The Art of the Ad: Cheryl Ladd for Suntory Brandy

Decades before Bill Murray’s character in Lost in Translation (2003) went to Japan to star in commercials for Suntory whiskey, Cheryl Ladd did it first. At the peak of her Charlie’s Angels fame, around 1980-81, Cheryl donned several sexy outfits, grabbed a brandy snifter, and became the spokesperson for Suntory Brandy in a series of … Continue reading The Art of the Ad: Cheryl Ladd for Suntory Brandy →

Samantha “Sunshine” Jensen

Twelve years before she roared into immortality as Catwoman in Batman Returns, Michelle Pfeiffer played a different type of cat, a B.A.D Cat, to be precise. A what, you ask? Well, I’ll tell ya what. After starting her career with guest spots on television series like Fantasy Island and ChiPs, Michelle nabbed a regular gig … Continue reading Samantha “Sunshine” Jensen →

Janet, Jack, and Some of That Jazz

In the season six episode of Three’s Company—hilariously titled “Some of That Jazz”—Janet (my birthday buddy, the lovely and talented Joyce Dewitt) thinks her dance instructor’s interest in her is strictly for her dancing skills. Jack (one of the best comedic actors of all time, the late John Ritter) knows the teacher (Michael Bell in … Continue reading Janet, Jack, and Some of That Jazz →

Happy Birthday Vera Farmiga

Queen Vera Farmiga turns 49 today! She is my favorite actress working today not named Michelle, and I can vividly remember the moment when I knew this. Let me tell you about it. I’d loved her for years already, but that adoration reached new heights with Bates Motel, which is a top five or ten … Continue reading Happy Birthday Vera Farmiga →

The First Lady

Sometimes you read a review and think, "How did this person get inside my head?" That was my reaction while back to Doreen St. Félix's review for The New Yorker of the recently concluded first season of the Showtime limited series, The First Lady. For the most part, I share her overall assessment of the … Continue reading The First Lady →