Boardwalk Empire Finale

Boardwalk Empire has it's final episode of it's first season this Sunday. I can't believe it's over already. If you haven't been watching it on HBO you have all this week to catch up, on OnDemand. The cast is phenomenal. Steve Buscemi and Michael Pitt are such lovable villains.

If I have a criticism of the show, it's that it can be a bit graphic. I don't think there's an angle we haven't seen almost every female character, naked from. With the possible exception of Mrs. Shreoder.

There are so many great characters on the show from the psychotic G-man to the tacky show girl, but I particularly like Jack Huston, as Richard Harrow. He plays the WWI vet who wears a mask to cover half his face that was destroyed in the war. I hope his character gets developed next year.

I can't wait for the next season. I hope they will bring in more historical characters. I'm sure lots of celebrities visited Atlantic City in the 20's, and I want to see them all portrayed on the show.

The Closer

The Closer comes back to TNT this Monday, Dec. 6th, with 5 new episodes. I don't know why they have to give it to us in dribs and drabs, but I'll take it.
Just thought I'd give you all a heads up!

Thanksgiving Celery with Cream Cheese

Celery and cream cheese may not be the sexiest recipe I could give you for Thanksgiving, but of all the Thanksgiving foods it's one of my favorites. In preparation for this post I looked around online to see if my recipe was anywhere else. I'll admit I wasn't that thorough, but in a cursory search I didn't see it.

This is my grandmother's recipe who was raised in Minnesota, but it was really the next best thing to Norway. I don't think she even learned to speak English until she was about ten in 1920. Which is my round about way of saying this is the Norwegian way to make celery with cream cheese. Like any good Norwegian there aren't a lot of frills or pomp, but it definitely gets the job done.

Ingredients:

Celery
Cream Cheese
Crumbled blue cheese
Onion juice

Wash your celery and cut into desired length. Then mix cream cheese and blue cheese. I would say about a tablespoon of blue cheese to a stick or tub of cream cheese. Then add the secret ingredient onion juice. To render the juice just cut an onion in half and drag a sharp knife over the flesh repeatedly. You'll get a bit of the onion too but mostly you'll get juice. Add about a tablespoon of juice. You can adjust measurements to your personal taste.



Here's the lady herself rocking some seriously fabulous 1930's lounge attire. You can do that too,if you stick to celery on Thanksgiving. Or at least that's what she would have told me while I was scarfing down cookies.

Pierce Brosnsan At the Aero

Pierce Brosnan will be at the Aero Theatre, in Santa Monica, this Saturday night, Nov. 20th. They'll be showing two of his films, The Ghost Writer and The Matador. I've seen both of these, and can recommend them. Brosnan will be interviewed between pictures. In past event they have allowed audience questions as well. I probably won't make it, as I'll be at the Auto show that day. Please report back any good details.

Here is a bizarre look at The Matador:

Just watching that clip is making me want to see the Matador again.


and here is a more straight forward trailer for The Ghost Writer:

LA Auto Show Giveaway

The LA Auto Show Starts next weekend and runs through November 28th, at the LA Convention Center. I'm so excited to go see the 50 alternative fuel vehicles that will be on display, 13 of which are electric, and there are additional manufacturer world debuts that have yet to be announced.
With everything from your favorite sports cars and luxury sedans to hybrid SUV's, minivans and concept cars there's something for everyone. For families there's even a Kids Fun Zone with a variety of activities including face-painting, bubble making, arts and crafts, hula-hoops and more. This show is sure to offer fun for the whole family!

The Auto Show has given me a pack of 4 tickets to give away. Just leave a comment on this post for your chance to win. For an extra entry tweet it. Then post a comment that you tweeted it.
I'll announce the winner Thursday, November 18th. Obviously, all entrants should be, or have plans to be in the LA area at the time of the Auto Show.

Good Luck!

WINNER: Adrienne is our winner.

The King's Speech at AFI Fest

The King's Speech starring Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush was at the AFI Fest present by Audi last night. It is such a spectacular picture. If you don't know it is the story of George VI, king of England. That's the one that was married to the Queen Mum, The present queens father. He is also the king who took over for his brother when he abdicated the throne to marry the twice divorced Mrs Wallis Simpson, just before WW II. Sorry if this is all obvious to you, but I'm an American and know almost nothing of English royalty.

The cast is stellar. Colin plays George VI who is struggling with a stammer and taking over the monarchy among other issues. Geoffrey Rush is his speech therapist. Helena Bonham Carter is the Queen Mum. Guy Pearce, who we don't see enough of in film, plays Edward who abdicates. Mrs Wallis Simpson is played by Eve Best,who I couldn't think where I knew her from. Finally I checked on IMDB, and she is the doctor on Nurse Jackie. They are all wonderful.

The story is very emotional. I found myself on the brink of tears a few times, but then they'd always pull you back with humor. The exchanges between Geoffrey and Colin are very funny. I want to tell you some of the lines, but they do it so well I don't want to ruin it.

Here are the only two videos I got of the interview Leonard Maltin did before the film. First with Colin and then with director Tom Hooper. Sorry they are so small but they barely spoke at all. Hope you enjoy what there is.

The film opens November 26th in the US.

Autism Speaks Act of Love

Photo credit: ©2010 Wendi Kaminski/Andrew D. Bernstein Assoc. Photography, Inc.



Last night Yvonne In LA and I attended Acts of Love's benefit for Autism Speaks and to award Jason Katims, creator of the television show Parenthood, for his work in bringing awareness about autism. The event was held at CAA and included a stage show and silent auction.
The stage show was a series of readings by Lauren Graham, Mary McDonnell, Craig T Nelson, Maggie Siff(who played Rachel on Mad Men, SQEE)and many more, it also included music by John Doe. The stories were heart warming, sad, and funny, particularly one read by Craig T Nelson. He absolutely had the entire audience in tears.
Before the show Yvonne and I were able to interview some of the celebrities. Olivia Munn from The Daily Show was very nice to us. She told us about her new show coming in the new year on NBC titled Perfect Couples.
The silent auction was great. Yvonne and I won 2 tickets to the premiere of Burlesque. Not only that but Alyssa Milano was working the register, to check us out. You may recall I wrote a post last year about the insane nice actor Jerry O'Conell. I really didn't think I would ever meet another celebrity that fabulous, but Alyssa is definitely on that level. She couldn't have been nicer, and was great on the register.

If you are interested in donating to the cause Autism Speaks is hosting a walk in April to benefit the cause. You can get more information at Autism Speaks.