How am I just now seeing for the first time this photo of two of my favorite entertainers of all time? If anyone can tell me anything about it -- purportedly taken by Chris Stein in 1979 -- please speak up! Debbie Harry hosted "Saturday Night Live" in 1981 during that off-brand season when Lorne Michaels wasn't at the helm and Gilda was gone. So my best guess is Debbie visited Gilda at the Winter Garden Theatre when she was doing her one-woman Broadway show, "Live From New York," the soundtrack to which I played nonstop after getting it for Christmas later that year!
Damian and I watched "Love, Gilda" last night -- so funny how I've gone from being an "I'll only watch a movie in the theater" guy to an "I'll only do video-on-demand" guy -- and it was every bit as heartwarming and heart-wrenching as you would imagine it would be. I've written about my childhood love for Gilda many times before, how my mom bought me the Gilda paper dolls for Christmas in 1979 and how I inexplicably broke down down in tears when I heard the news that she'd married G.E. Smith in 1980. But the documentary, featuring tons of rare footage -- Dan Aykroyd used to be hot??? -- and dozens of handwritten journal entries by the beloved comedian revealed even more about her fragility and insecurities than I was aware of, rendering her that much more lovable than she already was. I've used "Honey" as my song of the day before. But after hearing it in the documentary last night -- and realizing just how closely its heartbreakingly romantic nature wrapped as a joke mirrored Gilda herself -- I trust you'll forgive me for picking it again.
P.S. OMG! Watch it before it's pulled down again -- Patti Caldwell's "Stretch Marks" commercial is online again!
Sad that it took Gene Wilder's death to see him and Gilda Radner on the cover of a magazine together, but it's also a great time to remind everyone that the film "Love Gilda" is getting closer to release. Absolutely fell in love with her as a boy and was devastated when she was taken from us. About time her genius was documented.
Yesterday would have been the incomparable Gilda Radner's 70th birthday. (How is that even possible?) The Broadway audience didn't know what to make of this when she performed it to close out "Gilda Live." The title hinted it was meant to be funny, but the lyrics were heart-breakingly sweet. This one gets me every time.
I know I'm not the only person who adored Gilda Radner. Still, it's always heartening -- almost spooky, really -- to read another person's account of their affection for the late actress/comedian, as the parallels are almost always there. What was it about her that made boys and men, gay and straight, want to be around her, protect her and love her? Scott Michaels, who runs the incredible Find-a-Death site, does as good a job as I've seen explaining it -- tissues required. Read HERE.
Thanks to everyone who informed me they are reairing the "Saturday Night Live" 40th anniversary special tonight, even if Matt Rettendmund's review has me thinking I'm probably gonna skip it (again) and flip through my old Gilda Radner People magazine (again).
Forgot to set my DVR for the SNL 40th anniversary special and am not convinced it's worth trying to watch now on Hulu with all its annoying ads. I did, however, happen to see the In Memoriam segment while having a drink at the Ninth Avenue Saloon and only realized I had involuntarily broken into applause when Gilda Radner's face came on the screen after people in the place starting staring at me. I've written about my love for her HERE and HERE -- when I was 12, I burst into tears when news came over the radio that Gilda got married yet I'm still not sure why -- and teared up again reading Bill Murray's account of the last time he saw her HERE. If there's a god then how do you explain the way-too-soon cancellation of "The Judy Miller Show"?
A friend reminded me we lost Gilda Radner on this day in 1989. I've written about my intense love for the gifted comedian HERE and HERE. But it was when watching "The Women of SNL" the other night on television that I was truly reminded just what a treasure she was, seeing her work juxtaposed against the women who succeeded her. Nearly 40 years have passed Gilda and her quirky cast of characters debuted on "Saturday Night Live" and they are as funny today as they were then. We miss you, Bunny Bunny. Here is one of my favorites:
My love for Gilda Radner is well-documented HERE and HERE. So you can imagine how moved I was when I realized the part of West Houston Street where Gilda's House resides has been renamed after the gone-too-soon funny lady.
With thanks to Kevin Sessums, who reminds us that on this date in 1979, the late and wonderfully sweet and talented Gilda Radner opened her one-woman show on Broadway, "Gilda Radner: Live From New York." I've written about this before, but it's worth repeating on this occasion, that I had a such a bizarre love for Gilda as a boy, and felt protective of her, perhaps in the same way my predecessors cared for Judy Garland. How bizarre, you ask? I sobbed uncontrollably the day I found out she got married in 1980 -- I was 12 -- yet I didn't even know why. (Do I know why today?) Coincidentally, the man she wed would end up becoming a neighbor of mine, G.E. Smith. Gilda's Broadway show was hilarious -- I used to play the soundtrack over and over and over again, just as Gilda says she did Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner's "2000-Year-Old Man" ... in the basement ... or rec room. I know every word of it by heart 30-some years later -- from "Let's Talk Dirty to the Animals" and "Love to Be Unhappy," to Lisa Looper's version of "The Way We Were" and Candy Slice's "Gimme Mick." But the song that made the show for me -- and still brings tears to my eyes today -- is "Honey (Touch Me With My Clothes On)," which I believe to be the most romantic song of all time. The audience starts off laughing at first -- it's Gilda Radner, after all -- but by the time it's over, you'll be lonesome for a more innocent time, and equally lonesome for a time when Gilda was still with us. We miss you, Gilda ...
