Well, That's It For October 2019!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 This is it, girls, Halloween, and the last day of the month.

                                  We certainly did a lot.  We saw Renee Zellweger as "Judy," went to a book sale at Sleepy Hollow, as well as to Bushkill Falls, in Pennsylvania. so we did a lot more this month than last.

                                   Some difficult situations were also tackled and resolved--an unveiling, insurance, and financial aid for the needy.

                                      Halloween will be quiet for us, loves.

                                       But then comes November--my birthday, the book lists, Broadway, Thanksgiving--it is all too much to take in.

                                        The year is winding down. Soon, the Holiday Season will be upon us!

                                         And I will be with you, girls!  All the way!

                                         See you next month!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Halloween, From Gojira!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                Isn't he cute, girls?  He almost resembles our own Baby Gojira, because he is wearing almost the same witch hat.  But our Baby Gojira is soft and fuzzy, whereas this one looks scaled.

                                But our lovable reptile friend wants to wish one and all a very Happy Halloween.  He is especially concerned about the children being safe, and not eating too much candy.  He wants fun for all on this night, not tragedy.

                                 As I do for all my readers.  Personally, we are staying in to watch something holiday appropriate, but I have not decided what, yet.

                                    So march out there and get treats, not tricks!

                                    Gojira sends his love.  Isn't that sweet????????????????

Surprise! Surprise! Lily Rabe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                I, for one, could not have been happier to see Lily Rabe's surprise appearance on last night's episode of "American Horror Story 1984."  She almost seemed to be playing a young Pamela Voorhees, which fits entirely with the show's concept. And Lily did a beautiful job.

                                 Viewers learned she was the mother of two boys,  Benjamin (who became Mr. Jingles) and Bobby, whom she loved over all else. This was back in 1948.  When Bobby was killed in the lake by a boat propeller, because Benjamin was watching two counselors making love (recalling that horn dog, Barry, and Claudette, the slut, in the original "Friday The 13th"), Lily turns her wrath on one and all, vowing vengeance, which I felt was justified, in a chilling performance.

                                    She now hates Benjamin.  No wonder he evolved into Mr. Jingles.

                                     Meanwhile, Donna has gotten Brooke to a motel to recover, from her staged execution.  When they hit the road, they run into a stranger, played by a 70's looking Dylan McDermott, and who is clearly a stand in for William Bonin, the California Highway Killer.  The two ladies show him a thing or two,  and take to the road, planning to ruin Margaret's music festival and get revenge of Montana.

                                        Back at camp, Montana and the rest of the ghosts were having trouble coming to terms with their current stature, and are out for vengeance, to get out of this purgatory--more like Hell--they are  in.  Meanwhile, Lily has her Wilkie Collins moments as the ephemeral "Lady In White."  Having killed his mother in 1948, starting Benjamin on his killer career path, Lily is now a ghost, roaming about.  She talks Benjamin into killing himself, and when the viewer sees John Carroll Lynch arise from the body of...well, John Carroll Lynch, it is obvious he is a ghost, and intent on wreaking on vengeance on Margaret.  Who, save for a brief scene, was missing from the episode.

                                         I expect the music festival to be next week.  With Ramirez back, having killed the first band to arrive, what hell will be wrought?  A bloodbath, I hope.

                                          Plus at the end, a hit about the finale.  The last episode, in two weeks, entitled "The Final Girl" is important.  In films of this genre, there is always one girl, who survives the others.  Think Adrienne King as Alice in the original "Friday The 13th."  She survives.  But, if there is a sequel to the first film, this girl is always the first to be killed.  Like Adrienne/Alice in "Friday The 13th, Part 2."

                                             My guess is Brooke will be the final girl.  Or will she?????????????

                                             Stay tuned, kiddies, to find out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They May Never Have Crossed Paths, But There Was More Of A Connection Between Shirley Temple And Judy Garland Than One Might Have Thought!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    Foolish me, darlings!  I knew Temple's icon status at 20th Century-Fox ended with puberty, in 1940.  But I thought her last film there was their compensation gift to her, "The Blue Bird."  But it was not.  It was "Young People," which is an interesting film to look at in scrutinizing Temple's career.

                                     Now, baby boomers like yours truly, who grew up with those annual TV showings of "The Wizard Of Oz," knew, by high school, and even some before, that Shirley Temple was the first choice for Dorothy.  But history stuck its hand in, and provided Judy Garland, who made it the iconic film still discussed today.  With Shirley, it would be in the canner's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        "Young People" shows why.  The story is a comedy-musical-drama.

                                           Jack Oakie and Charlotte Greenwood play Joe and Kit Ballentine, two vaudeville hoofers.  Their two best friends were Barney and Florence O'Hara.  Florence dies in childbirth, and the grief kills Barney, so their daughter, Wendy, is dispatched to the Ballentines, to be raised by them.  The girl, named Wendy, becomes a part of their act, which is a chance to relive some of the best moments of Shirley's earlier career, and begin to shed light on why it was now ending.

