Sunny, but boy, is it cold out there!
I can’t believe it’s already Friday, but here we are. We have to recycle today, buy groceries, and run a few errands. Not very exciting, but very necessary.
Last night, we tried 3 different series on Netflix and Amazon Prime. All of them were new to us. In each case, we watched about 5 minutes, turned to each other and said “No.” We ended the evening watching a couple of our favorite Dick Van Dyke Show episodes and felt much better. There’s something so comforting about that show. An amazingly talented cast, wonderful writing- it takes us back to our youth and all those nights sitting around the television set with our respective families. We need some comfort these days and that show makes us happy.
I also spent a good chunk of time watching Michael Jeter sing “Let’s Raise a Glass” from the musical version of Grand Hotel. Jeter gives one of the best performances I have ever seen in my years and years of watching and performing in musicals. Something triggered that memory yesterday and I found a clip of it being performed at the Tony Awards. I played it for Don and he was amazed, so much so that he had me play it again. And again.
I saw it live during its out-of-town tryout in Boston, where I was living at the time. I had very little money, couldn’t afford a ticket, but in a wonderful fluke, I won a ticket in a radio call-in contest. I loved the musical, but to this day what I most remember is Jeter’s electrifying performance. And I mean electrifying. He brought the house down. I have never seen anything like it. The audience shot to their feet at the end of the number, cheering and shouting. These were the days when standing ovations weren’t routine as they are today. Today, almost every performance gets a perfunctory standing ovation. In those days, you had to earn one.
If you are so inclined, google “Let’s Raise A Glass,” and “Tony Awards” and you’ll find it on YouTube. The reaction from the audience at the Tony Awards is much the same as the reaction in Boston. Jeter died much too young at the age of 50. He was enormously talented and brave and wondrous.
Okay. Duty calls. I must get going.
Happy Friday.
Hello Claudia
I am having a dreadful Friday
Spouse and I due to travel to Viet Nam tomorrow- he has told me this morning that he does not want to go.
Unexpected and unwelcome news. Do I go ahead on my own ?
Siobhan
Oh, I’m so sorry, Siobhan! As to whether you go on your own, I would probably do that, but it all depends on your comfort in traveling by yourself. Do you feel confident doing that? If so, I’d go because you already have your tickets, etc.
Do you think this might be just a glitch and your husband could still change his mind?
xo
I watched Michael Jeter perform…it was fantastic! Such energy, those legs…and he had quite the voice to boot. This is why I find your blog so interesting…you are exposing me to things I might never have known about.
We are running errands as well today. But, it is going to be warmer today…32. Small victory, I realize, but, I’ll take it. 40’s for the weekend….that’s going to feel great. Enjoy your day! ;)
I think we’re getting warmer tomorrow. We’re usually a day behind you. Thanks, Donnamae. I’m glad you enjoyed his performance. I’m going to watch it again!
Looked up Michael Jeter’s performance-made me happy!
Thanks!
It puts a smile on your face, doesn’t it? Thanks, Chris!
I followed your suggestion and looked for that Michael Jeter performance. It truly was amazing an wonderful! I had actually seem it on television when it happened and remember being so happy that he won. Thank you for leading me to watch it again. I think I will watch it again and again.
His speech was very moving – all about his own recovery from addiction, telling members of the audience that if they’re facing an addiction, they can turn their life around, one day at a time. It makes the whole thing even more touching. Thanks, Christina.
I, too, watched!! How wonderful…. thanks for the suggestion. Brightened this already sunny bright day!
Have a fun errand day. Nice to get that done before the weekend when it is always too busy everywhere for me to want to be in the midst of it all. I don’t like crowds and lines any longer at all!!
That performance makes me smile!
Yes, I feel the same – I don’t like weekend crowds! Thanks, Chris!
Nice to remember Michael Jetter.
I am curious about which series you didn’t like. We are watching Hinterland now and Atypical.
I can’t even remember now. I’ve erased them from my memory!
Thanks, Kay.
I didn’t realize Michael Jeter had died. Indeed, a phenomenal talent — I know the number you speak of and it’s every bit as remarkable as you say.
And I’m with you on my “buddy” Dick VanDyke. He is my tonic for when I’m blue — or just any day. The writing on that show is so spot on that you could change the outfits to today’s and 95 percent of the scripts would still work. It was a perfect blend of cast and creators and I never tire of it.
He died in 2003, Jeanie. He was HIV positive but his partner said he died from an epileptic seizure.
Dick Van Dyke is the best. Don got to meet him once, and he worked with Mary Tyler Moore, who was every bit as wonderful as you would hope. I worked with Ann Guilbert (Millie, the next door neighbor.) And in a further connection, Don worked with Dick’s son, Barry, and his brother, Jerry.
