Monday 30^th November, my friend Charlotte and I were given the chance to go to a press conference with George Takei at the Central Theatre, Chatham. At first, we were so excited and jumped at the chance to meet the I’m A Celeb… star.  Expecting it to be a big hall where there would be many people all waiting to ask George questions, we were surprised when we were ushered into a little café. George walked in with his partner, and immediately caught everyone’s attention. He was wearing a long winter coat after having to stand outside in Kent’s rainy and windy weather. He described the weather as “bone-chilling” in that hypnotic voice that people have come to love.  He talked about Joe Swash, who he became good friends with during his time in the jungle. His charisma and presence filled the room as he answered every question that was given to him thoroughly and meticulously. He came across as gracious and courteous and I was grateful to have had such a great experience.

Can you spot the 19,362 differences between these three pictures?

Hint: She’s on the right!

Ah Sunday – which means it’s back to work again tomorrow.  So sad, but here’s a look back at the food adventures of this past weekend:

Friday – 10/23: Casa Cocina Y Cantina

I met my friend and former coworker Bryan for drinks and apps at Casa on Grand – near Disney Concert Hall and MOCA.  I’ve been to Casa before, and I suggested it to Bryan as 1) he was on his way to see a show at the Ahmanson, so the proximity was great and 2) he’s a margarita lover, like me.  Casa has a unique margarita, which includes jalapeno puree in the mix.  So you get a great combination of salty and spicy – it’s excellent!  In addition to our margs, we also decided to split a few appetizers/small plates.  We ordered:

• Molitas de Carnitas – which is a great take on a quesadilla, with corn tortillas instead of flour, shredded pork, melty cheese and crisp green apples – all drizzled with a little tomatillo sauce.  Definitely my favorite dish there!
• Chicken Flautas – these were good as the chicken was juicy and moist.  But next to the previous dish, they didn’t hold up.
• Queso Flameado – this flaming cheese dish comes with a choice of carne asada or soy chorizo, along with flour tortillas on the side.  The waitress recommended that we try the soy chorizo, and both Bryan and I were a little skeptical at first.  But the flavor was very true – spicy and strong, so I was happy with the dish.  How can you go wrong with all that melted cheese anyway?  I’m getting hungry just thinking about it again!

It was another successful visit to Casa and I’ll certainly be back.  I apologize for the lack of food pictures (I’m really working on getting used to taking pictures of my food before I eat it!), but here are a couple of shots from inside the restaurant (below).  http://www.casadowntown.com/

Saturday, 10/24: Nickel Diner and Nom Nom Vietnamese truck

Mike and Mariellen texted Saturday morning to see if we wanted to join them at Nickel Diner for breakfast.  It’s hard to turn that down, as breakfast there is always a treat.  You’ll see why in a moment…  We walked the three short blocks to the restaurant and since it was still early (about 9am) there was no line yet, so we were seated right away.  We were greeted with a couple of donut holes, a little sample from the kitchen of two of their most popular donuts – the maple bacon (yes, you heard that right) and the strawberry crumble.  And then we set about trying to decide what on the menu we planned to order, as there are so many great choices.  We of course ordered two more full size donuts – a maple bacon (cause it’s just SO good) and a Samoa, which yes, is just like the Girl Scout cookie.  Yum!

Mariellen ordered the Smac ‘N’ Cheese, which is not a normal breakfast item, but is available at all times of the day.  It was a decadent bowl of pasta and gooey cheese, garnished with tomatoes and bread crumbs.  I had a bite and it was quite tasty – Mariellen scarfed almost the whole thing down, but did save a small bit for a snack later on.

Todd ordered the Biscuits and Gravy, which came with two poached eggs on top.  He also scarfed that down and while I didn’t get a bite, he said it was delicious.

Mike ordered the Hangover Helper, which is a delicious combination of scrambled eggs with bacon, italian sausage, potatoes, topped with pepperjack cheese, avocado and salsa.

However the crown jewel of Nickel Diner’s breakfast menu is what I always order (and usually Mike does as well), and that is the 5th & Main – spicy BBQ pork hash topped with 2 poached eggs.  It has the right balance of shredded pork, homestyle potatoes and BBQ sauce, and the poached eggs are perfect floating on the top.  Hands down, my #1 choice every time!

So we left Nickel fat and sassy and took a walk down to Grand Central Market on 3rd and Broadway.  For those who haven’t been, it is a more ethnic farmer’s market, with many different types of hot food, as well as merchants offering dried foods and spices, fresh fruits and vegetables, and meats and fish.  A great place to wander and have a snack if you are in downtown LA.  It was nice to walk a bit, after the satisfying meal at Nickel Diner – they also have a fantastic lunch and dinner menu, so feel free to check them out for any meal option.  They’re closed on Mondays though. http://nickeldiner.com/

That night, Todd and I had plans to meet our friends Joe and Kristen at the Japanese American National Museum on 1st and Alameda in Little Tokyo.  We decided to try to go to one of our favorite ramen or sushi places down there prior to the show, but the line for the ramen place (Daikokuya) was a mile long, as usual and on our way to Frying Fish sushi, we saw the Nom Nom Truck parked on the street and decided to give it a shot.  My Corporate Manager at Toyota, Matt Gonzales, had told me about his experiences with vietnamese sandwiches (banh mi), so I was curious.  We headed over and each ordered a combo dinner that included a choice of 6 inch banh mi and two tacos.  Probably a bit more than we needed, but we felt like being adventurous.  Todd ordered the Deli Special sandwich, I ordered the BBQ pork sandwich and we each got one grilled pork and lemongrass chicken taco.

The bread on the banh mi was delicious – soft, yet also chewy and very fresh.  Other than that, I’m going to have to say I wasn’t super impressed.  The BBQ pork was good, as was the grilled pork – but they lacked the amount of flavor I was expecting.  The sandwich and taco toppings were fresh and crunchy, but perhaps there needed to be more of them, i.e. cilantro, cabbage, jalapenos, etc.  The lemongrass chicken taco was the most flavorful of the three, but even that probably wouldn’t convince me to return.  I’m a big fan of the latest truck craze (can you say Kogi?), so that was not an issue.  While the food was obviously fresh, it just lacked flavor and I didn’t want to have to add sriracha sauce in order to get more flavor.

If anyone else checks it out and has a different experience, I’d love to hear about it.  http://nomnomtruck.com/

FYI – The Giant Robot show at JANM was really amazing, especially the group show on the first floor.  I highly recommend checking it out.  This just happened to be opening night, so George Takei was there to help kick things off.  And of course, Todd got a chance to say hello!  The pic on the left is of a piece from one of my new favorite LA artists, Paul Lumbang.

