(Dorine)Val Kilmer on Charlie Rose at the moment. Looks better than the other night. He has a family? He mentioned how important they are to him. Didn't someone say he had ragged out looking chirpies with him? Maybe his wife, assuming he has one? If it wasn't me it sure could have been! He played a *Star* show on the side walk and then left with all of the folks he was playing to:-/ V. different from what your experience was inside I think.

I believe Leslie mentioned his chirpies . .I thought I noticed only one really that seemed to be really with him . .and she was older . .perhaps his wife???

New York Daily News - http://www.nydailynews.com Tom cans top gun in sect spat By JOANNA MOLLOY DAILY NEWS GOSSIP COLUMNIST Saturday, March 13th, 2004 Tom Cruise has fired one of his closest advisers in a split that rocked Hollywood. The "Last Samurai" star canned Hollywood megapublicist Pat Kingsley this week after months of strained relations about his involvement in Scientology, sources said yesterday. "He was talking more and more about Scientology," a source said. "She was counseling him not to. It became an issue." But Kingsley insisted to the News last night it was an "amicable parting." "I adore the guy," she said. "I have the greatest respect for him professionally and personally. We've had a great ride." Kingsley became Cruise's spokeswoman 14 years ago with "Far and Away." She dealt with controversies such as the end of his marriage to Nicole Kidman. Kidman says she learned of her own breakup from a Kingsley press release. Cruise, a member of the Church of Scientology for years, has been talking more recently about its controversial beliefs - saying, for instance, "psychiatry should be outlawed." "He's surrounded himself with Scientology factotums now and so she had to go," a source said of Kingsley. But Cruise's sister LeeAnne Devette, also a Scientologist, says: "That is completely untrue. It was an amicable separation and the two remain friends. He still cares a great deal for Pat. Clearly, it was time for a change. It was a decision he came to." As for Cruise's role in Scientology, she said: "In earlier years, he didn't talk about Scientology, and everybody said he was keeping it a big mystery. Now, he talks about it and it's wrong. It's damned if you do, damned if you don't."

I've just gotten this month's Vanity Fair out of the mailbox to find that Sophia Coppola has been named to the 2004 International Best-Dressed List. The issue also contains a high profile piece on Marc Jacobs - the article is accompanied by a 2-page title photo of him spanking a scantily clad Sophia. She's touted as one of his primary muses. Talk about head slapping forehead.... I was all set to give her the 'frump of the year' award after that goddess thing with the flats she wore to the SAGs. (It was the SAGs where she wore that number wasn't it?) Didn't think her Oscar ensemble was that much better. Perhaps if she just stood up straight - those slumped over shoulders can kill even the greatest of looks IMO.

ODB: It is the Ides of March Tim Calhoun: Hide the starch? ODB: No! The Ides of March. Tim Calhoun: Theeeee....Idessssss....offffffff....Marrrrrrch? ODB: Oh, nevermind, just wish Barb a Happy Birthday!!! Tim Calhoun: Happy Birthday Barb!!!!

For JE fans: JE will co-star with Ed Burns in "The River King" based on the NY Times besteller by Alice Hoffman. "Supernatural thriller concerns a small-town cop probing a suicide at a posh kids school." Shooting starts tomorrow in Nova Scotia.

Barb, Happy Birthday! And I'm sorry...I tried, I really did, but do you know how hard it is to find those boots from Nostromo? All I could manage were these. Ah well, hope you have a wonderful day:-)!

No f**ing kidding? . .It's Barb's b'day?? Please forgive me, I almost forgot!! Have the happiest of days today, Barb!!!

Barb, Have a great day Sure you will if this party is a taster ;-)

All these contemporaries Wot? No Fitz to tear up the topiary Are breeches, vest and boots To be part of your birthday loot ODB present in any way Is sure to brighten the gloomiest day And from me in sunny Florida Good wishes to you in Indiana

Best wishes on your birthday Barb!

"Now, cut that out! I'm saving myself for Barb, as a *very* special birthday present!" Happy Birthday, Barb!

Sometimes it's hard getting out the words.... Happy Birthday Barb!!!

Hi Barb, we've all come to help you with your homework! And when we're done we can party! Happy Birthday Barb!

Ooops, I left out the beverages.......;-)

Hey, Barb! Now that Rachel's gone, the stage is open just in time for your birthday for you to get into a corset thing and go to town on some English dude! Oh happy day! Have a great birthday!

Have a wonderful, wonderful B-Day!!!! Haven't learnt to attach things yet so you'll have to use your imagination..... After all...wouldn't a little creme brule and a Margurita go down nicely about now!! (just a pinch). Laura

I can't believe it. I f---ed up, again. This isn't a costume party, is it? That's OK, I'll change later...much later-after we make those... Then we can have some......... Happy Birthday, Barb

Happy Birthday, Barb! Hope you have a GREAT time!

What a lovely party! Thank you all! Et especially tu Tress! Hide the starch? LOL That yummy attorney can whisper in my ear any old time he wants to! Hope he's not billing by the hour though... And Ada, thanks for digging up the keeps pictures you *did* find, and as for the boots, it's the thought that counts...and I like giving them lots of thought! As for the motorcycle, you know just what a girl wants! The thought of him astride that motorcycle makes me all rumbly in my.... ummm ... tummy (yeah, that's the place!) Thanks! Thank you too Kimberly, especially for the lovely hand picture! How nice you all have these wonderful SNL pictures to remember your adventure and we get to play with them too! Thanks! And Sonia -- Drool's poet laureate, you're right about ODB's day brightening power! And well you can boast of sunny FL, we've got 3-6 inches of snow forecasted for tonight. Of course, that is of no account with the right boots ;-) LOL Mari, I'll try not to leave him with such a pained expression, tired is more what I have in mind...a very special birthday present indeed! Thanks for the thoughts Karen, but you know, I'm not sure he has to say a thing! And if he insists, as long as it's soft and low and in that accent, I'm a goner. (Eeuuuwww, just had this vision of Paul Lynde whispering in my ear!) Thanks! Oh Beedee, now *that* is totally not conducive to doing homework! But it's my birthday, I gave myself the day off but he can hang around to "help" later (soon as he loses the kid looking over his shoulder... the rating is *not* likely to be PG!) Thanks Lora, he looks amazing there! What a picture--a little low lighting, a nice little v-neck sweater, a little "Come Away With Me" (I'd make sure to get to pick the song...) I am so there.... LOL Linda, I love fireworks, I'm getting my ooohs and aaaahs warmed up as we speak! And thanks to Lizza, Odile, Laura and Eithne for the good wishes, it's been lovely so far, thanks! Special thanks to SNL for all they did to make this possible...how very nice of them! And to all the DD's who can make any day a party, it's been a fun and exciting year, think next year can top it? I'll drink to that! Thanks all!

