If you like comedy, PR or the occasional inside scoop on the entertainment world,
then drop by for a daily dose written by me, Kambri Crews, producer and publicist to comedians and more!
Saturday, September 30, 2006
The Friar's Club was a bunch of fun. It was a private event so I'm guessing the younger demographic helped liven the place a little. The enormous amount of talented friends in the room was staggering. My friend Cole Kazdin and I couldn't help but be bewildered how we all have risen through various ranks and managed to maintain strong friendships despite the competitive nature of the entertainment industry.
Interesting note, there was no ladies room. Even though their website says this is their new location, it can't be all that new if they still haven't accommodated chicks.
I'll be at Comix tonight for the 8:00 show. I'm expecting Keith Price from the OUT Q show who will be interviewing audience members. Josh Blue headlines and Rachel Feinstein & Pete Dominick host and feature. I'll be hanging in the bar afterwards, too, if you want to swing by and see the new space or get interviewed for Sirius radio.
--Kambri Link - 4:56 PM -
Friday, September 29, 2006
Josh Blue was really great on Sirius's Out Q Show with Larry Flick & Texan native and funny guy Keith Price. As I mentioned in my last post, Josh was on promoting his upcoming performances at Comix. Josh is a super nice and funny guy and Larry & Keith are big fans of his as well. Being Sirius, the show was uncensored so the talk was very candid. Larry, I dare say, was flirting with Josh who, if you don't know, has Cerebral Palsy of which he cracks many jokes during his stand up show. As a result of his CP, his right arm is a bit wonky or as he says, "Good Josh, bad arm." So Larry commented on Josh's cuteness and Josh came back with a line to which Larry replied, "We'll see how that right arm really works!" Josh quickly retorted, "You wouldn't like it. {Beat} I've tried." Hilarious!
Anyhoo, Josh is in town through Sunday night. There are tickets available and Comix is a GORGEOUS night club. Reserve tickets with the code "BLUE" and save 25%.
--Kambri Partying at the Friar's Club tonight. Seems oxymoronic to me, but we'll see.
Link - 2:42 PM -
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Josh Blue This Weekend at Comix
This morning I escorted Josh Blue, winner of NBC's "Last Comic Standing", to lots of radio stations and ESPN's Cold Pizza. Why? He is scheduled to appear this weekend at Comix, the hottest new comedy club in New York City.
Exclusive offer to my readers: ENTER PROMO CODE "BLUE" AND RECEIVE 25% OFF ALL TICKETS FOR ALL JOSH BLUE SHOWS THIS WEEKEND!!
I Will Survive!
I'm going out with Gervase from the original Survivor to a party at Crobar tonight. I was a big fan of that first season and of his. We recently met at the Meow Mix House grand opening and he & Christian happen to have a mutual friend in common. Gervase also happens to book comedy shows for fundraising events so we have much potential to create some cool productions.
I'm busy as hell and running on fumes since I had many plans and obligations booked prior to accepting this new gig o' mine. Hopefully by next week, I'll catch up on sleep and emails.
--Kambri Link - 11:55 AM -
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Oh My God.
My new gig is suh-weeeeet! Guess what I get? Staff meals! STAFF MEALS, people!
--Kambri Official press release to come.
Link - 6:27 PM -
School For Scoundrels Premiere
We hit the red carpet for the premiere of School For Scoundrels just as Michael Clarke Duncan and Billy Bob Thornton showed up so we politely stood to the side and waited our turn. Note to self: show up earlier to get Christian some face time with photographers. As BB was posing a homeless guy on a bicycle stopped and reached through between the posters to shake hands. The shouting of photographers and deluge of flashbulb was insane. Holy smokes! It was fun seeing the movie and our friend Paul Scheer who has a niced sized little role and a couple of really funny moments.
--Kambri Oksana Baiul loved Jon Heder's performance. Crazy thing? I didn't have to look up her name for proper spelling.
Link - 2:50 PM -
Monday, September 25, 2006
First Day
I'm going in to my new gig for the first time today. I'm super excited to get working on it but am going to keep a loose lid on the details till I know what the dealio is. If I don't blow it and can work some magic, it means good things for all of you comedy lovers who live and / or visit New York City. By week's end, I hope to have a good handle on what my role will be.
So today I plan to pop in, meet some folks, maybe sign some papers then head home to get dressed for the premiere of School For Scoundrels. Even though it's their premiere, I'm totally going to act like the party is to celebrate me.
--Kambri It totally is.
Link - 8:42 AM -
Sunday, September 24, 2006
I had a lovely, long brunch with Caroline Waxler. She now works in development with Joan Rivers and TV Guide and has a million great things going on. She & Norman of Best Week Ever, where Caroline used to be a contributing writer, will be producing a show on October 15th. If it goes well, might make a regular thing out of it. I'll post more details once they're made known.
