I first saw this sassy gay video from The Second City Network earlier this week, and I think it's definitely worth sharing. Starring Colleen Foy and Brian Gallivan, the video makes me want to see a theatrical version of Hamlet with the added role of Ophelia's friend, who would certainly put a fresh and flamboyant spin on the story. Enjoy!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
TV Flashback: My 10 Favorite Mad About You Episodes
So in honor of this exciting news, I'm sharing my 10 favorite episodes of Mad About You out of the 164 that were produced (I'll feature Larry another time). Paul and Jamie Buchman (played by the wonderful Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt, who had such great on-screen chemistry), made their first appearance on September 23, 1992, and the show aired for seven seasons on NBC until May 24, 1999. After the couple had a baby at the end of the fifth season, the series jumped the shark a bit in quality, but it still had its enjoyable moments. Paul and Jamie and their friends and families - and their dog, Murray - always made me smile, and I look forward to seeing them all again on DVD.
Now here are my favorite episodes (in chronological order):
1) "Disorientation" (Episode 43, Season 2 - April 28, 1994)
On Jamie's first day of school, Paul realizes that he forgot to mail in her registration, so he and his friends have to register Jamie at the last minute without her noticing.
2) "Escape from New York" (Episode 48, Season 3 - September 22, 1994)
On the last weekend of a hot New York summer, Paul and Jamie
borrow Fran's car to drive down to the Jersey shore for a taste of
fried clams at a favorite restaurant.
3) "Pandora's Box" (Episode 53, Season 3 - November 3, 1994)
Despite Paul's opposition to having a TV in their bedroom, Jamie decides to steal a cable TV hookup and accidentally causes a citywide blackout.
4) "The Ride Home" (Episode 54, Season 3 - November 10, 1994)
Paul and Jamie try to be less of a
couple at Fran's birthday party, where Jamie is reunited with an ex-boyfriend (played by Eric Stoltz).
5) "Giblets for Murray" (Episode 55, Season 3 - November 17, 1994)
Jamie's perfect Thanksgiving feast involves a buffet for ten and five
turkeys, thanks to Murray and their friendly neighborhood
grocer.
6) "Our Fifteen Minutes" (Episode 58, Season 3 - January 5, 1995)
Paul is one of six documentary filmmakers selected by PBS to turn the camera on themselves for fifteen minutes. Anne Ramsay as Jamie's sister, Lisa, is hilarious in this episode.
7) "How to Fall in Love" (Episode 59, Season 3 - January 19, 1995)
Paul's ideas on how to meet and engage the opposite sex are tested by Jamie when they decide to have a little competition on pick-up techniques.
8) "Two Tickets to Paradise" (Episode 66, Season 3 - March 30, 1995)
Paul and Jamie end up telling tall tales while using his parents' non-refundable package for a holiday in the Caribbean.
9) "Ovulation Day" (Episode 81, Season 4 - January 7, 1996)
Paul and Jamie try to have a love-in-the-afternoon rendezvous, but his family interrupts their plans - and his sister, Debbie, announces that she's a lesbian. I loved Louis Zorich and Cynthia Harris as Paul's parents, Burt and Sylvia Buchman.
10) "Dream Weaver" (Episode 83, Season 4 - February 4, 1996)
Paul and Jamie try to make sense of their extremely weird dreams, with an appearance by former Laugh-In stars Henry Gibson, Arte Johnson, Gary Owens and Jo Anne Worley.
Friday, February 26, 2010
The 25 Grooviest Movies of the 1960s
With the Academy Awards arriving once again on March 7, I thought it would be fun to share my 25 favorite films of every decade from the 1930s to the 2000s. I've previously posted my Top 25 from the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, so today we will continue with the swinging '60s. And after narrowing down my selections with some difficulty, here they are (in alphabetical order):
1) Barefoot in the Park (1967): This movie is like comfort food to me - and Robert Redford, Jane Fonda and the marvelous Mildred Natwick all give delicious performances.
2) The Birds (1963): This is my favorite Alfred Hitchcock film - and you gotta love Tippi!
3) Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961): Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly. Enough said.
4) Bunny Lake Is Missing (1965): A terrific little thriller starring Carol Lynley, Keir Dullea, Noël Coward, Laurence Olivier and The Zombies.
5) Cactus Flower (1969): More groovy movie comfort food with the delightful Goldie Hawn and the divine Ingrid Bergman.
6) Charade (1963): Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn star in this entertaining suspense thriller/romance/comedy.
Patti LuPone Needs Your Help
It's always so nice to wake up to a fabulous Patti LuPone story - and this time the Tony Award-winning actress is reaching out to her fans for their assistance. According to today's New York Times, she's running a new contest on her official website, pattilupone.net, asking her loyal fans for their help in naming her forthcoming autobiography (I can't wait to read what she has to say about her Sunset Boulevard experience). Here's the blurb that appears on her page:
"Dolls, I've been busy writing the story of my theatrical life and need your help to find a suitable and fabulous title. If your entry is selected, you'll win an autographed copy of the book, two tickets to my next Broadway show (or major show in a city near you), and I'll congratulate you personally at the theatre. Contest ends March 30, 2010.
Important note: Travel and accommodations are not included. Good luck!"
So, get your creative thinking caps on, folks, and help a lady out. And if you're in Chicago next week, you might even be able to tell your title personally to Patti as she and Mandy Patinkin will be appearing together here March 2 - 7. These two legendary Broadway stars - and lifelong friends - will reunite for the first time since their Evita days to perform the greatest songs ever written for the stage.
