Karel’s web channel

obama ends federal pot raids

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 11:21:18 -0800

The federal raids against marijuana clinics in states that have voted for its usage will not stop under a new Obama policy. Read all about it here.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/26/holder-vows-to-end-raids_n_170119.html

An open letter to Mark Denis via the Universe

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 08:30:56 -0800

Dear Mark (No, I know it's not your real name exactly):

I've been reminiscing a lot lately, as I move forward in radio I can't help but look back. And when I do, KFI always comes to mind. The family I made there is still my family, from my best friend David and his lovely family to Mark, Emiliano, Crozier, Phil, Jennifer, Tiffany D, Smilky, Roe (Rose Marie), Dot, Jeff, Vicky...so many still in my world, each having taught me a lesson. But most of all, I think of you.

I remember in the heady days of KFI, when Andrew and I were a big thing. The first gay couple in history blah ti blah. Lots of media attention. Lots of politics between us, Handel, Hendrie et al. A whirlwind really. Each day you'd come in to work to do traffic so we could always say "And now, let's go to Mark Dennis in the KFI traffic center..." The "traffic center" was an itty bitty room on the corner of the hall, where you turned to go down to KOST. There, in that little office with many computer monitors (before it was chic) you sat each day, having taken the train in to work. You always said hello. And every day you woke up and checked a small book you kept that had everybody's birthday that you ever worked with and you made any appropriate calls before venturing out. Every day.

But I didn't know that the day we spoke for more than a moment. That day, someone had told me of your history. Andrew and I, and me for the most part still, were/are not the most savvy about "real" radio people and their history since, well, we never were and I'm probably still not in most's eyes. But I digress.

I was told that you once had my boss David's corner office, that you were the Program Director of KFI, that you were on air for years, historic really. I knew you as Mark Denis is the KFI Traffic Center and like so many I would discover, your history was rich and vast.

I had the stupidity to ask you if it was weird, coming to work every day at KFI after having been the leader of it for so many years, being such an on air force. And then, you changed my life.

You turned to me in that hallway outside the air studio where the janitor was vacuuming yet again at 3:50, 10 minutes before our show, having all day to do it but NOOOOOOO he HAD to do it at 3:50 each day, so Andrew was in the studio fuming about it silently and I stepped out to avoid his oncoming vent (it would have been one sentence and biting and would have implied that I do something about it all, so...) Anyway...

You turned to me and you said, "A gig's a gig!" and then said "I get to come in to an environment I love, see people I like, earn a living and be with my family both real and extended...what's to complain?"

At that moment, I'm sure I laughed, we said goodbye and I went on to solve the janitor problem (which I'm sure thrilled David, because solving that meant I went to complain to him).

Now, years later, as I read bulletin boards saying how "desperate" I must be to be going to smaller stations, as I look at all kinds of ways in today's world to entertain people from pitching TV shows at Viacom to web streams, I can't help but feel..well, fine. I mean, in today's world, where stations and their staffs get laid waste in one day, as I do the final show of a friend in Los Angeles as their FM talk goes music...I can't help but think at least I'll be doing SOMETHING and that everything is a chance, it's what you make it.

In other words, a gig's a gig.

I don't know what's going to happen Monday when I go on a tiny station, compared to what I was on. On two of them. But I know that everyone has offered to help. Former coworkers have offered to do my news for FREE until I can pay them, to produce me, to help me in any way. My new family that formed at KGO. And I'm excited, yes, thrilled. I'll be working again, some place, some how. And good things will flow from that, as you so eloquently pointed out.

A gig's a gig. It's what you make it. As I sit here crying, remembering you, your life, your son who approached me in Las Vegas once, he in radio himself, to help me and tell me what a fan he, in fact was of MINE, not knowing his dad had forever changed me...as I think of all my friends in my radio and TV and print family I think I would add one thing to that...

A gig's a gig.

Family is forever. Form them when you can. And take with you what you can from them.

Mark Dennis or Marc Denis or however you spelled your stage name (hey, I can be Karel, you could be whomever you wish) I hope in the cosmic scheme of things if anything great happens once we pass when people think fondly of us, know each day a part of your spirit, of your optimism about life is with me.

Because as I think of life itself I'm forced to say, hey, a gig's a gig.

