Posted by Emily @ 09/23/2003 08:17 AM PST

Hello!! Hello!! I'm here! I'm here!!

-Just wanted to check in this morning before my day gets started... Made it into LA safe and sound - and actually 20 minutes early - yesterday afternoon. Wow! I realized that it has been nearly 15 years since I've been out here - I used to go at least twice a year.

We all supped on the "endless ribs" last night at Tony Roma's, an I think todays culinary adventures will include some Mexican and maybe some good ole Fat Burgers! Hmmm, Hmmmm, Good - and Greasy!

As for pundits... I'll have to think about it... Time to head off to auditions...

And just to re-plant the seed... Any chance of a LA-LA-Land H/K Get-Together (LLLHKGT for short) over the next week? Talk amongst yourselves...

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 09/23/2003 08:23 AM PST

Ogden Nash was a great wit. He also wrote lyrics for a couple of shows including most of Ben Bagley's THE LITTLEST REVIEW with Vernon Duke, and Kurt Weill's ONE TOUCH OF VENUS (the first complete recording of this show with Melissa Ericco and Brent Barrett is still awaiting release from Jay).

Weill also figures in with my favorite Ira lyrics - the whole score of LADY IN THE DARK.

And speaking of Melissa Ericco, those DRs who are still on a certain e-mail list will understand why I am upset with the lady. Those who are't will get no further information from me.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 09/23/2003 08:33 AM PST

GOTCHA!

BK, my dear handsome and erudite BK, Ira did not write the lyrics for "I'm a Stranger Here Myself". Oh no, he did not. The lyrics for One Touch of Venus were written by that wag and wit Mr. Ogden Nash. Especially the divoon "That's Him".

Tsk, tsk.

And it is so seldom that I can catch Bruce in an error of fact, that I shall now proceed to gloat all day.

Posted by William F. Orr @ 09/23/2003 08:45 AM PST

There will be no Jason hatred for me tonight - indeed I "could" have gone to chess, and rightly perhaps should have.. I, in fact, had company and went to see Forbidden Broadway.... which, after 20 years should maybe take a vacation. The first act was relatively strong (not extremely clever) - the second act was very weak. But my company enjoyed it.. and that's what is important...

Posted by Craig @ 09/23/2003 09:16 AM PST

<gloat>

WITIE? (Where in Tarnation is everyone? in Internet Lingo.)

Posted by William F. Orr @ 09/23/2003 09:19 AM PST

Hello, all! Back from speech class!

Dorothy Parker is also my favorite wit. I think she was the funniest woman ever. Here are some of my favorites:

"You can lead a horticulture but you can't make her think."

In a book review:
"This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown aside with great force."

"Brevity is the soul of lingerie."

Young man to Dorothy Parker: "I can't bear fools."
Dorothy Parker to young man: "Funny, your mother could."

Have you all seen Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle? Jennifer Jason Leigh is positively uncanny in the role.

Emily--congrats on the raise! Perhaps the new dance should go like this--"dance, dance, spend, spend, save, dance, spend some more!" ;)

Posted by Maya @ 09/23/2003 09:22 AM PST

Craig--YES! I guessed right! Do I win a prize?? ;)

Glad you enjoyed it! Was Christine Pedi in it? Absolutely love that woman.

Posted by Maya @ 09/23/2003 09:24 AM PST

No.. but dear sweet Donna English was and rose above the material!

Posted by Craig @ 09/23/2003 09:29 AM PST

Dang... I always enjoy a good cat fight and Jason-Craig death match would have been awfully fun to watch (not that I wish death on either of you, of course). :)

Maya = super-sleuth

I am off to spend spend spend right now because I just realized I have no clothes that aren't skirts that I actually want to wear anymore. I spent the summer buying pretty skirt after pretty skirt after pretty skirt and wore them basically everyday. However, it's coolish and raining (and will soon be cold and snowing if I know Canadian winters) and pretty skirts just don't work under these sorts of conditions. So I'm wearing my ugly jeans and am feeling very self conscious about them. Fortunately McGill is right next to the downtown shopping core. I am on a mission to buy pants. Smarty pants perhaps. And I might just treat myself to some sushi while I'm at it.

My only requirement is this: that they can be only "somewhat" low rise (because my hips just don't work properly in holding up low rise jeans) and they must have a minimal amount of flare. Not tapered (ew...) but not sailor trash either.

My friends say I am too particular about getting an image of what I want clothes-wise in my head and then not being able to find it.

Let's see if I can fufill my quest to (no groaning at HHW):

Dream the Impossible JEAN

:)

Posted by Emily @ 09/23/2003 09:32 AM PST

I knew it as I wrote it that it was
wrong, then I never went back
and changed it, re I Am a
Stranger Here Myself. I meant
to put in a Lady in the Dark
song. Oh, well, gloat and then
gloat some more.

Posted by bk @ 09/23/2003 09:37 AM PST

So what will it be? "The Saga of Jenny"? "This Is New"? "Tchaikowsky"? Naw, gotta be "My Ship".

gloat, gloat, gloat

Posted by William F. Orr @ 09/23/2003 09:40 AM PST

gloat

Posted by William F. Orr @ 09/23/2003 09:53 AM PST

Is it Tuesday?