Tickets for An Evening with Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin range from $18 - $90, and you can purchase them either by phone (800-775-2000), online through Ticketmaster, or in person at the Cadillac Palace Theatre box office located at 151 W. Randolph.
Dish of the Day #345: Vote for your Favorite
Every Monday through Friday a new hot hunk will be featured for your viewing enjoyment, and beginning today you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week in the sidebar poll.
Today's Dish is Dror Okavi.
Last week's BIG and HAIRY winner was #339 won with a whopping 48.2% of the 139 votes cast. Far behind in second place was #336 with 16.5%, followed by #337 (15.8%), #340 (10.1%) and #338 (9.4%).
Today's Dish is Dror Okavi.
Last week's BIG and HAIRY winner was #339 won with a whopping 48.2% of the 139 votes cast. Far behind in second place was #336 with 16.5%, followed by #337 (15.8%), #340 (10.1%) and #338 (9.4%).
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Thursdays in Chicago with Sondheim & Christine Ebersole
I think this is very exciting news, so here's the dish: Chicago's Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park will be kicking off its inaugural Broadway Luminaries series next month with two fabulous evenings featuring composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim and actress and songstress Christine Ebersole.
First up is Sondheim, whom every gay man and musical lover should know. He will appear on Thursday, March 4, at 7:30 pm in an A Life in the Theater dialogue with moderator Gary Griffin (who has directed many Sondheim musicals at Chicago Shakespeare Theater and elsewhere). They will discuss the composer's brilliant career, including his collaborations with Leonard Bernstein, Jerome Robbins, Tim Burton and Oscar Hammerstein II. Their intimate exchange will also include Sondheim's reflections on the state of American musical theater; the differences between film and theater; and his own creative process in developing such classic shows as Gypsy, West Side Story, Company, Follies, Sunday in the Park with George and Sweeney Todd. And following the conversation, the "Master of the Musical" (as TIME magazine once hailed him) will conduct a Q&A with audience members.
Then on Thursday, March 25, at 7:30 pm, Winnetka native Christine Ebersole will make her Harris Theater debut with musical director and pianist John Oddo in a special evening of songs from The Great American Songbook and Broadway classics - including a few Sondheim numbers in honor of his 80th birthday on March 22. I've enjoyed watching this amazing actress ever since she starred in the 1986-89 CBS sitcom, The Cavanaughs, and I've been lucky enough to see her onstage twice - in her Tony Award-winning dual performance in the musical, Grey Gardens, as well as her delightful turn in last year's Broadway revival of Blithe Spirit. Noted by The New York Times as having "the voice of a nightingale," the lovely lady recently completed her third cabaret engagement at the legendary Café Carlyle in New York, so her Harris appearance should be a special treat for Chicago audiences.
Tickets for Stephen Sondheim's A Life In The Theater on March 4 range from $35 - $65, and tickets for An Evening with Christine Ebersole on March 25 range from $45 - $75. You can purchase tickets for both engagements either by phone (312-334-7777), online at www.HarrisTheaterChicago.org, or in person at the Harris Theater box office located in Millennium Park at 205 E. Randolph Dr.
The 50 Grooviest Guys of Daytime Soaps, Part 1
Since I recently posted my 50 Grooviest Gals of Daytime Soaps, I thought it was only fair to give the guys their own list. And once again, I found it incredibly difficult to narrow down my selections with many talented actors not making the final cut - but hopefully I've chosen a few of your favorite fellas.So here are the first ten (and, FYI, that's a young Jon Hensley in the photo with his former As the World Turns co-star, Martha Byrne):
50) A Martinez
Best Role: Cruz Castillo, Santa Barbara (1984-92)
Other Roles: Roy DiLucca, General Hospital (1999-2002)
Ray Montez, One Life to Live (2008-09)
49) George Reinholt
Best Role: Steve Frame, Another World (1968-75, 1989)
Other Roles: Erik Fulda, The Secret Storm (1967-68)
Tony Lord, One Life to Live (1975-77)
48) Larkin Malloy
Best Role: Schuyler Whitney/Jefferson Brown, The Edge of Night (1980-84)
Other Roles: Kyle Sampson, Guiding Light (1984-87)
Travis Montgomery, All My Children (1987-91, 1997, 1998, 2001)
Clay Alden, Loving (1992)
Dish of the Day #344: Another Forever in Blue Jeans Week
Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning on Friday you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week. If you haven't voted for last week's Dish yet, choose your man in the sidebar poll.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Let's Get 'Lost': Like Father, Like Son
Now this episode I loved - especially when we get to see actor Matthew Fox with his shirt unbuttoned (it obviously doesn't take much to make my raspberry swirl). Last night's Lost was Jack-centric with a lot of Hurley humor and groovy Claire scenes - and I enjoyed every moment of it.Now let's take a closer look at what happened with our favorite characters this week:
Jack Shephard: So the good doctor has a son in his Parallel Time. What a surprise - but not totally unexpected since one of the character's ongoing themes has always been his daddy issues. And now his young son, David, has some issues of his own, which were nicely resolved with a sweet scene between him and Jack after his piano audition. However, the question remains on who the mother of this teenage boy is - it can't be Jack's ex-wife Sarah (played by Modern Family's Julie Bowen) because they didn't meet until 2001. Hmmm, I didn't realize before that Jack had a previous marriage/romance of such importance that it produced a child. I guess we'll learn more about David's mother later this season.
We also got to see actress Veronica Hamel again as Jack's mother - but, gosh, the poor thing has had some bad plastic surgery. I always thought she was gorgeous during her Hill Street Blues days, so it's a shame to see yet another Hollywood actress mess up her natural beauty. I do expect Claire to show up in Jack's Parallel Time in the future since her name appeared in their late father's will.
