My Sister's Keeper Premiere

Read the fine print.

This is the lesson I learned when it came to passes I printed out for myself and a friend to see "My Sister's Keeper". Although they were from the same place that I had gotten passes from for the "Nights in Rodanthe" Premiere it just never clicked that these passes could be for a premiere too as it didn't blatantly say it on the pass - just to dress in appropriate business attire. It wasn't until I joined my friend in line and listened to her observations that it seemed clear it was in fact the movie premiere! Sheesh! I didn't even know they held premieres at the Lincoln Square Theatre. I guess now I do! :)

Thru intermittent rain we patiently stood in line to hopefully exchange our printouts for an actual pass for the premiere. Then we both recognized one of the security guys. He told us we should have no problem getting in and to let him know if we had any trouble. Cool. A few minutes later he came past again and asked if it was just the two of us. Yes, it was. Then a few minutes after that he came up and told us it was going to be a while still and asked whether we wanted to go to Starbucks and get a coffee with him...having a hunch something was up, we said sure and stepped out of line. As we walked closer to the entrance of the theater our friend slyly produced 2 passes -"Enjoy the Show", he said. How great is that?! :)

So we made our way upstairs and got our complimentary popcorn and bottled beverage and found our assigned seats. It was a bit harder to blatantly spot the celebs this time around. (We think we caught a glimpse of the young actresses and Jason Patric but weren't for sure.) After getting a late start the director, Nick Cassavetes, bounded to the front to introduce the movie giving kudos to everyone in the film with special note to the author of the book in which the movie was based - Jodi Picoult. He said he loved the book like many others and w/ his tongue planted firmly in his cheek he added that he did his best to ruin it. ;)

I haven't read the book, so I don't know how the movie measures up but I can tell you that it would be next to impossible not to shed a few tears or at least feel them coming on while watching this movie. The entire cast did a great job but I thought Jason Patric stood out because he did so much w/ so little. His character had the least to say but it was his face that said it all in so many scenes. Just right.

Afterwards, as we exited w/ the masses we saw Cameron Diaz riding the escalator down in her white dress. Just like at the Rodanthe Premiere, there were buses waiting outside to ship people to the after party but once again we weren't sure if anyone could go or what so we kept walking.

My friend commented that she thought it was funny how whenever she saw movie premiere coverage on TV it looked so glamorous and full of stars. Little did she know that much of the audience was filled with "us commoners". ;)

@ the Tonys!

Thanks to a friend of mine who "knew somebody", I got to be a seat filler at the Tony Awards!

When I officially got the word my first thought went to - What will I wear?! Our instructions were to wear "appropriate formal attire". I inserted "practical" in there. Not only did I need to choose an outfit that was background worthy but it needed to be easily moved in (in other words, not dragging on the ground or something I need to tug @) and my shoes need to be something I can skitter in quickly! Oh...And then there's accessories and hair...

So as the big day neared I found a dress (VS online), found the shoes (clearance @ Payless!), found a mini purse (we were advised to leave cells @ home and not bring much - the purse was my BOGO @ Payless), an antique necklace (only $10 @ an outdoor sale in Chelsea) and cleaned myself up a bit (hair cut, brows, nails, etc...) . Then day of, my roomie was kind enough to share her makeup artist skills to glam me up and I chose a fairly basic pull back hairdo - making sure it wasn't too bouffant for those that may be sitting behind me! ;)

We were asked to be at Radio City Music Hall by 4:30pm. When I arrived, I had to wk past a large grouping of police to get in the seat fillers line. I heard one policeman say, "Greenal must the color this year..."

My friend joined me in line and soon we were being ushered into the RCMH and given green wristbands - an easily spotted sign that we were seat fillers and not celebs. ;)

After everyone was seated in the back of the auditorium, we waited and watched snippets of the rehearsal that happened earlier in the day. We were given a steady countdown of how many minutes we had left to use the bathroom - once the show started there would be no trips to the bathroom (probably one of the reasons why we weren't provided w/ water while we waited to sit!) Soon we were given instructions as to how the night was going to roll. Err...Is it a problem that I'm not totally clear on who's who and where I'm supposed to go?! My friend assured me that once we were in motion I'd get it. I hope so. They said our movement would happen during the 4 minute commercial breaks - w/ most of the movement happening in the last 30 seconds and if you didn't have a seat by then you needed to get your ass back to the line!

They also told us that 2 very expensive watches were going to be given away during the commercial breaks and told us that only people that PAID for their tickets could win. (Later, the friend of my friend laughed at that saying off-handedly that no one on the main floor actually paid for their tickets. Har. Probably truer than we know. Although we were told the seats we were in were going for $500.) Later the guy that gave away the watches milked his kinda/sorta 15 minutes of fame. First he said he could dance - so he did in a "Go Watchman! Go Watchman!" kinda way and then the next time he was out there he sang "New York, New York" and specifically called out Jane Fonda as the person he was singing it to.

We were in the 2nd row of seat fillers so we headed to the left side of the stage (or stage right). And there we stood and stood, with the occasional musical chair moment and then we'd stand some more. My new shoes needed some gellin' insoles! But as the awards progressed more and more seats needed permanent or long term (i.e. - more than a segment) filling so it really started to pay off!

Here are some "highlights" from the night -

*Standing on the side, we saw Bret Michaels get clobbered only we weren't sure who it was. The audience gasped but quickly got over it as the show went on! (It was kind of a - did I see what I just think I saw?! - moment.)

*Sat by Geoffrey Rush briefly, only to discover the guy who's seat I was filling was standing in front of me the whole time but didn't say anything until he was ready to sit down. Then he said, "Okay, I'll take my seat now. But that's a very nice green dress you're wearing."

*I should also note that while I was sitting by Rush, Angela Lansbury touched his arm and said "Geoffrey" in a way that I can't really type out.

*When I got up to vacate the seat next Rush we were being scurried off and Raul Esparza thankfully tucked in his feet as I cut the corner close - oops.

*Anne Hathaway uses a lot of "sweeties" and "hon/honey" when she talks - wasn't sure if that was an always thing or just when she's in those situations. She introduced her father to Colin Hanks (Colin was w/ what we think was his gf...she took a pic of him w/ the stage behind him on her phone) and then later flew past and handed Raul a Starbucks Coffee - where did she get that from?!

*One of the seat filler wranglers said that Jane Fonda's bf was a "free spirit" so they'd have to keep an eye on him. ?! And he referred to James Gandolfini as "Jimmy".

*After actresses from Mary Stuart were done waiting to see if they'd won their category - they started munching on candy! - one had elbow-length evening gloves on, too! (I think it must have been a bag passed out to all the attendees as another seat I sat in had it lying on the floor. Which brings me to a side note: Not only did you have to get yourself past people in a quick and decent fashion - do I put my ass or front to the celeb?! - but you had to be mindful of items left behind.)

