Cribbing together

Okay, so I was too lazy (and uninspired) come up with anything on my own, so I read a bunch of stuff on the wire and pulled out five things I found interesting (or rather chunks of five things I found interesting). Here goes.

#1.) The story, like an old VHS tape, has undoubtedly been distorted by years of repeated use, but here goes:
It's 1975. Dustin Hoffman is on the set of John Schlesinger's "Marathon Man," running windsprints to prepare for a scene that calls for his character to appear flushed and out-of-breath. Seeing his young co-star jog up and down the street for no apparent reason, Laurence Olivier - the wizened Pharaoh of British theater - haughtily asks Hoffman to explain himself. When Hoffman obliges, Olivier shakes his head and clucks, "Why don't you try acting, my boy?"
Actors - or more accurately, movie actors - don't think that way anymore. You have to remember, Olivier came from a tradition where it was deemed acceptable for a white actor to smear burnt cork on his face and call himself Othello. Call it vanity, call it obsolete classicism, but actors of yesteryear truly believed that all performance - with perhaps a little cosmetic help - came from within. Physical authenticity was of lesser concern.
Today, audiences demand authenticity down to the very last pore...

Is this true? Do we, as an audience, demand this? Or is that just the myth that Hollywood believes? Every story lately points to the lack of interest in and knowledge of the general public constantly referred to by Hollywood "big shots." Perhaps if the actors of our time were better at their jobs (i.e. their "craft"), then they wouldn't have to be so physically "authentic."

#2.) While it's easy enough to label "House of Flying Daggers" a kung-fu movie, the film, like "Hero" and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" before it, properly belongs to the wuxia (wooshar) genre, which comes from a tradition of Chinese storytelling that mixes folk heroes and martial arts in a period setting. In the movies, it mostly boils down to swordsmen who seem to defy gravity with their supernatural skills.

I have never heard of wuxia. But now I feel so much more knowledgable. And I can now talk about my favorite genre of films with more precise terms. By the way, I am so excited for "House of Flying Daggers" I feel like a Pointer Sister.

#3.) Lindsay Lohan seems like a typical 18-year-old. She's really concerned with boys and her hair, she's fidgety and giggly, and she just bought these fuzzy purple boots from a Marc Jacobs sale.
But this seemingly typical teen, who first got noticed as a child playing those famous twins in "The Parent Trap" remake, has a full-time job. The freckled redhead has made herself a household name with films including "Freaky Friday" and "Mean Girls."
And now she's put out an album, "Speak."

Normal 18-year-old kids shop at Marc Jacobs? And, is it just me, or does the cover art for Tara Reid's BFF's album look like a cross between the album cover for the Toni Basil album with that '80s classic "Mickey" and the wonderfully funny but not very good drawing credited to StrongBad on Homestarrunner.com of Trogdor the Burninator?

#4.) Eddie Levert steps onto the stage.
"O'Jays front man ... a gospel growl that makes Michael Bolton sound like Shirley Temple ... Those sweaty parties in the basement ... Start a love train, love train."
His son, Gerald Levert, joins him.
"Wish these women would stop shrieking ... he is thick and sexy, like a soulful teddy bear ... Sounds just like his dad ... Oh, no, he didn't just roll across the stage!"
If you're of a certain age and a faithful disciple of soul music, then all of these intergenerational, intermingling thoughts swirl through your mind as you watch Eddie and Gerald Levert perform together in their Father and Son tour. And you're reassured knowing that in this age of tinny voices and forgettable lyrics, soul music is alive and kicking as long as these two have vocal cords that work.
Eddie, whose passion-drenched baritone has defined soul music for decades, has joined forces with his son Gerald, a retro version of himself who has penned 14 No. 1 R&B hits, with a newer, hip-hop inflected sound that's inescapably soulful.
The Father and Son tour almost didn't happen. Gerald, who has spent nearly 20 years working to step out of the shadow of his famous dad, didn't want to step back in.

Eddie Levert is Gerald Levert's father? And he was in the O'Jays? How do I not already know these things? I love the O'Jays. I was never too big a fan of Gerald Levert, or his 80s group Levert - yes, just plain Levert, but his dad is Eddie Levert so how bad can that be? I'd go see this tour.

#5.) Emily Gilmore on "Gilmore Girls" (Tuesday, WB): You already know one of my favorite things about "Gilmore Girls" is ability to have multiple story lines that cross generational lines. And yes it is hard to pick just one character out of this great show. But Kelly Bishop has the unique ability to be both humorous (witness her scheming to set Rory up) and heartbreaking(witness her sobbing after her date). As the impeccably controlled and society oriented Emily Gilmore, Bishop is a woman who knows she's made mistakes and is still desperately trying to connect with a daughter she'll never fully understand. Of all the relationships on "Gilmore Girls," it's Lorelai and her mother's that I consistently find the most gripping.

This is why I am constantly professing my love for Zap2It.com's TVGal. This is actually #3 out of her ten best characters on television. Of which I agree with 5 or 6, I'm not sure yet. But I do love this show and while it's hard to pick just one of the Stars Hollow denizens for appreciation, Emily Gilmore is an excellent choice. If you don't watch this show, you should. For the band references alone. But also for all the other pop culture references, the really great writing and characters you don't need to learn to love because they're are like your best friends from the start.

Phew...that's it. I'm done. Until next time (tomorrow for those of you who check out the radio one).