THE PURPLE ROOM FESTIVAL--JOELY FISHER AND JANE MONHEIT (SEPARATELY!)

          JOELY'S WONDERFUL NIGHT AT THE PURPLE ROOM


Joely Fisher played her return engagement at the Purple Room a week ago and it was terrific. She was part-way through with her tour, which included shows in Las Vegas, The Annenberg in Los Angeles, 54 Below in New York, and The Crazy Coq in London.

Her musical director was the brilliant Ron Abel, and her show featured stories and songs from her life---bittersweet, sexy, funny and poignant.

Lucie Arnaz, Stanley Freilich, Joely Fisher, Elizabeth Keener, Me, Ron Abel and Randy (bass payer)

Joely, Keener and Ron

Afterward at The Parker

AND, THE PURPLE ROOM IS NOW FEATURING BOURBON FLIGHTS! There are three prices of flights to choose from and dozens of bourbons. I've tasted six already. It's my new favorite thing.

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THE GORGEOUS JANE MONHEIT DOES 
CHRISTMAS JAZZ AND OTHERS!!!!


The lovely Ms. Monheit, also a good buddy of mine, has been singing for 20 years. I think she figured that out on stage at the Purple Room when it kind of turned into an anniversary. She's married to her talented drummer and hot guy, Ricky Montalbano, and they go all over the world spreading their joyful and startlingly good music.

I'M MOVIE-BINGING, AND, SO FAR, NOT SO GOOD

NOW IS THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN THE ACADEMY DVDS COME ROLLING IN. WE ALL SPEND HOURS AND HOURS WATCHING. I'M ONLY GOING TO TALK ABOUT TWO TODAY--

ROMA---It has won most of the film festivals and has about 23 nominations from various organizations. Reviewers are raving and raving. Well, I HATED IT. So did the person I saw it with. This one I saw in a theatre and I asked the manager what the REAL response has been from the public. He said that 50% hate and 50% love, and they experience walk-outs at every showing. Every once in a while Hollywood gets a case of "The Emperor's New Clothes." A couple of pseudo-intellectual critics start a rave, or a pseudo-snobby European festival starts the momentum, and then God forbid if you don't go along. Well, I'm not.
I looked at my movie buddy about an hour in and said, "Do you have ANY idea what's going on?" "No," she answered. So we waited. And, waited. When it was over, we were stunned and just stared at each other in shock.

"What on earth was that?"

BOY ERASED---Wonderful direction (although at times it was so dark I wanted to find a flashlight). Wonderful acting. Russell Crowe, Nicole Kidman, and Lucas Hedges are the "top of the top." BUT THIS IS A TV MOVIE! I've seen the same plot at least four times over the past 30 years on TV. If you get an a-list cast, you can make this a theatrical movie. That's it.

Same plot over and over again through the years.Preacher's son is gay. Preacher hates it. Weak mom tries to help. Kid goes to conversion camp. Hates it. Mom rescues. Preacher mad. Kid becomes successful. Father apologizes. Done. Why did I spend two hours on this?
Answer--for the acting.

THE FANCY MISS NANCY---NANCY WILSON

HOW SAD I AM ( AS OPPOSED TO HER HIT,  "HOW GLAD I AM"

In 1964, Nancy Wilson released her first main stream jazz album that got world-wide attention. I went insane over it. I have always loved great singers, and I particularly like jazz and R&B.

I was a lucky kid, because my father was a successful entertainment lawyer and he had access to everything. Ever since I was a child, he would take me to see any artist I adored. My first concert was Dick Clark's Caravan at the Hollywood Bowl. I was there because I loved Bobby Darin. My father would take me to Shelly's Manne Hole in an alley in Hollywood to see the top jazz people like Shelly, Ray Brown, Cal Tjader, Mongo Santamaria, Willie Bobo, Irene Kral, Anita O'Day, and Ruth Price. He took me to the Coconut Grove and Greek Theatre to see Johnny Mathis.

In 1965, my father was going to the black-tie Directors Guild Awards and he found out Nancy Wilson was going to entertain. As a surprise, he arranged to pick me up in the afternoon and we went right to the Beverly Hilton (I think.) He set it up for me to meet Nancy and see her rehearsal. Nancy was so hot at the time, that Hedda Hopper showed up, too.

I met Nancy and we really hit it off. So there I sat--my father, Hedda Hopper and me, and the tech crew. I saw Nancy's whole show at the dress rehearsal. I went insane.

A short time later, he took me to the Coconut Grove where she was performing. I marched into her dressing room and she remembered "the kid."

Nancy was so kind to me, and through the years I continued to march into her dressing rooms. By this time I was driving!

She was beautiful, gracious, highly intelligent; had a fantastic sense of humor, an extraordinary artist, and a real lady.

Thank you, Nancy, for being my friend. I will miss you greatly.

FIRE USC COACH CLAY HELTON!

               FIRE CLAY HELTON---
          THIS ISN'T USC FOOTBALL

TOURNAMENT OF ROSES GRAND MARSHALL

TOURNAMENT OF ROSES

LET'S SEE....HERE ARE A FEW OF THE PAST HONOREES....

 CAROL BURNETT

SUPREME COURT JUSTICE SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR

REVEREND BILLY GRAHAM

WAR HERO AND PRESIDENT DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER





AND NOW FOR 2019.................




CHAKA KHAN

You supply the comment.

ALEXANDRA DWEK'S FRIENDS WITH CAUSES--ONCE UPON A ROOM

onceuponaroom.org

Alexandra (far right) with the Once Upon a Room "angels"

I love Friends with Causes because it shines a spotlight on smaller charities, usually started by one or two people (almost always women). The other evening it was Once Upon a Room, an organization that decorates rooms for children primarily i the cancer centers at Childrens Hospitals. They are about to go national.

The very philanthropic and kind Kate Edelman Johnson and me

Once Upon a Room provides an invaluable service to children in the hospital while fighting serious, life threatening illnesses or acute trauma often resulting in permanent disabilities and months of medical treatment and extended outpatient care. Through different events and programs, we are able to bring joy to their hospital stay and beyond.

Patient and Family Events: Events are planned to allow patients and families to have a moment of fun leaving behind their diagnosis, struggle and fight. Once Upon a Room provides experiences for all to enjoy.

Room program: Based on the child’s likes and special needs, we customize a plan to decorate their hospital room with items they can take home with them as they continue their recovery. We create a very personal home-like environment from what was once a cold and stark space. It’s important to remember that while these children are in the hospital, for most, their fight is far from over. Everything the patient receives from Once Upon a Room is theirs to keep will go home with them.

On of my partners-in-crime for decades--Ames Cushing

CHILDERS' CARAZY CAFTAN CAPERS!!!!

FAMED PHOTOGRAPHER AND PRODUCER 
         MICHAEL CHILDERS PARTIES!!!!


TIS THE SEASON NOW IN PALM SPRINGS......... The first big party was given by Michael Childers at Steve Rose's gorgeous house. Caftans were the order of the night, and most of us complied. Everyone's favorite was John Monahan's, for reasons I can't disclose.

Everyone was so happy to see Michael looking well and happy, as he prepares for the big ONE NIGHT ONLY salute to Andrew Lloyd Webber on April 24th.

Come to the party...........

Yours truly, Lily Tomlin, Michael, and Jane Wagner

Barbara Fromm, Paul Clowers, Barbara Keller, David Lee

John Monahan

Steve Rose and Lorna Luft

Michael Johnston, Terri Ketover, Doug Donnenfeld, John Monahan

Debbie Green and Frank Goldstin

Tom Truhe, Bernie Fromm, Jerry Keller