I know you're out there! I'm afraid just can't recall who has gushed about him ...

So, if you are interested in big-haired, sexy, over-acting Paul Rudd, check out this episode online of a show called "Deadline" from the year 2000. You won't be sorry!

I watched it last night, and I don't remember the series from its original short-lived run. Maybe you do. Nevetheless, it's got quite a strong cast, led by Oliver Platt, and it's a Dick Wolf production, so Law & Order franchise fans will feel right at home. The main difference is that the investigators are reporters and columnists instead of detectives. (And just as unrealistic!)

Anyway, I watched it for David McCallum, your viewing pleasure may vary. Watch for semi-shirtless Paul Rudd at about 12 minutes in :)

Deadline: Lovers and Madmen, at IMDb/Hulu.

Reading log

Star Trek Reader and Star Trek Reader II, by James Blish.

I was delighted to find these in a used bookstore a few months ago, and I only just got around to reading them. Gotta get Volume III!

Each volume contains about 20 short stories -- novelizations of the episodes. They are not presented in broadcast order, but seem to be grouped together by theme. Also, they don't pretend to be great literature or contain great charcterization. They're just solid little stories that capture the spirit of the show.

Frankly, reading the episodes like this avoids the jarring visual nature of some of the cheesy or dated special effects. So, for example, it's easier to enjoy "The Devil in the Dark" when you can't actually see the fakey alien that can move through rocks like we move through air. ("I'm a doctor, not a bricklayer!")

( More Trek talk, and an UNCLE novel )

Movie Log

I caught up on three Sherlock Holmes movies today that I'd picked up at work (in the thrift store portion of the operation). They are going back. I'm afraid that I can find no soft spot in my heart for any of these productions. For all the suspicion I have for the movie coming out this Christmas, it certainly can do no greater disservice to the Sherlock Holmes franchise than these.

Basil Rathbone may have been perfectly suited to play Sherlock Holmes, but these movies were dreadful! What a waste. Aside from the ones today, I also have seen "The Hound of the Baskervilles" a long time ago, and more recently, "Sherlock Holmes Faces Death," which is kind of based on "The Musgrave Ritual."

Call me sacriligious or unsentimental, but Rathbone's turn as Holmes just leaves me cold. A lot of it has to do with the buffoon he has as a Watson. A lot more has to do with the stupidity of taking him out of the Victorian-Edwardian era. The whole thing seems so artificial.

I know moviegoers of the time (1930s-40s) brought a different mind-set to the movies, but having been steeped in canon, Grenada and Coules, these just make me nuts.

Anyway, here's what I watched today, in the order of viewing:

( Terror by Night, Secret Weapon, Dressed to Kill )

Movie Log

We watched "The Greatest Story Ever Told" this week. It's a sprawling epic with an international cast ... and was the biggest financial flop in movie-making history until "Heavens Gate" came along. Jesus is played by Max von Sydow, a Swedish actor famed for playing chess with Death (in a Bergman film) and, later, for being The Exorcist.

I'm sure there was intense pressure on the moviemakers to be reverent in the depiction of Jesus. So, we get a Jesus who goes through the movie saying his famous quotations from the Bible (sometimes with a Swedish accent!). Alas, it's much like a poor performance of Shakespeare, where the actors are reciting lines rather than acting.

Of course, we watched the movie because of David McCallum. He had the thankless task of playing Judas. I have two things to say: (1) David was beautiful, and (2) I think Judas has gotten a bum rap! The movie gives no clear motivation behind Judas' betrayal of Christ. However, upon a bit of reflection and research, it seems clear that *someone* had to betray Jesus for Him to fulfill his destiny. And, in fact, Jesus both foresaw and allowed Judas' betrayal, because the betrayal would put in motion Jesus' arrest, crucifiction and resurrection.

Plus, David couldn't possibly be That Bad!

I feel uncomfortable straying into the religious rather than the cinematic, sooooo... The other good performance in the movie was that of Telly Savalas, as Pontius Pilate. He played the role with great naturalism -- portraying Pilate as a politician and pragmatist.

The most effective scene was when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. By concentrating on the reactions of the witnesses and the spreading of the news throughout the land, accompanied by the strains of the Hallelujah Chorus, it was the most stirring spectacle of this very long film.

The absolute worst and hammiest performance was from Charlton Heston, as John the Baptist. Egad. I think he was giving his "Planet of the Apes" audition. Famous faces popped up everywhere, many for no good reason. They didn't even let Sidney Poitier have a line. At least Shelley Winters got to dash in and say, "You healed me!" or somesuch.

Oh well, Mr. FFF and I were glad we watched it. At least to fill in this gap in our movie-watching history.

It was Mr. FanFromFla's birthday yesterday, so we've had a wonderful weekend of celebration!

We've stopped swapping gifts at Christmas and birthdays cos we tend to shower each other (and ourselves) with treats at random times, and we know we love each other, etc. But that doesn't stop me from steering his mom and my mom in their shopping. As a result, he's got some nice casual clothes he needed, plus three new books. Two were great baseball biographies, but the other is an autobiography by one of his favorite actors: Robert Vaughn. I am sneaky that way.

Fortunately, he is delighted and spent a goodly bit of Saturday morning reading me passages from it, chuckling about tales of Hollywood and the casting accidents of "Man from U.N.C.L.E." Not to mention Vaughn's description of how, pre-UNCLE, he had seen David McCallum in a movie and thought he "photographed beautifully." *smacks RPS thoughts firmly aside*

What a shame that Mr. FFF will be away in Ohio this week, visiting family. I may just have to read the book in his absence!

