Why Dave?

Why I think you should watch the last shows of David Letterman.

What could I possibly add to what is already being said about David Letterman? The answer is I probably have nothing original to add but I still feel a need to say something.

As I watch the stars line up to get on his final shows I’m particularly struck by the ones that seem genuinely moved and why. See I’m at an age where I fell into the sweet spot of Dave’s career arc. Old enough to have really appreciated Johnny and know why but young enough to have gotten caught up in the genius and originality of Dave when he came on the scene.   Both of these things are important to understand why the standup comedians over 40 making their final appearances on Dave are so uncharacteristically moved and demonstrative. It is in this you will find the key to why the end of Dave is to be acknowledged and fully appreciated.

We all know Johnny was the true king of the late night talk show. He wasn’t the first but he was the best and proved it for 30 years. Back then it was just Johnny and no one else.   Some tried to compete and they all failed. There were only 3 channels on tv as well. Actors had movies, tv stars had their own time slots and musicians had records and tours but if you were a standup comedian and you wanted to be seen by more than a vegas showroom you had to get on Johnny’s show. That was it. He was the gate keeper for comedians. Johnny launched Joan, Rodney, Dave, Jay, Jerry, Louie, Chris, and a million more household names that are standup legends. But then Dave came on the scene and was totally different. He is very modest about his standup chops but it’s because he was so unique. He didn’t fit into any known style of comedy. In fact he was more of an anti-comedian. He didn’t sound or look like he was telling jokes. He was a slacker ex weatherman making fun of stuff. The everyman. He found his voice in unadulterated snark. Was Bill Murray channeling Dave in Groundhog Day as a weatherman that hated being a weatherman and himself? We may never know but it’s and easy stretch to make knowing what we know now about Dave and Bill.

Johnny left when he knew the institution was in good hands.  And I don’t mean the Tonight Show. I mean the institution of the late night talk show. Dave had created the Late Show after Johnny’s time slot and did it in a way that was so juxtaposed from the Tonight Show and Johnny. It was made in Dave’s image and voice. Snark and anti-convention. He redefined the genre and Johnny loved it. I loved it and my parents hated it. He took it in a whole new direction and when the time came Johnny knew it was ok to turn out the lights.   Dave was given Johnny’s blessing to take over the tonight show. But it was not to be.  NBC executives, later lambasted by Jerry Seinfeld on his own show on the same network for their unimaginative, inane wisdom made the decision to go with Jay instead of Dave. Bla bla bla, we all know that story. Turns out it doesn’t matter.  After Johnny it didn’t matter what you called it or on what network.

Dave took it to CBS and the rest is history. His show always had an edge. If Dave wasn’t impressed with someone, we knew it. If someone said something Dave didn’t like, he got pissed and we saw it. But if he liked someone or someone made him laugh or even did the unthinkable and made Dave uncomfortable or embarrassed, it was brilliance. Either way it has always been pure entertainment.  Jay always seemed vanilla. Our parents stuck with Jay after Johnny left. That’s about all you need to know about that.

But about those stand up comedians…

Dave had already been on the scene a long time by the time he started his CBS Late Night with David Letterman show. It was a time before anyone was watching Comedy Central or any other cable shows, before Youtube, Twitter, Facebook, Vines and all other social media.  Comedians still had to go through the late night gate keeper to get to a national audience.  Dave had long since put his snarky stamp on comedy and late night talk shows and in doing so launched a whole new brand of  comedy.

These comics making their pilgrimage to NYC to pay final homage to Dave are thanking him not only for giving them their break on national TV, but for many, helping give them their voice.

Like Johnny before him, Dave isn’t being forced out by the new direction of the day. He appreciates it and he knows it’s in good hands now. He’s ready to let it go. So he’s bidding us all a “very heartfelt goodnight,” but in his own voice. I can’t wait to watch it but I’ll surely miss him when he’s gone. Thanks Dave.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSFp9hkb-ok

Let Me Clarify

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BOGO all Feb on the MorrocanOil line at Beauty First of Nebraska

“As a stylist I get asked about clarifying shampoos a lot. Especially from people that have long, dry or chemically damaged hair but have oily scalps. WHAT TO DO? First of all don’t forget to brush your hair daily from roots to ends with a natural bristle brush preferably (i.e. Marcia Brady). This really does help move oil from your roots to where it’s needed. Try not to shampoo daily cuz it can make your scalp think it needs to produce more oil. Finally, use a clarifying shampoo at least once in a while (every other shampoo, weekly, or biweekly). I’m loving a really great new clarifying shampoo by MoroccanOil. They are well known to be a luxe line for long and/or course hair. This is the perfect clarifying shampoo for longer dry hair with oily scalps. Of course it’s sulfate and paraben free and color safe.”
Thomas Sena, Stylist and GM for Beauty First Salons.

