I’m sitting in the shadow of the Kodak Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard the day before the Oscars surrounded by endless rows of giant golden statues.
It reminds me of the army of terra cotta soldiers that were buried with Chinese Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi in 210 BC and dug up in recent times. Everywhere I look I see groups of these stoic statues, and I’m sure the Hollywood honchos think they have the same powers of protection that the terra cotta soldiers had for the ancient Chinese. Hollywood Boulevard has been closed to traffic for a full week 
as they make preparations for the big day, and I’m amazed, as I am every year, at what a huge deal this awards show is for this town. And now that the writers’ strike is finally over, it seems like the glitz-starved movie people are pulling out all the stops to make this year’s show even more of High Mass than usual. They’re carting in so many of these oversized statues I wouldn’t be surprised to look up and see the Oscars goose-stepping down Hollywood Boulevard, crushing all the Priuses in their path.
My body is in Hollywood but my head is in the Big Apple where I’ll be going later this week because Wilco is FINALLY going to be the musical guest on “Saturday Night Live.” Oscar nominee Ellen Page is the host so I’ll be trailing her from Hollywood to New York, trying not to get a citation for stalking. My sister is pissed that it takes me months of planning to get to Chicago to visit my family but five minutes after hearing that my brother-in-law would be on SNL, I had a plane ticket and tickets to three Broadway shows. Woo-hoo! 
First, I’ll see one of my all-time favorite actresses, Laurie Metcalf, in David Mamet’s new political comedy “November” co-starring Nathan Lane. Then I can’t wait to see the great Steppenwolf Theatre troupe (of which Metcalf is a founding member) in their Broadway version of “August: Osage County,” a play Kendall and I had tickets for last November before the stagehands strike sidelined the show. Finally, I’m sticking around in New York an extra day to catch the very first preview of Patti LuPone in “Gypsy.” Who could ask for a better theatre troika than that? Maybe I can liveblog from NBC on Saturday night (and then call my therapist to discuss how so many of the fun experiences I’ve had lately are a result of my family members’ accomplishments, not my own).
Oy, with New York beckoning, I have to spend every waking second working since I’m drowning in deadlines. And I’ve got to get the hell out of Hollywood, these Oscars in body bags are CREEPING me out.
ooooo, Danny, I'm so jealous, I'm turning green right before my very eyes. Say hi to Dave Letterman for me, while you're in NYC. Have a great time. (Love your description of Oscars in "body bags").
Posted by: cruisin-mom | February 23, 2008 at 05:45 PM
I saw those Saran-wrapped Oscars on the evening news tonight and thought, "I'll bet Danny's got better pictures than that." And I was right. :)
Posted by: Rurality | February 23, 2008 at 07:53 PM
"Live...from New York...it's...Jew Eat Yet?"
Danny, have a super time in New York City, and perhaps next time you can make a quick side trip to Toronto to visit your family and blogging friends.
Posted by: Pearl | February 23, 2008 at 08:35 PM
Have fun in NYC. I'll look forward to your theatre reviews and other news next week!
Posted by: Pam G | February 24, 2008 at 07:26 AM
Just when I'm coming to LA, you're going to NY. Timing, bah!
Posted by: ByJane | February 24, 2008 at 12:33 PM
Hahahahaha! "Oscars in bodybags."
You are hilarious!
Have a brilliant time in NY
Posted by: Ellen Bloom | February 24, 2008 at 01:24 PM
Danny - I know *exactly* what you mean. Last year I couldn't possibly make it home to Toronto for a visit, but I had no problem meeting my sister and mother in Manhattan for a long weekend! (We saw a really interesting play, which just ended, about the mysterious death of actress Dorothy Hale.)
Mary.
P.S. I was actually freaked-out by the image of Oscar in the body bag
Posted by: Mary | February 24, 2008 at 02:13 PM
Danny, I'm SO jealous too! I hope you have a wonderful time and I'll Tivo SNL in the hope of an audience shot (I haven't actually watched it since the 80s - I'm never up that late anymore - so I have no idea if they show the audience or not...)
And like you, I made it to LA this year - but Toronto????
Posted by: Barbara | February 24, 2008 at 02:28 PM
When they announced Wilco for next week, I'd wondered if you were going to come to NY. Lo, the power of blogs.
Posted by: Melinda | February 24, 2008 at 03:22 PM
I love your visuals here and can understand why the body bags were creeping you out. I'm very jealous of your planned trip to NYC and SNL tickets.
Posted by: Emily Barton | February 25, 2008 at 09:31 AM
Oooh...lucky you! Who would of thought that back in high school that you would be sitting at the Grammys, Oscars and SNL!! Have a great time in New York!
Posted by: Arlene | February 25, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Seeing those wrapped golden statues reminds me of the VHS box cover for the movie "Coma".
Posted by: Goods | February 25, 2008 at 12:39 PM