I am trying to transfer some digital pictures from disk to CD..however because they have the same names, I have to first rename them all...it is very tiresome.

But it really doesn't matter.

Hmmmmmmmmm.....Gershwin, I will have to think. But just off the top of my head...I will say "They can't Take that Away from Me" and "They All Laughed" and "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" written with Ira G for SHALL WE DANCE with Mr Astaire and Ms Rogers.

And with others the aforementioned "The Man that Got Away" and "Long Ago and Far Away."

Pundits: Parker, Nash, Benchley.

Oscar Levant did some funny stuff as well....and I am looking forward to the new Grouch Marx DVD set that contains some unaired tidbits from his television shows.

I remember one woman talking about canning vegetables and she went on and on whereupon Groucho interrupted her with a version of HEAT WAVE and declared when he was finished: "As sung by the great dramatic actress Marilyn Monroe in 'There's No Business Like Show Business.'"

And there is the famous exchange about the woman who had seven children...when Groucho quizzed her further she declared "I love my husband" and Groucho replied; "I love my cigar, too, but I take it out of my mouth now and then."

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/23/2003 10:24 AM PST

I'm repeating what so many have said but Miss Dorothy Parker ranks up there with the best. "Life is a glorious cycle of song, a medley of extemporania, and love is a thing that can never go wrong...and I am Marie of Roumania. Still makes me laugh after all these years.

I think Mr. Coward (Sir Noel) and Mr. Wilde (Oscar) had a way with the epigrams and witty repartee as well.

I do love The Man That Got Away and Long Ago and Far Away.

Now for news from the Ben and Anthony front - (drumroll) - We're going to London for Christmas!!! Hooray! I booked the tickets this morning. We will spend 15 glorious days in one of my favorite cities. From December 17 through December 31 (flying home on January 1) we will have Christmas and New Years in London. We are going to rent an apartment and take a couple of day trips to Nottingham and Wales. I will meet the producer and the lovely BBC presenter of Showtime, the show music program similar to Donald's on which I review Bway shows and we shall relax with friends and have a sparkling and marvelous time. British Airways had a great fare ($99 each way) and even with the taxes and security fees, it's worth it. I haven't been to London since 1992 and I haven't spent more than a day there since 1988. It shall be wonderful. So, Emily, I won't be here in December when you make your Christmas visit. I'm sure, though, that you will have as good a time here as we will have there.

Posted by Ben @ 09/23/2003 10:39 AM PST

Grouch Marx?

Posted by Minnie Marx @ 09/23/2003 11:03 AM PST

Where in tarnation IS
everyone? This is most
unseemly. People will think
we're on vacation. People will
say we're in love. People,
people who need people are
the luckiest people in the
world. I need more posts for
my mental delectation.

Posted by bk @ 09/23/2003 11:04 AM PST

Favorite Ira's:
With George: "I've Got a Crush On You"

With Arlen: "It's a New World"

One of my favorite Dorothy Parkerisms, a result of an Algonquin Roundtable game where she had to use the word "horticulture" in a sentence. Responded La Parker, "You can lead a horticulture but you can't make her think."

Another great (and ribald) wit was Mae West. Don't forget, she wrote most of those memorable lines. "Owwwhhh, I call my left leg Christmas and my right leg New Year's. Come up and see me between the holidays."

Posted by Philip Crosby @ 09/23/2003 11:07 AM PST

I think an LA get-together
would be swellegant. What
say Mr. Pogue, Mr. Jay and
anyone else around these
parts?

Wouldn't you know, MBarnum
and I have had a lunch
scheduled for tomorrow for six
count them six weeks. I even
remember it's happening. It's
my last week here at work. So,
today an emergency came up
and they asked me if I could
bail them out and go direct a
shoot tomorrow. I said "yes"
and wouldn't you know the
second half of the shoot is at
the exact time the lunch is.
Damn them, damn them all to
hell. Oh, well, hopefully
MBarnum and I can connect,
maybe even with dear reader
Jose and some others.

Posted by bk @ 09/23/2003 11:31 AM PST

I'm game! Jose and I have been in touch about such a get-together, but we've been unable to nail down a time or place.

I am out of pocket for the entire weekend, however, as I will be celebrating Rosh Hashana. So, if I am to be part of a LaLaLand Hainsie/Kimlet get-together, we're talking about tonight, tomorrow or Thursday evenings. I can't remember how long Jose said he will be in town, though I do believe his visit spills into next week. That could work for me, too.

Posted by Jay @ 09/23/2003 11:51 AM PST

My favorite songs by George's lovely wife, Ira are "Love is Here to Stay" and "Bidin' My Time".

Posted by Joy @ 09/23/2003 12:07 PM PST

Slow today, isn't it?

Posted by Joy @ 09/23/2003 12:08 PM PST

Close personal friends always called him that...
you know the Marx bros:

Grouch, Harp, Chic, Gumm, and Zepp.

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/23/2003 12:08 PM PST

What in tarnation IS going on
here? I am going to have to
get out the bitch-slap machine.
We normally have over fifty
count them fifty posts by this
time. We have two count them
two topics of discussion, as
well. Now, let us get off our
collective butt cheeks and get
some postin' goin' on.

