Thanks for the kind words about the contest. A friend sent me that page with all the possible Bonds, and I have uploaded it to here: New James Bond? Hope I did it right this time! Murph

I don't understand how you didn't win, Murph (of course, I didn't look at the Bates or Robson Green pages), but I did vote in true Chicago fashion. Hizzoner, da mayor (may he rest in peace), would have awarded me a ghost contract for my efforts. ;-D

Karen: The Bates site is outstanding. The web mistress there has become a correspondent. Her thoughts on doing web sites for celebrities, which appeared at the Theater site this past year, was very helpful to me. I don't know much about the Green site, but he is obviously popular! And no wonder...I loved him in Reckless. Peter Lathan, who ran the contest, says he is still looking for software that allows you to only vote once. He hasn't found it yet, and knows people voted mucho times for their favorites. Murph What do you all think of Colin in glasses! I have an old collage up on my news pages of pics of him in same. I love the look. Glasses Collage

Pride and Prejudice Marathon was wonderful!!! Sorry to hear about W&D and OT 'cause we're bound to get them both.... I have just emailed A&E and asked them to continue making it a Thanksgiving Tradition. I ask you please to do the same. We did it last year and they apparently got the message. http://www.aetv.com/feedback/feedback.html

I'd rather watch CF squashing tomatoes in the worst movie of the year!! And so would we all - but that's no consolation for Colin, who needs to safeguard his credibility. I bet ATA and SLOW scripts looked great on paper - until the finished product left the cutting room. But let's not forget FP, TEP, SIL and MLSF - not so bad, after all. Darcy was a wonderfully strong and romantic character executed with near-perfection and it will be difficult for Colin to find another role which would at least equal that one. If he is not liked by men, it is because neither as an actor, nor as a private man does he project a cynical/butch type, which seems currently prevalent as a male role model. Someone might say - neither does Hugh Grant, but he has been caught in a cynical/butch-like situation in real life and so he's been accepted as one of the lads... Generally, the so-called thinking women's heroes are disliked by the majority of the male style gurus. Colin has apparently tried to act cynical/laddish by sometimes using trong expletives when interviewed by male journalists, but it didn't work well and I think he's now abandoned this approach.

(Arami), Colin has apparently tried to act cynical/laddish by sometimes using strong expletives when interviewed by male journalists, but it didn't work well and I think he's now abandoned this approach. I am disappointed he would care to impress those male/journalists at all. Happy to see your site did so well Murph! I think we all voted Chicago-style. ;-)

I'd rather watch CF squashing tomatoes in the worst movie of the year!! And so would we all - but that's no consolation for Colin, who needs to safeguard his credibility. I bet ATA and SLOW scripts looked great on paper - until the finished product left the cutting room. But let's not forget FP, TEP, SIL and MLSF - not so bad, after all. Darcy was a wonderfully strong and romantic character executed with near-perfection and it will be difficult for Colin to find another role which would at least equal that one. If he is not liked by men, it is because neither as an actor, nor as a private man does he project a cynical/butch type, which seems currently prevalent as a male role model. Someone might say - neither does Hugh Grant, but he has been caught in a cynical/butch-like situation in real life and so he's been accepted as one of the lads... Generally, the so-called thinking women's heroes are disliked by the majority of the male style gurus. Colin has apparently tried to act cynical/laddish by sometimes using trong expletives when interviewed by male journalists, but it didn't work well and I think he's now abandoned this approach.

Ann, Colin didn't wear the glasses when he came down after the performance, and honestly, I was much too exited to notice what they looked like. But there is something else which I did notice.He came down with a women who looked like she was a security-person as she was wearing a kind of belt with a walky-talky across her chest.When we talked she waitetd for him. I wondered whether she is his bodyguard. We talked about PP and Darcy and Colin said he wasn't at all like Darcy.But while he said it he looked and behaved so much like Mr. Darcy,that I find it very difficult to believe him. After a few minutes there were more fans who wanted autographs and we couldn't talk any longer and he said very friendly good-bye.

(Arami).... but that's no consolation for Colin, who needs to safeguard his credibility. I bet ATA and SLOW scripts looked great on paper - until the finished product left the cutting room. .... Agree. But how can an actor get around that...contractual? (Arami)..... Darcy was a wonderfully strong and romantic character executed with near-perfection and it will be difficult for Colin to find another role which would at least equal that one. I'll drink to that.... Imagine...Arami & I agreeing on two points It must be the season...:-))

(Evelyn) But how can an actor get around that...contractual? Become Tom Cruise or Tom Hanks?? Most directors can't even get approval for the final cut. Bethan, thanks for the explanation of multiple reviews by a single newspaper. Am so glad that doesn't happen here. While the major papers here have more than one critic (a main critic and various underlings), only one of them will review a given film. Therefore, if someone says the X Times recommended a film, there's no question about it. Am going back to pick up any stray reviews I have put on the page, although I haven't come across the name Tom Dawson yet. Ann, the review from Total Film didn't have a name, but it too used the term "anaemic performance" to describe Colin's performance. Maybe that's what I remembered? ;-D

anaemic performance How could they say that! Just back from seeing SLOW. Shall post on 126.

