Author Archives: Ann Parry

About Ann Parry

Ann Parry Photography Inc. | site: ANN-PARRY.com | photoblog From Long Island: FromLongIsland.com • • • Long Island, New York, is my home base for photographically capturing PORTRAITS, the arts • civics & government • animals • classic cars • aviation & space • • • I'm also a freelance newspaper & magazine photographer, and a contract photographer for a news wire service.

Where the Heck is Matt? Dance-a-gram for Cleo the Cat

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From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
October 25, 2016

For years, my family’s been a fan of Matt Harding’s “Where the Heck is Matt?” videos where he enthusiastically dances around the world. So I was intrigued when I saw that the Kickstarter campaign to fund his 2016 video included a perk to have him create a Dance-a-gram.

Hamburg, Germany, March 2016. Matt Harding dancing with fans in Marco-Polo Terrassen.

Hamburg, Germany, March 2016. Matt Harding dancing with fans in Marco-Polo Terrassen, his final stop in Europe. This is one of several postcards Matt sent as perks to many of his Kickstarter supporters.

I asked Matt to create a message about adopting animals on behalf of our family’s Cleo the Cat – the gray and white striped furball we adopted from Last Hope Animal Rescue in Wantagh, NY.

Yesterday I received Matt’s Dance-a-gram, and it’s AMAZING:

[videopress BXTOWaU3]

Matt Harding’s Dance-a-gram for our Cleo the Cat, adopted from Last Hope Animal Rescue in Wantagh, NY. (YouTube: youtu.be/mGUSaiBFekl ) 

When I saw the first location in Matt’s Dance-a-gram is Cape Canaveral, Florida, I smiled, since I’m such a space fan and was at Kennedy Space Center in 2000 for Jim Lovell’s talk & book signing for Apollo 13.

And please remember, if you have room in your heart and home, Cleo the Cat hopes you’ll adopt a rescue animal!

Cleo the tabby cat at home on Sept. 1, 2015, after being adopted from Last Hope Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation, Wantagh, New York, USA (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Long Island, USA. Here’s a glimpse of Cleo the cat, which will have to do until I capture photo of her dancing for joy over Matt’s Dance-a-gram.  (© 2015 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Official site of Last Hope Animal Rescue

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Hofstra Debate 2016 Event with David Axelrod

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From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
September 14, 2016

Yesterday, DAVID AXELROD was the Signature Debate Speaker on “The Evolving Media and Political Landscape” – a Debate 2016 event at Hofstra University, which is hosting the first presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald J. Trump later this month, on September 26.

Hempstead, New York, USA. September 13, 2016. DAVID AXELROD, CNN Senior Political Commentator and Democratic strategist who served as Obama Senior Advisor, is the Signature Debate Speaker on The Evolving Media and Political Landscape, at Hofstra University, which will host the first Presidential Debate, between H.R. Clinton and D. J. T., scheduled for later that month on September 26. Hofstra is first university ever selected for 3 consecutive U.S. presidential debates; Hofstra; university; universities; college; colleges (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Hempstead, New York, USA. September 13, 2016. DAVID AXELROD is the Signature Debate Speaker on The Evolving Media and Political Landscape, at Hofstra University, which will host the 1st Presidential Debate later that month.  (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Axelrod, a former senior advisor for President Obama and current senior political commentator for CNN, devoted time after his prepared remarks to answer questions from audience members.

Hempstead, New York, USA. September 13, 2016. Hofstra University Debate 2016 banner, in patriotic red white and blue, is one of many displayed on the campus of Hofstra University, which will host the first Presidential Debate, between H.R. Clinton and D. J. T., scheduled for later that month on September 26. Hofstra is first university ever selected for 3 consecutive U.S. presidential debates. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Hempstead, New York, USA. September 13, 2016. Hofstra University Debate 2016 banner on South Campus at Hofstra University, which will host first Presidential Debate on Sept. 26. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

My favorite Q&A exchange began when a student referred to Axelrod’s advice to vote for one of the two major party candidates, rather than casting a statement vote for a candidate with no realistic chance of winning. The student then said he did not want to vote for either the Democrat or Republican nominee and indeed would vote for a 3rd party candidate.

