ShowmanRot

Madison Square USHER!!

Janis and I went to Madison Square Garden to watch Duke and his buddy Dave McClure take on Southern Illinois. Awesome atmosphere, and obviously chilling and taking brews with the big J-Jumper is fun.

The picture is of the greatest usher in the sports world. He sprints from one end of the aisles to the other, sweating out years of turmoil and hate. I love it. He is pouring in sweat, which begs the question: why is he so fat?

Not much else here from me, unless you want to hear more about the dream lifestyle...

Live,
Ricky

NAC review and my final thoughts on life...

The show at the National Aets Club last night was a lot of fun. We had a good turnout and people were drinking buckets of wine. Gotta give a shout out to all the comics: Bill Dawes, Kyle Grooms, DC Benny and Todd Barry. Great sets!! Next show is DEC 11...don't miss it...

I'm on my way to Montreal for a funeral unfortunatly, but when I got on the plane I realized that my funeral might be next. Check the pic - this plane is ridiculously small. My seat is the only one in the aisle -yes u read that right. And this isn't a private jet feel either - it's a busted ass plane. My chances of being involved in a horrific plane crash have increased five fold. I'm writing this from my phone before take off, and I don't want to waste this opportunity to talk about a few things I love before I possibly die. Peoples names, in no particular order and things I love: Mom, Ace, dad, buckets of wine, Sophie, Janis, typepad, comedy, curry chicken, NYC, camcorders, originality, shots with Janis, three point lines, decent airlines, good haircuts, kobe, lakers, records, music, laughing...

None if that was in any particular order. I know this is a downer but I have to take advantage of writing a note - who's ever written an "in case I die in the next two hours" note? Sorry, have to do it. I'm taller than this entire goddamn plane. At least on a private jet I could get smashed. I'll just try to convince myself this is a business trip and If I should perish the company will compensate those I care about most. Or maybe I should just fall asleep.

Touchet,
RB

RockStar Karaoke

The call was Arlene's Grocery in downtown SoHo. Not a trendy, latte sipping Whole Foods spinoff - instead a rugged bar boasting (what my friends said) the best karaoke in town.

Entering the scene was surreal. A line seemingly 30 yards long waited to sign-up. INTENSE. I grabbed a beer and had to settle for a Miller Lite. Not my favorite - actually my least - but I was about to witness an incredible evening and needed the "Sex, Drugs, RockNroll" gang to know I was taking part in at least one of their vices.

Rock and Roll, many could argue, had it's hey-day in the 1980's with AC/DC, Guns N Roses, The Scorpions, and more I don't know by name but would say "Oh Yea" and sing along when I heard them on the radio. Arlene's takes it's karaoke serious, with a full five member band to back up anyone willing to sing - and they are pretty decent.

The show got under way with some AC/DC and it got the place jumping. Soon things turned awkward, as the bass guitarist asked the sound check dude, "Can we turn off the AC back here? It's really cold - like we're outside." Cold?! Rock and Roll? Didn't you take your lines before you came out!? You're not rocking hard enough! This reaction surely had to be on the minds of the audience, but they were too focused on not getting bamboozled by the lead singer MC'ing for the evening. Throwing up his friends and blood sisters, the Utah born and raised MC made me a believer that perhaps he is a bit too close to his sisters and, uh, brothers. My boy even got turned away in favor of some half wits - that's rock and roll. Utah-ners must rock differently...

The evening wouldn't be complete without an obnoxious black girl abusing the microphone and gloating the Obama victory to a democartic crowd. Talk about preaching to the choir and anti-climatic. Nothing's worse than someone using a loud instrument meant for a gentle talent only to un-originally chant "Yes We DID!" I was hoping someone would go on stage during their song and in retaliation yell, "The SOUTH will Rise again." Led Zepplin wouldn't have it any other way. But in these fast approaching 10's, the 80's are long gone.

Political incorrectness with Will Arnett

While waiting for my second audition, I saw this hilarious quote in front of a democratic art house...it reads (sorry for the grainy pic): "Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because her father is Janet Reno." -John McCain

I don't know if McCain really said this, but as I was pondering, Will Arnett crept up the sidewalk next to me. "I like your work," I said. "You're the king of online comedy," was what I thought Arnett said to me, but I later realized he said, "thanks bud."

New York City, folks.

Ricky

Best Book Store Ever

The Strand bookstore, boasting over 18 miles in books, is the best bookstore I've ever willfully encountered. Located on 12th and Broadway, Strand offers any and all books at usually half the list price.

I just bought 'Cutter and Bone" as well as "Everything is Illuminated." I've fell in love with reading over the past year and I am so fortunate to live so close to the Mecca of all bookstores.

If your in the NYC area and love to read you should check it out. It's been around for over 80 years and boasts a nice rustic feel.

Gotta run,
RB

Exciting Sauna News: I got the part!!

While in the sauna I recieved some good news via email: I've been cast as Dick in the production of Moonchildren by Michael Weller.

My audition clearly went well yesterday, and I really enjoyed the play. It's funny, because my name is Richard and during my second year of college I made all my professors call me Dick. I guess it was a dick move, but lo and behold, I'm a Dick!!

The play is quite funny and interesting, with many college coeds living together during the sex crazed 60's. My character is thought to be sleeping with his closet gay professors wife. YES!!

Well, this is just another step towards the NBA's entertainers league. Now the fun starts!!

