I swear I meant to see the Broadway revival of Maury Yeston's Nine in 2003.

It had one the best casts ever: Jane Krakowski, Mary Stuart Masterson, Laura Benati, Chita Rivera. But despite my best intentions, I was a big loser and I never got around to seeing it. Alas.

Now I know next to nothing about the show, just that it's based on Federico Fellini's 8½, which I've never seen. I also know that the show features only one man and the rest of the cast is women. (And the New York Times review made it clear that the heart of the show was the women.) Basically, I wish I had not passed up the chance to see another Chita Rivera show, and I'm sorry that I missed Mary Stuart Masterson and Jane Krakowski onstage. And, of course, Laura Benati has been fantastic every time I've seen her on Broadway.

But now I — and everyone else who missed it — will have an opportunity to see a different version with a cast full of amazing women. Rob Marshall (Chicago) is directing a film version, tentatively scheduled to begin production in the fall. … continue reading

OK, I'll admit it: I gave up on The Sarah Connor Chronicles after the third episode. For me, Lena Headey's hotness just couldn't make up for the convoluted story lines and John's terrible acting. But I know I'm in the minority, and plenty of people love the show.

Tonight's two-hour season finale has a very tantalizing description: "Sarah enters into a business deal with a mysterious partner." If only Piper Perabo were playing the partner.

Meanwhile, if real-life showdowns are more your style, there's another finale tonight: the women's college basketball Big East regular-season title game. UConn takes on Rutgers at 7/6c on ESPN2.

And there's one more face-off tonight — probably the most dramatic one. Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett give female bonding a new meaning in Notes on a Scandal at midnight/11c on HBO2. The film polarized lesbian audiences (at least here on AfterEllen.com — see my take and Malinda's for examples), but no matter how you feel about it, you'll probably be fascinated.

The ultimate Bond girl was recently seen working the back streets and alleys of London, and man, what a dame. Wait, that didn't come out quite right, did it? Let me try this again. Dame Judi Dench was recently spotted filming the new Bond movie on location in London. Dench will be reprising her role for the sixth time as M, the boss of James Bond and the head of Military Intelligence, section 6, better known as MI6 to Bond enthusiasts. It's the British Secret Intelligence Service, so Dench as the fictional figurehead is perfect — her intelligence is no secret, and neither is her presence or value on screen.

Dench first appeared as M in the 1995 Bond release GoldenEye. I was never much of a fan of the Bond franchise, though even as a kid I was a huge car fiend. To me, Bond was simply a lovely Aston Martin. As I got older, he was a lovely Aston Martin with lovely women either trying to kill him or be saved by him. But the presence of Dench instantly upgraded the tired franchise. Though the other Bond women come and go, M has been the most consistent woman in Bond's life, and he has a real affection for her. Well, if you want to call it that. She tells him what to do, and he tries to do it without getting killed, killing too many people (especially innocent ones), embarrassing his country, or making M so angry that she'll fire him.

Here are the recent pictures of Dench on the set: … continue reading

Let’s face it: High-quality television dramas with female-heavy casts are few and far between. Particularly when many of the women involved are over 40. In fact, I think the last real standout I remember in this respect was The Jewel in the Crown in 1984, where actresses of the caliber of Peggy Ashcroft (then in her 70s) were given full range to strut their stuff.

American viewers have got a real treat in store, though, as according to this article, the BBC’s latest costume drama Cranford will be coming to Masterpiece Theatre on PBS sometime between January and May.

Having watched, laughed like a maniac, and cried like a wuss over this miniseries when it screened in the U.K. last month, I can honestly recommend it as one of the best things I’ve seen on British TV in years.

Here’s a trailer for the series: … continue reading

Covers of The Advocate are a tricky business. When I first came out in the late 1980s, the covers always featured men in kind of porn-y poses. The Advocate began featuring women sporadically in the early '90s and eventually moved to a sort of equal balance in recent years. Still, with the exception of 2005, most women featured on the cover of The Advocate are straight — or at least ostensibly straight. (This year, there hasn't been an out lesbian on the cover since February.)

When I got my most recent Advocate in the mail, however, I was not unhappy with the straight woman featured on the cover.

It seems that The Advocate has declared Cate Blanchett (also known as No. 48 on the AfterEllen.com Hot 100 list) the Coolest Straight [Person] of 2007. And I'm not going to argue with that. (AfterElton.com gave a sneak peak of this cover a while back.)

