ARE YOU KIDDING ME? REMAKE "DYNASTY?" THAT'S NUTS.

NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!

THIS IS THE WORST IDEA I HAVE HEARD IN A LONG TIME. IT WILL ABSOLUTELY FAIL.

The CW has decided to try to remake this iconic 80s soap.
"Dynasty" is not "MacGyver." You can't just stick in another cute blond guy and some currents gadgetry and make it a hit for a new generation. "Dynasty" was the gold standard, and the man who created the "look and feel" was Doug Cramer. It doesn't matter who created the characters. The look was the show. And, that "look" won't work in these times, and the look that would work is not "Dynasty." It also could never be cast correctly with what's available today.

Save your money CW. You are flushing it down a drain.

LIFETIME UPDATE---JON BENET IN, BRANGELINA OUT

 

 LIFETIME abruptly cancels Brangelina breakup special

AW...GEE. Let's see. Chicken out on this, probably because of lawsuit threats, but still doing two on dead, defenseless, Jon Benet.

 

 

JON BENET RAMSEY IS STILL BEING ASSAULTED

RATINGS ARE BIG BUSINESS. WHEN THE CBS JON BENET RAMSEY SPECIAL BEAT THE EMMYS, THE RATINGS WHORES WOKE UP.

Here's is Lifetime's press release:

Lifetime will air a two-hour documentary special titled “JonBenét’s Mother: Victim or Killer?” in November, following the premiere of the scripted movie based on the 20-year-old murder case.

The documentary, which will premiere on Saturday, November 5, will focus on JonBenét Ramsey’s mother, Patsy. The special promises to feature people who have never spoken publicly, as well as a fresh look at the crime. It will also examine the evidence through the lens of modern forensic technology.

The premiere will follow the debut of the scripted film “Who Killed JonBenét?,” starring Eion Bailey (“Band of Brothers”), Michel Gill (“Mr. Robot“), Julia Campbell (“Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion”) and Payton Lepinski as JonBenet.

HASN'T THIS POOR LITTLE GIRL BEEN USED ENOUGH?

MEET CAIRO DWEK--THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF HER MODELING CAREER

CAIRO DWEK---- SHE'D BEEN MODELING ABOUT
 "AN HOUR" BEFORE SHE HAD HER FIRST COVER.

I have spent so many years looking at magazines in stands where either I had written a story in one of them, or a friend of mine was on the cover. If you read this blog, you know Alexandra Dwek is a close friend of mine. And, I've known Cairo since she was about 14. I also knew about the cover.

But to be cruising along the aisles of a RITE AID in Palm Springs and see this......it was REALLY COOL. The Daughter Also Rises! And, Cairo is a freshman at USC. Smart move.

THE GREAT DEBATE---(?) HILLARY AND DONALD

THIS IS NOT MEANT TO BE FUNNY AT ALL

MOST PEOPLE SEEM TO BE TREATING THIS LIKE A BOXING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, OR THE FINALE OF SURVIVOR, OR THE REAL POLITICIANS OF NEW YORK, OR THE SUPERBOWL OF SARCASM. 

Parties are being held; casseroles are being made; vodka bottles chilled; score cards printed. 

Oh, wait. The future of our country is at stake. STOP SMIRKING. START LISTENING, AMERICA.

CONGRATULATIONS TO AFI FOR HONORING THESE THREE WOMEN TRAILBLAZERS

ANNA MAY WONG, IDA LUPINO AND DOROTHY DANDRIDGE TO BE HONORED AT THE AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE FILM FESTIVAL


WHAT DID THEY ALL HAVE IN COMMON? THEY WERE TALENT WOMEN WHO WERE SCREWED OVER BY MISOGYNISTIC, PREJUDICED HOLLYWOOD




ANNA MAY WONG



Anna May Wong was the first woman Chinese movie star in America and the world. She was a bright woman who hated the stereotyping, and, eventually went to Europe t get better parts. Her biggest disappointment was NOT being hired to play the Chinese girl O-Lan in THE GOOD EARTH. A white actress played it.


IDA LUPINO

Ida Lupino became a pioneering director and producer—the only woman working within the 1950s Hollywood studio system to do so. With her independent production company, she co-wrote and co-produced several of her own social-message films, and was the first woman to direct a film noir, The Hitch-Hiker, in 1953. In her 48-year career, she made acting appearances in 59 films and directed eight others, mostly in the United States, where she became a citizen in 1948. The majority of her later career as an actress, writer, and director was in television, where she directed more than 100 episodes of productions ranging across Westerns, supernatural tales, situation comedies, murder mysteries, and gangster stories. She was the only woman to direct episodes of the original The Twilight Zone series, and the only director to have starred in the series, as well.