*Speaking of "ass or front" - Chandra Wilson had a lovely green dress on but it was looooong and in order to sneak past it, I did turn my ass to her and drop my mini purse in my friend's lap who just happened to be sitting in front of her. ;)

*More on Chandra - there was a mini "Grey's Anatomy" reunion as she and "Meredith's Mom", Kate Burton, excitedly greeted each other and chatted for a bit.

*While standing on the side during pre-show there was this entourage coming down the stairs for who?...Harvey Weinstein.

*Also while standing on the side we saw several celebs pass us on their way back stage and out again - Will Ferrell, Bebe Neuwirth, Poison, Samantha Mathis, Oliver Platt (wearing what looked like a Converse type black shoe - white soles w/ a tux), Lauren Graham and others...

*After Geoffrey Rush won, my friend and I ended up sitting next to each other in the vacated seats. Our hair and faces were touched by a cast member of "Hair" and the cast of "Norman Conquests" flew past us when they won. We were kinda hoping Rush wasn't going to come back but he finally did, apologizing for making us move. (By then he probably knew our faces as we seemed be cycling around that area a lot.)

*I sat by another seatfiller behind one of the gentleman (director? producer?) involved w/ Billy Elliott. When the 3 boys won the camera sat on him and the seatfiller next me was texted immediately after the segment and told she was on there (btw - obviously some people brought their cells. I did. But I kept mine off in my purse and wasn't texting during the show - Sheesh!). Anyway, I was all excited that I was probably on too and then when I found the clip all I could see was my sleeve! (you can see it about the 3:14 mark) LOL! BTW - The seat I was sitting in was vacated by Stephen Mangan (Norman from "The Norman Conquests") - they did not come back to their seats before the end of the show.

*Neil Patrick Harris entertained the audience w/ magic tricks during a couple commercial segments. First he asked a "random audience member" to pick a number, any number as he wrote on the small dry erase board he brought out. He guessed the number, she said "no" and he flipped his board around...it said "no". ;) Then the second time he came out and asked another "random person" (both times stressing that he'd never met the person before, right?) to guess a number and then forget that number and guess again. This time he actually got the right number (82)! Not sure if the person was a plant or if he truly was magical! ;)

*During another commercial break they aired "Shrek Auditions" which someone in the balcony apparently recorded! They also aired a "teaser trailer" for the upcoming Addams Family musical and the crowd lit up as they listed the cast. And they tossed in a few retro ads for previous versions of "Hair" and "Guys & Dolls" on Broadway.

Although my feet weren't very happy by the end of the night it was still an amazing experience....and something to reflect upon when I'm actually there as a presenter or nominee...someday... ;)

**Note: As we were filtering out of RCMH I turned on my phone, turned around and snapped this pic...

Eric Bana abbreviated

The Tribeca Film Festival is in full swing and the Apple Store in SoHo has been hosting special events in conjunction w/ the festival...for free. :)

I saw that Eric Bana was going to be there to promote his new doc - Love the Beast and I thought that just might be worth checking out!

So a friend and I met up there after work and discovered that despite some seating it was full and now SRO. I found a spot to the side (later discovered it was in direct view of Mr. Bana and swear he was looking @ me sometimes...although there was a well-cleavaged woman wearing sunglasses that was standing beside me...perhaps he was looking @ her instead?! teehee.)

Fortunately, the wait time for the program to begin wasn't too bad. Bana came out and the girls behind us immediately started commenting on how small he is in real life and how he looks better in the "Love the Beast" movie poster than he does in person. Then there was an overzealous perfume wearer standing next to my friend. I started to feel hot but tried to keep my focus on the interview and watching clips from the movie - which looks really good btw.

Bana talked about how he used to race his car w/out movie producers knowing his passion for cars (as they tend to tweak out when their actors put themselves @ risk). He said that of course this movie will put the end to that secret.

I was starting to feel worse. Do I walk out or pass out in front of Eric Bana? Hmmm... I opted for the "walk out" and my friend followed. I quickly discovered there really is no place to sit @ the Apple Store beyond the steps so that's where I sat as the guard looked on. After a few minutes I did start to feel better but rather than have a repeat, we decided to move on to dinner @ Silver Spurs. Once again, it was a new place (to me) to dine - I ordered the "Ana Madama" and a Milkshake to maybe cure what ailed me. ;)

After a bit of detective work my near pass-out may have been the result of donating blood the day before. (I donated @ The Rock and was asked if I was an NBC employee.) Next time I will know to time it better as I also ended up feeling like crap for an audition the night of when I donated....however, I DID get a callback! Go figure.

Halloween!

There was no costume for me this year (our office really doesn't do that sort of thing) but I did wear my candy corn earrings and Boo! T-shirt.

When I got off the subway I saw a sign posted that Pink was performing on The Early Show and saw the set up when I went past, however she wasn't out there yet. I did see the Weatherman surrounded by various costumed people as he reported as well as fancy jack-o-lanterns carved out w/ the hosts' likenesses. And then I noticed the breakfast truck and although I normally scoot past (as the free breakfast is intended for The Early Show audience) I decided to stop today and got a free coffee and Krispy Kreme donut shaped like a pumpkin and frosted like a Jack O Lantern. :)
I still had time before I had to get to work so I walked over to the Today show (cutting thru Rockefeller center where I saw their harvest display) and could hear them (playing a fairytale variation of Family Feud) but could only see the tops of their costumes - someone was dressed as Humpty Dumpty. I tried to venture in closer to get a pic but was going to be stopped so they could check my bag. Eh. I decided that was too much hassle just to get a pic so I moved on. They didn't have free breakfast, either! ;)

Post work, I headed to the Sunshine Theater to see "My Name Is Bruce" w/Bruce Campbell himself introducing the movie and coming back for a Q&A after.

There were 3 guys dressed up as Ash in the audience and Bruce had the best one come down to chat w/ him. Bruce said he wanted to give the guy some money and asked how much was spent on the costume. The guy guessed about $100. Bruce said - Here's $5.

Then Bruce got a shirt from a fan that said - Bruce Campbell '08 w/ a Chainsaw on it. She then asked if she could touch his scar. He let her, but not w/out comment and then he gave her $2 for the t-shirt.

Bruce then pointed out that Sarah Berry from Evil Dead II was in the audience and said that she had to stand up and scream otherwise no one would recognize her (for some reason that pic is darker so when I tried to lighten on my computer it went to b&w!) The lights went down and Berry and her partner (not sure if he was a friend, bf, hubby or what) headed up the stairs to find a less close seat and ended up sitting right beside me!

The movie is very much "for the fans" as Bruce stated before it started. Many of the jokes would probably go over the head of those that have never seen a Bruce Campbell movie before...although, if they haven't...I'm not sure why they'd be watching this movie!

After the movie, Bruce came out again and someone asked him about the actors - to be honest, some weren't that good - but Bruce noticed the undertone of the person asking the question and tried to defend by saying he got them from the Oregon area Shakespeare Festival and that @ the very least the lead female had a little something goin' on, right?!

Most of "Bruce" was filmed on Campbell's property - which he repeatedly said he wouldn't divulge where in Oregon that was.