Go good,
Ricky

The GOAL: NBA Entertainers League

Today I'm going on my first audition. It's a play titled "Moonchildren" and it is by Michael Weller. It presents some very interesting characters and relationships between college age students during the Vietnam war era.

Although I hope to get a part, I'm really just viewing this as the first step towards getting in the NBA Entertainer's League. You need to be a working actor to get into the league (hell, I should already be in with my YouTube stuff - I got over 5 million hits!), and they always play before the NBA All Star Game. I know I can ball, and it's my goal to hear Charles Barkley say, "That white boy who swoons all the ladies and makes every dude want to hang out with him is a much better basketball player than everyone else on the court."

I want to elbow Frankie Munitz, dunk on Michael Cera, and drop 8 3's on Brian McKnight (who is supposedly the best entertainer player ever). I just need a chance. No, a role.

Well, here's the first step. Watch out Cera, your self-conscious ass is going down!

Showman Profile!

World, meet Daniel Martinez Castro. A huge showman who attends the 9 ring circus that is Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in NYC.

I have the pleasure of having Daniel in my film/tv class, and his performances alone make this school worth it. Powerful, interesting, and Argentinian, Daniel is a very talented actor. Watching actors like Daniel make me want to work harder and understand his approach to the craft. He is literally exhausted after his performances, and leaves the ladies sweating for more.

Tarantino should cast my homie - he'd make an awesome bad ass in a leather jacket - gun in holster!

NBA PREVIEW: LAKERS TAKE IT ALL!

Let's get right to it shall we?

1. ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Greg Oden, Portland - Runner Up: OJ Mayo, Memphis
2. MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Kobe Bryant, Lakers - Runner Up: LeBron James, Cleveland
3. COACH OF THE YEAR: Nate McMillan, Portland - Runner Up: No Contest, NBA
4. DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Tyson Chandler, Hornets - Runner Up: Andrew Bynum, Lakers
5. MOST IMPROVED PLAYER: Andrew Bynum, Lakers - Runner Up: Rodney Stuckey, Pistons
6. SIXTH MAN: Lamar Odom, Lakers - Runner Up: JR Smith, Denver

EAST FINALS: Celtics over Cavs in 7
WEST FINALS: Lakers over Portland in 5

NBA FINALS: Lakers over Celtics in 6
FINALS MVP: Kobe Bryant

Notes: If the Lakers stay healthy, I expect them to break 65 wins and perhaps challenge the '96 Bulls 72 win mark...The Knicks are a mess, and somehow people will make a bigger deal out of Nate Robinson and David Lee than they should...Losing James Posey will be the achilles heel for the Celtics, and a new weapon for the Hornets...Deron Williams will never win a championship with Carlos Boozer...Tayshaun Prince is not an all-star...The Lakers should have three: Kobe, Bynum, and Pau Gasol...Oden may struggle offensivly, but defensivly he will be in the league's elite immediatly...Darius Miles career is over (at least for two years)...LeBron may win MVP, but he won't win the most important one: Finals MVP...Michael Beasley will discover alcohol and marijuana, average 19 points the next seven years, then never be heard from again...the 76ers are overhyped, they suck...Baron Davis and Marcus Camby will alternate injury excuses...Vince Carter has hit the decade mark, now let's watch the fast decline in shooting percentage...where have you gone Agent Zero? Gilbert Arenas is looking more and more like Penny Hardaway all over again (without the awesome shoes)...Shaq will be traded back to the Lakers for Vladimir Radmanovic, and three first rounders - Shaq and Kobe will finish what they started and freestyle a victory rap for Mike D'Antoni...

Be Good,
Ricky

Movie Review: "Synecdoche, New York"

Rarely does a film truly inspire, and yet, Synecdoche, New York is a true marvel in writing, acting, and overall filmmaking.

Starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman as a dying play director, the first quarter of Synecdoche is based in reality and typical filmmaking situations. Quickly things change. Once Hoffman's character, Caden, has his wife and 4 year old daughter bolt New York for Berlin, Caden's personal life and the movie take a truly depressing, interesting and amazing turn.

Written and directed by the acclaimed Charlie Kaufman, Synecdoche traverses fantasy land yet, amazingly, somehow stays grounded in a brutal reality most "regular" movies cannot achieve.

Realizing he is dying, Caden resolves to make esentially the greatest play ever known to man. Through a grant (we never know how much he recieves) Caden buy an astronomically enormous dome, in which he hopes to stage his masterpiece. He builds New York City, with all it's apartments, inhabitants, and relationships, in this dome over a 50 year period. At one point an actor yells to Caden, "When are we going to get an audience? It's been 17 years?" Once an actor is chosen to play himself (who happens to follow Caden for 20 years), more characters are cast as Caden and his everyday people he interacts with.

Sound confusing? It should be.

Somehow, while Caden lives he continues writing the play in real time. Ultimately, after 50 years, there is only one way for the play to end. It is agonizing watching Hoffman's Caden finally come face to face with his daughter in Berlin. One literally gets sick to their stomach, as through so much pain Hoffman softly and humanely portrays his love for his estranged and brainwashed daughter.

Still a bit confusing? Good. Miraculously, Kaufman makes sense of it all, and drives home the central theme of the movie: Everyone is the star of their own life - There are no extras in the real world.

This movie should be nominated for Oscars in at least the following categories: Best Screenplay, Direction, Picture, Actor, Actress, and Set Design.

One leaves feeling proud knowing good filmmaking still exists, and without such real life pain, this work of beauty would never exist.

Be well,
RB