Karel’s Return to Radio

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:04:50 -0800

KAREL RETURNS TO SAN FRANCISCO RADIO
ON KNGY-FM/ENERGY 92.7

Flying Bear Media, owner of KNGY-FM/Energy 92.7 is pleased to announce the addition of Karel to our talented roster of daily personalities. Karel is well known for his highly compelling and often controversial take on everything from pop culture, to politics, religion, and events of the day…in short, life in general. Karel is one of the most recognizable voices and talents in media, having made history by hosting daily shows on two of the nation’s biggest Talk Radio stations, KFI-AM/Los Angeles and KGO-AM/San Francisco, and by being a former columnist for publications such as Billboard Magazine and the Advocate, author of several books and high profile blogger at the HuffingtonPost.com

Karel found himself as part of the historic 2008 election news cycle when his now famous (or infamous) feelings about a certain plumber were inadvertently aired by a KGO engineer who failed to turn off his microphone during the national news. Karel was subsequently suspended, then fired over the incident by Citadel, named Pinhead by Bill O’Reilly and his blog at the HuffingtonPost about the event received over 70,000 views in one day. Never one to wait around, Karel immediately filmed a one man stage show, a pilot for TV and now, less than 120 days later, returns to radio.

KNGY’s Consultant and Program Director commented “We are so excited to bring Karel back to San Francisco! At a time when all the big broadcast companies are cutting back on personality, we’re proud to be expanding as the flagship radio station of The Karel Show. It may be a bit unorthodox to add a talk show to evenings on a music radio station, but that’s the beauty of being a completely independent operation. We can still take chances while everyone else does what’s safe. Karel delivered some of the highest ratings on KGO while he was there during the first few months of PPM data and I can’t wait to grow our night numbers with him on board.

“Radio is changing, the entertainment industry is changing,” Karel added. “People aren’t one thing, one format, one ideology. Each of our lives has music and conversation, now, so does Energy! And between the station itself, online streaming, Podcasts through iTunes and the addition of my show being available through Foneshow, well, there’s no reason everyone everywhere can’t listen.”

The Karel Show will air on Energy 92.7 from 9pm – 12am, Monday – Thursday, beginning March 2, 2009. The show will soon be available on a syndicated basis through KNGY-FM. Interested parties should contact either Don Parker at (415) 356 – 1624 or KDW Productions, LLC at 562-239-2545 or www.radiokrl.com

Tomlin: Classically Funny, Always OUTspoken

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:03:16 -0800

Photo: Tomlin and Wagner Theatricalz
Lily Tomlin loves to perform. So much so that “ever since I found out I could sell a ticket” she’s been on the road, she told me recently prior to taking to the stage in her latest vehicle “Classic Lily.”
And while the title “Classic Lily” reflects the presence in the show of such luminaries as everyone's favorite obnoxious operator "Ernestine" to the wise-beyond-her-years six-year-old Edith Ann ("and that's the truth, thhhh!) there can be no doubt that the woman behind them is a true class act.
For over four decades she has been an out, strong female comic in an industry dominated by men and has been one of the few that has remained rated “G” in the sometimes very blue areas of stand up.
"Stage is what I do, and I fancy that I do it best, and I enjoy it most," she said, which speaks volumes given the diversity of her body of work, a career that started most visibly on television in 1969 as part of the cast of “Laugh In.”
A trademark of “Laugh In” was addressing political issues, particularly the war in Vietnam, and that wasn’t lost on Tomlin.
"I was completely and totally against the war in Vietnam," she stated. "And I was very rigid at the time. I have since rethought that. Back then, I wouldn't do things like get my picture taken with John Wayne and then I snubbed poor old Martha Mitchell on the show. Years later I read she was hurt by that and I thought, 'What would it have hurt to have chatted up Martha, maybe I could have saved her from political abduction by the Nixon clan,'" she chuckled.
Of course the specter of Vietnam has been raised over the last seven years as former President Bush waged what many saw as an illegal occupation in Iraq and the similarity wasn’t lost on Tomlin.
"I was as stringent as my opposition to Iraq,” she quickly added, “but not as rigid with its supporters. Humans are too infallible to be perfect. The war is still such a major factor in our country and I fear we don't know what the outcome of Afghanistan will be, we can't stay there forever. These problems have not gone away."
It was during the “Laugh In” days that Tomlin met her longtime partner (writing and personal) Jane Wagner. That relationship has brought forth many creative endeavors including the award-winning “The Search For Intelligent Life In the Universe” stage and screen extravaganza.
In the early days of her career her relationship wasn’t a focus of media attention.
“If you were going to be out front in those days, you would be pretty much alone,” she recalled. “It’s not that anything was hidden, but I actually would get more flack for being a woman that didn’t have or seem to want children than anything else,” she added.
“I would get asked all the time by people who knew better," she said. "I remember when Carson asked me if I wanted to have children and I turned to him and said 'Johnny, who has custody of yours!'"
While it may be an entirely new world for gays and lesbians in the entertainment industry in terms of visibility, many things haven’t changed that much. Opposition to same sex couples is still visible in national politics, including the controversial and oppressive Proposition 8 in California, spearheaded by Rev. Rick Warren. Warren’s church is just minutes from the Orange County Center for the Performing Arts where Tomlin will be in March.
“Proposition 8 is just plain wrong and needs to be changed, there’s no doubt about that,” she stated unequivocally. “However, Rick Warren doesn’t scare me. Him giving the invocation at the Inauguration was like my Uncle doing it. I come from a very big Southern Baptist household and I have dealt with this my entire life. Rise above it, move on,” she stated.
However, she is quick to defend Warren’s right to say what he wishes.
“Rick, just go ahead and say what you want to say. I think Melissa (Etheridge) got in to trouble because she defended Warren's speech. Speech is free, still, for the most part, let him blather away. But we should have the strength not to be cowed by any of that, we're stronger," she concluded.
If Tomlin seems unafraid, it’s a attitude that also permeates her work and career choices. She can go from stage comedy to big screen madness (“9 to 5” comes to mind), from being a member of a tea klatch that sips with Mussolini and smuggles Jews to safety to an ensemble of staff that served a seated President on “The West Wing.”
That show was a civic lesson to many and had a serious sense of authenticity; in fact, at times Martin Sheen’s President Bartlett had a higher approval rating than the then seated President George W. Bush. The gravity of the show as well as the spirit of it was felt by Tomlin during her time on set.
"It was wonderful to be on a show that was about something, with such great cast and crew,” she recalled fondly.
“When I was standing in the Oval Office, at Bartlett's desk, in some ways, he was the President. The transition from Bartlett to the Santos regime was actually sorrowful. I got protective and felt like the next woman taking my job wouldn't be good enough at it!" she added.
And while working in Hollywood’s version of the White House the goings-on of the show’s real-life counterparts were not lost on Tomlin. When asked about how to move forward as a country from the last eight years, she took pause.
“If we are going to clean things up in the eyes of the nation and world then we have to prosecute or investigate these people, Bush on down, for any possible crimes,” she concluded.
Meanwhile, it’s back to being funny. Will she ever slow down?
“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” she laughed. “I feel like I’m 30, with still so much that I want to do… I’ve always done 40 or 50 dates a year, or as many as I can squeeze in between other things. I don’t see that stopping anytime soon.”
Good because in the world of entertainment Tomlin remains classic.
For more on Lily Tomlin go to <a href="http://www.Lilytomlin.com ">http://www.Lilytomlin.com </a>and for more on the performance at the OC Center for Performing Arts go to <a href="http://www.ocpac.org">http://www.ocpac.org</a>.

