Spencer Pratt: Will Someone Shut This Guy Up?

I must admit I have enjoyed watching my rich little reality kids on The Hills – which is so laughingly superficial it gets a 5-star rating from me. After all, they film entire scenes where people say virtually nothing because they have nothing to say. The music is the breakout star.

But  when it comes to ubiquitous Spencer Pratt I’ve reached my limit. The boy is certainly living his 15 minutes of fame. Yeah, good for him — it’s America — we get it. He can live the dream.

Yes, he’s popping up in headlines everywhere and this latest one from the folks at Us made my blood pressure soar. I guess famous twin Mary-Kate Olsen talked to David Letterman about the boy’s bad temper in high school.

You can read the deets in the Us piece, but it’s Pratt’s really quotable quote that is so priceless:

“I know I’ve made it in Hollywood when a famous troll is talking about me on Letterman,” Pratt told Us.

“I forgive her, though,” he added. “She’s had to go through life as the less cute twin, which must be tough.”

Really, is there anything more to add? I thought you made it in Hollywood when you actually accomplished something.

Death of a Fashion Icon: Tori’s Mimi LaRue

Mimi La Rue, the beloved pug of Tori Spelling is no more.  It’s a dog-gone shame. Extra, extra:  Read all about it. I bet Tori’s having a ruff time. (Sorry, I really didn’t mean to go there.)

I don’t know why I am fascinated by Tori, but she actually seems like a nice person — although her unusual cleavage always distracted me on Beverly Hills, 90210.  I don’t watch her reality show often,  but I can marathon it any time when I am folding laundry or need something soothing to fall asleep by.

Hubby is not big on Tori.  But then again, I don’t like marathons of the History Channel either so there you go. There’s a lot we can agree on but he doesn’t get Tori and Dean. I don’t get Dean either. He seems uber-nice and extra patient.  Again, not a bad thing. Just almost unreal for reality TV.  You couldn’t film me for any length of time without me hitting the freak zone. 

The new season is called Tori and Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood  – and when you come to think about it, that title alone sums up why Tori is not like you or me and never will be. While her dog became a fashion icon, my dog is wondering when her next flea dip is due.

I mean, it’s one thing for a celebrity to walk the red carpet, it’s another thing for her dog to get regular coverage. It’s a different world from where I come from.

It seems I am drawn to the  most superficial headlines these days due to these difficult economic times.  Reading the news is just plain scary — so yes, Tori lightens things up a bit.

And  I’m in the doldrums when it comes to all things entertainment — I can’t even get inspired about a Saturday matinee.  Thank God The Dark Knight and Mamma Mia! are coming.

On another entertainment note, did you know that Hulk Hogan still loves Linda?

Well, Hulk seems to think their marital woes were amplified by their reality TV show Hogan Knows Best which was another fave of mine to fold laundry by. Personally, I think it has more to do with Hulk getting busy with his daughter Brooke’s gal pal — but what do I know? I have never withstood the pressures of reality television. It could be all that peroxide too. It does funny things to the brain chemistry.

Goodbye to the thinking funnyman: George Carlin

As we sang Happy Birthday yesterday to one of our screen greats Meryl Streep, we also said a sad farewell to a master of comedy George Carlin.  Carlin had had a history of heart trouble — he checked into the hospital yesterday, June 22 and then checked out. He was 71. He will be sorely missed.

Like Meryl, George didn’t think he was all that and a bag of chips.  But the fact is, he really was, changing the face of comedy as we knew it. Influenced by the controversial and tormented Lenny Bruce,  Carlin went from doing mother-in-law jokes to performing edgier, explicit commentary that focused on our society’s absurdities.

Lenny Bruce

In 1972, he brought us the groundbreaking “Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television,” that resulted in an indecency debate that traveled all the way to the Supreme Court.

Larry King, who knew the comedian for more than 50 years said of Carlin’s routine, “It’s one of the classic comedy bits of all time. It was great conception and a great idea. It pointed up the hypocrisy of society. People take words too seriously. Violence is a lot worse than words. All those words, while not used on air, are used in society. George once said, if a word shocks you, you must have heard it somewhere else.

Read more of Larry King’s comments 

And…for a more in-depth look at how he changed comedy read this Time piece.

