by Meat Loaf (1977): An epic tune that's almost a musical by itself. It was played a lot back in my college days.

"Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" by Billy Joel (1977): My favorite song of his. I grew up listening to his music.

"Last Dance" by Donna Summer (1978): This song represents the 1970s and disco for me--and it's a damn good tune.

"No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" by Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer (1979): My second favorite duet--and you have to love these ladies singing together.

"Come on Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners (1982): This catchy song takes me back to the fall of 1982 when I was just an innocent freshman in college discovering the world for the very first time.

"Flashdance... What a Feeling" by Irene Cara (1983): My partner loves to play this song as we're driving into Pittsburgh. So now I think of him and that city whenever I hear this tune.

"She Don't Use Jelly" by Ben Folds Five (1997): It's from the album, Lounge-a-Palooza, and I just feel like dancing whenever I hear it.

Dish of the Day #92

Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning on Friday you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week. If you haven't voted for last week's Dish yet, choose your man in the sidebar poll.

If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Trivia

Every Tuesday I will post five questions relating to television or film, and the first person who sends me the correct answers will win the highly coveted Robert Conrad Tuesday Trivia Award (this honor is named after the actor for the delicious beefcake he frequently displayed while starring on TV's The Wild Wild West).

Last week's lucky winner was Frank Darmstadt, and he answered the following questions correctly:

1) What 1976 miniseries boosted Nick Nolte's career? Rich Man, Poor Man

2) What series other than The Twilight Zone was introduced by Rod Serling? Night Gallery

3) How many children did Kate and Douglas Lawrence have on Family? This turned out to be kind of a trick question, but originally I was looking for three (Nancy, Willie and Buddy). However, I was reminded that their was another son, Timmy, who died before the show began, and later there was an adoptive daughter, Annie (played by Quinn Cummings), whom I would rather forget. So I decided to accept three, four or five as the answer.

4) What was the first name of police commissioner Stewart McMillan's wife (they're the couple in the photo)? Sally

5) Who shot J.R. (the character's first and last name as well as the actor/actress who played the character)? Kristin Shepard played by Mary Crosby (Bing's daughter)

Please send your answers for this week's questions to deepdishdrama@aol.com or via a Facebook message (DO NOT post your answers on here where everyone can see them or they will be deleted). This week's theme is Oscar trivia:

1) Who won her only Academy Award for The Country Girl?

2) Who made a triumphant return to the U.S. to accept an honorary Oscar in 1972 after a 20-year exile?

3) Who appeared at the Academy Awards for the first time in nine years in 1969, wearing a $1.5-million diamond?

4) What 1951 film was the first to win three Oscars for acting?

5) Who donated her best supporting actress Oscar to the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam?

Dish of the Day #91

Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning on Friday you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week. If you haven't voted for last week's Dish yet, choose your man in the sidebar poll.

The Oscars: Bloody Wonderful

They were bloody wonderful if I may steal director Danny Boyle's words. Tonight's Academy Awards were the most entertaining and well-produced ceremony that I've seen in many moons. Hugh Jackman, looking as handsome as ever, was the perfect host--he sang a little, made a few jokes, looked smashing in a tux and, most importantly, didn't overstay his welcome. Bring him back next year. However, the best part of the entire affair was the brilliant transformation of the Oscars by new producers Bill Condon and Laurence Mark. The revamped stage with the orchestra in the back and the intimate seating of all the stars were fabulous--and I especially enjoyed the creative way the acting awards were presented by five former winners to sing the praises of the current nominees. And the blue and red lighting was simply gorgeous (even more than Mr. Jackman--well, almost). If the Oscars are smart, they'll sign up Condon and Mark to produce the show for the next 50 years.

So what else did I like? I'm happy to report that I correctly chose 15 out of the 24 winners--and all my actors won, which is probably the first time that has ever happened in my lifetime. I went over to a friend's house to watch the show, and he was convinced that Mickey Rourke--this year's comeback kid--would be named Best Actor. And when Sean Penn won for his amazing performance as Harvey Milk, our viewing room of gay men erupted with applause. I've never been so happy about an actor winning an award than I was tonight with Penn's victory. Nothing against Mickey (whom I didn't see in The Wrestler, but I liked him in 1982's Diner), but I was really hoping for Sean to win--especially since Slumdog Millionaire appeared to have the momentum on its side to claim Best Picture (which it did). I'm sure Harvey is looking down on us right now with a big smile on his face.