That’s all for now folks.  I’m going to try to get another post in before Todd and I head out to Miami on Friday the 30th.  If that doesn’t happen though, don’t worry, I’m sure there will be plenty for me to talk about when we get back!  And I’ve got the camera ready!!

Curator/Filmmaker Arthur Dong gives George Takei a private tour of his exhibition Hollywood Chinese: The Arthur Dong Collection, at the Chinese American Museum in Los Angeles on October 23, 2009. © Lia Chang

Hollywood Chinese: The Arthur Dong Collection exhibition is based on the Oscar®-nominated filmmaker’s critically-acclaimed, award winning documentary, Hollywood Chinese (2007), which shines the spotlight on a little known chapter of American film history, a century-deep history of Chinese American cinematic contributions, both in front of and behind the camera, and the vivid depictions of how the Chinese have been imagined in Hollywood movies throughout the decades. The exhibition is on view at the Chinese American Museum (CAM) at the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument through May 30, 2010.

Lisa Lu, Arthur Dong, Nancy Kwan and Tsai Chin with Chinese American Museum board members and staff at the opening reception for Hollywood Chinese: The Arthur Dong Collection, at the Chinese American Museum in Los Angeles on October 23, 2009. © Lia Chang

South of the Border Chinese: Mexican Lobby Cards in Hollywood Chinese: The Arthur Dong Collection on view at the Chinese American Museum in Los Angeles through May 30, 2010. © Lia Chang

Captured and interpreted through the lens of the Chinese American experience, Hollywood Chinese: The Arthur Dong Collection is organized into a series of themes that define early Chinese American film-making and features classic and contemporary movie memorabilia replete with vintage movie posters, lobby cards, film stills, scripts, press materials. Drawn from Dong’s own private collection and amassed during the 10-year research for his production, the filmmaker’s passion for film is on full display in this sampling of the largest known collection on the subject of Chinese in American feature films–over 1,000 items– owned by a single collector.

Lia Chang with her fellow Big Trouble in Little China castmate Peter Kwong in front of the French poster of Big Trouble in Little China.© Tami Chang

A section devoted to the cross-over success of Nancy Kwan, one of Hollywood’s most visible Eurasian actresses who played a pivotal role in driving the acceptance of Asian actors in major Hollywood film roles. © Lia Chang

Oscar® statuette won by Chinese American Cinematographer, James Wong Howe for the Rose Tattoo in 1955, on loan courtesy of Don Lee, is on display. © Lia Chang

A selection of film excerpts from the documentary Hollywood Chinese, this one about the recently discovered 1916 film, The Curse of the Quon Gwon, the earliest known feature film directed by an Asian American, San Francisco native, Marion Wong, plays in a loop on a projection wall in the Wall-of-Fame room highlighting the distinguished company of Chinese and Chinese American Academy Award® winners. © Lia Chang

The full-colored exhibition catalog featuring an essay authored by Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker Renee Tajima-Pena (Who Killed Vincent Chin, 1988) is available for purchase at the CAM gift shop, as well as posters and DVDS of Hollywood Chinese.
!!!

ABOUT ARTHUR DONG
Arthur Dong previously co-curated the exhibition, Chop Suey on Wax: The Flower Drum Song Album (2006), for the Chinese Historical Society Museum in San Francisco. His film, Hollywood Chinese (2007), is the final installment of a trilogy, which also includes Sewing Woman (1982) and Forbidden City, U.S.A. (1989), that focuses on Chinese America. His other film collection, Stories from the War on Homosexuality (2003), brings together his documentaries Family Fundamentals (2002), Licensed to Kill (1997), and Coming Out Under Fire (1994). Dong’s work has been honored with an Academy Award® nomination, three Sundance awards, five Emmy nominations, the Peabody Award, the Berlin Film Festival’s Teddy Award, Asia’s Golden Horse Award, as well as a number of public service awards, including the Historymakers Award from the Chinese American Museum. He has also earned two Rockefeller Fellowships in Media and a Guggenheim Fellowship in Film. Dong served on the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, representing the Documentary Branch, and currently represents the Academy on the National Film Preservation Board at the Library of Congress.

ABOUT HOLLYWOOD CHINESE (THE DOCUMENTARY)
Winner of the 2007 Golden Horse Award for Best Documentary, Asia’s equivalent to the Oscars®, Hollywood Chinese (2007) is a captivating revelation on a little-known chapter of cinema: the Chinese in American feature films. From the first Chinese American film produced in 1916, to Ang Lee’s triumphant Brokeback Mountain nine decades later, Hollywood Chinese presents a fascinating portrait of actors, directors, writers, and iconic images to show how the Chinese have been imagined in movies, and how filmmakers have and continue to navigate an industry that was often ignorant about race, but at times paradoxically receptive. The story of Hollywood Chinese is told through eleven of the industry’s most accomplished Chinese and Chinese American film artists who share personal accounts of working in film. Ang Lee, Wayne Wang, Joan Chen, David Henry Hwang, Justin Lin, B.D. Wong, Nancy Kwan, Tsai Chin, Lisa Lu, James Hong, and Amy Tan are among the storytellers who have wrestled with being the other in Hollywood. Non-Asian personalities are also featured to point out the controversy over portraying the Chinese in yellowface. Two-time Oscar® winner Luise Rainer (The Good Earth, 1937), character actor Christopher Lee (Fu Manchu, 1960-65), and 1940s matinee idol Turhan Bey (Dragon Seed, 1944) give first-hand recollections on being yellow on the silver screen. Hollywood Chinese was produced, directed, written, and edited by Arthur Dong.