Happy Birthday, Barb.

My most sincere apologies for my late arrival to your birthday fiesta, Barb! There was a revolution, and corrupt soldiers tried to execute me, and some rabble attempted to steal my lovely boots, and then I had to ride all the way here on a horse the size of a Chihuahua.... Again, my apologies, Mademoiselle! Perhaps if I just freshen up and put on a new starched collar, we can celebrate your birthday more appropriately. Or there is this great mine cavern for a more intimate party...

Barb, hope your birthday was ab-solutely fantastic. How could it be otherwise with Nigel, Paulie and Co. in attendance?

I wanted to surprise you on your birthday Barb....I tried out for the new Village People. I was told it was the happening boy band. And although I have never heard of them before, I thought I'd give it a go..... This guy, who said his name was Fericito, said I was a shoe in....but he may have been keeeeeding! But things didn't go as smoothly when I tried out with the rest of the group....I was a hit with the bellboy and the manager, but the police officer said my pants were too low and kept trying to give me a wedgy.... They said they would let me know tomorrow if I made the group or not....but that will be too late for a "Happy Birthday" serenade! Apologies all around! Hope you still have a very.......

Thanks Lucie! And thanks Shoshana for bringing dear, lovely, flawed Charles. The poor thing, such long legs and they put him on such a short horse. Silly people. And the cave scene...Oh! Charles! Are you glad to see me or is that a stalagmite in your pocket? And Hen, it's been the best, thanks for the good wishes! ROFLMAO Tress!! No keeeeding from me, he's got my vote any old time he wants! (Love that first picture!) Thanks!

Barb! Baby! Sorry for being late, had to change into my other outfit for my gig as ... And I brought something to keep this party goin� You Americans have heard of margaritas, haven't you? Happy Birthday, Barb!!

So sorry I�m late to congratulate you, Barb. Hope you�ve had a great birthday. To make up, I bring flowers: and wine: and a special guest to toast you Happy Birthday!

Hi Barb Happy Birthday. I'm sure you've enjoyed the party.

Happy Belated Birhday Barb! It took me a while to arrange a South Florida outing... so forget the snow, I'm on my way!

For GWAPE fans - Essie Davis will be coming to Broadway soon. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/03/16/1079199221056.html

Tom Stoppard's "Jumpers" with Simon Russell Beale (West End's Golden Boy) directed by ....hey Moon...by David Leveaux! Previews April 6th opening April 25th at the Brooks Atkinson theatre. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/84917.html

PS This will be SRB's Broadway debut. Get the Tony ready;-)

Another interesting bit of info about a GWAPE co-star of Colin's . . Just heard from a friend that Cillian Murphy's film, Intermission will be premiering here in NYC Thursday evening . . . Funny I got news about it wil listening to my GWAPE soundtrack!

(Evelyn), directed by ....hey Moon...by David Leveaux! PS This will be SRB's Broadway debut. Get the Tony ready;-) What a combination! David is definitely the best there is. And he's just so AFG!

Thought I'd be nice and share my M.Leveaux with you. :-D

Since this is an odd I'll post it here ;-) I just want to thank everyone who makes this such a delightful place with your posts and caps, good humor and creativity. Y'all are making my solitary foray into a new location and job bearable. My wonderful DH is manning my escape hatch back home (in case this job doesn't work out) while I'm trying to get adjusted to a new job, climate, et. al. I look forward every night to getting home from work and reading the latest. You have made me laugh out loud (which scares the cat and makes the neighbors wonder) and made this transition a little easier for me. So...Thank you, my Drool family, from the bottom of my heart.

(Eithne)So...Thank you, my Drool family, from the bottom of my heart. Very good luck with your new job and the move and we'll be here (with ODB) when you get home till your DH moves in. Maryland, is it?

Thanks for your sweet note, Eithne. Change is difficult, but am sure things will work out well for you. And if they don't, just remember what my dear Dad told me as he was about to walk me down the aisle: "If it doesn't look right, come home." (And I married a guy they liked!;-) Did anyone see Ioan Gryfudd last night on Craig Kilborn's show? He wasn't nearly as funny with Craig as Colin was, but he is a sweetie. Has a new series called Century City on CBS in which he plays an attorney with a law firm in the year 2030. Looks interesting, I caught some of it last night flipping between that and American idol. BTW, his American accent is v.g. Anyway, he mentioned that his "Internet fans from all over the world" recently had a Hornblower convention in London. I thought it was nice of him to mention.

Century City sounds interesting, is it scheduled yet?

Yes, it debuted last night. Is on Tuesdays at 9PM, Eastern. Has anyone in the UK seen The Last King, about Charles II, starring Rufus Sewell? It plays here on A&E this Sunday night and I was wondering if it's worth the 4-hour investment.

(Mari) Did anyone see Ioan Gryfudd last night on Craig Kilborn's show? He wasn't nearly as funny with Craig as Colin was, but he is a sweetie. Has a new series called Century City Aha!! When watching the commercials for the program I thought it looked like him. I taped the show last night but haven't watched it. Anybody watching Significant Other on Bravo. This is really good. All improv fromw what I've read, which makes what they're doing even more incredible. There are only six shows in the can and I don't know if they're planning to do more.

