Posted by Noel @ 10/01/2003 09:08 AM PST

Good morning everyone!

Or should that be good afternoon now that we are getting new notes post 12 EST? BK... really... you MUST get your priorities straight! I NEED early morning notes if I want to survive CRISIS CONFLICT AND WAR - THE CLASS ;)

It seems like during the week I am always thinking of things to ask all the DRs and BK but then when it comes around to ASK-DRs and ASK-BK days, I pull a blank. Blech. Short term memory would be nice to have.

So instead of asking questions, I'm just going to babble as normal. :)

I went to WALMART yesterday and bought myself a desk/computer hutch. Do you know what "hutch" is in french? It's "huche" which I think rhymes with whoosh. I just thought that it might interest you as much as it did me.

My 'puter is currently at the US/CDN border where nice border guards are asking it questions and making sure that it is not a terrorist. You have to watch out for all those computers with political aspirations. They are the most dangerous of all...

Last night I put together my new WALMART computer "huche" with my sister and father (my dad's a civil engineer and my sister's one in training) since I like making fun of the fact that such highly educated professionals can't assemble a stupid little huche without much swearing and "oops-ing" going on. While they are doing all the work I, of course, prop myself up on a pillow and look pretty - being the lowly Arts student that I am :)

We started to build it at 10:30 since we were all bored and my sister didn't want to do her neverending homework. It probably wasn't the greatest time to start a project - which is only exemplified by the fact that half of its pieces are probably STILL literred around the floor of my room after we quit to get some sleep. My dad, I am sure, is at home right now swearing and oops-ing his way to engineer nirvana.

I am off to class and then to the gun control grindstone. I may check in from work later on but I make no promises.

Posted by Emily @ 10/01/2003 09:18 AM PST

Noel, have you finished the bride's/Joy's song yet?

I'm sure that if you explain to your families that you tried very very hard to get a wheelchair accessible theatre they will explain. Are the stairs such that you can't put in a temporary ramp?

Posted by Emily @ 10/01/2003 09:20 AM PST

Good afternoon, everyone and good morning to you West Coasters!

It's still early for me, so I'm probably still a little too groggy to think of any good questions for BK or DRs.

Emily--your new 'puter is going to be quite pampered. ;)

Well, I suppose I should get ready for school. Ah, the life of a harried and under-rested college student! ;)

Posted by Maya @ 10/01/2003 09:29 AM PST

Glad you are enjoying the Bollywood compilation BK.

Here is my BK question of the day:
Aside from GUMNAAM have you found any other Bollywood movies that you would recommend to Dear Readers everywhere? I know that I will be ordering another slew of them this week and am always looking for titles to add to my collection!!

Question for readers of the day: what are your favorite foreign movies.

I am partial to Japanese films and two of my favorites are (aside from the various Godzilla and related films) SHALL WE DANCE which is a nice little quiet comedy, and MANJI which is a bizarre early 1960s soap opera in the vain of VALLEY OF THE DOLLS and ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWS.I also like STREET OF SHAME, although I have not seen it in years. I look forward to someday seeing TOKYO STORY.

Posted by MBarnum @ 10/01/2003 09:34 AM PST

700!!

How exciting! Yes, we must do the head-shaking dance from GUMNAAM. We must have Ted Lyons and his Cubs play that song - we must put on ours Batman masks and turtleneck shirts, miniskirts and gogo boots - and dance dance dance. And if you think that description is weird, you should see the movie!!!

Well we missed it - this morning at 4:15 EST DR Susan Gordon's movie THE MAN IN THE NET was on. MBarnum taped it - thank goodness - because I forgot!!!

My question for ASK BK day - and for all the DR:

When you were growing up, was there a part on television that you would have liked to play?

IE: Of course all of us of a certain age wanted to be one of the Mouseketeers! But I also thought it would be fun to be Chip Douglas or Gilbert Bates.

And also...did you ever vote in the annual American Bandstand Dance Contest? And did your favorite couple ever win?

Posted by Jrand53 @ 10/01/2003 09:38 AM PST

Truth be told, I envied Miss Loretta Young's entrance every week and wished it were me.

Posted by Jay @ 10/01/2003 09:42 AM PST

I just did a nice (if I do say so myself, which I do) choral arrangement of "It's All in the Game" for the Tigard Pops Choir which I direct (some other DRs have actually been to some of our concerts)!.

In rhetorical Ask BK mode (since I will provide the answer in my question), did you know this fascinating fact about "It's All in the Game": though the song became a hit for Tommy Edwards in 1951 when frequent Percy Faith collaborator Carl Sigman wrote a lyric, the music was actually written in 1912 by Charles Dawes, who later became Calvin Coolidge's Vice President.

My sister arrives from NC today to help celebrate my birthday next week!! Every time she crosses the continent, some tragedy befalls the nation--the last time she came was the week of September 11, 2001. The time before that was the big Seattle earthquake which also hit Portland. So you are all forewarned.

Posted by JMK @ 10/01/2003 09:48 AM PST

Actually, Susan's movie was on early yesterday morning. I watched it last night. Susan is not as prominently featured in this as in many of her other films, but once again is a delight. The film is sort of a noir mystery excpt that it is much easier to figure out the "surprise" ending than many films of its ilk.

For Ask BK Day:
What is your opinion of the new Motion Picture Academy ruling that bans screeners to voters for nominated films? The "official" reason is to help prevent piracy, but I have read that the real reason is to help studio films since many voters don't bother with independent films unless they can watch them at home. I'm curious to know what you think of this new policy.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 10/01/2003 09:48 AM PST

I don't know if there was a particular part on TV that I wanted to play when I was a kid, however I would have loved to have been any character on LAND OF THE GIANTS! I also dreamed of being on the show MAGNUM P.I. as I had a teenage crush on Tom Selleck.

Posted by MBarnum @ 10/01/2003 09:54 AM PST

THE TAILS OF BONNIE AND CLYDE, Chapter VI.

As it turned out, Bonnie loved her panties. They fit snugly, but not too tightly. Her tail had lots of room to wag, there was none of that tacky plastic lining against her belly fur but comfortable cotton instead, and most importantly she had certain private parts protected from invasion. For the same reasons, Marty was less impressed. Der Brucer and I could breathe easier, at least for the moment.

That was the good news. The bad news was that there were still no messages left on the answering machine, at least not messages of the sort that we wanted to hear.

Der Brucer had put his foot down early in our relationship, that the answering machine was to be used to screen incoming calls. For this reason, we’ve never had the hassles with telemarketers that many people complain about. We don’t pick up, the machine tells whoever is calling to leave name, number and a brief message, and the telemarketers hang up. There’s something very reassuring about the blank buzz on the answering machine’s tape, letting us know that the telemarketer’s freedom of speech has not been infringed upon while we in return get blissful silence.

What is less comforting is the knowledge that there are large sections of the populace who, after all these years, still don’t know how to cope with leaving a message. Der Brucer’s daughter regularly leaves a simple “Hello, it’s me!” She doesn’t have a name, she’s just a pronoun. It’s a good thing we both recognize her voice, or we’d never pick up. Just as frequently, people der Brucer consults about databases will leave the message “Hey, give me a call when you get a chance, I’ve got a few problems I need you to solve,” with no other information at all. If they want psychics, why aren’t they calling the psychic hot line? The numbers to reach them are given on late nite television all the time. It’s very frustrating.

This time, the problem was different. What if someone was to call for the dogs, but didn’t know how to leave a comprehensible message?

