Madam(e), I'm Adam

Faye Dunaway's Sitcom

Faye Dunaway had a sitcom.

It's like discovering that Ruth Bader Ginsberg spiked a mean volleyball in her forgotten, big-boned youth.  Or that Aretha Franklin twisted balloon dachshunds as a party clown.

"It Had To Be You" lasted for about one month in 1993, and it seems just right that Robert Urich also starred.

Delicious recipe for 4-episode success?

3/4 cup Dunaway as publishing big-wig
1/2 cup blue-collar Urich
3 blue-collar kids from previous marriage
1 tsp awkward chemistry
1 Tbsp Gumption of Dunaway

Stir until agents are nearly fired.

Notice the discomfort in your lower chakras as you attempt to internally resolve the incongruity of Faye Dunaway and a laugh track.

Charles Nelson Reilly DVD for free?! Read on!

As we approach the two-year anniversary of Charles Nelson Reilly's death, there is no better time to remember the singular wit of one of the 1970's most flamboyant and un-closeted entertainers (which is to say, he was never really out, but never really in).

Here's CNR and the late Brett Somers busting chops:

I consider myself very lucky (thanks to my friend Kevin) to have seen Charles Nelson Reilly onstage in 2004 at the El Portal Theatre.  "Save It For the Stage: The Life of Reilly" was his one-man memoir performance, and it was a surreal pleasure to see him in person.  I was 8 months pregnant at the time, and the fact that I could sit still for 2 hours to watch a man reminisce about his life from birth to present day is a testament to Charles Nelson Reilly's natural ability to entertain.

While you can no longer get within ascot-sniffing distance of the dearly departed CNR, you can own the film adaptation of his one-man show for free (wha?) with the purchase of any one of a number of classy t-shirts at charlesnelsonreilly.com.

Here's one of the best moments of Saturday Night Live's not-very-classic years.  Alec Baldwin as Charles Nelson Reilly.  It's as if someone crept into my head during a particularly intimate moment of abandon, and then made it into a little skit.

 

About 4 years ago, I ran into freaked out Alec Baldwin over my love for this sketch.

Saturday morning, The Grove, on my way to breakfast at The Farm.

Alec Baldwin, alone, blustering across the nearly empty promenade, clearly on his way to point B. 

Me (more ebullient than I had intended): "Mr. Baldwin, I just have to tell you that your impression of Charles Nelson Reilly was one of the sexiest things I've ever seen on television."

Alec Baldwin (face briefly distorted in confusion/fear-for-life): "Um...thanks?  Thanks." Continues on his way to point B, only more quickly.

Don't hate me because I have such fabulous encounters with celebrities.

Here's to you, Charles Nelson Reilly.  Your glasses wiggle will never die.

Bea Arthur's Finest Moment

No, I'm not over Bea Arthur's death just yet, thanks for asking.

Here's the infamous Cantina Scene from the deliciously disastrous Star Wars Holiday Special of 1978.  Enjoy the sizzling chemistry between dainty Bea and super-butch Harvey Korman.

Waylon Jennings & Madame

Intermittently, I get the phrase "Waylon Jennings & Madame" stuck in my head.  With all respect for the dear departed Wayland Flowers, I do believe that Hoss and Madame make a spectacular team.

Here they are with Lady Bunny.

Fun Fact: Madame was buried alive with Wayland Flowers in 1988!  The Serpent and the Rainbow Flag.

CAN'T GET ENOUGH MADAME?  Queeny puppet reverie awaits ...

• Official Madame Site: My childhood nightmare realized in Flash.
  
• Madame's MySpace page (e-sassy!) 
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Haiku for 1999

Sipping Absolut

Waiting for Queer Duck to load

At 28k

And then there's blog.

Bea Arthur is dead.  As the old saying goes, when one soul dies, another blog is born.

And so, I dedicate my first entry to Maude... Tuckahoe's most outspoken broad!  The one who tried to pass off oregano as marijuana...who sauced around like a lady of half her height and breadth when a telethon or community show required her services...who never backed down from a fight with her lilliputian 17th husband Walter.

As you can see from this picture, she's urging me on with a "Gooooooo, girl" from beyond the grave.  Thanks, Bea!  I will.