Posted by William E. Lurie @ 02/21/2003 08:49 AM PST

Hmmm... Another Friday, and still nothing in my CD, DVD or VCR players. I'm finding that now that I'm home for a while, I'm having a good time catching up on my TV programs - and I'm totally addicted to BBC America. I also tend to get my daily music fix from the local NPR station. Once I'm a bit more settled, I do have quite the backlog of discs and tapes to make my way through.

Can't wait for Bullshit tonight!

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 02/21/2003 08:57 AM PST

Ah... Just checked Showtime's website, and it lists "Sex, Sex, Sex" for next Friday, February 28. Although tonight's topics, Second Hand Smoke and The Mozart Effect, sound pretty interesting.

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 02/21/2003 09:01 AM PST

Just read the end of yesterday's posts. Yes, Jose, the Eleanor I referred to is the same one you mention. Now I know you're on it I'm going to listen avidly and see if I can spot you.

In the car CD:
the London cast 'Secret Garden' - will I be shot if I say it's better than the Broadway cast? Great sound as well.
Heidi Grant Murphy's 'Times Like These' an opera singer doing show tunes - hmmmn. Dawn Upshaw can get away with it, but I'm not sure about anyone else. This has very sparse (and fairly workman-like) orchestrations, mostly chamber stuff.
Scarlett - the Japanese 'Gone With The Wind', which discussions with Tom from Oz has caused me to replay. Quite good performances, pity I have no idea what they're talking about.
'Jamaica' with Lena Horne on a new two-fer with her singing Porgy & Bess with Harry Belafonte. Only got it this morning, but I'm not wildly impressed with Jamaica yet. Porgy & Bess will grace my journey home.

In the DVD player - the new 2-DVD version of 'A Star is Born' (the Garland version). I think it's been available in the States for a while, but just released over here. I watched the extras last night - the Pantages opening night event is bizarre - about 30 minutes of 'stars' coming in front of the TV cameras to say hello... and not much else.

Posted by Allan @ 02/21/2003 09:09 AM PST

Yes Allan - But the Pantages documentary contains one of the all time classic lines (I think said by Hedda Hopper): "This is Hollywood at its most Hollywood". What is bizarre is that documentary was shown live in Prime Time on national television. One of the first "infomercials".

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 02/21/2003 09:19 AM PST

Allan: Eleanor was my first New York studio recording experience. Quite the full day with the requisite hecticness and controlled chaos. -Of course, we started the day off with the ragtime dance number, and having to start off playing stride left hand... thankfully, we were able to edit in post-production.

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 02/21/2003 09:21 AM PST

Want a glimpse into one of my guilty pleasures? Last night I was in Thousand Oaks, California to catch the kickoff concert of Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme's absolutely final farewell tour. Yes, they still are very borscht belt by way of Las Vegas, yes, Mr. Lawrence's jokes are older than dirt, yes, Miss Gorme's top range ain't what it used to be. All that said, the two of them very much still "have it." Either they really enjoy what they do together or they fake it very, very well. They connect with their audience as few do, their choice of material is tops, and they put their songs out there with great style and panache. It was also a rare treat to hear these singers backed by a thirty (yes, thirty--three-oh) piece orchestra. If Steve and Eydie are coming to your town, I urge you to go see them. There aren't many of their ilk still out there performing, and it was great to see and hear them live one last time.

Posted by Jay @ 02/21/2003 09:29 AM PST

I love the A STAR IS BORN premiere and party discs. Everybody looks great and Judy is on top of the world. And Raymond Burr picked up a sailor and brought him to the premiere! Look, Ma, I'm on TV!

In the DVD player FOUR FEATHERS widescreen 2002 version. It's okay...haven't watched it all yet.

In the CD player BILLY VAUGHN'S GREATEST HITS, a two disc set of instrumental music from a master musician and DOT records! These types of CD's are perfect if you want to sing along!

In the VHS, the SUPERBOY pilot from 1961 with John Rockwell and Bunny Henning. It also has tests for five girls who wanted to be Lana. Bunny won...as she should have.

Friday. STONES IN HIS POCKETS opens tonight. Hopefully the dance will go over big time...and not just lie there like so much fish.

Posted by Jrand52 @ 02/21/2003 09:32 AM PST

In the CD player: actually, I have been having a ball dowloading and burning CDs from www.emusic.com (many of the DRG and Harbinger albums to be had, along with great jazz and standards).

