Saturday’s Doubleheader==>AWESOME!!

OK my loyal and faithful readers out there in cyberspace, let’s get right to Billi Pod’s report cards on yesterday’s awesome entertainment doubleheader ...

But, before we do ... let me make this observation as a response to several recent kinda snarky comments/texts ...

Yes ... yes ... I know I use the terms “awesome,” “terrific,” and “excellent” probably way too often in this blog, but ... remember ... in planning my entertainment schedule and events I make a conscious effort to make sure things are indeed “awesome,” “terrific,” and “excellent.” On any given day Billi Pod will have the option of choosing between 20-25 entertainment events. He will also have the benefit of reviews, chat board discussions, and friends recommendations to assist him in his choices.

Sometimes he will make a bad choice but more times than not the events he schedules will live up to their expectations, making his schedule “awesome,” and/or “terrific,” and/or “excellent.”

And this is why he loves living in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

Now ... moving on to Billi Pod’s report cards on yesterday’s AWESOME entertainment doubleheader ...

THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY OF STEVE JOBS==>A.

This one-man show by Mike Daisey illuminates how the CEO of Apple and his obsessions shaped our lives. It has a lot of very in-our-face humor plus disturbing and troubling information regarding Apple and exploited workers in China.

The house was full and the audience was very much into this performance, which clocks in at 1:50, without intermission. It is extremely thought-provoking.

See this!! It runs through December 4th.

When the show was over I had about 2 hours to kill before my next event. It was a bit brisk but otherwise nice, so I walked leisurely up Broadway to the Union Square area and just chilled (no pun intended) until it was time for ...

MONEYBALL==>A+

In this very favorably reviewed movie Brad Pitt shines as Oakland A’s General Manager Billy Beane, who is trying to change baseball’s economic rules of success.

Brad Pitt is remarkable as are Jonah Hill and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. The movie serves as a reminder that money is neither the measure of a man nor the ultimate assessment of quality.

I am soooooo glad I finally got around to seeing this. Was very surprised that the house was full. The running time is 2:15, which is a bit long.

Had a bit of a scary moment before the show. As I was looking for the men’s room for the mandatory pit (pun intended) stop before the show, the teeming masses were told that none of the restrooms in the multiplex were available due to “water-pressure” problems.

I thought there was going to be a riot but people finally calmed down. Man, thought Billi Pod, this could be a huge problem because he already had the urge to pee and he knew the length of the movie.

Oh well, he thought ... ain’t nothing he could do about it, so he went to find a seat. About 5 minutes before show time he thought he would check things out and ... whew ... the restrooms were back in operation ... whew ...

Now I am certain many of you are wondering ... “why the f**k is he telling us about this?” Well ... folks ... it is very simple ... he is because he can ... so live with it ...

Back to the movie - if you are a baseball fan then this is a “must-see.”

Came back to PHC and spent the rest of the evening watching college football.

And, speaking of football ... at least the Gators finally pulled out a win over Ferment University. Thank God I didn’t opt to change all of my plans and watch it on PPV. It was bad enough following it on my ESPN app.

I can’t remember the last time I had such a negative feeling about a Gator team. I guess it was back in the Zook era.

And, Half Ass U lost last night to Sarasota Junior College which means they will come into The Swamp next Saturday night (7:00pm on ESPN2) looking for blood. Folks, it ain’t gonna be nice, trust Billi Pod on this.

Anyway ...

It is a bright and beautiful fall day in The Big Apple, a little brisk at 46º at 8:00am.

This is good because Billi Pod has yet another entertainment doubleheader for today --

3:00==>TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD - “Scout, a young girl in a quiet southern town, is about to experience the dramatic events that will affect the rest of her life. She and her brother, Jem, are being raised by their widowed father, Atticus. Wide-eyed Scout is fascinated with the sensitively revealed people of her small town, but, from the start, there's a rumble of thunder just under the calm surface of the life here. Based on the novel by Harper Lee, dramatized by Christopher Sergel.” (Off Broadway - $9.00 TDF ticket)

I am really looking forward to this show because I have a history with this play.

What, you are no doubt breathlessly asking? Well, there are two things ... first ...

About 20 years ago I played the bad guy, Bob Ewell, in a production by Theatre Winter Haven. I won the annual “Best Supporting Actor” award.

Then in 2000 I made my Off Broadway debut in a production by The Actors Conservatory Theatre, in which I played Mr. Gilmore, the prosecuting attorney. Actually, it was my way way way way Off Broadway debut since the show was performed in Yonkers.