Jay, Jose, contact me via
e-mail and we'll work out a
time.

Posted by bk @ 09/23/2003 12:09 PM PST

Hmmmmmmmm... Michael will be very disappointed.

Not sure where he is staying.

8-(

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/23/2003 12:10 PM PST

Favorite Ira Gershwin songs include "Someone To Watch Over Me" & "The Man That Got Away."

As for wits? Comden and Green are - in my humble opinion - the cleverest of lyricists. ("If," "Drop That Name," "Conga," to name just three.) On the other hand, when he tries to be too clever ("Fiasco," "Let a Woman in Your Life,") Alan Jay Lerner can make me cringe.

Posted by Dan-in-Toronto @ 09/23/2003 12:13 PM PST

Gosh, I hear that quoted all the time, "George and his lovely wife Ira." But I can't remember for the life of me who first said it. Anyone know? Some wag or pundit perhaps? Maybe good old Wag the Dog?

Oh, and BK there was some discussion of Scarface recently? I read that the film has been so influential on rappers that the studio had a plan afoot to release the DVD with a rap score replacing the original. And Brian de Palma said very clearly, "KISS MY ASS!"

Posted by William F. Orr @ 09/23/2003 12:16 PM PST

I must have have been sending an e-mail to you, Dear BK, at the very moment you were posting a request for me to do so. Great minds...

Posted by Jay @ 09/23/2003 12:18 PM PST

The "lovely wife Ira" was allegedly first said by some radio announcer. It was on the first of a series of LPs (not yet on CD as far as I know) called "Pardon My Blooper" which recreated supposed goofs that went out over live radio.

A couple of other favorites:

A program log was not changed when a program of dance music was replaced by a religious show so the announcement went: "Stay tuned for the music of Yom Kipper and his orchestra".

Announcer: How many children do you have?
Woman: We have 9.
Announcer: And what does your husband do for a living?
Woman: He operates an automatic screwing machine.

And now the famed banjoist Eddie Playbody will Pee for you.

And then there's Harry VonZell's announcement: Ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States: Hoobert Heever.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 09/23/2003 12:29 PM PST

All right, now you've gone and
done IT. You have gone AND
done it. You've also gone and
DONE it. No more posts.
That's it. If I see one more
post I shall get out my Randy
Vicar outfit and I shall whip all
of you like Judge Turpin. This
is wholly unacceptable and
also it is unacceptable and if I
haven't mentioned it this is
unacceptable. NO MORE
POSTS. Why, if I see one
more post I'll just...

Posted by bk @ 09/23/2003 12:32 PM PST

Oh yes... please do!

Posted by Judge Turpin @ 09/23/2003 12:40 PM PST

Oh WEL, I remember that LP.

"Charles Dickens' imortal classic, The Sale of Two Titties."

"The Taj Mahal is the greatest erection of a man for a woman."

I believe that the LP didn't contain the original recordings of the bloopers but rather restagings of them.

And now, BK: whip me, whip me again!

Posted by William F. Orr @ 09/23/2003 12:45 PM PST

[gloat]

Posted by William F. Orr @ 09/23/2003 12:46 PM PST

I realize that it is neither Ask BK Day nor Ask Dear Reader Day, but I have a question I have been meaning to ask DR Panni:

You have been slaving over a keyboard for many days now working on a script. Is it possible to reveal any details about this project, or will we have to wait with bated breath for a later time.

My breath is well bated, ... and I GLOAT!

Posted by William F. Orr @ 09/23/2003 12:59 PM PST

All right, now you've gone and
done IT. You have gone AND
done it. You've also gone and
DONE it. No more posts.
That's it. If I see one more
post I shall get out my Randy
Vicar outfit and I shall whip all
of you like Judge Turpin. This
is wholly unacceptable and
also it is unacceptable and if I
haven't mentioned it this is
unacceptable. NO MORE
POSTS. Why, if I see one
more post I'll just...

Posted by bk @ 09/23/2003 12:32 PM PST

Is your strategy working, BK?

Years ago, in the late 60s, I was working for a radio station that played what was then called MOR (Middle of the Road) music, a format that covered a multitude of sins. At about the same time, the LA Dodgers baseball player, Denny McLain, was trying to extend his 15 minutes of fame by promoting his talents as an organist.

One day, one of our newer young DJs, attempting to make a smooth segue between songs, quite innocently said, "And now folks, here's Denny McLain batting his organ at you!"

Posted by TCB @ 09/23/2003 01:00 PM PST

Favorite pundits: James Thurber, Jean Shepherd, Noel Coward.

Favorite Ira Gershwin: "The Man That Got Away"

Posted by Matt H. @ 09/23/2003 01:04 PM PST

Is this the same album that featured the famous spoonerism in the introduction of Forrest Tucker?

Or the baseball announcer, who noted that two amourous fans must be newlyweds, since he noticed that he kisses her on all the strikes, and she kisses him on the balls....

