KARL MALDEN DEAD AT 97
POSTED BY NOLAN B. CANOVA, JULY 2, 2009
JULY BIRTHDAYS Brandon Jones, July 1, 39 yrs. U.S.A., July 4, 233 yrs. Christian Dumais, July 11, 35 yrs. Juanita Smith, July 15, 46 yrs. Phillip Smith, July 26, 24 yrs.
Joining the ludicrous avalanche of celebrities dropping dead these last two weeks is Karl Malden (A Streecar Named Desire, The Streets of San Francisco, AmEx commercials) at the age of 97 of natural causes. Mike Smith will have his hands full again this week in The Rant with all the new obits.
YE OLDE EDITOR INTERVIEWED FOR THE EXAMINER
POSTED BY NOLAN B. CANOVA, JULY 1, 2009
Yours Truly was recently interviewed by Examiner columnist Julianne Draper. I am grateful to Juli for the opportunity to share some thoughts with her readers.
Message Board poster Lauré started a thread on this, bless her devilish little heart!
AIN'T GONNA STUDY WAR NO MORE...
POSTED BY NOLAN B. CANOVA, JULY 1, 2009
OK, that subject line may not exactly be accurate, but Crazed Fanboy contributor, George Roth, whose 2006 article, "A Solution to Prevent Accidental Nuclear War," actually elicited responses on other websites besides this one, has composed a new essay: The Fallacy of Conventional War in the Nuclear Age. Those interested in such a topic are encouraged to check it out.
MORE ON M.J.'s KIDS
POSTED BY NOLAN B. CANOVA, JULY 1, 2009
According to Us Weekly, the biological father of Prince and Paris Jackson is Michael Jackson's dermatologist Arnold Klein, whose former employee is Debbie Rowe. "He is the dad," says a Jackson insider. "He and Debbie signed an agreement saying they would never reveal the truth."
Jackson's youngest child, Prince Michael II, was born to an unknown surrogate.
So...Jackson was so freaking dysfunctional he couldn't even sire his own kids. Not even sure he and his former wives ever slept in the same room--or lived together at all.
ANOTHER SAD AND NUTTY WEEK
POSTED BY NOLAN B. CANOVA, JUNE 30, 2009
This just in: Turns out Michael Jackson fathered none of his children and Debbie Rowe was the surrogate for two! In vitro, baby! Wooohooooo, too weird.
This is un-freakin'-believable. I no sooner put the "obituary" PCR to bed last week, then a new crop of notable deaths occurs. OK, this is it -- the last death issue. Note to celebs: STOP DYING ALREADY!
The noise from the premature death of Michael Jackson was still ringing in my ears when I heard about TV pitchman Billy Mays, 50, dying of a heart attack and the Readers' Comments started pouring in. The report where a bonk on the head from a bumpy airplane landing had anything to do with it turned out to be false. Anyway, I would've never predicted such tumult over an infomercial guy, especially one voted by AOL pollsters as the "most annoying voice on television." Not that I ever wanted anything bad to happen to him, don't get me wrong. But it seemed incongruous. Apparently, he was so annoying he was beloved? Not sure I get it. OK, I guess he'll be hard to replace. R.I.P. Billy Mays.
Far more personal to me was the tragically under-reported death of comic-impressionist Fred Travalena, 66, who died about the same time, but of complications from cancer. A gifted impersonator on the level of Rich Little and as frequent a Vegas and talk show guest for decades, Travalena had been notably absent for several years, presumably due to illness. He came back recently on a David Letterman episode spotlighting impressionists (look up "Impressionists Week" on YouTube). He looked a lot different from the days when he was the young buck on Ed Sullivan, but gave an energetic performance nonetheless. Impressionists have always been among my top favorite performers and he was one of the best. R.I.P. Fred Travalena.
Locally, spook-show magician Roy Huston died in his sleep earlier this week (as reported by Andy Lalino in PCR #483 Readers' Comments just before it was archived). I'm not sure of Roy's age, but I think he was approaching 70. I first saw Roy at a Spook Show at St. Pete's Royalty Theater in 2002. Then around Fall of 2007, we spoke by telephone about getting together and doing a video interview. Sadly, that never happened, and now, never will. I thought he'd have more time on this earth before the Grim Reaper took him back. Like Sanford's Harry Wise (a personal friend of Roy's), Roy was a veteran performer of the festival circuit, with great stories and insider knowledge. R.I.P. Roy Huston.
MADOFF MADE OFF....
Hey how about that nutty Bernie Madoff? 150 years for his ponzi scheme! Hey, sends a message to other billionaire scheisters, eh?
MOVING ON...
Despite the fact that virtually every review of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen rate it as a slow-moving lame sequel, there's every indication it will be the money-maker of the summer. Great. Now Michael Bay and company know they don't even have to try all that hard next time. Then again, there's really no competition, this is one of the weakest summer movie seasons in memory. Save for Star Trek and UP, what have we got?
Ye Olde Editor is fed up enough to return to the underground indie film scene where things are a little more fresh and unpredictable.
Please consider making a donation to help support Crazed Fanboy! Click on the "donate" link below and give whatever you can. I sincerely thank you for any and all consideration.---Nolan
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Happy 4th of July, Everyone!