The Pre-Read

Who Knew?

I like Mare Winningham.

I remember her mostly from movies in the 80s. She was in St. Elmo's Fireand was kind of labeled one of the Brat Pack. Although she never really seemed to attractthe type of news that other member like Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, Andrew McCarthy, Judd Nelson or Emelio Estevez would attract.

Since that movie I've noticed her in a number of features and television movies/series and she's always terrific. She gets a great deal of work and that has resulted in at least 11 acting award nominations including an Oscar nomination for 1996s Georgia. She is currently co starring in the HBO Mini Series Mildred Pierce starring Kate Winslet.

While she has never gained the kind of fame that her past co stars may have, maybe that's not such a bad thing considering that fame.

Regardless, she's a terrific actress, but she also had a talent I knew nothing about. She can sing. And when I say she can sing, what I really mean to say is SHE CAN SING!

While I enjoy seeing her in front of the camera, I think she has a whole career in music should she want it. I mean...listen to that voice!

Who knew? 

Phooey on Episodes 1,2 & 3

Apparently THIS is how it all started!

 

A Great Wife

While my interest in the entertainment industry, as far as I can remember, has almost always been centered on film I find myself enjoying television more and more.

Maybe I always enjoyed television but for whatever reason, movies, in the theater, always had me mesmerized. Silent movies, big productions, movie stars, you name it, I was enthralled.

When I started working in the entertainment industry I started in film. i've only worked on a small number of television projects and while I enjoyed them, there is still something special to me about film.

But television can be pretty darned fun too. From the cool kichy shows of the 70s and 80s to my current crop of faves.

One of those is The Good Wife. The Julianna Margulies starrer that features a pretty amazing cast is a series that always surprises me. I should say I enjoyed Margulies when she was on ER (another show with a great ensemble cast) but here she is not just a totally different character, but a fun one to watch who is dealing not only with the literal trials of daily life, but the tribulations of her personal life as well.

The cast is wonderful with Margulies joined by the baby faced Josh Charles, Chris Noth, Archie Punjabi, the wonderful attorney you love to ... well not so much hate, but hope he comes back to his senses Matt Czuchry and the always wonderful Christine Baranski.

Last nights episode is one of the reasons I enjoy the show so much. While I may often guess at what the outcome will be, oftentimes it happens in a way I totally don't expect. And last night it occurred with the help of the wayward Czuchry. I hope this is an indicator of good things to come in the future.

Television can be boring, repetitive and at times even annoying. But it can also be pretty terrific. And The Good Wife is one of the shows that is, in my opinion, pretty darned terrific. 

You should check it out.

Closing The Closer

Well I guess it really is true that all good things must come to an end.

After an uprecedentedly successful six seasons, TNT has announced that next years season seven of The Closer will be its last.

When it premiered in 2005 it did so as the highest rated series opening in cable history. It continues to be the most watched cable show and its ratings have actually increased in its sixth season.

But the story of The Closeris more than just about ratings. It's about an amazing ensemble cast lead by the very talented Kyra Sedgwick with J.K. Simmons, Corey Reynolds, Robert Gosett, G.W. Bailey, Anthony John Denison, Raymond Cruz, Michael Paul Chan, and John Tenny. The cast was perfect, but if perfect could be somehow perfected it was with the occasional addition of Mary McDonnell.

Each member, each character bring to the show an individuality that is rarely seen in episodic television. Too often shows rely on gimmicks, or one or two characters who carry the weight of the entier show. And while it is true that Sedgwick is the center of the cast and storylines. Every other character has developed into interesting members in their own right.

On a recent blog site, someone commented that because the ensemble was so strong, perhpas the show could have gone on without Sedgwick. And, to be honest, this is probably one of the rarest instances where I could agree with a series continuing without its star.

Granted I would hope that her character could make an appearance form time to time, but that hope is gone. The decision has been made and I guess, when push comes to shove, I would rather the show go out on a high note, then go out in a whimper.

If  you haven't had a chance to see The Closer, I suggest you catch an episode. It airs Monday's at 9:00pm on TNT as well as syndication.

He's Baaaaaack!!

After a brief suspension, MSNBC's president Phil Griffin announced on Sunday that Keith Olbermann will return to the airwaves on Tuesday. I for one think it's about time.

 

Some Things

Are worth repeating.

When I'm having a tough day, nothing cheers me up more than one of my all time favorite commercials.

This one is fun too:

Star Wars Homage or Sacrilege?

And of course, being the geek I am...would a cantina on Tatooine really have a rebel crest on its wall? Then again, if there's a bright center to the universe, Tatooine is the planet that it's farthest from. So, yeah, maybe.

Roller Derby

I'm not where I found the time amidst all the television shows I used to watch, but I have vivid memories of watching Roller Derby on tv when I was a kid. If memory serves, it would be late at night, presumably after our regular shows had ended, or maybe it was a weekend thing.

I just remember watching and rooting for the LA T-Birds. I seem to remember their main rivalry was with a Chicago group, but I could be wrong. I just remember being so enthralled by both the men and women's competition.

Kind of like wrestling but on skates is probably the best way to describe Roller Derby back in the day. I don't know if I realized how "dramatized" it was, but I do know I had tremendous fun cheering for our team and being outraged whenever an opposing member would pull a dirty trick or send one of our heroes over the rail.

I bring this up because a friend mentioned that Long Beach has a Roller Derby team. While I can't say as I've had the pleasure to check them out, I am assured by my friend that when his girlfriend attended, her and her friends had a blast.

So keep an eye out for Roller Derby in Long Beach, and if it's fun, shoot me a note. Maybe I'll find a new teem to root for.

Check out the link for more info:

Long Beach Roller Derby

Goodbye Lena Horne

It's been a while since I've posted. Again, it isn't as if I have nothing to write about, but the things I want to write about I'm beginning to think are far to personal to share or might not be read in the same frame from which they were written.

I should just get over myself and write. I have always found it cathartic, and if there's one thing I need nowadays, it's catharsis. Especially tonight.

News flashed of the passing of Lena Horne.

I'm not sure how many people are familiar with her these days. I remember watching television in the 70s and the staple, in those days, was the variety show. And Lena, along with so many others were staples of television back then.

But of course she was much more than just a frequent guest of a summer variety show, or a late night talk show. She was a star. And she was black.

There's a wonderful obituary to her in the New York Times that basically says-the only thing that stopped her from being a mega star was the color of her skin.  How amazing to think that we lived in a time where that could be a determination of someone's future...that is to say the color of their skin. But then again, we have the whole thing in Arizona going on so maybe we're not that far removed after all.

In reviewing all the footage of Ms. Horne singing, it is perhaps the one below that was her most famous. She went on to record a tremendous amount of records and was, at one time, the top seller for RCA Victor of any female vocalist in their history. Just goes to show you that skin color doesn't really matter if you've got something to offer and Lena Horne had a great deal of talent to offer.

So here's her signature song. But check out You Tube, there's much more of her, and it's all good.

Goodbye Ms Horne, we'll miss you.

Old Spice

I don't know who wrote this spot, and I don't know if it has aired. But I love it. If nothing else, because it doesn't pretend to be anything more than what it is.