Catching Up

What hasn't happened since last we spoke?

Everyone's on strike, which is really throwing a wrench in the gears around here. Pretty soon we won't be seeing any new episodes of Grey's or 30 Rock, or worse, Gossip Girl. I don't think the writers are coming back to work anytime soon. And, the word on the street that the stagehands would come back tomorrow is definitely a false hope. They've cancelled just about everything all week already. That's going to put this strike at at least 17 days or so... not good for business. Good thing I saw those plays before they all went dark... my guess is that a lot of them won't even be returning. IS HE DEAD? has only played two previews (I saw the second) and hasn't really been publicized, so I doubt it's going to get any legs to come back. And the real winner of the season, AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, had great word of mouth, but is missing its opening night now and who the hell knows. I think if any of the shows will pull out of this okay, it's gonna be that one. FARNSWORTH's Hank Azaria is not going to sit around twiddling his thumbs (like one writer noted last week) waiting for the strikers to come to terms, and it's going to close that show.

Too bad for Broadway. Good for off-Broadway. Keeps me busy at work anyway.

Remember when life sucked? Well, I've been pretending that I'm happy, and things have been working out actually. I've met some interesting people, created laughter, had tea parties and made dinner in costume. After, I danced with tigers, took a rifle class, had lifeguard training and splashed in the puddles I created in my bathroom because the toilet was broken and so I just emptied a bucket of water on the ground. And then just now, I talked in a fun-Godfather-Italian-accent with coworkers.*

I'm coming home for Thanksgiving, spending some time on the couch, and then shipping out to the sunny skies of Florida for a couple of months. Wowza: you're excited I can tell. I look forward to seeing you and/or hearing from you. Write comments, show me the love...

*Some of the above mentioned events have been fabricated.

Insider's Scoop

It's fun to live in New York when good things happen. I was lucky enough last weekend to score passes to two movie screenings. I will divulge a little here; not a lot, but enough to make you wish you were me (if you didn't already).

AMERCIAN GANGSTER
Yeah, this comes out in a week or so, but it was nice to see the foreign press screening of it here in the city. I guess I hadn't been reading up on it, so I had know idea it was about drug trafficking, but, okay. Once I woke up (after the first very slow twenty minutes), I really enjoyed it. Do I recommend? Yes if you want to see a good film in the long line of standard/middle-of-the-road gangster, mafia, shoot 'em ups.

BABY MAMA
This one isn't scheduled for release until April 2008, but I got to sit in and be a test audience for it. It's another comedy from Tina Fey, but it's essentially pretty sappy. I wanted it to be like Wedding Crashers, but it wasn't. I don't know why I wanted that, though, because I should have said, "oh, it'll probably be a morality play like Mean Girls." And it was. But it was a funny morality play nonetheless. With the likes of the UHMAZING Amy Poehler, Steve Martin and Sigourney Weaver, this has some really brilliant moments. I won't spoil my favorite, but remember this: it's when Amy offers to pay Tina for gas money.

Also, I finished the second season of WEEDS at three in the morning. I love it. And what an ending. That's good, because it was sort of getting lazy and sloppy I thought, but they sure pulled out the big guns (pun intended).

While I go spend the rest of my day off catching up on network television (Brothers and Sisters, 30 Rock, The Office and maybe Private Practice), I want to know what have you been watching?

Weekenders.

I am at the end of my first real weekend in so long - two entire days off without other obligations, plans, activities, events, or other things to suck up my time. Instead, I slept in, watched some TV, had a vocal coaching, ate, bought some new music, called people, went out for a lovely (and higher-than-i-really-should-have-paid) dinner where i ordered (gasp!) a glass of wine. And so now, some thoughts:

1. I love Joni Mitchell. Go purchase her new album, SHINE. And then, consider the new Herbie Hancock album, RIVER: THE JONI LETTERS.

2. I still love red wine. Mmm. I haven't had a glass since before summer, but it was so tasty last night, and so perfect with the chicken and spinach dinner special I ordered. O! Perfection.

3. WEEDS is a brilliant show! I have watched all of the first season and am just beginning the second season. Mary Louise Parker is beautiful and lovely, and I found a new favorite song (Cotton) on the soundtrack.

