OMG!

I don't think I've ever seen anything more adorable!

Yet Another #1!

Congratulations, Barbra! One Night Only: Barbra Streisand And Quartet At The Village Vanguard-September 26,2009 has debuted at #1 on the DVD music chart! As if there were ever a doubt in my mind that it would! Wonderful!

Over The Limit Predictions...

Here are my predictions for Over The Limit.

John Cena over Batista
Big Show over Jack Swagger
Drew McIntyre over Kofi Kingston
CM Punk over Rey Mysterio
Edge over Randy Orton
Chris Jericho and The Miz over The Hart Dynasty
R. Truth over Ted DiBiase
Maryse over Eve

Same Girl, New Face...

Christina Bennett Lind will bring Bianca back to Pine Valley beginning June 14th. Erica's youngest daughter returns to town after hearing of her mother's disappearance. I wish Lind luck, but gaining acceptance from this viewer isn't going to be easy.

You Talkin' To Me?

So, the new headwriting duo has debuted. Actually, May 12th was the official date, but had to wait until I could get the screencap to write something. Any big changes this early on you ask? Only one that I can tell. Dialogue seems to have been dumbed down. Characters are repeating the same phrases several times in one conversation. In my opinion, this is a huge problem. Shitty dialogue detracts from the importance of any given situation. The viewer must be convinced that whatever is going on deserves full attention. This task is difficult to accomplish when conversations are unrealistic. Straighten up, guys!

One Night Only: Barbra Streisand And Quartet At The Village Vanguard-September 26, 2009

Let's shoot with the technical stuff out of the gate. Picture quality is Blu-ray worthy, if not 100%. Sound is just a half-step below, with a formidable attempt at an HD 5.1 mix. The loan special feature is short, cute, and ultimately unnecessary.

The intimate feel of the evening is apparent from the outset. After some cutesty introductions and stories, Barbra takes the spotlight. The majority of the set list for the performance is comprised of songs featured on her latest album, Love Is The Answer.

While Streisand's vocal ability is clearly diminishing due to her advancing age, she wisely manipulates the songs to accentuate her considerable strengths. If one were to close their eyes at select intervals, the ease with which this amazing performer floats on melodies and notes would astound. Comfortable, playful interaction with the audience only adds to the mostly incredible experience.

Leaves you with a warm, nostalgic feeling.

Undeserving!

Daytime Emmy nominations were announced today, and as much as it pains me to say this, with one exception, All My Children is completely undeserving of the ones it received.

Outstanding Lead Actress:
Bobbie Eakes (Krystal)

Outstanding Supporting Actor:
Ricky Paull Goldin (Jake)

Outstanding Drama Series

Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team

Outstanding Drama Series Directing Team

I'm not even going to waste time addressing the writing and drama series nominations. Absolute idiocy. As much as I love her, Bobbie Eakes did absolutely nothing to deserve her nomination. The directing team at AMC was not in top form at all in the eligible time period. The only person even remotely deserving of his nomination is Ricky Paull, and, quite honestly, he's got a hell of a fight on his hands. Hopefully All My Children shapes up enough next year to be deserving of whatever nominations come their way.

On Second Thought...

One Life To Live executive producer Frank Valentini is creating a new daytime drama! Yeah right, I wish. He is however penning webisodes that will feature characters from all three ABC Daytime soaps intermingling. The Idiots In Charge are promoting it as a dream come true for fans. At first thought, before you have time to really process the stupidity, you may think this is a fun, creative idea. I ask you this. Why isn't there buzz being created from these characters crossing over on the shows themselves? In the dying era we are in, you would think that any effort would be made to save the genre. Why waste time creating meaningless fluff web content when energy could be focused on the much more important issue? Start at the top and get heads rolling in every direction until problems are solved. I just don't understand any of this. Any.

My First Wrestlemania!

I had followed wrestling for many years before Wrestlemania 7, but the career ending match between The Ultimate Warrior and "Macho King" Randy Savage was the first match I ever remember being emotionally invested in. Unfortunately for me however, I was unable to watch it live as it happened on pay-per-view. The next day at school, my friend who had recorded it was gracious enough to lend me the tape. I remember not being able to concentrate on my studies because I was so excited to come home and see what had happened.

