Replies: 44 Unseemly Comments
What skeeves me the most at this time: Brilliant interview questions, such as "How important is it that we win the war?" Or "How excited are you about the Oscars?" or any other "How..." questions that the news anchors ask. And news anchors that giggle (Dear Reader Kerry probably knows who I'm talking about).
Posted by Laura @ 03/22/2003 08:02 AM PST
First post!!
How excited am I about that?
Posted by Laura @ 03/22/2003 08:02 AM PST
I have many pet skeeves, but the one I can think of now is theaters that prodly identify themselves as "Live!"
Well of course it's live, you stupid fool, it's theater! The very nature of theater is that it's live! Otherwise it would be television! Some say that they're simply doing it as a marketing technique, but are people who don't know that theater is LIVE really the audiences that we want? I mean, if the Cleveland Playhouse is that desperate, something is seriously wrong.
The news media certainly skeeves me too.
Welcome back to dear reader freedunit. It feels like the old days, except there are now lots of wonderful NEW dear readers! A cause for celebration all around!
Posted by Hapgood @ 03/22/2003 08:18 AM PST
Hapgood.. sadly - I worked for an Equity Dinner theater in Florida and you'd be surprised how many people assumed it meant dinner and a movie. I am skeeved that one has to put LIVE in an ad for theater - but unfortunately, it's not entirely the institutions fault.
Posted by Craig @ 03/22/2003 08:34 AM PST
I share BK's be-skeeve-ment (I want royalties on coining that term, BTW) about the news coverage. The parents of another kid in my youngest's pre-school are NPR reporter/producers and we had a long chat about the overkill (no pun intended) of the coverage. It's sadly a matter of ratings and audience demand. I have been calling it "The War Show" for wont of a better term.
Posted by JMK @ 03/22/2003 09:28 AM PST
BK and JMK: Watch BBC News or news from other nations on The International Channel (if you have it) and you won't have to go around in a state of near-perpetual skeevement. All the stuff you hate about the US news media is absent, and you also get the benefit of a different perspective.
It turns out that ABC's 3 hours of war coverage Thursday evening had 4 million fewer viewers than an old rerun of Friends on NBC. Given that fact, coupled with the fact that covering a war is quite costly, we'll hopefully find the hype abating somewhat in the days and weeks ahead.
We won't even get into the sticky moral issue of "hyping" a war as if it were just another big-budget action flick. These people have to find a way to live with themselves; it's not my problem.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/22/2003 10:04 AM PST
BTW, JMK, you'll note that I used the term "skeevement" above, rather than...well, the word you used. Thus, I neatly avoided the issue of a royalty.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/22/2003 10:06 AM PST
Another reason to break out the colored tights and pantaloons! A very happy birthday to...
(drumroll please)...
Stephen Sondheim
Posted by Craig @ 03/22/2003 10:13 AM PST
Happy Birthday, Mr Stephen Sondheim....I wonder how he will celebrate? Surely a visit to HHW would be a perfect way.
I am VERY skeeved at audience behavior in movie theatres AND theatre proper (Live as it were). Prices are so high, at both, that I think people feel an entitlement to behave in any way they want to. Anyway....that is at the top of my list.
I am also STILL skeeved that AMC shows commercials DURING its movies...thank goodness for TCM.
My skeeve-level is actually quite high...except when I am driving.
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/22/2003 10:18 AM PST
I live in Florida and I hate the local news. They try to sensationalize everything. it is important for them to be "Exclusive Report!" "First on the Scene!" "A report you'll only see on 5!" and on and on. I used to be a news junkie and loved to watch CNN and FOX and MSNBC and now I am finding it harder and harder to watch. They try to outdo one another at the expense of delivering hard news with out blowing it out of proportion or sensalizing the stort.
Also aren't we also overdoing the Academy Award news these past two weeks? There are lot more pressing things out there as who will win what, who is wearing what designer, the "controvesy" over NOT having the red carpet or any pre-oscar show. (Oh what is Joan and Melissa going to do!)
As for me I will tape them while I go out to movie or something and the rewind the tape and watch the entire show in about 30 minutes instead of 4hrs plus.
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 03/22/2003 10:31 AM PST
BTW by another quirk of Broadway fate it is Andrew Lloyd Webber's birthday as well.
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 03/22/2003 10:32 AM PST
A VERY, VERY, VERY (that's three verys) HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Mr. Stephen Sondheim!! And, I will add, it is also Andrew Lloyd Webber's birthday. Happy Birthday, Andy! ;-)
You wanna know what skeeves me? Viri (or viruses, to the unlearned). I ran my weekly virus checker and found a virus in eight (that's 8!) different places. Fortunately, my virus checker is also a virus remover and my computer is now virus free. Yea! (Until the next time, I'm sure.)
