Let's Get 'Lost': Mother Knows Best

It's so nice to see actress Fionnula Flanagan sinking her talented teeth into such a juicy role as Daniel Faraday's evil mother, Eloise Hawking, on Lost. And in last night's episode she really got to shine. I've been a fan of hers ever since she won an Emmy for sleeping with a young Nick Nolte in the 1976 miniseries, Rich Man, Poor Man.

As for Lost, I can feel the tension mounting as we count down to the season finale. Last night's Daniel-centric and 100th episode filled in a few more blanks as we got the full story of his sad and depressing life. Eloise definitely won't win any Mother of the Year awards.

Here are some other random thoughts on the episode:

Best Lost Couple: Desmond and Penny. I adore them together. When they look at each other, I feel their love more than any other couple on the show. It will be interesting to see how they remain involved with the rest of the action, but I believe Desmond will somehow end up back on the island. And as long as Penny's creepy father is still around, I'm sure she will be, too.

Worst Kept Secret: Chang is Miles' father, which Daniel blabbed to Chang, who, of course, didn't believe him and warned the "crazy" man to stay away from him.

The Daddy/Mommie Dearest Syndrome: Many of the characters seem to have a difficult relationship with at least one of their parents--Jack, Kate, Sun, Locke, Miles and now Daniel, who was masterly manipulated by both his Mom and Dad. As for Charles Widmore being Daniel's father, once I learned that Penny's father was an old friend of Ellie's, I wasn't too surprised by the revelation later on.

Best Nickname: H.G. Wells (as Sawyer called Daniel)

Saddest and Strangest Scene: Daniel visiting with little Charlotte. It's just a weird relationship since he loved her as an adult.

Is This Lost or Gunsmoke?: I enjoyed the exciting gun battle, but for a moment I felt I was watching an old western.

Most Ominous Line: Daniel's "any one of us can die, Jack"--and then Jack looked at Kate, which made me fear the worst--that she might die.

The Most Frequent Cameo Appearance: It has to be the mysterious Richard, who seems to always pop up for one scene in almost every episode (apparently next week is a Richard-centric show, which should help explain his character better).

Worst Mother of the Year Award: I take my earlier statement back since Eloise definitely deserves to win this award as she knew Daniel would be shot by her in 1977 if he returned to the island at her request. Nice lady.

Is He Really Dead?: I guess Daniel's story has reached a fitting conclusion, even though I wouldn't mind seeing him somehow reunited with an adult Charlotte. I hope he isn't a goner, but it sure looks like he is.

I hear another character is going to bite the dust in the season finale--and it's a MAJOR death and possibly a female. My money is on the lovely Juliet (especially since actress Elizabeth Mitchell is in the fall pilot remake of V), but I hope I'm wrong because she's one of my favorite Lost folks (my runner-ups are Sawyer and then Kate). I'd be interested to hear other people's predictions, so let me know what you think.

tv flashback: thirtysomething's coming

"I mean, Michael's cute and all, but how much fun can it be sitting at home watching him sulk night after night?" - Ellyn Warren

I was so thrilled to learn late last night that one of my favorite shows, thirtysomething, is finally coming to DVD. Shout! Factory is releasing the first season on August 25, and it plans to release the remaining three seasons in six-month intervals. According to the announcement article in yesterday's Los Angeles Times, they won't be cutting any original music from the show--and high-definition master copies of the episodes have been created, which is great news. Plus there will be episode commentaries and new interviews with the cast and creators. Sounds wonderful, doesn't it?

Every Tuesday night from 1987 to 1991, I tuned in to ABC to watch thirtysomething, a drama about married couples and single folks a decade older than I was. It will now be interesting to revisit the show being a decade older than the characters. Although I couldn't really relate to most of the problems that Michael and Hope Steadman and their friends, Elliot and Nancy Weston, faced, I still enjoyed spending time with these people due to the show's excellent writing and marvelous performances. I loved all of the actors, but my favorites were Ken Olin (Michael), who was so sexy and cute back then, and his real-life wife, Patricia Wettig (Nancy), who deservedly won three Emmys for her amazing work, as well as Melanie Mayron as Michael's cousin, Melissa, who always made me laugh, and Polly Draper as Hope's neurotic best friend, Ellyn, whose messy love life made her one of the most fascinating characters to watch.

I was an instant fan of thirtysomething, which reminded me a lot of the terrific 1983 film, The Big Chill--a bunch of friends hanging out together and realizing that although their youthful dreams have been replaced with the difficult responsibilities of adulthood, they still have each other to lean on for love and support. The strong bonds of friendship between the characters is what I loved most about the show--and why it's remained such a fond memory. And to answer Ellyn's question, it was a lot of fun to sit at home watching Michael--and the rest of the gang--sulk week after week, and I'm looking forward to seeing them again to relive all their past heartaches and triumphs.

