Love in Black and White

Saw the interesting documentary "March of the Penguins" tonight. It's about the Emperor Penguins of Antartica and their 70 mile journey from the sea (where they eat) to their breeding grounds. (That's a lot of little penguin steps.)

It's quite a testament to the instinct of survival -- taking place amongst some of the most hostile weather in the world.

The cinematography is amazing and beautiful. But the filmakers go a little over the top when they describe the penguins mating habits (they are monogamous for a year) as "love." It's ridiculous to ascribe human emotions to animal behavior.

Still Loving the Job

I'm so sick of the non-stop publicity for Tom Cruise and "War of the Worlds." So sick of it, in fact, I went to see the movie tonight wanting to hate it. Good news! I accomplished my goal. I will admit, the special effects are amazing. But the story is so over the top and the plot involves so many lucky breaks for Tom Cruise (I don't remember his character's name) and his family that its laughable. Actually, I was laughing so much I got a dirty look from the woman sitting next to me -- she clearly did not go in wanting to hate the movie.

Can you believe the Scientologists are advertising at the theater where the movie is running? The photo above is of the slide they have before the movie begins. Please, give me a break.

Earlier today, thanks to GeezBob, I had the chance to watch the Dodger game sitting in the sweetest seats I've ever been in at Dodger Stadium (not counting the one game I saw from the luxury box next to Tom Hanks'). The front row of the Lodge Section, directly behind Home Plate. The seats belong to a guy who has been a Season Ticket Holder since 1968.

We were directly below the press box and during the Seventh Inning Stretch I watched Vin Scully, who has been a Dodger broadcaster since the 1950s. He stood up and stretched and then actually sang and clapped along to the song. He wasn't doing this in a "look at me" sort of way. This was no drunk Harry Carrey leaning out of the press box at Wrigley Field leading the crowd in the song. It just seemed like Scully was simply privately enjoying the moment. How many thousands of Seventh Inning Stretches has he been through? And yet, you could tell, right then, there was absolutely no place else on earth he would rather be. As the song ended, he caught my eye and gave me a nice wave and a big smile with those gleaming chompers of his.

We should all be so happy in the midst of doing our jobs.

"War of the Worlds" had them lined-up at The Grove tonight. But the lines weren't as long as the lines were for "Batman Returns."

Had a great view of the owner's box at Dodger Stadium today. That's Frank McCourt and his two sons to his right. They hardly sat down the entire game, leaving for long stretches at a time. And while they were seated they kept visiting with people coming by to "kiss the ring." 

The Ghost of $2 Tuesdays

The Dodgers have cancelled their disastrous $2 Tuesday promotion -- but based on tonight's crowd, no one seems to have told the hooligans.

First a guy who popped a beachball about 3 aisles from us was wildly pelted with beer and debris. He actually stood up as if to say, "go ahead and throw your trash at me," to which the crowd replied, "gladly." It settled down when the police showed up -- but they didn't take any action.

Then after the 7th Inning Stretch the guy photographed above ran on the field. He made it all the way to second base before he was slammed to the ground by several security guards at the same time. Of course the crowd booed at the defeat of their "hero."

And even the woman who won a Saturn SUV jumped for joy so hard she sprained her ankle on the field. She tried to limp off the field but couldn't make it. Hilariously, the two people she beat just left her stuck out there. Finally some staffer ran in from the sidelines to help her off the field. My guess is she'll take the car and then sue the Dodgers. Maybe she'll win a settlement large enough to pay the taxes on her "prize."

And the Coca Cola "Challenge" is back. Some contestant goes on the field and if they answer a trivia question correctly they win "a six-pack of Coca Cola." How generous! Prize value: $2!

The Dodgers like to put impressive little facts about their players on the Jumbotron when they come up to bat. If this is the best they could come up with for Jayson Werth's first at-bat, I think it's fair to conclude he's not having a very hot season. 

What Are You Afraid of?

Saw the touring production of "Wicked" this afternoon at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood. It's the backstory to "The Wizard of Oz." It explains how the Wicked Witch of the West became "wicked" and how Glinda became "good" -- or at least why they appear to be.

