It was Lily Tomlin Day in Lansing this past Sunday as Mayor Virg Bernero (on the right of the pic with Lily and his staff) presented Lily with the key to the city for her humanitarian spirit and human rights efforts in this country.
The inscription reads:
“This key signifies the highest expression of appreciation for more than fifty years of distinguished achievements as an actress, comedienne, writer, and producer and for outstanding contributions to women and human rights. It is a great privilege to confer the key to the City of Lansing for being one of Michigan’s favorite daughters who has never forgotten her roots. Thanks for the laughs, and remember, we will always be one ringy-dingy away!”
Two Michigan law makers were recently banned from speaking on the floor of the Michigan Capitol building for using the word “vagina,” which led to a performance of the play “The Vagina Monologues.” Of course, Lily Tomlin referenced the incident in her performance in Detroit this past weekend.
Congratulation Lily! Lansing and America love you!
I’ve been a fan of both Lily and Reba forever it seems, so I’m looking forward to their new ABC series this fall “Malibu Country.” Check out the trailer above.
I recently met Lily Tomlin after her performance at The Smith Center here in Las Vegas. Not only was she brilliant on stage, but backstage she could not have been more charming.
AND when I wrote about her performance on The Randy Report, she personally emailed me to say “thank you.” How many legends can you say that about?
Good luck this fall with the new show ladies!
With Larry Edwards, Lily Tomlin and Michael after Lily’s fab performance in Las Vegas
Larry Edwards, Lily Tomlin, me and Michael backstage after Lily’s show at The Smith Center
So, Sunday I had the chance to enjoy the brilliant comedy of Lily Tomlin at the beautiful new Smith Center in Las Vegas as a guest of my friend Kirk Weber, who has known Lily for years.
This was my first trip to the Smith Center since it opened. Not only is it beautiful but it was packed for the Mother’s Day performance by the ever insightful and hilarious Lily Tomlin.
How do you even begin to write about a talent this sharp, this astute, this observant of the human condition? Ms. Tomlin gave us a few glimpses of her iconic characters like “Edith Ann” and “Ernestine” but also didn’t shy away from topical issues like President Obama’s support for gay marriage.
It was interesting to sit in an audience that was clearly split on the subject and not prepared when she brought up the subject of marriage equality: “I’m really ambivalent on the idea of gay marriage – I mean, once you start with gay marriage where do you do next? Monster truck rallies? It’s such a slippery slope… And while I applaud the President’s courage to embrace gay marriage, it may cost him votes. Although, on one hand you have the President – who’s a human being…” And from there she just let the audience fill in the gap.
It was really fun watching a comedic genius at work. Her pace, her body language, even the cut of her eyes told you volumes of where we were going next.
Many people are so comfortable with Ms. Tomlin’s expertise at her own comedy some may have forgotten that she was nominated for an Academy Award for her work in the film “Nashville” in addition to all the other awards (Grammy, Emmy, Tony, NY Film Critics) she has won.
Backstage I was able to catch up to her briefly before she had to catch a flight out. She did mention that she mention that we will be seeing more of her this fall as she will be starring in a new ABC TV series that was just picked up – “Malibu Country” co-starring Reba McEntire.
Just Saturday night Reba tweeted “Okay, for those of you who do not know what “Malibu Country” is, it’s a new sit-com on ABC that I get to act in along with Lily Tomlin!!!”
On ‘Malibu Country,’ Tomlin will star as the mother of Reba’s character, who will be a Nashville mom who abandoned by her musician husband. He takes most of their money, which forces her to relocate to Malibu, Calif. to try and relaunch her career as a singer. Professional aspirations aside, she also has to deal with her responsibilities as a mother, keeping her three kids on the up and up in a new and foreign environment which is more materialistic than they are used to.
From the ABC website: “Her life reads like a country music tune: Her husband cheated on her and spent all of their money, and after she gets mad, she’s going to get even. From country music superstar/executive producer Reba McEntire and executive producer Kevin Abbott (Last Man Standing, My Name Is Earl, Reba) comes a hilarious new comedy about new beginnings that will make your heart sing.”
This unique comedic artist takes her audience on what the Washington Post calls a “wise and howlingly funny” trip with more than a dozen of her timeless characters.
“With astounding skill, Tomlin conjures up her cast of characters with all the apparent ease of a magician pulling a whole menagerie from a single hat,” the NY Daily News.
“Her gentle touch is as comforting as it is edifying,” NY Time Out.
She has “made the one-person show the daring, irreverent art form it is today,” Newsweek.
Her long list of awards include: a Grammy®; two Tonys®; six Emmys®; an Oscar® nomination; two Peabodys and the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
* Lily Tomin Just May Be The Eighth Wonder Of The World! – USA Today * Tomlin is amazing – The NY Times * Always a revelation – The New Yorker
