FEDERER FEVER: I’ve had the best time out in the desert this week at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, a tradition for me since 1994. It’s always a balance during the first week – when I usually attend – of watching matches inside the stadiums and hanging around the practice courts to watch your favorite stars working on their shots.
At practice they are relaxed and hit the most amazing shots and when they do drills, you get to see forehand after forehand and marvel at their precision. And, well,. sometime they take their shirts off in the desert sun and that’s always worth the price of admission!
These are some of the photos I took during the days I was there. A big thanks to my friend James for arranging for me to see matches from his company’s corporate box!
Roger Federer is trying to win a fourth title at Indian Wells. The world’s number one player – and the best male tennis star in history – has such an elegant way about him both on and off the court. He was mobbed leaving a practice court Thursday and spent at least 20 minutes signing autographs. I’m not into autographs but I did wish him good luck and he smiled and said, “Thank you.”
SPANISH DISH: Like Federer, Rafael Nadal is one of the top stars in the game and the defending champion at Indian Wells this year. The four-time French Open winner is the only man to defeat Federer at Wimbledon since 2003 and also beat him at the Australian Open last year. But his one year reign at number one was cut short last year by injuries. Nadal is as gracious to fans as Federer, just a real gentleman. Watching him practice is fun because Nadal is intense – works very hard out there.
Click on people’s faces in the photo to tag them.
Spain’s Feliciano Lopez used to be top 10 but has dropped to the low-20s. He’s still tops in the sexy Spaniard department though. I learned watching him practice that there really is no such thing as taking too many photos of Feliciano Lopez – from any angle!
Click on people’s faces in the photo to tag them.
Click on people’s faces in the photo to tag them.
Britain’s Andy Murray is the world’s fourth ranked player right now but has been as high as number 2. He’s reached the finals of the US Open and Australian Open (losing both to Federer) and, I think, will win one of the game’s big titles this year. He is very focused at practice and you can see how hard to works to get where he is.
Click on people’s faces in the photo to tag them.
Click on people’s faces in the photo to tag them.
There is no male pro more fun-loving than second-ranked Novak Djokovic, the 2008 champion at Indian Wells. I got to watch him play soccer with a group of other players one afternoon and he was as dominant on the soccer field as on the tennis court. What a great athlete! He is one of only two players since 2005 other than Federer or Nadal to have won one of tennis’s grand slam tournaments. Njokovic won the 2008 Australian Open and is looking for another big win.
I’m still stunned by ABC’s decision to kick its gay couple Oliver Fish and Kyle Lewis to the curb.
Running the gay people out of Llanview and blaming them for ratings woes. It’s outrageous.
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation has stepped up and in a statement Friday said: “GLAAD today advocated for continuation of the storyline of characters Kyle and Fish on One Life and spoke out on the importance of bringing fair and accurate media images of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people to Americans. Last summer, One Life brought a ground-breaking relationship into the homes of millions with Kyle and Fish’s story, one that built acceptance and understanding of gay people. While we understand that the close of storylines is a frequent occurrence on daytime dramas, cancelling this story just as it gains momentum is a step backward in ABC Daytime’s representation of the lives of gay Americans.”
GLAAD continues: “When news reports broke yesterday, GLAAD spoke to ABC Daytime to voice concerns over the cancellation and advocate that the storyline continue. We remain disappointed that ABC Daytime has chosen to stop sharing this powerful story with viewers of One Life. GLAAD will continue to advocate that in the near future, producers and writers at ABC Daytime incorporate gay and transgender characters in their programming.”
Here is ABC’s response to GLAAD: ”The groundbreaking Kyle-Fish relationship on One Life to Live was embraced by fans both as a great story and a fair and honest reflection of the LGBT community. We’re glad their story resonated with the audience, and understand the fans’ disappointment now that it has concluded. The show has a history of bringing LGBT stories to the screen — earning two GLAAD awards in the process — as well as returning popular characters when they serve the ongoing story. These great characters remain in Llanview, and while there are no immediate plans to advance their story, the door is always open for their return.”
No plans to advance a groundbreaking story so they can just tell the same stories over and over (how many times can Nora and Bo get back together?).
Of all the boneheaded things Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) did during the six-year run of Sex and the City, the biggest would have to be when she began an affair with ex-boyfriend Mr. Big (Chris Noth) while in a relationship with the wonderful Aiden (John Corbett).
Here is the scene where Carrie confesses. It’s just about when they are to leave to Charlotte’s wedding and she just spills the beans then asks Aiden if he was still going to the wedding.
