The Bachelorette #7: Singing Those Sleazy Wes Blues

Jillian isn't a very bright girl. Up until now I've given her a lot of leeway when it came to her strong feelings for that rotten sleaze named Wes. No one would tell her the truth about the guy, so how could she see him for what he really was--an opportunistic snake. However, all this changed on last night's episode when that gorgeous knight in a pilot's uniform, Jake, flew down to Texas to blow Wes out of the water. Surprisingly, Jillian decided not to believe Jake and gave Wes a friggin' rose. What is wrong with this chick? And what does she see in Wes--besides his obvious bad boy image? The guy is not a great singer or songwriter--and he's living in a dreamworld if he really thinks that all this BAD publicity will help his music career. And poor Jake, crying his eyes out over this girl, who doesn't deserve his love. He fell hard for her, but now he needs to move on and put this all behind him. As for Jillian, I felt sorry for her before when she was clueless about Wes--but now she's just plain stupid. Sorry to be so blunt, but anyone who believes Wes over Jake is crazy. Love is definitely blinder than a bat on The Bachelorette.

I am disappointed that Jillian dumped Jesse, the cute California wine maker (#3 on my list last week). He looked damn good on a tractor, and I thought there was definite chemistry between the two of them. However, his brother Jacob was an obnoxious ass, so I'm going to blame him for Jesse's downfall. Then there was Michael (#4 last week), the immature break dance instructor who thought it was a good idea to play The Patty Duke Show and pretend to be his own identical twin brother. Jillian wasn't fooled by this lame trick (only Wes has the evil power to fool her). I did feel bad for him when she gave him the boot, but I think the boy has a lot of growing up to do before he'll be ready to settle down and get married.

So here are the remaining 4 Bachelors in order of my preference:

1) Reid, 30, Realtor from Philadelphia (#2 last week): He's my new favorite--despite having his own lame brothers to deal with. Reid has only just turned 30, and his siblings seem horrified that he isn't married yet. There's nothing wrong with being "cautious" in a new relationship. And I thought his parents were cool. Now I'm just hoping that he doesn't turn out to be the one who has the bedroom crisis in Spain next week. Also, a few people on the Internet have compared him to Chandler Bing on TV's Friends, which I consider a very high compliment.

2) Kiptyn, 31, Business Developer from California (#1 last week): I'm certainly not going to complain about his and Jillian's hot tub action, and I would definitely take him to Spain. But--and this is a pretty big BUT--I still don't see much of a connection between him and Jillian--besides the obvious physical one. Now I've read that a lot of folks are not crazy about his kissing technique--even though Jillian seems to enjoy it very much. And some even suspect Kiptyn might be gay and that he'll be revealed as the one with the bedroom problem. I think Kiptyn would make a fabulous gay man, but for Jillian's sake, I hope he's straight as an arrow.

3) Ed, 29, Technology Consultant from Chicago: Well well well, look who's back, boys. If I were Jesse or Michael, I'd be majorly pissed off about Ed's surprise return. I liked Ed a lot before he dumped Jillian in favor of his job, and I'm not surprised that she gave him a rose because she's always liked him. However, she's not going to get to meet his family, and he's lost some crucial time with her. Maybe he can catch up to Reid and Kiptyn in Spain, but I would be reluctant to choose him as my final guy, considering he's already made one bad mistake in their relationship. And so far I haven't seen much of a romantic connection between him and Jillian, but I'm sure we'll see some sparks fly next week.

4) Wes, 32, Musician from Austin, Texas (#5 last week): Here's the latest scoop I've read about his mysterious girlfriend, Laurel. She's the ex-girlfriend of a previous Bachelor, Brad, and rumor has it that Wes had it real bad for the girl, but the feeling wasn't mutual. So apparently the producers of the show created this controversy, which I hope isn't true. But even if we forget about the girlfriend, there's no denying the fact that Wes has confessed on camera that he's only on the show to further his career. And doesn't he realize that Jillian will be watching all these episodes and hearing what he says? I guess he just doesn't give a damn. But I have a feeling the creep will get his comeuppance eventually.

Now if Kiptyn does turn out to be gay and he becomes the next Bachelor (as I reported last week), will he get to choose his own hunky Bachelor on TV? Hey, a boy can dream, can't he? That's it for this week. I'll be back next Tuesday with another exciting episode of As the Bachelorette Turns.

Groovy Gal: Brenda Starr

I've always loved comic strips, and my favorites growing up were the soap opera stories like Mary Worth, Winnie Winkle and, of course, Brenda Starr, the glamorous newspaper reporter who celebrates her 69th birthday today. The lovely lady doesn't look a day over 30, does she?

Dale Messick created Brenda in 1940, and the fabulous redhead remained single until 1976 when she finally married her true love, the mysterious Basil St. John, whose eye patch only made him sexier. They had a daughter, Starr Twinkle St. John, but their marriage ended in divorce. He later married and divorced talk show host, Wanda Fonda (love the name!), but Brenda has never remarried.

Our girl hasn't had much luck on the big or small screen. First there was Brenda Starr, Reporter, a 1945 serial. Then actress Jill St. John played the character in a 1976 TV movie, and a 1979 TV pilot based on the strip never went anywhere. Finally, we can't forget the feature film flop, Brenda Starr, starring Brooke Shields in the title role and Timothy Dalton as Basil. It was made in 1986, but due to lengthy litigation over distribution rights, it wasn't released in Europe until 1989 and the U.S. until 1992 (you can watch its trailer below).

Messick retired in 1980, but Brenda is still going strong with June Brigman and Mary Schmich now drawing and writing the strip. And the groovy gal reporter is quite hip these days--she even has her very own Facebook page!

Broadway Bound: This 'Professor' sounds real nutty

I have to confess that my jaw about hit the floor when I read in today's New York Times that the 83-year-old comedian, Jerry Lewis, will be directing a musical adaptation of his 1963 film, The Nutty Professor, which he produced, directed, co-wrote and starred in. Never in a million years would I have imagined the actor teaming up with Marvin Hamlisch (who is writing the music) and Rupert Holmes (who is writing the lyrics and book) on a project. They make a very odd trio, don't you think?

