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April 12, 2007:

WILD IS THE WIND

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, they say blondes have more fun and I certainly intend to put that to the test, baby. Teddy had his way with my hair and I am quite dazzlingly several shades lighter than I was before I arrived for my appointment. I always let Teddy have his way and am rarely disappointed. I’m sure it will be a little shocking to certain fuddy duddys, but I care not. I don’t even care if it’s shocking to certain duddy fuddys. In other breaking news, I have to write these her notes in a hurry because I’m arising at six-thirty to take my car in for its overdue servicing. I’ll have a loaner, so I’ll come back and hopefully get a little more sleep. I have no idea how fast they’ll be able to do what needs to be done – I’m hoping by the end of the day, otherwise it will be Monday. Speaking of Monday, yesterday was Thursday and it was a day filled with wind. The wind really broke about ten o’clock. Yes, Virginia, we had breaking wind at ten o’clock. It kept getting worse and worse, and huge branches of trees snapped and plunged to the ground, signals were out in several major intersections (although quite randomly), and there were fire trucks and paramedic trucks screaming down the street at regular intervals. Directly across the street from me, a huge branch of their tree snapped and crashed into their front picket fence, causing said fence a good deal of damage. Hopefully, the wind will subside, or, to put it another way, gone with the wind. I began my day by arising, which is a very good way to begin a day. I had to toddle off to my hair appointment bright and early and also early and bright. It was quite a long appointment, almost three hours. I then came home, got the packages that were on my table, and then shipped them all out. I then came home and proofed about forty pages, then did a few other things, and then it was finally time to toddle off to rehearsal.

We had about ten people there to see Merissa’s act, and it was very helpful in many ways. It was a very good first time through, but I had lots of notes, most having to do with patter energy and picking up cues, and going from the end of a song into new patter with strength – in other words, taking the stage and letting the audience know right away we’re going to a new place. It’s not as easy as it sounds. There are still some piano issues, but we have a three-hour session today, and we should be able to smooth everything out within that time. There were lots of laughs – and then occasionally some things didn’t land. It’s all a matter of the performer making sure the audience knows when to laugh – the performer is basically directing the audience. Our one big medley went over really well, and the whole thing will get better today, and then it should all be fine for tomorrow night. She’s doing just great, especially when you realize she’s never done anything like this before in her life.

Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I feel that blondes do have more fun, especially in the next section. I also feel that this section is too windy, so I say gone with the wind.

Maybe I’ll play Johnny Mathis’ Wild Is The Wind, or maybe I’ll play Max Steiner’s Gone With The Wind, or maybe I’ll play Gogi Grant’s The Wayward Wind or maybe I’ll play Lerner and Loewe’s They Call The Wind Maria. I know what I call the wind, and it ain’t Maria.

Today, I shall be taking the motor car in at seven, then I shall try to get some sleep, then I shall have a three-hour rehearsal, and then I shall finish proofing the book. I may have to go to some night club thing with Miss Joan Ryan, although I haven’t heard anything for a few days, so maybe it’s not happening, which is what I’d prefer.

I’ve been watching episodes of The Larry Sanders Show, from the new Best Of DVD, which has lots of special features, outtakes, and new interviews with a very odd-looking Gary Shandling revisiting some of his guest stars. When this show is funny, it’s really funny, one of the funniest I’ve ever seen. And even when it’s not at the top of its game, it’s still very enjoyable. Jeffrey Tambor is properly obnoxious as the Ed McMahon character, and Shandling is really funny, and allows himself to not always be the nicest guy. But, for me, the funniest performance on the show is Rip Torn as his producer, Arthur. The talk show portions are so real you’d think you were watching The Tonight Show, and the going back and forth between onstage and backstage is masterful. Plus, these episodes a filled with wonderful guest stars like Sharon Stone, Carol Burnett, Alec Baldwin, and many others, including some fun surprises.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, take the motor car to be serviced, rehearse, proof, and then it’s anyone’s guess. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player, and your DVD/video player? I’ll start – CD, Astrud Gilberto and Carlisle Floyd’s opera, Susanna. DVD, The Untouchables season one, and Larry Sanders. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, as we all sing our favorite wind songs.

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