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<p>Entries from May 1, 2007 - May 31, 2007</p>
<p>Thursday May 31 2007  In Conversation with Don Rickles @ The 92nd St. Y - 5.17.7 By: Billy Nord</p>
<p>Thursday, May 31, 2007 at 10:01AM Don Rickles was in town recently promoting his new autobiography, Rickles Book hitting most of New York City's network talk shows. Solidifying his reputation for being quite the hard worker, Mr. Rickles found time during his hectic promo tour for an intimate appearance at The 92nd Street Y, as part of their always entertaining "In Conversation With" series. An absolutely appropriate pairing, Don shared the stage with New York's own class act, Regis Philbin, who acted as moderator.NOTES--Rickles began his life as a shy child. Fortunately, his mother had a very upfront, aggressive personality which helped mold his character (although, she never got his sense of humor, once asking him "Why can't you be like Alan King?") --He'd originally planned on becoming a dramatic actor before he fell in to stand-up. He'd even went as far as attending The Academy of Dramatic Arts (on one of his classmates, Grace Kelly: "I Never got near her but I would smell her cologne in the locker!") --You think you have it bad? For years Rickles had to endure the late shift in Las Vegas, opening up for lounge acts at 2am, 4am and 5am. The prime crowd those shows would draw was basically creeps who enjoy lingering, the perfect audience for polishing a stand-up shtick. --To this day he hasn't performed what most comedians would consider a "written" act. --He was discovered after performers (i.e. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin) would catch his act by pure chance. They'd then show up more often, bringing their industry friends. Rickles became a "performers comedian." --The title "Mr. Warmth" came from Johnny Carson. --TRIVIA QUESTION: Which of the current, late night talk show hosts does Rickles feel is the most comparable to Carson? TRIVIA ANSWER: Without a doubt, it's David Letterman--"He just has that little niche." --When asked for his views on the state of stand-up comedy, he simply stated "Funny is funny"--Around 20 years ago, he and his wife were considering a move to Manhattan. They checked out various potential apartment buildings, one being The Trump Towers. Donald Trump himself showed the couple around and offered them a deal. According to Rickles, Trump said, "For you? Two Billion Seven!" --Rickles revealed he always avoids incorporating politics into his comedy, but when asked how he felt about the current administration, he admitted, "No matter who the president is, the office should be respected." --After the event, we had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Rickles, the recent upload of outtakes from the Rickles/Richard Lewis sitcom Daddy Dearest was brought up. After asking if he'd ever be interested in doing a sitcom again, he said, "Absolutely." To anyone out there with network power, MAKE THIS HAPPEN!</p>
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<p>The Apiary | 4 Comments in EXCLUSIVELY at The Apiary Wednesday May 30 2007  Oven Bun Comes Out Moist and Scrumptious, Knocked Up Worth the Cankles By: Matt Sklar</p>
<p>Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at 12:01PM Knocked Up, Judd Apatow's sophomore directing effort, doesn't stray too far from the winning formula of his first film, The 40 Year Old Virgin. Take a guy who's in a state of arrested development, put him in a situation where he has to grow up, add a good measure of profanity and graphic sex jokes, but balance it out with enough good natured sweetness at the core so no one gets too offended. But whereas Virgin stumbled with an overlong 3rd act that got too bogged down in sentimental schmaltz, Knocked Up ultimately succeeds as a raunchy yet smart R-rated comedy, thanks to a sharp script and a strong performance by star Seth Rogen. Rogen plays Ben, an affable pothead who spends his days getting stoned with his equally un-ambitious roommates. His self-described ideal life changes when a drunken one night stand with Allison (Katherine Heigl), a successful and way out of his league career girl leads to an unplanned pregnancy. The film charts their relationship as they decide if it's worth staying together for the sake of the baby. Though the plotline can basically be described as '9 Months meets any early Adam Sandler film', Apatow is more concerned with subverting the romantic comedy genre