I can't say that I'm all that excited about seeing a musical version of the silly comedy--but maybe if Jerry can persuade 70-year-old Stella Stevens (who was his love interest in the flick) to appear in the show, it might help improve my lack of enthusiasm. I love Stella! But I'm not much of a Jerry fan anymore. I liked him as a kid, but in recent years the old fart has offended the gay community with a few unfortunate remarks. He seems to be a loose cannon who shoots off his mouth without thinking first, which should make for some interesting headlines during his Broadway directorial debut in the 2010-11 theatrical season.

If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Charlie's Angels

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 Auntie Mame Award (for excellence in trivia).

Last week's lucky winner was Daniel Cape, and he answered the following questions about the TV series, I Love Lucy, correctly:

1) What is Lucy's maiden name? McGillicuddy

2) What is the name of the health tonic that Lucy promotes in a TV commercial? Vitameatavegamin

3) What dance does Lucy do when her blouse is filled with chicken eggs? Tango

4) What state do the Ricardos move to during the sixth season? Connecticut

5) Whose footprints are on the cement slab that Lucy and Ethel take from Grauman's Chinese Theater? John Wayne

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 Farrah Fawcett, this week's theme is the 1976-81 TV series, Charlie's Angels:

1) What actor provided the voice of Charlie--and what popular TV series did he appear on during the 1980s?

2) Which two Angels were sisters?

3) The cast of what TV show appeared on the 4th Season Premiere when the Angels went on a cruise to the Virgin Islands?

4) In a 4th season episode, what actress--who was nominated for an Academy Award four times--played Charlie's friend, Toni, whom he hired--along with her three "boys" (hunky detectives)--to protect the Angels?

5) Which Angel was shot in the final episode?

Dish of the Day #182

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 Next Food Network Star #4: May I have some more raw meat please?

Last night's fourth installment of The Next Food Network Star saw Teddy (#6 on my list of contestants last week) being sent home by the judges. I thought for sure that Katie and her uncooked food would finally get the boot but, alas, no. Do these judges have a death wish or something? She keeps feeding them raw meat, and they keep rewarding her by keeping her around. I just don't understand what they're thinking. And Teddy, despite his "game show host" presentation skills (as Jamika accurately described him), could actually make something edible and tasty. I guess a good sandwich doesn't make up for a lack of camera-readiness, so it was goodbye to Teddy.

Here are the remaining six contestants in order of my preference:

1) Melissa (#3 last week): This lady impresses me more and more each week as she moves up to the top spot. I've always liked her, but she really shined on last night's episode as she continued to impress the judges with her fabulous presentation AND culinary skills. She even won the US Weekend magazine challenge. While almost everyone else had a bad week, Melissa grabbed the spotlight. We'll see how long she remains there.

2) Jamika (#2 last week): Despite having an off week with her food, she still has the best presentation skills out of all of them. I like her, and I would like to watch her on TV. Hopefully she can bounce back next time because she can't afford to have two bad weeks in a row.

3) Jeffrey (#1 last week): The bloom seems to be off the rose for Jeffrey--at least with the judges, who are becoming bored with his same story, same food (heat/sweet and usually Mexican). And his blueberry pot pies were a big flop. However, I still expect him to be sticking around for awhile.

4) Debbie (#5 last week): She's definitely a great presenter, and I did feel sorry for her this week when Michael accidentally injured her (but I really didn't need to see the clip of her getting hit a second time). However, at the moment I would rather watch the first three contestants on TV more than her. But Debbie's camera-ready personality puts her ahead of Michael, since this is a very important part of being the next Food Network Star.

5) Michael: (#4 last week): He had a better week this week. He won the burger challenge, but he still hasn't made friends with the camera. The flamboyant fella doesn't seem at all nervous in front of large crowds, but put a TV camera on him and he begins to sweat. I hope he conquers his camera-phobia ASAP or I fear he'll be going home soon.

6) Katie (#7 last week): I've already bitched enough about her. I'm sure she's a very nice girl, but she has no business being on this show.

I'll be back next Monday with another review. Tune in below to learn more about Melissa.

Groovy Guy/Gal: Richard Skipper as Carol Channing on July 5

Carol Channing, one of Broadway's greatest treasures, obviously still plays herself quite well, and I've been fortunate enough to have seen her in Hello, Dolly! twice. However, the next best thing to the real Carol is Richard Skipper, who has been paying tribute to Channing for more than 15 years in his own original shows. And he will be continuing his intimate evenings as the legendary diva this Sunday (July 5) at 8 pm in Carol Channing: A Celebration! at Tim McLoone's Supper Club in Asbury Park, New Jersey.

Skipper has taken his loving tribute to Channing all over the country, and the fabulous lady herself has personally endorsed his performance, saying: "This is the first time ever I have been shown with such love, respect and polish. Richard Skipper is a true musical comedy star! He is fabulous as me!" What Skipper recreates on stage are Channing's memorable shows in Vegas and on Broadway, in which she proved that she could do a whole lot more than just diamond-happy Lorelei Lee--but, of course, he does include in his own show a few tunes from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes as well as Hello, Dolly! For more information about Richard Skipper, check out his website, www.RichardSkipper.com.

For reservations to Carol Channing: A Celebration!, call (732) 774-1155. There is a $20 cover, and dinner seating begins at 6 pm. Tim McLoone's Supper Club is located at 1200 Ocean Avenue in Asbury Park.

Richard Skipper will also be appearing as Channing with Steven Brinberg (as Barbra Streisand) and Tommy Femia (as Judy Garland) in Legendary Ladies at Tim McLoone's on Thursday, July 16, and at the Beaux Arts Ball in Louisville, Kentucky, on Saturday, October 10. For tickets to the latter, call (502) 435-4676 or purchase online at www.beauxartsball.

