Dear Ole Crone, You can watch almost any past Charlie Rose show online, just by going to his website, and searching for the guest…..say Liz Smith, in this case. You get a bunch of her appearances…select the wowowow segment, and then you have the opportunity to “buy” it, or just play it …it appears on a tiny li’l screen, but who cares? I watched the entire wowowow episode that way, and was so glad I did, it was fabulous! These women have reeeally started somethin’.

I appreciate very much Dr. Klein’s willingness to share his understanding of how even the biggest and best drug companies in America function, and the built in dangers of the mixed goals of commerce and health research. He is clearly a deeply committed man, ready to stick his neck out for responsible action. Thank you for commenting so thoroughly on a full picture of the issue. You clearly have a wealth of expertise, and I hope you will comment further after seeing this program or looking into it more fully.

SENSATIONAL!

I check into WOWOWOW often and enjoy the site, and already feel quite familiar with a number of delightful “posters” as well as the official columnists. But it was a special surprise treat to find today’s visit with Ann Richards, and see these GREAT pictures, and enjoy the pleasure, somewhat poignant, of course, of “listening” to people yakking about Ann. Yes, she was a unique, gorgeous personality, and the weight of the staggering hard work behind her fun glamor, and the depth of her caring, and the bone tired effort to lift lift lift our society, gave her a gravitas unmatched in politics today. I remember seeing a picture of a group of rural people who had just finished rebuilding a burned down barn for a needy neighbor. They had worked without rest to get it done, and the whole community was out, cooking for the crew, bringing things that were needed, cheering them on, working in shifts. They stood grinning for a big picture when it was done, and you’ve never seen such beautiful bunch of wiped out people in your life. I think of Ann Richards working like that. And smiling just as beatifically, a sophisticated angel. You ask about what sort of presentation I’m working on, Iris. It is a play, intended for a regular theatrical production, but should it succeed, and have a life, I would hope there could be a scaled down version of it, perhaps to be given in a concert situation. But for now, it is a play, a “SHOW”, and it is largely in her own words (but not entirely…there are some moments of what I hope is inspired invention!) . There are some big differences in the “conceit”, but I suppose it is somewhat along the lines of Hal Holbrook’s Mark Twain Tonight (oh, may it have a fraction of the wonderful reception that great work has had!). What I intend is a celebration of the public Ann Richards. The things that might be personal matters, (like her experience with addictions), are “hung out” only to the extent SHE hung them out. And only spoken of as SHE spoke of them. I want to stir memories, and hearts, crack wise, and remind everyone how she made us LAFF… and how she’d quicken one’s pulse of hope…in a kind of ” a touch of Ann, in the night” way. Nothing more. My God, if I could do that, that would be plenty. I think the idea came to me how to do this because I need at least the sense of Ann Richards in my life. Especially now, when my dear country feels like we’re sliding down a sandy hill and going too fast!. I had no idea how crucial AR was somehow to my will to go on and believe in the future— that “we’d be all right” —- until she was gone. I see all these great pictures Liz has posted, and I am cheered, and I have a little lift in my heart. And perhaps, as I go about my day, asking myself, as I sometimes do, when facing a test, “what would Ann do?”—- perhaps the best of ME will rise up. Perhaps I will be less lazy, perhaps I will remember that the curtain is always up in the really important performance. Maybe I’ll help build the barn. Being together in the theatre is wonderful “community”. I have memories of being moved at a play, and turning to a perfect stranger to share the moment, and finding eyes, suddenly intimate. And now, I remember the play. And the stranger. I hope to have that communal sharing of a big box of “snapshots” of Ann!

I check into WOWOWOW often and enjoy the site, and already feel quite familiar with a number of delightful “posters” as well as the official columnists. But it was a special surprise treat to find today’s visit with Ann Richards, and see these GREAT pictures, and enjoy the pleasure, somewhat poignant, of course, of “listening” to people yakking about Ann. Yes, she was a unique, gorgeous personality, and the weight of the staggering hard work behind her fun glamor, and the depth of her caring, and the bone tired effort to lift lift lift our society, gave her a gravitas unmatched in politics today. I remember seeing a picture of a group of rural people who had just finished rebuilding a burned down barn for a needy neighbor. They had worked without rest to get it done, and the whole community was out, cooking for the crew, bringing things that were needed, cheering them on, working in shifts. They stood grinning for a big picture when it was done, and you’ve never seen such beautiful bunch of wiped out people in your life. I think of Ann Richards working like that. And smiling just as beatifically, a sophisticated angel. You ask about what sort of presentation I’m working on, Iris. It is a play, intended for a regular theatrical production, but should it succeed, and have a life, I would hope there could be a scaled down version of it, perhaps to be given in a concert situation. But for now, it is a play, a “SHOW”, and it is largely in her own words (but not entirely…there are some moments of what I hope is inspired invention!) . There are some big differences in the “conceit”, but I suppose it is somewhat along the lines of Hal Holbrook’s Mark Twain Tonight (oh, may it have a fraction of the wonderful reception that great work has had!). What I intend is a celebration of the public Ann Richards. The things that might be personal matters, (like her experience with addictions), are “hung out” only to the extent SHE hung them out. And only spoken of as SHE spoke of them. I want to stir memories, and hearts, crack wise, and remind everyone how she made us LAFF… and how she’d quicken one’s pulse of hope…in a kind of ” a touch of Ann, in the night” way. Nothing more. My God, if I could do that, that would be plenty. I think the idea came to me how to do this because I need at least the sense of Ann Richards in my life. Especially now, when my dear country feels like we’re sliding down a sandy hill and going too fast!. I had no idea how crucial AR was somehow to my will to go on and believe in the future— that “we’d be all right” —- until she was gone. I see all these great pictures Liz has posted, and I am cheered, and I have a little lift in my heart. And perhaps, as I go about my day, asking myself, as I sometimes do, when facing a test, “what would Ann do?”—- perhaps the best of ME will rise up. Perhaps I will be less lazy, perhaps I will remember that the curtain is always up in the really important performance. Maybe I’ll help build the barn. Being together in the theatre is wonderful “community”. I have memories of being moved at a play, and turning to a perfect stranger to share the moment, and finding eyes, suddenly intimate. And now, I remember the play. And the stranger. I hope to have that communal sharing of a big box of “snapshots” of Ann!