Karen, the Popcorn reviewer is Tom Dawson. (Not to be confused with Jack Dawson or Rose Dawson;-) Starts out saying something like: Nimi's family is not impressed by Matthew--didn't they see Pride & Prejudice? He says he found the characterizations "faintly racially patronising." Does any of this sound familiar? If not, I have it somewhere and can forward to you, though I'm not sure you'd want it on your page.;-) The one in the Observer is by Phillip French; not sure you'll want that one either.;-) RE: mutiple film revews from a single publication. The only time I can ever recall that happening here was this past summer when Janet Maslin wrote the rave review on Eyes Wide Shut in the NYT; shortly thereafter, they published a very negative one from an underling (the woman who I think is going to be taking Maslin's place). That really signaled JM's death knell; they thought she was too soft. A pity. Way to go, Murph! But you wuz robbed, kid.

Mari, thanks, I have both reviews and, btw, the Popcorn site is the one with the SLOW trailer of a bunch of not-so-secretly-laughing women that I posted to Springfolks, I think??? Anywho, maybe, I'll just put links to the bad reviews and not put the text in... At the Trib, the same film might be reviewed by Siskel and Michael Wilmington, but Siskel had long since given up the title of Chief Critic to Wilmington and was a "guest columnist" every Friday. Since Siskel's death, no duplicate reviews that I recall.

(Nita)When we talked she waitetd for him. I wondered whether she is his bodyguard. Well if she was (and I hope to god she wasn�t) I�m really angry with someone who has caused this. He looked so very secure in March. Has something happened that has made him feel like needing a professional around to handle certain situations? Obviously the possible trouble maker has been a woman, otherwise the bodyguard wouldn�t be female.

I know it is an old warhorst, but I would like to see ODB do Wuthering Heights. Heathcliff is a very taciturn, troubled man and should be done by an actor who can project his anger and pain by body language, facial expressions and the ability to convey his thought with the use of his eyes. We all know that no one can do this better tha Colin as in The English Patient, when he was sitting in the car waiting for her to return for their 1st anniversary. You could see all that he was going through just by watching his eyes. It was the best part of the entire movie and the idiots who cut scenes to make way for the commercial on the tape cut it out. They were too stupid to see that everthing that happened centered on this one incident. The plane crash that started the story was about that scene.

According to The Albermarle Theatre Website 3DOR stands at No.2 in The Top Ten Plays in London, does anyone know if this is based on Box Office or Critics' Opinions. I too would be very sorry if something has happened for Colin to need a Bodyguard, how can he be his natural self to his fans if he has something like this hanging over him. Might explain though why Livia has not been seen at the Theatre.

The walky-talky woman likely worked for the Donmar org. A building like that would definitely have a security guard on premises at all times. There are NO accounts of any bodyguards accompanying Colin out of the Donmar or even a car picking him up or dropping him off. In fact, he just walks down the street alone or with friends.

(Karen)In fact, he just walks down the street alone or with friends To the nearest Tube station perhaps?!?!

Don't know where he goes and isn't that the way it should be? ;-D

Bless him where ever he goes. Instead of the Tube he probably goes to his flashy car in a nearby parking house :-)

Instead of the Tube he probably goes to his flashy car in a nearby parking house :-) I doubt it is flashy. A couple of years ago he was still driving a very Toyota or was it a Honda?

Eeeek. That should read "ancient" Toyota. What is happening to me? I have firthitis.

When he was doing FP interviews I am sure I read it was a C reg Nissan. For sure it's NOT a volvo!! BTW Bethan, I also could not bear W&D and just had to switch off.

(Allison)Toyota or was it a Honda? Hey, where did you get this? Nissan Maxima is the only car that I remember being mentioned in his interviews. I know this for sure because after I read it a couple of years ago I almost ended up buying one myself (the price of that car helped me to come back to my senses :-D)

