"The Boss" and Career Metamorphosis

Renaissance man. Wearer of many hats. Multi-tasker.  Jack of all trades. [I'm just realizing that all these idioms are so masculine.]

There has always been a lot of labels for someone who takes on many different jobs or is tremendous at multiple skills. These terms especially become relevant in today's world, as it seems like it is only becoming more and more popular for most people (out of necessity or fun) to have multiple jobs and interests that takes them throughout their day to day life.

Of course this doesn't just apply to us regular joe's (or how about regular jane's, eh?) - it is also very relevant for those working in the entertainment industry, especially actors. Some actors are good at one thing and will stick to gross out comedy or super serious period dramas for their whole life. Then there are actors that are continually morphing into new characters and performing in different mediums every time you see them - from theater, to TV, to the big screen.

There are even those bold, versatile entertainers, that have switched from being a musician to an actor. Sometimes you just never know what opportunities will arise and where that new move will advance you down the path of your life.

Melissa McCarthy knows this better than any performer in recent years.

She may be the star of the number one movie at the box office this weekend (The Boss), but one of her old hats got put back on the rack again this week. After months of drama and stress for fans, it was finally announced that McCarthy will be returning to the show that made her famous after all! New episodes of Gilmore Girls  without Sookie St. James would have been miserable - she provides a large chunk of bubbly heart, laughter, amazing cooking accidents, and makes up one half of the tremendous friend duo with Lorelai Gilmore. Even if she's only able be part of one scene, that's better than nothing at all.

Many years after leaving Stars Hollow, McCarthy became a bona fide movie star after Bridesmaids rocketed her into the spotlight and led to her first Oscar nomination. She's now considered top billing on all her movies, is producing her own scripts, and has become the muse of director/writer Paul Fieg (from former Heavyweights fame - never forget). What makes McCarthy admirable (other than her top notch lip sync skills), is that all her success hasn't gotten to her head (or at least it doesn't appear to have) and she couldn't be more thrilled to return to a TV show that used to find its home on a little network called the WB.

Other people who have made the transition to bigger stardom don't always like reflecting on their past. I'm mostly just referring to Mark Wahlberg. Calling him Marky Mark today is only for the bold. Allegedly he does not get "Good Vibrations" from the past. [Terrible pun definitely intended.]

Wahlberg really did conquer a rarity.  The transition from TV to the big screen is one hurdle, but morphing from a singer to an acclaimed actor is more comparable to that time Homer tried to skateboard over the Springfield Gorge. There's probably someone out there that could make that jump, but more will crash down to the bottom of the ravine.

Time has shown that it is definitely much harder for musicians to be taken seriously as actors. Yet, there are some legends who have successfully made the jump.

I got talking about Cher's Twitter presence yesterday (per usual - and if you want to live your best life you too should join Twitter just to read her tweets, which showcase the only proper way to use emojis ) and the conversation turned to people who started as singers and then successfully became movie stars. It's not about Mariah's turn in Glitter, or Christina's take on Burlesque, or Vanilla Ice's foray into Cool As Ice - these were one off gigs. I'm talking about actors who you can watch in a movie and you completely forget all about the fact that they were singers at one point in their life. The small group that fall into this category have found immense success - even being nominated for numerous Academy Awards.

Ultimately, acting wasn't just a whim for singers like Cher, Wahlberg, Dolly Parton, Will Smith, or Queen Latifah.

Out of that list, Dolly and Cher have since reverted back to their singer/performer status after their string of hit movie performances in the 80s and 90s (except for when they bring out the big acting guns for more recent flicks like Burlesque and Joyful Noise).

There's always an ebb and flow to everyone's life, but I don't see Wahlberg ever reverting back to his musical roots, but hey, you never know. The need to release some tunes might start pumping back into his veins.

There's also nothing wrong with moving on and looking toward bigger success. Much like McCarthy, the transition from TV actor to movie star status can happen, but it just might take some time. People like Jennifer Aniston, Tina Fey, Chris Pratt, and Steve Carell all got their start on the small screen and have now only continued to take over the entertainment world.

It is possible to convince people that you are capable of more than one thing, even if it takes awhile. But that doesn't mean that you always have to leave everything from your past behind.

Based on the box office numbers, the world can't get enough of the hilariously brassy characters that McCarthy has become known for in the film world, and yeah, I love it all too. Although, I only hope that in between all that lovely cursing and hilarious hi-jinx, McCarthy gets the opportunity (like in the wonderful St. Vincent) to be the leading lady that shows off some of that old school Sookie St. James charisma on the big screen as well.

Until next time. 

Listing: Meet Me At The Crossroads

[My new wallpaper for everything.]

While the Winter Olympics are dominating NBC, the networks regular scheduled programming is taking to the Net.  Anyone not interested in the cold and snowy (somewhat) conditions of Sochi can keep warm with the Texas spirit brought back to life by a few folks from Dillon.