While we meandered around the West Village a little boy was running along side us while his mother firmly called his name "James! James!" He finally stopped and turned looking up at me with the biggest blue eyes, mouth agape. I said in my sweet oooohhh you're gonna get in trouble voice, "Uh oh, you better stop." His mom kept her back to us and quickly crouched down to take his hand and scolded him for running ahead.
I quietly mentioned to Caroline, "That was Sarah Jessica Parker."
Caroline looked back and confirmed my eagle eye. "Wow, you're good."
"Well, the sad thing is there's no reason I should know him since he's only a child and hasn't done anything but I recogized him."
"Yeah, that's weird."
The kid has been photographed so many times that I almost immediately knew who he was when we shared our moment. When I saw the flash of long curly locks of his mother, my suspicion was confirmed. Creepy, right? What a strange way to grow up but from all the encounters I and my friends have had with the Parkericks over the years, they seem very nice and grounded.
--Kambri FYI: Matthew Broderick is still sporting a sling.
Link - 4:35 PM -
Saturday, September 23, 2006
You've Got Mail!
I wish I could share some of the crazy email we get. We get lots of really great mail from people wanting my or Christian's advice, publicity services, or just saying hello or a kind word about our blogs, writing, performances or whatever. I love reading through them and we try to answer them all in a timely fashion. There are rare occasions, too, where Christian will get hate mail, but that has only happened once or twice in the three years. My favorite mail is from gay men to Christian expressing their infatuation for him and disappointment in his hetero status. HA! Sorry, Suckahs!
Then there's this fraction of correspondence that just boggles the mind. Some are written so incoherently the writer must be on hard core drugs, others are so rude it's as though they're trying to get a response the way a kid might throw a tantrum -- any attention is better than no attention, right? Less rude but an annoying pet peeve of mine is calling Christian "Chris" or me "Kam" -- Why would you shorten "Kambri"? It's awesome, as is. But that's a rant for another day.
Lately people have taken to writing Christian or commenting on his MySpace page about his weight loss. It became such a frequent topic, he wrote a blog entry about it. Lots of demands like "Eat a sandwich!" and declarations of "You were cuter fat!" Here's one of the nicer examples:
Christian - You have lost way too much weight without addressing it publicly. It means you're on coke. Sober up, man. Things aren't looking good.
I'm actually surprised at how many people have such strong feelings about someone else's weight. Why do you think this is? Let's discuss.
--Kambri Link - 10:03 AM -
Friday, September 22, 2006
In the News
Christian is in Boston this weekend which meant he missed The Today Show this morning. But he's home with family and friends and we got him great interviews with The Boston Globe and The Boston Herald. He was in Missouri last week where this item ran in the Columbia Daily Journal.
Even better? Christian just got an email from Senator Barack Obama's press secretary.
--Kambri Link - 1:41 PM -
Thursday, September 21, 2006
When It Rains, It Pours
It's been a whirlwind of work here and at least four new clients for me to promote and a hilarious new show to produce. In the midst of all that, I just accepted a kick arse PR gig that means I might need to hire a part time junior publicist to handle my Ballyhoo clients. How cool is that? My baby PR company is the little engine that could! Even if the job doesn't work out, I will have a major notch added to the bedpost that is my resume.
In an extension of that blog post about the right path being easier and obstacles getting in one's way when one is on the wrong path, Christian and I had a long conversation where we reflected on my last two and a half years.
When Tex in the City was formed in 2002, I pretty much devoted every waking minute to it. The problem was that it never paid me a salary and there was always some angst or obstacle surrounding any meeting or project. So in December '03, Greg and I started tossing around ideas of how to start another company that focused on the work he and I were doing: PR and marketing with some event planning and production. We worked harder than anyone we knew and we complemented each other well on every project. Alas, he had a hot iron in the fire and wasn't ready to commit to anything new until he got word. I couldn't wait.
Tex in the City was officially relegated to hobby status, but I was determined that I would move forward with my experience in some form or fashion and Greg (and Scott, too!) was very supportive of this. Christian, bless his heart, listened to me brainstorm and reflect on every thought I had and helped guide and shape my ideas. In February 2004, Ballyhoo Promotions was born, just two months after Greg & I first discussed branching out.
In June of 2004, Greg's iron paid off and he announced his move to DC so it seemed things really did work out in the end. Greg is wildly successful, Scott is now a full time actor landing yet another role and Ballyhoo Promotions never encountered any obstacles and quickly grew into my work from home, full time job.