Saw Ioan on Kilborn, too. Liked how he said CK was the only one who'd gotten the pronunciation of his first name right. You're right, Mari, he wasn't as funny, but was endearing. And he does do a good American accent. Maybe Colin could use his voice coach should it be needed. ;-) What screamers were there for him. That's nice for him. I missed that part with the convention. Was flipping back and forth to Karen Sisco. Did he take part in some way or just knew it was happening? I watched about 15 mins of Significant Others. Didn't realize it was heavy improv. I did find it amusing, but must not have been in the mood for it, 'cause I also found them grating and switched it.

( Kimberly) For GWAPE fans - Essie Davis will be coming to Broadway soon. My DH and I saw her in London in this play-she's very good playing Dorothy. I think the rest of my observation should go to Spoilers in case MG's plan to see this when it hits Broadway . They may have to change it a bit, though, to appeal to a non-British audience. Kind of like how Starlight Express was a huge hit in London and bombed in NY. I saw both of those productions and loved it each time, but it wasn't well received in NYC.

Has anyone in the UK seen The Last King, about Charles II, starring Rufus Sewell? It plays here on A&E this Sunday night and I was wondering if it's worth the 4-hour investment. I'd like to know, as well. Our Sunday TV supplement gave it a decent review, (though it leaned to boring) and some of the same old tired stuff about period pieces. I think I'll give it a try, anyway. (Bonnie)They may have to change it a bit, though, to appeal to a non-British audience I know, we Americans...;-)Thanks, Bonnie I'd love to see ED in this.

(Dorine)he wasn't as funny, but was endearing. . . Did he take part in some way or just knew it was happening? Endearing is the perfect word, Dorine, definitely. He said he didn't take part in the convention but two of the attendees landed on his doorstep. He was cute, talking about how he was embarrassed because he was dressed in old sweats "and I had my glasses on." LOL. Anyway, he invited them in, and he said they kept referring to things in his apartment that had been mentioned in articles. "Oh, there's your ratty old red sofa. And you must be Joe, his roommate." I think Ioan is Welsh for Yummy.:-)

I've been counseled to keep JUMPERS comments here , so if you plan to see it on Broadway don't read it! BEWARE!!!!!! SPOILERS AHOY!!!!!!! As I stated in my previous post here, we saw Jumpers with Essie Davis and Simon Russell Beale while in London in February. Essie Davis is very good in her role as Dorothy, a considerably younger entertainer wife of an academic. The husband is throughly caught up in his own little scholarly box and doesn't notice what's going on around him . He is also incapable of connecting more than one thought at a time to write his doctrine. This has been going on for years. Dorothy is on the downhill slope of her career and is bored and sulky. She has parties every night on the top floor of their apartment and sinks deeper and deeper into melancholy. The plot becomes quite complicated, and although I don't recall all of the particulars, I can tell you this is written for a British audience. I have the glossy flyer from which that picture of Essie Davis ( on the website posted by Kimberly ) is taken lying prone on the bed. The audience at our attendance-a Wednesday matinee- loved the show, and there were only about two dozen seats in the very back of the theatre unoccupied. The age reprsentation was actually quite varied-it was their " winter break" ( as we discovered once we hit London)-so there were a goodly number of high school and college aged students in the mix. The humour is British, and although I laughed, my DH just didn't get most of it. The sets are on a rotating stage, and they change scenes smoothly by this device and by dimming the lights. The first act has ED's character (flamboyant) teetering on the edge of sanity. She slips out of her glitzy evening gown to a full frontal while the stage rotates. That grapped DH's attention! ED does a superb job of playing this flaky singer, but IMO the plot has tediouly S-L-O-W moments. I can't fathom this version making it on Broadway... and I liked it. It wasn't my favorite play of the eight I saw while there, but it was better than others.

(Bonnie)ED does a superb job of playing this flaky singer, Not surprising. I thought she was excellent as Vermeer's flaky wife. At times, she had that wild look in her eyes like someone ready to skate off the edge. I can really imagine her doingteetering on the edge of sanity, quite well. Thanks, again, Bonnie

Oooooh! We did get to see Harriet Walter (Fannie Dashwood in ET's S&S and the "witch" in ODB's THOTP) and Adrian Lukis ( Wickham in ODB's P&P and classmate in DG) in another dark comedy entitled DINNER. Adrian Lukis has put on weight over the years. The scene where he takes the stage in his wifebeater undershirt is not all that appealing.

Thanks, Baonnie! I wonder if David Leveaux plans many changes for Broadway? I hope you get to see it and give us a detailed comparison. (Mari), Has anyone in the UK seen The Last King, about Charles II, starring Rufus Sewell? It plays here on A&E this Sunday night and I was wondering if it's worth the 4-hour investment. As I always say, if it's a costume drama, it is worth watching. ;-) Thanks for the heads-up Mari!

(Bonnie)I can tell you this is written for a British audience. (Moon)I wonder if David Leveaux plans many changes for Broadway? He and Tom Stoppard have worked together before...remember, TRT? And TS always tweaks his plays before they hit B'way. I saw TRT at the Donmar, Albery and Barrymore and they each had a different twist. (Also the actors play it differently in each place.) But this is not the first time Jumpers has played here. I saw it at the Kennedy Center years ago. I plan to see it again. Can't get enough of Stoppard.:-)))) Thanks Bonnie.

Pg 74 COSMO (March)has pic of SJ and YKW at the Mishimoko party ;-)

(Mari) Has a new series called Century City on CBS in which he plays an attorney with a law firm in the year 2030. Looks interesting, I caught some of it last night flipping between that and American idol. BTW, his American accent is v.g. Caught some of it but it didn't keep my attention. Guess I was expecting more than just another show about lawyers. Agree, Ioan's accent is v.g. Wasn't impressed by the show though I liked the septuagenarian boy band. Kept switching to the DC's 7 Wonders of Rome, more interesting than CC, imo. (Dorine)I watched about 15 mins of Significant Others. Didn't realize it was heavy improv. I did find it amusing, but must not have been in the mood for it, 'cause I also found them grating and switched it. Same here. The commercials for the show were more fun. Maybe I need to tape it and watch it as 5min skits.:-/ Did anyone catch Dangerous Liaisons w/RE and la Deneuve? Couldn't take more than a few minutes. Never was a fan of la D. Though setting the story in the 50's (or 60's) was good, what little I saw of the acting RE, Deneuve, Kinski and Sobiesky wasn't.

http://usa.bmwfilms.com/clap.asp?template=index&country=usa&film=&start=Y Clive Owen is here....