A fan also asked if the jeans he was wearing were the same in the movie...yes, in fact they were!

He said that Ted Raimi is the Clint Howard of his movies. (Ted appears as several characters w/ several accents in "Bruce".)

He also corrected a fan when they said he made a "cameo" in Spiderman saying that in the first one he named Spiderman, the 2nd one he was the only one to defeat Spiderman (snooty usher) and the 3rd one he was the only one Spiderman has ever asked for help. So this was much more than just cameo appearances.

Had I wanted to, I probably could have asked to go backstage to see Bruce after as the friend of Berry was fairly friendly and I also went out the stairwell Bruce was on so I could have just gone down there but thought I'd leave well enough alone. I've met him once and I really don't know what I would have said to him anyway! ;)

So from 2nd & 2nd I headed down 2nd to meet my friend @ a restaurant she works at in the 30s and all along the way I checked out the various Halloween costumes and wished I had on those camera glasses to record it all. The most creative are indeed the ones that aren't bought @ a store.

After meeting up w/ my friend we headed home and saw even more costumes (including contestants for "Price Is Right" complete w/ their bidding stands) and my friend had a guy come up from behind her and put a small carved pumpkin in her face and say "Boo!" and then kept running to the next group to do the same thing. The guy's friend was behind us and I asked if he did that to everyone and instead of answering the guy just started running to catch up w/ his friend. Weird.

@ the Premiere of Nights in Rodanthe

Thanks to Film Metro I got a voucher to exchange for a ticket to the premiere of Nights in Rodanthe. That's right, not a preview but a PREMIERE! Having never been a part of such an event I wasn't sure how crazy long the line would be so I sped over (on foot) to the Ziegfeld Theater after work and the line wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. After standing in line for less than 20 minutes I got my ticket and was in the theater by 6pm! (The movie was scheduled to start @ 7pm.)

Security directed ticket holders where to go - but oddly didn't search any bags. When we got to the screening floor, the lobby had tables full of bags of popcorn, ice bins full of bottled water and the counters were full of cups of soda. ALL FREE!!! :)

After grabbing my popcorn and bottled water (and some napkins - just in case...) I entered the theater. I'd never been inside the Ziegfeld before and what a grand theater it is! I soon discovered that my ticket actually had an assigned seat on it. I was on the aisle - 101, Row Y.

As I settled in, I started to notice a lot of people w/ their cameras out. Dang! I had left mine @ home because the voucher had said no recording devices and since my camera can record video segments I didn't want to risk confiscation. The lady behind me commented on other's w/ their cameras, too and said she left hers behind because when she went to another premiere (Journey to the Center of the Earth - she said that Brendan Fraser was there but they didn't actually show the movie, just clips!) security told her friend that they'd have to take the camera or the friend would have to go home. Stink. How are you supposed to know?!

Viola Davis, seemed to be the first cast member there and she entered and found a seat in the center. So is that where the others would sit, too?!

As it got closer to the start a quintet of middle-aged, bold and brassy ladies needed to scoot past me to sit and then 1 proceeded to spend the remaining minutes before the movie going in and out of the row - telling me not to hate her - as she got pics w/ whoever she saw. The lady behind me made a comment to her about the camera and the busybody said she ALWAYS brings her camera and said how she went to a premiere w/ Will Smith and got a pic taken w/ him after waiting and waiting but that he was very nice.

During all this we saw Richard Gere's wife, Carey Lowell, enter the aisle ahead of me and soon realized that Gere would be sitting in that aisle, too!

Ice-T settled in w/ his wife (?) 2 rows behind me. Christopher Meloni joked around w/ Ice-T but Meloni did not look thrilled when someone asked to take his pic. He ended up 3 rows behind me. Apparently some guy from a Bachelor show was sitting near us, too. Never did get my eyes on Diane Lane but right before the lights went down Richard Gere entered and the camera flashes nearly blinded me as they started to dim the lights. I can understand why the stars don't like the paparazzi flashing @ them while they are driving - @ night especially!

The movie started and as various credits showed, certain parts of the audience sent up cheers. And then the lone man w/ the quintet (and apparent hubby of busybody) began his 5-10 minute ritual of pulling out his blackberry to check it and annoy me w/ it's glow. Kept hoping one of the many ushers would catch him and say something...but no.

The movie was shorter than I expected and since I hadn't read the book I had no expectations but admittedly probably would not have spent money on seeing it. It wasn't bad but it wasn't spectacular either. It was okay - more due to the storyline than the acting tho. Not sure if it would be considered a date movie...maybe more of a chick flick I guess...?

Once the movie was over we were directed back out again and they were announcing that After Party Buses were on the left. Ummm....was that for anybody?! I didn't stop to investigate as my bladder was being strained and I needed to get home! (I had thought there'd be a spot to stop in the lobby but the way they moved us out I learned I should have found one on the same floor as the screening - doh!)

So, as I exited to the right, I saw cameras poised and ready to snap the celebs as they exited. Absolutely surreal to think that I can look at pics from this event and say that I was there!

Hopefully I can do this again - and find out about that bus! ;)

A Phlock of Phelps Phans

Today as I approached the block where The Early Show is filmed I saw an even bigger crowd than usual. Hmmm...who could be drawing such a crowd?!

I stopped and stepped in closer for a look see. And guess who I saw?! Michael Phelps!

So then I had to dig out my camera and wait for heads to get out of the way...click! Dang. He coughed. (He was coughing quite a bit actually.) Trying again...got him!

I continued on to work and later saw a segment about him on CNBC. This was his first day back in the States! He told the reporter that it was strange times (the instant celebrity and flocks of fans) but he was having fun & enjoying it.

Phelps must be battling a cold as he even coughed during the interview.

Later they said that he will be hosting SNL in September and I found out that he had appeared on all 3 morning shows in 1 morning! I actually wondered how CBS scored a Phelps appearance over the others but I guess he shared his time equally. ;)

Tennis, Anyone?

My decision to get off the subway early and walk further to work in the mornings has proved to make most mornings more interesting as my route takes me past the CBS Early Show.

A few week ago I picked up a foam shark hat (see the 2nd foam layer on the bill? That had a jagged teeth area that was supposed to pop out but I couldn't figure out how it was supposed to be worn exactly) that they were handing out for people to wear on-camera for Shark Week (umm...I just took the hat and kept walking...I did have to get to work afterall!;)) and this morning I saw they have a tennis court set up w/ a larger than average crowd gathered. Upon further inspection I see that Venus & Serena Williams are standing there waiting for their segment. Since I always have my camera in tow I stepped into the crowd and snapped a pic before continuing on. I later showed it to some friends and they seemed more fascinated by the size of the guy in the black/red shirt - who I didn't even notice being in the picture until they pointed out! Oh well.

When I got to work, I turned on CNBC and Warren Buffet was being interviewed live from the Holland Center in Omaha! They've been in Omaha before for Warren and I actually look forward to seeing them show Omaha (it's a way to virtual visit) more than what Warren has to say! ;)

Unexpected Siting outside of K-mart!

