For my final post of 2009, I thought it would be nice to end the year with a kiss . . . and a little bit more. ABC made history yesterday by airing the first-ever gay sex scene on American daytime network television as One Life to Live's "Kish"--Kyle Lewis and Oliver Fish (played by Brett Claywell and Scott Evans, the openly gay brother of actor Chris Evans)--finally made love on New Year's Eve. They do make a cute couple, don't they?
And I want to give a BIG THANK YOU to my readers for their support and kind words in 2009. I hope you will continue to read Deep Dish in 2010, and I wish you all a fabulous new year!
Here is my list of favorite DVDs released in 2009 (in alphabetical order):
1) Ally McBeal - The Complete Series: Remember when Calista Flockhart played a silly goof on television who was fun to watch? And whatever happened to Gil Bellows?
2) Designing Women - The Complete First Season/The Complete Second Season: And Season Three of these lovely ladies will be released on March 2.
3) It's Garry Shandling's Show - The Complete Series: Now if we could only get The Complete Larry Sanders Show released on DVD.
4) Knots Landing - The Complete Second Season: Hopefully we won't have to wait another three years before the Third Season is released.
5) The Lucy Show - The Official First Season: It's so nice that they finally released Lucy and Viv's misadventures in a quality DVD box set.
6) The Mary Tyler Moore Show - The Complete Fifth Season: And her Sixth Season arrives on February 2.
7) Peyton Place - Part One/Part Two: This DVD release was the most pleasant surprise of 2009. If you're looking for an addictive soap opera with wonderful performances (Mia Farrow, Ryan O'Neal, Barbara Parkins, Dorothy Malone), check this one out.
8) Rhoda - Season One: Despite my disappointment over the edited-for-syndication versions of most of the episodes in this box set, it's still such a pleasure to see Ms. Morgenstern and her delightful mother again. And Season Two will be available on March 30, which leaves me with only one question: When will Phyllis be released?
9) Sordid Lives - The Series: Leslie Jordan, Bonnie Bedelia, Olivia Newton-John, Rue McClanahan and the rest of the fabulous cast will leave you begging for more.
10) thirtysomething - The Complete First Season: And the Second Season will be released on January 19.
Honorable Mention - The Warner Bros. Archive Collection: I think it's great that the studio is releasing so many obscure films and miniseries for our viewing enjoyment, including The Gathering (Ed Asner, Maureen Stapleton), Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? (George Segal, Jacqueline Bisset), Men Don't Leave (Jessica Lange, Chris O'Donnell), and Haywire (Lee Remick, Jason Robards). The next new release of movies will be on January 12.
As for DVDs to watch for in 2010, I'm looking forward to Falcon Crest - The Complete First Season, which will be released on April 20. And I'm hoping that this will be the year that we see DVD releases of Norman Lear's All That Glitters, China Beach, The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd, Flamingo Road, Homefront, and more Mary Hartman and Maude. A guy can dream, can't he?
I've previously confessed that I haven't listened to much Billboard Top 20 music since 1989 when I purchased my last vinyl album, Fine Young Cannibals' The Raw and the Cooked. Occasionally a singer or group comes along that catches my attention (i.e. Michael Bublé, Diana Krall, Coldplay), but usually I'm living in a musical past from the 1960s or '70s--or listening to a Broadway show tune. So that's my story, and now without further ado, here are my favorite musical experiences of 2009 in order of preference (click on a name to read more and listen to their music):
10) The Muppets - "Bohemian Rhapsody": You gotta love the Muppets, who released their own cover of Queen's 1975 hit on YouTube.
9) The Joans - "Mad at the Dirt": This year the Chicago-based band released their debut CD, We Are The Joans, which featured this fun tribute tune to the 1981 camp classic, Mommie Dearest.
8) Daniel Boys: I was immediately smitten with this 30-year-old British actor/singer after stumbling upon his fabulous duet with John Barrowman of "I Know Him So Well" from the musical, Chess.
7) Straight No Chaser's Christmas Cheers: My favorite new Christmas album of 2009.
6) Emma Bunton - "Maybe": I didn't discover this terrific 2003 tune by the former Spice Girl until earlier this year.
5) Barry Goold's Knockin' On Another Door: This talented guy recently sent me his debut CD, and I loved it. Click here to check out his music.
4) Nine (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack): I really like the new songs, "Cinema Italiano" and "Take It All".
3) Michael Feinstein & Cheyenne Jackson's The Power of Two: Mr. Feinstein is great, Mr. Jackson makes me quiver and shiver, and together they're wonderful.
2) Karen Mason: I enjoyed all the performances at this year's Chicago Cabaret Professionals Annual Gala, but the amazing Ms. Mason, who received CCP's National Honoree Award, blew the roof off the Park West.