While all of this sounds fantastic, Ida Lupino was referred to as a "ball-buster," just because she wanted to direct.  For decades, when young woman in Hollywood tried to get directing jobs, Ida Lupino's name was ALWAYS USED IN THIS WAY--"What do you mean we don't have woman directors? Look at Ida Lupino!"  I guess they felt one was enough. It IS better now, for sure, but absolutely not good enough.


DOROTHY DANDRIDGE

Dorothy Dandridge died of an embolism at age 42. Anti-depressants also contributed to her her death. So, in my opinion did the director, Otto Preminger. Dandridge was a beautiful black girl in a white man's world. She had light skin and wasnt "black enough to be black or white enough" to get better roles at that time. She was finally nominated for an Oscar for CARMEN JONES, but her "boyfriend," Otto Preminger told her to turn down all the leading lady roles she was offered after that. Terrified woman; egotistic, controlling director relationship.  Several years later, she was cast in PORGY AND BESS--great choice. Well, the director was replaced with Otto the Pig, and he replaced her. Bastard.

A special note: My father was her gynecologist. He was a very quiet man who never showed emotion. When she died at that young age, it was the only time I ever saw him cry.

IPHONE ADDICTION HAS TO STOP

ANDREW SULLIVAN HAS AN ARTICLE IN THIS WEEK'S NEW YORK MAGAZINE that scared me. He went to a Meditation Camp or Tech Addiction Camp or whatever you want to call it. This is the second article I've read on this in two days---ironically, of course, as I was addicted to the internet and my phone. The retreat lasts a week, and all phones and devices are collected as you check in. 

People panic at the beginning. Their anxieties run rampant. How's the dog? What's on TMZ? What am I missing? During the week people walk through forests. They read books you can hold. They actually talk to each other and look each other in the eyes. 

At one point, Sullivan just started sobbing. All the feelings he could deflect by texting an emoji had no place to go. His therapist there told him that sobbing was normal and that it would abate. 

Yesterday, I found myself watching TV, reading my ipad, and picking up the iphone to email images on it to make sure it was on all platforms. I had a very strong dizzy spell and had to grab my forehead. My eyes and brain were fried. I did it to myself. It was VERY scary.



I'm sick of people talking loudly on their phones in office waiting rooms I'm sick of trying to avoid getting bumped by idiots texting and reading while walking on a public sidewalk. And, don't even get me started about phones and driving. I can't change anyone else, but I can change myself.


I'm going to make some changes. The world really will go on if I stay off TMZ for several hours. I was that kid who read the Encyclopedia Brittanica almost every day because I loved information. Access to information is what intrigued me about the internet. But I got sucked in like everybody else.

NO MORE.

I'm going to try to check emails and my news sites once in the morning, once in the afternoon and once at night. I mean it. And, I'm going to try no tech after seven at night. I AM very conscious of our beautiful worked outside and I already do take a lot of time to enjoy it. My problem is inside the house.  So, as I sit on a golf course writing this to you, I'm going out to play.


A SPECIAL NOTE TO PARENTS: Keep those devices away from your children for as many years as you can. Let them understand what a live human is; what communication is; what feelings are; what a book is.

BRAD AND ANGELINA AND THE KIDS--WHAT TO DO NOW?

 

WHAT TO DO NOW? TAKE A LOOK AT THIS PICTURE. This story has now taken a sad, pretty off-the-rails turn. Accusations with serious implications are flying. All these children's lives are at stake.

What do we do now? NOTHING. Stay out of it. Let's just hope it can be resolved in peace for everyone's highest good.

I APOLOGIZE TO MARION COTILLARD--EVEN THOUGH I WAS JUST REPORTING THE RUMOR

MARION COTILLARD IS A REAL LADY. IT'S TOO BAD HER NAME HAS BEEN DRAGGED INTO THE PITT-JOLIE SITUATION. PEOPLE KNOW NOW THAT IT'S FALSE

MARION COTILLION DENIES AFFAIR. HAPPY IN HER REALTIONSHP. HAS A CHILD

I LOVE MARION COTILLARD. LET'S NOT PRONOUNCE HER GUILTY YET.


OK. SO LET'S ADD TO THIS THAT IN HER DIVORCE FILING, ANGELINA ALLEGES BRAD IS A HEAVY POT SMOKER AND DRINKER AND RAGER AND HE INFLICTS THIS BEHAVIOR ON CHILDREN.


ONCE A CHEATING BASTARD, ALWAYS A CHEATING BASTARD

(AND DON'T FORGET, HE DID IT TO GWYNETH PALTROW, TOO.)

BUT THIS TIME HE DID IT TO CHILDREN AS WELL.