                                           As Wendy gets older, the Ballentines decide to get out of show business, and give Wendy a so-called normal upbringing.  Her father left her a farm that he bought, in the New England town of Stoneville.  So, the family moves there, intending to make friends, make good, and give Wendy a happy, normal life.

                                            And this is where things get dramatic.  The town rejects them as being too crude and vulgar, because they are show-biz folk. Wendy is adopted, but does not know this yet, and the Ballentines mull over when she should be told.

                                               With the exception of Mike Shea, a progressive newspaper type, the town is told what to do by Miss Hester Appleby, played by Kathleen Howard. She lives with her spinster niece, Judy (Arleen Wheelan) in this Gothic house on a hill.   The town officials humiliate Joe (Oakie) by appointing him a one-man Chamber Of Commerce, which he believes at first.  When he finds out the truth, that he is nothing more than a joke to them, fists fly, and justice is served.  But it is too late.

                                                 The Ballentines decide to leave the town and go back to show biz.  But before, there is a scene in a soda fountain, where Wendy confronts her bitch nemesis, Mary Ann, (Shirley Mills) plus her mother and friend.  The speech she makes here, and to a Mr. Dakin later on, shows the studio was trying for a dramatic transition for Shirley, but all she could muster was that pouty petulance in both face and voice she had mastered for years.  So, this is why her career ended.
The audiences could not accept her growing up, and she could not, either.  Plus her vocal singing range was extremely limited.

                                                    As the Ballentines leave town, a hurricane arises, causing them to be stranded in Miss Appleby's house, with a group of children, whom they save.  This is, after all, Temple's swan song, so it has to have a happy ending.  One child, Jerry is missing, and when Joe finds out, her marches out into the storm, and, in a scene looking straight out of Mary Pickford's "Sparrows" from 1926.  Jerry is saved, Joe recovers, everyone now loves the Ballentines, even Judy, who finally comes around, to Mike Shea's delight, and the film culminates in Shirley's last great dance number, "Tra-La-La," backed by some fancy footwork form Oakie, and dazzling work from Greenwood.

                                                      Now, how does Garland figure in here?  Well, did you know the two were on the 20th lot at the same time?  In 1936, while Temple was Screen Queen, Garland, an awkward looking 14, was loaned by Metro to Fox for a football musical, "Pigskin Parade."  She even had pigtails here, but none as couture as Dorothy's.  Her dress was a burlap sack, and she looked like White Trash, which I guess she was playing.  But, even then, she had "that voice."  Nothing trashy about that, dears.  I have no info about them crossing paths, but they were connected.

                                                       "Young People" ended Temple's career, because she had no adult acting chops, and could not evolve.  I guess they thought retraining here a waste, and the public would not accept her growing up.  Too bad, because the plot of this film is a little "King's Row-ish," which came along the following year, and, had Shirley shown acting promise, she might have had a shot at the child Cassie in that film.  Alas, she did not.

                                                             Interestingly, to erase her image and become adult, she auditioned for the role of Veda, in "Mildred Pierce."  Like Ann Blyth, she had angelic looks, but could not summon the acting chops to reveal the evil beneath Veda's exterior, the way Blythe did.

                                                            I don't know how much of Hollywood, then, knew Judy Garland's true story, but I can tell you this.  "Young People" is eerily similar. Judy was the child of vaudevillians Frank and Ethel Gumm.  She was their most talented child, and when they got to California, they moved to the town of Lancaster, outside of Los Angeles.  But, like other times, with Frank's homosexual peccadilloes, the family had to move...again.  But not before, as in "Young People," the town residents made it clear the Gumms were not welcome, due to their being "show folk."

                                                                 Was this a swipe at Garland, for Temple not getting 'Oz?' Or just coincidence?  In any case, as things are known now, it is frighteningly ironic.  And while Fox might have been hoping for things to work out for Temple, they did not.  She made a few good movies--"Since You Went Away" (1944), "The Bachelor And The Bobby Soxer" (1947) and "Fort Appache" (1948), with John Agar, who became her first husband.

                                                                   Then she retired, raised children, and had a whole new career in politics, before dying in 2014, at the age of 85!

                                                                      Shirley will remain an extraordinary part of film history. But, like many child stars, that stardom is short lived.  She had too much dignity, to evolve into a latter day Baby Jane. She left on her terms, head held high.

                                                                         But when her name is mentioned, it will only reference the vintage years, 1934-1940!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is her last dance, in "Young People." This was her swan song!

Great Writing, But Flawed Narrative!

                           "Inland," Tea Obreht's second novel, is a Western, but with all all the magical realism, mysticism, and equivocal doings that marked her first, "The Tiger's Wife."  It tells the stories of Nora Lark and her family, living in the Arizona Territory, circa 1893, as well as that of Lurie, a former outlaw, on the lam from killing a boy in New York and, on the Lark farm with Nora, a girl named Josie with mysterious, paranormal abilities.