Dish of the Day #181: Red, White & Blue Week

In honor of the Fourth of July, the Dishes are showing off their patriotic colors this week.

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.

TV Flashback: A Tasty Bite of 'Dark Shadows'

In honor of the 43rd anniversary of Dark Shadows, I thought it would be fun to revisit 10 of my favorite episodes of the cult daytime soap opera that ran on ABC from June 27, 1966, until April 2, 1971. And if you're into vampires, werewolves, ghosts, witches and warlocks, I highly recommend that you check out the entire series on DVD.

1) Episode 1 - June 27, 1966: Our story begins with Victoria Winters arriving by train in Collinsport, Maine, to become the new governess of 10-year-old David Collins. Also on the train is the mysterious Burke Devlin (Mitchell Ryan, who also played Greg's father on the sitcom, Dharma & Greg), who later goes to the groovy hot spot, The Blue Whale. Vicki meets waitress Maggie Evans, who calls her a jerk for accepting the job because everyone at Collinwood is a kook, but the girl still goes to meet matriarch Elizabeth Collins (played by the classy Joan Bennett), who has been a recluse ever since her husband's disappearance 18 years ago.

2) Episode 211 - April 18, 1967: Everyone is wondering where Willie Loomis (who opened the wrong coffin in the previous episode) has disappeared to, while a mysterious stranger shows up at Collinwood and says he's Barnabas Collins, a cousin from England--but he neglects to mention that he's also a 175-year-old vampire (this is the first appearance of Jonathan Frid).

3) Episode 366 - November 20, 1967: This is the beginning of the fascinating 1795 Flashback as a seance sends Victoria Winters back in time, where she meets Barnabas when he's still an ordinary human being. Also, most of the actors get to play brand new characters as the 18th-century Collins family is introduced.

4) Episode 368/369 - November 22, 1967: The first appearance of the lovely Lara Parker as the evil Angelique, who wants Barnabas all to herself. When he spurns her romantic advances and tells her that their previous love affair was a mistake and that he's now going to marry Josette, Angelique is none too happy to say the least. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned--especially when the lady is a witch.

5) Episode 405 - January 12, 1968: Barnabas reaches his limit with Angelique's witchy ways and shoots her. She then places a curse on him, causing a bat to suddenly appear and bite him on the neck. And, thus, a vampire is born.

6) Episode 460 - March 29, 1968: A pivotal episode as Barnabas' father, Joshua, chains him in his coffin. Meanwhile, the romance between Victoria Winters and her true love, Peter Bradford (played by the handsome Roger Davis), hits a snag when she's hung at the gallows after being found guilty of witchcraft. However, in the next episode, the hood is pulled off her dead body, and it's not Vicki, who has returned to the present day just in the nick of time.

7) Episode 490 - May 10, 1968: Adam comes to life when Dr. Julia Hoffman (the fabulous Grayson Hall) creates an artificial being from human parts in order for Barnabas to live in a new body, free of the vampire curse. Unfortunately, the experiment doesn't go smoothly. I love this storyline, which only gets better once a female mate for Adam--called Eve, of course--enters the picture. Both actors Robert Rodan (Adam) and Marie Wallace (Eve) are terrific.

8) Episode 646 - December 16, 1968: David Selby (who would later play Richard Channing on Falcon Crest) became famous as werewolf Quentin Collins. This is his first episode as the ghosts of Quentin and Beth silently appear and possess the children, David and Amy.

9) Episode 935 - January 23, 1970: The Leviathan storyline is quite bizarre, but I also think it's a hoot. The Leviathans are an ancient race of beings who want to take over the world, and a Collinsport couple who run an antique shop raise their leader, who rapidly ages from a baby to an adult. In this episode Christopher Pennock makes his first appearance as the fully-grown Jeb Hawkes.

10) Episode 980 - March 27, 1970: Lots of action in this exciting episode. Angelique's husband, Sky Rumson (Geoffrey Scott, who later played Krystle's first husband on Dynasty), kills Jeb. Barnabas then kills Sky before he enters Parallel Time, an alternate but coexisting universe where he hopes he might not be a vampire.

The Top 100 Groovy Gay Movies

Here's my list of the Top 100 Groovy Gay Movies (in chronological order). I've not included any miniseries, but there are some made-for-TV flicks. Many of the films are guilty pleasures, a few just have a memorable gay character or scene, and some simply give off a very queer vibe. I'm sure I've left off a few favorites, but these are the ones that I like or love or find the most interesting. And in case you're wondering, the photo is of Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve in Deathtrap, which I highly recommend.

1) Rope (1948)
2) Suddenly, Last Summer (1959)



3) The Children's Hour (1961)
4) The Killing of Sister George (1968)
5) The Boys in the Band (1970)




6) Myra Breckinridge (1970)
7) Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon (1970)
8) Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971)
9) Some of My Best Friends Are... (1971)
10) Cabaret (1972)
11) That Certain Summer (1972)
12) Female Trouble (1974)
13) Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
14) The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
15) The Ritz (1976)



16) Outrageous! (1977)
17) La Cage Aux Folles (1978)
18) Can't Stop the Music (1980)
19) Victor/Victoria (1982)
20) Deathtrap (1982)
21) Making Love (1982)
22) The Times of Harvey Milk (1984)
23) Another Country (1984)
24) My Beautiful Laundrette (1985)
25) Consenting Adult (1985)
26) An Early Frost (1985)
27) Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985)
28) Parting Glances (1986)
29) Law of Desire (1987)
30) Maurice (1987)
31) Apartment Zero (1988)