The best part is that I still own Tex in the City and the website so can still have all of its best parts: a fantastic networking resource and promotional tool for me, Scott, Greg and my other Texan friends. Just yesterday I got a lovely email from someone in Texas who found me while searching for images of Gov. Ann Richards. He saw this picture and recognized me from when I was volunteering in animal rescue & recovery in NoLA after Katrina. Turns out he does lots of high profile work in NYC. Weird, small world.
Tex in the City was great fun and taught me a lot about working in entertainment in NYC and really showed me where my best talents lie. So all those hours invested for no monetary return really proved useful. There's really no point to this post, just that I have been reflecting a lot over the last year that I have been working from home. I am really thankful for those early years of trying to run a production company and honoring the obstacles that crept in because those obstacles are what made me go in a different direction more suited to me.
Interestingly, in the first days of Tex in the City, the path was very clear --many serendipitous events happened-- and I knew it was something good. So when the roadblocks did happen later, they were glaringly obvious. I was determined to keep working on something. I needed to. I had to. I was lucky to be dating a comic around the time I saw that business not living up to its potential. It showed me an opportunity with a focus on comedy. And though I'm still on this path and don't know where it will lead, it seems like I'm headed in the right direction. Knock on wood. --Kambri Lemons into lemonade, as they say.
Link - 1:14 PM -
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Office Space Wanted
Not the television show, actual office space. We would love to share a commercial space somewhere in Astoria or Long Island City but CraigsList.org is the only place I know for finding rentals without fees. Are there other options out there?
Also, are you a college student in need of an internship? Christian & I could use your help! You'll come to our apartment every now and then until we get the aforementioned office space. We haven't worked out all the details but basically light office duties and travel booking to begin with then, maybe some errand running, then on to some PR and marketing help. Interested? Send an email to mailto:finnycrews@aol.com.
YouTube Madness
For further viewing pleasure or to relieve boredom while "working", I have made three more movies cut from Christian's Friday Night Stand Up stints from March 2005 and March 2006.
--Kambri Up next: Clips from Comedy Central Presents: Christian Finnegan Link - 11:11 AM -
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Tune In
Another pal is on The Biggest Loser. The first time it ever aired, it included the cute-as-a-button and utterly hilarious Kelly MacFarland who lost a boatload and made it very close to the end. The show format is tricked up a bit with a contestant from each of the 50 states but with only 14 staying on to compete for the grand prize. Comedian Poppi Kramer will be representing New Jersey and I can't wait to see her for six seconds tomorrow night and celebrate with her at The Duplex where she has been hosting a stand up show for ages and ages.
--Kambri Go Poppi!
Link - 7:32 PM -
Monday, September 18, 2006
Friday Night Stand Up Video
Christian & his dad hosted Friday Night Stand up on Comedy Central on Father's Day 2005. Here's some of their video which I think turned out great. His dad was really funny!
--Kambri Link - 1:22 PM -
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Christian's site is pretty much complete. The store is up and running (though there's little for sale right now) and, I don't want to jinx it but Christian is blogging again on Tower of Hubris.
All this work is, of course, in anticipation of Christian's oft discussed (by me) upcoming CD release on Comedy Central Records. The focus group I assembled was pretty awesome. For me, anyway, since it was all about my project but I hope to organize or participate in a similar group for someone else. The ideas were terrific, some networking was going on and it all ended up being very worthwile. Now I just have to find ways to implement everything! I nearly became paralyzed with the overwhelming list of tasks and research ahead of me. We are more determined than ever to get an intern so if you know of anyone appropriate, please send them my way.
--Kambri Feeling lazy and blah.
Link - 11:54 AM -
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Rest Easy Governor Richards
"I've always said that in politics, your enemies can't hurt you, but your friends will kill you." -- Gov. Ann Richards.
Whooo boy, she was wise! She also was a quick wit whose sharp tongue could slice through ice! Bless her and best wishes to her family. She would have made a wonderful President. She had my vote years ago!
She made me truly believe that "anything boys can do, girls can do better," without irony or a silly gimicky t-shirt. It was she who noted that Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, "only backwards and in high heels."
--Kambri She will be greatly missed. Thank you Gov. Richards for all that you did throughout your rich and colorful life.
Link - 8:42 PM -
Kidnapped Premiere
Last night's premiere of Kidnapped at New World Stages marked the opening night of the New York Television Festival. The entire cast and crew were present along with every manager and William Morris agent I've ever met. Jeremy Sisto, Dana Delaney, Timothy Hutton, Delroy Lindo, you name them they were there. I sat next to Christian & Genevieve Gorder (Yay, Trading Spaces!) for the opening remarks and screening of the new one hour drama debuting September 20th on NBC. Though there was much career updating and business chit chat during the cocktail party afterwards, it was wonderful fun and everyone was in great spirits.