This is just outrageous. Prosecutors want to put this 21-year-old in jail for 20 years on child pornography charges over a prank video of questionable taste. (It sounds hilarious to me, BTW!) There was no crime here -- and furthermore, isn't being a waiter at Applebee's in Muskegon, Mich., punishment enough?
This is comedian Billy Eichner's take on the Alicia Keys-Jay Z hit "Empire State of Mind," perhaps the sharpest parody by a yenta since the legendary Gilda Radner sprayed on a pair of Jewess Jeans back in 1980. (That's "SNL" alum Rachel Dratch as Keys!)
My friend Mark and I were on the phone forever the other night hysterical reminiscing about Gilda Radner's classic character Patty Caldwell, whose commercial for her album "Stretch Marks" ranks as one of the funniest moments in the history of television. ("Me and Me Against the World," "You Call Me Bitch One More Time I'll Scratch Your Eyes Out," "I Used to Be Quite Interesting, Really"!)
Even all these years later I'm not exactly sure why, but I had a deep, deep affection for Gilda from the first time I watched her on television. Like nearly everyone, I thought she was hilarious (Emily Litella, "Goodbye, Saccharin," Baba Wawa, "Jewess Jeans"!) -- and by far the most talented Not Ready for Prime Time Player.
I absolutely adored her Broadway show (I remember watching it over and over on HBO) and still think "Honey, Touch Me With My Clothes On" is truly the most romantic song of all time. I played the ""Gilda Radner: Live From New York" soundtrack incessantly, and as a kid loved getting to swear during "Let's Talk Dirty to the Animals" (hey, I'm just singing along!) and I still find myself breaking into "I Love to Be Unhappy" from time to time.
Oh, and I even had the Gilda Radner paper dolls (Christmas present from Mom, of course). But there was something more to it all. I'll never forget that afternoon in 1980 when my brothers and I were helping our stepdad do yardwork and news came over the radio outside that Gilda Radner had gotten married. I was stunned and felt like someone had punched me in the stomach. Without hesitation, I slipped out of sight from everyone and burst into tears. Was this what it meant to have a "crush"? Or was I worried that the guy wouldn't be good enough for her? I honestly don't know. Whatever the case, though, I think I sensed her vulnerability (which would only become knowledge many years later) and felt protective of her, perhaps in the same way my predecessors cared for Judy Garland. I think about that moment often as I later realized the man she married (and quickly divorced) was "SNL" band leader G.E. Smith, who I see on the street all the time because lives around the corner from me. (So far I haven't even ask for a photo let alone mentioned it!) As I started to write this, I was stunned to see that it's been 20 years since Gilda died, and shaken to realize she was only 42, the same age I am now. Still, it's moments like the other night when Mark and I relived the magic that was Gilda that assure me that while she is gone, she is truly one who will not be forgotten.
Sadly, the "Stretch Marks" clip was removed from YouTube (thanks, a lot). But for those of you who remember the skit the transcript below will be all you need to get you going. I did find another classic (the Jewess Jean commercial), which will also make you smile.
UPDATE: I see DailyMotion has it now!
"Stretch Marks" by Patty Caldwell
Announcer: Now, at last, an album for career women in their late 30s -- featuring the expressive, the moody, the 38-year-old Patty Caldwell. Finally reaching maturity with her new LP release, "Stretch Marks" .
Patty Caldwell: [ singing ] "Stretch Marks. Stretch Marks. Footprints of time on my skin.."
Announcer: Patty Caldwell reaches back into her own experiences, to bring back to life tunes like "I Used to Be Quite Interesting, Really", "F-U-L-L-F-I-L-L-M-E-N-T".
Patty Caldwell: [ singing ] "F-U-L-L-F-I-L-L-M-E-N-T. That's what this boy does to me. F-U-L-L-F-I-L-L-M-E-N-T. That's what life means to me."
Announcer: "I Feel Sorry For People in Love". "My Songs Are My Children".
Patty Caldwell: [ singing ] "I'm married to music. My songs are my children. I'm married to music. My songs are my kids. I'm married to music.."
Announcer: "Bad Child". "Cats". "You Call Me Bitch One More Time I'll Scratch Your Eyes Out". Patty shares her lonely moments with you, in songs like "You'll Be Sorry Someday".
Patty Caldwell: [ singing ] "You'll be sorry someday.. when she begins to look like me. Is that your car..?"
Announcer: "Kids -- It's Academic Now (Too Risky)". "Me and Me Against the World". "Yesterday's Dreams". "Droopin'". "Vantage Blues".
Patty Caldwell: [ singing ] "Fifty bucks in the ashtray. I've got those Vantage blues again..""
Announcer: "My Niece Is Such a Drag". "Man's World Without Men". Patty Caldwell lets it all hang out, with her new "Stretch Marks." This album is not available in record stores. Send your check or money order to: "Stretch Marks," Grand Central Station, Box 202. Only $8.75 for the record album, or $11.15 for 8-track cassette.
Patty Caldwell: [ singing ] "Stretch Marks. Stretch Marks. Footprints of time on my skin.."
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Carlsbad, Calif. (2008)
1983
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Little Larry left us too soon.
Once I Had a Love
With Debbie Harry
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