Would this be an O&E????? Found a blurb on a new Working Title pic . . if YKW wants a new . .perhaps shoot em up pic . .perhaps he should get his agent on this?:) Dome diamond heist heading for big screen /b 13:29 Monday 15th March 2004 Working Title Films has reportedly bought up David Logan's script about the Millennium Dome heist. Variety says The Rip is loosely based on the failed attempt to snatch �200 million worth of diamonds from the Dome. The November 2000 was foiled when 100 armed police officers lay in wait as the gang ram-raided their way into the tourist attraction on a digger. The action film focuses on a thief who is hired to steal the diamonds from the Dome, but uses the initial theft as a diversion for a job that's twice as big. Variety says James Gibb will produce the project with Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner. http://www.ananova.com/entertainment/story/sm_891794.html?menu=entertainment.films

closing tag

Ahh, before I forget to say . . .to all the Droolers . . Happy St. Patrick's Day! "When Irish Eyes are smiling . . ."

Since I can't resist...To all my fellow Drooleurs and of course ODB I wish you all Beannachtai na Feile Padraig! Slainte!

(Eithne) Beannachtai na Feile Padraig! Right back atcha, Eithne!

(Dorine)I watched about 15 mins of Significant Others. Didn't realize it was heavy improv. I did find it amusing, but must not have been in the mood for it, 'cause I also found them grating and switched it. (Sonia) Same here. The commercials for the show were more fun. Maybe I need to tape it and watch it as 5min skits.:-/ Yeah, the people are hideously dysfunctional, but that's why they're all in therapy. I'm sorry but I find it hysterically funny and admire what they're doing. These actors are very talented to pull this off.

Has anyone in the UK seen The Last King, about Charles II, starring Rufus Sewell? It plays here on A&E this Sunday night and I was wondering if it's worth the 4-hour investment. I watched the whole thing (which was shown in 4 parts , and called Charles II: The Power and the Passion here), and that in itself says that it's not bad. Of course, I use this stuff as a form of interesting history lesson, to counteract one area of my ignorance, but it works very well. I'm not sure I could have taken a full 4-hr sitting, as period stuff is more my DW's domain. Interestingly, the female characters were much the most interesting part of this dramatisation (I particularly remember Shirley Henderson and Diana Rigg's performances) - but that could be because I did my usual thing of not being able to identify which male character was which, particularly once they started taking their wigs off. There was probably too much sex to be believable, but it made it reasonably entertaining! Overall, I'd just about recommend it.

(Mark) There was probably too much sex to be believable, but it made it reasonably entertaining! ....Overall, I'd just about recommend it. Hey, I'm on!! Thanks Mark. As Moon says..."It's a costume drama, isn't it?";-) Also "Jolyon Forsyte" is in it:-)))))

Oooh, Rufus Sewell *and* "Jolyon Forsyte?" Yum! Though, "JF" wasn't looking quite so great when I saw him here in The Elephant Man a few years ago. Hey, if Angus McFadden's in it, I might tape it! ;-) Thanks for all the info about Charles II. I was wondering when it was going to show up here. (Mark) too much sex to be believable ??? Can't imagine there's such a thing! ;-) (Karen) I'm sorry but I find it hysterically funny and admire what they're doing. These actors are very talented to pull this off. Oh, I completely admire people doing tons of improv and doing it well. I love what they do on "Curb Your Enthusiasm too, though it's a hit or miss show for me depending on my mood. Seen too many improv shows that didn't work and it's painful. But why are you sorry to find something funny? ;-)

(MarkG) There was probably too much sex to be believable, but it made it reasonably entertaining! (Evelyn) Hey, I'm on!! But it's on A&E here. It'll all be cut out because our pure eyes can't be allowed to see such stuff. (Dorine) But why are you sorry to find something funny? ;-) What does it say about me that I like a show about a bunch of truly dysfunctional people? ;-0

(MarkG) There was probably too much sex to be believable, but it made it reasonably entertaining! I don't think we'll have to worry about that on this side of the pond, but thanks, Mark. I'll tune in for sure. (Karen)What does it say about me that I like a show about a bunch of truly dysfunctional people? ;- LOL, I'll not touch that with a 10 ft. barge pole--at least not around here;-) Did anyone catch this week's segment of Talking Movies? There was a brief interview with Paul Bettany (The Reckoning, A Beatutiful Mind, Master and Commander, and due out, Wimbledon)I watched it then taped the repeat segment. If I have time, today, I'll type up the transcript. The interview was all about being bankable in Hollywood and his take on Hollywood and, art house films not standing a chance against the big budget films. It was short but interesting.

(Linda) ...a brief interview with Paul Bettany Thanks, Linda. I'd love to hear his take on it. Maybe we can get wind of a new spin to apply to all the analyzing we do re: ODB's career. Easier still, do you think it's going to be re-aired? I'll check the listings on my end.

FYI, James Lipton was on Conan last night, talking about having tried for 10 yrs to get Barbra Streisand on Inside the Actors Studio. She finally wound up taking Whoopi Goldberg's bus across country (one of those who doesn't like to fly) and the session lasted for 5 hours. It'll be another of the 2-hr broadcasts.

(Karen), It'll all be cut out because our pure eyes can't be allowed to see such stuff. How true. :-( Did anyone see Courtney Love on Letterman last night? She pulled a Drew and flashed him about 4 times. She's very entertaining. Says she learned to flirk by watching his show and brought up Terry Garr and Sandra Bernhart. I always loved when Terry G was on the show for the same reason. Those two had an incredible chemistry which he no longer has with another actress, IMO. After all that flashing Dave said to Courtney, "I'm glad a have a son" was ROTF!

