31 Cold Days of Hot Guys #29: Tom Hiddleston

January 29, 2014, 9:59 pm

≫ Next: Dish of the Day #1331: Same Love Week

≪ Previous: 31 Cold Days of Hot Guys #28: James Marsden

This month DEEP DISH is featuring a different hot guy(s) every day to warm us up during this cold winter season.

Today's Hot Guy is 32-year-old British actor Tom Hiddleston, whose film credits include Thor (2011), Midnight in Paris (2011), War Horse (2011), The Avengers (2012), Only Lovers Left Alive (2013), Thor: The Dark World (2013) and Muppets Most Wanted (which will be released on March 21). He is currently starring in Shakespeare's theatre adaptation of Coriolanus at London's Donmar Warehouse through February 13 (click here for more information).

Below you can watch Mr. Hiddleston being interviewed on Chelsea Lately (2013), dancing on Alan Carr's British talk show, Chatty Man (2013), and teaching Cookie Monster a very important lesson. You can also follow him on Twitter.

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Dish of the Day #1331: Same Love Week

January 31, 2014, 9:15 am

≫ Next: Deep Dish Pool Party #54

≪ Previous: 31 Cold Days of Hot Guys #29: Tom Hiddleston

Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day is featured. Click here to vote for your three favorite Dishes in this week's Deep Dish Pool Party poll.

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Deep Dish Pool Party #54

January 31, 2014, 9:33 am

≫ Next: 31 Cold Days of Hot Guys #30: Joe Manganiello

≪ Previous: Dish of the Day #1331: Same Love Week

The rules are simple - each week I feature 10 Dishes of the Day and you get to invite your three favorites over for some wet and wild fun at the Deep Dish Pool Party. The five guys who receive the most votes get to stay, and the following week five new Dishes are added to the guest list. So enjoy the party - and please feel free to leave a comment and share your selections.

1) Dish #1315
Last Week #1, Week 4, 67 invites out of 260

2) Dish #1288: Ben Cohen
LW #5, W9, 37 invites

3) Dish #1320: Roman Dawidoff
LW #2, W3, 33 invites

4) Dish #1323
W2, 29 invites

5) Dish #1317
LW #4, W3, 23 invites

6) Dish #1327

7) Dish #1328: Brandon Brown & Colby Melvin

8) Dish #1329

9) Dish #1330: Seth Fornea & Jared Bradford LeBlanc

10) Dish #1331

Which 3 hunks are you inviting?

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31 Cold Days of Hot Guys #30: Joe Manganiello

January 30, 2014, 9:59 pm

≫ Next: Show Tune Showdown #57: Round 6

≪ Previous: Deep Dish Pool Party #54

This month DEEP DISH is featuring a different hot guy(s) every day to warm us up during this cold winter season.

Today's Hot Guy is 37-year-old actor Joe Manganiello, who is best known for his role as werewolf Alcide Herveaux on HBO's True Blood. His other television credits include American Heiress, One Tree Hill and How I Met Your Mother. He has also appeared in such films as Spider-Man (2002), What to Expect When You're Expecting (2012) and Magic Mike (2012). And last year his first book, Evolution: The Cutting Edge Guide to Breaking Down Mental Walls and Building the Body You've Always Wanted, was published.

Below you can watch Mr. Manganiello being interviewed on Hello Ross (2013), Ellen (2013) and Chelsea Lately (2011) and working out with the ladies on The Talk (2013). You can also follow him on Twitter.

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Show Tune Showdown #57: Round 6

January 31, 2014, 2:39 pm

≫ Next: 31 Cold Days of Hot Guys #31: Ian Somerhalder

≪ Previous: 31 Cold Days of Hot Guys #30: Joe Manganiello

We have now reached Round 6 of our Show Tune Showdown, which features songs from the following 21 Broadway musicals:

Oh, Kay!
November 8, 1926 - June 1927 (256 performances)
Revival: January 2, 1928 - January 14, 1928 (16 performances)
Revival: November 1, 1990 - April 14, 1991 (77 performances)

Girl Crazy
October 14, 1930 - June 6, 1931 (272 performances)

Anything Goes
November 21, 1934 - November 16, 1935 (420 performances)
Revival: October 19, 1987 - September 3, 1989 (784 performances)
Revival: April 7, 2011 - July 8, 2012 (521 performances)

Carousel
April 19, 1945 - May 24, 1947 (890 performances)
Reopened February 22, 1949 - March 5, 1949 (32 performances)
Revival: June 2, 1954 - August 8, 1954 (79 performances)
Revival: September 11, 1957 - September 29, 1957 (24 performances)
Revival: March 24, 1994 - January 15, 1995 (337 performances)