I think the wall I can back up against is the creative force, our need to “express”, to “render”…, if not my own work, then that of others. When I enter a museum, any museum, I feel the comfort I imagine many experience on entering a church. I know I’m going to be nourished…I know whatever I see and think about will be worth doing, worth my time..(a big consideration, as I get older). If I ever one day am not able to come home from market with a big hunk of steak, I can always slip in the library and go home with a big, fat book.

Oh, Mamacita, I wish you were my next door neighbor, that I knew you were right there, steady as a rock, smart as a whip, and always able, I bet, to talk some good sense about anything. (While having a laff.)

Candide, Candide, CANDIDE!!!!!!!!! First I heard the origianal cast recording and I was truly a changed person. Then I went to Hal Prince’s WONDERFUL revival, and he finished the job.

Pamela Munroe, YOU HAVE SAID IT ALL.

Love the idea of an “odds and ends” posting, wish you’d do it all the time, Liz…our own personal “wow” column! Regarding Helen Mirren…Yes, Please! Besides being a splendid actress, full of great variety, she is a smart, down to earth woman whose take on anything would be interesting to hear. The time I won my Emmy for The Practice, I was stumbling back to my seat after the chaos of the press room…making my way in the low light I crept down the long aisle, and I became aware of a shimmering silvery figure in front of me…I looked up, and blinked, for there was Helen herself, who had risen from her seat (like Venus from the sea) to say she was glad to have the chance to tell me she had admired my work. I think I actually gasped. This was quite a night for me, and her greeting was an award in itself. Then later in the evening, when all the Emmy winners were assembled in a great herd onstage for a group picture, (as I later found out) in the crush of people I inadvertently stabbed her in the arm with the sharp wing point of the Emmy, drawing a spot of blood!!.One can’t imagine my chagrin when someone told me this. But she has never held it against me (I’m not surprised to say), and I see her and Taylor Hackford, her brilliant husband, at the Emmys every year, and am always so happy to greet her, and make some observation about whatever recent triumph she’s given us. (I haven’t won an Emmy since, so I’m no danger to anyone!) Liz, I’m enjoying the website so much… and I hope there will be a method devised where one can comment directly to someone who posts, so that they are sure to see a message in what might be a very long list of comments. Best of luck to all you great dames.

Love the idea of an “odds and ends” posting, wish you’d do it all the time, Liz…our own personal “wow” column! Regarding Helen Mirren…Yes, Please! Besides being a splendid actress, full of great variety, she is a smart, down to earth woman whose take on anything would be interesting to hear. The time I won my Emmy for The Practice, I was stumbling back to my seat after the chaos of the press room…making my way in the low light I crept down the long aisle, and I became aware of a shimmering silvery figure in front of me…I looked up, and blinked, for there was Helen herself, who had risen from her seat (like Venus from the sea) to say she was glad to have the chance to tell me she had admired my work. I think I actually gasped. This was quite a night for me, and her greeting was an award in itself. Then later in the evening, when all the Emmy winners were assembled in a great herd onstage for a group picture, (as I later found out) in the crush of people I inadvertently stabbed her in the arm with the sharp wing point of the Emmy, drawing a spot of blood!!.One can’t imagine my chagrin when someone told me this. But she has never held it against me (I’m not surprised to say), and I see her and Taylor Hackford, her brilliant husband, at the Emmys every year, and am always so happy to greet her, and make some observation about whatever recent triumph she’s given us. (I haven’t won an Emmy since, so I’m no danger to anyone!) Liz, I’m enjoying the website so much… and I hope there will be a method devised where one can comment directly to someone who posts, so that they are sure to see a message in what might be a very long list of comments. Best of luck to all you great dames.

Hooray! I’m so excited about this site, and will be eagerly following all you do! At last, a watering hole in the desert…frank, friendly, informed, and SMART.