In a master stroke of genius, Jason Katims decided to spend the Olympics hiatus bringing together two of his critically acclaimed, yet criminally under-watched television masterpieces  - yeah, that's right, the worlds of Parenthood and Friday Night Lights are converging right now.

There is no way to properly explain the amount of happiness that filled my heart when I clicked onto the 18 minute "webisode" and found Landry (aka Lance) jamming with his band Crucifictorious at the Luncheonette recording studio and Amber donning some East Dillon Lions apparel - dreams brought to reality.

People may argue that there are continuity issues - I'm already reading complaints by some who wonder how Amber could possibly be friends with Becky - but hey, let's not take it so seriously!  This is simply an opportunity to create a fun filled inside joke for anyone who loves both of these shows.

Boy, are there many references to savor, specifically, a shout out to The Landing Strip and a certain "local car dealership". Also, Billy Riggins playing football with Max is precious, and let's get serious, Landry would be really good for Amber.

For those out of the loop on these two shows, I've ranted about this many times before, so make these your next TV show obsession faster than you can say Riggins Rigs.

  (Check out Friday Night At The Luncheonette here.) 

All this talk of merging got me thinking about those great crossover episodes from years past. They always seemed to be thrown in during sweeps or when the network was trying to get viewers hooked on some new show. Some from my childhood are marvelous, but it seems like now those types of episodes are reserved for the dramatics of Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice. Oh, what I would have given to somehow find Tracy Jordan hanging out with Walt Jr.

Let's remember the good times, and those classic TV crossover episodes from the days of yore:

The Simpsons Meets The X-Files

"The Springfield Files" episode of The Simpsons may have entirely went over my head back in the day, since I had never seen The X-Files, but that didn't stop it from becoming (and still being) my favorite episode from the long running cartoon.

Now that I have successfully completed getting sucked into all the adventures of Dana Scully and Fox Mulder (best. name.) I can properly fan-girl out about this classic crossover.

The episode finds Homer, after a night at Moe's, traversing the outskirts of Springfield only to have a close encounter with, what he believes, is an alien. Obviously, since they also had their own hit TV show at the time, Scully and Spooky Mulder are called in to investigate.

Sometimes crossover episodes are awkward and forced. For this episode the setting is a cartoon world that has no limits to creativity and wackiness, and that's what makes this pairing absolutely perfect.

Mad About You Meets Friends

Several years before she became part of the six single best friends living the dream in NYC, Lisa Kudrow played a role on another successful NBC show, Mad About You.

Once she got the gig playing Phoebe Buffay, what's the network to do? Of course! Make the characters twin sisters! Kudrow played double duty starring on Friends, as the lovably kooky Phoebe, and still popping back up every so often on Mad About You as Ursula the flighty waitress.

The episodes of Friends where Ursula would pop up to cause Phoebe some sort of grief were always hilarious. Just like when they both dated Sean Penn that one time - he thought he could dump Ursula, start it up with Phoebe, but he could only look at her without his glasses, because she would look fuzzy and he could call her "Blur-sula". Oh the hyjynk!

Phoebe ended up married to Paul Rudd, so it all really worked out for everyone.

Full House Meets Family Matters

If there could only be one cultural icon to represent each decade of television , without a doubt the 50s would be represented by Lucille Ball, the 70s would be Mary Tyler Moore, and the 90s would have to be all about Steve Urkel.

"Did I do that?" Yes, Urkel, you did. The fact that this was a character that rocked the nation in high waisted pants and suspenders makes me elated.

For a time it seemed like you could find Urkel crossing over to just about every TV show, but facing down Uncle Jesse, cardigan to sweater vest, has to be the all time greatest. Well, besides when he turns into the hunky Stefan Urkel. PLEASE tell me Jaleel White has a thousand Emmys for that transformation alone.


I seem to remember an instance where Salem, from Sabrina The Teenage Witch, spent an entire night crossing over to each show on the T.G.I.F. line-up. Didn't this have something to do with Boy Meets World going back in time to WWII?

There was no video proof on the internet to back this assertion up, so it will just have to remain in the illustrious television crossover film vault and, of course, in our memories.

Until next time.

"The Only True Currency In This Bankrupt World Is What You Share With Someone Else When You Are Uncool"

Sunday was a weird day - it was at least 15 waking hours full of a bag of mixed emotions.

Being in the Pacific Northwest the only way to open your eyes that day was with a big smile, bursting with excitement. Well, maybe not exactly like that - the whole smile thing sounds a little creepy, but you know what I mean.

Cultural events are a big deal in my mind, so the Seahawks were in the Super Bowl and after a ton of years thinking this would NEVER happen again, I was able to experience it with my family.  I was also making black bottom cupcakes - to be frank, the world was looking pretty dang good.

