Yesterday was the worst day for stocks since the first day of trading after the Sept. 11th attacks. It was the top story for the major news programs. CBS Evening News lead with the story and asked about the damage, the NBC Evening News lead with the story and asked about the damage, ABC World News Tonight lead with the story and asked about the damage and Entertainment Tonight asked Howard K. Stern if Anna Nicole Smith owned any stocks in light of yesterday’s events on Wall Street. Stay tuned for more news.
Archive for February, 2007
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Tuesday, February 27th, 2007On Monday, I had big fun doing a live Oscar wrap-up phone interview with the morning team on WKTI-FM, a Milwaukee radio station. During a commercial break, one of the spots I heard over the phone here in my New York City apartment was a local promo for a woodcraft store there in Wisconsin. This is the last voiceover line in that spot read by the very friendly, warm Midwest woman doing the commercial:
“If you like wood, you’ll like Fillinger’s.”
I’m not making this up, you know. Rock on, Milwaukee. Next time I’m back in the Midwest, I know where to go for all my wood needs.
On Ms. Mills
Tuesday, February 27th, 2007It’s official. Heather Mills will be in the line-up for next month’s new installment of Dancing with the Stars on ABC. OK…I didn’t know that she was a star. Did you? Isn’t she more like Dancing with the Tabloids?
Frankly, I’m concerned. I still think that there may be hardcore Paul McCartney fans in the ABC crew and amongst the other dancing contestants who could go beauty queen on her when she’s not in the dressing room. If she leaves her leg unattended, when she gets on the dance floor, she may discover to her absolute horror that a half-inch has been sawed off the heel. That will give her the same effect as every other restaurant table we’ve all sat at during a lunch or dinner date. Minutes would tick by while one of the judges holds her up and another tapes a matchbook to the bottom of that foot to balance her out so she can perform the “Shall We Dance?” number from The King and I.
And Ringo Starr would be one of the judges. That would must make the whole thing complete.
Pet Peeve
Tuesday, February 27th, 2007I love dogs but I am so tired of the bad manners displayed by their masters in my neighborhood, now that the ‘hood has been overpopulated with upscale Anglos who feel entitled to take their little dressed up pooches into any establishment they want — as if the animal is a human baby. That is my pet peeve. Back in the day, there were a few local Latino dudes who had tough canines like bulldogs that they took out for a walk and then returned them to the backyard. They’re long gone. Now we’ve got hightone folks with little designer dogs wearing festive attire. Last weekend, I saw a big muscleman, looking and dressed like The Terminator — and he was walking a canine that looked more like a gay rat with a bow on its neck. The thing that really hacks me off is that local shops like deli stores and bakeries have posted signs outside and in saying “No Dogs Allowed.” Why? Because they are preparing and serving food and they are paying attention to the health codes. People are still taking their little pooches into these stores with total disregard for the signs. They even trying to take them into diners! A store owner told one woman to leave because she had a dog and she whined, “But she’s small.” As a consumer, I don’t care if Coco is tiny! It’s an animal! It’s not wearing any shoes and it’s not weaing any underware. Would you want me walking through your kitchen or around your dining room table if I didn’t have any drawers and shoes on?
Yesterday afternoon, I went into a local bakery selling pastries and candy. It doesn’t allow dogs. But the Chelsea Boy in front of me had his little doggie. He’s not paying any attention to it while he’s trying to chat up the guy in front of him. The dog jumps up on my leg waiting for me to pat its head. I wanted to pick that thing up like a discus and hurl it across the street but it was on a leash. I let it lick my hand, but I had a plan. When Chelsea Boy finally turned around to see what his pet was doing, I smiled and said, “Wow. Dude, your dog really loves chocolate!”
He shrieked like Janet Leigh in PSYCHO. I said I was just kidding. He didn’t think I was funny. I wasn’t trying to be. I was making a point. He wasn’t supposed to bring dogs into that shop. I can’t believe these people taking their pets into eateries. Have you seen how dogs greet each other public? Why would I want that nose near my chicken salad? Please.
