Neil Patrick Harris. Hedwig. JOY.

The big news in theatre today is that Neil Patrick Harris is going to star in the first Broadway production of the rock musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch in spring 2014.

Pretty much all of my theatre fan friends are collectively losing their shit.  I got tagged in a Facebook post, and when I clicked on the link, I audibly gasped at my desk and almost sucked the air out of the room.  I almost danced around my office with flailing glee, which is something I haven't done since I saw Assassins was having a one night reunion concert last year.  Hey, NPH was in that show as well!  And did I mention that he was off book for the reunion after one weekend of rehearsal?  

I haven't really seen much negativity towards this news, but I'm sure it's out there.  The collective flailing is just overshadowing that right now.  This production is going to begin after How I Met Your Mother ends for good.  It's pretty awesome that NPH is already giving us something to look forward to.  Barney Stinson and Hedwig Robinson are two incredibly different characters, and I'm so glad that he's proving his range once again.  His Broadway stints were mostly before HIMYM, and I'm privileged to have seen him in Cabaret 4 times and in Assassins 3 times.  He also did the LA tour stop of Rent, the London production of tick...Tick...Boom!, Proof, and the Sweeney Todd and Company concerts.

Let's examine why NPH will rock the hell out of Miss Hedwig:

Look at John Cameron Mitchell.  Now look at NPH.  

 

Two beautiful men with defined features and wry smirks who can rock blonde hair.  We can abbreviate their names with a triple letter acronym and refer to them as such!  JCM is the genius who created, wrote, and portrayed Hedwig.  He performed the show off-Broadway at the Jane Street Theatre and wrote, directed, and starred in the 2001 movie version.  Hedwig was supposed to recently come to Broadway with JCM starring, but that production never happened.  I was just thinking about what happened to that rumor a couple days ago, and I was treated to this news today.

They both look beautiful in makeup and are unafraid to embrace the glam. 

JCM with the composer Stephen Trask

   
NPH as the Emcee in Cabaret.

Look at those lips.  Just imagine them in thick Cookie Puss lipstick (below) speaking in a German accent again.

Think of the score.  I can envision him singing half the score already.  I can actually close my eyes and imagine the spin he'll put on the songs.  That is proof of his distinctive voice.  His diction is absolutely impeccable, even with an accent.  Yet, the melody is never stilted or boring.  His tenor is clear and soaring, and he builds emotion beautifully.  Can you imagine him singing "The Origin Of Love" or "Wig In a Box"?  Oh my goodness, I already have chills.  

He may not have had a lot of experience in rock musicals, with the exception of Rent, but I still think he's going to pull off the harder rock songs like "Angry Inch" and "Exquisite Corpse."  Have you seen do random musical numbers on award shows?  Did you see him sing AC/DC on HIMYM?  I believe he will embrace the rock just fine, and I'm sure he'll give a fantastic "car wash."  His evolution in the final numbers is going to be insane.  Hedwig may be the most genuine punk rock musical out there, but it's still rife with emotion and character growth.    

Remember, the stage version is a one-woman show.  He hosts almost every award show now, and he broke the fourth wall with the audience as the Emcee in Cabaret 8 times a week in 2003.  NPH has plenty of experience in commanding a stage and wooing an audience.  He's very funny and is excellent at improvising and playing off an audience vibe.  

I always dreamed of seeing JCM and his successors Michael Cerveris, Kevin Cahoon, and Matt McGrath as Hedwig, but I think that this choice is even better.  This is a chance for more people to be exposed to the beauty and perfection that is Hedwig and the Angry Inch.  This is a chance for NPH to show his true acting chops once Barney leaves our weekly DVR schedule.  This is the chance for a household name to tell Hedwig's story.  This is the time to rediscover and acclaim a beautiful transgender musical.  

It is clear that I must find my other half.  But is it a he or a she?
What does this person look like?  Identical to me?  Or somehow complementary?

Does my other half  have what I don't?  Did he get the looks?  The luck?  The love?
Were we really separated forceably or did he just run off with the good stuff?  Or did I?
Will this person embarrass me?  What about sex?  Is that how we put ourselves back together again?

Or can two people actually become one again?