LINDA THOMPSON'S BOOK PARTY--CONGRATS! ON NEW YORK TIMES BEST-SELLER LIST!

LINDA THOMPSON'S FIANCE (WHEN SHE WAS A YOUNG 22 ) WAS ELVIS PRESLEY. HER FIRST HUSBAND WAS BRUCE JENNER. HER SECOND HUSBAND WAS HIT-MAKE RECORD PRODUCER SONGWRITER DAVID FOSTER. DOES SHE HAVE STORIES TO TELL???

I SUGGEST YOU READ THE BOOK.

Hosts Ambassador Nicole Avant and Irena Medavoy watch as Linda thanks guests on the rooftop of Burberry on Rodeo Drive

As a treat before the actual party, Burberry live-streamed their fashion show from London, featuring the designs of Christopher Bailey. The theme was ORLANDO--the novel and movie. I loved the clothes. More on that later.

"I'm just so happy and grateful that my book has been well-received. I'm so excited it's on the best-seller list. Ive been writing it over a period of ten years. The reviews have been wonderful. The worst thing anyone has said about it is that maybe I sugar-coated some things. Well, I did. I don't want to hurt people. You can read what I wrote and figure it out. If that's the worst thing anyone says about it, then I'm happy," said Linda.

And, yes, she writes abut the first time she saw her husband, Bruce dressed up as a woman, years before anyone ever knew. Linda had two sons with Bruce, and the way she handled Bruce's struggle with their children is inspiring. The most important thing in Linda's life is family.

After the viewing, we all had a chance to see the clothes (and buy them) A portion of the sales went to the fabulous charity called A SENSE OF HOME. It was founded by Georgie Smith and Melissa Goddard.

A Sense of Home (ASOH) changes the lives of foster youth who've "aged out" of the foster care system by creating homes for them. Using donated furniture and housewares, volunteers work with the youth to help them realize their own sense of home — often for the first time, in the process, helping them achieve self-sufficiency.

With Linda. Slight height discrepancy

 

Irena and Danica Perez

Joyce Arad and Cheryl Saban

Also enjoying the fun were Nancy Davis, Lynn Palmer, Vanna White, Susan and Kevin Nealon, Bui Simon, and Sandy Martindale

Joyce, Cheryl, Me, Georgie, Yolanda, and Melissa

Burberry Penthouse. Who knew?

Linda, Cheryl, Danielle Del

Lisa Stanley, Danielle, Me, Donna Antebi, and Linda

AOC/Lucques catered the event

AND NOW FOR THE FASHIONS-- When I was a kid in college, I hated getting up for 8 a.m. classes. My go-to outfit was to simply put a trenchcoat on over my pajamas and go to school. I'm happy to report that Burberry has finally caught up with my fashion trend. Many of their new outfits consist of silk pajamas under a blazer; a silk robe over a gown; wallpaper-patterned fabrics; the white poof collar from ORLANDO, ruffled shirts; and silk boxer shorts..... I loved it all

Look closely--cotton short, silk pj top, then coat

Add caption

Love silk boxers. I WILL wear them out of the house....probably to Irena's house.

LUCIE ARNAZ' SHOW AT FEINSTEIN'S IN SAN FRANCISCO

OK. I KNOW ALL OF YOU KNOW SHE'S NOT ONLY ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS, BUT SHE'S LIKE A SISTER. SO WHEN I TELL YOU THAT HER PERFORMANCES THIS WEEKEND WERE SOME OF THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY I'VE EVER SEEN FROM ANY ARTIST, YOU MAY THINK I'M PREJUDICED.

INSTEAD, READ THE WORDS OF VANITY FAIR'S KEVIN SESSUMS WHO WAS THERE, TOO:


I just got in from seeing my Facebook friend Lucie Arnaz Luckinbill's remarkable cabaret performance at Feinstein's at the Nikko. She's here in San Francisco for one more night - Saturday the 17th. If you can get a ticket, don't miss her. And if she's appearing in one of your cities out there in the coming months, trust me: see this act. Lucie is at the top of her game. Funny. Moving. In great voice. And downright sexy. She's a real pro - accompanied by her longtime musical director Ron Abel, a real pro himself at the top of his own game.

Lucie has the comic timing of her mother but what surprised me was the depth of her acting in some of the love songs that filled her set. There were times, in her grittier moments when she was digging deep and belting with a kind of gorgeous belligerence, that she even reminded me of Lena Horne in the way that Horne could rekindle a chorus and set both it and herself free as she pushed it out the door.
My favorite numbers were Cole Porter's "It's All Right with Me" and Johnny Mercer's "Something's Got to Give" arranged together by Billy Stritch as well as Porter's "Just One of Those Things" in an arrangement by Marvin Hamlisch. And I loved when she sang a love ballad from Li'l Abner to her husband Larry Luckinbill who was in the audience this evening. Theirs is one of the great love stories in show business. And this is one of show biz's great cabaret acts by a performer who has become one of its great cabaret artists.

