The Two and Only - iNDemand

AUGUST 1, 2014 - iNDEMAND
WORLD PREMIER
Click here to see a Preview

Jay Johnson:  The Two and Only!

Worldwide Premier on InDemand VOD – August 1, 2014

POP TWIST ENTERTAINMENT announced today that Jay Johnson: The Two and Only! will have its worldwide premiere through InDemand VOD. It will be offered in 54 million cable and satellite homes throughout the United States and Canada beginning August 1st.  InDemand will also sell the program on a download-to-own basis in advance of its DVD window.

The Tony^® Award-winning theatrical memoir and stand-up comedy show features Jay Johnson, arguably the world's most famous living ventriloquist.  Johnson rose to fame playing the schizophrenic role of Chuck and Bob on the groundbreaking TV sitcom, SOAP.

The filmed version of Johnson’s Tony^® Award-winning Broadway show of the same name was directed by Bryan W. Simon, and produced by Marjorie Engesser. It was shot at the historic Thalian Hall in Wilmington, North Carolina.  Since its beginnings at Broadway's Helen Hayes Theatre, the live show has toured nationwide.  It will now debut for television and video.

Pop Twist Entertainment is offering all rights worldwide.  A producer's representative for hundreds of films and TV programs, PTE president Doug Zwick will launch international TV, DVD, DIGITAL and VOD sales at MIPCOM in October.

InDemand provides the VOD content for the majority of North American pay television homes, serving more than 100 million viewers. As a worldwide premiere, Jay Johnson: The Two and Only will be offered as a featured comedy event. 

“What a treat!  Jay Johnson dazzles us with his magical gifts and comic savvy.”  —  Leonard Maltin

"One of the funniest shows of the year!" — The New York Times

"Serious laughs… a surprisingly moving as well as highly funny evening."  —  The Hollywood Reporter

"Very entertaining!  A sheer feat of virtuosity!"  — Clive Barnes, New York Post

Night Time Images

The Death of Vaudeville...

Recently at the Abbeville, SC Opera House I saw this sign back stage.  It is left over from the day when the theatre was a stop along the Vaudeville circuit.  It points out how far we have come from what Vaudeville considered proper or entertaining.  I am not sure there is a comedian working today who could do a show and also follow these rules.  I know that I would have difficulty even thought I have what is considered in the business a "clean" act.

It is too small to read in this photo but here is what is says: 

"Notice: Comedians -  Our public expects the cream of vaudeville and a weekly certainty of seeing a good show, perhaps even a great one.  Do not say "Slob" or "Son-of-a Gun" or "hully gee" on this stage unless you want to be cancelled immediately. Do not address anyone in the audience in any manner. If you do not have the ability to entertain the audience without risk of offending them, do the best you can.

Lack of talent will be less open to censure than would be an insult to a patron.  If you are in doubt as to the chareacter of your act- consult with the local manager before you go on stage for if you are guilty of uttereing anything sacrilegious or even suggestive you will be immediately closed and will never again be allowed in this theatre.

The Management

Abbeville's Grand Opera House

October 10, 1908

Happy Throw back Thursday .  I have to go and take all the "hully gee's" out of my act before show time tonight.

As you were,

Jay

The Bloody Pink Dress

CNN is broadcasting a series on the 60's. It was a time when the baby boomers came of age and innocents was lost.  Of course one of the episodes deals with the Kennedy Assassination.  When Sandi realized that I was watching yet one more special on that subject her eyes crossed. "What is there that can possibly hold your attention after all that you have read about that event?"

You might think that she was right.  I have even blogged about my obsession on that subject here at TWIAS. Kennedy

But right there in the CNN special there was something that I heard in context which made me spiral out of control again.

I am sure I heard the quote from Jacqueline Kennedy before, but I never knew the context.  Mrs. Kennedy would not leave the side of the casket bearing the presidents body which was basically kidnapped from Parkland Hospital.  In 1963 it was not a federal crime to kill a president of the United States.  Kennedy's assassination was technically a local crime to be handeled by the local athorities, which included the autopsy.  In what some people describe as a tug of war with the casket, the Secret Service took the body to Air Force One. 

Jacqueline Kennedy was still wearing the blood soaked pink dress that has become an icon of the moment.  Once on the plane one of her aides asked if she wanted to change clothes for the ride to Washington.  She said, "No I want them to see what they did to my Husband?"  Who did she mean by them?  The people on the plane?

