Re: Alamo I figured something was wrong with it since the release has been delayed so long. Nope, haven't watched Nip/Tuck yet. I guess I must keep forgeting about it.

Shoshana, that was lovely! That must have taken some work to pull together, such dedication is admirable! Thank you!

LOL! I just saw this: Epic Film 'The Alamo' Fights for Respect By ANTHONY BREZNICAN, AP Entertainment Writer LOS ANGELES - The shooting was relatively painless on "The Alamo." The cutting was where things started to hurt. Production was finished and the Christmas release date loomed, but director John Lee Hancock wanted more time and money to edit his film of that memorable Texas battle. Disney's studio bosses gave him an extra $3 million and three more months � during which Hancock felt like he was performing the old vaudeville act of balancing dishes on sticks. "Most epic films have one character. You follow his or her journey and everything feeds their journey. This was an epic film with at least six main characters. That's difficult because you realize you can add a little bit of this, and what does that do to the whole story? It's a little like the guy on `The Ed Sullivan Show' spinning plates. You can spin one really, really fast and then look and you're about to drop another one." A few of the story lines he had to juggle: Dennis Quaid as Gen. Sam Houston, Jason Patric as Jim Bowie, Patrick Wilson as Col. William Travis, Billy Bob Thornton as Davy Crockett, Jordi Molla as Tejano hero Juan Seguin and Marc Blucas as garrison officer James Bonham. In October, Disney screened an early print that ran more than three hours. Studio boss Dick Cook acknowledged the movie was being groomed for Oscar contention, but decided it wasn't close enough to being finished for the planned Christmas release. Cook told The Associated Press in December: "There were deadlines ... and we just honestly felt, the filmmakers and all, we're not going to get this movie done in two weeks ... We said, `You know what? Looking at the landscape let's not kill ourselves." Hancock took over "The Alamo" after "A Beautiful Mind" filmmaker Ron Howard dropped out of directing, taking Russell Crowe with him. Primarily a screenwriter who wrote the Clint Eastwood film "A Perfect World," Hancock directed Quaid in the true-life baseball story "The Rookie" and had done some script work on "The Alamo" when it was still Howard's project. Howard had planned to start filming in November 2002, but the studio and Howard clashed over how bloody and expensive the film would be, with Howard seeking a reported $125 million budget plus his standard sizable percentage of the movie's box office. Disney wanted a PG-13 movie, a less expensive production budget, and a smaller part of the profit pie for Howard and would-be star Crowe. But Cook couldn't persuade them to lower their asking prices. Cook wanted "The Alamo" to be an example of a cost-saving epic in an era of out-of-control movie budgets. So Howard and Disney parted ways � which left an opening for Hancock. "We sort of have a mantra around here that we like to make the right movie at the right price," Cook said. "Some people have misinterpreted it that we're not going to make big movies. Clearly we're going to make big movies, but hopefully those big movies will be the right big movies to make for the right price." Hancock said he received Howard's blessing to move into the director's chair, and had no problem with the budget Disney was offering: $95 million. "Honestly there's not a penny that's spared on the screen," Hancock said. "It's just that Ron and Russell Crowe are a far more expensive than Dennis Quaid and I are." Hancock's cameras didn't get rolling until January 2003, and the Texas-born filmmaker's ambition in chronicling the many Alamo heroes placed that Dec. 25 release date in jeopardy almost from the get-go. "Billy Bob told me during production, `There is no way in hell you're coming out at Christmas,'" Hancock said. Then the postponement of the movie's release surrounded Hancock and Disney with bad buzz. Numerous stories questioned what was wrong with the film. Sometimes, delays mean a troubled movie. "The Alamo" director expected negative press but was glad to have more time to craft what he considered to be a better movie. "I knew that with the press reaction we'd take a hit," Hancock said. "But ask the most pertinent question: `What are you reshooting?' We didn't reshoot one frame of film, we didn't shoot any additional footage. It was me playing with well over a million feet of film we shot." In the editing room, Quaid's role as Houston became more of a bookend for the story, the character of Bonham was practically eliminated and the character of Seguin was reduced to a smaller supporting role. Meanwhile, the conflict between Travis and the dying Bowie became prominent, while Thornton's supporting role as Crockett became the film's "heart and soul," Hancock said. Now the fate of "The Alamo" lies in the hands of ticket buyers. But the film already has one high-profile admirer � Richard Bruce Winders, curator of the Alamo museum and author of the new book "Sacrificed at the Alamo: Tragedy and Triumph in the Texas Revolution." "Given that this had such pre-release negative expectation because it was delayed and all the talk about what was wrong with the film, I think most people came out thinking it was better than they thought it was going to be," he said after seeing the final print. He doesn't feel that way about all Alamo movies, especially the 1960 version with John Wayne as Crockett, which he described as "real bad history." "It's hard to believe that Hollywood would do a movie where there was so much historical information in it," he added. "If you're expecting a remake of John Wayne's movie, you're going to be pretty much surprised by what you'll see."

Meanwhile, the conflict between Travis and the dying Bowie became prominent, while Thornton's supporting role as Crockett became the film's "heart and soul," Hancock said. I liked the conflict between Travis and Bowie. Travis was the officer in charge, but most of the men wouldn't listen to him unless Bowie gave the word. BBT was at times, the subtle comic relief. He got the throwaway amusing lines. Wasn't Patrick Wilson the guy Scarlett Johannson was supposedly seeing at one time? Jordi Molla as Tejano hero Juan Seguin Boy, can I tell you I was really bummed he wasn't in it more. Pretty much disappeared halfway in then reappeared at the end, but genereally didn't have a lot to say anyway. He is one hot tamale, IMO. ;-P Bet he wouldn't appeal to many here though. Marc Blucas as garrison officer James Bonham. I saw his name in the credits and wondered if I blinked an missed him. He was in Buffy the Vampire Slayer series for a time for those wondering who he was. He was really bland in the series to me. When Jason Patric started to speak for the intro he said he didn't know what he was supposed to say and just said there were no SFX for the most part, it was just old fashioned movie making like a David Lean epic [reaching just a bit ;-)]. I did think the battle scenes were very well done, but not on the scale and quality of the one in Cold Mtn. *That* was something. I'd read about all the problems about this movie back around the holidays, so I wasn't overly enthusiastic about seeing it, but I did enjoy it. I think most people there did from comments I could hear, though I don't think anyone was overjoyed with it either.

Was looking at the Indie box office report at indieWire and there are some very interesting pie charts: For the week ending April 5, (1) There were 62 indie films being shown, up 3 percent from the previous week, which represented 49.6 percent of the total out now. (2) But the total gross from indie films was $12.68M (down 15 percent), which is only about 10 percent of the total box office. (3) This naturally corresponds to the number of screens. Indies played on a total of 4,535 screens nationwide (down 9 percent), which is 11 percent of the total. Wow, I had no idea the relationship was that lopsided, but if I thought more about the math, it should have.

According to the ZReview, the Australian actor referred to by Michael Madsen is Heath Ledger: Rumours are now circulating that Barbara Broccoli is now looking at siging Heath Ledger up to replace Pierce Brosnan as James Bond! Apparently "they're" going for a young Bond to lure them into longer contracts.

Interesting article about the movie development process at big studios: http://www.moviecitynews.com/columnists/klady/2004/gb_040408.html Good line: In the spoof Hollywood Boulevard, the filmmakers created the fictional studio Miracle Pictures and provided it with the motto: If it's a good picture, it's a Miracle. ;-))))))

"....Heath Ledger up to replace Pierce Brosnan as James Bond! Apparently "they're" going for a young Bond to lure them into longer contracts." The "Knight's Tale" guy? He's a mere child. I think they're going for the teeny audience .A PG-13 Bond

HL as Bond . .even a young one? . .Sorry .I just don't see it.

according to my mantlepiece, it is now officially the 8th, so it means it's time to wish kim a *very happy birthday* i know my little boys (aka animatronicolins) have been pretty quiet these past few months, actually i believe they have been invisible since one of them showed up at dorine's infamous cocktail party last december... (warning : a humongous file awaits you at the other end of this link) it means they missed a couple of celebrations already, tress's & barbs' come to mind (i'll make it up to you somehow)... well, to be honest, they also missed lora's birthday, which is why this one chose to show up so early in the morning, in order to make amends. so, without further ado, lora & kim, a few people here would like to wish you a happy birthday (warning again : this is a 700 ko file) enjoy.

That was fantastic, Sophie! I can't believe I had missed Dorine's Xmas one. I absolutely ;-) loved it! Tu est genial! Rumours are now circulating that Barbara Broccoli is now looking at siging Heath Ledger up to replace Pierce Brosnan as James Bond! Apparently "they're" going for a young Bond to lure them into longer contracts. I wonder who he'll push t be his Bond girl? ;-) They better dye his hair black. I read tha The Alamo had terrible audience responses when they startedescreening it eons ago. It was supposedto be a Xmas release. That's one film my DH wants to see. Interesting article, Karen, thanks!