As for Kidnapped itself, it is well acted and beautifully shot. The pilot kept me interested and left me wondering what's next, but only time will tell if it is able to compete with so many dramas out this year. It also happens to be filmed right here in Long Island City at Silver Cup Studios so I'll be rooting for it and the other SIX new shows debuting this Fall that are also shot here in New York.
--Kambri That's seven new shows!
Link - 10:04 AM -
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
A Post a Day
I got some nice feedback for my 9/11 post on Love, Daddy which is always so encouraging. I've been lax on writing there as real life and work has taken precedence. I really need to carve out an hour a day or even every other day to do something for it. I write on this thing every day, sometimes more! Today was easy since I got a new letter. It's not scanned yet but I've transcribed a few paragraphs. Anyway, check it out if you like.
--Kambri If only I got a letter every day.
Link - 6:39 PM -
Voting is Fun!
Today is primary day and judging by the number of comments, we like voting! Thanks for the input! I'm going to have to come up with more of these "dilemmas" so I can hear from you all again. t was a dead heat between #2 and #4 with #2 winning by just one vote. And yes, Julie, the pics were taken on our rooftop last March, I think.
I got the green light to begin spreading the word about Christian's debut CD with Comedy Central Records. Once I get a newsletter slapped together and a few graphics made, we'll make the official announcement. I've got butterflies! Weee!
I'm off to go meet some German filmmakers in town scouting and what not. Not sure what they want with me but I figure it can't hurt to go have lunch with them. Then tonight we're going to the premiere screening of Kidnapped debuting on NBC on September 20th. I hope it's better than Vanished. Blech.
--Kambri Paquita is whack like that, yo!
Link - 12:52 AM -
WARNING: This is a conversation better had with friends over beers in a pub.
Today, despite it's unnerving start, ended up being quite fruitful and positive. Unfortunately I can't share the best news but it's all good. I am often encouraged at how the Universe will tell me I'm on the right path by making things easier to accomplish, by introducing me to the right people, by showing me the framework of the goals I have set forth.
Trust me: growing up with deaf parents in a tent, tin shed, trailer, then a barn all while watching adult films and doing drugs with adults when I was a wee lass well before my dad tried to kill my mother and I went in to hiding and got married in my senior year of high school to a sailor in the US Navy basically for extra stipend so I could go to a trade school instead of college despite my Summa Cum Laude honors degree then get divorced and find myself as a banker in the middle of Ohio instead of pursuing an entertainment career in NYC so finally busting a move to New York and hanging out on the Cuervo Nation when getting the call that my dad got busted stabbing my stepmom has kind of taught me to respect and recognize the what the Universe is telling me when I'm on the right path.
As an example: I remarked to many wedding guests that very night that getting married to Christian was so easy. Not a single thing went wrong and I hardly put forth any effort. In fact, it was so effortless that I felt that the Universe was telling me, "You're doing the right thing here, Ms. Crews." So when it came down to saying "I do," there was no question. Now had there been stumbling block after stumbling block in trying to plan it and a major subway snafu, the cupcake truck failed to show, the catering van got in a big fender bender or all of the above, I would have wondered just what is the Universe trying to tell me?
I won't go so far as to say that It would be telling me I shouldn't get married but that maybe things could be more positive. Asking, "What is it in your life or your behavior (or in this example, the wedding and, heck, maybe even my relationship) that you could change that would make this better?"
In the last year I have made a few major re-adjustments and each time the Universe has told me they were good. Very good.
--Kambri This makes sense in my head but, hey, I warned you!
Link - 12:04 AM -
Monday, September 11, 2006
Rescue Company 4 Five years ago today I walked home alone across the 59th Street Bridge. These are the shoes that got me there safely. I don't like thinking of the walk home and have never again worn the shoes, but I can't bring myself to throw them away.
This morning at 8:30 I was jolted awake by the deep bass horn of a fire truck right outside my bedroom window. I leapt out of bed and threw the curtains back to see if the ESB and Chrysler buildings were okay. Then again at 8:46 -- the time of the first plane crashing -- another fire engine, stuck in traffic honked persistently. I looked out again and saw the guys putting on those brown hoods. I wish they could have been in their fire house safe and quiet honoring the six men of Rescue Company 4 who died five years ago today and the three who died on Father's Day. Instead they were rushing to another emergency stuck outside a building where yet another one of their own died on my floor in 1995. So many sacrifices. Too many.
You Make the Call
Ready to vote again? We're trying to swap out some older photos of Christian with some relatively newer ones for promotional photos. I get sick of seeing the same ones in every article. The following four are from the same photo shoot with Carol Hartsell as Christian's current headshot. He's lost a significant amount of weight since these were taken but they're still useable. Any preferences?