The matches leading up to Warrior/Savage were a complete blur. Nothing mattered except seeing who was forced to retire. Of course, being that I'm much older now and realize that retirements in wrestling can usually be chalked up to overdue vacation time, it's funny to look back and see how much I thought was riding on the outcome. Being young and taking things at face value is to be treasured.

Anyway, the moment I'd been waiting for had finally arrived. Before the two combatants were introduced, a highlight package was presented to remind the viewer of the key elements of the feud leading up to this final confrontation. At the conclusion of the package, announcers Bobby "The Brain" Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon gave one final push, in which they "discovered" Miss Elizabeth in the crowd, before the bell.

Savage, and manager Sensational Queen Sherri, made their way to the ring as only true royalty can, on a throne carried by muscular men. After some pre-match showboating by the duo, The Ultimate Warrior made his way to the ring at an uncommonly slow pace. I think this was a last-ditch, unnecessary effort to build anticipations that were already at a fever pitch.

The match seemed to last forever, with great back and forth. There were several occasions where I remember thinking it could legitimately go either way. Interference after interference by Queen Sherri, a seemingly endless assault of top rope elbow drops, and some other underhanded tactics seemed to reassure my unwavering, yet unpopular, belief that Randy Savage would emerge smelling of victory. In the end however, Warrior managed to pull out a decisive win.

I was devastated, but will never forget it. In my opinion though, Randy was ultimately the big winner as, in the end, he was reunited with Miss Elizabeth in one of the most emotional moments in wrestling history.

Quote Of The Moment...

"Writing's a process, words are just the final step."

-Write What You Know-The Story Of My Life

Good Boy!

Caught this one in a rare moment of quiet. Luke is usually on super speed. He's a good dog though, and great with his boys.

Peace Out, Scoybout!

The brother-in-law took this one yesterday. Love it! Can't believe the oldest nephew is going to be four. That's absolutely insane. Such fun at the farm yesterday.

Quote Of The Moment

"It's all real... if you don't tell them it's not."

-Jim Cornette

Extreme Rules

This is the best I've ever done with pay-per-view predictions. Here's how it all shook down.

Jack Swagger defeated Randy Orton
Sheamus defeated Triple H
CM Punk defeated Rey Mysterio
Edge defeated Chris Jericho
John Cena defeated Batista
The Hart Dynasty defeated Show Miz
Beth Phoenix defeated Michelle McCool
JTG defeated Shad Gaspar

I didn't include predictions for the women's match or the tag team gauntlet because they weren't listed on WWE.com when I posted.

The heavy hitters were all solid. In my opinion, Edge and Chris Jericho stole the show. The Hart Dynasty defeating Show Miz was predictable, but welcome. I was happy to see Jack Swagger get a decisive win over Randy Orton. Wonder how long he'll keep the strap. John Cena and Batista had a surprisingly good match... until the end. I've heard rumors that that was Batista's last match. If so, I would be heated to go out like that. Triple H and Sheamus fought hard, but the only thing that I remember clearly is the shower of Kendo Stick shots Sheamus took. Awesome!

Don't know if I'd watch it again, but definitely enjoyable.

If Only...

RVD is the new TNA World Heavyweight Champion. His matches against Jeff Hardy and AJ Styles on Impact stood as great examples of how awesome TNA's in-ring product can be. I must say though, I think it was very disrespectful to AJ for the locker room to empty in celebration of the change. Dixie Carter had absolutely no business among the boys. I'm not against the switch. I just don't have confidence in anything this company does. The lack of foresight is disturbing. Please, TNA, don't play hot potato with the belt. If only you had longterm storyline ideas in place..

Farewell!

Adam has officially left Pine Valley. I have to admit something. While I've absolutely loved the buildup to the exit, I was kind of disappointed with his final episode. If I had been writing, Adam would have found out about Annie and JR sooner, spent more time dealing with the fallout, and tried to mend fences. His rushed decision to leave seemed so out of place. The one other thing that really bugged me is the lack of goodbyes. David Canary and Michael E. Knight not sharing a final scene is preposterous. Adam and Tad have meant so much to one another in different ways over the years. What about Adam and Krystal? As much as I love me some Brooke, I'll always believe that Krystal and Adam belong together.

