R2-D2, Where are you?

Some of you may have seen the USPS blue mail boxes decorated to look like R2-D2 from Star Wars. They were promoting the 30th anniversary of the first Star Wars film as well as the new Star Wars stamps. I've seen several of the boxes around Los Angeles: in Hollywood and downtown in front of the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

There was also one near my school at UCLA. I had one of my students take my picture with "R2" and I'm so glad I did because the next day, R2 was gone! He was only there for a couple of days. I'm not sure if the post office moved that box or if someone stole him. What a cool collector's item, eh?

A Long Time Ago...A New Hope

It was 30 years ago today that my life changed forever. I was seven years old and living with my family in the small city of Lubbock, Texas. There was a new movie showing in our tiny local movie house.

Although I didn't know much about this new film (or any movies in general), my neighbor buddies had already seen the movie several times when they invited me to go with them to see it again. My dad gave me the two bucks to buy a movie ticket and my friends' mom drove us to the theater and dropped us off. It was my first time to see a movie without my parents!

We arrived a little late and the movie was just starting. The only seats available were front row center. So we made our way down the aisle and plopped into our seats just as the first scene began. A huge spaceship (menacingly called a "Star Destroyer") roared across the screen as if from above. My jaw dropped and I was completely transfixed for the next two hours.

Like most young kids my age, I became a huge fan of the Star Wars films. I saw all the movies multiple times at the theater (this was before home video, remember?) and I had a huge collection of toys, games, and memorabilia from the films. Sadly, not much of this collection remains except for one prized toy: a Yoda puppet from the second Star Wars movie, The Empire Strikes Back.

I also had the original soundtrack album of the movie score featuring the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by John Williams. I loved the music from Star Wars and listened to that soundtrack album for hours. My favorite tracks were "Ben's Theme" and the "Cantina Band" from the bar in Mos Eisley space port. Even today if I hear the music from Star Wars, I can recite every line of dialog from the film and hum practically every note along with the orchestra!

I also had a very cool record album called The Story of Star Wars, which featured music and dialog from the film along with narration to tell a condensed version of the story. I played that record ad nauseum, probably wearing out the vinyl in the process. Luckily a few years ago, I found a copy of the record in mint condition, which I had imported from Japan. A kind friend helped transfer the audio from the vinyl to CD so I could hear it since I don't currently have a turntable.

Who could have known 30 years ago what a huge influence Star Wars would become, not only on cinema but on worldwide popular culture? It has become an international, multi-generational phenomenon.

The film had a tremendous impact on me. Not only did I become a Star Wars fan, I also grew to love movies in general, and particularly film music. I also learned to use my imagination and to wonder what could be out there in the stars, "a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...."

Thank you, Star Wars, and May the Force be with you!

My New Amp

I bought an amplifier for my guitar. It's my first-ever amp! I've plugged in, "gone Newport," if you will. I've had this great Ibanez acoustic-electric guitar for about a year, but I've never used it with an amp before. It sounds pretty good.

I've got some gigs coming up this summer, so I have to get used to playing amplified. Also, I've never played live with guitar and sung into a mic before, so I need to practice technique with that as well. Gosh, it's getting complicated all of a sudden.

I looked at quite a few of different amps in different price ranges and, man, there is a lot of variety available. I saw several that had onboard effects, drum machines, etc. Lots of cool technology.

But I don't know how to use any of that so I tried to keep it simple. I've already got my eye on a pedal that has all the effects and rhythm patterns. Wish me luck!

"My Name is Jimmy Carter..."

"...and I'd like to be your next President."

Run again, Jimmy! I couldn't have articulated it better. We've let our country get taken over by a bunch of religious fanatics who are seeking a holy war, thus invoking the Apocalypse.

I can't believe sweet old Jimmy Carter (a devout Presbytarian) could speak so critically of anyone, let alone a sitting President. This is truly historic.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/05/20/carter.bush.ap/index.html

Bill Maher and The Price Is Right

Just got back from CBS Television City (about 4 blocks from my home) where I attended a live rehearsal of Real Time with Bill Maher, the HBO comedy/political satire show.

I'm a fan of the show and often watch it on weekends at my friends' place in Burbank since I don't subscribe to HBO. I was hoping to attend a live broadcast/taping but didn't get tickets. The show goes on summer hiatus in two weeks. Apparently they usually have a "dress" rehearsal (Bill wore jeans) on Thursdays so they can work through the comedy bits and see which ones work and which should be cut before the live broadcast Friday.

At the rehearsal, Bill came out and basically did his show. He delivered his monologue; he pretended to talk live via satellite to a Congressman; he sat at the desk and conversed with guest panelists; he worked through the New Rules segment; and his final monologue closed the show. The "guests" were played by the writers and producers of the show. They each sat-in and played their roles as pundits very well. The head writer and co-executive producer, Billy Martin, warmed up the audience before the rehearsal and introduced Bill.

