Dexter

 Ever cheer for a serial killer?

I guess that's a pretty odd question. But make no mistake viewers will find themselves doing so.

Airing on the Showtime network is the excellent television show Dexter, which features a serial killer as the protagonist of the show.

In all fairness he's more of a vigilante than a serial killer, but I guess that's all relative.

I really am surprised that I like this show. It's not really stuff that I usually respond to. I'm not a horror fan, and certainly not a fan of the serial killer genre, but this show has me hooked.

I think that it's really innovative stuff. Maybe even the best show on television.

The series revolves around Dexter Morgan, excellently played by Michael C. Hall. Dexter Morgan is a police forensics expert specializing in blood analysis of murder scenes in the Miami police department. He has a sister who is an ambitious police detective, and he was raised by an adopted father who was a police chief, but has since passed away.

What we learn through the course of the show is that a childhood event has traumatized Dexter to the point where he now has a lust for blood that can only be satisfied by killing people.

In flashbacks, we see his adopted father recognizing his son's mental illness, and rather than committing him to mental hospital, he teaches his son, using the many years of his own police training, to act out against murders and serial killers. To satisfy his son's blood lust.

In effect doing some good, by committing murder.

He's basically like The Punisher. But his tools of choice are a drug filled syringe to disable his victims, and a drill and hand saw to finish the job.

What's great about the show is that Dexter is a extraordinarily flawed character. He's a misfit with very little social skills. The character is obviously insane, but he's learned to create a charming mask that society seems to accept as normal. Even though he's far from it.

The show doesn't back away from the fact that this man is a monster in his own right. But we still find ourselves cheering for him.

Perhaps it's because we recognize his struggle to fit in, his awkwardness in certain situations, or that we simply admire his brand of justice against individuals who deserve to die at the hands of a sadistic killer.

Whatever the case, it's fascinating television.

The major storyline right now is Dexter's relationship with a fellow serial killer known as the Ice Truck killer.

The Ice Truck killer chops up the body parts of his victims, usually prostitutes , drains their blood completely, freezes the parts, then displays them in unique fashion in a public place for all to see.

Taunting the police.

Nice.

Dexter finds himself simultaneously admiring, and being repulsed by the man's work.

Things get complicated when the killer reciprocates his affection by showing his admiration for Dexter's own killing work.

Dexter is torn between feeling a kinship with the killer as a fellow artist, and bringing the man to justice.

Things are even more complicated when we learn that there is some kind of connection between the two of them that only the Ice Truck killer knows....and will reveal in his own time.

Besides the excellent work of Michael C. Hall. The show features an excellent ensemble of actors including Julie Benz as Dexter's previously abused, and slightly disturbed girlfriend. Jennifer Carpenter as Dexter's oblivious and ambitious sister, James Remar as Dexter's complicated, deceased adopted father, and the creepy Christian Camargo as the Ice Truck killer.

It's definitely one of the best shows on television right now, and it might even signify the end of HBO's dominance of subscription television. Combined with Weeds and the L-Word, Showtime may now have bragging rights as the best network on television. Especially after the incredible disappointment of the 3rd season of Deadwood, and HBO's original programming misfires of Lucky Louie, and Dane Cook's Tourgasm.

Make sure to check out the series on Sunday nights at 10.

The season finale airs this Sunday.

I can't wait.

A son of many talents!

 American Idol watch out.

My wife took some pictures of our little cub the other day, and I was scanning through them on the computer, catching up with his exploits that I miss while I am at work, and to my surprise, I noticed that she captured him displaying some unusual supernatural abilities.....especially for his age.

He's only 7 months, but he's obviously a musical genius.

If one needs proof.......take a look at these pictures.



Yeah, that's right he sings......but unfortunately when I'm not around.

I coyly pressed my wife for some details, but she refused to report any unusual abilities. Perhaps she's afraid that his talents may draw the attention of Julliard who may force her to enroll him in a preschool program to hone his obvious vocal talents so that he may share them with the world.

When I told her it was okay....that I wouldn't share the secret with anyone. She merely looked at me like I was insane....which unfortunately is a look she gives me a lot.

Just when I was ready to give in, and admit that..... maybe..... she may have just caught a moment of unusual coincidence.... I saw this next picture.



Check out that finger placement.

I saw Anchorman.

We all did.

It's obvious what he's doing here.

He's obviously playing the jazz flute.

I'm now in the process of examining ALL his pictures, which is considerable,.....to maybe catch other remarkable moments that my wife is afraid to share with me.

Imagine....here I was thinking that I was just missing diaper changes, and mid-day naps while I'm at work.

When it's obvious there's a prodigy in my midst.

I Pod Madness

I've been busy the last couple of days adding music to my family's new I pod.

I find it to be a strange.... almost...... addictive task.

I've never owned an mp3 player. To be honest I don't really listen to that much music. I don't listen to it often in the car because I'm usually listening to sports radio. The only time I do listen to music stations is because I get bored during comercial breaks, and I start skimming through the fm stations.

It's not that I don't like music....I do. But I hardly ever listen to it. Most of the time when I hear a song I like it's usually because I'm watching a movie or t.v. show and they are using a song during the scene.

On the rare occasion I have music playing, say at home, I have it in the background on my computer as I surf the web. But I rarely do that because it interferes with the video content I'm usually checking out.

But for the last couple of days I've been cramming all kinds of content onto this damn I pod thing.

For what I don't know.

