Hotties

On the home page of IMDB Pro right now is a picture of Betty White with the heading –

“HOT IN CLEVELAND is TV Land’s most –watched ever.”

Imagine – FOUR WOMEN  (the youngest of which is 49) who in one show manage to bring in –

THE MOST FANS of  TV Land’s History!

Four Actresses whose total ages add up to: 246!

Seriously this is HUGE news in a world where actresses like me start to worry when we’re barely on the wrong side of quarter-life.

Even though I had no idea what channel TV Land was on (thank god for Tivo!) I watched “HOT IN CLEVELAND” last night to see four sitcom legends (all previously on mega-networks) do something out-of-the-box and in-the-box at the very same time.

And BTW, they were – AWESOME!

HOT IN CLEVELAND may be pure sitcom but it manages to–
NOT feel outdated.

The jokes are modern–
but not dumb-funny,
or potty-humor funny,
or trying-too-hard funny
just– FEEL GOOD FUNNY

KUDOS to–
Jane Leeves, Valerie Bertinelli, Wendie Malick and Betty White!

You ladies are–

HOT and HILARIOUS.

Way to go super-smarty producer Sean Hayes! Bet you’re laughing all the way to the bank. (And you managed to make TV news that rivals the Lakers’ big win and Roberto and Ali flying through the air in LION KING!)

Interestingly, HOT IN CLEVELAND is now the hottest show in TV Land’s history. How cool is that!?

(How hot do you plan to be when you’re hovering around the half-century mark? Share in the comments.)

Liked that? Check out:

• 2010 Emmy Awards: I vote for MODERN FAMILY
• Vids & Webisodes: My Faves
• Film Faves: Currently Speaking

Family Matters!

Now’s the time when all the Trades are filled with pre-nom ads promoting every show, every actor everybody for the Emmy Nominations. It’s a little overkill if you ask me. Except when it comes to MODERN FAMILY! I luv Wednesday’s cover of Variety where they’re all wearing smeared white clothes looking all goofy like a real family.

Tight Genes

MODERN FAMILY has without a doubt raised the bar really high in the Best Comedy category, serving up laughs on SO many levels it’s impossible to count them all. The show has the good bones of Christopher Lloyd and Steve Levitan and the genius of director Jason Winer who showed his outstandingness when he directed the Liz Meriwether pilot: “Sluts.”

Each of MODERN FAMILY’s phenom cast of eccentric characters is so hilariously flawed in a totally unique and loving way, I can’t figure out from week to week which one is my favorite. They all make me simultaneously laugh and cry, which is the best compliment I can give to any show.

MODERN FAMILY’S INCREDIBLE CAST OF CHARACTERS:

Jay -- Ed O’Neill (crotchity but loving)
Claire -- Julie Bowen (we all know a Claire right?)
Phil -- Ty Burrell (nerdy to the max)
Gloria -- Sofia Vergara (sexy smart and surprisingly loving)
Mitchell -- Jesse Tyler Ferguson (OMG! There are no words)
Cameron -- Eric Stonestreet (ditto!)
Haley -- Sarah Hyland (her expressions kill me)
Luke -- Nolan Gould (the apple doesn’t fall from the Phil)
Alex -- Ariel Winter (a brainy bad seed)
Manny -- Rico Rodriguez (an old soul in a foreign body)

MODERN FAMILY’S dysfunctional members are so memorable and lovable and the stories so fresh and laugh-out-loud-funny that the only thing I can say that’s wrong with it is that it doesn’t last longer than 30 minutes.

My favorite MODERN FAMILY moments:

• Manny’s Dad (Benjamin Bratt) shows up with extravagant gifts.
• Claire tries to impress the firefighters answering Phil’s 911 call.
• Claire’s friend (Minnie Driver) makes Claire feel like a loser.
• Jay and Cameron hangout in the locker room. Oops!
• Mitchell and Cameron set Manny up with a date.
• Gloria surprises Jay in Hawaii.
• Mitchell freaks out about a bird.
• Claire and Phil spice things up a bit.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6--ce2OEcI

In case the actors all cancel each other out in the Best Supporting categories, lets hope hope hope MODERN FAMILY gets nominated and WINS in the Best Comedy and Writing categories because I can’t think of another show that does Finding the Funny any better than MODERN FAMILY.