Here are 10 of my favorite thirtysomething episodes (out of the 85 filmed):

"Pilot" (Season One/September 29, 1987): We're introduced to new parents Michael and Hope, and Elliot admits he had an affair (Timothy Busfield was nominated four years in a row for an Emmy as Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, and I'm glad he finally won in 1991 for playing such a beloved bastard).

"I'm in Love, I'm in Love, I'm in Love with a Wonderful Gynecologist" (Season One/February 2, 1988): Ellyn and Melissa's newfound friendship is threatened when they both fall for a handsome doctor (any episode that features my two favorite ladies ranks high on my list).

"The Mike Van Dyke Show" (Season Two/December 20, 1988): It's Christmas and Hanukkah in the Steadman home, and when Michael questions his faith in Judaism, he longs for the simple world of a 1960s sitcom like The Dick Van Dyke Show (which the series spoofs in a black-and-white dream sequence).

"Mr. Right" (Season Three/October 10, 1989): Another great Melissa/Ellyn episode as the two ladies search for their Prince Charming through video dating. Melissa meets a much younger man, 23-year-old Lee (Corey Parker), who ranks as one of TV's dreamiest house painters.

"Strangers" (Season Three/November 7, 1989): This was the most controversial episode of the series as it depicted Melissa's gay friend Russell (David Marshall Grant, who is now a producer/writer of Brothers & Sisters) in bed "the morning after" with another man, Peter (Peter Frechette, who received an Emmy nomination for his performance). People were up in arms over this one scene, which was quite daring for 1989. Unfortunately, it also resulted in a loss of more than $1 million in advertising dollars for ABC, which chose not to repeat the episode during summer reruns. I thought Grant and Frechette made a very attractive couple, and I was disappointed that they weren't featured more often.

"Post-Op" (Season Three/January 23, 1990): Everyone reacts differently to the news of Nancy's ovarian cancer in this brilliant episode. This was such a great storyline for Wettig, and I consider the show's third season its best one.

"Towers of Zenith, Part 2: Samurai Adman" (Season Three/May 22, 1990): Michael and Elliot try to stage a coup in order to take over the ad agency, but their boss, the nasty Miles Drentell, foils their plan. Actor David Clennon gave a fascinating performance as the cold and cunning Miles.

"Second Look" (Season Four/February 12, 1991): This is the most shocking and emotionally powerful episode of the series as Nancy receives good news about her biopsy results--her cancer is in remission--but Gary (Michael's best friend and Melissa's ex-boyfriend) dies in a car accident. Actor Peter Horton wanted to move on, so he wasn't upset about the decision to kill off his character. And the creators of the show, Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick, felt it was important for Nancy to survive. I agree. It would have been too devastating for her to die.

"Our Wedding" (Season Four/April 9, 1991): Ellyn finally settles down and marries a good guy, Billy, in this episode, which, unfortunately, is the last one to feature Corey Parker as Lee (I was sad when he and Melissa broke up).

"Closing the Circle" (Season Four/April 16, 1991): I loved Patricia Kalember as Gary's girlfriend and later wife, Susannah, whom none of the other characters liked. She was a chilly person--and very different from Kalember's warm Georgie on TV's Sisters. This episode features her final appearance as Susannah, who moves away with her and Gary's daughter, Emma.

Finally, here's a link to an interesting 1998 interview with Joseph Dougherty, who was the writer and/or director of many thirtysomething episodes. He offers his personal vision of what happened to all the characters after the last episode.

Dish of the Day #139

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 Top 100 Groovy Songs of the 1980s

Earlier this month I posted my Top 100 Groovy Songs of the 1970s, and I enjoyed making that list so much that I decided to compile a second one of my favorite tunes of the '80s. The songs are in no particular order, and I'm sorry to report that Juice Newton did not make the cut. However, Wham! and Boy George both did. I'm not sure what this says about me and my taste in music, but to quote Ms. Gloria Gaynor, I am what I am.

1. Call Me - Blondie (1980)
2. Magic - Olivia Newton-John (1980)
3. Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen (1980)
4. Don't Ask Me Why - Billy Joel (1980)
5. Upside Down - Diana Ross (1980)
6. I'm Alright - Kenny Loggins (1980)
7. Fame - Irene Cara (1980)
8. Xanadu - Olivia Newton-John (1980)
9. What I Like About You - The Romantics (1980)




