michelle and her manly movie musicals

If you haven't has a chance to check out the Best Week Ever blog, make sure you do. There's some great stuff over there. They have three writers commenting on the state and news of pop culture. Out of them, far and away my favorite is Michelle Collins. Every once and awhile you can catch her on VH1's Best Week Ever, but on the site you can enjoy her stuff all the time.


The whole reason for this post is that I was reading a list she put together of the 12 Manliest Movie Musical Performances Ever. Number nine on her list was Gene Kelly in An American in Paris. This little bit is exactly why I love her comedy...

"Gene is tiny, muscular, light on his feet, and almost always seen sporting a soft calf leather Capezio dance shoe. And you know what? We dig it. Cause Kelly doesn’t have anything to prove, other than that he’ll happily pas de deux your ass to the bedroom and make vaginal love to you all night long."

If you ever see her on a bill in NYC (like the Ball and Chain benefit this last Tuesday), you must go. Brilliant comedienne.

murphy's law has possessed my body

I wake up this morning at 7am. The alarm on my phone was disabled for some reason... perhaps when I plugged it in last night. I get out of bed and promptly trip over Xena, falling flat on my face. I get dressed and go downstairs, making sure to miss a step and fall down the last few steps. I fill Xena's bowl with some food and a little water. She gets excited, jumps up and spills it all over my pants. I clean it up, go back up stairs and change. I grab my stuff and head out the door, tearing my shirt on the door jam. I head back upstairs, change my shirt and then head back out again. I get to the subway and realize that my wallet is in the pants that I took off before. Head back to the house, grab my wallet and then it's back to the subway. As I'm crossing the street to the westbound platform, a friendly pigeon decides to shit on my collar. I get off the subway, head to the station toilets and clean my collar. I journey above ground to the coffee shop and get some much needed caffeine. I had to laugh a little when the lid popped off and coffee went all over the counter. I get another cup, journey up to my office, sit down, look at the clock and sigh... I'm only 90 minutes into my day.

for all your cryptozoological pleasures...

Sunday night I'll be performing in the pickup group, Bigfoot. My bipedal hominoids in crime include:

- Rick Horner
- Brandon Libby
- Greg Maughan
- David Warick

It should make for quite an interesting evening. Come check it out... Industrial is also on the bill and it's free as usual!

Improv Sunday
Sunday, June 17 @ 8PM
Fergies Pub
1214 Sansom St

do you believe in magic?

Don Herbert died yesterday at 89 from multiple myeloma. Sadly, many of the younger folks I know are probably asking themselves, who’s that?

In the 50’s and 60’s he came to children through their television sets for half an hour on Saturdays. He was known to them as Mr. Wizard.


For fourteen years on the air, he taught kids about science using simple things from around the house. He was the face of science to countless growing baby-boomers.

In 1983, he rose to popularity once again in Mr. Wizard’s World on Nickelodeon. This was how I knew him.


My generation was fortunate enough to share in him as well. Looking back over the years, he was who gave me a thirst for science. I think what I really got out of his show was not just information and practical experiments… more importantly; it’s where I developed a love of science.

All the things I’ve wanted to do throughout the years… marine biologist, chemist, forensic entomologist, coroner, inventor and yes, science officer on a starship… they were all forged out of the passions this show instilled in me.

I remember being so enraptured by what he did on the show. It was like magic. He’d do the experiment first and it was like a trick… then he’d back it up with the chemistry, physical properties or other information that just made the trick happen.

Don Herbert captured the imagination, curiosity and thirst for knowledge of countless youngsters, including myself. You really were Mr. Wizard. God speed my man.

interesting fringe show

This morning on TAGP I saw an audition notice for a show that will be featured in the Fringe Festival this fall. This is not uncommon, as the Fringe has hundreds of shows. But this one caught my eye.

To The Wall Productions is currently accepting headshots and resumes for the Philadelphia Premiere of Debbie Does Dallas- The Musical to be performed August 31- September 2007 during the Philly Fringe Festival. Based on the classic adult film, Debbie tells the story of a young girl who dreams of being a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader and how nothing will stand in her way of making her dream come true.

Oh this is beautiful! See what comes from a love of musical theatre and a healthy appetite for classic porn?!?

It continues with the character descriptions:

Seeking: 5 F, 3 M

The Women
Debbie Benton: Bombshell Blonde small town girl with big city dreams; cheer captain; generous by nature with a squeaky clean image; has the conviction to pursue her dreams and achieve them, regardless of the cost.

Lisa: Essentially the "bad girl we love to hate;" She is comfortable with her own sexuality, and loves to use her looks, charm, and sex to get what she wants. She is manipulative and sneaky.

