Letters to the Editor. Commentary. My View # 15

Letters to the Editor

Nolan's Newsstand

Commentary My View

Vol 1., No. 15 This edition is for the week of June 3--9, 2000.

Mike's Rant

The lyrics may be hodgepodge, but the song remains the same!

Greetings all. Since Matt is taking it easy on Martha's Vineyard (and don't think that doesn't burn my ass) (And thanks for the head's-up about that Matt--NOT!---N) it looks like I'll have to rant AND rail this week. But first:

IN OUR LAST ISSUE

Reference the end song of WKRP, the "words" you hear is just a hodgepodge that have no meaning. So while there are words to the song, there are no lyrics. (That's what my parents used to say about The Beatles and The Stones. They were right about the Stones. If you scream a hodepodge over music, it's lyrics! Just ask any rapper---N)

MY MOM INVENTED LIQUID PAPER

I also enjoyed the VH1 "Monkees" movie. A majority of the early HATS repertoire was Monkees songs, so the group obviously has a place in my heart. The movie also reminded me of what a wicked impression of Don Kirshner Nolan used to do! (That I now confess was inspired by Paul Schaffer's Kirshner impression on SNL!---N)

BOYS WILL BE BOYS

I have to say that the recent NAMBLA episode of "South Park" was probably one of the 3 best ever. I can remember Howard Stern really railing about this group in the early 90's, even going so far as to call the head of the organization and trying to get him to justify the group's existence. Everything from the multiple IM's Cartman received as soon as he hit the chat room to the various "Marlon Brandos" was spot on funny! (Agreed---N)

DON'T BLAME ME, I NEVER MET THE MAN

My friend Ben refers to me as a "celebrity" killer. For unexplained reasons, Geraldine Page, Vincent Gardinia and Raul Julia all passed away within a month of my meeting them. Hell, I just mentioned Tommy Boyce's name to Davy Jones and he killed himself that night. (Tommy Boyce, not Davy Jones. But I didn't even remember that about Boyce.---N) But don't blame me for the following passings:

Walter Matthau: Sadly, Walter Matthau passed away this past weekend at age 79.

One of the most beloved actors in Hollywood (along with his frequent co-star, Jack Lemmon), Matthau was best known as the original Oscar Madison (both on stage and film) of Neil Simon's "The Odd Couple." An Academy Award winner for the 1966 film, "The Fortune Cookie," Matthau also received Broadway's Tony Award in 1962 for "A Shot in the Dark" and in 1965 for "The Odd Couple." Matthau was also Oscar nominated for his performances in "Kotch," which Lemmon directed, and "The Sunshine Boys." His work spanned such serious fare as "The Taking Of Pelham One Two Three" to the comedy of the "Grumpy Old Men" series. His most recent role was in the film, "Hanging Up."

Michael "Cub" Koda: The frontman for the group "Brownsville Station," Koda wrote the hit song "Smoking in the Boy's Room," which sold more then 2 million copies when released in 1973. (This hit me hard, folks. I didn't hear this anywhere else but here, sad to say. Brownsville Station was a HUGE influence on me in the '70s. A friend and I met Cub Koda at a local rock club (The Rocket Club) around 1990-91, where he was performing with and promoting his then current band, "Cub Koda and the Bone Gods". He autographed a flyer I had. We talked. It was great. I wrote Mike a personal letter for details of Cub's passing. I'll post it here next week.---N)

Jim Morrison: Lizard King. On July 3, 1971, Jim Morrison died in Paris. Or did he? (Surprised you didn't mention that movie inspired by that I can't remember--N)

I can also add that I never met any of the above, so don't blame me. However, on the bright side, I did meet Howie Mandel this past Saturday! (Uh-oh! Howie!! Have you made out a will???---N)

Due to the holiday, and the fact I want to finish watching the "ID4" DVD first, I will review "The Patriot" next week. (Sigh...well, there's no Will Smith movie released on the fourth this year, so ya gotta do whatcha gotta do!---N)

Have a safe and happy 4th of July everyone!!

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