My dear friends Marvin and Polly Mounts of West Palm Beach and Bob Kent and Billy Denaher of Jacksonville came up to Yonkers to see the show.

I will give some more details about all of this in my posting tomorrow.

The second part of Billi Pod’s entertainment doubleheader is ...

7:00==>BURMESE DAYS - “This world premiere production of George Orwells first novel, is an uncompromising look at the underbelly of the British Empire. Love, friendship and morality are tested against the bitter reality of life in colonial Burma.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This is playing at the 59E59 Theaters, one of my favorite venues.

So, my loyal and faithful readers, I will now post this and finish reading the 3 daily papers and then get ready to head out to the Upper Eastside for my first show.

GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”

ALEX-88

Stuff and Stats for September 2011

Good afternoon everyone out there in the vastness known as cyberspace.

Not much to write about for yesterday because Billi Pod stayed in last night to watch the Tigers/Rangers game, won by the Tigers in a very exciting game.

As I have watched the various post-season games it has struck me how many players are playing with injuries, and, therefore, below their usual performance levels. I guess this is the product of a 162 game season that begins in March.

It is still dumbfounding to me that the two teams with the best season record in the major leagues, The Yankees and The Phillies, were both eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. Oh well ... it happened ... so ...

Billi Pod’s entertainment event for tonight is ...

8:00==>ASUNCION - “Written by and starring Academy Award nominee Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network). A humorous and heartbreaking new play exploring the complicated ways we exploit culture and politics for our own needs.” (Off Broadway - discounted TDF ticket).

I am really looking forward to seeing this show because I am a HUGE Jesse Eisenberg fan, beginning with his breakout performance in The Squid and the Whale.

I will end this posting by giving you loyal and faithful readers what you have been breathlessly anticipating==>Billi Pod’s entertainment stats for the past month ...

In checking my daily log (log, not diary - real guys don’t keep diaries) I find that during the month of September 2011 Billi Pod attended/saw/did the following:

16 Off Broadway shows; 1 Classical music concert (New York Philharmonic); and, 8 Yankee games (7 wins and 1 loss).

The Yankee’s regular season record for games attended by Billi Pod: 23 win and 18 losses - not that great.

He was able to spend quality time with John Scott Reed, Justin Allen Pifer, and his theater-buddy Dian Crystal.

The month also marked 1 year since he lost his dear friend J. Papa Hall and 8 years for Ray Coker.

During the month there were 4 days/nights that Billi Pod stayed in without attending some entertainment event, each as a direct result of baseball and/or the weather.

So, there you have it my loyal and faithful readers. In my humble opinion September was yet another stellar month for Billi Pod ... but ... remember ... it is up to you to decide because ...

I report - you decide.

GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”

ALEX-49

Billi Pod Is Still In A Funk

Yes, still in a funk, but first let’s have ...

Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s SONS OF THE PROPHET==>B<==interesting but way too many “Holy F**k ... did he/she really say that?” moments passed off as humor.

The cast is excellent in very difficult roles. The story line is extremely intense.

It is worth seeing with these caveats.

Yes, everyone, Billi Pod is still in a funk over The Yankees implosion. Yes ... yes ... I know ... I know ... it is only a game etc. etc. etc. ... but, folks out there in the vast hinterlands of cyberspace, please remember ... Billi Pod invested big bucks and a lots of time and energy in a season that for him began way back on March 31st. No, he doesn’t expect them to win the World Series every year, but he does expect them to not be eliminated in the first round of the post season playoffs ... jus sayin ...

Also ... the theater event last night wasn’t exactly 3 Stooges humor. Speaking of which ... in today's back page of the NY Post is the following:

THE THREE STOOGES - Jokers in the middle of lineup caused Yanks’ demise:

MOE - Alex Rodriguez - BA .111

LARRY - Mark Teixeira - BA .167

CURLY - Nick Swisher - BA .211

Anyhow ... it ain’t gonna be easy to get out of my funk today because ...

This afternoon-3:30==>GATORS vs. LSU TIGERS @ Baton Rouge on CBS.

We are 13.5+ points underdogs to the No. 1 team in the country. Our starting QB, John Brantley, cannot play due to injuries so we will have to rely on freshman Jeff Driskell against one of the toughest defenses in the country.

So ... This will not be a pleasant experience, trust me. But ... just hang tough guys ... we in The Gator Nation are behind you 110%.

Tonight’s entertainment event will be ...