What also skeeves me is having to do things for other people that I don't really want to do, but I'm too much of a pushover to say no, or, or it's something for my family and I cain't say no (an Ado Annie reference). As Faith Prince said in NICK & NORA, "Doesn't that just kiss ya?"
Posted by George @ 03/22/2003 10:39 AM PST
ESCHEW OBFUSCATION!
Oh! Yes! Let us all e-s-c-h-e-w it before the news media hauls out all the retired schoolteachers and professors it can find to do commentary upon the vernacular used by all the retired military officers it has found to comment upon the current event. Heaven forfend the O'Reilly show that ridicules the vernacular wars by pitting the Ivy League master of grammar from Yale (1958-1989) against the retired Head of the English Department from Oral Roberts U. (1962-1993).
Heaven Help Us, All, Each One of Us!
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 03/22/2003 10:57 AM PST
Yes, I must confess I actually love the word "obfuscate" because, as RP noted, it is a word that actually DOES what its definition is!
Besides, it's also one of those words NOBODY knows how to pronounce, and consequently it only exists in print. There should be a special dictionary of words that ONLY appear in print and are NEVER spoken. Obfuscation would surely be included.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/22/2003 11:07 AM PST
My Pet SKEEVE is the current extreme right wing penchant for calling all those who protest the war traitors, anti-Americans, un-Americans, etc. as if they alone held right to the claim of being patriots.
The tap-dance all over the Constitution by suggesting this. If it weren't for dissenters, we might still be British! If it weren't for dissenters, we might still be puritans.
These people forget who the hell they are and where the hell we all came from and why!
Suggesting that any U.S. citizen who disagrees with this war is anything other than a patriot is un-Democratic and un-American.
We seem to have forgotten our lessons on the Third Reich and Fascist Italy. People who protested were murdered. The rest remained silent and let unspeakable things happen.
I've heard quite enough out of the "extreme" right for my lifetime. Bitch-slapping has commenced and will continue until the day they have to pry my cold dead hand off the cheek of one very sticky son-of-a-bitch!
Rant over! Just feeling mis-skeeve-ous today! (Copyright pending, JMK!)
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 03/22/2003 11:10 AM PST
OB-fyou-skate!
Emphasis on "OB"
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 03/22/2003 11:13 AM PST
War! War! War! Fiddle-de-dee!
Posted by Scarlett O'Hara @ 03/22/2003 11:42 AM PST
OK, is it just me? When I read over that second paragraph I wrote above (the one that has CERTAIN words in ALL caps to indicate EMPHASIS), I hear Bette Davis saying it in my head.
Maybe I'm the only one.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/22/2003 11:43 AM PST
Nothing much to say but I didn't want to be truant and errant (T&A). To paraphrase SHE LOVES ME... it's too nice a day to be inside surfing the net.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 03/22/2003 11:44 AM PST
To obfuscate or not to obfuscate, is that a question? I am so confused and unclear about it all now; it is a lulu of a word.
Hello, Lulu, Craig, Kerry, and all.
I think there is no need to wear a pith helmet while preparing Pithiviers, unless one is working for a rolling-pin-wielding chef with a violent temper. Then one can never be too careful.
Jose: Mondrian Pastry. The chocolate-chip brioche is very good. [By the way, TriBakery has on its menu a grilled-cheese sandwich with five (5) cheeses on brioche. It sounds decadent and delicious, but just reading the menu was enough calories for me.] I have double-baked brioche; they are yummy. Call it the mandel-bread gene, but I am an impurist when it comes to biscotti: I love them without almonds, hazelnut, pistachio or other nuts. Double-chocolate is my favorite.
Many happy returns to Mister Sondheim. I just secured my tickets to Bounce, formerly Gold!, formerly Wise Guys, formerly the Mizner project or whatever the title. I think it is great that Jane Powell is to be in the show. And I am really glad that Michele Pawk has joined the cast. She was quite good at the Goodman in Hollywood Arms.
[By the way, Donna Lynne Champlin looks even younger and fresher-scrubbed in person. I see her from time to time at the grocery store.]
Speaking of Sondheim, the Merrily We Roll Along reunion was wonderful and very moving.
Posted by freedunit @ 03/22/2003 11:48 AM PST
This morning, I woke up and turned on the war. Then I got tired of it and turned it off.
Is there something wrong with this picture?
It seems to me this impersonality is harmful. Are we living it or are we passive observers. Memo to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: Please bring on the glitz and glamour. Don't hold back. We need it!
