Weekend FUNSPREE!

I spent my birthday weekend (dubbed a "Funspree") in San Diego with some good friends at the Filmout film festival, where three films that I was involved with were programmed. On Saturday night, David Kittredge's PORNOGRAPHY, which I was the production designer on, screened to a packed house. (The film also is running theatrically in New York's Cinema Village).

On Sunday, a fun animated short (that I helped out on a bit) by my pal Dennis Hensley called DIPSHITS starring 4 notorious young "celebrities" screened. This was part of a program that included the wonderful musical BOY CRAZY by my other talented friend John Sobrack. BOY CRAZY is now on dvd as part of a shorts package that includes the wonderful DISH by another friend, Brian Harris Krinsky.

On Sunday evening, another Hensley-directed short, REUNION, which was produced in 2008 for HBO through my company Velvet Candy Entertainment screened before the acclaimed feature HOLLYWOOD J'TAIME.

But an unexpected highlight of the weekend was a little late-night screening called ZOMBIES OF MASS DESTRUCTION.

Yup, just your average flick about a gay couple fighting religious fanatics, homophobes and a horde of zombies while a spunky Iranian chick combats prejudice and post 9/11 hysteria in small-minded, small-town America. It's a comedy, a horror film and  smart political commentary all rolled up in a bloody good time.

Add all this to non-stop laughs with good friends and an awesome thift store find - a Farrah Fawcett fashion doll - and you have a great way to spend any birthday. Support independent queer filmmaking, thrift stores and your local zombies.

We still love you Farrah

In light of the continuing controversy and the callus comments made by Academy spokespersons in response to the reasons who Farrah Fawcett (and others) were left out of the Oscar® montage, I present a collection of reasons why the late pop culture icon symbolizes every that was great and groovy about the 1970s. Farrah was more than just a "television actress" - she was a model, a trendsetter, an inspiration to young girls and gay men everywhere and she was the star of several major motion pictures. But let us not forget the hairstyle that changed the world...

F

When TV Stars Sing - Part 3

I conclude my look at the vocal adventures of TV stars with a batch of vinyl gems from the ladies of action shows.MOD SQUAD star Peggy Lipton released a eponymous LP of mod tunes in 1968. Among the ditties on this disc was a little something by the great songwriter Laura Nyro: Stoney End, which was later famously and fabulously covered by a certain someone named Barbra.Not sure what this is, I'm thinking it's a reissue of the above album with an attempt to cash in on her sudden MOD SQUAD fame.
This single was released in 1970 and was written by Donovan (Mellow Yellow).
Peggy recorded another Nyro tune, Lu in 1970. This was the last recording made by the lovely Lipton to date. After the MOD SQUAD, Peggy married record producer Quincy Jones. Their beautiful and talented daughter, Rashida Jones has starred on TV in THE OFFICE and more recently PARKS & RECREATION.The late Farrah Fawcett (Majors) released a self-titled album in 1977 during the peak of her CHARLIE'S ANGELS fame. Not sure what songs she recorded. Can't really find any info on it other than the fact that it did exist. Wish I owned it.
In 1978, Cheryl Ladd replaced Farrah, and she was already a professional singer, having recorded vocals for Hanna-Barbera's JOSIE & THE PUSSYCATS earlier in the decade. This single featured the B-side Here is a Song for those people who were confused as what exactly was recorded on that piece of vinyl.
Cheryl donned her cowboy boots in 1979 for Missing You and Thunder in the Distance. Is it me or do the B-sides always sound much more intriguing than the A-sides?And evidently it was imported to Japan.
An finally, we have 1978's Portrait by Lynda Carter. Yes, the WONDER WOMAN star recorded an album of songs–two of which she performed on the series.In 1980 she released a single called The Last Song. This was not accurate since Linda continued to sing, both on television and in acclaimed concert appearances.
After WONDER WOMAN was cancelled, CBS awarded her with a string of musical specials: Lynda Carter's Special (1980), Encore! (1980), Celebration (1981), Street Life (1982) and Body And Soul (1984). After several years of performing on the cabaret circuit, the still-stunning Ms. Carter released a second album entitled At Last earlier this year. Suck on that Sally Field! (see Friday's post).