1) Bruce Springsteen: I saw him perform for the first time on September 19 at the United Center for nearly three hours of non-stop entertainment. This groovy 60-year-old definitely deserved to receive a Kennedy Center Honor last night.
If you're still wondering what to do on New Year's Eve--and you live in or around Chicago--I recommend that you check out Camp Midnight's second annual presentation of the classic 1972 disaster flick, The Poseidon Adventure, at the Music Box Theatre (3733 N. Southport Ave.) on Thursday evening. The fun film festivities begin at 11 pm with a camptacular pre-show hosted by Captain Dick O'Day, who will preside over a groovy costume contest (so if you have any 1970s cruisewear in your closet--i.e. hot pants, go-go boots or turtleneck sweaters--you just might win a prize by wearing them). Running commentary will be provided during the film by O'Day and his hearty crew from Hell in a Handbag Productions. The actual screening will begin around 11:40 pm so that moviegoers will celebrate midnight at the exact same time as Shelley Winters, Stella Stevens and the rest of the passengers do aboard the ship.
Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door (price includes an audience interactive guide, party favors and, of course, a champagne toast). For further information and to purchase tickets, please go to www.musicboxtheatre.com.
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).
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 the 30th anniversary of TV's Knots Landing (which debuted on December 27, 1979), this week's theme is the 1979-93 series.
1) Whom did Abby have an affair with during the show's second season?
2) Who died in the second episode of the third season?
3) Who killed Ciji Dunne? And what was the name of Ciji's look-alike?
4) What was the name of Valene's half-brother? What actor played him? And how did he die?
5) Who was Peter Hollister's sister? And who accidentally killed Peter?
Last week Rick Aiello answered the following questions correctly about the film, A Christmas Story:
1) What is the name of Ralphie's younger brother? And where does he hide during the film? Randy, under the kitchen sink
2) What is the name of the bully that terrorizes everyone? And what is the name of his sidekick? Scut Farkus, Grover Dill
3) Whose tongue gets stuck to a frozen flagpole? Flick's
4) What kind of restaurant does Ralphie's family go to on Christmas? Chinese
5) What Christmas gift does Ralphie's mother give to his father? A bowling ball
Extra Credit: What other "Christmas" movie directed by Bob Clark was released in 1974? Black Christmas
It's hard to believe that the first decade of the 21st century will soon be over. I guess time does fly when you're having fun--or just getting older. So now everyone is looking back at the last 10 years and compiling their "Best of" lists--and I cannot resist making a list. This week I will be offering my "Best of the Decade" (along with my "Best of 2009") in television, books and movies, but first up are my theatrical favorites of 2000-09 in order of preference:
10) Hairspray (2002): A delightful show based on John Waters' 1988 film with a catchy score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman and some wonderful performances by Marissa Jaret Winokur, Kerry Butler, Glee's Matthew Morrison, and Harvey Fierstein as Edna Turnblad.
9) Doubt (2007): I saw the Tony Award-winning Cherry Jones in a touring production of this play, which was a memorable night of theater.
8) Gypsy (2006): Patti LuPone as Mama Rose at Ravinia. She, of course, was fabulous.
7) Take Me Out (2003): Denis O'Hare deservedly won a Tony Award for his performance in Richard Greenberg's play, which also featured some pleasant nude shower scenes with hunky baseball players.
6) August: Osage County (2007): I saw this terrific play by Tracy Letts in its Steppenwolf debut.
5) Nine (2003): Antonio Banderas, Chita Rivera, Jane Krakowski and Mary Stuart Masterson (who knew she could sing?) together in a musical--I loved every moment of this enchanting production.
4) Elaine Stritch at Liberty (2003): The lady was--and still is--fabulous!
3) Grey Gardens (2006): I saw this show off-Broadway, and the brilliant performances of Mary Louise Wilson and the amazing Christine Ebersole made the evening one I will never forget.
2) Company (2007): This show is my favorite Sondheim musical, and I adored this production as well as the Tony Award-nominated performance by the gorgeous and talented Raúl Esparza (who should have won).
1) The Producers (2000): I was lucky enough to see the very first dress rehearsal of this show during its pre-Broadway tryout in Chicago. Mel Brooks, Anne Bancroft and Cloris Leachman were all sitting in the audience, and Nathan Lane had a delightful "Rose's Turn" moment during his "Betrayed" musical number that was quickly cut when Arthur Laurents refused to let them continue using it. After the performance that night, everyone knew The Producers would be a big hit.
