Luciano Pavarotti . . . Great Dreamer

Torino, Italy Olympic Ceremony

Billy Bob, Chicken John, and Grasshopper Heat Up San Francisco's Mayoral Race

Only in San Francisco would citizens be given the option of voting for mayoral candidates with such diverse backgrounds--a solid record in office or similar leadership qualifications are not required. Presumably, candidates can prove they live in San Francisco County.

Maybe someone qualifies as a great dreamer--if not for mayor:

retired teacher and blogger
nudist activist
former supervisor
juvenile probation department manager
flower shop owner
taxi driver named Grasshopper
nonprofit program director
music teacher
sex club owner
showman named Chicken John
educator named Billy Bob
blogger who spent 7 months in jail (journalist right to protect sources)
incumbent mayor

Big Hair Meets Harry Potter

It's rare when a film boasts perfect casting. And it's rare when a film finds me smiling for it's entire running time, 117 minutes in Hairspray's case. What a delight!

From the first moment an adorable Nikki Blonsky as Tracy Turnblad begins her morning, you know you're going to love this movie. We soon learn that Tracy's biggest dream is to be a dancer on Baltimore's Corny Collins Show with her heartthrob, Link Larkin.

John Waters reprises his cameo appearance as the neighborhood "Flasher" during "Good Morning Baltimore." John Travolta approaching the role of Tracey's mother Edna as a shy overweight size 60--rather than camping it up as a drag queen--played great on screen. Another Travoltian touch, I love his work.

Thank goodness Michelle Pfeiffer is back. Pfeiffer really is not just another pretty face that the camera loves. She plays the essential villainess Velma Von Tussle as if the role was written for her.

Christoper Walken must have loved playing Wilbur Turnblad, when he and Edna sing "Your Timeless To Me," you see him sitting outside in the chair just cracking up as Travolta sings to him---it looked like a classic out-of-character moment.

Queen Latifah shows her stuff as Motormouth Maybelle, one of her best lines is "If we get any more white people in here, this place is gonna be a suburb."

Every cast member gets their moment or two in the lights. From Taylor Parks as Little Inez to Zac Efron as Link Larkin, to the terrific Elijah Kelley as Seaweed J. Stubbs.

Hairspray places 20th Century cultural and historical significance smack into the 21st. For that John Waters and Hairspray 2007's filmmakers should be proud. Check out the trailer below.

SideBar:

I saw Hairspray at the Vogue, a neighborhood single screen theatre on upper Sacramento Street in San Francisco. While waiting for the film to start, a middle-aged woman came in carrying her new Harry Potter and sat a few seats over from me. I commented on Harry Potter, she said "my husband's already ahead of me" and promptly opened the book to continue reading. Her husband came in a few minutes later with a large popcorn and his own copy of Harry Potter. He settled in and cracked open his book. On my 1 California bus ride home around 6 o'clock, a woman boarded carrying her copy of Harry Potter, found a seat, and without skipping a beat, turned once again to Harry.

Hairspray - Trailer

Live Earth Generates Global Citizen Energy

Talk about global citizen energy and culture change. Reportedly at one point during yesterday's Live Earth Day more than 10 million people were streaming the concert off MSN.com. Two billion people may have watched Live Earth across the globe.

While a staggering 21st Century way to increase awareness about our abilities to protect and give back to Mother Earth, Live Earth seems less about the global climate crisis and a whole lot more about honoring and restoring the natural order on many levels.

Don't get me wrong. Cultural, historical, industrial, political, and socioecomic choices and influences have guided us into a global inconvenient mess. We've helped destroy habitats and their inhabitants over land and resources for thousands of years.

But Live Earth sparked a more palatable convenient truth during the last 24 hours. The truth rests in the power of global citizen energy to give back, restore what we've taken, and in raising our voices to effect change.

"This could be good, Hey You!"

Independence Day . . . Born On 4th Of July

A few quotable quotes by notable Americans Born on July 4th:

“Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.”
--Nathaniel Hawthorne, Author

Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not, nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not, unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not, the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”
--Calvin Coolidge, 30th American President
“If you want children to keep their feet on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulders.”

“Kissing power is stronger than will power: Girls need to "prove their love" like a moose needs a hat rack."

“A church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints.”

--Abigail Van Buren, AKA Dear Abby, American Advice Columnist

“One out of four people in this country is mentally unbalanced. Think of your three closest friends; if they seem OK, then you're the one.”

“You need that guy like a giraffe needs strep throat.”

"Nobody gets to live life backward. Look ahead, that is where your future lies.”

“What the vast majority of American children needs is to stop being pampered, stop being indulged, stop being chauffeured, stop being catered to. In the final analysis it is not what you do for your children but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will make them successful human beings.”

“Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful.”

“Asking a writer what he thinks about critics is like asking a lamp post how it feels about dogs.”

--Ann Landers, American Advice Columnist

Beverly Sills America's First Lady of Opera

Beverly Sills lost her battle with lung cancer today, she died at home in New York City. If Ms. Sills had been eligible, HRH Elizabeth R would have no doubt invested her as another Dame Commander of the British Empire.