In the DVD player: just watched the new special edition of Sunset Boulevard -- so sick and so wonderful -- and the first disc of the Absolutely Fabulous box set. I have never seen the episodes uncut-up by commercials, and they are much better in their entirety. And, for some reason, I am enjoying watching them in order -- Ms. Saunders is a very good writer and there really is an arc hidden in all the booze and sex. :-)

There is also a tape of the TV Music Man waiting, but I may put that off until I am really bored....

Posted by Philip Crosby @ 02/21/2003 09:41 AM PST

In my CD player at work: the 1984 revival of "The Boy Friend," to be followed by the 1997 revival of its sequel "Divorce Me, Darling"

In my DVD player: nothing yet.

In my record player (now that I can make CD copies of them!): "The Baker's Wife Mini-Album" to be copied for Allan. The CD copy that I'd had was not edited well: you can hear the needle hit the record, and a couple of other goobers like that.

Allan, I went to college with Heidi Grant Murphy. I transferred to Western Washington University as a junior (3rd year) when she was in her last year. We only had a couple of classes together, so we didn't really get to know each other very well. But we did chat a few times. It was big very news around the music department when she won the Met auditions because she was "one of ours" and we could say "we knew her when!" I can't imagine that she would even remember me now.

Posted by George @ 02/21/2003 09:44 AM PST

Here at work in the CD player is Brent Barrett's Kander and Ebb album, which I just had to revisit after playing the AJL album to death.

Note to People Magazine: Are you people crazy? Ben Affleck? It should be obvious to the most casual observer that the Sexiest Man Alive is Brent Barrett. Absolutely no question about that. (And you can tell him I said so.)

In the VCR at home: A bland tape to record Bullsh*t: Secondhand Smoke and Baby Doodoo. We'll have to wait another week to see Bruce's Sex.

In the CD player at home: Liza's Back, and is she ever! I love and I mean love her rendition of "What Did I Have?" And I also love Eydie Gorme's version. And I love Emily Skinner's and Barabara Harris's. I do not love La Streisand's wrong-headed monkeying with the rhythm, no indeed, I do not.

Posted by William F. Orr @ 02/21/2003 09:48 AM PST

George---
Check out Ken Mandelbaum's colun today at Broadway.Com. He has a very good review of your former classmate's CD (scroll past the ad).

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 02/21/2003 09:50 AM PST

This morning I came into the office and found a very interesting email from a lady who is putting up a web page devoted to my late friend Joel Crothers. She evidently was searching about on the Internet and found my reference to him on this here very site, the soon-to-be most popular site on the Internet.

So I spent the first hour or so at work writing my reminiscences of my friend. Curiously all the references to him on the WWW are at sites devoted to Dark Shadows, and although they list some of his other credits, nobody seems aware that he was the original Ed in the off-Broadway production of Torch Song Trilogy.

Anyway, Joel died almost twenty years ago, and it was a strange experience to be typing all that I remembered about him. Like visiting another period of my life. Like visiting a long-ago friend. And I want that back. Oh, a Stephen Sondheim reference.

Uh,... thanks for listening.

Posted by William F. Orr @ 02/21/2003 09:58 AM PST

Hope I didn't take up too much of your time...

Posted by William F. Orr @ 02/21/2003 10:00 AM PST

Oops, Sex is not on tonight (at least on television), but NEXT Friday. Sorry, you'll all have to wait a week for Sex.

Posted by bk @ 02/21/2003 10:27 AM PST

I object to all this sex on the television! I mean, I keep falling off!

Posted by Pepperpot @ 02/21/2003 10:32 AM PST

I am listening right now to Patty Lupone Live, the 1993 "farewell" concert she did in LA before heading out to London for her mistreatment at the hands of Mr. ALW. I am not one of the Love Her or Hate Her groups. I think she veers wildly from being absolutely knockout wonderful to amazingly odd. I think some of the stuff she does is exciting and great. I love her on Oz right now. This live album, IMHO, is a perfect example of how she can go from sublime to ridiculous (I know that's inverted). I love His Rocking Horse Ran Away and Meadowlark (her pre-song story is very funny), but boy, when she does Surabaya Johnny I shake my head and the bit she does from Sunset Boulevard also makes me wonder (meaningless piece of information - I did Happy End in college and we re-named Surabaya Johnny to Sort of Boring Johnny. Forever after I have not been able to hear the song without thinking of our re-write, of which I can only remember, Sort of Boring Johnny, will this song never end?)