I wish David Canary all the best, and sincerely hope this isn't the last we've seen of Adam. There are too many loose ends that need tying.

Happy Birthday!

Happy 68th birthday to Barbra Streisand! Hope all your wishes come true!

Yay!

It was announced earlier today that CBS will air the Daytime Emmys this year. June 27, 2010, from 9-11 p.m. This is such awesome news! I wish ABC, who seems to have a fair amount of faith in their soaps, would have picked up the broadcast. Truthfully, though, I'm just ecstatic that I'll actually be able to see them.

Less Is More?

I've said for a long time that TNA and WWE should cut the number of pay-per-views they offer in half. This would allow time to develop richer, more intriguing storylines. More people are likely to buy if they are emotionally invested in a feud. In the long run, I think it would also go quite a ways in improving the bottom line for both companies. $40-$50 a month is a lot of money that a large portion of the audience can't afford to spend. Everyone wins this way, even if an initial hit is taken.

Extreme Rules Predictions...

Here are my predictions for Extreme Rules.

Jack Swagger over Randy Orton
Batista over John Cena
Edge over Chris Jericho
Sheamus over Triple H
CM Punk over Rey Mysterio
Shad Gaspard over JTG

I Hate Spam!

Though I'm not referring to the food in this case, I can't stand that much either. I open my email the other day to find nine or ten supposed blog comment notifications. Didn't take me long to figure out that they weren't legit. Some advertisements for a clothing store or something. It took me forever to go through and delete them. I just wish people would have more respect. It may seem silly, but I know I would never do that to someone. Just ridiculous!

May 12th...

Oh, how I wish I didn't have to write this. These last few months of All My Children, with Lorraine Broderick at the helm, have been pretty fantastic. David Kreizman and Donna M. Swajeski have officially taken the reigns, and will debut their work on May 12th. I won't pass judgment for a while, but their track records don't inspire confidence.

Working With What You Have...

Want to start off by saying how upset I was that my DVR didn't record anything again, and Tim and I had to watch Raw on the computer. Ridiculous technology!

Imagine my surprise when I heard Lillian Garcia's voice. Though it was for one night only, I was absolutely thrilled to see her back. Due to most of the Raw roster being stuck in Ireland because of the volcano, the show had a very thrown together feel. The opening segment featuring a confrontationn between Triple H and The Straight-Edge Society went way too long, and was obvious filler. In fact, nothing stood out until Jack Swagger's open challenge was answered by The Undertaker. The surprisingly well-paced, entertaining match that followed was a treat. It showed me that Jack Swagger may indeed be a great champion someday. The ability is definitely there. That match made the show for me. Would love The Undertaker to get drafted to Raw next week, and a feud between the two to start. Could be awesome.

With the exception of a few comedic moments, nothing else of any consequence happened. Seeing The Undertaker on Raw was definitely worth my time. Tim's face when the gong rang out was priceless.

Not Buying...

While I was definitely one of the first to champion a David/Greenlee pairing, their declaration yesterday was ridiculous. I'm supposed to believe that they've never loved anyone as much as each other? What the hell is that shit? Leo and Greenlee were made for one another. The understanding, commitment, and love between them was untouchable. In Anna, David found someone who truly accepted everything he is. No one has ever been a better match for the dastardly doc. I hate revisionist, suit-the-purpose-at-the-moment history. My apologies for going on this little rant, but I just couldn't let that pass without speaking up.

Janet's Back!

Kate Collins is returning to All My Children as Janet. Putting two and two together, I'm going to go ahead and guess that mommy dearest is Amanda's cyber-stalker. I hope she stays for a while before inevitably being carted off to the looney bin again.

Final Airdate...

Enjoy Adam while you can. David Canary will last air on April 23rd. This is just awful. I understand wanting to retire, but Pine Valley just isn't going to be the same.

:)

An adorable little snappy taken before the matches.

Begging For A Recast!

A dishonorable mention for Tyler Christopher as Nikolas on General Hospital. The scenes in the park with Spencer and Robin were so bad I literally had to turn away. With the way Tyler was delivering his lines, there were several times where I thought he may actually be a robot. Seriously. No emotion, blatant disinterest, glazed over eyes, the whole nine yards. How is this man still employed?

