"Look class...say hello to the Hollywood Foreign Press."

Or maybe it's the actors who didn't receive awards at the Golden Globes. Or the New Orleans Saints' defense after the NFC Championship Game this Sunday (11 skulls...). Or my enemies list. :)

Forgot that the Golden Globes were on television Sunday evening – well, with all the hubbub over my Minnesota Vikings’ win against Dallas it pretty much was a Viking raid and pillage night at the Ircink house (don’t ask). Went online and found the winners. My reactions to a few of the awards are as follows:

Best Supporting Actress Motion Picture

Mo'Nique – Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire

As long as it wasn’t Penelope Cruz…cool.

Best Actress Television Series, Comedy or Musical

Toni Collette – United States of Tara

I don’t watch this show regularly but I’ve seen a couple episodes. I'm surprised, especially after having seen Tina Fey in 30 Rock.

Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television

John Lithgow – Dexter

As long as Jeremy Piven and Neil Patrick Harris didn’t win…cool. Love Entourage but Piven’s a Chicago tool and I have that confirmed by multiple first-hand reports (people I know well). Sushi Piven IS a great actor...he also acts like he's the most sweetest guy on the planet.

Best Animated Feature Film – Up

Didn’t see it (oops) but heard nothing but great things about it.

Best Actress in a Television Series, Drama

Julianna Margulies – The Good Wife

A piece of belly button lint could win this as long as Anna Paquin didn’t. And the belly lint would’ve truly deserved it over Paquin.

Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television – Grey Gardens

Saw this. Excellent. Thanks, Tony - for the head’s up.

Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy

Meryl Streep – Julie and Julia

Saw this and I enjoyed it but would’ve written the ending differently. And as long as Julia Roberts and Sandra Bullock didn’t win…cool.

Best Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television

Drew Barrymore – Grey Gardens

Either the Los Angeles Times or the New York Times ripped Barrymore a new one for her portrayal of Little Edie Beale. I thought she did a great job. I thought Jessica though was better; she should’ve received the Globe. Anna Paquin didn’t win and that’s….you got it – cool.

Best Screenplay – Motion Picture – Up In the Air

Quentin Tarantino lost for Inglourious Basterds; I gave IB a "C". People of the Jewish persuasion, I think, will love it.

Best Actor in a Television Series, Comedy or Musical

Alec Baldwin – 30 Rock

Don’t watch this regularly but Baldwin’s good. So is Steve Carrell and David Duchovny (I watch both Californication and The Office). Coulda went to any of the three and I’d say. “cool”.

Best Foreign Language Film – "Céard". That’s Gaelic for “what’s that?”

Best Television Series, Drama – Mad Men

Watched the first season. Now I watch it sporadically. If True Blood would have won I would’ve bit the head off a bat.

Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television

Chloe Sevigny – Big Love

Janet McTeer was nominated. I worked with her in a movie...teeny, tiny non-speaking role. I saved her flip flop from being swept out into the Pacific Ocean. Hurt my foot due to the undertow. Do you care?

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

Christoph Waltz – Inglourious Basterds

He was the best thing in the movie. I predicted he'd win. I predict he will win the SAG Award and I believe he’ll get an Oscar nomination as well.

Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical – The Hangover

I think I’m the last man on earth (besides my dad and brother) who hasn't seen this movie. That’s ‘cause I drink too much and suffer from hangovers. Haha. Hahahahahhahahahahaha. Ha.

Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy

Robert Downey, Jr. – Sherlock Holmes

Loved this movie. Will see it again. Kudos to Mr. Downey.

Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama

Jeff Bridges – Crazy Heart

Didn’t see this but I love JB. Have you visited his website? One of the best I’ve ever been on. Take a looksee at JeffBridges.com.

I knew your day wouldn't be complete without reading my views on the winners. So if you've read all this, here's your reward - KNOWLEDGE. The picture above is from one of the exhibits at the Milwaukee County Museum. Those heads have been up there since I was a kid. Best to hang on to yours, friends.

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Gordo's Gold!!!

Just got back from the Gordon Lightfoot concert at The Canyon Club in Agoura Hills. AWESOME! Look for my full post soon. What a treat. Gordon is truly the master storyteller.

By the way, that's Gordo in 1981...when he was as old as I am now. If you're not familiar with Gordo and his music, here's something you can let swim around in your brain for a bit: in an often-quoted tribute to his fellow songwriter, Bob Dylan once observed that when he heard a Gordon Lightfoot song he wished "it would last forever."

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Again with the Peanut Butter & Butter...

Procuring my morning onion-toasted bagel with peanut butter AND butter shouldn't be this difficult. Maybe it's me.

Winchell's Donuts across the street. Every fricken time. Today, the woman (they're all Mexican and there's a definite language barrier ) throws the bagel into the toaster and pulls out the peanut butter AND butter in their respective carry-out containers. Ah! They remember me. So far so good.

She exits and another women enters, pulling my bagel out of the toaster. The peanut butter AND butter containers that were on the counter are nowhere to be seen. This new girl proceeds to put cream cheese on my bagel.

"No, wait. I wanted peanut butter and butter."
(She gets another bagel.)
"No - just scrap it off. You don't have to toast a new bagel.
(She scraps the cream cheese off and puts the bagel into a bag, handing it to me.)
"And my peanut butter AND butter, please."
(She reaches under the counter and pulls out a to-go container of peanut butter, putting it in the bag.)
"And my butter."
"This is peanut butter."
"I know - but I also want butter...separately."
(She reaches under the counter again and pulls out a to-go container of butter, placing it in the bag.)

