'Pretty Little Liars'

they're back. tonight. thank the gods.

'Twisted': Premier Tonight on ABCFamily

i saw the pilot for this new abcfamily series. following the season premier of 'pretty little liars' it has the makings of another guilty pleasure.

Neil and Audra Closing Tony's 2013

neil was at his brilliant best. the writers did it again! getting all the winners ready for the closing number. amazing. and neil learns it lickity split. he's brilliant.
this year he brought out the godess to 'help' him out. like he needs help!!! but i love audra and was thrilled she was with him..

the finale 2013

Tony Performances

this number with laura benanti, megan hilty and andrew rannells joining neil on stage was brilliantly funny. especially ms benanti.

mmmmmmm

and from 'cinderella'

Judith Light Wins Second Tony in a Row

judith's win

i wrote the other day i love 'pippin'. i predicted the win and the one for lead actress patins miller.
like 'chicago's revival i think this incarnation will pass the run of the original numbers wise. damn 'chicago' has rightfully been running 17 years. how many times dis i see that??? don't ask.

here is 'pippin'

Neil's Opening at the Tony's

(more to come)

Tony's 2013

as i knew neil patrick harris was great yet again. 'pippin' and it's lead actress patina miller took home the tony's for best revival and musical actress. and my baby judith light won her second tony in a roe in supporting category. i knew she'd be great the moment she appeared on my tv as karen wolek in 'one life to live'.

pippin and patina miller

billy porter

(yes that is mr porter)

judith light

The Tony's: Neil Patrick Harris

2009 opening

2011 opening

2012 opening

need i say more?

yes!!!

closings

 and

so for god's sake watch neil and the tony's tonight

(i love this guy) 

ok ok one more with hugh jackman

The Tony's: 'Pippin' Will Rule at Last!!!

 
i love 'pippin'. i love the score, i loved bob fosse's choreography. i always loved his choreography! 'pippin' introduced me to the great jill clayburgh who played catherine. jill was replaced by betty buckley and that was my introduction to her brilliant voice. i saw 'pippin' a lot.

i am rooting for the revival to win the tony tonight for best revival naturally.

here are two numbers from the revival cast as they performed on 'good morning america' and 'letterman'.

'corner of the sky' and 'magic to do'

'simple joys'

 i'm betting on petina miller to win best actress in a musical.

Jeremy Jordan and Jonathan Groff: 'Let Me Be Your Star'

jeremy jordon played jimmy in 'smash'. here he duets with jonathan groff on 'let me be your star' from 'smash's' pilot. i love when actors don't worry about the song's gender and perform it as written. wigs et al.
bravo!

Tony Memories Part 2: The Performances

celebrate the broadway musical with me and these tony award highlights and don't forget to tune in tomorrow night for the 67th annual tony ceremony.

'hair' 2009

'they're playing our song' 1979

'the life' 1997

'the king and i' 1996

'gypsy' 2008

'les miserables' 1987

'man of la Mancha 2003

'the boy from oz' 2004

'a chorus line' 2007

'chicago' 1997

'cats' 1983

'porgy and bess' 2012

'evita' 1980

1981 tony's medley

'woman of the year' 1981

'applause' 1970

'fiddler on the roof' 1968

'into the woods' 1988

2012 opening with neil patrick harris

'evita' 2012

'pippin' 1973

'chicago' 1976

'cabaret' 1967

'cabaret' 1998

'grey gardens' 2007

'next to normal' 2009

'how to succeed in business without really trying' 2011

'la cage aux folles' 2010

'catch me if you can' 2011

'south pacific' 2008

'wicked' 2004

'anything goes' 1988

'spring awakening' 2007

'company' 2011

'company' 2007

'west side story' 2009

'ragtime' 1998

'the lion king' 2008

'three penny opera' 2006

'rent' 1996

'annie' 1977

'bosom buddies' bea arthur and angela lansbury

opening segment 1999 with patti lupone, betty buckley, jennifer holliday and rosie o'donnell

'110 in the shade' 2007

'grand hotel' 1990

'kiss of the spider woman' 1993

'drowsy chaperone' 2006

 'the phantom of the opera' 1988

'jesus christ superstar' 2012

'sweeney todd' 2006

sunday in the park with george' 2008

'sunday in the park with george' 1984

'my one and only' 1983

the fabulous dorothy loudon 1983

and let's finish all this greatness with the eleven o'clock number and angela lansbury 1989

enjoy the tony's

Broadway's Lost Treasures 2

in this compilation i was lucky and i repeat privlidged to see these performances of patti lupone, angela lansbury, bea arthur, richard kiley, nell carter, michael jetter, walter bobbie, george hearn, shirley verrett, jerry orbach, kathi moss, katharine hepburn and the original cast of les miserables live. great joy.
and i am grateful for this compilation to see those performances i did not see on broadway.

enjoy....