I need tall yellow socks to match the outfit (and cover my tattoo) I'm wearing as "Francine" in the Strawberry Festival One-Act - Jump! Since I got to the area where we rehearse early, I decided to see if K-mart might have some. They had yellow socks - but they were anklets. Boo.

So I exit K-Mart and I hear this somewhat familiar voice. I turn my head and see freakin' full of facial hair Sam Rockwell on his cell phone!!!! OMG!!! I couldn't believe it. I desperately wanted to turn around and get a better look but I wanted to play it cool so I just kept walking. Had he not been on his phone I might have said "hi" @ the very least but instead I heard him mention Jake Gyllenhaal's name as I passed. Curious.

In The Metro & on YouTube

Last night, the cast, director and writer of "Jump" went to the Strawberry One Act Kick Off Party. It was an event meant for networking & mingling but we noticed that most groups kept to themselves and so it actually ended up being an night for our own group to get to know each other better as we noshed and drank the wine & snacks they had set out.

In the same room as the festivities they were filming people talking about their plays. Which is a cool idea except, they didn't have a mic for people to hold. The only audio was being picked up by the camera mic and we were actually told to yell so the camera could hear us. Uh...

You can see our interview here.

We had gotten a detailed email telling us what info we were supposed to include in our interview and I typed out some of that info on a sheet of paper so we could reference it. The idea being that the camera could focus in on it but much like the mic sitch they weren't putting themselves out by zooming either. Oh well.

This morning I was flipping thru The Metro and found myself! I had submitted a book review for The Metro Summer Reading Club and was told they'd notify me if I was going to be published. I never was notified so it was quite a surprise to see myself in there! Woot! :)

Then over lunch, a co-worker and I walked to 6th Ave to see what we could of the All-Star Parade. It seemed like everytime I went to take a pic, someone's head got in the way but I did manage to get a couple shots of Hank Aaron. My co-worker had to go back to work and as I walked along the route a guy behind me started shouting at whoever would listen to him- "What's the big deal? These guys make millions a year and you're cheering for them?!" He had a point as by this time it was the current All-Stars passing and not the Legends. Long gone are the days of the ball player working a 2nd job just so he could afford to play the sport he loved.

Down 42nd towards 5th I found another All Star Liberty to take a pic of and then headed over to Garrett's Popcorn to find out what a popcornsicle was. (Further incentive was the fact that it was free...) As I stood in line, 3 guys lined up behind me going on and on about how weird the concept sounded and how they'd probably get cancer but yet they kept waiting in line...

It was finally my turn to get a popcornsicle and Top Chef's Richard Blais saw my face and said - You looked intrigued.

I said - I am.

Then he told me that the popcorn (Cheese/Caramel Popcorn molded on a stick) is dipped in nitrous oxide. It's edible and safe and that's what makes it a popcornsicle.

I referenced the "edible & safe" as being a concern and gestured towards the complainy guys behind me. ;) It was certainly tasty and worth the wait! :)

Angels in Progress Reading - 2

A friend of mine from Boston who is a big fan of Matt Bomer's came to town to see another Angels in Progress reading of Geoffrey Nauffts' The Gospel According to Adam.

Besides Matt Bomer, other actors involved in the reading included - Malcolm Gets, Julianna Margulies and Tom Wopatt.

The air conditioning still wasn't working but at least we could sit this time (we had gone to a reading a few days earlier and were part of the SRO and had to leave early or pass out it was so stifling.) But it's free right? So I guess one can't complain too much...

It made me wonder how much rehearsal time they have prior to the reading - if any - as there were times that Wopatt laughed out loud at some moments in the script.

This script is already planned for production so I will be interested to see what changes (if any) are made and to see it fully fleshed out on stage...and to see if any of the actors in the reading will go on to portray those same characters in the show.

So many transformations a play can take from reading to an actual performance! These playwrights are lucky to have a forum in which to hone their scripts in!

Very 5th Ave

Since Summer is well on its way and my feet are being exposed more often, I decided I needed to make them look pretty.

So I conferred w/ a co-worker about a good place to go to get a pedi over lunch and as I was headed there I was stopped by a person outside of Redken. They were having a cut-a-thon fund raising event where for $20 you can get a professional haircut and a bag of Redken goodies. I told the person that I was on my hour lunch and asked if it was possible to get that done in an hour - of course she said yes. Since I'd been wanting to get my haircut too, I decided to change my plans.

An hour and 20 minutes later I got thru the line and my hair was finished. (I was told a lot of women w/ long hair were deciding to chop it off today.) The hair stylist gave me a card to get a goody bag for straight & shiny hair but when I went up there they were all out so I had to settle for curly hair products instead. :( They were full size bottles but still, I did feel a bit jipped since I had already been screwed over in the time department. Fortunately, the co-worker covering me was the one that told me about the pedi so she was understanding and when she saw I got my hair done instead, she said I looked very "5th Ave". I smirked, knowing that I probably won't be able to recreate this look again...but the new length I'll have fun w/! ;)

After work I met up w/ some friends @ Mojo Coffee and we went to another reading presented by Naked Angels @ The New School. This reading had no reservations left (our hunch was that it had more to do w/ the celebs that were participating than interest in the play) but we decided to try our luck and got in as part of SRO. Matthew Broderick, Kristen Johnston (who is scary skinny) and Kieran Culkin were some of the performers there but due to standing in a minimally air-conditioned theatre and not really being captured by the play itself I decided to step out so I could sit down and cool off. One of my friends stepped out w/ me and after conferring w/ the third friend @ intermission, 2 of us decided to get a bite to eat while the other finished the show. We settled in @ the Bus Stop Cafe and once our third friend joined us we headed over to another friend's rooftop party for her birthday! (Ya following all this?!) The rooftop was in Chelsea and had great views but unfortunately I couldn't get my camera to take a decent pic of them. :( Soon enough it was time to call it a night.

I'm getting the pedi tomorrow... ;)

Herzog & Demme

I had a random celeb spotting today coming back from lunch w/ a co-worker. On 5th Ave in front of B&N, I saw a guy being stopped by another person and realized it was "Ted" from "How I Met Your Mother". He was w/ a woman (girlfriend?) and looked a bit apprehensive to stop, we kept moving so don't know if he had a tiny mob approach before he could get away or was able to get a pic w/ the one fan and move on. My co-worker thought he was a cutie.;)

A planned celeb sighting happened tonight when I went to a speaking event sponsored by the Museum of the Moving Image that had Jonathan Demme interviewing Werner Herzog.

Prior to the interview, the Museum launched and demonstrated their website - movingimagesource.us It seems like it was a huge under taking of organizing info, I hope people use it!

Now to the interview...

