Pound Sign

As long as we've got each other

2012-01-25T15:13:00.002-05:00

Hello.

2012-01-20T14:32:00.002-05:00

Hello from ant1mat3rie on Vimeo.

Is it me you're looking for? I know, I haven't been around.

(via Animal New York)

Happy New Year!

2012-01-03T17:12:00.003-05:00

Join the now, man.
(courtesy of the geniuses at Everything is Terrible)

Look, it's almost the end of the day.

2011-12-16T17:44:00.000-05:00

Spend some time with Seanbaby and the 8 most baffling food mascots of all time. By the time you get to #4, they will haunt your dreams.

I mean, you're already completely checked out for the holidays, right?

2011-12-16T13:18:00.000-05:00

Here, take a few minutes from "working" and look at this, I love the amount of time people will lovingly put into this kind of thing.

Oh, and by the way, come start your weekend with us tonight at the Gameshow Speakeasy! What else have you got to do, go shopping? You've got 9 days to get that done!

I'm not posting my own list of all the best videos of the year.

2011-12-13T16:41:00.002-05:00

I'm just posting one. Because there is only one.

Best. video. Of the year.

Number 14 is my favorite

2011-12-07T11:32:00.000-05:00

Compiled by the hilarious site Damn You Autocorrect, the 25 funniest iPhone autocorrects of 2011.

We're doomed.

2011-12-05T11:46:00.000-05:00

The 45 most powerful photos of 2011. It's hard to argue with most of the images on this list, and some of them are truly amazing. But holy shit, with only a handful of exceptions it is deeply depressing.

No, really, it's actually fun?

2011-11-28T11:20:00.000-05:00

Taken me a while to post this because I finally got around to reading it: The New York Times' latest article on burlesque. Every, oh, 2-3 years or so the Times discovers this new thing that people are doing called burlesque. the article's not bad at all (and some nice shout outs for some of my favorite people--and I love that they name-check Oberlin College talking about Julie), and has an international angle that's seen less often, but it's the same litany of gender studies and feminist art that every serious journalistic approach to the subject focuses on. All of those things are absolutely true of burlesque! But this article makes it sound like going to a burlesque show is like watching a doctoral dissertation on performance art. Actually, believe it or not? It's fucking entertainment! Like, first and foremost. The beauty of burlesque is that it can embody all of those deep and beautiful empowering things in the context of a kick-ass night of sexy, funny, outrageous fun that's like nothing else you've ever seen.

Man, I have been on a soap box lately! Sorry. Carry on.

Thoughts from the host.

2011-11-22T17:43:00.001-05:00

A burlesque emcee and game show host is nothing I ever would have imagined being, before, oh, six years ago. Now it's an integral part of who I am, and I love doing it. It also happens to fit into my skill set, my education to do my actual day job, and my natural comfort in front of groups and being, well, the center of attention. There's a little debate going on on Facebook about a burlesque emcee in another city (who, I don't know) who made some bad decisions about the kind of jokes and terminology she thought was appropriate, and revealed a key element of a performer's upcoming act IN HER INTRO. I responded to that thread with what I think are the three key jobs of an emcee, and I put them forth here as well:

1. Teach the audience how to act during the show and encourage their enthusiasm
2. Keep the show flowing smoothly no matter what happens
3. Make the performers feel supported and comfortable to do what they need to do with minimal stress

Those aren't exactly rocket science. But I've seen plenty of hosts get that balance wrong. And needless to say, SO many get them right. I've been very, very lucky to learn to do what I do in NYC, where there are so many fabulous hosts of all kinds, as well as being exposed to the best from around the country during Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend and other events.

I treat hosting a show as if I'm the biggest fan in the crowd that night. Which I sometimes am. You CANNOT be belligerent or alienate the audience. They HAVE to be in on the joke. They paid to be there, and they're paying you. That doesn't mean that you CAN'T have plenty of good-natured fun with them; you can give an audience member shit if they seem to be able to take it, you can be foul-mouthed and have an attitude, just don't get mean-spirited about it. It's supposed to be fun, for God's sake. (I could give plenty of examples of how beautifully this balance can be struck, but I don't want to leave anyone out, and you know most of them already if you're reading this--or you should! Ok, one example. Miss Astrid.)

And you can totally call out somebody texting or not shutting the fuck up in the back--that benefits everyone, audience and performers included. Just don't berate the WHOLE audience. And remember, it's not their fault if there aren't a lot of them there, don't remind a crowd that it's small: make them feel like they're the lucky ones who made the right decision to come out that night and give you their money.

There are certainly lots of additional jobs/roles/needs that a host needs to fulfill, and while I'm talking about burlesque in particular, I think most of them apply to anyone on the mike hosting a show of the variety/comedy/cabaret/sideshow realm.

Along with the jobs, I think there are three key RULES to being an emcee as well.

1. Be original.
2. Know your audience.
3. It's not about you.

Everybody learns from others and there are plenty of formulas in every show that all hosts have to include ("How many of you have never been to a burlesque show before?"), but figure out your own way of doing them, dammit. And know whether the crowd, the venue and the time of night at the specific show, where you're about to step behind the mike, is the right place to get really raunchy, to keep it classy and erudite, or, you know, some mix of the two. And I include the performers and producers in "audience" here; don't surprise them with an intro that they're going to hate or makes them feel uncomfortable--that doesn't mean you can't be dirty. They should just know what they're getting into with you. And while I love being in the spotlight, and all hosts love their moment to shine with their own shtick (whether it's singing, magic, sword-swallowing or audience participation games, like I do), the most important thing is that the emcee is there to serve the SHOW, not themselves.

I am definitely not making myself out to be King of Hosts. I feel like I've been doing it long enough to have learned all of these lessons either through lots of observation of other hosts that I both respect and admire, and also some I hope I never see again. (and some good hosts having a bad night, too--I've certainly had those.) And I've learned plenty of them through my own mistakes. In the end, I do think that hosting is a skill just like every other kind of performer we share the stage with--not everyone can do it. And go see tons of them before you get behind the mike yourself, that's what I did.

Sorry, that's long-winded. I promise my next post will be some funny shit on YouTube.

Stay home and eat leftovers

2011-11-22T17:15:00.000-05:00

Some interesting thoughts for while you're waiting in line at Target on Friday.

"Best Game Night in NYC"

2011-11-18T11:32:00.000-05:00

Earlier this month, Time Out New York picked the Gameshow Speakeasy as the best game night in New York. It's part of their list BEST OF NYC: 50 Essential Things to Do." I'm pretty psyched.