Roberta: Lisa's best friends. She is naïve and spacey, but only by choice. She is smarter than she lets on. She is also comfortable with her sexuality.

Donna: The dark angel, intellectual poet of the cheer squad. She has a boyfriend, and wants to explore her sexuality, but doesn't want to be labeled as "easy." She is best friends with Tammy.

Tammy: A young Hilary Clinton with a sense of humor; she wants to be a senator when she grows up. She is the most innocent of the cheerleaders (a virgin) and remains so.

The Men
Actor One: The funny, lovable, high school heartthrob who plays the following roles: Rick, the high school quarterback/captain of the football team and Debbie's boyfriend. Hamilton, the rich and arrogant tennis pro, and Mr. Bigtime, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys football team.

Actor Two: A character actor who has the ability to be funny and have real depth. Plays Mr. Greenfelt, Debbie's lonely boss as well as Mr. Biddle, the repressed, reserved high school librarian, and Kevin, a suburban high school jock.

Actor Three: Plays five roles and therefore must be good at quick total character transformations. Must be funny. Plays the following roles: Mr. Hardwick, a swinger who owns a candle shop, Mr. Bradley the perverted High School Spanish teacher, Ashley, Hamilton's rich friend, Nick, the college aged record store snob, Jonny, the tight end on the football team, and Tim, whose also on the football team and dates Donna.

This is awesome. Already my expectations are so gloriously high for this that it can't possibly live up to them.

Auditions will be held later this month, by appointment only.

I'd hope so... could you imagine a group audition?

NYC Sketch-a-Thon

Men About Town has been invited to perform as part of the NYC Sketch-A-Thon coming up next weekend!

The Sketch-a-Thon is a festival of sketch and improvisational comedy presented by Porch Light Productions and Sketch This. It runs June 13-16th. Joining us will be Sketch This, Pembroke and Lu, Ice Cream Socialists, Drop Six, Fifedom, Amnesia Wars, Impending Mustache, Knuckle Sandwich, Bare Handed Wolf Chokers, A Week of Kindness, Murderfist and Secret Pants.

The Producers Club
358 W 44th Street - NYC
(between 8th & 9th in Midtown near UCBT)
We play Saturday, 6/16 @ 8:30
All shows start @ 8pm
$10

judge not, lest ye be satirical about it

Next Friday I'm heading down to Dover for the Delaware Improv Mini-Fest 2007. I've been asked to be a judge for their show, Improv Apprentice.

Essentially, we're taking all the improvisers that are performing in the festival and splitting them into two groups. They will then present unrehearsed, unscripted games to myself and my fellow panel of judges. Each round, players will be "fired" for not being funny enough or for breaking the rules of the game they're doing. Eventually it will come down to one player who will then become David Warick's Improv Apprentice.

Now, I don't know what becoming Dave's Apprentice entails... but I think creepy thoughts just on basic principle.

the office last night

Another great episode of The Office last night. The general premise was that Phyllis got flashed in the parking lot by a male assailant and it puts Dunder-Mifflin on high alert. Michael decides they need a women's awareness day and takes all the ladies to the mall. This leaves the fellas to discover the luxurious wonders of the women's restroom.

I think my favorite thing in the episode was the always understated but ever perfectly-timed Angela.


At one point Dwight issued a wonderful little memo:

Karen: Hey, did you guys see this memo that Dwight sent out? (Reading) “Women will be sent home if they wear makeup or heels exceeding one-quarter inch. Females are not allowed to speak to strangers unless given written authorization by Dwight Schrute.” This is ridiculous.
Dwight: Attention, I am removing all bananas from the kitchen.
Karen: Dwight, this memo that you distributed, is insulting.
Dwight: Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Pam (reading): “Sleeves down to the wrists, button-up collars, and muted colors.” Nobody dresses like that. (Sweeping shot to Angela.)

Then a little later...

Angela: Malls are just awful and humiliating. They’re just store after store of these horrible salespeople making a big fuss out of an adult shopping in a junior’s section. There are petite adults who are sort of … smaller, who need to wear … maybe a kids’ size 10.

Hands down one of my favorite character quirks was revealed.

Angela: Sometimes the clothes at Gap Kids are just too flashy. So I’m forced to go to the American Girl store. And order clothes for large colonial dolls.

Which is oddly sexy in a tight-assed, conservative sort of way...

bush screws country

This had me rolling. "Screw this country W!!!" (NSFW)

ok, seriously?

Left my card in the ATM last night. I had already stopped transactions, just forgot to grab it when it popped back out. Why on earth do they still have machines where you have to let go of your card? For what reason is that necessary?

Luckily there were no charges on my account before I cancelled the card. Now I wait seven business days to get a new one. I really hope it comes before I move.