Yes, folks, it's that time of the year once again when we all sit back and reflect upon the last 12 months of our lives, recalling the good, the bad and the ugly. And once we've done this, then we make our lists. So here is the first in a series of what I enjoyed about 2009, beginning with the theater--a very good place to start. Unlike in 2008, I did make it to New York this year to see a few wonderful Broadway and off-Broadway shows, but I also saw some great theater and outstanding performances at home in Chicago. Later this week I will offer more highly opinionated "Best of 2009" lists on music, television, DVDs, books, web series, people and movies as well as my "Best of the Decade" views on theater, television, books and movies. Now here are my theatrical favorites of 2009 in order of preference (click on a title to read my complete review):
10) Xanadu: When I saw the stage version of the 1980 Olivia Newton-John cult classic last February, I enjoyed it--but not as much as the original movie. Lead actress Elizabeth Stanley was great in the Chicago production, proving herself to be a first-rate comedienne.
9) Animal Crackers: The Goodman Theater's fall production of the Marx Brothers' 1928 Broadway musical was a delightful evening of madcap entertainment with terrific performances from Joey Slotnick as Groucho, Jonathan Brody as Chico, and Molly Brennan as Harpo.
8) High Fidelity: I'm disappointed that I didn't get a chance to see the Chicago production of this musical (based on the 2000 John Cusack film) that The Route 66 Theatre Company performed last summer, but I was able to catch their one-night-only staged reading of the show last March--and I loved it.
7) Million Dollar Quartet: It took me awhile to go see this show in Chicago (where it's been running since 2008), but I thoroughly enjoyed it. We'll see how the New York critics respond when the musical opens on Broadway this spring, but the amazing Levi Kreis--who plays Jerry Lee Lewis--will hopefully receive a Tony Award nomination.
6) The Addams Family: These creepy, kooky folks completely won me over during their pre-Broadway tryout in Chicago (the show runs until January 10). Nathan Lane, Jackie Hoffman, Kevin Chamberlin, Carolee Carmello and the rest of the fabulous cast make this new musical a must-see when it opens in New York this spring.
5) Whining in the Windy City: Holiday Edition: This filthy but hysterically funny one-woman cabaret show by the brilliant Jackie Hoffman made me cry tears of joy from laughing so much.
4) Hair: This show was one of the most joyous experiences that I've ever had in a theater. And I must confess that I developed a tiny crush on actor Gavin Creel, who shines so brightly among the groovy and talented cast.
3) Blithe Spirit: Watching the legendary Angela Lansbury dance across the stage in her Tony Award-winning performance as the wacky Madame Arcati was worth the price of admission.
2) Everyday Rapture: This autobiographical musical journey by the incredible Sherie Rene Scott was the best show I saw on my trip to New York last May.
1) POSEIDON! An Upside Down Musical: This hilarious musical parody of the classic 1972 disaster epic, The Poseidon Adventure, was my favorite theatrical experience of the year. I had a big smile plastered across my face from beginning to end, and I thank Chicago's Hell in a Handbag Productions for making this possible. It was a truly memorable night of theater with Ed Jones' divine performance as Carol Lynley/Nonnie Parry standing out among the excellent cast. I LOVED this show!
The Worst of 2009: Cirque du Soleil's Banana Shpeel was shockingly bad. The creative forces behind this horrible mess of a show need to be slapped around for subjecting Chicago audiences to such a steaming pile of crap.
Best Projectile Vomiting Since The Exorcist: Hope Davis in God of Carnage. The show may have won a Tony, but it wasn't my cup of tea.
Nothing says "Merry Christmas" more than the sweet and sentimental ending of the 1946 classic, It's a Wonderful Life, starring Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey and Donna Reed as his lovely wife, Mary.
This is my last blog posting until December 27, so I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday!
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).
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 the holiday, this week's theme is the 1983 film, A Christmas Story.
1) What is the name of Ralphie's younger brother? And where does he hide during the film?
2) What is the name of the bully that terrorizes everyone? And what is the name of his sidekick?
3) Whose tongue gets stuck to a frozen flagpole?
4) What kind of restaurant does Ralphie's family go to on Christmas?
5) What Christmas gift does Ralphie's mother give to his father?
Extra Credit: What other "Christmas" movie directed by Bob Clark was released in 1974?
Last week Robb C. Sewell-Wolff answered the following questions correctly about the daytime soap opera, Dark Shadows:
1) Who originally released Barnabas Collins from his coffin in 1967? Willie Loomis
2) Who was sent back in time to the year 1795 during a séance? Victoria Winters
3) What were the names of the man-made Frankenstein-like creature and his female mate, who hated him? Adam and Eve
4) What was the name of the popular bar in Collinsport? The Blue Whale
5) Who played Daphne Harridge in 1970-71? And what TV series did she later star on from 1976-79? Kate Jackson, Charlie's Angels
Who was your favorite Dish of the Day in 2009? Beginning today you can vote for Dish of the Year in the sidebar poll from among the ten most popular Dishes of '09. The winner will be revealed on January 1, and Dish of the Day will return with hot new hunks on Monday, January 4. As for the cute guy in the photo, he is Ben Cohen, a gay-friendly British rugby bear/player who was 2008's Dish of the Year.
