Just watched the tribute to Fenn on “Glee”.   I wanted to wait.  Started crying at the first word and didn’t stop until the very end.  What wonderful performances by each and every one, not a false moment from anyone.   True raw emotion and love for Corey & Fenn.   I loved him and certainly didn’t know him.  Part of the magic of TV, movies, etc., is that we can love and enjoy anyone or thing and do not have to make apologies for our feelings.  There was some controversy about Corey’s place in the Emmy award memorials.  They don’t get it, do they?   This was a reminder, a gentle tip…take care of yourselves,  do not waste your lives on drugs,  Enjoy the luxury of making it and encourage others to take care of themselves.  It can be a wonderful life!

I always liked Chandler Massey (Will Horton, DOOL) who didn’t?   Always seemed like a really sweet young man!  When his groundbreaking storyline with Freddie Smith, (Jackson Sonny Kiriakis) started to unfold, I didn’t think he could handle it.  The sound you hear is me eating my words!  He has done a magnificent job and has an emmy to prove it.  Chandler gracefully thanked his perfect counterpart  Smith and said he couldn’t have done it without him.  He is going to be sorely missed  An interesting thing Chandler speaks Chinese Mandarin and so do I!  I studied at the Army Language School in Monterey, CA  five days a week, 6 hours per day for 11 months.  So young Mr Massey, ni hau ma and the very best of luck!~

Brava Madame Harper

So sorry to see that Valerie Harper was voted off of DWTS but she really gave it all that she could.  But that’s Valerie Harper.  I have known her for over 40 years, she’s not my best friend but I will always love her.  I met when she was in the chorus in “Wildcat” with Lucille Ball at the Alvin and I was the usher in the mezzanine.  We would all go the Roxy Bowling Alley on Thursday night after the show and bowl all night and then go to breakfast in the AM. Since the Alvin was one of two theaters that employed male ushers and most of us were actors to be, we were included.  Cut and dissolve…the night that Valerie won her first Emmy for the Mary Tyler Moore Show,  Lucy presented the award to her and as they left the stage, I ran back and greeted them.  The star, the chorus girl and the usher reunited once again.  Cut and dissolve once again, Valarie’s husband at the time  Dick Schaal opened in a play at the Westwood Playhouse and the after party was at Hugh Hefner’s palatial home.  Zina Bethune was my date and once we arrived there,  Zina and I would each do our thing.  She would be pushing her ballet company and I would trying to get some gossip for Rona.   At the end of the pool there was this  big hill and people would go in there and didn’t come out.  Well inquiring minds want to know so I ambled over there and it was a huge Jacuzzi filled with the most beautiful women and handsome men, stark naked.  What’s a boy to do.  A butler came over and showed me the lockers where you could put your clothes and he gave me a towel to wrap around moi.  I saw Max Baer, (all of him) Jethro on The Beverly Hillbillies   I gingerly made my way into the water and sat down as the butler passed around glasses of champagne which certainly loosened me up.  The gentleman on my right passed around a joint and I took a few puffs. I must tell you it was all very innocent.  I noticed that people would go over to my left and disappear into the water and not come back.   Of course I grew curiouser and curiouser and took the plunge.  It was a tunnel, I turned on my back and began to push myself through.  It was a little scary what if I couldn’t get out!  but I pushed myself out where there was some light.  Turns out that came flying out poolside and jumped in the air bareass naked! .  Zina saw me and yelled, Hi Dick!   What are you doing?

A quick Harper memory…several years ago, I was invited to see her as Tallulah Bankhead in “Looped” a new play at the Pasadena Playhouse.  Now I love her but as Tallulah????  She was magnicent, proving once again that versatility is her middle name!. Plus she also did a one woman show as Golda Meier!

 Her appearance on DWTS was awe inspiring and has given new hope for thousands of people!   Brava Madame Harper!