Roger Ebert calls Herzog a "Good Soldier of Cinema", adding that there are very few left. He did not write a review for Herzog's "Encounters at the End of the World" but rather a dedication. Oh, and a letter to Herzog in which he proceeded to print online and in the Chicago Sun Times. ;)

Demme brought up one of Herzog's first films - "Aguirre: The Wrath of God" and asked him why he held a closeup for so long on the raging water that was so violent and boiling. Herzog said that the water was so full of rage and it was a way to prepare the audience for something out of proportion.

A Herzog motto - "Do it as it is and it's fine."

Herzog told Demme that when he saw "Silence of the Lambs" he had never been so scared and that he doesn't scare easily. ;)

He continued speaking about Demme and said he's - "Just a professional man who knew how to handle cinema. Who has gone thru professional disputes and moved on."

Herzog talked about his actors in "Rescue Dawn" - Jeremy Davies fed himself w/ water. He is a very unique and significant talent. Steve Zahn was vulnerable, full of hugs and protests. Herzog thinks this film is a great achievement for Zahn. He said it was a privelege to work w/ the best when referring to Christian Bale.

Herzog grew up in the Bavarian Mountains and only knew about the world thru fairy tales.

He is never surrounded by "Yes Men".

He says that "Somehow I know the hearts of men". Adding that he can put them at ease. He says, if you don't have this skill - you are not a filmmaker.

"It's fine to work in the unknown".

He can't read music scores. But he loves opera.

He said that Cinema & Opera bite each other like cat & dog. Whoever tries to film opera will fail.

It was a very interesting evening of insight and now I have a list of movies to add to my Netflix Q!

My First Yankees Game

The Yankees Stadium is in its last season this year and although the Yankees themselves aren't on my favorites list, seeing a piece of history before it's turned into rubble outranked my lack of affection towards the Yankees team.

A friend and I decided we would see a game at both Yankees & Shea Stadium this year since they are both being replaced. We took advantage of the various "cheap ticket" options they have and as luck would have it, the date we ended up picking was the date that Joba Chamberlain had his first start of the season! Woot!

Got held up on our way there by the subway as the conductor announced that she wasn't getting the go ahead to pull into the station we needed to get to the stadium so she bi-passed it! Then she kept saying that whoever was in the tower needed to apologize to us over the intercom. By that time we didn't care, we just wanted to get off and transfer to the next train headed back the right direction. Gotta love the MTA! grumble.

I've never even been near the stadium prior to this so it was great to see what surrounded it (Stan seems to own a whole block) and just observe the pre-game atmosphere. And our delay did not keep us from getting the free giveaway for the night - a Yanks logo mini notepad (which my current roommate is now the owner).

Even if you save money on tix, there's no way you are going to save money on what's being sold inside the stadium.

Programs - $7
Beer in Plastic Cup - $9.50
Beer in a Ginormous Dixie Cup - $8.50
Hotdogs - $5
Plastic Bag of Peanuts - $5

As we journeyed up and up to get to our seats we noticed less and less staff available to assist w/ finding seats. We sat down still not totally convinced we were in the right spot. I took some pics of Joba warming up and discovered just how much of a zoom I have on my new camera! Unbelievable!

Since the game hadn't started yet we thought we'd get our food and maybe wander to see if we were in fact in the right spot. We found out we were on the complete opposite side of where we needed to be! Oops.

Once we got settled in, a few guys sat by us. One had a camera seemingly fancier than mine and he kept showing the pics he took to us. Well, the game pics that is...it soon became apparent that he and his friends were spending more of their time zooming in and taking pics of the various "hot" females in the audience. Classy.

Speaking of...I was really surprised that the vendors walking thru the aisles were using the cardboard flats the beverages came in to carry them around rather than the containers you generally see stadium vendors w/. Something tells me that in the "most expensive baseball stadium ever" i.e. the NEW Yankees Stadium that won't be happening...

Joba didn't have such a great night. He was on a strict pitch count and was pulled in the 3rd.

Camera guy tried to engage us in convo again and asked where we were from. The guy sitting in front of us whipped his head around when we said Queens. (He had hollered at a guy w/ a Mets shirt on earlier and told him to go back to Queens...) So of course he had to comment and asked who our favorite NY team was. We didn't commit. He said - Oh, well...what if they were in the World Series together? I said that I hadn't thought about that and we just wanted to see the stadiums before they are demolished. To which he turned to his friend and said - That's right...we should catch a game @ Shea, too. Durr....

The jumbotron flashed Adam Sandler eating Dippin' Dots on the screen so I was bound and determined to find him w/ my zoom and I did! Camera guy just settled for taking a pic of the jumbotron. Sandler's not a hot girl though so why would they put forth the extra effort?! ;)

They kept having audience members participating in games and I wondered...how do you get picked for that?! Still don't know...

We left the game early as it just wasn't pretty. The Yanks were on their 4th pitcher! Sad.

The ride home was long but I found it interesting how many guys we had asking about the game since they saw my "Joba Rules" shirt & my friend's cap. Amazing how sports can bond strangers. As long as the mob mentality doesn't kick in - it's kinda cool. ;)

You can check out pics here!

Angels in Progress Reading - 1

Naked Angels is a great production development program that offers readings every month and on occasion puts on a program called "Angels in Progress" in which readings of plays are performed by celebrities. The best part? It's free to the public! (Donors make this possible - and a list of donors revealed that Steven Weber is one of them.) So, I went to the first of a few I made reservations for tonight. Here was the line up-


Prix-Fixe by Jon Robin Baitz

Directed by Trip Cullman

A delicious tasting menu of four courses prepared by Jon Robin Baitz.

Amuse Bouche: My Beautiful Goddamn City

Appetizer: Shuddering to Think

Entree: Coq Au Vin

Dessert: It Changes Every Year

Starring: Matthew Broderick, Keith Nobbs, Henry Stram, Fred Weller, Didi O'Connell and Blythe Danner

Danner struck me as someone that would be great to work w/. Very supportive and giving as an actress. Wasn't sure what was going on w/ Broderick as he seemed to have a bit ADD as he kept looking out into the audience - maybe there was someone there he knew? He just seemed distracted. One one-act had him act & cluck like a chicken...that was interesting.... ;)

For the most part, each actor had their turn at reading stage directions and it annoyed me that some very obviously didn't think much of the duty. I know it's not a character but it's still a very important element of the show - especially a reading. If the words are mumbled or tripped over it kind of ruins the rest of the elements.

The one-acts themselves were an interesting assortment. From actors portraying a chicken couple about to get slaughtered to Mother's Day being celebrated w/a twist (the Mother's were celebrating w/their child's partner, not their child).

I'm definitely looking forward to seeing more!

On my way back I transferred at Bryant Park and they were showing the Yankees game on the big screen. I tried to get in on some of the giveaways prior to going to the reading but was too early and now all the giveaways were over. I heard the announcer say - Maybe it's time for Joba.

As I continued on to the subway @ Times Square I narrowly missed a bum spitting on the ground and having it land on my shoe. Ahhh, New York! ;)

Macbeth

As promised, my friend and I are seeing Macbeth tonight, but first we had dinner @ Connolly's.