10. I'm Coming Out - Diana Ross (1980)
11. More Love - Kim Carnes (1980)
12. I'm Alive - Electric Light Orchestra (1980)
13. (Just Like) Starting Over - John Lennon (1980)
14. Cadillac Ranch - Bruce Springsteen (1980)
15. Theme from New York, New York - Frank Sinatra (1980)
16. All Over The World - Electric Light Orchestra (1980)
17. I Can't Tell You Why - The Eagles (1980)
18. This Is It - Kenny Loggins (1980)
19. Late in the Evening - Paul Simon (1980)
20. Hey Nineteen - Steely Dan (1981)
21. Kiss On My List - Hall & Oates (1981)
22. Hang Fire - The Rolling Stones (1981)
23. Bette Davis Eyes - Kim Carnes (1981)
24. Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield (1981)
25. Our Lips Are Sealed - The Go-Go's (1981)
26. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic - The Police (1981)
27. You Make My Dreams - Hall & Oates (1981)




28. Morning Train (Nine To Five) - Sheena Easton (1981)
29. Private Eyes - Hall & Oates (1981)
30. Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) - Christopher Cross (1981)
31. Tempted - Squeeze (1981)
32. 9 to 5 - Dolly Parton (1981)
33. Physical - Olivia Newton-John (1981)
34. Don't You Want Me - The Human League (1982)
35. Tainted Love - Soft Cell (1982)
36. Abracadabra - Steve Miller Band (1982)
37. I Ran (So Far Away) - A Flock of Seagulls (1982)
38. Steppin' Out - Joe Jackson (1982)
39. Kids In America - Kim Wilde (1982)
40. Shake It Up - The Cars (1982)
41. Make A Move On Me - Olivia Newton-John (1982)
42. I Melt With You - Modern English (1982)




43. Johnny Can't Read - Don Henley (1982)
44. Vacation - The Go-Go's (1982)
45. Route 101 - Herb Alpert (1982)
46. Should I Stay or Should I Go - The Clash (1982)
47. This Is the Day - The The (1983)
48. I Am What I Am - Gloria Gaynor (1983)




49. Our House - Madness (1983)
50. The Look of Love - ABC (1983)
51. Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) - Eurythmics (1983)
52. Hungry Like the Wolf - Duran Duran (1983)
53. Come On Eileen - Dexy's Midnight Runners (1983)
54. Flashdance...What A Feeling - Irene Cara (1983)
55. Little Red Corvette - Prince (1983)
56. (Keep Feeling) Fascination - The Human League (1983)
57. Do You Really Want To Hurt Me - Culture Club (1983)
58. Let's Dance - David Bowie (1983)
59. 1999 - Prince (1983)
60. Rock the Casbah - The Clash (1983)
61. Church Of The Poison Mind - Culture Club (1983)
62. True - Spandau Ballet (1983)
63. Always Something There to Remind Me - Naked Eyes (1983)
64. Billie Jean - Michael Jackson (1983)
65. Goody Two Shoes - Adam Ant (1983)
66. It's Raining Men - The Weather Girls (1983)
67. She Blinded Me With Science- Thomas Dolby (1983)
68. In A Big Country - Big Country (1983)
69. Girls Just Want to Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper (1984)
70. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go - Wham! (1984)
71. Holiday - Madonna (1984)
72. Owner of a Lonely Heart - Yes (1984)
73. Break My Stride - Matthew Wilder (1984)
74. Talking In Your Sleep - The Romantics (1984)
75. It's My Life - Talk Talk (1984)




76. Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds (1985)
77. Take on Me - a-ha (1985)
78. Material Girl - Madonna (1985)
79. Into The Groove - Madonna (1985)
80. Everybody Wants to Rule the World - Tears For Fears (1985)
81. Tenderness - General Public (1985)
82. Walking on Sunshine - Katrina & The Waves (1985)
83. Glory Days - Bruce Springsteen (1985)
84. I'm Your Man - Wham! (1985)



85. And She Was - Talking Heads (1985)
86. Road to Nowhere - Talking Heads (1985)
87. Sea of Love - The Honeydrippers (1985)
88. Relax - Frankie Goes to Hollywood (1985)
89. Life in a Northern Town - The Dream Academy (1986)
90. True Blue - Madonna (1986)
91. Something About You - Level 42 (1986)
92. Bizarre Love Triangle - New Order (1986)
93. If You Leave - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (1986)
94. West End Girls - Pet Shop Boys (1986)
95. Big Time - Peter Gabriel (1987)
96. Chains of Love - Erasure (1988)
97. Good Thing - Fine Young Cannibals (1989)
98. She Drives Me Crazy - Fine Young Cannibals (1989)
99. Love Shack - The B-52's (1989)
100. Losing My Mind - Liza Minnelli (1989)

Dish of the Day #138

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.

A hard thing to find is 'Stiff Luv'

Stiff Luv is a silly, campy romp of Canadian cinema aimed directly at fans of TV's Kids in the Hall and that beloved Miss Coco Peru flick, Girls Will Be Girls. If you like your men in drag, this new movie is definitely for you as all of its female characters are played by guys.

