The internet is cool, and the world continues to get smaller.  My  mom (the one who 15 years ago kept insisting that she didn’t NEED a computer!) has been Facebooking, and recently joined a group comprised of students with whom she and my dad worked at Anderson Highland High School back in the 70’s.  Of course these “students” are all now pushing 50, but then again… I’m not exactly four years old anymore either.

Back in the day, under the direction of my father, all these folks got together to make a RECORD!  You know, the vinyl kind.  What resulted is nothing less than the single-most influential recording in the world… of 1970’s High School Choral music coming out of Anderson, Indiana.  Sadly, rather than archiving precious copies of this collector’s item, it appears the kids took to using them as frisbees and the like.  Stupid kids.  I bet they sold all their Star Wars action figures too — wait a minute, that was me…

At any rate, several years back I transferred this fine LP to CD for one of those Christmases when I was too broke to actually BUY a present for my father.  He cringed, then laughed, then listened to it again for the first time in years and I think kinda loved it.  Since then it’s gotten heavy rotation in my own personal music library, and even managed to crack the playlists of some of my friends.  This sonic time capsule is making a comeback in a big way, and a track or three may even be coming soon to a theater near you, so keep your ears open!

In the meantime, take a listen.  And if you’re so inclined, feel free to download the entire record by clicking on the album cover above.  Cringe.  Laugh.  Enjoy.  Whatever you do, just… Don’t Take Away the Music.

It all kinda hit home when a few less-than-glowing reviews came down the pipeline after my gal’s show, 9 to 5, opened on Broadway last month. First of all, I’ve seen this show several times — it’s not gonna change anyone’s life, but it’s a heckuva lot of fun, and some of the tunes are downright memorable. Secondly, it got GREAT reviews during its previews here in L.A. And lastly, it garnered like… FIFTEEN Drama Desk nominations just a week before it officially opened on Broadway. Then Ben Brantley comes out on opening night, uncharacteristically stays ’til the very end of Dolly’s post-performance speech, yet turns around and hands in a scathing review the next day; likely driving more than a few potential patrons away from this really fun show. This in turn clearly sways the votes of the Tony Awards nominating crew, as the very same show that broke a Broadway record for Drama Desk nominations just two weeks prior gets a measly 5 Tony noms — and shut out of Best Musical by a show I know VERY well: the aim-so-low you can’t lose, Rock of Ages, over which the typically stiff Brantley practically creamed himself. (Pun not initially intended, but I’ll take it.)

Now please don’t misunderstand me. I adore Rock of Ages, and would encourage everyone to go see it. I know from personal experience the very long road it traveled to even GET to Broadway, and l’m legitimately thrilled that there’s room (and apparently more than just tolerance) for this kind of entertainment on the Great White Way. But I also know how much time, love and energy the folks over at 9 to 5 put into their show, and being so intimately familiar with BOTH projects it’s impossible for me to believe that anyone actually thinks that musically OR dramatically ROA is a better piece of theater. It’s a whole heckuva lot of FUN, but it’s not even in the same league as Dolly’s tuner. Which leads me to only one conclusion, and that’s that the critics have WAAAAYYYYY too much power. People trust a relatively small and exclusive group of writers (with exactly WHAT qualifications other than that they can write?) to tell us what we should and should not see. And that’s just stupid. We all have different tastes, and what stinks to some high-fallutin’ writer at the Times might be just what the doctor ordered for the tourist from Peoria. Which brings me to my initial point…

In addition to the fact that I don’t have lots of excess time to be tearing apart or even swooning over someone else’s attempt at creating something unique (or even those half-hearted attempts to make a lousy buck with rushed sequels and lowest-common-denominator comedies), I’m starting to realize that my opinion is nothing more than, well… just an opinion. And if even one person decides to avoid some movie that I personally dislike because I wrote some nasty review, then I think I might be doing a disservice to that person AND to the folks that made the offending movie. Heck… I kinda hated The English Patient and that borefest won the Best Picture Oscar, so what do I know? What’s more, most of the people on whom I’m ragging are folks that I wouldn’t mind working with, so what am I even THINKING picking apart their efforts like I could actually do better (…of course I COULD do better, but that’s a whole ‘nuther can of self-inflated worms…)

I guess what I’m trying to say is that for the few folks that actually read my movie reviews (mom, dad…) I’m thinkin’ it might be time to put the proverbial pen down. Oh, I might continue to throw some stars at the films I see — if for nothing less than to provide a reminder to myself of what I’ve seen and when I saw it — but unless I’m just DYING to comment on something specific in my movie-watching experience, I think I’ll leave the reviews to the folks who are doing it to pay the bills. I mean… I can’t argue with that. And unless someone’s willing to pay ME, I’d prefer to start enjoying movies the way everyone else does: as relatively frivolous entertainment, and NOT some kind of job. Put THAT in your pipe and smoke it, Ben Brantley!

(Oh, and since hopefully I’LL have a show on Broadway in the not too distant future, I should mention that while I disagree with Mr. Brantley’s assessment of 9 to 5, he’s probably a brilliant and very astute man and is — at the very least — incredibly handsome… for a guy who sits on his ass for a living.)

Movie Reviews aren’t the only thing I got lazy with last year. Nope, I got even lazier with my Book Reviews. In fact, I don’t think I wrote even one. Of course, I didn’t manage to get through many tomes in 2008, so I’ll plead laziness on that front too.