--Kambri No electoral college here. Majority vote rules!
Link - 10:20 PM -
We caught the 10:30 screening of The Illusionist last night. It was okay. I'm not a big Edward Norton fan but I love me some Paul Giamatti who did not disappoint in this role. I loved the cinematography and costume design and didn't hate anything about it but wasn't excited by it either. I saw the ending a mile away and was dumbfounded when reading the reviews today that anyone was surprised at the end. HUH? It's called The Illusionist.
Scott once told me how he used to organize a regular salon in Dallas that would meet to discuss art, current events, you name it and how he missed having the discussion group. I like his idea of talented, smart people gathering for a specific item of business. Not long ago, I was a member of Meetup.com specifically for the NYC PR group. I never met up and couldn't ever get a group to do so. The buffer of internet anonymity makes people not show up when they say they will.
In organizing my upcoming focus group, I have gotten buzzed with excitement. I look forward to sharing a creative project and generating ideas and am really keen on having them meet each other. There are tv show writers, graphic/web designers, advertising execs, public relations gurus, producers and comedy fans. All of them are talented and friendly and have many feathers in their caps. I'm not sure if 10 is the right number for a group like this but I'd rather have too many than too few. Perhaps down the road I'll have another big project where I can justify the expense of springing for everyone's drinks. Meanwhile, I might encourage Scott to bring back his salon. I'd go.
--Kambri Link - 11:43 AM -
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Comedy Central's Screening of "Legends: Rodney Dangerfield" I skipped the red carpet altogether and am so glad I did as only one other person had their guest in any photos. Since Christian made a ridiculous face last time at Best Week Ever's 100th episode party (see ridiculous photo at right), I gave him strict instructions on how to pose and smile and what not to do in these photos. "You're not Bobcat Goldthwait. You don't have to be schticky. Just smile and look good."
I hung back to chat with the Comedy Central PR folks with whom I had just met last week for Christian's debut CD and didn't really pay attention to him on the carpet. Clearly he did not heed my advice.
"Christian! What is this?"
He came into my office and saw his mug staring back from my laptop.
"They were telling me to do it," he cried.
"Well, of course they are! I told you not listen to them when they do that!
The show itself, Legends: Rodney Dangerfield, was well done and actually choked me up at the end especially seeing all his old friends watching intently and enthusiastically. Really endearing. Let's see, who was there? Jerry Seinfeld, Jerry Stiller, Joy Behar, Susie Essman, George Shapiro, Judy Gold and so many others. It was a great night.
We had a nice steak dinner with Christian's booking agents and Chris Porter before heading home to make out with Paquita while watching Toney v. Peter on Showtime. I was rooting for the non-favorite Peter who had his website on his butt. He ended up winning in a split decision and I promptly hopped online to join his fan club. I can't wait to see what kind of emails I get. I love boxing; I don't know why I don't watch it more often. In fact, one night of our honeymoon we watched the entire career rundown of Mike Tyson where they replayed infamous bouts on ESPN Classic. Sexy, no?
Incidentally, I split the difference of the sexy, wild zebra print and proper teal skirt by going with outfit #4. Christian nixed the zebra print and I have an event coming up that the teal skirt will be perfect for. Plus, when I tried on the leopard skirt, Christian practically tore it off me he liked it so much. Rahhrrrr!
--Kambri Link - 10:31 AM -
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Extreme Girliness & Picking on Christian
Since we're being all girly here talking about outfits and accessories, here's a Neiman Marcus promo. So, if you need to replenish your cosmetic or fragrance supply, now's the time. Based on comments & emails it seems like any outfit I choose will be fine. I just need to figure out what kind of hair day it's going to be and go from there. I had fun with this, though! Thanks to everyone for voicing their opinions. I wish I had a stylist, or a valid reason for having a stylist. Until then, I hope y'all will play along again.
Christian's reply to my email after discovering his hot dog dalliance: "Yeah, Bumbershoot was not so diet friendly. HOWEVER, it was a "Thai Lemongrass Chicken" hot dog, or something like that, and the sign made a point of it being lowfat. Also, I threw away half the bun. So there, woman!"
To reiterate Kirsten's comment, what the fu*k kind of hot dog is that? Why not call it what it is? Silly Seattleites? Seattleans? Seattleonians?
So Christian has lost about 70 pounds by eating chicken dogs and no buns (sorry, no tricks just diet and exercise) and is looking good. How good? He's gotten searches for his site with this phrase: Christian Finnegan Nude.
--Kambri I'm not sure if I'm proud or skeeved or both.
