Kathie Griffin: Why we love her

After strategically securing tickets to her sold out Tulsa venue, I successfully arrived at the Brady Theater intent upon seeing Kathie Griffin. When I visit the Brady - and other "landmark" locations in T-town, I am again reminded that the arts are still not a priority for our town and therefore all the talk in the world about downtown revitalization are just that -- talk - and until we treat our performers with the respect they deserve, I doubt we'll garnish the attention we think our town deserves. Despite the bawdy crowd (no security anywhere) , the lack of air conditioning (July in OK is never cool and a packed hall can get rather stuffy) and challenges with sound system (she had to stop twice because of audio blowback), Griffin performed her pointed and withering comedy with the kind of finesse that one expects from even an "A"-list celebrity.

I think the reason Griffin appeals to such a large variety of people is because she successfully unveils American pop culture and lays it bare. Even iconic celebrity fixtures (Oprah, Barabara Walters) are held up, scrutinized and made oh so human so we can do what we are suppose to do to pop cultures (or any other golden calf that we may have): make fun of them and see them for the farce that they are.

While I may not always agree with her politics, I am completely in sync with her ability to take shots at the entitlement, cultish behaviour of pop stars to which we continue to bow. And while I enjoy the ability to see through the smoke and mirror of American celebrity-dom, I wonder why we have the need to deitize our celebrities and then watch them fall when they have feet of clay.

I probably over think it, as I do most things. What is true is that A,B,C or D - whatever list she is on, Kathie Griffin is on mine. Thanks for having the guts to take aim, fire and shoot.

Really bad movie makes squillions

After a too busy weekend, I agreed to go with my son and a friend to "Chuck and Larry". I figured, "What could it hurt?" And I'm a huge fan of Kevin James (even before the sitcom). And Adam Sandler's career has always intrigued me, although I can't say I'm a fan. More of a bemused interest, I think.

What I want to say to the creators of such shlock? First, don't misuse great comic talent - -and there are several veteran stand-ups in the movie - to pander to your sterotypes. I think the movie is so pooly edited that I almost thought I'd hear the director say, "cut!" during one of the way-too-long scenes. And while I can go with most forms of low-brow humor (thank you, Mr. Sandler) I found myself literally squirming with the ridiculous -- and predictable - gags that this fare offered. What most offended me was the cliche ways in which it presented different lifestyles and how badly it represented them.

And amazingly, it scored big at the box office - #1 this weekend.

Tonight, I'm watching TNT and new premiers...I'll try to post tomorrow on those.