Instead of Dame, we know Beverly Sills as Bubbles, one of the most beloved opera singers of all time who reigned as America's first lady of opera.

I first heard Sills sing during a free Opera In The Park performance at Golden Gate Park in 1976-- a glorious way to spend Sunday afternoon in San Francisco. I was lucky enough to be in town on business and went with a friend who was living here. After the performance, my friend and I made our way over to Club Fugazi on Green Street. We stood in line for the local original hit musical phenomenon, Beach Blanket Babylon.

We were seated upfront near center stage. To our great delight, Beverly Sills and a small entourage came in and sat several tables behind us. The show was fabulous, creative, and just bowled us over in hysterics---an amazing ensemble cast which to this day has a few original members. The performance included a wonderful parody of an opera singer in honor of Beverly Sills. I remember turning around to see her loving it as much as we all were--a perfect day ended with a perfect night.

I will never forget this early trip to San Francisco before I moved here--it was my first introduction to Beverly Sills singing, listening to opera, and Beach Blanket Babylon.

In January 1977, I was visiting my parents at home in Florida. Beverly Sills served as National Mothers March Chairwoman for the March of Dimes and was in town with The Northeast Florida Chapter. I enjoyed the good fortune of attending a coffee in her honor at the Epping Forest estate. Ms. Sills had recently published her memoir, "Bubbles, A Self Portrait" and was signing advance copies of her book with sales proceeds going to the March of Dimes. Of course, I still have the first edition autographed copy of her self portrait. And it was the last time I saw Beverly Sills in person.

Final Performance, New York City 1980:

Color Photo Credit: Justin Lane, New York Times

Will Best Selling Novel Find Film Audience?

“I’ve learned it’s very difficult to articulate a lot of things about experience. It’s probably why I became a writer.” __ Susan Minot

Will the film version of Minot's best selling novel Evening translate to screen as beautifully as The Hours? While Minot originally attempted to adapt Evening for screen, the task eventually went to Michael Cunningham (The Hours). Expect changes between Minot's novel and the film version.

Perhaps more importantly, will Evening find an audience today as films like say Steel Magnolias or Terms of Endearment did in the 1980's? Evening opens in theatres this week with a stellar cast.

Paul Potts Wins Britian's Got Talent!

Paul Potts triumphed tonight in final competition on Britian's Got Talent.

He won't be returning to his day job selling mobile phones in South Wales. Instead, Potts heads for the recording studio to cut his first album.

Potts wins £100,000 and the chance to sing for HRH The Queen at a Royal Variety Performance in December. He wowed the judges and audience once again with Puccini's Nessun Dorma. Bravo!

Winner Announced:

Brenda Leigh Johnson Down To Her Bones

Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson returns for a third summer season in The Closer on Monday night and I'm happy.

If Jane Tennison returned in another episode of Prime Suspect one day, I'd be thrilled.

Juicy screen roles for women with a little seasoning under their hats seem few and far between. The lead in The Closer was originally written for a male. It looks like there's a trend brewing as more talented actresses play lead and ensemble roles in cable and network television series.

Anytime we see exceptional writing for exceptional talent, we breathe a sigh of relief and relish the storytelling. While the writer brings a character to life on the page, both Kyra Sedgwick and Helen Mirren help us discover Brenda and Jane down to their bones.

Brenda and Jane could be us. We connect. We understand them. We feel their disappointment and glow with pride in their triumphs. We've been there. We enjoy watching them reveal who they are in ways which surprise us---and them.

The two remain different in personality, if not in their approach to life and career.

Take a look:

Addictions: Brenda is addicted to sweets, Jane to alcohol.

Sex & Relationships: Brenda satisfies her sexual libido with a guy from the office. Ditto for Jane. Their relationships develop into more than one-night stands.

Saying What They Mean: Brenda uses a true Southerner's affinity for meaningful metaphor when describing a situation. Jane uses the English language. Brenda and Jane never mince words.

Fashion Sense: Brenda's wears off-the-rack ensembles, perhaps Target-like vintage. Sometimes they're flowery and quirky with a classic jacket over a short dress or skirt. Jane often prefers white blouses, classic skirts and jackets, and sensible heels. She begins wearing colored blouses, a single strand of pearls and nice scarves. Fashion remains a necessary afterthought at first as both evolve their own sense of style.

Heart: Brenda often hides her heart. Jane hides hers. Both are softies who wear a suit of armor and tough-as-nails attitude. A natural survival instinct, look at their line of work.

Humor: Brenda comes with a sense of humor. Jane either lost it along the way or never had one.

Love & Family: Brenda grapples with insecurity, commitment, parental approval, and a ticking biological clock. Jane struggles with most of these same issues. And don't forget about Jane's abortion decision as her own biological clock ticked down.

Professional Reputation: Brenda's competency and skill drives her boss and the other guys a little nuts. As rivalry among department peers and her own staff develop, she deftly works around and through it. Ditto for Jane. Both face sabotage and work to restore their professional reputation.