Posted by Donna @ 03/22/2003 12:02 PM PST
Donna,
Iraqi people , I'm sure, wish
THEY could "turn it off" too.....
Posted by François @ 03/22/2003 12:26 PM PST
Happy Saturday! And what a truly lovely Saturday it is here in Richmond, VA. The sun is out, the temp is up, and my shorts are on! I'm just finishing up "Faking It" on The Learning Channel - quite a good episode - it's the one where they're trying to make a dedicated beer drinker (and sports fan) into a sommelier.
We had a wonderful run-thru of HAIR this morning. It is amazing - and unfortunate in a way - just how much the show has transformed due to the world events of the past couple of days.
We were in the middle of rehearsal the other night when the director's wife called to say the bombing had started. After the director passed on the news to the cast, we all just gravitated to the center of the room for a big group hug. Time stopped for a few moments.
After trying to get rehearsal started back up again - and I give the students credit for trying to continue - we decided to let the students go for the evening. Before they left, one of the students asked anyone in the room to announce the names of anyone they knew overseas. What followed was quite sobering... Fathers, brothers, mothers, sisters, friends, classmates, neighbors... One whole family in one case. One student's brother is on the front line. And one of our assistant stage manager's is a member of the Marine Reserve and could be called up at any moment. The war had literally hit close to home.
Our subsequent rehearsals have been imbued with a greater sense of purpose. And spirit. No matter what side of the fence you may be on - and even in our cast there are people for and against the war - we all must remember that there are people involved. Lives involved. All we can hope for is that the current conflict will be short, and that the loss of life will be minimal.
And, I, too, have been skeeved been by the news coverage. I was soooo happy to that NBC decided to re-run a Tonight Show. It was bi-partisan - had a brief clip of Bush and Gore. And, best of all, Dame Edna had a good chunk of a segment. It was so nice to laugh again at that time of night.
-Time for me to enjoy the sun!
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 03/22/2003 12:57 PM PST
I wish the very happiest of Birthdays to Mr. Sondheim. I'm sure that many others, like me, find beauty and inspiration in his works. and wish we could thank him personally. Could Bruce convince him to visit our site? To think, we'll only have twenty more years of him actively writing shows!
Would it be gauche of me to ask where freedunit has been these months? We have all missed him.
I just visited a 2 week old baby. It is very calming to hold a small infant. It can lessen anyone's be-skeeve-ment (TM).
Posted by Hapgood @ 03/22/2003 01:01 PM PST
Thank you Hapgood for expressing the thoughts of many of us here at HHW. My world would indeed be much less interesting and fulfilling if I had not explored the many worlds Mr Sondheim has created for us with his music and lyrics..
Happy Birthday Mr Sondheim.
Posted by Tom from Oz @ 03/22/2003 01:17 PM PST
Everybody wears jeans to the Independent Film Awards to show how "real" they are....hmmmm...then they all thanks about six agents and producers.
If their political statements are a preview of the Oscars tomorrow night, it will be a sad affair. I almost started a rant of my own...which would have put me in their category....there are other message boards for that.... No I take it back...saying that would get me accused of being against free speech...say what you like. If I don't like it, I can scroll past the post.
Happy Birthday, Sir Andrew!
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/22/2003 03:02 PM PST
Happy Birthday, Mr. Sondheim. As I worship his music, I am truly embarrassed to say that I've never seen a staged production of MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG. I had plans to see it at the Kennedy Center last summer, but I had to back out at the last minute. much to my everlasting dismay. SOme day, I will see this show!
Sorry, but I cannot mention the other composer who shares his birthday in the same breath with the Master.
Posted by Matt H. @ 03/22/2003 03:40 PM PST
Are we starting an Oscar chat when the ceremony starts tomorrow...or earlier?
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/22/2003 05:18 PM PST
I'm so senile I can't remember if chat was last Monday or Sunday. Well, perhaps the best thing to do would be to have chat on Monday - but do "live" postings all during the Oscar ceremony - in other words, our own Oscar party.
I'll throw in my wishes for my close personal friend, Mr. Stephen Sondheim's birthday.
Posted by bk @ 03/22/2003 05:22 PM PST
From what I've heard, all stars
will be wearing... jeans at
tomorrow"s Oscar ceremony
too.
Just to be different (!), and then
not, French stars -- I mean
Freedom stars (!) -- will be
wearing blue de Nîmes.........
Posted by François @ 03/22/2003 05:23 PM PST
Stephen who????
Posted by François-they-gonna-kill-me! @ 03/22/2003 05:25 PM PST
Ahhhhh...live Oscar updates...perfect!