One of the most surprising moments of the episode was when Dogen, the Japanese leader of the Others, appeared with his son at David's audition to chat with Jack - a very weird meeting to say the least.
Meanwhile, back on the island, Jack was startled when Hurley told him that Jacob's ghost told him to tell Jack that "he has what it takes". Jack's reaction was later explained in Parallel Time when he confided in David that his asshole father used to tell him that "he didn't have what it takes" to succeed in life. So Jack then went off with Hurley to meet with Jacob at a mysterious lighthouse, where Jack was freaked out to realize that the man has been watching all of the Lost gang in a magical mirror. He then proceeded to smash this mirror into many tiny pieces. Jacob later told Hurley that Jack has something very important to do.
Some other observations during Jack's storyline:
He told Hurley that he (Jack) would make a terrible dad. Was he lying to Hurley - or does Island Jack not have a son?
Why was Jack so concerned about his old appendix scar at the beginning of the show?
And, finally, he and Hurley found Shannon's asthma inhaler - it was recently confirmed that actress Maggie Grace will be resuming her old role again, so maybe this was just a brief reminder about her deceased character.
Kate Austen: She briefly appeared in the jungle for Jack to make goo-goo eyes at (the guy has got it bad for her) before she went on her merry way to find Claire. However, poor Claire has lost her marbles after being left behind on the island for three years. She has now become the new crazy gun-toting Danielle Rousseau who is obsessed with finding her son, Aaron. The girl believes the Others have him, and after Jin revealed that Kate has been raising him, she said she would have to kill Kate if this was true. Uh-oh, Ms. Austen better watch her back.
Sawyer Ford: No Sawyer this week.
Hurley Reyes: This funny guy was on a roll this week, telling Dogen that he was "a fan of Indiana Jones stuff" after being discovered in the temple and later being a bit scared because he lied to a samurai. I also liked that he stood up to the leader of the Others by repeating what Jacob told him to say: "I'm a candidate and I can do what I want." And I assume that the mystery of the two skeletons in the cave will eventually be revealed, since Hurley and Jack had a brief discussion about them with the former wondering, "What if they're us?"
Sayid Jarrah: He made a cameo appearance as Jack informed him that the pill was poison and the Others want him dead.
Ben Linus and Richard Alpert: No Ben or Richard this week.
Jin and Sun Kwon: No Sun this week, but lots of Jin. When we last saw the poor man, his foot was stuck in one of Claire's booby traps, but she removed him from it and treated his bloody wound. The deranged girl disclosed to a concerned Jin that her father and a mysterious friend both told her that the Others were hiding her son. And after Jin confessed that Kate had taken Aaron, Claire stuck an ax in the gut of the "Other" guy, whom she had captured. This "good" news apparently didn't please her very much as Jin quickly explained that he had lied only to save the life of her prisoner and that the Others actually did have her child. Claire seemed relieved to hear this confirmation of what she's believed all these years, and then . . .
John Locke: . . . MIB (Man in Black) Locke showed up to see Claire, who introduced him to a shocked Jin as her friend who was NOT John. YIKES! I feel sorry for Jin having to hang out with these two looney tunes.
And that, folks, is how the episode ended. So now we have Jacob trying to recruit Jack to his side, while Jin has, unfortunately, become involved with the dark forces. And I assume eventually the two gangs will meet for a rumble in the jungle. Can't wait. Until next time, get lost.
Dish of the Day #343: Another Forever in Blue Jeans Week
Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning on Friday you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week. If you haven't voted for last week's Dish yet, choose your man in the sidebar poll.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Margo Channing
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 1950 film, All About Eve.
1) What actresses play Karen Richards and Birdie?
2) What is the name of the award that Eve receives for her breakout performance?
3) Who sabotages Margo's car, forcing her to miss a performance?
4) Who plays Miss Caswell? And complete this quote about her: "Miss Caswell is an actress, a graduate of the _________ School of Dramatic Art."
5) What is the name of Eve's young fan who briefly appears at the end of the film?
Last week Steve Aldridge answered the following questions correctly about the 1981 film, Mommie Dearest:
1) What is the name of Joan Crawford's adopted son? Christopher
2) What company is Joan's husband, Alfred Steele, the CEO of? Pepsi Cola
3) What does Joan find in Christina's closet that majorly pisses her off? Wire hangers
4) What does Christina do for a living after she moves to Manhattan? Acting on a daytime soap opera
5) Complete this Joan quote: "Don't fuck with me, fellas. This ain't my first time at the rodeo."
Dish of the Day #342: Another Forever in Blue Jeans Week
Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning on Friday you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week. If you haven't voted for last week's Dish yet, choose your man in the sidebar poll.
Today's Dish is Lucas Kerr. The photographer is Adam Raphael.
Today's Dish is Lucas Kerr. The photographer is Adam Raphael.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Groovy Web Series: Steve Hayes is a Tired Old Movie-Loving Queen
If you're a regular reader of this blog, then you already know who the fabulous Steve Hayes is - actor extraordinaire (Trick, The Big Gay Musical) and film aficionado who began his own web series last year called Tired Old Queen at the Movies, in which he reviews some of his favorite flicks. So I thought I would check in today and see what the groovy guy has been watching lately:
Steve reviews the very first movie he ever saw, The Greatest Show on Earth, which won the Oscar for Best Picture of 1952. It stars Jimmy Stewart, Betty Hutton, Charlton Heston (in his first major role), and Gloria Grahame, whom Mr. Hayes shares an amusing personal story about.
