FAMILY FEUD Answers Shock Host And Contestants

I saw this video posted by a friend on FB yesterday under the headline "a sign of progress".  That could be true given the shocking answer host Steve Harvey gets from the question "name something that gets passed around."  While Harvey is shocked by the first contestants answer, he is even more shocked by what happens when he reveals what the "survey says".

I've always had questions about these mysterious groups of 100 people surveyed.  I'd heard that the standard practice was they used to ask these questions of the studio audience before the show started, which would make sense.  But Harvey references going out to malls in middle America.  If that is true, then this is definitely a small sign of cultural progress away from organized religion and towards unorganized, uh....recreation.

WTC VIEW Is Back Onstage In Philadelphia

My first play, WTC VIEW, is getting its regional premiere next month down in Philadelphia!  After lots of inquiries from theaters around the country and even a few readings, this will be the show's first full production since we premiered it in the NYC Intl. Fringe Festival in 2003.

The show is being staged at the Allens Lane Playhouse, a theatre which has been putting on shows for local audiences down there since 1953.  The production is being directed by T. Patrick Ryan, who initially heard about the play through the filmed version of WTC VIEW which was released in 2006, starring Michael Urie from UGLY BETTY.  He he been a real advocate for the show, making his case there over the last few years.  It's so great that his dedication to this play finally coming to fruition.

The show opens a month from now, on March 11th and runs through the 26th.  I will be going to see this new production on the 19th and will be at the theater for a discussion of the play afterwards. I'm very excited to see the show is getting produced again and hope this is the first of many regional productions of the show.  So if you know any folks in the Philly area, spread the word.  And there may be some big news of a possible New York City production soon.....stay tuned!

The Face That Launched A Thousand Drag Queens

On Monday, actress Tura Satana, known for her legendary role in FASTER PUSSYCAT, KILL! KILL!, died of heart failure.  I think an actor's career can often be measured by their influence on other performers and Ms. Satana, with her fierce attitude and sassy style, clearly inspired not only a generation of ass-kicking female stars but also more than a few drag queens as well.  I've always felt her role was the inspiration behind the look and attitude of many of today's biggest drags.  And, like a true drag star, even her age was a mystery, officially listed as 72 but quite possibly 76 or older.

Tura had a tough upbrining as a Japanese-American, including time spent in an internment camp during WWII.  When she took on show business, it's no surprise to learn that she started out as a burlesque star before transitioning into the world of B-movies.  There she truly made her cultural mark with the role of Varla, the spitfire woman-warrior who has all the best lines, not to mention a few good left hooks.

Tura's big role had a massive impact pop culture, with her influence today seen in places like Quentin Tarantino movies and the TV show XENA. Tura's life has also inspired a documentary film, which I found a trailer for on YouTube.  It has some great clips from FASTER too.  As you'll see, not only was she a true cult star but also a true original.

A Video Trip Back to NYC In The 1980s

Nelson Sullivan was a videographer who immersed himself in the New York's downtown demimonde in the 1980s.  He filmed people like artist Haring, rocker Dean Johnson, VOICE gossip Michael Musto and a very young Ru Paul, just off the bus from Atlanta.

My friend Andrew recently showed me some of Nelson's videos which are now up on YouTube.  They provide a fascinating look at NYC in the 80s, not just for who is on camera but for what is in the background too.  A trip to Times Square with some drag queens (including Ru) is most interesting for how relatively empty the sidewalks are during a weekday.  And then, if you look closely, you can see vanished gems like the old Howard Johnson's on Broadway, which frequented back in the day for its Whiskey Sours and French Dips and rude waitresses.

Below is one of Nelson's video compilations but there are many more up on YouTube if you search his name.  He shot more than 1,900 hours of footage using one of the early 8mm video cameras before dying suddenly in 1989 of a heart attack at age 41.  There is also some more information about Nelson and his archive on his website as well.   His work is a great nostalgia trip to the rougher, crazier and dirtier city of the recent past....one that I sometimes miss like an old friend.

New TV Host Ignatiy Vishnevetsky Is Kinda Cute

You are probably wondering, OK....who the heck is Ignatiy Vishnevetsky?  You are probably not wondering why he is kinda cute, as that is pretty obvious.  :) As to who he is exactly, Ignatiy is a big film nerd from Chicago who got his start working at a video store there, founded a movie site called MUBI and now is the new co-host of "At The Movies" on PBS.

I caught the new iteration of the show that originally starred the inimitable Siskel and Ebert.  The show was languishing until last year when Ebert decided to take the show over as producer and hire new talent.  The new movie review duo was going to be Christy Lemire, from the AP, and Elvis Mitchell, from NPR.  Mitchell was dropped (or quit?) and critic Ignatiy got a film critics' role of a lifetime...all at the ripe age of 26.