So Axelrod gave an example of when protest votes for a 3rd party candidate may have affected the outcome of the election:

‘In the 2000 presidential race in the pivotal state of Florida, Green Party nominee Ralph Nader received over 97,000 votes, and Democrat Al Gore received just 537 fewer votes than Republican George W Bush, who won the presidency.’

Unswayed, the student once again said he’d be voting for a 3rd party candidate.

Axelrod began to say something, then abruptly stopped, glanced up and then back at the student, and asked if he was from New York. When the student said yes he was, Axelrod cheerfully told him to go and vote away. The student smiled as he returned to his seat; the audience clapped.

FYI from LI: The most recent Republican presidential candidate to win New York was Ronald Reagan in 1984.

Hempstead, New York, USA. September 13, 2016. Hofstra University Debate 2016 banner - tall vertical in patriotic red white and blue - is one of many displayed on the campus of Hofstra University, which will host the first Presidential Debate, between H.R. Clinton and D. J. T., scheduled for later that month on September 26. A high-rise residence hall is at right, also in North Campus. Hofstra is first university ever selected for 3 consecutive U.S. presidential debates. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Hempstead, New York, USA. September 13, 2016. Hofstra University Debate 2016 banner is one of many displayed on the campus of Hofstra University, which will host the first Presidential Debate on Sept. 26. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Hofstra will be the first ever university to host three consecutive U.S. presidential debates.

ALL Hofstra Debate 2016 events, unless otherwise noted on Hofstra’s site, are free and open to the public. RSVP is recommended.

Hofstra Debate 2016 event David Axelrod:  GALLERY

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Bethpage, New York, USA. August 19, 2016. Actor KEVIN JAMES, star of the CBS new sitcom "Kevin Can Wait" set to premiere September 2016, is autographing copies of the 1st episode script cover, after filming is done. The Sony Pictures Television Inc show is the first TV series to be shot entirely on Long Island, and is filmed at Gold Coast Studios. James, a Long Island native, portrays character Kevin Gable, a newly retired police officer living in Massapequa with his family. (© 2016 Ann Parry, annparry.com)

‘Kevin Can Wait’ Here on Long Island

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From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
August 20, 2016

Last night my daughter Sue and I saw Episode 1 of Kevin Can Wait being filmed at Gold Coast Studios in Bethpage. This new CBS sitcom, starring actor KEVIN JAMES, is the first prime-time network series originating from a Long Island studio – hello, Hollywood East!

Bethpage, New York, USA. August 19, 2016. Actor KEVIN JAMES (middle of low railing) the star of the CBS new comedy series

Bethpage, NY, USA. August 19, 2016. After filming’s done, actor KEVIN JAMES (low center by railing), star of CBS sitcom “Kevin Can Wait” set to premiere Sept. 19, 2016, autographs copies of 1st episode script cover. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

THE HOUSE OF 5 GABLES

First we saw the pilot, which gave background to the episode being filmed that night. It introduced us to the Gable family: father Kevin, a newly retired police officer; mother Donna, a school nurse; and their children Kendra, Sara, and Jack.

We also met Kevin’s brother Kyle (played by James’s real life brother GARY VALENTINE), Kendra’s fiancé Chale (who looks like… no, I’ll leave that as a surprise), and Kevin’s three friends who are fellow retired police officers.

BTW from LI:   The Gable family lives in the south shore town of Massapequa, so they’d have to move just a few miles west to be the Gables of Merrick Gables, a 1920s development of Spanish stucco houses near my home.

HAPPY & PEPPY 

Long Island’s JOEY KOLA was the warm up comedian. Over the course of the night, Joey identified dozens of cast and crew … had us sing along to songs the DJ played … shared anecdotes that were probably at least partly true… did fast and furious impressions (mostly of Long Islanders, of course)… and introduced countless audience members who were fellow comedians, notable Long Islanders, media personalities, and relatives of cast and crew.