                             I kept reading this book in frustration, wondering if these stories and characters would ever connect.  They do, near the end, but in a way I had not anticipated.

                               That is because, for all its resemblance to Cormac McCarthy, "Inland" is still as different from him as it can get.  There are no violent graphics and the use of the paranormal is completely typical Obreht.  Her prose is still detailed and dense, but is worth slogging through.

                                In the end, the novel turns out to be something far from what the reader might have expected, and the last sentence leaves one stranded in ambiguity.

                                Still, a worthy follow up novel.  Obreht is just compelling and clever enough to make me want to see what she will come up with next.

                                  Even if that takes another eight years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Busssssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhkillllllllllllllllllllllllll Faaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllllllllllllsssssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   It's not Niagara, darling!  Except to Pennsylvanians!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   Last Saturday, David and I took an L and M Bus Tour to Bushkill Falls, in rural PA.  A little too rural for me, dears!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   The first thing I learned was for a successful Land M trip, one needs docile patrons, which we had, and Jason, the coolest, and hippest tour guide, ever!  We had him on our Block Island trip last year, and he was the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     Before the falls, we stopped at a small natural history museum at the University of East Stroudsburg!  This is where I learned about possums suffering from high levels of anxiety; hence, the expression "playing possum."  David looked at me, and nodded, so I am convinced that if I go on Ancestry.com, on my mother's side, it will trace all the way back to the possum.  If I actually do this, girls, I will be sure to let you know.

                                        Following this visit, we dined at--oh, the horror, girls!--a Chinese buffet in a strip mall!  A strip mall!   I had to wear a veil, to protect my reputation!  As such, it was not as bad as might be expected, and they offered more than Chinese fare.  I did not eat much, because I have an instinctual distrust of buffets.  Besides, they are distinctly middle class!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          Ah, but the Bushkill Falls!  A charming little souvenir shop collection, capped off by a massive drop of at least three hundred feet, walked down steep steps, with fence logs and corner areas where patrons can sit and take a break, or look at the Falls from afar.  We chose this last, because David had his fear of heights, and I was getting a little woozy, plus I knew even if I made it all the way down, I then had to go UP--and I was not sure I could do that.

                                           But it was a lovely day, and dispelled some anxiety I had been feeling.

                                           If you go, make it a long day trip.  Not may hotels/motels to speak of, in the area!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sleepy Hollow....What A Charming Little Enclave!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                           Several Saturdays back, David and I, plus our neighbors, Dan and Jennifer, drove up to Sleepy Hollow for its library book sale.  I was disappointed not to see the headless horseman, as shown here, but I have to tell you I came away with one real gem, and two books I had been intending to read.  All for three dollars each.

                              But the town!  It is a charming little enclave, but so hilly!  I am telling you, these Westchester communities can be deceptive.

                                There was this bar where we thought we could get a burger too, but all they served was drinks,  As we quenched our thirst, we saw the town's underbelly--girls, who think nothing of walking down the street like tramps!  A troop of tramps!  There was this one, dark haired miss. using a sweater as a dress, only not very well, because, with a slit to the side, her panties could clearly be seen!  Black, with white background.  In public!  No decency!  Next stop for this one is reform school, not Miss Porter's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   I am telling you!  Public panties!!!!!!!!!!!  What is the world coming to???????

                                    Further on down was a place where we ate and drank, even though it meant walking up a large hill.  We spotted a furniture store, where Jennifer saw a piece she just had to have, and it has been delivered.

                                    I don't recall a bookstore, but none was there, or what was did not impress me. The town library certainly did, though.  No urban rat trap!

                                      Since we were practically adjacent to Tarrytown, I had the feeling there would be a college nearby; the community had the feel of a college town!  If anyone out there knows anything, please tell me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       I did buy a Penguin Washington Irving collection, as, for all my literacy, I have never read him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         And not all the folks are like tramps!  Take a look here!

This is the REAL Sleepy Hollow, darlings!  Lots of friendly folk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Remember When This Was Our Lives, Darlings???????????????????????

                                   Ah, yes, how simple and uncomplicated it all was, as we look back!

                                   Not so much then, dolls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    How many of us can recall doing leg raises, hanging over stair banisters, sitting among piles of record album covers while the turntable played (that was me!) or just scrunched up in a chair!

                                      This is "The Telephone Hour" number from the 1963 movie "Bye Bye, Birdie," and it indicates how much teens needed to communicate, even then.  To update this musical and the number would be moot, because the Internet, Instagram, Facebook and such make this primal sort of communication obsolete. And the number not as compelling/

                                         Yes, it was a simpler, more innocent time.  We just did not realize it at the time, as we were too busy living through it.  A pimple?  A test?  A quiz?????????  Oh, my God, your whole future was determined.

                                             And, yet, here we all are, today!

                                             Gotta go, girls!  Need to spin some discs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How Many Of Us Looked This Good, In High School???????????????????

