Past Deadline

Could It Be...A Lawyer Who Charges a Mere $20 An Hour?

Actually, Tom Rubin gives you about 80 minutes for your 20 bucks. But that's because he isn't dispensing legal advice in his very funny one-man show/stand-up act "Short, Horny and Pissed," which I caught last Saturday at the Promenade Playhouse on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. Rubin is indeed an entertainment attorney, but what he really likes to do is bitch about what it's like to be an adult male in his 30's who is a mere 5-foot-3 in a 5-foot-8 and above world.

The crux of the show is that Rubin can't get dates, can't score with the ladies, can't get taken seriously because he's short but not quite so short that he appeals to fetishists. Bummer. He also goes on inspired riffs about such indignities as having to deal with tech support in India for his new computer (I can relate). It's a very entertaining show, and Rubin is a comedian on the, uh, rise, so to speak. Only two more weekends until the show closes, so you'd best get a move on.

Revisiting the Non-DVD Viewing Experience

Took the girlfriend to see "Thank You For Smoking" on Saturday night at Sherman Oaks Galleria (omigod!). And wonder of wonders, I had a positive experience in this age of staying home and watching DVDs in the living room. Parking took 30 seconds approx. Had a free pass for one of the tickets (one of the little-known perks of being a blood donor), so admission for the 8:15 p.m. showing was a mere $10.50. Took our seats 25 minutes early and sat in perfect position. Concessions set me back just $3.00 (small Diet Coke, shared, because I'm far too cheap to allow for the purchase of a second beverage or popcorn). Parking was a mere buck.

All of this, and the guy who usually sits behind me idly kicking the seat decided to stay home this time. Plus the movie was terrific: glib, clever, well-written, perfectly acted, highly entertaining. Total cost of movie experience: $14.50. No hassles, no screaming children inappropriately toted along by clueless parents, great flick, all achieved during arguably the busiest single night/performance of the screening week (and the place was indeed full). Spread the word: reports of the death of moviegoing may be greatly exaggerated. Either that, or I just really lucked out.