If only they would adopt ME…

(What do you like best about MODERN FAMILY? Share in the comments.)

Liked that? Check out:

• Vids & Webisodes: My Faves
• HOT IN CLEVELAND: funny find!
• Film Faves: Currently Speaking

So L.A., right?

I keep wanting to add to my FAVE lists (Best of L.A. and Hotlinks) so I’ll start here with–

Restaurants and Clubs–

oldies/goodies/newbies

And then, when I have time,  I’ll update my Best of Pages.

[RESTAURANTS]

Yu-n-mi
Johnny Rockets
Magnolia
Katsuya
Apple Pan
Boa (on Sunset)
Gjelina
Axe
Hirozen
Cuvee
Nobu (Malibu)
Mastros
La Scala
The Ivy
Sushi Roku
Urth
Asia de Cuba

[CLUBS}

El Carmen (3^rd Street)
The Dime
Hotel Café
Three of Clubs
Coach & Horses
Burgundy Room
Hamburger Mary’s (bingo night) – a RIOT!

I feel hungry, just thinking about this list…

(What are your Restaurant and Club Faves? You don’t have to limit it to L.A.– Share in the comments.)

Liked that? Check out:

• HOT IN CLEVELAND: funny find!
• ER: CODE RED – Diet Karma
• 2010 Emmy Awards: I vote for MODERN FAMILY

Since there are SO MANY songs to love,  I’m calling this--
my fave list-- currently.

Undoubtedly, there will be countless additions as new entries linger--

In the jukebox of my mind--

I start with “Clair de Lune”, the song I loved to play most on the piano when I was nine and end with the “Heart of Life”  because it makes me feel like everything’s gonna be all right.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXoia1sqXfQ

Clair du Lune (Claude Debussy)
Annie Mae (John Lee Hooker)
In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel)
I’ll Be Seeing You (Billie Holiday)
Dirty Diana (Michael Jackson)
Music (Madonna)
Concrete Schoolyard (Jurassic 5)
Tracks of My Tears (Aretha or Smokey)
In My Life (Beatles)
I’m Looking Through You (Beatles or Steve Earle)
Sex (I’m a ) (Berlin)
Use Me (Bill Withers)
The Stroke (Billy Squier)
Soul Singing (Black Crowes)
Change (Blind Melon)
Memphis (Bob Marley and the Wailers)
One Belief Away (Bonnie Raitt)
Spit It Out (Brendan Benson)
Piece Of Me (Britney Spears)
Carry The Zero (Built to Spill)
For The Boys (Cardigans)
If You Were Here (Cary Brothers)
Wicked Game (Chris Isaak)
The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth (Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah)
Nightshift (Commodores)
The Light (Common)
Fortunate Son (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
Ohio (Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young)
Carry On (Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
Pusherman (Curtis Mayfield)
Everywhere  (Fleetwood Mac)
Harder Better Faster Stronger (Daft Punk)
Lonelily (Damien Rice)
Mona Lisa and Mad Hatters (Elton John)
Till I Collapse (Eminem and Nate Dogg)
She Came In Through The Bathroom Window (Joe Cocker)
Free Fallin (Tom Petty)
Try A Little Tenderness (Otis Redding)
Imagine (John Lennon)
The Heart of Life (John Mayer)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS8NvoMudy8

Like me the list is eclectic and always changing.

Stay Tuned for more…

(What are your current song faves? Share in the comments.)

Liked that? Check out:

• HOT IN CLEVELAND: funny find!
• 2010 Emmy Awards: I vote for MODERN FAMILY
• Film Faves: Currently Speaking

experience cool

Since so many of you checked out my Fifty Facebook Fan Page Faves, here’s “Part II.”

Facebook is SO addictive, right?!

Dexter
SALT. Optics
7 for Mankind
Friday Night Lights
Fashion Rules
Sundance Film Festival
Entourage
Runyon Canyon Park
The Well-Dressed Home
Sprinkles
True Blood
I Need A Vacation
Magnolia Bakery
Fred Segal Santa Monica
Balenciaga
The Avenues – Art, Fashion & Design District
The Mercer Hotel
Stella McCartney
Urban Decay
Sex in the City
Billy Talent
Vox Jaguars
Neon Indian
Martin Margiela
Sweet Lady Jane
Free City
Malibu Country Mart
Sushi Roku-Katana-Boa
Saturday Night Live
Teen Line
The Dears
Diablo Cody
Fox Searchlight
Brothers and Sisters
Intro to Photoshop
Soho House
Relook Beauty Series
PopCardz
Saving Spot Dog Rescue
Chanel

(What are your Facebook Fan Page Faves? Let me know in the comments.)

