FLORENCE HENDERSON - COAST TO COAST TOUR with ALL THE LIVES OF ME
Florence Henderson, who has been crossing the country recently for press appearances to promote a new and exciting venture called the FLOH CLUB has plans to cross the country yet again with appearances in Los Angeles (Cabaret at the Castle), Indianapolis (Indianapolis Symphony), San Francisco (The Rrazz Room), and New York (Joe's Pub) with her one woman show ALL THE LIVES OF ME - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BE9fI_rL0o
In addition, this truly remarkable woman while currently on hiatus from her own talk show (The Florence Henderson Show)- http://rl.tv/shows/The-Florence-Henderson-Show/), has found time to launch a new company. Ms. Henderson has developed the brand FLOH, dedicated to the concept of “Better Living for Seniors.”
FLOH is successfully achieving this goal through launching a line of products and services centered around feeling better through exercise and healthy eating, as well as thinking better through new experiences and tools for living. In October 2009, the first product offered under the FLOH brand was the “FLOH Club.”
The FLOH CLUB (www.flohclub.com), a telephone-based technical support service is aimed at empowering older adults.
“It's like roadside assistance, but for all your technology needs,” says Florence.
Henderson is the very definition of a successful woman...in business, as a mother, a grandmother, a singer, a humanitarian, a philanthropist, as one of the top 5 American spokeswomen, and an actress who has conquered the boards of Broadway as well as both the silver screen and television --- And most of that before she ever became First Lady Michelle Obama and America's Favorite Mom on the Brady Bunch
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxQMKcwFvTw&feature=related
Is it any wonder that in 2009, Florence was inducted into the Smithsonian Institute's first permanent Entertainment History Exhibit as one of the Leading Ladies of Stage and Screen - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-GtXMAyYiM.
At 75 years young, she is a very sexy woman with a great deal of energy and terrific, although sometimes a slightly naughty, sense of humor as witnessed by fans who attended either NY Broadway Backwards or the Actors Funds STAGE TOO event in LA
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD156wvOvSg
Whats next? Rumor has it, she is carrying on negotiations for the rights to publish her memoirs. Until then, if you have the chance to see ALL THE LIVES OF ME in LA (Nov 9/10), San Francisco (Jan 5-10) or New York (Feb 12/13) don't walk, RUN to get your tickets.
LOS ANGELES:
DATE: Monday Nov 9th and Tuesday, Nov 10th at 8:00pm
WHERE: The Inner Circle at the Magic Castle, 7001 Franklin Ave., Hollywood, CA 90028
TICKETS: $50, Call 323-851-3313 x434 for more information go to http://www.magiccastle.com
INDIANAPOLIS:
DATE: Friday, Nov 20 - Sunday, 22nd - Fri/Sat at 8:00pm and Sunday at 7:00pm
WHERE: 45 Monument Circle, Indianapolis, IN 46204
TICKETS: $32 to $73 Call 317.639.4300 or 800.366.8457 or go to http://www.indianapolissymphony.org/tickets/.
SAN FRANCISCO
DATE: Tuesday Jan 5th through Sun, Jan 10th at 8:00pm
WHERE: The Rrazz Room at Hotel Nikko: 222 Mason Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
TICKETS: $40 * $45 * $47.50 - Opening night special price $37.50.
Call 866-468-3399 or on-line at http://www.therrazzroom.com/Events.html
NEW YORK
DATE: Friday Feb 12th and Saturday, Feb 13th at 8:00pm
WHERE: Joes Pub, 425 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10003
TICKETS: $TBA, Call 212-967-7555 or online at http://www.joespub.com/.
Wanda and George can remake talk TV
Wanda Sykes did three extraordinary things when her late-night talk show debuted on Fox Saturday night.
One is that she made Saturday late night outrageously politically incorrect again (which "Saturday Night Dead" hasn't done in decades). The second thing was creating what has to be the first-ever skit on broadcast TV about going green by recycling (her word not mine) dildos and condoms. The third and most important thing she did was give the white frat boys, who've dominated late night TV talk, a lesson in how it should be done in this night and age.
In fact, her sidekicks were African-American comic Keith Robinson and drag queen Porche, which probably has Ed McMahon spinning in his grave.
Admittedly, the night's first skit about Ann Coulter's eyelashes fell flatter than Coulter's face and was about as funny as a Coulter rant against the 9/11 widows.
But then it picked up when she brought on a panel of guests including " Amazing Race" host Phil Keoghan and Fox stars Mary Lynn Rajskub (24) and Daryl "Chill" Mitchell (Brothers).
Instead of the usual couch, they got to go to "Wanda's Bar" and have martinis and wine and you name it. I mean, hey, we're all adults here. Everyone was clever, smart and very -- who knew? -- funny, particularly Rajskub and Mitchell who described their parenting techniques. I'm surprised the PC police didn't arrest them on the spot.
This week, George Lopez will try to do the same on TBS -- change the face (literally) of late-night talk by being another out-there late-night host who can't pass for WASP.No, of course this isn't the first time it's been tried.