ABOUT THE CHINESE AMERICAN MUSEUM
The Chinese American Museum (CAM) is jointly developed and operated by the Friends of the Chinese American Museum (FCAM) and El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, a department of the City of Los Angeles. Located within the El Pueblo Plaza in downtown Los Angeles, CAM is housed in the last surviving structure of the City’s original Chinatown. CAM’s mission is to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of America’s diverse heritage by researching, preserving, and sharing the history, rich cultural legacy, and continuing contributions of Chinese Americans. The Chinese American Museum is located at 425 North Los Angeles Street in El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, across from Union Station. Hours are 10 a.m.– 3 p.m., Tuesday – Sunday. Admissions are suggested donations of $3 for adults and $2 for seniors and students. Members are admitted free. For more information about the Museum, please visit our new website at www.camla.org or follow up on:
Facebook: search for “Chinese American Museum”
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/camla_org
Twitter: ChinAmerMuseum
Hollywood Chinese: The Arthur Dong Collection
Oct. 24, 2009 – May 30, 2010



Lia Chang is an actor, performance and fine art botanical photographer and an award-winning multimedia journalist. Lia’s portraits and performance photos have appeared in Vanity Fair, Gourmet, German Elle, Women’s Wear Daily, The Paris Review, VIBE, TV Guide, Daily Variety, Interior Design, American Theatre, Life & Style, OUT, New York Magazine, InStyle, Timeout.com, Villagevoice.com, Playbill.com, Theatermania.com, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, USA Today, The Boston Globe, New York Times and Washington Post. A former syndicated arts and entertainment columnist for KYODO News, Lia is the New York Bureau Chief for AsianConnections.com. She writes about culture, style and Asian American issues for a variety of publications and this Backstage Pass with Lia Chang blog. As a photographer and videographer, Lia is frequently tapped to collaborate with artists, organizations and companies in establishing their documentary photo archive. She has been documenting her colleagues and contemporaries in the arts, fashion and journalism since making her stage debut as Liat in the National Tour of South Pacific, with Robert Goulet and Barbara Eden.

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Mike Tyson cries on the Oprah Show when discussing the death of his daughter. Special Guest commentary by Howard Stern, Robin Quivers and George Takei.

It’s National Coming Out Day, and guess who’s coming out in the Newlywed Game?  Okay, he’s been out a while — I mean, who doesn’t know that Sulu, erm, George Takei is gay and a newlywed?  But they’re getting into the game: “The long-running game show, now on the GSN cable network, said Wednesday it will feature its first gay couple this season on a celebrity edition. George Takei, who played Mr. Sulu on ‘Star Trek,’ will appear with his partner, Brad Altman.”  This from the AP, who seems to think history shows this is a harbinger or change. After all, the show has had “older couples, interracial couples and some who have lived together many years before marriage.”

As reported by Queer Sighted:

Long-running TV Show “The Newlywed Game” will be hosting their first ever gay couple. Former Star Trek actor George Takei (Mr. Sulu) and his husband Brad Altman are set to appear on the show later this season in a celebrity special.

Takei and Altman have been together for over 20 years but only tied the knot last year, before Proposition 8 nullified gay marriage in California.

About taking part George Takei said: “What we want is to display the normality and the joy of having a happy union. To be included in something we never felt we’d be included in is very satisfying.”

How long do you think before the show goes poly? Maybe when if poly marriage ever gets approved?

While I’m thrilled for any small advancement the gay community achieves, I really believe poly acceptance is miles and miles behind. Le sigh.

Source: queersighted, photobucket

1. The Chipmunks – All My Lovin’
2. Darth Vader’s Theme on ukelele and toy whistle
3. Crispin Glover – These Boots Are Made For Walkin’
4. Burt Ward – Boy Wonder
5. Vincent Price – Roast Pork Recipe
6. Hulk Hogan – Hulkamaniac
7. George Takei – On The Road Again
8. Peter Sellers – Hard Day’s Night
9. KFC Employee Training Tapes – Original Recipe History
10. Tanya Tagaq – Qimiruluapi
11. Mario Bros. Theme Concerto
12. Calgon – Ancient Chinese Secret
13. Mike Tyson
14. Eddie Furlong – People Are Strange
15. Thundercats Voice Actors Out takes
16. Kim Basinger – 2 Naughty
17. Porter Wagoner – The Rubber Room
18. Rose Brooks – They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha Ha
19. Waylon Jennings – Dukes of Hazzard Out takes
20. Sammy Davis Jr. – Plop Plop Fizz Fizz
21. William Shatner – Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
22. Tipsy – Chop Socky
23. Charlie and the Gang – Nightman
24. Charlie and Dennis – Dayman
25. Tool – Faaip De Oiad
26. Mr. Spock – Out going message

Thanks to April Winchell for having such an awesome website.

Mulan I

Mulan I este al 36-lea desen animat, produs de Walt Disney Animated Classics in 1998, ce are ca tema legenda chinezeasca a lui Hua Mulan.

Deoarece China a fost invadata de huni, imparatul a dat un ordin de recrutare pentru fiecare familie a Chinei. In familia Fa nu exista decat un singur barbat deoarece succesorul familiei este Mulan, o fata ce trebuie sa devina o gheisa. Dupa ce se face de ras in fata viitorului sau patron si dupa ce afla ca batranul si ranitul sau tata trebuie sa se inroleze, fuge de acasa si intra in armata in locul acestuia. In mica sa “calatorie” este acompaniata de Mushu, un dragon mic ce trebuie sa o faca o eroina pentru a-si recastiga demnitatea printre semenii familiei sale, si de Cri – Kee, greierele sau norocos.

Ajunsa in tabara, Ping, numele de soldat a lui Mulan, nu da dovezi ca se acomodeaza cu ceilalti soldati si atmosfera devine tensionata. Capitanul Li Shang, care este lasat la conducere de tatal sau, face ordine in tabara, punandu-i pe soldati la un antrenament riguros. In dezamagirea pe care o vede, ii cere lui Mulan sa plece acasa, dar aceasta schimba atat ideea capitanului cat si ii ambitioneaza pe soldati, deoarece trece de testul capitanului. Aici Mulan isi face 3 prieteni : Yao, Ling si Chien – Po.

La un moment dat, capitanul primeste o scrisoare de la tatal sau in care acesta ii cere sa se intalneasca cu el la trecatoare. Astfel incepe batalia batalionul lui Mulan. Ajunsi acolo, Mushu din greseala da drumu la un tun in dreptul inamicilor. Soldatii se lupta cu inamicii, iar Mulan da drumul la celalalt tun, astfel creand o avalansa ce cade peste inamici. Destul de ranita, reuseste sa isi salveze capitanul si pe cei 3 camarazi, dar cand ranile ii sunt tratate este descoperita. Dupa ce Mulan si Mushu isi povestesc motivele, trupele chineze se intorc spre casa iar imparatul cere ca Mulan sa fie omorata. Aceasta este salvata de capitan, dar in schimb i se cere sa paraseasca armata. La un moment dat liderul hunilor si cativa inamici scapa si se indreapta spre oras, dar Mulan observa la timp si se hotaraste sa ii urmareasca, astfel anuntandu-l pe capitan.

In timp ce China isi sarbatoreste eroii, Mulan incearca sa capteze atentia capitanului si imparatului anuntand ca avea sa fie o ambuscada, dar deoarece este fata, nu este bagata in seama. Cand capitanul este premiat de imparat, inamicii ataca si astfel China este asediata. Mulan si cei trei prieten apara orasul, atragandu-l pe liderul inamic in focul artificiilor, astfel omorandu-l. Ca multumire, Mulan primeste respectul Chinei si sabia inamicului.

