Whine & Cheese

Express Lane: Issue 37

Chaka Khan, Bebe Winans and LaKisha Jones to Join Broadway's Color Purple - This may be worth a trip back to NYC!  Chaka and Bebe to play Sophia and Harpo with last season's 'Idol' standout "Kiki" as the church soloist who opens the show --  but also subbing for Khan as Sophia for matinée performances. (9/26/07)

Kiefer Sutherland arrested on DUI in LA - The following took place between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. (9/25/07)

Carrie & Co. Kick Off "Sex" Shoot - I'm not the only gay guy who's been salivating over a slew of production pix that have already hit the Web since filming on 'SatC: The Movie' began filming this week on the streets of NY. (9/21/07)

'24' Plans Premiere Date, Shocking Resurrection - SPOILER ALERT:  Do NOT click the link if you don't want to know who is surprisingly still alive tho never got the "silent clock" treatment. The show returns on January 13th with the action shifting from LA to DC. (9/19/07)

HBO Is 'Reclaiming History' - Me thinks we'll be watching this 10-part mini-series debunking JFK conspiracies. (9/18/07)

Stupid Feud of the Week: Manilow vs. Hasselbot - 'The View' will just have to smile without Barry as the crooner skips the ABC gal chat-fest due to Elisabeth's "dangerous and offensive" political views.  (9/18/07)

Emmys Backstage: Stars Get Sassy - Lots of good stuff here, but if you're wondering what happened during the cutaway during Sally Field's acceptance speech it was this line: 'And let's face it, if the mothers ruled the world, there would be no goddamn wars in the first place' (9/17/07)

"Office" Fun(ny) Run

WARNING:  If you have NOT watched the season premiere of The Office, you might want to skip this post (just for now, of course!)

Here at W&C, my love of The Office is pretty well-documented.  That said, even I can admit the show can at times be a bit hit-and-miss.  I was a bit concerned with these handful of planned hour-long episodes, as they say sometimes "less is more." 

As it worked out, last night ended up being two linked but fairly independent episodes (have to make it work for syndication)...

I thought it was a brilliant hour from start to finish!

I am a t-shirt nut!  Given my quite fortunate self-employed/working from home situation, t-shirts are work clothes for me.  So I have quite the collection.  I have even contemplated posting pix of some of my t-shirts (for those bloggy "rainy days").  I already have one that notes that I am a Dundie Award Winner... so it's pretty much a no-brainer to get this one...   

Yes, it is available for $24 at the NBC store...  though I guess I am not alone, it's already back-ordered (shipping Oct 9th)... and how funny was it that Pam had to try to answer the phone... "Michael Scott's Dunder Mifflin Scranton Meredith Palmer Memorial Celebrity Rabies Awareness Pro-Am Fun Run Race for the Cure, this is Pam."

The night was filled with many TiVo rewind and pause moments... one of our favorites being the "blink and you'd almost miss it"...  Phyllis' Rabies Awareness Quilt:

And as you can guess, I was irrationally thrilled with the status of the absolutely, positively fictional characters of Jim and Pam... or PB&J as Kevin has dubbed them (that's Pam Beesley & Jim)...

Why did this make me so genuinely happy?!  I mean, for reals.

And was it cruel or what... they give us the full bare torso of Andy/Ed Helms... but we get this teasing shot of Jim/John Krasinski?!?!

Man! I Feel Like A (Bionic) Woman!

Last night, we watched our first pilot of 2007 Fall TV season... NBC's highly touted and hotly anticipated re-make re-imagination of Bionic Woman.  (BTW, we did do the free download to our TiVo via Amazon Unbox, but never got around to watching it.. which was probably fine since the "live" show was in HD.)

Here's a few things that I got out of the first episode (btw, you can watch -- and screencap -- episodes over at nbc.com):

A) First, I had no idea Sandra Bernhard was a cast member.

B) Who woulda thunk that The Bionic Woman's boyfriend, Will Anthros, had that nice of a chest?  (Google, Google: Chris Bowers Shirtless)... though I was secretly wished he would have done the "bionic" sound effects during the sex scene?!