And so would we all - but that's no consolation for Colin, who needs to safeguard his credibility. I bet ATA and SLOW scripts looked great on paper - until the finished product left the cutting room. But let's not forget FP, TEP, SIL and MLSF - not so bad, after all. (Arami} Agreed! Also (like Evelyn!)I thoroughly agree with the other points you've made! I also think that editing is crucial, and it would appear that in ATA, SLOW, and to a certain extent MLSF (didn't Harvey take over?), editing responsibilty was disputed. Lizza's right about the car...it was a C Reg Nissan Cherry (I remember, because we'd just bought a (nearly new) Nissan Primera! Very reliable, Nissans! Lizza, I must admit that although I didn't take to W&D, it did give me a pang because superficially it remined me of P&P. I think the same production team must have been used...some of the location shots looked similar, the cinematography was reminiscent of P&P. Nothing else! But I would very like to see CF acting in that sort of "protected environment", knowing that the production values are high and there'll be no post-production squabbling.. There just don't seem to be many good roles for male actors e pecially in costume dramas! (I'd like to have seen him in the role of Henry I in "Lion in Winter" with Pat O'Connor directing. He's just the right age (Henry married at 18, had three sons by his early twenties and died in his late forties) A. Hopkins is way too old) Thanks for your comments on SLOW, Allison. I'll post mine when I've seen it (not long now!) BTW there are Nigerian communities in the South of France, and also much larger communities from Francophone Africa. Although they're mostly concentrated around Marseille.

Too bad about W&D.The same team (AD and SB) did the TV Emma, which hasn't been heard of since. So where is the third member of the P&P team... Simon Langton. Apparently, he's crucial.Does anyone know what he's done lately?

What about The Mayor of Casterbridge? (4million pounds) Bethan, it was mentioned on Teletext this morning, ITV are to make it, no castings yet, to be screened in 2001. (? Bates was in the original) - my mind has gone a blank!!

Ann, the Tom Dawson mystery is solved. He did write the smallish piece in Total Film. Found the original you sent me. The popcorn one is the full piece.

Thanks Karen. (Alan Bates, of course)

Bethan, I admit to pangs too, how right you are. I was near the area it was filmed yesterday, a place called Marshfield, which is not so very far from Bath, nor from Lacock. Did I not read somewhere (dredging deep here!) that after P&P2 , adaptations had to have an "F Factor" (that's F for Firth!!) or else they would not take off, not just here but abroad too, and without it they wouldn't hit the public consciousness etc W&P just ain't got it.

According to Teletext OT won the battle of the ratings last night by just over a million, unfortunately for W&D, and I am sorry about this as it may discourage the BBC from making expensive costume dramas in the future, they lost 2 millions viewers apparently they started off with 9million plus and ended up with 7million plus. Also Evelyn, I agree with you that Simon Langton must be the missing link, he also directed Upstairs & Downstairs and that had that certain something that P&P had.

I hope that what he drives is indeed an ancient Nissan b/c that is what I drive although not a Maxima.

Yes, what happened to Simon Langton? I've not been aware of anything else directed by him since P&P. Ann, Teletext is a goldmine! The Mayor of Casterbridge....now that's not a bad project. Henchard is described as the most "primitive and virile of all Hardy's heroes", "a man destroyed by his own passion". Can be a bit downbeat though. But I'd actually like to see CF do this. Something with real meat! And I think ITV definitely have the edge in drama. I'm not surprised that W&D lost its audience. I actually think the potential audience might have been misled by all the "from the makers of Pride and Prejudice" style advertising. As I said, my initial reaction was "Bring back Lizzie and Darcy!!" There's certainly no Darcy in W&D (indeed the potential for romance is very disappointing!) and Justine Waddell isn't a patch on JE. There was some good character acting I suppose, but it didn't "grab" me.

Hello Nita, I'm very new to this list myself, so I feel a bit awkward in welcoming you. I Don't feel as though I`ve paid enough dues, or something. Thank you for the providing the vicarious thrill of reading about your trip to 3DOR and your talking with CF. If I ever get to see on stage, I wouldn't have the guts to want to meet him. This is due mostly to the fact that I'm a frustrated writer. Scenario: I see CF, causing me to charge toward him yelling, "Mr. Firth have I got a screenplay concept for you!" At which point, the poor man runs from me in abject terror. I could remember the whole episode as "How I met Colin Firth and got arrested." That just would not do. No, I am not the reason the (apparent) security guard was with him. I have not been in London within the last year. As for the James Bond list. Who cares? CF is fortunate his name isn't on the list to play that trash. They should drive a stake through the heart of that worn-out, irrelevant series. The only way to continue the series well would be as period adventure comedies, as the character and situations are so dependent on the cold war and Hugh Hefner's playboy philosophy. Better yet, forget Bond, why bother with that tripe when there's Austin Powers. Also, we stupid Americans seem to love Ioan Gruffudd, roug translation would be either "handsome Welsh actor" or "John Griffith".

(CherylB) see CF, causing me to charge toward him yelling, "Mr. Firth have I got a screenplay concept for you!" At which point, the poor man runs from me in abject terror. Just don't yell "another cuckold part" and maybe he'll stay. As for the James Bond list. Who cares? ... They should drive a stake through the heart of that worn-out, irrelevant series. On this we agree. Think we should quash the bodyguard reference now. Karen's suggestion is more plausible.