Luke was kind of goofy in Friday’s episode of As the World Turns.
The writers had Luke lurking around Dr. Reid Oliver as he was saying his goodbyes and prepared to return to Dallas. His flight gets delayed so Luke offers use of his private plane. As they chat in the airport bar, Luke remarks that Reid is so nasty to him because he doesn’t respect Luke and Noah as a couple because they are gay.
Reid laughs and tells Luke that he too is gay.
Then we see the previews for next week and it looks like Luke is considering giving Noah the boot.
This is a campaign I can easily get behind: Showbiz friends and fans of the great star Carol Channing have launched an effort to get the legendary star of Hello Dolly and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes selected for this year’s Kennedy Center Honors.
The prestigious honors honors seven people each year for exemplary lifetime achievement in the performing arts. Among those seeking this recognition include Lily Tomlin, Chita Rivera, Phyllis Diller, Lucie Arnaz, Buzz Aldrin, Kate Linder, Tommy Tune, Loni Anderson, Tippi Hedren and Florence Henderson.
In addition to her 70 years onstage, in films and on television, she has also been a tireless champion for arts in the public school system. Here is a link to the FACEBOOK page to learn more and to show your support of Miss Channing.
She’s still very dynamic at the age of 88 (I saw her one woman show last year – wow!) so let’s honor her while she can still dazzle us as only she can.
I thought I was aware of pretty much all of the hot Spanish tennis players on the pro tour.
But when Daniel Gimeno-Traver walked out to play his match at indian Wells Friday against James Blake, I’d never heard of him before.
I really enjoyed watching him play – he’s very scrappy and very cute! He lost to Blake in straight sets but gave a good fight.
He’s currently ranked just inside the top 100, far below top Spaniard Rafael Nadal and such stars as Fernando Verdasco, David Ferrer and Feliciano Lopez.
At 24, he’s got some prime years left to still makes an impact and I wish him luck!
The Oscar, Emmy, Tony and Grammy-winning legend is enjoying a very good stretch in her sometime turbulent life. In good health and form, Liza will appear in three episodes of Ugly Betty before that wonderful show ends its four-year run.
Liza was a smash during her recurring guest role on Arrested Development several years back so television has been a great showcase for this amazing talent.
But the star of such films as Cabaret and New York New York is still most at home on the stage and won yet another Tony Award last year for her one woman show Liza at the Palace.
When Liza performed at Hollywood Bowl last year, she was said to be an absolute sensation. I still wish I’d been there!!!
Lucy gives a waiter a nervous breakdown when she goes out to dinner with Ricky, Fred and Ethel.
She insists the gang change tables twice and while they are ordering, she changes her mind from roast beef to lamb chops to steak to pork chops. Whenever I see this episode, I get so hungry!
It’s fascinating to watch Chaz Bono in this clip from last night’s Anderson Cooper 360.
It’s now been one year since the former Chastity Bono began to transition to Chaz.
Now the only child of Cher and Sonny Bono is opening up more publicly about how the adorable little girl who would appear on her parents old TV show was really feeling as she was growing up: “My friends were all boys when I was little and I just felt like one of them. And then, when puberty hits, it gets really confusing.”
In the mid-90s, Bono very publicly came out as a lesbian. He tells Anderson that he was attracted to women so made the assumption that he was lesbian rather than transgeder.
Joy Behar, one of the coolest women on the planet, is being honored on Saturday night at the GLAAD Media Awards in New York City.
On The View Thursday, Joy talked about what the recognition means to her: “I value an award like that more than any other award. It’s saying to me, ‘You are doing some good in the world even if it’s just your mouth.’ I value that so much.”
We value you Joy!
She is being presented with The Excellence in Media Award which goes to media professionals who advocate for LGBT issues and increase the visibility of the LGBT community.
Homophobia rears its ugly head again. I can’t make the world fair but I can shine a light on injustices like this: GLAAD has learned from a source that wishes to remain anonymous that sponsors of the Stars on Ice Tour, which include Smuckers and IMG Entertainment, have refused to allow 3-time US National Champion and 2-time Olympian Johnny Weir to participate because they claim that he is “not family friendly.”
Writes GLAAD: To say that Weir is “not family friendly” would be a clear jab at his perceived sexual orientation. Weir is extremely involved with his family. He is putting his younger brother through college, and supports the family financially because his father’s disability prohibits him from working. Weir’s dedication to his family can be clearly documented in the Sundance series, Be Good Johnny Weir, which follows him and his family and friends through his life and career as a championship skater. … While Weir has not officially announced his sexual orientation, he has garnered a significant amount of LGBT fans. He remains one of the most outspoken skaters today, and won an online poll asking fans “Who would you like to see guest star on Stars on Ice?”