We did head out again that evening, however, first to our local watering hole and then to the grocery store for more dinner veggies. TedBear, the bartender at our first stop, listened to our tale of the tails while getting my club soda and mixing der Brucer’s Mai Tai, his favorite drink this summer. “I dunno, guys. I can’t have dogs where I live, the owner already has two.”

That TedBear was able to jump to the conclusion that we were looking for a good home for Bonnie and Clyde, and not necessarily the home they had come from, gave us both a start. But he was right, just as Warren had been: as more time passed, it was less and less likely that the former owners would come looking for the dogs. Finding new owners was not going to be an easy task, however. Already, everyone else that we knew at the bar was confirming that they were in the same situation as TedBear. They either were living where they couldn’t have animals, or had one or more waiting for them to return home.

That night, we decided to try something different with Clyde and Bonnie’s sleeping arrangement. I usually sleep with my door open, so that Marty and Mikey can wander in and out as they please. This time, I welcomed the two youngsters into my room and closed the door behind me. Bonnie chose to curl herself into a ball of gold on my bed. Clyde took a few minutes to thoroughly wash my face, and then found a place to sleep on the floor, exactly on the spot where I would be putting my feet down when I got up the next morning.

Posted by S. Woody White @ 10/01/2003 09:54 AM PST

DR MHough: In a reply, responding to your reply to my earlier reply, I received a "Permanent fatal error" message from AOL stating that my message "could not" be delivery to your address.

Are you aware of any problems?

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 10/01/2003 09:56 AM PST

Well, if any of our DRs would like to know what Melissa Errico has been up to all summer and her appearances on MISS MATCH (including a very funny anecdote about Ms. Alicia Silverstone) click on my name... You can follow it up by reading her unseemly interview right here (if you haven't already) the link is at the bottom of the article!

Posted by Craig @ 10/01/2003 10:00 AM PST

Sometimes I get that message when I reply because I added a space or period to the address when I was hitting the reply button.
Check there and make sure that didn't happen.
And if I am wrong, I am sure DR WEL will let me know.

Posted by Jrand53 @ 10/01/2003 10:02 AM PST

BK: Be careful when you are dealing with "infectious" agents. You never know how they will affect you.

Emily: Whassup, girl? You loafin' today? I thought for sure you'd have done a SECOND POST dance for us!

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 10/01/2003 10:02 AM PST

Re Charles Dawes: His home is open to the public and is very interesting to see. A copy of the sheet music to "It's All in the Game" is displayed on a music stand in the music room. The home is located in Evanston, Ill., where the very errant and truant Dear Reader Hapgood is currently seeking new adventures in education.

Posted by Jay @ 10/01/2003 10:09 AM PST

Jrand---
Since I don't use AOL how can I correct you? What you said makes sense.

I was not trying to correct you on the time MAN IN THE NET was on. It was posted on this here site on Monday that it would be on Tuesday morning which was why I remembered to record it. If it had been on Wednesday morning how could I have watched it Tuesday night? If you want a copy, click on my name.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 10/01/2003 10:14 AM PST

Thanks, WEL - MBarnum is making a DVD copy for me! Appreciate it.

Just seems like you have corrected me everyday for the past week or so.

Posted by Jrand53 @ 10/01/2003 10:22 AM PST

Dear DR WEL: There appears to be some confusion on who is banning what from being sent to whom, stemming from unclear writing in the New York Times. From what I understand, it is the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) that is banning the mailing of DVDs to members of AMPAS (The Acacemy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences). It is not the Motion Picture Academy that is banning the DVD mailings, since there is no MPA.

The reason for the ban is to prevent piracy of the DVDs, while the accusation from some independent filmmakers is that it is a conspiracy to keep the work of independent filmmakers from being more widely seen. Personally, I'm not in favor of conspiracy theories. Most people aren't intelligent enough to know how to conspire, and when they do it's so blatently obvious that the conspiracies fall apart at their first opportunity. But if there is any sort of conspiracy, it exists within the MPAA, not AMPAS, and certainly not within the MPA, which as far as I can tell isn't an organization to begin with.

Posted by S. Woody White @ 10/01/2003 10:22 AM PST

Jrand53/52/55: Since I was replying to an e-mail MHough sent me, I inserted nothing. I simply pressed "Reply."

For all I know, AOL has experienced a major crash-and-burn.

But if that were so, BK might be affected.

Are you there, BK???

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 10/01/2003 10:24 AM PST

AOL's as up as it ever is. :)

Posted by JMK @ 10/01/2003 10:28 AM PST

Oh, DR Ron. Okay.

And I'm not complaining, WEL, it means that at least one person is reading my posts! 8-D

But SWW - will Charlie ever get off the MTA?

Posted by Jrand53 @ 10/01/2003 10:29 AM PST

The elimination of the screeners was front page news in today's Los Angeles Times. Who says this isn't an industry town?

Posted by Jay @ 10/01/2003 10:34 AM PST

LOL Ron - you used ALL my names! LOL....maybe I should just be Jrand5!

Posted by Jrand53 @ 10/01/2003 10:38 AM PST

Favorite Japanese films: High and Low and many other films of Mr. Akira Kurosawa, many Godzilla films, and many others.

I would like to have played Mr. Lucky (I thought John Vivyan was so suave) and I would like to have played James Garner's Maverick.

Screeners: I think they were absolutely right to do what they did. First off, many Academy members (and members of other award organizations) who got these DVDs and tapes sold them immediately to used stores here in LA. There was no shortage of them let me tell you, starting at the beginning of December. Second, the independents who are crying foul were the ones who STARTED the whole screener thing, specifically Miramax. Somehow the Academy Awards managed to exist without the benefit of screeners for most of their existence. So, these poor poor Hollywood people will have to get off their butt cheeks and go see movies at screenings or at theaters. That is, one supposes, the price they have to pay for being a member of the Academy (not that they have to pay, mind you, screenings and theater visits are FREE come awards time). The fact is, that as soon as screeners hit the market, they ARE bootlegged and sold everywhere. Chicago was readily available on eBay last year, taken right off the VHS screener. So were others. But Hollywood has become like the rest of the country - they want it free, they want it easy, they don't want to have to do ANYTHING. Oh, well.

Posted by bk @ 10/01/2003 10:55 AM PST

I forgot about HIGH AND LOW. What a great film. Co-stars Ss. Kyoko Kagawa who starred in MOTHRA!

Posted by MBarnum @ 10/01/2003 11:02 AM PST

Click on my name for an interesting (and from everything I read above incorrect) article on the screeners ban. This is where I got my initial misinformation.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 10/01/2003 11:06 AM PST

DR WEL--Thanks for sharing. Such interesting tone and language to be used in a "major" daily newspaper in our country's largest city. Joseph Pulitzer must spin in his grave each time the Post hits the street.

Posted by Jay @ 10/01/2003 11:15 AM PST

I adore Akira Kurosawa. High and Low is a great film, but my favorite of his is Ran. Such a brilliant integration of Shakespeare and Kurosawa's own life.

I am also partial to Japanese, French, and Hong Kong films.

Craig, thanks for the interview. I saw the pilot of Miss Match and thought it was quite cute. I read that Alicia (Silverstone) is so committed to animal rights that she refuses to wear clothes or accessories for the show that have any leather or animal products in them. And when I saw The Graduate on Broadway, I waited at the stage door to meet her and thought it was funny how her dog was escorted out to the limo by its own bodyguard. Alicia followed shortly thereafter.