We never tire of it, either, Jeanie. A wonderful, wonderful show.
Claudia, please visit decoretoadore.net today. I immediately thought of you. A wonderful Featherweight story that is both heartwarming and poignant!
Karen W.
I’ll check it out, Karen. Thank you for letting me know. My own Featherweight needs a tension adjustment, but I’ll get to that another day.
The light filtering thru your plant in the photo is really pretty. And the color of your loveseat is just perfect-green.
I feel like you, when I can’t believe it’s already Friday. Time is passing much, much, MUCH too quickly in my life, and I worry it’s full of ‘way too many mundane things as earmarks of it flying past me.
So many nights (although I only have, now, the most basic of channels with the satellite dish and don’t do the other stuff like Netflix or Amazon, so I know I’m limiting myself), I am aware that there is nothing on television that’s worth my time to watch. Lots of good shows from my past which I wish were still on; oh well…
SoCalif hopes for a little rain tonight; keep your fingers crossed; we need it. Hope your own weather gets warmer for you soon!
Okay, I did like everybody else here today and took your lead (to youtube) on the Michael Jeter performance. I found myself smiling the entire time! Thank you for bringing it to our attention and I enjoyed your story of how you came to know of it. Forgive my utter ignorance, but I know nothing about the musical…or him (other than that he was in Waterworld with Kevin Costner). Tragic that he died so young; a life cut too short. I was moved to tears by his emotional Tonys acceptance speech at the end of the clip. I did a quick check on Wiki and it said he died of an epileptic seizure which I guess (?) might have been some side effect of his HIV diagnosis(?) although it said he’d thankfully been in good health for years despite being stricken; must have been such a shock to his friends and loved ones…and the entertainment world. He’d amassed an impressive filmography and much TV work (as well as theater); a lot packed into his brief 50 years of life. Besides his performance in Grand Hotel, do you have any other favorite roles of his which I should be on the lookout for?
He was in the series Evening Shade (a series that I really liked) with fellow actors Burt Reynolds, Hal Holbrook, Marilu Henner, Charles Durning, Elizabeth Ashley and Ossie Davis. He was in several movies. I don’t have any other roles to recommend, I fell for him when I saw him onstage in Grand Hotel. He won my heart forever. He was wonderful in Evening Shade, as well.
We’re trying to stop watching if there’s nothing on (we weren’t too successful at that last night) and read, instead.
Hope you get that rain, Vicki!
If it were not for the DVR I’d find nothing to watch, either. Broadcast (is it still?) TV is a wasteland. Then when there is something good on, usually the premium channels or PBS, they all come on at once. So, to see them, I must record them.
I also loved Michael Jeter and remember being sad when he died. Never saw him on stage, but enjoyed him on Evening Shade and in The Green Mile. Really, he stole the show in everything he was in, I think.
He did. He was extraordinary. Thanks, Shanna.
Smiling ear-to-ear! What a performance!
Amazing, right? Thanks, Roxie!
My sister told me that when we lived in Brooklyn, one of our upstairs neighbors knew RoseMarie as a little girl. They lived in Manhattan at the time. RoseMarie sent my neighbor post cards from time to time. Claudia did you ever see the special on RoseMarie? It was on last year on ME TV. It was quite interesting. She had some exciting life growing up as a child performer. Sally was always my favorite character on the show.
Marilyn
I know about the special but I didn’t see it. It’s on my list, Marilyn. I’ve seen film of her performing as a child and she was adorable.
wowee!
thanks for another great introduction/suggestion! kudos to that cast of singers, dancers, actors, choreographers and everyone else involved. that was fun to watch and they made something difficult (for me, anyway) look easy.
hope today’s errands are done and you have the whole weekend now to do just what you want!
kathy in iowa
That’s the skill, isn’t it? Making it look easy. Thank you, Kathy.
It’s very cold here too which makes running errands not as pleasant, but doing it together takes the sting out. I know nothing’s perfect, but it is so great that you and Don are companionable from work to travel to everyday lives. Somebody said “life is lived in everyday moments” or words to that effect. That makes each chore or shared laugh or unexpected brush of hands very special.
He is my favorite person and my best friend. I’m very lucky, that I know! Thank you, Nora.
I watched the YouTube clip, it made my day. I might have to watch it again. I’ve been doing the Netflix shop and drop too. I’m not much for the “shock-umentaries” or the gory torture but I love a good mystery so I keep looking for a good one.
Same here. I understand! Thanks, Melissa.
I enjoyed watching that clip of Michael Jeter! Such a great guy and so sad to lose him too soon. This was an amazing performance. Thank you for mentioning it.
You’re very welcome, my friend.