Here is a link to a PETITION to show your support for Weir be included in Stars on Ice.
UPDATE: Here is what Johnny had to say to Access Hollywood’sBilly Bush about the snub: “It’s for real. All because I am not family friendly enough. I understand I am a little outrageous but I wish I could perform for the fans…Maybe right now, just artistically and creatively, I’d love to have my own show, with musical acts, like maybe getting Lady Gaga! I don’t like to think there are any boundaries. Anytime you get men in glitter it’s flamboyant!”
Diana Ross may be coming to a city near you this summer.
The superstar has announced the More Today Than Yesterday tour which will feature her many, many greatest hits performed with a live string and horn section. It kicks off in Boston, MA on May 15, the tour runs through June 12.
The Kennedy Center Honoree has sold over 100 million records and recorded 18 #1 hits as a solo artist and as lead singer of the legendary girl The Supremes.
I saw Miss Ross at Hollywood Bowl in 2008 and she was sensational. Her LA stop will be at NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE on June 9.
I’m so there!
It would be my fifth Ross concert. In addition to Hollywood Bowl, I saw her in 1989 at Pacific Ampitheatre (Working Overtime tour), 1991 at Universal Ampitheatre (Force Behind the Power tour) and 1995 at Universal Ampitheatre (Take Me Higher tour). I had tickets to 2000’s Return to Love tour but if was aborted before it got to the Anaheim venue then called The Pond.
To get you in the mood for some Diana, here is a great clip from Letterman (mid-90s) in which she performs I Will Survive then takes part in a comedy bit that has her holding a note for several minutes. She ends up in a bathrobe and slippers and she’s more fun and animated than I’ve ever seen.
The Hurt Locker came out last year with little fanfare. But now that it’s won the Best Picture Oscar, a lot more people will be likely to check it out on DVD. And when they do, they will see the performance of Brian Geraghty, an actor I’ve had my eye on since seeing him in the indie flick Easier With Practice.
That film premiered at the AFI Film Fest last fall and it really hinged on the outstanding performance of Garaghty whose credits also include Art School Confidential, Jarhead, Conversations With Other Women, We Are Marshall, Bobby, The Guardian and I Know Who Killed Me.
I interviewed director Kyle Patrick Alvarez about the movie just before AFI and he said of Geraghty’s casting: “We saw like 200 people for that role. He’s on screen literally every frame. We had to find someone who we felt you could be comfortable watching for that period of time. He committed himself so much to it and worked so hard,. I’m really grateful that he took such a chance.”
Well, who wouldn’t want to hug Tim Urban? He is adorable! But after last night’s American Idol, we can rave about more than his sweet face and studly body: the boy can sing!
He blew everyone away with his performance of Hallelujah written by Leonard Cohen.
Who knew???
Ellen DeGeneres was so impressed that she left the judge’s table to give him a big hug. I liked that, I liked that she did what she felt and I think she hugged him for a lot of us at home who wanted to do the same.
I think Tim is safe for another week – for sure!
Here is video of Tim’s wonderful performance:
And how about a photo of Tim shirtless just for kicks? Okay, twist my arm!
This is incredibly frustrating news: TV Guide reports that ABC has axed the Oliver-Kyle storyline from One Life to Live.
“We are concluding the story that we set out to tell with Kyle and Fish,” says executive producer Frank Valentini. “We are very proud to have broken new ground with a same-sex couple on daytime.”
Both Brett Claywell and Scott Evans are also being written off the show which I can tell you right now, after their departure, I will probably never watch it again.
This makes me sick. It’s just another reminder of how far we have to go to not only establish equal rights, but to have decent continuing storylines on broadcast television.
I will root and celebrate the future career successes of these two fine actors who really won our hearts and who, I think, leave the show as bonafide stars. I am especially grateful for Scott Evans for being an out actor and for bringing so much heart to the role. I also want to give kudos top the show’s writers who really did a superb job of telling this story – of making these multi-dimensional characters and integrating them into the lives of those in Llanview.
Was it a matter of gay overkill that turned off the mainstream audience TV Guide wonders: Sources at the network say the duo failed to resonate with the mainstream audience. Ratings for the ABC soap were particularly dismal in late 2009 during the weeks that Fish came out of the closet and he and Kyle officially became a couple. Also playing simultaneously was a sprawling plot that had Robin Strasser’s character, Dorian, pretending to be a lesbian in order to win the gay vote in the Llanview mayoral race.
