The Good the Bad... and well, i'm not ugly

There's some days that being in a big city is fun. Like today. The new mega-expensive musical, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN is loading in currently. So, I walked by the loading dock this morning and saw lots of sets, costumes, etc. Woohoo, said I. Then, I had to let Bill Pullman into the building, and Judy Ivey came by to drop off some stuff, and Dallas Roberts walked out for a smoke break. Ah!

On the other hand, there's some things that aren't fun. Like this guy I work with. He just answered the phone "Yep, yep?" Are you serious? "Yep, yep." Oh for crying out loud. We all think he's going to kill himself, or someone near him. Which basically means I need to watch out for number one, or else I might be running around with my head cut off. Of course, the weirdo leaves this weekend to go back home to "figure some things out." Yeah, we've heard that one before. Go get a pickup and a dog and drive around or something, that usually seems to work, Bucko.

Two Happy Endings

Julie and the Beatles
ACROSS THE UNIVERSE has its moments, but in all, I guess I just didn't like it. Don't get me wrong, FRIDA is one of my favorites, but this one just doesn't have that same spark. Of course, it would have been better after a few magical brownies ("reefer madness, reefer madness!")... Some very touching scenes, neat colors and spectacle, but overall rather blah.

I Was Going to Go Anyway
...even if I didn't get a free pass. ENCHANTED, first of all, is narrated by none other than that glorious voice of voices, Ms Disney herself, Julie Andrews. Also a venerable who's who of Broadway (including Tonya Pinkins in a hysterical scene or two), this new flick from the Mouse is ... well, enchanting. Amy Adams is beautiful and does a brilliant job. I guess I just had a big smile on the whole time - sure, it's for the kids, but hey, I'm still a kid.

His name was Rico...

It had been an early morning. I arrived early to the airport, and actually was seated on an earlier flight than I was scheduled for. We landed at JFK and sat on the tarmac for about thirty minutes before we could deplane. But, eventually we did, and I airtran'd it to the subway and got to my new apartment around noon.

By mid-afternoon, it was time to go. A new (we worked together this summer) friend of mine had been offered four tickets to the taping of Barry Manilow's new PBS special, which will also be put out on DVD late this year (I believe). So, we followed the rules and wore dark colors, didn't bring any coats, no bags, no cameras, not even our cell phones... it was like living in the 90s again. Wowza.

But, for all the stinginess we had to endure, heck, we were treated well. As VIPs, we had access to the preshow open bar (2 or 3 gin and tonics for this guy), an escorted bathroom trip, and then fourth row center seats inside the soundstage at Brooklyn's Steiner Studios where it was being taped. For three hours or more, we sat around and waited, clapped a hell of a lot (often just because a guy in a headset told us to), stood up for Barry a lot, watched him forget some lyrics and have to go back and reshoot, sing COPACABANA and MANDY twice... in all it was pretty cool. Of course, were we actual fanilows, it would have been way cooler. I mean, between us, we probably recognized four songs (and that included the STATE FARM insurance jingle).

But worth it it was. Following the taping (where I saw two friends who had been hired to dance and cheer for Barry), we VIPs flashed our invites to the redcarpet after party on a rooftop at the Studios. More gin and tonics were drunk, steak and sushi offered (hell, I even ate some sort of duck roll because it was free!) and really rich desserts carried around on trays by other actors who were just making a buck as cater-waiters.

I wish I had been allowed a camera or something because I would insert here a picture looking at New York across the water in the night sky. It was great fun and very exciting. So, don't forget to watch Barry Manilow: Songs of the Seventies on PBS or get it on DVD. You'll probably get a glimpse of some crazy guy sorta clapping in the fourth row...

NEXT: Ms Lion King herself and the new Beatles' flick

Autumn of Awareness, and Action

I've failed you as a friend and a confidant, but, if you'll have me, I'd gladly take you back. My "summer in the hills" has come to a close, my retreat to the homeland is nearing its end, and the return to life in the big city all but a reality at this point. I am making it an autumn of awareness, these next few months: aware of my struggling pocketbook, distant friend contact, lack of continuing education, failure to reach my new year's resolution... all of these things make it seem like I need to become aware, and then act.

So, I begin today, this ninth afternoon of the ninth month of the year. I vow to blog more faithfully. And (hopefully) interestingly.

I look forward to coming into your lives more often, beginning ... soon.