A great social monologist, Carlin made us think, really think about ourselves.  I grew up listening to Bruce, Carlin and Richard Pryor — three of my father’s favorite comedians. My father always thought of himself as a maverick, when in fact, he was anything but. He was an average guy who sold insurance and tried to take care of his family.  But people like Carlin echoed the things he thought in his head and made him laugh and know that he wasn’t crazy after all. I think George Carlin set the bar higher than most ever could and kept it there for many, many years.

Throughout his career Carlin garnered four Grammy awards, five Emmy nominations and the 2008 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. And who can forget him as Rufus in Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure? The fact is he was fun to watch on film.

Goodbye George and our condolences to his family.

Happy Birthday Meryl

She is an actor’s actor, and according to my friends at IMDB considered by many movie reviewers to be the greatest living film actress.

Come awards time, she’s always the performer everyone pays tribute to.  An inspiration, a legend – and at the end of the day, just a cool, cool chick.  I guess it’s because you know she has a life outside the business they call show, and that’s what makes her even better. She doesn’t take herself too seriously, even though we all do.

Happy Birthday to lovely Meryl Streep on this day…June 22.

I’ve been off the grid for a few days, traveling, thinking — not even checking my Crackberry for information about our world. As I was watching nature explode, I was contemplating the art of blogging and the things I really want to say, the things I really want to write, how I’m going to get my novel published, why haven’t I written my synopsis or my agent’s query letter…and on and on and on…And then today, I saw that it was Meryl’s birthday. She is 59 — born June 22, 1949.

Ssometimes you just gotta stop and pay homage to a great one.

IMDB’s Trivia Section on Meryl is fascinating. Here it is:

Trivia

Named Best Modern Actress in an Entertainment Weekly on-line poll, substantially beating out runner-up Michelle Pfeiffer. [September 1999]

Learned to play the violin, by practicing 6 hours a day for 8 weeks, for her role in Music of the Heart (1999).

Has a fear of helicopters.

Listed as one of twelve “Promising New Actors of 1977″ in John Willis’ Screen World, Vol. 29.

Ranked #24 in Empire (UK) magazine’s “The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time” list. [October 1997]

Educated at Yale University. Studied Drama.

Graduated from Vassar College in 1971.

Once engaged to actor John Cazale.

Graduated from Bernards High School.

Before making it big, she was a waitress at The Hotel Somerset in Somerville, New Jersey, USA.

Was a cheerleader and homecoming queen in high school.

She left her just-claimed Oscar for Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) on the back of a toilet during the 1979 festivities.

Replaced Madonna for the lead in Music of the Heart (1999).

Her son, Henry W. Gummer (“Hank”), is a student at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. [2001]

Sister-in-law of Maeve Kinkead.

Named an Officer of the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. [2000]

Born at 8:05 a.m. EDT.

Tennessee Williams wanted her for a film version of “A Streetcar Named Desire” in the 1980s. When Streep proved unavailable, the project was refashioned for television and the role of Blanche given to Ann-Margret.

Has a deviated septum, which she refuses to have fixed. Directors work around it by avoiding straight-on close-ups.

Has 4 children; Henry Gummer (aka Harry Gummer) (b. 1979), Mary Willa Gummer (aka Mamie Gummer) (b. 1983), Grace Jane Gummer (b. 1986), and Louisa Jacobson Gummer (b. 12 June, 1991).

Measurements: 34B-26-36 (from film SFX torso mold done in 1982) (source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine).

The children’s TV series “Sesame Street” (1969) has featured a character named “Meryl Sheep” in her honor.

Was originally supposed to play the role of Iris Hineman is the film Minority Report (2002), but had to back out. She was replaced by Lois Smith.

Her character Karen Silkwood from her 1983 film Silkwood (1983) was ranked #47 on the American Film Institute Heroes list of the 100 years of The Greatest Screen Heroes and Villians.

Presented Paul McCartney with the 1990 Grammy Lifetime Achievement award. Attended the Beatles concert at Shea Stadium in 1965 with an “I love Paul” sign, which she mentioned when presenting the award to McCartney.

Sister of Harry Streep.

Spent a year as a transfer student at Dartmouth College where she participated in theater.

Originally applied to Law School but slept in on the morning of her interview and took it as a sign she was destined for other things.

Sigourney Weaver was a fellow classmate at Yale Drama School.

Back at the Drama school, she and Sigourney Weaver appeared in a play staged in a swimming pool together. The play is called ‘The Frogs.’

Diane Keaton calls her “my generation’s genius.”