Unlike the commercials on t.v., I don't stroll down the street bouncing to the latest jams. My job requires customer service, so I can't wear it at work, and as far as wearing it at home my wife hates it, because I can't hear her calling me when she needs my help with the little cub.

So it's practically unneccessary.

But it's a freaking fasciniating gadget.

First off the thing can hold a ton of stuff.

7,500 songs.

Seriously.

Don't ask me what I would need 7,500 songs for, but I'm trying my hardest to find out.

I'm going to try and fill it up......just to see if I can.

I've downloaded stuff onto it that I haven't listened to in years.

Like old Run Dmc and Boogie Down Productions songs.

Seriously.

I assume for the day when I get that strange urge to indulge in classic old...... I'm talking OLD school rap.

I've started the strange habit of asking everyone I know about their cd collection, so that I might borrow a cd which interests me so that I can add it to my I pod.

I've even raided my wife's musical theatre cd's. In case someone in the family gets the urge to listen to some Sondheim on the I Pod.

Yeah...seriously.

I've got about maybe 1, 800 songs on there right now.

Insane....in the palm of my hand.

If that's not enough, this particular I pod is able to play video content.

That's pretty crazy.

I remember how when I was a kid, I dreamed that someone would come up with an invention which would allow me to watch tv in the car.

To save me from the boredom of long road trips, and those boring quick drives with my mom as she ran errands.

Now it's possible to play video in the palm of my hand......as I wait in line at the grocery store.

Not because I'm bored.....but simply because I can.

Crazy.

I even downloaded a couple of movies from the I tunes store just to check out the video functions on the gadget.

So now I have Pirates of the Caribbean and Tombstone on this thing......even though I can't imagine sitting in one place watching a whole 3 hour movie on this thing.

Then my co-worker informed me that I can actually rip content from dvd's, and add it to the I pod.

So now I have the First season of Da Ali G show, and 6 episodes of the U.S. version of the Office on this thing.

In case I need a quick laugh....I guess.

The frustrating thing is the gadget isn't even halfway full yet.

I've been adding stuff for several days now, and I haven't even put a dent into the thing's memory. It's almost becoming a burden trying to fill the thing up.

What's ironic is that I'm finding it difficult to actually find time to use the thing.

The device has tons of content, and I'm working my ass off trying to fill it up, and all it does is sit on top of my computer.

Classic.

I don't know what to do with it.

I'm trying to find occasion to use it, but it's rarely come up. A couple of days ago I offered to drive my wife to the store....which shocked her.....until she realized that my intention was just to sit in the car, and watch my I pod as she shopped.

The other day I caught myself laying on my couch........in front of my 46 inch big screen......watching an episode of the Ali G show...... on my tiny I Pod.

Don't ask me why.

I'm obviously insane.

It's bizarre......such an amazing device.......and I can't find an occasion, or excuse to use it.

I just wish I had the thing when I was younger.

I would've worn the thing out.

I would have used it during those bus trips to the beach. On those long walks to the comic book store. In line for the latest blockbuster film. Waiting for my mom to pick me up from school.

Maybe that's why I've worked so hard to add content to this thing, because of those horrible memories of boredom, and frustration when I had nothing to entertain me.

I'm sure it'll eventually come in handy one of these days.

One day I'll be so happy to own this device, and I'll be relieved and grateful that I was able to put plenty of content on the thing to entertain me for hours.

But for now it sits.....sits and waits.

Please no small talk............please.....ever......

I hate small talk.

I don't see the point for it. To me it's just a waste of energy.

I know there's plenty of people out there who think that it's rude not to practice it.

I know because..... when I don't indulge in it. Those people look at me angry.

I'm sorry..... but I don't like to talk about the weather, or how I'm feeling a particular day, or where I purchased a particular shirt..... because frankly I know that people could care less.

The reality is that people use small talk to hide their insecurities.

That's one of the ways I know I'm going to get along with a new acquaintance. If they are able to be in my presence.....in silence.

I know that may not sound like much. But I'm the type of person that can go awhile without talking.

I can go hours. Seriously a whole afternoon. For me the longer..... the better.

I like being quiet in my thoughts. I like thinking about my family, or a certain movie, or what the Angels chances are for the game that night, or what I'm going to write about on my next blog post.

I don't feel the need to vocally express all my thoughts, or to engage people in talk to feel alive. Sometimes, I just don't want to share what's going on in my head, and I don't want to know what's going on in other people's head.

That's one of the best things about being around my close friends, they know that I'm not being rude when I'm quiet.

I just have nothing to say at the time.

When I eventually speak, it's because I truly have a question or a remark to make.

Like it should be.

I think my disdain for small talk is because I've been around it for so long.

I was a bank teller for 7 years.

That's all customers do at the bank.....have small talk.

I used to laugh to myself when I'd see customers get flustered in my presence while I worked in silence.....counting their money.

They'd smile....try to make eye contact....talk about the lines in the bank, about the silly weather. Some stupid piece of news or trivia they heard on the radio.

And I'd just keep counting, and staring at my computer screen.

A couple of times they complained to my manager, and say I was not friendly enough during the transaction.

But my manager knew better.

Just an insecure customer who needed small talk.

To put things in perspective, one day I was working and a customer came up to my window and I took her deposit slip and asked how she was doing that day?

Big mistake.

She proceeded to tell me that one of her relatives were killed in a murder suicide, and her brother was just diagnosed with cancer.

No joke.

She was serious. She obviously needed to talk, and I was the focus of her venting.