32) Torch Song Trilogy (1988)
33) Longtime Companion (1990)
34) Paris Is Burning (1990)
35) My Own Private Idaho (1991)
36) Doing Time on Maple Drive (1992)
37) Rock Hudson's Home Movies (1992)
38) The Crying Game (1992)
39) The Lost Language of Cranes (1992)
40) The Wedding Banquet (1993)
41) Grief (1993)
42) And the Band Played On (1993)
43) Zero Patience (1993)
44) Love and Human Remains (1993)
45) Silverlake Life: The View from Here (1993)
46) Philadelphia (1993)
47) The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)
48) The Sum of Us (1994)



49) Priest (1994)
50) Trevor (1994)
51) Wild Reeds (1994)
52) Boys Life (1995, includes Pool Days, A Friend of Dorothy, The Disco Years)
53) The Celluloid Closet (1995)
54) Wigstock: The Movie (1995)
55) Jeffrey (1995)
56) Beautiful Thing (1996)



57) Maybe . . . Maybe Not (1996)
58) Broadway Damage (1996)
59) I Think I Do (1997)
60) Bedrooms & Hallways (1997)
61) Love! Valour! Compassion! (1997)
62) The Hanging Garden (1997)
63) Edge of Seventeen (1998)



64) Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss (1998)
65) Head On (1998)
66) Object of My Affection (1998)
67) Get Real (1998)
68) Trick (1999)
69) But I'm a Cheerleader (1999)
70) 24 Nights (1999)
71) Boys Don't Cry (1999)
72) Sordid Lives (2000)
73) Big Eden (2000)



74) Psycho Beach Party (2000)
75) Chuck and Buck (2000)
76) Urbania (2000)
77) Chop Suey (2000)
78) The Broken Hearts Club (2000)
79) Paragraph 175 (2000)
80) Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)
81) Kissing Jessica Stein (2001)
82) The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me (2002)




83) Leaving Metropolis (2002)
84) Girls Will Be Girls (2002)
85) Latter Days (2003)
86) Die, Mommie, Die! (2003)
87) Connie and Carla (2004)
88) A Touch of Pink (2004)
89) A Home at the End of the World (2004)
90) Eating Out (2004)
91) C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005)
92) Brokeback Mountain (2005)
93) Wilby Wonderful (2005)




94) Colma: The Musical (2006)
95) Shortbus (2006)
96) Shelter (2007)
97) Milk (2008)
98) Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon (2008)



99) Were the World Mine (2008)
100) Prayers for Bobby (2009)

Dish of the Day #180: Vote for your Favorite

In honor of Gay Pride Month, this week I will be featuring kissing Dishes.

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.





The hot couple of Dish #175 won last week's poll with an impressive 53.4% of the 103 votes cast. #172 was a distant second with 16.5%, followed by #173 (13.6%), #171 (9.7%) and #174 (6.8%).

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Remembering Farrah Fawcett 1947 - 2009

I'm deeply saddened by the death of actress Farrah Fawcett. It didn't come as a surprise since we've all been hearing about her battle with cancer for a long time, but there was a small, hopeful part of me who kept thinking, "Maybe she can beat the odds." Although I never bought her infamous swimsuit poster to hang up and admire (like both my father and uncle did), she was an important part of my youth. Farrah was Jill Munroe, one of the original Charlie's Angels. They were tough, sexy ladies who survived all kinds of desperate situations while working undercover. They were invincible--until today. I will miss Farrah, who will forever be an angel.

To celebrate Farrah's life and career, here are a few videos, photos and 10 Groovy Facts about the actress:

1) She was born Farrah Leni Fawcett on February 2, 1947, in Corpus Christi, Texas. She said that her first name was "made up" by her mother because it went well with her last name.

2) Fawcett attended the University of Texas at Austin and became a sister of Delta Delta Delta Sorority. When she appeared in a photo of the "Ten Most Beautiful Coeds" in Cashbox magazine, a Hollywood publicist saw it and urged her to move to Los Angeles, which she did in 1969.

3) Early in her career, she appeared in some memorable TV commercials for Noxema shaving cream, Ultra Brite toothpaste, Wella Balsam shampoo, and the 1975 Mercury Cougar. In 1978, she appeared in a series of commercials for her own brand of shampoo, marketed by Fabergé.

4) Fawcett appeared on the game show, The Dating Game, in 1969, and she played a "Pretty Girl" in the second episode of The Partridge Family on October 2, 1970 (see both clips below).

5) In 1976, Pro Arts Inc. pitched the idea of a poster of Farrah to her agent, and the resulting poster of her in a one-piece red bathing suit sold over 8 million copies.

6) In a 1977 interview with TV Guide about Charlie's Angels (which aired on ABC from 1976-81), Fawcett said: "When the show was number three, I thought it was our acting. When we got to be number one, I decided it could only be because none of us wears a bra." She left the show after only one season to do feature films.

7) She won critical acclaim for her 1983 role in the off-Broadway play, Extremities, and in 1986 she appeared in the film version, for which she received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama.

8) Fawcett posed nude at age 48 in the December 1995 issue of Playboy magazine, which became the best-selling issue of the 1990s with over 4 million copies sold worldwide.

9) Fawcett was offered the Goldie Hawn role in the 1978 film, Foul Play, and although she was offered a cameo in the 2000 film version of Charlie's Angels, negotiations fell through when she insisted on being cast as the voice of the new Charlie (personally, I think this was a clever idea).

10) Finally, here's a very strange story about Fawcett's opening night in Butterflies Are Free at the Burt Reynolds Dinner Theatre in Florida in 1980. A lady in the front row of tables began yelling insults at the actress and making bird calls during the performance, and she later raised her dress and flashed the performers, causing co-star Dennis Christopher to take notice, although his character was a blind man. Another patron vomited and yet another fainted during the show, but the reviews for Farrah were quite positive.