It was a very close race for last week's Santa Baby, but the ultimate winner was Dish #305 with 29.8% of the 84 votes cast. Coming in a close second was #301 with 28.6%, followed by #304 (16.7%), #303 (15.5%) and #302 (9.5%).
A Single Man is a gorgeous film, which ranks right up there with the colorful melodramas of Douglas Sirk and Pedro Almodóvar and Todd Haynes' Far from Heaven. However, fashion designer Tom Ford's impressive directorial debut has no 'melo' in its drama. It's a very intimate and serious movie about a day in the life of George Falconer (played by the brilliant Colin Firth), a gay college professor living in Southern California in 1962. Having never emotionally recovered from the sudden death of his lover in a car accident, he is now planning to commit suicide after he puts everything in order. Will George really kill himself? That's the question you will be waiting to have answered, but in the meantime, there's plenty of visual eye candy--both cinematic and of the male flesh--to enjoy as well as some excellent performances.
The cinematography by Eduard Grau is amazing and worth the price of admission. I especially liked the scene between George and a young James Dean-like hustler named Carlos in front of a giant blue billboard of Hitchcock's Psycho, and the use of black-and-white film and desaturated colors is quite effective. As I said before, the movie is gorgeous. Beautiful. Lovely. And any other similar adjective along those lines. Also, my partner wouldn't mind living in George's Architectural Digest-worthy glass house.
However, I must confess that the most gorgeous part of A Single Man is 31-year-old British actor Matthew Goode, who plays George's deceased lover, Jim (see first photo). I've noticed him before in Woody Allen's Match Point, but in A Single Man, the camera just worships his handsome face. He's an object of desire who remains forever young in George's memory, and the wonderful onscreen chemistry between Goode and Firth that we see in flashbacks only makes the pain of Jim's absence from George's life even more heartbreaking. Jon Kortajarena (who plays Carlos) is also quite attractive in his first American film, and the 24-year-old reveals himself to be a very good actor as well. And I've always liked Nicholas Hoult ever since 2002's About a Boy (in which he played the "boy"). He's now grown up into a cute and talented 20-year-old who is perfect in his role as a young student of George's. Apparently Hoult replaced a far more famous actor who didn't show up to a costume fitting five days prior to shooting. I think he and Tom Ford were both lucky that the other guy did a runner.
A Single Man is overflowing with fabulous acting. Both Colin Firth and Julianne Moore (who plays George's best friend, Charley) have been deservedly nominated for Golden Globes, and I hope the Oscars recognize them, too. They're simply marvelous--and is it just me or does Firth never seem to get older? The man is now 49, but he pretty much looks the same as he did 20 years ago in Apartment Zero. He must have a portrait of himself in his attic. Anyway, Firth couldn't be better as George, and he and Moore are delightful together as they dance to Etta James' "Stormy Weather" and Booker T. & the M.G.'s "Green Onions". Moore also looks smashing in her blonde wig and groovy black-and-white dress.
Even the minor roles are nicely played as Big Love's Ginnifer Goodwin, Pushing Daisies' Lee Pace, and The L Word's Erin Daniels all briefly show up. And be sure to listen for an uncredited Jon Hamm, whose soothing Don Draper voice is instantly recognizable. I also must mention young Ryan Simpkins, who plays the daughter of George's neighbors. Her amusing scene with Firth in a bank provides some much-needed comic relief from the heaviness surrounding it. A Single Man is definitely not light holiday family fare. It's beautiful--and also very sad. And I wasn't too crazy about the last minute or so of the movie, but I won't hold this against it.
I've not read Christopher Isherwood's 1964 novel, A Single Man, but I would hope that the late author would be quite pleased with Ford's film adaptation. Watching it is kind of like driving to a funeral in the most picturesque part of the country. You might be depressed, but the scenery is so breathtaking, it makes the journey quite bearable.
It's the most wonderful time of the year once again, so in the spirit of the season, I will be featuring some of my favorite holiday moments here on Deep Dish this month.
Director Bob Clark made Porky's (1982) and A Christmas Story (1983), but I've always enjoyed his earlier cult classic, Black Christmas (1974), which is now considered an influential precursor to the modern slasher film genre. A deranged killer lurking in a sorority house during the holidays might not sound like a good time, but the the movie is actually quite amusing early on. The wonderful Margot Kidder provides some laughs as the foul-mouthed Barb as does Marian Waldman, who steals every scene she is in as Mrs. Mac, the boozy house mother. The film also stars Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea, John Saxon and SCTV's Andrea Martin. And here's some interesting trivia: apparently the role of Mrs. Mac was offered to Bette Davis, who turned it down, and Gilda Radner was originally cast in Martin's part until she got her Saturday Night Live gig. So if you're looking for a creepy flick to watch during the holidays--perhaps as a double feature with A Christmas Story--I highly recommend the original Black Christmas, not the much gorier 2006 remake.
