Jonathan Winters

We've lost a giant of comedy. A master of improvisation.

On the Jack Parr show Jonathan was given a stick and within seconds he had created 10 characters.

He became known to my son's generation through his work on 'Mork and Mindy' and his voice work on 'The Smurfs'

There wasn't an emotion he couldn't convey.

I was in the kitchen washing dishes and listening to my son's laughter fill the house. He was about 7 and was having a rough time - his father hadn't called him in weeks and he had just been told he needed to wear glasses.

The sound of his laughter was so good to hear.
"You watching Mork and Mindy?"
"Yea Ma"
"Mork always makes you laugh"
"It's the chubby guy Ma, he's so funny. I want to hug him"

Thank You Jonathan

Peaceful Journey

Golden Globes - The Next Generation

One of the traditions of the Golden Globe show - tonight at 9 on NBC - is to have Miss Golden Globe, a daughter of a past Globe winner who comes out with the presenters to herd celebrities and gather up open envelopes.

Occasionally a Mister Golden Globe is chosen as well. How/Why/When - I don't know and I really don't think it matters.

I love contrasts and that's why this year's Miss and Mister caught my attention.

Our Miss Golden Globe is Francesca Eastwood

Mr. Golden Globe is Sam Fox 

I really hope Francesca doesn't get confused as her Dad does; I'd hate to see her talking to empty seats. It is  the Globes after all and everyone is drinking and moving about.

On the reality show her Mother threw together Francesca got a little over stimulated and set fire to a $10,000 Birkin bag. She told the press she did it because she likes Hermes better. Wow - those solid values Clint spews on about ... 

Unlike Francesca, Sam is not in reality/Daddy's productions show business. Sam has a business development firm and also helps run his Dad's Parkinson's Research foundation.

Micheal J. Fox said he didn't really know why his son was chosen and simply hoped that Sam enjoyed the experience.

I believe Clint will be giving a prepared statement to an empty auditorium somewhere in Malibu.

A Couple of Characters

I must note the passing of two exceptional actors.

Jack Klugman and Charles Durning.

When I was younger and fascinated by movie magazines I thought being called a character actor meant you weren't good enough to be a movie star. How foolish.

Reality shows and the news have taught us that any idiot can become famous.

Bringing a character to life and making that character memorable and touching takes an actor.

Jack Klugman as Oscar in The Odd Couple is an example of incredible acting. Jack made the sloppy, gruff, thoughtless Oscar lovable.

For me Charles Durning was one of those actors where you always remember the character he played more than you remember him in the role. I didn't know until his death that he was a war hero. I didn't know much about him at all.

What I do know is that his performance as Denis Leary's father in Rescue Me made me laugh and cringe and weep. He touched so very close to the nerve that weaves through all adult children of drunks.

Peaceful Journey Jack

Peaceful Journey Charles

I am imaging the actor's studio on the other side is having one hell of a grand showcase.

Kennedy Center Honors

Happy Day After/Boxing Day/or just plain December 26th

Hope everyone had a happy merry everything.

One of my favorite year end events is the Kennedy Center Honors

This year the honorees are ...

Dustin Hoffman
Led Zeppelin
Buddy Guy
Natalia Makarova

and last but not least, a man I adore ...

Dave

Sexy and Sarcastic and Smart
Self-deprecating in a boyish way
A kind man who took care of a musician who was broke and needed cancer treatments
A businessman who paid his writers during the strike
He likes to play the fool but has a keen mind for social and political issues

I'm betting that it was excruciating for him to handle being honored. He has always battled with depression and feelings of not being good enough. He told his studio audience that he was waiting for the re-count.

He's more than good enough to me.

CBS will air the Kennedy Center Honors celebration tonight at 9 PM eastern time.

Bravo to all

Bipartisan Fun

My Governor and My President got together during Hurricane Sandy to be leaders, not politicians.

Governor Christie took a lot of heat for that from his Republican "friends", but that's for a more political post.

 I came upon these two stories in my wanderings through the internet tubes. The lighter side of politicians ...

Governor Christie is a favorite for late night comedy. Saturday Night Live loves him.

The Governor showed up in person recently.