Here is the plan for the departure of the characters, according to TV Guide: On the March 29 episode, Fish will learn for certain what viewers have known for quite a while—he’s the biological father of baby Sierra Rose, via his drunken one-nighter with psychotic stripper Stacy Morasco (Crystal Hunt). With Stacy now dead, there are rumblings of a custody battle with Stacy’s sister Gigi (Farah Fath) but, ultimately, the law is on Fish’s side and the two dads will blissfully start a new life with the baby.
The great Betty White, best known for her classic TV characters of Sue Ann Nivens and Rose Nyland, will host NBC’s Saturday Night Live on May 8.
The 88-year-old star is hotter than ever following her role on last summer’s blockbuster comedy The Proposal and was honored at January’s Screen Actors Guild Awards with a lifetime achievement award. She also starred in a hilarious Snickers commercial that premiered during the Super Bowl.
NBC said Thursday that the 88-year-old actress will host the show May 8. “SNL” executive producer Lorne Michaelssays he can’t think of a better way to spend Mother’s Day weekend than with White.
The announcement followed a campaign on Facebookurging the sketch show to make White a host. The group attracted nearly half-a-million supporters.
It’s a jam-packed As the World Turns today on the Luke-Noah-Damian front. It kicks off with a scene between Luke and Dr. Reid Oliver at the hospital. Reid goes a little too far with his smart remarks when he tells Reid that his father is in jail and Reid asks: “God dad or bad dad?”
Luke loses it and slams Reid up against the wall and asks: “Do you ever get tired of the sound of your own voice because quite frankly I am sick of it!”
Luke tells him that Damien is his father and he will likely never see him again. Reid, of course, has a smart-ass reply: “You’re lucky you have a spare.”
Luke asks him why he has to hurt so many people with his words and actions like taking Noah off to Texas for treatment. Reid calls Luke out on his own shortcomings telling him he is acting like a spoiled brat.
You will see in this clip that as the confrontation unfolds, the sexual tension between the two of them is palpable.
Then Reid goes home and waiting is old fellow med school student Chris Hughes who outs him (not sure that Reid was ever in, he just never mentioned being gay). Reid casually confirms this to Katie and goofball Henry as he is eating chips.
Meanwhile, annoying Noah comes by to see Luke and home and wants to nullify his stupid adoption because otherwise he’ll never be independent. It also helps that Reid has taken Noah on as a research subject so his treatment won’t cost him anything. At this point, Luke tells him to have a great life and to not let the door hit him on the way out.
I wish that last sentence were true!
Instead, Luke agrees to film a little comment for Noah’s movie on his experience: “Noah Mayer, you are the most amazing person I’ve ever met and it is an honor to know you.” He then takes him to the hospital and they share a pretty good kiss – viewed by Reid!
I think it’s time Luke gets to know more people.
He and Reid have a bit of a heart-to-heart and Luke observes that he’s really a good person beneath the veneer. Reid asks Luke to stay out of his way if he comes to Dallas to visit Luke while he is treating Noah. indicating that he is a distraction.
Now we know what kind of distraction!
Here are Luke scenes from Wednesday’s show where crazy bio-dad Damian is captured after holding Lily hostage and knocking Holden out. Luke tells him off at the police station. Luke’s sister Faith is back (as a different actress and a bit older) and she seems to have developed a prescription drug problem!
The omission of Farrah Fawcett in the in memoriam segment of Sunday’s Oscars ceremony is turning into a real PR black eye for an unrepentant Academy.
It was a mistifying decision that has been criticized by two-time Oscar winner Jane Fonda, film critic Roger Ebert and now Oscar winner Tatum ONeal whose father was Miss Fawcett’s longtime partner and father of her son Redmond ONeal.
Said Tatum in a statement: “On behalf of myself, my father Ryan O’Neal and my entire family, we are deeply saddened that a truly beautiful and talented actress Farrah Fawcett was not included in the memorial montage during the 82nd Academy Awards. We are bereft with this exclusion of such an international icon who inspired so many for so many reasons. Beautiful, talented Farrah will never be forgotten by her family and amazing fans.”
The Academy’s Bruce Davis has not said he regrets not honoring Farrah who may have been more known for TV roles but did appear in 14 feature films which is almost as many as Barbra Streisand has been in (I know they’re not the classics Barbra’s are but her performances in Extremities and The Apostle got raves and earned her Golden Globe and Independent Spirit Award nominations, respectively).
