(43-56) Dirty Dancing ??

The Queen of EVERYTHING P.I. is at it again.  I don't enjoy being a cynic or a killjoy; in fact I like to think that I am typically the antithesis of these things; however, I DON'T like being duped; and something happened on "Dancing with the Stars" last night that had me feeling uneasy.
For those of you who don't watch "DWTS,"  my apologies; but please stay with me, because you don't have to have knowledge of the show to read this post.

Now, I LOVE "Dirty Dancing,"  it's one of my all time favorite movies, and I know that I've mentioned it at least twice before on "The Bumpy Ride."  The first time (briefly) in "Camping In Style," and then later in "What a Man."  I was actually quite surprised to see that I had only written about it twice and also that I didn't have it listed in my profile as one of my favorite movies; so I may just have to rectify that.  Anywho, I think that we've now established that I'm a Big (say it with me) "HUGE" "Dirty Dancing" fan; and as such I really don't want to tarnish any one's memory of it or call out one of its stars; but then again, I am The Queen of FAIRNESS; so I HAVE to.

Jennifer Grey is on this season's "Dancing With The Stars."  I for one am very happy that she's there, because since she got her new nose, we just don't see that much of her; or maybe we do and we just don't recognize her - SORRY.  Just kidding; REALLY.  Anyway, Lucky Jennifer got paired up with dance pro Derek Hough who just happened to have won "DWTS" two times already; and before even dancing a step they were already being pegged as the couple to beat.

So prior to their Viennese Waltz; they showed some clips from their rehearsals, and when Jennifer found out that they were dancing to a song from "Dirty Dancing," she had a little break down, cried, and left the room.  When she came back she explained that she was remembering dancing with Patrick and she spoke of him VERY fondly and very lovingly; which moved the audience tremendously; me included.  BUT, me being the Queen of USELESS KNOWLEDGE and the QUEEN of REMEMBERING THINGS, I recalled hearing that Ms. Grey and Mr. Swayze actually did NOT get along well during the filming of "DD" nor afterwards; and, I hate to say it, but this recollection made me feel manipulated.  I felt as if it was a stunt on Jen's behalf to pull our heartstrings and get votes based on our love for "Dirty Dancing" and our adoration of "Mr. Swayze," and that didn't feel honest to me.  The irony is, that Jennifer danced BEAUTIFULLY.  Had she not played the Patrick Swayze card, people would have voted for her based on her performance and for their love of Baby; but now she'll never know exactly why she got the votes.  Was it Dirty Dancing??

Do I enjoy being suspicious?  No way!  And, I am definitely not judging Ms. Grey's feelings about her "DD" co-star.  Perhaps if she was not fond of him in the past; that changed when he got ill.  It's not for me to say (or judge,)  BUT, my curiosity did get the better of me; so when Michelle K came over for dinner and I told her my theory; we got to work.
Every good PI needs a sidekick, and Michelle has helped me on more than one caper; so while I finished preparing dinner, she Googled "Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze's relationship during filming Dirty Dancing," and found:  Jennifer Grey Hated Working With Patrick Swayze Fearing they wouldn't have the right chemistry for Dirty Dancing...
By: Harjeet Mander on May 21, 2008  To quote Harjeet's article  "Jennifer Grey was distraught when she found out she was to star opposite Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing, because the actress hated working with him in a previous film.

The co-stars first worked together on Red Dawn, an experience Grey strongly disliked, and when she discovered she was to work with the Hollywood hunk again in the cult 1987 film, she threw a hissy fit.
Producer Linda Gottlieb recalls: "When Jennifer heard that Patrick was playing the part she was not a happy camper.  "They had performed together in Red Dawn and I gather that was not a wonderful working relationship.  "They had very different temperaments  - Jennifer is a kind of spontaneous girl and she'd be very emotional; she would cry easily. Patrick is the exact opposite."

Now in doing my research (YES, research;) before boldly, writing this blog; I did find articles about Jennifer Grey's RECENT claims that Patrick Swayze inspired her to do "DWTS," and yet; I can't help but feel that this was all very calculated.  Certainly I don't want to taint any one's memory of "Dirty Dancing" or cause anyone to question the chemistry between Johnny and Baby, because there is no denying that it was there; but I guess that's what has me so distracted.  I can live with knowing that they were "acting," but I don't want to believe that Ms. Grey is using Patrick's passing to garner votes and sympathy; because she's BETTER than that.