(Moon) I wonder who he'll push t be his Bond girl? ;-) MaryKate or Ashley? Or maybe both...

(Barb) MaryKate or Ashley? Too funny. :-)

Oh, what shall I ever come up with as a fitting gift for Kimberley�s birthday tomorrow?? Perhaps one of these for her role as �Ace Reconnaissance Agent��... A nice way to recognize her deft talents for unearthing obscure background info whenever breaking news occurs. Secure party locations?? Obscure theatrical scripts?? No problem for our �girl in the know�! Naaah, I think a nice �wet one� will do the trick best��. Have a great one tomorrow, Kimberley!!!!

*clap clap clap* for your newest animatronic Colin, Sophie. Your collection could've been the Smigel cartoon on the show had they known about them. ;-) (Moon) I wonder who he'll push t be his Bond girl? ;-) (BarbS) MaryKate or Ashley? Or maybe both... LOL! And I hope they throw in somebody from those WB shows as the villain. ;-)

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen I must confess that ever since Kimberley called me DARLING I have thought of nothing else but how wonderful it would be to co-star with her in my next film. (The one after the Nanny of course). So Kimberley on your birthday rest assured that I working on it. Now, come join me and take a bow. Happy Birthday Kimberley! PS. Today is my son's birthday too.

That's odd. It's Kim's birthday, yet she's given *me* a present--a gift certificate for kissing lessons! What's wrong with how I kiss? Look how effectively I gave Katie my cheek when she tried to zoom in for some action. Even Matt wants to get in on the act! Hugs and (chaste) kisses on your Birthday, Kimberly!

Westchester to the Big Apple Our Metro Gal in the know Proved to be Emma�s equal On stakeout of a certain show. Soon we�ll see premieres With her film on the marquee ODB and our Kim, you wait it�ll be. Until we can look back And say we knew you when Birthday wishes you won�t lack Happy Birthday, my friend.

My dearest and loveliest Kimberly,may you have a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Wot? Sure, I'm dressed and ready to go to Kimberly's birthday party! But I insist on being her date . . . We're going to do a litttle private transcribing and practice our kissing techniques Happy Birthday!!

Heeeey theressss....we hurrrd it wassss your birshday!I seemed to be misshing my olive....did you get it Sharlettt? I might haff to move onto margarittaaas! Happy Birthday, Metro Gal! Party like you'll never run out of garnishes!

Look, there's Kim--up in the balcony, the one with the red and white scarf. You must help me get a message to her. Tim: Whaaawhat shshould I I sssay? Colin: Repeat after me. Colin: Happy Tim: Happy Colin: Birthday Tim: Birthday Colin: Dearest, loveliest, Kim Tim: Could you repeat that? Colin: Happy Birthday, dearest, loveliest, Kim

(Shoshana)L'Chayim and Mushimoko! I love your four cups of Colin! You even managed to show "the simple son," "the rebellious son," "the wise son," and "the one who does not know how to ask a question!" ;-)))) Very well done, Shoshana, you clever girl. For my next birthday, can you put him in a kippah? ;-P Okay enough of Passover... Sophie, thanks so, so much for the animatronic Colin. It's an honor to receive one! It's terrific the way he counts and then blows out the candles with N-Lora and Ana-Kim by his sides! ;-) So glad to share one of Sophie's lovely creations with you,Kimberly (I'm working on my birthday wish to you, fellow Aries). Btw, Sopie, so glad you brought up Dorine's b-day since I totally missed it in December. I want to sneak in a very belated happy birthday wish to a very deserving firth fan.

I'm channeling someone having a birthday today. Just practicing a little Reiki ;-). Heard you know how to put some "iggy" on something you really want. Well, I'm doing the same because I really want you to have a very happy birthday! Happy Birthday, Kimberly!

Sophie - I am in awe of your animatronicolins...have never seen them before and boy, did I enjoy 'em. This group is just amazing!!

Hi all!! . .Been sooo swamped with work! Wanted to second with Lora . .v. nice montage Shosh . . . I�m belated with Passover wishes . .I hope all celebrating have a wonderful one;) Re: The many wonderful B'day wishes . . Sophie - yay an animitronicolin!!! . .I so love these!!!!! So glad that ODB, Laura . .(er I mean Norah ) and Ana could wish me & Lora a Happy B'day. And Yay . . v. happy to share it with Lora (hurrah to a fellow aries!). Liked that you used the SNL pic . .He's wearing that shirt . .*sigh* one of my SNL keeps. Leslie - Aww shucks, an Oscar? . .didn't think I'd get one this early in my career;) . .but well . .a nice little kiss from Colin is v. v. nice too! . .now would that be considered a fish kiss??? Moon - Oooh Colin, really? . .be a co-star in your next film?:) (Yes, please after The Nanny! - No offense to Emma) . . .Then I want it to be Toyer . .outta my way Juliette! My DH is the love of my life, but you will be "My Darling" forever . . . Mari - Hmmm . .I was wondering if he had opened that note I slipped him. . He must have if he found that gift certificate;) Memories . .*sigh again* of my first real sighting of "Colin in the Wild" . .just wonderful to relive Sonia - To Sonia, my dear I must stop now to say Many thanks for your poem That I received here today It was thoughtful and sweet And it showed lots of heart I know I�ll never forget All the support from the start That I�ve received from the Droolers Both near me and far So keep an eye out there girls For that next fancy car That ODB does step out from At his latest premiere You might just be surprised Can�t you see . .can�t you hear . . Standing by Colin�s side ,who it might be? For as Sonia suggests As had others, you see Colin�s next leading lady Well, might just be me;) Evelyn - Oh , Mr.Darcy . . . . did you say what I thought you did?:?? (*insert here one visceral groan ala SNL opening monologue*) .Birthday wishes from you I shall always treasure, down to my last days. . .I do know that look . .I know it�s usually for Lizzie, but I�m happy to have it today on my b�day . . I�ll sing to you too . .I know the same song . in Italian;) Karen - And you brought Mark . .! Mark, so glad you were able to make the party!:) Lovely just lovely. I do think you are awfully dashing in that tux. Now, don't over exert yourself, darling, chasing that nasty bastard Daniel all over the place . . . I need your rested and ready for that private transcription meeting . .ah . . .just whisper sweet nothings into my ear, my dear, and I'll take down all sorts of dictation;) . .of course then, a hot, sweaty out-of-breath Mark . .well I could find ways for you to relax . .wind down;) Don't pass out . .may just have to give you mouth-to-mouth. Tress - A v. squiffy Colin, I see . .and hello, Scarlett, glad you could join the party too . .Now you don't mind if I just squeeze in there between the both of you (* takes hip and body checks Scarlett out of the way*) . .Whoops! Clumsy me ! . .One too many martinis for me too I think . .are you alright? . .Just hold me up Colin . let me just place my arm around your waist to steady myself;) . . ..I think I have an olive somewhere for you . . . Leeenda - (whispering) Ooooooh nooooooo! Is my FP scarf giving me away?:) I wear it only so you can identify me from afar, Colin . . but if it's a bit too conspicuous, I may have to hide it for awhile . . Many thanks to Tim Calhoun to being our go between, in a matter of speaking. Lora - Ahhh are you a Reiki practitioner too?:) . . . . .well, would love to give Colin a private session . .do you think he'd lie still on the massage table for me?:) Must run . .my DH is taking me out for a b�day dinner . . will try to get back later to post more about Toyer on the Companion pieces . .if I�m not too squiffy by then! Thanks for the b'day wishes, everyone!

Happy Birthday KIMBERLY! Hope the day is fabulous, you wild woman, you!

Hey, Jimmy, who was that girl I just waved to up there? The one with the red and white scarf. Is she with that group that made that noise when I said, �Dearest, loveliest Elizabeth� in the monologue? Seems like I had something to say to her. Oh, I remember! Happy Birthday mah bee-luv-ed, Kimberly!!

(Lora)Heard you know how to put some "iggy" on something you really want. Let me tell you, from a front row seat, her iggy is hot stuff! Sophie, great job with animatronic Colin. You have out done yourself. It was fun reliving Dorine's animatronic Colin, too. (Kim)if I�m not too squiffy by then! It's your birthday, go ahead and get squiffy! Hope you have a great dinner.

Pssst, Darcy! You are in grave danger of being late to an important function! Blast! Must change for Kim's party! Ahh, now I'm ready. Where is that Darling Kim? I've been wanting to get a light from that lovely girl since I saw her Live that Saturday Night! Hope you had a BEE-utiful Birthday! Have some lovely Bee Cake!

It was the White Rabbit returning, splendidly dressed, with a pair of white kid gloves in one hand and a large fan in the other: he came trotting along in a great hurry, muttering to himself as he came, "Oh! the Duchess, the Duchess! Oh! won�t she be savage if I�ve kept her waiting!" There's to be a mad hatter party for Kim...it's not her unbirthday today! Hmph, she can wait, someone took my knife! Well I'll be there as soon as I finish my cigarette. I'm busy right now chasing after housekeepers...by the way, where's my mug? Tis better to be late than never arrive at all...here, go pay the taxi why don't you. I've been here, in the kitchen trying not to choke on my tie. And I'm here too...playing the piano. Are we all here, then? Some still missing, you say? I think we've got enough for tonight. Let's get squishy! Happy Birthday Kim! Hope you had a wonderful day!

