Today==>Seeing HUGH JACKMAN: BACK ON BROADWAY==>AWESOME!!

Good morning everyone.

Today is going to be another awesome entertainment doubleheader for Billi Pod ... starting with ...

2:00==>HUGH JACKMAN: BACK ON BROADWAY - “Accompanied by an 18-piece orchestra, Tony Award winner Hugh Jackman performs a personal selection of his favorite musical numbers that reflect on the stage and film star’s remarkable life and career, from The Boy from Oz to Hollywood.” (Broadway - full price ticket)

I was lucky to score a nice mezzanine seat for this show, row C, seat 9. Yes, it is full-price, but this is one of the top shows of the Broadway season and it couldn’t be missed.

Jackman has received uniformly rave reviews, such as ...

“THE IMPOSSIBLY TALENTED MR. JACKMAN IS GLORIOUS" - NY Times

"THERE'S A NEW KING ON BROADWAY!" - NY Post

"A GRAND NIGHT OF STAR ENTERTAINMENT." - TimeOut NY

For the 8 shows for the week ending November 20, the show grossed ... gasp ... $1,468,189, and, it was at 102% capacity (meaning, of course, standing room).

He is performing at the ancient and creaky Broadhurst Theater. It is reported that last night, as a result of the steady and pouring rain, there was water on the stage and Jackman slipped and fell. He wasn’t injured.

This has been a problem with this theater in the past and Billi Pod has to wonder==>where is Actors Equity when you need them?

Anyway ... Billi Pod is really charged about this event and that is putting it mildly.

The second part of the doubleheader is ...

8:00==>STANDING ON CEREMONY: The Gay Marriage Plays - “Two little words, and suddenly your whole world changes. Nine short plays offer unique takes on the moments before, during and after ‘I do.’ Starring: Craig Bierko, Mark Consuelos, Polly Draper, Harriet Harris, Beth Leavel, and Richard Thomas.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show, playing down in The Village, has received generally very favorable reviews.

As I alluded to above, yesterday was a majorly nasty and rainy day. It started in the early afternoon and lasted all day and into the night. In fact, when Billi Pod crashed at the usual 2:00am it was still raining.

Luckily my entertainment event was up at Lincoln Center, meaning the only time I was out in the elements was the 1 block walk from PHC to and from The Port Authority Terminal.

I am happy to report to you loyal and faithful readers that the rain has stopped and there is none predicted for the next several days.

The NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC concert last night was excellent, as usual.

The 3 Masters: Mozart, Bach and Beethoven. You can’t get much better than this.

To all of my loyal and faithful readers who are traveling for Thanksgiving==>be safe and have a great time with your families and friends.

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-91

Billi Pod Says==>You Gotta See IRON CURTAIN

OK, folks out there in the vast hinterlands ... Billi Pod wants to get right to it ... so ...

Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s IRON CURTAIN==>A+

Set in the 1950s, the story follows Murray and Howard, a failed writing team, who are kidnapped and taken to the Soviet Union where they are ordered to fix a Communist propaganda musical that is ultimately called "Damnable Yankees."

It is a hilariously funny musical comedy about show biz, Soviets, and the quest for love.

The cast is spot-on and the show is gut-busting funny as it delightfully takes on the groan, the aside and the pun. The lyrics are awesome!!

My only quibble is that it is a bit long and probably could be trimmed by 15 minutes ... but this is really minor.

I know that you loyal and faithful readers understand that I see a lot, and I mean a lot, of shows ... so ... take my word for this ... I can’t remember when I had as much pure fun at a show as I did last night.

The show has been extended through December 4th and Billi Pod says==>see it.

A warning though -- last night’s show was sold out, with a waiting list ... so ... get to it ...

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

7:30==>NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA @ Avery Fisher Hall - The program is: “Bach: Concerto for Violin and Oboe; Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1; and, Mozart: Symphony No. 33.” (Subscription series)

Still have a few errands to finish up ... 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-90

A Split Entertainment Doubleheader for Billi Pod

Happy Monday to everyone out there in the vast hinterlands.

