FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT
Performance MELBOURNE radio gets another station format change from 21 May when 91.5 becomes 91.5 Smooth FM. The playlist will include greatest hits and contemporary music from artists such as Michael Bublé, George Michael, ABBA, Elton John, Adele, the Bee Gees, Bruno Mars, Phil Collins and Jason Mraz. David Reyne, actor, musician and television presenter, will host Wind Down at 8pm weeknights. Other presenters include Richard Wilkins, David Campbell and Jason Donovan. Reyne, who attended the Peninsula School in Mt Eliza, has graced Australian television screens for three decades as a host, reporter, actor, writer, producer and musician. He is narrator of Nine Network’s Celebrity Apprentice, returning this year for a second series. From 2006 to 2009, he was co-host of 9am With David and Kim on the Ten Network. Before joining Ten, he travelled the world for 14 years on Australia’s longest-running prime time television travel program Getaway. Reyne also wrote and produced for the show. While on Getaway he wrote a column, Reyne’s World, for the Herald
Sun and contributed to the travel section of The Age. Reyne’s acting credits include The Man from Snowy River, Flying Doctors and Sweet and Sour, for which he won a TV Week Logie for best new talent in 1984. He hosted The Midday Show with Tracy Grimshaw and was a presenter at the AFI Awards, the Logies and the People’s Choice Awards. He was the original drummer for Australian Crawl and drummer with the Chantoozies. www.dmgradio.com.au www.watercooler.net.au *** THE Production Company’s three musicals this season are The Producers (10-15 July), Chess the Musical
(21-26 August), and Promises, Promises (3-7 October). “In planning the season we have kept our thinking light and bright. The season opens with probably the funniest musical ever to grace the stage, Mel Brooks’ The Producers,” chairman Jeanne Pratt said. “The second show is the rock classic Chess The Musical, with a brilliant score from ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus. Tim Rice wrote the book and lyrics.” Promises, Promises is a romantic comedy with songs by Burt Bacharach and script by Neil Simon, and based on the Oscar-winning Billy Wilder film The Apartment. All performances at the State Theatre feature Orchestra Victoria. The Producers opens on 10 July. www.theproductioncompany.com.au *** LONDONER George Michael (born Georgios Panayuiotou) is healthy after a battle with pneumonia at the end of 2011 that led to the postponement of his Australian tour. He is preparing for the trip Down Under and will perform his hits and favourite songs from other
artists. He has had one of the most successful and enduring careers, selling more than 110 million records. Michael joined up with school friend Andrew Ridgeley in 1981 to form the successful pop duo Wham. They made the charts with their second single Young Guns (Go for it) in 1982. This was followed by the re-release of the first single Wham Rap, which, along with Bad Boys and Club Tropicana, gave them three UK top 10 hits. Their United States chart debut was Wake Me Up Before You Go Go, the top US single of 1985. Wham was the first Western pop act to sing in China. In 1986 after five years and 38 million sales, the duo split. George Michael performs at Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday 21 November. Tickets 132 849. www.georgemichael.com www.daintygroup.com *** FORMER Eagles band member Glenn Frey will release a new album, After Hours (Universal), this week. Ultravox will release Brilliant (EMI) on 25 May. EMI will also release The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine on DVD and
Even today, with a chap of similar age alongside at our coffee shop, we look and comment, nicely. No charges have been laid to date. Sexual harassment can and frequently is a dangerous, sometimes frightening experience. Hopefully the wowser element of our society will show some commonsense. *** CARLTON coach Brett Ratten was apparently going through hell awaiting the birth of his first child. We were kept updated all through the week before the Carlton-Fremantle game and when it was on television. I felt for Ratten. I went through similar pressure with my first-born while slaving away in the public service with no help from darling for my added stress. We men do not have it easy. Ratten’s baby arrived safely two days after the game. Well done, Brett. Let’s hear it for Brett. *** I TOLD my wife 12 years ago just before we moved to Rye: “Dromana is the go, darling. Prices will rise.” She did not listen (no surprise) so in accordance with our happy marriage watertight agreement (Rule 1: Always let the wife decide where you live), we chose Rye. Dromana is showing 14.4 per cent growth in property val-