The twisted tale of Stiff Luv centers around Kelly Wright and her best friend and sidekick, Liz Lucky, who have a lot in common with AbFab's Edina and Patsy. These two wild and crazy gals enjoy their martinis (Kelly is on a "liquid" diet) and a good man--and not necessarily in that order. Kelly even insists on an open bar for the wake and funeral of her recently deceased fiancé, Mikey Big, who unexpectedly died during sex right before their wedding. And this dearly departed gentleman gives new meaning to the word "stiff" as the undertaker, Heathcliffe Hung (who lives up to his last name), and his cute assistant, Beaver, have to deal with what impressively remains from Mr. Big's last tango with Kelly. From the photo below, you can get a good idea of the kind of humor that Luv is going for--it's not subtle to say the least.

It turns out that Mikey was a secret agent, and his boss, Charlie Horse, suspects foul play and puts his best undercover agents, Peggy Penis and Sally Smuckher, on the case. Eventually everyone winds up at Mikey's wake and funeral to drink, have sex and confess their true feelings for one another. I was disappointed that director/writer Adrian Keats doesn't do a better job at spoofing TV's Charlie's Angels. He should've at least had three female undercover agents, which would have definitely added an extra layer of fun to the film. I also recommend that Keats take a page from director Alfred Hitchcock's book in regard to future cameo appearances in his own films--short and sweet works much better.

The actors of Stiff Luv more than rise to the challenge of playing lovely ladies. I was most impressed by Kyle Evans (Sally) and Willard Gillard (Peggy), whose characters I wanted to see more of (maybe they could be featured in a film of their own, Mr. Keats). I also enjoyed the performances of Bartholomew Sammut as Charlie's personal assistant (who steals every scene he is in), Brian Mifsud as Heathcliffe, and Mark Munroe as Beaver. Unfortunately, the handsome Munroe--a professional model making his film debut--never removes his shirt during the film, which is a shame since the movie could use a little more beefcake in my opinion.

Stiff Luv, which will receive its American Premiere at the British Film Festival of Los Angeles on May 6, is Adrian Keats' first completed feature-length work as a writer and director, and the goal of his production company is to use irreverent humor to tackle the issues of gender and sexuality while turning the page on the era of political correctness in queer cinema. The man certainly accomplishes this in Stiff Luv, and I look forward to his next project, a spin-off called Krazy Luv, that will hopefully feature more Peggy and Sally and a shirtless Mark Munroe.

If It's Tuesday, This Must Be The Golden Girls

Every Tuesday I post five questions relating to television or film, and the first person who sends me the correct answers wins 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 Tom Teare, and he answered the following questions about the film, Steel Magnolias correctly:

1) What are the first names of M'Lynn, Truvy and Shelby's husbands? Drum, Spud and Jackson

2) Whose colors are "blush" and "bashful"? And what color do these words really represent? Shelby's, pink

3) What's the rest of the following line? And what character says it in the film?: "If you don't have anything nice to say about anybody, _________!" Come sit by me!, Clairee

4) What state does the movie take place in? Louisiana

5) According to Clairee's nephew, what do all gay men have? Track lighting

Please send your answers for this week's questions to deepdishdrama@aol.com or via a private Facebook message (DO NOT post your answers on here where everyone can see them or they will be deleted). In honor of actress Bea Arthur, this week's theme is her 1985-92 TV series, The Golden Girls:

1) What was the name of the gay housekeeper in the pilot episode?

2) What actress played Sophia's sister, Angela?

3) Whose brother was a homosexual? And whose brother was a cross-dresser?

4) Who had a lesbian friend named Jean? And who did Jean fall in love with?

5) Which Golden Girl got married in the final episode? And who did she marry?

Dish of the Day #137

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.

Groovy Gal: Sandy Dennis

"Let me tell you about Sandy Dennis. There should be one in every home" - New York Times theater critic Walter Kerr, 1964

Today would have been actress Sandy Dennis' 72nd birthday. I've loved her ever since I first saw her in the 1970 film, The Out-of-Towners, in which she and Jack Lemmon play an Ohio couple who suffer various indignities on a trip to New York City. Both actors are thoroughly delightful in the movie (written by Neil Simon), and Dennis' character says, "Oh My God", like no one else ever has. Two other films of hers that I enjoyed as a kid are Up the Down Staircase (1967), in which she plays a groovy schoolteacher, and Sweet November (1968), in which her character has a new man live with her each month (Anthony Newley is Mr. November). There was just something sweet and slightly kooky about Sandy Dennis that made me a fan. She was sadly taken from us much too soon in 1992 at the age of 54, but today I'm celebrating and remembering her life and career.