I am expecting the delivery of my brand, spanking new (did it misbehave? why was it spanked) computer today. According to UPS it will be delivered this afternoon so I will spend the weekend setting it up and tweaking it so I won't have time to listen or watch much of anything. And then, after it's all set up I will be able to join the legions of CD-burners. Hooray. Some of my ancient LPs will now be accessible at work! Cowardy Custard here I come.

Posted by Ben @ 02/21/2003 10:34 AM PST

BK: And just how do you plan to enforce this rule of yours, hmmmm? A week without Sex indeed.

Jr: How fun! Did they actually show Perry Mason with his date at the premiere on the TV special? If so, how did they 'splain? Cousin? "Up and coming" (ouch! sorry) young actor, auditioning for the new role of Paul Drake's assistant? Do tell!

Posted by Lulu @ 02/21/2003 10:38 AM PST

LOL...no Lulu...I think it was Jack Carson interviewing at the time and he pulled Raymond Burr up to the stage...who then pulled this sailor up and said they had just met, the sailor was on leave, and Raymond was going to show him a good time in Hollywood including a real Hollywood premiere...

William F Orr (not from WB) - I have another friend who knew Joel very well...Patrick Agan...do you know Patrick.

ALSO about a year ago, I bid and won a video of the last FIVE episodes of EDGE OF NIGHT featuring Mr. Joel Crothers as a doctor getting married to his sweetheart at long last. It was two and one half hours of memories with the whole cast of one of my all-time favorite shows...featuring of course Miss Lois Kibbee (first collaborator with Frances Farmer on her infamous autobiography.). I will make you a copy of the video if you want to see Joel...fun...and sad all at once.

Posted by Jrand52 @ 02/21/2003 10:58 AM PST

Jr: OMG! LOL, Raymond must've been struggling to keep a straight face the whole time. Only in the '50s could Joe and Mary Six-Pack fail to blink an eye during such an exchange. They were probably nodding and smiling at Burr's patriotism.

I mean really, can you imagine, say, Tom Cruise doing the same thing nowadays? Walking down the red carpet at the Oscars: "Hi, Army! I want you to meet my sailor friend. He's on leave, we just met tonight, and I promised to show him a really good time..."

Posted by Lulu @ 02/21/2003 11:04 AM PST

Jrand52: Is Lois Kibbee related to the wonderful Hollywood character actor, Guy Kibbee? I met his granddaughter, Kathy Kibbee (I can't remember her full last name now) in the mid-80s. My partner at the time had gone to school w/Kathy. She married an Englishman and lives outside of London now. We got together with her when we spent a summer in Europe.

Posted by Ben @ 02/21/2003 11:12 AM PST

To Mr. Orr

Thank you so much for your insight and memories of Joel Crothers. It just reinforces my belief that he was a genuine person and should have had a dedication to him way before now :)

Posted by SF @ 02/21/2003 11:29 AM PST

Guy Kibbee was Lois Kibbee's uncle. Her father was Guy's brother. She appeared in over 300 plays before starting her soap opera career. Back then, most of the soaps originated in New York.

ABC was the first to produce one on the west coast...GENERAL HOSPITAL featuring Miss Allison Hayes.

Lois also wrote THE BENNETT PLAYBILL with actress Joan Bennett and was the ghost writer on Christine Jorgenson's autobiography.

Posted by Jrand52 @ 02/21/2003 11:32 AM PST

So your friend Kathy would be Lois' 1st cousin once removed.

Posted by Jrand52 @ 02/21/2003 11:34 AM PST

Lulu: How do I say this....I recounted the military anecdote as an example of what, at that time, was not considered crass, nasty, etc. It was in the mid-70s. About six years earlier, I was in a college production of "The Fantasticks" and "The Rape Ballet" was a highlight of the show without the word/idea "rape" being considered violent/brutal as the literal act is. Rape is an ugly, ugly nonsexual assault.

I pointed out that there was a time it could be used in a referential way that could be laughted at. Today's PC-ness makes it virtually impossible for anyone to be referential in any way, shape or form because there's always someone out there who is going to go ultra-ape over the insensitivity of it.

I think the majority of us are sensitive to issues and can do without PC-hyperbole that demands we do as we are told/how dare we use that word/etc.

We live in a world in which "The Fantasticks" cannot be produced as it was written. "The Rape Ballet" and the song, "Rape" were, in and of themselves, never vile or brutal or ugly.