Oscar and me

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 07:55:50 -0800

The 81st Annual Academy Awards were a delight. The new staging, production values, and entertainment quality made previous years look, well, ridiculous. Hollywood put on a show, which is what it does and is, and the stars of stage, screen music and technology shined.

The day was bittersweet for me. I did not work the red carpet for KNX because of the KGO incident. Conservative tone at CBS and those perceived as “lose cannons” don’t fit in a live party atmosphere for them it seems. Oh well, I’d rather walk the carpet than work it, anyway.

And that’s what yesterday, last week, last month, did for me. During the Oscar’s there was a commercial, your “aha” moment. Well, I had one last night. Aha! I’ve been comfortable avoiding the risk of actually doing the work I need to walk the carpet by being on it for actual work.

Like television. My pitch meeting last week was fabulous. I know in my heart it was. The presentation was impressive, as I have been told by those that attended and those they trust; the “leave behind” was solid; the product very good. Yes, I wasn’t some little pretender-to-the-throne trying to weasel my way in. Nope. I had the goods, and I knew how to present them. All created by me with the help of about 100 people. No lie. 100 people that believed in my vision as well. That pitch and that product happened because I willed it to be over the last four months. Like my stage show and the DVD of it coming out. i willed it to be.

So why I never willed a movie to be (Andrew left many scripts), a play to be, more albums, music video, TV show...well, fear. Fear fear fear. Easier to be a part of their world on the sidelines, known by all, at all the right parties and events, part of the world but on the outskirts always talking to someone else instead of being interviewed about my work. My work has become covering other’s work.

Well, that’s over. In the last four months I’ve gotten to work. And now, there’s no stopping me.

I love attending award shows as media.

But in my heart, I know I’m supposed to attend as a working member of the community throwing the event, be it Oscar, Emmy or Tony. Now that I’ve had some time to ask how I want to spend the next chapter, the next act, it’s in front of microphones, cameras and live audiences.

Time to get to work.

Which leads me to the next little thing I’ll slip in here and then do a real press release later about.

Starting in March, hopefully March 2, I’ll be heard on air in San Francisco 9p to 12a M-Th on KNGY, Energy 92.7 FM and online at www.radiokrl.com

If all goes well, I’ll also be on KRXA the same time. Technical issues to work out there.

And then I’ll add more stations as I go along.

Like I said, time to get to work.

No Miracles In Buffalo...why?

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 10:22:15 -0800

Randomness.