I first saw this show in late '03 or early '04 during its out of town tryout in San Francisco, before it went to Broadway. It was impossible to sit through today's show without mentally comparing it to the performances I saw in San Francisco.

In San Francisco, Kristin Chenowith played Glinda -- a role she was clearly born to play. Her pitch-perfect, perky voice made you love and hate Glinda at the same time. Glinda mostly exists to be pop-you-lar, you see.

And Idina Menzel, as the Wicked Witch, went on to win the Tony for her powerful performance. I still remember being blown away by the strength of her singing.

In Hollywood today, Stephanie J. Block played the Wicked Witch. Ironically, I saw Block playing Liza Minelli in "The Boy from Oz" on Broadway in 2004. And an understudy, Emily Rozek, did a fine job filling a very big bubble (Glinda's preferred way of entering and exiting the stage).

For a touring company, I was impressed by the scope of the production and didn't think it was very scaled down for the road.

The show also explains how the Tinman ended up without a heart and the Scarecrow without a brain. The pre-teens in the audience squealed in delight every time they recognized one of their favorite characters on stage.

However, even though I've seen it twice, I still don't get how the Lion became so Cowardly.

Number 1,000

Congratulations to whoever read my blog at 11:34 a.m. on Saturday with a Verizon internet connection -- you're the 1,000 visitor since I added a meter to my blog!

I wonder how long it will take to reach the next milestone -- 5,000 visitors.

Saw "I Am My Own Wife" tonight at the Wadsworth Theater. It's the true story of an East German transvestite who survived both Nazi and Soviet domination her country.

I first saw this show in New York City before it won the 2004 Tony for Best Play. The same actor, Jefferson Mays, who also won the Tony is also touring with this one-man show.

Hotel Swell

Went to a meeting today at the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego. As you can see, it was a lovely day.

I've always loved the architecture of the Hotel Del, as they call it.

I can remember visiting the Hotel Del in something like 1977 with my Mom and Les. We stayed at a much cheaper hotel near Mission Bay, but we went to the Hotel Del for dinner one night. I was very impressed by the Prince of Wales Dining Room downstairs from the lobby. I still can remember my Mom ordered the Steak Tartare. It grossed me out then and it still does today.

Planting My Flagler

I think I just saw the show that's going to win the 2006 Tony for Best New Musical -- "Palm Beach, the Screwball Musical."

I'm spending the night in San Diego and decided to go see this show at the La Jolla Playhouse.

It has good choreography, good music and a funny story about a rich, rich family wintering in Palm Beach in 1939. It has the feel of a Preston Sturges movie.

Great performances by Matt Cavenaugh, who made his Broadway debut last season in "Urban Cowboy" and Clarke Thorell, who was in the original cast of "Hairspray" on Broadway.

It's not outrageous to suggest a show starting at the La Jolla Playhouse will go on to win the Best Musical Tony -- they've done it recently with "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and "Big River."

What's That Smell?

Was really excited tonight about attending an Advanced Screening of "Bewitched." I always enjoyed the TV show and was looking forward to the movie from the first time I saw the preview several months ago.

Too bad the movie stinks.

Nora Ephron has written a terrible script and a totally uninteresting story. How do you take colorful characters like Endora, Aunt Clara and Uncle Arthur and make them so dull? How do you take a talented comic actor like Will Farrell and make him unfunny? Apparently by hiring Nora Ephron to write the script.

And what's the deal with Nicole Kidman and the waterworks? We get it, Nicole. You can cry on camera. But is it in your contract that you have to cry in every movie? Even the supposed comedies?

No wonder Hollywood is in a Box Office funk.

Let's hope they haven't screwed up Willy Wonka, coming out next month. That's based on my second favorite childhood book. (Rohl Dahl's "James and the Giant Peach" was my all-time favorite.) I'm going to be really depressed if that one disappoints too.

Check for Wax Wings

Saw an interesting, and timely, documentary tonight -- "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room."

It's a fascinating look at how what was once the 7th largest company in America unraveled so quickly. The film is one of those one-sided documentaries where you have no interest in hearing the other side. It paints a picture of greed and hubris.

