haines his way

11/12/2002:
"WHAT A PERFECTLY USELESS WORD IS ELSE"

Well, dear readers, we had another swellegant live chat last night. The joint was jumpin’, and there was merriment and mirth and laughter and legs and everyone had a splendid time. We even had a very special guest drop by – Miss Leslie Kritzer, who starred in the PMP production of Funny Girl, and who was also in the revival of Godspell that I recorded. She was a delightful addition. It is now our plan to have unscheduled guests drop in every week – we won’t tell in advance, so you’ll just have to start showing up en masse every week. Surely there is no better chat room on all the Internet – surely there cannot be one with such lovely people saying lovely things and having fun, fun, fun (that is three funs).
Last night, after our live chat, I began the daunting task of watching the extras on Star Wars: Attack of the Clones. I’m a half-hour into the From Puppets to Pixels documentary, and it is totally fascinating to watch the digital creation process from its beginnings right up to the release of the film (and even after for a few shots). It will take days to watch all the extras, but for this disc I will probably expend the effort.
I’m already over-tired and it’s only Tuesday. I’ve got to schedule a massage one of these days. I’m so looking forward to Thanksgiving, when I’ll actually have a blessed four days all to myself (and Luckie, of course). I shall use those days to really catch up on all the writing I’ve got to do. I shall also have to decide whether to take a one day break from the Eileen and Chet Atkins diet to have stuffing and roles and sweet potatoes and cranberries. I may try to be a good boy – we shall see what we shall see.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below, because all this talk of food is too too tempting and I must avert my eyes from it right this very minute.

I have averted my eyes in the nick of time and also the gary of time. That was a close call. Don’t forget that Mr. Donald Feltham has a brand spanking new radio show up for your mental delectation. Also, tomorrow is Ask BK Day, so start thinking of your excellent questions. Also, don’t forget we will have a brand spanking new Unseemly Interview up on Friday, with the delightful star of Hollywood Arms, Miss Donna Lynne Champlin. If you’ve been errant and truant and haven’t read the current interview with Mr. Buddy Bregman, you are really missing out on something special, so check it out, man, because he is the coolest cat on the planet, man.
What else can I tell you? I can tell you else, but do you even want to know from else? What the hell is else anyway? What a perfectly useless word is else. My that last sentence was very Cole Porter, wasn’t it? I am going to try to never use the word else in a sentence again. I promise, or else. Oops. Really, I’m going to try not to use else from here on in. I hate the word else – oops, I used it again, damn them, damn them all to hell. What the hell am I talking about?
What more can I tell you? You see, more is much nicer, much less stupid-sounding than else. Else just lays there like a piece of scrod. In any case, what more can I tell you? I can tell you that I am tired and it’s only Tuesday. I can tell you that I am in need of pasta and bread. I can tell you that yesterday was a beautiful day. I can tell you that I ate a special Atkins-approved candy bar with only 3 grams of carbs. I can tell you that the sun’ll come out tomorrow – oh, a Strouse and Charnin reference. I can tell you I am done with this paragraph.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do and then some, I must make my way across the Valley in my automobile, I must work, work, work (that is three works – which is overworked in my opinion (IMO, in Internet lingo). I’ll be looking for all your excellent posts throughout the day. Today’s topic of discussion: We keep forgetting to do this on Friday, so let’s just do it when I remember – what is currently in your CD player, and what is currently in your DVD/video player? I’ll start – you know what’s in the DVD player – in the CD player is the soundtrack to The Caper of the Golden Bulls/The Perils of Pauline by Vic Mizzy. Your turn.

Replies: 36 Unseemly Comments

FIRST POST!
NYA, NYA, NYA!
Posted by William F. Orr @ 11/12/2002 07:20 AM PST

Actually, tough World War Two fighter pilots don't say, "Nya, nya, nya!" I just...
Posted by William F. Orr @ 11/12/2002 07:21 AM PST

Mr Orr taking a break from his Warner Bros chores...no wait...that is the OTHER Orr. 8-D
So sad to have missed the fun chat. Is it Sunday next week?
Currently in my CD player: Mr. Josh Groban.
Currently in my DVD player:
Rock Hudson & Jane Wyman in the lush and luscious ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWS that Todd Haynes pays tribute to in his ALL TALKING picture FAR FROM HEAVEN.
And in my VCR (remember those?):
ICE PALACE. Does anyone remember who starred in that 1960 film?
Posted by Jrand55 @ 11/12/2002 07:33 AM PST