It would seem that at least for a moment she thought that the people on Air Force One were involved in some way.  As I remember Mrs. Kennedy never did express an opinion on who had committed the assassination. The only time Mrs. Kennedy was ever asked offically about the assassination was in June of 1964 for the Warren Commission Report. Some of that interview was even deleted before it was published.  There was no questions about who she thought was responsible since it would not be relivant information.  She was never asked directly if she thought the head wound was a front of rear entry. A slight reference to "holding his hair on" was redacted.

So, back to the question at hand.  When she was asked if she wanted to change clothes for the plane ride she said, "No I want them to see what they did to my Husband?"  This could only mean that she was referring to the those on the plane at the time. Perhaps for a moment she was considering that LBJ, and the Texas powerbrokers had participated.  I guess we will never know.  That certainly won't stop me from wondering.

As you were,

Jay

Success

Today is introspection day.  It's all about me so if you want to skip this one... it's okay. No hurt feelings and your Karma will not be effected. Most of these kind of blog posts end up in my journal and I am the only reader.  But there comes a time when you have to say something out loud, in public, to own it.  Edward Albee said, "I write to know what I am talking about".  That is surely true about this post...(and don't call me Shirley)  Also, you never know.... thoughts are things that float around and maybe this same "thing" has caught your attention as well.

I think I know what the word success means.  And the word is a part of almost every aspect of my life.  I want to be a successful Husband, Father, friend and human being.  It also applies to school and career; whatever I find myself doing in life I want to be successful, I want to have success.  Have success, like it is something one can possess. 

Possession is sometimes thought of as the direct result of success so it is easy to beleive it can be owned.  If I am successful then I can, __________ (fill in the blank). 

And perhaps most of us, like I do, dwell on the perks of success. We dwell on how it will be and what I will do with success when I own it. Unfortunately that daydream is not a complete picture.

To attempt a metaphor, you can not have the joy of riding a bike without the effort of pedaling.  If the pedaling gets to be too much for you and you quit, there will come a time when your momentum stops and you crash.  In fact if pedaling is so unpleasant to you, then the thought of having to "go through" that effort might keep you from ever getting on a bicycle. If riding is success then pedaling is the cause,  one follows the other. They exist together.

On the cusp of something exciting happening in my experience I usually can talk my self out of it unless I am very careful. In essence, I fear the success because I know, at this point in my life, it will involve pedaling.  

Most of the time it is not conscious. After the fantasy of "owning" the success cools then the reality of what that success brings kicks in.  If you win 300 million dollars in a lottery, you might pay 100 million in taxes.  If you are concerned with that kind of a tax bill then you are already starting to fear success. Success is part of life and life is constant change. Embrace the change and enjoy the success or refuse to make a move and evenually be covered in the dust of those rushing past you.  

Here is an affirmation for self:  By constant contemplation of the things that might go wrong in stepping forward you are rehearsing the negative.  If you are going to rehearse that which is yet to manifest then rehearse the joy of the bike ride not the stress of the pedaling. 

As you were,

Jay

NPH - OMG

I didn't know what to expect last Saturday night.  I was at the Belasco Theatre to see Neil Patrick Harris no other reason was necessary. I know Neil fairly well from LA.  We performed together in shows for the Magic Castle when he was the President of the Magic Academy.  And I would run into him and his family during happy hour at our favorite sushi restaurant on Ventura on occasions.

The show, "Hedwig and the Angry Inch." in which Neil was starring  was not so familiar to me.  I had seen the movie more than a decade ago but hadn't thought about it since. But here I was in New York and this was definitely the hot show starring Tony Award Winner/aquaintance/friend Neil Patrick Harris.

Didn't we all watch Neil Patrick Harris grow up on television? I certainly did.

When he was on Dougie Howser, MD. I said to myself, "Cute kid."

Later when I saw him in the road company of Rent I said to myself, "He sings. Wow. He's got some chops."

When he was cast as Barney on "How I Met Your Mother", I said to myself, "He really is a good comedy actor. Great timing."

As I watched him host Tony/Emmy/Tony Shows, I said to myself, "Geez, he has great connection to the audience and the quick wit of a Stand up Comic. Way to go Neil."

Then last Saturday when I saw him perform Hedwig at the Belasco Theatre, I said to myself, "Muther Fucker... why did he get all the talent."

Although Hedwig is not a one person show, Hedwig delivers 98% of the dialogue in a concert setting where there is no fourth wall. I know a little bit about carrying a 90 minute Broadway show with no intermission. I didn't have to jump around the stage in heels nor sing energetic rock songs but 90 non stop minutes is exhausting. Neil does it in platform heels, over done wigs, jumping on an off an abandoned car hood center stage, while never breaking an over the top character that makes Lady Gaga look Republican.   Instead of a matinee on Saturday Neil does a performance at 7:00pm and 10:00 pm.  One of his abilities must also be marathon athletics.

