AB FAB

Absolutely Fabulous
a kate west favorite






Jennifer Saunders, (of "French and Saunders" with Dawn French), and Joanna Lumley are Edina and Patsy, the ever-wasted exotically stylish duo of the British sit-com "Absolutely Fabulous". Hilariously wicked, these two saunter through life, wreaking havoc among friends and neighbors, especially with Eddie's perpetually mortified daughter Saffron (Julia Sawalha). Swigging vodka and chain smoking their little hearts out, no topic is too PC.

We love them for their extremely outrageous behavior and Director Bob Spiers gives them ample creativity. Saunders' cohort in comedic crime, Dawn French, also has a creative hand in the writing, all of which is fantastically brilliant, as the Brits like to say. Jane Horrocks as the bewildered and baffled personal assistant Bubbles is as zany and talented as all the rest.

The precursor to New York's "Sex and the City", this is the show where the ladies really let it all hang out. So don't be afraid, tune in, and learn how to be absolutely fabulous.


Created by
Jennifer Saunders

Starring
Jennifer Saunders
Joanna Lumley
Julia Sawalha
June Whitfield
Jane Horrocks

Opening theme
"This Wheel's on Fire" by Bob Dylan and Rick Danko


Catching Up:
Absolutely Fabulous - Complete Series 1-3

MORE Magazine: www.more.com Read more!

Frasier

Frasier
a kate west favorite




For those of you already familiar with the series, you know Psychiatrist Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) used to hang out in the Bostonian bar at Cheers (of the hit show of the same name) and then moved back home to Seattle, Washington to star in his own radio program. Spin-offs can be annoyingly lame corporate marketing attempts, but this one was really superior. Great writing, great characters and great acting sell it all. You may see a few familiar "Cheers"faces too.

The basics: Crane bonds with his estranged father, Martin Crane (John Mahoney), and fussbudget little brother Niles (David Hyde Pierce). His assistant Roz Doyle (Peri Gilpin) offers lots of sassy comedic moments, along with Dan Butler's neurotically overcompensating Bulldog Briscoe. Crane hires a kooky housekeeper, Daphne Moon (Jane Leeves) from Manchester, England, who inspires Niles to a true romantic ideal. I won't go into details here as most people have seen the show. And if not, do Netflix it.

What I really want to know is - how, in eleven whole seasons, did Niles never waver for his love for Daphne? C'mon, do guys really pine away like that? Is it really possible - the whole torch-carrying thing? I'm sorry, I don't want to be bitter, but every time a guy breaks up with me, he immediately starts dating again and 80% of the time finds his true love. Right after me. So does that make me easy to get over or just really good practice? O.K. that sounded a little bitter. And maybe a bit off the subject. Didn't mean to, just trying to figure guys out. And I don't get asked out all that much. I know, go figure. In real life, you know how it is - the guys you like don't like you back or you don't like the ones that like you. The trick is in two people liking each other at the same time. And then liking each other for a while. What are the odds.

But I guess that's part of the show's appeal. It's idealized romance, or what you want to be true. The characters are silly and flawed and still manage to find happiness. Granted, after a long, long time. Kudos, though, to the writers for leading us to hope that it can happen for us too.

So we'll see.



The Cast:
Kelsey Grammer - (Frasier Crane)
David Hyde Pierce - (Niles Crane)
John Mahoney - (Martin Crane)
Jane Leeves - (Daphne Moon)
Peri Gilpin - (Roz Doyle)
Dan Butler - (Bulldog Briscoe)
Moose the Dog - (Eddie, the dog)

Series Directed by:
David Lee (41 episodes, 1993-2004)
Kelsey Grammer (38 episodes, 1996-2004)
Pamela Fryman (33 episodes, 1997-2001)
James Burrows (32 episodes, 1993-1997)
Sheldon Epps (22 episodes, 1998-2004)
Philip Charles MacKenzie (21 episodes, 1995-1996)
Jeffrey Melman (19 episodes, 1995-1998)
Katy Garretson (11 episodes, 1999-2004)
Scott Ellis (9 episodes, 2000-2004)
Andy Ackerman (8 episodes, 1993-1995)
Wil Shriner (8 episodes, 2000-2003)
Robert H. Egan (5 episodes, 1999-2001)
Jerry Zaks (4 episodes, 2002-2003)
Rick Beren (2 episodes, 1994)
Gordon Hunt (2 episodes, 1996-1997)
Cynthia Popp-Landsberger (2 episodes, 2002-2004)