You can see the clip HERE

Mckayla Maroney, Olympic gymnast known for her "I'm not impressed" expression, visited the White House.

A smile goes a long way.

He's So Vain ...

... he probably thinks this post is about him.

 

Chuck Lorre has served as creator, producer or writer on many sitcoms including ...

Grace Under Fire
Roseanne
Cybill
Dharma & Greg
Two and a Half Men
The Big Bang Theory
Mike & Molly

At the end of each episode one of his Vanity Cards appears with some kind of story or observation or rant or joke. I always freeze the frame to read them.   Lorre has put together a collection of these vanity cards in a book with a title I freakin' love ...
 

Whatever Doesn't Kill Me Makes Me Bitter  

There goes another possible title for my auto-biography.

Let's Get Historical

Charlie Rose recently asked a guest on CBS This Morning which long gone writers he thought would embrace blogging and social networking. The guest said ...

Dickens would

and

Shakespeare would not

The writer that came to mind was Hemingway

I could absolutely imagine drunken tweets from war zones.
#who'sYourPapa  f**k you Franco, your wife salutes me now

Speaking of drunken tweets - Dean Martin

#RatPack - in Palm Beach with Golddiggers - dancers not wives

On the flip side

No way would Sinatra have anything to do with the internet

Way too private
I could see him texting his mistresses

In the political arena I think Abe Lincoln would be a fine blogger. Thoughtful posts about everything from equality to gardening.

What voice from the past can you hear echoing through these magical internet tubes?

Dogs in the City

is a TV series that premiered this past Wednesday on CBS.

The one hour show features segments about dogs and their humans. In the first episode we met ...

Charlotte - she has an aggression issue and has bitten both dogs and people several times. Her human, a very stubborn and opinionated young woman, insists on continuing to bring Charlotte to work each day regardless of the risk.

My favorite scene is when the dog trainer sits on the floor in the corner to watch over the new behavior he has suggested to the human only to have her still screw up.

Then there's a newly married couple and their bulldog Beefy. Beefy belonged with the husband before the wife came into the picture and Beefy is not at all pleased with being part of a couple of humans. He will not walk on his leash for her and barks incessantly when the couple goes to bed.

The third segment is especially lovely. A retired NYPD detective and his young daughter have a giant dog named Rosie. They are concerned that Rosie is too fat and need help in feeding her better and giving her more exercise.

There are so many things to love about this show - the dogs, wonderful scenes of NYC and even the humans.

And Justin

Justin Silver is a stand up comedian who turned his love for dogs into a business and a charity. Justin has a company called The Language of Dogs and is founder of  Funny for Fido  where he brings comedians together to raise money for grants to animal rescue organizations.

Although he is official human to two dogs - Chiquita and Pacino, Justin fosters many homeless dogs and will often take in a dog he is working with until he feels sure that the situation is safe and happy for both the dog and the dog's people.

After watching the first episode of his show and seeing him interviewed many times I will admit to absolutely adoring this guy. He's a born NYer. He has an incredibly big warm smile, not to mention incredibly big shoulders and arms. While he definitely has a bit of NY swagger and attitude he is so patient and loving. Especially with the humans who are so often the cause of dog issues.

So take a look at Dogs in the City - Wednesday at 8 PM EST on CBS.

I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Mr. Mike Wallace

My Nana always called him that. "Dianne, did you see Mr. Mike Wallace chasing that crook? He's a character that Mr. Mike Wallace."

Nana also told me that one of the most difficult things about getting older is that people you have known and respected all your life die. And when they pass you feel you'll never see the likes of them again.

Mr. Mike Wallace passed on this weekend at the age of 93. He spent 68 years in radio and television, 38 of those years on 60 Minutes.

His good friend Morley Safer said -  " For half a century, he took on corrupt politicians, scam artists and bureaucratic bumblers. His visits were preceded by the four dreaded words: Mike Wallace is here."

Mr. Mike Wallace believed a good journalist should - Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable

I loved Mike most when he would look at the person he was interviewing with an incredulous expression and simply ask “Why?” His direct stare would never waver and he would allow no wiggle room.

He told reporters late in his life that if he could write his own epigraph, it would read, "Tough But Fair."

Peaceful Journey Mr. Mike Wallace