West Side Story
September 26, 1957 - June 27, 1959 (732 performances)
Return Engagement: April 27, 1960 - December 10, 1960 (249 performances)
Revival: April 8, 1964 - May 3, 1964 (31 performances)
Revival: February 14, 1980 - November 30, 1980 (333 performances)
Revival: March 19, 2009 - January 2, 2011 (748 performances)

Gypsy
May 21, 1959 - March 25, 1961 (702 performances)
Revival: September 23, 1974 - January 4, 1975 (120 performances)
Revival: November 16, 1989 - July 28, 1991 (476 performances)
Revival: May 1, 2003 - May 30, 2004 (451 performances)
Revival: March 27, 2008 - January 11, 2009 (332 performances)

Funny Girl
March 26, 1964 - July 1, 1967 (1,348 performances)

On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
Original: October 17, 1965 - June 11, 1966 (280 performances)
Revival: December 11, 2011 - January 29, 2012 (57 performances)

Mame
Original: May 24, 1966 - January 3, 1970 (1,508 performances)
Revival: July 24, 1983 - August 28, 1983 (41 performances)

Hair
April 29, 1968 - July 1, 1972 (1,750 performances)
Revival: October 5, 1977 - November 6, 1977 (43 performances)
Revival: March 31, 2009 - June 27, 2010 (519 performances)
Return Engagement: July 13, 2011 - September 10, 2011 (67 performances)

Company
April 26, 1970 - January 1, 1972 (705 performances)
Revival: October 5, 1995 - December 3, 1995 (60 performances)
Revival: November 29, 2006 - July 1, 2007 (246 performances)

Grease
February 14, 1972 - April 13, 1980 (3,388 performances)
Revival: May 11, 1994 - January 25, 1998 (1,505 performances)
Revival: August 19, 2007 - January 4, 2009 (554 performances)

A Little Night Music
February 25, 1973 - August 3, 1974 (601 performances)
Revival: December 13, 2009 - January 9, 2011 (425 performances)

Chicago
Original: June 3, 1975 - August 27, 1977 (936 performances)
Revival: November 14, 1996 - Present (7,125 performances so far)

A Chorus Line
Original: July 25, 1975 - April 28, 1990 (6,137 performances)
Revival: October 5, 2006 - August 17, 2008 (759 performances)

Annie
April 21, 1977 - January 2, 1983 (2,377 performances)
Revival: March 26, 1997 - October 19, 1997 (239 performances)
Revival: November 8, 2012 - January 5, 2014 (487 performances)

Dreamgirls
December 20, 1981 - August 11, 1985 (1,521 performances)
Revival: June 28, 1987 - November 29, 1987 (177 performances)

La Cage aux Folles
August 21, 1983 - November 15, 1987 (1,761 performances)
Revival: December 9, 2004 - June 26, 2005 (229 performances)
Revival: April 18, 2010 - May 1, 2011 (433 performances)

Les Misérables
March 12, 1987 - May 18, 2003 (6,680 performances)
Revival: November 9, 2006 - January 6, 2008 (463 performances)
Revival: March 23, 2014 - ?

RENT
April 29, 1996 - September 7, 2008 (5,123 performances)

Wicked
October 30, 2003 - Present (4,245 performances so far)

PLEASE NOTE: The next Show Tune Showdown will be on Friday, February 7 - and since there were 29 songs in Round 5, Gypsy's"Everything's Coming Up Roses" gets to skip Round 6 in order for there to be an even number of showdowns.

Now here are the competing show tunes - and if you're wondering how to judge each showdown, just ask yourself, "Which song do I enjoy listening to more?"

La Cage's "We Are What We Are" (the original Les Cagelles perform at the Tony Awards on June 3, 1984 - you can also watch George Hearn perform "I Am What I Am")

vs.

Mame's"Bosom Buddies" (Angela Lansbury and Bea Arthur perform on the 41st Annual Tony Awards on June 7, 1987)

Company's"The Ladies Who Lunch" (Elaine Stritch sings her signature song during the 1998 concert, My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies, at Carnegie Hall)

vs.

A Little Night Music's"Send in the Clowns" (Dame Judi Dench performs in the 1995 London revival)

West Side Story's"Maria" (Daniel Boys performs on Friday Night is Music Night on December 5, 2008)

vs.

