This Film Really Speaks To 1975 Los Angeles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                  Even after fifty years, "Shampoo" can still serve as a reminder to Easterners why we prefer living in the jungle of New York City than the smog ridden, politically laden infestation that is Los Angeles.

                                     Warren Beatty plays George, a straight (!!!!!!!!!!) hairdresser who screws anyone female in sight.  George has no plans or alternatives; he talks about opening a salon of his own but never follows through on it.  He will never be Sally Hershberger.

                                        Much of this film, wonderfully directed by Hal Ashby, consists of shots of Beatty on his motor bike, racing through Oriental-like hills and houses of Los Angeles. I am convinced Beatty was playing himself, circa 1975.  I cannot imagine how Annette Benning managed to tame him!!!!!!!!!!!  I know Carly Simon had him, but let me admit I never did, nor did I want to!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            Goldie Hawn as Jill and Julie Christie as Jackie are two of his conquests, and neither one has looked better than in this film.  First, when one is Julie Christie, how can one not look good?  Wouldn't we all like to look like Julie Chrisite, darlings?????????  And Goldie Hawn here reminds those who might forget what a marvelous comic actress she was.  Daughter Kate Hudson never came close!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                There is even a one scene appearance by a pre-"Star Wars" Carrie Fisher, who plays Lorna, daughter of Felicia (Lee Grant).  She gets the best line in the film--"Do you want to fuck?"

                                                   Cycle riding, fornicating and parties is what "Shampoo" adds up to in a dismal picture of Los Angeles, albeit tinged with humor.

                                                     I enjoyed every minute of it.  But one thing I could not believe.

                                                      Good an actress as Lee Grant is, and as fine is she is this film, SHE beat out Ronnee Blakley and Lily Tomlin in "Nashville???????????"  How???????????

                                                          One of many things I cannot forgive the MPAAS for!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Really?????????? PEOPLE Magazine Must Be Getting Desperate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             Noah Wylie????????  The SEXIEST Man Alive????????????????

                             You have got to be kidding.  I mean, he is nice looking enough, but with folks like Jake Gyllenhal and Jonathan Groff--even Daniel Radcliffe--out there, you have got to be kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 Everyone, including myself, remembers Wylie best as the baby-faced intern on TV's "E.R."  But that is about twenty years ago.  He was cute then.  Now, he has just aged.

                                   Maybe PEOPLE need gay men on the staff who judges this award.  Had there been any, I am sure it would not have gone to Noah Wylie.

                                     So many more I could have thought of.

                                      Maybe there is some kind of hormonal imbalance at PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Baby Boomer Generation Gets Its Due Here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       Far more eloquently than Joyce Maynard on that fateful April 23, 1972, Billy Crystal today speaks to our generation in a connective way with humor and insight that I was not quite expecting.

                                        I won't say I disliked Crystal; I just was not a fan.  I mean, he was OK on "SOAP," and on the Oscars, which I did not know he hosted for nine years!  But I was never one to run to a Billy Crystal show or movie.  Of course, I have seen the famous scene from "When Harry Met Sally," but it never made me want to see the rest of the movie.

                                             860 refers to the house address where Billy Crystal and his wife Janice raised their two daughters, hosted parties and family gatherings, and in general did what people do when living in a house for years.  That is, before being destroyed in one of the California wildfires.   Just like my family did at 166 North Tenth Avenue in Highland Park, NJ.  He interjects humor and pain, talking about loss, including that of his friend Rob Reiner, and the phone call he got when he learned what had happened.

                                                   It is 100 absorbing minutes of Crystal on stage.  He wrote this show, and had marvelous directorial help from Scott Ellis, one of the best out there.

                                                     Girls, would I lie if it was not good?  Would I tell you to run to a Billy Crystal show if I did not believe in it?  Well, I do, and here I am telling you to run and see this show.

                                                        Like me, you may come out with a different outlook on Billy Crystal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Girls, Brighten Your Home With Comforting Childhood Wallpaper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                                

                                   Nothing says comfort more than childhood, darlings, and with the long Winter approaching, make your home as comforting as possible.  Here are two spectacular examples.

                                      The first is "Alice In Wonderland."  Now, wouldn't that look nice in your living room?  I can't wait to get it for ours.  Just think, by looking at the walls, one could go to Wonderland whenever one chose.  I am all for that, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        Now, of course, the only place for "Wynken,Blynken,' And Nod" is the bedroom, what with that night sky, those clouds, and the comforting moon that they are steering toward.  Imagine awaking and going to sleep like this, darlings, and that would be the fulfillment of childhood dreams.

                                          Comfort is needed in a house anytime, but especially in Winter.

                                          So elevate your SAD with child centric memories to make the dullness pass!

                                         I can't wait to see them on my walls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Meet My Very Special Friend, Doctor Pickles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                  As most of you know, I am an animal lover, and I cannot pass a bookstore without going in and buying something.  Just like Imelda Marcus, darlings!!!!!!!!!  Imagine my delight, when I realized that just around the corner was the used bookstore Book Trader, run by the distinguished gentleman I am paying so much attention to, Doctor Pickles.  He is a beautiful cat, a real gentleman, and he was always available to me when I came in.  Needless to say, I made off with a pile of books.  Not counting our visit to Head House Books.

                                  I just loved Dr. Pickles, and he really took to me.  It did sadden me that I seemed to be the only one paying attention to him.  Despite being a hefty cat, he is spry, affectionate and deserves all the attention he can get.  Future visitors, please pay a visit to this store, and give some attention to Doctor Pickles.

                                  I have missed him, ever since we returned.  But I have a feeling we will see each other again.  As well as my childhood friends we visited in South Jersey.

                                  A lovely time by all.  With special thanks to Doctor Pickles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here We Are In Philly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                I never thought Philadelphia would be so much fun, but it really was.  We stayed at the charming Penn View hotel, which was just down the street from his cousin Judy, whom we were visiting, and had a lovely time with.  I discovered tapas, and found it delicious, had an old-fashioned black and white soda in a store where supposedly the first ice cream soda was served in 1874.

                                 At David's behest, we visited the Museum Of The American Revolution.  It was beautifully curated and quite moving.  The highlight was the film and viewing live of Washington's tent, a majestic presentation that thrilled us.

                                And here are the two of us, in a picture taken near Constitution Hall.  Don't we look fabulous, darlings???????????????

                               The weather could not have more perfect for this trip.  After a sad and soggy Summer, I felt this was some kind of weather reward.  Every day was filled with cloud free skies and golden sunshine..

                                  I also enjoyed seeing the Benjamin Franklin Bridge lit up at night in blue.

                                And that was just the tip of the iceberg.  There is more to follow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                  

                                       

Gird Those Panties, Girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jonathan Groff Is Coming Back To Broadway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                I cannot wait!!!!!!!!!!!  But, darlings, you might want to get a grip on those panties, because, despite Jonathan bringing all his charm, this is not the kind of evening one throws panties to the performer.

                               In early February 2027, at the Broadhurst Theatre, Jonathan Groff will perform the one-man show "The Amish Project," inspired by the West Nickel Mines school shooting, which took place in the Amish country, where Groff hails from, on October 2, 2006.

                                So yes, one is getting two hours of Jonathan Groff, but a very different Groff from what one is used to, which is what interests me.  He demonstrates a range, willing to try different things, and I am curious to see what he does with this.

                                  All you Groff groupies who want to adulate, please wait at the stage door.

                                 I cannot wait to see Jonathan's dramatic triumph!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!