May 27, 2004 was proclaimed “Meryl Streep Day” by Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields. [May 2004]

She was voted the 37th Greatest Movie Star of all time by Entertainment Weekly.

As a young actor, she performed at the Yale Repertory Theater with Christopher Lloyd.

According to Katharine Hepburn’s official biographer A. Scott Berg, Meryl Streep was her least favorite modern actress on screen: “Click, click, click,” she said, referring to the wheels turning inside Streep’s head.

Has only been turned down for three roles: Patsy Cline in Sweet Dreams (1985), Miss Kenton in The Remains of the Day (1993), and Elizabeth I in Elizabeth (1998).

Christine Estabrook was a fellow classmate at Yale Drama School.

She often works with Academy award-winning director Mike Nichols.

Mentioned by first name only (with two-time co-star Jack Nicholson) in Michael Crichton’s 2004 novel “State of Fear.”.

Tony Nominee in 1976 as Best Actress (Featured Role – Play) for Tennessee Williams‘ “27 Wagons Full of Cotton.”.

Premiere Magazine ranked her as #46 on a list of the Greatest Movie Stars of All Time in their Stars in Our Constellation feature (2005).

Born and raised in suburban New Jersey.

Took serious singing lessons. At age 12, she studied to become an opera singer.

Acting career began on the stage.

Is the second of 4 consecutive winners of the Best Supporting Actress Oscar to have the initials “M.S.”. The others are: Maggie Smith – California Suite (1978), Mary Steenburgen – Melvin and Howard (1980), and Maureen Stapleton – Reds (1981).

Received an honorary Doctor of Arts degree from Middlebury College during her nephew’s graduation in 2004.

She attended Harding Township Middle School, in Harding, New Jersey for 1 or 2 years

Sold her New York City townhouse for $9.1 million in February 2006. She was forced to slash the asking price for the eight-bedroom Manhattan property from $12 million to secure a sale. Streep bought the house for $2.2 million in 1995, according to the New York Post.

Early in her career, Streep received a letter from Bette Davis, whom most critics and cinema historians ranks as the greatest American movie actress ever. Davis told Streep that she felt that she was her successor as the premier American actress. Ironically, Katharine Hepburn despised Streep as an actress. Davis, a double winner who was nominated 10 times for an Academy Award, all of them Best Actress nods, set the record for most acting nominations with her tenth in 1963 for What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962), a record later surpassed by Hepburn with her 11th nomination (and 3rd win) for The Lion in Winter (1968). Hepburn extended her record with her 12th nomination (and fourth win) for On Golden Pond (1981), a record ironically eclipsed by by Streep–the actress anointed Davis’ successor–with her own 13th nod for Adaptation. (2002).

Was nominated 14 times for the Academy Award, eleven times as Best Actress and three times as Best Supporting Actress, winning twice (Best Supporting Actress for Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) and ‘Best Actress’ for Sophie’s Choice (1982). Her 10 nominations in the top acting category is equaled by Bette Davis (ten Best Actress nominations) and surpassed by the legendary Katharine Hepburn with 12 Best Actress nods.

Her performance as “Sophie Zawistowska” in Sophie’s Choice (1982) is ranked #3 on Premiere Magazine’s 100 Greatest Performances of All Time (2006).

Her performance as “Karen Silkwood” in Silkwood (1983) is ranked #71 on Premiere Magazine’s 100 Greatest Performances of All Time (2006).

Her husband, Don Gummer, is a sculptor.

Her father was a drug company exec; her mother, an artist-turned-housewife who kept an art studio behind the house. Her father loved to play the piano and her mother to sing. Meryl was given singing lessons at a young age. Her mother died in 2001 and her father in 2004.

Son Henry Gummer is an actor, filmmaker and co-founder of a rock band. Daughter Mary Willa, whose stage name is Mamie Gummer, is an off-Broadway actress.

Friend of Jill Clayburgh. First met in their roles as mothers.

Drives a Toyota Prius (September 2006).

The longest she has gone without an Oscar nomination is five years, between Postcards from the Edge (1990) and The Bridges of Madison County (1995).

Robert De Niro said she is his favorite actress to work with.

Was nominated for Best Actress in 1987 along with Cher. When Cher was announced, just before the cameras cut away from the other four actresses, Streep could be seen springing to her feet in delight and applauding for Cher. During her acceptance speech, Cher thanked Streep personally, as they had worked together on Cher’s first film, Silkwood (1983). As the camera briefly cut away to Streep sitting in the audience, she blew Cher a kiss. (She’s apparently a very good sport about losing.).