By the way, the show's tonight!

You're a New Yorker. You can handle it.

2011-10-31T11:09:00.000-04:00

So, on December 9th I'm launching my first new show as a solo producer here in NYC, and I'm very excited about it. You make decisions when there's a transition in your producing life, whether to play it safe and keep doing the kind of thing you've already achieved success with, or you move forward and create something new that you can get really excited about. I'm going for it. And this is either my best idea ever...or my worst. Either way, you don't want to miss it. Seriously:

A night dedicated to all of the most out there, "did I really just see that?" crazy shit that New York's burlesque scene has to offer. That's what makes New York burlesque the best in the world, and there's never been a show entirely dedicated to that premise. Oooohh, it's going to be fucked up. And glorious.

And I've got BB Heart, Bunny Love, Creamy Stevens, Darlinda Just Darlinda, Fem Appeal, Fifi Dupree, La Maia, Schaffer the Darklord and Tigger! willing to come along on this ride with me. At the Bowery Poetry Club. Like I said: don't miss it.

Oh, and if that postcard looks a bit familiar to you...

Yeah.

Vanessa and Steven can suck it.

2011-10-20T17:10:00.000-04:00

As usual, Lindsay Robertson hits the nail on the head about the most annoying fucking commercial in New York TV history. It's so pretentious at first I thought it must be a joke. It's not. My girlfriend is so pissed off by this ad, she wrote the company. Seriously.

Yes, I know, it's been ages since I posted anything.

2011-10-13T10:59:00.000-04:00

I've been busy! Here, here's a list of 80s-90s sci-fi movies that actually SHOULD be remade. Discuss and debate. I'll be back soon with more actual, you know, writing and stuff.

Come with me if you want to live

2011-09-01T16:44:00.000-04:00

See you at Coney tonight.

10 Years

2011-09-01T15:18:00.001-04:00

Ten years ago last month I moved to New York.

In August 2001 I moved to the city to start grad school at NYU. I was here about two weeks when I knew I was never planning on leaving. Needless to say, it was interesting timing; about three weeks after I got here the city I moved to changed in an irrevocable way. But 9/11 and my experience with being new to the city just made me love it and its people more, and solidified how I felt about being a part of this place.

But, I'm not writing this as a reflection on that specific event-it's impossible for it not to be front and center in my thoughts when I think of how I got here, but what I've been reflecting on a lot is the ten years that have come after that.

I will state, absolutely, that my first 10 years in New York have included most of the best times in my life, and, I think, all of the worst. I would be a different person if I wasn't here. I suppose, who is ever the same person at 27 and 37? But I know one thing: I'm a New Yorker. This is where I belong.

And the city has changed as much as I have in the last ten years. New York has a sense of permanence, but it's only a sense--the only true constant here is change, whether we like it or not. So...what has changed in New York in the ten years I've lived here? When I moved to the city you could still use a token to get on the subway, where the M line was Brown and if you were lucky, you might ride one of the last of the Redbird trains. CBGB's still existed, along with too many other long-standing New York nightlife institutions; just until the last couple of weeks you could still get a beer at the Mars Bar. There definitely wasn't a Chipotle and a Supercuts on St. Mark's Place. Frankly, mostly irreplaceable stuff has disappeared and everything has gotten more expensive...it's not all bad though: when I moved here the Highline was a derelict structure still threatened with demolition. I was reminded that 311 was founded too, just about the best thing Bloomberg has come up with. Speaking of being reminded, I enlisted a certain native that I've been spending lots of time with lately (ahem) to help me think about it. Her perspective was great and totally different, and in fact I think she just started to get pissed off after a while: "we used to have subway clerks...we could find good pizza...we could still smoke in bars...we had term limits." And my favorite: "bed bugs were other countries' problem."

So...here I am. I've developed a new statement of purpose lately, that fits into my life and who I am now, and it fits here too.

I'm not going anywhere.

Ok, thanks everybody. I promise to start posting funny Youtube videos and shit again.

Momentum. Also nudity.

2011-08-15T11:09:00.001-04:00

A very busy summer for Neil O'Fortune (hey, that's me!) has continued in August, with this past weekend hosting the Rhinestone Follies and Kitty Nights, and upcoming as the host of D20 Burlesque's computer games show on Saturday. (I'm warming up all of my Oregon Trail references. You have died...of dysentary.)

And, the final Casino O'Fortune Cookie Production is on September 1st, at Coney Island USA, the appropriately named HASTA LA VISTA, BABY: Schwarzenegger Burlesque. Here's to going out with a bang.

Here's what I'm very excited about: this week the Gameshow Speakeasy celebrates its FIFTH Anniversary! The show where Neil O'Fortune was born. There's a lot of my personal history wrapped up in the story of this show. A whole lot of it has been recorded on this blog, actually, since it coincided with the creation of that show under it's a original name that shall not be used but rhymes with Shmuts Shmy Shmine. And, this is the first installment of which I am the sole producer, following the dissolution of my personal and professional relationship with my former partner. Since this blog has always been intended to be about the life of an independent producer in NYC, well...that's part of the story too. ANYWAY, this week's anniversary show also marks the launch of its new, somewhat experimental move to a new night of the week: the third FRIDAY of every month! We'll see!

Oh, and: I'm very excited to finally return to the most magical place on earth on 9/10/11: Asbury Lanes! Nasty Canasta and Neil O'Fortune present: STRIP, ROCK, BOWL. It's exactly what it says it is.

There's more on the horizon...stay tuned.

Why did this make me laugh so hard? It's so dumb. Just look at it.

2011-08-04T14:53:00.001-04:00

You Chumplete Me.

A little zen for your Wednesday morning

2011-08-03T10:39:00.001-04:00

Put your headphones on. Disregard the fact that it's a cellphone commercial (or alternately, appreciate that a cellphone company paid to make something this soothing.)

Science!

2011-07-28T13:59:00.001-04:00

Videogum reports on a scientific study that established the supposedly saddest, most tear-inducing scene in movies--a statement successfully refuted by Videogums's own example.

They make a good case...this is a very personal thing, though. I've discovered it's the viewing experiences that you don't expect to tear up to that are most likely to leave you a sobbing wreck. Herewith my examples:

1. Silent Running
This obscure hippy-dippy early 70's eco-sci-fi flick starring Bruce Dern was the first movie that ever made me cry (post-child, I mean. Everybody cries at movies when they're little.). Watching it late night on TV and the last scene with that damn little robot watering plants and that damn sappy ballad comes on and...water works. Shit.