Of course my immediate reaction to the situation after she left my window was...."Wow, that was inappropriate."

But was it really?

I mean, I did ask her how she was doing that day....I opened that door, and she probably felt she could just come right into my world and take a dump....in my living space.

In retrospect, I sort of admire her for her boldness.

I mean that really wasn't small talk. Not even close.

I work in a video store now, so I get my fair share of small talk.

People ask me all the time about a certain movie.....about a certain actor. What the big sellers are or new releases are coming up.

Sometimes I'll indulge them if it's interesting.

But the reality is 95% of the time it's not.

So I've sort of mastered a way to get around the small talk.

I mumble.

Mumbling is good, because it puts all the pressure on them to try and understand what I just said.

Most of the time during small talk, people don't really care, they'll smile and pretend they understood you, and walk away.

Which is exactly what I want.

But sometimes I'll get that person that just won't give up. Who really tries to get under my skin by forcing they're insecurities on me. So then I'll resort to plan B where I'll start to say something clearly then I'll trail off in an incoherent mumble jumble.

Something like...."Yeah, I saw that...I don't know if..(cough)....I guess..(chuckle)....yea....(deep breath)....you might...(look around distracted)....maybe...(sigh)....at least...I was hoping..(chuckle or sigh) ..mumble...mumble...etc...etc..."

Seriously answer any small talk question with that response, and the conversation ends.

Usually before I could even finish, the small talker will smile and look away. They are just content with the minor human contact they've made.

Lately I've noticed a new trend where people will avoid small talk entirely, by having a conversation with someone elseo on a cell phone, while interacting with me.

My favorite way to conduct a transaction.

I know some of my co-workers hate that.

But I love it.

I'm there to do a job. Get them what they want, and then get them on their way to where they have to be. If it can be done with little or no verbal interaction.

Great.

It just makes things go more efficiently.

Actually, I wish everything would work that way. Just pointing and hand gestures. It would eliminate stupid small talk.

I realllllly hate small talk in lines....like in the supermarket. The stupidest conversations ever, happen while one is in a line at the market.

People will talk about what they are buying, or how much money they are saving, some stupid bargain, or the lines....again the lines.

Like it's so hard to understand why OTHER people want what we also want at the SAME TIME.

Man, when I'm trapped in one of those conversations I just want to rip my ears off.

I just feel like turning to them, and say......please let's just stand here in silence, and leave each other alone.

My wife has a big problem with small talkers. They are drawn to her like mosquitoes to light.

She has a bright personality, she's cute, she's very friendly, and she speaks loud and clearly.

She might as well advertise for small talk.

I've been caught up in some epic small talking conversations with other people while in her company.

Unbelievably stupid, and insignificant conversations.

People just love to talk to her about the stupidest, silly, unimportant things in the world with her.

And usually after the conversation is done, she turns to me and says....How did I get caught up in that?

She hasn't learned to mumble yet...that and she's too nice. She actually listens to these people.

What's especially hilarious is when we have a small talk conversation with someone, and then we leave them, but are forced to interact with them AGAIN, when we see them in a different aisle or in the parking lot.

What usually ends up happening is silly...incoherent....insignificant.....banter.

Like...We can't stop running into each other..... or....funny seeing you again......or haven't we met before....

When in reality we wish we would never see each other again.

Classic small talk.

It's like the stuff that Ned Flanders says to Homer Simpson in their driveways....Howdy neighbor....that sort of thing.

Just chirping noise. Might as well be dogs barking at each other.

I guess people can argue that small talk can lead to significant conversations.

Why does it have to be that way?

Why can't we just blurt out what we want to say? Why do we have to work our way up to significant stuff?

To me it's just a waste of time and energy.

Frustrating.

I guess I just have to keep working on my mumbling skills.

Either that or pretend to be deaf.

Hey.....now that's an idea.

The crazy time of the year.......

