Last week's winner was Dish #200 with 37.6% of the 93 votes cast. Coming in second was #197 with 24.7%, followed by #198 (19.4%), #196 (14%) and #199 (4.3%).
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Dish of the Day #203-205: Triple Feature
Since I'm going out of town for a few days, you get a triple feature today (I'll be back on Monday with a new Dish). And please vote for your favorite Dish of the Day this week in the sidebar poll.
Last week's winner was Dish #200 with 37.6% of the 93 votes cast. Coming in second was #197 with 24.7%, followed by #198 (19.4%), #196 (14%) and #199 (4.3%).
Last week's winner was Dish #200 with 37.6% of the 93 votes cast. Coming in second was #197 with 24.7%, followed by #198 (19.4%), #196 (14%) and #199 (4.3%).
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
The Bachelorette #10: And the winner is . . .
Well, another Bachelorette has come to an end, and hopefully Jillian will live happily ever after with her chosen Bachelor. I guess we'll find out tonight on the After the Final Rose special if they're still together. Rumors, of course, are flying all over the Internet, but I'll address those later.
First, here's a SPOILER synopsis of last night's "emotional" episode:
Kiptyn briefly appears shirtless (oh baby) in a clip.
Ed meets Jillian's family.
Jillian's mother asks Ed 66 questions.
Ed asks Jillian's father if he can marry her.
Jillian's father likes Ed.
Jillian and Kiptyn kiss a lot.
Then they kiss some more.
Jillian seems to enjoy kissing Kiptyn a lot more than Ed.
Jillian's family thinks Kiptyn is a free spirit.
A confused Jillian wants a sign from God.
Ed and Jillian go on their last date.
They take a helicopter ride to see a volcano.
Ed says he will never leave Jillian again.
Later they finally get passionate in his hotel room.
Their bedroom light goes out, and ABC shows a volcano erupting.
Seriously.
I laugh out loud.
It's an incredibly cheesy moment.
But good for Ed, who doesn't disappoint Jillian a second time.
Kiptyn appears shirtless again (oh honey).
Kiptyn and Jillian go on their last date.
Kiptyn is ready to commit.
Both men pick out rings.
Ed is very nervous and sweating.
Kiptyn jogs shirtless on the beach (yum)
Kiptyn appears in only a white towel (double yum).
Ed's beefcake does not compare to Kiptyn's.
Jillian is already in tears.
Where the hell is Reid?
Isn't he going to show up?
Poor Kiptyn gets his heart broken (for the first time).
Jillian will miss Kiptyn's lips.
And his killer bod.
Reid finally shows up with a ring.
He loves Jillian.
But she is confused.
Ed is taking the longer, more scenic route.
Jillian kicks Reid to the curb for a second time.
Jillian loves Ed.
Ed loves Jillian.
The end.
Or is it the beginning?
So that was the show. I was obviously disappointed since I was rooting for Reid to come back and sweep Jillian off her feet. But it was too late. She loves Ed for some reason, but the guy has never did much for me. As for those rumors I mentioned before, here they are:
Ed has had a girlfriend for 6 years. I find it hard to believe that this could be true, but you never know. I would hope--for Jillian's sake--that she's an EX-girlfriend. If it is true, Ed would be an even bigger jerk than Wes.
ABC hired Reid, who only appeared on the show to further his career as a realtor in Philadelphia. And he will be on a new TV show this fall about real estate. I don't know about any of this either, but for Reid's sake, I hope the TV show part is true. The guy deserves to get something out of the show after being dumped TWICE.
ABC edited the show to make Reid and Jillian appear to be in a love story, while Ed's editing was quite unflattering. I think this is definitely true because having Reid come back unexpectedly to profess his love for her was very romantic--at least to me it was. And ABC did show a drunk Ed making a fool out of himself as well as his lack of performance in the Fantasy Suite, which will haunt him forever.
Kiptyn will be the next Bachelor. This wouldn't surprise me. What girl--or gay guy--wouldn't want to rub up against him? And he is a sweetheart. Some people would rather see Jake or even Michael the break dancer--AND his twin brother--be the next Bachelor. I'd love to see Kiptyn and Jake be co-Bachelors--and, of course, both of them would have to appear shirtless in almost every scene. What a huge ratings success that would be. If only I was running the show (big sigh).
If I was Reid or Kiptyn, I'd probably be a little bitter, since if Ed hadn't returned to the show, it's a good bet that one of them would now be with Jillian. But I guess that's all water under the bridge. My gut instinct two weeks ago told me that Jillian would choose Ed, so maybe I will bump into them here in Chicago. If I do, I'll let you know. And if I was the Chicago Cubs, I would have the couple (who do look good together) sing the celebrity 7th inning stretch at Wrigley Field in the near future. I'm sure they'd sound just as good as Wes ever did (I had to get in one final dig at that idiot). So unless Jillian changes her mind and dumps Ed to reunite with Reid on tonight's special, I won't be blogging about it. But I will definitely be tuning in again next year for another drama-filled season of The Bachelorette. I can't wait!
