Happy Birthday Cloris Leachman!

Apr. 30, 2011

Dear Cloris,
You are in one of my favorite scenes from one of my favorite movies—Young Frankenstein:

Frau Blücher:  Would the doctor care for a... brandy before retiring?

Dr. Frederick Frankenstein:   No. Thank you.

Frau Blücher:   Some varm milk... perhaps?

Dr. Frederick Frankenstein:   No... thank you very much. No thanks.

Frau Blücher:  Ovaltine?

Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: NOTHING! Thank you! I'm a little - tired!

Frau Blücher: Then I vill say... goodnight, Herr Doctor.

Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: Goodnight, Frau Blücher.
[horses whinny]
---------
Happy Birthday Cloris Leachman! You're one of the hardest working women in Hollywood. 245 movies & television work to your credit! Amazing! And at 85, you're still going strong!
Regards, Mrs Love

Happy Birthday Jerry Seinfeld!

Apr. 29, 2011

Dear Jerry,

I want you to know I’ve enjoyed your show for so many years. Why? Because:

1) it was funny

2) it was brilliant

3) and it was a show about nothing! It wasn’t a show where you answer the question ‘what happened in that episode?’ It’s just a bunch of stuff that happens every day.

I loved the show with all its sub-plots and how they all tied into the main plot at the end. The comedy was more than just lots of mindless banter that we see so much of today.  (Note: Modern Family is the exception!)  Even many reality shows today are ridiculous.

It was a show that, even today, you can watch in reruns about 4 times a day and each time feel like you’re watching it for the first time.

Many of the episodes put a smile on my face just thinking about them. One of my favorites is The Marine Biologist. I love George’s speech at the end, explaining how he rescued the whale. It is priceless! And then the expression on Kramer’s face when he pulls the golf ball out of his pocket. The best! I am smiling just writing about it!

Something else I loved about your show, Jerry, was that even the peripheral characters were funny. Really funny! In most sitcoms, the regular cast are the funny ones and anyone else who is brought in for the week is just very straight—not funny. But in Seinfeld, even the not-so-regular cast members were hilarious! Who can forget the Soup Nazi? The Bubble Boy? Or the infuriating Bania?  The Close Talker? Or The Library Cop? etc, etc.

And there are so many funny lines that will be quoted until the end of time.

“People love to say salsa!” “Maybe the dingo ate your baby!”  “Gotta love the Drake!”  A Bra is for ladies, meet the Bro.”  “Serenity Now!”  “And you want to be my latex salesman! I don’t think so!”  “Yo yo ma!”  “Are you still the master of your domain?” etc, etc.

Thank you for making me laugh for so many years. You continue to do so in reruns and DVD. You and Larry David were brilliant!  And lastly, Jerry, I hope today, on your 57^th birthday, you enjoyed a chocolate babka!

Regards, Mrs Love

Happy Birthday Ann-Margret!

April 28, 2011
Dear Ann-Margret Olsson,
This will have to be a quick note but I just wanted to tell you that although you're known for such films as "Bye Bye Birdie," "Viva Las Vegas," "Tommy," "Grumpy Old Men," "Newsies" etc... my favorite will always be when you portrayed Ann-Margrock in "The Flintstones!" You were gorgeous even as a cartoon! Of course there were Rock Hudstone and Perry Masonry too! lol

You've been called a siren, a sex kitten, and vixen. And I must say, Ann, you're still so beautiful.
I also think it's cool that you have a hyphenated name. Once, during my high school years, I considered using a hyphen too. I even practiced my signature over and over again: Vivian-Marie, Vivian-Marie. Who knows? I still might add the hyphen! It would make me unique...like you!

Happy 70th Birthday to you, Ann-Margrock!
Regards, Mrs Love (aka Vivian-Marie)

Happy Birthday Shirley Temple Black!

Apr. 23, 2011

Dear Shirley Temple,

I have been your devout fan for many years. I have enjoyed all your films and I adore you because you remind me of my mother. Yes, that’s right. You see, my mother is just a few years younger than you. When she was a little girl, growing up in the 1930’s, she loved your dolls. However, her family was very poor and so she never had one. Later in life, though, my mother was finally able to get a “Shirley Temple” doll. She was thrilled to find one at an antique store. Today, in her room, in her home in Portland, Oregon, there are many pictures of you hanging on the walls and her Shirley Temple doll, lovingly placed on a stand atop a dresser. 

What’s more, I feel like I know you. I read your autobiography, “Child Star” many years ago. I enjoyed it very much and I was happy you mentioned my grandfather’s cousin, Louis Dean Palmer in the book. He was your tall body guard/chauffeur during your teen years. You called him “Palmtree” because he was so tall.  

And lastly, I remember you wrote in your book how your mother’s advice to you before each movie scene was: “Sparkle, Shirley, sparkle!” When my daughter, Stacy, auditioned for movie and tv roles as a young girl, I remembered this and I used to say it to her. I still say it to her on occasion…even though today she is 23 years old!  It’s good advice for just about any aspect of her life.

How I wish I had someone to tell me, “Sparkle, Vivian, sparkle!” as I went through life.

What a wonderful person you have been Shirley! Thank you for continuing to entertain us, even today. I’m sure that on this day, your 83^rd birthday, you sparkled too!

Regards, Mrs Love

Happy Birthday Jack Nicholson!