Considered for the role of Evita Peron in Evita (1996).

Holds the record as the female actor with the most Golden Globe wins, with six wins. Jack Nicholson is the male actor with the most wins, also at six.

Donated her wardrobe from The Devil Wears Prada (2006) to a charity auction.

Has named her favorite actresses working today as Cate Blanchett, Emily Blunt, Dame Helen Mirren, and Nicole Kidman.

Uses music, most often Classical, to get into character.

Member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.

Currently holds the record for most Oscar nominations for acting (14 total), including both actors and actresses.

Nominated for a 2007 Drama Desk Award for her performance in “Mother Courage and Her Children” (Outstanding Actress in a Play).

Daughter of Mary Streep and Harry Streep (a pharmaceutical executive). Sister of Dana Streep.

Her accumulation of 12 Oscar nominations (2 wins) was accomplished over a period of only 21 years, with an additional 2 nominations by 2007 (11 leads/3 support). Bette Davis scored 10 nominations (2 wins) over 28 years (all leading roles). Katharine Hepburn garnered 12 nominations (4 wins) after a relatively lengthy 48 years (all leading roles).

Occasionally mistaken for friend Glenn Close, Streep was pregnant with her fourth child while shopping in a Los Angeles baby store where the staff lavished her with huge amounts of baby paraphernalia. Just as she was about to leave they whispered, “We loved you in Fatal Attraction (1987)”.

Holds the record for most Golden Globe nominations for acting, actresses only (21 total).

Elected to the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2007 for her services to arts and entertainment (inaugural election). Official induction ceremonies held in May 2008.

She and her daughter Mamie Gummer portrayed the same role at different ages in ‘Evening’ (2007).

2007 – Ranked #6 on EW’s The 50 Smartest People in Hollywood.

Nominated for a 2008 Grammy Award for “The One and Only Shrek” (Best Spoken Word Album For Children).

Dear Angie: Billy Bob Never Said It

 Nope. It’s all a big fat lie.  Brad Pitt and Angelina have plenty in common. Just ask that pillar of integrity – good ‘ole Billy Bob. You know, the guy who’s fearful of antiques. He’ll give you the straight story.

Just look at that face, will ya?

Oh, Mustang Sal are you serious? You mean Billy Bob Thornton did not say: “She is just going through a high school phase. You know, dating the quarterback of the football team with Brad Pitt over there.”

And he did not add: “Who knows if I’ll be there when she’s ready to come to her senses though.”

I guess this is one of these tales with a tail — a story that has spread like viral plague across the Internet…Who needs The Happening when you’ve got this stuff? And Access Hollywood confirmed that Billy Bob Doesn’t Talk Angelina Jolie.

I saw the unfolding of this “celebrity news” story when I was on the treadmill at the gym — one of those rare instances where I tear myself away from senseless gossip only to find a large screen TV sharing the news that it’s all simply fabrication.  And that’s really news?

No – the picture above is of a happy couple! With a very bouncy personal life!

But meanwhile, as I am recovering from my cardio, I am also trying not to gag on my own vomit over Angelina Jolie’s recent assertion to my pals at Entertainment Weekly that pregnancy is so good for the sex life. Wow.

So, not only is she:

• Beautiful
• Never takes a bad photograph — even in the worst tabloid rags
• Is Brad Pitt’s “life partner”
•  And when she is pregnant — with twins — has a sex life that is just a big old barrel of passion and  laffs

Yes, Angie did say: “It’s great for the sex life. It just makes you a lot more creative. So you have fun, and as a woman you’re just so round and full.”

It boggles the mind.  But then, that’s why Angie-baby is a movie star and I’m not. Her life is fascinating even when I’m not watching.

The New 90210: Bring Back the B-Word

Yeah, I’m talking Brenda.  Brenda Walsh.

For 111 episodes, Shannen Doherty made the scene on Beverly Hills, 90210. And if you think her presence was just a blip on the radar — think again.  In addition to being a tabloid darling ‘lil Shannen made TV history with her spoiled little rich witch performance. 

In fact, the documentary, 50 Most Wicked Women of Primetime  special was a countdown of the 50 most wicked women in prime time history — and of course, Brenda made the cut.  But of course, you know Brenda wasn’t really evil.  Just:

• Selfish
• Self-absorbed
• Petulant
• Moody
• Wacked

In short, just like any other teenage girl I know.