If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Julie McCoy
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 Tommy Hensel, and he answered the following questions about the TV sitcom, Rhoda, correctly:
1) Who forgot to pick up Rhoda on her wedding day? Phyllis
2) What was the name of Rhoda's doorman? Carlton
3) What were the names of Rhoda's parents? Martin and Ida
4) What did Rhoda and her husband, Joe, decide to do in the first episode of Season Three? Separate
5) What Oscar-winning actress received an Emmy Award nomination for her performance as the mother of Rhoda's doorman in a 1975 episode? Ruth Gordon
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 1977-86 TV series, The Love Boat:
1) What actress on a current hit TV series played Amy, a Love Boat Mermaid during the show's final season?
2) Who played the recurring role of singer-guitarist April Lopez?
3) Who replaced Julie McCoy as the ship's cruise director in 1984?
4) Who sang the show's theme song only during its last season?
5) What four ladies starred in the "Love Boat Follies" in February 1982?
Dish of the Day #202
Monday, July 27, 2009
Deeper Dish with Stephen Wallem (aka Thor on 'Nurse Jackie')
I've known the fabulous Stephen Wallem for many years. He was born and raised in Rockford, Illinois (also the hometown of McMillan's lovely wife, Susan Saint James), and moved to Chicago in 1986, where he made his professional stage debut as an alien in The Rocky Horror Show. I first became aware of this talented guy when I saw him perform his one-man show, Off the Wallem, in the cramped basement of Café Voltaire on Clark Street in 1992. The show "traced the tribulations of a large but perky performer struggling for exposure in the Chicago theatre scene while searching for the perfect Hardee's breakfast biscuit and maintaining close friendships with Stephen Sondheim and Stefanie Powers." And if that synopsis doesn't make you at least smile, there's something wrong with you. Off the Wallem was voted one of the Top Five productions of the year by Gay Chicago Magazine, and Steve received an After Dark Award for Outstanding Cabaret Artist.I became up close and platonically personal with Mr. Wallem a few years later when he starred in the musical comedy, Forever Plaid, which ran for over six years in Chicago. My partner managed the show, so we got to know the man behind the music--and he turned out to be not only funny and talented but also a sweetheart of a guy. Steve moved to New York City in the fall of 2008 and was cast in the recurring role of Nurse Thor on the new Showtime series, Nurse Jackie, starring Edie Falco. It has received rave reviews and high ratings and will be returning for a second season. I couldn't be more thrilled for Steve's success, and I'm quite honored to have him be my first interviewee for my new Deeper Dish feature, in which creative people whom I find fascinating will answer pop culture questions along with giving us some insight into their lives. So without further adieu, let's get deeper with the dishy Stephen Wallem:
What's been your favorite scene or episode so far on 'Nurse Jackie'?Even though I'm only in it briefly, I think my favorite episode so far is "Tiny Bubbles" with Judith Ivey. As a whole, I think it's a masterpiece, packing three brilliant co-stars and several rich stories into a short thirty minutes. My favorite scene to shoot may have been my first trauma scene in Episode 9. I got to live out that ER fantasy with the circling cameras and urgent "choreography." It's also the first time Thor is seen doing his job seriously. Of course, I'm also very fond of my very first scene with Edie in Episode 2. I could almost hear Yentl in the background singing "...this is one of those moments." Or maybe it was Ed Asner. Oh, and having cold chocolate pudding splattered on me was a favorite as well. Who wouldn't love getting paid to wear dessert?
Do you have any groovy Edie Falco stories that you can share? Or any stories about what it was like to work with 'Nurse Jackie' guest stars Judith Ivey, Blythe Danner and Swoosie Kurtz?
For the record (and I'll say this in every interview 'til the day I die) Edie Falco could not be nicer, more supportive or more professional. I have yet to hear anyone say a negative thing about her. The fact that she comes from the theater has a lot to do with it in my opinion. There's a certain work ethic that comes with being a respected stage actor first. I wasn't fortunate enough to work with Blythe or Swoosie Kurtz. Judith was wonderful, however--another example of the biggest pros being the nicest people.
Have you been recognized out in public by any fans?I've noticed a few people staring on the street or the subway with that "How do I know that guy" look, but no one has come up to me yet. I should start hanging around in front of ER entrances more often, I guess. I seem to be popular among bears, however, as some lovely Facebook messages have shown! I hope there's a Bear Parade somewhere I can marshal. I'm an adept waver, after all. I enjoy throwing things at strangers, too.
What's next for Nurse Thor? Will he be returning for Season 2?
Yes, the "Bear Nurse" (as I've been called on Twitter) will definitely be back next season. I'm very excited because I think you'll learn some surprising things about Thor's personal life next year, plus his relationship with Jackie will grow.
If I had to gain thirty pounds for a role, I would eat:
I feel like I've already gained thirty pounds since my first day of shooting. Can I answer a question about colonics instead?
If I could be part of any TV family in history, I would choose:
The Huxtables. I have the best Mom on the planet, but damn did I love Claire Huxtable. I don't know if I could have lived with Vanessa's cold, soulless eyes, but at least Danny Kaye would have been my dentist.
My favorite audition song is:
Well, being that Sheena Easton's "Sugar Walls" is so overdone, my first choice usually ends up being a beautiful song called "Wherever You Are is Home" written by Michael Duff and one of my best friends, Cheri Coons. It's a perfect little one-act in two minutes; one of those rare finds that shows off your range and acting without having to cut out any bars.