Success. Like I said - maybe it's me.

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Two of my Venice Canal shots featured on "Californication"

In anticipation of the 2nd season of Showtime's Californication, I just finished re-watching the first season. I'll cut to the punch - star and executive producer David Duchovny is brilliant (recently won a Golden Globe) in his turn as Hank Moody, a novelist who moved to Venice, CA to from NYC in order to see his name on the big screen, but it turns out he hates LA, lost the woman of his dreams that he had a love child with, and drinks, smokes and screws everything in sight - this show is not for kids. That being said ('cause I'm no kid), the writing, acting and music is an A+ all the way through. It's one of the smartest shows on TV.

I'll give you a little taste - three clips you have to watch: 1) select scenes from Season 1, Episode 1 http://youtube.com/watch?v=4zarPHvSd1A, 2) Hank Hates You All http://youtube.com/watch?v=7C7E_Z81uR8 and 3) http://youtube.com/watch?v=IWJhAOnJIzI Hank knows how to sweet-talk a woman on the first date.

Truthfully, perhaps one of the reasons I'm attracted to the show is that I identify with the character of Hank. Could be a little of me in Hank. Or is it a little of Hank in me? Maybe it's David Duchovny. Anyway, I love the show, though I shouldn't really make that public. One of the last shows I loved was Rome on HBO and it was yanked after two seasons.

Which brings me to these pictures. I took them last summer along the Venice Canals. The one above is featured in my book, PASSION = TRUTH, A photographic essay on life's truths (see right panel for order information). BOTH vistas are featured in Episode 9, "Filthy Lucre" at about the 14 minute mark. You can see the boats in the picture above in the master shot below, at the left base of the bridge. See?

None of this means anything. Just thought it was funny when I saw the shots in the show. Like minds...you know.

Stay tuned for a post on the women in Hank's life and more YouTube clips from the show. "Dude, dude...she's gonna blow."

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Short Cuts

* John Travolta set to star in the remake of the 1974 flick, The Taking of Pelham 1,2,3. He'll reprise the role originated by Robert Shaw (Jaws, A Man for All Seasons) as the leader of a foursome that hijacks a Gotham subway and ransoms its passengers. I'll take the Shaw version over Travolta's any day. You gonna argue with "Quint" from Jaws?

* Robert DeNiro to star in Frankie Machine, the story of a retired mob hitman who runs a bait and tackle and is pulled back into the business (Michael Corleone, sound familiar?). I love DeNiro but a mob guy - ain't that a stretch??

* AskMen.com conducted a poll and one million people voted on the "manliest" men. The soccer play Beckham was voted #1. Justin Timberlake was #5. Really? "Manly" and "Justin Timberlake" have never been in any sentence I've uttered, so I'm not sure who voted. Suffice it to say I would never "ask Men" anything about being a men. Ever (I never did anyway).

* Two television shows in fear of losing me as a viewer: Grey's Anatomy and Heroes. Never cared for Sandra Oh and it's the same shit every week and my attention is waning. I find myself fast forwarding to all the Katherine Heigl scenes anyway. Same with Heroes - I hate the villian (I know you're supposed to hate the villain, but I don't like that actor) and I read that Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars) is joining the cast as a new hero. Don't like Kristen Bell either. And I'm fast forwarding to all the Ali Larter scenes.

* If you're not watching Californication on Showtime (and you have Showtime), you're missing out. Smart writing. Clever plots lines. David Duchovny (X Files) is excellent and the supporting cast is just as good. It's filmed on location right down the street in Venice, CA.

* Mad Men need to learn how to smoke. I enjoy watching this new show on AMC, about the ad biz in NYC during the early 60's - I spent some time in an in-house ad agency and loved it and have always been fascinated by that industry. As you can imagine, there's a lot of smoking throughout the show - it was a reflection of the times and the agency represents a cigarette manufacturer. Problem is there's smoking in just about every scene which gets very annoying AND a number of the actors look like they've never smoked, particularly the lead, John Hamm, who plays Don Draper. Not knowing how to hold or smoke a cigarette is good for your health - not for the credibility of the characters these actors portray. Just an FYI, John.

* The walls have ears. Halle Berry is the lastest celeb to speak off the cuff. She made a comment on Jay Leno that could be considered (probably) offensive by many Jews. Not sure what backlash, if any, will come of it, but it's just a matter of time before the Anti-Defamation League (Jewish) admonishes Berry (and she's black and should know better). Is it just me or can't a guy take a piss anymore without first getting permission from the Jews and the NAACP and the Mayans and PETA and whomever else deems my words or actions (or yours) as either appropriate or offensive. The Anti-Defamation League has recently published a report expressing its concern over various groups who are targeting illegal immigrants, afraid their tactics and rhetoric too closely resemble those of the KKK and other Nazi factions/hate organizations. One of the groups the Anti-Defamation League listed is Americans for Legal Immigration Political Action Committee. The first two lines in their platform read:

ALIPAC supporters have a diverse range of opinions, yet we are united in the belief that more should be done to reduce illegal immigration.

ALIPAC supports those that legally immigrate, but we DO NOT support any amnesty, visa expansion, or "Guest Worker" program designed to reward illegal aliens or legalize their presence in the US.

Not sure what the Anti-Defamation League sees there that's wrong, but - well, they're the Anti-Defamation League...they can say anything, can't they.

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