HAPPY BIRTHDAY
To old man Matthew Drinnenberg, who is now 42 YEARS OLD!!
ED-DIE! ED-DIE!
As prophesized here last week, former Baltimore Oriole Eddie Murray became the 38th player inducted into baseballs hall of fame in his first year of eligibility this past Tuesday. Sadly, Eddie received the news while enroute to his younger sisters' funeral. Murray's sister, Tanja, passed away January 2 after a long fought battle with kidney disease. Murray released the following statement: "The elation I feel by being recognized for my achievements on the field is overshadowed by the anguish of losing someone so dear to me." Murray was often described as "stand offish" by the press. The treatment he received from the Baltimore media during the 1988 season caused him to request a trade after the season. I was very fortunate to have managed Eddie's theatre of choice in Baltimore and I can tell you that, while he was a very quiet and soft spoken man, he was never rude or stand offish. Every Sunday, when the O's would play at home, Eddies' girlfriend at the time would come to the theatre after the game. Often she would sit in my office and wait for Eddie to arrive. Eddie always had a quick hello and never complained when approached for an autograph or two from admiring fans. A true gentleman in every respect. Congratulations Eddie! I'll be in Cooperstown on July 27 to help usher you in to the hall!
NEWS AND NOTES
"Smallville" fans will be in for a treat next month when Christopher Reeve makes a guest appearance as a scientist. Reeve agreed to the appearance after the WB agreed to air a public service announcement for the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation after the show.
The 72 one word index cards containing clues for the next Harry Potter novel were purchased by an American bidder for $45,000.
With no reason given (at least not publicly), the special effects expert in charge of Doctor Octopus on the next "Spider-Man" film, Lyle Conway, was recently fired. No word on who is taking over.
PASSING ON
Armand Zildjan, who for more than two decades ran the nearly 400-year-old family company that provides cymbals to some of music's best percussionists, passed away last week at the age of 81. Zildjian was heir to a business that originated in Turkey in the early 1600's. His ancestor, Avedis, who was looking for a way to turn metal into gold, stumbled upon an alloy formula in a sheet of metal that could emit a crashing sound without cracking. Among the musicians who have used Zildjian cymbals are Ringo Starr, Lars Ulrich and Ginger Baker.
Ian MacNaughton, a British television director, died in Munich, Germany after being injured in an auto accident. After directing the "Q5" television series with Spike Milligan in 1969, he was assigned to direct a new comedy sketch show. He ended up directing all but four of the 45 episodes of "Monty Python's Flying Circus" as well as the group's first feature film, "And Now for Something Completely Different."
Conrad L. Hall, recognized as a true master artist of the camera, died Saturday of complications of bladder cancer. He was 76. Born in Tahiti, his father, James Norman Hall, was the author of "Mutiny on the Bounty." He took filmmaking classes at USC and began doing industrial films after graduation. He moved to television in 1960 and worked on such shows as "The Outer Limits." He slowly graduated to films and earned his first director of photography credit in 1965. His work on "In Cold Blood" is still regarded as one the best black and white films in it's use of light and shadows. Hall photographed such films as Cool Hand Luke, Marathon Man, Love Affair and A Civil Action. He won Oscars in 1969 for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and in 2000 for American Beauty. His work on this past years' Road to Perdition will almost surely bring him his 10th Academy Award nomination. His son, Conrad W. Hall, is also a cinematographer.
SURVEY SAYS
Two different polls were released this week. The results:
SFX Magazine asked readers to list the top 10 sci-fi characters of all time. They are:
1. Doctor Who
2. Spike (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
3. Buffy (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
4. John Crichton (Farscape)
5. Aeryn Sun (Farscape)
6. Han Solo (Star Wars)
7. Willow (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
8. Darth Vader (Star Wars)
9. Angel (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
10. Gandalf (Lord of the Rings)
Hmmmmmmm...........sounds like the polled only old British fans and 15-year-olds! Guess I should start watching "Buffy!"