The very first album, tape or CD that I purchased with my own money was:
Spirits Having Flown by the Bee Gees. I loved the song "Tragedy" and just had to have the whole LP. I can't recall if I actually earned the money or just cried pathetic Bee Gees tears until Mom coughed up the ten bucks.
In high school I was:
...embraced immediately by all the jocks for my interest in musical theater and art. They would beg me to stop by every sports tournament and share tales of tap class and Sondheim cast albums.
The last good book I read was:
When Blanche Met Brando by Sam Staggs. Fascinating, borderline-trashy history of Streetcar in all its inceptions.
My very first concert was:
Bette Midler, "De Tour", 1983. Still the best concert I've ever seen. That was a two-hour master class on how to be a singing actor. Nobody understands and lives a lyric better than her, in my opinion. She will forever be my biggest influence as a singer, not because of her vocals but because of her mastery of storytelling.
My favorite daytime or prime time soap opera diva (past or present) is:
Robin Strasser, "Dorian Lord" on One Life to Live. For some reason, I suddenly got hooked on the show in high school (mmmm...high school) and Dorian was my idol. I even wrote her a fan letter. I also fell in love with Erika Slezak. I stopped watching in college, though. Have I missed anything?
If I could be a celebrity panelist on any game show in TV history, I would choose:
Match Game, without a doubt. Someone needed to keep Debralee Scott company in that bottom row.
When I was growing up, I never missed a television episode of:
I Dream of Jeannie, Underdog, The Partridge Family and The Bionic Woman. Clearly I had a fetish for women with super powers and women who sang to whales.
If I could have dinner with anyone in the world--living or dead--I would choose:
Meryl Streep. I want to bribe her into playing Thor's mother.
My favorite decade for pop culture is:
Almost solely for the music, it would have to be the 80's. I'm a sucker for a sparse synth line.
If I could give an Oscar for any neglected film performance of the past, I would give one to:
Ellen Burstyn, Requiem for a Dream. My best friend Cara and I often talk about performances that clearly "cost" the actor in some way, and that performance cost her. No offense to Julia Roberts, (and I know she follows my interviews religiously) but Ellen should have won that year. Julia is a movie star, but Ellen is an artist.
Who's your favorite: Judy or Liza?
Liza. Remind me to someday tell you about the late night cheese fries I had with her at the Melrose Diner in Chicago. And no, I'm not kidding. And no, it wasn't a drag queen.
Who's your favorite: Bette Midler, Barbra Streisand, Olivia Newton-John or Cher?
Bette by far. Does Cher read this, though? All I need is for Cher AND Julia Roberts to be mad at me.
Who's your favorite: Bette Davis or Joan Crawford?
What is this, some sort of GAY blog or something? I'm calling my agent...
If you could live anywhere in the world for one year, where would you live and why?
Does Atlantis count?
What's next for Steve Wallem?
A nap. Talking about my brilliance makes me sleepy.
Thank you, Mr. Wallem, for getting Deeper with us here on the Dish. To learn more about Steve, check out his website at www.stephenwallem.com and click here to become a fan of his on Facebook.
The Next Food Network Star #8: Inspired by Meryl Streep as Julia Child
Last night's penultimate episode of The Next Food Network Star saw Debbie (#3 on my list of contestants last week) being sent home by the judges. I wasn't sure who was going to go after their challenge to prepare a three-course Julia Child-inspired meal for a private dinner party of Food Network celebrities. When Jeffrey's risotto received some of the harshest reviews ever ("disrespect to Italy" seemed rather extreme to me), I thought maybe his time might be up, but they did love his other two dishes. And is it just me or does judge Susie Fogelson seem to get a special twinkle in her eye whenever she sees Jeffrey? I get a definite vibe that the lady might find him kind of sexy--but I don't blame her. He's certainly got charisma even though he's not my type. Anyway, I digress. The judges decided to keep Jeffrey instead of Debbie, who set herself up for failure from day one with her "Seoul to Soul" cuisine style. Almost every week judge Bobby Flay criticized her for not giving them enough "Seoul" in her food, and this week he seemed disappointed once again. If she had knocked their socks off with her meal, I think she would've gotten the nod to stay instead of Jeffrey. However, despite my own frequent misgivings about Debbie, I think she will be just fine. The girl definitely has a warm and friendly camera-ready personality, and I wouldn't be surprised if she did show up on TV someday. I also can't wait to see Meryl Streep as Julia Child. It was a very nice promotion for her new movie, don't you agree? Here are the remaining two contestants in order of my preference:
1) Melissa (#1 last week): She has to win this thing unless she majorly screws up on the finale. The most important reason for her success so far is that she's pretty much the only one who has consistently taken the judges' constructive criticism to heart and shown the most improvement over the course of the show. It was so sad to hear about her mother's suicide when she was in college, but I think her sharing such a personal story is what the judges want to see. People can easily relate to her, and she's just a talented sweetheart who deserves to win in my opinion.
2) Jeffrey (#2 last week): Despite his risotta disaster--and only using $317.49 out of $1,000 for his meal (he should've gone hog-wild while shopping)--the judges still like him a lot--and so do I. But their continued concerns that he's too predictable in his cooking might be his ultimate downfall. Melissa often surprises them, but Jeffrey rarely does. And even he admitted at the end of last night's episode that Melissa wears a black belt under her kitchen apron. It will be tough for him to beat her, but you never know what might happen.