Series Writing Credits:
David Angell (53 episodes, 1993-2002)
Peter Casey (53 episodes, 1993-2002)
Glen Charles (51 episodes, 1993-2002)
Les Charles (51 episodes, 1993-2002)
David Lee (51 episodes, 1993-2002)
Joe Keenan (24 episodes, 1994-2004)
Danita Jones (23 episodes, 2002-2003)
Lori Kirkland (19 episodes, 1998-2004)
Christopher Lloyd (18 episodes, 1993-2004)
Anne Flett-Giordano (17 episodes, 1993-1997)
Chuck Ranberg (16 episodes, 1993-1997)
David Lloyd (15 episodes, 1994-2001)
Bob Daily (15 episodes, 1999-2004)
Sam Johnson (15 episodes, 1999-2004)
Chris Marcil (15 episodes, 1999-2004)
Jon Sherman (15 episodes, 1999-2004)
Rob Hanning (14 episodes, 1997-2002)
Rob Greenberg (11 episodes, 1996-1999)
Jeffrey Richman (10 episodes, 1997-2004)
David Isaacs (9 episodes, 1994-2004)
Suzanne Martin (8 episodes, 1996-1998)
Jay Kogen (8 episodes, 1997-2000)
Eric Zicklin (8 episodes, 2000-2003)
Ken Levine (7 episodes, 1994-2004)
Linda Morris (7 episodes, 1994-1996)
Vic Rauseo (7 episodes, 1994-1996)
Dan O'Shannon (7 episodes, 1999-2002)
Saladin K. Patterson (7 episodes, 2000-2003)
Heide Perlman (7 episodes, 2001-2004)
Sy Dukane (5 episodes, 1993-1994)
Denise Moss (5 episodes, 1993-1994)
Steven Levitan (4 episodes, 1994-1996)
Mark Reisman (4 episodes, 1999-2001)
Patricia Breen (4 episodes, 2002-2004)
Michael B. Kaplan (3 episodes, 1996-1997)
Jack Burditt (3 episodes, 1996)
Janis Hirsch (3 episodes, 1998-1999)
Gayle Abrams (3 episodes, 2000-2002)
Leslie Eberhard (2 episodes, 1993)
Don Seigel (2 episodes, 1994-1995)
Elias Davis (2 episodes, 1995)
David Pollock (2 episodes, 1995)
Dan Cohen (2 episodes, 1996-1997)
F.J. Pratt (2 episodes, 1996-1997)
William Lucas Walker (2 episodes, 1997)
Charlie Hauck (2 episodes, 1999-2000)
Alex Gregory (2 episodes, 1999)
Peter Huyck (2 episodes, 1999)

Season One:
Frasier - The Complete First Season

Even Funnier:
Seinfeld - The Complete Series Read more!

8 Simple Rules

8 Simple Rules
a kate west reflection






Dear John,

I'm sorry I missed you in the first couple of seasons of "8 Simple Rules". I only caught part of the third and last season so I really didn't get to see you spar with your annoying t.v. neighbors, love your t.v. wife or lecture your t.v. children. I tuned in on reruns when they were all lamenting your passing. I'm so sorry. But you've really got to hand it to the writers - they did a fine and sensitive job incorporating those inner and outer worlds (with the exception of the what-were-they-thinking "Freaky Friday" episode - ick). That's what grabbed my attention in the first place. I was intrigued by the genuine emotion from the actors. It really helped audiences deal.

Kaley Cuoco and Amy Davidson are evenly matched sparring night-and-day sisters as the blonde peppy Bridget and the red-headed passionate Kerry and Martin Spanjers is adorable as your son Rory. Oh and I'm a big fan of Katey Sagal - she was so great as your grieving widow Cate. Did you get to work with James Garner as your father-in-law? Classic. Or David Spade as your cousin-in-law C.J.? Love the sarcastic one-liners.

I never read W. Bruce Cameron's original book "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter" but I love the idea. I'll have to order a copy from Amazon now. And I'll have to Netflix your earlier episodes. It really is a charming show and I know everyone still misses you terribly. I watch when I can.

The 8 Simple Rules:
Rule One: If you pull into my driveway and honk you'd better be delivering a package, because you're sure as heck not picking anything up.

Rule Two:: You do not touch my daughter in front of me. You may glance at her, so long as you do not peer at anything below her neck. If you cannot keep your eyes or hands off of my daughter's body, I will remove them.

Rule Three: I am aware that it is considered fashionable for boys of your age to wear their trousers so loosely that they appear to be falling off their hips. Please don't take this as an insult, but you and all of your friends are complete idiots. Still, I want to be fair and open minded about this issue, so I propose this compromise: You may come to the door with your underwear showing and your pants ten sizes too big, and I will not object. However, In order to assure that your clothes do not, in fact, come off during the course of your date with my daughter, I will take my electric staple gun and fasten your trousers securely in place around your waist.