Speaking of the Mayor of Castlebridge and others... I would love to hear from as many of you as possible on what characters - either real life or fictional - you would like to see CF play, and why. You can also stipulate film or stage or TV in your explanation. I know we've done it before, but I don't remember all the answers being listed in one place. Go To It! A Firth Survey I will post all the answers with some of your choicer comments on a new page in a few weeks. Murph

(Lucie)I would like to see ODB do Wuthering Heights. Lucie, I can understand why, if only there was a scriptwriter and a director in this world to be able to do handle that magnificent material well enough. Heathcliff is a frightening and paradoxal character and I hated him all through the book because of the terrible things he did, and was touched by his desperate passion....I�ve always said that Colin would be great in horror stories because of his capability of great intensity/subtlety and WH is very close to one.

Karen, I may be wrong but according to Yahooo Top 100 for the weekend before last, Mansfield Park opened at #44, at 8 theatres, and I think didn't do as well as MLSF at only 5 theatres in its opening weekend, and this is with much more vigorouse promotion thatn MLSF had. Just think how it might have done with just a little more help!!

Ann, I didn't check last week's boxoffice figures, but you're probably right. MP is currently in 26th place (playing on 30 screens), grossing about $10K per screen. Not so hot, but enough...for the time being.

Do I feel some depression here over the general public's (including some of our own) reaction to SLOW? I hope I am wrong. I spent whole afternoon of the last Sunday to watch P&P. I video taped it although I've already owned a six tapes set. So when I want to watch the whole thing, I don't have to get up to change tape every 50 some minutes and dump my ice cream bowl on the floor (it only happened once though). I'm very pleased whenever a commercial break was needed, the announcer would say "Pride and Prejudice starring Colin Firth will be right back...". I just love to hear his name to be announced over and over again ;-). (Although I thought JE deserves the same credit for P&P). It definitely gained more to the Firthies crowd on this side of pond while SLOW was playing on the other side.

Karen, I just noticed what name you gave the Colin-feet-tomato pic (I know I'm slow. Read: s l o w and not SLOW). I love it! What film is it from again? COW (cheering of women)?

(Xian) the announcer would say"Pride and Prejudice starring Colin Firth will be right back...". I just love to hear his name to be announced over and over again;-). (Although I thought JE deserves the same credit for P&P). Now that you mention it.....Grrrrrr. Nice to hear his name...but I wanted to shout.... "Who the h***kept those six episodes together.:-D "I know, I know...he drove the bus, and she is an unknown here....but at least they could have said: "and.....". evelyn....* doing a slow burn on this side of the pond*:-D (Did not mention that to A&E in my thank you)

Who the h***kept those six episodes together.:-D You�re absolutely right Evelyn, Elizabeth of course is the most important person in the whole thing and Jennifer is the real star in P&P by far. And what an excellent performance that was. One just tends to forget these obvious facts when winding and rewinding and drooling for what�s his name.

News on SLOW...the video is out in April. Film will be on very selected release in the UK in the next few weeks...they only know where it will be a week in advance. For example, is at Manchester Showcase next week. Leeds Showcase soon (not art-house) If you want to find out about your region, ring Optimum Releasing on 0207 4784466. I saw SLOW today and enjoyed it! But am quite shattered by my long day!! Have posted briefly at 126. Murph, if you want to post the news about the video release, please do!

(Tineke) What film is it from again? COW (cheering of women)? Cheering of women! LOL!! Does this help? ;-) It's from the 1983 ZZ Top song "Legs" but it was "she's got legs"...minor change. Bethan: Excellent news re: video - converters cranked up. Am anxious to hear your comments on seeing SLOW.

closing the tags... ;-)

Jennifer is the one who won the "Best Actress" award for P&P and I was pretty p***d off when her name wasn't mentioned. I waited thru the whole series for them to mentioned her name but I guess it was pretty nice to hear Colin Firth's name. I also waited around to see "The English Patient" and Colin looked sooooo good (yummmm).

I waited thru the whole series for them to mentioned her name I attributed it to the fact that they didn't know how to pronounce "Ehle".:-D ~~~~~~ Hey, April is soon...those poor guys at Optimum need to get their money back.

I wish the Ehle contingent stopped moaning on this board... Why don't you start an Ehle thread, so that us Firthists can go there and post about Colin on every other line? ;-P

I wish the Ehle contingent stopped moaning on this board... Why don't you start an Ehle thread Oh yeah...so how come no one complained this summer with all the baseball and crickett comments on this very thread. And when Ben talks about Jennifer , you never say anything....scheeeeech.

Sorry...I forgot to add my smiley.... scheeeeech :-D

It's a whole new ball game on Favorite Man. Colin was #1 to start but already other forces rise against him. Take a few moments of your time and vote for him daily. (If you can vote Chicago style, all the better ... Daley!;-D): http://www.freevote.com/booth/ladyviola Let December be Colin's month...

