PBS

WE STILL CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF JIMI HENDRIX

It’s our duty to remind readers that a very interesting documentary on Jimi Hendrix premieres tonight on American Masters on PBS. Jimi Hendrix’s career was short but incredibly memorable – he died at age 27. We were massively influenced by his style during his life – he represented British dandyism merged with San Francisco hippie-cool. In those days you didn’t see many macho guys in sheer ruffled shirts and scarves tied around their thighs. We were lucky to know a member of the British band The Soft Machine, who opened for Hendrix on a US tour and he invited us to a show. It blew us away! Jimi was mesmerizing and his is STILL the greatest concert we’ve seen in our lifetime. That sexy voice!

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By Janet / November 5, 2013

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Mr Selfridge PBS

“MR SELFRIDGE” IS OUR ABSOLUTE FAVORITE TV INDULGENCE!

Watch Mr. Selfridge Preview on PBS. See more from Masterpiece.

The new PBS series “Mr Selfridge” is every bit as good as Downton Abbey, in fact, it might even be BETTER! And it’s based on a true story! There, we said it! If you saw Sunday’s episode you’ll probably agree. Downton Abbey deals with country life and manners while Mr Selfridge is about social progress and commerce in the early 20th century. Wisconsin born Harry Selfridge, fresh from Marshall Field’s in Chicago, moved to London to open a lavish and modern department store. Until this point stores were unwelcoming – merchandise was piled in the windows, they were not heated, poorly lit, and “browsers” were asked to leave. Selfridge hired the best architects and created a customer-friendly store with huge dramatic windows and an elegant glossy first floor with beautifully arranged merchandise of the era. (Costumes and set décor in this series are mouth-watering.) Retail jobs opened new doors for women. In Sunday night’s episode, Selfridge toyed with the idea of ready-to-wear – at that time all clothes were custom made. A revolutionary store in a revolutionary era. (Sundays at 9, PBS, Mar 31 to May 19)

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By Janet / April 15, 2013

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Jeremy Piven Mr Selfridge PBS

MR SELFRIDGE: THERE’S SOMETHING WONDERFUL ABOUT VINTAGE ELEGANT DEPARTMENT STORES…

“Mr Selfridge” premiered on PBS last night and we were in shopping heaven for two hours. Watching a turn of the century department store “with modern ideas” being built in London is utterly fascinating. (There’s something about old-time department stores that we can’t get enough of) Decorating and stocking it with merchandise of the era is delicious to watch. Watching droves of hopeful employees lined up for job interviews pulls the viewer right in. The décor, fashions, and hairstyles are a feast for the eyes. With a few exceptions, the acting is enjoyable. Jeremy Piven as Harry Selfridge overacts as the enthusiastic American and he lacks subtlety. But the store, the shopgirls, the French window dresser, the frocks, – are a joy to behold.

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By Janet / April 1, 2013

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Kids Meg Ryan PBS

MEG RYAN IS LIVING HAPPILY EVER AFTER IN NEW YORK

#megryan #janetcharlton

Meg Ryan’s little girl Daisy is growing up fast – she’s seven already. Meg is committed to living in New York and sold her Bel Air home this summer for 11 million dollars. Her son Jack, 20, spends most of his time in New York and part of it with his father Dennis Quaid in Los Angeles. Meg will next be seen on PBS on October 1 and 2 in a documentary “Half the Sky.” It’s a two night special in which Meg and America Ferrera and Diane Lane travel the world collecting stories about women in peril- – sex trafficking, civil rights, and inadequate healthcare.

Photo Credit: Pacific Coast News

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By Janet / September 4, 2012

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Crimes and Misdemeanors Fred Willard PBS X-Rated

PBS: PLEASE DON’T FIRE FRED WILLARD FROM MARKET WARRIORS!

How can you NOT feel bad about Fred Willard’s embarrassing arrest at the X-rated Tiki Theater in Hollywood? An officer apprehended the Best in Show comic for allegedly exposing himself in the dark porn theater and he was hauled off to jail. Really. While we don’t condone such behavior, we’d rather see police officers tend to more important matters. This is a harmless man in his seventies who appears to have made a stupid decision and didn’t hurt anyone else. And he’s been making us laugh for decades. Give him a break! The humiliation and a stern lecture should be more than enough punishment. PBS should NOT fire him from his hosting job on Market Warriors.

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By Janet / July 19, 2012

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An American Family Cinema Verite Documentary Lance Loud PBS Thomas Dekker

LANCE LOUD AND HIS AMERICAN FAMILY ARE RETURNING TO TV

We were big fans of Lance Loud. We knew him as a great character – a musician and eventually a clever entertainment writer on the New York and LA scene. (He loved gossip!) Back in the 70’s Lance and his family appeared in the PBS documentary “An American Family.” (Top photo- Lance is upper left) This was back when reality TV was real, and cameras observed every little detail of the Loud family life in Santa Barbara. Lance pretty much came out on the show and became a celebrity, hanging with the Warhol crowd at Max’s Kansas City. He was self-destructive, but SO much fun. Lance died of AIDS in 2001. Now the story of the Loud’s groundbreaking documentary is being made into an HBO movie called “Cinema Verite.” Diane Lane is portraying Lance’s steadfast mom Pat, and Tim Robbins plays his father. Thomas Dekker, 22, whom you might remember from “Heroes” is playing Lance, and we’re glad we have HBO.

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By Janet / August 25, 2010

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