Father's Day: 5 Best TV Dads

So, ridiculously long story short, I lost both my father and stepfather at young ages and never had a strong male influence in my life.  Any other male family members were older and all died when I was young.  I watched a lot of television growing up and was always fascinated by the father-daughter dynamics portrayed.  It affects me greatly to see an amazing father on television because I never really got to experience anything like that.  I thought it would be nice for Father's Day to celebrate those wonderful (albeit fictional) TV dads that I absolutely love and sometimes watch with tears in my eyes.  In a weird way, they have been there for me.

Honorable Mention  

Rupert Giles (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Giles wasn't actually Buffy's father, but he was the closest thing she had for a long time.  As a Watcher, he was supposed to guide, but not protect, in her Slayer journey.  He was fired from the Watchers Council after saving Buffy from the test they forced her to endure on her 18th birthday.  Her birth father bailed on taking her to the ice show, but she found out who truly loved her that day.  And any Giles fan knows the best episode is "Band Candy" where he and her mother Joyce become teenagers again.  On the top of a police car.  Twice.   

Quote

Buffy: "Does it ever get easy?"
Giles: "You mean life?"
Buffy: "Yeah. Does it get easy?"
Giles: "What do you want me to say?"
Buffy: "Lie to me."
Giles: "Yes, it's terribly simple. The good guys are always stalwart and true, the bad guys are easily distinguished by their pointy horns or black hats, and, uh, we always defeat them and save the day. No one ever dies, and everybody lives happily ever after."
Buffy: "Liar."

This is his song "Standing" from the musical episode "Once More With Feeling."  Sing it, Tony Head.  Sigh.  It represents everything about their relationship and how he needs to leave so she can continue growing up and being strong.  Well, it's a little more complicated than that in the Buffy world, but still.  TEARS EVERY TIME.  Wish I could embed the actual clip, but here's the link if you wish to watch.

5. Phil Dunphy (Modern Family)

Oh Phil.  Phil, Phil, Phil.  Phil Dunphy is the self-proclaimed "cool dad" who is really the most overeager nerd.  He's so adorable, and Ty Burrell plays the oblivion so beautifully.  Phil just wants everyone to be a big happy best friend family.  He tries so hard, and it's so endearing.  He has such a great relationship with his dad and desperately tries for his father-in-law to accept him.  

Quote

"I'm cool dad, that's my thang.  I'm hip, I surf the web, I text. LOL: laugh out loud, OMG: oh my god, WTF: why the face."

As the seasons go on, you see a more serious side slip out now and then, and he had some beautiful scenes with his children this past season.    

I absolutely loved this one with him and Haley because he was just fuming with frustration and anger, and that's something rarely seen.  It's also something that Haley needed to see.  

4. Sandy Cohen (The O.C.)

The funny thing is that I didn't like Peter Gallagher when I first started watching The O.C.  I don't even think I was done the second episode before saying  OMGSANDYCOHENFOREVER.  Sandy Cohen may be the most warm, welcoming, and understanding father on TV.  He just rolls with the soap opera drama that goes on around the Cohen-Atwood-Cooper-Nichols abodes, and that can't be easy to do.  He and his wife Kirsten have a loving relationship that's not often threatened, and they work on any problems that arise.  His snarky rapport with his son Seth is amazing, and he takes in Ryan (kid from the wrong side of the tracks in Chino) and welcomes him as one of his own.  

Quote

"Since the minute you were born, I knew I would never take another easy breath without knowing that you were all right."

Ok, after watching this clip of Seth and Sandy having "the talk," I want to marathon Season 1 all over again.  Such amazing TV.  I am literally laughing out loud.  If this doesn't sum up why he's one of the best, I don't know what will.

Ok, maybe the art of schmearing a bagel.  I really can't leave that out.