8:00==>BLAME IT ON BECKETT - “Is set in the literary office of a regional theatre and centers on an intern struggling to balance her artistic integrity against the demands of her personal and professional life.” (Off Broadway - $9.00 TDF ticket)

This sounds interesting.

There is an interesting blog posting from the playwright, John Morogiello, about the first week of rehearsals and stuff. You theater-nuts will find it interesting, so check it out ...

http://johnmorogiello.com/blog/2011/09/16/blame-it-on-beckett-first-week-diary/

Got a few things and stuff to do before the game, so ...

GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”

ALEX-45

Baseball Last Night Was Epic!!

Good morning everyone out there in the vast regions of cyberspace.

If you are a baseball fan, yesterday was epic. All that drama on the final night of the regular season.

Clutch hits, blown saves, rain delays, walk-off hits ... it couldn’t have been scripted any better.

Three critical games that each went down to the final out. Epic!!

As you know, both the FuckSox and the Braves tanked. Who would have thunk it? No one. Three weeks ago both teams were considered locks to make the post season. Both teams imploded.

So to the still reeling and doubtlessly depressed followers of those despised Boston FuckSox, Billi Pod says==>Seeya later FuckSox!! Good riddance to bad rubbish.

Yes ... yes ... I know ... the Yankees blew a 7-run lead in their game against the Rays, but remember ... we still have the best record in the American League and with that goes home field advantage for all of the playoff games. World Series home field goes to The National League because they won The All Star Game.

The Bronx Bombers will face the Detroit Tigers on Friday night at 8:37pm. The Tigers have an excellent team with good hitting and an excellent rotation. It will be an exciting series, without a doubt.

Oh, did Billi Pod mention that the FuckSox had a monumental collapse, one of record proportions for a team that was, at the beginning of the season, the odds-on favorite to not only make it to The World Series, but also to win it? Did I mention this? Oh, maybe I did ...

So ... to all of you shell-shocked Boston Red Sox fans out there - wait till next year. Or, maybe not ... it might just be more of the same-old same-old. So ... maybe it’s just ... goodnight and sweet dreams ... NOT!!

Ah yes ... Billi Pod feels good ... so now on to other things ...

Had a great time last night with Justin Allen Pifer. We had a lot of catching up to do and we did. We later had dinner at a restaurant in the ‘hood, 5 Napkin Burger, where we had ... tada ... fantastic burgers. I love this place even though it is ear-shatteringly loud.

No baseball tonight, so Billi Pod’s entertainment event is ...

8:00==>PLAY IT COOL - “Takes place in 1953 at an underground gay jazz club where everyone's got a secret.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket).

My friends who have seen this show have given it very mixed and diverse reviews. It is playing at a theater on my block.

Getting really nervous about the GATORS/BAMA game this Saturday at 8:00pm on CBS. To add to my jitters is that fact that the start-time for the second YANKEES/TIGERS game has yet to be announced. Hopefully the two events will not conflict. Billi Pod does not want to be flipping channels the entire evening, that is for certain.

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”

ALEX-35

Mahler’s “Resurrection” Symphony Was Awesome!!

It was a wonderful evening last night at The New York Philharmonic Orchestra concert. Gustav Mahler’s “Resurrection” symphony clocked in at 84 minutes, but it was awesomely beautiful. I had never heard a performance of this work. I remained totally focused as did the rest of the sold-out house.

When the concert was over the audience gave the performers a roaring ... and I’m not being overly dramatic ... roaring standing ovation. I can’t remember a more enthusiastic audience response at a NY Phil concert.

Yes, it was a wonderful classical music evening.

After the concert Billi Pod walked back to PHC while listening to the YANKEES/RAYS game on his trusty but now ancient Walkman. The weather was nice, just a bit windy.

The Yankees lost again and the FuckSox won, meaning the Rays and the FuckSox remain tied for the Wild Card.

Tonight is the final regular season game, meaningless to The Yankees but mega-important to The Rays. Again Girardi has cobbled together another makeshift pitching lineup, saving our best arms, of course, for the post season which begins on Friday.

If the Rays and the FuckSox remain tied, they will play a one-game tie breaker on Thursday. That would be nice.

We still don’t know who we will face on Friday, either Detroit or Texas.

About the game on Friday==>Billi Pod will be there in his usual seat. Thanks to the whores at TBS, Fox and MLB the first pitch won’t come until 8:37pm. Factor in all of the commercials and stuff and it will be way past midnight when the game is over. Nice guys ... I am sure tons of people, including kids, will be staying up late to watch the game -- NOT!!