I loved both Milk and Slumdog Millionaire, so I'm thrilled that the latter won 8 awards. I've heard that the film was going to go straight to DVD when its original studio backer, Warner Independent, shut down, but then Fox Searchlight had the smarts to pick it up for a theatrical release. And now it's the toast of Hollywood.

Best Speech: Besides Sean Penn's, my favorite was by Dustin Lance Black, who won for Best Original Screenplay for Milk. Here's some of his speech:

"I think he'd [Harvey Milk] want me to say to all of the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told that they are less than by their churches, by the government or by their families, that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value and that no matter what anyone tells you, God does love you and that very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights federally across this great nation of ours. Thank you. And thank you, God, for giving us Harvey Milk."

It brought a tear to my eye.

I was also happy about Penelope Cruz and Kate Winslet winning Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress, respectively.

Weirdest Moment: Ben Stiller's bearded, gum-chewing appearance (I didn't know what the hell was going on with him until I was reminded about actor Joaquin Phoenix's recent bizarre visit with David Letterman).

Best Moment: If I had to choose just one--and not counting the speeches--I would have to select Shirley MacLaine's lovely words of advice to Anne Hathaway to keep singing. The young actress, who sang with Hugh Jackman tonight, does have a nice voice, so hopefully she will someday appear on Broadway in a revival of Promises, Promises (a boy can dream, can't he?).

One last comment--didn't Melissa Leo look fabulous? I didn't even recognize her until the Best Actress category. So that's my Oscar review. Let's hope next year's ceremony is just as wonderful.

Groovy Gal: Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep is the grooviest actress on the planet. If Katharine Hepburn and Bette Davis were still around, then it might be a much tougher call. But since those ladies are no longer with us, Meryl wins. The woman knows how to act, and she so thoroughly becomes each of her characters that it's like watching a totally different person every time you see her on the screen. And she knows how to choose good films for herself. Oh sure, she's had a few clunkers over the years, but even when the movie ain't so hot, Ms. Streep almost always rises above the unworthy project and gives a decent performance. The lady holds the record for the most Academy Award nominations of any actor, having been nominated 15 times (with two wins for 1979's Kramer vs. Kramer and 1982's Sophie's Choice), so she must be doing something right. And tonight she may receive a third Oscar for her wonderful performance as Sister Aloysius in Doubt. But Streep is not only groovy for her amazing acting prowess. She's also been married to the same man, sculptor Don Gummer, since 1978, and they've raised four children together. That is pretty amazing as well, considering her ongoing career, which has never slowed down since her first film, Julia, in 1977.

Fabulous. Marvelous. Legendary. All great adjectives to describe Meryl Streep. But for this blog, Groovy is the word, and I now officially bestow this highest honor upon America's Best Actress.

Here are 10 Groovy Facts about Ms. Streep:

1) She was born Mary Louise Streep on June 22, 1949, in Summit, New Jersey (the name "Streep" means "straight line" in Dutch), and she was a cheerleader and homecoming queen in high school.

2) She was engaged to actor John Cazale, who was best known for his role as Fredo Corleone in The Godfather and The Godfather Part II. They starred together in 1978's The Deer Hunter.

3) She is the sister-in-law of actress Maeve Kinkead, who married her younger brother, Harry Streep, in 1980 (Kinkead is best known for her role as Vanessa Chamberlain on the daytime soap, Guiding Light).

4) Playwright Tennessee Williams wanted Streep for a film version of A Streetcar Named Desire, but when she was unavailable, the project became a 1984 TV movie starring Ann-Margret as Blanche. Streep was nominated for a Tony in 1976 for her performance in Tennessee Williams' 27 Wagons Full of Cotton.