This is the time of the year when I become crazy. Seriously...... mentally ill. My two regular readers will notice that I haven't been posting much lately. It's because I don't care. This is the time of the year when my focus becomes entirely consumed by Angels baseball. Entirely. When I wake up in the morning, it's all I think about. I go over the day's pitcher, I'll look over the standings, and match up, and research how the team they are playing is pitching. This year I'm also looking at the match-ups of the team that the Angels are chasing....which this year happens to be the Oakland Athletics. I live and die Angels baseball. I even think of a configuration of clothing that will give the Angels good luck. Seriously. I choose a lucky shirt to wear....maybe an Angels themed shirt, or I'll dig around my shelves for my lucky underwear, maybe wear my lucky wristband. All of this is designed to bring positive karma to the world to provide the Angels the best opportunity to win that day's game. I know it sounds crazy. That's because it is. I realize this is a strange pattern of neuroses. I guess I'm slightly comforted by the fact that I recognize that it's crazy behavior. But I don't care. I'll do anything. I'll tie my shoes a specific way if I think it'll help......shave a certain way. Drive a certain way to work. When I watch a game I'll sit in a certain position. If they start to win....I won't move from that position. If I'm holding something a certain way, I'll keep holding it that way. I know that sounds insane. But I don't care. One of the many reasons why I love my wife is because she understands. Unfortunately....I think my mental illness has spread to her. She now does things to aid my strange neuroses, even encourages me to act that way. She won't watch if they start to win. Or she won't come into the room I'm watching the game in if they are doing well. She won't distract me, or contribute any negative karma that may hurt the Angels chances. She'll even ask me if today is okay to wash my lucky shorts that I watch the game with, and sleep in. Insane. Sometimes we go days where the only thing we talk about is our son, and Angels Baseball. If a game is on that night. We're not going out. No eating out, no movies, no visiting friends, no paying bills, no leaving the vicinity of the television. I'm incapable of doing anything productive around the house....until a commercial break. I believe the movie Fever Pitch has a line where the main character.....who also suffers from baseball pennant insanity says that "It's good for the soul to invest in something that one can't control." I guess. But it's still insane. I realize that. I guess people justify this type of behavior by saying that it's all for fun. Which it is. But a part of me hates feeling this way, sometimes it doesn't feel fun. Especially when they lose. Sometimes I'll stun myself with my insanity. I'll see myself acting a certain way and think.... "Boy...I've really lost it" or I'll cheer loudly, or jump in the air, like I've accomplished something incredible...when in reality, I'm just witnessing something fun. I guess I'm just an Angels baseball nut. Insane. What's even more insane is that no matter how they do. If they win it all, or lose, the moment when the Angels season is over.......... I start thinking about the next year. For more insanity. There's only one thing that distracts me nowadays from Angels baseball. It's my son. I'll look at him, and realize that when the Angels lose, it's not really that big of a deal. I'll see him smile, and hear him laugh, and realize it's all just a game, meant for amusement and entertainment. It's what I do to comfort my depression when the Angels lose. I walk into my bedroom, and look at my son, I look at him and smile, and realize how lucky I am to have a beautiful son in my wife's arms or asleep in his crib...... In his Angels baseball outfit. Insane.

The 55.00 Haircut

I swear I'm not high maintenance.

Anyone who knows me will vouch that I'm a jeans and tennis shoes kind of guy.

But that's how much it costs for me to get a hair cut.

I'm probably the only guy in the world who pays that much, me and Ryan Seacrest.....maybe Ben Affleck.

I know that sounds like a lot of money. But, trust me it's worth it. I only bring it up because I'm amazed by how many compliments I get. It feels like I got a trim. But people compliment me like I had a head transplant or something.

It wasn't always that way.

I used to get my haircut done at the 8 dollar barbers, or Supercuts all the time, but I just got sick of getting bad hair cuts. It was always a crap shoot.

Every other time I would get bad hair cuts, the other times it would just be decent. The kind of cut where one tells themselves they needed a week to grow into it. Before they knew it, it's a month later and they're making an appointment for their next cut.

It's not like I have a lot going for me in the looks department to begin with. I don't need the extra disadvantage of a bad hair cut.

In elementary school, I had bad hair cuts all the time.

Seriously, my head was like a bird nest. My sideburns would be uneven, I'd have a bald spot near my ear. Some parts would be spiked, other parts too long.

I'd scare small children, and puppy dogs with my hair style, cute puppys.

Seriously, I had wild hair.

Straight, but wild.

You know the hair cut that Jim Carrey sported in Dumb and Dumber? The bowl cut? That was my hair. Except I also sported the mustache that Pedro had in Napoleon Dynamite.

I'm serious. If one comes over my mom's house they can see pictures of me hanging all over her wall. Sporting that look.

On second thought...don't do that....please don't EVER do that.

It didn't stop in High school either. I don't know how I was ever able to attract people of the opposite sex.

My theory is that they took pity on me.

Either that..... or they liked my hats.

I knew fairly early on that my hair had a strange growth pattern. The Barber would always do the same thing. They would stare at my head for a couple minutes. Grab the scissors, make a few cuts, groan and then reach for the hair clippers.

That's how I knew I was in trouble, when they reached for the hair clippers.

They'd say in a calm, reassuring tone, "I think this cut would look better if it was shorter....a lot shorter. "

One time I got two hair cuts in the same day.

I went to the barber, they chopped it up.

I went home, looked in the mirror..... and realized I looked like a stray dog.

I then went to Supercuts in an attempt to salvage my hair.

The lady looked at it, groaned and promised to make it better.

She made it worse.

I wore a hat for three months.

So now that I have a little money, I pay 55.00 dollars for a hair cut.

Not counting tip....or tips.

One for the stylist, another for the shampoo girl.

So basically I have to apply for financial aid.

I tip out more than people pay for their whole hair cut.

Truth is, I know guys who pay 55 dollars on haircuts..... for the whole year.

I pay for that every 6 weeks.

But it's worth it, the lady that cuts my hair is really good too. Actually she's great.

Her name is Nicole she's the manager of Carlton's hair in the Beverly Center. She's been cutting my hair for 6 years now. I followed her to two different locations. The company recruited her out of Germany, they paid her way and brought her to America so that she could cut hair for the company.

She teaches classes all over the U.S.

She does hair shows every two months.

Sometimes when I make an appointment, I have to wait a week because she's doing a hair show in New York.

She's 25 years old.

Seriously.

That's how I roll.

She's that good.

She takes an hour to cut my hair.

No joke.

Not counting the shampoo and rinse before and after, followed by the styling.

Guys know that's an unusual amount of time to spend on a trim. If this is a lady reading this, ask one's father, brother, boyfriend.....ETC. How long it takes for them to get a hair cut. I bet they say 20 minutes....tops, including the blow dry.

But it's worth.

I know because when I tell people how much I spend and they either look at me shocked or laugh at me because they think I'm kidding.

Then when I tell them it's the truth, they look at my hair closely, in disbelief, trying to find fault, and then admit it's worth it.