Here are 10 Groovy Facts about Sandy Dennis:

1) She was born Sandra Dale Dennis on April 27, 1937, in Hastings, Nebraska.

2) She was a high school classmate of talk show host Dick Cavett, and later in life she was actress Brenda Vaccaro's best friend.

3) Dennis moved to New York City at the age of 19 and made her television debut in 1956 on the daytime soap opera, The Guiding Light. She played Alice Holden, the teenage sister of Mark Holden, for two months.

4) She made her film debut in Splendor in the Grass (1961) as Natalie Wood's nasty friend.

5) Dennis won Tony Awards for her performances in the plays, A Thousand Clowns (1963) and Any Wednesday (1964), but she didn't get to do the film versions of either (Barbara Harris and Jane Fonda were cast instead).

6) Her other stage credits include Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire (Chicago's Ivanhoe Theatre in 1973) and Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (national tour in 1975).

7) She starred on Broadway in 1982 in the play, Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, which received a scathing review by Frank Rich of the New York Times and was a financial failure. However, the star power of the cast, which also included Cher, Karen Black and Kathy Bates, led to a film version later that year with Robert Altman directing the same actresses (unfortunately, the movie is not available on DVD).

8) Dennis won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Honey in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966). She chose to watch the Academy Awards from a New York restaurant instead of attending the ceremony ("The Oscars are just not the kind of thing I'd get some clothes and go to. I never dress up if I can help it"). Richard Burton, Dennis' co-star in Virginia Woolf, once said of her: "She sat on the set like a schoolmarm and suddenly produced the most gigantic belches, like a drunken sailor. Elizabeth [Taylor] is also a good belcher, so they had competitions, but Sandy nearly always won."

9) She had two long-term romantic relationships—a 10-year affair with jazz musician Gerry Mulligan (1965-75), and then five years (1980-85) with actor Eric Roberts (Julia's older brother), who was almost 20 years her junior.

10) Dennis was a cat lover (in 1989 she had 37 cats and three dogs).

Dish of the Day #136: Bare Derrière Week

It's time for another Bare Derrière Week, don't you agree? 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.

Groovy Gal: Marilyn Cooper 1934 - 2009

Although she never became a household name, actress Marilyn Cooper, who died last Wednesday at the age of 74, was a very funny and talented actress, who had an impressive life upon the wicked stage. And in 1981, she became the toast of Broadway with her small supporting role in the Lauren Bacall musical, Woman of the Year. Cooper played Jan, the dowdy wife of Bacall's first husband, and the two ladies sang a showstopping duet near the end of the musical called "The Grass Is Always Greener", in which Cooper amazingly enough stole the scene away from her far more famous co-star. The critics raved about her and her only song in the show:

"Miss Bacall and Marilyn Cooper, as a hilariously frumpy housewife, bring down the house when they try to decide whose 'grass is greener' late in Act II" - Frank Rich, New York Times, March 30, 1981

"The evening's high spot consists of Tess and a humble housewife (Marilyn Cooper) agreeing that The Grass Is Always Greener — a lowlife, high-life duet. Cooper makes this sequence as tart as vinegar and twice as puckish" - TIME, April 13, 1981

Cooper deservedly won a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. To fully appreciate her brilliant comic performance, take a look at the YouTube video of her and Bacall as well as one of her and Bacall's replacement, Raquel Welch.

Her other Broadway credits included her debut in the chorus of Mr. Wonderful (1956), West Side Story (1957), Gypsy (1959), I Can Get It for You Wholesale, in which she shared a dressing room with co-star Barbra Streisand (1961), Hallelujah, Baby! (1967), Golden Rainbow, in which she understudied and went on for Eydie Gorme (1968), Mame as Agnes Gooch (1969), On the Town (1971 revival), Ballroom (1978), The Odd Couple with Rita Moreno and Sally Struthers (1985 female version revival), Bye Bye Birdie as Tommy Tune's mother (1991 tour), and Grease as Miss Lynch (1994 revival).

She also appeared on many television shows, including a 1992 episode of Cheers (as Bebe Neuwirth's mother) and a 1982 musical performance with Linda Lavin on Alice (click here to watch it). And writer/director Robert Armin recently posted on YouTube the lovely tribute below that introduces an unreleased demo of a pop song that Cooper recorded early in her career called "Here I Am". I like it. It's kind of groovy like Marilyn Cooper was.

Groovy Gal: Carol Burnett

"I'm so glad we had this time together
Just to have a laugh or sing a song."