The TOQ takes on Bette Davis in The Letter (1940) in his own unique and entertaining way with a brief moment of sharp commentary about Ginger Rogers in Kitty Foyle.
And, finally, Steve chats about Monty, Liz and Shelley in A Place in the Sun (1951) with a fascinating story about Liz saving Monty's life and a spot-on impersonation of Shelley's character, whom you just want to kill.
For more Tired Old Queen at the Movies, click here to subscribe to Steve's YouTube channel - and tell him Deep Dish sent you.
Dish of the Day #341: Another Forever in Blue Jeans Week
Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning on Friday you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week. If you haven't voted for last week's Dish yet, choose your man in the sidebar poll.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
The 25 Grooviest Movies of the 1970s
Between now and the Academy Awards on March 7, I will be sharing my 25 favorite films of every decade from the 1930s to the 2000s. I've previously posted my Top 25 from the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, so today we will continue with the groovy '70s. I could have easily listed 50 fabulous films from this decade, but I was finally able to narrow down my selections - and here they are (in alphabetical order):
1) All That Jazz (1979): Bob Fosse's semi-autobiographical musical film with an amazing performance by the late Roy Scheider.
2) American Graffiti (1973): George Lucas' coming-of-age comedy/drama with a terrific cast that includes Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark and Harrison Ford.
3) Annie Hall (1977): Diane Keaton won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her memorable performance in the Best Picture of the year.
4) Being There (1979): Peter Sellers and Shirley MacLaine are wonderful in this film.
5) Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970): The Carrie Nations, Ashley St. Ives, Lance Rocke and Z-Man are just so groovy, man.
6) The Boys in the Band (1970): Love it or hate it, the film is still a major milestone in the history of "queer cinema".
7) Butterflies Are Free (1972): The lovely Eileen Heckart won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her fabulous performance - and Goldie Hawn is a delight.
8) Cabaret (1972): It's Liza as Sally Bowles, which is reason enough to put it on the list.
9) Cold Turkey (1971): Norman Lear's satirical comedy about a small town in Iowa that gives up smoking for 30 days to win $25 million. Dick Van Dyke, Bob Newhart and Jean Stapleton are all hilarious.
10) Family Plot (1976): One of my favorite Alfred Hitchcock movies with excellent performances by Barbara Harris, Bruce Dern, William Devane and Karen Black.
11) Five Easy Pieces (1970): "You want me to hold the chicken, huh?" "I want you to hold it between your knees." One of Jack Nicholson's best performances.
12) Grease (1978): I'm hopelessly devoted to this film starring Olivia and Stockard Channing.
13) The Last Picture Show (1971): An outstanding drama about a small town in Texas with great performances by Jeff Bridges, Ellen Burstyn and especially Cloris Leachman.
14) Nashville (1975): This is the best film of the decade, and I consider it Robert Altman's masterpiece.
15) Network (1976): "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!" - and Faye Dunaway is divine.
16) The Out-of-Towners (1970): This movie is like comedy comfort food to me - and Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis are marvelous.
17) The Poseidon Adventure (1972): The best disaster flick ever - and you gotta love Shelley.
18) The Ritz (1976): Rita Moreno as Googie Gomez. Enough said.
19) Shampoo (1975): Warren Beatty, Julie Christie, Goldie Hawn and Lee Grant are all amazing.
20) Smile (1975): Barbara Feldon's best role - and a very funny film.
21) Starting Over (1979): Candice Bergen steals the movie with her hilarious bad singing, but Jill Clayburgh and Burt Reynolds also give great performances.
22) The Stepford Wives (1975): I love this creepy little film starring Katharine Ross, Tina Louise and the always delightful Paula Prentiss.
23) The Way We Were (1973): The most romantic movie of the decade with Robert Redford and Barbra Streisand as Hubbell and Katie.
24) A Wedding (1978): Another Robert Altman film that I adore with terrific performances by Carol Burnett, Geraldine Chaplin and Mia Farrow.
25) What's Up, Doc? (1972): One of the best screwball comedies ever with Barbra Streisand, a hot and hunky Ryan O'Neal and the marvelous Madeline Kahn as Eunice Burns.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Groovy Web Series: Ave 43
Justin Tanner has got one dark and twisted mind that I can totally relate to. He's the creator of Ave 43, a bizarre web soap opera that I discovered on YouTube this week. While I was watching the first episode, my initial thought was "What the hell is this?", which quickly changed to "I need to watch more of this wacky madness." And by the end of the second show, in which one of the characters reveals a shocking secret about her brother, I was hooked on the hilarious series, which I would describe as a fast and furious soap opera parody, reminiscent of Mary Hartman and Soap, with many wild plot twists and turns. Mr. Tanner was once a staff writer for the wonderful Gilmore Girls, and he wrote a very funny play called Pot Mom, which I saw years ago at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theater. I just like the guy's wicked, anything-goes sense of humor, which is now on full display in his groovy new web series.So what is Ave 43 all about? Well, I think it would be easier just to list the main characters and have you experience the sordid surprises of the series for yourself:
Debbie (Chloe Taylor) and Janet (Zoe Perry), two young apartment roommates in the Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Randy (Todd Lowe, who played Zach on Gilmore Girls and currently appears as Terry on HBO's True Blood), Debbie's boyfriend who revisits his past life when the present gets tough.
Mike (Cody Chappel), Debbie's gay brother whose relationship with Walter (Michael Halpin) hits the rocks when the devious Shayne (Danny Schmitz) shows up.
Cliff (Jonathan Palmer), Janet's older boyfriend whose "footlong" appearance in a Raging Boner gay porn film is only the tip of the iceberg of his personal melodrama.