twitter: @thomassena

Golden Globes 2015

The season to play dress up has begun for Hollywood.  The Golden Globes 2015 rolled out the red carpet for this year’s first important celeb award cavalcade.  It seemed the theme for women this show was deep plunging necklines, and I use the term necklines loosely as it neared the appendix scar line.  For the men it was beards and blue or purple tuxes.  Yes, they got the memo.  All of them.  Here’s 3 of the 30 I saw. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am forever a fan of a well done vintage wave.  Here’s a couple hairstyles from last night’s Golden Globes that nailed it.  Thanks to Heidi Klum and Allison Williams. My favorite over all look was on Kate Beckinsale in an Elie Saab Dress.  Not the most daring although in any other year her cleavage might have been mentioned and her hair was not my number one favorite because I’m a hair stylist and think if you’re going to wear it up it can done a little more interesting.  But still it was traffic stopping hollywood glamor at it’s most tastefulnessnousfully.   She pulled it all together with the Bulgari Jewelry.  Look, I’m not even into glitzy jewelry or sparkles but the understated color of that dress against her skin tone took this look over the rest of the field for me.  It bordered on perfect.We’ve seen people take chances and hit home runs but more often fail miserably.  But I appreciate a good risk taker.  Amal Clooney looked amazing and I applaud that she took a bit of a risk with white gloves and hand bag against her black dress.  It worked.

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Ok so yes I think there were a few misses as well.  No not “Mrs” as in Mrs Clooney but misses as in this… Screen Shot 2015-01-12 at 2.36.30 PM

 

 

 

 

 

I take no joy in this because Keira is one of my favorite actresses in about everything … except this 🙁

 

 

 

Here’s an example of a belt working

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Screen Shot 2015-01-12 at 2.37.30 PM and not.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally,  Jlo went for her huge cleavage thing again and I was bored with it, again.  Ya, I might be the only straight dude that didn’t dig her deep V the first time and def not this time.  It seems a little too contrived.  However, I did think Kate Hudson took the plunge this year and it actually worked on her.  I just think it’s all about the right dress on the right person in the right moment.  That’s what makes it all happen.  At least for me.  Yep, that’s right.  This post is just my opinion, which is almost as unimportant as yours.  Almost.  At the end of the day none of it really matters.  It’s just playing dress up and it’s all for fun.  Life is short, have fun.  That’s why I do what I do.  On to the Oscars!

 

 

The Secret is Out. Eat Here Now

For a long time this little restaurant was the best kept secret.  That’s no longer the case.  I have always loved how close it is to my house in the 156th and Center area.  I have tried a lot of other good Thai restaurants in town but I personally liked this one the best.  They have a hot sauce that is made there and although it doesn’t always treat me well the older I get, I can’t lay off it.  I start to crave it about 3 days after I eat there until I eat there again.  But they have great dishes of all kinds from asian to middle eastern cuisine.  I personally love one of their specialty menu items called Kang Ho.  There is an English name but I just remember that one in parenthesis.  They know what I like anyway so I don’t have to ask.  I get it with veggies and tofu as I no longer eat meat.  But enough about the food cuz I don’t think this keyboard is drool proof.  They seemed to have changed management a few years ago.  Maybe a son or relative took it over.  I don’t know the story cuz we just  know each other as frequent guests but haven’t talked in any depth.  Since then they remodeled and did an impressive upgrade to their website.  They menu has stayed relatively the same.  It’s a tiny place but it’s now very contemporary and quaint.  Very straight forward decorating which is perfect for the size.  On my girlfriend’s and my last visit we were struck by how busy it has gotten.  It was a Saturday night and we got there early, before 7.  It was already busy and they only have one actual waiter, the manager (owner?) and 1 or 2 in the kitchen.  We weren’t in a hurry so we just sat back and watched them handle their new found success.  They were running and some people were getting a little restless.  More and more people kept coming in and were piling up front.  I loved it.  Eventually, we all got our delicious food with a smile and apology.  No one starved to death.  Yes, it took longer than usual, but like I said we weren’t in a rush.  I congratulated the frazzled manager on my way out.  It’s a beautiful thing to see good businesses and good people do well.

Taste of Thailand

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