                             Do you know who that is, darlings?  That is Lana Turner!  The legend goes she cut a class, hung out at Schwab's Drugstore, was spotted, and the rest is history!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              If only I had looked this good, and been spotted.  I still can do her famous walk down the street from 1937's "The Won't Forget," her first movie.

                               Everyone, at some point, I am sure, wanted to look like Lana.

                               My own high school years were more like this-- I was actually Chicklet, the petite blonde with the bouffant look, and the can of hairspray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lana sure got the most out of high school!!!!!!!!  Where did the rest of us go wrong??????????????

Age Comes To Us All! And At A Certain Age, We All Have To Do The Faye Dunaway/Joan Crawford Ice Facial!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               In just nineteen days, I will be a senior citizen--yes, I will be 65!--so, having recently watched clips of 1981's "Mommie Dearest," and watching the opening, I realize I will at some point, have to be doing this.

                                The alarm goes off at 4am.  On the dot.  Metro is calling; usually one had to be on the set between 5 and 7;30 am.  And arrive looking like a star!  So, this is what I will have to go through, while the coffee is brewing by the sink, so that, when I emerge from the shower, I can drink it, then dress and go to th3 studio.

                                   I will need an assistant to set out the ice cubes in a bowl, with a bottle of iced cold water to pour over them.  Any takers, girls?  I will need a chauffeur to drive me to the studio, and my own personal make-up artist, once I arrive.

                                     See what the price of seniority is, girls!  It will happen to me!  It will happen to you!

Otherwise, do you want to look like THIS????????????????

Sad, Though It May Be, This Is The Last Week To See Celia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     The time inevitably comes when a legend leaves one show, and hopefully, goes on to another.  This Sunday, November 3, will be Celia Keenan-Bolger's final performance in "To Kill A Mockingbird."

                                       It will also be a kind of death knell for the show.  With Celia, and the original company, gone, the show will no longer be what it was.  Celia, alone should have been kept, because it is a great gig for her, and she is the glue holding it all together.  Who could possibly come up to her level?

                                          So, make a bee line for the Shubert this week.  Even if you must stand, Celia will make it worth your while!

                                            You will leave having seen one of the most remarkable performances on stage.

                                             Celia, I will miss you, but look forward to your next venture!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Time To Welcome A New Reader, Girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             My God, darlings, it has been six days, since I have been on here, due to a lot of backstage drama, which I will eventually get to, and now I find my follower indicator is at 98, which means we have a new reader! Her name is Theresa O'Keefe, and to her, I say, welcome!  I always loved the name Theresa!

                               I hope you find the content on here informative and entertaining.  As I tell everyone, reading this blog goes great with coffee, which is never far from me, when I am writing.

                               A proper introduction would not be complete, without the blog's unofficial theme song.  So, here it is---Deborah Harry, singing "Call Me!"

                               Enjoy and welcome, Theresa.  I wish you many hours of entertainment on this blog.

                                 And comments are welcome, anytime!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"AHS #100" Was A Blast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                No, darlings, Sarah did not appear.  I was wondering whether she was behind the hood of the executioner who saved Brooke,  but she was not.  And I loved how Brooke, prior to zero hour, gave a few Emma Roberts-isms to show she is no Little Nell from the country.

                                It was fun seeing Montana all beach bunny, killing that red haired dude, who was as dumb as a Judge Judy litigant.  But the idea of them staying there, at Camp Redwood, is getting stale, but I have the feeling everything is building to the music festival, Margaret, now married to Trevor, who thinks he is blackmailing her, but who is he kidding, is now in real estate, dressed like Ivana Trump!!!!!!!!!  And there was a cute appearance by Leslie Jordan, who does the dwarf assistant routine.  A riff on Dwight Frye in "Frankenstein?"

                                 Speaking of riffs,  I thought Margaret's idea of making theme attractions out of murderous places was a great idea.  I would visit every one.  But how many noticed one was the house from "Horror House," and the mental hospital from "Asylum?"  How does this come into the cumulative mix?

                                  I mean, the music festival at Camp Redwood will be a cumulative blood bath.  Worse, even than the assassination in Altman's "Nashville," only without social commentary.

                                   Lastly, the marvelous John Carroll Lynch almost stole the show in tandem with Ramirez, who, I was disappointed to learn, survived the martyr attack--or did he?  When Ramirez sees Richter drive off, he gets vengeance by killing Richter's ex-prostitute wife!!!!!!!!!!  The baby survives, and Richter gives his son to his wife's sister, and Richter is back on the predatory prowl, out to get Ramirez, and several others along the way.

                                    I have to say this was the fastest moving episode I have ever watched.

                                    Now, if only Margaret will get the comeuppance she rightfully has coming to her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What A Dumb Bitch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 Girls, you know how much I deplore homophobia.  And, to others, I am honestly aware of how some of you deplore my use of the term "White Trash."  Yet, as the saying goes, "If the shoe fits....." and many times, as this case will show they collude.

