Topic: FULL REPORT (Read 20742 times)

bk · « **on:** September 25, 2004, 12:58:04 AM »

Well, you've read the notes, you've had your full report and now it is time for you to post until the reported cows come home.

Jrand74 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 25, 2004, 02:06:13 AM »

First post huzzah!

Jrand74 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 25, 2004, 02:07:03 AM »

I have enjoyed the full reports, oh yes, the full reports have been enjoyed in Indiana! They will be missed, but I am sure we will get Full Reports on other subjects, and they will be enjoyed as well!

Jrand74 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 25, 2004, 02:19:30 AM »

Well one of my favorite mini-series is QBVII - based on the novel by Leon Uris. First broadcast on ABC in 1974....the Jerry Goldsmith score was tremendous!

Anthony Hopkins, Ben Gazzarra, Lee Remick, Robert Stephens, Kristoffer Tabori.....such a wonderful cast....and such a great story. One of the first, and one of the best, I think.

My second choice would be RICH MAN, POOR MAN....

Peter Strauss as Rudy Jordache and Nick Nolte as Tom Jordache....their parents Axel and Mary played by Ed Asner and Dorothy McGuire....

Bill Bixby, Tim McIntire, William Smith, Dorothy Malone and Van Johnson.

What a terrific story from the novel by Irwin Shaw.

I think RM,PM is my favorite...a hard choice to make so many to choose from. I am leaving them for the other DR's......

Oh....HOLOCAUST....

Ben · « **Reply #4 on:** September 25, 2004, 04:21:19 AM »

Oh, my. Yesterday after I did the laundry (Anthony is on LI for another clown show) it was about 6:15pm. I laid down on the bed and never got up until 5:30am. I am now at work and just caught up on the posts from last evening. I guess working overtime takes a toll.

Jose, will you be coming up to NY on October 6th. You sort of mentioned it in passing a few days ago. If you are, I'll include you in the reservation for Joe Allen's (Wednesday, October 6th at 5pm, 326 W 46th St., on Restaurant Row between 8th and 9th Avenues, closer to 8th 212-581-6464).

I'll have to think about miniseries. In the meantime another vacation photo.

My sister, Anthony and me in a Red Wing pottery shop. Red Wing is in southern Minnesota and is famous for pottery and work shoes. While there I was able to find a replacement for our nesting bowl set. It's from the 40s or 50s and there are four bowls of increasing size, one red, one turquoise, one green and one yellow (at least that's what I thought until I saw other sets of other colors). The yellow bowl had fallen off the shelf a while back and broke. I found a replacement for only $4.50! Considering full sets at the antique store were going for $40 to $60 dollars, that's a bargin for me. Anyway, here's the picture. We're not holding the yellow bowl (we hadn't found it yet) we were just posing for a cute picture.

Ben · « **Reply #5 on:** September 25, 2004, 04:22:04 AM »

P.S., Pogue, thanks for the Cincinnati radio link. I'll add it to my bookmarks.

S. Woody White · « **Reply #6 on:** September 25, 2004, 06:17:07 AM »

Rich Man, Poor Man hit the tube back when I was in college. I remember how every night the dorm would stop everything else for the new episode. And this was in an all-men's dorm!

More recently, Taken was fairly good, at least for the first half. But I preferred to call it "Tooked." (The second half of the series was, well, a letdown. *sigh*)

Matt H. · « **Reply #7 on:** September 25, 2004, 06:42:41 AM »

Favorite mini-series would be a toss up between I, CLAUDIUS and ELIZABETH R.

I did love ROOTS and RICH MAN, POOR MAN (though as we got to the very end of RICH MAN, I tired of it a bit).

I have to shamefacedly admit I've never seen THE THORN BIRDS, SHOGUN, or LONESOME DOVE: three of the most famous and popular of all miniseries.

Matt H. · « **Reply #8 on:** September 25, 2004, 06:44:08 AM »

I've just been flipping through the stack of to-watch DVDs and have settled on my choice for today: it will be FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT.

