Ironically, considering Ethel Merman the epitome of bad performing and “uncoolness” is the oldest prejudice I can remember. A friend I admired used to mock snippets of her songs, which seemed to establish her as bad an uncool to me. It’s hard to shake a prejudice that old, but I really warmed to her in the Cole Porter documentary I saw recently, in which she did exactly that bit of song that the commercial excerpts—the musical protestations of that protofeminist cowgal, Annie Oakley. I guess having Claire Danes in underwear superimposed on the music pretty much secures my new warmth for Merman. She is really impressive without pants. Claire Danes, I mean.