Who will become the Next Food Network Star? Tune in this Sunday to find out!
Dish of the Day #201: In Bed Week
After getting wet and drying off the last few weeks, now it's time for bed.
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.
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.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Soap Dish: Groovy 'Guiding Light' Guy #3
To honor the daytime soap opera, Guiding Light (which will broadcast its final episode on September 18), I'm featuring the 25 Grooviest Guys and Gals of Springfield. The first two Guiding Light characters in the spotlight were Nola Reardon Chamberlain and India von Halkein, and now here are 10 historical highlights about our third Groovy individual:Roger Thorpe
1) Roger Adam Thorpe, the son of Adam and Marjorie Thorpe, first appeared on April 1, 1971, as an employee of the wealthy Stanley Norris, who wanted the young man to date his rebellious 19-year-old daughter, Holly. Roger, who just wanted to get ahead in the company, agreed to go out with the girl, who soon lost her virginity to him.
2) After Stanley Norris was murdered in September 1971, Roger became a suspect when it was discovered that the murder weapon--a gun--was bought with his credit card. However, when Holly provided him with an alibi by revealing that she had seen him kissing her brother's girlfriend, Janet Mason, the night of her father's murder, the charges were dropped. Roger had tried to force himself on a resistant Janet that night, making everyone hate him. He then left town in disgrace.
3) Roger returned to Springfield in August 1973 and tried to convince everyone that he was a changed man. Rekindling his past affair with Holly, who was now married to Dr. Ed Bauer, was not the best way to go about doing this. He ended their affair in order to pursue Nurse Peggy Fletcher, while Holly discovered that she was pregnant with Roger's baby. She decided to save her marriage by letting Ed believe that he was the father of her daughter, Christina, who was born in July 1975.
4) When Christina became ill and required a blood transfusion, Holly was forced to confess to a furious Ed that Roger was the child's real father. When Peggy learned the truth, she threw Roger out, but she later forgave the jerk and married him in February 1976--only after he agreed to get a vasectomy. However, after Roger became verbally abusive and tried to cover up his past affair with Rita Stapleton, Peggy divorced him in 1977, and he left town.
5) Roger returned once again to Springfield in July 1978, but now he was a very bitter man. Resentful of Ed Bauer, whom Christina still believed was her father, Roger raped Ed's fiancée, Rita, who kept quiet about it. He later convinced Holly to marry him in January 1979 in order to form a relationship with his daughter. Convinced that Holly was still in love with her ex-husband, Ed, Roger raped her, but she pressed charges of marital rape against him. When Rita finally confessed about her own rape, Ed angrily confronted Roger, and they got into a fight. Holly then arrived and shot Roger three times after having a flashback to the rape. The evil bastard was sent to a private clinic in Puerto Rico where he was declared dead in June 1979, and Holly was sent to prison for several months until she was cleared of Roger's murder.
6) Of course, Roger was still very much alive, having blackmailed Alan Spaulding into faking his death and helping him escape from the police. In February 1980, Roger returned to Springfield to abduct his daughter. Disguised as a clown at a charity carnival, Roger's plan was foiled when Rita recognized his voice, and in an Emmy-winning sequence, he chased her through a hall of mirrors as the Donna Summer/Barbra Streisand hit "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" played in the background. Rita was later rescued from Roger's clutches, while Roger learned that Holly and Christina were now in Santo Domingo. When his second attempt to get his daughter failed, he ended up kidnapping Holly, dragging her through the jungle with Ed and Mike Bauer in hot pursuit. After exchanging bullets with Ed, Roger fell off a cliff to his death on April 1, 1980 (April Fools' Day).
7) Yet again Roger had one more life to live. In January 1989, Alexandra Spaulding's plane crashed on a Caribbean island, where she was rescued by a masked man named Adam Malik. He was actually Roger, who had survived his fall off the cliff 15 years ago (in soap opera time) and was rescued by the CIA. In exchange for the CIA's help, he agreed to be trained as a top spy. "Adam" ended up back in Springfield, where he was shot by Alan Spaulding and unmasked during his daughter Christina's (now going by her middle name of "Blake") wedding to Phillip Spaulding. A shocked Holly wanted Ed to let Roger die on the operating table, but the good doctor saved the life of his former nemesis.
8) Roger was later exonerated of his past crimes because of his government service, and he and Alexandra were married in March 1990. She made him the President of Spaulding Enterprises, but he was unable to remain faithful to her and seduced Mindy Lewis. Alex then wanted to test Roger's loyalty by having Holly try to seduce Roger on a business trip. Instead, the former husband and wife came to a tearful truce, and Holly realized that Roger was a changed man who deeply regretted raping her years ago. But Holly's fiancé Ross Marler then told Roger about Alex's test, causing a furious Roger to want a divorce so he could marry Mindy. Eventually Alex and Roger did get a divorce, but he and Mindy broke up.
9) In 1991, Roger discovered that he had a grown son named Hart Jessup, who later turned on him after he discovered that Roger had stolen his grandfather's farm, causing the man's death. Meanwhile, Roger's love life continued to be complicated as he proposed to Holly after they made love again after many years. When she refused to marry him, he soon made Jenna Bradshaw his new wife in August 1993.
