Sharp Objects, Claws, Trial and Error, A Very English Scandal and Life Sentence

My Top 5 Obsessions This Week

Greetings to all my semi constant readers. There are some great new shows and new seasons of great shows out there and I am trying to catch up on all of them for you.

1)  Sharp Objects the newest offering from HBO , based on the best selling novel by Gillian Flynn  is a languid gothic horror story that is slowly building to the horror it will become. A killer of young girls has appeared in the small town of Wind Gap and these violent crimes have torn a town already steeped in mystery apart. Reporter Camille Preaker ( Amy Adams ) has been assigned to come back to her home town to write the story. Only trouble is, she has to come home to face her mother Adora (Patricia Clarkson) and the scarily precocious step-sister Amma (Eliza Scanlen) and the demons from her past. From the people who brought us Little Big Lies  is another compelling story about complicated female relationships and the danger of secrets. The whole cast is perfectly nuanced and i await each episode . Chris Messina is amazing as an outsider detective trying to find the truth and one of my favorite actresses Elizabeth Perkins as the wacky Jackie , a friend of Adora's who seems to have an excellent grasp of the whole town. But it is the performances of Adams and Clarkson that raise the level  to a whole new playing field as they test each other to see who will flinch.

2) Claws on TNT in it's 2nd season is the hit of the summer and it looks like it will have a whole new life even after summer is gone. A nail salon, strip joint, and a medical clinic all have one thing in common- The Dixie Mafia!  In the heart of Palmetto Florida where the heat seems to bake the crazy in all of the characters that inhabit the world of local crime lords Uncle Daddy, Roller and Bryce, it is just getting started. Money laundering at the nail salon owned by Desna ( the fabulous Neicy Nash) has never had such style. with her girls in tow she comes into her own self as she battles the Russian Mafia and the Dixie Mafia while keeping her wild crew together. Starring Dean  Norris, Carrie Preston, Judy Reyes, Karrueche Tran, Jenn Lyon, the hunky Jack Kesy, Harold Perrineau as Desna's autistic brother Dean and Kevin Rankin as Bryce ,each character is fully realized as well as any guest appearance. I highly recommend.

3) Trial and Error is on its 2nd season as well but it has a whole new defendant ! Nobody does it better that Kristin Chenoweth when it comes to southern belles on the edge. And as Lavinia Peck-Foster - she has just been arrested with a body in the trunk of her car- her husband's as a matter of fact (body that is). As the town benefactress she needs legal assistance quick. To the rescue is attorney Josh Segal (Nicholas D' Agosto) and his loony band of misfits Dwayne Reed (Steven Boyer) and Anne Flatch ( comic genius Sherri Shepherd). Slapstick and sight gags abound as well as some clever puns . And did I mention Kristin Chenoweth!!

4) A Very English Scandal an Amazon Prime Original is based on a true story about the 1970s gay political and sex scandal that rocked Britain. This 3 part mini series starring Hugh Grant as Jeremy Thorpe (MP) Member of Parliament and his affair with a young man Norman Josiffe ( Ben Whishaw) has everything- scandal, sex, politics and a murder plot as well as some of the best acting that Hugh Grant has done in years , Directed by Stephen Frears this is a little gem of a series.

5) Life Sentence a Netflix original series has a unique premise. A young woman living with cancer  for 8 years and fulfilling a bucket list suddenly finds out her cancer is gone, not in remission just gone has to face life in normal every day terms and finds out all of the secrets that her family has protected her from all these years. Starring the very lovely and luminous Lucy Hale as Stella Abbott our not so tragic anymore heroine and featuring some great actors as her family- Jayson Blair, Gillian Vigman, Dylan Walsh, Brooke Lyons and the captivating Elliott Knight as her adoring husband who married her on a whim. Although life is short it just got a little bit longer for Stella who is learning how to live in the real world.

Boys in the Band (Broadway) , Leslie Jordan, Dear Evan Hansen

My Top 5 Obsessions This Week

Welcome back and greetings to all my semi constant readers. The summer is moving so fast that July is almost gone but i still have some great recommendations for you.

1) In a recent visit to New York we were able to snag tickets to the very popular Boys in the Band starring Jim Parsons, Matt Bomer , Zachery Quinto , Tuc Watkins, Andrew Rannells , Charlie Carver, Brian Hutchison , Michael Benjamin Wasington  and Robin De Jesus as the beloved catalyst of the show Emory (AKA Connie Casserole). Performing  Mart Crowley's controversial 1968 play in its original format but using all Out Gay Actors is just groundbreaking even in 2018. But leave it to Ryan Murphy to help bring this production into being and the wonderful direction by Joe Mantello to let the A list actors do their thing. And they did! It is Harold's (Quinto) birthday and the guys have gathered together to celebrate at a party thrown by Michael (Parsons) who is coming off a sober period of time in his life(but that is all about to change). Throw in a straight (possibly  gay in denial ) old college friend  of Micheal's  dropping in for a surprise visit and the evening falls rapidly into chaos. Every actor is superb , breathing  life. heart, pathos and the very fact that many gays were facing self hate, fear and hatred from family and community. This is the Summer must see.

2) Leslie Jordan's new show " Leslie Jordan Exposed" at Feinsteins is everything you want to see from this pint sized ball of energy. Story telling about his Southern upbringing , his pill poppin drama queen mama and his career as some of the most memorable characters in sit-com history. Jordan is a true Southern Gay Gentleman and hung around after the show to meet and greet and chat with everyone.

3) Just grabbed tickets for Dear Evan Hansen  which will be coming to San Francisco in December. I am listening to the soundtrack every day prepping for it. This Tony winning musical about a letter that was never meant to be seen and a lie never to be shared and a life undreamed. See it in New York now or grab tickets on sale now for the Curran Theater here in San Francisco.

4) Upcoming in Chicago this September in previews is Tootsie The Musical featuring the amazing Santino Fontana ( Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Hello Dolly) as Tootsie- the story of a struggling out of work actor who dons a wig and heels as Dorothy Michaels in a popular soap.  Score by David Yazbek (The Band's Visit )
Can't wait for this one.

5) Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge is finally making it to Broadway soon after previews in Boston and it looks promising. This jukebox musical set during the Belle Epoque Paris will feature a great music score you know and love plus music that has been released since the original movie.  Aaron Tveit and Karen Olivo will star as Christian and Satine,

If you are in Philly, please go check out the premier of my new movie: Jaime.

Liberty Massacre Film Festival:

We screen in Philly, July 21 at 6:30pm.

We were nominated for Best Film, Best Director, and Best Ensemble Cast.

http://www.averagesuperstarfilms.com/copy-of-liberty-massacre-part-4

The Cher Show, Kathy GriffinTour, The Go-Gos 40th Anniversary Tour and Frameline Film Festival

My Top 5 Obsessions This Week

Greetings to all my semi constant readers. It has been a very busy summer so far and moving so quickly I want to take it all in and share it with you.

1) The Cher Show in previews at The Oriental Theatre in Chicago is the must see of the summer. It will be on Broadway very soon , so prepare to get your tickets. As in all previews it is a work in progress. Coming in at almost 3 hours , there was not a a slow spot in the show. Featuring 35 Cher songs spanning  decades worth of music and fashion  (primarily Bob Mackie who designed for this production as well) this show has it all. Three amazingly talented women play Cher through the decades ( Stephanie J. Block, Teal Wicks and Micaela Diamond as Lady, Babe and Star). All have beautiful voices and bring each version of Cher to life. Jarrod Spector as Sonny Bono and Emily Skinner as Georgia Holt (Cher's mom) breathe a vibrant life into their roles  To top it all off we were treated to a Bob Mackie fashion show as well. See you on Broadway!!!

2)  Kathy Griffin's new touring comedy special Laugh Your Head Off World Tour is heading your way and she has something to get off her chest- 3 hours worth!!! She is in rare form and ripping up everyone who turned on her infamous photo shoot. In the climate today I think it would have had a very different reaction. She read her mean tweets from the angry online mob as well as some real physical death threat letters in the only way she knows how with -comic timing. Taking aim at everyone in DC and Hollywood , she is back in the game and sharing with her loyal fans.

3) The Go-Gos 40th Anniversary tour at The Fox Theater in Oakland was so special because all of the original lineup was there ( Jane Wiedlin, Belinda Carlisle, Charlotte Caffey, Kathy Valentine and Gina Schock -who recovering from a recent surgery was not drumming but up on stage being hilarious during the entire show. Treating us to 20 hits from the opening number This Town to Lust To Love, Skidmarks On My Heart, Vacation, Head Over Heels and two encores ending with the very appropriately politically themed Can't Stop The  World but the surprise for me was Belinda and Jane coming together for Jane's big hit with Sparks  Cool Places. Opening act all girl group Potty Mouth rocked the house and were so happy and touched just to be there. Ally, Abby and Victoria you have arrived!

4) Frameline Film Festival 42  Lights Camera Take Action was one of the more diverse in recent history. I only saw 3 of the many many entries because of time constrictions but they were so interesting . Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood based on the Scotty Bowers memoir Full Service was a revelation of old Hollywood film stars from the 50s. Known as the pimp of the stars Scotty Bowers was the procurer of young men for Spencer Tracy , George Cukor and Cary Grant and young women for Kate Hepburn and many more. Working out of a gas station in Hollywood after serving in the Marine Corps during WWII he fulfilled the dreams of many a closeted star. The 94 year old still alive and kicking and answering questions at the Roxie Theater was a legendary meet. Closing night featured another documentary from the same director Matt Tyrnauer Studio 54 bringing unseen footage of the legendary club with never before seen interviews with owner Ian Shrager and other club patrons . Ending the closing night film was the themed closing night party at Oasis with dance music from the 70s and some performances from Mother herself Heklina.

5) Ideal Home my favorite film this year was part of the festival but it brought much needed comedy and heart to 2018. Starring the adorable Paul Rudd with a full beard and his husband the hilariously droll Steve Coogan as a power gay couple in Santa Fe producing a  cooking series. The ultimate bickering gay couple are on the verge of a breakup when Coogan's character Erasmus has a grandson show up at a fancy dinner party with a plastic bag containing a bible and a bag of coke. They come together over the boy and Taco Bell and come to some life decisions about what matters in affairs of the heart and family. Coogan and Rudd are the ultimate pair with chemistry and laughs plenty.