haines his way

04/13/2003:
"ONLY TIME WILL TELL"

Well, dear readers, here it is, Sunday, the beginning of a brand spanking new week. Whether it will be a fine week or a blah week only time will tell. But what if time doesn’t feel like telling, then where will we be? We shan’t know whether it’s a fine week or a blah week because time would be moot on the subject. Moot, do you hear me? But, perhaps time will tell and then we shall all know whether it’s a fine week or a blah week. What the hell am I talking about?
Last night I went to a screening of a motion picture entertainment entitled Phone Booth. It was a watchable film, I suppose, with many stupid elements. Colin Ferrell, an actor I do not care for, was okay here, I guess, but there’s something about him, even after his “redemption” that I find unappealing. It is sad to see a director in his sixties (Joel Schumacher) trying to be “hip” and “with it” style-wise, doing all those unnecessary and vapid style things like step printing to speed up certain shots (a la The Matrix) in a totally meaningless way. It’s mercifully short (87 minutes which includes five minutes of credits) and, as I said, certainly watchable. I always enjoy Forrest Whitaker, and the “caller”, who is basically just a voice until the very end of the film, was very good, too. I then came home and watched Laputa – Castle in the Sky, an anime from the maker of Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke. This guy, Hayao Mayazaki, is the real deal. Laputa was made in 1986, and while it’s not quite as assured as Spirited Away, it’s imagery is wonderful and vivid and unique and its story (I guess Disney kind of ripped it off for Treasure Planet) is interesting and even emotional at times. Thankfully, this new Disney DVD has the original Japanese track (I find that as well-done as the English versions are, they just cheapen the films somehow), and the beautiful score is Mayazaki regular, Joe Hisaishi, who is becoming one of my favorites of the current crop of film composers. I also picked up Spirited Away and Kiki’s Delivery Service. They’re all two DVD sets and have tons of extras. I also got the new Harry Potter movie which I’ll watch tomorrow night.
What am I, Ebert and Roeper all of a sudden? Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below, because there might just be some interesting tidbits, or, at the very least, some interesting bittids awaiting. Only time will tell, damn its eyes.

Interesting tidbit 1: Tonight we will be having our weekly Unseemly Live Chat, so I do hope many of you will attend, because it might just be both wild and wooly, not necessarily in that order.
There is no interesting tidbit 2, unless you count the fact that I will be supping with dear reader Ann later today, prior to her attending Stritch. Then on Tuesday, I will be supping with dear reader’s Laura and Kerry, not necessarily in that order.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must organize some things which need organization, I must clean some things which need cleaning and I must prepare for our Unseemly Live Chat. Today’s topic of disussion: It’s free-for-all day, the day in which you get to post about anything your collective hearts desire. So, post away, don’t be fritterin’ away your noon time, supper time, chore time, too, because then ya got trouble with a capital “T” and that rhymes with “P” and that stands for “Post”. I’ll check in later to see all your excellent posts, and then I’ll see you all at our Unseemly Live Chat.

Replies: 46 Unseemly Comments

good morning. . . goodgood
morning. . . make that three goods
and one morning. ..
Yes, yesterday was rantless and
wonderful. Just as described by
jrand. . . EVerything fell into place in
front of us with impeccible timing. A
joy. My sincere thanks to the cosmos
(no, no Cosmo sighting, darnit), the
muses, the graces and, well, if you
feel you are deserving of thanks,
dear fellow posters, then thank YOU
too.
Posted by Kurt @ 04/13/2003 09:28 AM PST

Re: Yesterdays topic - What is with you people! On a day when the topic is ranting, so many of you chimed in with "Oh, I usually NEVER rant" or "I don't have anything to rant about". What a crock of bull shit (oh, a Penn & Teller reference)! I've seen many of you go on and on (and on) ad nauseum in the past when the topic WASN'T ranting.
Posted by Ray @ 04/13/2003 09:29 AM PST

Ray --
Yesterday is gone. . . see the pretty
countryside. . .
Posted by Franklin Sheppard @ 04/13/2003 09:33 AM PST