Viv (Jayne Taini), Cliff's disapproving sister who will do anything to get Janet out of his life.
Fran (Danielle Kennedy), Cliff and Viv's mother who has been hiding a big secret of her own for a very long time.
Mr. Hakopian (Harvey Perr), a lonely widower with a jacuzzi whom Viv becomes involved with.
Ondria (Abby Travis), Hakopian's daughter who practices witchcraft and enjoys casting spells on people.
Lyle (Tom Fitzpatrick), who runs a drug and prostitution ring - but would really just like to focus on his "art" (porn films).
Tim (Tad Coughenour), Lyle's henchman who carries out some dirty deeds for his boss.
Irene (Melissa Denton) and Lotty (Mary Scheer), two mysterious sisters whose relationship is constantly changing.
And Pazuzu (Oscar), Irene's "unpredictable" white cat who has a fascinating storyline of his own.
As you can see, there is a helluva lot going on in Ave 43 - and it only gets more crazy and addictive with each episode. The talented ensemble of actors are all perfectly cast, but a few of my favorites are Denton (whose kooky Irene uses a shoebox of chicken bones from KFC for sympathy), Travis (whose Ondria is a delightful hoot), and Schmitz (who steals the show with his deadly schemes and bad-boy sexiness).
I've checked out many web soap operas in the last year, but Justin Tanner's unique world of weird romance and delicious mystery is one of the best. Too many of these online serials take themselves way too seriously with lots of depressing drama and not an ounce of humor, but Ave 43 remembers to make us laugh while entertaining us with its trippy, offbeat storylines - and that, my friends, deserves a round of applause. I can't wait for the show's second season, which will begin next month.
You can watch the first three episodes of Ave 43 below, and to continue the adventure, go to the series' YouTube channel.
The 50 Grooviest Gals of Daytime Soaps: The Top 5
Today I'm featuring the Top 5 in my countdown of favorite daytime soap actresses. To see what lovely and talented ladies I chose for #6-50, click here. Now here they are, folks, the five Grooviest Gals of Daytime Soaps:
5) Jeanne Cooper
Katherine Chancellor, The Young and the Restless (1973-present)
4) Beverlee McKinsey
Best Role: Iris Cory, Another World (1972-80)/Texas (1980-81)
Other Roles: Julie Richards, Love Is a Many Splendored Thing (1970-71)
Emma Frame Ordway, Another World (1972)
Alexandra Spaulding, Guiding Light (1984-92)
Myrna Slaughter, General Hospital (1994)
3) Susan Flannery
Best Role: Stephanie Forrester, The Bold and the Beautiful (1987-present)
Other Role: Dr. Laura Spencer Horton, Days of our Lives (1966-75)
2) Robin Strasser
Best Role: Dorian Lord, One Life to Live (1979-87, 1993-2000, 2003-present)
Other Roles: Rachel Davis, Another World (1967-72)
Dr. Christina Karras, All My Children (1976-79)
Hecuba, Passions (2000-02)
1) Erika Slezak
Victoria Lord, One Life to Live (1971-present)
Dish of the Day #340: 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 big winner was #333 won with 37.3% of the 118 votes cast. Coming in second was #334 with 22.9%, followed by #331 (16.1%), #335 (13.6%) and #332 (10.2%).
Last week's big winner was #333 won with 37.3% of the 118 votes cast. Coming in second was #334 with 22.9%, followed by #331 (16.1%), #335 (13.6%) and #332 (10.2%).
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Groovy Web Series: Season 2 of 'Jack In A Box'
I love Jack In A Box, which has become one of my favorite web series since it debuted last summer on YouTube. I've previously blogged about the hilarious show and its talented creator and star Michael Cyril Creighton, who plays a cupcake-loving theatre box office employee named Jack. He makes me laugh out loud while dredging up painful memories of my own box office ordeal from 20 years ago. It wasn't the most pleasant place to work back then, but Creighton has now brilliantly succeeded in making it a funny one. So I was excited to learn that Jack was coming back to entertain us for a second season - and below you can check out the latest episode, "The Change", in which he makes a very important decision about his life. Creighton's supporting cast couldn't be better, especially Beth Cole as his friend and boss, Becca, and the delightful Katina Corrao as his kooky co-worker, Suzie. However, if this is your first time entering Jack's beloved box, I recommend that you start at the very beginning of the series and watch all 9 episodes in order. This would be the best way to fully appreciate the humor and heartache of Jack's sharply amusing world. To experience every magical moment of Jack In A Box, go to Creighton's YouTube channel or become a Facebook fan of the series by clicking here.
Missing Puck: I Want My 'Glee' TV!
So first up, here's the brand new promo for the rest of this season, featuring the Cheerios' head coach in some familiar lingerie (from the highly anticipated all-Madonna episode on April 20), more slushie facials and Terri Schuester, Will battling Sue and romancing Emma, the kids singing The Beatles' "Hello, Goodbye", and Ms. Sylvester giving us another classic line:
"Somewhere in the English countryside, in a stately manor home, Madonna is weeping."
Now here are a few more spoilers to look forward to:
There will be an episode featuring all original songs.
Boozy April Rhodes (played by the delightful Kristin Chenoweth) will be returning for at least one more episode.
Spring Awakening's cute Jonathan Groff will be showing up as the male lead of rival glee club, Vocal Adrenaline.
The lovely Olivia Newton-John will be making a guest appearance to sing her 1981 hit, "Physical", with Sue Sylvester (and if that doesn't make you jump for joy, then you're watching the wrong show, baby).