Now when I wear a hat it's not because I'm hiding something.

It's because I don't want the sun to cook my head.

Just the way I like it.

What's funny to me.......

I made a interesting observation yesterday.

I have a sick sense of humor.

That's not what was interesting to me though. What was interesting was that for some reason I tend to surround myself with people who share the same type of sick, twisted humor.

I'm doing this play right now called Dot Gone , and among the many interesting aspects about the production is that it combines two groups of people from different periods in my life.

I have the company of friends that I've known from my earliest days of acting, where we all met at El Camino College, and I have my friend J.B. who I met later on when I decided to get my degree, and I attended Chapman University with.

What's fascinating is that they all share the same perverted type of humor.

When I say perverted I mean the most foul, offensive, disgusting, sexually deviant type of humor imaginable.

Stuff we'd probably get locked up for if we talked about it in public or a restaurant or bar or gym for that matter. Stuff that would make a Soldier blush.

I guess one can argue that it's because we are all actors, and that maybe all actors/comedian/artists types have twisted sense of humors.

I mean just check out The Aristocrats.

But in all honesty that's not really the case. Trust me, I've done several summers doing Shakespeare productions with really talented actors who...... are really not that humorous or witty......or interesting for that matter.

The truth is that there's a lot of boring freaking artists out there.

But this group of friends I'm working with click amazingly well.

What's funny to me, is to see the short hand we've all picked up on.... without explaining to each other. I mean sometimes we'll be in a middle of a conversation and someone will join in and pick up the vibe we're riffing on and just pitch in a new and hilarious perverted way.

It's like we shock each other into laughing fits.

I can't remember laughing so much off stage in a long time.

I have to admit it's not very sophisticated stuff. Just shocking, disgusting observations and witty banter.

One pattern, that's develop through the course of the process, that's quite humorous, is the use of repetition by the group of friends.

One friend will say something...usually disgusting or foul, which will usually illicit a groan or shocking look of disapproval. Then the person repeats it later on in the day.....then later on....until people start to giggle....which leads to a laugh and then contributions by someone else that is even more foul and offensive. What makes it extremely hilarious is that without given a cue there is always someone who pretends to be the moral high ground, who'll play the sensible sophisticate only to be goaded on by the rest of the group...until they say something remarkably foul and offensive.

Pretty soon everyone is laughing and shocked and disturbed.

I don't know....maybe a lot of friends work that way. But I just notice that it's different with my friends. Maybe it's because I feel my friends are all very witty and sharp.

I don't think it's unique to just this particular group of friends. My wife is the same way. The friends from Chapman that I still keep in contact with are the same way. People I've been drawn to throughout the years have all been the same way.

If we put all my friends together in a room, I bet they would all share the same kind of sick, twisted humor.

It's just interesting.

But probably not as perverted though as this group of people in this play.....we're all pretty freaking sick.

I mean the people I work with are the same way.....but it's different.

There are things I can't say with them because they would probably think I was insane....or just perverted....in an unfunny way.

Sometimes I find myself biting my tongue or censoring myself before I speak.

I know because I'll sometimes slip and say something, and they look at me shocked and disturbed.

Which they should....because...... they are normal.

Unlike me.

Anyways.....just an observation.

Dot Gone

A Play Written and Directed by Max Cabot

“Dot Gone” is an original play written by Max Cabot, developed through workshops with the Ghost Light District Ensemble. “Dot Gone” satirizes the meteoric rise and comically fast demise of the Dot Com industry.

May 12 - June 3, 2006

Friday and Saturday at 8pm
Sundays at 2pm

Featuring: Dylan Bailey, Joni Efflandt, Keith Ferguson, Jon-Barrett Ingels,Ray Manukay, Chris Mock, Melody Mooney, Jeremy Schaeg

The production will be performed at the 24th street Theatre which is located at the corner of Hoover and 24th Street in Los Angeles. It is two blocks south of the Hoover Street Exit off the Santa Monica (I-10) Freeway and just north of USC. Parking is available across the street.

24th Street Theatre
1117 West 24th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90007

323.960.1057

Reserve Your Tickets Online Today: http://www.ghostlightdistrict.org/

Rebirth of Kobe Bryant

Man, who is this guy?

Could it be that Kobe Bryant has finally arrived?

I've watched the last three playoff games against Phoenix, and I honestly have been shocked, and amazed by what I've seen. What I'm seeing is the birth of a player who embraces team concept, over individual achievement. He's become more Magic Johnson, instead of Dominque Wilkins.

I admit I've been harsh regarding my feelings on Kobe.

I'm a Lakers fan first, and foremost. I love to watch the team game. I grew up in the 80's with Magic Johnson's pass first mentality. In the 90's pre-Shaq, Jerry West assembled a team full of good players, instead of having just one superstar.

To me Lakers basketball always represented one thing: Team work.

For me it was too hard to watch a team I love become a one man show. I don't think there was ever a time in Lakers history, while I've been alive at least, that a Lakers team depended so heavily on just one player.

For me it just wasn't fun to watch.

I was awe struck like everyone else when Kobe scored 81 points. But I didn't feel it was great basketball. To me it was a circus act. Something cool to talk about for a couple of days, but in the end how does it help build the team concept.

But these last three playoff games have been a revelation.

Well first off, Phil Jackson is a genius. To get these players on the same page, and playing the way they have been has been nothing short of remarkable. I don't know what else can be done to illustrate what an amazing coach Phil Jackson is.