Wicked's"Popular" (Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel perform on the Today Show on November 12, 2003)

Chicago's "Cell Block Tango" (Chita Rivera and cast perform on the original Broadway cast recording)

vs.

Les Misérables'"One Day More" (Colm Wilkinson, Michael Ball, Judy Kuhn, Lea Salonga, Michael Maguire, Philip Quast, Jenny Galloway, Alun Armstrong, Adam Searles and company perform during the 10th Anniversary Concert at London's Royal Albert Hall on October 8, 1995)

Annie's"Easy Street" (Dorothy Loudon, Robert Fitch and Barbara Erwin perform on the 31st Annual Tony Awards on June 5, 1977)

vs.

Chicago's"All That Jazz" (Bebe Neuwirth and the cast of the 1997 Broadway revival perform on The Rosie O'Donnell Show on December 2, 1996)

Grease's"Summer Nights" (John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John and cast perform in the 1978 film version)

vs.

RENT's"Seasons of Love" (from the final Broadway performance, which was filmed and screened in movie theaters)

Anything Goes'"You're the Top" (Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal perform during the opening and closing credits of the 1972 film, What's Up, Doc?)

vs.

West Side Story's"Tonight" (Carol Lawrence and Larry Kert perform on The Ed Sullivan Show on November 2, 1958)

Oh, Kay!'s "Someone to Watch Over Me" (Audra McDonald performs in concert in 2002)

vs.

West Side Story's"Somewhere" (Barbra Streisand performs in a 1985 music video to promote her Broadway album)

Dreamgirls'"And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" (Jennifer Holliday performs on the 36th Annual Tony Awards on June 6, 1982)

vs.

Girl Crazy's "Embraceable You" (Judy Garland performs in the 1943 film version)

Funny Girl's"Don't Rain on My Parade" (Barbra Streisand performs on her TV special, Funny Girl to Funny Lady, on March 9, 1975)

vs.

Hair's"Good Morning Starshine" (Beverly D'Angelo and the cast perform in the 1979 film version)

A Chorus Line's"Nothing" (Priscilla Lopez performs at My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies on September 28, 1998)

vs.

Company's"Being Alive" (Patti LuPone performs during the 1992 concert, Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall)

Carousel's"If I Loved You" (Robert Goulet performs in a television version on May 7, 1967)

vs.

"On a Clear Day You Can See Forever" (Steve Lawrence performs on The Hollywood Palace on March 4, 1967)

Anything Goes'"I Get a Kick Out of You" (Colin Donnell performs on CBS's The Early Show in 2011)

vs.

Les Misérables'"I Dreamed a Dream" (Ruthie Henshall performs during the 10th Anniversary Concert at London's Royal Albert Hall on October 8, 1995)

A Chorus Line's"What I Did for Love" (Priscilla Lopez and the original Broadway cast perform on TV's Donahue on March 26, 1990)

vs.

Grease's"There Are Worse Things I Could Do" (Stockard Channing performs in the 1978 film)

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31 Cold Days of Hot Guys #31: Ian Somerhalder

January 31, 2014, 9:59 pm

≫ Next: Remembering Maximilian Schell 1930 - 2014

≪ Previous: Show Tune Showdown #57: Round 6

This month DEEP DISH has been featuring a different hot guy(s) every day to warm us up during this cold winter season - and the final Hot Guy is 35-year-old actor Ian Somerhalder, who is best known for his television roles as Boone Carlyle on Lost and Damon Salvatore on The Vampire Diaries.

Below you can watch him in a behind-the-scenes video of his Sexiest Man Alive photo shoot for People magazine and in a 2012 interview on Chelsea Lately. I've also included three scenes from his 2002 film, The Rules of Attraction, in which his bisexual character dances in his underwear to George Michael's "Faith" and kisses co-star James Van Der Beek. Click here to follow Mr. Somerhalder on Twitter.

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Remembering Maximilian Schell 1930 - 2014

February 1, 2014, 9:06 pm

≫ Next: 10 Groovy Things to Do in February starring Jonathan Groff and Andy Karl

≪ Previous: 31 Cold Days of Hot Guys #31: Ian Somerhalder

Actor Maximilian Schell, who died earlier today at age 83, received an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in the 1961 drama, Judgment at Nuremberg. Forty years later in 2001, he appeared on Broadway in a stage adaptation of the film in the role that Burt Lancaster originally played.