For the first few moments one is stunned by the transfomation a familiar actor makes to become a woman.  That is very soon forgotten and one becomes engaged in this exotic performer on stage.  

There is camp for sure, dick jokes and non-dick jokes to make a San Francisco drag show seem elementary but beyond the obvious, the show makes a compelling statement. Ultimately  it makes you question the stereo types of gender and what gender has to do with love? Some of my conservative peers might find it uncomfortable, but even if you don't go for the message of the show, go to see a master showman play a crowd like a concert violin. NPH is a rare talent that can do it all extremely well.... and like Ginger Rogers in high heels.

As you were,

Jay

Monday Tonyversery

Congratulations to my friends Jamie deRoy for her Tony win as Producer of "A Gentleman's guide to Love and Murder", Neil Patrick Harris for his best Actor win and Beowulf Boritt for his win as set designer for "Act One."  

It was a bit of a flashback to celebrate my Tonyversery at a party in Los Angeles last night.  Every time there was a discernible camera shot of the audience at Radio City Music Hall Sandi and I would try to figure out who it was sitting in "our seats". (Aisle seats sixth row stage right section of the audience.)

In the excitement of the process and contested nature of the program it is hard to remember that it is after all a marketing tool for the shows and Broadway itself.  Never was it more evident than when they presented numbers from shows that were "Coming Soon" to Broadway.  Jennifer Hudson sang a song from the show "Neverland" which was one of those vague coming attractions.  However, don't be looking for Oscar winner Hudson to be a part of that show.  They hired her to do the number because they have not cast it yet.

The same applies to Sting's song from a new show about Gloria Estafan and her father.  Not sure how the Estafan's well know Hispanic ethnic heritage melds with Sting's Irish jig. To my knowledge that show is in the process of being done but not completed on it's journey to the great White Way.  

I say why not have some coming attractions to live theatre like they do for the movies.  But.... to accommodate that advertising at least two Tony Awards of note were awarded before the telecast and presented as "bumpers" from commercials.  Notably the Tony award for choreographer and the one for best book (writer) of a musical were not given air time so Sting and Jennifer could basically do a "Staged audition reading" for new shows.  That I don't think is right.

Next week Sandi and I are returning to NYC to attend the High School graduation of our niece. We hope to get to see some of the winning shows.

As far as I'm concerned everyone was a winner who attended last night even if it was only a nomination.  Just to get there represents a tremendous achievement and a special honor.  Live theatre is and always will be my favorite form of entertainment on and off the stage.

As you were,

Jay

The Art of the Tony Awards

Once a year theatre itself is in the Limelight, and that's because it's Tony Season. Theater deletants are allowed to quote statistics that would rival a baseball fan or the owner of a fantasy football team. What show, what actor, what writer, what choreographer and what composer will join the ranks of the celebrated and win a Tony. I was never much on statistics, but do feel the need to contribute to the general knowledge of the theater to justify my own Tony Award. So here goes.

 There is a type of theatre called the Opera House. Now Opera can be done on most any stage but just performing Opera in a theater does not make it an Opera House.  Although it has a connection to how big the theatre is, even small towns can have a 300 seat Opera House.  I never knew the correct destinction before playing the Abbeville Opera House in Abbeville, South Carolina.

In a fund raising event last night the manager and artistic director of the theatre was explaining about his theatre to a group of prospective patrons.  

Michael Geniveve said it is an Opera House when the working area of the stage, including the wings is bigger than the area alloted for the audience.  This is to accomadate the large sets and production of an Opera. I was not a drama history student so I never heard that before.  I guess if something interests you, you never stop learning. 

It is like the difference between a Broadway Show and an Off- Broadway Show. I always thought it had to do with geography but it does not.  It's not how far from Broadway or 42nd street, or even Times Square.  An off Broadway house is a theater that has less than 500 seats.  A Broadway theatre has more than 500 seats. 

The Tony Awards Show is Sunday night on CBS.  I will be experiencing a little dejavu as I once again relive a unique moment in my career.  The arts are the life blood of humanity, the shine on the finish of compasion.  It is so easy to cut the budgets of arts programs in schools because the value in arts is a silent knowledge. It comes into use when you live the facts you have learned in school.  Maybe if kids have a chance to find an outlet in creativity there will be fewer who think their only alternative is to take a gun to class. Support the arts, go to the theatre, see a play, experience a musical, feed your soul. 