Remembering Michael Jackson 1958 - 2009

Both Farrah and Michael--two legendary icons of my youth--leaving us on the same day is so very sad. However, I would much rather remember the Michael Jackson from 25+ years ago than the deeply troubled and unrecognizable person that he eventually became. His groovy tunes were played at every college party I went to in the early 1980s, and my fraternity even had an exchange with a sorority centered around the MTV broadcast of his Thriller video. Everyone loved the "King of Pop" back then. So today I'm remembering that guy--the one I grew up with and whose music I still enjoy listening to. Here are two of my favorite songs of his:

"I Want You Back", a 1969 number-one single recorded by The Jackson 5, which sold 6 million copies worldwide. It ranks number 120 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

"Rock with You", which was released by Jackson on November 3, 1979, as the second single from his fifth solo LP and breakthrough album, Off the Wall.

Dish of the Day #179

In honor of Gay Pride Month, this week I will be featuring kissing Dishes.

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: Michele Lee

I've loved actress Michele Lee ever since I was five years old and saw her for the first time in the Disney film, The Love Bug. I remember thinking she was so pretty and that she and her handsome co-star, Dean Jones (who was my favorite actor as a child), made a perfect couple. Of course, once TV's Knots Landing came along in 1979, I became an even bigger fan of Ms. Lee, whose Karen Fairgate MacKenzie was one of my favorite characters on the show. So today I wish the lovely actress a very happy 67th birthday.

Here are 10 Groovy Facts about Michele Lee:

1) She was born Michele Lee Dusick on June 24, 1942, in Los Angeles, California.

2) Lee became a star on Broadway at the age of 20 when she replaced Bonnie Scott as Rosemary in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying--a role she reprised in the 1967 film version.

3) She appeared with her first husband, James Farentino (Dynasty's Dr. Nick Toscanni), and her longtime friend, actor Bill Bixby, in the 1972 pilot of a game show, Cop Out!, that never aired. Richard Dawson, Lois Nettleton and Della Reese were also on the show.

4) Lee received a Tony nomination as Best Actress in a Musical for her role as Gittel Mosca in the 1973 Broadway musical, Seesaw. Lucie Arnaz starred in the 1974 national tour of the show (check out the 2006 video below of them singing a song together from Seesaw).

5) In 1974, she starred in her own CBS sitcom, The Michele Lee Show, in which she played a clerk in a hotel newsstand. The series also starred Stephen Collins, but only the pilot episode was aired.

6) Lee was the only performer to appear in all 344 episodes of Knots Landing, which was a record for an actress playing the same character on a US primetime television series. Her record was surpassed by S. Epatha Merkerson of NBC's Law & Order in 2008.

7) Lee was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1982 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

8) Her favorite Knots Landing scene is Karen's "Pollyanna Speech" in the Season 12 episode, "Dead But Not Buried", which aired on October 18, 1990 (you can watch this scene below).

9) She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on November 19, 1998.

10) She received a second Tony nomination in 2001 for her role in Charles Busch's play, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife. I saw her in it, and she was, of course, wonderful.

I leave you now with a few of Michele Lee's performances as well as her Knots Landing Pollyanna speech:

"I wanna be a Pollyanna. I don't wanna look at the world through rose-colored glasses, I want the world to BE rose colored. I want people to be nice. People SHOULD be nice. Nice should be the norm. I hate it that I can't trust anyone! I hate it that I can't put my daughter on the front lawn by herself! I hate it that I have to lock my car, and that I have to worry about an alarm system in my house, and I can't send cash in the mail! That's not the way it's supposed to be, Gary! I liked being a Pollyanna, I WANT to be a Pollyanna!"

Dish of the Day #178

In honor of Gay Pride Month, this week I will be featuring kissing Dishes.

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 Bachelorette #6: Come Fly with Me, Jake

Jake, the 31-year-old commercial pilot, is the perfect man. He's got it all--gorgeous face, killer body, sweet smile, a good job, and a fun personality. What more could a girl ask for? Well, if it's the current Bachelorette, I guess a few more tattoos and a guitar or a tearful puppy dog quality might have helped poor Jake, who was surprisingly kicked to the curb on last night's episode in favor of Evil Wes and Little Boy Michael. Has Jillian totally lost her mind? Jake, who was #3 on my list last week, would've reclaimed the top spot this week after opening up his heart to the girl. It's obvious the guy fell hard for her, but sadly the feeling wasn't mutual. However, next week's previews show Jake returning as a man with a mission--to take down Wes and expose the rotten bastard to the clueless Jillian. I fear that the girl won't believe Jake, and if that's the case, she deserves to eventually have her heart broken. Now there's a chance that the producers of the show are editing Wes to make him look like more of a shit than he really is--but with the "musician" now openly admitting that he's only there to promote his career and CD, I consider him the scum of the earth. And if this is what Jillian is looking for in a man, then Jake, Kiptyn, Jesse and Reid should all come to Chicago, where I'm sure they could each meet a nice Midwestern girl to settle down with.

The other two guys who were sent home last night were poor Robby (#5 last week) and the show's comic relief, Tanner (#7 last week). As for Robby, gosh, what a humiliating way to be dismissed--thrown off a train. He and Jillian didn't have any physical chemistry together, but to choose Michael over him boggles the mind. Robby is a far more mature 25-year-old than Michael, who would probably roll over and do tricks if Jillian rubbed his ears. Michael is a little boy; Robby is a young man. There's a big difference between the two. And then there's Tanner, who was back in major foot fetish mode. Now I'm sure there's a girl--or a guy--out there who would love to have someone worship their feet, and hopefully Tanner will find this person someday. I have to confess that I will miss the bizarre Tanner train wreck, who was always good for a laugh. But it was definitely time for him to go.

So here are the remaining 5 Bachelors in order of my preference:

1) Kiptyn, 31, Business Developer from California (#1 last week): With Jake out of the picture, this dreamy dude remains at the top. I really don't know much about the guy except that he's got magic lips that seem to melt Jillian into a puddle every week. "Shut up and kiss me" is fun for now, but is it a strong basis for a serious relationship? I'm very curious to meet his family next week.

