My Top 10 Favourite TV Characters (Girls first)

10. Sigrid Thornton - Philadelphia Gordon - All The Rivers Run

9. Sally Field - Frances (Gidget) Lawrence - Gidget

8. Melissa Joan Hart - Sabrina Spellman - Sabrina The Teenage Witch

7. Katie Holmes - Joey Potter - Dawson's Creek

6. Rachel Bilsen - Summer Roberts - The O.C.

5. Alexis Bledel - Rory Gilmore - Gilmore Girls

4. Jennifer Aniston - Rachel Green - Friends

3. Kristen Bell - Veronica Mars - Veronica Mars

2. Sophia Bush - Brooke Davis - One Tree Hill

1. Lauren Graham - Lorelai Gilmore - Gilmore Girls / Sarah Braverman - Parenthood

When in Rome..think of Italy!

Sadly in When in Rome, they actually spend very little time in Italy itself, but this film got me thinking. Italy is such a beautiful place and so many films have been filmed and set in Italy, in English and italian and many other languages.

There are literally hundreds but here is a list of my top 10 fave films set in Italy. (i've probably forgotten some classics so please feel free to add suggestions)

1. A ROOM WITH A VIEW I was so in love with this film when it came out in 1985. Helena Bonham Carter before she was completely mad and the delectable Daniel Day Lewis, if you havent seen this one, you should!!!

2. THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY - 'Oh Positano, Positano' sorry just picturing Matt damon and Juse Law on stage in a seedy italian club singing this song. Gorgeous cast and gorgeous scenery. Damon at his creepiest best and Jude at his prettiest.



3. UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN - I know this one was caned by the critics but I loved it! Love me some Diane Lane! and some pretty scenery!

4. ROMAN HOLIDAY - Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn, seriously you cannot go wrong.


5. LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL - this film is so magical, please if you have not watched it, do so, but take tissues.

6. STEALING BEAUTY - One of my first introductions to Liv Tyler, and one of my fave film soundtracks

7. CINEMA PARADISO - stunning and beautiful!

8. THE ENGLISH PATIENT - I know this one was not for everyone, but i absolutely loved it. my fave italian scene from the film when Naveen Andrews is seducing Juliette Binoche and he lights a candlelit path to his bed....sigh! Kristin Scott Thomas ..sigh! Juliette Binoche...sigh!



9. IL POSTINO = A very sweet Italian film called 'the postman' , one of my favourite movie posters of all time



10. GIDGET GOES TO ROME - seriously this list would not be complete if it didn't include this classic!!!
























.Special mentions THE LIFE ACQUATIC and the Bourne movies

Where's Moondoggie?

Well it turns out that my hunch was completely wrong - James Darren was not a washed up teen actor at all - far from it. It turns out he has had a long and varied career and has even experienced a re-birth recently playing Vic Fontaine, the holographic lounge singer, on Deep Space Nine, with a cult following!!

I'm so pleased because Moondoggie will always have a place in my heart and I'm thrilled he has had such a full life.

James Darren famously starred in all three Gidget movies and went on to carve out an accidental pop career alongside his acting. He starred in shows such as T.J Hooker and went on to direct and produce before landing the role of Vic.

Not suprisingly I now have a Best Of James Darren CD winging it's way to me - can't wait.

Although She's Just Pint Sized?

I can't quite work out if this latest piece of news is sacrilegious or not -

Zac Efron and his Hairspray co-star Brittany Snow are rumored to be the top picks to star opposite Miley Cyrus in an upcoming remake of the 1959 beach movie (and subsequent TV show) Gidget.
Now as you know I love Zac and Miley and I'm even a fan of Brittany's but a GIDGET remake???
I know Sandra Dee, the most famous Gidget, was not the last....
Gidget (1959), starring Sandra Dee.
Gidget Goes Hawaiian (1961), starring Deborah Walley.
Gidget Goes to Rome (1963), starring Cindy Carol.
And to top it off, Sally Field played Gidget in the TV version, but I'm still highly sceptical. Gidget has a history of being played by different actresses with Moondoggie being the only character through the 3 movies who stays the same. There followed multiple TV movies, again all with different casts so maybe there is some merit in the idea.
Any Zac movie is a good movie but once again shouldn't they just leave the classics well enough alone? I'm torn.

Sandra Dee

Sally Field