And to my friend Neal Patrick Harris.... break a leg and have your speech ready,

As you were,

Jay

The Last Beer

My flight to Greenville was cancelled out of New York JFK thirty minutes before we were supposed to leave.  It is Murphy's law that states, "The probability of having a flight cancelled is directly porportional to how early you arrive at the airport."  So after a couple of hours at JFK,  they sent me to LaGuardia for a flight to Cleveland connecting to Greenville.  

The layover in Cleveland was more than an hour and the gates were next to each other.  I was looking for a place to hang and there was an airport bar between my two gates.  It was a Gordon Biersch Brewery/Restaurant. 

They had free wifi and a full line of beers on tap. It seemed my day was getting better and better after the cancellation. 

Steve, the bartender came up to me and said, "What will you have?"  I picked some obscure brew from the long list on the menu. He said, "Sorry we don't have that." I asked for another and he said they didn't have that either. In fact he said that he only had two kinds of beers available. Before I could comprehend that statement he said, "We have a limited selection, because we are closing... this is our last day. Actually we only have two beers available."  At first I thought, no wonder you are closing if you only stock two of the 32 beers that you have on the menu.

I asked if the bar was changing companies and he said, "No, they are closing this entire terminal. " All the vendors are gone after today. Everyone is out of work tomorrow."

I said to Steve.."How long have you worked here?" 

He said, "Since 1981." 

My attitude sank a little as I added up the years Steve had been the keeper of the bar here at Hopkins International Airport. There was a real sadness to the rest of the staff as they tried to pretend it was just another day.

"Where will you go after this job?" I asked Steve.  

"I'm not sure. This has been my job for so long. I am so near retirement I thought I would be here till then."

With that information I immediately starting writing this blog.  Steve came up to me and said, "Another." I said I had to catch my flight and needed to pay the check.  I was upset I didn't have more time to complete this post.  Just as I was about to pay my bill my smart phone dinged.  "Your flight to Greenville has been delayed."  I said, "Steve, hold on... I think I can have one more before you close. My flight has been delayed."  Steve's eyes lit up..  "Delayed?" he said, "That is great. This means we will get more more people in here."

He got my beer as I walked across the terminal to see what was up with my flight.  The agent said they were fixing the plane and check back every 20 minutes because "you can not hear my announcements in the Gordon Biersch Brewery."  (How did he know that was my new office.)

There were several other businessmen who were delayed by the mechanical problems as well.  I said to them,

"This is the last night for the Bar right over there.... you have to come in and celebrate."  In a thick mid-eastern accent they said, "We will." 

I would love to say that the bar filled up but only 4 or 5 new people came in.  I don't know when the normal closing time for the bar might be but I know  we are getting close. 

"How about a shot?" Says Steve.

"Sure" says me. 

Of course they have a limited selection of shots since the bar is closing. Steve says he likes Jeagermiester. I say I never liked that but we found an acceptable substitute.  He says "I wish I could have a shot with you...but I'm still working." Even in the final hours he would no break the rules.

Just as he delivers the shot and I am ready to sing "The party is over"  the agent from the gate walks to the edge of the bar and says, "The plane is here and we are going to Greenville."

 I quickly get the check from Steve and try to express the strange emotions I feel for his job and his career coming to an end. I hand him a credit card because I am low on cash. The bill comes to $6.42, I say, "Really."

He says "Yeah".  I signed the credit card voucher and gave him a cash tip that  was much greater than the  bill and hustled to my plane. 

And with that I am off to South Carolina, knowing that I have been a part of a major event that I was not invited to, but got to celebrate none the less.

Isn't life full of surprises like that ?

Yep, that's why they call it life.

As you were, 

Jay

Tony Season

Jamie deRoy was one of the producers of "Jay Johnson: The Two and Only", and she also produces a cabaret show in New York on a regular basis entitled "Jamie deRoy and Friends".  I am proud to say that I am one of Jamie's friends. After hanging out in  New York with Jamie  for three days it is hard to find anyone who is NOT Jamie's friend.

On Monday night Jamie's show was a "Celebration of Tony Award Winners" and I was honored to be one of the Tony Award winning participants.  I was in very talented company. Other than my friend Ron Able, who was the musical director for the show, the only other performer I knew was Rick Lyon. 

Rick and I met years ago at an airport baggage claim waiting for our puppet partners to arrive. It is a bonding experience that only puppeteers can truly understand.  We remained friends and evetually ended up on Broadway together. Rick was creator and master puppeteer for Avenue Q playing three theaters down from us that season.

In Jamie's Show Rick performed the character Nicky with Jennifer Barnhart as Kate Monster. Later they took the stage as the iconic Bad News Bears (my personal favorite characters from Q).  