Sorry to have missed the live celebration last night!! I sounds like the pointey-hatted festivities were great!
In the CD player: Rod Stewart Sings the Great American Songbook (which he does pretty well, I might add.)
In the DVD player: Just finished the two-disc set of Pollyanna and up next is Can't Stop the Music!. Could two things be any more dissimilar?
Posted by Philip Crosby @ 11/12/2002 07:57 AM PST

In my CD Player is ...
B.J. Ward's STAND-UP OPERA. This is a live performance from 1995 at the Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena, CA. "For both opera lovers and loathers...," it is HILARIOUS and THRILLING at the same time. B.J. explains the storylines to famous operas (that's the stand-up) and then sings excerpts from them in her wonderful soprano voice (that's the opera). I got this CD at a Pic 'n' Save for $4.99 and it's one of the best live performance recordings I've ever heard.
Posted by Donna - Cabaret West @ 11/12/2002 08:03 AM PST

Don't forget to check out the new Broadway Radio Show....and you'll find out how to enter to win 4 CDs from Decca Broadway!
Posted by Donald @ 11/12/2002 08:03 AM PST

In the car CD: Tony Bennett & k.d. lang's "What a Wonmderful World"
In the office CD: Barry Manilow's "A Gift of Love" (to be followed by "Alison Krauss & Unoin Station - Live")
In the home CD: new Kenny Rankin, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Diana Krall
And in the DVD (envelope please)....."Singing in the Rain"
Posted by Phil @ 11/12/2002 08:13 AM PST

If you haven't joined in the chat, you really must--it is nonstop merriment. And gossip. Lots and lots of gossip. :)
In the DVD: depending on whether the adults or kids are "in charge," Sponge Bob or E.T. I'll let YOU decide who's watching what.
In the CD: a perfectly lovely album by the Celtic choral group Anuna called Deep Dead Blue (title song with a lyric by Elvis Costello, believe it or not). If you have not heard Anuna, get thee to eBay and pick up anything by them, you will not be disappointed.
I have a car CD player now in my handy dandy new car. In that player is (shameless self-promotion) one of my CDs. Cranked to 11 (oh, a Spinal Tap reference).
Posted by JMK @ 11/12/2002 08:28 AM PST

Phillip - the Parent Trap DVD has a bunch of neat extras as well including an interview with the girl who played the back of Hayley's head!
Posted by Jrand55 @ 11/12/2002 08:54 AM PST

Can someone tell me just what kind of stuff Josh Gorban sings? He is one of those people I keep seeing in newspapers and magazines but have never actually heard. Does he sing current pop, classic pop, classical or what?
In DVD - All the BEAUTY AND THE BEAST extras. There is a "Coming Soon on DVD" trailer for SLEEPING BEAUTY so it is going to be released, but there is no date. I do know the release date for the next 3 Disney Treasures Sets ("Mickey in Black and White", "The Complete Goofy" and "Behind the Scenes at the Disney Studio") is December 3. Last year's were wonderful, but they have limited distribution so you have to look for them.
On the VCR: last night's "Boston Public".
On the CD: "Broadway By The Year: 1951". These Town Hall concerts are very entertaining and well done and I am glad that most of them hve been released on CDs. The CDs blessedly omit most of the narration which does get a bit much in the concerts.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 11/12/2002 09:36 AM PST

In my VCR: a tape to tape tonights episode of '24.'
In my CD and DVD players: nothing. I'm packing up to move across town. It will be a process since I am the King of Procrastinators! At least I'm moving from my sister's house to my own place and I don't have an exact deadline to be out by. Just let me say that, even for as few times as I've done it, I HATE MOVING! Thanks for letting me vent.
Posted by George @ 11/12/2002 10:41 AM PST

William - if you go to Josh's website at www.JoshGroban.com you can listen to his entire album. He sings some songs that are difficult to classify but also does some pop stuff. Opinion is divided on his style, diction, and the rest of it - but it is a nice listen.
Posted by Jrand55 @ 11/12/2002 11:03 AM PST

William E. Lurie--here's a little exercise for you (if you haven't already found it)--go to the Disneyland DVD and watch Disneyland at Night (with featured guests Annette and Bobby Vinton, IIRC). There are several cutaways to the audience (which was obviously "hired" for the occasion). There is an Oscar winning actor in his teen years who appears several times. Can you name him?
Posted by JMK @ 11/12/2002 11:05 AM PST

Thanks Jrand55. I'll have to give it a listen. I really have never heard him sing but admire his press people who get him in the papers and magazines all the time.
JMK-I'll check that out over the weekend when I have more time. I'll let you know the beginning of the week if I found him/her or not.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 11/12/2002 11:19 AM PST