Skip Harry Potter.
The film has no commentary of any kind. I enjoy listening to them if I have seen the movie or listening after I have seen the film.
The deleted scenes are sometimes no more than 30 seconds and there is no explanation on why they were cut. Not even text.
The "rare" interview with JK Rowling author and the screenwriter is nothing more than a promo/puff piece and is terribly put together. Shot on video the interviewer (Diane Sawyer has nothing to worry about) questions when the are shown in close-up was so obviously done after the interview. Video and sound quality do not match.
The other material is of middling interest. I have a feeling the director Chris Columbus must of been on Nina because it looks like he had no involvement with putting the DVD together which is a shame.
Look at the extended cut of Lord of the Rings #1 has an example of excellent special edition.
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 04/13/2003 09:46 AM PST

First of all, BK, you are finally going to meet your fiancé tonight. I want a full report.
Some brief comments on two shows we saw this week.
SHOWTUNE is another Jerry Herman revue, as if we need another Jerry Herman revue and this was strictly well known songs… one number each from MILK AND HONEY and GRAND TOUR, nothing from his off-Broadway shows. Even though it was called “Showtune” instead of “There Is No Tune Like a Showtune” they did “It’s Today” which is the same song with different lyrics.
The show was very mixed quality: from quite good to amateur night at a gay bar. What is interesting is that the ballads came off much better than the up tempo numbers.
Although not produced by the York, the facilities were rented out to this show. Having seen over 40 musicals in that small space over the past several years, I can honestly say no artificial amplification is needed, and hurt the show more than it helped it.
Musicals Tonight did their version of Cole Porter’s THE NEW YORKERS, eliminating the songs that Jimmy Durante wrote for the team of Clayton, Jackson and Durante and adding 14 other little known Porter songs from the same period (early 30s). The songs (“Love For Sale” being the most famous) were fine, Herb Fields’ book less so… a bad plot full of jokes to be groaned at less than laughed at. Sample: HE – You look like a million dollars. SHE – Yes, and you’ll have to work as hard to get it.
The cast sang well, acted less so, although to be fair even an award winning cast of musical theatre stars could not do much with that book. Still the 30 or so songs made it a very enjoyable evening.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 04/13/2003 09:49 AM PST

By the way, did anyone read the booklet with the deluxe WEST SIDE STORY? There are two major errors in Ernest Lehman's introduction. First of all Lehman claims that he was offered WSS after he turned down doing the screenplay to HOW TO SUCCEED which he said he saw on stage and didn't think would make a good movie. Yet the WSS screenplay is dated 6/17/60 and HTSIBWRT didn't open until fall 1961. Also he claims that WSS was written by three "proven Broadwayites" Laurents, Bernstein and Sondheim yet it was Sondheim's first produced Broadway show. Obviously Mr. Lehman's memory is not as good as his screenplays.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 04/13/2003 09:57 AM PST

One last question... a bio in the NEW YORKERS program mentions "the new musical Miracles by composers Marvin Hamlish, Stephen Schwartz and David Shire with lyrics by Sheldon Harnick".
Has anyone heard of this project? Is it a real show or a figment of the person's imagination who is trying to pad a bio?
Posted by William E Lurie @ 04/13/2003 10:09 AM PST

Didja ever notice how some people will only rant on days when the topic isn't about ranting? Didja ever notice that? Why is that?
Posted by Andy Rooney @ 04/13/2003 11:50 AM PST

Hey, ya know, we could put on a show RIGHT HERE!
Posted by Mickey Rooney @ 04/13/2003 11:51 AM PST

It seems I've never said anything memorable.
Posted by Miss Annie Rooney @ 04/13/2003 11:59 AM PST

Are you aware, Mrs. Bueller, that Ferris does not have what we consider to be an exemplary attendance record?
Posted by Ed Rooney @ 04/13/2003 12:02 PM PST

Didja ever notice how some people can't recognize a sarcastic rant and take it WAY too literally?
Posted by Andy Rooney @ 04/13/2003 12:10 PM PST

I have a question. What does "BLOG" mean in internet lingo? are the letters b l o g an acronym for something?
Posted by Ray @ 04/13/2003 12:12 PM PST

