Cloudy, Showers, Chance of Obsession

This weekend was pretty miserable. Grey skies, constant rain and unceasing gloom.Oh yeah, and the dew point was 54 degrees. How do I know that? Because all weekend long I was glued to the Weather Channel, one of my secret obsessions.
I don't know what it is, but I can't get enough Doppler. I'll go on Weather.com
and look at the 600 mile map, then the 300 mile...and, cool, check it out, New York City has a 100 mile closeup Doppler, too! What's that? Another front is moving in, say, around Thursday? The temperatures will stay in the 60s all week....hmm. Good to know.
My ex-roomie, Rick, used to think I was crazy because sometimes I would watch The Weather Channel for two, sometimes three hours in a row. "Dude," he would say, calmly and rationally, "they repeat the same thing over and over...Why do you continue to watch it?" I would shift uneasily in my chair and mumble something like "It could change" or "You never know", but the truth was, I just enjoyed all of it - the high and low temperatures for the day, the thunderstorm and tornado forecasts, the drought alerts- and found the repetitive nature somehow reassuring. The anchors, too, have distinct personalities, and have gradually gotten hotter (looks-wise, not temperature) over the years, as the more haggard weather chicks have been sent packing and replaced with a brigade of bottled blondes, led by the perky Stephanie Abrams(I'd like to issue her a flash flood warning- just kidding) and the perpetually pregnant Sharon Resultan.
I could write about The Weather Channel all day - hang on, Local on the 8's is on...wow...cloudy and 70 on Friday, good to know- but the latest episode of Storm Stories is on RIGHT NOW. Gotta go!

Acting Anyone?

Many people have written me asking about my acting class which was profiled on VH1 in February, so I figure this post will answer some questions.

I teach in an office two blocks from Grand Central Station. My class consists of beginners and professionals alike, it runs two and a half hours, and it is, quite simply, a lot of fun. Currently I have seven students and I have room for only one more, although I may open another section this fall depending on the interest level. The students come from as far away as New Haven, Connecticut, and are between the ages of 17 and 30 years of age.

So far, the results are pretty good: Jordan Carlos appears semi-regularly on The Colbert Report, Jennifer Merrill just completed a small role in Super Ex-Girlfriend (with Uma Thurman and Luke Wilson), and Sarah Masse was accepted at Williamstown for the summer.

In addition, I am teaching a class on Auditioning this summer at Stonestreet Studios in the Flatiron District . I would tell you more about the Studio, but it is simpler to click here.

If you are interested in possibly studying with me, and you live in the Tristate area, you should email a picture and resume (if you have any experience) to zwgalligan@hotmail.com. Please...only do this if you are legitimately interested. Cool beans.

Hate To Say I Told You So...

...but I did. Unbelievable...you must click here. And here.

Today Is The Day Your Ass Gets Kicked

Happy Easter ...and if you want a good laugh, and haven't seen this, click here .

Breaking News: StateGate Scandal Rocks Blog

It is with a heavy heart that I write this entry. As some of you know, last week I posted that my wife, Ling, had been to 48 of the 50 states with the exception of Rhode Island and Hawaii. The response has been overwhelmingly positive - e-mails flooding in, praising my wife's adventurous spirit and charming nomadic lifestyle, suggestions for further visits, questions about her expertise, the pros and cons of North Dakota vs. South Dakota- and together she and I have basked, resplendant, in the warmth of the effusive praise.
Except for one small problem.
It is one giant, hideous, damnable lie.
My wife has never been to Alaska. Ever.
I discovered this last week, when, after reading the umpteenth e-mail praising her patriotism, I happened to query,"So, how was Alaska?"
There was a long blank stare, followed by what could only be described as a soft snicker, and the distinct slang expression "Ooops."
So, to set the record straight, my wife has been to 47 of the 50 states, with the exception of Rhode Island, Hawaii and - damnit - that ever elusive 49th state, Alaska.
We are currently in counseling now, hoping against hope, trying to heal the gaping chasm this revelation has caused.
Pray for us.

Dude, That's So Random!

I recently read a book (Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs) in which the author, Chuck Klosterman, talked about some of his peculiar traits that, well, made him unique. Which got me thinking...what is unusual (and even bizarre) about me? After some sober reflection, this is what I came up with: I

• can stick my entire fist in my mouth.
• can do a devastating Bullwinkle.
• didn't get my driver's license until I was 24.
• didn't graduate from college until I was 32.
• have never seen Gone With The Wind.
• loathe and am freaked out by the texture of flour.
• hate clowns and anything circus related.
• have never broken a bone.
• have never attended a boxing match.
• can make killer Rice Krispie treats.
• put both of my clenched fists on either sides of my mouth when I am really excited.
• have been a Seattle Seahawks fan since 1979, despite being a NYC native and an avid Yankees, Knicks, and Rangers fan.
• have horrendous eyesight...-7.0 in both eyes.
• have never lost at Trivial Pursuit.
• supplied all the Gremlin belching for Gremlins 2.
• give surprisingly good massages.
  

Here are some of my wife's traits. She

• once lived on a Xmas tree farm.
• has been to all 50 states except Rhode Island and Hawaii.
• sleeps at least 9 and sometimes 12 hours a day.
  
• can cook extremely well.
• is obsessed with Chinese food.
• is a diehard Eagles fan.
• plans elaborate vacations 6 to 8 months in advance, including meals.

Please...share your quirks in the comments.