and giving his actors room enough to build their characters through improvisation. Although Apatow still seems to have a hard time writing for women (most of the female characters in the film come off as neurotic and needy), he's strongest when showing how men really think and talk to each other. When Ben is together with his roommates, quoting movie lines in between bong hits, their casual cruelty towards one another is both hilarious and real. The scenes' improvisational feel are helped by the fact that Apatow cast the film with his 'stock company' of regulars. Ben's roommates are played mostly by cast members of his brilliant-but-cancelled tv shows Freaks & Geeks and Undeclared (Jason Segel, Jay Baruchel, and Martin Starr, as well as Jonah Hill, star of the upcoming Rogen-scripted Superbad). Other Apatow alumni show up in smaller cameos, including James Franco and Loudon Wainwright (who also contributed songs for the film). Additional standouts include The Office's Craig Robinson as a club bouncer, SNL's Kristen Wiig as a network exec, and L.A. comedian Charlyne Yi as a stoner girlfriend. Like Steve Carell in Virgin, much of the film hinges on Rogen's performance and how much of his slacker doofus charisma can carry the film. With his kickin' Jew-fro and marble-mouthed Canadian delivery, Rogen is the opposite of what you'd expect from a typical romantic male lead. But it's that quality that makes him so believable in the role. And unlike say, Vince Vaughn's character in The Break-Up, Ben is genuinely likable enough where you can buy the mismatched pairing of the lead couple. In the end, you find yourself rooting for the pair to make their relationship work.OTHER OPINIONSJudd Apatow's Beautiful BabyIt's a... Hit!9 1/2 Months</p>
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<p>The Apiary | Post a Comment in TV/Film Wednesday May 30 2007  2007 Lollapalooza Auditions - The DL</p>
<p>Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at 10:59AM</p>
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<p>The Apiary | Post a Comment in NVW Wednesday May 30 2007  Hazardous Love - The Post Show</p>
<p>Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at 9:56AM</p>
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<p>The Apiary | 1 Comment in NVW Wednesday May 30 2007  Secrets of the MacDowell Colony #11 - Mike Daisey</p>
<p>Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at 8:53AM RELATEDAbout the MacDowell Colony</p>
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<p>The Apiary | Post a Comment in NVW Wednesday May 30 2007  New Video Wednesday!</p>
<p>Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at 8:01AM "I Wanna Get Psyched Tonight" - Dr. Lanny Latham, Adira Amram, Matt McCarthy</p>
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<p>The Apiary | 1 Comment in NVW Tuesday May 29 2007  In Which We Finally Learn How to Kick People</p>
<p>Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 10:39AM Wednesday night, the curtain comes down after nearly three and a half years on How To Kick People, the monthly reading series produced by Bob Powers and Todd Levin. Why does it have to be so hard to make the good things last? We asked Todd the most burning questions on the matter. And then he answered them.Why are you ending How To Kick People? How long have you had the idea to finish the series?We love hosting, reading, and listening to some of our friends and favorite comedy writers perform at How to Kick People, but I think neither of us was ever really crazy about producing and promoting the show. Bob and I originally conceived this show as a platform for our own writing, and a way to make us more disciplined comedy writers. It's been really personally satisfying in that way but, ironically, now that we've both become more busy than ever with our own writing projects, we've just had less free time to produce our own reading series. The last thing either of would want to do is put something half-assed together where we would expect the audience to believe part of the show's "charm" is how shitty it is, and how woefully ill-prepared we are as hosts/performers. There are already plenty of those kinds of shows in NYC. (did you hear that, "The View"?) So, instead of risking becoming something we're not proud of, we thought it made more sense to just stop doing the show for now and go out strong, with fireballs, lasers, dry ice, and a live beheading and resurrection onstage--the kind of show we can be proud