Didja ever notice how big and red my nose is? Why is that?
Posted by Andy Rooney @ 04/13/2003 12:12 PM PST

Ray: BLOG probably is an acronym, but I'm too lazy to look it up. Basically, it's an internet diary, kept for the express purpose of letting strangers read it. Strange concept, if ya ask me.
Posted by Lulu @ 04/13/2003 12:13 PM PST

I'm the cop in "Arsenic and Old Lace." No, not Jack Carson! The other one.
Do you remember me now?
Posted by Lt. Rooney @ 04/13/2003 12:16 PM PST

I will be spending the rest of this sparkling day in a church board meeting. They will probably be asking me why Easter services have been planned every day for the rest of the year. I had , um, a little mishap while updating the website calendar.
I have a headache today. That must mean we will have clouds (or rain) tomorrow. Or maybe it just means that I know I'll be spending the rest of this sparkling day in a board meeting.
Posted by Laura @ 04/13/2003 12:23 PM PST

I think the person who wrote in his bio about the new musical Miracles was having people on.
(Who was it by the way)
Schwartz, Hamlisch, Shire and harnick have not had a successful stage>b> musical in years.
Schwartz's last success was Pippin.
Hamlisch's last on was They're Playing Our Song.
Shire has never had a success (Baby, Big)
Harnick's last success was Fiddler on the Roof although The Rothchilds ran for a little more than a year its not looked as a successful show.
Schwartz is currently working on Wicked.
Hamlisch had two big flops within a year (Sweet Smell of success and Imaginary Friends both with Craig Carnellia. Maybe he should go back to writing words and music)
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 04/13/2003 12:27 PM PST

WEL - I'm going to assume you already know that the song "Showtune" was written way before "It's Today" was for "Mame". And unlike other musical theatre composers that recycle songs from past shows, I believe Jerry Herman knew exactly what he was doing. Sorry, I know ranting was yesterday, but I'm so the Jerry Herman cheerleader :)
Posted by Matthew @ 04/13/2003 12:29 PM PST

Ooops - I forgot to mention that "Showtune" was part of the very first Jerry Herman show, "Parade"- which recently had a CD release. Rah Rah.
Posted by Matthew @ 04/13/2003 12:30 PM PST

Hey just a reminder, the 2 Trading Spaces with Celebrities are on TLC tonight at 9pm and 10pm. The first one has Sara La Rue & Andy Dick, and the 2nd has the cast of 7th Heaven. I'll be taping it.
Oh did anyone see what Hildy did last night? I cannot believe the couple liked it. She took some beige material and covered some chairs (and made curtains). And then she PAINTED the same print all over the walls. So it was beige with hundreds of white and black circles. It was so UGLY. Just horrid. I cannot believe the people loved it.
The only thing I can say in Hildy's favor is that they could easily repaint the walls if they didn't like it.
Laurie did a beautiful living room. It had light yellow walls and was elegant and beautiful. The couple was ecstatic.
Posted by Jennifer @ 04/13/2003 12:55 PM PST

Blog = weB-LOG. Drop the WE and it all becomes about I, whoever that is. Which means that BK is not truly writing a blog, since he always writes about us, his dear readers, as well.
Posted by S. Woody White @ 04/13/2003 01:28 PM PST

Can't make the chat tonight, but I'll be thinking of you. Hope everyone enjoys himself.
Jerry Herman revues. Geez, the problem is the same tunes are recycled over and over and over. I like his songs, but it does get tiresome hearing the same ten or fifteen songs done time and again.
Posted by Matt H. @ 04/13/2003 01:47 PM PST

Thanks Lulu and Woody! Gee, this site is so informative as well as entertaining! I know I can always count on everyone here with their diverse backgrounds to come up with an answer for almost any question. So, in that spirit, here's another question. Why do men (or rather, the male of any mammalian species) have nipples? Biologically it doesn't make any sense, since they couldn't be vestigial (sp?) organs, since male mammals, to the best of most scientists knowledge, have never produced milk to feed the young, so what's up with that?
Posted by Ray @ 04/13/2003 02:57 PM PST