Well, what else can I tell you? I need to read more posts, that's what else I can tell you. Didn't we have fun at last night's live chat? Let's have some reports from the attendees, so people who weren't there can experience vicariously through your prose poems.
Posted by bk @ 11/12/2002 11:52 AM PST

So why were the Mousketeers edited out of the Live Opening Day episode of that DVD?
Did Donna McKechnie really play the back of Patty Duke's head when that series was filming in NYC?
Who is singing in the "secret" duet on Barbra Streisand's album due November 27? Josh Groban.
Posted by Jrand55 @ 11/12/2002 11:57 AM PST

I can answer the first Question Jrand55. The Mouseketeers were edited out for one reason: money! Supposedly some of them got tired of seeing films of themselves popping up on the Disney Channel, ABC and on several videos and DVDs and got a good lawyer who discovered some loophole in the old contracts that said they had to be paid for the re-use of certain old films. Therefore rather than paying 24 former child stars, the scene was cut. I suspect we'll never see a DVD Treasurey Set of the old Mickey Mouse Club for this reason.
(As for the two newer versions, who wants to see Kim Fields from the 70s or Justine Timberlake, Christina Agular and Brittany Spears from the 90s? Walt must have been turning in his grave.)
Speaking of the Mouseketeers, has anyone heard anything lately regarding Annette's condition? I think she saw the made-for-tv movie about her that aired several years ago starring Eva LaRue and decided never to leave the house again.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 11/12/2002 12:20 PM PST

By the way, I think Patty Duke's head was Rita McLaughlin, but I'm not sure if it was for the whole run of the show. And speaking of Patty Duke... Aunt Eller???
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 11/12/2002 12:24 PM PST

Hello, everyone. I am still catching up from my long absence from home.
BK treated us to such a lovely evening over the weekend. He took us to Musso and Frank for dinner -- a place we walked past many times before but would have never gone into. Then we had a lovely Benjamin Kritzer tour around Los Angeles. We met Luckie and bribed her with the treats that Dear Reader Kerry sent for her. We sat on BK's couch like so much fish. Unfortunately, Guy Haines was out of town, because we had really hoped to meet him.
What's in my car CD player: Lee Lessack sings Johnny Mercer. Kerry loaned this to me, and I love it.
I have no idea what's in the house CD player or the VCR.
Posted by Laura @ 11/12/2002 12:51 PM PST

In my Cd player at last (thanks Allan) - "Weird Romance". Interesting and Pilgrim Soul is indeed very moving.
Other Cd player - A collection of Ferrante & Teicher. I may dig out my Annette collection. A good day for a "Pineapple Princess".
I just don't "get" Alison Krauss.
k d & Tony are without a doubt both wonmderful. Thanks Phil, my proof-reading leaves a lot to be desired.Good to know I am not alone.
Where are Spin And Marty these days?
George: Isn't shifting house s supposed to be more stressful than marriage breakdowns and death of a family member? No wonder I stay in the same place for 20 years or so.
I have made it official. My favourite BK produced track is Marin Mazzie's "With You/Gifts Of Love" from the Stephen Schwartz. IMHO - Perfection.
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 11/12/2002 01:04 PM PST

CD Player:
EVITA (Act One) with Patti LuPone.
Carl Orff: CARMINA BURANA
Jason Robert Brown: PARADE
Jessica Molaskey: PENTIMENTO
VCR:
An Affair to Remember (*Sigh*)
Posted by Jason @ 11/12/2002 01:47 PM PST

I think I'll start posting under this name so people know who I am. Anyway..here goes
DVD player - the extras disc for Monsters Inc.
CD player - '95 version of Company
Back to my rainy day...
Posted by Anya @ 11/12/2002 02:15 PM PST

In our VCR is The Princess Bride. I'm watching Mandy Patinkin to get some fencing tips, like how to fence with one hand, and hold your guts in with the other. That could really come in handy if I have to fence Kyle again after his hyperactivity medication has worn off.
In the CD player in the house is Shakespeare on Broadway. I like the part where Guy Haines says, "Duck!"
Right now I am "working" on my research paper. Whine, whine, whine (That is three whines).
Posted by Sandra @ 11/12/2002 02:44 PM PST

Jrand55---
I just listened to the Groban CD while doing other things on the computer. He has a pleasant voice but I don't care much for his selection of songs. It's a little pretentious. Still the fact that I didn't turn it off and start screaming after one or two tracks has to say something. It's definitely for the Andrea Bocelli/Charlotte Church set and not something I'd add to my collection. Who is the girl that duets with him?
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 11/12/2002 04:46 PM PST

