This Man, Inspecting Your Home Soon

Originally uploaded by violetta.

So in all the rush of buying my place, I of course come across various California Real Estate Urban Legends. One of them is that Martin Hewitt, the cutie from Franco Zeffirelli's Endless Love (in which he got to kiss Brooke Shields...over and over again), is now a handsome, dashing housing inspector. Bombshell, indeed. Of course, I had already had my inspection, otherwise I would have called on him and asked him what it was like to act with Shannon Tweed. I wonder if he gets that a lot?

Divorce, TV Style

It's kind of weird when you shoot a tv show that's perfectly non-offensive and in fact downright engaging in its innocence...to find out only after the fact that two of the on-camera people featured on the show are going through a divorce. Weird, isn't it? Why would a couple apply for a tv show while they're going through a divorce?

Of course, it could be conjecture, but the writer for the episode noted a particularly cringe-worthy moment caught on tape wherein the host forced the couple to hug. The wife practically shrunk away from her husband. Ouch.

Counter-offerings

In this month's Gourmet (a way less pretentious mag than it sounds), the big trend is going from the four-star snobbiness of white-gloved dining rooms to four star food at 1-star countertop settings. Many high-falutin' chefs are opening diner-ish counterparts to their well maniucred dining rooms. A new contributor, Anthony Bourdain, reminds us that "Restaurants are supposed to be about food - aren't they? They're supposed to be...well...fun." I like this guy already.

He mentions new crowded low-maintenance shops from France to Chicago, but none in Los Angeles. L.A. has some things going for it: The desire to enjoy luxury, in casual-ness. No one bats an eyelash when top chefs (like Wolfgang Puck) serve their dishes in grocery stores. I like that. I like that you can walk in a $200/person restaurant in jeans. It's about time this lack of pretentiousness has caught on in other cities. As long as other trends don't spread--I'd hate to see the average Chicagoan Botox their pits because they sweat a lot. Something like that needs to be contained here, don't you think?

To Affleck...or To Not Affleck?

I just like him. I can't help myself. Everytime I'm convinced he's a tool or clueless, I see him trade bon mots on MSNBC about politics or hear an adorable story about him. There are reports he's a bit of an a-hole, but contrasting accounts of personable nice-guyness. I imagine he just has a lot of mood swings. (Hey, what million-dollar earning actor doesn't).

My favorite story is when a pal of mine was directing a play starring a roommate of Affleck's (at the time...this was a coupla years ago), and she shows up at the place, meeting her actress in the kitchen. Who walks in to grab a beer but Ben. In his boxer shorts. The nicest guy ever. Stays and chats for a bit, perfectly laid back.

Now he just needs to find a project up his alley. No more stolid hero guys--he can't pull it off. His next gig, about an agent doing personal-rep damage control, sounds great. Good luck Ben! And say hi to Matt for me!

Is Anyone Interested?...Are You Kidding?

Found on the L.A. Craigslist:

Nudist Stoner Group

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Date: 2005-03-26, 12:23PM PST


Anyone else into hanging out and getting high in a nudist environment? Let me know...


this is in or around Hollywood

Is Robert Mondavi the Devil?

Originally uploaded by violetta.

A new doc, Mondovino, according to those who viewed it recently, is an artsy, provocative view into the mass production of wine. It sounds like a great compliment to Sideways and a deep look into how wine production has changed, evolved, and, perhaps, devolved.

Me, I'm a hard liquor girl. But I like reading about wine. I read the Gourmet magazine wine section every month and my favorite column in the Wall Street Journal is the gabby and familiar "Tastings" wine column by husband and wife team Dorothy (Dottie) J. Gaiter and John Brecher. Their wines are rarely overpriced and they love telling readers about good deals without pretention.

Love to read about it, not crazy about tasting it. I guess that makes me a shameless foodie. But is there any aficiandos who like to talk about the "woodsiness" or "clean taste" of a shot of Jack?? If there are, call me, 'kay?