Below are three clips from the film featuring Kidder and Waldman as well as Hussey as the damsel in distress. I've also included two interviews with Hussey and Kidder about the making of the movie.
It's the most wonderful time of the year once again, so in the spirit of the season, I will be featuring some of my favorite holiday moments here on Deep Dish this month.
Here are two videos of Katharine Hepburn celebrating the holidays: First she rings in the new year with Cary Grant in 1938's Holiday (a wonderful movie that everyone should be required to watch). Then the actress (played by the fabulous Alexandra Billings) shows us all how to make a Christmas ornament in her own unique and hilarious way. Enjoy!
In honor of the holiday season, this week I'm featuring five sexy Santas.
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 #300 with 37.5% of the 112 votes cast. In second place was #296 with 25.9%, and #297 came in third with 17%. Tied for last place was #298 and #299 each receiving 9.8%.
In honor of one of my favorite primetime soap operas, Falcon Crest, finally being released on DVD on April 20, we're going to take a trip down memory lane today to visit the ruthless Angela Channing (Jane Wyman) and the rest of the winery gang. The series is also celebrating its 28th anniversary this month as it began on December 4, 1981, and ran for nine seasons on CBS until May 17, 1990.
Unfortunately, the DVD of The Complete First Season will not include the unaired pilot, which was originally called The Vintage Years (creator Earl Hammer changed the title when CBS thought it sounded like a show about old people). I would love to see actress Samantha Eggar as Maggie Gioberti and Michael Swan (As the World Turns' Duncan McKechnie) as Angela's biological son, Richard Channing, but hopefully the pilot will be a special bonus feature on a future DVD release. So here are my 10 favorite Falcon Crest episodes out of the 227 that were produced (in chronological order)--and just listen to Bill Conti's glorious theme music back when networks still allowed their shows to have lengthy opening credits:
1) "Family Reunion" (Episode 12, Season 1 - February 19, 1982): Look, it's Lana Turner! After an 11-year absence before the camera, the actress makes a rare guest appearance as Jacqueline Perrault, the wealthy and estranged mother of Chase Gioberti who returns to Falcon Crest to warn her son of Angela's treacherous nature. The much publicized episode gives the show its best ratings for its entire nine-year run.
2) "The Namesake" (Episode 25, Season 2 - November 19, 1982): It's a boy! Ana Alicia's Melissa Agretti was one of my favorite characters, and I loved her twisted love triangle with Angela's playboy grandson, Lance (the sexy Lorenzo Lamas) and Chase's son, Cole (the cute William R. Moses). In this episode, realizing that her marriage to Lance was a big mistake, Melissa pays a visit to Cole and confesses that he is the real father of her unborn child. She then goes into labor and gives birth to a premature son, Joseph, while Cole breaks up with his older love interest, Katherine (played by the always fabulous Joanna Cassidy).
3) "...Divided We Fall" (Episode 30, Season 2 - December 31, 1982): You bitch! Actor David Selby was terrific in his role as Richard Channing, who informs the shocked guests at Angela's annual Founder's Day party that he has finally found his mother--Jacqueline, making him Chase's half-brother. Of course, this news infuriates Angela, who then gets to point a scolding finger at Lana Turner for having an affair with her former husband (Richard's father).
4) "Climax" (Episode 40, Season 2 - March 11, 1983): Who killed Carlo Agretti? We finally learn the answer as everyone gathers together at Vickie Gioberti's wedding reception for the shocking revelation that Angela's daughter, Julia (played by the wonderful Abby Dalton), committed the murder. And she's not done yet as she pulls out a gun and fires three shots. The closing scene of this second season finale is of a coffin being lowered into the ground, but we don't find out until the fall that poor Lana Turner is its unfortunate occupant.
5) "For Better, for Worse" (Episode 66, Season 3 - May 4, 1984): Gotta love that crazy Julia! She dresses up like a nun in order to kill her mother during Angela and Phillip Erikson's wedding ceremony and reception. When this murderous plot fails, she takes Cole and Melissa's young son, Joseph, hostage. In the next episode, Julia appears to perish in a fire, but this lady has nine lives and returns during the fourth season.