4. THE CAINE MUTINY is a wonderful novel. It's my second Herman Wouk, and so darn good. He's an excellent storyteller, good for me as I haven't had a book I wanted to really read since the end of the HP series. I highly recommend it.

5. I miss my friends and will be happy to see them on Big Wednesday.

rants: tele

Color me confused, I guess. I was reading some articles on CNN.com while I'm here getting paid to wait for the phone to ring. Americans today have such interesting and strange concerns, habits and feelings, don't you think?

For instance, the article was about television. NBC had its worst two weeks EVER last month, and ratings are generally down across the boards. Okay, they said and tried to figure out why this was. Perhaps because of the early daylight savings time. Maybe because television sucks. Or, maybe because people are simply using their DVRs to record and watch later, when they choose, sans advertising. Well, advertisers hope it isn't the latter.

I'm going to side note on this topic for a minute. Now, don't get me wrong. Since moving into my apartment in January, I began to discover the joy of DVR. I can tune in to GREY'S ANATOMY at 9:15 and watch the whole episode, sans commercial interruption and still be done by 10:00. "Wowza!" thought innocent little me. Now, four and a half months into this charade I've come to realize that in fact, *I AM MISSING OUT!* Sure, I get done with my program in 3/4 of the time, but I am oblivious to society. I don't know what movies or new television programs are coming up, I don't know if I should buy Scott or Charmin, and I don't know what my brain looks like on drugs. So, maybe I should go back to watching the commericals again. Or else hire an assistant to watch them and report back.

People then were able to respond in blog-like commentary about the article's merits. Anonymous responders commented they don't waste their time watching television (but they do waste it reading and writing about television online?). Or that they'd rather read a book. Or read the paper. Or get their news from online sources rather than the commercialized-we're-reporting-this-with-sexy-pictures-just-to-get-you-to-watch evening news, no longer with anyone we care about by the way.

Okay. Well. You can find some nifty, educational and exciting programs on television. Take the Discovery Channel's recent PLANET EARTH series. Damn nifty if you ask me. And what's the difference between spoiling your mind in front of the tele or surfing the net? Same difference, I'd say. And, if the technology we currently have at our fingertips had been invented back in the days when writing was invented, maybe there wouldn't be so many books. And would that be a bad thing? You can get some pretty sh*tty books and magazines out there.

I guess it's all in the way you look at it. For Beedow, I know after spending a week of staring at the internet from 10-7:30 each day, I like to go home and actually (gasp!) not turn on my trusty MAC. Instead, I spent the time on the subway home reading my book or magazine, and when I get home, I make dinner and sit in front of the television. It's relaxing. It's nice. It's comforting. And it's the same as sitting in front of a computer, or wasting one's time in a tabloid or bodice-ripper of a novella.

Tomorrow: how to cook a creamy chicken dinner and get drunk on an entire bottle of wine at the same time.

Limp as a Puppet and Simply Fantastic

I feel twitchy and bitchy and manic ... but alive / I feel wicked and wacky and mello ... / Partly Jane Fonda and partly Jane Austen, but alive! That's the thing! Alive!

First off, name that musical and who sang the song originally.

Secondly, it is so refreshing and freeing to not even think about this blog or dream about it or worry about it or whatever. I feel free (oh, what a word, oh, what a word!) and alive! So, let me fill you in on my week.

I saw an ambulance trying to get down the avenue, and wowza! what a terrible time it had. You'd think people would be empathetic enough to get out of the way of an ambulance. But no. Instead, watch them cut and dart in front of it, take long turns in its path, and otherwise try to block it just so said car can make the light or get to the liquor store before it closes. Come on! Get out of the way of your friendly, caring neighborhood emergency vehicles.

The New York lottery is over 275 million dollars this week. Two friends and I purchased tickets and agreed to give each other $500,000 each if any of us win. That's kind. What I couldn't do with $500k. Jeepers.

I saw the final dress rehearsal of Terrence McNally's SOME MEN last night off-Broadway. Despite the nudity, I enjoyed the production immensely. I think McNally brought up an array of valid arguments and points, and presented them to us without shoving them down our throat like another playwright may have. I recommend it.