The wonderful Molly Shannon will be joining the ensemble as Sue's new nemesis, Brenda Castle, an astronomy teacher and badminton coach who is both an alcoholic and a pill-popper.
Broadway star Idina Menzel (Wicked) will be a guest star - and the adorable Neil Patrick Harris might be showing up as well.
And next season three new characters will be introduced:
A boyfriend for Kurt, who will be on the football team, an R&B singer/male Mercedes, and an Eve Harrington-esque rival for Rachel. I've also heard that Kurt and Mercedes might be fighting over a bisexual R&B singer, which would be interesting - but this sounds like the two new characters have been combined into one, so we'll have to wait and see.
That's all the spoilers I have, but I will leave you with two more Glee-ful videos - the first is an AOL Outside the Box interview with Matthew Morrison (Will), Chris Colfer (Kurt) and Cory Monteith (Finn) - and last but certainly not least, the gorgeous Mark Salling (Puck) sings a sweet tribute to the show's cast and crew.
The 50 Grooviest Gals of Daytime Soaps, Part 5
Today I'm continuing my countdown of favorite daytime soap actresses. To see what lovely and talented ladies I chose for #11-50, click here. Now here are the first five of my Top 10 (the final five will be revealed tomorrow - and, FYI, that's Susan Lucci in the photo with her third onscreen husband, Richard Shoberg):
10) Mary Stuart
Best Role: Joanne Gardner, Search for Tomorrow (1951-86)
Other Roles: Meta Bauer, Guiding Light (1996-02)
Judge Claire Webber, One Life to Live (1998)
9) Kim Zimmer
Best Role: Reva Shayne, Guiding Light (1983-90, 1995-09)
Other Roles: Bonnie Harmon, One Life to Live (1978)
Nola Dancy Aldrich, The Doctors (1979-82)
Echo DiSavoy, One Life to Live (1983)
Jodie Walker, Santa Barbara (1992-93)
8) Elizabeth Hubbard
Best Role: Lucinda Walsh, As the World Turns (1984-present)
Other Roles: Anne Fletcher, Guiding Light (1962)
Carol Kramer, The Edge of Night (1963)
Althea Davis, The Doctors (1964-69, 1970-77, 81-82)
Estelle Chadwick, One Life to Live (1983-84)
7) Eileen Fulton
Lisa Miller Grimaldi, As the World Turns (1960-64, 1966-83, 1984-present)
6) Susan Lucci
Erica Kane, All My Children (1970-present)
Dish of the Day #339: Forever in Blue Jeans Week
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Groovy Web Series: Gotham
Although Gotham was one of my favorite web series of 2009, I haven't featured an in-depth review of the continuing drama - until now. And I can pretty much sum up Gotham in a single sentence: if you like excellent performances from familiar soap opera faces, interesting characters, and traditional - but still addictive - storylines, then you will probably enjoy this new web serial created by executive producer Martha Byrne (ex-Lily on As the World Turns). She and Lisa Brown (Iva on As the World Turns, Nola on Guiding Light) are also the writers of Gotham, and together they are slowly developing an intriguing world of sordid secrets and lost love. Since the opening theme song of "Love Makes the World Go 'Round" (from the 1961 Broadway musical, Carnival) plays as we watch the two lead characters, Catherine Prescott (Byrne) and Richard Manning (Michael Park - Jack on As the World Turns), walk around New York City, it does make one assume that these two former high school sweethearts will eventually wind up in each other's arms again, and that is one of the reasons we like watching a good soap opera - to see our favorite star-crossed lovers finally become a happy supercouple - after an appropriate amount of heartache and misery, of course. And Byrne and Brown have already achieved this with Catherine and Richard, who make an attractive couple worth rooting for. However, the characters each have plenty of baggage with ex-spouses and children - as well as Richard's money problems with a gun-toting business partner (As the World Turn's Paolo Seganti) - to keep them apart for many episodes to come.Byrne and Park are wonderful in their roles, but the supporting cast is equally as good - especially Anna Sayre as Catherine's wealthy best friend, Tina, who provides some comic relief; Lisa Peluso (Ava on Loving, Lila on Another World) as Richard's soon-to-be ex-wife, Veronica; Kin Shriner (Scotty on General Hospital) as Catherine's ex-husband, Jon; and Anna Stuart (Donna on Another World) as Richard's domineering mother, Elizabeth, who can't stand the "dreadful" Dinah Cummings (played by Guiding Light's Maeve Kinkead). Other former soap opera actors who make brief appearances in the first few episodes include Margaret Reed (Shannon on As the World Turns), Melanie Smith (ex-Emily on As the World Turns), and Kurt McKinney (Matt on Guiding Light). I think it's great that Byrne has been able to round up such amazing talent for her series, and hopefully she will continue to do so in the future.
So what will happen next on Gotham? Will Richard be able to pay off his unhappy business partner? Why does Catherine's sister disapprove of her renewing an old friendship with Richard? Does it have something to do with Catherine's daughter, Ava, whom I suspect might not be her father's child (if you know what I mean)? And are we supposed to like Shriner's character so much (he and Byrne have such an amusing rapport that I almost want to see them reconcile)? I guess I'll just have to keep tuning in to find out the answers to these burning questions.
You can watch the first five episodes of Gotham below, and new installments debut every other Monday at 8 pm on GothamTheSeries.com and the show's YouTube channel. You can also become a Facebook fan or Twitter follower of the series.
Let's Get 'Lost': Hell Yes
Now let's take a closer look at what happened with our favorite characters this week:
Jack Shephard: No Jack does not make me a happy camper.
Kate Austen: And no Kate makes me even less happy.