TRP And Other Awesomeness!

It's been so long since I've been to a Top Rope Promotions event that, when Tim asked me last week if I would want to go, I jumped at the chance. He then told me that Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake, and Axe from Demolition were headlining, making the opportunity even sweeter.

We decided to start things early by watching some matches to pump ourselves up. Rebecca then joined us for a late afternoon lunch, we came back, watched a few more matches, and then headed out. Was great that Kyle and Jeff met us there.

For the most part, I was very impressed with the matches. There was one exception though. Was extremely sad seeing "The Snake" in such terrible shape. I understand everyone needs a payday once in a while, but there comes a point where you have to realize that you just can't do it anymore, and it's embarrassing for fans to see you.

At intermission, Tim and I took a picture with Brutus. Luckily for me, Rebecca snapped a picture at the same time as the photographer. Thank God she did because, in the Polaroid, I look totally cracked out. Is so bad that I didn't even want to upload it to this post for fear of driving readers away. :) This one is much better.

A highspot-laden, and thoroughly enjoyable ladder match, and an awesome championship match ended the show. The end of the main event totally made me want to go see the triple threat match on June 4th. Good booking.

A Certain Swagger?

Okay, so, while I've made no secret of loving Jack Swagger, I have to question this sudden move to make him champion. I was stunned when he won Money In The Bank, but thought a big chunk of the year time constraint would be used to build his status and character. There's absolutely no way he's ready for this responsibility. He's terrible on the stick, his character needs a complete overhaul, and he's not even close to over. Sure, if the only qualifier for being champion were great in-ring work, he might be able to carry it off. Unfortunately, it's not. There's no doubt in my mind that The All-American American American deserves a shot someday, but it's all happening too fast. I just hope this title run isn't followed by an endless string of defeats. There's no quicker way to bury a career.

Husband Number 11?

Michael Nouri has been cast in the contract role of Caleb McGraw. Described as a mountain man, the character is slated to be a love interest for Erica. Look for a first appearance on May 24th.

Jim Ross?

Apparently, the idea of Jim Ross joining TNA isn't as ludicrous as one would think. While he's said he's well enough to return to work, WWE has opted not to utilize his talent. With his contract up at the end of the month, "Good Ol' JR" has openly admitted to exploring all options. One unnecessary loss could mean another extremely lucrative gain. I know I'd dance with TNA one more time if it meant getting to hear the greatest announcer in the history of wrestling every week. We shall see...

I Take It Back...

Was just reading through some old post while tagging, and saw that I said Rent is my favorite musical. I don't know what I was smoking that day. Rent is amazing and all, but honestly pales in comparison to the raw power and evocative emotion of Evita. Nothing will ever come close. Shouldn't write certain things when I'm caught up in the moment.

All-Around Wonderful!

Yesterday was awesome. Having a holiday somewhere new was definitely a welcome change. Not in a bad way, just nice to switch around occasionally. The kids were adorable in their Easter outfits. Hearing the oldest nephew recount tells of the bunny, and the treats he left was priceless. The dinner table was absolutely beautiful, and all the food was perfect. I even ended up trying, (and kind of enjoying) some stuff I never thought I would. Of course, I couldn't write this post without mentioning Rhubarb Cheesecake. It is the most amazing dessert ever!

Watching the niece and nephews hunt for eggs in the yard was definitely the highlight of the day. Puppy Luke even joined in and found a few. Such fun! As a perfect way to end the day, my brother-in-law fixed the lift in my van. How awesome is that?! Watching Barbra when I got home, and chatting with Tim for a bit was icing on the cake. Lovely, lovely day!

New DA...

Robb Derringer has been cast as the new District Attorney. He debuts this week. I hope he's a decent actor, and the character sticks around longer than the last two DAs have.

I'll Never Forget It!

I can't believe it's been almost a week since Wrestlemania already. What an amazing weekend I had. Saturday brought the welcome surprise of going to dinner with Tim, and then coming home and watching wrestling to gear up for the big show. He mentioned a surprise for the next day, but would say no more when I questioned him. It didn't take long for him to show me the surprise early Sunday afternoon.