Happy Birthday Kim! Hope it's been a great one. Have a great year!

My dear Kim, knowing your tracking and reconnaissance skills, I thought I�d just give you directions for a birthday treasure hunt! First, through the side door of Rockefeller Center (no, the other side door), down half a set of stairs, left of the security guard and not far from the planters of flowers, but not as far as the women�s restrooms. You there yet? Good. Look down. Your first clue. Now, shout �Alert!� and run to the Nautica store� actually an AP building entrance in disguise. You may have missed the tall, long-legged stranger but what�s that �wedged� in the revolving door? Your second clue. On the trail yet? If you need another hint, just step into the Borders� down the street and look at the special DVD sale item. OK. Got it? Just got to get though the door� Who�s that inside? Oops. Well, as there are no photos available from inside the party, this guy was second in line and in desperate need of some energy manipulation. Hope he�ll do. ;-) Happy Birthday Kim!!!

Crikey! Dropped my lime! ;-)

Never got back to the computer last night . .bit squiffy and tired . .DH took me and a friend out for Thai food and we were there all night. Also love lovely DH . .got me a copy of the book TumbleDown by Robert Lawrence . .sent to the UK for it;) . .nice pic of Colin & Robert Lawrence on the front . . TD now one of my tops faves list . . Eithne - many thanks for the b�day wishes . .did have wonderful day! Dorine - .I knew I was being a bit loud;) . .but to get a happy b�day from my own �bih-luv-ed� It was worth it. Will never forget him waving to us. And still will admit, loved that skit . .it was my favorite of them all (nice blond Colin!) Bee - Colin, I�ll keep the party going until you show up . .never fear about being late! A light you say . .let me just get that for you (* sidles up, with a lighter, smiling*). Do love the smell of a good cigar. And bee cake! . .been craving one of those! Ada � Oh my, oh my, oh my . .so many faces of Colin . .so many keeps in my hope chest (so many tributes still owed!!) . .in every incarnation I do adore him. But the final one . .just as he is, I thnk is the best! Shosh � Hurrah! A treasure hunt! (* flips on Mission Impossible theme music to get in the mood*) This was just fabulous the clues were just right . .and the directions led me to the prize that was hidden at the back of the resturant . .my the stairs that led to the loos. .and what a prize at the end! . .Well, Richard Courtois . .Reiki you say? . .Let me just dim the lights, light a few candles, some incense . .get the Reiki oil. Now lie back and let me do all of the work . . . Love lovely Droolers for many wonderful b�day wishes! Thanks so much!

Moon . . I forgot to add . .I hope your son had a v. happy b'day as well!!!

Oops . .and a thanks to Barb S too for her b'day wishes!!!! (sorry for all of the posts, Karen!)

More Bonds and Bond Girls and India? Kaun banega hamara Bond? NIKITA DOVAL TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ FRIDAY, APRIL 09, 2004 05:47:33 AM ] The name still remains Bond but the most loved spy in literature and celluloid history is undergoing an identity crisis. As the studio bosses deliberate on the new face, websites are conducting country-wide polls to find The Replacement. While USA votes in favour of Hugh Jackman, the Brits have placed their bet on Colin Firth. And India? It�s a divided house, back home. Most of our desi Bond buffs would like purana Pierce to continue. Photographer Tarun Khewal feels Brosnan ��fits the bill perfectly.�� The fatigue factor does figure and so do the wrinkles, fast catching up with the 50-plus Brosnan. ��But that�s okay, even a master spy can grow old,�� feels Khewal. Sunny Sarid also gives his nod to Brosnan. ��He�s a cool, composed guy and that�s an integral part of Bond�s persona.�� Sarid feels that after Sean Connery, it�s Brosnan who fits the image of the Ian Fleming spy! However, actress Amrita Rao would beg to differ. She feels Brosnan is ��simply outdated.�� Her choice is Keanu Reeves. ��His poker face which does not let on anything will be perfect for a spy!�� Another contender? Jude Law who could slip in beautifully in the spy�s role, feels dress designer Mandira Wirk. ��He has a �stiff upper lip� look about him and with his killer looks, he fits the role perfectly." But Brosnan still has some desi gals swooning. Monisha Bajaj and Shilpa Shetty give him a thumbs up. ��He�s perfect. Sean Connery made the character his, but Brosnan has managed to carve a niche for himself,�� says Shetty. And the Bond girl? ��The only pre-requisite of a Bond woman is that she has to be really hot,�� says model Aparna Behl. Actor Himanshu Mallik has a definite choice. ��No, not Kylie or Britney. They are both has-beens. It�s got to be Charlize Theron. She�s one hot chick!" http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/608117.cms

I would pick Jude Law over Keanu Reeves any day. Charlize isn't a bad choice, really. Thanks, Linda. I don't see the Heath Ledger thing either from that blurb that Karen mentioned from Z Review (and loved the pics of Christian Bale as the new Batman over at Z Review....Tress, looks like he lost some weight since Jan. Maybe it's just 'cause he shaved off that heavy beard. ;-))

"She feels Brosnan is ??simply outdated.?? Ditto. In fact, so is Bond, IMO TIME review of "Dogville" EMPTY SET, PLOT TO MATCH Dogville is a fascinating experiment, but it fails to produce any breakthrough in entertainment "Actors are weird. It's part of their job description. What other trade compels a person to travel halfway around the world, get up at 5 a.m. each day, dress and talk funny, gain or lose 40 lbs. and make simulated love or war with a near stranger? " Whole review: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101040412-607794,00.html

uhoh... guess what, there's more, well, i means it seems kim forgot something and we have a couple of leftovers from the party to attend to... how careless of you, kim !

sophie!!!!!! How could I have not seen it . . ! I was just riding on such a Colin high that I plumb forgot it was lying there. Silly Kimberly . . . However, to be greeted this morning by that fellow at the door . . I love it! That animitronicolin is priceless! Woo hoo!!!! The after party continues! *waving dollar bills around, trying, not very discreetly, to tuck them in his towel*

LOL, sophie! (Dorine), I would pick Jude Law over Keanu Reeves any day. Charlize isn't a bad choice, really. I agree. So Keith Ledger was a rumour? It's amazing that Colin's name is going around as the UK choice for Bond. Surely some Brocolli must be paying attention? Althought I see Colin more as a Mr. Bean type Bond. He is a bit clumsy. ;-) Thanks, Linda!

A very Happy and Serene Easter to all! Don't overdo. :-D Or the hen will get mad. ;-)

Happy Easter to all those celebrating!!! Five Second Delay Please: May you all get a little tail! BTW, Sophie! That Colinatron is hilarious!!!! Thanks!!!!

oooppssss...hope that fixed it!

Blast! I hope that got it! Sorry Karen!

A little something from Paulie:

LOL, Karen. I'm going to be thinking of Paulie and keesters in church, tomorrow. I just know it!

