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I now have it in my grubby little hands
Sat Jul 21
For the record: I know that technically, the Harry Potter series is intended for children. However, as a friend astutely pointed out earlier today, at its core, this is a coming-of-age story; it's something that readers of all ages can relate to (and it gives you an excuse to say "bildungsroman," which is always fun). It's also a classic story of the struggle between good and evil, and making the choice between what's easy and what's right. It may be "just a kids book," but it's an enjoyable—and, hell, I'll say it—well-written one.
Of course, none of this really justifies my sitting on the floor of a Barnes & Noble for seven (yep, seven) hours this evening waiting for the final book's release. That's just because I'm kind of obsessive.
And, dear readers, not only did I wait for seven hours, I also wore a T-shirt (made for me by my sister-in-law, who also waited with me, along with our friend Julie) that says "HP 4-EVER" on the front, and has pictures of the first six...
Bussed in
Sat Jul 21
I finally got in to the Bijou! I've been hearing about the famed after-hours sex club from my boyfriends for years and finally, tonight, thanks to (who else?) sleaze king Daniel Nardicio, I got to waltz my dyke self right down into the seedy, skanky dump of a space. It was Mr. D's genius idea to use the place as the venue to premiere his Great Gay American Road Trip film—a doc of his favorite group of downtown celebs on their way to do a show in Baltimore, traveling in a big yellow school bus driven by the ringleader himself. The "red carpet premiere" kicked off with the actual bus chugging across 4th Street and depositing some of the film's stars—trannie-boi star Glenn Marla, dirty bunny Gio, porn star Aaron King, sexy Dina Delicious, big-tittied hostess Sweetie—right at the Bijou's blue door. After an hour delay due to technical difficulties (the projectors are designed for films that play on a loop, natch), the patient crowd poured into the sticky-floored cave for what turned out...
The Kids stay in the picture
Fri Jul 20
One can imagine the anxiety I felt while waiting in the enormous Theatre Maisonneuve last night for the Kids in the Hall to take the stage. The five Canadian members of sketch-comedy royalty were not reuniting for a best-of show. And they wouldn't be sitting in plush chairs with a moderator for a Q&A. They were premiering new material—all new material. And as anyone who's watched aging rock stars on a reunion tour knows, sometimes your idols are best left in their pasts. I couldn't have been more wrong.
The 90 minutes of scenes and monologues proved the Kids are still as current, biting and adorably silly as they were in the '80s and '90s. Here are a few more things I learned last night:
(1) Henry Ford invented cars in order to have sex with them—that they were good for getting around was just an added benefit.
(2) Dave Foley invented a time machine so he can go back three minutes and order another beer: "I have found a way to defeat last call!"
(3) Kevin McDonald has...
Silly me: thoughts on the Emmy nominations
Thu Jul 19
Kyle Chandler, the most egregiously screwed-over TV actor of the 2006-07 season
In retrospect, it seems ridiculously naive of me, but up until the second before the Emmy nominations were revealed at 8:30am today, I was positive that Friday Night Lights would be up for more than two awards (or that if the series got just two nominations, they'd go to the superlative Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton). Of course, as travesties go, the TV academy's lack of FNL love is minuscule compared with their scandalous failure to give the fourth season of The Wire—the only TV series thus far to get TONY's coveted six-star rating—to land so much as a single nomination. At least 30 Rock and The Sopranos performed respectably (with 10 and 15 nods respectively), but otherwise the Academy generally continued its depressing practice of renominating usual suspects while ignoring literally dozens of more deserving actors and programs.
But enough with the negativity (for a little while). Here's a...
Le Petit Bon Bon
Thu Jul 19
It's dreary and rainy today in Montreal, giving the scores of Just for Laughs talent, industry and fans an excuse to get some much needed rest before the gamut of shows and beers begins anew tonight.
The English-speaking portion of the 25-year-old festival, which runs through Sunday 22, just got into full swing Tuesday night. But, of the dozens of show options, I think I've already seen the funniest (check back daily for confirmation).
As much as I advocate vulnerability onstage, I was howling at David Cross's tongue-in-cheek impression of a "typical" Montreal resident during last night's sketch revue.
He and Bob Odenkirk are hosting the Lineup, a collection of performances by various young troupes; it's also the stand-up-heavy festival's first foray into sketch showcases. New York groups Hot Sauce, the Buffoons, and Kurt and Kristen all had strong performances, as did L.A. duo Karla (which also managed to exemplify some of that rare earnestness).
Additionally, two...
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