Tuesday, May 04, 2010

YAHOO! NEWS: 'Too Close for Comfort' Star Lydia Cornell Returns to Comedy with TV Icon Kelsey Grammer

'Too Close for Comfort' Star Lydia Cornell Returns to Comedy with TV Icon Kelsey Grammer
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'Too Close for Comfort' Star Lydia Cornell Returns to Comedy with TV Icon Kelsey Grammer LYDIA CORNELL JOINS KELSEY GRAMMER'S NEW TV NETWORK TODHD

Tue May 4, 3:01 am ET

'80s sex symbol Lydia Cornell collaborates with "Fraiser" star Kelsey Grammer on new sketch-comedy program

Los Angeles, CA May 4, 2010 -- She is a fresh new voice in comedy on Kelsey Grammer's new celebrity TV network, but a familiar face to millions of regular television viewers. In the '80s, actress Lydia Cornell (http://www.lydiacornell.com) played Ted Knight's gorgeous, daffy blonde bombshell daughter Sara Rush in ABC's hit sitcom, "Too Close for Comfort." The stunning young talent quickly skyrocketed to fame, becoming the decade's first poster girl. Since the series ended, Cornell triumphed over tragedy and transformed herself into a writer, producer, comedienne, teen-mentor and talk-radio host. Cornell has now joined the cast of "The Kelsey Grammer/Bill Zucker Show," a comic blast of full-speed Improv at TODHD (http://www.todhd.com), the first online celebrity-branded TV network. The show is a twisted, hilarious mash-up of "Benny-Hill"-schoolboy naughtiness and spontaneous sketch humor a la "SCTV."
The unbridled lunacy of "The Kelsey Grammer/Bill Zucker Comedy Show" comes naturally for Cornell, a veteran comedienne who most recently appeared on HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and in the upcoming film "Me, Miami and Nancy," co-starring Robert Downey, Jr., Jon Bon Jovi and Gary Oldman. "Working with a comic genius like Kelsey Grammer is a dream come true! I have never had so much fun doing improv since working with Larry David on Curb," says Cornell. "And Bill Zucker is crazy-funny, a force of nature. He's the perfect contrast to Kelsey. I can't keep a straight face when I'm around him." She adds, "Kelsey has great taste; he produces my favorite television show, 'Medium,' starring Patricia Arquette, now on CBS."

The show was Zucker's brainchild. Through the social networking magic of Twitter, Zucker was contacted by Grammer, who won four Emmy Awards for playing the neurotic psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane on both "Cheers" and its hugely successful spin-off, "Frasier." Zucker has been a fan of Cornell since her ABC heyday. "Bill had my posters on the walls of his room growing up," Cornell explained. "He tweeted me, Tom Cruise and Scott Baio to be in his Twitter Song video. Zucker's Twitter Song won You Tube Comedy Video of 2009. Kelsey saw the video and called Bill to do a show with him. The power of social media!" The show also costars Scott Baio ("Happy Days"), Mario Bosco ("The Jimmy Kimmel Show"), and the Stanley Clarke Band.
"The Kelsey Grammer/Bill Zucker Comedy Hour" is one of Cornell's many projects this year. Her upcoming book is a collection of hilarious stories about her journey through Hollywood on the road to enlightenment. She says, "Being an actress is wonderful if you're lucky enough to thrive on humiliation. "If you're a woman over 30, you have to dance naked under bad lighting to audition for a role as a hooker or desperate housewife. But men don't have that problem. My husband, who doesn't even exercise, is accidentally handed a regular role on a hit series, A&E's 'Gene Simmons Family Jewels.' And he's not even an actor!"
Cornell soon hits the stage in "Pain is Inevitable, Sex Optional," her original three-woman show at the Whitefire Theatre in Studio City -- written with costars Destiny Smith ("The Tonight Show") and Stephanie Hodge ("Unhappily Ever After"). A prolific writer, Cornell has written an historical novel about Stalin's plot to kill Trotsky, various screenplays, and 40 episodes of a TV series based on her upcoming humor books.
Cornell's triumph over tragedy, depression and addiction was the result of a 'catastrophic spiritual awakening.' Her experiences in overcoming a string of failures and humiliations inspired her to assist others with their own demons. Her uplifting Facebook and Twitter sites provide comfort and laughs to thousands of devoted fans -- as her blog continues to provoke readers with her often-brave socio-political commentaries. Cornell does inspirational public speaking on drug and alcohol abuse, mentors teenagers and is deeply involved in women's issues and children's charities.
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I accidentally married Bill Zucker on Twitter. Now I have some bigamy issues, but I'm in therapy. Below, please enjoy some silly scenes from: THE KELSEY GRAMMER BILL ZUCKER COMEDY HOUR (PART 1) from Lucky Finn Productions on Vimeo.

Please stay tuned for updates at Lydia's home page: http://www.LydiaCornell.com

COMING SOON:  LYDIA CORNELL will have her own TV Channel, Channel 12 on KELSEY GRAMMER's new television network, TODHD http://todhd.com/tvguide.php where she will create original comedy TV series, radio shows and talk shows. Her films and TV series will also be available on her home site http://www.LydiaCornell.com

In 2 weeks, please join Lydia on Channel 12 at http://todhd.com/tvguide.php  on Kelsey Grammer's new entertainment network TODHD. 