Posted by Dave @ 09/23/2003 01:09 PM PST

Well! The Vicar is certainly getting Randy today!
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
and i gloat

Posted by William F. Orr @ 09/23/2003 01:19 PM PST

I will gloat at what you wrote.
I will gloat, 'cause you misquote.
I will gloat in every note.
I will gloat upon a boat.
I am gloating as I float.
I will gloat to get your goat.
I will gloat without a coat.
I will gloat in Terre Haute.
I will gloat like Tru Capote. (And Dewey!)

Posted by William F. Orr @ 09/23/2003 01:26 PM PST

TAOLG is gloat backwards.

Posted by William F. Orr @ 09/23/2003 01:27 PM PST

There were several volumes of "Pardon My Blooper" and all of those were included on one volume or another. And for the most part they were recreations.

Actor: All right you bum. I'm gonna drill you.
Soundman:
Actor: Okay this time I'm really gonna drill you.
Soundman:
Actor: On second thought I'm gonna take this knife and stab you to death.
Soundman: BANG BANG BANG

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 09/23/2003 01:27 PM PST

Well I have just gotten in the door from a marvelously short day at school, and I'm feeling quite content indeed. Of course this is all going to change when I begin the abhorringly (is that a word?) large pile of World History homework I have.

Favorite Gershwin? Someone To Watch Over Me, Embraceable You, S'Wonderful.

Hmm...what do you do when someone very close to you becomes a completely different person (and not in a good sense), quite literally overnight? Should you act like nothing has changed, even though EVERYTHING has changed? When you notice that personalities clash, and they don't seem to mind, what do you DO? I want to keep the friendship, but it's becoming absolutely impossible on my end of the line.

Posted by Sarah @ 09/23/2003 01:30 PM PST

William E. Lurie wrote:

>>Soundman: BANG BANG BANG

Oh! A Sondheim reference.

Posted by William F. Orr @ 09/23/2003 01:30 PM PST

I remember those Bloopers, too.
Westminster Abie?
That's almost as big as my husband's?

As for lovely wife Ira, that's pure Joan Rivers during her pre-Oscar shtick. Did she call F. Murray Abraham "Ben Kingsley" - or was it the other way around?

Posted by Dan-in-Toronto @ 09/23/2003 01:32 PM PST

Sarah, when you finally read
Kritzerland all your people
changing overnight questions
will be answered - sort of.

I thought I said NO POSTS. I
love reverse psychology, don't
you?

Posted by bk @ 09/23/2003 01:49 PM PST

Dan -
Joan Rivers may have used it, but it's been around for years. As I said it's on theBlooper LPs from the early50s.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 09/23/2003 01:53 PM PST

WEL -

Sorry - I meant "worthy of Joan Rivers." I think they could do a new Blooper album with just Joan's flubs.

Another of recent vintage: Rosie O'Donnell called Judi Dench, "Dame Doody Jench."

Posted by Dan-in-Toronto @ 09/23/2003 02:14 PM PST

The quip about "the evil of two Loessers" referred to Frank's first wife, Lynn, NOT, the 2nd Mrs. Loesser, the splendid Jo Sullivan.

Posted by Noel @ 09/23/2003 02:16 PM PST

For a LONG time (too long) there was a string of stations with call letters WLW - first radio and then television stations in the Ohio Valley.

Their cash cows included broadcasts that originated live in Cincinnati Ohio with the likes of Ruth Lyons and Paul Dixon - some of the most boring and commercial-laden shows ever broadcast. Endless self promotion and idiot double entendre and horrible music.

When Miss Lyons retired, her show The 50-50 Club, was taken over by a fat slob named Bob Braun. People appearing at the local Kenley Players always made an appearance with him and were bored by his stories and hardly allowed to say a word.

One summer, Kitty Carlisle Hart and Jack Jones were doing BLOSSOM TIME or MAY TIME or one of those things and were one with Braun. He introduced them and then went on to say, "Of course Kitty is the widow of the man who wrote all those wonderful songs with Richard Rodgers...." Kitty blanched and said..."Oh no no no...that was Larry Hart. I was married to Moss Hart, the director." Bilious Braun never missed a beat and just went on.....

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/23/2003 02:17 PM PST

One time on the Rosie O'Donnel show, the guy doing the opening announce announced "Mandy Pantinkin and her mother" (they were doing a cooking segment with Rosie).

Posted by George @ 09/23/2003 02:17 PM PST

Ira Gershwin favorites, with:

George Gershwin, Soon

Vernon Duke, Words Without Music

Harold Arlen, Gotta Have Me Go With You

Kurt Weill, Sing Me Not a Ballad

Jerome Kern, Long Ago and Far Away

...this last, the best Ira song of all.

Posted by Noel @ 09/23/2003 02:26 PM PST

Rah Rah Sis Boom Bah! Let's all get to 100 posts by not posting!!!

Posted by the jiggyless non-poster @ 09/23/2003 02:32 PM PST

Well, I won't post.