                                   The winner of The Raving Queen Bitch Of The Week is Sevier County, Tennessee, Co missioner Warren Hurst.  He actually said, of Democratic Peter Buttigieg, "We have a queer, running for president, if that ain't as ugly as you can get."

                                      First of all, Warren, your use of "queer" is really archaic, and your use of the word "ain't" shows your low class and ignorance.  Only the White Trash use that!

                                        But wait!  It gets better!  Hurst had the gall to say, "I'm not prejudiced, but by golly, a white male in this country has very few rights in this country, and they're getting took every day."

                                          Again, bad grammar with "took."  It should be "taken."

                                          More important, what does Buttigieg wanting to be president have to do with the alleged elimination of white male rights?  Is he implying that because Buttigieg is gay, he does not have a right to call himself a white male?

                                            What he means are only white males....who think like him!  And they ARE out there!

                                           Nice going, asshole!  You just maligned an entire community.

                                           I know what your kind do.  Sit around all day in some shantytown, and then go gourmet--as you see it--at Cracker Barrel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            Well, take a Fleet enema and shove it up your ass, Hurst!!!!!!!!!!!  So that you, and others like you, can make a quick exit from this society!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wouldn't This Make A Great Double Feature, Darlings??????????????????????????????

                    Everyone knows about "Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes," and "Killer Clowns From Outer Space.  So, I began wonder what other killer things are out there.  I came up with a title of my own, which was "Attack Of The Killer Tongue," where an enlarged tongue squeezes its victims to death, by wrapping them around, like a sausage in a pancake--Pig In A Blanket!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                    Image my shock to discover my idea has already been used.  I have no idea when the tongue movie was made, and I cannot tell if it is soft or hard core porn.  But from the poster, there are risque connotations to it, and I would love to see how the Killer Tongue originates, and how it actually kills its victims.  Are teeth also involved?  Because this would have to be the greatest sex farce, since Mitchell Lichtenstein's (son of David) 2007 film, "Teeth," dealing with a young girl suffering from vagina dentata.  The last scene was a hoot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                    On a more benign note, there is "Attack Of The Killer Donuts," where jellies and Krispy Kremes get their revenge.  I think they would be excellent to show at kids' or adults' birthday parties. And, of course, serve donuts, afterwards.  This is a more recent film, from either 2016, or 2017.

                       Truthfully, I don't know kind of killer film will come up with, next, but I cannot wait.
Cigarette butts?   Beer cans? What is next?

But whether it is tongue, or donut, I cannot wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't go to Dunkin', girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do We Really Have To Talk About This Movie??????????? Well, I Suppose................

                                  First, the title, replicating the sparkling glitter of the Ruby Slippers is wrong.

                                  But that is the least of it.

                                  If this movie is for anyone, I suppose it would be the young and/or ignorant, who have no idea of the magnitude of Judy Garland's artistry.  And her tragedy.

                                  The movie looks like it was made on the cheap.  Especially those quick flash backs to her youth.  No one looks like whom they are supposed to be, and I cannot believe, Louis B. Mayer, who could barely speak English, could have delivered the speech he delivers to the young Judy.

                                    Then there is the scene everyone is getting all worked up about.  Andy Nyman and Daniel Cerqueira play this bogus gay couple named Dan and Stan, who live together in London,
They turn up at every engagement Judy appears at.  The problem is they are the only ones, and this defies credibility, because hundreds of people--gay and straight--clamored at Judy's stage door every night.  So, the set up is ridiculous from the start.  Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     But it gets worse.  Judy invites the besotted couple to go out to dinner with her, but they end up at their apartment, where Dan plays piano for her, and then the actors, in character, launch into a pitch for gay rights!   Darlings, being gay myself, I am certainly  sympathetic,  but what are the chances this actually happened?  Judy did not speak out for gay rights, though she acknowledged them as audience members.  If her death had not colluded with Stonewall, she might not even have become a symbol. This sequence is one of the supreme examples why this is the worst biopic since "J. Edgar," back in 2011, where Judi Dench had to deliver that ridiculous speech--and how she kept a straight face I will never know--about how she would rather have a dead son than a daffodil.  All this in reference to an event I could not find proof of--a little boy Edgar knew at school who was caught in female garb, made to stand like this in the school yard, and days later, took his life.

                                     If credibility must be strained, do not insult the audience. Case in point--"Funny Girl" in 1968.  Not exactly Fanny Brice's literal story, but it gives insight into who she was as a performer, and captures something of her appeal.

                                     Or how about 1954's "A Star Is Born?"  Pretty close to Judy's story, but not really.  Better to watch this than the current film, where one can distill Judy's essence.

                                      Of course, these films had two performers that could pull it off--BARBRA and JUDY, herself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       If Renee Zellwegger squinted her eyes one more time, as she does through all her movies, I wanted to tear her lashes out.  Judy certainly did not do that.  Never have I seen a more no talented bio interpretation of a performer. None of the Garland warmth and nuance in personality or singing. The actors playing her children are even worse.  No wonder LIZA disapproves.

