Straight Talk

Being a fan of Louis C.K. isn't always easy -- it's dark and uncomfortable and requires you to think. But believe me, it's so worth it. (Via Slog)

Joe Manganiello Needs a Ride

And I'm more than willing to help him out. (Via World of Wonder)

Return to the Valley of the Bangles

Go ahead, point and laugh at my latest purchase, "Sweetheart of the Sun" by the Bangles. Listen, if you're (still) gonna carry an eternal flame, of course you're gonna buy the compact disc -- and the special edition at that. (Two bonus tracks -- and "eternal" means "eternal"!) Sadly, the gals weren't at a Barnes & Noble in New York for the big release on Tuesday. But from the looks of these wire photos from L.A. (below), it was a fun event with an acoustic set to boot. (Anyone go?)

My guiltless pleasure

The band's support tour starts tomorrow night in Philly. We've got tickets to the show Monday at the Highline Ballroom -- my first time seeing them live since the House of Blues in West Hollywood a decade ago. (Ironically, it's the same night the Psychedelic Furs are playing here in the city, who I saw the Bangles open for in 1984 at the Mesa Amphitheater when they were touring for their classic debut, "All Over the Place.")

xx

I'm loving the (almost) title track, "Anna Lee (Sweetheart of the Sun)," a lot, which proves they can still write a catchy single, as well as "I'll Never Be Through With You" (a song Susanna Hoffs had recorded for a solo album that was shelved when the Bangles reunited in the late '90s), the "Everything"-ish "What a Life" and the cover of Nazz's "Open Your Eyes." Still warming up to a few of the other songs, but the album definitely has a rawer sound than their glossy '80s heyday, so I'm noticing it gets better with repeated spins. I can say Michael Steele's absence is felt. Got me nostalgic for "Nickel Romeo" from the band's good-but-too-long first comeback LP, "Doll Revolution." Still. it's nice to see the Bangles continue being creative after all these years and -- if my memory serves me correctly -- performing live is where they excel most!

For more information, including tour dates, click HERE.

You can follow Vicki on Facebook HERE and Debbi HERE.

Faked, You Out!

Real Kenneth meets Fake Jan

Just noticed that Geri Reischl (aka Fake Jan) posted this photo her friend took of us at Michael Musto's book party the other night. As I've mentioned, Geri and I have a connection because of a post I wrote about her taking over Eve Plumb's role as Jan Brady in 1976 that was included in a book about the the ill-fated "Brady Bunch Variety Hour." Reischl has certainly gotten a lot of mileage out of her Brady turn -- and who can blame her? -- but I think it's interesting to note that no one ever talks about the fact that both Cindy Olsen and Maureen McCormick were also missing in action in other Brady reunions, "A Very Brady Christmas" TV movie (1988) and "The Bradys" series (1990), respectively. In fact, the only reunion to feature all of the original family members was "The Brady Brides" (1981), a short-lived series that ran when I was in 9th grade and was undoubtedly the most anticipated television event of my life. (The Bradys -- finally together again!!!)

Geri Reischl had the look, but no one could replace Eve Plumb, whose recalcitrant ways have been mimicked for the last 40 years. ("Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway" -- best. movie. ever!)

Jennifer Runyon was way prettier than Susan Olsen, and didn't even have a lisp. Easy to see why Charles was in Charge of her Gwendolyn character a few years before her Brady experien(th)ce.

Leah Ayres filled in (rather poorly) for Maureen McCormick on the downbeat series "The Bradys" (1990). Bobby was a paraplegic (married to Martha Quinn!), Peter's engagement fell apart, Jan and Phillip couldn't have a child (big shock, Jan's frigid!) and Cindy was fucking her boss at the radio station, a widower with two kids. But it was Fake Marcia who stole the show as a messy alcoholic! Eternally nontraditional hubby Wally couldn't hold down a job either, so they were forced to move in with Mike and Carol. Given what we know about the real Marcia now, it seems the role was a bit of typecasting. Might that have been why she sat this one out?