I got there before my firend and as I waited and watched people come in, I saw a guy that looked like Harry Connick, Jr. He's cute! - I thought. He was wearing a ball cap and looking very casual. He and a friend started heading my direction to be seated but they ran into someone else trying to get out so he stepped aside - which meant he stepped right in my eyeline behind the booth I was at. I caught his eye and then I realized that it WAS Harry Connick, Jr!!!! As soon as it clicked you could tell he knew it had cause he smiled. I just said "Hi" and he continued on. Sigh. ;)

The food is presented in a bit more "high class" way than their neighbors @ O'Lunney's. The Guinness pints are a dollar cheaper, too! :)

Next door @ the theatre we got settled into our balcony seats and soon "The Kicker" started in on my chair. Really? Once, I can understand - it's an accident. But several times is a bit much, I did turn to look a few times but basically I was looking @ feet so that didn't do me any good if they were looking out. The show begins and "The Sniffer" starts in beside me. It is so bad that I'm missing lines. I pull a tissue out of my pocket and hand it to him. Then "The Snorer" starts in who apparently is seated near "The Kicker" behind me and then "Knuckles" starts in behind me by cracking their knuckles and I think...maybe a pda couple sitting beside me isn't so bad after all. Ha!

Shakespeare isn't always the easiest for me to follow anyway but these distractions certainly didn't help. However, what I did catch though was brilliant. The updating (of sorts) was well orchestrated. Projections were used again to change set and at one point to create a wall of blood. The end of the 1st act manages to be a great cliffhanger even if you do know the story. Other tricks like blood flowing out of the faucet one moment and then running clear the next and a scene on a train that was created by the movement of the cast made me glad I could observe from above.

The way the witches are portrayed was probably the highlight of the play for me. They weaved in and out as maids, nurses, morgue workers, etc. I found myself always trying to spot them again in each scene. 1, 2, 3. It almost didn't seem right if they weren't lurking....

The most famous lines from the play all managed to be presented in a new way, too. What a challenge that is to make something that is so familiar to people effectively new again.

At the end, the head of Patrick Stewart (Macbeth) is held and at that moment I wished I was sitting closer just to see how detailed it was. Need to remember my binoculars the next time I go to a balcony show!

The cast took several curtain calls but I noticed that none of the kids in the show appeared. It apparently was past their bedtime...

Aside from the distractions around me, I found the show to be fascinating and if time and money allowed, it would be one I'd see again so I could catch what I missed the first time.

Stars in the afternoon

I got the opportunity to volunteer for the Drama League Awards today.

I have friends that had worked it before so I kinda knew how it worked but not really. ;)

My first challenge was picking out an outfit as we were told to wear something that was festive business attire. Uh?! I went to Macy's and got a royal blue jacket to wear w/ my pencil skirt. I thought it might be a little big but was determined to make it work.

Friday morning I gave up on making the jacket work and ended up wearing a button up red blouse that I already had! Doh! This last minute fashion switch of course made me run late and of course the subways were running late and it was raining so...I was a flurry of nerves when I arrived only to find out that the guy that I would be working w/ was even there yet! Sigh.

Anyway, it was somewhat of a hurry up and wait situation - we were eventually walked thru the area involving the awards in the Marriott Marquis, helped stuff programs and set them out @ the tables (sadly I wasn't listed as a volunteer as I had been added after they went to press - darn) and then sent to our posts. Mine was in the lobby on the non-Starbucks side. I was to keep my eyes peeled for celebs and others that looked like they were headed to the awards and approach them by saying, "Are you here for the Drama League Awards?" If they said, "yes" then I was to direct them to either the escalator or elevator depending on whether they were the previously mentioned celebs or "other people".

Since I was in the lobby and looking "official" I kept getting asked questions about the hotel from the people staying there. At which point I'd have to tell them I was there for an event in the hotel and didn't work there. One guy said, "Well, you LOOK like you work here."

The first celeb I spotted was Martha Plimpton, I readied myself to do my assigned task and she and her publicist (?) blew past me w/ her publicist giving me a snappish, "We know." Ohhh-kay. I hope the whole morning isn't gonna be like this...

The next person I encountered was the publicist for James Early Jones. He was very nice! He had come ahead of Mr. Jones to walk thru the route ahead of time. When the publicist came thru with Mr. Jones later he made a point of acknowledging me so JEJ acknowledged me too! :)

Rosie Perez came in by herself and was texting when I assisted her.

Peter Gallagher came in by himself, too and is a very genuinely laid back and friendly guy - unlike a lot of the celebs who kind of blew past me and I had to rattle off the info and keep pace w/ them as they passed (I never really knew if they truly knew the info already or not so felt like I had no other choice than to make sure...) he actually stopped and listened. He then spotted Marion Seldes entering from the other side and walked up to her singing. A couple girls in the lobby recognized him and asked for his picture and he was kind enough to oblige before he continued on to the elevator.

I had 2 doors to keep an eye on and one lead right to the escalator. That was the door Harvey Fierstein - the host for the awards - happened to come in on and up he went on the escalator before I had the chance to say anything. Fortunately, there were people posted on each floor to steer people in the right direction but I did scramble to let the guy @ the elevators know he was there (he had a walkie talkie to announce celebs as they arrived so people had the heads up in the press area).

The publicist for Amy Morton (the oldest daughter in August: Osage County) approached me and asked if I had seen her yet and I said that I didn't think I had but that she could have come in on the other side so she should talk to the guy @ the elevator. She did and came back to inform me that he knew what she looked like and that she hadn't arrived yet. Sigh. Apparently the car service didn't pick her up so she was headed to the hotel via subway and she was worried about Amy finding the way. So she paced near me and of course Amy came in on the other side. The volunteer @ the elevator was w/ her looking for the publicist and I saw them first so I hollered to get their attention (which they didn't hear), I tried again and by this time the publicist had seen them and kept repeating - "It's okay, I've got it. I've got it." In all the flurry I don't remember if Amy looked all that haggered from having to take the subway instead of car service - I think her publicist was wound up enough for her.

Who else did I see and somewhat assist? Laurence Fishburne, Patrick Stewart, Patty LuPone (she tossed back a thanks to me),Dallas Roberts (who seemed kinda spaced), Faith Prince, Little Mermaid aka Sierra Boggess - (most of the celebs were dressed down but she was in a very cute goldenrod colored dress enjoying here moment as a nominee), Cheyenne Jackson, Kerry Butler (haven't seen Xanadu but I recognized her from somewhere...Dirt?! No. Later I found out she was the backstabbing assistant on Lipstick Jungle!), Anika Noni Rose w/ a whole group of people, Sutton Foster (I found out later that she had been there, stepped out and came back so she really didn't need the info I gave her but she was very nice and listened - I wouldn't have known it was repetitive had the guy that assisted her previously hadn't of told me), Chazz Palminteri (he is a BIG guy - tall) and although I didn't assist her - I saw Frances McDormand get on the all glass elevator in front of me. And there are probably more but it became a blur after while! ;)

Gina Gershon was running late and blew past - I told her to go to the 7th floor - where the celebrities were to go and she said - It's not the 6th? Uhh...I hadn't been given a game plan for "celebs" that arrived in support of nominees but weren't themselves. It didn't matter - she kept walking to the elevators so she got to her destination either way.