Posted by TCB @ 09/23/2003 02:33 PM PST

I won't post, don't ask me
I won't post, don't ask me
I won't post, BK, for you

Posted by Jay @ 09/23/2003 02:49 PM PST

The Man I Love
The Man that Got Away
Long Ago & Far Away
Wits: Noel Coward, Frank Muir

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 09/23/2003 03:17 PM PST

This is not a post, it's a reprimand. Don't bitch slap me BK!! :)

Sarah. Swishy Swishy Sarah. I have written e-mails to you, Laura II and Maya regarding a discussion we had in chat last Sunday. I have heard back from Laura II and Maya. You on the other hand are blatantly IGNORING me. You are also blatantly SHIRKING me. I will not be ignored nor shirked even by someone as delightfully swishy as yourself.

I need to know how many discs to get so get your swishy self in gear.

Please note that this was a reprimand and not a post. :)

Posted by Emily @ 09/23/2003 03:17 PM PST

I seem to recall that I was part of that girly discussion on Sunday evening myself, but I have not received any e-mails from you, Dear Reader Emily. No, apparently I am being shunned from your girly conspiracy.

So who is ignoring whom? Yes, WHO is shirking WHOM???

Posted by Jay @ 09/23/2003 03:34 PM PST

Oh yes. Forgot to mention: the preceding was not a post.

Posted by Jay @ 09/23/2003 03:34 PM PST

Jay...

You were indeed part of the girly discussion on Sunday night. Sorry to have forgotten about you. :)

I just didn't think you'd be interested in what I had to say about kotex, makeup, flirting and (cough) JRB bootlegs.

:)

Posted by Emily @ 09/23/2003 03:38 PM PST

did I say JRB bootlegs?

Of course I didn't. Our conversation was of the harmless pajama sleepover type and had nothing to do with the illegal transaction of copyrighted material. ;)

This and the earlier post are not posts. They are disclaimers.

Posted by Emily @ 09/23/2003 03:40 PM PST

And since I'm back on line to gloat,
Does anyone recall this quote:

"Everyone loves Individual Oats.
It's the cereal everyone votes...
For."

Is it something Sondheim wrote?
Answer the riddle, I'll give you a groat.
But not drei Groschen.

Posted by William F. Orr @ 09/23/2003 03:41 PM PST

I am glad to see that there are
no posts here. Let's make
sure we stick to our guns.
Have you ever stuck to your
guns? It's very difficult to use
our guns if we are sticking to
them. Wait a mo - hold the
phone - stop the word - this is
beginning to resemble a post.

Posted by bk @ 09/23/2003 03:44 PM PST

Ooh... I almost forget:

do any of you DRs know of any good and (more importantly CHEAP) hotels in New York? I've been doing some internet searches and have come up with a few interesting ones but would prefer to get some references from actual real people - which I hope all of you are :)

The last (and only) time I was in NYC was about 7 years ago when I was twelve with my parents. We were actually in the city for less than 10 hours. I DID get to see RAGTIME with the OBC and have been dying to get back as soon as I can (preferably sans parents and incluant friends).

Travel tips in general would be welcome.

Posted by Emily @ 09/23/2003 03:45 PM PST

This is not a post, this is a RESPONSE!

You have been emailed, Emily. Jay, I'm not sure you were there for THIS part of the girly conversation, as it really wasn't girly at all, it merely consisted of 4 girls talking :)

BK: I'm well on my way to getting Kritzerland. I have a plan, oh yes I do oh yes I do.

Posted by Sarah @ 09/23/2003 03:48 PM PST

DR Emily:

I will take you up on flirting, but will take a pass on the other unseemly topics.

Posted by Jay @ 09/23/2003 03:48 PM PST

Ceci n'est pas une poste.

Posted by Marcel Duchamp @ 09/23/2003 03:49 PM PST

Sarah I received your e-mail and have taken note of your selfish demands. jk :)

Posted by Emily @ 09/23/2003 03:59 PM PST

I'm sorry, but I feel there is just
a little too much posting going
on here today. STOP IT. We
must have no posts. We do
NOT want to reach 100 posts
today because there was far
too much laziness earlier and I
am withholding your desserts.
You will not be getting your just
desserts, but you can have
popcorn. What the HELL am I
talking about? And why in
tarnation AM I posting?

Posted by bk @ 09/23/2003 04:11 PM PST

This is a post! I wish to be flogged like Judge Turpin, oh yes I do.

But I forgot to mention one of my favorite wags. It is Dear Writer Bruce Kimmel, of course. You see, I only come to this site to KISS YOUR ASS.

Posted by William F. Orr @ 09/23/2003 04:14 PM PST

Mr BK - is your family related to the lovely Kimmels who had a son named Sheridan and a daughter named Evie who was married to Keenan Wynn and then to Mr Van Johnson?

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/23/2003 04:23 PM PST

BK: What if I don't like popcorn? I've only posted ONCE today, look at WFO. Does HE get popcorn?

*puts on annoying little kid voice*

"WFO GOT MORE POPCORN THAN ME!! MOOOOOM!!! ARE WE THERE YET? WHERE DO BABIES COME FROM?"

:)

Posted by Sarah @ 09/23/2003 04:25 PM PST

No, our family had no one
named Sherman or Evie. Our
family had people with names
like Gussie.

Posted by bk @ 09/23/2003 04:29 PM PST

Damn it, we can't have
seventy-six posts when we're
not posting. We CAN have
seventy-six trombones,
however.

Sarah, babies come from
washing machines.