I am going to Wal-Mart...does anybody need anything?
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/22/2003 06:33 PM PST
There are a number of thiings I could rant about right now, but I'm feeling rather calm and serene at the moment. (Even calm, cool and collected as Katie Winters used to say-- who WAS she anyway, other than a pitchwoman for Secret deodorant?) Since I am feeling serene, I think I'll keep it that way and not rant.
Posted by Kerry @ 03/22/2003 06:56 PM PST
We had to check out some movies from the video store for Sandra's cinema class, so we got a couple for fun. Tonight we're watching ET -- I'm hoping I don't blink and miss BK!
Posted by Laura @ 03/22/2003 07:31 PM PST
OMG Katie Winters...what a pitchwoman. She was great. I think I remember seeing her in a PART on a show, but boy, I don't remember what it was. She doesn't come up in a general search on the WWW. Katie, where are you? One site spells her name Katy Winters. Hmmmmm...maybe she and Leslie Parrish and June Kenney are all hiding out together and plan to make a comeback - in a Stephen Sondheim show!
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/22/2003 07:37 PM PST
Being an infrequent visitor....just wanted to alert....from the other day's Lerner post...Little Prince is on HBO Family this week......Fosse "snake in the grass"...like 56 minutes in.....
Posted by wlajb @ 03/22/2003 07:59 PM PST
it's on like three more times this week...and followed by Gene Wilder's Closer and Closer... but the whole thing is worth taping...(geeez.....what Donan could have done with CGI)......those stupid doves...in animation....
Posted by wlajb @ 03/22/2003 08:02 PM PST
also...HBO...is showing Lil' Abner....you can get two shows on one tape...and think they're all on like very morning am's.....for those of you who are REALLY into news of the war.... last post... for a while
Posted by wlajb @ 03/22/2003 08:05 PM PST
THE LITTLE PRINCE really doesn't cut it as a successful movie musical, but Fosse's number is certainly memorable, and Richard Kiley makes a strong, masculine presence in the film. After years of doing LA MANCHA before and after this movie, it's kind of weird seeing him look kind of youthful and vital. One tends to think of him as perpetually 100 years old. He sings well. I just wish the score had been better.
Posted by Matt H. @ 03/22/2003 08:54 PM PST
The movie did not quite work but some of the score (and much was cut) has so much beauty IMHO. The title song is a gem.
Posted by Tom from Oz @ 03/22/2003 09:24 PM PST
I know quite a few Kimlets who think that the score and lyrics for THE LITTLE PRINCE are the least of the film's problems.
Where are the cut songs? I have the sheet music for one of them - "Matters of Consequence" - anyone have any idea where it fit into the film?
I know that "The Rose's" (Donna McKechnie) number, "Be Happy" was atrociously edited, and the edits are even more noticeable on cd (thanks, again, dear reader holmes).
I shall definitely be looking for someone who has HBO Family, since I long lost my copy of my video of THE LITTLE PRINCE.
Blame Donen, blame Paramount, but the film really isn't as bad as its reputation would have you believe: the sum of the parts are, however, greater than the whole.
Posted by td @ 03/22/2003 09:29 PM PST
Hi! Sorry I've been errant and truant and truant and errant. I've been busy.
Still no news yet from the summer stock companies. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, which, by the way, makes it very difficult to type. ;-)
Here's a random question: I desperately want a recording of DAS BARBECU, but they are out of print. Anyone have a copy of it that they'd like to send to a certain Hainesie/Kimlet in need? I don't know if that's kosher to ask, since BK produced it, but I cannot find a copy of it ANYWHERE! Any help in this matter would be GREATLY appreciated.
Pet peeve of the day: People at the Met who are asked to leave their bag with us at the bag-check table and incessently ask, "Do I have to? Do I look like a terrorist to you? I don't have a bomb in there! What's the difference if it blows up in here or inside the auditorium?" I just want to tell them, "HELLO! We're at war, and whether you agree with it or not, that isn't going to change, and whether you think it does any good or not, you HAVE to leave your bag with me or you can't go inside, and I don't care HOW much you paid to see this opera!" Can you tell I've thought about this a lot?
Posted by Jason @ 03/22/2003 09:32 PM PST
Note to Jason (and BK):
With Bruce's permission, I will happily burn you a cd of DAS BARBECU.
Posted by td @ 03/22/2003 11:06 PM PST
Watching STATE FAIR on FMC with Pat and Ann-Margret and Pamela Tiffin and Bobby Darin. Still a fun movie with some nice music.
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 06:45 AM PST