Link - 10:32 AM -
You Can Run...
...but the internet will find you. Poor Christian can't sneak around town without me finding out. Lucky for him, it was only a hot dog.
Link - 12:25 AM -
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
What Not To Wear
I perfunctorily went shopping in two stores yesterday after boozing it up with Keith and before we watched the awesomely gruesome movie The Descent. Thumbs up.
I hate shopping but most especially this time of year when it's either tank tops and shorts or full length coats and sweaters that are the option. So it looks like I have to pick something out of the closet for tomorrow's movie premiere. I don't want to wear jeans as there will be some A-list comedians present and, well, I don't dress up much anymore now that I work from home so this is a chance to dust off the heels and shower. I don't have a full length mirror and I'm not around women all day anymore so I've lost my confidence. That's where you come in. HELP! Please? Comments are anonymous, people! If you've ever wanted to help out a fellow American, now is as good a time as any! Everyone has an opinion, right?
Here's the gist so you know what you're dealing with. What: World premiere of a movie about the life of Rodney Dangerfield. When: 6:00 in the evening. Who: Dangerfield's daughter and A-list comedians as well as tv execs.
I have a few options picked out as possibilities. The Flickr pics have more detailed captions if you're so inclined. I should have uploaded images of my accessories but that would be borderline insane. Suffice to say, I have a couple of other shoe, belt and jewelry choices but time is money!
Numbered from left to right and pictured below with Flickr links: First is a zebra print wrap dress by Laundry by Shelli Segal. It fits superbly (see Erik Estrada pic as an example of the same type dress w/a different print) but doesn't photograph well. Tags still attached if y'all hate it.
Second and third is a very pretty teal pleated skirt paired with two different black tops and with the skirt worn properly and backwards. Demure, cute, proper. Tag still attached if y'all hate it, too.
Fourth is a leopard print skirt that makes my ass look so Delicious that I think I'm going to live and die and shop and screw and do everything in it. J Lo who? Yeah, I thought so. I've paired it with the more demure top I used in outfit #2 to tone it down a bit for this occasion.
Fifth was a wild card. Dressing up for Paquita and the camera got fun and I threw together an outfit from the 4" stilletos I walked home in on the blackout of '04, a velvet ribbon I got on a present, a skirt I got from H&M a couple of years ago and never wore and a sweater I've worn a gamillion times.
Still with me? Doing this made me realize I don't own single red sweater. This must be remedied pronto.
Another possibility is the old BCBG standby as photographed with Erik Estrada and Tex in the City friends Reverend Ramsey & Greg Gorman. That's a long shot, though, since I've already been photographed in it for the syndicated photo services.
--Kambri Any thought? Any? Anyone? Is this thing on?
Link - 8:31 PM -
"The Class" - My Dissection of a Sitcom Pilot Part II
For Part I, My Dissection of "The Winner" starring Rob Corddry, click here.
Unlike Fox and "The Winner", CBS is heavily promoting "The Class" (see IMDB), a dark comedy filled with neurotic, depressed or otherwise unhappy and unfulfilled characters. Plot Outline from IMDB: A 27-year-old is reunited with his childhood friends.
Before delving into my autopsy, let me just state what I think is so tricky about sitcom pilots in general. Nearly 99.9% of the time, the show has 23 minutes in which to set up the story, introduce brand new characters and show how those characters might relate to one another all while being funny with the hopes that viewers will come back for another 23 minutes when they don't have to sit through all those machinations and can just get on with watching the show. The chance for failure is great, indifference even greater.
The Good: There are eight (!) main characters with at least four supporting characters that have a greater than average likelihood of returning. The possibilities are endless. All of the characters have their little hang-ups, their kryptonite or whatever you want to call it.
There were a few "Oh no they dih-en!" or otherwise awkard, envelope pushing moments that I think might titillate the average viewer. I was a bit nonplussed by them (read my earlier statements about being comedied out in real life) but I do think that Middle America will find them progressive and radical. The writers' decision in the final scene clinched it for me. I have to watch the next episode and I have NO clue where they will or won't "go" in the story lines. That is good Tee Vee in my book, sitcom or no.
I won't spoil the ending for you but if you like sneaking peeks at the end of a book then this video my friend Liam links to will clue you in.
The Bad: Besides the initial pilot problem I prefaced above (introducing eight main characters and more than four supporting!!!), there was the other pilot problem: establishing relationships with those characters by getting their lives to interact after 20 years. It's asking a lot of the writers to cram it all in under a half hour. They do it but it's so forced. Couldn't they have pieced it out over two episodes or maybe given them an hour pilot? Whatever. They did it, now let's get on with the show.