Posted by bk @ 09/23/2003 04:31 PM PST

LOL.

Tonight is Westerns night on TCM.

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/23/2003 04:44 PM PST

Hellooo!

I'm back from the first Macbeth rehearsal! Darn it, we didn't even get to my scene--I don't come in til Act IV, ya see. But almost everyone sounds pretty good, and the play is pretty well cast.

WFO--what is going on with you today? Bit of a Judge Turpin fetish, hahah? ;)

BK--YOU MEAN I WAS BORN IN A WASHING MACHINE! What will the stork think??

Posted by Maya @ 09/23/2003 04:47 PM PST

I almost completely forgot!

Favorite Ira Gershwin songs--I Got Rhythm, Embraceable You, But Not For Me, Fascinatin' Rhythm, Someone To Watch Over Me, Do, Do, Do, How Long Has This Been Going On?, The Saga of Jenny, The Man That Got Away and many others.

Posted by Maya @ 09/23/2003 04:56 PM PST

Maya - you must call it The Scottish Play.

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/23/2003 05:01 PM PST

Ah, Jrand! But I'm not in the theatre!

When the trees start walking toward me, then I will be scared! ;)

Posted by Maya @ 09/23/2003 05:05 PM PST

Are you doing MACBETH with or without scottish accents?

When my CEGEP did Stoppard's THE REAL THING (in which one of the characters is supposed to be Scottish) the actor (who was the shy little Jewish kid with absolutely NO scottish ties) watched episode after episode of THE SIMPONS to imitate Groundskeeper Willie's accent. Before entering and saying his first line he'd whisper "Och" to himself to "get in the scottish mood".

It used to make me, who was stage managing the show, laugh hearing him going "och och och" as a prep. :)

Posted by Maya @ 09/23/2003 05:09 PM PST

Hmmm...I wonder who just typed that. Don't feel bad though---I've made the mistake of putting the name of the person I'm a addressing in the name box myself.

Cute story, lol! We're doing it without the Scottish accents, although the guy who is playing Malcolm, and who is very proud of his Scottish heritage, insists upon doing it anyway. Then again, this same guy always does a Scottish accent and if we did something by Moliere, he would probably STILL do one, lol.

Posted by TheRealMaya @ 09/23/2003 05:16 PM PST

I'm not a huge Gershwin fan, but
sometimes, when I hear his music, I
realize that I do like some of it, but if
you ask me to name a song, the only
one I can come up with is "Our Love
is Here to Stay."

DR Emily, when will you be in NYC?
I'll be there from 12/26-12/30. I

Posted by Matthew @ 09/23/2003 05:27 PM PST

Well, Maya, what can I say? I guess it's just a case of Moral Turpintude. Maya culpa!

Old college joke:

MASOCHIST: Beat me! Beat me! Please beat me!

SADIST: No.

Posted by William F. Orr @ 09/23/2003 05:27 PM PST

I didn't believe it either, until one dark night....

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/23/2003 05:29 PM PST

Today has been a bittersweet one for me. Bitter, in every sense of the word, because of the weird vibes going on at work. ONe of the other temps and I were scolded for talking, and then I was wisked away to do several things that have never been a part of my job description before. I feel like I should get a raise, or be hired full-time, but I'm not sure how to go about bringing that subject up to my boss.

The day has been sweet because it has turned out to be an evening of celebrity sightings, which I always love. The first sighting was on my way out of the MTI office. When I stepped in the elevator, who was there but Ms. Emmilou Harris. I think I misspelled her name, but I don't know any other way of spelling it. She was quite glamourous. Then, on my way to the subway, I noticed Mr. John Dossett (Herbie in GYPSY) and our very own Ms. Michelle Pawk (his lovely wife) walking down 54th Street. As I reached Broadway, I noticed street barricades, and by the time I got to 50th & B'way I realized that this was apparently a big deal, as all the intersections were blocked off...even to pedestrians. Well, ladies and gentlemen, it was blocked off for our very own President of the United States, who waved at me as they drove by! I won't discuss my political views on President Bush, but whether you like him or not, you must admit, its really cool to say you saw the President. And then, to top it all off, I saw Mr. Joe Machota from MAMMA MIA! and a guy that I went to undergraduate school with! It certainly was an evening of strange encounters. I hope this means that something good is coming my way...

I also found out from my friend, Jennifer, that we may be able to work one or two nights a week at the Met in the coat check, but we won't be full-time like we used to be. So...that would be a good thing.

Craig--they're STILL doing the 20th Anniversary show? Wow. I think they should close the show for a few months, stockpile some new material, and re-open with a totally new cast. Though I will admit, Ms. Donna English truly is wonderful in the show...she and Christine Pedi were meant for FORBIDDEN B'WAY.

Posted by Jason @ 09/23/2003 05:39 PM PST

Sorry Maya that was my question about the accents. This is the second time I've messed up writing my name in the name box instead of that of the person I'm addressing! I need sleep... :)

Matthew, I'm going to be there from Dec. 26-31 (I think) so we'll have to meet up at some point - preferably with some other DRs :)

Posted by Emily @ 09/23/2003 05:43 PM PST

Oh! Add Raul Esparza to the list of people I saw tonight.