Jrand74 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 25, 2004, 07:32:25 AM »

Such a good choice MATTH..... And watch for Mrs Odets (Gertrude Hoffman) from MY LITTLE MARGIE...she puts in a rather astonishing appearance in the final sequence of FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT! She's spry for an old lady!

Well I am off to revive my dead battery. Pray for Rosemary's baby!

William E. Lurie · « **Reply #10 on:** September 25, 2004, 07:35:23 AM »

Without a doubt, HOLOCAUST where I first discovered Ms. Streep and Ms. Feldsush.

Saw The Cocteau's DAMES AT SEA last night. Though not a perfect DAMES AT SEA, it was much better than I had expected after reading the reviews and internet postings. The woman Scott Siegel (and his lovely wife Barbara) referred to as "a triple threat - can't sing, can't act, can't dance" may be the weakest one in a cast of six, but she is by no means that bad. The show is always a lot of fun and this production mostly did it justice. It's just unfortunate that half the board of directors of the theatre (many with them for over 30 years) quit because they didn't think DAMES AT SEA was the kind of show they should be doing.

Today I am seeing the musical version of MEET JOHN DOE. The selections from it that I heard at "Bound for Broadway" were the highlight of that show, so I hope the whole work holds up.

Noel · « **Reply #11 on:** September 25, 2004, 07:43:50 AM »

The first line of People is

We travel single-o

Single-o was a typical way to go on a train or a boat, and stands for Single Occupancy. This was discussed at length on ratm some time ago.

When I was 8 or 9, a family friend showed up with a stranger who was introduced to me as "The man who wrote the score to Funny Girl"

"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Styne" I responded.

And they all had a big laugh over that (a boy so young being able to identify the composer of Funny Girl) - but it was Bob Merrill, its lyricist. He'd written one of my father's favorite scores, Take Me Along. I'm also a big fan of Carnival, Funny Girl and Sugar but I can't stand to listen to Henry Sweet Henry - perhaps the least played cast album in my collection. Merrill has certainly run quite a range, from very good, to horrid.

DR Stuart asked "Care to take on that whole "light of two eyes enfolding" stuff??"

and I can't be certain what lyric you mean. We were talking about The Music That Makes Me Dance, which includes the line,

He'll sleep and he'll rise, in the light of two eyes that adore him.
Bore him it might, but he won't leave my sight for a glance.

I don't see the word enfolding, but the line contains the poetic concept that eyes give off light. If I'm going to watch him, day and night, he'll be in the light that comes from my eyes.

False rhymes abound in Merrill's work, but some of the emotions expressed are quite wonderful, as in Beautiful Candy and If Your Promised Me a Rose.

Matt H. · « **Reply #12 on:** September 25, 2004, 07:46:22 AM »

And I didn't put ANGELS IN AMERICA down because, despite its Emmy classification, I considered MILLENIUM APPROACHES and PERESTROIKA three hour movie versions of the two plays and not a miniseries.

Panni · « **Reply #13 on:** September 25, 2004, 07:47:38 AM »

I was going to say that I've never watched an entire mini-series (a horrible confession for someone in my field) - until Matt H mentioned I, CLAUDIUS. That one I watched and loved. I saw and enjoyed most of ELIZABETH R, as well, but may have missed some episodes.

Noel · « **Reply #14 on:** September 25, 2004, 07:50:50 AM »

Did DR Stuart say that NAMT once had a commissions committee? That's news to me. Intriguing news, indeed - never knew about that.

NAMT is not NYMF although they're certainly close (and have some of the same people on their boards). NYMF is currently going on and is the first event of its kind, an effort to produce as many new musicals as possible over a short space of time in a handful of theatres. NAMT is not really for the public - it's a way for regional producers to get a look at a bunch of shows the NAMT deems worthy. Quite often, these are shows that have been hanging around for ten or twenty years NOT getting productions. I've noticed their selections are skewed towards famous writers.