There was a lot of typical campy schtick by a couple of characters that makes me roll my eyes. Lucy Punch as "Holly" (pictured in red, far right) was the worst offender. Not only was she over-doing it, she was over-doing it badly. And the costume designer must hate her. Clearly she is trying to be the next Megan Mullaly ("Karen" in Will & Grace) and it made me cringe. In her defense, she's paired up with a zealously gay Sam Harris as "Perry Pearl", Holly's closeted homosexual husband as a fruity Queen.
Incidentally, I was the biggest Harris fan when he was --brace yourselves-- a contestant on Star Search back in 1982. I rooted for him as though my life depended on his victory solely for the fact that he was a cute Oklahoma boy and now he plays a flaming closeted husband...the very part Christian auditioned for back in LA this last pilot season. Ahem. Moving on...
Then there's Jason Ritter, essentially the lead of the ensemble (at least in the pilot episode) as it is his initiative that brings everyone together to a party he is throwing for his girlfriend. He has as much flavor as plain oatmeal. BORING! (Sorry John, RIP.) He's the "normal" white boy in the bunch of all the other quirky white people and is just dwarfed. I'm sure it actually will work in the sense that he's kind of the narrator, the hub, the core and so he can be sane and bring people together a la Judd Hirsch in Taxi or Dear John or every other show Judd does but jeez...there wasn't any other actor out there that could fit the bill? Judd got on my nerves but he's got character.
The Verdict: A more than fighting chance of getting renewed.
--Kambri Post Script to the Verdict: A few days have passed since I first began typing this and the more I think about "The Class" the less I can remember about what I didn't like and only recall the good. Good sign, I guess. I still don't like Punch & Ritter, but it's early still.
Link - 12:48 AM -
Monday, September 04, 2006
Popeye's & Television
I don't know what kind of crack they stir in the pot, but Popeye's chicken should be dubbed cracken. How have I missed this eighth wonder? And the potatos...oh....I love me some fake mashed potatos and cracken before settling in to some DVR.*
On the lineup, Christian's Comedy Central Presents (hey, I was transferring it to mini-DV so we can pitch all our VHS tapes...hello, new cabinet space), 60 Minutes, Vanished and the pilot Andy Barker, PI.
By the by, if you subscribe to NetFlix you can get Studio 60 to watch in advance. Check it out! What an excellent promotion to get pre-show buzz and the strongest vote of confidence a studio can give to a new show. They must have read the Tipping Point, too. I kind of want my pal, NetFlix user Keith, to get it to see if it differs from the version I have.
Incidentally, I found it telling how much effort is invested into various new shows. The Winner has had barely a whisper by Fox, CBS is advertising heavily for The Class, NBC is going balls out for Studio 60 and Andy, Who? Methinkest it has something to do with quality and potential but I haven't watched the latter two as of the typing of this entry so my apologies in advance to Andy Barker should I be mistaken. NBC has it slated for an October release so does that qualify it as a mid-season replacement?
Anyway, back in the day when I used to play golf and watch it (Hey, I lived in Akron and was a bank executive -- for reals, I wore suits and foreclosed on million dollar and up commercial real estate!), I despised the up-and-coming Tiger Woods. After watching Ed Bradley's comprehensive report on 60 Minutes, well, color me humbled. I don't think I have PMS but I got tight in the throat at least three times and was just overwhelmed & humbled by everything Tiger. Even the piece by Andy Whatshisface was good (about how electric/telephone poles ruin the landscape) but I caught him looking at a cheat sheet taped to his desk, hidden by his hands. It bummed me out. It ruined his rant and made him look fragile. I know he's old, but can't they edit this stuff or, jeez, get him cue cards? Or do they hate him that much?
Coming up: Reviews of Andy Barker, PI and The Class. By the time I get around to watching and reviewing Studio 60 it will be on air and all the NetFlix users will be blogging it so I'll cut myself some slack here. The jury is still out on Vanished (the first two episodes have already aired) and I owe Keith first disclosure when we hang out tomorrow. He and I are rabid 24 fans (Hi, Mary Lynn!! Woot!) and he's the one who made me record/watch Vanished. (Why not Kidnapped?) I feel kind of dirty.
Finally, I'm working on making new video clips for Christian's website in anticipation of his CD release and trying to figure out what one wears to a movie premiere that's essentially a memorial honoring Rodney Dangerfield. On one hand, it's a serious occasion (memorial-ish); on the other, it's for Rodney Dangerfield, lover of boobies and partying and, hell, we're in NYC and wouldn't the dude look down from Heaven into my cleavage and think, "Finally, some respect!" I should go shopping, shouldn't I? Sigh. I hate fashion and shopping.*
--Kambri *The best part? I have leftovers!