C) It rained... a lot... an awful lot... and apparently no one owns an umbrella.

As you can probably guess, the show didn't quite bowl me over.  If you didn't recognize the font from the title or credits, this is from the same folks who brought you Battlestar Galactica... and while they did manage to turn that 70s kitsch show into something big, better and relevant... I am not sure if the proverbial lightning is going to strike twice.

A bit problematic is a lead character (actress?) who you wished would have received a bionic personality to go along with the eye, ear, arm, and legs.  Though that still would have left the rest of the wooden cast (and/or the writing).  Despite my above attempt of a joke, Galactica's Katee Sackhoff was by far the best part of the episode.  There was a fun slyness/tongue-in-cheek (intended?) aspect in her role as the now rogue first bionic woman.

And please, please, please... may I declare a musical montage moratorium Sia's "Breathe Me"?!?  It completely pulls me out of anything I am watching/thinking/doing.  All I can think about is Six Feet Under and what remains on very high on my "Best Series Finale ever" list (Exhibit A: YouTube - Final Six Minutes of the "Six Feet Under")... likewise, I don't need a reminder of how much I miss that show versus the one I am currently trying to watch.

I know there was a lot of business to get through in the opener, so I'll give Bionic a few more episodes... but as I get grumpier older more mature... these new shows are on a very short leash.  Thoughts?

DWTS5: Final 3 Predictions

It's time for my predictions of who will make the DWTS Final 3 based on only one performance.  I have a pretty decent track record -- heck, I predicted the Final 4 last season (granted I had Apolo just missing the finale, oh well).

But First!  Since I gave my initial thoughts on the ladies in yesterday's post, it seems only fair that I should do it for the men as well.

Just like Jennie Garth, All My Children's Cameron Mathison didn't end up being very memorable by the end of the night.  But as Cam said, never underestimate the loyalty of the daytime TV audience... it took GH's Kelly Monaco all the way to the Season 1 title and I think it will keep Cam around for awhile.

IMHO, the night's best performance was Indy champ Helio Castroneves... looking pretty effortless and a bit flashy even given the more sedate fox-trot as their first dance.  Credit to Julianne, who for someone so young (she was born in... 1988!!!  Ack!) is quite the choreographer... and adorable!

I thought boxer Floyd Mayweather and model Albert Reed were a bit "all over the place."  Channeling my inner Len Goodman, I didn't see a whole lot of "ballroom" in their dancing.  That said, both have a lot of potential if they are able to channel their high energy.  But both will have to work a bit hard.  Floyd didn't come across as likable as past athletes and had the lowest men's score of the night (he was worse than Mark and Wayne?!??), while Albert self-admittedly will have to overcome the anonymity issue.

The two predicted disasters, billionaire Mark Cuban and the legendary Wayne Newton, closed the show.  Cuban was much better than expected and did not exhibit much of his trademark ass-wipe reputation.  The 65-year old Newton did not surprise and was the cringe-inducer of the first round. I don't think he will get the "old guy" sympathy vote... that'll go to the ladies (Marie and Jane) this season.

My first "out" prediction... while I think Wayne is in danger, I am thinking the not as well known and lowest scoring female "star," Josie Maran, will be the first last dance of the season.

By sheer laziness coincidence, but my Final 3 prediction is a .jpg I had already created (and used before):

Mel & Max, Sabrina & Mark, Julianne & Helio... and my wild-card, Floyd & Karina. 

I think what separated these three couples already have some pretty good chemistry... and, of course, came out strong from the gates.    

DWTS5: Ladies Week 1

Thought I would do a quick chime-in on the first night of Dancing With The Stars. 

I will save my traditional/official Final 3 prediction until after tonight's show featuring the guys (I already made some guesses on the finals "sight unseen"), but for the most part the gals did a pretty good job for their first time on the dance floor.  I am guessing the dances were not assigned randomly as the older ladies got the slower dance.

I feared that Jennie Garth would be a bit stiff, but she did a good job... though by the end of the night, I had a hard time remembering much about it.  Like Ian last season, there is some nostalgia with 90210 so I think she'll stick around.  Ok, a bit catty... I thought she looked older than 35 years old... thought she was at least 5 years older (my age!) before looking it up this morning.

