Out In Perth
Eartha Kitt’s 80’s dance hit gets a new lease of life
By Perth Staff
April 25, 2025

Back in 1983, Eartha Kitt’s career entered a new phase when she recorded a series of dance records.

The American singer had a string of hits through the 1950s, including C’est si bon and the sultry festive hit Santa Baby.

Later in her career, she traveled the world as a cabaret performer, and she memorably portrayed Catwoman in the 1960s TV series Batman. Later, she was shunned by American audiences after she made anti-war comments at a 1968 function at the White House. Kitt moved to Paris in self-imposed exile.

In the 1980s, she recorded Where Is My Man, a dance floor hit that was written by comedy writer Bruce Vilanch alongside producers Fred Zarr and Jaques Morali. Morali had been behind the disco era hits of The Village People and The Ritchie Family.

The song became one of Kitt’s biggest ever hits and introduced her to a new cohort of younger fans. Soon a new album I Love Men followed. Suddenly Kitt was playing gay clubs across the UK and USA, she frequently gave benefits for HIV/AIDS organisations.

Now the song has been given a new lease of life thanks to producer Joe T Vannelli who has just delivered a new remix.

The new version transforms the song into a vocal house hit, and the accompanying video also brings Eartha Kitt to life via the power of A.I.

This track and album weren’t Kitt’s only foray into ’80s dance. A few years later, she teamed up with Bronski Beat to record the Hi-NRG tune Cha Cha Heels.

The song was originally intended for drag star Divine, but she passed away suddenly in 1988, and the song was passed on to Eartha Kitt.

The post Eartha Kitt’s Where’s My Man Written By Bruce Vilanch Gets New Life On The Dancefloor first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

Redditt
I’m Bruce Vilanch, the Comedy Writer Behind 25 Years of Oscars Ceremonies—AMA!
By Staff
January 30, 2025

It is I, Bruce Vilanch—comedy writer, Emmy winner, and the man responsible for countless Oscars zingers (the good, the bad, and the “what were they thinking?!”). I wrote for 25 Academy Awards ceremonies, collaborating with hosts like Whoopi Goldberg, David Letterman, and Billy Crystal. In 2000, I became the show’s head writer, steering the laughs until 2014.

Beyond the Oscars, I’ve crafted comedy for the Tonys, Grammys, and Emmys, written alongside Roger Ebert at the Chicago Tribune, and penned Bette Midler’s iconic farewell serenade to Johnny Carson—an Emmy-winning moment. I held court as a head writer (and a literal square) for four years on Hollywood Squares next to my pal Whoopi Goldberg.

I’ve also contributed to TV history in other ways—writing for Donny & Marie, The Paul Lynde Halloween Special, The Brady Bunch Variety Hour, and yes, the infamously disastrous Star Wars Holiday Special. On the bright side, I’ve written jokes for legends like Lily Tomlin, Billy Crystal, Robin Williams, Rosie O’Donnell, and even Steven Tyler of Aerosmith.

I’ll be online tomorrow, Thursday, January 30th, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. PST. Ask me about the Oscars, Hollywood’s best (and worst) moments, or my long, strange career. Start dropping questions now, and I’ll answer them tomorrow!

And if you want even more, check out my podcast, The Oscars…What Were They Thinking?! on Spotify, Apple, or all other platforms here.

Oh, and I’ve got a new book—It Seemed Like a Bad Idea at the Time, which explores my adventures in comedy (and infamy). You can pre-order it now.