Pauline pointed out this article from the Sunday NYT. I'll post the entire thing, just in case it goes behind the registration buffer at some point: April 11, 2004 Gore's Daughter Pulls the Sheet Off Washington By ALEX KUCZYNSKI LIFE as a Senate aide is grueling, sometimes mind-numbingly boring work. But to hear Kristen Gore tell it in her first novel, it can also be littered with cold-eyed romantic encounters, epic drinking, seedy campaign-trail sex, pot-smoking octogenarians and treachery worthy of the sudsiest soap opera. Ms. Gore, 26, one of Al Gore's three daughters, has written a novel from inside the political fishbowl. The book, "Sammy's Hill" � Bridget Jones in high-wonk Washington mode � is to be published on Sept. 1 by Miramax Books. And, yes, there is a fishbowl, that ubiquitous metaphor for any number of insular industries, on the jacket. Although Miramax has not yet released bound galleys, copies of a 486-page manuscript have been distributed to foreign publishers and movie producers. As outlined in one such copy of the manuscript, "Sammy's Hill" is the story of Samantha Joyce, a 20-something health-care analyst for the junior senator from Ohio. The first line reads, "The party really started to rock when Willie Nelson and Queen Nefertiti began pouring shots." [Ed note: Is this indicative of the caliber of the writing? Gaah!] To insiders on the Washington-New York-Hollywood axis, however, the more compelling story may turn out to be the one about how "Sammy's Hill" came into being and what it reveals about the happy consequences of being connected and the calculations of publishers. The book was the brainchild of Harvey Weinstein, the co-chairman of Miramax Films, and Jonathan Burnham, the editor in chief of Miramax Books, who decided that what the world needed was a Bridget Jones-goes-to-Washington novel. "Harvey and I had this idea that there is this gap in the, what, the chick-lit market," Mr. Burnham said, speaking in a crisp English tone not especially suited to the phrase "chick lit." "There was no, what we call in house, D.C. Bridget. All these chick-lit novels were set in Manhattan, usually in the office of a magazine or a publishing company. And somehow the trend missed Washington D.C." That may be because Capitol Hill, with its buttoned-down manner, is not the best setting for a story about a sexy young woman. Especially one who works as a � zzz � health-care analyst. Or as Jay Leno put it last year, announcing her novel, "It's about a Capitol Hill staffer who works with a congressman on a health care subcommittee." Mr. Leno noted, "Apparently, that boring gene doesn't fall far from the tree." Ouch, but nevertheless, last spring Mr. Weinstein and Mr. Burnham decided they must publish their brainchild Washington novel. But they needed a writer. And they also needed a manuscript. Three weeks later, in April, Mr. Weinstein ran into Ms. Gore at a reception for the Association to Benefit Children, Ms. Gore recalled. (Her sister Karenna Gore Schiff is the director of community affairs for the organization and is also writing a book � nonfiction � for Miramax.) Ms. Gore had been living in Los Angeles writing for the animated Fox show "Futurama" and was deciding whether to write for television or to try a novel. "And suddenly there he was, and he said, `What are you doing?' " Ms. Gore said last week. "And I said, `Well, I guess I'm going to write television, but what I really, really want to do is write a novel.' And he said, `What a coincidence.' It was this great serendipitous moment." The novel's debt to "Bridget Jones's Diary" by Helen Fielding is evident in the first few pages. Samantha is late for work and hung over. She cannot find matching shoes. She is a touch neurotic. And the plot is familiar: girl meets boy, falls for boy, realizes boy is a loser and discovers another boy � the one who was under her nose the whole time. [Ed note: And they're giving Helen Fielding credit for the storyline?] But this time a vivid political backdrop colors the story. While working on a health-care bill, Samantha falls in love with Aaron, a dashing young speechwriter for a senior senator. Both the senator and Aaron turn out to be back-stabbing, mudslinging political operators. Samantha dumps Aaron. Briefly depressed by the breakup, she is cheered when Senator Gary, a clean-cut politician who evokes images of the writer's father and Senator John Edwards, is chosen to be the vice-presidential candidate for his party. (Ms. Gore avoids overt labels like Democrat and Republican, but it is pretty easy to figure out who the bad guys are.) On the campaign trail, she has an affair with Bob Espin, an older hotshot political consultant. But the affair sours. She falls in love with a Washington Post reporter. But he has a girlfriend. On election night, however, the reporter dumps his girlfriend. He and Samantha spend the night together. Her candidate wins. She has found love! She will go to work in the White House! The end. Miramax Books has announced a first printing of 100,000 copies. Except for the last bit about the White House, there are similarities between Ms. Gore and the character of Samantha. Ms. Gore campaigned for her father for president in 2000, traveling widely with him. In the novel, Samantha travels on the campaign trail with her boss, the idealistic senator. Samantha's mother loves the Beatles. Tipper Gore loves the Beatles. In the novel, Samantha has an affair with a Capitol Hill staffer. In real life, Ms. Gore is engaged to an aide to Representative Martin T. Meehan of Massachusetts. (Since writing the book, she has moved from Los Angeles to Boston to be with her fianc�.) In the novel, Samantha has an affair with Bob Espin, the hotshot Washington political consultant working on the campaign. In real life, Ms. Gore is friendly with Carter Eskew, the Washington political consultant who was a senior adviser to her father's campaign. Wait a sec. Does that mean? "I love Carter Eskew," Ms. Gore said firmly. "But I did not choose to immortalize him." "It's fiction," she said. But readers should not be surprised to find bits and pieces of, say, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger or Arianna Huffington or Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. "Certainly, I have had a lot of experience, and I also have an active imagination," Ms. Gore said. "I make things up for a living. It has all just been put into a blender and came out. It's not like this character is that person, and that character is this person." Her final manuscript is slimmer than the one in circulation, Ms. Gore said, especially since she cut long talky passages about health care. "I got way too into some of that stuff," she said. Ms. Gore joins a small but publicity-worthy group of political relatives who have tried their hand at fiction. Margaret Truman, the daughter of President Harry S. Truman, wrote a series of popular thrillers, including "Murder in Georgetown" and "Murder at the White House." Patti Davis, daughter of Ronald and Nancy Reagan, has written novels like "A House of Secrets," about a liberal writer, whose father, a conservative governor of California, becomes president and whose mother is a control freak. Sometimes, however, the pairing of political family ties and fiction backfires, as it did in the case of Lynne Cheney last week. New American Library, a division of Penguin Group USA, planned to reissue a novel by Ms. Cheney, the wife of Vice President Dick Cheney, titled "Sisters," originally published in 1981. The book, a steamy Gothic romance set in the frontier days of the American West, includes lesbian love affairs, murder and rape, and has become a lightning rod for gay activist groups, who cite it as evidence of Mrs. Cheney's unvoiced sympathies for gay rights. But Mrs. Cheney and her lawyer asked the publisher not to release the book. New American Library retains the legal rights to publish it, but complied. Mr. Burnham said he did not think "Sammy's Hill" would be any cause for embarrassment. "She came through beautifully," he said of Ms. Gore's writing. And Ms. Gore said that her parents had read the book. "They really loved it, and they have always been supportive of pretty much any creative effort," she said. The Gore name will certainly help get the book into stores, no easy feat for a typical first novel, said David Rosenthal, the publisher of Simon & Schuster. "Whether those copies leave the store in the hands of consumers is going to depend on the reviews and the word of mouth," Mr. Rosenthal said. As much as Miramax encouraged Ms. Gore's muse, it will not make the movie. Screen rights were sold last month to Columbia Pictures and Red Wagon Entertainment. Matthew Hiltzik, a Miramax spokesman, said Miramax had passed on the rights to "Sammy's Hill" because the studio is producing similar movies, including "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason," due out this year, along with adaptations of "The Nanny Diaries" and "I Don't Know How She Does It." But Ms. Gore gets to write the screenplay. After that, she plans to write another novel. "Whether people will read me remains to be seen," she said.

Here's hoping we hear some good news about interesting projects for ODB this year! Happy Easter!!

On election night, however, the reporter dumps his girlfriend. He and Samantha spend the night together. Her candidate wins. She has found love! She will go to work in the White House! The end. Yeah...but does she run through the snow in her knickers to go after him? And where is her urban family? It's all about the friends! Thanks Karen....I think I'll pass on Sammy's Hill. Too many good books to read to spend time on chick lit knock-offs.

Geeze, Dorine! ROTF! Dam...now I've got to clean my keyboard again ;-) Do any of the rest of you find the term "chick lit" to be somewhat irritating? Think I'll join Tress and take a pass on Ms. Gore's book. Finally, hope all of you that celebrate are having a wonderful Easter, and those who don't are having a wonderful weekend.

Very interesting article, Karen. Some people get to win the lucky sperm contest and use another persons ideas too :-/ ************************************************** On a brighter note: Happy Easter to all who celebrate it today. Enjoy the time with family and friends (and chocolate too). LOL at your bunnies, Dorine!

(NYT article)Both the senator and Aaron turn out to be back-stabbing, mudslinging political operators. Can't buy those as capital offenses. More like capital par for the course. Perjury, bribery,extortion, embezzlement--you know, something against the law, maybe but back-stabbing, mudslinging, and operating politically, nevah! Tress, you left your Lost Empires quote off your Easter greeting. Uncle Nick to Richard: "You're just out of the egg, boy.";-)

I hope today has been a lovely Easter for all!!

(Me)Tress, you left your Lost Empires quote off your Easter greeting. Sorry, Tress. I should have taken more time in composing my post. I did not mean to imply that your posting was in anyway deficient-quite lovely, actually. If I had it to do over, I would say: LOL! So cute, I'll picture that every time I hear Uncle Nick say to Richard: "You're just out of the egg, lad." :-) :-) Happy Easter!

(Eithne) Do any of the rest of you find the term "chick lit" to be somewhat irritating? Since there's another genre called "lad-lit" (with Nick Hornby being the most famous writer in it), I don't mind it as much as I do the term "chick flick," which is never positive IMO and viewed as some sort of second-class material, aimed at soft-hearted, snively and weepy females. However, any fictiom aimed at a female audience is viewed as second class (chick-lit, romance novels, etc.), whereas I don't see the same aimed at readers of sci-fi, fantasy, pulp detective, westerns, etc. You may find this interesting because this site asks the authors of Chick Lit that same question. Interestingly, I've been reading quite a bit of Chick Lit lately. Some good. Some bad. Some hilarious. Some cringe-inducing. Right now, I've started "Girls Poker Night" by Jill Davis, a former writer on the Letterman show. v. funny, with LOL lines. She reminds me of Fran Lebowitz ("Metropolitan Life"), who was merely viewed as a best-selling humorous writer in 1978. Must have been a label-less time, which gave authors their due. ;-)

Oops, forgot the url: http://www.authorsontheweb.com/features/0402-chicklit/chicklit.asp (haven't read any of the women on that Roundtable though)

(Karen)I don't mind it as much as I do the term "chick flick,"... Vs. "dick flick";-/

"And suddenly there he was, and he said, `What are you doing?' " Ms. Gore said last week. "And I said, `Well, I guess I'm going to write television, but what I really, really want to do is write a novel.' And he said, `What a coincidence.' It was this great serendipitous moment." Yeah, right. Sounds a bit fishy to me. (Karen)(haven't read any of the women on that Roundtable though) Only one was vaguely familiar-Carole Matthews. I read her Bare Necessity a while ago. Not bad. (Eithne)Think I'll join Tress and take a pass on Ms. Gore's book. My thoughts, exactly. (Evelyn)Vs. "dick flick";-/ ROTFLOL.