The documentary places the blame for California's energy crisis squarely at the foot of deregulation and suggests that it was prompted by Enron's last ditch attempts to make money while its finances were crumbling.

I know that people will always be greedy, but when will they learn not to talk about their greed on recorded phone calls? That makes them the dumbest guys in the room.

Timely stuff since just yesterday an initiative dealing with the regulation of energy qualified for California's November 8th Special Election ballot.

Looks like the fight over electricity hasn't run out of energy itself.

Just a Tiny Slice

Saw an interesting little movie tonight called "Layer Cake." It's a morality tale about high level drug dealers in London. As you can imagine, no character is to be trusted to be telling the truth. And even though it's a movie cliche -- the "one more deal and then I'm out" plot works in this movie. Michael Gambon plays the top-of-the-food-chain drug dealer -- and he's pretty convincing.

I've been reading lots of articles this year about what a terrible year Hollywood is having at the box office. Today's articles were along the lines of "Batman does well, but doesn't pull ticket sales out of the doldrums." There were 3 of us in the auditorium tonight -- for the 7 p.m. show -- so I guess I witnessed the doldrums first hand.

He's Writing a Blog

Saw the cartoon movie "Madagascar" this afternoon. It's a cute and funny story about animals from the Central Park Zoo who get more than they bargained for when their wish to go to "The Wild" comes true.

The matinee show attracted parents and lots of little kids. It usually drives me crazy when people talk during a movie. But when you're watching a cartoon and the offenders are three years old, it's a little hard to get too upset.

It was fun to listen to how they verbalized what they were figuring out while watching the movie. "It's cold," during a scene in Antarctica and "they're in the water" after some of the animals find themselves adrift in the ocean -- hope I'm not spoiling the plot for you.

And fortunately the kid behind me didn't start playing the "Is it over?" game until about 5 minutes before the movie was actually over.

Celebrity Sighting: Saw television actor Robert Gant walking towards the parking lot at The Grove Shopping Center. He was dressed very fashion forward.

Fly Me to the Moon

Saw a very interesting show tonight at the Kirk Douglas Theater titled "Apollo Part 1: Lebensraum."

It's a theatrical fantasia about the extraordinary history of America's trip to the moon. It explores the Nazi development of rocket technology during WW II and the subsequent drive by America to put Nazi scientists to work in our space program -- regardless of their crimes.

It's not a traditional play, but rather combines movement, text and acting to tell its story.

The show marks the last production of the Kirk Douglas Theater's inaugural season. What a great, eclectic collection of original American plays. I can't wait for Season Two!

Always Review the Source Material

It was quite the night at the comedy theatrical take-off of the movie "Mommie Dearest." First off, it was Opening Night -- which always adds to the excitement, even at the smallest of shows.

But this afternoon the power went out in the part of Hollywood where the theater is located. Altogether, it was out for three and a half hours, coming back on thirty minutes before the show was scheduled to begin. This means they lost their Technical Rehearsal, but decided to gamely go on with the show and only delayed the curtain by about 45 minutes.

This ain't Shakespeare, so the missed lighting cues and mike problems only added to the funny business on stage.


As is our normal course of action, GeezBob and I made a beeline for the front row as soon as the theater doors opened. Let's just say this show is more interactive then most. I got sprayed with water (which was supposed to be the "juice" from a very raw steak Joan makes Christina eat), littered with confetti (which represented the cleaning powder Joan makes Christina scrub the floors with) and two different actors grabbed my right knee. Third Row, Please.

The audience howled throughout the entire show and GeezBob laughed really hard. But I've never seen the movie "Mommie Dearest" so...I...kind...of...didn't...get...the...show. I mean I've seen some of the campier scenes and generally know the plot, but the guy behind me was gasping for breath and moaning like he was in agony from his laughter.

Afterwards, the Opening Night Party was sponsored by Smirnoff. How does a little show like this one get a sponsorship by a company like Smirnoff? Well, it turns out that one of the show's producers, Joe Everett Michaels, is currently the subject of a Reality TV show. So there were little cameras following him around everywhere documenting his every move. And after he talked to anyone in the crowd, a guy would run up and get the other person in the conversation to sign a release form. I know it's Hollywood, but I was still surprised at how comfortable most people seemed having a normal conversation with a camera hovering nearby.