My roommate has hooked me on LOST. Now, I realize a lot of people are hooked, and have been for three seasons now... as long as I've been wowing about GREY'S. But, for whatever reason, I never got involved until now. Let me say, all of you who were blinded as I was and haven't yet joined the ranks of those who adore this show, go to your nearest neighborhood video store and purchase seasons one and two on digital-video-disc and watch them all as fast as you can. Of course, I'm only halfway through season one, but it is just DYNAMITE. I'm loving it and actually think about it while I'm away all day... can't wait to get home and pop in another DVD.

Lastly, there was a brilliant ad in this week's Village Voice for a bar offering BORAT giveaways. Made me laugh. Check it out, it's in the bottom right hand corner of the right page... don't know the page number though.

Have a lovely weekend. I'll check in soon.

Skate Spectacle Skeptical

Late last month, a workshop of the new rollerskating tuner XANADU took place at the Minetta Lane Theatre and is currently sked'd to open in April at the Helen Hayes. Critics called the Olivia Newton-John film "the most dreadful, tasteless movie of all time," yet B'way execs think it can make it on the boards. Star Jane Krakowski decided last Friday, however, to pull out of the planned mounting to stick with the boob-tube laugher, 30 ROCK, for which she's obviously raking in a lot more green.

Sources were quoted in the POST saying "I don't see how they can do it without her. She's the show." It makes one wonder if the show that'll try to forgive STARLIGHT EXPRESS for ruining skates and stages will be able to get itself together for those harsh critics in that big apple sans Krakowski. We'll see. The book is being fixed by Douglas Carter Beane, currently rep'd on Bway with gay romp, THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED. Auditions are happening now, and official rehearsals will most likely begin shortly, however, actors already associated with the project have been taking skating lessons into their own hands.

But, hell, wouldn't that be something? To have to turn down an above-the-title role in a new Bway smash (well, probable failure?) to do television? Sheesh. And I have yet to be able to turn down non-paying, way the hell off-off Broadway shows.

Equality Soapbox

Thanks to my DVR, I got to watch last night's episode of BROTHERS AND SISTERS tonight. I don't know why, but it struck me as a very positive episode. Positive for the country that we're living in, that apparently people are getting progressive and accepting. If a network television program (albeit in the 10 o'clock hour) can show two male characters kissing, I think we're moving forward. Probably this isn't news (I guess ELLEN did this years before, right? And I don't even know what other shows have done it... lo siento), but it struck me today.

I also saw Broadway's SPRING AWAKENING about a week ago, and it's similar. Men have been kissing (and more) on stages all over the place before, but now it's happening on Broadway, and it's grand. It's grand if only for the fact that it's equality, proof that W. isn't going to run this country into the ground.

We need to fight for equality, across the boards... race, creed, orientation, gender... we're all here and human and each should be guaranteed the rights that everyone else has. What a crazy thought that was years ago (Civil War, Women's Suffrage, Civil Rights...) and what's crazier is that today, it's still often a crazy thought. We need to respect people no matter their differences from us or others. We're all here together and we need to work together to save this planet and save ourselves from each other. If we don't start now, when will we?

So, wow. On my soapbox, and probably terribly confusing and unspecific and uncohesive and unorganized... but, you get my drift. Fight for equality, and recognize the steps that are being taken already. We just need to start jogging instead of walking.

Thursdays are Back!

SPOILERS.

Derek and Meredith are back together finally, except she snores. George and Callie kissed. Izzy went to the bank. Burke and Cristina aren't speaking. Addison and Karev were a stutter step away from making out. The Chief and the Nazi have a secret.

That's right. GREY'S ANATOMY is back. Finally. It's been so long, and I'd forgotten why I love this show. It's just great fantastical situations. Of course no one's real life is like this... if mine were, I doubt I'd want to watch it on television each week. But for those of us with apparently saner existences, we have these outlets (television, film, stage) to get into craziness. It's brilliant.

But this post wasn't. Sue me. I'm creatively lacking it seems. Hrmph.

Apologies and Promises

I know, Beedow's been busy and so posts have been short and late. Get over yourselves. I've got most of the day off tomorrow and will reward you all, don't worry. But for now, to whet your appetite, my favorite wannabe from GREASE: You're the One That I Want.

