I can’t stop posting photos of Charlie, especially ones
taken by my insanely talented 14-year-old nephew, Spencer Miller Tweedy, Boy
Genius. Spencer and family were in town last weekend and he just posted on his
blog some of the photos he took of his first cousin. Here are a few of my
favorites:
Fantastic! I just wish I had Spencer's photographic abilities (and his camera!). Of course Charlie IS the perfect model! When my family first arrived, we went straight from the airport to CBS Television City on Fairfax because Wilco was appearing on "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" that night. What fun! Although I spend part of nearly every day at next door's Farmers Market, I hadn't been in Television City since the early 1970s when we went to see tapings of Jim Nabors' and Merv Griffin's shows.
When the building opened in 1952, it was the height of space age modernity. Built on the site of the old Gilmore Stadium, it used to border the now demolished Pan-Pacific Auditorium where Elvis once appeared. So many classic TV shows were shot within those walls. "The Price Is Right" has been taping in Studio 33 since 1972. "The Carol Burnett Show" was shot here between 1967 and 1978 (I remember when we were at "The Jim Nabors Show," dancers from Carol Burnett came over to watch Juliet Prowse perform). The studio was home to "Burns and Allen," the west coast feed of "The Ed Sullivan Show," "Hollywood Squares," the entire run of "The Match Game" with our pals Charles Nelson Reilly and Brett Somers, "The Smothers Brothers" and "Sonny and Cher," "All in the Family," "Maude," "Good Times," "The Jeffersons," "One Day at a Time," and so many others.
I always love wandering around TV studios and was surprised at how free we were to snoop about to our heart's content. Wilco did a great performance of the song "One Wing" but unlike other talk shows, the guys had to record their number just before the actual taping. That's because Ferguson's studio is so unbelievably small they have to push his desk and chairs aside to make room for the musical act. Later it's edited together to make it seem like Ferguson is really introducing the band.
Before we left we wandered onto the set for "The Price Is Right." Here are some cool pix Spencer took that day:
And here is one last animated gif Spencer took. I hereby name him Charlie's official photographer. Come back soon, Spencer, Charlie is ready for his close-up!
YEAH! Thanks Danny. Love you guyzzszsszsszsz.
Posted by: Spencer Tweedy | February 07, 2010 at 06:14 PM
Gorgeous, and beautifully captured... Spencer's got a great eye.
Happiness, right here.
xo
Posted by: sweetsalty kate | February 07, 2010 at 06:45 PM
awesome danny! you would never know that charlie was in NICU! he looks phenomenal- happy, healthy, robust, darling and sweet! you and kendall are obviously doing a fabulous job w/ him! much love! Susie
Posted by: susie specter | February 07, 2010 at 07:31 PM
Great pics! Amazing photographer! Amazing camera! Wonderful subject!
Posted by: Campbell | February 07, 2010 at 10:40 PM
Gorgeous pics... amazing! Send Spencer here... I need a good photographer!
Charlie looks like such a happy and active little guy. His smile lights up my monitor! =)
Posted by: Beth | February 07, 2010 at 11:54 PM
That's all right, please keep posting pictures of Charlie. I can't get enough of that delightful smile, it makes my day!
Posted by: winnie | February 08, 2010 at 12:33 AM
I have been to Spencer's blog and really enjoy his "moving pictures." He has a very fine eye, the photos are great! I particularly love the one with Charlie & iCharlie, Leah with camera, and, of course, the last photo.
Spencer is quite lucky to have you to sing his praises and you are lucky to have an in-house photographer.
Everyone looks very well, even the conspicuously absent papa!
BTW, I saw "It Always Rains On Sunday" yesterday at the Nuart and I really wished you were there to interpret for me because there was this whole subtext on Jews-in-London going on that was quite intriguing and I was out of my depth. I could hear the words and see the images but I couldn't get the pointed point–tongue-in-cheek; an affectionate send-up; cultural stereotyping?
You must see it, if you have not.
Amitiés,
Posted by: The Pliers | February 08, 2010 at 05:31 AM
The dancing baby cracked me up. Great photos, but then again Charlie is a natural.
He is looking so big!
Posted by: Jane | February 08, 2010 at 05:35 AM
what more could one say?...great photos,especially the last dancing baby..a miracle i could get it on my work computer!
love all the photos on your blog!!
Posted by: Judy | February 08, 2010 at 06:48 AM
Charlie's got hair! When did this happen?
Posted by: Maria Sosa | February 08, 2010 at 07:52 AM
Is Charlie dancing 'cause he has a full diaper? :)
Great pics -- all of them!
Posted by: Pearl | February 08, 2010 at 10:41 AM
Spencer's "Animated Charlie Baby" is the BEST!!!!
Posted by: Ellen B. | February 08, 2010 at 12:35 PM
Those are some amazing photos of a beautiful baby boy.
Posted by: churlita | February 08, 2010 at 12:52 PM
Hi Danny,
Wow. Your nephew is a very talented photographer indeed! But Charlie is an absolutely adorable baby and I am so happy for you after your ordeal.
I am de-lurking here - have been reading your blog for awhile - originally a few years back because I am a fellow film fanatic (my late father was actually a film critic, so I grew up steeped in everything "movies")
I'm also a mom to two teenage boys.
Great pictures and I always enjoy your commentary.
Stephanie
Posted by: Stephanie | February 08, 2010 at 02:04 PM
I really like the color photo of Charlie that is third from the last and the one of Charlie's toesies. He leads such an exciting life already!
Posted by: Frances | February 08, 2010 at 02:09 PM
Your nephew Spencer did a great job with the photos - how fun, especially the animated one of Charlie! Very nice photography, and yes definitely a supermodel subject! :)
Posted by: Elise | February 08, 2010 at 06:39 PM
Spencer is quite gifted. Adorable Charlie is lucky to have a cousin who loves him so much. It's great that you get to go to all of Wilco's TV appearances--and that you get to spend so much time with the Miller/Tweedy family.
Posted by: Julie R. | February 08, 2010 at 07:30 PM
The last photo of the "moving Charlie" moved me deeply. What a darling child! How blessed you all are, Danny.
Posted by: tamarika | February 09, 2010 at 09:01 AM
As always, wonderful. Am I odd to think that the scars are lovely? Kind of Lyndon Johnson/Andy Warhol-esque? Real beauty.
Posted by: suzanne | February 10, 2010 at 12:10 PM
I'm delurking to ask permission to take a nice big bite of Charlie's pudgy feet. Or chin, if the feet are spoken for. He's gorgeous, and I also think there is something very cool about his scars. I'm sure they'll come in handy when his dating years begin, because there's nothing better than a cute boy with a cool scar.
Posted by: jessica | February 11, 2010 at 06:44 PM
Wonderful photos. Television City holds many memories for me, too. And in some ways it still looks much the same as it did back in the 60s & 70s. Fun. As usual, Charlie is a great photographic subject!
Posted by: Pam G | February 12, 2010 at 08:27 AM
Who needs to hire a pro photographer when you have your nephew? And Charlie is so beautiful and looking so thrilled to be here. I saw Wilco the other night and really just kept thinking about Charlie and your family. I wanted them to play "I'll Fight"--my son Jonah asked me what it was about (lots of fighting, killing, and dying in the lyrics, and he is five, so) and I said it was about parents doing everything we can to protect our kids. I know, I know, the irrelevancy of authorial intention and all that, I'm an English teacher and spout this line oftn, but I had to wonder if I was onto something. Then I thought: "No, I know! This one's about Charlie."
Posted by: Decca | February 13, 2010 at 10:06 AM