Celebrity Sightings and Morgan Fairchild is Finally Arriving!

Hey Kids,

Busy, busy, busy. On Monday, Steve and I had to review the new Red Pearl Kitchen, Tim and Liza Goodell's restaurant on Melrose Ave. It's located in the white elephant space where Alex, Meson G, and Citrus all once functioned, but I have to say we liked Red Pearl a lot and think it will be around for a while. Maybe that's because it's got a younger, exciting vibe than those other places, or maybe because the owners have two other locations and the menu has been worked out. But either way, it was a great night. Interesting flavor combinations, small plates for sharing, and a sassy staff who were super fun.

And guess who was there? Our girl Tyra Banks! Steve wanted to go over and thank her for calling him the other day, but she finished her meal right when our first course showed up so we couldn't do it.

And then who came by? Our sister Marisa Tomei! She actually sat right behind Steve and we were going to tell her she was absolutely amazing on A Different World but then dessert arrived and we were too focused on our bananna cake with chai tea ice cream and jasmine infused caramel sauce to do anything. It's a shame, really. We do adore her.

On other topics, many people have been asking, when will we see more of Morgan Fairchild-- other than her lips-- on Fashion House? Well, I think it's safe to tell people that she comes on next week, and when she does that show is going to get kicked into overdrive!

Morgan is amazing, knows exactly what she's doing, and if you thought the show was bitchy before, then just wait and see what happens when Le Fairchild arrives on set.

As for me, still working on The Heiress which will air in the new year. It's sort of a Romancing The Stone meets Moonlighting kind of show with star crossed lovers, some evil family members, and a diva to make us all cheer. AND if the casting turns out the way we hope, it's just going to be so genius and campy that I don't know what I'll do with myself!

Although, last night I worked with the other writers until around midnight on production drafts, so it's also insane. But if it comes out being good then it will be worth it!

Cool Car, Fun Times, and No Evidence

I'm so annoyed. I woke up this morning intent on blogging and downloading all the photos we took this weekend and the connection from my camera to the computer is not working. There's something wrong with how the wire hooks into the camera because if I hold it in a certain position it works, but then a couple seconds later it "disconnects." Not sure if this is a camera or cord issue, but chances are it's the option that costs the most money.

Anyway, here's our deal from the weekend using photos I could find on the internet.

On Friday, we celebrated DJ Scotty K's birthday. Scotty has been a friend for years, way before he was the DJ on Ellen's talk show or before he did the very popular white label remix for Christina's song, "Ain't No Other Man." He got some fun stuff. We ain't got no pictures to show.

Steve then had his snowglobes photographed by our friend Eric Staudenmaier, whose daughter Hannah has been featured on the blog a couple times. We have a great shot of Eric photographing a globe but, alas, you can't see it.

And then Steve bought a car! With the help of his brother who knows how to work a car dealer, Steve got the car at a price he could afford! Yes, a Mini Cooper and it's red and hot and sexy and all I have to show for it is this pic from the BMW website. Not Steve at the dealer, not him sitting behind the wheel looking happy, a computer generated image. Lame.

But the car is fun, he's wanted it for a while, and he's got to go back to Hong Kong in three weeks so he deserved something nice (kidding... I'm desperate for humor at 7am when my camera isn't working right).

Besides going to the camera store and getting one of those mini drives to slide your digital card into (that sounded dirty), this week I also begin working on production drafts for The Heiress, the next English telenovela I'm writing on for MyNetworkTV. It's a busy time but I'll try to update as often as I can. I even have a new Word of the Week, I just need to sit down and find a good photo for it. Talk soon.

Steve got a call from Tyra Banks!

Hey Kids,

Super busy with writing the final two episodes of The Heiress which is the next MyNetworkTV telenovela I'm working on-- there will be a new series between Fashion House and The Heiress, FYI. But I thought I'd tell you about the fun little thing that happened to Steve yesterday.

If you go to the CW's website, there's a function to have Tyra Banks from America's Next Top Model call you on your phone. It's pretty fierce, I have to say. There are a couple different ways for her to respond, she has a lot of common first names recorded (like Steve and Rick) so it can really be personalized, and it doesn't sound automated!