In final, Mulan se intoarce acasa, iar capitanul ii devine iubit. Filmul se incheie cu petrecerea lui Mushu, desemnat gardianul al Chinei.

Mulan II

Mulan II este desenul animat produs in 2003, ce ii pune pe cei 2 protagonisti ai lui Mulan I in postura de viitori logodnici, ce au ca misiune escortarea celor 3 fice ale imparatului la viitori lor logodnici.

La o luna dupa ce au salvat China, Mulan si Shang se logodesc. Mushu este incantat la inceput, dar dupa ce afla ca daca Mulan se casatoreste, acesta isi pierde slujba de gardian al Chinei hotarand astfel sa ii desparta.

Intre timp. Imparatul doreste ca cei doi sa le escorteze pe cele 3 fiice ale sale : printesele Mei, Ting – Ting si Su prin China in a-i intalni pe viitorii lor logodnici. Ei trebuie sa ajunga acolo in trei zile pentru ca alianta cu Qui Gong sa aiba loc. Acompaniati de cei trei camarazi : Yao, Ling si Chien – Po, accepta cerinta imparatului.

Datorita interventiei lui Mushu si dorinta printeselor de a se marita cu cine doresc ele, tensiunea calatoriei creste si drumetii nostri se opresc in mijlocul taramului cu banditi. Acestia sunt atacati si in timp ce se bat pe un pod, Mulan afla adevarul de la Mushu, si incearca sa ii zica si lui Shang, in ciuda circumstantelor. Intre timp. pe parcursul filmului, cele trei printese si cei trei camarazi se indragostesc, si astfel alianta este compromisa.

In urma bataliei, Shang cade de pe pod in rau, astfel creeandu-si moartea. Mulan continua misiunea, dar in schimbul casatoriei celor trei printese, alege sa se marite cu unul din cei trei printi, astfel salvand alianta si pe printese. Shang reuseste sa scape, si impreuna cu Mushu anuleaza casatoria.

In final dei doi se casatoresc, si datorita lui Mushu, Shang pastreaza alianta si odata cu venirea revelionului, uneste cele doua temple. Astfel Mushu isi pastreaza slujba si cei trei traiesc fericiti impreuna.

Acest film ne invata despre loialitate, ambitie, datorie, prietenie, incredere, relatii,a face alegeri, casatorii aranjate si gasirea dragostei adevarate.

I tisdags, den 15 september, var det officiella Kirk/Spock-dagen. Anledningen till datumet är att Star Trek-avsnittet Amok Time – det mest slashiga, enligt fansen – visades det datumet 1967. För att fira detta, började ett helt underbart fan sända en webserie på Youtube som heter The Ship’s Closet och som hen beskriver som “a logical discussion of Kirk/Spock”. Avsnitten plockar isär all symbolik och försöker hålla sig till fakta för att inte framstå som en hormonellt påverkad tonåring. De är ett kärlekspar, påstår debattören, och hen har fullt av bevismaterial att lägga fram på borden. Väldigt intressant. Kolla på första avsnittet här.

George Takei, som spelar Sulu i filmerna och gamla Star Trek-serien, har varit tillsammans med en man i 22 år och de har nyligen gift sig. Amerikansk TV ska visst äntligen låta homosexuella par vara med i programmet Newlywed Games (som jag aldrig har hört talas om) och Takei, tillsammans med maken Brad Altman, ska vara det första gayparet. Woohoo!

/Johnny

TV’s ‘Newlywed Game’ features first gay couple
by David Bauder
Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Even as states and jurisdictions made gay and lesbian marriages legal, “The Newlywed Game” has played it straight – until now.

The long-running game show, now on the GSN cable network, said Wednesday it will feature its first gay couple this season on a celebrity edition. George Takei, who played Mr. Sulu on “Star Trek,” will appear with his partner, Brad Altman.

They just celebrated their first anniversary after being married in Los Angeles last September, but they’re nothing like the giggly young couples the game is known for. Takei and Altman have been together for 22 years.

“What we want is to display the normality and the joy of having a happy union,” Takei said.

“The Newlywed Game” has been on TV off and on since it premiered in prime-time on ABC in 1967, mostly with Bob Eubanks as host. Singer Carnie Wilson is now host of the show, which is in its second season on GSN and done well in the ratings for the network.

The show always teased and tested couples about how well they know each other, with the slightly lascivious Eubanks delighting in questions about “making whoopee.”

It has since featured older couples, interracial couples and some who have lived together many years before marriage. Even long-ago contestants were retested as part of “Oldyweds Game” segments.

Kelly Goode, GSN’s programming chief, said she couldn’t speculate on why gay couples were never included in the past because GSN, the former Game Show Network, has only been responsible for the show for two years. She said it was in the game’s rules that the couple needed to have a legally-recognized marriage to play.

The change “made sense for GSN,” Goode said. “It seems like the show has always reflected the times in terms of marriages depicted and this felt like the next logical step.”

Takei and Altman haven’t taped their episode yet but expect to do so soon. GSN hopes to air in October.

The show is sprinkling a handful of celebrity players and their new spouses in this season, including Davy Jones of The Monkees, Christopher Knight of “The Brady Bunch” and Jonny Fairplay of “Survivor.”

Wilson said she had been pressing behind-the-scenes to have an all-gay edition of the show. She’s excited about Takei’s appearance.

“It’s needed at this point,” she said. “To me, this is not anything political. This is not a political statement. This show has always been about couples and how well they know each other.”

Dan Gainor, a vice president at the conservative Culture and Media Institute, said the move was a publicity stunt for a show most Americans didn’t realize was still on the air. Despite Wilson’s views, Gainor said he believed it was a political statement for the California-based show and network, coming in a state where voters banned same-sex nuptials months after Takei and Altman married.

“They’re trying to use TV and the movies to set the gay agenda and make it mainstream,” Gainor said.

Even though they’ve been a committed couple for 22 years, Takei said he and Altman are quietly preparing for their appearance. He’s taking careful note of what his partner orders in restaurants and wears.

“To be included in something we never felt we’d be included in is very satisfying,” he said.

AP/HuffPost—Even as states and jurisdictions made gay and lesbian marriages legal, “The Newlywed Game” has played it straight – until now.

The long-running game show, now on the GSN cable network, said Wednesday it will feature its first gay couple this season on a celebrity edition. George Takei, who played Mr. Sulu on “Star Trek,” will appear with his partner, Brad Altman.