The Oscar Telethon
Monday, February 26th, 2007Is it just me or did last night’s Academy Awards feel as long as the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon? All things considered…I’m happy. Martin Scorcese finally got his Oscar. I said on Whoopi’s show that I don’t feel The Departed is as brilliant as Raging Bull and Goodfellas, but he sure was due a golden boy. Forest Whitaker’s acceptance speech touched me, Helen Mirren got her well-deserved Oscar and was so stunning that I found myself asking, If Helen Mirren can look like the Queen, why can’t the Queen look like Helen Mirren?” On the fashion side, I’m a Jodie Foster fan, but even Jesus is still weeping over that dress she wore. Why was Jack Nicholson as bald as an egg? He’s shooting a comedy with Morgan Freeman right now. Jack plays a man who takes one final road trip because he has cancer. I am thrilled that Jennifer Hudson won an Oscar. That should be a lesson to a lot of talented kids who’ve auditioned for American Idol and didn’t make a final cut. Simon told us that Kelly Clarkson is a star. She made a movie called From Justin To Kelly co-starring Justin Guarini. If that movie was any more of a dog, it would shed. Simon told Jennifer that basically she didn’t have the skills for showbiz. Today, she’s got an Academy Award. I bet that puts a wrinkle in Miss Cowell’s T-shirt.
I had big fun doing Oscar wrap-up on Milwaukee radio station WKTI-FM this morning. In my live phone interview, Amy (a member of the Milwaukee morning crew) said that she didn’t like Ellen DeGeneres as host. She didn’t think Ellen added glamour to the event. I said, “OK…how many folks usually think *glamour* when they think about Ellen DeGeneres? When I think of Ellen, I usually think of a woman in pants wearing really comfortable shoes.” I loved what Ellen said on stage: “If there weren’t black, Jews and gays, there would be no Oscars.” Dig it.
Cruising Dave Koz
Saturday, February 24th, 2007
He’ll be giving lots of Oscar winners great sax Sunday night in Hollywood. Jazz saxophonist Dave Koz — one of the absolutely coolest dudes in music and radio — will be playing at the Mack Daddy of Oscar parties, the Governor’s Ball. I’m sure he’ll be playing selections from his new CD, Dave Koz: At The Movies.
I have been a fan of his for years. Three years ago, I was very proud to have been picked by Instinct Magazine out of Los Angeles as “One of the Leading Men of 2004.” Instinct selected a group of men, several of us non-mainstream, whom it felt made good contributions to the gay male community. That same year, Koz came out publicly and got very positive write-ups in the same magazine and in People.
I met Dave at a party last week (Robert DeNiro, the mayor of New York City and Katie Couric were also there). More people today should have that kind of charm, good manners and down-to-earth vibe. We talked about how coming out publicly had affected our careers and, more importantly, the way we perform. It was very interesting and gratifying to be able to trade notes, if you will. If you dig jazz, Dave has a fabulous cruise every year with other major artists. I just wanted to give him a plug on my website.
Go there. Check it out. One last thing….I’ll admit it. If I lived out in L.A. where Koz does, I’d be trying to court him bigtime. When the two of us were off alone and I was listening to him talk, I felt some sweet music playing in this middle-aged heart o’ mine. That hasn’t happened in too long a time. Cheers.
Sole Train
Wednesday, February 21st, 2007
Even though some hardcore Paul McCartney fans (such as I) have suggested that the network temporarily change the name of the show to Golddiggers of 2007, ABC will continue to call its hit show Dancing with the Stars and it has added Heather Mills to the chorus line of celebrity dancers for the next installment.
Oh, lord, how I hope the judges make her do the Hokey Pokey followed by a Texas Two-Step. It’s just what she deserves. Put on your dancing shoe and break a leg, Heather!
NYC Maytag Casting Call
Wednesday, February 21st, 2007For my local actor buddies, there’s a casting call this coming Friday (Feb. 23rd) from 7am to 5pm at Caroline’s on Broadway. Casting folks are seeking the next Maytag Repairman for national TV commercials and print ads. The Help Wanted breakdown reads like the auditions are gender unspecific but do your homework in the FAQs. They’re definitely seeking a guy to carry on with the traditional character branding.
The company is looking for a guy older than 25 who is trustworthy, outgoing, friendly, energetic and looks good in a blue uniform. So am I.
For more info go to www.NextMaytagRepairman.com. Break a leg.