2. Lonesome Dove
The original 1989 miniseries, which, by the way, still holds up like gangbusters, best miniseries ever on network TV. My parents taped this for me (on a device called a "VCR") because I was on a summer camp trip when it aired. I got home and watched the whole thing straight through on a Saturday. When (SPOILER) Gus dies in hour 5...shit.

3. Toy Story 3
Most recent. What? Like you didn't.

Feel free to share your thoughts. This is a no-judgements environment.

Sometimes you feel good.

2011-07-26T21:13:00.000-04:00

And sometimes you feel like motherfucking Freddie Mercury riding on motherfucking Darth Vader.

Yeah. That's called awesome.

Some things are just awesome.

2011-07-19T13:46:00.001-04:00

Here you go:

Sesame Street breaks it down from Wonderful Creative on Vimeo.

(Discovered via Best Week Ever)

What the hell we supposed to use, man? Harsh language?

2011-07-19T13:42:00.002-04:00

In Movieline (which, speaking of nostalgia, I had a subscription to the defunct print version of for years), a nice, short and wholly accurate look back at one of the most influential films of the last 3 decades, arguably THE great sci-fi-action-horror movie, and one of my personal favorites, on the occasion of its 25th anniversary.

Yeeeesssssss.

2011-07-08T17:59:00.000-04:00

Enough said.

Goodness, Gracious

2011-06-29T15:05:00.002-04:00

Danger Zone Burlesque from John Goddard on Vimeo.

Courtesy of Pinkie Special's lovely British fiance John Goddard, a fun video overview of Danger Zone Burlesque, the final Casino O'Fortune Cookie Production at Joe's Pub. It was an emotional night for me and this is actually a fun way to remember it.

All of my MST3K dreams realized

2011-06-28T10:36:00.000-04:00

Thanks to burlesque, I get to live the life of a 1970's professional TV host, which is just about the highest I can imagine aspiring to, but I do it live, surrounded by naked women. It's a pretty solid gig.

And now, another thing that I never thought I'd get to do is being realized, when I am one of the panelists on July 6th for Bastard Keith's Movie Club at Galapagos Art Space. The second installment of Keith's new venture has a panel onstage watching a movie with the audience, making snarky comments about what's on screen. This month, it's a mid-90s piece of Hong Kong weirdness, lesbian action flick The Naked Killer. Which I saw on VHS, about...15 years ago. It should be fun!

The dude got around, too.

2011-06-27T17:13:00.002-04:00

The wide-ranging graffiti artiste responsible for drawing curlicued moustaches (made up of the word "moustache") on subway station advertising has been busted. He shall mustachio no more.

This is cool.

2011-06-22T15:45:00.002-04:00

BUCK 65 "Superstars Don't Love" from Travis Hopkins on Vimeo.

Discovered via IMSO.

"I never try anything. I just do it."

2011-06-19T16:07:00.000-04:00

One of the great and unique pleasures of the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend every year is spending time with--and seeing the performances by--our living legends of burlesque. I love that I can call many of these ladies my friends and in six years I've seen more amazing happenings on stage then I can describe here. (One favorite this year: Camille 2000 returning to the stage for the first time after 25 years.)

One of my favorite memories of all of my BHoF Weekends was, in 2008, hanging out in the Ghost Bar at the Palms with Tura Satana and Satan's Angel, while they swapped nostalgia. Tura was lovely and welcoming and I'm glad to have met her.

She's an inspiration to so many of today's performers and we were sad to lose her this year; the Friday night show this year was dedicated to her memory, her children were there to celebrate with us and among other tributes featured the debut of the trailer for a new documentary about her. It looks like it might kick as much ass as Tura did.

Shun the non-believer! Shuuuuuunnnnnn-ah.

2011-06-17T13:18:00.000-04:00

Neil O'Fortune's big summer continues when I return this Saturday as the host of D20 Burlesque, for a night completely dedicated to Internet memes. It should be batshit insane, in a good way. And haven't you always wanted to hear my dramatic reading of Charlie the Unicorn? I know you have.

And then on Monday night I make my debut as the host of the long-running Original Cyn Burlesque in Brooklyn. It should be batshit insane, in a good way.

Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend 2011 in words and pictures

2011-06-17T11:48:00.001-04:00

Finally got my pictures from Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend posted to Flickr, check 'em out! As always, I barely scratched the surface, there's too much and I'm always too busy...but needless to say if you search Flickr and Facebook you'll find tons of fabulous pictures, especially of the amazing action onstage throughout the weekend's four nights of shows.

I'm happy to say that the Weekend was an absolute triumph. The best yet in our 6 years in Vegas. There's tons of press out there too if you missed the action...including about the legal wranglings that I'm not going to go into. (Just look for the Wall Street Journal article if you're curious about that.)

We feel the need, the need...for speed.

2011-06-15T17:53:00.001-04:00

So, something is coming to an end, but it will end with a bang. Casino O'Fortune Cookie Productions will be no more after this summer but we've got one more show at Joe's Pub, which will also soon close for months of major renovations. So, you should come out! June 25th! Our usual pop culture craziness with an all-star cast! Does this looks familiar?

Well, check it:

Take us to bed or lose us forever!

G-Chat from my cousin in its entirety.

2011-05-26T17:11:00.002-04:00

Sometimes a haiku
Doesn’t make any sense, man
Refrigerator

The reason the Rapture was a bust on Saturday?

2011-05-23T13:55:00.000-04:00

Because Macho Man Randy Savage sacrificed himself for our sins.

Our triumphant return to the Orleans

2011-05-17T12:30:00.000-04:00

For the sixth year in a row I'm a member of the Production Committee for Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend, and I think I say this every year, but I do mean it, this year's is going to be the biggest and best ever. Tickets are still available but are going fast and if you're thinking about it, jump on it now!

This will seriously chill your shit out.

2011-05-06T19:20:00.002-04:00

Timelapse - The City Limits from Dominic on Vimeo.

This is cool. Happy Friday everyone! It's been a long week. Now go have some fun.

(Courtesy of Gawker)

I shall accomplish what you request with magnificence.

2011-05-06T14:19:00.000-04:00

Run, don't walk to see 13 Assassins. It's playing in NYC at the IFC Center. Elsewhere...I don't know. Find that shit. It is one of the most purely satisfying movie-going experiences I've had in a long, long time.

