Behind the Scenes at Friday's "Grease Live!" Dress Rehearsal

Sunday night, "Grease" is the time, is the place, is the motion. I'll go ahead and add that "Grease" will be the way we are feeling.

Fox's heavily promoted "Grease Live!" is worth the hype. I was there on Friday at the Warner Bros. lot as the show's cast and crew went through the first of two dress rehearsals, before going live on Sunday evening. The massive production takes place over three soundstages, plus outdoors on the Warner Bros. lot. (Yes, it's happening even with the rain.) The logistics of pulling this off is pretty amazing. The casting is spot-on, and the classic songs are all there -- plus a few new ones. You'll get an idea of the scope of the production from the opening number, when Jessie J sings "Grease" while walking through the various stages and heading outside.

We weren't allowed to take photos during the actual rehearsal, but here are some snaps I got before the Friday dry run began:


Wendell Pierce is Coach Calhoun


Didi Conn, the "Grease" constant, is back!


Football players


Sizing up the Rydell gym/auditorium's basketball hoop


Rydell High, re-created on a Warner Bros. soundstage


The Pink Ladies' lunch table


Join the Rydell pep squad!


Gym shoes only


Preparing the National Bandstand scenes



Scene of the dance


The outdoor carnival


Site of the big finale

Saturday Night at Santa Anita with the Cal Phil

The California Philharmonic made its big move this year from the Los Angeles County Arboretum to the Santa Anita Race Track right across the street -- and it hasn't missed a beat. The Franklin Avenue family was invited on Saturday night to attend the final night of its summertime Festival on the Green series, and it was a perfect one to bring the kids to: Among the highlights of "Beethoven and John Williams" night were the familiar sounds of the "Star Wars," "Superman" and "Raiders of the Lost Arc" themes. And Beethoven's "Ode To Joy from Symphony No. 9" is very familiar to young ears as well. The Cal Phil is meant to be a populist, approachable music organization and focuses on crowd favorites. Maestro Victor Vener, who founded the organization more than 15 years ago, takes joy in stopping between numbers to give his own spin on the works.

As for the change in venue -- one that was against Cal Phil's will -- it appears that things turned out just fine for the orchestra. Santa Anita built a nice green area for tables and chairs; a playground kept kids pre-occupied before the show; and the unobstructed views of the San Gabriel Mountains gave the concert setting a majestic feel. Also in attendance: The horse that played "Seabiscuit" in the movie.

We brought a picnic lunch and enjoyed the cool summer evening air -- it was a nice night, and the kids (particularly Blogger Toddler 2.0) got into the music.

That's it for the "Festival on the Green," but check their website for future events.

Some pics from Saturday night:

Charles Phoenix's Mid-Century Christmas Culture in Kodachrome

L.A.'s own keeper of kitsch, Charles Phoenix, brought his Retro Holiday Slide Show to Hollywood's Egyptian Theatre on Sunday, and Franklin Avenue was there.

It was a rare Sunday afternoon out sans kids (thanks to Maria's mom) -- but after years of not making it to a Charles Phoenix event for one reason or another, the timing was finally perfect.

Phoenix, of course, has become famous for collecting Kodachrome slides from the post-WWII era, in a sense curating a unique slice of Americana. The slides depict average Americans of the 1950s and 1960s in all of their horrific glory -- embarrassing outfits, shocking home decor, bizarre behavior and kitschy, far-out locales that were of that era.

Phoenix stumbled into this career after finding a dusty box of old slides while going thrift shopping. Now, when he's not searching for slides, people are sending their parents' embarrassing old collections to him.

Either way, Phoenix has amassed enough slides to pick out the best of the best for his stage show. It's a simple concept, but works because of Phoenix's larger-than-life personality: Phoenix narrates the slide show as he takes us on a journey through the holidays -- but mostly Christmas and New Years.

That means slides of drunk family members, poorly-dressed Santas, creepy presents (life-sized doll, anyone?) and more. The slides hail from across the country, although most are from right here in Southern California, which is the Ontario-bred entertainer's specialty.



For the show, Phoenix trotted out a mini Christmas tree that had been heavily flocked into a bright red color. (He gave a shout-out to the flockers -- the Christmas tree lot located in the parking lot of Atwater Village's Costco.)



Joining Phoenix was organist Dominic Cangelosi, who also owns Glendale's Moonlight Rollerway. Phoenix had organized a special show earlier this year at the Moonlight -- and hinted that a new show may be in the works for next spring.



After the show, we caught Phoenix as he was running out -- and I asked to take a photo. He said yes, but under two conditions: (A) That it be with Maria, and (B) That the pic be taken in front of the Egyptian mural.

Meanwhile, just in time for the holidays, Phoenix instructs how to make a "Astro-Weenie Christmas Tree," made famous from one of his slides:

There Was a Party (Actually) in Our City This Weekend

There was a party in our city this weekend -- and everyone from Snoop Dogg, the Cold War Kids, Sarah Silverman, Biz Markie and the Aquabats were invited.

As you know, we're huge "Yo Gabba Gabba!" fans at Franklin Avenue headquarters. (Yes, as Maria kids, between me and the Blogger Preschooler, I'm possibly the larger fan of the two). That's why we made sure to get down to the Shrine Expo Center on Saturday morning and brave the USC game traffic in order to catch Yo Gabba Gabba Live: There's a Party in My City."

And what a party it was. Hosted by quite possibly the coolest dude on the planet, DJ Lance Rock (he of the Run DMC specs and ultra cool furry hat) mingled on stage with costumed characters Muno, Brobee, Plex, Toodee and Foofa as they grooved to songs from the show.

Having listened to the "YGG!" soundtrack ad nauseum in the car over the past few weeks, Evan and I know those songs by heart as well. Later, Biz Markie came out to demonstrate beat boxing to tykes in the audience, while three of the "Freaks and Geeks" stars did a "dancey dance." The Aquabats also played the quick-timed verson of "Pool Party."

We attended the first show of the tour; others that followed featured different guests.

A few pics:


There's a party in my tummy!


"My name is MUNO! M-MUNO! Muh-muh-muh-muh-muh-mamuh-MUNO!" (He's tall and friendly!)




Weird Al Yankovic, behind the stage. Weird Al is no stranger to kids TV, having starred in his own short-lived show for CBS.


Hey kids, just gather round, fro Biz's Beat of the Day, I'mma teach you some sounds!


"Dancey Dance" featured Samm Levine, Martin Start and John Daley -- the geeks from "Freaks and Geeks".


Balloons are made made for me and you!


Aquabats sing -- Pool Party baby! It was a cool party, cool pool party, LA LA LA LAAAA.


DJ Lance Rock!



Sorry, Angelenos: This weekend's two shows were the only ones in L.A. for this tour. But given how all shows sold out, methinks there will eventually be a reprise at some point.

Of course, true fans could also fly to see one of the other shows around the country.

"Yo Gabba Gabba Live" travels this Saturday, Nov. 21, to New York; show will then be in Dallas on Nov. 28 and in Chicago on Dec. 5.