Adriane Lenox belted out some Pearl Baileyesque numbers and Karen Ziemba stopped the room with her Tony Award winning voice.

Then Richard Maltby, Jr. sang a song written for a show he called "the worst idea in show business". The show may not have made it to the footlights but the Maltby and Shire song is hysterical.  It was hard not to gush around Richard Maltby.  I am a huge fan of Richard's work, and I told him that if I have an audition song it is "I don't Remember Christmas" which he wrote. It is a song about a person finally getting over a broken relationship.  Richard suggested that I have Bob sing the song to me.  It is a very funny idea and I told him that I would work it up and do it for him some day.  

Jamie kept the entire show moving with charm and grace as the perfect hostess.  She sang a funny twist on a Sound of Music tune,  a more up to date version of 16 going on 17... "60 going on 70".

The next day we attended a charactature unveiling at Sardi's for Fran Drescher who is currently in Cinderella.  After her ceremony we asked the bartender where my charactature was, he actually knew.  He said, "Oh Yeah the ventriloquist.  It is down in the main room on the east wall." That was a couple of floors down from the presentation so we went down to visit it.  I am honored that they still have it in the main dining room but my actor's inscurity makes me think there is some other reason.  Jamie agreed that it looks like Bob but doesn't much look like me.  They probably keep it in the main room because they think it is John Tesh and Bob.

Today I am trying to get to South Carolina.  My early morning flight was cancelled at JFK. I was rerouted to Cleveland and then to Greenville out of Laguardia.  I think it has been a decade since I was at Laguardia. But with this five hour delay... I am soaking it in now.

As you were,

Jay

New York, New York

I suppose if I had a novel to write or a script assignment I would like to be in some exotic place. Some cabana on the beach or some cabin on the mountain would be great to find some isolation to write,  a place where concentration is really important. For projects like that you need to have calming and bucolic images to look at.

But so far that is not the kind of writing I do most often.  Mostly I am just living life and trying to explain it to myself within the limitation of words. For that kind of writing I can't think of anyplace better to be than New York City.

I started this blog while living in New York City.  I found that New York was a constant source of inspiration.  All one needs do is get out onto the street.  Suddenly this stream of humanity is passing by close enough to smell. The energy of that experience can amuse, insult, horrify or mystify but never fails to inspire.  New York inhabitants are just in your face. At any given hour of the day or night there are crowds, hoards, throngs of New Yorkers going about their hurried lives unaware that anyone is watching, or at most uncaring that they are being observed by a curious ventriloquist who likes to write.

Like this morning for example.  I was at the corner of 57th and 7th ready to cross the street.  The pedestrian light was down to three seconds. There was a large truck half way into the crossing. I looked at the light, considered the truck and decided not to cross.  At just that moment two tough looking guys on the other side of the street make the opposite decision and cross. But they don't rush they stroll like they have all day. Evidently they took notice of my hesitation and say loudly, "Oh come on you had three seconds."  Welcome back to New York. 

A block away I run smack into a tourist who is not paying attention to where she was going.  Rather she is looking skyward with ear buds on narrating a skype video tour of Times Square on her iPhone. 

Yesterday I walked around my old neighborhood Mid town.  I passed by the David Letterman theatre at the corner of 7th and "Senor Winches Way".  Since Letterman used to be the Ed Sullivan Theatre they named that section of 50-something after that frequent ventriloqual guest of the Sullivan show. 

I will do a tribute show to the Tony Awards tonight and then be off to North Carolina. Big happenings there as a theatre troupe is doing a staged reading of a play I co-wrote with my partner. It will be very interesting to hear other voices speak those lines for a change. I am getting tired of the ones in my head.

Okay. Time for another session of inspiration, so I shall leave Starbucks at 51st and Broadway to wonder the busy streets. Tune in tomorrow for that event.

As you were,

Jay 

No call list...

Although I have registered every phone number I have with the "National Do Not Disturb" list, I still get about a dozen calls a week from telemarketers.  If I do not recognize the number or if someone doesn't answer within five seconds of me answering I hang up.  

Other times I will engage the telemarketer just to ask them to take my number off their list.  They are usually polite and apologize for disturbing me, though I doubt they really take my number off the list. 

Yesterday was a day when I tried to engage the telemarketer to stop calling my number.  It was almost 10 seconds before he picked up after I had said hello ( I actually start counting out loud once I answer the phone). 

The voice said, "Hey Jay, how are ya?" 

"Who's calling?"

"This is Alex, you remember, we talked, I believe it was last summer about a new mortgage refinance."

