'Lovelace' First Official Trailer

Kate in the Upcoming 'Labor Day'

The 4th of July

i am the least patriotic person i know. much to the chagrin of family and some friends. i just can't get rahrahrah over any nation state. i don't believe in flag waving. well perhaps the gay pride flag but that's personal. i have not always been thrilled with the course this country has taken nationally or internationally. i think i'd feel this wherever i had been accidentally born into. i mean we are all born by accident into a certain geographical area. and although i feel a certain amount of allegiance especially  now with mr obama as president i just can't be fanatical. i mean there are the john mccain's at one end of the spectrum and well me on the other end of it.  don't send hate mail as i'll just ignore it.

that being said i love the song 'america the beautiful' and offer this as a tribute to the holiday.

(feel free to replace 'america' with the country of  your choice)

and just for the heck of it all...

'god bless america'

(israel and italy too)

'The Out List'

hbo's 'the out list' is  much needed and pretty timely. 16 gay, lesbian and transexual americans tell their 'coming out' stories, the problems growing up gay and the secrets they kept. i kept them. it was hard. there were not films like this when i was younger. there were not men and women like this in my day who shared their stories. their lives. how great that would have been. but it is here now. my hope hope hope is that every young person who is gay sees this film. it might, we wish, help them get through what can be an agonizing childhood and puberty and even beyond. it mat prevent the rash of gay teenage suicides. i can only hope.

Josh's Jukebox: 'Come What May'

from the soundtrack of my mind

a 'glee' moment

darren criss and chris colfer

'The Heat'***stars

this sandra bullock-melissa mccarthy buddy flick is a hoot. i seldom fine consistent laughs on film or tv lately. however i found myself laughing out loud a lot and less out loud often. some critics are comparing it to 'bridesmaids' which is absurd. it shares nothing with that film other than it's director and ms mccarthy. the two stars have real chemistry and it follows through  from mutual dislike to mutual respect.

i have to say ms mccarthy has grown as an actress since 'bridesmaids'. she no longer goes just for the laugh. i think she is becoming a good actress. sandra, well sandra, always impresses me even in her less than stellar films. she remains in my book 'america's sweetheart'.

'Before Midnight'

julie delpy and ethan hawke discuss 'before midnight'

'Before Midnight' ****stars

'before sunrise' celine and jesse had a chance meeting with the promise to meet in six months in vienna when they got their lives in order.  nine years later 'before sunset' we learn that jesse showed up but celine did not due to a death in her family. but the connection was still there although jesse had married and had a son. would he stay with celine and leave his wife? we find the answer to that still another nine  years later 'before midnight'

within this trilogy we go from romantic interlude to the ups and downs of a marriage. each film shows the growth of these two characters and their aging as well. ms delby and mr hawke grow in each film not only in character but in their acting. they triumph in this well written and directed film. it's tougher than the first two installments but life does get tougher as we get older, look back at our choices and wonder what the future will bring.

although it stands on it's own i recommend that you rent the first two installments to fully appreciate the third.

i hope being released early that it does not get lost at year's end. as of this moment it is the best film of the year.

Samantha Barks

the wonderful ms barks as eponine in 'les miserables' singing 'on my own'

Happy Pride

Bert and Ernie Cover 'New Yorker' Marriage Equality Issue

a bit odd but whatever.

Stevie Nicks: 'Dreams'

from the soundtrack of my life

Poll Dancing

DOMA Stuck Down by Supreme Court

equality rules
we are now legally equal

just for the record:  i was always equal know matter what they said.

Stepen Schwartz: 'Testimony'

'pippin' lyricist and composer stephen schwartz composed this song about teens coming to terms with their sexuality and thoughts of suicide.
it is performed by the san francisco gay men's chorus

Josh's Jukebox: A 'Glee' Moment 'Baby Got Back'

from the soundtrack of my life

 i've always liked the 'glee' covers even when i found the show uneven from time to time. for me 'glee' is all about the music. it's when they have tried original music it tanked.

this was one of the best from the past last season.

joey richter

'baby got back'

Pollution Alert

the airways are about to be polluted again, further, as this moron resurfaces on tv on the pornographic fox news network.

The Gay Men's Sexual Health Alliance Presents Their New 'Our Agenda' Campaign!!

'Same Love'

i never expected to put a rap song here. just not my taste or my generation. but here it is. never say never they say.
wht now? the artist is rapping about growing up gay, the struggles of being gay and about standing up for oneself in the face of hated and homophobia. bravo.

voaal by mary lambert, macklemore and ryan lewis

Aussies Have the Best Real Estate Ads

Lara Fabian

every year or so i like to sing the praises of lara fabian and hopefully introduce her to new readers and ears.

Too Soon?

i like naomi watts. she's a good actress. she's cracked my top 10 best current actresses on film today.

i liked daiana, the princess of wales. but is it too soon for a biopic no matter the caliber of the actress portraying her? diana is still etched in the minds of most living prople still.

here's the first trailer for the film 'diana'

'Glee': 'There are Worse Things I Could Do'

from the soundtrack of my life

continuing 'glee'...i'm not posting every song from the show but those i really enjoyed and that i found had the musical merit that fit my tastes.

naya rivera, kate hudson and unique

HRA Celebrates Father's Day

congrats and happy father's day to all these dad's and all those who accepted their sons as mine did. happy father's day dad.

My Favorite Broadway - The Leading Ladies

o what a night!!! host julie andrews, bebe neuwirth, karen ziemba, linda eder, priscilla lopez, dorothy loudon, liza minnelli, marin mazzie, audra mcdonald, judy kuhn and elaine stritch shine in my galaxy. the rest aren't too shabby either.

Turkish Protesters Sing “Les Miserables” Rebel Song, Quite Beautifully

our hearts go out to all those who were victims in taksim gesi park.

It's Today

'Love Is Hard to Rearrange'

just because i'm in withdrawal and here in the states i have a bit less than 6 months to go before season 4 airs. damn lucky brits get it in septmber.

some 'downton' moments

and who could forget

'every breathe you take'

the end of their story

Raul Esparza: 'Simple Joys'

now that 'pippin' won those tony's here is the fabulous tony winner ('company') raul esparza giving us 'simple joys'

Lost in Motion

I Know I Shouldn't Laugh But...

****************

Heat

'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