Of course, Shannen was always the troublemaker even when she went to Charmed.

Seems like Shannen doesn’t play nice with the other girls. So what? Don’t we all know that’s what makes for compelling television?

I know it’s fab that they’re bringing back the new 90210 (and Jennie and Tori too) will be along for the ride. But what about Brenda? Nobody asked me, but really — if it was done right she would just be oh-so-perfect — a Mrs. Robinson for the new millennium, perhaps?

 

Top 10 Manly Movies a Father Will Love

In honor of Father’s Day and my enduring love for my husband this came into my head:

His movie tastes run from the sentimental to the sublime

 But give him a little blood and guts and you’ve got him every time.

Okay, it’s a work in progress. But you get the gist. You see, I was looking for the top 10 Movies for Dads in honor of my man’s Father’s Day, and frankly, they left me a little uninspired.

 See, they were actually Top 10 Movie Lists about  dads and honestly, does any dad want to spend Father’s Day watching other dads cry at their daughters’ weddings or struggle over whether they are a good parent or not when a marriage goes south?  I don’t think so. Not today.

Not my manly man.  Today, I devised a list of movies just for him. Something entertaining, where he doesn’t have to think too much. Or maybe think just a little.

Let him put his feet up, eat a piece of red meat, and sip a frosty cold one.  Let him control the remote. For the whole damned day.

It’s a list for the Big Daddy in all of us:

1. Fight Club

The first rule about Fight Club is : “You don’t talk about Fight Club”. The second rule about Fight Club is : “You don’t talk about Fight Club.” Guys pounding each other into hamburger and going back for seconds. You gotta love it.

2. Blade Runner: The Final Cut Hat’s off to Graeme Roy for this satisfying description: “In a cyberpunk vision of the future, man has developed the technology to create replicants, human clones used to serve in the colonies outside Earth but with fixed lifespans. In Los Angeles, 2019, Deckard is a Blade Runner, a cop who specializes in terminating replicants. Originally in retirement, he is forced to re-enter the force when six replicants escape from an offworld colony to Earth.”

3. The Good, The Bad and the Ugly  The best spaghetti western ever. Seriously, what big poppa can resist an afternoon with Clint Eastwood — the man with no name?

4. North Dallas Forty  “They pay you and they pay you well. On one condition. You play the game their way, even if you’re forced to break every bone in your body.” — I’m throwing a football movie in here because you just have to have one on a guy’s list. This semi-fictional account of the Dallas Cowboys is often forgotten and in my opinion, underrated. Nick Nolte and Mac Davis are great as two beat-up, hard-playing, hard-partying pros. 

5. Dune  I think I ruined this for hubby the first time around, but it’s a movie most guys love. With a tagline: “A spectacular journey through the wonders of space and the mysteries of time, from the boundaries of the incredible to the borders of the impossible.” it almost makes me forget how much I hated it. But today, it’s not about me.

6. The Wild Bunch  The link is to Roger Ebert’s review – great writing Rog. The story is about an aging group of outlaws looking for one last big score as the “traditional” American West is disappearing around them. Bloody, wild, good.

7.  Unforgiven Another western that takes place in a moment in time when the old west is becoming new.  Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman and Gene Hackman are just perfect.

Some lighter fare:

8. Groundhog Day – Because hubby loves this movie — that’s why. And he’ll probably forget he’s seen it about 12 times.

9. Field of Dreams - Okay, I promised not to make Big Poppa get sappy on Father’s Day but this one makes the cut.   “All his life, Ray Kinsella was searching for his dreams. Then one day, his dreams came looking for him.” I feel myself welling up already.

10. Iron Man – If you have to go see one superhero movie — this is the one. Robert Downey Jr.’s acting is better than all the special effects in it. Kudos to Jeff Bridges too and Jon Favreau for his directorial skills.

Okay, it’s an eclectic list but here’s to you, Men of America. Thank you for being great fathers. And hubby, kick your feet up — it’s going to be a fab day. 

New War of the Words: Tom Cruise vs. Dr. Drew

 

Hey Dr. Drew. You should have your head examined for psychoanalyzing Tom Cruise.

Don’t get me wrong, I think Dr. Drew is the handsomest and smartest shrink ever and I’ve said time and time again that Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew  makes for compelling television.

The most hilarious moment? When a drugged-out whiny Jeff Conaway  caused poor Dr. Drew to come in on his “off hours” to talk him out of checking out of rehab.