But Davis did say: “There’s nothing you can say to people, particularly to family members, within a day or two of the show that helps at all. They tend to be surprised and hurt, and we understand that and we’re sorry for it.”
It would have been wise and the right thing to do if the Academy had simply said it apologizes for the regrettable omission of Miss Fawcett in the tribute.
The one upside is that this flap has put focus on Farrah’s acting accomplishments. After Charlie’s Angels, she worked very hard to be taken seriously as an actress and she succeeded. I watched pretty much any movie she was in because of her and always rooted for her.
I think that’s why I feel a little protective of her acting legacy and why this is my third post about this! If I do a fourth, I hope it’s a real apology from the Academy.
Doubt that will happen though.
Below are some stills and posters from the feature films she was in including See You in the Morning with Jeff Bridges, Saturn 3 with Kirk Douglas, Extremities, Sunburn with Charles Grodin, Myra Breckenridge with Raquel Welch, The Apostle with Robert Duvall, Dr. T and the Women with Richard Gere and Man of the House with Chevy Chase.
He’s had his share of ups and downs personally and professionally but Robert Downey Jr. is most certainly on an up these days.
The two-time Oscar nominee has the sequel to Iron Man coming out in May and it, no doubt, will be as big if not bigger than the original. What makes the franchise so special, fresh and unique is Downey’s humor which is allowed to shine through so perfectly.
Robert is coming off yet another huge box office hit, Sherlock Holmes, and was a charming presenter at the Academy Awards on Sunday.
He turns 45 next month and is at the peak of his powers with such strong performances in recent years in the films Zodiac, The Soloist, Tropic Thunder and my favorite, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
This out and proud star turns 43 years old today and I hope John Barrowman is having a day as fabulous as he is.
He’s gorgeous, he’s multi-talented and he’s fun – just makes the world a little more dazzling. Whether he’s headlining on Broadway or London’s West End or headlining his popular series Torchwood as Jack Harkness, you can’t keep your eyes off of John.
He is busy filming a multi-episode arc on ABC’s Desperate Housewives to air in May.
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I’m still stunned by ABC’s decision to kick its gay couple Oliver Fish and Kyle Lewis to the curb.
Of all the boneheaded things Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) did during the six-year run of Sex and the City, the biggest would have to be when she began an affair with ex-boyfriend Mr. Big (Chris Noth) while in a relationship with the wonderful Aiden (John Corbett).
Luke was kind of goofy in Friday’s episode of As the World Turns.
This is a campaign I can easily get behind: Showbiz friends and fans of the great star Carol Channing have launched an effort to get the legendary star of Hello Dolly and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes selected for this year’s Kennedy Center Honors.
I thought I was aware of pretty much all of the hot Spanish tennis players on the pro tour.
Lucy gives a waiter a nervous breakdown when she goes out to dinner with Ricky, Fred and Ethel.
It’s fascinating to watch Chaz Bono in this clip from last night’s Anderson Cooper 360.
Homophobia rears its ugly head again. I can’t make the world fair but I can shine a light on injustices like this: GLAAD has learned from a source that wishes to remain anonymous that sponsors of the Stars on Ice Tour, which include Smuckers and IMG Entertainment, have refused to allow 3-time US National Champion and 2-time Olympian Johnny Weir to participate because they claim that he is “not family friendly.”
Diana Ross may be coming to a city near you this summer.
Well, who wouldn’t want to hug Tim Urban? He is adorable! But after last night’s American Idol, we can rave about more than his sweet face and studly body: the boy can sing!
I love this!!!
It’s a jam-packed As the World Turns today on the Luke-Noah-Damian front. It kicks off with a scene between Luke and Dr. Reid Oliver at the hospital. Reid goes a little too far with his smart remarks when he tells Reid that his father is in jail and Reid asks: “God dad or bad dad?”
Luke asks him why he has to hurt so many people with his words and actions like taking Noah off to Texas for treatment. Reid calls Luke out on his own shortcomings telling him he is acting like a spoiled brat.
Instead, Luke agrees to film a little comment for Noah’s movie on his experience: “Noah Mayer, you are the most amazing person I’ve ever met and it is an honor to know you.” He then takes him to the hospital and they share a pretty good kiss – viewed by Reid!
I think that’s why I feel a little protective of her acting legacy and why this is my third post about this! If I do a fourth, I hope it’s a real apology from the Academy.
He’s had his share of ups and downs personally and professionally but Robert Downey Jr. is most certainly on an up these days.
This out and proud star turns 43 years old today and I hope John Barrowman is having a day as fabulous as he is.