We were finally dismissed from our posts in the lobby and were allowed to sit @ tables in the back of the room where the ceremony was being held. Everyone else sat w/ too much food and we had bottles of wine w/ a meal card from Cafe Europa. Many of us wondered if we could sneak out to get the Cafe Europa food and eat there - no one tried. Although some did go down to the lobby to get Starbucks...

The set up for the awards is very casual. All the nominees are marched thru from the back to the stage and take their seats in a tiered set up of tables. Then they begin eating their meals just like everyone else (except the volunteers...more wine?!). W/ maybe half the meal left Harvey began the "ceremony". Each nominee gets to stand up and speak and after several had spoken they'd break to present an award.

Some choice speech moments...

Anika Noni Rose saying that someone from the press asked how it felt to start the awards march and she told him this was it (she wasn't nominated for a Tony) and w/ that in mind she said she would take her moment and time talking. ;) She told a story about auditioning for Chazz long ago and knowing that she sucked but he was very nice anyway.

Chazz Palmenteri told a story about being an understudy and explaining this job to his friends. These particular friends offered to "take the actor out" so Chazz could be on stage but he opted to turn them down (although it took a lot of convincing as his friends thought he "just didn't want to be involved" so they offered to do a mugging that couldn't be pinned to him). He added that the actor wasn't that nice and he often wanted to tell him - You don't know how lucky you are...

Dallas Roberts said he had something really important to discuss and people laughed and he started to get irritated and emphasized that it was serious and people laughed more. Then he got out a cigarette and soon it became apparent that he was going to talk about smoking bans but as soon as he acted like he was going to actually smoke and the audience didn't respond well he said he was joking. Harvey followed it up by saying - Acting, Ladies and Gentleman...

Patrick Stewart got up towards the end so people were done clanking around their dinnerware. He asked that they continue as that was the closest he had been to performing dinner theater.

After the awards it is kind of a free-for-all as celebrities and "common man" mingle. I came face to face w/ Lois Smith but couldn't think of anything spectacular to say so I just opted for "hi". Bobby Cannavale was getting stopped for pictures. Patrick Stewart was leaving @ a rapid pace w/ a girl in her 20s rapidly following him saying - But you don't understand, I am such a HUGE Star Trek fan, I'll follow you to the elevator... Not sure how that turned out. Nearly ran into Rufus Sewell coming out a door and then later he was on the escalator behind me listening to a guy tell him he saw Tom Stoppard's Rock n Roll more than once. Rufus didn't respond at first and the guy wondered why. Rufus said, I can't believe you actually sat thru it more than once! I saw Laura Linney standing in line to get her coat @ coat check just like everyone else - funny how they keep everyone separate in advance but in the end everyone is tossed together. And I managed to get a pic taken w/ Peter Gallagher on behalf of a friend who is a BIG fan of The OC.

The Drama League was going to have a gathering @ a pub w/ a free drink & appetizers after everyone cleared out but I didn't stick around for that. Just wanted to get home, eat a regular meal and decompress.

Totally Random (Celebrity Siting)

Headed down the stairs @ the 49th street subway stop, trying to wind down a cellphone convo before I lost my signal and all of a sudden a white tennis shoe flies past my head and lands next to me. Uh........

I looked back and see Judah Friedlander! Complete w/ his trademark trucker's cap (of course I didn't catch what it said) and glasses. As he scurried down the stairs to retrieve his shoe he said to no one in particular - That was a first! I kept moving w/ the flow of traffic as he rushed passed the rest of us and broke into a run as if a subway was coming - but it wasn't. Then he kept that pace as he weaved thru the crowd and disappeared from sight.

Panicked and Random

When I went to lunch today I found a message on my phone from a person @ the Drama League that they were confirming that I'd be there THAT NIGHT as a volunteer for their gala. Ummm....

I panicked as I thought I might have missed an email! How could I have forgotten something like that?! I had a callback which I really wanted to go to but if I had committed to this I really should go. And then there was the snag of needing to be dressed up for this and THERE by 6pm! Which meant I'd have to scramble to buy something over my lunch and finagle leaving work early.

I called the person back and found out I had not actually missed an email. It was an oops on their part (I had emailed about volunteering but never heard back). Needless to say I had to pass on the opportunity to mingle w/ Broadway celebs but I did so with a small sigh of relief. Hopefully, I can still volunteer for their luncheon!

After that little panic attack subsided I went back to work and 2 men came in asking for one of the partners. I asked who they were and the older gentleman said he was her father and the other guy...well, the other guy was friendly and kind of acted like I should know him....I let the partner know they were there and then...I started to click...

It was RICHIE RICH! The former Party Boy (i.e. one of the inspirations for Party Monster) and now a designer. Fashion Week had been going on @ Bryant Park down the block but I still wasn't totally sure what the whole connection was.

He seemed nice and perhaps amused that I didn't recognize him as they left. You just never know who you are going to encounter around here I guess...

$5 Entertainment @ UCBT

When I first moved here I was told by the actor that made "Bert" to sign up for classes @ the Upright Citizens Brigade because even if I didn't need help w/ improv it was the up and coming place to network.

Well...I did look into classes there but since it took me over a month to find a job, classes were quickly bumped to the bottom of my list as far as priority expenses...

Needless to say, I've yet to get signed up or even visit the place until tonight. The UCBT was hosting a handful of nights promoting the new book - Things I Learned from Women Who Dumped Me by Ben Karlin.

Originally I had wanted to see the night w/ David Wain but it was already sold out by the time I discovered it - Doh! So...I opted for a couple other guys ( A.J. Jacobs & Sam Lipsyte) that I wasn't as familiar with in hopes that the special surprise guest that night might be worth seeing, too. The host for the evening was Kristen Schaal - who is the lone fan on Flight of Conchords.

It was only $5 for an evening of entertainment so I figured even if the night wasn't smashing I really wasn't out much - and I will have finally been INSIDE the UCBT! The goofy thing about this event (and maybe all their events?) Is that even if you buy a ticket in advance you have to stand in a line outside. Then they let you inside to claim your ticket and then you get to stand in line again outside. Fortunately, it wasn't too horribly cold out!

When we finally got in...we were led to the basement of the building. Seats surrounded 3 sides of the stage. It was mostly open seating but with support columns and camera men (yes, it was being filmed) here and there you had to decide what part of the stage you were okay w/ being obscured.

The space has been well loved. For all the buzz about the UBCT you might expect it to be a little more polished & shiny but perhaps it's worn seats w/ barely any padding and the general feel of being in a basement of a house some college kids were renting is part of the charm? Once again...for $5 though, a person has no room to complain...