Having nothing to do with the blog today.

"No, I don't think we did." I replied. "Would you do me a favor..."

Usually that stops their pitch and I am able to say, take this number off your list, or let me speak to your supervisor or whatever comes to mind.  However, Alex kept on talking with a very thick southern accent.  His next words were... exactly this:

"Well, since I had spoken with you together, the interest rates have went down and you now qualify...."

CLICK....

There was no use saying another word. If his best pitch is "interest rates have went down" that is all I need to know.  It would have been interesting to find out what bank thinks that I would be willing to sign up for a refi from a guy who informs me that "interest rates have went down." 

I keep adding my number to the "National Do Not Disturb" list which says it may take as many as 30 days to clear the number.  I have been doing this for about a year so... the 30 days is bogus. 

Hope your calls are all important, prosperous and full of correct grammar.

As you were,

Jay

Jim Henson does it again...

I am not much on reality television, to put it mildly. I don't keep up with Kardashians, care who survives, or give a F___ about what the pseudo redneck Duck family is doing. I'm also not interested in contest shows mainly because of the contest part.  I love to see artists in the process of making art but hate that it gets  judged. This is true for every show from cooking to dress design except one,  "Jim Henson's Creature Shop."

It's  no surprise that I would like a show where the goal is to create robotic-puppet creatures. That is my kind of process. I have worked with artists of that genre most of my life in one way or another. Also, for full disclosure I am not a completely disconnected viewer, my friend Kirk Thatcher is one of the judges.  You know my admiration for Kirk and the puppets he has created for me in the past.  If not, read the blog I wrote about Kirk by clicking here.

That said here is what I love about the show.  First of all the "contestant" artists are unbelievably talented. They are that rare bread of puppet creator who can do it all from sculpting, molding, mechanics, servos, design and painting.  It is fascinating to see how artists approach a rush project and how their minds work. And because the Jim Henson Creature Shop is the holy grail and state of the art for film ready creatures the mentoring advice they receive is brilliant. 

But mainly the show maintains that Henson class and innovation with Brian Henson, son and heir to the franchise. He is in control without controlling, he is pleasant but never pandering and he is spot on with constructive criticism without ever being mean spirited. It is smart, sharp and never stoops to humiliating anyone's work or process as an artist. The judges look for the "best of the best" and departing contestant are not required to jump into an ego shredder.  

I am addicted to the show which is on the SyFy channel. I DVR them all and have watched a few episodes several times.  So far there is not a person appearing on the show that I would not hire to build a puppet for me.  I'm not sure where you would find it on your cable system but here is a link to the site. Jim Henson's Creature Shop Challenge.

I have no connection to the show other than watching my friend Kirk and "wanta be friend" Brian Henson. I've never met Brian but he seems like he would be a great guy to know.  

But...Check it out.  For those who like contest shows, reality shows and artisan shows this is one of the best.  For those like me that don't care for the genera, check it out anyway, it might restore your faith in commercial television.  

As you were,

Jay

I Never Read Instructions

In addition to true crime stories I am facinated by conspiracy threories and cults. I don't know if that interest is connected to being a ventriloquist but I suspect it is. It's not that I am supporting the stereo type that ventriloquists are weird by the very nature of their profession.  Instead I think a mind that is driven to be curious about such things might find a facination in ventriloquism as well.  Again this is not to suggest that ventriloquism is connected to cults, crime or conspiracies, it is rather that these obscure subjects tend to captivate the curious more than say Algebra. 

The more one tries to normalize an obsession the stranger it becomes so let's move on shall we?

David Koresh was the cult leader of the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas.  We know his influence ended when he was burned to death with other members of his cult after a long stand off.  Like Jim Jones, Charles Manson and even Warren Jeffs I am drawn to how a single person can sway others to embrace ideas and committ acts so contrary to their own morals and morés. These cult leaders  had the ability to lead their followers to committ crimes or even die for the "cause". In all of these cases religion or some form of spirituality was used as the hook.  Although Charles Manson was the only one to actually claim he was Jesus Christ, the others claimed they were prophets or devinely ordained  with the same authority.  

In the case of David Koresh, it is said he gained attention of the Davidians because of his unusual mental ability.  Evidently he could quote the entire Bible chapter and verse by memory. The ability to recite obscure Bible quotes to support his ideas was seen as some divine  gift.  I know stage mentalist who can do more impressive mental tricks but they do it simply for the cash. 

It is also known that David Koresh was a dyslexic, a fact over looked by most profilers when studying his influence. Being a dyslexic myself, that fact is not so unimportant to me.  