                                         A final rendition of "Over The Rainbow" by Zellweger is sheer gall.

                                        Now, let's listen to the real thing!  What a difference!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     
                                      And who is this idiot, Rupert Goold, and what made him think he could pull this off?  And how did Zellweger, probably the least suited, get cast?????????????????

                                       Like I said, it all looks done on the cheap.  And this book it is purportedly based on, "End Of The Rainbow," by Peter Quilter????????????????   Never heard of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        I needed to cleanse myself of this film, as I felt I disrespected this great artist by seeing this film.  Girls, I am telling you, save yourselves the trouble.  Watch Garland as she actually was!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            Wise choices pay off, girls!

                                             "I'd give the world if I could only be,

                                               Sittin' on my Mammy's knee!

                                             I love the young folks, I love the old folks,

                                             I love my honey lamb, and everyone in Alabammy!!!!

                                             Mammy!  Mammy!  My dear old Mammy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

   

                                  

Let's Talk About Ronan Farrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 Actually, I am anxious to talk about Ronan, myself, girls, though he has had much to say, himself, lately.

                                  I will wait till his book comes out in paperback, to read it, but rest assured, I will.

                                   But isn't he just the cutest, freshest looking young thing?  Let me say, if he is Woody Allen's son, thank God he is 99.9 Mia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I can see some Sinatra in the eyes, so I do wonder.  Whatever, Ronan is a fine looking young man, and I am sure lots of us girls, would want to sit down and chat with him!  He is just so CUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   Now, Ronan, I am anxious to sit down with you, and I can be reached on here, darling, because I have some stories for you, about one of the most established cultural institutions in the city--or at least one particular branch of it--that would fascinate you.  You want names, places, dates, I have them all, Ronan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     I promised, when I retired from there, I would not write a 'Devil Wears Prada' type book.  Some of my coworkers actually said, "Oh, shit!," and those people I salute.  And, from time to time, I do rethink the idea.  But, Ronan, with your education, a law degree, and a Pulitzer Prize you are far more qualified and eloquent to tell my story than I.  While I can convey to you, what I was put through, I would like you to explore it in your own, inimitable way.

                                       How about lunch soon, Ronan?  At La Grenouille?????????????????

                                       SO cute, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"The Burden Of Our Choices," On 'SVU', Suffered Flaws, But Still Pressed Some Buttons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   The flaw comes not just from Olivia, but the writers, who had the potential to create a great episode, but only got halfway because of mediocrity.

                                    But let's start with the best, with Zach Gilford and Lucy Walters  playing Jim and Tammy Miller, the parents of Evangeline Miller (Kira McLean) who has run away from her Fundamentalist Christian home in Ohio--where else could she have fled, but the Midwest, or the South?--and come up here for an abortion.  Her parents, whose daughter is only 13, though the actress playing Evangeline is so obviously way beyond that, are the kind of hateful monsters one might expect, but things get even more dicey.  As soon as the nurse talked about years of vaginal tearing in Evangeline, I knew the father was not her runaway friend, Isaac, whom she had come to NYC, for help, but either her stepfather, or the smirking church pastor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      I was hoping it would be the pastor, but having the baby sired by the stepfather, made it more controversial.  Though not a blood relative, this is sexual assault, child abuse, (having been going on since Evangeline was age 11) and, as far as I am concerned, technically incest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       Tammy is so appallingly joyful over expecting a grandchild;  even when she first finds out the truth, she doesn't bat an eye against her husband, calling the event a "miracle," and part of "God's plan."  This is when I wanted to put my fist though the TV and castrate the stepfather, and slap the mother across her face.  Which someone should have done.  Her daughter is abused, then impregnated, by her husband and THIS is OK with her?????????????

                                         She even takes the cliché POV of her ex husband beating her, and when she found Jim, he was good and kind..  Yeah, and affectionate with Evangeline, which is where she pauses, and Olivia makes her pitch.  Meanwhile, the child's aunt has flown in to help raise Evangeline and the baby, but everyone knows she will go right back to her parents, as soon as she lands in Ohio.
They even bring in a lawyer from Ohio to take on the justice system in NYC!  Is he crazy?  Abortion is a right here, and to bring this child into the world would be wrong for both mother and child.