Carol Burnett, who celebrates her 76th birthday today, deserves the title of "Funny Lady" because she's made me laugh more than anyone else over the years. For four television seasons (1973-77), I spent every Saturday night watching Mary (Tyler Moore), Bob (Newhart) and Carol--until I sailed away to Fantasy Island on The Love Boat in 1978. But I consider those four years during my youth "The Golden Age of Television". Nothing before or since has ever come close to the entertainment value of that brilliant triumvirate. Now when I look at the barren TV wasteland on Saturdays, it's so depressing--but at least I have fond memories of when that night reigned supreme as "Must-Watch TV". And Carol Burnett and her band of merry mirthmakers--Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence and Tim Conway--were the best at clowning around while putting on a fabulous variety show. Since her series ended in 1979, Burnett has continued to make her fans laugh through her amazing work in films (A Wedding, The Four Seasons), theater (Moon Over Buffalo) and television (Fresno). Although there will never be another "Queen of Comedy" like Lucille Ball (who left us 20 years ago today), I don't think she would mind if I now let her friend, Carol Burnett, share her prestigious nickname. There's room enough at the top for both funny ladies in my opinion.

Here are 10 Groovy Facts about Carol Burnett:

1) She was born Carol Creighton Burnett on April 26, 1933, in San Antonio, Texas.

2) She has a younger half-sister named Chrissy, which was also the name of Vicki Lawrence's character as Carol's kid sister in a recurring sketch on The Carol Burnett Show.

3) Burnett had a recurring role as a tough female Marine in TV's Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., and she became good friends with the show's star, Jim Nabors, who appeared as a guest on the first episode of her variety show in 1967. When her series became a hit, she considered Nabors to be her good luck charm and had him back on the first show of every season.

4) Lucille Ball became a friend and mentor to Burnett and reportedly offered the young actress her own Desilu-produced sitcom. But Burnett's dream was to have her own variety show, which ran for eleven years on CBS and earned 22 Emmy Awards. The two women remained close friends (Ball even gave Burnett her first baby shower), and Lucy sent flowers to Carol every year on her birthday.

5) Burnett was the first celebrity to appear on the children's series, Sesame Street, in its debut episode on November 10, 1969.

6) A long-time fan of the daytime soap opera, All My Children, Burnett was thrilled when the role of Verla Grubbs (Langley Wallingford's long-lost illegitimate daughter) was created for her in 1983. Verla briefly returned to Pine Valley in 1995 and 2005 (the actress previously appeared on the show in 1976 as Mrs. Johnson, a hospital patient).

7) She made her film debut in the 1963 comedy, Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?, which also starred Elizabeth Montgomery, Dean Martin and Jill St. John.

8) Her favorite actor is Anthony Hopkins, and Bob Mackie is her favorite designer.

9) When asked where she would like her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Burnett requested that it be placed in front of the Hollywood Pacific Theatre on Hollywood Blvd., where she once worked (in 1957) as an usherette until she was fired one night by the manager.

10) Burnett ended each episode of her variety show by tugging on her left ear, which was a message to her late grandmother (who raised her) to let her know that she was doing well and that she loved her.

Burnett's latest film, Post Grad, will be released on August 14, in which she plays the grandmother of Alexis Bledel (Gilmore Girls). The movie also stars Zach Gilford (Friday Night Lights), the wonderful Jane Lynch, and Michael Keaton.

I leave you now with the complete lyrics to "Carol's Theme", which Burnett sang at the end of every episode of her variety show (it was written by Joe Hamilton, her second husband and the producer of her series):

"I'm so glad we had this time together,
Just to have a laugh or sing a song.
Seems we just get started and before you know it
Comes the time we have to say, 'So long'.

There's a time you put aside for dreamin',
And a time for things you have to do.
But the time I like the best is any evening
I can spend a moment here with you.

When the time comes that I'm feelin' lonely,
And I'm feelin' oh so blue,
I just sit back and think of you only,
And the happiness still comes through.

That's why I'm glad we had this time together,
'Cause it makes me feel that I belong.
Seems we just get started and before you know it
Comes the time we have to say, 'So long'."

Groovy Gal: Thank You for Being a Friend, Bea Arthur

I'm so very sad about actress Bea Arthur's death today at age 86. I'm also very surprised because she was someone I assumed would live forever. She just seemed like the type: "There goes Bea. 102 and still alive and kicking." But I guess we all have to move on eventually--even groovy gals like Bea.