5) Apparently she has only been turned down for three film roles: Patsy Cline in Sweet Dreams (1985), Miss Kenton in The Remains of the Day (1993), and Elizabeth I in Elizabeth (1998). However, she recently revealed that she was denied a role in 1976's King Kong because producer Dino De Laurentiis thought she was too ugly (Jessica Lange was cast in the part).

6) For her role in 1999's Music of the Heart, Streep learned to play the violin by practicing 6 hours a day for 8 weeks. She also replaced Madonna as the lead in the movie when the singer dropped out two weeks before filming was set to begin. Streep was also considered for Madonna's role of Evita Peron in 1996's Evita.

7) Here's a funny story: While shopping in a Los Angeles baby store, a pregnant Streep was lavished with lots of baby stuff by an adoring staff, but just as she was about to leave, they whispered, "We loved you in Fatal Attraction" (a film her friend, Glenn Close, starred in).

8) Streep's rendition of the ABBA song "Mamma Mia" from last year's hit movie peaked at #8 on the Portuguese music charts.

9) She has a fear of helicopters.

10) In 1987 Sesame Street named a character "Meryl Sheep" in her honor.

I'm looking forward to Ms. Streep's next film, Julie & Julia, in which she will play famous chef Julia Child (it will be released on August 7). And she's currently filming a new romantic comedy with Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin. Tonight I will, of course, be watching the Academy Awards (click here to see my Oscar picks), and even though I'm rooting for Kate Winslet (who's never won before), I certainly won't be upset if Meryl takes home the trophy. The actress just seems so down-to-earth and likable in interviews that you gotta love her. At least I do (see the recent David Letterman clip below as proof).

Here are some scenes from a few of Meryl Streep's films, including Postcards from the Edge (1990), Still of the Night (1982), Death Becomes Her (1992), A Prairie Home Companion (2006), Stuck on You (2003), and Mamma Mia! (2008).

TV Flashback: Betty Please, Pick Up Your Weenies

This is one of my favorite episodes of Laverne & Shirley. Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams are so damn funny in "The Diner", which originally aired on May 6, 1980, during the show's fifth season. The plot: Lenny inherits a greasy-spoon diner, and the girls, desperate for work, are hired to cook and waitress there. Enjoy!

20 Groovy Albums

Think of 20 albums that had such a profound effect on you they changed your life, or the way you looked at it. They sucked you in and took you over for days, weeks, months, years. These are the albums that you can use to identify time, places, people, and emotions. These are the albums that shaped your world.

I was recently tagged on Facebook to make this list, which I found to be an interesting challenge since there are many albums that have affected me over the years. I bought my very first album (Carpenters' The Singles) in 1973 when I was nine, and all those listed below prior to that, either belonged to my parents or I discovered as an adult. Here's my list in chronological order:

Judy at Carnegie Hall - Judy Garland (1961)
I was never much of a Judy fan until I discovered her short-lived TV show and this amazing performance--and the lady had a fabulous sense of humor!

A Hard Day's Night - The Beatles (1964)
I've always liked the Beatles--except for "Hey, Jude" (never cared much for that song).

Whipped Cream & Other Delights - Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass (1965)
My mother was a big fan of his back in '60s, and her ticket stub to a 1965 concert of his is currently on my refrigerator. And I love the photo on the cover of this great album.

Boots - Nancy Sinatra (1966)
This album belonged to my dad, and I thought Nancy was one groovy chick from the moment I first laid eyes on this album when I was four.

Pet Sounds - The Beach Boys (1966)
I grew up loving the Beach Boys, but I didn't discover this album until much later. I consider it their best work.

Promises, Promises - Original Broadway Cast Recording (1968)
It's Burt Bacharach on Broadway. How can anyone resist this groovy recording?

Dusty in Memphis - Dusty Springfield (1969)
I always liked her earlier music, but when I listened to this amazing album as an adult, I became a true fan.

Company - Original Broadway Cast Recording (1970)
After my partner introduced me to musical theater in 1991, this is the first cast recording I bought because of actor Dean Jones, whom I adored as a kid in all those Disney flicks. And while listening to it, I fell in love with both Sondheim and Elaine Stritch.