Actor George Takei, right, and Brad Altman arrive for the 81st Academy Awards in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, file)

They just celebrated their first anniversary after being married in Los Angeles last September, but they’re nothing like the giggly young couples the game is known for. Takei and Altman have been together for 22 years.

“What we want is to display the normality and the joy of having a happy union,” Takei said.

“The Newlywed Game” has been on TV off and on since it premiered in prime-time on ABC in 1967, mostly with Bob Eubanks as host. Singer Carnie Wilson is now host of the show, which is in its second season on GSN and done well in the ratings for the network.

Read more….

Great Buck Howard, The (2008)
★★★ / ★★★★

Written and directed by Sean McGinly, “The Great Buck Howard” stars John Malkovich as a magician/mentalist who desperately clings on to the remaining celebrity he has left from his best years of performance. Forced to work on small venues, he one day hires Troy (Colin Hanks), a twentysomething who recently drops out of law school to pursue his dream to be a writer, as Buck Howard’s very own errand boy. I have to be honest and say that I did not expect much from this movie. However, twenty minutes into it, I was really into it because it had a certain insight about the struggles of a person who wishes to break out of the expectations of his parents (in this case, Troy’s dad was played by Colin’s real-life father, Tom Hanks) and follow his true passion. I guess it was easy for me to relate to it because my graduation from the university is just right around the corner. It also had some insight when it comes to satirizing celebrity life. This picture had a plethora of cameos to offer such as Regis Philbin, Conan O’Brien, George Takei, Jon Stuart, and many more. At first I thought Buck was just a washed-up sham who claimed to have known and met all the celebrities he mentioned and that it was only a matter of time until we get to know who he really was. When in fact, the story unfolded in the opposite direction. It had a bona fide sense of humor even though Malkovich’s character was vain and at times quite poisonous with his words. I also enjoyed the romantic angle between Colin Hanks and Emily Blunt. I did not think that the two would have chemistry but, surprisingly enough, they did and the whole thing was magic (pun intended). I also never thought that Colin ever looked like his dad but when Colin and Blunt were on screen, I noticed certain quirky body movements and intonations in Colin’s voice that truly reminded me of his father. In under ninety minutes, this film managed to entertain and surprise me in many ways so I’m giving it a solid recommendation. Lastly, one should not miss Malkovich being brave enough to take his character to the extreme yet not lose heart so that we can ultimately root for him to succeed.

Walter Koenig

 

 

Walter Marvin Koenig (IPA: [ˈkeɪnɪg]; born September 14, 1936) is an American actor, writer, teacher and director, known for his roles as Pavel Chekov in Star Trek and Alfred Bester in Babylon 5.

Mr. Chekov on Star Trek

Star Trek

Koenig played the navigator Pavel Chekov on the USS Enterprise in the original Star Trek (TOS) television series and in the several movies that featured the original cast. He was cast as Chekov because of his resemblance to British actor/musician Davy Jones of the Monkees, in a bid to attract a younger audience, especially girls. (The studio’s publicity department, however, ascribed the inclusion of Chekov to an article in Pravda complaining about the lack of Russians in Star Trek.) Koenig wore a hair piece while playing the character of Chekov in his first few episodes of the original Star Trek series until his own hair grew out to a suitable length. Gene Roddenberry asked him to “ham up” his Russian accent to add a note of comedy relief to the series. He is also credited for writing the Star Trek: The Animated Series installment “The Infinite Vulcan,” making him the first “original cast” member to write a Star Trek story for television. Interestingly, the character of Pavel Andreievich Chekov never appeared in the animated version of Star Trek, where Koenig never got to reprise his character on the animated series as the rest of his fellow Star Trek castmates did. Though Chekov’s accent has been criticized as inauthentic, in particular his substitution of the ‘v’ sound with a ‘w’ sound, Koenig has said the accent was inspired by his father who had the same difficulty with the ‘v’ sound.

He received Saturn Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor in a Film for both Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. Walter reprised his role of Pavel Chekov for the fan webseries Star Trek: New Voyages, To Serve All My Days and the independent Sky Conway/Tim Russ film Star Trek: Of Gods and Men, both in 2006.

Walter Koenig ("Checkov" from Star Trek) Captures a Stormtrooper! at a recent Steele City Con in Pittsburgh, PA

Other work

After Chekov, Koenig had a starring role in a Sci-Fi thriller Moontrap opposite Bruce Campbell and Psi Cop Alfred Bester on the television series Babylon 5. Koenig was the “Special Guest Star” in twelve episodes and, at the end of the third season, the production company applied for an Emmy nomination on his behalf. He was slated to play Bester on the spin-off series Crusade, but the series was cancelled before his episode was filmed. He also played “Oro” in two episodes of the Canadian science fiction television series The Starlost, which aired in 1973 on Canada’s CTV television network.

Koenig’s film, stage and TV roles span fifty years. He has played everything from a teenage gang leader (Alfred Hitchcock Presents) to a middle-aged Tom Sawyer (The Boys In Autumn) to a Las Vegas entertainer (I Spy). He returned to space with a starring role in Moontrap and played a computer hard drive in Maximum Surge. In addition to acting, he has written several films (Actor, I Wish I May, You’re Never Alone When You’re a Schizophrenic), one-act plays, and a handful of episodes for TV shows: Star Trek: The Animated Series, Land of the Lost, Family and The Powers of Matthew Star. Walter has also written several books, including Warped Factors: A Neurotic’s Guide to the Universe (autobiography), Chekov’s Enterprise (a journal kept during the filming of Star Trek: The Motion Picture) and Buck Alice and the Actor-Robot (a science fiction novel), which was rereleased in 2006. He also created his own comic book series called Raver, which was published by Malibu Comics in the early 1990s.

Koenig has taught classes in acting and directing at UCLA, the Sherwood Oaks Experiment Film College, the Actor’s Alley Repertory Company in Los Angeles, and the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University. In 2002, Koenig directed stage versions of two of the original Twilight Zone episodes for Letter Entertainment.

In 2004, Koenig co-starred in Mad Cowgirl, an independent movie about a meat-packing health inspector dying from a brain disorder, Walter plays televangelist ‘Pastor Dylan’: a character described as “a sleazy, slimy, sex-addict.” The movie played the SF Indiefest and the Silverlake Film Festival, followed by a limited release in major cities such as New York and Seattle. Mad Cowgirl” was released on DVD on December 5, 2006.

 Trivia:

Father of Andrew Koenig and Danielle Koenig.

Had bypass surgery in 1993.

Walter Koenig and his wife Judy Levitt appear together in the “Babylon 5″ (1994) episode “A Race Through Dark Places” which aired in 1995.