Maybe the best ever.

I don't remember watching a team so prepared and focused more than this Lakers squad. I mean it's a team that has serious flaws. Although it's fun to watch, ultimately I don't think they have a realistic shot to win the championship this year. But if they keep playing the way they have been, the team will not lose because of lack of effort, or basketball I.Q.

In the end, I think it will be the lack of talent.

Which doesn't bother me. The reality is that other teams out there just have more talent who have more experience assembled. No amount of work, practice and effort can overcome that.

But man, next year WATCH OUT!!!!

This team doesn't even resemble the train wreck that was last year's team. Lamar Odom is showing his true form. Kwame Brown is finally fulfilling his potential, and Luke Walton is stepping out of his father's shadow, and becoming a well rounded, fundamentally sound all around good player.

But ultimate credit has to go to Kobe Bryant.

As much as I hate to admit it. I underestimated Kobe. I felt that he would not be able to put his ego aside, and do what's best for the team. But to be honest there was nothing in the past to demonstrate that he had this potential in him.

Before these last three playoff games, the term leadership didn't apply to Kobe. He was a talented, and prolific basketball player, but not a great leader.

Not anymore. I love watching a fiery Kobe as he defends his teammates from opposing players, and giving up himself and sacrificing his individual game to set up his teammates to succeed. It's the kind of potential that made so many people anoint Kobe as one day being the greatest player to ever play the game.

I mean the guy still isn't the most affable person in the world. I think there are some character issues, and just an overall arrogance that I can't get over to fully embrace him. And I can't ever fully forgive him for forcing Shaq out.

But I'll gladly watch this version of Kobe who scores 16 to 21 points a game and gets 8 assists and 6 rebounds, while emotionally leading his team, and getting his teammates involved, any time.

I'm sure there is going to be some growing pains for him and the Lakers. I'm curious to see how he reacts when there is some adversity, or when things go very bad, which I'm sure will happen....eventually.

I'm just hoping that this isn't just one of his teases, where we see his potential, and he resorts back to his selfish ways. This needs to be a change for the good. Kobe needs to be the team player that he obviously can be.

I'm hoping this is the new and improved Kobe.

Individual glory, should never outshine team achievement.

It looks like Kobe is finally understanding that......hopefully.

Salome

Salome is Oscar Wilde's play adaptation of the Biblical legend of King Herod and his desire for his wife's daughter, Salome. After trying unsuccessfully to sexually seduce John the Baptist, Salome takes advantage of King Herod's lust. Using the promise of a seductive dance, and flirtation she tries to manipulate him into helping her take revenge on the prophet who she loves.... but cannot have.

The play as originally written by Oscar Wilde, wasn't really meant to be performed, but actually was supposed to be read for the beauty of the language.

This particular production was first developed and performed at the Actor's Studio in Brooklyn with David Strahairm as John the Baptist, Diane Wiest as Herod's wife, and Al Pacino as King Herod. When the play later moved to off-Broadway, Marisa Tomei came aboard as the title character.

In this production, the setting is a blank stage with chairs, and music stands. The staging is reminiscent of a staged reading, with the performers actually carrying the script, and having it on hand throughout the whole play. The dress is modern black suits with the character Salome alone wearing the only color of red and pink.

Looking over the director's notes the reason why director Estelle Parsons used this type of staging is because she wanted the action to feature, and focus on the language of the piece.

Which brings me to my first issue with this production. I personally feel plays, especially ones that people pay lots of money to watch, should be performed rather than read.

Indeed the most powerful moments in the piece came when the actors took center stage without script in hand, and actually performed. I guess some audience members might find the whole exercise unique, and interesting. But being an actor, and having seen and performed many plays, not to mention taken part in stage readings, I just found the whole experience very pretentious.

The whole idea of a stage reading is to give interested producers, directors, actors, designers, audience members...etc an idea of the potential of the piece. It's also a way to showcase the writer's work without the interpretations and ideas of the other artists involved.

Which this production clearly has.

The play is trying to give the ILLUSION of a stage reading. But the actors are giving well rounded interpretations, and the piece is very obviously directed, and staged.....although with a minimalist approach.

Besides that, to give the illusion of a stage reading is not only visually boring, it's also not productive to the play.

I guess there's justification for this staging..... as I said earlier, the piece as written is not very dramatic. It consists of many long speeches, with beautiful elaborate language, with little or no dramatic interaction between the characters. Estelle Parsons probably felt she was doing the play a service by having the audience use their own imaginations. That maybe the human mind can create a more fascinating environment than any artist could. But after considering the production, I feel the director took the easy route by not trying to make the piece more visually, and dramatically interesting. I think it doesn't serve the piece by making the concept of the show......... no concept.

It's actually more distracting to the audience to have actors pretend to turn the page in their script when they are so obviously off book, and to have actors stuck performing in their chairs and interacting with characters as if they are out in the audience instead of being right next to them on stage. To me it doesn't serve the dramatic purpose of the play.

It just feels like artistic mumbo jumbo.

At times it makes the piece feel like a bad coffee shop artist interpretation of Oscar Wilde's work. It's almost ironic that the play is being performed in Los Angeles. It feels like new age Los Angeles art trying to be innovative off-Broadway work.

Also being a stage reading, the production is a victim of poor sight lines. I feel bad for people who paid $95 bucks, and are visually obscured by some stupid music stand, chair or a insignificant chorus member, and are unable to see Pacino's expressive, often times poignant reactions to his fellow actors. Unfortunately, as I was walking out, I heard many people complaining about how most of the time, they weren't even able to see him.