There are tons of literary references about rape -- not all literally "rapes", but always involving the stealing away of women. They were never intended to be interpreted as brutal assaults but as barbaric acts of abduction.

We are only a step away from seeing "Sobbin' Women" from "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers" being condemned for what it "implies" amid incredulous putdowns of the cast because they sing the song so joyously.

And that's where we're headed!

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 02/21/2003 11:48 AM PST

Tried to edit and it wouldn't let me -- so, even in the mid-70s, I could appreciate what that officer was trying to do with levity, but it did make me uncomfortable and I thought at the time that he wasn't keeping up with the world view of such statements as well as he ought for a many of high rank.

I think anyone writing a song today about rape as though it were something amusing -- or in an "amused" manner -- would be out of his/her mind.

But I think such things as "The Fantasticks" should be made available -- as written -- with notes/discussion about the song and the connotations the word "rape" had then that don't apply now.

It's a "word." Any world that doesn't tolerate the discussion of a word isn't a world I want to live in.

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 02/21/2003 12:00 PM PST

I am so fed up with all the PC crap as it applies to Broadway revivals. HOW TO SUCCEED... had to be re-written so women would not be ofended. ANNIE GET YOUR GUN had to be re-written so American Indians --- I mean Native Americans wouldn't be offended. Nobody will touch FINIAN'S RAINBOW because it is perceived to be anti-Black when it is one of the most liberal, pro-Black shows ever written. The Alka Seltzer scene does not ridicule Blacks... it points out a stereotype that didn't even exist any more in the mid 40s when the show was initially produced. When the Senator is turned Black it is not to "demote" him but to let him see how it is to be in someone else's skin. Yip Harburg was one of the most liberal creators on Broadway and he must be laughing in his grave to see the kind of bullshit (oh - a Penn and Teller reference) people read into this show.

And due to being PC, shows are now historically inacurate, mixing races during periods when races did not mix.

By the way, imagine the outcry if some producer announced an all Caucasian production of PORGY AND BESS (although it has been recorded that way), RAISIN IN THE SUN or PURLIE!

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 02/21/2003 12:08 PM PST

Thank you, Jay, for your report
on Steve & Eydie....

I've always been very fond of
their talents; I saw them in
Orlando, Fl. a little over a year
after they had lost their son,
and they were just terrific...

One can tell those folks LOVE
to sing...

Cds in my player: complete
Guys & Dolls from BBC radio 2
thanks to Dear dear reader
Allan, June Bronhill thanks to
triple Dear reader Tom from
Oz -- ain't we a great AND
grand family ???? Who needs
war when one can have
FRIENDSHIP ?? -- a two-fer
Collectables of songs by
Robert-If-Ever-I-Would-Leave-
You-Goulet ( No, Robert, don't
leave !! ), Lucky In The Rain,
Through The Years with Brent
Barrett-the-Hunk ( hey,
William, who needs a "sexiest
man in the world" ????? ) and
Tv BBB with Mark Kudish,
another hunk!...

Posted by François @ 02/21/2003 12:09 PM PST

I agree about The Fantasticks - it is shameful. I do know that a clarification about the context of the word as used in the song was made, and I believe the show can be performed with the song or its replacement. But people really get uncomfortable and that is solely a product of these times we live in. There was a long thread in a ng about a high school doing a musical, Peter Pan, and how the parents in the audience were uncomfortable because of the line "silly ass". I mean, when does it stop? That's just nonsense really. And yes, I'm surprised no one's gone after Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, which is based on The Rape (as in abduction) of the Sabine Women.

Someone mentioned Joan Bennett. Yum. She stars in two of my all-time favorite films, both directed by Fritz Lang: The Woman in the Window and Scarlet Street.

Posted by bk @ 02/21/2003 12:42 PM PST

CD player: Michelle De Castro's "Toonfull Too", Mel Torme's "Comin' Home Baby", "The Wild Thornberrys Movie" - Soundtrack (worth it for the wonderful Paul Simon & Angelique Kidjo tracks) and Grammy Nominees 2003.(More interesting than the last few years).
DVD (well next to it and yet to be played) "Lawrence After Arabia" with Ralph Feines. I know nothing about this - guess it was a straight to video/DVD release)

Posted by Tom Guest @ 02/21/2003 12:57 PM PST

Ron: Obviously, we'll have to agree to disagree. Here's my take on this: even back in the '70s (or the '60s or the '50s or the '40s, etc.) anytime a man said something like "when rape is inevitable, lie back and enjoy it" (which is obviously an explicit reference to sexual assault, and not the least bit metaphorical),any woman within earshot would have had the same fist-to-the-gut feeling that she does if she hears such an idiotic statement these days. The fact that all the other guys were laughing and clapping their hands would hardly have been a source of comfort or reassurance to her.

