Sunday, February 27, 2005

Oscar Memories

It is that time of year, once again. Later tonight, the film industry will come together to participate in Hollywood’s Biggest Night at the 77th Annual Academy Awards.

While it has been a few years since I was last involved in the production of what would be a yearly ritual for many of us at ABC-TV, I couldn’t help getting a bit nostalgic today as I allowed myself to take a brief trek along Memory Lane. Some of my recollections included:

Robert Redford – Nominated in the Best Director category for his work on Ordinary People, he was also presenting a special Oscar to fellow actor Henry Fonda. During the course of rehearsals, Mr. Redford and I found ourselves sitting in the back of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, waiting for his turn to go up on stage. Amongst the many subjects we casually discussed through the course of the afternoon was his relaxing enjoyment of the sport of fly-fishing. A few years later, he would direct the critically acclaimed A River Runs Through It.

Shirley Temple Black – Sitting down to lunch with the child actress turned ambassador and foreign diplomat, I was self-conscience that I would use the wrong fork in front of the United States’ former Chief of Protocol. I was soon put at ease by this engaging conversationalist.

Lawrence Olivier – Always insisting that he be addressed informally as “Larry” (I compromised with “Mr. Olivier”), Lord Olivier made one of his final public appearances by presenting the Best Picture award to the producers of Amadeus. Despite the absence of pretension by either Olivier or his wife Joan Plowright, you knew that you were in the presence of the greatest actor to ever walk the boards.

Debbie Reynolds – A very classy lady who could get away with telling a joke that would make a roomful of crusty old stagehands blush and laugh with tears at the same time (and did!). Ms. Reynolds made sure that all of her fellow MGM veterans, like June Alyson, Ann Miller, Cyd Charisse, and Howard Keel knew that the same doctor who delivered her son Todd had delivered me as well.

I also fondly remember the Farkles; the “regulars” who would camp out, year after year, outside the Artists Entrance and up in the bleachers along the red carpet. The friendlier (and more sane) of them would bring us up to speed and fill us in on their lives from the previous 11 months, and often be our eyes and ears for potential trouble within the crowd of fans.

These are just a few of the printable recollections that I had today; there are others where I would have to change the names to protect the guilty. Sarah says that I should write a book. It may happen someday. In the meantime, may I have the envelope please…?

Thursday, February 24, 2005

Raise Your Hand If You Remember Dale Carnegie

This has been far from a quiet week, here in Britain and Europe.

Has President Bush been reading Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People? Given that Dubya is not known to be a voracious reader (and also by his past attitudes and actions), I seriously doubt it. Even so, he has jetted himself over to this side of the pond in an attempt to “make nice” with France’s Jacques Chirac and Germany’s Gerhard Schroeder. He is scheduled to meet with Russia’s Vladimir Putin today.

Britain’s Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, definitely has not attended a Dale Carnegie course. He has been pushing for a new (some say draconian) law, which would give him the personal powers of arrest and other deprivations of civil liberties, all under the guise of fighting terrorism.

Received a very nice email from L.A. talkradio broadcaster Michael Jackson yesterday. We are both veterans of the “pre-Disney” American Broadcasting Company. After being absent from the airwaves for much too long, he is now happily back behind the microphone at KNX Newsradio. I am pleased to hear that his wife Alana is making progress in her post-stroke rehabilitation. Michael has a highly informative website (www.michaeljacksontalkradio.com) which I visit whenever possible.

The Arctic Express has pulled into the station, towing behind it a slew of wintery snow. And that snow keeps falling, and falling...

Saturday, February 19, 2005

The Duke of Whalley

Home to Sarah and I is the quaint Lancashire village of Whalley. Surrounded by the Ribble Valley’s lush green grazing land, the ruins of a former monastic abbey, and country lanes which are shared by motorist and equestrienne alike, Whalley is where Mrs. Miniver would have lived had she been a Lancasterian.

Due in large part to the dictates of our current seasonal climate, my daily garb often consists of a pair of corduroy slacks, turtleneck shirt and a weather-repellent hooded coat, topped off by a trusty felt hat that I picked-up in the Yorkshire town of Kirkby Lonsdale. Noting that I resemble the local landed gentry, my father-in-law has begun referring to me as the Duke of Whalley.

While going about our business along Whalley’s high street on this brisk, yet sunny Saturday morning, an automobile pulled alongside and it’s two occupants asked for directions to the abbey. With the knowledge and authority of a native, I helpfully pointed these visitors to our village in the right direction. In between her bouts of laughter, the Duchess of Whalley informed this recent arrival from America that he had given excellent directions to the couple visiting his dukedom. I guess I am finally settling in.

Wednesday, February 16, 2005

Want to Emigrate to Britain? Please First Turn and Cough.

As part of its pre-General Election posturing, the Tory Party has proposed a set of new immigration laws which contain such "radical" and "discriminatory" components as mandatory testing for HIV and TB.