There are some really cool pictures of the set for WICKED on Broadway.com, if anyone is interested.

Posted by Jason @ 09/23/2003 06:03 PM PST

WFO--love the joke, haha!

Jason--great to hear you had such an encounter-filled day and that you got the part-time job at the Met! To quote Ira Gershwin, "Things are looking up!"

Emily--Don't worry about it, sweetie! How could I be mad at someone with whom I've had such fun girl talk ;) BTW, I will probably be in NYC around the dates you and Matthew will. Perhaps a Joe Allen get-together will be in order (and if so, hopefully BK and more DRs will be able to come too!)

Posted by Maya @ 09/23/2003 06:05 PM PST

Dear suave, non-posting, and wag-a-liscious BK --

My favourite wittish wags with a way with words (not counting your esteemed self, who can certainly hold your own....sometimes it's more fun to let someone else....oh, that's another topic), would have to include Groucho, Oscar Levant, Noel Coward, and Ogden Nash.

Regarding an L.A. evening dinner -- I too will be in LA LA this coming weekend, as I have a small program to play at the San Gabriel Civic Auditorium. If a Hainsie/Kimlet dinner were going to happen on thursday evening, I could be over there by then. (hint, hint).

Any chance of it being at Musso & Frank??? Please, please??

And to BK, or Jose, or Jay, or all 3...a breakfast of yummy DuPar's pancakes would be very possible also...and I'm making the offer that it would be my treat. Just let me know.

Posted by MusicGuy @ 09/23/2003 06:12 PM PST

My favorite Ira Gershwin lyric is admittedly one of his goofiest and most inconsequential. However, it pops into my mind more often than any other. It's the "Senate Roll Call" from "Of Thee I Sing." I particularly relish the lines:

The senators from other states will have to bide their time,
For I simply can't by bothered when the names don't rhyme . . .

(Say! Is that a "Girl Crazy" reference in there?)

I can't watch C-Span anymore without thinking of it.

Anyone here familiar with his work with Kurt Weill for the almost-pretty-good 1945 musical "Where Do We Go From Here"? I was dying to see it since hearing the DRG "Tryout" CD of demo recordings. When it finally turned up on AMC, I discovered the demos were actually BETTER. The movie has its moments (the Christopher Columbus opera parody is my favorite), but it seems to have been clumsily chopped down from a longer running time.

Posted by Sigerson Holmes @ 09/23/2003 06:26 PM PST

Well since we're all making our vacation plans, I'm going to be in the sunny Caribbean, Dec. 20-27. Anyone going to be on the isle of St. Maartens then? Do you think Joe Allen would deliver there? :)

BK: Babies come from washing machines? That's only a tad bit disturbing.

Come on, people, puuuuush! (Oh, a BK reference)

Posted by Sarah @ 09/23/2003 06:29 PM PST

Although it is still called the 20th Anniversary Forbidden Broadway, numbers come and go as regularly as people in the HHW chat room. And any "all new" edition retains or brings back numbers from previous shows.

Emily---
Try the Pennsylvania Hotel on 33rd Street. Before I lived here it is where I used to stay. It's clean, well located and not nearly as expensive as many hotels. And the phone number is still PEnnsylvania 6-5000. Also BK has stayed at a number of places and could probably give you advice.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 09/23/2003 06:31 PM PST

Come on people, if we "don't post" 5 more times, we can get to a hundred, and then I'm sure BK will let us post again.

Posted by Sarah @ 09/23/2003 07:45 PM PST

There will be NO more posts today. Not even four more. MusicGuy, which Thursday? This Thursday? Like in two days? That would be fine by me and Musso would be fine by me. Let me know and I'll check with Jose and MBarnum and Jay. Breakfast is only doable on the weekend and we'd never get in.

Posted by bk @ 09/23/2003 07:57 PM PST

I'm hoping I'm not too late-- it seems like everyone is gone for the evening!

I'm in a very Gershwin-y mood today as I bought the complete RHAPSODY IN BLUE piano solo. 32 pages. Set me back 15 bucks. Oy! It will be an investment well worth all that money, however. I will be working on it for months...

Ira Gershwin, the lovely wife of George, of course had nothing to do with my $15 investment; however, he is also extremely influential in my musical life. Picking my favorite Gershwin tunes would be next to impossible. But as far as lyrics-- "They Can't Take That Away From Me," "Who Cares" and "Nice Work If You Can Get It."

Anywho, I have an exciting weekend coming up. Once again. As I've mentioned before, in May I'll be playing the role of "Jamie" in JRB's THE LAST 5 YEARS. As an Irish Catholic boy, I know very little about being Jewish. I'm hoping Bruce Kimmel can help me out. In the meantime, I will be having Shabbas(?) dinner this Friday night for Rosh Hashanah and going to Shul(?) on Saturday morning. Hey, this is just what I've been told. Also, the other night I did the hora for the first time! Quite fun.

On Sunday, I'm headed up to NY for the day to see a preview of THE BOY FROM OZ. Its also my best buddy Joey's first time in the big city. I love showing people around for the first time. As long as they can keep up. Haha.