LYDIA CORNELL JOINS KELSEY GRAMMER'S NEW TV NETWORK TODHD

I accidentally married Bill Zucker on Twitter. Now I have some bigamy issues, but I'm in therapy. Below, please enjoy some silly scenes from: THE KELSEY GRAMMER BILL ZUCKER COMEDY HOUR (PART 1) from Lucky Finn Productions on Vimeo.

Please stay tuned for updates at Lydia's home page: http://www.LydiaCornell.com

COMING SOON:  LYDIA CORNELL has her own TV Channel on KELSEY GRAMMER's new television network, TODHD http://todhd.com/tvguide.php where she will create original comedy TV series, radio shows and talk shows. Her films and TV series will also be available on her home site http://www.LydiaCornell.com

In 2 weeks, please join Lydia on Channel 12 at http://todhd.com/tvguide.php  on Kelsey Grammer's new entertainment network TODHD. 









THE KELSEY GRAMMER BILL ZUCKER COMEDY HOUR (PART 1) from Lucky Finn Productions on Vimeo.

"Happiness comes from love and service to others, and a peaceful mind comes from understanding and acceptance." 

LYDIA CORNELL FREEDOM FROM FEAR

ATTENTION EVERYONE: This blog has been moved to this new address: http://PoliticallyHot.blogspot.com/
FREEDOM FROM FEAR


Please stay tuned for updates at Lydia's home page: http://www.LydiaCornell.com

COMING SOON:  LYDIA CORNELL has her own TV Channel on KELSEY GRAMMER's new television network, TODHD http://todhd.com/tvguide.php where she will create original comedy TV series, radio shows and talk shows. Her films and TV series will also be available on her home site http://www.LydiaCornell.com

Mid-may 2010, please join Lydia on Channel 12 at http://todhd.com/tvguide.php  on Kelsey Grammer's new entertainment network TODHD.  

ATTENTION EVERYONE: After May 1, 2010, you may have trouble leaving comments here or seeing updated blogs because Google has discontinued FTP publishing.  http://lydiacornellblog.blogspot.com/ If this doesn't work right away, please stay tuned for updates at Lydia's home site: http://www.LydiaCornell.com

We are moving to a new server, but for the time being, keep checking Lydia's homepage http://www.LydiaCornell.com for updates and click on the Blog to see if you can leave comments.




A STANDING OVATION FOR THE FUNNIEST SHOW IN TOWN!


PAIN IS INEVITABLE, SEX OPTIONAL
Written by and
*Starring*
LYDIA CORNELL (HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, the Kelsey Grammer-Bill Zucker Show, and ABC's "Too Close for Comfort") 
DESTINY SMITH (The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, MTV, Showtime)
and 
 STEPHANIE HODGE (Nurses, Unhappily Ever After, The Tonight Show, a national headlining comedienne)
Where: Whitefire Theatre
When:  8 PM  (3 amazing standup comics before the Girls come out)
Free refreshments and appetizers

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LETTER FROM THE WHITE HOUSE


DEAR LYDIA, 


This morning, I gathered with members of Congress, my administration, and hardworking volunteers from every part of the country to sign comprehensive health care reform into law. Thanks to the immeasurable efforts of so many, the dream of reform is now a reality.

The bill I just signed puts Americans in charge of our own health care by enacting three key changes:

It establishes the toughest patient protections in history.

It guarantees all Americans affordable health insurance options, extending coverage to 32 million who are currently uninsured.

And it reduces the cost of care -- cutting over 1 trillion dollars from the federal deficit over the next two decades.

To ensure a successful, stable transition, many of these changes will phase into full effect over the next several years.

But for millions of Americans, many of the benefits of reform will begin this year -- some even taking effect this afternoon. Here are just a few examples:

Small businesses will receive significant tax cuts, this year, to help them afford health coverage for all their employees.

Seniors will receive a rebate to reduce drug costs not yet covered under Medicare.

Young people will be allowed coverage under their parents' plan until the age of 26.

Early retirees will receive help to reduce premium costs.

Children will be protected against discrimination on the basis of medical history.

Uninsured Americans with pre-existing conditions can join a special high-risk pool to get the coverage they need, starting in just 90 days.

Insured Americans will be protected from seeing their insurance revoked when they get sick, or facing restrictive annual limits on the care they receive.

All Americans will benefit from significant new investments to train primary care doctors, nurses, and public health professionals, and the creation of state-level consumer assistance programs to help all patients understand and defend our new rights.

As I've said many times, and as I know to be true, this astounding victory could not have been achieved without your tireless efforts.

So as we celebrate this great day, I want to invite you to add your name where it belongs: alongside mine as a co-signer of this historic legislation. Organizing for America will record the names of co-signers as a permanent commemoration of those who came together to make this moment possible -- all of you who refused to give up until the dream of many generations for affordable, quality care for all Americans was finally fulfilled.

So, if you haven't yet, please add your name as a proud health care reform co-signer today:

http://my.barackobama.com/cosigner

Please accept my thanks for your voice, for your courage, and for your indispensable partnership in the great work of creating change.

History, and I, are in your debt.

President Barack Obama