3. Jonathan Kent (Smallville)

Oh, Papa Kent.  The human man who’s truly a father to Clark Kent traditionally dies in the Superman legend.  This should have been no surprise on Smallville, but normally, we see older versions of Ma & Pa Kent.  Smallville showed us good looking middle-aged versions of Jonathan and Martha Kent raising Clark as a teenager.  I fell in love with Papa Kent (my term) and his loving, hard working ethic.  In any other hands, this role could have been overly earnest and a bit cheesy, but John Schneider gave it a goldenly rugged charm with a sense of humor.  I might have gone a bit giddy and started calling him Ryan Seacrest's father (not an insult in my world, love the Ry) and then had the best experience with him at Comic Con where I have the biggest squee smile ever on my face in our picture.  Might have.  I'm not exactly a Dukes of Hazzard fan, but I'm just truly in love with his Papa Kent.  There are no words.  He's just SUCH a good father and husband, up through his fateful day.  

Quote
Jonathan:  "Clark, your mother and I both know that you are gonna save a lot of lives in this world, even more than you have any idea."
Clark:  "The only life I'm interested in saving is yours." 

Jonathan:  "You do.  You save my life every day that you're with us.  And we wouldn't trade that for a single moment without you."

I’m not big on fan videos, but I think this one is really well done. 

2. Keith Mars (Veronica Mars)

Keith Mars is a newly single dad, former sheriff, and current PI.  He and Veronica are the black sheep of the town for awhile, and she helps him with his cases, oftentimes against his wishes.  Keith treats his daughter like a mature individual, but he's also right there for her whenever she needs her dad.  He gives her privacy but stays involved and up-to-date on her life.  Yet, he's not afraid to activate that GPS tracker or any other gadget if he feels something's wrong.  It seems intrusive, but his instincts were usually correct.  Veronica may be mature, but she's still a teenager for the first half of the series.  He has put his life on the line in many ways for his daughter, and they have a loving and fun relationship despite all the crazy noir going on around them in Neptune.  

In the pilot, there's a "who's your Daddy" moment that only he can get away with without getting punched.  He knows it drives Veronica crazy, and it just makes it all the more fun for him.  I can't embed it, so here you go.  That clip shows Kristen Bell and Enrico Colantoni's chemistry from day one.  The video below shows a moment from season 3 where they have dinner with Logan for the first time.  Logan had a messed up celebrity family life, and you see the wistful happiness on his face as he watches Keith and Veronica banter.  

1. Dan Conner (Roseanne)

It's pretty obvious that everyone listed have been from shows airing from the late 90s through the present.  I watched tons of family sitcoms as a kid (Full House, The Cosby Show, Growing Pains, The Wonder Years, Fresh Prince, Blossom, Family Matters, Boy Meets World), but none of those fathers stuck out for me as strongly as Dan Conner.  

I grew up in a working class house, and Dan Conner was everything I wanted in a father.  He persevered despite his limitations in education and skills.  He provided for his family and just wanted a hot meal, cold beer, and the game on in return.  He loved his children and tried to spend time with them.  It was harder for him if they didn't have anything in common, but he never ignored them.  He loved his wife and found her desirable no matter what.  He was goofy and funny but his temper would immediately go into protective mode if his loved ones were threatened in any way.  He never harmed his family, but say your prayers if you tried to hurt them.  He was far from perfect, and he knew it, but it never stopped him from being a devoted father and husband.  The show was very realistic until the last season, almost gritty for a situation comedy, and John Goodman's performance was sublime.  I cry during the last episode without fail.  

Quote

"Remember our family motto:  We're Conners, we gotta eat."

Dan beats up Jackie's abusive boyfriend Fisher and ends up in jail 
3:17 is Darlene bailing him out, which is absolutely priceless.
7:30 is the "Hey honey, We're officially poor white trash!" dance

8:29 is Jackie overwhelmed with conflicting emotions over Dan's actions.  It's truly sweet.

Becky and Darlene ruin Roseanne's Mother's Day, and Dan punishes them for once.

The epic talk about masturbation with DJ.  His reactions are so perfect.  

The Halloween episodes were always the most memorable out of the late 80s-early 90s sitcoms, and the first one is just perfections.  Why look for clips?  The whole episode is gold and timeless.  

Fangirl Flashback: A spring night's journey to Penn Station

One of my favorite memories in NYC was on a warm yet breezy night in June 2004.  I often think of that night around this time of year.  It was one of those nights that couldn't be replicated if I tried.  That's what I love about the city:  you never quite know how exciting a simple night can become.

I made it a solo evening in the city.  The brilliant actor Martin Moran was performing his one man show based on his brave memoir The Tricky Part.