Link - 1:30 AM -
Sunday, September 03, 2006
"The Winner" - My Dissection of a Sitcom Pilot
"The Winner" - Premiering on Fox this Fall, see IMDB for more. Fox has done little to no promotion for this show and I have not seen anything good or bad in the trades or online. See my Oscar Wilde quote as to why this is not a good sign.
The Good: The leads. Rob Corddry as "Glen" and Erinn Hayes as "Alison". Never mind that she's clearly younger than him as is typical in casting ($&#!@), she is a great straight man to Corddry's loveable "loser". The very few funny lines she was given, she delivered with great timing and obvious pleasure.
Corddry is perfectly cast. The still lives with his parents and doesn't have a job schtick is aided by his premature balding and sharp comedic delivery.
The writing, to a degree. I don't watch many sitcoms because I'm comedied out in my real life and find it hard to enjoy comedy on television rather than in living color. I actually laughed out loud more than once much to my surprise. This has much to do with the aforementioned strong performances but the real credit must be given to the writers.
The Bad:The name & it's lack of a Winner. According to IMDB, the plot outline is this: "A successful guy looks back to the time he spent living with his parents when he was in his thirties." Well, we never meet "The Winner" (the older, successful Glen) except in a very brief voice over in the beginning and once again in the end when he actually repeats a line from the beginning. By the end I had actually forgotten the original narrated intro, so I'm guessing that many test audiences had as well and they decided to repeat the line for added emphasis. And hasn't the whole narrated from a future version of the lead thing been done already? Isn't it being done right now?
The writing, to a degree, but really it's the whole premise that is stale. It was very formulaic which is why sitcoms tend to die on the vine so quickly. Loser guy lives with parents, hot girl he likes moves in next door spends the next few years trying to get her and, if the sitcom is still on the air, then he does get the girl and the show jumps the shark. I suppose at some point Glen will have to turn a corner to become the success he supposedly becomes but will anyone be watching by then?
The supporting cast. I adore Julie Hagerty but she and Lenny Clarke were a little much. It's a pilot, so there are basic premises that need to be set up, but she could bring it down about a half a notch and he will settle in to the role now that the set up is done. Keir Gilchrist was okay as Alison's son. Just okay, but he's a kid so who cares. The problem won't really be with their acting but rather the lack of any real business or their invented business for what will surely be ridiculous plots.
And in the category of minor annoyance: Why do Glen's parents have such, thick luscious locks while he is nearly bald at 30? Was he adopted?
The Verdict: I don't see it lasting long. If given a great time slot after a tried and true show with strong ratings, it might skate by. With only two leads and three real supporting cast members, the writing and chemistry between and the audience's affection for the leads is going to have to be extraordinarily strong and/or the writers will need to introduce strong supporting roles STAT. While Corddry has a great following with the Daily Show, I'm not sure that Daily Show viewers will watch such a silly sitcom on Fox. (They won't.)
UPDATE 9/6: I just read the Fall TV Preview issue of Entertainment Weekly and "The Winner" was conspicuously absent. I went through it twice searching for it so I went digging elsewhere and found this EW article referring to "The Winner" as "Fox's midseason sitcom." That explains the absence of promotion.
--Kambri "The Class" review to come.
Link - 12:29 PM -
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Quick items of business then on to television pilot reviews -- Christian is performing at Bumbershoot this weekend. It's the largest urban music & arts festival and seems to be kind of a big deal. He'll be performing stand up with Zach Galifianakis and Mary Lynn Rajskub ("Chloe" on 24 and at right with my friends Sarah & Olivier at the Emmys) and Best Week Ever Live with fellow panelists Doug Benson & Paul F. Tompkins. So, yeah, good stuff.
-- I've updated my photos page to purge most of the pictures back when I used to promote various liquor companies and add more recent (respectable) and bigger stuff I've promoted and/or produced like festivals, tours, television shows and comedians.
--Kambri Taking forever to read "Under the Banner of Heaven". Reading about religion blows.
Link - 11:59 AM -
Five years ago today I walked home alone across the 59th Street Bridge. These are the shoes that got me there safely. I don't like thinking of the walk home and have never again worn the shoes, but I can't bring myself to throw them away. 
I skipped the red carpet altogether and am so glad I did as only one other person had their guest in any photos. Since Christian made a ridiculous face last time at Best Week Ever's 100th episode party (see ridiculous photo at right), I gave him strict instructions on how to pose and smile and what not to do in these photos. "You're not Bobcat Goldthwait. You don't have to be schticky. Just smile and look good."
Plot Outline from IMDB: A 27-year-old is reunited with his childhood friends.
-- Christian is performing at 