10) After Roger divorced Jenna in 1994, he and Holly renewed their old romance, but she grew tired of his fierce desire to gain control of Spaulding Enterprises again and married Fletcher Reade. Losing Holly once again made Roger return to his former evil ways, and he married Dinah Marler in 1995 in order to embezzle all of her trust fund money. He later divorced Dinah and became romantically involved with Amanda Spaulding. In January 1998, Roger confessed his love for Holly for the upteenth time, but when she refused to begin a new life with him--even though she still loved him--he married Amanda and moved to California in March 1998 to run Spaulding Enterprises' West Coast Division (the couple later separated). Then in the fall of 2004, Holly and Blake learned the sad news that Roger had died of a lingering illness after being reunited with yet another long-lost son, Sebastian.
Roger Thorpe was one of Guiding Light's greatest villains--and one of the best ever in the history of daytime soap operas. One Life to Live's Todd Manning has often reminded me of Roger as both characters began as somewhat one-dimensional bad guys who eventually evolved over the years into far more complex men. And I do think Roger would still be stirring up trouble in Springfield today if actor Michael Zaslow, who originated the role in 1971 and won a Daytime Emmy in 1994, had not become ill. Zaslow began to have trouble speaking clearly in 1996, and when his undiagnosed condition only became worse and affected his performance, Guiding Light asked him to take a leave of absence. The show then hired Dennis Parlato to replace him as Roger, but loyal fans would not accept anyone in the role except Zaslow, leading to Parlato's (and Roger's) exit from the show in 1998. After finally being diagnosed with ALS, a nerve-cell disorder better known as Lou Gehrig's disease, Zaslow was hired at One Life to Live in 1998 to reprise his 1983-86 role of David Rinaldi, and his condition was written into the storyline. The actor died on December 6, 1998, at the age of 56, but Guiding Light fans will never forget his brilliant performance as Roger Thorpe.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Groovy Gal: Barbara Harris
I first became a fan of actress Barbara Harris in 1976 when my parents took me to see the Disney film, the original Freaky Friday, starring Harris and a young Jodie Foster as a mother and daughter who switch bodies. I loved the movie--especially Harris' delightful performance. Many years later in April of 1991, I was fortunate enough to see the actress on stage in Chicago when she played the supporting role of Mrs. Boyle, the mother of the bride, in the play, Prelude to a Kiss. Of course, she was wonderful. When Harris, who hasn't made a film since she played John Cusack's mother in 1997's Grosse Pointe Blank, was asked in 2002 if she might one day be lured back to acting, her response was: "Well, if someone handed me something fantastic for 10 million dollars, I'd work again. But I haven't worked in a long time as an actor. I don't miss it." I do miss the groovy Ms. Harris, who celebrates her 74th birthday today.Here are 10 Groovy Facts about Barbara Harris:
1) She was born on July 25, 1935, in Evanston, Illinois.
2) Harris began her stage career as a teenager at the Playwrights Theatre in Chicago,where she acted with Edward Asner, Elaine May and Mike Nichols. Along with May, she is generally acknowledged to be one of the pioneering women in the field of improvisational theatre. 3) She received her first Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her 1961 Broadway debut in the original musical revue production, From the Second City, which also featured a young Alan Arkin.
4) According to Harris, she only stayed in New York because Richard Rodgers and Alan Jay Lerner came to see From the Second City and told her, "We want to write a musical for you!"
5) She received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical for On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, the 1965 Broadway musical created for her by Alan Jay Lerner and Burton Lane (Richard Rodgers left the project when he and Lerner could not work together).
6) Harris won her only Tony Award in 1967 for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in The Apple Tree, which also starred Alan Alda and was directed by her friend, Mike Nichols.
7) She received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for the 1971 film, Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me?, which still holds the record as having the longest title of any Oscar-nominated movie.8) In 1975, Harris appeared in Robert Altman's masterpiece, Nashville, as Albuquerque, a ditzy country singing hopeful. She earned a Golden Globe nomination (one of 11 for the film), and she and most of the original actors agreed to appear in a sequel titled Nashville 12 (set twelve years later), but it was never made.
9) She provided the voice for the character of Joannie Caucus in A Doonesbury Special, an Oscar-nominated animated special that aired on NBC on November 27, 1977. It was adapted by Garry Trudeau from his popular comic strip.
10) Bette Midler, who once called Harris "the greatest thing I've ever seen on stage", unsuccessfully tried to cast the actress as one of the strippers in the "You Gotta Have a Gimmick" number in the 1993 TV version of the musical Gypsy.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Mary Ann Singleton is alive and well and (hopefully) Broadway bound
Tales of the City has a book by Jeff Whitty (who won a Tony for his book of Avenue Q) and a score by Scissor Sisters musicians Jason Sellards (aka Jake Shears) and John Garden. Jason Moore (Avenue Q, Shrek) directed the O'Neill presentation, and the cast included Betsy Wolfe as Mary Ann Singleton, Candy Buckley as Anna Madrigal, Reno 911's Mary Birdsong as Mona Ramsey, Christopher J. Hanke as Michael "Mouse" Tolliver, Steve Kazee as Brian Hawkins, Josh Breckenridge as Jon Fielding, Kristine Zbornik as Mother Mucca, Jeffrey Carlson as Beauchamp Day, John Jellison as Edgar Halcyon, Diane Davis as DeDe Halcyon Day and Connie, and Matt McGrath as Norman Neal Williams. The musical centers mainly around the events of the first novel, but a few plot twists from the second book, More Tales of the City, have apparently been included, such as Mona's discovery of her true parentage, the revelation of Mrs. Madrigal's secret and the appearance of Mother Mucca.