His other film and television credits include Five Finger Exercise (1962), Topkapi (1964), Heidi (1968 TV movie), The Odessa File (1974), The Man in the Glass Booth (1975, Academy Award nomination for Best Actor), Julia (1977, Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor), A Bridge Too Far (1977), Players (1979), The Black Hole (1979), The Diary of Anne Frank (1980 TV movie), Peter the Great (1986 miniseries), The Freshman (1990), Stalin (1992 HBO film), The Thorn Birds: The Missing Years (1996 miniseries), and The Brothers Bloom (2008). He also wrote and directed Marlene, a 1984 documentary about Marlene Dietrich that received an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary.

Below you can watch Schell in the trailer for Judgment at Nuremberg as well as his Academy Award acceptance speech.

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10 Groovy Things to Do in February starring Jonathan Groff and Andy Karl

February 1, 2014, 9:57 pm

≫ Next: Dish of the Day #1332: Gentlemen Prefer Balls

≪ Previous: Remembering Maximilian Schell 1930 - 2014

Since there are so many groovy plays, musicals, concerts and events, this is my monthly list to help promote a few of them (click on a title for more information or to purchase tickets):

1) Christopher Sieber in Minnesota Boy Does Well – Tales From Center and Backstage
February 4 & 11 at NYC's 54 Below
Join the handsome and hilarious Mr. Sieber for an evening of hilarious and heartwarming stories, favorite pop songs, and songs from his successful stage career in Broadway shows including Shrek, Spamalot, La Cage aux Folles, Chicago, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Into the Woods, Beauty and the Beast, Triumph of Love and more.

2) Cady Huffman is Hungry and Horny!
February 5 at NYC's 54 Below
The Tony Award-winning actress (The Producers) returns by popular demand with her sexy new show about life, love and what she ate along the way. From her Gramma’s Pasta Fazool to her 10 seasons as a judge on Iron Chef America, Cady has eaten it all, loved it all and gone back for seconds. Joining longtime collaborators Eugene Gwozdz on the piano, Roger Cohen on drums and with direction by Will Nunziata, get ready to sing along to the foodie tunes of Hank Williams, Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone, Kelis and many more.

3) Encores! Little Me
February 5 - 9 at NYC's City Center
Little Me, Neil Simon’s first musical, is a brash, fast and furious comedy about the glamorous Belle Poitrine and her six suitors. Tony Award winner and Smash star Christian Borle will take on the multiple roles of Belle’s husbands and lovers — an assortment of oddballs ranging from an innocent college boy to a lecherous octogenarian. Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh's high-energy score includes "I've Got Your Number,""Real Live Girl" and "The Other Side of the Tracks". Also starring Robert Creighton, David Garrison, Harriet Harris, Judy Kaye, Lewis J. Stadlen, Lee Wilkof, Tony Yazbeck and Rachel York.

4) Gypsy
February 6 - March 23 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Boasting one show-stopping song after another — like “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” and “Let Me Entertain You” — this classic musical is inspired by memoirs of the burlesque dancer Gypsy Rose Lee, and it marks Associate Artistic Director Gary Griffin’s continued exploration of the Sondheim canon. Tony Award nominee Louise Pitre makes her Chicago Shakespeare debut as Rose, the most infamous of all stage mothers.

5) ROCKY
Broadway previews begin February 11. Opens March 13 at the Winter Garden Theatre.
Based on the Academy Award-winning film, this innovative new stage production is brought to extraordinary life by a five-time Tony Award-winning creative team, including director Alex Timbers (Peter and the Starcatcher), songwriting team Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime), and book writers Thomas Meehan (The Producers) and actor Sylvester Stallone. The cast includes Andy Karl (Jersey Boys, 9 to 5) as Rocky Balboa and Margo Seibert (making her Broadway debut) as Adrian.

6) Joffrey Ballet's Contemporary Choreographers
February 12 - 23 at Chicago's Auditorium Theatre
The Joffrey Ballet revisits its contemporary roots with a mixed repertory program of three pieces by cutting-edge choreographers - Continuum by Christopher Wheeldon, Crossing Ashland by Brock Clawson, and Episode 31 by Alexander Ekman.

7) American Songbook: Jonathan Groff
February 15 at Lincoln Center's Allen Room in NYC
Tony-nominated for his breakout performance in the rock musical, Spring Awakening, Jonathan Groff has made a name for himself on stage and in television and film. The utterly charming triple-threat is joined by revered musical director Mary-Mitchell Campbell for an exciting concert of his favorite songs.

8) Beaches
February 18 - March 23 at Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia
Composer David Austin has written a new score (with lyrics by Iris Rainer Dart) for this musical adaptation of Dart's beloved novel about two women’s 30-year friendship, which was turned into a popular 1988 movie. Mara Davi and Alysha Umphress will co-star as Bertie and Cee Cee (the roles originated on screen by Barbara Hershey and Bette Midler).