Had a nice chat with the OTHER producer, Tom Whitman, who joked that he had successfully stayed away from Joe's cameras so far. But it seemed like his last nerve was getting rubbed the wrong way just a little too much. Who ever heard of ego clashes in Hollywood?

There were many Celebrity Sightings to be had: First we saw Public Access-legend Skip E. Lowe -- who is famous for really awful celebrity interviews. In fact, he claims that Martin Short bases his character "Jimminy Glick" on Lowe. Lowe brushed passed GeezBob in his determination to be the first to pick up his tickets for the evening. During intermission I asked Lowe if Short had finally paid him the respect he deserves. The normally loquacious Lowe suddenly got quiet and someone in his posse answered, "not yet, but he will." Somehow I don't think Short is up nights worrying about it.

Also in attendance was comic-genius Edie McClurg, who you'll remember as the neighbor-lady from "The Hogans." She kind of barged into the line for vodka after the show, but she has such a reservoir of goodwill that no one seemed to care.

And then on the way out we saw Doris Roberts (Ray's Mom on "Everyone Loves Raymond") crossing Santa Monica Boulevard. I think she must have seen one of the other shows running in the same theater complex. GeezBob and I kind of kept an eye on her and the lady she was with as they headed for their car. I don't know if we would have intervened, but I would of hated to read that something bad happened to her on the streets of Hollywood.

On the way home I felt bad about being behind the pop culture curve, so I stopped off at the video store and rented "Mommie Dearest." I think I'm going to stay up and watch it. I'm just trying to keep up here.

Before and After Batman Begins

When I was a kid I used to watch "Batman" everyday after school at my Grandmother's house. Grandmother Fliegner had her "stories" -- Days of Our Lives and General Hospital. And I had mine -- Batman and Gilligan's Island. Since this was the 70s there was only television set in their house -- so only one program at a time could be watched.

I loved the Batman TV show. I liked his interaction with Robin. I enjoyed the wry humor of Alfred (and wanted a butler of my own). And I enjoyed the colorful villain cameos. (Once I tried to list all the villains I could remember from the show.)

And the way the stories stretched over two episodes used to get me. I used to really worry about how Batman and Robin would escape whatever dastardly trap they got themselves caught in. (I used to hate it when Episode One was on a Friday and I had to wait until Monday to see how it turned out.) I was too young to be jaded. It never occurred to me that if anything happened to Batman or Robin the show would be over.

Say what you will about the TV version, but for me it is always the gold standard against which I compare the movies.

So I have a mixed reaction to the new Batman movie, which I saw tonight. I really liked Michael Caine as Alfred. I liked the background on the development of the Bat Cave and thought the movie's entrances and exits from the Bat Cave were better than the little road barricade that turns down on the TV show. And I thought the movie Bat Mobile was over the top, but cool.

But I really missed the colorful villain character a la Jack Nicholson as The Joker or Jim Carrey as The Riddler. (But don't remind me about Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr. Freeze.) Some guy wearing a burlap sack over his head and calling himself "The Scarecrow" just doesn't cut it.

Beaucoup Celebrity Sightings: I had to wait in a line outside the theater before going inside to see the movie. First I saw Los Angeles Police Commission Chairman Rick Caruso waiting outside one of the stores while his wife was shopping. He's the developer who built The Grove Shopping Center -- and I guess it only makes sense that if you build a shopping center that's where you ought to go to shop.

And then a few minutes later KTLA News Anchor-legend Hal Fishman went walking by. I don't know why he wasn't in the newsroom at 7:20 getting ready for the 10:00 p.m. telecast -- but I was happy to see him.

And then to complete the trifecta: As the line was shuffling into the theater I saw Faye Dunaway coming out of the theater with a baseball cap pulled low over her face. This sighting is especially ironic because tomorrow night GeezBob and I are seeing a funny, little play that's a take-off of one of her greatest movies, "Mommie Dearest."