Has written episodes for “The Class of ‘65″, “Family” (1976), “Land of the Lost” (1974), “The Powers of Matthew Star” (1982), and “Star Trek” (1973) (Animated).

Walter Koenig is of Russian and Jewish descent, which made him a perfect candidate for Chekov on “Star Trek” (1966). His family had emigrated from Lithuania, USSR and changed their original surname (Koenigsberg).

Attended Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa, with a major in pre-med. Transferred to UCLA where he received a BA in psychology.

Last name is pronounced “Kaynig”

Only original generation “Star Trek” (1966) actor not to provide voices for the animated version of the series, although he did write an episode for it.

Was scheduled to reprise his role as the villainous Bester in an episode of the “Babylon 5″ (1994) spin-off series “Crusade” (1999) entitled “Value Judgements”. Unfortunately the series was canceled weeks before the episode was to be filmed. Walter Koenig was terribly disappointed by this, as he has stated publicly that he considers it his favorite “Bester” script.

Because his hair was too short, had to wear a wig in his first appearance on “Star Trek” (1966).

Was cast as Chekov on “Star Trek” (1966) due to his resemblance to Davy Jones. The producers were hoping to attract a younger audience, including girls.

As of 31 August 2006, he is the only original “Star Trek” (1966) cast member who has not received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Has appeared in episodes of three different series with George Takei: “Star Trek” (1966), “Diagnosis Murder” (1993) and “Futurama” (1999).

Often complained about the character, Pavel Andrievich Chekov, he portrayed over the years as having no levity on Star Trek. As well as getting hurt through the motion pictures and series.

Author of “Raver” comics in 1994.

Father-in-law of stand-up comedian Jimmy Pardo.

Is an avid collector: His collections include Star trek Memorabilia(with a shelf completely devoted to the character Chekov) Buttons, Comic Cards, Pins, and “Little Big Books”. He gives us a brief tour of his collections in the segment “Life Beyond Star Trek” in the Season Two release of “Star Trek: The Original Series”.

Kathy Griffin appeared on Jimmy Kimmel  recently and she showed footage from her mini movie  that she has created spoofing  Kate Gosselin of  ‘Jon and Kate plus 8′.  Kathy is pretty hilarious as she focuses on the struggles of Kate with with her immature husband played by George Takei (and his Cheerleader Girlfriend), how she manages her 8 children all while being a Reality Star. 

I’m sure Kate has no love for Kathy right now!

This week’s update is highlighted by the demo for Katamari Foerver, along with demos for Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes, Little Big Planet, and Half Minute Hero for the PSP.  A demo and full release of TMNT: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled finally hits the PSN for those looking for some classic arcade beatem up styles.  For DLC, PAIN once again is making waves with a new celebrity character in George Takei to punish.  The Playstation Store also continues its reissues of PSone and UMD PSP titles with Wipeout Pulse and Wild Arms XF for the PSP and Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain, Syphon Filter 2 and Silent Hill (with a remake entitled “Homecoming” just around the corner) for the PSone.  PAX also has an influence in this update with it’s now yearly tradition of Rock Band song releases related to the expo.  To cap it all off, a new edition of Pulse recaps all that is happening on the PSN.  Sean C.

Full lisitng below:

Downloadable Games

TMNT: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled ($9.99)
The Turtles are back! The game has been recreated in beautiful full 3D HD graphics and enhanced animations but still has all of the favorite moments and gameplay from the original.

PSone Classics PS3 / PSP

Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain ($5.99)
Kain is out for vengeance, and nothing but blood will shake his thirst!

Silent Hill ($5.99)
Celebrating the franchise’s 10th anniversary, Silent Hill is back instilling the fear of the creepy town in you once again.

Syphon Filter 2 ($5.99)
Deadly Espionage in a World Held Hostage!

Game Demos (free)

LittleBigPlanet Demo
Discover the amazing world of LittleBigPlanet! Begin by customizing your own Sackboy character and platform through the first 3 levels of the game. Invite friends and family and play with up to 4 players offline in this exciting demo!

Katamari Forever Demo
Download the Katamari Forever Demo and get ready for the wackiest adventure ever to hit the PS3!

Star Wars The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes Demo
Download the demo for the all-new Clone Wars game Republic Heroes! Be the hero and save the Republic as your favorite Jedi and Clone Trooper characters from the hit TV series!

TMNT: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled – Trial Version
The Turtles are back! The game has been recreated in beautiful full 3D HD graphics and enhanced animations but still has all of the favorite moments and gameplay from the original.

Add-on Game Content

High Velocity Bowling Heather ($0.99)
It’s time to bowl – High Velocity style! Add Heather Haughtfer to your High Velocity Bowling roster. Heather is an 8th grade teacher who never has trouble keeping her male students’ attention. She exhibits excellent speed control, but with guys always volunteering to do things for her, she doesn’t have much power behind her throws. Download includes Heather’s special Gimm-n-A ball, plus the new Afterschool Playground lane.

High Velocity Bowling Ball Pack – Graphic Patterns ($0.99)
It’s time to bowl – High Velocity style! Spice up your bowling game with this cool pack of six custom “Graphic Patterns” theme bowling balls.

High Velocity Bowling Ball Pack – Back To School ($0.99)
It’s time to bowl – High Velocity style! Spice up your bowling game with this cool pack of six custom “Back 2 School” theme bowling balls.

PAIN Celebrity Character 2 – George Takei ($1.99)
Guess who’s in the PAIN launcher now…yes, ladies and gentlemen, it’s the one and only George Takei. Oh, my!…or is it “OW, my!”? The legendary star of such hits as the “Star Trek” series and the UK version of “I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here” is ready to bring the PAIN, and the game will never be the same. Complete with 3 costumes and original voice-over from George himself, we’re proud to welcome this add-on launchee into our world of hurt!

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 Juggernaut Playable Character ($1.99)
The Largest Army of Super Heroes is back! Jump into the heart of battle with this new exclusive character; the one, the only, the gargantuan, unstoppable force JUGGERNAUT! Unleash massive power and destruction with Juggernaut and the rest of your team!

Red Faction Guerilla Multiplayer Pack 2 ($6.99)
Download the Red Faction: Guerrilla Multiplayer Pack and dismantle the opposition in two new multiplayer modes and eight new maps. In Bagman, players score points by securing the “bag” and taking out their opponents. Increase the carnage in Team Bagman, where the same rules apply, but players are forced to utilize teamwork and guerrilla tactics to eliminate the opposition.