For Ask BK day: When you are working on novels, as I gather you have been doing for at least the past three years, do you write every day? What do you do to combat writer's block? Is there a minimum amount of time or a number of pages you must commit to every day? When you finish a manuscript, do you have any celebratory rituals (à la James Caan in Misery)?

Posted by LC @ 10/01/2003 11:18 AM PST

Well, it IS Cindy Adams. Those who are crying loudest are those who will not be receiving free DVD and VHS screeners. I'm sorry, but up until five or six years ago these things didn't exist. Will independents be hurt? Who knows. I somehow doubt it.

Posted by bk @ 10/01/2003 11:19 AM PST

Geez, I sure hope this doesn't stop composers from sending out promo CDs of their scores for Academy consideration...however else would we be able to get complete score recordings if not for those promos????????

In my DVD player: CD2 of "Soap: The First Season" (love it, love it, love it!!!)

On deck: 2-DVD "Robin Hood" and 2-DVD "The Stunt Man."

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 10/01/2003 11:24 AM PST

With Benjamin Kritzer, no I did not write every day. It was my first and I was dealing with Bad Men of my own during that time. Some weeks I did write every day, two or three pages, but there would occasionally be a few days or even a week where I wouldn't do anything. I never had "writer's block" but starting new chapters on that first book was killer. I was then given great advice by someone, which was to leave off in the middle of a chapter or even in the middle of a sentence. That way, when I resumed the next time I'd know exactly where I was and what things were about and I'd start writing immediately and the flow would begin. There are times it's impossible to do that, you just have to finish the chapter, but on those days I would at least title the next chapter and write a line or two.

On Kritzerland, I got off on the wrong foot with the beginning of the book and it took me six weeks to figure out where I'd gone wrong and how to fix it. During that time I wrote nothing. Then, I started and pretty much wrote five days per week (not necessarily in a row), doing two or three pages at the minumum and sometimes, if I was on a roll, up to ten pages. Then I got the Penn and Teller show and writing became difficult, time-wise, but I somehow managed to do a page or two in the evenings and I wrote quite a bit on the weekends. The first two books each took eight to nine months to complete.

With Kritzer Time I really did write every single day - I don't think I missed more than three days in the six months it took to finish. I believe I managed to do twenty-five pages a week for most weeks. There were a few weeks that were less than that but there were also a few weeks where I did more. Kritzer Time really did just pour out of me. I guess having the first two under my belt was helpful.

Posted by bk @ 10/01/2003 11:32 AM PST

Dear DR Jrand5X: No, he will never return, and his fate is still unlearned.

Posted by S. Woody White @ 10/01/2003 11:42 AM PST

I have a question for any DRs who can help me. Does anyone know of any good free ways to access newsgroups? I've been inundated with spam, so I cannot post using my regular email address. I've been using google. But the messages are hours behind what I can read through my regular account. I just want something that will have the newest messages.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks.

Also for DR Jrand53: Btw what is up with that number, weren't you 54 or 55 before? You said I was Laurie from Trading Spaces champion. Well I just enjoy her. And after reading the Trading Spaces book, she seems just as lovely as she comes across (to me).

Btw2, did you see the commercial with Doug doing a musical number? I read in the TS book that he used to be a musical theatre performer!

Posted by Jennifer @ 10/01/2003 11:53 AM PST

You CAN post from your e-mail address, Jennifer. What you do is add the words "NOSPAMTODAY" to your address when you post. In other words, jennifer@nospamtodaypubnixwhatever.

Posted by bk @ 10/01/2003 11:55 AM PST

I am wearing a disguise now.

LOL SSW...does his wife still go down at noon and pass him a sandwich through the train window?

Remember at the AA ceremony last year, when one of the hosts was decrying the fact that some members sold their screeners? And Steve Allen style there was a great closeup of Meryl Streep in the audience? She played along very well....

BK as Mr Lucky? Oh my...a white dinner jacket and a cigarette case. I picture him more as Peter Gunn driving that 1959 Imperial!

Thanks for the link, WEL... Anyone know yet how Variety headlined the story?

Posted by Jrand83 @ 10/01/2003 11:56 AM PST

DR Jennifer - I avoid watching Doug every chance I get...LOL. Great article on the $100,000 special in USA TODAY if you haven't read it. Designers: Laurie and Doug!

MSN given name was Jrand55 - everyone thought it was my age, so I changed it to Jrand52...then when I had my birthday last August I became Jrand 53. And yes my life is as boring as that story.

Posted by Jrand53 @ 10/01/2003 11:59 AM PST

Hey thanks BK: I will try putting the no spam in a test post. The reason I thought I couldn't do this, is because it doesn't let me change my address (for instance it doesn't let me put my yahoo account). Hopefully this works. CAuse I just cannot bear the microsoft spam. IT really made me crazy.

But, I would still be interested to know of anything other than google groups which has good access.

Thanks.

Posted by Jennifer @ 10/01/2003 12:05 PM PST

a very belated second post dance (dedicated to da-doo-Ron-Ron):

*DANCE DANCE DANCE DANCE DANCE FLIP DANCE DANCE HULA HULA DANCE DANCE SPIRIT FINGERS**

Argh... why does work always come in my way of dancing? :)

I was verrrryyy bad today and ate lunch (I typically just do small breakfast big supper type days) at, of all places, a chinese fast food restaurant in the food court of the downtown Eaton Centre. I am completely and utterly addicted to BAD chinese food. I'm talking pineapple chicken and doughy won-ton soup here, people. I'm talking 1950s old Jewish lady chinese food. I'm talking food so politically incorrect that they still serve something called "Chinese Chop Suey".

I hid my face behind a copy of a newspaper while clandestinely eating, less some of my oh-so-chic-eatz friends walked by. I'm sure they were off to eat something wonderfully moderne from some great "in" ethnic group that no one thought even had food before... like Ethiopian or Burkino Fasoian.

It was thoroughly delicious even if I now feel thoroughly disgusting.

mmm... don't tell anyone my pineapple chicken secret... :

Posted by Emily @ 10/01/2003 12:06 PM PST

Emily: I love Chinese food. It's my favorite. And I have not had it for months. And now you have me wanting it! Bad, bad. Btw, my favorite is general taos chicken.

Posted by Jennifer @ 10/01/2003 12:10 PM PST

BAN TRIGGERS NICHE BITCH

Posted by Variety @ 10/01/2003 12:17 PM PST

JrandXX (dont' want to give away your disguise!), Variety has been publishing many articles on the topic, but in today's email I got from them there were the following headlines:

BAN TRIGGERS NICHE BITCH: Indies in an uproar, say their Oscar chances in jeopardy

ACAD MEMBERS RUN SCREENING FROM ROOM: Some sympathetic, others against move

Since you have to be signed in to read the full articles, I can email them to anyone who'd like to read.

Posted by LC @ 10/01/2003 12:18 PM PST

Oops.. forgot my email address (just remove anti-spam part)

Posted by LC @ 10/01/2003 12:19 PM PST

Click on my name to see the Trading Spaces article in USA Today. Yeah!

Jrand wrote:
DR Jennifer - I avoid watching Doug every chance I get...LOL. Great article on the $100,000 special in USA TODAY if you haven't read it. Designers: Laurie and Doug!

I can't believe you avoid Doug. I love him!

MSN given name was Jrand55 - everyone thought it was my age, so I changed it to Jrand52...then when I had my birthday last August I became Jrand 53. And yes my life is as boring as that story

Ah okay i get it now.