Unfortunately (?), there's nothing currently in my CD, DVD nor VCR players. With the start of rehearsals, I've been in R&H land and/or B&H (Bizet & Hammerstein) land for the past week and a half. Hopefully, I'll be able to get some good time to veg out and watch some stuff. In the meantime, I'm fighting that creeping crud that's been making the rounds around here - even hit some of the cast last week (our first week of rehearsal!). It's kind of strange - not really feeling sick, but I keep coughing unexpectedly every now and then, and for a short time afterwards I can feel my sinuses. Ah, well.... Chicken soup and vitamin C...
*I finally picked up the Schoolhouse Rock DVD set, and will most likely pop that in first since I can watch just one or two or three... and then get back to the work at hand.
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 11/12/2002 05:15 PM PST

In the dvd player:
GLADIATOR, MONSTERS,INC, THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH and THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE.
In the car cd player: Michael Ball's STAGE AND SCREEN.
Nothing in the cd player in the house - I cleaned over the weekend, and all fifty discs are back in place.
Posted by td @ 11/12/2002 05:52 PM PST

William - in fact it IS a Church duet on The Prayer, Lili Haydn on Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring, and the Corrs on canto alla vita. Pretentious... 8-D ...I'll give you that. But as you say, not a bad listen if you are in the mood for it.
Posted by Jrand55 @ 11/12/2002 06:05 PM PST

In my CD: 3 Anthony Warlow CDs
In my DVD: Nothing, but I got "Attack of the Clones" from Amazon.com today.
In my VHS: My "Buffy, The Vampire Slayer" VHS tape for recording. I have every episode of the show on VHS. And I'm buying them on DVD as they come out.
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 11/12/2002 06:23 PM PST

BK: That was me doing an unseemly search a moment ago with misspellings and, shall we say, replacement words. :)
Posted by JMK @ 11/12/2002 06:31 PM PST

I missed the chat unfortunately. I was having technical diffulcuties... my computer was too.
No DVD's and nothing in the VCR.
CD player at work: the Great Girl Groups: 1957-1962.
CD player at home: "Ghost Train" by the Hot Club of Cowtown
CD player in the car: Disc 3 from the set "Club Verboten." It starts with "Being Alive" (OBC) and ends with Gloria Gaynor's version of "I Am What I Am." It has everything from Lou Reed to Jim Bailey in between.
I'm glad Luckie liked the treats, and I still wish I could have joined the other Phoenician Hainsie/Kimmlets on Saturday.
Posted by Kerry @ 11/12/2002 08:58 PM PST

Thought I would share this horror. I am a collector of the James Bond movie themes - a few of which are quite ordinary. Today I spent my $8 dollars on the new one. I thought it was a good ploy marketing wise to have Madonna sing the theme. Not to write it. The song has to be the worst by far and after two plays has been hidden away. Has anyone else heard this piece of junk. Whatever happened to melody?
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 11/12/2002 10:00 PM PST

Well, I don't know if anyone will read this or not, but it's now 3:00 in the morning Arizona time and I'm still working on that fershluganah research paper. It feels like I just did one! Only this one is twice as long. Oy...
Posted by Sandra @ 11/13/2002 01:53 AM PST

Dear Sandra,
Meet a fellow red eye. I'm up too...only I'm not doing a research paper.
Hang in there! It'll be worth it in the end.
Nite, nite
Posted by Donna - Cabaret West @ 11/13/2002 03:52 AM PST

I'm almost finished. I haven't really met the length requirements, but I would really like to get some sleep before it's time to wake up.
Posted by Sandra @ 11/13/2002 04:07 AM PST

William - a bit of web browsing proved you correct Rita WAS Patty/Cathy's head. Maybe she can be Patty's standby in OKLAHOMA!
I do think Donna McKechnie doubled for Duke in some dancing long shots in BILLIE.
Just goes to show how minute minutiae can be.
Tim Considine (Spin) used to come to Indy for the 500 every year and stay with a friend of mine. When I first met him I was surprised to see he isn't very tall and had a great handlebar moustache. Great guy though and in answer to an unasked question said that it was great to kiss Annette - everyone asks that question he said.
Posted by Jrand55 @ 11/13/2002 04:54 AM PST

Josh Groban i think will one day be the hottest new singer he has released i think 2 cds and i have them both hes great and i recomend him to any one who likes poetry
Posted by vanessa francis @ 05/09/2003 11:09 AM PST

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