Guitar Hero
“100 Little Curses” by Street Sweeper Social Club ($1.99)
“Fight! Smash! Win!” by Street Sweeper Social Club ($1.99)
“Somewhere In The World It’s Midnight” by Street Sweeper Social Club ($1.99)
Street Sweeper Social Club Track Pack ($5.49) – Downloadable Track Pack featuring “Fight! Smash! Win!”, “100 Little Curses”, “Somewhere In The World It’s Midnight” by Street Sweeper Social Club. Please Note: Many songs are available both as singles and as part of a Track Pack, so please carefully consider your purchases before downloading.
Rock Band
“Science Genius Girl”— Freezepop ($0.99)
“Less Talk More Rokk”— Freezepop ($0.99)
“Get Ready 2 Rokk”— Freezepop ($0.99)
Freezepop Pack 01 ($2.99
“Re: Your Brains”— Jonathan Coulton ($0.99)
“Origin of Species”— MC Frontalot ($0.99)
“Opening Band”— Paul and Storm ($0.99)
The PAX 2009 Collection ($2.99.
“Miss Murder”— AFI ($1.99)
“Gasoline”— Audioslave ($1.99)
“Kryptonite”— 3 Doors Down ($1.99)
“ABC”— The Jackson 5 ($1.99)

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 Gary Player GC ($4.99)
Play one of the world’s top 100 and longest golf courses. Located in South Africa, this course requires stamina and accuracy, and is home to the Nedbank Million Dollar Golf Challenge. Watch out for hole number 9 which is known for its risk and reward.

UFC 2009: Undisputed Additional Fighters ($3.99)
Download these roster additions for UFC 2009 Undisputed which includes the UFC reality TV show winners Ryan “Darth” Bader fighting in the Light Heavyweight division and Efrain Escudero fighting in the Lightweight division.

Game Videos (free)

Pulse 9/10 Edition
Join host Christina Lee for PULSE presented by the PlayStation®Network. This edition features the bonus-packed LittleBigPlanet Game of the Year Edition, NBA 2K10: Draft Combine, add-ons for PAIN and Fate/unlimited codes for your PSP system. New video arrivals include Crank 2: High Voltage, State of Play and the new comedy Community, which is available on the PlayStation Store a week before it premieres on NBC!

NHL 2K10 1 on 1 Moves Trailer

Themes

Godfather Theme ($1.99)
The Transporter 3 Theme ($1.49)
My Bloody Valentine Theme ($1.49)
Cosplay Girls ($1.49)
Ele’Gals Theme ($1.99)
Hyperdesk Pulse ($1.99)
Hyperdesk Deep Shadows ($1.99)
Hyperdesk Dual Pack ($3.99)
Beach Theme ($1.99)
Dark Matter Gamma Ray ($1.99)
Dark Matter Subspace ($1.99)
Dark Matter Solar Flare ($1.99)
Dark Matter Trilogy ($3.99)

Wallpaper (free)

Fate/unlimited Codes Wallpaper 1

PlayStation Store for PSP

Downloadable Games

WipEout Pulse ($22.99) (also available from PS3 storefront)
WipEout Pulse is loaded with a full tank of innovation and design, bringing stylish new tracks, futuristic ships, high-tech weaponry and 7 game modes combined with high-octane speed and adrenaline pumping anti-gravity racing.

Wild Arms XF ($14.99) (also available from PS3 storefront)
The Wild ARMs series’ unique blend of science fiction and the Old West take the strategy RPG genre by storm with over 20 unique and varied job classes dueling it out on over 60 different stages.

Game Demos (free)

Half-Minute Hero Demo (also available from PS3 storefront)
Get ready to save the world in 30 seconds in this fast-paced RPG! An Evil Lord has cast a spell of destruction, and it’s up to you to stop him. Level up, buy items, and slay monsters like in any RPG game, just make sure you do it under 30 seconds! With the Time Goddess on your side (and in your wallet), the countdown to the end of the world starts now…

Add-on Game Content

Rock Band Unplugged (also available from PS3 storefront)
“Love Spreads”— The Stone Roses ($1.99)
“I Stand Alone”— Godsmack ($1.99)

Game Videos (free)

Pulse 9/10 Edition

PSP Themes

Hyperdesk Pulse PSP Theme ($1.49) (also available from PS3 storefront)
Hyperdesk Deep Shadows PSP Theme ($1.49) (also available from PS3 storefront)
Hyperdesk Dual Pack PSP Theme ($2.99) (also available from PS3 storefront)
Beach PSP Theme 1 ($1.49) (also available from PS3 storefront)
Beach PSP Theme 2 ($1.49) (also available from PS3 storefront)

World Champion on the women’s 800m athletics, Caster Semenya did not cheat with hormones but she does have a medical issue. She is intersex, has no uterus, no ovaries but internal male testes that produce the high levels of testosterone. Because this is not considered cheating, she can keep her gold medal but the number 2 gets one as well. No word yet if she can keep competing.

Kathy Griffin showed both her serious and her funny side in some interviews this week while promoting her new autobiography. I knew Kathy had a troubled brother , but she now tells everyone how trouble he was. He was a drug addict pedophile that died in prison in the arms of their mother. Wow that sure is personal. In Jimmy Kimmel’s show she did a hilarious spoof on Jon&Kate+8 called Kate is enough together with Star Trek’s George Takei as Jon Gosselin. Check it out on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1gqLERzk_w

Jodie Foster got a “cookie of her own dough” as they say in the Netherlands. After dumping her girlfriend Cydney ( the two had kids together and a really long relationship) for someone younger and hotter, she got dumped herself for a younger and hotter creature. And an ex of Lindsay Lohan!! That must hurt for Jodie.

Kathy Griffin is hilarious in this Jimmy Kimmel Show clip where she plays Kate Gosselin and George Takei plays Jon.

Forget about roasting Joan Rivers, comedian Kathy Griffin has found a new target: Kate Gosselin.

Kathy Griffin channels her inner Kate Gosselin as George Takei tackles young-chickie-admirer Jon Gosselin in a new skit on "Jimmy Kimmel Live."/Credit "Jimmy Kimmel Live"

Kathy will play Kate in a “Jimmy Kimmel Live” skit dubbed “Kate Is Enough: The Kate Gosselin Story.” The skit airs at 12:05 a.m. (EDT) Wednesday, Sept. 9 on ABC.

Meanwhile, speaking of channeling people, it just struck me who Kate resembles in her latest People spread. Take a look and think about it for a minute:

The slicked-back hair, the brilliant blue eyes, the classy clothes... hmmm, who is Kate channeling?/Credit People

Not ringing a bell yet?