I never met Bea Arthur, but she was like a friend to me, considering I started watching her on television around the age of ten. Every Monday night for a few years I tuned in to see my favorite girls--Rhoda, Phyllis and Maude. I was in college when The Golden Girls began in 1985, so I never became a big fan of that show--too busy going to keg parties on Saturday nights (when the Girls were on). For this reason Bea Arthur will always be Maude Findlay to me, rather than Dorothy Zbornak. And for other folks I'm sure the actress will be fondly remembered for her fabulous Tony Award-winning performance as Vera Charles in the stage and movie versions of the musical, Mame. Personally, my favorite film performance of Arthur's is in Lovers and Other Strangers (1970), in which she plays the Italian mother of a young man about to be married. I highly recommend this funny movie, which also stars Cloris Leachman, Anne Meara, Diane Keaton (in her film debut), and a very young Bonnie Bedelia (Latrelle in Sordid Lives). Bea Arthur's amazing career spanned seven decades, and I'm sure today many of you probably feel like I do--that you've lost a childhood friend. This may sound odd, considering Maude Findlay was a middle-aged woman dealing with such adult issues as abortion and keeping a housekeeper, but this 10-year-old boy really liked her. She made me laugh. And that's what Bea Arthur did best. She kept us all laughing for so many years. I will dearly miss that old compromisin', enterprisin', anything but tranquilizin', right on Maude!

Here are 10 Groovy Facts about Bea Arthur:

1) She was born Bernice Frankel in New York City on May 13, 1922.

2) She became a medical technologist before World War II.

3) Arthur appeared on TV's Judge Judy in 1996 as a witness for a defendant who was involved in the animal rights organization PETA. The defendant won.

4) She considered her short-lived 1983 sitcom, Amanda's, and a 1979 appearance as the host of Saturday Night Live as her worst career experiences.

5) She was the mother of two sons, Matthew Saks (born 1961) and Daniel Saks (born 1964), whom she and her second husband, director Gene Saks, adopted during their marriage (1950-1979).

6) She was best friends with Angela Lansbury ever since they appeared together on Broadway in Mame.

7) She won Emmy Awards as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1977 (Maude) and 1988 (Golden Girls).

8) I was lucky enough to see her onstage in a 2000 concert performance of Strike Up the Band in Chicago.

9) Apparently one of her favorite TV shows was South Park.

10) Arthur hated cheesecake.

I leave you now with a few quotes from the great lady:

"You know, the real name of this show [Mame] is Vera. The only reason they changed the name was because Jerry [Herman] couldn't think of a rhyme for it. Stephen Sondheim could have."

"After being in the business for such a long time, I've done everything but rodeo and porno."

Groovy Gal: Her Name Is Barbra

Barbra Streisand, who celebrates her 67th birthday today, has always been full of surprises. I first became a fan when I saw her film, What's Up, Doc?, as a kid, and I thought she was a funny lady (without being familiar with that 1975 movie of hers). Then a few years later I loved her disco duet with Donna Summer, "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)", and I was so impressed that she could sing groovy music, too. It wasn't until I was 23 that I realized what a fine dramatic actress she is when I rented the video of her 1973 film, The Way We Were--and she and Robert Redford made such a sexy couple, don't you agree? And finally around my 28th year, I suddenly discovered the wonderful world of musicals (thanks to my partner), including Streisand's great performances in Funny Girl and On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (although I'm still disappointed that they removed the delightful Broadway tunes, "On the S.S. Bernard Cohn" and "Wait Till We're Sixty-Five", from the film version). The woman obviously could do it all, and she continues to do it well today--"it" being "everything". Barbra Streisand is an amazing person, and whatever she decides to do next, I'm sure will be fabulous.

Here are 10 Groovy Facts about Barbra Streisand:

1) She was born Barbara Joan Streisand on April 24, 1942, in Brooklyn, New York. Her mother discouraged her from pursuing a show business career--since she was not attractive enough--and encouraged her to learn to type.

2) In 1959, she appeared in an Off-Off-Broadway production of Driftwood with a then-unknown Joan Rivers. The play only ran for six weeks.

3) In 1960, her boyfriend Barry Dennen helped her create a successful club act, which she first performed in The Lion, a gay bar in Manhattan's Greenwich Village.

4) Streisand's first television appearance was on The Tonight Show in 1961. Orson Bean, who substituted for host Jack Paar that night, had seen the singer perform at a gay bar and booked her for the telecast.

5) Mary Martin, Anne Bancroft and Carol Burnett were all considered for the Broadway role of Fanny Brice in 1964's Funny Girl before Barbra was cast. Singer Eydie Gormé was also considered, but she refused the part when they wouldn't cast her husband, Steve Lawrence, as Nicky Arnstein.

6) With Paul Newman and Sidney Poitier, Streisand formed First Artists Production Company in 1969 so the actors could secure properties and develop movie projects for themselves. Her initial outing with First Artists was 1972's Up the Sandbox.

7) She was the first woman since the silent era to direct, produce, write and star in a feature film, 1983's Yentl (as I said before, the lady can do it all).

8) She's turned down a few interesting roles over the years, including call girl Bree Daniels in 1971's Klute, Sally Bowles in 1972's Cabaret (apparently she wanted to move away from musicals at that point in her career), and Eva Peron in 1996's Evita (she was the first choice of Ken Russell, the first director attached to the film).