NBC Fall 1984 - Mondays

Monday nights on NBC in the fall of 1984 were a mixed bag. It all started off with a special called the NBC ALL-STAR HOUR , the biggest party of the year! This hour-long clip show featured over 100 stars and a million laughs. That's 16,666 laughs per minute! Holy shit - that's one funny show!!! As I mentioned yesterday, TV's BLOOPERS & PRACTICAL JOKES premiered earlier in the year and became a big hit for the network. Combining elements stolen for Allen Funt's CANDID CAMERA with clips of actors goofing up their lines, this cheaply produced show was co-hosted by the late Ed McMahon and the formerly ageless Dick Clark.ABC's knock-off FOUL-UPS, BLEEPS & BLUNDERS followed, paving the way for all sorts of horrible shows including LIFE'S MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENTS, AMERICA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS, TOTALLY HIDDEN VIDEO and PUNK'D. BLOOPERS continued on NBC in various timeslots until the late 1990s, occasionally showing up as a special thereafter.
NBC MONDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES followed at 9PM, with a assortment of theatrical film premieres and original TV-movies. Many of NBC's movies from this period were created to give TV stars the opportunity to stretch their acting muscles by taking on meatier roles. Witness HIGH SCHOOL USA (which actually aired as a special on a Friday night).
Here sitcom stars Nancy McKeon (FACTS OF LIFE), Michael J. Fox (FAMILY TIES) and DIFF'RENT STROKES costars Todd Bridges and the late Dano Plato teamed up with Nick at Nite regulars Dwayne Hickman and Bob Denver (both of DOBIE GILLIS), Elinor Donahue (FATHER KNOWS BEST) and Tony Dow (LEAVE TO BEAVER). Hilarity ensued.
ONE DAY AT A TIME star and future weight-loss guru Valerie Bertinelli played a horny nun who found herself falling in love with a priest (David Morse) in SHATTERED VOWS. I need to see this one for sure!
SILVER SPOONS brat and future animal killer Ricky Schroeder took on a dramatic role in MY LIFE, YOUR LIFE. I believe this aired under the title A REASON TO LIVE. DAYS OF OUR LIVES / ELECTRA WOMAN & DYNA GIRL star Deidre Hall played his mom. Peter Fonda played the dad.
Former CHARLIE'S ANGEL and K-Mart designer Jaclyn Smith took on the role of history's most famous nurse in FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE. This historical epic ran three long hours!
DYNASTY diva Joan Collins teamed up with KNIGHT RIDER star and future drunken reality-show judge David Hasselhoff in something called THE CARTIER HEIST. I think it was a comedy. Other made-for-TV movies and miniseries airing during the season included:• I DREAM OF JEANNIE: 15 YEARS LATER - Barbara Eden returned, Larry Hagman did not. Wayne Rogers was a poor substitute Major Nelson.
• THE BURNING BED - the amazing film that made people finally take the late Farrah Fawcett seriously as an actress.• A.D. - 12 hours of the Roman Empire with a cast that included the great Susan Sarandon along with Ava Gardner and James Mason!• EVERGREEN - 6 hours of Lesley Ann Warren as a Polish immigrant flocked by Armand Assante and Ian McShane. Is it me, but weren't Assante and McShane in just about EVERY miniseries in the 1980s??? Tomorrow: the Tuesday-night line-up!

Farrah in LOGAN'S RUN

These are for a reader named "interzone " who thought I confused LOGAN'S RUN with SATURN 3.

Farrah Fawcett 1947-2009

In February of this year I ran a birthday tribute to California blonde superstar Farrah Fawcett, who turned 62 on February. We now very sadly mourn Ms. Fawcett's passing after a long illness. Farrah appeared in some of my favorite films, including 1970's MYRA BRECKINRIDGE.In 1976, Farrah was seen the sci-fi classic LOGAN'S RUN.
Her fresh breezy style helped her land a lead role on CHARLIE'S ANGELS.
But her bathing suit nipple poster made her into an icon.
Her image could be seen everywhere. From coloring books to Halloween costumes and fashion dolls.
Farrah shocked critics and gained legions of new fans when she scored the lead role in the controversial NBC TV-movie, THE BURNING BED. Suddenly, Farrah was a highly sought after actress!After a few more acclaimed film and TV roles, Farrah pulled a 180 and decided to pose nude for Playboy magazine.
The Playboy spread and accompanying body paint videos erased some of the credibility that she had established over the previous few years.
Sadly personal tragedies and illness have plagued Farrah over the past few years, but our fond memories of her golden years will live on. It is truly an end of an era.