Radical? Discriminatory? Human rights proponents here and in the EU claim that medical screening for these two highly infectious and deadly diseases would be discriminatory and violate an individual's human rights. This is a screening process which has been in place for years in many countries, including Australia, Canada, and the United States - and to which Sarah went through without complaint when she first emigrated to the U.S.

I didn't realize that it was my unalienable RIGHT to live and work in the United Kingdom without having to meet any settlement criteria. Foolish me! I thought that I was here at the PRIVILEGE and pleasure of Her Majesty's government.

Sunday, February 13, 2005

Food, Glorious Food

Chef Jamie Oliver has produced another food-oriented television program, which will soon begin airing on the UK’s Channel Four. On the heels of a previous program that documented his opening of the restaurant 15, where he trains disadvantaged young people to be professional chefs, this new series follows Chef Oliver’s attempt to improve the quality of lunches served at a South London public school, while remaining on the already established (and appalling) daily budget of 37 pence (approximately 60 cents) per student.

Apparently, it was a lot easier to develop a healthy and flavorful menu than it was to convince a junk food bred generation of students (and parents) to embrace this experiment. Viewers tuning into the show have been promised scenes of parents handing food from McDonalds through the school’s railings to their children, while yelling at Chef Oliver, “Oi! Are you responsible for that menu? It’s crap!”

That single parental statement speaks volumes about why there is an obesity problem in both the UK and the US. By the way, I am happy to report that the recent physical exam conducted by my new general practitioner shows that my cholesterol count is at a healthy level and I weigh an equally healthy 185 pounds. I do miss the Smoke House restaurant (and their world-renown garlic cheese bread), back in Burbank, however.

Thursday, February 10, 2005

Prince Charles & Me

Less than 24 hours after my last journal entry, Clarence House has announced that the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker-Bowles are engaged to be married, with the ceremony scheduled for the 8th of April.

Is it actually possible that Prince Charles has been a visitor to this blog website, and has actually been reading my daily journal entries? Could I have possibly influenced the course of British history? Oliver Stone might think so, but the realist within me says otherwise.

Knowing that the Prince of Wales is a long-time friend of Monty Python's John Cleese, it would be almost comical to envision Charles turning to Camilla and saying, "I know how to show those pesky MPs, and have the last laugh at their expense. This will be better than the Dead Parrot sketch..."

At least the Windsors are finally becoming a bit more public relations savvy, and have opted against a big public affair, and will instead partake in a small civil ceremony at Windsor Castle's chapel. The loyalists to the late Princess Diana's memory could easily start something short of a civil war. However, judging by the unofficial public opinion of the last few hours, the British citizenry seems to have more pressing things to think about than Charles and Camilla's upcoming nuptuals, and pretty much could care less.

Speaking of matters of love...

This evening, Sarah and I watched our DVD copy of Love Actually (again). With a cast that includes Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, and Liam Neeson, we can view this movie over and over, and never tire of it. It seems to get better each time we run it. It's a sad commentary about the MTV-induced diminishing attention spans of the many people who complained that there were too many plot lines in this film. Their loss. We need more well-written "feel good" movies like this one.

Wednesday, February 09, 2005

I Adore The British Theatre

The General Elections will soon be upon us, here in the UK. How do I know? Our Members of Parliament (MPs for short) are acting even sillier than is their norm. One does not have to journey to Stratford-Upon-Avon or London’s West End to see good theatre; the current performances playing at Westminster more than aptly fills the playbill.

The flinging of accusations regarding political dirty tricks, by and at the Tory, Lib Dem, and Labour parties, far exceeds a good Keystone Kops pie fight.

To distract the British public away from hot button issues like the war in Iraq, the economy, national health care, immigration, membership in the EU, and even foxhunting, the MPs have decided to question the Queen and the Prince of Wales about their respective financial portfolios. The Royals are not being questioned about their official state incomes from the tax-payer supported Civil List. Instead, certain MPs are inquiring about income derived from centuries-old private holdings; specifically the Duchy of Lancaster and Duchy of Cornwall, and if the Royals are investing their money wisely.

The investigating committee has also expressed concern that the Prince of Wales might be paying the living expenses of his long-time mistress, Camilla Parker-Bowles, out of his own pocket. It gives one a very warm feeling to know that our MPs are so concerned about the Royal Family’s financial well being and not doing something as caddish as keeping one’s mistress in the style that she has grown accustomed.

I guess it could be worse. The short campaign period here in Great Britain could last as long as the year and a half campaign season that exists back in the U.S.

Sunday, February 06, 2005

Sundays With Auntie Beeb

In my book, the top interviewers currently gracing the airwaves are veteran Los Angeles broadcaster Michael Jackson, along with the UK's Michael Parkinson and Sir David Frost. I think it is more than a mere coincidence that all three gentlemen received their “formal schooling” at the BBC.