2) Reid, 30, Realtor from Philadelphia (#4 last week): I like this guy more and more each week. He's just a quirky, down-to-earth fella with a great sense of humor--and he looks hot in glasses. I'm hoping that he's not the one with the problem in the bedroom. And there's a possibility that Reid might be too nice of a guy for Jillian, who has an obvious hankering for bad boys. His day alone on the train with only the staff to talk to was one of the best moments of the episode.

3) Jesse, 27, Wine Maker from California (#2 last week): I might have rated him higher this week, but I didn't care for the way he badmouthed Reid. He's still adorable, but I'm not sure he has that extra something to put him in the lead--at least in Jillian's eyes.

4) Michael, 25, Break Dance Instructor from Astoria, NY (#6 last week): I never thought he would make it this far. And to choose him over Jake--it makes me want to SCREAM! There's no physical connection between him and Jillian, but let's not forget what we all learned from the last Bachelorette. We were never shown any romantic connection between DeAnna and Jesse, and who did she pick? It turned out to be a bad choice, but Jillian might be headed down the same path, since the goofy break dance instructor is definitely this year's snowboarder. And why was he crying over Robby's departure? Were they close friends? I wasn't sure what to make of this unexpected emotion.

5) Wes, 32, Musician from Austin, Texas (#8 last week): Come on, buddy, do you really think anyone is going to buy your lameass CD after the BAD publicity you're getting on this show? Get real. I want Jake to kick his ass next week. I'd really like to see that. This guy's true colors are apparent to everyone except Jillian, who's in for a rude awakening. It should make for great drama and a few tears.

RUMOR ALERT!

If you don't wish to hear a rumor I read yesterday, don't go any further. It might be total hogwash, but I found it interesting.

Kiptyn has agreed to be a future Bachelor, so it looks like his luscious lips do not capture Jillian's heart after all. And there's still talk about Ed returning to the show when they all go to Spain. Personally, I would love to see Jake come back to sweep Jillian off her feet, but I have a feeling this ain't gonna happen--except in my own fantasy. How could she dump the handsome pilot? He's the one who should be the next Bachelor. Maybe Jake and Kiptyn could be co-Bachelors together. Now there's a unique idea, ABC, think about it. That's it for this week. I'll be back next Tuesday with the continuing story of As the Bachelorette Turns.

If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Lucy Ricardo

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 Auntie Mame Award (for excellence in trivia).

Last week's lucky winner was Mark McCormick, and he answered the following questions about the 1961 film, Breakfast at Tiffany's, correctly:

1) Name the author whose novella the film is loosely based on. Truman Capote

2) What song does Holly sing during the film? "Moon River"

3) What is the name of Holly's pet cat? Cat

4) What is the name of the mob boss whom Holly visits in prison? Sally Tomato

5) What actor played Holly's ex-husband, Doc Golightly? And what popular TV sitcom did he star in from 1962 to 1971? Buddy Ebsen, The Beverly Hillbillies

Extra Credit: Who played Holly Golightly in the flop 1966 Broadway musical, Breakfast at Tiffany's? Mary Tyler Moore

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). This week's theme is the TV series, I Love Lucy:

1) What is Lucy's maiden name?

2) What is the name of the health tonic that Lucy promotes in a TV commercial?

3) What dance does Lucy do when her blouse is filled with chicken eggs?

4) What state do the Ricardos move to during the sixth season?

5) Whose footprints are on the cement slab that Lucy and Ethel take from Grauman's Chinese Theater?

Dish of the Day #177

In honor of Gay Pride Month, this week I will be featuring kissing Dishes.

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 Next Food Network Star #3: Bad Boys

Last night's third installment of The Next Food Network Star saw Eddie (#6 on my list of contestants last week) being sent home by the judges. It was either him or Teddy, and both of them were very bad boys this week. Eddie rolled his eyes in exasperation at having to work with Melissa, and he was quite condescending towards her. As for Teddy, I think he panicked when he was confronted with his lame-ass dessert, so he took credit for his and Debbie's mutual meatloaf, which didn't set too well with her. Maybe Teddy's tears helped him out with the judges--or perhaps Eddie's idiotic admission that he used a Paula Dean recipe on the show slammed the door shut on him--but in the end it was Eddie who got the boot. Personally, I was hoping once again that health nut Katie would be the one to go, since I might slit my wrists if I have to listen to her anymore.

Here are the remaining seven contestants in order of my preference:

1) Jeffrey (#3 last week): This charmer continues to smooth talk his way to the top. He won the tip challenge as well as the team competition with Michael, and he's got the self-confidence and great culinary skills to host his own TV show. He's the new man to beat.

2) Jamika (#1 last week): She continues to impress people with her high energy, good food and vibrant personality. I will be surprised if she and Jeffrey are not among the final three.

3) Melissa (#4 last week): She moves into the top three despite having been unfairly badmouthed by a few of her fellow contestants, who are the ones leaving instead of her. I like Melissa, who's a very engaging speaker--and her food always looks good, too. She's not going anywhere soon.

4) Michael: (#2 last week): He had a bad week. He seemed lost and miserable, but he was still able to whip up some decent food. However, Michael better bounce back next week and stop being homesick for his friends or he could be in trouble.

5) Debbie (#5 last week): She's a good cook with a TV-friendly personality (I want to try her and Teddy's meatloaf). However, she was bitching about Teddy throughout the entire episode--even before he treated her badly. There's a definite dark side to this girl that isn't very attractive.

6) Teddy (#7 last week): I haven't quite figured this guy out. He doesn't appear to be a mean person on the surface, so maybe he just strikes out due to feelings of insecurity. He's barely hanging on by a thread--especially now that he's pissed off Debbie, whose bad side I would not want to be on.

7) Katie (#8 last week): She's like the most boring health teacher you had back in high school. I don't want to eat her food, and she's not good in front of a camera. Why is she still on the show?

I'll be back next Monday with another review. Tune in below to learn more about Teddy.