Apr. 22, 2011

Dear Jack Nicholson,

I have admired your work for many years and loved so many of your films.

-You scared me in “The Shining” when you said, “Here’s Johnny!” (I read that you improvised that line!)

-You melted my heart “As Good As it Gets” when you said, “You make me want to be a better man.”

-You creeped me out in “Batman,” when you said, “As my plastic surgeon always said: if you gotta go, go with a smile.”

-You made me cry in “The Bucket List”, when you spoke at your friend’s funeral, “Carter and I saw the world together, which is amazing when you think that only three months ago we were complete strangers. I hope that it doesn't sound selfish of me, but the last months of his life were the best months of mine. He saved my life, and he knew it before I did.”

-You cracked me up in “Something’s Gotta Give” when you said, “I have never lied to you, I have always told you some version of the truth.”

Now Mr. Nicholson, I know you’re a huge Lakers basketball fan. I’ve seen you on TV, sitting there in your courtside seats. I know you’re completely focused on the game and have, on occasion, hounded the opposition and the refs. Once in 2001, during a playoff game, you were arguing with the officials so much that you were assessed a technical foul! And I know that you never miss a home game. Whenever you’re working on a film, directors have to work around the Lakers’ home schedule.

Now Mr. Nicholson, won’t you please invite me to sit with you at a game? Of course, my husband has a friend who takes him to the Lakers games and they sit in awesome seats near all the celebrities. Are you wondering why I haven’t been invited to go?  Well, I’ll tell you--mostly because I don’t really watch the game so much. I enjoy taking pictures of all the celebrities. Now, Jack, er, I mean Mr Nicholson, I’ll make a deal with you. If you invite me to sit with you at a game, I PROMISE I will watch the game and not take any celebrity pictures! I will behave myself. This would be the greatest honor of my life!  I’ll even wear my sunglasses too! Once you said, “With my sunglasses on, I’m Jack Nicholson. Without them, I’m fat and 70.”

Well, for the record, today you’re 74…but who’s counting?  Please, please, please! I’ll be waiting to hear from you, Mr Nicholson. I’ve got my Pau Gasol jersey on and thunder sticks in hand ready to GO!

Happy 74^th Birthday!

Mrs Love

Happy Birthday Conan O'Brien!

Apr. 18, 2011

Dear Conan O’Brien,

I love you because you--

1) make me laugh every day. I could be having the worst day and then I watch you and my day ends with a good laugh.

2) seem like you are real, genuine.

3) seem to love people and make people feel like they matter.

4) have great hair. (especially the Rolling Stone cover you did in 1996!)

5) have a great beard.

6) look like Tilda Swinton.

7) look like the president of Finland, Tarja Halonen. (Google it! You’ll see!)

8) made a college student famous by following her on Twitter.

9) write some of the finniest tweets every day.

10) would do really well on Jeopardy. You’re really smart! (graduated magna cum laude from Harvard?)

11) look great in jeggings.

12) are a good role model. NBC really screwed you over, but in an age where celebrities are quick to lose their cool and burn bridges (ie Charlie Sheen), you showed grace and dignity. On the final episode of The Tonight Show, you shared this advice: (I hope your youngest viewers were listening!)

“Please do not be cynical. I hate cynicism; for the record, it's my least favorite quality. It doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen."

Today you’re 48 and I’m sure you spent your birthday with your family, because that’s how you are. Years ago, while my daughter and I were visiting NYC, we stopped in to the NBC gift shop and bought souvenirs. My daughter, who is a huge fan of your’s, bought a Conan O’Brien night light. I thought it was the silliest thing. However, last month I was staying at her home in Oregon. In the guest bathroom there was the Conan O’Brien night light. It made me smile. I think if you had seen it, it would’ve made you smile too.

Happy 48^th!

Regards, Mrs Love

Happy Birthday Emma Thompson!

April 15, 2011

Dear Emma Thompson,

If I could be an actress, I would be you.

Why? Because of…

…Margaret Schlegel in “Howard’s End,” (this was the first time I saw you—I enjoyed the film so much, I later read the book…the film was better, because of you!)

…Dr. Diana Reddin in “Junior,” (what a ridiculous movie. Arnold Schwarzenegger gets pregnant? So sorry you had to make that film. But you still did a great job.)

…Elinor Dashwood in “Sense and Sensibility” (you met your husband, Greg Wise, while filming. He portrayed Wilhouby. He was told by a psychic that he would meet his wife on the next film he worked on. And he did!...and you’ve lived happily ever after! Right?)

… Sybil Trelawney in the “Harry Potter” series. (loved the glasses!)

…Nanny McPhee in the “Nanny McPhee” movies. (loved the mole…it was a character all it’s own!)

…Karen Eiffel in “Stranger Than Fiction” (how could you work with Will Ferrell without cracking up? What a great concept for a movie. One of my favorites!)

…Karen in “Love, Actually” (when you discover that your husband may be having an affair with his secretary, I wanted to cry with you. And all while Joni Mitchell’s ‘Both Sides Now’ is playing! You did an outstanding job of holding back the tears and holding it together. Then you kicked him out! Bravo!)

I marvel at you and your amazing talent. You have such range and you make the art of acting seem so completely easy. Certainly, you came from an acting family and so it’s evident you have the acting gene running through your veins. Looking forward to seeing what you do next!

Happy 52nd??? Birthday to one of the best!

Regards, Mrs Love