Rule Four: I'm sure you've been told that in today's world, sex without utilizing a "barrier method" of some kind can kill you. Let me elaborate: when it comes to sex, I am the barrier, and I WILL kill you.

Rule Five: In order for us to get to know each other, we should talk about sports, politics, and other issues of the day. Please do not do this. The only information I require from you is an indication of when you expect to have my daughter safely back at my house, and the only word I need from you on this subject is "early."

Rule Six: I have no doubt you are a popular fellow, with many opportunities to date other girls. This is fine with me as long as it is okay with my daughter. Otherwise, once you have gone out with my little girl, you will continue to date no one but her until she is finished with you. If you make her cry, I will make YOU cry.

Rule Seven: As you stand in my front hallway, waiting for my daughter to appear, and more than an hour goes by, do not sigh and fidget. If you want to be on time for the movie, you should not be dating. My daughter is putting on her makeup, a process which can take longer than painting the Golden Gate Bridge. Instead of just standing there, why don't you do something useful, like changing the oil in my car?

Rule Eight: The following places are not appropriate for a date with my daughter: Places where there are beds, sofas, or anything softer than a wooden stool. Places lacking parents, policemen, or nuns. Places where there is darkness. Places where there is dancing, holding hands, or happiness. Places where the ambient temperature is warm enough to induce my daughter to wear shorts, tank tops, midriff T-shirts, or anything other than overalls, a sweater, and a goose down parka zipped up to her chin. Movies with a strong romantic or sexual theme are to be avoided; movies which feature chainsaws are okay. Hockey games are okay.


Goodnight John. Rest well.

Love,

Kate


Actors
John Ritter: Paul Hennessy (d. September 11, 2003)
Katey Sagal: Cate Hennessy
James Garner: Grandpa Jim
Kaley Cuoco: Bridget Hennessy
Amy Davidson: Kerry Hennessy
Martin Spanjers: Rory Hennessy
David Spade: C.J.

Production Credits:
W. Bruce Cameron (Book Author)
Lori Openden (Casting)
Tony Askins (Cinematographer)
Dan Foliart (Composer (Music Score))
Gil Junger (Director)
Joe Bergen (Editor)
Michael Bostick (Executive Producer)
Flody Suarez (Executive Producer)
Tom Shadyac (Executive Producer)
Tracy Gamble (Executive Producer)
Franco E. Bario (Producer)
Jay Pelissier (Production Designer)
Tracy Gamble (Screenwriter)


The Book:
8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter Read more!

The Partidge Family

The Partridge Family
a kate west favorite





The Partridge Family is such a childhood classic for those of us who frolicked youthfully in the seventies. And still kind of hip. A single mom who led her five children to become pop musicians. They really had one over on the Brady Bunch in the cool factor. David Cassidy had no idea his real life Step Mother Shirley Jones would be playing his TV Mom until he was committed to the project. And they all had such great rapport with each other on screen. Now that's quality family time.

Shirley Partridge (Shirley Jones) has to find a way to support her kids and since they're all musically endowed, they pick up a manager, Ruben Kincaid (Dave Madden), paint a school bus psychedelic colors and hit the road, whenever they don't have to go to school, that is. They get fans and a following and every week something funny happens, usually followed by a lesson for everyone involved. Danny Partridge (Los Angeles DJ Danny Banaduce) is the smart aleck red-headed financially savvy one on guitar, Keith (David Cassidy) is the heartbreaker lead singer and his sister Laurie (Susan Dey) is the feminist sweet one on keyboard. We don't hear much from Tracy (Suzanne Crough) or Chris (alternatively played by Jeremy Gelbwaks and Brian Forster), the youngest, quietest pair of family singers, on tambourine and drums respectively. Mom does piano. And it all seems to work. Plus we get topical lessons, still applicable today like equality for women and conserving energy (should we be worried that all those issues are still unresolved in over three decades?)

We loved this show. And looking back on it, it still strikes a chord, so to speak, especially when listening to Keith's still sexy "I Think I Love You".

Created by
Bernard Slade


Starring
Shirley Jones
David Cassidy
Danny Bonaduce
Susan Dey
Suzanne Crough
Jeremy Gelbwaks (1970-1971)
Brian Forster (1971-1974)
Dave Madden

The Series:
The Partridge Family - The Complete First Season

The Songs:
Come on Get Happy! The Very Best of the Partridge Family Read more!