8.26.2008

To Dos Day

___ Item 1: BE HAPPY.
Today is the first day of a new academic year of teaching for me, so indulge me as I indulge myself with a list of things that make me happy today. Like my favorite freak of the moment, Cheroin.

___ Item 2: YAY FOR MATT MICHAM.
It's been 20 years since Greg Louganis competed in Seoul, a heartstopping and (we later learned) poignant triumph. And, once again, Olympic diving makes me cry. So to Matt Micham -- he of the cutest "wave to the camera" in sport. Just - YAY.
___ Item 3: HORNY PIG TROLLS HOT DANCER IN BATHHOUSE, CIRCA 1977.
I'm sure it happened many many times in cities around the globe, though likely never quite like this.
___ Item 4: GUARANTEED GIGGLE #826.
I'm an easy mark for silly cat videos. But this one? Cracked. Me. The. Ef. Up. I especially enjoy it when kitties swing from the chandeliers, or light fixtures...
Via MrStinky

___ Item 5: TASTE THE GRIT IN THAT HEDDA LETTUCE.
My favorite interview of the week. And I, too, agree that Sweetie and Korto were ROBBED!
___ Item 6: WHAT'S IN A STUNT ANYWAY.
An interesting bit of controversy emerged over my most recent Supporting Actress Sunday profile of Jocelyne LaGarde in Hawaii. The profile/nomination/performance raised the question for some: what's the line separating an acting stunt and a genuine performance? (My speculative theory is it all depends on whether the person performing the stunt is perceived to be a "real" actor before the stunt.) But the conversation compelsa me to wonder: what are your favorite acting stunts or incidents of stunt casting? And do you consider the work to be a legitimate performance? Or something else? Let it rip, with love, in comments. (And, btw, we'll be doing 1969 in September...)
Have at it, lovelies...

6 comments:

Slayton said...

Does the lead actress in "Dance Me to My Song" count?

Alternatively, Brandon Ratcliff in "Me and You and Everyone We Know".

Alex Constantin said...

that WAS a great interview. :D

I actually thought the pink miss Ann Margret deserved the win. It was fabulously fitted and flattering.

Dame James said...

I don't know if this counts as stunt casting, but all of the Spice Girls in Spice World jumps out at me. Especially since I believe that Victoria Beckham should have been nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her performnace (although whether or not it's a performance can be debated). I believe its a true performance because Beckham is actually doing a comedic take on herself and you can actually see her acting, unlike with the other four competent, but not "there," women.

jakey said...

I'm a fool for stunt casting. I'm one of the few people who actually *liked* Madonna's guest stint on "Will & Grace". But I think it's much easier to applaud examples on episodic television than in an entire film ... from the top of my head I can only think of Elizabeth Taylor in "The Flinstones", and that was over a decade ago.

The Jaded Armchair Reviewer said...

Zsa Zsa Gabor in Moulin Rouge seemed like stunt casting to me. They gave her all the one-liners and basically allowed her to play her reputation in real life within her character arc. Watching her in it made me ask myself, "are we allowed to give negative love in the Smackdown? And if we were, can we use bad wig icons instead of black hearts?"

I know Marchand was the one nominated (with her own "introducing" in the opening credits) and I'm glad the Academy didn't bite the studio Zsa Zsa bait.

Glenn Dunks said...

Even though Lee Strasberg had acted in bit parts and uncredited bit parts and TV his casting in The Godfather Part II was surely a piece of stunt casting by Scorsese, considering Strasberg was primarily known as an acting teacher. In fact, other than an Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actor he was nominated for the Golden Globe for Most Promising Male Newcomer at the ripe ol' age of 73.