Posted by Jennifer @ 10/01/2003 12:27 PM PST

Jennifer... the absolute BEST place for good (and relatively cheap) Chinese is at KAM SHING.

They have two locations one on boul. Côte-des-Neiges across from the Complexe CDN (the one with the Cineplex Odeon movie theatre) and another on Van Horne right near the Plamondon metro station.

It has the BEST General Tao Chicken!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Click on my name for a review from montrealfood.com

Posted by Emily @ 10/01/2003 12:28 PM PST

Trading Spaces: I wish they had dropped Doug and signed up Vern to spend that $100,000.

Vern can take $1,000 and make it look like $25,000. IMAGINE what he could do with an actual $50,000 (assuming Laurie and Doug get to split the budget).

Vern is THE designer of that show...no one comes close to matching his style or quality.

No one.

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 10/01/2003 12:29 PM PST

DR Emily: Is the one on Cote de Neiges right across from the Pharmaprix? I can't remember if that is the name of the place I recently went to.

But I am very particular about my general taos. I like it darker and more burgundy, not just a version of sweet and sour pork.

Posted by Jennifer @ 10/01/2003 12:32 PM PST

Ron each designer will get $50,000! It is a $100,000 Show!

Would YOU like to be Queen for a Day? Gosh all those poor ninnies got was a washing machine.

Posted by Jrand53 @ 10/01/2003 12:37 PM PST

Thanks LC.

Posted by Jrand53 @ 10/01/2003 12:38 PM PST

Sorry, Ron - I can't add - your math was correct, I can't read either.

Posted by Jrand53 @ 10/01/2003 12:39 PM PST

Dr Ron: I agree, I would have loved to see Vern do that $100, 000 show. He is the best designer by far. I have never seen a room of his that I didn't love.

But I think Doug will surprise us. I think they realize the responsibility they have, and I don't think they will do crappy rooms. Plus the couples will have great furniture. Just think of all the great things of that type that can be bought.

Posted by Jennifer @ 10/01/2003 12:41 PM PST

Jrand53-funny. Queen for a Day, I loved that show.

Posted by Jane @ 10/01/2003 12:44 PM PST

Jrand53-funny. Queen for a Day, I loved that show.

Posted by Jane @ 10/01/2003 12:44 PM PST

Sorry about the double post. It didn't appear to work the first time.

Posted by Jane @ 10/01/2003 12:46 PM PST

Wasn't it great, Jane? I used to watch it - before I was even in school. I wanted my mom to go on the show, but she refused!

QUEEN FOR A DAY and ART LINKLETTER'S HOUSE PARTY...that was TeeVee!!

Posted by Jrand53 @ 10/01/2003 12:46 PM PST

Jrand53, does that mean you were very poor and your mother had a story to match, or did you just want her to go on the show?

Posted by Jane @ 10/01/2003 12:49 PM PST

Jennifer, I can't remember whether there is a Pharmaprix there... but it is really really close to the Harvey's and tunnel at the end of the street where they had a couple of shootings a few years ago.

The General Tao is definitely less sticky sweet and if you like shrimp you have to try their shrimp in lobster sauce. I could go on and on and on and on... :)

Posted by Emily @ 10/01/2003 12:49 PM PST

Jrand53, hope that wasn't too personal of a question.

Posted by Jane @ 10/01/2003 12:51 PM PST

Oh no, we couldn't match those stories! LOL...and we lived in Indiana so it just wasn't going to happen anyway!

My favorite designers: Vern, Edward, Genevieve.

Posted by Jrand53 @ 10/01/2003 12:53 PM PST

Just got out of Western Civ class, and I'm in a rather good mood, having gotten an A on my first exam. I rather like that class--it's fun to learn about ancient civilizations. Does that make me sound like a nerd or what, lol?

General Tso chicken is my absolute favorite kind of Chinese food too, Jennifer!

Craig--enjoyed the new Melissa Errico interview! Do you know when Miss Match is on by the way? I would like to catch an episode one of these days.

I LOVE foreign films. I mean they're not always better-crafted than Hollywood films, and I've certainly seen some awesome American movies lately, but nowadays (oh, a Kander and Ebb reference!) that IS often the case IMHO. My absolute favorites are Amelie, Jules et Jim, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Rashomon, 8 1/2 and I'm sure I have other favorites too that I can't think of now.

Here's my question for BK--I was listening to Liz Callaway: On and Off Broadway in the car this morning on the way to school, and I was wondering how she did the I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair track, where she's her own back-up singers (at least I think they were her). I know Sally Mayes has done this too, and I was just wondering about that cause it's such a cool effect.

Posted by Maya @ 10/01/2003 12:58 PM PST

The chinese restaurant on Van Horne that we were brought up at is the Yangtzee. We used to go there with my grandparents a lot.

I live on the West Island though. So that's usually where I eat chinese food. Okay this is making me so hungry!

Posted by Jennifer @ 10/01/2003 01:00 PM PST

AOL Cognoscenti/Literati: Can someone tell me what error "554" is?

Although the "cannot be delivered" message continues to pop up every time I try to respond to MattH's reply, the URL link it refers me doesn't address the error number I get.

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 10/01/2003 01:00 PM PST

Hello all. Sorry for having been E&T
for a ridiculous amount of time, but I
have been moving in and settling
inat college. It has been only one
week since classes started.
I have another one soon, so I don't
have much time, so I just wanted to
tell you all that I was here!

Posted by Hapgood @ 10/01/2003 01:05 PM PST

Was that Hapgood that went running by?

Maya - have you seen 8 Women and Contempt ?

Posted by Jrand53 @ 10/01/2003 01:07 PM PST

MissMatch is on in the Eastern time zone at 8pm Friday nights on NBC.

Posted by Jennifer @ 10/01/2003 01:07 PM PST

"Queen For A Day" was revived a couple of months ago only it was called "Queer Eye For the Straight Guy".

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 10/01/2003 01:10 PM PST

LOL...that was VERY good, WEL.

Posted by Jrand53 @ 10/01/2003 01:14 PM PST

Thanks, Jennifer! :)

Hapgood--boy, you best run before BK gets out that bitch-slapping machine, haha! But seriously, we've missed you around these here parts and I hope that you post more frequently now that you're settled in. How is college so far? Details! Details!

Jrand--I LOVED 8 Women. It was such a trip to see the grand dames of French cinema singing and dancing to adorable 50's tunes! Really cute movie. The title Contempt sounds really familiar to me, but I've never seen it. Who was in it?

Have you ever seen Same Old Song (On Connait le chanson) I forget who directed it--one of the New Wave guys I think--but that is also a very cute musical, though not quite as campy as 8 Women.

Posted by Maya @ 10/01/2003 01:18 PM PST

Click on my name for the IMDB page about Same Old Song!

Posted by Maya @ 10/01/2003 01:21 PM PST

Yesterday, BK asks WEHT Michael, and he shows up after a long errancy and truancy. Today, I mention Hapgood and his errancy and truancy, and he appears.

I've known for some time that HHW.com served many important purposes, but only learned today that it can conjure people out of thin air.

Maybe if I mention KT she'll appear.

Posted by Jay @ 10/01/2003 01:24 PM PST

Or Jimmy Hoffa.

Posted by Jay @ 10/01/2003 01:24 PM PST

Or Judge Crater.

Posted by Jay @ 10/01/2003 01:25 PM PST

I've done those one person doing three voices quite a bit. They simply lay down one part, then, they do the second part, then they do the third part. I find it can be easier for them if we have a guide piano doing the melody for each part. Then we mix them all together and voila.