But 2009 is upon us and there’s simply no time to be lazy anymore (after all, the end of the world is just four years away!) so I’ve caught up with all my book reviews and have updated the Library so everything’s is its place and up-to-date again. Click the BOOKS link above read ALL THREE of my new reviews!

A proper New Year’s post is coming, but in the meantime check out the 29 (yes kids, TWENTY-NINE) film reviews I wrote and posted earlier today. A busy and admittedly lazy fall was full of movie watching, but devoid of reviews. So click the MOVIES link at the top of the page, get to reading, and leave a comment if you’re moved to do so!

The show is so much fun, and Autumn is by far the sexiest mamacita up on that stage. Just ask my buddy TJ, who upon confirmation, shouted across a packed lobby to his fiance, “Yeah! Autumn was the naked one!” Dad, you’re gonna like this show… A LOT.

9 to 5 is playing at the Ahmanson Theater for four more weeks, then moves to Broadway in the Spring of 2009. If you’re in L.A., catch it while you can!

JULY 4: It’s summertime, and I’m bald! You know, like… all the way. As in: pretending like I have some choice in the matter. But who needs hair when you’ve got a sexy mamacita like this on your lap? WooHOO! 4th of July! Founding Fathers! Great Nation! Let’s wrap some hot dogs up in bacon, char’em til they’re black, then pause to reflect on what it is exactly that we’re celebrating. Oh right — our independence! Yup, still got that one covered.

JULY 5: Jump on a plane with sexy mamacita and head to New York City, where she’s to begin rehearsals for a new show on… (cue George Benson)

That’s right folks, Autumn is gonna be singing and dancing, and perhaps even doing some “acting” on the Great White Way (racist — I think so too), in a little show you might have heard of… No, it’s not Mel Brooks’ new “Silent Movie The Musical,” and it doesn’t involve puppets or naked children. Nope, in fact it’s one of the most anticipated shows of next season, written and produced by the one and only, Dolly Parton. What a way to make a living…

JULY 9: So she’s off in rehearsals, and it just so happens that I have an audition for another new musical. What’s more, I starred in said musical during its L.A. and Vegas runs, to much ridiculous and ego-boosting fanfare I might add. Well, after some serious rocking and rolling at my good buddy Bernie Telsey’s casting offices on 43rd, I left the room with not quite as much fanfare. Long story short, apparently I’m not “right” for the show anymore. Hmm… If by “right” they mean that I rock just a little too hard to keep up with, then I must say that I agree… I agree. There, I said it.

JULY 10-18: I spend the next week and half sulking and playing house-husband. No, seriously… that’s what I did. We also squeezed in some good eats (check out my food reviews on YELP), and I managed to teach Rage that pooping whilst standing in the middle of Broadway and ANY cross-street, is not wise decision making for a six pound dog.

I also saw more celebrities floating around the city than I ever do here in LaLa Land. Victoria’s Secret Angel, Adriana Lima, kept making googly eyes at me while we were at dinner one night. I’m pretty sure she was miffed because I was with another (more beautiful) woman… but hey, she had her chance back in ‘04 at that speed dating picnic in Lisbon. You snooze, you lose, lady…

Said hi to Paul Schaffer while walking the dog, and watched William Petersen hurry by one afternoon with his entourage — which kinda stumped me. WILLIAM PETERSEN has an entourage? I want an entourage.

JULY 19: I fly back to Burbank, dead tired from the ri-donkulously early morning flight from JFK. Grab some breakfast with the soon-to-be-world-famous, Dave Storrs, and his girlfriend. Then drag my tired butt over to the mall and stand in line for two hours to buy one of the last eight remaining 3G iPhones in the Valley. You know, the same one I scoffed at, rolling my eyes in disbelief at the Lemmings who would actually STAND IN LINE for a phone? Yeah, that one. Geesh… I’m a living, breathing contradiction.

JULY 28: After days of catching up on all the things that need “caught up,” I blog into the wee hours of the morning, hoping to spread goodwill and cheer to my fellow man, (and the other two weirdos who are reading this.) If there are indeed more of you, I ask you to prove me wrong. Leave a comment. Then again, don’t feel TOO obliged. It’s all part of the summer lovin’… and I’m having a blast.

I’ve been a busy little bunny this spring, and have done a pretty good job of abandoning my blog duties here on my very own website. So while I’m still awfully busy, I thought someone might enjoy this little (belated) Easter tribute.

You see, I play in the band at Bel Air Presbyterian Church, and they have their Easter Services at the famed Hollywood Bowl. This year we couldn’t decide what to play as a postlude, so given the venue, I suggested we dust off an oldie-but-goodie and just re-word it to fit the occasion. I got shut down, but decided to go ahead and record it. Just in case…

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I’m slightly embarrassed to admit that I searched for my own name on YouTube today — you know, to see if there was any incriminating footage of Yours Truly floating around the Net. Thankfully, I didn’t find anything questionable, but DID trip across this little clip. Glad to know that SOMEONE managed to get their hands on a “Hoodwinked” soundtrack, even if I’ve never seen a red cent on that end. Run Sonic, RUN!!!

I only bring it up here because regardless of your political leanings, you have to admit that the production itself is VERY well done. Whoever put it all together is, like… some kind of creative genius or something.