Doctor Who, Torchwood, and The Producers
ginger001 has created some gorgeous new Doctor Who: The Christmas Invasion and Casanova icons which can be found here.
And I know this is all old news, but I'm consolidating:
According to this, the Doctor Who (new series) DVD set will be released in the U.S. on February 14 (happy birthday un4scene!), and the contents look virtually identical to the UK version which is currently available.
While, I haven't seen anything new, here is the press release announcing the new Doctor Who spin-off, Torchwood (an anagram for 'Doctor Who'). In this article, Russel T. Davies, the executive producer of both series, describes how the name "Torchwood" was originally used to hide the identity of Doctor Who production tapes from pirates and thieves. And then, I guess it developed a life of its own! The new series will star Captain Jack Harkness played by the wonderful John Barrowman (who can currently be seen in the film version of The Producers), who made quite an impression in the previous series of Doctor Who.
This appears to be a fairly active Torchwood site.
Last night, kitsah and I saw The Producers (film), starring Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick and Uma Thurman. We both thought it was side-splittingly funny, and I laughed so hard I nearly gave myself an asthma attack! I've been reading about the Mel Brooks Broadway adaption (also starring Lane and Broderick) of his own 1968 Academy Award-winning film for ages, so I knew the basic plot: in an effort to scam money, two producers seek out the worst play ever, hire the worst director and actors, in order to put on a huge flop. When the play fails, then they can run away with the large amount of money they "over" raised.
Their chosen guaranteed-flop is a wonderfulreally wrong Neo-Nazi musical entitled "Springtime for Hitler" - and truly I would watch this film over again and again just for the "Springtime for Hitler" numbers. But the rest is fabulous as well, even though Uma (who does sing and not horribly either) isn't the best. Will Ferrell is fantastic as Franz Liebkind, the "Springtime for Hitler" playwright in lederhosen and a German helmet, and Gary Beach steals the show with his performance as the aging queen director and more. Never having seen the Tony-award winning Broadway musical, kitsah and I loved this film! I haven't laughed that much or that hard in a long time! The little details such as the sly playbills framed all over the Bialystock office were terrific, and I loved the sometimes sly, sometimes slapstick and often over-the-top yet fabulously witty humor.
(A couple other things: I love Franz Liebkind's pidgeon named Adolf, who salutes crisply when addressed! I also love how Franz explains that Adolf's middle name was "Elizabeth" and that it's a little known fact that he was descended from English queens!)
(John Barrowman who plays the lead tenor in the "Springtime for Hitler" numbers is also terrific, but his role is sadly too, too small. He sounds and looks great, although the blonde hair was quite startling, even though I was expecting it!)
The cast is wonderful, as I mentioned, but the play itself has some of the most amazing and funny lines. Here are a few:
[after Uma's character the Swedish "Ulla" has just "auditioned" for Max and Leo]
Max Bialystock: Even though we're sitting down, we're giving you a standing ovation.
...
Leo Bloom: What time can you be here in the morning?
Ulla: Well, Ulla wake up every morning 5:00 a.m. From 5 to 7, Ulla like to exercise. From 7 to 8, Ulla like to take long shower. From 8 to 9, Ulla like to have BIG Swedish breakfast. Many different herrings. From 9 to 11, Ulla like to practice her singing and her dancing. And at 11, Ulla like to have sex. What time should I get here?
Leo Bloom / Max Bialystock: 11!
Ulla: Good! Ulla will come at 11!
...
[Leo Bloom begins gathering his belongings as he decides to leave his accountant job]
Mr. Marks: You've already had your toilet break.
Leo Bloom: I'm not going into the toilet. I'm going into show business!
...
[Max and Leo go to the playwright to obtain permission to use his play for Broadway]
Max Bialystock: [W]e came here to talk about your play.
Franz Liebkind: My play? You mean, "Springtime for" you-know-who?
...
[the "Springtime for Hitler" playwright rails about Churchill's popularity in contrast to his beloved Fuhrer]
Franz Liebkind: Churchill! With his cigars, with his brandy, and his rotten painting! Rotten! Hitler, there was a painter. He could paint an entire apartment in one afternoon--two coats!
...
There were many, many more fabulous lines, but my memory fails me...I think I will definitely be watching the 1968 film now and I think I'd like to read the play as well. Too, too funny!