Thanks for the Charles II recommendation, Mark. Sounds like it's worth postponing my Sopranos viewing until the Monday night re-run. Just this once.;-) I saw the Paul Bettany interview on Talking Movies, and frankly, I thought he came across like an old girl's blouse. (Mark, did I get that right? I heard Kate Winslet say it on Letterman the other night and thought I'd try to build it into my cross-cultural repertoire.;-) Anyway, the guy is such a whiner, IMO, and not just based on that brief interview. I think he's pompous and full of himself.

Karen, when does Significant Others air and on what network? I saw a good show last night on Fox, called Arrested Development. Funny stuff, great ensemble cast of Julia Louis Dreyfus, Jason Bateman, Jeffrey Tambor, Jessica Walter, Amy Poelher from SNL, etc. Somewhat Curb Your Enthusiam-esque. Am in major CYE withdrawal; I thought the way they wrapped up the season with The Producers tie-in and Mel Brooks and Anne Bancroft doing the play within the show was brilliant. Anybody see it?

Significant Others is on Bravo. Its regular slot is 9:30 ET but they do repeats through the week. The first night, they showed two episodes back to back, then this week, they replayed #2 and showed #3 in the 9:30 slot. Next week, TV Guide shows it the same way. Repeat at 9; new at 9:30. Check out the site, especially the Couples section to learn about the characters, in character: http://www.bravotv.com/Significant_Others/ From the "About" section: Significant Others is a comedy about couples in and outside of marriage counseling; a hysterically honest look at marriage and the rewards � and costs � that come with being in a committed relationship. More real than traditional comedies and more imaginative than reality shows, this six-episode series features a talented ensemble of improvisational actors and comedians who, quite literally, script themselves. Thomas, Casting Director Francene Selkirk-Ackerman, and Associate Producer Allison Kingsley saw roughly 500 actors and comedians to cast couples with the right combination of inventiveness, training and chemistry needed to pull off the on-the-spot performances required of the series. Each episode starts with a storyline that takes its shape from the creative give-and-take between the actors, Thomas (who serves as both therapist and director), Co-Producer Jordana Arkin and Tortorici. Brian Palermo (Daddy Day Care) is all-business James � a financial analyst who has it all except the confidence to believe it, something his more spirited and free-loving wife Chelsea, played by Andrea Savage (The West Wing) finds endearing...sometimes. Faith Salie (Sex and the City) is the scholarly Eleanor, whose pregnancy and the pressure of impending fatherhood prove too much too soon for husband Ethan (Herschel Bleefeld, Six Feet Under). Jane Edith Wilson (Curb Your Enthusiasm) plays the organized and seemingly predictable Constance, who finds her world unraveling when her husband Bill (Fred Goss, South Park) loses his job in full midlife freefall. Chris Spencer (Vibe) and Nicole Randall Johnson (Miss Match) are Devon and Alex � two parents doing their best to balance the demands of work and their 9 year old son; they are fairly sure that they don't have "issues" but are checking in just in case.

(Mari) Sounds like it's worth postponing my Sopranos viewing until the Monday night re-run. Just this once.;-) Isn't really necessary, as A&E usually repeats its programming, if not the same night (not for a four-hr deal) but on another night, plus next week, etc. BTW, Deadwood's debut on HBO follows The Sopranos and it had an excellent review at THR.

Mari: like an old girl's blouse. (Mark, did I get that right?) Close but no cigar (I think I got that right) - the phrase, for some reason, is "...like a big girl's blouse." Hey, don't ask me

http://www.bravotv.com/Schedule/search.bravo?month=2005-12&keyword=Significant%20Others&start=today If you click on Schedule, all four episodes will replay in a row (which may be way too much for Sonia!) on March 29, starting at 9 ET.

I think Mark's spot on re Charles et al. We had it as sunday night viewing if I remember correctly. RS does a good job and there are lots of good cameos, excellent costumes etc but then we only had to watch it in smaller doses!

(Karen), Significant Others is on Bravo. Check out the site, especially the Couples section to learn about the characters, in character: Sorry but I can't understand why people would give a damn about these losers that are in therapy. Lighten it up!

Blind Flight Allan Hunter in Edinburgh Dir: John Furse. UK. 2003. 96 mins Exceptional performances from Ian Hart and Linus Roache lend a compelling authority to the true story of hostages Brian Keenan and John McCarthy. Both actors get under the skin of two very different characters, capturing their individual personalities but also illuminating the common humanity that allowed them to endure their ordeal as long-term captives in the Lebanon. Based largely on Keenan�s bestselling memoir An Evil Cradling, Blind Flight marks an impressive feature debut for writer-director John Furse. His spare, unsentimental account of the men�s captivity and friendship is tightly focused, well-balanced and always absorbing. Positive reviews should ensure a healthy theatrical life and good long-term prospects for a modest, sensitively handled project that is released in the UK on April 9 after festival exposure at London and the Celtic Film Festival in Scotland. Extensive media coverage of what befell Keenan and McCarthy might make some British audiences feel that they know this story well enough already. It was dramatised for television in David Wheatley�s docudrama Hostages (1993) with Ciaran Hinds and Colin Firth. Blind Flight has had considerable involvement from Keenan and McCarthy and one of its virtues is the way in which it encourages you to think again. It works by reducing the story to the basics of two men enduring four years of shared imprisonment in which they managed to remain sane and resilient. Just like the hostages themselves, the viewer has little sense of events in the wider world or indeed a grasp of the passage of time. Claustrophobic and intense, the film rarely ventures outside the various buildings in which the men were held. The story begins in 1985. Keenan (Hart) is working as a teacher in Beirut. One day he is bundled into a car and abducted. Moulded by his experiences of the troubles in Northern Ireland, he takes a defiant stance towards his captors revealing an unwillingness to co-operate with them or be seen as a victim. Some time later he is relocated and finds himself sharing a room with fellow captive John McCarthy (Roache in a role originally announced for Joseph Fiennes), a gentlemanly English journalist who has a more pragmatic view of the situation. Over months of captivity in roach-infested cells, the two strangers develop a deep bond. The angry Keenan finds some sense of balance in McCarthy�s calm manner. McCarthy�s political naivety is informed by Keenan�s worldly wisdom. Political attitudes are tested, personal details are traded like precious commodities. Through physical decline and emotional hardship, each one gives the other the gift of seeing beyond the despair of a particular moment. Blind Flight ultimately emerges as a deeply moving portrait of friendship and solidarity in the face of appalling deprivations. The film also takes a sympathetic approach to their Arab jailers who are sometimes friendly and sometimes sadistic in a confused desire to assert their dominance of the situation. A production that makes the most of its modest resources, Blind Flight reveals a mature judgement in the handling of material, refusing to sensationalise or wallow in melodrama but staying true to the dramatic truth of the events. The physical commitment and emotional acuity of the performances are further testimony to Furse�s assured touch and the overall merit of the film. http://www.screendaily.com/story.asp?storyid=16852&r=t