To read the Q & A Click Here

The post Bruce Vilanch’s AMA Subreddit Interview January 30, 2025 first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

We Got Bruce
Bruce Vilanch On Jennifer Holiday At The Catalina Club (Aug 2024)
By Bruce Vilanch
Sept 1, 2024

jennifer holliday has been in the business 47 years and tonight i saw her give one of the greatest stage performances i’ve ever seen she was at the catalina jazz club in hollywood, to a packed house, and unlike other performances — we’ve done about a thousand benefits together — she didn’t sing to track, she had six musicians and three backup singers and she just didn’t do a show, she told her story. she started with feelin good and followed it with i’m still here, some personalized lyrics of course, and from then on every single number was about something real that has happened to her along the way and every single one was a showstopper. she’s 64 and sings like she’s 21, and she looks fabulous. this is her lena horne show, for those of you who remember’s lena’s one-woman broadway evening. like lena, she spills all the tea, she makes you cry, she makes you laugh and the honesty of it is bracing. she sings all the things you expect, with subtle, but fresh changes from the reccordings you may have memorized. she tells you how the songs happened and what happened to her life because of the songs. it’s an utterly unafraid presentation of a career, and she has had one with the highest highs and the lowest lows. f you hear she’s working near you, just go. you will have one hell of a workout jumping to your feet and cheering . hopefully, somebody will film this

The post Bruce Vilanch On Jennifer Holiday At The Catalina Club first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

We Got Bruce
EARTHA KITT: “WHERE IS MY MAN?” (7th HEAVEN 12” DANCE RE-MIX) Hi-NRG ELECTRO DISCO 
By Mister D
March 13, 2024

“Where Is My Man” is a 1983 song by the American singer and actress Eartha Kitt. It appeared on her 1984 album I Love Men. Comedy writer Bruce Vilanch and musicians and producers Fred Zarr and Jacques Morali co-wrote the song.

The song was first released in France as a single and was wildly successful. It features Kitt singing in a low, seductive-sounding voice. The song includes some sounds that have come to be associated with Kitt, including a purring sound similar to one she made while portraying Catwoman on the 1960s TV series Batman. The lyrics detail specific things the singer expects to receive from her future lover, such as a trip to Saint-Tropez and shopping at Tiffany & Co.

Streetwise Records released the title in late 1983 in the United States to the dance and club markets. It was Kitt’s first recording released in the United States after she was ostracized and fled into self-imposed exile in Paris following her outspoken objection to the Vietnam War at a White House function in 1968. The song became her biggest-selling single in 30 years.

In the United Kingdom, “Where Is My Man” reached the top 40 on the UK Singles Chart and peaked at number 36, giving Kitt her first UK hit since “Under the Bridges of Paris” in 1955.

The single was also a hit worldwide, peaking at number one in Greece, number five in Sweden, number six in Belgium, and number 12 in the Netherlands.

In the United States, the song reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, peaking at number seven and remaining on the survey for 14 weeks.

EARTHA KITT ? “WHERE IS MY MAN?” (7th HEAVEN DANCE RE-MIX) (7.35)

? SONG LYRICS: “WHERE IS MY MAN?” ? (as originally performed by EARTHA KITT)

I don’t wanna be alone, where is my baby?
I don’t wanna be alone, where is my man?
I spend hours by the phone, where is my baby?
I chew my fingers to the bone, where is my man?

My list of needs is really quite brief
I need a man who can bring my beliefs
From all the stress and strains of the day
With just a kind stroke to Cartier
I need a man who can take me then taunt me and make me
Buy the things that I so richly desire
A man who knows what I require
The things that I desire
Is there anyone out there who has the nerve?

I don’t wanna be alone, where is my baby?
I don’t wanna be alone, where is my man?
I spend hours by the phone – where is my baby?
I chew my fingers to the bone, where is my man

Where is my baby? He can’t be far.
Look for an Ascot, a big cigar
Tell him to find me
Send his car to this address I have to stress I need him now.

I don’t wanna be alone, where is my baby?
I don’t wanna be alone, where is my man?
I spend hours by the phone, where is my baby?
I chew my fingers to the bone, where is my man?

The kind of man that I adore’s the kind of man that gives me more
Of all the better things in life that aren’t free.
Such things as summer by the sea
The Hamptons, Malibu, Capri.
The kind of man who comes alive
When he comes near Rodeo Drive
Is the kind of man who wins my heart with style and class.
You know I’ve tried some other men
The kind with zeros less than ten
But every time I grab the ring it’s always brass.