Finally for the "Turn About is Fair Play" file: After the movie I went to the grocery store. On the way out this thug-guy says to me, "I really like your work." "Huh?" I says. "Aren't you an actor? I really like your work," he said. I let him down easy and unfortunately he couldn't come up with the movie "I" was in. Karen Kapler likes to say I look like the actor in the Bush's Baked Beans commercial. Usually around this time of the year I get the "I saw the ad again. It must be summertime" call. And Ethie says I remind her of Kenneth Starr. (I don't think she means that as a negative.)

Unfortunately, I didn't get the thug-guy's blog address. He's probably writing about who he thought he saw at the market right about now.

Pretty People Take One Step Forward

Saw the scorching-hot "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" tonight. It stars two of the prettiest actors in Hollywood -- Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. (Sorry Jennifer A., but it's a statement of fact.)

The chemistry between the two is evident and Vince Vaughn provides some comic relief. But I especially like the beautifully decorated home that Mr. and Mrs. Smith share and proceed to absolutely destroy in the second reel.

The story is completely ridiculous, which is what qualifies if as a perfect summer movie.

Pleasant Surprises

We celebrated Rochelle Lewis' birthday after work today at a Pub/Restaurant in Santa Monica called "Father's Office." It's a quirky place. The owner clearly has strong opinions which he expresses through their operations. You order what they have to offer off of the menu -- no substitutions or changes allowed. Absolutely no Budweiser products are served (I don't know what the issue is there.) Diet Coke is available by the bottle, but there's no ice in the entire place. Their specialty is hamburgers -- with onions and cheese and lots of arrugula -- and you are expected to enjoy it! And don't even ask for ketchup to go with the fries that come in tiny little shopping carts.

I don't agree with many of the owners' choices, but I totally get his Control Freak attitude and respect his right to run his establishment exactly as he sees fit.

And judging by the crowd squeezing into the place on a Tuesday night -- so do lots of other folks.

Afterwards I headed over to The Grove to see "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" but it was sold out by the time I got there. So instead I saw the excellent "Cinderella Man." It's a great boxing movie about a man and his wife trying to live their life with dignity during the Great Depression.

Russell Crowe and Renee Zellweger are predictably great in it, but Paul "Pop, Pop, Bang" Giamatti completely steals the movie while channeling Burgess Meredith as the gritty boxing coach.

Coming out of the theater I saw them lining up for the midnight show of "Batman Begins." From the buzz, it sure looks like that's going to be a big hit.

Thematic Overload

Saw the disturbing Gregg Araki movie "Mysterious Skin" tonight. It's a dark meditation on predatory child abuse and alien abduction. I'm afraid it was all too much on the same day the jury in Santa Maria found Wacko Jacko not guilty. Maybe now Jacko will just get in his spaceship, with the rest of his bizarre family, a fly away.

Nothing to Report

I didn't DO a darn thing today. Read newspapers and magazines and caught up on shows I TiVoed. I watched "Stage Beauty" starring Billy Crudup. It came out a few months ago and after seeing him last Sunday in "The Pillowman" on stage I wanted to see him in the movie. It was good and he uses his hands to tell a story, just like he does in "The Pillowman."

Hollywood Alleged Stars Night

Tonight was the 47th Annual Hollywood Stars Game at Dodger Stadium. As you can see above, the set-up to welcome the stars outside of Dodger Stadium was very elaborate. My guess is this is the finest treatment the B-level stars participating in the game have received in a long, long time.

And then in the real game the Dodgers lost to the Twins 5 to 3 in interleague play.

James Van Der Beek 

Jon Lovitz 

Robert Wahl 

Michael Rosenbaum, who plays Lex Luther on Smallville. 

Rob Schneider 

Super Dave Osborne 

Jimmy Kimmel 

Tonight was also KROQ's Kevin and Bean night at Dodger Stadium. I know they've been doing the morning show for like 20 years -- but I was still shocked they are as old as dirt. 

Dodger fans like to bring beach balls to the stands. (I like to pop them with my pen.) The ushers are instructed to grab the balls and take them away from the fans. This usher hurt himself lunging for a ball and then sat down on the steps and cried for 10 minutes. The fans were not very sympathetic to his plight. 