Yesterday a Facebook friend sent me an interesting newspaper article about Tales' creative team, who discuss their new project (click here to read it), but I was even more intrigued by online posts I discovered by writers--and fellow musical lovers--Ron Suresha and Chris Caggiano, who saw separate staged readings of Tales at the conference and blogged about them (you can read all their comments by clicking on their names). Overall, both men seemed to like the show with Suresha singling out the impressive performance of actor Jose Llana, who played Lionel, DeDe's Asian-American delivery guy, as well as the drag queen emcee for Michael's jockey shorts contest. Caggiano is a bit more critical in his review, stating that there were too many boring ballads and that the 3-hour running time needed to be trimmed. However, he ends by saying that "on the whole, Tales of the City shows great promise, and is already a fitting tribute to its beloved source material." Now that's what I like to hear. I look forward to seeing the musical someday on Broadway--or better yet, in a pre-NYC tryout in Chicago. A guy can dream, can't he?
Dish of the Day #200: 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's winner was Dish #194 with 34.6% of the 136 votes cast. Coming in second was #191 with 25%, followed by #193 (23.5%), #195 (12.5%) and #192 (4.4%).
Last week's winner was Dish #194 with 34.6% of the 136 votes cast. Coming in second was #191 with 25%, followed by #193 (23.5%), #195 (12.5%) and #192 (4.4%).
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Broadway Bound: The First Wives Club (the musical)
Earlier today when I saw the video below of two songs from the new Broadway-bound musical of the 1996 film, The First Wives Club, I, of course, thought I should share it with my readers--many of whom share my passion for musical theater. However, I will refrain at this time from expressing my own personal opinion of the clip, since the show only began previews on July 17 and I haven't seen the entire production. But I will tell you that the knives are already sharpening over on Talkin' Broadway's popular All That Chat website, where no one is holding back on how they feel. Here are a few of the nicer comments that have been posted today:"It frightens me how low the standard is these days for mounting and investing lots of money in a new musical."
"This makes 9 to 5 look like high art!"
"And they're using this to promote the show?"
"It is absolutely fair to judge the show by the clip the producers make available. The assumption is they want the clip to help you make a judgment on the show. If they're confident releasing it, then they deserve what they get."
Meow! The Jungle Red claws are definitely out for blood, but we all should remember that Wives is still a work-in-progress at the moment. That said, I do have to agree with the final remark, since someone from San Diego's Old Globe theater (where the show is running through August 23) posted the video on YouTube today. Another person thought composer Rupert Holmes (The Mystery of Edwin Drood), who is Wives' book writer, should also be writing the music and lyrics instead of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland, who are best known for such '60s hits as "Stop! In the Name of Love" and "Reach Out I'll Be There." This is the trio's first joint project in many years. The musical does feature a talented cast, including Sam Harris (The Life, Grease) and Sheryl Lee Ralph (Dreamgirls, Thoroughly Modern Millie, TV's Designing Women), Barbara Walsh (Falsettos, Company), and Karen Ziemba (Curtains, Contact, Steel Pier) in the Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler and Diane Keaton roles, respectively. So for their sake, I'm hoping that director Francesca Zambello (The Little Mermaid) is able to turn The First Wives Club into a big Broadway hit down the road. It will be interesting to read what the real critics have to say about the show--and to see if their reviews echo any of the same sentiments being said today.
Groovy Web Soap Opera: Empire
Any regular reader of this blog knows that I'm a big soap opera fan, so I'm always excited whenever a new one debuts. And earlier this month Empire, a sudsy web series, began, and so far I'm enjoying it very much.Creators Brian Hewson and Greg Turner have put together all the required elements of a good soap: a rich family, sibling rivalries, love triangles, secrets, a possible murder, and a mystery man. And they even have a gay storyline, which usually adds a few extra bonus points in my book--except on Desperate Housewives, which has sadly underused the hunky, homosexual beefcake of Tuc Watkins. Hopefully Empire's gay characters will be front and center.
Empire tells the tale of the wealthy Haven family--Cubbie, his wife Sandra, and their three sons, Thomas, Evan and Cain. The first two episodes introduce the siblings as they discover that their parents have mysteriously disappeared after a fight, which left a lot of blood on the floor of the study. Did Mrs. Haven finally get fed up with her nasty husband and clock him upside the head with a candlestick? Too soon to tell, but their youngest son, Cain, who's a private detective, is investigating the possible crime. He's also the black sheep gay brother who was disowned by Daddy after coming out. Meanwhile, it's quite obvious that middle son, Evan (aka Jan Brady), is in love with his brother Thomas' fiancée, Marin Lively (love the name--maybe the creators are fans of Gossip Girl's Blake Lively). And then there's Thomas (aka J.R. Ewing, but much hotter--that's him in the photo), who's the editor of Empire, the family's trashy tabloid newspaper, and a chip off his father's power-hungry block. The web series has an initial run of 10 episodes (a new one debuts online every Sunday), so I assume we'll learn what happened to Mom and Dad and find out who Jake is (the young half-naked mystery man is featured in the trailer below).