The Singles 1969-1973 - Carpenters (1973)
As I stated before, this was my first album that I purchased with my own money on my ninth birthday. We sang all their songs in chorus, and I'm still a fan.

Endless Summer - The Beach Boys (1974)
This was probably the second album I bought. It's a perfect collection of all their hits.

Grease - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1978)
I had the biggest crush on Olivia.

Totally Hot - Olivia Newton-John (1978)
I bought a lot of her albums, but this one showed a sexier side to her.

The Ethel Merman Disco Album (1979)
One of the more bizarre albums I've ever heard, but I kind of like it.

On the Radio - Greatest Hits - Donna Summer (1979)
After Olivia, Donna was my favorite female singer as a teenager, and this is a terrific collection of all her hits.

Bee Gees Greatest (1979)
I sold this album and Barry Manilow's Greatest Hits to a used record store shortly after I moved to Chicago in 1987 because I was embarrassed to own them. About 20 years later I rediscovered my love for the Bee Gees and bought a used CD of this album, which I will never part with again. However, Barry and I are still on the outs.

Xanadu - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1980)
Olivia again--plus ELO, my favorite band as a teenager.

Physical - Olivia Newton-John (1981)
My very first concert was Olivia's Physical tour in 1982.

Thriller - Michael Jackson (1982)
This album was popular for at least my first two years of college--and the MTV video of "Thriller" was a very big deal at the time. I think my fraternity threw a theme party with a sorority in honor of the video.

The Concert in Central Park - Simon and Garfunkel (1982)
A great collection of all their groovy tunes.

Like a Virgin - Madonna (1984)
This album reminds me of the summer of 1985 when I was living in an apartment with a few friends while going to summer school. I never became a huge fan of hers, but I liked this album a lot.

Honorable Mention: Life in Cartoon Motion - Mika (2007)
My friend Damon reminded me of this fabulous album, which another friend sent a burned copy in the mail to me right after it was released. I instantly fell in love with Mika's groovy music.

The Fabulosity of ObaMadonna

It's a clever T-shirt, don't you think? I love it.

YouAreSoFamous.com specializes in shirts that highlight the ridiculousness of the pop culture obsessed world that we live in. YASF's mission is to pour more hotness and fabulosity into the world by making your hot, tight body look even hotter and tighter and more fabulous than you ever imagined. Brian, the cute owner and creator of YASF, is also very clever when it comes to making funny short films to promote his business, so check them out below (he appears in the ObaMadonna video).

So get a groovy T-shirt today! You never know, you might become famous like actor Alec Mapa (Suzuki St. Pierre on Ugly Betty), who likes his ObaMadonna. To purchase a shirt, click here.

Dish of the Day #90: Vote for your Favorite

Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning today you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week in the sidebar poll. Also, if you're on Facebook, you can now send your favorite Dish of the Day to all your friends (here's the link).

I learned a lot from last week's poll. Licking is very popular as Delicious Duo #84 won with 33.3% of the 111 votes cast. A kiss below the neck is much better than a kiss on the lips as #81 came in second with 25.2% and #85 was fourth with 16.2%. Touching is nice--but only good for third place (#83 with 19.8%), and working on a car with your shirtless buddy (no matter how hot you both are) won't get you far (#82 with 5.4%).

Online Surveys & Market Research

Let's Get 'Lost': Wet Suit

I LOVED last night's Lost--especially because it was a Jack-centric episode. Watching actor Matthew Fox jump off a cliff into the water twice while wearing a suit made me all wet, too (no, I didn't pee my pants; maybe I just have a bit of a fetish for a gorgeous guy in damp clothes--but I'll save that for another post). The episode, which was especially well-written from beginning to end, is my favorite so far of the season. I was riveted to my seat from the moment Jack opened his eyes in the jungle until Jin showed up in the Dharma suit and van. I guess I'm a sucker for excellent storytelling, and Lost is one of the best at spinning an addictive tale.