No doubt Dick Sargeant replacing Dick York and Sarah Chalke taking over for Lecy Goranson were the highest-profile television replacements of all time, filling two high-profile roles on highly rated shows.

Damon Evans replaced Mike Evans (no relation) as Lionel halfway through the fourth season of "The Jeffersons." According to Jimmie Walker, Mike had threatened to leave if he was not given more screen time, and Norman Lear let him out of his contract. Actor and opera singer Damon Evans then took the role of Lionel, but Mike returned in the role for the sixth through eighth seasons. Mike was no lightweight, also having been a creator and writer of the series "Good Times" (1974–79).

Sarah Chalke lacked Lecy Goranson's blue-collar Midwest charm, and you could totally believe was Dan and Roseanne's daughter. It got particularly wacky toward the end of the show when Goranson came back à la Mike Evans (Roseanne said at the time that she hated firing Chalke but that she "wasn't Becky"), only to go AWOL periodically, with Chalke filling in again. It's pretty crazy when you think of all the shows that pulled this replacement routine, though.

Mary Frann had just the right look and temperament to play Abby in the "Eight Is Enough: A Family Reunion" TV movie (1987), yet I remember being quite sad when I saw a reference to this -- plus her more famous role as Bob Newhart's wife, Joanna Loudon, on "Newhart" -- in her obituary. Not only did she die prematurely (of an undiagnosed heart condition at age 55), the poor woman was always playing second fiddle to some other wife. (Let's face it, there's no substitute for Suzanne Pleshette.) Adding insult to injury, Frann was replaced as Fake Abby in "An Eight Is Enough Wedding" two years later by Sandy Faison!

Judith Baldwin spared Tina Louise a trip to the plastic surgeon, but she got around to it later, anyway

Tina Louise was reportedly eager to distance herself from the role that made her famous on "Gilligan's Island" when producers began talking about a reunion movie. But don't think for a second she didn't love it when Judith Baldwin stepped into Ginger Grant's stilettos for "Rescue From Gilligan's Island" (1978) and "The Castaways of Gilligan's Island" (1979).

The ever-vain Louise was a dozen years older than Baldwin, so I doubt she minded that most Americans thought she still looked like this, especially with that bitch Dawn Wells showing up looking like a million bucks.

To Julie Newmar: Thanks for everything, Kenneth in the (212)

The various actresses playing Catwoman weren't really the same type of recasting as some of these other roles, but I always did prefer Julie Newmar to Lee Meriwether and Eartha Kitt. She and Adam West had some serious chemistry, which is what the role was what the feline seductress role was all about. She also seemed to get Robin a little revved up for good measure.

Lastly, along with "Bewitched," the whole Marilyn Munster shakeup was my first experience with recasting. Every so often one of the 13 episodes with Beverley Owen would come on and rock my little world. She may have been first, but Pat Priest will always be Marilyn in my eyes. The Daily News says Owen was unhappy with her life in Hollywood so quit the business. Priest then took on the role for the remainder of the series' two seasons, yet neither returned for the numerous "Munsters" movies and remakes since, including "Munsters' Revenge" (1981), which featured Jo McDonnell as everyone's favorite homely blonde.

I never watched "Dynasty," but I know there were two Steven Carringtons and two Fallons (Emma Samms was Holly on "General Hospital" when I watched). Would love to hear about your recasting memories in the comments section.

And apparently Gordon Thomson was none too pleased when they got Robin Sachs to play Adam Carrington in "Dynasty: The Reunion" in 1991.

Panda Express

I've always had a thing for pandas ever since going to the National Zoo in Washington as a child to see Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, the two giant pandas given to the United States as gifts by China after President Nixon visited in 1972. My parents even decorated my newborn sister's bedroom in pandas when she came along in 1974. So multiple my delight by 12 -- when a dozen giant pandas were born this week in Chengdu, China, at a center that started with just six in 1987 and now has more than 100. There's a video HERE -- they almost don't look real, like Peeps or something. So cute!

Morning Wood