Because I’m morbid, and spend my time on things such as this, I thought of the following video as being exactly the one I would want to post when… Well, as Richard said, “It’s good we had some warning that he was sick, otherwise when we heard, we would have just been walking around bumping into things.”

No one had posted this particular scene on youtube (much to my surprise), so it seemed as good a time as any to learn how to do so. Now that I know how, I’ll surely be annoying all of you with the skill.

Without further ado, the following is my favorite sequence from my favorite of Paul Newman’s performances: Cool Hand Luke. (I was going to make it one among a series of favorite scenes, but… YOU sit with “The Long Hot Summer,” “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “The Hustler,” “The Sting,” and “The Verdict” in front of you and not lose your mind trying to choose… Best to leave it at this.)

Just had to share this…

Elizabeth Taylor was hospitalized for an undisclosed reason but was expected to return home soon, representatives for the Oscar-winning actress said Thursday. A statement released by Dick Guttman, her Los Angeles-based publicist, did not say where Taylor was staying, nor did it specify what might have been ailing the 76-year-old actress.

“Ms. Taylor is fine,” the statement read. “Her hospital visit was precautionary. She will be returning home shortly. At present, she is surrounded by family, friends and fabulous jewels.”

…On the cover of a magazine. (Heh. Now you’ve got that song in your head too.)

I’m in One Of My Phases lately (Which are probably more aptly described as periodic obsessions – or temporary madnesses), and that means that in my apartment lately, it’s all 1930’s movies, all the time. This week there’s a focus on Jean Harlow, who is my new favorite. I’m not sure what took me so long in getting around to her – she’s precious.

I also, from time to time, get upset about things in a manner completely out of proportion to their actual importance to the world in general or my life in particular: the stupid design chosen for the California quarter; Bill Murray losing the Best Actor Oscar; the misuse in popular culture of the word “Irony…” These kinds of things throw me into a state which I will hereafter call “One Of My Turns” (Which I mean in a Pink-Floydian sense). The point of this introductory disclaimer is that it’s just no use getting irritated with me, or arguing the actual importance of whatever – I simply don’t care. What follows is one of these instances.

Last night I watched Dinner at Eight, which had “Harlow: The Blonde Bombshell” as a special feature. The actual documentary was as well made as you would expect from Turner Classic Movies, and was pretty exhaustive in its exploration of Harlow’s life. (There was a glaring error though: Saratoga was referred to as her “fourth pairing with Clark Gable.” It was the sixth. But I quibble…)

What was constantly irritating throughout however, was Sharon Stone as the hostess. I generally like Stone – I think she means well most of the time, even when taking herself much too seriously – but in this, she was given far, far too much screen time… And too much room to emote as though this was all about her. But specifically…

You know how in documentaries like this, they often have a chair – one of those chairs used (at least in olden-days) on movie sets – emblazoned with the name of the star being discussed? One of these will usually be used as a backdrop, or piece of the set, and the host will sometimes stand near it and gesture to it… It’s clever, and it can be poignant to see the empty chair. That’s the point though – the chair is always empty, in reverence to the absent, lost luminary.

You may see where I’m going with this… Sharon Stone was, repeatedly, sitting in the chair. Every time it was shown, actually, she was sitting in it. “Miss Jean Harlow” partially obscured by Stone’s over-slung arm. The point of labeling a chair to begin with is so that no one else will sit in it – which no one would have done if Harlow were alive, right? This is like: “Well, as long as you’re not using it, I’m gonna rest my tired bones…” It’s tacky. I mean – It’s not like someone sitting in Elijah’s place at Passover, but… It’s still in poor taste.

Because this was made in 1993 – in the wake of Basic Instinct and Sharon Stone’s sudden stardom – are we to infer that she’s metaphorically taken the place left by Harlow’s absence? The very idea is laughable. Icky. Badly done. Boo Turner Classic Movies… BOO!

Was to be Cyd Charisse.

I still badly want that dress.

The way I got the news was from the BBC News headline on my Google Homepage: “Musical Star Charisse Dies in LA.” Took me a second to figure that out – that it wasn’t some current music star whose name began and ended with Charisse… Like Shakira.

The People Entertainment News headlines are:

• Dad to Sell Britney Spears’s LA Home
• FIRST LOOK: Sara Evans Wedding Photo
• Joan Rivers: ‘I’m So (Bleep)-ing Sorry’ for Swearing on Live TV

I don’t have any idea who Sara Evans even is… I was born after my time, baby.

It’s been a while since the last update, but… Well, there’s been little to update (much to Justin’s dismay, I gather… Sorry it’s been so long, honey).

The Overheard well has run down to a trickle since I stopped spending all of my time at the Horton Grand Theatre; there are a few new ones, but mainly from Desha, with whom I’ve spent most of my time. Thank God she’s so quotable. So, check them out, and don’t forget to check the X-files page as well (you enter here). I’ll hopefully be having a party in the next couple of weeks (For those out of the loop, Richard, Keith and Dane are all here – in San Diego – all at the same time. The Perfect Storm, I say… Must take advantage of it.), so bring your wits, and possibly something to write with (I’ve got the stickie-notes here.)

I’ve got two new (finished) sites added to my portfolio here, and more works currently in progress will be added soon. Someday I’ll get around to finishing my portfolio site… When I find out where all my creativity has gone lately. Go look, see, and rush back to tell me how brilliant I am. Romany’s site is one of the two, so you should also go, see, read, rave, and gush all over Our Darling Girl.

Final update is to the Gallery: my darling beautiful baby niece, Celia has got some new pics. She’ll break your heart – feel free to use as many adjectives as you can carry.

Lastly, I just wanted to post a bit of a warning that I may start writing blathering self-indulgent blogs about whatever (and/or whomever) is holding me in the grips of obsession; rants, gushes about movies and such… Whatever. You’re all welcome to ignore them completely, but check back every so often if you’re interested. First up will probably be a brow-beating (or bitch-slapping) of the AFI… Watch this space.