After watching only two brief episodes, I am curious to know what will happen next on Empire--which is a very good thing for a soap opera. The production values are great, and I especially like the way the Empire tabloid cover graphic is used to introduce scenes (it's kind of similar to the TV sitcom, Just Shoot Me!, and its Blush magazine). As for the acting, I think Ryan Clardy (Cane), Nick Lewis (Evan) and Kate Forsatz (Marin) are all quite talented, but the handsome Chris Douros (Thomas) might run away with the series if they're not careful. Everyone loves to watch a charming bastard, and Douros seems ready to sink his teeth into such a memorable character. The only missing ingredient is an Alexis/Abby, but perhaps whenever Sandra Haven shows up, she'll provide this spice. I recommend Empire to any soap opera fan who's hungry for some new sordid suds in their life.
So check out the trailer and the first episode below and then continue to watch the drama unfold at www.empiretheseries.com or on YouTube.
Jesse Metcalfe is alive and well and living on Wisteria Lane (again)
I was pleased to read yesterday that 30-year-old actor Jesse Metcalfe and his smooth (shaved), muscular physique will be returning to Desperate Housewives this fall--at least for two episodes. I'm sure most folks still fondly remember him as Gaby's hot gardener/boy toy, John Rowland, during the show's first season. When we last saw John in a Season 4 episode, he was unhappily married to his pregnant hotel heiress wife, but he'll be divorced when he shows up on Wisteria Lane this time. And it won't take long for Carlos' teenage niece, Ana, to set her sights on the young man--especially after she learns that Aunt Gaby once had an affair with him. Of course, this won't make Gabrielle too happy, but it sounds like a fun storyline to me.
As for Mr. Metcalfe, I think coming back to his TV roots is a smart move, considering his less-than-stellar career since he left in 2005. Lately the actor is more known for getting drunk and falling off balconies (as he did last November), and I would hate to see him become the next Jan-Michael Vincent. He's just too cute to slide down that slippery slope into oblivion, so here's hoping he gets his act together. There was a rumor a few months ago that Metcalfe might join the British soap, Coronation Street, but obviously that didn't work out. And now we can look forward to his Desperate--and hopefully shirtless--return engagement.
Dish of the Day #199
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Groovy Miniseries: The Very Smooth Chest of Jan-Michael Vincent
Since last month's featured miniseries was all about Alec Baldwin's hairy chest in Dress Gray, I felt it was only fair to give equal time to a smooth chest, and actor Jan-Michael Vincent had one of the best in the business back in the 1970s and '80s. I first became familiar with JMV and his gorgeous body when my parents took me at age nine to see Disney's 1973 film, The World's Greatest Athlete, in which he appeared almost entirely naked as a Tarzan-like young man. The actor also showed off his fine physique in the surfing flick, Big Wednesday (1978), and he bared all his impressive necessities in a skinny-dipping scene in Buster and Billie (1974). However, when it comes to JMV's acting ability, I would probably choose the 1983 epic miniseries, The Winds of War, as my favorite performance of his. I still remember watching it with some college dorm friends my freshman year--who needed to study when JMV was appearing shirtless on TV? We had our priorities straight. Also, I thought he and Ali MacGraw made a great romantic couple, despite most critics' assessment that the 45-year-old actress was far too old to play a woman in her late twenties. This may have been true, but she still looked fabulous for her age--and since JMV was 39, they looked good together. Unfortunately, both of them were replaced by younger actors (Hart Bochner and Jane Seymour) in the 1988 sequel, War and Remembrance. I still preferred JMV and Ali in the roles of Byron and Natalie as I found their performances more interesting to watch (although the handsome Mr. Bochner has always been quite watchable).
Jan-Michael Vincent may have been too busy filming his 1984-86 TV series, Airwolf, in order to reprise his role as Byron in the sequel. There are also stories that his drinking made him difficult to work with during the filming of the original miniseries, which may have led to the hiring of Mr. Bochner. Sadly after Airwolf ended, JMV's alcoholism only became worse and his acting career hit the skids. The 65-year-old actor, who hasn't made a film since 2002, currently lives a secluded life in Mississippi, but I will always fondly remember him for his incredible body (of work)--especially in The Winds of War.
Dish of the Day #198
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Groovy Gay Web Series: HA!
Perry Ojeda is such a talented guy. The Broadway actor and playwright has written a smart, satiric web comedy series called HA!, which is currently in the middle of a 16-episode run. He has assembled an offbeat cast, including the always entertaining Bruce Vilanch (who co-wrote the brief 1978 Broadway musical, Platinum, which I find quite interesting), Charles Shaughnessy (Shane Donovan on Days of our Lives and Maxwell Sheffield on The Nanny), and gorgeous TV/radio personality and comedian Scott Nevins. Mix them all together with Ojeda's sharp and witty words and you've got yourself a groovy gay time worth watching.