(Keith Robinson). Who can forget Arsenio Hall (all together now: "Hoop Schwoop Schwoop!") also on Fox.
As for Sykes, if a secret can be something that everyone in the world knows, then everyone knows that Fox is secretly trying Sykes out on Saturday night in the hope that she'll be such a giant hit that they can finally get a late-night show that works as well as Hall's did back in the 1990s.
If that happens, she will be the first lesbian African-American woman with a broadcast late-night talk show, which should shock and outrage Fox News viewers who can then complain about Fox to Fox News.
But it's time. Network TV still believes the old, (not very) sage idea that young, white males are the preferred TV audience because they are the only ones who will be willing to try new products. What? Have you ever seen a young, white, male switch beers, teams or razors once they find one they like? The only thing they switch with regularity are the women they date. Those young white males about whom that paradigm was created haven't existed since "Heeeeere's Johnny!" was the catch phrase of the day. (SOURCE: Linda Stassi, TV Critic)
Kelly Tomlinson: Cutting education
With the economy worse than it has been in many years, funding for education has taken a hit. But why do schools take this hit? The kids are our future.
I know that funds for schools are already drastically being cut and at a minimum need to stay the same. When funds get cut, it severely affects programs and classes. And this is happening to too many schools throughout the country.
A variety of after-school programs clubs and athletics reach out to distinctive students and allow them to excel in and enjoy what they are interested in. I feel that it is an obligation to offer kids opportunities to partake in programs that are essential to their development.
Fine arts classes are the ones that I see being most frequently cut. Again, when this happens we are not giving students the opportunity to excel in what they are good at or introduce them to something they could either want to pursue in the future or simply just enjoy.
Schools are also unable to afford tools to help students learn. There are not enough textbooks for each student in a class, not to mention that many are out of date. Also lab materials, amongst other supplies for classrooms, are being provided.
If you feel that education is of any importance to the future like I do, please let representatives in your community know that you think something needs to be done about this misfortune.
After 40 years, 'Sesame Street' still stands out, serving as lesson for shows that followed
By TOM MAURSTAD, Media Critic
tmaurstad@dallasnews.com
A man landed on the moon; a little weekend music festival mushroomed into Woodstock. And a big yellow bird and his fuzzy friends took up residence on a street where the air is always sweet and the sky is always sunny.
The year 1969 was a busy one for big events, and 40 years later, lots of anniversaries are popping up at the intersection of history and pop culture. But when it comes to stirring whirlwinds of memories and before-and-after reflections, the debut of Sesame Street is at the top of the list.
As proof of that status, take this simple test: Try to imagine a world without Muppets.
"I think it's all but impossible to do, but even if you can, what a sadder and drearier world that would have to be," says Michael Davis, author of the best-selling Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street.
"It's not just an iconic piece of a past magical time; it's still standing, growing, evolving. Here's a show on a medium where things often don't last 40 minutes, and it's lasted 40 years and is still going strong."
When episode 4,187 airs Tuesday (the official anniversary date), Sesame Street will be a show broadcast in 140 countries around the world and averaging 5 million viewers a week in the U.S. It holds the record for most Emmy Awards given to a single show with 122. But numbers don't really tell the story. Plenty of children's shows regularly score higher ratings than Sesame Street.
"There's a crowded marketplace of children's programming that is a direct offspring. I mean, Nickelodeon owes its existence to Sesame Street," says Montana Miller, a Bowling Green University assistant professor specializing in youth culture.
"It was groundbreaking in so many ways."
Before Jim Henson, his band of merry Muppets, the adult performers and, of course, an endless procession of kids introduced viewers to life on this A-OK street, children's television consisted mostly of cartoon-crazy entertainment and Romper Room-style programs.
Sesame Street recognized the power of the relatively new medium of television as a learning tool, with teachers and education researchers helping to create strategies for its on-air content.
"It's still the gold standard in children's television for its use of research and work with real children," says Dr. Cynthia Schiebe, a New York-based developmental psychologist who specializes in media literacy. Henson and company made perhaps their most important breakthrough by making Sesame Street fun and smart, allowing all the lessons to flow from that.
It's always been good entertainment first and good-for-you entertainment second, whether it was Bert and Ernie as an odd-couple comedy team, the Count as a silly-scary sophisticate or celebrities singing about this letter or rhapsodizing about that number. That 40-year procession of celebrities forms an encyclopedic timeline of pop culture fads and phases, from Carol Channing and Itzhak Perlman to Natalie Portman and Jack Black.
Michelle Obama adds her name to the list of first ladies visiting Sesame Street that began with Barbara Bush and continued with Hillary Rodham Clinton and Laura Bush. The current first lady visits in Tuesday's episode to help the Muppets with a vegetable garden. Decades after Muppet star Kermit the Frog first sang about the difficulties of "being green," this season will focus on nature and the environment.
Another Sesame Street hallmark is diversity. Name a demographic niche, a cultural category and you find it represented among the show's cast of human and Muppet characters. And this isn't just some recent acquiescence to political correctness. Coming out of all the social foment of the '60s, Sesame Street has proved to be the most successful mainstreaming of so many of that era's progressive ideals.
