So the latest internet meme seems to be "Shit XXX Say" following the success of "Shit Girls Say" starring Juliette Lewis. There are now, literally, HUNDREDS of these rip-off videos. And I've seen many.
But this one... This one is really my favorite so far:
Tonight a friend took me out for dinner for my birthday (which was Saturday) and I was SO excited to spot David Moscow walk in!
You might know him best as Josh Baskin (AKA the young Tom Hanks) in 1988's "Big" or possibly from the short-lived WB sitcom "Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane" (he was Duncan) but to me, he will always be David Jacobs from Disney's "Newsies."
Ah yes, the mostly male cast of the musical, based-on-a-true-story of the 1899 child labor union strike. Starring a then-unknown Christian Bale (oh yes, Batman sings and dances), Bill Pullman, Ann-Margaret and Doogie's buddy Max Casella. A cult classic for sure. And for me and my friends in the 8th grade, our favorite thing to sing and dance to after school.
We probably mastered every dance move, my friends. Is it embarrassing to admit this? HELL NO! We rocked that "King of New York" routine!
So ANYWAY, I waled right up to David Moscow, told him how many of my 8th grade afternoons he consumed and not only was he all smiles and adorable-ness, but he actually dared me to bust out some moves right there in the restaurant. I totally declined but gave him my card and said if we hung out sometime, I would totally do it for him. Yes, I am that ballsy. Yes, I am certifiable.
And in case you aren't familiar with Newsies, you must take it in. Enjoy.
Only in Los Angeles, friends. I may miss New York like crazy, but I never saw a Newsie in Union Square!
When I was in BBG (the youth group I am now a volunteer advisor for) in high school, we used to go every now and then to the Motion Picture Home and spend time with retired, fabulous and fascinating members of that world. Both former actors and crew members. It was always a great time to visit these people and hear their stories.
I became particularly attached to one woman there, Mabel King. I didn't know who she was at first, I only knew she had these fabulous stories about being an African American woman coming up as an actress in that world. I often felt sad for her - though she always told me to "hush up about that" - because despite having tons and tons of letters and gifts arrive, she seldom received actual visitors.
It wasn't til a few visits after our first meeting when I realized who Mabel King was. I looked her up and her credits were astounding. She was the mom from "What's Happening" and the Grandma from "Scrooged." Not to mention being in "The Jerk" and on TV's "The Colbys." Of course, my favorite, favorite role of hers is as Evilene in "The Wiz." Eventually she would show me letters and photos and gifts from Michael Jackson with whom she'd co-starred in that movie. She even somehow knew Patrick Swayze and I remember she had a picture of them on the set of "Dirty Dancing."
Mabel had lost her legs to Diabetes and a couple teeth in a bad fall. She had fully recovered from a stroke that nearly cost her the ability to actually speak but her spirit never waivered and she always bounced back. She was pretty awesome. I went off to college and, admittedlly, didn't think of her for a little while, but then saw in the newspaper one day (in 1999) that she had passed away.
This morning I am feeling especially tired. I am not in a bad mood really but I'm just TIRED. And I thought "I could use some good news today or something" which made me think of a song Mabel sang in "The Wiz" rather famously called "Don't Nobody Bring Me No Bad News" and you can clearly see my chain of thought from there...
And I wanted to share:
Here's wishing all of you a day with no bad news...
