SFK

When my mother died, I didn't hop right on a train to get home. I had to get myself the hell together. Granted, I didn't have a show to do and I was home that evening. As Carl alluded to, these things can be sticky and there are at times unforgiving contractual obligations. Don't get me wrong, he probably could have gotten out of it, but right or wrong in hindsight, you just don't know where somebody's mind is in a devastating moment like that. He knew Bobbi had Cissy and other relatives and he was there soon enough. We all know the man isn't wrapped too tight, so I think he's handled himself pretty well. And let's not forget, Bobbi ain't flossin' like he used to, he can't just snap his fingers and charter a private jet. He had to fly commercial and you get what you can get when you can get it.

Brooke!! That was hot as [!@#$%^&*]!

Oh my God, somebody wrote, "We love you Whitney !! Get well soon."

I always feel mixed when this happens. Like, if you enjoyed an artist's work, wouldn't you already have their stuff in your collection? Or is it a sudden surge of nostalgia, or even folks who were unfamiliar with her songs? I'm not a pessimist, but stuff like this lends to my idea that too many people are like sheep and quick to hop onboard with whatever's "hot" at the moment.

Finding myself strangely annoyed by non-Whitney-related FB status updates. In particular, one Debbie Downer friend who is always going on about some maladie she or her cat is going through.

TEARFUL REUNION WITH EL DEBARGE DAYS BEFORE DEATH http://www.tmz.com/videos/0_ad4537wi

Here's what I was talking about last night. Crazy coincidence, but Maya Rudolph is actually hosting next week. It may be too soon. Who knows, maybe she'll do a direct address type tribute, say someting sweet, or what have you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=OpKf90b5FD8

Seriously. I wish somebody would try to state that Christina could even touch a Whitney. I believe the word Madonna used recently when asked about Lady Gaga was "derivative". Christina is a VERY derivative singer, her style is completely learned, borrowed, all ear, all throat, mimicked soul. Madonna does not have the greatest voice but she was unique and she totally captured a moment. Folks are quick to dis the eighties, and I may be biased, but it was one of the most pop culturally rich decades EVER. So iconic, from music, to movies, to TV shows, to freaking TOYS. Image has always played a part in the music industry, it was no different in the eighties, but Whitney could sing her ass off in a doo rag and house coat. Too many of the pop stars today merely have passable vocal ability, and they are completely built up by the externals. The Beyonce stans annoy me to no end, but what she lacks vocally she at least makes up for with an artist's eye and mind. One could say the same for Gaga but personally I see more business acumen than artistry. She knows who butters her bread and she targets that audience. George Michael is up there with Freddie Mercury in terms of the greatest high tenor male singers of our time. He didn't just sing pretty but he connected. Timberlake imo has always been too pleased with himself and although I think he's written and sung some great, catchy songs, there is that darned stank of affectation.

SNL just flashed a still of Whitney when she did the "Supahstah!" skit with Molly Shannon.

There goes my nostalgia button! I wish I could go back. How incredibly special though to present your little cousin with her first Grammy.

Her Whitney was pretty darn funny and she did it as recently as last season in a guest appearance, but DW's is more "spot on". Whitney and Dionne sang together at Clive's party last year, and it was clear how smoke cost them their soaring sopranos. Cissy was always gospel and R&B so the effect smoke had on her voice translated better. Cissy is of course the soprano hitting those amazing notes on Aretha's "Ain't No Way" as she did for Whitney in their Merv appearance.

Totally, and to this day I confuse Free Your Mind and QotN in my head.

Her gospel roots were pristine:

Maya did Whitney several times. The news just reported that she's still in the room! They need to get her out of there! They are going to SHOW. OUT. at that funeral. It'll probably be at her home church, New Hope Baptist in Newark. I wonder if Aretha and/or Dionne will sing.

I was just wondering if SNL is live tonight and if they might throw something together right quick. I wonder what Maya Rudolph's thinking right now.

Whitney Houston’s isolated vocal track on “How Will I Know.” http://jakefogelnest.com/post/17460767716

Poor Cissy. She saw her daughter through SO much. I can hardly imagine what she's going through, having groomed her daughter's very similar vocal gift, seeing her lose herself to the world, fighting to get back... So sad. And Bobbi Chris, oy, it's just too much.

Katie Holmes Moustache

Guy

ALSO got an email from Telecharge featuring our Robin:

I got an email about a SAG Foundation screening of Trevor St. John's new film In the Family. Here's a pic from the email: Here's the trailer. Looks like Gina Tognoni's in it too:

LOL! I've mentioned this before here on the forum, but we had tickets to see Susan in AGYG but when we got to the box office we saw the notice that her standby was going on. Our friend who bought the tickets was refunded. Ha, I remember the kinda cheesy New York Times ad for her stint in the show... they had her in the Annie Oakley costume with a gun in one hand and her Emmy in the other.

I always enjoy a Marj interview. thanks. I wonder if that's true about her being "approached" for those roles or if she merely auditioned.

Hmm, well it's Llanfair so I guess Dorian gave a party, I haven't found anything about it in the recaps Carl's posted. Who is that, Edwina and Becky Lee in the bottom pic?

House