Does it get any better than a Wrestlemania cake, really? We decided to wait until later, after everyone had arrived, to eat it. Honestly, it was so awesome that I didn't want to cut into it.

After an awesome lunch at a great little Mexican joint, we were back watching wrestling. Rebecca joined the party shortly, and gave us the wrestling shirts she had made. We took some pictures, but unfortunately only a few came out. This is one:

Luckily, I managed to break the hold and was able to enjoy the rest of the evening. Right before Wrestlemania got underway, the three of us decided to keep track of wins and losses.

Ariel and Kyle rounded out the group. Wrestlemania was amazing. The Streak vs. The Career main event will go down as one of the greatest matches in wrestling history.

I will NEVER FORGET this amazing weekend as long as I live!

Happy Easter!

Hope everyone has a happy, safe Easter. Take the time to appreciate friends and family, and don't forget the real significance of the holiday.

Bitch-Tastic!

Just a quick one. Julia Barr as Brooke, and Susan Lucci as Erica on All My Children. How amazing are their scenes together? It's obvious they love working together. They have amazing chemistry, and the way Erica and Brooke constantly have to outdo each other on the insult scale is pure priceless gold. I'm convinced that if the show were to revolve itself around this iconic rivalry, fans wouldn't have to live in constant fear of cancellation.

Goldberg? Really?

It makes me sick to devote space to this, but I feel it's necessary. The latest rumor making rounds is that Bill Goldberg is going to be inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame next year. With Wrestlemania 27 taking place in Atlanta, it makes perfect sense for WWE to induct some WCW stars. But Goldberg? What did he ever really do? To me, he was a classic textbook case of right place, right time. His in-ring work was absolutely atrocious. He only had three moves. He wasn't above pitching a fit if things weren't going his way. He was only in the business for a cup of coffee. I'm sorry, it makes absolutely no sense. There's no reason. Truly deserving people, like the rest of The Four Horseman, get my vote. If this actually comes to pass, the integrity of the Hall Of Fame will be irreparablly damaged for me.

Bullshit!

I can't believe it's happening again. Show killer Jean Passanante is joining the writing team of One Life To Live. It isn't enough that she's partially responsible for the cancellation of As The World Turns. I just don't understand how hack writers continue getting jobs in this dying industry. Shouldn't those in charge of hiring look at track records before making decisions? If I were Ron Carlivati, I'd be extremely worried. It's blatantly obvious that ABC wants to cancel One Life To Live. Mark my words, Passanante will be headwriter before the year is out. This is totally disgusting.

On Again, Off Again...

TNA is off the DVR again! Since Hogan and company arrived on January 4th, things have gotten steadily worse. I can no longer watch the greatest wrestler in the world (AJ Styles) be made into a cheating bafoon. It literally hurts too much. Ric Flair has shit all over his unparalleled legacy by allowing himself to become a ridiculous sideshow comedy act. Wrestlers way past their prime, and unable to contribute anything meaningful to the company (read Hall, Nash, and Waltman), dominate programming. Matches are afterthoughts in favor of backstage vignettes and interviews. When we're lucky enough to actually see one, it's blink and miss. I refuse to continue subjecting myself to the atrocity that is TNA. A complete change in direction is the only thing that would make me even begin to consider tuning back in.

Another Recast!

Aaron Refvem is out as General Hospital's Morgan. Apparently, he's booked a pilot for NBC. Aaron Sanders will assume the role beginning April 14th. I really like Refvem, and hope he hits it big.

Mischievous!

We celebrated my brother's birthday last night. I asked for some new pictures to be taken because it's been a while since I've had any. This adorable one was snapped just as the nephew was looking for trouble in the bathroom. Love the priceless expression on his face.

Words Cannot Describe...

Quote Of The Moment...

"Laugh for me. Cry for me. Pray for me. Lie for me. Live for me. Die for me."

-Burn-Linzi Hateley

Brook Lynn Returns!

Adrienne Leon is set to reprise her General Hospital role as Brook Lynn. As of now, the return is recurring. Brook Lynn was before my time, but I know the actress is extremely popular, and supposedly very good. Should be interesting to watch.

Amazing Ainsworth!