90210 in the Pooper?... And, Ray

Okay, not exactly, but turns out that the ritzier zip codes in Los Angeles are actually dropping in housing prices, whereas less palatable areas--like Compton--no seriously, Compton--are increasing. People are getting priced out of LADERA. LADERA.

Here's a tip: Buy in a rising area (like Ladera), flip in a few months, and use the cash to purchase a now-falling-in-price place in West Hollywood or Beverly Hills adjacent. Yeah!!!

Interesting days we live in. Some think the market will continue to go strong, but it looks like a wave affect--the nice places crest first, the not so nice places crest second, and in the end, it'll all even out. Maybe not collapse, but the market will straighten out.

Ah, don't get me started on real estate. I could go on about it forever.

BTW, anyone who saw Ray--pretty straightforward biopic, yah? It doesn't seem to be overly magical in any way to me. I am enjoying it, but sort of in that way you'd enjoy a very good Movie of The Week. Watcha think?

The Genesis Awards dole out kudos to writers, reporters, filmmakers and other artists who call attention to animal rights issues. It was held at the swanky Beverly Hilton last night and, according to a friend/coworker who's also a well-known face himself, a star, a true star, that makes us all weak at the knees, was there...and he got to meet her. Smell her. Say her name to her face.

Betty White.

-sigh-

See for yourself on Animal Planet. Times as follows:
Two-hour edited version of the ceremony: 3 p.m. Sunday, April 25, on Animal Planet
A one-hour edited version will air at 10 p.m. Saturday, May 1, and 1 a.m. Sunday, May 2, also on Animal Planet

Alas, no Bea Arthur or Rue McLanahan to wash it all down.

House Hunting is Scary...but not as scary as Ring II

Just saw Ring II after a tiring week of negotiations over a tiny but well-located condo...and the Ring II shocked me out of my tension. Now I'm just scared that a decrepit little girl will crawl out of my tv.

Naturally, the previews matched the subject matter: I.e., thrillers. Well, War of the Worlds is an action-thriller, whatever. Anyhoo, The Skeleton Key, starring a blessedly subdued Kate Hudson, and Dark Water, with Jennifer Connelly, are all related somehow to The Ring (same minds behind them--writer of the Ringu novels, screenwriter), and why is Ring built around themes of single women kicking ghost butt? I don't mind seeing these female heroines, but is it because ephemeral supernatural beings can only be caught by female intuition? If I weren't so drained from counter offers and lending fees, I'd try to figure it out.

Everyone's Gay, Let's Face It

So who cares, right? One day, we'll all go to heaven, and then we'll find out just who was what.

So I've heard of a couple folks who really bat for Team Lavendar, but it's innuendo, isn't it? And who cares anyways? What's funny is, that they even care to hide it anymore. Queer Eye, Ellen, etc etc--isn't it okay now? At least on the three coasts? (Pacific, Atlantic, Lake Michigan?)

At Least Yoda Is Better

Lesley Stahl asks the tough questions of George Lucas re: the last painful Star Wars film, due out...oh, whenever, who cares. Anyhoo, a companion noticed that the old Yoda actually looks WORSE than the new one. He sorta resembled Joan Rivers with a mud mask. Now, he seems a little more...Yoda-ish.

Lucas suffered for his art badly enough for the first/third flick so now, as he tells Stahl, he doesn't care about what the critics think now. I'll go see it, shoot. I like Hadyn Christensen's hair better in this one. At least that's one improvement.

Next up? "Small movies," Lucas says. American Graffiti with Wookies?

At Least Yoda Is Better

Lesley Stahl asks the tough questions of George Lucas re: the last painful Star Wars film, due out...oh, whenever, who cares. Anyhoo, a companion noticed that the old Yoda actually looks WORSE than the new one. He sorta resembled Joan Rivers with a mud mask. Now, he seems a little more...Yoda-ish.

Lucas suffered for his art badly enough for the first/third flick so now, as he tells Stahl, he doesn't care about what the critics think now. I'll go see it, shoot. I like Hadyn Christensen's hair better in this one. At least that's one improvement.