“They” still haven’t released the starting time for game 2 on Saturday.

Oh well ... nuttin Billi Pod can do ‘bout it ... so ... on to other stuff ... like ...

Tonight will finally have some face time with my friend Justin Allen Pifer. He will come over to PHC, after work. After doing some catching-up we will catch a bite in the ‘hood.

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”

ALEX-35

Monday Was A Blah Day

OK ... OK ... in the name of fair and unbiased reporting Billi Pod must admit that Monday was a blah day for him here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

What do I mean, you are no doubt breathlessly asking? Well ... here it is ...

As you know, Monday is usually my errands day, so after posting to this blog I began my chores, the details of which I won’t bore you with. For whatever reason they took longer than usual and were each totally boring.

I was finished with them around 5:00pm and was contemplating when I would head out to the movie theater to see my film-of-choice MONEY BALL, starring Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill, when ...

The Baseball Gods took over and I ditched those plans and opted to stay in ... yes ... there, I said it ... stay in ... to watch the YANKEES/RAYS game and The Boston FuckSox/Orioles game. So for the evening Billi Pod was on the couch with the remote, alternating between the two games.

Had really strange feelings during the Yankee game. I want the FuckSox to disappear, of course, but to accomplish this the Rays have to win at least 2 of the 3 games against us ... see my problem ...

I HATE the FuckSox. I hope they never win another game ... ever ... but ... how can I pull for a team to beat my Yankees? I mean ... how can a dyed-in-the-wool Yankees fan want his team to lose, regardless of the situation?

Well, as you loyal and faithful readers know, we fielded a semi-triple-A roster and ended up losing 5-2 to The Rays, who got an excellent outing from their star pitcher James Shields. The Orioles kicked the FuckSox in the butt by winning 6-3 and beating the FuckSox ace Josh Beckett. Nice.

This means that the Rays and the FuckSox are tied for the Wild Card berth in the play-offs.

But, when it was all over==>Billi Pod had a bad case of the blahs because of all of the wasted time in front of the tube and his mixed emotions about who should win etc etc etc ... oh well ...

Luckily things get back in order today because Billi Pod’s entertainment event is ...

7:30==>NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA @ Avery Fisher Hall - The concert will be Mahler’s Symphony No. 2. (“Resurrection”) with soloists and The New York Choral Artists (season subscription series)

This is the first of my 3 subscription series. The symphony performance time is about 90 minutes and there is no late seating, meaning ... you show up late and you miss the entire concert.

As I said, this is the first concert of the season. For the past 8 years I have subscribed to 3 Philharmonic series, each with 7 concerts. As a bonus, I am given a voucher for a free concert for each of the series and that is a big plus. All of my concerts are scheduled for either Tuesday or Wednesday and that works fine for me.

The NY Phil also has a very generous exchange policy, which can be accomplished online - another big plus.

Damn, in rereading this posting I come to the reluctant conclusion that it, too, is blah ... so I better close it out before it gets any worse ...

Sorry ...

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”

ALEX-34

Sunday Will Be A Doubleheader @ Yankee Stadium

Good morning to each and every one of my loyal and faithful readers.

Yes, a doubleheader, but let’s start this Sunday morning posting with ...

Billi Pod’s report card on THE LYONS==>B<==Linda Lavin saves this from being just another trip down the dysfunctional family lane.

I really wanted to like this show a lot more and but toward the end it got way too formularized, almost cliché ridden, in what is now the mantra for most so-called “dark comedies” about dysfunctional families.

This is what Billi Pod means - for example, pick any 5 from this list ...

1. someone has just died or is dying

2. estranged gay son

3. alcoholism

4. hints of child abuse

5. jealousy among siblings

6. at least one family member speaks only in profanity-ridden rage.

7. the so-called “ideal” marriage is really a sham

8. numerous affairs

9. someone unexpected shows-up

10. characters appear to be angry for no discernible reason.

and you will have 9 out of 10 plays involving families. Understand now? I thought you would ... you are welcome.

Oh well ... when the show was over the weather was OK, so Billi Pod walked back from the Union Square area to PHC while listening to the YANKEES/BOSTON FUCKSOX game on his trusty Walkman.

The Yankees kicked FuckSox butt yesterday, winning 9-1 and clinching home field advantage for both the ALDS & the ALCS. Nice!!