Tony Memories: And the Winners Are...

the tony's are given sunday night so let's make some memories
some of my favorite actresses wins are:

bebe neuwirth  lead actress musical in 'chicago' 1997

 angela lansbury musical lead for 'dear world' 1969, 'gypsy' lead 1975, 'sweeney todd' lead 1979 and 'blithe spirit' featured actress drama 2009.

maureen stapleton lead drama 1971

rita moreno supporting 1974 'the ritz'

christine baranski featured actress 'the real thing' 1984

maggie smith lead actress for 'lettice and lovage' 1990

mary-louise parker lead actress drams 'proof' 2001

audra mcdonald featured actress musical for 'ragtime' 1998

chita rivera lead actress musical 1993 'kiss of the spider woman' and 1984 'the rink'

donna murphy l996 lead musical actress for 'the king and i'

kelly bishop featured actress musical 1976 for'a chorus line'

patti lupone best actress musical 2008 for 'gypsy'

audra mcdonald lead actress musical 'porgy and bess' 2012

karen olivio featured musical actress 2009 for 'west side story'

(tomorrow some of my favorite performances at the tony awards)

'Broadway's Lost Treasures' Part 1

it's that time of the year when we celebrate broadway. the tony awards are sunday evening. so for the next few days i take time to celebrate the broadway musical that has sososo much influenced my life. so much of broadway has been lost but there are  three compilations that save some of the best moments and performances from the great white way.

patti lupone, julie andrews, carol channing, angela lansbury, tommy tune, twiggy, dorothy loudon, joel grey, gwen verdon, chita rivera, jerry orbach, andrea mcardle, bonnie franklin and the brilliant barbara harris appear in part 1. i was lucky enough and privlidged to see all of their performances seen here live.

i will post part 2 tomorrow and part 3 one day next week following the 2013 awards.

(this compilation is available on dvd which you can purchase through the link on the right panel)

'Let Me Be Your Star'

i can't believe i never posted this. but i think maybe this is the best time to post it. from the pilot episode it's the number that gave us the hope that something wonderful had begun. but alas our hopes were dashed. again i say it's a shame it floundered then died. had they only built on this moment things might have been different but postmortems are just that. r.i.p.

Neil Patrick Harris Talks Tony Hosting This Sunday on Letterman

'Man of Steel' Behind the Scenes Featurette

i am really looking forward to this movie due 6/14

Matthew Morrison: 'Where It All Began'

mr morrison's new cd is available today on disc and digital download.

here is a live version of the 'west side story' medley that appears on his new album that contains pop standards, musical and bluesy selections.

the official video 'it don't mean a thing'

Ice Cream Ad from Findland

'Mistresses' Tonight

'mistresses' is based on a brilliant british series of the same name. if you haven't seen it you should stream or rent it. will this live up to the original? i kind of doubt it but it does look like the visual version of a good trashy summer read without the sun and sand. i'm giving it a chance. hell trash can be fun when done right. and alyssa milano is some kind of adorable.

I've Got a Crush on You

taylor kinney is the hottest thing in 'chicago fire'

Josh's Jukebox: 'Come See About Me'

from the soundtrack of my life

naya rivera, heather morris and dianna agron

Julie Delby and Ethan Hawke on Texting at the Movies

Marion Stunning in Dior

Neil to Host the Emmy Awards

fresh off getting on board to host the tonys mr harris will take on the emmy's. hopefully the oscars are next.

Good Riddance as the Congressional IQ Rises

this moron is leaving congress. how thr hell did she get there in the first place?

Josh's Jukebox '(Not) Getting Married Today'

from the soundtrack of my life

sondheim's '(not) getting married today' is a tough song to sing. damn the speed of it and the notes. this 'glee' version is amazing.

jayma mays, amber riley, mathew morrison

R.I.P 'Smash'

'smash' was a valiant effort that was ruined by misguided plotlines. but there were moments of musical genius. and some less than genius. and a number that were downright awful. i'm going over my list of musical numbers and may, probably, will post, repost, my favorites.

but for now here are a two highlights from it's curtain call. i will say they wrapped things up nicely. they left no loose ends. some seem inspired and others seemed forced. but generally when a series ends we are left hanging. the writers i think did their best, almost best, to conclude the series.

'under pressure' gave us most of the cast together to say goodbye to.

     

          'broadway here i come'

''big finish' did indeed give the leading ladies the chance to finish big.

'Light a Light'

from the soundtrack of my life
janis ian

Sneak Peak: Marion in 'The Immigrant'

ms cotillard is getting early raves since 'the immigrant' premiered at cannes on friday. my friends are taking bets that i will give her best actress of 2013 sight unseen. they may be right.
here are two scenes from this sepia filmed turn of the century new york.

first up is marion and joaquin phoenix

  

and ms cotillard with jeremey renner

                          

'Behind the Candelabra' Tonight on HBO

advance word of mouth is twofold: it's damn good and michael douglas will win best actor whenever tv awards are given out this year. as it premiers on hbo in the usa it will open in theaters internationally.

let's face it without liberace there may never have been an elton john. he was flamboyant, outrageous, a showman and a closeted gay man. closeted? has another man ever been more obviously gay? but at the time of his 'fame' being openly gay was a no no. hello rock hudson.

matt damon stars as the next young thing liberace takes under his wing and under the sheets.

it's set up on my dvr. the choice is yours.

'Before Midnight'

'before midnight' there is a 'sunrise' and a 'sunset'.

'before midnight' opened yesterday in ny and los angeles. we're waiting for the wider release. it is the third film in a series that includes 'before sunrise' and 'before sunset'. each film takes place nine years apart. celine and jesse meet 'before sunrise', reconnect 'before sunset' and make bigger life decisions 'before midnight'. i love these two characters. i love the first two films. advance word tells me i will not be disappointed with this new chapter. it may stand alone but i'd rent the first two if i were you. start at the beginning and become part of their lives.
julie delpy and ethen hawke are wonderful as soulmates brought together by kismet. they not only star in these films but cowrote them with director richard linklater.

anne thompson's , of thompson on hollywood' interviews the trio.

these conservational films are a feast for your ears.