9) Mothers and Sons
Broadway previews begin February 23. Opens March 24 at the John Golden Theatre.
From one of America's most acclaimed playwrights, Terrence McNally (Master Class, Love! Valour! Compassion!) comes Mothers and Sons, a powerful new Broadway play that explores the truths of who we are and who we love. Starring Tyne Daly, Frederick Weller and Bobby Steggert, the play follows a mother who pays an unexpected visit to the New York apartment of her late son's partner, who is now married to another man and has a young son. Challenged to face how society has changed around her, generations collide as she revisits the past and begins to see the life her son might have led.

10) Debra Monk Birthday Bash
February 24 at NYC's Gerald W. Lynch Theatre at John Jay College
Beloved stage and screen star Debra Monk will be "totally hot and a little dirty" as she celebrates her 65th birthday in a free-wheeling rock 'n' roll concert produced by and benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Among the special guests scheduled to join Monk are Charlotte d'Amboise, Brandon Victor Dixon, Scott Ellis, Victor Garber, Andrea Martin and Ron Rifkin.

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Dish of the Day #1332: Gentlemen Prefer Balls

February 3, 2014, 7:00 am

≫ Next: Remembering Philip Seymour Hoffman 1967 - 2014

≪ Previous: 10 Groovy Things to Do in February starring Jonathan Groff and Andy Karl

This week I'm featuring two different themes, and today's Dish is inspired by yesterday's Super Bowl. Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day is featured. If you haven't yet voted in last week's Deep Dish Pool Party, choose your three favorite hunks in the sidebar poll.

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Remembering Philip Seymour Hoffman 1967 - 2014

February 3, 2014, 8:58 am

≫ Next: Groovy Guy of the Month: David Pevsner

≪ Previous: Dish of the Day #1332: Gentlemen Prefer Balls

Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, who died Sunday at age 46 of an apparent drug overdose, was one of the finest actors of my generation. And it makes me incredibly sad that the life of such a talented man ended so tragically.

Below I've selected some scenes and trailers from Mr. Hoffman's prolific résumé of films to celebrate his life and career.

Boogie Nights (1997)

Happiness (1998)

Flawless (1999)

Almost Famous (2000)

Capote (2005), for which he won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Actor.

Charlie Wilson's War (2007), for which he was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor.

Doubt (2008), for which he was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor.

The Master (2012), for which he was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor.

Hoffman's other film credits include Twister (1996), Next Stop Wonderland (1998), The Big Lebowski (1998), Magnolia (1999), The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), State and Main (2000), Punch-Drunk Love (2002), Strangers with Candy (2005), Mission: Impossible III (2006), The Savages (2007), Synecdoche, New York (2008), Moneyball (2011) and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013). He was also nominated for three Tony Awards for his performances in True West (2000), Long Day's Journey into Night (2003), and Death of a Salesman (2012). And the actor was planning to star in his first TV series, Showtime's Happyish, which would have debuted later this year (only a pilot episode was shot).

Below you can watch Hoffman in his first Entertainment Tonight interview in 1999 and a 2012 interview on CBS Sunday Morning.

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Groovy Guy of the Month: David Pevsner

February 3, 2014, 8:30 pm

≫ Next: Dish of the Day #1333: Hungry Hunks

≪ Previous: Remembering Philip Seymour Hoffman 1967 - 2014

This month's Groovy Guy is actor and writer David Pevsner, whom I've enjoyed watching on the comedic web series, Old Dogs & New Tricks, which will begin its third season later this year. David has also appeared in such films as Scrooge & Marley, Joshua Tree, 1951: A Portrait of James Dean, Role/Play and the Lifetime TV movie, Liz & Dick, as Lindsay Lohan's doctor. His other acting credits include TV's Modern Family and Grey's Anatomy, Broadway's Fiddler on the Roof, and the Off-Broadway hits, When Pigs Fly and Party.

As a writer, David's songs have been heard in the film, Adam & Steve, both the stage and film versions of Naked Boys Singing! ("Perky Little Porn Star"), and the musical revue, Fancy Boys Follies. He has also written and performed his own one-man shows, To Bitter and Back and Musical Comedy Whore.

I am delighted to have the fabulous Mr. Pevsner here on the Dish to answer a few questions about his career and, of course, pop culture.

