It’s not too late . . .

. . .to start watching the best new television show of the season, “Ugly Betty”. I just want to add my voice to the countless critics and viewers who have already discovered, and love, the show. America Ferrara, starring in the title role, solidifies the great rep she has been building for herself with such projects as “Real Women Have Curves” and “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”. In addition to Ferrara, the cast is very strong, with such talents as Michael Urie, wonderful as a sycophantic assistant. “Ugly Betty” is fresh, surprising, charming and, most importantly, funny!

ABC, Thursdays 8/7c

See full epsidodes!

Spring Awakening

A new Broadway musical, "Spring Awakening", will arrive November 16 at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre in New York City.

The musical is based on the infamous 1891 Frank Wedekind play and features an original score by Grammy-nominated recording star Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater. The New York Times' Charles Isherwood says of the show,

A fresh breeze of true inspiration blows steadily through this ambitious if imperfect show, which features alluringly melancholy music by the pop singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik and book and lyrics by Steven Sater. "Spring Awakening," is an adaptation of the once-scandalous 1891 play by Frank Wedekind, the German playwright. But Mr. Sheik and Mr. Sater have not transposed Wedekind's fragmented meditation on the pleasures and dangers of hormonal efflorescence to a suburban American junior high school, circa yesterday, as you might expect. Nor do they traffic in pastiche, the lingua franca of contemporary musicals. Instead, they invest Wedekind's young boys with the anachronistic souls of would-be rock 'n' roll stars, dreamers and screamers strutting on stages in their minds. The conceit is bold, funny and inviting, and it is matched by a vibrant production from the director, Michael Mayer, that is all of those things, too.

"The Bitch of Living" music video

"Spring Awakening" preview video

Sweeney Todd Movie Update

The film version of Stephen Sondheim's fantastic Broadway musical, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street", is now in pre-production.

Though I can't say I am exactly happy about it, director Tim Burton is attached to the project. Burton has cast frequent collaborator Johnny Depp in the title role, Sweeney Todd. Unsurprisingly, he has also cast significant other Helena Bonham Carter as the female lead, Mrs. Lovett. Funnyman Sascha Baron Cohen, of the upcoming film "Borat", is currently rumored to have been cast as Signor Pirelli, a rival barber.

Archie McPhee Wishlist

Visit Archie McPhee, a great store for novelties, toys and gifts!


Some items from my personal wishlist:

Avenging Unicorn Play Set

Sherlock Holmes Action Figure

Cap'n Danger Stunt Monkey

Zzeezz - Parasite Pals Plush Toy

Deluxe Librarian Action Figure

Freud Action Figure

The Cubes IT Set

Sigmund Freud Nodder