EXTRA CRITICUM

My Favorite Movie of the Year Is (Or Will Be)....

..."Les Miserables."  Hands down!  Four thumbs up! Seventeen stars!

Okay, okay, I haven't seen it yet.  But of course it's gonna be my favorite - how could it not be?  Those trailers really do look amaaaaaaazing.  (And arty!)  From what I've seen so far, it looks like they've succeeded in turning a stage extravaganza into a film.   (I know, I know, it's just the trailer. But I am cautiously optimistic.)

Please click HERE to read my recent post about why I think "Les Mis" is a natural fit for film - and about how the show's creators employed cinematic techniques in the writing and the staging of the musical, in the first place. To the barricades!

J Milligan’s novel “EGGMAN” to benefit Hurricane Relief!

Dear All - My friend and "Sesame Street" colleague J Milligan is a terrific writer and all-around good guy. Today I got this email from him:

"Hi Ed: I decided to give all royalties from EGGMAN to local hurricane relief this week. Could you help me spread the word?" Happy to, J!!!

Read about where he's sending the royalties HERE. Or read more about and order this amazing book HERE.

So not only do you get to read a great book by a great writer, but you also get to do some good. What are you waiting for?

“Mockingbird Lane” Review (possible spoilers)…

As per my last post: despite my misgivings, “Mockingbird Lane” (the Munsters reboot by Bryan Fuller) really wasn’t too bad.  Maybe not entirely coherent, and maybe not “The Munsters,” really – but it was clever and it looked pretty ghoulishly great. I would watch it again, for sure – though I’m pretty sure it’s a goner as a longer run.

There was some terrifically snappy Bryan Fuller dialogue, and Jerry O’Connell had some nicely befuddled moments that called to mind Fred Gwynne, however briefly.  Portia DiRossi had some nice heartfelt moments with the kid playing Eddie Muster, though I think Portia could’ve had more to work with if it went to series.  And though nobody loves Marilyn (even her mother tried to eat her, apparently!), Charity Wakefield played the part with some of the most intriguing, twisty line readings I’d ever heard on TV. Really really nice work in a brief and potentially thankless role.

"Mockingbird Lane" - thoughts?

Love the work of Bryan Fuller.

Love Eddie Izzard.

Above all, I love love love “The Munsters.” Watched them all the time as a kid and that show made me love the classic Universal monsters.

I’m the guy on the Universal Studios tour who squeals with glee when the guide offhandedly points out the Munster house, while everybody else is squealing and instagramming pics of Wisteria Lane.

Why These Walls Can Talk: "Cave of Forgotten Dreams, 3-D"

I saw Werner Herzog's documentary "Cave of Forgotten Dreams" last night in Burbank.  In short: GO!  And see it in 3-D.

3-D, you say?  Yes, 3-D.  Who knew Herzog would thrive in a medium that gave us "Creature of the Black Lagoon" and "JAW 3-D"?  (Though I am grateful that he didn't make "Grizzly Man" in more than two dimensions.)

Why "40 is Fantastic" ("40 Days of Screenplays", that is). And "The Matrix."

For those of you with a screenwriting bent... I've just stumbled on something fantastic: "40 DAYS OF SCREENPLAYS", on Scott Myers' site, "Go Into the Story."  Boy, I could get into THIS!

The idea: read and analyze one screenplay a day for 40 Days. I joined the group already in progress on Day 8 (yesterday: "Dead Poet's Society") and just posted a comment on Day 9 ("The Matrix.") Oh, and they offer links to pdfs of the screenplays themselves, so it's a snap to download 'em and delve into 'em.

Zadie, Zadie, Grumpy Lady: A Response to "Invaluable Writing Advice"

So I received something via ye olde email machine that I can’t quite get out of my head.  It’s an email from Gotham Writers’ Workshop: writing advice from Zadie Smith – Zadie Smith!  Of “White Teeth” fame!  Zadie Smith’s a great writer! And famous!  And successful!  Her advice must be great, right? Well, not so much.  I’m going to reprint her advice here, and then make a few notes of my own.