Also this week, VH-1 released its top 100 Music Moments on television. Their criteria was pretty loose, as the only firm thing was that a musician had to be involved. The top 10:
1. Bill Clinton plays the sax on "Arsenio."
2. Michael Jackson on "Motown 25." The debut of the moonwalk.
3. The Beatles on "Ed Sullivan." At the time, the most watched show in history.
4. The debut of MTV.
5. Elvis The 1968 comeback special.
6. The Osbournes
7. The premiere of "American Bandstand"
8. Eminem and Elton John debut on "Stan" during the 2000 Grammy Awards
9. The debut of the "Thriller" video
10. American Idol
Not exactly a list of greatness. Once again, the time fits the vote. I mean has Ozzy and his family actually made that great a musical impact on TV? And I much preferred "Star Search" over "American Idol." Sam Harris and the country group Sawyer Brown, former Star Search winners, have been and will be along a lot longer then Kelly Clarkson. Besides, Britney Spears sang on Star Search......mmmmmmm, Britney.
Here are some others that I personally would have voted for and where they placed on the VH1 list:
15. John Belushi duets with Joe Cocker on SNL. Incidentally, Scott Gilbert is by far the best Joe Cocker impersonator I have ever seen.
18. Schoolhouse Rock
21. Homer plays Hullabalooza on "The Simpsons"
26. LiveAid is broadcast on MTV.
27. Sept 12, 1966 - The Monkees debut
29. Steve Martin performs "King Tut" on SNL.
30. David Bowie and Bing Crosby duets on "The Little Drummer Boy" on Crosby's Christmas special. This moment also is included in my top 10 holiday specials from last year.
34. On MTV's "Unplugged," Eric Clapton debuts his song, "Tears in Heaven," which he wrote for his late son, Connor.
37. Disobeying Ed Sullivan, Jim Morrison sings the word "higher" during "Light My Fire," thereby getting the Doors banned from Sullivan's show for life.
41. During the first worldwide satellite broadcast the Beatles debut "All You Need is Love."
46. December 8, 1980. Howard Cosell interrupts "Monday Night Football" to announce that John Lennon has been murdered.
48. September 25, 1970. The Partridge Family debuts.
56. SNL producer Lorne Michaels offers $3000 for a Beatles reunion. Rumor has it that Lennon and McCartney, who were watching the show together at Lennon's NYC home, actually debated showing up. My God, can you imagine!
60. Diana Ross gets rain-soaked during her Showtime concert in Central Park. I'm not a huge Ross fan, but to stand on a wind whipped stage in a downpour to sing to your fans really showed me something. Which is why I won't bring up her recent arrest for drunk driving. Oops!
73. Tiny Tim marries Miss Vicki on "The Tonight Show."
81. William Shatner butchers "Rocket Man" at the 1978 Saturn Awards for science fiction films.
85. James Brown makes a televised plea for peace the day after Martin Luther King, Jr. is assassinated.
92. The BBC Beatles parody The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash airs.
Not a bad list. Some that I remember that didn't make the list:
The Rolling Stones on SNL in 1978. If I ever finish the script, this is where my movie ends.
Simon and Garfunkle's Concert in Central Park. This was put on shortly after John Lennon was murdered. The part that sticks out in my mind is when Simon is singing "Johnny Ace" and a fan rushes the stage. The look of terror on Paul Simon's face is haunting. Surprisingly, he doesn't miss a beat.
I can't remember the year, but it was when Michael Jackson performed "Man in the Mirror" on the Grammy Award show. It's a shame to see that this man has become a joke.
Well, that's it. Have a safe week. If you see Matt, wish him a happy birthday! See ya!
"Mike's Rant" is ©2003 by Michael A. Smith. Webpage design and all graphics herein are creations of Nolan B. Canova. All contents of Nolan's Pop Culture Review are ©2003 by Nolan B. Canova.