"Day Break" Canceled

Rather than give us the rest of the episodes in the series, ABC has opted to play reruns of "George Lopez" and "According to Jim" in the midseason slot originally designated for Taye Diggs' mini-series. DAY BREAK was only scheduled for a couple of months, and the show's official FAQ says:

Q: Will Hopper make it to tomorrow by the end of this season?
A: Yes.

Apparently, now, it's no. The show was just here to fill in for LOST while it was on hiatus. A mere 13 weeks, that's all. Then, ABC announced LOST would move to 10pm in its effort to regain lost viewers to CBS's CRIMINAL MINDS (with the incomprable Mandy Patinkin). It's a good show -- I watched regularly, and videotaped Patinkin's show to watch immediately after. Now, I'm going to have to wait until ABC posts the remaining episodes online, then watch them over my not-fast-enough web connection, which will take me about two hours to watch each 40-something-minute episode. Argh.

So MINDS overtook both the powerhouse that was LOST and the excitement that was/is DAY BREAK. It's too bad they couldn't even give us the rest of the order ... what, seven or eight more episodes? Execs must be terrified. Nothing is doing well in this slot. They're now betting on two half-hour comedies to spice things up after the New Year.

Plus, I'd found another TV girlfriend in Victoria Pratt to add to my collection (Pompeo, Paulson, and now Pratt). Funny, my crush in grade school's last name started with a "P" too.

And, not that I was watching anyway, Shatner's new SHOW ME THE MONEY has been pulled too... just after ABC last week ordered six new episodes. Talk about a %$#@-tease.

A Big Dirty Swamp

Barbara Walters tonight named her 10 most fascinating people of the year. Number one, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. She said that outside of the war (for which she has called Mr Bush incompetent), her number one priority is draining the swamp in the Capitol. "Maybe it'll take a woman to clean the house."

Wikipedia explains: "Pelosi is the first woman to lead a major political party in either house of Congress, and once formally elected, she would be the first woman to serve as Speaker. She would also be the first Californian or Italian American to hold the post, and the second Speaker from west of the Rockies (behind fellow Democrat Tom Foley of Washington). As Speaker, she would rank second in the presidential line of succession (behind the Vice President)."

Perhaps this is what we need. A woman in charge of something. Maybe she'll make some changes, make people aware, make people find some hope in the political arena of our country. Plus, she's pro-choice, pro gun control, and against the draft reinstituion. Let's hope that we actually can find some hope in Pelosi's new position and her party's success once they take over and begin their era of change in the coming year.

I'm glad she's here, I'm glad I'm here and I'm glad you're here.

When is Enough Enough?

Gay-haters. Pedophiles. Elderly-abusers. Peeping toms. PDAs. Reckless children, sans parents.

Just turn on your television news magazine program any night of the week, and these are some of the things you'll see. Last night, ABC's PRIMETIME aired a special "Basic Instincts" program. Their goal was to show us, using actors, what the normal, average person's reaction is to these sorts of people.

In the first few moments, they showed a handful of people riding in Vegas taxis and talking smack about homosexuals. This is getting ridiculous. Sure, they claim to have our best interests at heart, but with their programming, I have two gripes.

One. If this is a major problem, why add fuel to the fire by showing it to us and making us watch it even more? I am tired of this incessant bashing of people. Why do we have to keep watching it? Isn't it enough to have Katie tell us about it on the "official" nightly news or read about it in the Times? Let's use these television news magazines for something else!

Two. "They have no idea..." Don't these regular people, the subjects of the news magazines value their privacy? I would be OUTRAGED to be "caught by hidden cameras" and made a pawn in this hogwash. Not only are the subjects videotaped for their candid reactions, but AUDIOTAPED as well.

In the elderly-abuse segment, one man watched the abuse for nineteen minutes and then rode away on his bicycle. Well, if I were him, I'd sue. Primetime said the man never came back. So, they had his face on tape, showed it on network television, all without his permission it sounds like... since he never came back.

One segment did pixel out the faces of some subjects, but even so.

I'm appalled when ABC decides "enough is enough" and walks in to break the news. This is a terrible version of CANDID CAMERA and I don't think it's right. It's a HUGE violation of privacy, even if it's not aired on television. It's absolutely not their place--the networks have no right to video- or audio-record our lives. Our private lives.