Posted by bk @ 10/01/2003 01:29 PM PST

Hello fellow DR's, I have just returned from a most blaaaaaaah day at good ol' BRHS. I officially really really really don't like my Algebra teacher, I have an A in French, I did nothing in English, and I went outside and drove for Drivers Ed, and I didn't hit a single cone *grin* :).

My mom has informed me that when I was 5 or 6, I would BEG her to let me audition for Barney. I thought that would be the coolest job on the face of the planet. My relentless whining became so bad that she almost said yes, just so I would stop asking her, but the next week I suddenly changed my mind.

-I had no idea, this is all from the mouth of my mom. I was a weird little kid. Apparently, I insisted on being called "Alice" for about 6 months, too :)-

And I ALWAYS voted on American Bandstand, every single week. It was my favorite. The absolute best. :)

I cannot STAND Verns' designs on Trading Spaces! I don't think I dislike anyones more than his, except maybe Hildy. I'm in loooove with Frank though, I think he's got a really home-y sense of style. He makes rooms that you can relax in and still have fun. Trading Spaces actually did a house about 5 minutes away from mine a few months ago. I don't remember who the designers were, but I know Ty was the carpenter :). The big thing in one of the rooms was that it wsa a little boys, and they put a giant tent and a rock climbing wall in his room, it turned out to be really cute.

And I have to miss out on my voice lesson today, because my voice is starting to give out on me :(. But my teacher was almost excited, because "Now I can teach you what to do to HELP it!" So I am drinking warm water with honey and lemon, and inbetween sips, inhaling steam. Sounds like fun, eh?

Posted by Sarah @ 10/01/2003 01:34 PM PST

I am having one of those days at work when time is going very s-l-o-w-l-y! I have tons of stuff to do, but just don't feel motivated.

Looking at the HHW postings is the only thing that is getting me through the day.

Posted by MBarnum @ 10/01/2003 01:36 PM PST

Well, Sarah, that's it! We can NEVER be roommates!

Frank can be fun, but he's all paint, paint, paint, and crafts, crafts, crafts.

I believe in stylish functionality and that is what the wonderful Vern brings to his rooms, IMO.

I'm afraid we'd simply clash!

: )

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 10/01/2003 01:40 PM PST

Sarah count me with Ron as never wanting to live with you. ;)

I would rather die than live with crafty, homey wooden chickens and/or pigs in my bedroom.

Chickens and pigs belong in the barnyard NOT in interior design! :)

Posted by Emily @ 10/01/2003 01:50 PM PST

Give me Vern, Doug or Laurie everyday over Frank!

Genevieve and Hilde, while not my favourites, aren't nearly as bad as Mr. F.

Posted by Emily @ 10/01/2003 01:51 PM PST

Count me in as one who generally prefers the stylish, tasteful designs by Vern to the "country kitsch" of Frank. Not a fan of Hildy, but I love Laurie.

Doug has perfected his on-air image as a lazy, spoiled jerk, but I imagine that in person he is anything but. His designs are interesting, though often impractical.

Has anyone else found that Trading Spaces is not nearly as fun to watch alone? When I have friends over to watch it with me, I enjoy it more than somewhat and quite some, but by myself I really can't be bothered.

Posted by Dave @ 10/01/2003 02:00 PM PST

I have not yet become a fan of Trading Spaces, but have seen bits and pieces of different episodes. What I have seen seemed like fun. My sister is a big fan and I am going to get her the DVD (is there more then one out?) of the series for Christmas.

Posted by MBarnum @ 10/01/2003 02:05 PM PST

DR Ron, I haven't had any trouble logging on to AOL today, nor has there been any decrease in e-mail. I seem to be getting plenty of it from spam to worthwhile ones. Sorry you're having trouble getting back in touch with me. I have no clue what the trouble is. Try writing me at "flickpal" at AOL (don't use the quotes) and see if that goes through.

For Ask BK Day: Which of the classic Disney animated films (from SNOW WHITE to JUNGLE BOOK, let's say) are your LEAST favorites?

Posted by Matt H. @ 10/01/2003 02:10 PM PST

Thanks, BK--the "3 voices" mixing doesn't sound as complicated as I thought it would be!

Wow, am I the only one here who doesn't watch Trading Spaces? I don't really watch any shows about design/living unless you count Queer Eye for the Straight Guy but I consider that as more of a reality show.

Posted by Maya @ 10/01/2003 02:23 PM PST

Wow, I guess I'm a minority here! :) OK I take back what I said...SOME of Vern's things can be nice...but I just don't think I'd want some of his stuff in my house, I don't know why. But Hilde is the worst. She did an "egg room" once, where she painted the room black and pretty much just stuck egss and yellow sprig things everywhere. It looked awful!

And I agree, the chickens and pigs are a little much, but I just love the warmth of Frank's rooms :)

Now who is the new woman who does a lot of Indian designs? I actually really like her rooms. And I don't like the new man with the ponytail, but only because he just looks...slimy.

Maya: My mom got me addicted to Trading Spaces, and I got my friend addicted, and they got THEIR parents afficted, etc. etc. etc. Watch 2 episodes and you'll be recording it before long!

Posted by Sarah @ 10/01/2003 02:32 PM PST

Oh, and Ron: You won't be my roommate?!

Fine, go and crush my lifelong dream, my goal of the future, my entire world. Have you no heart?!?

:)

Posted by Sarah @ 10/01/2003 02:33 PM PST

I forgot to tell you that September, had it been 31 days, would have been our best month ever. It was neck and neck with August and basically a tie - but if we'd had one more day - damn them, damn them all to hell.

Now, let's send October through the fershluganah roof, shall we?

Least favorite Disney cartoons - oh, I don't really have any least faves, but I will say that I haven't seen quite a few things like Robin Hood and stuff like that from the 60s.

Posted by bk @ 10/01/2003 02:42 PM PST

Thanks MAYA!!! That movie sounds like just my type!! LOL...more $$$ to spend.

Contempt features Jack Palance and Miss Brigitte Bardot, Fritz Lang, and JeanLuc Godard (he also directed)...not a comedy....it's probably one of my top ten or twenty favorite movies.

So true, Dave - it's a "watch-with" show.

And don't forget MOST EXTREME ELIMINATION CHALLENGE which is What's Up, Tiger Lily TV!

Posted by Jrand53 @ 10/01/2003 02:46 PM PST

Least favorite Disnay animated film:
THE BLACK CAULDRON.

Posted by td @ 10/01/2003 03:19 PM PST

Sarah--you know, one of these days I may just have to check out Trading Spaces now! Not that I'm not addicted to enough shows already!

Jrand--No problem! I love suggesting movies to my friends, but please don't go out spending money on my account unless you're absolutely sure it's money you want to spend, haha. I always rent a movie or see it in a theatre before I actually buy the DVD. Contempt looks interesting!

My least favorite Disney film growing up was probably The Fox and the Hound. I don't know...I just never cared for it.

Posted by Maya @ 10/01/2003 03:28 PM PST

You know, I actually could not get through LADY AND THE TRAMP when I tried to watch it recently. So I guess that would be my least favorite at this time.

It seems to me that they made some fairly bad animated features in the 1970s, but I didn't see them, so couldn't include them in my least favorite.

Posted by MBarnum @ 10/01/2003 03:28 PM PST

Is this too much chutzpah for an ASK BK question?:

What exactly WAS my trivia contest "sparkling prize" -- my two front teeth?

Did I forfeit the prize with my outageous, over-the-top, smartypants acceptance speech?