POSEIDON! An Upside Down Musical: It ain't over until Shelley Winters sings

With such groovy tunes as Diana Ross's "Upside Down" and the Hues Corporation's "Rock the Boat" playing and some audience members wearing inflatable swim rings, I knew immediately as I sat down to watch POSEIDON! An Upside Down Musical (Hell in a Handbag Productions' musical parody of the classic 1972 disaster epic, The Poseidon Adventure) that I was in for a truly memorable night of theater. And I wasn't disappointed.

I must first extend big kudos to David Cerda, Hell in a Handbag's amazing Artistic Director who has to be one of the most talented guys in Chicago. Not only did he write the book, lyrics and music for POSEIDON! (adapting it from the original screenplay), but the man also knows how to wear a lovely magenta pantsuit as "David", a character in the show who shares with us his great devotion to the movie he first saw with his parents at age 11. Having seen The Poseidon Adventure at a drive-in with my own parents, I, too, have always had a deep fondness for the film, so it didn't take me long to fall in love with this hysterically funny homage to the beloved cult classic. However, Cerda doesn't take the easy road of spoofing Poseidon by simply telling us the familiar tale of the luxury liner being capsized by a tidal wave on New Year's Eve. Oh no, he sets a much higher bar for comedy by presenting us with a parallel storyline about "David" hosting a party for his friends, who are all as obsessed with the disaster flick as he is. They call themselves "Poseidonites" and refer to the film as "TPA" while gathering together to watch the DVD for the upteenth time. And as "David" clicks his remote, the partygoers--and the audience--are introduced to each of the film's main characters in a delightful opening number called "Poseidon!" Cerda and his excellent director, Matthew Gunnels, have cast an ensemble of 23 actors who fit their individual roles perfectly. There isn't a weak link in the bunch, but I will single out a few of my favorites:

Ed Jones as Nonnie Parry (Carol Lynley played her in the film), the ship's singer who receives a brutal skewering in the show. Jones' Nonnie is a total ditz and an absolute hoot, and his fabulous performance is worth the price of admission. Every sound that comes out of "her" mouth will make you laugh, and when she sings "The Morning After" or her big solo, "Did You Like His Music?"--in reference to her dead brother Teddy--you will be transported to comedy heaven. I'm serious, he's that good. Mr. Jones deserves a Jeff Award (Chicago's Tony) for his performance. Just give it to him now.

Steve Kimbrough as Belle Rosen (Shelley Winters), the character that everyone remembers from the film. She's the older Jewish lady who has put on a few pounds since her long-ago days as a trained swimmer. But in POSEIDION!, Belle even shines brighter as she now gets to sing a rousing kickline musical number called "(In the Water) I'm a Very Skinny Lady" (a line directly from the movie). The divine Kimbrough and "her husband", Michael S. Miller (whose Manny Rosen sounds remarkably like actor Jack Albertson), make a sublime team.

Trista Smith as Linda Rogo (Stella Stevens), the loud and crass former-prostitute wife of Lt. Mike Rogo (Ernest Borgnine) who doesn't have nothin' on underneath her party dress except "Just Panties (What Else Do I Need?)"--another line from the film that becomes a catchy tune. Smith really knows how to sell a song with her terrific belting voice, and she gets another great number in Act Two called "Bad Girls Need Love Too". I also must mention actor Michael Hampton, who plays her gruff husband and does an outstanding Borgnine impression.

Derek Czaplewski as Reverend Scott (Gene Hackman), whose big number, "God Wants Winners", conjures up memories of Robert Preston as Harold Hill in The Music Man--and that is a very high compliment indeed. Czaplewski delivers a commanding performance that says "watch me, I'm damn good." And he is.

Dan Hickey as James Martin (Red Buttons), the love-shy, health-conscious guy (who enjoys working on his Arlene Francis scrapbook) has one of the best songs in the show, "Bachelor Haberdasher", which I'm still humming. And the adorable Hickey is quite charming in the role.

Andrew Swan as Robin Shelby (Eric Shea): "The third engineer promised to show me the propeller shaft!" is one of young Robin's lines in the film, and Cerda turns the boy's curiosity about how the ship works into something far more sordid--and extremely funny. And Swan is not only a gifted comedian, but he also possesses a beautiful singing voice.

A few other memorable performances are by Allison Lind, who is an amusingly slutty Susan/Pamela Sue Martin, Michelle McKenzie-Voight, whose Captain of the ship is very enjoyable, and Doug Vickers, who--in the dual role of the ship's purser and one of David's party guests--steals the show for a few minutes when he reveals what he carries around in his big purse (I won't ruin the surprise, but it will make you giggle). The only moment in the show that didn't work for me is a monologue by another of David's guests, who also plays the ship's nurse. The actress, Adrienne Smith, is wonderful in the role, but her monologue is much too dark and heavy-handed for all the hilarity that surrounds it.

Now come my "Creative Arts" kudos, which deserve to be heard (unlike on the Tonys): Brigitte Ditmars' choreography is kickass fun, Christopher Kriz's sound design couldn't be better, Matthew Buettner's set is simple yet effective for all the climbing and "swimming" that the actors have to do, Robert Hilliard's wigs and make-up are first-rate, and John Nasca's costumes are definitely Jeff-Award worthy. Nonnie and her band's matching outfits are a scream--and actress Annie Gloyn's party guest character is the spitting image of Joan Bennett from TV's Dark Shadows (I just had to fit this comment in somewhere). Composer/arranger Scott Lamberty and dramaturg Cheryl Snodgrass provided additional music and contributed to the book, respectively, while director Gunnels' inspired staging--especially of the capsizing party scene--is a joy to behold. And, finally, the fun POSEIDON! photos in this post are by Rick Aguilar with graphics by Michael S. Miller.

So whether you're a fan of the original movie or not, I think there's something for everyone to enjoy in POSEIDON! An Upside Down Musical. I had a big smile plastered across my face from beginning to end--and any show that allows its cast to suddenly burst into the Jerry Herman tune, "Mame", is my kind of show. I urge everyone to go board the SS Poseidon today for an adventure in musical theater that you will never forget.