Did you always want to be an actor? And what was your very first role?
I did. I watched 25 hours of TV a day and I loved actors. My first roles were in shows that I wrote myself in grammar school, really bad musicals that I did with all girls...the boys wanted nothing to do with them. My first "legit" role was Prince Chulalongkorn in The King and I my freshman year at Niles East High School in Skokie, Illinois. I was hooked.

Can you share any details about the upcoming new season of Old Dogs & New Tricks?
We shot a fun "Very Special" episode called Weho Horror Story, and we start shooting the whole third season in March. Tune in and find out!

You're also starring in another new web series, Disorganized Zone, with actress Judy Norton (The Waltons). What's it about?
It's a takeoff on The Twilight Zone about a personal organizer (Judy) and I play the Rod Serling "host" character. Very fun to shoot. The funny thing is that my side business is...as a personal organizer! It's called Address the Mess, and I love doing it. It changes people's lives.

Tell us about your show, Musical Comedy Whore. What inspired you to create it?
I had done a one-man musical a few years back called To Bitter and Back. I really loved doing it, the whole "telling stories" thing, and I knew I had a good story to tell here. Musical Comedy Whore is all about my sex life and history and choices that I made and shame and regret and learning to own those choices and loving yourself. Even though it's pretty honest and raw and risque and almost painfully personal, it becomes very universal and very relatable, and I think pretty funny and sweet. I don't want to say too much about it because there are some pretty nifty surprises in it, but I hope folks are going to love it.

What is the most memorable moment you have had while performing onstage in a show?
Oh lord, I feel my age when I'm asked questions like this. I remember pretty much nothing. However, we were doing our production of Corpus Christi, the Terrence McNally play which is essentially about a gay Jesus character. It's a very moving piece, especially for gay people who feel that their religion turns their back on them. In one performance that we did in Hollywood, the Jesus character (who starts out as a character named Joshua in 1950s Corpus Christi, Texas) is crucified, and it's very moving because the show really humanizes Jesus, and in the moment the character is crucified, an audience member came up to the stage in tears and kissed Joshua/Jesus' feet. It really showed us how important doing this play is. I'm a Jew and not religious, but I cannot deny the power of that moment.

So I have to ask - how was it working with Lindsay Lohan in Liz & Dick?
Oh, she was fine. Funny thing...she was nice enough and sort of into her own thing, but at one point, the director had me crushed up against the wall for her take, and he asked if I was okay, and I said, "Sure, I'm fine with whatever you want me to do", and she exploded "DON'T. EVER. SAY THAT!" Obviously, that struck a nerve, and in a weird way, she was trying to help me.

You have two new films coming out this year - Waiting in the Wings: The Musical and Marble Hornets. What are they about and who do you play?
Well, I can't really talk too much about Marble Hornets because it's a thriller and they'd shoot me if I gave anything away, but it's directed by James Moran, who was an Assistant Director on the Paranormal Activity films. This is his directorial debut, and I'm only in one scene, but I just adore him. Waiting in the Wings promises to be a really really fun musical romp - yes, I said ROMP because that's what it is. I get to play a haughty choreographer. The writer, Jeffrey Johns, was tireless in getting this made, and I have so much respect for him that he did. I think it's going to be a ball.

If you could go back and give your 19-year-old self a wise piece of advice, what would it be?
Such a good question. I would tell him it's great to be gay, to be who you are, and to stop caring so much about what people think about you. I sometimes have to tell myself that last one, even now.

What are your five favorite TV shows of all time?
1) thirtysomething - Best writing and acting ever on a show. Ever. And the older I get, the more the wisdom of that show makes sense to me.

2) I Love Lucy - Because I have seen every episode 3,000 times and it still makes me laugh.

3) Buffy the Vampire Slayer - I was not prepared when I first caught on to this show how absolutely fantastic the writing was. So funny, so scary, so tapped into the teen angst we all had. I couldn't love it more.

4) Top Chef - I'm not even that good a cook, but I fucking love this show. I couldn't even tell you why...I just do.

5) The Comeback - It was only on for one season, and I've never been more uncomfortable watching a show than this. I constantly cringed at the inhumanities thrown at Valerie Cherish, the Lisa Kudrow character...but her reactions were so human. Hilarious.

What are five of your favorite films?
Okay, I'm not saying these are the greatest movies ever made...but they are pretty much closest to my heart.

Sixteen Candles - It was shot at my high school, it's packed with hilarious character actors, and as I am nothing but a teenage girl inside, it is the ultimate romance. Swoon.

What's Up, Doc? - A study in great character acting...what a cast. Arguably, the funniest movie ever made.