Any day with a backdrop like this is made even more perfect by kicking it off snuggling into a comfy chair with a mug of joe. Per a somewhat weekly tradition I was amping up for a little State Of The Union with Candy Crowley, while also sipping coffee and scanning my mobile device, feeding my ample curiosity about the happenings in the world.

Breaking news can be discovered in an instant, and that's what happened when I refreshed my Twitter feed to see that one second prior David Muir had sent out 140 characters or less about the demise of a beloved actor.

No one else was reporting it, so I sat there somewhat bewildered, since it's never happy to hear about a death.

Minutes ticked by, and after several quick repetitive refreshes, there it was, cascading down were endless reports from the BBC, The New York Times, and every other news source you could imagine. At that point, it was obvious - Philip Seymour Hoffman had indeed passed away.

I didn't know the guy, it's actually none of my business about what happens to him, and, even though we don't like to think about it, people do die everyday. So, why need I be upset?

Other then me being an empathetic mess on a daily basis, news like this is shocking. An actor we have all loved watching in movies would no longer be there to entertain. There are good memories and cherished admiration. Why I was so taken back by the news though, was that it's always difficult to hear about people losing their fight with addiction, cutting a life short.

Corey Monteith wasn't my favorite actor, nor was Amy Winehouse my favorite singer, and even though I did adore Heath Ledger, in each of these circumstances I was equally devastated to hear about their too early passing. These are people we recognize and they put a face to deaths that are happening all over the world that will never make the news. Known or unknown are equally tragic.

Even though it feels odd to me to talk in this way about people I never knew, it has to be said that Hoffman left movies to this world that people enjoyed and will continue to love. Creating something that makes people happy is a pretty great legacy to leave behind.

He's the male Meryl Streep - you can watch them in anything.  You seek out all of his films, even the one's where he only has a bit part, because you know even if the movie isn't that great, he will be wonderful.

Of course there was his Academy Award winning role in Capote, the suspicious priest in Doubt, and the cult like leader in The Master (remember when he chillingly sings that song to Joaquin Phoenix!) Yes, that's also Hoffman as part of the weather chasing scientist crew in Twister - he had quite the range.

There are too many favorites to count, from The Savages to Magnolia to The Talented Mr. Ripley, but there is always the one that left the first lasting impression; Hoffman as Lester Bangs in Almost Famous is entirely unforgettable.


Anyone who ever cherished the music scene or wanted to be a writer in any capacity has to covet this flick as some sort of treasure trove.

In my early teens I grasped onto it as a window into a world I wanted to know more about and through the years each viewing hits me differently.

Playing legendary rock critic Lester Bangs (who also sadly died too young), Hoffman is the, at first, unwilling mentor to the lead character. Within only a couple scenes, he moves from annoyance to showing genuine care toward this kid.

In the hands of some other actor this could have been a throw-away bit part, but Hoffman truly exudes that compassion we all wish we could find in someone who could guide us and dispel fears with insightful wisdom on the world at large.

The film is full of terrific one liners ("I am a golden god!" anyone?), but Hoffman arguably has the best, as evident from the above clip.

All day on Sunday these lines were running through my head. The crushing Seahawks victory was quite the distraction, but another Hoffman as Lester Bangs moment popped into my brain at some point during me avidly defending the Bruno Mars halftime show:

"Music, you now, true music - not just rock-n-roll - it chooses you. It lives in your car, or alone listening to your headphones, you know, with the cast scenic bridges and angelic choirs in your brain. It's a place apart from the vast, benign lap of America."

Each person's preference will decide what music they like and movies are the same. Every fan of Philip Seymour Hoffman will have their own favorite moment - Almost Famous will always be mine, but what is yours?

Until next time.

This Kind Of Made My Day...

Since 1980, The Make-A-Wish Foundation has been granting countless gifts for children with life threatening medical conditions (the above photo was the first thing that came up when I searched "make a wish"). The work that they do is always remarkable, and just several days ago they pulled off one the largest scale wishes that I have ever heard of being done.

What little boy, or grown man for that matter,  isn't obsessed with superheros? With the help of the foundation one 13-year old in Seattle got to be a superhero for the day.

Erik Martin, is living with liver cancer and his one dream was to live out the life of his self-created alter ego, Electron Boy. Thats all the Make-A-Wish Foundation had to hear and they took it from there. With the help of several hundred volunteers and actors, the organization created an elaborate story right out of a superhero movie, villains and all, that had Erik saving lives all over the city.

He saved the Seattle Sounders and helped Seattle police arrest the villains outside of the Space Needle. 

An entire city dedicated time to this, even highways were closed down to make way for the 20 motorcycle police escorts to help Erik maneuver his tasks. Hearing stories like this just make you realize that, even though the news is scary most of the time, there are nice things that will still come out of this world.

More information can be found in this feature story from last Thursdays Seattle Times.

It goes without saying, but Make-A-Wish foundation keep up the good work!