Last night, Thursday, February 12, 2009 I was off making a new friend. I had interviewed Canadian singer Matt Dusk for the Long Beach/Orange County Blade and decided to go down and see him at the Orange County Center for the Performing Arts. We agreed to meet in person before the show; a common thing to do when you've spent over an hour on the phone with someone prior.

Well, he was a delight. Handsome, well spoken, and I could have kissed him (but his fiancee may not have liked it) when I was telling a story and mentioned John McCain and he truly asked who he was. I had to refresh his memory as to the Senator's recent outing. He's not out of touch, it's just Canada, like every other country, was and is really excited about Barack Obama.

His set was a mixture of love songs old and new, channeling Sinatra as easily as singing "Two Shots of Happy" a song written by Bono and Edge for Sinatra, but given to Dusk after Sinatra's passing by Bono. "As Time Goes By" was beautifully arranged and "One for the Road" expertly dramatized through song.

Yes, he was wonderful The Orange County audience of white (not one person of color in the room of 500, I looked everywhere) season ticket holders who didn't know Dusk, the gays and lesbians who did, and the women who had flown from Canada just to see this handsome crooner. Lots and lots of women, and couples, up, dancing by the stage, yes, it was a lovely evening.

It was a cold night on Giotron, my Piaggio MP3 500. I got home and couldn't wait to get inside and see my dogs in the warmth and give Angel her insulin shot (diabetic dog, another blog). I entered, and did a double take. I leave one TV on for the dogs on CNN (don't lecture me, I'm solar) Anderson Cooper was on at 11pm Pacific, What's he doing there? Wait, why is he covering a house fire at this hour?

Then the scroll. Plane crash in Buffalo, NY. All dead. House in flames. Person on the ground missing. 44 passengers and a crew of four. 50 people total.

I sat staring. Such randomness. I was just enjoying the company and fellowship of a room full of people enjoying vintage love songs and a great singer. As I watched...after 7pm Pacific time I was having a before show drink with Dusk, while the plane was going down. Eight o'clock hour I was enjoying a light Jazz set, laughing, singing, being alive while jet fuel and a natural gas leak caused by the crash fueled an on-scene inferno.

The reality of plane crashes came, well, crashing home and suddenly Sully and his crew from the Miracle in the Hudson seemed even more..lucky, skilled, lucky, miraculous.

Dusk and I spoke of life in the entertainment industry. One reality is flying; so much so that when Mike Wallace semi-retired the main reason he cited was he simply did not want to fly any more, too much work, not very comfortable at times, on and on. Dusk himself is on a five week tour that will involve lots of flying given he lives in Canada. I'm due to go to San Francisco, New York and Austin in the very near future. Lots of flying.

I know, as do you, that it's the safest form of transportation. As a motorcycle rider I will tell you first hand the road is the most dangerous place you could be when traveling. People drive like idiots most of the time, and now enter Blackberries, iPhones, GPS systems, Satellite Radios, IPods...well, no one pays attention on the road any more.

And that's what makes it so random. Immediately everyone gathers to find out the "whys." The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), other state and federal agencies, medical examiners, a massive effort that will take almost a year to painstakingly recreate the plane and see if the needle in the haystack can, in fact, be found.

But there is no why. There's the mechanical fault, or weather, or confluence of events. But there's no real why, why these people, why this plane this time, why did they crash and the people in the Hudson live? Trying to figure out why will only give one a headache. I've lost my husband to malpractice right in front of me, my mother of COPD in a nursing home right in front of me, and a generation of friends to AIDS right in front of me. There's no whys. Trust me. Don't even try, let it go. Very Buddhist, but true. There might be a physical reason, but don't look beyond that for a justification or reason.

I went to bed grateful for my night. Prior to going I almost postponed for a night so I could rent a car (did I mention the cold?) Instead, I went out and made a new friend and had a great time. I might have just seen that as typical fare for someone in my job.

Instead I savor every single minute of it today as I see the images filling the news cycle.

There's been a lot of people arguing about money in Washington D.C. recently, and even more people in the country, myself included at times, worrying about it. I've watched and as they've thrown about astronomical figures and simply talk of printing more money, it reminds me how little, how insignificant, how worthless, how ridiculous it all is. It means nothing. Because not one billion or 700 billion of that bail out money matters to the families of those on that plane today. If each of them could, they'd give every single dime to see their loved ones again.

Perspective. I don't like the extensive coverage of these crashes and won't watch all day today because we're not going to know anything for months so reporting on the unknown is amusing. But when they are in the news, we may not be able to figure out the why, but we can take meaning from it.

I planned to have fun last night and I did. 48 people planned on getting off a plane in Buffalo. The best laid plans of mice and men oft gang a glee. It's all so random.

There's a lot of talk about what matters in this country right now, what will save us.

Thursday, February 12, 2009 I was reminded sometimes nothing can save us, not a billion dollars, nothing. It gives things today new meaning, a fresh view, because I'm here to see it. And if you're reading this, so are you. Don't squander it.

