We are joined this week by actress and author Elisa Donovan. You Might Know Her From Clueless, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, A Night at the Roxbury, The Dog Who Saved Christmas films, and her memoir, Wake Me When You Leave: Love and Encouragement via Dreams from the Other Side. We had a total ball with Elisa chatting about her beginnings on the sets of both the Clueless film and TV show, joining Sabrina right as they approached 100 episodes, and trying not to break while dancing alongside Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan. We also got to discuss her new book, a really honest portrayal of grief, family, and picking up the pieces. All that plus Judging Amy, 90210, and Matthew Lawrence talk. This one was anything but whatever.
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Discussed this week:
Annie Live! Starring Nicole Scherzinger and Megan Hilty (Krakowski’s replacement)
Harry Connick Jr.’s bald cap was ROUGH on the Macy;s Day Parade
Andrea McArdle original Annie on Broadway (was cast as Eleanor Roosevelt in this live production but has to drop out) Will they replace her with Aileen Quinn or SJP (movie Annie or Annie #3?)
Laurie Beechman was the original “Star to Be” in Annie. Here’s every part she sang in the show.
Seth Rudetsky’s breakdown of Laurie Beechman’s insane talent (cabaret under the West Bank Cafe is named after her)
Tick Tick Boom! Was wow very very good
Company Cast Recording Documentary (D.A. Pennebaker)
Some of our Fave Sondheim Clips
Madeline Kahn doing “Not Getting Married Today” (and former guest Veanne Cox doing the same song on Broadway) Company
“Not a Day Goes By” Merrily We Roll Along
Donna Murphy doing “Could I Leave You” Follies
Ruthie Henshall “More”
“Worst Pies in London” Sweeney Todd
Former guest, Joanna Gleason’s “A Moment in the Woods” Into the Woods
Bernadette Peters doing “Greens Greens” Into the Woods
“Everybody’s Got the Right” Assassins
“The Little Things You Do Together” (clip from aforementioned Company doc)
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Real World Homecoming: Los Angeles
Elisa’s book about her father’s death: Wake Me When You Leave: Love and Encouragement via Dreams from the Other Side
Plays Amber, Cher’s frenemy in the American classic, Clueless (1995)
Costumes of Clueless are iconic thanks to designer, Mona May
Had read Emma before Clueless
A Night at the Roxbury opposite Chris Kattan and Will Ferrell
Clueless was supposed to be the hit, but it ended up being Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Typed with a pencil as Sharona on Sonny with a Chance
Dropped out of a play at LaMama to move to Los Angeles
Tested for Tiffani Amber-Thiessen’s role of Valerie Malonel on the original 90210
Sings “Rose Tint My World” in A Rocky Horror 25th Anniversary Special
Played Shelby, a jam band singer on Judging Amy who hires Amy’s brother to play bass in her band
The Dog Who Saved Christmas (dog voiced by Joey Lawrence and Mario Lopez)
Loves Gary Valentine who played her husband on the movies
Played Ginger LaMont/LaMonica on 90210 (Val’s bff)
Would save Melissa Joan Hart over Joey Lawrence, and David Lascher over Joey Lawrence
Play Joey Fatone’s girlfriend in the “Drive Myself Crazy” music video and gets to slap him
Matthew Lawrence is married to Cheryl Burke from Dancing with the Stars
JoJo Siwa lost Dancing with the Stars (Iman won and we both loved him)
