DISNEY STUFF
Daryl has joined the Synergy Team of Buena Vista Home Entertainment as a full-time employee. His last day as a temporary was also Michael Eisner’s last day. Daryl and his team were on the Disney Studio lot Friday at lunchtime to attend MDE’s brief, unscripted goodbye address. There were no characters, confetti or fireworks; just a man at a plain podium reminiscing about the job he had held for 21 years.
NEW TV SEASON
It’s great seeing new episodes of Arrested Development, The Simpsons, and (eventually) Scrubs. Of the new shows we’ve sampled, our biggest thumbs-up goes to NBC’s My Name Is Earl. The first two episodes each felt like independent films. We also wanted to get a plug in for FOX’s Kitchen Confidential since it needs a little help in the ratings. One show we are missing is HBO’s Six Feet Under. Shortly after the awesome final episode we drove to the neighborhood where the Fisher & Sons Funeral Home still stands and took some pictures.
KEANE AT THE GREEK THEATERHave you heard the English band Keane? We saw them Friday night at the Greek Theater performing the last concert of their world tour. We are still marveling at how full their sound was despite there being only drums, voice, and an electric piano on stage. What do they sound like? Decide for yourself at http://www.keaneband.com/
DEAD END AT THE AHMANSON
Our first time at the Ahmanson Theater was a treat. We saw Dead End, which was written in 1935 and chronicles a few New York days in the tenements along the East River. You might have seen the Humphrey Bogart film which launched the “Dead End Kids” (a.k.a. the Bowery Boys).
The story is still relevant and the actors did a great job, but for me the big hit of the show was the set. It was a complete street scene rising 4 stories into the flyspace. Each apartment building had working electrical, fire escapes, and residents that wandered throughout the background as the main stories unfolded. The street dead ends at the East River, or in this case an orchestra pit filled with 11,000 gallons of water. The kids were constantly diving into the water to hide from police, to cool off from the heat or to make the biggest splash possible. Some of the first row patrons probably felt like they were at Sea World.The show runs through October 16 with Jeremy Sisto [Six Feet Under], Tom Everett Scott [That Thing You Do!], Ricky Ullman [Phil Of the Future] and Joyce Van Patten. For more history and ticket information click here: http://www.taperahmanson.com/show.asp?id=304
VOLUNTEERING
We both spent Saturday, September 17 doing volunteer work. While I was picking up trash at Venice Beach, Daryl was in Brentwood volunteering at the Hollywood Yard Sale sponsored by W Magazine and Guess Jeans. The event was hosted by Jane Kaczmarek [Malcolm in the Middle] and her husband Bradley Whitford [The West Wing] with the proceeds going to Katrina relief efforts. Some of the items were personal, some were used on TV shows, and many were provided by stores looking for press.
How Hollywood was it? Well it‘s the only yard sale Daryl ever went to with valet parking, a guest registry, live bands, DJ’s, catering, and photographers. There was a green carpet for celebrities like Cheryl Hines [Curb Your Enthusiasm], Nia Vardalos [My Big Fat Greek Wedding] and Gail O’Grady [American Dreams] to pose on. You can see part of it at http://www.dailyceleb.com/production/?view=event&eid=3493
The next day Jane was at the Emmys talking about another charity effort Clothes Off Our Back. She and other celebs auction off their red carpet attire to benefit a variety of causes. The auction has been extended to October 5, so if you have $1500 lying around, Eva Longoria‘s dress could be yours. http://www.clothesoffourback.org/
THE HOLLYWOOD BOWLWe attended our final two shows at the Bowl. The first was Pink Martini, who are best described as a quirky “World Lounge” ensemble. This Portland-based, 14-member group performs mostly original songs that sound as if they were created during the first half of the last century. There were bouncy cabaret songs sung in French, lush orchestral numbers in Italian and a Japanese children’s song with a koto soloist. Their website has a radio you can click on to hear: http://www.pinkmartini.com/
Two days later we were back for Destination: Hawaii. The first act on the bill was Na’Leo (prounced “nah-LAY-oh“), three ladies singing mid-tempo ballads with tight harmonies. They seem to be a Hawaiian version of Wilson Phillips, until you consider that these women have 15 albums to their credit. You can sample their soft rock and island flavor at the website http://www.naleo.net/ [NOTE: Their address ends with “net because www.naleo.com belongs to the National Association of Latino Elected Officials.]
The headliner was Kealii Reichel. (pronounced “KEY-uh-LEE-ee ray-SHELL“) http://www.kealiireichel.com/biography_bio2.html This man knows how to put on a show. He sang, played guitar and ukuele, performed a hula and talked about growing up in Hawaii. Preserving his heritage and sharing it with the world is central to what he does but Kealii didn't let that drag down a great show. In fact, he had four hula schools accompanying him and his band throughout the night so the stage was almost always full of activity. The show had warmth, beauty and lots of punch lines in Hawaiian.Afterwards, we headed home saying “Aloha” to the Hollywood Bowl for this season.
STAR SIGHTINGS
In addition to the folks listed above, while Daryl was at the yard sale he saw Frankie Muniz from Malcom in the Middle and Alison Arngrim, better known as Nellie Olsen from Little House on the Prairie.
At lunch last week in Burbank, we passed Andrew Keegan [10 Things I Hate About You] as he was walking his dog, and then passed Jerry Ferrara [“Turtle” from Entourage] who was having a latte’ at an outdoor café.
Some days, it seems like we just got to LA and other days it seems like we’ve been here longer than eight months. We’ve already experienced flooding, landslides, earthquakes, power outages and brush fires. Who knows what October will bring.
Until next month.
James