Back to Mr. FFF's birthday-fest... I also joined him in 9 holes of golf and, later, an enormous dinner at his favorite little Italian restaurant. Today, we just lazed about, reading, swimming, drinking pina coladas. mmmmmm mellllllowwwww.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Exercise Log

Today: Short-attention-span exercise -- walked to gym (half-mile?), ran 2 miles on treadmill, walked home, jumped in pool, swam for 20 minutes. Fell asleep.

Saturday: 9 holes of golf, which is only sort of like exercise. Also walked to library & back (1 mile roundtrip?)

Friday: 30-minute swim.

Thursday: Ran 6 miles in 49 minutes! Woohoo!

First, the sadness. I would like to pass along great sympathies to mjzjewel, a lovely, generous gal who adored Michael Jackson. She doesn't post often anymore, but I just looked at her LJ, and her last post was an explosion of joy from a couple of month ago that she would be able to see Michael in concert in July. {{hugs you, JiJi}}

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-

On a much lighter note, I must pass along happy birthday wishes to krazykat26, a cool chick and great Lee!Fest '08 companion. Her cell phone skills atop the skyline of New York City are peerless!

I'll let Lee take it from here

ETA: OMG! It's maddiec24's birthday too! Hope you had a lovely day, sweetie! Here's to health and happiness in the coming year :)

Happy birthday to one of the greatest gals in fandom! You bring so much delight to everyone, I hope the coming year is one of all the happiness you richly deserve!

To satisfy some enquiring minds... Yes, there will be a Fourth Annual FanFromFla Flist Christmas in July Giveaway! Just about a week to go :)

Because of my expanding fannish collections, I'll probably be expanding the offerings a bit. There will be tons of Lee Tergesen and a healthy dose of Chris Meloni. But I'll spice things up with a dash of Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Jeremy Brett, David McCallum and even Rod Taylor. Most of the movies and TV shows will be stuff that is not readily available commercially.

So, start making your lists and checking them twice. I definitely will be!

I've also been catching sales and stocking up on lots of blank DVD-Rs :)

As a reminder or an initiation: Here are the posts from last year -- in the f-locked Xmas in July tag.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Before I lose track...

Exercise log
Today: Sluggish 3-mile run on treadmill.
Sunday: 3-mile walk with hubby. OMG it's hot outside! First day of summer, for sure.
Saturday: Swift 6-mile run on treadmill.
Friday: 20-minute swim.
Thursday: 20-minute swim.

I'm in danger of losing track of the various things I've been reading, watching, listening to, etc. Before long, I'll have relapsed into that vague feeling of, "There was this movie, I think... and people had guns... and there might have been a detective..."

So, without further delay, I'll begin by noting a couple of things I have seen on my new favorite network: The Georgie Channel on YouTube!

georgiesmith has this fantabulous collection of just about all things David McCallum and Robert Vaughn. (466 clips! OMG! And she's not done yet!) There are hidden gems galore and a few bits of wackiness (Sonny & Cher on Man From UNCLE. 'nuff said.)

The two movies I have watched in their entirety so far are "Robbery Under Arms" and "The Ravine," which show off David McCallum's talents both before and after UNCLE.

+ Robbery Under Arms: I will get the shallowness out of the way first. David McCallum looked like this:





David is a wee lad of 25 at the time of this film, but playing even younger -- as always!

( Hmm, better cut for length and spoilers )

Borrowed from arhh....

1. Do you wear a name tag at work?
Sometimes, when we are having a special event or I have to go to a meeting out of the office.

2. What kind of car do you drive?
Blue 2007 Nissan Altima. *hugs it*

3. What do you order when you go to Taco Bell?
One of those calorie-intensive crunch-wrap things. Nom nom nom.

4. Have you ever had a garage sale?
Yes.

5. What time do you eat lunch?
Anytime between 11:30 and 12:30.

6. What kind of dog do you have?
Imaginary.

7. What's for dinner tonight?
Something with pasta. I'll decide 20 minutes before I have to put it on the table.

8. What is the last alcoholic beverage you had?
Oooooh. Last night, for "dessert," I had Bailey's in this delicious coffee soda we got at a deli. Heavenly.

9. Stupidest thing you ever did with your cell phone?
Answered it?

10. Last time you were sick?
Like, sick with a fever sick? I think in December last year.

11. How long is your hair?
Spock-style.

12. Are you happy right now?
Yes, because I am doing this and ignoring the fact that I should be working. :)

13. What song is stuck in your head right now?
Love Story, by Taylor Swift.

14. Where did you go last?
A round of errands -- dry cleaner, post office, library, lunch.

15. Do you drink beer?
Yes.

16. Have your brothers or sisters ever told you that you were adopted?
Um, yes. Because I am!

17. What is your favorite key chain on your keys?
I have a boring key chain. My favorite "keys" on my key chain, however, are my library card and my gym pass.

18. What was the last movie you watched at home?
"Master and Commander"

19. What is in your pocket?
Nothing right now.

20. Who introduced you to your bf/gf/husband/wife?
No one. I met him when I went to interview for a job.

21. Where do you hurt?
My back is sore.

22. Has someone ever made you a Build-A-Bear?
No.

23. What DVD is in your DVD player?
"Zabriskie Point" -- an Antonioni dud recently released on DVD that Rod Taylor had a role in.

24. What's something fun you did today?
Picked up "The Greatest Story Every Told" at the library.

25. Who was the principal of your high school?
Too long ago to remember!

( 25 more Q&As behind the cut )