 Sans his usual suit and tie and looking all hunky in a black t-shirt,  even old Jeff came out of his stupor to comment on Dr. Drew’s “guns”.

Anyway, Dr. Drew made a tactical error in judgment when he dared to exercise his right to freedom of speech. Come on, this is America. Don’t you know we have lawsuits?

Dr. Drew wrote in Playboy: “A lot of people in the public eye who behave strangely have mental illness we can learn from, and much of it is based on childhood trauma, without a doubt. “Take a guy like Tom Cruise. Why would somebody be drawn into a cultish kind of environment like Scientology?”

Of course, this upset Cruise’s lawyer,  Bert Fields  who went on a big-time rant, saying:

“This unqualified television performer who is obviously just looking for notoriety is so grotesquely unprofessional as to pretend to diagnose Tom and others without ever meeting them.

“He seems to be spewing the absurdity that all Scientologists are mentally ill. The last time we heard garbage like this was from Joseph Goebbels.”

Maybe I wouldn’t want people to talk smack about me either, but does Tom’s lawyer really have to compare my darling Dr. Drew to a Nazi? Yeesh.

Of course,  the good doctor issued a retraction. He’s very, very, very, very sorry.

I don’t know what Tom has to say about the whole thing…seems he’s letting old Bert do all the talking.

Caution to Dr. Drew: I know she’s perfect, but don’t write about Oprah either.

“Tell All” Book About Madonna: What’s Left to Tell?

My friends at Page Six just spilled the beans that Madonna’s brother Christopher Ciccone has written a tell-all book about his sister and that it’s going to be “brutal”.  Okay, okay, I’m sure there’s plenty of fuel for the fire here but does anyone remember Madonna: Truth or Dare?

Oh — what a snooze fest that was. I remember, my girlfriends all gathered together to drink wine and feel guilty about watching it. Ugh, was I disappointed.  It was — I hate, to say it — boring. We all wanted to be shocked, amazed. But no.

I like Madonna’s music. She’s incredibly buff and a real showperson – but she has no sense of humor and the British accent may be real now but come on. No sense of humor makes for a boring subject. Sure, I know she was a slut – I saw the miniseries. Yes, I know she had a hard life growing up and all.  But will this book really tell us something we don’t already know?

Well, the book is due out next month. Stay tuned.

The Dream List: Movies That Could Be

I’ve always had a short  dream list that I keep running in my head of books that should be made into movies or movies that should have sequels, etc. etc. Come on, we’ve all had those daydreams. Of course, there’s a whole slew of reasons why the following haven’t been made/shouldn’t be made/couldn’t be made.  But here’s my starter list in no order of importance:

1) Ferris Bueller Gets Married — The window of opportunity to make this movie has passed.  Matthew Broderick defined the role in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off  in 1986 and he had a short cuteness factor that now evades him. Not that he isn’t a wonderful actor  – but you’d never call him hot now.  And I think it would ruin it to find someone else to play the new Ferris.

And don’t forget Charlie Sheen  in his defining role as “Boy in Police Station.” Wow. Anyway, I envisioned Ferris and Sloane (Mia Sara) getting married and of course, plenty of shenanigans along the road to get there.  Of course, like  many sequels this one would probably have been bungled badly so maybe it’s a good thing it remained just a fantasy.

2) The Catcher in the Rye  — Yes, of course I know that J.D. Salinger would never allow such a thing. But just the other day I was imagining Kieren Culkin as Holden Caulfield. Yes, that would be a beautiful thing.  It’s not going to happen though, and in a way, if you think about it,  Igby Goes Down was very Salingeresque.

Picture it with me:

3) Forever Amber – The Mini Series

Okay shoot me — maybe this has been made into one but I’m too tired for a long Googling session tonight. The book is FAB — and if you loved Gone With the Wind you will adore Forever Amber.

The movie was made about five million years ago — 1947 I think — and personally, I try to not watch anything that doesn’t have a ’50s release date.  But maybe that’s because my mother-in-law is hooked on movies that are so faded you can barely see the actors’ faces. Maybe I’ll reinstate my Netflix membership just to watch it. Maybe I’ll even buy a new t.v. who knows? Pigs could fly.

Anyway, I think this would be a great HBO mini-series starring somebody new and fresh — because after The Other Boleyn Girl I no longer think Scarlett Johannson is up to  the task.

Hey, I’m just getting started – do you have some dream movies playing in your head?