The Jeff Recommended POSEIDON The Upside Down Musical is now playing thru July 26 at The Chopin Theatre (1543 W. Division St. in Chicago). To purchase tickets, please click here or call Brown Paper Tickets at 1-800-838-3006. And for further information on Hell in a Hangbag Productions, go to www.handbagproductions.org.

UPDATE: A Facebook friend just sent me the following video of "Just Panties" sung by Tracy Repep, who played Linda in the original 2002 Chicago production of POSEIDON! Also, if you'd like to see some delightful dolls of TPA characters that were created by Michael S. Miller, click here (if only they really existed, I'm sure many folks would buy them).

Dish of the Day #176: It's In His Kiss Week

In honor of Gay Pride Month, this week I will be featuring kissing Dishes, whom I hope you will enjoy.

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.

TV Flashback: Night of 100 Filthy/Gorgeous Stars

They just don't make TV specials like this anymore. Here's a groovy clip of Night of 100 Stars II, which was originally taped at Radio City Music Hall on February 17, 1985 (it aired on ABC on Sunday, March 10, 1985). The creative Phillip Thomas has added Scissor Sister's "Filthy/Gorgeous" to the fabulous fashion show, which was part of the star-studded celebrity benefit for the Actors Fund of America. 308 stars actually participated in the seven-hour marathon that was edited to three hours for television. The first Night of 100 Stars aired in 1982, and a third one followed in 1990.

As for who is the most "filthy/gorgeous" out of all the ladies, I would have to go with Lisa Hartman in her Fernando Sanchez gown. But I'm also a sucker for Bob Mackie designs, so Linda Gray and Deirdre Hall would be my next two favorites. And if there was a song called "Ugly/Hideous", it would perfectly describe the mess that Ann-Margret is wearing. Finally, one last nomination for Least Flattering Big '80s Hairdo goes to poor Susan Lucci--but I do like her cute dress.

P.S. The folks in the photo are Billy Dee Williams, Ann-Margret, NYC mayor Ed Koch, Drew Barrymore, Bonnie Franklin, Dinah Shore and Hal Linden.

Groovy Gal: The Top 10 Performances of Morgan Fairchild

Morgan Fairchild still holds the crown as the best bitch in television history. And although I'm a fan of Joan Collins and Donna Mills, Fairchild beats them both in my opinion. She may never have achieved that one infamous Alexis/Abby character, but she's come close a few times. I've always enjoyed her performances ever since my mother used to watch her years ago on the daytime soap opera, Search for Tomorrow. I can still remember the day that her bad girl character, Jennifer, fell through a sliding glass door. It was ever so good. And now I hear she's returning to the sordid land of soaps as Dottie, a Beverly Hills socialite who's a friend of The Bold and the Beautiful's Stephanie Forrester. Even though Fairchild doesn't strike me as a "Dottie"--a very unglamorous name--I do plan to tune in on August 10-14 to check out her and Susan Flannery chewing up the scenery together.

But wait, that's not all. A few Internet tongues are wagging about the possibility of Fairchild replacing Melody Thomas Scott as Nikki Newman on The Young and the Restless, since the latter is leaving the show next month after 30 years (she refused to take a 40 percent pay cut or drop to recurring status). I think the producers of the soap are idiots for treating Scott in such a shoddy manner--especially because she IS Nikki, who's gone from a life of stripping and prostitution to becoming one of Genoa City's most prominent socialites. And I really don't believe that Fairchild is probably all that interested in stepping into a role that's so identified with another actress--but you never know. We'll have to wait and see, but hopefully a new deal will be reached with Scott.

And now as promised, here are my selections for the Top 10 performances (in chronological order) of the groovy Ms. Fairchild:

1) Jennifer Pace (Search for Tomorrow, 1973-77): Born Patsy Ann McClenny on February 3, 1950, in Dallas, Texas, Fairchild's first job was as a double for Faye Dunaway in the 1967 film, Bonnie and Clyde. But her first on-screen role was as the crazy Jennifer, who ended up in a sanitarium after murdering the wife of the man she loved.






2) Jennifer Lawrence (The Initiation of Sarah, 1978): This 1978 TV-movie starred Fairchild as a vicious sorority girl and Shelley Winters as a house mother/witch. It was remade in 2006 with Fairchild.



3) Jenna Wade (Dallas, 1978): She originated the role of Bobby Ewing's first true love for only one episode. Francine Tacker (1980) and Priscilla Beaulieu Presley (1983-88) both later played Jenna.



4) Constance Weldon Carlyle (Flamingo Road, 1980-82): This is my personal favorite Fairchild performance, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination. She was terrific as the wealthy, spoiled wife of Mark Harmon's Fielding and the daughter of Stella Stevens' ex-madam, Lute-Mae.

5) Jamie Douglas (The Seduction, 1982): This thriller starred the hunky Andrew Stevens as a psychopathic photographer obsessed with Fairchild's beautiful TV newswoman.

6) Racine (Paper Dolls, 1984): This primetime soap set in New York's fashion industry should have lasted much longer than only 14 episodes with a cast that included Nicollette Sheridan, Brenda Vaccaro, Lloyd Bridges, Dack Rambo and Fairchild, who was delicious as a modeling agency owner.



7) Jordan Roberts (Falcon Crest, 1985-86): She played an attorney who became romantically involved with Greg Reardon (Simon McCorkindale) and developed a split personality named Monica.

8) Marla (Roseanne, 1992): She appeared in three episodes as Sandra Bernhard's bisexual girlfriend.

9) Sydney Chase (The City, 1995-96): Fairchild played the wealthy media mogul for a year, but when she didn't return for the soap's final episode in March 1997, Sydney was killed off.

10) Nora Bing (Friends, 1995-2001): She played the flamboyant romance-novelist mother of Chandler in four episodes.