Decades ago, plenty of people used the word "nigger" in everyday conversation too, and refused to comprehend why some segments of society were less than happy about it.

Just because the hegemony is happy with the status quo doesn't mean that everybody is.

I think it's a step forward, not backwards, that these days we are expected to take other points of view into account before we speak -- and if we don't, we are usually called on the carpet for it.

Do some people take what we consider to be unreasonable offense at things that seem quite innocuous to most of us? Sure. Know what you do then? Apologize anyway ("I'm sorry if what I said/did offended you; I truly didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable") and move on. You'll totally disarm their criticism, and look like a big shot to boot. To my mind, this scenario is preferable by far to everyone blundering around shooting their mouths off and then complaining loudly about the PC police.

Posted by Lulu @ 02/21/2003 12:58 PM PST

And to tie together two threads from today, Joan Bennett is probably best known to people who were too young to remember her movies from the tv Gothic Soap DARK SHADOWS where she appeared with Joel Crothers.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 02/21/2003 01:01 PM PST

I like Joan Bennett, too, despite not finding her yummy.

Posted by Lulu @ 02/21/2003 01:02 PM PST

I just read that ABC has put their version of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF on "hold". They are blaming the problem of getting insurance to film in Prague and the security issues of shooting there. However cynic that I am, I wonder how much of this was caused by the ratings (ending 4th in its time period after a promising start) and generally poor reviews of MUSIC MAN. Somehow I think if MM were the smash they expected they would have tried harder to solve the insurance and security problems for FIDDLER.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 02/21/2003 01:11 PM PST

DARK SHADOWS is on the SCIFI channel every morning at 8 am EST.

The shoddiest sets, the most ill-fitting costumes, bad camera blocking, missed and flubbed lines, miscues, and prop mis-handling. It is all there just as it was when first aired. I can forgive all of the above....but the false climaxes that lead into every commercial are still ridiculous. It happened in every episode before every commercial...someone would say something like "I know who killed her...." Lots of music and some shocked closeups....cue commercial....return to show...line: "But never mind that now....let's talk about Barnabas..." EVERY TIME...and Grayson Hall was outrageous! If you have never seen it - don't waste a lot of time, but catch a couple of episodes. You might indeed see Miss Joan Bennett and Mr Joel Crothers.

Posted by Jrand52 @ 02/21/2003 01:27 PM PST

JRand: I do not know Patrick Agan--but a bit of googling has brought up the fact that he interviewed Lois Kibbee for his 1979 book The Decline and Fall of the Love Goddess.

In re shoddiness in Dark Shadows: I recall when Joel was on Edge of Night I saw a very melodramatic episode where he was trying to learn the truth from a dying man at the fatal moment. He later said to me, "I don't believe I actually got to say the line, 'Don't die on me now!'!"

In re PC: Well, there is real offense, and then there is perceived offense. Don't we all recall the school in Massachussetts where they canceled West Side Story after a parents' protest that it was "anti-Hispanic"--a protest by people who freely admitted that they had never seen or read any version of it.

Ah, me! Second-hand smoke. Bullshit.

Posted by William F. Orr @ 02/21/2003 01:45 PM PST

Jr: I find Dark Shadows difficult to watch for long. Don't get me wrong; I appreciate a good campy gothic daytime soap opera as much as anybody. But it's SOOOOOOOOOO slow-moving - it almost seems to be taking place underwater.

I did like seeing Violet Beauregarde (from Willy Wonka) on there, though.

Posted by Lulu @ 02/21/2003 01:46 PM PST

Yup - Patrick's LOVE GODDESSES book is terrific. And I have a copy of his interview with Lois RE:Frances Farmer. Great to hear Lois' take on the whole thing.

Patrick is working on and will soon finish a full scale biography of Hedy LaMarr...NOT Headley...Hedy.

Posted by Jrand52 @ 02/21/2003 01:55 PM PST

Lulu, I hope we're okay.