One of the problems associated with dyslexia is difficulty reading.  It is a chore for us.  We don't read for enjoyment we read because we have to, and slowly at that. However, like a person who looses their sight the mind tends to compensate with increased ablilities in the other senses.  For the blind, hearing and touch are excellerated; for the dyslexic the mind generally compensates with an acute ablility to memorize and recall. (I can still recite my brothers 10 digit Army service number from 50 years ago. I'm not even sure he can.)

So, some how Koresh's dyslexia was confused with divine anointing.  I certainly wish my teachers would have seen it that way when I was struggling in school. Maybe that is why I am not impressed with Bible quoting theology.  Although I can quote only a few verses by memory I have read the Bible cover to cover.  In truth if all you need is a quote of five words or so, you can justify any action with a Biblical quote.  A friend once found a quote for Thanksgiving from Proverbs that stated, "Ye shall eat of a clean bird."  

Just knowing words, even a lot of them, even words refered to as scripture is absolutely useless.  Let's say you buy a desk from Ikea. It comes in a box full of parts and  instructions.  You can read the instructions for hours, studying them and interpreting them all day.  You can even commit them to memory and know where every screw must be placed by heart. You can become an expert on the instructions of assembly, and be revered for the knowledge. People who want to have a desk can come to you and ask questions like, "Why is my desk just a bunch of parts".  The "expert" can quote the instructions and say, "Because you have not attached part A to part B."  But, you are still no closer to having a desk than you were when you opened the box. It is how you put the instructions to use that matters not the memory of the proceedure.

More important to the seeker than the repetition of instructions would be to show them what the desk looks like after it has been assembled. Showing some initiate how you have used the instructions to create the desired result is more important than meer words, no matter how true thoes words might be.

To paraphrase the parable, you will know each tree by the fruit it creates, not by the sap it has stored. 

As you were,

Jay

Refrigerator Logic

I watch true crime stories to the point of obsession.  My wife thinks I am corrupting my soul by watching such stuff, while she watches "Bones", "CSI", "Castle" and other such fictionalized crime to almost the same degree. I'm not sure which is worse, a writers furtile mind manufacturing how crimes  are committed or watching real dectectives solve the real thing.

I do know that watching the real thing eleminates "refridgerator logic" in the story.  Refridgerator logic is a term I heard a television mystery writer use once.  He described it as a story point which makes the plot work for the audience, but hours later when they go to the refridgerator to get a beer they say, "Wait a minute... how did that guy know (fill in the blank)".  Refidgerator logic is totally acceptable in a good script, as long as it makes some sense during the show.  A writer certainly wouldn't want the audiece to say.. "Wait a minute" during the story.  

One of the greatest examples of refrigerator logic is in the movie "Citizen Kane".  The entire movie plot involves a reporter searching for the meaning of "rosebud", the last words uttered by billionaire John Foster Kane. We watch Kane utter the words at the first of the movie when he dies and drops a snow globe.  This scene is quickly followed by the report of his death in the news that states, "John Foster Kane died alone at his massive estate of Xanadu".  If he died alone at his home... who was it that heard him say these mysterious last words? No one.  That's the ultimate refridgerator logic... the entire movie hangs on a point that doesn't really make sense later when you go to get a beer. Doesn't matter it is a great movie.. a classic.

True crime has no moments like that.  Detectives have to prove what happened with evidence strong enough to convience a jury; any hint of refrigerator logic is "reasonable doubt." I also like these stories because they do not glamorize crime or criminals. In true crime the bad guys are bad actors, not romantic, sexy or clever, most of the time they are common and ignorant. Their motives are petty and their methods crude.  The real detectives have to work harder and longer to solve the real thing.

Recently there was the case of a murderer who was caught almost by chance.  He was stopped for a minor traffic offense.  When he handed the officer his license, a bag of heroin was attached. They took his DNA when they booked him for possession and it matched the crime scene DNA of the murderer.  No television writer would write that in a plot because it is so stupid. You can't portray the antagonist as a complete idiot because that would make the protagonist stupid as well.  

Writers work long and hard to make their heros smart, insiteful, appealing and clever. They work even harder to create villians who are their equal polar-opposite.  What is Sherlock without Moriarty?  The second most important character in a James Bond film... besides the Bond girl,  is the villian.  And in film and television the crimes are spectacular with a complicated motive especially murder.  In real life it is as dumb as a double amputee olympic runner losing his temper and shooting his girlfriend through a bathroom door. The Oscar Pistorius case may be the "trial of the century" but it is hardly a crime worthy of a television detective with good ratings. 