HOT SET

The first scene filmed was the first scene of the episode, and there were several partial and whole retakes (that I found riveting) – of this scene and scenes in general – in order to tweak dialogue and action, and film from different viewpoints. As Director ANDY FICKMAN – who made some genuinely funny comments when cameras weren’t filming – explained to the audience, the sitcom studio filming is done in chronological order – except that night the last two scenes were reversed so Mary-Charles Jones, a minor, would finish her last scene before 11 PM.

I especially liked how Kevin Gable – the eponymous character played by star Kevin James, a gifted everyman physical comedian – didn’t always have to be the one getting the Big Laugh, so his character had the chance to convey emotion, doubt, conflicted feelings – you know, things real people feel while living life without a laugh track, let alone a live studio audience.

And I hope to see more of Chale, who stood out as a unique, engaging character.

BTW from LI:  “Chale” has a range of meanings throughout the world: Perhaps the village Chale in the Isle of Wight, England, is relevant. Also, “Chale” means “strong” and “manly” in Spanish, which might be something to think about.

Bethpage, New York, USA. August 19, 2016. Ann holds printed sheet with PRIORITY TICKETS to be in audience during taping of CBS new comedy series

Bethpage, NY, USA. August 19, 2016. Ann Parry holds tickets to filming of CBS sitcom ‘Kevin Can Wait’ at Gold Coast Studios. (© 2016 Sue M)

When Executive Producer ROCK REUBEN took questions from the audience, he stated that KCW will be free of references to a certain infamous Massapequa resident from the early 1990s.

BTW from LI:  Wouldn’t it be fun if Kevin Can Wait has Kevin bumping into, or even hanging with, Long Island natives Alec Baldwin, Ray Romano,  Jerry Seinfeld – say, at All American Hamburger?

UPDATE  Ray Romano guest-starred on KCW Oct. 23, 2016.

NO CAMERAS

Cameras weren’t allowed, but cell phones were, though they couldn’t be on/out during filming.

Media, including People magazine and Newsday, were there to cover the night, and though I wished now and then I were covering it with my Nikon D4, it was a nice change to be sitting there with my daughter and fellow audience members, simply enjoying the show – you know, things people do while living life without a pro DSLR and Press badge.

FREE TICKETS

The long evening of filming was so much fun it sped by. If you’re in the Long Island area and interested in free tickets to a future filming of Kevin Can Wait at Gold Coast Studios in Bethpage, visit 1iota.com. And don’t forget to eat dinner before you go to the studio.

    • Free Tickets to Shows & Special Events: 1iota.com

So, okay, maybe it’s partly because I’m from Long Island, plus there’s a retired police officer in our family, but I enjoyed watching the pilot and filming of the first episode of Kevin Can Wait, and can’t wait to see its premiere on Monday, September 19, 8:30 PM (EST) on CBS.

CAST

Cast includes:

  • Kevin James as Kevin Gable
  • Erinn Hayes as wife Donna
  • Taylor Spreitler as daughter Kendra
  • Ryan Cartwright as Kendra’s fiancé Chale
  • Mary-Charles Jones as younger daughter Sara
  • James DiGiacomo as son Jack
  • Gary Valentine as Kevin’s brother Kyle
  • Christopher Brian Roach as Mott
  • Leonard Earl Howze as Goody
  • Lenny Venito as Duffy

Episode 1 “Kevin and Donna’s Book Club”

  • Writer: Heather Flanders
  • Director: Andy Fickman

Executive Producers: Kevin James, Bruce Helford, Rock Reuben,  Jess Sussman

UPDATE   9/2016: During Z100’s Elvis Duran Morning Show, Sue spoke with Kevin James about how much she enjoyed being in audience for taping of Kevin Can Wait at Gold Coast Studios in Bethpage, NY.

UPDATE    5/12/2018: CBS confirms cancellation of Kevin Can Wait after two seasons.

“Kevin Can Wait”:  my Photo GALLERY

FREE Show Tickets  at 1iota.com

Gold Coast Studios at Bethpage, Long Island, NY

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