Barry Manilow Revs Up Radio City

Sorry for the crappy photo but I was so mesmerized by the Barryster, my usually terrible photog skills suffered exponentially.

Before Concert: Dish was 5 on the Fanilow scale. Liked him a lot, sometimes inspired, but was more into glam 80s pop boy bands. After Concert: 9 and it wouldn't take much to create a sh*tstorm of Fanilow-mania in Dish. Is there enough room for another obsession?

Of course!

I went to the concert with LovesMattDamon who knew every lyric in every Barry song--and sang it! We had jolly good fun. At first, Barry seemed rickety, and the hip surgery must have taken a toll on this tall drink of water. Also, Girlfriend needs a hamburger fast. But tweezed hair and spindly legs aside, he sparkled and grooved and didn't miss a single note. He just got stronger and stronger, hitting all the favorites and charming the bejesus out of us. I found myself tearing up over the tribute to Dick Clark and then his grandfather. No words needed for when Barry sang WITH HIMSELF a la Nat/Natalie Cole. He didn't even need to sing since the audience was singing right along with him.

There is no one like Barry. He is special. He's written amazing songs that stay in our hearts (whether we want them there or not). During "It's a Miracle," I thought: Maybe Barry Manilow could resolve the conflict in the Middle East. All you do is put all the warring factions in a room and have Barry smooth it out with a concert. Those songs, how could you not feel peace and harmony from them?

My favorite lines:

When we wouldn't stop applauding: "Let's lock the doors and order a pizza."

Over his surgery--a little paraphrased: "I discovered something great that will stay with me for the rest of my life...Vicodin."

What a heavenly evening. And now I'm sick.

Barry Manilow at Radio City Tonight!

There are no words, except FANILOWS UNITE! I'm trying to contain my excitement because it feels as if I'm cheating on Duran Duran. I love Barry! I hope his hip replacement work tonight. I'm ready to sing and dance and revel in being 13 again.

Khloe and Lamar are ending their show after the second season. Doesn't that sound so reasonable? Reality shows should come with a time limit. Real life takes priority. I'm going to try to watch less reality TV, though all will go to hell when The Bachelorette returns with Emily Maynard.

If it weren't for Barry, I'd say it's a Monday:

My browser seems to be flooded once again with LeAnn Rimes bikini shots. She used to be a SINGER. What happened? It's as if she went from having a career to being Mrs. Eddie Cibrian, as if that's a step up.

Some fallout from the Kimmel Correspondents' Dinner speech. Keith Olbermann zinged JK for his cracks. Why are my feelings so mixed? Keith is just so yicky, polarizing, but he is entertaining as sh*t. It's hard for me to imagine him not on TV and, yet, his diva ways make it so. Perhaps he could take over Khloe and Lamar's time slot. Keith Kardashian.

Sweet Forty-Three

I have so little to report. I woke up at 5am and couldn't get back to sleep. I'm trying not to watch TV. Cheated a little with Dexter, but that's like literary, right? Back to reading, and I tend to read three books at a time. Right now it's women's fiction's Rachel Gibson Not Another Bad Date (fun!), Tony Robbins's Unlimited Power (two typos within first twenty pages but I want to see what fuss is about) and Zola's L'Assommoir (dark as f*ck but love the downward spiral).

In Starland, Brad Pitt announced that he'll quit acting in three years. THANK GOD! No seriously. He should never make those Cher/Barbra/Barry-esque comments. Loved him in Moneyball! Needs to get Oscar before he quits. Kim K is hostessing New Year's Eve in Vegas. I'm so glad she's picked herself up after the divorce stuff. Her sister Kendall got a 90K Range Rover for her sweet 16. I got a turquoise necklace!!! What gives, Dishmama? Oh wait...I just had a wedding...