Liked that? Check out:

• My 40 Song Faves: Currently
• Good Acting: Getting a Callback
• Things That I Love: A Random List

Fans are the Coolest!

Here are my FAVES –

MoMA The Museum of Modern Art
Nurse Jackie
Venice Beach California
Genetic Denim
C&C California
Barneys New York
Alexander Wang
Yves St. Laurent- the official page
The Art of Travel by Louis Vuitton
Glee
Contropussy
Starbucks
Made in L.A. Fitness
Sirius XMU
Hidden Los Angeles
Sweet Pea SLAM
Satine
Amoeba
Nate n’ Al
Barack Obama
No on Prop 8/ Don’t Eliminate Marriage for Anyone
Modern Family
Weeds
So You Think You Can Dance
Muppets
Amy Sedaris
Texts From Last Night
Crumbs Bake Shop
Roc-A-Fella Records
Elizabeth and James
Barneys New York
Up in the Air
Heist
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Betty White to Host SNL (please?)
SNL
30 Rock
Bad Joan
Jibjab
Nick Drake
American Red Cross
Isabel Marant
So You Think You Can Dance
Timbaland
Nina Simone
Katsuya Hollywood
Variety
Upright Citizens Brigade
Grandpa J
Evie Stewart’s Funny Bone

(What are some of your favorite Facebook Fan Pages ? Let me know in the comments.)

Liked that? Check out:

• HOT IN CLEVELAND: funny find!
• ER: CODE RED – Diet Karma
• 2010 Emmy Awards: I vote for MODERN FAMILY

everything fits

The Actor’s Goal in EVERY Audition is to get a

CALLBACK.

It’s the green light that means,
(As Sally Field said in her Oscar speech) –

“You like me, You really really like me!”

Like any job interview where they ask you back for MORE,

It’s INSTANT GRATIFICATION!

Getting a CALLBACK is like –

Fitting into your favorite skinny jeans.

Getting an A on a final exam.

A freshly painted manicure.

Finding an awesome deal on eBay.

Getting the last piece of coffee cake at Starbucks.

Finding a piece of jewelry you thought you’d lost forever.

Finishing a five mile run.

A glass of champagne.

The smell of a new car.

Finding a 100 dollar bill in the street.

The smell of freshly baked cookies.

Flirting your way out of a speeding ticket.

Getting asked out on a date by your crush.

Hearing your favorite song on the radio.

Seeing a picture of yourself where you really look good.

The first sip of a milkshake.

Finishing a really good book.

Getting a refund check from the IRS.

“Cheers”-ing your friends at midnight of New Year’s Eve.

Finding yourself (the BEST part)!

(When you get asked back after an audition or job interview or anything you’re really trying to get, how does it make you feel? Let me know in the comments.)

Liked that? Check out:

• HOT IN CLEVELAND: funny find!
• 2010 Emmy Awards: I vote for MODERN FAMILY
• Film Faves: Currently Speaking

getting personal

If you’re looking for the Greatest Hits in terms of Gifts, I strongly urge you to make your own—

Customized Personal Soundtrack.

It’s an awesome gift to give someone you love and know well. And it won’t cost you much money (yay!)

Just time. Plus, you’ll be rockin’ out throughout the process.

What could be better?

CUSTOM CD SET

I gave this to my dad on his last birthday and it was a--

Huge

Huge

HUGE HIT!

Basically I made him CD compilations with songs corresponding to each of the years he has been alive --

Separating the CD’s by decade.

Here’s how I went about it for Dad (in case you have a parent who’d love this). But keep in mind that you can customize this idea for anyone Special on your Gift List.

A Labor with That Lovin’ Feeling

So, I began with 1949 and continued all the way to 2009.

The most challenging part of this project for me was selecting from the 40’s and the 50’s because obviously those are the years that the songs that Dad would have related to, would have been ones his PARENTS (my grandparents) were listening to — information I didn’t necessarily know.