Then for the evening==>The Gators kicked butt, too, winning 48-10 over the Kentucky Wildcats. Next up for the Gators will be ‘Bama at The Swamp this coming Saturday @ 8:00pm on CBS.

Billi Pod’s entertainment event for today is ... tada ... surprise surprise ...

YANKEES/FUCKSOX doubleheader @ 1:05pm & 6:30pm @ Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built.

And, of course AJ Burnett aka Loser Boi will be on the mound for game 1.

Rookie Ivan Nova will pitch game 2, hopefully to win his 17th game.

The weather is predicted to be OK. I am rather confident that my season ticket buddies will all be there for game 1 and that will be nice.

Will have about 2 1/2 hours to kill between games. My plans are to just wander and then find a pizza joint for a slice.

Yes, it is going to be a long day/evening, but this is why Billi Pod lives in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In the World.

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”

ALEX-32

A Foggy, Gloomy, Nasty Day In The Big Apple.

Have a lot of misc. stuff on my mind, so let’s get started with ... oh ... but first ... it is foggy, gloomy and nasty out ...

A huge TGIF shout out to all of my Worker Bee friends and to the rest of you loyal and faithful readers out there in the hinterlands.

Billi Pod’s report card on DALLY WITH THE DEVIL==>B+<==totally enjoyable.

The acting is terrific. The engrossing story line is made very believable. Yes ... believable ... trust me on this ... remember ... I have political and statewide campaign experience from years and years ago. See it.

Thankfully Billi Pod was not at The House That Greed And Ego Built last night as Tampa Bay beat our butts 15-8.

Girardi fielded basically a replacement lineup and Bartolo Colon sucked again and I think that his place on the post season starting roster is in serious jeopardy.

Billi Pod’s entertainment event for tonight is ... tada ... more baseball ...

7:05==>YANKEES/BOSTON FUCKSOX @ Yankee Stadium.

This will be my next-to-last regular season home game and I will be in my usual seat.

Freddy Garcia will be on the mound as we, hopefully, drive the stake deeper into the hearts of this slumping scum-bag team, in the first of a 3-game series. Weather is gonna be very iffy but it will take a monsoon to keep this game from being played, trust me on this. Time is running out.

Folks, in the name of fair and unbiased reporting Billi Pod has to state that he does not believe The FuckSox will miss the playoffs. It makes him want to puke to write this, but ... they have a good team. And, remember, this is baseball, which is subject to streaks. A losing streak can quickly turn into a winning streak and that is what scares Billi Pod. He would much rather have The Rays in the post season than The FuckSox.

I have received my post season tickets, which we had to pay for about 3 weeks ago. As I posted earlier in the season, Yankee management really f**ked-over the holders of the 41-game partial season ticket packages when they reduced our post season ticket privileges by 1/2, meaning: I only have 2 tickets for the Division Series, 2 for the League Championship Series and 1 for The World Series.

Yet another reason why many of us are seriously considering not renewing or at best opting for the 20 game package. Time will tell.

And, while Billi Pod is whining ... I HATE what FaceBook has shoved down our throats, but ... what can we do? Nothing. If you aren’t on FB you haven’t a clue what I am talking about, but, folks, it is too complicated to try to explain ... suffice it to say ... it’s their way or the hallway ... so ... we just gotta live with it ...

Billi Pod is really surprised and pleased about at all of the favorable comments, posts, emails and texts regarding yesterday’s JUDDA THE HUT posting. A number of people opined that it ranks right up there with the “Condom on The Sleeve” story from back in 1995.

Really looking forward to seeing the just released MONEY BALL, starring Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill and Philip Seymour Hoffman. The show follows Billy Beane, the general manager of the hapless and underfunded Oakland A’s, as he turns to unusual statistical analysis provided by Jonah Hill’s character to lead the team to a historic ascent during the 2002 season.

The movie has received basically rave reviews and I believe it will be a box-office smash this weekend. For this reason I will put off seeing it until Monday or Tuesday, probably at an afternoon time.

OMFG!! It is 11:30am and, boy, is it nasty looking out right now. Foggy and hazy. I can barely make out the buildings one block north of PHC.

Also looking forward to the GATORS/WILDCATS game on Saturday night, which, thankfully, will be carried locally on ESPN.

Damn, some of the local “pundits” are predicting a major Gator letdown and the possibility of an upset. Come on my boys ... show these assholes, probably graduates of Half Ass U, that they are wrong and kick some butt.

GO GATORS AND GO YANKEES!!

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”

ALEX-30