I stood 10 yards from Paul Giamatti.

Star of the HBO mini series, "John Adams" and such films as "Sideways", "Private Parts" and "Planet of the Apes". Saw Paul in the courtyard at Skirball Center after the radio play, "The Rivalry", last night in LA (see 3rd post down) - he performed the role of Stephen Douglas opposite David Strathairn's Abe Lincoln.

Anyway, I wanted to tell him what an inspiring performance he gave as the lead in "John Adams". I wanted to tell him I thought that that mini series was one of the best I'd ever seen on TV and that watching the show made me proud of my country's heritage. I wanted to tell him that there were moments in that show that made me wept.

But he looked as if he was trying to make a beeline to his car in the parking structure when he was suddenly "attacked" by 3 or 4 autograph and picture seekers. I thought to myself, "no - I'll let him be". Was that the high road I just took? Perhaps my good deed will produce dividends some other time.

"The Rivalry", by the way, was excellent.

Read more!

Jam-packed California weekend. Me.

Tonight - Paul Giamatti and David Strathairn debate each other in The Play's the Thing's staging of "The Rivalry" - the famed Abraham Lincoln - Stephen Douglas debates - at the Skirball Cultural Center in LA. The play is performed like an old-time radio drama - mikes on stage and scripts in hand, live audience, but broadcast live on the radio.

Saturday night - Gordon Lightfoot at The Canyon Club. This is the most excellent venue where I saw The Zombies in June - and my virgin concert of this Canadian legend and performer of such hits as "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald", "Sundown", "If You Could Read My Mind", "Early Morning Rain", "The Pony Man", "Cape Horn" and many others. See my Youtube performance below.

Sunday night - The Carl Wilson Cancer Foundation brew ha at the Roxy in Hollywood with Brian Wilson, Carnie and Wendy Wilson (of Wilson-Phillips fame), The Honeys, Al Jardine of The Beach Boys and Surf guitar legend Dick Dale.

(...and of course, the Jets at Oakland - but I was trying to avoid talking about sports in this particular post. GO JETS! GO FAVRE!)

Read more!