It stays completely true to the classic Seven Samurai formula, and you know what? That's fine. That's a great fucking formula. It is a pure, linear formula that has yielded many of the most satisfying movie experiences that ANY of us have ever had. And 13 Assassins invigorates that formula with tremendous visual beauty; stunningly visceral sound design; gloriously shot, immensely exciting, bloody, bloody action that comes after lengthy, textured setup full of rich characterization and humor, and includes a number of immensely satisfying payoffs; and a group of beautifully acted characters that are also among the greatest cinematic badasses of all time.

Seriously. So badass.

I de-friended someone yesterday because of their snarky response to this quote by another friend

2011-05-03T15:49:00.000-04:00

From the Atlantic, a fascinating look at how a partially fake quote attributed to Martin Luther King disseminated across the entire Internet within 24 hours of Osama Bin Laden being shot. It certainly showed up on my wall about 50 times.

Figured since, you know, it's a slow news day, I'd let you know what I've got coming up

2011-05-02T12:35:00.000-04:00

It's a big May and you should come out and join me for the fun!

On the 13th, I'm thrilled to be hosting a star-packed benefit show for the Burlesque Hall of Fame, produced by that glittering trifecta, the Rhinestone Follies. It's the NYC portion of a series of national benefit shows, each one dedicated to raising the funds to send one of our burlesque legends to their 54th Annual Reunion at this year's Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend. The New York show is benefitting the lovely April March, and I'm honored to be a part of it.

And then, of course, the very next night it's BOTTOMS UP! The Ultimate Van Halen Burlesque Experience at Joe's Pub!

And on the 19th: it's the return of the Gameshow Speakeasy!

Wait...what?

2011-04-29T13:27:00.000-04:00

This, I think, can go without comment. (Thanks to the lovely Plucky Charms for posting this on my Facebook wall.)

Plus, bonus points for William Shatner stars in: Silverhawks

2011-04-28T14:03:00.000-04:00

Here, spend some time with illustrator Sean Hartter's alternative universe movie posters (and Atari cartridges. And paperback covers. And Topps cards.) This is my favorite kind of pop-culture mashup: combining the obscure, the mainstream and the bizarre with an obvious love for the tactile objects and half-remembered tropes of the last Century, to create something really weird, and cool.

Don't RISK missing out, I've got a MONOPOLY on your week's plans! (Hey-yo!)

2011-04-19T11:20:00.000-04:00

Neil O'Fortune is heading into the biggest spring and summer of his hosting life, and I promise not to make this blog (even more of) a non-stop string of listings. But this week you should come out for a couple of things! Gameshow Speakeasy returns on Thursday! You should definitely come out, here's what you missed if you weren't there last month. Yes, that's our celebrity mystery guest from March: Richard Kline. That's right, Larry from Three's Company.

Then on Friday, I return as the host of D20 Burlesque, for their homage to board games! Not surprisingly, the internets went nuts for the first D20 show, their role-playing game tribute; my favorite was the post by my friend Bettie Pageviews (aka Simcha Whitehill) on the Daily What. It's not every day I get called a "nerdilicious New York City burlesque impresario."

Why, yes I am done with work and killing some time until my Friday plans, why do you ask?

2011-04-15T18:38:00.000-04:00

I actually love when I find something that isn't the newest meme everybody's posting thissecond on their Facebook wall and sharing it. Case in point, I came across this just now on Best Week Ever, it dates from several months back and it made me laugh out loud.

See also: the image above, courtesy of the blog Pop Suede. This is actually courtesy of my friend (and reliably hysterical FB poster) Creamy Stevens, and every time I see it I laugh. It's also an example of how things CAN get lost on the internet: Pop Suede appears to be having trouble with its URL and the internal links don't work, making it impossible to reach this and most of their content on the original site. You'll just have to bask in this single image in all its non sequiter glory right here.

Look, it's been a hard week.

2011-04-15T11:24:00.000-04:00

I feel you, it's been a rough one. Long and stressful. I'm here to help. Cute Roulette. You're welcome.

MIght as well jump

2011-03-31T11:41:00.000-04:00

Even as my partners in Casino O'Fortune Cookie Productions prepare to hit the road today on their Spring tour with the Dangerous Curves Ahead: Burlesque on the Go-Go, here's our latest epic adventure scheduled for Joe's Pub on Saturday, May 14th!

You remember this, right?

Check it:

Don't miss it!

Tonight! Prepare to gain some experience points.

2011-03-25T21:30:00.000-04:00

Tonight, Neil O'Fortune will be your Dungeon Master of Ceremonies for the premiere edition of D20 Burlesque, a night dedicated completely to role-playing games. Yup. That is some geeky shit. But it's going to be fun, and hey, look, I've gamed. I have been a dedicated gamer. I have spent hours rolling the die and calculating "To Hit Armor Class Zero." In middle school I had a subscription to Dragon magazine. Say it loud, I'm nerd and I'm proud!

This venture is the brainchild of Anja Keister, who is a relative newcomer to the scene and is sure to make a big splash with her first production because, well, there's an enormous audience for it! (And in all serious I'm honored she asked me to host her first show.) And listen: these performers are not posers. These are genuine sexy geeks, they are keepin' it real and are, frankly, the kind of girls that the 13-year old me with a Half-Elven Ranger named Lars could only dream about.

The show's at the Parkside Lounge tonight at 11:30 so you still have time to get down there! Don't miss out, you know you're one of us.

I love it when the dayjob and the nightlife come together...

2011-03-21T16:31:00.000-04:00

This Thursday night at the Art Directors Club is The Young Guns Parade and Funeral March for Fighters and Lovers, aka the launch party for the 2011 Young Guns program. It's an annual event but this year we're kicking it up a notch, with tons of atmosphere, live music, projections...and bloodwrestling. Oh yes.

Thanks to my other life I know the twisted mind behind GLOB: the Gorgeous Ladies of Bloodwrestling, and they're leaving behind their usual punk bar environs to do battle in the pristine whitewalled gallery of the ADC, way up here on 29th Street.

It's going to be quite a night and I do recommend you join us.

If you're a fan of American pop culture, do not miss this one.

2011-03-14T11:39:00.000-04:00

I don't post about the Gameshow Speakeasy as much as I used to but we are thrilled to be on a regular monthly schedule at our beautiful new home, Le Poisson Rouge, on every third Thursday. That means that our next show is this Thursday the 17th; yes, that is St. Patrick's Day. That means we're either the ideal low-key counter-programming, OR the ideal opener to a night of green beer debauchery.