ALSO:
As rabid Lerner & Loewe fan for a number of years, I've been searching in vain for a copy of a legendary bit of sheet music. It's the million-or-more-selling European-hit song Frederick Loewe wrote when he was still a teenager, "Katrina." It was published in Berlin, circa 1919. I don't know if an English translation was ever done, but the original German lyrics supposedly concern Katrina, the girl with the best legs in Berlin.

I know what you're thinking. Why am I searching in vain? I'll NEVER find it if I only search THERE. I've also been searching for it in eBay. No luck yet.

Any ideas where else I should look? Do you know anyone who could lend me a copy? Could you hum a few bars?

I'll start you off. A one, and a two, and a . . .

Nu?

Posted by Sigerson Holmes @ 10/01/2003 03:32 PM PST

Yes, I did come buzzing by-the pace
of things has slowed enough to let
me post here at times. But you all
remember college-no guarantees!
I am really enjoying things-my
classes are interesting, and not too
difficult, my dorm is really friendly,
and my roommate and I are at least
tolerating each other. I tried out for a
production of "The Merchant of
Venice" and di not get in,, but the
competition was fierce. I am trying
out for a production of "Merrily We
Roll Along" and am not getting my
hopes too high: I'll just give the best
audition that I can and have fun with
it. And if I get one of the 8 male parts,
well hooray! But I have to learn to
deal with rejections, and this is the
right place for it. (And that isn't an
overly pessimistic statement. It's a
realistic one.)
ANyway, has anything of great
interest happened here? Any news
which I must know if I am ever to be
happy and fulfilled?

Posted by Hapgood @ 10/01/2003 03:46 PM PST

Patience, in terms of sparkling prizes. I simply haven't had the time to deal with it, but I always send them out at some point. I have to find the paper with your address (it's in one of the piles sitting near my laptop) and then I'll see about getting it on its way by the end of the week.

Posted by bk @ 10/01/2003 03:46 PM PST

Sarah: Hmmm...I suppose I might, maybe, change my mind if you made a good chocolate chip cookie.

I mean...I don't want your life's great goals to be rent asunder before they've even been rent free!

So...if you have a great chocolate chip cookie, I'll say that the possibility "might" exist...slightly...perhaps...somewhere off in the future...sorta...

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 10/01/2003 04:08 PM PST

A Disney topic the day before DR François is at work (and has computer access) is most unseemly.
DR Sigerson: Our favourite Frenchman may have knowledge of the Loewe song. I shall also check with an OZ/Austrian source.

Do you know the song recorded by Vic Damone by L & L that used the melody from the "Gigi" waltz? Can't remember the title offhand but an archive search here for Gigi should find it.

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 10/01/2003 05:02 PM PST

Almost at 100 for the day.. puuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuush!

Posted by The positive posting pusher @ 10/01/2003 05:09 PM PST

DR Ron: I make a mean chocolate chip cookie!

Today's compliment of the day goes to Jrand! I have a bit of a confession to make: My first impression of Jrand was "annoying pretentious jerk"!! When I first arrived at HHW, I didn't know personalities, or that you all really KNEW each other, and could make fun at free will without being taken seriously. Well, Jack was "being annoying" to someone, and I remember thinking "What a rude guy!" But that has changed -luckily-! Jack is incredibly smart and funny. He knows how to make a joke about something without sounding stupid, and how to inform without being overly confident and stubborn. He never ceases to make me laugh or smile, and I truly enjoy reading his posts. So a big high five is in order to Jrand53! *High Five!*

BK, you made a mistake in the second part of today's notes. "Has anyone noticed that these are notes number 700?" Well I should hope not, as they're the 701st! Your proofing of Kritzer Time has blinded you from mistakes in the notes, but it's for a good cause, so we'll overlook it :)

*In the midst of writing this post, my computer has shut down 3 times. What a pain in the buttcheeks!*

Posted by Sarah @ 10/01/2003 05:11 PM PST

*Gives mental middle finger to Sarah's computer in the hope that it will stop being a buttmunch*

Hey, everyone! I'm on break from my American Lit class where I just finished an exam. I wrote 6 PAGES of essay question responses and my hands are aching, but I can't resist posting anyway. I'm too stubborn.

Hapgood--break a leg on your Merrily audition! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Do I get a chocolate chip cookie too? I could use one right now.

Come on, people! PUUUSSSHHH!

Posted by Maya @ 10/01/2003 05:18 PM PST

Jason, you wrote that you're having mouse problems and must put out traps. Here at work, we have had mice also, but here's a tip that I learned (assuming that you hadn't thought of this, since you didn't mention it): when putting out the traps, carefully put them in brown paper lunch bags so that when (if) the mice are caught, you don't have to touch them. Just pick up the bags, seal them and dispose of properly.

This is (possibly) more of a rhetorical question: Now that Little Shop of Horrors and soon Assassins will each be opening on Broadway for the first time, will they (potentially) be competing against each other for "Best Revival of a Musical" as opposed to "Best Musical" (or is it actually called "Best NEW Musical")? I don't think that that's fair. Of course, if Assassins is eligible for "Best (New?) Musical" and Bounce opens also, that would mean that TWO Sondheim shows would be in the running for "Best (New?) Musical" in the same season!

Here's a real question: Does anyone know if anything like that ever has ever happened before, where someone (composer, lyricist, author) has had two new shows in the same season?

Sigerson, (since you used it) what does "Nu" mean? It's used in Guys and Dolls and I've never been able to find out a definition and even context doesn't seem to help (at least not to me).

Posted by George @ 10/01/2003 05:45 PM PST

Sounds good, Tom!

I think the Damone record was called "A Toujours."

If your friends know of any other pre-1945 songs by either Lerner or Loewe, I'm still looking to fill the gaps in my collection . . .

Posted by Sigerson Holmes @ 10/01/2003 05:55 PM PST

Woof!

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 10/01/2003 06:02 PM PST

I'm still hoping an actual Yiddish expert will chime in on what "Nu?" means for George, but I'll give it a shot.

It is a Yiddishism, although I think it turns up in spoken Hebrew as well. The syllable itself probably has no literal translation. Its general meaning would be something like "So?" or "Well?" or perhaps even "Hmm?"

This, of course, makes its use in "Guys and Dolls" mildly redundant. In "Sue Me," Nathan Detroit sings:

"All right, already, it's true. So, nu? So sue me . . ."

If "nu" means "so" then he's singing "So, so?"

Maybe, for emphasis, he's offering two alternatives of the same thing, punctuated this way: "So/nu?"

Nah, probably not.

Incidentally, for the proper pronunciation of "nu," the original Broadway cast recording with Sam Levene is the one you want. In Sinatra's rendition it sounds more like "So new" or "So knew." It's possible no one ever bothered to explain the definition of "nu" to him.

Now what are the linguistic origins of the term "Woof!"? I've noticed it a lot in the works of Mel Brooks . . .

Posted by Sigerson Holmes @ 10/01/2003 06:52 PM PST

Jay!

I am under the Santa Monica Freeway

Posted by Jimmy Hoffa @ 10/01/2003 06:53 PM PST

Since my last post at 12:51, just before our computer crashed, I have not been able to connect. Thank goodness for Keith. He fixed the computer, then spent an hour on the phone trying to find someone at direcway to fix the satellite connection. I could use one of those chocolate chip cookies about now.

While I waited for the computer to be fixed I mailed baby shower invitations. I composed the invitation and Keith formatted them and printed them out on a cute card. It was a happy activity.