Ironically, the Bill Maher rehearsal was actually conducted on The Price Is Right stage at CBS. I'm not sure why they did that, but it was like a bonus experience for me because I've been observing fans of the popular game show line up outside the studio for weeks, hoping to be one of the last contestants before long-time host Bob Barker retires. (In fact, there's a prime time special dedicated to Mr. Barker on CBS tonight!)

It's so funny to be in a television studio because it's always surprising how small everything is compared to how it looks on TV. The Bob Barker stage can't be more than 75 feet across and the audience couldn't hold more than 150 people. Since they had just finished taping an episode of The Price Is Right, the crew were striking the set pieces. I caught a glimpse of the Showcase Showdown set where the contestants stand behind the score boards. All the set pieces are mounted on platforms with wheels so they can be easily moved around (and off) the stage.

With the stage bare, all that was left was the gleaming white floor and the most crowded lighting grid I've ever seen. I mean there were hundreds of different lights pointed down to the stage and at the audience. The crew wheeled in Bill Maher's desk and positioned it right in the center of the stage. There was one HD camera gliding across the floor and shooting the whole program, and Bill had two large TV monitors facing him stage right. No doubt one was a prompter and the other probably a camera feed.

The whole thing was finished in less than an hour and we made our cheery way out of the studio. Oh yeah, if you ever go to a live TV taping, leave your cell phone in the car or be prepared to surrender it before entering the sound stage. They don't take any chances these days. The security checkpoint people (just like at the airport) searched all bags and collected all cell phones before ushering each audience member through the metal detector.

One more thing: TV studios are cold! Bring a sweater or light jacket. Luckily I was prepared (I'm such a know-it-all), but a lot of tourists who had been standing outside in the hot sun nearly froze to death inside the air-conditioned studio (all those lights and equipment produce a lot of heat). One lady who often attends tapings admitted it was not as cool today as it usually is in that studio.

I look forward to seeing this week's Real Time with Bill Maher so I can compare the rehearsal to the finished product. Highlights include a funny clip package of the recent Republican presidential debate, including one quote from my friend Tom Tancredo. How many people can say their best friend's Dad is running for President?! I also enjoyed Bill's scathing criticism of Jerry Fallwell, who died this week. Bill's final monologue has some great ideas about gays achieving mainstream acceptance in America (which they have had for years in Europe).

Finally, congratulations to Bob Barker who is retiring after a 50+ year career in television. You are an American institution, Bob, and we'll all miss you. "Come on down!"

Laila Ali's Mom

We all know Laila Ali's Dad. In fact, "the Greatest" was a guest in the audience of DWTS tonight. However, I was delighted that they also introduced her mother, the lovely Veronica Anderson, whom I happen to know!

Veronica is the widow of my friend and colleague Carl Anderson, whom most of you remember from Jesus Christ Superstar. I last saw her back in August at the charity reunion we did. Since the evening's performance was partly a tribute to Carl's memory, Veronica attended the event. Here she is with the Neeley family after the show. (Second from the right, if you weren't sure!)

I met Veronica in 1996 during the JCS tour. I can't remember exactly what city we were in, but she came to visit Carl several times during the run, usually in the major cities when we had a longer sitdown. She struck me as one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen: tall, elegant and ravishing. Veronica had gone back to school to get her degree when I met her, so she often had her nose in a textbook, doing her homework in Carl's dressing room.

Although I knew that she had been married to Muhammad Ali, we never spoke of it because I gathered it was an unhappy experience. Carl couldn't bear to mention the boxing legend by name, he was so angry about the champ's treatment of Veronica. Make of that what you will.

There's no doubt, though, that Veronica looked happy and proud of her daughter tonight on Dancing With The Stars. Although it was Dad's first visit to the show, Laila revealed that her mother has attended every performance. Poor Mr. Ali sat with his family and looked very frail and astonished by the whole thing. Illness sucks.

Laila Ali is an undefeated World Boxing Champion in her own right, plus she's a hell of a dancer. Her best asset is her partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy, who is one fierce dancer! I think it's a very close competition between Laila, Apolo, and Joey Fatone, but my favorite has to be Apolo because he is so adorable and his partner Julianne Hough is a hottie and an awesome dancer. Apolo and Julianne are the cutest couple ever!

I Love Dreamgirls

I may be totally queer, but I love the film Dreamgirls. I just watched it again on DVD and loved it even more than when I saw it on the big screen at the Cinerama Dome back in December. It's almost a modern opera, with high drama, intrigue, romance, treachery, death, and balls-to-the-wall kick-ass singing by all the stars.

The movie features excellent cinematography and production design, and the costumes are great -- very evocative of the period. The acting is also brilliant, particularly Jennifer's Hudson's breakout, Oscar-winning perfomance in the pivotal role of Effie. She really made a good film great. Her voice is so perfect, my eyes start to well up every time she sings.

I'm amazed this film wasn't a bigger hit. It seems to have something for everyone, so give it a shot if you haven't seen it. You might be surprised how much you enjoy it!