Either way, you do NOT want to miss this show because I'm especially excited about our celebrity mystery guest. Seriously, it is one not to miss. I'll see you there.

Meta-Monday!

2011-03-07T16:52:00.000-05:00

At my desk and Pandora just played Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap (on a Sleigh Bells channel. Not a bad choice, although I've noticed that Pandora is not nearly as far-ranging or interesting as it was, say, 6 months ago, right? More corporate? Fewer deep cuts or out-there connections? Still good because, you know, free, but much more repetitive and greatest-hits-ish.)

ANYWAY! I can't hear that song without thinking about this, and having to try not to laugh at my day job. It's so good because who remembers that scene, who makes the connection, it's just so good. Also: wow, now the OC and the SNL sketch that made this whole connection are starting to feel like relics of an ancient time called the middle-noughts or something, we are really running out of past and nostalgia is collapsing on itself. But this is still funny. Incidentally, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that Lindsay Robertson first brought my attention to this on the now largely abandoned Lindsayism.

ANYWAY! Here's the thing at Best Week Ever. You will have to search elsewhere for the actual SNL video, but you'll find it and it's worth it.

Next Up at Joe's Pub: the burlesque tribute to Van Halen

2011-03-04T19:10:00.000-05:00

Snake Plissken's Day Off was a sold-out crowd triumph. I love my crazy, talented friends and all of our fans.

If all advertising was awesome, fast-forwarding through it wouldn't be awesome.

2011-02-25T13:23:00.001-05:00

Thanks to my day job I experience a ton of award-winning advertising, including this amazing viral video campaign for Google Chrome. Yes, it's an ad. Watch it, it's cool.

Snake Plissken's Day Off

2011-02-23T12:32:00.000-05:00

I don't think it's possible for me to be more excited about our next show at Joe's Pub this Saturday, the most amazing striptease, variety and comedy tribute ever to two guys named John.

Frankly, between the two of them they've got more than enough career to warrant their own individual shows (Halloween, Sixteen Candles, Escape from New York, The Breakfast Club, The Thing, Pretty in Pink, Assault on Precinct 13, Vacation, They Live, Home Alone, Big Trouble in Little China, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Fog...I mean, what?!) And THAT'S why I love that we're combining these two tributes, to two filmmakers that defined cult fandom for an entire generation of American moviegoers: the man who truly taught us to scream at the movies, and the man who defined what we all thought it meant to be a teenager.

It's gonna be good. Get your tickets now.

I'm never not in the mood for this.

2011-02-12T18:58:00.003-05:00

Sometimes I watch it because I need a pick-me-up, or want to clear my head when I'm in the middle of working, or...just because.

The Ballad of G.I. Joe from Olivia Wilde

Really didn't think Teleflora had a "first quarter" marketing budget

2011-02-09T18:33:00.000-05:00

Here you go, all of the 2011 Super Bowl commercials, in a row, by quarter. You're welcome.

I actually completely missed the game, and the Super Bowl party I was supposed to be at, because I was stuck at dayjob. But, thanks to Twitter, I don't feel like I missed a thing! Sometimes the 21st Century works just fine.

Remember when he won an Oscar?

2011-02-05T15:16:00.001-05:00

I just recently, finally saw the original version of The Wicker Man. It's excellent. They show it on IFC all the time and I highly recommend checking it out for 70s Brit flick weirdness-realness. The only flaw for me in that film is: it's not scary. And that's because Summerisle is basically just an awesome weekend vacation destination. I want to go there, and party with Britt Ekland and Christopher Lee.

But anyway, I've made a couple of attempts and have not been able to sit through the laughably, embarrassingly terrible 2006 remake starring Nicholas Cage. But really, this is a movie that was seemingly created just so it could become a viral video sensation, what with Nic running around, chewing scenery and kicking Leelee Sobieski in the chest...I was reminded of this when I saw this on Videogum:

Ok, now I have to get back to work. No, wait, ok, here's one more:

Need a break? Me too.

2011-02-03T19:32:00.002-05:00

Here, read this. 6 animals that just don't give a fuck, courtesy of Cracked.

Finally, Michael Myers meets the Breakfast Club

2011-01-30T21:20:00.004-05:00

Yeah, remember this?

Well, check it:

Yeah. John Hughes vs. John Carpenter Burlesque. At Joe's Pub on the 26th. Holy shit. I mean, yes, I know, it's my show. And I love all of our shows. But this one...yeah. Just get your tickets now, ok?

Making the coldest, shortest month hotter and...longer?

2011-01-30T21:01:00.003-05:00

Yes, there's a lot more of the snowpocalypse winter ahead of us. Luckily, there's a lot of awesomeness happening in February to keep us busy and boozy! Neil O'Fortune (hey, that's me.) is having the busiest month of his career, in fact. On Friday the 4th I'm hosting the main show at Drive Thru Burlesque. A new monthly show launched by the performers Sizzle Dizzle and Lefty Lucy, Drive Thru is a throw-back to the all-night, multiple set, cheap admission shows that used to exist when the Slipper Room did it every weekend; I've hosted it before and it's good fun. And bonus: it's at the Parkside Lounge, and hosting there represents my return to the first stage I ever hosted on, way back when we launched the Gameshow Speakeasy (under its original name that can no longer be spoken but rhymes with Shmut's Shmy Shmine) way back in August 2006. Hey, speaking of the Gameshow Speakeasy, we're roaring along at our new home and you should check us out on Thursday the 17th! I'm thrilled that one of our guest panelists will be the Great Fredini, the founder and host of the seminal This Or That!, the original and still the craziest live burlesque game show in New York.

This is the cast of our January installment, including one of our favorite guest panelists, nerdcore rap superstar Schaffer the Darklord and our newest guest panelist, NYC's favorite eroticist and cupcake blogger, the lovely and talented Rachel Kramer Bussel.

Then: on Friday the 18th: Casino O'Fortune Cookie returns to the Red Palace in DC with our latest extravaganza, our new show Pop Culture a-Go-Go!

And, ON my birthday, Sunday the 20th, I'm hosting Kitty Nights, Fem Appeal's weekly show that is, through all of the attrition of the past few years, one of the city's longest current running weekly shows. It's a whole lot of crazy sexy fun in the intimate little space of Bar on A, and suffice it to say, I feel a party comin' on.

And that's not all! Wait for it...

What's that? I haven't posted in a really long time? I know.

