I May Not Be Jennifer Jones In "The Song Of Bernadette," Darlings, But This Photo Is An Offense To Me, To All Catholics, And To People Of Good Standing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                             Girls, doesn't this just raise the bar on crassness??????????  Donald Trump as POPE??????????

                               It is bad enough having him as President, but the Papacy would be ruined if he took it.  That is, if he could, not even being Catholic in the first place.

                               Still, it is a frightening prospect.  Catholics who fear the downfall and end of the Church would certainly get it were Trump to hold this office.  He might even bring Lucifer up from the jaws of Hell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             However, I have a better idea, darlings---

                                  In this best of all possible worlds, were such a thing possible, Sister Camille D'Arienzo should be elected Pope.  She has the wisdom, kindness and insight needed for the job, though I can see she may not want the headaches.   But it makes more sense to me than Trump!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    I am not a political satirist; I leave that to my betters, like Stephen Colbert.  But this goes beyond politics, to the foundation of morality.

                                     Don't tolerate this moral indecency.  Stick with Sister Camille!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      She does not steer anyone wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

May The Fourth Be With You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            I have no idea how this tradition started, or when.  To my recollection, the original "Star Wars" opened on May 25, 1977--I think.   Somewhere down the line, someone had the bright idea that since "May The Fourth Be With You" sounds similar to "May The Force Be With You," that this date should be designated " 'Star Wars' Day."

                               Now, I love, and still love, the first "Star Wars," but I am no afficionado.  I just go with the flow, so I am wishing everyone on here a happy " 'Star Wars' Day."  Watch the original classic, or all the films, if you own them.  Or go out into the world and do something good.

                                 But whatever you do, darlings, May The Fourth Be With You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                " A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away........."

For The First Time In Eighteen Years, Darlings, I Must Publish A Retraction!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       Honest, girls, I have no idea what happened.  Either someone at ME TV, or on the "Svengoolie" program staff screwed up.

                                          Last week, as "Willard" ended, I distinctly heard Svengoolie say that next week's showing would be something called "The Mysterious Island Of Beautiful Women."  It sounded like a camp blast!  Yet, when the newsletter came out earlier this week, it simply said "The Mysterious Island," referencing Jules Verne and Ray Harryhausen.  What the hell was going on???????????

                                           The guide director on our television as we tuned in to watch also said "The Mysterious Island Of Beautiful Women."  Yet, when we watched, the program was actually the above--the 1961 film version of Jules Verne's novel, which was really not the novel at all, but a compendium of Verne and other formulae.  I have to admit the photography, especially in the pre-island sequences was dazzling, as were the set design, art direction, and special effects.  Columbia Pictures obviously put a lot of money into this one, and it showed.

                                           But, guys, get your films straight.  Now, next week is supposedly "Kingdom Of The Spiders," which we have seen and have no intention of seeing again.  So, we will not be watching.  But if I find out that they ran the 1958 gem, "Earth Vs. The Spider" instead, I am going to be furious.

                                      By the way, this was not the first film version of "The Mysterious Island." MGM did one in 1929, and it was hardly faithful to the novel.  In this one the undersea people, to protect their existence, decide to unleash upon the stranded islanders their giant octopus.  Now there is a giant octopus in the version we saw, but no one owns it.

                                        ME TV and Svengoolie had better own up to their viewers, with an apology!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          And just where was Nostalgiaferatu???????????????????????

Girls, Guess Who Is Also Getting A Special TONY Award???????????? My Former Workplace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              This is The New York Public Library Of Performing Arts, where, for 35 years, I toiled not, nor did I spin.  It is being honored this year with a special TONY Award, for its service to the performing arts community--not just actors, but technicians, singers, crew members, playwrights, composers, anyone who works in the performing arts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               And that includes yours truly, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              It is about time this honor was given.  And the timing is apt, because this year marks the library's 60th anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!!  Happy, happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             Of course, having worked there 35 years, I know many secrets and where many bodies are buried.  I would love to see the award handed out during the actual ceremony, but I have a feeling it will be done behind the scenes.  Maybe we can catch a glimpse of it.

