Posted
1:47 AM
by sport
I return after a long absence; critters scatter as I enter. No other welcome, but who expected one? Life's been rough. But tonight, the annual ceremony.
Briefly:
Over 4 hours in... Jerry's prednisone-bloat is less shocking by now. Overall it seems more old-style: fewer Branson and rock acts, more real show-biz. Amen to that!
Julie La Rosa sounding a little shot, Steve Lawrence surprisingly strong. Charlie Callas does his auld Chevalier/Gingold mime bit, Rickles inspires acute discomfort, as ever. I'm digging it.
Reading COMIC BOOK ART during dull patches, a few poems, sipping Pernod.
The prime moment: Tony Orlando (who created the term "gimme a Rosengarten!" before my very eyes, back during the Carter or Ford administration) doing a fucking BONKERS medley of "Fire and Rain" and "Purple Rain" and ad libbing: "It don't matter what color the rain is! Take away the rain, take away the pain!" ...over and over. Changing James Taylor's lyric from "I always thought that I'd see you again" to "I always knew you were gonna be there for me again, babe!" And me not rolling tape! Shit.
Patti Page with the dullest tune I've heard in years.
Norm Crosby swell, as always.
Gotta freshen my drink.