THANK YOU, KEVIN FOR YOUR INSIGHT AND TRUTH.

Here's what's so special about Lucie:--She's a real performer; an entertainer who can go on a stage and sing, dance, tell stories, make you laugh, make you cry--ALL BY HERSELF (and with the wonderful Ron Abel on piano.) THAT'S the art and skill of show business. And, it's a talent you are born with. These kinds of talents and instincts CANNOT be taught.


And, of course, there was a "Lucie/Sue Caper."

At a certain portion in her show, Lucie starts confiding in the audience about some of her relationships. It's kind of like talking to a pal over a drink. As a joke, I sat at a table ON STAGE, as if I were a lucky audience member who somehow got the best table in the house. She actually came over, sat down and just started dishing with me. I must say, we pulled it off without cracking up. What fun! And, she picked up my option.

Look how gorgeous Kate Luckinbill Conner is! Lucie and Larry's daughter has been married all of three months!!!

With the brilliant Ron Abel

AND, THINKING AHEAD, SAVE APRIL 6, 2017 TO GO SEE LUCIE WITH THE DESERT SYMPHONY AT THE MCCALLUM THEATRE IN PALM DESERT.

AS FOR SAN FRANCISCO....when I was up there for Kim Novak's birthday last February, I didn't get much of a chance to play around Union Square. This time the hotel was right there, so it was easy. I've been coming to San Francisco since I was under six months old. My grandparents lived there until they moved to LA. My husband lived there, and we had a house in Mill Valley.

I get upset when I see traditions uprooted. Case in point--Shreve & Co. This jewelry and fine china and crYstal store, has been around since the late 1800s. In 1906, they moved to the location on Post St.  

Shreve interior as it has looked since the 1900s.

Building Shreve on Post

Well, people, I don't know what happened, but I guess Shreve sold the building at some point, and now the landlord raised the rent so high, that they had to move out last year. AND HARRY WINSTON (I guess they had money to burn) is moving in. You can imagine how I feel about that. I even bought my wedding china there at Shreve.

Right now. At least they didn't obliterate the original stone carving of the name above the door.

Shreve is currently still on Post, renting a temporary space. They are building out another space of several floors, taking over another whole building, and it will be ready, hopefully, by the holidays.


I also hadn't been in Gump's for a few years. Yes, they've moved, too, to a smaller space. Sad, but I get it. Their merchandise is still as spectacular as it always was.

Daum

Lalique bird lamp

Gigantic mosaic apple


















And, yes, we did eat. We went to R &G Lounge in Chinatown. It is very much New York chinese, like Shun Lee West, and it's fabulous....as you can see.

IT WAS THE BEST EMMY SHOW IN DECADES

THANK YOU, JIMMY KIMMEL. YOU BROUGHT IN YOUR CREATIVE PEOPLE AND IT WAS THE COOLEST!

AND, I WANTED FOUR PEOPLE TO WIN REALLY BADLY:

SARAH PAULSON, WHO WAS SO INCREDIBLE AS MARCIA CLARK

STERLING K.. BROWN, JR AS CHRIS DARDEN

COURTNEY B. VANCE AS JOHNNIE COCHRAN

WELL.....three things happened.

And, to you , dear Lily Tomlin, you are the greatest comedic actress in the history of show business. I love you.

EMILY RATAJKOWSKI ---THE DRESS THAT ATE CLEVELAND

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  FASHION POLICE PRETTY MUCH KILLED IT. BUT, IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE.

BUT FIRST, TAKE A LOOK AT THESE:

EDY WILLIAMS AT 1977 OSCARS

 This is a grade z actress from the 60s and 70s named Edy Williams. Her thing was to get invited to the Oscars, or any other event she could get into. She would show up wearing the sleaziest, most outrageous, inappropriate outfits of those decades.

She had minimal acting credits and most people didn't even know who she was. She was a joke to Hollywood insiders who would make bets to see which awful outfit she would wear next. Today's actresses should be smarter than this.

EMILY RATAJKOWSKI IS A RESPECTED UP AND COMING ACTRESS WITH SOME GOOD CREDITS TO HER NAME AND A REAL SHOT AT A LEGIT CAREER. Does she need to wear this kind of dress to call attention to herself? NO!
The dress will be very memorable. She looks terrific in it. It's not at all tacky like Edy Williams.

That being said, I think it's something you wear at home in private for your boyfriend. Good actresses don't need to do this. Emily, dear, you have a right to wear what you want and express your sexuality however you wish. I just wish you'd think about the long game.