Hope that this movie opens here. Thanks Linda! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Love these kinds of columns: NO DIVISION THIS DEEP SINCE THE RED SEA PARTING Mick LaSalle, Sunday, March 14, 2004, �2004 San Francisco Chronicle sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/03/14/PKGL65CP0U1.DTL When I was a kid, my mother used to say, "Never get into a discussion about politics or religion." To which I'd say, "What else is there to talk about?'' But these days you can talk about religion or politics all you want. It's talking about movies that's dangerous. Today if two acquaintances disagree about a movie they will, within three short exchanges, usually find a way to pretend they see the merits of the other's position: "Yeah, I see what you mean." "Yeah, it's a little like that, you're right." To a surprising extent, a movie is no longer seen as an artwork but as a collection of values, a philosophical proposition to be endorsed or denied. So people tread lightly, not wanting to offend. I don't know when movies became such a sensitive topic [Ed note: when they're about religion or abortion, idiot! ;-)], but I think it may have happened within the past generation. Today it seems that millions of Americans, maybe even a majority, find imaginative release and spiritual nourishment not in their faith, their work, their hobbies or their social contacts but only in popular culture. This is a depressing state of affairs, made even sadder by the fact that today's popular culture is of such limited emotional and spiritual range as to hardly nourish a housefly, much less a sentient human being. It's one thing to argue passionately over the relative merits of Chaplin and Keaton, as do the young cinephiles in "The Dreamers." But to get into a heated discussion about, say, Johnny Depp's performance in "The Pirates of Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" could only be degrading, an admission of too much time and too little to think about. Now we're in the midst of a national discussion over "The Passion of the Christ," one that has been framed from the beginning as an argument over not aesthetics but values. Director Mel Gibson set the tone early by suggesting before the film's release that anyone against the film was anti-Christian. The strategy worked beautifully. A week before the film's premiere, I got my first irate voice mail. It was from a woman, identifying herself only as a schoolteacher, who said that she and her class had decided that I was going to give a bad review to "The Passion of the Christ" because, according to her, I lack religious values. "Now don't disappoint us," she said, and then hung up. The idea that there really may be idiots out there collecting salaries for standing in front of classrooms and discussing Mick LaSalle's forthcoming reviews is chilling, but a topic for another day. The issue here is that this woman was calling on behalf of a movie she hadn't even seen. That's when I knew Gibson had accomplished something extraordinary: He had convinced a lot of susceptible people that liking his movie was concrete evidence of virtue. Even more alluringly, he had convinced them that everybody who didn't like his movie was going to hell. "Now don't disappoint us," the woman said, thinking she was being arch, when actually she was telling the deeper truth. Her enthusiasm for the movie thrived on her illusion of persecution and her fantasy of moral superiority. This may be the first time that the promise of moral superiority has been used in film marketing, though the promise of intellectual superiority has been used many times. If people go into a Godard movie believing that, if they don't like it, it probably means they're stupid, the vast majority will figure out a way to like that Godard movie, no matter what. Similarly, once people bought into Gibson's good versus evil dichotomy, it was hard to imagine many of them opting for the red horns and the pitchfork. The day my review came out--mixed, not a hatchet job--the e-mail arrived in a deluge, at a rate of about one a minute. Most were outraged tirades--nasty, condescending and, of course, anonymous. The ones that made sense dwelled on one of two points. Some people wrote to say that, until "The Passion," they had never been able to imagine the Crucifixion. They were apparently sincere, though I still don't understand it. How can anyone ever sit in a church and face an altar without imagining the Crucifixion? Others wrote to complain that I said that any movie ending in the Resurrection should send people out in a joyful or at least hopeful state. They wrote to tell me that sending people out feeling hopeful was not Gibson's intention. I'd figured that one out on my own. The issues surrounding "The Passion of the Christ" highlight a cultural divide in this country, but not one between Christian and secular, or moral and immoral, as some would have you believe. Actually, if "The Passion of the Christ" has a problem, it's that it isn't Christian enough, and by that I don't mean that it doesn't contain enough of Jesus' philosophy or that it doesn't make Jesus come across as a liberal politician. I mean that it's bereft of spirit, that there's no glory in the Resurrection, that it has none of the ecstasy that's the essence of Christianity--a crucial aspect that has been more or less captured by every other Jesus film ever made. No, the cultural divide at play here is more subtle. The people who are responding to Gibson's literal, surface rendering of the Crucifixion, and who say they never could have imagined it otherwise, are people who feel comfortable with surfaces and don't like subtleties. And the people who are coming away feeling empty are the ones who want to see past the surface and are skeptical, not necessarily of religion (though some are), but of people and their motives. This tension has been playing out on the national level for several years and will continue to play out over the coming months. Some people respond to calls for patriotism, others to acts of patriotism. Some respond to declarations of virtue, while others insist on not being lied to. Some are comforted by the sight of a man in a flight suit, while others want to know whether he can really fly the plane. In the same way, some watch "The Passion of the Christ" and think, "I am watching the Lord," while others think, "Why am I still sitting here watching Jim Caviezel get beat up?" Neither way is Christian or anti-Christian. Both are just ways of looking at movies, and life.