That sucks.

In all honesty this play wouldn't even be done at all without the participation of Mr. Al Pacino. I can guarantee nobody...I mean nobody.... would come and see this type of production unless an actor of his stature was involved with the piece. Not to mention pay $95 dollars a seat. God bless the soap opera star who tries to mount this style of production, hoping for good reviews, and an audience. They would not only be booed off the stage, the box office would be demolished by angry patrons wanting their money back.

But since Al Pacino is doing this production, people are not only paying the $69-95 dollars a seat, but they are also buying t-shirts at 25 dollars, hats at 20.00 and signed posters for 200.00 a piece. I was lucky to get tickets for free. But I was suckered into buying a t-shirt. Which not only makes me feel foolish, but had me questioning my masculinity at my time of purchase.

But in the end it's Al Pacino, and although he does do lots of theatre. I don't usually have the opportunity, not to mention bank book to afford, to watch him perform in a play....especially in Los Angeles.

If people are going to see this production to get a glimpse of Pacino's ability as an actor they won't be disappointed.

It takes several minutes before he actually arrives, but when he does, he easily steals the show. It's not surprising to see why he is considered one of the greatest actors of all time.

He is thrilling to watch.

He delivers a performance that is captivating and fascinating. I mean he's Al friggin' Pacino, what else is one going to expect?

But what's most clear is how well Al Pacino's acting style suits the theatre so much better than in film. Things I would normally feel as being over the top, or not realistic on film, come off as subtle, honest and powerful on stage. In my book I think Al Pacino should retire from film, and become a theatre rat.

He should become the next Laurence Olivier.

If people have the chance they should watch him do anything on stage. I mean anything....I'd even recommend watching him play Daddy Warbucks on stage in a production of Annie.....with Justin Timberlake in drag for the title role.

Well...maybe not.

But seriously he's that good.

I can't imagine what it was like to see him perform on stage in Glengarry Glen Ross. I thought he was great in the movie, man he must've of been amazing to watch in person. Or to watch him do Shakespeare. Something that he's incredibly passionate about. Man, that must be pretty damn cool.

As for this performance, Mr. Pacino's booming, expressive voice, and his fiery passion is in full display here. It's a fascinating, and affable performance. His Herod is slightly foppish, drunken, funny, scary, tortured and enthralling to witness. It's a memorable, if not great performance. I don't think I'm overstating it by saying that it's a chance to see a master of his craft, at the top of his game, at work.

As for the others, Jessica Chastain is interesting, and seductive in the title role. Kevin Anderson is engaging as John the Baptist, while Roxanne Hart compliments Pacino well as Harod's wife.

But make no mistake, this is Al Pacino's show.

The play is almost non-existent until he arrives. It's just unnecessary exposition, and silly, uninspired poetry. It's really the ONLY reason to see the show, to watch Pacino at work. Apparently there's whispers that he's working on a film adaptation/documentary of the piece. Sort of in the vein of Looking for Richard.

Now THAT would be interesting.

Salome is playing at the Wadsworth Theatre in Los Angeles through May 14th. The play is a one-act, and it runs about an 1 hour and 20 minutes..... by my watch.

"ROME" returns & end of "The SOPRANOS"

Dark Horizons is reporting that filming for the second season of the HBO series Rome is now underway.

I was a big fan of the show, and I'm glad.......actually.... relieved.... that it will return for a second season.

For a short while there were rumors that the show might not return.

Apparently after the first season they had completely taken down the sets, and most of the stars of the shows were already committed for the rest of the year. Then I heard that ratings weren't as spectacular as they were hoping, even though subscriptions had spiked for H.B.O when the show debuted.

I guess that was all just posturing.

Looking at the cast list it looks like everybody....who didn't die in the season finale, will be returning for the second season.

Man, I can't wait. That ending of last season left a lot of storylines unresolved. The period of time after the assassination of Julius Caesar is great material to work with obviously... considering Shakespeare wrote his classic play about those events.

That would be so cool if they could somehow incorporate Marc Antony's classic speech.

That would be a great beginning of the second season, wouldn't it?

What a great image seeing James Purefoy on the temple steps in front of a huge crowd saying "Friends, Romans, Countrymen...lend me your ears!!!!"

If I'm not mistaken I believe Gaius Octavian played by the young Max Pirkus eventually becomes the leader of Rome and a brutal Emperor at that.

So a lot of potential there....speaking of potential.....what about the ending of the Sopranos.



Man, I can't get over how friggin good this season is shaping up. I honestly can't wait for Sundays. Every episode this season has been amazing. What's even better is that I have NO IDEA how this show is going to end.

It's become a great conversation piece at work...trying to predict how the show is going to end.

At first I thought that the show was going to build up to the death of Tony Soprano.

The buzz was that the producers originally had a twelve episode arc to end the show. But then after writing the ending they requested that another 8 episodes be added to tie up lose ends completely.

My buddy Lons at Crushed by Inertia initially theorized that the original 12 episodes would build to Tony's death, and the remaining eight episodes would be the ensuing power grab between Tony's captains, family and the New York families.

That all changed with the first episode.

Having Tony close to death at the beginning of this season kind of throws that theory out the window, since this material was already covered in the first couple of episodes. At this point it would be redundant to go through Tony's death and seeing the Capo's pick up the scraps.