A few questions were answered last night:

We learned how Jack, Kate and the others returned to the island with the help of Daniel's mother, Mrs. Hawking, and The Lamp Post Dharma station (conveniently located in a church basement). I thought the room with the swinging pendulum was kind of groovy. And I liked that they all had to get on another plane together to go back to "Shangri-La". I'm also very happy that everyone is back on the island--except for that party pooper, Desmond (whom we all know will show up there again eventually).

The wise Mrs. H. also filled us in on some important background information on the island, which apparently is always on the move (that's why they were never rescued because it's not easy finding the place). And The Lamp Post helps locate the island at a certain point in time, but this window of opportunity doesn't stay open for very long.

I was thrilled that Jack and Kate finally hit the sheets--or at least I assume they did after their passionate kiss. And the next morning Jack looked like the cat who ate the canary from the big grin on his face. You could just tell he was feeling real good. Kate, on the other hand, wasn't as transparent with her emotions, but I think they hooked up.

Best Return of a Character: Frank Lapidus (Jeff Fahey), who was the pilot on the "we're not going to Guam, are we?" plane.

However, as usual with Lost, I have many new questions:

What happened to Aaron? Kate seemed very upset, so who has the child now?

Who beat up Ben and broke his arm?

Who was the woman with Sayid on the plane? It looked like he was under arrest.

How did Hurley know about the flight?

Who was the stranger on the plane who told Jack that he was sorry about his friend?

And, of course, what's up with Jin?

Next week is a Locke-centric episode, in which we'll learn what made him hang himself and write Jack that magical suicide note. Until then, I leave you with my favorite line from last night's show, which was Ben's response to Jack's concern over what was going to happen to the other passengers on the plane:

"Who cares?"

Dish of the Day #89

Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning on Friday you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week. If you haven't voted for last week's Dish yet, choose your man in the sidebar poll.

Nip/Tuck Me: Death Becomes Him?

So with only two episodes remaining this season, is Nip/Tuck planning to kill off one of its leading men? Will Dr. Christian Troy (Julian McMahon) die from his spreading cancer? And will he and Liz make it to the church on time to become husband and wife? These are the burning questions that I'm left asking after watching last night's episode.

I still think this season has been far more serious than previous ones, which isn't altogether a bad thing. The writing and acting--especially last night--have been pretty good for the most part. But I do miss the campier elements of the past (i.e. The Carver, Jacqueline Bisset) when the show was just fun to kick back and watch. Now it's become quite gloomy with Christian's breast cancer, which I'm not enjoying very much. The storyline has given Mr. McMahon some nice scenes to act, but if they have his character die, the show just won't be the same. After this current season ends on March 3, Nip/Tuck only has 19 episodes left (spread over two seasons) until its series finale in early 2011. I would think that McMahon would stick around to the end, wouldn't you? But who knows--maybe Dr. Troy will come back as a ghost (which would be very lame) or perhaps the power of prayer will miraculously cure him (like on Another Life, that cheesy Christian soap opera from the 1980s). Despite my misgivings about this heavy-handed plot, I am curious to find out what's going to happen next, which is always a good thing for a serialized show.

Here are a few other random thoughts on last night's episode:

Julian McMahon looks mighty fine in a hat. Christian should wear them more often.

I can't stand Teddy, who needs to go away and let Sean be the beautiful, boring buzzkill that we've all come to know and love. He can do so much better than that freaky girl.

I like Christian and Liz's scenes together, but I just don't see them together as a married couple. I prefer my Liz as a lesbian.

I always find it a little scary whenever a character on TV or in a movie lights hundreds of candles around their home or wherever they're planning a romantic seduction. What if something catches on fire? But nothing ever does. However, if I did this, I'd probably burn down my house.

Next week actor Richard Burgi (who played Susan's ex-husband on Desperate Housewives) will arrive as a potential replacement doctor for Christian, but I think he's only appearing in one episode. We'll have to wait and see if Nip/Tuck is only teasing us about Dr. Troy's possible demise or if he'll somehow survive.

Dish of the Day #88

Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning on Friday you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week. If you haven't voted for last week's Dish yet, choose your man in the sidebar poll.