KJArt, I just noticed that it is Sir Percy against Mr. Darcy!

OK, I've voted, but that green background is a killer. And how about Russell Crowe "who broke all records". And we know how, don't we! And who is Anthony Andrews? Isn't this Favorite Man thing just a microcosm of life? Here's Colin; he's always there, every month, and we're always voting like mad. And some upstart no one ever heard of always comes in #1. He's always #2 b/c of the few, the happy few, the band of droolers, the ones who never desert him. But these little shifters who vote for one guy one month and another the next. I see a book--Where's Colin? On each double page a seething crowd of two-bit actors, always changing--locales, costumes, and especially faces, some recognizable, some just a blur of aquiline noses and square jaws, surrounded by their screaming groupies. As you page through, the most prominent faces keep changing for no obvious reason, and the groupies swarm across the page, thickening and thinning gangs jostling around the hunk du mois. But somewhere in every picture there he is working away and miling gorgeously while around him the Firthettes quietly maintain sites, write fiction, read the source works, and power watch the Oeuvre. You have to look pretty hard to find him, and many people don't bother, but for the ones who do ... well, the rewards are infinite. Do you think this would move on Murph's bookstore? I bet it would go right to number two on the best seller list.

(Cymbeline) I bet it would go right to number two on the best seller list. LOL!! Anthony Andrews?!! What has he done in the last decade or so? How can he have rabid fans on the order of Russell Crowe's. BTW, I would watch out for the Brendan Fraser and Timothy Dalton contingents. The way I look at it, vote Colin in for December and we never have to do it again. Is that reason enough? ;-)

I have hinted at Anthony Andrews being Sir Percy of the Scarlet Pimpernel once before. Personally, I can not remember anything else he has done, but I do suggest you all rent his SP video. You will not be disappointed. I repeat the contest seems to be Sir Percy vs Mr. Darcy. Now for a picture of Colin as Santa, Karen, could you oblige us? That should help to inspire the December vote. :-D

a picture of Colin as Santa Renate should have one at her fingertips. Here's an OK one: BTW, Anthony Andrews was also in Brideshead Revisited a million years ago.

Anthony Andrews was Sebastian in Brideshead Revisted! He was awesome, but granted it was more than a decade ago;)

Jeremy Irons'career took off after Brideshead, Anthony Andrews' didn't. Guess it's luck of the draw. Noticed some indirect promo for SLOW. Some helpful soul had released most of the glossy mags in the Film and Computer sections from their Cellophane covers, so it was possible to browse without buying (Big sign..."Customers are kindly requested not to read magazines" !!) There a shortish articles on Nia Long in two of the film mags (Total Film, and I think, Empire) mostly promoting "The Best Man"(?}, but mentions of SLOW and CF. In one she says how much she enjoyed filming SLOW with Colin Firth. In another, the article says that her new fim is a romance with Brit Heart-throb CF. Nia says "He's great. There's something about him that's very innocent, child-like, I think he's very shy".

Here's two more Santa Colins: Marzipan Murph

All: The About.com British TV Newsletter has all the programs coming this winter on British TV. TOTS is mentioned under ITV's Christmas programs, along with a zillion others. I would post it, but it is long. At the risk of getting slugged by Arami (kidding!), I heard a radio ad today for "Waiting In The Wings," Noel Coward's play starring Bacall and Rosemary Harris. I was thinking that Jen might come to the opening, Evelyn? It's on December 3, I think. Last mention of JE, I promise. Back to CF as Santa.... I have a DVD of TEP and can screen capture the most delicious stuff. Murph

(Murph)Noel Coward's play starring Bacall and Rosemary Harris. I was thinking that Jen might come to the opening, Evelyn? It's on December 3, I think. Last mention of JE, I promise. Meet you on #72 Murph. (And I nevah promise anything.) ~~~ Thanks for all the pics of the season.Loved it when he called Kathryn "sausage".

At the risk of getting slugged by Arami (kidding!) Murph - you are one very special Firthdom fighter and you may post anything you like here.

Alert - an interesting CF/P&P-related discussion has developed on Topic 72.

Did anyone notice Lady Viola's remark that it was nice to see someone she actually liked win? hmmmmmmmm Nia Long seems to have joined a long line of leading ladies who loved working with Colin. Gwenyth Paltrow went on about him in every interview that I saw.

Okay, who is Ioan Gruffudd and how did he get so far ahead in this favorite man poll???? I'm voting as often as I can remember but it's only the first day and this other guy is way ahead suddenly!