Doesn't Kate's new look remind you of another former tabloid darling?

Of course, I would still argue that Princess Diana is leaps and bounds above Kate…

Kathy Griffin does a pretty good impersonation of Kate Gosselin of Jon and Kate Drama.  The funny Lady is preparing to do a skit on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ on the Gosselin’s crazy life.  George Takei will play Jon.  Sounds like some funny stuff.  What is not funny is that I saw a woman on HGTV with Kate’s hairstyle today.  I started praying immediately that no one else pays someone to create that look for them.  Anyway, can’t wait to see the skit, I’m sure that Kathy will do Kate justice when she starts whipping Jon upside his head.

source

My love of storytelling is probably why my favorite non-fiction reading has always been biography. I first remember delving into biography when I was in High School, I was a voracious reader, and so was on the lookout for new areas of interest once I’d already exhausted all the mystery, historical and science fiction in the school library.

Biographies can be a much more accessible way to learn about history because the subject is essentially a protagonist. I expect this is why A&E’s Biography show was so successful. For me though, a one hour segment is too superficial. I much prefer reading a book.

All biographies are not created equal. Some are easy to read and some are hard work. One of my favorite fiction writers wrote one of the most unreadable autobiographies I’ve ever tried to read. Autobiographers must not only list facts, they need to open up to the reader (or at least leave the reader feeling that they have). Most of the biographies I’ve read have been good, some for telling about an interesting life, some for being well written.

Orson Welles: A Biography by Barbara Leaming

In fact I’m old enough that if I find myself halfway through a biography that hasn’t engaged me I’ll put it down. Life is too short and there is too much good stuff to read.

Of all the biographies I’ve read (and I’ve a heap I have yet to read), these are my favorites. I haven’t read any of them for quite a while, but they will all be re-read at least once more.

Orson Welles:
A Biography by Barbara Leaming

Undoubtedly a brilliant man, Welles frightened the world with an alien invasion on radio, was the radio voice of “The Shadow”, angered one of the most powerful men in the world with his cinema masterpiece “Citizen Kane” and he married Rita Hayworth. Orson Welles was an incredibly interesting guy, This biography is one of the weirdest biography/autobiographies I’ve ever found, but it was delicious. It’s hard to describe, but it’s a kind of cat and mouse game between the biographer and the formidable Mr. Welles. Well worth a read.

Agatha Christie: An Autobiography

Agatha Christie: An Autobiography

I discovered Agatha Christie mysteries when I first started reading for fun in my teens. Inadvertently beginning with her first book (“The Secret Adversary”), Christie’s books were easy to lay hands on my an older sister was a big Miss Marple fan. So I read everything she wrote that I could find. Over the years I’ve heard people denigrate Christie’s writing as being simple and formulaic. Having gone back and re-read many of her books, I disagree. She did invent a kind of formula, but the stories were not formulaic. Her writing stands up today on re-reading as being just as good as I remember it.

When I discovered that my Dad had found her autobiography at a yard sale, I borrowed it. It was if anything more incredible reading than any one of her books. She led an interesting life. In fact, she opened up and shared herself enough that I felt I got to know her as a person not an abstraction. I loved this autobiography so much that I made a point of not returning it to my Dad until I’d gotten my hands on a copy for myself. (That was in the days when you couldn’t be sure of finding the missing used books for your collection on http://www.abebooks.com, http://www.amazon.ca or http://www.ebay.ca/.

To the Stars: George Takei

George Takei: To The Stars

The trekkie in me bought this book but it was a very good read. Mr. Takei is a brilliant and engaging man, and he writes very well indeed. The thing that I was totally unprepared for was the dynamite buried in his childhood.

Autograph from the '76 Toronto Trek Convention

As a Japanese American Takei spent a chunk of his World War II childhood in an American Detention Camp. He manages to both minimize the horrors with the breeziness of childhood resilience, but at the same time the adult writer in him makes the evil of the whole exercise very clear. Very heavy in parts, but worth it. I actually encouraged my ten year old to read it for the first person history. Takei’s ability to look at life with wry wit makes the later bits interesting and readable.

And of course all of Mr. Sulu’s fans will get a huge kick out of the behind the scenes Star Trek gossip. Good solid biography, though, not mere fan fare. You can visit http://www.georgetakei.com/ to catch up with him nowadays.

Tracy and Hepburn: An Intimate Memoir
by Garson Kanin

Tracy and Hepburn: An Intimate Memoir by Garson Kanin

The combination of societies mores and his own catholic upbringing prevented movie star Spenser Tracy from divorcing his wife to marry Hepburn

Kanin makes it clear in this biography that had circumstances been different these two would have been happily married.

Kanin’s connection with his friends combined with his story telling ability brings his subjects alive, making this a very accessible read.

Stompin’ Tom: Before The Fame
by Stompin’ Tom Connors

Stompin' Tom: Before The Fame

Stompin’ Tom Connors is a Canadian icon. He was the first performer to actually write songs about Canada because he wanted to. And once begun, he wrote song after song about this land of ours. He does not have a beautiful singing voice, but his songs are incredibly engaging. Many of them cause me to laugh out loud.

Stompin’ Tom is a consummate showman, the ultimate self made man. But more than anyone living, Stompin’ Tom has given Canadians an identity to hang their hats on. I doubt that there’s a Canadian alive who has NOT heard of this man. Certainly every Canadian performing artist knows his name.

Connors travelled back and forth across Canada making a living as an entertainer, which is where he amassed his storehouse of material for songs and stories. But no record label would record him. So he recorded himself.

After becoming successful and even internationally known, incredibly Stompin Tom went on to do battle with dragons to fight for Canadian Content regulations to protect and support the young entertainers coming up after him. Pure class.

Of course, that’s not what this first volume of his autobiography is about. It’s about the hellacious childhood that the boy born Tommy Messer survived. It’s about a child torn from a young mother who had no support in a world without effective help for its weakest citizens. Its about injustice and hope.

This is probably the best biography I’ve ever read because Connors brings you right into his childhood, and makes you feel what it was like. The fact that he spoke so candidly and honestly about things that obviously hurt him deeply is why this book was such a mega hit in Canada. He made people understand.

Canada Post's Stompin' Tom Stamp

I am amazed that this man has been able to accomplish so much in his life after the childhood he endured. He has survived and has triumphed, and has principles he believes in and stands up for. Stompin’ Tom Connors is willing and able to work selflessly for the betterment of the community. He’s downright inspirational.

Canada Post just honored Stompin’ Tom by putting him on a stamp. But it was this biography that made Stompin’ Tom my hero.

Visit http://stompintom.com/