So there you go. My reasons for continuing to watch "Forensic Files" and "The First 48".  If it was earlier in my career I would turn those stories into scripts for refridgerator logic television shows... perhaps in my next life when I come back as Dashiell Hammett.

As you were,

Jay

I'll be back soon.

Until that time comes...

As you were,

Jay

Quickly before it Rains

I'm in Fiji for 24 hours waiting to catch a ride on a cruise ship to Hawaii. I lost a day and all contact with my world during the eleven hour flight. I think this is Friday but it should be Thursday. Finally I was able to connect with the internet (such as it is here) when I got to the hotel.  It was slow expensive and buggy, then completely went out for 8 hours when the rain came.  For those here on vacation it didn't seem to matter that they were off the grid. For me I was trying to straighten out my transportation to the ship from the hotel.  There seemed to be some problems with my ride and how long of a drive it is from the hotel to the dock.

In my years of travel the one thing that will go wrong when everything else is perfect is ground transportation.  Don't know why that is but it is definitely a rule for me. Once I am in the ship I can vegetate before I have to work AND I can walk to the theatre. But until I am in my cabin and looking back on Fiji there will be some anxiety. 

Because it is important to me, over the years I have developed a relationship with several of the drivers on various Caribbean islands.  Jamacia George is my favorite. Obviously a driver in Jamaica.   He has been driving for RCCL for 20 years or more. I am always glad to see his face at the airport or the dock. I know he will get me to my next destination. 

Rory in St. Martin is the other driver that is always there for you, also driving for RCCL more than a decade. He had a Cadillac stretch which created a lot of attention on the island. It might have been the only one on St. Martin.  The last time we met he had an Escalade, still a lot of attention but a different kind.  In addition to being a driver he is also a personal body guard for celebrities who visit St. Martin.  

He is cut like a Greek statue and extremely strong.  You never worry when Rory is your driver.

The internet is about to turn off unless I pay for another day so I will publish and move on to my career as a sailor.

Probably not much availability to publish when I get on the ship. Here is a parting shot.  A picture of my view from my Villa on the beach. It is a shame I only get to enjoy it for 24 hours.

As you were,

Jay

Writers Block

I guess it happens.  Going to the mental well the last few days it seems the water table has dropped. My bucket comes up empty.  This fills me with anxiety because, whether we will admit it or not, every artist believes that the last idea he or she had could very well be their last. In a profession that is judged by your NEXT successful project, it is extremely depressing not to have one. 

It is part of the "people pleasing" phenomenon that seems to dominate actors and performers.  Perhaps it is also true with non-performing careers, although I wouldn't know. All generalities are untrue, even this one but, in the career of the arts no matter how much you are loved by those who actually know you,  it becomes more important that strangers love you as well.  It is a struggle to find your own benchmark and extol your own uniqueness rather than become the vanilla flavor that is universally liked.  The number of artists that have become modern icons but were dismissed by their own generation is an unusually large number. In a world where even Facebook values "likes" and "thumbs up" it becomes important to be known by the unknown masses rather than have the admiration of those who actually are your friends and family. Are people valuable only when they are known by the greatest number of strangers? Do we all fear being unknown?  I really don't understand the value of celebrity. Fame seems a really cheap trade for privacy. 

Fame is also a double edged sword.  The public will embrace the negative aspects of your career with the same relish as your successes.  Fame is fickle and it does not care if you are famous for being a hero or a villain. It is the deal you make with fame. 

My friend Ann says that the rule of writing blogs and posts is: never discuss your depression because no one cares.  I totally agree.  Why should any one care? We are all trying to keep our own spirits up in these odd times. Besides what is more depressing than to be around someone who is depressed? Depression is not accepted as a disease but just a condition,  and one should "get over it." I have never heard of a Facebook prayer request for someone who is experiencing debilitating depression. Yet, daily someone is appealing to their Facebook list to intervene on behalf of a sick or dying relative.  To spin the prayer wheel one must have a "medical" not a "mental" condition.  The last time it was okay to pray for cure of a mental condition was when the world believed it was caused by demon possession. 

In the words of Spaulding Gray... "I cannot write the lie that tells the truth." I just have to wait until I see the truth and write about that. 

Until that moment comes.

As you were,

Jay

The Blood Moon 4/15/14 12:09AM PST

Won't Beileve Your Eyes

My Friend John Hardman, master puppeteer, posted this YouTube on Facebook. It is absolutely wonderful.  The skills of a mime, a puppeteer, a magician and a juggler in one seamless performance. I love the simplicity of art and beauty of talent driven performances like this.
Enjoy.
As you were,
Jay