2011-01-27T18:53:00.000-05:00

Relax. Lot's of shit going on. Here, watch this.

There, feel better? Ok, new year, lot's happening, much of it good, I'll get back to it.

We, as a nation, can only hope to top it in 2011

2011-01-02T00:54:00.005-05:00

Well, I didn't quite get to my New Year's post ON 1/1/11, mostly the result of recovering from running the New Year's Eve After-Party at Joe's Pub until 5 in the morning...but anyway, now's the time when bloggers are required to post some kind of wrap-up list for the year just passed! And like every year I struggled to think of my own spin on that tradition, and again this year I frankly found a list compiled elsewhere that really got to the core of the whole transition thing better than I ever could. So, for your reading pleasure, condensed to just the names because frankly, read off in a straight list they have a rather amazing cumulative effect, is Advertising Age magazine's list of 2010's Most Over-the-top Menu Offerings:

10. Denny's Fried Cheese Melt
9. Friendly's Ultimate Grilled Cheese Burger Melt
8. KFC's Double Down
7. Friendly's Mac and Cheese Quesadilla
6. Hardee's Loaded Biscuits 'n' Gravy
5. Burger King's Ultimate Breakfast Platter
4. Sonic's Tex Mex Footlong Quarter Pound Coney
3. Carl's Jr. Foot-Long Cheeseburger
2. Sonic's Holiday Sugar Spiced Cookie Blast
1. Hardee's Double Sausage Egg 'n' Cheese Biscuit

Enjoy your New Year's diet resolution, everyone!

Between-The-Holidays-Killing-Time Video of the Day Number Four, You're Welcome.

2010-12-30T18:17:00.002-05:00

Country Dance Tapes - watch more funny videos

Courtesy of Everything is Terrible. This one is kind of subtle, the creepiness sort of emerges as it goes on.

Between-The-Holidays-Killing-Time Video of the Day Number Three, You're Welcome.

2010-12-28T14:57:00.006-05:00

The Found Footage Festival's Top 10 VHS finds of 2010.

Between-The-Holidays-Killing-Time Video of the Day Number Two, You're Welcome.

2010-12-28T14:45:00.004-05:00

Ok, this one is pretty geeky. Sorry, embedding disabled.
Via Topless Robot.

Between-The-Holidays-Killing-Time Video of the Day Number One, You're Welcome.

2010-12-27T19:02:00.002-05:00

Courtesy of the great Fourfour, discovered via Videogum.

All of my best wishes to everyone for a safe and happy holiday, and Merry...wait, what is it?

2010-12-23T13:49:00.003-05:00

200 Christmases In 2 Minutes from Cinefamily on Vimeo.

(thanks Videogum!)

What are you doing New Year's Eve? Also, January 17th. And the 19th.

2010-12-21T19:42:00.005-05:00

We were thrilled to be asked by Joe's Pub to produce their annual New Year's Ever After-Party. It's going to an epic night of drunken fabulousness, plus breakfast.

And then we launch a new bi-monthly show at Crash Mansion, a whole new reason to go out on a Monday night: Casino O'Fortune Cookie's POP CULTURE A-GO-GO!

But wait, there's more! Because on the 19th, Gameshow Speakeasy officially starts its tenure as a monthly show at Le Poisson Rouge!

2011: bring. It. On.

Grateful

2010-12-20T16:49:00.007-05:00

It's hard to believe that the year is rapidly coming to a close. There have been plenty of ups and downs, but as we fly toward the New Year things have been hitting a lot of high notes. Up there, that's the cast of Material Girls: The Burlesque Tribute to Madonna, backstage at Joe's Pub before the sold-out show. And below is the cast of the All-Star Burlesque Birthday Bash, backstage in the brand-new dressing room before we brought it to the brand-new stage at the Red Palace (the venue formerly known as the Palace of Wonders) in DC for a packed, crazy audience that may have been the most enthusiastic we've ever had anywhere.

Then Casino O'Fortune Cookie launched our new series of shows at another new home, Crash Mansion on the Bowery, with another All-Star Burlesque Birthday Bash, this one doubling as a going-away party for our partner the beloved Anita Cookie as she heads to Los Angeles for a (hopefully!) brief winter sojourn.

I share these shots not just to make you envious of how I spend my time, but because this network of amazing, beautiful, talented, frequently naked performers make our shows as fantastic as they are, and in these dizzyingly busy weeks at the close of the year I've been surrounded by these friends and collaborators, and we all embrace and support each other, and I'm very lucky. Here's to a whole hell of a lot more of that in 2011.

Ok, that's enough heavy shit for now!

Speaking of The Frisky, the Burlesque movie, and our SOLD-OUT show this weekend...

2010-11-29T14:00:00.004-05:00

Clams and Anita were invited to watch the flick and provide their commentary.

Update: Jezebel picked it up too.

"We’re quite sure the Material Girl herself, never one to shy away from stripping down, would approve."

2010-11-26T16:52:00.005-05:00

See, we know how to get GOOD press for burlesque. That's a quote from the recommendation on NBC New York for Material Girls tomorrow night. The Village Voice says "one thing is for sure: The infamous pointed bra will definitely be making an appearance—or should we say disappearance?" It might be our most press-recommended show ever, from the Huffington Post to Time Out, the New York Post and Flavorpill. So, stuff some leftover turkey and come out for the show!

"Bland, pretty and sexless, just like the movie"

2010-11-24T14:35:00.003-05:00

Make no mistake, the new movie Burlesque, starring Cher and Christina Aquilera, that opens this weekend, is not burlesque. It's not actually about burlesque. It's Coyote Ugly 2.

It's nice to have actual burlesque and how this movie is not it mentioned in Manohla Dargis's negative review of the movie in today's New York Times. The fact is, it's not JUST about the fact that the movie doesn't include striptease, it's about the fact that it doesn't include any of the elements that make contemporary burlesque interesting or unique, it's just another collection of the same "country girl becomes a star, learns life lessons in the city" backstage musical cliches, that as Dargis notes, go back to the birth of talkies. it actually makes me think of another recent flick that gave a glossy Hollywood makeover to another grassroots, woman-driven and empowering movement: Whip It. That movie wasn't a classic but it did capture a sense of the actual values embodied by roller derby. Burlesque, the movie, just took a cultural buzzword and used it as a title.

So, anyway, F that shit. Come to a REAL burlesque show this weekend! Boy, there are gonna be some surprised people who are introduced to "burlesque" by this movie and decide to check out a real show in their local scene...that's not a bad thing, plenty of them might become new fans of the real deal. But it's funny.