Listen to We, the People not them

Thu, 5 Feb 2009 19:51:44 -0800

Why on Earth are we listening to, encouraging, giving air time to or paying one bit of attention to anything a Republican Senator or Congressperson has to say that seeks to repeat past mistakes or tactics? I'm sorry, I'm tired of all this bi-partisan crap. That party, the party of historical non inclusion, of institutionalized bigotry, of fringe religious hatred does not get to magically revamp its image by electing an African American to lead it and pleading for cooperation while being obstructionists and while their members compare their party to an insurgency like the Taliban (Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas).

Neoconservative values, views and proponents are a conquered people. We beat you. You lost. Your views, your dogmas, your complete and blatant disregard for America or its people for your own greed and agendas...that LOST. So we beat you out with our votes, rightfully, because you were destroying the American spirit and America itself.

So, who cares what their wants or plans are? Look where their wants, desires and plans have gotten us. And if they had such innovative, country-saving ideas, where were they a year ago?

They wanted the war. They marched for it, pleaded for it, ran on it, campaigned for it, voted for it every single time, supported their President as they called any dissenters unAmerican and NOW they want civility and cooperation?

Say it with me, Poppycock.

The war is the major economic issue of our time. Not corporate greed. Not lobbyist. Not Wall Street. One of the largest drains on the US Economy is, continues to be, our empire building and the wars we are waging. Iraq is not over. We are still there and that's still $8-$10 billion a month. Even for 18 months that's almost $200 billion. They're screaming about $200 million or so for the Arts in the new Stimulus Package or other hot-button programs that account for less than one percent of the now $800 billion plus dollar package but $10 billion a month, sustained, is OK?

$800 billion. That's a lot. Not as much as we're going to spend on, say it with me, Iraq.

It's the war, stupid. Must I scream it? It's the WAR STUPID.

George W. Bush bankrupted America by letting his friends rape our country for eight years on Wall Street and in the Green Zone, Billions of dollars are missing from Iraq, just plain missing, like the bail out money we just gave to the banks by their own admissions. Billions more have been shot on programs that didn't work, rebuilding that never happened.

And we're now broke and are no safer. Case in point:

CNN reported on February 5, 2009: " WASHINGTON (CNN) -- <em>Over the last several weeks a growing number of al Qaeda operatives have entered Yemen from Saudi Arabia and have established a renewed network that potentially threatens U.S. and Saudi targets in the region, both U.S. and Yemeni officials have told CNN.

Both U.S. officials said one of the major concerns is that a number of al Qaeda operatives have crossed the border from Saudi Arabia since a Saudi crackdown has stepped up. Al Qaeda, he said appears to be looking for a new place in the immediate area where it can still operate."</em>

First of all, I have said from the beginning that Iraq was not the center of Al Qaeda nor was it the home of those that attacked us, it was and is Saudi Arabia. I have screamed on radio for years that the Saudi's look the other way as extremism and anti-Western sentiments are taught openly. And now look, the stream of "terrorists" is coming from where? Saudi Arabia.

Oh, but they've started a crackdown. Now? Eight years after 9/11. Geez, thanks.

So Republicans and their dirty little war bankrupted us and put us in harm's way. And now those same Republicans, or newly elected ones, are helping Rush Limbaugh get his wish by making Obama and America fail.

These people need to sit down and shut up and act like a conquered people. Maybe open casinos. But shut up. Let Obama lead, which means FOLLOW. For a change, follow a leader in the right direction, not off a cliff. Give it your all. Or get out. Make your opinions known, but then, sit down and realize your time is not now, it was then, and then sucked.

The time for civility (and this is directed to Obama as well) is over not beginning. The fact that these people are not being tried for War Crimes, destruction of a nation, every kind of ethics violations known to man or womankind and asked to either leave the country in exile or go on trial at the Hague should be enough. The fact that the Republican party is even still viewed as a credible political entity and not just a corrupt group of profiteers that should be disbanded and thrown out of the people's house all together amazes me (counting the total number of indictments, ethics violations or scandals in the Bush administration now replaces sheep for many while trying to go off to sleep).

And why we chose this moment in time to change the way we treat a conquered party or people is beyond me and probably upsetting to some American Indians or ANY minority in this country that has had to take a back seat while the ruling party ran their country in to the ground.

It's time we let people in Washington DC run amok, people that want to do good for a change. Let them spend away on things like Los Angeles'<em> Subway to the Sea</em> or any number of "shovel ready" projects of the future. Let them redesign our power grid. And yes, let them give money to the arts and education instead of to defense funding for a change.