Well . .for all in the Metro Area, the program for the Tribeca Film Festival is now up . . I can't recall if Dorine's already posted this . . . No Trauma . .boo hoo:( http://www.tribecafilmfestival.org/opencms/opencms/tff/home.jsp Stage Beauty looks like an interesting one, IMO

Overheard in the Washington DC Metro (subway) this weekend.... A twenty-something girl talking to her twenty-something male companion. Both avidly discussing the Victorian authors. The girl states that she finds Austen's books repetitive but does like the films made from them because they frequently include (sic) Colin Firth. My young son who's been listening in turns to me and asks quite earnestly, "Mom, do all the woman in the world take a Colin Firth pill or something?"

(Leslie)"Mom, do all the woman in the world take a Colin Firth pill or something?" Yes dear . .yes we do;) . .actually it disolves well in our cups of Free Trade Coffee that we imbibe every day. Your son is adorable!

Fab Five to Channel Four By Steve Brennan British TV viewers will be getting a triple scoop of Bravo's hit makeover show "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" with a licensing deal for Channel Four to air all episodes of the U.S. show beginning in June. This comes on top of an existing deal with Flextech-owned LivingTV for a cable outing in the United Kingdom for the U.S. episodes as well as for a local British version of the reality series to begin airing next month (HR 2/22). The Channel Four deal was confirmed Monday by an NBC Enterprises spokesman. NBCE is distributing the reality series and the format worldwide. In addition to the Channel Four deal, NBCE also confirmed a sale of "Queer Eye" to South African cable and satellite outlet MNET that involves a pan-African broadcast arrangement for the U.S. episodes. A new deal with Hong Kong's TVB for all episodes of the series also was confirmed Monday. "Queer Eye" has now been cleared in almost 50 territories worldwide, said Leslie Jones, vp international sales and format production at NBCE. Although Jones declined comment on the latest U.K. deal, it is known that Channel Four begins airing the U.S. episodes next month on Fridays, while LivingTV will broadcast the local U.K. version of the show on Thursdays. At some point both outlets will be airing the U.S. episodes, but they will not overlap. NBCE also is understood to be negotiating deals in France and Spain for local versions there of the "Queer Eye" format.

April 13, 2004 Teaming up for laughs at the BBC By Steve Brennan Award-winning American comedy writer-producer Fred Barron is heading up a highly successful venture to introduce the American studio production system to the British comedy process. His hit BBC comedy "My Family" has now led to a second sitcom, "Everything I Know About Men," which is heading into production at the network under Barron's oversight. The new sitcom represents the second phase in a most unusual move by the BBC to have Barron pioneer American team comedy writing there, something entirely new in Britain, where TV sitcom writers usually work solo. Barron, whose executive producer credits include "Seinfeld," "The Larry Sanders Show" and "Caroline in the City," has been headquartered at the BBC for the past four years, charged with developing and showrunning new team-written sitcoms. But it's only now that he feels comfortable declaring the experiment a success. With "My Family," the first comedy in the United Kingdom to use team writing, he believes he has proved how successful the "table writing" system can be. His show is known as the "Friends" of the United Kingdom, with an average audience of 8 million, often peaking at 10 million. It debuted in the United States this month on BBC America. The comedy centers on the antics of the Harper family, which is headed up by a harassed dentist whose character is based on Barron's late father. Barron insists that he did not move to London to overturn the British production process. "I am not looking to replace great solo writers like David Renwick ('One Foot in the Grave,' 'Jonathan Creek') and John Sullivan ('Only Fools and Horses'), who are creating one classic series after another, or Ricky Gervais ('The Office'). "But I felt (the U.S.) system was a good way to have young writers come up through the ranks here, and I also felt the U.S. system is very important if you want to produce episodes in volume. For instance, (the British comedy) 'Only Fools and Horses' is a terrific show, but it took them 11 years to get 40 episodes. We now have 50 episodes of 'My Family' (which is in its fifth season). Last year alone, we did 26 episodes with six writers working together." In the Uk a writer typically delivers a package of completed scripts ready to go directly into production. In the US The writing team, led by a showrunner, is in place throughout the entire production period, constantly rewriting up until the recording of the show. Barron and the BBC came together more by chance than by design. "At the time, the BBC wanted to try something new and to experiment with ways to produce in greater volume," Barron says. At the same time, Barron was becoming frustrated with the American networks, which had passed on his series idea based on his father called "My Family" because, as they put it, "Nobody wants to see a show about a dentist." A native of Boston, Barron had recently overcome cancer and was still mourning the death of his dentist father when he came up with the idea for "My Family," based on his own memories. "The U.S. networks loved it but said the central character should not be a dentist because dentists are not popular," Barron says. "I said, Yes, he does have to be a dentist because that was the reason I wrote it." Unwilling to compromise, Barron headed for Britain and the BBC with his idea, his craft and his reputation. "I was expecting greater differences between the British and American production systems," he says. "But there were far more similarities than I had expected. I think I learned more from the writers I was teaching than they learned from me. I would say, We need more jokes here, and they would say, 'No, let the moment live.' It was a learning curve for all of us." "My Family" was produced with the BBC by DLT Entertainment U.K. in association with Rude Boy Prods. Now that he is moving on to his next BBC project utilizing the table writing system, Barron has handed over the showrunning duties of "My Family" to the two British writers whom he brought on board and trained into the U.S. writing system, James Hendrie and Ian Brown. "I have my fingers crossed that the show succeeds without me and that this will open the door for this method of bringing people up so they can in turn bring up new showrunners," Barron says. "Of course, the overall goal is for the BBC to create multiple episodes and get longer-running series that people can embrace." For his new BBC sitcom, due to go into production next month, Barron says he has hired a team of writers who have not previously worked full time in television. The new show will focus on twentysomething secretary Rebecca "Bex" Atwell, who is struggling to understand her boyfriend, boss and father. "I have a young team, mostly from radio," he says. "The goal is to get as many talented people as possible and to bring them in. I am not saying that my way of doing it is better than anybody else's, whether it's 'The Office' or 'Fawlty Towers.' I'm simply saying that there is an alternative (system) and the BBC now seems to be enjoying that alternative."

hit BBC comedy "My Family" I caught my boys watching this show and they say it's the funiest thing on TV. Have been after me to watch. The accent is American, but it's done for the BBC? (Leslie)"Mom, do all the woman in the world take a Colin Firth pill or something?" LOL! I'm sure mine would be looking for the antidote. ;-)