The current theory that we now have come up with is that the initial 12 episode arc is building towards Tony becoming the "Boss of Bosses" and the final eight episodes would deal with Tony solidifying his position....Michael Corleone style.

This would make sense if the producers were interested in bringing the show to the Big screen.

But ultimately....we have no clue what the hell is going to happen. And if one knows...PLEASE don't tell us.

I thought it would be cool to post our theories, so that when the last episode airs we could see how close our theories line up.

In any case.... man HBO is putting up good stuff.

I'm still not completely sold on Big Love.....yet.... but I'm counting the days to DEADWOOD.

Do you see dead people????

What the hell is that on my baby's face?

Yesterday we had Easter at my In-laws house.

Brayden's first Easter.

When I first took the picture above, I noticed that foggy look over his face on the preview window. I didn't think anything of it at first. I just thought that maybe my digital camera wasn't completely focused. But then when I downloaded the picture onto my computer I was really confused by what I saw. Especially when one compares the picture to this next shot I took literally two seconds later.



Hmmmm.

I guess there's two different scenarios.

One scenario is that I caught some kind of energy or spectral mist..... maybe even a ghost. To support that particular theory Erin's mother passed away several years ago,in the very room that this picture was taken, literally inches away from where this picture was taken. Being sentimental, it's rather heartwarming to think that Erin's mom is watching over our son.

The second scenario is that Brayden was moving, and I caught the blur from his movement. To support this theory notice that Brayden's arm is positioned differently in the first picture. The odd thing is that if one zooms in on his neck area there is a blur by his neck too.

Who knows?

Well, in any case..... isn't my baby adorable? I mean really freakin cute. Don't ya think?

Sometimes I look at him and can't believe that we share the same DNA.

Can you smell what the MALICK is cooking???!!!!

I just read this news article on Dark Horizons :

A Japanese cinema showing "The New World" will screen the Terrence Malick movie in 'Smellovision' to enhance the viewing experience reports Contact Music.

Seven smells will be emitted by machines placed under seats at the back of the theatre, depending on what kind of scene is playing during the Colin Farrell-led film at the time.

Love scenes will be accompanied by a floral scent, while a peppermint and rosemary smell will waft through the cinema during emotional sequences.

That's pretty hilarious!!! I'm not sure what to think of that actually. I know that there is a ride at California Adventure called "Flying over California" that utilizes that same technology, but I don't know if I'd want that same experience while watching a three hour movie.

To me that would just seem distracting.

I'm guessing that the theatre owner thought it would be a good match with this film, since the visuals are so spectacular. But I'm not sure that it will serve the film well.

I can picture the theatre now, they are watching a scene, a smell gets released, and then the whole theatre starts to notice, whispers turn into small chatter...... than giggles.....which eventually becomes a full on group laugh.

I'm wondering how they came up with the certain smells to attach to the film scenes. I don't know why they just didn't go all out and put out the aroma of Collin Farrell's cologne into the air during the love scenes.

What's with the floral scent? Why not appeal to our animal instincts and release the smell of perspiration and sex funk?

What's with peppermint and rosemary filling the air during an emotional scene?

I don't know about most people, but when I get emotional I don't smell peppermint and rosemary.

I'd actually be kind of scared if that happened.

The only time I smell peppermint and rosemary is when I'm brushing my teeth in the morning, and the only emotion I'm feeling is panic, cause I'm thinking I better hurry, or I'll be friggin late for work.

Anyways..... Bizarre story.

Not Enough Hours in the Day

 Needless to say....I've been busy.

I'm currently in rehearsal for a play, which I'll be advertising in the coming weeks, so unfortunately, my recreation time has been non-existant. My recreation time isn't really impressive to begin with, just me being bored, lazy and hungry, so I don't really miss it too much. But one unfortunate casualty is that I've been unable to watch any movies. As soon as I find the time there is a substanial list of movies that I want to watch on Dvd. But for now I'm afraid there hasn't been any time to review those movies, much less watch them. I literally have barely two hours of down time after rehearsal, and I've been using the time browsing the internet.....for porn... er.. um, I mean news, and reading e-mails.

Not to mention that I've been sick. Sick as a dog actually. Which is kind of scary cause there is a newborn in the house, and I've been paranoid of being around the baby, out of fear that he'll catch my cold. Maybe overly paranoid....I've been sleeping in my den away from Erin, the baby....and Mamet dawg. (Sometimes I peek in the room and see the Brayden sleeping in Erin's arms, and Mamet sleeping at Erin's side and I just want to eat them all up.)

I was so sick on Sunday that I woke up from an afternoon nap in a cold sweat and the Wedding Date was on the widescreen t.v and I didn't have the energy to get up and find the remote to change the channel. I had to sit there and watch that gay-ass movie, at one point I felt like I was actually turning into a chick, I could feel my chest trying to transform into breasts.....needless to say I won't bother reviewing that movie here.

Then there was the freaking time change which threw my whole body clock off. I've been waking up an hour later than I like to, and I have to get a super strong caffeine fix just to feel normal. Which means I have to schedule an extra stop....before work. Which sucks even more when one has to deal with the crappy ass wet weather.

Now baseball season is starting, and I'm missing that. I'm MISSING Angels Baseball. It's all a mess....a friggin mess.

So life right now....is hectic. I apologize for the lack of posts. I'll try to posts something in the coming days just so people aren't wasting time coming to my blog. So my apologies again....and thank you for visiting.