Sawyer Ford: But there were some good Sawyer scenes, hooray! The MIB (Man in Black) Locke ended up at Sawyer's old DHARMA house to find the sexy guy drinking his misery away in soiled clothes and surrounded by mess (he's, of course, still devastated by Juliet's death). Sawyer didn't seem to care that MIB Locke wasn't really Locke, but he was interested to learn the man's answer to "the most important question in the world" - "Why are you on this island?" So Sawyer went off with MIB Locke, who took him down the side of a cliff to a cave. And once inside, MIB Locke showed him why he and the rest of the Lost gang are on the island - because Jacob wrote their names on the cave's ceiling with a mysterious number next to each one. Apparently they are all candidates to take over the job as the "protector" of the island - but it appears that Sawyer would rather just leave the lush wilderness behind since his response to MIB Locke's question, "Are you ready to go home?", was a firm "Hell yes." End of episode. So does this mean that Sawyer has been recruited over to the dark side? I hope not. I think he just wants to escape ASAP from the place where Juliet died - and maybe change into a clean shirt.
Hurley Reyes: There was a very intriguing Hurley scene in Locke's Parallel Time, in which Locke met Mr. Reyes in the parking lot of the company he was just fired from (for skipping his business conference in Australia in order to go on a walkabout). It was revealed that Hurley owned the company, and he was able to get Locke a new job through a temp agency that he also owned. And it was a pleasant surprise to see Rose as the office supervisor of the agency - even though she is now dying of terminal cancer (which magically went away when she was on the island).
Sayid Jarrah: No Sayid this week.
John Locke: It was nice to see Katey Sagal again as Locke's fiancée Helen in Parallel Time. She had the sweetest scene of the episode when she tore up Jack's business card and told Locke that the only thing she was ever waiting for was him. However, the most surprising scene was at the school where Locke got a new job as a substitute teacher - and his colleague turned out to be Ben Linus, who was bitching about the coffee in the teacher's lounge. Meanwhile, on the island in 2007, MIB Locke was startled to see a mysterious young boy in the jungle, who told him, "You know the rules; you can't kill him" (a reference to Sawyer - I think). But please don't ask me who the boy is because I have no clue.
Ben Linus: He also appeared on the island as he, Sun, Ilana (whom I still haven't warmed up to), and the groovy Frank Lapidus buried the real Locke's body. Ben confessed to the surprised group that he was very sorry that he murdered the man, which then led to the best - and funniest - line of the episode as Frank said, "That's the weirdest damn funeral I've ever been to."
Jin and Sun Kwon: No Jin - or Claire, whom he met in the jungle at the end of last week's episode - but Sun briefly showed up on the island to bury Locke's body.
Richard Alpert: He was looking less than stylish this week as MIB Locke had hit him in the throat and was now keeping him tied up in a tree on the island. MIB Locke wanted Richard on "his side" (i.e. the dark evil side), but the hot and bleeding guy wanted no part of this partnership (I think he just wanted to find a mirror to make himself pretty again). Richard later tried to convince Sawyer that MIB Locke just wanted everyone dead, but Sawyer didn't seem all that concerned by this disturbing news.
So although I liked last night's Hurley, Ben and Rose cameos in Locke's Parallel Time, I think I'll enjoy next week's episode a lot more since it will be all about our favorite doctor, Jack Shephard. Until then, get lost.
Deeper Dish with Tom Goss
Tom Goss has been playing the guitar ever since his mother bought him one as a high school graduation present, and soon thereafter he began writing his own songs. In 2006, he released his self-produced debut album of acoustic rock, Naked Without, followed by his second CD, Rise, in 2008 - and his first music video, which reached #2 on LOGO's video countdown. Last year Tom released his third album, Back To Love, and the lead single, "Till The End", received over 10,000 YouTube hits in three days and quickly became an anthem for the marriage equality movement. And when he isn't performing all over the country, the busy young man still finds time to work for Charlie's Place, an organization dedicated to helping the homeless in Washington, DC (where he's lived since 2004). And, finally, in case you're wondering, the openly gay 28-year-old is happily engaged to his partner of four years (sorry, guys). I couldn't be more delighted to have the talented Tom Goss here on the Dish to discuss his career and answer a few pop culture questions. Let's begin with Back To Love. What was your inspiration for the CD?
As I was writing songs and putting together a collection that seemed to work, I realized that all the songs that were speaking to me at the time dealt with love. This is not just romantic love but also love between friends and family, loss of love and longing for love. It really got me thinking about what I care about - it's not surprising that love is on the top of that list.
What is your favorite song on the album?
That's a tough question. I love the bigness of "Back To Arkansas" and "Sometimes We Fall", I love the simplicity of "Legacy Of You", and I love the speed and flow of "Tumblin' Down The Mountainside". I'm very proud of Back To Love - it is without a doubt my best work. There are so many things that I love throughout the album, it's hard to make that decision.
What was the very first song you ever wrote?
Hahaha, it was a song called "Under the Covers". I could probably still play it if I could find the words.
What is the most memorable moment you have had while performing?I once showed up to a performance where a drunk college student was trying to get a man in a wheelchair to walk - grabbing his knees and shaking him from side to side. He kept screaming at him to walk like he was a preacher. It was crazy! After a couple of minutes of this, I told him (from behind the microphone) that if he didn't stop then I was going to kick his ass. Needless to say, it was a memorable night.
You grew up in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and you now live in Washington, DC. In three words, how would you describe each place?
Kenosha - Fried Cheese Curds!
DC - Snow (OK, right now I'm biased), Sweetie, Friends
Since you were a wrestler from junior high through college, do you ever still get the desire to pin someone?