Josie Maran should not get too comfortable.  Pretty sure, she will be the first lady to go.  It wasn't that she was the horrendous, but she was "not good" enough and anonymous that I don't see her getting many votes.  A pity that Alec is likely out of the competition early again (he was first out last season with another - and considerably more well known! - model, Paulina Porizkova)... but given him credit for coining a great new phrase... deceptively unfit.

Even though they got pretty good marks, let's face it Marie Osmond and Jane Seymour are going to be in serious trouble once they get to the Latin dances.  Thus far the older more mature male contestants have been the ones that have been a bit kitschy on the dance floor, but Marie had some fun out there as she covered up her shortcomings.  No surprise that Jane was the epitome of class... and while HD showed some signs of age, unlike Jennie I thought she was a bit younger (Jane's 56)... oh, I took Marie's "over 45" age disclosure to mean she was 49, ends up she's 48.   Again, nostalgia and fan-base keeps them in for a bit... with the edge going to Jane, who is/will be the better dancer.

No big surprise that last night's stand-outs were members of girl-groups... Mel B. and Sabrina Bryan.  Knowing absolutely nothing about Cheetah Girl Sabrina, she was my revelation of the night.  If High School Musical's Monique Coleman is an indication of the fan-base power of being on a Disney Channel show, I'm guessing Sabrina is going to be around for a while... and after this first performance, deservedly so.  Kudos to Mel B., again being a Spice Girl is no prep for ballroom... but looking good.

Finally, we have to say this is probably the best looking crop of professional male dancers on any season of DWTS... Derek, Alec, Jonathan, Tony, Maks, and Mark... all pretty darn yummy, depending on one's mood!

Czech It Out

This past tennis weekend it was Davis Cup.  For my non-tennis fan readers choosing to read on, this is best-of-five match national "team" competition that occurs several times a year amongst professional male tennis players (the women's equivalent is called Fed(eration) Cup). I won't bore you with too many further details... and just get to the pictures.

Due to clothing contracts, more often than not the players are not particularly coordinated with each ohter or  wear anything particularly special... usually it's just their country's name tacked onto their backs in "kick me" style.

However, the Switzerland-Czech Republic "tie" caught my eye with quite patriotic attire.

If you're Roger Federer, your clothing company tends to whip up something for you.

Above, Rog is nattily attired in the Swiss colors... right down to his feet (of course!).  My only quibble was no red swooshes on his socks.

While de rigueur for Fed, his ensemble was a yawn inducing compared to what some of his Czech opponents were wearing...   

Here Radek Stepanek models what has to be one of the most creative (and goofiest) tennis ensembles I have ever seen.  I'm guessing Roger would have vetoed this one had Nike presented him with something comparable. 

If you are not familiar the flag of what happens to be my ancestral homeland, here's the Czech cheering session:

Alas it was no laughing matter as the Czechs defeated the Swiss team 3-2.  Federer predictably won both of his singles matches, but couldn't eke out the win in doubles. 

But First! BB8 Style!

This likely does not say a whole lot good about me, but one of things that I have most looked forward to the last couple of  Big Brother seasons is TVGasm's video montage of Julie Chen's trademark phrase "But First!"

I feared that there wouldn't be one this year... but alas, they've have come through again... and it still cracks me up to no end.  They have changed it up a bit and thrown in a surprise or two, including what had to be the guffaw-inducing Chenbot line of the season.

Don't think there's a way to embed the video here... so click the link below:
CLIPGASM: Say Goodbye To BB8.  But First. . .

Head On Over To...

... Scott-O-Rama today and check out my guest-blog post... and proof that, given a topic, I can pretty much blog about anything. 

My creative juices haven't been flowing of late, so when Scott asked me earlier this week to guest-blog for today I was a tad concerned.  Ultimately, I decided it would be fun to blog about their vacation destination of Vermont.  Oddly enough, it ended up being one of the easiest posts I have done of late, despite never setting foot in the Green Mountain State

In W&C news, you may have noticed that I did go through with my threat of using a more "tag"-like approach to categorizing my entries.  If I was able to find five-ish or more entries devoted to particular subject or person, I gave its own category.   You can check out all the new categories over on the sidebar, either the drop-down menu or the brand-spanking new "category cloud."