Posted by Jane @ 10/01/2003 06:56 PM PST

Following are a few of my favorite foreign films. I know there are plenty more-just can't think of the names at the moment.
Amelie
Umbrellas of Cherbourg
Shall We Dance, which is now being made into an American movie.
The Seven Samurai
The Drunken Master series with Jackie Chan

Posted by Jane @ 10/01/2003 06:58 PM PST

Under the old Tony rules these shows would have been considered new because they were never done on Broadway. Under the new rules that went into effect last year the Tony committee will have to rule if they are new shows or "classics". "Classics" would go into the revival category.

Regarding the Disney question above, I assumed that the question was only up to JUNGLE BOOK which was the last animated film that Walt had anything to do with. Most of the answers above (which I agree are all bad films though not as bad as OLIVER AND COMPANY) are post-Walt films. I could not really answer a question about animated films Walt actually produced since there were no real duds.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 10/01/2003 07:01 PM PST

Jay!

To answer your question where the hell I am.

On August 6th, 1930 I went to my office, and removed a large number of papers from my files. I also cashed a check for a very large sum of money. How much is none of your business. I told everyone I was going to see the show Dancing Partner that was playing the Belasco Theater. There was this cute little usherette there. I was tired of the law. Tired of NYC. Tired of the public life. I changed my name to John Smith (I know it wasn't original, but what the hey) She and I were married in White Plains and we moved to Lake Placid where we opened a Bed and Breakfast.

Posted by John Smith fomerly Judge Joseph Force Crater @ 10/01/2003 07:01 PM PST

To DR:

Why can't I think of a question for ask BK Day?

Posted by Michael @ 10/01/2003 07:02 PM PST

Did my "Woof" scare everyone away?

Should I have "arfed" instead?

Arf!

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 10/01/2003 07:06 PM PST

Something heinously HINKY is going on here.

I opened HHW and saw that it was still at 100 posts with more than an hour having elapsed since I posted the 100th message.

Now I see that this isn't the case at all!

I Give Up! It's time to call it a night. It has to be WAY past my bedtime.

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 10/01/2003 07:08 PM PST

DR Sarah: Well I must agree with the others (who are actually agreeing with me). Vern is the man. I am surprised that you don't like most of his designs. You are the first person I've heard who has said that. Maybe his practical elegance is just too "old" for your taste.

I agree with what the others said about Frank. While I think he is nice, and fun, I usually don't care that much for his style. And for me it's not just the artsy stuff. He uses too many different colors. He had a great bedroom this past Saturday, until he started painting the dressers red and sea blue. Yuck! He just uses so many different colors (especially on the walls) that it becomes too comfortable and less elegant than what I like.

Oh and the guy with the ponytail is Edward. And the new woman I think you mean is Kia. Although there is another new woman Christy.

Btw, do you guys also watch Trading Spaces Family?

And re: Hildy. I actually really like her. I'd say about half the time she does beautiful designs. The one thing I will say I dislike, is how she often doesn't seem to care about the home owners. She seems more interested in trying new and different and risky/controversial designs.

I totally hated when she staple gunned those records to the wall. Or when she stapled those thousand flowers to the bathroom wall. But when she just tries for elegant, nobody can beat her.

And for DR Maya: Try Trading Spaces. It's not your typical design show. It's more about the concept (of designing for $1000 in only 2 days). And getting to know the couples. And seeing Paige and the designers.

I don't know anybody who has watched this show and who dislikes it. I am totally addicted to it, as is my sister.

And as for watching it alone. I often do. The key is to then phone your friends (or whoever you know who watches it) and talk to them about the designs afterwards!

Posted by Jennifer @ 10/01/2003 07:23 PM PST

No, Sarah, you were right the first time. I am an annoying pretentious jerk.

Ask my friends.

Posted by Jrand53 @ 10/01/2003 07:26 PM PST

To answer George's "real" question...

It has happened at least once in recent history that a composer/lyricist/librettist has been nominated for two shows in the same year. Michael John LaChiusa was nominated for both THE WILD PARTY and MARIE CHRISTINE in 2000. In fact, he was nominated for his book *and* his score for both shows, but still walked away empty-handed that night, as neither show won a single award.

Now, what would have made things even more interesting would have been if Andrew Lippa's WILD PARTY had moved to Broadway and been eligible for the Tony awards that year. Then, LaChiusa would not only have been competing with himself, but also with a show with the same title as his own, and based on the same source material.

Speaking of Lippa's WILD PARTY, did anyone else know that this version of the show is not available for production in Canada for another 25 years?

Posted by Dave @ 10/01/2003 07:32 PM PST

Hey, Jack! I thought *I* was the annoying jerk around here.... ;-)

Posted by Dave @ 10/01/2003 07:34 PM PST

I adore Jrand and he is not an annoying pretentious jerk no matter what he says. (Or his friends for that matter!)

:)

Posted by Sarah @ 10/01/2003 07:37 PM PST

LOL...you like me, you really like me.

And remember, there is no such thing as natural beauty.

Posted by Jrand53 @ 10/01/2003 07:38 PM PST

Dave wrote:

Speaking of Lippa's WILD PARTY, did anyone else know that this version of the show is not available for production in Canada for another 25 years?

I knew. But OMG, I didn't realize that you were the same dave who wrote to Andrew about this matter. I'm the one who got your message!

And btw for anyone interested, the reason is because of the lack of availability to the underlying rights to the poem here. It's too bad. Because I would also love to see a production of this Wild Party some where in Canada.

Jennifer

Posted by Jennifer @ 10/01/2003 07:44 PM PST

I'm ba-ack!

-Just wanted to check in now that I'm back in the DC/Northern Virginia area. The only "trauma" of the trip was realizing that my luggage was tagged to go to Washington-Dulles (IAD)... I had flown out of Reagan National (DCA)... My car was parked at DCA... So... Thank god for relatives! ;-)

And my trip also ended on a very fitting note... When I flew to LA the first time - en route to Australia - I read the first half of Kritzerland. On the way back from LA today, I read the last half of Kritzerland. And the timing couldn't have been more perfect... As soon as I finished the last page, my brother's car pulled up, and I started loading my luggage into the trunk... with a lump in my throat of my own...

Thank you, BK!

-I'll check back and post more once I get caught up on two days of e-mails and some phone calls... It looks like I may be jumping right into a touring show this weekend... No rest for the wicked/weary... "Meow!"

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 10/01/2003 07:45 PM PST

C'mon Dave and Jrand...

you can BOTH be annoying and pretentious!

jk - of course :)

Posted by Emily @ 10/01/2003 07:45 PM PST

Wish I could remember a few more foreign film titles. Can anyone help me with Le Enfants, something? A French movie about children in a school, I believe a Catholic school, at the time the Germans invaded looking for Jewish children. A few other good movies are Das Boot, Cinema Paradiso and Life is Beautiful.

Posted by Jane @ 10/01/2003 07:46 PM PST

Is Lippa Canadian?

I know he has ties to that Vancouver synagogue...

Posted by Emily @ 10/01/2003 07:46 PM PST

Does that mean that both versions of WILD PARTY are not available in Canada?

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 10/01/2003 08:02 PM PST

No, I don't think Andrew (Lippa) is Canadian. But I think he lived in Windsor as a child before moving to Detroit.

WEL that is a good question. I suppose if the rights to the poem are not available then it would affect both shows. But I don't know that for a fact. I just know what Andrew said.

