Not having attended many of the games this year due to work and travel and lethargy, we've nonetheless kept close tabs on the Angels season and watched many of the games at home.
Yesterday was the final home game of the regular season, and the Angels had lost two straight games to Seattle, failing to wrap up their Division title as neatly as everyone seemed to expect.
They were just waiting for us to be in the stands when they did that, I'm convinced!
It was an exciting game, too. Even though there were no lead changes, the Mariners threatened several times, but we kept adding "insurance" runs.
The mood was ecstatic at the end, but now comes the tough part--playing against the 3 best American League teams in the playoffs--Boston, Cleveland and New York.
You can bet we'll be at those home playoff games!
Until next time...
Rick
Monday, September 24, 2007
Friday, September 21, 2007
Today's Addendum: "Scarcity"
Very mixed reviews for Lucy Thurber's Scarcity, and while I appreciate some of the criticisms, I find myself resenting their antagonism to what is an intelligent, visceral and highly entertaining piece. Here are links to the major reviews.
Flat Bunz
Whoever has directed Carl's Jr.'s advertising in recent years has been having his cake & eating it too, especially with the latest TV commecial for their patty melt.
It's easier to ask forgiveness than permission, as they say, and that's Carl's Jr.'s motto.
They opted to go forth with a sexy teacher in a high school class room, wearing a tight skirt that proves that she has, well, flat buns, which is then celebrated in a hip hop musical number by her (seemingly all male) class.
It was funny, clever and the tune was catchy--just what you want your TV commercial to be to get attention.
They got some unwanted attention when educators and parents objected to the depiction of the teacher.
What did Carl's Jr. do?
They edited out that part of the commerical--in fact, conveniently located at the top of the spot, it almost seemed like they had planned it all from the beginning, that is, anticipated the uproar, but moved forward anyway because the controversy would only get them more attention. Then they swooped in like heroes by eliminating the offending images in the blink of an eye, demonstrating how responsive they are to parental authority.
Their website Carlsjr.com has the edited version along with interviews with the artists.
However if you wish to see the unedited version, watch it here on YouTube.
Until next time...
Rick
It's easier to ask forgiveness than permission, as they say, and that's Carl's Jr.'s motto.
They opted to go forth with a sexy teacher in a high school class room, wearing a tight skirt that proves that she has, well, flat buns, which is then celebrated in a hip hop musical number by her (seemingly all male) class.
It was funny, clever and the tune was catchy--just what you want your TV commercial to be to get attention.
They got some unwanted attention when educators and parents objected to the depiction of the teacher.
What did Carl's Jr. do?
They edited out that part of the commerical--in fact, conveniently located at the top of the spot, it almost seemed like they had planned it all from the beginning, that is, anticipated the uproar, but moved forward anyway because the controversy would only get them more attention. Then they swooped in like heroes by eliminating the offending images in the blink of an eye, demonstrating how responsive they are to parental authority.
Their website Carlsjr.com has the edited version along with interviews with the artists.
However if you wish to see the unedited version, watch it here on YouTube.
Until next time...
Rick
Thursday, September 20, 2007
"Streamers"
Thirty years ago, David Rabe's play by that name, was being produced and it was quite a sensation. Rabe had already made a name for himself with The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel and Sticks and Bones--the latter production was broadcast on network television as I recall. All dealt with life in the military and its consequences during the Vietnam War era, as well as larger social issues America was facing at the time.
Well, the title came to mind because I was actually marveling at how great it is to be able to listen to my favorite jazz station on my computer through what's called "streaming." Reception in the Capistrano Valley for the Long Beach-based KJAZZ 88.1 is spotty, but it comes in loud and clear via the internet. I also discovered another jazz station I'd never received over the airwaves: KSDS 88.3 in San Diego.
The age of streaming is also making it possible to watch video clips a la YouTube and on theatre websites (in my blog yesterday about 100 Saints You Should Know, producer Playwrights Horizons' website carried a link to a streamed interview with author Kate Fodor and members of the cast as well as selections from the play in performance).
Thirty years ago, though, Streamers had nothing to do with internet technology of course. Rabe's title referred to the phenomenon of a parachute failing to open--an important metaphor in that play.
Until next time...
Rick
Well, the title came to mind because I was actually marveling at how great it is to be able to listen to my favorite jazz station on my computer through what's called "streaming." Reception in the Capistrano Valley for the Long Beach-based KJAZZ 88.1 is spotty, but it comes in loud and clear via the internet. I also discovered another jazz station I'd never received over the airwaves: KSDS 88.3 in San Diego.
The age of streaming is also making it possible to watch video clips a la YouTube and on theatre websites (in my blog yesterday about 100 Saints You Should Know, producer Playwrights Horizons' website carried a link to a streamed interview with author Kate Fodor and members of the cast as well as selections from the play in performance).
Thirty years ago, though, Streamers had nothing to do with internet technology of course. Rabe's title referred to the phenomenon of a parachute failing to open--an important metaphor in that play.
