I think the Golden Girls deserve one more post. First, here is a fun quiz to see if you know the difference between the Golden Girls and the Gossip Girls. Here is the link.
Today let's take a look at each of the Golden Girls...
First here's ESTELLE GETTY doing stand-up
RUE McCLANAHAN released a book last year called MY FIRST 5 HUSBANDS... (now out in paperback!)
Here she is doing a striptease (yes striptease!) in a bad B budget movie called HOLLYWOOD AFTER DARK. The commentary is by the guys from Mystery Science Theater 3000.
Here's BEA ARTHUR singing MAN IN THE MOON from MAME at a Jerry Herman tribute.
...and her singing BOSUM BUDDIES with Angela Lansbury at the Tony's.
It was a good "New Release Tuesday." So much that I have to report my musical/movie findings in 2 posts.
I will entitle this one "GYPSY, TRAMPS, and THIEVES!" *
*(this post has nothing to do with Cher... but I still thought this was a great picture!)
First... GYPSY...
The 2008 cast recording of GYPSY came out today, or as the cd says
"PATTI LUPONE - GYPSY."
I saw this production in previews in March and as I already reported was not crazy about Ms. Lupone's performance. I think there is something wrong with me because everyone (reviewers, crazy theatre fans... "Maddy for Patti" -- I just made group up) are going crazy over her performance. I just felt she was too self aware. Rather than her becoming Mama Rose, it was Mama Rose as played by Broadway Legend Patti Lupone.
What makes the show, and the reason why you should buy the recording is the performances of all the supporting actresses (the ones whose names are not bigger than the title of the musical.)
Laura Benanti (Gypsy Rose Lee) and Leigh Ann Larkin (Dainty June) are a revelation. Their numbers on the cd are wonderful. Leigh Ann Larkin MADE the show for me. Her "Dainty June and Her Farmboys/Broadway" number is hilarious (even on the recording!) "If Momma Was Married" (my favorite number in this production) is WONDERFUL! It feels totally reinvented to me.
Here are the two of them performing at a Tony preview concert. (The video keeps annoyingly skipping, but it still is great footage. Also check out an audio version.
I also loved "You Gotta Get A Gimmick" although I don't feel it totally transferred on cd (Miss Electra's scene stealing turn is very visual.)
Here's a HILARIOUS (and pretty darn accurate) imitation of Patti!
I don't mean to totally trash the very talented Ms. Lupone (love a lot of her recordings.) She does have some nice moments... and a great thing about this recording is that she and costar Boyd Gaines (and Baby June and Louise) have recorded a handful of numbers cut from the original 1959 production. Barnes and Noble also offers an additional disc of some incidental instrumental reprises and bits of dialogue.
TRAMPS...
Okay... so this came out last week, but I'm going with a theme here! Season 1 of "Gossip Girl" is out on DVD and Season 2 begins on the CW next Monday! This is DEFINITELY a guilty pleasure. I only started watching this show at the end of the season, but I was hooked and caught up with all the drama during summer re-runs.
The "high school students" are nothing like I remember high school being like, and hopefully are not a representation of what school is like today. Drugs, sex, rock and roll should be AFTER you take you SAT's! Yet, it's a wonderful blend of over the top drama between pretty boys, "trampy" girls trying to change their ways, and other girls wanting to climb the social ladder to enter into "Tramp-dom."
THIEVES...
The 15th Anniversay Edition of Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas" came out on DVD and Blu-ray today as well! This is the wonderful tale of Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, who "finds Christmas" and steals it. Actually he tries to take over the duties of Santa, but the two holidays don't quite blend.
This edition has Tim's first stop-motion short "Vincent," the live action short (uncut) "Frankenweenie" and tons of extra features about the making of the film. It also includes a digital version of the film for your ipod!
Best of all you can watch it on Halloween AND Christmas!
EXTRA NOTE - 2 years ago they came out with a Special Edition Soundtrack with covers by Fall Out Boy, Fiona Apple, Panic! At the Disco, and even Marilyn Manson! These are GREAT renditions!
and ANOTHER cover album "Nightmare Revisited" is coming out Sept. 30th with such artists as Flyleaf, The Polyphonic Spree, and Plain White T's.