Worse, a group of red hat ladies starts screaming and laughing when John Quiñones walks in saying, "I'm from PRIMETIME."

Even back when they were barging in on pedophiles in their homes. Of course they were in the wrong, no one is debating that. Well, maybe they are, but not here at EA(t) A(t) (j)OE'S. However, where's the warrant? This is why we have police, courts, judges, checks and balances. This civilian's arrest, or TV Anchor Arrest, is not right.

But... one funny moment from last night: this conversation between two diners watching what they were led to believe was an extra-marital affair:
HER: "If that ever happens to us, I'll kill you."
HIM: (chuckling) "OK"
HER: "No. Seriously. I will kill you. I'll kill you."

Sorkin's Stellar

Wow, that image is a lot smaller than I thought it would be. Anyway, last night's STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP was as good as they've been. If the current developing plot lines can't get and/or keep a viewership, we've got problems in America. How can SUPERNANNY survive season after season, and a top-notch hour of television like STUDIO 60 struggle even to the halfway point of its first season? It's a depressing state of affairs I see.

I don't think it hurts that I'm also a little bit, a little bit in love (name that lyricist...) with all four major characters. Bradley Whitford, Matthew Perry, Sarah Paulson and Amanda Peet are all really excellent in their roles. The dialogue is sharp, well executed and precise. The staging looks effortless, and is brilliantly manuevered. They're all gorgeous people, too, which doesn't hurt.

In fact, I wrote in my little pink diary last night about Paulson (and Ellen Pompeo) who has just the most wonderful mouth/lips. Sue me, sue me, what can you do me... (how about that lyricist?)

Tom also wrote about STUDIO 60 back in October.

What I Didn't Write About

I actually had a lot of ideas for topics today. I mean, Danny DeVito partied with George Clooney last night, didn't sleep, and showed up either drunk or slurringly-hung over on ABC's THE VIEW this morning. That's pretty good in itself, right? I guess the trouble started when he was talking about an overnight at the White House. He couldn't remember if he slept with his wife in the Lincoln Bedroom or not. Eventually he decided it was her and that "we made it our business to really wreck the joint." DeVito's publicist said he's never had a problem with his drinking ... until now!

But, I decided not to write about that. Or Britney's newest problem. She was photographed two nights ago without her unmentionables on. Gracious sakes! This girl, who will be 25 on Saturday, used to be sweet and wholesome. Then she got dirty, got married, had some kids, dropped off the radar, got divorced and got ready for a comeback (not all necessarily in that order). Well, folks, here's the comeback, and it's with her new pal Paris Hilton. They are the dual hosts of the Billboard Music Awards on FOX this Monday. B-dog, keep your pants on. There's zero need for you to not have them. Remember when you used to look like this photo here? Those were the good ol' days, huh?

I also considered writing about how people go to the gym (myself included) to spend however long running, walking, swimming, aerobicizing or lifting, right? But, if we get there and the lot is full, well we don't want to actually walk from the back of the parking lot all the way to the entrance of the building, right? So, if possible, we will spot someone coming out of the building and walking to his or her car, follow them, put our blinker on (to tell other cars, "no no, this is my spot"), and wait for them to get in the car and drive away. Gracious sakes!

Instead, I chose to write about the weather. We broke a record high temperature today in the Queen City -- topping last year's record-breaker by one degree. That's right, a balmy 68 degrees here today. Of course, the National Weather Service predicts a 60% chance of snow Friday night.

Holiday Commercials

So, it happened about a week ago, that's approximately two weeks before Thanksgiving. I saw my first commercial for the holiday season. Goodness. I'll gripe about that some other time. My issue tonight is not that the commercials are on, but that they're the SAME as last year. The jewlery commercial where Santa needs a ring for "someone very special" and Mrs Claus gasps at the end, "Kris! How did you know?" Or, the animated credit card one where the cars drive up to the house through the snow. Gimme a break. I've already seen these! What're your R&D people doing? They should D* a new ad campaign!

*that's "develop" from "research and development" for all you crazies.

Next time: finds on YouTube