Yesterday’s entertainment doubleheader was a split for Billi Pod.

I really enjoyed what was the final performance of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, at the St. Jeans Playhouse on E. 75th Street. The show was sold out.

My only quibble was the casting of Scout, Jem and Dill. The actors were all in their mid/late teens, playing much younger characters. It is hard to believe they couldn’t have found age-appropriate performers in the vastness of New York City.

The guy playing the villain, Bob Ewell, was evil but not nearly as evil as I portrayed him 20 years ago. My director gave me virtually an open book to develop the character and I tried to make him the personification of evil, and, trust me ... I did.

I made a big deal out of chewing tobacco (chopped up licorice sticks) and spitting on the stage and into a spittoon during the courtroom scene. I had made a pact with the stage manager that I would clean the stuff up after the final curtain.

In the climatic scene when Ewell spits in Atticus’s face, he got a load of “tobacco juice.” Interestingly, in last night’s show that scene was totally omitted and only made part of the narrative.

When the show was over I rather leisurely walked down Lexington Avenue to 59th Street and then over to the theater for my second show. Had time to have some fruit and a Fresca at the deli next door to the theater.

Now, on to BURMESE DAYS, about British colonialism in Burma==>for whatever reason this show just didn’t work for me.

The actors all played multiple characters, without hardly ever leaving the stage, so sometimes it was difficult to discern who was who. And, I felt totally disconnected from the story line - I just didn’t care about any of the characters.

At intermission Billi Pod did something he very rarely does, especially with a comp. ticket ... he fled the scene.

Came back to PHC and settled in to watch the Giants implode once again, losing to the Eagles.

Since today is Monday, it will be errands and stuff and then tonight is ...

7:30==>IRON CURTAIN - “The show follows the misadventures of Howard Katz and Murray Finkel, hapless songwriters who finally get their big break when they are kidnapped by the KGB, taken to Russia and forced to fix the worlds worst communist propaganda musical. With the help of their madcap Soviet collaborators, the team gets a taste of the fame they never had in America.” (Off Broadway - discounted TDF ticket)

This sounds like a lot of fun.

I will close by sharing with you loyal and faithful readers Billi Pod’s entertainment schedule for the remainder of the week ...

Mon - 7:30==>IRON CURTAIN

Tues - 7:30==>NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC @ Avery Fisher Hall

Wed - 2:00==>HUGH JACKMAN, BACK ON BROADWAY

8:00==>STANDING ON CEREMONY

Thurs - Thanksgiving Dinner with friends

Fri - open at the moment

Sat - 6:00==>meet up with David Huddleston and Sarah Koeppe for dinner at Sardi’s

7:00==>GATORS/FSU on ESPN2 (yeah, I gotta stay in to watch us get our butts kicked)

Sun - 2:00==>MESSIAH: REFRESHED @ Avery Fisher Hall

On Friday, unless something really interesting shows up on one of my ticket services, I will probably try to do a movie doubleheader==>Ben Stiller’s TOWER HEIST and A VERY HAROLD & KUMAR 3D CHRISTMAS.

OK, got things and stuff to do ... 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-89

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

A Saturday Doubleheader For Billi Pod

Last night’s NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC concert was excellent, especially Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7, which clocks in at 64 minutes.

As I reported yesterday, my ticket for this concert was complimentary, meaning I had no clue where the seat would be. I felt it probably would be in the very upper nosebleed section of Avery Fisher Hall.

Well, it was in the 2nd tier, 3rd row, center. Not bad, not bad at all. These seats regularly sell for $40.00.

In the name of fair and unbiased reporting I have to state that there were lots of empty seats in the orchestra area, which I think continues to reflect the long-term effects of our fragile economy.

When I got back to PHC I settled in to watch the final half of the Oklahoma State/Iowa State game. OSU was ranked #2 in the BCS poll. Iowa State was unranked.

Well, you know the outcome, Iowa State overcame a 17-point deficit and won in double-overtime, sending the college football universe into yet another tailspin. What a crazy season this has been and it ain’t over yet.