A Landmark Visit

The weather today in San Francisco was gorgeous. I finally had a chance to visit the recently redone Ferry Building at the foot of Market Street. It's filled with excellent food stalls and restaurants.

I had lunch at Taylor's Automatic Refresher -- the San Francisco branch of the decades old Napa Valley hamburger stand. It was excellent.

Here's the interior of the recently redone Ferry Building. 

Here's the busy staff at Taylor's Automatic Refresher dealing with the lunch rush. 

A stalled car on the Bay Bridge slowed traffic so I was able to watch these large pieces being brought by barge to be part of the newly constructed eastern span. 

Better Live Than TiVo

Flew up to San Francisco today to attend the mid-year meeting of the Junior Statesmen Foundation's Board of Trustees. It was a gorgeous afternoon. Above is the view from my hotel room at the San Francisco Hilton looking out towards the San Francisco Bay -- you can see the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance.

After the meeting I grabbed a quick dinner at Sears Fine Food near Union Square. It's not "Sears" as in the catalog, but rather a long time, classic diner in San Francisco. For decades they were only open for breakfast and lunch; but recently under new ownership and after an extensive remodel they are open until 10:00 p.m. The turkey dinner is excellent!

Tonight I caught "Hush Up, Sweet Charlotte" at the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. It's a campy little show based on the famous Bette Davis movie "Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte." It stars one of my favorite actor/actresses -- Jeffery Roberson aka Varla Jean Merman playing Cousin Miriam Deering. Varla Jean claims to be the illegitimate love child of Ernest Borgnine and Ethel Merman. According to the credits, Varla Jean made her network television debut on ABC's "All My Children" in the recurring role of lady of the evening Rosemary Chicken.

I actually tried to TiVo "Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte" a couple of weeks ago, but it turns out I don't have the cable channel it was running on. But I guess now I can say I've seen the story.

Life In the Slow Lane

Just staying home tonight, watching the Dodger game and reading. I can't be expected to do something every night. I'm not Kitty Carlisle Hart, after all.

It Only Takes One

The demise of $2 Tuesdays at Dodger Stadium makes for much quieter games. It also means only 32,000 were on hand to see the Detroit Tigers beat the Dodgers 8 to 4.

But that doesn't mean all stupidity is gone. The idiot photographed above is being escorted out of the stadium after he reached over the fence and interfered with a ball in play -- potentially costing the Dodgers an out.

Hoooray for Short Games!

The Dodgers beat the Detroit Tigers 5 to 3 in a game tonight lasting 2 hours and 9 minutes. I needed a short game! I was out late last night and up very early to catch my flight home from Kennedy. Now it's time to go to bed.

Celebrity Sighting: Bryant Gumbel was on my flight from JFK to LAX today. I had to look at him a long time to make sure it was really him. He has really aged since leaving the national television stage.

Tony Awards

Had a great time tonight at the Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall. We were inside well before it started and the photo above is the view from our seats. I had to smuggle my camera inside, so I took very few photos inside the building.

Four of us attended -- my friend and colleague, Renne Rose; her sister-in-law Cecilia; my friend John DeGregorio and myself.

It was a great show and Hugh Jackman did a wonderful job as host. He talked to the crowd during the commercial breaks and they showed some funny Broadway clips.

I wasn't surprised by any of the awards and am glad that "Spamalot" was limited in the number of awards it won. I knew it would win Best Musical and was hoping it wouldn't win an additional boatload of awards (it didn't).

On the way out I had a chance to say hello to Jess Goldstein, who won a Tony for Best Costume Design of a Play for "The Rivals." He said he was glad his work was remembered because the show closed some time ago, after a good run at the Lincoln Center. We also said hello to Jon Cryer, of "Two and a Half Men" on the way out with his Mother.

Earlier in the day I attended the matinee of "The Pillowman" and was really pulling for it and Billy Crudup to win. It's a creepy and thought provoking play about storytelling, writer's responsibilities and, oh yeah, child murders.

Now it's time to say goodbye to the Center of the Universe, as I refer to New York City, and return to Los Angeles tomorrow.

Here's a photo of me and Renee waiting to go into the Tonys. If my face seems a little shiny, it's because it was warm waiting outside. Fortunately, inside it was air conditioned.