I was in there voting at about 2:45 pm central time, when the Horatio Hornblower crowd blew in. I'm convinced they have a way of circumventing the counter or are in collusion with Lady Viola. (Renate: does the host have a way of shutting down the counter or placing unlimited votes him/herself?) When I started voting, IO had 397 votes and CF was in first with 511. When I realized the counter was not working, that's when I wrote down the totals and kept on voting. When it finally stopped me and I "relo ded" to see the new totals, it was IO with 750 and CF with 588. I disconnected and got back in to the fray, and IO was at 808, so I continued voting. When everything got back to normal, IO was at 1022 and CF at 637. There's a way of shutting down the counter. Who knows a programmer in PERL?

In case anyone's interested, Anthony Andres first came to my attention by coming out of nowhere to star in a 13-part series called "Danger--UXB" which was quite popular at the time. He went on to do "Brideshead". I have wondered a couple of times "Whatever happened to ... you know ... what's his face". Why he's suddenly surfaced is beyond me. Has he done something current of which I am not aware? I totally agree with Cymbeline's philosophy on this one, but my true attitude toward the whole thing is Karen's, to wit: The way I look at it, vote Colin in for December and we never have to do it again. Is that reason enough? ;-)

I've found a little note about CF on an Estonian site, and would love to know what they are talking about. I think it is about the internet. This language seems related to Finnish. Elena, do you think you can translate this for us? http://portal.online.ee/article3931.html Filmiuudised Colin Firth ei ole rahul kuulsuse ja internetiga Online - Briti n�itleja Colin Firth kardab oma privaatsuse p�rast, kuna internet annab t�nap�eval praktiliselt k�igile v�imaluse tema kohta nii palju teada saada kui v�imalik, kirjutab WENN. "Shakespeare in Love" staar kurdab, et selline avalik informatsioon v�ib saada ohtlikuks. "Ma arva, et ei ole sobiv piiluda kogu aeg, mida teised teevad," �tles ta. "Ma kohtasin �hel peol �ht t�drukut, kes teadis t�pselt kus ja millal ma s�ndisin, minu venna ja �e nimesid, mis koolis ma k�isin. Ta sai selle k�ik internetist."

So, Renate, you are looking for Colin in all the tongue places. Here's a new project for us--in how many languages has Colin been mentioned. I see a beautiful collage, like a UN Christmas card, but much, much bigger covered with alphabets, characters, glyphs, and in every phrase the words COLIN FIRTH stand out. Title: Master of the Universe. Can't wait to see the translation of your Estonian piece, but you are barking up the wrong tree by asking Elena b/c ODB will never be Finnished (bwah-ha-ha-ha-ha!)

Thanks, Cymbeline, very �funny�. Renate, Finnish is close to Estonian but not close enough for me to understand it. I found a translator though. That text is that famous piece from the Q/A in Hello or what was that paper/magazine a year ago. You know the one that made Ellen take down her FAQ. "He wants to keep his private life to himself and today the internet can serve a lot of information about anybody. It is not appropriate to know what a person is doing all the time, he says. In a party I once met a girl who could name my parents, what schools I went to....the internet is where she got it all�. Aargh

(Karen)I was in there voting at about 2:45 pm central time, when the Horatio Hornblower crowd blew in. Interesting! I have been having a slothful day. Can't quite apply myself so, inspired by Karen's city father (Mayor Daley?), I have been hitting the Lady Viola booth, switching between ISP's I find I can clock up a fair number of votes. I was obviously not alone in voting this am (GMT). Could not help noticing that Colin's fellow countrymen have put on no extra votes to now (2pm GMT). Does this mean that all their backers live to the west of these isles or are they UK supporters who are not prepared o shell out prime rate telephone rates to back their man. BTW, I suspect Lady Viola herself for the sudden flood of Ioan votes.

I've run into this 'disconnected counter' numerous times before. During November, the votes were racking up during the late night hours for us - around midnight. What time is that in Australia? ;-) Well, if IO pulls too far ahead, then I'm hanging it up. I'll try to be there the same time today to see if this becomes a daily thing. Seems strange...I've never been able to place more than 5 votes on Renate's list. But on Lady Viola's, the counter doesn't always work as well.

Does anyone know if this Lady Viola site carries any weight in the real world? I know some poll-type sites do. This one is quite arbitrary and smells of rigged voting and therefore renders any results meaningless. Access Hollywood has been conducting several 'Best of...' polls and admitted on air recently that fan clubs had likely changed the outcome in at least one of them. And we know AH to be a bastion of reporting--for example, they recently broke the story that Michael Jackson had his nose done. Wow! I never knew that! *cue heavy sarcasm*

I hear the sirens--the OT police are coming to take me away. See you in jail, Evelyn! Murph, can you bail us out? Whoopsie, almost forgot... ;-)

Does anyone know if this Lady Viola site carries any weight in the real world? Define real world? ;-) On the moon, she would be weightless.