'I genuinely feel the work could all dry up tomorrow' He has been nominated for a Bafta next weekend and f�ted for his portrayal of Gordon Brown, but even on the eve of a new project, David Morrissey, Britain's least-known best actor, still panics if the phone doesn't ring Simon Garfield Sunday April 11, 2004 The Observer Eating dinner at a Turkish restaurant not far from his house, David Morrissey does not yet look much like an archetypal owner of a Lancashire amusement arcade, the role he is to start filming this week in a BBC comedy series called Blackpool. Then again, a week or so before he started filming The Deal, I saw him walking around and he didn't really resemble the Chancellor, and a few days before he flew to Cephalonia to appear in Captain Corelli's Mandolin he didn't strike me as much of a Nazi captain. The part he most resembles over stuffed green peppers in north-west London is that of potential Bafta winner for his portrayal of the MP Stephen Collins in the thriller State of Play, although he does his best to hide it. Occasionally, he says, people smile at him in the street, perhaps because they have recognised him from something on television, or possibly because he has a nice, open face and looks unthreatening, despite his height and outhouse build. At 39, he may be our least-known best actor and the most infrequently rewarded by the industry that, by consensus, adores him. Until he was given a Royal Television Society award for best actor in The Deal last month, Morrissey had never won anything in his 24-year career; he claims not to have cared. Bill Nighy, a fellow Bafta nominee for his role as the newspaper editor in State of Play that every journalist wishes they had in real life, told Morrissey he'd always been down on awards until he'd won one. This, Morrissey concludes, 'is something I can quite understand'. A few weeks ago at the National Film Theatre, director John Madden, who directed Morrissey in Captain Corelli, told an audience that, even though he had worked with him three times, he really had 'no idea how he does it'. Madden said that Morrissey was admired by even the most envious of colleagues: 'You won't find a more sceptical audience for an actor's work than another actor, because when they watch other actors work they're looking for the tricks, which, of course, they all know, and they're looking for the wheels turning. With David, you can't see the wheels turning and it's a pretty extraordinary compliment.' I've known Morrissey as a friend for a few years and I've always been struck by his modesty, which I think comes across in his professional career, and his humour, which I'm not sure always does. On television, he tends to choose roles with a certain amount of desperation and crack-up involved - sympathetic but conflicted men with broken careers and ruined marriages, or with dilemmas beyond their experience and ambitions beyond their station. Only the last of these may be said to be drawn from Morrissey's life. Born in Liverpool to a father who worked as a cobbler and engraver and a mother who worked at Littlewood's catalogue company, he was the youngest of four children. His father died when Morrissey was 15 and a year later he left school with two O-levels and only one career opportunity beyond shelf-stacking. A cousin encouraged him to try out for the Liverpool Everyman Youth Theatre. He remembers standing around being intimidated by the self-confidence of his peers. The golden period in the main house - Willy Russell, Julie Walters, Alan Bleasdale - was soon mirrored in the junior house, and Morrissey was struck by the impact on the local community of a play he appeared in about the Liverpool riots; most of his friends were forming bands, but acting also appeared to have some sort of social value and appeal to women. Willy Russell him alongside his pal Ian Hart for a successful television series about two Scousers on the lam, and from there it seemed a fairly uncluttered path along grand thespian way - Rada, the RSC, the National. But in 1991, he hit a period he shudders to recall. 'I did a version of Robin Hood, and it wasn't a bad film,' he says. He played Little John; a little-known Uma Thurman was Maid Marian. The problem was that Kevin Costner's Robin Hood came out just before it, so it got buried. 'I didn't work for eight months after that, and I remember thinking, "That's it; I will never work again." The auditions dried up and those I did get I was increasingly nervous at. I didn't know what had gone wrong. It panicked me.' He had just used the Robin Hood money to move from the White City estate to a flat in Crouch End, north London, and had a film actor's mortgage. 'The most significant part of my day was coming back from going to the shops or a walk and seeing if the answermachine was flashing, wondering if that was my agent. It never was. I didn't have anything else in my life - the job informed me totally. Bugger all else I can do - work in a bar perhaps.' He relied on his friends and family, and eventually landed the part of a policeman in a BBC drama called Clubland. A week into rehearsals, his appendix burst and he awoke from the opera tion to find someone from the production by his bedside. 'He was saying that they'd have to recast, but all I could see was me losing my flat. So I got up to show him I was OK. I filmed the entire thing with my stitches in.' It is not true that he's been working ever since, but it certainly appears that way. Directors and writers are eager to re-employ him whenever they can. 'He embodies the qualities of straightness and integrity,' says Tony Marchant, the writer of Into the Fire and Holding On, both of which featured Morrissey in roles that required great emotional transformation. 'When he goes off the rails, it's always more disturbing than anyone else you might cast. When he starts to unravel, you absolutely believe it. But it's a very hard thing for actors to pull off without looking as though they're showboating.' Last month, James Nesbitt showed similar qualities in Passer By, Marchant's drama about a man forced to re-evaluate his entire moral and personal code after learning of a rape he could have prevented. This was Morrissey's second major directing job and Marchant was impressed with the precision he took with each scene. 'He was the most prepared director I've ever worked with. Because he's fairly inexperienced, he knew he couldn't just wing it. And he made the actors feel that he understood what they had to go through.' Morrissey told me that the actors he admires most are those who choose roles they fear may be beyond them. 'As a director, I learnt that nine times out of 10 actors really want to help you out. You don't have to mollycoddle them - just trust them and be with them. I've worked with directors who are patronising and intimidated by actors. That's no help to anyone. Some actors who are apparently pains in the arse are not - they just want to do their job right. If they have to be bolshie to get what they want, that's fine by me.' Marchant believes Morrissey is less happy on public display than he is on either side of a camera: 'The most uncomfortable I've ever seen him is when I won a Dennis Potter Award and he was presenting it to me and had to make a speech. He isn't at ease in public situations and, in a way, I trust that because other actors have this professional persona that they bring to their public life. A lot of actors want to be loved all the time, but David doesn't express that need publicly, or let it get in the way of a performance.' Last year was his best yet, with three defining parts in pieces that are all up for Baftas. For his role in This Little Life, he consulted premature-birth specialists and drew on his own experience as a father of two, while in The Deal and State of Play he immersed himself in Westminster with the help of MPs and newspaper columnists. As he mastered Gordon Brown's jaw-drop and hair-smoothing, I remember him wondering whether he hadn't made a big mistake. 'I thought the script would work, but was having difficulty with the tone of the piece, how you pitch it. It couldn't be an out-and-out impersonation. Would the public accept a drama like this of the two most powerful politicians in the country or would it be laughable?' He gained almost two stone for his role. 'When I first went round to Michael Sheen's house [Sheen played Tony Blair] I started to realise it's a Shakespearean tale about two men who admire and love each other and then it all goes sour when another man becomes involved - Mandelson.' He has had no word on whether Gordon Brown has seen the programme - 'I'd like to know what he thinks, though he does have quite a lot on his plate' - although he was pleased with the reaction from political journalists. 'I think they were expecting to find it ludicrous and inaccurate. What they found was something illuminating.' Peter Mandelson let Morrissey shadow him for a day while he was researching State of Play and the actor was struck by how seductive Westminster can be to the young politician on the make. 'The eagerness to be liked and known - I can see how someone like Stephen Collins would be affected, having a constituency in Manchester and coming to London and being completely flattered. It's not difficult to forget the roots of why he was a politician in the first place and to compromise your ideals to get on. 'I look for men who have a complex nature, perhaps if they have a secret,' Morrissey says. 'But it's a particular mainstay of British drama that the central characters are always going through some sort of traumatic experience or crisis, so that's perfect for me.' His secure domestic set-up may be the best clue to his ability to unravel so effectively on our screens. He has been with novelist Esther Freud for 10 years and the recent purchase of a Renault Scenic has officially announced the imminent arrival of their third child. He credits her with improving his professional discipline. They are determinedly not a showbiz family for they have lived with fame for a while. Their annual houseparties are packed with talented actors and writers, all feigning coolness in the paint-splattered presence of Lucian Freud. Their sitting room used to display a family snapshot taken while Morrissey was filming Captain Corelli, but the photo has since become the subject of curiosity. 'We never used to have any decent photographs of the four of us together,' he says, 'because either I'm taking it or Esther's taking it or the kids are putting their tongues out. And so we're in Cephalonia, and one of the Italian guys there takes a photograph of us all together and it turned out to be really lovely of all of us. The kids are smiling, Esther looks beautiful and I look great, apart from the fact I'm dressed entirely in a Nazi uniform.' Despite the success, Morrissey says he remains insecure. Occasionally, there are minor setbacks - his role in Girl With a Pearl Earring was excised during editing - and he doubts whether even winning a Bafta will have much impact on his career. 'You're constantly vulnerable,' he says. 'I've hardly met an actor who doesn't think the current job might be the last.' I raise my eyebrows. 'No. I genuinely feel all the time that it could all dry up tomorrow.' As it is, tomorrow he starts filming his new role, a comedy with musical numbers in which he plays a man with wedge sideburns and a daughter dating a man the same age he is. 'I'm bricking it,' he says. 'Normally, rehearsals are spent getting to the heart of the character, but on this I'm being whisked away to learn dance steps. I can't dance at all. Of course, it may all be quite beyond me.'

(Morrissey)'You're constantly vulnerable,' he says. 'I've hardly met an actor who doesn't think the current job might be the last.' I raise my eyebrows. 'No. I genuinely feel all the time that it could all dry up tomorrow.' Ain't that the truth. Thanks for posting the article, Mary!

hit BBC comedy "My Family" Moon: I caught my boys watching this show and they say it's the funniest thing on TV. Have been after me to watch. The accent is American, but it's done for the BBC? The BBC "My Family" is all-English-accents (Robert Lindsay, Zoe Wanamaker, Kris Marshall) and, IMHO, very feeble. If this is meant to be a superb advert for teams of UK comedy writers, yuck! But then again, I haven't watched it in the last year... Moon, I hope your boys were watching a better American version...