Billi Pod has a doubleheader today ... first ...

2:00==>THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY OF STEVE JOBS - “This one-man show by Mike Daisey illuminates how the CEO of Apple and his obsessions shaped our lives. Daisey also shares stories of his travels to China to investigate the factories where millions toil to make iPhones and iPods.” (Off Broadway - discounted TDF ticket)

This show has received excellent reviews. I have really liked Daisey’s previous shows so I am looking forward to this one.

It is playing downtown at the Public Theatre. When the show is over I will leisurely walk up to Union Square, find someplace for coffee and something sweet, and then go to the movie theater located at Broadway and 13th Street for the second part of my doubleheader ... which is ... tada ...

6:20==>MONEYBALL - “Brad Pitt shines as Oakland A’s General Manager Billy Beane who is trying to change baseball’s economic rules of success.”

Yes, Billi Pod is finally fulfilling his promise to Self and that will make him (Billi Pod and Self) feel good about the state of his/their entertainment World.

I am sure that you loyal and faithful readers picked up on the omission of the GATOR/FURMAN game at 2:00pm. The reason==>it ain’t being carried up here on any of hundreds of channels. Oh well ...

In response to several emails and texts - yes, I have plans for Thanksgiving.

As I have done for the past three years, I will have dinner with several of my AA buddies, and their families, at a rather posh Upper Westside apartment. Thanks for asking.

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-87

To All You Worker Bees==>TGIF

A huge TGIF shout-out to all of my Worker Bee friends out there in the employment wilderness, at their desks, in their cubicles, taking lunch orders etc. etc. etc.

Guys and gals - Billi Pod knows that you are tired and looking forward to the weekend so you can, among other things: do your errands, do the laundry, go grocery shopping, mow the lawn, take the kids to soccer practice, wash the car and do the myriad of other things and chores that are part of your Worker Bee bland weekend lifestyle ... but ... remember ... none of this can start until AT LEAST 5:05pm.

Remember, too, it can even start later if your boss(es) feel it is necessary for you to put in some overtime. Remember, also, that you have no control over your employment environment since it was thus structured eons and eons ago.

Remember==>you are, and will always be, a Worker Bee, so just live with it. Actually, you have no choice but to live with it, so just move on ... OK?

Anyway ... it is bright, sunny and cold in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World==>34º at 8:00am.

Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s THE ATMOSPHERE OF MEMORY==>B.

This “dark” comedy about yet another mega-dysfunctional family is saved from mediocrity by a stellar cast headed by Ellen Burstyn.

Parts of the show are very funny although mostly it is in-your-face profane.

Billi Pod found himself liking the show a lot in the beginning but he later found the intense shouting, screaming and yelling in Act II to be a major downer. It could also be cut by at least 15 minutes.

Having said this, it is still worth seeing for Ellen Burstyn alone. It closes on Sunday.

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

8:00==>NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA @ Avery Fisher Hall - “Haydn: Symphony No. 96, Miracle; and, Bruckner: Symphony No. 7”

I am seeing this with a comp. ticket so I have no idea where the seat will be, but no matter because the important thing is ... I will be there for free. Yeah!!

Moving on ...

I have to admit, as pointed out by some recent emails, that I have been somewhat remiss in sharing with you loyal and faithful readers out there in vastness of cyberspace the results of Billi Pod’s continuing internet research. My bad!!

So how about this ... are you interested in knowing the loudest college football stadiums? Of course you are and they are listed at

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/894294-college-football-ranking-the-50-loudest-stadiums#/articles/894294-college-football-ranking-the-50-loudest-stadiums

For your instant edification the top 5 are:

1. Tiger Stadium, LSU==>“When your crowd registers on a seismograph, you come in at No. 1 on the list. LSU, the other Death Valley, is the most frightening place for a team to play, especially if your are unfortunate enough to be schedule for a night game. The stadium holds over 92,000 screaming fans and is a guaranteed sellout no matter who LSU is playing that week.”