(Nilee)See you in jail, Evelyn! Murph, can you bail us out? Oh, Nilee....you crack me up.... Ah yes,... Murph ...you have a lot of clout around here. Please, may I run my Jennifer news through you? Oops..I forgot....:-D

Thank you Elena, for the translation. Can't say I'm surprised that it is this unfortunate article - the word "internet" mentioned two times in such a small article was warning enough. I have also found something Russian, better I don't post it at all.

I love to fool around with rhyming, and sent this out to the Firth list last year. I have changed a few words for Drool: ******************************* 'Twas the night before SIL, when all through Firthheaven, Not a person was stirring, not even Lady Karen; The stockings were hung by the great chimney with care In hopes that Lord Wessex soon would be there; The ladies were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of Firths danced in their heads; And Evelyn in her kerchief, and Arami in her cap, Had just settled their brains for a long winter's nap, When out in the courtyard there arose such a clatter, We sprang from our beds to see what was the matter. Away to the window we flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave a luster of midday to objects below, When, what should we see on that night cold and chilly? But a opulent carriage and seven sleek fillies, With a tall dark haired driver so handsome and sexy, We knew in a minute it must be Lord Wexy. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled and shouted, and called them by name: "Now Lizzie! Now Julie! Now Chirsty! now Meg! On, Nancy! On, Katherine, on Viola - shake a leg! To the top of the ramparts! To the top of the wall! Now Dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!" As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky, So up to the Towers the coursers they flew With the carriage full of goodies - And Lord Wessex too. And then, in a twinkling, we heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As we drew in our heads, and were turning around, Down the chimney Lord Wessex came with a bound. He was dressed all in velvet from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; A bundle of goodies he had on his back, And he looked like the Kingly Head of the Pack. His eyes - how they sparkled, his dimples so keen! His cheeks were like roses, his legs long and lean, His large mobile mouth was drawn up in a grin And the beard on his chin was darker than sin; The candlelight lit his smiling white teeth, And a white ruff encircled his neck like a wreath. He had a small waist, and a whole lot of pep, And he walked with a swaggering, rollicking step. He was elegant, daring, a right handsome old thing, And we laughed when he saw him, and wanted to sing! A wink of his eye, and a twist of his head, Soon gave us to know we had nothing to dread; He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk; And laying his fist against mouth (nothing new!) And giving a nod, up the chimney he flew. He sprang to his carriage, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But we heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, "I'll see you next year, Luvs, but for now, A Good Night!

And may I say how impressively international we Firth fans are? To get an Estonian translation in a day is something else. Thanks, Elena. Murph (Mary ELLEN Murphy)

Murph...you're the Greatest....First the pic ..now the poem... Thanks...lenyev ~~~~~ (Renate) I have also found something Russian, better I don't post it at all. Aw c'mon, Renate...let's hear it.Might be something new.

and Arami in her cap Mad-cap??? ***** Renate, did it say KO/\UH FUPTb ?

Renate, send me any articles you find in pig latin. I can do Olde PL, Middle PL and modern day. ;-) And thanks Murph for the holiday poem.

LOL. Thanks Murph for that bit of holiday cheer.

The BBC is to screen a recording of Jeffrey Barnard is Unwell with Peter O'Toole as part of their Millenium programmes, wish they would consider doing the same for either 3DOR or TRT. Bethan, how many people were at the showing of SLOW on Tues, I ask so as to gauge whether it will still be playing this week.

Murph, what holiday cheer! Bringing back all those memories of us waiting for our dear Lord Wessex. Merci!

Ann I think Bethan said there were 25 at the SLOW screening . ~~~~~~~ (ann)The BBC is to screen a recording of Jeffrey Barnard is Unwell with Peter O'Toole as part of theirMillenium programmes, wish they would consider doing the same for either 3DOR or TRT. Has anybody written to : alanyentob@bbc.co.uk lately to request they tape and show it? KJArt and I emailed them last year. I have been in touch with the Nationa Archives of Stage Presentations requesting they tape 3 DOR for their archives at the Theatre Museum at Covent Garden....they taped Charles Dance!!