From the UK Times: "...The Duke and Duchess will now be hoping that association with Brideshead will have the same magic on visitor numbers at their home. They will be hoping to cash in on the "Colin Firth" factor. This was observed after a BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice showed the actor emerging dripping wet from a lake. Visitor numbers at the National Trust property, Lyme Park, Cheshire, where the scene was filmed, immediately soared." Whole story here: http://murphsplace.com/crowe/uktimes6.html

A list, a list, a veritable list! Of the 100 greatest movie characters, according to Premiere magazine: http://www.premiere.com/article.asp?section_id=6&article_id=1539&page_number=12&preview=

From The Independent, this is one way to transition to a younger Bond, though Heath Ledger may be a bit too old for this one. *snort* Bond is back - as a teenage agent By Jonathan Thompson 11 April 2004 There will be no vodka martinis and no Pussy Galore. James Bond is to reappear in a new adventure next year - as a teenager. Penguin Books, the publisher of Ian Fleming's original Bond series, has commissioned two prequels on the nation's most celebrated spy. Written by the actor and novelist Charlie Higson, they will tell the story of a 13-year-old Bond and his escapades while a pupil at Eton. Higson, 45, is best known as the co-creator of BBC2's The Fast Show, but has a number of adult thrillers and screenplays to his name. He described the chance to write about a teenage James Bond as "too good an opportunity to turn down". He said: "I've grown up with Bond, and while I've had to finally accept that I'll never play him in the films, writing about him is even more exciting." Higson has already begun work on the first book, which is due for publication in March next year. Set in the 1930s, it will see the future 007 travel to a remote Scottish castle, where, according to Penguin, a wealthy American has been conducting "some very disturbing experiments". The book will also describe the young Bond's struggle to come to terms with the premature death of his parents in a skiing accident - a tragedy often cited as the driving force behind his later evolution into Fleming's ruthless government assassin. Penguin hopes that the prequels, published under its children's arm, Puffin Books, will capitalise on the success of series such as JK Rowling's Harry Potter - which saw an increase in boarding school applications - and Anthony Horowitz's tales of the boy spy Alex Rider, which have sold more than 1.1 million copies. http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/books/news/story.jsp?story=510459

Anyone want to get tix? ;-) 'Hamlet' gets a makeover By Charlotte Cripps 14 April 2004 Trevor Nunn returns at last to Elsinore with a youthful cast and a fresh approach In Trevor Nunn's new production of Hamlet, Gertrude (played by his wife, Imogen Stubbs) carries a Gucci handbag and has make-up by Mac and Est�e Lauder on her dressing-table. The majestic set is almost operatic in scale, and the invasion of Denmark by Norway not only features guns and swords, but helicopter sounds. This is Trevor Nunn's first Hamlet since his RSC production of 1970, which starred Alan Howard as Hamlet and Helen Mirren as Ophelia. His latest prince is played by a 23-year-old Ben Whishaw, who was Brother Jasper in Nicholas Hytner's His Dark Materials at the National Theatre. Ophelia is played by a 19-year-old Samantha Whittaker, who is reading English at UCL, but is taking a break to make her stage debut although she has appeared on television, in Casualty (as Kirsten) and The Bill (as Amber). "Something extraordinary happens when the characters who are students in Shakespeare's story are being played by people of student age," says Nunn. Tom Mannion is playing Claudius and The Ghost of the King. "Playing a younger Claudius, young Hamlet's uncle, means that the sexual tension is heightened. He and Gertrude still have a voracious sexual appetite, and that will perturb the young Hamlet even more. "And when I appear as the Ghost of the King to tell young Hamlet to take revenge, it isn't a spooky scene with scary lights, rather a father and son farewell, warm and tender." How are rehearsals going? "It has been fantastic so far," says Mannion. "But that is the idealist in me speaking. It is running far too long. This is a week of major surgery to try to cut it down. But I'm glad we have done all the work first so that we know what we are losing." Rehearsals of Hamlet are taking place in the top rehearsal rooms at the Old Vic, which "look like a big, old church hall," explains Mannion, "and there are lots of friendly ghosts around there - the room has echoed to Hamlet's words many times, from Richard Burton to Laurence Olivier". Indeed, when the National Theatre began in 1963, the company was based at the Old Vic and its opening production, directed by Olivier, was Hamlet, starring Peter O'Toole. The tragedy also featured a 23-year-old Michael Gambon as a spear-carrier. Other great Hamlets at the Old Vic include John Gielgud, Michael Redgrave, Alec Guiness and Derek Jacobi. "I have never actually been in Hamlet before, and I acquired rather an aversion to the play at school," admits Mannion, "but I have always wanted to work with Trevor Nunn, and it has been a fantastic learning process. "For the first few weeks, it was a bit like living in an Open University programme. There are so many famous phrases that I never even knew came from Hamlet - such as 'caviare to the general' and 'to the manner born' - so the whole experience has been very illuminating." 'Hamlet', Old Vic Theatre, The Cut, London SE1 (020-7928 7616), from 17 April

Sigh . .wish Colin would try again to do Hamlet . .would pay quite a bit to fly over to catch him to do it . . .;) In Trevor Nunn's new production of Hamlet, Gertrude (played by his wife, Imogen Stubbs) carries a Gucci handbag and has make-up by Mac and Est�e Lauder on her dressing-table. The majestic set is almost operatic in scale, and the invasion of Denmark by Norway not only features guns and swords, but helicopter sounds. Sometimes it does marvel me at the spins people take to make Shakespeare "fresh and new" Where do they come up with some of the ideas?:)

Thank you so much for all the wonderful info/pics you have provided in the past! The gallery is still there.

(Kimberly) Sigh . .wish Colin would try again to do Hamlet . .would pay quite a bit to fly over to catch him to do it . . .;) He had his chance! Silllllly boy. I actually got to hold a ticket for the defunct production in my hands. Was a bit exciting and sad all at the same time. :-( (Kimberly) Sometimes it does marvel me at the spins people take to make Shakespeare "fresh and new" Where do they come up with some of the ideas?:) I dunno, but I'll admit I loved Baz' version of Romeo and Juliet. Thought Harold Perrineau Jr was fantastic as Mercutio (and he looked lovely in that dress).

90. John Malkovich of Being John Malkovich Wow! That's an honor. I'm happy to see Dude from The Big Loboski. I love that movie!

(Mark), Moon, I hope your boys were watching a better American version... Thanks, Mark! The show my boys watch is called Family Guy. My mistake. Thank you ladies for the articles.

The Duke and Duchess will now be hoping that association with Brideshead will have the same magic on visitor numbers at their home. They will be hoping to cash in on the "Colin Firth" factor. Did I miss something? Does this mean that CF will star in the remake of Brideshead? All detectives on the case!

(Moon)Did I miss something? Does this mean that CF will star in the remake of Brideshead? LOL, I got all excited, too until I read the article. I think they want the Firth factor to spill over to Chatsworth a la Law and Bettany. Chatsworth, which each year attracts 600,000 paying visitors as well as several royals, will be hosting Jude Law and Paul Bettany, who play Sebastian and Charles respectively, for a five-day filming session in June Thanks Murph.

A very belated happy birthday Kimberley.

Guys, I have a bit of a problem and I need to give a warning. In the last couple of days I've been getting some emails from people I never heard of thanking me for my email. I've also been getting returned emails I never sent and notices from Norton Antivirus that my message to this and this person was infected, etc. I have virus protection, it's up to date, but I thought maybe it's a new one, one that sends out an infected email to everyone on one's contact list. But no one I'm in touch with ever received one. So it seems to me that someone's sending out infected emails using my email address to people. How does this concern anybody here? Recently I got a notice that my mail to Moon was undeliverable (never sent her anything), and most returned mail was from the UK. So I'm wondering if these mails with my addy in the address box were sent to people on this board. So I have to say this: if any of you guys get an email from zgiczi@sympatico.ca please don't open it. It won't be from me, and most likely will contain a virus. I'm sorry for the inconvenience this might have caused to some, I wish I knew who's responsible for it. Unfortunately these a**holes are never caught.

Actually IIdiko, I've been getting these for the last few weeks. Anything in the header starting with Re:, and has no text and only an attachment I immediately delete. I've even got some mail from myself - don't know what's causing this, but its a real nuisance.

Recently I got a notice that my mail to Moon was undeliverable (never sent her anything) The same is happening to me. I am also deleting them. I wonder if this has anything to do with the black-out at Spring? Any ideas Terry? I ask this because my password to check my mail at spring.net has been erased and I am not able to check the mail.

I've been having the same problem but it has been going on for longer than a few days. My antivirus program is up-to-date too.

IMO, it's all to do with supposedly clever spamming programs and nothing more. We are all registered at myriads of sites where our email addresses are no doubt accessible to those who do this sort of thing. I have been getting hundreds of emails a day for months now and probably 95% of them are as you described. I just delete them. In fact they are so numerous now that I filter all my known emailers to their own boxes and simply delete the remainder in the IN Box. It's annoying, time wasting and will never go away. It's the strange attachments that annoy me the most. I don't use a Microsoft email program and use a Mac so I know I'm not infected with the usual junk. There's no reward in writing a virus for a minority!