Here's the deal, though... When they call, if there's voice mail the recording just starts going right away, so by the time your machine "beeps" she could be in the middle of her message. So try and get someone when they're home. That way they can hear her say who she is and that you sent the message. FUN!

Fashion House gets on The Soup!

Do you all know about The Soup on the E! Television network? It's a hilarious show hosted by Joel McHale that recaps the week in TV and pop culture. It's perfect for hangover Sundays. Well, some friends of mine were watching and informed me that they mocked "Designer Downloads" from Fashion House.

The "Designer Downloads" were originally meant to go on the internet but when some scenes got cut during production the producers realized they needed to fill time, so these segments got bumped to being a part of the episodes. Um... guess who wrote those.

Yeah, and I kind of cringe every time I see them because they're just so basic-- stuff your teenage sister would love but not somone who reads Cosmo regularly. They were also written to star Michelle and Nikki, not the gay guys Hans and Harold, so they've been changed slightly but not in any real significant way... they're just SO MUCH GAYER NOW!

Anyway, "The Soup" showed the one I wrote about job interviews and then called them PSGays... instead of PSAs. HILARIOUS! I love "The Soup". I want to marry it.

Also, in a very exciting moment, friend Stephen Albright did a screen capture from the Saturday recap episode that features my name in the credits.
We love Stephen! Thanks. Now my mom can family will actually be able to see it since the credits are so small and fly up the screen so quickly. More later... must outline an episode of The Heiress.

Oh and if you're lookin for something to watch, I wrote tonight's episode.

Morgan Fairchild Fashion House interview!

Hey Kids,

TWO THINGS... Just heard from my producer that the first appearance of Morgan Farichild is GENIUS! (Thank God, because my friend Ted and I wrote the material in those three episodes-- including the best catfight ever, pictured here-- and they will basically explain the entire first half of the series, so it's great to know it's coming out well.)

The other bit of news is Soaps.com, which has a great Fashion House page, has an interview with Le Fairchild, herself! So if you need a little tease until she makes her full first appearance, then check it out!

We're Delirious at Cirque du Soliel's Delirium opening party

Last night, Steve and I were invited to a VIP and Media performance of Cirque du Soliel's Delirium show at the Staples Center. Delirium is unlike other Cirque shows in that this performance focuses mainly on the music and dance, with scrims, projection, lighting and some amazing gymnastics adding to the performance. It was crazy, with a runway style stage that sits perpendicular to the the audience sitting either side of that runway.

Imagine Cirque being night-time performers at a rave where everyone's on ecstacy, and you've got an idea of what we saw-- not that we've done X, I'm just sayin'.

We got there at 8pm and were directed toward media parking which was two blocks away from VIP parking. Not a bad thing, actually, because all the VIP parking was valet so Steve and I were able to park and walk to the Staples Center before the others in line even gave up their cars. We were also able to leave so much faster because we weren't waiting for our car. Nice.

The reception itself was only okay, mainly because it wasn't organized to handle that many people. There were various finger foods like chicken skewers and desserts like smores, but the lines were insane and to get from one side of the stage to the other you had to cross over the stage itself. And with only two long bars, the lines for booze were insane. Steve and I eventually gave up and just took a seat because we wanted a good view more than a cosmo.

And were there celebrities?

Well, let's just say that Steve and I have attended some fairly big parties and this was probably one of the biggest for the random name-dropping factor. We're sure there were more celebs than we saw because the stage divided the audience in half, but here's the rundown of who we saw.

Rosario Dawson (left) nearly ran us over as she went to join some friends in the restroom-- so much cuter than she is in this pic on the left, wearing a sexy leather dress and high heels that impressed me (I mean, she did run past us in them, okay?).