(Mari re: Paul Bettany) I think he's pompous and full of himself. Someone told me after I saw him at a Q&A here, that he was being a "diva" in the VIP room prior. James Lipton was on Arrested Development last night as a prison warden, too. Unfortunately I haven't been able to catch this show regularly as it shows on Sunday night when I watch Alias, so not sure if it's a recurring role. (Moon) Did anyone see Courtney Love on Letterman last night? No, but read about it today while reading the story of her being arrested last night at an East Village bar at 2:30 am after throwing a mic stand and injuring someone in the head. (Karen) BTW, Deadwood's debut on HBO follows The Sopranos and it had an excellent review at THR. Is that the Western? If so, that's the one I want to see with Ian McShane in it. He used to play the title character in the show Lovejoy. A UK show that used to play on A&E. Was bummed when they quit playing it. (Mark) Close but no cigar (I think I got that right) Excellent! ;-) See what ODB started? We're all learning something new everyday.... -- "...like a big girl's blouse." -- Close but no cigar -- that maybe maybe a movie can have too much sex to be believable. Our possibilities are endless! ;-)

(Mark)the phrase, for some reason, is "...like a big girl's blouse." I *knew* I'd make a hash of it--cheers, Mark.;-) (Screendaily)The film also takes a sympathetic approach to their Arab jailers That's a relief. I'd hate to think they were portrayed unfairly.;-) (SF Chronicle)Some are comforted by the sight of a man in a flight suit, while others want to know whether he can really fly the plane. ROTF!

(Karen)Re: Streisand...and the session lasted for 5 hours. It'll be another of the 2-hr broadcasts. Not for me. *Yawn* (Linda) Re; Paul Bettany"The interview was all about being bankable in Hollywood and his take on Hollywood and, art house films not standing a chance against the big budget films. " Makes one wonder if he's seen Lost in Translation. Or "In the Bedroom"... What a whiner...

Re: Bettany His take is his take. Doesn't make it right or even halfway knowledgeable. ;-) However, the guy has been in both and been exposed to some of the big guns. But the fact that he's doing the rounds shows that he's wised up some.

(Karen) (which may be way too much for Sonia!) LOL. You take such good care of me :-) Thanks for the warning. (Mick LaSalle) The idea that there really may be idiots out there collecting salaries for standing in front of classrooms and discussing Mick LaSalle's forthcoming reviews is chilling, but a topic for another day. Indeed. Thanks for the article, Karen. Liked where the guy was coming from. (Screendaily)The film also takes a sympathetic approach to their Arab jailers who are sometimes friendly and sometimes sadistic in a confused desire to assert their dominance of the situation. That came across in Hostages. Reminds me of a closing comment in Bravo Two Zero "As for those who tortured us, they had a job to do as well, it's just that some enjoyed it a bit too much. If I met any of them tomorrow and thought I could get away with it, I'd slaughter them." There's understanding a jailer's need to asert dominance and there's understanding. (SF Chronicle)Some are comforted by the sight of a man in a flight suit, while others want to know whether he can really fly the plane. (Mari) ROTF! ROTFLOL. I may use that line when meeting new people. "Are you the type to be comforted by ..." Thanks for the Charles II info. Will set vcr in case I need to pull a Brit and watch in smaller doses.

Just caught the repeat of "The Seducers" with YKW. Besides "Da'Man" I would say Denzel Washington is second. Rafe not too shabby (those eyes!). Though I preferred him with Julianne Moore in "The End of the Affair" to the Ice Queen in TEP.

Whiner, complainer, pompous ass...Will the real Paul Bettany please stand up? The only reason I sat and listened to this interview was because of the intro...32 year old, British born, now considered able to carry a film, had done a lot of art house... I wanted to compare his take on things to that other 40-something British born...YKW I mean. (except that he hasn't yet proved he can carry a film, here...soon, though--I hope) Anyway, I haven't seen any other PB interviews, I only saw him in ABM. I had never heard anything about his personality so I can only type up what I heard. IMO, after watching several times to transcribe this I didn't feel he came off as terribly abrasive or whining-I thought he was down to earth and answered the questions. But, as I said that's my take, and my prior knowledge of him is v. limited. Intro by Tom Brook (and I've only included the relevant part, here) ...If nothing else this picture (The Reckoning) proves that Paul Bettany, in a leading role, can carry a film. This 32-year old British born actor is getting a lot of attention for his work. He gave a really strong performance as a husband who strays in The Heart of Me, a period drama that was sadly overlooked. (mentions his roles in Master and Commander and A Beautiful Mind) TB: You do a really excellent job in this film. I know it was made before you did a lot of work in Hollywood. But do you think the Hollywood studios would see you as bankable, in terms of being a leading man, now? PB: I don't think they look at movies in that way. I think that's slightly too generous. I think they look at the recipts, and then they (he points, yeah he can do it). I'm not sure it's the way it works. I think more likely people will be looking after Wimbledon comes out cause its more that kind of movie, you know what I mean? Its less of an art house movie. TB: What about Master and Commander? Were you disappointed you didn't get an Oscar nomination? PB: No, its a really hard question to answer cause when you answer it honestly as I'm going to you sound like you're being gracious (laughs heartily) which is not my intention.(laughs, again) I think they're very odd-awards shows and awards. I think, on one hand, the purist in me is thinking well, there shouldn't be any competition between artists--what's this all about? The needy bit in me goes--this is all rather nice-pat myself on the back. I guess the truth is somewhere in the middle--You've made employee of the month. TB: You do some really good work, and there's one film I saw called The Heart of Me which I thought you...thought the whole film was very compelling, actually, and you did a great performance. PB: Thank you. TB: It didn't really go anywhere in America. Does that frustrate you when you work so hard on a project like that and it really doesn't reach an audience? PB: (stutters, ye...yes. It's beginning to. (laughs) PB: I mean I came for the premiere of it, here, and I walked into the premiere up the red carpet and the whole side of this sky scrapper had X Men 2 on it, and I just thought how can you compete? How can a small film compete with the enormous marketing budgets that these movies have? It's a shame because it's a sweet, really well-made film, and I'm proud of it.

now considered able to carry a film Like what?! The Reckoning is an art house film with middling to decent reviews that will be seen by next to no one. Sound like someone we know? ;-)

Oops, sorry, should've read all the way before I posted last time.... TB: What about Master and Commander? Were you disappointed you didn't get an Oscar nomination? I was. Had him pegged for one when I saw it. Thought he was fantastic, very moving. My heart sank when his character's did everytime RC's character reneged on a promise to him. Thanks for typing that up, Linda.