                                          What gets me is there are actual people out there, who believe this tripe.  Yet all these Mama Junes and Sugar Bears don't take charge of their own bodies, but keep popping out kids when maybe they should not, yet are ready to proselytize their agenda to anyone, whether they want to listen, or not!  To these folk, I say, Go fuck yourselves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            The ending was unsatisfying.  Olivia convinces Tammy to testify against Jim, but I did not buy it.  Though Jim may now be prosecuted, and go to prison, Tammy and her sister will still toss their agenda at Evangeline, with no let up.  The best moment was Amanda Rollins (the wonderful Kelli Giddish) taking Evangeline to the clinic for her abortion, and waiting for her.  Best of all, Kelli, not Mariska, got the final shot!  First sign of improvement I have seen; if only the writers had had balls enough not to whitewash issues, trying to please all constituents.  This is a TV show, not a political campaign!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             And don't get me started on Carisi's speech!  Great acting by Peter Scanavino, and I am with his mother, but very contrived!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                               Oh, and for a change, Bureau Chief Vanessa Hadid was not an out and out bitch!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Maybe there is hope!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                               Come on writers, if you are going tackle issues, then do so!  Don't try to please everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  That is falsity, not truth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Best Novel About NYC, Since "Christadora," By Tim Murphy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     The definition of "doxology" is "a liturgical formula of praise to God."  This novel may not be loaded with religiosity, but a spiritual quality emanates from it.

                                        It starts simply with three aspiring artists--Joe Harris, Pam Bailey, and Daniel Svoboda.  One of these characters is unfortunately killed a third of the way through the novel.

                                        All right--so stop reading here, if intending to read the book--it is Joe Harris, and the way he is killed, and that it is never brought to justice, bothered me a lot.  Pam and Daniel get married, and have a daughter, Flora.  But after losing Joe--and on 9/11--Pam and Joe think Flora might be better off being raised by Pam's parents out in the Midwest.  Flora grows into a young woman who, though more mainstream than her parents, is motivated by climate change and environmental protection, not artistic pursuits.

                                          Each issue is explored thoroughly by Nell Zink, with great objectivity. The period--or periods-- of life in New York are captured vividly, and with accuracy.  The emotional climate surrounding 9/11 is chronicled wonderfully.

                                           In the end, Flora turns out to be the heroine of the story, making choices for herself, while taking things ambiguously, regarding her personal relations.  There is great hope at the end, and a liturgical thread through Flora's seeking out comfort in the confines of a church, near her grandparents.

                                            "Doxology" is one of the best layered and written works of fiction I have read this year.  It was a pleasure, and may very well be a contender for the year's best.

                                              Watch out for it, and don't miss it, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We Have A New Reader, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              Yesterday, girls, I noticed the follower indicator was up to 97, which means a new reader has joined us.  Her name is Alison Weyen Martin, and, on behalf of all my girls, and myself, welcome!!!!!!!!!!!   Alison, I have no idea how you found your way here, but I am glad you did.

                                I hope this blog can provide you with info and entertainment.  Remember, it goes great with coffee.

                                 And once I get more energy there will be even more posts, coming, in the future.
Especially as the year begins to wind down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                  So, Welcome, Alison!  No welcome on here would be complete, without the following--The blog's unofficial theme song, Deborah Harry's "Call Me!"

                                    Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Dawn In Last Night's "AHS 1984," "Red Dawn," Was As Bloody As The Sunrise Sky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 More questions and revelations, as daylight broke on last night's episode of "AHS 1984."  Nurse Rita, or whomever she is--Dee Dee--makes the discovery, in a childhood flashback, that her father is a sadistic serial killer.  What is she going to do?  Even more, what is he going to do to her?

                                   Meanwhile, at Camp Redwood, Montana finally reveals her bitchiness to Brooke.  She tells Brooke how great she is at playing the victim, and I have to agree with her; so far, Emma has been doing a better job at that than I ever expected.  But I cannot stop wondering, when is Emma/Brooke going to reveal that inner bitch, that I know she just can't hide forever?

                                    And how about Sarah Paulson?  When is her surprise visit coming??????????

                                    Margaret and Chet take a boat ride, whereupon she kills him.  With that face, his future is gone.  Brooke finally learns Montana wants to kill her because she blames Brooke for her brother's death.  Brooke goes running into the woods, has sex with Ray--but is it really Ray, or a ghost?  And how can a physical being have sex with a corporeal one?  That is new to me, and will have to be explained.  I mean, if such a thing were possible, gay men would be having sex with their dead porn idols!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       But the highlight was the ending, with Richard Ramirez (Zach Villon) and Mr. Jingles (the wonderful John Carroll Lynch) heading back to Los Angeles, where we just know a blood bath will ensue.

                                         In the immortal words of Arlo Guthrie--

                                         "Comin' in to Los Angeles,
                                           Bringin' in a couple of keys,
                                           Don't touch my bags, if you please, mister customs man."

Belated Bitch Of The Week Disrespects Pussy Of Any Type!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    This story really got to me, darlings.  There is my friend, Nicholas, at the health food store, Apple Tree, here in Bay Ridge, and I just love him.  He gives me winks kisses, and always lets me pet him, because I handle him so gently,  When he feels my touch, he looks up, knows it's me, gives me a wink, and rests again.