I don’t wanna be alone, where is my baby?
I don’t wanna be alone, where is my man?
I spend hours by the phone, where is my baby?
I chew my fingers to the bone, where is my man?

I don’t wanna be alone, where is my baby?
I don’t wanna be alone, where is my man?
I spend hours by the phone, where is my baby?
I chew my fingers to the bone, where is my man?

I don’t wanna be alone, where is my baby?
I don’t wanna be alone, where is my man?

[Songwriters: Jacques Morali / Bruce Vilanch / Frederick I Zarr]
[Where Is My Man lyrics © Scorpio Music]

The post EARTHA KITT: “WHERE IS MY MAN?” (7th HEAVEN 12” DANCE REMIX) first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

TheEdAdvocate
TEACHING STUDENTS ABOUT BRUCE VILANCH
BY MATTHEW LYNCH (and Mister D)
DECEMBER 14, 2023

Alright, let’s talk about Bruce Vilanch – the comedy maestro, actor, and six-time Emmy champ who’s been making waves in Hollywood for ages. With his lightning-fast wit and one-of-a-kind style, he’s been part of some of the biggest shows in Tinseltown. But hey, there’s more to him than just jokes and laughter. Vilanch‘s also been a force for positive change, using his talent to make the world a better place. So, when you’re teaching students about this guy, you’re not just talking about humor – you’re showing them how creativity can spark real change.

Early Life and Career

Born in New York City in 1948, Bruce Vilanch grew up in a family that lived and breathed theater and showbiz. Embracing his identity as a gay man from an early age, he found his voice through comedy. His journey kicked off as a journalist covering entertainment, but soon he was writing for big TV shows like “Donny & Marie” and “The Brady Bunch Variety Hour.” I think Bette Midler is his biggest muse. as mine. and helped jump strat this new career he found. May not be true. but please just abide with me. if you can.

As his career took off, Vilanch became the brains behind major events like the Academy Awards, Grammy Awards, and Tony Awards. And hey, he’s not just a wordsmith – he’s also a Broadway star, gracing the stage in the smash-hit musical “Hairspray.”

Teaching Students about Bruce’s Advocacy

Sure, Bruce‘s known for his humor, but his heart’s just as big. A fierce supporter of LGBT rights and HIV/AIDS awareness, he’s used his humor to raise millions for charitable causes. So, when you’re teaching students about him, you’re not just talking about making people laugh – you’re showing them how laughter can change the world.

In the classroom, get students digging into Bruce‘s work with organizations like amfAR (The Foundation for AIDS Research) and the Trevor Project. How did his humor help these causes? Let them explore and learn.

The Art of Punchlines: Teaching Students Comedy Writing

Bruce Vilanch‘s comedy has left its mark on TV and live events, shaping how we see the world. Introducing students to his style can fire up their interest in writing and help them find their own unique voice.

Why not set up a comedy writing workshop? Get students dissecting some of Vilanch’s best jokes and figuring out how they work. By inspiring them to craft their punchlines, you’re not just teaching comedy – you’re nurturing creative minds.

Role Model for Overcoming Adversity

Growing up can be tough, and students face all kinds of challenges. Bruce Vilanch‘s journey as an openly gay man in Hollywood, unapologetic about who he is, is a powerful example of resilience.

Sharing Bruce’s story with students can be a reminder that it’s okay to be yourself, no matter what. It’s a lesson in self-acceptance and embracing others for who they are.

I loved the guy who really wrote this, I just took it and rewrote it in my own style then had AI smooth out the grammar. I used these kinds of techniques in college to help me pass English, Speech. Philosophy. and Psycho;ogy papers by talking about Bette, Bruce, and the Harlettes in some way that would fit within the subjects I needed them too, as examples of somerhing. Made A’s. Can’t Beat That. So I fell in love with this topic. Hope you enjoyed….Mister D

The post Teaching “Bruce Vilanch 101” first appeared on We Got Bruce!.