The honors this time around go to Lexi Ainsworth as Kristina on General Hospital. The scenes where Kristina is laying in the hospital bed begging Kiefer for answers as to why he beat her were absolutely phenomenal. It's great to see such a young actress so polished and committed. Lexi knew exactly when and how to play certain moments. I also very much admire the fact that she kept everything grounded and believable. In an intensely emotional scene like this one, it would have been very easy to go over the top and fall into scenery chewing. She didn't.

Quick shout-out to the makeup department for doing such a great job with the cuts and bruises.

Waterworks were great as well. Bravo, Ms. Ainsworth for a wonderful performance.

Shock!

This little piece of casting news came as of bit of a shock when I read it yesterday afternoon. General Hospital has recast the role of Michael. Fan favorite Drew Garrett will be replaced by Chad Duell. While no reason for the switch-a-roo has been given yet, I have a feeling something shady went down. I can't imagine GH would make such a seemingly drastic move without cause.

Gorgeous Day!

Seriously, how amazing is the weather today? 62, sunny, and perfect. Groceries got done, cool visit with Kyle, and good music. Listening to Barbra while buzzing around outside is one of my absolute favorite ways to spend a day.

Photographer Cast...

Former Days Of Our Lives and The Bold And The Beautiful star Victor Alfieri has joined the cast of All My Children. While not much is known about the character at this time, we do know that he'll be a fashion photographer involved with Fusion. I would assume, (though maybe I shouldn't), that the role is a significant one. Look for a debut in April.

War Of The Wire: September 29, 2003

 I didn't know much about Ring Of Honor when I got tickets to a show in Framingham, but an AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe main event was just too amazing to miss. Okay, truth time. I don't remember much about the matches themselves, but I'll never forget what happened at intermission and after everyone had left. At the start of intermission, my brother-in-law told me that AJ Styles was standing behind me talking to some people. I didn't believe him, but saw it was true when I turned around to take a look. I absolutely couldn't believe that my hero was standing that close. After some insistence, I made my way up to say hello. I remember that Paul had to introduce me, because I couldn't speak and was staring at AJ like a fool. I eventually managed to put a couple of coherent sentences together, he thanked me for my support and admiration, told me (in a sweet way) that I was silly for crying, and took the time to take a picture with me.

If that had been where the night ended, it still would have been amazing beyond words. Fortunately, there were more surprises in store for unsuspecting me. While the next part is a bit fuzzy, I think I remember having a brief conversation with the ring announcer earlier in the evening.. As Paul and I were making our way out with the rest of the crowd when everything ended, he stopped us and told us to come with him. I was completely dumbfounded and speechless when I realized he was leading us backstage. Couldn't believe I was getting to associate with people that are my equivalent of superheroes. I was fortunate enough to meet, and have small conversations with The SATs, Alexis Laree, (before she became Mickie James in WWE), April Hunter, and CM Punk. Oh, yeah, I said hello to Christopher Daniels in passing and was greeted with a "fuck you." Just incredible!

On the way out the door after all the excitement, I heard a booming voice from behind me.

"You're going to leave without taking a picture with the champ?"

I turned around to see Samoa Joe approaching me. Again, I was stunned beyond words that the champion would take time to acknowledge me. I can't even tell you what my response was because the shock I was in was making it extremely difficult to think clearly. I eventually composed myself and we took a picture.

An amazing, incredible, awe-inspiring night I will never forget!

Rockin' The Do!

The Hawk Of Mo is back! It's been a long time, but I think this is the perfect look for the warm weather. Lovin' it!

Bummer!

The Ring Of Honor show, that I'm attending with Tim and Rebecca, has been rescheduled! This sucks! Thank God I just happened to be on the website and looked. From April 9th to September 10th! Very disappointing. At least it wasn't canceled all together. Anticipation will make it even better.

Track Listing

Track listing for upcoming One Night Only: Barbra Streisand And Quartet At The Village Vanguard DVD/Blu-ray.

Introductions
Here's To Life
In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning
Gentle Rain
Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most
If You Go Away (Ne Me Quitte Pas)
Where Do You Start?
Nobody's Heart (Belongs To Me)
Make Someone Happy
My Funny Valentine
Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered

Evergreen
Some Other Time
The Way We Were
Credits
Village Vanguard Vignette

Wonderful!