The comment about "rape...inevitable...lie back...enjoy it" was both suggestive of an actual rape while being referential to what Washington was doing to the command by once again cutting our budget, cutting our manpower allotment while increasing the level of support we had to provide. A rape of a kind.

So his context was not about a literal rape...but I know what you mean...and in the 70s, rapes were seldom reported, although the attitudes toward them were beginning to change (i.e., burden of proof moving away from being on the victim, manner of dress of the woman being an issue, etc.). It amazes me how anyone could have believed someone ever "asked for it" because of the manner of dress or a way of walking.

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 02/21/2003 02:26 PM PST

As the topic had moved to Pc:
the last school at which I taught mounted a production of "How To Succeed". The staff at our junior campus who were very much into PC issues boycotted the show and enouraged their students do to likewise - not and go and see their older siblings perform! I am sure there are enough PC issues in Shakespeare and the other literature studied by the same students. I thought they should encourage their students to see the show and then look at the PC issues in their historical contect.

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 02/21/2003 02:52 PM PST

The Brent Barrett interview is up and running, so you simply must go read it and then post your thoughts.

Posted by bk @ 02/21/2003 03:46 PM PST

I'm not PC but iMac ! ;- )

Posted by François @ 02/21/2003 04:04 PM PST

For all those intimate musical theatre mavens out there:

An acquaintance of mine who happens to be the artistic director of a local theatre company is looking for ideas for "a small-cast (up to 6) musical that's wonderful, exciting, and hasn't been done to death."

Any ideas?

Posted by Jay @ 02/21/2003 04:17 PM PST

Jay;

how about Dames At Sea ???

Brent Barrett: what a charming
gentleman. No "dirt", hey?!

I doubt though that infos
regarding Doug Storm can be
found on Brent's site.....

Craig, please, correct that
boo-boo! Thanks!

Posted by François @ 02/21/2003 04:28 PM PST

The main item I learned about
- I quote - handsome leading
man Brent is that.... he's
keeping his goatie!!

Posted by François @ 02/21/2003 04:31 PM PST

Hello all!

The new Broadway Radio Show will be up and running this Sunday, but probably a bit earlier in the day than ususal --- just wanted to warn those of you who wait until the last minute to listen to the current show!

I Just finished reading the Brent Barrett interview and wanted to add a funny story that Bruce himself may not know. When Brent met with Bruce here in LA about the Kander & Ebb Album, Brent was indeed in town with the tour of "Chicago" -- now, what Bruce may not know is that when Brent called Bruce to set up the time for their meeting, he was actually standing in the studio at KGIL-AM, because Brent was there as a guest on my radio show called Showtune Spotlight and, when we took a quick break he asked to use the phone to call Bruce Kimmel.....in fact, only weeks earlier Bruce himself had been a guest on my show and when Brent found out that I knew Bruce, he asked that I tell Bruce what a great guy Brent was and that the Kander & Ebb Album was a great idea....I never did tell Bruce, because I figured that Bruce already had knew all that -- and, in reality I hardly knew Bruce at all -- something that would, of course, change over the next few years....so, there you have it; my own personal contribution to the Brent Barrett story!

Posted by Donald Feltham @ 02/21/2003 04:49 PM PST

that boo boo was fixed...thanks

Posted by Craig @ 02/21/2003 04:51 PM PST

Nothing in the VCR or DVD.

CD's aplenty though:

The Producers
Subways Are For Sleeping
James Naughton's new CD
Manhattan Transfer "Pastiche"
Diana Krall "The Look of Love"
Ethel Smith "Queen of the Hammond"
A recording of a wonderful harp concert by Charles Lynch

Posted by Kerry @ 02/21/2003 05:46 PM PST

Ver nice interview with BB.

However, I would really appreciate some clarification on a comment....something about him "working 42nd Street" before the Disney folks cleaned it up.

It took me straight to the Bette Midler Live At Last concert when she started a set with "I was walking down 42nd Street..."and the audience roared.

"I was WALKING down 42nd Street...not WORKING 42nd Street!" Bette exclaimed!

So, what kind of "working" is Mr. Brent Barrett referring to?

: )

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 02/21/2003 06:02 PM PST

Just checking in before my Birthday Celebration. Dinner at my favorite restaurant and then there have been rumors of Karioke afterward. Should be too too fun.

CD Car - Jerry's Girls
CD Bedroom - Carpenters "Ticket To Ride"
DVD Player - Hairspray

That's it. Have a great eve!