As Helen Mirren discovered Jane Tennison, we grew to love and accept Jane along with her often self-destructive behaviors and misguided relationships between home and office. We rallied around Jane when plum assignments and promotions passed her by. We worried about Jane when she drove herself to right criminal wrong doing---she was losing herself in the process. And there were times when we didn't know if Jane would see the light of tomorrow.


During interviews promoting last year's final episode, Mirren remarked how easy it was for her to play Jane Tennison even after being away from the role several years. She said that it was as if she were meeting 'an old friend.' Mirren wore Jane well.

Kyra Sedgwick admits that after first turning down the role of Brenda Leigh Johnson, she kept hearing a voice in her head say Prime Suspect. We're happy she listened. Like Mirren wears Jane, Sedgwick wears Brenda well. Both actresses know who these characters are right down to their bones.

Photo Credits: The Closer, TNT and Prime Suspect, Granada Television

I'm Paul Potts . . . Cell Phone Salesman's Opera Dreams

Great dreams, great talent, great inspiration! Paul Potts secures semi-final win this week on Britian's Got Talent.

British Cell Phone Salesman's Opera Dreams

Paul Potts sells mobile phones in South Wales, United Kingdom and holds a great dream of singing opera. Paul's audition for Britian's Got Talent brought the audience to their feet and landed him a spot to compete. Take a listen to Paul singing one of Puccini's most famous arias Nessun Dorma (None Shall Sleep) from Turandot. Bravo, Paul!

The Sopranos Cuts To Black In Final Hour

Wow! Brilliant. Series creator David Chase wrote and directed the final episode--he does not disappoint. From scene to scene, deliberate moment to moment. As real as one could have envisioned. A needles and pins riveting finale without resolution. Hamburgers and onion rings. Made In America. Of course it would end this way, it's The Sopranos.

Photo Credit: Will Hart/HBO

Made In America . . . The Sopranos Final Hit List

OK. I called my friends in New York. Here's my friend Larry's prediction for tonight's final episode. It's worth sharing.

Tony lives. The worse thing that could happen? Hit his family. Carmella is expendable. He'll be upset, angry. Feel guilty. And return to business as usual.

Carmella hit. Why? She's a phony. Lives a double-standard. Contrary to the Soprano clan theory that family members are not targets, they do get hit sometimes.

Dr. Melfi hit. Everyone knows Tony's been seeing a shrink for years. Who knows what she knows. Another Phil's "no scraps in my scrapbox" solution.

Paulie lives. Which ever way the wind blows, you always know where he stands.

Nancy's Sidebar: If this happens, Tony will move to Las Vegas and smoke peyote the rest of his depressed life. AJ escapes the hit (remember he's with Carmella)and joins a terrorist cell because he's confused, lost, and stupid. Meadow survives and goes to law school.

Photo Credits: HBO

Made In America . . . The Sopranos Family Ties Cut Chord

Tomorrow. One day.
And in less than one hour of small screen time, millions will watch a bittersweet ending to The Sopranos.

This feels alot different than anticipating the last episode of MASH, Seinfeld, or Friends.

Mastermind David Chase began picking off our closest "Family Ties" clan before Memorial Day. Tony's cold-blooded suffocation of Christopher left most of us rationalizing the act. Of course Tony would kill Christopher, he'd become more than a liability for Tony, we'd been waiting for Christopher to take a powder.

Of course Dr. Melfi cuts the chord to Tony, we figured she would. Finally. A great line in last Sunday's episode occurred as Melfi sat at a dinner table with fellow shrinks. Discussion turned to the relationship between shrinks and criminal sociopaths. Elliot offers a clue about Melfi's star patient, "the answer is: a female opera singer and gangster." As Silvio and Patsy leave the Bada Bing for Patsy's car, you know it's an ambush waiting to happen. When Bobby heads into the train shop, you know he won't come out.

Can I say this now? I've never cared for the Soprano kids. Not AJ in his meltdown, tragic and ironic as it is. Or Meadow as she matures into a respectable moral beacon of hope for Carmella and Tony. No matter what Meadow becomes, it doesn't stand up to Tony's expectation for AJ. Of course not, gender has a pecking order.



I figure Tony's done for. One day. We'll watch and see.

Photo: HBO

Sgt. Pepper Turns 40

A very cool album cover, this album's music changed music forever, and most of us spent hours in the dorm room listening for "Paul is dead" clues.

Here's a few of the most notable clues:

1) "Paul is dead" was rumored to be heard on A Day In The Life and Strawberry Fields ---a song recorded for Sgt. Pepper's but not included in the album's release

2) Lyrics which we believed referred to Paul's death in a car accident: "Wednesday morning at five o'clock," "Nothing to do to save his life," "He blew his mind out in a car, he didn't notice that the light had changed."

3) The flower arrangement on the album cover looks like one at a funeral, and

4) Paul is the only Beatle not facing the camera in a photo on the back cover.

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Album Tracks:

1. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
2. With A Little Help From My Friends
3. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
4. Getting Better
5. Fixing A Hole
6. She's Leaving Home
7. Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!
8. Within You Without You
9. When I'm Sixty-Four
10. Lovely Rita
11. Good Morning Good Morning
12. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
13. A Day In The Life