                             Because I can say this.  I am curious--actually, dying with curiosity-- to see who accepts the award.  I can tell you who it should be, and who it should NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             But that's ME, darlings.  This devil really does wear Prada.

                            As I said, it is going to be a very interesting TONY Awards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                          Oh, for the uninitiated, that black thing in the corner of the photo is not a giant spider.  It is some esoteric piece of sculpture that has been there so long even I cannot remember!!!!!!!!!!!

                           The scandal, darlings, the scandal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't Get Too Excited, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! May Turns Out To Be Not So Sterling A Month On "Svengoolie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                       Before Baby Gojira and others get excited about the possibility of bosoms, let me caution all--this was a 1979 made-for-TV movie, so that does it for bosoms.  The plot is a sort of "Lord Of The Flies" redo--a group of men plane crash on an unknown island, where women prey upon men!

                                           I mean, some may get a kick out of this, but I don't expect it to be very good.  Where the hell did "Svengoolie" dig this thing up?  And why?

                                          The only known cast member is Peter Lawford.  He must have been desperate for money, fueled by alcohol or gambling debts, to appear in this piece of crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             Only by watching can one know what to expect.  So, if you tune in at 8PM, and feel like having a Sea Breeze or a carafe of Montepulciano, go right ahead!  Both could be the saving grace of getting through this movie.

                                              I will be honest.  "Svengoolie" does not have one gem in the bunch this month.  But tonight's film is the worst!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                              Remember what Cunegonde said, "If I'm not pure, at least my jewels are!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

    

Guess Who Is Getting A Special TONY Award This Year?????????????? Celia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               That's right, girls.  I have been sitting on this one for a long time, even before The 2025 TONY Awards Nominations were announced later.  I will have much more to say about them in another post but let me say up front that while many were snubbed, I have some personal favorites of my own who were also snubbed, which I shall reveal eventually.

                                  The Divinity Of American Theater that is known as Celia Keenan-Bolger is to receive The Isabelle Stevenson TONY Award, for public service, via her advocacy within and outside the theater community.

                                   Because when Celia is not onstage giving brilliant, magical performances with her established technique, she is working for or with one social service organization or another, donating her time to making the world a safer place, especially for those of us living in NYC.

                                    Darlings, even I had no idea Celia's work was so prolific as to merit a special TONY Award.  I mean, it's not like she and I have had lunch lately, although we should!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      Hey, Celia, are you out there???????????  Because if so, we could sit down to lunch and you could talk about the organizations you have worked with, which I then could report on this blog, in case others might want to get involved.

                                       But congratulations to Celia!  No one is more deserving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       And it will be an interesting TONY Awards, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Girls, There Is No Better Way To Open May Than With This!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                           The day would not be complete, without Julie Andrews' flawless rendition of "The Lusty Month Of May," from "Camelot."  Just listen to how she holds those final notes on each verse, and then, at the end, can be heard above all others.  Can we count among such talent today/

                             Well, yes, but very few, though I do have some things to report on that in this month.  The news may be slow in coming, due to computer access, but I will do my best.

                               I have one more month to read what I want, before embarking on my big Summer project, which I will do after Memorial Day.  That is a rereading of Susanna Clarke's "Jonathan Strange And Mr. Norrell," which got quite the coverage last year, upon the twentieth anniversary of its publication.  Will I make it?  Time will tell.

                                   And before the year is out, I have to get on here all the books I read in 2024.  I can tell you right now I did not make 100.  I topped out at 92!!!!!!!!!!!  This, for me, is like getting an A- on a test!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

                                 May is also the month of Mary, Fatima, and flowers.  All representations of beauty.

                                 Wishing you all a deliciously beautiful May!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   Here it is!!!!!!   Take it away, Julie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!