Thanks Lulu and Woody! Gee, this site is so informative as well as entertaining! I know I can always count on everyone here with their diverse backgrounds to come up with an answer for almost any question. So, in that spirit, here's another question. Why do men (or rather, the male of any mammalian species) have nipples? Biologically it doesn't make any sense, since they couldn't be vestigial (sp?) organs, since male mammals, to the best of most scientists knowledge, have never produced milk to feed the young, so what's up with that?
Posted by Ray @ 04/13/2003 02:58 PM PST

Sorry about the double post, my 'puter had a brain fart!
Posted by Ray @ 04/13/2003 02:59 PM PST

God isn't interested in technology. He cares nothing for the microchip or the silicon revolution. Look how he spends his time: forty-three species of parrots. Nipples for men!
Slugs! HE created slugs! They can't hear. They can't speak. They can't operate machinery. Are we not in the hands of a lunatic?!
Posted by Evil @ 04/13/2003 03:03 PM PST

Chat in one hour and forty-five minutes.
Posted by bk @ 04/13/2003 04:05 PM PST

Of course I knew that "Showtune" came from PARADE and the first time I heard the MAME album I was shocked. In JERRY'S GIRLS he acknowledges it and even has a third set of lyrics as the title song.
The person who mentioned the Hamlisch/Schwartz/Shire/Harnick show was Thomas Mills, the director and choreographer for most shows at Musicals Tonight. He is allegedly the assistant director on that show. I assume that at the moment Schwartz is too busy with WICKED to be working on any other show.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 04/13/2003 04:27 PM PST

Why is that the singers I want can't act and the actors I want can't sing? Auditions can be very painful.
Chat tonight....wonderful.
I am still on my AIDA high, and the auditions didn't bring me down. Just dulled my senses a bit. One thing, there was only ONE really bad dancer.
You would think with only two directions to turn, said dancer would get it right at least 50% of the time. NOT!!
Posted by Jrand52 @ 04/13/2003 04:31 PM PST

Chat in forty-five minutes. Be there or be round.
Posted by bk @ 04/13/2003 05:05 PM PST

Jennifer - Who is Sara LaRue and why is she considered a celebrity? Do you mean Eva LaRue from ALL MY CHILDREN but best known for starring in the television camp classic "The Annette Funicello Story"?
Posted by William E Lurie @ 04/13/2003 05:10 PM PST

Bill - that tv movie was SUCH a disappointment. Had Annette Funicello been as vapid and insipid as she was portrayed there, she would not have enjoyed the immense success she did.
I was at best inaccurate and at worst an insult to Annette and her family, friends, and fans. AND it was authorized!
It took it's title from Annette's autobiography A DREAM IS A WISH YOUR HEART MAKES.
Posted by Jrand52 @ 04/13/2003 05:38 PM PST

Second paragraph should read of course "It [not I] was an insult...." Although I have my days, heaven knows.
Posted by Jrand52 @ 04/13/2003 05:39 PM PST

Men have nipples so women can tell the front from the back.
Posted by Dr Joyce Brothers @ 04/13/2003 05:40 PM PST

Chat is now happening. You simply must come because if you don't you will suffer the death of a thousand cats.
Posted by bk @ 04/13/2003 05:49 PM PST

You are missing the most sparkling chat. I really feel bitch-slapping is in order for those who are consistently errant and truant. I'm not complaining, mind you, with a room full of people.
Posted by bk @ 04/13/2003 06:55 PM PST

I am listening to Lisa Richard (thanks to a DR). Somewhat like the wonderful Judy Kuhn - very enjoyable.
Hope the chat is going well.
Posted by Tom from Oz @ 04/13/2003 07:44 PM PST

After having seen CATS once I can't imagine that the death of a thousand cats is much worse.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 04/13/2003 09:21 PM PST

