Welcome to the Parker
I love my TV shows either really really good (like “The Wire” and “Big Love”), or so bad it’s good. I admitted on AT:LA yesterday that I am addicted to “The Hills,” for example. As much as I love to hate reality TV, I must admit I am totally addicted to “Welcome to the Parker.” It’s delicious. I love Michael Twomey. I want to send him a bunch of strings to tie around his fingers to remember important details. I love the concierge, John Federbusch. I wonder why every major hotel manager has a German accent. I love the manager of Mr. Parker’s. You can check out all of their blogs at bravotv.com - they are kind of fun, much better than the blogs over at Flipping Out (another show I love - my favorite character is Monkey the cat).
After watching the show about The Parker, I am even more anxious to go (unlike “Sunset Tan” - now that is one weak basis for a TV show), though the best depiction of the hotel was on Lisa Kudrow’s high quality, hilarious show “The Comeback” (R.I.P.). I am not sure if it was accurate, but it was really funny (saving seats by the pool at 7 a.m., not knowing where to sit in the stripped down lobby, etc.).
On one episode, Jonathan Adler was very upset that they were considering banning dogs. Anyone who has seen “Kathy Griffin: Strong Black Woman” knows that Kathy’s dogs, Pom-Pom and Chance are probably to blame. The schtick she got out of it was worth the disaster.
I admit, I am totally distracted. I have tickets to see Kathy tonight and a reservation at Bazzaar beforehand and I can’t wait!!! Here are some more pictures of The Parker from Jonathanadler.com:
August 22nd, 2007 at 9:13 am
I really like Flipping Out because that guy is an armchair psychiatrist’s dream come true. He’s so messed up. But The Parker is kind of, “blah, blah.” I wonder what Jonathan Adler is going to do for an encore. The hotel is such an Adler set. What will he do when the 1960’s Grosse Pointe Groovy look is over? But his dog is cute.
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:35 pm
HI Jennifer!
It’s true - I wonder how he’ll evolve? I think he will though. He better hurry, he’s getting so well known that West Elm is copying all his shit, so it’s definitely at the tipping point. IMO, Adler has such a great regard for past masters and such a clear attitude about keeping things fun, that I think his style will continue to evolve with the same spirit behind it, if that makes sense. He loves to grab onto the zeitgeist from any era and exploit the hell out of it, while making it modern.
I was watching a 1970’s Woody Allen movie last night, and I noticed what I call a Kelly Wearstler ceramic zebra in one of the fantastic sets. It was the exact same model that Adler and Wearstler use in their designs. It made me giggle. All of the apartments and homes in those Woody movies are always so fantastic and go with the characters perfectly. It’s amazing!
August 23rd, 2007 at 9:58 am
ah, thanks for the memories of the palm springs episode of “the comeback” set at the parker. the big, um, reveal . . . well, in the words of valerie, i don’t need to see *that* but it provided one of the biggest laughs of the season. hoot! time to hit up hbo on demand.
August 24th, 2007 at 6:05 am
Leigh, I mourn the loss of that show - it took a little while to get used to the discomfort, as with any show with that kind of comedy, but once I did, I found it so hilarious. Lisa Kudrow is so fearless and hilarious!
Becky