And let's not let an agency that some deem unConstitutional in the first place, the IRS, be the arbiter of all people moral. I don't care who had what tax problems, can they bring health care to every American? Can they govern? Screwing the IRS is one thing, screwing the nation, another. Focus people, focus. If the only thing Democrats do is screw up on their taxes, consider yourself lucky after the last eight years.

And where were these voices of dissent and caution with George W. Bush as he spent more than any president before him, incurred more debt, created wars for profit and vanity, didn't fulfill one real promise he made, grew the government more than any other...where were they as he ignored Katrina, as he appropriated billions to remove a dictator that meant us no harm?

And where was this newly emboldened media, grilling Robert Gibbs each day as CNN and MSNBC and others now televise the daily press briefing...where was the curiosity and relentless grilling of Scott McClellan or Tony Snow or any of Bush's mouthpieces? Where was the broadcasting of everything Bush did, the scrutiny? The press has already asked for an apology from Obama over the Daschle incident and no Cindy Sheehan couldn't even get an a small chat.

So media, check yourself as well. Quit putting microphones in front of Republican spokespeople of any kind, from "political analyst" to the "strategists" or even the politicians if all they can do is bitch and moan and complain. Get over it. We heard your arguments and voted against them.

The media, the politicians and our three branches of government need to remember that we spoke and we were loud and clear in our message.

Now let Obama change things. Get out of his way. If he fails, we'll take him to task. But I guarantee, NOTHING he does, NOTHING you could consent to Congress or Senate, could do as much damage to our country as what you consented to and did prior to his getting in to DC.

Remember that.

mindless fun

Wed, 4 Feb 2009 12:51:12 -0800

I was catching up on Nip/Tuck last night when Jennifer Coolidge did yet another incredibly whacked out performance on the show. Her character needed butt augmentation so she could relate to her African American heritage after finding out from a DNA test that she hails from the Zulu people (everyone is from Africa when it comes to our DNA, but logic was lost on her...).

While she was having surgery, Hot Cocoa’s video for her single Yo Stank! Played. It’s priceless, explicit, and downright hysterical. Coolidge needs an Emmy nomination just for this guest appearance. No one gives it more heart, soul or comedy than she does.

Enjoy!

Woman power at the altar of labelle

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 07:06:42 -0800

"We look like a bunch of Halloween drag queens!" the ever-real powerhouse Patti Labelle exclaimed Thursday, January 29, 2009 at the Nokia Center in Los Angeles, CA. Patti Labelle was taking the stage with the original members of the group "Labelle," Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash in their fifth show as a newly reformed group as part of a tour that has encompassed the United States and abroad.
"We started singing together the latter part of 1962" Dash recalled on stage as Patti tried to remember the genesis of the trio.
Everything about the night was unconventional, moves that would sink most younger "girl" groups of today seemed natural for the three. The show opened with no flash, just Natalie Cole looking svelt walking out in front of a black curtain and introducing the group with Patti, Nona and Sarah then walking out and taking a curtain call before doing a thing. Since there was already a standing ovation, it seemed appropriate.
Then, without pyrotechnics or 58 High Def flatscreens, Patti and a group of six talented musicians with three additional backup singers kicked off the show with...a ballad? Yup, as Nona and Sarah moved to the corner of the stage like DooWop girls of the 1950s, Patti soared into a powerful, fully orchestrated rendition of Miss Otis Regret's from the group Labelle's reunion release "Back To Now" available at iTunes and every conventional outlet.

Hendryx was decked out in her traditional outlandish garb, feathers flowing from her head, rhinestones dangling, skin tight pants, no, being over 60 hasn't changed her one bit. Sarah Dash, who announced, "I'm just happy to be up here in these pumps because two years ago I could not walk..." remained the less outlandish of the three while Patti stayed with her traditionally puffy garb of late, outfits befitting the "High Priestess of Soul" title heaped upon her by so many.

The first part of the two hour set relied heavily on "Back to Now" and it, and the entire evening, showcased what a talented, and often overlooked, writer Nona Hendryx remains. From the politically tinged "System" which was written, as Hendryx explained, "where my part is the John McCain part, Patti is the Obama part and Sarah is the undecided voter part..." adding a new relevance to the song whose hook plays a familiar refrain these days, "System don't you bother me..."

Patti recalled her trip to the inauguration, where unlike some celebrities (read Mariah Carey) there was no diva trip and Labelle and her son braved the cold for five hours with just her purse so she could have food for her blood sugar (diabetes) but zero security. The story that ensues tells of Patti being rescued by Bill Clinton's personnel and trying to stop and snap photos on the sly with everyone that asked.

The second half of the show dealt with vintage Labelle, from "Isn't It A Shame," the final song recorded by the group as Labelle to the signature "Lady Marmelade" there was no stopping the joy from spilling over from these three ladies to the audience. That song has remained iconic, and has been covered by everyone and their sister at some point. But this was no flashy remake with Christina or Pink, nay, here they were, those three sassy ladies of soul still asking "Voulez vou couche avec moi?" and serving it with more vocal prowess and yes, sex, than any of their younger counterparts. They're something to be said for the original. And they wouldn't be stopped. When a mike went bad Labelle simply said, "we're going to keep it going like real women.." Indeed.