Hair - I saw this movie 20 times in five different countries. Rewrote the book on movie musicals. Brilliant.

Baby Boom - Diane Keaton Diane Keaton Diane Keaton.

Shame - This movie devastated me. I took to my bed. After I saw it, I couldn't stop crying...really hit a nerve.

If you were asked to choose the Sexiest Man Alive, whom would you select?
If we're talking celebrity, I'm a bit of an Anglophile and Aussie lover, so the whole Clive Owen-Daniel Craig-Hugh Jackman vibe works for me.

If you could have anyone in the world - living or dead - be a guest at your dinner party, what three people would you invite?
Montgomery Clift - so damaged. I wish I had been around to help him. Randi Rhodes, a liberal radio talk show host who is so goddamn smart and informed. And Adolph Hitler because I want to know what is behind such a monster. Plus I'd love to hear Randi just browbeat him. She could do it, too.

What's next for David Pevsner?
I wrote a film called My GFF (My Gay Film Festival), 10 short films to be directed by 10 different directors. I am determined to make that film. Musical Comedy Whore had its first production in a little theater in Rancho Mirage, CA, and now I"m looking to do a run of it in L.A. and hopefully New York. Those are my priorities. I have a bunch of other films - shorts and features - on their way out that are either in post-production or in festivals. I had a very busy 2013. Otherwise, I'll play more doctors and lawyers on TV and film and keep being a working actor and personal organizer. It's never dull. And I want a boyfriend. Just putting that out there. Thanks, Marc!

Thank you, David, for being such a groovy guy!

To learn more about David, go to www.davidpevsner.com. And you can catch up on the first two seasons of Old Dogs & New Tricks on Hulu or on DVD.

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Dish of the Day #1333: Hungry Hunks

February 3, 2014, 10:01 pm

≫ Next: Groovy Giveaway #1: Dallas Buyers Club Blu-ray™ Combo Pack

≪ Previous: Groovy Guy of the Month: David Pevsner

Today's Dish is inspired by Chicago Restaurant Week (January 24 - February 6), a citywide culinary celebration featuring more than 280 restaurants, and North Shore Restaurant Month (February 1 - 28) featuring dining deals from 49 North Shore restaurants.

Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day is featured. If you haven't yet voted in last week's Deep Dish Pool Party, choose your three favorite hunks in the sidebar poll.

Today's Dish is Jessy Ares.

↧

Groovy Giveaway #1: Dallas Buyers Club Blu-ray™ Combo Pack

February 3, 2014, 10:10 pm

≫ Next: Groovy Giveaway #2: Matt Zarley's "Somebody 4 Everybody" remix CD

≪ Previous: Dish of the Day #1333: Hungry Hunks

This week I'm featuring two Groovy Giveaways (click here to win Matt Zarley's "Somebody 4 Everybody" remix CD). Courtesy of The Karpel Group, I'm giving away three Dallas Buyers Club Blu-ray™ Combo Packs.

An all-star cast led by Golden Globe Award® winners Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto inspire in Dallas Buyers Club - the epic true story of one man’s fight for survival.

Nominated for six Academy Awards® including Best Actor Matthew McConaughey, Best Supporting Actor Jared Leto, and Best Original Screenplay.

Texas cowboy Ron Woodroof (Matthew McConaughey) sees his free-wheeling life overturned when he’s diagnosed as HIV-positive and given 30 days to live. Determined to survive, Woodroof decides to take matters in his own hands by tracking down alternative treatments from all over the world by means both legal and illegal. After his journey to find a cure leads him to an unlikely ally in Rayon (Jared Leto), he establishes a hugely successful “buyers’ club” and unites a band of outcasts in a struggle for dignity and acceptance that inspires in ways no one could have imagined.

Also starring Jennifer Garner, Denis O’Hare and Steve Zahn. Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée.

Dallas Buyers Club is available NOW on Blu-ray™ combo pack (Blu-ray™, DVD and DIGITAL HD) from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

http://dallasbuyersclub.com
http://www.facebook.com/DallasBuyersClub

To enter to win this Groovy Giveaway, email your name and address to deepdishdrama@aol.com. Winners must have a US mailing address, and entries close at midnight on Monday, February 10 (CST).

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Groovy Giveaway #2: Matt Zarley's "Somebody 4 Everybody" remix CD

February 3, 2014, 10:11 pm

≫ Next: Groovy Music Showdown #2: 1965

≪ Previous: Groovy Giveaway #1: Dallas Buyers Club Blu-ray™ Combo Pack

This week I'm featuring two Groovy Giveaways (click here to win a Dallas Buyers Club Blu-ray™ Combo Pack). Courtesy of The Karpel Group, I'm giving away five "Somebody 4 Everybody" remix CDs from Matt Zarley.