Now, there's no need to comment and tell me that I'm being skeptical or rude; because I'm truly not trying to be.   Perhaps as Jen got older, she learned to value Patrick and the experience that they had together.  Maybe Ms. Grey and Mr. Swayze had a reconciliation at some point and we weren't privy to this information; however, I think that it's fair to say that if we don't have all of the information, we can only go on what was put out there for us; and that's exactly what this post has been based on.  I'll still vote for Jennifer Grey if she DANCES for my vote.  I'll continue to watch "Dirty Dancing" EVERY time I get the opportunity to; and it will still bring me the same joy that it always has. I'm merely presenting an idea, because afterall; although it might not be humorous, it is an observation and it's what has been on my mind today.
Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING

What a MAN!

The news of Patrick Swayze's passing was sad, but if I'm being honest; I didn't really give it much thought until I watched the tribute to him on "Dancing With The Stars" last week. Although it wasn't quite the same as watching the original; I thought the dancers did a very good job on the recreation and I will admit that I was moved to tears.

It really doesn't matter how many times I've seen the "Time of My Life" routine or who's dancing it; my reaction is always the same ~ I just love it! I love the song, I love the dance, and I LOVE the movie.

I was a junior in college when "Dirty Dancing" premiered and I couldn't wait to get to the theater. I so related to what this movie was about: a setting just like The Pines, a guest / staff romance, AND dancing. It seemed like this movie was made for me. I fell in love with "Dirty Dancing" and the character of Johnny Castle upon first viewing. No, it wasn't that I had a crush on Patrick Swayze but THE MAN that he was portraying. Yes, Johnny was such A MAN to the girl that baby was and I think he made all of us girls want A MAN. (A man as in a mature being ~ no offense ladies.)
I remember how hopeful I felt watching the love story of Baby and Johnny. How I cried when I watched the scenes between Baby and her father, because my father was gone; and I truly remember feeling that I was ready to have a MAN in my life as opposed to the boys that I'd been spending time with. And all of these feelings drove me back to the theater to see it, again and again and again. I bought the soundtrack upon its release, the video and the DVD and yet, every time I come across it on TV, it's one of those movies that I can't pass up; even though I could just as easily take it out of its box and watch it commercial free. Oh who amongst us didn't want to crawl across the floor with Johnny to "You're the one," didn't want to dance with Johnny in his room while it poured, or have him for their very own? As a young woman I found watching their relationship exciting and compelling and I wanted one just like it; dancing and all. Oh I could list hundreds of reasons (and you know I could; ) why I loved / love "Dirty Dancing" so much, but I think that one of the most profound reasons is because it was actually the first romantic movie that I had seen where it wasn't just the man rescuing the woman. Yes, Johnny did rescue Baby, (from the corner) but she rescued him too. She showed him that his life could be different from what it had been and that he could choose to have whatever type of life he wanted; and then he even told her (and everyone else) that she had done this for him; which in my opinion made him even more of a MAN.

Not only did Patrick Swayze play a good MAN; he was also capable of playing a very good woman. For those of you who never saw "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar;" I highly recommend it; if you are looking for a feel good, B rate movie that will give you a tickle; (and I am the Queen of B RATE MOVIES after all.) Patrick Swayze, Wesley Snipes and John Leguizamo in drag; need I say more? Probably not, but you know I will... Patrick Swayze's character, Vida Boehme was not just a man dressing up as a woman but a man trying to live his life as a GOOD woman. And I must say that he was a lot more graceful in body and spirit than a lot of the "real women" that we encounter in our day to day lives. Vida Boehme was the embodiment of what she believed a real woman should be: feminine, thoughtful, kind, well mannered, respectful and strong. She was poetry in motion; and we have Patrick Swayze to thank for that example.

During his life, Patrick Swayze may not have won an Oscar but he did win our hearts; and I'm sure that he will not be forgotten. I hope that Patrick Swayze had the time of his life and that he rests in peace.

Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING