ANYONE... ANYONE...?

*THIS POST IS BEING MADE BY GUEST-BLOGGER, FRANK ANTHONY POLITO

Since it’s shout out to my fellow Drama Queers day here in the (212), I’d like to tell you about a wonderful online TV series that you may not have heard of called ANYONE BUT ME. (Full disclosure: my housemate, Dan Via, is a featured actor on the show, which is how I first came to it, but I wouldn’t continue to watch if it wasn’t really good!) 

Created by Susan Miller (The L Word, thirtysomething)& Tina Cesa Ward, ABM tells the story of 16-year-old Vivian McMillan (Rachael Hip-Flores), who moves from New York City to the suburbs after her Dad (Dan Via) suffers health problems related to 9/11. 

From Strike TV: “Introducing a new generation gay and straight, black and white - searching for love and belonging in the post 9/11 age. Finding their way and sometimes losing it, as they confront their own diverse identities and ride the waves of sexual awakening.” 

ABM made its debut in December 2008, and is now 6 episodes in (the most recent just aired yesterday or the day before). Each one is only 8 minutes, so I recommend starting at the beginning and working your way through. 

Watch the trailer below…

 

See full episodes here.

*NOTE: If either Ms. Miller or Ms. Ward reads this post, I would love to help write for this show!

(212) Tip du Jour

*THIS POST IS BEING MADE BY GUEST-BLOGGER, FRANK ANTHONY POLITO

Because I’m a firm believer in the whole “pay it forward” policy, I wanted to share a tip (my first ever as a guest-blogger!) that I received yesterday from (212) reader, Matt Riddlehoover…

“Jennifer Tilly, Maria Conchita Alonso, Debi Mazar, Ione Skye, Tippi Hedren and celebrity stylist turned actor Phillip Bloch light up the screen in RETURN TO BABYLON, a saucy silent film that's screaming to be heard.

BABYLON is an episodic film, stringing together the lives of scandalous Clara Bow (Jennifer Tilly), fiery Mexican film star Lupe Verez (Maria Conchita Alonso) and husband Johnny 'Tarzan' Weissmuller, ill-fated Virginia Rappe (Ione Skye) and rapist-murderer Fatty Arbuckle, Gloria Swanson (Debi Mazar), Ramon Navarro (Phillip Bloch), Josephine Baker (Rolonda Watts), Rudolph Valentino (Alex Monty Canawati) and a host of others in 1920s Hollywood. Turner Classic Movies fans, rejoice!

The tragicomic biopic is sure to be a hit amongst paranormal enthusiasts as well. In the film, as well as here in the trailer (cut by Matt Riddlehoover), the star-studded cast will occasionally -- and mysteriously -- morph into unnerving, ghostlike characters. The production was also allegedly haunted as actress Jennifer Tilly mentioned on the "Tonight Show" with Jay Leno. If that's not reason enough, you'll definitely want to see Tarzan's... banana!”

I immediately checked out the
bananatrailer, and was indeed intrigued…



I’ve been a fan of Jennifer Tilley’s since her brief stint as Garry Shandling’s girlfriend, Angelica, on It’s Garry Shandling’s Show back in 1987. (Anyone remember the episode? Garry goes on Love Connection with Chuck Woolery, and after he starts dating Angelica, he changes the name of his show to It’s Garry and Angelica’s Show, complete with a revised theme song!)

Though I couldn’t figure out why Tarzan (and his banana) wasn’t credited in the info Matt provided for me, or on the movie’s IMDB page. So I asked who this fine specimen of a man is, and was told he’s “non-actor Kevin Dailey.” (Hope Mr. Dailey doesn’t mind my
outingcrediting him here!)

I’ve also been told that BABYLON “test-screened in 2008... It's due for actual release this year. No dates yet... as far as I know.”

Won’t some distributor out there please give Mr. Dailey (and his banana) a chance to show
itselfhimself to the world?!

UPDATE: The whole film

Music Box: Eddie Money

Hey, it's Kenneth here. After staying away from a computer for nearly five days now, I finally caved in when I got to my parents' house this evening. (Even a blogger needs a break once in a while, plus I know Frank will good care of you.) Still, I didn't think it would truly be kenneth in the (212) without a weekly Music Box post, so I had to sneak one in. Last week Michael, my brother Bill and I were debating what is Eddie Money's greatest song ever (there are a lot to choose from). I'm going with "Shakin'," which, if not his greatest, is certainly the best cruising song of all time, as I found out this week on the Sunset Strip. Be sure to cast your vote in the comments section below.

 

Read all Music Box posts HERE.

Star (Trek) Crossed Lovers

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Had a chance to see the preview for the new Star Trek while taking in a screening of I Love You, Man (which I loved, btw!) last weekend...

While I'm not a "Trekkie" (haven't seen a single episode of the original, Deep Space Nine, Next Generation, or any of the 80s films), I totally wanna check this new one out!

Especially after reading the greatest post about the new film over on AfterElton, written by my pal, Brent Hartinger... See for yourself here.

Bye-bye, Brooklyn!

*THIS POST IS BEING MADE BY GUEST-BLOGGER, FRANK ANTHONY POLITO

Tonight is the Season Finale of The Real World: Brooklyn. I’m ashamed to admit that I’m feeling a tad bit melancholy. Craig and I have spent the last several weeks watching JD, Scott, Chet, Ryan, Devyn, Baya, and Katelynn live out life in nearby Red Hook, and even though it hasn’t been “High Drama,” we’re going to miss these Crazy Kids.

Neither of us had seen TRW since season one with Eric Nies, way back in the early 90s, but the appeal of seeing the borough we’ve called home these 10+ years (first Carroll Gardens, now Park Slope) made it all the more enticing. Also the fact that, back in the fall, while working out at our neighborhood Crunch one evening, we found a camera crew following around four rather cute boys!

We’d heard rumors that TRW had invaded Brooklyn, so who else could these dudes be? Personally, I was pissed because there were NO “Warning: you are being videotaped” signs to be seen anywhere, and no one asked us to sign a release. (Which I would have refused, wanting to see what I looked like with my face fuzzed-out.) So part of the reason we had to watch the show was to see if we saw ourselves, so that we could file a grievance with SAG!

At first glance, I thought for sure that Scott (the muscle-y blond in the hat) was the Homo of the bunch, watching as he gave the other guys work out tips. I remember thinking Chet (purple jacket) needed to do something with that faux-hawk of his… Ryan (far right) I don’t remember seeing at all. And JD (cutie w/ raised fist), we had the pleasure of seeing lift his shirt so that the camera guy could adjust his mic pack(!)

Not sure why the guys were at Crunch that night—they’ve got their own gym right in the Red hook house. And to date, Craig and I have not seen ourselves onscreen—faces fuzzed-out or otherwise. But the finale should prove to be fun, as the previews indicate that several fights erupt as the Cast prepares to part ways.

Tune in tonight at 10:00 PM on MTV, following the premiere of the original movie, Pedro, based on the life of Pedro Zamora, from TRW: San Francisco.

Let the Sunshine...

*THIS POST IS BEING MADE BY GUEST-BLOGGER, FRANK ANTHONY POLITO 

For those of you living outside of New York, or aren't avid Times readers, Ben Brantley's review of the Broadway revival of HAIR is in... 

How excited was I to see my fellow Carnegie Mellon classmate, Andrew Kober's, name right there in black-and-white: "Acting out the lives of the adults they disdain (a charade at which Andrew Kober, Theo Stockman and Megan Lawrence are particularly expert) becomes a cathartic ritual." 

[Read the full review here.] 

The only thing I call into question is the choice to cast Gavin Creel in the role of "Claude" for this production. (I'm a Jonathan Groff fan, personally, and was disappointed to see he wasn't making the Broadway transfer.) As I said yesterday, I've never seen Mr. Creel perform, but can one really be drafted at the age of 32? 

Craig and I didn't get a chance to see the show last summer when it was at The Park, so we're going to do our best to catch it this time around. Though I'm sad to see that my other CMU classmate, Pa'Tina Miller, seems to no longer be in the production. Not sure why, but I assume she's gotten a better offer... I heard Pa'Tina did the pre-Broadway run of Sister Act: The Musical, and I know she played Erica Kaine's assistant, Pam, over at All My Kids a while back. 

I didn't know Pa'tina too well at CMU, but the performances I saw her give... The girl rocked! Check her out here singing "Aquarius" (she's the one in purple with the fro):