Set in the conservative Southern town of Mount Dora, HA! centers around the cute and confused Roger, who joins HA (Homosexuals Anonymous), a program to help Christian men and women overcome the gay lifestyle and reclaim their heterosexual lives. Fortunately, his life soon becomes more complicated when he falls in love with a hot yoga instructor while on his journey to a "complete recovery". My only complaint so far with the series is that some of the episodes are very short (only 6-7 minutes long), leaving me disappointed when they ended far too quickly. But Ojeda should consider this a compliment since I'm asking for more HA! rather than less.
There are many standout performances in the first 8 episodes including, of course, Mr. Vilanch, who plays "Bruce", the moderator of the HA! meetings (the wacky guy and his wide-eyed expressions can make me laugh without even saying a word), and Mr. Ojeda himself as David, the sexy yoga instructor who has a sweet chemistry with newcomer Robert W. Evans (Roger). And Evans is a real find as he finds a perfect balance in his portrayal of a young man caught between an exciting new love and a disapproving mother. He makes us care about and root for Roger, which I think is crucial for the show's success. And the guy can also sing!
Other actors who impressed me are Dawn Didawick as Roger's Mama (who thinks yoga is sinful), stand-up comic Ryan Hill as a flamboyant ex-gay with a snap, Brian Kirchoff, who steals Episode 4 in which his character, George, shares his own lusty experience with a church league basketball teammate, and Derris Nile as the hunky teammate who wears a glass of milk quite nicely.
So I highly recommend that everyone check out HA! Whether you're a fabulous homosexual or an "ex-gay" closet case, there's something for everyone to enjoy in this new web series. The first episode is below, and the rest you can watch at www.HaTheSeries.com and on YouTube and iTunes.
If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Rhoda Morgenstern
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 Ted Warkentin, and he answered the following questions about the British sitcom, Absolutely Fabulous, correctly:
1) What kind of operation did Patsy Stone have during the 1960s in Morocco? Sex change
2) What is the name of Eddy's personal assistant? Bubble
3) What do Eddy's second ex-husband, Justin, and her son, Serge, have in common besides being related to Eddy's daughter, Saffy? They're both gay.
4) What do singer Lulu, model Twiggy and Spice Girl Emma Bunton all have in common on the show? They were all PR clients of Eddy's.
5) In the 1995 Series 3 opener, what do Eddy and Patsy fly to New York City to find? A door handle
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 1974-78 TV sitcom, Rhoda:
1) Who forgot to pick up Rhoda on her wedding day?
2) What was the name of Rhoda's doorman?
3) What were the names of Rhoda's parents?
4) What did Rhoda and her husband, Joe, decide to do in the first episode of Season Three?
5) What Oscar-winning actress received an Emmy Award nomination for her performance as the mother of Rhoda's doorman in a 1975 episode?
Dish of the Day #197
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.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Groovy Gal: Natalie Wood
I fell in love with actress Natalie Wood the first time I saw her in the 1965 film, The Great Race, which also starred the handsome Tony Curtis. I was probably around eight years old, and I adored the slapstick pie fight near the end of the movie. Natalie was not only the most beautiful movie star in the world, but she could take a pie in the face just like one of the boys. I was quite shocked and saddened by her tragic death in 1981 at the young age of 43. I believe the lovely actress still had an amazing career ahead of her, and it's a shame that we will never get to see those great performances. Today Natalie Wood would have celebrated her 71st birthday.Here are 10 Groovy Facts about Natalie Wood:
1) She was born Natalia Zacharenko on July 20, 1938, in San Francisco, California.
2) Her performance in the 1947 Christmas classic, Miracle on 34th Street, made her one of the top child stars in Hollywood.
3) Natalie successfully made the transition from child star to ingenue at age 16 when she co-starred in Nicholas Ray's 1955 film, Rebel Without a Cause, with James Dean and Sal Mineo. Her performance won her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
4) Her struggling career was salvaged when she was cast in Elia Kazan's Splendor in the Grass (1961) opposite Warren Beatty, which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
5) Natalie was signed to do her own singing as Maria in the hit 1961 musical, West Side Story, but she was later dubbed by Marni Nixon. Her own singing voice was used when she starred in 1962's Gypsy.6) When she won the Harvard Lampoon Worst Actress of the Year Award in 1966, Natalie was the first performer in the award's history to accept it in person. The Harvard Crimson wrote that she was "quite a good sport." To read more about this, click here.
7) She financially supported her friend, playwright Mart Crowley, while he wrote his 1968 play, The Boys in the Band.
8) Between 1967 and 1980, Natalie turned down roles that went to Faye Dunaway (Bonnie & Clyde, The Towering Inferno), Carrie Snodgress (Diary of a Mad Housewife), Ali MacGraw (Goodbye, Columbus), Mia Farrow (The Great Gatsby), and Elizabeth Taylor (The Mirror Crack'd). However, she was very interested in playing the mother in Ordinary People, but director Robert Redford wanted Mary Tyler Moore for the role.
9) She was cast as Maggie in the 1976 TV version of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (as part of the British television series, Laurence Olivier Presents) without campaigning for the role. Olivier, who played Big Daddy in the film, thought of casting her and her husband, Robert Wagner (as Maggie's husband, Brick), after the actress was often seated next to him at formal Hollywood sit-down dinners.
10) Natalie received critical acclaim in 1979 for her performances in the TV-movie, The Cracker Factory, and in the miniseries, From Here to Eternity, for which she won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress.
I leave you now with the beauty of Natalie Wood and some of her wonderful performances.
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