Frisky!

2010-11-24T10:33:00.003-05:00

My friend, the beautiful and talented Simcha Whitehill, asked me to share my childhood crushes for a piece on The Frisky. Happy to be included, and It's a fun list in general.

3 Questions

2010-11-19T16:48:00.003-05:00

1. This isn't real, is it?
2. No, seriously.
3. Can I preorder tickets now, or do I have to wait?

Waaaay too much time on someone's hands

2010-11-15T17:31:00.001-05:00

But it's awesome.

Your Saturday non sequiter

2010-11-13T22:50:00.002-05:00

Courtesy of Pop Suede.

I do continue to find the formula deeply comforting

2010-11-09T22:55:00.003-05:00

Gabe on Videogum, in his continuing role as one of the smartest and funniest pop culture writers on the web, has a great analysis of the first episode of Conan last night, the state of late night, and how Jimmy Fallon is making the late night talk show formula just contemporary enough to keep it interesting.

This photo represents my life coming full circle.

2010-11-08T23:59:00.004-05:00

This is a shot I took backstage at the Hampton Coliseum, packed with 13,000 jam band fans on the night before Halloween, of the team of go-go dancers I brought down to Virginia to perform, pictured here with, well, the Empire.

The same week: at my new day job I met the man who created "Just Do It" and the man who created Verdana.

Sometimes things work out.

Man, I had just learned to love Luna Park, too.

2010-11-05T12:20:00.002-04:00

Amusing the Zillion has good up-to-the-minute coverage of the heartbreak happening on the Coney Island boardwalk right now; a dozen of the classic boardwalk businesses, from Ruby's to Shoot the Freak, received their walking papers with two weeks to pack up and get out. Unless they can band together to successfully fight this off legally, which, if the ongoing history of Coney development is any indication, won't happen, next summer the old flavor of the Coney Island boardwalk will essentially be a thing of the past.

Also, didn't remember Shipwreck is basically Jack Nicholson in The Last Detail

2010-11-04T13:54:00.003-04:00

The new channel The Hub shows classic G.I. Joe at 12:30. This is awesome news. And it's reminded me of what it's all about:

(Actually, thanks to my friend Michael Andrews for sending this to me.)

Shocktover (get it?)

2010-11-01T18:31:00.002-04:00

I've really enjoyed the daily Shocktober updates on Stacie Ponder's terrific blog Final Girl. Any horror fan bummed for the big month to be over should click that link and start at the bottom for the entire Shocktober experience. Stacie solicited any and all bloggers and horror fans to submit their list of their top 20 favorite horror movies. She was shocked to received over 700 entries, the vast majority having received only one or two votes! She counted them down over the course of the month, as well as offered special guest lists from horror writers and other special tidbits. I submitted my list and it was genuinely interesting to see where my 20 ended up in the grand scheme, everything from an obscure one-voter (Gargoyles, look it up, it's awesome! I'm rather proud of that) to about ten with just a small, select group of rabid fans, to a fair number in the ten that received dozens of votes. It's an entertaining and engaging look at a genre, including debate over what belongs, past decades versus current, and all unified by Stacie's funny and warm voice.

Blonde Ambition

2010-10-25T17:35:00.005-04:00

And there's more! Casino O'Fortune Cookie returns to Joe's Pub on November 27th! This might give you a hint:

Yes, that's right. The second-ever Casino O'Fortune Cookie Production was a Madonna tribute, and this time it's bigger and better, with an all-new cast and a whole lot more! Check it:

Tickets available now!

And we're back!

2010-10-25T17:32:00.002-04:00

I'm very excited that, after a hiatus that we frankly weren't sure had an end forthcoming, the Gameshow Speakeasy is roaring back to a stage near you! (if you live in New York.) This fall we were approached by the folks at the lovely Le Poisson Rouge in SoHo to produce the Gameshow Speakeasy in their intimate Gallery Bar. So mark your calendars for Thursday, November 18th at 8:00, because it is so on!

A little less Sundance Channel, there, Park Slope.

2010-10-11T17:56:00.002-04:00

It was very fun to see the Slipper Room and our friends Murray Hill and Julie Atlas Muz make cameo appearances in last night's episode of Bored to Death. And it's always fun to see Zach Galifianakis and Jonathan Ames, past mystery guests on the Gameshow Speakeasy. Actually, I just love the damn show, period. It's as if it was filmed to be beamed to our TV specifically. It could not be more intended for us as its audience. And that raises a question for me everytime I watch it: who outside of New York City is watching this show? Hell, who outside of Brooklyn?

It was quite a weekend

2010-10-04T18:33:00.001-04:00

The New York Burlesque Festival 2010 in pictures.

He did just have the one shirt, though

2010-09-27T01:34:00.003-04:00

We all know that Race Bannon is the Steve McQueen of cartoons: the coolest, take-charge motherfucker of the 60s. But when they showed this on Saturday mornings when I was a kid, I think they edited out the fact that almost every episode hinged on Race indiscriminately machine-gunning Chinese dudes to death.

Sometimes you just gotta ask

2010-09-26T16:37:00.003-04:00

(It's good, right? I think I should make a t-shirt out of it.)

Fall is in the air

2010-09-26T13:02:00.002-04:00

And all the TV premieres are reminding me that this is the first fall since I was a sophomore in HIGH SCHOOL that Law & Order isn't on. Seriously, what are all the fourth lead Broadway actors going to do for a living now? And I'll miss the constantly running into their sets on the street. SVU and Criminal Intent just aren't the same.

I'm alright, don't nobody worry 'bout me

2010-09-24T15:43:00.004-04:00

Oh man, we've got soooo much coming up this fall, some really exciting stuff. Including this, our first time in a new neighborhood, in a new venue, with an amazing lineup of talent and plans for a whole night of variety entertainment. Come sail the waves of the Gowanus with us! Smoothly.

Important tip! Go to Littlefield's website right now, get your tickets, save 5 bucks.

Tonight!

2010-09-24T15:36:00.002-04:00

Summer weather persists, so might as well come out and join the girls for more late night cinematic fun!

Back to the era of The Rachel and Fruitopia. Also: vote for me!

