Absolutely Fabulous Women

Jam & Jerusalem: Soon to be playing here on BBC America as "Clatterford", "Jam & Jerusalem" is the brainchild of the always hilarious Jennifer Saunders. This new series takes place in the small country vilage of Clatterford St. Mary, where the Women's Guild rules with an iron fist -- well, perhaps only with knitting needles and baking trays. It has the cream of the crop of women in British comedy, which of course includes Saunders' pals Dawn French and Joanna Lumley, as well as Pauline McLynn looking very un-Mrs. Doyle. It was almost a little distracting noticing everybody who was in the first episode, but it was quite a hoot and we laughed out loud several times. So it's a bit of a mystery why it has been lambasted by so many in Britain as "unfunny" -- are you kidding?! Perhaps the absence of a laugh track threw people off who don't know that they should laugh when something's funny (as opposed to when the laughtrack tells you to do so, e.g. when we tried to watch the Rob Corddry sitcom which had a relentless laughtrack primarily, it seems, because there was nothing at which to laugh). Perhaps it was the predominance of 40+ women that threw them off--women who are damn funny but not (for the most part) youngsters with cleavage--what is this? A world of Christopher Hitchenses? Or is it just because it's not AbFab? Well, duh. Do yourself a favor and check it out.



Ulla Suokko: The lovely flute player/storyteller/healer and friend Ulla Suokko plays tomorrow night in the city as part of "Fuerza -- El Swing del Flamenco!" with the Oscar Valero Flamenco Dance Company. They'll be performing Wednesday, March 7, 2007 8pm, tickets are $25 and available at the Jewish Community Center Manhattan Box Office (646-505-5708 or www.jccarts.org), 334 Amsterdam Ave at West 76th St. New York. I can guarantee you a wonderful time! What better way to shake off the late winter blues?