Found this, a full transcript of the Julie Andrews interview by Jonathan Ross on Film99 that was taped and images captured by Arami. Excerpts follow: J: It must feel good to be back on a film set. What was it that drew you to this project? Julie: Oh, that's easy. Lots of things really. It's a wonderful role for a lady. The cast are superb - Stephen Fry, Colin Firth, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Sophie Thompson, Edward Atherton - and the director is a very talented young man that I admire. So, put them all together and it seemed natural to want to do it. J: Could you tell me about the story? Julie: It's about a countess, the lady I play, who owns Marshwood House and all the estates. Her son, Lord Marshwood has long been an admirer of ladies and has had many, many amours but he's really gone off the deep end and fallen in love with a Hollywood star. Her reputation is not superb and he decides he's going to marry her. It takes place in 1954, when things were changing just after the war. She tries very hard to embrace a new concept and new idea. But, knowing that her son is not deeply in love an that it's just a passing whim, she's very anxious that she preserve her nest. It's very witty, very funny. The Hollywood star's ex-boyfriend shows up and I do what I can to stir the pot. It's charming. J: Your co-stars are in awe of you. Julie: Well, I'm very grateful for the way my previous roles have sort of kept going. Nobody could be more unbelievably lucky than I've been. First of all, they are movies that come around again and again and again. It's not just a fashionable thing. Children love them and adults love them too and so, in that respect, I'm very lucky. Jeanne Tripplehorn plays the American star and she's just become a new buddy. We've had tremendous giggles together and have bonded wonderfully. Colin Firth plays my nephew a d we've also had wonderful scenes together. Edward Atherton's the most delicious looking boy and I think he really looks like he could be my son. Sophie Thompson stands a good chance of just walking away with the movie, and maybe an Oscar, you never know. For full interview, go here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/movies/film99/interviews/julieandrews.shtml Arami, do you have the date this was broadcast?

That's not what I heard...though some comments are similar! Might be worth keeping a video in the VCR....the BBC seem to have started advertising their Christmas programmes (Pauline Quirk, yet again. No wonder there's 90% unemployment in Equity!) Perhaps ITV will follow suit and give us a glimpse of CF in TOTS!

If anyone wants to do any voting, now is the time. Counter is off and the IO votes are racking up again.

ET Alert!! On Monday, ET will show the cut scene at the end of SiL where Viola lands in the New World. This would coincide with the release of the collector's edition DVD, which will be released either the 6th or 7th.

Arami, do you have the date this was broadcast? 6th October, I believe. It was obviously cut and edited in places, so she sounded as if she had been shamelessly drooling over the male actors... So, for example, she said "Edward Atherton's the most delicious looking boy", but I certainly don't recall her say "I think he really looks like he could be my son."

Murph, loved the poem, thanks. (Arami)Renate, did it say KO/\UH FUPTb ? Show off! ;-) But we did have a lady from China posting ages ago, didn't we? (KarenR)Renate, send me any articles you find in pig latin. I can do Olde PL, Middle PL and modern day. ;-) What's pig latin? I need a translation of a regular latin piece of verse - the only surviving piece of Julius Caesar's comment on theatre writing. Do you think you could do it, Karen? (Arami)...she sounded as if she had been shamelessly drooling over the male actors... LOL! Another thing I'd love to see :-D

Thanks for the date for the Film99 interview. Perhaps we should call it an "reinterpretation" of Julie Andrews' comments vs. a transcript? ;-) What's pig latin? Sorry to have gotten your hopes up, Gi, but pig latin is a silly language that children use. There appear however to be several people on this board who could manage a real latin translation.

re the Christmas TV schedule, I have a horrible feeling that TTOTS will be pittied again David Copperfield (BBC) and not only that but the second episode of DC., which will make it even more difficult to compete as DC will have an established audience. Oh please make my New Year ITV, and announce that Colin is to play the title role in the forthcoming Flashman series, well I can dream!!

Okay, on the question of what part would I like to see CF take on. Mmm -- well what about everybody's favorite passive-aggressive, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Just think of it, the chance to play two characters who are in essence the same man. Yes, it has been done before. Still it is a great story, and a chance for CF to make a famous character(s) his own; applying the subltety that you ladies have noted to Stevenson's oft adapted tale of repression and depravity, and the nature of good and evil. Actually, the film director/producer Francis Ford Coppolla wanted to do a trilogy of famous horror novels, which had also been done as classic films. The movies were to have been: "Bram Stoker's Dracula", "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein", and "Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde". The first two were produced, but unfortunately Coppola opted not to direct the "Frankenstein" adaptation, resulting in Kenneth Branaugh making a mess of it and pretty much killing the chances of completing the series.

Correction to the above, I have just seen the TV schedules for Xmas and TTOTS goes head to head with David Copperfield (9pm) but the first episode not the second. ....Pam Ferris stars ...with Colin Firth, as we expected, no mention of Jodhi May, which seems a bit unfair.

Well, I hope viewers aren't disappointed and switch off! I also hope the next role ITV offered to CF will be more than one scene/10 minutes long (And BTW, I think the way to go for all good British actors is theatre and reputable high budget television drama. The odds are stacked against them in the movie business, and small Brit movies, irrespective of quality, mainly disappear) Choices Direct have just sent me their latest catalogue supplement. TOTS is listed as available for sale on 7 February 2000, price �12.99. You can order via their website http://wwww.choicesdirect.co.uk. There's no pic.