Adrianne Curry and Christopher Knight who found showmance-- romance while being on a reality show-- during The Surreal Life (pictured to the right), Blu Cantrell, James van der Beek and his really big forehead, supermodel Gisele Bundchen (who was most recently seen in The Devil Wears Prada and is pictured on the left), Jennifer Coolidge from Legally Blonde, Joey, Best in Show and tons of other funny shows (she lived above Steve when he first moved to LA and I met her when I was doing The Groundlings classes, but we didn't stop and chat), Michelle Rodriguez from last season of Lost and without her DUI (pictured left), Furonda from last cycle of America's Next Top Model (who was missing her tiara, is much taller than we expected, and didn't understand this show AT ALL), Perry Ferrell from the band Jane's Addiction (pictured right), lots of judges and contestants from Dancing With The Stars and So You Think You Can Dance like Carrie Ann Inaba (Mia Michaels choreographed Delirium), and the very wonderful Kato Kaelin!

Once we saw Kato, we know that we were on the pulse of hipster life!

Okay, I have a big writing deadline for the next telenovela I'm working on so I need to go... Oh, which telenovela am I working on, you ask? More about that later.

The Weekend, Troubling News, & Educating the Next Generation

Before I get into the weekend recap, does it bother anyone else that Shirley Feeney from Laverne and Shirley got in trouble at her job with HP?

Tragic. But that sort of thing happens with a lot of 1970s TV stars. Here she is on the right from somewhat happier times. Perhaps during Battle of the Network Stars. Who can say?


Anyway, Steve and I stayed at The Venice Suites this weekend overlooking the beach in Venice, CA. We scored the stay when we renewed our subscription to KCRW, the local NPR affiliate.

The suites are actually furnished apartments and they're right on the boardwalk. We woke to the street performers and artists setting up shop and went to sleep to the sounds of the surf and a nearby jazz band. There were also super annoying marathon runners and a couple crazy people, but it is Venice and one does stay there for the culture, doesn't one?
It was a perfect weekend of rest that the two of us needed to recharge after all the work we've been doing.

During our stay we finally saw Quinceñera which is about this Mexican girl in Echo Park and her outcast cousin who deal with some heavy crap. It's a truly wonderful film, though I know there's been some controversy surrounding the gay couple in it. Basically, they're the white gay guys who buy a house and are gentrifying the neighborhood-- sounds like Steve and me, right?
Well, not exactly. The thing that's got some knickers in a bunch is that the gay couple isn't necessarily considered a positive image for the community. They're in an open relationship, ya see, and some folks think the only images we put out there should be of gay people who act like, well, straight well behaved white men. That way, straight white men love us. Sweet!

Here's the thing. NOT ALL FAGS ARE GOOD PEOPLE! NOR DO THEY LIVE BY THE STRAIGHT WORLD'S STANDARDS! Sure, these characters may not represent Steve's and my (or our friends') relationships-- we only sleeping with each other-- but the fact is that some queer couples do play around. So do straight couples. Whatever. The point is that just like a film can show straight dicks, there can also be gay dicks (laugh, go on, you know you want to).

Now let's move on...
...to a really cut picture of my boyfriend on the beach! Sweet!

On Sunday, our friends Saydi and Eric came over with their little girl Hannah. Here she is eating cake-- apologies to Steve for having sleepy photo but it's the only one we had.

The two of us had so much fun watching Hannah explore our yard, call me "Ricket" and hear all the animal noises she had learned. Her parents also taught her how to do a mad scientist laugh, which is pure genius. I taught her how to sound like a ghetto bird, complete with waving her hand like a propeller over her head as she goes, "Whoop! Whoop! Whoop!"

Sing along with me everyone...."I believe the children are our future. Teach them well, and let them lead the way..."

Our weekend, and Morgan Fairchild's lips on Fashion House

First off... this came from my friend Smith Galtney who was a writer in my book, Mondo Homo.
I have no idea what episode it's from, but it made me laugh.

Friday was a huge day for Fashion House-- it was the first time you see Morgan Fairchild's lips. I wrote a couple early drafts of scenes in that episode-- Tania's freak out being one of them. What happened is they were written for later episodes, but then we redid the series breakdown. As a result, some plotlines moved around and thus scenes were moved as well and then smoothed out to work in the new structure. Tomorrow (Monday) will be one of the primary episodes I wrote.

BUT THEN Saturday's recap episode was incredible because it listed my name as a writer (the network is only running credits on Saturdays). Super cool! I wish I could do screen captures and post it here, but alas, I cannot.