6) "The Avenging Angel" (Episode 98, Season 4 - May 24, 1985): Maggie and Richard kiss! The couple's first intimate moment is, unfortunately, interrupted by a bomb explosion in this fourth season finale. Maggie ends up in Richard's arms after she discovers her husband, Chase, in an embrace with Connie Gianinni. In other developments, Lance's new wife and Richard's stepdaughter, Lorraine, dies, while Anna Rossini (Celeste Holm) and her daughter, Cassandra Wilder (Anne Archer), have their revenge on Angela as they plan to take over Falcon Crest.
7) "The Cataclysm" (Episode 127, Season 5 - May 22, 1986): Earthquake! The series ends its fifth season with an earthquake that kills off a few characters. This episode features the final appearances of the dreamy Simon MacCorkindale as Angela's lawyer, Greg Reardon; Morgan Fairchild as Richard's attorney, Jordan Roberts (with a split personality); Daniel Greene as Emma Channing's fiancée, Dwayne; and the delightful Laura Johnson as Maggie's sister, Terry (I always liked her).
8) "Desperation" (Episode 155, Season 6 - May 15, 1987): Richard is Angela's son! In this sixth season finale, Angela is shocked to discover that her child, whom she believed to have died at birth, is very much alive and well--in the form of her longtime nemesis (Jacqueline wasn't his mother after all). Meanwhile, a deadly car chase in pursuit of Melissa, who has kidnapped Chase and Maggie's baby son, ends up in the San Francisco Bay. This is Robert Foxworth's final episode as Chase, who drowns. Actress Kim Novak also leaves the series as the mysterious Kit Marlowe.
9) "Stormy Weather" (Episode 172, Season 7 - February 12, 1988): It was a dark and stormy night! In this episode a storm forces Angela to play hostess to honeymooners Maggie and Richard, along with many other uninvited guests. Emma organizes a fun game of "murder" for everyone to play, but when someone is killed at midnight, Richard becomes the prime suspect.
10) "Last Dance" (Episode 183, Season 7 - May 6, 1988): Richard is killed--or is he? In this seventh season finale, Angela tells a shocked Richard she loves him after she receives a minor gunshot wound, and later he is fatally shot by Eric Stavros (the handsome John Callahan), who has been programmed into a killing machine by "The Thirteen" (an evil underworld group). Angela then loses Falcon Crest to Melissa, but she tells the girl, "I'll be back", before leaving her house. She later meets a mysterious man in a church and asks him when he's going to tell Maggie that he is still alive. Of course, Richard isn't really dead, and he returns for the show's final two seasons. However, Maggie Gioberti Channing (my favorite character played by the lovely Susan Sullivan), gets her ring caught in a swimming pool's drain and tragically drowns in the ninth season opener--one of my least favorite episodes that obviously does not appear on this list.
In honor of the holiday season, this week I'm featuring five sexy Santas. 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.
It's the most wonderful time of the year once again, so in the spirit of the season, I will be featuring some of my favorite holiday moments here on Deep Dish this month.
When I was growing up, I always looked forward to Andy Williams' annual Christmas special with his lovely French wife, Claudine Longet, their three children--Noelle, Christian and Robert--and all their friends and family. These happy holiday specials with the wife and kids ended in 1974, and he and Claudine divorced in 1975. The following year she claimed that her fatal shooting of her boyfriend, former Olympic skier Spider Sabich, was an accident and received 30 days in jail for misdemeanor negligent homicide. Meanwhile, Andy opened his own theater in Branson, Missouri, in 1992 and became an anti-Obama Rush Limbaugh-lovin' Republican--despite his friendship with Bobby and Ethel Kennedy. However, when you watch these 40-year-old clips of Andy singing with the Osmond Brothers and his beautiful family, you can't help but like the guy--and truly believe that it's the most wonderful time of the year.
Suburbilicious is delicious, but I must warn you that you will be left craving more. This is, of course, the true sign of a damn good meal. And author Eric Arvin has once again given us a hefty helping of hilarious misadventures of those folks who live on Jasper Lane. I reviewed SubSurdity, the first book in the addictively amusing soap opera series, a few months ago and loved it, so it didn't take much twisting of the arm to dive into the sordid sequel, which I'm happy to say is just as much fun to read as the original.
All my favorite characters return in Suburbilicious, including:
James Tucker, whose close friendship with his rugby teammate, Seth--a hunky guy with legs as thick as redwoods--causes James' jealous lover, Rick, to fear the worst.
Melinda Gold, the former religious fanatic whose relationship with a wrestling coach opens her eyes to a brand new world of spanking and other delightful bedroom fantasies.
Terrence, Rick's flamboyant friend, and his teenage son, Chris, who make new friends while camping together in God's wilderness.
Cassie Bloom and her best friend, Vera, whose sordid past catches up with them when they discover a spying stranger in the neighborhood.