Oh! And did I mention that the guest band was "Fountains of Wayne"?! When Kristen came out she had a faux bone to pick w/ them - as apparently she used to be a member before they got all successful. Everyone's intro was sang by "Fountains of Wayne" and the band let Kristen sing along, too - they were trying not to laugh.

Kristen also shared her own personally traumatic experiences w/ dating past. For one story she used a cooking pot, lid and wooden spoon to act it out. Ya kinda had to be there! ;)

At the end of the night (well, actually an hour after it started...) the special guest came out and it was singer, Nellie McKay! I wasn't totally familiar w/ her but enjoyed her mix of tunes and lyrics. She had a rather retro Nancy Sinatra look going, too...

Super Tuesday

Tuesday was possibly even more super than the Sunday before in New York as the primaries were being held on the same day as the city celebrated their Super Bowl Champs.

A co-worker came in and talking about all the fans in Grand Central headed for the parade- his description actually reminded me of what Lincoln is like every Football Saturday. It made me realize that experience I've been a part of for several years is a lot more special than I realized. The energy that comes from celebrating and supporting a sports team is one of those things you can't do justice to by describing you just have to be there to witness it.

Alas, I couldn't witness the parade in person but CNBC did broadcast parts of it. Many of the players were videotaping the crowds as they passed by on the floats. Would be interesting to see what all they captured...

A bonus "super" was added on for me because I was attending an event @ the Paley Center. Gary David Goldberg & Friends. He was promoting his new autobio and actors from Family Ties - Meredith Baxter & Michael Gross, Spin City - Michael Boatman & Richard Kind, and Brooklyn Bridge - Marion Ross were to also be in attendance.

I had never been to an event @ the Paley and was surprised that my ticket got me a free glass of wine and a choice of some tasty appetizers! Since it wasn't assigned seating for the event though I didn't linger w/ the food for long, as I wanted a decent seat!

Since I don't trust my brain to remember everything I always have a small notebook with me for events like this - when I pulled it out to ready myself for notes a gentleman beside me asked who I wrote for. Uh...the handful that read my blog?!;)

As the time came closer for the event to start Meredith popped her head out the side door and of course everyone started to quiet. Then the celebs started to enter and the audience's buzz began to get louder as everyone started to realize that Michael J Fox was among those sitting down in the front row waiting to step on stage! I was so hoping that he would have a surprise appearance since I knew he had a close relationship w/ Goldberg and there he was!!!

Wine glasses and bottles of Poland Spring Water were at the ready for each guest and the evening began with opening comments informing the audience that the event was being recorded and that besides the sold out room we were in there were 2 other sold out rooms watching the event on closed circuit television in the center.

Goldberg's memoir is titled "Sit, Ubu, Sit". Sadly, Ubu has passed and Goldberg said that he hopes he's in a "frisbee field in Dog Heaven". The familiar pic of Ubu with his frisbee was taken by his wife in front of the Louvre in Paris before Goldberg hit it big w/ Family Ties. They had only $5 to their name @ the time. He used that pic as a reminder to not forget where he came from. He said that Ubu would never allow their heads to get too big anyway - taken care of a dogs needs tend to keep you grounded...

He considers himself to be the luckiest man in America (ironic he should say that considering the title of MJ Fox's autobio). Goldberg sadly recognizes how much things have changed since he was younger. The neighborhood he remembers in Bensonhurst doesn't exist anymore. Nor does the TV industry that he started in.

He said that the TV used to be the national campfire - simple, gracious, something the public trusts. It brought families together - that's not as true anymore...

A highlight reel was shown of the 3 shows - such a shame Brooklyn Bridge didn't last longer!

As the celebs were introduced to come on stage I was impressed that out of all the celebs sitting there, it was MJ Fox who stood up to assist Marion Ross onto the stage. As they made introductions they also pointed out that past crew members and writers that had worked w/ Goldberg were in the audience. And when Marion asked if anyone from Brooklyn Bridge was there it was pointed out that Matthew Siegel (who played the youngest grandson) was in the audience.

Discussing Family Ties - When Family Ties first started filming, their audience would many times consist of overflow from those that had wanted to see "Joanie Loves Chachi".
The story breakdown for a F.T. episode- pre-dance, dance and Alex apologizes.
Michael Gross said that he would often get asked for fatherly advice from fans and he would tell them to talk to the writers.
Goldberg apologized for the London episode saying that the idea was inspired by the fact that "Facts of Life" did a show in Paris. He thought - Well, if they can do a show in Paris we can do one in London!
Goldberg said that everyone had their own style of acting and he would sometimes have trouble catering to everyone's needs- however, when Courtney Cox joined the cast her only complaint was too many big words...THAT he could take care of!
When deciding whether it was time to end the series they said that there was only so many more times Alex could try to get Mallory off the phone especially with cell phones coming onto the scene. They also pointed out the odd juxtaposition of MJ Fox playing Alex while wearing a beeper in case his wife went into labor. Times were changing, it was time to end it - but once the final show wrapped there was a lingering thought...so stupid not to do the 8th season and get the money out of it!
During the 7 year run the crew hardly changed and when it ended it was truly like saying goodbye to family.

Discussing Brooklyn Bridge - Marion Ross's character was based on Goldberg's Grandmother. His grandmother commented that Marion was much prettier than she was and that Goldberg was never as good as the grandkids on the show.
Marion Ross said she used to ask the execs how the show was doing and they told her - With a hit like this, we can go bankrupt!
Ross was asked to come in twice to read for the role of the grandma before they decided she was right for it. She actually was very persistent about being considered for the role as Goldberg thought she may be too young.
When the show was cancelled, Goldberg said it was like his childhood had been cancelled.

Discussing Spin City - The amount of scenes shot for Spin City were above and beyond a standard shoot for a weekly show. Most shows last scene was labeled G. Their last scenes were labeled Double CC.
Richard Kind would ask Goldberg on more than one occasion to not be "Skippy" and to not make him "Skippy".

-Over and over again Goldberg would reference how lucky he was to work with such talented people. No matter how good the writing...if you don't have the talent to convey it, it's not worth much.
- Goldberg quote - You always want your character to have dignity.
- The actors all commented on Goldberg's distinctive laugh and said they'd always listen for it. If they got him to laugh they knew they were doing well!
- Goldberg prided himself on being "The Protector" for his actors. He would not allow network execs to interfere.
- When asked why "Brooklyn Bridge" isn't on DVD - Goldberg had no answer. He said it was a surprise to the cast of "Family Ties" when the 1st season came out as they had nothing to do w/ it.

There was so much more shared in the evening, that at some points I had to give up jotting because there was no way to catch it all.

Managed to snap some pics w/ my camera & cell but they didn't come out all that great. You can tell who people are though...I guess...maybe? In the pic w/ Marion Ross - the young man w/ the blue on his shirt turning away is Matthew Siegel. Then the other non-group pic is of Michael Gross, Meredith Baxter Birney and MJ Fox.

Hopefully footage of the event can been seen on the Paley Center Site, soon!