of. We've already discussed producing the show again in the future, on special occasions, when we have the luxury of time and a kick-ass lineup of guests whose wit will literally melt your face off. Kind of like this month's show.In the world of corporations and dayjobs, it is generally accepted that one shouldn't quit a steady job without having an equal or better steady job lined up. Do you find this applies to comedy shows? Are you going to be working on new projects together?Not sure if it's necessary to host your own show these days in order to get stage time in New York. In fact, I think there are close to 16 other shows happening at the same, same day of the week--and that's just in Mo Pitkin's. And if by "new projects," you're talking about the Malaysian baby Bob and I are in the process of adopting, then yes. There's your scoop, Apiary!Will there be an after-party? What should we bring? After the show, we will be getting drunk off our collective ass (Bob and I share everything) at a bar called 2A. (I believe it's on the corner of 2 and A, but don't quote me on that!) That's been our after-show ritual for a while now, and it's been our before-lunch ritual, and during-work ritual for even longer. You're welcome to stop by, unless you've already received our email specifically telling you not to.The series finale of How To Kick People is Wednesday, May 30th at Mo Pitkins. The theme is "Parting Advice." Featured guests include Amelie Gillette, Christian Finnegan, Brian Stack, Steve Burns, and OTHERS! The show begins at 7:30. Photo by: Lisa Whiteman</p>
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<p>The Apiary | 1 Comment in EXCLUSIVELY at The Apiary Tuesday May 29 2007  The Gag Reel By: Mo Diggs</p>
<p>Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 8:16AM Summer Comedy Movie Preview: The release of the much-anticipated Judd Apatow comedy Knocked Up this Friday kicks off the summer comedy season proper. Five things seem to loom large over the summer comedy landscape: Judd Apatow, animation, Isla Fisher , Seth Rogen and Patton Oswalt . Here are nine reasons to step away from your computer this summer. Knocked Up - June 1As if I couldn't be more excited about this comedy produced by Judd Apatow and starring Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd , I recently found out that Charlene Yi is in the film as well.Eagle vs. Shark - June 15Starring Jemaine Clement -- one-half of musical comedy duo Flight of the Conchords -- this indie rom-com from New Zealand looks sweetly absurd.Ratatouille - June 29Patton Oswalt . Brad Bird . Pixar. If you don't think these are reasons to see a film, go back to watching Barnyard .The Simpsons - July 27Exciting as this will be, it could be ruined if there is too much profanity. Word on the street is the not-yet-rated film will get a PG-13. Good; I do not want to see any more erotic Homer and Marge scenes -- the Internet has enough of those.The Ten - August 3Even those who are reading this and are not excited about David Wain's next feature film after Wet Hot American Summer will at least want to see eye candy like Winona Ryder , Jessica Alba , Paul Rudd and Adam Brody .Hot Rod - August 3Sketch group Lonely Island moved from Internet shorts to SNL to Hot Rod , their first feature film, starring Andy Samberg and Sacha Baron Cohen's squeeze Isla Fisher.Superbad - August 17Another comedy produced by Apatow featuring Michael Cera , Jonah Hill , Seth Rogen and Bill Hader .Wedding Daze - August 17Isla Fisher makes her second summer comedy appearance; joining her is Jason Biggs . This is the first feature written and directed by Michael Ian Black .Balls of Fury - August 31Thomas Lennon and Ben Garant (Reno 911!, The State) wrote this ping-pong movie with Christopher Walken and Patton Oswalt .Other News:Comedy Central is rumored to turn Gay Robot--the cult failed pilot that has made waves online--into a cartoon.The King of Miami is now on MoJo as well as on the website. (via AST) The LCS list was "leaked" to Shecky Magazine. Among those who might be on Last Comic Standing: Doug Benson. (via AST) What's in a name? A long-awaited movie premiere in your town of a beloved animated franchise: Springfields fight over The Simpsons premiere.DVD Pick: I don't know how funny this looks, but Nympho Libre (NSFW) deserves consideration for the following boast I read on the cover: "See the original Aztec Mummy in his first hardcore adventure!"</p>
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