It Was 40 Years Ago...

Yesterday Madonna's debut album, Madonna turned 40 years old!  Proving that time is fleeting and our youth is but a waking dream...

I remember the first time I became aware of Madonna was when I was 18 at an eighteen and over club in Seattle, WA called Skoochie's. I was on the dance floor when this video came on with this woman withing on the asphalt and singing about burning up for someone's love. The song was naturally Burning Up, obviously. I was so taken by her bold in your face sexuality and giving zero f#cks attitude I became a Madonna fan on the spot!!!

Also even though I was there with a girl I was seeing I should have ditched her and came out of the closet on the spot.

This album was my jam when it came out and I play many songs off of it still to this day.

Yeah, 40 years old it is, but the memory is a fresh as it was when it happened.

Madonna the album on Wikipedia -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madonna_(album)

Michael's Musings

Got My Mind On Your Body And Your Body On My Mind
Michael Shinafelt

Like the rest of the world I saw the Barbie Movie this past week. Like most of you (which seems to be everyone who's seent it) I loved it! 

Summertime and the living is easy and al that jazz. This week I will catch Oppenheimer, then as far as I'm concerned this will end my tour of duty of movies I need to see in a theater for the rest of the season. Yeah, that's correct Minions that will make a whopping two movies I saw in the theater all summer. What's on your movie agenda???

On this day in 1979 The Amityville Horror was released in 1979 - Oink! 🐖

Why not treat yourself to a good time instead of waiting for someone else to do it?

Finally got around to watching Madonna's Madame X tour on Paramount + I thought it was great! I get why other people didn't it was not a Madonna concert it was performance art

She's not dead, she's just having an existential crisis

I don't mind being the villain in your story because your the clown in mine

At the rate things are going they are going to cancel shampoo so bald people won't be offended

Apparently X marks the spot now, if you know, you know

Some people should wear a leash in public 

Woman Crush of the Week - RIP Sinead O'Connor I saw her live at The Greek Theater in Los Angeles and it was amazing, chills went through me. 

The trailer for Exorcist: Believer dropped, I have questions 

Kudos to America Ferrara who pulled of the monologue of the year in Barbie 

Have you ever been chilling out and think...Damn! this is real life!

Happy Belated Birthday to Jennifer Lopez who is 54 and slaying

It's a Cruel Summer, yeah we're having a heat wave as predicted

Beat the heat with me here -

https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en

https://twitter.com/MShinafelt   

Hump Day & Chill

Electrifying!
Frankenstein & Bride

"I was working in the lab, late one night, When my eyes beheld an eerie sight

For my monster from his slab, began to rise" - Monster Mash

Frankenstein and his Bride are taking New York City by storm and striking a pose in Times Square, an iconic one at that.

"Levity" is the vibe for this Hump Day & Chill, join me won't you in imbibing in it. You know you want it, and so do I.

I'd make a reference to romance, but I'm sorry the old Michael can't come to the blog, he's evolved.. So this is where it lands and stays "Levity."

Let's let our inner child out in the wild today with inspiration courtesy of Frankie and his Bride.

Hump Day & Chill Minions! 

Bride of Frankenstein on Wikipedia -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bride_of_Frankenstein   

Live & Livid

Photo Credit: Sergio Garcia

Margaret Cho continues to be the must-see comedian with her recent inclusion in VOGUE Magazine’s “9 best female comedians of all-time’ alongside other comedic icons Joan Rivers, Gilda Radner and Wanda Sykes. Additionally, Margaret was named one of Rolling Stone magazine's 50 Best Stand-Up Comics of All Time (Rolling Stone HERE) while CNN chose her as one of the 50 People Who Changed American Comedy (CNN HERE ). 

Now, Margaret - the five-time Grammy and Emmy nominated comedian/actress who has been touring  North America since the start of the year has added brand new dates to her Live and LIVID! tour. Tickets for the Live and LIVID! tour will be on-sale HERE beginning Friday, July 28 at 10AM LOCAL. Please note that the NY Comedy Festival on November 8 and The Event at Graton Resort & Casino in Rohnert Park, CA on Nov. 18 are currently on sale.

 “Live and LIVID is a show celebrating my 40 years as a stand up comedian. I will be radiating rage about homophobia, sexism, racism and the fight to stay alive in a culture that is killing us daily. You will love seeing me Live and LIVID! This is living! Come through life!”

 “I’ve cycled through many names to get to Live and Livid. Absolutely Angry, Bitch and Bitchy, Count on this C***,  but Live and LIVID seems to have a ring to it.” - says Cho.