Thanks for transcribing the PB bit. For me, it only reinforced my impressions of Tom Brook, who is obsessed with the concept of bankability, yet shows absolutely no understanding of it. ;-) Am having a glass half full/empty experience after watching the Bravo Seducers program. Glass half full: Colin was mentioned. Glass half empty: his grouping :-(

TB: What about Master and Commander? Were you disappointed you didn't get an Oscar nomination? (Dorine) I was. Had him pegged for one when I saw it. Thought he was fantastic, very moving. My heart sank when his character's did everytime RC's character reneged on a promise to him. I was probably snoozing because it hardly registered with me, but then again, I already had three strong candidates in that category already. ;-)

As I wrote before, my view of PB was formed before that interview which admittedly is not that revealing. I've seen him on other talk shows and read interviews, and I don't care for him. (Dorine)Someone told me after I saw him at a Q&A here, that he was being a "diva" in the VIP room prior. See, I knew there was something.;-) I walked into the premiere up the red carpet and the whole side of this sky scrapper had X Men 2 on it, and I just thought how can you compete? Sorry, but a billboard full of Hugh Jackman is, IMO, a damn fine billboard. The X-Men movies did well because they're entertaining. And I assume it was ok when the big billboards were up for Master & Commander? (Tom Brook on The Heart of Me) It didn't really go anywhere in America. It didn't go anywhere in Britain either. Check the numbers at the imdb. BBC review: "it's more like a party guest who's turned up so late, they've become a complete embarrassment. . . Trudging from one clich� to the next - pregnancies, confinements, accusations, repressions - "The Heart of Me" rarely convinces." Guardian review: "I really don't think I've seen a film as purely and simply miserable as this one . . ." Yeah, they'd line up around the block for that one.;-) But do you think the Hollywood studios would see you as bankable, in terms of being a leading man, now? Tom Brook has a real hang up about this. He always pulls this crap on the British actors. I recall him asking Colin, why aren't you a big star in Hollywood. What are people supposed to say to that? And why doesn't he ask it of American actors he interviews who are on about the same "fame" level as these guys? Evelyn, at the next premiere, I think you're going to have to have a word with him.;-)

(Evelyn)Just caught the repeat of "The Seducers" with YKW. Besides "Da'Man" I would say Denzel Washington is second. Whew! I'm with you Evelyn :-P''' (Karen)Glass half full: Colin was mentioned. Glass half empty: his grouping :-( My feeling too. And I wish he could have moved:-(

(Mari)Evelyn, at the next premiere, I think you're going to have to have a word with him.;-) How about a bushel of tomatoes...Oops...sorry, tomahtoes;-) ... now considered able to carry a film *snort* Paul Bettany couldn't open up a can of tuna fish, let alone a movie.

Was playing star links, and finally found a score of "3" with Colin Firth...Stephen Colbert of Mr. Goodwrench and Daily Show fame. Have tried for years to get a score over 2 with anyone and CF, he has worked with everyone who has worked with everyone else. http://oracleofbacon.org/oracle/star_links.html

(Mari)And I assume it was ok when the big billboards were up for Master & Commander? I'm sure, however, his response was based on the premiere for The Heart of Me. But he should be used to it as any actor who has been on both sides of the fence-art house vs big budget. That's the way it is.

(Karen)Glass half full: Colin was mentioned. Glass half empty: his grouping :-( What? You have something against nice guys? ;-) At least they wisely didn't put him in the best kiss category. :-( (Evelyn), Paul Bettany couldn't open up a can of tuna fish, let alone a movie. LOL! I can't even place him.

Ebert gave The Reckoning 3 stars and another newspaper critic mentioned The Advocate (and Rhe Name of the Rose) as another of the same genre in his review. I'm going to see it. BTW, Young Adam got an NC-17 rating and will be released uncut in April. Hoorah! We get to see it as-is. I don't understand articles, like this: http://film.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,12589,1173483,00.html which contain such erroneous information. NC-17 is not X. Debbie Does Dallas 2 would not have an NC-17 rating because it would never be submitted to the MPAA, which hold the copyright to those ratings. "Debbie" would have an X or Triple X or whatever they put on them. Why do people equate NC-17 with porn? *shaking head*

(Moon) You have something against nice guys? ;-) He was the only example of unlikely sexy guys from the good guys category, then they went on to show other "unlikelies." Those included people like Jason Biggs from the American Pie films, Austin Powers, Woody Allen, and several other geeky types. Hardly droolable company. Huge had a much better placement.

Spotless Mind got tops 4 stars from the Miami Herald. Go Charlie! It is directed by the man who did his first, Human Nature, which was most brilliant.

(Karen)Huge had a much better placement Yes he did, and it was a bit jarring to go from Colin to Mike then on to Woody;-) I didn't quite understand what the blonde was trying to say, here, LOL "He's got that real sexy like you can maybe really bump into him and really see a guy like him. ..OH he's hot". LOL, at least she got the Hot part clear. The category may not have been good, but at least he was in the same segment as Paul Neumann.

(Karen)He was the only example of unlikely sexy guys from the good guys category, then they went on to show other "unlikelies." No, he was a "nice guy" shown as a counterpoint to the preceding "bad boys" epitomized by Brando, Paul Newman, etc. End of segment. Then they went on to the unlikelies. Anyway, good to see him in there. (Karen)Why do people equate NC-17 with porn? *shaking head* Agreed. I think it's purely rhetoric to try and get their way with the ratings board. Another ill-informed statement: "newspapers in more devout regions of the country would almost certainly refuse to carry advertising for the film while a number of mall multiplexes would pull it from their screening schedules." This was the old conventional wisdom but it doesn't happen anymore, as we just saw with The Dreamers.

(Linda)"He's got that real sexy like you can maybe really bump into him and really see a guy like him. ..OH he's hot"....LOL, at least she got the Hot part clear Eh, but you *could* have almost bumped into him in Rockefeller Plaza if I recall and then, and then did actually bump into him in a bar;-))