Except for Todd Haynes' gushing (“She's just so cool she calls 'straight' completely into question ... and you can quote me on that.”) about Blanchett's gender-bending turn in I'm Not There, it's not really clear why she warrants specific consideration by The Advocate. … continue reading

We already know Helen Mirren is The Queen. Actually, she’s been a few queens, most of them named Elizabeth. But now she can add Queen of the Mashups to her long list of distinguished roles.

The U.K. paper The Times reports that some 400 Mirren mashups have been posted on various video sites this year. That makes the real-life dame a more popular tribute subject than perennial tabloid princesses Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan. According to the article, only Star Trek and Harry Potter rival her mashup dominance. I believe this proves my theory that once you rule the geeks, you rule the Internet. … continue reading

Yes, I know it's a semi-tabloid headline, but I had to do something to make myself feel better about Dame Helen Mirren's latest project.

Mirren has signed on to star in Love Ranch, directed by her husband Taylor Hackford. The film is the story of Joe and Sally Conforte, who opened Nevada's first legal bordello in 1971. The state's licensure of Mustang Ranch led to the state's legalization of brothel prostitution in 17 counties. Joe Pesci is coming out of semi-retirement to costar. That's right; Dame Helen and Joe are playing husband and wife. To which I say, WTF? … continue reading

Bond Girls come and go, but every James Bond fan knows where Bond's heart truly is — with the divine Miss Moneypenny.

Lois Maxwell, who originated the role, died last week at age 80.

Maxwell starred with Sean Connery in the first Bond film, Dr. No, in 1962. She played Jane Moneypenny, secretary to British Secret Service chief M until A View to a Kill, the 1985 film with Roger Moore as Bond. … continue reading

Last week, E! Online's Reel Girl posted her "Incomplete Top 10: Great Cameos." The list ranges from obvious (Marshall McLuhan in Annie Hall) to random (this must be the only best list on which Dumb and Dumber appears, courtesy of Cam Neely) to wrong (Meryl Streep, yes, but in Stuck on You? No).

While I understand Reel Girl's "good lighting" theory (a well-done cameo makes everyone look better), I prefer scene-stealers to film-stealers, special moments of brilliance rather than lone moments of brilliance; even Streep doesn't make a lame comedy worth my time. Also, while blink-and-you-miss-it cameos are fun (see Cate Blanchett in Hot Fuzz or Julie Delpy in But I'm a Cheerleader), they don't require much, so they're not included.

My favorite bit parts fall into a few categories, and I'm sticking with the ladies exclusively. I'm also sticking to film — sifting through all of the Simpsons and Will & Grace cameos is daunting enough; add The Muppet Show and it's nigh impossible. Since the following is therefore an unscientific bunch of personal observations, discuss away!

The Hat-Tip Cameo: Chita Rivera, Chicago

Hollywood producers are far too obsessed with remakes, but if they must go there, I appreciate it when they doff their proverbial caps to original stars. Respect wins points every time, and as the creator of Velma Kelly on Broadway, Rivera deserves every ounce of respect she gets and then some. Her cameo as cell block diva Nickie in the 2002 movie adaptation is too brief, but any more would be unfair to successor Catherine Zeta-Jones — can't have the new star too far in the shadow of her elder. … continue reading

Yesterday's New York Times mentioned a new Judi Dench gem: The Judi Dench Collection, a DVD set of performances that aired on the BBC between 1961 and 1991 (plus interviews and radio plays). Over 20 hours of Dench deliciousness? I'm in.

The article asks, "What makes this short, gently-rounded, pixie-faced woman so compelling?" It's a reasonable question. For me, I think it comes down to intensity — what's more arresting than a Dench stare?

Plus there's the intelligence, which seems to come through in every role. It's apparent in interviews, too, as the article notes: … continue reading

Notes on a Scandal was released on DVD this week. I'm not sure I'll actually buy the disc, but I did love the movie. There. I've said it.

… continue reading

Much has been written, here on AfterEllen and elsewhere, about the "negative lesbian image" of scheming schoolmarm Barbara Covett (Judi Dench). I agree that she's not doing us any favors as far as media representations go.

Hey, Helen Mirren, can I bend your ear for a moment? I have one of those bone thingies to pick with you. Seriously, sit down. We need to talk.

… continue reading

Listen, I know you just won the Oscar and are probably still basking in its post-coital embrace. But at times like these, it is important not to lose one's head.