2. Autzen Stadium, Oregon

3. Beaver Stadium, Penn State

4. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Florida==>“While some people may say that it feels like the fans are right on top of you, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, they practically are. Only feet from the sidelines, Gator fans have helped turn "The Swamp" into one of the most intimidating places to play. Opposing teams know that when these 92,000 fans get worked up and start doing the gator chomp that they are in trouble.”

5. Ohio Stadium, Ohio State

And, in the name of fair and unbiased reporting ...

15. Doak Campbell Stadium, Florida State==>What do you get when you combine great tailgating, a good party town and one of the better programs in the ACC? You get 83,000 fans packing the stands of Doak Campbell Stadium to cheer on the Seminoles.”

And finally, in closing, as you will remember ...

In my blog on Wednesday I said the following about Tim Tebow --

“Isn’t it ironic that somehow the Denver Broncos are winning with Timmy Tebow as their starting Quarterback even though his ‘stats” and ‘style’ aren’t up to ‘NFL standards?’”

“Eventually the League and the press are gonna learn that Tim Tebow is a winner, who finds a way to lead his team to victory, in any way he can.”

Well, he found a way last night, leading the Broncos to a win over the Jets with a 95 yard 4th quarter drive that ended with his game-winning 20 yard TD run, with 58 seconds remaining.

To say that the local media is stunned is an understatement. They are loathe to admit that it was Timmy who beat the Jets. Their spin is that the Jets basically beat themselves, although they admit to being “surprised” by Tebow.

Well you neigh-sayers - there are a LOT more “surprises” coming, trust me on this.

WAY TO GO TIMMY!!

Billi Pod

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

ALEX-86

Billi Pod’s Entertainment Doubleheader Was Terrific

Good morning everyone out there in cyberspace.

Wednesday’s entertainment doubleheader was terrific even though the weather sucked. It lightly rained all day and into the evening. It was majorly nasty.

Thankfully, it isn’t raining this morning but it has gotten much colder. It was in the low 40s at 8:00am.

Oh, I know what you loyal and faithful readers are thinking ... of course ... what should I expect ... right? ... I mean, it is the middle of November in the Northeast ... and ... whatever ...

Anyway ... let’s get to something more positive ... like Billi Pod’s report cards on his entertainment doubleheader ...

FRAGMENTS, the 5 Samuel Beckett short plays==>A<== the acting in this 1 hour show is awesome and I can certainly understand why it has received very favorable reviews.

This being Beckett, you are sometimes left wondering ... WTF was that all about? What did I miss? Why ain’t I smart enough to understand?

That said ... I am glad that Billi Pod decided to see it. It runs through December 4th and is definitely worth seeing.

And then last night ...

BONNIE AND CLYDE==>A<==loved it!! Laura Osnes and Jeremy Jordon are spot-on as the sexy lawbreakers.

Even though you know what is going to happen at the end, the character development and motivations keep you focused ... at least it did for Billi Pod.

The show is still in previews so it will only get better.

As I was leaving the theater I ran into my FaceBook friend John McDaniel, who is in charge of the shows “Musical Supervision/Arrangements/Orchestrations” (not sure what all this means). I told him how much I liked the show and he seemed to be appreciative of my comments.

So ... John and co-producer (via Broadway Consortium, LLC ) Kenny Howard ... may the show live long and prosper.

Tonight’s entertainment event is ...

8:00==>THE ATMOSPHERE OF MEMORY - “Jon Stone has recently found the courage to write his masterpiece: a play about his upbringing. But when his actual mother is cast to play his mother on stage and his estranged father remembers the family history differently, Jon is forced to rewrite, not only his play, but his past as well.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

The incomparable theater icon Ellen Burstyn heads the cast.

I am seeing this show basically on the recommendation of John Scott Reed. It has received very mixed reviews and it closes this weekend.

So, my loyal and faithful readers out there in the hinterlands ... let me close with ...

The JETS/BRONCOS game is tonight at 8:15pm. Unfortunately, Billi Pod has an entertainment event that conflicts with the game.

Without a doubt I am pulling for Timmy Tebow to kick some butt!!

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-85