More From Amy Salloway

It is great to hear from a performer with praise for Cincy Fringe. Amy's performance was steller. Please try and check it out on Sunday at the CAC.

When Did the Governor Know?

Questions are now being asked about when Governor Bob Taft's Office knew about the Losses incurred by the Ohio Bureau of Workers? Compensation Fund. This fund's losses included rare coin investments, some of which are considered "missing." Taft's office may have bee informed of the problem six months ago, not just recently. Does this matter? Not politically, but it make me wonder if someone is lying or covering something up.

Even Bronson is pissed about investing in coins. Taft really has no fans at all.

Michaels Buys Liberal Show

The man who helped kill AM radio as we know it has purchased "The Ed Schultz Show," a liberal/populist radio show heard locally on 1530AM. Schultz is the biggest liberal radio talk show host out there and his star is rising. I have heard his show and I am not a big fan of that brand of radio. He not only sounds a little bit like Rush Limbaugh, but his tone sometimes strays into Rush's area. Not the content, just in the delivery.

I laugh a little every time I hear his name because in the town where I grew up, Ed Schultz was a big Auto Dealership. My best friend's dad used to work there.

2nd District Too Hot to Handle

The GOP primary race for the 2nd Congressional District is building to a fever pitch. Even Bronson’s column today gives off that lesser of two evils vibe to it when he leans on the scale in favor of McEwen over DeWine. Schmidt and Brinkman are still out there and they have a following. Will they both stick it out? At this point there is little reason not to, except that as Greg Korte reminds us in his column today that the GOP still have not endorsed anyone for Mayor, yet. It is Winburn by default, but does Brinkman still want it? Is he in position to take it from Winburn?

More on blogging the race from WaPo.

Pick of the Fringe

Even though it had already gone to press, getting the Midnight Announcement at the Cincy Fringe after party at Arnold's was fun:

On Sunday, June 12, these three 2005 Picks of the Fringe will receive one additional performance. These performances not only recognize the artists' hard work, but also ensure the existence of the next season's festival: all proceeds from these three shows go to the 2006 Cincinnati Fringe Festival.

Critics' Pick of the Fringe:
"Does This Monologue Make Me Look Fat?" by Amy Salloway
2pm, Contemporary Arts Center

Producers' Pick of the Fringe :
"Slow Children Playing" by Anna Marie Agniel
5pm, Contemporary Arts Center

Audience Pick of the Fringe :
"A/ThePostModernLoveStory" by Blue Forms Group
8pm, Contemporary Arts Center
(also with one last regular performance June 11, 3pm CAC)

Tickets to these shows will go fast, so reserve them through the Cincinnati Arts Association (513.621.ARTS).

Reports are that Amy Salloway will be able to make it back for the performance. If she does, make sure you get your tickets now.

Lily Tomlin

I didn't go to see Lily Tomlin at the Arnoff last night, but I did see the large crowd file in from my art gallery post. From the article I found this interesting:

The winner of six Emmys, a Grammy and two Tony Awards also did her homework. Her famous character, Ernestine the telephone operator - famous for her "One ringy dingy, two ringy dingy" line - held a fake conversation with City Councilman Jim Tarbell. Marge Schott, the Bengals, Reds and Bearcats were the butt of other jokes.

This is interesting to me because of a quick anecdote I heard while at the art gallery. It appears that like all great comedians, Lily Tomlin does her homework. I hope this does not sound like revealing a magician's tricks, but during the day I am told she spent quite a bit of time chatting with some of the Arnoff staff about Cincinnati, which is where I presume she got some of her references. Jim Tarbell if he was lucky maybe got to have dinner with Lily, but that is just a random guess.

This is just like a classic story from college days I was told during Freshman Orientation about Red Buttons. On his visit a year or two before my Freshman year (a long long time ago....) he spent the afternoon walking around Uptown Oxford talking to people, visting places, and getting a feel for the town before he went on stage for a Parents Weekend show that night. His show referenced local places and people that ads that special touch to the audience that makes the difference between just having an act and being a performer.

2nd District Fashion Endorsements

The Cincinnati Dealer gives us the neckwear and their picks for the primaries.