The show started airing on PBS a couple weeks ago and, having seen the 3 episode on Friday, it's not too bad.  They had a nice choice of indie films and the rapport was intelligent and sharp, with some disagreements but nothing stagey.  Ignatiy has grown a half-beard to try and age-up a bit.  He doesn't need it though. He speaks commandingly of his love for cinema and has the breadth of knowledge for this sort of gig.  So the fact that he is also kinda cute too boot is merely a bonus.

Pencil vs. Camera

Another photo post today. These look-twice pics really caught my eye when they were featured in yesterday's Telegraph, a UK paper/website which is surpringly artsy for a major daily. The man behind these unique mash-ups of drawing and photography is a Belgian artist named Ben Heine.  You can even purchase these works too via his website, linked to his name.  And the full slide show is viewable at this link to the Telegraph's Arts section.

The Ruins Of Coney Island

Coney Island is one of my favorite places in NYC, as many of you know. I've blogged about trips to the Freak Show for Burlesque and Boylesque and my annual ride of the Cyclone, the best coaster in the world.  But, these days, Coney is in the midst of a massive transformation and pieces of it's storied past are fast disappearing.

This week, the TIMES City Room blog featured some gorgeous photos of the ruins of Coney Island by a local photographer, Nathan Kensinger.  He took shots of the Playland arcade which dates from the 1930's and is falling down.  His website has more of these pictures which capture a ghostly place, lost in time.  The new Coney may be nicer than it was, but hopefully the old Coney in these photos will never be forgotten.

"The Empire Strikes Back" circa 1955....in 3D!

I posted before about this guy who puts together "premake" trailers of recent blockbusters made out of the footage of old B-movies.  One of his best was "Raiders Of The Lost Ark".  But this one is pretty good too. I especially like the recreation of the Hoth ice planet and the charming Captain Solo.  Darth Vader might look familiar....it's actually Iron Man, from a Marvel serial of the same name in the 50's.

Battle of The True Stories For This Year's Oscar

Four films this year are battling for the top prizes at the Oscars this year; David O. Russell's THE FIGHTER, David Fincher's THE SOCIAL NETWORK, Danny Boyle's 127 HOURS Tom Hooper's THE KING'S SPEECH.  Though all these films couldn't be more different than each other they all do have one thing in common which is that they are all "based on a true story".  It's as if the reality TV virus has started to infect the Academy Awards. The questions everyone is asking now is how true are these stories, and, the even bigger question, will that matter when it comes time for Oscar voters to make their picks?

Both SOCIAL and HOURS seem to take the loosest and most fictional approach to their true life inspirations.  And they are struggling for awards momentum lately.  In David Finchers' retelling of the rise of Mark Zuckenberg, he creates a wholly fictional framing device for the young Harvard nerd's quest to create Facebook--he wants to meet girls.  However, the real life Zuckenberg already had a girlfriend when he was in college.  In fact, he still has the girlfriend today.

Bigger queries are being raised over the Oscar-favorite THE KING'S SPEECH.  There seems to be a whisper campaign starting up that King George was more an appeaser than he is painted in the movie.  Will this embellishment of history dash the film's chances for the big prize?  Probably not.  The film is still brilliant and, even though THE SOCIAL NETWORK was highly entertaining, the story of King George has the emotional story going for it, one that audiences have responded to.  Not unlike a movie a few years back which humanized King George's daughter...THE QUEEN.

I think that the reality theme of the 2010 race is more likely a fluke.  What Oscar really loves is royalty! And no amount of whispering will sway voters otherwise.  My bet is THE KING'S SPEECH will take home 5-6 statues at least, maybe more, including Best Picture.  

Brunch With Jazz Singer Lea Delaria

Yesterday, I was invited for an only-in-New York experience; a jazz brunch featuring Lea Delaria and a sharp jazz trio at Smoke.  This restaurant/lounge tucked away on the Upper West Side is a charming and very intimate space for a performer but, fortunately, Ms. Delaria, formerly know for her out-there standup in the 80s/90s, is not shy.

She is a remarkable singer and was in top form as she did an hourlong set for the brunch crowd.  I remember first seeing her sing in the lovely production of ON THE TOWN at the Public's Central Park stage.  She blew me, and the audience, away with her brassy interpretation of Hilde, the rat-a-tat cab driver, and her unique song stylings of the Camden/Green standards.  Lea, along with Mary Testa, stole the show.

Well, now she's got her own show and rightly so.  Not to mention more than a few CD's on Warner's Jazz label.  One I am downloading today is called Double Standard, where she converts some unlikely pop songs into the jazz canon, most notably Blondie's CALL ME.  I wish I could post it here but you'll just have to download it yourself on iTunes.  I don't know that much about Jazz, but I do love Blondie and this is an amazing cover!