Two Cool Events!

Hi all!  Please check out these two exciting events.  (And tickets WILL sell out, especially for Puppet Playlist. So please get your tickets early!)

If you're around, please join me in person:
I'll be in Boston to see "The Crocodile Boy Project" on Saturday and Sunday, Jan 30-31... 

Then I'll be performing in NYC's Puppet Playlist alongside some of the finest puppeteers I know: Feb 5 and Feb 7.  Details follow!

"Daily Ed": My 'Play a Day' Project!

Happy 2010! This year, please join me online for my latest adventure: I’m writing a short play every day - and posting each and every one of them on this here blog thingie: www.edvalentine.blogspot.com

Why "Mr. Fox" Really is Fantastic

If you know that I love puppetry, Roald Dahl’s writing, and stop motion animation, you might think that I’d be an easy mark for “The Fantastic Mr. Fox.”  But in truth, after I saw a preview and a few commercials I wasn’t sold.  The stop-motion looked herky-jerky - disturbing.  The characters, animals all, looked scary and feral, with beady little eyes and sharp little teeth. 

Why "Nine" is a 10.

L to R: The three Guidos: Daniel Day Lewis, Raul Julia, Marcello Mastroianni

Finally saw “Nine” yesterday.  I almost didn’t bother, after all the critical sniping.  (Seriously: what IS it with you critics?  Do you hate the musical form?  Or are you just trying to take down Rob Marshall on his sophomore movie musical?  You slammed Marshall for repeating himself - but there’s a difference between repeating yourself and developing a style.)

My first "Fairly OddParents" episode, Friday night on Nickelodeon!

Dear friends - Some exciting news: my very first "Fairly OddParents" episode, "Fly Boy," premieres this week!  It's showing on Nickelodeon this coming Friday night, August 14.  Nickelodeon's broadcasting it in L.A. at 6 PM, but please check your local listings to find out when it's showing in your area.

"Fly Boy" was sneak-previewed to a large and wildly appreciative audience at Comic-Con this year, and I'm now delighted to have the chance to share it with you.  I'm really proud of the episode, so I hope you can tune in and check out my TV writing debut.

All the best,
Ed

"The Way In": In Praise of Muppets.

How did I get here?  What was my “Way In” to theater and TV?  Simple: the puppets made me do it.

No, don’t run away.  I’m serious.  The reason I’m involved with theater or TV in the first place is because of… puppets. 

See, at an early age, my mom plunked me down in front of the TV and I watched things like Bugs Bunny, and Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, Underdog, Rocky and Bullwinkle and The Flintstones (also Nixon’s resignation – but that’s another story).  I loved TV, and I loved all those shows.  But back then my favorite show, my very favorite show of all… was Sesame Street. 

3-of-a-Kind in North Hollywood presents...

I'm delighted to report that North Hollywood's own 3-of-a-Kind Theater Company is producing

• My short play:"SNOW," in a production directed by Tony Christopher.

At a polar bear cage in a big city park… at the site of an unspeakable tragedy… a Mayor, a Cardinal, a Socialite, a Reporter, and an Activist gather to put their self-serving spin on events. But when a grieving mother finally has her say, will she force these Very Important People to move past their glib words to a far deeper understanding of life, death, and grief?

If you're in LA, please plan to check it out!  I've seen the rehearsals. Tony's doing fantastic work and we've got 8 powerhouse actors in this never-before-seen piece.

Tetris Codes, Girl Nixon, and Cheese Steaks: A Q&A with Jonathan Goldberg

Howdy!  This week, please check out the reading of a brand spankin’ new play by my good friend Jonathan Goldberg, with whom I had a lively Q&A (below).  First, here’s the info on the play:

MY FATHER IS A TETRIS GAME
by Jonathan A. Goldberg
Directed by: Alexis Poledouris
January 20th @ 8PM
The New Dixon Place
161 Chrystie Street (between Rivington & Delancey www.dixonplace.org for info and tickets.