ue. Sadly, darling went to God seven years ago so I’ve missed my big opportunity to say, just once, “I told you, love. Didn’t I tell you?” I can hear her retort as I type: “When did you say that? I don’t remember.” One accepts defeat gracefully, even spiritually. *** I WAS shocked when I heard old Clive James had been at it with lovely Leanne Edelsten. He’s as old as me and 25 years older than Leanne. Dirty old man or lucky old man? This is one of life’s big unanswered questions and Clive is not saying. Still, I’ve suspected him for many years. One look at those eyes told me everything. *** IT’S that time again – the Continental Hotel annual art prize in Sorrento is on this month. Good for peninsula artists and good value for those with a taste for culture. Have a squiz if you can. True, you’ll have to rub shoulders with the hoity-toity people of Sorrento, but I’ve found that after a while they become quite normal, almost. *** HERE’S a conundrum: how is it I can talk with a group of people at, say, the coffee shop or the RSL and, leaving aside football, religion and politics, we agree on almost everything under
the sun (and sometimes the moon), but whenever I come across a fully paid-up member of the Self-righteous Brigade, always heavily aligned with Wowsers Incorporated, we agree on nothing? Not only do I regularly disagree, but also there comes the necessity to agree to escape. Brrrr. *** THE federal government’s postponement of its National Cultural Policy, which was to be released with the budget, is a sad indictment of Labor despite Arts Minister Simon Crean’s efforts. Fortunately, Julia’s wonderful idea of a Prime Minister’s Cup, for the winner of the Western Bulldogs and Greater Western Sydney AFL match, allows us some compensation, I don’t think. While on government matters, let’s be honest – if Brumby’s Labor had presented us with Ted’s latest budget, Rupert’s newspapers would still be screaming blue murder, with baa-baa letters to the editor for a week. *** WHAT’S wrong with my Mighty Magpies? Can I blame umpires? Well, yes, as always. The scribes go out of their way to say what a fine job umpires are doing, but as I see it they are just as bad and seemingly unintelligent
By Gary Turner Blu-Ray Disc next month. ABC/Roadshow will release Top Gear: The Great Adventures – The India Special & Supercars across Italy on DVD and Blu-Ray on 7 June. ABC has already released Top Gear USA – Complete Season One on DVD. Top Gear Australia – The Second Series on 9 is also on DVD. Warner Home Video has released an anniversary edition of the 1944 film Casablanca, which won three Academy Awards including best picture, on DVD and Blu-Ray Disc. Joe Walsh, who gave us the classic rock hit Rocky Mountain Way, will release his first solo album in two decades, Analog Man (Fantasy), on 1 June. The album was produced by Jeff Lynne and Joe Walsh with Tommy Lee Jones co-writing some tracks. www.joewalsh.com
A Grain of Salt I’M not big on Anzac Day ceremonies. I attend the service and watch the men and women march with their medals proudly displayed in memory of loved ones, but it always brings me back to what really happened on the Gallipoli Peninsula and my father’s memories of 1350 days on the frontline in the Second World War. From historical writings and firsthand from my father, we got a raw deal in both world wars and it was the unsuspecting Australian servicemen and women who paid so dearly. Then there’s the week of AFL football presided over by El Presidento Andrew Demetrio and a form of brainwashing with truth the loser. Yes, the bugler played beautifully, a pure moment of beauty and relief. To me it represents more sadness than pride. *** FROM a study of 284 complaints the average payout for sexual harassment is $13,500, most settled out of court. Harassment can apparently include persistent staring. As a clerk aged 22 I was reported to Canberra for “answering the counter in a suggestive manner”. I beat the rap. Later, with the aid of promotion and a stenographer I spent hours discussing matters other than work.
Joke!!! A DOCTOR says to his patient, “I have bad news and worse news”. “Oh dear, what’s the bad news?” asks the patient. The doctor replies, “You only have 24 hours to live”. “That’s terrible,” said the patient. “How can the news possibly be worse?” The doctor replies, “I’ve been trying to contact you since yesterday”.
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By Cliff Ellen as they were 30 years ago. I see at least a dozen glaring errors every match. Stacks on the mill. Perhaps my boys get tired charging off the ground after kicking a rare goal? Who invented this stupid idea? *** SEVEN James Hardie directors broke the law. Never to be punished? Australia Post promoting “kids teaching kids” week, where kids should be seen and heard? At the same time they want to demolish the beautiful Sorrento Post Office. Julia gave the Turkish Prime Minister a soccer ball signed by the Socceroos; straight to the garage? Black Caviar had her 20th win; I still prefer the Great Divide brumbies. Premier Ted is spending $2 million to find out what we think of his government. It costs nothing to read my column, Ted, mate. Byeee. cliffie9@bigpond.com
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Western Port News 15 May 2012
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