"The Notorious C.H.O.! Margaret is a jack of all trades and master of many. Whether conjuring the spirits of George Carlin, Joan Rivers or Lenny Bruce, she is committed to navigating the world of comedy and uniquely making it her own.  Completely unapologetic about the life experiences that have shaped her path and journey to where she is today. These are just some of the reasons I love Margaret."  Wanda Sykes  

 “I was inspired by Margaret. I got my start in comedy because of Margaret.” When I was in medical school and being her opening act at university inspired me to do this full-time. I would always ask Margaret, ‘Should I quit being a doctor? Should I quit medicine?’ I was so tortured, and I know I annoyed her. And she was so patient with me and so loving. It was just like a sibling – and it got me through my own internal confidence crises.“Margaret really is a pioneer in so many ways. Every Asian-American comedian owes a debt of gratitude to Margaret. Also, when I developed my own show, Dr Ken, I had Margaret as my character’s sister for a reason.” Ken Jeong - Click Here

A pioneer amongst women in comedy, Margaret doesn’t take anything for granted as she continues to tackle difficult subjects with sensitivity and her razor sharp insight with her takes on addiction, abuse, activism and Asianness. It's all about the politics of disgust and what is disgusting about politics. Margaret has received many rave reviews for her live shows with the Chicago Tribune saying “Be it on-screen (“30 Rock,” “Drop Dead Diva”) or on stage, Margaret Cho has been one of the most exciting, unpredictable stand-up comics working for some time, and that hasn’t changed. If anything, the Asian-American female comedian’s voice has become more valuable than ever, given today’s social climate, and Cho’s material remains just as compelling, thanks in part to—and sometimes in spite of—her unapologetic delivery.” 

 Follow Margaret Here:

 

Website: HERE

Tik Tok: HERE

Twitter: HERE   

Instagram:HERE     

Facebook: HERE

YouTube: HERE 

Monday Motivation

This Monday Motivation quote rings true especially for me of late. I have learned that you need to trust that people can deal with uncomfortable truths about you and still stick around because they know the best of you.

That has been the best gift that has been given to me. I always felt if you told people the darker things they would run the other way. Not so, the individuals I opened up to surprised me and stuck around and supported me. It even made me closer with one of them.

Why? Because the best of me is worth it and so am I and so are you!!!

Take this with you into the week, trust me people aren't as fragile as you think and know what a great person you are even when you stumble or misbehave, it happens to all of us.

Motivation on Wikipedia -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motivation

City of the Living Dead

On August 15th, Cauldron Films unleashes the worldwide UHD debut of Lucio Fulci's Italian horror classic City of the Living Dead in 4K, fully restored with a brand-new Dolby Vision™ color grade, exclusively commissioned by Cauldron Films. The 3-disc set includes the 4K UHD Feature, a Blu-ray Feature and a Blu-ray Extras Disc double-sided Blu-ray wrap with

artwork by Matthew Therrien.  

  

The death of a priest causes a chain reaction that begins The End of Days. The only hope
lies in a jaded reporter (Christopher George) and the psychic (Catriona MacColl) he saved from being buried alive. The two set off for Dunwich, New England to shut the gates of hell before it’s too late and the undead rule the Earth. This horror classic features Special FX work by Gino De Rossi of Zombie and Cannibal Ferox infamy, a score by Fabio Frizzi, and a screenplay co-written by Dardano Sacchetti (Rat Man, Demons).  

  

Special features include: 

• A new audio commentary with film historian Samm Deighan
• Archival audio commentaries with film historians Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson

• Archival audio commentary with actress Catriona MacColl moderated by Jay Slater

• Archival audio commentary with actor Giovanni Lombardo Radice
moderated by Calum Waddell

• Zombie Kings: Interview with Massimo Antonello Geleng

• Requiem for Bob: Interview with Giovanni Lombardo Radice 

• On Stage: Q&A with Venantino Venantini & Ruggero Deodato
• Catriona MacColl Q&A

• Fabio Frizzi Q&A

• The Meat Munching Movies of Gino De Rossi

• Carlo of the Living Dead, an archival interview with actor Carlo De Mejo

• A Trip Through Bonaventure Cemetery

• Catriona MacColl video intro from 2001

• Image Gallery

• Plus more archival extras and other surprises!

• Double-sided Blu-ray wrap with artwork by Matthew Therrien

• Optional English SDH subtitles

• Seamless branching - watch in English Language w/ English credit sequences and watch Italian language w/ Italian credit sequences.

• UHD (feature film) 4K (2160p) presentation with Dolby Vision™ HDR (HDR 10 compatible)

• Blu-ray (feature film) 1080p presentation

Order Here -

https://mvdb2b.com/b2b/s/CAULDRON011

"Strike" A Pose

Grace and Frankie
Jane Fonda & Lily Tomlin

With the Writer's Guild and SAG/AFTRA on strike there's a lot of picketing going on in Hollywood. I see the actors and writers out in full force all over the city when I'm out and about.

Here's Jane Fonda & Lily Tomlin striking a pose in support of their fellow actors. It's a nice show of solidarity when Hollywood heavy weights like these two actually get out on the picket line. Many do not.

Keep on fighting everyone I stand with you 100%!

Find out more about the strikes at the link to an article by The Guardian below -

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/jul/22/sag-aftra-wga-strike-artificial-intelligence