Real women, that's what was on stage at Nokia. Each one over 60. Each one glamorous, sexy, talented in their unique and wonderful way. Each one making incredible music, with voices that time has only perfected and aged to emotional perfection for those that love Gospel or R&B.
Labelle was a trendsetting group, three strong women, rocking out to songs written by one of the group; and these women each remain strong in their own right. Hendryx has had a fine solo career as a singer/songwriter and Dash continued recording and having hits on both the R&B and Dance circuits. Patti Labelle went on to even greater stardom, but when together, it's obvious why and how these girls came to be one. There's no stars when the three of them are on stage, just three singers each pulling their weight in their own way in their own part.
As I sat with audience members young and old I found it refreshing that the combined ages of the group is almost 200 years. I rejoiced that not once had I wondered if anyone was lip syncing. In fact, at one point they wished they were when each forgot the words to the new single "Roll Out" featuring Wyclef Jean. "This is pathetic," Labelle laughed, "we don't know the words!"
It didn't matter. No one ad libs like the three of them.
There won't be much time to learn them either, as the group is in Oakland on January 30th (the following night) and then off to Atlanta and New York.
Yes, they're having the times of their lives reminding concert goers that there are still people out there that simply sing great music with great musicians for a living; people that have been doing it for almost 50 years and are still going strong.
In an overproduced world of pop and an era where every band that ever had a hit has had a reunion tour Labelle proves that the real bands, the real acts that reunite are the ones that make it seem like they never left.
Welcome back Labelle, all three of you. Music missed you.
Photos and story by Charles Karel Bouley

We are one

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:17:25 -0800

In Praise of American Artists

by Charles Karel Bouley

This isn’t meant personally, and I say it with love, but screw the Chinese, we just beat your opening ceremonies all to crap on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. as the Inaugural Ceremonies of the 44th President of the United States Barack Obama begins with the concert “We Are One.” Because say what you will about our economy or our foreign policy, but we sure can sing and dance. And we don’t need the world’s largest LCD monitors or 10,000 tiny people crammed in to boxes in diapers to do it; nope, just a backdrop of one of the grandest, and most imposing home courts in the world, Washington D.C., and some of the best artists from all disciplines at the top of their respective crafts.

Yes, as I sit basically unemployed as so many artists spend their lives, I was reminded by the opening concert that without art and artists, life would simply be unimaginable.

As Obama himself referenced the Lincoln Memorial let’s not forget that building that served as the perfect backdrop for this, and many other occasions, was the work of architect Henry Bacon from Watseka, Illinois, sculptor Daniel Chester French from Exeter, New Hampshire with the interior mural painted by Jules Guerin, from St. Louis, Missouri.

As Obama looked forward on January 18, 2009 from the stage addressing the crowds at the Inaugural Concert, he saw the Washington Monument, designed by Robert Mills from Charleston, South Carolina. Mills is called by many in architecture the first native born American architect, which, while disputable, is a lasting honor indeed.

As America and the world looks to Washington they will see the works of many painters, artists, architects.

And as the emotions stir it’s mostly American singers that stir them. While watching this particular concert, how could one not be stirred? Personally, I was touched when The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington D.C. sang proudly as Josh Groban from Los Angeles, CA sang “My Country ‘Tis Of Thee” with Heather Headley, from Ft. Wayne , Indiana via Trinidad (came here at 15), on the same steps where 70 years ago African American singer Marian Anderson sang to 75,000 having been denied the right to sing at another event for the Daughter’s of the American Revolution because of color. As Headley sang toward the First Family tears welled, in America’s eyes as well. As John Cougar Mellencamp from Seymour, Indiana sang “Ain’t That America” or Garth Brooks from Tulsa, Oklahoma, “American Pie” (written by Don McLean from New Rochelle, NY) I thought Obama is already uniting, I dislike Country music as a whole and yet, I’m on my feet, dancing.

As I watched in HD like much of the world, watching the work of countless technicians, camera people, crew of all kinds, scenery floating in and out, choirs appearing and then not, Tom Hanks of Concord, CA, reading Lincoln’s words choreographed to an incredible live score played by full military band all of it beamed in HD across DC and the land I wanted to hug “We Are One” producer Don Mischer, graduate of University of Texas, Austin for pulling it all together.

And of course hats off to Chuck Dolan from Cleveland, Ohio, founder of “The Green Channel” which used his innovative idea of burying cables beneath the ground to send signals, and then microwaving them short distances around to people, the first being the residents of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, because that, of course, became HBO which has aired this concert to the nation, free of charge.