And Sandy Jones, who decides to run for president of the Gay Porn Wives Club against the nasty Elizabeth Trump while she and her husband, Steve, produce their friend Cliff's epic gay porn film, Manwhore of the Ages.
My only disappointment with Suburbilicious is that Arvin leaves us with a juicy cliffhanger that made me scream, "No!" But since this is a continuing soap opera, I forgive him because we all know that any great daytime drama will make you want to "tune in tomorrow" to see what will happen next. And I'm very pleased--and relieved--to report that Arvin has plans for a third novel about Jasper Lane with the groovy title of SuburbaNights.
So if you're still looking for the perfect Christmas gift to give your bookworm boyfriend, I highly recommend SubSurdity and Suburbilcious, which will keep him laughing all winter long.
Click here to purchase Eric Arvin's books on Amazon. Also, the author loves company, so visit him at his fabulous blog, Daventry Blue.
In honor of the holiday season, this week I'm featuring five sexy Santas. 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.
Leslie Hunt was a 24-year-old dog walker and a self-described indie rocker when she became an American Idol semi-finalist during the show's sixth season in 2007. Since then, the talented singer/songwriter returned home to Chicago (she grew up in suburban St. Charles) to become a vocalist for the progressive rock band District 97 and release two solo albums for Ellenel Records--2007's From the Strange to a Stranger and this year's Your Hair Is On Fire with its fun and catchy debut single, "American Dream Man" (you can watch the music video below). Leslie and her husband, Tommy, also became parents on August 30th when their daughter, Eliza Joni, was born. So she's been keeping herself busy--to say the least--and I couldn't be more delighted to have her here on the Dish to discuss her groovy music and answer a few pop culture questions.
Let's start with Your Hair Is On Fire. What is your favorite song on the album? It honestly changes depending on what I'm going through. If I'm feeling particularly dark and depressive, I gravitate towards "Down Day" or "Lonely Home", but if I just wanna rock for rocking's sake, I appreciate songs like "American Dream Man" and "All The Way". There are also some songs on this record that are painful to listen to, due to their intensely personal subject matter, but sometimes I enjoy that pain, so they then become my favorites.
You began playing the piano and singing at the age of four. Do you remember the first song you ever played or sang? I remember the first song I played AND sang! "Got to Get You into My Life" by the Beatles.
Of course, I have to ask about American Idol. If you could go back and do one thing differently on the show, what would it be? I would have sang different songs, and I would've watched the show for a season before impulsively auditioning. I had never seen a single episode, so I didn't know the format at ALL. I also would've tried to gain confidence as a performer by seeking out a lot more experience beforehand.
What's your favorite thing about living in Chicago? I love the energy here. And the extreme weather makes me feel like a hardass.
In three words, how would you describe your experience so far as a new mother? Selfless, wonderful, eye-opening.
Since it's the holiday season, do you have a holiday tradition that you look forward to every year? Tons and tons of family saturation. Bring it on.
My favorite Christmas song is: "The Little Drummer Boy"
The very first record album that I purchased with my own money was: Pearl Jam's Vs.
If I was stranded on a desert island for a year, I would want to listen to: Joni Mitchell's Court and Spark, Sigur Rós' Untitled, Mayer Hawthorne's Strange Arrangement, Björk's Vespertine and Stevie Wonder's Innervisions.
If I could sing a duet with anyone--living or dead--I would choose: Björk.
In high school I was: Unconventional.
My favorite comfort food is: Tom Ka (Thai Coconut Soup).
When I was growing up, I never missed a television episode of: Pee-wee's Playhouse, The Mickey Mouse Club, The Golden Girls (weird but true).
Today I never miss a television episode of: Big Love, Dexter, The Office, Parks and Recreation, True Blood.
The last good book I read was: The Womanly Art Of Breastfeeding
Three of my favorite movies are: Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain, Spirited Away, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
What's next for Leslie Hunt? I hope to tour soon. My band is smoking hot and I would hate to keep our sound confined to the Chicagoland area.
Thank you, Leslie, for getting Deeper with us here on the Dish. To learn more about Leslie Hunt and her music, check out her website at www.lesliehunt.net and her YouTube channel. You can also become a fan of hers on Facebook (click here) or follow her on Twitter (click here).
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).
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 1966-71 daytime soap opera, Dark Shadows, which will soon be receiving a big screen remake starring Johnny Depp as Barnabas. Director Tim Burton will begin filming the movie next fall with a 2011 release date. I can't wait!
1) Who originally released Barnabas Collins from his coffin in 1967?
2) Who was sent back in time to the year 1795 during a séance?
3) What were the names of the man-made Frankenstein-like creature and his female mate, who hated him?
4) What was the name of the popular bar in Collinsport?