This has been a weekend filled with absurdities.
It truly bears no more mention than that.
Watched "Seven Years in Tibet" on Superbit DVD in DTS and it was mesmerizing!
"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" was also a great deal of fun (but, alas, not in DTS).
BK, you have twice mentioned this week that Colin Ferrell (sic) is an actor you do not care for.
I thought him pretty good in "Minority Report" -- don't know if your misspelling his last name is a sign of contempt for him or not, but it is Farrell rather than Ferrell.
Did I say that the absurdity of my weekend did not bear mentioning? I did my taxes today! Don't dare call me a procrastinator. I did them in just over an hour and I owe everybody! No point in giving up my money until it has to be pried from my grip. I shall wait until Tuesday afternoon to mail them, too!
I've been embroiled (that should not sound the way it does...I've been dragged into...I've "become" embroiled) in responding to a delusional owner/administrator at MovieMusic.com. Anyone interested in the ludicrous should visit and read a thread called "An Open Letter" posted in The Junkyard section to see the two posts I made on Friday. I responded to a post there to which the owner/administrator took exception and became confrontational with me. I addressed him succinctly and was done with it. This was on Friday.
Today, I learned a thread devoted to "me" was started by the owner/administrator starting off oh-so-cute and stating the objectives of the thread. He violated his thread objectives several times over the weekend as his membership pointed out to him the ugliness they perceived.
The thread has my name in the title, so it's easy enough to find...if you're interested.
I think BK knows the owner of that messageboard.
I addressed his commments politely, firmly and at length. I shan't go back ever to see what the outcome is. It's too absurd.
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 04/13/2003 09:25 PM PST

I think Laura has a headache at the prospect of being with me for the next few days. Dinner with Bruce will give her an escape. I can't WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And then we get to see Elaine Stritch. Woo HOO!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Kerry @ 04/13/2003 09:29 PM PST

A long but good day for me...
Baking this morning - started as soon as I got up. Brownies - with and without nuts; Oatmeal Cookies with various dried fruits; and Biscotti (with almonds). -The biscotti were still cooling when I went to the theatre for the matinee.
Good matinee. Unfortunately, a "typical" matinee performance - took a while for them to warm up. However, they were nice and lively during the pre-show activities. We had photo call today too - which is why I made the goodies. I didn't stay for all of it - and I forgot to bring my own camera too! However, I did head to...
Had a great massage tonight. The perfect way to end my tech/opening week. And boy did I need it - lots of little knots in my upper back and shoulders. I feel much better now.
Then I picked up some Chinese food, turned on the TV and the computer and watched and chatted. It was so nice being able to chat this week. And some nice episodes of Six Feet Under, Queer As Folk, and Celebrity Trading Places too!
And now to sleep the sleep of all sleeps! I'm off tomorrow! YEAH!
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 04/13/2003 10:23 PM PST

Oops.... time for my daily correction/clarification... "typical" matinee audience.. not performance.. although... hmmm. The joy of semantics.
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 04/13/2003 10:25 PM PST

Sarah La Rue is really Sarah Rue -- no "La".
She played Carmen, the pretty but overweight cheerleader wannabe in the WB TV series "Popular" that ran brightly and dazzlingly for a couple of seasons. Actually, Carmen did become a cheerleader during the course of the series, but she was always a bit overweight.
And this past season, she has been in an ABC sitcom the future of which I could never predict. Haven't watched it.
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 04/13/2003 10:40 PM PST

Sparkling chat last night...and I hear that Kurt was there after I left. I forgot he was going to listen to a forum featuring Mr Ben Vereen on Sunday evening.
And yes I enjoyed AIDA very much on Saturday - both times.
It was very interesting to see that the understudy for Aida, Felicia Boswell, who was very good singing-wise - got EVERY laugh possible from her part. In the evening performance Paulette (?) Ivory, the billed Aida did not. Paulette has a distinct British accent (almost tropical...think Miss Cleo) - and did not get ANY of the laughs. I think the audience had a hard time understanding her dialog and her lyrics at times.
So it is not impossible (a Rodgers and Hammerstein reference) for two people to see the same show - at different performances - and see an entirely different show.
Posted by Jrand52 @ 04/14/2003 07:12 AM PST

We interrupt yesterday's notes to tell you that due to technical difficulties, today's notes will be delayed. Please stand by...
Posted by Craig @ 04/14/2003 08:37 AM PST

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