TGFG (Thank God For Google)

So, after exploring Internet playlists by Googling “Hits from 1948″ and so on, Google helped me realize that a much easier way to access the playlists of hits from each year, was to go onto iTunes’ iMixes and peruse each of the compilations year by year. I believe theirs start somewhere in the early fifties, so if you need to go back further than that, I’d recommend going on Wikipedia and entering “Singles from 19__” and you’ll find the top 20 charts etc.

Anyways, the iTunes mixes are quite extensive and you’ll find more than one track from each year that will remind you of the recipient. Here’s a brief summary of my experience …

1940’s/ 1950’s-

In the late 40’s and early 50’s what stuck out for me first was Duke Ellington and The Clovers “Fool Fool Fool.” Next were the Nat King Cole tracks like “Nature Boy” and “Unforgettable.” Then I went for some Sinatra of course, like “Young at Heart ” (seems appropriate for my dad) or “Always.”

Once I got well into the 50’s, choices became more obvious because I actually knew most of the tracks and I myself am a huge fan of the music from that time. Songs like “Shake, Rattle, and Roll” by Bill Haley and Elvis’s “Heartbreak Hotel” are givens. I’m a huge Sam Cooke fan and his songs were hits all through those years so you have your “Chain gang” and “(I love you) for sentimental reasons”. Then let’s not forget Etta James, Ray Charles, and Chuck Berry were all a huge part of any 50’s listening experience.

Here’s where it gets really fun.

1960’s-

You can safely start the 60’s out with something along the lines of “Duke of Earl” (Gene Chandler) or Bruce Channel’s “Hey Baby” (don’t you think of Patrick Swayze whenever you hear that song?) Then perhaps you go with Beach Boys “Surfer Girl” or The Temptations “The Way You Do The Thing You Do.” These are all solid early 60’s choices.

Then we move into the 60’s we all know so well which, depending on the recipient can be more rock and roll. You’ve got your Dylan, Stones, and Beatles (obviously) to choose from. Then there’s also Dusty Springfield and Simon and Garfunkel, which personally remind me more of my mom. She used to sing Dusty’s “Just a Little Lovin” to my Dad and he’d always smile. And on a sadder note, when Mom was sick, she’d always refer to my Dad as her “bridge” (as in “Bridge over Troubled Water”) so of course these were must-haves in Dad’s soundtrack. I also included, “Like a Rolling Stone” (Dylan 65′), “Homeward Bound” (S & G 66′) and “Ruby Tuesday” (Stones 67′) to begin the second c.d. of his 4 CD set.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvqBMmogxnc

1970’s-

The seventies are totally fun to pick from. Early 70’s  artists who resonated with me were James Taylor (I remember long drives with my parents singing along to “Mexico,”) Rod Stewart, and Elton John,  (”Rocket Man” is one of  Dad’s faves, plus “My Song” was my parents’ song.)

Smokey Robinson’s  ”Tears of a Clown” was a 1970 hit and is still one of my all time favorites. Then I moved into Jim Croce and Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel and Chicago. You’ve got Steve Miller and David Bowie… and don’t forget Credence. Towards the end of this decade I mixed in a little Eric Clapton (”Wonderful Tonight”) and Journey (”Lovin’, Touchin’ Squeezin’”). I finished up around Jackson Brown’s “The Load Out” (a song I am listening to now that I thought my dad should hear, in case he hadn’t).

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtuvXrTz8DY

1980’s-

At this point you should start to know immediately when you see the right song for the person. You remember singing along with the person in the car to all of these tracks. Very distinct memories will come flying as you peruse the song lists. In the early 80’s you’ve got Genesis, The Police, Chicago, Yes, and Billy Joel (Mom and I used blast the 84 hit, “Uptown Girl” and dance in kitchen before dinner.) Or perhaps the person is more of an Eagles-Stevie Nicks person. Then we move into Foreigner and Springsteen.

I happen to know “Money For Nothing” by Dire Straights is a huge hit at the party where they will play your mixes upon opening. A friend of my dad’s just went nuts hearing it again. Dad and I used to sing Paul Simon’s “Call Me Al” so of course I included that, plus George Michael’s “Father Figure”. Finishing up you’ve got Tom Petty and Billy Idol, U2 and Howard Jones to choose from, among many many others. Just too many great songs…

1990’s to 2009

These songs will be totally familiar to you, so I don’t need to explain.