Posted by Matthew @ 02/21/2003 06:24 PM PST

Have a wonderful celebration Matthew.
My idea of hell would be Karioke. Other people's idea of hell would be hearing me "Sing"!

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 02/21/2003 06:34 PM PST

My Japanese is non-existant
but I believe it is KARAOKE.

OK?

Posted by François @ 02/21/2003 06:39 PM PST

I also believe Brent meant to
say that he was appearing in
"42nd Street" but....

"I'm Naïve !" --oh, a Jule Styne
reference!....

or is it a Pc translation?????

Posted by François @ 02/21/2003 06:42 PM PST

What a treat to read about Joel
Crothers. I was such a DARK
SHADOWS nut, I even watched THE
EDGE OF NIGHT--because Crothers
was on it. Then, lo and behold,
one night during the showcase run
of CHARLOTTE SWEET, there he was:
Joel Crothers, member of Audience
Extras. Even better, he loved
the show so much, he returned
several times. I felt very
honored.

Posted by Ludlow29 @ 02/21/2003 07:06 PM PST

Actually, the American translation is kareoke (ka-re-o-ke, pronounced kaw-ray-yoe-key)...

Maku Bakaro San

Posted by Mr. Mark Bakalor @ 02/21/2003 07:08 PM PST

Hey,
Mark-you're-all-crazy-Bakalor!

How about an answer to the
question;

how did your audition go and
are you coming to Paris soon,
Bakaro San ???

Posted by François @ 02/21/2003 07:21 PM PST

Car CD player: "Lovesong"
VCR: Why, I think "Music Man" is still in there, because I don't think we took it out after taping it.

Posted by Laura @ 02/21/2003 08:31 PM PST

Don't care for the idea however you spell it! I believe it is a corruption of without orchestra that actually means "open sky". Maybe I read that on this site.

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 02/21/2003 08:43 PM PST

Didn't Fred and Ginger dance The Kareoke?

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 02/21/2003 09:39 PM PST

Yes, they did but don't
anymore ;- )

Posted by François @ 02/21/2003 10:01 PM PST

karaoke - 1979, from
Japanese, from kara "empty" +
oke "orchestra," shortened
form of okesutora, a
Japanization of Eng. orchestra.

Posted by Internet @ 02/21/2003 10:15 PM PST

Regarding BB interview;

Please, don't mind my saying
so, but I believe -- I'm quite a
believer tonight ! - that the
book for BUSKER ALLEY was
written by AJ CArothers who
also teamed with the Sherman
brothers, years ago, to
srceenwrite "The Happiest
Millionaire".....

Posted by François @ 02/21/2003 10:27 PM PST

't get the Renault audition directed by Guy Ritchie but I did have a callback for Quaker Foods last week and another callback for a fast food chain on Monday. Two callbacks every eight auditions is a pretty good response. We'll see what happens!

Posted by Mr. Mark Bakalor @ 02/21/2003 10:33 PM PST

I don't understand why we don't spell "karaoke" phonetically, since there is no "proper Japanese" spelling using our alphabet. Hence, you can spell it any way you darn well please.

Of course, whether or not people will know what you're writing about is still open to question...

Posted by Lulu @ 02/22/2003 04:15 AM PST

I was awoken twenty minutes ago by a 5.2 magnitude (per initial reports) earthquake centered about 150 miles east of here in Southern California. At the moment the USGS reports it has been felt in 337 surrounding counties which means little more than I wasn't the only one who thought that was an earthquake. NO worries. A 5 point magnitude quake means little more than, dang that was just an earthquake, wasn't it? Enough of my pre dawn ramblings. Back to sleep I go.

Posted by Mr. Mark Bakalor @ 02/22/2003 04:43 AM PST

What a terrific interview with handsome leading man Brent Barrett. Can hardly wait for the KMK show on PBS.

And I didn't even know there was a show called SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM IN KENTUCKY. I am intrigued, oh yes, I am intrigued.

Posted by Jrand52 @ 02/22/2003 05:03 AM PST

I felt the earth move....

Posted by Carole King @ 02/22/2003 05:32 AM PST

Dear Jrand52,

I just read where you had won the ebay auction on some tapes Joel was in. Would it be possible to obtain copies? If you could, please email me, I would love to get copies for the site that's being done in honor of Mister Crothers.

SF

Posted by SF @ 02/23/2003 06:09 AM PST