Sunday mornings and early afternoons can usually find Sarah and I perusing the morning newspapers and spending a pleasant visit with “Auntie Beeb” – In the form of BBC Radio 2. This morning, as we attempt to do every Sunday, we tuned into Michael Parkinson’s weekly radio program. “Parky” can best be described as Britain’s Johnny Carson. His radio show is a wonderful blend of music, a review of the Sunday newspapers, and topical discussion of the current events of the day. Additionally, he hosts a once per week Tonight Show-style program on ITV, which is a mandatory stop for any celebrity passing through London.

Today’s radio broadcast was an extra special treat, as Parky’s special guest was the equally erudite Sir David Frost. Among many topics, the two discussed this week’s opening of the new Winston Churchill exhibition at the Cabinet War Rooms museum in London. Sir David, when not fulfilling his Breakfast with Frost television hosting duties, has been moonlighting as one of the chief fundraisers for this new and permanent exhibit that chronicles the life of Britain’s most celebrated statesman.

Sundays spent with Auntie Beeb, are hours well spent receiving listening pleasure and food for the soul. Immediately following Parky’s broadcast, we were treated to 90 minutes of Broadway, West End, and Hollywood musical show tunes as presented by actress-singer Elaine Paige. The star of such productions as Cats, Grease, and Sunset Boulevard, Ms. Paige injects anecdotal remembrances in between the musical tracks she plays every week. Her program is followed by another hour of music hosted by 1960’s singing artist Lulu, most famous for her recording of To Sir, With Love.

Yes, a Sunday visit with Auntie Beeb is a very fine way to put away what we left behind, and approach what awaits us in the coming week.

Saturday, February 05, 2005

In Praise of the British Dog

Moving from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles to the more tranquil and sensory enriching English village that is now our home, it is difficult not to observe certain things that either didn't exist in El Lay, or were just not as evident as they are here. The importance of the dog in British society, to name just one.

On our almost daily walks to the village high street, we have had the opportunity to exchange pleasentries with many of our local neighbors. We have become good friends with Jasper, George, Hattie, Spike, Griffin, and Daisy, amongst others. And through them, we have become acquainted with the humans who belong to them. Dogs abound where we reside. Be they working dogs who keep an ever-vigilant eye upon the sheep herd grazing upon the fells and moors; a foxhound participating in the weekend hunt; the handyman's "helper" providing company and a neat (if slightly wet) tool pile; or most importantly, the most loyal of family members, who happily and lovingly greets your return to home. Dogs seem to have always held a place of importance and esteem in this little corner of the world. Gaze upon a portrait or landscape painting by an English artist. How often can we find a dog, either prominently displayed or making a Where's Waldo? appearence?

During a dinner conversation with a pair of our human neighbors the other evening, we were discussing the current real estate market in the area. There had apparently been a recent advertised rental listing which specified "No Smokers. No Children. Dogs Permitted." Who said the British don't have their priorities in order?


Vodka Martini. Shaken, Not Stirred.

It has been announced that the next James Bond film will be based upon and share the same title of author Ian Flemming's first novel, Casino Royale.

This will actually be the second Casino Royale to appear on the cinematic screen. The first outing was not produced by the late Cubby Broccoli, and had three seperate actors portraying Agent 007: David Niven, Peter Sellars, and Woody Allen (and the same number of directors, if I recall). Needless to say, the only good thing that can be said about that film was the Burt Bacharach - Hal David musical score, including a catchy title theme performed by Herb Alpert and the now classic song, "The Look of Love," which was recently re-recorded by songstress Diana Krall.

Too bad actor Pierce Brosnan will no longer be donning his tuxedo on behalf of Her Majesty's Secret Service. He definitely matched, if not bettered, Sir Sean Connery in exercising his License to Thrill, and was reportedly more than willing to carry on the duty of serving "Queen and Country." It will be interesting to see who inherits the Walther PPK and martini glass, and if they measure up to those who preceded him (or her?).

Friday, February 04, 2005

Technology

Technology, when used properly and honorably, can be a marvelous thing. I awoke this morning at 3:30 a.m. in order to try out a new piece of "technology."

Using a system called IRLP, which linked the radio signal emitted from my personal "ham radio" to the Internet, I was able to converse with some of my old friends and colleagues in Los Angeles (who are also amateur radio operators), from here in England. A true marriage between modern computer technology and the "old" technology originated by the likes of Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, Samuel F.B. Morse, and Guglielmo Marconi.

Yes, it would have been easier and more "efficient" to simply use the telephone, or send an email. But, there's no challenge or novelty (or nostalgia) in that, is there? The next time I witness a pair or trio of teenage girls sending each other "instant text messages" to and from their mobile telephones (their interpretation of intellectual conversation), as they stand within a few feet of each other, I'll think about this morning's minor accomplishment...