What a wonderful weekend I had! Friday started perfectly with a pancake breakfast with Tim and Rebecca at IHOP. Can't believe I'd never been before! After breakfast, we browsed around Newbery comics for a bit, and I picked up Edge: A Decade Of Decadence. When we got home, Smackdown was on tap, and actually pretty enjoyable. I had a little bit of time to myself before Sara and Chad came to watch a movie and eat pizza. Pretty perfect day.

Saturday I attended a beautiful wedding. Bride looked absolutely stunning, and everything was perfect. Between the ceremony and reception, I went to see Alice In Wonderland with my sister and brother-in-law. The movie wasn't so hot, but we definitely had fun anyway. Went to the reception for a while after I came home. Am so happy everything turned out well..

Went to the farm yesterday and spent some quality time with the family. Came home, listened to music, spent some time with Sandra, had my Sunday chat with my best friend, and fell asleep while listening to podcasts. Awesome, amazing, incredible weekend!

Regiel To Y & R... Bianca Recast!

I think that's the most shocking headline I've ever had to write. Earlier this week, rumblings that had superstar Eden Regiel joining a CBS sudster were confirmed. She will join best friend Elizabeth Hendrickson on The Young And The Restless as a Heather Stevens recast. As I don't watch Y & R, I won't comment any further.

For those scratching their heads wondering why Eden won't be returning to All My Children in her iconic, Emmy-winning role, apparently it all comes down to story. When AMC and ABC heard that Regiel was in negotiation to join the highest-rated rival soap, they immediately offered her a contract. When she inquired about story ideas for Bianca, there was no solid response. Not wanting to return just to be relegated to obscurity, Eden jumped ship.

Less than a day after confirmation of all this comes word that AMC/ABC is planning to recast Bianca. Read above and deduce what you may, but it seems to me as though this is being done completely out of spite. There's absolutely no need for Bianca to return home at the moment. TPTB have to know that whoever they find to assume the role is going to be met with a great amount (no matter how unfair to the actress) of anger and upset.

I just can't wrap my head around any of this. The soap part of my world has turned completely upside down. Utter chaos!

Revival!

Forgive me if I ramble a bit. Can hardly contain my excitement! Evita is finally set for a Broadway revival next year. According to several sources, Elana Roger, who previously portrayed Eva to much acclaim in London in 2006, will tackle the title role again. While casting for other roles is ongoing, Ricky Martin is said to have been approached by producers to play Che. What an absolute travesty that would be! Hope it's not true!

I promised myself that if Evita were to ever return to The Great White Way, I would be there no matter what. I can't believe this is actually happening! What a dream come true! My first trip to New York will be to see my all-time favorite show! Don't wake me if I'm dreaming!

Fleetwood Mac-The Dance

Before I get to the meat and potatoes of the review, I have to thank my friend, Joe. He introduced me to Fleetwood Mac eleven years ago, and this concert still holds a special place in my heart because it always reminds me of him.

Now, the good stuff. For long-time fans, the group finally reuniting must have been an amazing thrill. For me, who was completely unfamiliar with them before this viewing, I couldn't have asked for a better introduction. All members of this legendary incarnation are here, and in amazing voice. Song selection, with two glaring exceptions, (I'm So Afraid, and Tusk), is strong and well suited. The performance of Silver Springs found on this DVD is my favorite song of all-time. You're sure to tear up, if not buckle under the weight of a full-on cry, just by witnessing the raw emotion and power.

While there are no extras to speak of, the double-sided DVD does offer two audio options. First side, a very well put together 5.1 Surround. Second side, standard stereo. Picture quality is clear, and expected for a DVD of this age. The music is all that matters in this case though.

While I'm biased because of all the memories and emotions I associate with it, The Dance is amazing! There is an abbreviated CD, but I advise you to pick up this complete offering, and get lost in it.

Cover!

Official cover for the upcoming Village Vanguard DVD. What do you think? Simple and elegant. I like it for sure. Matt, over at Barbra Archives, says to expect a Blu-ray release as well. So so so excited!

Winners!

Congratulations to Debbi Morgan and Cornelius Smith, Jr. for winning NAACP Image Awards this weekend. Good work!