Sometimes I miss the physical nature and competitiveness of wrestling, but I don't really have the aggression that I used to have anymore. I play indoor soccer and kickball and that fuels some of my competitive spirit. I'd love to wrestle or play rugby - something a little more physical - but at this point, it would be a bad decision if I broke a finger. So I have to settle for less physical sports.
In high school I was:
An athlete.
My favorite comfort food is:
Mac and Cheese.
The last good book I read was:
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss - yeah, I'm a sap.
When I was growing up, I never missed a television episode of:I didn't watch much TV - I was mostly playing outside.
Today I never miss a television episode of:
I'm watching The Bad Girls Club marathon right now! It's such a train wreck, I can't turn away. Mostly I watch Law & Order.
The very first record album that I purchased with my own money was:
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's E 1999 Eternal. I played "Tha Crossroads" in Baltimore last Friday.
If I was stranded on a desert island for a year, I would want to listen to:
Hmmm, right now it would be Sonya Kitchell, Dave Matthews Band, Ben Folds, Damien Rice and David Gray.
Three of my favorite movies are:
I don't really like movies. I have a hard time suspending disbelief and staying put for two hours. That being said, somehow I always get suckered into watching The Shawshank Redemption. Ooh, and I liked Crash as well.
If I was asked to choose the Sexiest Man Alive (besides my partner), it would be:
OK, you have no idea how lame I am. I can't think of a celebrity that I find very sexy and people would know - but I like beards, so that would go a long way to being the Sexiest Man Alive.
If I could have anyone in the world - living or dead - be a guest at my dinner party, I would invite the following three people:
Sarah Palin, Flannery O'Connor and Dave Matthews. This would be a very strange dinner party. Imagine the awkwardness.
What's next for Tom Goss?
I'm releasing a marriage equality EP as well as a live DVD/CD in April. I'm very excited. I'm already halfway through booking my big spring tour as well. 50+ cities in two months. I'm going to be everywhere. I'm excited to be back on the road again.
Thank you, Tom, for getting Deeper with us here on the Dish. To learn more about Tom Goss and his upcoming tour - and purchase his CDs - check out his official website at www.tomgossmusic.net (to get some free downloads of his music, click here). You can also become a Facebook fan of his, follow him on Twitter, and watch more videos on his YouTube Channel. And if you live in or around Chicago, Tom will be performing at the Underground Lounge (952 W. Newport Ave.) on Friday, April 16, at 8 pm.
Dish of the Day #338: Forever in Blue Jeans Week
Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning on Friday you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week. If you haven't voted for last week's Dish yet, choose your man in the sidebar poll.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
The 50 Grooviest Gals of Daytime Soaps, Part 4
Today I'm continuing my countdown of favorite daytime soap actresses. To see what lovely and talented ladies I chose for #21-50, click here.Now here are the next ten (and, FYI, that's Victoria Wyndham in the photo with her onscreen husband, Douglass Watson):
20) Denise Alexander
Best Role: Lesley Webber, General Hospital (1973-84, 1996-present)
Other Roles: Lois Adams, The Clear Horizon (1960-62)
Emily Sanders, Ben Jerrod (1963-64)
Susan Hunter, Days of our Lives (1966-73)
Mary McKinnon, Another World (1986-89)
Sister Beatrice, Sunset Beach (1997-98)
19) Charita Bauer
Bert Bauer, Guiding Light (1950-84)
18) Ruth Warrick
Best Role: Phoebe Tyler Wallingford, All My Children (1970-05)
Other Roles: Janet Johnson, Guiding Light (1953-54)
Edith Hughes, As the World Turns (1956-60)
17) Kathryn Hays
Best Role: Kim Hughes, As the World Turns (1972-present)
Other Role: Leslie Bauer, Guiding Light (1971)
16) Ilene Kristen
Best Role: Delia Reid, Ryan's Hope (1975-78, 1982-83, 1986-89)
Other Roles: Georgina Whitman, One Life to Live (1982)
Norma Gilpin, Loving (1990-91)
Madeline Thompson, Another World (1995)
Roxy Balsom, One Life to Live (2001-present)
15) Susan Seaforth Hayes
Best Role: Julie Olson Williams, Days of our Lives (1968-84, 1990-93, 1994, 1996, 1999-present)
Other Roles: Dorothy Bradley, General Hospital (1963)
Carol West, The Young Marrieds (1965-66)
Joanna Manning, The Young and the Restless (1984-89, 2005, 2006)/The Bold and the Beautiful (2003)
D.A. Patricia Steele, Sunset Beach (1999)
14) Genie Francis
Best Role: Laura Webber Spencer, General Hospital (1976-82, 1983-84, 1993-02, 2006, 2008)
Other Roles: Diana Colville, Days of our Lives (1987-89)
Ceara Connor, All My Children (1990-92), Loving (1991)
13) Jane Elliot
Best Role: Tracy Quartermaine, General Hospital (1978-80, 1989-93, 1996, 2003-present)/The City (1996-97)
Other Roles: Linda Skerba, A Flame in the Wind (1965)
Carrie Todd Marler, Guiding Light (1981-82)
Cynthia Preston, All My Children (1984-86)
Anjelica Deveraux, Days of our Lives (1987-89)
12) Deidre Hall
Best Role: Dr. Marlena Evans, Days of our Lives (1976-87, 1991-09)
Other Role: Barbara Anderson, The Young and the Restless (1973)
11) Victoria Wyndham
Best Role: Rachel Cory, Another World (1972-99)
Other Role: Charlotte Waring, Guiding Light (1967-70)
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