"It broke through so many levels of diversity – ethnic, racial, gender," says Carleton Kendrick, family therapist and author of Take Out Your Nose Ring, Honey, We're Going to Grandma's. "The first person I ever saw signing on television, I saw on Sesame Street. They had a child with Down syndrome on, just when schools were starting to mainstream such kids." Going into its 40th year, Sesame Street has grown to become many things to its many generations of fans. For parents, it's a familiar and reliable safe zone for their little ones. For children, it's fun that just happens to be good for you, too. For boomers, it's a powerful touchstone.
For pop culture enthusiasts, from comedians to screenwriters, it's a bottomless resource of catchy, colorful references, from the Tickle Me Elmo fad to prime-time shows and a string of Muppet-themed movies.
Google is giving the ultimate 21st-century tribute: a series of Sesame Street-themed logos on its search page.
But as the show continues to reach out to millions of fans worldwide, the essential magic of Sesame Street still happens at home among family.
"It's the afterglow of questions and conversations I had with my kids and now with their kids when you watch Sesame Street," Kendrick says.
"You don't get that with cartoons, or with anything else quite the way you get it with Sesame Street."
Support THE ARTS! LIVE THEATRE! Go see a show this week! Send me your reviews and suggestions and I will put them in my next blog coming out on Friday! Here's to an ARTS-filled week! Don't forget to contribute to the DR. CAROL CHANNING & HARRY KULLIJIAN FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS: http://www.carolchanning.org/Foundation.htm
With grateful XOXOXs for your support!
Richard Skipper
Follow me on Twitter @RichardSkipperHERE IS WHAT AUDIENCES ARE SAYING ABOUT MY WORK:
I may have come to NYC to see Arianna perform at
The Iguana Wednesday night, but I am very very glad I
did. The entire night was an incredible experience
filled with humour, talent and variety that can't
be matched by anything else on earth. Every performer
was stellar and sang their hearts out on stage, several
of them leaving me breathless. I can't wait for
another trip back to the city, and I will make sure
to leave Wednesday open for the Iguana Lounge!
Matthew Dodd, Orange County CA
After so many trys to get to the "Richard and Dana" show at the Iquana, we finally made it and we were delighted.
So lovely a room with great sightlines and surprisingly good food and drinks, a fun show with lots of diversity made our evening one that we hope to revisit as often as possible. The mixed bag of a show hosted by Richard and Dana was more than worth the cover. Much more! Would have liked a bit more singing on the part of the hosts, but with so many performers on tap, it may be a problem. Nice to see Richard performing as Richard and Dana is a hoot. Barry Levitt as always, was a great addition to the proceedings. Hope he gets a real piano
though. All in all, the best bang for the buck in town! Keep up the good work guys.
Ed & Ruth Kurtzman, Teaneck NJ
Hi, Richard,
It's great to meet you again.
I thought you caught Channing's intuitive nature in the best kind of way. That's why it's such a healing show.
I hope you're doing well.
Armistead Maupin SF, CA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NYC
Now a night out in NY to see a show at a VERY AFFORDABLE price!
Dana Lorge and I have
now put their OWN spin on the variety show format and are now hosting every Wednesday night in NYC at The Iguana VIP Lounge (http://www.iguananyc.com) in the heart of
NYC (240 West 54th Street 8-11PM/with an intermission).
WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT THE IGUANA!
Each week will showcase 5 entertainers.
Barry Levitt returns on keyboard and Saadi Zain on bass!
on bass. Time: 8 - 11:00 p.m.
Cover: $10 - no food or drink minimums – but remember – the food is great!
This is a nice night
out with the family!
A
"throw back" to the variety shows we grew up with.
For more info, please call 845-365-0720 or visit _www.RichardSkipper.com_
RESERVATIONS A MUST!!!!!!!!
212-765-5454. No one admitted before
7:30.
TOMORROW NIGHT (11/11/09),
November 11th: Terese Genneco, Fred Martin, Marlene Sampson, Jane Schecter, Parker Scott, Elli: The King of Broadway
November 25th: OUR THANKSGIVING SHOW! PLEASE NOTE 7PM TONIGHT!James Alexander joins us!
December 2nd: Cynthia Crane, The debut of The Marquee 5 (Mick Bleyer, Adam Hemming, Vanessa Parvin, Sierra Rein, Julie Reyburn) singing selections from their upcoming revue, "We Can Make It...The Songs of Kander & Ebb" and Hector Coris!
December 9th: Richard Holbrook, Josh Zuckerman, Helena Grenot, Jillian Laurain, Jerry Wichinsky
December 16th: Jessee Luttrell and Susan Eichorn-Young
December 30th: Linda Fields, Ritt Henn, Annie Hughes, Yvette Malavets-Blum, David Nathan Scott
January 20th: D'Yan Forrest and Scot Wisniewski
Keep checking http://www.richardskipper.com/schedule.html
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