Posted by Jennifer @ 10/01/2003 08:15 PM PST

Now wait just a DARN minute here - I am annoying and pretentious too, damn them, damn them all to hell. Don't leave ME out of this equation.

I discovered an interesting site and have spent hours on it - it does comparisons of DVDs that are available in different transfers in different regions. One has to look past the fellow's obvious non-knowledge of film, but he's got screen capture comparisons that are very interesting.

From his site I then linked to another site that sells all different region DVDs and they had some pretty amazing things I had no idea were even out (all region 2 or PAL so you have to have an all-region player).

Posted by bk @ 10/01/2003 08:30 PM PST

DR WEL, I almost named OLIVER & COMPANY as a second-runner up, but, it does have the musical charms of Bette Midler to make it interesting.
Against THE BLACK CAULDRON is one of the worst dvd transfers I've seen. . .
While one might not *get* LADY AND THE TRAMP, I must confess that I do, but, that I don't *get* THE ARISTOCATS. . .
I'm also not inordinately fond of MULAN, but simply adore THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME.
I love HERCULES, but find THE JUNGLE BOOK 2 a terrible waste of time (and Haley Joel).
As far as post-Walt (and NOT Pixar), LILO & STITCH simply can't be beat.

Posted by td @ 10/01/2003 08:32 PM PST

I don't think THE SWORD IN THE STONE is particularly good though I did use it sometimes to introduce my seventh graders to Arthurian legend.

Of the real classics, the one I least enjoy watching now is BAMBI. It's beautifully drawn and has lovely music; it's probably as close to perfect as it could be. I just don't enjoy watching it.

I am hoping ASSASSINS is considered a new musical. It only ran a couple of months at the subscription Playwrights Horizon, and had very, very few seats ever available to the public. Very different situation from LITTLE SHOP which ran for years, was made into a film, etc. I'm guessing, however, that the Tony committee will deem ASSASSINS a revival.

Posted by Matt H. @ 10/01/2003 08:45 PM PST

Hi, everyone...sorry for such a late post.

George: I put the traps on paper towels so that I wouldn't have to touch them. So far, there's nothing to touch...

Tonight after work, before visiting my boss at the Met for his birthday, I went to see the movie "Under the Tuscan Sun." What a wonderful movie! I loved, loved, loved it and I can't wait to see it again.

I think, Dear Readers, that I will be auditioning for a show tomorrow. Yes, I think I will be attending the open call for a school tour of YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN. Doesn't that seem like a good idea for me? I also have plans to attend two very big auditions next week. One for the Prather Family of Theatres (including Broadway Palm West, DRs Laura, Kerry and MusicGuy), which will be featuring the following shows in their upcoming season: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, SHOWBOAT, BYE BYE BIRDIE, THE PAJAMA GAME, CAROUSEL, THE MUSIC MAN, GREASE!, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN and CATS. I think that sounds like a peachy season, don't you? The other audition is Thursday for the Helen Hayes Theatre upstate, for a production of THE MUSIC MAN. I certainly hope I can get SOMETHING!

Let's send good vibes to our very own Kerry Butler and Co., as they officially open LITTLE SHOP in 20 hours and 9 minutes...

Posted by Jason @ 10/01/2003 08:51 PM PST

td: I love Lilo and Stitch...I thought it looked really dumb, but I absolutely loved it!

Lilo: Do you know what tuna is?
Teacher:...Fish?
Lilo: Its FISH! If I gave Pudge tuna, I'd be an ABOMINATION! I'm late, because I had to go to the store, because I had to buy peanut butter, because all we have is, IS STINKIN TUNA!
Teacher: Lilo, Lilo, why is this so important to you?.
Lilo: Pudge controls the weather

-No, I did not know that by heart, I had to Google it :)-

BK: Yes, you are annoying and pretentious, which is why you fit in great among us all.

Time to sleep *yawn*...

Posted by Sarah @ 10/01/2003 08:54 PM PST

*Yawns* Well, I am actually getting tired very early by Maya standards and I still have homework to do.

I LOVE The Sword and the Stone! It may not be the most accurate thing in terms of Arthurian legend, but then again I doubt Merlin would have had a pet owl named Archimedes in real life if he actually had existed. ;)

Extra good vibes to Jason~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ And more to Kerry Butler and Hunter Foster and the cast of LSOH~~~~~~~~~~~~ Be kind, Brantley!

Goodniiiight

Posted by Maya @ 10/01/2003 08:58 PM PST

Sarah--this thinking alike thing is becoming a bit extreme now! But I guess you yawned first, hehe.

Posted by Maya @ 10/01/2003 09:00 PM PST

SWORD IN THE STONE is quite nearly a good movie...personally, I'm not fond of the whole Mim/Merlin sequence, which I think merely pads the film's short running time.
I, too, thought that LILO & STITCH looked and sounded stupid. Boy, was I wrong! My true opinion appears in the pages of Scarlet Street magazine, you know, those people who got the finest producer in the business to make a cd with them, called JEEPERS CREEPERS.

Posted by td @ 10/01/2003 09:16 PM PST

DR Sigerson Holmes indeed it was that Damone track. Now I am saved from searching through my 45 rpm discs or worse, my memory.
I have emailed my Austrian friend in Sydney who certainly collects Austrian theatre discs etc. I shall let you know if anything eventuates. We can but try.
I am a "Lady and the Tramp" fan and also like "Sword In The Stone". I don't care too much for "Sleeping Beauty". Of the new Disney films, "Mulan" and "Pocahontas" were far form good or interesting. "Hunchback" is wonderful and I found the humour in "Hercules" a delight.

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 10/01/2003 09:27 PM PST

Jason, GOOD VIBES!

Posted by Jane @ 10/01/2003 09:29 PM PST

Just came home from a movie I do NOT recommend -- UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN. Yuck. (But pretty scenery.)
Big news of the day for me: I found a place in LA and have rented it sight unseen and have given my notice here. I move back in early November. I need to sell much of my furniture and do much packing and finish my script... That takes care of next week.

Posted by Panni @ 10/01/2003 10:00 PM PST

There's a whole stretch of Disney animated films that count as stinkers, starting with The Aristocats and running through to The Black Cauldron. It's like the entire company lost any idea about how to tell a decent story. It's no wonder that Don Bluth stomped out...but then it turned out that he couldn't tell a decent story, either!

Posted by S. Woody White @ 10/01/2003 10:01 PM PST

I just saw Jason's post about UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN. I guess we have to agree to disagree on that one. I found the film really manipulative of my emotions. Knew what was coming every step of the way. I went with a writer friend and she had the same feelings. This is not to say that Jason is wrong and I'm right. It actually is a good illustration of what is so ephemeral about film. So much depends on the viewer. That's why I take critics with a gigantic grain of salt - and an Alka Seltzer.

Posted by Panni @ 10/01/2003 10:05 PM PST

Hello everybody. I'm uber-nouveaux to this posting site, so I figured that I would just introduce myself to the fold.

So here I am, being all young and naive and attempting to network and be culturally informed. I must say, I do enjoy the tone of the conversations happening here,

As for Disney Musicals, I've got to say Aladdin, Sword in the Stone and Robin Hood take the cake for me.

Posted by Geoff @ 10/01/2003 10:10 PM PST

Jane, I think you are thinking of Au Revoir les Enfants by the late Louis Malle.

Good vibes to DRs Jason and Hapgood!

Posted by LC @ 10/01/2003 10:10 PM PST

Testing the comment form on the new
server.

Posted by Russell Miller @ 10/10/2003 09:54 PM PST