9) She loves Chinese food and coffee ice cream, and her favorite color is white.

10) It's been reported in recent years that Streisand is interested in playing the role of Norma Desmond in the film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical version of Sunset Boulevard. Meryl Streep and Glenn Close are also interested, and I think any of them would be great so hopefully the film will someday get made.

I also didn't realize until today that both of Streisand's husbands, Elliott Gould (1963-71) and James Brolin (1998-Present), starred together in the 1978 movie, Capricorn One, when neither was involved with her. And I must mention that tomorrow night CBS will air her one-hour TV special, Streisand: Live In Concert, which will offer highlights of a Ft. Lauderdale show from her 2006 concert tour--and coincides with the three-disc DVD release of Streisand - The Concerts this Tuesday (April 28).

I leave you now with a quote from Babs:

"I arrived in Hollywood without having my nose fixed, my teeth capped, or my name changed. That is very gratifying to me."

Dish of the Day #135: 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.



Last week was one of the closest contests so far as Dish #129 barely squeaked by #130 to claim victory with 27% of the 100 votes cast (#130 got 26%). #127 came in third with 19%, followed by #126 (15%) and #128 (13%). And today's cowboy should get you in the mood for next week's Dishes!

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Groovy Gal: Shirley MacLaine

Shirley MacLaine, who celebrates her 75th birthday tomorrow, has always been one of my favorite actresses. I loved her as a kid when I would watch all her silly, wonderful comedies from the 1960s (What a Way to Go!, Gambit, The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom), and I've loved her even more as an adult after discovering her more serious films (The Apartment, Being There, Terms of Endearment) as well as an occasional guilty pleasure (1980's A Change of Seasons with Anthony Hopkins and Bo Derek, which the critics hated but I enjoyed). This groovy lady has done it all--dance, sing, act, write--and I hope she continues to entertain us for many years to come.

Here are 10 Groovy Facts about Shirley MacLaine:

1) Named after Shirley Temple, she was born Shirley MacLean Beaty on April 24, 1934, in Richmond, Virginia. Her baby brother, Henry Warren Beaty, was born in 1937, and he became a somewhat famous actor as well (just kidding, I think he's groovy, too).

2) Her childhood dream was to be a ballerina, but she later decided to switch to acting. When actress Carol Haney broke her ankle while playing the role of Gladys in the 1954 Broadway musical, The Pajama Game, her understudy--Shirley--replaced her in the role for several months. One night director/producer Hal B. Wallis saw MacLaine in the show, and he was so impressed that he signed her as a contract player for Paramount Pictures.

3) A frequent visitor to Houston, Texas, where she starred in Terms of Endearment (1983) and The Evening Star (1996), Shirley always goes to Tony's Restaurant to order a soufflé.

4) She turned down the role of the mother in 1982's Poltergeist (played by JoBeth Williams) to star in her Oscar-winning role of Aurora Greenway in Terms of Endearment. But she regretted turning down the lead role in 1974's Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (which Ellen Burstyn deservedly won an Oscar for).

5) Columbia originally wanted to cast Shirley as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl (1968) because they felt Barbra Streisand, who originated the role on Broadway, was too much of an unknown. However, Ray Stark, who produced the Broadway show and was Brice's son-in-law, insisted on Streisand (although I think MacLaine would have been wonderful in the part, I'm very glad Babs was cast--but it's a shame that Carol Channing wasn't given the same consideration for the film of Hello, Dolly!).

6) William Peter Blatty based the character of the mother in his 1971 novel, The Exorcist, on his friend, MacLaine.

7) She's been nominated for an Oscar as Best Actress five times: Some Came Running (1958), The Apartment (1960), Irma la Douce (1963), The Turning Point (1977), and Terms of Endearment (1983). She only won for Terms.

8) She's received 16 Golden Globe nominations for some of my favorite film performances of hers (that the Oscars overlooked), including Sweet Charity (1969), Being There (1979), Postcards from the Edge (1990), and Used People (1992). And she's won four Golden Globes for The Apartment, Irma la Douce, Terms of Endearment, and Madame Sousatzka (1988).

9) Shirley has one daughter, Sachi Parker (born in 1956), from her only marriage to businessman Steve Parker (1954-82).

10) Shirley shares a birthday with Barbra Streisand, and they celebrate together every year (and guess who will be tomorrow's Groovy Gal). She's also close friends with actress Julie Christie, who lived with Warren Beatty for over a decade.

I leave you now with a few Shirley quotes:

"It is useless to hold a person to anything he says while he's in love, drunk, or running for office."

"I've made so many movies playing a hooker that they don't pay me in the regular way anymore. They leave it on the dresser."

"An actor has many lives and many people within him. I know there are lots of people inside me. No one ever said I'm dull."