Yes, I am in praise of American artists. I know it’s goché but no one can create in today’s modern times quite like we can. That’s not to say that all great artist are American, I’m simply saying no one can pull it all together quite like us on film, on stage or musically (used to say ‘or on record, but, there aren’t records any more, so what do you say now, on stage, screen or iPod? another editorial, I know..)Truly, it is no wonder that the Entertainment industry remains one of our biggest exports; yes, that evil Hollywood that the Right loves to slam brings billions of dollars a year in to the economy of the United States by sending it’s products elsewhere, and we definitely export more than we import in the entertainment department.

The fact is as states face record deficits and everyone is faced with hard choices, the arts and artists get cut. California is facing $42 billion in shortfalls, and arts programs are being cut again. Professionally, thousands of artists of all types, in front of and behind microphones and cameras are losing their jobs. On January 20th, one of the nation’s largest media entities, Clear Channel, is rumored to be having a blood letting of over 1000 jobs on and off air. CBS has cut, cut, cut, Citadel Radio, ABC, newspapers closing, less column inches for writers, publishing houses closing, endowments going away.
Even the Madoff scandal has touched the arts, causing charitable foundations to revoke their endowments because they simply don’t have the money.
Yes, when times are tough, we turn to song, to TV, to film. Right now the nation is bleeding money but box offices are fine, record sales doing all right. BMI Music this year dumped almost a billion dollars back in the economy in licensing fees alone, putting that money in the hands of writers, artists and record companies. Now that’s economic stimulus.
As Beyoncé from Houston, TX sang “America The Beautiful” written by Falmouth, Massachusetts native Katharine Lee Bates, a woman that lived with another woman, Katherine Coman, for 25 years until her death, I wondered who will teach the new children of Houston about music and song as that city suffers from economic crisis and natural disasters often? As Kal Pen from Montclair, New Jersey so eloquently put a face on a new generation of Americans, I asked, what local theatres, after school programs or drama class will foster the next actor in the bunch?
As I gazed at the artwork on screen wherever the camera panned, I wondered in our stucco world and disposable architecture culture, who will supply sketch pads, rapidographs or oils to those whose works will one day adorn the new D.C, whose buildings will build this future of tomorrow. And as Malia Obama herself, born on July 4th in Illinois, snapped feverish photos of Springfield, Ohio’s John Legend or Long Branch, New Jersey’s Bruce Springsteen, I hoped that schools would now see that if you put a camera in the hands of child and let them explore the world with it, they begin to see so much more. And whether Malia grows up to be the next Annie Liebowitz from Waterbury, Connecticut or not doesn’t matter; art isn’t about what you become from it it’s what it does to you while creating it that matters.
Think about it, even on a personal level, in terms of support for the arts. When’s the last time you commissioned a photograph, even from a friend just starting out, of yourself or the family? How many of you have paintings, original artwork from friends or artists you enjoy? When’s the last time you went and saw a local band, a local play, a local art exhibit? As I sit beneath a painting of my late husband done by my current wife (complicated) I feel so blessed: art and artists have been around me my entire life and I have lived a better one for it. Right down to my tattoo artist Geoff Funk whose work I’ll keep forever. Oh, he’s from Ohio.
Hollywood and the entertainment industry take a beating often. Being an artist, a painter, a sculptor, a writer, photographer, musician, reporter, cinematographer, editor, muralist…on and on…today those are seen as hobbies. And while the origin of “don’t quit your day job” is unclear the sentiment is not: the arts are simply not deemed a viable career and yet they are one of our biggest exports and create things that last for generations to come. Odd dichotomy, no?
America put on a great show January 18, 2009. I’m sure the ones over the next few days to follow will only get better.
I am a proud American artist today, proud, because so many in my field of entertainment showed their patriotism through their jobs no matter what that job was or is, behind or in front of the scene.
And I am proud that our artist of today and yesterday are shining brightly in our nation’s capital, inspiring so many as the world looks on.
Obama gives the nation hope. Maybe watching those artists, all of them, throughout the event, maybe living around such history and architecture and culture, some of our nation’s oldest (and we’re young…) and maybe, as the world looks on, we can remember that art of all kinds not only brings us joy, but brings future generations a snapshot of our time and talents.

evening of radio

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:09:39 -0800

Well, today is a beautiful Friday in the Southland as my blooming slipper orchid will attest. I’m going to be blathering away with Barry Farber on CRN network, www.crni.net at 5:15pm and then at 9pm I’ll be Joining Tim Conway Jr. on 97.1 Free FM, www.971freefm.com

Tune in if you can, and check out my latest post from the huffington post:

New karel calendar of events

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 13:38:29 -0800

There is a new web based calendar of events that will give you all current events and scheduled performances. Please Go HERE. Bookmark that page and subscribe to the calendar on it!