Just remember to--

Visualize the recipient

Follow your instincts.

Trust me. All of the right songs will just come to you.

How will you ever decide on just one per year? It is seems impossible, but you’ll figure it out. Especially since, if it’s a holiday gift, you don’t have much time.

You might have to work on the Soundtrack, “All Night Long”  but you’ll be so caught up in it, you won’t even notice-- that is until the next day when you have show up for work. Ahaha!

Liked that? Check out:

• HOT IN CLEVELAND: funny find!
• Making Wishes: 26 Ways
• Hospital Heartthrobs: Mixed Messages

Three faves in one!

Full Moons

Windy Days

A Freshly Painted Manicure

Old-Fashioned Christmas Lights

European Fashion Magazines

New Music Tuesdays

Popcorn and M&M’s

Anything Sparkly

Driving with a Freshly Made Playlist

Watching Great Guitarists Solo

Creating Custom Soundtracks in Bars with Jukeboxes

Toy Stores

Cupcakes

Great Card Stores

Custom Keys

Personalized Ringtones

Room Service at a Fancy Hotel

Landing at LAX

Boats

Glow Sticks

Vanilla Scents

Old Family Photos (especially of my mom)

Magic Wands

New York City Shopping (when I have a job)

Anything with Hearts

Coincidences (because they mean life’s on track)

iTunes

Deer

The Beach

Bravo TV

Antique Fairs

Soda from the Tap

Milkshakes

Apple Pie

Chanel

Dad’s Protectiveness

Shopping with Rachel

Molton Brown Bath Products

Number One Beauty Supply

Any Starbucks (obv)

Gourmet Food Shops

Music Venues with History

Vintage Glass Sets

Polaroid Pictures

Anything That Lights Up

Interior Design

Houses with City Views

Houses with Ocean Views

Claude Debussy

Neon

Haircuts

Dying My Eyelashes

Station Wagons

Vinyl Records

Portland

Old Signs

Coca Cola Bottles

Old Fashioned Candy

Gold Jewelry

Turquoise

Sienna Miller

Gwyneth Paltrow

Children’s Books

Cool Store Windows

Baking

Rainbows

“Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory” (the original film)

Billie Holiday

Great Movie Soundtracks

Marc Jacobs

Isabel Marant

Watching Amazing Dancers

Shel Silverstein Poems

The Sound of An Old Library Book When You Open It

Winter Nights

Rainy Days

The Sky The Day After It Rains

Pianos

Christmas Morning

Needlepoint Pillows

Trident Original Gum

Antique Purses

Halloween Costumes

Checking My Email

Nicknames Between Friends

Ray-Bans

Haircuts

Stylish Girls

Boys With Fresh Bed Hair

Horoscopes

The Diamond Question Mark Pendant My Mom Left Me

Dancing To A Great Deejay

Laughter

These are some of mine. What are some of yours? Let me know in the comments.

Liked that? Check out:

• My 40 Song Faves: Currently
• Forty More: Facebook Fan Page Faves
• Good Acting: Getting a Callback

Josh keeps telling me I’m about to break out.

And… I trust my agent, and I trust my director and I trust my co-stars but…

In just a few hours, a limo is picking me up –

And I’ll find out if it’s true.  If “about to” is now.

Everyone’s got a dream, right?

Will my BIG ONE come true? Is this it?
The series wasn’t it.
Getting cast in this movie wasn’t it.
Getting dressed for my premiere isn’t it –

My premiere — !  I LOVE saying that!

OMG red carpet, here I come!  Josh said he’ll tell me who to make sure to talk to, to enunciate the Dior glam wear, to smile even in the dark theater because people will be sizing me up instead of watching–  and I was so nervous at the cast & crew screening last month that I can’t remember the movie at all so I’m really looking forward to just –

It feels very out-of-bodyish in an unexplainable way, but I’m also kinda so in the moment it’s feeling over-cranked and slo-mo at the same time. Between the adrenaline and the paralysis –  everything’s going to change.

Might change…
GOT to change!

Oh! I better get changed!

look what Niles sent me (no sweetie, it's Hollywood, not Westwood...)

.

Liked that? Check out:

• Good Acting: Getting a Callback
• Wireimage = Instant Gratification
• So Hollywood: In A Good Way