To hear the work of exciting musical theatre creators like Steve Schachlan, Sammy Buck and Gary Adler, NYMF is the place for you (and yes, pronounce that acronym) - I'm glad to hear DR WEL is going. I'm going to try to catch the Peter Mills revue, Taxi Cabaret, next week. It contains his hysterical song about a caveman coming out to his parents.

bk · « **Reply #15 on:** September 25, 2004, 07:55:52 AM »

I had a surprise late-night visit from my darling daughter and her friend, so didn't get to sleep until almost two and now I'm up at eight. Maybe I'll get in some winks this afternoon by putting in a DVD and falling asleep. I must also go to Grant Geissman's house, do our final little tweaks, and put the new book to bed.

Matt H. · « **Reply #16 on:** September 25, 2004, 08:10:47 AM »

I have both I CLAUDIUS and ELIZABETH R on DVD sets (and had them in large boxed videotape sets before they were released on DVD), and I have spent many hours watching and rewatching the magnificent acting of the principals in those shows.

I have THE SIX WIVES OF HENRY VIII, too, and although I think it's terrific, it has always ranked just a slight notch below ELIZABETH R and I CLAUDIUS for me.

divarobbie · « **Reply #17 on:** September 25, 2004, 08:25:50 AM »

Thanks to everyone for the good vibes and suggestions. It appears I am meeting with "the board" tomorrow to choose another show... I'll give a report when I know something...

MBarnum · « **Reply #18 on:** September 25, 2004, 08:29:10 AM »

I have never seen a whole mini-series. I think I saw a bit of Roots when it first aired and also a little bit of The Blue and The Grey...and when I say a little bit, I mean about 15 minutes or so!

DearReaderLaura · « **Reply #19 on:** September 25, 2004, 08:33:13 AM »

Many years ago there was a mini-series I think called "Fresno" starring Carol Burnett, which was a spoof of something. I'm sure someone here can remember more detail.

I guess the reason I didn't watch any mini-series much is because I didn't devote enough time to any tv show to see all the parts.

Today we have a busy day scheduled: First, we are going to an estate sale -- a first for me, but since DR Sandra loves old things and I know slightly the lady holding the sale, we'll give it a try. She said her mother had some neat things. Then we take my friend's 9-year-old son to the dinner theater to see DR Sandra's favorite show -- Forever Plaid. I should be exhausted by the end of the day, as this little fella is quite a challenge, but he needs some individual attention.

Noel · « **Reply #20 on:** September 25, 2004, 08:41:28 AM »

The Big Voice: God or Merman is a wonderfully moving show, with some real belly laughs in its intriguing book by Jim Brochu. (You can bet I'm spelling these names wrong.) Jim and the show's songwriter, Steve Schachlan, are also the show's performers, and it's a true story - about their lives. Now, there's an added kick to seeing the actual people portraying their actual story, but the audience is called upon to suspend more disbelief than usual, as they're both gray-haired middle-agers and the central question is a young person's existentialist: "What should I do with my life?" And Jim and Steve are not young. Nor is Jim Ethel Merman, although he's more convincing as La Merm than Steve is as anything other than his present-tense self.

So, one has to be more impressed with Jim, who not only plays a variety of well fleshed-out characters, he's written a libretto that keeps things rolling along at a good pace. At its worst, The Big Voice is familiar: Steve sings about being a gay young man in a Baptist Arkansas family "In the Closet" and you think you've heard the same song a million times before. At its best, the way an appreciation of Merman leads to an answer to that existential query is cathartic and affirming in the best sense of the word. I really had a great time at The Big Voice, although I can't imagine appreciating it on record.