It's excellent, and I highly recommend the read.  I knew it would be one of those intimate shows that would make me want to be alone afterwards, so I didn't ask any friends if they wanted to come with me.  I stayed for the question and answer session but remained quiet because I just wasn't ready to leave my seat.  All I wanted to do was give the man a hug for being so exposed and honest, yet at peace.  I didn't wait to say hi afterwards because I felt like anything I said would be ridiculous.  Actually, I don't think I've ever said hi to him, not even after Cabaret.  He's one of those few actors that leaves me tongue-tied.

I left the theatre and started making the unfamiliar trek back to Penn Station.  I normally didn't go to see off-Broadway shows, so I usually never went beyond Lincoln Center.  At least I knew to go south and that I would pass a few of the 1-2-3 subway stops along the way.  This was the time of flip phones with no internet, therefore battery usage lasted longer.

The show let out early, so it was still pretty dusky outside.  I was pondering just how far I would walk and if my shoes would hold out.  The show was still running through my mind, so I was in no hurry.  As I started making my way through the 60s, I looked up and saw a very familiar face coming towards me.  He looked me up and down and smiled.  And then I realized that I was just checked out in passing by Evan Handler, best known at the time as Harry Goldenblatt from Sex and the City.

I swear to it.  I started laughing and called my mom.

One of my favorite things to do in the city was call my mom after a show.  She was bedridden and couldn't get out to see shows with me, but she lived vicariously through me and my experiences.  We listened to showtunes and watched as many clips as we could and giggled over actors.  Naturally, I had to tell her what just happened.  By that point, the dark sky was setting in and the buildings were lighting up.  The breeze felt amazing, and the city was quiet yet bustling on that Monday night.  I knew I had to walk the whole way to Penn.  She was a little worried about me, as a mother does, but I reassured her that I was in probably one of the safest areas of the whole city and knew what I was doing.

We stayed chatting on the phone as I kept walking.  I knew it made her feel better, and I also enjoyed having her "with" me on such a beautiful night.  I made it past Columbus Circle, and it started getting a lot darker.  I was passing 54th Street when two men made a right in front of me.  I looked at the one on my right and almost fell down.

I'm not kidding, I cupped my mouth and started whispering in the phone "MOM OMG I THINK CHRISTOPHER WALKEN IS IN FRONT OF ME."  I got a little closer to try and hear his vocal pattern, and yeah....yeah.  He must have just come from seeing Assassins.  I was so excited to be in the presence of such greatness, but I had to be as quiet as possible.  They went in a different direction, and I practically danced through Times Square.  

It was such a random night.  It was such a random and beautiful Monday night in New York City.  It's times like those that I wish I lived in closer proximity to have experiences like those more often.  But hey, it makes the times I do go all the more special.  

"You don't throw away a yearbook! You're supposed to cherish it forever!!"

Today is the 15th anniversary of the movie Can't Hardly Wait.

This movie means so much to me because I went to see it two days after my high school graduation.  It IS my generation.  I went to school with these characters.  They are my Brat Pack.  I can quote the entire movie, and I specialize in Seth Green's lines.  My parlor trick for years was breaking into his opening monologue:

Yo I GOTTA have sex tonight.  I mean peep this, it says here 92 percent of UCLA women have had sex.  92 percent of honeys at UCLA walkin' around goin' 'Class or sex? What shall I do?'  92 percent, yo!  But you know what that means.  It means I gots a 92 percent chance of embarrassin' myself.  I roll up on that shorty like, 'What's up yo,' and she be like, 'You don't know 20 different ways to make me call you Big Poppa,' cause I don't, yo.

Yes.  Kenny Fisher and his pants that could fit a family of five was my love for many years.

Looks like someone's auditioning for Soul Train!

Yo Jana...*dances*...you wanna dance....
I'm allergic.
Allergic??  To dancing?!  
Yeah....

That is a Fragrance of Love scented candle, bitch!  DAMN!

If you haven't seen the movie, do me a favor and watch it just for Special K alone.