I believe this is a virus that is making the rounds. I get several of these daily, always with subjects "Re: Your [letter, document, website, whatever]". These always have an attachment (NEVER EVER open unexpected attachments especially ones with .exe, .zip and a few other extentions) and it's the attachment that contains the virus. I've gotten bounce notices from mail I've supposedly sent out (I didn't, of course)from all over the US and Europe. The best thing you can do is RELIGIOUSLY keep your virus protection up to date, scan your machine regularly (weekly is good), use a firewall if you have one (and consider getting one if you don't, especially if you are on a cable ISP)and DON'T open attachments that you're not expecting. And, if I have a file (attachment) that I want to send you, I will send you an email first, asking your permission before I send the attachment. It's a dirty world out there, dearest Drooleurs, so practice safe computing!

Not sure how many will be interested in this... Saw Kill Bill, Vol 2 earlier tonight (or last night as the case may be ;-)). I LOVED it, more than the first one which I liked, but took me 2 viewings to appreciate and enjoy it more. More exposition and background into characters relationships in Vol 2. Less comic book-y, which I did like in Vol 1, but I enjoyed this much more. Many amusing bits, reminded me of Pulp Fiction in that respect, but not as much so (guess that would only apply to those who found PF funny at times. Depends on your sense of humor and the absurd, too). Only one portion in the last quarter that almost brought it to a screeching halt, though a necessary piece. Both volumes seem very separate in tone, though I've read of a screening or two where they were played together and it was reported that they played very well as a whole. David Carradine fantastic, I thought. Soundtrack well done as always, though not as many catchy tunes as his other films. I must see it again. I taped, but haven't seen The Apprentice finale yet. Trying to avoid seeing who won on the internet news, though I'd bet it was Bill. After the screening tonight, went out for a snack with someone else who was there and totally by chance found ourselves sauntering on 5th Ave across the street from Trump Tower where there was a premiere/party setup and crowd for The Apprentice people. We stood there for 5 minutes or so, but as it was 10:30 and we figured the show wasn't over yet, no one would be showing up for a bit. We went back by an hour later and apparently Omarosa had just gone in as she was at the beginning of the step and repeat line. Also saw Kwame and I can't remember the other girl's name, will have to look on Wireimage or ET. I was guessing Kwame didn't win as he was smiling, but didn't appear to be beaming or more animated, as I would think he would be if he won. We were across 5th Ave, so it wasn't overly close to really tell.

Women's rites For strong women characters, you simply can't beat a dollop of Trollope, top TV writer Andrew Davies tells Brian Case Jealousy, marriage on the rocks, financial chicanery and divorce � all the ingredients of the 21st-century soap opera are present and correct in the BBC�s latest literary adaptation of Anthony Trollope�s sprawling novel He Knew He Was Right. The man charged with condensing the original�s 930 pages for the small screen is Andrew Davies, whose adaptation of Trollope�s The Way We Live Now added yet more awards to a mantelpiece already groaning with Baftas and Emmies. He Knew He Was Right tells the story of a marriage that founders on the baseless jealousy of Louis Trevelyan over his wife Emily�s gentleman caller, Colonel Osborne. Few Victorian novels deal with marriage, particularly marriage on the rocks, but Trollope also delves into the morbid obsession that started the rot. The novel owes its origin equally to the Divorce Bill of 1857 and Othello. �I do sympathise with the husband because he�s trying to be a Victorian tyrant and he hasn�t got what it takes,� Davies explains. �He does more harm to himself.� Emily was raised in the distant colonies, far from the strictures of London society, which she refuses to recognise. She is contumacious. He fails to dislodge the insidious Colonel from his wife�s drawing room, they separate, he employs an odious private detective to watch her, snatches their child, and heads off to Italy, where his mind crumbles. The novel took Davies six months to adapt. �When I first start, I don�t even know if I�m going to do it or not. There�s a very basic nitty gritty of dividing the number of pages into the minutes you have, and seeing how it comes out. With endings of episodes it�s how you cut the pack.� Colin Firth, who played Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice, remarked that Davies didn�t have �that absurd, academic reverence that people have for a great work of literature�. Indeed not. He adds, subtracts, makes the text speakable. Sometimes he�s bawdy. In the field of TV classics, the 67-year-old Cardiff-born writer has cornered the market in strong women. Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Vanity Fair, Moll Flanders, Middlemarch, Tipping the Velvet, Boudica. He laughs. �The British television drama world is dominated by women. They are strong and they�re certainly interested in tasty geezers, and they�re very interested in choosing strong, independent women.� Which he duly delivers. �The unifying theme of He Knew He Was Right is women who are quite strong and decide for themselves, and men who can either cope with that or can�t.� Trollope�s novel offers a spectrum of women�s prospects. The self-sufficient Priscilla, with whom the estranged Emily ends up lodging, wants nothing to do with the male sex. �She�s almost deliberately withdrawn from the cattle market thing,� says Davies. Her expectations are frugal indeed. An old gown, a pair of gloves for church, bread and cheese. Thirty per cent of Victorian women would remain unmarried, a solitary condition that Priscilla�s sister, Dorothy, dreads. �They are not anything particular to anybody, and so they go on living until they die . . . a man who is a nobody can perhaps make himself somebody . . . but a woman has no means of trying. She is a nobody, and a nobody she must remain.� The quotation is close to John Stuart Mill�s treatise, The Subjection of Women, and though Trollope favoured the right to work, he opposed the vote, likening fem nists on the American model to �unclean animals�. There is a superb part for Anna Massey as the unmarried, meddling Aunt Stanbury, who is exasperating, endearing, and a somebody. She thoroughly disapproves of chignons, pipes, penny newspapers � and holds the purse strings. And, struttingly, Bill Nighy plays Colonel Osborne as a sexual predator. With his walk, the tilt of his topper and cane, he is altogether priapic. �I think he greatly enjoys the notion that people think he�s actually having sex with Emily,� chuckles Davies. �And that man knows how to operate a walking stick, doesn�t he?� It�s a performance that makes explicit what Trollope merely hinted at. �My instinct is to push things forward a bit. People always accuse me of churning up sex, which I don�t mind really. Bill Nighy was giving me just what I was hoping for.� Trollope wrote more than 50 novels. Davies must be approaching that with screenplays. �I like to keep busy, certainly, but he must have been really driven. He did 3,000 words every morning before going to work. He set himself targets. He�d take a day or two off between novels. There aren�t many novels around now that give you a deep satisfaction to read. Maybe it�s a sign of getting old, but I don�t find many that stand up to the big Victorian writers. Trollope understood the world, how things work, how you get into debt, how you get into Parliament, the whole range of society. There is no one today you could compare him with.� The same might be said of Andrew Davies. He Knew He Was Right, Sunday, BBC One, 9pm http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7946-1075094,00. Go Bill Nighy! He seems to be everwhere these days. Am looking forward to State of Play Sunday night, BBC America. I'm looking forward to this one, too. Anyone know when it will be seen, here?

(Andrew Davies) �And that man knows how to operate a walking stick, doesn�t he?� ... �My instinct is to push things forward a bit. People always accuse me of churning up sex, which I don�t mind really. Hmmm. Remind anyone else of another actor's performance in an Andrew Davies television drama? ;-) Thanks Linda!

(linda)Am looking forward to State of Play Sunday night, BBC America. I'm looking forward to this one, too. Anyone know when it will be seen, here? According to BBC America Sundays at 9 starting this Sunday the 18th or April http://www.bbcamerica.com/genre/drama_mysteries/state_of_play/state_of_play.jsp

Any Helen Mirren/Jane Tennison fans out there? PBS will be showing the new "Prime Suspect" Sunday night at 9. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/primesuspect6/index.html I caught it when I was in London last November -- gave up two nights on the town to watch TV in my hotel room, that's how gripping it was. Now to figure out which one to watch (Prime Suspect? State of Play?), and which to tape...

(Zing) Now to figure out which one to watch (Prime Suspect? State of Play?), and which to tape... PS is being shown in 2 parts so taping sounds like the better option. BBCA usually repeats its program overnight so SOP will end up on tape as well. Besides, I hate sitting through commercials.

(Kim)According to BBC America Sundays at 9 starting this Sunday the 18th or April Thanks, Kim, I have that info since I'm a BBC American;-) I was wondering if there was any programming info on He Knew He Was Right. I hope our UK friends will share their opinions if anyone happened to watch this evening. Thanks Zing I am a huge HM/JT fan. I think I will tape both--just in cases.

"State of Play "was excellent. Even though I had the usual problem with Kelly Mac Donald 's Scottish accent. But why does BBCA have to give a summary of the story every half hour, at least. Give the viewer a little more credit for memory! They announced an encore on Friday evening. The surprise of the evening was "Spartacus" on USA channel.(To be completed tonight) Wow! Brilliantly done. James Frain (as in "Sunshine")is Jewish again! Don't know many of the TV actors but they seem to have it all together. And no eyeliner on the slave girls; a plus. Some of the dialogue is spotty..."You don't make the moment,the moment makes you" Please.

(Evelyn) The surprise of the evening was "Spartacus" on USA channel.(To be completed tonight) Wow! Brilliantly done. James Frain (as in "Sunshine")is Jewish again! I'm sorry, were there other people in it besides Goran V (aka Dr. Kovac on ER)? ;-) Whoa baby in those little shorts!! :-P