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PCR #189. (Vol. 4, No. 45) This edition is for the week of November 3--9, 2003.
Mike's RantMike's Bust
Hello, gang! A few notes and a major rant. Shall we begin?

LA FLORIDIANA
My Life and Times at Tampa International Airport
 by Will Moriaty
THIS WEEK'S MOVIE REVIEW
"The Matrix Revolutions"
 by Mike Smith
SPLASH PAGE
Playboy....Things I Didn't Know But Maybe I Should Have....The Slush Pile....One Shots
 by Brandon Jones
COUCH POTATO
Ronald Who?....Fall TV Update
 by Vinnie Blesi
CREATURE'S CORNER
Movies....Our Films....Comics
 by John Lewis
MIKE'S RANT
One Eye, No Balls....Coming Soon....Crime Does Pay....Missing a Brother....Chip Off The Old Tombstone
 by Mike Smith
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ONE EYE, NO BALLS
How ironic that the week after CBS celebrates it's 75th Anniversary that it bends to small-time criticism and pulls "The Reagans" mini-series off the air. I know if I was a stockholder in Viacom I'd be pissed that the company I have a piece of just decided to blow off its major sweeps-period attraction. And the reason given? To ensure that the film was an accurate depiction of Ronald and Nancy Reagan. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? Since when has a TV-movie, even about real people, been taken to task for being "accurate"? I'm sure Jackie Kennedy didn't like all of those films about JFK which showed him banging Marilyn Monroe. Hell, I'm sure Joe DiMaggio didn't like it, either. No one cared about what they thought. And believe me, I've studied John and Bobby Kennedy since I was a kid, and not once did I ever hear them say they slept with Marilyn Monroe. And maybe Reagan never referred to AIDS victims as "Sinners getting what they deserve." But dammit, the man didn't do a fucking thing for those people. All of these conspiracy nuts are pointing out that James Brolin is married to big-time Democrat supporter Barbra Streisand. So what? I'm sure the producers hunted everywhere to find someone who was the politically opposite of Reagan. Even the fact that the film is now scheduled to be shown on SHOWTIME has people upset. Why? It's a movie. Hell, it's a TV-movie. Sorry, now it's a PAY TV-movie. I'm pissed because I don't subscribe to SHOWTIME. And I'll say right now that I've liked Jim Brolin since "Marcus Welby." I loved him in "The Amityville Horror" and I love watching his screen tests for "Planet of the Apes." I don't mean to make light of President Reagan's Alzheimers problem, but when you consider it, it's not like he's going to be able to watch the show and yell, "Damn it, mommy, I never said that!" I'm sure we haven't heard the end of this.

COMING SOON
OK, actually coming 9 months from now. Forgot to mention the very cool teaser trailer for "Alien vs Predator" attached to the recent reissue of "ALIEN." Could be good. I know the comics are.

CRIME DOES PAY
Congratulations to Daniel Smith of Kansas City. Mr. Smith took the time some years ago to have his name copyrighted. Recently, he was involved in a traffic incident. Police prepared three different citations for his various alleged violations. Not only did he not sign the tickets, he told the officers that the only way he could is if they payed him a "users fee" of $500,000 per ticket. He went to court this past week and the judge sided with him. According to the laws, you must pay a fee if you use a copyrighted item for commercial purposes. Since traffic tickets are written to not only cite a crime but to raise money via fines, the officers were wrong to write his name on the tickets. Case dismissed. Oh, in a gesture of good will, Mr. Smith waived the usage fee.

MISSING A BROTHER
Very sad to report the passing of singer Bobby Hatfield who, along with Bill Medley, entertained for years as one of "The Righteous Brothers." Mr. Hatfield was found dead in his Wisconsin hotel room earlier this week. As I write this, a cause of death has not been given. Born in Wisconsin in 1940, Hatfield moved with his family to California at the age of 4. While considering a professional baseball career, Hatfield joined a band while attending Long Beach State University. In 1962, he joined a group called "The Paramours," which included Bill Medley. In 1963, the duo signed their first album deal. One night after a show, a black Marine yelled out, "That was righteous, brothers!" The two agreed and their act had a name. Their early hits included "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration," "Unchained Melody" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling," which has been recognized as he most played song in the history of radio. They broke up in 1968, but reunited in 1974 to record the chart topping, "Rock and Roll Heaven." The duo was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this past year. They toured consistently up until the day Hatfield died. He was 63.

CHIP OFF THE OLD TOMBSTONE
Pretty cool hearing about the possible resurrection of the "Paul Bearer" character. Dr. Paul was certainly a big part of my teenage life. Not sure, however, how many people would tune into him these days. Good luck, young ghoul!

Well, that's if for now. Have a great week. 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.