Until next time...
Rick
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
"100 Saints You Should Know"
Kate Fodor's new play, 100 Saints You Should Know, which I mentioned here that I saw at Playwrights Horizons in New York last week, has opened and the reviews are out. (You can link to many of them via American Theater Web.)
I found some of the reviews harsh, but was pleased to read Linda Winer's praise in Newsday and Michael Sommers's in the Star-Ledger.
I found 100 Saints You Should Know a thoughtful play with modest ambitions that it mostly achieves through believable characters sincerely played. It's biggest failing, I thought, was that it needed to be trimmed a bit.
Anyway, the playwright has already been declared by many to be one to keep on eye on, and I suspect she's already got commissions she's working to fulfill on myriad subject matter.
Until next time...
Rick
I found some of the reviews harsh, but was pleased to read Linda Winer's praise in Newsday and Michael Sommers's in the Star-Ledger.
I found 100 Saints You Should Know a thoughtful play with modest ambitions that it mostly achieves through believable characters sincerely played. It's biggest failing, I thought, was that it needed to be trimmed a bit.
Anyway, the playwright has already been declared by many to be one to keep on eye on, and I suspect she's already got commissions she's working to fulfill on myriad subject matter.
Until next time...
Rick
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
The Clock Never Runs Out in Baseball
Boy, was that ever true last night as we nodded off on the couch well past three hours into the Angels-Devil Rays game and it was only the seventh inning.
Well, it was a high-scoring game (Angels won 10-7), and the early scoring necessitated pitching changes galore (though Tampa Bay didn't change their starter until well into the game).
Angels fans earned their wings, though, last night. (For the past several seasons, Hooters has offered a free order of spicy chicken wings appetizer whenever the Angels score 10 or more runs in a home game. But who goes there for the food?)
As zzzzz-inducing as was last night's game, the Angels are near to winning their 3rd Division title in 4 years with only two weeks left in the season. So, we're pretty well assured of making it into the playoffs.
They've had an amazing season, really, leading almost all the way--despite numerous injuries to key players. But whenever they had to replace someone with a player from the minor leagues, that substitute would prove to be as good if not better than the original!
Still, after the All-Star Game break, our pitchers who were so invincible early in the season are showing they're only human.
There's also a lot of debate over how it's decided which team plays which in the playoffs. Angels fans pray it won't be the Red Sox at Fenway Park because they've proven hard to beat there. We'd prefer the team everyone else fears--the Yankees. In the Joe Torre-era at the Yankees, the Angels are the only team with a winning record against them (including this season).
But baseball's the only major popular sport in the U.S. that has no clock. As Yogi Berra said, "it ain't over till it's over."
Until next time...
Rick
Well, it was a high-scoring game (Angels won 10-7), and the early scoring necessitated pitching changes galore (though Tampa Bay didn't change their starter until well into the game).
Angels fans earned their wings, though, last night. (For the past several seasons, Hooters has offered a free order of spicy chicken wings appetizer whenever the Angels score 10 or more runs in a home game. But who goes there for the food?)
As zzzzz-inducing as was last night's game, the Angels are near to winning their 3rd Division title in 4 years with only two weeks left in the season. So, we're pretty well assured of making it into the playoffs.
They've had an amazing season, really, leading almost all the way--despite numerous injuries to key players. But whenever they had to replace someone with a player from the minor leagues, that substitute would prove to be as good if not better than the original!
Still, after the All-Star Game break, our pitchers who were so invincible early in the season are showing they're only human.
There's also a lot of debate over how it's decided which team plays which in the playoffs. Angels fans pray it won't be the Red Sox at Fenway Park because they've proven hard to beat there. We'd prefer the team everyone else fears--the Yankees. In the Joe Torre-era at the Yankees, the Angels are the only team with a winning record against them (including this season).
But baseball's the only major popular sport in the U.S. that has no clock. As Yogi Berra said, "it ain't over till it's over."
Until next time...
Rick
Monday, September 17, 2007
iRick (or is it eRick?)
I was browsing for theatre podcasts this morning to see what might turn up (never having accessed any before), and came across a site called The Barestage Theatre, which includes new works and radio plays. It required that I install iTunes, which I've certainly heard of but never thought to add to my computer previously. I knew that iTunes charges 99 cents a song, but didn't realize that its podcasts are "100% free".
Anyway, everything seems to be turning i-This or e-That in this age--until the next "lower case letter phenomenon" is created.
But does an "i" before my name imply I'm an Apple product or user? Is an "e" too generic or ubiquitous? Please help me decide which letter I should be...I'm at a total loss and my entire identity is at stake here!
Until next time...
Rick
Anyway, everything seems to be turning i-This or e-That in this age--until the next "lower case letter phenomenon" is created.
But does an "i" before my name imply I'm an Apple product or user? Is an "e" too generic or ubiquitous? Please help me decide which letter I should be...I'm at a total loss and my entire identity is at stake here!
Until next time...
Rick
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