Posted by Paulie @ 09/23/2003 08:03 PM PST

Don't worry Paulie - Norbert Leo Butz is Irish Catholic too and look at what a good job he did with his Jamie. I think there's something like 9 children in his family :)

BTW... I want a tape of your performance in May (to hell with licensing rights - Jason please ignore)

:)

Posted by Emily @ 09/23/2003 08:05 PM PST

This is not a post.

It's a push to 100...

C'mon guys and gals - one more! :)

Posted by Emily @ 09/23/2003 08:09 PM PST

PUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSH!

*plop*

Posted by Jason @ 09/23/2003 08:12 PM PST

Congrats Jason...

You've successfully delivered a happy healthy 100 posts!

(the plop was kinda gross image wise... ewwwwwww....)

:)

Posted by Emily @ 09/23/2003 08:13 PM PST

DR Paulie: If you want to fit in real fast, this Friday, when they serve you brisket for dinner (and they will), tell your host it is delicious, and go on to say that that is a real compliment, given that it is exceeded in deliciousness only by your Momma's.

Oh yes, and dip your challah (that's be the yellow bread in a round loaf) into the honey like you've been doing it for years. (BTW, challah is normally a braided loaf, but for this holiday, it's in a round loaf. Ask your hosts why. They won't know.)

And in shul, be sure to complain about how cold it is in there. And then, half an hour later, complain that it's too warm. Repeat until the end of services.

Posted by Jay @ 09/23/2003 08:15 PM PST

The most delicious sandwich combination on earth = ham and cheese on challah bread.

It's so so so so wrong but yummy :)

(may I be struck down dead by the offended God)

:)

Posted by Emily @ 09/23/2003 08:23 PM PST

DR Emily: You will definitely receive an illegal copy! Have I told you how much I love the illegal copy of JRB's UNRELEASED CD that you sent me? Fantastic. Haha. Sorry, performance rights people-- I gotta return favors. And Norbert Leo Butz is Irish Catholic? Wow, would never have guessed by that name! Great to hear, though.

DR Jay: Thanks for the tips! I have already committed all that stuff to memory. I will most definitely keep it in mind. I shall ask my hosts... but do you know why challah is in a round loaf for the New Year occasion?

I'd like to impress my hosts by knowing what year it is going to be... any assistance on that?

Posted by Paulie @ 09/23/2003 08:31 PM PST

Why, it's going to be 5764, silly. Happy New Year!

Oh yeah. Don't be looking for silly hats and noisemakers. That would be a dead giveaway.

Posted by Jay @ 09/23/2003 08:50 PM PST

Not that they'd know it was going to be 5764. You gotta be careful with these things. It's like that WWII movie when the only people who knew the second stanza to the Star Spangled Banner were the Germans masquerading as Americans.

Posted by Jay @ 09/23/2003 08:52 PM PST

Wednesday at last!

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/24/2003 03:40 AM PST

Paulie: I've heard from two people who have seen Boy from Oz that it's wonderful. I haven't seen it yet but it sounds like the show will be a hit.

Posted by Ben @ 09/24/2003 04:05 AM PST

Let's see.....December and everyone's in town. Let's have our first annual HHW Chanukah/Christmas party!!

Who's making the reservation at Joe Allen's for the mishpuchah (that's yiddish for "family")??

Calling all Den Mothers!!!

...and shouldn't we use our assorted connections to see to a show together??

Posted by Phil @ 09/24/2003 05:54 AM PST

I forget if I read this story in Jule Styne's or Ethel Merman's biog. Ethel was invited to the Stynes for the Passover Seder. All she knew about Jewish food was that it wasn't very good, so on the way she had the cab driver stop at a deli. She picked up a ham and cheese sandwich to eat during the meal.

Paulie - the brisket will be delicious. Don't - repeat, don't - ask for butter with the round challah (which, Jay, represents a crown, symbolic of God as king; okay, so I Googled). Also - the horseradish with the gefilte fish is called chrain (the ch as in Chanuka - practice and they'll adopt you); again, don't ask for tartar sauce.

Posted by Dan-in-Toronto @ 09/24/2003 06:03 AM PST

I, too, love the Columbus mutiny sequence in Where Do We Go From Here? Ira Gershwin wrote several things in Gilbert and Sullivan style but I think this is the most successful.

Although "make the melody fit the rhyme" from Lady in the Dark is certainly good advice.

Columbus Day this year is SO fondly looked forward to, as we fly off on our honeymoon on that date. What are these other feshugganah holidays everybody's mentioning?

Posted by Noel @ 09/24/2003 06:11 AM PST

The chrain in Spain on the table makes a stain.

Posted by The Limelighters @ 09/24/2003 06:13 AM PST

DR Noel - I think it's somebody's birthday. Somebody named Ross Hossanna.

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/24/2003 06:47 AM PST

DR Emily -

Have you ever made/had croque monsieur with chalah?

Posted by Dan-in-Toronto @ 09/24/2003 06:53 AM PST

What a coincidence, Joy, Noel is flying off on his honeymoon on Columbus Day also. Hey, wouldn't it be funny if you both ended up on the same plane?

Posted by TCB @ 09/24/2003 09:01 AM PST