These days, there are so many shows that people love on records but never see. It's led me to believe that having a good recording of one's show isn't just one thing, it's the ONLY thing. But something's rotten in the state of musicals: A show can be terrific due to its book (rather than its score) and then, where is it? The Big Voice is at the Belt Theatre (a trippy place) on 37th, just east of Ninth.

bk · « **Reply #21 on:** September 25, 2004, 08:43:49 AM »

It has become apparent that this, the best of all possible boards - oh, a Candide reference, is mini-series deficient, even though one of our dear readers, Pogue, has just finished writing one (currently filming) for NBC. Even I am mini-series deficient. In fact, I've only seen a handful, including Taken, which I didn't like as much as others seem to. I missed all the classics, save for Holocaust and Roots, both of which were very well done. Oh, and I saw the redo of The Shining, which I thought was dreadful. I would like to see the mini version of Valley of the Dolls just for fun, even though I've heard it's terrible.

bk · « **Reply #22 on:** September 25, 2004, 08:45:36 AM »

I believe Brochu and Schachlin are the team that gave us The Last Session, a show which a lot of people like but which wasn't really to my tastes for various reasons.

bk · « **Reply #23 on:** September 25, 2004, 08:46:01 AM »

When in tarnation did I go over 6000 postings?

Noel · « **Reply #24 on:** September 25, 2004, 09:22:31 AM »

I never saw The Last Session, but its lack of traditional commercial appeal (a musical about a songwriter dying of AIDS? I think I'll see Cats instead) is mentioned in The Big Voice, which is about two young men who think they're going to go into the clergy discovering the joys of musicals.

Jrand74 · « **Reply #25 on:** September 25, 2004, 09:39:52 AM »

Yes the gentlemen were in Indianapolis when THE LAST SESSION was done earlier this year. And Jim Brochu wrote a terrific book called Afternoons with Lucy...about some time he spent with YOU KNOW WHO!

Oh my I forgot about the VOD miniseries....not a patch on the movie movie..... I used to have it taped, but I may have taped over it. I will check around.....would you like to see at least what I have of it, MR BK?

Blanche (Garfein) Baker was also in HOLOCAUST looking all the world like her mother, the lovely Carroll.

RICH MAN POOR MAN made a star of Mr Nick Nolte!

Jrand74 · « **Reply #26 on:** September 25, 2004, 09:40:46 AM »

I hope Mr Charles Pogue takes a peek at the lovely movie poster I put on the board for him last night!

bk · « **Reply #27 on:** September 25, 2004, 09:46:10 AM »

Yes, I'd like to see the VOTD mini-series if you've got it. It's quite a beautiful morning here in the City of Studio - already quite hot and people and dogs taking their morning constitutionals. I have already spent more time in my yard here at the new home environment than I did in the entire six years I lived in my other home environment. Funny that.

Jay · « **Reply #28 on:** September 25, 2004, 09:51:44 AM »

Last night Dear Reader JRand54 posted a copy of the front page of a newspaper from the date of my birth and he said,

Quote

DRJAY it seems there was not room to report your birth on the front page of the LIMA (OH) NEWS...what with the blizzard, Westinghouse, and Kefauver....Boston Traffic Paralyzed!

Lemme tell you: I still hear about that snowstorm every time my birthday rolls around!

JoseSPiano · « **Reply #29 on:** September 25, 2004, 09:52:02 AM »

Good Morning!

Well, I need to start getting my stuff in order here before I head out to lunch in Studio City today. -And my venture in Hollywood. Then I'll be heading back here, probably take a nap, then in for the closing show...

THE LAST SESSION: I ended up "playing" for a production in Richmond earlier this year. The original lead who happened to play piano had to drop out of the show, so when the director who does not play piano stepped into the part...

Mini-Series: "The Thorn Birds" - I still remember the homilies at Sunday Mass about how we should not be watching the show.. and so scandalous that it was shown during Easter week! "Shogun" - ...Must be a Richard Chamberlain thing. -And I still can't believe how bad the musical was... But definitely not as bad as THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.

OK - I need to get going. Hopefully, I'll be able to check back in this afternoon...

Laters...

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Author Topic: FULL REPORT (Read 20742 times)

Ben

Ben

MBarnum