Haines His Way

DearReaderLaura, how can you tolerate that heat year after year???

One becomes accustomed to it, I suppose. Everyone has AC, and we stay out of the heat as much as possible.

I've been outside in the heat more this summer than ever before.

I've been watching Lisa Kudrow's new sitcom on HBO called THE COMEBACK. It hasn't garnered very good reviews nor has it done what they were expecting ratings-wise (though HBO isn't JUST about ratings since shows are broadcast multiple times during the week and on multiple platforms of HBO).

Kudrow plays a B-grade sitcom actress named Valerie Cherish who once had a middling (4 year run) sitcom success and is now trying for a second one, but in the new show, she's not the star and actually is barely on the show. THE COMEBACK is chronicling her attempts to stage a return to network TV by a reality crew filming her as she attempts to land this second network success.

So, what we have are two shows in one - The new sitcom this actress is barely on (called ROOM AND BORED) and the reality show that is detailing her everyday life as she tries to return to TV (which is called THE COMEBACK).

It sounds more convoluted than it is, but the show hasn't taken off on HBO, and I think the reason is the character that Kudrow is playing. She lacks common sense to see the disdain that many have for her, and she focuses on the petty often at the expense of the important. Watching the show is a fairly frustrating experience making you feel both pity and exasperation for this fairly dim woman.

On the other hand, the show has its moments and has had just enough of them to keep me tuning in each week. That's more than Kirstie Alley's FAT ACTRESS was able to do. Three episodes of that, and I checked out. I think I will most likely go the distance with THE COMEBACK.

Just heard from Rodzinski about his first day at the new job.  He went out to lunch at Taco Bell with some of his new co-workers so things sound as if they are going well.  I'll let him share more details with you himself.

Ah, yes!  Taco Bell!  One of the great NYC establishments for lunch!

Just saw this story on the internet:

<Showtime is restoring and returning to television Liza Minnelli's landmark 1972 TV special "Liza with a 'Z.'"
The special, directed by Bob Fosse, hasn't been seen on TV since its initial broadcast on NBC in September 1972, and few copies of it exist on video. Showtime is working with Minnelli, who owns the rights to the program, and producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron ("Chicago") to restore the 16-millimeter print of the film and digitally remaster "Liza with a 'Z'" for a premiere sometime next year..


It'll be nice to see it again after all these years. Of course, I've had the LP since it was released, but home VCRs weren't around, at least not at my house, when the show first aired. Looking forward to seeing Liza at her peak.

Matt H: It depends. How's that for an answer?

Certain composers tend to stick with who they know. We, for example, handle 90% of Sondheim's stuff and used to handle all of Lloyd Webber's shows before he moved his catalog to Rodgers & Hammerstein. We got WICKED and LOUIE because Stephen Schwartz likes us and we handle 90% of his shows.

Sometimes there's a little wheeling and dealing to get one big title. We got MILLIE because Jeanine Tesori trusts us (and we took VIOLET and CAROLINE, OR CHANGE. MTI also funded a healthy chunk of the Cast Recording for CAROLINE so that we could have reference recordings when the show goes into release).  We got RENT because we agreed to take TICK...TICK...BOOM! You get the picture...

Authors who are not currently represented by any of the licensing houses, or those with no scruples and simply are out to make a wad of cash (who could blame them?), are certainly free to bid out their shows to the highest payer. HAIRSPRAY is still up for grabs. The problem with that show is: 1) it's hard to cast so it won't sell as well as something like SEUSSICAL and 2) the authors are asking A LOT of money for the show, so it'd be hard to make the investment back because, well...refer back to #1.

Believe it or not, our boss really wants to pick up GOOD VIBRATIONS because it would sell extremely well. That's why he wants ALL SHOOK UP so badly - it'd sell like hotcakes.

And that's sort of how we obtain properties for licensing...

I can't remember if it was the first or the second season, but one of the fired "Apprentice" contestants was being interviewed by Matt Lauer on The Today Show.  She said something about being "casted" on the show for some specific reason and Matt asked her about being "cast" on the show (subtly correcting her) and again, she said "yes, I was casted..."

Maybe her language skills were the reason she was fireded.

 

And thanks for the detailed info on licensing shows. Having never directed nor worked in administration for a theater group, I have little direct knowledge of these licensing houses.

Have some housecleaning chores to do now (Monday is dining room day) and some more of the book I'm reading. Then, back for more DVR watching and erasing.

And where are the Streisand TV shows on DVD???

That's a GREAT question! I have commercial videotapes, but with some remastering, they're bound to look excellent on DVD (though they were originally taped, I believe, rather than filmed).

"Applause" would be wonderful to see again too.

I just got a near-mint condition window card poster of this show in today's mail (courtesy of E-Bay).  It's gorgeous!

(Am trusting you meant the show Bacall did on Broadway.  If not, never mind).

The TV may have not been all that is should be but it would still be wonderful to have Bacall's performance in the collection of DVDs  - and indeed the show itself.
Yes Ron that's the one - I saw the London stage production in 1973.  It was back in the days when you could order afternoon tea to be brought to your seat at interval. Trays with Tea, fruitcake etc.

And Colin doesn't take tea orders???

And Colin doesn't take tea orders???

I make better tea.

I LOVE Krispy Kremes.  But they actually closed the one that was right near me.  Probably a good thing!