Next up? "Small movies," Lucas says. American Graffiti with Wookies?

Bob Saget Sex Parties...or Is He Actually Funny?

Just over the Hollywood Hills, near Runyan Canyon, where active Los Angelenos walk their dogs, is a plethora of apartment buildings that happen to butt up to Bob Saget's estate. Yes, Bob Saget. Yes, estate. (Tennis courts and all.) Neighbors have reported listening to hysterical female laughter from said property, meaning he's entertaining them one way...or the other. Who knew blandness was such a turn on? Then again, I hear he cleaned up his act for America's Funniest Home Videos and the like. I would hop over the fence to snoop, but I fear snipers must man the tennis courts. Ah, well.

The Passion Re-What?

Apparently there is a "re-cut" of Passion of the Christ. Not director's cut, or theatrical cut, but a "re-cut." So I hop on l'internet and come to find that Mel Gibson read my mind: It's the movie, with 6 of the goriest minutes cut.

Now I think I might catch it. (Did you like how I said that? "Catch" it? Like it's Hitch or something.) I don't have anything against a religious film and heard it was quite beautifully filmed as well, and I think Gibson is a bit of a nut, but I have to give him credit for sticking to his convictions.

Even more so because, despite the millions over expectations that this movie made, instead of releasing an indulgent director's cut, Gibson wants to widen its audience even more to nervous-tummied folk like myself, but CUTTING the even more indulgent blood and gore.

Reserve your Easter tickets now, everyone. What's a little martyrdom? Catholics beware: I overheard someone say when they saw it the first time around, it was so brutal they felt guilty just getting popcorn.

Only in L.A.: Part 1

Found on Craigslist....on the writing/editing job board, no less:

"Busy executive looking for Ms. Right with the help of a Personal Match Maker, that is you. The duties will include: 1) Posting profiles on different websites and interacting/screening possible female candidates, 2) Meeting with other match making companies here in Los Angeles and determining which are the best companies and which possible female candidates should be considered, 3) Provide weekly reports on all aspects of the project on Monday and Thursday, 4) Some weekly meetings will be necessary to go over the status of the project and the Project book that you will be maintaining. Must be strong writer and good commmunicator on the phone and in person. Send resume, cover letter detailing what you are doing now and what have you done that makes you ideal for this job. If you have been involved in internet dating detail your experiences good and bad."

And not only that, the pay is $15-20/hr! And who says the job market is shaky?

Tupac Theories: Everything but the grassy knoll

Tupac
Originally uploaded by violetta.

So ever since Black History Month weekend (see several posts below), I've been delving into the whole Tupac-Biggie thing. There's tons of theories that I am JUST NOW sampling, from the bizarre (the old saw that 2pac is still alive) to the likely (the LAPD were way deep in it--this according to retired detective Russell Poole).

I watched Tupac: Resurrection and finally understood all the fuss about this guy. He is sharply intelligent, educated, soulful, and also violent, churlish, and eager to create adversaries. His success combined with his youth likely led to such complexities and contradictions, so on one hand, you feel he created some of the controversy, and on the other, you feel the weight of the tragedy.

Both Biggie and Tupac were under 26 when they died. You wonder how can someone pack so much influence into such a young life.

The Golden Years

Yay! The Season Two collection of The Golden Girls is due in May! Long a fan, I reguarly do yoga to the 6 o' clock hour of reruns on Lifetime, and spent New Year's Weekend streaking through Season One's collection.

The warm, witty ladies appear to be consummate professionals, and no doubt chummy in real life. However, according to a friend who knows Golden Girls Marc Cherry (creator of Desperate Housewives, the ladies spoke little and some even had cold relations between each other. However, consummate professionals they were--the show held little to no rehearsal, but what resulted was comedy gold. All three were comedy veterans and of course it shows. I still can't imagine they didn't talk much off the set, but stranger things have happened--and these gals were old school: Real actors.