2010-09-15T12:47:00.003-04:00

Man in Black Burlesque is behind us, and it was a fantastic night; we have so much coming up ahead of us that once again, this blog is at substantial risk of becoming just a listing of our shows! But it's going to be a big, big fall. Here's our next show, this Saturday we're back at the Palace of Wonders! In fact, it will be our final show at the Palace under its original name, they've merged with the venue next door and, while that comes with an expanded stage and venue and other exciting developments, it also comes with the unfortunate name change to The Red Palace. Changing a beloved and distinctive brand never seems like a good idea to me...but hey, what do I know?

And that's not all! The New York Burlesque Festival is coming up at the end of this month, and Clams Casino and Neil O'Fortune (hey, that's me!) have been nominated for a Golden Pastie award for "Best Burlesque Couple." I want to win this much more than I should probably admit. So click this link and vote, people! I thank you.

There's a whole lot more coming up, stay tuned...

Good Midwestern girls and boys

2010-09-10T18:26:00.005-04:00

There are sooo many reasons to come out tomorrow night for Man in Black Burlesque: Because You're Mine, I Bump 'n' Grind at Joe's Pub! Here's a big one of 'em: it features the New York debut of the fabulous Miss Nadine Dubois!

That's her at the front! She's the sultry chanteuse of Minneapolis's legendary Lili's Burlesque Revue, and she's our host tomorrow night! In fact, she's sharing the ride above with Lili's superstar Ophelia Flame, and NYC's very own Minnesotan, Minnie Tonka! (hey, she's in the show too!)
And for full Great Lakes power, the show also includes, from Chicago's Stage Door Johnnies, Bazuka Joe!
(photo: Emma Freeman)

I do appreciate The Situation's branding skills, though

2010-08-30T14:47:00.003-04:00

I have plenty of guilty pleasures, and I frankly don't feel guilty about them. At some point can't we all just admit that something brings us unabashed joy and comfort? Why can't I just dig Phil Collins, you know? Why do I have to defend that? And I love plenty of shitty, this-is-the-end-of-culture-seriously-Nero's-fiddling television. But I cannot get into Jersey Shore. I think it's because they're so self-aware: I like my human freakshows more deluded. But Jen loves it and it's on a lot (it's what she calls "fish tank" TV, she can just have it on while she's answering email and sewing costumes). So I know it well enough that I find this mashup deeply hilarious and strangely appropriate: the coming together of, arguably, the two most vacuous examples of low American culture, but from the exact opposite ends of the spectrum: The Jersey Circus.

You, your girl...

2010-08-20T00:48:00.002-04:00

Home from a show, watching Fallon. He just showed this. It is awesome.

Bored at work? Kind of nerdy? You're welcome.

2010-08-19T15:47:00.002-04:00

This will keep you busy for a while: The A to Z of Awesomeness. A word of caution: it's British. Some of the references are plainly lost on me (and I'm a big dork from way back), but I always get a little shiver of delight out of knowing there's an entirely other pop culture out there that I've never heard of if it's not on BBC America. I love it on Top Gear when the star in a reasonably priced car is someone I've literally never heard of. Anyway, still really awesome. O is my favorite.

Come out to play-eee-ay!!

2010-08-16T14:33:00.009-04:00

There's so much more to being a successful independent producer than booking venues and casts, more than even having great concepts and themes, than writing a great press release and building a press list, even more than creating a great, fun, sexy, hilarious show. You have to build an audience, you can't take it for granted. And one of the reasons that Casino O'Fortune Cookie Productions keeps packing houses in NYC and beyond is because we're good at creatively expanding the parameters of how to reach an audience, how to build our brand and how to have fun doing it. Case in point, two fun nights out that you should join your hosts Anita Cookie and Clams Casino for this month! The Sunshine midnight movie gig is a recurring monthly thing now that keeps getting better and better (and of course, don't miss one of the all-time great NYC cult classics), and working with Satellite Lounge is a fun new venture (they have SIX pinball machines! It's like heaven). Oh, and there will be competitions at both to win pairs of free tickets to our next show at Joe's Pub, Man in Black Burlesque, of course!

Also, the new Luna Park is totally cool

2010-08-08T21:13:00.004-04:00

Dragged my hungover ass out of bed this morning to Coney Island...huh, first time I've been there in the daylight all summer! Anyway, for Save Coney Island's walking tour of Coney's remaining historic buildings along Surf Avenue. The organization is still fighting the good fight to save these buildings (including the theater where the Marx Brothers first performed together and the oldest, Victorian-era building still in the amusement district) in the face of Thor Equity's continuing demolition and high-rise development plans. Join their mailing list and come out for the next tour, it was fascinating and the grassroots groups like SCI and Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn trying to preserve the fabric of the city may not succeed in all of their missions, but they can't accomplish anything without our support.

Nice to share a glass of (sweaty naked girl) wine with them

2010-08-07T14:12:00.005-04:00

Just wanted to share a really great writeup of Thursday's show on Freddy in Space! I have to once again thank all of the bloggers who helped us get the word out about this show, and had so much to do with the huge, enthusiastic crowd that came out for it. We'll see you at Joe's Pub on September 11th for Man in Black Burlesque!

Good. bad. I'm the guy with the gun.

2010-08-06T13:20:00.002-04:00

Incredibly fun show, for a packed-to-the-rafters crowd of crazy Bruce fans, all ended with the best naked wine bath ever, hugely awesome night. And for those of you who couldn't be there, no more teasing, here's the email Bruce Campbell sent me to read at the top of the show:

Good evening ladies, gentlemen, and everything in-between. I pity you for what you are about to see.

I can't imagine why anyone would put so much time and effort into celebrating my so-called career, much less paying to see it - but hey, you're here, we got your money and you're never getting it back!

Sorry I can't be part of this freak show in person. Sadly, I'm not dead yet, so I still have to earn a living. I'll be thinking of you all, sitting in this air-cooled theater, while I sweat my ass off on the Burn Notice set in Miami.

And finally, if ya ain't got socks, you ain't got much, but if you got 'em, ya might as well pull 'em up!

Regards,

Bruce

Also: I may pass out.

2010-08-04T18:15:00.003-04:00

People: I just received an email. From Bruce. Fucking. Campbell. No, I'm not joking.
He passed along some kind and very funny words for to share with our audience, TOMORROW NIGHT at Coney Island. Want to know what Bruce has to say to YOU? And see hilarious, sexy, amazing acts dedicated to him? Come to Coney, tomorrow at 9!!

Down but not out.

2010-08-03T20:00:00.003-04:00

Yesterday was the fourth anniversary of the Gameshow Speakeasy. We're currently on hiatus as the Slipper Room is, well, right now it's a hole in the ground. But we will rise again.