5) Who played Daphne Harridge in 1970-71? And what TV series did she later star on from 1976-79?
Last week Glenn Gaylord answered the following questions correctly about the TV drama, Family:
1) In what city did the Lawrence family live? Pasadena
2) What was Buddy's real name? Letitia
3) What was the name of Nancy's son? Timmy
4) Who played adopted daughter Annie? And for what 1977 film did she receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress? Quinn Cummings, The Goodbye Girl
5) What actor played Doug Lawrence? And who is his famous son? James Broderick, Matthew Broderick
In honor of the holiday season, this week I'm featuring five sexy Santas. 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.
It's the most wonderful time of the year once again, so in the spirit of the season, I will be featuring some of my favorite holiday moments here on Deep Dish this month.
Last December I posted Christmas with the Carringtons, a BBC special from 1985, in which host Terry Wogan interviewed the cast of TV's Dynasty. This year you can watch a few clips from the 100th episode of the series, "That Holiday Spirit", which originally aired on December 19, 1984, during its fifth season. Of course, there's lots of drama going on as the Carringtons celebrate the holiday: The boring Amanda finally learns from guest star Juliet Mills that her father is indeed Blake Carrington, which upsets her mother, Alexis (whose big red frock is quite imposing). Meanwhile, the delightful Diahann Carroll's Dominique Deveraux (love that name!) also gets pissed off as does Krystle, who doesn't appreciate receiving an expensive gift from Daniel Reece (Rock Hudson). Enjoy!
Lee Remick was beautiful as well as talented, and she starred in some wonderful films during her career, including A Face in the Crowd (1957), Anatomy of a Murder (1959), Experiment in Terror (1962), No Way to Treat A Lady (1968), and, of course, The Omen (1976). Since I didn't become a show tune enthusiast until I was the ripe old age of 27, I was quite surprised to learn that Remick possessed a lovely singing voice to match her amazing acting skills, which I discovered upon listening to her performances in the short-lived 1964 Sondheim musical, Anyone Can Whistle, and the legendary 1985 concert version of Follies (she also did TV productions of Damn Yankees! in 1967 and I Do! I Do! in 1982). The lady could do it all. She left us much too soon in 1991, but today I'm celebrating her life on what would have been her 74th birthday.
Here are 10 Groovy Facts about Lee Remick:
1) She was born Lee Ann Remick on December 14, 1935, in Quincy, Massachusetts.
2) Remick made her Broadway debut in 1953 in the comedy, Be Your Age, which ran for five performances.
3) She made her film debut in Elia Kazan's A Face in the Crowd as Betty Lou Fleckum, the teenage baton-twirling champion from Arkansas who marries singer Larry "Lonesome" Rhodes (played by Andy Griffith).
4) Remick was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Actress for her performance as the alcoholic wife of Jack Lemmon in Blake Edwards' 1962 film, Days of Wine and Roses (Anne Bancroft won for The Miracle Worker). Lemmon was her favorite co-star.
5) When Marilyn Monroe was fired during the filming of the 1962 comedy, Something's Got to Give, the studio announced that Remick would be her replacement. However, co-star Dean Martin, who had final approval of his leading lady, refused to continue without Monroe, who was then re-hired. After Monroe's death, the movie was made--with another version of the script--as 1963's Move Over, Darling, starring Doris Day and James Garner.
6) In 1966, Remick was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play for her role as a blind woman terrorized by drug smugglers in the thriller, Wait Until Dark (Rosemary Harris won for The Lion in Winter).
7) She received seven Emmy Award nominations for her performances in The Blue Knight (1973), QB VII (1974), Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill (1974), Wheels (1978), Haywire (1980), Eleanor: In Her Own Words (1986), and Nutcracker: Money, Madness & Murder (1987).
8) Remick and her first husband, Bill Colleran, were good friends of Robert F. Kennedy and John F. Kennedy and frequent visitors to the White House. She was also an avid spokesperson for the Democratic Party.
9) She was once quoted as saying, "I find it terribly depressing that 54 million people watch The Beverly Hillbillies--just about the same number who didn't take the trouble to vote in the Presidential election."
10) Remick was the subject of songs by two rock bands: The Go-Betweens' first single, "Lee Remick", in 1978 as well as Hefner's 1998 single of the same title.
In honor of the holiday season, this week I'm featuring five sexy Santas. 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.
For my final post of 2009, I thought it would be nice to end the year with a kiss . . . and a little bit more. ABC made history yesterday by airing the first-ever gay sex scene on American daytime network television as One Life to Live's "Kish"--Kyle Lewis and Oliver Fish (played by Brett Claywell and Scott Evans, the openly gay brother of actor Chris Evans)--finally made love on New Year's Eve. They do make a cute couple, don't they? 
_01.jpg)