Everyone does an amazing job, even Jennifer Love Hewitt and her flowing hair.  She was Amanda Beckett, the wholesomely cute popular girl who was on the arm of the head jock Mike Dexter (Peter Facinelli) all throughout high school.  She doesn't do much besides react to the chaos going on around her, but she does it well.  And their cathartic encounter towards the end of the party makes me laugh every time.

(drunkenly) Oh yeah, well you're the one, A-man-DAAAAA.

I giggle just like the jock sycophants, one of whom is the always awesome Freddy Rodriguez.

But her parents, they've got mirrors over the bed.  I'm gonna be like, Ahhhahahahah!  Ahhahhhaha! 

My best friend and I were just discussing that this movie had a pre-Six Feet Under get-together!  Rodriguez, the amazing Lauren Ambrose, Eric Balfour, and Facinelli.  The role of Denise Fleming was Ambrose's breakout, and she was the perfect snarky introverted girl who would rather be anywhere than that party.

I told her you were a dendraphiliac....it's someone who has sex with trees.

Ethan Embry was an adorable delight as the earnest and arty Preston Meyers who just wanted to share his letter and his Pop Tart with Amanda.  The character was John Cusack-esque, but Embry gave him a sweet hangdog charm.  I just read a recent interesting interview with him about the movie 15 years later.  Some of it surprised me, but I like that he doesn't hold back.

[the song Mandy] It's not about a dog.  It's about a woman named Amanda.  Who the hell names their dog Amanda?!

And of course, there's Charlie Korsmo as William Lichter, the nerd who had his comeuppance in so many ways!  I grew up watching him in movies, and nothing made me happier than to see become a rock star and a legend all for one night.

Now, now, ladies, both of you can hold my laser pointer any time!

I love William and Mike's piano scene.  Every time I hear "I'll Make Love To You," I always think of that, and then my brain segues into Denise and Kenny singing "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" in the bathroom.  Every. last. time.

There were so very many other actors that continued to high profile careers or just kind of stumbled around into the early 2000s:  Jason Segel, Selma Blair, Jerry O'Connell, Breckin Meyer, Donald Faison, Melissa Joan Hart, Amber Benson, Jaime Pressly, Clea Duvall, Jenna Elfman, Sara Rue, Erik Palladino, Alexander Martin, Channon Roe, Sean Patrick Thomas, Paige Moss,  Nicole Bilderback, and Chris Owen.  If you're a nerd like me, you notice that seven of these actors appeared either on Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Cruel Intentions.  We could do a Six Degrees of Sarah Michelle Gellar!

The writers and directors Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan went on to do Josie and the Pussycats, which is a really underrated gem.  Seth Green, Breckin Meyer, Donald Faison, and Alexander Martin appeared as the sublime boy band Du Jour.  Back door lover, baby.

I was rather obsessed with the soundtrack and used to listen to it in my first car all the time.  Those tracks are just a sampling from what was used in the movie...one day, I should make sure to get every song on a playlist.  Click for the full listing on IMDB.

My two favorites:

Third Eye Blind-  Graduate

Eve 6-  Open Road Song

Oh hell, I can't leave this out, it's like a trailer for the movie!!

Can't Get Enough of You Baby- Smash Mouth

And what post would be complete without some pic spam!

Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con 2013

I know that Philly Comic Con was a week ago, but I'm still getting over all the feels for the last Game Of Thrones episode.  I'll probably be wrecked again since tonight's the finale, so I'm going to get this post up while it's still timely!

My husband and I absolutely adore conventions.  I never actually went to one (shocker) until a year after we started dating.  He has been cosplaying since high school, and he is so fantastic and dedicated with his details and characterization.  Lately, he's been doing a blend of classic and Nicholson Joker from Batman.  He'll be putting it aside for awhile as he works on a new Game Of Thrones costume, but Joker will never retire.  It's his masterpiece.

I like being his "manager."  I often describe myself as the Matthew Broderick to his Sarah Jessica Parker on the red carpet:  Just stand back and let him be bathed in the camera flashbulbs.  I tried putting my own twist on Harley Quinn this past year, but it didn't really work, so I'm putting that away for awhile.  One thing that's always fun is to get on trains and walk through a city in costume.  Talk about double takes!  Pictures are always taken before we even make it into the venues.

 My husband, the star.

Click the link below for pictures...who knows who you'll see?!