"Somebody 4 Everybody"

The brand-new dance single from OutMusic Award-winning singer/songwriter

MATT ZARLEY ft. Mark Picchiotti

Available Now:

iTunes
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/somebody-4-everybody-remixes/id808810031

Traxsource
http://www.traxsource.com/title/286434/somebody-4-everybody-feat-mark-picchiotti

Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I4ZHG2S

Beatport
http://www.beatport.com/release/somebody-4-everybody/1240225

From the forthcoming album Hopeful Romantic

Special "Somebody 4 Everybody" remix CDs include the original track plus remixes by Moto Blanco, Mark Picchiotti and Basstoy!

http://www.mattzarley.com
http://facebook.com/mattzarley
http://twitter.com/mattzarley
http://www.youtube.com/Zarleysongs
http://soundcloud.com/mattzarley
http://instagram.com/mattzarley
http://mattzarley.tumblr.com
#Somebody4Everyobody

To enter to win this Groovy Giveaway, email your name and address to deepdishdrama@aol.com. Winners must have a US mailing address, and entries close at midnight on Monday, February 10 (CST).

↧

Groovy Music Showdown #2: 1965

February 4, 2014, 9:59 pm

≫ Next: Dish of the Day #1334: Hungry Hunks

≪ Previous: Groovy Giveaway #2: Matt Zarley's "Somebody 4 Everybody" remix CD

In the first Groovy Music Showdown, the following albums from 1975 won and will be moving on to Round 2:

ABBA - ABBA
Hearts - America
Main Course - Bee Gees
Love Will Keep Us Together - Captain & Tennille
Funny Lady soundtrack
Never Can Say Goodbye - Gloria Gaynor
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy - Elton John
KC and the Sunshine Band - KC and the Sunshine Band
Melissa - Melissa Manchester
Tryin' to Get the Feeling - Barry Manilow
Have You Never Been Mellow - Olivia Newton-John
A Night at the Opera - Queen
No Way to Treat a Lady - Helen Reddy
The Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack
Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
Then Came You - Dionne Warwick

PLEASE NOTE: The next Groovy Music Showdown will be on Tuesday, February 18.

Now on to our second showdown, which takes us back to 1965 when the following 32 albums were released:

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Dish of the Day #1334: Hungry Hunks

February 4, 2014, 10:01 pm

≫ Next: Battle of the Network Stars #22: 2004-05 TV Season

≪ Previous: Groovy Music Showdown #2: 1965

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Battle of the Network Stars #22: 2004-05 TV Season

February 5, 2014, 9:55 pm

≫ Next: Dish of the Day #1335: Hungry Hunks

≪ Previous: Dish of the Day #1334: Hungry Hunks

NBC won the 21st Battle of the Network Stars, and the following stars will be moving on to Round 2:

George Clooney (ER/NBC)
Anthony Edwards (ER/NBC)
Noah Wyle (ER/NBC)
Jennifer Aniston (Friends/NBC)
Courteney Cox (Friends/NBC)
Lisa Kudrow (Friends/NBC)
Dave Foley (NewsRadio/NBC)
Maura Tierney (NewsRadio/NBC)
Christine Baranski (Cybill/CBS)
Cybill Shepherd (Cybill/CBS)
Paul Gross (Due South/CBS)
Eileen Heckart (The 5 Mrs. Buchanans/CBS)
Jared Leto (My So-Called Life/ABC)
Jimmy Smits (NYPD Blue/ABC)
Matthew Fox (Party of Five/Fox)
Kate Mulgrew (Star Trek: Voyager/UPN)

Now on to our 22nd battle, which takes us back to the 2004-05 TV season when we welcomed the following 32 stars into our homes:

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Dish of the Day #1335: Hungry Hunks

February 6, 2014, 9:59 pm

≫ Next: Dish of the Day #1336: Gentlemen Prefer Balls

≪ Previous: Battle of the Network Stars #22: 2004-05 TV Season

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Dish of the Day #1336: Gentlemen Prefer Balls

February 6, 2014, 10:01 pm

≫ Next: Deep Dish Pool Party #55

≪ Previous: Dish of the Day #1335: Hungry Hunks

Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day is featured. Click here to vote for your three favorite Dishes in this week's Deep Dish Pool Party poll.