Meanwhile, Steve and I had a luscious weekend staying at the beach, a spa day, a wonderful dinner and we watched the movie Quinceañera, which takes place in Echo Park where we live. More thoughts on all of those things tomorrow.

Fashion House fan response & Jackass Number Two

After the list of bad reviews, Steve went on a hunt and found some fan forums for Fashion House and one of my favorites is "Television Without Pity".

Under the "Soap Operas" category there's currently a five-page listing. I kind of want to tease the people with some answers, but at the moment I should probably hold off for the time being. Check it out if you want, and if you're watching and have a question I *might* be able to answer, either e-mail me or post a question on the blog. I'll probably do a weekly thing if you guys want.

Last night we saw a media screening of the new Jackass movie. Okay, seriously, it's the gayest thing in the history of cinema. Gayer than the first, I think. And I love it. It's as insane as the first one and there are a couple times you'll need to block your eyes... but isn't that the fun of this franchise anyway?

And finally, Steve and I booked a couple nights at a hotel on the beach (actually, they're furnished apartments) so that we can get away from the computers and work. Lots of sleep, facials tomorrow, good food, maybe rollerblading, and that's it. We'll try to take pictures but once it starts becoming like work then we'll ditch the camera.

Looking forward to it. Have a safe weekend, y'all.

The Reviews Are In For...Fahion House>

And they all suck!
(Well, okay, not all of them...)

But we kind of expected that going in. I mean, seriously, tonight's episode ends with Michelle (pictured right and played by Natalie Martinez), our heroine, coming home to find Boobs Magillicuddy (pictured left and played by Donna Feldman) who broke up her marriage. Boobs is seductively lounging around Michelle's house in Michelle's lingerie. Michelle is obviously stunned, to which Boobs says, "I'm sorry... I'm not dressed for company."

Come on, people! This is not LOST! or Grey's Anatomy, though I do think we're funnier than most episodes of Desperate Housewives. But if you don't have people watching the show and knowing what they're getting, then of course they're going to flame on about the episodes.

Here's one segment from a scorcher of a review in the Times Union from Albany, NY.

I was initially convinced that "Fashion House" had the same writers as "Desire." I could picture them locked away in some basement in Van Nuys, Calif., subsisting on nothing but Oreos and Red Bull, toiling around the clock churning out the 130 scripts -- each worse than the last -- needed for the 13-week run.

Um... Our offices are located in Culver City. Duh!

Pictures from Steve's Hong Kong trip

Steve finally returned and he got some great images from his trip considering he really had about four hours over the course of the week to take them. The big problem? I've been trying to upload photos all morning, and Blogger is giving me a hell of a time. Which, in turn, means I can't get any work done. (BUT, if you've missed the news or this blog the past couple weeks, Fashion House starts tonight. Tune in!)

Anyway, here we go with some of Steve's pictures from the trip...
Here's a pic from this curry restaurant where this cute little Sambo-style character is the mascot. Evidentally, they never got the PC memo over in Hong Kong. Steve didn't have time to buy one, but on our next trip we might... for educational purposes, duh!
Here is one of the crazy city streets at night.
Here is the outside of one factory where they have the unpainted bases for Steve's Snow White globe that will be coming out this fall.
Here are a bunch of the "Doc" sculpts that will go in the snowglobe, half-way through their hand-painting.
Here are women doing the final check on the Snow White globe, blowing off dirt and polishing the globe itself. And speaking of globes...
Here's the magical way they put them together. They place the character upside down in that beige plastic thing, then pour water in and snap on the bottom. You can see some of Steve's pieces from the Little Mermaid snowglobe that will also be coming out soon.
And here are rows and rows of completed snowglobes before they are cleaned and boxed. On the right are completed Little Mermaid globes.

But enough of the factory stuff... Steve got to also see the city.
This is on the hill overlooking Hong Kong. He has a nice pic of himself on this location but I couldn't find it this morning.
And here's the city with the lights reflecting off the water. Amazing! The company may send him back again next year. Hopefully I can tag along this time.

More stuff to come!