                                       There is also another cat, farther South, in Stockton, New Jersey, whom I am worried about.  It has been months since I have seen a picture of him, and would love to see more.  My fear is Peanut has run off--he did not look too happy in the picture--or worse, is being forced to work the kitty trade to make money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          Now, the winner of this week's Bitch Of The Week is Aaron Spaulding.  He lives in Mexico, and was arrested for battering his girl friend, and choking the cat, and feeding it meth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             What?????????????????   You heard me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                              Let me say, at risk of being attacked, it is the cat I am more concerned with.  I don't care one whit about the girl friend.  She made her choice to live with this 39-year-old, drug addicted loser, so she knew what she was in for.  She is probably some white trash slut, drug addicted loser, herself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                She had choices. She made bad ones.  The poor cat had no choices.

                                                 Spaulding was arrested on June 3, 2019.  The cat survived--good news!!!!!!!!!!!--and has been placed in a loving home.  The girl friend--who cares?  Anyone on the street will do, for her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                   Now, what about Peanut?????????? Is he OK???????????????

A Really Fun, Nasty Read! But More Prescient Than Expected!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 I had never heard of this novel, until I discovered it at a bookstore in New Hope, PA, toward the end of Summer.  I read the cover, and flaps, and thought it would be interesting.

                                  Considering what it deals with, and  that I read it during all the promoting of Ronan Farrow and his book, the novel has an odd kind of prescience.

                                   The surprising thing--and one must read the book to find out--one will discover that the cover reveals the entire story.  It is done so cleverly, but, now, when I look at it, I think, "Oh, yeah!"

                                      "The Swallows" went beyond my expectations, which was another Donna Tartt/"Secret History" redo.  It is set in a private school, and, of course, every writer wants to be Donna Tartt, so I thought here is another try.

                                          Stonebridge, the tony sounding New England prep school in the novel, is a bastion of sexual scandal.  Let me say this novel does more than anything to reduce The Librarian As Cultural Stereotype.  Claudine Shepherd, the school's librarian is less sexually repressed, and more sexually depraved.  Sick, but a refreshing turnaround.

                                            Lutz' novel made me think back to Brett Kavanaugh, as this novel might be a nod to his private school years.  A world were boys objectify girls, not just via looks, but via the quality of how the girls service them orally!  I kid you not!  They have a secret dark room, codes, and symbols for each girl, that conceals her identity, should anyone break in.  But, with the aid of new teacher Alex Witt, and a few girls--Katy, Linny, and Gemma, among others, the break in is made and blood is shed in unexpected ways.  Male egos are shattered, and the school is basically finished, once the dust settles.  My only caveat was none of the male faculty seemed to be involved in this, and I just did not buy that.  Surely, Coach Keith should have been made a perpetrator.

                                               Wittt's  "Blow Job Chart" is a riot! But all too true!  I am sure things go on like this today, and they did, back in Kavanaugh's day.

To honor Lutz's book, I have a suggestion, girls!!!!!!!!!!!  After reading it, take this pic of Kavanaugh, print it, tape it to a wall, and throw darts at it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sick, straight pigs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

'SVU's Quality Not Nearly As High As "AHS'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                              Last week's episode, "Down Low In Hell's Kitchen," was better than the Ariel Winter episode, of last week, but it was still lame.  The best moment came in the opening, where Noah told Liv he did not want to play baseball....he wanted to study ballet!!!!!!!!!!!  I say, "Good for you, Noah!"  Because "Everything is beautiful at the ballet," but for Liv this will pose problems.  A burgeoning gay child?  I don't think Liv will be able to handle this one.  I cannot wait to see. but I predict, it will take Finn, his son Ken, and Grandma Sheila, plus excursions to the ballet, opera, Broadway, Serendipity, and some high end restaurants to turn Noah into the gay adult he is capable of becoming.  As a former burgeoning child, with New York wants, believe me, I KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                At first, I thought this episode as a redo of "Criminal Hatred," from 2013, where a self-hating gay man who could not pass for straight, wreaks murder on all those Manhattan suited closet cases who can.  I really got in, being in the same position myself, but I thought why keep redoing original episodes, that were better,  in the first place?????????????????

                                 This episode was less a redo than a rearrange.  Yes, victims are being murdered in midtown gay bars, but the victims are Afro American?  Is there a racial component?  Well, yes, and no.  The whole thing comes down to a white redneck type, who seeks out the black closet cases in the bar (the show makes Tuesday his night, so the killer can, presumably, watch 'SVU' on Thursdays!!!!!!!!!!!!) and, after determining they have wives, lures them into the bathroom, where the sicko goes down on the guys, gets off, and then, when the cloud has cleared, pursues them out of the bar, and kills them, out of self hatred and guilt for what he did!  Oh, come on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       But, hey!  This killer is a win, win!  Once he goes to prison there will be so many men eager to be serviced by this closet cocksucker, he will be as happy as a pig in shit!

                                         Watch out, you don't get corn holed, guy!  Bet you never heard of that!

                                           Really, there was no excuse for this episode, except insight into Noah, and the reveal, which I have been saying on here for years, that the most dangerous so-called members of LGBQT community are those Great Big Closet Cases!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                              Yet, hope springs eternal!  Baby Gojira is still excited about tomorrow night!