Being consistent proved challenging.  For example, I added "Tennis" which used to fall into "Sports"... but I figured it would be redundant/overkill to classify a post as both "Tennis" and "Sports" so I just made it "Tennis."  But then I added "Roger Federer"... but also kept it under "Tennis" as well.  Go figure!  I am not so sure how often categories are used by visitors anyhow. I use them every so often on other blogs, but not a whole lot.

The category expansion is still "in progress"... it was pretty fun at first, but it didn't take too long to get a tad tedious with only 1,300+ posts to go through!   

Speaking of which, I let my Blog-o-versary pass without any fanfare... as I often say, I didn't think it would last more than a month or so... but this past Sunday the 16th marked four years of blogging... just crazy!

Musical Mania

Shortly after getting back from NYC, I threatened to list all the musicals I have ever seen... and given the lack of an original thought this morning, today is that day!   (Are those groans I hear off in the distance?!?)

But it kind of makes sense to compile this list right now.  I recently had a "full circle" musical theater moment.  My very first musical was Evita in 1980 at the Broadway Theater in NYC... and my most recent one was this past summer... The Color Purple at the Broadway Theater in NYC! 

In between those... and over the course of some 27 years... there have been 62 others!   

That's 64 different musicals folks!  I know, I know... gay stereotype freak flag is flying high... but, believe it or not, that figure even surprised me!   These days, I don't live anywhere near NYC and, when I did, it wasn't as an adult that could afford Broadway shows!   The number I did think was going to be higher was the number of musicals I have seen more than once... only 10 of those.

Now, there's a possibility I am leaving some out!   Don't think I did this all from memory.  While my brain does tend to retain this kind of very important data (vs. say, where I put the darn car keys!), a huge help was Playbill.com's Long Runs On Broadway listing... .and, as I have 'fessed up to this in the past, I do keep ticket stubs... so a quick run through of the ticket "bag" proved quite handy as well.

Blame (or credit) for getting into the 60s is the many, many years of season tickets to the Broadway Across America series.  I would guess there are at least a good dozen (or two) shows that I likely would not have gone to if they were not part of a pre-paid season ticket package.  Occasionally I am pleasantly surprised, but more often my instincts are right... but the bad/so-so ones certainly make you appreciate the good ones.  That said, there's no good explanation for why I have seen Starlight Express three times!

Here are my "multiples":

6 times

3 times

2 times

I'll put the "one-timers" in after the jump since I've already entered "cuckoo for cocoa puffs" territory.

Though I am taking advantage of TypePad's relatively new "page" feature and creating a Musicals Page with the intention of updating it as we go along... Musical #65 is just a couple of weeks away! 

I may have created a monster... perhaps this is just the start of a new W&C list feature... I love lists!

UPDATE:  Just a response (or two) from the comments.   As Scott mentioned, and to confirm, these are professional production only, no high school musicals.  Yes Gail, NO "South Pacific"... we were supposed to see with our season tix, but ended up being out of town (which tend to happen, we missed "Sweet Charity" while we were in Colorado last month).  I am sure there are some other glaring omissions.  As mentioned in my "threat" post, I am most shocked that I have yet to see a stage production of "Grease."

Middlesex on O

It feels like I finished Oprah's 2007 summer book club selection, Middlesex, eons ago... ok, slight exaggeration... finished it in July, which seems close enough to an eon... nevertheless, it's finally time for the show devoted to the book and its author, Jeffrey Eugenides.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and I heard from a few of you who had already read the book (eons and eons and eons ago!!) and enjoyed it as well... so figured, it was worthy of a quick FYI/public service announcement mention...

The O show devoted to Middlesex and Eugenides will air this Friday, September 21st... set your DVR.

My O e-mail alert (we're very close) also mentioned that there would be "real-life stories from members of the intersex community" as well!

Also, usually good odds that Oprah will have a new book club selection.